Plant Of The Week: Yellow Coneflower

Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed-susan or yellow coneflower is a North American species of flowering plants in the sunflower family, native to the Eastern and Central North America and naturalized in the Western part of the continent as well as in China. It has now been found in all 10 Canadian Provinces and all 48 of the states in the contiguous United States.

Rudbeckia hirta is one of a number of plants with the common name black-eyed susan. Other common names for this plant include: brown-eyed susan, brown betty, gloriosa daisy, golden Jerusalem, English bull's eye, poor-land daisy, yellow daisy, and yellow ox-eye daisy.

The plant also is a traditional Native American medicinal herb in several tribal nations; believed in those cultures to be a remedy, among other things, for colds, flu, infection, swelling and (topically, by poultice) for snake bite (although not all parts of the plant are edible)

Rudbeckia hirta is an upright annual (sometimes biennial or perennial) growing 12–39 in tall by 12–18 in wide. It has alternate, mostly basal leaves 8 inches long, covered by coarse hair, with stout branching stems and daisy-like, composite flower heads appearing in late summer and early autumn. In the species, the flowers are up to 4 in in diameter, with yellow ray florets circling conspicuous brown or black, dome-shaped cone of many small disc florets. However, extensive breeding has produced a range of sizes and colors, including oranges, reds and browns.

The genus name honors Olaus Rudbeck, who was a professor of botany at the University of Uppsala in Sweden and was one of Linnaeus's teachers. The specific epithet refers to the trichomes (hairs) occurring on leaves and stems.

Rudbeckia hirta is widely cultivated in parks and gardens, for summer bedding schemes, borders, containers, wildflower gardens, prairie-style plantings and cut flowers. Numerous cultivars have been developed, of which 'Indian Summer' and 'Toto' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Other popular cultivars include 'Double Gold' and 'Marmalade'.

Gloriosa daisies are tetraploid cultivars having much larger flower heads than the wild species, often doubled or with contrasting markings on the ray florets. They were first bred by Alfred Blakeslee of Smith College by applying colchicine to R. hirta seeds; Blakeslee's stock was further developed by W. Atlee Burpee and introduced to commerce at the 1957 Philadelphia Flower Show. Gloriosa daisies are generally treated as annuals or short-lived perennials and are typically grown from seed, though there are some named cultivars.

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

Discover Common Edible Weeds

Did you know that many weeds are not only safe to eat — they're also delicious? Weeding is just about the most tedious and time consuming task any gardener faces. But with many common weeds, you can take a different route: Try eating them. Here's a short list of commonly weeded plants that can add rustic flavor to your garden harvest. Just be careful — before you eat anything outside, positively ID it visually by using a guide book or by asking a knowledgeable person if you have any doubts.

Dandelion

Probably the most well-known of all weeds, the humble dandelion is actually bursting with vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. The great news is that there’s probably a ton of this nutritious weed in your backyard. The dandelion has been used throughout history to treat everything from liver problems and kidney disease to heartburn and appendicitis. Today, it is mainly used as a diuretic, appetite stimulant and for the liver and gallbladder. Every part of this common weed is edible, from the roots to the blossoms. Use the leaves in sandwiches and stir fries – they boast more beta carotene than carrots, meaning they are great for healthy eyes! Roots can be made into a herbal tea, or roasted and ground as a coffee substitute. The sweet flower heads will add color to salads and can be used to make wines.

Daisies

Not just for making daisy chains, the greens and petals of this common garden flower can be eaten either raw or cooked, although some find the flavor a little bitter. Daisies have been brewed into a tea and used in traditional Austrian medicine for gastrointestinal and respiratory tract disorders. They also have anti-inflammatory properties.

