Every year, gardeners and homeowners face a potential invasion. As the weather warms, insect pests become more active and can start to become a problem.
Only a small percentage of insects actually die off during the winter. Even if you happened to have a particularly cold season in your area you’ll still have to deal with insect pests during the growing season.
Since insects start becoming more active in the spring, now is a great time to take steps to keep infestations at bay. That’s why the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) celebrates April as National Pest Management Month, as it has for over 30 years.
In honor of National Pest Management Month, here’s an article that details 10 outdoor tasks you can do this spring to help control insect pests. Following these tips will help you keep insect pests from taking over your yard in the spring and also help control them all season long.
Clear Out Debris
Soggy conditions with mold and mildew are a breeding ground for all kinds of pests. One of the first things you want to do as the weather starts to warm is clean up piles of leaves and other organic debris.
Make sure that you clean up the garden early in the spring. Remove dead leaves from dormant plants, cut down dead foliage from ornamental grasses, and rake up clumps of decomposing organic matter. That’ll help you get rid of insects nesting around your yard before they start to multiply.
Clean Your Gutters
Gutters tend to collect leaves and other organic matter. Not only does this clog gutters, but as the leaves decompose they become a great place for insects to find shelter and breed.
Give your gutters a thorough cleaning in the spring. Make sure downspouts are clean too. You’ll also want to keep checking the gutters throughout the growing season and clean them as-needed to keep them from getting clogged again.
Prune Plants
Gardens can be a beautiful addition to your home. You just need to make sure you’re keeping the gardens maintained so they don’t become homes for an insect infestation. Trimming out dead or diseased growth, removing old birds nests that are no longer in use, and keeping plants from getting overgrown will help prevent insects from getting a foothold in your garden.
It’s particularly important not to let shrubs and trees grow right up against the house. For more trimming and pruning tips, click here to read our article about what to prune (and what not to prune) this spring.
Eliminate Standing Water
As you’re working around your yard this spring, make note of any standing water or particularly wet spots in the yard. Standing water can quickly become a breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes and you’ll want to eliminate it.
Dump water that collects in buckets, watering cans, flower pots, and other containers. If you have a water feature in the garden, make sure to include a pump to keep the water moving.
Bug-Proof Your House
It’s next to impossible to keep all bugs out of your house, but you can take steps to make it harder for them to get in. As part of your spring yard work, take the time to seal up any cracks or small openings in the foundation of your home.
You’ll also want to check the seals and weather stripping around windows and doors. Also, remember to check window screens for holes and tears. Repair or replace damaged screens.
Repair Damage
If there’s damage to your roof or siding, the rotting shingles and wood can attract insect infestations. Make sure you don’t put off repairs too long.
Whether you complete the repairs yourself or hire a professional, keeping your roof and siding in good shape will help keep insect pests from infesting your home. And if you do see signs of pests or suspect an infestation, make sure you contact a licensed pest professional.
Consider Chemical Pesticides
Chemical pesticides are one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about how to keep insect pests under control. They’re typically the fastest solution to killing a specific type of pest and in some cases they’re the best solution. There are down-sides, though, and more and more communities are banning pesticide use.
Certain chemicals used in pesticides are dangerous. They can kill beneficial insects as well as harmful ones, and there can also be a risk to people and animals as well. Over-using pesticides often leads to these chemicals ending up in the water supply and having a negative effect on the environment. Around your home, it’s usually best to explore natural solutions first and only use pesticides as a last resort to deal with persistent problems.
Try Natural Pest Solutions
Biologically based and organic pesticides are becoming more readily available, which is good news for those who’d rather not use chemicals all the time. Many are available for sale in home improvement stores or garden centers just like regular pesticides.
There are also plenty of DIY insect deterrents out there that you can try. For example, sprinkling lime around the garden keeps snails away. Planting spearmint, peppermint, or pennyroyal in the garden helps to repel aphids and ants. You can click here to check out more ideas from Plant Natural.
Attract Beneficial Insects
Another natural way to help control bad insects is to attract good insects that will eat the pests. Click here for a list of plants you can add to your garden that will help attract beneficial insects.
If you’re doing this, you won’t want to use any chemicals in the garden because it can kill the good insects along with the pests. Even some natural insecticides can kill beneficial bugs, so read the labels carefully before using them to make sure you won’t hurt the insects that are helping your garden.
Mulch Carefully
Mulch is a great thing for gardens. Organic mulch helps protect plant roots, keep down weeds, and adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. It also makes the garden look nice.
However, mulch can turn into a home for pests if it’s not applied carefully. Make sure to spread mulch evenly across the garden and don’t make it too deep. As a general rule, mulch should be only 1 to 4 inches deep, depending on the material used. Also, make sure to keep mulch at least 15 inches away from your home’s foundation.
Though it’s almost impossible to completely eliminate insects pests, you can take steps to keep them from becoming an infestation. By implementing these ten tips, you’ll get a head-start on stopping insect pests before they become a problem this year.
