Termites can ruin any new homeowner’s day. Buying a house here in Northeastern Florida is an expensive and important decision. So why wouldn’t you want to get it inspected for termites before buying? It's important to be sure that the home you purchase is healthy and in good shape before you hand over any cash. Termite infestations can cost you both mentally and financially if you are not careful.  A common question we get here at Orange Environmental Services is, “Should You Have a Termite Inspection Done Before Buying a House?” Our answer is always the same: YES! Let’s take a look at some reasons why your potential new home needs a termite inspection. Why Get a Termite Inspection Done Before Buying a House? To identify that a termite problem exists in the first place The homeowners of Florida usually consider termite inspections to be an afterthought in the buying process....

When you have a pest problem, you likely want to take care of it right away. Like a lot of people, you head down to your local store and purchase whatever you see on the shelf. Here at Orange Environmental Solutions , we get asked about pest control methods everyday. This article will explain which pest control methods work best for certain situations and which benefits you best. DIY Pest Control  DIY methods are effective in certain situations. But, using the wrong method will make the situation worse. Unfortunately, this happens more than we care to admit. For example, products that kill ants might not be effective against termites or wasps.  Professional Pest Control Credible pest control companies know which type of pest control measure to take for any situation they are presented with. They will have a plan to not only get rid of the current problem, but one to...

If you’re a resident of Florida, silverfish are probably a familiar sight. If you’re not familiar with silverfish, consider yourself lucky. Contrary to what you might think, silverfish aren’t actually fish. They’re an insect and one of the most common household pests here in Florida. Silverfish feed on a variety of home items from sugars and grains to fabric and fibers. They often inhabit your closet, drawers and kitchen.  Named after its silvery and light gray exterior, the silverfish is a small anthropoid that enters your home in search of food. They can be anywhere from half an inch to a full inch long. Silverfish are relatively harmless, but they can be annoying once they enter your home . Silverfish are also an indicator of how many small-sized entry points exist in your home. Set Traps  Placing silverfish traps around your home is one of the easiest ways to stem an...

First impressions begin before guests and prospective clients even meet you. The front of your business or home and your front lawn are what prospective eyes see and judge first. A well-maintained, manicured lawn speaks volumes about your pride in your home or business.  Orange Environmental Sevices offers a wide range of services to meet your needs—big and small. Even better, we follow the State of Florida Best Management Practices to help protect our precious water supply. Our list of services is highly customizable to suit whatever your needs may be. Aeration We offer lawn aeration to keep your soil loose so that your lawn grows thick and healthy. Our rainstorms here in Jacksonville can nourish lawns only if they have a pathway to the roots. Our lawn experts are versed in all types of grass grown in our area. They will find that Goldilocks amount of thatch that isn’t too...

We live in a virtual paradise that brings the world to our doorsteps. Our area not only attracts vacationers but also, unfortunately, bothersome pests during the hot, humid summer months . Today, we’ll take a closer look at the pests that are most common in our area in the summertime.  Chinch Bugs Though they are almost invisible, chinch bugs are a considerable irritant. They feed on wheat and cornfields that grow during the summer months as well as backyards. They have small black bodies and silver wings that measure about four millimeters. Chinch bugs often cause damage along driveways and sidewalks and to crops as well. A chinch bug invasion is likely to present if and when you see yellow or brown patches in fields or landscapes. Cockroaches Cockroaches are an enemy to any home due to their association with waste and many diseases. Roaches love heat and thrive in tropical,...

If you’re a property owner, there’s a good chance that the thought of termites fills you with dread. It’s difficult to say how quickly termites cause damage, but scientists estimate a mature colony can consume over ten pounds of wood in a month. Because many people don’t realize they have termites until the structural damage is apparent, that adds up quickly. To help identify termites before it’s too late, you need to know what they look like and where they live. Appearance There are 21 species of termites found in Florida , six of which are invasive. Some of the termite species found here aren’t pests, but others have the potential to cause a great deal of damage.  Luckily, most termite species look similar, so you don’t need to worry about the details when identifying them. Most termites are relatively small, between a quarter and a half of an inch long....

With spring quickly approaching, it is time to start thinking about getting your lawn prepped for the season. Without proper maintenance, your lawn will suffer. Our experts here at Orange Environmental Services field a lot of calls about how to best take care of their lawns as warmer weather approaches. Read on to find out how to prepare your lawn for spring. Get Your Lawn Cleaned Up Making sure your lawn is clear of last year’s debris is essential. Clearing up any leaves, sticks and other materials ensures your lawn has a chance to breathe. Your grass will be able to absorb more sunlight and grow faster.  Mulch serves a dual purpose if you add it back to your lawn, as your grass can absorb additional nutrients from it. Add mulch around any plants or bushes that border your yard or home. Maintaining proper yard maintenance will keep your yard looking...

