ABC Blog

How to Get Rid of Birds in the Attic

How to Get Rid of Birds in the Attic

One of the pleasant sounds you can experience in nature is the chirping of birds. When these calls become too close for comfort, however, you may start to suspect something else is going on: you might have birds living in your attic.

How To Get Rid Of Birds In The Attic

Read on to learn how and why birds seek refuge in our homes, what signs we should look for that they are inside and how can you move them back to their proper habitat.

How do birds enter my home?

While it might seem odd to find a bird in your attic, it’s not uncommon, especially during the spring, as birds are migrating back from the south. During this time of year, our feathered friends are looking for a new place to call home and often attics, garages and chimneys offer the shelter and protection the birds are looking for.

Although these … Read Full Post »

Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Bryan College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Spring is a wonderful time of year in the Bryan-College Station area. Wildflowers are blooming, you can often catch a pleasant breeze and of course, temperatures are usually not as hot as during the summer months. The early part of the year also provides you with an opportunity to put your attention on your biggest investment: your home.

Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

In addition to being the largest independently-owned and operated pest control company in the state of Texas, ABC Home & Commercial provides lawn maintenance, fertilization,  tree care and trimming, landscaping, sprinkler repairs and holiday lighting. For over 60 years, ABC has been making life easier on home and business owners. As an extension of this philosophy, we have created a Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten things to do in Bryan-College Station this Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring Cleaning List of Where to Donate … Read Full Post »

What Is Pruning? A Complete Guide To Pruning Your Plants

What is pruning

The importance of pruning has been well-documented. Pruning or trimming has many benefits for your landscape, including maintaining plant health, restricting growth (and overgrowth), “training” plants and improving the quality of a plant’s flowers, fruit, foliage or stems.

In our complete guide to pruning, you’ll learn:

  • What is pruning?
  • How to prune trees
  • How to prune shrubs
  • How to prune fruit plants and flowers, including roses
  • What equipment you need and
  • When to prune

What is Pruning?

Pruning is the process of cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems to promote healthy plant growth. Most plants, including trees, shrubs and garden plants like roses benefit from different methods of pruning and maintenance. Pruning at the wrong time of the year does not necessarily kill your plants, but regular improper pruning may cause damaged or weakened plants.

To help you take the guesswork out of pruning, we’ll go over the common tree and plant types found in the … Read Full Post »

Where To Donate Household Items In Bryan-College Station

Where to donate household items Bryan College Station

Spring is the traditional time to go through your home, top to bottom, and give it a good deep cleaning and removing unwanted or unneeded items. But the truth is, it’s always a time for some “spring cleaning,” no matter what season it might be. January is officially Get Organized Month—excellent post-holiday timing, to be sure, when you may have new items to incorporate into your living space.

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Everything You Need To Know About Rodents In Bryan-College Station [INFOGRAPHIC]

“Rats!”

There’s a reason that people mention this word when something bad happens.

Rats—and mice—are two of the most common household pests. While some people think these furry creatures are cute, they are not welcome in most homes. These animals, and other rodents, can transmit disease, damage your property, get in your food and generally make a mess.

Rodents are the world’s most common mammals. With native species on every continent except Antarctica, rodent species also include squirrels, guinea pigs, gerbils and beavers.

As a homeowner, what should you know about rodents? Which types are most common in Bryan-College Station? What risks do these animals pose to humans, how do they enter your home, how do you know they made it inside and perhaps most importantly, how do you get rid of rats and mice? Check out our infographic below to learn everything you need to know about rodents.

Here in Bryan-College Station, … Read Full Post »

Things to Do for Christmas in Bryan and College Station

Things to do for Christmas in Bryan College Station

There are so many preparations that go into creating a festive holiday season. Between decorating your home, stocking the pantry with your family’s favorite goodies, and making trips to the store, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Have you ever felt like December just comes and goes in a blink of an eye?

As you tackle your long list of holiday to-dos, we want to ensure you enjoy all the fun there is to be had as well. Whether you prefer something active or taking a stroll under a canopy of lights, there’s plenty of things to do for Christmas in Bryan, College Station, and the surrounding area that your family will love.

Things to Do for Christmas in Bryan and College Station

Let’s take a look at a few of our favorites holiday events in the area and a few new additions to our calendar this year.

Santa’s Wonderland

Our list wouldn’t be complete … Read Full Post »

Banish Brown Patch From Your Lawn

what is brown patch

Our Texas weather can be brutal on yards and landscaping. Grass can suffer from our area’s unrelenting heat, flooding events, and lack of consistent rainfall. Another reason it may be hard to keep your grass looking its best is lawn diseases.

Some lawn disease can develop as a result of environmental factors, such as drought, shady conditions, or very high or low temperatures. Sometimes, pests are the reason behind the problem. Other diseases can be linked back to how we care for our lawns.

During cool, wet weather we have to remain vigilant against a fungus called brown patch. This disease can pose as big a threat to our turf as heat and drought.

Banish Brown Patch From Your Lawn

Below let’s look at what brown patch is, how you can identify it in your yard, and most importantly, how to get rid of brown patch in your lawn year-round.

What is Brown Patch?

Brown Patch … Read Full Post »

5 Reasons Your Lawn Benefits From The Best Organic Fertilizer

best organic fertilizer

When homeowners are trying to approve their curb appeal, an obvious place to start is with your property’s lawn.

Here in Texas, however, plants face an uphill battle to get established and to stay healthy. Although soil types and quality vary across the state, our warm climate and lack of rainfall present many challenges for homeowners who want to keep their lawns looking green.

One way to provide the nutrients plants need to survive and thrive is to apply fertilizer.

ABC Home & Commercial Services, our lawn care experts know a lot about lawn care. We also care about the impact of our products on the environment. That’s why we only use the best natural and organic lawn fertilizers currently on the market.

In this article, we would like to educate homeowners about the best types of organic fertilizer by exploring the following topics:

  • The importance of fertilizer

How to host a cookie exchange

How to host a cookie exchange

Have you ever been to a cookie exchange? It’s a gathering organized to exchange cookies, primarily around the holidays.  For those of us who love to bake and have a sweet tooth, these parties are heaven. Hosting a cookie exchange seems like a great idea in theory, but planning it might be overwhelming. These tips will help you plan a successful cookie exchange without losing too much of your most precious resource: time.

Planning is Key

Create a plan for your cookie exchange well ahead of the date. You’ll need to consider a number of things before settling all the details. First, the guest list – which of your friends like to bake? Inviting friends who have no interest in baking probably won’t result in a successful cookie exchange. Choose the majority of friends who are seasoned bakers, and consider adding a few newbies who are developing an interest. 

Give your guests at least … Read Full Post »

Where do rats live?

where do rats live

Do you have rats in your home? For most people, the very thought of rats in the attic or running through your kitchen is enough to cause nightmares.

The good news is that when you learn more about rat behavior and what attracts rats to your home, it’s easier to decide what to do next. Below we’ll look at the rats we have in central Texas, where rats hide, and how to get them out of your home – for good.

Rats in Texas

In Bryan-College Station, the main rat species that we see around town is the roof rat (Rattus rattus). Roof rats generally are brown or black in color and are smaller than the Norway rats found throughout most of the rest of the United States.

Roof rats choose nesting spots in trees, bushes, wood piles, and in our homes. They love palm trees and other high nesting locations where there are … Read Full Post »