Tag: Pests

Naturally Get Rid of Mosquitoes (+ An Easy DIY Mosquito Trap) – Garden Therapy
One minute you’re enjoying the great outdoors, the next minute you’ve got that irritating buzz in your year and a growing itchy welt. Mosquitoes are annoying pests that affect just about everyone, no matter where you live. Here’s how to keep them away and make a DIY mosquito trap when you’ve just had enough.

Nobody likes a party crasher. Especially one that wants to suck your blood.

A nice evening outside can veryyy quickly get ruined by an onslot of mosquitoes. One moment, you’re enjoying some well-deserved downtime on a lovely summer eve, and the next, you’re running for cover inside.

While mosquitoes may be tiny, they sure know how to ruin the evening. Or time spent in the garden. Or a camping trip. You get the point!

As someone who mosquitoes absolutely love (lucky me), I’ve gotten the system down pat for how to prevent them, keep them away from my skin, and even have a DIY mosquito trap that I utilize when all else fails.

Here’s how to keep those mosquitoes away from your party!

Citronella is famous for being a scent that mosquitoes hate.

7 Ways to Naturally Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Before I get to the DIY mosquito trap, there are many other simple hacks you can use to not only get them to leave you alone but also prevent them from popping up in the first place.

Remove Standing Water

Let’s prevent mosquitoes from bothering you in the first place! Mosquitoes will breed in standing water, and they don’t like to travel far for food. Water that is stagnant for just four days can become a breeding ground.

They can lay eggs in the stagnant water or even a container waiting to be filled up. Once the larvae pupate, you’ll have a hungry mosquito population on your hands.

Birdbaths, ponds, and even a little pocket of rainwater can be the culprit. Remove any standing water, and turn anything that might collect water upside down.

If you have a pond, I suggest adding fish to help eat the larvae or adding a bubbler to prevent mosquito breeding.

Cover your rain barrel to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

Mosquito Repellent Landscaping

Did you know that what you plant can make a difference when it comes to mosquitoes? Many plants will give off an unpleasant aroma to mosquitoes.

That being said, these plants will typically only release the scents when the leaves are touched and rubbed. Just planting them in your garden won’t help, but every little bit counts right?

Plant these in an entertaining area, making them part of your landscape. Whenever you pass by, touch and rub the leaves to release their oils.

Here are some plants mosquitoes dislike the smell of:

These plants can be beautiful and useful!

Keep Your Area Clean

As I mentioned, mosquitoes will lay eggs in containers and any standing water they can find. Make sure to keep your area tidy to prevent mosquitoes from finding a neat little hideaway to lay eggs in.

Neglected pots, shrubs, and debris can all be a perfect habitat.

If you’re too tired to clean one day, do so the next! But don’t wait too long.

Light Up Citronella Candles

You’ll find citronella candles all over my deck. I even take them camping! They’re super simple to make out of old candle wax, citronella oil, and recycled containers like soup cans.

Citronella is a bit of an acquired scent, even for humans, so making them yourself allows you to add in some additional scents to make it more appealing for our noses while keeping mosquitoes away naturally.

Check out this post to see how I made my own recycled citronella candles.

I make mine in recycled tin cans but also terracotta pots for a more polished look.

Start a Breeze

If I’m outside lounging and the mosquitoes are feasting on me, I like to bring a fan outside. This is especially helpful if you’re entertaining outside. Creating a warm breeze will not only keep everyone cool, but it will blow away united guests like mosquitoes out of the area.

Naturally Protect Your Skin

The last thing you will see me do is cover my skin in commercial bug spray with DEET. I mentioned above that there are many plants and scents that mosquitoes don’t like. Well, you can make your own bug spray using essential oils, which are concentrated versions of these plants.

The plus side? It smells really lovely to us! See how I make my own bug spray here.

This homemade bug spray takes one minute to make.

Welcome the Spiders

It’s time to get over your arachnophobia. While you may not like them, I guarantee that mosquitoes dislike garden spiders more than you. Try your best to leave the spider webs up in the garden and non-intrusive areas, as they will catch the mosquitoes for you.

Every insect is doing their part for the local ecosystem, spiders and mosquitoes included.

