Around the Corner

Treating the foundation has long been a cornerstone of pest control, but today’s PMPs know it’s only part of the equation. To truly prevent infestations, companies are looking beyond the perimeter to target other areas of the yard, its structures and surrounding environments where pest problems often originate.

“The majority of our treatments are up around the foundation of the home, but we’ve seen an increase in add-on services that target particularly prone areas in the yard,” said Terminix Service’s Kevin Hathorne.

LAY OF THE LAND. Those interviewed for State of the Outdoors Market Report said that in addition to treating a structure’s foundation, they treat decks and patios, pergolas, outdoor fireplaces, sheds, mailboxes, flower beds and gardens.

Respondents also noted that commonly overlooked treatment areas include gutters, fire pits, swimming pools, woodlines and play equipment. Woodlines, in particular, are a major problem with mosquitoes and other nuisance pests.

“The reason pests thrive out there is because there’s a lot of shade and moisture,” said ZipZap’s Jeff Preece. “There are totally undisturbed nesting areas the farther you get from the house. So we target woodlines, tree bases, leaf litter, mulch buildup and fence lines.”

Products change across locations, too. Sixty percent of survey respondents report using granular pesticides and bait to control outdoor pests. That number is so high largely because granular products become more important the farther away you get from the foundation. Although 96% use liquids and sprays for outdoor services, Preece points out those become harder to use in more open areas where they run the risk of spreading downwind.

“We tend to use more granular bait applications farther out because they’re going to have less of an effect on non-target organisms,” said Hathorne. “We always want to reduce the effects on non-target organisms like birds and other species.”

UNEARTH PROBLEM AREAS. It’s not just about what’s lingering at the edges. It’s also about looking at the entire area from a pest’s point of view. “We’re so often worried about the house as our biggest single investment, that homeowners aren’t always thinking about other things not attached to the house,” said Ballard Pest Management's Scott Ballard. “You’ve got to think like a bug.”

Three-quarters of respondents provide targeted yard treatments for fleas, ticks and other pests, but only 25% perform shrub, tree and ornamental treatments. When you’re thinking like a pest, you are looking for food sources, nesting areas and other creative ways to get indoors.

“Sometimes technicians are so focused on looking at the foundation for crawling insects that they forget to look up,” said PestStop’s Billy Olesen. “If carpenter ants are crawling on the power lines overhead, you’re never going to get control if you’re only treating the foundation.”

That mentality extends to the kinds of lighting clients use indoors and out.

“We’ve had car dealerships have big issues with bugs because they’ve got big, beautiful lights installed that are attracting them,” Olesen said. “You change those bulbs out, and you no longer have the same problem.”