Preparing for Fall Pests

Preparing for fall pests

Earlier this month, we listed four of the most common pest infestations that happen in late summer. Each of these pests had something in common: they were all trying to get out of the cold. Unfortunately, these pests donโ€™t stop trying to sneak their way to warmth just because it’s fall. In fact, they only try harder.

Fall is the perfect time for preventative pest maintenance because itโ€™s warm enough that you can still go outside and get work done without freezing. The earlier you pest-proof your home, the fewer pests will be able to use your home as their own personal winter vacation pad. Here are four simple things you could do this fall to minimize your risk of a winter-long pest infestation. Winter is rough enough on its own!

Yard Work

doing yard work this fall will help prevent pest infestation

If your yard gets bogged down in long, dying grass, fallen leaves, or untrimmed bushes and shrubs, opportunistic pests WILL find it. It would be bad enough if hordes of pests just hung around eating your yard and making themselves a nuisance, but they wonโ€™t just stay there. When it starts getting colder, theyโ€™ll be all-too-happy to move right in.

Rake up fallen leaves to avoid having soggy piles build up in your yard. Mow your lawn short until it stops growing, and donโ€™t forget to trim your bushes. Pests often use decorative yard plants as ladders, so itโ€™s a good idea to keep a border of at least 3 feet between the edges of your home and plant life. As winds pick up and temperatures drop, pick up fallen debris from nearby trees and shrubs. Finally, make sure your yard isnโ€™t absorbing too much moisture. There should never been puddles of stagnant water on your property.

Border Maintenance

reinforcing borders and other entrances to your home will help prevent pest infestation this fall

While youโ€™re outside, take the time to walk the perimeter of your home. Look for any small cracks or gaps pests could use to get inside. These cracks wonโ€™t always look the way youโ€™d expect. One common way pests get into homes is by crawling up utility lines like pipes and electrical wires. They follow the line and squeeze through small gaps where the utilities enter the home. Pests like spiders and cockroaches can even crawl through plumbing vents and chimneys on the roof.

First, caulk over the gaps around utility lines. Then, check each window and door frame and sill. Replace old weatherstripping, make sure doors and windows are seated correctly, and check for drafts. Window frames tend to be particularly vulnerable, so check them thoroughly and repair them as necessary. Donโ€™t forget about windows in the basement or attic, either. Make sure youโ€™ve got all the entrances covered–big and small, high and low–and youโ€™ll go a long way toward a pest-free winter.

Decluttering

cleaning up your basement can help prevent pest infestations this fall

Clutter doesnโ€™t just help pests while theyโ€™re outside. The messier your home is, the more places pests have to hide and nest. Cluttered, junk-filled basements provide all kinds of the dark, confined, humid places that pests love, and theyโ€™re really good at seeking them out. Itโ€™s easy to let things pile up in your basement, attic, or storage place, especially in the winter. Remember, however: the longer you go without cleaning, the more comfortable pests will feel living in your home.

Everyone knows about โ€œspring cleaningโ€, but no one ever talks about โ€œfall clean upโ€. You should change that. Go through your basement, attic, closets, and other storage places this fall. Clean out anything you donโ€™t need. Organize everything youโ€™re keeping and make sure itโ€™s in a safe, secure place. Pests are shy by necessity, so the harder it is to find shelter in your home, the less theyโ€™ll want to stay. We guess you could say youโ€™re making your home โ€œscaryโ€ clean!

Good Habits

Developing good anti-pest habits will help prevent infestation this fall

Probably the most important thing you can do to keep pests away is to develop some good anti-pest habits. Itโ€™s not enough to spend a couple days in fall over-preparing for pests like a student cramming the night before a test. Youโ€™ll experience much more success (and fewer pests!) if you keep up with your anti-pest regimen all fall and winter long.

First, donโ€™t let clothes, food, boxes, or other junk pile up in your basement, mud room, or garage. Take the garbage out to the dumpster as soon as itโ€™s full, and keep it in plastic bags. Dispose of anything pungent or compostable in the dumpster right away, instead of letting it sit in the dumpster. Get routine maintenance problems like plumbing leaks dealt with as quickly as possible. Pick up yard clutter in the snow every now and then, even if itโ€™s cold out. Store firewood away from the house, never up against it.

 

Fall is pest season crunch time. Our rodential rivals and insectoid irritants will be doing absolutely everything they can to stay warm over the winter, so weโ€™ve got to do everything we can to keep them out.

Following steps like these during your โ€œfall cleanupโ€ (yes, weโ€™re making it a thing) will go a long way toward keeping even the most desperate and creative of pests out of your home. And remember, in the unfortunate event you do end up with an infestation, donโ€™t panic! Just give Griffin a call. Weโ€™ll seal things up and get pests out.