Author: Petalon Landscape

Yes! Landscape and Irrigation Experts Say Fall is Ideal

Yard drains control the flow of irrigation and rainwater from your landscape to the sewer system. Pooling around the gutters or standing water on your lawn are clear indications that they need attention. As with the drainage system inside your building, clogged or broken pipes can cause back up, flooding and costly damage outside. Unsightly and unhygienic surroundings will reflect poorly on your business. While you may have done it earlier this year, fall is a good time to get professional drainage maintenance done again.

Leaves, grass clippings, dirt, rocks and even trash will find their way into drains, despite best efforts to keep your commercial property clean. Tree roots are also likely culprits for blocking and damaging the landscape drainage system. Timely cleanup and repair in the fall will help prevent flooding from heavy winter rains. Rather than struggle with breaks and blockages when the weather is cold, plan your drainage maintenance before winter sets in.

Tips to Prepare Your Drainage System for Winter Storms

• Drainage inspection: Examine the water inlets and outlets on your landscape. Some termination areas may be located on the street or in a basin. Puddles that never dry up are a sure sign of a drainage problem and could result from clogging or a pipe that needs repair. Petalon conducts visual landscape inspections for run-off, water leaks and standing water to help you avoid expensive drain repairs.
• Clean out the debris: Remove the drain covers and clear out any leaves, trash and debris from the pipe. Run a snaking hose (or auger) to remove dirt and soil. Then, flush the pipes with running water to ensure they are clean. This may be a challenge if the drain branches out in multiple directions. Your landscape maintenance company may be able to help with drain machines or hydro-jetting that clears clogs fast.
• Repair or replace broken pipes: Older or poor-quality pipes can break because of weather, age, or with pressure from tree roots. From drain pipes, grates and basins to rain gauges and master valves with flow meters, Petalon has you covered. Our irrigation management experts can also help you achieve your water conservation goals.

Count on our full-service commercial landscape management company to help you maintain year-round curb appeal. Our attractive, drought-tolerant landscaping designs, weekly gardening programs, smart irrigation management and landscape drainage solutions keep your property looking its best in every season.

Property owners, developers and managers across the San Jose and East Bay areas, including in Fremont, Milpitas, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and Danville depend on our cost-efficient landscaping solutions.

Call 408-453-3998 or contact our landscape management company requesting a quote for drainage maintenance.

Tips to Improve Tree Health and Yield

Although your fruit trees might lie dormant until spring, they need protection from cold temperatures, pest infestations, rodent problems and any type of damage to the tree’s structure. Simple measures like cleaning out fallen leaves and using dormant-season sprays, for example, help to deter pests and fight disease. Here are some expert tips on winter care for your fruit trees in Northern California.

Caring for Your Fruit-Bearing Trees in Winter

• Clean out dead leaves: They are likely to have insect eggs or fungus spores that are damaging to the health of your trees.
• Mulch: Replenish the layer of mulch under the trees before winter. Mulch will help rainwater penetrate to the roots and prevent soil erosion. Maintain a three-inch layer to prevent run-off and discourage weed growth.
• Pest control: Apply dormant oil sprays to control pests, minimize fungal infection, and curb the spread of certain diseases. These specially formulated oils are effective against soft-bodied insects such as aphids and mites, some insect eggs, as well as scale. Depending on the type of tree, its age, and overall health, your arborist may also suggest wrapping the tree trunk. This provides added protection from rodents and certain pests.
• Pruning: Removing dead, decaying, diseased, and obstructing limbs will improve light penetration and encourage healthy growth. Knowing when and how much to prune trees is important to ensuring strong growth. Dates, apricots, cherries, and plums each have different pruning schedules and requirements. Young trees will need different care than mature fruit trees.
• Examine tree structure: Damaged tree bark and limbs require timely, professional attention in order to preserve overall tree health.
• Plant new trees: Winter can be a good time for planting new fruit trees. The type of soil, amount of sunlight and growing space are important points to consider before you plant. As well, you must determine whether the new tree will need a partner for pollination to bear fruit.

Fruit Tree Management Services

Properly maintained fruit trees can provide a bountiful harvest. If you are looking to increase the yield of your existing trees or plant new ones, we can help. The Petalon team provides comprehensive services for fruit tree management. We take care of preparing the planting site, fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pruning, pest control, and weeding.

