Earth Day is a yearly celebration that reminds us to be responsible stewards of our planet. There are things you can do to support and promote greener living including how you manage pesky bugs in your home and yard. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focuses on targeting unwanted pests without harming beneficial ones, implementing preventative measures, and using greener pest control products. Check out a few sustainable pest control tips to help you show earth some love.
Plant a Garden
Planting a garden is a great way to support the environment. Plants help to clean the air and attract beneficial insects. Here are a few tips to help you start a successful garden.
- Use quality soil for your garden with a neutral pH and high nutrition balance. This will strengthen your plants and keep them healthy, so they are less susceptible to garden pests.
- Keep vegetation, shrubbery, and mulch at least one foot away from your home’s foundation to help keep pests out of your home.
- Low-till gardening practices help preserve the habitats of centipedes, ground beetles, and other insects that eat garden pests.
Attract Beneficial Insects
Beneficial insects can help to keep your plants happy and control pest populations. Pollinators, like bees, help the environment. Through pollination, bees sustain up to one-third of our food supply. Other beneficial insects feed on harmful pests. If planting a garden seems intimidating, try starting with a few plants. Dill, yarrow, and sunflowers are a few plants known to attract beneficial insects. You’ll also want to make sure pollinators have access to water.
Welcome Birds to Your Yard
Birds are your friends and will eat insects in your garden and yard. This will help to minimize the need of pesticides. Consider adding bird feeders or birdbaths to your yard. Even small birds, like chickadees, hunt down thousands of insects daily. Be sure to maintain clean water in your birdbath. Stagnant water can actually attract mosquitoes.
Minimize Moisture
Many bugs thrive in areas with moisture. It’s important to keep your space as dry as possible. Fix any indoor or outdoor water leaks. Check your yard for items, like buckets and wheelbarrows, that can fill with water. Empty these and move them to a place where water can’t collect in it. You’ll also want to ensure water doesn’t gather in your yard. Make sure your gutters are clean and working properly.
Keep Pests Out
One of the best ways to avoid a run-in with bugs is to minimize potential entry points. Seal or cover cracks and openings around the foundation of your home to keep pests out. Repair or replace damaged window and door screens. You don’t want to make it easy for pests to sneak into your home.
Spring Cleaning
Spring is the perfect time to clean and declutter your house. Discarding, recycling, or donating unnecessary items will be good for your home and give pests fewer places to hide. You’ll also want to keep your yard clean too. Removing yard debris, keeping wood neatly stacked, and trimming your lawn can help to deter pests from hanging around your yard.
Use Green Pest Control
Use nature as your first line of defense against pests. Pest control products that are formulated with plant essential oils are effective at keeping bugs away. You can also use pesticides with mineral-derived and mineral-based active ingredients such as borax and food-grade silica. Our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products are a more environmentally and family-friendly solution for your pest problems.
In what ways do you celebrate Earth Day all year long? How do you practice sustainable pest control? Leave us a comment below!