Affordable Exterminators & Handyman Services

07/04/2024

06/28/2024

14 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
from The Family Handyman

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/plants-that-repel-mosquitoes/

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Give Affordable a call at 804-744-3835.

Relaxing outside is one of the many pleasures of the summer season, but we don’t want quality patio or porch time interrupted by flying insects buzzing around or landing in a cool drink. Is there a way for everyone to enjoy the outdoor time without mosquitoes?

The answer is in the plants you have in your outdoor space planted in containers or tucked into the landscape in your yard. Many plants contain natural repellents for buzzing visitors to keep them away from your food and guests as you enjoy the outdoor season.

Citronella - Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) has a distinctive citrus scent that mosquitoes will avoid.

Eucalyptus - The eucalyptus plant interferes with the sense of smell of a mosquito, which will deter them from being around your yard and garden space.

Lavender - Lavender (Lavandula) is known for being a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant for the garden landscape.

Peppermint - Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is a hearty grower that thrives in the summer heat. However, mosquitoes don’t want to be around it, which makes it a helpful plant for controlling bugs near outdoor spaces.

Mojito Mint - This perennial herb has oval green leaves that are harvested from late spring to early fall, and you can try it in delicious dishes and drinks as a bonus.

Basil - To repel mosquitoes, the leaves can be crushed and used in a spray. The potent aroma of the plant’s essential oils turns off mosquitoes.

Marigold - Marigolds (Tagetes) are garden-friendly additions that help deter insects and other pests.

Lantana - The leaves contain aromatic compounds that are released in the summer heat that mosquitoes prefer to avoid.

Bee Balm - They are an attractive presence that catches the eye, and the strong scent of bee balm keeps mosquitoes from coming around.

Lemongrass - The natural citronella oil found in lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is an effective mosquito repellent with the citrus scent of lemon it lends to the air. Crush up some of the leaves and rub it on your skin.

Rosemary - The herb is favored for its essential oil aroma, which is a pleasantly scented repellent to mosquitoes.

Parsley and Cilantro - Both plants give off scents that will work to ward off mosquitoes.

Allium - The onion scent of allium is favored by gardeners to keep away mosquitoes.

Lemon balm - Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a perennial plant with a lemony scent and a hint of mint. It is a perfect natural option for preventing mosquitoes.

06/21/2024

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House and Yard
from The Family Handyman

Need help from a professional? Give Affordable a call - 804-744-3835

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/how-to-get-rid-of-ants/

Here's how to get rid of ants, including natural ant repellents, ant prevention tips and ant bait and killer spray recommendations.

Start by identifying the type of ant in your house so you can find out how to get rid of ants, their nesting habits and have a better idea of where they're living (they may be nesting outdoors).

Sometimes the solution to an ant problem is getting rid of their nest. If you're dealing with carpenter ants, which can do structural damage to your house, it's vital that you wipe them out ASAP.

When you see an ant, your first impulse is probably to step on it. But don't. You'll kill it, but for every ant you see, there may be hundreds more hiding in the house. The ones you see are scout ants, foraging for food to take back to the colony. Use these scouts to wipe out the entire colony. Prebait ants in areas you've previously seen them.

Where you see one ant, you're bound to see others. That's because ants leave a scented trail that other ants follow. Sweeping or mopping isn't enough to eliminate the scent. Instead, mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water in a spray bottle for a safe way to get rid of ants in the home, then spray wherever you've seen ants in the past.

Once you've set out toxic ant bait, expect to see lots of ants (initially). That's a good thing. It means more ants are taking the bait (which is toxic) back to the colony where they'll share it with the rest of the ants, including the queen, and kill them.

If you only have ants in a certain area, like along your sidewalk, spot-treat the area with an outdoor insecticide. Liquid or granules work fine as a way to get rid of ants. For large-scale ant problems on how to get rid of ants, use a lawn and garden insect killer that contains bifenthrin as the active ingredient.

05/31/2024

Looking for a new career that doesn't require sitting in a cubicle at a desk? We are hiring a Pest Control Tech. Feel free to share with anyone who may be interested in joining the Affordable Exterminators team!

05/17/2024

8 Projects Realtors Recommend Before Showing a House
Article Highlights from The Family Handyman

1 - Declutter
“When I meet with a potential seller, my priority is typically decluttering the space,” says Katy Barry, a Realtor in Massachusetts. “If the seller doesn’t make a concerted effort to remove clutter, buyers have a hard time actually seeing the home.”

2 - Thorough Cleaning
“A house should ‘sparkle’ before a showing,” says Paul Tourville, a Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) broker with Canon Real Estate. “I’ll recommend a cleaning person to come in and do a deep cleaning. It’s well worth the money.”

3 - Minor Drywall Repair
As a registered contractor, I often help customers ready their homes for sale. There’s almost always some drywall that needs fixing. Even if it’s small, a hole in drywall looks bad and signals a lack of maintenance by the homeowner.

4 - Clean Wall-to-Wall Carpets
Clean carpets eliminate odors and allergens, creating a more inviting and comfortable environment that’s more likely to appeal to prospective buyers.

5 - Touch Up or Repaint Problem Walls
“I tell [sellers] to focus on small projects like touching up paint on walls and woodwork,” Barry says. “Paint goes a long way in freshening up a home.” She’s not alone; 57 to 58 percent of Realtors recommend this project to their sellers.

6 - Remove Personal Items
“I tell people to take all pictures off the refrigerator and the walls, which people struggle with sometimes,” Tourville says. “I tell them it helps people picture themselves living there and helps a space look less cluttered.”

7 - Improve Landscaping
A well-maintained and attractive outdoor space signals to potential buyers the property has been cared for, potentially increasing its desirability. “The outside of the house is the first thing people see when they drive up,” Tourville says. “It’s crucial to a buyer’s first impression.”

8 - Regrout Shower
Regrouting or touching up grout improves the cleanliness and appearance of a bathroom while preventing potential water damage and mold issues. Shower grout that’s clean and in good condition doesn’t raise concerns of lurking mold or water issues.

05/11/2024

Will the Cicadas Eat Your Plants?
Article Highlights from the Family Handyman

Cicadas create holes in small branches and twigs, in which they lay their eggs. This can harm young deciduous trees, plus create cosmetic damage.

“It can kill the small twigs and leaves at the end of branches, causing flagging [breaking] of foliage in the canopy,” says Daniel A. Herms, Vice President of Research and Development at The Davey Tree Expert Company. “Tufts of dead foliage may appear alarming, but this light pruning of a relatively small number of twigs has minimal impact on healthy, mature plants.”

However, cicadas typically leave mature trees and most herbaceous plants alone, including garden plants and fruit. They also do not lay eggs in shrubs, grasses or wildflowers, nor do the nymphs feeding underground pose a threat to plant health.

Cicadas are part of the order Hemiptera, while locusts are grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera. They differ in anatomy, behavior and lifecycle. “Locusts refers to certain species of grasshoppers that form swarms, large groups that fly around to find vegetation to consume,” says Jennifer Hopwood, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Locusts are generally more destructive to plants, and are especially damaging to crops, whereas cicadas are not generally considered a major plant pest.