How Many Rounds of Perimeter Pest Control Does Your Home Need?

Noticing a line of ants marching across your counter can turn your day into a full detective mission. Where did they come from? Are there more? And do you need to spray once, twice, or more? You want pests gone, but you don’t want to turn the inside of your home into a science lab.

The good news is that a smart perimeter pest control plan removes the guesswork. When you understand how outdoor treatments create a protective buffer and why timing matters just as much as the products themselves, keeping pests out becomes a whole lot simpler. So, how often do you need pest control in Indiana? We recommend six applications, but there is more you should know about when, how, and what to apply.

Let’s explore:

What is Perimeter Pest Control?
What is the Best Pest Control Schedule?
Perimeter Pest Control by Shades of Green

What is Perimeter Pest Control?

Perimeter pest control is all about stopping bugs before they wander into your home. Instead of waiting for a surprise in the bathroom or basement, a technician applies a treatment around the outside of your house to create a pest barrier.

How Does Spraying Outside of House for Bugs Work?

This targeted spray around the house for bugs focuses on the foundation, entry points, and the spots pests love to sneak through. When insects come in contact with the barrier, they are stopped in their tracks. It is proactive pest prevention and a much easier approach than dealing with bugs after they have already moved in. Think of it as pest control around the house that keeps the action outdoors so your indoor space stays calm, clean, and blissfully bug-free.

What is the Best Pest Control Schedule in Indiana?

Keeping bugs out of your home isn’t a one-and-done task, especially here in Indiana, where the weather swings and active pest cycles give insects plenty of chances to slip inside. The most effective approach is a steady, consistent perimeter pest control schedule that builds protection layer by layer.

If you only spray once or twice a year, it is easy to end up with a breakthrough, which means bugs like ants, spiders, and earwigs can slip inside because the previous treatment has worn off. Indiana’s weather and pest cycles don’t stay the same for long. Heat, rain, UV exposure, and new waves of insects can weaken a single application quickly.

Here’s how your typical year should look when timed just right:

• March/April: First treatment as pests wake up. Quick-acting formulas get things under control as the landscape shifts.
• Late Spring: Barrier is reinforced as pests continue to become more active.
• Summer: The busiest pest months. Long-lasting, microencapsulated products take center stage.
• Late Summer/Early Fall: Another round of protection ensures that as temperatures cool, pests can’t make it inside.
• Fall: Final treatments keep the pest barrier strong as leaves pile up and pests seek warmer hiding spots.
• November: This last application ties up loose ends, so you are not dealing with winter pest invasions.  

How Often Do You Need Pest Control?

Most Indiana homes need six treatments per year, starting in early spring and running through the late fall for consistent results.

Why six treatments? It lines up perfectly with the rhythm of Indiana’s growing season and even mirrors the timing of a typical lawn fertilization program. Bugs don’t take long breaks, so your pest barrier cannot either.

Because products break down at different rates, depending on UV exposure, rainfall, temperature, and landscape activity, spreading the treatments as we have outlined above helps keep your home protected through all of the pest invasion waves we experience. Each treatment strengthens and refreshes the shield around your home, and rotating products throughout the season helps prevent pests from adapting.

Why Pest Control Frequency is So Important

The magic word here is consistency. A perimeter barrier only works if it stays intact. When too much time passes between treatments, the protective layer weakens, and pests can exploit the opening. That’s when you start seeing ants scouting your kitchen again.

The weather also plays a big role. Heavy rain, hot sun, and rapid plant growth change how long outdoor products last. Many pests, including ants, spiders, and earwigs, follow life cycles that sync with temperature changes. Here’s how a consistent schedule can help:

• Keeps the pest barrier from breaking down.
• Maintains better control across changing weather.
• Matches the timing of pest life cycles.
• Reduces the chance of surprise infestations.
• Minimizes the need for stronger indoor treatments.

Shades of Green’s Pest Control Plans

At Shades of Green, we alternate between two main types of products because they perform differently depending on conditions. Some treatments have no UV protection, which means they break down faster under sunlight. These are great options for early spring when landscapes are still being cleaned up, mulched, or planted, and when the focus is more on quickly knocking down the pests. At this time, they offer solid support with mosquito activity beginning to pick up.

As we move deeper into the season, we shift to microencapsulated products, which are designed to last longer. Each tiny capsule protects the active ingredient, giving you more durable control even with strong sun, heavier pest pressure, and thicker plant canopies. This rotation keeps the barrier reliable from March or April through November.

Rotating products also prevents pests from getting too comfortable with any single formula, which keeps control more effective across the full season. Treatments are timed with Indiana weather patterns, and because the work is done outdoors, you don’t need to be home during service. It is a simple and low-disruption way to keep the bugs out.

Partnering with Shades of Green for Perimeter Pest Control Services in Lafayette, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, and Nearby Areas

Keeping pests out of your home shouldn’t feel like a never-ending battle. With the right products applied at the right times, perimeter pest control can create a dependable shield that keeps insects where they belong.

At Shades of Green, our team uses a well-coordinated and thought-out approach to help prevent pests from invading. Our plan is seasonally adjusted and designed specifically for Indiana’s conditions, giving you reliable protection without the guesswork.

Ready to kick bugs out of your home for good? Get started by filling out our contact form today.