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Are Roses Poisonous To Cats? Your Questions Answered

. Posted by in • Austin
Are roses poisonous to cats

A garden in full bloom is a wonderful way to showcase your yard. Roses, chrysanthemums, begonias, tulips and daffodils create a colorful carpet to delight the eye. Gardens add so much to the look of the outside of a home, and whether you grew the flowers yourself, a bouquet on the counter brightens any room. Plants and flowers attract not only your eye, but also the eye of your pets, so it’s important to know which are poisonous to your cats and dogs and which are safe. Plus, how do you keep your pets away from plants, both inside and out? Let’s take a look at these questions and more.

Are Roses Poisonous to Cats? Your Questions Answered

As we know, cats are curious creatures. A leaf waving in the wind or a petal falling to the ground will bring even the most laid-back cat over to investigate. Similar to all types of … Read Full Post »

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Pool Maintenance For Beginners

. Posted by in • Austin
Pool maintenance for beginners

What do many prospective homebuyers look for in a backyard? A swimming pool! Whether you’ve just moved into a new house with a pool or recently had one installed, you know that having a pool requires regular time and attention. First-time pool owners can easily feel overwhelmed with all the details, including what chemicals are needed to maintain a pool. Once you learn the basics, you’ll feel more confident understanding how to maintain your pool yourself.

Pool Maintenance For Beginners

The three Cs of pool care are circulation, cleaning and chemicals. Pay attention to each of these areas on a consistent basis and you’ll be able to prevent any issues before they become costly problems. Before we explore each of these areas, let’s talk about the tools you’ll need to get the job done.

What Equipment Do I Need?

The first thing you’ll want to get is a pool cover. A cover is effective in … Read Full Post »

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Everything You Need to Know About Texas Ticks

. Posted by in • Austin
texas ticks

There are many reasons we love living in Texas. The unfortunate reality, however, is that we share this great state with a small, but potentially dangerous pest: ticks. What types of ticks live in Texas? Where do they live? How can you prevent tick bites? Perhaps most importantly, how do you get rid of ticks? Read on to learn everything you need to know about Texas ticks.

Everything You Need to Know About Texas Ticks

The four most common types of ticks found in Texas, in order of frequency, are the:

  • Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous)
  • American dog tick (Dermacentor veriabilis)
  • Lone star tick, also known as the northeastern water tick or turkey tick (Amblyomma americanum)
  • Deer tick (Ixodes scapularis)

All four types of ticks are hard-shelled, meaning they have a hard covering over their body. Interestingly, the shell covers more of the body in the male tick than the female.

Ticks go through four stages during their … Read Full Post »

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Handling A Carpet Beetle Infestation And Having Carpet Mites

. Posted by in • Austin
Carpet mites

As a homeowner, you will discover over time that you share your living quarters with a variety of creepy crawlies, both small and tiny. One of the places in your home which provides shelter for these types of pests is your carpet and rugs. In addition to the “ick” factor of knowing you have little creatures underfoot, some of these common indoor pests can cause damage to your home and belongings. Contrary to popular belief, carpet beetles do not just live in your carpet–which means that you can have a problem with these pests even if you only have hardwood or tile floors. In this post, we’ll talk about carpet mites, what causes carpet beetles, where carpet beetles come from and how to avoid a carpet beetle infestation.

Carpet Mites

Although you may see the terms carpet mites and carpet beetles used interchangeably, these two pests are actually quite different. Carpet mites is … Read Full Post »

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St. Augustine Grass: Is It Right For Your Lawn?

. Posted by in , , • Austin
St. Augustine Grass

Many homeowners spend hours of hard work on their yard in the hopes of getting a lush, thick, green carpet of grass. If you look closely, you’ll probably notice that St. Augustine grass is a key part of many picture-perfect yards in your neighborhood.

St. Augustine Grass: Is It Right For Your Lawn?

St. Augustine is a very common type of lawn grass in parts of the United States which have mild winters. But is it right for your lawn? What kinds of pests call St. Augustine grass home? How do you take care of St. Augustine grass? Let’s explore more in depth below.

What Should I Know About St. Augustine Grass?

St. Augustine grass is a medium-to-high-maintenance grass that does best in the southern United States. Ask anyone about St. Augustine grass and they’ll all say they love the carpet-like look and feel of it.