How to Make a DIY Mosquito Trap

After you’ve done all these preventative measures to get rid of mosquitoes and keep them away, here’s a simple homemade mosquito trap you can make to keep them away.

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (it’s how they find us to bite!). This DIY mosquito trap creates carbon dioxide thanks to the fermentation of the sugar and yeast. As the mosquitoes fly in, they get trapped and die when they fall into the syrup.

Materials
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 gram yeast
- 2 litre soda bottle
- Box cutter
- Duct tape
Let your yeast water cool before making your trap.

Make It!

Cut the soda bottle in half. Dissolve the brown sugar (yes, it must be brown sugar or some kind of raw, unrefined sugar) in the hot water and then allow it to cool.

Pour the sugar water into the bottom half of the bottle and then add in the yeast (no need to stir). Invert the top of the bottle so that the mouth sits inside the bottom of the bottle (above the syrup).

Tape the two bottle halves together and set it in an area where the mosquitoes breed and feed. Change the syrup every two weeks or whenever it stops bubbling.

This plastic was thin enough to use standard kitchen scissors with.

FAQ About Mosquito Traps

What kind of yeast for mosquito trap?

Use any dry yeast. I use the traditional instant packets.

Do vinegar and baking soda attract mosquitoes?

The reaction between baking soda and vinegar releases CO2, which is the same effect as the sugar and yeast combination. In my experience, the sugar and yeast combination works better, but you can also try this method.

Do mosquito dunks work? (and who should use them?)

Yes! Mosquito dunks (also known as larvicide) utilize naturally occurring bacteria that release a toxin that kills mosquito and fungus gnat larvae. It’s used for standing water that you can’t get rid of, such as rain barrels or pool covers. It works for about 30 days and is supposed to not be toxic to people, pets, and other insects, such as bees.

More Pest Management Hacks
Stephanie Rose

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July 15, 2024
DC’s Rodent Control Academy has tips for managing infestations – WTOP News

D.C. Health’s two-day Rodent Control Academy teaches participants how rodents behave and best practices for managing them.

Standing in a park across the street from Western Market in Northwest D.C., John Caffo and Jac Winters scrutinized a series of holes next to the concrete sidewalk.

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At DC’s Rodent Control Academy, tips for managing infestations

All of the evidence, they concluded, pointed to rat activity. On one side, there’s a wide gap between the ground and the edge of the sidewalk. Nearby, there’s a round hole.

After taking notes, Caffo and Winters continued to make their way around the park and another nearby, writing down any characteristics that may attract rodent activity: trash cans, litter and water sources, among others.

The “field trip” near George Washington University’s campus, an exercise with the goal of inspecting rodent infestations, came on the second day of D.C. Health’s two-day Rodent Control Academy. The event, first convened in 2006, teaches participants how rodents behave and best practices for managing them.

Caffo’s been learning about rodents for years, he said. Winters, a property manager, wanted to learn as much as he could about rats, to make sure they don’t end up in his buildings.

“They’re smart,” Winters said. “They’re going to find their way in one way or the other, but it’s my job to make sure they don’t get into our building.”

The seminar is put on by D.C. Health’s Rodent and Vector Control Team and Urban Rodentologist Bobby Corrigan.

Corrigan said the District is “afflicted with rats” the same way Philadelphia and New York City are.

The rodents are smart, he said, and know which areas have the best food. Traps or poison are only marginally helpful, according to Corrigan, who said the majority of solutions are tied to environmental management, such as taking out the trash and using the trash can correctly.

“It’s an animal that can get into a lot of trouble quickly,” Corrigan said. “It can get into ceilings and chewing wires, causing electrical shorts, and if not, worse, even building fires. It’s an animal that can carry bugs on his body that jump off the rats and go to people. … We have to fight back with some really intelligent pathways ourselves.”

One way to do that, Corrigan said, is understanding the way they behave. It’s one reason Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Lynda Laughlin signed up for the academy. She represents an area in Adams Morgan that’s filled with businesses and restaurants.

She stressed the value of buying the right type of equipment, and “don’t do it cheap. Take a little bit of time to invest and fix the holes in your doorway,” Laughlin said.

Those taking part in D.C.’s Rodent Control Academy inspect a park for signs of infestation. (WTOP/Scott Gelman)

But, the syllabus for the seminar called humans’ challenges with rodents “a forever war,” she said, so, “It’s just about if we can keep at bay the growing population, because they’re never gonna go away.”

