Pest Problems and the Overgrown Yard
websitebuilder • June 18, 2019
The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and your garden is growing — sometimes too much. An overgrown area is an open invitation to pests. If your recent move is into a home with an uncared-for yard, take a look at how the tall grass, plants, and shrubs can increase the risks of mosquito, flea, or tick invasion.
Standing Water
Some pests, such as mosquitoes, require water to breed. While you might not have a wading pool, fountain, or pond, your yard might still have areas of standing water. An overgrown garden or grassy area with bare spots can lead to a muddy mess after a rainstorm. The resulting wet area can promote pooling — and mosquito breeding.
To prevent puddles and ponding, fill in bare lawn areas with grass seed or sod. If the ponding is in a flower or vegetable garden, level the ground and add properly spaced plants. Depending on the issue, you may need to re-grade the yard or install a French drain.
Along with puddles in your yard, planter pots, buckets, and other similar containers that the previous owners or renters left behind are ideal options for pest breeding sites. Remove these water-collectors or fill them with plants to prevent a pest breeding problem.
Plant Debris
Did the previous owners or renters cut down large areas of brush or leave weeded plants to pile up? If so, the built-up debris can cause multiple problems. A heavy layer of thatch (built-up plant or leaf debris) can not only prevent proper lawn draining but also provide the perfect living environment for pests such as ticks.
Ticks favor wooded areas, looking for secure places to hide. A layer of leaves or other decaying plants can harbor a potentially dangerous tick situation. Unlike pests that only annoy or irritate homeowners, ticks can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and tularemia.
De-thatch your yard carefully. Before beginning the cleanup process, cover all exposed body parts by wearing long, thick pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, thick boots, and gloves. While covering up can reduce the risk of a tick bite, carefully inspect the area for the pests prior to starting your gardening project. Always do a full skin check after working outside in your yard.
If you do spot ticks in your yard, contact a pest professional to eliminate the problem. Never attempt to remove the ticks yourself. A pest control expert has the know-how and equipment to handle the situation completely and correctly.
Wood Piles
Piles of chopped wood may harbor insect and rodent invaders. Wood that's left outdoors for extended periods of time is subject to moisture and rot. The damp, soft wood is an ideal environment for carpenter ants, termites, and some types of beetles. It may also harbor mice or rats (and the fleas they carry).
The only way to remove the pests in this situation is to remove the wood from your property. Again, if you see an obvious infestation, call a pest control service for help before attempting to remedy the issue yourself. If you don't see clear signs of pests, carefully proceed while wearing protective clothing and heavy-duty gloves.
Before adding the wood to your refuse pile, ask your local waste management office or agency what the proper disposal method is in your community.
Wooden Sheds
An old, worn, or rotting shed is another perfect pest playground. Carpenter ants, termites, rodents, ticks, and other pests may live in or around the area. An exterminator can evaluate the shed and recommend a pest treatment plan.
Do you need help removing pests from your yard? Contact Anteater Pest Control, Inc., for more information.
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