The trees on your property do much more than provide you with needed shade all summer long. They add beauty to your yard and increase the value of your home. As the snowy months approach us, Rentokil is here to share some tips to help you prepare your trees for the onslaught of snow we might be facing this winter.

Prune Tree Branches for Winter

The dead branches found in your tree should always be removed at the beginning of summer. Your tree should be well-pruned for their species. Now is a good time to evaluate your tree for any branches that may cause problems for walkways or your home. If there are any problem areas, this is a good time to prune them back.

Apply Mulch Around Trees

When the ground gets cold and warm repeatedly, it can cause the soil to expand and contract. This can mean problems for your tree’s root system. To solve it, place 2-3 inches of mulch around the base of your tree. This shouldn’t be right up against the trunk, because your tree needs to be able to breathe. When you are done, the mulch should be applied in a volcano shape. This mulch may have to be reapplied as the winter trudges on.

Wrap Tree Trunks

This trick is especially helpful when you have a young tree. To avoid sunscald, which is an injury caused by fluctuating winter temperatures, you need to wrap young trunks with a light-colored crepe paper-like material to keep the trunk safe. Wrap just up to the bottom of the branches. This can also help to keep hungry critters from snacking on your tree throughout the winter months as well.

Best Ice Melt for Trees; Potassium, Magnesium Chloride or Calcium

Many ice melts can cause serious damage to your landscaping. It is no different when it comes to your trees. When you are choosing the ice melts you are going to use for your home, choose those that contain potassium, magnesium chloride or calcium. Normal rock salt will interfere with the plants’ natural ability to absorb water, oxygen and other necessary nutrients.

Remove Excess Snow on Tree Branches

In the case that a particularly heavy snowstorm does hit, be aware of the amount of snow found on the branches of your tree. Especially as the leaves start to bud in the spring and a late snowstorm hits. You will want to remove any excessive snow that is burdening the limbs of your tree by gently shaking the branch to remove it.

Keep Squirrels, Raccoons & Other Critters Away

Many food sources are limited for small critters on your property during the winter. You may need to invest in wire mesh to wrap around the bottom of your trees to help keep critters from stealing a snack from your tree and causing damage.

Tree & Shrub Care

If you don’t have the time and tools needed to get your trees ready for the snow, you can count on Rentokil to do it for you. Call us today!

Almost all spiders have venom, but most are too weak to do any harm. Though most spiders are relatively harmless to people, there are several spiders in Utah that are dangerous. Particularly a risk for young, elderly, or those who have a compromised immune system; black widows, hobo and wolf spiders have dangerous bites. Because it is important to understand the characteristics of these three common dangerous spiders, we at Rentokil have elaborated on the fundamentals.

Black Widow Spider Bite

Considered the most venomous spider in Utah and notorious across North America, the black widow spider is known for its distinctive appearance. Females feature a red hourglass shape on their underside and are about a half an inch long, with shiny black coloring a large globular abdomen. Females are the biters and deliver hazardous venom with them. Black widows are actually docile and will only bite protecting their eggs or if they get disturbed. The males are half the size of the females and are often eaten after mating. Black widows are more reclusive in nature, sticking to dark corners and crevices especially in garages, sheds, or other areas on or near the exterior of a home and are more active at night. The venom in their bites will have symptoms manifest in the first 20 minutes where the victim experiences local pain in the area of the bite. From there, weakness, tremor, as well as possible stiffness, cramps and spasms, abdominal pain, chest pain, chills, difficulty breathing, nausea, dizziness, fever and/or an increase in blood pressure and heart rate will develop. Where there is not an anti-venom for this, you need medical attention to treat the symptoms.

Hobo Spider Bite

Common in Utah, hobo spiders are part of the funnel-web spider family. They make funnel or cone-shaped, non-sticky webs and feature long legs. They do not exceed 2 inches long, but their sizes vary. They have a brown cephalothorax and darker brown markings. Grey abdomens with yellow markings are present but it can be difficult to spot without magnification. They are often confused with other spiders because of their generic appearance at first glance. Though hobo spiders are not climbers, they are very fast. They tend to keep to ground level and are frequently found in fields, around the brush, woodpiles, rock piles, foundation gaps, or other areas means of shelter. Inside homes, hobo spiders are commonly found in dark basements, hidden in window wells and sills, between objects, or in other protected and undisturbed areas. Depending on whether the bite is dry or wet dictates the severity of the bite. Dry means there was no released venom and the bite is not serious. Wet bites will immediately turn red that go away in a few hours. However, after a day or two, the blister breaks and the puncture develop into open, oozing ulceration. An erupting lesion that varies from pea size to larger than a half dollar or even a flesh hole that potentially leads to dead tissue will result if the bite is severe and untreated.

