Guide To Natural Pest Control
15 Natural Pest Control Solutions You Can Use
Are you looking for safe and effective ways to control pests in your home without using harsh chemicals? Many natural ingredients can help repel and eliminate common household pests like ants, cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, mice, and more.
In this guide, we will explore 15 of the top natural pest control methods to try.
1. Citronella
Citronella is a natural essential oil derived from lemongrass. It has a strong, lemon-like scent that insects find repellent. Citronella oil can be used to create natural bug sprays and lotions to keep mosquitoes, ticks, and flies away. You can also find citronella candles, torches, and plants to help repel insects in your outdoor living spaces.
2. Fresh Herbs
Certain fresh herbs contain smells and oils that deter insects. Herbs like mint, thyme, basil, parsley, garlic, and chives can help naturally repel ants, flies, mosquitoes, and even mice when planted around your home. The strong scents confuse their senses and drive them away.
3. Natural Fly Traps
Instead of using chemical-based fly paper or zappers, you can make natural fly traps to capture and kill flies. Simply mix some apple cider vinegar or wine with a drop of dish soap in a bowl or jar. The sweet smells lure flies in, but the dish soap causes them to sink and drown once they land on the liquid.
4. Essential Oil Sprays
Many essential oils like lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, and citronella oil have natural pest-repelling properties. You can fill spray bottles with water and a few drops of these oils to create natural DIY bug sprays. Use them to treat ant trails, deter flies and mosquitoes, eliminate pests from houseplants, and more. The strong fragrances overwhelm their chemical receptors.
5. Diatomaceous Earth
DE is a natural mineral dust made up of fossilised algae. It’s abrasive texture dehydrates soft-bodied insects like ants, cockroaches, silverfish and bed bugs upon contact. Apply food-grade DE along baseboards, under appliances, and anywhere else you see signs of pests. The sharp particles cut their waxy exoskeletons, causing dehydration and death within 48 hours. Completely non-toxic to humans and pets.
6. Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds can also deter garden pests like slugs and snails. The abrasive texture irritates their soft undersides when they crawl across grounds scattered around plants. You can also spray a mixture of used grounds and water directly onto afflicted plants’ leaves to repel aphids. The caffeine Content also confuses ants’ chemical trails.
7. White Vinegar
White vinegar’s sour scent and acidic nature helps dissolve residue trails left by ants and destroys mold insect larvae feed on. Use it to wipe down countertops, mix with H2O to spray on anthills directly, and add to laundry to destroy musty smells that draw pests. You can also combine with essential oils for an even more powerful pest control cleaning solution.
8. Banana Peels
The oils and compounds in banana peels deter aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and other common garden pests when added to soil. Simply chop and mix peels into soil once a month or create banana peel “tea” by steeping peels in liquid for a day before pouring the liquid fertilizer onto leaves and bases. The potassium content also acts as a natural fertiliser for your garden.
9. Cloves
Whole cloves contain a natural oil called Eugenol that’s highly irritating and confusing to insects. Place whole cloves along ant trails, around door and window frames, under appliances, and in cupboards to repel pests. You can also steep cloves in hot water for an hour to create a potent, pest-repelling spray. The strong essential oils overwhelm insects’ senses.
10. Onions
Onions emit powerful scents that mask the pheromones some insects use to communicate and breed. Chop onions and place pieces around your vegetable garden, in your basement, crawlspaces, and anywhere else you see evidence of pests to repel them. You can also purée onions and water in a blender then strain out the pulp to create an onion spray. The sulfur compounds deter insects upon contact.
11. Peppermint Oil
The intense minty aroma of pure peppermint oil repels spiders, mice, ants, cockroaches, and more from wherever it’s applied without harming pets or humans. Mix about 10 drops of food-grade peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and use around baseboards, windows, doorways, attic entrances, under sinks, and anywhere else you see signs of pest issues. Reapply weekly. The smell overwhelms their chemical receptors.
12. Cedarwood
The strong scent of cedar naturally repels moths, ants, roaches, spiders, silverfish and other unwanted pests. Place cedar blocks, chips or balls in cabinets, drawers, basements and attics to protect clothes, linens and more without using harmful chemicals. You can also line garden beds and pathways with cedar mulch to protect them. As it slowly decomposes, the aroma persists to keep insects away season after season.
13. Neem Oil
Extracted from the seeds and bark of Neem trees. Neem oil contain the compound azadirachtin that interrupts insects’ reproduction and life cycles. Mix a small amount of pure, cold-pressed Neem oil with water and a bit of natural soap. Shake well and spray onto your garden to kill common pests like aphids, spider mites, caterpillars and Japanese beetles as well as deter future infestations. Completely non-toxic to pets, birds, bees and humans!
14. Chili Pepper Spray
A spray made from chopped chili peppers or cayenne pepper powder can help safely deter small mammals like squirrels, rabbits, gophers, and deer from chewing on or digging around garden. Simply strain out the pepper solids and spray the remaining spicy liquid onto areas. Avoid getting it into cuts or eyes and be sure to wash hands afterwards. Reapply after rain or watering. Mammals avoid the irritation the capsaicin causes.
15. Epsom Salt
Like table salt, Epsom salt (made up of magnesium sulfate) also deters beetles, caterpillars and aphids when dissolved and sprayed onto plants. Dissolve approximately 1 tablespoon salt per gallon of water. Test spray a small area first before wide application to ensure plant tolerance. The compound disrupts insects’ exoskeletons and internal processes when absorbed through their bodies.
The Problem With Traditional Pesticides
Traditional pesticide use harbors many risks. There are three main drawbacks to these chemical solutions:
Health Hazards
Chemical pesticides contain toxins purposely designed to kill living organisms. Exposure to these neurotoxic chemicals can cause headaches, nausea, mood issues, and other acute side effects in humans. Long term, they may contribute to serious chronic conditions like cancer, reproductive issues, and neurological disorders. Young children are especially vulnerable.
Environmental Damage
Outdoor pesticide use also takes a toll on the environment. Chemical residues leach into the surrounding soil and water systems, disrupting fragile ecosystems. These toxins make their way up the food chain and ultimately back to humans as well.
Resistance
Over time, many pest populations develop resistance when exposed to the same pesticide over and over. This renders the pesticide ineffective. Often when one pest is eliminated by toxic chemical, another type quickly takes its place in greater numbers, rebounding to fill the void in what is called pest resurgence.
Eco-Friendly Pest Control Works To Keep Pests At Bay
How many of these organic pest control ingredients did you already have in your pantry or garden? Most are very inexpensive and safe for use around kids and pets when applied properly.
Try out a few natural methods and repellents to tackle your pest problems and protect your home without relying on harsh toxins. Maintain vigilance, address any entry points, and reapply treatments as needed until pest infestations have cleared.
With some persistence and patience, you can eliminate unwanted intruders in eco-friendly way!
Article written by Simon Easterby from Green Pest Control Sydney.
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