Newsletter

New Software – Time to Upgrade

As we grow and times continue to shift and change, we adapt as well.  This year, a part of this for us is implementing new tracking software for our crews.  We’ve been working with the new software for a few months now.  While it has been a learning process, we are beginning to see the fruits of our labor.  What does this mean for our maintenance clients?  The new tracking software “talks” to our accounting software.  This is the first invoice cycle that we have fully implemented the new software so you may find that your invoice looks a little different.  Please reach out to us if you need any clarification or if you have any questions.  We are happy to help you!  Each invoice has been reviewed for accuracy, but we’re human and it’s possible that we still missed something.  Thank you for your patience and for your business!

Scheduling Challenges

This season has been a challenge since it started.  Between our shutdown in March due to Covid 19 and the rain, we are behind on all services.  The spring clean ups and mulching are ongoing and we are working our way through the list.  Because each week has been so unpredictable, we are not scheduling jobs like usual.  Instead, we are looking at our list and sending the crews out when we are able.  We appreciate your understanding and patience as we try to get to everyone.

The mowing crews are struggling as well.  We are working late on the nice days to try to get everyone cut each week.  As the rain gets less and less each week, we are planning on getting everyone back to their normal mow days.  We want to thank everyone for being patient and understanding the past few weeks.

Looking ahead, our goal is to finish the cleanups and mulching by July 4th as long as the weather cooperates with us.  Once we are done with those, we will start getting ready for the summer pruning.  This pruning is to shape the shrubs and clean up the growth since the spring pruning was completed.  If you did not sign up for a mid-summer pruning but would like it done, just let us know.  We are happy to come out, take a look at your shrubs and work up pricing.

Plant Profile – Creeping Myrtle

Creeping Myrtle is a fast growing ground cover plant that is great for spaces where other flowers won’t grow, like under pine trees. It will take root and spread over the area in no time. It has a lavender flower that contrasts well with the dark green leaves. The flower blooms in the spring and summer, making it an excellent plant to blend with daisies and daffodils. There is little care involved with this plant. Just water it every few days, and make sure you keep the undergrowth cut out so that Creeping Myrtle Vine looks healthy.

The ground cover reaches a height of six inches and spreads by sending out runners as far as 18 inches that root where nodes touch the ground. The extended rooting process is quick and makes for a fast ground cover with lush results.

 

 

 

Oh, Dandelions!

Even COVID-19 can’t stop the dandelions!  Lawns have awakened and grass growth is in full swing, which means the nemesis of many people is also starting as well.  The dandelions have made a strong run this year with many lawns going from green to yellow in a matter of days.  Is this a problem you are having?  We have designed 2 different fertilizer programs you can choose from to combat these little yellow annoyances.  Both of our programs have an herbicide spray in them coming up next to attack them.  If you have not signed up for a program yet but would like to discuss your options, just let me know.  It is never too late to get started on a program.

Plant Profile – Jack Pear

The Jack Pear is a one of a kind ornamental tree.  Beautiful white blooms appear in early Spring before the leaves come out.  Mine is blooming now and it is full of beautiful blossoms.

It also has a golden fall color with hues of red.  It is ideal for urban landscapes.  If you’re looking for a tree to fit a smaller space, consider the Jack Pear.  Reaching 15 to 20 ft. tall, 10 to 12 ft. wide, they don’t get that large.  They’re generally problem-free, make a good yard accent and are perfect under power lines.

The Jack Pear produces scant half inch yellow-green fruit that look like little pears.  These are thoroughly enjoyed by the squirrels, chipmunks, and especially the birds.  We’ve even seen deer under ours munching on a Winter meal.

They are deciduous and lose their leaves in the Fall.  It is recommended that you plan the Jack Pear in full sun.

 

What a Crazy Year

What a year 2020 has started off to be!  Winter did not bring much snow and Spring has brought lockdowns and social distancing.  Our crews are doing what we can to keep things going as much as we are able.  Our employees were issued masks to wear and will continue to use them for the foreseeable future.  We will continue to monitor the recommendations and mandates set out by the Governor and his team.  As things change, we will do our best to make those changes part of our company policy.  Our main focus is the safety of our crews and clients.

Our mowing crews have started and are trying to keep up with all the lawns we take care of.  The rain is making things difficult, like every Spring, but we will continue to mow what we are able.  Our mowing routes are in the process of being finalized so you may notice a change in the crew taking care of your property.  Once the routes are set, we try to keep from making changes.  We want our crews to know the lawns they take care of so you can expect the same results every week.

Our enhancement crews are working on the spring clean ups and have just recently started mulching again.  We appreciate your understanding as we have worked our way through properties and have had to split services unlike previous years.

If you have projects that you are looking at, please let us know.  We are still doing estimates for projects, just with more phone communication than before, and are working on getting them into the schedule.

We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy and look forward to helping you through what ever this year holds.

Prepping for Home Show Season

It’s the end of another maintenance season. We are working our way through the last of the leaf clean ups and finalizing our winter plans. The plow routes are almost finalized and the salt has been stocked. I’m still not quite sure how it’s December already but here we are. Christmas is a few short weeks away and the beginning of a new decade is not far behind. As crazy as it sounds, it will not be long and we will be planning for the 2020 maintenance season.

