Are You Ready For Summer Weeds?

Weeds are plants that are not valued where they are growing and are usually of vigorous growth, especially ones that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants. Summer annual weeds emerge in the spring or early summer, grow during the summer, produce seed in mid to late summer. 

Sandbur

Sandbur (Cenchrus longispinus) is a low-growing summer annual weed which is found in dense spreading patches most commonly in sandy soils. It roots at the nodes on the stems if they touch the ground. The leaves are folded in the bud, ¼ inch wide, and tapering to a point. The ligule is a short fringe of hairs and the auricles are absent. The seed head is a single spike with 6 to 20 rounded burs which contain 2 seeds in each bur. Sandbur seeds catch on clothing and animal fur and the barbed burs can easily pierce the skin and cause injury to livestock and people. Plants growing low to the ground can still produce burs. After a frost, entire plants become straw-colored, but stems with burs can persist through the winter. Seed dispersal occurs by animals, farm equipment, tires and in contaminated hay. Water is also important for seed dispersal, as burs float and may be carried for miles in irrigations ditches and other waterways.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass, large and smooth (Digitaria sanguinalis, Digitaria ischaemum) are pale green summer annuals that has a prostrate or ascending growth habit. The two main species of crabgrass that occur in Missouri are smooth and large. Smooth crabgrass may be distinguished from large crabgrass by the absence of hairs on the leaves and sheath. Also smooth crabgrass does not root at the nodes like large crabgrass. Both species have a long, jagged membranous ligule and have no auricles. Crabgrass forms dense, unsightly patches that smother desirable turf grasses. Germination occurs when soil temperatures consistently reach 55 degrees F and is generally killed at the first frost. A crabgrass plant which needs warm soils and sunlight can produce 150,000 seeds. The seed head is composed of 2-6 branches (spikes) at the top of the stems forming 2 rows along the spike.

To control early in the season, use a pre-emergent herbicide as soon as soil temperatures reach 55 degrees F for a period of four days about the time forsythia blooms. A pre-emergent herbicide is recommended even if some crabgrass plants have germinated. There will still be crabgrass seed in the soil and the herbicide    can prevent further infestation. Do not aerate after a pre-emergent herbicide application. For crabgrass control after germination, use a post-emergent selective grass herbicide.

Witchgrass

Panicum capillare is known as witchgrass or tickle grass.  Culms are erect or spreading at the base.  They are hollow, and pubescent at the nodes.  They grow from 8 to 28” inches tall.  The inflorescence is often ½ the length of the entire plant.  It is purplish at maturity.  It is softly hairy and the seeds are 1/16 of an inch.  The head breaks off easily and rolls away in the wind, like a tumbleweed.

Goosegrass

Goosegrass (Elusine indica) is a prostrate-growing summer annual weed that grows in a clump. The leaves are distinctly folded in the bud and may be smooth or have a few sparse hairs at the base of the leaf. Goosegrass can be identified by the whitish stems at the base that are extremely compressed and flattened. The ligule is toothed and membranous with a cut in the center. There are no auricles. Goosegrass seed heads contain 3-7 spikes that form at the tip of the stalk. The seeds are attached in a zipper appearance on the spike. Goosegrass germinates about two weeks later than smooth crabgrass. Goosegrass can tolerate heavy traffic, dry compacted soils and low mowing heights.

Looking for a new landscape maintenance company? Keep Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance in mind. We 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

Do You Need Junk Haul-a-way?

Some times Junk is not another man’s treasure, it is just plain-old, ordinary, everyday junk.  

Webster’s Dictionary tells us that the noun junk is; 

1. any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags. 

2. anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible; trash. 

3. old cable or cordage used when untwisted for making gaskets, swabs, oakum, etc. 

We aren’t sure how it happens.  Slowly but surely “junk” just seems to accumulate.  One theory is that “junk” results from the missing socks from wash machines all over and must somehow turn into the junk that accumulates in nooks and crannies everywhere.  I’m not sure that there is a sound scientific theory to support that but it does brighten my day.

At Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance we are ready to haul away all the blight that is cluttering your property.

While Junk Removal can be related to storm damage, it can also be just what you need removed from your property, commercial or otherwise.

