Tuesday, February 28, 2017

We Can Help With Spring Weed Control

Weed killers are a contact killer, meaning they absorb the chemical through what comes in contact with the leaf surface and then translocates the solution throughout the plant through the plant's metabolism. Since weed killers are dependent on contact, it is very important to get good contact with the weed.

Granular weed killers should be applied when grass is damp and should not be watered for 48 hours after application. The dampness of the grass ensures the granular weed killer will "stick" to the leaf. Water applied too soon after application can wash off the weed killer from the surface of the weed before it can be absorbed.

To get good contact with the weed, don't mow the grass before you decide to apply weed killers. This eliminates leaf area, which in turn decreases your leaf area and ultimately decreases your success of the weed killer. When mowing your grass, plan to leave your grass uncut for two days after application and five days before.

During drought conditions or if you are having trouble getting adequate control, add spreader sticker which will increase the surface tension of the leaf to ensure proper absorption of the weed killer. During stress periods, plants tend to be more defensive and at times the addition of spreader sticker can be beneficial.

Weed killers will not prevent any future weed emergence. There is no persistence of the weed killer in the soil, unlike crabgrass preventer which will last several weeks.

You have enough to do, let us make sure we take of your greenscape worries and make them vanish like a passing storm.

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

Monday, February 27, 2017

Survey Your Property After A Storm

As soon as possible after a monsoon storm you need to survey your commercial property for storm damage.  This applies to your landscaping as much as it does the physical condition of your structures.

You want to make sure your walkways are clear of debris.  Are there branches or other storm related items on the roof areas.  Are they blocking your gutters?  Will they come crashing down with a gust of gravity or just a breath of moving air?  If you have overhead power lines, is there vegetation laying on them.

Has the storm damaged outdoor furniture so that it is a hazard now?  Are your chairs and loungers damaged to the point they are no longer safe to use?

Do you have standing water that may mean you have to change the run-off patterns for your property?

At Greens Keeper Landscaping we will help with your clean-up as well as landscape changes that can reduce future damage and hazards.  We can help you understand and comply with changes in your run-off and standing water challenges.

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

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

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

Following our next valley storm think of Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance for your repairs and property restoration.  Give us a call at 623-848-8277 to see how we can help you.
Do you have a pre-storm plan that will minimize the damage a storm may cause.  You can make plans that the simple moving of items will reduce the damage to them or the damage they can cause if they become airborne.

You have enough to do, let us make sure we take of your greenscape worries and make them vanish like a passing storm.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277

http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net

Friday, February 24, 2017

Professional Landscape Maintenance For Hire


We are a service oriented family owned business specializing in commercial landscape maintenance.  As always we strive to keep your landscape safe, clean and beautiful. At the same time keeping your costs 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.

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).

We don't charge anything for the installation of winter lawns. This means you do not pay anything for scalping and removal of summer lawn, sprinkler tune up, and top dressing where needed. And the seed is provided at the market price. We also offer a full range of tree trimming options for our customers including emergency storm damage clean up and tree removal. Lawn fertilizer is done quarterly for the price of fertilizer only.

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.  We meet or exceed the highest insurance standards, with $2,000,000 business liability, $1,000,000 commercial auto, and $1,000,000 workman's comp. And we can list you (the customer) as additional insured at no extra charge.

We can Help!  Please contact us at; Sales: 623-848-8277  We serve the entire Phoenix Metro Area. Your Professional Landscape Maintenance Company!

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

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Difference Between Herbs and Spices

As our readers know we have run out of spices to write about so we are moving on to herbs. First we thought it would be great to understand the difference between the two.

We often hear the term "herbs and spices". As any amateur chef knows, herbs and spices are vital ingredients in many dishes. They add flavor, aroma, color, texture and even nutrients.

Herbs and Spices

But have you ever stopped for a moment to think what the difference is between the two families of food flavor enhancers?

Both spices and herbs are parts of plants (fresh or dried) that are used to enhance the flavor of foods. They’ve also been known to preserve foods, cure illness and enhance cosmetics.

The difference between the two is where they are obtained from a plant.

Herbs come from the leafy and green part of the plant.

Spices are parts of the plant other than the leafy bit such as the root, stem, bulb, bark or seeds.

Examples of herbs include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and mint. They are usually grown in more temperate areas than spices and have great medicinal value and are also used in the preparation of cosmetic products.

