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DIY Lawncare: How to Properly Lay Sod

. Posted by in • Austin
diy lawncare

The grass can be greener, after all.

Do you dream of a soft, lush lawn, where you can relax with your family on sunny days? Are you wondering how to make that dream a reality? Laying sod is your best option. Sod gives you instant visual gratification, but it is costly and requires work and resources to make sure it grows successfully. We put together a list of tips to help ensure the sod you lay turns into a beautiful lawn.

1. Select a sod appropriate for the area.

There are a handful of grasses that perform best in our Central Texas climate – St. Augustine, Zoysia, Buffalo, and Bermuda. These grasses require varying levels of water and maintenance, and they have distinct differences. St. Augustine performs well in shady areas. Zoysia grass is quite hardy but takes some time to establish. Buffalo grass requires the least work, but it is not the … Read Full Post »

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Hot Weather Tips: How To Keep Cool Without Your AC Running

. Posted by in • San Antonio
hot weather tips

When temperatures climb, many homeowners start to get their air conditioners in working order to prepare for the heat. Fighting back against the warm embrace of sunlight trickling through the window blinds with a refreshing blast of air is a feeling many cannot go without, especially in the middle of a notoriously sweltering Texas summer.

The modern comfort of an AC might be a welcome treat for many, but how do people without air conditioning get through those blazingly hot days?

While opening windows at night to cool down is arguably the most common way to beat the heat, there are many more interesting ways for people to keep their cool as the mercury goes up. While some of you may be asking how to make an air conditioner colder, we understand that summer air conditioning can be costly. Check out our hot weather tips below to cut down on your home energy … Read Full Post »

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Zilker Kite Festival By The Numbers

. Posted by in • Austin
kite fest austin

The Annual Kite Festival is Sunday, March 6th, 2016!

ABC is so proud to sponsor and facilitate Austin’s world-renowned Zilker Kite Festival. We come together with the festival’s many other sponsors to bring this event to the city every year. Take a look back to the Kite Festival’s history by the numbers and join us Sunday, March 6th for day-long family-friendly activities for FREE! And learn more by visiting the Kite Festival Website.

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Do Mouse Traps Actually Work?

. Posted by in • Corpus Christi
rodents can enter your home through your AC unit.

One day recently, one of our customers was watching birds and squirrels feeding at her bird feeder when she noticed something shocking. There was a huge rat making its way towards the feeder.

Because the rodent was outdoors, she didn’t want to take the plunge and call out rodent & wildlife control immediately. She decided to opt for mouse trap instead. But weeks went by, and the trap was always empty. She thought the rat was frightened away and didn’t think any more about it. Until she saw the rat again!

Rodents will gravitate towards food sources and shelter.

The sight of a rat or mouse can be rather unnerving on many levels. The truth of it is, in Texas, mice often find their way into our homes (or backyards) in search of dry nesting spots and easy food sources. Because we know some homeowners in the Corpus Christi area may wish to … Read Full Post »

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The Very Best Mosquito Repellents

. Posted by in , • Corpus Christi
learn the best mosquitoes repellents

Warm weather is just around the corner, and that means mosquito season is not far behind. These pests can be a real nuisance! Worse yet, in some cases, mosquito bites can even make you sick. Below, we’ll look at some of the diseases carried by mosquitoes and then we’ll offer our picks for the very best mosquito repellents.

Why should you be concerned about mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance. They can carry diseases that can affect you and your family. In the Corpus Christi area, the biggest concern for mosquitoes is the West Nile virus, with July 2015 marking the first confirmed cases in the area. Lately, the media has also been reporting on the Zika virus, which has spread to Brazil and may be causing microcephaly, a birth defect that affects the development of an infant’s brain. The good news is that while there have been a dozen cases of … Read Full Post »

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Our 5 Favorite Landscape Supply Stores in Austin

. Posted by in , • Austin
ABC has a full service landscape design and lawn services team

Are you thinking of starting a vegetable garden, but don’t know where to begin?

