General Landscape Issues

Often without realizing it, pest problems are created by the choices made in landscape plants 
around the facility and how they are placed and maintained. 

Keep the following in mind: 

- Yew shrubs and other low evergreen shrubs should not be planted next to the building.  These 
  shrubs have low drooping branches that create "caverns" that can attract all kinds of pests. 
  Often litter--food wrappers or debris--can get trapped underneath. Moles, mice, or even larger 
  animals can nest in these areas. Recommendation: remove these shrubs or keep the lower branches 
  trimmed up to eliminate pest harborage and facilitate cleaning.  

- Fruiting trees such as crab apples may cause problems by attracting flies, yellowjackets and 
  other pests to fruit that falls and rots below the trees. 

- Tree branches that overlap the roof of the building can act like pest highways, providing access 
  for carpenter ants, mice or other pests. Trim back branches and avoid planning trees close to 
  buildings.

- Bird feeders that allow a lot of spillage of seeds can attract rodents and other pests. Select 
  "tube" feeders over the open platform type and place feeders well away from the building to limit 
  pest attraction.