Spices are usually dried before being used to season foods. Some examples are cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper. Unlike herbs, they are grown in more tropical countries. They’ve also been known to preserve foods and some have medicinal value, such as turmeric with its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties.


Despite the above clarification, according to the American Spice Trade Association, spices are defined as “any dried plant product used primarily for seasoning purposes”. This really broadens the definition of spices, allowing it to include herbs, dehydrated veggies, spice blends and spice seeds.

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

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Zesty Cherry Pie Recipe

To help honor George Washington's birthday we chose to add oranges to cherry pie. Try it with your family and tell us what you think.


Ingredients


For 8 Servings


Crust    
    1⁄2 cup finely ground almonds 
   1 3⁄4 cups white flour    
    1⁄2 cup confectioners' sugar
    1⁄2 cup unsalted butter or\
    1⁄2 cup margarine, chilled and cut into small pieces
    1 large egg, lightly beaten


Filling
    1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
    2 tablespoons orange liqueur or
    1 tablespoon orange extract
    1 teaspoon grated orange zest


Directions


(Note: If time is short you can use refrigerated pie dough.) 

For the Crust: Place almonds, flour and sugar in the work bowl of a food processor, fitted with a metal blade. Scatter butter on top of the mixture and pulse just until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg and process just until dough gathers in a ball. Divide the dough into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other, and shape into 1-inch-thick discs. Wrap the dough pieces separately in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 375ยบ Fahrenheit.

For the Filling: Combine the cherry pie filling, orange liqueur and orange zest in a medium bowl and mix until thoroughly blended. Place the larger dough on a lightly floured board and roll out into an 11-inch circle. Press the dough into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and trim the edges. Roll the smaller dough into a 10-inch circle and cut into 10, 3/4-inch-wide strips. 

Spoon filling onto the pastry dough in the tart pan and spread to an even thickness. Arrange the dough strips in lattice pattern on top of filling. Gently press the ends into pastry shell and seal with the fingertips. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until pastry is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove the ring of the pan and cool.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: 

\
Calories 370; Total fat 16g; Saturated fat 8g;Cholesterol 55mg; Sodium 25mg; Total carbohydrate 52g; Fiber 2g; Protein 5g; Vitamin A 10%DV; Vitamin C 6% DV; Calcium 4%DV; Iron 10%DV *Daily Value.

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

Monday, February 20, 2017

Honors Washington’s Birthday

Did You Know?

The Library of Congress says that as stated in the introduction, the federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February is not officially called Presidents' Day. Instead, it is Washington's Birthday. There was an attempt in 1968 to officially name it Presidents' Day. However, this suggestion died in committee. Many states, however, choose to call their own celebration on this day "Presidents' Day."

We know that with banks closed, no mail service and most government offices closed this day sure feels like a federal holiday. Well, officially it is. Today official holiday is the celebration of Washington’s Birthday and is not called President’s day.

So why do you find that nearly every store is having a President’s Day celebration or sale? Stores are always looking for any reason to have a sale and accuracy isn’t a strong suit when it comes to advertising.

Washington's Birthday celebrated during his lifetime.

Many across the newly formed United States celebrated Washington's Birthday in the 17th century while George Washington was still alive. However, it wasn't until 1885 that Chester Arthur signed the bill that made it a federal holiday.

Cherries, Cherries, and More Cherries 

Traditionally, many celebrated and continue to celebrate Washington's Birthday with desserts made with cherries. Cherry pie, cherry cake, bread made with cherries, or just a huge bowl of cherries are often enjoyed on this day. Of course, this relates to the apocryphal story that Washington would not tell a lie when asked if he cut down a cherry tree.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday is not a Federal Holiday

Even though many states celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday concurrently with Washington's birthday, it is not a federally designated holiday.

The Reading of Washington's Farewell Address

On February 22nd of almost every year since 1888, Washington's Farewell Address has been read in the US Senate. While this does not happen on Presidents' Day, it is an annual celebration of Washington's Birthday that stems from 1862 when the Address was read as a way to boost morale during the Civil War.

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

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

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Famous Natural Landmarks Tonto Natural Bridge Payson AZ

Tonto Natural Bridge is a natural arch that is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The area surrounding the bridge has been made into a state park called Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, which is located off State Route 87, just 10 miles north of Payson. Tonto Natural Bridge stands over a 400-foot-long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point and reaches a height of 183 feet.

