Many flies are in your garden because food, water, and shelter are easy to find there. Things like trash, pet waste, and standing water attract them. Yes, you can get rid of garden flies. Many simple steps and garden fly control methods work well to lower their numbers. This post will show you why flies come and how to make them leave for good.
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Deciphering Why Flies Arrive
Flies are tiny creatures. They are always looking for places to eat and lay eggs. Your garden can look like a perfect home to them. Knowing what attracts flies to gardens is the first step to getting rid of them. Flies need a few basic things to live and breed. If your garden has these things, you will see more flies.
Here are some main reasons why flies come to your garden:
- Food Sources: Flies eat many things. They love anything rotten or sweet. Food scraps left outside are a big draw. Overripe fruit on trees or on the ground is like a feast for fruit flies. Pet food left out is another magnet. Dead animals, even small ones, attract certain types of flies very fast.
- Water Sources: Flies need water to drink. They also need wet spots to lay eggs. Puddles are good places for flies. Leaky hoses or faucets create wet ground. Bird baths or pet water bowls can also attract them. Any standing water is a signal to flies.
- Breeding Spots: Flies lay eggs in wet or rotting material. Trash cans with no lids are prime spots. Compost piles that are too wet or have open food items invite flies. Pet waste is a very common place for many fly types to breed. Piles of wet leaves or grass clippings can also be homes for fly eggs.
- Warm Places: Flies like warmth. Sunny spots in the garden or near walls can be cozy places for them. Compost piles also make heat as they break down, attracting flies.
Grasping these causes of garden flies helps you see where the problem might be. It’s often a mix of things in the garden that makes it a fly haven.
What Flies Look For
Flies have a great sense of smell. They can find food and breeding spots from far away. They are driven by survival instincts. They want to reproduce quickly. A single fly can lay hundreds of eggs in a short time. This is why a small problem can turn into a fly infestation in garden spaces quickly.
Think about your garden from a fly’s point of view. Is there an open trash can? Is there pet waste you haven’t cleaned up? Is there a spot with standing water after rain? Are there fruit trees dropping ripe fruit? Any of these things can make your garden a fly hotspot.
Identifying Your Garden Visitors
Not all flies are the same. Different types of garden flies are attracted to different things. Knowing which flies you have can help you pick the best garden fly control methods. This is part of garden pest identification flies that bother people.
Here are some common types of flies you might find:
- House Flies: These are the most common flies. They are gray or black. They land on food, trash, and waste. They spread germs easily. They are attracted to almost any rotting organic matter.
- Fruit Flies: These are small, brown or tan flies. They fly slowly. They are drawn to ripe or rotting fruit and sugary liquids. You often see them near kitchens, but fruit trees in the garden bring them too.
- Drain Flies (Moth Flies): These are tiny, fuzzy flies. They look like small moths. They live and breed in wet, slimy places. This includes clogged drains, wet compost, or areas with sewage leaks.
- Fungus Gnats: These are very small, black flies. They look a bit like mosquitoes. They are attracted to moist soil. They feed on fungi and plant roots. They are common in gardens with overwatered plants or rich, damp soil.
- Blow Flies/Bottle Flies: These flies are larger and often shiny metallic blue, green, or black. They are attracted to dead animals and decaying meat. They are often the first flies to arrive at a carcass. They also visit trash cans.
- Cluster Flies: These flies look like large house flies. They are slow-moving. They often appear in late summer or fall. They gather on sunny sides of houses. They are attracted to earthworms in the soil. They don’t breed in typical garden waste like house flies.
Observing the flies in your garden helps. Are they tiny and hovering near fruit? You likely have fruit flies. Are they large and buzzing around your trash can? They might be blow flies. Are small flies flying out of your potted plants when you water them? Those could be fungus gnats.
Knowing the type helps because the fix is different. You won’t get rid of fungus gnats by cleaning your trash can. You need to look at your soil moisture.
Taking Action to Get Rid of Garden Flies
Now that you know why flies are there and what kind they might be, it’s time to take action. The most effective way to get rid of garden flies is to remove what attracts them. This is often called source reduction.
Here are detailed steps and garden fly control methods you can use:
Addressing Food Sources
- Clean Up Trash: Make sure all trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Keep them clean, both inside and out. Rinse them out regularly, maybe with a little bleach and water. Don’t let trash overflow. Take trash out often. Keep trash cans away from doors and windows if possible.
- Manage Pet Waste: Pick up pet waste right away. Leaving it for even a day is an open invitation for flies to feed and lay eggs. Put the waste in a sealed bag and put it in a lidded trash can. Do not add pet waste to your compost pile unless it is a special high-temperature composting system designed for it.
- Handle Fallen Fruit: If you have fruit trees, pick up fallen fruit daily. Overripe fruit on the ground rots fast. This attracts fruit flies and other flies. Use the fruit, compost it properly, or dispose of it in a lidded bin.
