Lawn Scalping and Thatch For Commercial Property

If you've been following our blog, we have mentioned that summer is a good time to thatch or scalp your greenscape. But what, you might ask, does that mean?

Lawn Scalping

In terms of preparing a lawn for overseeding, scalping is lowering the level of the Bermuda lawn to allow Rye seeds better access to soil and sun after it’s been spread. The best practice is to set the mower on a progressively lower setting each time the lawn is mown until the desired height is reached – approx. 1/4 to 1/2”. we encourage you to consider scalping as early as the end of August, so that we can begin lowering the grass over several services in preparation for overseeding in October, rather than in a single visit, which is much less desirable for the health of the Bermuda.

When you mow your lawn properly, it will not only increase the quality and health of your lawn, but it will also decrease the amount of weeds. For the best looking green, it is recommended to mow on a weekly basis. If you've ever wondered why greenscapes are mowed in different patterns each time, it is in order reduce overall wear and tear of your grass. This will keep your grass looking nice and healthy.

Lawn Thatch

All grass has a layer of thatch that exists between the bottom of your grass and the soil —basically dead grass roots and stems. A thin layer of thatch is desirable because it insulates your grass from extreme temperatures and acts as a cushion to help the grass withstand foot traffic.

However, if thatch accumulates to more than one-half inch in thickness, it can put it at risk of drought because the water saturates the thatch instead of the soil and root system, leading to insect infestations or other lawn issues.

Thatching is the removal of detrimental thatch, and requires a special machine called a dethatcher or power rake to remove it. It is important that the blades are set to run at about 1/4” above the soil. The goal is remove the thatch, not the soil. If you're doing this yourself you'll want to flag all of your lawn heads so they readily visible and you can maneuver around them with the machine. Otherwise, you will have a potential irrigation accident on your hands.

Before you begin removing a large amount of thatch, remember that if you start removing smaller amounts, it is always possible to remove more later, however, if you start removing too much, it isn’t possible to add more thatch after it has already been removed. Starting with smaller is the safer route. If your thatch has grown quite a bit (about two inches or more), it is likely that the root systems of the grass are in the thatch layer, that means that you will have to plan to overseed these areas after thatching. It isn’t recommended to have thatch removed if your greenscape is weak or under drought stress. Otherwise, it is quite possible that your grass won’t be able to recover fully. It is OK to remove thatch late summer through early fall. 

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

Wildfires and How Your Landscaping Can Help Protect Your Commercial Property

If you have been in Arizona any amount of time you know that Wildfires are a very real and serious threat. One spark in the dry tinder and acres of land as well as properties can be consumed in a matter of hours. 

Our wildland firefighters work hard to contain these monstrous blazes, but there are things that can be done to your commercial property landscape to help, and it may just save your business from being caught in the next blaze. 

Do you think that this warning and the following alterations only apply to those in the rural areas? When we talk about the Valley of the Sun we have areas that this applies to.  Look around the edge of your property. What type of vegetation do you see?

Anytime a commercial property abuts a Natural Area Open Space (NAOS), an alleyway or a natural wash Fire Abatement, clean ups should be scheduled on an as needed basis to prevent potential wildfires from spreading to your property and business.

Even in the desert, It takes very little water for Native Plants to spring forth, mature and set seed for the next rain. While a lush desert may be beautiful to look at, it can become a real and very dangerous fire hazard for the whole community as well as your business when the heat dries out the Arizona vegetation. Maintaining a 30 foot defensible space beyond your property’s perimeter is highly recommended.

In NAOS areas, for the first 15 feet, remove perennial grasses, thin live overgrown trees and bushes. Remove dead branches or branches that are touching the ground. In the next 15 feet remove any dead vegetation that is on the ground.

Check outside of your perimeter wall or fence at least once a quarter to make sure that the 30 foot defense space is still there. If weeds & debris are accumulating in the NAOS, alleyway, or wash it is time for a cleanup. In most cases, the city is responsible and all you need to do is make a phone call to the proper people in charge. In other situations it is the owner’s responsibility to maintain a defensible space. In either case, it is very important to make sure that you are aware of the potential dangers and precautions you can take to prevent wildfires on your property.

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

Plant of the Week - Bougainvillea

If you are looking for a showy plant to brighten up your commercial landscaping that also does well in our desert heat, look no further than the Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea (part of the Nyctaginaceae family), sometimes referred to as bougies are Native to South America, but do extremely well in our Phoenix Metro area climate. Although frost sensitive they are incredibly hearty and can recover even when they look hopelessly burned by cold. Just prune them back after all danger of frost has past, you should see new growth fairly quickly after pruning.

Bougainvillea should be planted in a location where they will be at least five hours of sun a day. They will grow in areas with partial shade but, the less sun they receive, the less color they will produce.

Bougainvillea come in white, fuchsia, orange, purple, light pink and white. If you're going to prune them yourself, don’t be afraid to prune aggressively when needed, this plant can take it. Just be sure to wear long sleeves and gloves as these plants are thorny.

