Gardens takes its name from the Company's Garden, and the squirrels in there have been raising families in neighbouring roofs for generations. Add the restaurants on Kloof Street, old Victorian semis and a lot of flats, and you get a busy mix of pest work.
General pest control around Gardens
Grey squirrels from the Company's Garden and nearby trees chew into roofs, and roof rats use the same routes. Mice live in the hollow walls and floors of older houses.
Gardens lies on the lower slopes below Table Mountain, between the city centre and Kloof Nek. The Company's Garden and its old trees are a squirrel haven. Winter rain runs down from the mountain, and in summer the South-Easter tumbles down off the mountain into the streets.
Victorian and Edwardian semis with corrugated iron roofs, broekie lace stoeps and wooden floors sit alongside blocks of flats and modern apartments. Old houses have hollow walls and suspended floors, so mice and rats can move through without being seen. Restaurants, coffee shops and bars along Kloof Street sit below residential flats. Many homes are rentals with frequent turnover.
Squirrels and roof rats in ceilings are the classic call. German cockroaches in restaurant kitchens and the flats above them come next, followed by Argentine ants and fishmoths in the old houses.
What gives them away
- Insects appear right after a cold front or heavy rain, which tells us they are coming in from the garden for shelter.
- Small dark droppings that look like ground pepper collect in cupboard corners or behind the fridge.
- Pantry goods have webbing, clumped grain or small beetles or moths flying out when you open them.
- Trails of ants run along skirting boards, plug points or window frames towards food or moisture.
- You keep finding the same type of insect in one room, which usually points to a nearby source rather than a random visitor.
- Paper, book spines or wallpaper show irregular grazed patches or tiny holes.
From the technician
A common myth is that a clean house cannot get insects. Cleanliness helps, but ants follow moisture as much as food, and a spotless kitchen with a slow leak under the sink can still have a busy trail.
How we handle insect control in Gardens
We start with the least-toxic option that will actually work, which often means gel baits and bait stations for ants and cockroaches rather than blanket spraying. Insect growth regulators are useful where we need to break a breeding cycle, for example with fleas or a stubborn cockroach population. Residual sprays go into specific cracks, voids and entry points, not across open floors where children and pets walk. Dusts are used in wall voids, roof spaces and electrical areas where liquids are not safe. We use eco-friendly and odourless products wherever we can, and every job ends with a post-treatment report.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our insect control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Fix dripping taps and leaking geysers quickly, as most indoor insects need a reliable water source.
- Empty pet bowls at night and wipe up crumbs around the dog or cat feeding area.
- Clear gutters and drains before winter so water does not pool against walls and attract breeding insects.
- Keep dry goods in sealed glass or hard plastic containers rather than the paper or plastic bags they came in.
- Seal gaps around pipes under sinks and behind appliances, because these are the highways insects use between rooms.
How much will it cost?
The price depends mainly on which insect you have and how established it is, since a few ants in one kitchen is a very different job from cockroaches in every unit of a block. Property size, how easy it is to reach roof spaces and voids, and whether follow-up visits are needed to break a breeding cycle all play a part. Businesses that want regular scheduled visits on a contract usually get better value than paying for repeated once-off call-outs, and the quote is always free.
Cape Town's insect calendar is fairly predictable. Ants, flies and wasps build up from spring and peak in the hot, dry summer months, while the first big winter rains push ants, cockroaches and crickets indoors looking for dry shelter. Fishmoths and pantry pests are year-round problems because they live inside where the temperature stays stable.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come out to Gardens for insect control?
Yes. Gardens is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Vredehoek, Higgovale. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Are the squirrels in my Gardens roof from the Company's Garden?
Very likely. Grey squirrels travel from the garden and the trees along the streets into roofs, often through gaps at the fascia. Sealing those gaps once the roof is empty is the lasting fix.
Why do I still see insects after the treatment?
Seeing some activity for a week or two is normal, especially with baits, because the insects need to feed on the product and carry it back to the nest. If numbers are not dropping clearly after that, let us know.
Do old Victorian houses in Gardens have more borer?
They often do, because many still have original timber floors and roof structures. A beetle certificate inspection will show whether there is active infestation that needs treatment.
How long does insect control last?
Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. How long you stay insect-free after that depends a lot on the remedial steps in your report, like sealing gaps and fixing leaks.
Can you tell what insect I have from a photo?
In most cases, yes. Send a clear close-up on WhatsApp to 021 012 5825 and we can usually identify it and tell you whether it needs treatment at all.
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