Angie's List Super Service Award

I just realized I never covered our Super Service Award from Angie's List on the blog. Thanks to our customers, GreenHow was awarded a Super Service Award for 2008 for both lawn fertilization and pest and termite control from Angie's List. Less than 5% of the companies on Angie's List are awarded with the Super Service Award. It is exciting to recieve recognition for great lawn care, pest control and termite control service.

-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Organic TV LED's.

Great news, imagine organic Light Emitting Diodes for TV screens, a great innovation, that will be available soon.

-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

GreenHow, Mexico.

Occasionally we recieve a call for the unrelated business of GreenHow, Mexico, which offers high quality fertilizers and technical service for customers in Mexico from their facility in Guadalajara. Visit the link above for commercial and agricultural applications south of the Rio Grande. This business is not related to our Boston, Massachusetts based lawn care, pest control and termite control company.

-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Mud Daubers

The mud dauber is a solitary wasp that builds tubes or tunnels of mud in which to lay eggs. These mud tubes or tunnels may be located anywhere on a structure, but are usually either on the foundation or inside the attic, or at the soffit. Generally stone, cement and unpainted wood are preferred surfaces to build on, instead of painted wood. Mud daubers do not sting, and can be recognized by an all black or black with yellow or white legs. A key to differentiate from a flying ant, with whom they are often confused, is the long pedicel (piece between the thorax and abdomen) and curved antennae. Non chemical integrated pest control methods can be safely employed, including removing the mud tubes and screening attic openings.

-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Octopamine Blocker?

Octopamine is a neurotransmitter that is found in insects and crustaceans. The botanical oil products we use for pest control act by focusing on and interrupting the octopamine neurotransmitter receptors in insects. This leads to a breakdown in the insects central nervous system. These botanical oils are beneficial to our service because when used properly they provide control, and since mammals, birds and fish do not have receptors for octopamine, botanical oils do not effect them adversely.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Leave the clippings.

For quality lawn care, as summer begins, finally, it is time to raise mowing heights to 3" or higher, and try to leave the clippings on the lawn or turf. It is important to leave the clippings to reduce fertilizer use by returning nitrogen back to the soil. Leaving clippings can add as much as one lb of nitrogen per year. Contrary to popular belief, it does not increase thatch.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Moisture

We are in June, and starting to spend time maintaining our gardens. Moisture around a home is a sure way to attract insects. Integrated pest management and green pest management rely on making changes to the physical environment to reduce pest populations. Pruning vegetation off a structure is a great way to start. Try to keep at least 18 to 24 inches of clear space around your home. Walk around your home staying against the siding and see if you can do it without being engulfed in branches. If you cannot, it is time to prune the vegetation like trees and shrubs off the structure.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.

Clover Mites-Those very small red insects

If you have been in your Boston area yard over the past week, you may have seen very, very small red insects on your home and plants. These are red clover mites, and may leave a small red mark when crushed. Clover mites do not infest homes, but can use structures to overwinter or avoid drought.

-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.