How to get rid of gnats outside

[lingmerth]

We’ve moved to a new house recently. Outside where we’ve put our garden furniture there are loads of these wretched gnats just flying around. I’ve googled it and it suggested not watering plants as much as they like the moisture, and rotting organic matter. We have 3 pots of pansies, 2 pots of hostas and a lavender in a pot. That’s all. No rotting organic matter.
they're making it unpleasant to sit out.
Does anyone have any suggestions or have a similar problem.

It's the outdoors, that is where they live. Try a citronella candle, they are supposed to keep insects at bay.

gnats are food for birds, don’t spray them. Citronella candles, joss sticks should help.

I know it’s outdoors and it sounds unreasonable! Just don’t understand why they’re congregating there in the daytime. I’d expect them at night.
plenty of birds around too.
I’ll try a citronella candle and see if it helps

get more plants / trees / wildlife in your garden. if you have a few trees and encourage birds, they will eat the gnats

We have trees, bushes and plants, lots of them and yes those gnats are an absolute pain so the birds need to do extra shifts!

@Abracadabra12345We have the same. Lots of birds too. We live in a semi rural area too. Just wondering if it’s the dry weather or a bad year for them.
I was reading this morning that there are excessive green fly this year.

@lingmerth That’s so interesting- we have masses of greenfly! Never known anything like it

You are using the WRONG approach - DON`T try to get rid of the gnats, that is a LOT of work.
Attract the gnats to an area AWAY from the furniture.
eg at the bottom of the garden have an area for the gnats - for you to AVOID
> Get somethin like fruit - oranges/apples place on the ground / around an area
This IS where the gnats WILL be attracted / confined

Are you overwatering the plants?

Do you have compost bins or food waste near where you sit? Anything dead or dying like leaves and plants in the area can attract gnats.

How are the drains and gutters?

Do you have an underground spring?

Is there a faulty French Drain or Soakaway?

Is there are problem with drainage?

There's hundreds of species of gnats that we know of in the UK. Many of the smaller species turn up for the fungus that love moist conditions so reduce any watering and move any bin/compost further away, keep gutters and drains free from debris and make sure there isn't a pot cover or other container that can hold water..

Chances are standing water in or near soil/compost is the main culprit and even though it is dry, there's plenty of opportunities for moist soils and composts and or detritus that attract these little beasts.

You could create a bog garden further away from the seating area but until you get rid of the moisture problem where you sit, those gnats will remain whatever you put in place to draw them away.

Agree with distracting the gnats to another area.
How about a small water barrel placed well away from your furniture? Line it, add water and a couple of pond plants and a bit of pond weed. Plus some stones so any wildlife can clamber out.
Gnats will.congregate around. We have 3 frogs in ours this year and beautiful water buttercups.

Get a battery powered fan or two and put them by your seating area. Fans are very cheap.

It’s their world too. Are they really harming you all that much?

There are loads of species of small flies called gnats, most are none biting, just annoying. They often exhibit behaviour described as 'lekking'. The males (no male flies, even horsefles or mosquitoes bite) congregate in small or even quite large clouds to sexually harass any females they attract. As pp posters have suggested its better to get them to move. Citronella or a fan, as they generally prefer still air, may deter them.

The ones that congregate over Lake Malawi(picture) and other lakes worldwide are so numerous the locals catch them and cook them into burgers. Perhaps that's another option? 🤔😊

There are loads of species of small flies ...

> CONFIRMIN my point - TELL them where you WANT them - make them GO somewhere ELSE

We have travelled a bit to lots of places where flying things are not just a pest but downright dangerous if they bite you. Burning incense under the table is a good trick, as is a strong electric fan, but obviously only if it’s safe to run a fan /extension lead safely outdoors. Which it’s not in the rain, we have had a few hairy moments there abroad!

Wow some really interesting facts.
Funnily enough since I’ve written this post it’s improved massively. I do like the idea of a little pond to move them though.
We’ve had no rain for over 2 weeks so soil is quite dry, gutters etc are too. We do have an outside tap where I fill the watering can?
I really don’t want to hurt them, just ask them politely to move and now I have a solution!

Exactly (little pond to move them)
> I just planted the seeds - it is your garden, take the idea, make it work for you

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