Tuesday, December 29, 2015

To Our Customers A Sincere Thank You!

To our commercial property customers, we wish you a sincere Thank You! As we all know 2015 has just two says left.  We want to take this blog and make sure you all know how much we appreciate our customers.  This applies to all of them, both the new ones and those that have been with us for many years.
It is our pleasure for Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance to send thanks to our customers. Now that New Year is almost here, We all wish you happiness in the months ahead. New Year is always the time to show gratitude and we are thankful to you for supporting us this past year and for many it is quite a number of years. 

We are amazed and humbled by all that we have together accomplished this year.  We look forward to spending more quality time with our customers in 2016. 

As we gratefully acknowledge your continued support, we are filled with such a great sense of expectation for the New Year and wish continued success in the year to come. We are convinced that we can together do even greater things in 2016.

We should like to share some thoughts for your business in the coming year…

“The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.”
~ Chinese Proverb

“Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.”
~ Brian Tracy

"There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed."
~ Ray Goforth

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that's where you will find success."
~ Thomas J. Watson

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Monday, December 28, 2015

New Year – New Lawn Prep

Much of the country (except the north east) is covered in white… but here in the Valley of the Sun we can thing of getting started on new lush green lawns for your commercial property. The better you look (your property) the better you are than your competition.

Dethatch Your Lawn
Warm weather grasses like Bermuda grass and paspalum thrive in humidity, yet still require preparation before the desert storms roll in. The best way to maximize the benefits of seasonal weather is to first open up the blades with a power rack. 

The idea is to decrease the lawn's volume without digging into the soil. While methods vary, take the foolproof approach by dethatching the lawn from opposite directions and mowing up the remains. Your end goal is to give your grass maximum exposure to sunlight while allowing stolons to take root. While it's not necessarily catastrophic to skip this step, lawn professionals deem it wasteful as overgrowth will simply sit with nowhere to go until it's mowed up.

Transitioning From Ryegrass To Dormant Bermuda
Since Bermuda grass only needs to be planted once, subsequent summers will involve the Bermuda coming out of dormancy. The Bermuda will come in more fully and rapidly if the death of the Ryegrass is accelerated by letting it dry out in early May. Two weeks without watering is usually sufficient to kill the ryegrass. After the Ryegrass has turned brown, resume watering to encourage the Bermuda out of dormancy.

Rye Grass Life Cycle
Rye is grown in the Phoenix area in winter. Since Rye does not survive the summer, it needs to be replanted every fall, in the middle of October. Rye grass stays a lustrous dark green until the middle of May, when it quickly dies off as temperatures approach 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Watering Frequency
Bermuda and Rye do well on a grass watering schedule.

Watering Method
Grass is generally watered using sprinklers but can be watered using flood irrigation as well. Flood appears to be an option only for Bermuda because it involves infrequent deep watering. Ryegrass is not as drought resistant as Bermuda and therefore does not appear to be as well suited to flood irrigation.

Conserving Water
Given the Phoenix areas limited water supplies there is a lot of concern about conserving water. Listed here are some ways to use water efficiently.

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Friday, December 25, 2015

Holiday Greetings To You and Yours

“Christmas, people, is not a date on the calendar. It is a state of mind.”

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Using Evergreens To Make A Commercial Property Statement

This time of year we see evergreens everywhere. Of, course for the holiday season we expect to see that. But did you know you can use evergreens year round on your commercial property? What follows is just a short list of their uses.

You can use them in your beds and borders. There are hundreds of varieties of evergreens. While many grow into massive specimens, dwarf selections -- such as this bird's nest spruce (Picea abies 'Nidiformis') -- are perfect for planting in beds and borders. Try them between brightly colored plants to give your eyes a visual break.

You can also use them to hide your building's Foundation. Because they keep their foliage all winter, low-growing evergreens are perfect for planting around your foundation to hide it all year.

Tip: Make a bold statement by selecting varieties that offer different shapes and colors, but stay compact so they don't outgrow their space. 'Blue Shag' white pine, 'Montgomery' blue spruce, and 'Silver Whispers' Swiss stone pine are smaller selections that combine beautifully with 'Profusion White' zinnia, for example.

Create an area for privacy. One of the most common ways to use evergreens is as a screen in the landscape. Tall, columnar varieties of arborvitae, yew, and juniper are great for small spaces. If you have room, be sure to include broadleaf evergreens, such as rhododendrons, as well.

