Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

Is fall the best time of year to spray your house for bugs?

Preventative pest control methods

Veronica Sparks
By

A pest problem in your home is certainly gross. In addition to the unwanted presence of creepy crawly invaders, many pests also carry diseases that create unsanitary conditions. Some can even cause serious damage to your home. A full-blown infestation can be extremely difficult to get rid of, potentially costing you a lot of time, money, and effort.

That’s why the best pest control practices are preventative ones that keep bugs out of your house and stop infestations before they start. Developing a pest-prevention schedule includes periodically spraying your house for bugs to discourage their presence and stop them in their tracks before they start nesting and breeding. Timing is crucial here, so we’re going to discuss the best time of year to spray your house for bugs and why it can make or break your pest control strategy.

Related Videos
Pest control spray outside

When to spray the house for bugs

Insects follow a predictable life cycle, so you can schedule sprays at the same time every year when they’re the most vulnerable to the chemicals and methods used.

Related

Winter bug activity

During the winter months, insects are dormant and in hibernation. They’ve found a safe place to hole up for the winter, but many of them will not survive until spring. They won’t be bothersome during this time, so you may not even know whether bugs are present or what type of critters might be milling around.

Spring bug activity

When spring hits, the insects that survived the winter start to come out of hibernation in search of a safe place to nest and breed. During this time, they are fewer in number, and they are weak and in search of food. This is, by far, the most important time of year to spray for bugs, particularly if you have a history of infestation. If any insects survived the winter, spraying in the spring will exterminate them before they have a chance to breed and take hold of your home.

Summer bug activity

In the summer, bug colonies are at their peak in both strength and numbers. They’ve fed, bred, and multiplied to the point where you see evidence of their activity as well the actual bugs much more often. When you have a bug problem in the summer, you’ll need more aggressive extermination techniques, potentially even fumigation.

Fall bug activity

Once the weather starts to cool off, these little critters start looking for a good spot to hibernate. Even if you didn’t have a pest problem in your home during the summer, it may still be susceptible to a fall invasion as they start looking for shelter. At this time, you may not even notice their presence. They’re stealthy during this time as they look for dark, hidden spaces to hole up and hibernate in.

Fall pest control treatments prevent bugs from entering, as opposed to exterminating the ones that are already inside. Typically, this includes perimeter spray treatments. These methods block pests from entering your home altogether so they don’t pop up in the spring and summer in hoards.

Pest control professional in white suit spraying outside house

How to spray in the fall

Spraying pesticides around the perimeter of your home is an easy project that doesn’t always require hiring professional pest control services. You can purchase pre-mixed and ready-to-use liquid insecticide sprays that attach directly to your garden hose. Then, you can simply walk around the perimeter of your home and spray.

Tips for spraying with liquid insecticide:

  • Wear long sleeves, pants, and other appropriate PPE. Insecticides contain harmful chemicals that can burn the skin and irritate your lungs. Check the label for more information on how to protect yourself as you use the spray, but most experts recommend wearing goggles, gloves, and even masks to prevent harm to your body.
  • Use a waterproof insecticide mixture if your area gets a lot of rain in the fall. This will prevent the substance from simply washing away the next day.
  • Spray in the direction of the wind to avoid covering yourself with insecticide.
  • Spray the three bottom feet of the foundation of your home, along with one foot of ground that extends from the foundation.
  • Spray areas with access to the home such as vents, holes where cables and wires enter, as well as door and window frames.
  • Spray in a continuous line to avoid gaps in treatment that bugs can sneak in through. Again, they’re stealthy little guys…
Professional pest control person spraying kitchen counter

Other fall pest prevention tips

When the weather turns cool, make it as difficult as possible for pests to gain access to your home with these fall pest prevention tips:

  • Check windows and doors for gaps and seal them.
  • Check your home’s siding for cracks or gaps and seal them with caulk.
  • Check your dryer’s vent and be sure there are no gaps or spaces where bugs can enter.
  • Use expanding foam to fill gaps or damage in the soffit.
  • Rake mulch and soil away from your foundation. This discourages the presence of insects as it removes their cover while they’re searching for a way in.
  • Trim bushes away from your home.
  • Seal known pest entrances with copper mesh and expanding foam.

