How Much Should You Water Your Lawn?

Just how long do your sprinklers need to run to keep your lawn green? Is 15 minutes too little? An hour too long? You can use a long-tested system to determine how long to run the sprinkler to get the needed amount of water on your landscape on any given week. Certain factors produce the recommended amount of water. Next, that amount is matched against various sprinkler systems’ output to determine the amount of time it takes to deliver the water needed.

There are a number of ways to save water in your landscape, and there are some very good reasons to do so. Over half of household water—in some cases as much as three-quarters—goes into our landscapes. That means watering your yard efficiently is one of the best and easiest ways to save water. Proper watering will also keep your landscape plants healthy and beautiful through the year. 

There are three parts to sensible landscape watering:
Know how much water your plants need.
Know how much water each part of your watering system applies.
Match your system’s output to your plants’ needs.

How Much Water Do Your Plants Need?

The trick is to give your plants enough water without giving them too much water. Why? Watering too little can lead to wilt from which the plant may not recover, but watering too much is bad for plants because it starves the roots of oxygen.

Depending on the size and type of the plant (tree, shrub, or groundcover), you will need to water to different depths and widths. A large tree needs more water than a small groundcover because it has a larger root zone—the area in which the plant’s feeder roots are concentrated. Your plants will be healthiest if you completely wet the root zone each time you water. 

How Deep Should You Water? 
The 1-2-3 Rule  is an easy way to remember how deep to water:

Water small plants such as groundcovers, cacti, and annuals to a depth of 1 foot
(Grass should be watered to a depth of 10 inches.)

Water medium plants such as shrubs to a depth of 2 feet

Water large plants such as trees to a depth of 3 feet

A good way to test how deep you have watered is to use a soil probe— a sharpened piece of rebar or a very long screwdriver works well. About an hour after watering, push the probe into the soil. It will slide easily through wet soil but will be difficult or impossible to push through dry soil. Water your plants and lawn until you can easily slide the probe to the recommended depth.

Or you can make it simple and call Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance at 623-848-8277

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Celebrate National Good Neighbor Day

Here at Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance National Good Neighbor Day is one we can really get behind. I guess we also extend this to think about being neighborly and then on to beautiful neighborhoods. If you have a commercial property we would like to be the company you turn to help your business look its best.

Now celebrated on September 28th, previously it was the Fourth Sunday in September.

Ah, Good Neighbor Day. It's definitely a good thing. Being good neighbors is an important part of the social fiber that makes this country so great. Therefore,  it seems only fitting that one day a year honors good neighbors.

This day of recognition is not to be confused with other forms of "Good Neighbor Days". Stores proclaim "Good Neighbor Days" to promote sales, a wide range of organizations announce "Good Neighbor Days" to promote their cause, and local municipalities and governments proclaim "Good Neighbor Days" for a variety of reasons.

Rather, this day is to truly recognize and appreciate your good neighbor. Hopefully, one of those good neighbors is you!

History:
In the early 1970's, Mrs. Becky Mattson from Lakeside, Montana recognized the importance of good neighbors, and started the effort to make this a National day. With the help of congressman Mike Mansfield, she succeed in getting three presidents, Nixon, Ford, and Carter, to issue proclamations, along with numerous governors. 

In 2003, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution, sponsored by Montana Senator Max Baucus, making September 28, National Good Neighbor Day. Previously, this day was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September.

 Note: Rhode Island initiated a  movement to pass a National Neighbor Day on the Sunday before Memorial Day. Action never materialized into a formal national proclamation or law.

Ways You Can Celebrate:
Here are some suggestions for celebrating the day:

    Help your neighbors in some way.
    Offer a smile and friendly hello to your neighbor
    Have your neighbor over for a meal
    Hold a block party
    Get to know your neighbor a little better

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Your Commercial Property Needs Proper Landscape Maintenance?

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC. is a service oriented family owned business specializing in commercial landscape maintenance.

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance has been maintaining commercial properties in the Valley of the Sun (the Phoenix Metro Area) to the highest level. We have many years of experience here in the valley caring for plants in the southwest climate and in commercial property landscapes.

