Pest control in Die Wilgers is largely garden-led. Ants, moles, wasps, harvester termites and rats start outside in the lawns, flowerbeds and trees, and then find their way into the house. Combat Pest Control serves Die Wilgers from Johannesburg, and we treat the garden and the house together so the problem doesn't simply walk back in.
An established Pretoria East suburb
Die Wilgers is a settled residential suburb in Pretoria East, off the N4, made up mostly of free-standing family homes on good-sized stands, with some townhouse complexes and cluster developments mixed in. The name means "the willows", and many properties have the mature trees, lawns, pools and planted beds you'd expect from a suburb that has been lived in for decades.
Pretoria's climate is warmer than Johannesburg's, with hot, stormy summers and mild winters. Garden insects get a long season to build up numbers, and a big, well-watered garden is about the best habitat they could ask for.
Pests that start in the garden
Ants in paving and kitchens
Ants nest under paving, along edging and in the soil of flowerbeds, then trail indoors to sugar, pet food and water, especially just before rain. A spray along the trail stops that line for a day; bait the workers carry home ends the nest. We place ant baits along the trails and at nest openings, and treat the perimeter where needed.
Moles and mole hills
Fresh mounds of loose soil popping up across the lawn are the work of golden moles or mole-rats tunnelling below the surface. They loosen roots, ruin the look of a lawn and can damage irrigation. Our mole control on Highveld lawns explains the options and what to expect.
Wasps under eaves and pergolas
Paper wasps build open combs under eaves, inside pergolas, behind shutters and in pool pump housings. A nest next to a door, a play area or the pool is a genuine sting risk. We treat and remove nests safely, usually early or late in the day. See wasp nest removal for more.
Harvester termites in the lawn
Bare, straw-coloured patches with small holes and loose soil, usually in a dry winter, mean harvester termites are cutting the grass and carrying it underground. Treating the active holes stops them, and the lawn can be repaired once the activity ends.
Rats in trees and roofs
Fruit trees, bird feeders, compost heaps and dog food left out overnight feed rats, and mature trees give roof rats a way onto the roof. We bait outside in lockable stations and trap in the roof space if they're inside.
And inside the house
Mosquitoes around the pool
A pool itself rarely breeds mosquitoes if it's kept clean and circulating, but a sagging cover, a blocked gutter or a neglected water feature will. Check those first in summer.
Indoors, Die Wilgers homes see German cockroaches in kitchens, fish moths in cupboards and bookshelves, spiders in garages and the odd scorpion that has come in from a rockery. A general crawling-insect treatment covers most of these in one visit, while subterranean termites, if we find mud tubes on a wall or in a cupboard, are treated separately.
How a visit goes
We start in the garden: lawns, beds, trees, the pool area, the boundary walls and anywhere water collects. Then we go through the house. Most of our sprays are odourless and leave no marks, and the family can stay at home; just give pets and children time to let treated areas dry before they go near them. Complexes can book the whole development, which is cheaper per unit and works better.
The mistake we see in big gardens
Watering the lawn heavily every evening in summer and then wondering why the ants and mosquitoes are so bad. Constantly wet soil and puddles under the irrigation give both exactly what they need. Watering in the early morning, and less often but more deeply, helps the lawn and reduces insects.
A Die Wilgers tip
Look at your pool pump and filter housing. The covered, warm, slightly damp space is a favourite nesting spot for wasps, ants and spiders, and it's often overlooked until someone gets stung opening it. Check it every few weeks in summer.
What it costs and why
Garden work is priced by the size of the area and what we're treating. A general treatment for a family home and its perimeter is a modest job. Wasp nests are usually a quick, once-off visit. Moles and harvester termites depend on the size of the lawn and how widespread the activity is. This page shows a guide "from" price, and our price guide covers more. If a nest is tiny and easy to reach, we'll say so.
We also look after homes in Lynnwood Ridge and Meyerspark, and every service is on our main Johannesburg pest control page.
Combat Pest Control is run day to day by its owner, Jason van Heerden, who has 25 years in the industry. We're SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36 of 1947, offer service within 24 hours, and stand behind general treatments with a 3-month guarantee. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a picture of the nest, mound or insect.
Questions we get asked
How much does it cost to treat my garden and house in Die Wilgers?
It depends on the size of the property and which pests we're treating. A general house-and-perimeter treatment is modest; moles, termites in a large lawn or several wasp nests take more time. Start with the guide price shown here, and we'll firm it up once we've seen the garden.
What's making the mounds of soil on my lawn?
Fresh mounds of loose soil are usually moles or mole-rats tunnelling underneath. Bare patches with small holes, on the other hand, point to harvester termites.
Can I remove a wasp nest myself?
A very small nest that's easy to reach, possibly. A large nest, one near a door or pool, or anyone in the house allergic to stings is a job for us.
Will treating the garden harm my dog?
Not when it's done properly. We'll tell you which areas to keep the dog off and for how long, and baits are placed where pets can't reach them.
Why do ants come in before it rains?
Rising humidity and soaking soil push ants to look for dry shelter and food, so trails into the kitchen often appear just before a storm.
Do you treat townhouse complexes in Die Wilgers?
Yes. We can treat the whole complex in one visit, which gives better results than one unit at a time.
How long does a general treatment last?
Our general treatments carry a 3-month guarantee. Keeping food, water and shelter away from pests helps it last well beyond that.