Wolf Spider Bite

Wolf spiders are commonly confused with tarantulas. These spiders can be dangerous. Dark brown and robust spiders, have eight eyes arranged in three rows; two large eyes on the middle row and two medium ones on the top of the head along with four small ones on the bottom row. Their size varies depending on sex and species, but generally, males are smaller than females. Fang marks are left after a bite and even skin tearing. Lasting up to 10 days, only redness, swelling and pain develops. Lymph glands may also swell.

Spider Control

No matter what type of spider species or other pests have come into your home, call Rentokil to remove them!

We all have had to deal with pests possibly even some kind of pest infestation at some point in our lives, roaches, ants, spiders, and so on, is among the most common. There are many pests that continue to be a nuisance throughout the winter. These pests frequently come inside homes and businesses to escape the colder temperatures and look for food as it becomes scarce. Where you can help significantly keep these pests out, you can’t completely prevent pests and they will inadvertently be brought in. With that in mind, today, we at Rentokil would like to share some tips on how you can help minimize pest populations.

Home Sealing & Interior Pest Prevention

Remove Pest Nesting Sites – If they come inside, most pests will look for food, water, and a place to nest, if there is nothing to find they move on. Remove attractive nesting grounds by decluttering your home. Avoid letting anything in your house pile up. Organize books, fabrics and clear out outdated magazines, mail, and catalogs. Pests can find harborage under and in clutter.
Secure Food from Pests – Your food, including pet food needs to be secure. Remove any clutter, expired food, and debris as you go through the cabinets, pantry, and bread drawers. They can easily get into poorly packaged food such as paper, flimsy plastic, and cardboard as well as easily get to the leftover crumbs left behind. Transfer these foods into pest-safe secure air-tight containers as well as all pet food.
Seal Your Home from Pests – Use dehumidifiers and repair any leaks from faucets, appliances, and pipes as soon as possible to remove the water source and moist conditions pests prefer and/or require. Install weather stripping and caulk as applicable after inspecting for gaps around the windows and doors. Once a week take the trash out or sooner as needed, ensure to always use a liner and once a month, wash them inside and out with hot soapy water. Keep a clean home and high sanitation by cleaning up after every meal and snack, avoid letting piled up dishes sit in the sink for too long, wipe down the counters and once a day, sweep the floors.

House Perimeter & Exterior Pest Prevention

Sealing Home from Pests – You need to thoroughly inspect the structure from the foundation to the roof and everything in between. For insects and wildlife to get inside your home, it does not require a lot of space. Bugs and rodents can slip through cracks and openings. For example, a mouse only needs a dime-size hole and a rat needs a quarter-size hole to slip inside. Seal the home as best as possible.
Maintain Landscape – The natural habitat for many pests is foliage and when it gets too close to your house, it invites the pests in. Minimize the visitation around your home by pruning the trees, trimming the plant life, pull the weeds, and cutting the grass. To avoid offering pests harborage, also remove the clutter including lumber, or building materials, toss the yard clippings. Anything you keep, store away from the house and toss the waste.
Other Tips to Prevent Pests in Your Yard – Avoid leaving pet food available 24/7, repair any leaks or inefficient gutters and downspouts to reduce the water supply.

Year-Round Pest Management

We at Rentokil are readily available to offer pest control management to contribute to minimize the pests from getting inside and to help you eliminate any infestations. Give us a call today to get started!

With the temperatures dropping you can begin to see certain little critter invading your home. One of the most common rodent invaders in Utah is the Norway Rat. Norway Rats are found all throughout America and throughout the state of Utah. These rodents will invade homes to seek shelter from colder temperatures that provide a reliable food or water supply. Rentokil will share more about Norway Rats and how you can keep them out of your home this fall and winter.

