How To Control Pests Without Pesticides

It’s tempting to use pesticides to take care of your annoying bug problem. However, the environmental implications and health risks associated with pesticides aren’t worth it for many people. You’re not alone if you wonder how to control pests without pesticides. 

You can control pesticides without pesticides by keeping your yard clean, grass short, and puddle-free. Some people also use plants like citronella, lavender, and garlic to keep pests out of their yards and homes. Pest-resistant crops and beneficial nematodes are also invaluable if you want to deter pests without using chemicals. 

It’s also a great idea to put glue traps in your house to kill bugs that make their way indoors. Follow along as we explore how to control pests without pesticides. 

Are Pesticides Dangerous Indoors?

Using pesticides indoors is considered dangerous for many reasons. Not only can it affect the air quality, but pesticides can also negatively affect your health. That’s because pesticides can cause skin, eye, and lung irritation after prolonged exposure. 

Using pesticides indoors is especially dangerous if your home isn’t well-ventilated. This can exacerbate the many health risks that come with pesticides, such as respiratory issues, nausea, and vomiting. Serious health risks include endocrine system disruptions and even cancer. 

Pesticides are especially dangerous for children and animals who simply don’t understand the danger. For example, toddlers don’t know they should avoid wet, freshly sprayed pesticides. You must take special care to keep your children and pets away from freshly applied pesticides until it dries. 

Eight Environmentally Friendly Pest Control Methods

1. Trim Your Shrubs

Shrubs can add character to your yard and help fill your landscaping out. However, they can also attract insects looking for food, shelter, and breeding grounds. That’s especially true if you have bushes that bear fruit, such as blackberries, as the sweet aroma can attract pests. 

The more overgrown your shrubs are, the more likely you are to find pests in and around them. Some people douse their shrubs with pesticides instead of simply pruning them. However, pruning is a better option, as it will make your shrubs look better and deter many pests without harming the environment. 

Trimming your shrubs 2-3 times per year can promote healthy growth and help deter pests. Otherwise, the bugs can easily get comfortable and lay eggs in your shrubs all spring and summer. 

2. Reduce Moisture

Many people spray pesticides indoors because they struggle to keep up with bugs in their homes. While this is an effective option, it’s not always safe. That’s why it’s worth addressing the root of the problem rather than using temporary fixes, like pesticides. 

Excessive moisture can attract bugs, such as gnats, indoors and outdoors. Naturally, water attracts bugs, as they need to rehydrate, and they’ll stick around when they find a steady source. Even worse, many bugs mate in standing water, which can make your bug problem escalate. 

Mating in damp areas is quite common among bugs, and many flying insects lay their eggs in water. Ideally, you should repair leaks, mop up puddles, and run a dehumidifier to address the problem. Use these tactics indoors and try to fill areas where puddles form outside to discourage insects from laying eggs. 

3. Use Plants

Why use pesticides when you can deter pests with some beautiful plants? Insects and other pests rely on their sense of smell to navigate the world. Luckily, some plants have aromatic leaves and produce oils that can naturally repel bugs. 

Lemon, thyme, lavender, and citronella are among the best plants to keep bugs away. Mint is another incredible natural bug deterrent because of its strong scent. As you’ve noticed, many of the best bug-repelling plants smell great to people. 

The menthol in mint can also deter spiders in your yard and your home. Many pest control plants are also visually appealing, easily harvestable, and great for cooking. 

4. Remove Fallen Fruit

Do you grow fruit-bearing trees and bushes in your yard? Nobody can blame you if you do, but you may notice the pest population in your yard increases. That’s especially true when fruit falls from the branches and rots on the ground. 

The sweet aroma can attract everything from wasps and gnats to deer and raccoons. Some people find this inconvenient, but you must also think about the danger that accompanies it. For example, insects like mosquitoes can spread diseases to fruit. 

Keep an eye on your fruit-bearing plants and remove fallen fruit as soon as possible. That way, you won’t have to worry about it rotting on the ground in your yard. The rotting process will only attract more bugs due to the bacteria, so it’s not worth the risk. 

5. Use beneficial Nematodes

Seasoned gardeners have used beneficial nematodes as a natural pest control solution for years. However, they have become more popular in the last few years as indoor gardening has seen a boom in popularity. Beneficial nematodes are microscopic roundworms that can kill annoying pests, such as weevils and fungus gnats.  

You can use beneficial nematodes in your yard, and they’re equally effective for indoor plants. That said, using beneficial nematodes to kill pests takes a lot of attention and patience. Buy the beneficial nematodes from a trustworthy source and carefully follow the instructions. 

For example, you must dampen the soil and mix the nematodes with water before applying them. Next, follow the instructions regarding the application and the variables that affect it, such as sunlight and temperature. Be patient, as you may not notice results for a day or two. 

6. Set Traps Out

Finding bugs in your house can feel like a violation. Using chemicals to curb this problem isn’t always worth the risk, but that’s not your only option. Countless homeowners for years have killed gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, centipedes, mice, and more with glue traps. 

However, you must be careful when using traps at home if you have pets. Dogs and cats can easily put their paws in glue traps and get stuck. You can remove their paw, but it may be painful and leave your pet feeling shaken. 

Carefully place the glue traps in areas where you’re sure your pets can’t reach them. For example, you can tuck glue traps behind your couch and push the couch against the wall. That way, your pets can’t easily reach the traps, and you’ll catch bugs that crawl along the room’s perimeter, like brown recluse spiders. 

7. Plant Pest-Resistant Crops

It’s hard to forego pesticides when you struggle to keep bugs away from your crops. However, pesticides are bad for the environment and crops alike. That said, you don’t necessarily need to use pesticides to protect your crops if you use crops that are unlikely to attract pests. 

Today, you can find genetically modified crops that naturally resist insects and diseases. The main benefit of pest-resistant crops is that they typically guarantee a big yield. This is because you don’t have to worry about them suffering from diseases and pest infestations. 

That said, research has shown that some genetically modified plants aren’t as pest-resistant as they once were. It’s worth doing some research before investing in genetically modified crops. After all, you want to make sure you get it right the first time. 

8. Declutter Your Yard

The more overgrown and messier your yard is, the more likely you are to find pests. That includes everything from grass length and weeds to groundcover plants and fallen leaves. Many pests hide in groundcover plants and yard debris and even use the mess as a breeding ground. 

Leaving fallen leaves, twigs, and branches in your yard can create a comfortable habitat for bugs. You must declutter your yard to make it uninhabitable for pests. Mow your lawn weekly or hire a service to do so throughout spring and summer. 

Next, regularly remove fallen branches, gumballs, and yard debris at least twice a month. It’s also worth checking your lawn and soil beds for divots that hold standing water. Fill the divots in or hire a landscaper to remove puddles, so the standing water doesn’t attract bugs. 

Summing It Up

The best way to control pests without pesticides is to trim your shrubs, clear yard debris, and remove standing water. Remove fallen fruit as needed, or else the rotting process will create bacteria and fungi that attract even more bugs. It’s also worth investing in beneficial nematodes and genetically modified pest-resistant crops instead of using pesticides. 

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