Are Cockroaches Good For the Garden?
WouterAlthough cockroaches can be a nuisance, they are a necessary part of the circle of life. They help to keep soil healthy and help to mix nutrients in soil. They also serve as a source of food for other animals and plants. Cockroaches also help to decompose organic matter and recycle it into soil for other plants. There are more than four thousand different species of cockroaches in the world, with only four species being pests.
Cockroaches prefer moist environments and are attracted to areas with excess water. They will look for such conditions in your garden. To prevent them from finding a suitable breeding ground, make sure your garden has no standing water. Also, be sure to use kitchen sponges to dry gardening equipment. Cockroaches usually hide during the day and only come out at night to feed and mate.
Another way to prevent cockroaches from damaging your garden is to avoid using soil from outside. These insects lay eggs in outdoor soil and then transfer them indoors. It is much safer to use potting mix. If you cannot resist cockroaches, you can use a natural insecticide such as diatomaceous earth.
Many plants, including bay leaves, are naturally repellents to cockroaches. Unlike insecticides, these natural repellents are less toxic to plants, people, and pets.
