Yard Maintenance That Keeps Bug Reproduction in Check
Fall is a time to make yard maintenance a focus. It’s the last hurrah before winter sets in and several months of biting cold weather that keeps everyone indoors. It’s also the time when insects are getting ready to ride out the winter months.
Right now dozens of insect species are seeking out refuge and food sources in yards across Alabama. They are also finding a place for their eggs to survive, and larvae are looking for safe places to hide from predators. Here are a few ways you can fortify the foliage in your yard and keep bug reproduction in check.
Maintain a Healthy Lawn
When grass is weak, it’s much more susceptible to bugs and insects that chew on blades and root bulbs. Fall is the perfect time to put down fertilizer. The Southern State Cooperative suggests that homeowners fertilize twice in the fall to help grass regain its strength after the hot summer. The first fertilization should be in early September, followed by a second round of fertilizer in late October or early November.
Clear Out All Standing Water
Mosquitoes are notoriously good reproducers, and in Alabama they can still be bothersome during the fall. All it takes is less than an inch of standing water for mosquitoes to lay eggs that quickly hatch in just 1-2 days. Take a walk around your yard to look for:
- Leaky faucets with puddles underneath.
- Bird baths with water.
- Buckets and containers where rainwater has collected.
- Dips in the grade that cause puddles to form.
- Gutters that need to be cleaned or repaired.
Mosquito control isn’t possible unless all of the standing water is eliminated. This means you may also have to adjust your watering schedule in fall to prevent puddles.
Clean Up the Clutter
More clutter means more places for pests to hide. The brown recluse, known for its toxic bite, loves to hide away in cluttered areas where things have been sitting around undisturbed. If you don’t have time to de-clutter the entire yard, the most important spot to clear away clutter is around the home’s exterior. That way bugs aren’t encouraged to come inside.
Cut Vegetation Back From the Exterior
If you read our previous post on fall pests, then you already know bugs are trying to infiltrate your home right now. They’re looking for easy access, and the more ways they have to climb onto the exterior the easier it is for them to find a way inside.
Tree limbs that brush against the roof and overgrown, decorative shrubs allow creepy crawly bugs to move from the plants to your house. It also provides direct access for larger pests like rodents. Cut back anything that’s touching the siding, roof or foundation so it’s at least six inches away. If you’re planting this fall put plants at least three feet from the foundation.
Professional Pest Control Treatments
The most surefire way to keep the bug population under control this fall is a custom pest control treatment. An expert technician will know which insects pose a threat based on the current weather conditions. They can also do an inspection prior to treatment to decide which areas need to be addressed and what steps the homeowner can take to minimize a potential infestation.
Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. has been keeping homes in Central Alabama pest-free all year long for more than 50 years! We know exactly what to watch out for during the fall – call us today to schedule an appointment.
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/yard-maintenance-keeps-bug-reproduction-check/