Managing Pests With Green Pest Control

By Author: Jill Hopper
Total Articles: 24
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There are many different eco-friendly practices that are taking root in areas of everyday life. There are low VOC paints for your home’s interior and exterior. You can also find many stylish choices in home décor like countertops and carpets that are 100% recycled. There are even green pest control methods.

Managing pests used to mean using toxic chemicals and dangerous techniques but that is no longer the case. Some of the old school methods were scarier than the bugs themselves. Now we have more modern, alternative methods available for preventative pest management that are safer and less harmful for people and pets alike. If using Earth-conscious methods is important to you, seek out a company that employs green techniques.

Preventative pest management, or PPM for short, is a different way of looking at an age old problem. From the time Man first moved into caves, he’s had to sweep out the spiders. Dealing with nuisance creatures has always been part of home ownership.

The difference is that now this task can be done with a more eco-friendly approach in mind. There are non-chemical and preventative ...
... measures that can be taken in addition to safer chemical agent for extermination of existing pests. PPM focuses on using green solutions for this common problem.

Inspection

The first step in creating a green solution for your home is making a thorough inspection. Your pest control technician should really dig into the nooks and crannies of your home. That’s the only way to ascertain exactly what the problem is and how extensive it has become. A cursory glance at the foundation and a peek into the attic just won’t do. He should come prepared to crawl through the crawl spaces and really get into the areas where termites, mice and other pests like to hide.

Recommendations

Your agent should give you some recommendations after he has finished inspecting your home. He should offer low-risk methods for breaking the life-cycle of pest and getting them out of your home. Many of these should be preventative measures. He should be able to give you a comprehensive plan for caring for your home with proper pest management, not just a quick-fix chemical spray.

Green Techniques

A green company should be able to explain several different types of pest control measures. Here are just a few.

- Cultural control. Cultural methods are things that affect the pest’s surroundings. Some examples would be keeping woodpiles well away from the house, cutting back foundations plantings and eliminating clutter both inside and out.

- Exclusion methods. This term means keeping pests out. Caulking gaps and using mesh to cover vents are a couple of examples. These methods keep pest from gaining access to your home.

- Biological controls. This process uses enzymes to interrupt the life-cycle of the pest in question. The substance may prevent them from maturing, reproducing or from performing another biological act that allows them to survive.

- Sanitation management. Sanitation methods will help prevent pest by eliminating their food sources. Making sure your home is free of available food and shelter will send pests looking for more suitable accommodations.

- Strategic use of control products. There are times when an exterminator must be called in and chemicals must be used. However, there are plant-based options that are strategically targeted and less caustic.

Keeping your home clean and green can be accomplished with PPM. Look for a lawn and pest control provider that uses these green techniques.

Article Source: Hopper