Turf Wars: How to win the Battle With 3 Common Turf Grass Problems

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

Turf grass fights a constant battle with 3 common problems: diseases, weeds and insects. What can you do to fight them?

Diseases

Bermuda grass, St. Augustine and other turf grasses can be susceptible to various diseases. Bald patches, brown spots and dead grass can be signs of disease in your grass. From the fungus that causes take-all patch to the combination of thatch and other conditions that cause slime mold, there are a variety of causes for the problem.

How to Control Turf Grass Diseases

Be sure your commercial landscape contractor has established a regular feeding and fertilization routine, this will help to keep your grass disease-free. Using the right fertilizer will help keep grasses healthy.

The best course of action is to consult a commercial landscaping company to correctly identify and treat the disease affecting your grass. Incorrect treatment could cause further damage and kill your grass.

Weeds

Weeds are one of the most troublesome problems in maintaining healthy grass. Not only do they mare the beauty of a lush, green lawn, but they also steal precious water, nutrients and sunlight from your turf grass.

Perennial weeds, like dallisgrass, dandelions and chicory can lay dormant during the winter months, but grow quickly with the first spring rains and summer heat.

How to Control Weeds

The best way to control weeds is prevention. Effective control of weed growth requires the use of a post-emergent herbicide during their active growth season. It is important to identify the type of weed in order to determine the proper treatment. You must know if the weed is annual or perennial, since pre-emergent herbicides are only effective for control of annual weeds.

A certified plant health care specialist can help with all applications, the wrong herbicide can damage your grass and harm the environment.

Insects

What can be mistaken for a disease in your grass might very well be the effects of insect damage. Effective insect control targets the harmful pests that cause damage to plants. Insects like grub worms, chinch bugs and fire ants flourish when it is hot and dry. Chinch bugs suck the life out of St. Augustine grass, leaving large, brown patches of dead grass.

How to Control Insects

You must first determine the type of insects that have infested your grass, this will help you to determine which chemicals might be most effective. It is best to talk to your commercial landscape maintenance contractor to determine the best chemical weed and pest control for your lawn.

This is the time to prepare your property for the heat of the upcoming months. If you start now to take care of your turf grass, you can avoid these problems. Contact Terracare Associates today to ensure your grass stays beautiful and green this summer.

What is a Public-Private Partnership?

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

A public-private partnership (P3) is a funding model for public infrastructure projects such as new airports, waste water treatment plants and new roadways.

The government at a local, state and/or national level make up a public partner. On the other hand, privately-owned business, public corporation or consortium of businesses with a specific area of expertise are what factor into a private partnership.

P3 arrangements are useful for large projects that require highly-skilled workers and a significant cash outlay to get started. They are also useful in countries that require the state to legally own any infrastructure that serves the public.

Different models of P3 funding are characterized by which partner is responsible for owning and maintaining assets at different stages of the project. Below are a couple of examples of types of projects that Terracare Associates has participated in some form:

Design-Build (DB)

The private-sector partner designs and builds the infrastructure to meet the public-sector partner’s specifications, often for a fixed price. The private-sector partner assumes all risk.

Operation & Maintenance Contract (O & M)

The private-sector partner, under contract, operates a publicly-owned asset for a specific period of time. The public partner retains ownership of the assets. Our partnership with CH2M-Hill and the City of Centennial Public works department, which just became the first accredited P3 of its time, is an example of this type of arrangement.

The primary value of the P3 model comes from delivering a needed project more efficiently and at less risk for the public entity.

Using Denver as an example, CDOT has been able to complete an expansion of Highway 36 between Boulder and the I-25 corridor using private sector funding in exchange for an arrangement on tolling fees. This model has proven itself successful enough that the same type of model is being used for the eventual I-70 expansion project.

Another large scale Denver area project is the connection of Denver International Airport to downtown Denver via a monorail going from the airport to downtown Denver. This project was started first by a public-private arrangement and finished through support by the federal government with large funding to finish the project.

Our P3 experts on staff at Terracare are available for a P3 consultation with your team throughout the United States. Contact us today for more information on this innovative approach to public works requirements.

