Service Choice, Author at Service Choice

Most Common Spots in Homes for Ant Infestations – Where to Look & How to Treat

Noticing some unwelcome six-legged visitors in your home? Ants are a year-round problem in South Florida and dealing with an infestation can be a challenging hassle. Before you start treating an ant problem in your home, you need to determine where they’re actually coming from. Read on to learn some of the common spots ants hide inside a home, and how you can treat an ant problem once and for all.

The Kitchen

Most ant infestations center around the kitchen in a home since ants thrive by feeding on spare food and drinking up stagnant water. There’s no better place in a home to find food and water than the kitchen–it’s a favorite hangout for ants of all species.

You can keep ants out of the kitchen by making sure spills and crumbs are cleaned up quickly. You should also carefully store sweet items like syrup and honey since they’re magnets for ants. Remove any leftover sticky mess from the exterior of containers, and even be sure to keep your trash bins emptied and clean.

The Bathroom

Ants don’t just move inside homes in search of food–they’re also on the hunt for a stable water source. Bathrooms, naturally, are the spaces in a house where excess water and moisture build up.

Ants race to bathrooms to drink up any pooled water; accidental leaks; and even spilled body wash or shampoo, so you should clean up any standing water after taking a shower or a bath. It’s also smart to mop the floor regularly with a disinfectant, and the ants should stay away.

Near Pet Bowls

Ant colonies also see pet food and water bowls as an open invitation to eat and drink. Whenever your cat or dog leaves food in their bowl, any ants nearby will be attracted to it like a magnet. Some proactive pet owners invest in ant-proof cat or dog food bowls. Applying petroleum jelly to the base of each bowl is also another helpful deterrent. Thanks to the slippery nature of petroleum jelly, ants won’t be able to climb into the bowl.

Inside Walls

Ants often live inside the walls, so if you’re dealing with an ant infestation, inspecting the inside of your walls should be one of your top priorities. Damaged or cracked walls provide easy entry into your home and a convenient place for colonies to populate and nest. Seal cracks in walls–especially exterior ones–to prevent ants from moving in.

Relying on the Ant Control Experts at Service Choice

Dealing with an ant infestation is a challenging endeavor. Once ants have moved into your home, they’re very hard to get rid of. Instead of relying on ineffective–often unsafe–DIY treatment methods, rely on the pest control experts at Service Choice of Ft. Lauderdale to take care of the infestation for good. Using safe, proven-effective treatments, we’ll have your home ant free in no time–guaranteed! Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your free consultation.

4 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Lawn Care Service

Looking to maintain—or achieve—a lush, green lawn? It’s important to do your research before hiring a lawn care company. Not all companies are created equal, so you need to make sure you’re hiring reputable lawn care experts who will care for your yard as if it were their own. Here are the top four mistakes to avoid when choosing a lawn care service.

1. Choosing the First Lawn Care Company You Find.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is choosing the very first lawn care service provider they come across. You need to research a company’s experience, the quality of their work, and their prices. Also, you should never hire a company based on price alone—just because one provider claims to offer cheaper rates doesn’t mean they’re the best option.

2. Failing to Ensure the Company Is Licensed and Insured.

You need to make sure the lawn care service provider you choose is fully licensed and insured. You’ll have peace of mind that the company is qualified to do the work, and it protects you from liability in case something goes wrong.

The lawn care experts at Service Choice of Ft. Lauderdale are licensed, state certified, and insured for your complete peace of mind. They’ve completed hours of training, including continual education, so that they can provide high-quality lawn care services that make a difference in the lives of each client.

3. Failing to Check References.

It’s wise to check a lawn care company’s references before hiring them. Any reputable service provider will be happy to offer a list of clients who would be willing to share their experience with the company. If you reach out to any of these clients, ask important questions like whether they were happy with the work and if it was performed on time and on budget. You could also read online reviews that customers have left for the business on Google or on the company’s own webpage.

4. Signing a Contract Before Getting an Estimate.

When you agree to work with a lawn care service provider, make sure you get everything in writing, including when the work is scheduled, the scope of work to be performed, and the overall budget. That way, you can ensure there are no surprises on either side.

Service Choice Is the Only Choice for Lawn Care in Ft. Lauderdale

When choosing a lawn care company, it pays to do your research. Not all providers offer the same commitment to quality work and superior customer service, not to mention the lawn care knowledge that can transform your yard into a lush, green paradise. The team at Service Choice of Ft. Lauderdale are the lawn care experts in Ft. Lauderdale and the surrounding region. We’re ready to work hard to achieve exceptional results from your lawn. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to get started!

