How to Protect Your Barbecue From Pests This Summer
After our recent spell of good weather, people across the UK have been firing up their barbecues and relaxing in their gardens with family and friends. Unfortunately, summer is also an active time of year for pesky pests, and barbecues often attract the unwanted attention of:
You can’t really blame them; who doesn’t love the smell of a simmering barbecue? Like the rest of us in the sunshine, pests are out on the hunt for food and drink; however, there are a few precautions that you can take to keep them away!
Why Pests Can be Harmful Around Food and Drink
Insects and rodents are notorious for carrying a number of harmful diseases.
Even something as simple as a fly landing on your food can spread one or more of the 100 pathogens they carry, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and campylobacter – which can cause food poisoning.
If they’ve had easy access to any food and drink, the chances are that they will come back and might even set up home on your property. Before you know it, you might have an infestation on your hands.
So, it’s important to do all that you can to stop them in their tracks before it becomes a greater problem all round.
Preventative Measures to Keep Pests Away From Your BBQ
We hope the following tips will keep your barbecue buzzing with atmosphere this heatwave and not with bugs!
How to keep pests away from the barbecue:
- Keep all food items covered or in food containers when not on the barbecue.
- Remove any standing water from your garden area. Also, change any paddling pool or bird bath water regularly to prevent an insect breeding ground.
- Keep garden bushes and weeds trimmed back.
- Ensure that you clean up any food or drink spillages as soon as possible.
- Check that all wheelie bin lids and internal bins have tightly sealed lids.
- Light citronella candles or oil burners to repel flying insects.
- Plant or place a tub near your barbecue of insect repellent plants, such as lemon grass, lavender, and chrysanthemums. Some herbs also act as a deterrent – either plant or scatter some sage or rosemary on the grill as you cook and the smell should keep them at bay.
- Slice some lemons in half and place a clove of garlic within them. Place these on plates surrounding your barbecue area to deter insects.
- Hang up a brown paper bag folded into a circular shape. Wasps tend to stay away from other wasp nests, and this can trick them into believing that you have a nest already in your garden.
- Hang up a ziploc bag with water inside, add 3 or 4 pennies in the bottom of the bag. The refracted light coming through the water in the plastic bag confuses flies, causing them to move away.
- Attract birds to your gardens – they are amazing pest controllers when it comes to insects!
Found Yourself With an Infestation of Pests?
We understand how easily a problem can spread in a short space of time when it comes to pests.
If you are in need of our services, we offer a free no obligation quote for your home or business.