Why Spiders are Important for Your Garden and Home
Why Keep Spiders Around?
Keeping spiders around in designated areas of your garden and home will help cut down flies, ants, and other small insects that can get out of balance. Spiders serve a beneficial function in many ecosystems, especially organic ones.
I had a fly infestation in my home last year where they were laying eggs and hatching rapidly. I patched holes where I assumed they were coming in from, put up sticky tape traps, and vacuumed a lot before I got the flies under control. This year I decided to leave an area on the floor in the corner of my office where spiders can make webs. The spiders are now catching the flies and also keeping the ants down. I haven't had a problem with fly infestation since.
My number one suggestion to encourage spiders in your garden is to avoid removing webs, especially in areas you have an infestation of aphids, ants, or problems with insects eating your plants.
I'm also not recommending to keep poisonous spiders like black widows (they do however target ants when given the opportunity) around you, your children, and your pets if that is a concern. In that case scoop them up and move them out of the areas you don't want them hanging out.
Here is a great article from Edible San Marcos with more tips on how to encourage beneficial spiders in your garden.
https://ediblesanmarcos.wordpress.com/beneficial-insects-spiders
Straight Up & Free with James D is a reader supported publication.
If you found this valuable and educational, and appreciate the craftsmanship and care I bring in providing this content, please consider upgrading your subscription to support my work. You can also give a gift subscription, or make a one time donation.
Thank you!