Clean Up To Keep Pests Out

Bugs like hiding places. Scorpions, roaches, snakes, and rodents enjoy being able to sleep undisturbed, so they look for places where they can tuck themselves in until it’s time to forage for food. Wood piles, lumber, piles of landscape debris, stacks of firewood, and clutter in general provide habitats for all kinds of pests. Keep reading to find out how to keep pests out.

Keeping your property clear of these types of opportunities for bugs and other nuisances to hide and live is key to keeping these pests out of your home, too. Changing seasons encourage bugs to come out more often, but this also means they go in – to your house. Move all clutter away from your house and you can cut down on the number of pests that will enter your home. Clean up to keep pests out. It’s as easy as that.

And it’s not just clutter that attracts bugs. Mosquitoes, roaches, and scorpions thrive where there’s water, though all living things need water to survive. Getting rid of all standing water will help keep these bugs to a minimum, too. Repairing leaks in garden hoses, sprinkler lines, and hose bibs, as well as fixing gutter leaks, and re-directing a/c condensate lines away from your home deprives animals and bugs of a source of drinking water.

Cutting down on the number of pests from invading your home can be done naturally if these steps are followed. Preventing them altogether, though, may take a little more help. Our Store Managers will recommend the best sprays, granules, and traps to get rid of all kinds of pests. Visit any of our five Valley Bug & Weed Marts to learn how to use everything we sell, including the sprayer that’s best for what you need.

We are always ready to give free, friendly, and easy-to-understand information about all aspects of do-it-yourself pest control, whatever’s bugging you!

Stop Those Nasty Olives Before They Make A Mess All Over Your Walkways

This Year, Stop Those Nasty Olive Blossoms Before They Drop All Over Your Walkways.

If you have olive trees, you may not know that you can prevent those olives from growing by applying a “growth regulator”.  When properly applied at the right time each year, you’ll enjoy the tree in full bloom but without many (or any) olives.  Applied by using a hose-end sprayer, it absorbs into the tree through the leaves. This tricks the tree into stopping olive production as a self-defense mechanism, even though the stress isn’t real.

Beautiful But Pesky

So here’s what you do:

-When all buds have flowered (10 to 17 days after the blooms appear), spray them after the blossoms are wide-open, but before the olive buds begin to form (2-5 days).

-Spray all branches, completely covering the blossoms & leaves. Use a ladder outside to spray the highest branches. Coat every blossom thoroughly.

-Allow to dry (1/2 day).

- Water tree deeply.

At Bug & Weed Mart, we will show you exactly how to prevent olives.  We have the olive growth regulator and the hose-end sprayer needed for this job.  In fact, we have everything you need for any pest or weed problem. We offer safe, EPA-approved, professional grade products and expert advice.

Come visit any of our 5 Valley-wide stores, open 6 days a week.

Bug & Weed Mart. We Free You from All Your Pest Problems.

Using Pre-emergents Effectively

Even though we live in the Sonoran desert, we still have pesky weeds. You can either spend a lot of time digging them up or you can prevent them from sprouting in the first place. We know which method we choose and our Bug & Weed Mart Store Managers will provide you with an individual Treatment Plan that outlines how and when to apply pre-emergents so you won’t need to pull weeds.

Pre-emergent herbicides are an effective, preventative method designed for reducing and controlling weeds before the weeds germinate. When applied correctly, pre-emergents establish a chemical barrier that will not kill established plants, but will prevent weeds from growing.

Bug & Weed Mart carries only professional-grade, easy-to-use, effective pre-emergents that can be used in grass, planters, shrubs, and desert/rock landscapes.

Come into any of our five convenient Phoenix metro locations and we will show you how to successfully prevent weeds. We’ll also help you choose the appropriate product and sprayer, and we’ll make sure you know the right time for your future pre-emergent applications, too.

Be Proud Of Your Tank Sprayer . . . Take Care Of It!

Your Most Important Tool

If you’re going to do-it-yourself,  you’ve got to have the right tools. If you’re going to take care of your own bugs and weeds, the right tool to have is a tank sprayer.

Like any other mechanical tool, your pump-up sprayer needs basic care to keep it working.  Many of our customers find that the sprayer they bought from us years ago still works great (often over 20 years!). That is because (1) the sprayer was great quality, and (2) it was maintained by its owner.

