Is Your Patio Furniture a Five-Star Resort for Pests?

Protecting Outdoor Furniture from Pests in Colorado Springs

You’ve spent weeks picking out the perfect outdoor furniture. Maybe it’s a rustic cedar dining set for family cookouts, a sleek modern sectional overlooking the Front Range, or handcrafted teak chairs arranged around a fire pit. You’ve envisioned summer evenings on the patio, drink in hand, enjoying the Pikes Peak view. That’s why patio furniture is more than just décor. It’s part of the outdoor lifestyle that makes Colorado Springs living so enjoyable.

But while you were planning your first BBQ, the local insect population was planning a move-in date.

In Colorado Springs, our unique climate—swinging from bone-dry heat to sudden afternoon downpours—creates a playground for pests like ants, termites, and wood-boring beetles. Often, your outdoor furniture is the first thing they claim.

Unfortunately, while homeowners are busy planning backyard gatherings, local pests are scouting for places to nest, chew, tunnel, and hide. Colorado’s combination of dry heat, sudden storms, cool evenings, and seasonal moisture swings creates surprisingly favorable conditions for insects and small pests that can damage outdoor furniture over time.

At Fredell Enterprises, we believe beautiful landscapes should also be functional and durable. Protecting outdoor furniture from pests starts with smart landscape design, proper placement, good drainage, and choosing the right materials around your patio or garden space.

Here’s how Colorado Springs homeowners can keep their outdoor living areas comfortable for people instead of pests.

Many people assume pests only invade homes, but outdoor furniture can become an easy target long before insects ever reach your siding or foundation.

Colorado Springs landscapes experience dramatic weather fluctuations throughout the year:

• Intense summer sun
• Afternoon thunderstorms
• Freeze-thaw cycles
• Dry periods followed by sudden moisture
• Wind-blown organic debris

These changing conditions create pockets of warmth and moisture that attract insects looking for shelter and food sources. Furniture placed near mulch beds, lawns, garden areas, or damp soil becomes especially vulnerable.

Wood furniture naturally absorbs moisture over time, while cushions and shaded crevices create ideal hiding places for insects. Even metal and resin furniture are not immune. Hollow frames, undersides, and joints can become nesting sites for ants and spiders.

The good news is that thoughtful landscaping and preventive maintenance can dramatically reduce the risk.

Many homeowners think termites only care about the house siding. In reality, a wooden bench sitting directly on soil or mulch is like an “All You Can Eat” sign. Termites travel through mud tubes from the ground into the legs of your furniture. If you notice tiny holes or a “hollow” sound when you tap the wood, you likely have a structural issue.

Termites are one of the biggest threats to wood furniture and outdoor structures. While subterranean termites are more common in some parts of the country, Colorado Springs still experiences termite activity, particularly in moist areas with direct wood-to-soil contact.

Outdoor furniture placed directly on mulch, dirt, or damp grass becomes much more vulnerable because termites travel underground and enter wood from below.

Signs of termite damage include:

• Hollow-sounding wood
• Tiny holes or cracks
• Mud tubes near furniture legs
• Bubbling or warped wood surfaces

Because termite damage often develops slowly, homeowners may not notice the problem until significant structural weakening has occurred.

Ants don’t just want your spilled lemonade. Many species, like the Carpenter Ant, seek out moist or decaying wood to build nests. Even more common in Colorado are “Pavement Ants” that love to colonize the hollow legs of metal or resin furniture. They find a warm, protected spot and stay there until you sit down and disturb the colony.

Carpenter ants are especially common in Colorado landscapes. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood for nutrition, but they tunnel through damp or decaying wood to create nesting galleries.

Outdoor furniture becomes attractive when:

• Moisture accumulates beneath cushions
• Wood begins to soften from weather exposure
• Furniture sits near irrigated planting beds

Carpenter ants are particularly active during warmer months and often establish colonies inside fence posts, pergolas, decks, or patio furniture.

If you see perfectly circular, dime-sized holes in your cedar or redwood pergola or furniture, you have Carpenter Bees. Carpenter bees are common throughout Colorado Springs and can be surprisingly destructive over time. They don’t eat the wood, but they vibrate through it to create nesting tunnels, weakening the wood over time. Cedar, redwood, and untreated softwoods are especially appealing.

Common targets include:

• Pergolas
• Wooden railings
• Outdoor benches
• Gazebos
• Patio furniture

Although carpenter bees are important pollinators, repeated nesting can weaken wood structures and leave behind noticeable cosmetic damage.

Colorado homeowners also frequently encounter:

• Black widows hiding under furniture
• Wolf spiders nesting in cushions
• Earwigs in damp crevices
• Wasps building nests under tables or umbrellas

While many of these pests cause minimal structural damage, they can quickly make outdoor living areas feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is placing expensive outdoor furniture directly on organic landscaping materials.

