To Have A Pests-free Wooden Deck, Try These 7 Top Secrets

If your deck is made of hardwood, this article is not for you. Hardwoods have natural oils that make them resistant to insect infestation, so your material is automatically pests-free. But suppose it is made of domestic or pressure-treated wood. In that case, this information is very useful in keeping insects away from the structure.

If you want to avoid insect rot, mildew, or mold, you have two great options: a hardwood or a composite or PVC.  Choosing either option will prevent you from having to deal with insects. 

However, keep in mind that the best way to avoid dealing with this hazard is to choose an exotic tropical hardwood to build the new deck. The species we most suggest are Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, and Jatoba. They all are the best types of hardwoods, with amazing properties and incredible features which make them impervious to any external damage. 

Now, if you were not warned about this and chose the wrong material to build your deck, you will get rid of insects with these recommendations. You will finally be able to enjoy being outdoors without the presence of mosquitos, flies, and other pests. 

1. Regularly Clean Your Deck

This is a recommendation you should follow regardless of the type of material your wood is made of. Having a cleaning routine is always a great way to preserve your structures. 

The slightest spill or crumb of food on your wood can serve as an invitation for pests. If you don’t want to be visited by ants, a proper and frequent cleaning routine is a must. 

Sweeping your wood and cleaning up spills from it every day will allow you to have more control of its good maintenance and cleanliness. And, of course, you will be reducing the chances of attracting insects. 

Here is a 3-step guide for a perfect cleaning routine. Typically, we recommend these steps for hardwood decking maintenance. Still, you can also try it with your domestic or  pressure-treated wood:

1. Sweep it and remove dirt, dust, and leaves from its surface. 
2. Clean it using a special solution made with a quart of bleach and a gallon of warm water. Then let your wood dry for at least 24 hours. 
3. You can apply oil to your wood decking to prevent color fading.

2. Fill The Gaps In Your Deck

Any crack or hole underneath your deck gives insects and rodents the opportunity to create nests in the warm, quiet, and dark spaces between boards. Once they build a home there, you could end up having to pull the whole structure apart to solve the problem. 

To avoid that disaster, look for any cracks appearing and repair them immediately.  As we always say, prevention is always the solution. 

3. Set Up Citronella Candles Around Your Deck

Here’s a homemade solution. An hour or maybe half hour before going outdoors, light citronella candles around the perimeter of your deck. This will help you repel flies, mosquitos, and other pests from your outdoor area. 

Find the right spot to put these candles in order to really protect the surrounding field and use the proper candle holders to avoid accidents. 

You can also spray your deck with essential oils. Like lavender and eucalyptus, some of them may help prevent insect bites. 

This recommendation is also good if your deck is made of composite material. You can also put tiki torches and blue lights to kill mosquitoes. 

4. Get Rid Of Standing Water On Your Deck

Again, with hardwoods, you won’t have this problem ever as they are water-resistant. But, if your deck is made with domestic or pressure-treated wood, pay important attention to this recommendation. Water can rot wood, and rotten wood can lead to an insect infestation. 

Standing water attracts insects, especially mosquitoes. We can imagine how terrible it can be not to be able to enjoy summertime on your deck because of the presence of mosquitoes ready to bite you.

The best way to eradicate this problem is to get rid of the stagnant water around the deck. Then fill all spaces with stones or extra soil as they can end up with water again. You can also be more sophisticated and use a drainage system to draw the water away from your deck.  

5. Install Lighting Around Your Deck

Installing lights around your deck can be tricky, as many of them end up attracting insects instead of repelling them. Luckily, we are here to help you choose the proper lighting to get rid of insects. 

If you have a severe mosquito problem, we suggest using a bug zapper light. But if you are looking for a more subtle option, some yellow bug lights can be enough. 

These bulbs have a lower temperature than regular ones and therefore don’t attract insects. They will provide good illumination as well.

6. Choose The Proper Herbs And Flowers For Your Deck

Some species of plants and herbs can help keep pests away—for example, garlic, rosemary, chive, and lemongrass. You can plant some flowers that will also be useful in eradicating insect infestation problems, such as Marigold. 

Best of all, in addition to how useful these plants and flowers are in combating insects, they can also enhance the area by bringing life, color, and scents to your deck.

7. Seek Professional Help To Save Your Deck

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to fight the insect infestation, pests will remain where they are. And when this happens, it is time to seek professional help. 

Doing things right also means making them on time. It’s ok to try to solve the problem yourself, but don’t wait until your deck is completely ruined to call in the experts. 

Seek the services of pest control companies and call them right away. They will help you eliminate your insect infestation problem once and for all.  

To conclude, if you have a deck made of domestic or pressure-treated wood instead of hardwood, you may end up suffering from insect infestation around your outdoor area. To avoid this problem, we recommend a regular cleaning routine, the use of plants and flowers to help keep them away, as well as some lights or essential oils that also help repel insects. 

We suggest not doing some other things, like leaving standing water around your deck and not repairing cracks or holes in the structure. Both of these mistakes will definitely provide insects with the perfect nesting environment. 

And last but not least, if you are suffering from a severe insect infestation problem, do not hesitate to call for professional help. Please do not wait until it’s too late.