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With the clocks officially going forward, we can begin to enjoy longer and hopefully milder evenings outdoors. But we’re not the only creatures looking to make the most of the daylight, and you might have noticed some more visitors to your garden these past few weeks.

Spring is also the time of year that many animals begin to come out of hibernation, in search of food and warmth, especially spiders. In fact, spiders are attracted to warmer environments, which is why you’ll often find them hidden in cosy corners of your home. With more us keeping windows and garden doors open, making the most of the sunlight, it’s even easier for spiders to crawl indoors, and while they don’t cause any harm, they can certainly cause a fright. 

From chalk to peppermint oil, there’s plenty of methods you can use for keeping spiders at bay, but why not make the most of the good weather and use it as an opportunity to invest in some plants for your home that also act as a natural spider deterrent. 

Graham Smith, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture has shared the several plants that effectively repel spiders and insects from homes, and are safe for pets. 

Basil

Fragrant and great for adding a peppery kick to dishes, from pastas to soups and savoury tarts, basil is also an effective natural spider repellent. Easily grown in any sunny part of the home, Graham said that the “fragrant scent of this herb is thought to be what keeps insects away, and is best placed around the entry points of your home”.

Mint 

Freshly picked peppermint leaves are perfect for a homemade mint tea, with numerous health benefits, especially with aiding digestion. After letting them soak for a few hours, place “a few freshly picked leaves inside a spray bottle with water” to help deter spiders, which will prevent them from entering the house, especially as they find the fragrant smell off-putting.

Rosemary 

Known for its piney scent and often used as a seasoning in cooking, Graham says that “this smell is much more intense for insects like spiders. It’s thought that spiders will actively avoid being near a rosemary plant, so this can be used to your advantage both inside and outside of your home”.

Lemon Balm 

Part of the mint family, lemon balm is widely used as a mild sedative that can help with anxiety and even insomnia, often consumed as a tea. Spiders find the citrusy scented leaves “overpowering” and it can also repel fruit flies. Graham advised placing “a potted lemon balm on a sunny windowsill” but warns against fertilising the plant, as this can “reduce the intensity of its scent”. 

Sage

Frequently used in Italian cooking, and loaded with antioxidants, its musky scent is fragrant enough to stop spiders in their tracks, but as with lemon balm Graham advises against using fertiliser as it “can reduce the strength of its scent”.

Dill 

Another fragrant herb that some people either love or hate, spiders hate the scent of dill. But it requires a bit more attention, with Graham recommending that you “only grow it in pots”.

Marigolds

Bright yellow in colour, marigolds are a great way to bring light to any corner of the home, and are known to repel most insects. Graham explains it is often “used by gardeners to keep pests away from crops,” but requires plenty of light when kept indoors.