Large gardens and mature trees are lovely, but they bring wildlife closer to the house. This checklist is aimed at the roofs, sheds and gardens of leafy-suburb homes.
Wollaton is a leafy western suburb known for Wollaton Hall and its deer park, with inter-war semis and larger detached homes. Mature trees, hedges and big gardens suit squirrels, rats, wasps and ants. Large houses have lofts, outbuildings and garages that may go unchecked for months, which is exactly what pests look for.
A prevention routine for a house like this focuses on the roof line, the garden edges and storage areas rather than just the kitchen.
Check the loft in spring and autumn. Look for droppings, nesting material and gnawed timber or cables. From outside, look at fascias, soffits and the ridge for gaps. Trim branches that reach the roof, since squirrels use them as bridges. Wasps in spring will test any hole under the eaves that is large enough to enter.
Keep compost bins covered, and bird food clear of the ground. Do not stack wood against walls. Look under sheds for burrows and keep long grass away from the house. Fallen fruit under trees draws wasps in late summer and rats at other times.
Store food in hard containers and clear crumbs. Clean wool carpets, rugs and clothes before storing them, and keep stored textiles in sealed boxes to deter moths. After holidays, put luggage straight in the wash or on a hard floor rather than on a bed. Mice and rats follow cold weather, so check the airing cupboard and under-stairs spaces in autumn.
We include a free pest prevention survey and free advice with all treatments, looking at the roof, garden and outbuildings as well as the rooms inside. The findings will vary with the house and the season. If you have never had a survey, it can show up the gaps that a busy household simply walks past.
Do not forget outbuildings. Detached garages, summerhouses and log stores in larger gardens are used by rodents and wasps long before they reach the main house. Open each one at the start of spring and again in autumn, and look at the corners, the roof lining and the floor edges. A torch and ten minutes are enough for a first look.
A short written list on the garage wall of what to check each season helps everyone in the household remember.
Call 0115 937 5117 to arrange a visit or ask a question.
Twice a year is a sensible minimum, in spring and autumn. Look for droppings, nesting material, gnawing and any daylight where there should not be any.
They can, because trees, compost and outbuildings give wildlife shelter and food. Sensible tidying, covered bins and a seasonal check of the roof and sheds keep the risk down.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
