Are Cockroaches Bad For Gardens?

Although cockroaches are annoying, they can actually be beneficial to your garden. Although they contaminate your plants and cause damage, some roaches actually help keep the cycle of life in balance. Roaches attract other insects and other pests, some of which may be beneficial to your garden.

Cockroaches are attracted to moist, humid conditions, so they’ll seek out similar conditions in your garden. To avoid this, prevent standing water in your garden. Make sure that your plumbing is leak-free and there are gaps around the water supply. Ensure that your gardening tools are dry, too. The roaches tend to hide during the day, and come out only at night to mate and feed.

Another way to prevent cockroaches from ruining your garden is to make sure your garden has less clutter and more natural sunlight. Also, make sure you keep your compost piles away from the garden. Turn them regularly to ensure that they don’t dry out and breed. You should also keep firewood away from your house.

You can also try using diatomaceous earth to deter roaches. This natural powder contains 80-90% silica and scratches the exoskeleton of roaches. It also sticks to the cockroach body and draws out moisture, oils and fats from it. The roaches will eventually dehydrate and die.