If you have been carrying out pest control practices this winter, you are one step closer to a pest-free spring. But the real battle has just begun: spring is one of the worst times of year for pest infestations, and as insects and rodents begin to awaken from their nests to reproduce and look for food, your home may be their next target.

The best way to maintain a pest-free home this spring is to take precautionary measures starting as early as December. If you wait until the sun comes out, it will already be too late, for pests will have awakened from their hibernation, and you could be forced to deal with an expensive extermination. Following are simple, yet essential tips you can start implementing today to keep pests out once spring arrives.

Start Spring Cleaning Early

Spring cleaning can feel like a daunting task, but the reward of a clean home is well worth the effort. Reducing clutter is one of the best ways to keep invasive pests from taking over, as it eliminates hiding places and helps you identify infestations before they get out of hand. Starting early and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule will help in deterring future insects and rodents, making your future spring chores much more manageable. This also includes emptying your gutters, which often serve as a welcoming nesting site for invasive creatures.

Seal Cracks and Gaps around Your Home

Winter weather can wreak havoc on a house, and many cracks and gaps you sealed last summer could be opened once again. Walk around the perimeter of your home and identify any problem areas that may have arisen, and which could be used by insects and rodents to enter this spring. Once located, reseal these areas using caulk, screens, or physical barriers. Be sure to regularly check your work over the next few months to ensure everything is ready for the inevitable invasion that lies ahead.

Trim Foliage around Your Home

Aside from the sun’s return, blossoming plants may be the most beautiful and welcomed part of spring. However, this increase in foliage can also serve as a nesting site for invasive pests, and if these plants are touching the walls of your house, you could be in for an aggravating infestation, come spring. As soon as you notice plants blooming around your yard, inspect them for signs of insects, and find ways to reduce their numbers before they get out of hand. Also, be sure to trim any foliage that is brushing up against your home to prevent easy access to the interior of your building.

Eliminate Water Sources

No matter what season it is, eliminating water sources is one of the most effective ways to prevent invasive pests. However, this holds true especially during the spring season, when many insects start searching for a viable water source to reproduce; if they find one near your home, chances are they will take over in the months ahead. Perform an inspection of the interior and exterior of your home for areas where water may be pooling, and pay special attention around pipes that may have burst due to freezing temperatures.

Contact Greenleaf Pest Control

The best way to ensure a pest-free home come spring is to contact your local pest control professional. At Greenleaf Pest Control, we utilize eco-friendly residential treatment practices to prevent pests from invading your home, while keeping your family and pets safe during the treatment process. No matter what insects, rodents, or wildlife may infest your home in the months ahead, Greenleaf’s experience and expertise can give you the reassurance you need to keep a pest-free home once the sun returns from its slumber.

 

About the Author: Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert well-known as an industry go-to guy, an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions, and is a regular guest on HGTV. Mackie, along with business partner Sandy Costa, were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.