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If you don’t use a regular lawn care service, crabgrass is one of your biggest dilemmas. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp), also spelled Crab Grass, is a warm-season annual weed, it reproduces by seed and can come back from a network of roots that have been established in the lawn. Typically applying a Pre-Emergent herbicide at the right time is the best and most effective way to kill crabgrass.
Pre-Emergent Herbicides for Killing Crabgrass: When to Apply
When trying to get rid of crabgrass, it helps to know the life cycle of it. When the soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit, the first crabgrass seeds will begin to germinate. From Late Spring to Fall, crabgrass produces seed. These seeds in turn create more crabgrass clumps. In the fall crabgrass plants, not the seeds, are killed by frosts in late fall. Crabgrass roots will go dormant specially if they are along a drive way or around the house, because it tends to stay warmer in those areas.
Pre-Emergent herbicides come in either granular or liquid form and kill crabgrass seedlings as they germinate. Think of Pre-Emergent herbicides as forming an invisible shield across the soil surface that stops emerging crabgrass dead in its tracks. As their name suggests, Pre-Emergent herbicides kill crabgrass at a specific time: before (PRE) seedlings emerge. For success in getting rid of crabgrass in this manner, timing is of the essence. Apply Pre-Emergent herbicides before germination, but not too far ahead.
Types of Pre-Emergent Herbicides for Killing Crabgrass
There are many different types of Pre-Emergent herbicides for killing crabgrass. "Weed and feed" products often contain Pre-Emergent herbicides, although some question whether their concentration is strong enough to be effective.
Using Pre-Emergent Herbicides for Killing Crabgrass: DOs and DON'Ts
Do:
· Irrigate afterwards: water activates Pre-Emergent herbicides.
· Re-apply Pre-Emergent herbicides, if you question your product's coverage. Because crabgrass seedlings do not all germinate at once, re-application can kill some of the later-germinating crabgrass.
· Follow label directions and apply the proper rate. Measure the lawn area and calibrate your spreader carefully.
Don't:
· Allow pets or children on lawn until after 24 hours from the application time
· Apply Pre-Emergent herbicides on new sod.
There are also herbicides for killing crabgrass well after it has germinated called post-emergents, but they are effective only at killing young crabgrass plants. Because these young crabgrass plants are small, they are very difficult to detect in a lawn. Post-emergent herbicides are far less useful than Pre-Emergent herbicides for killing crabgrass.
Crabgrass Control: Organically
Is there any other way to prevent crabgrass? The answer is, No. But, while the best way to kill crabgrass is with Pre-Emergent herbicides, your other option to control it is by having a healthy lawn. Here are some ways to promote lawn health at the expense of crabgrass:
· Winterize your lawn in the fall. This will promote root development. By then, frosts will have already killed any crabgrass.
· Don't let bare spots remain uncovered for long, else opportunistic crabgrass will take root. In the fall, fill in those bare spots by putting sod down or seeding whatever is appropriate for your turf.
· When irrigating the lawn, water more deeply and less frequently. Crabgrass is a notoriously shallow weed. It’s better to water 1 day a week for 1 hour than 20 min 5 days a week.
· Mow "high", leaving the lawn grass at a height of 2 1/2"-3". This will allow the lawn grass to "protect its own turf" better, depriving crabgrass seeds of the light they need to germinate.
Our Lawn Care program is specially designed to prevent crabgrass. We ensure proper application of our specially blended products. We find that even though a lot of our customers enjoy taking care of their lawn, they have less and less time to do it. Using a professional company not only frees up time, but you won’t have to guess when to apply products. Not to mention storing the products and equipment, and keeping it away from children and pets.
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#5 – Rats & Mice
Especially when it’s cold outside, rodents tend to seek refuge in your home. Regardless if you invited them or not. These critters can nest in your attic, walls, and garage. It is said that if a rodent can fit its head through an opening he is able to squeeze in the rest of his body. Rodents cause some problems including chewing holes in your walls, burrowing in your attic insulation, and/or chewing through electrical wires, which can make a fire hazard. Typically you don’t know you have a problem until you begin hearing them crawling around. A good rule of thumb is when the weather changes, or there has been too much rain, rodents will begin looking for shelter. Like humans they want a warm quite place, out of the elements. Look for places rodents can come in around the outside of your home, search high and low. Trim vegetation (plants/trees) that may be touching the house. Seal up all opening you may find outside. Most of the time if you can stop the rodents outside you are less likely to get a problem.
