One of the most pleasant parts of the warmer months of the year is enjoying some time on your deck, patio, or porch. For many people, it's a summer tradition to head outside for a grilled meal or sit back and relax with a book as the sun sets.

Unfortunately, summer is also the time when pesky insects are out in force. You might find your outdoor meal being swarmed by mosquitos, ants, yellow jackets, or other insects.

Mosquitos are arguably the most irritating of these bugs, and one way to combat them is to remove their breeding environments. Lauren Dunec Hoang, writing for the home design site Houzz, says mosquitos will look for standing water to lay their eggs, and you can make your yard less attractive to these pests by dumping out watering cans, garbage can lids, and other places where water has collected.

Make a thorough search for standing water, since mosquitos can find it in unexpected places. Barbara Eisner Bayer, writing for the home improvement site HouseLogic, says clogged gutters and downspouts can harbor mosquito eggs.

Bird baths can add a nice landscaping feature, but will also become a mosquito breeding ground if their water is not refreshed. Hoang says the water should be changed at least every two weeks.

If you have a water feature in your landscaping, make sure the water is not stagnant. Adding an aerator or recirculating pump will keep the water moving in a fountain or pond, helping to keep mosquitos from laying eggs.

Similarly, mosquitoes—and other insects such as gnats and flies—can be deterred by moving air. A ceiling fan installed above a seating area on a porch or covered patio will not only create a cooling breeze, but also put up some resistance to pests that try to fly toward you and your guests.

If you have put your outdoor seating area in a naturally shaded location, consider relocating it. The shade is more comfortable, but it's also the preferred location for mosquitos during the daytime. If you plan on being out more during this period, create a smaller area of shade using measures such as an umbrella or awning.

One of the more active measures you can take against mosquitos is to encourage bats to take up residence nearby. Bayer says bats can eat hundreds of mosquitos in a short period, and that building up a bat house increases the likelihood that you can benefit from this natural pest control.

Another active solution is to screen in your porch or other seating areas. Hoang says simple mosquito nets can also be draped from pergolas or other features.

Citronella candles are another method of keeping bugs at bay, though they need to be combined with other deterrent measures. Western Exterminator Company, a pest control business with locations in five states, recommends combining candles with citronella torches.

If you're looking to do some larger improvements to your home's outdoor spaces, buy some yellow or sodium vapor lights for any outdoor fixtures. These light sources are less attractive to insects than standard white lights.

You can also update the paint scheme around your outdoor seating areas. Bayer says insects are more attracted to dark colors, so using lighter colors on your fencing, siding, trim, or other features can increase the chances that bugs will pass it by.

Upgrade your landscaping to make it a less attractive habitat for insects. Mow grass regularly to keep its height down, and add mulch to keep yellow jackets and other pests from tunneling into bare dirt. Mulch can also support insects like ants and cockroaches, so keep it at least 12 inches from the foundation to avoid giving them an entry point to your home.

Add plants with strong scents, which are effective in repelling mosquitos as well as pests that will snack on your vegetable garden. Some options include basil, catnip, lavender, marigold, mint, and rosemary.

Keep your patio, deck, or other communal spaces clean. Western Exterminator Company says any crumbs or spills left over from a family meal will attract ants and other insects. A hydrogen peroxide solution, or even a spray of mouthwash, can be applied around the perimeter of the seating area as well.