Which area should be treated second in the standard spray order?

Which area should be treated second in the standard spray order?

• A. Eaves
• B. Surrounding turf
• C. Base
• D. Yard

Answer: (C)

The spray order is designed to build a protective perimeter around the home, starting with areas most likely to let pests enter and moving outward. Treating the base—the foundation area around the home—second establishes a continuous barrier along the foundation, targeting cracks and crevices where pests hide. This base treatment helps prevent pests from crossing into living spaces and ensures the perimeter is secured before wider outdoor areas are sprayed. If you started with the eaves, you’d be addressing potential entry points first, which is important, but the next step is to seal off the foundation so outdoor pests don’t slip in along the base and re-infest the interior. Treating the surrounding turf or the yard before the base would be less effective for protecting the home itself and could allow pests to bypass an incomplete exterior barrier.

The spray order is designed to build a protective perimeter around the home, starting with areas most likely to let pests enter and moving outward. Treating the base—the foundation area around the home—second establishes a continuous barrier along the foundation, targeting cracks and crevices where pests hide. This base treatment helps prevent pests from crossing into living spaces and ensures the perimeter is secured before wider outdoor areas are sprayed.

If you started with the eaves, you’d be addressing potential entry points first, which is important, but the next step is to seal off the foundation so outdoor pests don’t slip in along the base and re-infest the interior. Treating the surrounding turf or the yard before the base would be less effective for protecting the home itself and could allow pests to bypass an incomplete exterior barrier.