If you want a summer without a cockroach invasion, spring is the time to get proactive.

Why Cockroaches are Suddenly Everywhere in Orlando This Spring

Unlike places up north, Orlando doesn’t get a real winter freeze, which is bad news for anyone who thought they could just wait out the cold weather. But it means that cockroaches have no problem staying active all year round – and come spring, they really start to party. And it’s all thanks to a couple of key factors:

• March to May brings the temps up and gets everything growing again
• Spring storms bring all sorts of moisture to the area
• When you fire up your irrigation system for the first time in a while it’s like putting out a welcome mat for these unwanted critters
• And let’s not forget all the new landscaping that’s sprouting up, providing the perfect hiding spots for them

In Orlando, you’ve got a few different types of cockroaches that you need to worry about:

• Palmetto bugs (American cockroaches)\
• German cockroaches\
• Smokybrown cockroaches

1. Lock Down Those Entry Points Before Summer Hits

You might be surprised at just how small a gap these little critters can squeeze through – we’re talking 1/8 of an inch or smaller. So it’s essential to check:

• Gaps around doors and windows
• The weather stripping around those doors and windows
• Cracks in the foundation of your home (because these guys can seep in from the ground up)
• Utility and plumbing entry points (because they love to hide in pipes)
• And don’t forget the garage door seal!

Spring is a great time to do this because it’s before the heavy summer rains start driving more and more of these unwanted critters indoors.

2. Get Rid of Moisture Around Your Home (Before it Drives the Cockroaches Crazy)

We all know how humid it gets in Central Florida – and moisture is basically a roach’s best friend. So this spring, make sure to:

• Clean out your gutters after a long winter
• Check for clogged downspouts (because a clogged downspout is basically a welcome mat for roaches)
• Fix any leaky outdoor faucets (because who likes a good drinking fountain, right?)
• Don’t overwater that landscaping – it’s like putting out a neon sign for cockroaches
• Keep that mulch thin and at least 6 inches away from your home’s foundation (because mulch can trap moisture)
• If you live in an area near a lake or retention pond, you might be especially susceptible to cockroach infestations

3. Keep Your Kitchens and Pantries Sealed Up Tight

If you’ve got German cockroaches, you’re probably already aware of how quickly they can multiply indoors. To prevent that from happening, here are some simple things you can do:

• Store dry goods in sealed containers – cockroaches can’t get to what they can’t see
• Don’t leave pet food out overnight (or if you do, make sure you clean up any spills quickly)
• Take out the trash regularly – don’t leave it sitting around for a week
• Wipe down your counters every night before bed – a quick clean keeps the roaches from coming back
• Vacuum under your appliances – because these guys love to hide in the crumbs and spills underneath

4. Keep Your Yard Looking Nice (But Not So Nice for Cockroaches)

Orlando’s landscaping might be beautiful, but it’s also a cockroach paradise. So take some time this spring to:

• Trim back any bushes or tree branches that are touching your home
• Remove any dense ground cover near the exterior walls of your home (because this stuff can provide the perfect hiding spots)
• Get rid of any leaf piles or wood debris (because cockroaches love to hide in it)
• Don’t let cardboard boxes pile up in your garage – they’re like a personal invitation to the roach party

5. Schedule Your Preventative Pest Control

Here’s the mistake a lot of homeowners make: they wait until they see a bunch of roaches to take action. But by the time you’re spotting them regularly, there’s usually a whole bunch of them hiding behind walls and under appliances. By the time you see them it’s usually too late – a preventative service in the spring can:

• Stop the breeding cycle before it starts
• Treat any nesting areas and create a barrier to keep them out
• Protect your home from a massive cockroach infestation during the peak summer months

When to Call a Professional

If you notice any of the following, it’s time to act fast:

• You start seeing roaches out in the open during the day (because normally they’re hiding out of sight)
• You see small roaches – it means they’re breeding
• You spot roach droppings (which look suspiciously like coffee grounds)
• You get a musty odor coming from your cabinets (which is basically code for ‘the roaches are partying in there’)

Orlando Cockroach Control You Can Trust

If you’re dealing with cockroaches in your home this spring, don’t wait for summer to make it worse. Solve Pest Pros provides safe, eco-friendly pest control solutions that are specifically designed for Florida’s climate. And if you do happen to get more critters between scheduled visits, we’ll come back and reservice your home for free.

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