#4 – Spiders
Not that I like spiders, but there are benefits to having them around. Spiders feed off other insects and can actually help diminish a pest population. Of course using spiders as a means of pest control is not exactly a good strategy, mainly because they can only eat so much. Spiders also multiply, and unless you like collecting spider webs, or like the Munster mansion look, it is not very effective or eye appealing. Spiders are actually harder to get rid of because they do not groom themselves. A lot of pesticides out there are mainly stomach poisons, which in terms mean they have to ingest it in order for it to be effective. Since spiders do not groom themselves like other insects, they may walk across the applied product(s) and never be affected by it. The best advice when dealing with spiders is to knock down there web. This usually discourages them. They would much rather be in a spot were their net is going to stay intact.
#3 – Cockroaches
Even though there over 4,500 species of cockroaches around the world, there are only about 70 species found in the United States. We mostly deal with about 5-6 of the species here in The Metro Atlanta area. Cockroaches prefer food sources such as sweets, cheese, meat products, starches and grease. They also feed on plants, vegetables and fruits. Cockroaches are nocturnal feeders, and it’s when they are most active. During the daytime, they hide in the wall cavities, roof voids, sub-floors, crevices and cracks in the kitchen and bathroom. Cockroaches contaminate food and cause the spread of various diseases such as cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, typhoid and leprosy. It is very important to keep the areas where you eat clean and free of food leftover crumbs. For example in the sides between your refrigerator or stove, crumbs of food can get in between and make a very inviting buffet.
#2 – Ants
Mainly a nuisance pest, ants compete for with humans for food sources. Some ants can cause damage to your home for example carpenter ants. Other ants like the imported fire ant may not come in your home, but they will let you know you are intruding in their territory by stinging you. Ants can be very tricky, most often than not when homeowners see a trail of ants they will spray them down with some type of brand name insecticide. This is the biggest mistake they can do. Ants follow a trail of pheromones and usually the ants bringing food back and forth to the colony only account for 2%-3% of the colonies population. Also a lot of the pesticides sold at your local store are considered repellants, meaning that the ants will find another way to get to where the food source. Trailing the ants and sealing the areas where they are coming from is the best strategy. Also cleaning the area where they are trailing with some type of ammonia based cleaner, like windex, will break the pheromone track.
#1 – Termites
The most notorious and expensive pest of all is the termite. In Metro-Atlanta there is a saying that goes like this “You have homes with termites, and homes that are fixing to get termites”. A recent study from the University of Georgia (UGA) has found that for every square acre there are about 16 colonies of termites. Each colony can have anywhere 300,000+ termites in it causing a real problem for GA homeowners. Each year termites cause over $2.5 billion worth of damage to homes and businesses, and typically the damage is not covered by insurance. These silent devastators creep up around and under your home silently eating your home from the inside out. The best way to keep termites at bay is to keep up with your termite warranty. If you are buying a home it is very important to have a thorough inspection of the home too look for previous damage and/or current activity. This inspection is just as important as your home inspection. Some Georgia homeowners have a false sense of security by thinking that if they don’t have termites they don’t need service. This can be further from the truth, as these homeowners end up spending thousands of dollars on treatment and repair for their home. When it comes to dealing with termites in Atlanta prevention is the best remedy.
Squirrels, raccoons, skunksand mice are doing what comes naturally this time of year -- looking for awarm, dry and food-filled spot to settle for a long winter's nap. And that spotcould very well be your attic, crawl space, or under your porch or deck.
The bad news! While the critters are not napping, they will beburrowing, eating, gnawing on wires, and, yes, pooping and peeing in their newhome -- er, your home.
They are not typically makingopenings, they exploit what's there. That means any obscured or unnoticedopening in siding, fascia boards, window frames and foundations are open doorsto wildlife.
Squirrels and raccoons "typically like high-altitude entry.A chimney is virtually a perfect 'in' for them -- like a hollow in a tree. Skunksare more likely to go low, especially under decks and porches. Mice? Well,that's a tough one. Mice can squeeze through teeny-tiny spaces.
The key to keeping critters out of your home is prevention, Thinklike a raccoon or squirrel and ask “Where would they go?"
Bats
Bats can live in attics, chimneys and basements. They arenocturnal and emerge at dusk. Some bats have a wingspan of 13 inches and liveup to 19 years in the wild. They mate in October, before winter hibernation.They give birth in early June. They feast on flying insects, primarily mothsand beetles. There would be an odor associated with their droppings (guano). Afew bats might not be much of a problem, but if you get a colony, well, that'snoisy and dirty.
