Fun Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a winged ant and a termite? What pH level should my pool be kept at? I just built a house, what kind of grass should I use for my yard? All these questions and more can be found here in our FAQ section.

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Swimming Pool FAQ’s

Flying Ant Vs. Termite FAQ

1. Can I get sick from a swimming pool?

Swimming is a fun and healthy activity. However, contaminated water can still spread germs that cause recreational water illnesses (RWIs). RWIs cause a wide variety of symptoms, including skin, ear, respiratory and eye infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that the number of RWI outbreaks has increased over the past decade. The CDC also warns that children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk of more severe illness if infected.

Pool operators and swimmers can help maintain healthy water conditions with proper treatment and healthy swimming behaviors. Learn how in the answers below.

2. How can I recognize a healthy pool?

While you can’t see germs that cause RWIs, you can use your senses to help recognize the difference between a healthy pool and a potentially risky one:

Sight: Look for water that’s clean, clear and blue – free from algae and unclouded. From the perimeter of the pool, you should be able to clearly see the drain or painted stripes on the pool floor. Also, look for drainage grills at the top of pool walls. Water should be constantly lapping over the grills to be filtered.
Touch: Check for tiles that feel smooth and clean. Sticky or slippery tiles are caused by algae and other unwanted organisms. A hand full or scoop of water should disperse quickly and not stick to your hands.
Smell: Chlorine helps keep pools healthy, and will not cause a strong chemical odor in a well-maintained pool. Strong chemical odors, as well as skin, eye or respiratory irritation, are caused by the high levels of chloramines, formed when chlorine combines with contaminants brought into pools by swimmers.
Sound: Listen for pool cleaning equipment. Properly operating pumps help make sure that clean, chlorinated water reaches all parts of the pool, while filters physically remove debris.

3. How can I protect myself and other swimmers?

Healthy swimming behaviors help prevent germs from contaminating the water in the first place. To protect yourself, your children and other swimmers from RWIs, follow these six recommendations from the CDC:

Don’t swim when you have diarrhea. This is especially important for kids in diapers.
Don’t swallow the pool water. In fact, try to avoid getting it in your mouth at all.
Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilets or changing diapers.
Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear “I have to go” may mean that it’s too late.
Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside. Germs can spread to surfaces and objects in and around the pool.
Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming.

4. How do pool operators keep a swimming pool healthy?

Chlorine and pH are the first defense against germs that can make swimmers sick. Swimming pool operators should vigilantly monitor chlorine levels and pH, and make adjustments accordingly. The chlorine level in a pool should ideally be maintained between 2 and 4 parts per million (ppm), and should never fall below 1 ppm. The pH should be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8. Keeping the pH in the proper range will help maintain chlorine’s germ-killing power while minimizing skin and eye irritation.

Pool operators should also keep pool cleaning equipment running properly. Filters help remove debris, while pumps circulate clean, chlorinated water to all parts of the pool. In addition, periodic replacement of pool water helps reduce contaminants that are not removed in the treatment process.

The pool manager should also educate staff and swimmers about recreational water illnesses and develop policies concerning showering, restroom use and diaper changing that promote healthy swimming behaviors.

5. Does chlorine prevent all recreational water illnesses?

Chlorine in swimming pools kills the germs that may make people sick, but it takes time. Chlorine in properly disinfected pools kills most germs that cause RWIs within minutes. However, it takes longer to kill some germs such as Cryptosporidium that can survive for days in even a properly disinfected pool. Also, many things can reduce chlorine levels in pool water. Some examples are sunlight, dirt, debris, and material from swimmer’s bodies. Healthy swimming behaviors and good hygiene are needed to protect you and your family from RWIs and will help stop germs from getting in the pool.

6. Is chlorine safe for swimming pools?

Yes. Chlorine sanitizers are safe when used according to package directions approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Chlorine levels within the recommended range for swimming pool water do not pose any known health risks. Chlorine sanitizers have been used safely and successfully as pool and spa disinfectants for over a century. The majority of public pools and 9 out of 10 residential pools are sanitized with chlorine.

