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Spring Termite Inspection Checklist for Termite Awareness Week

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
Spring Termite Inspection Checklist for Termite Awareness Week

No insect strikes more fear into the heart of homeowners than termites. Termites cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage every year and single infestations can number in the millions.

It’s estimated that there are fifteen hundred pounds of termites for every human being on the planet! Needless to say, they are a formidable force.

As we head into spring, termites are preparing to find mates and start new colonies. March and April are the termites’ mating period, also known as swarm season.

March 12-18th is Termite Awareness Week, making it the perfect time to complete this termite inspection checklist around the home. 

Termite Awareness Week

The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) created Termite Awareness Week for the second week of March. This year, Termite Awareness Month falls on March 12-18. Follow the hashtag #TermiteWeek for more information.

Do I Have Termites?

Termites do not like to make themselves known. They rarely stray from their soil, mud … Read Full Post »

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Help! I Have Carpenter Bees – Warning Signs & Solutions

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
Carpenter bees warning signs and solutions

Bees, bugs and butterflies are emerging from their winter nests seeking food and new shelter. Spring is in the air… literally.

When most of us think of bees, we think of honeybees, which are the social and mostly-beneficial insects we love and make movies about. But, there are other bee species out there and they are not all as friendly and helpful.

Carpenter bees, for instance, can cause serious structural damage and staining. While carpenter bees don’t eat wood, they burrow narrow tunnels to create chambers for rearing their offspring.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees get their name from their biological ability to drill through wood. When spring comes around, female carpenter bees start to chew into dry wood, normally logs and lumber. Instead of biting into the wood for food, female carpenter bees are actually forming narrow canals for the purposes of laying eggs.

Known as galleries, these small tunnels are around 4-6 inches deep … Read Full Post »

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6 Spring Pest Control Tips | Spring Pest Prevention

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
6 Spring Pest Control Tips | Spring Pest Prevention

The beginning of spring marks a time of renewal and rejuvenation. Birds are chirping, flowers are beginning to bloom, and animals are venturing out. Spring can be immensely enjoyable, but it can also bring a host of unwanted pest problems.

As we begin preparing for the spring and summer seasons, it’s important to keep pests as far away as possible.

Now that nature is bursting back to life, it’s time to start thinking about pest control tips for spring.

6 Spring Pest Control Tips

Common pests that return with new vigor in the spring include bees, ants, mosquitos, rodents and much more. Don’t let an infestation develop right under your nose.

Common Springtime Pests

  • Cockroaches
  • Ants
  • Rats & Rodents
  • Earwigs
  • Silverfish
  • Flies
  • Mosquitos
  • Bees & Wasps

Here are some things you can do to prevent common springtime pests:

  1. Year-round maintenance with Commercial Pest Control Company

From sickness and disease to damage and disgust, pests can be disastrous for many reasons.

Even if you don’t have a pest … Read Full Post »

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How Plant Probiotics Promote Soil and Plant Growth

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
How Plant Probiotics Promote Soil and Plant Growth

Probiotics, basically helpful bacteria, are recommended for treating everything from digestion to depression. But probiotics aren’t just beneficial to humans. They can also maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in plants and soil. Helpful microbes, like those found in Holganix, can help plants grow bigger, healthier, and stronger.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are bacteria or fungi that are non-harmful or helpful. Harmful bacteria and fungi would be classified as a type of parasite.

When the bad bacteria overwhelm the good bacteria, you can get sick. The same applies to your plants and soil. It’s all about maintaining a healthy balance between the trillions of cells and microbes that make up living things.

All plants have endophytes, organisms that live between plant cells, which is normally the term used for the plant version of probiotics.

Endophytes attach themselves to plants and serve a similar purpose for plants that probiotics do for us. In the … Read Full Post »

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What is Holganix? What’s in It? How Does It Work?

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
What is Holganix? What’s in It? How Does It Work?

Our lawn and pest care philosophy is based on the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which seeks to blend a variety of eco-friendly strategies to solve a pest problem. You may think this is unnecessary since chemical pesticides are convenient and often successful.

But pesticides contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans, wildlife, and the environment. They contaminate the air, water, and soil, disrupting all the links in the food chain.