Terracare Gives Back to the Community

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

At Terracare Associates, we are committed to giving back to the communities in which we live and work. Throughout the year, we volunteer our time and resources to local nonprofit organizations and community events. Here are a few of the projects we are proud to have been a part of over the past year.

Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment – Denver, Colorado

Over the past year, Terracare has donated materials and time to create an outdoor learning garden at Montclair. The garden features 32 raised plant beds as well as an area to grow pumpkins, squash, melons and gourds. The goal of this project is to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that align with grade level standards while also teaching them new skills and responsibility.

Columbine High School Memorial- Littleton, Colorado

On April 17, volunteers from TCA continued our annual spring cleaning tradition at the memorial honoring those affected by the events of April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School. We are honored to continue to donate time and materials to keep the memorial looking beautiful year after year.

City of Centennial Earth Day Event- Centennial, Colorado

On April 22, we teamed up with CH2M and the City of Centennial to host an Earth Day Event including a plant sale benefiting Project C.U.R.E. All plants were donated by TCA and CH2M and profits from the sale went directly to Project C.U.R.E. In addition to the plant sale, TCA provided free gardening demonstrations and activities for kids.

Intuit Earth Day- Mountain View, California

Terracare took part in Earth Day activities at the Intuit Corporate Campus in Mountain View, California on April 20. TCA offered educational seminars on beneficial bugs, drought tolerant plant material and irrigation efficiencies. In addition, one of our staff members even dressed up like a bee!

Texas Tree Foundation Volunteer Event- Dallas, Texas

Terracare is planning to attend a spring volunteer event to help the Texas Trees Foundation make a difference. Volunteers will be in charge of plant, mulch or weed nursery trees at the TXU Energy Urban Tree Farm & Education Center as well as individual sites all over the DFW Area.

Tips for Water Wise Landscaping

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

After an unusually warm and dry winter in many parts of the country, it’s more important than ever to conserve water as summer approaches. What can you do to save your lawn and save money on your monthly water bill? Here are a few easy tips to help you be more water wise with your landscaping.

Prevent water evaporation: Water your lawn early in the morning or in the evening, especially during the hot summer months. Never water on windy days. Use drip irrigation systems for bedded plants, trees, or shrubs and use low-angle sprinklers for lawns. Also, be sure to cover pools and spas to prevent loss of water through evaporation.

One inch of water is enough: Just one inch of water each week will keep most grasses healthy. To determine how long you should run your sprinklers — place straight-edged cans at various distances away from each sprinkler and time how long it takes to fill an average of 1 inch of water in each can.

Mulch… Mulch… Mulch!: Cover all flower beds and planted areas with mulch. It keeps the soil moist and slows down the evaporation of water from the soil, allowing water to infiltrate it efficiently. Maintain at least a 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch in all planted beds and containers.

Maintain your sprinkler system: Repair any broken, missing or misdirected sprinkler heads. You should also install rain and freeze sensors on your sprinkler system and monitor your total water usage.

Terracare Associates can help with any of your landscaping needs from installing a more efficient irrigation system to laying down mulch in your plant beds. Visit our website to see what we can do for you.

Free Irrigation Audit

Five Benefits of Planting Trees on Your Property

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

We all know that planting trees on your property makes your business look more attractive, but did you know trees also have many economic, health and environmental benefits? Here are five of the most compelling reasons to plant more trees on your property:

Trees increase property value

Trees not only add beauty to your property, they can also increase its value. Studies show that property values for homes and businesses surrounded by trees can increase as much as 20 percent.

Trees clean the air

A tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas, per year. Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases such as ammonia, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and ozone. A study in the Journal of Preventative Medicine found that people experience more deaths from respiratory disease and heart disease when they live in areas without trees.

Trees increase business traffic

Studies conducted by the USDA Forest Service show that people are more likely to visit businesses with trees and attractive landscaping. It is also shown that consumers tend to spend more time at these businesses and spend up to 13 percent more money.

Trees can reduce overall property costs

Planting trees around your property can save you money on air conditioning, irrigation and soil replacement. Trees placed strategically around a building can cut air conditioning needs by up to 50 percent during the summer months. The shade from trees can also save you money on watering costs as they slow down the evaporation of water on your lawn.

