Coastal Living, Coastal Concerns: Pest Prevention for Hilton Head Homes
Hilton Head, South Carolina is one of the most beautiful coastal areas, with temperatures warm enough to enjoy outside activities almost all year long. Being a coastal area, there are more sunny and rainy days than other places, which makes conditions perfect for flying insects and other bugs to visit more often. If you want to enjoy all coastal living has to offer, here is how to keep your Hilton Head home pest-free.
Why Coastal Areas See More Pests
Why do coastal towns need to be more aware and active about pest control? The warmer temperatures mixed with the moist conditions create the ultimate environment for bugs to thrive in. A lot of insects breed and lay eggs in damp, dark, moist sections that require standing water, where even a few teaspoons is enough.
Areas that see more water than others, like Hilton Head, combined with more sunny days than the average city have longer and more humid summers and longer insect and mosquito seasons. This is a trade-off for living in a gorgeous area with water views and
It Starts With Cleaning
- Dusting high and low
- Keeping garbage covered
- Sweeping nooks and crannies
- Mopping floors and cleaning baseboards
- Washing bedding and fabrics weekly or as needed
- Vacuuming as often as needed
- Open the windows to let fresh air in every day, even if it's just 5 minutes
While we all love a good rage clean from time to time and deep cleaning does something to our soul when we are done, it also serves another great purpose - keeping the pests away. Cleaning daily prevents bugs and other insects from coming into your home because it takes away food sources and places where they can breed and lay eggs.
Doing a deeper clean and sorting out junk drawers, going through boxes in the attic or basement you haven't looked through in a while and cleaning out the garage are ways to keep other pests like spiders, rodents and even larger critters like squirrels out of your home.
Other Ways to Banish Bugs
Take Care of Your Yard
Your yard can be a beacon for insects and bugs, attracting them to hang out and settle in. Once in your outdoor space, your home is the next to be invaded. Whether you opt for a professional mosquito misting system or regular fogging treatments, combining pest control with proper yard maintenance is key. By spending a few minutes a day checking on a couple of things, you can keep the pests away from your yard.
- Keep your grass neat, mowed and tidy
- Trim trees, hedges and bushes down regularly
- Make sure no greenery hangs over your home or roof
- Don't leave furniture or play equipment near the edges of your yard
- Dump standing water after storms, rain or humid days
- Neatly stack any wood or piles of materials
- Declutter your home, especially areas with cardboard or paper products
- Change all outside lights to yellow bulbs
A lot of these pest prevention tips are minimal effort and low cost, with only needing a little bit of your time and effort. They will give you something to do, keep the bugs away and elevate the look of your home and yard.
Check Home Entrances
- Look for cracks around windows and doors
- Check all screens for tears or holes
To add more layers of protection for your home against the bugs, give your windows and doors a good look. Any crack or hole is an entryway for a bug. It also can let air and heat out, so you want to make repairs anyway to make your home as energy-efficient as possible.
Don't neglect your screens, either. The smallest tear or hole can let in a number of flying insects into your home. If you can't repair the holes, look into getting new screens to keep the bugs outside where they belong.
Pest Control is Year Long
Just because the temperature drops below 50* Fahrenheit, which is when most bugs go away, look for somewhere else to hide out or go dormant, that doesn't mean they are gone for the rest of the season. One day of warmer temps can still wake up insects. Hilton Head sees around 215 sunny days, with December through February only having lows in the 40s with plenty of potential days in the 50s, which is when flying insects and other bugs can come back out to bite.
Where other areas see a temperature dip low enough for long enough to give people a break from insects, that isn't the case in Hilton Head. You have to have pest control plans laid out for the whole year, with things getting serious in the spring. As soon as temperatures consistently warm back up in the spring, make sure you start working on the list of tips given and think about whether you will need pest control services in the future.
Call the Professionals When Needed
It doesn't matter what type of insect or bug is taking over your yard or home, if you feel overwhelmed, call a professional and experienced pest control service, like MosquitoNix®. You can have a consultation about what plan would best suit your property without worrying about having to do anything. Pest control companies can create specific plans for your yard to protect your home the way you want to.
Residents in the Hilton Head area have beautiful weather and stunning views to take in for the majority of the year. Between the gorgeous white sand beaches, numerous golf courses and endless outdoor activities, there are plenty of reasons to get outside. But when it's time to get back inside, you don't want to be greeted by pests trying to be your new roommates. Keep the coastal vibe without the bugs when you follow these tips for pest prevention for your home.
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