Some DIY projects are riskier than others. Baking your own peanut butter cookies? Not that risky. Cutting your own hair? Pretty risky.
When you’re worried about spiders, earwigs and beetles skittering into your house, how much risk do you want to take?
Should you hire pest control or do it yourself?
Jump to Section
- Is DIY Pest Control as Good as Professional?
- Is It Safe to Do Your Own Pest Control?
- Professional Pest Control Basics: How Does It Work?
- Which Bugs Will Professional Pest Control Banish?
- Pest Control DIY vs Professional: Is DIY Cheaper?
- Is Professional Pest Control Worth It?
- Ready for Skilled Professional Pest Control? Trust Lawn Buddies
Given all that’s involved in pest control, it’s smarter to hire the pros for this important task.
Professional pest control services in Boise and Idaho Falls know what pests are lurking in this area, they know their pesky habits and they have access to pro-grade products they know work.
Additionally, they are equipped with the necessary tools and safety equipment to complete the job with minimal risk.
Keep reading to learn more about do-it-yourself pest control vs professional services.
Is DIY Pest Control as Good as Professional?
Not usually.
The strength of professional perimeter pest control products enables them to work more effectively and efficiently than those available for purchase.
When you buy a pre-mixed pest control product from a store, it’s mixed at a lower ratio than professional-strength products, so it won’t be as effective, says Dillon Beardall, fertilizer operations manager and pesticide pro at Lawn Buddies.
“The pre-mixed products that people buy at the box stores are a bit more diluted,” he says. “They’re often mixed at the base rate for pest control. That's not to say that homeowners can't buy some of the same pest control products that we use.
"If they buy concentrate, then they can mix it at a higher rate than the pre-mixed products. So, it's not to say they can't get it.”
But do you want to? Is DIY pest control worth the hassle?
Let’s say you want to buy that higher-strength perimeter pest control product, similar to what Beardall uses. Here's what that means:
- You need to ensure that you buy the concentrate with the correct active ingredient - incorrect products can be ineffective, or kill plants that you want to preserve.
- Then, invest in a sprayer and personal protective gear.
- Next up: read the extensive directions and precautions on the package.
- Then, ensure that you mix and apply the product properly.
- When you're done, store it safely so that no children or pets can access it.
And when you’re weighing DIY pest control vs hiring a professional, there’s even more to consider.
“Homeowners need to understand that if you spray the same product all the time, then insect populations can build up resistance to products,” Beardall says.
Pros rotate products to avoid this problem. Do you want to store various pest control chemicals in your garage? And worry if you’re mixing it safely and correctly?
And how high can you reach?
“Often, more than just the bottom of the foundation needs to be treated,” Beardall says. “Unfortunately, insects don't always stay on the ground. They can get into the eaves, or up higher where a standard pump sprayer may not be able to reach.”
Proper, effective pest control involves equipment homeowners don’t typically have, Beardall says, which makes you wonder: is DIY pest control worth it?
For the best perimeter pest control effectiveness, trust the professionals. This is their job. They’re trained for it, show up dressed safely and appropriately and know how to handle any potential mishaps.
Is It Safe to Do Your Pest Control?
That depends on how well prepared you are.
“People often don't give the products the respect they deserve,” Beardall says. “Most of the time, people are out spraying in flip flops and shorts. That’s just not smart.”
Many store-bought pest control products contain chemicals that can be harmful if used incorrectly. You’re risking health issues, from respiratory problems to skin irritation to even poisoning if you don’t handle, mix and apply them exactly right.
Some people have allergic reactions to pesticides or the pests themselves. Do you know if that includes you?
Professional Pest Control Basics: How Does It Work?
We’re talking about outdoor perimeter pest control here. Unlike indoor pest control services, where technicians come inside your house and treat for bugs, perimeter pest control stops these invasive insects before they even enter your house. Much better plan, right?
Indoor pest control technicians focus on areas inside where pests are most active, such as baseboards, corners, and behind appliances, and apply treatments to those specific spots.
