Watch Out for those 'Mitey' Chiggers!

The days are long, warm and beautiful, which means you and your family are likely spending a lot of time enjoying the outdoors! Well... 'enjoying' is a relative term when you factor in those pesky itchy chiggers chewing up your legs and midsection. And, man can those little pests put a damper in your summer fun! This week, A B Pest Control & Insulation wants to share with you some information about chiggers, how they find their hosts, and even how to relieve the itching once you've been bitten. Take a look:

What is a Chigger?
Chiggers are tiny larvae members of the arachnid family and are sometimes called red bugs. Adult chiggers don't bite. It's the babies, called larvae, that you have to watch out for. They're red, orange, yellow, or straw-colored, and no more than 0.3 millimeters long. Chiggers live in tall weeds and grass, in berry patches, and in wooded areas. They are most active on spring, summer and fall afternoons, when temperatures are warm and inviting.

Chigger mites typically infest human skin by latching onto your clothes as you walk by and brush up against the vegetation they live on. They migrate to the skin in search of an optimal feeding area. One common myth about chiggers is that they burrow into and remain inside the skin. This is not true. The irritating itching is actually a result of the enzymes in the chigger's saliva. Chiggers insert their feeding structures, called the stylostome, into the skin and inject enzymes that cause some of the cells in your skin to break down into liquid form that they can ingest. If they are not disturbed they may feed through the stylostome for a few days.

Preventing and Relieving Chigger Bites
The best way to prevent being bitten is to shower after outdoor activity to remove any chiggers that may be migrating to the skin from your clothing. It's also important to wash any clothing clothing that was worn outdoors in hot water to kill any chiggers remaining on the clothing.

If you do get bit, don't fall for the false remedies of rubbing nail polish or bleach on the bites. As stated earlier, chiggers do not burrow into your skin, so these 'remedies' will not help. Instead, use these simple tips to help relieve the itching associated with chigger bites:

• Take a cool shower or apply cool compresses
• Sit in a cool bath or get in the pool
• Use bath products that contain colloidal oatmeal
• Use over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as calamine lotion, corticosteroid creams, and oral antihistamines. 

The best and quickest way to relieve the itch is to not scratch. Yes, we know. Easier said than done, but the more you scratch, the more you irritate the bite and the longer it takes to heal. If you do continue to scratch, the bites could become infected, so notify your doctor if you have swelling, fever, or other signs of infection.

Get Rid of Chiggers Once and For All
If you've got a chigger infestation in your yard, you may be in for a long miserable summer. Rather than just dealing with the itchy little pests, count on your favorite pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks to treat your lawn and get rid of your chigger problem once and for all! Once your lawn is chigger free, you and the family will be able to continue to enjoy the beautiful outdoors this summer without the itchy bumps and bites.

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Gifts to get Dad for Father’s Day

Father's Day is quickly approaching! If you're spending this day celebrating Dad at the Lake of the Ozarks, there are some great Father's Day activities taking place around the Lake. A B Pest Control & Insulation has some great gift ideas for you to treat dad to:

Give Dad the Gift of Golf
This year, the Eldon Golf Club is hosting a 3-Person Scramble on June 16th and 17th for Father's Day! Book your dad a tee time for this special event and let him enjoy a day with friends on their beautiful 18-hole championship course!

Take Dad Out for Breakfast
The old saying goes "the quickest way to a man's heart, is through his stomach." Show dad how much you love and appreciate all he does and treat him to a delicious meal out on YOU! There are so many wonderful restaurants around the Lake of the Ozarks that serve excellent food that dad will love! For example, Captain Ron's Bar & Grill in Sunrise Beach is serving a Father's Day breakfast this Sunday from 9AM-1PM.

Treat Dad to a Kid-Free Night Out
Give the gift of laughter and treat your dad to the upcoming Rodney Carrington show this Friday evening at the Ozarks Amphitheater! Doors open at 7PM and the show starts at 9PM. If your dad is more into music instead of comedy, get him tickets for an evening with Primus with Special Guests, Mastodon and JJUUJJUU this Saturday night! Doors open at 6PM and concert starts at 7PM.

