Seasonal Tips
Seasonal Tips
Spring
Now is time to prepare for the busy bug season! As part of your annual spring cleaning, be sure to check the following items as part of your regular house maintenance.
Many insects are attracted to the odors and air currents that seep out from indoors. By adding some weather stripping to the bottom of your doors, you can make the door flush with the ground, thus limiting pest entry.
Replace or repair screens that are damaged and could let in pests.
These can be found at any home improvement store, and cast a slightly yellow light that will not attract flying insects.
Seal all around the exterior of your home, including all window casings.
Don't forget areas such as those around plumbing, electrical wiring, etc.
Be sure downspouts are directed away from the foundation of your home, and that any sprinklers are flowing away from the house.
Summer
The weather is hot and it's bug time! Pests need the same things we need to stay alive: water and food. They forage for these things and sometimes that means they forage right into your house. (Especially during the heat of the summer, certain pests come into your cool house looking for water.) The following tips will help you keep summertime bugs to a minimum.
If you enjoy gardening you are probably aware of the pest repellant properties of certain plants. The following aromatic plants are found to deter certain insects. These include: Bergamot, Castor Oil Plant, Catnip, Citronella, Coreopsis, Coriander, Scented Geraniums, Horehound, Hyssop, Larkspur, Lavender, Pyrethrum, Marigolds, Wormwood, Rue, Rhubarb, Sacred Basil, Stinking Roger, Tansy, Tobacco, Garlic (Alliums), Southernwood, Rosemary, Nasturtium, Feverfew, Pennyroyal, Mustard, Daisy, Cress, Sage, and Thyme.
As obvious as this advice sounds it is sometimes overlooked. Insects are attracted to the air-conditioned air and odors that may waft out of your home. It's helpful to install screen doors if you like to let in the summer breezes.
Do not allow pet food to sit out overnight. Place cereals and other bagged food in sealed plastic containers.
Dead insect debris attracts other insects. Your Economy technician will remove webbing for you. Let us know if there are any webs that need to be removed inside your home as well.
Fall
Now it's time to prepare the home for the cooler months. Rodents are doing the same, and now they look for warm places to nest for the winter. Keep unwanted house guests out by following the tips below.
Once in spring and once in the fall you should walk around your home with a bag of steel wool and a tube of caulk. If you see a hole larger than 1/4" stuff some steel wool in to keep out rodents and caulk any cracks to keep out bugs. Also, check all the crawl space screens and attic screens, to be sure there are no new holes. If you you don't have time to do this maintenance, let us know and we can take care of it for you.
Thin back or remove dense vegetation that touches your house.
Removing all refuse around structures, including stones, grass, bricks, clippings, boxes, leaves and mulch.
The woodpile is a natural place for insects such as spiders and termites to live. So, if you're chopping wood for the winter, be sure to keep it stored as far away from your home as possible.
Keep mulch at about 2" and 1 foot from the foundation.
Winter
Now visual pest activity is usually at its lowest point, but don't let that fool you. Now is the time pests really want to come in your warm house, especially pests that remain relatively hidden like rodents, clothes moths, and pantry pests. You've got food, water and heat so it is important to continue reactivating your barrier around your house. The following tips will help your home look less appealing to wintertime pests.
Clothing serve as a perfect nest for mice, rats and cloth moths. Be sure your plastic boxes are sealed tightly and stored neatly to prevent these pests from chewing up your cherished stored items, such as heirlooms and baby clothes.
If you are storing clothes in the attic, use moth balls to protect them from the destruction of clothes moths.
These items invite rodents to come make a cozy nest. Keep leaves away from your home so the mice go elsewhere to build their winter home.