They can be purchased in vine or bush form. There’s also a variety called Torch Glow that produces color along cane like branches. Torch Glow is outstanding in its natural form, but also can be trained into more formal and colorful hedge.

Bougainvillea have a rest cycle in between bloom periods, but bloom year round. Oddly enough the flower is not the showy part of this plant. It’s the bracts that turn color and put on the show. The flower is small, white or off white, and located in the middle of the bract. As you travel around the Valley of the Sun you will these colorful plants used to decorate and enhance many business locations.

Overfed and over-watered Bougainvilleas produce an abundance of green foliage at the expense of the colorful bracts. After planting it should be fertilize early in the plant’s second spring. After that, if it is vigorous and colorful, feed no more than once every other spring. The exception being potted Bougies. As with all potted plant material, a regular fertilization program should be followed for best results. 

Keep in mind that Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance can Help with your commercial property!  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

Dos and Don'ts of Summer For Commercial Property

There is always something to be done for commercial property landscaping, but summer can be one of the most trying times to keep plants alive and thriving in the parching heat of the desert sun. Here are just a few considerations for what must be done to keep your commercial property gorgeous and healthy.

Grass

Now is the time to plant Bermuda grass, during the active growing season, May through August. Fertilize Bermuda grass landscapes with Nitrogen each month beginning late April or early May according to the directions on the fertilizer package. Iron should be applied once a month according to the type of fertilizer used. Apply one inch of water per week to Bermuda lawns to keep it healthy. Once every two or three years Bermuda grass should be dethatched if necessary. Only dethatch during the active growing season, May through August. This enables the turf to quickly recover.

Roses

Cut back on fertilizing established roses to encourage plants to slow down for the hot summer. Roses must be watered deeply as temperatures climb. Hose off plants in the early morning to increase humidity and control spider mites.

Landscape Plants

Increase water application as the weather warms, make note that June is the driest month. You should pay close attention to irrigation needs of plants and adapt accordingly. Mulch can be applied to the ground around heat sensitive plants to keep the roots cooler and prevent evaporation. Apply chelated iron to bottle brush, pyracantha, silk oak, and other plants with iron deficiency symptoms. Prune palms when flower spathes show or delay pruning until after the palm has finished flowering to prevent infestation of Palm Flower caterpillars. If palms are pruned in the spring, leave the top five rows of peels so the caterpillars have a place to hide. Cut off spent blooms to stimulate rebloom. Native and imported heat tolerant plants can be planted right through the summer months. They will need to be watered on a regular basis until fall. Transplant palms in the heat of the summer for best results. If you have previously had a problem with an Agave Weevil, a pesticide labeled for use on grubs can be applied around the base of Agaves in order to kill the grubs of the Agave Weevil.

The Don’t List . . . Do Not expose citrus and other sun sensitive plants to sunburn by pruning during the summer. 

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

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July from your friends at Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC

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

10 Irrigation Problems Arizona Commercial Properties Face Every Year

Irrigation 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

Top 5 Landscape Lighting Issues for Arizona Businesses

Adding outdoor lighting is a great way to make a well-designed commercial landscape stand out even more. Not over doing landscape lighting is also important because having too much lighting can be quite distracting. Highlighting only the right areas is all you need to really make your landscape shine. When you add landscape lighting to any commercial property, there will be added maintenance that is needed each year in order to keep it looking and working as nice as it did the day it was installed.

Below is a list of the top 5 landscape lighting issues that Arizona commercial property owners face each year.

1. Broken Landscape Lighting Bulb – Just like with your light bulbs in your home, the bulbs for your commercial landscape lighting will last a certain number of hours. The longer the bulb is certified to last, the more expensive it typically will be. LEDs can be costly to purchase, but less expensive in the long run as they use far less energy. Some of these low power units can even be solar powered.

2. Missing or Broken Light Fixture Cap – There are a variety of light fixtures available for landscape lighting. As time goes on, there is a high probability that a few of your fixtures may break, for reasons such as storms, age, and sometimes people.  We recommend having a couple of extras in storage, it is a great idea when you can’t find that hard to find part 5 years later.

3. Lighting Transformer Meltdown – As landscape lighting transformers get older, they sometimes tend to be prone to melting in the Arizona heat. It is always a good idea to hire someone with the experience to handle these types of repairs.

4. Broken Well Lighting Fixture – Well lighting fixtures are great to put behind or in front of a tree because they are easy to angle. However, sometimes, rocks, and other things get stuck in them pretty much making them useless. It is best to take them out of the ground and take it apart to clear everything out.

5. Deteriorated or Melted Landscaping Wire – Landscape lighting wire exposed to the Arizona elements can sometimes melt or simply deteriorate. Replace the wire with new wire and your lighting system should be back to working condition.

If you run into any problems with your commercial landscape lighting or you are interested in getting an estimate on adding landscape lighting to your yard, don’t hesitate to call, We are here to help. 

Remember 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