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.
“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 »
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.
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 »
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.
Brown Patch … Read Full Post »
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:
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.
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 »
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 »
Let’s face it. Your grass is the first aspect of your lawn that visitors notice. Despite well-placed flowers, towering trees and winding pathways, your grass is still the main focus. That’s why you want to ensure your lawn is well cared for and healthy.
A popular grass species in the southern United States is zoysia grass. It’s perfect for warm-weather climates, and when cared for properly, it’s heat- and drought-resistant. Even with such qualities, though, this species still requires proper maintenance, including mowing, feeding and watering.
Read below to learn how to properly care for your zoysia grass.
Zoysia is among the turfgrass varieties that turn a straw-like color when the first frost comes. Along with bermuda grass, buffalo grass, centipede grass, seashore paspalum and St. Augustine, zoysia is a warm season species that can go dormant during the coldest months of the year. Best established from sod, … Read Full Post »
Contrary to popular belief, fleas are attracted to more animals than just your furry pet. They’re known to bite humans, too. Similar to mosquitos, fleas feed off their host’s blood, and while they’re traditionally known to target animals – especially dogs and cats – flea bites for humans are more common than you think.
Fleas might be small in size, but a bite from this wingless insect can cause major irritation, and sometimes lead to a serious reaction. The best way to avoid potential problems is to adopt and carry out preventative measures before they make their way into your home and onto your body.
Here are a few ways to prevent fleas from biting you and your loved ones at home.
The most common way fleas enter your home is via your pet. And once inside, they reproduce at rapid speeds; in their life cycle, females can lay up … Read Full Post »
With all the negative conversation surrounding mosquitoes these days, it seems like the animal is only in this world to ruin our barbecues and cause problems. And with diseases like Zika, Dengue, and Malaria, it’s hard to believe otherwise.
But lucky for mosquitoes, we have a soft spot for all pests and bugs (even the annoying ones), and we were determined to help improve their reputation. We knew there had to be something interesting about them—and we were right!
Originating back to the 16th century, the word “mosquito” is Spanish for “little fly.” Despite their name, though, there’s nothing little about the mosquito family. While there are only 176 mosquito species in the United States, scientists have identified over 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide.
While it might seem like the same mosquito followed you from your front … Read Full Post »