Fall 2013 | Wingfield Springs Community Association Newsletter
We have a new column that will repeat in each HawkTalk release and provides readers with tips on being “neighborly”.
H
ope you all had a great summer. By the time you receive this reading fall season will be wearing some of its colors, our kids are back in school and the vacation time is over for most. Some major stores have already begun Christmas advertising! Ouch! First, a few highlights of a regulatory nature: We received complaints of owners letting their plant material grow beyond acceptable; specifically, owners must keep all plant growth off the sidewalks and walk paths throughout the community. Owners failing to comply with this ordinance will enter the violation process and potentially end up having to pay for the trimming the Association will perform. Overgrown plant obstructing walkways and pathways is a safety hazard for walkers. So trim along the sidewalks and any growth over fences that obstruct walkers. We are having a rash of “tagging”. A reminder to all that we offer a reward of up to $500 for anybody giving us information that will lead to an arrest. Your help is needed to catch these culprits. Dog owners please help; pick up solid waste after your dog and avoid letting the dog out while the house is unattended as more than likely the animal will bark at anything that moves or makes noise out there. The dog barking inside the home is fine and the perfect deterrent while keeping annoyance to the neighbors to a minimum. NEW WEBSITE: as of this reading we are live on a new website for our community. This is very exciting for us as we have been looking for a web environment that allows much flexibility while retaining the essentials such as Association governance documents, financials, forms, meeting related documentation. See article inside for more details of this announcement. We have a new column that will repeat in each HawkTalk release and provides readers with tips on being “neighborly”. Director Brainard will be the chief editor for all of 2014. Check it out! On behalf of the Board and our partners we wish you a great Thanksgiving, a Merriest of Christmas, and look forward to working with you in 2014.
Bob Denis
PRESIDENT, WINGFIELD SPRINGS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Photo by Deanna Hearn
Community
manager’s report
Photo by Deanna Hearn
I
Wingfield Springs
Community Association Newsletter WSCA Board of Directors PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER DIRECTOR
Bob Denis, calraisin1@outlook.com Denny Jensen, craynut@att.net Lou Dauria, eplus@aol.com Ray Case, rcase3349@charter.net Marilyn Brainard, mebrain@att.net
Handy Phone Numbers & Information ASSOCIA SIERRA NORTH Telephone: (775) 626-7333 Facsimile: (775) 626-7374 Website: www.associasn.com Email: wfsservice@associasn.com Office Hours: 8 am–5 pm Monday through Friday; the phone lines shut down at 4 pm on Friday. Wingfield Springs Community Patrol (775) 722-6270 Please call immediately for water related issues. Call 911 for emergency services; ambulance, fire, police. Red Hawk Swim & Fitness Center Wingfield Springs Realty David’s Grill at Red Hawk Red Hawk Golf Club Sparks/Washoe County Animal Control
(775) 626-8699 (775) 626-4700 (775) 626-1000 (775) 626-4599 (775) 322-3647
Please note: Views expressed in HawkTalk are not necessarily the opinions of WSCA, its board members or Associa Sierra North. The editor reserves the right to edit submitted articles for content and space constraints. Advertising in HawkTalk is paid for by the individual advertisers. WSCA does not necessarily endorse or support any of the advertisers. Advertising monies collected are used to offset the printing costs of each HawkTalk.
