Pest control specialists say vinegar is a common household item and there is likely to be a bottle lying around your home somewhere, even if you didn’t know it was there. Most people buy vinegar for one specific purpose but don’t need a whole lot of it, thus creating a huge amount of leftover vinegar with no purpose. So, what can you do with all that leftover vinegar? Turns out, quite a bit according to pest control experts!

Here are some great ways pest control experts say you can utilize your extra vinegar and get some cleaning done at the same time!

Got the washing machine blues? Add two cups of white vinegar to a normal cycle set to warm. In order to get the full cleaning effect, make sure you do not have clothes in the washer. Pest control agents say this will get rid of any stale water smells and help eliminate the crud that has built up throughout many washes.

Looking for an all-natural way to clean your rusty, lime-crusted tea pots or stained coffee pots? Pull out that bottle of vinegar and pour a half a cup into the tea kettle or coffee pot along with a healthy dose of hot water. Pest control specialists say you should allow the mixture to do its magic for a half day then brush out any deposits that have come loose and rinse thoroughly with water.

If it’s good enough for your coffee pot, then surely vinegar is good enough to eliminate those tough stains in your bathtub, washbasin or sink. Add some cooking salt to the mixture and scrub onto the offending surface and watch stains disappear!

Next time you are looking for a more au natural method to do some basic house cleaning, pest control technicians recommend just putting your trust in the tried and true method of vinegar!

When you think of Atlanta pest control, you may not think of head lice, but they are certainly a Atlanta pest and they definitely need controlled if they find their way into your home. Lice are usually found on and in the hair and skin of a human. They bite the skin to drink blood and cause allergic reactions, including mild to severe itching.

These insects are the size of a sesame seed and lay their eggs in the hair of a human. Even though they are in your hair, you may not be aware of it immediately because it may take weeks for the itchy feeling to develop.

Bites are obvious if you’re looking closely enough and can be revealed by moving hair aside. Pest control specialists recommend using a comb to check through the hair of someone who is potentially infested, making sure to check around the nape of the neck and behind the ears.

Bites from lice are generally harmless, with the exception of causing an itching sensation. However, the incessant scratching can cause an infection and introduce germs into the small wound.

Lice are usually transferred by close contact with someone who already is infected. Despite the common association with sharing hats and pillows as a way louse is transferred, this is rarely true. In most cases, lice is transferred through head-to-head contact.

If you or your child should be unlucky enough to incur lice, your doctor or pharmacist can recommend a medicated shampoo to de-louse. Oftentimes the treatment will have to be re-applied because eggs are missed during the first treatment.

Most homeowners know what services are necessary for good Atlanta lawn care: proper mowing, aeration, overseeding, adequate hydration and fertilizer. Aeration is one of the most beneficial Atlanta lawn care services, especially if you live in an area that experiences episodes of little to no rainfall. Aerating your Atlanta lawn will allow the water from your irrigation system to reach the grass roots directly and be immediately absorbed. However, even though aeration ensures that your Atlanta lawn and soil are manipulated, you should go one step further and also have your soil periodically tested by a Atlanta lawn care professional.

A soil test is a fairly simple procedure and many Atlanta lawn care companies offer the service for free in conjunction with their Atlanta lawn care programs. The Atlanta lawn care technician will take a small soil sample and have it sent to a lab. A qualified soil expert will examine the sample and look at the pH level (acidity); the presence or absence of such macronutrients as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen; the presence or absence of such micronutrients as iron, calcium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper and other nutrients that deter weed growth and enhance the Atlanta lawn’s resistance to insect and disease infestations; the soil type, which can help your Atlanta lawn care technician create a preventative plan to reduce the incidence of compaction; and levels of decomposed plant material, also known as thatch.

Once the results are back, your Atlanta lawn care specialists can consult with you on what the best plan of action is regarding your Atlanta lawn care regimen. To schedule a soil analysis, call your local Atlanta lawn care company today.

There are several different varieties of mulch to choose from, but many homeowners and commercial property owners seem to prefer cedar mulch. Cedar mulch offers the landscape a hint of rich color, and of course there is the aromatic cedar smell that adds an extra incentive. Cedar mulch also offers landscape beds superior protection against soil erosion and compaction, weed growth and protects the roots of your plants from the hot sun. If you think cedar mulch is only useful when the weather is warm, you’ll be happy to know that mulch also protects the roots from freezing during spells of cold weather. So now that you know all the benefits of cedar mulch, you may wonder how you can make your own.

