Decking And Flies

[TCoys28]

We've just had decking laid in our back garden this week, which looks amazing.
But for some reason, there seem to flies all over it.
I hated my back garden before the decking and never just to sit out there. Now with the decking, I want to sit there and make most of the sunshine. I now can't do that because of the flies!

Does decking attract flies? And how do I get rid of them?

[Mosaic]

I've found that certain colours attract flies - yellow picnic ware is the best fly-magnet! Flies also appear to 'sunbathe', so if your deck is nice and sunny they will want to share.
If there are really lots of quite big black ones, you may have a dead creature under the decking. Time will work wonders if so, and eventually the flies will have done their job.
In the meantime you could try thrashing about with a tea-towel, or get one of those Jomo Kenyatta-style flywhisks and whisk in a languid tropical way.
Or hang up a mobile or windchime to see if that deters them.

[Maydup]

I was going to suggest you check under the decking too. Maybe a dead bird or mouse which is attracting them temporarily.

[Ratty2E]

Looks like we've all considered the corpse theory, if it is that they won't hang about for long. It could also be the colour I recently painted an arbour seat pale green and for a while it had flies just sitting on it. The good news is the novelty seemed wear off and they don't do it now.

[TCoys28]

Thanks guys.

I don't think there's a dead animal underneath, as the decking only just got laid this week and they cleared everything before laying it.
The wood does have green in it and the guy said that the green colour will disappear after about 6-8wks. So maybe it's because of that ?!

[Chipchopper]

Hi TCoys,
The flies are probably just warming up in the morning sun, unless the decking guy boardged over his lunch ;-)

You could try giving the deck a good blast with a hose to see if that works but it will probably be short lived.

But what I would really like to suggest is growing some pots or planters of herbs, such as Basil, Bay leaf, Lavender, Pepper mint, Rue and possibly Lemon balm and more.
You get herbs, you can use in the kitchen and less flies in the bargain, every one wins!!

[HansUrbancka]

New timber which has been treated with a preservative can often attract flies until the aroma wears off.

Follow the suggestions put forward by Chipchopper ^^^.

A hosing down of the decking could reduce the newness of the aroma and the idea of growing herbs should certainly be followed. I am adding Rosemary to the list for pots/containers.

Hans.