Norway Rats Invasive Species Identification

Norway Rats are believed to have originated from Asia and eventually spread throughout the world. Norway Rats can be found almost anywhere. Norway Rats are easily identified with either their short brown fur or peppered black fur, and white to the yellowish colored underbelly. For a rat, Norway Rats have a shorter tail and smaller eyes and ears than their cousins. They have a heavier body shape and a blunt nose.

Norway Rat Burrows

Norway Rats are nocturnal which makes it difficult to detect their presence in the beginning. They will begin to invade homes and other human structures during the fall and completely infest them by winter if left unchecked. Before they invade homes, they will dig burrows outside and within social groups. When one begins to invade a home, more will be following due to the social nature of Norway Rats.

Norway Rat Rodent Damage

Norway Rats have the habit of gnawing on plastic pipes, electrical wiring, insulation, and even drywall. When Norway Rats invade homes they will often make their nests in attics or in basements. Additionally, they will scavenge for food at night and will contaminate pantry goods.

Norway Rat Diseases

Norway Rats are well known for the diseases they carry which include jaundice, plague, rat-bite fever, trichinosis, cowpox virus, and salmonellosis. They can also bring inside fleas and other parasites into the home and infect pets as well as humans. Due to their destructive nature along with the potential health threats that Norway Rats can cause, they should never be tolerated.

How to Get Rid of Norway Rats

Preventing Norway Rats can be difficult, especially if they have already begun invading an area. To help stop and prevent an infestation, make sure to seal your home. Start by covering the attic vent and dryer vent with a wiring mesh, one that allows efficient airflow but won’t allow rodents inside your home. If your home has a chimney, cover it as well with metal wiring mesh. Next, inspect your home’s windows and exterior doors. Look for gaps around the framing and weather stripping. Replace weather stripping or fill in the gaps. Many people will suggest using silicone caulking glue. It will keep insects and bugs out. However, rodents can eventually chew through the glue. To stop rodents use a concrete quick mix to seal the holes or large gaps around the outside of your home. As large as rats are they can still squeeze through a gap the size of a quarter.

Rodent Control

For further assistance, consider contacting a pest control service like Rentokil. We know Norway rats and are much better equipped at dealing with this pest. If you have a rat or pest problem this fall or winter season, contact Rentokil for all of your pest control needs.

Pest problems are rampant in student housing and college students frequently experience issues with pests in their dorm rooms. Crumbs from snacks eaten and stored in dorms attract pests, as do piles of trash that don’t get taken out right away. Not to mention all the clutter that gives pests lots of places to hide. Dorm rooms may also not be sealed properly with broken screens and gaps under doors. Rentokil will now go over some of the ways to keep pests away.

Tips to Keep Bugs, Roaches, Spiders, Mice & Other Pests Out of Your Dorm Room

1. Put food away to deter pests. Pests are drawn to food. Leaving leftovers out only tempts them. Put food away and make sure it’s all sealed properly. This rule applies to other pantry food too such as cereal, chips, pretzels, etc. Store these food items in tightly sealed containers to reduce the chance you’ll invite pests in.
2. Minimize clutter to remove pest hiding places. Pests love clutter. College life means you’re on your own as far as how neat your room will be. Stacks of paper and growing piles of junk everywhere will give pests a place to hide. Keeping your room free of clutter will have you more productive and free of pests.
3. Clean dishes to prevent pests. Dishes should be washed and dried. Dirty dishes in the sink have bits of food on them and even if you rinse them off and plan to do it in the morning, those minuscule pieces of food are just what pests are looking for. Rinsed dishes also provide moisture that attracts cockroaches.
4. Eliminate standing water. Pests love moisture. Cockroaches will look for places that are dark warm and moist. Silverfish are also attracted to moisture and flies and gnats can be found around pipes with condensation. If the moisture in your room attracts just one pair of mice, you can have more than 15,000 offspring in just 12 months!
5. Vacuum & dust to deter pests. Pests can be prevented when you vacuum and dust regularly. Doing so removes crumbs, insect eggs, webs along with other items pests need to survive. Plus, a clean dorm room makes it easier to spot pests.
6. Prevent pests by taking the trash out. You took out the trash regularly when you lived at home and you need to do it at school too. A full trash can is unsightly, smelly and an attraction for pests. The smell of food and possible sources of water are just too tempting. Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid and empty it sooner than needed if it’s smelly. Wipe the trash can out if it gets sticky from spills.
7. Seal openings so eliminate pest entry points. Pests will get inside through cracks, crevices and tears or holes in screens. Ignoring these openings is like giving pests a wide-open door. Mice only need the hole to be the size of a dime to get inside, rats, the size of a quarter.
8. Hang wet clothing. Again, pests like moisture. Tossing wet clothes or towels on the floor is not a good idea. These items need to be hung up to remove moisture in the room. Placing wet clothes and towels in the hamper only invites mold to start growing.

