As integrated pest ;management professionals, we pride ourselves on doing our work efficiently and effectively. However, sometimes, no matter how we try, there just is not way to fix this. On today’s episode of the Pestgeek Podcast, host and integrated pest control management specialist Frank ‘The Pestgeek’ Hernandez reveals why certain landscapes are beyond the effective control an integrated pest management professional thereby rendering all attempts to maintain a beautiful lawn a task with very limited success. Over the course of ten years, we have struggled to maintain this lawn with limited success. Why? This patio for instance contains a massive oak tree that casts a shadow over considerable area of this beautiful law, blocking essential sunlight. In addition to this, this oak tree has enormous roots which are competing for resources. We find old ficus trees competing for resources as well. The areas of the lawn that benefit from the direct sunlight are beautiful and healthy as expected while the shaded areas remain in stark contrast to the healthy areas. We also find a deck with no access to irrigation beyond it which results in weeds and possibly chinch bugs during draught seasons. This patio is near a lake where product is restricted from use by law within 10 feet of a body of water. We also find additional shade from Palm trees that restrict growth there. #lawncare #oaktrees #ficusplant #pestcontroltraining #pestcontrol #pestcontrolservice #pest #termitecontrol #pestmanagement #bugs #pestcontrollife #pestcontrolmiami #IntegratedPestManagement #IPM Support Us On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Pestgeekpodcast Web Site: https://pestgeekpodcast.com/category/podcast/ Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pestgeekpodcast/ Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pestgeekpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/pestgeekpodcast Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklin-hernandez-49832a55/ Linkedin Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pestgeekpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pestgeekpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pestgeekpodcast/
Find out why making your voice heard on many topics that impact your business is vital. You may not think lobbying your government for your interests as a wildlife control professional matters to you or your business but it actually should. On today’s edition of the Living The Wildlife Podcast, host and wildlife control consultant Stephen Vantassel discusses the importance of learning to lobby the government in favor of the interests of the wildlife control industry. One of the resources covered is the division known as APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) which is a subgroup under the United Stated Department Of Agriculture (USDA). These agencies have subgroups that are tasked with different activities. As part of its initiative to fully represent your interests in its strategic plan, APHIS has extended its comment period to allow wildlife control professionals to share their thoughts and recommendations to guide the agencies work over the course of the next 5 years....
Of all the steps needed to launch your Integrated Pest Control business, there are 3 items most business owners struggle with. On today’s edition of the Pestgeek Podcast, host and Integrated Pest Management Specialist Frank ‘The Pestgeek’ Hernandez discusses the importance of three things when you are starting your own integrated pest control management business: -How to get customers -How to market -How to hire the right people Of these three: learning how to hire is the greatest challenge as a business owner. The technician turned owner believes the technical is the most important part. However, if your tech has no people skills you’re biggest problem is getting customers. What matters most in hiring is locating candidates with soft skills and the ability to relate to others. This is actually more important than possessing good technical skills. #pestcontroltraining #pestcontrol #pestcontrolservice #pest #pestmanagement #pestcontrollife #pestcontrolmiami #IntegratedPestManagem...
Impossible landscapes to maintain on today’s edition of the Pestgeek Podcast with integrated pest control management professional Franklin ‘The Pestgeek’ Hernandez. This beautiful lawn on a lakefront property lined with over 30 palm trees has been serviced by us for close to 15 years yet we have never been able to fix some issues with it. Lakefront properties place two important restrictions on our services: ten to fifteen feet from the water, it is illegal to treat this lawn with fertilizer and the problems are clearly visible: weeds. Florida and federal law do not allow insecticides nor fungicides to be sprayed within ten to 15 feet from a body of water. Another issue is the fact that the lawn is being ‘scalped’ (mowed at 1 inch length). The optimum length should be at least three inches.It should be noted, however, that chemicals do not make the grass green. What makes grass green is proper cultural care. 5 things that every lawn needs to grow successfully: -right plant in t...
