Which Salt Tolerant Plants Will Work In My Yard?

November 14, 2017. Posted by J Zambo in Landscaping, Lawn • Corpus Christi

Living along the coast certainly has its advantages: access to the beach every day, coastal breezes, mild temperatures, fresh seafood and pretty views.

However, gardening in these environments can present a challenge. While saltwater has its benefits, most plants and flowers don’t like it. Salinity in the soil inhibits a plant’s ability to absorb important nutrients, thereby disrupting the plant’s metabolism.

Finding salt tolerant plants to for your lawn can be a challenge. In many cases, you can select salt tolerant varieties of ceratin plants which can do well in coastal climates. The salt tolerance of plants is determined by a variety of factors, including a plant’s ability to grow under and resist high winds, salt spray, alkaline soils and infertile, sandy soils.

When choosing plants that will be placed facing the ocean without buildings to protect them, you should choose highly salt tolerant plants. If the plants are protected … Read Full Post »

Carpenter Ants vs Fire Ants—Which is Which?

November 13, 2017. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Austin

Because of their size, identifying ants can be difficult. Some ant species can only be accurately classified by a pest control professional or under a microscope. However, if you know some key characteristics of different types of ants, you can usually determine which variety you are seeing in your yard or inside your home. Knowing how to distinguish carpenter ants vs fire ants can help you protect your home and your family from painful bites and the damage these pests can do. While carpenter ants are wood-destroying insects, capable of impacting your home’s property value, fire ants inflict their damage through bites that can become swollen, itchy and unpleasant.

The short answer about how to tell the difference between a carpenter ant and a fire ant is in their coloration, nesting habits and behavior. While fire ants tend to be a red-brown color, carpenter ants are generally black, brown or a … Read Full Post »

5 Signs There’s a Pest in Your Attic & 8 Ways to Prevent It

November 10, 2017. Posted by Russell Jenkins in Pest Control, Rodent & Wildlife • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

As we move into November, the days and nights spent outside enjoying the warm weather are coming to an end. Just as we start to head indoors, so do pesky critters trying to find warmth and shelter in our homes. Mice, rats, bats, squirrels and raccoons are the most common pests in your attic in Texas homes. If the proper precautions are not taken, they can be found in garages, under porches, and in your attic during the colder months. These pests are notorious for squeezing into very small entry points and nesting in attics and walls. Once inside, they can chew insulation, wood and wires. Not only does this cause significant damage to your home, but exposed wires also create a potential fire hazard.

A pest invasion can be preventable with the proper precautions. The first step is determining if there is a pest in your attic and … Read Full Post »

Too Much Water in Pool Due to Rain? What You Can Do

November 6, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Swimming Pool Service & Repair • Houston

Here in the southern states, we almost always enjoy it when it rains. A good soaking typically cools the temperature and provides our lawn and landscaping with much-needed water. However, there are times when a strong storm, hurricane or tropical depression dumps a lot of rain on our property. That’s when there is too much of a good thing, which can lead to too much water in your pool due to rain.

We’ll tell you what you can do when your area experiences heavy rainfall, how to lower your pool’s water level, what happens when your pool is overflowing from rain, the problems a storm or severe weather event can cause and give you some tips on hurricane pool preparation.

How To Lower Pool Water Level

If you have a typical rainfall, or even several inches, your pool should be fine, since drains and skimmers are designed to remove the excess water. … Read Full Post »

Bed Bugs in Your Home, Practical Tips for Uncovering Them

November 3, 2017. Posted by Russell Jenkins in Bed Bug Control • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Here at ABC Home & Commercial, November is our peak time for bed bug treatment. Every summer vacations are taken, leaving travelers like you at risk of bed bugs in your home with them. Bed bugs become very active in the late summer and fall before it cools down for winter. By the time November rolls around, they have been enjoying the hot humid North Texas summer for a few months.

Bed bugs don’t discriminate. They will live just about anywhere and bite anyone. Anyone who has slept where other people have slept before could get bed bugs. Even the nicest 5-star hotels are susceptible to infestations. The best way to prevent bed bugs is to check for them anytime you travel before you come home.

How Do You Get Bed Bugs in Your Home?