We are a reliable source for all of your property maintenance needs. We employ a well educated, trained and experienced staff who can attend to all of your needs in a knowledgeable and professional manner.

Our services include all facets of Property Management. We cover property maintenance to customized lawn treatment programs, tree & shrub diagnostics and care, annual color programs, enhancements, Irrigation System management, We can help with your Holiday and Event Decorating. Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance has a full time staff to fulfill any and all of your needs 12 months a year!

We are certified, licensed and insured to meet all local requirements and regulations. Contact our award winning company to schedule a consultation today.

We can design and develop a custom program for your specific budget and property needs. You can be on your way to increasing your property’s appearance and value with our guidance and expertise.

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC, features first class customer service, providing unmatched value, superior products, extensive local experience and unquestionable reliability.

All of our vehicles are clearly marked and all of our employees are in uniform for easy identification. Many of the small unexpected things that other companies charge for, are included in our everyday service.

Or you can let Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance do all the work for you and take the burden off your shoulders all together.  Give us a call at 623-848-8277 and let’s talk about it.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Historical Landscape Architecture Vaux le Vicomte

The design for Vaux le Vicomte is today considered the most admired of the French Baroque landscapes and is the first great work of André Le Nôtre. The garden spans more than 1,000 acres and encapsulates the essence of a Baroque-era landscape in the French formal style. French garden design in the 17th century asserted the idea of man controlling and manipulating nature, and together with the enormous price tags that ensued, they imparted an important message of monarchical power and taste.

The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is a baroque French château located in Maincy, near Melun, 55 kilometres southeast of Paris in the Seine-et-Marne département of France.

Once a small château located between the royal residences of Vincennes and Fontainebleau, the estate of Vaux-le-Vicomte was purchased by Nicolas Fouquet in 1641. At that time he was an ambitious 26-year-old member of the Parlement of Paris. Fouquet was an avid patron of the arts, attracting many artists with his generosity.

When Fouquet became King Louis XIV's superintendent of finances (Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (France)) in 1657, he commissioned Le Vau, Le Brun and Le Nôtre to renovate his estate and garden to match his grand ambition. Fouquet’s artistic and cultivated personality subsequently brought out the best in the three.

To secure the necessary grounds for the elaborate plans for Vaux-le-Vicomte’s garden and castle, Fouquet purchased and demolished three villages. The displaced villagers were then employed in the upkeep and maintenance of the gardens. It was said to have employed eighteen thousand workers and cost as much as 16 million livres.

The château and its patron became for a short time a focus for fine feasts, literature and arts. The poet La Fontaine and the playwright Molière were among the artists close to Fouquet. At the inauguration of Vaux-le-Vicomte, a Molière play was performed, along with a dinner event organized by François Vatel, and an impressive firework show.

In 1875, after thirty years of neglect, the estate was sold to Alfred Sommier in a public auction. The château was empty, some of the outbuildings had fallen into ruin, and the famous gardens were totally overgrown. The huge task of restoration and refurbishment began under the direction of the architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur, assisted by the landscape architect Elie Lainé. When Sommier died in 1908, the château and the gardens had recovered their original appearance. Today, his descendants continue to preserve the château, which remains privately owned by Patrice and Cristina de Vogüé, the Count and Countess de Vogüé. It is now administered by their three sons Alexandre, Jean-Charles and Ascanio de Vogüé.

 It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC

623-848-8277

http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com

greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Fall and Storm Damage In The Valley Of The Sun

Okay, it is officially Fall now. In 2015, the autumnal equinox falls on September 23 at 4:21 A.M. (ET) So this is it, Autumn leaves will begin to fall in a month or so. 

Tuesday evening some parts of the Phoenix Metro area did receive some pretty heavy rains even if it was for a short time. Early evening storms Tuesday, one of which turned out to be severe, dumped heavy rain and buffeted parts of the Valley with strong winds.

Some areas saw over an inch of rain in less than an hour, resulting in localized flooding in Scottsdale and southeast Valley cities.

