This post was written by me and sponsored by EarthEasy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My new home has a beautiful backyard. There are two large shade trees, a covered patio, and lots of lovely flower gardens. I love to spend time outside but not a big fan of bugs. Mosquitoes are unfortunately very fond of me.
Controlling all of these pests so that we can enjoy our yard more has been a high priority. Most pest control products are not very safe for us, pets or the environment. Tradition insecticides have so many health hazards, ranging from short-term hazards like headaches to chronic hazards like endocrine disruption, reproductive problems and even cancer. If that is my only option I’ll take mosquito bites or just stay inside!
Natural Pest Control
Don’t give up on the outdoors just yet, thankfully there are natural and safer ways to control pests. Natural pest control is something my family has been practicing for years and we’ve had a lot of success. We’ve also had some trial and error but at this point have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. I want to share some of the things we have used and found useful as well as a couple of new things we are trying out in our new backyard.
Essential Oil Candles
We’ve used citronella candles as well as other essential oil candles to help keep mosquitoes away with a lot of success. One that I recently discovered and really enjoy is the Biocare Mosquito Candle. It uses lemongrass and geraniol to keep mosquitoes away. It smells lovely to us but mosquitoes are not a fan and it helps prevent mosquitoes from smelling us so they can’t find us.
Pheromone Mosquito Trap
Pheromone Mosquito Traps are a new concept to me but very interesting and one I look forward to continuing to test out this year. It works by using a mosquito egg pheromone which mosquitoes use to mark where they lay eggs. It attracts the female mosquito into the trap and traps them so they can’t bite us and helps prevent the disease they can carry.
It’s really easy to use, fill it with old or standing water (they don’t like clean tap water) and place it in your yard. It’s reusable for many years so far less wasteful than many options.
Glass Wasp Traps
Pest traps are rarely pretty but these glass wasp traps are an exception. They are made of beautiful and sturdy colored glass. You just add a lure, something like non-citrus fruit juice, and place it in your yard. They fly into the trap and can’t escape. You should add a bit of vinegar to the water which helps prevent honeybees from being attracted to the trap. The trap is reusable, you just need to refill it every 10 days or so.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is probably our favorite natural pest control find. When we moved into our house we had a bit of an ant problem. They were mostly in the kitchen so we wanted whatever we used to be very safe, not just for us but also my dog. Food-grade diatomaceous earth has been the safest and one of the best thing we have found for ants.
It works on crawling insects because the particles are very small and sharp but only harmful to the small exoskeletons of insects. It clings to them when they crawl over it and they die within 48 hours. It’s even considered safe to sprinkle in vegetable gardens and on your dog!
To get rid of our ant problem I made sure to keep all food cleaned up, I’d spray vinegar over the surfaces and wipe them down, once it dried I’d sprinkle the diatomaceous earth around the areas where the ants were showing up. It takes a bit of time to work and you want to avoid getting it wet but it does work! We replace it when it gets wet and only clean it up once it’s been several days since we saw the insects.
You do want to make sure you only buy food-grade diatomaceous earth, non-food grade can be dangerous.
Other Natural Pest Control
There are so many other natural pest control options out there. There are traps, sprays, electronic options and more. Depending on your pest issue you may need to try different things. I found Eartheasy is a great place to shop for natural pest control options. They have all of the things I talked about above and so much more.
They give detailed information about what is in a product, how it works and how to use it. It really helps make sure you are picking the best product for your situation. They are also family owned which is a big plus for me and they care about the environment.
I’m so excited to have all of these great natural products to keep my backyard pest free so I can fully enjoy it this spring and summer.
Mosquito Protection Kit Giveaway
The kind people at Eartheasy want to help you enjoy the outdoors as well and stay safe. They are offering one lucky reader a mosquito protection kit featuring a pheromone mosquito trap, Herbal Armor Insect Repellent Spray, and Ditch the Itch Cream.
It’s really easy to win, just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
LauraD
This package would be great to win. I lovethe glass wasp traps. We are always looking for better ways to control pests.
Taylor Mobley
These are some great ideas. We don’t have big pest problem at my apartment but when we buy our house next year, I’ll keep this book marked 🙂
Cynthia C
I would like to try the mosquito trap to lure them away from us.
