| We are well into spring and summer is just around the | | | | which can help you dispose of the remainder more |
| corner! Now is the time when unwanted multi-legged | | | | easily. |
| squatters start invading your home. You want to get | | | | Try soil-free potting mix for plants infested by insects |
| rid of them, but you don't want to use Chem-o-kill to do | | | | or larvae. Soil can contain larvae of pest insects, while |
| it. Here are some easy ways to prevent and evict | | | | the soil-free mediums tend not to support them. Ask |
| insects with environmentally friendly means. | | | | your local nursery for more information about ways to |
| The first way to keep bugs out of your home is the | | | | cut down on plant parasites. |
| simplest - clean. A clean home provides less of a | | | | Essential oils are another method that some people |
| haven for unwanted insects to set up shop. Regular | | | | find keeps the bugs away. Cedarwood, citronella, |
| sweeping, vacuuming, wiping and dusting can stop | | | | peppermint oil and rosemary oil tend to have a |
| infestations from starting or address small numbers of | | | | repellant effect on insects. These tend to have a |
| unwanted guests. Try to minimize clutter by having | | | | pleasant scent; citronella in particular is a popular |
| plenty of storage off the floor. | | | | anti-bug strategy. |
| Invest in reusable, waterproof and airtight containers to | | | | Garlic, ginger, hot peppers and onions are unpalatable |
| store foodstuffs in. The more secure the container, the | | | | for many bugs and tend to keep them away. While |
| less likely pests will be attracted to it or be able to | | | | none of these are harmful to humans, in some venues |
| start munching away. This is also useful for non-food | | | | the pungent smell might be off-putting, so be |
| items that may be targets of different insects, such as | | | | circumspect in the usage. Boiling some sliced hot |
| clothing. Some waterproof tubs for out-of-season | | | | peppers for 10 minutes can produce a good outdoor |
| wear can help prevent unpleasant discoveries when it | | | | bug spray - just make sure you've got a lot of |
| comes time to break out the summer or winter | | | | ventilation while making and using it! It is recommended |
| clothes. | | | | that this be used solely outdoors - in the garden, |
| For ants, try baby powder or cinnamon sprinkled on | | | | workshop area, etc. |
| entryways. You can also poison ants with a mixture of | | | | While environmentally friendly solutions to insect pest |
| equal parts of honey, sugar and borax. Heat the honey | | | | problems often don't work as immediately as the |
| and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Then add | | | | standard poisons, they are a lot healthier for you and |
| the borax. Put a spoonful on ant pathways and on hills. | | | | your family to use. Exploring the green alternative |
| Watch pets and children while you have the bait out; | | | | means that you will worry less about your health while |
| as little 5 grams of borax can be deadly! It can help if | | | | still keeping the bugs outside where they belong! |
| you put the mixture in a small dish or large bottle cap, | | | | |