Advanced Pest & Weed Management Blog

Protecting your home and your property is important. When you think of keeping your home safe, there are a handful of security measures that probably come to mind first: Alarm systems Security cameras Smart doorbells Security sensors Smart locks Locking your doors in general Most of us think of invaders that are going to break down your door and shatter a window so that they can steal your valuables. What about the invaders that you are not expecting? What about trespassers that invade the parts of your home that you can’t see? The first lines of defense that you need to have at your home should be for protection from the invaders that are invisible to the eye, or at least at first. The ones that could potentially cause hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage to your home. The Value in Keeping Your Yard Pest Proof If you haven’t started...

What can spread disease, ruin your belongings and make people climb on a table? Rodents! Mice and rats are the most common rodent pests in peoples’ homes, and they can be a real pain. Rodents are looking for two things in your home: food and shelter. During cold weather, they will do whatever they can to get into your house and stay warm. Unsealed trash, crumbs and open food also draw in rodents. If you think you may have a rodent problem, keep reading for some tell-tale signs. Droppings Rodent droppings are small, brown and cylindrical. They can carry disease, so be careful to sweep them up and clean thoroughly if you find them. Droppings are generally found near food and water sources. Gnaw marks Look for teeth marks near food or water sources. Mice and rats will chew through cloth or plastic to get to food. They will also chew...

Pests are annoying to deal with anywhere in the world; however, people living in desert climates have a unique set of problems when it comes to pest control. Because of the different temperatures and humidity levels in desert climates compared to other environments, many species of pests are able to thrive and multiply at a much higher rate which is bad news for anyone living in these regions. Here is a quick guide to some of the more common pests you will find if you decide to take a drive to some of the drier places of the world. Cockroaches One of the most common pests anywhere in the world is the cockroach. While you can find them in most places, they are especially plentiful in desert-like areas such as Texas and New Mexico. One species of cockroach thrives in these areas more than any other, a cockroach known as the...

Advance Pest and Weed Management, servicing the New Mexico area, understands that homeowners enjoy being able to be proactive in their pest and rodent management. In our service area, rodents can be a large problem, so it only makes sense for individuals to be interested in traps they can place around their homes and businesses in order to help deter an infestation from happening. Whichever method you use, be sure to keep all rodent traps, baited or not, out of reach from small children and pets. Always handle these devices with gloves, and practice good sanitary methods such as washing your hands thoroughly after touching any rodent trap. Outdoor Placement Rodent Traps Homeowners have several options when it comes to placing traps outside to help deter the entry of rats to their homes. These include: Ultrasonic mouse traps. These traps work by emitting a frequency that is intended to deter the...

Understanding the type of rodent you have in your home is key; the way you fight the problem might be completely different if you are fighting a mouse or rat. Determining the difference can come down to the rodent’s features and characteristics, including behavior, habitats and feeding. The different rodents also require different pest control tactics too. Differences in Physical Appearances The physical differences of mice and rats include size, shape, color and body parts. A general guideline for determining what type of rodent you have in your home is: Attribute Mouse Norway Rat Size Smaller - generally around 4 inches Larger - approximately 6 - 8 inches Weight Around 5 ounces Around 11 ounces Color Brown body with grey shading Brown body with black shading Ears Large ears Short ears with dark hair Nose/snout Pointed Non-pointed Tail Color Dark Dark on top and pale underneath Head Smaller than body Proportioned...

Most health experts agree that the spread of bed bugs has become an epidemic. As more people begin to experience the effects of bed bugs, widespread paranoia increases as well. However, instead of panicking, the best defense against bed bugs is to understand them and how they behave. Here are five myths about bed bugs which should be corrected. Bed Bugs Only Live in Beds. Given their name, many people assume that bed bugs only live in beds. However, bed bugs can be found in couches, clothes and carpets, as well as in movie theatres, taxis and offices. People often assume that bed bugs only live in beds because the bed is where bed bugs bite the most, but bed bugs can hide nearly anywhere. Bed Bugs Are Invisible. Bed bugs are sometimes thought of as microscopic organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Actually, bed bugs, though small,...

Rodents, insects and a host of other pests are well known for invading homes and offices, causing damage to property and even disease. But these nuisances are not satisfied with infesting only homes and office spaces. They can also be found in places more removed from civilization. In New Mexico and West Texas, those places include oil fields that supply much of our domestic energy. As when these pests invade homes and offices, they also cause problems when they infest oil fields. However, while there are many similarities between pest control in the home or office and pest control in oil fields, there are also significant differences. These differences must be taken into account in order to effectively manage pests where oil is pumped from the ground. Environmental Factors Oil fields are outdoor locations that are not tended in the same way that the yards of homes or grounds of office...

