A gardening expert shared advice which could be ideal for anyone dealing with an increase in spiders this autumn
14:19, 05 Sep 2025Updated 14:20, 05 Sep 2025
The beautiful plant helps to deter spiders (Image: Getty)
If you’ve spotted an increase in spiders around your home lately, you’re certainly not alone. Autumn marks the beginning of spider mating season across the UK, as these creatures hunt for cosy spots to escape the dropping temperatures.
For those who’d rather not share their space with these uninvited guests, there are numerous tactics you can employ to help drive spiders away from your dwelling. Pest UK suggests getting rid of cobwebs, vacuuming regularly, and limiting access to food to help prevent the creepy crawlies.
You could also invest in plants that are known to help keep spiders away. Ideal Home reports that there are several varieties that could help keep them away.
Lavender is often a popular choice, which is often chosen for the lovely scent it adds to your home. Graham Smith MClhort, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, told the publication: “If you are intending to use lavender to repel spiders, English Lavender is the strongest smelling of all the available varieties.
“You can grow this outdoors, or take cuttings and hang these around your home to deter spiders.” However, if you’d prefer a gentler fragrance, rosemary could be the way to go.
The beautiful plant has a strong smell spiders don’t like (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
Graham said: “Although rosemary may only have a faint scent to humans, it is believed to have a very strong odour for spiders. It can be grown in your garden all year round, but young plants are not very tolerant of the cold, so they may need to be brought indoors during winter.”
Herb lovers might prefer basil. Of course, it’s a popular herb for foodies, but it’s a plant that spiders tend to avoid. As such, it could be well worth adding a pot to your garden table or kitchen windowsill. It’s advised to choose somewhere bright, reports the Express. Graham explained: “It can be grown indoors or outdoors, as long as it receives a few hours of sunlight a day.”
Other popular choices include marigolds, citronella, mint, or chrysanthemums. If you do opt to grow lavender indoors, Gardeners.com said: “For indoor growing, lavender should receive as much light as possible. It will do best in a south-facing window or where it can get a minimum of three to four hours of direct sunlight.”
If you’re not keen on plants, you could use essential oils. Pest UK said: “Strong smells are a natural way to deter spiders from entering your home. Smells such as lemon, lime, oranges, anything with a strong citrus aroma, help repel spiders. Also, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, or peppermint oil.
“Vinegar is another strong scent to help repel spiders, but most people aren’t too keen on vinegar lingering around their homes. Rub or spray around window sills and doors with these scents to help prevent spiders from entering.” The experts continued: “If you do see a spider in the house, put a container over it, scoop it up with a card, and put it outside.”
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