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?
For all new customers (now through the end of August 2015) will be providing free fertilization for the next year. Yes, Free Fertilizer for your first full year. Take this opportunity to compare what you are spending now and what you could save by using Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance.
Now would also be a good time to mention 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 normally for the price of fertilizer only.
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.
Looking for a new landscape company? Keep Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance in mind. We can Help! Please contact us at; Sales: 623-848-8277 We serve businesses like yours throughout the entire Phoenix Metro Area.
Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net
While they are sometimes taken for granted today, Disney topiaries helped popularize the use of the art in the United States. Now it may seem like that topiaries are out of budget items for most businesses you can still dream of using them at your location here in the Valley of the Sun.
This year marks a milestone of Disney topiaries, which are distinctly different than the traditional ones. By 1963, there were roughly two dozen topiaries inside Disneyland. They included a waltzing hippo, a poodle, a pig, bears, elephants, seals, and giraffes.
These were relocated in 1966 to the area in front of the "it's a small world" attraction, where they became one of Disneyland's most popular photo locations.
It is said that Walt Disney had been to Europe and had seen some fine topiary and he was impressed. Conventional topiary goes back some 3,000 years. Traditional European topiary (which inspired the Disney version) has been around since the time of Julius Caesar. It fell out of favor for a period of time but was revived in the mid-1800s. By the turn of the 20th century, Americans had incorporated the art of topiary in their gardens. But the plant material customarily employed to produce topiary figures was very, very slow growing. It takes years and years to respond to the desired effect.
Apparently Walt was a bit too impatient for that. 'Let's get some topiaries in the park in a year or two,' he said. He didn't see any point in waiting 20 years. The animators sat down and did illustrations that they wanted. They blew them up to full size and then took a lot of reinforcing rods and warped it around into the shapes that were needed, a kind of skeleton out of steel.
The plants were then encouraged to grow around that skeleton. You bend them a little bit in January and a little bit more in February and a little bit more in March until you get the bones of the plant around the basic shape and finally you get to what you want. The difference in doing this short order topiary is that this stuff grows fast. A laughing elephant, along with a two-humped camel, a giraffe and an elephant doing a handstand, were created along with roughly a dozen others to take up residence in the front of "it's a small world" when it opened in May 1966.
It was a great advantage for the opening, but it became a great disadvantage in the long haul. European topiary is hundreds of years old. What Disney had created wasn't going to last a hundred years. The topiary Disney created actually only lives maybe 10. So they have to have stand-ins behind the scenes ready to come aboard when needed... all part of the Disney magic.
Keep in mind that beauty is only skin deep, Disney is understandably concerned with the welfare of their green charges. Too much water, too little water, too much fertilizer, too little pest control, could materially damage or destroy 24 months of hard work in making them.
Many of the topiaries and how they are grown have changed over the years, but now you know the history and painstakingly hard work that goes into making those beautiful decorations.
No matter what needs to be maintained 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
"Deadhead" seems an oddly inappropriate word to use when talking about a landscape full of healthy living plants and flowers. However, deadheading keeps your display gardens neat and blooming. It’s a form of good plant housekeeping.
You can get by without it, but your landscape will give you extra ‘oh’s and ah’s’ if you prune, pinch and deadhead a bit. Plants - like all of us - need boundaries. Proper plant pinching gives our herbaceous buddies just that, while keeping our commercial landscape looking its best.
Basically, deadheading means the removal of flowers that have already put on their show. But should you cut back all perennial flowers? Are there some flowers that pop again nicely after a good shearing? Is there a reason not to remove a spent flower? Yes and maybe we can answer each of those questions.
Horticulturists say that plants respond to pruning to perpetuate their species with many plants you get re-bloom when you deadhead since, basically, the goal of the plant is to grow, set seed and die, but if you take the spent flowers away and prevent it from setting seed, it will set new flowers and keep trying to produce seed before it ‘dies’.
With some plants, like hardy geranium or coreopsis, it might seem a daunting task to remove all the small flowers. In that case, shearing the plants with a long bladed hedge shear works really well. With other plants, pruning is the way to go.
Have your staff choose places to cut when deadheading larger flowers. For perennials that have leaves on the flower stem, cut just above a leaf node. That way, the cut becomes hidden by the leaf, but for flowers with a leafless stem, like daylilies, cut them down to the base of the plant and remove the entire stem.
