As temperatures begin to fall, your home can become a safe haven for insects and rodents. Like people, pests seek shelter from the elements too. Experts at the National Pest Management Association suggest yard maintenance is the simplest, most inexpensive way to protect your home from unwanted pests.

   Start by reducing the number of access routes into your home by collecting fallen leaves, cleaning out gutters, keeping shrubs neat and trimmed, cutting back tree branches from the roof, and removing leaves and grass clippings from around the foundation of the house. Next, stack firewood away from the house and make sure screens are on all windows and doors to prevent pests from entering into the home.