Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to enjoy the outdoors and relax in your beautiful lawn. But with warm weather comes a new set of challenges - pests! Here are five organic ways to control pests in your southern lawn this spring and summer, using household materials that are safe for pets and children.
- Say Goodbye to Fire Ants
Fire ants can quickly ruin your outdoor fun with their painful bites. But don't worry, you don't need harsh chemicals to get rid of them! Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar, and sprinkle it on the fire ant mound. The sugar will attract the ants, and the baking soda will kill them. Say goodbye to those pesky fire ants!
- Keep Wasps at Bay
Wasps are important pollinators, but they can also be a nuisance when they invade your outdoor space. To keep them at bay, mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it on their nests. You can also hang fake wasp nests around your outdoor space, as wasps are territorial and won't build a nest near an existing one.
Making a fake wasp nest is an easy and effective way to keep real wasps away from your outdoor space. To make a fake wasp nest, you'll need a brown paper bag, some twine or string, and scissors.
First, crumple up the paper bag into a ball, then un-crumple it and smooth it out so that it resembles a large, lumpy ball. Next, twist the top of the bag to create a narrow, pointed tip. Use the string or twine to tie around the twisted tip, leaving enough string to hang the nest.
Once you have your fake wasp nest, hang it in an area where you want to discourage real wasps from building their nests. Wasps are territorial and will usually avoid building a nest near an existing one, so the fake nest can help to keep them at bay. It's a simple and effective solution that you can create using household materials.
- Roach-Proof Your Home
Cockroaches are gross and can carry diseases, but you don't need to resort to chemical sprays to get rid of them. Keep your home clean and clutter-free, as cockroaches love warm and damp environments. You can also place a mixture of equal parts boric acid and flour in a shallow dish and leave it in areas where cockroaches are likely to hide. The flour will attract them, and the boric acid will kill them.
- Bye Bye Termites
Termites can cause severe damage to your home, but you don't need to use toxic chemicals to get rid of them. Mix equal parts of salt and warm water in a spray bottle and spray it on the affected areas. You will want to look around the foundation of the house for soil tunnels that lead up the wall from the soil. Termites don't like the light and always build a tunnel into your house. The salt will dehydrate the termites, killing them naturally.
- Repel Mosquitoes with Garlic or Essential Oils
Mosquitoes can be a real buzzkill when you're trying to enjoy your southern lawn. Instead of using toxic bug sprays, you can use garlic or essential oils to repel them. Crush a few garlic cloves and mix them with water in a spray bottle or make a large batch using a few heads blended up and added to a pump sprayer. Spray the mixture around your outdoor space focusing on surfaces it will stick to. The smell of garlic will keep mosquitoes away. You can also mix a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus with water and spray it on your skin to repel mosquitoes naturally. Finally on less windy days you can try lighting a citronella oil scented candle. Enjoy your outdoor space without pesky mosquito bites!
Keeping your southern lawn pest-free doesn't have to involve harsh chemicals. With these five organic strategies, you can enjoy your outdoor space while keeping the pests at bay. So, grab your baking soda, vinegar, garlic, and essential oils, and let's get to work!