When the summer comes to an end, your pest problems aren’t over always over. When the weather begins to cool, bugs begin their search for a safe shelter from the cold, and your home is nice and toasty. Preventative pest control methods, like perimeter spraying and gap sealing, are crucial in keeping bugs from hibernating in your home over the winter. If you don’t let them in your home in the fall, they won’t have a chance to infest in the summer.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
The best indoor plants to decorate your home with in October
Resilient indoor plants to brighten your home during the fall months
Croton plant

Fall is a slow and underwhelming season for avid gardeners. Summer plants start to die off or go dormant, and it's too early to cut down a Christmas tree, right? So, what can you do to keep some of that glorious greenery in your life when the air starts to get chilly? The good news is you don't have to give up your green thumb just because summer is over. There are a ton of indoor plants that can thrive right inside your home during the brisk fall season.

What makes the best indoor plants for fall?
Not every indoor plant is suitable for indoor life in the fall and winter. Many varieties need high heat and long hours of direct sunlight, and they just won't get the vital things they need while inside your home in the fall. The days are shorter and the air is cooler, after all. To prevent the disappointment of browning or wilting leaves, look for indoor plants that have a few key characteristics so you can reap all the benefits of your fall foliage.
Pick plants with high durability
Since fall and winter produce shorter days and dryer air, direct sunlight and humidity will be scarce in your home. It's a good idea to pick the heartiest, most resilient plant varieties that can withstand, or even prefer, the low light conditions and lower moisture levels.
Some indoor plants have great health benefits for cooler months
Among the dry, recycled air blowing around your HVAC system, there are a lot of germs, toxins, and impurities that you and your family breathe in during colder months. Fortunately, many indoor plants can improve the air quality in your home. Through the process of photosynthesis, they filter out those harmful toxins and even give the air a little more humidity. Pick indoor plant varieties that are the best air purifiers out there.
Go for some decorative beauty
Our moods and energy levels definitely take a hit during the chilly months, especially when the trees are bare and the lawn is yellowing. Arguably the best quality of indoor plants is their natural beauty and greenery. Amidst the long nights and barren lawns, having some pretty plant life around may be just what you need to brighten up your day.

Read more
The best pool vacuum heads for heavy-duty cleaning to save you time so you can relax
Make your pool sparkle with one of these vacuum heads
Pool vacuum sticking out of an outdoor pool

There's no need to work harder, but it seems like everything is difficult when it comes to pool cleaning. And isn't a major part of having a pool supposed to be relaxing? Choosing a well-designed pool vacuum head could lighten the load a bit by helping you get into tight spaces and performing with reliable suction. But when it comes to the best pool vacuum heads for heavy-duty cleaning, how do you know which ones are really the best? The options on our list may help transform pool maintenance so you can enjoy your pool more and spend less time trying to keep it clean.

Not only does a dirty pool look gross, but dirt and grime can also build up on the bottom of the pool, causing unsightly stains and degrading the surface of your pool liner, tiles, or concrete. Stay ahead of cleaning and maintenance with one of our favorite pool vacuum heads below, and you'll have sparkling clean water.
Milliard Pool and Spa Vacuum Head
Best overall

Read more
Find the best exterior house color for your home’s architectural style
Choose a new hue based on these exterior color recommendations
Deep blue house with two floors

If the siding of your home is starting to look drab, it may need a new exterior house color. If you're wondering which paint color (or colors) to choose, the answer depends on your home’s architecture.

When buying exterior paint for your humble abode, pay attention to the style of the house. Do you have a Cape Cod? A colonial? Or perhaps a farmhouse or contemporary home? Each architectural style has a color or color scheme that suits it best, so if you’re looking to up your property’s curb appeal with a different color, consider the style before buying a can of paint!

Read more