Maxine Linthicum Davis, one of Amtrak’s senior health specialists for the southeast region, said she attended to try and “get ahead of the game.” She’s expecting some of the guidance to be helpful as Union Station gets revamped.

At a different park near 21st and I Streets, she leaned over a fence to take a picture of a hole hidden between bushes. Now that she’s observed rat tendencies, she’s planning to tell her colleagues the company needs rodent-proof door sweeps for gaps under doors.

“Sometimes I see things just like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty incredible,’ how they can go underneath the platform and end up from one side to the opposite side of the block type of deal. It’s pretty incredible,” Caffo said.

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Scott Gelman

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July 11, 2024
Aphids on the Loose! How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally – Garden Therapy
Tiny but ferocious, aphids in the garden can suck precious juices from some of our favourite plants. The good news is they make great food for some good bugs and can easily be controlled! Get rid of aphids from your garden by trying some of these natural methods.

Some pests are more uncommon than others, and when it comes to aphids, they’re just about everywhere!

For the most part, these little buggers aren’t much of a problem, and I usually let mother nature take care of it. But in some cases, aphids take over a plant, and I can see it beginning to do some damage.

I often see aphids in my garden, and I know just how to deal with them. Follow along for all my aphid tips and tricks!

Aphids multiply quickly, as females can produce up to 12 young a day.

Get to Know the Aphid

Before heading into battle, you need to know your enemy! Here’s some back story on how to identify your aphids.

Aphid Appearance

Small little guys, aphids are 4-8 mm in length. They have pear-like bodies that are soft and easily squished. They come in green, black, red, or white.

You may also see a woolly aphid. Though their bodies are green or blue, they appear fuzzy due to a waxy coating on their body. Their appearance almost resembles a tiny fluff of cotton.

Aphids can be either winged or wingless, depending on the type of aphid and the point of their lifecycle.

Aphid Lifecycle

In one year, the aphid goes through many phases of life. Beginning in the spring, a crew of all-females hatch from eggs sitting during the winter. An aphid will live anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks.

All spring and summer aphids produce asexually, meaning they are clones of their mother. This generation is born to live rather than produce eggs. Some will grow wings and leave their host area.

By the time fall rolls around, there will be some male aphids and they will mate. The females lay the eggs for the winter, and then the cycle repeats.

Females can produce up to 12 young a day, resulting in around 80 eggs in their lifetime.

Where do Aphids Come From?

Since they love new growth, aphids are one of the first pests to appear in the season. They live on or nearby plants they like to eat. Coniferous and deciduous trees are some of their favourites.

Aphids may also sneak their way into the garden via nursery plants. Whenever you purchase a new plant, thoroughly inspect it for any unwanted travellers before purchasing.

Aphids primarily feed on new growth.

Identifying Aphid Damage

Chances are you’ve had some aphid trouble in your garden. They love to munch on organic vegetables, sometimes ruining a harvest you’ve spent a summer growing. While I’m a bug lover, I don’t like it when aphids destroy my vegetables. I try to grow more food than I need just so wildlife can enjoy some too. But even I must draw the line sometimes!

Aphids feed on plant sap, especially drawn to any new plant growth though they will feed anywhere. They produce a sticky substance called honeydew as they eat, which can attract other insects, such as ants. Honeydew can also cause fungal growth in a plant.

They arguably cause the most damage to home gardens than any other insect. Feeding in large groups, a severe infestation can quickly cause lots of damage. An infested plant may have stunted growth, a low yield, and can even die.

A damaged plant may have spots, yellow colouring, curling leaves, and may wilt. Galls can also form on the stems and branches of the plant. To spot aphids, look under leaves, on new branch tips, and any new growth. You may also spot their shed skin under the plants, appearing like white flakes.

Root Aphids

Sugarbeet root aphids are a cousin to the common ones found in the garden. However, they stay at or just above the soil line.

This type of aphid can quickly get out of control. They form galls on the plants and are especially drawn to narrowleaf cottonwood trees.

Aphids on Roses

You may have spotted some buggers on your roses. Typically, these are rose or potato aphids. To get them off your roses, try to wash them off with water every day for a few days.