Raccoons
If they get into a house, they live primarily in attics and chimneys. They areadept when outdoors at knocking over garbage cans and stealing pet food andbird seed. Raccoons carry some very dangerous diseases, including rabies,canine distemper and roundworm. They are excellent climbers, have nimble pawsand live up to more than 12 years in the wild. Some raccoons weigh as much as40 pounds, and they mate in the winter, around December (happy holidays!).Their young are born in the spring. Raccoons are nocturnal and eat just aboutanything and everything.
Squirrels
Scratch, scratch, scratch . . . sccrraaattch. That noise comingfrom the ceiling is probably the first clue many homeowners have that they arenow cohabitating with squirrels. The critters are mostly active in the morningsand evenings and eat nuts and seeds. They establish "hometerritories" and communicate with scent, chattering and flicking theirfluffy tale. Squirrels can carry parasites and leave a lot of excrement, whichcan pose health risks.
Rats and mice
They live everywhere: attics, walls, pantries, basements,closets . . . you name it. They have excellent hearing and sense of smell butpoor eyesight. They often travel along the same paths that they've alreadymarked with urine. They can crawl through the tiniest of holes, so in this case,prevention is the best cure. Plug up all your holes and gaps.
Skunks
Yes, they love the spaces under decks or porches. They will livethere peacefully unless disturbed or scared by humans and pets, especiallydogs. Skunks -- which generally weigh 4 to 10 pounds and are 24 to 30 incheslong -- dig holes in yards and can accidentally get into homes. The best methodfor elimination is trapping the critter; you should consider a local processionalfor this task. Remember Skunks carry rabies, so do not handle them. The bestway to get rid of skunk smell is to shampoo with a combination of hydrogenperoxide, baking soda and liquid dish soap.
If prevention fails you canalways contact us, we will be happy to investigate any problems you might have.
Attic Insulation is part of a complete system to keep your house cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter. Current building codes suggest an R-Value of 38 -49 Depending on whether you have gas or electric heat. This is basically 15-18 Inches of Blown Fiberglass or 10-12 inches of Blown Cellulose. Take a look in your attic today and then answer these questions:
Can I see the tops of my ceiling joists? Yes, then you probably have less than 5 inches of insulation. You should add insulation to increase the level to about 10 -15 inches.
Can your home "Keep Up" and stay comfortable? No, then it's probably one of three things: Dirty A/C Coils, Leaky Ducts or Low Insulation.
What about My House?
If your home is over 5 years old, it probably It probably has less then the recommended level of insulation. See: The Department Of Energy Fact Sheet and R-Value Recommendations
A good way to check is to look in your attic. If you can see the tops of the ceiling joists, you need more insulation TODAY. By adding insulation, you can start saving money and be more comfortable. No matter what your current level of insulation, it is recommended to get up to the R38-49 range by adding more attic insulation. This is especially true with rising gas and electric prices.
Insulation Advantages
Insulation acts to slow the transfer of heat from the warmer area to the cooler area. The thicker your attic insulation, or higher the R-Value, the longer it will take for the heat to move through the insulation. This is similar to wearing multilple layers of clothes on a cold day. The more layers you have on, the less heat will escape and you will feel warmer. The effect on your home is that your home will be cooler in the Summer and Warmer in the Winter.
TAX CREDITS - Info About The New Energy Bill
The New Energy Bill allows a 10% Tax Credit up to $500.00. For Example: If you spend $1,000.00 on insulation you can take off $100 off the amount you send the IRS at tax time. When you combine the Tax Credits and Rising Energy Costs, The "Payback" on additional insulation can often be less than one or two years. Plus, your home will be more comfortable. A GREAT INVESTMENT IN YOUR HOME. Click here for more info: U.S. Dept of Energy
For a free energy audit of your home please contact us by clicking here or call us @ (770) 979-8180 to schedule your appointment.
With the dawn of the holiday season upon us, it is time to get a plan in place foradding festive touches to the exterior of your home. But, before you stock upon the right lights and the perfect decorations and adornments, Christmas Decorwant you to be aware of some of the dangers that holiday decorating can bring.
According to theConsumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), during the 60 days surrounding thewinter holiday season, an estimated 11,000 people are treated in hospitalemergency rooms due to decorating-related injuries including falls, cuts,electrical shocks and burns.
If you are doing it yourself you should follow these home-decorating tips for a safe and festive holiday season:
- Use Certified Products: Only use lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA.
- Check for Defects: If you are using lights that have been strung in the past, be sure to check them for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
- Beware of Metallic Trees: Electric lights should never be used on metallic trees, because the tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights.
- Flick the Off Switch: Before you go to bed or leave the house, be sure to turn off all holiday lights inside and outside of your home.
