We all enjoy a quiet afternoon in our back garden, reading a book or maybe a nice family barbeque. So the last thing you need is a swarm of mosquitoes attacking your grandma, termites eating the table or snails invading your vegetable garden.
All are unpleasant scenarios that we’d rather avoid. The best way to do this is to take the proper precautions against the little and not so little buggers.
This article will list the best preventive strategies against pests in the garden and some natural pest repellents that will help you out.
How to protect your backyard from pests
We will start by sharing the most important maintenance tips and actions you can take to keep all kinds of pests away from your backyard.
Clean up green waste and ripe produce
Fallen leaves create a great environment for pests to settle down and build homes, while the ripe and rotting produce will provide them with constant food supplies. Ensure that you clean up leaves, branches, fruits and vegetables regularly and don’t let them accumulate in piles.
However, there are some beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs that need to be protected. You have to try and not to disrupt their environment too much.
Empty your bins regularly
If you have bins in your backyard, be it for green waste or waste in general, empty them as soon as they are almost full. Otherwise, you will offer a dream buffet for all the rodents and insects looking to settle down. Once they realise the abundance of food in the bins, they will not hesitate to move to your house.
Clean your barbeque
Food residue is extremely attractive to insects and rodents, so our advice would be to clean your barbeque after each use. Don’t let the dirt accumulate as it might damage the plate, ruin the quality of your food, the smell, and cut its life span short. To avoid all of this, just clean it regularly or hire someone to do it for you.
Seal any gaps in the fence
Cut out as many entry points as possible. If you have a wooden fence, check the foundations for holes and rotting planks. It will not help with the insects, but it will make it harder for mice and rats to enter and bring their family along.
Clear the space around your house foundations
Remove all the wood debris, cardboard, plants, tree stumps, firewood, and similar from the foundations of your home as they will attract termites in no time. Just like the bins, once they realise your property is filled with tasty things to eat, they will not hesitate to move in further and look for more food.
Another thing is that piles of wood and debris create the perfect hideout for all kinds of pests, not just termites. Make sure you don’t provide it to them!
Keep wooden furniture dry and polish it
Another thing termites love is moist wood, so if you have any garden furniture or sheds in your backyard, make sure they are dry and polished. You can also put plastic covers on your wooden furniture to protect it during rainy seasons.
However, polish is undoubtedly the best decision. Apply it to your deck, furniture, sheds, and whatever else you have outside. Wood polish creates a thick protective layer that prevents insects from damaging the surface.
We recommend that you carefully research and maybe discuss what type of polish you can use with a professional. The correct one will not only protect your belongings but also prolong their lifespan significantly.
Put wire meshes on plants
Vegetables and fruits are one of the main things that attract garden pests. That’s why the best course of action is to place Polypropylene row covers to protect your short plants and seedlings. It’s also highly effective in keeping them safe during harsh weather conditions.
Place a protective cover on water sources
If you have a pool or a pond in your backyard, it is almost certain that it will attract many pests, primarily mosquitoes. They just love gathering around stagnant water.
Natural pest-repellent products, animals and plants
To make your crusade against garden pests even more successful, implement some natural pest repellents as well as the help of certain animals and plants. Let’s take a look:
Spiders
Spiders are some of the best pest control experts you can have, especially Daddy Long Legs and Huntsman. They are entirely harmless to you and your family, so there is no need to fear them. Using natural predators to fight harmful insects is one of the most critical steps in preserving the environment and the natural cycle of life, as well as creating an amazing sustainable garden.
Pest-repellent plants
Some plants can naturally repel insects and other pests because of their strong smell. Not only they will help with pest control, but they also create a beautiful corner everyone can enjoy.
Here is a list of the best pest repelling plants you can add to your garden.
- Lavender
- Catnip
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
- Lemon Eucalyptus
- Lemon balm
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Oregano
- Peppermint
- Marigolds
Beer
Beer will not repel, but it will surely distract snails and slugs from going after your crops. Just place saucers with beer in areas away from your garden, and the pests will go straight to them. We recommend that you choose the most remote areas of your backyard just to be safe.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is recommended for all kinds of insects, and it works great both for your garden and the inside of your home. You can easily find it online or in pet and food supply stores. Because it’s made from microscopic shells and particles, Diatomaceous earth is able to penetrate the exoskeleton of insects and kill them almost instantly.
The only thing you need to do is sprinkle some of it in the most problematic areas, such as around steps, close to the doors or the entry to your backyard.
Boric acid powder
This is a very lethal poison for insects that is entirely safe for people and bigger pets. Similar to DE, the only thing you have to do is sprinkle the powder wherever it’s needed. The bugs will walk on it, the boric acid powder will stick to their legs, and like this, they will transport it to the rest of the colony. Because insects groom each other, they will quickly ingest it and die.
Conclusion
It’s essential to take careful preventive measures to protect your backyard from pests. Dealing with an already developed infestation is much more challenging and will cost a lot of money, so the best way to go about it is to avoid them in the first place.
