Yellowjackets are a nuisance in the summer when they’re looking for food and water. They can be especially troublesome when they get into your siding, where their nests will soon attract more of them to come in and set up shop. Fortunately, there is an easy way to keep these pests out: make sure you don’t leave any food or water outside! We provide six tips here on how you can stop yellow jacket infestations from happening at all.
Yellowjackets are attracted to food and water sources
One way to keep the yellow jackets out of your siding is not to leave food or water outside. This is especially true if there are yellow jackets around your house already. Even if you don’t see them, they are likely there. If they can get food and water outside, it will be hard to remove the yellow jackets from your home.
Take away their sources by ensuring that all trash cans have lids on them and storing pet food in cabinets or inside pantries instead of leaving it out so pests can get to it.
Keep your grass short so that there are fewer places for yellow jackets and other pests to take cover around the outside of your house. Cover any ponds or pools with netting so they cannot swim in them either.
Repair any cracks or holes in your siding that could serve as a nesting site for yellow jackets
Repair any cracks or holes in your siding that could serve as a nesting site for yellow jackets. Just like rodents, they can get into small spaces and make themselves at home, so you will need to seal up these potential openings right away before the problem gets even worse.
Make sure that your house is sealed up tight so fewer places for the yellow jackets to get inside. If you have a perforated foundation vent, cover it with metal mesh and secure it in place.
Replace screens on windows and install door sweeps
The first thing you can do to get rid of yellow jackets in siding is to replace the screens on windows so they cannot get into your home through them.
Another way to prevent yellow jackets from getting into your siding is to install door sweeps on exterior doors, so they are completely sealed shut. This will give these pests no place else to go but out of your home and away from your siding.
You can also make sure to keep the ground around your home clear of debris and trash, which will eliminate a lot of their nesting locations. This is especially important in the fall when yellow jackets are looking for places to winter over before they die off during colder months.
Keep trees trimmed back from the exterior of your home
Another way to keep yellow jackets out of your siding is by keeping trees around the exterior trim and clear from debris.
If there are a lot of branches hanging over your home, these can become their resting points when they go in and out through cracks or gaps. You want to make sure that none of these places remain for them so you can keep them out of your siding altogether.
Keeping the ground around your home clear is another good way to make sure you don’t have any yellow jackets nesting in or on lawn furniture, playsets, or other items that might be lying around outside. Anything they use as a resting place can attract these pests and cause problems for your siding later down the road.
Use non-toxic traps to keep yellow jackets away from your siding
Another way to get rid of yellow jackets nesting in cracks and gaps is to use traps. There are a few different types of traps you can choose from, but the most common ones work by luring yellow jackets with food or sugar water, so they go inside them to get it. Once there, they will become trapped inside and die off over time instead of continuing going in and out of your siding.
Using non-toxic traps is an effective way to get rid of yellow jackets without using dangerous chemicals or harming other living creatures in the area. This makes it safe for children, pets, and anyone else who may be around while trying to get rid of them from your home this fall season.
Use insecticide sprays for yellow jacket nests in the yard (wear gloves)
This method should be used only as a last resort because it can kill non-yellow jacket insects such as honeybees and butterflies. If there are many yellow jackets in your yard, you can use insecticide sprays to get rid of them.
Be sure only to treat the area where they have built their nests and wear gloves so that no one or nothing else is harmed by these chemicals when using this method. You should also try to avoid spraying any flowers or plants that may be around because this can also harm them.
Contact Semper Fi Exteriors today if you are looking for a professional company that can help with all of your siding needs. When it comes time for any repairs or installations, our highly experienced technicians can handle everything from start to finish at affordable rates. Call us now if you want to learn more about how we can help protect your home this fall season!