Okay, let’s talk about something that gives me the creeps – brown recluse spiders. If you’ve ever seen one scurry across your yard (or worse, inside your house), you know it’s not exactly a welcome sight.
I had a personal encounter with one last summer when I was stacking wood. Turns out, these spiders adore hiding in wood piles (among many other places).
Not all spiders are equal. Some are just a nuisance, while others, like the brown recluse, can be downright dangerous. Along with the black widow, these guys rank among the most dangerous in the U.S.
A bite from one could cause anything from chills and nausea to serious reactions like necrosis or even, in rare cases, kidney failure (scary, I know!).
If you’ve noticed an increase in brown recluse activity, don’t freak out just yet. It could simply be that your yard is providing the perfect hangout spot. Overgrown weeds, dense shrubs, and clutter like wood piles create the dark, damp spaces they love. The solution?
Clean up! Trim those shrubs, clear out the clutter, and make your yard a little less spider-friendly.
And most importantly, stop worrying. I’ll share some extra tips and tricks that’ll help you protect your yard from brown recluse spiders.
Get Rid Of The Bugs That Brown Recluse Spiders Prey On
While cleaning up overgrown plants and bushes is a solid start to eliminating brown recluse spiders from your yard, there’s more to the story. You’ve got to do more to really deal with these sneaky critters.
The main reason they’re hanging around are other bugs!
Just like how I can’t resist an open bag of potato chips, brown recluses can’t resist snacking on stink bugs, crickets, or roaches (yuck!).
So, while trimming those shrubs and clearing out woodpiles helps, you’ve got to work on the bug problem, too. Cleaning up your yard reduces the number of places insects like to hide, but there’s more to it.
For instance, bugs love standing water, so make sure to get rid of that. Also, don’t leave trash hanging around because it attracts lots of different insects.
And if you are dining outside, make sure to sweep up those crumbs as soon as you’re done. In case you’ve got a full-on bug invasion, try some natural pest control remedies to get things under control. Fewer bugs mean fewer spiders (it’s a win-win!).
Related: Avoid These 4 Rookie Mistakes To Stop Spiders Living Rent-Free In Your Home
Here Are Some Extra Steps You Can Take To Keep The Spiders Away
In addition to clearing out overgrown areas and dealing with bugs, there are a few other tricks you can try to get rid of brown recluse spiders. Most pest control pros say that certain scents can actually help keep these critters away.
Spraying essential oils like tea tree, peppermint, lavender, or eucalyptus around your yard and home might do the trick. If oils aren’t your thing, vinegar (raw white or apple cider) can also act as a spider repellent.
Just spray these scents in spots where they might be lurking or use them as a barrier to stop them from sneaking in.
If you don’t mind using some tougher tactics, Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a non-toxic option recommended by experts. Sprinkle food-grade DE in areas where you think the spiders are hiding, and it will help control their population.
Sticky traps are also super handy – place them in dark corners, along walls, or anywhere these spiders like to wander.
But if things are getting out of control and natural methods just aren’t cutting it, it might be time to bring out the big guns.
Insecticides or pesticides could be your next step, but when in doubt, calling in a professional is always a smart move to handle the problem safely.
Whatever you do, don’t panic! Give these methods a try, and if one doesn’t work, move on to the next.
Stay calm and tackle them carefully, one by one.