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Day of the Dead History & San Antonio Observances

. Posted by in • San Antonio
Day of the Dead history

In tandem with Halloween, another holiday takes the spotlight at the end of October and beginning of November: Día De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This is an important holiday for many people of Mexican ancestry and therefore is quite popular in San Antonio.

In this article, we will explore the history and traditions of the Day of the Dead, and list some of the major festivities that will take place this year in San Antonio.

What is the Day of the Dead?

People in Mexico celebrate Día De Los Muertos on November 1 and 2 as a way to honor loved ones who have passed away. You can also find Día De Los Muertos celebrations in Guatemala, Brazil, Spain and within US Mexican-American communities.

Day of the Dead is actually two different celebrations. November 1st is known as either Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Día de los … Read Full Post »

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Do Rats Eat Acorns? How To Get Rid Of Rats In Your House

. Posted by in • Austin
do rats eat acorns

There are many reasons that Americans are increasingly moving to the southern states. Our warm sunny days, green spaces, majestic trees and outdoor patio restaurants offer many ways for residents to enjoy spending time exploring these cities.

Guess what? All of the things that make these urban areas so appealing to people also make it an ideal habitat for local rat populations. In this post, we’ll answer the common question: Do rats eat acorns?, as well as discuss what rats we are most likely to see and how to keep these creatures away from your home.

The Ideal Rat Habitat

Rats love greenbelt areas with access to water, lush vegetation, seeds and other food sources. They eat nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit, worms, lizards and various bugs, including spiders and roaches. When desperate, they’ll eat green plants, paper or even candle wax. Rats frequent areas with lots of pecan trees and they also find … Read Full Post »

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How To Throw The Perfect Backyard Party

. Posted by in • Houston
backyard party ideas

Now that the weather is cooling down, it’s the perfect time of year to host a party in your backyard. You and your guests can relax outside without the sweltering heat or hovering mosquitoes.

Backyard Party Ideas

Though the idea of hosting a party sounds fun, many of us find it overwhelming. All the cooking, decorating, setup and cleanup can seem like a huge chore. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little planning, you can host and enjoy the perfect backyard party. Follow these tips to reduce the extra work and amp up the fun.

Think through your party plan

Before sending your invitations out and setting a date, sit down and think about your party plan.

  • Consider choosing a theme for the party and start collecting ideas. Start a Pinterest board (public or secret) to collect backyard party ideas. Don’t get intimidated. This is just one way to get started.
  • What … Read Full Post »

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Meet the Mosquito Everyone’s Talking About in Orlando

. Posted by in , • Orlando
Aedes egypti

People are buzzing about mosquitoes here in Orlando, and there’s a good reason why. One species found in central Florida, Aedes aegypti, is the primary vector that transmits the Zika virus to humans. Although the long-term implications of the spread of the virus are unknown, Zika causes severe neurological conditions such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Mosquitoes In Orlando

With our wet climate and wetlands, mosquitoes love Orlando. With the rising threat of mosquito-borne diseases in our area, it’s essential to understand the problem we face in our region and take steps to control mosquitoes around our homes.

Below we’ll look at some of the types of mosquitoes we have in Orlando and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Types of Mosquitoes

Out of the approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes, we’re fortunate to only have 171 here in the US. However, more than in any other state, Florida is home to … Read Full Post »

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HVAC Inspection Checklist: Preparing Your Home For Fall

. Posted by in • San Antonio
HVAC inspection checklist

By the time the scorching San Antonio summer gives way to a slightly-less-scorching autumn, you’re probably ready for a break from the heat. But is your home prepared?

If you’re like most Texans, your air conditioning unit worked hard in the summer months. As you look forward to the coming cold weather, your entire HVAC system may need servicing to ensure that it continues to work perfectly. Here’s a quick HVAC inspection checklist of things to do to help you get started.

Clean Up Your Unit

Just as your home needs a deep cleaning a few times per year, you need to occasionally clean your HVAC system to keep it running optimally.

Outdoors

Clear leaves and debris away from your outdoor HVAC unit. This prevents any blockages from happening, as well as any reductions in the unit’s ability to provide heat.

