This guide explains how to keep flies away from your patio, why they gather in certain areas, and what steps actually make a difference in the Florida climate.
Florida patios are meant for relaxing, enjoying warm evenings, and spending time outdoors. But in Jacksonville and surrounding areas, flies often show up the moment you sit down with food or drinks. Florida’s heat, humidity, and nearby water sources make patios a prime spot for fly activity.
While flying insects may seem like a small annoyance at first, they can also spread bacteria and make outdoor gatherings uncomfortable fast.
Whether you have a screened patio, an open deck, or a shaded outdoor space, these tips can help you reclaim your backyard.
Why Are Flies So Active in Florida?
Our warm climate allows flies to stay active for most of the year. Afternoon storms, standing water, and heavy humidity create perfect breeding conditions.
Patios with shade, moisture, food, or pets nearby attract flies even more.
Local conditions that increase fly activity include:
- High humidity that supports fast reproduction
- Standing water from storms, sprinklers, or clogged drains
- Nearby lakes or ponds
- Outdoor cooking areas or trash bins
- Warm evening temperatures that keep flies active longer
Many of these same conditions also support mosquito activity, which is why homeowners often notice both pests showing up around the patio at the same time.
If moisture stays around the home, mosquitoes and flies can quickly become a daily problem.
Here are proven, practical ways to deter and prevent flies and other pests.
Clear Out Moisture Sources
Flies need water to survive. Even small amounts of moisture around the patio can attract them. Since Florida’s humidity already provides moisture, it is even more important to remove additional water sources.
Helpful steps include:
- Wipe down patio tables after rain
- Empty water from plant trays
- Fix areas where water pools near the patio
- Clear clogged gutters or patio drains
- Keep outdoor coolers closed when not in use
Managing moisture is also a major way to reduce mosquito activity, since mosquitoes need still water to breed. This means one step helps with two common Florida pests at the same time.
Keep Food and Drinks Covered
Food smells attract flies quickly, especially in warm weather. Sweet drinks, fruit, sauces, and anything left uncovered draws flies to the patio.
Easy ways to reduce food smells outdoors:
- Use lids or mesh covers on plates and bowls
- Cover drink cups between sips
- Clean spills right away
- Remove finished plates from the patio instead of letting them sit
Food odors also draw ants, wasps, and roaches, which can bring more flying insects to the area. Covering food is one of the simplest ways to reduce all types of pest activity around outdoor seating.
Move Trash and Recycling Away From the Patio
Flies gather around trash because it provides both food and breeding sites. Even outdoor trash cans with lids can attract flies if they are too close to the patio.
Try to:
- Keep trash at least several feet away from seating areas
- Rinse recycling items before placing them in bins
- Clean sticky residue around the lids
- Make sure bins close tightly
In Florida heat, trash odors become stronger faster, so regular cleaning helps prevent both flies and mosquitoes from hovering around the patio.
Moist trash and damp recycling containers can support mosquito activity too.
Use Air Movement to Keep Flies Away
Flies have trouble landing when air is moving. On still, humid days, patios become easy landing zones. Adding airflow helps push flies away without chemicals.
Options include:
- Ceiling fans on covered patios
- Portable fans pointed toward seating areas
- Oscillating fans for larger outdoor spaces
Air movement also helps keep mosquitoes away, since they struggle to fly in moving air. This makes fans a powerful, low-effort option for daily comfort.
Keep Patio Surfaces Clean
Leftover food particles, sticky spots, and crumbs all attract flies. Even a clean-looking, enclosed patio may have scents that draw pests.
Clean patio surfaces regularly by:
- Wiping tables after meals
- Rinsing outdoor cushions if spills occur
- Sweeping the floor to remove crumbs
- Cleaning grill areas after cooking
- Washing sticky drink rings from outdoor surfaces
Because of the heat and humidity in Jacksonville, food residue breaks down faster and creates odors that attract flies, wasps, and even gnats. A quick wipe-down often makes a noticeable difference.
