PESTS PESTS PESTS: How to approach indoor and outdoor pests for a more peaceful home.
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Infestation of any kind of pest inside or outside of your home can make it feel like your home is not yours. After reading, you will feel confident in reclaiming your home and taking the steps to keep those pests away.
The "Crawling Kinds"
There are several species of crawling pests with different seasons of breeding. However, there are the 3 common year-round pests we all know like, roaches, bed bugs and rodents.
It is best to use a licensed professional for pest control, as they are prepped with the right chemicals for the different species that could be in your home. Exterminators will identify the source of the problem and help improve the condition of the home to prevent future visitors. Regularly scheduled pest control will keep your home protected from the different “crawling kinds” of pest at bay. It is recommended to spray every 2-3 months to get on top of them.
Garden/ Indoor Plant Pests
It can be discouraging to spend so much time on your garden or caring for your house plants just to find that critters have made a feast out of them. The best plan of action is to be proactive. For outdoor pests it is better to get ahead of the problem. Aphids, centipedes, mealybugs, mites and slugs are the top 5 plant pests that you may see on your plants. Here is what they look like.
The best plan of action is to be proactive:
Assess the scene - get hands on, see what plants are affected, and remove the insects. Look for black spots, withering leaves or other signs of distress to identify problems.
Treat infestations quickly- Treat the pests with pesticides quickly and at the source to prevent new ones.
Healthy soil, healthy plants.- Keep soil healthy and free from weeds. Weeds can become a house for pests.
Dust Mites
Four out of five homes in the United States have at least one bed with dust mites.
Dust mites are tiny pests that feed on dead human skin cells, and they can’t be seen with the human eye. People who are allergic to dust are reacting to dust mite feces, urine, or decaying bodies. Swelling and inflammation of the nasal passages can result from dust mites if you are allergic
Since dust mites often live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains in your home, it is important to wash these items in hot water or use dust mite covers for your pillows or entire bedding.
Pesky Visitors
Deer, squirrels, and raccoons can be a nuisance. Deer and squirrels love to trapse and eat through your garden and lawn. Squirrels can also go through your attic or chew on wires. There are a lot of natural pesticides you can use that will keep your plants and people in your family safe. Using predator urine to keep away deer and squirrels is the best option. Another quick option is sprinkling chili flakes, mulch, or coffee grounds, this will deter squirrels. Racoons will make a mess of your garbage on collection day. For these visitors, I suggest a tightly covered trash bin and recycling bin that can’t be easily knocked over to keep them out.
Picture Credits:
- "Swimming pool remodel before gg1" by SwimmingPool Pics is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
- "Large and Small Aphids" by Thomas Shahan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
- "Teeny red spider mite, doing important red spider mite things." by boingr is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
- “Mealybugs” by Brissy Girl- Jan Anderson is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
- "Raccoon" by LexnGer is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
