Lizards are common backyard visitors and can often be found sunning themselves on patio furniture. While they may look cute, they can be a nuisance, leaving behind feces and urine, as well as sometimes damaging furniture with their sharp claws. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to keep lizards off your patio furniture and out of your garden.
Remove Their Food Source
Lizards are attracted to areas that have a lot of insects and other small creatures for them to feed on. If you want to keep lizards away from your patio furniture, you'll have to make sure there's nothing around that would attract them to the area. This means eliminating any standing water, trimming back any overgrown vegetation, and removing any food sources such as pet food or bird feeders.
Block Their Access
Once you've removed their food source, you should also make sure that lizards can't get onto your patio furniture in the first place. To do this, you can use a fine mesh netting to cover the furniture, or you can use a spray repellant around the perimeter of your patio. You can also use a motion-activated sprinkler, which will startle lizards away when they come too close.
Use Natural Remedies
If you want to avoid using chemical repellants, there are some natural remedies you can use to keep lizards away from your patio furniture. One popular remedy is to mix garlic, chili powder, and water and spray it around the perimeter of your patio. You can also sprinkle some cayenne pepper around the furniture, or use citrus-scented oils as a more pleasant-smelling alternative.
Set Traps
If your problem with lizards is particularly severe, you may have to resort to trapping them. There are many different types of traps available on the market, ranging from simple glue traps to more sophisticated live traps. Whichever type of trap you choose, make sure to check them regularly and release any trapped lizards at least a mile away from your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep lizards off my patio furniture?
The best way to keep lizards off your patio furniture is to remove any food sources that may be attracting them, block their access with mesh netting or a spray repellant, and use natural remedies such as garlic, chili powder, or cayenne pepper. If the problem persists, you may have to set traps to capture the lizards.
What attracts lizards to my patio furniture?
Lizards are attracted to areas with a lot of insects and other small creatures that they can feed on. Removing any standing water, trimming back overgrown vegetation, and removing pet food or bird feeders can help to reduce the number of lizards attracted to your patio furniture.
How do I release a trapped lizard?
If you have to resort to trapping lizards, make sure to check your traps regularly and release any trapped lizards at least a mile away from your property. If possible, try to release them in an area with plenty of vegetation and food sources, such as a park or forest.
Are lizards harmful to my patio furniture?
Lizards can be a nuisance, leaving behind feces and urine and sometimes damaging furniture with their sharp claws. If you want to avoid any damage, it's best to take preventative measures to keep lizards away from your patio furniture.
Can I use chemical repellents to keep lizards away?
If you don't want to use chemical repellents, there are some natural remedies you can use to keep lizards away from your patio furniture. Mixing garlic, chili powder, and water and spraying it around the perimeter of your patio, or sprinkling cayenne pepper around the furniture, are both effective deterrents.
What is the best way to trap lizards?
There are many different types of traps available on the market, ranging from simple glue traps to more sophisticated live traps. Whichever type of trap you choose, make sure to check them regularly and release any trapped lizards at least a mile away from your property.
Should I kill lizards if I find them on my patio furniture?
No, it's not necessary to kill lizards if you find them on your patio furniture. Taking preventative measures to keep them away, such as removing their food source and blocking their access, is usually enough to deter them from the area.
What should I do if lizards keep returning to my patio furniture?
If lizards keep returning to your patio furniture, it's likely that there is still something in the area that is attracting them. Make sure to remove any standing water, trim back any overgrown vegetation, and remove any food sources such as pet food or bird feeders, and then use deterrents such as a fine mesh netting or a spray repellant.