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Checklist for Cleaning Up Your Lawn Act

. Posted by in , , • San Antonio

You’ve cleaned up the last of the dead leaves, finished mowing the lawn, and trimmed dead flowers from your landscaping beds. Your home’s lawn maintenance is nearly done, but you still have a few last chores to complete.

Clean Your Gutters

Even though you cleaned up your yard, there are likely thousands of leaves trapped in your gutters, which will overflow during heavy rainfall. Besides making the ground around your home a muddy mess, sitting water can actually cause foundation damage, so you want to make sure that your gutters are completely clean before the temperature drops below freezing.

Trim Dead Branches

Dead branches can snap off and cause damage if it snows, so trim off any dead branches that you can easily reach with a ladder. Hire a tree trimming company if you can’t reach high branches. Large branches make great firewood logs, and you can use smaller branches as kindling.

Prepare Engines

Once all … Read Full Post »

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Exposing Mowing Myths

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

Do you spend a lot of time primping and preening your San Antonio lawn, only to notice that it still doesn’t look as nice as you’d like? Have you noticed that your neighbor rarely spends any time at all on lawn maintenance and yet his grass looks terrific? If so, this article may help. There are many myths surrounding mowing and proper lawn care, and described below are the top five myths of all time.

1. You should mow your grass extra short at the end of fall.

Many people are under the belief that they should mow their grass extra short right before winter begins. However, this is simply not so. If you have cool-season grass, a two-inch cut is fine. On the other hand, two and a half inches is recommended for tall fescue.

2. Never leave grass clippings on your lawn.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, in … Read Full Post »

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When Should I Have My Lawn Aerated?

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

After mowing, watering, trimming, raking and mulching, you think you’ve met your lawn care needs, but then that pesky aeration word pops up and bursts your daydream thought bubble. Do you really need to aerate? If you want one of the lushest, greenest lawns in San Antonio, you do. Fortunately, you only need to aerate your lawn twice each year, so you don’t have to fret about it regularly.

With San Antonio’s dry climate, we recommend aerating during early spring, around March 15, and again in fall, around October 15. If your lawn receives abundant traffic, however, you might consider aerating up to five times each year. Spring aeration prepares your yard for new grass growth, and fall aeration helps your lawn recover from an activity-filled summer. Additionally, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension recognizes the holes left in the lawn behind the aeration machine as perfect little feeding tubes for water, fertilizer, … Read Full Post »

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Is Your Sprinkler System Driving Your Water Bill Up?

. Posted by in • San Antonio

There’s only one way to keep your lawn green during the summer. Without sprinkler systems, every lawn in the San Antonio region would turn brown, and there would be nothing but weeds and dust to mow. Your irrigation system uses water from the San Antonio Water System, and at current rates, you pay up to 0.6 cents per gallon.

That might not sound like a lot, but your sprinkler system uses about 12 gallons of water per minute, which works out to 2,160 gallons or $13 over three hours. A leak in the system will spike your water bill even higher.

Check Your Meter

To check for a leak, locate your water meter box outside—it’s most likely located near your road or sidewalk. Simply pop open the metal lid, and brush off any dirt or sand with a broom. Turn off all indoor and outdoor water faucets on your property, and take another … Read Full Post »

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How Many Roaches Is An Infestation? Assessing Your Problem

. Posted by in • San Antonio
How many roaches is an infestation

The first sight of a cockroach in your home can send waves of panic down your spine, often accompanied by high-pitched shrieks. While nobody wants to have an eye-to-eye encounter with roaches, the truth is that pesky pests love our homes. What’s alarming is the fact that for every roach you see, it’s likely that there are many more you don’t. These nocturnal pests can be extremely hard to detect. They nest and breed comfortably in the dark and hard-to-reach areas of your home. Roaches usually live in your house without being noticed for a long time.

After that first encounter, most homeowners want to quickly and effectively handle the problem before it gets out of control. So, exactly how many roaches is an infestation? Knowing the extent of your problem is often the first step in deciding what to do next.