If you have anything on your property that needs removal please take the time to give us a call at 623-848-8277 so we can help.

We look forward to helping you make your property more beautiful and valuable by clearing away any Junk.  No job is too little or too big.  We remove your junk one item at a time until it is all gone.  We will remove your headaches from commercial property, rentals, homes, garages, estates or storage facilities.

No time; we can help.  Job too big for you; we can help.  Gives us a quick call so we can solve your problems.

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

Commercial Landscape Care

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance is 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 monthly charge as low as possible.

While our normal hours of operations are from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM we offer 24/7 service and Storm Damage Clean-up as needed by our customers.

We keep our overhead low and pass the savings on to our customers. We provide high quality service and pride ourselves on our open communication practices.

Our hourly rate is $26 per hour. Our special project rate, including sprinkler repairs, is $30. We offer convenient payment terms of 2/10 net 30.

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, we include.

If there are minor sprinkler repairs that are needed, most of them are also included (no charge). We accomplish this by providing an allowance for sprinkler heads, drip emitters, shrub heads, and repairs to lateral lines and drip lines. The only sprinkler issues that we would have to charge for would be main line repairs, valves & timers. And we always get these pre approved by our customers.

Unlike other companies we don't mark-up inventory, whenever possible. Another one of our popular services is safety and visibility trimming at no extra charge. 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 and work together to resolve these issues before they cause an accident or damage vehicles or buildings. If there is vegetation blocking the view of signs or safe passage in and out of the parking lot, trees blocking safety lighting, we will keep those items at their smallest manageable size (no charge).

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

Famous Parks: Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan

Namba Parks is an office and shopping complex located in Namba-naka Nichome, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, Japan, the south of Namba Station on Nankai Railway. It consists of a high office building called Parks Tower and a 120-tenant shopping mall with rooftop garden. Namba Parks was developed by Jon Jerde of The Jerde Partnership in the footprint of the since closed Osaka Stadium.

There is a carnival mall on the 1st floor. For shopping, various shops are available on 2nd to 5th floor. Casual restaurants are located on 6th floor while fine-dining restaurants are on the 7th and 8th floor, where you can choose from various kinds of food, such as Japanese, Korean, and Italian. The 9th floor (topmost) has landscape garden. There is also an amphitheater for live shows, as well as space for small personal vegetable gardens and wagon shops.

Namba Parks was conceived as a large park, a natural intervention in Osaka's dense urban condition. Alongside a 30-story tower, the project features a lifestyle commercial center crowned with a rooftop park that crosses multiple blocks while gradually ascending eight levels. In addition to providing a highly visible green component in a city where nature is sparse, the sloping park connects to the street, making it easy for passers-by to enter its groves of trees, clusters of rocks, cliffs, lawn, streams, waterfalls, ponds and outdoor terraces. Beneath the park, a canyon carves a path through specialty retail, entertainment and dining venues.

Parks garden receives high evaluation from inside and outside the country and receives various prizes and authorization.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial 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

Plant Of The Week: Purple Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as maypop, purple passionflower, true passionflower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine, is a fast-growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. A member of the passionflower genus Passiflora, the maypop has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens. One of the hardiest species of passionflower, it is a common wildflower in the southern United States. The Cherokee in the Tennessee area called it ocoee; the Ocoee River and valley are named after this plant, which is the Tennessee state wildflower. This, and other passionflowers are the exclusive larval host plants for the gulf fritillary and non-exclusive for the variegated fritillary butterflies.

The stems can be smooth or pubescent; they are long and trailing, possessing many tendrils. Leaves are alternate and palmately 3-lobed and occasionally 5-lobed, measuring 2.4–5.9 in. They have two characteristic glands at the base of the blade on the petiole. Flowers have five bluish-white petals. They exhibit a white and purple corona, a structure of fine appendages between the petals and stamens. The large flower is typically arranged in a ring above the petals and sepals. They are pollinated by insects such as bumblebees and carpenter bees, and are self-sterile. The flower normally blooms in July.

The fleshy fruit, also referred to as a maypop, is an oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen egg; it is green at first, but then becomes orange as it matures. As with other passifloras, it is the larval food of a number of butterfly species, including the zebra longwing and Gulf fritillary. In many cases its fruit is very popular with wildlife.

