Outdoor Hangouts Are Awesome Until the Pests Show Up (Here’s How to Handle Them)

You planned the perfect outdoor evening: grilled steaks, cold drinks, cozy lights. 

But somehow, the guest list included 14 mosquitoes, 3 wasps, an entire ant colony, and a spider spinning fan art above your head.

Turns out, pests love your backyard as much as you do.

Photo credits to unsplash.com

So what now? 

We’ll walk you through the worst offenders of the summer season and how to keep your outdoor hangouts pest-free, minus the chemical warfare and citronella candles that almost never work.

1. Mosquitoes

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Mosquitoes are relentless, annoying, and surprisingly strategic. 

Why they show up: They love standing water. Birdbaths, forgotten buckets, clogged gutters, and even that saucer under your potted plant. Add in a shady corner or two, and you’ve just opened a mosquito resort. They’re also crepuscular, which is a fancy word for “party at dusk.”

What they do: Besides the usual itchy welts and late-night scratching sessions, mosquitoes are notorious carriers of West Nile virus and other diseases. Even if you’re not in a high-risk area, nobody wants a blood-sucking guest list at their backyard BBQ.

How to stop them:

• Dump standing water anywhere it might collect, and keep the area dry.
• Install a patio fan since mosquitoes hate flying in the wind.
• Add mosquito-repelling plants like citronella, basil, lavender, and marigolds.
• Wear light-coloured clothing (they’re attracted to dark colours) and avoid peak activity hours if you can.
• Maintain your lawn.  Long grass and overgrown beds create shady, humid areas where mosquitoes thrive.

Check out our 10-point Checklist for Mosquito Control.

2. Wasps

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Wasps like to show up unannounced, hover over your snacks, and aren’t afraid to throw hands (or stingers) if you so much as flinch.

Why they show up: Warm weather, open food, sugary drinks, and ideal nesting spots like eaves, sheds, or patio furniture. Early in the season, queens scout for nesting sites. Later, worker wasps forage for food and drinks, especially anything sweet.

What they do: They don’t just buzz; they sting. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times, and they’ll do it without a second thought. And if there’s a nest nearby, disturbing it (even accidentally) can set off the whole squad.

How to stop them:

• Keep food and drinks covered during outdoor meals.
• Seal garbage bins and compost bins tightly.
• Inspect eaves, patio furniture, and grills regularly for nest activity.
• Remove fallen fruit from your yard; wasps love it.
• Avoid strong floral perfumes and bright clothing that can attract them.

Here’s what to do when you find wasps in your yard.

3. Ants

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Ants have zero chill when it comes to boundaries. Leave out a crumb, and within minutes, the whole colony is out. One becomes ten, ten becomes a trail, and suddenly your deck’s covered with a six-legged army.

Why they show up: They’re always on the hunt for food, especially anything sweet or greasy. Dry soil and disturbed lawns also attract them as prime nesting spots. Once they’ve found a good location, colonies expand fast.

What they do: They march across patios, pop up ant hills in your lawn, and occasionally sneak into your kitchen if you’re not careful. Certain species even build nests under pavers or inside walls.

How to stop them:

• Clean up spills and crumbs quickly, especially around outdoor eating areas.
• Store pet food securely and avoid feeding animals outside when possible.
• Seal cracks in walkways, driveways, and patio stones.
• Use natural deterrents like citrus peels or peppermint oil near common entry points.
• Keep firewood and debris piles away from the foundation; they often serve as ant condos.

4. Spiders

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They’re quiet. They’re stealthy. And they love to show up right when you least expect it. Even the harmless ones manage to startle us half to death.

Why they show up: Spiders are predators, so if you have lots of insects buzzing around, you’re also likely to have spiders setting up camp to hunt them. They’re drawn to undisturbed spots like corners, under patio furniture, and in sheds.

What they do: They spin webs in the least convenient places. They’ll be in your lawn chairs, the grill handle, or that nice shady corner of the porch ceiling. Most of the time, they’re harmless, but their sudden appearances can definitely be…not fun.

How to stop them:

• Turn off exterior lights at night to reduce the insect attraction (which reduces spiders).
• Sweep and vacuum outdoor corners, eaves, and storage regularly.
• Trim bushes and plants that touch the sides of your home or patio.
• Shake out cushions and towels before using them outdoors.
• Declutter sheds and garages so they have fewer hiding spots.

Here’s how to keep spiders away from your home’s exterior. 

5. Flies

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The soundtrack to every outdoor meal gone wrong? The high-pitched whine of a fly dive-bombing your potato salad.

Why they show up: Flies are equal-opportunity offenders. They’ll show up for anything even mildly gross: overflowing trash, compost bins, food scraps, pet messes, and sticky spills on the patio.

What they do: Land on food, spread bacteria, crawl across surfaces, and generally make you question your life choices halfway through your lemonade.

How to stop them:

• Use lidded garbage and compost bins, and empty them often.
• Clean up food waste and drink spills right after meals.
• Set up fly traps or discreet patio fans to keep them moving.
• Pick up pet waste promptly and hose down any “accident zones.”

6. Earwigs, Beetles & Other Creepy Crawlers

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They’re not dangerous, but they have a special talent for appearing exactly where your hand is going next.

Why they show up: Moisture, mulch, and dark crevices are their jam. They love wood chips, damp planters, and the hidden corners of patio furniture or garden toolboxes.

What they do: Crawl into shoes, hide in planters, or pop out of your folded towels like little jump scares. Their presence alone is often enough to ruin the mood.

How to stop them:

• Keep mulch thin and away from the house or patio edges.
• Shake out towels, shoes, and cushions before using them.
• Seal and declutter outdoor storage containers to limit hiding spots.
• Elevate firewood and move it away from entertaining zones.

7. Rodents

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They sneak out when the sun sets and treat your backyard like a drive-thru. You won’t see them during your BBQ, but they’re absolutely watching from the shadows.

Why they show up: Rodents are in it for the food and shelter. A crumb under the grill? Jackpot. A cushion they can burrow into? Even better. Compost bins, pet food bowls, low ground cover, and sheds are the holy grails for mice and voles.

What they do: Tear up patio cushions, chew grill wires, dig holes under decks, and occasionally sprint across the yard mid-party, sending everyone into chaos. They also leave behind droppings, which spread disease and aren’t exactly great party décor.

How to stop them:

• Keep BBQs clean and cover them when not in use.
• Store pet food indoors in sealed containers.
• Use gravel borders around decks and patios to make burrowing harder.
• Tidy up fence lines and stack firewood away from entertaining areas.
• Close off garage and shed access when not in use.

Your Backyard Called. It Wants a Buzz-Free Summer

Don’t spend another summer waving bugs off your burger or side-eyeing that suspicious rustle near the deck. 

Our BuzzShield® package is designed to protect your outdoor space from every kind of party crasher. In case you have an active insect infestation, Buzz Boss Insect will take care of the problem.

Whether you’re in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, or Winnipeg, we’ve got your back(yard).