Flies can be a nuisance when they swarm your outdoor plants and garden areas. There are a few key reasons why flies may congregate around potted plants, vegetable patches, flower beds, and other outdoor vegetation. Understanding what attracts flies can help you take steps to reduce their presence.
What Attracts Flies to Plants Outdoors?
Flies are drawn to outdoor plants and gardens for several reasons:
Moisture and Decaying Matter
Flies need moisture to survive, so they are attracted to the damp soil around plants. They also feed on decaying organic matter, which is naturally present around plants as leaves, stems, and roots break down. Pots that collect standing water or soggy compost heaps are magnets for flies.
Pollen and Nectar
Some flies feed on flower nectar and pollen. They will hover around blooms looking for an easy meal. Plants like roses, zinnias, and daisies that produce abundant nectar and pollen are especially prone to attracting flies.
Shaded Areas
Flies seek out sheltered, shady areas to rest in. The leaves and stems of outdoor plants provide ideal spots for flies to land and get out of the hot sun. Plants grouped closely together or with large broad leaves tend to attract more flies looking for shade.
Decaying Fruits and Vegetables
If you have an outdoor vegetable garden or fruit trees/bushes, flies will gather around any produce that is overripe, damaged, or decaying. They lay eggs on the rotting plant matter so their offspring have food. Compost bins are target areas if you have discarded plant material in them.
Residues and Debris
Flies will flock to areas where residues of juicy mater, pollen, sap, or other stick debris is present. Outdoor plants often have these residues on their leaves, stems, or flowers,drawing in flies. Drippings from trees and spills around potted plants also accumulate debris that flies feed on.
Warm Temperatures
Flies become more abundant and active during warm weather. Places that heat up in the sun, like container gardens, beds edged with rocks or pavers, and raised garden boxes provide warm pockets of air that attract nearby flies. Areas along sunny walls or fences also tend to harbor flies.
How to Keep Flies Away From Outdoor Plants
If flies are driving you batty while you’re tending to your patio pots or garden, there are some effective options for discouraging them from hanging around your greenery.
Remove Decaying Plant Matter
Clear away any dead leaves, dropped blooms, or broken stems around your plants. These provide food for flies. Also discard any overripe vegetables or fallen, rotten fruit that may be present. Keep compost bins covered securely.
Allow Soil to Dry Out Somewhat
Don’t overwater your outdoor plants. Flies need moist conditions, so allowing the soil to dry out more between waterings helps make the area less hospitable.
Use Fans
Set up oscillating outdoor fans around your deck or yard. The blowing air makes it harder for flies to land and rest on plants. Fans also keep plants dry.
Set Out Dishes of Vinegar
Fill shallow dishes with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Place them near plants. The vinegar aroma attracts flies but the soap causes them to sink and drown once they land.
Grow Herbs
Plant fragrant herbs like basil, mint, lavender, or thyme around areas where flies congregate. Their strong scents help mask the smell of compost and decay that draws in flies. The herbs’ aromas also naturally repel flies.
Use Fly Traps
Hang sticky fly paper strips around your plants or set out jug-style traps with bait. The traps will passively capture flies and reduce their numbers over time. Replace them regularly.
Apply Fly-Repelling Sprays
Make a natural repellent spray from apple cider vinegar, citronella or eucalyptus oil, and water in a spray bottle. Mist leaves liberally to deter flies from landing. Reapply after rain.
Introduce Natural Predators
Put out houses or food sources to attract dragonflies, bats, spiders, frogs, lizards, and birds. They will feed on flies and keep their population in check naturally. A birdbath or shallow bowl of water can attract helpful fly predators.
Keep Plants Well-Groomed
Prune off dead or dying parts of plants. Pick off any withered blooms or brown leaves where flies can hide. This removes their food sources and makes the plants less desirable to flies.
Use Row Covers
Drape lightweight fabric row covers over vegetable gardens and fruiting plants. Anchor the edges with stones, boards, or landscape staples. The covers form a barrier that keeps flies away while allowing air, light, and water through.
Apply Beneficial Nematodes
These tiny worms prey on fly larvae in soil. Spread them over garden beds and around potted plants to break the flies’ lifecycle. Fly populations will steadily decline as fewer juveniles mature.
