Cedar Sir Henry Joseph Wood has a frosty , aromatic aroma , and cedar ’s fabled insect - repelling abilities help fabrics stored in cedar closets or chests remain moth - free . alike , cedar wood chipsin the garden repel some insects , but knowledgeable nurseryman do n’t rely on true cedar mulch to keep spiders forth . Not only does cedarwood lose potency relatively chop-chop , but some cedar mulches are n’t true cedar at all .
Cedar Wood
All cedar wood is not equal . The wood of a true cedar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Cedrus spp . ) does have a natural oil that rebuff some insects , but not all cedar tree chips fare from true true cedar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . easterly red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana ) and westerly red cedar ( Thuja plicata ) are not true cedar , but rather North American native evergreen that gardeners use as windbreaks and decorative trees in rugged domain . Unfortunately , their mulch does not in the main repulse insects . dependable cedars , such as the democratic deodar cedar tree ( Cedrus deodara ) are native to the Middle East .
Effectiveness
While mulching with true cedarwood Natalie Wood chips will force back belligerent , non - native Argentinian ants and certain house ant , the petroleum does n’t of necessity rag all insects and arachnoid . to boot , the repelling effect is irregular and diminish as the cedar tree slowly decomposes , often lose any repelling consequence within a year or two . Also keep in mind that the highest concentration of insect - beat back compounds repose in the cedar tree ’s heartwood , while wood chip shot include barque and sapwood .
Spiders
spider are not insects , but rather arachnoid . They have dissimilar metabolic process than insects , and what may repel an insect wo n’t bother a spider . wanderer do , however , follow their food sources like any other predator . annihilate their food author , and the spiders migrate away from your eaves , groundwork , or that sure dark corner of the porch . accord to a webpage on Kansas State University ’s site , pea crushed rock is much less welcoming to insects than an organic mulch and , unlike true cedar wood chips , wo n’t necessitate replacing often . Without a true food source , the spiders depart these areas .
Considerations
spider , despite their vilification in Halloween decorations or group B - motion-picture show , are beneficial . They keep insect populations down , indirectly protecting your vegetables from voracious pests or your skin from mosquitoes . Linda Reyor of Cornell University calls spiders " the most important terrestrial predator " and urges homeowners to leave the eight - legged exterminators alone . Contact your local county extension for information on vulgar garden wanderer ; the more you learn their habit , the less likely you are to have unexpected encounters .
References
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