Preventing Cockroaches in your home

Regardless of how clean you keep your kitchen, t’s likely there’s at least one hiding there. They are some of the most common pests found in homes.

A cockroach sighting can end dinner, a party or a date. One roach sighting in a restaurant can even ruin a Yelp rating!

Though a pest professional knows the best course of treatment and is educated on the varieties of roaches, there are a few things you can do.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

10 ways to keep roaches out of your kitchen:

  1. Eliminate food sources.
  2. Remove unwanted food from kitchen cabinets and your sink.
  3. Empty the garbage regularly. 
  4. Seal food items in airtight containers.
  5. Put away pet food.
  6. Clean your surfaces.
  7. Clean out your drains.
  8. Seal off cracks and entrances.
  9. Remove dirty dishes from kitchen sink at night.
  10. Run the garbage disposal frequently.

Call the Pest360 pros

You can rely on our licensed pest professionals to launch a personal attack on the roaches in your home or business. We have the tools and insecticides that are targeted to the specific type of roaches for your area. 
You can also reach out to us at 662-257-3149, 901-560-2399, or fill out our online contact form to know more about our local bed bug exterminators.

How to hire a pest pro

There are things to know before you hire a pest pro. Hiring a pest pro doesn’t have to be a hard thing, you just need to ask a few questions before choosing a company. 

When you have had enough of ants, roaches, spiders on top of the fear of the unseen, it’s time to ask these questions.

One: Free quotes?

When hiring a pest pro, you should expect to find a pro who will come to your home or business and give you a free quote. No pressure, no obligations, just an up front and honest quote which details the service you need.

Two: Knowledgable representative?

The sales representative who visits your home should be knowledgable about the service you are requiring. They should be able to answer most all of the questions you have about everything from pricing to safety and procedures. 

If they don’t know the answers, they should offer to find out and get back to you with accurate information. Being friendly and honest is certainly a bonus when dealing with any sales representatives. 

Three: Service?

When the pest technician comes to your home or business, they should first do a thorough inspection of your structure, inside and out. Make sure the technician checks under sinks, in closets, window sills, outdoor problem areas. 

A quality technician will even make small adjustments if possible to help with your problem. After the service is complete, you should get a consultation with the tech where you get the best advice on how to keep your home pest free. 

Beware: If your tech comes in and starts spraying with no inspection, you need a new company!

Four: Professionalism?

When hiring a pest pro, you are hiring someone to come into your home. ANY pest company representative who comes to your door or inside your home should be dressed professionally, in uniform and driving a clean and well marked vehicle.

Five: Price?

When you are trying to rid your home of roaches, do you really want the “cheapest” service?

The lowest price in pest prevention does not mean you are going to get results. Quality pest prevention may cost more, but in the end you are satisfied. 

We have all had experiences with “cheap” services that ended up in us having to start all over again with more costly, yet more effective results. 

Six: Referrals?

What is everyone else saying about the pest professional that you want to hire? Google reviews can tell you a lot. Ask friends and neighbors, do a little research and choose wisely.

Questions to ask before hiring a pest pro can help you find the right fit for your needs. Unfortunately, there are pest companies who don’t do what they say they are going to do. 

At Lawn and Pest Solutions, we live up to our reputation. We work the hardest to make sure you are satisfied with your pest service. Contact our office at Lawn and Pest Solutions in New Albany, MS. We serve the North Mississippi and Memphis areas.

Lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs

Lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs fall into the category of “occasional invaders. Meaning they aren’t really bothersome until they infest your home. Having one or two of any of these pests isn’t really an issue, until it becomes an infestation.

It’s all about the numbers.

With many of the pests and issues that involve home pest control, it’s all about the numbers. “infestation”. With any infestation of pests, it is very important that you keep these pests out of your home. It’s easy to avoid stink bugs and lady beetles when they are gathered on your porch. When an infestation makes its’ way into your home, it’s time to get serious.

Lady bugs or lady beetles, what’s the difference?

Around our North Mississippi and Tennessee area, we are most likely seeing Asian Lady Beetles. These Lady beetles are slightly different from what most of us refer to as “ladybugs”.  The Asian Lady Beetles often appear when the weather cools.  The Lady beetles will congregate on the side of a house by the hundreds or thousands.  If Lady beetles can find an entry point into your home, they will make their way inside. 

Aren’t Lady bugs the “good” bugs?