Not all of the debris is located inside of the unit, however. Trim any other … Read Full Post »

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Where do rats come from?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
where do rats come from

Like many homeowners, you’ve unfortunately found yourself with a rodent infestation. Rats have invaded your home. Before you even begin to attack the problem, you might be wondering: how did these rats even get into my house? Clearly, you didn’t let them in the front door, and you keep your windows closed all the time. So how did they get in?

Where do rats come from?

First, you have to consider what attracts rats, or any rodent for that matter: sources of food and shelter. Your home is a shelter, so there isn’t much you can do to change that. However, you can take steps to keep the food in and around your home from attracting rats.

What attracts rats?

Rats have a keen sense of smell, so the best way to keep them from detecting food in your home is to seal it up as much as possible. Consider these tactics:

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Fall is Tree Planting Season in Austin

. Posted by in , • Austin
tree planting tips

Tips and Tricks for Planting a Tree This Fall

Fall is one of our favorite times of the year. Between sipping apple cider, snacking on pumpkin muffins, and preemptively planning for this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner, there are just so many activities we look forward to.

And though you might be more interested in carving pumpkins or watching football, you might want to consider planting a few new trees around your home. Did you know that fall is the perfect time of year to plant new trees in Austin?

Below are a few of our tree planting tips.

Selecting Your Tree

Properly planting a new tree starts with your selection. The first step to choosing the right tree is deciding its purpose. For example, will it provide privacy or is it simply for aesthetics? Deciding how your tree will enhance your home will help you decide which tree you should look for.

What type of tree would … Read Full Post »

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ABC Houston Cares About Its Employees

. Posted by in • Houston
ABC Houston community

For over 30 years, ABC Home & Commercial Services has helped make life easier for Houston residents.

There’s a reason that ABC is the largest independently-owned and operated pest company in the state. We have built a reputation as a business which cares about the environment and the communities we serve, in addition to providing superior customer service. Most importantly, ABC customers know they can rely on us to get results.

As part of ABC’s commitment to the communities we serve, we believe in providing good, stable jobs. We hire only the best of the best and perform background checks on all our employees. We know that our customers value consistency and that they appreciate seeing the same crews on their property, time after time.

ABC customers can count on our employees to be reliable, but they can also trust that our employees are experienced and highly trained. Having long-term employees means that … Read Full Post »

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Where do rats live?

. Posted by in • Bryan-College Station
where do rats live

Do you have rats in your home? For most people, the very thought of rats in the attic or running through your kitchen is enough to cause nightmares.

The good news is that when you learn more about rat behavior and what attracts rats to your home, it’s easier to decide what to do next. Below we’ll look at the rats we have in central Texas, where rats hide, and how to get them out of your home – for good.

Rats in Texas

In Bryan-College Station, the main rat species that we see around town is the roof rat (Rattus rattus). Roof rats generally are brown or black in color and are smaller than the Norway rats found throughout most of the rest of the United States.

Roof rats choose nesting spots in trees, bushes, wood piles, and in our homes. They love palm trees and other high nesting locations where there are … Read Full Post »

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Zoysia Grass Maintenance: Advice From The Experts

. Posted by in , • Bryan-College Station
Zoysia grass maintenance

Let’s face it. Your grass is the first aspect of your lawn that visitors notice. Despite well-placed flowers, towering trees and winding pathways, your grass is still the main focus. That’s why you want to ensure your lawn is well cared for and healthy.

A popular grass species in the southern United States is zoysia grass. It’s perfect for warm-weather climates, and when cared for properly, it’s heat- and drought-resistant. Even with such qualities, though, this species still requires proper maintenance, including mowing, feeding and watering.

Read below to learn how to properly care for your zoysia grass.

How To Grow A Healthy Lawn

Zoysia is among the turfgrass varieties that turn a straw-like color when the first frost comes. Along with bermuda grass, buffalo grass, centipede grass, seashore paspalum and St. Augustine, zoysia is a warm season species that can go dormant during the coldest months of the year. Best established from sod, … Read Full Post »

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