Lizards can be cute and are sometimes fun to see scampering about on rocks or in the woods. However, they are less fun to see scampering around your yard or house, especially if you are not a lizard lover. If you have a lizard problem in your yard, rest assured that there are natural ways to get rid of them.
Below is a list of plants that will repel lizards and hopefully keep them away from your house and yard. You will also be able to find a list of other ways to keep them out if that’s your main goal. Good luck and happy lizard hunting!
Best Lizard Repellent Plants
Sometimes having lizards around your yard can be a good thing because they will help to keep the pest and insect population under control. The problem is, a large lizard population can be indicative of potential insect infestations.
Plus, if the lizards decide they like the food they’re finding around your property, they could eventually make their way into your house and that is not something you probably want. To give you some ideas on how to prevent this, here are a few lizard-repelling plants you may want to use!
Foul Helleborus
Foul Helleborus is a strong contender if you hate lizards, but be warned, it must be planted and used with some caution. It grows leaves in a fan-like pattern and has greenish-yellow stems. It is not only toxic to lizards, but it can be toxic for humans as well. For this reason, you should plant it in a place where no pets or small children can get to it and chew on it. If you’d like to avoid the risk completely, you may want to opt for a different lizard repellent plant.
Peppermint
Peppermint (or Mentha Piperita) has a fairly strong scent that will confuse lizards and make them want to stay away from your property. These perennial plants will usually grow to be around two feet in height. Mint will need to be watered and planted in well-draining soil to stay healthy, but other than that, not much maintenance is required. If you have a healthy supply of peppermint around, lizards won’t dare come near.
Pencil Tree
Also known as the pencil cactus and Indian tree spurge, the pencil tree is another notable choice in keeping lizards at bay. Its name is derived from its pencil straight and thin stems and branches. These are usually deep green in color and have a firm but fleshy texture. This plant does well in black clay soil and warm/tropical climates because it originated from places like Africa.
This particular plant may not have a strong smell like mint, but it does contain a latex substance that is quite toxic to lizards. It is usually safe for humans to touch, but reptiles and even some insects would do well to avoid it. It can cause temporary blindness and eventually death if the exposure is great enough. This is a good plant to use both outdoors and indoors to keep lizards away.
Lemongrass
Like mint, lemongrass is pretty strong-smelling, enough that any lizards who unwittingly wander into your yard will be confused and irritated. Lemongrass is a popular choice for lizard repellent because it doesn’t smell foul. Peppermint, for example, doesn’t smell foul but it can become just a little overpowering at times.
Lemongrass is not only useful for keeping lizards away but it can also be used in tea and as an aromatic to keep your house smelling clean and fresh. For all these reasons, lemongrass is a solid choice. It has multiple uses, all while keeping your house fresh and pest-free.
Herb of Grace
Also referred to as Rue or Common Rue, the herb of grace will make an excellent lizard deterrent for your property. The nice thing about Rue is that it is most commonly grown as an ornamental plant. This means you won’t feel like you have ugly or out-of-place plants in your garden, but you will still have a sufficient defense system against lizards and other pests.
The only downside to using the herb of grace is its smell. It will deter lizards for sure, but it might deter people too. Its odor isn’t terribly strong, but it does have a certain mustiness to its scent. This can be somewhat undesirable, so if you don’t want to be smelling that inside your house, you’d better keep it away from the front door.
Eucalyptus
Australia is Eucalyptus’s native homeland, but it has managed to find its way to many other countries. The scent of eucalyptus (which comes from the oil glands in the tree’s leaves) is definitely strong enough to keep lizards away from your yard and property. Plus, the smell of eucalyptus is very pleasing to some. It will scent your yard with a nice smell. Just be careful not to put it in a place where that scent could become overpowering.
Other Deterrents
Aside from using plants, there are a few other things you can do to get rid of or prevent lizards from coming to your yard. First, you will want to rid your property of any and all insect infestations, since that’s most likely what attracted the lizards to your yard in the first place. Whether you use a pesticide yourself or call an exterminator doesn’t matter; just get rid of those pests!
Lizards hate strong smells and they especially hate spicy scents. Use a mixture of Tabasco sauce and pepper to create a spicy, pungent blend. Spray this combination in small nooks and spots where lizards might enjoy hiding. One sniff of that and any lizard daring to make a home in your garden will scurry right back to where they came from.
You can also use things like eggshells, cloves, garlic, onions, and other similar items. Garlic, onions, and cloves are all very pungent and strong-smelling which means the lizards won’t like them at all. Additionally, eggshells give the impression of birds living nearby, and birds are serious predators to lizards. If lizards see eggshells scattered around your yard, they may think twice about venturing out.