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Where Do Silverfish Come From?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
where do silverfish come from

There’s just something about silverfish that make people’s skin crawl. It could be the animal’s prehistoric appearance, with segmented bodies and long legs and antennae. Or maybe it’s the fact that they tend to show up inside our favorite books or on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night. Whatever it is, for some people these small insects are the stuff of nightmares.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what these little creatures are, where silverfish come from and how to get rid of them safely.

What Are Silverfish?

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are small, wingless insects. These creatures typically live for two to eight years, and they get their name from their silvery color and the way the wiggle like a fish out of water. They have long antennae and generally don’t get bigger than ¾ of an inch long.

Do Silverfish Bite?

Surprisingly, despite their over-the-top creepy … Read Full Post »

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Do Rats Hibernate In Winter?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Do rats hibernate in winter

During the colder months, some animals have developed adaptation strategies to survive. Monarch butterflies fly thousands of miles to spend winters in Mexico. Since food is harder to find, squirrels uncover acorns in winter that they buried during the warmer months. We often see geese fly overhead on their way south when it’s colder out. But what about rats?

Do Rats Hibernate During Winter?

As terrified—and repulsed—as you may be when you see a rat during colder months, you can’t help but wonder: “Why am I seeing rats in winter? Don’t they hibernate?” While it’s easy to assume that rats do hibernate, as many pests and outdoor animals do, rodents actually don’t become less active during the colder months. In fact, rats use lower temperatures as an excuse to seek shelter, food and warmth in the place they are not welcome: in our homes.

To learn more about a rat’s winter habits and … Read Full Post »

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How To Grow a Drought Tolerant Lawn

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Keeping your grass green and healthy can be a struggle in parts of the country which regularly experience drought. In these regions, there may be only small fluctuations in climate between seasons, and the summer months can be extremely hot. While the mostly steady climate is reliable and livable for residents, months of dry, rainless days can be taxing on your lawn and garden.

How to Grow a Drought Tolerant Lawn

For homeowners looking for ways to grow a more drought tolerant lawn, there is hope. Read below to learn what you can do to improve your lawn’s resistance to drought.

Water Effectively

It may seem counterintuitive, but overwatering your lawn can do more harm than good for your grass and plants. Watering your lawn several times a week—something many homeowners do—can prevent your lawn’s roots from growing deeper in the soil. In other words, overwatered roots only grow a few inches into the … Read Full Post »

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The Best Way To Get Rid Of Moths

. Posted by in • San Antonio
best way to get rid of moths

Moths can be a mystery to homeowners. To determine the best way to get rid of moths, you’ll need to learn how to identify the types of moths and eggs you might be seeing in your home, how to prevent these bothersome insects from damaging your home, and how to treat your home to get rid of these common household pests.

Where Do Moths Come From?

Moths generally make their way into your home in product packaging you bring home from a store or warehouse. Some moths may hatch over time in items which you have stored for an extended period of time, like birdseed. Usually, an infestation in your closet can be traced back to a single article of clothing (so wash that sweater from the thrift store before you put it in your closet!)

Identifying and Treating Pantry Moths and Larvae

Some common moths you may have in your home are pantry … Read Full Post »

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Strange But True: Our Craziest Pest Control Calls

. Posted by in • San Antonio
strange but true

As a company that’s been helping Austinites take care of pests for over 60 years, ABC Home & Commercial Services has made thousands of house calls. In most cases, our skilled and knowledgeable technicians quickly put homeowners’ minds at ease with a thorough inspection and a suggested course of action to get rid of pests. In a few cases, however, our pest control experts have run across some bothersome critters which necessitate a more creative approach. Over the years, we have collected a number of strange but true pest stories.

Strange But True: Our Craziest Pest Control Calls

As Texas’ largest independently owned pest control company, we’ve had our share of memorable pest control calls. We’d like to share a few of these strange but true stories with you.

