Keep the bugs at bay – how to avoid attracting garden pests this summer..
As summer arrives, so do certain visitors we could happily live without. Yes, I know every creature has its place in the necessary biodiversity of our green and pleasant land, but there are some (wasps, anybody, just why?!) that if I never saw one again I wouldn’t mourn.
As we spend so much more time in our gardens in the summer months, it’s easy to do things that actively attract these unwanted bugs and beasties, so here are our top tips on easy steps to take to avoid unwanted visitors.
Clear fallen fruit
Fallen fruit such as plums or apples will quickly attract wasps, foxes, and even rats (shudder). As the fruit starts to ripen, some will drop before it’s edible to us, but it’s still a draw to non-humans, so do a regular check below any fruit trees to scoop up anything that might make a meal for a small creature. When the fruit starts to ripen, stay on top of harvest any edible fruit and keep the ground clear of windfalls.
Don’t leave standing water
Midges and mosquitoes only need a few days of standing water in order to reproduce. Empty unused paddling pools, buckets and any other containers where water might collect regularly.
Clean and cover your BBQ
If you want to avoid opening your BBQ cover one sunny Sunday and discovering an ant infestation, it’s best to clean it after every use. Ants are very chatty, social beings, and it only takes one to discover the feast left attached to the grill of your barbecue and it’s ant party time. While washing them away wouldn’t be a tricky task, it would be an unpleasant discovery right before you plan to slap the burgers on.
Clear out your shed
When was the last time you had a proper clear out of your shed? Build up of garden debris, such as lawn clippings from the mower, old plastic plant pots and the various bits and bobs you hid away for lack of a better place make ideal homes for spiders (which can get REALLY big) mice and other pests you really don’t want to be meeting eye-to-eye on a sunny afternoon. Make a good declutter of your first plan of action as summer arrives, throwing away anything you really don’t need. Which if it’s anything like my shed, is quite a haul.
Maintain compost heap hygiene
Lazy, unhygienic composting is a jackpot for rats and foxes. Nothing should go into your garden compost bins or compost heap that is non-vegetable or is cooked. Garden compost heaps are all about breaking down garden waste to provide food for your flower beds in future years. Don’t add cooked food, as this will attract pests, not the beneficial minibeasts a compost heap needs.
Keep bird feeders clean
Bird feeders are great at bringing our native wild birds into the garden where we can see their beauty for ourselves – and take some pleasure in the fact that we’re helping them raise a nest full of chicks by keeping energy levels up. However, bird seed or peanuts that fall to the ground from the bird feeders can attract mice and even rats, so keep this area swept clean if you can, or source a bird feeder that prevents debris from falling to the ground.
Always bin your bin bags
Don’t leave bin bags outside overnight before dropping them in the wheelie bin. I know, it’s very tempting once you have cleared up after a late night party just to drop the full bags outside rather than walk round the house (in the dark and often rain) to put them in the bin. Unfortunately foxes and rats have extremely powerful noses and strong teeth, too, and can rip one apart in seconds. You;ll not only have a mess to clear up the next day, but may well get curious, hopeful visitors back in the days that follow, too.
Eddie – Friday 5th June 2025.
