A CUP OF COFFEE FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

We will soon send our 2012 survey and hope all customers return it as we want to hear your feedback. It is very easy to fill out with only 12 questions. MORE

 

 

WE DO PANSIES RIGHT

We are often puzzled by some seasonal color plantings we see with small widely spaced flowers. We do know that seasonal color is relatively expensive as it needs to be replaced twice per year but believe that if is desired, it needs to make an impact. MORE

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

RECORD DRY OCTOBER GOOD AND BAD

 

 

It is feast or famine with the weather again. Following a record rainy late September, October was one of the driest on record with no rainfall since October 7^th. September had 6.27" or 450% of normal while October had only 0.79" or 25% of normal. While and following the rain, we actually had to delay mowing to avoid damage as the soil was soggy wet. With the dry weather we have caught up and are in great shape with great cuts late in the month. We are likely to be complete with mowing for a bit as we turn our focus on leaves which are falling at a great clip.

 

Speaking of leaves, dry weather during leaf removal actually complicates removal. Although dry leaves are easy to blow or rake, they also easily blow around if we have any wind. In addition, dry leaves do not compact easily and quickly fill up our trucks quickly. We are actually hoping that we get some rain soon to facilitate more efficient leaf removal.

 

As 3 weeks of dry weather in late October is abnormal, we are in unfamiliar territory with respects to irrigation. We were able to turn your irrigation off following the heavy rain in October but the dry weather is starting require some irrigation. As we plant Fall Pansies, we are turning irrigation back on to help them get established. We are also starting to see signs of drought stress in some lawns especially under trees. We likely won't turn any irrigation back on for anything other than flowers unless this stress gets to an unacceptable level. When will it rain again???

 

 

Surprisingly, we are hoping the forecast for rain this coming week is accurate as we could use some rain. http://www.kgw.com/weather/maps?radar=63612987&img=0&c=y

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

LEAF REMOVAL LEFT, LEAF REMOVAL RIGHT,

WE ARE READY TO FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! 

 

 

Our focus in November is almost entirely leaf collection and removal. The leaves are turning and falling everywhere and the dry weather isn't such great news during leaf removal. Although dry leaves are easy to blow or rake, they also easily blow around if we have any wind. In addition, dry leaves do not compact easily and quickly fill up our trucks. We are actually hoping that we get some rain soon to facilitate more efficient leaf removal. We may squeeze a few mowings as needed but we are now focusing primarily on leaf removal.

 

To maximize our efficiency, we have 16 trailer mounted leaf vacuums which make quick work of picking up leaves. Our crews use blowers to consolidate leaves into piles or wind rows, then vacuum them up with the large vacuums.

 

To aid in overall site clean-up we recommend an increase in parking lot sweeps during the fall. Combined with our landscape leaf removal efforts, increased sweeping will keep your site cleaner during this messy time of year. We are also happy to coordinate with your sweeping vendor to assure cooperation.

 

http://pacscape.com/services/seasonal.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will soon send our 2013 survey and hope all customers return it as we want to hear your feedback. It is very easy to fill out with only 12 questions. This year we are performing our survey on-line. You should receive an e-mail with a link to the survey soon.

 

When you return your survey, we will send you a Starbucks gift card as a token of our appreciation. Thank you in advance for your response. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

http://www.pacscape.com/portfolio/clients-testimonials.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE DO PANSIES RIGHT

 

 
We are often puzzled by some seasonal color plantings we see with small widely spaced flowers. We do know that seasonal color is relatively expensive as it needs to be replaced twice per year but believe that if is desired, it needs to make an impact. Pansies planted widely like the above "Brand X" picture will be thin all winter and may never even fill in before they fade and need to be pulled in early summer. If someone quotes you inexpensive seasonal color, be prepared for this result. We try hard to keep the cost of seasonal color down but where we plant it, we provide immediate impact. If the cost of seasonal color needs to be lowered, we would suggest reducing the square footage planted. Do it well or don't do it at all.

 

Throughout October we have been quite busy changing out our seasonal color. Our plantings are now complete and similar to the picture above, blooming and thriving. Now, with cold weather on the horizon, the bloom will lessen but the pansies will survive our normal winter.

 

Although they are cold hardy, pansies can be impacted by soil borne disease due to our wet winters. To prevent disease from infecting our pansies, we start by adding fresh potting soil to our planting beds as a part of the planting procedure. We follow this with monthly fungicide treatments throughout the winter. This combination has proven quite successful in reducing disease. Most other contractors do not follow these procedures and their pansies often suffer. Trust PLM to monitor and adjust our program as conditions change. Nobody produces better wither pansies than PLM.

 

http://www.pacscape.com/services/seasonal-color.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

STAY CONNECTED