Dial Environmental Blog

In our never-ending quest to keep pests away from our home and family, we spend a lot of time pest-proofing our houses. We spend money on chemicals, barriers and other things to keep pests out, and to get rid of the ones that have made it inside. But do you know what we often neglect? The yard surrounding the house. This is a concern because the yard itself is crucial to complete home protection.

That’s right. When you think about it, your yard should be the first barrier pests run into when trying to get into your home. If they can’t get to your house, it stands to reason, that they won’t get into your house either

So, how we can turn our yards into pest preventers? Here are some tips:

Treat Your Yard Often

One of the easiest and most effective pest control methods available is to treat your yard regularly. There are dozens of various products on the market that are designed to be spread over an entire lawn and turn it into a hostile environment for bugs and animals. You might need a hose to distribute them, a seed caster or some other method, but however you do it, make sure you are thorough and regular with your treatments.

Don’t want to put down chemicals? You can actually treat your yard more naturally. Coffee grounds, for instance, produce an odor that many pests find unpleasant. Cedar chips have a similar effect (and can have the added benefit of a natural landscape addition).

If you don’t want to do it yourself or don’t have the time, Dial also has a lawn care division licensed to apply insecticides to your lawn. Our lawn division also does minor pruning of trees and shrubs too, give us a call.

Eliminate Hiding Places

Many animals like to find cozy places to hide or build a home. Crawlspaces, openings under a shed, in thick foliage — all of these places offer critters a natural place to live that brings them closer to your home. Thin out your bushes and eliminate the various nooks and crannies to give them fewer places to stay. Putting up fences can also help keep the larger animals at bay.

Get Rid of Attractors

Finally, it’s important to make sure that your home does not seem inviting to these pests. To do this, you need to go around your yard and get rid of whatever substances might attract them. Open trash containers, for example, are a huge draw for bugs of all sorts. Standing water sources, like flower pots that have collected water, provide a natural breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-borne insects. Crumbs and scraps left behind after an outdoor picnic will bring just about everyone and everything to the table — literally. By taking care of things like this, you will draw fewer pests to your home in the first place.

All of these tips can help make your yard seem off-limits to various pests, which will go a long way to keeping your yard a fun and exciting place to spend your time — while protecting your home in the long run as well. If you would like to know more about how you can make your yard pest-free, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Dial Environmental today.