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How Pest Control Can Help Facility Management

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

Most facility management resources agree that there are five key areas where Facility Managers track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).  Pest control can help facility management in each of these key areas.

These Facility Management KPIs cover the areas of:

  • Financial
  • Operational
  • Value-Added
  • Strategic
  • Customer Satisfaction

There are many ways pest control can help with all five of these KPI areas in 2018! Here are some of the different methods:

How Pest Control Can Help Facility Management with Financial KPIs

Modern pest management is about examining pest trends and determining ways to provide better service for facilities while keeping costs down, protecting your brand, and protecting your resources .  Since for all companies time is money, what if we could reduce time at your facility?  What if we could adjust your service to a different frequency, reduce applications? All without affecting the goal of the program – controlling pests.

How Pest Control Can Help Operational KPIs

Would it be helpful to you if your … Read Full Post »

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How to Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Rising temperatures means more time spent outdoors at pools, sports, barbecues and cookouts. Unfortunately, mosquitoes can ruin all the fun.

Prevent the bite of summer by taking time this spring to prevent one of the most irritating and dangerous of pests—mosquitoes.

If you ask most people which insect they hate the most, they will mostly likely put the malicious mosquito in the #1 spot. Mosquitoes are especially troublesome in the state of Texas.

Mosquito-Borne Threats

Every year, there are dozens of reports of mosquito-borne diseases, including:

  • Encephalitis (human symptoms include high fever, convulsions, delirium and other central nervous system problems)
  • Malaria (human symptoms include fever and flu-like symptoms, including chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea)
  • Zika (human symptoms include fever, rash, muscle and joint aches, red eyes
    Babies of infected mothers risk microcephaly and poor pregnancy outcomes)
  • West Nile Virus (human symptoms include fever and flu-like symptoms; more severe cases can affect the nervous system and … Read Full Post »
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Spring Cleaning Tips to Keep Pests Away | National Pest Management Month

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Warmer weather brings everyone out, including plants and animals. They look forward to spring just as much as we do. That’s why April has been designated as National Pest Management Month by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

People often think of spring cleaning as a way to declutter and improve indoor air quality, but regular cleanings and inspections are also important for keeping pests away. When tackling your spring cleaning to-do list, don’t forget about these common pest hot spots.

Indoor and Outdoor Spring Cleaning Tips to Keep Pests Away 

Whether it’s ants, termites, beetles, spiders, or rodents, use these pest-proofing tips to help keep the pests away. Let’s start with the outdoors.

Outdoor Spring Cleaning

Professional Pest Inspection

There are many ways to prevent pests from entering your home. Perhaps the best way is to contact a professional, and spring is the ideal time to do it.

In many cases, a barrier insecticide around the perimeter … Read Full Post »

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How to Start an Organic Lawn & Garden | National Lawn Care Month

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

April is National Lawn Care Month and National Pest Management Month! To help your May flowers get off to a healthy, pest-free start, learn how to start your first completely organic garden. Your lawn and garden will look lush and green, and of course, will be completely organic. Spring is the best time to start!

How to Start an Organic Lawn & Garden

Even if your soil looks dead and lifeless, it can be brought back to life. But in order to find out what your soil needs, you need a soil test. 

  1. Get a Soil Sample

Testing your soil is the first step toward building good garden soil. You could waste a lot of money and energy, not to mention the possibility for poisoning, by adding things to your soil before conducting a soil test.

It’s a good idea to test your soil every 3-5 years since levels change all the time. Spring is … Read Full Post »

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Control House & Garden Pests for National Pest Management Month

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

For the past 30 years, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has officially designated April as National Pest Management Month, Termite Awareness Week (March 12-18) and Bed Bug Awareness Week (April 22-28) to inform the public about pests and the importance of pest control.

Pest Control Tips for National Pest Management Month

In honor of National Pest Management Month, learn how to control common household and garden pests.

  1. Ants

Ants come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and can be winged or wingless. Often, they show up after rainy periods in the spring, summer and fall. Even though you’ll certainly be outnumbered, don’t give up the fight!

Ant Control Tips:

  • Remove any nearby wood piles, logs, or stumps that may be the source of your contamination.
  • Seal cracks and gaps around your home, including where utilities enter the building and around doors and windows.
  • Learn more about ants and how to control them.