When most people think about Arizona, they think about sweltering heat or desert wastelands. But what they don’t realize is that Arizona is a beautiful place with a variety of natural environments from the hot, dry desert to the cool, mountainous pine forests. If you’re looking for a cooler place to visit, then the Rim Country and surrounding open wilderness is where you need to be. The Mogollon Rim pronounced “muggy-own” or “muggy-on”, is a mountain range that extends 400 miles and marks the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. Here you will find the largest ponderosa pine forest in the United States, with wonderfully cool weather, awesome mountain views, and the unmistakable smells of Pine, Juniper, and Oak. Take in the majestic beauty of The Rim and surrounding wilderness as well as one of the most unique natural landmarks in the world, The Tonto Natural Bridge.  This truly is a visitor’s paradis

This natural bridge was first documented by David Gowan, a Scotsman, in 1877 while hiding from hostile Apache tribe members. Gowan was impressed by the location and persuaded his family to emigrate and live there. Gowan also tried to claim the land for himself under squatter's rights.

Gowan family members lived near the bridge until 1948. Their lodge building survives to this day and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Park Facilities

Walking trails
   Pine Creek Trail - approximately 0.5-mile long
   Waterfall Trail - approximately 600-foot round trip to waterfall cave.
   Gowan Trail - approximately 0.5-mile long, ending at an observation deck at creek bottom.
    
Picnic tables and recreation area

Gift shop

Portable restrooms

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

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Nine Spice Facts You Never Knew

Spices, herbs and seasoning blends are some of the best flavor conductors we have in the kitchen. With a sprinkle or dash, spices allow us to elevate inexpensive dishes to maharaja standards. Do you know your spices like you do your meats and vegetables?  

1. Peppercorns have been used to spice up foods for more than 4,000 years. As early as the 4th century BC, texts describe pepper being used as a seasoning for Indian feasts.

2. In Taoist mythology, black garlic, a fermented Korean product, was associated with immortality. While we’re not sure it will endow you with supernatural powers, we can assure you that it will add richness and memorable flavor to eggs, dips and meats. Unlike white garlic, the black variation isn’t at all harsh—it tastes almost like a savory version of a fig.

3. Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world—the bowl of Spanish saffron pictured above rings in at $371. This is because the vibrant thread-like spice has to be harvested by hand. Saffron comes from the stigma of the crocus sativus, and each crocus contains only 3-5 stigma. This means one hundred flowers are needed to produce only one gram of saffron. Thankfully, only a few strands are needed to infuse a dish with intense flavor and a faint tangerine hue.

4. While Columbus originally named the dried fruit of a certain Jamaican plant pimento, once it arrived in Europe, it became known as allspice. This name is attributed to the fact that it tastes like a blend of many spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Its unique flavor makes this small, dried berry a perfect addition to savory dishes (it’s a key ingredient is Jamaican Jerk Seasoning) as well as in baked desserts.

5. People sometimes mention masala as a seasoning. In fact, masala translates to spice—so a masala blend can contain just about anything. Chat Masala is a tart spice blend while Garam Masala is a warm, earthy blend.

6. The primary difference between a butcher’s rub and a seasoning is the particle size. Butcher’s rubs are more coarse, which helps prevent the seasonings from burning during the cooking process. Seasonings are better for dishes with shorter cooking times and less intense heat.

7. Chinese Five Spice is a traditional blend, named not after the number of ingredients but after the five flavors (sour, bitter, salty, sweet, pungent). The combination of these flavors is thought to create balance.

8. Scoville units are the most widely used measurement of a chile’s heat. This scale, created by Wilbur Scoville, relied on a panel of tasters to determine how much sugar water solution was required to neutralize a chile’s heat. The hottest chile for sale? The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Chile (pictured) rings in at 1.2 million Scoville heat units—the equivalent of eating a ghost pepper and habanero at the same time. But here’s some hot news: In December 2013, the Carolina Reaper stole the crown with 2.2 million Scoville heat units—making it akin to pepper spray.

9. It is suspected that the origins of chili powder date to frontier chuck wagons. The first commercial chili powder was sold in the late 1800s. Chili powder is a blend that usually contains chiles, onion, garlic, cumin and other spices.

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

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Roasted Cod With Olives and Lemon Recipe

Make this flavorful roast cod for your next special night, and then use the leftovers for Codfish Cakes.


