Spiders are extremely useful arachnids that are generally active at night, preying primarily on any and all insects it can snare in its sticky web. While a lot of people tend to dislike and be afraid of these timid, non-aggressive creatures, the vast majority of spiders are harmless to a human being.

Despite this, even those who may be more tolerant of spiders in their garden will not accept a mess of spider webs on the siding of their homes. The best and most effective way to prevent these webs from appearing in the first place is to keep away its creators.

Through the use of environmentally friendly methods for repelling spiders, one can reduce or completely eliminate the need for dangerous insecticides and prevent spiders from making their webs on your property.

Steps

Clean off all existing spiders webs from the siding of your home. Use a broom and sweep it away whenever possible. Pay attention to hard to reach places such as beneath the eaves or under shutters.

If you find a globular egg sac on a web, don’t just sweep it aside – pluck the egg out by hand and crush it to kill the hundreds of embryos hiding within. Then spray the infested area with a garden hose.

Pressure wash your home’s exterior if the siding of your home can withstand it.

Seal gaps and cracks along the siding of your home. Purchase some outdoor sealant. Fit it into a caulk gun, and carefully apply to every crack. Then, push the sealant into the crack using your hands, smoothing the surface and filling in any empty space between the gaps.

Shut off any exterior lights at night. This step doesn’t directly affect spiders. Rather, bright lights attract insects which then draw in hungry spiders looking for a delicious midnight snack.

Switch out your outdoor incandescent light bulbs with yellow bug light bulbs, LED lights, or sodium vapor lights where it is necessary to have nighttime visibility. These specific light bulbs are designed to not attract insects unlike the traditional incandescent lights.

Keep piles of bricks, firewood, or other materials away from your home whenever possible. Spiders can use these objects for shelter, and are a favorite hiding and living space for spiders.

Keep your lawn well-trimmed. Mow your lawn frequently enough that the grass can be kept short. Keep back shrubbery and tree limbs in check by clipping them whenever they get too close the siding of your house. Maintain the garden so that weeds are removed and the entire area is debris-free.

Use diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your home. Apply a 6-foot band around your home and especially in places where spiders are frequently sighted. This material is deadly against all creatures with exoskeletons, as it can pierce it, causing their insides to be exposed to air and lead to dehydration.

For more articles, click here to find out how to naturally repel spiders, and here to learn how to keep black widows out from your home.

Photo Credit: Nibbler1977