To maintain your sprayer, you need not buy cleaning kits, brushes, detergents, etc.  Just follow these guidelines;

-When finished with any application, empty any remaining solution from the tank.

Remove/unscrew plunger tube, invert tank, & allow tank to drain completely.

-Then, pour 8-12oz of “rinse” water into the tank. 

Gently shake the tank a few times to evenly disperse/rinse.  After re-inserting the plunger tube, pump a few times, and spray out the “rinse” water completely.

-NEVER leave anything mixed in your sprayer (or ANY container) for storage. 

Tempting as it may be, this is a bad idea. Instead, mix only what you need for the application.  Excess/unused mix = lost $.

-Once every year, bring your empty, clean tank sprayer to us for a checkup. 

We will look it over and service it with a free lube. We’ll also check-up for leaky clamps, cracked hoses, clogged spray tips, etc. If your sprayer cannot be fixed, we have several great models to choose from.

Bug & Weed Mart has been helping others control their Pest & Weed problems for more than 35 years.  Stop into any of our 5 Valley-wide locations, open Monday-Saturday.

Roof Rats, Not For the Faint of Heart

A Formidable Pest: the Roof Rat

Roof Rat Caught in a Trap

At Bug & Weed Mart, you already know we carry only EPA-approved, industry-leading, professional-grade products for controlling insects, weeds, etc. But we also specialize in rodent control, including mice, pack rats, gophers, Norway rats, and roof rats. Because of the extensive widespread damage they cause, roof rats may are the most notorious.

There are a number of easy ways you can prevent roof rats from taking up residence on your property and getting into your home.

If rats are known to be in your neighborhood, here are a few steps you can take:

1) Reduce clutter/overgrowth in your landscaping, especially along walls of yards and against the home.
2) Do not allow citrus fruit to remain hanging in trees (or on the ground) when time to harvest.
3) Do not leave pet food and water exposed.
4) Seal any openings/holes along exterior of home; even a silver dollar-sized hole is too large!

Then, come see us! You won’t have to settle for ineffective products typically sold at Home Improvement and grocery stores. Instead, let us show you a proper combination of professional baits or traps. Don’t worry, your pets and kids will not be in harm’s way, as you will be able to set these traps and baits just as a professional pest controller would…and for a lot less cost!

Bug & Weed Mart. Do It Yourself. Do It For Less. Do It Right!

How To Get Rid of Sewer Roaches

There are at least 20 different species of cockroaches in Arizona, though the Turkestan or American cockroach are two of the larger of the species you are most likely to encounter around or in your home. The German cockroach, which is smaller, can also be found. Some people call cockroaches sewer roaches or even water bugs, but they are all the same thing.

The American cockroach is the largest species of common cockroach, as they can grow up to 2 inches long. They are shiny and reddish-brown with a light yellow band around the edge of the head shield. Young roaches can fit into a space as thin as a dime, while an adult male needs a crack about the thickness of a quarter. Roaches are nocturnal, can swim, and sometimes fly.

Roaches also need water to live. Without it, they die within a week, even though they can live up to a month without food. They eat the gunk in your drains, any kind of food – including pet food – but also dead leaves, and anything in the trash.

Contrary to popular belief, although they are often found in bathtubs and kitchen sinks, they do not come in through the drain pipes. Most sewer roaches come from the ground. They burrow into moist areas under landscaping and planter boxes, gravel, river rock, and in sprinkler/water meter boxes. They thrive in moist, dark environments and spend most of their lives hiding. Without a consistent food or water supply, or a place to hide, they’ll quickly find someplace else to live.

Some easy ways to get rid of roaches include:

• Moving clutter, lawn trimmings, leaves, & yard clippings away from home.
• Removing lumber, firewood, or any other debris from around the home.
• Repair/adjust sprinkler overspray; check timer to ensure you are not over-watering.
• Repairing leaks in garden hoses, sprinkler lines, & hose bibs.
• Repairing gutter leaks, re-directing a/c condenser line away from home (this prevents gutter runoff or condensation from your A/C unit pooling near your foundation).

