There are numerous types of landscaping shrubs. They can range in size from the smaller forms on up to the larger tree-like varieties. There are evergreen shrubs, which retain their color and leaves year round, and there are deciduous shrubs, which eventually lose their foliage in the fall. Read more to learn about landscaping shrubs and their uses.
Choosing Shrubs for the Landscape
Shrubs have many uses within the landscape such as foundation plantings, privacy hedges, and specimen plants. They can be used as backdrops, to define garden beds, and to simply add seasonal interest. Foliage differs from plant to plant, so look for foliage colors that will create a pleasing visual effect and subtle contrast to the other plants within the landscape. Fall foliage colors can range from silver, gold, and varieties of red, purple, and dark green.
The best time to plant landscaping shrubs is in the fall or early spring, if necessary. This gives roots plenty of time to become established within the landscape, upping their chances of survival.
Before placing any shrub in the landscape, you should first consider the overall height and width of the shrub once it reaches maturity. There should be adequate space available for the shrub to grow. For instance, if a shrub is being used as a foundation planting, ensure that its mature growth will not block windows or obstruct walkways.
It is very important that landscaping shrubs complement their surroundings. Therefore, it is a good idea to research native shrubs as well as landscaping shrubs in order to become familiar with their growing conditions, especially in your given area.
Common Commercial Landscape Shrubs
Azaleas/Rhododendrons – Azaleas and rhododendrons come in a multitude of colors and their striking blooms are a welcome sight in spring. While they typically have a short-lived blooming cycle, many evergreen varieties will provide year-round interest. These shrubs are good choices for foundation plantings, borders, shade and specimen plants.
Forsythia Shrubs – The yellow, spring flowers of the forsythia provide much needed color after the dull, darkness of winter. Other than its obvious aesthetic purpose, this easy-care shrub makes a great choice for screening and can even soften corners around the landscape.
Hydrangea Shrubs – Hydrangeas are also quite popular in landscaping. There are various forms available (pink, blue, and white), and their clustered, summer-flowering blooms are spectacular.
Juniper Shrubs – Another good evergreen shrub is juniper, with the low-growing variety most commonly used within landscapes. These shrubs are well suited for filling in empty spaces between other, larger shrubs and trees.
Holly Shrubs – There are many types of holly for the landscape. English holly, which is most common, is an evergreen shrub popular for its spiny-edged leaves and clusters of red berries, especially during winter. While this shrub can definitely stand on its own, it is commonly used in the landscape as a screening hedge or foundation planting.
Some landscaping shrubs are used strictly for their pleasant aromas. These can include Lilac, witch hazel and roses.
There are other ways to use shrubs in the landscape. Nearly any shrub can be successfully grown in containers; which make excellent accent pieces to frame entryways or walkways. They make excellent focal points and are ideal for screening, even blocking views of parking lots. Whether you are considering using them for outlining boundaries, privacy and screening, foundation planting, or simply for specimen plants, you should always plan ahead in order to find the right commercial landscaping shrub for you and your landscape.
Please feel free to speak with us and we can help design and plan the care of all your Shrub's needs. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of commercial 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
Greenskeeper will work with you to create colorful and memorable flower beds and containers to draw interest and make your property visitors want to linger. Adding seasonal beds and an assortment of flower pots to your property can take your space from boring to memorable and make your property stand out from the competition. Annuals are a great addition to your flowering areas. There are many bright and colorful plants that are perfect for all commercial landscaping styles.
Owl-clover - 6-inch spikes of red-purple flowers top these inconspicuous plants in spring. Owl clover grow up to 1 foot tall and provide much sought after nectar for hummingbirds. This plant will add color to landscape, especially when grown with native grasses or other wildflowers.
Desert Sunflower - Also known as Desert gold, this plant blooms large, showy yellow flowers from January to June on 2-foot-tall plant. The seeds of this plant are good spring and summer food source for desert rodents, doves, quail, finches and sparrows.
Desert Bluebells - Loose clusters of bright blue flowers dance above a plant of deep green foliage. Growing 6 to 24 inches tall, these flowers would do well in the ground or in decorative pots. If you're interested in keeping some feathered guests around this provides seed in late spring and early summer for birds.
Skeleton Weed - Not a name that you would associate with a beautiful flowering plant, but this summer annual sports numerous, tiny pink flowers all over its delicate, finely branched stalk. Common along desert roadsides, skeleton weed will quite often plant itself in desert landscapes.
