Mosquitoes. Cockroaches. Spiders. Ants. Flies. Squirrels. Possums. Raccoons. Even in the middle of the Metroplex, North Texas wildlife is . . . diverse to say the least. And while we may enjoy spotting some of these creatures in the wild, we certainly don’t want them sharing our homes. Keeping them out of the house is one thing. After all, it’s fortified with effective barriers like walls, windows, and doors. But how do you prevent critters from taking up residence in the living space in your backyard? Admittedly, Worthy Outdoors is not a pest control company. However, we are experts in outdoor living, and that includes keeping creatures at bay! In this blog, we’ll provide some great tips for ensuring that your backyard stays as pest-free as possible. 

Keep Your Out-of-Door Kitchen Clean and Tidy

In general, bugs and mammals are looking for two things when they start infringing on your personal space: food and shelter. The simplest strategy for ensuring that they stay away from your open-air cooking, eating, and entertaining areas is to eliminate the possibility of them finding either of those necessities. As you enjoy your outdoor kitchen, try to implement these easy and effective tips: 

• When possible, keep food and beverages covered. 
• Promptly clean up crumbs and spills, and don’t leave messes sitting out overnight.
• Properly dispose of any and all trash:
  1. Ensure that your trash cans have well-fitting, tightly sealed lids. 
  2. Consider installing locks on your trash receptacles if you’re waging war against larger critters.
  3. Regularly empty your external trash bins and make sure they stay clean and free of both food residue and odors. 

While we’re on the topic of trash, to make certain that your backyard living space stays critter-free, it’s worth it to invest in top-notch trash bins. Worthy Outdoors is a proud installer of all products from BBQGuys who have a wonderful collection of exterior trash-disposal options. Based on the layout of your outdoor kitchen, choose between a trash bin or a handy trash chute that fits into your countertops. Depending on your aesthetic, you can pick wood or stainless steel. 

Are you looking for a single trash bin, a double trash bin, or a trash drawer? BBQGuys has all three! Plus, they offer configurations that include built-in, drop-in, narrow, regular, and slim styles. And if recycling is important to you, BBQGuys has recycling bins available as well! Browse the full selection of products here: (embedded link).* When you find the option that best suits your space and needs, Worthy Outdoors is ready to help you with installation! 

Get Your Lawn Treated or Sprayed for Bugs

Another effective method for keeping those pesky smaller pests from ruining your time outside is to invest in yard treatments. A quick Google search yields a myriad of top-rated companies that can expertly deal with North Texas bugs. Many companies offer bundle or package options, and some even provide special services for each type of insect you might be struggling against. Take your time browsing and comparing your options, and choose the one that best addresses the problems you are facing! 

Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

Some of us prefer DIY over paying someone else to take care of things. If that describes you, but you’re not sure where to start, the internet is your friend! Various retailers offer a multitude of products, ranging from chemically based deterrents to more natural and environmentally friendly ones, along with everything in between. You can also take advantage of a whole host of blogs detailing what to use, and when and where to use it. In addition to doing your own lawn treatments, consider putting the following tips into practice to help keep your outside cooking, eating, and entertaining spaces free of bugs: 

• Keep your grass mowed and your other plants in check. A tidy yard deters pests just like a clean outdoor kitchen does! 
• To control mosquitoes, eliminate—or, at least, minimize—the amount of standing water around your home and yard.
• Consider the use of mosquito repellents like coils, incense, or battery-powered, solar-powered, or electric bug zappers.

Fill Your Kitchen Garden with Nature’s Bug Repellents

Certain plants have properties that naturally repel particular insects. And you can take advantage of them regardless of your gardening skills. If you have an existing garden, consider where you might add in some of this vegetation. If you’re just starting out and you’d rather have something lower maintenance, you can still capitalize on the bug-repelling properties of these plants with strategically placed pots. 

Flowering plants known for their ability to ward off insects include marigolds, citronella, chrysanthemums, catnip, and petunias. Bug-deterring herbs include basil, mint, lemongrass, lavender, and rosemary. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Do some research, consult your own personal gardening guru, and have fun adding color and variety to the vegetation in your backyard, knowing that you’re controlling pests in your outdoor living spaces at the same time! 

Skip the Chemicals and Try Earth-Friendly Deterrents

If you’re not comfortable using chemically based pest control in your backyard or outdoor kitchen, it’s completely fine to try a more natural approach. Again, the internet is ripe with suggestions on how to repel critters in ways that are easier on the environment, but here are several suggestions to get you started: 

– Use vinegar to clean your outdoor kitchen. Not only is vinegar cheap, safe, and environmentally friendly, but it has the added benefit of eliminating odors and chemical trails left around by bugs, particularly ants. 

– Experiment with essential oils. Different oils are said to repel different bugs. For example, eucalyptus and tea tree oil are particularly abhorrent to roaches, while lemon and peppermint deter ants. Other essential oils worth trying for effective pest control include rosemary, thyme, citronella, and lavender. Oils can be used in multiple ways in your backyard. Mix oils with water to make a spray, soak cotton balls with oils and place them strategically in small dishes in your space, use a diffuser, or apply oils topically using a skin-safe carrier oil. Try one oil at a time or create your own unique blend, but do make sure that you follow tried-and-true recipes and instructions for both blending and using essential oils as they can cause harm if mixed or used improperly! 

– Save your coffee grounds. Experts say that bugs can’t stand the potent smell of coffee. Furthermore, coffee has chemical properties that can actually harm insects. As a result, coffee grounds can be an effective bug repellent—particularly if the grounds are burnt. So instead of throwing your morning grounds away, try saving them to sprinkle around your outdoor kitchen. Alternatively, you could keep grounds in small dishes positioned throughout your exterior cabinets. 

– Don’t throw out your citrus peels either. Similarly to coffee, bugs don’t care for the strong smell of citrus peels or their oils, which are toxic to some insect species. The simplest way to employ citrus peels as insect repellent is to place them around your open-air cooking area. Citrus peels will lose their potency once they dry out, so they need to be diligently replaced. Old citrus peels may also grow mold and attract larger pests, like rodents, so if you choose to use this method, pay close attention to how the pests in your backyard respond! 

– Rely on garlic to keep more than just Dracula away. Another strong-smelling food with bug-deterring properties is garlic! And just like the other options we’ve mentioned, you can employ garlic for pest control in a whole host of ways! For example, you may crush and scatter cloves around your outdoor kitchen. You can also make a garlic spray and spritz your external living space periodically. 

– Employ common spices. Cinnamon can be an effective insect repellent. You can sprinkle it around your outdoor living areas, or, if you want to be a little fancier, you might burn cinnamon-scented candles while you spend time eating, entertaining, and relaxing outside. Bay leaves can also be used to ward off pests. Simply place a few leaves in your cabinets and let them work their magic!

Outdoor living in North Texas comes with challenges, and grappling with bugs and other unwanted guests can certainly top the list! We hope these tips and tricks will help you enjoy your open-air kitchen without having to worry about pests. Here’s to critter-free backyards! 

*https://www.bbqguys.com/d/7769/outdoor-kitchens/storage/trash-recycling