A neighborhood near 84th Street and Cactus Road in Scottsdale was nearly impassable after a wash maintained by the city overflowed and channeled up to 4 feet of water through residential streets. Scottsdale police were posted in the area to provide motorists with detour information, and several motorists who had gone through the blockade to reach their homes would have been stranded if not for neighbors who helped them push through.

If you need help with storm cleanup make a call to Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance at 623-848-8277 and we will help you recover.

If you need debris removal our crews will arrive on site and begin working to minimize your properties' damage. We have more than fifteen years of experience in helping home and business owners recover from unexpected events, storm and water damage. We will work directly for you or with your insurance company, you decide.

While removal of fallen trees is many times the most visible part of storm damage, there are others. Water run-off can be damaging as well. Call 623-848-8277

Our process involves Immediate assessment of your property to identify hazardous areas and help minimize additional damage that the erosion can cause to landscaping. Controlling run-off and erosion can also be mandated by local regulations.

This means that if you have things we think could be a liability on your property related to the landscape, we will communicate with you.

 It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Helping Our Community Is More Than Just Pretty Landscaping

We help our community by keeping commitments of community service to the businesses, families and friends in our local areas.

Greens Keeper Is Involved
We also proudly support a variety of organizations and charities that enrich the communities we do business in and call home.

The Greens Keeper Impact
We create more service to our communities as we grow. We also have a commitment to growing and working as green as possible. This helps us have a positive impact on both the life style and ecologies of the communities where we work and serve.

Learn more about our community relation programs, including our activities, our employees in action and our foundation to increase the safety and beauty of our community.

Read our Greens Keeper Blog story about our joining forces with others to help a victim of a scam artist. http://greenskeeperllc.blogspot.com/2012/11/phoenix-police-and-community-helps.html

The Smiley Crew

The "Smiley Crew" is the youth component of the Amberlea Block Watch. The Smiley Crew was formed by the children of Kent Jones a few years ago when they expressed frustration with the way kids looked at graffiti as some thing cool, and acceptable. They wanted to show adults and other kids that kids do care about their community and decided the way they could do something about it would be clean up graffiti. Greens Keeper is their number one sponsor providing transportation, shirts, trees, and furnishing meals and refreshments to the kids while they do their work. Eventually the Smiley Crew swelled to over 200 kids as members. On two of their more organized paint-outs they had over a hundred kids show up at a time. 

Over the past few years they collectively volunteered many thousands of hours. In the process they were recognized with Certificates of Achievement by then Governor Janet Napolitano. In 2006 they won, Taking It To The Streets Contest in the category of "Making Phoenix a Better Place to Live" for District 7. In 2007 they were recognized in front of Phoenix City Council by NSD with a Partnership Award for their work cleaning and removing graffiti, picking up trash and planting trees. And in 2007 they received an "Educating Excellence Award" from Maryvale Revitalization Corporation.

    C.E.R.T. Training Session

    Troop 3 Boy Scouts

    Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol 

    Kaboom. 

    Grafiti Removal

Please contact us at; Sales: 623-848-8277 Service: 602-400-6036

Office Hours: 6:00 am to 2:00 pm MST

24 / 7 Emergency Service Available - Please Call: 602-400-6036

When it comes to commercial property landscaping you can let Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance do all the work for you and take the burden off your shoulders all together.  Give us a call at 623-848-8277 and let’s talk about it.

Fall Landscaping In The Phoenix Metro Area

Okay, it is not officially Fall yet. Most folks think that fall starts on the 20th or 21st but not this year. In 2015, the autumnal equinox falls on September 23 at 4:21 A.M. (ET)

That is the day when we have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. And of course, we get the name Autumn from the word. Autumnal.

Even if the start of fall is a couple of days away it is time to think about making changes needed to get your commercial landscaping ready for the change in weather.

Proper care this fall and will have an advantage over lawns that are left to fend for themselves until spring. Because turfgrass is about 75% water, when the plant loses more water through the leaves than it absorbs through the roots, winter drought stress sets in. 