Sunflower - We are all familiar with the remarkable beauty of the sunflower, with its Medium or dark-green leaves and yellow flower heads. They can grow from 2 feet to an amazing 6 feet tall. Most are annuals, and are blessedly free of thorns. Native species are available as seed in any local store. The seeds are produced in summer and fall; in case you're interested in a little snack while you're on the go.
Indian Blanket - Also known as Firewheel due to the dark red and yellow 2-inch flowers that bloom above hairy, bright green leaves. Bloom begins in April and may last through summer if watered. This plant grows 12 to 18 inches tall and wide, hence the blanket name.
Lupine - Beautiful blue or purple flower spikes are borne above bright-green foliage in spring. Lupine can grow up to 24 inches in total height. The desert species of this plant are annuals.
It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of commercial 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
Flowers bring the most stunning colors to your commercial property landscape as well as bringing native birds and butterflies to your property. This week was supposed to be a discussion about non - native plants that thrive well in Arizona, but after some research about the subject and finding out the damage that some of the more invasive non-native plants can cause, I have acquired the following list of Native perennials.
Poppies - Bright orange or yellow flowers bloom above blue-green foliage in spring. These are annual or short-lived perennials. Doves and sparrows love their abundant, late-spring seeds.
Penstemon - Numerous showy, tubular flowers blossom in tall spikes rising 2 to 3 feet above low foliage. This lovely plant is also an attractive nectar source for hummingbirds.
Many species occur in Arizona. Several do well in the desert:
P. eatoni. Red flowers March to June.
P. parryi. Pink flowers in spring.
P. pseudospectabilis. Shocking pink flowers in spring and early summer.
P. subulatus. Scarlet flowers February to May.
P. superbus. Coral flowers in April and May.
Paperflower - These yellow flowers set on a rounded gray-green plant in spring and fall. They also bloom in summer after rain. Some blooms present nearly year-round. The dry petals remain on plant for weeks. Usually 18 to 24 inches tall; this perennial produce seed for birds in late spring and fall; year-round cover for small animals.
Globe Mallow - This plant has numerous showy stalks of orange flowers extending up to 2 feet above a plant that is 3 feet tall and equally as wide. Also available in white, lavender, pink or red flowers, this perennial produces abundant flowers in spring and sometimes fall, and a few during the rest of the year. Doves, quail and sparrows feed on seeds, especially in late spring and early summer. If your landscape is close to the foothills and desert areas, you may find desert tortoises eating the foliage.
Blackfoot Daisy - This lovely bloom boasts white, sweet-scented flowers from March to November. Summer and fall seeds are a food source for sparrows, finches and desert rodents.
Desert Marigold - Numerous, large yellow flowers held above gray-green foliage, bloom nearly all year if watered occasionally during summer. Flower stalks can grow up to 18 inches tall. This short-lived perennial, reseeds itself well and is very drought-tolerant.
Wild Buckwheat - Most of the dozens of species are valuable to wildlife. Seeds attract quail, towhees, finches, sparrows and desert rodents, in summer and fall. Rodents, tortoises and deer browse the flowers and leaves.
Indian Ricegrass - This Perennial bunchgrass has delicate, airy, graceful flowering stems. This is obviously not a lawn grass, but it is attractive among wildflowers or rocks. It has a moderate water requirement, but can tolerate a bit of drought. Seeds attract sparrows, finches, doves and desert rodents in the summer and fall.
These outstanding native plants would make any landscape come to life no matter the season.
It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of commercial 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
Arizona's unique climate has made a huge impact on its native plants. Although many are beautiful, sometimes they can be as harsh as the environment that created them, baring thorns and sparse amounts of leaves that oft times provide little shade. There are however, some non- native plants that do thrive in our state and provide copious amounts of shade, as well as stunning color all year round. Trees are the largest plants for our landscapes and provide the greatest benefits. They add permanent structure to the design and can become the ceilings and walls of our outdoor spaces. Let us help you choose the right trees for your landscape.
Bradford Pear
Bradford Pear trees are one of the more popular and widely used trees seen in landscaping. With its dark green foliage, rich autumn color and beautiful snow-white blossoms in the spring make the Bradford Pear Tree the perfect addition to any landscape.