Most people experience bee stings on occasion and don't know what they should do to reduce the pain and swelling. If you want to decrease the pain and discomfort of a bee sting as much as possible, knowing the right steps to take is vital. You will then be able to address the problem and minimize the effects that bee venom will have on your body, and the results will please you as long as you use a proven plan. How Bee Stings Work Learning how bee stings work is a good place from which to start, setting the foundation for the information you are about to learn. Most bees only sting when they feel threatened or when you pose a risk to the hive. Bees have barbed stingers that can break off and stick in your skin after they attack, and the stinger will continue injecting venom into your body....

Lawn care is a critical part of any comprehensive pest control plan, and this includes weed management systems. Weeds can attract the type of pests that serve as a food supply for larger ones, so it is critical that you address this particular problem with professioanl weed control services. Consider the following common fall weeds that can grow in your yard: Dandelions: Many people remain unaware that the dandelion is a weed. This particular weed appears to have a form that is similar to a flower, but it is capable of destroying the soil. Although this weed is edible during the early stages, it should never be consumed if pesticides are used in the area. Crabgrass: This is a weed that is common during the early part of the fall. It thrives in hot temperatures, and it will tend to fare better in dry areas where the humidity is relatively low....

You may wonder what to do when you find a beehive on your property. First, take a deep breath and relax. Do not remove or destroy a beehive. Finding a beehive does not justify having a nervous breakdown. Bees are useful and necessary creatures that pollinate apples, peaches and other natural food products. Next, try to ascertain the species. If you are convinced that honeybees built the hive, contact a local beekeeper for immediate assistance. A beekeeper may even remove the hive for free. Here are a few useful tips about how to deal with other types of beehives located on your property: Determine the Entry Point Bees living inside your house present a problem. Try to find out how they invaded your home. After you determine their entry point, restrain yourself from the temptation to prevent other bees from entering the hive. Otherwise, the mischievous bees may decide to build...

As winter's gloom begins to fade away, your yard and garden will begin to come back into their full splendor. However, weeds can also begin sprouting up in your yard as temperatures begin to warm and spring rains spur new growth. Left unchecked, these weeds will spread throughout your yard, choking out the rest of your plants and marring your yard's appearance. Before weeds can establish themselves, it's important to take preventative measures to keep weeds out of your yard. Regular Lawn Care Keeps Weeds in Check Weeds are fast-growing invasive plants, but regular lawn care can prevent them from growing out of hand. Keeping your grass cut short will force weeds to spend extra energy re-growing their stems and leaves, reducing their ability to spread across your lawn. Reseeding any bare patches in your yard will reduce the opportunity for weed seeds to gain a foothold in your yard, and...

Oil fields often require specialized pest-control services. Our experienced professionals understand that oil fields have unique requirements for pest prevention and maintenance. These fields are often adjacent to areas where there are homes, yards, gardens and vacant properties. This means that there will be a wide variety of pests near the oil rigs. Pests can easily travel from these adjacent areas into the main oil field where the work is taking place. Advanced Pest and Weed Management offers unique solutions to meet the needs of oil field managers who need effective pest control. Common Pests on Oil Fields There are a variety of pests that may appear around an oil field. These critters are known for their ability to infest large areas of terrain, and the small insects often attract larger animals into the area. Weeds and vacant lots often become home to a variety of subterranean insects and other pests...

Pests can present serious problems for business owners. Customers can be chased away when they find pests in a business establishment, and they may share their negative experiences with other people in online reviews. Federal and state regulators can cite safety concerns to force a business to close its doors until pests are eliminated. Employees might quit their jobs when they find pests in the workplace. Pests can also accelerate equipment depreciation and lead to the termination of lease agreements. Business owners should, therefore, understand how pest control can help to minimize risk and avoid losses. Pests Can Lead to Losing Customers Seeing a pest can be a traumatic experience for many people. Customers who do not have experience with pests will react with strong emotions if they see a pest inside your business establishment. The strong negative emotions that people associate with pests can lead to a negative perception of...