Bed bugs usually travel place to place by latching onto clothing or luggage after you have … Read Full Post »

What Can a Handyman Legally Do?

November 1, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Handyman • Austin

What if you could get all of those little tasks on your “honey-do” list completed without having to lift a finger?

Home repairs, maintenance and weekend projects can quickly eat up all your free time. It’s only natural that homeowners are looking for ways to outsource these tasks at the lowest possible price. Depending on the nature of the tasks involved, you may find yourself wondering which jobs are suitable for a handyman and which tasks are better performed by a licensed contractor. Since virtually anyone can call themselves a handyman, you might ask yourself, “What can a handyman legally do?” Is there a real difference between the training and skills of a handyman and a contractor? What type of jobs should you hire a handyman to complete? Some homeowners have an even more basic question: What is a handyman in the first place?

A handyman may be a jack-of-all-trades or … Read Full Post »

Can I Get Mold Spores Bites? What To Know About Mold Mites

October 27, 2017. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

Most of us are familiar with mold. In addition to this fungus that can grow on food, plants, and areas with moisture or high humidity, you may run across tiny creatures called mold mites. These microscopic white or tan-colored mites feed on mold and fungi and are part of the larger species of mites, including cheese mites, flour mites, and grain mites.

Mold mites are wingless, smooth, and so small that they don’t cause structural damage, and they don’t bite humans. However, these soft-bodied pests have long “hairs,” which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. That is why some individuals may believe they have gotten mold spore bites when in contact with a mold mite. In some cases, a skin irritation linked to an allergic reaction to mold growing inside your home may feel like a bite or sting. Several environmental factors, including medical conditions, certain medications (or changes … Read Full Post »

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Christmas Tree

October 23, 2017. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Austin

During the holiday season, thoughts of yummy food, a fire in the fireplace, warm sweaters, cute boots and spending time with family and friends fill your head and heart. The months around Christmas evoke warm and fuzzy feelings from treasured memories and family traditions. A freshly-cut Christmas tree fills your home with a welcoming, nostalgic aroma. The excitement and anticipation surrounding your visit to find the perfect tree may only be matched by the enthusiasm around the arrival of favorite family members and guests who come to stay, including… aphids? While we prepare to welcome these house guests, we don’t want to have to deal with getting rid of aphids or other creepy crawly, uninvited visitors. We certainly don’t want to have to invite an aphid control specialist to the party.

Like any live plant, Christmas trees can suffer from diseases, including root rot, Swiss needle cast and insect infestations. When you bring such … Read Full Post »

Beach Bugs That Bite: Protecting Yourself From These Pests

October 20, 2017. Posted by Holt Myers in Pest Control • Corpus Christi

You’ve waited for that perfect beach vacation to come. You packed your swimsuit, beach towels and have the perfect day planned. But, once you get set up in the sand, you start feeling little bites on your legs. You look down and can’t see anything. You have no idea what bit you. These beach bugs that bite can be called a variety of things: sand fleas, sea lice, sandflies and no see ums, just to name a few possible culprits.

In this post, we’ll explore what kind of critters dwell in the sand and which ones might nibble on us, how long sand flea bites last, the difference between sand flea bites and bed bug bites and answer the common question, “What are no see ums?”

Sand Dwellers

There are a number of creatures that live in beach sand, most of which don’t bite humans. These sand dwellers include several species of … Read Full Post »

How Does Pesticide Work? What Homeowners Should Know

October 18, 2017. Posted by Les Stobart in Pest Control • Bryan-College Station

A pesticide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is, “Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.”

How Does Pesticide Work?

Insecticides are a form of pesticide which typically work by affecting the nervous system of insects. However, they can also affect energy production, cuticle production, the endocrine system and water balance. These chemical formulations can enter through the body, ingestion and inhalation.

Pesticides are used as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which is a more environmentally-friendly pest control philosophy. The principles of this approach, as laid out by the EPA, state that IPM “focuses on pest prevention and uses pesticides only as needed.”

Types of Pesticide

There is a wide range of pesticides available for residential and commercial applications. Some target insects, while others target algae (algaecides), germs (disinfectants) or weeds (herbicides). The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) categorizes the types of … Read Full Post »