If you live in some of America’s warmer hotspots, you are likely already accustomed to the issue of Iguana control. Thanks to a record-breaking summer heatwave, iguanas in Florida have become more of a nuisance than ever, gorging their way through homeowners carefully planted gardens like never before.
The last thing you want is for your perfectly landscaped tropical garden to become iguana chum. That’s why it is important to take the right steps to keep iguana populations away from your home.
Fortunately, you don’t need to pay for expensive repellents and pest controls to do it. All you need is the right home remedies to keep iguanas at bay for good. Read this essential guide to homemade iguana control to learn more.
1. Using Plants That Iguanas Don’t Eat
One of the most effective steps you can take to keep iguanas out of your yard is to grow plants that they are known to avoid. As these suggestions outline, there are a number of easy-to-grow plants that will keep iguanas at bay. These include:
- Chenille
- Purple Queen
- Society Garlic
- Mexican Petunia
- Silver Buttonwood
In addition, it is worth keeping in mind that certain plants are like catnip to iguanas. These include Floridian backyard staples such as hibiscus, orchids, and bougainvillea. Avoid planting these if you want to keep the green iguana out of your home.
2. Ingredients for a Homemade Iguana Control Repellent
You can also throw together some ingredients from your kitchen to make an effective and lasting iguana repellent. Typically, this means using ingredients with overpowering flavors that iguanas simply do not like. For your very own homemade iguana repellent you will need:
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 fresh habanero peppers
- One cup of lemon juice
Mix these together in a blender and voila! You have got yourself a sure-fire tool to keep iguanas at bay. Once you have this, pour the contents into a 1-gallon container of warm water and add a tablespoon of dish soap before stirring thoroughly.
3. How to Use Your Iguana Repellent
Once you have made your green iguana repellent, it’s time to put it to good use. Pour the contents of the repellent into a spray bottle. Shake it thoroughly to ensure everything is mixed up.
Then simply approach the plants you wish to protect and spray a thick coating of the mixture on the surface. Don’t worry – the ingredients will not damage your plants. Do this once a week to keep the iguanas away from your garden.
4. Other Tips to Keep Iguanas at Bay
There are a few other handy tips that you can follow to keep iguanas out. First, do not leave food scraps out in your garden, including in your compost bin, as this will attract iguanas.
Remove flat surfaces such as decorate rocks, as iguanas like to use these to sun themselves. Remove areas where iguanas can hide, such as piles of branches or bushy plants. These simple steps will make your home unappealing to iguanas.
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If you found this guide to iguana control, we’ve got more for you. For lifestyle hacks that will help you out with everything from gardening to skincare, make sure to hit up our Lifestyle section for all of the latest expert advice.
With the right knowledge at your disposal, no problem is insurmountable.
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