It’s common for garden owners to learn how to get rid of garden lizards.
With plants come insects, and with insects come lizards since they’re a primary food source.
Although lizards can be adorable little creatures, they can also wreak havoc on your plants without proper control.
What Are the Dangers of Garden Lizards?
As harmless as they seem on the surface, garden lizards can be a challenging pest to control.
They can also bring a few significant worries to your garden and home.
There are a few key dangers that these pesky reptiles bring to your property which is why removing them is ideal.
Cause Damages To the Plants
It’s a common opinion that lizards are particularly challenging to deal with if you have large gardens.
With an infestation, you might begin to notice bites taken out of your leaves and flowers throughout the year.
Although lizards are primarily insectivorous, meaning they only eat insects, they can damage plants.
As the lizards try to eat the insects in your gardens, they may inadvertently nibble on your prized vegetation.
You might also find that they use your plants as a nesting ground to keep their eggs safe until they hatch.
Another concern for your plant’s safety is how lizards move around the garden.
As fast as they are, their tiny feet can scurry through delicate plants and bushes, causing some damage.
Over time, you’re likely to notice fallen bulbs and leaves that could lead to your plants dying or taking longer to grow.
Hazards To Small Animals
Lizards are the type of reptiles that aren’t likely to attack unless they feel threatened.
With small animals, it can be challenging to keep them away from lizards, especially if they’re particularly curious.
With that said, your small animals could experience a bite or two when approaching an unaware lizard.
Another big thing to consider with your household pets is they likely have little regard for your gardens.
If lizards pique their interests enough, they might be tempted to chase them through your newly planted garden.
There’s no doubt your dogs and cats are likely to do significant damage to your gardens by chasing after lizard friends.
Can Bite Children
Along with pets, children are also known to be particularly curious, especially when it comes to outdoor species.
Kids might be tempted to chase after lizards equally as much as your family pets, destroying your gardens.
However, where the larger risk is concerning is when children try to play with lizards.
As earlier mentioned, these tiny critters aren’t likely to attack unless they feel threatened.
Tiny hands grabbing at lizards can be startling, causing the natural response to either escape or attack.
The last thing you’ll want to deal with is a small bite on your child that could get infected if not cleaned immediately.
Cause Garden Noises
There’s nothing better than falling asleep at night to the peaceful chirping of crickets.
What takes away from the serenity of night is the sound of dozens of little lizard feet scurrying through your garden.
Although this isn’t particularly dangerous for your plants, it can be quite an annoyance.
Getting rid of lizards can help you better enjoy the peacefulness of your property.
You’ll find it’s easier to sleep with your windows open at night and enjoy your yard during the day.
How To Get Rid of Garden Lizards
With an idea of the challenges lizards bring to your gardens, it’s time to get into how you can manage them.
Below, you’ll find some of the best tips to keep any infestations at bay while keeping them away from your property.
Avoid Certain Plants
There’s no doubt that lizards will be far more attracted to insects rather than your plants.
However, some types of vegetation could be too tempting for them to resist.
To help prevent lizards from flocking to your property, it’s best to avoid planting the following:
- Lettuce
- Pac Choi
- Watercrest
- Cucumbers
- Berries
If you have flower gardens, lizards are likely to be less problematic than fruit and vegetable gardens.
The top recommendation is to avoid planting leafy greens, as they can be drawn to their crunchy texture.
Use Insect Repellant
One of the best ways to prevent lizards from entering your gardens is to get rid of their food source.
Remember, these little critters are insectivores, so if you get rid of insects, you eliminate your lizard population.
Bifen LP is one of the top recommended solutions that can eradicate insects from your gardens.
This insect repellant comes in granules, so you’ll need a granule spreader to ensure you thoroughly treat your gardens.
On average, you’ll want to apply 2.3 pounds of solution per 1000 square feet.
After treatment, you’ll need to water all affected areas to get the insecticide worked into the soil.
Remove Excess Water
Another helpful way to help manage lizard movement in your gardens is to get rid of standing water.
Any puddles that might form around your plants can be fabulous breeding grounds for insects, such as mosquitoes.
Your lizards won’t have a good food source by getting rid of excess moisture, driving them out of the area.
By adding extra soil or watering your plants less frequently, you can significantly reduce pooling water.
It can also be a great idea to use sprinklers on a timer to ensure your gardens are maintained without overwatering.
Use Cayenne Pepper Spray
As humans, cayenne pepper is a phenomenal seasoning that can help spice up your favorite dishes.
For lizards, it’s a giant deterrent that will prevent them from physically entering an area.
Interestingly, creating an at-home cayenne pepper spray can help keep lizards out of your garden entirely.
By mixing two tablespoons of cayenne pepper with two cups of water, you can create a barrier between your plants and lizards.
Make sure you spray the solution around the perimeter of your garden rather than on the plants themselves.
It’s also a good idea to treat around your garden weekly to ensure the barrier doesn’t wash away over time.
Seal Hiding Spots
If you’ve ever watched lizards move around your property, you’ve likely seen how they dart in and out of spaces.
These hiding spots are ideal since they help lizards get out of the sun and avoid predators.
With that said, the more areas they have to hide around your garden, the more likely they are to stay.
A fantastic recommendation is to do a quick search of your property to find the favorite hiding spots of these pests.
For example, you might find cracks in your brick or small spots under your shed where they can scurry into.
Lizards won’t have anywhere comfortable to rest by closing all of these areas, making them more likely to move elsewhere.
Add Another Family Pet
Sometimes, the best method for pest control is to use natural sources like animals.
Cats are a phenomenal option for managing lizard populations since they’re known for being greedy hunters.
Although letting your cat loose in your gardens could cause a headache, it will also eliminate groups of lizards.
With this method, you won’t have to worry about making household deterrents or using insecticides.
It can also be a faster way of getting rid of the lizards responsible for garden damage.
Consider Non-Lethal Removal Methods
If all else fails, it’s best if you find a non-lethal method for removing lizards, such as lizard traps.
Lizard management is strictly regulated in many areas, meaning you cannot kill it or keep it as a pet.
Alternatively, you can make traps to capture the lizards and take them away from your property.
It’s essential to review the guidelines for your area to see which lizard removal methods are safe and legal.
Or, you can leave the pest removal process to the professionals.
Professional pest removal services have plenty of experience dealing with lizards and other reptiles.
They’re likely to capture them to bring them elsewhere while also protecting your property from future infestations.
Although it can cost significantly more than DIY lizard control, it can be worth it if you have an influx of them in your gardens.
Are All Lizards Bad for Gardens?
Once you’ve set your sights on removing lizards from your gardens, learning that they can be beneficial can be challenging.
If they aren’t causing significant damage to your plants, leaving them alone could be a better alternative.
Lizards are notorious insect fiends, which can make them a fantastic solution for protecting your garden.
They will be a phenomenal natural insecticide that gets rid of moths, mosquitoes, aphids, and other annoying pests.
In fact, most gardens experience more damage from insects than lizards.
By allowing them to thrive on your property, you might find your plants blossom more effortlessly than without lizards.
Lizards can also be a fantastic solution for managing spiders, ants, and wasps.
If you’ve begun to notice a significant increase in dangerous insects, introducing lizards to your garden could be beneficial.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to get rid of garden lizards can be beneficial for many households.
If you’ve begun to notice they’re damaging your plants and interrupting the peacefulness of your property, removal is ideal.
With the above at-home removal tips, you can quickly get rid of these tiny critters to restore your garden.