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A big part of owning a home or garden is putting up a strong and reliable defense against pests. But conventional pest control methods have been increasingly linked to food contamination and environmental damage. As a result, homeowners and gardening hobbyists are hard-pressed to find alternative ways to manage bugs, rodents, and other pests.
Eco-Friendly Pest Control: Is It Possible?
If you’ve been asking if there are eco-friendly methods to control pests, then the answer is a resounding yes! Many pest control companies like Cleargate Pest stick to environmentally friendly pest management solutions and products.
Most traditional methods indeed use strong chemicals that leave toxic traces. But through growing public awareness and continued research, many modern anti-pest solutions now also focus on the environment’s safety.
Pest Control That Will Not Hurt The Environment
Anyone knows that pests can wreak havoc into homes or gardens. Worse, some vermin can carry other pests with them, such as the case for rats with ticks. Apart from the physical damage to your home structure, they can also cause several diseases.
Sooner or later, you will have to face off with creepy crawlers, small mammals, and perhaps one or all of the three most common pests that can invade your property. When that time comes, you must remember not just to stop them but also to prevent harm to the environment.
As always, the best solution to eliminate unwanted animals or insects on your property is to get professional pest management services. But it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything on your own to manage pests without harming the environment. Here are some tips on some eco-friendly pest control methods you can use.
1. Use Plants As Natural Pest Control
Did you know that there are plants that can act as natural pest deterrents? Citronella, for instance, is one of the top plants that can repel mosquitos and other insects. Other herbs commonly used in cooking can also fight off pests. For example, basil can also repel mosquitos, garlic can deter some species of beetles, and rosemary is an effective deterrent against moths. Meanwhile, mint may help against beetles and small mice.
2. Take Care Of Pets That Fight Pests
Apart from plants, you can also tend to friendly pets that feed off on notorious pests like mice. Cats can take care of small mice, while dogs can scare away rabbits and other small mammals. If your garden is at risk of being overrun by worms, slugs, and insects, introducing birds and chickens to your property can help control such pests naturally.
3. Use Traps For Small Pests
Suppose there are rats and small mammals on your property, but their presence can hardly be considered overwhelming. In that case, you can still put up a fight by using good old-fashioned traps. These tools are easy to use and widely available in the market.
While poison can be effective in killing pests like rats, its use is now considered cruel and barbaric by many sectors in society. Additionally, you don’t know when and where the rats will lay dead after ingesting the poison. So, there’s a high possibility that you will be unable to completely clear away decaying carcasses, which, in turn, can invite other pests or cause diseases.
On the other hand, by using rat traps, you deal with the pests more humanely. You can effectively dispose of them without necessarily harming them. Plus, you also avoid using chemical-based solutions.
4. Use Natural Cleaners That Control Pests
Cleanliness is the first step in preventing pests from raiding your home and garden. But if you want to make your home cleaning more effective in repelling unwanted crawlers, you may use natural oils and vinegar. The combination of essential oils and vinegar can remove any trace or smell that would otherwise attract bugs and other pests.
For instance, by mixing a few drops of neem oil and a half cup of vinegar in your cleaning solution, you can drive away mosquitos. Lemon juice and vinegar are good deterrents against ants. In the same way, a solution made from citrus peels fermented in vinegar can also help repel most bugs and even spiders.
5. Block Possible Entrances
Keeping your home free of holes and gaps is a common-sense approach to prevent pests like rats from entering and building their colony in your home. It’s the reason regular inspection of your home structure is crucial in controlling the presence of pests. You can also repel pests by pouring essential oils like peppermint in possible entryways.
The Bottom Line
Using pesticides and other chemicals for pest control can be harmful to the environment and your health. Good thing there are eco-friendly ways to help you keep your home and garden free of pests. While you can choose to go the DIY route to manage pests on your property, you can avoid the hassles by getting help from green pest control professionals.