Wondering how to protect your backyard from pests? Here are some ideas…
Keeping your backyard pest-free can often seem like a bit of an uphill battle.
If you have a natural lawn as opposed to an artificial grass lawn, mosquitoes, slugs, flies and other creepy critters can easily take over your yard, but luckily there are ways to defeat them without resorting to pesticides and chemicals.
Follow these simple tips to keeping your backyard pest-free and you won’t have to worry about creepy crawlies ever again!
Cut mosquitoes off at the source
You can greatly reduce the amount of mosquitoes in your yard by removing stagnant water.
Still water can be a huge breeding ground for mozzies, so make sure loose items like buckets and furniture covers are free of water.
If you have a water fountain or a swimming pool, ensure the water is properly circulating.
Mozzies won’t lay their eggs in moving water.
Even low spots in the landscape of your yard can fill with water and attract mosquitoes, so make sure you fill them in with soil where possible.
Keep your yard tidy and free of clutter
A build up of debris around your home and outbuildings can result in an increase in pests such as cockroaches and black widow spiders.
Remove rubbish such as cardboard boxes and old, unused furniture.
Cockroaches love those dark, undisturbed places, so flush them out into the open by getting rid of their hiding spots.
On top of this, it’s also a good idea to keep your gutters and drainage pipes clear of leaves and other debris.
Clearing leaves from these areas will not only stop insects taking up residence, it will also reduce the risk of fire during the warmer months of the year.
Send slugs packing with natural deterrents
Slugs can be one of the worst offenders when it comes to destruction of plants.
Their ability to eat vegetation faster than it can grow means they are considered a very serious pest.
If, like a growing number of people, you’re averse to using pesticides in your garden, you can keep slugs under control using more natural methods.
There is evidence to suggest that placing strips of copper foil around your plants will slightly scare off slugs, however this may not work as well as other methods.
If you’re looking for a greener way of going about things, there are certain plants that act as deterrents for slugs.
Herbs such as ginger, garlic, chives, mint and chicory are all considered natural ways to keep slugs out of your garden, as well as plants such as kale, cabbage and broccoli.
Place these strategically throughout your garden and you’ll see a decrease in the slug population in no time.
Attract beneficial predators
Introducing certain types of predators to your garden can actually increase the sustainability of your outdoor space.
Not all bugs are bad, and many can actually help with pollination, decomposition of waste and keeping the bad bugs under control.
Bees, ladybugs, spiders, praying mantises, ground beetles and earwigs are all examples of critters than can help keep your garden healthy.
You can attract the right types of bugs by planting parsley, coriander, marigolds, carrots, dill, mint and fennel.
This method is only for those of you with a strong stomach. If, like us, creepy crawlies make your skin crawl, you’ll want to ignore this suggestion!
Install artificial lawn
Installing an artificial lawn from Australian Outdoor Living is a great way to reduce pests in your backyard.
Artificial lawn eliminates the low spots in the landscape, so mosquitoes won’t be able to lay their eggs in the damp areas of your grass.
It also removes grass as a source of food for many pests, meaning many of the creepy crawlies in your yard will need to find somewhere else to live.
If you’re interested in learning more about the advantages of installing artificial lawn, check out a complete guide here.
There are many ways to make sure your yard stays pest-free all year round without having to resort to harmful chemicals.
Follow these simple tips to create a beautiful outdoor space without the added worry of it being overrun by creepy crawlies.
Click here if you’re looking for more DIY backyard ideas.
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- Outdoor blinds
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