How Will I Know If My Home Is Infested With Termites?

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Termites can do rapid and serious damage to any home. The trick to preserving your most valuable asset lies in early diagnosis. While many newer homes are constructed with termite-resistant features, many older homes are not. So if you enjoy beautiful older homes with a lot of history and character, you’ll need to be on the look-out for the following signs of termite infestations.

Termite Damage

Termites can be found in your window frames, foundation, and door frames without you even noticing. Just about any piece of wood they find will become food. Worse still, the worker termites can chew up your wood 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They never sleep. It’s estimated that termites cause $5 billion worth of damage each year. 

Instead of looking for the termites themselves, homeowners are forced to look for signs that they were there. Catching them early ensures that the damage done to your home is kept to a minimum.

Signs Of Termite Damage

Luckily, termites leave the same kinds of signs everywhere making them fairly recognizable. Some of these include:

  • Headbanging – No, not the kind of headbanging you’ll find a Megadeth concert. Soldier termites will make noises (using their heads) to signal to the other termites that danger is afoot. Additionally, the worker termites who spend all day chewing up your wood are fairly noisy themselves. If you listen closely enough, you will be able to actually hear them destroying your home.

Incidentally, if you play loud and fast rock music, the termites will actually begin working faster. A study showed how termites keep the beat to the music and work that much harder. If you’re afraid you have a serious termite problem, it might be time to pull out Barry Manilow. 

  • Flying termites – The only termites that can fly are the reproductive termites. Termites are divided into three castes with one queen. You have your workers, your soldiers, and your reproductive termites. Once you start seeing reproductive termites flying around, you have a problem. These are the guys who establish new colonies. That means that the colony inside your home is doing so well, it’s about to give birth to another colony.

Scientists have discovered all-female termite colonies in Japan. These termites reproduce asexually making tiny genetic copies of their mother. 

  • Timber is flaky, papery, and hollow – Termites will consume wood from the inside on out.
  • Hard-to-open windows and doors that stick when you try to close them – Some of the signs of a termite infestation can mimic the effects of humidity. Termites create moisture when they’re eating and this results in the warping of wood fixtures.
  • Tunnels in broken wood – If a piece of wood falls of a termite-ridden home, you’ll be able to see tiny tunnels through which the termites burrow.
  • Floor damage – Termites can damage both laminate flooring and hardwood. The also like skirting boards. If you begin to see blistering there, it may be time to call in the exterminator.
  • Wall damage – You may notice cracks in your walls that weren’t there before. The termites extract the cellulose from the wood weakening the overall structural integrity.

I’ve Seen The Signs! Now What?

Termites are incredibly destructive and notoriously difficult to get rid of. However, the skilled pest technicians at Amco Ranger have decades of experience dealing with these critters. Our technicians will take a look at the current infestation and provide the means to prevent future ones. 

If termites are a major concern given your home, you can sign up for our prevention plan. This will ensure that you’re not one of the thousands of Americans each year who is contributing to the $5 billion that is spent annually to repair the damage done by termites.

Call Amco Ranger Today

You can get rid of termites in Missouri. At Amco Ranger, we provide various degrees of protection against these destructive critters. This includes making recommendations on the best way to protect your property before there is a serious termite infestation. Give us a call or talk to us online to set up your free inspection today.

Everything You Need To Know About Lawn Dethatching

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What is thatch?  

Thatch is a layer of living and dead organic matter that accumulates on a lawn between the grass and the soil surface. When a lawn begins to have a spongy feel to it, this can be a sign of excess thatch.

Thatch is composed of stem nodes, crowns, fibers of vascular tissues, and roots. About 25% of thatch is made from a compound called lignin. Lignin is resistant to decay by microorganisms and can cause thatch to build up faster than it can be broken down.

 

Is it good or bad?

Like a majority of things in life, thatch is best in moderation. A thin layer of thatch (less than ½ inch) can be beneficial for a yard, helping insulate it from extreme temperatures and foot traffic. It can also reduce weed germination by keeping weed seeds from reaching the soil and helping retain soil moisture.

Any lawn with more than an inch of thatch will start to experience problems. A thick layer can harbor pests and diseases and trap roots in the layer, subjecting them to drought and temperature extremes. Too much thatch can limit the ability of oxygen, water, insecticides, and pre-emergent herbicides to reach their intended target.

