Pest control in Wierdapark splits neatly in two. In the garden, it is harvester termites thinning the lawn, mole rats pushing up mounds and fleas where the dogs lie. In the house, it is roof rats, cockroaches and ants. Combat Pest Control serves Wierdapark from Johannesburg, and we look at both halves before deciding how to treat.
About Wierdapark
Wierdapark is an established family suburb in western Centurion, next to Eldoraigne. Most properties are free-standing houses on good-sized stands with large lawns, mature trees, pools and plenty of dogs, along with some townhouse complexes and cluster developments. Many of the homes have been there for several decades, and some have had extensions and lapas added over time.
Centurion sits between Johannesburg and Pretoria and shares Pretoria's warmer climate, with hot summers and dry, mild winters. That suits harvester termites, ants and cockroaches, and the long dry season puts lawns under stress just when termites are most active.
Garden pests
Harvester termites
This is the most common garden call in Wierdapark. Through winter, harvester termites cut dry kikuyu and carry it underground, leaving bare, sandy patches with little holes and loose heaps of soil, often in the sunny, dry parts of the lawn. We treat the active holes so the workers carry the product to the colony, then the lawn can recover with water and feeding. For more on both lawn and structural termites, see our termite control in Johannesburg page.
Mole rats
Fresh mounds of soil appearing overnight, often in lines across the lawn, are mole rats, not termites. They eat bulbs and roots and can wreck flowerbeds and irrigation. They need a completely different approach, which is explained on our mole control in Johannesburg page.
Fleas and ticks
Shaded lawns, dog beds and the soil under decks are where flea larvae develop. Ticks hitch a ride in from walks on open ground. Treating the garden, the house and the dogs at the same time is what clears them. Fleas can survive as pupae in carpets and soil for weeks, waiting for a pet or a person to walk past, which is why a house that stood empty can suddenly feel full of fleas the day a new family moves in.
House pests
Roof rats and mice
Mature trees and creepers give roof rats a way onto the roof. They nest above the ceiling, chew wiring and leave droppings in the roof space. Mice come into kitchens and garages in winter. Lockable bait stations outside and traps in the roof are our usual method, followed by trimming branches back from the roof line and closing gaps at the eaves so the next rat cannot use the same route.
Cockroaches and ants
German cockroaches settle in kitchens and are treated with gel bait in hinges and appliance housings. American cockroaches come up from drains on hot nights. Ants trail in before storms and are baited back to the nest. In Centurion, the small brown pugnacious ant is a frequent visitor in summer; it nests under paving and lawn edges and will happily march across a kitchen counter to reach pet food or a sugar bowl.
How we treat a Wierdapark property
We start with a walk around the garden and the house, including the roof space where there is a hatch. That tells us whether the bare patches are termites or something else, where the rats are getting in and what is drawing in cockroaches. Our sprays are odourless and leave no stains, and you can stay home. Keep children and pets off treated surfaces and lawns until dry. In townhouse complexes, we can treat the whole site for the body corporate.
A mistake we often see
Laying new instant lawn or seed over harvester termite patches without treating first. The termites move straight into the fresh grass, and the new lawn disappears within weeks. Treat, then repair.
A Wierdapark tip
If water restrictions allow, keep watering the lawn lightly through the dry winter months. Harvester termites target dry, stressed grass first, and a lawn that stays a little green holds up much better.
What it costs and why
For harvester termites, the cost depends on the size of the lawn and how many active patches there are. Mole rat control depends on the number of active runs. Rat and cockroach treatments are priced on the size of the house and roof, and fleas on the area of house and garden we cover. Our price guide for pest control shows guide "from" prices, and we quote after seeing the property. If the problem is small, we will tell you.
We cover nearby Eldoraigne and the rest of Centurion, and our full list of services is on our pest control page.
Combat Pest Control is owned and run by Jason van Heerden, who has 25 years of experience. We are SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36, we offer service within 24 hours, and termite treatments carry a 5-year guarantee with a certificate. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp a photo of the lawn.
Questions we get asked
How much does it cost to treat harvester termites in Wierdapark?
It depends on the size of the lawn and the number of active patches. Our price page shows where termite work starts, and we quote after seeing the garden.
Is it moles or termites in my lawn?
Raised mounds of fresh soil are mole rats. Flat, bare patches with small holes and loose soil heaps are harvester termites.
Will my lawn grow back after a termite treatment?
Yes, usually. Once the colony is treated, water and feed the lawn and it recovers, especially as the summer rains arrive.
Is the lawn treatment safe for my dogs?
Yes, once it is dry. Keep the dogs off the treated lawn until then.
Why do I hear scratching in my roof at night?
Most often roof rats that climbed in from trees or creepers. We bait outside, trap in the roof and show you the gaps to close.
Can you treat a whole townhouse complex?
Yes. We work with the body corporate and can treat all the units and gardens together.
How long does termite protection last?
Our termite treatments carry a 5-year guarantee with a treatment certificate.