Every year beginning in February and stretching through May, subterranean termite swarm season occurs. This is typically the only time of year where you actually see this type of termite since the rest of the year they remain underground in search of food.
Swarm season occurs as the weather begins to warm back up and we start to enter our rainy season. This drives the termites to leave their colonies and go on mating flights. Here are a few things to look for if you suspect you may have termites:

* Discarded Wings. Often present after a swarm, they are typically found in small piles near window ledges and other light sources.

* Mud Tubes and/or Tunnels. Because they prefer dark, moist conditions, foraging termites construct mud tubes as protective runways from the earth to the wood inside a home. Look for mud tubes along the foundation of your home, around doors and windows and on wood posts.

* Small Holes in Wood or Drywall or Blistered Paint. When termites swarm within your home, they often create small exit holes. Because termites eat wood products from the inside out, they usually hollow the wood along the grain. This can cause ripples in the exterior of the wood itself, or cause the paint to blister.

* Structural Damage. This could include soft spots in walls, sagging floors, loose trim and cracked plaster. Also, check for “hollow” sounding wall studs.

For additional information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section or call us and we’d be happy to help.

This week much of the Southeast is expected to experience freezing temperatures, which can cause severe damage to lawns, trees and shrubs.  Here are a few tips to take when a freeze is in the forecast:

• Irrigate before a frost or freeze to ensure there is proper moisture in the soil root zone, however make sure irrigation is stopped early enough to allow time for leaves to dry to avoid ice forming on them.
• Cover cold-sensitive plants with blankets or boxes, but not plastic.  Be sure to remove the covering as soon as the temperatures begin to warm up.
• Do not mow turf that is frozen, and keep the lawn mowed high.  This can reduce cold injury in two ways.  First, it will promote a deeper root system that will provide greater stress tolerance.  Second, it will create a warmer micro-environment within the lawn.
• Avoid foot traffic and vehicular traffic on frozen turf, as it can increase damage.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or visit our freeze information page!

We’re very excited to announce we were recently named “Best Landscaping Company” Reader’s Choice Award for 2011 by the Orlando Business Journal.

The award, based entirely on votes cast by Central Florida residents, was reported in the business periodical this month.

Thank you to our customers who nominated us and made us #1!

As you travel to visit friends and family this holiday season, there is no better way to spread holiday cheer than to bring a tasty treat to share. A twist on a classic favorite will be sure to impress – Chocolate Mint Brownies!

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 can (16 ounces) chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups butter, plus 1 tablespoon
1 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
3 drops green food coloring
10 ounces mint chocolate chips*

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix butter (1/2 cups, softened) and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in syrup and vanilla. Add flour and salt; mix well. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350⁰ for 30 minutes (top of brownies will still appear wet). Cool on a wire rack.

Filling:
In a small bowl, cream butter (1/2 cup, softened) and confectioners’ sugar; add the water, mint extract and food coloring until blended. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until set.

Topping:
Melt mint chocolate chips and butter (1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon, cubed). Cool for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread over filling. Chill. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

* If mint chocolate chips are not available, place 2 cups (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract in a plastic bag; seal and toss to coat. Allow chips to stand for 24-48 hours before using in the topping.

Happy Holidays from Massey Services!

The holidays are upon us and many of us are packing up and traveling to spend time with family and friends or hosting the festivities at your own home.
But as our travel plans get closer, we continue to see more and more in the news about bed bugs. So how can you prevent bed bugs from ruining your holiday plans?

Here are a few commonly asked questions about bed bugs that may help as you’re checking into a hotel or having guests stay over.

What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are tiny, oval, brown and wingless insects approximately
1/4” to 3/8” long (5-9 mm).

Is there really a huge outbreak?
Bed bugs have made a comeback in the United States over the last
few years. The largest outbreaks have been reported in large
cities with high rates of tourism.

Where are bed bugs typically found?
Bed bugs are most frequently found in hotels. They travel by
hitching rides with unsuspecting guests by crawling into clothing
and luggage. All hotels are susceptible to bed bugs – from motels to
five star hotels.

What can I do to protect myself?
When checking into a hotel room or after visiting guests have left your
home, you can perform a simple bed bug inspection of the room.
1) Pull pillows & sheets down about 1/3 of the way from the top of the
bed and look for reddish-brown or black spots on the sheets near the
bed’s headboard. You may not see the actual bugs themselves but they
do leave a trail of spots.
2) Look for spots on mattresses, pillows, headboards and walls behind
headboards.
3) Check the inside of dresser drawers for insects & black spots.
Contact Guest Services immediately if you’ve found any signs
of bed bugs during your inspection.

If I suspect I was in a room with bed bugs, what should I do
when I return home?
1) Isolate the items in your travel bags from other items in your home –
the garage is a great place.
2) Put clothing and other heat tolerant items into your dryer for a minimum of 20 minutes – the heat will eliminate bed bugs.
3) After thoroughly heating the items, wash as normal.
4) Check all luggage before storing it away. Vacuum out luggage and
clean the exterior surface.

What if I have guests staying in my home?
When welcoming family and friends into your home who have been
staying in hotels or on a cruise ship, be aware that bed bugs may have
hitched a ride with them. After your guests leave, carefully inspect guest
rooms for any signs of bed bugs. Wash all bed linens as soon as possible.