Pest Management

Contact your resident advisor as soon as you suspect you’re dealing with any pest. Rentokil is knowledgeable on all the pests that infest dorm rooms. Give us a call today to get rid of pests in your student housing!

The spring and summer weather is a great time of year for your lawn and garden to flourish and look it’s very best. The temperatures outside are ideal for plants to grow and do well. Now that the weather is changing and the colder temperatures will soon be here, there are preparations that have to be done in order to set yourself up for the next year. If you just ignore the garden in these cold months you will have to potentially start all over in the spring. The ground and the plants that are left over will be in bad shape and end up taking a lot of time and effort to get back. Make sure that you take some time to go through your garden or have a lawn care company out to prepare it for the cooler weather.

Rentokil Outlines Steps to Save Your Garden in Cooler Temperatures

Start with Yard Clean Up: The first thing that you need to do when you are preparing your garden for the cold is to get cleaning. You want to go around the yard, lawn, and garden and pick up any debris that you can find. This will be any plants that have died, fruits that have fallen from a tree or vegetables that you are not planning to use. Don’t toss them in a trash can because they are great for your compost pile. They can be used later to increase the nutrients to your lawn and garden when the time comes. You also need to go around and look into the plants and other debris that have some form of mold or disease. These are the parts that you want to throw out and not put in the compost. If you do, the whole compost will be bad.
Use Cover Crops: Many commercial farms will use what is called plant cover. There is a great way to protect the ground and have it ready for the next season. You can use it at your home in the areas that you know plants will not do well in the cold. This will prevent weeds from growing and will protect the soil from the upcoming weather. Talk to a professional about what plants are best to cover during the winter.
Use Your Compost in Garden: Now is a great time to use the compost that you have been saving up! The compost is great to lay over the soil for several reasons. The compost will start to enrich the soil so that it is perfect when planting season begins. It can also help to protect your soil and other remaining plants.

Lawn Care Services

If you are concerned about your remaining plants and trees during the winter it is best to ask a professional. And when our harsh winter is over, call Rentokil to help your lawn recover quickly before the summer heat sets in. We are available to meet all your lawn and yard care needs including lawn fertilization, weed control, aeration, and insect control.

The natural nesting site for carpenter ants is in trees, but they will come into our homes as well. Carpenter ants are more active in late fall and early spring, but they can be a nuisance at any time of the year. Carpenter ants are larger ants. The most common ones you’ll find are ¼-3/8 inch-long with a black abdomen and reddish-brown head and thorax. They may be totally black in winged form. Queens are slightly bigger than workers, with workers varying in size. These ants also have a pinched waist and antennae that are elbowed.

Carpenter Ant Damage

Carpenter ants do not eat wood but will hollow out sections of wood to create “galleries” that they will move through. This makes them less destructive than termites, but they can cause minor damage to isolated pieces of wood. They prefer wood that is dead and damp and can easily infest wooden infrastructure. When left untreated carpenter ant infestations can become very severe. They will even build additional nests causing more damage. Because they are classified as wood-destroying insects, they can be reported on real estate transactions and can have an impact on the resale value of a home.

