April is National Pest Management Month – Exterior Tips for Termite Control & Pest Management

Termite control is one important aspect of pest management – along with rodents or carpenter ants then can chew through floors, walls, or even electrical wiring. Other harmful pests include ticks, cockroaches, and the like – all of which can post health threats to both humans as well as their pets. Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and asthma attacks have all been linked to allergens and pathogens carried by vermin, not to mention the 500,000 people who end up hospitalized due to a stinging insect on an annual basis.

Today we’ve got some general termite control and pest management tips that for you that you can address regarding the exterior of your home; what better month to take care of this sort of thing than National Pest Management month, after all?

• Seal Your Home – Perhaps one of the most important aspects of termite control and pest management is keeping your home properly sealed. Rats and other vermin only need a hold the size of a nickel in order to squeeze through and enter your home; seal up cracks and any openings you find along your foundation.
• Address Standing Water – Standing water is a notorious breeding ground for undesirable insects. If you eliminate these sources of moisture, you’ll have a much easier time dealing with termite control and managing other insect populations.
• Trim the Landscaping – If you have bushes or trees that are encroaching on your house, insects, pests, and other vermin will be able to use the plant life to potentially enter your home. Trim tree branches back, and ensure there are is at least 18” of space in between any shrubs or bushes and the foundation line of your property.

While these tips are by no means a silver bullet, they are definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to termite control and pest management. In part two of this series, we will look at tips you can employ inside your home to achieve the same effects.