Our Design/Build crews are hard at work also. They are trying to get projects buttoned up for the winter and we are planning for the home show. While the show is just under two months away, we are getting started on it. Once again, we will be one of the 12 themed gardens at The Great Big Home and Garden Show. We are finalizing our design for this year and starting to order materials. This year’s theme is One Tank Trips! With so many beautiful places around, it was hard to narrow down our choice this year. If you want to know which one we picked, you will have to come visit us.

To wrap up, I wanted to take a minute and say thank you to you, our valued clients. We could not do this without each and every one of you. We hope you and your families had a good Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday season. We look forward to servicing your properties again in the upcoming 2020 maintenance season.

 

The Great Big Home and Garden Show

www.greatbighomeandgarden.com

January 31 – February 9, 2020

Adults $15.00

Adults (Online) $ 13.00

Seniors (65+, Feb 3-6) with ID $11.00 (Available at door only)

Children Ages 6-12 $5.00

Children ages 5 & Under FREE

Cleveland’s IX Center

6200 Riverside Dr.

Cleveland, OH 44135

Almost Fall

Now that October has finally arrived, we are looking forward to the cooler temperatures we normally receive in September. This year was far from a normal one as I look back. With the rain we had all spring and summer, we started out with the wettest year in 129 years. Then, when the cooler temps and rain were supposed to appear, September took us into the summer drought. That’s not to mention temps that pushed into the 90’s when we typically think 80 is warm. Looking at the future forecast, it looks like things are going to return to something resembling normal at least.

Now what has this all done for us? The answer is: not much. While the rain through the summer was nice, having the drought pop up in September made for a lot of watering no one was planning on. It also slowed down the mowing all year and has now pushed back the aeration and overseeding schedule by about 2-3 weeks. We are planning on starting aeration and overseeding the week of October 7th. It’s looking like with the cooler temps and more frequent rain, we are finally good to put the seed down. As usual, we are pushing to be done by October 15th to allow time for the seed to germinate before the hard frosts start to show up.

We are also starting to put together the plan for our fall clean ups. Like usual, we will be making a couple big visits to clients who have signed up for them and will work around the city pick up schedules for those of you who qualify for them. If you are looking out your window and dreading raking leaves, give us a call and we can get you a price to handle them for you this year. We still have some room open for a few more clients to join the list.

The October post is typically when I like to give you the forecast from the Farmers Almanac. It’s always fun to look back and see if

they got it right last year. So, here is the forecast for the 2019-2020 winter:

The biggest drop—with the most freefalling, frigid temperatures—is forecasted to take hold from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes. The Northeast, including the densely populated corridor running from Washington to Boston, will experience colder-than-normal temperatures for much of the upcoming winter. Only the western third of the country will see near-normal winter temperatures, which means fewer shivers for them.

The Almanac calls for above-normal winter precipitation over the eastern third of the country as well as the Great Plains, Midwest, and the Great Lakes. The Pacific Northwest and Southwest should see near-normal precipitation. With colder-than-normal temperatures in the Northeast and above-normal precipitation expected, our outlook forewarns of not only a good amount of snow, but also a wintry mix of rain, sleet—especially along the coast.

 

So, it sounds like we could be in for a wild ride this winter. In other words, expect a normal Ohio winter of wait and see.

Fall is Coming

We have dusted off our leaf vacs and pulled them into the shop. Before you know it, they will be on the back of the trucks and running around to suck up the piles our crews will leave. If you have already signed up for leaf clean up, you have nothing to worry about. We have you on the list to be scheduled and will be putting routes together as we get closer. For our city pick up clients, we will be watching for the cities to release their schedules and will get your leaves down to the road before they come through your neighborhood. If you have not yet signed up for leaves and want to get on the list, just let us know. We still have room for people to be added on. As usual, we are planning on two big visits but will try to make a couple smaller visits to keep the grass from getting long in between. If you have any questions or want to be added to the list, just give us a call and we will be more than happy to help you.

What’s Next?

What a crazy year it’s been so far. We had the wettest spring on record in 129 years and while the grass slowed down this Summer, it never really went dormant. We are now starting to look ahead at the rest of the year.

Next up is aeration and overseeding. If you want to have your lawn aerated and/or overseeded and have not signed up for that, there is still time. Our crews will be starting about the week of the September 16th. As usual, our goal is to be done by the middle of October with overseeding.

The benefits of aeration are the reduction of thatch and the reduction of compaction in the yard. As a side effect of that, the roots from the grass grow deeper. The deeper the roots grow, the better the resistance to a Summer drought.

If you are noticing some thin spots in your yard, overseeding will help you out. We apply seed to your lawn at about 6–8 lbs per 1,000 square feet. This will help those bare areas fill in and thicken up your turf. The thicker the turf, the better it is at keeping weeds from growing.

We will also be around about the same time to do the next round of fertilizer. This round has herbicide in it which targets the harder to kill weeds. Weeds like Creeping Charley and Ground Ivy are hard to control. This time of year is the best to target them since they are starting to pull nutrients down into the roots for Winter. If you are interested in starting a fertilizer program for next year, this is a good time to get started. The last two applications of the year are a great way to give your yard a kick start for next year.

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