The maypop occurs in thickets, disturbed areas, near riverbanks, and near unmowed pastures, roadsides, and railroads. It thrives in areas with lots of available sunlight. It is not found in shady areas beneath a forest canopy.

The culture of P. incarnata does not need high requirement. The plants grow in full sun and need direct sunlight for at least half of the day. The best soils for P. incarnata are well-drained  but the plants tolerate occasionally wet and acidic soils. The plants have a high drought tolerance. P. incarnata can be planted all the year in zone 7–11 (hardiness zone). The space between two plants is 36–60 inches. One to two years are necessary before they begin bearing. Each flower has a very short life (about one day). Then the fruit develops in two to three month. The harvest depends on vine size and age of the plant but one reported 10–20 fruits per vine. Seeds can be collected in the fall after the fruit has begun to shrivel . There are some problems with nematodes and caterpillars in the culture of P. incarnata.

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

Take Care Of Weeds Naturally

It's been said that weeds are just plants whose virtues have not yet been discovered, but if you're tired of waiting to find out what those virtues are, you might want to use one of these homemade herbicides instead of the chemical versions.

Many common weeds can be either food, medicine, or unwanted visitors to the garden, depending on the varieties and how you view them. But if you've eaten all of them you can, and you still need to get rid of weeds in your yard, it's far better for you, your soil, and your local waterways to choose a more environmentally friendly herbicide than those commonly found in the home and garden center.

Strong chemical herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides can end up polluting our drinking water, our groundwater, and surface water, so it's important to consider the longer term effects of using them, and to instead make the choice to use a gentler herbicide, which won't contribute to the larger issue of water contamination.

Drench With Boiling Dihydrogen Monoxide

This homemade herbicide is by far the simplest to prepare, and unless you happen to spill boiling water on yourself, is also the least harmful to both people and the environment. Simply bring a big pot of dihydrogen monoxide (that's a fancy way of saying water) to boil on your stove, and then pour it over the leaves and stems of the weeds you wish to get rid of. Using boiling water is an effective method for killing weeds in places such as sidewalk or driveway cracks, or over a larger area that you'd like to replant after the weeds are gone, as it doesn't leave any residue or have any harmful long-term effects. As with all of these homemade herbicides, it's still important to only apply it to the plants you wish to get rid of, as they can easily also kill your flowers or vegetable plants.
Light 'em up with fire:

The application of direct heat to the foliage of weeds will cause the plants to immediately wilt, and repeated applications will kill any leaves that may resprout from the roots. A flame-weeder tool is available from home and garden stores, which allows you to apply flame and heat directly to the weeds without catching the whole neighborhood on fire. In fire-prone areas, weeding with flame needs to be done with some extra precautions, as dried weeds and grasses can easily catch fire and get away from you.

Douse With Sodium Chloride

Sodium chloride, or common table salt, is an effective herbicide, and has some historical notoriety for possibly being used to lay waste to the soils of conquered peoples (salting the fields prevents plants from growing there). Because salt can have a detrimental effect in the soil, it's important to only apply it directly to the leaves of the weeds, and to not soak the soil, especially in garden beds with other, more desirable, plants. Dissolve 1 part salt in 8 parts hot water (it can be made stronger, up to 1 part salt to 3 parts water), add a small amount of liquid dish soap (to help it adhere to the leaf surfaces), and pour into a spray bottle. To apply, cover or tie back any nearby plants you don't want to kill, then spray the leaves of the weeds with the solution. Be careful to not soak the soil, and keep this mixture away from cement sidewalks or driveways (it may discolor them). Multiple applications may be necessary.

Season Them Like Chips

Another common homemade herbicide recipe calls for combining table salt or rock salt with white vinegar (1 cup salt to 1 gallon vinegar), and then spraying this mixture on the foliage of weed plants. Adding liquid soap is said to help the efficacy of this weedkiller, as is the addition of certain oils, such as citrus or clove oil.

