Hey everyone!
I’m dealing with a millipede invasion in my basement and garden. These creepy crawlers are everywhere, under flower pots, along baseboards, and even in my laundry room! I’ve tried sweeping them up and spraying vinegar, but they just keep reappearing after rain. My kids refuse to go downstairs, and I’m worried they’ll damage my plants.
My situation:
- Hotspots: Damp basement corners, mulch beds, and under decking.
- Damage: They’re not biting, but their sheer numbers are grossing me out. My seedlings are getting trampled.
- Attempted fixes: Diatomaceous earth, vinegar sprays, and reducing outdoor lighting at night (heard they’re attracted to light).
Millipedes love moisture! Run a dehumidifier in your basement 24/7 and fix gutter drainage. For gardens, spread cedar mulch, they hate the smell. Also, scoop up leaf litter where they breed.
@EcoWarrior101 Plant lavender and mint around your garden beds. Millipedes avoid strong scents. Indoors, wipe floors with tea tree oil + water, works like a charm!
Use Ortho Home Defense spray along foundation walls. It’s pet-safe once dry. For severe infestations, insecticidal soap kills on contact without harsh chemicals.
I laid gravel barriers around my house to improve drainage. Also, seal cracks in your foundation with silicone caulk, they crawl through pencil-sized gaps!
They’re worst in spring and fall during damp weather. After heavy rain, I sprinkle food-grade DE (diatomaceous earth) around doors. It shreds their exoskeletons!
Mix borax + sugar as bait. They eat the sugar, borax dehydrates them. Place it in jar lids near hotspots, but keep away from pets/kids!
Sticky traps! I put glue boards along baseboards and under sinks. Caught dozens overnight. Dispose quickly, they stink when dead!
Millipedes eat decaying organic matter. Remove rotting wood and compost piles far from your house. Also, avoid overwatering plants!
I sprayed neem oil on my garden soil. Kills larvae and repels adults. Reapply after rain. For basements, salt barriers near entry points work too!
Ran the dehumidifier + cedar mulch. Numbers dropped by 70%! Anyone try beneficial nematodes in soil?
Nematodes are GREAT! They eat millipede eggs. Water them into damp soil. Pair with cinnamon powder sprays, natural and effective!