4 Key Tips for a Healthy Yard in South Florida

One of the best things Florida residents love about the state’s unique climate is that we get to enjoy beautiful, well-manicured lawns nearly year-round. Keeping up with lawn maintenance is a lot of work, but the rewards are well worth it—after all, who doesn’t appreciate a lush, green lawn? Follow these simple steps you can take to keep your lawn looking healthy and green throughout the entire year.

1. Mow Often.

Thanks to South Florida’s warm, humid climate, grass doesn’t ever truly stop growing throughout the year. Keeping your lawn trimmed by mowing it often is an essential step in lawn maintenance since it keeps pests and diseases at bay. Of course, make sure you’re mowing more frequently in the rainy season to keep the grass under control.

2. Water Correctly.

Your grass needs the right amount of water at the right times to maintain healthy growth. You should give your grass a deep soak twice per week during the hottest times of the year, and once per week throughout the rest of the year. By watering with more volume but with less frequency, the roots of your grass will grow stronger and will better withstand drought conditions.

It’s also best to water in the morning because watering late in the day—when the temperatures are hottest—causes water to evaporate before it’s soaked into the soil. You should also avoid watering at night to avoid any fungal issues.

3. Fertilize Appropriately.

Every lawn needs nourishment, including water, sunlight, and the right nutrients. While there are several DIY fertilizer treatments available at your nearest big-box home improvement store, you should rely on the lawn care experts at Service Choice of South Florida to feed your lawn the highest quality fertilizers available, applied on a seasonal schedule to ensure your lawn stays lush and green all year round.

4. Keep Pests Away.

Pests are no stranger to many South Florida lawns and keeping them under control is essential if you want to preserve the look of your lawn. In South Florida, chinch bugs are a major problem—when they make themselves at home in your yard, they can cause yellowing, browning, and even dead spots in your turf. The pest control experts at Service Choice of South Florida can remove any pest infestation you’re dealing with in your yard and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Get the Lawn You’ve Always Wanted with the Help of Service Choice of South Florida

Achieving a lush, gorgeous lawn in South Florida requires some extra love and care. Need help keeping your lawn looking beautiful? Reach out to the lawn care experts at Service Choice of South Florida. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your consultation!

4 Reasons Why Your Trees May Be Looking Unhealthy

Trees add shade, beauty, and privacy to properties across South Florida, but only if they’re well-maintained and cared for. Trees are living and breathing, and they’re susceptible to several diseases and injuries. Here are four reasons why your trees may be looking unhealthy, and what you can do to bring them back to their full glory.

1. Improper Watering

If your trees are showing symptoms of yellowing, or they’re dropping foliage at inappropriate times of the year, they may not be getting the right amount of water. Too much or too little water can eventually cause dieback and death in trees. While mature trees can survive in times of drought or overwatering, they still show symptoms of stress. You should make sure your trees aren’t living in waterlogged soils, but also that they get a thorough soak every week.

2. Improper Pruning

Pruning too much or too little, at the wrong time, and with the wrong technique can open a tree to several diseases and pests. While most trees benefit from pruning during the dormant season, you should always consult with a tree care professional who understands best practices for each species.

Pruning is a skill, and only certified professionals know how to remove the right amount to prime your tree for healthy growth and preserve its appearance. Pruning also can be dangerous, especially with taller, mature trees. Rather than taking risks with a DIY approach, reach out to the tree care experts at Service Choice of Oakland Park for regular pruning.

3. Pest Problems

Some trees require special attention for specific pests. If your trees are showing signs of stress and damage like chewed foliage, white spots, or cottony masses, it’s a good sign your trees have a pest infestation. A certified tree care and pest control technician can diagnose the problem and provide a comprehensive treatment plan to eliminate destructive insects on trees and other plants in your landscape.

4. Improper Fertilization

The soil in suburban neighborhoods is far different from the soil you’d find in an ideal forest—a place where trees can thrive with no intervention. If your trees are exhibiting signs like poor growth, pale leaves, or early leaf loss, it may be a problem with nutrients in the soil. With regular fertilization treatments, like the ones provided by Service Choice of Oakland Park, your soil will get the nutrients it needs to help your trees survive their stressful suburban landscape.

Service Choice of Oakland Park Restores and Protects Your Landscape

If your trees are looking worn down and showing signs of deterioration, what should you do? Rather than rely on ineffective DIY alternatives to tree care, work with the tree care experts at Service Choice of Oakland Park. We can restore your trees to perfect health. We’ll create a treatment plan that addresses your trees’ unique needs, so they can add beauty and value to your property. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your free consultation!