The following information comes from the pamphelt Prepared by Orange County Public Utilities Divison and the Orange County Extension Service

Orange County Compost

Since 1992, yard waste has been collected from Orange County homes and composted.  The final product of the compost processing resembles peat moss, is free of weed seeds and plant pests, and contains some plant nutirents.  Compost often has a soil pH of about 8.0 which means the soil is alkaline and should not be used with plants that need a very acidic soil such as azaleas and blueberries.

Take up to a pickup truck load of Orange County Compost Free! Bring a shovel and containers.

University of Florida and Orange County studies have shown that compost makes a great mulch and soil improvement.

Available Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at:
McLeod Road Transfer Station
5000 L. B. McLeod Road
Orlando, FL  32811
407-245-0931

Available daily from 8:00am-5:00pm
Orange County Landfill
12100 Young Pine Road
Orlando, FL  32829
407-836-6601

Porter Transfer Station
8750 White Road
Orlando, FL  32818
407-296-5198

Call first to be sure compost is available

How to use Orange County Compost

Landscape:  Add a 2 to 3 inch layer of compost to shrub and tree plantings.  The compost will help hold in soil moisture and gradually provide nutrients.  Only citrus trees and not mulched in Florida due to a disease called foot rot which occurs when the base of the trunks are kept moist.

Lawn Preparation:  mixing compost with a sandy soil will help hold in mositure needed for new root growth.  Three inches of compost can be tilled into the soil before seeding or sodding a new lawn.

An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrilation & ventricular tachycardia in a patient.  CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an emergency procedure which is attempted in an effort to return life to a person in cardiac arrest.

The entire technician staff of Falcon Termite & Pest Control was certified for both CPR & AED on January 17th, 2010 by the American Red Cross.  Good job everyone!

Via Popsci

With the recent news that researchers at the University of Queensland are planning on releasing dengue-resistant mosquitoes into Australia and Vietnam, the world again turns its attention to the danger these insects pose--not only with dengue fever, but also malaria, yellow fever, and a host of others.

At a TED talk in 2009, when Bill Gates unleashed a swarm of the insects into a packed auditorium, the aim was to increase awareness of mosquitos and malaria, and indeed the last year and a half has seen a number of advances. Mosquitos infect up to 700 million people annually, leading to more than 2 million deaths. Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Chikungunya are all potentially lethal, cementing the mosquito's position as the deadliest creature on the planet.

Read Entire Story Here

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Homeowners and pest control technicians have a new option for identifying bugs lurking in houses and other buildings — and it’s as close as a cell phone.

A downloadable application developed by researchers with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences provides color photos and text describing almost 40 pest species.

Called iPest1, it’s one of the first mobile-phone apps dealing with pest insects. It’s compatible with Apple mobile devices including the popular iPhone and sells for $1.99.

Check it out here

Falcon Termite & Pest Control is pleased to announce the premiere of our first blog post here at www.falconpest.com right at the beginning of 2010!

We will have loads of tips on keeping a pest-free home and a beautiful lawn, as well as news about Falcon Termite & Pest Control, important issues pertaining to all of us, as well as specials and discounts you can take advatage of.  We hope everyone has a happy and blessed 2010!