Chicory

This light blue flower lives as a wild roadside plant. Despite its somewhat bitter taste, chicory leaves are commonly consumed in certain parts of Europe, including Italy and Greece. Try boiling the leaves first before sautéing or adding to dishes as that will remove some of the bitterness. Roots can be baked, ground, and added to coffee or even used on their own as a coffee substitute. Chicory is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites and can also be used as a tonic to stimulate appetite, act as a diuretic, cure an upset stomach and help with constipation. It’s believed to protect the liver and help with gallbladder disorders.

Clover

More correctly Red Clover. You might have noticed that this pretty pinky-red flower attracts all the bees to your garden. It’s not just a great source of food for them, but also for you! Traditionally used in India for its anti-inflammatory properties, Red Clover has also been used as a folk remedy for cancer. However, as the American Cancer Society states there is no evidence to back this claim up, it’s best to enjoy red clover simply as a source of calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin C. Because it’s also a rich in isoflavones, chemicals that act like estrogens in the body, go easy on your intake. Small amounts of raw clover leaves or the flowers can be added to salads, sautéed or pan roasted.

Garlic

Well at least Wild Garlic. Something all foragers hope to come across, wild garlic is a great find. With delicate white flowers and thin shoots, this useful ‘weed’ is delicious when used in a homemade pesto. It can also be used in place of chives or green onion, and added to salads, sandwiches and soups. Just like the garlic we’re used to buying in the store, the wild variety also boasts antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic and antifungal properties. Of all the garlics, wild garlic has been found to have the greatest ability to lower blood pressure.

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

Thinking About Summer Commercial Property Maintenance?

In addition to the overall look of your commercial properties' grounds they are other areas that you will want to consider to keep your property in top notch shape. A few precautionary measures can prevent unnecessary problems for businesses and can cost more money in the long run. Be sure you are ready for our unpredictable New England summer! And keep in mind that your property only gets one chance to make a great first impression.

On a regular basis, you should also look at all outdoor electrical outlets and wiring. And if you are inexperienced in this area, you should get a professional to come in and take a look on a regular basis. A maintenance management company has workers who are experienced with electrical systems, so they can inspect outlets and other aspects of your building’s system to ensure there are no frayed or broken wires and that all switches are still in good shape.

During and following our monsoon season roofing and siding should also be looked at regularly. Make sure your building’s roof is not experiencing any leaks, and make sure that all gutters and downspouts are clear of debris and draining the water off of your building’s roof. If your building has siding, walk around perimeter occasionally to check on it, especially after the severe weather or high winds of a monsoon storm.

A thorough cleanup of your property grounds to remove leaves, branches and any trash or debris from the monsoon storms will help create a welcoming and attractive business atmosphere. Small actions such as this can make a big impact on entering and exiting clients, potential customers and even your own employees, no unsightly distractions make for the best overall impression.

Severe weather may have damaged the windows on your commercial property, which could lead to higher air-conditioning costs during the summer months. Thorough caulking can prevent leakage of cooled air and save more on energy bills. Give all windows a thorough inspection and replace when needed with more energy-efficient models. These new types of windows can save substantial amounts on energy throughout the coming years.

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

Your Commercial Landscape Maintenance Needs

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

Famous City Parks: Union Square, New York City

Union Square is an important and historic intersection and surrounding neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City, located where Broadway and the former Bowery Road – now Fourth Avenue – came together in the early 19th century; its name celebrates neither the Federal union of the United States nor labor unions but rather denotes that "here was the union of the two principal thoroughfares of the island". The current Union Square Park is bounded by 14th Street on the south, Union Square West on the west side, 17th Street on the north, and on the east Union Square East, which links together Broadway and Park Avenue South to Fourth Avenue and the continuation of Broadway. The park is under the aegis of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Adjacent neighborhoods are the Flatiron District to the north, Chelsea to the west, Greenwich Village to the southwest, East Village to the southeast, and Gramercy Park to the east. Many buildings of The New School are near the square, as are several dormitories of New York University. The eastern side of the square is dominated by the four Zeckendorf Towers, on the former site of the bargain-priced department store, S. Klein, and the south side by the full-square block mixed-use One Union Square South. It features a kinetic wall sculpture and digital clock expelling bursts of steam, titled Metronome. Among the heterogeneous assortment of buildings along the west side is the Decker Building.