In order to make your own cedar mulch, according to lawn care experts, you will need cured cedar wood in the form of a stump or logs, a chainsaw, a hatchet and a hammer. Using the chainsaw, cut the cedar stump or the logs into two-inch sections, stacking the pieces atop one another. Once you have a complete stack, use the chainsaw to cut vertically down the stack again in one- to two-inch sections. Gather the stack back together and proceed to perform another vertical cut, this time forming a crosshatch pattern. All of the resulting wood shavings and pieces will serve as part of your mulch.

You will still have some smaller pieces that need to be broken up into tinier pieces. Use your hammer and hatchet to bust them up in whatever sizes you prefer. Place all the wood in a large container and add an amount of water that is proportionate to the wood chips. Lawn care professionals say for this project, a gallon of water is usually plenty. Make sure all the wood chips have been dampened by the water and let sit for three days. Drain the water from the container and let the cedar mulch dry in the sun for a day, turning it occasionally to make sure the undersides of the wood chips have a chance to dry out as well. Once all the pieces have dried, you have your very own source of cedar mulch to adorn your lawn!

Making your own cedar mulch may be a fun activity, but perhaps you’re looking for a more professional approach. Call your local lawn care company and ask about their mulching services.

Ever wonder what to do with those scraps of food that shouldn’t go down the disposal, but create a terrible smell if left in the garbage for more than a day? Or perhaps you’re looking to enhance the growth of your landscape plants in a more natural and cost-effective manner? Lawn care experts recommend using your kitchen waste to make your own all-organic mulch.

The first step in this journey toward a more eco-friendly way to fertilize your Atlanta lawn and landscape is by choosing the right type of composter. Many Atlanta lawn care experts recommend using worm bins. Filling the bin with live worms, your kitchen waste will be broken down by the worms and voila! You have a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your Atlanta lawn and landscape! Using a worm bin is also beneficial because you can keep it inside your home if you wish for easy access. The only rule when it comes to worm bins is to not leave it in direct sunlight.

If you’re not sure how to use a worm bin or where to get the materials (or the worms), check with your community’s Department of Water and Power; they may offer worm bins as well as instructions on how to use them.

So what can you throw in the worm bin? The ingredients that make up worm bin mulch can range from fruit and vegetable rinds and pieces to most Atlanta lawn and landscape debris, according to Atlanta lawn care experts. So instead of throwing your kitchen scraps in the trash, or even to the dog, think about creating your own personal brand of all-organic mulch.

If making your own mulch is too much of a hassle but you still want to bring a more organic approach to fertilizing your Atlanta lawn or landscape, call your local Atlanta lawn care company and ask about their organic fertilization program.

Leyland Cyprus trees are generally resilient to most insect infestations because they are coniferous trees. Many insects prefer to nest and feed off of deciduous trees, however not all of them. One such Atlanta pest is the spider mite. Pest control experts say spider mites are one of the top tree Atlanta pests that can have a serious and damaging effect on the Leyland Cyprus tree. Thankfully, with the help of professional Atlanta pest control specialists, you can protect your tree from the negative effects of this insect.

According to Atlanta pest control authorities, spider mites have proven, along with bagworms, to be one of the most difficult insects to control. Since spider mites have been an irritant for Leyland Cyprus trees for so long, they have developed immunity to many of the different Atlanta pest control treatments that had been used to eliminate these destructive insects. Spider mites pierce the tree with their mouths and suck out the sap (which is essentially the life force of the tree), resulting in discolored needles. If spider mites are allowed to feed without interruption, the needles will ultimately turn brown, die and fall off.

Spider mites can be a death sentence to the Leyland Cyprus, so it is important to have qualified Atlanta pest control experts help you get populations under control as soon as possible. Pest control authorities do not favor the use of insecticides because other beneficial bugs will also be killed when the insecticide is applied. It is important to allow spider mite predators such as ladybugs to remain on the tree and create a natural Atlanta pest control solution. For this reason, miticides are the recommended solution to heavy spider mite infestations.

To learn more about keeping your Leyland Cyprus safe from unwanted Atlanta pests, call your local Atlanta pest control company.