Lady bugs are generally considered to be helpful insects. While there are many species of lady bugs or lady beetles, most of them are useful because they prey on aphids. Aphids are true pests that suck the life right out of our plants, trees, crops. 

When ladybugs or lady beetles are found on a crape myrtle, they typically have laid hundreds of eggs right in middle of the aphids. As soon as the eggs hatch,  Lady bugs begin feasting on the aphids. Ladybugs can rescue a crape myrtle and even a crop from aphids when the timing is right!

But on the other hand…

As cute as ladybugs are depicted in art, children’s books they do have a few unappealing characteristics. In order to protect themselves from predators, ladybugs secrete a fluid from the joints in their legs. 

This secretion tastes really bad to a predator and smells really bad to humans. In an infestation, many homeowners experience staining on walls from the secreted fluid. Some people are even allergic to the dust from crumbling shells of dead lady bugs.

While stink bugs are never depicted as “cute” they are also not much of a problem until an infestation occurs. Much like the lady beetles, they produce a foul odor and are best swept up and safely thrown away.

How to keep lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs out of your home:

Repair cracks around windows and doors

Repair torn window or door screens

Remove piles of branches and leaves in your lawn

Eliminate areas where water collects

Check under sinks for leaking pipes and repair

Now is the time to check out what is happening outside your home.

The first thing you can do as a homeowner is keep pest out. Immediate action would be to vacuum up lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs and throw them away. If you are beyond that solution,  Lawn and Pest can help.

In addition to “occasional invaders” we are also here to protect your home from termites, roaches, ants and more. Our licensed pest technicians will thoroughly spray inside and outside of your home on a regular schedule to ensure this problem is taken care of now and later. 

Our company offers the best bed bug exterminators treatment! We are ready to help you out. Contact us here to learn more about our #pest360 program. Our website has a user-friendly app to leave your messages with our office. Leave us a message and let us show you #thelpsdifference .

Local or National for Pest Control

When choosing a pest control company, one can choose between a local or national company.  It is easy and fast to Google “pest control” and find a national company.  Orkin and Terminix most likely pop up first. National marketing and branding companies have successfully made their names a fixture. Local or national pest control is a choice to think about before making the decision.

Orkin, Terminix, and other national pest control companies aren’t bad. They are large and successful pest control companies. We easily recognize their names and logos and feel like we “know” them. But what do they know about you

Who are we?

Working with a locally owned business like Lawn and Pest Solutions means that you are getting very personal service. We have customers and technicians that know each other on a first-name basis and keep up with each others’ lives. We work hard to retain our employees for years so that customer relationships are solid and built on trust. 

Our pest technicians are trusted and honest, hardworking, and loyal to the company and our customers. We don’t send in “fly by night” employees to spray in your home. Our licensed pest technicians are people that you can trust. You won’t be worried to see our guys spraying in your lawn or on your patio. 

Did you Google us first?

When deciding between a local or a national pest company, try reading the Google reviews. You can’t help but notice that our customers frequently refer to our employees by name in the reviews. Do you know your pest technician by name? 

In addition to providing reliable technicians, our owner Paul Welborn feels personally responsible for each customer. From customer service to satisfaction with pest services, Paul is invested. It is not uncommon for him to show up at a home to help solve an unusual pest issue. He is committed to making sure the customer gets the best possible service.

Keeping people happy.

Lawn and Pest owner Paul Welborn is hands-on and present.  Whether loading up trucks at 6:45 a.m. or frying up fish at employee appreciation day, he is there. Creating personal relationships with his employees and investing in their futures is important to Paul. Keeping loyal, trained technicians that want to stay with the company is key to keeping customers happy. 

When the company sees itself as a team, everyone benefits, including the customers. This is why it is important to choose locally owned pest control services over a nationally owned pest service. At Lawn and Pest Solutions, we want to know YOUR name and give you the best termite and pest control ​you can get.

We provide outstanding customer service and stand behind our programs. We serve the North Mississippi and Memphis areas with outstanding pest control and lawn treatment for pests. Contact our office 24/7 to get a very fast response and outstanding service. 

Can I bug proof my home?

You CAN bug proof your home! Keeping bugs away is almost as simple as keeping a tidy home and yard. Of course, calling a Lawn and Pest Solutions technician to treat your home for pests is always a great idea. Just remember that to successfully KEEP bugs away, this is a team effort. The best professional treatment won’t work if we aren’t “all in this together”. 

