No matter what type of restaurant you run, pests are a nuisance that needs to be addressed. When you take the right steps, outdoor pets control can be easily managed and ensure the success of your business. How to eliminate outdoor pets? Not only can pests endanger your premises by carrying harmful bacteria and diseases, but they can also annoy customers and drive them away. Therefore, understanding how to deal with outdoor pests and avoid completely attracting them is key to hosting a successful outdoor dining experience.

Outdoor dining

Alfresco dining has become one of the most notable trends in the restaurant industry. In 2020, beer gardens and other outdoor dining venues began to gain popularity with restaurateurs and diners. However, this trend seems to be here to stay, as it allows customers to enjoy a delicious meal while still enjoying the great outdoors.

Customers aren't the only ones who see the benefits of alfresco dining. Outdoor terraces increase the number of tables available for dining, reducing wait times and increasing profits. Many restaurants are turning alfresco dining areas into winter dining destinations, hoping to take advantage of alfresco dining opportunities during the colder months.

Types of common outdoor pests

Outdoor dining is a great way to give customers a whole new dining experience. However, the outdoor dining area of your venue may attract many different types of outdoor pests. These outdoor pests are different from indoor pests like rats and cockroaches that usually plague restaurants. However, each type of outdoor pest still presents its own unique problems and challenges for restaurants, and the reasons why each pest bothers customers in outdoor dining Spaces are different.

1. Flies

Flies are a common outdoor pest that often harass guests and have the potential to spread bacteria and disease if they land on food.

What attracts flies - These pests are usually attracted to trash cans or discarded food.

How to repel flies - Remove trash cans from outdoor dining areas and regularly clean the floor of litter to avoid attracting flies.

2. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a major pest problem because their bites can cause pain, itching, and swelling, and transmit some serious diseases.

What attracts mosquitoes - Mosquitoes are usually attracted to independent water and plants.

How to repel mosquitoes - Limit decorative water items in outdoor dining areas, quickly clean up spills, and keep brush around the dining area to avoid attracting mosquitoes.

3. Stinger pests

Pests such as bees and wasps are notorious for stinging unsuspecting victims, sometimes causing extreme pain or severe allergic reactions.

What attracts stinging pests - Bees and wasps are attracted to bright colors and sugary substances.

How to repel stinger pests - Avoid using bright colors in dining area decorations and make sure no brightly colored flowers are planted nearby. You should also quickly clean up spilled sugary liquid substances to limit the appearance of stinger pests.

4. Ants

Ants are crawling pests that can ruin a customer's appetite and indicate that your outdoor area is not clean.

What attracts ants - Ants often come out to collect bread crumbs and eat other garbage.

How to get rid of ants - Clean the outdoor dining area regularly and empty the bins often. Regularly mow and maintain the grass around outdoor dining areas to limit nesting opportunities for ants.

How to get rid of outdoor pets?

How to eliminate outdoor pets?

Pests can cause serious nuisance and ruin your restaurant's outdoor dining experience. No matter how good other aspects of your al fresco dining experience are. Some pests will ruin the customer experience and drive them away. Thankfully, these methods allow you to eliminate existing pests in your outdoor dining area and prevent the emergence of new ones.

1. Thorough restaurant cleaning

The most critical aspect of creating a pest-free outdoor dining experience is following standard restaurant cleaning protocols and cleaning your outdoor dining area properly. If your business is struggling to create a clean outdoor environment, hiring a restaurant cleaning service is a great way to ensure that your outdoor dining area remains clean and pest-free.

Try taking the following steps to deter outdoor pets from entering your restaurant's outdoor dining area:

When customers finish eating, remove utensils from the dining area immediately so as not to attract flies and ants.

Make sure the floor of the outdoor dining area is free of bread crumbs and other food, as pests will eat anything they can get their hands on.

Clean up any spilled sugary substances or other liquids immediately to prevent bees, wasps and mosquitoes from appearing.

Make sure to mow the lawn regularly and regularly trim branches and bushes around the outdoor dining area to maintain landscaping.

Use a pressure washer to regularly inspect and clean outdoor cracks and crevices, as these often neglected areas can become havens for pests.

2. Practice garbage control

Many of the most common outdoor pests are attracted to a certain place by excessive litter. Not only is it important to keep the outdoor dining area clean. But you also need to pay attention to the outdoor trash can of the venue.

You should not place trash cans anywhere near outdoor dining areas, as the trash inside can attract many different types of outdoor pets. If you must place an outdoor trash can near an outdoor dining area, make sure the trash can is covered to prevent flying insects from hovering. Regularly empty outdoor trash and recycling containers to ensure that the trash inside doesn't build up and also helps prevent pests.

3. Install outdoor fans

Outdoor fans are an excellent way to deter flying pests in outdoor dining areas while creating a more comfortable environment for customers. A comfortable breeze from an outdoor fan can easily blow away flying pests such as bees, wasps and flies.

At the same time, these fans can also be used to keep the temperature around the outdoor dining area cool for customers. Just make sure you place the fans wisely and make sure they don't blow directly at the customer.

4. Set up a bug killer

If you're looking for a way to create a pest-free outdoor dining area, a bug zapper is one of the best products to use. Outdoor bug zappers are designed to be unobtrusive, meaning they won't be noticed or disrupt a customer's dining experience. Even though the exterminator is discrete, it does a good job of attracting flying pests with lights. These zappers will not only attract pests away from your dining area. They will also quickly eliminate pests and eliminate problems.

5. Rearrange the light fixtures

Restaurant lighting is always an important aspect of the dining experience, but it's especially important in the outdoor dining area. Many outdoor pests are attracted to light, and as a result, flying pests hover around outdoor fixtures such as lamps. The hotter and brighter the outdoor light, the more flying insects it is likely to attract.

To avoid swarms of insects, try using items such as LED bulbs that generate less heat and are not too bright. In addition, you need to consider placing lamps away from the seating area of the outdoor dining area, as you don't want pests to gather around the area where customers sit and eat.

6. Place herbal centerpieces

A unique way to prevent outdoor pests is to make herbal centerpieces in outdoor dining areas. Many herbs, such as basil, mint, thyme, and rosemary, are natural insect repellents and are an excellent choice to repel bugs. Grow a variety of herbs in small POTS to create a natural and beautiful herb flora. These filled POTS can serve a dual purpose, both as decorative centerpieces and as deterrents to insects and other pests.

7. Burn citronella candles

Citronella candles are another great product that your restaurant can utilize to create a pest-free environment. Citronella candles are made from citronella oil, which is a natural insect repellent. When burned, these candles keep outdoor pets away from your outdoor dining area while setting the mood and serving as a fine decoration.

Keeping pests away from a restaurant's outdoor dining area is an important part of successfully integrating outdoor dining into the restaurant experience. While there is no single solution to eliminating outdoor pests, a combination of properly maintaining an outdoor dining area and taking the right steps can create a pest-free dining experience. Depending on your situation and location, different solutions may or may not be suitable for your restaurant. Mix and match different precautions and solutions to see what works best for your business.