I’m a gardening whizz – free way you can banish cockroaches BEFORE they get into your house
A FREE way to banish cockroaches from your garden before they even reach your house has been revealed - and it's so simple.
These pests can wreak havoc on your plants and wildlife, while becoming a serious nuisance if they decide to nest in your home.
To avoid an infestation altogether the number one thing you can do, according to gardening expert Gretchen Heber at , is keep your outdoor space "free of excess clutter and refuse".
Roaches will seek out dark and moist places, so an open green space with fresh mulch should persuade them to look elsewhere.
Fire pits can be glorious and cosy while entertaining on a summer evening, but these bugs love hiding within the woodpiles.
Gretchen said: "Store your logs in a cool, dry location far away from the house, and keep an eye out for insect infestations."
The same goes for a compost pile, cockroaches will thrive in this environment so keep it a fair distance out.
"Build your compost pile well away from your house, cover it, and turn it often to discourage roaches from taking up residence in your muck," advised the Gardeners Path experts.
Bins and pet food containers kept near your property also need to be tightly sealed to avoid attracting the critters.
Other methods such as natural eradication could be used to treat a roach problem.
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According to the gardening guru, fire ants can get rid of cockroaches by killing and eating them - but they are a nuisance in their own right so be careful.
Birds also enjoy eating the critters so a birdbath and welcoming environment for the winged creatures may be a good idea.
If all else fails, insecticides can be used to treat an infestation.
She added: "You can purchase any of a number of poisonous gels, sprays, or sticky traps that contain insecticides such as fipronil or imidacloprid.
"Some may contain boric acid, which is derived from the mineral boron, and is a notoriously effective cockroach killer."
But it is important to chose your product carefully as you may risk harming other creatures or plants in your garden.
This comes as plenty of gardening gurus share their top tips for success.
Experts have shown placing orange peels on soil around your plants can help banish flies, slugs and ants in your garden this summer.
One woman has revealed the simple soil trick she does to make plotting plant so much easier.
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