Whether it’s flies, ants, wasps, bees, or pests that ruin your lawn or garden, most people would agree that they just want these pesky problems gone! Luckily, there are some cheap and easy life hacks that can do just that.
1. Stick 4 pennies in a plastic baggie to keep flies away
Is there anything more annoying than a fly buzzing around your head while you are trying to relax — or worse, eat — in your home? Thankfully, the experts at Homesteading Off the Grid have some life hacks that help, including one easy trick to get flies out of your house, and it doesn’t take much. All you need is a plastic Ziploc bag, exactly four pennies, some water, and a length of rope.
First, open the Ziploc bag and put the pennies inside. Then, fill the bag halfway with water. Don’t fill it entirely up because you’ll need space to wrap the length of rope around the top to help seal the bag off. While tying off the top of the bag, leave enough rope to hang your bag up, which is the next step. When deciding where to hang it, remember that flies most often get into the house through an open door or window. So, pick a spot near their entrance point to hang your “Hillbilly Fly Repellent.” Just make sure it gets some sunlight in order for it to work!
2. Rid your yard of ants for good without chemicals
No matter where you live, you’ve probably had to deal with ants at one time or another. After all, ants are the most numerous insect in the world, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. Making matters worse, they bite, and some can even be deadly! So, if you have ant colonies in your yard, you likely want them gone. While there are chemical ant killers available, there are also effective, simple, cheap, and safe methods of getting rid of ants — like this one, which is “extremely effective” and “so safe a child could do it without getting bitten.”
In the short video below, which was posted to YouTube by 3BricksHigher, Dominic shows us how to get rid of those nasty ants in our yard by disturbing their home and killing all the larvae inside with the help of Mother Nature. According to Dominic, ant larvae can only live between 75 degrees to 96 degrees Fahrenheit. Knowing this, he aims to disturb their climate in order to permanently get rid of them using a black plastic bag and a few bricks.
For optimal results, this is best done after you’ve just cut your grass. So, after mowing, locate the ant bed and get your trash bag. Cover the entire ant bed. It’s important not to leave any of it uncovered. Use the bricks to keep the bag in place, pinning every corner of it down. The black bag then creates an oven with help from the sun, making the ground so hot that the larvae die.
As Dominic demonstrates, his yard went from 84 degrees outside to over 100 degrees inside his “ant bed oven” in just two and a half hours. After a few days, you can remove the trash bag, and according to Dominic, no ants will return to that spot or even anywhere near it. Best part? There are no harmful fumes or chemicals — just a simple and effective solution using Mother Nature.
3. Simple lunch bag hack keeps wasps and bees away
No one likes to get stung, so certain pests can be more of a problem than others. While everything has its place, no one wants uninvited guests that sting ruining their outdoor party. Luckily, we have a cheap, friendly solution to keep wasps and bees away. And, like our other life hacks, you only need a few things: a brown paper bag, some plastic grocery bags, and something to tie it up.
After gathering your supplies, stuff the brown paper bag with as many grocery bags as you need to make it full so it looks “puffy.” Then, knot the top of the brown paper bag off and tie it somewhere high. This creates a decoy that mimics a hornet’s nest — the nest of the enemy — which wasps and bees know to stay away from. This nontoxic option keeps everyone safe, including humans, animals, and insects alike.
4. Shoo garden pests away with Epsom Salt
Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, was originally discovered in the town of Epsom in Surrey, England. It is a chemical compound consisting of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen with a wide range of uses, according to Home Hacks. While most of us have heard about its health benefits when used as a bath soak, many might not realize that it’s great for helping your garden too.
In fact, Epsom salt shoos away garden pests, who like to munch away on our plants. These pests are the number one enemy of gardeners and plant growers. While we are doing everything we can to care for our garden and plants to the best of our ability, they want to treat our gardens like an all-you-can-eat buffet. So, it’s no wonder we are all about simple life hacks that can help. Thankfully, Epsom salt is here to save the day.
In addition to being a great fertilizer for your garden plants or even your lawn, Epsom salt is also said to be an effective insect control agent. “Epsom salt and 5 gallons (19 L.) of water may act as a deterrent to beetles and other garden pests,” Gardening Know How explains. “Mix the solution in a large bucket or other container and then apply the well-dissolved mixture to foliage with a pump sprayer. Many gardeners believe that the solution not only deters pests but may kill many on contact.”
Bonus! It also gets rid of another annoyance: weeds! “Bid goodbye to pesky weeds in your garden. Epsom salt is a great ingredient in getting rid of those unwanted greeneries. Just mix it with vinegar and some dishwashing liquid,” according to Home Hacks. “Put the mixture in a spray bottle and just sprinkle it on every weed that you see. Note: Just don’t spray it on your beloved plants.”
