When it comes to pest control, you can spend a lot of money hiring exterminators or buying smelly (and often toxic) sprays and chemicals for your home, but in some cases, you may not need to go to such lengths. There are many all-natural remedies for insect and pest control, many of which our ancestors have been using with great success for countless generations. You’ll be pleased to know that many of these useful items can be found in the average home.
Although pest control can refer to dealing with bird, insect, and rodent infestations, this article will focus on getting rid of insects.
insect control in the garden
Believe it or not, aluminum foil can keep hungry bugs and slugs out of your garden. Simply mix strips of aluminum foil into your garden mulch to deter bugs and slugs. Also, since the foil is reflective, it will return light to your plants, giving them a solar boost.
Mothballs are another useful device for insect control in the garden. You’ve probably heard of using mothballs in the closet to protect your sweaters, but you can also use them to kill bugs in pots. Simply place the plant in a clear plastic bag (ie a cleaning bag), add some mothballs and seal the bag for a week. When you take the plant out, it will be bug-free (and moths will stay away for a while, too). Animals also hate the smell of mothballs, so you can also throw some in your garden and flower bed, to keep cats, dogs, and rodents away.
Did you know that onions are also a natural pesticide? Here’s an easy-to-make concoction that will repel bugs (and animals, too) on your flowers and vegetables: Use a blender to puree 4 onions, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper, and a quarter of gallon of water Set the mixture aside and then dilute 2 tablespoons of soap flakes in 2 gallons of water. For the entire contents of your blender, stir it up and you’ve got an eco-friendly bug spray to use on your plants.
Black pepper is another home remedy that works great for garden pest control. If insects are harassing your flowers, plants and vegetables, simply mix pepper with flour and sprinkle it around your plants. Insects won’t be as eager to chew.
Lastly, you can make your own rock dust to get rid of bugs in the garden.
Insect control in the house
Dog and cat food, often left out all day, can be a major temptation for ants and other insects. An easy way to make these six-legged intruders lose interest is to place a rim of baking soda around pet food bowls. The baking soda won’t bother your pets (although they probably won’t like the taste), so don’t worry if they enjoy their food a bit.
Another good household item to get rid of bugs is vinegar. For example, if your last trip to the farmers market brought fruit flies and healthy groceries, then you can make fly traps by filling an old jar halfway with apple cider vinegar. Drill a few holes in the top, screw it back on, and the fruit flies will be attracted and trapped.
These are just some of the easy ways to use simple household items to get rid of bugs. So when you have a problem, don’t be so eager to buy a chemical-filled can of bug spray. Look for natural solutions, and you will most likely find them!