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Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

. Posted by in , , , , , , • Bryan-College Station
Bryan College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Spring is a wonderful time of year in the Bryan-College Station area. Wildflowers are blooming, you can often catch a pleasant breeze and of course, temperatures are usually not as hot as during the summer months. The early part of the year also provides you with an opportunity to put your attention on your biggest investment: your home.

Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

In addition to being the largest independently-owned and operated pest control company in the state of Texas, ABC Home & Commercial provides lawn maintenance, fertilization,  tree care and trimming, landscaping, sprinkler repairs and holiday lighting. For over 60 years, ABC has been making life easier on home and business owners. As an extension of this philosophy, we have created a Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten things to do in Bryan-College Station this Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring Cleaning List of Where to Donate … Read Full Post »
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How To Get Rid Of Weeds Without Killing Grass

. Posted by in • Austin
how to get rid of weeds in lawn without chemicals

It’s exciting when plants you have nurtured begin to grow in your yard. Green, lush grass. Colorful flower beds. A thriving vegetable garden. UUnfortunately, when it comes to caring for our lawns, there’s always one thing you can count on: you’re going to have to deal with lawn weeds. One topic that’s always in season is how to kill weeds, not grass – and how to do it naturally.

If you make a lawn weed control plan in advance and attack the problem early in the season, you can make less work for yourself over time. Below, our experts identify some common weeds in the south and what you can do to get rid of them naturally without killing grass or plants.

Common Lawn Weeds

Many weeds in our lawns and gardens spread through airborne seeds or runners and can be difficult to fully eradicate. Here’s what to watch out for when planning … Read Full Post »

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Spring Lawn Care Tips For A Thriving Outdoor Space

. Posted by in • Austin
spring lawn care tips

Spring is just around the corner. Many homeowners take this time of year to get your lawn ready for the growing season. We share our best tips for spring lawn preparation and a spring lawn care schedule to help showcase the beauty of your outdoor space.

Spring Lawn Care Tips

The most important part of spring lawn care is to make sure that your lawn has plenty of opportunity to come back to life gently during the early spring months. The sun and soil will do most of the work for you.

For many of the southern states, spring is a time to nurture warm-season grasses like as Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede and Bermuda, which typically thrive in the heat and go dormant during winter.

Water Wise

Once your grass starts growing, make sure that your lawn gets at least one inch of water per week. Until then, you can water less frequently, … Read Full Post »

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How To Start a Vegetable Garden From Scratch

. Posted by in • San Antonio
How to start a vegetable garden from scratch

There is nothing quite like enjoying food that you grow yourself. Whether you are just looking for some herbs to add to recipes, a way to spend quality time with your family outside or if you want to embark upon something more ambitious, homeowners should know that starting a vegetable garden from scratch is not impossible if you learn the basics.

How to Start a Vegetable Garden from Scratch

Although springtime is the most popular time to start a garden, the growing season in warmer parts of the country is virtually year-round. Whenever you decide to give Central Texas gardening a try, we have some tips to help set you up for success.

Prepare Your Garden Bed

Choose a spot in your yard that receives full sun. In hotter climates, a fence or building that shades the plot during the hottest afternoon hours can give your plants a helpful reprieve from the heat and … Read Full Post »

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What Is Pruning? A Complete Guide To Pruning Your Plants

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
What is pruning

The importance of pruning has been well-documented. Pruning or trimming has many benefits for your landscape, including maintaining plant health, restricting growth (and overgrowth), “training” plants and improving the quality of a plant’s flowers, fruit, foliage or stems.

In our complete guide to pruning, you’ll learn:

  • What is pruning?
  • How to prune trees
  • How to prune shrubs
  • How to prune fruit plants and flowers, including roses
  • What equipment you need and
  • When to prune

What is Pruning?

Pruning is the process of cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems to promote healthy plant growth. Most plants, including trees, shrubs and garden plants like roses benefit from different methods of pruning and maintenance. Pruning at the wrong time of the year does not necessarily kill your plants, but regular improper pruning may cause damaged or weakened plants.

To help you take the guesswork out of pruning, we’ll go over the common tree and plant types found in the … Read Full Post »

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How To Improve Soil Quality In Your Lawn

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
how to improve soil quality

A healthy lawn and garden begin with your soil. In fact, many problems with home gardens, trees, and an unhealthy looking lawn are caused by poor soil quality. Wondering how to improve soil quality on your property? Luckily, a simple switch is all you need to make a big difference.

How To Improve Soil Quality

One of the ways you can improve your lawn by is by incorporating more organic material into your soil. With countless amendments and enrichment products on the market, however, knowing which to choose can be overwhelming.

Read below to learn about soil improvement methods which can help improve the quality and health of your lawn.

Test It Out 

When thinking about how to improve soil health, one way to start is to conduct a soil test. Having a better understanding of the current nutrient levels in your lawn and what your soil is missing can help you determine what … 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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Choosing An Eco-Friendly Fertilizer For Your Lawn

. Posted by in • Austin
environmentally friendly lawn care

It seems like everything is organic these days. No matter where you go—restaurants, soap shops, farmers markets, and even clothing stores—the word organic is used to describe the product being sold. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Time and time again, the benefits of buying organic have proven beneficial. When you buy organic products, you’re making an effort to avoid pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and growth additives. And while buying organic usually refers to the food we eat, its benefits can be noticed in other products as well, like your lawn fertilizer. More and more homeowners are choosing environmentally friendly lawn care over other alternatives.

Choosing An Eco-Friendly Fertilizer For Your Lawn

At ABC Home & Commercial Services, we strive to care for your lawn in a holistic way. This includes choosing the best products on the market. And while we’ve used a variety of products to care for lawns in the … 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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How To Prevent Lyme Disease

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
How to prevent Lyme disease

As a tick-borne illness, Lyme disease is a serious concern for people all across the United States. If the disease isn’t treated soon after exposure, it can cause debilitating pain, weakness, and other chronic impairments. Learn more about what Lyme disease is, the symptoms, and how to prevent Lyme disease.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Humans contract the disease through bites from deer ticks and black-legged ticks. Most commonly found in the Midwest and the northeastern US, individuals suffering from Lyme disease are also spread all across the country, as well as in 60 other countries. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme is the most widespread disease spread by animals in the US.

Lyme generally isn’t fatal. However, people with untreated Lyme disease experience chronic pain and disabilities. Lyme impairs the functioning of organs and causes mental impairments, pain, and … Read Full Post »

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