Keep Wedding Crashers out of Gazebos
Jun 10th, 2010 by Kathy
It’s no surprise that outdoor weddings are more popular than ever; in fact, it seems only logical. After all, millions of backyards have been turned into luxurious exterior rooms, complete with outdoor sofas, loveseats, lounge chairs, outdoor dining tables, and other comforts. Furthermore, many people also have gazebos and pavilions, which are perfect settings for weddings and receptions. With all of these amenities, who wants to go anywhere else?
The trouble is that insects also enjoy hanging out in these backyard havens; and they wouldn’t think twice about crashing an outdoor wedding. So, if you’re planning one, take all possible measures to prevent them from ruining the occasion. You can begin by spraying the area the day before the ceremony. Using citronella candles is also a must; and, fortunately, they’re much more attractive than they used to be. No longer available only in big, silver buckets, they now come in all colors of votive candles, which can easily be worked into any centerpiece, or used separately, in decorative holders.
Of course, taking steps to reduce the insect population is a good move anyway, because, aside from being mere annoyances, they can sometimes even be deadly. Such is the case with mosquitoes, which can carry the West Nile virus. Luckily, you can control them by eliminating their favorite breeding grounds, which are pools of stagnant water.
Don’t leave anything lying around outside that will collect water, such as empty buckets, flowerpots, planters, wheelbarrows, sandboxes, sandbox covers, wading pools, waste receptacles and lids, or old tires. If you’re not using these items for their intended purposes, bring them inside, put them in your garage or shed, or get rid of them.
If you have any low spots in your yard, where puddles remain for days after a heavy rain, build them up with topsoil. If there are sunken areas on hard surfaces that cannot be raised, put a few drops of dish detergent into the puddles. This will make them uninhabitable by mosquitoes, and kill their eggs as well.
Keep wasps away by destroying their nests, which are usually found under the eaves of houses, sheds, and garages. Just wait until dusk, when all the wasps are tucked in for the night, and squirt them with wasp and hornet spray; it shoots a steady stream that travels 20 to 30 feet, and kills on contact.
To get rid of maverick wasps, fill some margarine containers halfway with sugar water, cut tiny holes in the lids, and set them around the outskirts of the yard. The wasps will go into the holes, and get stuck inside the containers. Yellow jackets often nest in the ground; so, wait until after dark, pour boiling water down the hole, and you’ll wipe out the entire colony.
As for flies, well, they’re really tough to control. I mean, they can certainly be trapped on fly paper, but it’s never a pretty sight. So, I guess you’ll just have to do something creative, like having fly swatters for favors.
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