Union Square is noted for its impressive equestrian statue of U.S. President George Washington, modeled by Henry Kirke Brown and unveiled in 1856, the first public sculpture erected in New York City since the equestrian statue of George III in 1770, and the first American equestrian sculpture cast in bronze; the historic moment depicted is Evacuation Day, November 25, 1783, when the British left the city and General Washington triumphantly led his troops back into the city. The park has historically been the start or the end point for many political demonstrations. In April 1861, soon after the fall of Fort Sumter, it was the site of a patriotic rally of perhaps a quarter of a million people that is thought to have been the largest public gathering in North America up to that time. In the summer of 1864 the north side of the square was the site of a "Sanitary Fair".

Union Square has been a frequent gathering point for radicals of all stripes to make speeches or demonstrate. In 1865, the recently formed Irish republican Fenian Brotherhood came out publicly and rented Dr. John Moffat's brownstone rowhouse at 32 East 17th Street, next to the Everett House hotel facing the north side of the square, for the capitol of the government-in-exile they declared. On September 5, 1882, in the first Labor Day celebration, a crowd of at least 10,000 workers paraded up Broadway and filed past the reviewing stand at Union Square. Although the park was known for its labor union rallies and for the large 1861 gathering in support of Union troops, it was actually named for its location at the "union" of Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and Eastern Post Road (now extinct) decades before these gatherings. On March 28, 1908, an anarchist set off a bomb in Union Square which only killed himself and another man. Union Square was named a National Historic Landmark in 1997, primarily to honor it as the site of the first Labor Day parade.

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

Plant of the Week: Wollemia Pines

Wollemia is a genus of coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. Wollemia was only known through fossil records until the Australian species Wollemia nobilis was discovered in 1994 in a temperate rainforest wilderness area of the Wollemi National Park in New South Wales, in a remote series of narrow, steep-sided sandstone gorges 95 miles north-west of Sydney. The genus is named for the National Park.

In both botanical and popular literature the tree has been almost universally referred to as the Wollemi pine, although it is not a true pine (genus Pinus) nor a member of the pine family (Pinaceae), but rather is related to Agathis and Araucaria in the family Araucariaceae. The oldest fossil of the Wollemi tree has been dated to 200 million years ago.

The Wollemi pine is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN's Red List, and is legally protected in Australia. A Recovery Plan has been drawn up, outlining strategies for the management of this fragile population; the overall objective is to ensure that this species remains viable in the long-term.

Wollemia nobilis is an evergreen tree reaching 82–131 ft tall. The bark is very distinctive, dark brown and knobbly, quoted as resembling Coco Pops breakfast cereal. The tree coppices readily, and most specimens are multiple-trunked or appear as clumps of trunks thought to derive from old coppice growth, with some consisting of up to 100 stems of differing sizes. The branching is unique in that nearly all the side branches never have further branching. After a few years, each branch either terminates in a cone (either male or female) or ceases growth. After this, or when the cone becomes mature, the branch dies. New branches then arise from dormant buds on the main trunk. Rarely, a side branch will turn erect and develop into a secondary trunk, which then bears a new set of side branches.

The leaves are flat linear, 2 inches long and 1.5 inches broad. They are arranged spirally on the shoot but twisted at the base to appear in two or four flattened ranks. As the leaves mature, they develop from bright lime-green to a more yellowish-green. The seed cones are green, 5 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, and mature about 18–20 months after wind pollination. They disintegrate at maturity to release the seeds which are small and brown, thin and papery with a wing around the edge to aid wind-dispersal. The male (pollen) cones are slender conic, 4 inches long and 1 inch broad and reddish-brown in color and are lower on the tree than the seed cones. Seedlings appear to be slow-growing and mature trees are extremely long-lived; some of the older individuals today are estimated to be between 500 and 1000 years old.

