Archive for April, 2011

28 Apr

I have a peach tree in my yard…

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Fruit Trees, Tree Care, Trees. Tagged: , .

Question:

I have a peach tree in my yard covered in white flies is this going to kill my tree and will I be able to eat the fruit this year?

Answer:

They will almost certainly reduce the crop. The flies should be killed before they deposit eggs which will become larvae and attack the tree.

A plant oil insecticide will kill them and leave the fruit safe to eat.

Make sure the ground under and around the tree is free from dead leaves and other decaying debris. Don’t over mulch and definitely don’t make a volcano pile of mulch around your trees. Never let mulch touch your trees.

23 Apr

Indian Meal Moths

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Carpet Beetles, Indian Meal Moths, Pantry Pests. Tagged: , , .

Question:

My friend was helping me do some cooking and  opened up a container of curry powder and there were tiny insects inside. The date was good on the packaging.  Are they carpet beetles? My friend said they can attack any dried foods, also clothing and dried flowers. Is this true and where do they come from?

Answer:

They are probably not carpet beetles but the larvae of the good old Indian Meal Moth. They are certainly found in all sorts of dry goods especially pastas, pet food, bird seed and so on. The larvae are the things which cause the damage. The adults are moths which tend to fly around the home. They have usually laid their eggs (up to 300) by the time you see the adults. The trick here is to kill the eggs before they develop; so, if possible keep your dry goods in sealed containers in the fridge or at least the coolest place possible. Now, Carpet beetles are another story; there are many varieties with names like carpet beetle, larder beetle, leather beetle etc., They can cause a lot of damage not only to rugs and carpets but pretty much any natural material. They often feed on dead rodents. I come across them in attics, most often when something has died there.

Identification is the key. Send or bring a sample to our office or call for a free inspection. If you have or suspect you have any of these bugs don’t ignore them.

20 Apr

Tree Feeding

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Fertilizer, Organic Gardening, Tree Care, Tree Feeding, Trees. Tagged: .

Question:

Last weekend my neighbor put fertilizer around his trees, he said that as the ground was wet the fertilizer would soak in and be there ready for the trees when they start to grow. Is this correct?

Answer:

In general, trees should be fed only if the soil is deficient in nutrients, without a soil test no-one can tell what the trees need.

Putting fertilizer down now is a waste of money and damaging to the environment. Most of the synthetic fertilizers are highly soluble in water and therefore will just wash away before the soil temperature rises and the microorganisms in the soil have a chance to break them down. So don’t waste your time and money.

Wait until bud break and feed according to needs up until leaf fall. Organic fertilizers do not break down as easily as synthetics and are therefore more effective but even the organics should not be used until the soil temperature is above 55 degrees.

Using too much fertilizer can actually damage trees by osmosis, nutrients can literally be sucked out of the tree cells. and opportunities occur for insect invasion.

19 Apr

I would like to buy organic plants…

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Chemical Insecticides, Chemicals, Organic, Organic Gardening, Organic Plants. Tagged: , .

Question:

I am putting in a vegetable garden this year, I would like to buy organic plants but they are more expensive. If I did buy the non organic ones and washed them before use, would the chemical disappear?

Answer:

Great question! Many chemicals that are applied to the soil are often systemic insecticides which means they work inside the plant structure itself. Washing the fruit or vegetables will remove surface chemicals but not those in the plant’s structure. Did you know that statistically every child in the United States has pesticides in their blood. Yes organic foods do cost more but that’s a supply and demand problem. Increase the amount you buy and the prices will balance out.

You can now buy organic apples for about the same price as conventional ones.

16 Apr

I have a snake in my basement…

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Snakes. Tagged: , .

Question:

I have a snake in my basement I can see where he is getting in, but I do not want to block him inside. I  cannot leave him down there but have no idea how to get him out?

