The season begins: three things to do before warm weather arrives
Preparation takes one weekend, and the benefits are felt all summer.
There are usually a few weeks between the snow melting and the first mosquitoes appearing. This is the only window in which prevention is still worthwhile; later, the focus will have to shift from conditions to consequences.
Water. Inspect every container on the property and around the house. Cover barrels with lids or netting, turn unused containers over, clear drains and gutters, drain stagnant pools, and remove old tyres. Every container of standing water is a breeding site that remains active all summer.
Grass and debris. Last year's leaves, fallen branches, piles of plant waste, and stacks of boards provide both overwintering sites and shelter for ticks and rodents. The first mowing along paths and around the perimeter significantly reduces the risk from ticks: there is nowhere for them to wait on a short lawn.
Building perimeters. The house, shed, garage, and cellar should be inspected for signs of rodents that have overwintered there, and any openings found should be sealed. In spring, this takes an hour; in autumn, once seasonal migration begins, a building with open entry routes can be colonised within weeks.
Only then does it make sense to turn to pest control products. Tick treatment is applied to warmed soil in dry weather, usually in the second half of April. Mosquito products — fumigators for indoor use, coils for the veranda, and repellents for walks — should be purchased in advance because demand surges in the very first warm week.