With some diligent sanitation and the use of repellents or traps, you can cut down on the swarms of flies that pester your potted plants, gardens, and landscaping. A combination of methods works best to reduce flies so you can enjoy your outdoor oasis pest-free.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flies on Outdoor Plants
What are the small flies around my plants outside?
Most likely they are fungus gnats, a tiny fly species attracted to moist soil and decaying plant matter outdoors. They do not bite but can spread plant diseases. Their larvae feed on roots.
What plants keep flies away outside?
Many herbs effectively repel flies in outdoor areas. Mint, lavender, basil, thyme, lemongrass, and marigolds are good choices. Citronella and eucalyptus also deter flies. Plant them around yards and gardens.
How do I get rid of flies permanently outside?
It is difficult to eliminate flies entirely from outdoor spaces. Try combining strategies like sanitation, traps, repellents, and predatory insects to control populations. Be vigilant about finding and removing breeding sites in compost, vegetation, and standing water to prevent recurring swarms.
What scent keeps flies away outside?
Strong citrus, mint, eucalyptus, lavender, basil, and vinegar scents deter flies. Place pots of herbs around outdoor living spaces. Dilute essential oils like lemon, lemongrass or eucalyptus in water and apply to plant leaves. Set out dishes of apple cider vinegar.
Do flies on plants mean they are dying?
Not necessarily. Flies are attracted to live plants to feed on nectar, moisture, and pollen. However, if you notice an excessive number of flies, check plants closely for overwatering issues or early signs of disease, which can allow flies to colonize on weak or dying vegetation. Address any issues promptly.
What plants attract the most flies outside?
Outdoor plants with fragrant flowers, abundant nectar, moist soil, or ripening/rotting fruits and vegetables tend to attract the most flies. Roses, dahlias, zinnias, herbs, strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, and compost piles are top fly attractors. Dense, shade-providing foliage also draws in flies.
Should I spray vinegar on my plants to repel flies?
Yes, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar works as a natural fly repellent outdoors. Mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water and spray liberally on plant leaves and soil. Reapply after rain. Pure vinegar may burn foliage, so dilute it first. This solution also deters aphids.
How close should fans be to plants to keep flies away?
For optimal fly control, oscillating outdoor fans should be within 5-10 feet of plants. They can be closer to sturdy plants (3-5 feet) but avoid aiming direct gusts at tender seedlings or delicate flowers which may be damaged. Run fans continuously whenever flies are bothersome.
Where should fly traps be placed in a garden?
Set fly traps along the perimeter of gardens, just outside vegetable rows or flower beds. Also place near compost piles, fruit trees, or plants showing signs of decay. For potted plants, put small traps right on the containers or hang strips along the edges of decks or patios near plants in containers.
How often should beneficial nematodes be applied to garden soil?
Apply beneficialnematodes like Steinernema feltiae every 2-4 weeks during peak fly season, usually mid-spring through early fall. Follow label instructions for mixing and spreading over soil. Nematodes require moist conditions to be effective. They persist in soil for 2-12 weeks on average.
Key Takeaways on Fly Management for Outdoor Plants
- Eliminate decaying vegetation and fallen fruits/veggies to remove fly food sources.
- Allow soil to dry out between waterings to make areas less hospitable for flies.
- Use traps, fans, and aromatic repellent plants/sprays to deter flies from plants.
- Introduce predatory insects like dragonflies to naturally control fly populations.
- Keep plants well-groomed and free of debris where flies can hide and breed.
- Apply beneficial nematodes to soil to kill fly larvae before they mature.
- Be vigilant about finding and eliminating fly breeding spots to prevent recurring swarms.
Conclusion
Getting rid of flies in gardens, container plants, and outdoor living areas involves diligence in sanitation, exclusion, and pest control. Combining several organic and natural methods often yields the best results for dramatically reducing the presence of problematic flies that infest backyards and outdoor vegetation. With routine inspection and maintenance of plants and the yard environment, you can successfully minimize fly issues and keep your outdoor spaces pest-free and enjoyable.