Inspect for and seal entry points such as gaps around doors and windows, cracks in the foundation, and openings where water and utility lines enter the house. Eliminate standing water (mosquitoes breed in it) by regularly emptying bird baths, flower pots, and clogged gutters.
Perform facility maintenance to eliminate enticing places for pests, such as overgrown brush or piles of firewood. Better yet, call Pezz Pest Control professionals today.
Spring
Spring brings blooming flowers and warmer weather, but it also can bring pests like ants, earwigs, termites, stink bugs, and mosquitoes. Although these pests are around yearly, their numbers increase in the spring. During this time of year, some pests start their mating season while others seek food and shelter. Preventative pest control during this season can help reduce the risk of infestations and keep them from returning later in the year.
Clutter provides places for pests to hide and breed, so it is important to clean your home from top to bottom in the spring. Clean out storage areas and basements to remove items that may attract pests, including stacks of paper, magazines, and cardboard. Clean all windows and doors to eliminate gaps where pests can enter your home.
Outside the home, trim trees and bushes to keep them away from your home. This will prevent them from forming bridges to the house and will eliminate their shade, which can provide an inviting environment for many types of pests. Standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so make sure to regularly empty bird baths, flower pots, and gutters.
Seal cracks and crevices to prevent termites, ants, and other pests from entering your home. Make sure to caulk all areas around your foundation and walls, as well as any other entry points. This includes window sills, baseboards, and any other areas where you can see small holes or gaps.
Termites are particularly active in the spring, and creating a barrier around your home’s perimeter can prevent them from attacking it. You can do this by adding a barrier of wood, brick, stone, or masonry to the exterior of your home. Another effective barrier is planting shrubbery and grass several feet away from your house.
Stink bugs also become more active in the spring, seeking out food sources and warmth. Stink bug repellents can be effective in keeping these pests away from your home and yard.
Summer
Summertime is a time for outdoor activities, BBQs, and spending quality time with family. However, it’s also the season when pests thrive due to warmer weather and increased activity.
As temperatures rise, ants, mosquitoes, flies, rodents, and stinging insects are all more active and attracted to homes for food, water, and shelter. To prevent these pests from taking over your home, regularly clean kitchen counters and floors to remove crumbs, keep garbage cans tightly closed and use trash bags that seal. Eliminate standing water sources like birdbaths and flowerpots, and seal cracks and crevices around the house to discourage pest entry.
Stinging insects are particularly troublesome during the summer, and it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from bees, wasps, and hornets when going outside. To do so, wear long pants and shirts, keep pets and children close, and use an EPA-approved insect repellent whenever you’re going to be outdoors for extended periods.
Regularly clear away piles of firewood, discarded items, and debris that are stored near your home, as these can provide shelter to rodents and other pests. Trim trees and shrubs to eliminate hiding spots and reduce overgrowth that can create pathways for pests to enter your home.
Rodents are active during the summer and can chew through wiring, insulation, drywall, and flooring, which causes costly damage to your home’s structure. Continue your rodent control program with bait stations, traps, and barrier treatments. Also, consider doing a bed bug inspection before traveling this summer, as increased travel facilitates the spread of these pests.
Fall
As cooler temperatures push pests indoors, it’s important to be proactive about prevention. Rodents, spiders, cockroaches, and other pests seek shelter as the seasons change, and they can cause significant health risks and property damage.
Rodents are especially dangerous, as they can chew through electrical wiring and create fire hazards. In addition, rodents may carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Cockroaches also pose serious health risks, and they can thrive in humid environments, resulting in food poisoning and other ailments. And, cluster flies are a nuisance, swarming around open doors and windows, posing sanitation risks.
Routine maintenance, pest-proofing, and cleaning can help prevent fall infestations. Inspect and seal cracks in the foundation, siding, and around doors and windows to keep pests from entering.
Clean and organize storage areas like basements, attics, garages, and sheds to reduce places where pests can hide. Use plastic bins to store items instead of cardboard boxes, and regularly sweep and vacuum surfaces in the home. Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and take out trash frequently to eliminate odors and prevent pests from seeking food in the containers.
Perform an outdoor inspection of your property and make note of any small gaps and crevices that can allow pests to enter. These include areas around gas meters, dryer vents, and other utility openings, as well as any spaces where wires run through the exterior walls or siding of your home. Use caulk, expanding foam, or copper mesh to seal any access points that you find.
Keep leaves, brush and other debris raked away from the perimeter of your home and yard to prevent pests from hiding under them. Trim shrubbery to reduce places for pests to hide, and store firewood 20 feet away from your home and at least 5 inches off the ground to prevent bugs from nesting in it over the winter.
Be sure to apply curative treatments to control grubs in lawns before they mature and move into the root zone, as this is a good time of year to do so before it’s too cold for the treatment to be effective.
Winter
The colder weather of winter brings a fresh crop of pests that seek food, warmth, and shelter. Rodents, insects, and spiders will all find their way inside if they can. Preventative pest control can help keep critters out all winter long and prevent damage to your home.
Moisture attracts pests, and leaky pipes or clogged gutters provide an inviting place to hide. Address any areas of moisture in your home, including basements and under sinks. Keeping these areas dry and well-aerated can deter pests like cockroaches, silverfish, and ants.
Food sources remain a strong draw for many pests in the winter, so it’s important to store all foods (including pet food) in airtight containers. Clean up spills and crumbs promptly, and make sure trash cans have tight-fitting lids that are regularly emptied.
Clutter and bare spaces provide hiding places for pests, so keep your home decluttered. Be sure to regularly sweep and vacuum floors, and wipe down surfaces to remove food residues that could attract a variety of pests.
Cracks and crevices are common entry points for pests, especially when the whipping winds of a winter storm cause freeze-thaw cycles that create a gap big enough for rodents to slip through. Inspect and seal all cracks, nooks, and crannies to deny pests the entry point they need to invade your home.
Inspect crawl spaces and attics for any signs of infestations, including droppings, gnaw marks, and nesting areas. Often these spaces can be easily sealed, requiring just a small amount of effort to keep pests out all winter long. It is also a good idea to have a professional inspect and install a chimney cap to protect against birds, squirrels, and other pests that may enter through the flue vent during the winter. Finally, make sure to clear leaves from gutters and trim overgrown shrubs, so pests have no easy pathway to your roof overhang. For added protection, consider a door sweep to deny pests access to the outside of your home. This simple step can be the best preventative measure of all.