• Seal off any entry points, such as holes or cracks with caulk (check around pipes, baseboards, doors and windows for possible cracks).
• Install or repair window and door screens.
• Install screens over vents, ducts and floor drains.
• Raise boxes and stored items off your garage floors and away from walls.
• Promptly take your recycling and trash out.
• Keep food containers – including pet food – sealed shut.
• Fix dripping faucets inside the home.
• Don’t overwater houseplants (soggy soil is a source of water).

Then, come see our experienced store managers at any of our five Bug & Weed Mart locations who will let you know which of our professional strength, safe, easy-to-use products will work best for whatever’s bugging you. We’ll also provide the personalized instruction to use anything we sell you.

You Might Have Termites If…

Odd-Looking Brown Tunnels?

You May Have Termites!

Have you ever wondered if your home has termites? Take a look at these pictures, taken by our own customers, showing evidence of “subterranean” termites:

Termite Mud Tube

Subterranean termites build their tunnels, or tubes, to travel from their nests, located somewhere in the ground, to your home. Left untreated, the termites will continue to build those tunnels, which can become a large problem. Even if you destroy the tunnels, you likely are only knocking down a minor portion of their tunnel “network.” Those termites, undeterred, will then rebuild tunnels, in the same area, in a matter of days. Left untreated, you will be facing potentially significant property damage!

Termites build tunnels for one reason: to get from their nest to their food source. Termites eat wood, but what they are really after is the cellulose that the wood is made of. Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on Earth and is the main component in the cell walls of plants. Cellulose is a very important material to humans and can be found either in its original form as building materials or in more refined forms such as paper and even in the food that we eat.

In addition to wood and plant fibers, termites can chew through just about any material that is softer than their hardened mandibles. This includes drywall, foam, plastics and even lead (thin sheets).

Termite Mud Tunnel

Unfortunately, our houses are made of termite food. Some of us even go a step further by having wood chips around our homes. Fortunately, Bug & Weed Mart has the best, professional-strength products and know-how to get rid of termites. We will show you exactly how to easily apply a safe, effective product that will last for up to 10 years or more, at a fraction of the cost that a pest-control company would charge you.

We are open 6 days a week at all 5 Valley-wide locations.

Bug & Weed Mart. We Free You From All Your Pest Problems.

Happy Holidays

We would like to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and say Thank You for a wonderful year. We have helped so many of you solve your bug and weed issues. Thank you for the confidence you put in us to help you take care of your home. Enjoy the season!
 
SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS:

Tempe Store:
Only Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day

All Other Stores:
Closed Wednesday, December 18 through Wednesday, January 1

All stores resume regular hours:
Thursday, January 2, 2014

Bed Bugs & Holiday Travel: Protect Yourself

As we race towards the holiday season, and begin planning for travel, here is one question to ask yourself:

“Have I done what I can to prevent picking up bed bugs?”

Chances are, this is something that you have never thought about. That is, unless you have been unfortunate enough to have (at one time or another) picked up bed bugs and brought them home. It is nothing to take lightly, and for this reason, we advise the following:

• Pre-treat any luggage or suitcases that you will be traveling with. We have several items for this, including a ready-to-use spray for under $10.
• In hotels especially, be wary of exactly where you set your luggage. Immediately place luggage in bath tub / shower, then inspect mattress folds, furniture seams, bedding, and curtains. Any discoloration? Look very closely for signs of bed bugs and contact the manager if you find any.
• Inspect bedding anytime you get bitten in bed. Maybe you did get a bite, but if you can’t see the bug, it’s harder to diagnose the proper treatment. Perhaps it was a spider, mosquito, a flea, or some type of mite. Try to find what bit you. If you can’t, look again for signs of bed bugs. Not sure what you’re looking for? Click here to watch a quick video on How To Tell If You Have Bed Bugs.
• Travel with bed bug detectors  to aid you in recognizing live bed bugs, and to help keep them off you! From $8 to $24 you can “arm yourself” while you sleep!

If you do have bed bugs, we carry the best products available and have the know-how to show you exactly how to use them. The earlier you can treat for bed bugs, the less chance they will have to spread to more rooms…and more hosts!

Come see us at any of our 5 valley-wide location, 6 days a week and we can help you travel safely this holiday season.

Bug & Weed Mart: Do It Yourself. Do It For Less. Do It Right.