Project Appearance: A Crucial Part of Competitive Marketing
__One of the most critical aspects of any development program, whether commercial or residential, is the appearance or "curb appeal" of the project. Yet this is an area where many developers and property owners tend to cut back, often to their own detriment, during tough market periods.
__It is important to remember that the majority of prospects will have seen your property before they contact you. If the property does not have the appearance of being well maintained and a first class project, your prospect will probably go to a competitor whose property does look exceptional and is an eye catcher.
__Whether trying to market a property, to convince a company to invest its capital in a new facility, or to lease building space, owners must remember one of the more important things being considered by the prospect image. How your development project is maintained, directly reflects on your prospective tenant's image. More importantly, it reflects on your image and what you want the world to think about your company and your project.
__There are ways to cut cost and still maintain a first class project owners should meet regularly with their landscape companies to review the landscape budget and work schedule. Possibly the frequency of mowing can be extended slightly to reduce overall cost. Intensive landscape maintenance elements, such as annuals, can be replaced with lower maintenance shrubs and still have a lush and well groomed appearance.
__The way your project looks could be the most effective marketing tool you have. If the project looks rundown with weeds hanging over the curb and knee-deep grass, then you telling customers and potential clients that you do not care about this project and that the values are not here and to look elsewhere to invest. If you are not in the business to make money, then that may be fine. I highly recommend you to look at your landscape maintenance program and what it is telling the world about your project, your company and you.
Vascular Diseases of Oak
__"Oaks are the major shade trees in Texas and are heavily concentrated in forests
and range lands. They are normally long-lived, able to withstand adverse weather
and have considerable disease resistance. Since the mid-1950's however, oak
mortality has become an issue in areas where oaks are the primary native species. Some of this is due to two primary causes, oak wilt and oak decline.
Oak Wilt
__All species of oak are susceptible to oak wilt. In the Hill Country and South Central Texas, however, Spanish Oaks and Live Oaks are the most commonly affected.
__The disease always starts in Spanish Oaks as a fungal mat beneath the bark and
it is spread by spores carried by insects who feed on the sweet smelling infected mat. Live Oaks are infected after the disease has started in Spanish Oaks. Live Oaks do not form mats, but infect each other through common root systems.
__When oak wilt occurs on Spanish Oaks, foliage turns pale green, then yellow and finally brown. Trees generally die within 7-30 days after the first symptom. The fungal mats are under the bark which peels off under cool moist conditions.
__On Live Oaks, symptoms are most common during the Spring and Fall. The most common leaf symptom is dead tissue along the veins and tips of leaves. Defoliation occurs quickly and is usually complete within 30 days.
Oak Decline
__Oak decline affects all trees under stress, regardless of variety. While it is treated
as part of this article about vascular diseases, oak decline is more nearly a condition brought about by environmental conditions. Soil compaction by heavy construction equipment often prevents root systems from receiving sufficient moisture and/or
oxygen. Likewise, earth piled too deeply around the bases of trees can choke roots
and cut off air supplies. Other damage, including bruises, broken limbs and scarred
trunks also contribute to oak decline. In the Hill Country and South Central Texas, normal drought conditions may be increased due to excess paving or other artificial surfacing.
__Trees having oak decline show a slow reduction in the size of leaves. The first noticeable symptom is the failure of trees to make normal top growth. Also, small
twigs die and there is an overall thinning of canopy. Twig die back continues until
only the larger scaffold limbs are left alive. These are often covered with small tufts
of growth." (1)
Landscape Design & Renovation
__A part of the management of growing things at Pampered Lawns is working with landscape architects and project managers to establish a landscape's initial design, install and maintain healthy plant materials, and assist with renovation as required.
Appropriate Design
__Your landscape architect assists you in creating a visually pleasing design which features the right mix of color, texture, and plant materials. An easily monitored, professionally installed irrigation system aids in sustaining new plantings to become part of the permanent landscape.
__Spans of concrete, asphalt, glass or stone at a site can combine with traffic, winds, and runoff to form "urban stress" areas. An appropriate landscape design will address urban stress areas to prevent excessive water lass and root exposure.
Installation
__Proper installation of plants brings the architect's design to life. An optimum environment for plant development is a well balanced soil. Amending natural soil is preferable to setting plants into "pockets" of quality potting soil. Otherwise, roots tend to grow from the original root ball into the soft planting mix and develop no further.
__Mulching newly planted materials helps plants
overcome the shock associated with even the most careful
installation. Mulching also lowers soil temperature as much as forty-percent which conserves water, protects the soil and the plants.