7. What causes chlorine “odor”, red eyes, and itchy skin?

These unpleasant conditions indicate that the pool water has not been properly treated. A common cause is high levels of chloramines, formed when chlorine combines with body oils, perspiration, urine and other contaminants brought into pools by swimmers. Contrary to what most people think, a strong chemical smell is not an indication of too much chlorine in the pool. In fact, the pool may actually need additional chlorine treatment to get rid of chloramines and sanitize the water. Good pool management, including proper ventilation of indoor pools, can significantly reduce chloramine levels in water and air. Swimmers can help, too, by showering before entering the pool.

Another important factor for swimmer comfort is the pH of the water. A swimmer’s body has a pH between 7.2 and 7.8. If the pool water isn’t kept in this range then swimmers will start to feel irritation of their eyes and skin.

Skin irritation can also be caused by germs. Skin infections (dermatitis) are commonly caused by the germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infection can cause a bumpy red rash that usually appears within a few days of swimming in contaminated water. Proper pool maintenance is likely to control the spread of dermatitis.

8. So how does Corporate Green keep your pool healthy?

We follow the below guidelines to help your pool maintain a healthy balance:

The most common type of disinfecting agent we use is chlorine.

Chlorine is available in either tablet, powder or liquid form.
When chlorine compounds mix with water, a reaction occurs that kills bacteria and other pathogens.
Free Available Chlorine (FAC) is measured in test kits to see how much chlorine is free to kill remaining bacteria.
Chloramines, a result of chlorine mixing with contaminants in the water such as sweat and urine, have the potential to create odor and cause irritation to the skin and eyes. Shocking the pool removes chloramines.

A pH between 7.2-7.8 is recommended to prolong the life of your pool.

If the pH becomes too acidic, this results in corrosion of pool equipment and can irritate swimmers. Add soda ash or baking soda to the water in increase pH levels.
When pH is too basic, water becomes cloudy and scale builds up on pool walls. Muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, or sodium bisulfate, will lower pH.

Total alkalinity is related to pH in terms of the capacity of the pool water to resist a change in pH

The normal range is 80-200ppm.
A large amount of acid will be needed to balance out water that has a high total alkalinity.
A more basic compound will be needed to boost the buffering capacity for water with low total alkalinity.

Dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium in pools can negatively affect pool equipment, so it is important for us to measure calcium hardness.

The range should be 50-500ppm.
With low mineral levels, equipment can rust, grout and plaster can erode and water can be irritating to swimmers. Calcium increasers raise the amount of minerals in the water.
High mineral levels cause scaling and water to become cloudy, as well as irritation to swimmers.
Hardness reducers or draining a portion of the pool will lower hardness levels.

Flying Ant Vs. Termite FAQ’s

1. What is the difference between a winged ant and a termite?

Here are three easy ways to tell them apart:

Wing size

Termite wings are all equal in length and extend well past the abdomen. Ants have wings which are unequal in length and generally end at the tip of the abdomen.

Antennae shape

Antennae on termites are straight and beadlike, but on ants they are elbowed.

Waist size

Ants have a pinched waist, but termites have no constriction in the body and are more streamlined.

Pest FAQ’s

1. Why should I hire a professional when I can try and do it myself?

A Corporate Green professional not only has the latest and most effective products, but also the education and knowledge to get the job done right.
A Corporate Green professional knows the habits, life cycles, food preferences, and harborage areas of the pest he/she is treating.
A Corporate Green professional can tell the difference between the many insects that exist in Louisiana, and knows that each has its own prescribed methods of control.
A Corporate Green professional knows how to handle products safely, when and where to apply them, and how much application is necessary.
A thorough inspection by a Corporate Green professional can spot possible problems before they become serious and therefore limit the amount of products that need to be applied.
A Corporate Green professional knows many non-toxic ways of managing an insect infestation; including habitat modification, exclusion techniques, the use of growth regulators and the proper use of baits.