Use evergreens to create a living arbor. Some evergreens (such as junipers and yews) have a tight growth habit that makes them perfect for shearing into fun shapes. Try growing two a few feet apart and wire them together to create a unique arbor.

Create a soothing backdrop for your guests and customers. Give your beds and borders a beautiful background with evergreens. Choose tall varieties that have dark green foliage to accentuate bright colors. Or select cultivars with colorful foliage (such as the blue spruce shown here) to add interest to your plantings.

Tip: Pay attention to plant shapes and sizes. Tall, upright evergreens (such as narrow 'Iseli Fastigiate' blue spruce and 'Medora' juniper) create wonderful contrasts with mounded perennials and grasses, for example.

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Plant Of The Week: Wreaths and Garland

Well we are almost there with this holiday season.  We need to have the plant of the week add in the area of decorating that many either don’t do or put off.  That is natural wreaths and garland. They look great and add a wonderful aroma to the property.

A couple of landscape favorites for both commercial properties and homes also have connections to the past. Wreaths of holly and ivy have symbolized the holiday season for thousands of years. The most common species of holly comes from the eastern United States and Eurasia, while the perennial ivy vines are native to the Old World.

Wreaths and garlands of fir and other evergreens are more common holiday decor today.

Wreath

A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring.
In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, mainly as Christmas decoration. They are also used in ceremonial events in many cultures around the globe. Wreaths have much history and symbolism associated with them. They are usually made from evergreens and symbolize strength, as evergreens last even throughout the harshest winters. Bay laurel may also be used, and these wreaths are known as laurel wreath.

Wreaths were a design used in ancient times in southern Europe. The most well-known are pieces of Etruscan civilization jewelry, made of gold or other precious metals. Symbols from Greek myths often appear in the designs, embossed in precious metal at the ends of the wreath. Ancient Roman writers referred to Etruscan corona sutilis, which were wreaths with their leaves sewn onto a background. These wreaths resemble a diadem, with thin metal leaves being attached to an ornamental band. Wreaths also appear stamped into Etruscan medallions. The plants shown making the wreaths in Etruscan jewelry include ivy, oak, olive leaves, myrtle, laurel, wheat and vines.

Wreaths were worn as crowns by Etruscan rulers. The Etruscan symbolism continued to be used in Ancient Greece and Rome. Roman magistrates also wore golden wreaths as crowns, as a symbolic testament to their lineage back to Rome's early Etruscan rulers. Roman magistrates also used several other prominent Etruscan symbols in addition to a golden wreath crown: fasces, a curule chair, a purple toga, and an ivory rod.

Garland

A garland is a decorative wreath or cord, used at festive occasions, which can be hung round a person's neck, or on inanimate objects like Christmas trees. Originally garlands were made of flowers or leaves.

Garland created from the daisy flower, generally as a children's game, is called a daisy chain. One method of creating a daisy chain is as follows: daisies are picked and a hole is made towards the base of the stem, generally by piercing with fingernails or tying a knot. The stem of the next flower can be threaded through until stopped by the head of the flower. By repeating this with many daisies, it is possible to build up long chains and to form them into simple bracelets and necklaces.

There is another popular method which involves pressing the flower heads against each other, so that the final chain looks like a caterpillar. The term "daisy chain", or "daisy chaining", can also refer to various technical and social "chains".

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Christmas Tree Traditions

Yes, it is that time of year and most homes are sporting a Christmas tree or two.  In fact I know several homes that have as many as 100 (Yes, 100) Christmas trees. And just what are Christmas trees? They are a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine or fir, traditionally associated with the celebration of Christmas. An artificial Christmas tree is an object made to resemble such a tree, usually made from PVC plastic.
Spruce up your commercial property throughout the year.

In the past trees were traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, oranges, nuts or dates. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles, which with electrification could also be replaced by Christmas lights. Today, there are a wide variety of traditional ornaments, such as garland, tinsel, and candy canes. An angel or star may be placed at the top of the tree, to represent the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century. It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century. The Christmas tree has also been known as the "Yule-tree", especially in discussions of its folkloristic origins.

