Nothing wrong with going all out on the front porch. Just know that some of the best fall decorations are also the best bug and mouse attractions. A little planning keeps the porch fun and the house clear.
Pumpkins and gourds
A fresh pumpkin looks great. A pumpkin that has been sitting for two weeks is soft, sweet, and leaking. That draws ants, fruit flies, and yellow jackets, and mice will happily gnaw on it at night. Carve closer to Halloween, not weeks ahead, and toss it before it collapses. Tossing it in the bushes only feeds whatever comes by at night.
Hay bales, cornstalks, and mums
Hay and cornstalks are fine for a weekend, but they give spiders, crickets, and mice lots of cover right next to your door. If you want them out, put them out toward the yard or the edge of the porch instead of against the house or the door frame. When the season is over, throw out the stalks instead of storing them in the garage.
Candy bowls and trick-or-treat leftovers
A bowl of candy by the door brings ants fast, especially if a wrapper falls. Keep the bowl on a table, not on the floor or the steps, sweep up wrappers right after, and put leftover candy in a sealed container instead of leaving the open bag on the counter.
Storing decor afterward
This is where problems follow you inside. Cardboard boxes of decorations that sit in the garage or attic make a warm winter home for spiders and mice. Pack things into plastic bins with lids, shake out anything that was outside, and check fake cobwebs and stuffed props for the real kind.
Quick fall decor checklist
- Keep produce decor off the ground and a few feet from the door
- Toss pumpkins when they get soft
- Skip hay bales right against the house
- Sweep up candy wrappers and crumbs
- Store everything in lidded plastic bins
If a fall mouse or spider is already finding its way in, here is how mice get into your house in the fall. Our residential pest control keeps the outside edge of your home treated so the season does not turn into a surprise.
Want a pest-free porch this fall?
We will check the outside of your home and tell you what needs attention. Call or text us at (205) 855-7975.
Get a Free EstimateCan pumpkins attract pests?
Yes. A soft or rotting pumpkin draws ants, flies, and yellow jackets, and mice will gnaw on it at night.
Should I put hay bales next to my front door?
It is better to keep them out toward the yard, since hay gives spiders, crickets, and mice cover right beside the entrance.
How should I store Halloween decorations?
Use plastic bins with tight lids instead of cardboard, and shake out anything that was outside before packing it away.