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

Commercial Property Speinkler System Solutions

Sprinkler systems are essential for Arizona commercial property owners because watering trees, plants, and a lawn with the right amount of water at the right time of day can be a challenge. The right amount of water depends on the type of plants you have. Making sure that you provide your plants with the correct quantity and frequency of water will help make sure your landscape stays beautiful. If your irrigation system isn’t working properly, then your plants aren’t going to last in the Arizona summer heat. Unfortunately, irrigation systems can sometimes be complex, so you could have difficulty troubleshooting problems yourself. In no particular order, check out the top 10 problems Arizonans  face each year with their irrigation systems.

1.     Issues With Poly Water Lines – leaks in poly water lines are fairly common, especially as your irrigation system ages. If the line that is leaking is underneath a tree or plant, It can become increasingly more difficult to fix.  As your system ages, make sure to inspect all of your lines for cracks and leaks. This will help prevent you running into a larger problem in the future. Tree roots can end up pinching poly water lines, this causes leaks and other nasty problems with your irrigation system. Running new lines to replace these are recommended.

2.    Irrigation Valve Malfunction – depending on how long your irrigation valve is open and the amount of water that leaks, it could add quite a bit of money to your next water bill.

3.    PVC Pipe Leaking – repairing a leak by patching it instead of replacing the pipe is the easier thing to do, but we recommend replacing the entire pipe so you don’t run into the same problem again down the road. Improper PVC pipe leak repair can lead to a pipe having a slow leak, which can end up costing you in the long run.

4.     Broken Sprinkler Head – sprinkler heads can break because of a variety of reasons. The most common reasons are dogs, lawn mowers, people, and tree roots. Replace each sprinkler head as they break or you might find that your entire property is full of broken sprinkler heads.

5.    Old and Deteriorated Above Grade Valves – Inspecting your irrigation valves each year is recommended. If your system is quite old, it is probably time to change them instead of trying to repair them.

6.    Broken Irrigation Timer Module – the irrigation timer is the brain of your irrigation system so it needs to be maintained properly. If you have a broken timer, you have a broken system and you will need to replace the timer module.

7.    Valve Box Filled With Water – making sure that you don’t have leaks in your valve box will help increase the life span of your entire irrigation system.

8.    Debris in the System – rocks, pebbles, and other debris can get into and damage or break your valve diaphragms. Cleaning them out usually will fix the problem. Debris can also clog your Y filter – Regularly cleaning out your Y filter will help maintain your irrigation system. Debris can get into your irrigation line as well, which can cause flooding, and more. Cleaning them out regularly will help prevent any unwanted problems. Debri can also include fungus growth. Fungi growing in and on irrigation valves can happen when an irrigation system is neglected and not properly maintained each year.

9.    Clogged Drip Line – If your system isn’t running properly in certain areas, your lines might be clogged.

10. Poorly Installed Irrigation Components – There are quite a bit of examples of how-not-to install various irrigation components. This customer didn’t like how the vacuum breaker could be seen through the house’s window.

 Just like you take your car into a mechanic to get regular maintenance services, we recommend that you have a licensed irrigation expert inspect your irrigation system on a yearly basis to help prevent all of the irrigation problems above. It is better to catch the small problems and correct them right away before they turn into bigger problems later.

There is a wide range of irrigation systems available in today’s market and there is also plenty of ways to install them incorrectly. We are here to help, give us a call to learn more.

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

Mixed Sunlight Area Leads To Lawn Problems

One very common question for us is how to deal with growing grass across the variations of sunlight levels on a typical commercial property. Now that we are in the depths of summer this becomes an even bigger issue.

You have areas that are covered with trees that provide a reduction in the sunlight in the 50% range to building shadows that shades up to the 80% range.  Some grasses don’t do as well in shade as they do in full sunlight.