 

It can be an overwhelming process for someone new to gardening. The first things to know are what materials you need and where to go to get them. These 5 gardening supply stores in Austin will provide you with everything you need to start your vegetable garden.

The Natural Gardener (southwest)

Built on the site of an old farmstead, the Natural Gardener is not just any gardening and landscaping store – it’s a destination. Owner John Dromgoole has been a major force in Austin for bringing environmentally sustainable gardening practices to Austin, even going so far as starting his own product line. In addition to being able to purchase all the materials you need for your vegetable garden, take advantage of the numerous amenities and services available. Peruse the teaching gardens, attend a free class, say hello to the … Read Full Post »

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Common Winter Invaders

. Posted by • Bryan-College Station
mice are common winter invaders

Unwanted Winter Tenants

When it starts to cool down in Bryan and College Station, a lot of pests decide to take the winter off. Of course, this year it was warm enough to get mosquito bites while hanging your holiday lights, but for the most part, a couple of good cold snaps in the Brazos Valley will take care of most household pests for a few months.

Unfortunately, the main exceptions (here and in most of Texas) are some of the most unhealthy and destructive pests around — I’m talking about mice and rats. Rodents don’t hibernate; they just look for shelter somewhere warm, which could be your house.

We see three common types of rats and mice in the Bryan and College Station area:

Common House Mouse

House mice are the most common rodent in most parts of the world; they prefer to live in dark and secluded parts of structures such as building … Read Full Post »

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Bed Bugs: They Spread Like Wildfire

. Posted by in • San Antonio
bed bugs can infest any home in Texas

We all know that bed bugs are a nightmare of a hassle. But there are few things the average person doesn’t know about bed bugs.

For example, did you know that you can have bed bugs and not even know it? Sometimes these bugs don’t bite, and even when they do, not all people react to bed bug bites in ways that are visible to the naked eye.

And while bed bugs are found in people’s beds (and other parts of the home), they are not always hiding in or under the mattress.

ABC has been in the integrated pest management business for years. When it comes to truly problematic pests, like bed bugs, we have quite a few stories to tell.

The Case of the Invisible Bed Bug Bites

A couple in a duplex asked for ABC’s help with bed bugs when they realized they had an issue last year. Of course, because the … Read Full Post »

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Rodent Tales of Terror: Austin Edition

. Posted by in • Austin
rodents can enter your home through your AC unit.

One advantage of being in the home services industry for so many years is that there isn’t a problem too large for our wildlife specialists to handle.

The quaint charm of central Austin and surrounding towns’ historic neighborhoods is magnetic. But older homes have weak, pier-and-beam foundations that have deteriorated over the years, creating the perfect entry points for rodents. Whether the issue is rats, mice, raccoons, or nutria, our team knows where to look to find the point of entry.

Because our guys have been in the business so long, they have some pretty terrifying stories to tell of rodents wreaking havoc on homes in Austin.

Tails of Terror from the Field in Austin

One thing we know is a big misconception is that rodent problems are related to economic status. This simply isn’t true. The bigger the house, the more space for rodents to hide. And the more damage they can do.

One … Read Full Post »

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Top Bed Bug Myths DEBUNKED

. Posted by in • Austin
bed bugs can infest any home in Texas

Pesticide-resistant bed bugs are invading homes across Texas

After being all but eradicated after World War II, the past 20 years has seen a bed bugs comeback in the United States. According to Brooke Borel, who wrote the book Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedroom and Took Over the World, the combination of a new species of bed bug and an increase in domestic and international travel has meant that bed bugs now have a ticket for the ride — right into your home!

There are a lot of misconceptions about bed bugs. We are setting the record straight and debunking the biggest bed bug myths out there.

Myth: You can’t see bed bugs.

Bed bugs are very small, with a tendency to hide in crevices, so they can be difficult to detect. But if you look closely, especially with a flashlight, you can often spot them. Another telltale sign of an infestation … Read Full Post »

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