Many of theinjuries related to holiday decorating can be avoided by taking precautions andusing properly certified products. Of course, ifanyone is still hesitant about decorating their homes themselves, the safestbet is to enlist a holiday lighting professional like Future Services. We offer a variety of packages, with safe, energy efficient L.E.D. displays. Call us today for a free estimate.
Cool season lawns (Fescue)should be aerated and seeded every fall to stay thick and healthy. Unlike warm season lawns (Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede), cool season lawns do not spread and require overseeding to fill in thin or bare areas. Cool season lawns should be aerated and seeded between September and November for best results. This will allow the new seedlings time to mature and develop a strong root system before the cold winter months. This will also ensure a thick, healthy lawn the following spring. Seeding a cool season lawn in the spring is not recommended in most cases. Spring seeding can interfere with spring Crabgrass pre-emergent treatments and cause weeds problems later in the year. Also, the root system normally does not have time to develop and mature before the hot summer months. This will cause cool season lawns to be more susceptible to insects, disease, and heat stress.
Here are some tips and rules to guide yourself by in the process:
- Do a soil test if possible before aerating and seeding. Preparing the soil is ultimately important.
- Determine the foot traffic in the area where you plan on seeding. In Georgia Fescue is not a good turf to have in heavy foot traffic areas, so re-evaluate what you should do in these areas.
- Mark sprikler Heads before aerating.
- Utilize the correct amount of seed for the area you are covering. There are different rates for established lawns and for areas that are bare.
- Only use a small amount of wheat straw on areas that are bare. Heavy straw can conflict with the amount of sunlight the seed is getting.
- Water, Water, Water once to twice a day, (10-15 minutes), just enough to keep the seed moist for the first 7 days. Do not let the new seedlings dry out. Once the seed germinates you can start adding more time to your watering schedule but cut back on the frequency.
We provide these services to our customer so please feel free to contact us. For a quote please
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Black Widow Spiders seem to be everywhere in the Georgiathis time of year, but it's not because there are more of them. It's the time when they're big and robust and noticeable, andalthough bites from the pitch-black spider with the telltale red hourglass arerarely lethal — just a few people die from such bites nationwide each year — treatmentshould be sought immediately. Consider a black widow bite a medical emergency.
Most people that are bitten experience severe pain, especially ifbitten in the armpits and/or groin area. Some women have described it as “morepainful than childbirth”. The best treatment is black widow antivenin at thehospital, which works “within minutes,”. We here at Future Services, INC. get morecalls about black widows at this time of year than any other. Some clients callshortly after their pest prevention service, saying they still have spiders. Butthe only way to kill black widows is to spray a toxic substance directly on them.Spiders usually will not pick up the active ingredient in pesticides the wayother insects do. The active ingredient in pesticides is absorbed through fat,but black widows don't have fat on their exoskeletons — they're covered with awaxy substance. Black widows for the most part live outside, behind the sidingmaking them also hazardous to Dogs and cats, which are susceptible to a black widow'svenom.
Black widows release a neurotoxin that generally causes severe,painful cramping of large muscles. The pet may appear to be having a seizure, andmay have shallow, irregular breathing. They can go into shock, their stomachscan be tender and they can even become partially paralyzed. Prolonged paralysiscould last as long as 10 days to three weeks, she said. There are no hometreatments for animals that have been bitten by a black widow, so if theyexhibit any of the symptoms, take the pet to a vet immediately. The bite couldprove fatal, depending on the severity of the bite and the size of the animal. Smallerdogs and cats would be more susceptible.
The best thing is always prevention. The places to look for these unwelcomed guests are around the foundation of your home, close to gutters down spouts, and under splash guards. Their web is real messy and has no real form like other spider webs. If you have found black widows in or around your home please be careful, and DON"T handle them, especially keep children and small pets away. Also remember that the typical black widow with the hour glass is a female, and most probably has laid her eggs. Call us and we will be happy to inspect your home. Click Here to schedule your inspection.
If you haven't heard by now Atlanta has gotten over 10" inches of rain over the last few days. Just in case you're wondering, an inch of rain in a 1000 Sq Ft. area = a little over 631 gal. of water. Needless to say we have had a lot of water rolling around us. We have seen devistation, and even live's have been claimed because of the recent natural disaster. But something we can overlook is Pests.
Pests are a common problem after a flood, because it displaces many rodents from their natural habitat. As a result, these
animals are seeking areas that can provide food and shelter, such as
homes, sheds, barns and other buildings.