2. How long after the initial treatment does it take to see results?

Time of results will vary with the target insect and the pest management strategy employed, but for the most part results are rapid and long lasting. Your ongoing service agreement will ensure that pests are not only controlled, but prevented and kept out of your home. If bugs do somehow return, so does Corporate Green at no additional charge; Guaranteed!

3. Why do Corporate Green’s Pest Control services focus on the outside of my home?

Louisiana = Bug’s Paradise. Outside your home is where bugs live and breed. Our service is designed to stop activity where it originates. By getting to the bugs on the outside of your home we can often prevent them from ever getting inside. This is also more convenient for you since you aren’t required to be home during the time of service. If bugs somehow return, so does Corporate Green at no additional charge; Guaranteed!

4. Why does it take more than one treatment for fleas, ticks, and bed bugs?

Fleas, ticks and bed bugs have different life cycles than other targeted species. During certain phases of their life cycle they do not succumb to treatments, so we have to “catch” them between these dormant cycles in order to attain management.

5. Why are some types of ants, such as White-footed ants and Big Headed ants, such problematic pests?

Some types of ants are very problematic, but with the proper service type control can be attained. For example, Big Headed ants are miners of the soil. They tunnel under slabs and enter homes through cracks in the slab and various other penetration points. They also have multiple queen colonies which allow for rapid and constant reproduction.

Even though these ants are challenging, Corporate Green has a service designed to manage and control them. Our program utilizes various products and methods to draw activity away from the home.

6. Why should I continue being on a Corporate Green Pest Control program when I no longer seem to have pests?

We like to think of it like driving a car. If you don’t keep up the routine maintenance then the car will breakdown and eventually you will have problems.

Pest activity is exactly the same way. Our programs are designed to give your home routine maintenance to manage your pest issues and to prevent problems before they happen. Our warm climate here in Louisiana keeps pests active all year round. So when you think your pest problems are gone, it is only because of the routine pest “maintenance” performed by Corporate Green Pest Control Services. Without that maintenance, your pest problems would come back.

7. Why are baits as effective as sprays?

Baits work on both the bugs you see and the bugs you don’t see. Ants, for example, will bring the bait back to their nest and spread it throughout the colony. When sprays and baits are combined together it leads to a more effective and efficient pest control system with results you can really see.

Termite FAQ’s

1. Why should I choose Corporate Green Termite Services?

All technicians are trained by a certified expert on a continuous basis to make sure they are current on all the latest techniques and methods.
All technicians are "professional" in appearance; with clean uniforms, pleasant professional manners, and an understanding of the importance of punctuality.
All technicians drive clean, safe, and professional appearing vehicles.
All technicians are registered with the State of Louisiana.
All technicians render quick response service calls, usually within 24 hours of notification.
Corporate Green has over 29 years of experience in the pest control industry.
Corporate Green leads the way to the future with our advanced treatment methods. We don't “follow the pack.”
Corporate Green employees utilize state-of-the-art pest management programs.
Corporate Green is open Saturdays.
Corporate Green is engaged in all phases of pest management: pest control, rodent control, termite control, fumigation, lawn care, mosquito control, commercial services, and pre-construction services.

2. What is a termite swarm, and what should I do if I experience one?

Termite swarms occur when a termite colony has grown so large that they send out new reproductive termites to start new colonies. The swarmers can come out during the day or night depending on their species. Subterranean termites generally swarm during the day and have more individuals than Drywood termites which swarm generally at night.

The important issue here is that swarmers are a sign of termite infestation, and that means you have a problem. The good news is the experts at Corporate Green are here to help!

3. What is the difference between a Drywood termite and a Subterranean termite?

Drywood termites are a group of termites that do not need ground contact or moisture. They can live their entire life cycle inside a piece of structural timber or a piece of furniture. Their numbers are less than that of Subterranean termites and they tend to be a bit larger in size. Drywood termites generally swarm after sunset or at night, from May until November. However, they can swarm at other times. Their swarmers are generally brownish in color.