Give Dad Peace of Mind
There's no gift greater than the gift of peace of mind. Schedule pest control treatment for your dad's humble abode so he doesn't have to worry about pesky bugs and rodents ruining his summer. From pest and animal control to lawn and insulation services, we offer a wide range of services that can take the load off dad and help keep your home pest free all summer long!

Happy Father's Day
A B Pest Control & Insulation wants to wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father's Day! It's looking like it's going to be a beautiful weekend here at the Lake of the Ozarks. Make sure pests don't put a damper on the day by calling a professional Lake of the Ozarks pest control company! To schedule your appointment, call A B Pest Control & Insulation at 573-964-1100.

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What You Need to Know About Lawn Aeration

In order to achieve and maintain a beautiful lawn, A B Pest Control and Insulation truly believes that you should implement basic lawn care practices. These include properly mowing, fertilizing and watering. On top of that, it is also important that nutrients can penetrate the grass and reach the soil beneath it. Aeration can be a crucial step to making sure your lawn is healthy because it allows air and water to penetrate built-up grass or lawn thatch. The best lawn service company at the Lake of the Ozarks has put together some information to help you get your yard in tip-top shape.

What is Aeration?

Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes. These small holes allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. By doing so, it helps the roots grow deeply which then produces a stronger, more substantial lawn. The main reason for aerating is to alleviate soil compaction. When the soil is densely compacted, it prevents proper circulation of air, water and nutrients within the soil. Excess lawn thatch or heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface can also starve the roots from these necessary elements. Aeration is commonly called “core aeration” in the lawn service industry, and you may have heard of it as soil cultivation.

What are the Benefits?

Aeration can help make your lawn healthier and also reduce the maintenance requirements because of these benefits:

• Improved air exchange between the soil and atmosphere
• Enhanced soil water uptake
• Improved fertilizer use and uptake
• Reduced water runoff and puddling
• Stronger turfgrass roots
• Reduced soil compaction
• Enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance
• Improved resiliency and cushioning
• Enhanced thatch breakdown

Is Aeration Necessary?

 

Yes! Compact soil prevents grass from establishing a healthy root system and it keeps water and fertilizer from reaching the roots. Walking, playing, and mowing will compact your lawn's soil. Aeration can help relieve this soil compaction, which allows your grass to grow healthier. For most lawns, annual aeration is enough to keep the soil from becoming too compacted. For lawns with heavy use, twice a year would be ideal.  

Lawn Renovation 

Lawn renovation involves restoring a deteriorated turfgrass area. Depending on the condition of the turf, this process may be accomplished without having to establish a new lawn. The first step in lawn renovation is to correct the primary cause of turf deterioration. Things that may contribute to poor turf include:

• Drought
• Excessive shade
• Poor drainage
• Soil compaction
• Inadequate fertility
• Weed or insect infestation
• Thatch buildup
• Improper mowing
• And many others

Most of these problems can be corrected by renovation, proper turfgrass selection, and improved maintenance practices.

Every yard is different and it’s important to have a proper lawn management program that is tailored to your unique yard. A B Pest Control and Insulation has a formula for success for your lawn. The best lawn service company at the Lake of the Ozarks can evaluate your lawn’s needs and put it on a regular maintenance schedule so that it stays healthy throughout the year. If your lawn is in need of some help, visit our website or give us a call today. We would love to get your yard back on track!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

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Tips For A Healthy Spring Yard

Now that spring is here, it's time to get back into our lawn care routine. It's best to start early in order to have a lawn that is beautiful and healthy in the summer. We spend a lot of time outdoors during the warmer months, so we want to make sure our lawns are healthy enough to withstand not only the heat but also people walking across them. A B Pest Control & Insulation has 6 tips to keep in mind this spring to have a beautiful lawn you can enjoy this summer.