t’s sure hard to believe we are already in the fourth quarter of the year and 2014 is quickly approaching. I believe time is flying by because the Board of Directors and its managing partners Associa Sierra North, ESI Security and Reno Green Landscaping have been quite busy lately. Most of the drainage ditches/channels are the responsibility of the City; however, the City will not clear and maintain them. The lack of maintenance can cause concerns for different reasons. We recently met with Reno Green to thoroughly review all of the drainage ditches/ channels throughout the Community. We discussed the need to have the ditches on a schedule for clearing once or twice per year, as well as prioritizing each ditch. This project recently commenced and Reno Green has cleared three ditches so far. The Board will determine when to clear the remaining eight ditches, weather permitting. Community safety and security is the top priority and the Board takes this matter very seriously. There has been a large presence of vandalism and tampering throughout the neighborhood. A few examples are: graffiti on the sound wall along Vista, laundry detergent thrown into the entryway water feature and tampering with irrigation valve boxes. In efforts to try to prevent some of these activities and capture/prosecute the culprits, the Board has met with ESI to investigate options to reduce the amount of vandalism throughout the community. A mailer was recently sent out which included information about updated Design Review Guidelines. The notice in the mailing explained that you can review the changes to the guidelines on the Association website. This is a reminder that there is an updated billing process and new fees for the submittals. Please contact Associa Sierra North for more information. The Board is currently reviewing phase two of the revisions to the guidelines and these should be approved/published shortly after the next board meeting. It is definitely a work in progress. These are just a few projects that have been in the works. It has been a very productive quarter, as well as fiscal year to date. The Board of Directors should be applauded for all of their time, effort and dedication while serving on the Board and making significant contributions to many accomplishments. It is a privilege to work closely with the Board of Directors in the management of Wingfield Springs. It is a pleasure to work with and assist with each and every owner we come in contact with. As always, please feel free to contact me directly at (775) 334-7449 and/or Allie Sanchez (Administrative Assistant) at (775) 334-7435 should you have any questions. Sincerely, Associa Sierra North An Associa® Member Company
Melissa Robertson, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® Senior Manager Nevada Certified Supervising Community Manager
HawkTalk is supported in whole by advertising. Newsletter published by: Kathy Hess, Just Imagine Marketing and Design (775) 746-4138 | kathy@justimaginemktg.com
Photo by Deanna Hearn
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HawkTalk | Fall 2013
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HawkTalk | Fall 2013
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Assessment Payment
Reminders
I
t is that time of year again. Coupon books for 2014 are being mailed out in December. Please contact Associa Sierra North at (775) 6267333 if you did not receive one. Please make your quarterly assessment payment checks payable to Wingfield Springs Community Association. Payments are due by the first day of the month, and are considered late if not received by the last day of the first month of the quarter in which it is due. The late fee charge is $10. If you are on ACH (automatic withdraw) and have moved financial institutions, it is important that you update the Association/Assessment contact information with your new bank to ensure your quarterly payments are received. Lastly, please remember that it is the responsibility of the owner to notify the Association by contacting Associa Sierra North in writing of any change of mailing/billing address.
Looking to reach your customers? To advertise in this quality publication, contact Kathy Hess Phone 775.746.4138 Cell 775.846.5656 Fax 775.746.9604 kathy@justimaginemktg.com
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Community Notes + Reminders Winterizing Your Irrigation System It is almost time to winterize your irrigation system. This generally involves: 1. Turning off the below ground water valve 2. Setting the control timer in your garage to the “off” position, OPTIONAL 3. Turning off the 2 valves on the back-flow preventer (the upside down “U” shaped assembly that comes out of the ground on the side of the house) 4. Opening the bleed screw 5. Covering the entire assembly with an insulation blanket (These are available at most hardware and home improvement stores) Note: Owners in Bella Vista and The Fairways court homes need only to complete item 5 by covering the entire assembly with an insulation blanket. The landscape maintenance company in each of these sub-associations will complete items 1, 3 and 4. It is not necessary to complete item 2. This does not guarantee against problems, but it substantially decreases the chances of damage to your system. These are general instructions, you should check with your system installer for specific winterization recommendations. Also, you should disconnect all exterior hoses from the hose bibs.
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December holiday decorations may not be lit any sooner than the day before Thanksgiving. Exterior Home Holiday Decorations Holiday decorations may be installed fourteen (14) days before a holiday, and shall be taken down within fourteen (14) days after the holiday. December holiday decorations may be installed fourteen (14) days before Thanksgiving, and shall be removed by February 1st. December holiday decorations may not be lit any sooner than the day before Thanksgiving.
HawkTalk | Fall 2013
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Pumpkin Palooza October 19, 2013, 11:00 am + October 20, 2013, 6:00 pm Victorian Square, Sparks Celebrate all things pumpkin! Pumpkin carving contests, costume contests, carnival games, and live music. This harvest festival on Victorian Square benefits the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living. For more information: pumpkinpalooza.org
Frightmare October 3 –31, 2013 1250 Victorian Square, Sparks Gates open at 7 pm.
Veterans Day Parade 2013 November 11, 2013, 11:00 am–1:00 pm Virginia Street, Downtown Reno Join the City of Reno in honoring all our veterans for their service to their country. Parade will start at Powning Park and travel north to 5th Street. Free to the public.