Aphids also like nitrogen, so only use slow-release fertilizer on the rose bush. This way, they won’t have a sudden rush of nitrogen for the pests to feed on.

Aphids on Tomatoes

Potato or green peach aphids can be found on tomato plants. Surprisingly, tomatoes can handle a fair number of pests. But like any plant, a large infestation may affect how many tomatoes the plant produces and can also cause stunting.

Aphids on Milkweed

Because milkweed is the only host plant that monarch caterpillars eat, you want to keep aphids away from the plant. They can take away all the good nutrients, affecting the food source of the caterpillar.

Never use pesticides on milkweed to get rid of aphids. This could seriously harm the caterpillars and therefore, the monarch population.

Most often, the oleander aphid eats milkweed. They are a bright yellow aphid with black legs.

Avoid using pesticides on aphids, as this can affect other beneficial insects in your garden.

How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally

You may be looking to kill aphids, but I strongly urge against reaching for the harsh pesticides right away. I never kill pests as I believe that every insect belongs for a reason, even the pesky aphids! As a major food source for all kinds of insects, eliminating them can negatively affect the ecosystem of a garden.

That being said, I do like to keep them away from my favourite plants and use all of the methods below to control aphids in my garden.

Can you spot the aphids? The ladybug is on the hunt for its dinner.

Invite Predators

While aphids may not be friendly, there are so many beneficial insects you want to have in your garden. The best way to keep aphids at bay is by inviting their arch-nemesis into the garden…ladybugs! Ladybugs, one of my favourite beneficial bugs, are the most well-known aphid predators.

A gorgeous red with adorable polka dots, you can enjoy their beauty and watch as they munch away on aphids. In fact, a single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. Now we’re talking! They also enjoy eating mealybugs, mites, scale, and more annoying pests.

Many garden centres will also sell ladybugs, so you can buy some to directly place in the part of your garden undergoing an aphid infestation.

A few other bugs eat aphids. Green lacewing larvae like to chomp on them while they grow into an adult. Hoverfly females also lay eggs in patches of aphids so that their larvae can hatch and eat them. Minute pirate bugs are also known to attack and eat infestations of aphids.

Where there are ladybugs, there are aphids. Keep the ladybugs around!

Pest Repellent Spray

As an organic gardener, I stay away from all kinds of pesticides. While they can be useful at keeping away pests, they also kill all the good guys too. And we certainly don’t want that!

I have plenty of vegetables and plants I would rather not have certain bugs munching on. I make my own pest repellent spray to keep them away from the plants I care the most about. Using ingredients from my garden that pests naturally hate, the spray is simple to make and costs pennies. In fact, many of the commercial products also use some of the same plants in their ingredient list (and a few additives I don’t like).

This natural spray keeps things as close to nature as possible, keeping pests away without disrupting the ecosystem of my garden. For the full recipe and list of herbs to include, read my blog about making natural pest control spray.

Companion Planting

Companion planting has all sorts of amazing benefits, one of them helping to ward off insects. Chemical-free and completely natural, the best part about companion planting is the reason to buy more plants!

Strategically interplant herbs and vegetables that aphids don’t like next to your plants you want to keep them away from. This means tucking a few of the plants listed below between your vegetables and flowers.

Try growing some of these plants for aphid control:
- Alliums (chives and onion)s. They also ward off spider mites and carrot fly. Ladybugs also enjoy them!
- Catnip. Beware, cats do love it, so you may have some feline visitors.
- Cilantro. Another ladybug favourite and aphid deterrent.
- Dill. Ladybugs love this one, too.
- Garlic. A deterrent for all sorts of pests, keep away aphids, spider mites, ants, snails, Japanese beetles, and more.
- Mint. Like many on this list, you can not only enjoy the mint in your vegetable garden but use it to deter pests.
One aphid can quickly become multiple, so keep an eye out!

Attract Aphids

I know what you’re thinking: I’m trying to get rid of aphids. Why on earth would I try and attract them to my garden?

Hear me out! You can strategically attract small infestations of aphids on hardier plants to bring all sorts of good predators to the garden. If I allow them to live in one corner of my garden on some of my established trees, some ladybugs may stop and pay a visit, protecting the whole garden.

