With so many pests that can infest your home in Arizona, it can be challenging to protect it throughout the year.
Fortunately, by knowing which pests are prevalent during different times of the year and how to protect against them, you can create a seasonal pest maintenance plan and safeguard your home during any season. Partnering with an experienced pest control company like Phoenix Pest can also help keep your home defended against unwanted critters.
Pest Control Through a Seasonal Pest Maintenance Plan
How you manage pest control in your home will vary from one season to the next. Here’s how you should plan for pests during each season.
Spring
As winter thaws and the temperature rises, many household pests become more active in Arizona. Temperatures in March are usually still cooler, so most pests will still be relatively inactive at this time of year.
The main exception to this is rodents, which are active throughout the year. If you have rodents in your home, you may notice bite marks on food containers, droppings and scratching sounds from within the walls. They’re most active in the evenings, so this is when you’ll be most likely to hear or see them.
Since there are few pests active, March is a great time for preventive measures.
By April, bed bug infestations will become more common as travel numbers increase during spring break and Easter. These infestations are hard to eradicate on your own and may require professional removal. However, washing bedding in hot water once a week and regularly inspecting beds and bedding can help you react quickly.
Some signs that you have bed bugs include itchy skin and red welts, dark spots on the bedding, and a musty odor. You may even see the bugs. If possible, keep any contaminated items in one room to prevent spreading them to other parts of your home.
May typically sees early scorpion activity and increased spider and bee activity. To reduce the chances of serious infestations, you should regularly check for pests, maintain your lawn and remove any standing water from your yard.
Summer
Summer is the peak season for pest activity. From June, you’ll likely start to see more types of pests than at any other time of the year. Ants, termites and spiders become more active, and scorpions become increasingly common, particularly at night.
Scorpions usually hide from the heat during the day, which is why it’s important to check shoes and clothing before putting them on. You’re much more likely to see a scorpion out in the open at night.
As July comes and most pests reach their peak activity levels for the year, it’s even more important to take preventive measures to keep them out of your home. Seal any gaps in your foundations, doors and windows, and conduct nightly scorpion checks with a black light.
Pest activity remains high in August, so continue to remain vigilant and check for pests regularly. You should also look out for cockroaches, which love the summer heat. Like scorpions, cockroaches are more active at night, and their telltale sign is a musty odor.
Fall
As summer recedes and fall arrives, pest activity declines from its summer heights. While rodents and bed bugs remain active in September through November, other pests such as scorpions, spiders and cockroaches become less active and are seen less frequently. However, the cooler weather means that pests are more likely to be seen indoors than outside.
To keep pests out of your home, inspect your holiday luggage for any unwanted hitchhikers. Seal any gaps in your home that might allow rodents to enter, too. These gaps are often found in walls, pipes and foundations, and depending on where the gap is, you may want to fill it with caulk or steel wool. Keep any food in airtight containers, too, as this makes it harder for rodents to detect and access the food.
Finally, lawn maintenance can further help reduce pest infestations during fall. By removing long grass, standing water and any other possible nest sites, you give pests fewer reasons to gather near your home.
Winter
Winter is when pest activity reaches its lowest levels for the year. Throughout winter, rodent and bed bug activity remains relatively high, and January often sees cockroach levels start to increase indoors. Besides their musty odor, look out for small, dark droppings.
You may still face termite infestations during winter. If you live in a wooden house, it’s important to check for signs of these pests, as they can cause serious damage to your home. Common signs include mud tubes along the house foundations, small holes in wood beams and wood that sounds hollow if you knock on it.
Since pest levels are at a minimum, this is a great time to prepare for the year ahead and take steps to reduce the likelihood of a pest infestation in warmer weather. First, inspect your home for existing infestations. Look for droppings, scratch or gnaw marks, strange smells and the pests themselves throughout your home. If you find signs of any pests, you should call a professional.
Otherwise, make sure your home is prepared to keep pests out. Double-check that all gaps have been sealed and declutter storage areas that could provide a great home for pests without you realizing.
A pest control company can give your home the best chance of keeping pests out in the coming year. This preventive service could save you from having to call a professional a few months later to remove pests, which is a harder and more expensive service.
How to Prevent Pests Year-Round
Keeping pests out of your home throughout the year requires consistent work. From inspecting your home for pests that have entered your property, to taking preventive and reactive steps to keep your home pest-free, you need to constantly be on top of the situation. Otherwise, you could have a serious infestation in your home before you even realize it’s there.
To keep pests out of your home throughout the year, follow these tips:
- Check for signs of pests regularly.
- Take advantage of the colder months to protect your home against pest infestations in warmer months.
- Consider professional preventive services to reduce the likelihood of infestations.
- Use a professional pest control company to remove any pest infestation.
How Often Should You Get Professional Pest Control?
As a general rule, the more often you receive professional pest control services, the less likely you are to experience infestations in your home. Any infestations that do happen can be found and dealt with more quickly, too.
Many homeowners like to keep on top of their pest control by scheduling regular inspections, either biannually, quarterly or even monthly.
Seasonal Pest Maintenance Plans With Phoenix Pest
There are plenty of actions you can take to keep pests out of your home. But for the most effective actions, you should create a seasonal pest maintenance plan.
At Phoenix Pest, we have more than five decades of pest protection experience. With both preventive and reactive residential services available, we can help you with any pest problems you may experience, regardless of the season. What’s more, we can create a seasonal plan that allows us to consistently meet your needs.
To find out more about how we can protect your home from pests throughout the year, contact us today.
