Spider deterrent in the garden (merged)

olly300

Morty_007 wrote: »

You know I typed out a great long response and then realised it's just not worth it. You clearly don't have a phobia about spiders Olly. I think you have said it all when you say that your funniest moment was rescuing a big burly man from an incy teeny spider....your empathy abounds.

You are still taking postings personally. This board gives advice which you may or may not like.

Norbertsmum, Lotus-eater and my original post didn't have a go at you we just stated facts.

You can't get rid off all creatures that you are scared off that exist freely in nature.

You either have to learn to deal with them, or if you can't get someone to remove them for you.

Oh by the way until that time I thought only women where scared of spiders, since then I've had to remove spiders out of the places where more men have lived.

Beebop

Morty_007 wrote: »

If I only had 1 or 2 spiders, I would move them or kill them. The garden is infested, phobia or not. If I had wanted judging about my phobias I would have asked. I didn't. Me and my DS's lives are not "suffering" thank you very much! And I don't wish to discuss it any further.

I really wish I would learn my lesson about coming here to ask for advice and disclosing that my life isn't absolutely perfect. Forget I even asked.

Beebop I wish I could thank you 5 times.

Hey, I have some handy tips on getting rid of them, but don't really don't want to put them on a public thread as arachnid lovers may come and take out revenge on me!
If you PM me, I'll send you a list of what I've found works!
P.S I'm not condoning killing another living thing - this is no different to swatting the odd wasp imo!

Sue-UU

Morty_007 wrote: »

and when I say infested I mean I counted about 20 x 1cm spiders in large webs in about a sq metre and thats standard all around the garden.

Hi Morty, I do understand how they affect you as I too am terrified of them indoors to the extent that I put plugs in sinks, toilet paper in the sink overflow of the bathroom - anything to keep them OUT!!!! :eek: However, I am able (just) to rationalise it with the ones in the garden and find them fascinating to watch at times, but as someone pointed out they will be gone after October.

However, the point of the post is: Our daughter never feeds the birds and has spiders all over her garden, especially the shrubs, climbers etc. We DO feed the birds and honestly only have a couple of spiders, so if you generally feed the birds with sunflower hearts in a tube feeder then you'll bring a constant supply of the only real deterrents in to help you - naturally! Give it a try Morty, you have nothing to lose, bar a little outlay at first - worth it though really and great for your DS to learn about and enjoy.

Good luck.

Sue

Vibrant

Hi Morty,

I sympathise, I don't like spiders either, although I have managed to dull my phobia over the years. Just as well at this time of year, as I work as a gardener!
Some years ago, when my conifers were very badly infested and I wanted to trim them. I went round and gave each spider I saw a quick squirt of ant killer (took ages), this worked almost instantly and reduced their numbers drastically the following years as well, as they had not yet produced offspring.
It's not exactly environmentally friendly, but then neither is squashing them indoors and I do that as well.
Try to do it when your DS isn't around, so you don't pass on your phobia.

Vib.

Sue-UU

Vibrant wrote: »

Hi Morty,
Some years ago, when my conifers were very badly infested and I wanted to trim them. I went round and gave each spider I saw a quick squirt of ant killer (took ages), this worked almost instantly and reduced their numbers drastically the following years as well, as they had not yet produced offspring.Vib.

.....and then what if Morty's son came into contact with any of the ant killer! Not the best suggestion to give to someone with children. Also if everyone suffering from arachnophobia did that, then a large part of nature would suffer terribly, us too in the long run as what we do to nature ....we do to ourselves!

To every action there is a consequence!

Sue

olly300

Sue-UU wrote: »

Hi Morty, I do understand how they affect you as I too am terrified of them indoors to the extent that I put plugs in sinks, toilet paper in the sink overflow of the bathroom - anything to keep them OUT!!!! :eek:

Spiders fall into sinks and the bath from crawling up the walls and the ceiling of the room.

The only way to keep their numbers down is to live in new house that doesn't have lots of cracks and crannies, and ensure that it's kept very clean.

Oh and they swim quite well.

Aylana

I am also arachnophobic and people who don't have that fear find it very hard to understand. Do try not to take it too personally.

We tend to get quite a few in the house and garden and some of them are huge! There have been a couple whose bodies were easily 3 inches long. One appeared when OH was at work and wouldn't be home for a couple of hours. It sat at one end of the living room and I sat at the other. I couldn't move I was so frightened, at one point it moved and I nearly started hyperventilating. One of the cats came in, went over to it, stopped, then ran away!!! Eventually OH arrived and removed it somewhat nervously even though he isn't normally bothered by spiders! bleurgh. Goodness knows where it came from, we don't have any cracks that big!

I wish there was some reliable deterrent. I don't like to kill things but I'm sure I'm entitled not to have to have them in my space if I choose!

Morty_007

Lotus-eater wrote: »

You stupid person...
you can't even take your son into the garden, just because of some completely harmless tiny animal.....

Calling someone stupid is just childish and rude.
I'm pleased I have stopped "taking things personally" because that actually borders on ridicule!

Forget I even offered advice.

You didn't offer the advice I asked for so I have already forgotten about it.


Thanks to all the practical advice offered. It's a shame that those who don't agree or understand what it is to be phobic about something can't just read the thread and move on without butting. I will make an effort to feed the birds more, we use to and indeed didn't have as many spiders last year. I looked at ant spray and some of them say they are safe for children once dry but I still wasn't sure if they would actually kill the spiders.

I am very careful not to expose my son to my fear but it's not always possible and thats not the only reason people develop phobias....I can't protect him from everything, I know that.

mrbadexample

:think: I think you're looking at this from the wrong perspective. Garden spiders live in the garden - it's in the job description. You'll never get rid of them, and IMHO, you shouldn't be trying.

I think the title of your post should be: "How can I overcome my phobia?" There are various methods of treatment, which usually work along the lines of increased exposure, starting with pictures etc. and building up to (probably) holding a tarantula. Have you considered any such option? In the long run, overcoming your phobia would prove far more worthwhile than a lifelong losing battle against our 8-legged friends.

sweetnskint

i would use a big stick and keep breaking the webs -they might move on if you keep on top of it!-worth a try!