If you live in Dallas or the surrounding area, you know that the climate in our areas is perfect for a wide range of spiders. We have wolf spiders creeping around in our landscaping. We have grass spiders making webs in our vegetation. And we have black widow spiders setting up webs in brush piles, yellow garden orb weaver spiders creating webs in just the right place for us to walk through them, and brown recluse spiders making webs in holes and crevices. We could go on, but you get the point.
Spiders are ever encroaching our Dallas properties. The only way to stop this encroachment is to reduce the conditions that lead to spider infestations. Here are five effective spider control tips that will help you keep spiders out of your Dallas property.
1. Protect Your Trash
Open trash will attract insects and creepy bugs. These are food for spiders. Keep exterior trash in covered receptacles, and keep your receptacles clean to reduce smells that attract pests.
2. Reduce Exterior Light
Lights can make your exterior beautiful at night and increase security for your home by removing dark places for criminals to sneak around in, but those lights can attract many insects. When they do, spiders will come into your yard to eat those insects. Consider using insect-resistant lights, or keeping lights off at night where it is not a security concern. Also keep in mind that the light coming out of your windows will attract insects as well. Close your curtains at night to keep insects away.
3. Reduce Moisture
Many bugs need moisture to live. If you have a moist perimeter, you’ll have lots of bug activity. There are many ways moisture issues can develop. Here are some to consider:
- Clean your gutters.
- Trim tree branches to let the sunlight into shaded areas.
- Trim bushes and shrubs to provide better airflow in your landscaping.
- Water your plants in the early morning to let the moisture dry up in the sun.
- Remove piles of leaves, grass clippings, and other organic debris that trap moisture underneath.
4. Seal Entry Points
When spiders come near to your home, you don’t want them to find an easy pathway into your home because they may just take it. There are some common entry points spiders use. Seal these by using a caulking gun, foam, mesh, or a repair kit:
- Holes around pipes
- Holes around PVC wire conduit
- Gaps under and around exterior doors
- Gaps around windows
- Cracks in foundation walls
- Chipped mortar
- Unprotected weep holes
- Damaged screens
- Damaged soffits and rooflines
5. Interior Food And Water Resources
When a spider gets into your home, you don’t want them to find something to eat or drink. Everything you do to reduce pest activity in your home will reduce spider food, and everything you do to reduce moisture will reduce the water spiders need to survive.
Food
- Protect your interior trash by putting trash in a covered container. Keep this container clean and remove the trash frequently.
- Clean spills up quickly.
- Keep your floors clean.
- Put your pantry foods in sealed plastic containers.
- Put fruits in your refrigerator, rather than putting them on display.
- Put pet food down only during the times of day when they eat.
Water
- Fix any leaky faucets.
- Use your bathroom fan when taking a shower.
- Install dehumidifiers in areas that are humid.
6. Invest In Residential Pest Control
There is no better way to control bugs and the spiders that eat them than to invest in ongoing pest control for your Dallas home. For assistance with this in the Dallas area, contact Evolve Pest Control and get started with effective pest management for your Dallas, TX home. We can help you get control of those spiders.
