Your first mosquito or tick spray of the season works best when the yard is ready. You do not need to do anything fancy. A few simple steps before we show up help the treatment stick and make the visit quick and easy.
Here is what we tell our customers in Manchester, Bedford, Exeter, and across Southern New Hampshire before their first visit.
Why a Little Prep Helps
Our technicians spray the perimeter of your property and the spots where you and your family spend time: decks, play areas, and patios. When grass is trimmed and toys or furniture are moved away from the edges, we can cover those areas evenly. When things are tucked in, we can also spot standing water and other problem spots so we can treat them or point them out to you.
What to Do the Day Before or Morning Of
Move Toys and Furniture Away From the Edges
Pull play sets, lawn chairs, grills, and anything else a few feet away from the fence line or the edge of the lawn. That gives us a clear path to spray the perimeter without moving your stuff. You can put everything back after the spray has had about 30 minutes to dry.
Mow the Lawn
Mowing a day or two before the visit is ideal. Shorter grass means the spray reaches the base of the grass and the lower leaves where ticks and mosquitoes rest. If you cannot mow right before, that is okay; we will still treat the yard. Just avoid mowing right after the treatment so the product has time to settle.
Pick Up Sticks and Clutter
A quick pass to pick up sticks, leaves, and any clutter along the fence and around the deck helps. We are not asking for a perfect yard. We just want a clear path so we can treat the right spots and leave notes if we see anything that could hold water or attract pests.
Put Away or Cover Pet Bowls and Bird Baths
If you have outdoor pet bowls or bird baths, empty them or move them out of the spray zone for the visit. Your technician can tell you when it is safe to put them back (usually within about 30 minutes). This keeps pets and birds safe and lets the treatment focus on plants and grass.
Do You Need to Be Home?
No. As long as we can get to the yard (gates unlocked or access noted), we can do the treatment. We will honk when we arrive and leave a door hanger when we are done so you know the time we sprayed. Many of our customers are at work or running errands; that is fine.
What About Pets and Kids?
We ask that people and pets stay off the treated areas for about 30 minutes after the spray. After that, the yard is safe for normal use. If you have a dog or cat that spends a lot of time outside, we can note that and use the same care we use for every yard.
After the First Visit
Your technician will treat the perimeter and hot spots and may leave a note or photo if we see standing water or other spots to fix. Taking care of those (dumping buckets, fixing low spots that hold water) makes the next visits even more effective. For more ideas on keeping your yard less inviting to pests, check out our blog and our mosquito control and tick control pages.
Ready to Schedule?
If you are in our service area and want to get on the schedule, the best next step is to request a free quote. We use your address to measure your property and give you a clear price. From there we can set your first visit and the rest of your season. You can reach us at 603-778-1471 or through our contact page. We serve seven counties across Southern and Central New Hampshire and would be glad to help you get your yard ready for the first spray of the year.