Simple DIY Pest Control Tips to Prepare for Spring Pests
We can all agree that one of the best parts about winter is that the bugs die off. While pests in the South aren’t completely eliminated each season thanks to mild winters, they’re generally dormant or less active. In the spring, however, pests come out of hibernation and begin breeding. In this article, we’ll provide you with our DIY pest control tips for shutting out insects, rodents, bats, and everything in between this spring — indoors and out!
DIY Pest Control Strategies for Your Home’s Lawn
Organize the Yard
Starting outside of your home, take the time to thoroughly clean up the yard. Remove old or decaying piles of wood or leaves that could house insects or rodents. Consider moving firewood away from the house or fencing, so pests nesting inside won’t spread to the nearby structures. Removing potential nesting areas will hinder pests like termites, spiders, ants and more.
Mulch the Garden
Along with cleaning up the yard, make sure the plants and landscape stand a chance against invasive insects and rodents. Use cedar or cypress wood chips as landscaping mulch to deter bugs. These types of wood have a strong smell that is repulsive to pests, including termites. Be careful not to mulch too close to your home, though. Depending on what type of mulch you use, you may end up attracting termites rather than deterring them.
Remove Standing Water
Identify areas in your lawn that are prone to standing water and either repair them on your own, or contact a lawn care specialist to do it for you. Oftentimes compacted soil that is clay-heavy is the culprit to poor water drainage. Try adding loam or another sand mixture to help the soil absorb water so insects like mosquitoes can’t use it as a breeding ground.
Protect Your Plants
If your garden plants and vegetables are nibbled on by insects or rodents each year, create pest covers for gardens with netting material to prevent pests from eating your plants. These covers also work great to protect plants against frost!
DIY Pest Control Strategies for Your Home’s Exterior
Prep Your Home’s Exterior
Now that the yard is taken care of, protect the inside of your house by fortifying your exterior. Inspect your home’s exterior walls and structures to identify holes or gaps that need to be sealed. These spaces can be used as nests or entry points to the inside of your home, so make sure you fill them completely. You might need to get creative with this part and use caulk, concrete, or some other filler depending on the type of material your home is made from. Pro Tip: Take your DIY pest control efforts one step further and change outdoor light bulbs to yellow bulbs. These will discourage bugs from swarming your light fixtures and getting trapped inside.
DIY Pest Control Strategies for Your Home’s Interior
Tackle Indoor Home Repairs
Move on to the inside of your home and inspect for holes or gaps that need sealing as well. Check window sills, door frames and baseboards for cracks or holes. Insects, rodents, and even bats are very small and can fit into the tiniest of spaces you might not even notice are there. Additionally, don’t forget to clean debris and inspect the roof as it’s one of the main access points for pests to enter homes. Related: Wildlife Control 101: How to Protect Your Home from Bats
Clear Out the Basement and Attic
Make your way to the unfinished spaces of your home and clean out the basement and attic. Properly store any soft wood materials or fabric items that could be used as nests or food sources for pests. Storing these items in airtight bins will keep out termites, bed bugs, and rodents. If your attic or basement could use more than just a good cleaning, consider hiring a professional to reinsulate your attic to help keep pests out.
Wipe Down Surfaces
It’s also important to maintain a clean home to avoid unwanted guests like ants or mice. These pests are very skilled at finding food, so try to wipe down surfaces immediately after cooking or food spills occur. Don’t forget to store pet food in an airtight container, too.
What To Do When DIY Pest Control Isn’t Enough
Sometimes, maintaining a pest-free home is too big of a job for you to do on your own. When that happens, don’t hesitate to contact a pest professional. At Killingsworth, we’re pros at identifying, removing and eliminating pest problems. Got bats in the attic? We can take care of that. Ants marching through the kitchen? No problem. Mosquitoes infesting your yard? We’ll handle those, too — 100 percent organically we might add! We love helping homeowners find ways to tackle pest and lawn issues on their own. However, part of being a homeowner is knowing when it’s time to leave the DIY alone and contact a professional. If pests are becoming too big of a burden this spring, give us a call! We’ll make sure your home is pest-free in no time. Schedule a service with us today!