On the topic of shaded lawn recommendations, the Midiron Tiff is an excellent lawn for Arizona because of it's drought tolerance, and ability to withstand high traffic. It is a member of the Bermuda family and does much better in full sun. Also typically Tiff lawns look best when cut with a front reel mower. But these are very high maintenance and therefore more expensive to operate.

At  Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, we recommend Palmetto St. Augustine. Palmetto St. Augustine can do very well both in full sun, and in shady areas. Additionally with Palmetto St. Augustine there is the benefit of year round growth with the elimination of the need for the winter lawn over seeding. In the coldest of the winter months, St. Augustine lawns do slow in growth but look nice year round. The main draw back to a St. Augustine lawn is it's higher water requirements.

We often see remnants of last years winter lawn that most likely had been kept alive in the shady areas until some time in July. It doesn't take much more if not the same amount of water for St. Augustine as it would to keep the Rye grass alive most of the summer in the shady areas.

There is two ways we could go about planting St. Augustine.

Option one would be to seed, or sod the shaded areas, but this would lead to somewhat of a patchwork look with multiple types of lawn in one front yard. Option two is what I would recommend for the best uniform look, but would definitely cost more.

Option two would be to kill off all the existing Bermuda lawns with a non selective herbicide as soon as possible before any scalping takes place, and while we still have warm enough days for the Bermuda grass to grow. This is very important as otherwise we won't get a full kill on the established Bermuda. After the Bermuda is dead, then all the areas could be planted with St. Augustine.

Again, the main factor for the St. Augustine to be successful would be for the complete killing of the Bermuda first. It might become necessary to wait until spring to get the best results on the Bermuda since poison is not effective on dormant, semi dormant, or distressed Bermuda lawns.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  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

Famous Parks: Ueno Park, Tokyo

Ueno Park, Tokyo: This is another park that is known for its flowers, but at Ueno Park, it’s all about the “sakura,” or cherry blossoms. During the springtime, when the trees are in bloom, people flood to the park for picnics and to “hanami,” which means “flower viewing,” a traditional pastime. Ueno is by far the most popular of Japan’s city parks, and so worth a trip.

It  is a spacious public park in the Ueno district of Taitō, Tokyo, Japan. The park was established in 1873 on lands formerly belonging to the temple of Kan'ei-ji. Amongst the country's first public parks, it was founded following the western example as part of the borrowing and assimilation of international practices that characterizes the early Meiji period. The home of a number of major museums, Ueno Park is also celebrated in spring for its cherry blossoms and hanami. In recent times the park and its attractions have drawn over ten million visitors a year, making it Japan's most popular city park

Ueno Park occupies land once belonging to Kan'ei-ji, founded in 1625 in the "demon gate", the unlucky direction to the northeast of Edo Castle. Most of the temple buildings were destroyed in the Battle of Ueno in 1868 during the Boshin War, when the forces of the Tokugawa shogunate were defeated by those aiming at the restoration of imperial rule. In December of that year Ueno Hill became the property of the city of Tokyo, other than for the surviving temple buildings which include the five-storey pagoda of 1639, the Kiyomizu Kannondō (or Shimizudō) of 1631, and approximately coeval main gate (all designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan).

Various proposals were put forward for the use of the site as a medical school or hospital, but Dutch doctor Bauduin urged instead that the area be turned into a park. In January 1873 the Dajō-kan issued a notice providing for the establishment of public parks, noting that "in prefectures including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, there are places of historic interest, scenic beauty, and recreation and relaxation where people can visit and enjoy themselves, for example Sensō-ji and Kan'ei-ji..." This was the year after the foundation of Yellowstone, the world's first national park.

The park has some 8,800 trees, including Ginkgo biloba, Cinnamomum camphora, Zelkova serrata, Formosan cherry, Somei-Yoshino cherry, and Japanese cherry. There is a further 266,945 square feet of shrubs. Shinobazu Pond is a small lake with an area of 16 ha, extensive lotus beds, and marshland. It provides an important wintering ground for birds. Species commonly found include the tufted duck, Eurasian wigeon, northern pintail, common pochard, little grebe, great egret, and great cormorant. The Baer's pochard, ring-necked duck, and American wigeon have also been recorded.

