Pest control in Irene, Centurion

Pest control in Irene is largely about gardens and old trees: moles and harvester termites in lawns, rats travelling through mature trees into roofs, bee swarms and wasp nests, and wood borer and termites in older village homes. Combat Pest Control serves Irene from Johannesburg, inspecting house and garden together and treating what's causing the problem.

Irene's character

Irene is one of Centurion's oldest areas, a former farming village that grew up around the historic Doornkloof farm, where Jan Smuts lived, and the Irene Dairy Farm, both still well known. The old village has tree-lined streets, older homes and large gardens. Around it are newer security estates and golf and country estates with wide lawns, plus open grassland and farmland that still give the area a rural edge.

All that grass and those old trees make Irene a beautiful place to live. They also make it one of the busiest areas in Centurion for lawn and garden pests.

Lawn pests: moles and harvester termites

Moles

Molehills and raised tunnels across a lawn are one of our most frequent Irene calls, especially on estates with big irrigated lawns and after summer rain. In Gauteng these are usually golden moles or mole-rats. They damage lawns, uproot plants and disturb irrigation lines. Our mole control service explains how we deal with them.

Harvester termites

In a dry Pretoria winter, harvester termites cut grass and take it underground, leaving bare patches, small holes and loose soil heaps. On a large estate lawn, the damage can spread quickly. A targeted treatment of active holes stops it. Our page on termite control covers harvester and subterranean termites, including the 5-year guarantee and certificate on termite work.

Pests in the house and garden

Rats in old trees

Roof rats live in the canopy of big old trees and travel along branches onto roofs. In Irene's older village homes, they get in under the eaves and through gaps in old roof sheeting. We bait outside in lockable stations, trap in the roof, and point out branches and gaps to deal with.

Bees and wasps

Hollow trees, old walls, chimneys and roof spaces attract bee swarms in spring. Wherever possible, we rehome swarms with a beekeeper. Paper wasps build nests under eaves, pergolas and outdoor furniture, and we treat and remove those directly.

Wood borer and subterranean termites

Older homes in the village, with timber floors, beams, door frames and built-in cupboards, can have wood borer or subterranean termites. Small round holes and fine dust mean borer; mud tubes and hollow wood mean termites. They're treated differently, so we confirm which it is first.

Ants and spiders

Ants trail into kitchens before summer storms, and spiders build in corners, garages and garden sheds. Ant baits carried back to the nest work far better than sprays. Most garden spiders are harmless; we treat if they're becoming a nuisance indoors.

How we work in Irene

1. Inspection. We walk the house, the roof space if accessible, outbuildings and the whole garden, including trees close to the house.
2. Identification. Moles or mole-rats, harvester or subterranean termites, wood borer or termites: the right treatment depends on the right answer.
3. Treatment. Matched to the pest, using registered products, lockable bait stations and targeted methods.
4. Advice. What to change in the garden or the house to keep pests from coming back.

You can stay home during normal treatments. Keep children and pets off treated surfaces until they've dried.

When to expect what in Irene

Spring is swarm season, so bee calls peak from August to October, along with the first wasp nests. Early summer storms bring out ants and flying termites. Molehills appear most after good rain, when the soil is soft and easy to tunnel. Winter, from May, is when rats move from the trees into roofs and harvester termites work hardest on dry lawns. A quick look around the garden at the start of each season catches most problems while they're still small.

The mistake estate owners make

Treating moles and termites on one lawn while the neighbour's lawn, or the estate's common ground, is left untreated. Both pests move freely across boundaries. On estates, it's worth asking the home owners' association about a coordinated treatment.

An Irene tip

Have branches cut back so they're at least a metre clear of your roof. With trees as big as Irene's, that one change removes the easiest route rats have into your ceiling.

What it costs and why

Lawn treatments for moles and harvester termites depend on how much lawn is affected. Rat control depends on the size of the house and the level of activity. Bees depend on where the swarm has settled: a hive inside a wall is more work than one in a tree. Wood borer and subterranean termite work is quoted after an inspection. Guide "from" prices are listed on our treatment prices page.

We also work in nearby Doornkloof and the rest of Centurion, and our pest control in Johannesburg page lists every service.

Combat Pest Control is owned by Jason van Heerden, who does the work himself and brings 25 years of experience. Combat is SAPCA registered and holds Department of Agriculture registration, offers service within 24 hours and guarantees general treatments for three months. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the molehills or the damaged lawn.