On Saturday, December 2nd, we held our annual Year-End Holiday Party & Awards Banquet at Candlewood Valley Country Club. This event is when we recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to the company throughout the year, and a total of 11 awards were presented to our hardworking and dedicated employees. It was a night filled with joy, […]
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
At this very special time of year, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude and wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are appreciative of your continued support and thankful for the trust you put in our team, and we are committed to continuing to provide you with the […]
YARDSCAPES DONATES $13,000
YardScapes Donates $13,000 to Pratt Nature Center New Milford, CT – YardScapes Landscape Professionals is proud to announce that all $13,000 in proceeds raised at the 18th Annual Quad-Am Golf Classic were donated to Pratt Nature Center, a non-profit organization in New Milford, CT. Shayne Newman, who founded YardScapes in 1990 says, “Our company philosophy states, ‘We […]
DAY OF SERVICE RECAP
This past Saturday, Nov. 4th, we held our annual Fall Day of Service Rake & Bake! This volunteer event is the most anticipated by our staff with 90% attendance. I’m proud that our team members were so excited to volunteer their time on a chilly November morning by giving back and enhancing several nonprofit organizations […]
TOUCH A TRADE AND OTHER LOCAL HEROES
We’ve wrapped up the “green-season” and are now going full bore with fall cleanups. To celebrate the transition, we held our annual Family & Friends Oktoberfest at the beginning of the month. Although it was a cool, rainy day, everyone had a great time and we crowned new YardScapes Cornhole Champs! We also participated in Touch-A-Trade this […]
TOURNAMENT RECAP, FALL CLEAN-UPS, & MORE!
The 18th Annual YardScapes Quad-Am Golf Classic was held on Tuesday, October 3rd. It was a perfect fall day and the golfers had a fantastic time on the course. We will not know our final donation to Pratt Nature Center until we settle all the expenses for the day and collect those last-minute donations. It’s also […]
SO LONG SUMMER
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) recently held their annual conference, Elevate, in Texas and it was a huge success. The conference brought together landscape professionals from across the country to learn about the latest trends and technologies in our industry. Four of us from YardScapes, as well as 1,000+ additional attendees, enjoyed a […]
TRANSITIONING FROM SUMMER TO FALL
We hope you had a safe and enjoyable Labor Day! Summer isn’t over for a few more weeks with the official arrival of the Fall season on September 23rd. Many clients ask us the best ways to keep their properties looking great at this time of year now that most things are beginning to die […]
AERATION, SEEDING & FALL PLANTING
As the summer is winding down, there is still much work to be done. A few things we will be concentrating on the most in the coming weeks are, aeration, fall seeding, and ordering spring-flowering bulbs. We are also in the final planning stage of the 18th Annual Quad-Am Golf Classic. We are still accepting […]
TREE CHECK MONTH
We are now in the height of summer and while we are out having fun and enjoying the weather, something sinister may be happening to your trees. There are several insects that are currently damaging Connecticut forests, and they include the Spongy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Long-Horned Beetle, Winter Moth, and Spotted Lanternfly. Add […]
Arlington National Cemetery Volunteer Event
YardScapes in America’s Front Yard! ANNUAL RENEWAL & REMEMBRANCE VOLUNTEER EVENT Last weekend, 11 members of YardScapes team, along with close to 500 landscape professionals, arrived in Washington, DC for the 27th Annual Renewal & Remembrance event hosted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This annual event brings together professionals from across the […]
JULY 4 – Patios & Hydrangeas
Happy 4th of July! This holiday celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the separation of the colonies from Great Britian’s rule 247 years ago. While we no longer ring bells, build bonfires or fire cannons to celebrate, we have held on to the traditions of fireworks and food – lots of food. […]
JUNE 21 – Summer Solstice
The summer season officially began at 10:57AM this morning with the summer solstice – the longest day of the year because it has the most amount of daylight hours. Unfortunately, we will also start losing precious daylight each day as the sun will rise a few seconds later and set a few seconds earlier up […]