That includes:

• Wood mulch
• Grass
• Soil
• Damp gravel
• Thick planting beds

Keep in mind that:

• Mulch is a Magnet: Wood mulch retains moisture, which is exactly what termites and ants need to survive.
• Soil Creates a Bridge: When furniture legs touch damp soil, you provide a direct “highway” for pests to climb up.

These environments retain moisture and provide easy access for insects traveling through the ground. In Colorado Springs, where irrigation systems often run frequently during summer, moisture buildup around patio areas can unintentionally create a pest-friendly environment.

The Professional Solution: A custom-built paver patio or natural stone living area acts as a massive “pest barrier.” By elevating your furniture onto a dry, inorganic surface like flagstone or high-quality pavers, you cut off the moisture and the easy access points that ground-dwelling pests rely on.

One of the best long-term strategies for protecting outdoor furniture from pests is investing in professionally designed hardscaping.

A well-built patio acts like a defensive barrier between your furniture and the surrounding environment.

Paver patios provide:

• Better drainage
• Reduced soil contact
• Fewer moist hiding places for insects
• Easier cleaning and maintenance

Because pavers allow for controlled water runoff, they help reduce standing moisture that attracts pests.

Natural stone patios are especially popular in Colorado Springs because they complement the mountain landscape while offering excellent durability.

Stone surfaces dry more quickly after storms and create fewer nesting opportunities compared to wood decks or mulch-covered seating areas.

Fredell Enterprises specializes in custom patios and outdoor living spaces designed specifically for Colorado’s climate and terrain.

Poor drainage is one of the biggest contributors to pest problems in outdoor spaces.

When water pools around patios, garden beds, or furniture areas, it creates ideal breeding conditions for:

• Ants
• Mosquitoes
• Termites
• Mold and mildew

Professional landscape design focuses heavily on water movement and grading to prevent these issues.

• Dry creek beds
• Proper grading
• Permeable pavers
• French drains
• Strategic irrigation placement

Keeping outdoor spaces dry dramatically reduces pest activity while also protecting your landscaping investment.

Shrubs and dense vegetation placed directly against patios can create sheltered pathways for pests.

Maintain a small buffer zone between planting areas and seating spaces whenever possible.

This improves:

• Air circulation
• Sunlight exposure
• Drying time after storms

All of which help discourage insects.

Mulch helps conserve water and improve soil health, but some mulch types retain excessive moisture.

For Colorado Springs landscapes:

• Rock mulch works well near patios
• Shredded bark should be kept away from furniture legs
• Mulch depth should remain moderate to avoid moisture buildup

Proper mulch selection can reduce pest activity while still supporting healthy plants.

If you own wooden outdoor furniture, routine sealing is essential.

A high-quality exterior sealant helps:

• Repel moisture
• Reduce cracking
• Discourage wood-boring insects
• Extend furniture lifespan

Colorado’s strong UV exposure can dry out wood quickly, so periodic maintenance is especially important here.

Food residue attracts far more than just ants.

Spilled drinks, crumbs, grease, and organic debris can invite:

• Ant colonies
• Wasps
• Rodents
• Flies

Simple cleaning habits make a major difference.

• After gatherings:
• Wipe down surfaces
• Shake out cushions
• Remove standing water
• Store food indoors promptly

Outdoor lighting enhances ambiance, but certain bulbs attract insects.

Warm-toned LED lights tend to attract fewer bugs than cool white bulbs.

Strategic lighting placement can also reduce pest concentration near seating areas.

For homeowners investing in flower gardens or vegetable beds, integrated pest prevention should begin during the design phase.

Raised garden beds, stone edging, gravel barriers, and thoughtful irrigation placement all help reduce pest access and moisture buildup.

Colorado Springs homeowners also benefit from selecting pest-resistant plants suited to the local climate.

Companion planting techniques can naturally deter certain insects while supporting pollinators and overall garden health.

A beautiful outdoor space should feel relaxing, welcoming, and built to last. Protecting outdoor furniture from pests isn’t just about extermination. It starts with intelligent landscape design that reduces moisture, improves drainage, and creates durable outdoor living environments suited to Colorado Springs conditions.

At Fredell Enterprises, we specialize in designing and building outdoor spaces that balance beauty, functionality, and long-term performance. From custom patios and hardscaping to drainage solutions and integrated landscape design, our team helps homeowners create landscapes that stand up to Colorado’s challenging climate.

Whether you’re upgrading an aging patio, redesigning a backyard garden, or creating a brand-new outdoor living area, Fredell Enterprises can help you build a space that’s inviting for your family instead of local pests.

Ready to upgrade your outdoor living space? Contact Fredell Enterprises today to schedule a consultation and start designing a landscape built for beauty, comfort, and durability year-round.