How do I limit the number of spiders in my garden?
I just moved into my parents' old house, which had been unoccupied for two years, and the garden was probably neglected for several years prior to that as my parents became incapacitated. I'm finding that most of the surviving plants are draped in spider webs (so strong that aiming the hose at them doesn't tear them), and and some plants, particularly a large hibiscus in the back, are being completely choked out by them. I know that spiders are not all bad, but this is too much! Short of dousing them with pesticides (which, I think, is what my dad did), what can I do to to get rid of them? I'm in Southern California, if that matters.
2010-07-31T11:32:35Z
lol, Jasper! Wasps? Is that an improvement? This reminds me of the answer I found when I was looking for how to get rid of snails, which was to attract snakes to my garden!
2010-07-31T12:12:23Z
@001218-I think that's exactly what I was saying. I don't mind having a few, because I know they can be beneficial, but when they take over completely and kill your plants, it's time to reduce the population!
Anonymous2010-08-01T22:51:38Z
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Sweep dirt and debris from the stained area using a broom or vacuum. # Step 2
Unscrew the lid from your garden sprayer and set it aside. # Step 3
Mix your cleaning solution. Read the stain cleaner instructions for mixing the cleaner with water. Pour the recommended amount of cleaner into your garden sprayer tank and then follow with water up to the fill line. Screw the lid securely onto the sprayer when finished and tighten. # Step 4
Grasp the pump handle and pump up and down until you feel "tension" on the handle as the pressure builds. # Step 5
Adjust the nozzle spray setting. Spray the stained area once to test the setting (spray or stream). If set to a stream, turn the nozzle to the spray setting. # Step 6
Spray the stained area in a back-and-forth motion until you have saturated the stain. Wait for the cleaner to dissolve or break down the staining material. Follow the label instructions. # Step 7
Scrub the stain, as needed. Use a brush, scouring pad or melamine resin foam eraser to help remove the stain. # Step 8
Empty the cleaning solution from the tank and refill it with clean water to rinse the formerly stained area and clean the tank. Spray away materials and cleaning solution from the area. Empty the tank again when finished and store the sprayer with the lid unscrewed.
Go out every morning with a rake or broom and knock down the webs. Yes, they'll put up new ones, but if you keep destroying them, they'll eventually move somewhere else. Also take steps to reduce the insect they're feeding on. Trim back the overgrown plants and neaten the place up a bit. Also take a closer look at that hibiscus - spiders don't generally make webs that would choke a plant, but caterpillars do. If it is caterpillars, spray with pyrethrum, bt (bacillus thuringensis), or some other non-toxic treatment.
u cant unless u spray the things that may or not may harmfull to ur crop there is one way but i am just being funny dont feed them lol. having said all that there is a old saying ur never anymore that 7bto 10nfeet away fom a spide in ur whole life most of them are harmless so dont be alarmed its only nature and he spider eats all the little bugs u dont want near ur crop or what ever u grow hope this might help u understand everthing has a purpose
Try some Diatomaceous Earth. It's an all natural killer that uses hardshelled algae. Insects coming in contact with the powder die of dehydration within a couple of days.