Summer, winter, autumn, spring: each season has its own unique characteristics. Summer has its green trees, swimming pool parties and warm winds. Winter is icy, barren and a time to hibernate. Autumn has brilliant colours and strong winds. Spring is a time for rejuvenation and planting seeds. Small buds begin forming, heralding warmer weather. What you might not have known is that the seasons are also unique in the way pests proliferate. Summer brings mosquitoes, winter brings rats. In this blog, we link weather patterns with their associated pests, as well as how to implement a pest control system for each. Remember however, that pests are hardy creatures and survive most conditions. Thus, these tips can be referred to all year round.

Summer pest control.

Summer is pest heaven, because most common pests thrive in warm and moist conditions. Mosquitos and snails are just some of the pests more common in summer. Here are some tips on pest control for this season.

For mosquitoes, find out where they breed (and try other measures too).

Mosquitoes breed in water, so get rid of containers and pools of stagnant water. They are wily insects and can breed in small places, such as the indentation from a horse hoof or in the water caught in an outside teapot used for decorative purposes. In addition, it is essential that if you have pets, their water bowls are cleaned and replenished with new water each day. Mosquitoes will stay away from you if you burn a citronella candle. You could also put a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a piece of cotton wool on your beside table. Sprigs of mint placed strategically on pillows also do the trick of scaring mosquitoes away.
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If you don’t have a mosquito net, a temporary one can be made: we suggest attaching a piece of shade cloth to a window with reusable putty.

Get rid of snails by planting herbs and placing beer among plants.

Summer is a time when flowers, vegetables and plants thrive. Unfortunately, you may walk away with less to harvest if snails have eaten most of it. Planting herbs among plants helps keep snails at bay. Plant lavender with roses and marigolds among vegetables. A row of garlic or chives at the edge of a flower bed will also keep snails and other pests at bay. Another trick is to place containers of beer with smooth, steep sides among your plants. Snails can’t resist beer and will literally drown in it. You could also soak a piece of sacking in beer and place it flat on the ground among the plants. The snails will crawl under the sack at night to get to the beer, and then drown.

A winter’s tail. Rats come into your home because they are cold, and so watch out for rats especially when it turns colder.

Some tips: keep all areas where food is prepared, stored and served clean and free of crumbs and grease. Garbage can lids should be kept closed and secured. Chimneys are the single largest opening in any home and thus consider chimney caps or wire mesh to cover. Areas where pipes, cables and wires enter walls should be sealed completely.

In most cases, it is advisable to use a professional pest control service provider to get rid of rats.

Pest Control Specialists are knowledgeable on the habits and general environment of rodents and will have a more systematic approach to get rid of them. In addition, pest control specialists will use the right kind of extermination method, specifically designed for your home or office.
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Ants and all-year round pest control.

If ants were trees, they would be evergreen. Tips to get rid of ants include sprinkling cayenne pepper, baby powder or powdered cloves in the path of ants. If you have a fledgling peach tree in the garden or any other kind of fruit plant, you can tie a paraffin-soaked cloth around the tree. The best place to deal with ants is in their nests. Pour boiling water into an ant nest regularly, or sprinkle abrasive powder and coffee grounds around it. Sometimes it is difficult to locate the ant nest. In this case, a pest control specialist will be able to help you.

Prevention is better than cure.

A rule of thumb is to maintain a clean and hygienic environment. All year round, you need to be stringent about this: disinfecting bathrooms and kitchens, fixing water leaks (all pests thrive in a moist environment) and having your carpets professionally cleaned. Effective pest control usually requires professional input. Certain environments require specific methods and equipment. A pest control specialist can assess this and partner with you for year-round pest control.

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