Harness Up The 20 Mule Team

Borax, which is sold as a laundry and cleaning product in many grocery stores, might not actually get transported by a 20 mule team anymore, but it could help lend a hand in the yard as an herbicide. Add 10 ounces of powdered borax to 2.5 gallons of water, mix thoroughly, and use a sprayer to coat the leaves of unwanted weeds in your yard. Keep overspray off of any plants you want to keep, avoid saturating the soil with the solution, and avoid contact with bare skin.

Looking for a new landscape company? Keep Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance in mind. We 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

Simple Landscape Tips for Commercial Properties

The right landscaping can completely transform a commercial property. If you need to perk up your commercial property, we can work with you to get some eye-catching ideas

The presence of landscaping on a commercial property gives it a unique look and makes it stand out from the crowd. Having a nicely landscaped commercial property not only enhances the aesthetic appearance of the grounds, it can also help to bolster sales and employee morale. Landscaping a commercial property does not need to be difficult. Here are some easy landscape ideas that are perfect for commercial properties in Maricopa County.

Create Walkway and Patio Spaces
Sometimes a sanctuary at the workplace is just what workers need to keep their morale up. Having a landscaped area with walkways and patios is a great way to invite employees to enjoy the outdoors during their off-times. Welcoming outdoor patio areas are easy to create. Installing cobblestone walkways is a beautiful and creative way for employees to get from place to place on the property. They also allow visitors to access the building with ease. Be sure to adorn the patio area with seating for the employees so they can rest while they are on their breaks or eating lunch. Stone benches are always a nice touch. Heavy permanent chairs that will not blow away in the wind are also a great idea. Add a few heavy planters with blooming flowers for a bit of ambiance.

Use a Water Feature
Water features create a relaxing and refreshing landscape that is inviting to both visitors and people who work on the property. Waterfalls and fountains are both great options for including a water feature on the property. However, having one of these features can use an extraordinary amount of water, which can be both costly and environmentally irresponsible. The best way to combat these issues is to install features that use recycled water. That way there is only a minimal amount of water being used to create a fabulous water feature.

Build a Foliage Fortress
Creating some privacy and separation with foliage is a great landscaping idea, particularly for businesses that are housed in a single-story building. A privacy fence or some dense foliage can create a barrier that keeps potential thieves away from the business. Installing some permanent structures can also be an attractive way to create privacy. For example, planting large trees or adding a fountain or waterfall is an attractive way to welcome visitors while still preserving some seclusion for the workers inside the building.

Use a Focal Point
One of the best focal points for a commercial property is the company’s signage. It is important for any company to make sure their signage is prominent and easily seen on their property. 

One way to make signage stand out is to highlight it with landscaping. Planting brightly colored flowers and plants around the signage will help it stand out and be noticeable to people as they pass by. Be sure to use low-height landscaping elements to assure the signage is not blocked.

Include Some Year-Round Landscaping Elements
Balance the landscape with both seasonal and year-round elements. Seasonal plants and flowers are great to include because it allows for the property to continually reflect the seasons of the year. But, be sure to include some elements that do not change as time passes. drought tolerant plants that can withstand Arizona summers are great to include because they are low-maintenance since they will not need to be changed out from season to season.

Looking for a new landscape company? Keep Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance in mind. We 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

Let Our Professionals Take Care Of Your Property

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

Have You Celebrated Father's Day?

Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. The tradition was said to be started from a memorial service held for a large group of men who died in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in 1907. It was first proposed by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington in 1909. It is currently celebrated in the United States annually on the third Sunday in June.

Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis' Mother's Day at Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

It did not have much success initially. In the 1920s, Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Institute of Chicago, and it faded into relative obscurity, even in Spokane. In the 1930s Dodd returned to Spokane and started promoting the celebration again, raising awareness at a national level. She had the help of those trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers. Since 1938 she had the help of the Father's Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men's Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. Americans resisted the holiday during a few decades, perceiving it as just an attempt by merchants to replicate the commercial success of Mother's Day, and newspapers frequently featured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes. But the trade groups did not give up: they kept promoting it and even incorporated the jokes into their adverts, and they eventually succeeded. By the mid-1980s the Father's Council wrote that "(...) [Father's Day] has become a Second Christmas for all the men's gift-oriented industries."