Many gardeners find the seed-head free look most attractive. But besides appearance and forcing re-bloom, there’s another reason to remove spent flowers. It’s actually the same reason some gardeners leave on seed heads. When some plants are allowed to set seed, you get baby plants.
There are perennials that are famously great self-seeders. Columbine, for one, loves to roam and spread its pretty seedlings to places garden far away from the parent plant. Globe Thistle is another one that likes big families.
Having baby plants about can help you fill in areas of your display plantings. If you want to encourage your plants to self-seed, you won’t be able to use any pre-emergent herbicides in the garden. They block germination of all seeds; both weed seeds and perennial flower seeds.
There are particularly attractive seed heads. Some plants have very decorative seed pods, Pasque Flower for instance, and plants like Liatris are great for attracting finches with their seeds.
If cutting your plants back and seed heads aren’t for you, there are plants that don’t need to be spruced up after blooming. Some perennials like Columbine and Baptisia are self cleaning. Another low maintenance way to go would be to plant fall bloomers - when they are done blooming just cut them to the ground and you've done your fall clean up.
Every garden is different and they should be. If you love birds perching on your Echinacea and snacking, leave on the seed heads. Neat can be over-rated.
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
What is the most common tree of the Desert Southwest? It is the Mesquite! Honey and Velvet Mesquite Trees can take the extreme heat and the cold! This tree grows fast so you don't have to wait long to enjoy it's beauty. Like many members of the Legume Family, Mesquite trees restore nitrogen to the soil, which is another great aspect of this desert tree. Mesquite Trees are great for shade. The Shade from these Native Arizona Trees create a 10-15 degree cooler temperature. Mesquite trees have massive root systems, Mesquite trees have lateral roots that extend far beyond the canopies of the plants and taproots that penetrate well below the surface of the soil. Some mesquites may live for more than two centuries, according to U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
There are three common species of native mesquite trees: Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens), Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina).
Mesquite Tree Care
Caring for mesquite trees is a simple process after the tree has fully matured. Mesquite trees need a full day’s worth of direct sunlight to grow. Make sure to plant your mesquite tree in a place where it will always have a lot of quality sun.
Good staking is crucial to the Mesquite tree, especially in areas with severe summer storms, monsoon season, or high winds. The shortcoming of a Chilean or Honey Mesquite tree is wind damage. Proper staking and proper watering is essential to help avoid wind damage with your mesquite trees.
Make your Mesquite trees “seek out” water and nutrients by careful arrangement of your irrigation emitters and scheduled deep irrigation. This will foster the development of a more dispersed root system and reduces the risk of wind throw.
Pruning will keep your tree from becoming messy, while stimulating new growth on those branches that you pruned. The dead, diseased, broken or weak branches, drain the Mesquite tree’s energy.
A word of caution, Mistletoe is a parasite that is common to Mesquite trees. While pruning keep an eye out for it.
Mesquite tree leaves and bean pods
Mesquite bean pods are rich in carbohydrates and have very low moisture content, making them an excellent source for harvesting, processing, and storage. A variety of animals eat the seeds such as quail, dear, javelina, coyotes, squirrels and rats.
Historic records have indicated that almost every part of the mesquite tree has a use. The Pima Indians of southern Arizona referred to the mesquite as the Tree Of Life.
During the inevitable droughts and deprivations of desert frontier days, the mesquite trees served up the primary food source for caravans and settlers. Mesquite beans became manna from heaven.
Medical studies of mesquite trees and other desert foods, said that despite its sweetness, mesquite flour (made by grinding whole pods) is extremely effective in controlling blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Native Desert Tree – Honey Mesquite
These native trees are extremely drought tolerant. Honey mesquites are more rounded with big, floppy, drooping branches. The foliage is feathery and straight – paired with sharp spines on twigs. The Honey Mesquite has pale, yellow, elongated spikes and bears straight, yellow seed bean pods.
This tree normally reaches 20 to 30 feet, but can reach as tall as 50 ft. The growth rate is medium. Honey mesquite will make new growth from a root or stump if it is cut down, making permanent removal extremely hard. If a single trunk is cut down the Honey Mesquite will replace it with a multiple trunk version.
