Everyone deserves a safe home that lasts for decades. Pests can prevent that from happening. They may infiltrate your house, eat away at the wood or ruin the crops that grow on your property. Even if they’re only a current annoyance, you and your family deserve peace at home.
These are the do’s and don’ts of pest control on your homestead that will help you take care of bugs. You’ll banish them quickly and keep them away without compromising your family’s lifestyle or routine.
Why Is Pest Control Necessary?
Some people wonder why they should spend their time and energy taking care of unwanted insects on their property. The occasional ant hill or buzzing wasp might not bother you too much. Even when that’s the case, getting rid of insects is essential to prevent future problems.
Pests can cause various public health issues, depending on where you live and what they carry. They may hurt you and your loved ones by:
- Infecting you with diseases
- Bringing bacteria into your home
- Hospitalizing loved ones with viruses
- Triggering allergy symptoms
- Eating or infecting your crops
Additionally, pests will look at your home as a place to procreate. They’ll create nests and lay eggs, which may also involve burrowing into your home’s foundation or nesting in your attic. No one should have to worry about these things, so it’s crucial to learn the do’s and don’ts of pest control.
What Is Organic Pest Control?
There are a few ways to handle pests, both before they appear or during an infestation. Picking which route you should take will involve reflecting on your family’s values.
Anyone who lives an eco-friendly lifestyle or maintains a sustainable homestead may prefer organic pest control options. Organic management techniques won’t utilize any ingredients that would pollute the environment or methods that expand a person’s carbon footprint.
While investigating your options, you’ll find resources like pest-repelling plants, organic mixes to kill nests and homemade sticky traps. Consider which pests you need to fight to pick the most effective control options.
What Is Traditional Pest Control?
Traditional pest control doesn’t always take the environment into account. You may also find products that are easier on the environment but still include chemicals. These can be more powerful pest elimination strategies for extensive infestations. Some people also prefer them because they’re quick and readily available.
If you want more traditional pest control resources, you’ll find chemical sprays, bug bombing solutions and traps that contain poisons designed for specific pest species. Professional pest services will offer these options and you may find them at local home improvement stores.
Do’s and Don’ts of Homestead Pest Control
Once you’ve identified the type of pest control you’d prefer on your homestead, it’s time to what you should and shouldn’t do while improving your property. Reviewing these essential tips will save you time and money by avoiding common mistakes homeowners make while fighting bugs.
Do: Identify the Type of Pest
Bugs often annoy people, but they don’t always threaten your house or property. Research nuisance and destructive pests to determine which species you’re dealing with and how best to handle them.
Nuisance pests include ants and bed bugs, which may bother you and require removal. Solutions like sugar traps, sprays or a mattress replacement could be all you need.
Destructive pests require immediate attention. Termites, ticks and mosquitoes will eat away at your home and potentially infect your loved ones. Poisonous sprays or professional treatment will match your emergent need for pest control with a quick and effective solution.
Don’t: Use Outdoor Chemicals Indoors
When you’re about to purchase an insect repellent or poison, double-check that it’s for outdoor or indoor use. The difference will save your home and your family members.
Outdoor sprays, poisons or trays require constant air circulation. If used indoors, the fumes could make your loved ones sick or cause hospitalization. On the other hand, an indoor product may get too diluted if used outdoors and exposed to rain or wind. Verifying where you should use each product will ensure the safest, best results.
Do: Invest in Pest-Repelling Plants
Homesteaders often have sprawling gardens and farms. You may have those or just enjoy an expansive property with plenty of beautiful plants. Either way, pest-repelling plant species will benefit your homestead.
The first benefit of plants that deter pests is their permanent repellant abilities. Species like lavender or lemongrass will enhance your property’s beauty while keeping insects at bay with their aromas or natural oils.
Increasing your homestead’s agricultural biodiversity will also improve the soil’s health and make it easier for all your plants to thrive. Look into which plant varieties will grow best where you live based on your regional weather. You’ll naturally keep pests away from your house or crops and elevate your homestead’s biodiversity.
Don’t: Apply More Product Than Is Necessary
Using something more than the instructions indicate can be fun. Who wants to stick with a tablespoon or two of chocolate syrup on their ice cream when they could pour enough to make a chocolate pool in their bowl?
You can vary your use of condiments and portion sizes as much as you want, but pest control products are very different. Whether they contain organic or traditional ingredients, the production company tested them with a specific amount in a particular way.
It’s always best to apply only as much as the directions indicate to any given area. Too much product could damage your home, yard, crops or animals.
Do: Read the Instructions Thoroughly
When holding a bottle of pest killing or repellent spray, it’s easy to assume that a spritz or two will do the job. Although you may be right, the product’s instructions will clarify whether or not you’re about to use your time and money correctly.