JUNE 6 – Grass 101 & Chinch Bugs
The month of June has many homeowners seeking to improve the look of their properties as everything is growing fast and filling in. They mostly ask about the best lawn cutting practices and how to tend to their plantings as the weather heats up and the pests emerge. Below we will highlight the most basic […]
MAY 23 – Ponds & Waterfalls, Landscape Lighting
With the “unofficial” start of summer on Memorial Day, we are now in the last weeks of the spring season. Once called Decoration Day following the Civil War, Memorial Day honors all of those who died while actively serving in the US military. Please take a moment this weekend while you’re enjoying the parades, picnics, […]
May 2 DoS Recap, Annual Color, Dawn Chorus
May is a busy month for our team of landscape professionals. We’ve started mulching, weeding, pruning, mowing, fertilizing, applying weed and insect control, as well as tick control. We are also designing and installing new landscapes. With all the rain we’ve been getting and the warmer temps on the way next week, grass and plants will […]
April 14 Health Benefits of Nature
With temperatures nearing 90° today, I think we can say with confidence that we will not see any more snow this spring, but Mother Nature can be funny that way. Our seasonal crew has arrived back to headquarters, and we held our annual Team Spring Kick-Off meeting last Friday. Service anniversaries were awarded, we […]
March 21 – WELCOME SPRING!
Spring arrived yesterday afternoon and the beautiful weather confirmed it! Flowers are popping up everywhere and you can see tinges of color in the treetops as their buds grow. Very soon, they will leaf out and all will be green and lush again. This certainly is a special time in the YardScapes year. In a […]
March 7 Living with Ticks, Full Fert Program, Mulch Madness
Just because we are landscapers doesn’t mean we are always looking at what’s under our feet. This morning the full worm moon reached totality but tonight it will still look very full, very bright, and very large due to our brains tricking us with “moon illusion.” While you’re out there taking a look, you’ll also see […]
Outdoor Living & Beneficial Bugs
Spring arrives in less than a month so if you have any projects for your property this green season, now is the time to get those plans in place. Anyone can predict, but no one can foretell where the economy is headed. Recently, one big-box home improvement retail corporation is seeing post-pandemic trends pivoting away […]
Spring Prep – The Next Steps
My neighborhood groundhog is still hibernating, but, if she had wandered out of her den last week on Groundhog Day, she would have seen her shadow and, according to legend, “predicted” six more weeks of winter. Nevertheless, we are busy preparing for the spring season which officially begins with the vernal equinox in 41 days […]
BENEFITS OF A MAINTENANCE PLAN
January 17, 2023 Before we know it, the busy season will be upon us! Right now we’re working hard at headquarters perfecting our daily operations, brainstorming new ideas, and streamlining our internal procedures to best serve our clients. We are also filling in the calendar with 2023 classes, industry events, and educational seminars. Soon, we […]
Looking Ahead in 2023!
Best Wishes for Happiness, Health & Harmony in the New Year! ~Shayne “Live in each season, as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” –Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE Real Christmas trees are biodegradable which means they […]
Winter Begins – Happy Holidays
As we say goodbye to 2022 and look ahead to a new year, I find it very inspiring to reflect on the positive experiences that I’ve enjoyed with family and friends during the past year. The fond memories that are created as the result of a special moment with loved ones can’t get lost or stolen, […]
2022 Award Winners and Holiday Lights
On Friday, December 2, we held our annual Year-End Holiday Party & Awards Banquet at Candlewood Valley Country Club in New Milford. We enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, a delicious dinner and a very spirited Yankee Swap while spending a great night together. Below are the award winners for YardScapes 2022 season! Voting was extremely close, and […]
THANKSGIVING
We are thankful for many things – not only at this time, but all year long. We have a dedicated team, amazing clients, steadfast friends, friendly neighbors, and terrific business associates. We also feel very fortunate to work in an industry that truly makes a positive difference in people’s lives by bringing them closer to […]
‘SCAPER OF THE YEAR VOTING IS OPEN!