Rodents may not have invaded your living areas yet, but they could be lurking somewhere nearby on your property. Residential yards make great homes and hiding spots for field mice and other rodents. They can hide out in discarded tires, old kids' toys and clutter around the garage. If you want to keep rodents off your property, don't ignore the most obvious places. 3 Places to Find Rodents at Home Trash Bins Rodents enjoy raiding trash bins to get at the discarded food inside. They also steal pieces of trash and use it to help form their shelters and nests. Always keep the lids on your trash bins to prevent luring rodents into your yard. It's also a good idea to put up a protective cage around the bins to keep out cats, dogs and wildlife. Old Debris People often pile up wood, tires and other debris around their home. Over...

If you see a bee hive on your property, the best thing that you can do is to leave it alone and let a pest control company get it down. You usually won't know for sure if there are bees inside or how many bees are inside if they are swarming around it until it's opened. If you knock the hive down, all of the bees will begin to swarm and could attack you. Advanced Pest can come to your home with the proper tools to safely remove the hive and eliminate the bees so that you are not harmed. When you suspect that there is a hive on your property, you need to find out where it's located so that you can keep everyone away from it, especially children and pets. Don't let anyone play around and try to knock it down because this could aggravate the bees even more....

Advanced Pest and Weed provides customers with excellence and professionalism in all aspects of our lawn care. Our clients frequently have questions about the relationship between the condition of the lawn and the risk of a pest infestation. The professionals at our company are experienced and qualified in every aspect of lawn care. This can be performed while you are currently at the residence, or it can be scheduled at your convenience when you are out of town. This is an excellent method to use when you are entertaining guests or preparing your home to be sold on the open market. Lawn Maintenance Maintaining a lawn is essential for property owners and businesses, but it can also affect the quality of life for residential customers as well. Weeds and other plants can attract unwanted pests, for example. This can become difficult to control if the situation is not resolved in a...

Maintaining your lawn takes time and effort. Keeping it beautiful takes regular watering, fertilizing and weed control. If you have trouble with weeds in your yard, it might indicate an underlying problem with the turf. Advanced Pest & Weed Management has a few reasons why you might consider weed control when the weeds in your yard have completely grown out of control. 3 Reasons Why You Need Professional Weed Control They just won't die. You need professional weed control if you treat the weeds and they never die. You may be using the wrong product or trying a do-it-yourself method from an online source. Some weeds are resistant to certain herbicide formulas. In addition, some products may require a surfactant or an adjuvant for effective results. If you're not trained in weed control, you might be fighting an uphill battle. They come back in the same spot. You also need weed...

Advanced Pest and Weed control offers customers a unique and important service for the holidays. Our company understands that the holidays are a great opportunity for people to spend quality time with family and friends, but this festive mood can be undermined if there are pests present. We offer a great service for this occasion. In addition to preparing the area for the event, you will also have to make sure that the party area is clean afterwards as well. This will require a great deal of attention at a time when the hosts and guests are tired and sleepy. We created a special service that allows our customers to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with adequate pest control in the cleanup phase of your outdoor party. Pest Control & Party Cleanup Our company hires only the most seasoned professionals who understand how to clean up after these holiday...

Whether weeds invade a lawn, farmland or grazing pastures, they can be a frustrating sight to behold. Because weeds tend to be quite adaptable and adept at surviving, they can be difficult to eradicate. Fortunately, not every weed can thrive in New Mexico and Southwest Texas; unfortunately, there are several that are extremely common. Black Medic Black medic is also known by many other names, including hop clover, nonesuch, black clover, blackweed, hop medic and black hay. Mature plants can reach heights of as much as 32 inches. Each leaf consists of three toothy, hairy leaflets that are oval in shape. The flowers are yellow and small, seldom measuring more than one-third inch in diameter. Black medic produces a small fruit that turns black and hard when ripe. Because it is a hardy weed that thrives in a variety of soils and weather conditions, black medic can be difficult to eradicate...

Termites can wreak havoc on your home’s structure before you even know that you have a problem. If you see one termite, you probably have more lurking behind the walls of your property in New Mexico or Texas. Spotting early signs of termite damage can help you prevent bigger complications down the road. Seeing Swarmers Termite swarmers tend to come out in the spring. If they’ve invaded your home, they may fly near your windows and drop their wings on the sill. This can happen after a warm rain. It may also occur indoors in the winter. You might also spy a termite stuck in a spider web. It’s easy to confuse termites with flying ants. If you can capture one of the insects, you can bring it to us for identification. Floor Damage Termites that have invaded a property can damage the subflooring. The destruction may not be evident because...