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Common Indoor Bugs

September 15th, 2009 No comments

The common indoor bugs we see all over the world are flies, spiders, fleas and beetles. No-one likes to have a bug indoors, so most people go to almost any lengths to get rid of these common indoor bugs. Less common indoor bugs may be woodlice, earwigs, scorpions and millipedes or centipedes, although they are no less unwelcome.

It does not matter where you are in the world, it is very difficult to keep these common indoor bugs outside, unless you go to the extremes of keeping all your windows and doors shut all of the time, which is obviously impossible. I now live in Thailand and I know for sure that this is not an option.

So, just what can you do about it? Well, let’s deal with all the flying bugs first, as of all the common indoor bugs, I think they are the most obnoxious indoor bug. They are very annoying, buzzing around your head and mosquitoes and other flies can create irritating sores and besides that, all flies carry disease. I cannot bear to see them walking on food, knowing that they have more than likely just come off some dung heap somewhere and now they are spitting on my food to taste it with their dirty feet!

My first line of defence is fine-mesh door and widow screens. They are not dear and can be fitted retrospectively to any window. My window meshes slide, so they can protect only one half of a window at a any one time, but I do not think that’s a problem. You can still create cross-winds, by opening two or more windows at opposing ends of a room. I love to see the flies on the mesh struggling to get in by day and the mosquitoes doing the same by night. At night, it is best to switch on as little light indoors as possible so as not to draw these common indoor bugs.

My second line of defence is natural predators – lizards, like Geckos (Jin Jok, in Thai). Some people don’t like them in the house much either and I can’t say that I’m all that keen on them indoors myself, but they are hard to keep outside and they do eat hundreds, if not thousands, of indoor bugs every day. I especially like to see them lying in wait on the outside of the mesh, ready to jump on any bug trying to struggle its way through the wires.

My third line of defence is an indoor bug zapper. You know, the electric, handheld bug zapper that looks like a child’s tennis racquet. They are fantastic at catching and destroying any flying indoor bug. The inset literally explodes and vaporizes on contact with the fully-charged wires of the indoor bug zapper. If you haven’t tried using one, you really should. They are most gratifying. These three defences keep our house quite much free of flies.

The creeping common indoor bugs are less of a problem really. Door screens on springs will keep 95% of them out and the Geckos will help too. Spiders can get in fairly easily, but then, I don’t mind them too much as long as they keep out of my way, as they eat other insects too. They are on our side to be honest. However, for those who can not bear to trap them and put them outside, the handheld indoor bug zapper works a treat on spiders too.

Sometimes, Fleas can be a problem, if you have cats or dogs, but then if you wash or dust the animal once a month, you should be able to keep these common indoor bugs under control fairly easily. However, there are two final measures that we use. Once a week, before we go out for the day, we spray every room with fly killer and every six-months we spray any rugs or carpets with an insect killer containing permethrin, which will survive washing and vacuuming for that long without losing its ability to kill common indoor bugs on contact. If you follow these methods, you should be able to keep your home or office quite free of the most common indoor bugs and the less common indoor bug as well.

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Common Outdoor Lighting Mistakes

September 15th, 2009 No comments

Outdoor lighting can be deceptively tricky. Part of the problem is that it can appear so simple. How tricky is it to illuminate some flowerbeds? Frankly, it may not be hard to light, but it is tricky to light well. Since no one desires their outdoors to seem like an kid tossed up some festival lights, it’s useful to keep in mind some common mistakes.

Lack of a Goal

When creating an outdoor lighting design, your first thought ought to be what you want to accomplish. Safety, security, spotlighting, overall artistry ” there are lots of different goals for outdoor lighting. Make sure yours is firmly in mind before you begin. Knowing your goal will let you to plan more efficiently, saving time, money, and inevitable annoyance.

Lifeless Placement of Lights

When lighting a pathway, don’t plunge into the trap of an uniform line of lights. It’s visually uninteresting; you’re not lighting an airport landing strip. Position lights at intermittent intervals, making certain to equally light the route and be pleasant to the eye.

Hide landscape lighting fixtures save they’re intended to be a focal point. The attention should be drawn to the area lit, not the cause of the lighting.

Incorrect Quantity of Lights

Though more does not equal better, you also don’t desire to allow pronounced dark areas. Spots of darkness attract the eye to the lights instead of the area being lit. Don’t overdo it ” you don’t want your yard to appear resembling a car lot ” but don’t under do it, either.

Unwise Direction of Lights

Improperly aimed lighting can form glares, distract passing drivers, or even shine into the eyes of people outside. It’d be a shame to ruin an evening garden gathering because your lighting blinded your guests.

Wrong Type of Lights

It is not the most exciting area, but the sort of illumination you use really affects the whole look. A vertical differentiation of 10 feet could require you to go from a 20 watt to a 30 watt bulb. Halogen bulbs emulate moonlight’s bluer hue. Low-voltage bulbs can light without overpowering. Garage and porch lighting may well have to be adjusted so their bright lights don’t undermine an effect. These considerations are critical to pull off a unified look.

Wrong Colors of Lights

Take great control with colored lights or filters. You don’t want your lighting project to come across like something more suitable for a Ringling Bros. Circus than your backyard. You may want to steer clear of colored lights overall since they can often look garish. Filters can be used to pleasant effect, but only if done subtly. Never use a separate color filter in every light.

Every property offers its own palette on which licensed landscapers can make distinct looks to best compliment the property. The slightest wattage differences, changes in lighting angles, and relocation of lighting fixtures will show a completely changed look. If it all appears overwhelming, look into contracting a certified landscaper. They will manage all these intricate details and get the job done correctly, making your home look its very best.

Paula Alford has made Ulitimate Landscape Concepts a leader in landscaping for many reasons. First and foremost, their service. After all, landscaping is a service business. Second, their wonderful and colorful blueprints. Not chintzy, obscure drawings, but architectural renderings where you see what the end result will look like. This article powered by SEO 2.0 Services