Bug proof your home from the outside

  • If you have firewood stacked next to your home, get it off the ground and move it a few feet away from the house. 
  • Clean up debris from your yard. Piles of sticks, limbs and leaves are gathering places for bugs. If there are any limbs, vines or branches that actually touch your home, remove them. These create a corridor for bugs and other undesirable critters to get into your roof or home.
  • Repair any small holes, cracks or tears in window screens, under doors or windows. Bugs are tiny and can get in the smallest access points.

Bug proof your home from the Inside

  • This may seem super obvious, but shut your windows and doors, all the way. Don’t leave gaping doors and unscreened windows open. This is the easiest way for ANYTHING to get in your home. 
  • Check the space behind your washing machine and refrigerator where water lines come in. This is not as obvious or easy to check, but a very easy point for bugs to get in your home.
  • Keeping the inside of your home tidy and clean is obvious, but vacuuming away cobwebs may not be. 

What are bugs looking for inside my home?

Water first.

Leaky faucets or sources of water are popular gathering spots for bugs. Look under your sink, washing machine, and refrigerator, this is where bugs gather. Water that runs from outside to inside is their best bet.

Food next. There are two quick and easy things you should ALWAYS do. 

  • Rinse and put away dirty dishes in the sink.
  • Sweep up pet food and keep it in sealed containers.

You can bug-proof your home, but it takes teamwork. You do your part, we will do ours. Contact Lawn and Pest Solutions in New Albany, MS and we will work with you to bug-proof your home. Hire our local bed bug exterminators to protect your home from unwanted guests. Our licensed pest technicians will show up promptly and treat your house the same they would their own. We serve neighborhoods and businesses from Memphis, TN, and anywhere in between all over North Mississippi. 

Wasp Control

Wasp control is something most every homeowner eventually deals with. Unless one is highly allergic to a wasp sting, they aren’t very harmful (but maybe painful). While a wasp doesn’t usually go out of its’ way to sting, if you disrupt their space, they may get a little “stirred up”. 

Just be calm.

If you happen to wander into a wasp nest, don’t start swatting! Remember, the object is wasp control. Swatting attracts more wasps so be calm and move away. Walk indoors if you can. If a wasp follows you indoors, open windows and doors and allow it some room to get out. 

Wasp nests are generally found around loose piles of wood and under porches. They can also be found along rafters or in rarely used empty cans, buckets and boxes.

Everyone has at least one good quality.

Unlike bees who pollinate other plants, a wasps best redeeming quality is that they help us out by eating other insects. Telling the difference between wasps and bees is pretty easy. Bees are “husky” and wasps are “slim”. Bees are “hairy” and wasps are “smooth”.

Things that attract wasps:

  • Flowers and plant life
  • Outdoor eating areas
  • Uncovered and overflowing garbage cans 
  • Properties with many insects and spiders (prey for wasps)

Is it too late to control wasps?

Wasp nests are generally designed by the queen in the spring and they grow all spring and early summer. By August, nests are at their peak size and the wasps are at their most aggressive. If you have waited until August, either get the help of a professional or just try to avoid stirring them up. 

If you decide to just keep calm, let the frost do its’ work.  Then get rid of the nests so they don’t move back in next spring.  Be proactive and start looking for them early in the year. Then  destroy the nests and the queen before they grow and get really angry. 

Five things you can do to control and prevent wasps from taking up residence with you next spring:

  • Remove abandoned nests in winter
  • Seal gaps in your home
  • Eliminate loose piles of wood and refuse in your yard
  • Clean up rotten fruit under fruit trees
  • Keep outdoor garbage tightly sealed

If you aren’t into wasp hunting, call a professional pest service like Lawn and Pest Solutions. They can control wasps while you stay safely indoors. A licensed technician from Lawn and Pest can assess the situation and handle it promptly and safely. Our trained pest technicians serve all areas between Memphis, TN, Oxford, New Albany and Tupelo, MS. You can also find them everywhere in between! Give us a call to control wasps, hornets, bees and other angry pests!

Memphis pest control

Three tips to keeping your Memphis home pest free

Hello, Memphis! Lawn and Pest Solutions is here to help you prevent pests from ever entering your home. We are specialists in pest control and are here for you if it’s “too late” and they have already invaded. Maybe you have tried DIY pest control and are ready for the pros.

Whether you are in Memphis, Germantown or Collierville, keeping your home free of pests is what we like to think of as a team effort. While we can, will and DO go into homes every day to rid them of pests, half of the battle is in prevention. Here are four things YOU can do to help fight the fight.

