Home and Garden: Spring is the season to get a jump on your pest problems

Submitted by Pirates Pest Control

After a long, wet winter, we’re all looking forward to the arrival of spring. As it turns out, household pests feel the same way.

It’s a great time to start a pest service, especially to get a good start on pests before the summer.

Termite swarmers, ants, mosquitos, wasps and a couple of different types of roaches are particularly active locally when the weather warms up.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make your home or office a little less attractive for pests.

You can make sure your entry points are sealed and secure, store food properly (Tupperware works well) and maintain good humidity and moisture levels inside the living/working area.

Of course, the potential trouble isn’t limited to the inside with two southern staples of outdoor life waiting outside — ants and mosquitos.

Ants are going to be around, but you can take a few steps to minimize the mosquito population in your yard.

They love water, so taking it out of play is a good start.

Any random buckets or clogged gutters should be addressed, and you might want to rethink that bird bath or kiddie pool. Regular lawn and yard maintenance (reducing high grass and weeds) is also helpful.

The typical pest control strategy for dealing with mosquitos involves the use of foggers, misters and insecticide — and yes, they’re safe for pets and humans after you allow them some time to dry.

Ants, and especially the angry fire ones, are a particular pain in this part of the world. The team at Pirates Pest Control uses a combination of granular/liquid insecticides for ants that are also safe for pets and humans after a drying period. They offer a one-year warranty on that service as well. With a little preventative maintenance, and some help from your friendly neighborhood pest control company, you can make your spring pest-free.

Pirates Pest Control has over 40 years experience in the pest control and termite business. Visit them online at piratespest.com or call 919-351-0047.