Trees provide oxygen

On average, one tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen per year. Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four. By planting trees on your property, you are producing oxygen for the employees and citizens that visit your business.

Visit our website to see how Terracare Associates can help you bring these benefits and more to your property today.

Terracare Wins 2017 Community Stewardship Award

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

Terracare Associates was awarded the 2017 Community Stewardship Award by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado for its collaboration with Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment to build outdoor educational spaces.

“One of our core values as a company is to give back to the communities in which we operate. This is the seventh learning garden we have built and our first garden in Colorado. It has been a great partnership working with the Montclair staff, children and parent volunteers,” says Cristin Tarr, marketing director at Terracare Associates.

TCA began the process of installing a learning garden at the school in early spring of 2016. The six month project included excavation of the garden area, installation of a footpath and planters, and establishment of an extensive irrigation system. In the process of building the garden, TCA contributed more than 300 hours of volunteer labor and thousands of dollars worth of donated time, talent, materials and equipment. The garden features 32 raised planting beds, providing each classroom with its own space to garden. The western edge of the garden has been set aside to grow pumpkins, squash, melons and gourds for use in all classrooms. Beans, peas, grapes and other vine plants are grown on the surrounding fence.

The goal of this project is to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that align with grade level standards while also teaching them new skills and responsibility. The students in each classroom are responsible for making decisions about what to plant and maintaining their sections of the garden throughout the growing season. Montclair took an extra step to keep students engaged and the garden well-maintained by creating a school club called “The Green Paws”. The organization consists of students of all ages and a committee of teachers and parents who participate in activities that support sustainability and the upkeep of the learning garden.

“Terracare Associates made our dreams of creating an outdoor classroom garden space a reality. The professional support from their design team, community outreach, and labor was above and beyond our hopes for the project. We have been able to tie in lessons from the classroom to the gardens for each of our grade levels which impacts each of our 400 students,” said Heather Manone, enrichment coordinator for Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment.

Terracare is proud to work with Montclair to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that help them grow in the classroom and beyond.

Employee Spotlight: Lupe Saldana

Published on January 18, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

Lupe Saldana is the type of employee you can always count on. He is a field supervisor at Terracare’s Martinez branch in California and he has been with the company since 1995. He does a variety of work for the City of Brentwood and the City of Oakley, ranging from street repairs to park maintenance.

“Lupe is always responsible, respectful and ready to work. He goes above and beyond what is asked of him,” said Francisco Quintero, account manager at the Martinez branch.

Lupe and his team’s hard work shows in the properties they maintain. In 2015 the City of Brentwood won an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Landscape Professionals for commercial landscape management.
“Doing good quality work and doing it right the first time is the most important thing. Our goal is to make the customer happy and to make sure people enjoy our work,” said Lupe.
Thank you, Lupe, for more than 20 years and counting of excellent service.

The City of Centennial Public Works Department Earns Accreditation

Published on January 22, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

In 2008, the City of Centennial launched a large-scale public private partnership with CH2M, and Terracare Associates was selected as a subcontractor to perform comprehensive public works maintenance for the city. Of the almost 40,000 municipalities, townships and county governments in the U.S., Centennial’s public works department became the 119th accredited public works agency and the first public-private partnership public works agency in the U.S.

The maintenance Terracare Associates provides includes street maintenance, sign maintenance and installation, snow removal, tree maintenance and removal, traffic signal maintenance, erosion control, street sweeping, trash and debris removal, and maintenance of the award-winning Centennial Center Park.

“It is a real honor to be a contributor to this accreditation. I could not be more proud of our team working every day to ensure the citizens of Centennial are safe and the city looks its best,” said Justin Stewart, Vice President of Public Infrastructure for Terracare Associates.

The accreditation process is no easy feat. There are 40 chapters and 608 sub-chapters in the accreditation process in public works, 360 of those applicable to Centennial. CH2M and the city wanted to demonstrate that the city was compliant with the accreditation requirements for each applicable sub-chapter. To do so, they provided documentation of city policies backed up by actual processes and associated work proofs related to each individual accreditation service area.