Clean up debris outside your home.

Piles of twigs and leaves make wonderful homes for pests. Get those piles bagged up and remove them from your property. While you are at it, any fallen branches or limbs that are leaning against your home need to go. Think of branches that touch your home as “ladders” that squirrels, mice, etc. can use to access your roof, attic, cracks in the home. Don’t make it any easier for them to get in!

2. Seal up your home.

Walk around outside and look closely for cracks and crevices where tiny mice and more could squeeze in. You aren’t looking for open doors and windows (though that does invite pests…) , look for the smallest openings around windows, under doors, gaps between the roof and home. Remember the pests we are looking for are usually small and can wiggle into the tiniest spaces. Now, seal it up! If pests can’t get in, most of your problem is solved!

3. Clean up your home (especially your kitchen).

This seems so obvious and so easy. But keeping the inside of your home free of food and water to tempt pests is a never ending “tidying up” process. Things that are a “must do” include: 

  • Don’t leave dirty dishes in your sink overnight.
  • Don’t leave pet food out overnight. (Be sure stored pet food is kept in an airtight container)
  • Check your pantry to be sure that all food is sealed. Look at boxes of cereal and crackers, are those bags opened inside? Easy to access cookies and dry pastas and such are easy feeding sources for pests.

These three “small” tasks are things that you can do regularly in and outside of your home to help fight the war against pests. Our licensed pest technicians will spray outside and inside your home on their initial visit. This visit includes a thorough inspection inside and out, and if they can help close up those entry points for pests, they will. Our techs will also advise you on anything else you can do to help prevent pests. After the initial spraying, all follow up visits are done outside of your home (this means you don’t have to be there after the first visit).  

Whether you are fighting roaches, ants, millipedes, or any other pests in your home, we are here for you. You can contact our office any day or time by leaving a message on our website. At Lawn and Pest Solutions, we call it #thelpsdifference. You can read our reviews on Google to see just how happy our customers are with our fantastic customer service and results. Follow us on Facebook and on Instagram to learn more about our company and our professional and friendly technicians.

Benefits of Hiring a Pest Professional

One walk down the pesticide aisle of a home improvement store is enough for me to know I need to hire a pest professional. So many bags of chemicals and containers of liquids. The smell of the aisle alone is enough to let me know, “I don’t know what I am doing here”. Have you ever tried reading the instructions on pesticides? I am always reminded that I am not a chemist or a baker. I don’t do “recipes”. 

What’s that smell?

A do it yourself insecticide program should bring up a lot of uncertainties. Is this the right formula? Is is safe for my pet? What will happen if my children touch/eat this? Where do I spray? If I only have to spray it once a year, what the heck is IN this stuff? And this one is for me, where is that sprayer and how do I get this smelly stuff inside of it? So hiring a pest professional sounds like an obvious YES.

I don’t change my own oil, rotate my tires, unclog my toilets or rewire my lamps. 

Why would I think I can fend off an infestation of roaches? Hiring a pest professional gives peace of mind. A pest professional undergoes continual training to maintain certification. In addition to that, at Lawn and Pest Solutions, our pest professionals have additional standards to maintain. They know when to spray, what to spray and where to spray.

Our licensed pest professionals at Lawn and Pest Solutions are more than guys with sprayers who know where to spray. These are things you can expect from us:

  • We apply pesticides that are specific to the area you live and that apply to the specific problems you have.
  • We look for points of entry and help you exclude them.
  • We broom down cobwebs and wasps nests outside so they don’t set up camp outside your home. 
  • We know “what’s coming” ….for instance, we know ants are more active in wet weather. Our techs are proactive. We like to prevent pest problems, not just solve them. 
  • Our techs have seen it all. They know where to look, what to look under, what signs to look for when solving pest mysteries. 

Hiring a pest professional, it’s a no-brainer.

At Lawn and Pest Solutions, we are here to solve your problems. You don’t have to be a DIY pest guy, you can just call us with your pest problems and questions. You don’t have to learn how to spray your pantry safely by watching YouTube videos. You don’t have to become a stay at home chemist to mix up your own roach spray. You can feel confident in our trained pest professionals that they know what they are doing and they know when to do it. Don’t worry or waste any more money and time trying to do it on your own. We are here for you. Call our office today to have peace of mind and know that this is not the year the roaches are going to rule your kitchen.