As it’s summer in Florida, the pesky pests are in their glory and “bug” us any chance they get. From mosquitoes to rats, these guys seem to make it their goal to live up to their nickname “pests”. Below are some tried and true methods of naturally, and easily, handling some of these pests.
Another method that I haven’t tried for mosquitoes, but might be more effective overall, is to put a dryer sheet in your pocket when you’re outdoors. It’s supposed to work like a charm.
Have fruit flies in your house? Half-fill a small glass with apple cider vinegar and two drops of dishwashing liquid, then mix it well. The flies are drawn to it and never get to bug you again!
For ants, put small piles of cornmeal in the area where you see ants. They eat it, take it to their nest and, because they can’t digest it, they die. It might take a week or so, but it does work.
Squirrels eating your plants? Sprinkle the plants with cayenne pepper. This doesn’t hurt the plants, but keeps the squirrels away. You can also sprinkle it in your attic if you have rodents. The rodents walk in
it, then lick their feet and won’t go back in the attic. The only problem I have with this one is whether or not the mice and rats are smart enough to know where they got pepper on their feet!
Another proven method for rodents is any natural product that contains vitamin D3. You can even make your own by opening a capsule of D3 and mixing it into peanut butter, a favorite treat of rodents. The really cool thing about using D3 is that even if your pet finds and eats a dead rodent, the D3 won’t hurt them at all.
For aphids, I heard this ‘recipe’ on a TV show for natural, organic ways to handle those stubborn bugs once and for all. Here it is:
1 whole head of garlic
2 capfuls of cayenne pepper
2 cups water
1 tablespoon of dish soap (for sticking power)
Put this all in your blender, blend it well, then put into a spray bottle. Make sure that you spray on top of, as well as under, leaves and spray the base of the plant well too.
Okay, one last one. Here is a more general recipe for a natural pesticide for your garden:
3 large onions
1 whole head of garlic
2 tablespoons hot sauce
Blend the above in 1 quart of water, then add 1 tablespoon of mild soap. Just spray it on your plants to repel those pesky pests! Again, make sure you get the whole plant, even the underside of the leaves.
I hope this makes your summer more pleasant and your home more enjoyable!
Pam Ryan Anderson
Real Estate Broker, Ryan Realty
(727) 442-2822