Finally, spring has arrived after a long, cold winter, bringing warmer temperatures and beautiful blossoms. Sadly, another wave of insects and other pests comes every spring. Here are some measures to keep pests out of your house and garden this year. Thank goodness for today's technological advancements; with some help, you can keep the bugs at bay.
Essential Spring Pest Control Tips
Waste Water Treatment: Standing Water
Aquatic environments are attractive to most pests. Having a pool, fountain, or other standing water near your house is a surefire way to invite unwanted guests. Mosquitoes and other pests may find a breeding ground in these places. Maintaining clean gutters is another critical step in ensuring adequate water drainage.
Safely Isolate Food Supplies.
When you keep food outside, especially near your house, you invite rodents and other pests to your property. Insects are frequently attracted to garbage, garden waste, and pet food. Keep pet food in an airtight container indoors, and enclose your garden to prevent pests from getting to your vegetables.
Protect Your Home By Closing All The Doors And Windows
Foundation issues such as cracks, holes, and gaps provide easy access for rodents, insects, and other unwanted guests. Seal these gaps with caulk, paying particular attention to any openings that lead outside. Remember that installing window screens can also be an effective pest control method. Even if the weather outside is pleasant, you should keep the doors closed. Pests can quickly enter your home through cracked or open doors.
Be Tidy
Also, a yard full of trash and debris is a massive invitation to unwanted visitors, like insects and rodents. These are perfect hiding spots for stinging insects like ticks, ants, and wasps.
Care For The Land Around Your Home
Insecticide treatments can be the first defence against the most troublesome pests. If you want help developing a strategy to eliminate termites and other problems, a licenced technician from Arrow Termite and Pest Control can come to your home and give you a free inspection. Give us a call at this time, and we will gladly provide you with a no-obligation quote.
Spring Cleaning Advice To Keep Pests
If you fall into this category, between washing the windows and vacuuming the carpets, take care to address the pest hot spots around your home.
The kitchen is a popular place for common spring insects like ants and cockroaches to set up shop because of the easy access to food and water. One by one, they make their way through the kitchen, dining room, and even the living room in search of stray crumbs, sticky spill residue, and spoiled fruit. Even if you're diligent about maintaining a spotless kitchen daily, you can take some additional measures to reduce the space's appeal to pests.
Start by emptying the kitchen and pantry. Sort through them and get rid of expired ingredients like flour and spices. Many pantry pests, such as ants, beetles, and Indian meal moths, are drawn to these baking ingredients. The next step is to replace the shelf paper and clean the inside of your cabinets. When finished, vacuum behind your appliances by moving them away from the wall. Inspect carefully; you could be shocked by the amount of grime and debris you uncover. Cleaning the kitchen floor and countertop is the final step. Use a dish sponge and some dish soap in a bucket of hot water to clean them.
Bathroom
Springtime insects like cockroaches and silverfish are attracted to damp environments like bathrooms. There should be no moisture problems from leaking pipes or faucets, so you should also check under the sink and around the tub and toilet after washing the shower curtain and liner and clearing out the medicine cabinet.
Basement
The basement is an inviting environment for mice, spiders, and other creepy crawlies. Pests like mice and spiders seek refuge in this basement because of the abundance of dark nooks and crannies and the general disorganisation that characterises this area. Sort through your possessions and get rid of unnecessary items. Avoid using cardboard boxes; instead, make use of plastic containers with tight-fitting lids for your storage needs. You can use caulk made of silicone to seal off any entry points for insects and rodents.
Communal Areas
Some insects attract decaying wood, so you should begin your pest control efforts on the roof. Then, before April's showers arrive, ensure your gutters and downspouts are clear and working correctly. Screens that have been torn, weather stripping that has seen better days, and mortar that has come loose around the windows and foundation could all use some TLC.
When landscaping, it's essential to keep bushes and branches trimmed back from the house to reduce the likelihood of unwanted pests making the journey indoors in the spring.
Work From the Outside In
Working outside is a great way to keep those pesky spring pests from taking over your home. Making it hard for these pests to enter your home can be accomplished by sprucing up your landscaping. How to do it is explained below.
Trim And Clean Up Your Yard.
Having an overgrown yard is a significant contributor to pest problems. You should keep your lawn mowed and your trees and bushes pruned, especially in the areas immediately surrounding your house. Fallen branches, rotting logs, and gnarled tree stumps are just some things that need to be removed regularly. Having professional take care of your lawn can help keep it tidy and free of debris that could attract pests.