1. Mow Regularly

It's best to keep your lawn between 3 - 4 inches from the ground to help protect from weeds and to provide shade. Start mowing your lawn as soon as your lawn needs it and mow it as often as it takes to keep it between the 3-4 inches, which is usually about once a week. However, it's important not to cut your lawn too short either, as that could be just as damaging as letting it grow too tall.

2. Water In The Early Morning

It's best to water your lawn in the early morning, as that's when it's the coolest. While it's cool in the evenings as well, when the lawn is watered in the evenings, water droplets cling to the blades and can't evaporate, which can cause lawn disease. When water sits in the yard overnight, it's the perfect breeding ground for fungus. In addition to watering in the morning, it's best to water the lawn less, but for longer periods of time to allow the roots to grow deeply. 

3. Fertilizer 

The type of grass you have in your lawn will affect when and how you should fertilize your lawn. If you have cool-season grasses, don't heavily fertilize your lawn in the spring. This will encourage rapid tender growth that will struggle to survive the heat of the summer. If your cool-season lawn is in in bad shape, fertilize lightly in the spring with a slow-releasing fertilizer. Save the heavier feedings for fall when cool-season grasses are at their peak growing season. If you have a warm-season grass, fertilize in the late spring as soon as the lawn gets nice and green and begins to actively grow. This is usually after the last frost in April or May.

4. Use Weed Control

Both cool and warm season kinds of grass can benefit from weed control during the spring months. It's best to use a pre-emergent weed control during the spring to prevent the seeds from germinating. The best way to control weeds is to eliminate them before they start to grow.  Keeping the weeds out of your grass helps it not only look good but it keeps it healthy too. 

5. Aerate

The best time to aerate your lawn depends on the type of grass is in your yard. For warm-season grasses, it's best to aerate in the early to mid-summer. For cool-season grasses, aeration is best saved for the fall, however, it can be repeated in the springtime if the soil is extremely compacted. It's best to wait until the lawn has been mowed two or three times in the season so you know it will recover from the aeration.

6. Overeseeding

In the spring, you will need to decide if you want to focus on weed control or lawn seeding. Pre-emergent herbicides prevent grass seed from sprouting as well, so you can't do both. The herbicide usually last up to 12 weeks, which means you'll miss the spring planting season.

If your focus is on filling in bare spots or establishing a new lawn, then follow these steps depending on the type of grass you have. If you have cool-season grasses, they can be planted as soon as the temperature is in the 60s and soil temperatures are in the 50s. Plant as soon as temperatures allow the seedlings a chance to get established before the hot weather hits. Fall is typically the better time to plant cool-season grasses, so use the spring months for patching bare spots and be prepared to keep your lawn well-watered during the summer. Warm-season grasses can be planted when air temperatures are in the 70 and soil temperatures are in the 60s. It's important to make sure the danger of frost has passed. Late spring is the best time to plant warm-season grasses.

If you need help with your lawn care maintenance at the Lake of the Ozarks, A B Pest Control & Insulation is here for you. We can help you have a healthy and pest free yard. To learn more or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at 573-964-1100.

Lake of the Ozarks
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Manage Unsightly Weeds for a Healthy Lawn and Garden

Don't let ugly weeds take over your landscaping. This is the perfect time to get your yard and garden in shape and weeds cannot only be unsightly but rob your yard of its nutrients. To keep your lawn and garden looking lush throughout the season, consult a company that offers lawn services at the Lake of the Ozarks. A B Pest Control and Insulation can tailor a turf management program for any type of yard to eradicate weeds. We will discuss why weed control is critical to produce a healthy lawn:

Why Weed Control Is Important

A weed is an unwanted plant that grows basically anywhere there is dirt on your property. Dandelions and other weeds can creep up through your landscaping rock and yard giving your grass less room to grow. Weeds can spread throughout your landscape and do serious damage if not treated the right way by a professional weed control company at the Lake of the Ozarks.  