Subterranean termites must have ground contact or a secondary moisture source to live. Most are small and black in the swarmer phase. Subterranean termites generally swarm during the Spring and Summer months during the daytime (especially after a heavy rain). However, they can swarm at other times.

4. What treatment method would Corporate Green recommend to protect my home from termites?

Subterranean termites are eliminated in ways such as Corporate Green’s Termador treatment or by a Termite Baiting System.

Corporate Green’s Termador treatment creates an invisible liquid barrier around your home. This method has become America’s number one termite treatment with over 2,000,000 homes treated!

Baiting systems provide a food source for termites and then use an insect growth regulator to eliminate the colony.

5. My home is built of concrete block, so do I still need to worry about termites?

When it comes to termites, it doesn't matter if your home or office is built of concrete block or if it is sitting on a concrete slab without wood contacting the ground. Your property is still vulnerable to Subterranean termites; and once inside they are difficult to detect until significant damage has been done.

Subterranean termites can travel long distances through your home. Since they usually only swarm once a year, you are not likely to see them. They create mud tunnels, many feet long, eating their way even through wood that has been pre-treated with preservatives.

The good news is Corporate Green’s termite treatments can actually prevent all of this from happening. Our preventive termite treatments catch termites before they ever enter your home. Better yet, our termite services are so effective that we offer a $50,000 Subterranean termite damage warranty!

6. Will termites go away on their own after termite season passes?

Unfortunately, no. Termites are present during both termite swarm season and non-season times. The difference is whether you see them or not. Subterranean termites create mud tunnels, many feet long, which allow them to eat their way through your home without being detected until swarm season.

The good news is Corporate Green’s termite treatments can actually prevent this from happening. Our preventive termite treatments catch termites before they ever enter your home.

7. Could there be termites on my property right now moving towards my home?

Yes! Termites are constantly foraging for new food sources. An average lot surrounding a home can support three to four active termite colonies. Each colony can contain as many as a million termites.

The good news is Corporate Green’s termite treatments can actually prevent this from happening. Our preventive termite treatments catch termites before they ever enter your home.

Grass FAQ’s

1. What are the different types of Grasses in Louisiana?

Grasses used in Louisiana can be divided in to two groups: warm season grasses and cool season grasses. As their names imply, warm season grasses are adapted to hot weather and are usually native to tropical or sub-tropical environments. They go dormant in the winter and turn brown. Cool season grasses are better suited to cool weather and are usually native to temperate areas. They remain green all winter long.

2. Warm-season grasses:

Bermuda grass - Bermudagrass is the most widely grown turfgrass in Louisiana because of its adaptation to climates and soil types. Bermudagrass forms a dense, attractive sod. It spreads primarily through stolon growth, although rhizomes do play a part in its aggressive growth habits. It is not unusual for a stolon to grow 6 feet in 1 year when spreading over bare ground. This aggressiveness makes bermudagrass the preeminent turf for areas of high traffic, since it can spread quickly to cover damaged areas. Bermudagrasses also have good wear tolerance.

The major limiting factor to bermudagrass growth is the amount of sunlight it requires. It does not tolerate full shade and only tolerates partial shade for half a day. It is best to have full sun for the highest quality lawn.

Bermudagrass is responsive to management. Quality lawns require large amounts of fertilizer and water and frequent mowing. Although bermudagrass is drought-tolerant, it has a high water requirement to produce an attractive turf.

Bermudagrass is adapted to a range of soil types and survives in alkaline and acid conditions, but it prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6 to 7. The vigor of bermudagrass is reduced on poorly drained soils, but it produces an acceptable turf on clay soils. Bermudagrass is the most tolerant turfgrass to being submerged and is the preferred grass for stream banks.

Centipede grass -Centipede is the grass of choice for some Louisianaans. The low level of maintenance required is a joy to those who want an acceptable quality of turf with the least amount of effort. The problems with centipedegrass often are caused by over-zealous homeowners trying to make centipedegrass look better.

