Mick's Exterminating Offers Tips on Springtime Outdoor Pest Prevention
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) April 11, 2014 -- Finally! The weather is beautiful in the St. Louis area and homeowners can get the gardening gloves on and head outside to tackle the lawn and garden work.
Some property owners don’t know that the outside of a home can be greatly impacted by what may be lurking in the front or back yard. Ensuring that yards, gardens, and decks/patios are ready for spring can go a long way in preventing costly pest damage. The friendly professionals at Mick’s Exterminating can advise homeowners on best practices for springtime St. Louis pest prevention – it would be a good idea to schedule a visit! Some of these things are especially important to ensure the health of children and pets this spring and early summer.
While landscaping, homeowners should pay attention to signs of any visible damage to the lawn, landscaping, decks/patios, or outdoor furniture. If a lawn service or landscaper does the yard work, homeowners should ask the professional for any signs of damage. Carpenter bees, which can burrow into dry wood in homes, decks, and fences can be easily mistaken for termites – a determination that a Mick’s Exterminating professional can make. A good practice to create an invisible barrier around the home, meaning shrubs and plants should not be planted any closer than 18 to 24 inches from the home’s foundation.
Using pressure treated wood for raised vegetable beds, playscapes and any other outdoor structure can help eliminate the potential of hosting pest infestations. Pressure treated wood is treated to resist rot and decay. While this does not completely eliminate the risk of termites or carpenter bees, it goes a long way in discouraging pest activity. It has been popular among homeowners to use untreated wood chips around the home and in landscaping – to minimize risk, consider choosing another type of landscaping accent. If wood chips or mulch is used, do not create a layer that is more than 3 inches thick. River rocks can make an attractive and natural alternative to wood chips. River rock or crushed rock placed close to the home can also help to drain excess water away from the foundation, an important factor during springtime storms. If there is any exposed wood on the property or home, always make sure the wood is in excellent condition with paint, caulk, and the appropriate sealer.
While conducting outdoor spring cleaning, make sure to clear any leaves, pine needles, twigs, and other debris from yards and landscaping. Yard waste can create rotting and water buildup – a place that many pests would love to hang out. Don’t just put all of that waste in a pile – pick up inexpensive yard waste bags at a local home and garden retailer. If there is a dead tree or even just a tree stump within about 50 feet of the home – it would be a good idea to hire a tree removal specialist to have it eliminated from the area. Check for any damage to trees such as broken or dying limbs, large holes or damage at the crotches of branches. Dying trees can make a perfect home for ants and termites – a home to avoid hosting on the property.
Make sure to clean gutters at least twice a year, according to The National Center for Healthy Housing, in addition to regularly inspecting for built-up debris. This also aids in reducing moisture and debris being held closely against the home – a perfect place for some springtime pests to congregate. Having a gutter guard installed can help in avoiding messy and costly blockage in the gutter system. When designing a landscaping concept, always avoid a place for standing water to collect. Standing water can attract mosquitos, water bugs, and flies. If there is a birdbath on the lawn, place it at least 50 feet away from your home and make sure to regularly change out the water.
Always keep up with regular trimming of tree branches, vines, and other plants. Ants and other pests can use these as bridges into the home to avoid pest-treated ground outside. If summer screen doors and windows are not installed, it can be a great investment and go a long way in prevention of avoidable pests.
About Mick’s Exterminating
Mick's Exterminating has been providing professional St. Louis pest services for residential clients in St. Charles, O'Fallon and surrounding St. Louis, Lincoln and Warren County residents for over 40 years. Mick’s Exterminating approach will solve customer’s pest issues promptly, using methods that are safe for property owners, children, and pets.
Mick’s Exterminating has developed an industry-standard training program that has been approved by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Mick’s Exterminating state-certified technicians will work with customers to determine the best solution to specific pest-related issues. Mick's Exterminating specializes in managing many residential pest species including: ants (carpenter ants and others), spiders (brown recluse and others), termites, roaches, silverfish, crickets, stinging insects, squirrels, bedbugs, fleas, carpet beetles, clovermites, springtails, mice, moles, and voles.
Mick’s Exterminating provides comprehensive quarterly pest protection, in St. Charles County, Lincoln County, and surrounding St. Louis counties.
For more information, please visit the website at http://www.micksexterminating.com. Customers in St. Charles County can call 636.978.5700, Lincoln county 636.528.2700, or surrounding counties 800.291.5712.
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Matt Ostrander, Mick's Exterminating, http://www.micksexterminating.com, +1 636-978-5700, [email protected]
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