Richard Hicks
I would like to try their Electronic Insect Killer
Beth Patterson
I am always very leery of pesticides because I know they can have a huge negative impact on more than just insects. Thanks for the tip about adding vinegar to the wasp trap to discourage honey bees, we need to keep the bees safe!
nickie
I’d like to try Non-Toxic Fruit Fly Trap Replacement Lures
Sue Barney
I would like to try the Non-Toxic Japanese Beetle Trap!
Cynthia @craftoflaughter
I would love to win. Natural products are the best! I hate chemicals, especially in my home
Susan Christy
I want to try the pheromone mosquito trap since none of the homemade traps I’ve made have worked.
Brittney House
I would really like to try out the mosquito trap.
Heather with WELLFITandFED
Those glass wasp catchers are sooooo pretty. They are like art. I have seen some really cool ones. THansk for sharing this valuable information. In AZ we have to get ALOT of pest control and the more natural we can stay the better.
Lisa V.
I would like to try Diatomaceous earth. We have areas where ants are a problem.
Taylor DuVall
I love this. I’m always looking for ways to do things more naturally. I’m going to try a few of these!
Mary Burris
Great suggestions! I love using my essential oils, and have found them to be quite handy in times like this.
Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Rachel
That glass wrap looks so pretty! It’s awesome that it functions as a decorative piece, but also as pest control. I’ve also heard a lot about essential oils working really well. Thanks for the tips!
Dana
I am totally entering the giveaway for that pheramone mosquito trap. All mosquitos seem to swarm to me and the bites blow up on me and are sooooo itchy.
Ashley C
I would like to try the Bee Free Wasp Deterrent!
Charles
The mosquito trap. There are such a nuisance and multiply like crazy. Wasps are easy to deal with in comparison.
Emily Morelli
I love the Glass Wasp Traps. They make such a beautiful addition to a patio, while serving a functional purpose.
Taylor Closet
I would love to try the Flies Be Gone Non-Toxic Fly Trap.
natalie welanetz
Love these ideas, especially the glass wasp trap, we have a plastic one…but this one is so pretty!
Dana Matthews
The Herbal Armor Insect Repellent would be the first thing I’d like to try. I live in the Mississippi Delta and we have mosquitoes as big as hummingbirds here! (not really, but they are bad)
Erica
Great information! Thank you for sharing!
deana
I would most like to try the Herbal Armor
Robyn
The herbal armor looks like it would work really well & easy to use! Mosquitos be gone!
karen mayernick
I really would love to try the Mosquito and Flying Insect trap! Who wouldn’t! Fantastic Prize! Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Aubrey
I would like to try the mosquito trap .
Pam H.
I most want to try the Herbal Armor Insect Repellant.
Darlene Owen
I would love the Jora JK270 Composter – 9.5 Cubic Feet
megan tilley
I would love to try the mosquito trap.
latanya
the mosquito trap
Kimberly
The glass wasp traps! My husband is like a schoolgirl and totally afraid of hornets. He made these ugly traps out of empty jelly jars. These glass ones look so much better!
susan smoaks
we have a lot of wasps. i want to try the glass wasps trap.
Bridgett Wilbur
I would love to try the mosquito trap.
Jessica To
I would like to try the Bee Free Wasp Deterrent
Meghan
The traps looks awesome!
Brandy Williams
I would like to try the mesquito traps.
Allison S.
I would love to try a glass wasp trap. They’re attractive enough to have out in the yard, but take care of pests.
Jennifer Mays
The herbal armour insect repellent
Deborah
I really want to try the insect repellent spray!
Claire
I really want to try the insect repellent spray!
Shakeia Rieux
I would like to try the Ditch the Itch Cream
Angelica Dimeo
I would want the electric flea trap the fleas have been bad as well as mosquitos this time of year.
Angela Saver
I most looking forward to trying the Biocare Mosquito Candle!
Aaron
I would most like to try the Herbal Armor Insect Repellent Spray!
Natalie
I actually would love the mosquitos trap,we have a to around here. And they love me and my daughter. 🙁
Karrie Millheim
Non-Toxic Fruit Fly Trap Replacement Lures
lissa crane
I would also love to have the Bee Free Wasp Deterrent! We have so many of them in our backyard! This would be perfect!
Alison Matalanis
The mosquito trap sounds great. I hate bug bites!
June S.
That Electronic Insect Killer would be perfect for our backyard and for when I am going my gardening too. Those bugs just eat me alive! 🙂