The Two Common Types of Lawn Weeds

For the most part, weeds that show up on lawns in the United States fall into two main categories: broadleaf and grassy weeds. Broadleaf weeds generally include dandelion, chickweed, purslane, and clover. While some broadleaf weeds flower like dandelions and wild violets do, they still are weeds. Grassy weeds include weeds such as crabgrass. The problem with grassy weeds is that they grow under the same conditions as regular grass does, so treating your lawn could mistakenly produce grassy weeds. This is why it is important to talk to an expert on how to eliminate grassy weeds.

Weeds Are Annual and Perennial

All weeds cannot be treated the same way. This is because they can be both annual, where the growing season is one year or less, or perennial, where the weeds come up multiple seasons. Generally speaking, annual weeds start with a seed brought into your yard by a bird or the wind. Annual weeds can grow several times during the same season. Perennial weeds are tougher to get rid of because they establish roots in your yard and can come back multiple seasons. If the roots are not removed entirely, the weeds will continue to grow.

Different Weeds Grow in Different Seasons

Different weeds grow best at different times of the year. There are literally hundreds of varieties of weeds and effective treatments could vary. Treatment will depend on the time of the year and the variety of weeds that grow during that particular season.

Let A B Pest Control and Insulation Get Rid of Your Weeds

If your lawn and garden is engulfed in dandelions and other unsightly weeds, let A B Pest Control and Insulation help you fight back. Weeds are a symptom of a more serious problem in your yard and we will develop a turf management program tailored just for your yard. Good turf management is the first step in effective, environmentally sound weed control at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Lake of the Ozarks
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Protect Your Lawn with a Fertilizer and a Pre-Emergent Lawn Care Treament

For a beautiful lawn this season and to win the war on weeds, now is the time to apply a fertilizer and pre-emergent lawn care treatment. Feeding your lawn will keep it healthy while keeping the weeds away. Timing is everything to prevent seeds from germinating. Prevention happens in the spring. Before your lawn gets engulfed in unsightly weeds, you should contact a lawn service at the Lake of the Ozarks. A B Pest Control and Insulation offers a turf management program tailored just for your lawn.

Why You Need To Fertilize Your Lawn

If you want a healthy lawn, it takes more than mowing and watering it. Fertilizer provides the proper nutrients for your lawn to grow lush and green. Optimal results occur when the fertilizer is applied accurately and evenly across your lawn. Inconsistent coverage can make your lawn grow uneven. Too much fertilization can cause havoc too. Thatch buildup can harbor large populations of insects, causing an increase in pest problems in your yard. Fertilization is generally most successful if applied using a slow release product that contains nitrogen, which is responsible for green growth and optimized health. It also reduces the risk of disease and fungus. It is best to address individual lawn care at Lake of the Ozarks, by factoring in location and the type of grass you have. 

The Benefits of a Pre-Emergent Lawn Care Treatment

You have probably spent countless hours pulling weeds or spraying weed killers from your local home improvement store. This can be frustrating, but there is a way to improve the appearance of your lawn with less hassle. A pre-emergent lawn care product should be applied in spring which will help throughout the majority of the growing season. Various weeds germinate at different times, so repeated applications of the right chemical can eliminate most of the weeds in your lawn. Below are some of the benefits:

• It stops the weeds from growing
• A minimal amount of labor is involved 
• Dealing with remaining weeds is easier
• Each successive season, the need to spray a post-emergent weed killer is lessened

Let A B Pest Control and Insulation Treat Your Lawn

A B Pest Control and Insulation can offer an evaluation to customize the best fertilizer to fit your lawn's needs. Once weeds appear in your lawn, it could indicate more serious problems in your yard. Weeds do not produce unhealthy lawns, unhealthy lawns produce weeds. We will develop a turf management program tailored just for your lawn. This is the first step in an effective, environmentally sound weed-free yard. A B Pest Control and Insulation also offers pest control services at the Lake of the Ozarks, to prevent pests from invading your plant beds and gardens. Let us help you keep your outdoor space beautiful and pest-free!

Lake of the Ozarks
Pest Control Company

Visit Our Website:
www.abpest.net

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