Pest Control Without Chemicals

So, summer’s here and with the sun and fun have come the pests. No, not your in-laws, but rather insects and critters that are just as unwelcome in your home and garden. They don’t seem interested in going away any time soon, either. Pest control can be expensive, not to mention toxic to you, your home, and your environment, and even after all the money is spent, you may still be pestered by unwanted, unwelcome guests. (Alright, maybe they are a bit like the in-laws after all.) Have you considered  finding organic pest control companies? Pest control professionals understand that we don’t want or need a bunch of harmful chemicals in our lives and are switching to all-natural means of ridding your world of unwanted guests. But before you call the pros, try some of these all-natural, organic pest control remedies first. You might just be surprised at how well they work!

• Spiders – Get rid of spiders without harmful sprays or chemical compounds. First declutter your porch, deck and other outdoor areas. Spiders love to build their webs in cluttery places. Next, mix a tablespoon of peppermint oil with one quart of water. Spray this around anywhere you don’t want spiders. Inside your home, use lemon oil furniture polish on windowsills and door frames to keep the arachnids from coming in. These oils work because spiders basically “smell” with their legs. When the legs touch the oils, the spider doesn’t like it and high tails it elsewhere.
• Aphids and mealy bugs – Have the critters invaded your garden? Are they destroying all your lovely hard work? Try a mixture of one tablespoon of canola oil, a few drops of Ivory soap and a quart of water. Spray this onto your plants from the tops down, then from the bottoms up (to get the underside of the leaves and stems.) Do this in the cool of the evening. The oil and soap combination will smother the insects and make the leaves less tasty, ensuring that they don’t come back for lunch tomorrow.
• Deer – As beautiful, dainty and delicate as they appear, the white tail and other deer that inhabit the woods and fields not far from many of us seem to have a voracious appetite when it comes to our gardens and orchards. The average deer eats 4 to 5 pounds of green stuff every day, and once they discover a ripe salad bar like your garden or veggie patch, they’ll keep coming back to fill their tanks. To save your prized flowers, fruits, and veggies, try spraying them with the following mixture: 1 cup milk, 2 whole eggs, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 tablespoons liquid detergent or soap and 2 gallons (8 litres) of water. Put it in one of those pump handled sprayers and have a go at your garden. It won’t harm you or your plants, and should keep the deer from snacking the night away.

Remember, all home made, organic pest control mixtures will need frequent re-applications after heavy rains, and sometimes after heavy dews. While they might not last as long as the commercial, chemical compounds, they are typically much cheaper to produce and much safer to use. Don’t get pestered by pests this year!