Your grass will eventually stop growing and enters a dormant state. While the plant may not be dead, taking appropriate action in the fall can help the turf recover during the winter and come back rejuvenated next spring.

At Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance we recommend the following changes to bring drought-stricken turf areas back to health:

1. Mow Higher: Though fall rains can spur vigorous blade growth, resisting the urge to mow can be beneficial. Drought stress is not eliminated after one or two waterings or rain showers, so give the turf some additional time to encourage root growth and depth before mowing. Apply the “1/3 Rule” – remove the top third of the blade height – when mowing to avoid additional stress.

2. Remove the Thatch Layer: Thatch build up can prevent water and nutrients from absorbing into the soil where the plant roots need it most. Use a thatch remover, for mowers, to lift the thatch from the turf. Collect the thatch removed and use it as compost.

3. Aerate: Aeration is key to any healthy lawn. You should aerate twice a year, in the fall and spring, and especially after drought stress. Aerating relieves soil compaction, encourages root growth, improves water absorption and prepares the soil for overseeding and fertilizing. 

4. Overseed and Fertilize: Overseed to fill in thin or bare areas, and apply a starter fertilizer with higher levels of phosphorus to establish the new root system. If your landscape does not require overseeding, simply apply a fertilizer with higher levels of nitrogen, which will encourage growth and recovery.

 It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Greens Keeper Landscaping Maintenance Listens To Our Customers

I know, you have heard that one before.  At Greens Keeper Landscaping there is a big difference.   We really do listen, we listen to our customers and potential customers. 

We have learned that being a good listener and then following up on that information is really the way, perhaps the only way, to achieve happy customers.  The amazing thing about happy customers is that they tend to bring you even more customers.

We listen to what our customers want and need.  Over the years we have learned to both listen and know what are the right questions to ask.  Knowing the right questions to ask leads to the right answers.  Having the right answers leads to doing a great job for our customers.  We always try to ask open-ended questions that encourage a true dialogue, rather than one-word answers.

Are we bragging? Yes, I guess we are.  Our results are more than just bragging.  Our results, making your commercial property look great are rewards all their own.  When your property shines, then we can bask in your light.  

Businesses should never forget to listen to their customers. In fact, really listening to customers happens so rarely these days that we found a big competitive edge just by doing it.  We listen at the office and we listen out in the field.  
As good listeners we try to respond to broad comments with questions that get to the heart of the problem.  We don't rely on just preprinted customer feedback forms, or a fixed set of questions. All our staff tries to think on their feet and go where the discussion leads, rather than stick to a script.

If you feel this is the way business should be done then give Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance at shot at listening to your landscaping needs.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Green Architecture - Rooftop Landscapes

America has a surprising amount of wasted landscaping space. Even in densely packed urban areas like New York City, the prime real estate atop roofs is given much less consideration than one would expect from a populace that values each square foot of space so highly. This oversight is a crime, because there is so much that can be done to improve the local environment and quality of life, simply by fixing up a roof.

The average city rooftop is layered with black tar, a material which traps sunlight and heat, raising the temperature of the surrounding area. 

The heat trapped by dark, flat roofs elevates city temperatures as much as ten degrees Fahrenheit – contributing to what scientists call the “urban heat island” effect.

Cool Roofs

The easiest and quickest solution to combat the urban heat effect is simply to turn hot dark roofs into “cool roofs” by painting them with a basic coating of light-colored water sealant. In the same way that white clothing helps keep you cool in the summertime, white roofs reflect sunlight and heat. If all the roofs in New York City were cool roofs, the city would save some $100 million dollars per year in cooling costs.