St. Augustine is characterized by broad, flat blades of grass, … Read Full Post »

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Lawn Care with Pets: How to Keep a Dog From Digging

. Posted by in , • Austin
How to Keep Dog from Digging

Large or small, active or couch potatoes, dogs dig. It’s built into their genes. Yet even as “normal” as digging is, coming home to a yard that looks like a bomb went off or a minefield was placed can make you question whether dog ownership is worth it.  The good news for your four-legged family member is that we’ve got some tips on how to keep Fido from destroying your lawn.

Lawn Care With Pets: How to Keep Dog From Digging

Gone are the days when the family pet needs to dig a hole to hide food supplies, find food or camp out against bad weather. The family dog digs for a number of reasons or for no reason at all–sometimes it’s just fun.

Boredom 

Dogs that are left alone outside for a long period of time with nothing to do will find something to do and it usually is not productive. Digging … Read Full Post »

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Black Spiky Caterpillars: Should You Be Worried?

. Posted by in , • Austin
black spiky caterpillars

You’ve probably seen one at some point–a black spiky caterpillar with red stripes. Those fuzzy little creatures can be quite intimidating if you don’t know much about them. You have probably stayed away because you were worried about these fuzzy creatures being poisonous.

Worry no more–the giant leopard moth caterpillar is just looking for a quiet space to get ready to turn into a beautiful white moth with black circular designs, creating a leopard-like pattern. This type of caterpillar is both harmless and beautiful to look at, which makes them a welcome visitor to your outdoor spaces.

What Will I Learn?

  • What is That Red and Black Caterpillar?
  • Are Fuzzy Caterpillars Poisonous?
  • Giant Leopard Moth
  • How to Attract Caterpillars to Your Yard
  • Get Professional Help to Attract Caterpillars

What Is That Red And Black Caterpillar?

Also called an eyed-tiger moth caterpillar or commonly a “woolly bear”, this type of caterpillar has black spikes all over its body, … Read Full Post »

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Are Frogs Poisonous to Dogs?

. Posted by in , • Austin
are frogs poisonous to dogs

Pets can be unpredictable. Dogs, in particular, can often do what you least expect as they are exploring every inch of your outdoor spaces and the tiny creatures that inhabit the grass and trees. It can be difficult to keep a close eye on your pups as they dig up your plants, bark at curious noises and eat whatever they can get their paws on. Once the warmer months start to bring out the sunshine, many animals come out of hibernation, meaning more potential problems for your pets. Of all the animals dogs come across, humans are most puzzled by the risks frogs might pose to their furry family members.

Are Frogs Poisonous to Dogs?

Unfortunately, dogs don’t always know what’s best for them, and an amphibian hopping in your grass could be mistaken for a fun chew toy. What happens when a dog bites a frog? Are frogs poisonous to dogs? … Read Full Post »

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What is Refrigerant?

. Posted by in • Austin
What is Refrigerant

Like your other home systems, you probably don’t think about your air conditioner—that is, until it stops working. Luckily, there’s one thing you can do to help your air conditioner run longer: pay attention to the refrigerant charge. But what is refrigerant and how does it work in your air conditioner? Let’s explore this fluid more in depth below.

What is Refrigerant?

There’s no question that summers in the southern states are more than hot–they can be brutal. Most homeowners living in these states can agree on one thing: air conditioning is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity.

How does a home air conditioner work?

Your home air conditioner works much the same as your refrigerator – they both use a chemical refrigerant to move heat. The main difference is that one works inside a relatively small, contained box, while the other circulates air throughout your home.

Air conditioners have four main parts:

  1.      Compressor
  2.      Condenser
  3. … Read Full Post »
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Check Out ABC’s Ultimate Austin Lawn Care Guide [FREE DOWNLOAD]

. Posted by in , , , , • Austin
Austin Lawn Care Guide

Keeping your grass, plants and trees healthy and well-maintained can be a challenge. First, you have to have the time to dedicate to your lawn. You also need to make sure you have the right equipment and that it is all in working order. Finally, you need the expertise to know which types of plants work best in which environments, how often to water and how to spot signs of lawn pests and diseases. For homeowners in southern states, the warm climate, lack of rainfall and intense sun make it even more difficult to care for your outdoor spaces.

ABC’s Ultimate Austin Lawn Care Guide

ABC Home & Commercial Services is dedicated to making homeowners’ lives easier. Our team of lawn care technicians, landscaping experts, pest control pros and sprinkler system specialists have compiled their best advice and tips into the Ultimate Austin Lawn Care Guide. This 8-page downloadable PDF resource includes sections on:

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