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Mice, rats, and other rodents are survivalists. They've developed a set of skills that can help them survive even in challenging, predatory conditions. For that reason, they can be hard to get rid of once they've staked their claim in your home. Often, the best way to get rid of rodents is to keep them from getting into your home in the first place.

Roaches have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by a variety of potent aromas. Scents that can help deter them include citrus (such as lemon and orange), herbs like peppermint, mint, basil, thyme, and oregano, spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, clove, and garlic, as well as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree oil, and vinegar.

You can use these scents in several ways to create an unwelcoming environment for roaches:

• Plants: Place mint or lavender plants in your home or garden.

• Powders and Leaves: Sprinkle garlic powder or place crushed bay leaves and citrus peels in high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entry points.

• Sprays: Create a diluted solution with scents like lemon or vinegar to spray in your home. These can also be used in cleaning products or as room fresheners.

• Essential Oils: While essential oils of these scents can be used, be cautious as they can be toxic to pets if inhaled.

It is important to note that while these smells can help keep roaches away, they typically do not kill them and may not be enough to drive out an existing infestation entirely. For best results, combine these scent-based deterrents with regular cleaning. Be sure to clean up all food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes promptly, and keep trash cans covered with a tight-fitting lid to remove potential food sources.

Grass spiders, also known as funnel-web spiders, are the culprits here, building small webs directly into the grass to catch any insects that have the misfortune of crawling too close. They are often confused with wolf spiders, as the two species look nearly identical, but grass spiders are actually great helpers in maintaining your lawn.

There are a few ways to keep pesky bugs away from your garden. One option you have is to plant flowers so beneficial insects like ladybugs can control pests for you. A similar method is companion planting, which means you’ll grow vegetables that’ll discourage pests, like garlic, onions, and basil. The best pest prevention method will depend on the bugs you have issues with and the plants in your garden.