You May Want To Think Twice Before Using Flour As Pest Deterrent

When it comes to getting a garden to grow, ants, aphids, beetles, and other pests can be ... well, pests. For example, with all of their tunneling, ants can dry out and disrupt root systems. They also protect aphids (in exchange for the aphids' honeydew), the very aphids that suck the sap out from your plants, leaving them damaged and prone to harmful viruses. Meanwhile, insects like caterpillars and beetles can chew through leaves, stems, and flowers. Does this describe your garden? If so, you're likely willing to try just about anything to nip it in the bud, like sprinkling flour everywhere.

Though flour can't necessarily keep weeds away, it can be an effective tool against garden invaders. In fact, when it comes to aphids, sprinkling flour in your garden beds could banish them for good. The baking staple is also said to work on beetles and caterpillars like the cabbage looper and cabbage worm. How so, exactly? Think about the consistency of dough, and then imagine what this could do to an insect's mouth.

As explained in a YouTube episode of Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, "They start chewing on the flour instead of the plant, and their mouths get all gummy, and they just can't, they just can't eat one more thing." Further, when the flour is sprinkled atop anthills and pathways, it can disrupt the scent trails ants use to communicate with one another.

However, the results aren't always permanent. Eventually, the insects will adjust to the flour and circumvent it to resume their destruction. Worse yet, the pantry staple is actually an attractive treat to mice. In other words, sprinkling flour around your garden could create an even tougher type of infestation.

If you'd like to follow this deterrent recipe, just be careful not to overdo it. As noted, flour could wind up attracting mice and other rodents, resulting in a brand new set of problems for your garden and yard. Instead, use the flour lightly, and wash it away after 24 hours or so.

When you're ready to try this gardening hack, dust the flour on the plants whose leaves have been nibbled on. The morning is an ideal time to apply it, as the post-sunrise dew can help it better stick to the plants. Again, don't let the flour stay on the plants for too long. After letting it sit for a day (and no more than two), spray the flour off your plants' leaves.

Note that for ants, you might consider adding chili powder or cayenne pepper to the flour trail as well. As for the other insects mentioned, whatever type of flour you have in your cupboard should work.

Also, on a related note, given the similarity of their texture, diatomaceous earth can also help rid your garden of a slew of pests. However, if you're facing a truly significant infestation, it's best to call in the professionals and consult with a certified pest control company.