Manage Yard Conditions Around the Patio
Flies do not only live on patios. They often breed in the yard and then move toward outdoor seating areas.
Check for:
- Mulch beds that stay wet after storms
- Pet waste in the yard
- Overwatered plants
- Compost piles near the home
- Trash or recycling stored outdoors
Many of these same conditions also support mosquito breeding.
Wet mulch, shaded soil, and standing water in low spots can attract mosquitoes just as easily as flies. Improving yard conditions helps reduce overall pest activity.
Use Scents That Repel Flies
Flies dislike certain natural scents. While these scents will not solve a large fly problem alone, they can help reduce activity.
Popular scent options include:
- Citronella candles
- Basil, mint, or rosemary plants
- Essential oil diffusers designed for outdoor use
- Citrus peels placed in small outdoor bowls
Many scents that repel flies also help deter mosquitoes. Citronella, mint, and rosemary are common choices for Florida patios because they work well in warm climates and hold their scent longer.
Install or Repair Screens
If your patio is screened in, even small gaps can let flies inside. Florida storms and strong winds can damage screens quickly.
Check for:
- Loose corners
- Small tears in the mesh
- Holes near the bottom where pets may push against the screen
- Gaps around door frames
Screen repairs also help reduce mosquitoes, gnats, and no-see-ums. A single small tear can let several types of flying insects enter at once.
Consider Patio Lighting Adjustments
Certain lighting setups bring more insects to outdoor spaces. Adjusting lighting helps reduce fly and mosquito activity.
Helpful adjustments include:
- Switching to warm-tone bulbs
- Keeping bright lights further from seating areas
- Using pathway lights instead of overhead bulbs during relaxing hours
Mosquitoes and other flying pests are drawn to certain light temperatures. A few simple lighting changes can noticeably reduce the amount of buzzing around your patio.
Why Do Flies Keep Returning?
If flies come back day after day, there may be a deeper issue such as:
- A nearby breeding site in the yard
- Strong food odors
- Pet waste attracting multiple types of pests
- Standing water under the patio or in yard corners
- Open entry points into screened areas
- Overripe fruit on trees or fallen fruit on the lawn
Moisture and heat also draw mosquitoes, so homeowners often deal with both pests at the same time. A professional can help identify what is attracting flies and whether a mosquito treatment may be helpful for reducing overall pest pressure.
Other Questions Homeowners Ask
Why do flies gather on patios in the evenings?
Warm patio surfaces, leftover food smells, and slower air movement at dusk make patios more appealing. Evening moisture rises after storms, which can attract both flies and mosquitoes.
Do screened patios still get flies?
They can. Even small gaps allow flies, gnats, and mosquitoes to enter. Screens near doors and corners usually wear out fastest in Florida weather.
Could other pests be attracting flies?
Yes. Ants, roaches, and rodents can create conditions that draw flies near patios. Mosquitoes may also gather in shared moisture zones like gutters, drains, and shaded soil.
When to Call a Professional
Get in touch with a professional if:
- Flies return daily even after cleaning
- You find large groups resting on surfaces or window screens
- Your yard stays damp or muddy for long periods
- Moisture issues keep coming back after storms
- You see flies inside the home as well as outside
Inside & Out Pest Services can identify what is drawing flies to your patio and what parts of the yard or home may be supporting pest activity.
Our team also offers mosquito control, which is often helpful when moisture and humidity are contributing to multiple types of flying insects around the property.
A targeted treatment plan can reduce flies, limit mosquito activity, and make your patio enjoyable again.
Conclusion
Keeping flies away from your patio in Florida requires a mix of moisture control, cleanliness, airflow, and steady yard maintenance. When these steps work together, your outdoor space becomes more comfortable and far less appealing to flies and mosquitoes.
If you continue to see fly activity, or if mosquitoes are also becoming a problem, request a service with Inside & Out Pest Services and create a plan that keeps your patio clear and comfortable.
