The term “conducive conditions” most often refers to the circumstance in which wood-destroying insects such as termites or wood-boring beetles are able to reach your home by means of any organic life that comes in contact with the structure of the home.  But it is also means any condition that is conducive to harborage for any type of insects or pests.

Oftentimes, buildings are landscaped with shrubs and plants to decorate the area surrounding the structure.  What many landscapers do not account for is the size or space that these plants would eventually grow to and the additional space that the plants would need over time. If grown too close to the structure of the building, the decorative plants can have the Conducive Conditions that can bridge a colony of wood-destroying insects into the structure of your home or, in the case of trees being too near the rooftop of home, even invite rodents and other pests to enter your home.

Conducive Conditions can range from contact between the wood and the soil of your home, improper ventilation, water or wood and/or debris that gather in your crawl space, sanitation concerns such as overfilled garbage bins near the home or overgrown tree branches that make contact with the roof of your home, but there are ways to remediate these issues. Below is not by any means a complete list, but should help you get started in getting rid of conducive conditions that lead to pests infestations.

For Wood-Destroying Insects:

• Prune and clear away any plants or organic matter that are or may make contact with your home. The recommended space to have in-between the structure of your home and any greenery is about 2 feet in space.
• For raised houses, remove wood and other debris that may gather in the crawlspace.
• If water tends to collect under the home, add soil or sand and have it graded to help the area run-off properly to the outer sides of the home, and preferably down and out to the street.
• Replace any loose siding and/or damaged soffits and eaves.
• Paint or use a wood preserver on any bare wood.
• Fix leaky window sills and frames.
• Repair any and all roof leaks.
• Remove firewood at least 2 feet away from structure.

For Rodent Interventions:

• Groom the trees around your home by removing the mulch, trimming branches or any vines that may grow too long and are able to reach the top of your roof. If necessary, use a rodent-repelling gel to ward off any rodents who would use the tree to reach the roof of your home.
• Use rodent traps around the areas of your roof and ground that would have high levels of traffic from rodents or other unwanted pests.
• Don’t let garbage pile up in garbage bins; make sure that lids are in place and secure. Remove garbage on a regular basis – don’t let garbage sit for more than three days.
• Cut and tend to high weeds or untended vegetation as these are areas that invite rodents to make harborages.
• Remove pet food after pests are finished eating. Do not let food sit out for hours, as this invites rodents to feast upon it.
• Do not feed birds, as this attracts rodents, and is believed by studies conducted that feeders actually hurt rather than help the birds in the area.