There are many reasons why eco-friendly pest control is preferable:

  • Balanced Ecosystem, Healthy Environment
  • Pests Often Build Up Resistance to Pesticides
  • An IPM Approach Is Safer and More Sustainable
  • IPM Saves Money

One great way to avoid the adverse effects of pesticides is by replacing chemical pesticides with organic fertilizers and composts, such as Holganix. There are many different options when it comes to lawn care, but Holganix has proven itself to be the best lawn fertilizer for strong soil and healthy plants.

What is Holganix?

Holganix … Read Full Post »

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The Importance of Eco-Friendly Pest Control

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler
The Importance of Eco-Friendly Pest Control

We share a planet with other creatures, some of which we live peacefully with, others not so much. Unfortunately, most pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, contain chemicals that cause health complications for humans and wildlife.

The Pesticide Problem

Pesticides cause a wide range of short and long-term health hazards, such as:

  • Headaches
  • Skin and Eye Irritation
  • Dizziness and Nausea
  • Cancer
  • Endocrine System Damage
  • Birth Defects

Pesticides present acute dangers to other living organisms as well, sometimes having devastating environmental effects. Pesticides can pollute the air, water, and soil. They are harmful to many living species and can kill microorganisms that would be have eben beneficial for soil health.

Over one billion pounds of chemical pesticides are used every year in the United States (about 5.6 billion pounds worldwide) (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

This causes a significant health and environmental concern.

  • Water and air contamination
  • Killing of plants and wildlife
  • Chemical over-exposure and the harmful associated health problems

Some of the common chemicals in pesticides are methoxychlor, vinclozolin, … Read Full Post »

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Signs of Termite Infestation

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Did you know that termites are responsible for 5 billion dollars in damage per year in just the United States alone? By the time most homeowners start to notice termite damage, the termites have been munching away for quite some time. Here in North Texas, homes are especially susceptible to termite damage. Termites thrive in the humid weather of the summer months and eat away at your home’s wood structures year round. As a homeowner, it’s important to take preventative measures to keep termites from literally eating you out of house and home.

But, if you think you may be too late, look for these signs of termite infestation to know when to call in the professionals at ABC Home & Commercial Services.

Mud tubes near the home’s foundation.

Mud tubes are small, irregularly patterned lines made of dried mud that often outline the outside of your home’s foundation, usually created at the … Read Full Post »

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Rodent Control: How to Build a Barn Owl Box

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Rodent control is extremely important this time of year. Temperatures are getting cooler and rodents are looking for a warm place to spend the winter months. Fortunately for us, North Texas is home to the best possible natural rodent control: barn owls. Barn owls are expert hunters with a healthy appetite. One owl alone can eat up to 10 mice a night and have 6-to-10 chicks to feed at a time.

Another upside is that they love the grassy plain areas covering much of North Texas. However, barn owls do not construct their own nests, which can make them seem scarce in many areas. By building a simple barn owl box for them to nest in, they will quickly make it their home and, in turn, help make sure your home and garden stay rodent free.

How to Build a Barn Owl Box

Step 1: Design

The box needs to be roomy enough to … Read Full Post »

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Pest-Free Holiday Tips

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Whether you are traveling for the holidays or inviting friends and family into your home, pests are always looking for the perfect opportunity to gain entry and enjoy the holidays with you. Unfortunately, your home provides the perfect warm environment for them to wait out the winter weather. During the holidays homes are filled with delicious smelling food, full trash cans and the constant coming and going of guests. The food smells themselves act as a beacon, inviting pests inside, while the opening and closing of doors provides the perfect opportunity.

The last thing anyone wants is to share their holiday meal with a pest that invited itself over. This holiday season, follow these helpful guidelines from the trusted professionals at ABC Home and Commercial to keep your home pest-free all winter long.

  1. Don’t leave food out or uncovered.
  2. Store firewood on a raised structure that is located at least 15 feet away … Read Full Post »
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Identifying Rat Damage (in your DFW Home)

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

If you’ve ever had a rat in your home, then you know it is the one thing you NEVER want to have happen again. Besides nearly scaring you to death and making your skin crawl, rats cause millions of dollars in damage to homes across the country each year. Just one rat can cause thousands of dollars in structural damage and pose severe health risks to your family and pets. Spotting the signs of structural damage caused by rats will not only prevent a rat infestation from flourishing, but it can also save you money in the long run in costly repairs and prevent the severe diseases carried by these rodents.

Damage to Physical Structures

Rats are not clean animals. They leave chew marks, tracks, food trails and mark their territory in urine. As a result, you can usually spot where a rat has been before if you know to look for … Read Full Post »

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