Summary: An outdoor party is a great way to enjoy a meal with loved ones. This blog explains how to prepare for and keep pests away from the outdoor party. It explains how each step will prevent specific pests from invading the outdoor party. Pointe Pest Control provides reliable solutions to common pest issues.
One of summer’s most popular events — besides coming home with an array of mosquito bites after an evening at the lake — is an outdoor party. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue or an afternoon potluck, outdoor meals are a staple of the season. Another summer tradition (that’s much less fun) is being bothered by pests who want to join in on the fun.
Thankfully, lowering the number of pests at your backyard bash isn’t impossible. While you’re creating your menu and inviting your guests, you can also take the right steps to prevent pests from invading your yard.
Let’s go step-by-step through the 12 best preventative tasks that you can complete during the prep process!
12. Tidy Up the Yard
This is probably on your to-do list already, especially if you’re about to host your first outdoor party of the season. The yard work can be as easy or extensive as you want it to be. All of your basic yard chores will give your party a nice setting and keep pests from taking over.
The ones that make the biggest impact on preventing pests are mowing the lawn, pruning shrubs and plants, and picking up after your dog. Make sure there aren’t any leaks around the sprinklers and hose. Also, check the yard for wasp nests and ant hills. If there’s already a pest problem, you’ll want to get that solved by your local pest professionals ASAP.
11. Remove Standing Water
While you’re in the yard, use this time to check for standing water. Mosquitoes need half an inch of water for their eggs, so a damp yard becomes their breeding site. If it rained recently, empty out all items (plant saucers, tarps, children’s toys, etc.) that collected water. Items that hold water, like dog water bowls and birdbaths, should have their water changed often.
It’s also important to make sure that your lawn drains properly and doesn’t have any puddles. If it collects water, consider using aeration or adding more soil to help it along. Don’t run the sprinklers right before your outdoor party — you don’t want your guests trudging through a swamp!
10. Clean the Outdoor Furniture
No one wants their guests sitting on dusty, cobweb-ridden furniture! If your patio looks a little worse for wear, clear it off and use a hose or pressure washer to cleanse it. Non-fabric furniture can also be sprayed to easily remove webs, dirt, and hidden pests.
As for the fabric-based items — chairs, cushions, etc. — shake them out to remove loose dirt. Use a shop vacuum or duster to remove webs and dirt from the crevices. Once all of your furniture is completely clean and dry, arrange it in your preferred entertaining setup. On the day of your outdoor party, give everything a quick scan for new webs and remove them with a duster.
9. Sanitize the Grill
The grill is usually the centerpiece of an outdoor gathering, so it’s essential to make sure your barbecue is ready. A good habit to have is cleaning the grill after every use to prevent grease buildup. Use a wired grill brush to remove grease and scraps when the grill is warm.
Mice and spiders invite themselves to a barbecue in the most literal sense by hiding in an idle grill. That’s why it’s important to cover the grill with its lid and sturdy cover once it’s cooled off. All of these tasks allow you to start each grilling session with a clean grill, which is especially nice when you’re gearing up to host a backyard barbecue.
8. Store the Food
Onto the fun stuff! It can save you time in the long run to prepare the majority of your ingredients before the day of the outdoor party. However, it’s important to store the prepped food correctly. Open food attracts hungry pests, like ants, rodents, roaches, and pantry pests.
The fridge will be your best friend in terms of protecting your party food from pests. After prepping cold ingredients (burger toppings, salads, etc.), store them in the fridge. Non-refrigerated items (chips, bread, baked goods, etc.) can also be kept in the fridge until the party. If you don’t want to refrigerate everything, store opened food items in airtight containers.
7. Consider Your Beverage Containers
Staying on the food train, the next step is to consider how you want to offer beverages. Open pitchers and cups give easy access to pests that love sugary drinks. Stinging insects and ants are always looking for a hit of sugar, and our favorite party beverages are the perfect sources.
If you made a large batch of iced tea, lemonade, or any other tasty beverage, pour it in a lidded drink dispenser with a spout. This gives your guests easy access for refills and protects the concoction from pests. During the party, supply your guests with drink covers to keep their cups from turning into mini swimming pools for wasps.
6. Set Up the Right Lighting
The benefit of summer parties is that the sunlight lasts until nearly 10:00 PM. If you anticipate your outdoor party lasting until the stars come out, you’ll want to have the proper lighting ready to go. Nocturnal pests that prefer to stay hidden in darkness won’t want to stick around a bright setting. Plus, everyone will appreciate a cozy atmosphere for post-dinner chats!
