Lizards are a vital part of our ecosystem and can help reduce the number of insects and other pests in and around our homes. However, lizards can become a pest themselves in excessive quantities.
Getting rid of the overpopulation of lizards can be difficult and may require you to change the layout of your yard. Fortunately, having lizards does not mean you have to give up gardening. Several species of plants can help to deter lizards from your yard.
Let’s dig deeper into what attracts the lizards and how you can get rid of them.
What Attracts Lizards?
Several factors will influence the number of lizards you see in your yard. Like most animals, lizards go where food and water are. Additionally, some specific plants or areas in your yard that provide shade or warmth can attract lizards.
Food Sources
In small numbers, lizards can provide outstanding pest control for insects like spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, and other annoying bugs. Some species of lizards, like certain species of skinks, also eat small rodents like mice.
While having lizards around can be excellent pest control, having an abundance of these insects and rodents can attract large numbers of lizards. Having a stable food source may encourage the lizards more likely to hang around your home and yard.
Water
Similarly, if you have standing water sources in or around your home and yard, it could attract lizards. Sources of standing water can include puddles, pools, pet bowls, ponds, and bird baths.
These areas attract insects, especially those that lay eggs underwater. More insects mean more food for the lizards to eat. Lizards may be more likely to linger if your yard offers stable water and food sources.
Plants
Some species of lizards that eat plants may be more attracted to your yard if you have a lot of bushes or a vegetable garden. Bushes and plants may also provide shade and specific insects for the lizards.
Hiding/Sunbathing places
Lizards are cold-blooded creatures, meaning they are constantly regulating their temperature. To control their temperature correctly, they need flat places to sunbathe and nice shady areas to cool off.
Lizards looking for warmth or shade may only pass through your yard, especially if there are no good food or water sources nearby. So, you should not panic if you see one or two now and then.
How To Get Rid of Lizards
Here are several effective ways to reduce the number of lizards in your yard.
- Reduce the number of insects in your yard by planting insect-repelling plants like lavender, mint, thyme, or basil. If there are no food sources lizards enjoy, they will be less likely to frequent your yard.
- Plant some lizard-repelling plants in your garden. Some plants that lizards hate include mint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass.
- Use a natural lizard-repellant around your home’s baseboards to help prevent them from coming inside. Lizards hate things like hot pepper spray.
- Remove any standing water sources, or make them less accessible to lizards by using one of the natural remedies above.
- Avoid planting many bushes or flowers in your yard, as this could attract more of the insects that lizards enjoy.
- Keep your yard clean and tidy, including regularly trimming long grass and weeds that lizards may like to hide in or lay eggs in.
- Remove any flat surfaces that receive prolonged sun exposure to prevent the lizards from having any sun spots within your yard.
If none of these steps work to reduce the number of lizards within your yard, you may need to call in a professional pest control company to come in and help. There are also some animals and birds that eat lizards.