Riverwalk Merchants Association Wine Walks 2013 November 16, 2013, 2:00–5:00 pm Riverwalk District, Reno The Riverwalk Merchants wine walk is held the 3rd Saturday of each month. Visit a participating vendor, purchase your map and start tasting the wonderful wines while shopping at the local merchants. $20
Santa Claus under the Reno Arch December 14–15, 2013, 11:00 pm–1:00 am The Reno Arch – On Virginia and Commercial Avenue, Reno Festively attired participants singing Christmas carols under the Reno Arch in order to bring in the yule-tide cheer.
Scheels Turkey Trot November 28, 2013 The Scheels Turkey Trot at the Sparks Marina has become a Thanksgiving tradition in the Truckee Meadows. It’s a great place to spend time with family and friends, and a healthy way to start a day usually filled with a whole lot of eating. The event starts and finishes in the parking lot of Scheels at Legends at Sparks Marina. Participants can choose from a 10K (6.2 miles) run (timed) or a 2-mile walk or run (not timed). The courses are user-friendly for both runners and walkers. The 10K race begins at 8:30 am and will utilize city streets and the local bike path. The 2-mile run/walk will start at Scheels and circle around the Sparks Marina Park.
Sparks Hometown Christmas December 7, 2013, 1:00 pm Sparks Annual Hometowne Christmas Parade: Celebrating 150 years of Nevada Heritage It’s our 27th parade and we’re making all things new and celebrating all things old! To commemorate our State’s 150th birthday, we’re pulling out all the stops and stepping up for the best parade to date. Mark the calendar for Saturday, December 7 for a traditional Christmas parade with entertainment, photos with Santa, and arts and crafts. Parade starts a 1pm, but we’ll have plenty to see so come early, wander the craft and community booths, check in on Santa in the Glendale Schoolhouse, have a hot chocolate, and find a great spot along Victorian. The tree lighting ceremony will be Friday night at 6:30 pm with Mayor Geno, our wonderful city council members and the beautiful tree from our friends in Girabaldi Oregon.
Great Basin Relay October 12, 2013, 8:00 am Great Basin Brew Relay Is back! This is our second year having our four person 40 mile race through Sparks and Reno. Be sure to register early as this event will sell out at 100 teams. Registration is open now at: aiyevents.com
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HawkTalk | Fall 2013
Community Reminder for the Holidays Wingfield Springs owners, residents and their immediate family members are invited to attend free of charge; each family/guest may attend either the brunch or the lunch party. In order to allow a maximum number of Wingfield Springs’ residents to attend, please do not include non-family members. Children 12 years of age and under can decorate holiday cookies, make a holiday craft, and visit with Santa Claus. Children must be accompanied by an adult in order to attend. There are always families in need of a helping hand during the holiday season. The WSCA Board of Directors approved conducting a food drive during the annual holiday parties; the Evelyn Mount Community Outreach Food Drive was chosen. Each attending guest is encouraged to bring an item from Evelyn’s wish list: Grocery gift cards, turkeys, hams, Cornish game hens, potatoes – fresh and instant, rolls / bread, marshmallows, yams / sweet potatoes, canned vegetables, macaroni & cheese, mushroom soup, chicken soup, canned dried onions, turkey gravy, brown gravy
P
lease join us to celebrate the December holidays on Saturday, December 14th at the Red Hawk Events Center; this event is sponsored by the Wingfield Springs Community Association. In an effort to accommodate as many guests as possible, there will be a brunch party from 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon and a lunch party from 2:00 p.m. through 4:00 p.m. There will be a special buffet for everyone at each party. There will be a check-in table at the entrance; Allie will be checking you and your guests in as you arrive.
The Evelyn Mount Community Outreach Food Drive will provide the collection barrels. Reservations must be made in advance no later than 12:00 noon on December 11th to asanchez@associasn.com. Please indicate which Party and the number of children and adults that will be attending. Please remember you will be required to provide your name and number of guests which will be verified on the RSVP list by Allie at the check-in table. Volunteers are welcome and needed to help with the cookie decorating table.