A bill to accord national recognition of the holiday was introduced in Congress in 1913. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson went to Spokane to speak in a Father's Day celebration and wanted to make it official, but Congress resisted, fearing that it would become commercialized. US President Calvin Coolidge recommended in 1924 that the day be observed by the nation, but stopped short of issuing a national proclamation. Two earlier attempts to formally recognize the holiday had been defeated by Congress. In 1957, Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith wrote a proposal accusing Congress of ignoring fathers for 40 years while honoring mothers, thus "[singling] out just one of our two parents". In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

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

Lawns Grass Selection for Shade

Many homeowners and landscapers frequently will ask, A why can't I get grass to grow underneath my trees? Well, there are many reasons why and sometimes it's not the grasses fault. Sometimes, no matter what you do, the grass does not persist. This is often the result of an environment which will not support grass growth. Areas such as this are better off in gravel, mulch or under story flowers. 

Shade is the lack of direct full sunlight which does not reach the lawn. Shade can come from buildings, walls and landscape trees. Shade (or lack of direct sunlight) poses several problems for turf. One is the duration of light (intermittent shade throughout the day) and second is light quality (the range of wavelengths that plants need to make food).

Competition from shade means here, tree roots in the lawn. Trees will extract water wherever they can get it. Here it's from the lawn irrigation. Although turf in shade does not use as much water as turf in full sun (to keep its leaf temperature regulated) an appreciable amount of water applied to the lawn can be taken up by tree roots. Invasive tree roots develop on many species of landscape plants when the opportunity arises!

Turf grass plants are essentially struggling and stretching to reach for sunlight in the shaded condition. This is why the turf becomes leggy and the distance between the leaves and the stems becomes wider. Thus, the internode length becomes longer and for the same mowing height there is less leaf area available to capture the already low levels of sunlight. This is why it is important to raise the mowing height in the shade.

Secondly, grass leaf blades become finer (more narrow) when growing in shade. This is just the opposite of most dicot (broadleaf) plants! The narrow leaf response is part of the stretching for light response.

Turf grass plants growing under shade conditions have low food reserves. Therefore they are not as tolerant to traffic stress, heat, cold or excess soil moisture stress (drought or flooding)!

Mother nature has provided us with a few grasses which grow in shade in special environments. When we impose these grasses in unfavorable environments , they fail. When we try to grow grasses that are not shade tolerant, we are doomed to failure. Ask yourself, why do I need grass in the shade? Many times a mulch, stone or gravel or just soil maintained with an edge can delineate the shade line from the rest of the lawn.

The best choice for shaded lawns in the low desert is St. Augustine. It is available as sod. From sod pieces you can make plugs. St. Augustine grows slower than bermudagrass, but faster than zoysiagrass.

Note that each of the warm season grasses are so different from each other in leaf width and growth habit, that they do not mix together in a lawn. Bermudagrass growing in full sun next to St. Augustine under a mulberry tree produces an abrupt change in color and overall appearance. One of them will look like a weed.

Also note that each of these grasses will grow in the full sun. Therefore a lawn which has both full sun and heavy shade will support either St. Augustine or zoysiagrass.

You certainly find bermudagrass at elevations, but the higher you go the shorter the normal growing season is. Shade just adds to increase problems at these elevations.

At high elevations, only cool season grasses are essentially used for lawns. On a species (grass-type) level, creeping red fescue is moderately shade tolerant. Tall fescue is moderately shade tolerant. For Kentucky bluegrass, certain varieties are more shade tolerant than others. Shade tolerant varieties of KBG include; Glade, Nuggett, Liberator, Quantum, Compact Chateau, Coventry, Moonlight, Brilliant, Showcase and SR2000.

Perennial ryegrass is a quick fix for heavy shade. It will germinate, grow and make a cover for about a year and then thin out drastically.

KBG seed mixtures include perennial ryegrass and creeping red fescue. This is done to achieve quick establishment (from ryegrass) and have some shade tolerance (creeping red fescue).

When planting a mixture in a large shaded lawn, you will achieve better results by including a shade tolerant KBG, as opposed to relying on the creeping red fescue alone.

Poa trivialis (rough stalk bluegrass) is a grass which will tolerate wet sites, either in sun or shade (at mid to high elevations). This is a specialty grass available as seed. Plant it the same time as you would KBG. Rough stalk bluegrass should be planted by itself. This is because of its light green color and lax (soft) leaves.

