One of the most significant features of summer is having fun outdoors. But if bugs and other pests attempt to disturb your outdoor gatherings, it can easily convert a pleasant occasion into a significant nuisance. Ants, flies, mosquitoes, rodents, and other uninvited pests are annoying and dangerous as most pests bite and carry certain diseases. However, in certain instances, those “pests” are helpful and vulnerable animals, like bees and bunnies – even though you don’t need them in your yard. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to keep those outdoor pests under control. By following a few simple tips, you can stop outdoor pests from ruining your fun in the sun.
Trim Lawns and Bushes
One of the first things you can do to discourage unwanted pests from moving into your Laurel rental home’s yard is to keep your lawn and bushes tidily trimmed. Overgrown grass, bushes, and weeds are breeding grounds for all species of pests, from flies to rodents. By keeping your grass and other foliage trimmed back, you can deter insects and other pests from choosing your yard as their new habitat.
Eliminate Hiding Places
Most biting insects, including mosquitoes, are drawn to standing water, piles of lawn clippings, wet leaves, trash cans, and other locations outside your home. To avoid these pests from reproducing in your yard, you must keep things clean and dry. For instance, if you or your landlord haven’t cleaned the gutters or trash bins recently, create an action plan to do so. Additionally, it’s imperative to repair any water leaks or low spots in the yard where water can pool and stagnate. At last, if your household has a storage shed or woodpile, keep these clean, dry, and away from the house’s exterior walls. This can help make your woodpile or shed less appealing to a variety of common outdoor pests.
Bring in Natural Deterrents
Once you’ve tidied up your outdoor space, here’s what you can do to protect your yard from outdoor pests— utilize a few natural repellants. Keeping herbs like rosemary, mint, basil, or thyme near entryways, patios, or decks can help naturally repel pests from seating areas. Blowing fans can help get rid of flying insects, and keeping food or sugary drinks covered or put away can stop pests from attempting to come in for a bite. To fight off ants, consider spreading some cayenne pepper around the perimeter of your gathering spots. Although you’ll need to reapply after watering, cayenne pepper is an effective natural deterrent for crawling insects.
Handling Helpful “Pests”
In some instances, the pests that enter our outdoor spaces are animals we need for a healthy ecosystem. However, this does not indicate that you should invite them in. Swarms of bees are both beneficial for healthy plants and a hazard for people. Bunnies can help aerate your lawn, but they’ll also create ugly holes and take over if left to breed unchecked. For pests like these, it’s important to examine your lease to find out where the responsibility for pest control be located to have professionals remove them safely and humanely.
Unwanted pests can be an irritation. But by implementing proper actions to prevent them, you can make your outdoor experience both fun and pest-free.
Are you in the market for a new rental home, perhaps one with a beautiful yard? If so, Real Property Management Metro can help! Check out our listings online and possibly find the rental home you’ve been dreaming of!
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