Ladybugs lay their eggs in aphid-heavy areas so that when their young hatch, they have a food source. No aphids mean no ladybugs.

Nasturtiums are a trap plant for aphids. They will attract them, encourage ladybugs to stop and pay a visit, and keep them away from my vegetables. In addition to nasturtiums, I also grow Shasta daisies for black aphids and lupines for green aphids.

I purposefully include trap plants to attract aphids and keep them away from my other plants, such as my vegetables.

FAQ About Aphid Control

How harmful are aphids?

It depends on how many aphids there are and at what stage your plant is in. A young plant won’t be able to handle many aphids, and the aphids will affect new growth on the plant, sucking out the sap from it.

An older plant can likely handle more aphids, and I don’t worry if I spot a few. Most established plants can handle aphids just fine. But when there is a full-on infestation, that’s when I step in with these pest control methods.

What causes an infestation of aphids?

An infestation begins when a winged aphid has flown to a plant and deemed it a suitable host for their young. They’ll lay their eggs, and since aphids quickly multiply, you can have quite a swarm in no time.

Aphids are particularly attracted to new growth and are a problem most often in late spring and early summer. To avoid this, consider planting trap plants such as nasturtium, calendula, Shasta daisies, and lupines to attract aphids and keep them away from your other nearby plants.

Does Dawn dish soap kill aphids?

Making soapy water is a common method for getting rid of aphids. It works well on all soft-bodied pests, such as whiteflies and mites, likely because it washes off the protective coating on their body.

My natural pest control spray does contain dish soap, which helps it stick to the aphid’s body.

If I have a severe infestation on a plant I care deeply about, I will go in by hand with a wet, soapy cloth to wipe down the aphids from the stems and leaves.

Which of these aphid control methods will you be trying? Let me know in the comments down below!

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Stephanie Rose

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July 11, 2024
Burn Herbs In Your Campfire to Repel Mosquitoes Naturally

Whether you are camping or enjoying a little backyard entertaining around a fire pit, you can easily repel mosquitoes by tossing in a few herb branches. Burning herbs is a natural and safe way to keep mosquitoes from making you their next meal. Read on to find out which fresh plants and herbs repel mosquitoes and how to use them.

Spending time outside is one of my favourite things to do. I can garden practically all day and not be the least bit bothered by insects. Then, the evening comes, and the mosquitoes come out. UGH! My least favourite insect of them all!

Without any mosquito intervention, I become the meal du jour, and my lovely day turns into an evening of waving hands and smacking myself in an erratic and awkward dance to prevent the inevitable itchy welts that are sure to follow.

As I have learned more about plants over the years, one of the things I have discovered is methods for using plants to naturally repel mosquitoes.

This allows me to appreciate the natural benefits of plants while also avoiding the use of potentially damaging chemicals in commercial bug sprays.

Over time, I developed my natural bug spray which is made with essential oils and has worked wonders when it’s mosquito season.

Another method that I use to deter mosquitoes is burning branches of herbs over the fire pit (or campfire). And I’m going to tell you how you can too!

Most herbs will work with this trick, some better than others.

History of Burning Herbs

Indigenous Peoples, healers, herbalists, religious leaders, and the spiritually devoted from all over the world have burned herbs as a part of their religious and cultural traditions for centuries.

Indigenous Peoples sustainably harvest sacred plants native to the land with appreciating and reverence. Drying and bundling them, and burning them in a cleansing practice called smudging. Smudge sticks are used for ceremonial and purification purposes.

These practices are steeped with tradition and deep spiritual meaning. With all that has been taken from Indigenous Peoples, non-native folks need to avoid culturally appropriating these rituals.

Burning herbs has a long and important history for many cultures and religions.

How to Burn Herbs With Appreciation For Other Cultures

In modern herbalism, so much of what we use today is based on the practices of many cultures. There is a deep appreciation for the history of using (and burning) herbs and allowing herbal studies to include both the past and the present.

Burning herbs over a fire for their herbal properties is a respectfully different practice than the use of smudge sticks for ceremonial or religious purposes. Smoke cleansing is the act of burning herbs without the cultural or spiritual, and is an enjoyable way to experience the beneficial herbal properties.

