When pest control comes to mind, most immediately picture insecticides, poison bait, or other forms of hazardous chemicals. These methods are most often used after pests have done damage. But there’s a far more efficient and eco-friendly way to control pests, and that’s through yard planning, maintenance, and landscape design. Let’s discuss how you can take advantage of natural preventatives and use landscaping to help repel pests.

1.     Keep Your Trees at a Distance

Trees can create shade and boost your landscape’s aesthetic, but depending on where they grow in relation to your house, they could be inviting unwelcome visitors inside. The rule of thumb is to keep at least six feet between your house and any tree limbs. Branches can act as a gateway for rodents to reach your roof, but if these limbs are pruned regularly, it’ll prevent critters from accessing vulnerable parts of your home.

2.     Grow in Pest-Repelling Plants

There are plants you can invest in that naturally repel pests from raiding your home and garden. To repel snails, rosemary and fennel are great natural repellants. You can also plant chrysanthemums to dissuade cockroaches, silverfish, lice, fleas, ticks, and ants from entering your property. Several plants can protect your home from pesky invaders, and if you have dogs or cats, you can rest assured these pest-control methods are pet-friendly.

3.     Consider Your Plant Placement

While you may be seeking a chaotic jungle vibe by packing many flourishing plants close together, this provides the perfect shelter for mice, rats, and insects. To avoid the risk of pests building nests in your garden, speak with an experienced landscaper about how far apart to place your plants. Leaving roughly two feet between dense plants can be enough to convince mice to build their nests elsewhere.

4.     Be Wary of the Use of Wood Chips

Although wood chips are an environmentally friendly alternative to grass, pests thrive in wood chips. Placing wood chips near your home can run the risk of a pest invasion, as termites and carpenter ants can build colonies in them. If you’re looking for alternatives to conserve water usage in your landscape, synthetic mulch or polished pebbles can help create a clean-looking landscape while remaining unappealing to pests.

If you’re planning on redecorating your yard, it’s important to consider how to use landscaping to help repel pests. When you combine natural pest repellants with traditional insect control, your home will be well protected. At Dolan Landscaping, our landscape designs can ward off pests, and we can perform tick and insect control to keep your yard and home safe. If you’re interested in redesigning your landscape with pest control in mind, contact us today.