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Wingfield Springs–HOA Quarterly Report: June 14th – September 13th, 2013
53
House watches
5
Sparks Police Department onsite
52
Complaints Resident complaint of individuals moving tables in Pelican Park 19 Complaints of dogs barking 9 Noise complaints 11 Complaints of loose dogs 6 Complaints of juveniles playing doorbell ditch 1 Complaint of an open flame fire 1 Complaint of individuals moving benches in the park
Photo by Deanna Hearn
1
174 Violations 41 Vehicles in violation 12 Trailers in violation 4 RVs in violation 7 Solicitors 54 Open garage doors 1 Open flame fire 1 Off road vehicle on HOA roads 54 Garbage cans left out
11 Miscellaneous 4
Resident reports of bicycles found • Juveniles climbing on the windmill • Juveniles on the golf course • Reported solicitation
34 Maintenance Issues* 25 1 1 3 2 2
Reports of broken sprinklers Report of gutter issues Report of poorly maintained curb area Reports of a leaking water valve Reports of flooding Improperly watered common areas *Reno Green was contacted for all landscaping issues
5
Vandalism
31
Suspicious Activity
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Wingfield Springs Community Association Has a New Website!
W
e are excited to announce that Wingfield Springs has a new and improved community website. The new website has many enhanced features creating a more user friendly experience and will allow for easier ways to interact. We encourage everyone to log onto the new site and familiarize yourselves with the new portal. If you are already registered with the old Wingfield Springs website, your information has been transferred to the new portal. You will be receiving an email requesting you to visit the new website and confirm your identity by entering your account ID. Once verified, you will be asked to create a password for the new portal. Please note that the password must contain one uppercase, one numeric and a minimum of 7 characters. If your prior password meets these requirements, you may use your existing password. If it does not, please update your password to meet the security requirements. Should you have any difficulty logging in, please click the Forgot Login button and follow the instructions. If you are a new user, you will need to click the link to sign up for a new account on the main page. You will then need to enter your account ID, a valid email address and create a password. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Melissa Robertson at (775) 334-7449 or Allie Sanchez at (775) 334-7435. Please visit the new website at www.wingfieldspringshoa.org
HawkTalk | Fall 2013
Wingfield Springs Community Association
2013 Meeting Calendar Date
Meeting
Time
Location
October 17th
Agenda/Budget Workshop
3:00 P.M.
Board Room
October 17th
Executive Sessions/Hearings 5:00 P.M.
Board Room
October 24th
Board Meeting
6:00 P.M.
Private Lounge
November 21st
Annual Meeting
6:00 P.M.
Event Center
Workshops will be held to review the agenda items of the next scheduled board meeting. Homeowners are welcome to attend workshops. No action (vote) will be taken by the Board on any matter discussed or reviewed at a workshop. The workshop agenda will be posted on the community website the Friday before each workshop. All dates, times and venues are subject to change. If the Red Hawk Board Room is not available, the hearing, workshop or executive board session will be held at Associa Sierra North (ASN) at 10509 Professional Circle, Ste. 200, Reno, NV 89521. Workshop and meeting notices will
be published in each HawkTalk newsletter. HawkTalk will be mailed at least ten (10) days before each board meeting. Board meeting agendas will be posted on the Association’s website the Friday before each board meeting. You may also obtain an agenda copy by calling ASN at (775) 626-7333. HawkTalk newsletter articles and suggestions are due to ASN at least four (4) weeks before each Board of Directors meeting.
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HawkTalk | Fall 2013
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Page 9
The Science of Pruning S
cience of pruning? Is there an actual science to cutting back landscape shrubs, grasses and perennials? Well, if you stop to ponder the fact that all plants are living organisms, each with specific growth patterns, bloom times and individual physiological characteristics, the answer becomes a definitive “yes,” there is a science to pruning. Of course it is possible to simply prune back any plant at any time for any reason. But when the physiological characteristic of each plant is ignored, there is often a negative consequence. Take for example a shopping mall that I used to pass by on occasion: For several years in mid July, the landscape crew would do some routine pruning to make sure that the shrubs didn’t get “too big.” The problem is that they took hedge shears to Russian Russian sage is a terminal bloomer; shearing this plant Sage in order to prune in the fall destroys the purpose for which it was planted. it back 6–8 inches. Here, terminal buds were cut prohibiting further bloom Russian Sage, which and leaving a view of a weedy, unattractive hillside has the primary apinstead of vibrant blossoms. peal of lovely purple blossoms in late summer, would be sheered right before they graced the mall with brilliant color. The crew obviously had no awareness that they were destroying the sole purpose of planting this plant and had no understanding that the woody perennials had already reached mature height anyway; they were investing costly time and effort into not only needless, but destructive pruning. Now granted, the above scenario could be avoided with good practical common sense based on knowledge of what was being pruned, but at its heart, that common sense is really based on science—simply knowing the basic biology of the plant that is being cared for. If the simple biology of various plant species is taken into account, the science of pruning produces a very orderly and logical system for the “how, why, and when” of pruning.
