Article - Gardening tips for pest prevention

This site requires JavaScript to function properly. Please enable JavaScript or disable script blocking plugins.

« Article Index

Gardening tips for pest prevention

Authored by Dan Huie

The Puget Sound area has been blessed with a beautiful spring. Our mild sunny days have provided just what our yards need to keep the healthy, vibrant green and color we all enjoy. Some yards, like mine, are growing so much it's almost impossible to keep up with. But that's a good problem right?

Here's a little incentive to keep you plugging along with all those weekend chores: PESTS!

The weather that our plants love so much is the same weather pests thrive on. Everything from ants, to wasps, mosquitoes, spiders, rodents, and so on, relish our warm days and moderate nights. As the summer progresses the pest populations seem to explode.

So what can you do?

Spend time in your yard! Study your plants, trees and ground cover. Enjoy their uniqueness, but watch our six and eight legged friends.
Look for standing water in buckets, tires, gutters and defunct ponds. This is prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Keep tree branches, vines and shrubs away from the siding and roof-line. Plants touching the roof line provide hidden highways for some of the most difficult ants to control.
Keep ground covers such as ivy manageable. Dense foliage provides welcome cover to many critters.
Bird Feeders... (what can I say?) I feed birds in my yard, but it is a risk. Keep the area fastidiously clean of fallen seeds. Remember: where the squirrels are during the day, the rats feed at night.

Most importantly, just enjoy this incredible weather and the environment of your home. Keep a watchful eye on the little critters. Some simple gardening may help safeguard your home, or you may find you need to call a trusted pest control company to help you relax in the quiet of you garden. Enjoy!

Dan Huie is the Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of United Pest Solutions, Inc. Located in the Seattle area of Washington state, Mr. Huie has sixteen years of experience with professional pest control involving Human Resource and Pest Management Professional Training. He is extensively involved with the Washington State Pest Management Association (WSPMA) and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

« Article Index

Odorous Ant	Roof Rat	Carpenter Ant	Yellow Jacket	Spider

Flea	Pantry Pests	Cockroach	House Mouse	Bed Bugs

United Pest Solutions, Inc is a full service pest control company offering environmental, Green Pest Control and Exterminating Services, Crawl Space and Attic Repair Services in the Greater Puget Sound Area: Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Clyde Hill, Duvall, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Newcastle, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Puyallup, Seatac, Shoreline, Snohomish, Tacoma, Tukwilla, Woodinville; North Pierce County, King County and South Snohomish County.

Rodents, ants, spiders, wasps, and bees. Solving Northwest pest problems since 1960.

Winner 2006-11