Mower scalping can also occur when there are thick layers of thatch. As the mower wheels sink into the thatch, the height of the cut is also lowered. The crowns of grass growing in thatch also tend to be elevated above the soil, making it more likely to be cut.

 

Causes of thatch accumulation

There are a number of factors that can lead to thatch buildup, which is when organic matter is produced faster than microorganisms can decompose it.

Depending on the species and variety of turf grass in question, certain species produce more stem tissue than others, causing them to create more thatch faster than other species. Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, creeping red fescue, and creeping bent grass all form thatch at an accelerated rate and even certain cultivars of these grasses are worse with accumulation than others.

Meanwhile, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue tend to not produce significant thatch buildup. Yet even if you do have a grass that typically does not have problems with thatch accumulation, aggressive fertilization with nitrogen can stimulate too much production in the stems and leaves, resulting in an overabundance of thatch.

Another element that allows thatch to build up is reduced microbe activity, which can occur in acidic soils (5.5 pH or lower) as this inhibits microorganisms from being able to decompose thatch. Compacted, clay, or sandy soils can also lack the needed population sizes of microorganisms to keep thatch under control.

Pesticides that reduce microorganism or earthworm activity can also decrease thatch breakdown. Overgrown grass, excessive watering, and lack of aerationare all contributors that can lead to unhealthy amounts of thatch.

 

Preventing thatch 

The best control for thatch is to have a good management program in place, to avoid the most common causes of overly thick thatch. Taking soil tests regularly can alert you to any changes in the pH that would cause microbial activity to drop, while core aeration alleviates soil compaction and boosts microorganisms’ activity.

Applying fertilizer in controlled amounts that do not cause rapid growth and only using pesticides when they are needed can also improve the rate of thatch breakdown.

 

Removing thatch

If your thatch is already thicker than one inch, preventative practices are not going to be able to control the problem. Thatch can be removed with rakes, a vertical mower, or a dethatching mower, depending on the thickness of the thatch.

Dethatching is a stressful process for the turf, so it should be conducted when the grass is actively growing and the soil is moderately moist. Early spring or early fall is the best time for cool-season grasses, while late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses.

 

We do lawn care

Did you know that Amco Ranger does lawn care in addition to pest control? We give these services the same professional attention to detail as our pest control services and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Give us a call today to ensure a lush-looking lawn this spring.

Everything You Need To Know About Lawn Aeration

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What is aeration?

Aeration is a lawn maintenance practice that removes soil plugs or slices the turf and opens passageways through thatch and into the soil. This promotes a healthy exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and helps your lawn to breathe. The passageways also give water and fertilizer a pathway to your lawn’s root zone where roots can absorb them more efficiently. Aeration encourages root growth by reducing thatch buildup and soil compaction.

 

How do I know if my lawn needs aerating?

If your yard has not been aerated within the last year, it needs aerating.

 

What would happen if I never aerated my lawn?

Eventually, you would have a weak and sick looking lawn that is susceptible to weeds and disease and is harder to maintain. But aeration is just one practice used to ensure a healthy lawn. Proper watering, fertilization, mowing, and pest control are also important maintenance practices.

 

When should I aerate and how often?

At a minimum, you should aerate your lawn at least once a year. Fall works the best for most grass types. Heavily used lawns, or those growing on heavy clay or subsoil, may need aerating more frequently.

 

Can I water my lawn and fertilize after aerating?

Yes, you can. The newly made aeration holes or slices give both water and fertilizer direct access to the roots, and watering can help to break down the aeration cores.

 

Can I overseed after aerating?

Yes, but for better germination, put the seed down while the holes or slices are still open and before the cores start to break down. Do not use a fertilizer combined with weed control when overseeding, as it will hinder germination. A starter fertilizer is best.

 

How long will it take for the cores in my yard to disappear?

The cores will break down naturally and disappear into the lawn over time, depending on weather conditions. As the cores disintegrate, the soil microbes they contain will help break down thatch, so don’t rake them off. Watering and mowing also help to break down the cores sooner.

 

Can I aerate a newly laid sod or seeded lawn?

No, you should wait at least six months before aerating new sod and hold off aerating newly seeded lawns until the seedlings reach maturity.

 

Can aerating damage underground utilities lines, pipes, or wiring?