Ingredients

    3 small lemons
    8 sprig fresh thyme
    20 pimento-stuffed green olives
    18 small red potatoes
    6 cod fillets
    2 tbsp. olive oil
    ½ tsp. Sea Salt
    ¼ tsp. Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit Place lemon slices in a single layer on a large roasting or baking pan. Lay thyme sprigs over lemons and sprinkle with olives.
    
Halve each potato, place in a large bowl, and fill with water to cover. Microwave until potatoes are easily pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. Drain potatoes and scatter around edge of pan.
    
Place fillets on lemon and drizzle olive oil over fish and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven, reduce temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and roast until fish is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Serve fish with potatoes and olives.

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

Wishing Everyone A Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.

Several martyrdom stories associated with the various Valentines that were connected to February 14 were added to later martyrologies, including a popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome which indicated he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell.

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae). Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred in 269 and was added to the calendar of saints by Pope Galesius in 496 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. The relics of Saint Valentine were kept in the Church and Catacombs of San Valentino in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of St. Valentine were transferred to the church of Santa Prassede during the pontificate of Nicholas IV". The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. Other relics are found at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.

The day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). In Europe, Saint Valentine's Keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart", as well as to children, in order to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine's Malady). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

Saint Valentine's Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church.[9] Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrate Saint Valentine's Day, albeit on July 6 and July 30, the former date in honor of the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna.

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

Monday, February 13, 2017

We Welcome Our New Customers

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 $2,000,000 business liability, $1,000,000 commercial auto, and $1,000,000 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

2017 Random Act Of Kindness Week

This Week Feruary 13th through the 18th is this years Random Act Of Kindness week. The Day designated as Random Act Of Kindness day is the 17th. Just so you know there is even a Random Acts of Kindness Foundation at https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/.
Are You Ready to Spread your very own Random Acts of Kindness all week? Would you like to know the What and the How of this special Random Acts of Kindness Week / Day is a time when citizens all across the globe are challenged to do something kind for a friend or stranger for no reason at all. Originally started by Megan Singleton, Josh de Jong and Marshall Gray, Random Acts of Kindness Week continues on thanks to the efforts of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a really terrific nonprofit organization founded upon the powerful belief in kindness and dedicated to providing resources and tools that encourage acts of kindness.

How You Can Participate?

Any way you want – you just have to do something nice for someone else. It can be as easy as holding a door open or lending someone a dollar for a cup of coffee. Or you can take it a step further and volunteer. But the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation encourages you to start however you can.

How Else Can You Take Part?

If you work in a school, you can take it a step further. Check out these free activities you can download and work on with students during the week. They’ll have fun – and learn how important it is to respect and be kind to others.

And, no matter who you are, make sure you join the social media effort around Random Acts of Kindness Week.  Use the hashtag #RAKWeek2016 to encourage your friends and networks to join in.

The Foundation will be posting around the week on Facebook and Instagram too. Follow them from links on their site, retweet and repost – and tell them how you’ll spread a little kindness this year.

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

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Spice Of The Week: Wattleseed

Wattleseed is an exotic spice from the Land Down Under. You may not have heard of this peculiar sounding ingredient, but it is starting to appear on both savory and sweet menus in the U.S. Chef Ryan Butler of Tocqueville uses wattleseed to add a smoky flavor to a classic cheesecake. Vosges Haut Chocolat features ice cream as well chocolate truffles with wattleseed essence. Dining Downunder Chefs Vic Cherikoff and Benjamin Christie use the spice in their traditional Australian cuisine. With a rich and nutty taste, this seasoning complements a variety of meats, sauces and desserts.

Wattleseeds are the edible seeds from any of the 120 species of Australian Acacia that were traditionally used as food by Aboriginal Australians, and eaten either green (and cooked) or dried (and milled to a flour) to make a type of bush bread.

Acacia seed flour has recently gained popularity in Australia due to its high nutritional content, hardiness, availability, and low toxicity. Due to its low glycemic index, it is also often incorporated into diabetic foods. Vic Cherikoff (a significant pioneer in the Australian native food industry) developed Wattleseed as a flavouring in 1984[citation needed] from selected species and is now the major commercial product used due to its chocolate, coffee, hazelnut flavour profile. It is often added to ice cream, granola, chocolate, bread, and widely used by chefs to enhance sauces and dairy desserts. Baron's Brewery in Sydney produces Wattle Seed Ale, a spiced ale that is lightly flavoured with Wattleseed. In the United States city of Milton, Dogfish Head Brewery produce a beer named Urkontinent made with Wattleseed, among other spices.