__Proper installation of plants from soil preparation to planting at the correct depth through mulching, watering, and monitoring is the difference between plants which
exist and those flourish.
Renovation
__When it's time to renovate a site, review the factors cited above which influenced the landscape design: impact, existing landscape, plant materials, irrigation, and budget.
__Good management of a landscape will promote the overall beauty of your site, honor our environment with the responsible use of chemicals and pesticides, and assist your marketing through the attraction of curb appeal.
To Get Pampered:
For landscape assistance, maintenance or installation, please contact us at:
Houston
(713)682-7442
President
Greg McNabb
gmcnabb@pamperedlawns.com
Vice Presidents
Jason McNabb
Manages: North & Central Offices
jmcnabb@pamperedlawns.com
Kelly (McNabb) Aylesworth
Manages: Southwest & Galveston Offices
kmcnabb@pamperedlawns.com
Maintenance Sales & Marketing
Jared McNabb
jaredm@pamperedlawns.com
Installation/Construction
Jay Hartley
jhartley@pamperedlawns.com
__In their quest for curb appeal, commercial real estate developers spend money
each year on landscape ornamentals, annuals, perennials, and shrubs. These ornamentals are the design elements and define different uses or patterns within the landscape. They also are the designer's tools in creating mood or atmosphere and changing the appearance from season to season.
__The key to getting the most out of the dollars invested begins with the preparation
of the planting beds. Following are a few important points to remember about soil:
Soil Testing: When establishing new planting areas, run a basic soil test: soil pH and the levels of Nitrogen (N-P-K). Remember that nitrogen is responsible for lush, healthy growth of leaves and stems. Phosphorous is responsible for flower and fruit production and builds strong root systems. Potassium promotes vigor, winter hardiness, and pest resistance.
__These three primary (macro) nutrients are crucial to health of all plants. However, there is one snag in the picture. They must be available to the plant! That is where
the soil pH comes into play. Soil pH is measured on a scale from 0 (acidic) -14
(alkaline) with 7 being neutral. On the scale, a reading of 9 is 10 times more
alkaline than a reading of 8 and 100 times more alkaline than a reading of 7. So
minor changes in pH reflect major chemical changes in the soil. At a pH of 8.5 or
more, some nutrients become blocked from the plant receiving them. What this
means is that with a pH of 8.5 on your Petunia beds hardly any of the phosphorus needed for flowers is available. It is a partial waste therefore to apply fertilizer when
the soil pH is outside the desired range.
A Weed by Any Other Name...
__Weeds are just plants growing naturally they are not wanted. The subject of this article is weeds in turf grass areas, and their control. Like brown patch fungus, weed seeds are ever present in our landscapes. We will have them invading our established lawns. Turf weeds actually germinate and grow because the turf itself becomes bare or thin.This thinning can come about for several reasons: under-watering, over-watering, water drainage problems, insects, diseases, small animals, cold temperatures, heavy foot traffic, and chemical damage. These factors can work individually or in combination to completely wipe out your turf if left unchecked.
__In properly managing our turf areas our main goal is to develop and maintain a thick, healthy structure. This will limit weed infestations that we experience. When weeds do become a problem we have two means of control. Mechanical control consists of mowing, edging, mulching, and hand weeding. Of these, the latter is very expensive and is avoided if possible. The other means of control is through the proper, timely use of chemicals.
__Chemical weed control is not to be undertaken lightly. For this reason a person must be licensed by the State of Texas before applying any toxic or dangerous chemicals to another property. Chemical weed control in turf falls into two categories: pre-emergent applied before the weed seed germinates, and post emergent applied before the weed seed germinates, an post emergent applied after weeds are up and obvious. More effective and cost efficient control may be had through pre rather than post emergent application. Through proper timing we can catch the seedling at its most vulnerable stage when it is just sprouting or when it is small and growing rapidly.
__Turf weeds also fall into two categories. Cool season weeds germinate usually from September through November and are a problem fall though late Spring. Some common examples are annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed, burclover, white clover, and carpet burweed. Warm season weeds sprout from February through May and are most visible from late Spring through fall. The more common examples are dallisgrass, crabgrass, goosegrass, prostrate spurge, and Johnson grass. __For optimum results in controlling weeds in turf you have, the proper time to control them, and what chemical will yield the desired results.
If you need help with your weed control please contact your desired landscape contractor, Pampered Lawns.
