Spring Yard Clean-Ups & Pest Proofing
At the first signs of spring, from green shoots poking through the ground to longer stretches of daylight, many New England homeowners eagerly begin spring cleanups on their property. A critical part of that process should include pest-proofing to rid lawns and gardens of common landscape pests. From natural remedies to professional tips on managing pest populations, we’ve got some suggestions to start your spring clean ups, strategically:
Neutralize Pests, Naturally
There is a wealth of pest protection provided by certain plants and herbs. If you’re a gardener, you’ll want to include plenty of basil, dill, and lavender plants among your fruits and vegetables, in order to keep common garden pests like flies, aphids, spider mites, and beetles at bay. Flower fanatics should add dahlias, marigolds, and sunflowers to their list of pest-fighting favorites.
Planting pest-reducing varietals isn’t the only natural way to fight pests on your property. Certain aspects of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which focuses on pest prevention measures, are well within your control. For instance, clear away clutter, brush, dead leaves and debris, as well as standing water -- all of which are great hiding and breeding places for pests.
Tick populations in particular are on the upswing by end the of March and beginning of April. Take advantage of our Tick Control Program as a sort of “set it and forget it” pest protection for your property. In addition, make sure you do your part to reduce tick populations by clearing away leaf piles and mowing the lawn on a consistent basis, as shorter grass length makes it harder for ticks to get to where they need to be to catch their next meal and make it to adulthood to reproduce.
Mosquitoes also emerge as spring unfolds. In addition to irritating bites, mosquitoes are known to transmit diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, and Zika. It’s important to protect your home and your family from an influx of mosquito activity. Our mosquito control program reduces mosquito populations on your property by up to 90% all season long.
Restrict pest access to your property even further by cutting back shrubs, branches, and tree limbs away from your house, as doing so will make it harder for unwanted guests like chipmunks and squirrels to gain entry. Also, check for signs of cracks, loose vinyl, as well as broken or weak window and door frames as possible entry points for pests.
In addition to these IPM ideas, it’s always a good idea to schedule professional pest control services each season. Click and fill out this form for residential protection against ticks, mosquitoes, and other seasonal pests.
