BackYour Guide to a Pest-Free Patio
Your Guide to a Pest-Free Patio
A beautiful and functional outdoor space around your home is a value-adding feature that the whole family can enjoy, especially as the weather warms. But it’s substantially less fun if your patio is also the hangout area for bugs and rodents. Since pests like to take advantage of the same warm weather we do, we’ve collected some tips on deterring pests from your patio.
- Clean the space: Frequently and regularly clean your patio and outdoor entertainment area to prevent attracting any new bugs. Sweep up and throw away any crumbs, and wipe away spilled liquids.
- Eliminate standing water: Drain n stagnant or standing water on and around your patio to keep pests like mosquitoes, roaches, and ants away from your space. Eliminating water sources goes hand in hand with frequently cleaning up food sources, as both are the primary attractors of pests.
- Upgrade your outdoor lighting: The light produced by white outdoor bulbs attracts bugs, especially moths and other flying insects. You can replace your white bulbs in outdoor light fixtures with yellow bulbs or sodium vapor lamps, as the more yellow glow from these attracts fewer bugs.
- Plant flowers and herbs: Use your patio for gardening! By planting herbs like garlic, rosemary, and lemongrass, you can enjoy your own supply of fresh herbs while simultaneously repelling insects. Also, consider planting marigolds, which help repel mosquitoes and other biting pests.
- Light citronella candles: Citronella oil masks other scents that attract insects, so while you’re outside enjoying your patio, light a few outdoor citronella candles or torches to drive away insects like flies and mosquitoes.
Common Spring Pests in Georgia
Warmer months in the Southeast bring appealing weather for all kinds of bugs, rodents, and wildlife. That’s why pest-proofing your home is critical to do ahead of time. Here are common warm-weather pests and what you should do to prevent them from ruining your spring.
- Mosquitoes: These flying pests severely limit your enjoyment of your patio. During the warmer months, when your family and pets are outside the most, so are mosquitoes. If the treatments listed above aren’t enough to eliminate mosquitoes around your outdoor space, it’s time to call Bug House. Bug House’s advanced outdoor mosquito treatments deliver an immediate, effective counter-attack on mosquitoes so you can reclaim your outdoor space.
- Cockroaches: Roaches are common in warm, humid environments like Georgia. They breed rapidly and can quickly infest your space. Cockroaches aren’t just gross either–they’re a serious health hazard. Scheduling regular pest control service is the most effective way to prevent future pest problems. We have commercial-grade products, professional equipment, and the expertise to eliminate roaches from your home quickly and effectively.
- Bees, Hornets, and Wasps: While they’re not always dangerous, bees, hornets, and wasps have nasty stinging capabilities. These buzzing pests seek out water during the summer season, so covering pools and emptying bird baths will reduce their presence around your home. Their nests are usually isolated and harmless to humans. In some cases, however, the location of nests poses the threat of multiple sting occurrences, which can be deadly for those with severe allergies. In these instances, insecticides can eliminate small nests, while larger nests require the expertise of pest control pros.
- Ants: Ants are annoying insects that bite, leaving irritated, itchy marks. They can also cause significant damage to electrical equipment and wiring, especially if it’s something left out, like a lawnmower. They love warm weather and build their colonies outside. Try store-bought ant killer in your yard if you’re concerned, but, as always, hiring a professional is the best route to avoid dealing with poisons.
- Termites: Termites thrive in heat and humidity, multiplying quickly during the warmer months. And these bugs aren’t just pesky–they destroy the structural integrity of your home if given the opportunity. Termites live in social groups, working together to damage accessible wooden structures in your home. Sealing crevices with paint and installing bug screens over vents can help prevent termites from entering–and literally eating–your home.
- Ticks: Like many of the pests on this list, ticks thrive on your blood. They hang out in tall grass, waiting to feed. Like mosquitoes, though, they carry more than hunger—ticks are host to many, often severe, diseases. Wear long pants and socks and stay out of overgrown areas outside to lessen opportunities for ticks to latch onto your skin.
A Successful Dual Approach
Your pest control approach should include preventive and reactive components to keep your home pest-free. A good pest control program may start with a reactive treatment after discovering bugs in your home. However, It’s typically more challenging to eliminate an infestation after it has already taken hold rather than preventing it on the front end. Reacting to the situation is insufficient; it’s critical to continue preventive measures to avoid new infestations.
Bug House Has Your Back
When you search for a reliable team to manage pests in and around your home, call the experts at Bug House. Our experts are always ready to get to the bottom of your pest problems and help you kickstart an effective, long-term solution for your home.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Bug House customers throughout Georgia in Augusta, Carrollton, Columbus, Dublin, Eastman, Forsyth, Lake Oconee, Macon, Madison, McDonough, Milledgeville, Monroe, Sandersville, Savannah, St. Simons, Warner Robins, and Watkinsville.