There is an important distinction to be made by wildlife control professionals to help the public have a proper understanding of these procedures without perpetuating myths. On today’s edition of the Living The Wildlife Podcast, host and wildlife control consultant Stephen Vantassel gives us a brief presentation on alligator euthanasia which consists of terminating an alligator while it is unconscious vs. humane dispatch which involves a rapid killing of the animal while it is still conscious. Watch this video! #wildlifecontrol #wildliferemoval #alligator Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC Blog: https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/ Papers: https://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxP_IBhnqcgvX_aRM4f91nQ Podcasts: https://pestgeekpodcast.com/stephen-vantassel/ Phone: 406-272-5323 Mtn Time Helping people resolve conflicts with wildlife through teaching, training, writing, and research Wildlife Contro...
Are you a pest control pro who struggles with growth potential in your field? On today’s edition of the Pestgeek podcast, host and integrated pest control management professional Franklin Hernandez discusses the limited growth potential of an IPM technician versus an IPM business owner. In fact, the numbers show that there is plenty of room for all as the Bureau of Labor reports that currently there are only 83,000 pest technicians in the country. Are you a pest control technician? This video might be the nudge you need to start your own IPM business! Do not skip this video! #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolprofessionals #pestcontrolmiami #pestcontrolservice #pest#pestmanagement #bugs #pestcontrollife
Having trouble with gophers? On today’s edition of the Living The Wildlife Podcast, host and wildlife control consultant Stephen Vantassel reviews the Burrow Buddy gopher trapping tool. This tool is useful for catching pocket gophers, widely referred to simply as gophers (burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae endemic to North and Central America. Gophers are commonly known for their extensive tunneling activities and their ability to wreak havoc on farms and gardens. Stephen came across the Burrow Buddy on champion gopher trapper Gerald Fesky’s (inventor of Burrow Buddy trapping tool) YouTube channel. This tool is used in tandem with the DK-1 gopher and mole trap which is normally set in a fresh hole no more than several days old. Do not skip this video! #rodentcontrol #wildlifecontrol #rodent1a #gopher Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC Blog: https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/ Papers: https://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel Video...
It may be a little known fact that most pest control professionals in the IPM industry come from diverse backgrounds. In fact, many IPM professionals come from different academic backgrounds and careers altogether. Having gotten his start in the IT field as a programmer, host and integrated pest control management professional Franklin ‘The Pestgeek’ Hernandez would eventually transition to sales and finally find a rewarding career in holistic pest management. On this consultation with former teacher and IPM startup business owner Fred Estopier, we find out why such a rewarding career in pest control is undervalued. Thinking about getting into the holistic pest control business? There is plenty of room for all as the Bureau of Labor reports that currently there are only 83,000 pest technicians in the country. So what does it take? Click here for the whole consultation. #pestcontrolcareers #pestcontrolmiami #IntegratedPestManagement #IPM #pestcontrolbusiness #businessconsultation #...
You are well aware that standing water is the number one breeding spot for mosquitoes if you are an integrated pest management professional,. Mosquitoes breed by laying eggs in stagnant water. Mosquito larvae thrive in standing water, the larvae require only minimal amounts of water. In fact, something as small as a puddle of water on a discarded plastic bag can house them. On today’s edition of the Pestgeek podcast, we discuss the a turnpike in Miami that is with several miles of stagnant water creating the ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed in astronomical numbers. If you are having major issues with mosquitoes in this Miami area, this is most likely the source of your problem. Watch the video! #mosquitoes #mosquitocontrol #getridofmosquitoesnaturally #pestcontroltraining #pestcontrol #pestcontrolservice #pest #integratedpestmanagement #pestmanagement #bugs #pestcontrollife Support Us On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PestgeekpodcastWeb Site: https://pestgeekpodcast.com/...
If you are in the wildlife control business, you do not want to miss this video! Basic wildlife control baiting theory and tactics are the focus of today’s episode of the Living The Wildlife Podcast as host and wildlife control consultant Stephen Vantassel gives us a brief overview of the wildlife baiting theory and tactics. To start, he takes through the proper definition of wildlife attractants (materials that entice animals to approach a location through sight, sound, taste or any combination) as well as bait (solid attractants eaten by wildlife) and lure (liquid or aerosol attractants smelled by wildlife). In addition to this, Stephen walks us through the proper way to setup a cage trap or foothold to make it attractive to an animal. Baited sets or sets with attractants need to entice animals and Stephen shows us how. Watch this video for more! #wildlifecontrol #wildliferemoval #urbanwildlife #rodentcontrol Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC Blog: ...