Cedar Oil For Yard Pest Control: Should you DIY or Hire a Pro?

Spending time in your backyard is a normal way of life during Northern Virginia summers.

You want to play fetch with the dog, hang out with the kids while they’re on summer break, throw a frisbee back and forth, or even just sit on the patio or around a firepit and enjoy time with friends.

But then the second it’s warm enough and the days are longer, there are some other “visitors” who come out to play. Yep, mosquitos and ticks. And they can just ruin your outdoor time so quickly that with all the swatting and running, you forget why you even came outside in the first place. This is such a bummer in the summer. Who wants to spend time just looking outside when you can be outside?

That’s where mosquito and tick control services come in to rescue your backyard adventures.

While you’re doing your research and reviewing the options to tackle these pests in Northern Virginia, you might come across quite a few options. There’s DIY mosquito and tick control and professional services. There’s also a variety of products you can use.

What you don’t want is to spend a lot of time and money on a solution, and then still get riddled with mosquito bites or have your pets bring in tons of ticks. That would make you feel all the energy you spent on a fix was wasted.

You might even see there are synthetic options, as well as more natural ones like cedar oil, to help control these pests.

Let’s talk about using cedar oil for pest control, how it differs from other options, and how it helps fight mosquitoes and ticks in Northern Virginia.

First, Let’s Look At What We’re Fighting

Mosquitoes and ticks are big fans of warm weather.

Once temperatures reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above, ticks emerge, and once temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above, mosquitoes join the party.

In Northern Virginia, we see mostly Asian tiger mosquitoes, which are unfortunately the biggest carriers of West Nile Virus.

As far as ticks are concerned, we see a lot of blacklegged or deer ticks, which tend to harbor Lyme disease. Virginia’s northern most counties are the ones reporting the most ticks, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Lone Star and American dog ticks are also present here, which carry ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain fever.

This is why mosquito and tick control services are so important in our region for avoiding major diseases they carry, as well as the frustration they add to our backyard activities.

All About Cedar Oil for Pest Control

Now that you know how important mosquito and tick control services can be to your outdoor enjoyment in the spring, summer, and fall, let’s talk about controlling these bothersome and nasty pests.

There are quite a few options out there when you search for ways to combat mosquitoes and ticks. One of the best is cedar oil. Let’s learn more.

How Cedar Oil for Pest Control Works

One of the biggest things you worry about is safety when spraying for mosquitoes and ticks.

After all, adding more chemicals to your space is never a great feeling.

Luckily, there is an organic mosquito and tick control option that works. Cedar oil for pest control is organic, meaning it’s completely harmless to people and pets, but it’s also super effective against these pests.

Cedar oil works by blocking the scent receptors of mosquitoes and ticks, disrupting their whole systems.

How Using Cedar Oil for Pest Control Compares to Other Methods

There are quite a few options available as you look for solutions to fight mosquitoes and ticks, but unfortunately not all of them are reliable or effective.

Synthetic products may be a bit more hazardous, and this means they can’t always be applied everywhere in your yard, such as near children’s play areas. This makes them less adaptable and customizable for use in your yard. But this is where your kids are going to hang out most, so you definitely want to spray there. Using cedar oil for pest control can be a great solution here.

Then each time you spray cedar oil again, you target the home foundation, as well as areas people hang out like around patios, under decks, and around the property perimeter. This is a key area since there is a lot of wild animal activity there, and pests like ticks travel on them to your yard.

Cedar Oil for Pest Control Coincides With Preventive Methods Easily

In addition to spraying for mosquitoes and ticks, you want to work to prevent or limit their populations in your yard.

This means moving wood piles 20 feet away from your home, getting your dog or outdoor cat flea and tick protection, eliminating standing water to limit pest breeding, and mowing your grass regularly to keep tall grasses that ticks like down.

These tasks will just help the process of getting rid of these pests and they naturally coincide with the use of cedar oil for pest control because it’s organic and can be used in all these areas with all these strategies.

DIY Cedar Oil Yard Spray Vs. Professional Services

Another approach to mosquito and tick control is trying to tackle the problem with DIY cedar oil yard spray.

Unfortunately, DIY options – even those containing cedar oil – haven’t proven very effective against these pests. Professional products are usually more potent and high-end.

DIY products cost quite a bit to be so ineffective as well. No one likes to waste money.

The other challenge is you have to know how mosquitoes and ticks operate to effectively control them. This means fully treating areas they hang out in and using the right equipment, such as a backpack mister with a fine mist. This also means applying the product every 30 days from April to November to ensure bug populations remain down.

The job can be time-consuming. You have to learn about the pests, properly treat for them, and then stay on a schedule.

Once you do that, you want to make sure you are actually experiencing fewer pests, so all that time and effort was worth it.

Opting for professional mosquito and tick control services can save you some time and hassle here since they already have the equipment and high-end products, know the pests, and can give you some quick relief.

It might also save you money. Mosquito and tick control services at Turf’s Up, for instance, start at around $40 per month, which is roughly 10 percent less than the competition’s prices. We can offer competitive rates because we keep our services local and offer additional services to our customers.

Opt For Safer, More Effective Mosquito and Tick Control Services

If you’re looking for a safer, more effective way to tackle mosquitoes and ticks in your yard, then cedar oil for pest control is a great choice.

You certainly don’t want your summer evenings ruined by biting pests that carry diseases. We totally understand.

You may want to battle mosquitoes and ticks in your Northern Virginia yard, but have no idea where to start. Give Turf’s Up a call. We use a potent, organic, safe and effective cedar oil to control mosquitoes and ticks in your home landscape.

We know where these pests like to hang out and use quality equipment, showing up to your home on a regular schedule to control mosquitoes and ticks and keep them away all season long. We make it easy, so you can have a great time outdoors and feel confident you and your family are protected.

This is your home after all, and you want to be able to enjoy it.

Ready to learn why Turf’s Up could be your totally awesome choice for mosquito control services in Northern Virginia? We’re stoked to learn more about you and help you eliminate your mosquito problem once and for all. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your yard.

Image Source:Puddle,  Mosquito