April 2009 Newsletter
Gettin' Creative on Saving $$$
Given today's economic "D" word, getting creative and being proactive can be important.
Did you know that bundling your services can be a money saver? You may not be aware of
all the services we can provide….
- Of course, there's Landscape design, installation and management
- Arborist services
- Irrigation systems specs, design, installation, maintenance and repair
- Aquatics management
- Backflow testing and prevention
- Pump system specs, installation, maintenance and repair
- Concrete Installation (Davis Construction): Site preparation and construction, concrete finishing, repair and maintenance
- Retaining walls
- Grading and drainage systems
- Snow removal
To find out how these services may apply to you,
please call Mitch Phillips at 704-552-6335.
AllScape welcomes Elizabeth Fulk to the team
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Elizabeth joins AllScape as Sales and Marketing Director for the Carolinas. A UNC-Charlotte Belk College of
Business Alumni, she recently moved back to the Charlotte area. She has been in outside sales for many years and
is excited about representing AllScape.
She can be reached at:
E-mail - elizabeth.fulk@allscapenc.com
Phone - 704-201-3896
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Time for Pre-emergents
And if you're wondering what that is...read further!
Remember the time when there was only one kind of grass in your lawn ?
You had to get down on your hands and knees, and pull weeds out
by hand. You pulled and pulled but they always came back. You might water every
once in a while, and you fertilized every year.
That's all changed….
Now we have so many different kinds of grasses around it's hard to know
what to put on them. here's some easy things to do to keep your lawn nice
and green, and weed free. No matter what kind of grass you have.
Pre-emergents
In the early spring, putting down a pre-emergent will kill the new weeds.
What is a pre-emergent? Pre-emergent herbicides prevent the germination of
seeds by inhibiting a key enzyme. Putting down a higher quality pre-emergent
may cost a little more, but you get what you pay for.
What else keeps my lawn looking its best?
Fertilizers
There are a lot of different opinions about fertilizers, and how often and when to use them
(and you know what they say about opinions!) But in general, you should fertilize when
the type of grass you have (cool or warm season) is in it's active growing phase. For cool
season grasses, such as Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue, this is in the fall and spring.
For warm season grasses, such as Zoysia and Bermuda, the most active growth is in late spring.
However, avoid fertilizing during official drought conditions.
Mowing
A lawn mower blade should be adjusted so that it does not cut off more than one third of
the grass's height. The surface area of each blade of grass is important in sustaining the
health of the lawn. If the grass is cut too short, an environment conducive to disease is
created, and this can result in a rather unhealthy lawn. A sharp mower blade is essential.
A dull blade rips and pulls the grass blades, leaving ragged tears that both weaken the plant
and promote fungal growth and other grass diseases. A sharp blade, on the other hand, cuts
cleanly, allowing the plant to heal and recover quickly. Depending on the type of grass you
have, sharpening the mower blade needs to be done at least monthly.
It's that time of year when you may see us doing any
of the above! If you have any questions,
please call us at 704-552-6335.
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Going GREEN
We're all looking for ways to extend the life of our cars, homes, careers, 401K,
the environment, our health, and just about anything and everything else. While
some try hybrids, alternative fuels, LEED certification, and more, what is AllScape
doing to also be a responsible keeper of the environment?
- We recycle 100% of our yard waste
Yard waste includes normal lawn and garden debris
such as leaves, brush, grass clippings, twigs, pruning and small branches (not more
than 3 inches in diameter and no longer than 3 feet in length).
- We use high organic fertilizer.
The addition of organic matter is
Essential to maintaining the living
organisms in the soil, which in turn
Produce the nutrients absorbed by
The plants, as well as maintaining
and improving the structure of the
soil itself. Chemically based fertiliz-
ers that do not contain organic
matter can cause the soil to become
depleted.
- We can perform irrigation audits.
Which means water conservation and
money savings! We can inspect your
automatic controller for proper
operation, determine irrigation water
requirements, collect data to deter-
mine irrigation uniformity and
efficiency and estimate potential
dollar and water savings.
Xeriscape-another way to save $
With water now considered a limited and expensive resource, residential or commercial landscaping
projects can benefit from this alternative. What is xeriscaping? It’s attractive,sustainable,
landscaping that conserves water. low-growing, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water and
establish a waste-efficient landscape.
Landscapes can be designed from the start to reduce the amount of resources needed to maintain them.
By selecting the appropriate plants, especially native ones, and efficient irrigation systems, a
balance can be achieved to fit your aesthetic needs as well as reduce resource use.
Benefits include:
- Savings through lower water bills
- Less time and work needed for maintenance
- Little or no lawn mowing, saving energy
- Generally requires less fertilizer and fewer pest control measures
- When water restrictions are implemented, xeriscape plants will tend to survive, while more traditional plants may not
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