Common Mistakes To Avoid When Trying To Deter Lizards From Your Yard

While lizards provide a wide range of benefits for a balanced ecosystem, they can become a nuisance if they are invading your living space. If you notice more reptiles hanging around, you may be left wondering how lizards really affect your garden. In general, they are well known for their ability to control pests in the garden, eating slugs, flies, ticks, and other insects that can cause damage to your plants. However, that doesn't mean they are always a joy to have around. If you are trying to deter lizards, it is best to address the underlying issue by identifying what food source is attracting them to your yard in the first place. You could also try to make a spicy repellent or add plants to your garden that will deter lizards. One thing is for sure — you want to avoid the common mistake of using certain household ingredients to deter these scaly creatures from your yard.

You may have heard people suggest the idea of using eggshells or baking soda to eliminate lizards in your yard. Neither of these methods will address the issue. In fact, you may end up making the problem worse in the long run, causing damage to your backyard habitat. If you really want the little lizards gone, simply mix 2-3 tablespoons of hot sauce with 2 cups of water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it around your social areas. Lizards do not like spice and will keep their distance.

The idea that an eggshell hack can keep lizards out of your garden is a myth that is not only false, but could be attracting more of these cold-blooded creatures to your yard. It is widely believed that eggshells deter lizards because some think they do not like the sulfurous smell. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.

The myth is most likely popular because lizards eat slugs, which are thought to be deterred from eggshells. As the slugs clear the area, the lizards no longer have a juicy supply of food, so they move on. But sometimes, it does not work that way. The slugs may disappear, but some lizard species have been known to snack on eggshells. So, they may see an abundance of shells as a free buffet. Research has even shown that some lizards will actually steal eggs, so they may spend some time on your crushed garden shells searching for a nest.

Baking soda is widely seen as a magical solution for all household and pest problems. People use it for everything from unclogging drains to controlling mouse populations. While there are many things that baking soda provides a solution for around your home, a reptile repellent is not one of them. In fact, you may inadvertently end up harming them.   

Pest control companies actively advocate against using baking soda as a method of pest control for lizards. It is not humane, especially because lizards are an essential part of local ecosystems. Baking soda can be toxic if ingested by the little critters. In addition, it is not considered reliable as a repellant. Beyond that, there are some things every gardener should know before using baking soda on plants, including your grass. It can alter the pH of your soil, which can be helpful in some applications, but in severe cases, baking soda can cause damage to the entire yard.