As a Florida homeowner, summer months mean more than just spending time outdoors. This is mainly because warm weather brings about a heightened activity for common pests such as roaches, ants, and rodents. Luckily, there are ways to stop these invaders from ruining your summer. Here are our top summer pest control tips.
Summer Pest Control Preventive Measures
Keeping pests from entering your house requires proactive measures. Start by examining all entryways, particularly windows and doors. Examine whether you have sealed all the window screens.
Assess whether the weather-stripping requires replacement. Over time your doors’ weather-stripping will experience wear and tear, thereby creating spaces where critters can get inside. We also recommend checking and sealing any foundation cracks. Other areas to inspect include the eaves and front deck.
Mosquito control is another summer pest control tip to take seriously. Mosquitoes are annoying for their buzzing and itchy bites, but the primary concern is because they also carry disease. Remember, the best way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate all standing water around your outdoor space.
Mosquitoes seek stagnant water as it is where the females lay eggs and hatch. Also, we recommend taking the following steps to prevent your house from becoming a breeding ground.
Outdoor furniture acts as an excellent hideout for outdoor pests. Wicker seats are especially vulnerable to spiders. We recommend washing the furniture cloth padding to keep these pests at bay. You could also spray a natural insect repellent such as peppermint oil to deter these irritating pests.
Be sure to check the firewood pile as well. Woodpiles are a favorite nesting place for termites, tiny insects that can inflict immense property damage. As a best practice, store your firewood about five feet away from the entrance and off the ground.
Indoor pests are exceptionally good at tracking food sources. To reduce their presence, do not leave food lying around. Instead, put food in tight-lid containers.
Also, avoid leaving overripe fruits on counters. By doing so, you risk fruit flies invading your house. Finally, ensure you bring pet food bowls inside when not in use.
Maintaining house cleanliness is a no-brainer when it comes to pest prevention. Remember, different forms of dirt can attract various pests.
For instance, stinging insects seek sweet food. So, leaving such food types on the counter is a bad idea. Dirty dishes will attract roaches and rats. As for dust mites and bed bugs, these insects thrive in bedding and furniture.
Decluttering your house and keeping it clean is a surefire way to prevent and also detect an infestation in its early stages. Keeping your home air-conditioned reduces the humidity. This tactic, thereby, lowers the potential of insects, particularly fleas, from surviving long enough to wreak havoc.
When left unchecked, your yard can become a haven for pests. We recommend regular weeding and growing plants that don’t attract these critters. It would also help if you mowed your lawn and trimmed your grass regularly.
Doing this will prevent insects such as spiders and fire ants from nesting. Aside from landscaping, ensure these outdoor plants are not close to the house entrance.
Ultimately, the best pest control prevention tip is seeking pest control services. A professional exterminator can safely determine your bug problems and offer timely pest solutions.
These preventative pest control tips are helpful as long as you don’t have an infestation in your hands. Calling McDonald Pest Control will save you from future property damage costs and guarantees your house is pest-free all summer long! Whether you need mosquito control or bed bug treatment, our team has got you covered.
Are you ready to request a visit? Call us at 727-734-0963 today, review our coupons, and to schedule a free consultation.