Finding bugs in your home is frustrating - and gross! You don’t want to find pests like ants, spiders, and centipedes in the places where you eat, relax, and sleep. You want to keep pests outside…where they belong!

How you go about that process can make a world of difference in your results. While doing your own pest control might sound reasonable (after all, there are plenty of products in the store and solutions online), is it effective?

In this article, we’ll compare pest control DIY vs. professional approaches so that you can make the choice that’s right for you.

Jump to:

DIY Pest Control For Home: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Do Pest Control Companies Really Work?
How to Choose Pest Control That is Right for Your Home
Frequently Asked Questions About Effective Pest Control
Why Oasis Turf & Tree is the Trusted Local Expert for Cincinnati, Dayton, OH and Northern KY

DIY Pest Control For Home: Weighing the Pros and Cons

While there are plenty of pest control products available in the store and homemade concoctions (like oil or vinegar sprays) out there, you want to make sure that you’re choosing a residential bug control solution that really works.

Let’s talk about some of the pros and cons of DIY pest control.

DIY Pest Control Pros

• Saving money: Most people tackle a DIY approach because they are looking for budget friendly pest management. In other words, they don’t want to pay for a professional service if they believe they can do it themselves.
• Immediate action: Another “pro” is that you can immediately start same-day treatment if you take matters into your own hands.

DIY Pest Control Cons

• Figuring it out yourself: One of the big downsides to DIY pest control for home is that you’ll have to figure everything out yourself. Without training or experience, it can be hard to know how to treat pests. This could lead to applying products incorrectly or using the wrong products.
• Time-consuming: When you take pest control into your own hands, you also have to find the free time to invest in handling it.
• Ineffectiveness: Do-it-yourself pest control also means using store-bought products that are not going to be as effective as what a pro will use. Sometimes it’s also a matter of failing to keep up with what’s required. 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 a 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 anymore.

Do Pest Control Companies Really Work?

Is professional pest control worth it? If you are considering hiring a professional for these services, you might be looking at the pros and cons.

Professional Pest Control Pros

• Effectiveness and professional products: One of the biggest advantages to professional pest control is the level of effectiveness. One of the reasons for this is that pros have access to professional products. But it’s also a matter of proper application. Sometimes homeowners inadvertently make mistakes or take shortcuts that limit the effectiveness of the products they’re using. They might mix something improperly or perhaps their equipment is less effective than that of a professional’s.
• Professional-grade equipment: A professional is going to be using a truck-mounted sprayer that’s going to deliver the best possible results. 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.

• Safety: We’ve also heard homeowners tell us they simply feel safer having a pro handle these products. 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. You might also be worried that with a DIY pest control spray, you’re applying it improperly or could make a mistake. Having a pro handle it takes away the uncertainty.
• Convenience: 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 product when you need it. With the service being performed for you, it’s one less major hassle to worry about.

Professional Pest Control Cons

• Cost: As we’ve mentioned, most people end up turning to DIY control in an effort to save money. But professional pest control services are often more affordable than people realize. Many times, these services can be bundled with your existing lawn care services.

How to Choose Pest Control That is Right for Your Home

At the end of the day, you have to find the home pest control solution that will work best for you.

With all of the benefits that come with professional pest control, the only hold up to taking the leap is usually the question of cost. 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 a new product is also a consideration.

The fact is, if you’re already having (or considering) tree and shrub care and/or mosquito control performed, bundling perimeter pest control with your current services from Oasis is easy - and costs less than you think. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Effective Pest Control

We’ll answer some of your most commonly asked questions about perimeter pest control.

Is perimeter pest control safe for pets?

Yes, perimeter pest control is safe for pets when using approved products that are applied properly. Treatments are applied outside the home - never indoors - so in order to keep your pets safe during an application, it’s recommended they are kept inside. Once the product has been applied and fully dries (typically after about two hours), then it is safe for your pets to be outside again.

How often should I spray for bugs outside my house?

We have found that 5 treatments is the sweet spot to keep pests away. It’s important to keep re-establishing the barrier without overapplying.

Can I combine perimeter pest control with other lawn services?

Yes, most homeowners who want lawn care services also want to keep their homes protected from pests. Bundling your services is easy to do and saves you money compared to doing them separately.

Does perimeter pest control cover mosquitoes?

The products used for perimeter pest control would also address mosquitoes if they were to land in those areas. But our Mosquito Control Program does specifically target mosquito habitats across 5 treatments.

How does perimeter pest control work?

Perimeter pest control works by creating a barrier around your home using a liquid product mix. A pest control technician will apply the product three feet up and three feet out from the perimeter of your property.

How do I know that my DIY method isn’t working?

If you are still seeing pests or see an increase in pest activity, it might be that your DIY methods are ineffective. However, keep in mind that there can be a period after treatment where pest activity seemingly increases as pests emerge out of hiding spots. Since our treatments keep pests from entering your home, you will need to use simple methods like vacuuming and trapping to get rid of any pests already inside of the house. One of the benefits of our program (compared to an exterminator) is that we don’t come inside and apply products in your home.

What are the most common pests I need to keep out of my home?

Some of the most common household pests found here in Cincinnati, OH and Northern Kentucky include ants, spiders, crickets, millipedes, centipedes, and earwigs. If you deal with any of these pests within your home, adding a perimeter pest control plan may be the right decision.

Why Oasis Turf & Tree is the Trusted Local Expert for Cincinnati, Dayton, OH and Northern KY

At Oasis Turf & Tree, our perimeter pest control service gets very good results on common pests like ants, spiders, centipedes, and others - especially when compared with DIY products and services.

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.

The bottom line is that you don’t have to let pests take away your peace of mind.

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.