Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
Organic pest control in the new decade is hopefully going to take a turn for the better! Not only with the increasing quality and quantity of products but the pest control industry is learning our enemy. Below are several ways we might be able to make your house more “green” this year.
Quantity of Organic Pest Control:
Whether its liquid, aerosol or mechanical every year professionals, and homeowners, are finding new ways to keep pests out of their kitchens.
Peppermint oil is one of the best tools. Whether this comes store bought, or from a neighbor, or even your pest professional this product will create an overwhelming aura that should push pests out. Oils, however, do have a downside in that they do not normally last more than a couple weeks and once dry the barrier isn’t as strong. So be sure to have this applied every few weeks through the warmer season.
Mechanical is organic pest control that utilizes methods of treatment outside of applying pesticide like placing traps, or doing exclusion work, or even remodeling the home. Good olé fashion glue boards are the tried and true example of mechanical trap pest control. They stop pests in their tracks and allow for great monitoring of what type of insects might be visiting. Of course insects can adapt and avoid them, they are a little unsightly, and they are a small area of effectiveness. Mechanical also includes exclusion work such as: sealing cracks, replacing weather stripping, or patching holes. These are all great ways to organically reduce the number of pests getting in.
Quality of Organic Pest Control:
As more and more people switch to organics, the more companies will create and work on quality products. They are making oils stronger and more readily available, and even some in aerosol. New traps are constantly being innovated and produced. And home builders are finding better ways to seal and build homes with products being made for homeowners to help.
The Downside: *bum~bum~buuuuuuum*
Products do have a downside. Traps cover just a small area and pests avoid and adapt to them. Oils break down quickly so to have professionally treated can become more expensive with more applications required. Occasionally some pests are too strong or too many to be controlled by just organics and we need to call in the bigger guns. But hopefully the industry will continue to learn and grow and find new and safer ways to tackle