The instructions on the back of any pest control product or within its instruction manual may include tips like:
- Not spraying the product below or above a specific outdoor temperature
- Letting the product dry before allowing pets back into the affected area
- Not storing the product below or above a certain temperature
- Replacing traps every few weeks or months
- Wearing gloves, masks or other protective gear during application
While learning the do’s and don’ts of pest control on your homestead, always remember to read the instructions for whatever method you decide to use. You’ll prevent accidents and any unintended wasteful use of the product.
Don’t: Switch Pesticides to Alternative Containers
Sometimes people purchase pesticides and eventually move the contents to a new container. You might want to reuse the original container to minimize your household’s waste or store the pesticide in a way that matches the rest of your stored goods.
It’s always better to leave any pest control products in their original containers. Many need airtight lids or a receptacle’s application method to maintain their effectiveness. They might also need the container for correct usage, like a liquid stored in a spray bottle.
Your loved ones may also get hurt from the swapped containers. Reusing a large jug to hold a drinkable liquid or food will likely expose the edible contents to pesticide remnants. People also accidentally poison themselves by drinking pesticides when stored in containers that resemble what their family used in the pantry or fridge.
Do: Consider Your Homestead’s Animals
If you’ll lay pest traps or spray pest control products around where animals live, remember to get a treatment option that’s safe for them. People often plan to avoid spraying anything around areas like a children’s playroom or exposed toys, but don’t forget about your indoor pets or farm animals.
Many pesticide options are safe for areas with livestock or pets. The product may only require time to dry before paws and noses start investigating the new smells. If you need to work with a professional exterminating team, let them know if they’ll work in any places that are in frequent or constant contact with animals so they can change their treatment selection accordingly.
Don’t: Consume Any Pesticides
You’re looking into pest control options because you need to get rid of bugs. When you become thirsty, you’ll head to the fridge instead of whatever pesticide you purchase. Unfortunately, people can consume pesticides in more ways than by sipping them straight from their containers.
You could accidentally get your pesticides in your eyes, inhale the chemicals or spray them on open wounds. Cover yourself in protective clothing and equipment as needed to avoid a trip to the hospital.
Do: Dispose of Containers Properly
When you finish applying your pest control product or setting up your traps, you’ll likely have an empty container in your hands. Throw them away when you finish, but only if they’re empty. If any containers still have poisonous liquids or other ingredients, you’ll need to call your local hazardous waste line to find out how your city, county or state can get rid of the waste safely.
What Are the Three Pest Control Principles?
Many people have never heard of the three pest control principles before. Read about them to better understand how to plan a comprehensive approach to keeping bugs away from your homestead.
1. Prevention
Prevention is the first step in keeping your property free from bugs and other pests. There are various ways to do that, depending on where you live.
Keeping trash locked in airtight outdoor bins between pickups will keep flies, roaches and other insects away from your house. Using airtight containers for your dry food storage also prevents bugs from deciding to infiltrate your home.
Clean your house and any buildings on your property frequently so bugs don’t begin to nest around discarded food or waste. Patching exterior holes in your home, barn or other structures will also go a long way in preventing pest infestations.
Homesteaders can also treat their property indoors and outdoors every quarter or annually. A professional team will spray the area and lay whatever traps are needed if you live in a location that attracts pests, like property along or near natural water features.
2. Suppression
When you find bugs hanging around your property, it’s time to enact the second principle of pest control — suppression. This stage gets the number of pests down to a manageable level. That might mean reducing the ants on your property without totally eliminating them for the sake of biodiversity. It could also mean establishing just enough fly traps to control the population around your livestock or outdoor trash cans.
3. Eradication
You should immediately look into eradicating any pests that threaten the health and safety of you or your loved ones. Termites, cockroaches and other damaging pests shouldn’t remain a problem after your property receives treatment. You may need a professional team to solve the problem if you attempt to remove a bug colony or nest permanently and they come back.
How to Prepare for Pest Elimination
Whether you plan to treat your home and property for pest treatment or have scheduled an appointment with an exterminator, you’ll need to prepare the area.
Keep children and animals away from whatever spots will get sprayed or become home to bug traps. Deep cleaning the area will reveal their many hiding spots and make it easier to apply your treatment. Consider moving furniture away from the walls or out of the room to speed up the process as well.
How Often Should You Treat Your Home?
You can treat your homestead to prevent another pest infestation throughout the year. The frequency will depend on if bugs reappear often and how much of a threat they could become.
Older homes near rivers, lakes or standing water often deal with pests looking to make nests by the convenient water and food sites. Newer homes can also exist on land that houses wasp nests or ant colonies.
Treating your property quarterly might not be enough to make it pest-free. Discuss your options with a pest control company to better customize your treatment plan. Experienced professionals will identify possible problems and recommend solutions that effectively keep your loved ones and property safe from bugs.
Improve Pest Control on Your Homestead
Now that you’ve learned the do’s and don’ts of pest control on your homestead, consider the bugs around your house or property. After analyzing the extent of any current infestations, you’ll narrow down your treatment options and learn how to prevent them from returning.
Author Bio:
Jane is the editor-in-chief of Environment.co. She is passionate about sustainability, gardening and homesteading.
Leave a Reply