Bradford Pear trees have a neat, dense upward growth that provide immediate esthetic appeal to any landscape. Reaching heights of nearly 60 feet tall, this tree is a fast grower that will make an immediate impact in cramped spaces or wide open areas of your landscape. Drought tolerant and resistant to the hot Phoenix summers make it an excellent 3 season addition to Valley landscapes.
Ficus Nitida
The Ficus Nitida, also referred to as an Indian Laurel, looks fantastic and has many landscape uses. Handling the summer heat better than almost any other tree, the Ficus nitida is more desired than many others. The dense evergreen foliage of the Ficus nitida is not only bright and shiny, but creates immense amounts of much needed shade.
The Ficus nitida is often used as a privacy screen from noise, light, unwanted views, and flying objects such as golf balls.
Eucalyptus
This ultra-fast growing tree is native to Australia, but have been grown in the desert for many decades. Eucalyptus are suitable for any desert environment and have proven durability, strength & growth.
Eucalyptus trees sizes can range from medium to very large. Nearly all Eucalyptus are considered fast growing. Eucalyptus trees mostly grow with more height than width.
All Eucalyptus trees that are commonly grown in our area are evergreen and feature that refreshingly clean Eucalyptus fragrance.
Ash
There are actually quite a few Ash varieties to choose from, the following are the most popular.
The Shamel Ash is a great solution for just about any landscape that needs a larger & fast-growing shade tree. The classic, larger-leaved, green foliage is very attractive and compliments just about any landscape. Generally grown in parks, commercial areas, and large landscapes; this is a heavy-duty shade tree that is most suitable in open, sparsely populated areas. The Shamel Ash is simple to grow and always results in a nearly perfect, park style shape with minimal pruning and maintenance. The Shamel Ash is very heat resistant and ideal for surviving the Phoenix summers, and recover very quickly in the rare instances they take on damage.
The Fan Tex ash can be a wonderful addition to many landscape designs. Though a little smaller that most ash varieties, the Fan Tex is an ideal shade provider for small to medium areas of most landscapes. Even though it is deciduous, it's still a relatively easy tree to take care of. Leaves come off quickly in the fall, allowing for a fast, one time clean up. Light and warmth is also allowed into your yard during the cooler winter months. Shade returns quickly in the spring and is the thickest during the summer months, when it's needed the most.
Raywood ash has become an increasingly popular choice in landscapes across the southwestern deserts. Raywood ash is a reliable shade provider that's uniquely dark green compared to most tree varieties commonly grown in our area. In the late fall, leaves provide a stunning show of rich red to deep burgundy color.
Our landscaping experts can help if you have any questions.
It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of commercial 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
We are a service oriented family owned business specializing in commercial landscape maintenance.
This time of year 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.
We keep our overhead low and pass the savings on to our customers. We provide high quality service and pride ourselves on our open communication practices.
Our hourly rate is $26 per hour. Our special project rate, including sprinkler repairs, is $30. We offer convenient payment terms of 2/10 net 30.
All of our vehicles are clearly marked and all of our employees are in uniform for easy identification. Many of the small unexpected things that other companies charge for, we include.
If there are minor sprinkler repairs that are needed, most of them are also included (no charge). We accomplish this by providing an allowance for sprinkler heads, drip emitters, shrub heads, and repairs to lateral lines and drip lines. The only sprinkler issues that we would have to charge for would be main line repairs, valves & timers. And we always get these pre approved by our customers.
Unlike other companies we don't mark-up inventory, whenever possible. Another one of our popular services is safety and visibility trimming at no extra charge. This means that if you have things we think could be a liability on your property related to the landscape, we will communicate with you and work together to resolve these issues before they cause an accident or damage vehicles or buildings. If there is vegetation blocking the view of signs or safe passage in and out of the parking lot, trees blocking safety lighting, we will keep those items at their smallest manageable size (no charge).
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.
We will strive to keep your landscape safe, clean and beautiful. 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. 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.
Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net
As the terrible storms in Texas reminds us that a solid downpour can have damaging consequences for your commercial property and the surrounding environment, and if you think storms have been worse lately, you’re not quite seeing the big picture yet. There has been a dramatic increase in severe rainfall over the past thirty years, and no one is going to forget the flooding of the I-17 anytime soon. This means less of the periodic light rain our desert plants love, and more flash floods. With the extreme weather trend set to continue, commercial property owners should discuss with a landscaping company (of course we think it should be Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance) how to make landscapes more resilient to extremes. With a few simple landscaping additions, you can mitigate damaging soil erosion and manage storm-water runoff, saving thousands on property damage when the next deluge hits.