Insect activity is a serious problem for Leyland Cyprus trees, according to Atlanta pest control experts. Because this tree is a conifer and not a deciduous tree, it makes it an uninviting host for most insects. However, it is not altogether out of harm’s way when it comes to insects. Bagworms and spider mites are two of the most menacing bugs. Their presence can cause discoloration, defoliation and sometimes even death if they are left untreated and allowed to continually feed and breed on and within the Leyland Cypruss.

Bagworms are a real problem because with each generation, the infestation becomes larger and larger. A female bagworm lays between 500 and 1,000 eggs before she dies. When the bagworm larvae emerge, they either remain on the host tree or they will spin a silken thread and “fly” to a nearby tree or plant. Because of their ability to transfer to other plants, bagworms not only pose a threat to the Leyland Cyprus, but to all nearby trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, only a few generations of bagworms can annihilate an entire landscape. While the larvae cocoon in the bags they create, they feed on the surface of the leaves, stripping the leaf of its epidermis, or the skin of the leaf.

As they develop into caterpillars, entire branches of the Leyland Cyprus can become completely defoliated. Pest control experts say it is easier to control bagworm infestations by manually removing the bags they form in the early spring or fall before the larvae have hatched. However, if the Leyland Cyprus is too large for this to take place, the tree can be sprayed with an effective insecticide to eliminate current populations. If the bagworms have already hatched, they are more difficult to control with sprays, which makes preventative care so important.

Call your local Atlanta pest control authority for more information on protecting the Leyland Cyprus from bagworms.

Mowing might seem like the simplest of Atlanta lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your Atlanta lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your Atlanta lawn. Here are some Atlanta lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.

Most Atlanta lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.

Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the Atlanta lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your Atlanta lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.

Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your Atlanta lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your Atlanta lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.

If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local Atlanta lawn care professionals.

Anyone who is an animal owner probably knows that dogs and cats will eat the strangest things – including bugs. In fact, in my house, if there’s a fly, all I have to do is alert my cat to this fact (if he isn’t already on the job) and he will flit about the house until he catches that fly with his paw and quickly maneuver the insect into his mouth where he happily chews this buzzing treat. It’s gross, but honestly, I have no problem with it.

Letting our pets do our bug hunting for us is an all-too-easy task and you may not see any harm in the habit. In most cases, you both win – you get rid of the bug and the pet gets an apparently tasty snack. However, we may not consider that these insects could be hazardous to our furry friends.

If you or your neighbors have your Atlanta lawn or landscape treated by a Atlanta pest control company, there may be areas where you need to keep your family pet away from so he doesn’t come into contact with the chemicals. But what if insects that have had contact with the treated plants get into your home? They may have remnants of the Atlanta pest control spray on them which could pose a serious threat to a cat or dog if ingested.

If your yard is being treated by a Atlanta pest control company, you may want to ask about child- and pet-friendly applications. If those aren’t available, take steps to ensure your pet stays away from the area and for the time being, and dissuade them when possible from eating insects. This might mean you’ll actually have to do the bug-squashing yourself and your pup or kitty might get angry that you took away the hunt, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

During the winter we prepare for harsh weather by piling on layers of clothing and wearing heavy coats, gloves, hats and scarves; unfortunately, not many people think about how the living things in their yards and gardens react to the cold.  Trees and shrubs are vulnerable to cold weather just like we are.  If new growth in the early  Fall doesn’t have enough time to harden off, experts say the sudden drop in temperatures can create ice crystals that can rupture cell walls, resulting in dead branch tips and branches.

Officials at a state cooperative extension service say one of the biggest problems for trees and shrubs is the sharp temperature change from day into night during the winter.  They say that dramatic change can actually freeze the water in the trunks of trees, causing them to explode or split open.  That reaction is called frost cracking.  Sometimes these cracks can close when warm weather returns, if the damage isn’t that severe.  Many shrubs can suffer from something similar, called bark split.  Extension service officials say those particularly susceptible are many cultivars of evergreen azaleas.  In most cases plants close over the cracks with no treatment necessary.

During this winter there are some things you can do to protect your trees and shrubs.  You can wrap the trunks with burlap strips or commercial tree wrap.  Experts also recommend painting the trunks white or shading them with a board to prevent bark splitting.  These methods reflect sunlight and reduce temperature fluctuations, like the buildup of heat during the day, that cause splitting.  All wraps should be removed after one season to stop insect or moisture damage.