DIY Pest Control Hacks for Homeowners
Summer is here, and along with it comes the usual bevy of sunny days, weekend parties and, unfortunately, bugs. But never fear, these summertime party poopers don’t stand a chance against this week’s blog subject: DIY Pest control tips for homeowners!
DIY Pest Control Hacks for Homeowners
While we always recommend hiring a professional to perform any work at your home, there are some instances where that is not always feasible or something that you wish to do. Maybe you do not want to add chemicals to your lawn or home; perhaps you just do not wish to add the extra monthly expense.
Fortunately for homeowners, there are some DIY pest control hacks that you can use to fight bugs. Before we begin, however, we want to issue one caveat: if you are facing a serious problem (such as termites or other wood eating bugs), always call in the pros to make sure the problem does not get out of hand and end up costing you more than monthly service would. Also, if these tips do not help your pest control problem, again, call in a professional exterminator.
If you aren’t afraid of bugs or to get your hands dirty, one hands-on way to rid yourself of common pests such as Japanese beetles, slugs and worms is to fill up a tub with soap water (a solution of dish detergent mixed with water) and knock the bugs into the solution, drowning them.
If you are not so hands-on, you can enlist the help of “others” to do your dirty work for you. By others, we mean either birds or (surprisingly) beneficial insects. Birds feast on insects and worms, so with a little encouragement (by way of a birdbath and maybe a bird house or two full of bird seed), you can begin to attract these natural pest control “helpers” and see a significant reduction in your bug woes.
Finally, while killing bugs will help solve your problem, the best thing you can do is discourage pests from taking up home to begin with. Spreading a natural chemical such as diatomaceous earth (DE) or crushed-up egg shells at the base of plants or on the leaves themselves will help deflect slugs and other pests, while killing the ones that are already there at the same time.