While it is clear that the modern Christmas tree originates in Renaissance and early modern Germany, there are a number of speculative theories as to its ultimate origin. Its 16th-century origins are sometimes associated with Martin Luther.

It is frequently traced to the symbolism of evergreen trees in pre-Christian winter rites, especially with the story of the Donar Oak and Saint Boniface.

We are fond of many decorations that are naturally made.  Along with dried fruits, Gingerbread cookies can make wonderful ornaments.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime."

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Monday, December 21, 2015

Holiday Celebrations and Last Minute Preparations

We are just four days from Christmas 2015. It is the time of the year where we are all busy with last minute shopping and preparations for celebrations with family and friends.


All over the Valley of the Sun we are seeing wonderful Christmas decorations on both private and commercial property. Below are just a few that you may want to see.

Las Noches de Las Luminarias 
The Desert Botanical Garden will glow from the candlelight of thousands of luminarias as you walk among the plants and trees in the night. Along the way, sip a cup of hot cider and listen to the holiday sounds of carolers, handbell choirs and mariachi bands.

Details: 5:30-9:30 p.m.  Dec. 10-13; Dec. 16-23; Dec. 26-31. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. $30; $12.50 for ages 3-12. Members: $25; $10 for ages 3-12. 

Carefree Christmas Festival 
Frolic in 32 tons of snow, get your picture taken with Santa and shop for gifts. There will be an Electric Light Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 12, followed by a fireworks display, and holiday pet parade at 10 a.m. Dec. 13. If your pooch enjoys dressing up, this is the perfect time for him to show off its cute costumes. 

Details: Dec. 11-13. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Carefree Town Center, 101 Easy St. Free.  

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade 
The parade on Tempe Town Lake, presented by SRP, features as many as 50 illuminated boats of all sizes. There will be a fireworks show and a visit from Santa Claus. 

Details: 5 p.m. Dec. 12. Tempe Beach Park, Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Free.  

Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park 
All aboard for a magical ride through the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. It’s not the Polar Express, but it’s as close as you can get in the Valley. The holiday event features light displays, a tree-lighting ceremony, entertainment, Santa Claus and more. Board the 5/12 replica of a narrow-gauge train at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and ride through colorful Christmas lights. I've been here well worth it and kids love it.  

Details: 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 11-Jan. 2 (excluding Dec. 24-25 and 31). 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. Free admission $4 for train rides; $2 for carousel rides; free for children younger than 3 riding with a paying adult.  

Arizona Temple Christmas Lights and Concerts 
The temple grounds will be decorated with a nativity scene and Christmas lights and there will be live music nightly at 7. Performers include local children’s, handbell and adult choirs, including the Resonance Vocal Ensemble, Inspire Chorus and Spirit of Phoenix Choir. 

Details: 5-10 p.m. daily. Through Dec. 31. Arizona Temple, 525 E. Main St., Mesa - Image Credit*

ZooLights 
The Phoenix Zoo is aglow with millions of lights, including new 3-D light sculptures of stingrays, flowers and more. There will be ice sculptors and live performances to enjoy. Two new Music in Motion shows feature songs from “The Polar Express” and “Winter Palace,” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 

Details: 5:30-10:30 p.m. daily. Through Jan. 10. 455 N. Galvin Parkway. $8-$18; free for age 2 or younger.  

Glendale Glitters 
Let your holiday spirit sparkle at Glendale Glitters. The display, on 16 blocks of the historical downtown, includes 1.5 million LED lights and a 30-foot holiday tree. The lights are on nightly, and special activities such as music and dance performances take place on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

Details: 5-10 p.m. Through Jan. 9. Murphy Park, 5800 W. Glendale Ave. Free.  

Tumbleweed Tree 
Kick off the season with this Southwestern tradition: a Christmas tree made of about 1,000 flocked tumbleweeds. This marks the 59th year for the festival, which on Dec 5th included a tree-lighting ceremony, entertainment and the Parade of Lights, but you can still see the tumbleweed tree. 

Details: The tree remains lighted through Jan. 11. 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. 



Image Credit* "2008-12-22-mesa-temple-reflec-66163" by Robertbody at English Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008-12-22-mesa-temple-reflec-66163.jpg#/media/File:2008-12-22-mesa-temple-reflec-66163.jpg

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Friday, December 18, 2015

New Customers For Commercial Property Landscaping

We want to make sure you know that we are welcoming new customers.  Do you have a commercial property that you would like to see if we can add to our regularly scheduled landscape maintenance?

