How To Get Rid Of Lizards In Yard

If you’re wondering how to get rid of lizards in yard spaces, you’re not alone. Many gardeners find these little reptiles unsettling, even though they do eat pests. This guide will show you effective, natural ways to encourage them to move along without harm.

First, it’s good to understand why they’re there. Lizards are attracted to yards that offer food, water, and shelter. If you have lots of insects, dense foliage, or cool, damp hiding spots, your yard is a lizard paradise. Changing these conditions is the key to making your space less inviting.

This main approach focuses on making your yard a less ideal home. We’ll cover everything from quick fixes to long-term habitat changes. The goal is natural lizard control, not necessarily to harm them, as they are beneficial in many ways.

1. Reduce Their Food Source

Lizards eat insects. If you have a bug problem, you have a lizard buffet. Cutting down on insects is your first and most important step.

Use yellow bug lights for outdoor lighting. They attract fewer insects than white lights.
Remove standing water where mosquitoes and gnats breed.
Apply food-grade diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your home and garden beds. This natural powder dehydrates and kills crawling insects.
Introduce plants that repel insects naturally, like lavender, citronella, and marigolds.
Keep your compost bin securely covered and away from the house.

2. Eliminate Hiding Places and Shelter

Lizards need places to hide from predators and the sun. A tidy yard gives them fewer options.

Keep grass trimmed short and bushes well-pruned.
Remove piles of leaves, wood, rocks, and debris promptly.
Store firewood, lumber, and unused pots on raised racks away from the house.
Seal gaps under sheds, decks, and porches with wire mesh.
Regularly clean out ground cover plants and thick mulch where they might nest.

3. Use Natural Repellents

Certain smells and sensations are unpleasant to lizards. You can use these to create barriers.

Pepper Spray

Mix a spray using water and a generous amount of cayenne or black pepper. Spray it around doors, windows, and other entry points. Reapply after rain. The spicy scent irritates them.

Coffee and Tobacco Paste

This is a strong deterrent. Mix used coffee grounds with a little tobacco from a cigarette. Make a paste and place small balls of it in areas lizards frequent. Keep away from pets and children.

Essential Oils

Lizards dislike the strong smell of peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil. Add a few drops to water in a spray bottle and apply to potential entry points.

4. Create Physical Barriers

Stop lizards from getting where you don’t want them, like inside your home or on specific patio furniture.

Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
Repair holes in window and door screens.
Use copper mesh or sealant to fill cracks in the foundation and walls.
Consider a smooth, vertical fence edging that lizards cannot easily climb.

5. Employ Natural Predators

Encouraging animals that eat lizards can help balance your yard’s ecosystem. This is a more passive, long-term strategy.

Attract birds by putting up birdhouses, birdbaths, and feeders. Birds like robins and hawks will hunt lizards.
Outdoor cats are effective lizard hunters, but they can also disrupt other wildlife.
Some larger spider species and even certain wasps can be predators of small lizards.

6. Safe Trapping and Relocation

For persistent lizards, you can trap them and move them to a nearby wooded area.

Get a small, humane live trap or even use a simple box propped up with a stick.
Bait it with a few small insects or a piece of ripe fruit.
Check the trap frequently, at least every few hours.
Wear gloves and gently transport the lizard in the trap to a suitable new habitat at least a mile away.
Release it carefully and let it go on its way.

What NOT to Do: Harmful Methods to Avoid

Some methods are ineffective or cause unnecessary harm. Avoid these common mistakes.

Glue Traps: These are cruel and can trap non-target animals like birds and beneficial insects.
Chemical Pesticides: Spraying for lizards directly is not recommended. It can poison the soil, water, and other animals in the food chain.
Chasing or Hurting Them: This is stressful for the lizard and rarely solves the underlying problem attracting them.

Long-Term Yard Maintenance for Lizard Control

Prevention is always better than cure. A well-maintained yard is your best defense.

Water your garden in the morning so surfaces dry by evening, reducing damp hiding spots.
Use an inorganic mulch, like gravel or river rock, in areas close to the house instead of wood chips.
Regularly inspect your yard’s perimeter for new gaps or piles that could form shelter.
Keep gutters clean to prevent water accumulation and insect breeding.
Store pet food indoors in sealed containers to avoid attracting ants and other bugs.

Understanding the Benefits of Lizards

Before you embark on full-scale removal, consider the good they do. Lizards are natural pest controllers.

They consume vast amounts of mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and garden pests like aphids. Having a few around can actually reduce your need for insect sprays. Sometimes, tolerance in the far corners of your garden is the most natural solution of all.

When to Call a Professional

If you have a severe infestation, or if the lizards are a dangerous species (like non-native monitor lizards in some regions), it’s time for help. A professional wildlife removal service can assess the situation and use safe, effective methods to clear your yard. They can also find and seal entry points you might of missed.

FAQ Section

What smell do lizards hate the most?

Lizards have a strong sense of smell and dislike pungent odors. The most effective natural scents are pepper (cayenne or black), strong coffee, tobacco, and essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus.

Does vinegar keep lizards away?

Yes, vinegar can act as a repellent due to its strong acidic smell. A spray of equal parts water and white vinegar around entry points can deter them. However, the smell fades quickly outdoors, so it needs frequent reapplication.

How do I get rid of lizards in my garden naturally?

Focus on the three pillars: reduce insects (their food), remove clutter (their shelter), and use natural repellents like pepper spray or coffee grounds. Keeping your garden tidy and well-trimmed is the most effective long-term strategy.

What attracts lizards to your yard?

Three main things: abundant insects for food, plenty of hiding spots (rocks, wood piles, dense plants, debris), and access to water from leaky faucets, birdbaths, or overwatered garden soil.

Are lizards in the yard bad for my garden?

Not usually. In fact, they are mostly beneficial. They eat harmful insects and generally avoid damaging plants. The primary reasons for removal are personal discomfort or them finding their way into your house.

Will mothballs get rid of lizards?

While sometimes suggested, mothballs are a poor choice. They are pesticides meant for enclosed spaces and are toxic to children, pets, and wildlife. Their use outdoors is illegal in many places and harmful to the environment. Stick to natural methods.

Managing lizards in your yard is about balance. By using these natural methods, you can create a space that’s comfortable for you and less attractive to them. Remember, a completely lizard-free yard is almost impossible and not ecologically ideal. The goal is gentle discouragement, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space in peace. Start with the simple steps like cleaning up clutter and reducing insects, and you’ll likely see a big difference. With a little patience and consistent yard care, you can find a solution that works for everyone.