While domestic mice and rats may make excellent pets for some, the damage a rodent infestation can cause to a property is utterly jaw-dropping. So what is the difference between rats and mice? Are they the same? Rats are not giant mice, just as gorillas are not simply large chimpanzees. Quite a lot sets mice apart from rats. Droppings When trying to determine which of the two are giving you problems, one quick way to spot the difference is in their droppings. Mouse droppings are smaller with pointed ends, and mice leave their poop everywhere they visit. Rat droppings, on the other hand, are more banana-shaped, larger and found in a waste area designated by the animal(s). Both rodents’ droppings can contaminate the area and, when dried, may cause allergic reactions and irritation in asthma sufferers. Size Adult mice have bodies about three to four inches long (tail not included) and...

Due to Florida’s warm climate, many residents think that they do not have to winterize their lawns. This is false, as there is still lawn care that should be done to maintain a healthy yard. Temperatures still drop during the winter in Florida, which can be damaging to grass. Here are four Florida winter lawn care tips so you can maintain a healthy lawn .  1. Keep Grass Tall People in colder climates often mow their grass to an extremely short height to prepare for winter. In Florida’s warm climate, you should avoid this practice. Leaving your grass a little bit taller during the winter will protect the roots from the cold weather, in which case less grass will die during the season. If roots are protected, you will have more green grass in the spring when the cold months are over.  2. Do not Fertilize Lawn experts recommend that you...

The warm temperatures of Florida create the perfect climate for pests. Unlike places with a cooler climate, Florida is a place where pests can live year-round. You may have already seen the most common pests in Florida right in your own backyard. Here are a few of Florida’s pests that our experts at Orange Environmental commonly service.  Fire Ants  Fire ants are, as their name suggests, red, and quite aggressive once they infest an area. In Florida, these ants are usually found in open fields and lawns since they like to nest in dry, sunny locations. They create round nests that look like mounds in the ground, which can grow as tall as three feet high. Fire ant colonies can have up to 250,000 workers! These ants are known for stinging intruders that come to their nests. If you see fire ants anywhere near your home, call an exterminator right away. ...

In most cases, termites are the type of pest to show themselves at many different points in time before you have major damage issues. The key is knowing the signs of termites, where to look and what to look for based on how the pests behave and what their infestations look like or leave behind. A pest control professional is a great investment in your home, because services like those from  Orange Environmental Services  are able to perform regular pest checks and prevention services, including a termite inspection. These are some of the areas of your home or building to search for signs of termites based on where  termites  are known to infest. Cracks and Crevices  The most common way for a termite to enter your home is through cracks in the foundation or parts of your structure that is rotting. A termite infestation can be detrimental to your home structure...

Lawn care in Jacksonville is incredibly important. The humid climate and regular rain throughout the year can make it a hassle to keep up with your lawn care. If you don’t have the time to take care of your lawn on your own, here are our top 5 lawn care services that you should have.   1) Lawn Mowing, Edging, and Blowing Your lawn is often one of the first impressions you make with your home. With all of the rain that we get in this Floridian climate, grass can grow quickly. Don’t let your lawn get out of control and convey to your neighbors and visitors that you just don’t care what your lawn looks like. We offer a variety of lawn mowing services so that you can have the attractive lawn of your dreams. Whether you prefer to schedule one-time mowings when you need them or join our program...

Earwigs are a pest that can cause serious damage to the plants in your garden and home. They are quick, nocturnal insects that can be difficult to spot. The following are some ways to protect your plants from earwigs . Identifying an Earwig Infestation Earwigs are small, reddish-brown insects that have appendages at their tail-end. Their primary diet consists of dead plant material and decaying wood, but they will also eat live fruit, vegetables and plants. They lay eggs in underground tunnels, and can often be found hiding under pots. They may look intimidating due to their pincers, but they’re completely harmless to humans. If you notice holes in the leaves of your plants, this is a major sign of an earwig infestation. If left unchecked, they will cause significant damage to your garden. Protecting Your Plants There are several effective methods of protecting your plants from an earwig infestation. Avoid...