Cockroach Infestation Signs 

Unfortunately, there is no magic number of cockroaches … Read Full Post »

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Why Mulch Creates a Stunning Lawn

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Many people skip the mulch when landscaping their properties, but there are so many good reasons to consider adding it to your lawn. If you want your yard to look its best, consider adding mulch for a truly stunning result.

Create a Barrier

Flowerbeds, shrubs and grass can all tend to run together, and you don’t want to lose the aesthetic value of your beautiful plants if you can help it. With mulch, you can create an easily recognizable barrier between your gorgeous green grass and all of your favorite plants.

Add Color

Although green grass and green plants are attractive, your lawn could probably use a little bit of color. Mulch comes in many different shades, so you can choose a color that will match your house and lawn the best. When you do, your mulch is sure to stand out and really shine.

Keep Weeds at Bay

Weeds can be a real eyesore in … Read Full Post »

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5 Money-Saving Secrets to Lowering Energy Costs

. Posted by in • San Antonio

In an economy that begs you to save money wherever you can, you should strongly consider ways to become more efficient with your use of energy. By making a few small tweaks, you can save a considerable amount of money going forward. Here are five money-saving secrets that will have you reaping the financial benefits all year long.

1. Use a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats will enable you to save money in a few crucial ways. Because these thermostats are designed to turn on or off automatically, you will not have to worry about running your heating and cooling systems for extended periods of time. To reduce your utility bills even more, try to set your thermostat a bit cooler during the winter. A difference of a few degrees can lead to extra cash each month.

2. Subscribe to a Maintenance Plan

To maximize the efficiency of your home heating system, you should subscribe … Read Full Post »

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Creepy Ways Bed Bugs Can Get into Your Room

. Posted by in , • San Antonio

When it comes to bed bugs, big problems arrive in small packages. These tiny menaces strike just when you’re getting comfortable at home or on a much-needed vacation. Bed bugs are fast, dangerously effective at sucking blood and have plenty of creepy ways to sneak into your home. Whether you’re defending your own territory or trying to outsmart them in a hotel, it’s important to be bed bug aware.

Travel and Hotels

Bed bugs are natural travelers that are designed to hitch rides. Most travelers are wary of bed bugs in hotel mattresses, but they can hide in other places too. Bugs can even lurk on the straps of luggage stands. Infestations can also stem from household visitors, including that old friend who slept on your couch after visiting every youth hostel in North America. Watching out for bed bugs is the best way to minimize exposure.

Work and School

Schools have long been … Read Full Post »

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Celebrate the Season with Festive Outdoor Christmas Lights

. Posted by in • San Antonio

Nothing makes your home quite as spectacular during the holidays as a dazzling outdoor lighting display. Whether you go with brightly colored rope lights or classic white icicles, lights always add that extra touch of cheer. If you love having a decorated home but aren’t looking forward to the hard work of hanging your holiday lights this year, consider hiring professionals to do the decorating for you.

What’s New in Holiday Lighting Trends?

Holiday lighting trends tend to change every few years. The blow-up lawn ornaments and tangled icicles of last year are giving way to new, sleeker lighting displays that make the most of sound and motion. You’ve probably seen spectacular timed displays on the local news or online. Professional lighting installers can easily create one of these stunning light, music and motion displays for your yard.

Bright colors are also in for outdoor displays. Don’t be afraid to go bold with … Read Full Post »

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Cool-Season Plants Create Cool Yards in San Antonio

. Posted by in • San Antonio

The crisp, fall months here in San Antonio are worth celebrating if only because you’ve beat the Texas heat again. If you enjoy digging around in the garden, this is the best time of year to give that green thumb some cool-weather exercise. Here are three local favorites you’ll love in your fall landscape:

Delicious Rosemary Bushes

Forget about that little plant growing on the kitchen windowsill. The full-grown rosemary bush flourishes in central Texas gardens and grows to a feathery height of five feet. If you’re looking for a little drama and delicious fragrance in an evergreen hedge, this is a great choice for your fall planting plans. It grows well in large pots as well, so double down on decorating around the patio. Make sure that your rosemary bush gets plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. Enjoy this wonderful plant all year, especially when you’re in the mood for a … Read Full Post »

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