Green Roofs

An even better alternative to cool roofs (albeit one that requires more time and effort) is to turn waste roofs into landscaped Green Roofs. Green roofs having the same cooling effect of white roofs, with the added benefits of:

Providing amenity space for building users - replacing a yard or patio

Increasing roof life span

Reducing stormwater runoff

Providing noise insulation

Filtering pollutants and CO2 out of the air

Providing locally grown food (with rooftop vegetable gardens)

Increasing wildlife habitat in built up areas

Reducing heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) and cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building

Reducing the urban heat island effect

Cost & City Planning

Green roofs add so many benefits to a building and its surrounding area, it’s astonishing that more roofs aren’t green at this point. The biggest roadblock to our green roof future seems to be cost and bureaucratic red tape of city planning laws. Although green roofs cost more up front to install than regular roofs, the savings that they accrue over the years quickly pay off. The biggest hurdle to getting green roofs going in more places, is convincing city governments to change their policies and adopt programs which provide incentives to property owners to renovate their roofs.

In this endeavor, the city of Chicago is leading the way. Chicago’s Department of Environment is actually giving away $5,000 grants to any building owners who want to start a green roof project. So if you are a lucky homeowner living in Chicago, you have no excuse for not making your rooftop green!

The largest “living roof” in the world was designed by environmental architect William McDonough, and sits on top of the Ford Motor Company’s Rouge Manufacturing Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

 It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC

623-848-8277

http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com

greenskeeperllc@cox.net 

Plant of the Week - Desert Rose

The adenium obesum, commonly known as the desert rose, is a succulent plant. It is native to hot humid climates of Africa and Arabia, but can be grown anywhere if cared for properly with warmth and sunlight. With the swollen stems and beautiful pink and white flowers clustered tightly with narrow green leaves, these plants are very distinguishable. 
9 Essential Desert Rose Care Tips

Plant in Proper Containers
If you are going to use desert rose as a potted plant remember, the desert rose needs plenty of water, but cannot survive in standing water. Make sure that the pot you choose has superb drainage to prevent standing water. Terra cotta or ceramic pots are best. You also want to ensure that it has full sunlight daily and has soil that allows proper drainage for its best growth. Using a cactus soil will allow proper drainage. 

Water Correctly
Test the moisture of the soil by inserting your finger into the soil, if it feels dry it is time to water your desert rose. Use a drip pan when you water your plant. Water the plant until the water begins to drip into the drip pan. Empty the drip pan after each watering, you may have to check back after a few minutes to see if it needs to be emptied again. You always want to water your adeniums thoroughly each time; 2-3 times a week during spring and summer, and 1 time a week during fall and winter. Do not be afraid to leave the plant while you go on vacation, it can live several weeks without water. You do want to watch for excess water though, as the desert rose is extremely susceptible to root rot.

Fertilize Differently in Different Seasons
Always use the products label recommendation for pot size to ensure you use the proper amounts of fertilizer. In the spring you want to use a soluble fertilizer every two weeks. In early summer, when the plants' growth rate slows, stop using the soluble fertilizer and make one application of a slow-release palm specialize fertilizer. In early fall, about two months later, apply the slow-release palm specialized fertilizer one more time.

Trimming and Pruning
This desert rose care tip in essential to promote growing. Trimming and pruning your desert rose in the spring will help it grow more branches and more foliage for a fuller more lush plant. When trimming and pruning you want to cut back the new growth as far as you can without cutting off too much. The plant needs some new growth to help it remain healthy. How much you trim back depends on how small you want your desert rose to remain.

Simply ensure your plant has plenty of sun, remains warm, and has adequate amounts of water. With proper care and treatment you can grow your desert rose anywhere. 

Tip
Do not let the beauty of these plants fool you, if you come into contact with their sap it is important that you wash yourself off right away as the sap is poisonous.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Rain Barrels Can Be Part Of Your Eco System

The summer months are hard on landscapes and finances. Though Arizona doesn't see much rain, harvesting what little does come in can go a long way to improving your commercial landscape and easing the burden on your wallet.

Collecting rainwater for use during dry months in rain barrels or other depositories is an ancient and traditional practice. Historical records show that rainwater was collected in simple clay containers as far back as 2,000 years ago in Thailand, and throughout other areas of the world after that. With the rising price of municipal water and drought restrictions now facing much of the United States during the summer months, more and more property owners in our own modern society are turning to the harvesting of rainwater to save money and protect this precious natural resource.

