Your beautiful backyard, relaxing by the pool, grilling out some steaks, sipping some refreshing lemonade. It’s a perfect day.
That is until you notice an ugly bug on your leg. And while you were flicking it off your skin, it pooped all over your favorite pair of sandals.
These bugs can ruin your day in more ways than one! Several pests can spoil your relaxing time at home. You must know how to keep them away from your yard.
So, let’s discuss what you need to know about pests that ruin your backyard oasis.
Mosquitoes
These tiny insects are not only annoying, but they also pose a significant health risk to humans and animals as they can transmit diseases like West Nile virus, dengue fever, and malaria.
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so it’s important to eliminate any standing water in your yard, including in bird baths, flower pots, or gutters. You can also use mosquito repellent or install screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering your home.
Ants
These pests can invade your yard in search of food and can cause damage to your garden and lawn. Ants can also enter your home and become a nuisance. They are attracted to sugary and greasy foods, so it’s important to keep your yard and home clean and free of food scraps.
Seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation and use ant bait or repellent as needed to prevent ants from entering your home. If you own pets, be sure to keep their food in sealed containers as well.
Ticks
These parasites can carry Lyme disease and other illnesses and are often found in tall grass and wooded areas. Ticks can attach themselves to humans and animals, so it’s important to check yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time in wooded areas or tall grass.
Wear long sleeves and pants when spending time outside, and use tick repellent to prevent tick bites. It’s also important to keep your lawn and bushes trimmed to reduce tick habitat.
Wasps
These stinging insects can be aggressive and can build nests in your yard, causing a safety hazard for you and your family. Wasps are attracted to sweet foods and beverages, so it’s important to keep your yard clean and free of debris.
Remove any standing water and use wasp traps or repellent as needed to prevent wasps from nesting in your yard. If you have a persistent wasp problem, see these pest control services for professional assistance with removing these pests from your property.
Flies
These pests are not only annoying, but they can also carry bacteria that can contaminate your food and cause illness. Flies are attracted to decaying organic matter, so it’s important to keep your yard and home clean and free of food scraps.
Use fly traps or repellent as needed, and keep your garbage cans tightly sealed. If you have a compost pile, be sure to keep it covered.
Grubs
These insects can cause damage to your lawn by feeding on the roots of your grass, causing brown patches to appear. Grubs are attracted to moist soil and can be prevented by keeping your lawn healthy by watering and fertilizing it regularly.
Use grub control products as needed to prevent grub infestations. It’s also important to aerate your lawn and improve drainage to prevent soil from becoming too moist.
Moles
These burrowing animals can cause damage to your lawn and garden by tunneling and uprooting plants. Moles are attracted to grubs and other insects, so it’s important to keep your lawn healthy and free of pests.
Use mole traps or repellent as needed to prevent mole infestations. If you notice tunnels in your yard, flatten them out to discourage moles from returning.
Aphids
These small insects feed on the sap of plants and can cause damage to your garden by stunting growth and spreading disease. Aphids are attracted to soft, new plant growth, so it’s important to keep your garden healthy by watering and fertilizing it regularly.
Use insecticidal soap or other control methods as needed to prevent aphid infestations. It’s also important to remove any infested leaves or plants to prevent the spread of the aphids.
Squirrels
These rodents can cause damage to your garden and trees by chewing on bark and stealing food from bird feeders. Squirrels are attracted to birdseed and nuts, so use squirrel-proof bird feeders and wrap tree trunks with metal mesh to prevent squirrel damage.
Use repellents as needed to prevent squirrels from entering your yard. You can also provide squirrels with their own food source, such as a squirrel feeder, to keep them away from your garden and trees. However, if they are starting to damage your property or have made their way into your home it might be time to find squirrel pest control services.
Raccoons
These animals can cause damage to your yard by digging through trash cans and stealing food from gardens and fruit trees. Raccoons are attracted to trash and food, so it’s important to keep your garbage cans tightly sealed.
Install motion-activated lights or sprinklers and use repellents as needed to prevent raccoons from entering your yard. If you have fruit trees or a garden, use protective fencing or netting to prevent raccoons from accessing the area.
Deer
These animals can cause damage to your yard and garden by eating plants and flowers. Deer are attracted to sweet-smelling plants and flowers, so it’s important to choose deer-resistant plants and to use deer repellents as needed. Install a deer fence around your yard or garden to prevent deer from accessing the area.
Snakes
These reptiles can be dangerous and can pose a risk to humans and pets. Snakes are attracted to areas with tall grass, piles of leaves, and other debris, so it’s important to keep your yard clean and free of clutter. Seal any gaps or cracks in your home’s foundation and use snake repellent or traps as needed.
Protect Your Backyard Oasis From These Pests
Creating your backyard oasis is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but remember to protect it from pests. Pests can destroy your backyard investment, saving time, energy, and money.
Inspect your backyard regularly and take the necessary steps to keep pests at bay. Contact a professional pest control company if you believe you have an infestation.
We hope this article was useful to you. If you enjoyed it, be sure to check out our blog for more great articles.