- Cover Food and Drinks: If you eat outside, cover food and drinks. Flies will land on them very fast. Clean up spills right away, especially sweet ones.
Controlling Water Sources
- Fix Leaks: Check hoses, faucets, and irrigation systems for leaks. Fix any leaks quickly. Wet areas around these spots attract flies and can be breeding sites.
- Empty Standing Water: Walk around your garden after rain or watering. Empty any containers that hold water. This includes pots, old tires, buckets, and tarps. Even small amounts of water can be enough for some fly types to breed.
- Manage Bird Baths and Pet Bowls: Change the water in bird baths often. Clean them regularly. Bring pet water bowls inside or change the water frequently, especially during warm weather.
- Check Drainage: Make sure water drains well from your garden beds and lawn. Soggy areas can attract flies. Improve drainage if needed.
Improving Waste Management
- Compost Wisely: If you compost, make sure your pile is working correctly. It should be mostly dry and turned often. Avoid adding meat, dairy, or oily foods to typical compost piles. These attract flies and other pests. Cover new additions of food scraps with yard waste like leaves or grass clippings. Use a compost bin with a lid if possible.
- Yard Waste: Don’t leave large piles of wet leaves or grass clippings lying around for long periods. These can become breeding spots. Add them to your compost pile, mulch them, or dispose of them properly.
These steps focus on removing the reasons flies are there. This is much better than just trying to kill the flies that show up. Removing their food and breeding grounds is key to lasting relief from a fly infestation in garden areas.
Natural and DIY Solutions for Fly Control
Beyond removing attractions, there are many natural methods and DIY fly traps for garden use that can help reduce fly numbers. These work best after you have cleaned up the garden and removed sources of attraction.
Natural Fly Repellent for Garden Use
Certain plants and scents can help keep flies away.
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Plants Flies Dislike: Planting these around patios, doors, or garden areas can help:
- Basil: Flies hate the smell. Plant near doors or windows.
- Mint: Strong smell that repels many insects, including flies.
- Rosemary: Another herb with a strong scent flies avoid.
- Lavender: Pleasant to us, but many flies dislike the smell.
- Marigolds: These flowers repel many pests, including some flies.
- Citronella: The plant (not just the candles) can help, though less effective than citronella oil.
- Bay Laurel: The leaves can be placed in areas flies frequent.
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Essential Oils: You can use essential oils to make natural sprays. Mix a few drops of oil with water and a little dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray on surfaces flies land on (not directly on plants without testing first). Oils flies dislike include:
- Peppermint oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Lavender oil
- Citronella oil
- Basil oil
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Vinegar: Flies, especially fruit flies, hate the smell of vinegar, but they are attracted to it as a trap (see below). Wiping down surfaces with vinegar can deter them.
DIY Fly Traps for Garden Use
Homemade traps can catch flies already in the garden.
- Apple Cider Vinegar Traps: These are great for fruit flies and some other small flies.
- Get a jar or cup.
- Pour about an inch of apple cider vinegar into it.
- Add a drop or two of dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension so flies sink.
- Cover the top tightly with plastic wrap.
- Poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap with a fork or pen. The holes should be big enough for a fly to get in, but small enough to make it hard for them to get out.
- Place the trap where you see flies. They are drawn to the vinegar, go through the holes, and get stuck.
- Sweet Liquid Traps: Similar to vinegar traps, but use something sweet.
- Use a bottle or container.
- Pour in sugar water, soda, juice, or wine.
- Add dish soap.
- You can cut the top off a plastic bottle and invert it into the bottom part, making a funnel. Flies go down the funnel but can’t find their way back out.
- Sticky Traps: You can buy sticky traps or make your own.
- Cut strips of yellow paper or cardstock. Flies are often attracted to yellow.
- Coat the paper with something sticky like honey, corn syrup, or Tanglefoot (a commercial sticky barrier).
- Hang the traps in areas where flies gather.
These traps won’t solve a major infestation on their own. They are tools to use with sanitation and source removal.
Implementing Garden Fly Prevention
Keeping flies away in the first place is better than getting rid of them later. Garden fly prevention is about making your garden unattractive to flies over time.
- Regular Cleaning Schedule: Clean up spills and potential attractants quickly and often. Don’t let trash or pet waste build up.
- Proper Waste Storage: Always use trash cans with tight-fitting lids. Consider keeping them away from the main house if possible.
- Compost Management: Maintain your compost pile correctly. Keep it covered and turn it often. This helps it break down faster and makes it less appealing to flies.
- Water Management: Check for and remove standing water regularly. Fix leaks promptly.
- Screening: If flies are coming from outside into a covered patio or sunroom, consider using screens.
- Gardening Practices: Avoid overwatering plants, especially potted ones. This helps prevent fungus gnats. Remove diseased or decaying plants promptly.
Consistency is key for garden fly prevention. Making these practices a regular part of your garden routine will significantly reduce the chances of a large fly problem returning.