The central island houses a shrine to Benzaiten, goddess of fortune, modelled on Chikubu Island in Lake Biwa. The area was once full of "rendezvous teahouses", equivalent of the modern love hotel. After the Pacific War the pond was drained and used for the cultivation of cereals and subsequently there were plans to turn the site into a baseball stadium or multi-story carpark. The lotus pond was restored in 1949, although much of it was again accidentally drained in 1968 during work on a new subway line.

In all there are some eight hundred cherry trees in the park, although with the inclusion of those belonging to the Ueno Tōshō-gū shrine, temple buildings, and other neighboring points the total reaches some twelve hundred. Inspired, Matsuo Bashō wrote "cloud of blossoms - is the temple bell from Ueno or Asakusa"

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

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance Solves Your Problems

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

Plant of the Week: Stinkhorn Mushroom

Mutinus caninus, commonly known as the dog stinkhorn, is a small thin, phallus-shaped woodland fungus, with a dark tip. It is often found growing in small groups on wood debris, or in leaf litter, during summer and autumn in Europe, Asia, and eastern North America. It is not generally considered edible, although there are reports of the immature 'eggs' being consumed.

The genus name Mutinus was a phallic deity, Mutinus Mutunus, one of the Roman di indigetes placated by Roman brides, and caninus means "dog-like" in Latin. Mutinus is the diminutive of muto, a Latin word for Penis. It was described initially by William Hudson (1730–1793), a noted British botanist. Its common names in French, Phallus de Chien, Satyre des chiens, also hint at its resemblance to a dog penis. It is commonly known as the "dog stinkhorn".

This small member of the Phallaceae family emerges from an off-white egg-like fruiting body that lies half buried in leaf litter on the woodland floor. White mycelial cords (rhizomorphs), are often visible beneath this 'egg', which is 1–1.5 in high, and 0.5–1 in wide. The 'egg' has a tough outer skin (peridium), which covers a gelatinous inner layer, which in turn protects the fully formed, but unexpanded fruiting body. When the ‘egg’ splits open the fungus expands rapidly (usually within a few hours), to its full height of 4–4.5 in. It is around 0.5 in thick, and is either yellowish-white, yellow, or pale orange. The split egg is retained as a volva-like sack, at the base. The column is very fragile, pitted, and cylindrical. It has a pointed tip, and is usually curved. The tip is covered in the spore bearing matter (gleba) which is a dark olive-brown paste, and has a smell which is irresistible to insects. (These insects help distribute the spores on their bodies, and in their stomachs.) Beneath the spore mass the tip is dark orange. Although its smell is not as strong as the related common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus), it has been described as smelling like cat faeces.

American mycologist Sanford Myron Zeller described an albino form of the fungus based on collections made in Warrengon, Oregon. It is essentially identical to the regular form but pure white throughout, except for the gleba. This form, named M. caninus var. albus, was first mentioned in the scientific literature by Edward Angus Burt in 1896.

Mutinus ravenelii is pinker in coloration, with a red tip. It is a rarer American species, now spreading in Europe. Another North American species Mutinus elegans is very similar to M. ravenelii, and is short and stocky, with a more pointed apex.

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

Is Your Commercial Property Safe and Attractive

As a business owner, or property manager you know that the appearance and safety of your property directly effects how customers view and patronize your business or services. Whether with minor or major landscape enhancements, you can spruce up your property design to demonstrate your company's commitment to maintaining a professional appearance. Use creativity, sensibility and simple upgrades to enhance your current landscape design.

Mark your company's territory by spelling out your company name or displaying your logo in plants and shrubs. Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance’s landscapers can trim your existing hedges or plant new shrubs that brand your company in an eye-catching way. Choose bright-colored flowering plants for the interior of your letters or logo. Colors such as red and yellow are great options since they are easy to read from a distance. Pick darker colors for the outline of the letters in your design. An exception to this recommendation is the use of your corporate identity colors, which may include two dark or two bright colors. In this case, use a style closest to your logo design.