It is a common belief in many parts of the world that water is an infinite resource to exploit as needed, but as the saying goes, “you don’t know the value of water until the well is running dry.” This is especially true in arid parts of the U.S. where most of the municipal water comes from over-stressed underground aquifers. Whereas rainwater is considered a renewable natural resource, many aquifers are being drained to the point of causing vast sinkholes, before the aquifers have a chance to refill.

As drought and aquifer mining begin to call attention to an increasing water crisis, people are seeking ways minimize impact on their municipal water supplies. Rain barrels can be part of the solution. Just look outside your window the next time it rains and imagine all the water that’s running down the streets being put to beneficial use on your property!

Besides helping the environment, an obvious reason for harvesting rainwater is to save money. Depending on the size of your property and the amount of rainfall in your area, you can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system. This extra water can have a significant impact on your water bill.  

Rainwater stored in rain barrels has many uses. Some people find it mostly useful for watering their landscapes and gardens. Rainwater can also be used for drinking but requires special treatment with a filtration system. Note that many cities require the filtration system for drinking water to be certified and the water to be tested on a regular basis. You do not need a filtration system for landscape uses. You can use it directly from your rain barrel on your garden.

If you’re harvesting rainwater with rain barrels to use for watering your landscaping, the rainwater can help to improve the health of your gardens, lawns, and trees. Rain is a naturally soft water and devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. For this reason, plants respond very well to rainwater. After all, it’s what plants have survived on since the dawn of time! 

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Rain Gardens - Enhancing Your Commercial Landscape and Protecting Water Quality

Rain, Rain, go away! Come again..... wait What? Living in the desert we typically need all the water we can get. But did you know that the urbanization of the desert and all natural habitats is not only helping facilitate the drought we are already in, but it is also causing a great deal more water pollution. No we can't really tear down our civilization to fix the issue ( I quite like having a roof overhead, thank you.) but we can build Rain Gardens that can ease some of the damage that is being done.

What is a Rain Garden?
Rain gardens are becoming increasingly popular in landscapes. A rain garden is a natural or dug shallow depression designed to capture and soak up stormwater runoff from your roof or other impervious areas around your business like driveways, walkways, and even compacted lawn areas. They can be used as a buffer to shoreline areas that capture runoff from the landscape before it enters a lake, pond, or river. The rain garden is planted with suitable trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants allowing runoff to soak into the ground and protect water quality.

In addition to adding beauty to your landscape, rain gardens can also help protect water quality, by reducing stormwater runoff from your lot. Stormwater runoff is considered one of the main sources of water pollution nation-wide. As watersheds become developed, urbanization and an increase in paved surfaces such as parking lots, driveways, and rooftops increase stormwater runoff causing rainwater to run off quickly into storm drains and surface waters.

Stormwater Runoff Can Result In:
Overall reduction in groundwater recharge.
Long-term lowering of groundwater tables and loss of stream flow during dry weather.
Increased erosion.
Increased water quality impacts caused by pollutants in stormwater runoff.
Flooding – especially more frequent “flash” flooding.

A rain garden will allow the runoff generated on your property to infiltrate into the ground and help to reduce potential water quality problems. While your individual rain garden may seem like a small contribution, collectively, rain gardens can produce water quality benefits.

Benefits of Rain Gardens
In addition to reducing and filtering stormwater runoff and increasing groundwater recharge, rain gardens provide many other benefits including:

Provide habitat for wildlife and, with the proper plants, increase the number and diversity of birds and butterflies for those who enjoy watching them.

Provide an attractive and creative alternative to traditional lawn landscapes.

Require less maintenance than lawns because they do not need to be mowed, fertilized, or watered once established.

Increase property values with creative landscaping designs.

Reduce storm drain overload and flooding if adopted on a community or neighborhood scale. 

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Greens Keeper Commercial Landscaping Services

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC. is a service oriented family owned business specializing in commercial landscape maintenance in the Phoenix Metro area.

