Keep Your Landscape Pest-Free With These 6 Tips
There’s no question many property owners across San Diego enjoy their yards and gardens in the fall. However, there is a downside to this time of year: pests! An invasion of ants, stink bugs, and other beetles can cause unnecessary damage to your landscape by spoiling fruits and vegetables or ruining plant structures.
There's no need to worry, though - we're here with information on how you can keep your yard pest-free all through the fall months. Read on for our top 6 tips!
1. Have a Well-Maintained Lawn
Besides improving your curb appeal, proper lawn maintenance is important for pest control in two ways. First, by using the right methods to water, mow, seed, and incorporate irrigation into your lawn you will make your landscape less attractive for pests as a breeding ground.
Secondly, an overly neglected and overgrown yard can be unappealing to pests. That’s not necessarily good news since they tend to go hunting for food and shelter indoors instead.
2. Keep Your Plants Healthy
Healthy plants are actually less attractive to pests. You can help your plants thrive by improving the soil quality and placing them in locations where they get enough sun. The healthier your plants, the better they can fight off pests on their own using the different cool defenses they have. Just like humans, healthy plants also have stronger immune systems!
3. Clean Up Fallen Leaves
Regularly cleaning up any fallen leaves and trimming your trees can prevent leaf build-up on the ground. Many pests love fallen, dead, and decaying leaves, since they are a source of food, cover, and moisture for them to enjoy. When you clear your yard, you’ll be reducing these ideal locations for pests to hang out and populate.
4. Plant Insect-Repelling Flowers and Herbs
By planting flowers and herbs in between and surrounding your more vulnerable plants, you can naturally scare away pests. Most insect-repelling plants are strong-scented varieties such as:
Coriander
Garlic
Thyme
Chives
Lavender
Basil
Mint
5. Remove or Replace Old Outdoor Furniture
If you have any outdoor furniture you no longer use, especially those that are broken or cracked, you’ll want to remove them from your yard. Pests seeking shelter tend to populate the cracks and crevices of worn-out furniture. Trust us, you’ll want to avoid an unpleasant surprise when you sit on an old outdoor chair!
6. Manage Your Landscape’s Water
Standing water can easily attract pests. To avoid this problem, make sure you don’t overwater your lawn or plants. Installing an effective irrigation system is also a great way to manage your watering activities, especially on large properties.
If you have or want a water feature in your yard, make sure it is designed to prevent pests. For instance, have a circulation feature to clean out debris and choose designs with flowing water. Bubblers, fountains, and waterfalls can prevent pests, such as mosquitos, from reproducing in your outdoor space.
At Right Ways, we’re here to help you maintain your yard, install insect-repelling garden designs, trim your trees, and more for a pest-free fall and winter. Contact us today to get a free estimate.
