Lyme Disease Protocol

Posted on July 17, 2013 by pblsadmn

Tick Control Bucks County

At Peter Benz Landscaping we put a strong focus on helping our clients prevent the spread of Lyme disease through a variety of tick control services in Bucks County. These services include the installation of deer fencing and Damminix Tick Tubes. If you or someone you know has already been diagnosed with the disease, here are some helpful suggestions on how to take care of yourself.

Diet

The bacteria and microbes of the disease feed on glucose for energy so you should try and cut as much as this out as you can. This means to eat less of sweets and simple carbohydrates like cakes, pastas and breads. Lyme microbes can actually produce chemicals that can make you crave sweets so that you can feed them. The more you are able to avoid giving into them, the better you will feel. Resist the urge to feed the problem!

Read more about Lyme Disease Protocol →

How to Attract Butterflies to Your Yard

Posted on June 21, 2013 by pblsadmn

There’s nothing like enjoying your beautiful garden with the view of brightly colored butterflies flying around it. Not only are these little critters stunning to look at but they also help with pollinating your flowers. To attract butterflies you need to learn what plants to incorporate within your landscape design.

Our native landscape designer, Beverly Auvil shared with us her suggestions on how to attract butterflies to your yard:

Butterflies are attracted to “butterfly bushes” or the Buddleia davidii, so it’s natural that people buy these plants trying to bring more butterflies onto their property. Butterflies are attracted to these plants because they feed on the nectar, but the Buddleia is an exotic invasive plant. Exotic plants are species that evolved in different ecosystems and have few native predators and diseases. According to Michael Dirr, a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia and expert on landscape trees and shrubs, both Buddleia alternifolia and Buddleia davidii are native to China.

The biggest problem with the Buddleia, or the butterfly bush, is that it is indeed invasive to Bucks County and surrounding areas. Since it is an exotic plant and has fewer predators and diseases, it can out- compete native plants, altering the balance in native habitats. It will produce seeds and the seeds will travel through birds, wind and other animals to additional locations. When an exotic, invasive plant invades our local ecosystem it takes the place of a native plant. When more and more exotic plants replace native plants on our properties and natural areas, our habitats begin to become compromised. This causes our indigenous butterflies and other wildlife to decline in population, or even become extinct.

To truly understand how to attract butterflies to your property, it’s important to also understand the life cycle of butterflies. Here is an example using the Monarch butterfly:

Preventive Tree Injections

Posted on June 3, 2013 by pblsadmn

As a resident in Bucks County, you are at a high risk for losing trees due to many different pests and diseases that we are prone to in our area. The loss of a tree can result in thousands of dollars in removal fees and a decreased property value. Peter Benz Landscaping uses ArborJet tree injections to prevent any damage from diseases and pests like the Emerald Ash Borer, the Woolly Adelgid and Oak Wilt.

What are the symptoms of an infected tree?

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive pest that attacks ash trees. If you have an infected ash tree on your property you may notice dead branches, thinning of the upper part of the tree and splitting bark. As of 2012, a total of 32 counties in Pennsylvania, including Bucks County, were infested with the EAB and the rest of the state was named a quarantine zone.

Boxwood Blight in Bucks County

Posted on April 10, 2013 by pblsadmn

The boxwood blight, also known as box blight or boxwood leaf drop, is a fungal disease of boxwoods that was first seen in the US in October 2011. It was initially discovered in North Carolina and Connecticut, but by early 2012 it had also been found in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. We have since noticed its appearance in the Bucks County Pa area.

So far it seems as though most commercial boxwoods, especially English and American, are highly susceptible to the disease, as is pachysandra, which is in the boxwood family. This disease doesn’t normally kill the host but causes significant defoliation and branch die-back. If boxwood blight is present your initial indication will be dark or light brown spots on leaves. The leaves will then turn brown or straw color and fall off. The stems of the boxwood will also develop black or dark brown lesions.

At Peter Benz Landscaping, we highly recommend that any new boxwood brought onto a property is quarantined for a least one month after leaving the nursery. Many nurseries are spraying boxwoods with preventive fungicides that can temporarily mask the symptoms of the disease. After 2 to 3 weeks the fungicides will wear off and the disease may cause a rapid decline in affected plants.

Lyme Disease in Pa- What are the symptoms?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by pblsadmn

Pennsylvania has been noted to be one of the top states in the nation of the most reported Lyme disease cases. This primarily non-fatal disease affects thousands of Pennsylvania residents each year. It is spread through deer tick bites, often transported onto suburban and rural lawns by white-tailed deer. Peter Benz Landscaping installs deer fencing and provides additional tick control services that can be a crucial step in Lyme disease prevention. Although it’s very important to also be aware of any possible symptoms associated with the disease.

Make sure you and your family are aware of the following symptoms Lyme disease may cause and contact your physician right away if you notice any sign.

Early Symptoms: These can occur within a month after being infected with Lyme disease.

• Rash: This is the most vital and obvious symptom associated with Lyme disease. A small, red bump may appear at the site of the tick bite, although a red bump associated with a tick bite doesn’t necessarily mean it’s Lyme disease. But, if the redness increases over the next few days, forming a bulls-eye pattern it is a serious sign of a Lyme disease infection. Some people may develop this rash in several different places on their body.

• Flu-like Symptoms: You want to keep an eye out for feelings like: fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache (usually associated with the bulls-eye rash).

Later Symptoms: Several weeks to months after being infected you may notice some of these symptoms.

• Joint Problems: You may notice outbreaks of severe joint pain and swelling, especially in your knees. The pain can shift back and forth between different joints.

• Neurological Problems: Some serious issues may occur weeks, months or even years after you have been infected. These issues may be inflammation of your brain membranes (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of your face (Bell’s palsy), numbness or weakness of your limbs and impaired muscle movement.

Don’t let anyone in your family come in contact with any infected deer ticks. By taking advantage of tick control services, you can avoid the dangers and threats of Lyme disease. Contact Peter Benz Landscaping to have one of our experienced tick control technicians install the right tools to decrease the population and prevent the spread of Lyme disease on and around your Bucks County property.