Timing is everything When pruning flowering shrubs, timing really is everything. Your landscape crew should be educated enough to know which plants bloom in the spring and which bloom in the fall. Fall or winter pruning of spring bloomers such as lilac, quince, flowering almond, bridal veil spirea and forsythia removes the flower buds that formed the previous summer, thus destroying their ability to bloom in the spring. Flowering shrubs such as rose of Sharon, butterfly bush, Anthony Waters spiraea , Russian sage and Caryopteris (blue mist spirea) can be pruned in the late fall or winter as the new flush of spring growth will also aid in the development of their blooms. (Note that Caryopteris has beautiful papery seed pods that provide winter interest; leaving them alone until early spring adds beauty to the landscape.) Ornamental grasses also add wonderful winter interest to winter landscapes with their dried seed heads. Delaying pruning grasses until late Page 10
By Holly Bromley, B.S. Biology ISA Certified Arborist (#WE-5667A)
winter is an asset to the landscape when all else is dormant and lacks interest. Evergreen shrubs such as junipers, mugo pine, photinia and laurel are the most versatile when it comes to pruning. Since they don’t lose their leaves and go dormant, nor do they have a bloom cycle, they can be pruned any time of year. Have your crews delay pruning these until the rush of spring and summer maintenance is over. Doing off-season pruning on these shrubs is a great way to effectively use your limited man power in the rush of high-season and to keep good employees working when much of the other maintenance is done.
Know the growth habit The single most over-used method of pruning is hedge sheering and unfortunately, it is often the most destructive method of pruning. The only shrubs that are well suited to hedge sheering are those with short internodes—the distance between leaves. Shrubs such as boxwood, junipers, spiraea, and barberry fit well into this category. Of course hedge sheering also eliminates the natural form of the various shrubs and turns them into geometric shapes. Hedge sheering is best for creating a formal look in the landscape whereas selectively pruning out the tallCutting tall leaders back to a lateral branch est branches by cutting them union (see arrow) not only controls height back at a branch union within without disrupting the hormonal control of the the plant’s interior leaves the plant, but also helps to thin crowded branches. natural form of the shrub (Figure 1). Plants that have broad leaves and long internodes such as laurel, photinia, dogwood, and mugo pine do not respond well to hedge sheering as this method mangles leaf tips and makes pruning “cuts” at the wrong place on the plant stem. Also, each hedge sheering multiplies the stems and creates a dense outer canopy in which light can no longer penetrate the interior. The result is that interior leaves die back and dense growth is concentrated on the tips (Figure 2). This necessitates pruning the shrubs higher and higher with each Hedge shearing creates a thick outer successive pruning and thus does canopy of branches. not contain the plant size effectively (Figure 3 on back cover). CONTINUED ON BACK COVER
HawkTalk | Fall 2013
Snow Maintenance Reminder The City of Sparks Section 12.16.035 regulates the maintenance of sidewalks.
A.
Property Owners shall be responsible for the general maintenance of a sidewalk in the public right-of-way that abuts the property of the owner, including, without limitation, sweeping, removal of snow, ice and weeds, and maintenance preventing any grass, shrubs or trees from encroaching upon the sidewalk.
B.
In the event snow and ice on a sidewalk become so hard that it cannot be removed without likelihood of damage to the sidewalk, the person or entity charged with its removal shall cause enough sand or other abrasive to be put on the sidewalk to make travel thereon reasonable safe. (Ord. 1349 § 1, 1982.) Please do not move snow from your driveway or walkway onto the sidewalk or street. All of the streets in Wingfield Springs are maintained, including snow removal, by the City of Sparks with the following sub-association exceptions: 1. Bella Vista; private streets 2. The Fairways; private streets 3. Tavo Valera; Aston Circle is maintained by the City of Sparks, the courts are maintained by the Tavo Valera Homeowners Association The Association cannot remove snow or ice from the city maintained streets. Please call the city at (775) 353-2271 to request snow removal.
