As spring approaches, the threat of pests invading our social and private spaces increases. Here are some simple solutions to help keep those pests at bay.

1. To start the quest of expelling household pests, look not only for larger gaps in your attic and garage, but also for unsealed and small gaps of electrical lines and pipes that enter the house. Mice and rodents, ants and roaches love these cracks and crevices. It’s important that you close these using expanding foam insulation that denies any entry.
2. In the peak of winter, storing firewood away from the house is crucial. This wood is also a magnet for low lying pests that arise because of the heat and warmth generated at the fire pit. So, store wood at least 20 feet away from the house.
3. In summer, when the humidity and the heat are high, mosquitoes can become a nuisance. Throw some rosemary and sage in the garden to keep mosquitoes away. The smell bothers these insects and they are deterred from entering your home.
4. It’s important that you repair the torn screens and mosquito nets along with similar barriers to protect against inquisitive summer bugs. For other homeowners, a much more humane pest control method includes providing other food sources. When you set up bird feeders at the opposite end of your home, you may attract animals to that side and help leave your plants alone. This works best with smaller animals and rodents. These have an instinct to forage and explore so keeping them away from homely food sources is a must.
5. Ants very often leave a trail that is easier for other ants from another colony to find a way and reach the food. Wash away these trails using a solution such as a quarter cup of vinegar and 10 drops of peppermint oil alongside 2 cups of water.
6. You also need to keep the weather stripping around your doors and windows in working order. You can replace the worn away weather stripping so there are no gaps and keep windows tightly closed unless they have screens.
7. If you want to keep spiders at bay and still not use potent chemicals and toxic sprays, it’s worth a shot to slice up some onions and toss them in a bowl of water. Place the bowl near the entrance where you see the spiders.
8. You can also use wire cloches in your garden to protect plants that are especially vulnerable. The wire versions are quite common and easy to use. You just need to simply place these over your growing plants and animals will find it tough to reach for the leaves. If you have chicken wire laying around, you can make your own rough wire cloches. If your plants are in a row, you might need to use a low loop of chicken wire to cover the plants.
9. Finally, using a copper mesh may be a great idea to plug the holes from where pests enter your home. Stuff in a generous amount of copper mesh and then use a foam sealant to seal the gaps.

 
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