Americans love their yards. More than one-fourth of recent home buyers said outdoor space was their No.1 priority when looking for a house. But once homeowners settle into their dream home, it’s incredibly common to see that telltale trail of ants coming in from the kitchen window or mosquitoes flying in through the back door.

Many homeowners may wonder how to keep pests out of their yard and out of their home. It’s not actually that tough. It just takes a bit of prevention, some planning, and a little luck.