If you’re shuddering just thinking about spiders in corners, then perimeter pest control is for you. Much better to keep spiders outside where they belong than to worry about them skittering out from behind your spice rack.
Perimeter pest control is an outdoor barrier spray that helps prevent bugs from entering your home and foundation in the first place. They hate the spray, so they turn around and scurry off elsewhere.
Lawn Buddies technicians spray around the perimeter of your home and yard to keep pests like ants, hobo spiders, and beetles from entering.
This professional pest control is all about prevention. Lawn Buddies technicians typically treat areas up to three feet high on the house and six feet out, creating a wide protective barrier around the house that includes the landscaping and lawn directly surrounding your home.
How long does it take for the treatment to work? It starts to take effect within a few hours, repelling or killing insects as they encounter it.
Expect it to take a few days to take effect, as the existing insects die off fully.
Which Bugs Will Professional Pest Control Banish?
Lots of the worst ones you don’t want hanging out in your towel cupboard: Ants. Hobo spiders. Black widows. Earwigs. Box elder bugs. Wasps. Fleas. Beetles.
The goal of perimeter pest control is to nab bugs while they’re still outside, so you don’t need to be home while technicians treat your yard.
However, if you require indoor pest control, Lawn Buddies can also handle that.
“We do treat inside,” Beardall says. “I try to keep the product outside if we can, and use treating inside as kind of a last resort, or if there is a clear problem.”
While indoor pest problems can occur at any time of year, cold weather in particular encourages bugs to seek shelter indoors. They’re smarter than they look.
“Most often we get calls about bugs being inside the house closer to fall,” Beardall says.
How Long Does Professional Pest Control Last?
About three months.
Once those three months have passed, you’ll need another treatment, depending on the time of year. Spring through fall is when pesky insects are lurking here in Idaho Falls and Boise.
At Lawn Buddies, our final exterior pest control treatment is typically conducted in October. Once the winter freeze arrives in Idaho, bugs aren’t hanging around outside your house anymore. They’ve probably hitchhiked to Florida.
Heads up: If you have a bug problem in winter, it’s time for an indoor pest control treatment to take care of the winter pests bugging you inside.
Pest Control DIY vs Professional: Is DIY Cheaper?
Maybe. It depends on how much stuff you buy to battle these bountiful bugs.
The thing is, your DIY efforts might work. They might not work.
However, professional perimeter pest control products are effective. And think ahead: it’s a lot cheaper to pay for professional perimeter pest control now than it is to deal with a pest infestation later.
A whole year of perimeter pest control services is significantly cheaper than a one-time professional exterminator treatment. And it’s safer for you and your family, too.
Is Professional Pest Control Worth It?
Most people seem to think so, Beardall says.
“I feel like far less people do their own pest control compared to those that do their own fertilization and weed control,” he says. “For whatever reason, people are much more willing to take care of their own lawn than doing their pest control. I think the two go hand in hand.”
At Lawn Buddies, perimeter pest control is available to customers enrolled in our 6-step comprehensive lawn care program.
“If you're already paying us to take care of your lawn and all the products that entails, then why go buy the supplies to just treat your pest control?” Beardall says. “Let us take care of it all and make it worry-free.”
Ready for Skilled Professional Pest Control? Trust Lawn Buddies
You can certainly tackle DIY pest control. Take a stab at choosing the right chemicals, applying them safely, storing them safely, knowing when and where to apply them and keeping pets and people away from them.
You don’t have anything better to do on Saturday, right?
All this might end up being more expensive than just hiring a pro in the first place. It’s definitely more time-consuming.
When you call Lawn Buddies for pest control services in Boise and Idaho Falls, you can relax, knowing creepy invasive pests won’t be joining you inside your safe and cozy home.
The first step to taking advantage of Lawn Buddies' perimeter pest control is to sign up for our 6-step complete lawn care program.
You’ll be glad you did.
Choose an Idaho Falls or Boise professional lawn care service that makes it easy, bundling your yard’s most-needed treatments into one convenient, no-fuss plan.
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started. Just fill out the form on this page, call us at (208) 656-9131 or read more about our services. Then, you can kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard and pest-free home!