When I burn herbs over a fire to repel mosquitoes, I do so with appreciation and gratitude for both the ancient knowledge of herbs as well as the use of herbal plants (not sacred plants) to safely and effectively keep bugs at bay.

We can use and appreciate the ancient knowledge of herbs passed down.

Which Plants Repel Mosquitoes?

To put it mildly, I hate getting mosquito bites. My immune system reacts very strongly to their saliva, which means I end up with large, itchy, welt bites that bother me for days. I used to use large amounts of bug spray to save myself from mosquito bites, but the spray bothered me, too.

Fortunately, there are natural ways to successfully deter those pesky bugs!

Mosquitoes hate strong-smelling herbs like:

We can use these herbs in several ways to help deliver the one-two punch that will keep pesky bugs away so we can enjoy evenings outside.

A tool for your mosquito-repelling tool belt is to toss a few branches of herbs (fresh or dried) into the fire. Thankfully, what smells heavenly to you will send bugs packing. Let’s dive a little deeper into each herb to find out why.

You can use fresh or dried herbs for this trick.

Lavender

Lavender has a well-known and widely used pleasant scent that, fortunately, people love and mosquitoes hate. Burning lavender is highly effective at repelling flying insects.

Fun fact: you can also rub the plant directly on your skin to release its oils as another way to tackle pest control.

Lavender is best harvested just before the buds open.

Mint

Members of the mint family (peppermint, etc) all have a strong, pleasant smell that flying insects hate. Mint is also extremely prolific, so it’s easy to have a big bundle at the ready when you grow it in containers in your garden.

Pineapple mint.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is part of the mint family that has pleasant white flowers and a mild lemony fragrance. It works well to keep mosquitoes away.

However, lemon balm’s potential downside is that it grows fast and can quickly take over your garden. To keep it from running wild, it’s best to plant lemon balm in a container or other contained space.

This can be a great way to keep your lemon balm in control.

Sage

Burning sage emits pleasant aromatherapy that makes an evening outside even better. The other benefit is that the same smell deters mosquitoes and other flying pests.

Culinary sage is a perennial, so you can harvest from it every year for this trick.

Citronella

One very well-known and common ingredient in mosquito-repelling candles is citronella. Its strong smell does a great job of masking the very aspects that attract mosquitoes to us. Fortunately for us, citronella is easy to grow.

There are also citronella-scented plants, such as this geranium.

How to Burn Herbs in a Campfire

Burning these herbs is as easy as tossing them right into the fire. Place the herb bundle to the side rather than directly in the center of the fire so it doesn’t burn down too fast.

The smoke will carry the scent, so as long as they’re burning, the mosquitoes should leave you alone. Depending on the size of your fire, you can use a little or large bundle of herbs. Keep a few bundles handy to continually toss into the fire as needed.

Use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs often have a stronger scent than dried.

Of course, just the smoke from the fire helps keep bugs away. But, by adding in some herbs that keep mosquitoes and biting insects away, they help to mask your smell. So, if you’re like me and seem to attract biting insects away from other people, the addition of herbs to your fire could likely be that extra step you need to REALLY keep the bugs away.

I often use dried herbs, as I dry them throughout the season and have them on hand.

How to Repel Mosquitoes Without a Fire

You can still create bug-repelling smoke even if you don’t have a firepit. Making your own citronella candles is easy and inexpensive if you use recycled materials. See how to make these Citronella Candles or these Terracotta Pot Citronella Candles to have throughout your garden.

I hate the smell of citronella in the store-bought candles and find these much more enjoyable.

For an extra line of defence, don’t forget to spritz on this all-natural bug repellent that really works (and I would know because even though I don’t love mosquitoes, they LOVE me)!

This bug spray only takes a few minutes to make.

I’ve also been dabbling and planting a few mosquito-repelling container gardens to have around the areas I tend to frequently be in and I have to say, they have been helping tremendously.

Between burning herb bundles and using these other DIY methods, you can finally (and safely) say “buzz off!” to pesky mosquitoes and get back to enjoying your evening outside.