Native Desert Trees, Velvet Mesquite Tree
(Prosopis velutina) Velvet Mesquite is the most common of the North American varieties, it ranges from southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and most common to the Chihuahua and Sonoran deserts of Mexico.
Velvet Mesquite Trees are a deciduous plant; the benefits are they are able to retain moisture during the winter or exceptionally dry seasons better because water does not escape through the leaves. These Mesquite trees have elongated bean pods. They are very sweet to taste when ripe. The Velvet Mesquite tree has thorns. The length of the thorny spikes can vary even on the same branch.
For the first year, deeply water your mesquite tree every week or so until it has properly matured. Once your velvet mesquite tree has matured, it can survive with a little supplemental water in addition to natural rain. In case of droughts, do water your mesquite trees more often.
Velvet Mesquites hold the record for deepest root (160 feet); these tap roots can tap into deep, underground water supplies that aren’t available to the average plant.
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
As we prepare to enjoy our children returning to school, I want to remind you that summer is still in full swing. Don’t neglect your potted gardens as you get busy with any of your upcoming events. I know it is hot out there and probably one of the last things you want to do is go out and work on your business landscape (That's what we're here for, right). Even the dawning hour is pretty warm and sometimes humid this time of year.
My biggest advice to you this month is to be mindful!
August’s Tips to Potted Garden Success
Here are just a few tips to keep your potted plants healthy and stunning so you can keep your business looking sharp!
Water
Don’t assume that if it rains, it has provided enough water for your pots. We need about an inch for you to take a day off. If we then go back to full sun, they are going to need to be watered again the next day. Use a water meter or your trusty finger to check on the soil’s moisture depth. Better yet have a drip system that provides the most accurate amount of water for your potted plants.
Potted cactus and succulents – if we get measurable rain this month, you can probably take the month off from watering your potted cacti and succulents.
Be sure to water pots that are under your roofed areas. If you can get them out into the rain, better still! Check to make sure that you have no standing water in any of your potted areas, to keep pesky mosquitoes at bay.
Deadhead and Feed
Continue to fertilize your pots with a water soluble fertilizer throughout the summer every two weeks regardless of the heat. Deadhead your potted gardens at least every two weeks.
Water:
Deeply water to encourage roots to grow to where the soil is cooler.
Roses in pots need daily water.
Never let them dry out or the soil will become hard to rehydrate.
Check your irrigation system often.
Give your roses a cooling shower of water in the afternoons.
Feed:
Use a half-strength water soluble fertilizer or a time-release fertilizer this month.
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
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
There are times when we can learn about commercial landscapes by looking well beyond the confines of the Valley of the Sun. Today’s blog looks at what one location is doing half a world away.
Talk about going "Green!" A University in Singapore demonstrates a beautifully designed landscape and the benefits that are provided. Today the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technology University in Singapore has a really-really green roof that connect smoothly with its landscape.
The curving green roofs distinguish the building from among the other structures on campus but the line between landscape and building is blurred. The roofs serve as informal gathering spaces challenging linear ideas and stirring perception. The roofs create open space, insulate the building, cool the surrounding air and harvest rainwater for landscaping irrigation.
Planted grasses mix with native greenery to colonize the building and bond it to the setting. The glass façade reduces solar gain, while allows natural views of the surrounding foliage. Lights are incorporated on to the roof to allow students to meet in the evening. At night, the building glows like a lantern, allowing activities of the school to be observed from the outside. The changing character of the façade lends dynamism, life and interest to the building as day transforms into night.
The roof turf consists of a combination of two grasses, Zoysia matrella and Ophiopogon. The curving roofs are accessible by stairs along the edges, although only one of the six portions of green roof is best for seating due to lower slopes. Under the grass roof are four layers of interrelated matter which include crushed volcanic rocks, pumice and washed sand (for the grass to root), as well as a moisture retention mat. The turf grass remains green and healthy year round via an automatic sprinkler system using harvested rainwater.
This five story facility sweeps a wooded corner of the campus with an organic, vegetated form that blends landscape and structure, nature and high-tech and symbolizes the creativity it houses.
So with all of our flat roofs here in the Phoenix Metro area could we have a planted roof that with save energy and a beauty to our cityscape?
Keep in mind that Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance can Help with your commercial landscape challenges! 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