If you're in a single-story building, create a beautiful privacy fence of dense foliage around your office space. You can avoid the fear of someone seeing valuables in your office from an outside sidewalk or parking lot and planning a break-in with the help of your foliage fortress. Place large palm leaves, trees and waterfalls in front of the window as an obstruction. Fill the space in front of your fountain and foliage with gravel extending it to the sidewalk.

You can give your employees a place of refuge during their lunch break with a stone patio filled with shrubbery and a privacy fence. This area is sure to enhance employee wellness and therefore retention by giving them a temporary getaway from the office. Stone walkways are essential around your property for pedestrians seeking access to your building from multiple entrances. A cobblestone walkway adds a welcoming touch to the front door of your business. Always consider a professional landscaper to create walkways and patios with crushed stone and a drainage system to provide a solid foundation that your employees and customers can enjoy for decades.

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

Different Trees For Your Commercial Property

Here in the desert, you might feel it is hard to find plants that thrive in the dry arid climate, however there are many plants that thrive in our desert environment. These plants Can be an eye catching addition to any landscape as well as attracting gorgeous butterflies and fast flying humming birds. Knowing more about the Valley of the Sun opens up many planting possibilites.

Museum Palo Verde
The Museum Palo Verde is fast becoming one of the most popular shade trees in landscapes throughout the southwest. The multi-trunked, sculptural shapes of these trees provide a stark contrast and beautiful accent to almost any landscape. The Museum Palo Verde is actually a hybrid of different, older Palo Verde species that brings the best qualities of each. This results in a fuller, vibrant yellow flower display with brighter green, thornless trunks. Museum Palo Verdes are the faster growing, higher blooming, cleaner cousins to the original Palo Verde. These trees allow landscapers to get the vibrant colors of the Palo Verde without the thorns and heavy litter of the originals. Plant anywhere that fast shade and wonderful golden spring color is desired.

Lilac Chaste Tree
Although the Vitex is known by many names it is best known for its beautiful spikes of purple blooms it has in the summer months.  The Vitex is prized for not only these unique desert blooms, but also for its natural ability to attract butterflies to one’s landscape. One of the plant's common names, monk's pepper, references the use of its seeds as a pepper substitute in monasteries, where it was prized for its intrinsic effects on virility.  The small stature and low maintenance requirements of the Vitex allow its unique properties to be brought into just about any landscape. The turning, twisting trunks contrast well with the larger, more uniform trees commonly seen in Sonoran landscapes. Vitex trees establish quickly and are well suited for full sun exposure.

Willow Acacias
Willow Acacias are an import from the arid regions of Australia, making them perfectly suited to growing here. Their growth rate makes them popular with folks seeking fast shade, but their cleanliness and unique appearance make them useful across many different landscape styles.  Its name comes from the fact that as it matures, its foliage weeps from upright branches, providing a similar look to a classic Willow tree.  Only Willow Acacias keep their leaves all year while using quite a bit less water than other Acacias. Consult with our landscaping experts on how a Willow acacia might be right for your landscape. 

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help your commercial property.  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

Famous City Parks: The High Line

The High Line (also known as the High Line Park) is a 1.45-mile-long New York City linear park built in Manhattan on an elevated section of a disused New York Central Railroad spur called the West Side Line. Inspired by the 3-mile Promenade plantée (tree-lined walkway), a similar project in Paris completed in 1993, the High Line has been redesigned and planted as an aerial greenway and rails-to-trails park.

The High Line Park is built on the disused southern portion of the West Side Line running to the Lower West Side of Manhattan. It runs from Gansevoort Street – three blocks below 14th Street – in the Meatpacking District, through Chelsea, to the northern edge of the West Side Yard on 34th Street near the Javits Convention Center. An unopened spur extends above 30th Street to Tenth Avenue. Formerly, the West Side Line went as far south as a railroad terminal to Spring Street just north of Canal Street, however most of the lower section was demolished in 1960, with another small portion of the lower section being demolished in 1991.