By David M. Kopec, Extension Turfgrass Specialist

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial 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

Let Us Bid For Your Business

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

Famous Parks: Ibirabuera Park, São Paulo

Ibirapuera Park (Portuguese: Parque Ibirapuera) is a major urban park in São Paulo, Brazil. It has a large area for leisure, jogging and walking, as well a vivid cultural scene with museums and a music hall. Its importance to São Paulo is often comparable to that of Central Park to New York City, Golden Gate Park to San Francisco, or Ueno Park to Tokyo. Ibirapuera is one of South America's largest city parks, together with Chapultepec Park in Mexico City and Simón Bolívar Park in Bogota.

Inaugurated in 1954 for the 400th anniversary of the city, with buildings designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer and landscape by agronomist Otávio Agusto de Teixeira Mendes, Ibirapuera Park covers an area of almost one square mile. It is the second largest park in the city. Admission is free.

The park complex contains several buildings, most of them designed by Oscar Niemeyer. They include:

The Marquise ("marquee") is a large construction that links Bienal, Auditório Ibirapuera and Oca.;
The Cicillo Matarazzo Pavilion is spacious building that host the São Paulo Art Biennial and the São Paulo Fashion Week;
The Manoel da Nóbrega Pavilion, which until 1992 was the city hall and now houses the "Museu Afro Brasil".
The Lucas Nogueira Garcez Pavilion, formerly known as "Palácio das Exposições"("Expositions Palace") and now known as the Oca ("hut", given its round shape), which harbors both the Museu da Aeronáutica ("Air Force Museum") and the Museu do Folclore ("Folklore Museum");
The Armando de Arruda Pereira Pavilion, home for the Prodam - Companhia de Processamento de Dados do Município ("Municipal Data Processing Company");
The Palácio da Agricultura ("Agriculture Palace"), home of Detran, municipal transit department. The building was originally intended to harbor the municipal agriculture department;
The Planetarium and Municipal Astrophysics School. The Planetarium building which is shaped like a flying saucer. It was the first Planetarium in the Southern Hemisphere and has a dome which is 20 meters in diameter. The German projection machine shows the sky above São Paulo from dusk to dawn. During the projection a professional astronomer explains the most famous stars and constellations as well as the movements of the Earth and other planets;

Gandhi, Praça Túlio Fontoura Sculpture by Gautam Pal
The Ibirapuera Gymnasium;
The Japanese Pavilion
The Monument to the Bandeiras
The Ibirapuera Auditorium, controversial building that was on the original Niemeyer plan, but was only built recently.
The Obelisk of São Paulo, symbol of the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932
A statue of Pedro Alvares Cabral that alleges "Brazilians owe everything to Portugal."

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial 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

Plant Of The Week: Parachute Plant

Ceropegia is a genus of plants within the family Apocynaceae, native to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. It was named by Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in volume 1 of his Species plantarum, which appeared in 1753. Linnaeus thought that the flowers looked like a fountain of wax. From this the scientific name was derived: ‘keros’ meaning wax and ‘pege’ meaning fountain (Pooley, 1998). They have many common names including lantern flower, parasol flower, parachute flower, bushman’s pipe, string of hearts, snake creeper, wine-glass vine, rosary vine, and necklace vine.

Ceropegia species are traded, kept, and propagated as ornamental plants.

The stems are vining or trailing in most species, though a few species from the Canary Islands have erect growth habits. Among some species, such as Ceropegia woodii, the nodes swell, and the roots similarly expand to form tubers beneath the soil surface. The leaves are simple and opposite, although they can be rudimentary or absent. Especially in certain succulent species, the leaves may also be thick and fleshy.

The flowers have a tubular corolla with five petals most often fused at the tips, forming an umbrella-like canopy, a cage, or appendage-like antennae. The flowers of this genus are adapted for pollination by flies. A great diversity of fly species are associated with ceropegias. The flowers are often inflated and fused at several points, forming a cage. Flies become momentarily trapped inside, accomplishing pollination as they move about.
Classification

The genus Ceropegia belongs to the subfamily Asclepiadoideae (milkweeds) within the family Apocynaceae. Species of this genus bear similarities to the carrion flowers or stapelias. There are more than 180 known species and more are being discovered and described regularly. They are distributed throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar to the Arabian Peninsula, southeast Asia, the Canary Islands, the tropical Pacific, and Australia.

