When it comes to pest control for the home or workplace, many people only seek help when the need arises. With services tailored for your needs and the specific season, however, you can keep your home or business free of pests throughout the year. Below, we cover some of the different challenges each season can bring and how effective pest methods can address them. Fortunately, our team at Green Home Pest Control understands what to expect from each season and can help you adapt your pest control strategy accordingly.
Summer Pests
The high temperatures and monsoon rains drive many insects right indoors during Arizona summers. Several species of ants are common in Arizona, including the carpenter ant, fire ant, Argentine ant, and leafcutter ant. Summer rain can destroy these ants’ nests, leading them to seek food and shelter somewhere new, such as your cozy home or business. Mosquitoes also tend to pop up during the more humid rainy season and will often gather near areas of standing water. Bees and wasps are more prominent in the summer months when flowers are in bloom and more people congregate in the backyard for a barbecue or pool day. Termites become especially problematic in the late summer and into the fall and pose a real threat to your property’s infrastructure. Because of Arizona’s warm climate, cockroaches are quite common year-round, but you may notice even more invading your space in the summer months as they search for water and food.
Summer Pest Control
With pest activity hitting its peak during summer, it’s essential to know how to eliminate an infestation and prevent one from occurring in the first place. Hire pest control experts, such as the team from Green Home Pest Control, to double-down on treatments for the common summer pests mentioned above. If you notice any hives, nests, or signs of wood damage possibly caused by termites, call for professional assistance immediately.
To help do your part in preventing pest infestations, be sure to get rid of any pools of stagnant water around your property, especially after heavy rain. Keep landscaping trimmed and clear as well so pests have fewer places to hide. Ensure windows and doors are fully sealed and food is properly stored so pests are less likely to make their way indoors.
Fall Pests
Although still quite warm during the day, fall temperatures start to cool down at night, causing certain critters to seek warmth indoors. Scorpions thrive outside in the heat of summer, but around October and into winter, you may find these pests working their way into your property in search of warm shelter and food. Cockroaches are very similar to scorpions in this way, and, unfortunately, these invasive creatures tend to multiply quickly. Rodents like mice and rats begin to seek undisturbed locations, such as attics, crawl spaces, behind appliances, vehicles, and cupboards, to build warm nests for the cooler months. Rodents can bring other pests along with them, too, including fleas, lice, and mites, putting pets in particular at risk of infestation.
Fall Pest Control
Many experienced pest control professionals have the products necessary to create a barrier around your property and prevent pests from entering in the first place. Rather than trying to catch potentially dangerous scorpions or rodents yourself, allow an expert to come in with the proper traps and sanitation products. At Green Home Pest Control, we’ll even monitor your property and provide follow-up treatments as needed.
You can take some steps on your own to further prevent fall pest infestations. Ensure you have effective weatherstripping all around your property and screen any openings to the outdoors, such as vents or chimneys, so pests can’t make their way indoors. Because many pests are attracted to moisture, it’s important to address any leaks and keep your attic and crawl space dry. Keep your kitchen counters and cabinets as well as pet food and water dishes clean to avoid tempting pests with an easy food source. Carefully inspect spaces that aren’t used often for signs of an infestation, such as strange smells, droppings, dead pests, egg shells, nests, and damage to structures. If you do come across any of these, call for help right away.
Winter Pests
Winter pest conditions in the Phoenix and Tucson areas are fairly similar to fall pest conditions, with many creatures escaping the cold temperatures by seeking shelter indoors. As this happens, spiders follow other insects, which are their main food source, inside as well. Fortunately, most spiders hide away in concealed areas and are harmless to humans, but the brown recluse and black widow spider are found in Arizona. It’s helpful to know how to identify these dangerous spider species and call for professional assistance if you discover one on your property. Bed bug infestations also increase during winter as people travel for the holiday season and less sunlight is available to ward them off.
Winter Pest Control
A pest control expert has the knowledge to differentiate common house spiders from the venomous species, locate their hiding places on your property, and remove them for good. Rapid response to a potential bed bug infestation is essential as these pests spread in no time at all and easily hide where you may not even think to look. Our team at Green Home Pest Control offers liquid treatments, heat treatments, and preventative treatments to rid you of your current bed bug problem and prevent future ones from occurring.
Traps can help prevent one or two pests here and there from turning into a pest infestation between professional treatments. Keeping your property sealed year-round is also necessary, and this may sometimes include caulking gaps in the foundation, in the building’s siding, around windows, and more. Regular maintenance as well as cleaning and decluttering are recommended throughout the year.
Spring Pests
We all know April showers bring May flowers. But as your garden and outdoor landscaping begin to bloom, pests start to head back outdoors to wreak havoc on your plants. Caterpillars, for example, seem harmless enough but can remove the leaves right from your trees and build tents that damage your landscape. Bees are necessary for pollination and honey production, but their stings can be quite painful and even dangerous to those with allergies. Wasps are more aggressive than bees and should be avoided except by pest control experts with the knowledge to eliminate them. Cricket and grasshopper swarms are more common after a dry winter and early spring. Their jumps can be shocking, but these pests also pose a threat to crops.
Spring Pest Control
Be proactive by scheduling pest control services before you head outside to enjoy the warmer days of spring. An inspection by a professional can catch pests before you have an infestation on your hands. Regular interior and exterior treatments can provide you even more peace of mind that your home or business will remain free of pests throughout the year.
As you clean up new growth in your landscaping, inspect for possible nesting sites, egg sacs, or caterpillar tents and destroy these yourself or call on an expert right away. Always remove the clippings and clutter from your yard immediately rather than allowing them to pile up. Be sure to get rid of any standing water and avoid overwatering plants so the humidity doesn’t attract pests. Finally, don’t forget to carefully check for pests inside sheds, garages, hiking boots, and any other areas of your property that may have been relatively dormant during the colder months of winter.
Dependable Pest Control Services
At Green Home Pest Control, our highly trained and fully vetted professionals have experience helping customers throughout the Tucson and Phoenix, AZ areas eliminate a variety of pests all year long. We’ll visit your property for a free estimate, develop a customized treatment plan for your needs, and use organic products to get rid of the pests. We’re proud to offer both residential and commercial services to help address issues with such pests as termites, cockroaches, ants, spiders, bed bugs, scorpions, rodents, pigeons, and more. Call today for prompt, friendly residential pest control services you can count on. We also provide commercial pest control services you can count on for your business!
