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Christmas Light Ideas for Your Outdoor Spaces

. Posted by in • San Antonio
christmas lights

The holiday season is a joyous time, and one of the best ways to welcome it is by decorating your outdoor spaces with holiday lights. You can take your outdoor decor in several directions, from simple and classic to bold and whimsical.

For example, elegant all-white string lights can create a timeless look on your front lawn. Mix multi-colored lights with fun inflatables to add more pizazz to your decor. Keep reading for a complete list of Christmas light ideas for your outdoor spaces.

The best way to create a cohesive outdoor decor look is to choose a theme you want your decor to follow. The options are endless. The fun thing about choosing a theme is mixing it up every year for variety or adding to your existing theme to expand your decor.

Finally, practicing safety procedures is important when installing outdoor holiday lights. It’s easy to mix up outdoor and indoor … Read Full Post »

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Where To See the Best Austin Christmas Lights

. Posted by in • Austin
the Austin trail of lights

As the holiday season approaches, many Central Texans wonder about where to find the best Austin Christmas lights displays. Everyone loves the holidays, and they’re even better with festive, twinkly lights to warm up the chilly evenings as you spend quality time with family and friends.

Best of all, Austin has a wide variety of places and ways to enjoy Christmas lights. From small, intimate neighborhood displays to ticketed events boasting spectacular winter wonderlands, there’s something for every Central Texan. Just remember that a little advance planning goes a long way. Austin’s most popular ticketed holiday events sell out quickly. Even the free, smaller neighborhood lights displays can draw nightly traffic and crowds of revelers, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Here are some of the best Austin Christmas lights displays, from incredible neighborhood displays to spectacular ticketed events with millions of sparkling LED bulbs:

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Are Rats Smart?

. Posted by in , • Bryan-College Station
rat

Do you have a rat problem in your home? The first thing you’ll likely want to know is how to control these annoying pests. However, it’s important to recognize that rats are smart creatures with savvy survivalist instincts.

Rats use their intellect to adapt to their surroundings, communicate with each other, avoid threats, solve problems and more. Homeowners need to understand that rats are smart and that controlling a rat population is not simple. It’s best to leave the job to a professional pest control service.

Are Rats Smart?

Did you know that rats are considered very smart animals? Their intellect is part of why controlling rats can be challenging. The rodents are excellent at using their wits to stay out of sight and avoid traps.

Rats also use their intelligence to adapt and find ways to survive in rough and changing circumstances. They have great survival instincts and practice extreme caution in unfamiliar … Read Full Post »

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Wolf Spider Size: How to Identify These Arachnids

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth
a wolf spider

Unless you’re a fan of arachnids, you probably don’t like seeing spiders in your home. These eight-legged creatures usually give homeowners the creeps with their long limbs and hairy bodies. One species you might encounter indoors is the wolf spider. While wolf spiders don’t cause any particular harm, they are on the larger side and can be frightening to spot at home.

Here are some characteristics of wolf spiders to help you identify them. A pest control specialist can manage spiders in your home so you can relax and not have to worry about facing one at every turn. They can also help with other types of spiders, like grass spiders.

Wolf Spider Size, Habits and Other Characteristics

Wolf spiders are a widespread group, with 240 species thriving in North America alone. They got the name “wolf” because they chase their prey and pounce on them. This sets them apart from other spiders, … Read Full Post »

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Native Trees for Your San Antonio Yard

. Posted by in , • San Antonio
cedar elm tree

San Antonio doesn’t just boast a rich heritage and enviably mild winters. The city is also alive with a variety of native trees that can make any visitor green with envy. San Antonio residents are spoiled with choice when it comes to trees they can plant in their yards, including hardy deciduous varieties, evergreens and flowering ornamentals.

If you want a luscious yard you’ll be proud to show off to your neighbors, here’s a guide to the most common native trees in the area. Arborists can help you find the best spots for them on your property. They can also create an optimal pruning schedule for your trees and ensure they grow strong and healthy.

These Native Trees in San Antonio Are Perfect for Your Yard

Given the wide variety in San Antonio, choosing trees for your yard can be overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve narrowed it down to the nine most … Read Full Post »

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How Many Legs Does a Centipede Have?

