Citronella candles are an effective and natural way to keep pesky mosquitoes at bay. The next time you're burning a large citronella candle, make the melted wax go twice as far by pouring it into an essential oil diffuser container. These containers feature a well on the top for essential oils, which are slowly heated by a small candle underneath to dissipate the scent gently throughout a room. By pouring melted citronella wax on top, you can expand your natural barrier protection by having one candle lit and a diffuser lit at the same time.

When transplanting young plants into your garden, they can be a tasty treat for invasive insects like slugs. Instead of resorting to plastic fences, chemical sprays or other unsightly tactics, try this instead: Save your used, wet coffee grounds, and create a protective ring around each plant. Not only will it prevent invasive insects from crossing, the grounds act as beneficial mulch and will biodegrade into the soil. Also, if your new plants came in plastic pots or trays, be sure to take them to any Lowe's store to be recycled -- even if you didn't buy them there.

In the spring months, windows are some of the biggest culprits of killing birds. When birds fly, they don't always see a window; instead, they see the reflection of trees or the sky. This confusion can lead to birds thinking it's a clear path to fly. Then, when they crash into the window, they die. If you find a certain window is prone to accidental deaths with feathered friends, attach wire or plastic mesh a few inches off the window. This still allows the light to come inside the home, but protects the birds. If they fly into the window, they'll hit the mesh and just bounce off. If you need a quick solution, you can also take a wet bar of soap and smear the window. This will prevent any reflections, giving you time to remedy the situation later.