Make Your Landscaping Conducive to Residents, Not Pests

By Win Higgins, Quality Assurance Manager, Western Pest Services

While many think preventing pests is an indoor effort, it’s important to recognize that the war on pests begins outdoors. All sorts of plants, from flowers to shrubs, can provide exactly what pests need to survive, which means you’re creating homes for more than just the human residents of your community.

Pest activity increases as the temperature increases, so now is the time to make sure your landscaping isn’t contributing to pest problems that could damage the reputation you’ve built. When proper landscaping practices are part of an effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, your property will be well-equipped to stop pest problems before they start.

So while you’re tending to the landscape that makes your community so beautiful and welcoming, pay attention to these trigger points:

Parking lots and Sidewalks: These areas can provide food and shelter for wandering pests, so be sure your maintenance routine includes outdoor inspections.

• Tip: Regularly inspect parking lots and sidewalks to ensure they are clear of any trash or standing water.
• Tip: While dumpsters may be unattractive to people, they are a gold mine for pests looking for food. Be sure to position them away from the building and rotate trash bins on a regular basis. Also, keep an eye on vegetation in parking lot islands since these can harbor pests as well.

Building Foundation: Rodents need only a quarter-sized opening to find their way in, while roaches and other crawling insects can fit through an opening of just 1/32 of an inch. It’s crucial that your foundation doesn’t allow them even this tiny space to enter your buildings.

• Tip: Monitor your building for any cracks or holes in windows, along rooflines and on exterior walls. After identifying a crack or crevice, apply a weather-resistant sealant and mesh to keep insects and rodents from sneaking through. Also, consider adding weather strips on the bottom of doors and around windows to help keep out ants.

Flowering plants: Although some of the most beautiful plants produce nectar, fruits or seeds, they are ones you should watch out for, as they can offer quick meals for pests. And fragrant and brightly colored flowers in bloom can draw in bees and other stinging pests.

• Tip: A beautifully-landscaped community doesn’t need to include a multitude of flowers. Evergreen shrubs and decorative greenery can have the same effect without the pest pressures. Take some time to consider limiting the number you plant and where you place these plants. Placing flowers away from doors, windows, and walkways will give pests fewer reasons to hang out near high-traffic entry areas.

Mulch: Pests love to use mulch as a harborage point and since it also provides nutrients and retains moisture, it can be a serious hot spot for pests.

• Tip: Instead of using mulch, you can install a 3-foot gravel strip around your building, which can deter pests such as ants, cockroaches, and rodents. The uneven gravel surface obstructs pests, especially rodents which are less protected out in the open. By setting up a protective barrier, you can help discourage pest entry and keep your landscaping looking neat year-round.

Ponds and Fountains: Mosquitoes don’t need much moisture to breed, so a body of water as large as a pond, or even a fountain can mean mosquitos by the thousand. These pests breed in standing water and populations can swell quickly, as a mosquito can lay more than 100 eggs at a time. A mosquito infestation is not only a nuisance, but also the cause of serious health concerns for employees and customers – especially when it comes to mosquito-borne viral diseases like West Nile, Chikunguya, and Zika.

• Tip: To help reduce the mosquito population near your community, make sure water in any ponds or fountains is circulated regularly. The running water can help prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs on the surface. You can also stock ponds with mosquito-eating fish, which can eat up to 500 larvae per day.

Unruly Vegetation: When there are overgrown bushes or tree limbs touching your building, crawling pests have a clear path to potential entry points, such as cracks or crevices around window ledges or the roofline. Dense vegetation may also provide a home for many pests including rodents and some social wasps, which may take advantage of this sheltered area for nest construction.

• Tip: Adding a small buffer of space between landscaping and exterior walls can make a huge difference in deterring pests from entering your facility.

Consult with your pest management partner to make sure your landscaping doesn’t appear as inviting to pests as it does to residents. They will be able to inspect your property and offer insight about which plants and other features you should remove or try to incorporate into your landscape plan this year.

Pest control is never the job of just one person. Be sure to include your staff in your efforts to keep pests out. Educating your grounds crews and maintenance teams on the various pests that may be present around your facility will go a long way to ensuring that these pests are not becoming more prevalent. With the support of your entire staff, you can help keep pests in their place this spring.

Your community will thank you for the care and consideration you take to ensure the safety and cleanliness of their homes.

Win Higgins is an entomologist and Quality Assurance Manager for Western Pest Services, a New Jersey-based pest management company serving businesses and homeowners in major Northeastern markets.