Answer:

I love this method, take an old pillow case, wet it with water and wring it out until it’s damp. lay it flat on the basement floor and prop the open end up with a small stick, leaving just enough space for the snake to crawl inside. Inspect the pillow case regularly, if you are lucky you should be able to see the snake coiled up inside. Just pick up the pillow case and take the snake outside and set it free. Be sure you block up all entrance points and use a good repellent to stop the snake coming back. Again if you don’t want to handle snakes call me. By the way according to the RI DEM there are no poisonous snakes in Rhode Island.

15 Apr

Do I have termites…?

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Bug Identification, Termites, Termiticide, Wood Damage, Wood Destroyers. Tagged: , , .

Question:

The previous owners of my home had termites issues and had several treatments for this, I have noticed I have small tunnels in my basement and garage, should I just break them up so they cannot live in these?

Answer:

Don’t break them up until you have someone inspect them. Some treatments work better than others. We treat the wood with borates so the wood is permanently unavailable as a food source. Termites just don’t go away. You really have to be vigilant, remember an inspection is free of charge and obligation. Tubes are a very good warning sign, if you see them don’t ignore them. Many of the popular termite treatments are only effective while you pay the monthly service charge. A permanent treatment is safer and much more effective.

13 Apr

Can I prevent ticks from coming into my yard?

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Ticks. Tagged: , .

Question:

At the end of our yard there is a wooded area is there anything we can do to prevent ticks from coming onto my yard?

Answer:

Yes, the area between the wood and your lawn is know as the ecotone which is the transition area between differing types of landscapes e.g. forest and field. Ticks need the protection and use of scrubby plants so they hang out waiting for prey in these areas.  Very few ticks actually live on your lawn, less than 2% of the population. Treating the above mentioned areas with super safe plant oils will ensure the tick population is sufficiently reduced to help make your yard a safer place to enjoy. Treatment should be done in early Spring.

12 Apr

My husband suffers with allergies…

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Allergies. Tagged: , .

Question:

My husband suffers with allergies we have so many leaves fallen and he rakes and bags all the leaves, the following day he cannot stop sneezing, he loves to read your articles and maybe you would be able to give some advice.

Answer:

I’m glad that he likes my articles. Sometimes you may have to use some tough love. Insist that he wears a mask and safety glasses. Keep on his case until he does. The glasses will help prevent dust from irritating his eyes and the mask will cut down on inhaling the same stuff. He can come and rake my leaves if he likes and I will supply the mask and glasses.

12 Apr

I have bed bugs…

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Bed Bugs, Bug Identification, Bugs. Tagged: .

Question:

When I went to make my bed there were bed bugs on my sheets, I was horrified my home is clean and I change the bedding every week. I have been sleeping on my sofa since this has happened and I am scared to get back into bed.

Answer:

Don’t panic! They may be bed bugs and you must ensure a positive identification before any treatment is carried out.

Here are some rules:

Bag and remove all bedding  and wash in soapy water.

DO NOT remove anything else from the bedroom. You risk carrying eggs through the house.

Don’t use store bought pesticides this job is for professionals, just spraying will not get rid of the problem.

Do not use the affected room until treated.

I am sure your house is clean but bed bugs don’t care. Have you or any family members stayed in a hotel or elsewhere recently? They must have been brought in some way.

I feel that a lot of blame should go to the imported furniture we are so used to getting. Have you had any new furniture?  Call me and I will inspect and identify the problem free of any charge.

11 Apr

Hanging branches…

Posted by pestcontrolblogs in Tree Care, Tree Pruning, Trees. Tagged: .

Question:

I was walking around our yard last week and since our snow fall we have a lot of hanging branches that look ready to fall down should we start cutting the tree back or is it too early in the season?

Answer:

Good job! This is a great way to prevent accidents and protect your home. If a branch is broken, loose or damaged it could fall and cause damage to property or worse to a family member. I know it’s not possible for everyone to walk around outside in the snow so call me if you need help.

We had several large branches at our home that needed to be removed. They could have caused serious damage and injury.

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