Nothing ruins a picnic like a line of ants. Nothing ruins a barbecue like a swarm of mosquitoes. And nothing ruins a morning like spotting a spider, cockroach, or mouse somewhere in your house.
You can keep bugs and critters away from your home and yard this summer. Pay attention to these Summertime Pest Control Tips.
You can keep bugs and critters away from your home and yard this summer. Pay attention to these Summertime Pest Control Tips.
Block Their Entry to Your Home
Your first line of defense is to make it difficult for pests to even find an entry to your home. Check all your screens for holes and repair any you find. Check around your doors and windows for gaps. You should caulk or replace with weather stripping, when needed.
Clean Your Kitchen
A pile of crumbs on your counter or floor is like a buffet to ants and other insects. Let them find their dinner elsewhere, preferably far away from your home. You need to make there are no crumbs or pieces of leftover food sitting around. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Wipe your counters, sweep your floors, put food away immediately, and take out the trash regularly.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Getting rid of standing water is the first step to control mosquitoes. Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. You absolutely don’t want them to make your yard their home. It’s easy to miss standing water sometimes. Make sure you walk your property to check rain spouts, water near your air conditioning unit, and pick up toys left scattered throughout the yard.
Maintain Your Yard
Keep your landscaping maintained to avoid overgrowth. That’s where pests like to hang out and build their nests. Trim bushes and trees that are near the house. You also need to weed and rake and remove debris.
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
Don’t let fruits and vegetables get overly ripe on your counter. If you do, the fruit flies will invite themselves in for a party. Eliminating fruit flies is a headache you don’t want.
Store Your Firewood Properly
Termites are often found in damp or wet firewood. Un-split wood with bark is more likely to attract insects than split wood. Stacking the wood in loose piles off the ground will help keep the wood dry. Don’t give termites free access to your home. If you store firewood, keep it away from your house. You may consider investing in a shed away from the house. BTW – the further away, the better.
Don’t Throw Meat in the Outside Garbage Too Early
This is a real summertime pest control tip you probably never considered. Don’t throw meat scraps in your outside garbage unless the garbage will be picked up in the next 48 hours. The combination of rotting meat and summer sun could bring unwanted pests to your yard incredibly fast. This is not just insects. Raccoons and mice will eat right through your plastic garbage can to get to that rotten meat.
Inspect Swings and Outdoor Furniture
You need to check the chains and corners of your swing sets regularly for spider webs and cocoons. The straps and pads of outdoor furniture are also a great hiding place for insects and spiders. Remove them when you see them.
Use a Pest Control Service
Hire a local pest control service to come to your home. Make sure they regularly spray for bugs and rodents common to your area. A professional pest control company can provide more protection than you can on your own. Plus, you will have someone to call in case of an emergency!
Whether you choose to do it all on your own or hire a professional pest control service, though, keep these Summertime Pest Control Tips in mind to take control of your yard again and have a pest-free summer!
Whether you choose to do it all on your own or hire a professional pest control service, though, keep these Summertime Pest Control Tips in mind to take control of your yard again and have a pest-free summer!