We would like the opportunity to bid for your business. Let us know if you would a new competitive offer for your property maintenance please give us a call and let us show you all the ways we can help you save.

We are a service oriented family owned business specializing in commercial landscape maintenance, providing high quality care based on open communication, and the highest quality service.

We offer a full range of options for our customers by tailoring a maintenance program to the specific individual needs of each property, and budget. We will strive to keep your landscape safe and beautiful, while at the same time keeping your costs as low as possible.

We meet or exceed the highest insurance standards, with $2000000 business liability, $1000000 commercial auto, and $1000000 workman's comp. We list all our customers as additional insured at no extra charge upon request.

Our vehicles are clearly marked and our employees are in uniform for easy identification. All our employees are verified through the I-9 verification system and have successfully passed background checks.

Keep in mind that Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance can Help!  Please contact us at; Sales: 623-848-8277 We serve businesses like yours throughout the entire Phoenix Metro Area.

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

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Famous Landscape Architects: Lawrence Halprin

Lawrence Halprin was an influential American landscape architect, designer and teacher. July 1, 1916 - October 25, 2009

*Photo Credit:
Beginning his career in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, in 1949, Halprin often collaborated with a local circle of modernist architects on relatively modest projects. These figures included William Wurster, Joseph Esherick, Vernon DeMars, Mario J. Ciampi, and others associated with UC Berkeley. Gradually accumulating a regional reputation in the northwest, Halprin first came to national attention with his work at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Ghirardelli Square adaptive-reuse project in San Francisco, and the landmark pedestrian street / transit mall Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Halprin's career proved influential to an entire generation in his specific design solutions, his emphasis on user experience to develop those solutions, and his collaborative design process.

Halprin's point of view and practice are summarized in his definition of modernism:

"To be properly understood, Modernism is not just a matter of cubist space but of a whole appreciation of environmental design as a holistic approach to the matter of making spaces for people to live.... Modernism, as I define it and practice it, includes and is based on the vital archetypal needs of human being as individuals as well as social groups."

In his best work, he construed landscape architecture as narrative.

After discharge from military service, he joined the firm of San Francisco landscape architect Thomas Dolliver Church. The projects he worked on in this period included the Dewey Donnell Garden (El Novillero) in Sonoma County. Halprin opened his own office in 1949, becoming one of Church's professional heirs and competitors. 

Halprin's range of projects demonstrate his vision of the garden or open space as a stage. Halprin recognized that "the garden in your own immediate neighborhood, preferably at your own doorstep, is the most significant garden;" and as part of a seamless whole, he valued "wilderness areas where we can be truly alone with ourselves and where nature can be sensed as the primeval source of life." The interplay of perspectives informed projects which encompassed urban parks, plazas, commercial and cultural centers and other places of congregation:

Recently many of Halprin's works have become the source of some controversy. Some have fallen victim to neglect, and are in states of disrepair. Critics argue his pieces have become dated and no longer reflect the direction their cities want to take. Budgetary constraints and the urge to "revitalize" threaten some of his projects. In response foundations have been set up to improve care for some of the sites and to try to preserve them in their original state.

*Photo Credit: "KellerFountainSummer2010" by Victorcmyk - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KellerFountainSummer2010.JPG#/media/File:KellerFountainSummer2010.jpg

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Plant Of The Week: Mistletoe

Mistletoe is the common name for most obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. Mistletoes attach to and penetrate the branches of a tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they absorb water and nutrients from the host plant.


The name mistletoe originally referred to the species Viscum album (European mistletoe, of the family Santalaceae in the order Santalales); it was the only species native to Great Britain and much of Europe. A separate species, Viscum cruciatum, occurs in Southwest Spain and Southern Portugal, as well as North Africa, Australia and Asia.

Over the centuries, the term has been broadened to include many other species of parasitic plants with similar habits, found in other parts of the world, that are classified in different genera and even families — such as the Misodendraceae and the Loranthaceae.

In particular, the Eastern mistletoe native to North America, Phoradendron leucarpum, belongs to a distinct genus of the Santalaceae family. The genus Viscum is not native to North America, but Viscum album has been introduced to California. European mistletoe has smooth-edged, oval, evergreen leaves borne in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy, white berries that it bears in clusters of two to six. The Eastern mistletoe of North America is similar, but has shorter, broader leaves and longer clusters of 10 or more berries.