Happy Thanksgiving! Every year at Massey Services we look for a tasty dessert to share with our customers and team members for Thanksgiving. This year, we discovered Pumpkin Icebox Pie and it was so good we just had to share it!

Crust:
16 cinnamon graham crackers
1 tablespoon dark-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling & Topping:
3 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
1 can (29 ounces) pure pumpkin puree
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
3/4 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Directions for Crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a food processor, combine graham crackers (broken up), sugar and salt; process until fine crumbs form. With machine running, slowly pour butter through feed tube and process until mixture resembles wet sand. Press crumbs in bottom and up sides of a 9-inch square baking dish. Bake until crust is deep golden brown, 20 minutes. Let cool completely.

Filling: Place 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin on top and let stand 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree and cream cheese until smooth. In a small saucepan, combine evaporated milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved. Pour milk mixture into pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely smooth. Pour filling into cooled crust and refrigerate until chilled and completely set, about 3 hours (or wrap tightly with plastic and refrigerate, up to 2 days). To serve, whip cream with confectioners’ sugar until soft peaks form. Top pie with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We are pleased to announce the acquisition of American Pest Control Management, Inc. Based in Southwest Florida, American Pest Control Management has been providing services to more than 7,000 homes and businesses in counties from Tampa to Naples.

“American Pest Control Management has been a well-respected company in Florida for the last 20 years. Their commitment to quality service is an excellent fit with our company,” said Tony Massey, President and COO of Massey Services. “We are pleased to welcome the entire team from American Pest Control Management to the Massey Services family.”

Suzanne Graham, the former owner, Linden Curtis, the former Sales and Service Manager, and the entire American Pest Control Management team have joined Massey and will continue to focus on providing quality customer service.

Please join us in welcoming the American Pest Control Management team to Massey!

As ghosts and goblins roam around your neighborhood this Halloween, brown and black widow spiders may be roaming around your yard.

Other than the difference in color, the two widows have several distinguishing features. The brown widow is slightly smaller than the black widow, and the black widow’s egg case is round and smooth while the brown widow’s egg case has a spiny appearance.

Both widows create their webs in protected areas where prey will wander in and be trapped. You are likely to find widow spiders around the outside of your home and yard. Common habitats include foundations, vents, shrubs and wood piles at ground level.

If you have additional questions about widow spiders or any other pests, you can call us at: 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Have a Happy, Safe, and Spider-Free Halloween!

We are pleased to announce our Technical and Training Director for Pest Prevention, Phil (or as we all call him, “Doc”) Nichols, was awarded the 2011 Crown Leadership Award by Pest Control Technology & Syngenta Professional Products!!

This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the development of the pest control industry and have established strong relationships with fellow business leaders, civic groups and customers in their local communities.

Doc is an expert in the pest prevention industry with over 35 years of experience. He helped introduce Termidor® to the US market in 2000 and is well-respected by professionals in the industry for his advancements in termite treatment and his extensive research and development of new pest prevention equipment.

Doc was presented with this prestigious award last Thursday, October 20th, at the National Pest Management conference in New Orleans.

Congratulations Doc!

We are finally getting hints that long awaited, cooler weather is on its way to the Southeast. This means it’s time to prepare your lawn for the months ahead, when the chance of rainfall decreases and temperatures drop.

So where do you start when it comes to winterizing your yard? We know that every lawn is different. That is why we perform a full landscape inspection. While proper fertilization, disease control and a strong root system are essential to maintaining a healthy landscape during this time of year, there are several other actions that you can take to help your lawn and landscape remain beautiful year round.

Below are some tips from our GreenUP specialists on how you can help your lawn and shrubs thrive during the cooler months of the year.

• Adjust your watering frequency. Generally speaking, ¾” to 1” of water once every 7 to 10 days is adequate.

• Keep your lawn mowed high. This will promote a deeper root system which will provide your lawn with a greater stress tolerance. In addition, higher mowing heights can create a warmer micro-environment due to the extra canopy cover provided by the longer leaf tissue.

• Look out for brown patch. Cooler temperatures and rain are ideal conditions for Brown Patch to pop up in your landscape and cause damage. Brown Patch is a fungus in the soil that lays dormant until the conditions are just right for it to flourish, with shaded areas that retain water being especially prone to the disease.

If you have Massey’s GreenUP Landscape Services:
It is important for you to know that your lawn specialist has already begun preparing your lawn for the cooler months. Your lawn has been treated for pre-emergent weeds and in the next few months your lawn will receive a winterizing fertilizer to help reduce any damage caused by cooler weather.

Even though this is designed to strengthen your landscape against cold temperatures and reduce injury, any extended freezing temperatures may cause irreversible damage that may require some renovation in the Spring. If you have questions about your landscape, please don’t hesitate to contact us or call us at 1-866-316-8020.

If you don’t have Massey’s GreenUP Landscape Services:
Let us help prepare your lawn for the cooler temperatures. We offer a FREE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS where we will create a winterized plan specific to your lawn and landscape.

Don’t let your lawn fall victim to the damage caused by cooler temperatures, contact us today at 1-866-316-8020 to schedule your FREE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS .