When it comes to creepy crawlies lurking around your home, you want to do whatever you can to keep them away.
Unfortunately, if you aren’t taking action, then there is a very good chance lots of pests are finding their way inside. Opportunistic bugs are in search of three key things: food, shelter, and water…and your home can offer all of those comforts.
The good news is, there is an effective solution. Perimeter pest control can help to keep the bugs away and make your home feel like the sanctuary it should be.
In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you should know about perimeter pest control so that you can make the right decisions for your Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, or Northern Kentucky home.
Table of Contents
What is Perimeter Pest Control?
What Kind of Bugs Does Exterior Pest Control Prevent?
How Often Do You Need Perimeter Pest Control Treatments?
How Much Does Perimeter Pest Control Cost?
Can I Apply Perimeter Pest Control Myself?
How to Find and Choose Perimeter Pest Control Services in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, & Northern Kentucky
What is Perimeter Pest Control?
Before you make any investment decisions, you want to understand, what is perimeter pest control?
Perimeter pest control is a service performed entirely outside of the home. This has a number of benefits including the fact that an exterior pest control treatment is a proactive measure to prevent bugs from coming into your home in the first place.
When you spray outside the house for bugs, it also means that you get to avoid the hassles and headaches associated with interior treatments. You don’t have to be home for this service or bring someone inside.
Homeowners also love that they can avoid spraying chemicals inside their homes with an exterior pest control treatment plan. There’s simply a level of comfort that comes with keeping everything outside.
Since perimeter pest control is a preventative service, it can also save you money. For only a small investment you can prevent a very costly infestation, making it well worth it.
How Does Perimeter Pest Control Work?
The best way for us to describe perimeter pest control is to use the analogy of a shield. When treating around the perimeter of your home with a pest control product, we are essentially creating a “shield” that keeps bugs away.
As far as how Oasis Turf & Tree performs this service, it is actually quite complex.
Since every property is unique, it begins with formulating a game plan and then performing an on-site assessment to review everything. We will then spray outside the house for bugs and return to build upon our success.
We spray three feet up and three feet out from the house and then around the entire perimeter of it.
What Kind of Bugs Does Exterior Pest Control Prevent?
Perimeter pest control can prevent some of the most common pests from making their way inside your home. This includes spiders, ants, earwigs, silverfish, pill bugs, and centipedes.
Let’s look at some of these common pests and also how to keep them away.
Spiders
Spiders are not insects but are arachnids that unfortunately tend to enjoy the comforts of indoor life almost as much as we do. Most of the 8-legged crawlies you’ll find in your home are not poisonous and pose no real threat. However, spiders remain one of the most feared and unwelcome pests out there. For that reason, people often want to know how to prevent house spiders in Ohio.
To prevent spiders in your house, some simple exterior changes can make a difference. Clearing out debris, overhanging tree branches, and overgrowth around the foundation of your home can make it less welcoming for spiders to take up residence.
Since spiders feed on other insects, half the battle is just keeping their food source out of your home in the first place. This can be achieved by adding perimeter pest control services which will set up a sort of “shield” that surrounds your home and keep spiders (and other insects they feed on) from making their way in.
Ants
Ants are another highly common insect. In fact, there are more than 10,000 known ant species around the world. The trouble with ants is that a few can quickly become a major infestation.
Like other pests, ants are usually coming inside to look for food, shelter, and water. One way to discourage them is to keep food containers well sealed and frequently clean countertops of crumbs.
Even so, ants will likely find the tiniest morsel of food which is why ant prevention should also involve perimeter pest control. To prevent ants in your home, exterior treatments should keep them away.
Earwigs
These black or brown insects have flat bodies and can range in size from one-fourth-inch to one-and-a-fourth inches long. They feed on decaying material such as mulch or leaves and sometimes attempt to make their way indoors, particularly when it is too wet or too dry outside. This often makes them an issue in damper parts of the home, such as a garage or basement.
As far as where do earwigs hide in your house, they often stake out in cracks and crevices near moist areas or around baseboards in kitchens or bathrooms. They do prefer a moist habitat.
We know you also want to know how to prevent earwigs in your house. Perimeter pest control will keep these pests out of the house in the first place.
Silverfish
Silverfish are shiny insects that have both scales and antennae. They are generally just considered nuisance pests, however, they can contaminate food.
People often ask us, Where do silverfish come from? These pests often come in from the outside around the foundation, which is why perimeter pest control is an effective service as far as how to get rid of silverfish. Silverfish have also been known to make their way inside via boxes and other stored products (such as from a basement or attic), so it’s beneficial to check these items carefully.
Pill Bugs
These pests, also known as “rollie pollies,” are actually not insects. Instead, they are crustaceans that have become adapted to living on land. They got their nickname due to their ability to roll into a tight ball.
While pill bugs are harmless to humans, you still do not want pill bugs in your house.
Pill bug control in Ohio starts with eliminating moist habitats that they tend to prefer. Keeping your crawlspaces, basement, and attic well-ventilated can help. Perimeter pest control will also help prevent them from coming inside.
Centipedes
Also sometimes referred to as “thousand leggers,” centipedes are a nuisance pest that scares a lot of people. These pests can show up anywhere in the home, even upstairs as they get around quite easily with all those legs!
To prevent centipedes from entering your home, perimeter pest control will help discourage them from ever coming inside. Since centipedes are typically feeding on other pests inside of your home, exterior treatments that take care of other pests will also help to get rid of house centipedes.
How Often Do You Need Perimeter Pest Control Treatments?
The timing of perimeter pest control treatments is important when it comes to getting the most out of this service. Any exterior product is going to wear off over time which is why it’s important to use a program that involves ongoing treatments.
