The appearance of your yard plays an integral role in the overall curb appeal of your property. Trees that are in poor health not only detract from the beauty of your yard, but can also cause widespread damage that can affect the look of your property for years to come. If you have sick-looking trees, contact a lawn care provider in the Pleasanton area for a tree disease diagnosis . Your treatment options depend on the type of disease and the extent of the damage. Some of the most common tree diseases in the Bay Area include:

Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a group of tree diseases that cause dark, sunken lesions on leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits. Also known as leaf blight, anthracnose most noticeably attacks sycamore, ash, oak, and evergreen elm trees. Infections on deciduous plants and trees are more severe in areas where prolonged spring rains occur after new growth appears.

Crown Rot
Several species of soil-borne pathogens cause crown rot in herbaceous and woody plants and trees. Almost all fruit and nut trees, as well as most ornamental trees, can develop crown rot is the soil around the base of the tree remains wet for prolonged periods.

Aspen Canker
Canker disease can cause sunken oval areas on the bark in early stages, but can lead to widespread root and structural damage and areas of crumbling bark over time. In addition to aspen trees, the fungus that causes canker can also affect cottonwood, silver maple, spruce, mountain ash, birch, and willow trees.

Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is one of the most destructive shade tree diseases in North America. DED mainly affects American elms, though other elm species are affecting to varying extents. This fungal disease causes yellow or brown foliage and dark brown or black streaks on the wood just under the bark.

Certain pests have a tendency to creep people out more than others, and the cockroach is among this type. Fortunately there are a few things that you can do to prepare your home so that you do not need to call for pest removal services in San Francisco , CA. Watch this video clip for tips on dealing with a cockroach infestation.

A cockroach infestation is very preventable if you follow certain guidelines. Keep your drains clean and fix any leaks around your house to limit their access; you can also do so by sealing cracks and installing door sweeps on your exterior doors. Be sure to close your trash bins and rinse your recycling as well as store food properly in airtight containers so pests are not attracted. If you notice any signs of an infestation, call for pest removal immediately and let your residential pest control exterminate these unwelcome guests.

While spiders are often given the reputation of one of the scarier types of pests, most kinds are actually not harmful to humans. They are pests nonetheless, though, and are commonly the reason homeowners call for residential pest control in Pleasanton, CA. Continue on for a look at some of the common types of household spiders.

Jumping Spiders
Spiders are typically associated with the webs they create in order to trap their prey as well as increase their mobility. Jumping spiders, on the other hand, are named for the way that they jump around rather than traveling via web. They do not create any webs at all and instead follow their prey and use their jumping abilities to finally pounce on their targets. Jumping spiders are usually a metallic black. These types of spiders can also be identified by their three rows of eyes . Their first row is made up of four eyes, of which the middle two are the largest. Two small eyes make up the middle row, separating the first row from the dual medium sized eyes in the third row. They are active during the day and, partially due to the fact that they do not spin webs, hunt near ground level.

Funnel Weavers
Another type of spider that tends to warrant spider treatment calls to residential or commercial pest control companies is the funnel weaver. Also known as grass spiders, these pests get their name from the funnel webs that they create. Much like jumping spiders, funnel weavers also tend to hunt near to the ground. They are very patient pests; they spend much of their time waiting in the hole of their webs until they catch a victim. Their features vary, and they may have six or eight similarly sized eyes.

Garden Spiders
If you enjoy tending to a garden outside of your home, you may be calling an exterminator to deal with garden spiders. These arachnids may create webs in your garden, using your vegetation to shelter themselves as they wait for their prey. Species may be identified by pest control experts based on the designs of their webs.

There are a variety of different elements that go into enjoying a safe, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing home; residential pest control in Pleasanton, CA can take care of any tiny unwelcome house guests, and garden spraying can help with weeds that sprout up around your property. Keep reading as we put the spotlight on weed control .

Your home is something to take pride in, and part of doing so is keeping it presentable and visually appealing. This may be difficult to do if you have weeds constantly popping up all over your lawn in an attempt to reduce your curbside appeal. Fortunately some residential pest control services are capable of tackling this problem in addition to pest treatment. Performance Pest Management is one such pest control service that is happy to provide weed control services. These services are sterile and can fight off weeds both before and after they have sprung up from the ground. Weed control may be provided during any season of the year so that you can enjoy a pristine lawn all year long. Additionally, Performance Pest Management’s weed control services can be applied in both residential and commercial settings.

Residential and commercial pest control in Pleasanton, CA may include a number of services including ant treatment and rodent removal. Unfortunately, most people do not contact pest removal services until they have a pest control problem, so they rarely know how to prevent or deal with these problems in advance. Read on if you are interested in obtaining answers to your questions about bed bugs.

Where Do Bed Bugs Live?
Bed bugs tend to be excellent survivors , which makes their infestations particularly difficult to completely eradicate. These pests have been associated with developing countries in the past but are now found all over the world. They like to infest areas where humans tend to sleep and, contrary to popular belief, they are not particular to low-income or dirty spaces; bed bugs are just as happy invading high quality hotels and apartments. These insects are commonly found in areas where multiple different people sleep, such as hotels, dorm buildings, and apartments; they also have a habit of infesting trains, buses, and other areas of heavy human traffic. Inside the home they typically live in bed frames, dressers, or even inside mattresses.

