With summer on the horizon and stay at home orders in place, many of us are spending more time in our houses and in our backyards. This increase in time at home means we’re paying more attention to the ants, mosquitoes, spiders, and other pests in our lives. In addition to being a nuisance, they’re a health and safety risk, causing structural damage and spreading disease. We want to make sure you’re protected from the many dangers pests can pose. Follow these preventative measures to keep pests from disrupting your bonfires and movie nights:
1. Remove any standing water in your backyard. Clogged gutters, empty flowerpots, children’s toys, and pool covers are hot spots for puddles. Remove these sources of standing water to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
2. There’s nothing better than sitting by a campfire on a chilly night. Unfortunately, stacks of firewood attract insects and rodents as they’re a great resource for food and shelter. We recommend storing firewood at least 20 feet away from your house and at least 5 feet away from the ground.
3. Keep branches and shrubs well-trimmed and away from your house. Unkempt landscaping provides additional living space for pests while also giving them greater access to structures.
4. An increase in online shopping has left many of us with stacks of cardboard boxes. Breaking these down along with prompt disposal is one of the best ways we can prevent pests like cockroaches from hanging around. Don’t leave your cardboard boxes outside either. Rodents will happily call them home.
5. If your car is sitting idle in your garage or driveway, make sure to check the engine for nesting wildlife like squirrels and rodents. They have the potential to do significant damage to your vehicle.
6. Who doesn’t like to leave their windows open when the weather is nice? We sure do! We recommend patching any holes or tears in your window screens to keep flying insects outside where they belong.
7. Make sure your crawl spaces and attics are well-ventilated and dry. A dehumidifier could help prevent these spaces from having too much moisture in them. In addition to pests, you’ll prevent mold from becoming an issue. Win-win!
8. This final tip may seem simple, but it’s very important! Make sure to keep your house clean. By picking up spills, properly disposing of old food, and keeping a tight lid on your trash cans, you’re preventing expensive infestations from becoming reality.