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance has been maintaining commercial properties in the Valley of the Sun, here in Arizona, to the highest level. We have many years of experience here in the valley caring for plants in our desert climate and in commercial property landscapes.  

We are always a reliable source for all of your property maintenance needs. We employ a well educated, fully trained and experienced staff who can attend to all of your needs in a knowledgeable and professional manner. 

Our services include all facets of Property Management. We cover property maintenance to customized lawn treatment programs, tree & shrub diagnostics and care, annual color programs, enhancements, Irrigation System management, We can help with your Holiday and Event Decorating. Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance has a full time staff to fulfill any and all of your needs twelve  months a year! 

We are certified, licensed and insured to meet all local requirements and regulations. Contact our award winning company to schedule a commercial property consultation today. 

We will design and develop a custom program for your specific property and budget needs. You can be on your way to improving your property’s appearance and value with our guidance and expertise.

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC, features first class customer service, providing unmatched value, superior products, our extensive local experience and unquestionable reliability.

All of our vehicles are clearly marked and all of our employees are in uniform for easy identification. Many of the small unexpected things that other companies charge for, are included in our everyday service.

Or you can let Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance do all the work for you and take the burden off your shoulders all together.  Give us a call at 623-848-8277 and let’s talk about it.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

What Exactly Does A Landscape Architect Do?

Quick: Name one famous landscape architect. Did you immediately think of Frederick Law Olmsted, considered by many to be the father of the landscape architecture profession in the United States? You may know of him because of New York’s Central Park, which he designed with Calvert Vaux, another landscape architect. But do you know the name of a famous landscape architect practicing today? Here we offer an opportunity to learn more about the profession and what exactly landscape architects do.  It goes far beyond planting trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Landscape architecture encompasses the design of almost anything under the sky. Think of iconic places like Boston's Emerald Necklace and the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. But also consider your downtown square, your local park, or even your own backyard. Green roofs, urban farms, and corporate campuses, all define landscape architecture.

Landscape architecture covers a huge spectrum, perhaps best understood as achieving a balance between the built and natural environments. It requires a multidisciplinary approach involving environmental science, art, ecology, and much more, leading to extraordinary results. 

Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the national professional association representing landscape architects. ASLA promotes the profession and advances its practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. Central to ASLA’s mission and all outreach is stewardship of the land.

ASLA also works to increase the public’s awareness of and appreciation for the profession of landscape architecture and its contributions to quality of life. ASLA is an active advocate for the profession at the local, state, and national levels of public policy involving licensure, the environment and sustainable design, livable communities, surface transportation, historic preservation, and storm water management issues, among others.

Landscape architects have long been creating environments that encourage daily exercise, provide clean air and water, and even supply nutritious food. This helps combat growing epidemics of depression, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. Landscape architecture, more than any other design profession, epitomizes green design, and public health has always been an integral concern for landscape architects.

Above all, ASLA is the voice of the landscape architecture profession. And as that national voice, ASLA has put practice to action. The Society built a green roof on its Washington, D.C. headquarters to demonstrate the environmental benefits of green roofs as well as to showcase what landscape architects contribute to this type of project. 

ASLA has also helped to transform land development and management practices through the nation’s first voluntary guidelines and rating system for sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings, in an interdisciplinary partnership called the Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden. The guidelines and rating system represent years of work by dozens of the country’s leading sustainability experts, scientists, and design professionals as well as incorporate public input from hundreds of individuals and dozens of organizations to create this essential missing link in green design. 

More locally, last year ASLA launched The Landscape Architect’s Guide to Washington, D.C. This online, mobile-friendly guide helps visitors and locals discover more than 75 historic, modern, and contemporary landscapes in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, VA. Expert commentary and more than 800 photos are provided by 20 landscape architects.

So, thank a landscape architect next time you stroll through a park, or walk down a bustling street with outdoor cafes, seating, etc. They had more of a hand creating those places than you might think. 

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Commercial Landscaping Tips for September

All over the country, even the Arizona version, Summer is winding down, the days are getting shorter and a little cooler, unless you live here in the Valley of the Sun, where we are still in shorts and t-shirt weather for the next month or so. 