Did you take a fall in the fall? Renown Health has 3 ERs and 9 Urgent Care locations where you can get immediate treatment for all of autumn’s ailments, like falls from ladders, strains from yard work, allergies and other minor injuries that leave you black and blue when the leaves are turning orange and red. Visit renown.org or scan the code to check how quickly you can be seen by a medical provider.
HawkTalk | Fall 2013
Page 11
Wingfield Springs Community Association
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RENO, NV PERMIT NO. 200
c/o Associa Sierra North 10509 Professional Circle, Ste. 200 Reno, NV 89521
THE SCIENCE OF PRUNING CONTINUED from page 10
Pruning stimulates growth
This Amur maple has been sheared at three different levels, leaving crowded branches at each level. (Note: The landscape crew did not recognize this as a small tree and mistakenly pruned it as a shrub, destroying its natural form.)
When plants are pruned, the removal of the tip of each branch releases hormones in the lower buds and prompts them to start growing. For this reason, non-evergreen shrubs should not be pruned in late summer as the pruning will stimulate growth and cause the plants to use up stored energy in growing new foliage right at the time when they should be storing up carbohydrates in their tissues to
be used in the spring for new growth. This is particularly true of roses that are more susceptible to disease and winter death than most other shrubs. While “common” rose pruning knowledge in other parts of the country call for fall pruning of roses after they become dormant, our high-desert climate calls for a different approach. Winters here can have nice warms spells of 60+ degree weather shortly after winter storms. Pruning roses in the fall or winter can cause them to start growing too early and lead to extensive cane death. Hold off on rose pruning until late March or Early April to avoid winter damage.
Leaves are food factories
Lilac (spring bloomer) was severely over pruned AND at the wrong time of year. Result—spring blossoms will be minimal and shrubs severely stressed and susceptible to insect and disease attack.
Leaves are where the photosynthesis that produce carbohydrates as the food source for each plant occurs. The same day that I started this article, I witnessed a paid landscape crew in a high-end neighborhood prune 90% of the foliage out of several lilac bushes (Figure 4). In addition to the fact that this left each lilac looking like some perverted, multi stemmed umbrella, it also most certainly did a lot of physiological harm to the plants. These
shrubs were pruned in mid August and with most of the leaves gone, each plant has very little foliage left with which to create the necessary carbohydrates that it needs to store in the woody tissues over winter. As such, the plants will likely push as much new growth as possible late in the summer, not only depleting any reserve carbohydrates they may have in storage, but likely too late to make up for the deficit prior to first frost. I will not be at all surprised if these shrubs either die or are so severely damaged that they struggle to recover for the next several seasons. And just like our bodies fall victim to illness when overwhelmed with stress, plants also become highly susceptible to disease and insect infestation when they are stressed. These formerly healthy plants have, no doubt, been severely damaged by a paid yet ignorant crew.
Don’t infect the plants Every single pruning cut is a wound to living tissue. Because plants are living organisms, they are susceptible to infection by various fungal and bacterial diseases. If pruning equipment is contaminated with diseasecausing micro-organisms, then every cut made with that equipment is infected and the plant inoculated. Some plants, such as roses and dogwood are particularly susceptible to fungal infections and disease infected canes can die from an invading fungus. To prevent infecting plants when pruning them, disinfect all pruning equipment between jobs, after cutting dead and diseased material and even between every plant when pruning roses. One of the easiest ways to disinfect pruning tools is by spraying the blades with Lysol brand disinfectant spray. Good disinfection practices will keep your maintenance crews from spreading disease from plant to plant and from one client’s yard to another’s. It is just one small step that creates excellence in your company’s service. Understanding just a little bit about the blooming habit and growth patterns of landscape plants helps us to understand that each has individual characteristics that require differing approaches to pruning. With this knowledge, we can then orchestrate the timing so that a schedule can be made to space out this task over the entire year, rather than trying to squeeze pruning tasks into a one-size-and-time-fits-all approach that takes up significant time during the busiest season of the year. Companies can increase the value of their service that they offer clients by caring for landscapes in a way that best cares for the individual types of plants. And of course, companies that provide excellent and knowledgeable service that maximizes the beauty of the landscape—the very thing that they are hired for—are more likely to retain clients that are satisfied with the service they are getting.