Generally, insects are drawn to white or blue lights. Yellow lights aren’t as attractive to them, so use this to your advantage by integrating warm-toned lights in your yard. Swap out cool-toned bulbs in patio lights and flood lights for warm-toned ones, and create a cozy atmosphere with string lights.
5. Use Herbs
They’re not just for cooking! Herbs are more fragrant in the summer because high temperatures turn their fragrant oils into vapors, which then repel pests. It’s not a perfect solution that will keep every pest away, but introducing fragrant herbs to your outdoor party setup can definitely reduce the number of invasive pests.
Thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, and sage are some of the best pest-repelling herbs. Rub the fresh sprigs between your fingers to release the oils, and place them around your tables and countertops. You can even use them as garnishes in your homemade drinks or dishes!
4. Integrate Citrus
Speaking of DIY repellents, did you know that citrus also repels a lot of pests? It has a natural compound called limonene, which deters ants and mosquitoes. However, you need to be tactical with this one. The sugar content in citrus fruits is appealing to a lot of pests, so you don’t want to just leave orange slices out on the tables.
If you want another piece of natural decor, place citrus peels around the food areas. Use orange, lemon, and lime wedges as garnishes for your drinks and dishes (lemon chicken is a tasty option!).
As a side note, lemon juice is said to be a natural way to stop bug bites from itching. The citric acid is antibacterial and numbs the site. If you have an itchy mosquito bite, give it a try!
3. Place the Trash Cans
Instead of letting the trash pile up throughout your outdoor party, make a trash can or two available to your guests. Keep them in the shade to prevent the trash from heating up and getting smelly. Flies and ants use trash as a reliable food source (gross!), so don’t place the bins next to the food-serving or seating areas.
Make sure the cans are lined with strong trash bags. When the bag is full, take it out and dispose of it in the large garbage can. Also, clean up major spills with an antibacterial wipe when they happen. Instead of crying over a spilled drink, keep ants and wasps at bay by cleaning it up!
2. Make Repellents Available
When we were kids, we would leave every party with a little bag of party favors (let’s bring this tradition back!). The adult equivalent might be offering bug repellents to your guests to make them as comfortable as possible. Place a basket of bug sprays and repellent wipes out for your guests to use. Make sure the sprays have DEET or picaridin to actually be effective.
Citronella candles repel biting bugs with its scent. Another easy repellent is a good electric fan. Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so placing a couple fans — not near the candle — in the seating area keeps them away. You want to feed your guests, not make them a mosquito buffet!
1. Create Your Serving Setup
Last but not least, create your ideal food-serving setup. A buffet is the easiest way for everyone to get the food they want, but it can also attract pests. Ants, flies, and stinging insects find your food just as delicious as your guests do. Consider setting up your buffet line in the kitchen to protect the food from these hungry bugs.
If you do want to keep it outside, use coverings to keep pests out. Mesh domes, tin foil, lids, and plastic wrap are the best options. Either way, don’t leave hot or cold food out for the whole outdoor party. The “danger zone” for bacteria to grow on food is 40º to 140º Fahrenheit. Keep everyone safe by storing leftovers in airtight containers inside the fridge.
Protect Your Outdoor Parties with Pointe!
Nothing ruins an outdoor party faster than an army of hungry pests. In addition to the DIY tips scattered throughout this blog, an easy way to protect your space is with efficient services from Pointe Pest Control. Our technicians create a customized treatment plan for every customer because pest control should never be a “one-size-fits-all” process.
Between our long-term solutions and our personalized prevention tactics, we will get to the bottom of your pest problems in no time. Pests may be more active in the summer, but they’re no match for our knowledgable technicians. Contact us today for a free quote on the most reliable services in the Pacific Northwest!
Citations
How to keep your backyard party bug-free. (2023, August 29). Maggie’s Farm. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/backyard-party-bug-free
How to prepare your backyard for outdoor parties. (n.d.). Bigfoot Turf. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.bigfootturf.com/prepare-backyard-outdoor-parties/
How to set up your backyard for outdoor parties. (n.d.). Lawn Pride. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://lawnpride.com/how-to-set-up-your-backyard-for-outdoor-parties/
Noll, M. (2025, March 13). 23 genius ideas for an effortless outdoor party. Real Simple. Available at https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/seasonal-events/outdoor-party (Accessed on June 5, 2025).
The homeowner’s guide to a pest-free patio party. (2025, March 23). HER Realtors. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://blog.herrealtors.com/post/the-homeowners-guide-to-a-pest-free-patio-party