Try These Other Pest-Repelling Tips

Stephanie Rose

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July 9, 2024
5 Ways to Keep Pill Bugs from Destroying Your Garden
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Although rollie pollies (also called pill bugs or potato bugs) usually eat decaying and decomposing plant matter, occasionally, pill bug numbers are high, and they can wreak havoc on a garden (and your favorite strawberries!). This post shares my favorite natural pill bug control methods.

To my great frustration, rollie pollies have destroyed countless seedlings in my garden. As an organic gardener, I’m unwilling to use pesticides to control pill bug numbers when they get out of balance, so I’ve had to get creative. These are my time-tested and favorite ways to keep pill bugs from killing my seeds and seedlings.

Best Organic Pill Bug Control Methods For the Home Gardener

1. Don’t give rollie pollies in the garden what they want

Pill bugs love strawberries.

Pill bugs prefer damp and dark hiding places. Try not to make life comfortable for them.

Remove wet leaves, fallen fruit, and dead plant matter from your garden. Try not to overwater your garden, as rollie pollies are also attracted to moisture.

This step can be helpful, but if you still have problems, keep reading through the rest of the ways to keep pill bugs from destroying your garden.

2. Set traps to get rid of rollie pollies in your garden

If an area of your garden has an overabundance of pill bugs, setting traps is an effective way to bring the numbers back in balance. Check traps daily, and remove and either discard or transplant the pill bugs to other areas of your yard.

EFFECTIVE WAYS TO TRAP PILL BUGS INCLUDE:

Citrus or fruit traps as a natural pill bug control method

Cut the fruit in half and place it face down in the affected area. The pill bugs will be drawn to the fruit. Check traps in the morning, and dig down a bit to collect the rollie pollies. Fruit can often be used for 2-3 days in a row.

Beer or yeast traps as a natural pill bug control method

Rollie pollies collected from yeast trap

Set a shallow container (such as a pie plate) with the rim flush to the ground; fill with beer or 1-2 Tb yeast dissolved in water. The rollie pollies will be drawn to the beer or yeast, fall in, and drown.

3. Make paper tube, newspaper, or duct tape collars how to get rid of rollie pollies in your garden

Sick of losing my seedlings to rollie pollie damage, I wrapped the stems in duct tape (sticky side out) and it worked! The seedlings are thriving with no pest damage to the stems. This technique is quick, simple, and effective. I’ve also used newspaper and toilet paper rolls as collars effectively.

Duct tape collar as a natural pill bug control method

Duct tape collar to prevent pill bug damage to plants

Wrap a small piece of duct tape (sticky side out) around the stem of a seedling. Bury one-half of the taped stem in the ground, leaving some of the tape above ground as well. Remove the tape when the stem grows larger to keep the tape from suffocating the stem.

Newspaper collar as a natural pill bug control method

Tear a couple-inch strip of newspaper and carefully wrap it around the seedling stem, burying some if possible. As the seedling grows, the paper will fall off — no need to remove it.

Paper collar to prevent pill bug damage to plants

Toilet paper tube collar as a natural pill bug control method

Slide the tube over the seedling and into the soil. It’s best to have the collar buried an inch or two below the soil.

Toilet paper tube collar to prevent pill bug damage to plants

I’ve had mixed success with this type of collar. Sometimes it works. Other times the pill bugs get inside the collar.

4. Overplant to overwhelm the rollie pollies in the garden

Certain crops are best started in the garden from seed, which makes using collar methods ineffective – the seedlings are often eaten before there is anything above ground to protect. When this happens, I usually try overplanting.

For example, instead of planting 1-2 seeds, I plant 3-4 seeds. In my experience, at least one of the seeds is overlooked or somehow protected by the other seedlings and not eaten by the rollie pollies — success!

If more than one seedling survives, thin additional seedlings by cutting at the soil level rather than pulling. (Pulling may disturb the roots of remaining seedlings.)

5. Use Slug & Snail Bait, Diatomaceous earth (DE), or Nematodes to combat pill bugs in the home garden

Using slug & snail bait to combat pill bug overpopulation:

Garden Safe Slug & Snail Bait is OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) Listed. This bait is very effective in areas where rollie pollies are an issue. Use according to package directions. After planting beans twice, none came up. I sprinkled a small amount of this after replanting the third time and had beans emerge within days, undamaged.

