Rodents

Urban rodents, such as rats and mice, often seem more prevalent in the winter. Colder temperatures, fewer outdoor resources and other factors cause rodents to end up in our spaces. Within the 128 belt, rats are found even in nice homes in nice neighborhoods, as they will simply follow septic lines into a structure. Effective pest control depends on managing contributing factors. Minimize food and water, and clutter that acts as a harborage to reduce the chances of rodents setting up home in your home.

-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.

The Importance of Sanitation

For control of many structural pests, and turf and ornamental pests and diseases, site sanitation is critical to success. Integrated pest management (IPM) depends on non chemical solutions to alleviate pest issues. One of the most important is site sanitation. For interior sanitation, this time of year can provide a great opportunity for homes and businesses to clear out the cobwebs and improve the level of sanitation. Sanitation usually means implementing proper disposal of waste, but should be expanded to include reduction of clutter, here is a list of ideas on sanitation from the EPA website. An unorganized area, that is inaccessible to you, probably would be a great harborage for insects and rodents. Stored items should be off the ground and away from walls (12 inches is ideal) if possible.
-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.

Pantry Pests

It's great to have the holidays here, and guests and parties on these cold winter nights. As you pull out long unused baking sheets or flower, pay attention to signs of pantry pests. These signs include webbing in the rice or flour container, evidence of small silky cocoons in the corners of cabinets, or adult moths. These insects have complete metamorphosis, meaning the eggs are laid on or near the infested product, hatch to become a larval stage (worm-like) that feeds on the flour, rice, cereal, or other product, then climbs to a high point to pupate into an adult reproductive moth. Freeze infested products like bird food or pet food if you don't want to discard them, otherwise discard infested products and clean out cabinets of pupal casings.
-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

Recycling Cell Phones and Rechargeable Batteries

Through our new Call2Recycle relationship, we are now able to collect customer cell phones and rechargeable batteries for recycling. Simply hang on to old cell phones or rechargeable batteries and at your regular service, give them to your service technician for recycling.
-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.

Brush Weatherseals and Pest Exclusion

This is the time of year that we notice an increase in rodent calls. Sealing openings to the exterior is the first solution step in integrated pest management for rodent control. Homes and business usually have numerous small openings around plumbing and electrical penetrations, or where foundation and sill changes occur. The largest openings most homes have are around and under the exterior doors and garage doors. Many options exist to seal them, the most effective is brush weatherseal. We install brush weatherseal door sweeps to keep rodents from entering below a door. We also use brush weatherseals around doors and garage doors, and if necessary, replace the base compression seals below the garage doors. Installing a sweep is a simple operation, measure, select the appropriate brush weatherseal, cut and install. Brush weatherseal is superior to vinyl because it forms a seal up to 3 times tighter and lasts much longer. These photos show a door before and after having brush weatherseals and brush door sweeps installed. For do it yourself customers, consider the Sealeze brand brush weatherseal for superior performance.
-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.

Winter Moth's are out now.

You may have noticed either driving home at night, or outside your home or business in the lights, a number of brown moths. These adult winter moths you see will mate, then lay eggs in the bark of host trees such as maples, oak, apple, crabapple, ash, fringetree and blueberry. In the spring, these eggs will hatch and the larval stage will climb to the branches and feed on the leaves, dropping to the ground in late spring to continue the life cycle through the summer in the soil, where they will pupate to emerge as adult moths next November and December. Treatment strategies include early spring horticultural oil on the trunks of host plants to suffocate the eggs, and/or a systemic treatment, such as the Tree Injection Service we provide, to protect susceptible trees. The University of Massachusetts has a great information sheet on winter moth, click here to link to it.
-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.

Recycling Batteries

As we approach the holiday shopping season, plan ahead for your battery needs for camera and gifts. Reduce your battery waste by choosing batteries carefully that will last longer or are recyclable. If you have older batteries, such as those from cell phones or computers, use the Call2Recycle website to locate recycling centers for your batteries. According to Call2Recycle, the average consumer can generate up to 6 rechargeable batteries and 1 cell phone that needs to be recycled every 2 years. By recycling that waste, we protect our environment.
-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.