The word 'mistletoe' derives from the older form 'mistle', adding the Old English word tān (twig). 'Mistle' is common Germanic (Old High German mistil, Middle High German. mistel, Old English mistel, Old Norse mistil). Further etymology is uncertain, but may be related to the Germanic base for 'mash'.


Parasitism has evolved at least twelve times among the vascular plants; and of those, the parasitic mistletoe habit has evolved independently five times, in the Misodendraceae, Loranthaceae, and Santalaceae, including the former separate families Eremolepidaceae and Viscaceae. Although Viscaceae and Eremolepidaceae were placed in a broadly defined Santalaceae by Angiosperm Phylogeny Group II, DNA data indicate they evolved independently.

The largest family of mistletoes, the Loranthaceae, has 73 genera and over 900 species. Subtropical and tropical climates have markedly more mistletoe species; Australia has 85, of which 71 are in Loranthaceae, and 14 in Santalaceae.

Mistletoe plants grow on a wide range of host trees; they commonly reduce their growth and a large plant stunts and commonly kills the distal portion of branch it grows on. A heavy infestation may kill the entire host plant. Viscum album successfully parasitizes more than 200 tree and shrub species.

Technically, all mistletoe species are hemiparasites, because they do perform at least a little photosynthesis for at least a short period of their life cycle. However, this is academic in some species whose contribution is very nearly zero. For example, some species, such as Viscum minimum, that parasitize succulents, commonly species of Cactaceae or Euphorbiaceae, grow largely within the host plant, with hardly more than the flower and fruit emerging. Once they have germinated and attached to the circulatory system of the host, their photosynthesis reduces so far that it becomes insignificant.

While we can't be of much help with your Mistletoe we can help with whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Weeds 1,001 Lawn Tips - Just Kidding

Okay not really but you have to admit it is a catchy headline. We hope you find the list below helpful for your commercial lawn maintenance.

You can mulch with any mower with a sharp blade.

There are always the old-time reel mowers -- powered by sweat -- and some people are out there pushing them. They actually do a better job on short grass than the typical rotary mowers.

A gas powered weed-whacker has the same level of pollution per hour as a modern car driving more than 150 miles. While an electric one emits no local pollution it does need to get power from a power plant somewhere.

Invasive non-native plants are a serious threat to native species, communities, and ecosystems in many areas around the world.  They can compete with and displace native plants, animals, and other organisms that depend on them, alter ecosystem functions and cycles significantly, hybridize with native species, and promote other invaders.  The good news is that many plant invasions can be reversed, halted or slowed, and in certain situations, even badly infested areas can be restored to healthy systems dominated by native species.

Manual and mechanical techniques such as pulling, cutting, and otherwise damaging plants, may be used to control some invasive plants, particularly if the population is relatively small. These techniques can be extremely specific, minimizing damage to desirable plants and animals, but they are generally labor and time intensive.  Treatments must typically be administered several times to prevent the weed from reestablishing, and in the process, laborers and machines may severely trample vegetation and disturb soil, providing prime conditions for reinvasion by the same or other invasive species. 

Mowing and cutting can reduce seed production and restrict weed growth, especially in annuals cut before they flower and set seed.  Some species however, re-sprout vigorously when cut, replacing one or a few stems with many that can quickly flower and set seed.  For example, yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) can be controlled by mowing at the onset of flowering (when approximately 2 to 5% of the seed heads are flowering), but if mowed earlier, native species are negatively impacted and yellow starthistle is able to re-sprout.  Be sure to consider the biology of the weed before cutting.

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Monday, December 14, 2015

Real Winter Weather and Freeze Warnings Have Arrived In Metro Phoenix

Yes, I know we just posted this last Friday, but it is now even more of a priority and it has worsened and been expanded by one more day. Get ready for this and protect your plants and animals. Just a quick heads up for the Valley of the Sun here in the Phoenix Metro area.  The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

Here is the actual text of their warning.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ

A FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE 15 DECEMBER NIGHT THROUGH 16 DECEMBER WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* AFFECTED AREA...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA DESERTS...
  ESPECIALLY NORTHWEST PINAL COUNTY AND LA PAZ COUNTY EAST OF
  THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. ALSO INCLUDES COLDER VALLEY
  LOCATIONS IN THE PHOENIX METRO AREA.

