Mike and Lauri Smith and their son, Matthew, manage stores in Plano, Frisco and McKinney.[/caption]
Owners Mike and Lauri Smith of Do-It-Yourself Pest and Weed Control have been proponents of do-it-yourself projects before DIY became the popular acronym it is today.
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, the Smiths moved to Plano and with a list of business ideas and advice from a friend, the couple opened Do-It-Yourself Pest Control in March 1985. From rodent infestations to dandelions and crabgrass, the small family-owned-and-operated business prides itself in offering expert advice and quality lawn, garden and pest control products at reasonable prices. The store is a wholesaler to local landscape and pest control companies in the area as well.
“No one was doing anything like it at the time. It was a niche … and also in Texas where bugs were aplenty,” Lauri said. “We learned about chemicals and took a university course that’s all about pest control technology and learned the business.”
In addition to the Plano store, the company now has locations in Frisco and McKinney as well. For 30 years the Plano location has helped thousands of residents keep their yards and homes weed- and bug-free, Lauri said.
“[Customers] bring in their bugs [and weeds] in bags,” she said. “It helps to bring in a sample.”
In addition to offering free and friendly advice and providing treatment services for those who may not be able to do the work themselves, Do-It-Yourself also sells products not typically found at large chain stores, Lauri said.
“Every other store that sells things that kill weeds and things that kills bugs have basically the same large commercial, [big] box store mentality—sell it cheap [and] make sure it’s not too strong,” she said. “If you treat like a pro, you’re going to use the latest technology [and] you’re going to buy something that goes far for your money. These are the same products the pros use as well.”
With the spring rains concluding and mowing in full swing, now is a good time to apply a pre-emergent treatment for weeds, Smith said. When applied, the chemical works as an organic composter, eliminating thatch created by grass clippings, which serves as the perfect breeding ground for bugs and weeds. The composter dissolves the thatch into the ground and also doubles as a fertilizer.
Another piece of advice Lauri had for green thumbs in Plano is to be choosy when selecting a weed killer product, as nonselective weed killers can easily kill the surrounding grass.
Knowing what weeds are growing in one’s yard can help determine which weed killer will be most effective, she said. Lauri still relishes in sharing these “aha” moments with her customers.
“The most fun is when customers come in and say, ‘Your son taught me five years ago how to do my yard and now I have the prettiest yard and everybody wants a yard like mine,’” Smith said. “I see more people with more problems than the [landscapers] out there spraying [for bugs]. A lot of times [landscapers] don’t even know what’s in their tank.”
Do-It-Yourself Pest & Weed Control
1502 W. University Drive, Ste. 105 469-952-2847 www.diypestweed.com Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
