The United States has been experiencing an exceptionally warm winter. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 39 states have experienced higher than average temperatures ever since December. This warmth has allowed many Americans to enjoy the outdoors earlier than normal, but this weather comes at a cost however if you follow this pest control 101 tips you should have a pest free house.
Warm weather disturbs the natural growing process and many predict that crops will be poor this year and that the prices of produce will rise. Having a warm winter also means that there will be more bugs this coming spring and summer. Since most states in the U.S. didn’t experience a frost fewer bugs died due to cold temperatures; the warm weather has also made the critters start looking for food weeks earlier than normal.
What bugs should you be on the lookout for? Ants, cockroaches, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, termites, and ticks are just some of the pests that have made an early appearance this spring.
If you’re looking for a way to protect your garden after a warm winter, we’ve got you covered with pest control 101 tips
- Pest barriers. Creating or buying plant covers can solve your bug problem. You can make one with muslin attached to a wood frame and cover your plants. You can also visit your local garden center for a kit.
- Insecticidal soap. This soap washes away insects’ protective skin causing them to die. You can buy the solution and spray it on your plants or you can make your own with 2.5 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and a gallon of warm water.
- Set a trap. You can use natural traps to capture bugs. You can buy natural traps for insects like flies and beetles. You can also make traps with materials from your kitchen. For instance, slugs are attracted to beer. Put a shallow dish of it in your garden and they’ll drown in the liquid.
- Assist predators. Lastly, attracting bugs natural predators to your garden can help. Add a birdbath or birdhouse to attract these bug eating animals.