Control Storm-water Runoff
Without significant vegetation or porous surfaces to sink into, rain quickly sweeps across yards and streets, carrying pesticides and sediment into the water system. Urban storm-water runoff is the leading contributor of water resource pollution, along with causing residential flooding. Because of the increasing strain on infrastructure and ecosystems, many cities are now charging storm-water runoff fees. Diverting drainage, reducing impervious surface areas and using more eco-friendly options can lead to an abatement in many municipalities, and alternative options don’t have to be expensive.
Swales
At the most basic, a swale is any depression in a landscape, existing or excavated, that redirects water drainage. Maximize their use by lining the lowest point with rocks and adding deep-rooting plants to the slopes, slowing water’s path to the drain. Because a swale directs flow, rather than stopping it, it is quite important to make sure that it’s channeling the excess water to somewhere it will be released safely. An area with frequent flooding should be directed into a dry well, or a garden bed with very good drainage and high water tolerance. To avoid utility charges, never have a swale draining straight off a property.
Install A Rain Garden
When building a rain garden, plants with the highest wet-soil tolerance should be placed in the center, since those at the edge will drain fairly quickly while the middle remains submerged. Using native plants is best whenever possible, as they require little to no watering in between rainfall, making a more low-maintenance landscape and cutting down on the need for harmful pesticides.
Although similar to swales, rain gardens don’t redirect water. Instead, they provide a place for it to pool during a downpour, allowing it to slowly percolate back into the soil. Most range from 50-100 square feet, and even a small, inexpensive one can significantly reduce flooding and runoff.
Use Heavier Mulch
Flooding spreads light mulch chips everywhere, making a pain to clean up and clogging drains. Most hardwood mulches are heavier. There are some brands made from man-made materials that are low maintenance. Save yourself the raking back-ache and stick with the heavy stuff.
Divert Rain Spouts
Don’t forget the smallest changes. A downspout diverter is essential to prevent flooding next to the walls, and to get water out to lower ground.
It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of commercial 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
No it's not what you think and yes we are talking about commercial landscaping. You have an area on your property that, like it or not, is your very own circle of life. Whether you purposefully or unintentionally invite them, bugs and birds are a reality in your landscape. Don't fret though, you may want a few of these critters hanging around. What follows is Why.
Bees
Bees play an important role in pollinating flowering plants, and are the major type of pollinator in ecosystems that contain flowering plants. Bees either focus on gathering nectar or on gathering pollen depending on demand, especially in social species. Bees gathering nectar may accomplish pollination, but bees that are deliberately gathering pollen are more efficient pollinators. It is estimated that one third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees, especially the domesticated European honey bee. Contract pollination has overtaken the role of honey production for beekeepers in many countries.
If you see a hive on your property and are concerned about it being a risk to the safety of others call a bee expert that will catch and remove versus extermination.
Butterflies
Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise over two-thirds of all species. Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control. Moths and butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals.
Milk thistle is a plant that attracts butterflies as well as many other flower species.
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds with iridescent feathers. Their name comes from the fact that they flap their wings so fast (about 80 times per second) that they make a humming noise.
Hummingbirds can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, and even upside down, making their aeronautical exploits a fascinating sight to behold. They are also able to hover by flapping their wings in a figure-8 pattern.
Consider planting bright colored flowers such as columbines or daylilies or hanging hummingbird feeders to attract these beautiful birds to your property.
Dragonflies
Dragonfly nymphs eat mosquito larvae. Dragonfly eggs are laid and hatched in or near water. Their lives impact both water and land ecosystems. Once hatched, dragonfly nymphs are able to breathe underwater, and they use a motion similar to jet propulsion to move through their environment. This enables them to eat harmful aquatic organisms such as mosquito larvae. The nymph will continue contributing to the ecosystem for one to five years before becoming a mature adult. The adult will then continue its mosquito hunting habits by eating adult mosquitoes.
If you have a pond on your property consider buying nymphs and placing them in the water. You'll be helping to remove an unwanted pest from the environment.
It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of commercial 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
