DecoratingPhilly.com  

For those of you who have problems with moles in your yard or around your garden, this article is for you and your family.

Not everyone has faced the problem of having moles everywhere in their yards, their gardens, etc. They get in there and they dig holes everywhere, causing you so much grief. Your property value goes down, your yard looks terrible, and along with all that, if you happen to be growing any plants of some sort, they will normally die because of this.

Moles can be extremely annoying and they have a fun little habit of showing up again and again and again to annoy you; but no more! It’s time to handle them once and for all.

So, if you’re looking into mole eradication for the first time, what is it that you should you know?

1) Persistence is Key

It may seem like they just keep coming and coming, but rest assured in knowing that moles are just extremely smart and are good at avoiding danger. Just keep doing what works and eventually you’ll notice that the amount of moles you’re killing is becoming less and less until poof, they’re gone.

2) You Have Options

There are several ways to kill a mole, and some are better than others. There’s a reason why there are so many options available for you – these things are annoying to everyone that is plagued by them! So, don’t think you have to try all the options when you are trying to get rid of moles trapping is the most effective. Some of the other remedies are baits, repellants and poisons.

3) What Does the Job?

Some traps are more effective than others and placement is a big key to the success of your mole eradication efforts. You have to make sure you place the traps in tunnels that are currently being used by the critters.

Hopefully this helped you mole eradication newbies out a bit and will make your life a lot easier, especially when dealing with these little guys.

Nothing can be more frustrating to a proud homeowner than looking at across your lawn and seeing mole hills dotting your lush, green lawn. You can be successful in your mole eradication efforts. Do not lose hope, you can reclaim your beautiful lawn or garden.

1) Mud Tubes: Mud tubes are a major sign for termites. Mud tubes are about a pencil width thick, usually on concrete, traveling from the ground to the nearest wood. They’re easy to spot. It almost looks like your house is growing roots. If you’re on a slab foundation, look around the outside of the house for mud tubes traveling from the ground to the siding. If you’re on a crawl space foundation, look around the outside of the foundation and inside the crawl space. Wood should never be directly touching the ground because it attracts termites and gives them a way to travel up to the house without building mud tubes.

2) Tiny Holes in Wood: Infested wood is an easy to spot sign. You might notice this wood on decks and other outdoor wood structures, which are particularly susceptible to termite damage. If you notice problems outside, the whole house should probably be treated.

3) Tiny Bubbles in Paint: If termites have eaten the wood underneath paint, then the paint will form small blisters.

4) Sawdust: You might notice sawdust, particularly around door frames or anywhere it’s dark and moist. If you notice sawdust, look around to see if you can find any tiny holes or odd looking wood.

5) Termite Wings: After termites swarm, they immediately shed their wings. If termites are present, you should notice a large amount of small wings.

6) Wood Sounds Hollow: If other signs like tiny holes, sawdust, or tiny wings are present, take a screw driver and tap on surrounding wood. Try poking any hollow sounding wood. If termites have caused damage, your screwdriver will puncture the wood with ease. You might even see live termites.

7) Live Termites: Typically, termites won’t be out in the open; however, you might uncover some while searching for them. They’re smaller than most people expect, about the size of a grain of rice, and a very light, almost translucent, yellow.

Termite Swarms: Finally, you may actually witness a termite swarm, in which thousands of termites will fly around the inside of your home for about 30 minutes. Swarming is part of the termites’ reproductive cycle and most commonly occurs after rain on the warm days of Spring.

If you’re wondering about the cost of termite damage and other repairs, click here: Home Improvement Costs.

Erik Pearson is a real estate agent serving Franklin, Brentwood, and Spring Hill, TN and is the author of multiple articles covering a variety of real estate topics. Search Franklin Real Estate.

Flea bombs are used to counter flea infestations in the home. If your pet has fleas, they will lay eggs in the fur, many of which work there way down to the skin surface. However, they can fall on to the furniture and carpets. If this happens in sufficient numbers, and once the eggs hatch, you can have a real problem on your hands.

Flea bites will cause itchiness, redness and a swelling around the area that is bitten. If the infection is severe enough, scratching can lead to secondary infections caused by breaking the surface of the skin. Some animals and humans are in fact allergic to the saliva the flea secretes as it feeds. This is called flea allergy dermatitis and is accompanied by more acute reactions and in some cases hair loss.

To test for fleas on your pet, combing thoroughly through the fur with a fine tooth comb will discover small black particles on the teeth. Place these on a wet tissue and if after a time they go a red brown color, fleas are present. These particles are the fecal material of the adult fleas which the larvae feed on before entering the pupa stage and metamorphosing in to young adults.

There are a number of treatments available to counter infestations. All should be accompanied by initially removing through combing as many fleas, flea eggs, fecal material and stray hairs from the skin and fur of your pet as possible. Place everything in a bowl of water which will drown any live fleas and flush the contents down the toilet once the process is finished.

Secondary treatment options include the use of flea collars and topical sprays, shampoos and powders that are normally applied direct to the animal. If fleas are also residing in and around the house, flea bombs or foggers are a way to eliminate the threat from this immediate area.

They act by releasing in to the air an insecticide powder which covers all surfaces and sinks in to the carpets. It is advisable to select a flea bomb that kills the fleas before they reach reproductive age, and also to determine the coverage area of the product and buy sufficient to ensure the whole area affected will be treated. It can be useful to remove very large items of furniture, although these might also need treatment, to ensure that the carpet below is sufficiently exposed to the pesticide.

This treatment method does involve the risk of exposure to harmful active ingredients and so strict precautions and safeguards should be followed as detailed in the guidance from the manufacturer. All animals and humans are typically advised to leave the area requiring treatment and all food, drink and items used in food preparation should also be removed or stored in sealed containers or taped up cupboards. A strict cleaning regime post treatment is also generally advised.

Finally, and in all cases, ensure that the product being considered is appropriate for your pet. Some that are sold for use on dogs are harmful to cats for example.

Additional information on flea bombs and flea foggers should be sought to gain a full understanding of the subject and inform a decision to purchase.