It's Essential To Ensure That The Roof, Gutters, And Downspouts Are In Good Working Order.
Debris from the roof in the yard is another warning sign of trouble above ground level that you should not ignore. Hiring a professional roof cleaning service is a good idea if you don't have the time or are afraid of heights to do the job yourself.
You Might Want To Double-Check That Soil
There are pests in the soil as well as in the grass and other vegetation. Build a wall around your property to keep dirt from collapsing on your foundation. Several options exist for accomplishing this, so you can choose one that best suits your circumstances.
If you don't want water and soil to collect at your foundation every time it rains or snows, you'll need to ensure the soil grades away from your house. I
Seal Your Home
However much you work to make your yard impenetrable to insects, there will always be a few hardy souls who defy your efforts. In light of this, you should probably go ahead and seal up your home.
Check your home from top to bottom for any draughts, cracks, or holes. Check that all of the windows are screened in. Look for damage to the window frames, such as cracks or rot. Keep an eye out for draughts coming through the windows and doors, and ensure that any openings leading into the basement or crawl space area are adequately sealed. You can use blended cement or caulk to seal up any gaps in the exterior of your home.
Remove All Food and Water Sources
Keep all bird feeders and other wildlife feeding stations at least 100 feet from your house. And if you want to keep the more significant pests out of your vegetable garden, a fence or netting might be a good idea.
Any pooling water, whether indoors or out, should be avoided. Preventing water-loving pests like mosquitoes from settling in and breeding requires quickly locating the source and repairing any leaks.
Try It Out! Examine It!
A preventative pest control measure is to conduct periodic exterior inspections of the home throughout the year. Check for cracks in the foundation or access points if there are any windows. Tiny crevices around windows are a common entry point for ants inside homes.
The first step in pest control is to seal any possible entry points into your home.
Maintaining a tidy landscape is essential, so regularly prune your trees and bushes.
The plants around your house could serve as a passageway for pests. The grass that is pressed up against the walls of your house is a prime breeding ground for insects. If plants are not correctly placed, they can cause structural damage to your home's exterior and make it an ideal habitat for unwanted pests.
Keeping your trees and shrubs pruned reduces the likelihood of a pest invasion because many insects and rodents can survive in outdoor and indoor environments. Keep doing this every year to keep pests at bay.
Scrubbing Up
If your pantry is disorganised and food packages aren't tightly sealed, pests will spend all day there. Always clean the floors, empty the cabinets, and wipe down the counters. In the battle against common household pests, even the simplest of household tasks can prove invaluable.
If you want to avoid attracting pests, keeping your kitchen and pantry tidy and your trash cans covered is essential. For added protection, use liners inside outdoor trash cans whenever possible.
A Helpful Tool For Pest Management
Seek professional help when unsure what to look for or how to ready your home. Inspecting your home for pests can be daunting, but the Planet Orange experts know just what to look for.
It's Time To Do Some Pruning.
Trees and bushes in your yard have probably expanded considerably over the past year. In the winter, when the trees are bare, it may not be evident that they need trimming but come spring, you'll see that they've grown quite a bit. Even if you are planting new trees and bushes, you should remember this.
Placing A Moisture Barrier In Place
Whether it's because they thrive there or because they need a drink, pests frequently congregate around water. Protect your home from pests this spring by installing a moisture barrier. If installed with a moisture barrier, your home will be less vulnerable to problems. To establish a moisture barrier, hire a professional pest control crew or give it a shot on your own. However, doing it yourself can be risky, challenging, and expensive.
Crawl Spaces Need Ventilation.
Once you start spring cleaning, pests will find new hiding places in even the tiniest cracks and crevices. Crawl spaces are included in this. Most homeowners don't spend much time in these spaces because they were initially designed for security. The result is that insects and spiders love to take up residence there. In addition, if pests have invaded them, they may be rendered useless in a time of crisis. As a result, make sure your crawl spaces are clean and well-ventilated.
Surfaces Should Be Cleaned Using High-Pressure Water Jets.
Putting on fresh coats of paint around the house and yard is a typical springtime project. Power washing is recommended for a more sanitary environment to remove pest nests and sidings from masonry, wood, exterior walls, and other surfaces.
The Warmer Weather Of Spring Means An Increase In Pest Activity.
