So you have a problem. Pests have invaded your home and garden. They have devoured your tomatoes and infested your basement. You want to get rid of them, but you don’t want to harm the environment while doing so. Spraying everything around you with toxic chemicals just doesn’t seem healthy or environmentally ethical, but you’re not sure that natural pest control techniques actually work. It’s time to weed out what works from what doesn’t. Here are some eco-smart techniques for leaving your garden and home free of pests without using harmful chemicals.
Eco-Smart Pest Control Techniques in the Garden
The first and most obvious step in keeping your garden pest-free is to make sure that your plants are as healthy as possible. The best way to do this is to give your plants the appropriate amount of water, sunlight, and nutrients. After all, a healthy garden is less desirable to pests than a sickly garden.
Of course, even the healthiest garden can attract some unwanted insects and animals. Instead of spraying the most powerful pesticide that you can find all over your plants in napalm fashion, use natural methods that target specific pests. Start with homemade pesticides. Garlic and cayenne pepper deter aphids, coffee grounds and vinegar are great for banishing ants, and slugs don’t like eggshells. Attracting birds and friendly insects, like ladybugs, who feed on harmful bugs is another great natural way to eliminate pests. If the pest problem does get out of hand, however, your local garden shop or hardware store should carry organic pesticide sprays that target specific pests. For larger pests like squirrels and chipmunks, spraying a cayenne-water mixture on fruits and vegetables works well. As do humane traps that allow you to relocated the pests a few miles away.
Eco-Smart Pest Control Techniques in the Home
The best way to control pests in the home is to prevent them from ever getting in. Make sure that even the smallest holes in the exterior of your house are caulked and that screen doors and windows are well-maintained. Keep pet food, cereal, sugar, and flour sealed so that they won’t attract insects and animals.
Sometimes pests get in to our houses no matter the measures taken, but there are plenty of natural ways to get rid of them. Spray ants with vegetable-based soap mixed with water, and keep them away with cayenne or peppermint. A fan is a miracle worker when it comes to mosquitoes. Save your sweaters from moths by storing them with packets of cedar chips or lavender. To get rid of rats and mice, set humane traps that allow you to return them to nature. Sticky traps are also an option, though they do kill the rodents.