Sanitation is a crucial step in reducing problems caused by pests and diseases. Just like people, trees and flowers will need a healthy environment too. We ensure to get fresh air, water and live in a clean home so as to reduce the chances of getting ill, but we tend to neglect the yard by leaving fallen fruits, dead branches, plants, and weeds in the garden. The fallen leaves and fruits are an ideal location for pests to survive. The shrubs and plants provide the pests with hiding places by increasing humidity and reducing airflow, and this could even cause fungal infections. To mitigate this risk, you have to clean up your yard regularly.

The living environment for human beings also provides the necessary conditions for pests to satisfy their life requirements. For this reason, it is crucial for homeowners to reduce the pests access to some possible elements like water, food, and shelter around the home to keep the living space hospitable. Pest management is a process that involves understanding and identifying the pests’ behavior and what they like most then using the information to get means on reducing them.

One common feature among all pests is that they like living in dark places like under the rocks where they live as a group. The harborages are mostly sites that are protected from air movement. They also love places where food is available, and the temperature is suitable for their survival. If you have a hip of rocks in your yard, you are likely to be attracting them. They also enjoy living under wood where they make holes, to avoid this you need to clear the space, and if you have stored any firewood at the yard, you better move it.

Long grass is another pests’ favorite spot. They make trails under the lawn where they make nests. If possible, these potential harborages should be removed, but unfortunately, the yards provide many holes and cracks where the pests can quickly turn to habitats. Places like tree holes, leaf litter accumulations, and more yard debris make perfect outdoor harborages for the pests.

There are also human-made pest harborages. These include the areas beneath the board, potted plants, garden barriers, decorative rock piles and garden statues. More human-made habitats include firewood piles, garbage piles and the interiors of hollow retaining walls. Keeping the decorative features from the yard will reduce pests in your home. The following steps will help you maintain the yard clean;

Remove debris

The winter which is accompanied by rain, wind, and snow may lead to fallen leaves and branches. Start the clean up by collecting the scattered clatters. Wait for the debris collection day in your town and drop or rent a wood chipper and turn the waste into mulch.

Clean around the plants

Pick out the fallen and dead plants’ leaves as they could smother plants and cause diseases. Remove the old mulch and the spent annuals and create space for a new layer. Remove the dead flowers and plant new ones; you can use a shovel to replant. Use the shovel to give the garden a clean edge. This will keep grass from growing around them. Add some fertilizer to boost and nourish the flowers and grass which leaves your yard greener and beautiful within a short period.

Prune the damaged branches

Where there are shrubs and tree branches damaged by the cold or wind, prune them using a handsaw. Shape the edges with hand pruners instead of electric shears to prevent a thick outer layer growth which might block sunlight from reaching the shrub or tree’s center. Trim the large branches to a size and shape of your choice. You should prune summer flowering shrubs like the rose of Sharon before the buds swell and sprout into flowers, but for spring shrubs, wait till the flowers come out so you can prune them.

Divide the perennials

It is good if you prune flowering perennials to about 4-5 inches high and grass to 2-3 inches which allow for a new shoot up. Cut the winter damaged Rose canes and blackened area. Keep the green and younger canes removing the old and woody ones and make them neat by tripping the buds.

Exterior vegetation is helpful as it makes the yard more beautiful and appealing, but the process comes with maintenance which includes mulch and irrigation. The humidity can attract pests, and the best way to prevent that is by regular maintenance and cleaning.

Avoid overdoing the mulch and irrigation, and the use of shrubs and vines so as to reduce humidity. Excessive mulch may lead to plant decay which will provide a food source for insects, which in turn attracts their predators; the pests. Mulch done in a home yard should be limited to maintain only the moisture that is enough for the trees and grass.

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