Most of the pest calls we take from Lynnwood fall into a handful of groups: termites in older homes and lawns, rats using the trees to reach the roof, cockroaches in kitchens and office kitchenettes, ants trailing in before rain, and moles lifting the lawn. We treat all of them, along with the less common visitors, and we start every job the same way: by finding out why the pest is there before we treat anything.
What makes Lynnwood different
Lynnwood is an established suburb in Pretoria East, close to Menlyn, with large properties and gardens that have had decades to grow. Those gardens are the main reason people love living here, and they're also the main source of pests. Mature trees hang over roofs. Deep flowerbeds and leaf litter hold moisture against the walls. Wide lawns get watered through winter, which keeps the soil soft and full of grubs.
The other side of Lynnwood is commercial. Offices, schools and businesses along Lynnwood Road have staff kitchens, waste areas and storerooms, and they deal with a different set of problems from the houses behind them: cockroaches, mice, flies and the occasional bed bug brought in from travel.
The pests we deal with most here
Termites
Older Lynnwood homes often have timber floors, built-in cupboards and roof timbers that have stood for a long time, and any soil treatment done when the house was built has long since worn off. Subterranean termites find their way in through cracks and flowerbeds piled against walls. In the garden, harvester termites cut down kikuyu in the dry months. Our termite control in Lynnwood starts by working out which of the two you have.
Rats and mice
Roof rats climb. Give them an overhanging branch or a creeper-covered wall and they'll be in the ceiling by the first cold night. We see this a lot on Lynnwood properties with old trees close to the house. Mice turn up more in garages, storerooms and offices. See how we handle rats in Lynnwood homes for the full approach.
Cockroaches
German cockroaches breed in warm kitchens, behind fridges and inside appliances, and they spread easily between office units and shared kitchens. The large brown American cockroach comes up from drains and sewer lines, especially in older plumbing. Both respond to gel baits placed where they hide, which is how our Lynnwood cockroach service works.
Ants
Ants use tree trunks, paving joints and irrigation lines as highways into the house, and they get busier before summer storms. Baits the workers carry home deal with the nest rather than the trail.
Moles
Golden moles love a soft, well-watered lawn with plenty of grubs, which describes a lot of Lynnwood gardens. Raised ridges and soft spots that collapse underfoot are the sign. Our mole treatments for Lynnwood lawns target the active runs.
And the rest
Spiders in creepers and under eaves, paper wasps on patios, fishmoths in bookshelves, fleas where dogs sleep, bird mites after pigeons nest in the roof, and pantry moths in the kitchen cupboard. Each has its own page on this site, and each needs a targeted fix rather than a general spray.
Through the Lynnwood year
Spring brings ants and the first wasp nests. The first big storm releases flying termites. Midsummer is the season for flies, mosquitoes around pools and birdbaths, and millipedes on wet patios. Autumn is mole season in irrigated lawns. From May, rodents move indoors and harvester termites strip dry grass. If you only check one thing, check the roof space at the start of winter.
How we work
We inspect first, inside and out, and tell you what we've found and why it's there. Then we treat with what fits: lockable bait stations and traps for rodents, gel baits for cockroaches, ant baits, registered soil treatments for termites, and odourless, non-staining residual sprays for crawling insects. For normal insect treatments you stay at home; keep children and pets off treated surfaces until they're dry. Offices, schools and businesses can go on a scheduled monitoring contract so problems are caught early.
A mistake we see often in Lynnwood
People treat the inside of the house and ignore the garden. With gardens this size, the pressure nearly always comes from outside: a tree touching the gutter, a compost heap against the boundary wall, a flowerbed built up over the damp-proof course. Fix those and treatments last far longer.
What does it cost?
the price comes down to which pest it is, how big the stand is and how long the problem has been building. A single wasp nest is a small job. A termite treatment around a large older house, or a rodent programme for an office block, is quoted after we've seen it. If something is minor enough to handle yourself, we'll tell you.
We've been doing this for 25 years and we're SAPCA registered. If a treated pest returns within three months, we come back under our guarantee. For anything we treat elsewhere in the city, see pest control across Pretoria, or our neighbours' page for pest control in Faerie Glen. To book in Lynnwood, call 012 012 5526, or send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what it is.
Questions we get asked
Do you treat offices and schools in Lynnwood as well as homes?
Yes. We work in homes, offices, schools and food businesses, and commercial sites can have a scheduled monitoring contract with regular visits.
Why do Lynnwood homes seem to get so many garden pests?
Because the gardens are big and mature. Old trees, deep beds and watered lawns give termites, moles, ants, rats and spiders food, moisture and cover close to the house.
Do I have to leave the house while you treat?
Not for normal insect or rodent treatments. Keep kids and pets off treated surfaces until they're dry. Only gas fumigation, which is rarely needed in homes, requires the sealed area to be vacated.
Can you look at several pest problems in one visit?
Yes. We inspect the whole property, so if you have ants in the kitchen and moles in the lawn, we can plan both in one go.
What happens if the pests come back?
If a pest we treated returns within three months, we come back and deal with it under our guarantee.
Do you cover Lynnwood Ridge and Menlyn too?
Yes. We work right across Pretoria East, including the suburbs and business areas around Lynnwood.