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Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

Austin is the place to be during the spring months. Flowers are blooming, the sun is out and temperatures are still usually mild. Take advantage of this time of year to make some subtle improvements and to conduct home maintenance so that you can enjoy your home for the rest of the year.

Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

For over 60 years, ABC Home & Commercial Services has been making life easier on Texans. Our Austin Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017 provides you with tips and other information to help you take care of your biggest investment.

The 9-page Guide includes:

  • Ten things to do in Austin this Spring
  • Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
  • Spring Cleaning List of Where to Donate or Dispose of Common Household Items Locally
  • Advice on How to Mosquito-Proof Your Yard
  • Spring Gardening Tips
  • 6 Signs You May Need to Repair Your AC
  • Pool Opening Checklist
  • Easy Home Improvement Projects

Download the guide here. Get a preview of … Read Full Post »

Bryan-College Station Homeowners Guide for Spring 2017

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 »

2017 Zilker Park Events

Zilker Park events

Just as Austin is deep in the heart of Texas, Zilker Park is right in the center of the city’s vibrant and growing downtown area. Overlooking the skyline, Zilker is our own Central Park, with a lush carpet of grass that provides a fun weekend or weekday escape for both two and four-legged Austinites. With Barton Springs, the Austin Nature & Science Center, the Zilker Botanical Garden and the Butler Hike and Bike Trail just a stone’s throw away, Zilker Park offers something to please just about anyone.

2017 Zilker Park Events

The centerpiece of Zilker is the Great Lawn, which also doubles as a venue for some of Austin’s most popular annual events. Here’s what’s in store at our city’s most popular park during 2017.

Fly a Kite at the ABC Kite Festival

March 12, 2017

**The 2017 ABC Kite Fest has been canceled due to inclement weather.**

Can you imagine a better kick-off to … Read Full Post »

Japanese Beetle Vs. Ladybug: Why Does It Matter To Me?

A Japanese beetle on a leaf

The most common type of insects are beetles. These bugs are found in nearly every type of marine and terrestrial environment, so we do see them in our lawns and gardens. When comparing the Japanese beetle vs. the ladybug, what do we need to know about which might be beneficial and which is destructive?

While ladybugs or lady beetles are among the most beloved of all insects, Japanese beetles are seen as an agricultural threat. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) are invasive pests which feed on the fruit and leaves of many types of crops, shrubs, trees and vines. As their name suggests, these insects were brought into the U.S. in the early 1900s from Japan. These beetles have infested many of the states east of the Mississippi River and have partially infested Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Japanese beetles are metallic green with copper-brown wing covers and reach … Read Full Post »

Are There Mosquito Repellent Plants?

Mosquito repellent plants

Many homeowners invest a significant amount of time and energy into making their outdoor spaces inviting places to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, there is a common pest that often interferes with these well-laid plans: the mosquito. With the wide variety of mosquito control products available, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. One approach you may have heard of is to put plants in your backyard that keep mosquitoes away. Citronella grass, lemongrass, lemon balm, catnip, bee balm, peppermint, rosemary, lavender and basil are all varieties that are purported to be effective for natural mosquito control.

Unfortunately, scientific studies have shown that it’s not the plants themselves that mosquitoes don’t like. It’s actually the oil in the leaves which contains properties that can repel these bothersome biting insects. That means that you would need to crush the leaves of these plants to extract the oils and rub those oils on your skin to … Read Full Post »

Early Signs of Termites

Early signs of termites

Termite damage to your home can be a costly—not to mention stressful—problem to resolve. That’s why preventing termite infestation before it begins is the best way to avoid the extensive damage that can be caused by these invasive pests.

Early Signs of Termites

Fortunately, there are many ways to spot early signs of termites, so you can treat the problem before it spreads. Read on to learn more about warning signs that might indicate termites are nearby, and what to do if you suspect there is termite activity in or around your home.

Types of Termites

North America is home to two main varieties of termites: subterranean and drywood

Subterranean termites need plenty of moisture to survive, so they make their nests in soil. Their nests are connected to food sources such as fence posts, trees or houses, by way of mud tubes. Subterranean termites eat along the grain of soft wood. The distinctive honeycomb … Read Full Post »

How To Dispose Of Household Items In Austin

how to dispose of trash Austin

Austin has been recognized as one of the greenest cities in the United States. According to Travis County, Austin residents recycled almost 900 car batteries and 300 gallons of antifreeze in 2012. Single stream recycling increased by 10% from 2013 to 2014. The city even offers a composting rebate program.

How To Dispose of Household Items in Austin

Though many Austinites are taking advantage of some of the better-known programs and incentives to dispose of waste properly, there are still a few household items that can pose a challenge to even the most informed citizen. If you are wondering about how to dispose of trash, Austin has plenty of options to get rid of common items in an environmentally responsible way. Read our list below to learn more.

What’s considered toxic or hazardous waste?

Before you begin sorting which items to recycle and deciding where to take them, it’s important to know what … Read Full Post »

How To Dispose of Household Items in San Antonio

How to dispose of trash San Antonio

Just because we can throw an item in the trash can doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. You probably already know that there’s a list of household items that don’t belong in the trash—just as you know there are things you can’t put in your sink’s garbage disposal. But what should you do with other common items around your home, such as light bulbs, appliances, electronics and everyday cleaning products?

Read Full Post »

Where To Donate Household Items In San Antonio

Where to donate household items San Antonio

Wondering where to donate household items in the San Antonio area? Maybe you’ve cleared out a closet or two—or an entire attic or garage—and now you have boxes on your hands full of things you know shouldn’t end up in the landfill, but shouldn’t hang around your living space any longer, either.

Clearing your home of clutter is a process with many benefits, including emotional ones for you and life-changing ones for others, if you choose to donate your unwanted items to a charitable organization that works to help people in need. All you need to do is find out where to donate unwanted items, including San Antonio clothing donation dropoff locations, and you can get started on improving your own life along with someone else’s.

Where to Donate Household Items in San Antonio

The San Antonio area has many options for donating your used clothing, furniture, household goods and other items. … Read Full Post »

Where To Donate Household Items In Austin

Where to donate household items Austin

When it comes to decluttering and organizing your living space, there’s no time like the present! January might be Get Organized Month, and “spring cleaning” may be traditionally saved for springtime, but the truth is, any time of year is right for simplifying your life by purging unused and unwanted items from your home. Best of all, your unwanted things could help someone else complete their wardrobe or home furnishings, or even get back on their feet. That’s right—when you donate your used goods to a charitable organization, you’re helping people in need in your community.

So, what’s stopping you? Find out where to donate unwanted items today, and get started on refreshing your living space along with your outlook on life!

Where to Donate Household Items in Austin

Austin has a myriad of places to donated unwanted goods, including Austin clothing donation dropoff spots. All you have to decide is which … Read Full Post »