Using diatomaceous earth (DE) to combat pill bug overpopulation:

Diatomaceous earth (DE) can be an effective means of controlling pill bug populations around your plants. DE is safe to handle (for animals and pets, too) but not to inhale – wear a mask while using.

DE, or diatomaceous earth, works to kill pill bugs by dehydrating them. Diatomaceous earth is made up of tiny fossilized aquatic organisms called diatoms. When pill bugs come into contact with DE, the sharp edges of the diatoms cut through the bug’s exoskeleton and absorb the moisture, causing the bug to dehydrate and die.

DE is commonly used in organic pest control because it is non-toxic to humans, pets, and the environment. However, to ensure effective and safe usage, it is important to follow the instructions on the product label when using DE.

To use DE for pill bug control, apply a thin layer around their frequented areas, wear gloves and a mask, avoid windy conditions, and re-apply after rain. Apply in the late afternoon when the bugs are active and follow the product label for safe and effective results.

Using nematodes to combat pill bug overpopulation:

Nematodes are microscopic organisms that are often used as a natural method of controlling pests in gardens.

Specifically, the Steinernema carpocapsae nematode is effective at targeting and killing pill bugs. These nematodes are applied to the soil in the garden and penetrate the skin of the pill bug. Once inside, they release a bacteria that quickly kills the pill bug.

Using nematodes for pest control is considered a safe and environmentally friendly option as they only attack specific pests and do not harm beneficial insects or soil quality. However, it’s important to follow the application instructions carefully to ensure the nematodes are introduced properly.

Additionally, nematodes may not be as effective if the soil is too dry or too hot, so it’s important to monitor the environmental conditions in your garden to determine the best time to use this method.

Which natural pill bug control methods should you try in your home garden?

I’ve found the best way to bring pill bug numbers back into balance is by combining these methods. Effective methods for combating pill bug damage in a home garden include reducing favorable environmental conditions, creating physical barriers, using predators, manually removing the bugs, and using natural repellents.

Looking for more information about managing pests?

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Angela Judd

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May 4, 2024
Nixalite of America Inc. Helps Customers Stay Pest-Free This Memorial Day

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Nixalite of America Inc. is offering tips and products to keep unwanted pests from ruining the holiday weekend’s festivities.

East Moline, IL, May 26, 2016 (Newswire.com)
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As people across the country enjoy the outdoors for Memorial Day, Nixalite of America Inc. is offering tips and products to help its customers stay pest-free.

TIPS ON STAYING PEST-FREE
These easy steps will ensure your Memorial Day weekend is pest-free:

Nixalite offers a wide range of products that will help keep pests away this Memorial Day weekend.

- Keep all food/drink containers and trash cans tightly sealed

– Mow yards and trim vegetation

– Wearing long-sleeved shirts or pants will keep mosquitoes from biting

– Remove any standing water from bird baths, gutters, etc. so that mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed

– Search for wasp, bee, and yellow jacket nests before festivities begin

– Avoid drinking beer (Studies show that mosquitoes are more attracted to those drinking beer!)

HOW NIXALITE CAN HELP YOU BE PEST-FREE
Nixalite offers a wide range of products that will help keep pests away this Memorial Day weekend:

Liquid and Granular Repellents
Nixalite of America Inc’s pest repellent products repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other flying insects. These products are easy to use and are safe for people, pets, and plants.

Copper Blocker Access Control
Nixalite’s Copper Blocker keeps small birds, bats, rodents, and insects from getting through cracks and other openings of your home. And it’s currently on sale!

Premium Stainless Steel Bird Spikes
Insects are the only pests that can ruin your Memorial Day – birds can wreak havoc as well! Nixalite’s Premium Bird Spikes will help deter all types of birds from just about any location.

IGEBA TF-35 Thermal Fogger
If you have a large area that is being infested by insects or birds, Nixalite’s IGEBA Thermal Foggers are the perfect solution. This lightweight and portable fogger is capable of applying 11 gallons of solution per hour and is currently on sale!

ABOUT NIXALITE OF AMERICA INC.
Nixalite is the leading manufacturer of effective and humane pest bird and wildlife control products. Established in 1950, Nixalite is a third generation family owned firm with over 150 years of combined experience.

For more information, visit https://www.nixalite.com .

Source: Nixalite of America Inc.

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May 26, 2016