Despite the fact that we are still in the 100s for temperatures, this can be a great month for gardening and preparing for the winter that seems will never come. Most plants that flower can still be cut back and will flourish again this month with a lot of color. However, it is important to stop pruning and deadheading your roses. You can let your roses go to seed (rose hips) after blooming this month. This tells the plant that it's time to slow down and get ready for winter.

Cut back on watering the lawn and other plants as well, not all at once mind you, but little by little start to take the irrigation system down a bit. This will let your plants know to harden off before winter sets in.

Mums, asters, flowering cabbage, and flowering kale can be planted so that your commercial property can have a nice punch of fall color. And don't forget that spring flowering bulbs must be planted this month. Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs as well, because they’ll establish their roots before winter and will flourish in the spring.

Slow release lawn fertilizer, should be used on your grass areas right around this time of year as well. 

There maybe lots to be done to keep your commercial property looking sharp all through fall and winter, but don't panic, That is what Greens Keeper is committed to helping you do, whatever your landscaping needs. 

Remember that Fall landscaping, for all the work it entails, is something of a celebration. It is a rite of the harvest and a wonderful time for people to be active on the property. Make a conscious effort to enjoy the autumn landscaping to the fullest! But also remember that there's much work to be done, tasks that will prepare your yard for the Phoenix Metro area winter -- and for the spring that will follow.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Plant of the Week - Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Araceae. It is native to the New World Tropics from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental, especially as a house plant, and has become naturalized on a few tropical islands.

Dieffenbachia is a perennial herbaceous plant with straight stem, simple and alternate leaves containing white spots and flecks, making it attractive as potted foliage. Species in this genus are popular as houseplants because of their tolerance of shade. The common name, "Dumb Canes" refers to the poisoning effect of raphides, which can cause temporary inability to speak; for this reason it is also known as the mother-in-law plant. 

Cultivation
With a minimum temperature of 41 °F, dieffenbachia must be grown indoors in temperate areas. They need light, but are extremely tolerant of shade and would do well in decorative pots by an entryway or on a patio area. They also need moderately moist soil, which should be regularly fertilized. Leaves will periodically roll up and fall off to make way for new leaves. Yellowing of the leaves is generally a sign of problematic conditions, such as a nutrient deficiency in the soil. Dieffenbachia respond well to hot temperatures and dry climates.

How To Grow
The Dieffenbachia prefers medium sunlight, moderately dry soil and average temperatures of 62 – 80 °F so it will thrive well for most of the year in Arizona. Watering it about twice a week will suffice, but should be watered more frequently in summer.

Caring for Dieffenbachia Plants

Dieffenbachia plants are beautiful and many gardeners choose them for their decorations. These plants are often grown because of their unique, striking foliage. If you wish to grow these plants for the first time, here’s some good news: it’s easy to learn all the basics pretty quickly so you can start growing your Dieffenbachia plants very quickly.

This plant is also known as “dumb cane” on the market. The name comes from the plant’s toxic sap. Keep in mind that ingesting it can cause a temporary inability to speak. Another, shorter name for a Dieffenbachia plant is “Dieff”, and it’s often used because it’s easier to spell.

Before you start, you need to know that there are many varieties of the “dumbcane” plants on the market. Some varieties are very small, almost dwarf. On the other hand, there are also very large varieties you can find, such as Dieffenbachia amoena. The choice is all yours and it depends on your preferences. Both varieties can easily be grown. These plants can easily reach a height of about 4 to 5 feet (if you don’t choose the dwarf variety). 

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Celebrate Labor Day

Labor Day is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago on May 4, 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Therefore, in 1887, the United States holiday was established in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.

In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) of New York.[2] Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882, after witnessing the annual labour festival held in Toronto, Canada. Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on February 21, 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.

Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve rush legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday; President Grover Cleveland signed it into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the previous several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would be associated with the nascent socialist and anarchist movements that, though distinct from one another, had rallied to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in International Workers' Day. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we will provide the labor.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com

greenskeeperllc@cox.net