Spiders in the eaves, mice in the garage, ants marching across the kitchen tiles after rain? In Glentana, most of these problems come from the coastal bush around the village, and the answer is a treatment that stops them at the edge of the house rather than chasing them room by room. We inspect, find where they're coming from, and set up a barrier that holds.
Living between the bush and the sea
Glentana is a small village on the cliffs between Groot Brak and Herolds Bay. Plenty of homes are lived in all year, many by retired couples, and others are holiday houses that stand empty for long spells. Most properties back onto natural coastal bush, which is lovely to look at and also home to rodents, spiders, ants and every other small creature that would happily move into a warm, dry building.
Salt air plays its part too. Sea-facing homes take a beating, and over time door seals, window frames and vent covers work loose. Each gap is a way in.
Is it a problem, or just the countryside?
Living next to bush means you'll always see the odd spider or beetle. These are the signs that point to something more:
- Droppings in the garage, pantry or behind the stove, or gnawed packaging
- Scratching or running in the ceiling at night
- Ant trails that come back every time it rains
- Cockroaches in the kitchen when the lights go on at night
- Fleas biting pets or people after a dog or cat has been roaming the bush
- Webs building up in the same corners faster than you can clear them
What we do
The first job is the inspection. We go around the outside of the house, paying close attention to the side facing the bush, then through the garage, roof space, kitchen and any outbuildings. We're looking for entry points, nests and food sources, and we'll tell you what we find as we go.
For insects, we apply an odourless, non-staining residual spray as a barrier around the outside and along the routes insects use inside. Cockroaches get gel baits in the kitchen. Ants get baits they carry back to the nest. For rodents, we use lockable bait stations, traps or tracking powder depending on the house, and point out the gaps that need closing. After a rodent problem, we can sanitise the areas they've used.
No packing up and no moving out. Once surfaces are dry, the house is safe for you, visiting grandchildren and your pets. The spray has no smell, which matters in a house that's kept closed up for part of the year.
For holiday homes in the village
An empty house in Glentana is quiet, dry and right next to bush, which is an open invitation to mice and rats. If yours stands empty for months, have the bait stations checked between visits and ask us to treat a couple of weeks before the family comes down for the holidays. Arriving to a clean house beats finding droppings in the linen cupboard.
One local tip
Look at where your garden meets the bush. Trim back branches that touch the roof or gutter, and keep a clear strip of about a metre between the walls and any dense vegetation. Rodents and many insects prefer to travel under cover, and an open strip makes the house far less inviting. If you have a braai area or a spot where you clean fish, wash it down properly after use. Leftover scraps draw flies and rodents in from the bush overnight.
What people get wrong
Putting out loose poison in the garage or roof. In a house close to bush it gets taken by rodents that then die somewhere you can't reach, and it can be picked up by pets or wild animals. Lockable stations in the right spots are safer and work better.
How much will it cost?
It depends on what we're treating, the size of the house and garden, and how established the problem is. A barrier treatment for spiders and ants on a typical home is a straightforward job. Rodents that have settled into a roof need more stations, proofing advice and at least one follow-up. Holiday homes may benefit from a regular check-up arrangement. We'll give you a free quote, and we'll tell you honestly if a simple fix like a new door seal will do more good than a treatment.
We're SAPCA registered, have worked in the Garden Route for more than 25 years, and back our treatments with a 3-month guarantee. A little further along the coast, see pest control in Herolds Bay, and if insects are your main concern, our Glentana insect control page has more detail.
Call us on 044 012 5011 for a chat about what you're seeing at home.
Questions we get asked
Are spiders worth treating?
If you see the odd one, no. If webs are building up quickly around eaves, windows and the garage, a barrier treatment cuts down the spiders and the insects they feed on.
Can you treat while I'm living in the house?
Yes. Normal treatments don't require you to leave. Just stay off treated surfaces until they're dry.
How do I keep mice out of the garage?
Close the gap under the garage door with a proper seal, store pet food and birdseed in sealed containers, and keep clutter off the floor so there's nowhere to nest.
Do you service Glentana from George?
Yes. Glentana is on the coast between Groot Brak and Herolds Bay, and we cover it from our George office.
What if the pests come back after treatment?
If the pests we treated for return within three months, we come back and re-treat at no extra cost.