Flies are an unwelcome guest to any garden, and they can be particularly troublesome for outdoor plants. While there are a few different species of flies that like to feed on plants, the most common type is the housefly.
Houseflies feed on decaying organic matter, including plant material, and can quickly become a nuisance when they start swarming around your outdoor plants. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help prevent them from becoming too much of an issue.
Remove Attractive Food Sources
The first step in controlling fly infestations is to remove any attractive food sources for them. Flies are attracted to sweet-smelling fruits and vegetables, so if you have any of these growing near your plants, it is best to harvest them quickly.
Flies also love moisture and will often hang out near standing water or damp soil. Make sure to keep your garden free of standing water and keep the soil as dry as possible.
Use Mulch
Adding a layer of mulch around your plants can not only help retain moisture and improve the soil quality, but it can also help reduce fly activity. Mulch provides a barrier that flies find difficult to penetrate and will deter them from laying eggs near your plants.
Introduce Natural Predators
Encouraging natural predators in your garden is another effective way to reduce fly numbers. Ladybugs, lacewings and parasitic wasps all feed on housefly larvae, so try attracting these beneficial insects with nectar-rich flowers or insect boxes. You can also introduce other animals into your garden that will help keep the fly population under control, such as chickens or guinea fowl.
Use Traps or Repellents
If you’re still having problems with flies despite following the above steps, you may need to resort to using traps or repellents. Fly traps come in many shapes and sizes and work by luring flies with bait before trapping them inside a container where they die of dehydration or starvation. There are also several commercial insect repellents available that contain natural ingredients such as garlic or essential oils which will deter flies from entering your garden.
Conclusion: Flies can quickly become an annoying problem in outdoor gardens if not dealt with properly. To prevent them from taking up residence near your plants it is important to remove any attractive food sources for them, use mulch around the base of the plant for protection, introduce natural predators into the garden if possible and use traps or repellents if necessary.