Insect pests are a constant problem in the springtime. Taking precautions now can help you avoid future infestations later on. If you want to enjoy your home this spring and summer without worrying about pests, consider implementing some of these strategies.
Eliminate Standing Water
Aquatic environments are attractive to most pests. Pests will be drawn to your home if standing water is nearby. Fix any leaks you find and get rid of any pools of water as soon as possible. Such places can provide a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes and termites. Maintaining clean gutters and installing appropriate drainage can prevent water pooling and flooding.
Minimise the Use of Food Sources When you keep food outside, especially near your house, you invite rodents and other pests to your property. Insects are frequently attracted to garbage, garden waste, and pet food. Emptying and cleaning dishwashers, removing extra packaging from food supplies, and storing pet food in an airtight container are all essential parts of pest management.
Guard Your Home From Intruders
Opportunistic insect pests can enter your home through cracks, holes, or gaps in the foundation or around your home's furnishings. Focus on exterior openings that lead outside and use sealants that have been approved for that purpose. Fly and security screens are one of the best ways to keep pests out of your home.
Collect Garbage, Keep Areas Tidy
Pests are attracted to garbage, overgrown plants, and other signs of disorganisation in the garden. Various biting and stinging insects, such as ticks, spiders, ants, and the like, prefer to make their homes there. Garden and outdoor entertainment areas, including under and around decks, steps, and the front and back porch, need regular cleaning and decluttering. Unwanted pests can make a home in these areas if nothing is done to prevent them.
Take Care Of Your Home By Conducting An Inspection And Maintenance Treatment
First and foremost, applying an approved insecticide is to protect your home from even the most persistent pests. We will help you pinpoint entry points, hiding spots, and food sources for problems and recommend a combination of physical, cultural (lifestyle), and chemical controls. We'll tell you how to prevent pest problems at home.
Conclusion
It is said that new life and growth begin in the spring. It's also the beginning of pest season for many people. This year, learn the signs of pest infestation and how to eliminate them before they become a significant issue. We have compiled some pest control tips to help you keep your home or place of business free of pests this spring. These methods will work for any pest, whether ants, cockroaches, spiders, or anything else. So, my question is, "Why the delay?" It's time to get rolling right now!
Content Summary
- Here are some things you can do to protect your home and yard against insects and rodents this season.
- Keeping food outside, especially in the immediate vicinity of your home, is a surefire way to attract rodents and other unwanted visitors.
- Initially, you should clean up the kitchen and pantry.
- Once everything else is done, it's time to clean the kitchen floor and counters.
- If you want to get rid of the insects that like to eat decaying wood, you should start on the roof.
- Make sure your yard is trimmed and tidy.
- Keeping the grass cut and the shrubs and plants maintained is especially important around the home's perimeter.
- When you hire a professional lawn care service, your lawn will always look neat and be free of debris that could be a breeding ground for pests.
- Protect your home's foundation from tumbling soil by erecting a wall around the perimeter of your property.
- Make sure that the screens on all of the windows are in place.
- Analyze It!
- Inspections of the home's exterior should be performed at regular intervals throughout the year as a kind of preventative pest management.
- Exclusion of pests from your home should be your first step in pest control.
- This spring, construct a moisture barrier to keep unwanted pests out of your home.
- When it comes to keeping unwanted visitors out of your home, fly and security screens are a good investment.
- To protect your home against pests, we'll share our knowledge on the subject.
- Get ahead of a potential problem by becoming familiar with the warning signs of a pest infestation and the methods for eradicating them this year.
- To assist you keep your house or company free of pests this spring, we have prepared some pest management suggestions.
- During the spring, when pest populations are at their lowest, it is easier to find and spray nests and colonies to eradicate them.
Frequently Asked Questions
An early spring spraying is recommended. Spraying in the spring allows you to eliminate nests and colonies when pest populations are at their lowest. The treatment requires less effort on the part of the patient, so it lasts longer and has a more significant impact.
Despite the wide variety of options, pest control can be broken down into six broad categories: hygienic, biological, chemical, physical, fumigation, fogging, and heat treatment.
Mice, rats, ants, and wasps are just four examples of common pests.
The term "pest" is commonly used to refer to mammals, birds, insects, and other organisms that live near humans and cause damage to their food sources and property. Exclusion, repulsiveness, physical removal, and chemical control are all tried for these pests.
The pest control system should provide a way to monitor, detect, and eradicate pests. It should include physical and chemical controls to prevent the entry, harborage, and infestation of pests.