A generic complex, with many interesting taxonomic problems at both generic and specific level, is formed by three genera: Ceropegia, Brachystelma and Riocreuxia.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial 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

Annual Weeds Defined

Is your commercial property weed free? What do you need to do for your property to be ready for prime time for your customers?

Annual grassy weeds are often invasive species and spread thousands of seed during their lifespan. The common ones you'll see in lawns are crabgrass, goosegrass, foxtail and barnyardgrass.

Overview

How to control these problem weeds

Let's face it: you don't feed, water, and mow your lawn to make it attractive to weeds. Yet that's how a lot of people feel when they see crabgrass take over. Annual grassy weeds are tough, aggressive plants that thrive on stressed areas of your yard. Dried-out lawns, thin patches, sun - scorched areas are inviting spots for grassy weeds. The best way to fight them is to learn how they work and what they like, then deprive them.

Prevention and Maintenance

Know What You're Up Against

Annual grassy weeds are only live for one growing season and have to work fast. Since they only live for a season, they produce hundreds or even thousands of seeds that lie dormant until the following spring. Over time, they can completely overrun your yard. Plants of this type include crabgrass, foxtail and goosegrass.

Your Plan of Attack

Now that you know how weeds thrive, it's time to take them on. Apply pre-emergent in the spring. If annual grassy weeds have already sprouted, then a control product like Ortho® Weed B Gon MAX® Plus Crabgrass Control is a great option.

The Best Defense Is Offense

The way to keep weeds out of your lawn is to make them feel unwelcome in the first place. Keep your lawn thick and healthy, and weeds won't find a place to settle in. If you mow you lawn at the proper height - usually one of the 2 highest setting on your mower, water deeply, and feed regularly, you'll do a lot to keep weeds out of your yard.

Ortho® Weed B Gon Kills crabgrass, dandelions and other common lawn weeds. Kills weeds to the roots. Starts working immediately. Won't harm the lawn - Guaranteed*

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial 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

Water Wisely In Our Arizona Heat

The greenspace around your commercial property needs attention to keep it lush and beautiful. Here are some of our favorite tips.

When should I water?

    Be a night owl.
    Night or early in the morning are the most effective times to water,
    because wind and evaporation are lower.
    High wind speeds distort sprinkler patterns and produce non-uniform irrigation. 

How often should I water?

    Water a bermudagrass lawn once every three days during the summer.
    Even during the hottest part of the year, most lawns do not need to be watered every day.
    By watering only once every three days, you promote deeper root growth
    and that makes your lawn more water efficient.

How long should I water?

    How long you should water depends upon two factors:
    1. How quickly your sprinklers put water on your lawn.
    2. The amount of water your grass needs to stay healthy.

    Here's a test to determine if water is needed :
    Try pushing the 6" long shaft of a screwdriver into the ground.
    If it goes in easily, don't water.

    Note: Don't water after it has rained. 

How many cans should I put out?

    Four cans will probably be sufficient for a 15' by 15' lawn.
    On larger lawns, use more cans. Avoid placing cans close to the sprinkler heads or near the edge of your lawn area.  Space the cans evenly on the greenspace. 

One overflowed / One is empty: What should I do?

    Empty all the cans, reposition the cans and run your irrigation system for another 15 minutes.
    Do not increase or decrease this 15 minute run time test.
    Uneven water application will affect the quality of your lawn in the future.
    If certain areas are getting too much or too little water,
    try adjusting your sprinkler heads to get a more uniform application.

Why can't I just water until the soil is soggy?

    You will be wasting water and increasing your water bills.
    Overwatered lawns can be more susceptible to diseases such as fungus
    and root-rots. Damp grass can also harbor mosquito larva. 

I have wet, marshy areas, what can I do?

    Check the coverage of your irrigation system.
    Adjust the sprinkler heads to reduce water application to wet areas.
    If the water is puddling in low spots, add soil to those locations.
    A level lawn is easier to water, mow and maintain.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial 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

So You Want A Fair Price?

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