* TEMPERATURE...LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 20S TO LOW 30S.

* IMPACTS...DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE LANDSCAPING AND AGRICULTURAL
  VEGETATION...INCREASED DEMAND FOR SPACE AT HOMELESS SHELTERS,
 AND PETS MAY NEED TO BE BROUGHT INSIDE.

PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE.
THESE CONDITIONS COULD DESTROY OR DAMAGE CROPS AND OTHER
SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

What can you do to protect your landscaping?  If possible bring inside new and frost tender plants.  With ground plantings you can cover the plants with light fabric just before sunset to trap heat around the plants and remove after sunrise on Wednesday so the sunlight can offer warmth to your plants. You may need to repeat on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

At Greens Keeper Landscape we want you to know how to take care of your property.  If you don’t want the headache of landscape maintenance we take care of your landscape for you.  To find out how we can help just 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

Friday, December 11, 2015

December 15th Freeze Warning

Just a quick heads up for the Valley of the Sun here in the Phoenix Metro area.  The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

Here is the actual text of their warning.

A FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE 15 DECEMBER NIGHT THROUGH 16 DECEMBER WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* AFFECTED AREA...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA DESERTS...
  ESPECIALLY NORTHWEST PINAL COUNTY AND LA PAZ COUNTY EAST OF
  THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY. ALSO INCLUDES COLDER VALLEY
  LOCATIONS IN THE PHOENIX METRO AREA.

* TEMPERATURE...LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 20S TO LOW 30S.

* IMPACTS...DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE LANDSCAPING AND AGRICULTURAL
  VEGETATION...INCREASED DEMAND FOR SPACE AT HOMELESS SHELTERS...
   AND PETS MAY NEED TO BE BROUGHT INSIDE.

PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE.
THESE CONDITIONS COULD DESTROY OR DAMAGE CROPS AND OTHER
SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

What can you do to protect your landscaping?  If possible bring inside new and frost tender plants.  With ground plantings you can cover the plants with light fabric just before sunset to trap heat around the plants and remove after sunrise on Thursday so the sunlight can offer warmth to your plants.

At Greens Keeper Landscape we want you to know how to take care of your property.  If you don’t want the headache of landscape maintenance we take care of your landscape for you.  To find out how we can help just 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

Thursday, December 10, 2015

World Famous Landscapes: Seisonkaku Villa

Seisonkaku is a villa that the 13th lord of the Maeda family built for his mother in Kenrokuen Garden in 1863. Fine techniques in a wide variety are used for the inner pillars and walls of Seisonkaku. These techniques include a wooden panel with openwork carvings of flowers and birds and a coffered ceiling for the guest chamber called "Ekken-no-ma." From these, visitors will know the status of the then Maeda family. Furthermore, Seisonkaku exhibits articles with a long and distinguished history, such as dolls for the Japanese Girls' Festival and furniture.
The Seisonkaku is a large Japanese villa in the city of Kanazawa, built in 1863 by Maeda Nariyasu (1811–1884), 13th daimyo of the Kaga Clan, as a retirement home for his mother Shinryu-in. A collection of her personal effects is open to the public.

It is one of the few buildings in Japan to display the possessions of a daimyo family in their original surroundings. The main floor is built in the buke-shoin style, with a formal guest chamber Ekken-no-ma, and a traditional covered walkway (engawa) which opens onto a beautiful small garden. 

The walkway, named Horsetail corridor, is famous for being 60 feet long, with no supporting beams holding up the roof. The roof is supported with a cantilever that extends 30 feet back into the building, a Meiji-period architectural innovation. The first floor showcases extensive architectural uses of artwork, from painted screens and doors to stained glass imported from the Netherlands.

A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity, sometimes transferred to the Church for reuse as a monastery. Then they gradually re-evolved through the Middle Ages, into elegant upper-class country homes. In modern parlance 'villa' can refer to various types and sizes of residences, ranging from the suburban "semi-detached" double villa to residences in the wildland–urban interface.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Plant of the Week – Poinsettia

The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a culturally and commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family that is indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 2 ft 0 in–13 ft 1 in. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 2.8–6.3 in in length. The colored bracts, which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled, are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves. The colors of the bracts are created through photoperiodism, meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row) to change color. At the same time, the plants require abundant light during the day for the brightest color.

