Pests can cause much more than minor inconveniences to you and your family. Many pests carry diseases and can affect the health of the residents in your home, even your pets. Some pests can also destroy the structure of your home and reduce its integrity. At the very least, pets can bite, and, of course, no one wants to deal with that.
If you’re starting to see pests in and around your property, especially inside your home, you may be doing something that is attracting them. Whether it’s leaving food out or not taking the trash outside, your actions can lead pests right to your house like a beacon in the night.
That said, here are the things that can attract pests to your home, as well as how to avoid them:
1. Trash
Pests love trash. From raccoons to roaches, almost every pest thrives off your waste—particularly your food waste. With that in mind, one of the best ways to avoid attracting pests to your home is to take out the trash regularly and ensure that all trash bins are properly secure. More than that, make it a point to clean your trash bins inside and out from time to time, especially if there is food residue present.
2. Standing water
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in undisturbed water, such as water that has accumulated in tires, flower pot saucers, wheelbarrows, and playground equipment. To avoid mosquitoes from invading your backyard (and eventually making their way into your house), make it a point to get rid of standing water after a rainy day. If you already have a mosquito problem on your property, call a mosquito control service to get rid of these pesky insects once and for all.
3. Plants
Plants such as cabbage, fruit trees, and tuberous vegetables can attract all kinds of bugs and rodents to your garden. Not only do these pests cause havoc on your plants, but they can also find their way into the house, especially if your garden is situated close to it. Luckily, you can avoid both of these problems by putting a mesh cover over your garden to serve as a physical barrier against pests. Moreover, you can plant plants that repel certain pests, such as basil, lavender, rosemary, and venus flytraps.
You can also introduce plant-friendly bugs into your garden that can eat, kill, or deter harmful pests. Such bugs include hoverflies, lacewigs, pirate bugs, and ladybugs, among many others. And if you’re not scared of them, spiders can also be very beneficial against pesky bugs.
4. Wood piles
If you have piles of firewood exposed in the backyard, you may be inviting termites to your property. Left unaddressed, these destructive insects can migrate to your home and wreak havoc there, causing major structural damage to the wooden parts of your house. That said, make it a point to store your firewood properly. Keep your stock in the shed or barn and elevate it to discourage the presence of termites.
5. Overhanging branches
Branches that hang over your roof or touch your house can serve as a bridge for pests to enter your home. To avoid this problem, always trim your branches regularly and ensure that no branches come near any part of the house. You can do this yourself if the branches are low and small enough for the equipment you have. Otherwise, it’s best to hire a professional tree trimmer to do it for you.
6. Dirty and exposed grills
After a cookout, clean your grill immediately and keep it covered. Food residue, no matter how charred, can still attract pests to your grill. And even if you keep the grill covered without cleaning it first, pests may still be able to sense the food that’s lingering underneath.
7. Spills on the patio
Spills from food or drinks that end up on the patio can attract all sorts of rodents and insects to your property, especially if you leave them for too long. That said, be sure to clean up spills as soon as they occur and give your patio a wash after a gathering in the backyard to get rid of lingering food residue. Better yet, deep clean your patio every once in a while to discourage the presence of pests.
Pests are the bane of every homeowner, and they can cause more damage than you think—be it to your home or your family’s health. By avoiding the attractants in this article, you can prevent pests from invading your property and be better able to keep your home safe and healthy.
