04 Oct TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST PEST-FREE SUMMER EVER!
Picture the scene: The sun is baking down without even the slightest breeze to cool its summer rays, the birds are singing a duet and it’s a perfect day for you to chill beside the pool with a nice cool drink, without a care in the world! Sunblock…check! Interesting book and cell phone…check! Drinks and snacks to enjoy…check!
But wait…you are continuously disturbed by having to waft away the dratted mosquito that is constantly zinging in your ear while trying to make a meal of your left shoulder, a set of ants is marching away in military precision with a few messed crumbs while another ant brigade has set up basecamp around your spilled cool drink! Your fresh fruit salad is attracting annoying little black flies and at this point you lose your cool and head inside to the – hopefully – pest and bug free house! Eish!
Summer remains one of the most beautiful times of the year and in South Africa many of us are privileged to enjoy a lovely long summer holiday. But with sun and heat comes numerous pest problems which continue to plague us throughout the hotter months, should they not be dealt with. Be warned!
But how do we keep pests away during the hot summer?
There are certain strategies and tips that can be implemented and adopted, to try and keep the anticipated ambush of summer pests to a minimum. These include:
- Clearing away all food and food products
Keeping your kitchen spotlessly clean this summer will go a long way in preventing a pest infestation. Unless you are planning on wining and dining a couple of unwanted guests (read pests!), be sure to clean up all food, food debris and everything in between, leaving your kitchen perfectly clean and neat.
Ensure that leftover food and food products are stored in airtight containers and remained tightly sealed, while items for the fridge are stored in the fridge and not left out on counters or table tops to attract unwanted vermin.
Pests are drawn well…like a moth to a flame…to food that is lying around on counters, tables, plates and dirty or used containers. This also includes your outside braai area where you and the family have been chilling – unless you want some pests to set up residence there? Keep all cooked and raw food covered while outside, whether for a picnic or braai. Not only is this hygienic (who wants flies landing on your marinating steak?) but will also keep uninvited insects and bugs from raiding your party.
Remember to sweep floors to ride them of unwanted crumbs and food debris; it may not look like much to you but it can and will make a gourmet banquet to cockroaches, flies and rodents, amongst others.
Fruit flies are drawn to overripe fruit and vegetables. Keep these annoying little flies at bay by ensuring that the food items are kept within the fridge and are adequately disposed of should they become overripe or spoil.
A last tip for the kitchen is to thoroughly wipe and clean all surfaces after cooking and eating to prevent the buzzing of flies overhead.
- Keep those bins clean!
It’s all good and well to keep the kitchen clean, but the next issue is your overflowing waste bin, both inside and outside your home! Waste products are magnets for little and larger pests. Ensure that your bins are tamperproof with a tightly sealed lid that is actually kept closed. Also ensure that they cleaned regularly and timeously emptied.
- Keep your garden clean and tidy
There’s nothing nicer than sitting out in the garden, enjoying a summer’s evening with your friends and family while the music pumps and the braai is on. But are you the only guests or are there tinier critters, waiting to invade?
To ensure that you are not joined by any other unwanted guests, try to keep the following in mind:
- Keep your lawn short and neat, with fewer places for pests to hide. Longer grass or an unkempt garden allows plenty of places for pests to take up residence and breed even more little pesky, annoying vermin;
- Keep overhanging branches short and away from the home’s entrances;
- Many people are lucky enough to have gorgeous summer fruit trees that bear delicious fruit. These, unfortunately, do attract bugs, flies, fruit flies, cockroaches and even rodents. Be sure to keep the area around the trees clean and to pick up any fallen fruits before they have a chance to rot and attract a variety of pests.
- Seal Cracks and Crevices
Safeguard your home or business by making it as unappealing and difficult to enter as possible. Seal and cover all cracks and crevices that may allow easy entry into the dwelling.
- Hitching a ride on your pet
Keep your own animals free of any pests, such as ticks or fleas. Not only can these become a health problem for your pet, but they can also be transferred into your own home and cause a variety of problems for the occupants.
Keep your pets and their living area pest free by:
- Ensuring that they are on a good tick and flea treatment and that it is up to date, especially during the drier, hotter summer months when ticks and fleas are more active;
- Brush them well after a walk in the veld or thick bush to rid them of anything that may have clung to their fur;
- Keep their bedding clean and regularly washed;
- Keep their food and water bowls fresh with regular cleaning;
- Do not allow leftover food to stand for hours.
- Invest in some natural pest repellents
How do you keep pests out of your garden using natural methods? There are numerous ways and means to keep them away, including planting a variety of herbs, plants and flowers within the surrounding area.
Try planting these herbs around the garden:
- Rosemary – The pungent smell of rosemary helps drive away slugs, mosquitoes, beetles and flies. They can be grown in small containers or directly in the soil;
- Basil – These plants repel mosquitoes and flies. Keep them on your window sills to deter these flying pests;
- Mint – Apart from being a great accompaniment to some roast lamb or a lovely refreshing iced tea, did you know that mint repels a variety of garden slugs as well as ants?
- Oregano – Hmm….am I the only one thinking pizza right now? Alas, I digress! Oregano provides the perfect repellent for mosquitoes and garden bugs and slugs such as the cucumber beetle.
- Peppermint – I must admit this herb must be one of my favourites. Planting this near the entrances to your home will not only leave it smelling fresh, but peppermint is also known to repel a number of pests including ticks, spiders, moths, cockroaches and flies.
But it is not only herbs that are renowned for being natural pest repellents. Brighten up your garden with some beautiful plants and flowers such as lavender, geraniums, petunia and marigolds. These will not only bring colour to your garden but will also serve as a natural pest repellent.
- Empty stagnant water
Now before you start hyperventilating, I am not talking about draining the pool! But I am referring to the buckets or troughs of water that have been standing since the last rain. Remember those? Areas of standing water provide the perfect breeding ground for a variety of insects, including the most annoying of all: mosquitoes.
Dirt and sugar will attract unwanted pests
8. Call the professionals
If all else fails and you do have a pest infestation in your home or office, contact a professional pest management company to assist you. Not only do they have the knowledge and expertise to deal with your unwanted guests, but they also have the correct equipment and materials to handle the situation quickly and efficiently.
When it comes to pest control, Kallvest’s team of professionals have many years of experience under their collective belt. They possess detailed knowledge of common pests, pest habits, lifestyles as well as the best treatment plans to deal with them quickly and effectively, making Kallvest one of the leading integrated pest control management companies in South Africa.
Contact Kallvest’s national team on telephone +27 (0)11 794 4060 or info@kallvest.co.za for an obligation free quote to ensure a pest free summer.
