Enter your garden dimensions, risk level, and planning assumptions. Use custom spacing if you already follow a product label recommendation.
These examples show typical planning inputs and outputs. Adjust for your garden shape, pest pressure, and safety constraints.
| Scenario | Area (m²) | Perimeter (m) | Pest | Infestation | Risk | Stations (est.) | Refill (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised beds near a shed | 30 | 22 | Ants | 3 | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| Medium lawn with compost corner | 80 | 38 | Mixed | 4 | 2 | 26 | 10 |
| Perimeter-focused rodent defense | 0 | 55 | Rodents | 3 | 3 | 15 | 7 |
- Perimeter stations = ceil(Perimeter ÷ Spacing)
- Corner bonus = 4 (if perimeter is used)
- Hotspot bonus = ceil(Perimeter stations × Hotspot%)
- Area stations = ceil((Area ÷ Coverage) × Density factor)
- Total stations = ceil((Sum above) × Safety buffer)
- Daily bait per station = Weekly usage ÷ 7
- Bait per refill, station = Daily × Refill days
- Bait per refill, total = Stations total × Bait per station
- Monthly bait = Bait per refill × (30 ÷ Refill days)
- Monthly bait cost = (Monthly bait ÷ 1000) × Price per kg
This calculator is for planning and layout design. Always follow product label directions and local regulations.
- Measure your treatment zone area and boundary perimeter.
- Select the target pest and choose an infestation level.
- Set a child/pet risk level for safer placement planning.
- Add hotspot percentage for trails, sheds, compost, or drains.
- Enter refill interval and station capacity to check top-ups.
- Optionally set custom spacing if you follow a label rule.
- Press Calculate to view results above the form.
- Use CSV or PDF export to record your treatment plan.
Station density and coverage logic
Coverage-based planning prevents gaps in active zones and reduces overbaiting. The calculator converts garden area into station count using a practical coverage rate per station. A density factor then scales the count by infestation level, reflecting faster depletion and broader foraging. When you enter only a perimeter, the plan emphasizes boundary defense. For mixed sites, combine perimeter and area inputs for balanced placement.
Perimeter spacing and hotspot adjustment
Perimeter stations are spaced to intercept pests moving along edges, walls, fences, and bed borders. Default spacing varies by pest profile, but a custom spacing toggle supports label-driven distances. Hotspot percentage adds targeted units near compost bins, sheds, drains, irrigation boxes, and visible trails. This avoids uniform layouts that miss concentrated activity and improves early capture rates in high-pressure corners. Use the CSV export to document spacing decisions and validate improvements after major weather events or landscaping changes.
Refill interval and capacity checks
Refill timing influences both performance and labor. The tool estimates expected consumption per station from a weekly usage rate scaled by infestation. It converts this to bait required for your chosen refill interval and compares it with station capacity. If the refill demand exceeds capacity, the result flags a mid‑cycle top‑up risk. Shorter intervals or larger stations stabilize bait availability during peak activity.
Cost and procurement planning
Budgeting benefits from separating one‑time hardware from recurring bait use. Hardware cost is calculated from the recommended station count and unit price. Monthly bait use is derived from bait per refill cycle and the number of cycles in thirty days. Multiplying monthly kilograms by your bait price produces a planning‑level operating cost. Use the season length field to estimate total kilograms to purchase.
Safe placement and maintenance workflow
Risk level is treated as a safety buffer and a placement reminder. Higher risk suggests tamper‑resistant, locked stations and careful siting away from play areas and pet routes. Record locations, dates, and observations after each refill. Remove debris, relevel stations, and reposition units when trails shift. Consistent monitoring, not heavier dosing, drives reliable reduction in garden pest pressure.
How many stations should I place if the area is unknown?
Enter perimeter length only and keep area at zero. The tool will plan boundary stations plus corner and hotspot allowances, which is useful for fences, walls, and bed edges.
Should I always enable custom spacing?
Use custom spacing when your product label specifies distances. Otherwise, keep defaults so the calculator can apply pest‑specific spacing assumptions consistently across scenarios.
What does hotspot percentage represent?
It increases station count near trails and concentrated activity zones. Typical hotspots include compost bins, sheds, drains, irrigation boxes, and shaded edges with frequent sightings.
Why does risk level change the station count?
Higher child or pet exposure calls for a conservative buffer and safer placement practices. It supports planning for locked stations and avoids reducing control due to under‑deployment.
How do I interpret the capacity warning?
If expected refill demand exceeds station capacity, stations may run empty before the next visit. Reduce refill days, use higher capacity stations, or increase monitoring during peak activity.
Can I use the cost results for purchasing decisions?
Yes, as a planning estimate. Hardware cost is one‑time, while bait cost repeats monthly. Update unit prices to match your local products and currency.