Signs of Carpenter Ants in House

There are tell-tale signs to alert you that you’re dealing with carpenter ants. The inner walls and wood that is already damaged are prime targets. Remember that carpenter ants don’t eat the wood, but you will notice small piles of wood shavings in areas that are infested with carpenter ants. It looks like sawdust and is also called frass. If you find frass in your home, you most likely have carpenter ants. Another indication you have carpenter ants is if you can hear them. Tap the wall where you suspect a nest may be located. The tapping will disturb them, and you might hear a faint, rustling sound. Walls near door or window frames are favored by carpenter ants along with walls that house plumbing like kitchens or bathrooms. The easiest way to realize you have a problem is to spot worker ants. This will also make it easier to locate the nest, but it’s not always a sure bet. You might just have found some of them looking for food and water. Carpenter ants are more active when it’s dark so use a flashlight in the morning or evening to find them and try to find the nest. All ants will travel from far to look for food, this means it may take you some time to track them back to their nest. An ant in your kitchen could have come from the attic or farther. Positive identification is important when it comes to ants. This is the best way to get rid of them as quickly as possible otherwise you’ll be spending money on baits and insecticides that aren’t effective.

Ant Infestation Control

Just like any other household pest, carpenter ants can make a homeowner crazy. It’s bad enough to find them trailing through your kitchen, the last thing you need is a nest in your home. Carpenter ants need to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Contact Rentokil today to begin an effective, customized treatment plan!

Utah is home to many pests, particularly rodents. House mice and Norway rats are the most likely species to intrude into homes and live so close to people. Other rodents in Utah include white-footed mice, harvest mice, deer mice, black rats, and wood rats. Any rodent in your home can be a major problem as they are known to extensively damage your home’s structure, wiring, and piping. Not only will they cause the need for costly repairs by foraging for food and water, but they will contaminate your food and potentially spread diseases and bacteria along with the possibility of inviting fleas in your home. Being that Norway rats are a fairly common rodent intruder in Utah, we at Rentokil would like to cover the basics of Norway rats today.

Where Do Norway Rats Come From?

Norway rats are all found all over the globe and believed to actually have originated from Asia. Norway rats especially have incredible gnawing and clawing capabilities that have made them notorious culprits for destroying utility lines. These rats are so powerful, they can chew through plastic and lead piping.

Norway Rat Identification

When compared to other common rats, Norway rats gave smaller ears and a tail in addition to a shorter scaly tail. Their muzzles are also blunt. With scattered black hairs throughout the coloring, these rats are usually brownish or grayish in color and their fur is coarse. Undersides and feet color are generally lighter shades of gray or white. Ranging in size, Norway rats average 12 ½ – 18 ½ inches in length where their tails make up about 5 ¾ – 8 ½ inches of their total length. Norway rats scurry around agilely on 4 feet, like most rats, and weigh around 10 to 11 ¾ ounces.

Where Do Norway Rats Live?

Norway rats are most likely to intrude in homes and businesses in the fall as the food becomes scarce and temperatures decline, though they will easily slip inside any time of year. Burrowing their nests close together, Norway rats are social pests and will actively stay together throughout their daily routine. The Norway rat’s natural habitats are farmland and fields, and they will infest the structures on these lands looking for shelter, safety, and comforts to escape predators or harsh weather. They tend to burrow under the loose soil found along riverbanks or developed areas like around clutter, woodpiles, garbage and concrete slabs. Once they get inside a home or business, they will hunker down in undisturbed locations such as un the clutter and debris in basements.

Norway Rat Damage & Diseases

Norway rats do the most damage to the structure, pipes and other utility lines as they hunt for a food and water source. They can potentially contaminate the food with their bodily waste as they pilfer any vulnerable food supplies. These rodents can infiltrate cardboard, paper, and flimsy plastics easily. Norway rats have known vectors of diseases such as jaundice, trichinosis, cowpox virus, salmonellosis, plague, and rat-bite fever. Additionally, Norway rats are common hosts to fleas, bringing a flea infestation and the diseases they carry inside your UT home or business.

Rodent Control

To combat potential Norway rat infestations, be sure to keep your home properly sealed with the right applications of sealants, caulk, weather stripping, and mesh covers. Maintain debris and avoid clutter. Store food in sealable and keep trash securely closed off. If you believe your Utah home has Norway rats, call Rentokil for assistance, we will remove them quickly and efficiently.