Repurposing of the railway into an urban park began construction in 2006, with the first phase opening in 2009, and the second phase opening in 2011. The third and final phase officially opened to the public on September 21, 2014. A short stub above Tenth Avenue and 30th Street is still closed as of September 2014, but will open by 2017, once the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project is completed. The project has spurred real estate development in the neighborhoods that lie along the line. As of September 2014, the park gets nearly 5 million visitors annually.

The park extends from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street. At 30th Street, the elevated tracks turn west around the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on 34th Street, though the northern section is expected to be integrated within the Hudson Yards development  and the Hudson Park and Boulevard. When the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project's Western Rail Yard is finished in 2018, it will be elevated above the High Line Park, so an exit along the viaduct will be located over the West Side Yard, exiting out to the Western Rail Yard of Hudson Yards. The 34th Street entrance is at grade level, with wheelchair access.

The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the winter, 10 p.m. in the spring and fall, and 11 p.m. in the summer, except for the Interim Walkway west of 11th Avenue, which is open until dusk. It can be reached through eleven entrances, five of which are accessible to people with disabilities. The wheelchair-accessible entrances, each with stairs and an elevator, are at Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th Streets. Additional staircase-only entrances are located at 18th, 20th, 26th, and 28th Streets, and 11th Avenue. Street level access is available at 34th Street via an "Interim Walkway" between 30th Street/11th Avenue and 34th Street.

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

Plant of the Week: The Dancing Plant

Darwin called the plant Hedysarum; modern botanists call it either Desmodium Gyrans, or more correctly these days, Codariocalyx Motorius. Its common name is Dancing Grass or Telegraph Plant or Semaphore Plant -- after the leaf movements, which resemble semaphore signals. For all of its uses this plant is easy to grow, dancing happily on a sunny windowsill and watered when dry. Some say it dances best to the "Greatful Dead!"

This peculiar shrub, native to Asia, has sparked the interests of botanists and others alike. The leaflets move in set elliptical patterns to help deduce the position of the sun (to appropriately expend energy moving the larger leaves where fitting). The intense fascination with these plants does not occur from its flowering habits, its peculiar “behavior”, or even its life cycle. The most intriguing thing about this plant is that it moves when stimulated by sound. Touching the plants will not cause the move, as Mimosa pudica (the Sensitive Plant) does. Changing the amount of light will not typically affect the elliptical movement of the leaflets. When exposed to sound, particularly high pitch (high frequency) sound waves, however, the plant’s leaflets and leaves move in a peculiar fashion. The leaves move dramatically enough, and quick enough, to be reasonably observed the human eye (time lapse photography or videos can show its movements even more so).

Besides being extraordinarily fascinating, the sensitivity to sound raises many questions. 

Why is this plant in particular sensitive to sound and not other environmental factors? What causes the plant to move so uniquely when exposed to sound, and does it improve its “dancing” through some faintly related type of memory? More importantly, what function does it serve? Moving in such conspicuous fashions would attract predators, herbivores, although it may ward off certain insects. Although it is likely that some complex chain of chemical reactions causes the plant to move, this is not entirely understood.

Codariocalyx motorius (Dancing Plant, Telegraph Plant) [formerly Desmodium gyrans]

Deciduous: In colder areas, Telegraph Plants go into dormancy. In warmer climates, though, it grows year-round.

Growth Rate: fast, especially when young

Height: from 2 to 4 feet tall at maturity

Diameter: not specified

Occurrance: perennial

Root System: The roots are used for Rheumatism.

Family: Fabaceae

Subspecies: var ‘glaber’

Tolerates: Generally pest free.

Problems (major): no major issues

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

Why Aren't We Doing Your Landscape Maintenance?

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