Are They Dangerous?
Many people who notice that they have bed bugs frantically call their pest treatment professionals because they are scared of disease and infection. Although bed bugs may be just as unwelcome as other pests, they do not carry disease and thus should not be considered a threat to public health. However, bed bug bites affect different people in different ways; while some do not react to their bites at all, others may experience itching, small marks, or allergic reactions. Unfortunately, those who experience itching may sometimes scratch to the point of secondary infection, and multiple allergic reactions may warrant the attention of a medical professional.

How Can You Treat an Infestation?
If you are suspicious that you may have a bed bug infestation, it is wise to call an exterminator or pest control professional immediately. If you live in an apartment complex or you rent a home, you should also talk to your landlord about pest control options.

Have you seen a rat or mouse scurrying around inside your home? If so, there’s a chance you have a rodent infestation. It’s important to call an exterminator if you suspect a rodent infestation, because it only takes three weeks for a female to give birth to more than a dozen young. For effective rodent control in Pleasanton and surrounding areas, call Performance Pest Management.

Tracks
Use a flashlight to check the dusty areas of your house for footprints or trail marks. If you notice tracks, look closely at them to see what type of rodent you have in your home. Mice have feet that measure about 3/8 inch or less, while rat tracks are usually between 3/4 and 1 inch. Rats drag their tail on the ground, so you may see a mark in between tracks if you have a rat problem.

Rodent Noises
If you hear squeaking, rustling, or scampering around your home, chances are you have a rodent problem . Noises are typically more apparent at night, when you’re going to bed and they are starting to wake up.

Urine, Grease, and Droppings
Rodents produce a prolific amount of waste. You will probably see small mounds of dirt, urine, and droppings around the house if you have a rodent infestation. You may also notice grease marks—this is the oil and dirt found in a rodent’s coat.

Nibble Marks
If you see small holes or gnaw marks in your food packaging, there is a good chance you have a rodent problem on your hands. Rodents do this to keep their incisor teeth sharp. You may also notice gnaw marks on wood, electrical wires, and even dog food.

Nests
Rodents build their nests from materials such as shredded paper, twigs, grass, furniture stuffing, and fabric. Nests are commonly found in dressers, behind appliances, and inside machinery such as computer cases.

Performance Pest Management is the preferred company offering commercial and residential pest control in Pleasanton and nearby areas. Continue for reasons why you should choose Performance Pest Management for your pest treatment needs.

Performance Pest Management is a family-owned business with an emphasis on customer satisfaction, attention to detail, and professionalism. This is why a great deal of our business comes from word-of-mouth referrals from our satisfied customers. Founded in 1979 by Bill Yeoman, Performance Pest Management serves the entire Tri Valley areas and strives to provide same-day pest services whenever possible. We are GreenPro certified by the National Pest Management Association, which means we meet the high standards set by the largest green certification program in the world. Furthermore, we are members of the Pest Control Operators of California, certified in Structural Pest Control by the California Structural Pest Control Board, and certified in Agricultural Pest Control by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Did you know that 56% of homeowners surveyed reported having an ant problem in the past year? Ants are just one of the common pests that can invade your home, causing you to need to call an exterminator in Pleasanton, California . You might be surprised to learn that you can get fleas in your house even if you don’t have any pets. If you have signs of any kind of pest problem, don’t wait to do something about it. Many pests reproduce quickly—in fact, house mice can have as many as six babies every three weeks. Rodents, ants, bees, fleas, and other invaders can affect your quality of life along with your health. Take a look at this infographic to learn more about common household pests. Please share with your friends and neighbors, and do your part to keep your home pest-free.

Many people are afraid of spiders, which is why spider treatment is one of the most popular services offered by residential pest control companies. Spiders are not only creepy, but their bite can be painful or even dangerous to your health in some cases. At Performance Pest Management, we offer effective pest treatment near Pleasanton and other cities in the Tri Valley Area. Read below to learn more about some of the spiders you could find in your California home.

Tarantula
Large, hairy, and infamous, the tarantula is found throughout California. They tend to reside in tight, dark spaces such as pool filters and burrows in the ground. In the fall it’s common to see male tarantulas wandering—outdoors as well as indoors—for female tarantulas to mate with.

Calisoga
Also known as the False Tarantula , the Calisoga spider is smaller than the tarantula. The Calisoga is smaller and it is unable to climb smooth surfaces. They live in burrows and are found frequently in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially in the Oakland hills. Calisoga spiders vary widely in color and form. Just like male tarantulas, male Calisoga are the ones you are likely to see wandering around looking for a female.

Daddy Long Legs
Also known as the cellar spider, daddy long-legs make disorganized, irregular web tangles to catch their prey. The daddy long-legs native to California are small, while the synathropic cellar spiders most common in California are actually an invasive species from Europe.

Black Widow
This is the only spider that you are likely to see in California whose venom is dangerous to human health. You can recognize a black widow by the blotch of coloration on its abdomen, which can be red, yellow, or orange. Many people refer to this blotch as being hour-glass shaped, but this is not always the case. Males and immature females are not solid black, and oftentimes have marble-like patterns on their abdomens.

Picking weeds can be backbreaking work, especially if your lawn is overrun with weeds. Thankfully, your Pleasanton lawn treatment provider can do all the work for you. An integrated approach to weed management includes any number of weed control services, including pre- and post-emergent spraying and year-round weed control. Not only will you save the time and energy of pulling weeds yourself, but you can expect a finished result that makes your yard more beautiful than ever.

If you’re looking for professional weed control services in the tri valley area , consider an integrated lawn management approach that will keep your landscape healthy and beautiful. Having a landscape you can be proud of will increase your home’s curb appeal and may even help you fetch more at closing when the time comes to sell your home.