How to Keep Pests Out Of Your Yard

In the summertime, it’s common for animals and insects to be more active – which isn’t always great for your yard. However, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your landscaping intact and just generally make your backyard more comfortable and free of pests. Here are some easy tips you can use to keep pests and other animals away from your yard.

– To prevent mosquitoes from bothering you while you’re relaxing in your yard, try using a mosquito coil. These handy tools burn a natural insect repellent called Citronella oil. This oil will keep mosquitoes at bay by covering up other smells that mosquitoes are drawn to. However, it can dissipate quickly if there is any wind at all in your environment, so try to burn the mosquito coil in a sheltered area. Additionally, if you really can’t stand mosquitoes, remove all sources of standing water from your yard.

– If you have a dog, you’ll know that sometimes they’ll decide to tear up your flower beds, and it seems like there’s no way to stop them. However, there’s actually a very simple, easy way that you can prevent this without punishing your dog. Dogs don’t like the smell and taste of citrus, so take some cut-up orange peels and sprinkle them in your soil where your dog likes to dig. This will dissuade them from wanting to destroy your garden.

– Although rabbits may be cute, they can also be very pesky for anyone with a lawn. They absolutely love to eat grass, so if you have a population of bunnies in your area, you’ll want to do some prep work to keep them at bay. There are many repellent treatments you can add to your grass to make them smell like a potential predator, which will keep the rabbits away. You’ll also want to make sure there aren’t any places for them to burrow in your yard. If rabbits continue to be a problem, try adding a large fence to keep them out.

– Slugs, snails, and aphids can do huge damage to your garden, and they are very common, particularly in humid areas. You’ll want to make your garden as uncomfortable as possible so that they don’t return. Slugs and snails need smooth surfaces to survive, so try adding crushed eggshells to your soil to prevent them from getting to your plants. You can also try adding herbs, like catnip, basil, or fennel to your yard, which will create a smell that the bugs won’t like.

– If you struggle with gophers, woodchucks, or voles, there are a few things you can do to keep them away. The first is to use a repellent that is specific to the type of animal that has been bothering you. Often repellents with garlic or hot pepper work well for this. If you just can’t get them to go away, you may want to try a poison trap to get rid of them (or just let your outdoor cat hunt them!) Be careful with these more aggressive removal methods if you have pets or kids.

– If you are bothered by a particular pest that is specific to your region, one of the best ways to keep them at bay is by attracting their predators. As long as you’re dealing with small pests, this will likely be harmless to you but very helpful for your plants. Do some research to find out exactly what will intimidate your pests, and see what you can do to make your yard less hospitable for them.