Sustainable Garden Practices That Quietly Discourage Pests

Want a garden that looks great and quietly keeps pests out?

Everyone wants their yard to look nice. Nobody wants scorpions, cockroaches or spiders roaming free at night though. The good news is you don't have to choose.

Here's the truth:

The vast majority of pest issues are CAUSED by garden design. Lots of dense planting, wet corners, and bright lights are like a welcome sign for pests.

The best part?

Environmentally friendly gardening techniques can effectively reduce pest populations chemical-free.

Fewer pests, healthier plants and a safer yard for children and pets.

Learn 6 easy gardening habits that will make your yard way less appealing to pests.

What's inside this guide:

• • Why Your Garden Attracts Pests
  • 6x Sustainable Garden Practices That Discourage Pests
  • When To Bring In A Professional
    
    

Why Your Garden Attracts Pests

Most gardens accidentally roll out the welcome mat for pests.

Consider... Thick bushes, wet mulch, cluttered nooks and standing water. To a scorpion or cockroach, it's a five-star hotel.

Poison control centers report nearly 17,000 scorpion exposures occur throughout the U.S. each year. Here's another crazy statistic: Nearly 100% of them occur at home.

And here's the kicker...

Residential scorpion control begins long before a scorpion is spotted scurrying across your patio. The majority of scorpion problems originate outdoors – in your garden, along your foundation and beneath mulch beds. Smart landscaping choices can make a huge difference. That's why if you're a homeowner who wants to prevent scorpion infestations before they become a serious problem, residential scorpion control must begin in your outdoor space. Fix the garden and you fix most of the pest problem.

6x Sustainable Garden Practices That Discourage Pests

It's these 6 things that make up a pest-proof garden. Choose a few that you want to start with and implement those - you'll see results quicker than you think.

Water Wisely

Water is one of the biggest attractors for pests.

Scorpions, spiders and roaches all require moisture. If you have leaky hoses, poor drainage or overly-watered gardens, you are essentially advertising "bug motel" with free unlimited drinks.

Here's how to fix it:

• • Fix any leaky irrigation lines and outdoor taps
  • Water early in the morning so the soil dries before nightfall
  • Switch to drip irrigation instead of overhead sprinklers
  • Grade the yard so water flows away from the foundation
    

Less moisture = fewer pests. It really is that simple.

Prune, Clear and Declutter

Pests love a messy garden.

Thick bushes, rampant ground cover and heaps of leaves provide hiding places for pests during daylight hours. As darkness falls they venture forth to forage. The solution? Keep plants trimmed and away from the house. Stack firewood off the ground and at least 20 feet away from any wall. Clean up leaf piles, old pots, and garden clutter.

Extra tip: Leave a 1-2 foot gap of gravel/bare soil between beds and your foundation. It creates a nice barrier insects are unlikely to want to cross.

Choose Native, Drought-Tolerant Plants

Big, thirsty ornamental plants create damp, shady conditions that pests love.

Native, drought-tolerant plants do the opposite. They require less water, retain less moisture and provide fewer places to hide. Translation:

• • Lower irrigation
  • Less shade at ground level
  • Fewer pests hanging around the yard
    

Avoid planting thick, thorny bushes such as bougainvillea or lantana near your home. Open, airy plantings are much better for natural pest control and can be quite attractive if well designed.

Rethink Outdoor Lighting

Here's something most homeowners don't realise...

Bright outdoor lights draw insects. Insects attract scorpions, spiders and other predators. So every white porch light is actually a dinner bell for creepy pests you don't want.

A quick fix:

• • Switch to yellow or amber LED bulbs
  • Set outdoor lights on timers
  • Move landscape lighting away from doors and windows
  • Turn off decorative lights when they're not needed
    

Will significantly reduce the number of insects around your home. This will reduce the number of pests that come inside to eat them.

Invite Natural Predators

Nature has its own pest control system... And it's completely free.

Birds, lizards, toads, owls and even backyard chickens all consume garden pests. Creating a garden that attracts them will naturally control pests.

To attract natural predators:

• • Install a small birdbath or water feature away from the house
  • Add native flowering plants to bring in beneficial insects
  • Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that kill the good bugs too
    

If your garden ecosystem is balanced, you'll experience fewer pest problems over time.

Manage Mulch and Ground Cover

Mulch is fantastic for plants... But it's also fantastic for pests.

Bulk mulch retains moisture and provides pests with a cool, dark hiding spot. Mulch is great when managed well. Mulch is the worst when piled up against the foundation and poorly managed.

Here's the rule:

• • Keep mulch at least 6-12 inches away from the foundation
  • Use finer mulch instead of thick wood chips
  • Refresh mulch beds regularly to keep them dry
    
  • Consider gravel or decomposed granite close to the house
    

Minor adjustments here can drastically affect how many pests remain.

When To Bring In A Professional

Simple living can get you very far. However sometimes your pest problem has gotten too advanced for organic means.

Seeing scorpions or cockroaches indoors, or frequently in the yard, means they have established a population. Worldwide there are an estimated 1.2 million scorpion stings each year, with kids being the most vulnerable to severe consequences.

A professional inspection will find entry points, nest sites and hiding places that most homeowners overlook. When you combine that with sustainable gardening practices, professional treatment will allow you to enjoy the results much longer than with a DIY job alone.

So how does the right combination work? The organic garden methods eliminate the things pests like to live with. The professional treatment knocks down whatever is already present. And your continued habits prevent it from happening again.

The Bottom Line

Natural gardening tips are probably your best defense against unwanted pests in and around the home. Not only do they save you money, they are better for the environment and your children and pets.

Quick recap:

• • Fix moisture problems and water wisely
  • Prune, declutter and clear debris
  • Plant native, drought-tolerant species
  • Rethink outdoor lighting
  • Invite natural predators
  • Manage mulch and ground cover
    

Make one or two changes at first. Soon your garden will begin controlling pests by itself.