Most underground utility lines are buried deep enough that aeration tines will not strike them. Other buried items such as sprinkler systems could be impacted. If you are concerned, call to have underground utilities marked. Use flags to mark irrigation heads and other hidden objects to avoid damaging them and/or the aerator.

 

Should I continue to aerate after my lawn improves?

Yes, you should aerate your lawn at least once a year, or more if necessary, as well as perform all other important maintenance practices (watering, fertilizer, pest control, etc.) to maintain turf health and vigor.

 

We do lawn care

Did you know that Amco Ranger does lawn care in addition to pest control? We give these services the same professional attention to detail as our pest control services and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Give us a call today to ensure a lush-looking lawn in the spring.

Also learn about lawn dethatching.

How To Prevent Termites From Attacking My Home

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Termites are among the most destructive insects for homeowners. Each year, homeowners deal with millions of dollars of damage caused by termites. While dealing with a current infestation is, of course, possible, it’s better to have never had to deal with it in the first place. 

When Amco Ranger removes a current infestation, we also make several recommendations concerning what you can do now that it’s gone to prevent a future one. Below, we’ll talk about some of the preventative remedies that you can take to avoid major termite damage. 

Understanding Termites

The termite brain may not be very sophisticated by our standards, but their society is very well ordered. They have a reproductive caste, a warrior caste, and, of course, a worker caste. The workers work 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Clearly, they haven’t invented the union yet. On the other hand, termites don’t require sleep and the majority of their work involves eating. 

Worker termites provide the colony with all of the food it will need. Their very import job is mostly eating and feeding the rest of the colony. While one termite may not be able to make a significant dent in your property value, several thousand will be given enough time. 

Preventing Termite Infestations Prior To Building A Home

There are several technologies that can be used for dealing with termites.

  • Basaltic termite barriers – Newer homes can be built with Basaltic Termite Barriers (BTBs). In other words, the planning stages for dealing with termites begin before the home is even built. BTBs are made of rock particles packed densely enough that it creates an insurmountable barrier for termites. 
  • Termite mesh – This is a stainless-steel screen with holes that are too small for termites to pass through. Additionally, they cannot chew their way through either. These are placed in concrete to prevent termites from entering through small cracks that could arise over the course of time. 
  • Pressure-treated wood – Pressure-treated wood is termite-resistant. Note that we didn’t say it was termite-proof. The wood should still be kept a few feet off the ground to prevent termite access.

Preventing Infestations For Already-Built Homes

Of course, not everyone is so forward-thinking in their home-building approach. Most folks simply own properties that were built prior to these innovations. Nonetheless, there are ways to prevent termite infestations even when the house was not built with these anti-termite measures. These include:

  • Reduce soil-to-wood contact – When possible, reducing soil-to-wood contact is a top first step to any proactive plan to reduce the threat of termites. This not only includes your house itself, but also any mulch, paper, or cardboard that might be around your house. You want at least a four-inch barrier between any mulch and your home. Having a concrete foundation with siding at least six inches off the soil is also a good idea.
  • Beware your landscaping – You’ll want to consider keeping plants at least a few feet away from your foundation. If you’re landscaping is near your home, you can use pine needles as opposed to mulch. If you can’t find pine needles, you can use pea gravel or just about anything else that isn’t organic.
  • Beware your storm drains – You’ll want your storm drains to empty a few feet away from your foundation.
  • Eliminate excess moisture – Termites feed on moisture and are attracted to it. Leaky pipes, faucets, drains and anything else needs to be managed to prevent a future infestation.
  • Sprinkler systems – You want to avoid any pooling water around your foundation. Some folks go out of their way to reroute their storm drains and forget about their sprinkler system. 

It’s Swarming Season!

The first winter thaw is when termites really go into action. They like to hit the ground running and make a breakneck attempt to find food and set up new colonies. One of the things that they are attracted to is floodlights. Yes, I know they look pretty, but they’re a serious risk. You want to either term them off in the early spring or relocate them entirely. There are bug-resistant lights that you can purchase if you’re totally committed to your floodlights. 

Talk To Amco Ranger To Stem Off A Serious Termite Infestation Today

If you’re seeing signs of wood damage or flying termites around your home, it’s time to consider a professional pest control expert. Amco Ranger not only provides top-quality extermination services, but we will also recommend ways to keep the termites off your property once their gone. Talk to us today to set up a free inspection.