Structures damaged by the floods are particularly attractive and
provide easy access torodents. The unwelcome pests can damage property
and, in extreme cases, pose a potential health problem.
Rats and mice
- As soon as possible, remove all debris that could provide protective cover for rodents from around homes and buildings.
- Keep lawn and field vegetation mowed low to eliminate protective cover.
- Remove potential food sources, such as household trash, waste grain or other foods.
- Close openings into buildings, such as around water pipes, electrical wires, vents and doors, with 1/8-inch mesh hardware cloth or sheet metal.
Squirrels
- Trim trees to prevent squirrels from jumping onto roofs.
- Prevent squirrels from traveling along wires to houses and buildings by installing 2-foot sections of lightweight plastic pipe 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Slit pipe lengthwise, spread open and place over wire. The pipe will rotate on the wire and cause traveling squirrels to fall.
- Close openings to attics and eaves with heavy 1/2-inch wire mesh or sheet metal.
- In closed attics, naphthalene (mothballs) may work as a temporary repellent. Use 1 to 2 pounds spread evenly throughout the attic; greater amounts may be needed for large spaces.
If you have a serious problem please contact a profesional.
It's the curse of pesticides: They kill more than just pests. Yesterday, I wrote a story about how beekeepers in the Worcester area are concerned over plans to use a common grub killer to beat back a tree beetle infestation because it is toxic to bees.
But at Northeastern University, a team of researchers are meeting success with a more natural form of critter control.
Rebeca Rosengaus, an associate professor of biology along with former Northeastern postdoctoral fellow Mark Bulmer and a team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have figured out a way to potentially control termites with using nothing more than a type of sugar molecule.
Here's how: The researchers knew that a tropical termite species can survive despite living in bacteria and fungus ridden nests. It turns out, the scientists discovered, the termite saliva and fecal matter contain a protein that destroys those bacteria and fungi.
But if researchers fed termites a glucose derivative, known as GDL, it inhibited the fungus-fighting proteins. Termites fed GDL in a lab died five days after being exposed to a fungus while 70 percent of those not fed GDL and exposed were still alive 12 days later. Their work was reported recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
One day, such an approach could be used to combat the $30 billion in damages that termites cause to homes, businesses and crops each year. Today, termites are often fought with chemicals that can spread to waterways and into living organisms. Rosengaus will continue experimenting with the molecule, especially in urban areas where termites are a particular problem.
"We're far away from saying this is the future of pest control,'' she said. "But it seems a very appealing alternative strategy."
thanks to the Boston Globe.
Good night, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite. That grandmother's bedtime warning has made a comeback as bedbug infestations continue to escalate.
Bedbugs are called the "new scourge of America" by one
expert, this blood-feeding insect of mythical lore has been spotted
increasingly in cities that have an influx of international tourists, including Metro Atlanta.
Infestations have been reported in hotels and motels -- and it's not
just the rundown, seedy ones.
It's been 50 years since we've had a serious problem with bedbugs, so most hotel workers don't know what to look for. A lot of homeowners bring these tiny critters in their luggage when coming back from a business trip.
Some signs of infestations are:
* Small, reddish-brown stains on sheets and mattresses.
* Similar stains at other locations that could be entrances to hiding places.
* A sickening, sweet odor.
* Bedbugs in the pockets of "popcorn" ceilings and other secreted places.
Here are a few things to do when if you find to there to be a bed bug infestation in your home.
- Don't overreact & grab the first can of pesticide or set off 10 bug bombs inside your house because that's not going to work. Over the counter pesticides typically repell pests, and since bedbugs are usually found in linens and matresses you wouldn't want to go to sleep on pesticide.
- Do NOT throw away your Mattress or furnirture. You risk dropping bedbugs and eggs with every step you take with them, AND it will not get rid of the problem. Not only will you still have your bedbugs, but the expense of replacing the furniture and paying for treatment as well. Don't waste hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a new bed and furniture.
- Don't move objects and furnishings from room to room.
If you move your pillow, blanket, or stuffed toy to another room to sleep, whether in another bed or a couch, you risk spreading the problem. If you need to go to a different room, go there with clean pajamas, clean bedding and clean pillows. If your child simply has to have that one stuffed toy to sleep, put it in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. - Don't count on freezing temperatures to kill your bedbugs.
You would need to use a deep freezer with a sustained temperature of zero for two weeks-freezing temperature is 32 degrees. Putting objects out on the patio on a cold winter may slow things down, but most people do not live in climates with qualifying temperatures.
If you need help concerning a bedbug problem, or if you need a FREE inspection plesae call us today