Garden spiders are common residents in almost every outdoor space, and removing them completely can be a complex task. They thrive in the garden, finding shelter and abundant food sources. This guide provides effective, tiered strategies for safely reducing their presence, ranging from environmental adjustments to targeted, non-toxic removal methods. Managing their habitat and food supply is the most sustainable approach to control.
Why Garden Spiders Are Beneficial
Garden spiders are predators that play a significant role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. They are highly efficient, natural pest control agents that hunt and consume a wide range of harmful insects, such as aphids, mosquitoes, flies, and destructive caterpillars. Allowing a healthy population of spiders reduces the reliance on chemical insecticides. Their presence indicates a thriving environment where they regulate nuisance insect populations. However, their abundance near living areas, such as patios or entryways, may still necessitate control.
Habitat Modification for Long-Term Deterrence
The most effective long-term method for reducing spider populations is making your garden a less hospitable environment for them and their prey. Spiders seek dark, protected areas to hide and lay eggs. Removing clutter eliminates these desirable harborages; clear away debris like loose lumber, old planters, piles of rocks, and excessive mulch from around foundations and garden beds. Spiders are also drawn to areas with high insect activity. Bright exterior lighting, particularly white or mercury vapor bulbs, attracts flying insects, inadvertently creating a hunting ground. Switching to yellow- or amber-hued sodium vapor lights reduces insect attraction, discouraging spiders from setting up webs near your structures. Pruning dense shrubs and vines that touch your house or deck also removes pathways and sheltered spots.
Immediate, Non-Toxic Removal Methods
For immediate removal of existing spiders and their webs, physical methods are the most straightforward and chemical-free options. Regularly dismantling webs forces spiders to expend energy rebuilding or relocate to a less disturbed area. Use a long-handled broom or a specialized cobweb brush to sweep down webs and egg sacs from corners, eaves, and railings, ensuring you dispose of the captured material completely.
A strong blast of water from a garden hose can also quickly and effectively remove webs, spiders, and egg sacs from exterior surfaces. When hosing, use a concentrated stream to dislodge them from hard-to-reach areas like window frames or under patio furniture. For localized clusters or if you are comfortable, a handheld vacuum with a hose attachment can safely suction the spiders and their webs for easy disposal.
Natural repellents offer a way to discourage spiders from specific, high-traffic areas without harming them. Spiders are believed to sense with their legs and dislike strong odors, making essential oils effective deterrents.
Creating a Repellent Spray
A simple repellent spray can be made by mixing 10 to 15 drops of pure peppermint oil into one cup of water in a spray bottle. Adding a small amount of dish soap or white vinegar helps the oil mix with the water and improves its adherence to surfaces. Apply this mixture around doorways, window sills, and patio perimeters, reapplying weekly or after rain to maintain the repellent barrier.
Targeted Use of Pesticides
Chemical control should be approached with caution and considered only as a last resort for persistent problems or dangerous species. Broad-spectrum insecticides, which kill many types of insects indiscriminately, should be avoided entirely in the garden ecosystem. These chemicals eliminate the beneficial insects, including the spiders themselves and the predators of other pests, which can lead to a rebound effect where other pest populations surge.
If a severe infestation of a medically significant species, such as black widows or brown recluse spiders, necessitates chemical intervention, use a targeted approach. Select an outdoor residual spray and apply it only to very specific, non-vegetative areas like foundation cracks, window frames, and other entry points. These residual products create a chemical barrier that kills spiders that crawl across it. Always read the product label carefully and only apply as directed to minimize harm to the surrounding environment and beneficial organisms.