Tips to Help Keep Your Outdoor Dining Space Pest Free
When the warmer weather arrives, there's an increase in outdoor activities and pest activity. Spending time outside, especially while eating and gathering in spaces where food is prepared, can be frustrating if pests are hanging around. Cooking out or dining outdoors with friends and family shouldn't mean getting swarmed by bugs or worrying about a rodent infestation.
Depending on the time of day and your surroundings, a specific area may be more prone to some pests than other areas. For instance, mosquitoes are more active around dusk and flies are more numerous during the day. If it seems they invite themselves to every outdoor activity and meal, follow these proactive steps to deter unwanted critters.
Clean Often to Prevent Pests
A little cleaning goes a long way when it comes to keeping pests away from areas that are used for food prep or dining. The smell of food is particularly inviting to mice, ants, and cockroaches. Flies and some wasps such as yellow jackets will be drawn to food packaging, trash, and dishes that have leftover residue on them. Countertops, dishes, and cookware that have been used outdoors should be cleaned as soon as possible to minimize the risk of attracting insects and rodents.
Take care to empty trash containers and store any recycle bins far away from the space you use for dining and cooking. Pay special attention to grill tops that need a good scrubbing. When food residue is allowed to sit on the cooking surface of a grill, it can not only attract pests but also accumulate bacteria. A simple wipe-down with some cleaner or mild dish soap and water will usually do the trick.
Stay Aware
Pest infestations can happen suddenly since they typically stay hidden and multiply quickly. Keeping a lookout for any potential pest problems is key. Common pests like ants, rodents, and cockroaches are experts at hiding, and if present you may see some of these signs of pest infestations in dining areas.
Spaces that aren't visibly exposed are popular hiding spots for pests, such as underneath planters and patio furniture. If you continually spot certain pests and suspect an infestation, it's important to have a plan to handle it. Most bugs and rodents don't tend to move from areas on their own, they will generally stay around and increase their presence until action is taken.
Routine Yard Work
You may be surprised to know that overgrown grass and shrubs can drastically affect the number of pests drawn to your yard. Mosquitoes thrive in long grass and are one of the most troublesome nuisance pests during the warmer months. They can spread diseases to humans, including the West Nile virus and Zika.
It's not uncommon for pests to increase around areas that provide shady spots during the day. Clear away lawn clippings and mow grass often, especially throughout the warmer months and do some lawn maintenance before any planned outdoor activity. Trim thick bushes so that walkways are clear from overgrowth. Keeping up with routine yard work is key to help avoid attracting pests to outdoor dining areas.
Hire Professionals
It can be a challenge to identify and handle pest problems without a professional pest control service. Trained pest technicians know what to look for and what pest management plan will work best for specific pest issues. Exterior areas are especially prone to bugs and other pests, but staying vigilant and using the experts to keep things under control can make a big difference.
Eagle Pest Services is your trusted local pest control company, and we take pride in making our customers our number one priority. Let us handle all your interior and exterior pest concerns so you can spend your time enjoying the day. Contact us at 1-888-616-8739 for a free inspection or schedule online at your convenience.