The temperatures are dropping and when that happens, we in Utah and Idaho see fewer pests, but not all will become dormant and hibernate. Many pests continue to stay active all year long and during the fall, when it gets chillier and food becomes scarce, many pests will seek shelter inside. As a result, our Utah and Idaho homes will become a sanctuary to many pests. Today, we at Rentokil would like to share the most common pests likely to be spotted in your home this fall and winter.

Keep Fall & Winter Bugs & Pests Out of Your House

Ants: Cold temperatures slow ants down. They will burrow deeper into the ground where it is warmer. Often, ants will also find the warmth they seek inside your home and will quickly commence foraging. If the colony is large, killing them yourself can be particularly challenging. To effectively eliminate an ant infestation, you need the expertise of a professional. Ants will deliver painful pinches, contaminate food, and be an annoyance as they continue to multiple. Immediate action is recommended to avoid excessive moisture.
Mice & Rats: Rodents do not require much space to squeeze inside your abode. They frequently start intruding inside during the fall when food becomes scarce and temperatures dip. When these warm-blooded pests infest homes, they gnaw through electrical wiring, lead or plastic piping, the structure and spread bacteria as well as diseases. Rodent problems are not something to take likely. They will multiply and grow quickly, and two rodents will rapidly become 20. At the first inkling of any kind of rodents in your home, you should call for professional control.
Spiders: In Utah homes in winter, spiders are by far the most common problem. There aren’t many steps you can take for preventative pest control for arachnids, especially when they follow other pests inside. Some spiders can be beneficial, but some can be venomous with their bite. Webs are an obvious sign of an infestation. Where it is better to play it safe, if you find spiders in your home, call a professional to eliminate the infestation.

Fall & Winter Pest Prevention

Be sure to keep up with sanitation practices, secure food in a sealable container, including pet food, and keep the trash can with lids that are pet-proof as well as avoid clutter to enhance the preventative measures.

Year-Round Pest Control

These are just the most common pests that are likely to intrude in your Utah or Idaho home. There are a number of additional pests that can be infesting your home this fall or winter. The professionals of Rentokil can wipe out any infestations or provide services that will offer your home better protection from the pests that are looking for warmth and shelter. Our pest experts are trained and experienced and use quality products to ensure the effective elimination of any pests that infiltrate your home. With our pest control efforts, you can avoid the winter pest infestations. Contact us today!

Did you know “to earwig” is slang for “to eavesdrop”? Earwigs will hide during the day and live outside in large numbers. They can be found living under piles of compost or lawn clippings and will make their way inside through cracks. Earwigs are fast movers and are attracted to light so it’s common to find them on porches and patios in the summer. They can also be found clustered together under items that are left outside overnight. They eat leaves, fruits, flowers, insects and mold. Earwigs will move into buildings in search of food or when there are changes in the weather such as when temperatures get cooler as we head into fall. They like to live in areas that are cool and damp. Earwigs can be found in areas where there is water; like bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms but will make their way into other areas on your home too. Earwigs live all over the world, but do not spread disease. They can live up to a year after they hatch. If they are squished, they can emit a foul-smelling yellow liquid from their bodies. It’s reassuring to know that infestations are rare but bugs in your home are never fun.

How to Prevent Earwigs in Your Home

Getting rid of earwig habitats is important if you want to control them. The best way to prevent earwigs is to remove piles of leaves and compost from your property and seal any cracks they may use to get inside. Take care of moisture in your home as well. If you’ve dealt with the food source they are coming in for and they are still present, then it may be the environment in your home they like. Other than sealing your home, you can try using boric acid. It is a strong insecticide that is harmless to humans and pets. Earwigs will ingest the boron and it will be impossible for them to excrete. The boron interferes with the insect’s metabolism and they die. It can be sprinkled anywhere you have earwigs and around the perimeter of your home. Mixing water and dish soap together is a cheap and easy way to deal with earwigs. Detergents break down waxy oils that cover earwig exoskeletons. These oils hydrate the earwig and when the oils breakdown, the earwig dies. Essential oils can also be effective in controlling earwigs. The best ones to use are neem oil and cedar oil.

Occasional Invader Pest Control

It must be noted that DIY home remedies aren’t as timely or effective as professional pest control. If all your efforts at keeping earwigs out of your home have failed, or you want to address the problem quickly and directly; you need the help of professionals. Give Rentokil a call for all your pest control needs.