Orchard owners and property managers across Northern California including in San Jose, Fremont, Milpitas, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto, CA trust us with their fruit tree maintenance requirements.

Call 408-453-3998 or contact us online to book our services and learn more about winter care for fruit trees in Northern California.

Tips to Enhance Your Property’s Appearance and Value

Well-manicured grounds deliver a great impression of your condominium property. From creating attractive seasonal displays to maintaining their lush and vibrant look, an experienced landscape management company can help you maintain curb appeal. How will you choose the right condominium landscape contractors to achieve this goal? Here are some key considerations when making this hiring decision.

How to Select Your HOA Landscaping Contractor

• Condominium landscaping experience: One of the most important considerations is appropriate landscaping experience. You want a professional crew that understands the unique needs of your condo property. Long-standing experience in the industry means the contractor has a reputation to maintain, and customers who can verify the quality of service. Ask for references and be sure to check them out.
• Creative landscaping ideas: Landscaping contractors who take the time to understand your property’s needs before suggesting any landscape enhancements will be thorough in their work, and deliver visible results. Local climate, soil condition, and sunlight patterns are some aspects they will consider when selecting plants and implementing landscape design.
• Expert landscaping techniques: From identifying the ideal planting locations on your property to efficient watering practices, an experienced commercial landscaper can advise you on cost-effective ways to maintain curb appeal. Selecting drought-tolerant ground cover and efficient irrigation management, for instance, will significantly reduce your landscape maintenance efforts and cost.
• Seamless landscape maintenance support: A healthy and vibrant landscape is the result of timely mowing, pruning, fertilization, disease management, and seasonal cleanup. This is a lot to handle when you have several other condo maintenance tasks to fulfill. Hire professionals who can provide you with year-round condominium landscaping services.

Trusted Condominium Landscape Contractors

Our professional HOA landscape maintenance team provides end-to-end service tailored to your unique needs. We combine decades of experience working with condo managers, and customize service plans to give your property an attractive, tidy appearance. We handle everything—fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pruning, pest control, weeding, and annual planting, taking the stress out of landscape management. Year-upon-year awards, and membership to several industry associations demonstrates our commitment to excellence.

Condo managers across the San Jose area, including in Fremont, Milpitas, and Mountain View, CA trust us with their commercial property maintenance requirements.

Call 408-453-3998 or contact us online to request our services or learn about important considerations for hiring condominium landscape contractors.

Summer Tree and Plant Care, for Changing Seasonal Needs

Proper summer plant and tree care is important for the long-term health of your company’s landscape.

Petalon Landscape Management’s commercial clients depend on us to keep their properties looking healthy and vibrant all year long. When the weather turns warm, our staff will to meet the changing seasonal needs of your trees and plants.

We’re able to identify and find solutions when minor landscape problems surface in the summer. With years of experience as our guide, we take steps to make certain they don’t turn into major headaches in the fall.

Elements of Summer Tree and Plant Care

A program of summer tree and plant care by Petalon professionals considers these factors:

Watering 

Proper irrigation is a major issue in the summer. Overwatered landscapes are common in the Bay Area. Too much moisture robs roots of oxygen and can kill plants. A drought-tolerant landscape with shrubs, plants and flowers native to California requires minimal irrigation, even in hot weather.

If you wonder whether your landscape is adequately irrigated, check to see if plant or tree leaves are supple and even-colored. If they are brown and brittle, wilting or yellowed, you may need to adjust your watering schedule.

Climate zones

The Bay Area consists of several climate zones, so the landscaping needs of each Petalon client are varied. We take into account your location, altitude, and proximity to the ocean to customize a program of summer tree and plant care for you.

Pest damage 

Insects do physical damage and can cause disease in plants and trees any time of year. Telltale signs of infection include holes, spots or discoloration on leaves. Petalon first uses organic methods to deter pests or cure the disease and prevent it from spreading throughout your landscape.

Petalon clients often ask if planting trees and shrubs in the summer is OK. We recommend restricting planting to the spring and autumn. Planting in warm or hot weather may shock a plant or tree and root development, which is critical to successful transplanting, does not naturally occur during the summer.

Begin a program of summer tree and plant care by talking with a Petalon Landscape Management professional. Contact us online or call 408-453-3998 today.