September 2004 / Vol.1 / Issue 4

Hello and Welcome to the September Greenpest News. Each month we aim to provide you with some useful information, keeping it short, sweet and pertinent.

Contents

1. Pest Talk
2. To Bait or Not to Bait Part 3 of 3.
3. Customer Question of the Month.
4. Monthly Special

Pest Talk

How often should you have your home checked for termites?

The Australian Standards recommend that all homes should be inspected at least once per year.  More often, if you are at high risk and your budget allows for it.

It's only logical really.  If you can detect termite activity early, then the amount of damage will be minimised; as well as the cost of repairs.

There really are NO exceptions. I'm safe, I have a steel frame home.  Wrong, termites can still do expensive damage to wooden trim, kitchen cupboards, carpet edging or other timber items in the house including bookcases and the books in them.

• I'm safe, I have a steel frame home.  Wrong, termites can still do expensive damage to wooden trim, kitchen cupboards, carpet edging or other timber items in the house including bookcases and the books in them.
• I'm safe, I have a termite interception and/or bait system installed.  Wrong, it is still slightly possible that termites may find a way to slip past.
• I'm safe, my home is new and has a lifetime termite warranty on it.  Wrong again, most of the warranties on a new home are conditional on having the home checked for termites annually.  Please check the fine print in the contract.
• I'm safe, I just had a full perimeter treated zone installed.  Wrong, it is still slightly possible that termites might find an entrance through a weakness or fault in the treated zone.
• I'm safe, this house has been here for 50 years and it's never had termites.  Wrong, it may be only a matter of time before the luck runs out.
• I'm safe, I have invested in termite insurance.  Wrong, please read the fine print.  It is subject to conditions, namely regular inspections and exactly following the instructions of the pest control company that sold you the policy.  (Which may prove to be more expensive than potential damage from termites.)
• I'm safe, I check the house regularly myself.  This is a good habit to have, especially if you are knowledgeable about termites.  Few people really are.  In our next newsletter we will cover some simple things that you can do to check for termites yourself between professional inspections.

Finally, don't throw the baby out with the bath water.  Just because there is no 100% means of termite proofing your home, doesn't mean you shouldn't implement an appropriate method to reduce termite risk.  In the end it is your home and your budget.  Affordable termite prevention is a sensible decision.  So too is having your home inspected at least once per year.

This may seem strange, but our service company Green Pest Control no longer offers termite inspections.   We simply cannot find enough qualified staff to service the demand.  However we can arrange inspections through our affiliates with-in the industry.  If you would like help in finding a trustworthy company to inspect your home, please let us know.

We like to be fair and honest which is why we want you to know that... yes, we do receive a small commission for this service, but it is not added on to the price that our affiliates charge you.  Most people don't know who to trust.  We will refer you to people that we trust.

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To Bait or Not to Bait Part 3 of 3.

Customer Question of the Month (July/August continued).

After my annual inspection, termites were found in my yard but my house was given the all clear.  The inspection report said I must have a perimeter treatment carried out if I am to prevent the termites getting into the home.  It is very expensive and I wonder if termite baits from your company will do instead?
Daniel V. - Maroochydore.

Answer:
In the past two months we have briefly covered the subject of when baits are advisable as well as when they may not be best suited. This month I'd like to discuss when a termite perimeter treatment would be useful.

A termite perimeter treatment may be your first choice IF termites have found their way into your home already.  They need to be stopped sooner than later.  This can be done a few different ways.  Two common methods are:

Some pesties might suggest an above ground termite bait station, however these are known to fail for a number of reasons which we won't cover right now.  They can also be very slow acting which means further damage may be occurring whilst the bait matrix takes effect.  Sometimes however they may well be the best or most affordable option.

Back to our original question.  If a chemical  perimeter treatment is the best option and you choose to utilise it, then it's very important that your termite professional is able to ascertain the entry point(s) of the termites.  Once this is done there are two options worth considering.

It's important that the termites already in the home are destroyed.  It is even better if we can find and destroy their nest.  The nest may be in the home, under the home, or coming from a source outside the home.  You should never attempt to kill termites inside the home yourself.  Please, never disturb termites if you find them.  Always seek professional advice.  Termites are tricky little blighters.  We've seen too many cases where people had thought they'd got rid of their termites with a few spurts from a tin of fly spray, only to find out months later the true cost of their action.

Prevention is always better than cure, but if termites are already in your home, you'll need to cure it first, then implement further prevention methods so that you don't face the same problem again in a year's time.

In many cases we carry out a partial treatment, then install a full Green Termite Bait System .

One thing you need to keep in mind is this.  A chemical perimeter treated zone will break down over time.  Some chemicals biodegrade faster than others and might only give you one year of protection in poor conditions while others might give you up to ten years in ideal conditions.  There is considerable debate on this.  If you are unsure as to whether or not your last perimeter treatment is still effective, then you either need to refresh it, or put an affordable Green Termite Bait System in place to compliment it.

You should also have your home inspected by a professional for termites at least once year.  (See article above.)

Finally I'd like to remind you that every home is different and the comments in this 3 part article are a brief generalised overview.  Termites are a complex issue.  Should you suspect you have termite activity please contact ourselves or your local professional to call out and give your home personalised attention.

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Customer Question of the Month.

Question:

Hi,
Would you be able to tell me the best time to spray for bindii?  It seems that every year the prickles make it through and drive me, the kids and even the dog crazy!
Thanks,
George C. - Banyo

Answer:

Spring (September & October) is best, but more importantly it is best BEFORE the bindii go to seed.  So to avoid the bindii you had last year you need to get about and spray them NOW.

You will need to use a suitable selective herbicide so as to kill the bindii (and clover too) but not your lawn.  We would recommend 2,4-D.  If you elect to do it yourself, follow the directions on the label carefully or you may damage your lawn.

Be very careful of wind and spray drift or you may kill non-target plants in your garden (or worse still... in your neighbour's garden.)

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The Greenpest News is Published by J & A Furnell Nominees P/L; Shop 23a Franklin Square, 60 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of Jerry Furnell. The reader is encouraged to seek further information from appropriate government and statutory departments before taking any action based on this material alone.

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See you again next month.

Always... At your service,

Jerry Furnell
Green Pest Control & Green Termite Bait Systems.
Phone 1800 6 12345.

Copyright 2004 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.

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