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth
a centipede

Centipedes are fascinating insects known for having many legs. But how many legs do centipedes actually have? It may surprise you to know that the answer is not 100.

How Many Legs Does a Centipede Have?

Given their name, most people assume that centipedes have 100 legs. However, that is not the case. Centipedes can have anywhere from less than 15 legs to over 300 legs. Interestingly, they will always have an odd number of pairs of legs.

Centipedes have an odd number of leg pairs because they have one pair of legs per body segment, and they always have an odd number of body segments.

The number of legs that centipedes have also varies based on the species. For example, common house centipedes often have 15 pairs of legs, or 30 legs total. On the other hand, many tropical centipede species have around 150 pairs of legs or around 300 legs in total.

Since … Read Full Post »

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How to Make a Garbage Disposal Smell Better

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
a garbage disposal

Garbage disposals are powerful tools in the kitchen, making it easier for homeowners to clean up after meals. But for all their usefulness, they have one major drawback—they can get smelly. Even if you’re diligent in cleaning your garbage disposal, food particles can still build up and cause an unpleasant odor in your kitchen.

Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with any nasty smells. There are several ways to freshen up your garbage disposal and have it smell squeaky clean. In addition, keeping certain foods away from your unit will prevent clogging and unwanted odors. If you’re dealing with a stubborn clog, a plumbing professional can help get things moving.

Dealing With a Smelly Sink? Here Is How to Make a Garbage Disposal Smell Better

Anything that handles waste is bound to get smelly. Garbage disposal odors usually start with a slight sour smell in the sink. If left unaddressed, the offensive … Read Full Post »

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GFCI Outlet Not Resetting: What’s Wrong?

. Posted by in • Austin
a GFCI outlet

Ground-fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, are essential in preventing electrical accidents at home.

What is a GFCI outlet? It is a device used to replace a standard electrical outlet. It monitors the amount of power going into plugged appliances. GFCIs trip whenever they sense irregularities in the electrical current, needing as little as 1/40th of a second to react.

While GFCIs keep us safe from electrical shocks and electrocution, they can malfunction like any other device. Sometimes, they won’t reset, which can be frustrating and potentially dangerous.

If your GFCI outlet is not working as it should, here are some possible reasons behind the issue and how to troubleshoot them. It’s best to call in a licensed professional to handle electrical components in your home.

GFCI Outlet Not Resetting? Here’s What to Do

Homeowners should investigate if a GFCI outlet won’t reset. There are various possible causes for a GFCI outlet that won’t reset. Here … Read Full Post »

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What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

. Posted by in , • Tyler
a carpenter ant

Carpenter ants are often compared to termites because they tunnel through wood. However, unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. They are fierce predators with a diverse diet that includes insects and plant matter.

What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

Carpenter ants are known for building their nests in wood; however, they do not eat wood. Instead, they eat a wide variety of food that changes depending on whether they live outside or indoors.

Outdoor Carpenter Ants

Outdoor carpenter ants feed on living and dead insects, honeydew and various plant materials. These pests are predators and scavengers, so they are skilled at hunting down other living insects or finding dead insect carcasses. Carpenter ants prefer to eat other insects because they contain plenty of protein and nutrients.

However, carpenter ants are attracted to honeydew’s sweetness, which aphids and other sap-sucking insects secrete. Surprisingly, ants do not hunt and kill the insects to access the honeydew. … Read Full Post »

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What To Do After Aerating Your Lawn

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth
aerating a lawn

Many homeowners are aware of the benefits of aerating their lawns. Lawn aeration allows for water, nutrients and air to reach your grass’s root system and aids in the overall health of your lawn. However, the thing that most homeowners do not know is that what you do after aerating your lawn is important, too.

To make the process effective, it’s smart to follow the proper post-aeration protocol. For example, watering your lawn after aeration can help keep your soil healthy, whereas raking your lawn after aeration can cancel out the benefits.

For the best outcome, contact a local lawn care specialist. They can handle the entire aeration process and follow-up maintenance for you.

What to Do After Aerating Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn is the process of poking tiny holes into your soil in order to loosen up compacted soil. There are several benefits to aerating your lawn, as it allows for water, … Read Full Post »

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