Even though Florida is known for its beautiful temperatures, white sandy beaches, and flawless tans throughout the year, it is still important to make sure that residents and snowbirds alike, give your lawns as much time, attention, and TLC as the photo friendly scenery along the Florida coastline gets. Here are a few tips for Florida lawn care before, and during the winter months. Pre-Winter Lawn Prep Depending on where you are located in Florida, your winter lawn care plan may vary. There is one constant, that will ensure your beautifully landscaped lawn returns after the winter months, which is make sure to have your lawn fertilization treatments completed during the fall. The best time to take care of this pre-winter prep is during September through early October. This gives your lawn ample amount of time to develop healthy root systems and store enough food reserves to maintain strength during the...

How much moisture a house or apartment has often corresponds to how much it serves as a home to pests. In fact, keeping places like attics and basements relatively dry is one of the best ways to combat nearly every single type of pest. So with the Fall coming up, will that raise or lower your moisture levels? Here is how the chillier weather affects humidity and what you need to know about moisture to keep yourself pest free . How Does the Fall Affect the Humidity? In some ways, Fall weather can increase your humidity, and in other ways it does the reverse. For instance, the cold can dry up an area because when cold air from the outside hits warm air, it will try to reach equilibrium by sucking the water out of our lips and skin. That’s why we sometimes feel chapped in the cold. On the other...

As the temperatures start to drop in fall, rodents start seeking shelter inside people’s homes, and nothing can spoil a fantastic autumn season than having to contend with rodents that are running around the house. But, there are ways you can combat this issue by taking a few proactive steps. Do not Neglect the Outside of the House To truly keep rodents at bay, your first line of defense is the outside of your house. Start by sealing any cracks and holes on the exterior of your home. Pay particular attention to areas where utilities and pipes enter the house. Also, keep your firewood a safe distance from the house. Rodents like to hide in wood plies and if you have one too close to the house, it will be quite easy for one or more to make its way into the house. Seal Your Doors and Windows Rodents can sneak...

Nobody wants to have an infestation in their home. A quick stroll down the aisle in any home improvement store will find shelf after shelf of do-it-yourself remedies made to help keep your home pest-free -- and yet, they still manage to find a way in. But is it possible to keep pests out of your house? Yes, it is. With the right knowledge and precautions you can make your home pest-free and keep it that way. Here are four tips from the experts: Seal up the Cracks ... The first thing you need to do is make sure bugs and rodents can’t get in from the outside. Even the smallest openings are big enough to let critters in, so finding and sealing up holes and cracks that can let them in is the first and most important step. … Even on the Inside Once they find a way in, the...

Choosing the right pest control professional can be difficult. With so many companies basically all saying the same thing, it can be hard to weed through the rhetoric to find out what’s truly important about a company and how it does business. One thing that can make it easier, though, is knowing the right questions to ask. As you begin the process of looking for the perfect pest control service , here are five questions that you need to ask: Are They Licensed, Bonded and Insured? Any company that works with potentially dangerous chemicals needs to be licensed and insured to help protect clients against possible hazards. This process involves proper training to make sure exterminators know how to use these products safely. If a pest control company can’t produce documentation that its technicians have been trained and insured against unforeseen accidents, steer clear of them! Can You Get a Quote...

The Dangers of Mosquitoes Attracted to stagnant bodies of water, mosquitoes are tiny, flying insects that are most well-known for their buzzing and biting. Though only females bite people, there are still enough of them to be plenty irritating. Aside from the itchy bump that a bite can produce, are there any real dangers of mosquitoes? Typical Symptoms of Mosquito Bites Though the aforementioned bump is the most common sign of a bite, there are a few other symptoms that could arise: spots that resemble bruising, blisters or swelling or redness. Children or others with compromised immune systems can also experience hives, gland swell or a small fever. Generally, the body acclimates to bites and symptoms reduce to only the bump. In cases of allergy, bites may cause anaphylaxis. Severe Complications Mosquitoes are known to carry several severe diseases which can be transmitted to humans. Some of the most common include:...

Every year, termites cause homeowners over 5 billion dollars. One in every five homes in your area is infested with termites. They can go months to years without being detected until it is too late, and you suffer severe damage to your home. If you know what you are looking for, you may be able to observe signs of an infestation before it gets to that point. To know what to look for, try to recognize these signs of a termite infestation: Damaged Wood Termites and wood go hand-in-hand. Wood is food for termites, and they love your flooring, walls and ceiling beams. There are a few things you can look for on your wood, such as dark discolorations, scars, holes, and blisters surrounded by sawdust. If there are no visible signs on your wood, then you can take a tool, such as a screwdriver or a hammer, and gently tap...