Advanced Garden Fly Control Methods
Sometimes, simple cleaning and natural methods aren’t enough, especially with a large fly infestation in garden areas. There are other garden fly control methods you can use.
- Insecticides: These should be used carefully.
- Residual Sprays: These leave a residue that kills flies when they land on it. Use them on surfaces where flies rest, like outside walls, trash cans, or fences. Read labels carefully to ensure they are safe for the area and not harmful to beneficial insects or pets.
- Baits: Fly baits contain a substance that attracts flies and a poison. They are often used near fly breeding areas like trash cans. Use them in bait stations that pets or children cannot reach.
- Foggers/Aerosols: These kill flies present at the time of spraying but offer no lasting control. They are usually not needed for garden flies, as source control is more effective. Use with caution as they can harm beneficial insects.
- Fly Bags/Jug Traps: These are commercial traps that use bait (often smelly) to lure flies into a bag or jug from which they cannot escape. They can catch large numbers of flies but can be quite smelly themselves. Place them away from areas where people gather.
- Beneficial Insects: Some insects are natural enemies of flies. Parasitic wasps, for example, lay their eggs inside fly pupae, killing the developing fly. These are usually used in large-scale settings like farms or stables, but can sometimes be applied in compost piles or other breeding areas. Research carefully before introducing beneficial insects.
Using insecticides should be a last resort. They can harm helpful insects like bees and ladybugs. They can also be harmful to people and pets if not used correctly. Always follow the instructions on the product label exactly. Identify the type of fly before using chemicals, as some products target specific fly types.
Deciding When to Seek Professional Help
If you have a very large fly problem that does not improve after you have consistently applied the steps above, you might need help from a pest control professional.
A professional can:
- Help identify the specific types of flies and their breeding sites.
- Use stronger treatments or techniques not available to the public.
- Offer advice on long-term prevention specific to your property.
A fly infestation in garden spaces can sometimes be a sign of a larger issue, like a sewage problem or a dead animal hidden somewhere. Professionals can help find and fix these root causes.
Keeping Your Garden Fly-Free
Keeping flies away is an ongoing task, not a one-time fix. Regular maintenance is key to garden fly prevention.
- Daily Checks: Spend a few minutes each day checking for fallen fruit, pet waste, and standing water. Clean them up immediately.
- Weekly Tasks: Clean trash cans, turn compost, and refresh fly traps if you are using them.
- Seasonal Cleaning: Do a bigger clean-up each spring and fall. Clear out old leaves, check drainage, and make sure waste areas are tidy.
By being proactive and consistent, you can make your garden a less welcoming place for flies. Focus on cleanliness and removing attractants. This is the most powerful tool to get rid of garden flies and keep them away. Natural repellents and traps can help manage numbers, but they don’t fix the underlying reasons the flies are there.
Remember, the goal is to make your garden less appealing for flies to eat, drink, and breed. Attack the causes, not just the flies themselves.
FAQ Section
Here are answers to common questions about flies in the garden.
h4: How fast can flies breed in a garden?
Very fast. A female fly can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime. The eggs hatch into maggots quickly, often within hours. The maggots grow fast in warm, moist places. They can become adult flies in about a week, depending on the temperature. This quick cycle is why a small number of flies can turn into many flies fast if conditions are right.
h4: Are garden flies harmful to my plants?
Most common flies like house flies or blow flies do not directly harm plants. They are looking for decaying matter or waste. However, some flies can be plant pests. Fungus gnats feed on plant roots, especially in moist soil. Some flies lay eggs in specific plants. Knowing the types of garden flies helps figure out if they are plant pests or just nuisance flies looking for food or breeding spots.
h4: Can compost piles always attract flies?
Compost piles can attract flies, yes. But a well-managed compost pile attracts fewer flies. A hot compost pile that is turned often and has the right mix of wet and dry materials breaks down waste quickly. This leaves less time and suitable material for flies to breed. Adding food scraps like meat or dairy, or letting the pile get too wet and slimy, makes it much more attractive to flies.
h4: Do fly zappers work for garden flies?
Fly zappers kill flies that fly into them. They might kill some flies in your garden, but they don’t fix the reason flies are there. They can also kill beneficial insects. They are generally not the most effective solution for dealing with a large fly population coming from a specific source like trash or pet waste. Fixing the source is much more effective in the long run.
h4: Is it okay to use bug spray on my garden plants to kill flies?
Be very careful using bug spray (insecticide) on garden plants. Most insecticides are not made for flies that just land on plants briefly. Also, insecticides can kill helpful insects like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs that visit your plants. Only use products specifically made for the pest you have and approved for use on garden plants. Follow the instructions exactly. Often, removing what attracts the flies is a safer and more effective method for the garden ecosystem.
h4: Will cleaning up just once solve the problem?
No, cleaning up once helps but doesn’t solve the problem long-term. Flies reproduce quickly. New flies will come if the things that attract them return. Keeping your garden clean and removing food, water, and breeding sources needs to be a regular habit for lasting control. Garden fly prevention is ongoing work.