As Fall hits, you may think that the worst of the potential pests is over — but it’s not entirely true. On this post we’ll review some our best pest control tips for the fall season in North Carolina.
For example, roaches will start to move inside as the weather cools down, which can be a real problem. 124 million American households have seen roaches in their home in the past 12 months!
They aren’t the only issue, either. Many pests will come inside during the Fall and, if not prevented, could cause not only hygiene issues but damage to your home’s structure.
One of the best things you can do is be prepared and preventative. Follow these pest control tips this Fall.
Seal Up Cracks in Your Home
Fall pests get in your home in various ways, but the main entrance they find is through cracks you may not even have noticed. Because they’re so small, they can find ways inside and then multiply and breed once they get in — the most common way a pest infestation starts.
One of the best pest control tips you can do is sealing up cracks in your home. This can go a long way to preventing insects from coming inside your house in the fall. Inspect the outside of the building thoroughly and try to plug any cracks or crevices you find.
Pests can’t come into your home if they don’t have a way to get inside.
Be Careful With Packages
Another way you might experience a pest infestation inside is if you bring in pests on packages. Pests will often nestle in mailboxes and sometimes get on envelopes and boxes you bring into your home.
Treating your mailbox and the front porch is a good idea, giving them one less place to settle. At the very least, inspect packages before bringing them inside, ensuring you don’t bring unwelcome visitors. This is another one of our important pest control tips we recommend.
Keep Garbage Closed
Another of our pest control tips is that garbage in the yard can often attract pests closer to the home, as they smell it and assume it’s a food source.
You can prevent this by bagging up your garbage tightly. Never drop open food into the trashcan outside, as it’s inviting pests to come and find it.
You should do the same with the garbage cans in your home. Empty the trash regularly, and take every opportunity to put your trash can out on the street for sanitation workers to come and collect, so nothing is left to smell.
Keep Your Home Clean
In general, it’s a good idea to keep your home as clean as possible. Try to keep crumbs off the counter and floor and ensure that nothing in the fridge or cupboards is spoiling and beginning to smell, as this will entice pests to find a way into your home.
Just as you should never leave open food in the trash can outside, don’t do it in the one inside, either. Try to dispose of things in containers, as you’d be surprised at how quickly food can begin to produce a pungent smell.
Keep the Yard in Shape
Americans spend about $76 billion a year on their yards, but it’s not just about the aesthetic. Having a tidy and clean yard means pests are less likely to find places to nestle down and breed.
Keep your lawn and shrubbery in good shape, especially in the summer when it’s bound to grow even faster. As Fall rolls in, if you haven’t dealt with it during the summer, you will have a lot of growth to cut down.
Try to keep wood away from the house, as if it gets damp, it’ll attract pests. If it’s close to the house, they may come inside.
Store wood in a shed to protect it from the rain if you can.
Don’t Leave Pet Food Out
If you have pets, you may free-feed them by leaving pet food out all day. While this is generally okay with dry food, you should never leave wet food out, as it goes bad after a few hours. Not only is it not good for your pet to eat, but it will start to stink and attract more Fall pests.
If you feed your pet kibble, that’s usually okay to leave it out for a few hours as long as it’s inside and not on the porch, but it’s still never a good idea to leave it out 24/7. Pests will smell it eventually and identify it as a food source.
Keep Your Crawl Space Dry
If you have a crawl space (or an attic or basement), it may get damp and invite pests inside. Pests love those wet spaces, as they need moisture to survive, so they naturally gravitate towards it.
If you struggle to keep these areas dry, try investing in a dehumidifier which should help. Inspect them regularly and if they’re getting really wet, try to check if there are any gaps or cracks where the elements are getting in.
Pest Control Tips: Check Windows and Doors
Lastly, you should check your windows and doors. The foundation of the house isn’t the only place where you might see cracking — over time, doors and windows may not fit as well as they once did, leaving tiny gaps where pests can squeeze in.
If you notice this, make sure to repair them.
Follow These Pest Control Tips This Fall
While these pest control tips will help reduce the likelihood of a pest issue, there is no guaranteed way to eliminate all risks. However, practicing them can certainly reduce the chances of pests entering your home.
Seal up cracks around your house (including in the windows and doors), keep your home dry and clean, maintain your yard, and make sure not to leave out garbage or pet food that might be too tempting for those unwelcome house guests.
Are you looking for pest control tips or services around North Carolina? With over 35 years of experience, we can help. Contact us today for a quick quote.
