How To Keep Rolly Pollies Out Of Garden

If you’re finding small, gray, armored critters munching on your seedlings, you’re likely dealing with rolly pollies. These garden visitors, also known as pill bugs or woodlice, can become a nuisance in damp, shaded areas. Learning how to keep rolly pollies out of garden beds is key to protecting your young plants without resorting to harsh chemicals. This guide covers effective, natural repellent methods that work with your garden’s ecosystem.

Rolly pollies are actually terrestrial crustaceans, not insects. They breath through gills and need constant moisture to survive. While they primarily eat decaying organic matter, they’ll happily turn to tender plant stems and leaves when their preferred food is scarce. The goal isn’t to eradicate them completely—they’re great composters—but to manage their numbers and protect vulnerable plants.

Why Rolly Pollies Love Your Garden

Your garden provides the perfect habitat for these little guys. Understanding what attracts them is the first step to sending them elsewhere.

Excess Moisture: Overwatered soil, poor drainage, and constant dampness are like a five-star hotel for them.
Hiding Places: They hide under mulch, stones, boards, thick foliage, and decaying plant matter during the day.
Food Sources: While they prefer decaying material, lush seedlings, strawberries, and melons are tempting treats.
Soil Rich in Organic Matter: While great for plants, heavily amended soil also feeds large populations of decomposers like pill bugs.

Cultural Controls: Change the Environment

The most effective long-term strategy is to make your garden less inviting. This involves simple changes to your gardening practices.

Adjust Watering Habits

Water your garden in the morning so the soil surface has time to dry out by evening, when rolly pollies are most active. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses at the base of plants instead of overhead sprinklers. This keeps the foliage and surrounding soil drier.

Remove Hiding Spots

Clean up garden debris, fallen leaves, and dead plant material regularly. Lift up pots, boards, and stones that are directly on the soil. Elevate pots off the ground using pot feet. Keep mulch a few inches away from the stems of young plants to create a dry barrier.

Promote Good Drainage

If you have heavy, clay soil that holds water, amend it with compost to improve struture and drainage. Consider planting in raised beds, which naturally drain faster and are less hospitable to moisture-loving pests.

Natural Repellents and Barriers

Creating physical or sensory barriers can effectively deter rolly pollies from reaching your prized plants. These methods are safe for kids, pets, and beneficial insects.

Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade): Sprinkle a ring of DE around susceptible plants. Its sharp microscopic edges are abrasive to soft-bodied creatures. Reapply after rain or watering. Be careful not to inhale the dust when applying.
Copper Tape: Wrap copper tape around container rims or create a perimeter. It gives a slight electrical charge that pill bugs avoid.
Crushed Eggshells or Oyster Shell: The sharp edges act as a physical deterrent. Scatter them generously around plant bases.
Coffee Grounds: Used coffee grounds can repel them due to their texture and caffeine content. Sprinkle them around plants, but use in moderation as they can affect soil pH.

Homemade Traps and Lures

You can reduce local populations quickly with simple, effective traps. These work by exploiting their need for moisture and their habit of hiding.

The Potato Trap: Cut a potato in half and hollow out each half, creating a “bowl.” Place the halves cut-side down on the soil near damage. Check daily; you’ll find rolly pollies hiding inside. Dispose of them far from your garden.
The Citrus Trap: Save orange or grapefruit rinds. Place them hollow-side down in the garden overnight. In the morning, collect the rinds with the pill bugs sheltering underneath.
The Rolled Newspaper Trap: Lightly moisten a rolled-up newspaper and tie it with string. Place it in the garden beds in the evening. In the morning, dispose of the entire roll, which will be full of pests seeking shelter.

Encourage Natural Predators

Nature provides its own pest control. By making your garden friendly to these predators, you create a balanced system.

Birds: Install a bird bath or feeder to attract birds that will eat pill bugs.
Frogs and Toads: A small toad house or damp shelter can encourage these helpful amphibians to take up residence.
Ground Beetles: These nocturnal hunters eat rolly pollies. Provide permanent plantings and stone pathways for them to hide under during the day.

When to Take More Direct Action

For severe infestations threatening your entire crop, you may need a direct organic intervention. Always spot-treat rather than applying broadly.

Iron Phosphate Baits

This is the go-to organic solution. Iron phosphate is a naturally occurring mineral that is safe for wildlife and pets. When rolly pollies eat the bait, they stop feeding and die within a few days. Scatter the granules in areas of high activity according to package instructions.

Insecticidal Soap Spray

A direct spray of insecticidal soap can help on contact for visible pests on plants. It’s most effective if applied in the late evening when they are active. You’ll need to reapply regularly, as it has no residual effect.

Prevention is the Best Strategy

A yearly routine can prevent major problems. In early spring, before planting tender seedlings, take these steps:

Turn the soil to expose eggs and adults to birds and dry air.
Let the bed dry thoroughly between waterings during establishment.
Install barriers like diatomaceous earth or copper tape at the first sign of damage.
Use traps consistently in damp corners of the garden to monitor and reduce numbers.

FAQ: Common Questions About Rolly Pollies

Are rolly pollies bad for the garden?

Not always. They are primarily decomposers and help break down organic matter. They only become pests when their population booms or when they run out of decaying material and turn to living plants.

What plants do pill bugs eat?

They prefer decaying matter but will feed on tender seedlings, strawberries, melons, beans, and sometimes roots. Mature, healthy plants are usually not affected.

Do coffee grounds really repel pill bugs?

Yes, many gardeners report sucess with used coffee grounds. The texture is unappealing and the caffeine may act as a deterrent. It’s a good way to recycle grounds, but don’t overdo it.

What’s the difference between a pill bug and a sow bug?

Pill bugs (roly pollies) can curl into a tight ball. Sow bugs have two tail-like appendages and cannot roll up completely. Both have similar habits and are controlled with the same methods.

Can they infest my house?

It’s rare. They need very high moisture to survive and usually die quickly indoors. If you see them inside, it’s a sign of excessive dampness or mulch piled against the foundation.

Managing rolly pollies is about balance, not elimination. By adjusting your watering, cleaning up hiding spots, and using natural barriers, you can protect your seedlings and enjoy the benifits of these decomposers elsewhere in your garden. Start with the simplest methods, like drying out the soil and setting a few potato traps, and you’ll likely see a big difference. With these strategies, your garden can thrive while keeping these little armored visitors in their proper place.