When you think of pest management, you probably don’t picture it as being particularly eco-friendly. Homeowners often assume that traditional insecticides and pesticides are far more effective than their “green” alternatives, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, eco-friendly pest control methods can not only remedy your insect problems, but they’re much safer for your family and pets as well.

Here are three methods for controlling and eliminating a pest problem using environmentally friendly pest management treatments.

Plant a Garden

Your garden can be both beautiful and functional in keeping away harmful insects. You may be surprised to learn that herbs function as a natural pest repellent. Traditional kitchen spices such as rosemary, basil, and mint can help both attract beneficial insects and deter pests. Herbs are “companion plants,” so they are especially useful if you have an outdoor vegetable garden. Alternatively, certain flowers also work well as pest deterrents, such as chrysanthemums, marigolds, petunias, and lavender.

Utilize Food Scraps

In an effort to both minimize food waste and keep the pests away, using leftover food scraps is an effective, easy, and inexpensive method of pest control. Insects hate the smell of citrus, so any orange, lemon, or lime peels can be chopped up and added to your garden. This will not only act as a natural insecticide but will also help fertilize your plants as well. You can also leave citrus peels on your windowsills and countertops to deter pests.

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaners

Rather than coating your house in toxic, chemical-laden cleaning products, making your own homemade, natural cleaner is an effective strategy to not only keep pests away, but is budget- and environmentally-friendly as well. Combining a vinegar and water solution with some essential oils (both peppermint and eucalyptus work well for this) and using it as a regular cleaning spray will remove any food scraps or smells, which will give pests no motivation to stick around. If there’s nothing for them to feed on, chances are they’ll move on to wherever they can find an easy meal.

There are dozens of natural pest-repellent strategies out there, but the most important is finding a pest control service that works with you to find the best solutions for your home. Bug Out Service in the Pensacola, Florida area uses an Integrated Pest Management strategy, which will help you control unwanted insects using the least damaging methods possible. For more information or a free consultation, contact Bug Out today!