Remember, pests can be … Read Full Post »

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What Are Herbicides? Herbicide Pros & Cons

. Posted by in , • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the weeds. Before you let plant predators such as cleavers, chickweed, henbit, sow thistle and wild carrot take over, learn the pros and cons of herbicides, as well as some non-chemical alternatives.

Weeds can rob nutrients from the soil and smother other plants, but they aren’t all bad. Some can help your plants grow; others you may actually enjoy. They can also act as a free soil test, telling you whether or not you need soil balancing. Certain weeds spring up only when the soil is too high or low in something.

Many times, you can organically solve your weed problem by simply getting rid of the existing weeds and then balancing the soil. Learn more about how to improve soil quality in your lawn.

Sometimes, however, herbicides are necessary. But before you start releasing chemicals around your property, it’s important to consider what they are, how … Read Full Post »

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Post-Flood Pest Control | How to Prevent Pest Problems After a Flood

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

March, April and May are Texas’s wettest months. But, this ain’t our first rodeo. We’re no strangers to flash floods, heavy storms and sustained rains. Floods are our most regular and costly natural disaster.

When returning home to begin the rebuilding process, some of the main problems you are likely to encounter are mold, deteriorating materials, insect infestations and pest problems.

During a flooding situation, animals, just like humans, will be forced to flee from their homes. Searching for drier, higher ground, animals often find refuge in dry areas of homes and other buildings.

After a devastating storm, such as Hurricane Harvey, the threats don’t end when the water recedes. Severe pest problems can develop both during floods and after flood water has retreated. Snakes, fire ants, rats, and other dangers can come with the flooding or arrive afterwards. More often than not, pests make their way into homes and other structures after … Read Full Post »

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Spring Termite Inspection Checklist for Termite Awareness Week

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

No insect strikes more fear into the heart of homeowners than termites. Termites cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage every year and single infestations can number in the millions.

It’s estimated that there are fifteen hundred pounds of termites for every human being on the planet! Needless to say, they are a formidable force.

As we head into spring, termites are preparing to find mates and start new colonies. March and April are the termites’ mating period, also known as swarm season.

March 12-18th is Termite Awareness Week, making it the perfect time to complete this termite inspection checklist around the home. 

Termite Awareness Week

The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) created Termite Awareness Week for the second week of March. This year, Termite Awareness Month falls on March 12-18. Follow the hashtag #TermiteWeek for more information.

Do I Have Termites?

Termites do not like to make themselves known. They rarely stray from their soil, mud … Read Full Post »

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7 Elements of a Perfect and Happy Lawn

. Posted by in , , • Dallas-Fort Worth

A Short and Complete Guide to Nurturing North Texas Yards

If lawn care chores are wearing you out, you might be trying too hard. Nurturing a Dallas landscape takes some effort, but why make it complicated? You can keep that yard perfectly happy with seven simple steps.

1. Understand the Grass – Just knowing what kind of turf you’re growing isn’t enough. Bermuda grass doesn’t like shade, and St. Augustine is a heavy drinker. Whether it’s buffalo, centipede or zoysia, show that lawn some love by learning about its preferences.

2. Watch Your Watering – Break the habit of watering on set days. Slow, deep soakings encourage healthy root systems, so wait until the yard looks a little thirsty. Whether you irrigate with a sprinkler or an automated system, water early in the morning for maximum effect.

3. Feed on Schedule – Most North Texas lawns like their nutrients served every two months from … Read Full Post »

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When a Pest Infestation Has Gone Too Far

. Posted by in • Dallas-Fort Worth

Pests may be par for the course in Texas, but infestations are still serious business. Find out when it’s time to call in professional pest control.

From pesky mosquitoes to curious rodents to ominous spiders, pests are a fact of daily life in the hot and humid Dallas area, but that doesn’t mean you should keep your guard down when it comes to pest control. While seeing an occasional critter is no big deal, it can sometimes be the first sign of a growing problem behind the scenes. How do you tell the difference between a stray and a more serious infestation? Watching for the warning signs below is a good place to start.

Dead Pests

If you keep seeing dead pests throughout your home or around your windows, there’s a good chance that a living colony is thriving somewhere on your property.

Structural Damage

The most destructive pests use homes as nesting grounds, leaving … Read Full Post »

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