The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and do not attract pollinators. They are grouped within small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch, and are called cyathia.

The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It is found in the wild in deciduous tropical forest at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is also found in the interior in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Reports of E. pulcherrima growing in the wild in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be confirmed by botanists.

Religious and Other Traditional Associations

The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuetlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues." Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as Flor de Noche Buena, meaning Christmas Eve Flower. In Spain it is known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Easter flower. In Chile and Peru, the plant became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is called Atatürk's flower because Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, liked this flower and made a significant contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Using Weeds To Make Holiday Decorations

This time of year we decorate inside and out for the holidays. Using nature’s bounty can give you unique and creative decorations that will set you commercial apart in a very distinctive way. Here are some ideas to consider. Natural Christmas decorations spice up the outdoors during a time of year when, in the North, there’s just not a lot of color otherwise, many of our plants having deserted us till spring.

Examples abound of plants that don’t bail out on us as winter arrives. There are many shrubs and trees that provide evergreen foliage and/or berries that will liven up your winter yard, either while still alive or after their boughs have been harvested (for use in crafts).

Christmas Tumbleweed
Tumbleweeds make a great Christmas time decoration tradition. Line your walkway with some of these wonderful western plants. All you need is a battery powered tea light for each of your holiday tumbleweeds. Just stake them down if they try to get away. Best if painted white, silver, or flocked.

Size: Large Tumbleweed
Diameter: 12-18 inches
Type: Natural Tumbleweed
Colors: Natural, Flocked, White, Silver

Size and thickness may vary with each tumbleweed as they are a natural product.

Evergreen Holly Shrubs

A neatly trimmed hedge of evergreen boxwood shrubs offers much-needed landscape structure and greenery in winter, while evoking images of colonial Williamsburg. The cut sprigs of boxwood are used in door wreaths, garlands and kissing balls. For indoors, arrangements called “boxwood trees” are popular.

Boxwood Shrubs

Like holly and boxwood, mountain laurel shrubs are broadleaf evergreens. Used to frame an entryway, laurel shrubs will welcome guests to your door all winter with their inviting glossy-green foliage. The cut stems of laurel are fashioned into the “laurel roping” (a type of garland) popular in outdoor Christmas decorations. Florists use cut laurel in winter window boxes and cemetery logs, in which cases the laurel is commonly sprayed gold or silver (since the leaf structure will hold up on the cut sprigs, but not the natural color). For more, please consult the following article:

Mountain Laurel

There’s another holly that is not evergreen, called “winterberry” holly. Winterberry loses its leaves in fall, but displays masses of attractive red berries in their place. If your winter lawn is graced by a winterberry holly bush, its berry-laden branches will be the talk of the neighborhood! The cut branches of winterberry holly are prized by arts and crafts enthusiasts for use as accents in door wreaths, kissing balls and winter window boxes. The berries will shrivel in the extreme cold, so cut winterberry branches are best used in late fall and early winter décor.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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

Monday, December 7, 2015

A Date Which Will Live In Infamy

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”: FDR Asks for a Declaration of War. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, stunned virtually everyone in the United States military. Japan's carrier-launched bombers found Pearl Harbor totally unprepared. There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. Because the attack happened without a declaration of war and without explicit warning, the attack on Pearl Harbor was judged by the Tokyo Trials to be a war crime.

Japan intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan planned in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. There were near-simultaneous Japanese attacks on the U.S.-held Philippines, Guam and Wake Island and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The attacks - from troop landings at Kota Bharu, Malaya, to the air attacks ranging geographically from Hong Kong to Pearl Harbor - took place over seven hours.

The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. All but Arizona were later raised, and six were returned to service and went on to fight in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 64 servicemen killed. One Japanese sailor, Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured.

The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been fading since the German attack on France in 1940, disappeared. Clandestine support of the United Kingdom (e.g., the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.

From the 1950s, several writers alleged that parties high in the U.S. and British governments knew of the attack in advance and may have let it happen (or even encouraged it) with the aim of bringing the U.S. into war. However, this advance-knowledge conspiracy theory is rejected by mainstream historians.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns 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
greenskeeperllc@cox.net