Spiders, ants, fleas, ticks, earwigs, ladybugs and the annoying, yet ever-present box elder bug can all be found in your yard and landscape. But what if they get inside your house?

Cooler weather will undoubtedly drive many bugs into your garage, basement or kitchen and you should take precautions now to prevent the onslaught.

DIY Pest Control vs Calling a Professional Pest Company

Professional Pest Control

Obviously, calling a professional pest control company to keep the spiders out of your home is the quickest and most efficient way to go.

1. The pros have access to the right products for the job.
2. The pros know exactly where to spray and how much to use.
3. The pros offer guarantees and will return between regular visits if problems flare up.
4. The pros know where bugs live and why.
5. The cost is not as much as you might think.

Do it Yourself Pest Control

Trying to keep the bugs out all on your own will work if you hit all the spots at the right time.

1. DIY pest control is not terribly difficult.
2. DIY pest control is cheaper in the long run.
3. DIY pest control works if you stay on a schedule.
4. DIY pest control means you can schedule your treatments around your own timeframe. (ie: when you are on vacation)

Of course, we are talking about general insect and bug prevention here and not a cure for major infestations or termite issues. If you have a major bug problem or termite infestation, call a professional pest control company immediately as they know how to solve the problem before major damage occurs. Here is a Terminix Coupon below. Click here or the link to get a free estimate!

The reason I am bringing this issue up now is because I have been a little busy this summer and forgot to perform my regular insect treatments around the foundation of my house and in my basement. My wife reminded me it was time to get it done when she walked into a spider web in the basement.

Here is my DIY Pest Control Regimen

I use a general purpose insect spray from Spectracide, called “Bug Stop,” that I buy at Walmart. It comes in 1 gallon size and costs around $7. The product label says it lasts for up to 9 months, but when applied to the exterior areas of my house, it washes away and I reapply it about every 6 weeks or anytime it rains. I use this product because it is labeled for indoor and outdoor use and is nearly odorless.

Exterior Perimeter Pest Control

On my 6-week schedule, I spray around the entire foundation of my home, as well as around doors and windows. I am also mindful to apply it around any other openings to the outside wall such as where phone or electric service enters my house. I also spray in my garage around all the edges and in the rafters.

Interior DIY Pest Control

I don’t have pets, and my kids are older, so this is not a concern for me. I apply the same Spectracide product around all the edges where the floor and walls meet in the basement, as well as in between all the exposes joists.

I also spray in my kitchen behind the refrigerator and stove. In addition, I apply the liquid in the bedrooms once per year in the early spring.

The biggest drawback to doing my own pest control is that I really don’t know if I am using enough or too much, as well as I often forget to get it done on time. Afterall, I’m a lawn and landscape guy, not a bug man!

My Recommendation for Home Pest Control

I pretty much tell people that if you find spiders or webs in your lawn or landscape, then you’re gonna find them in your house too. I think it is definitely worth it to have a professional pest company give you an estimate just to see if it fits in your budget. You’ll find that they are very affordable get better results in most cases.

And now, my readers can get a free estimate from Terminix, as well as save 10% on pest control services. Click on one of the banners to set up your free, no obligation estimate and analysis at your home.



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The Japanese Beetle, a.k.a “June Bug” is out in full force throughout the Midwest causing damage to young trees and tender shrubs. Every morning before work, I take a walk around my yard and inspect and enjoy my lawn, trees, shrubs and flowers. I do this, first off, because I am a fanatic, secondly, because I enjoy my landscape and thirdly, and most importantly, because I want to ensure everything is in good health.
On Wednesday morning (July 9th) I took my morning stroll and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. But Thursday morning, I awoke to find…

…Hundreds of Japanese beetles had infested the small river birch in my backyard and had already nearly defoliated the top 50% of the tree. Those Bastards!!!!!
I didn’t have any ornamental landscape insecticide handy, but I did have some general liquid insecticide available that I use to spray around my doors and windows to keep ants out. I used the spray to hit those little punks direct and was able to stave off the attack until I could get the right product and apply that evening.
Now I would NEVER recommend you use products on your trees and shrubs that are not designed or approved for that use. I am merely letting you know how serious this problem can become if left for more than 24 hrs.

In case you are wondering, Jap Beetles are the adult stage of that nasty grub worm that infests and destroys lawns in the late summer and fall. These little buggers are the “perfect storm of bugs” as they damage everything underground as well as high up in the trees.

I can usually judge how bad the Japanese Beetle problem will be in a given year based on how many of them end up drowned in my pool skimmer, and this year has been the worst in my unscientific records. If you live near a cornfield like I do, you will have an even bigger problem.
Jap Beetles are “skeltonizing insects,” meaning they eat all of the soft leaf tissue out from between the leaf veins. As you can imagine, this weakens the affected plant because a leaf with no surface area can’t photosynthesize properly, robbing the tree or shrub of sugars, eventually killing it.

The best control for these Japanese beetle infestations is to use a product that works systemically, meaning the root system of the plant takes the product in, creating an effective “shield” when beetles attempt to feed. Bayer Advanced makes a great systemic control that you mix with water and pour around the root system of the most vulnerable trees and shrubs. However, if you have a case like mine where you need immediate control, Spectricide makes a product called “Immunox” that works well as a direct kill by spraying it on the leaves. It comes in premixed spray bottles, or you can buy concentrate and mix in a pump sprayer for bigger jobs.

I recommend buying the concentrate, mixing in a pump sprayer and covering the leaves on the top AND bottom throughout the hot months of summer. Three treatments of Immunox spaced 3 weeks apart should be sufficient… BUT READ THE LABEL before you go doing everything I say! Keep in mind that beetles will attack young trees first as they are more tender!

Another very effective control for Japanese Beetles is Talstar. It works well and can also be used on your other trees and shrubs as well as your lawn to kill ants, flease, mosquitoes, spiders and mites.

On a final note, those “beetle bags” you can get will do a great job of attracting, trapping and killing Japanese Beetles, but you have to wonder how many bites they take of your precious and expensive landscaping on their way to the party in the bag?!?! Those bags just might effectively create a block party of beetles, eating up everything in their path on their way to destruction in the bag as they die with a full stomach!

Here is a list of plants that are very susceptible to Japanese Beetle attacks.
1. American linden
2. Crabapple
3. Apple
4. Japanese maple
5. Norway maple
6. Rose
7. Crape myrtle
8. Pin oak
9. Birch
10. Purple Plum, Apricot, Cherry, Peach

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