People often want to know how long does exterior pest control last and how many treatments will they need.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we have strategically calculated that five optimally timed outdoor pest control treatments provide you with the best protection. These are spaced out so that when the shield is close to weakening, a new treatment is underway.
When the technician returns for the next series of treatments, it’s important to recognize that they’re not just showing up in isolation and starting all over again. They’re actually building upon what they have already done. This will ensure that the shield stays active at all times, never giving pests an opportunity to break through.
Our season covers the early spring through the fall, which is the prime time when pests are thriving around Ohio and Northern Kentucky homes.
How Much Does Perimeter Pest Control Cost?
We know that you care about being a wise consumer and want to have some expectation of cost. The cost of perimeter pest control in Ohio can really vary.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, our perimeter pest control costs start at $375 per year.
As we mentioned before, it’s important to consider the fact that a full-blown infestation and the need to hire an exterminator can become a lot more costly. In that way, perimeter pest control as a preventative measure can actually save you money in the long run.
But there is also peace of mind to consider, which many homeowners would say is invaluable. It’s difficult to “rest easy” when you know that there are pests lurking around your home, which is why so many people appreciate this service.
Sometimes the cost of perimeter pest control leads people to decide they’re going to do it themselves. While that might seem like it could save you money, oftentimes, it ends up being just as expensive (plus comes with some hassles and headaches you probably don’t want to deal with). We’ll address that point next.
Can I Apply Perimeter Pest Control Myself?
Because many stores do sell pest control products, some people consider DIY perimeter pest control as an alternative to paying a professional. But there are some key reasons why taking a DIY pest control path is probably not the best solution.
Before you spray around your house for bugs, here are a few points to consider.
- Safety: The fact is, pest control involves handling chemicals and this is something best left in the hands of pros. You probably don’t really want to be mixing or handling the chemicals. Plus, there is storage to think about. If you have young children or pets, you might not want to store concentrates of products in your shed or garage where they could accidentally have access to it. Hiring a professional simply takes away all of these worries.
- Time: Keeping up with DIY pest control takes time…and you probably have better things to be doing. Not only do you have to find time to go out and buy the products but you have to find time to get out there and treat your property, too. When a professional is handling this pest control service, you don’t have to worry about preparing or storing chemicals, cleaning and maintaining the equipment, or running out to buy more products when you need them. With the service being performed for you, it’s one less major hassle to worry about.
- Results: It’s also important to keep in mind that a professional is trained and using commercial-grade products. This is much more advanced than a DIY approach. Unsurprisingly, homeowners have told us that since hiring a pro, they’ve had better results. While everyone has the best intentions when they decide to perform DIY pest control, life often gets in the way. You may have intended to put down the product four times throughout the year but only did it twice. As the barrier starts to break down, your home is suddenly not fully protected.
Along with that, as we mentioned, the product used by a pro is going to be superior so it’s going to deliver better results. A pro will also have access to better equipment. A truck-mounted sprayer will deliver the best results possible. This type of sprayer delivers the active ingredient carried in a greater volume of water. This means getting products deeper into cracks and crevices where bugs frequently hide. As products penetrate deeper, it also increases their potential to remain effective for a longer period of time.
DIY Cost vs. Professional Cost
With all of the benefits that come with professional pest control, the only hold-up to taking the leap is the cost of perimeter pest control. Most homeowners assume that hiring a pro is going to cost significantly more than performing the work themselves.
However, when you add up the cost of premixed, diluted gallons of product as well as the equipment that you’ll need to apply that product, your DIY cost can quickly start to add up. Your time and hassle in having to run back and forth to the store any time that you need more product is also a consideration.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we also offer bundling discounts that can save you money.
If you’re already having (or considering) tree and shrub care and/or mosquito control performed, adding perimeter pest control to your services with Oasis is not that much more money. There are also no big contracts and “locked in terms” that a lot of big pest control or exterminator companies in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, or Northern Kentucky require. Once homeowners recognize all this, they can easily see the value.
How to Find and Choose Perimeter Pest Control Services in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, and Northern Kentucky
When it comes to getting all the benefits of perimeter pest control services, you want to choose an outdoor pest control company that you can trust. Like comparing any other service, you’ll find that no two companies are exactly alike and there are certain aspects that can make a company superior.
Whenever searching for a service, it makes sense to do your research. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of any company that you’re considering.
Here are some questions to ask an outdoor pest control company that you are considering.
- How many years has your company been performing pest control?
- How often do you come for treatments throughout the year?
- How exactly will your treatments control the pests I’m concerned about (explain the
treatments)? - What does your perimeter pest control service cost and do you offer discounts if bundled with other services?
- Where can I find online reviews or customer testimonials of your services?
- What licenses do you carry related to pest control services?
- How do you train your technicians on an ongoing basis?
The answers to these questions will help give you a look at how skilled an outdoor pest control company is at offering these services as well as how they handle their program. You’ll find that there are some variations from company to company.
At the end of the day, what you really want is a company that cares about delivering peace of mind. That means a company that does what it says it will. You also want a company that is known for offering advice and tips outside of treating. Helpful recommendations and advice show that a company truly has your best interest at heart.
Choosing Oasis as Your Outdoor Pest Control Company
At Oasis Turf & Tree, our program is thorough and effective, and generally costs less than what others charge. That’s because we use some of the same high-quality products as those that exterminators utilize on a regular basis to treat the exterior of your home.
Don’t let the pests win! By letting us create a barrier around your home, we can help restore your peace of mind that pests will stay outside where they belong. You can cast aside your worries and get back to life as usual.
If you’d like to learn more about perimeter pest control for your Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, or Northern Kentucky home, call us at 513-697-9090 or get your quote online and help us find the program that is best for you, then sit back and relax knowing these pests are being kept away.
Image Source: centipede, earwig, house spider