“This is a milestone for our city. Meeting the criteria for this accreditation confirms we have been moving in the right direction since the city was formed,” said Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon.

The accreditation program aims to promote self-improvement within an organization; offer an evaluation and education program; recognize exemplary performance; improve public works performance and delivery of services; increase professionalism; and instill pride among agency staff, elected officials and the local community.

Employee Spotlight: Enrique Duran

Published on January 22, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

Enrique Duran is the kind of employee everyone wishes they had. He started with Blue Skies Landscape in San Diego in 1978, now part of Terracare Associates, as a team member of one of the first crews in the branch. After almost 40 years of working with the same company, his dedication has made him into a true industry expert continually leading improvements. He began his career with the company as a gardener, but he had a love for landscaping and a desire to learn as much as possible about the industry so he could advance within the company. Over the years he earned his Qualified Applicator Certificate and his California Landscape Certificate. As the business grew, Enrique was promoted to foreman before becoming the head supervisor overseeing San Diego South’s operations. His current responsibilities include guiding, educating and leading the crews in the field and serving as the main point of contact for clients.

“Enrique is one of the main reasons our team has such a great reputation in San Diego. He always takes care of customers, is very responsive and has excellent knowledge in the field,” said Matt Ziskin, San Diego South Branch Manager for Terracare.

Enrique prides himself on nurturing good relationships with his clients and the workers he oversees in the field. He believes that communication is the key to maintaining these relationships.

“I always get to know my clients in a professional manner. I am reliable and attentive to their needs, because our customers are very important, and I provide them with advice based on my years of experience. I take pride in what we do every day, I make sure to always be on time, safe, informative, easy to approach and to be a problem solver,” said Enrique.

He knows that he owes his success to the teams he works with on each project. When it comes to fellow employees, he believes that communication, trust and training are the foundation of successful field crews. He forms relationships based on mutual respect and trust and in doing so, instills high standards of workmanship at every property.

“Enrique’s experience and work ethic make him a great team member and leader. He always goes above and beyond and he never does anything halfway. Nobody works harder than he does,” said Matt Ziskin.

Terracare Associates is proud to have Enrique representing us in San Diego South operations.

Parking Lot Repairs That Will Improve Your Property Value

Published on January 31, 2018 by Jackson Holliday

Spring has made an early appearance and that’s a great excuse to get outside and walk your parking areas to determine what needs should be addressed. As a commercial property owner, a sound facilities management and maintenance program is a necessity to keep the value and appearance of the facility at its best. Maintaining a parking lot can seem daunting, but it is a necessary task. The parking lot is the first impression your customers are presented. It should be clean, easy to navigate and free of asphalt defects.

Here are some types of maintenance services you should be looking to be provided:

Cleaning:

Regular trash pickup, sweeping and power washing will help keep the parking area neat and attractive. Potential customers will not have to worry about driving or walking amongst discarded cans, containers or other debris from the “less than considerate” folks that will come through the facility.

Potholes and asphalt repairs:

Once asphalt deterioration begins, it can progress quickly. These areas should be addressed as soon as possible to reduce the overall affected area in need of repair. A poor condition parking lot is a direct reflection on the business.

Seal Coating:

The application of an asphalt sealant not only keeps the parking lot looking new, it helps prevent the degradation of the asphalt surface. The sealant repels the damage of day-to-day exposure from the environment, such as UV rays, water, salts, spilled fuel, etc.

Crack sealing:

This is the biggest bang for your buck in maintenance processes. Any crack in the parking surface presents an opportunity for water to infiltrate and begin the process of creating a compromise in the integrity of the pavement. This is the beginning of the menace called potholes.

Replacement:

When you have an area that just falls apart: the real solution is to remove and replace it. Temporary fixes just prolong the inevitable. Have it dug up, recondition the base and then re-install the pavement. The new asphalt should then become part of a regular maintenance plan to prevent a repeat scenario.

If there is one thing to remember, it is that maintenance must be done at a planned regular sequence to prolong the longevity of the pavement and enhance the property appearance and value.