Seeing spiders on your outdoor plants can be a bit unsettling. If you’re looking for a safe way to manage them without harsh chemicals, this guide is for you. Here is how to get rid of spiders on outdoor plants using natural pest control methods.
We’ll focus on strategies that deter or relocate spiders while keeping your garden’s ecosystem healthy. Remember, not all spiders are harmful; many are beneficial predators. The goal is control, not total elimination.
How to Get Rid of Spiders on Outdoor Plants
This approach focuses on making your plants less inviting to spiders. It combines direct removal with habitat modification. Consistency is key for the best results.
Understand Why Spiders Are There
Spiders are attracted to plants for two main reasons: shelter and food. The dense foliage offers a perfect hiding spot from predators and the elements. More importantly, if your plants have other insects like aphids or flies, spiders will come to feast.
Controlling the spider population often starts with managing the insects they eat. A garden with fewer pests will naturally attract fewer spiders over time.
Physical Removal and Disruption
This is the most immediate and non-toxic method. It requires regular attention but is very effective.
- Manual Removal: Wear gloves and gently brush spiders off leaves and stems into a container. Relocate them to a less bothersome area of your yard, like a wood pile or shrubbery away from the house.
- Strong Water Spray: Use a hose with a spray nozzle to blast webs and spiders off your plants. Do this in the morning so plants dry quickly, preventing fungal issues. You’ll need to repeat this every few days as spiders can rebuild quickly.
- Prune and Trim: Regularly prune back dense foliage and remove dead leaves. This eliminates the sheltered corners where spiders like to build their webs and hide during the day.
Natural Repellent Sprays
You can make effective sprays at home using common ingredients. These create a scent or sensation that spiders avoid. Always test a small part of your plant first to check for any adverse reaction.
- Peppermint Oil Spray: Spiders strongly dislike the smell of peppermint. Mix 10-15 drops of pure peppermint essential oil with a teaspoon of mild liquid soap and a quart of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray liberally on leaves, stems, and around the base of the plant. Reapply after rain or every few days.
- Vinegar Solution: A mix of equal parts white vinegar and water can disrupt scent trails and repel spiders. Be cautious, as vinegar can harm some plants. It’s best used around the plant’s base or on patio surfaces nearby rather than directly on delicate foliage.
- Citrus Spray: Boil citrus peels (lemon, orange, lime) in water for 10-15 minutes. Let the water cool, strain it, and pour it into a spray bottle. The natural compound d-limonene in the peels is a known spider deterrent.
Introduce Natural Predators
Encourage other creatures that will help maintain balance. Birds are excellent natural pest controllers.
- Install bird feeders or a bird bath near your garden to attract insect-eating birds like chickadees or wrens.
- Consider adding a birdhouse to provide nesting sites. These birds will consume both spiders and the insects that attract them.
Maintain a Clean Garden Area
Spiders often move from ground clutter up into your plants. Keeping the area tidy removes their highways.
- Remove debris, piles of wood, stones, or unused pots from near your garden beds.
- Keep grass and weeds trimmed short around your planting areas.
- Store firewood and compost bins well away from your prized plants.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine powder made from fossilized algae. It’s harmless to humans and pets but lethal to insects and spiders with exoskeletons. The powder causes tiny cuts that lead to dehydration.
Lightly dust a thin layer around the base of your plants and on the soil surface. Reapply after watering or rain, as it loses effectiveness when wet. Be careful not to apply heavily on flowers, as it can affect pollinators like bees.
When to Leave Spiders Alone
It’s important to recognize that most spiders in the garden are helpful. Jumping spiders, lynx spiders, and even some orb weavers are voracious eaters of true pests like caterpillars, beetles, and aphids.
If a spider isn’t building a web directly on a plant you frequently handle or its population isn’t excessive, consider letting it be. They’re providing you with free pest control service.
Prevent Future Spider Issues
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These habits will make your garden less attractive in the long run.
- Regular Inspection: Make a habit of checking your plants weekly for early signs of webs or egg sacs (which look like small, silky pouches). Removing egg sacs can prevent a large influx later.
- Yellow Outdoor Lighting: Standard white outdoor lights attract the flying insects that spiders eat. Switch to yellow sodium vapor or LED bug lights, which are less attractive to insects, reducing the spider’s food source near your plants.
- Barrier Plants: Some gardeners find that planting strong-smelling herbs like lavender, mint, or lemongrass around the garden’s perimeter can help deter spiders from moving in. Their potency can vary, but they’re a nice addition to any garden.
FAQ: Natural Spider Control in Gardens
Q: Will natural sprays harm my plants?
A: Most homemade sprays are safe when diluted properly. However, some plants are sensitive to oils or vinegar. It’s crucial to test on a few leaves and wait 24-48 hours before spraying the entire plant.
Q: Are all garden spiders bad?
A: Absolutely not. The vast majority are beneficial. They control destructive insect populations. The problem is usually only when their numbers become to high or they build webs in inconvenient places.
Q: How often should I use natural repellents?
A: Reapply sprays after rainfall or every 5-7 days for maintenance. Physical methods like hosing down webs may be needed 2-3 times a week during peak spider season.
Q: What’s the fastest natural method?
A: A strong blast of water from your hose is the quickest way to remove existing webs and spiders. For longer-term repelling, peppermint oil sprays are very effective and have a strong track record.
Q: Can I use these methods on vegetable plants?
A: Yes, but with extra care. Use only food-grade ingredients. For edible plants, stick with gentle soap sprays, water blasts, and diatomaceous earth (applied to the soil, not the edible parts). Always wash produce thoroughly before eating.
Managing spiders on your outdoor plants naturally is about patience and consistency. By combining these methods—regular cleanup, physical removal, natural repellents, and encouraging predators—you can create a balanced garden where plants thrive and spider populations are kept in check. The healthiest garden is a diverse one, where natural controls work together.