When it comes to your outdoor living space, you’ve probably already made peace with the fact that there’s going to be some wildlife in your yard. Whether it’s just bees buzzing around, some butterflies just fluttering, or maybe even the occasional hedgehog or bird. These can be great, and they’re like a little reminder that you are truly out in nature.
Besides, most people love seeing these things. However, it can get to the point where there are actual problems. That’s right; sometimes, actual issues occur to where you’re not only feeling unsafe in your own garden, but it can even affect your house in its entirety. So, here is how you can create a pest-free outdoor space for your home.
Try to Identify the Culprits
Before launching into pest control mode, it’s essential to identify the specific pests causing the trouble. Different pests require different tactics for effective control. Research common pests in your region and observe the damage they cause to determine the best course of action. You just need to keep in mind that pests come in various forms, like termites, hornets, mice, etc. So, it’s not so much that you want to focus on getting rid of bugs that are annoying, like gnats or flies, but it’s specifically bugs that can cause damage, such as seeing a hornet’s nest or having issues with mice. Don’t expect a pest-free garden.
Keep Your Indoor and Outdoor Space as Tidy as Possible
Well, both clean and tidy. A tidy yard is less attractive to pests. Regularly remove debris, fallen leaves, and clutter where pests might hide. Trim overgrown bushes and maintain well-kept landscaping to eliminate potential hiding spots and breeding grounds. You need to keep in mind that things like mold, trash, and even vegetation are going to attract pests.
If you have trash out and open, then you can count on raccoons being interested, or if you have piles of leaves in your garden, bugs love that and feed off of it, and snakes love living in it. So, while it may take away from the natural look of your garden, just avoid having sticks, rocks, leaves, or basically anything natural out in the open.
Have Standing Water?
If you have a pool, pond, bird bath, fountain, or some other water feature, then here is some bad news; bugs love that. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. But of course, if it’s a part of your garden, then try to cover it up from time to time. You might also want to look into regularly emptying containers that collect water, fix leaky outdoor faucets, and ensure proper drainage to prevent water accumulation in your yard.
Natural Repellant
For some people, they’ll outright just spray something on themselves while outside, as a mosquito repellant, or their outdoor living space will have walls or netting so bugs can’t get inside. But of course, when it comes to tending to the garden itself, you can even use natural repellants. So, to be upfront, there are questions about whether or not these are even any good, but you’ll have to be the judge.
Pest Control Services
One of the best ways to take back your outdoor living space while keeping your actual house protected is going to be hands-down hiring a professional to take care of all of this work for you. It’s best to hire a pest control company because they’re going to specialize in any and every pest. Overall, from rodents to insects, you’re better off getting their help. They don’t just fumigate; some set traps and there are some that take ethical approaches if you just want to help with wildlife. Overall, it’s best to consider this because it might be one of the best bets.
Consider Regular Inspections
So, this is going to piggyback off of pest control services, but they are almost always more than happy to do inspections or even help you find someone who can do inspections. Maybe there are no issues now, or you’re not seeing signs, but they’re going to eventually show up sooner. So, it might be best to just go ahead and look into getting an inspection, as this can save you a lot of money and help prevent a lot of damage down the line.
There’s Nothing Wrong with DIY
Some people have great success with DIYing when it comes to dealing with pests; others, not so much. Obviously, if something is dangerous, like dealing with a hornet’s nest or even a raccoon, by all means, you have to let a professional take care of it. But if it’s something like snails or slugs, then this is something that you can easily take care of yourself. There are plenty of Youtube tutorials out there for dealing with pests in a safe (and even ethical) way. So if you’re tight on cash and can’t afford a professional, then this could be in your best interest.