Jake The Racoon Causes Trouble

One of our most memorable experiences in the pest control business involved a wily raccoon our technicians affectionately called Jake. … Read Full Post »

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How Organic Fertilizer Can Save You Money

. Posted by in • San Antonio

The word organic often evokes a negative reaction from consumers. While the benefits of organic products and lasting impacts on one’s health and the long-term effects they have on the environment are positive, many are quick to assume that the higher prices don’t outweigh those long-term outcomes. When it comes to your lawn, the benefits of organic fertilizer, even from a cost perspective, are worth the investment.

How Organic Fertilizer Can Save You Money

When it comes to your lawn, your health, and the environment, it’s important to consider the long-term consequences of the products you choose. When you are evaluating the pros and cons of organic fertilizer, cost is certainly a consideration. And while the initial costs of organic fertilizers might be more expensive, using organic fertilizer today will help you save money tomorrow.

Fertilizers made from synthetic materials may achieve short-term results, but organic ingredients allow plants to absorb nutrients … Read Full Post »

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San Antonio Christmas Events

. Posted by in • San Antonio
San Antonio Christmas events

December is one of our favorite times of year here at ABC Home & Commercial Services. For starters, Christmas is in full swing with classic Christmas songs playing on the radio, baked goods aplenty, and holiday cheer on our faces. 

San Antonio Christmas Events

With all the holiday spirit in the air, we want to share some of our favorite San Antonio Christmas events. So grab your Santa hat and a handful of candy canes, because these are the 2016 San Antonio holiday events you won’t want to miss.

See The Lights

San Antonio has a number of Christmas light parks and celebrations to choose from. Don’t worry if you haven’t to these displays yet. Many events carry on into the New Year as well.

Santa’s Ranch

This Christmas light park is located in New Braunfels, Texas, about 15 minutes north of San Antonio. Santa’s Ranch, a one-mile drive-thru park, has over 1 million lights and … Read Full Post »

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What Is The Best Room Temperature For Puppies?

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Room temperature for puppies

Many of us consider our pets a part of our family. With countless “dogs-welcomed” restaurants, trails, large dog parks and training and boarding facilities, it’s no wonder that so many cities are seeing an increase in puppy adoptions.

Welcoming a dog into your home involves research and planning, particularly if you have decided you’d prefer to adopt a puppy. From proper nutrition to adequate amounts of exercise to an endless amount of love and care, it’s your duty to ensure your pet is cared for. Thinking about the best room temperature for puppies and older pets is one way to make sure your furry friends stay happy and healthy.

What’s the Best Room Temperature for Puppies?

It might sound silly, but even the smallest factors, like your home’s temperature, are important aspects in maintaining your dog’s overall health, particularly if you have a puppy. Let’s discuss what new dog owners need to know … Read Full Post »

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Keeping Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Holiday pet safety

It’s the holiday season! We all love to deck the halls with festive decorations and throw holiday parties, but it’s also important to remember our pets during this busy time of year.

As wonderful as the holidays are, the decorations and foods of the season pose threats to our furry family members. That said, it’s not impossible to avoid holiday hazards for pets.

Keeping Your Pets Safe During the Holidays

Avoid a trip to the pet emergency room with some advanced planning and by taking a few simple precautions. Here are some ways to avoid the most common Christmas dangers for pets:

Christmas Tree

If you have cats or dogs, here are a few things you should think about when it comes to your Christmas tree:

  • Make sure you have a wide, weighted base so your pets can’t knock over the tree. Some cat owners use fishing line to tie their trees to … Read Full Post »
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White Elephant Party Gift Ideas to Celebrate the Season

. Posted by in • San Antonio
white elephant gift ideas

For your next holiday party or family get-together, instead of regular gift-giving, why not try a white elephant gift exchange? Below, we’ll talk about what a white elephant gift exchange is, how to play, and give you some white elephant gift ideas.

What are White Elephant Exchanges?

White elephant gift exchanges turn gift-giving into a game. Instead of purchasing a gift for a specific person, everyone brings a silly or useful gift, and the group plays a game to find out who gets which gift.

By turning gift-giving into party entertainment, it reduces the stress of having to pick the ‘right’ gift, especially for people who you don’t know well or who are hard to please. It also can be a great way to eliminate pressure to spend a lot of money, as some of the best white elephant gifts can be under $5.00.

How Does White Elephant Work?

According to the website White Elephant … Read Full Post »

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