Centipedegrass is a slow growing, naturally lime green, somewhat coarse turfgrass adapted to growing in acid sandy soils. Centipedegrass grows best in a slightly moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 4.5 to 6.0. Iron deficiency causes the leaves to have a bleached appearance when the grass is grown on high pH soils. Centipedegrass responds to foliar iron applications by giving a darker green color.

Centipedegrass has poor wear tolerance and is slow to recover from injury because of its slow growth rate. Shade tolerance is better than bermudagrass, but not as good as St. Augustinegrass.

Zoysia grass - Zoysia grass is gaining popularity as a choice for lawns in the central and northern portions of the state. The zoysiagrasses have superior cold tolerance to the above-named grasses and are not as likely to sustain winter damage. The zoysiagrasses form dense, thick sods of high quality. They have more shade tolerance than bermudagrass and form a finer, more attractive lawn than St. Augustinegrass or centipedegrass.

Rapid improvement has been made in the use of zoysiagrass establishment from seed. Seed are treated by the supplier to produce a more uniform, higher percentage germination. The seed still require excellent moisture management during germination. Placing a spun-bonded polyester cloth over the seedbed during germination has improved the initial stand and early growth. Better quality varieties are now available from seed which are much finer textured and more dense than Chinese or Korean Common. Trials in Louisiana have shown Zenith to grow acceptably from seed and produce a good quality turf.

Carpet grass - Carpet grass is a coarse, low-growing turfgrasses adapted to the wet, acidic sandy soils of southern Louisiana. They form a moderately dense, light-green turf that is similar to centipedegrass in color and texture. Individual carpetgrass plants resemble St. Augustinegrass. Tolerance to drought, wear, and cold is poor, and the rate of recovery from damage is slow. Carpetgrass develops many tall unattractive seedheads that require frequent mowing to keep the turf attractive, even though the foliage may not have grown sufficiently.

Even with all these drawbacks, carpetgrass is widely grown as a turfgrass. The major advantages are its ability to survive wet soil, its easy establishment from seed, and its low fertility requirements.

3. Cool-season grasses:

Turf-Type Fescue - Turf-type fescue a relatively coarse-leaved, dark-green grass that is almost as shade-tolerant as St. Augustinegrass. Consider it as a permanent lawn for shady areas in the northern portion of the state. Tall fescue has short rhizomes, but it does not spread well and should be managed as a bunch-type grass. It goes dormant in summer in sunshine and eventually thins out in the shade; so you should expect to reseed on a regular basis. Fortunately, the seed is not expensive and does not require extensive soil preparation to accomplish a successful reseeding.

Tall fescue has a deep root system and tolerates short periods of drought, but it turns brown from lack of water, so adequate watering is necessary. Water is especially critical in the summer to keep the grass from going dormant. Tall fescue is susceptible to several diseases, including brown patch and fescue leaf spot. Since it most often is grown in the shade, arrange the watering regime so the leaves are dry by nightfall.

Fine Fescue - Fine fescues are not grown often in Louisiana but can produce a good quality lawn in the northern counties for shady areas. Creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) and chewing fescue (Festuca rubra) are fine-leaved fescues that are shade-tolerant. Chewing fescues do not have rhizomes. They will not grow in moist conditions, however, so well-drained soil is a must. These grasses have a low fertility requirement and a limited root system.

They are not as tolerant as tall fescue to alkaline soil conditions. They can be cut shorter than tall fescue, have a finer leaf, and produce a less coarse lawn. They are susceptible to several diseases, so water carefully to provide enough to maintain the grass with its shallow root system but not to keep the foliage wet for a great length of time.

These fescues are similar to centipedegrass in that too much fertilizer is more dangerous than not enough. As little as one pound of nitrogen per year is enough to produce an excellent turf. Over fertilization leads to problems with diseases (dollar spot and red thread).