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Allscape funds scholarships for Horticulture Student!
Every day of the week trucks hauling trailers and landscape equipment are working the streets of Charlotte.
The ease of entry into the "landscape" business gives us a healthy dose of new businesses every
spring. There is an abundance of work, especially in the residential market, but there is a shortage of business
owners with knowledge of horticulture, biology and the environment. For many individuals in our
industry, this knowledge is gained through experience either from employment with another firm or by the
"school of hard knocks". Without the education, knowledge and background of the industry their customer’s
valuable turf, trees and plants suffer as well as and the environment.
ALLSCAPE is aware of the need for education in the landscape industry and is working with the Horticulture
school at Central Piedmont Community College to help improve the industry. ALLSCAPE is excited
to offer students enrolled in the Turfgrass and Horticulture Program opportunities for internships and financial
assistance. Last month ALLSCAPE provided a full scholarship for a student enrolled in the two
year horticulture program. We look forward to seeing these individuals enter the landscape industry with
the knowledge we feel necessary to promote our industry and stewardship of the environment.
Allscape offers the "Premier Color Program"
Annual color is one of the best ways to attract focus toward any landscape, especially by elaborating on
unusual color combinations and unique designs. Annual color can also differentiate one property from
another. ALLSCAPE strives to utilize new cultivars, exceptional perennials and colorful combinations
that break away from the common annual plantings seen on most commercial properties. We take pride in
our client’s properties being associated and referenced by spectacular flower beds and impressive grounds.
ALLSCAPE’s objective is for the tenants, prospects and the public to take notice when they see our colorful
and popping annual color beds. We like to refer to the flower arrangements and greenery we use in our
Premier Color Program as “bouquets of flowers”, just on a larger scale.
ALLSCAPE can outclass your competition with our Premier Color Program in conjunction with the premier
landscaping that ALLSCAPE is well known for. Contact us for more information regarding our Premier
Color Program.
Spring "green up" of turf grass and the pre-emergent puzzle!
Ads on the radio and signage for "preemergent weed control" are promoting how critical it is to apply
these chemicals at the right time. Don’t let these sales pitches scare you! Yes, it is important to make
these herbicide applications and yes, the timing is important. However, the window of opportunity and the
types of applications can vary greatly depending on the chemicals used as well as the soil temperatures.
Preemergent herbicides are used to control only spring annual weeds, such as crabgrass and goosegrass.
These weeds germinate when soil temperatures reach approximately 58 degrees Fahrenheit. This usually
occurs between the blooming of Forsythia and the Dogwoods trees (early to mid March). The preemergent
chemicals limit cell division and growth of the weed seed from the time of the first root growth. This
limits the ability for the weed to take up water and nutrients which results in the immature weed to die
before it is ever noticed in the turf. ALLSCAPE performs what is known as a “split” application of these
preemergents. "Split" application means that the first application is applied in March and the second application
is applied in May. We know that this gives us the best weed control especially through the summer.
However, excess rain or drought can greatly compromise the longevity of the chemical.
Fall annual weeds, such as henbit and chickweed, germinated in the fall but emerge and mature in the turf
during the spring season. Applying preemergent herbicides in the spring will not control these annual
weeds. These weeds can be controlled with preemergent herbicides only if applied in the fall season.
However, these applications can conflict with the germination of the fescue seeds that are sewn during the
over seeding of the turf. In order to control the fall weed dilemma in your turfgrass, ALLSCAPE is currently
spraying the fall weeds with post emergent herbicides. Diligence with post emergent herbicides,
healthy fescue and a good preemergent herbicide program will ensure minimal weed invasion of your
turfgrass.
Detention Ponds on Commercial Properties can be valuable assets!
The detention facilities (detention ponds) on commercial properties in Mecklenburg County could very
well be a great source of expense savings. A county storm water fee credit can be given to the landlord or
owner for a properly functioning detention facility. The process to participate in this program requires
first an assessment by a Professional Engineer and then an application to the county. If the detention facilities
were constructed over five years ago, the engineer may require repairs or alterations before the
application is processed. Although the repairs may require an initial expense, the return on investment is
very significant and easily justified in order to assure a properly functioning detention facility. This action
is also environmentally sound especially since sediment is the number one water pollutant.
Fortunately, ALLSCAPE provides the engineering assessment as well as handles the application process
for our clients. We also perform any necessary remediation or alterations to the detention facilities in order
to comply with the county guidelines. In addition, we work with our clients once a detention facility is
eligible for the county program to ensure that the detention facility is maintained properly in order to retain
the fee credit. Once a detention facility is in the program, a yearly site visit is made by a Mecklenburg
County inspector to ensure that it is being properly maintained. Again, there is a maintenance expense
associated with this but the credit reimbursed by the county program will greatly exceed the maintenance
costs.
An ALLSCAPE client who is currently participating in the fee credit program is saving roughly seven
times the maintenance expense. The initial investment in the assessment and application is usually exceeded
in savings during the first year alone. The storm water fees charged to commercial sites will continue
to rise, therefore the return on investment will continue to compound.
Please contact us if you have a detention facility on your property and are interested in more profit!
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