Next week we will replace the eotic spice of the week with another topic as we  seemed to have run out of eotic spices to cover. 

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

Monday, February 6, 2017

Put Winter Weeds Under Control

Do you suffer from the ineffectiveness of your weed-management program. With upcoming warm days and other maintenance activities, you easily can forget about weed control. However, with appropriate action now, your weed problems will not come back to bother you.

The weed-control strategy you should use depends on the types of weeds present. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is determine the major weed species at each property you maintain. You may need to use different strategies at the different sites, based on the predominant weed species. For example, wild onion may be the only serious weed at one site, while another location has common chickweed and annual bluegrass as the predominate problems. These two sites would certainly require different treatments.

In some ways, it's easier to control winter weeds than summer weeds. However, if you neglect them, winter weeds can become a major burden in spring when you need to devote your time to other maintenance practices. Thus, treating for weeds now buys you time in the spring. And no matter what season it is, it is always easier to maintain a site in weed-free condition than it is to bring a heavily weeded site back into top condition. It pays to be proactive in your weed-control program.

Because we already have passed the peak period for winter-annual germination (which mostly occurs in December and January here in Phoenix), your weed-management activities right now will have to address both the control of existing weeds and residual control for weeds that will germinate later. I hope that you applied pre-emergents in the fall because winter annuals germinate in early fall, with little germination during the coldest winter months. However, a second flush of germination can occur in early spring as temperatures start to rise. This is why some operators use split applications of pre-emergence herbicides: to control both flushes of germination. A September application for controlling fall-germinating weeds may no longer be effective by March, when more germination can occur.

Classification of winter weeds Most winter weeds fall into two categories: grasses and broadleaves. Weeds such as yellow nutsedge-neither a grass nor a broadleaf-are not a concern in winter because these plants go dormant with the onset of cold weather in very late fall and do not emerge in spring until after temperatures have warmed up. Likewise, you cannot control warm-season grasses such as dallisgrass and bermudagrass in winter because these species also go dormant.

Broadleaf weeds consist of annuals, biennials and perennials. Examples of winter annuals include common chickweed, corn speedwell, vetches, rockets and henbit. Biennial weeds include certain thistles, such as musk thistle. Perennial winter broadleaves include bulbous buttercup and mouseear chickweed. In addition, seed of certain perennials that grow actively in warmer weather, such as dandelion and buckhorn plantain, often germinate in fall and early spring and therefore need attention in a fall weed-management program.

Grasses are either annual or perennial. Annual bluegrass is a common winter-annual weed. A perennial biotype of annual bluegrass exists, but this predominately is a golf-course problem. Quackgrass is a cool-season perennial grass that can invade turf and ornamental beds. If you maintain warm-season turf, you know that clumps of cool-season grasses such as tall fescue become quite apparent when the turf goes dormant. Cool-season grasses can be a conspicuous weed problem in such circumstances.

Other perennial monocot weeds (that are neither grasses nor broadleaves) of concern in fall and early spring include wild onion, wild garlic, grape hyacinth and star of Bethlehem. As in summer, perennial winter weeds are harder to control than annuals.

Weather conditions obviously are quite different in winter than summer, and this can impact weed management, especially herbicide applications. Temperature is an important factor for post-emergence herbicide application. Applicators frequently ask me about the minimum temperature in which they can apply post-emergents. This is not an easy question to address. I prefer air temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with good soil moisture so weeds are actively growing. As temperatures drop, two effects occur. First, the development of injury symptoms is much slower compared to applications at higher temperatures. This does not necessarily mean that control ultimately will be worse. But if, for example, a herbicide takes 1 week in summer for effects to become visible, it may take 2 or 3 weeks in the winter. Thus, you may need to inform your clients not to expect fast results in the winter. Some weeds, such as henbit, seem to take an especially long time before complete control is apparent.

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

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Spring Is In The Air Here In Phoenix

As the the Valley of the Sun heads towards spring time we know that you have many other projects that need your attention when it comes to commercial property, let Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance help with your spring landscape planning. Yes as Phoenix begins running day-time high temperatures of 70+ we know Spring is close.

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