Find out how to make a bug bouquet to keep bugs away from your picnic naturally, plus other ideas to help keep your picnic pest-free!
Flies and mosquitos are common backyard visitors, especially when there is food out. Typically, people use bug spray or scented candles to repel them. Here is a way to keep bugs away from a picnic naturally while also adding beauty to your table setting!
What plants help repel flies?
Lavender, marigolds, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, and lemon balm all naturally keep flies away
What plants help repel mosquitoes?
Mint, lavender, marigolds, bee balm, basil, and rosemary all naturally help to keep mosquitoes away.
How can I make plants live longer in the vase?
One of the best ways to help plants live longer in the vase is to make sure that there are no leaves or flowers in the water itself. Strip the flower stem of all leaves and additional branches that will rest below the water line. Also, when you are trimming your stems, trim them at an angle instead of straight across.
If you’re not using the bouquet, you can keep the vase, water, and all, in the refrigerator until you’re ready for it. `
How to assemble a bug bouquet to keep bugs away from a picnic naturally:
To assemble the bug bouquets, take several clippings of each of the plants listed above. Fill your vase (we used mason jars) ½ to ¾ of the way full with water. Strip the leaves from the parts of the stem that will be in the water and clip the stems at an angle. Place several of each plant in the vases. I recommend using at least three types of the plants listed above.
While I love the look of an all-green planter, I wanted to add some color to the table, so I clipped some pink echinacea to add to the vases. Feel free to add one or two other flowers, but know that it could attract honey bees. Also, the brighter the flowers, the more likely you are to get extra bug company. Insects and picnic pests search for brightly colored plants to identify good food sources for themselves. The marigolds that I grow are white, instead of the traditional red, yellow, and orange, so if you grow those, you may not need any more color in your vases!
Check out our gardening content for flowers and planting inspirations!
If you’re having a picnic blanket, make two or three small bouquets to spread around the people you’re enjoying time with.
If you’re having a picnic at a picnic table I would recommend at least 2 bouquets for the top of the table and two for underneath.
Another way to increase your success with these bug bouquets is by placing them out in your picnic area at least a half hour before you plan on having your picnic. Additionally, rubbing the leaves of the plants in your vases will help release some of the oils and the aroma that repels bugs.
Other ways to keep bugs away from a picnic naturally:
Here are a few other things that you can do to help keep bugs and pests away from a picnic naturally.
- Don’t put the food out until ready to serve.
- Make sure to keep covers on the food when people are not dishing food out.
- Keep a soapy washcloth to clean up spills quickly
- Have a trash bag or can within easy reach of the picnic but far enough away from your eating area to prevent bugs from wandering from the trash can to your picnic
- You can also spray some diluted citrus essential oils over the area you will be picnicking at least a half hour in advance. But first, make sure your guests or the people you are dining with are not allergic!
- Use a fan. If you have a portable one, or an extension cord, you can put up a fan or two and the breeze will help decrease flying pests in the area.
We enjoy eating outside all summer long and have found that the bug bouquets and these tips help to keep the bugs away from the picnic naturally. Let us know in the comments below what you do to keep bugs away and if you’ll try the bug bouquet!
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