Gardeners urged to leave chilli powder on their lawns

Many homeowners strive to maintain a beautiful and well-maintained garden in the summer, especially as many enjoy spending more time outdoors and taking advantage of the summer heat. However, warm conditions also typically present a significant problem for gardeners. Pest activity tends to rise for various reasons, including warmer temperatures, longer days, and increased food sources.

With that in mind, many people look for ways to banish all sorts of creatures and insects from invading their lawns and destroying their plants. While plenty of pesticides can easily be applied to your lawn to get rid of pests, many of them use harmful chemicals, which can sometimes ruin the grass, soil, and plants. Therefore, gardeners are urged to use this one household item as a natural alternative way to send pests packing.

Homes and Gardens said: "Chilli powder is actually one of the best spices to deter common garden pests. This is thanks to its pungent smell and taste which is unfavourable to a wide range of summer garden pests."

Chilli's spicy effect makes it great for banishing slugs and snails from your garden. The capsaicin, which makes chilli spicy, irritates the creatures, striking them with a burning sensation.

You can also use chilli powder to get rid of ants. It works in multiple ways - ants do not like the strong smell, but the capsaicin also irritates ants' feet and antennae, making it hard for the little pests to get around and therefore disrupting their trailing pattern.

Using chilli powder to get rid of pests is simple and can be done in various ways, depending on which pest you are trying to get rid of. If slugs and snails are your issue, then simply sprinkle some of the spice at the base of your plants.

It is recommended to add chilli to bird food to get rid of squirrels. Birds do not have taste receptors to pick up on the capsaicin, so they will not be affected.

When it comes to ants, similarly to the slug control method, you can sprinkle some of the powder over ant hills or any areas on your lawn that ants have invaded.

Alternatively, if you mix a tablespoon of washing-up liquid with two teaspoons of chilli powder in water, you will have a chilli spray that you can apply directly to ant hills, trails, and any leaves targeted by slugs or snails.