My tips to get rid of rats, ants, and wasps in your yard – better yet, use my methods to stop them in the first place
PEST control has been made easy with one expert’s tips to keep them at bay.
He said his methods will nip the problem in the bud and protect your yard.
Berwyn Evans, head of marketing for Rentokil Pest Control, dished on how to keep unwanted visitors out.
He addressed several types of critters that can wreak havoc on gardens and other outdoor areas.
From rats to wasps — Evans has your yard covered.
His recommendations come just as the weather begins to warm up and more creatures are coming out to play.
RODENT ROWS
Evans shared the best ways to repel rats and mice.
“Rodents at this time of year are looking for food and shelter. Remove these, and you can reduce the chance of them invading your garden,” he said.
“These rodents can squeeze through gaps as small as 15 millimeters, so try to eliminate access points by sealing gaps around pipes and under sheds.
“Keep your garden clear of overgrown vegetation to prevent potential nesting places, cover compost heaps, seal tight dustbins, and use bird feeders rather than scattering food on the ground.”
When it comes to mice, Berwyn advised “blocking any gaps and clearing up areas such as greenhouses where house mice may look to build a nest or will be searching for food is a positive first step.
“In your wider garden, it is important to eliminate any harbourage points and keep grass mown short to reduce shelter and seeds for food.
“If you do find yourself dealing with field mice, often you can easily trap them in such harborage points as garden sheds as they search for food.”
CREEPY CRAWLERS
Evans didn’t skimp on ways to keep six-legged foes far away, including ants and wasps.
“The first step in dealing with ant infestations is to watch them carefully to track down where their colony is located in your garden and if they are entering your home,” he said.
“Clearing up any sweet or sticky residue whilst removing any potential food sources should be enough to displace typical black ants.
“If you are still having trouble, the use of products such as ant killer gel can destroy ants and their nests, carrying the insecticidal gel deep into the nest to destroy it from within.”
He pointed out a foolproof tip for keeping away wasps — a critter that can turn a peaceful space into a terrifying one in an instant.
“Wasps can often be confused with bees, in particular honey bees,” Evans said.
“It is important to do due diligence before removing them as bees are vital pollinators of many garden and wild flowers and are therefore essential to keeping your garden healthy.
“To get rid of wasps, you don’t need to remove the nest, but you do need to treat it.
“So, if you can get rid of the nest early on in the spring you can use DIY products like nest destroyer foam and powder to avoid a serious problem in the summer months.”