POLLS ARE OPEN – PLEASE VOTE TODAY! It’s Election Day and voting is also open for 2022 YardScapes ‘Scaper of the Year! YardScapes has an on-going recognition program that highlights team members who consistently demonstrate and uphold the YardScapes Core Values. Each month, field staff vote for the fellow co-worker they feel should receive the coveted ‘Scaper […]
GOLF TOURNAMENT DONATION
We’ve paid all event costs and collected all of the pledged donations, and we are happy to announce that Pratt Nature Center will receive a $13,000 donation from the 17th Annual YardScapes Quad-Am Golf Classic! We will make the official check presentation on Saturday, November 5th while we are at Pratt performing a property cleanup during YardScapes’ […]
Family & Friends OctoberFest
Although you don’t see us on your property as often these days, be assured we are still working hard. We are heading into another busy season when fall clean-ups will be taking up most of our time. But, there is also much work to be done on properties and in the shop before the […]
AUTUMN, ELEVATE RECAP, GOLF WINNERS
Happy Autumn! It’s that time again when we transition from the growing season to fall. As we said goodbye to summer, we held our annual fundraising golf tournament and attended a landscape industry conference in Florida. Now, while most people are beginning to spend less time outdoors, the season presents different and specific tasks and […]
SPECIAL EDITION DROUGHT ALERT!
drought[drout] (n) Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “A period of dryness especially when prolonged.” American Meteorological Society: “A period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently long enough to cause a serious hydro-logical imbalance.” NOAA’s National Weather Service: “A deficiency of moisture that results in adverse impacts on people, animals, or vegetation over a sizeable area.” 100% of Connecticut is currently in a […]
OVERSEEDING & PLANTING FOR SPRING COLOR
We are now less than three weeks away from the 17th Annual YardScapes Quad-Am Golf Classic. Player registration sold out quickly for another consecutive year and now we’re in the “last call” phase for sponsorships and donations. To be included in the printing of the event materials and to be recognized in any signage, the […]
PLEA TO SPONSORS & DONORS
charity golf tournament Thanks to your generosity, in 2021 we presented Pratt Nature Center with $15,000 raised from the tournament and we are hoping we can count on your charitable support again this year! Our little team-building event would not have grown into the successful and exclusive tournament that it is today without your involvement […]
HARDSCAPES
August is typically one of the hottest summer months and it is important to keep your new plantings watered regularly because their roots need this time to continue growing deep and strong. You should also pay special attention to plantings in direct sun and near concrete or pavement where temperatures are normally higher and […]
Renewal & Remembrance Recap
For twelve years, YardScapes has participated in NALP’s annual Renewal & Remembrance program in Washington, DC. Over 500 lawn care and landscape professionals from 27 states across the country donated their time and expertise to help enhance the grounds at Arlington National Cemetery and honor the men and women buried there. This is the second […]
Field Trip / Drought Stress / Deadheading
We hope you had a enjoyable long weekend. It’s always nice to have a holiday fall on a weekday because there is no rest for a landscaper – especially in summer. Less than two weeks ago, four team members joined me for an interactive, in-depth facility tour and educational sessions at R.P. Marzilli […]
SUMMER! Proper Watering Techniques, Jumping Worms, Be Bear Aware
The summer solstice happened at 5:14AM this morning and it is now officially SUMMER in the Northern Hemisphere. For many people, this is the season anticipated the most for its long, sunlit days and warm, moonlit nights that allow for more time to be outside having fun and making special memories with family and friends. […]
GRASS CUTTING 101, CHINCH BUGS, AND MORE!
Although Memorial Day weekend was the “unofficial” kickoff of summer, we are still two weeks away from its rightful start when the summer solstice occurs at 5:13AM on Tuesday the 21st. This time of year is special for us because everything is blooming, grass is green and lush, the colors are bright and cheerful, and […]
Annual Spring Day of Service Wrap-Up / Estate Management / Water Features
Spring Day of Service / Industry Collective
Our annual Spring Day of Service will be happening this coming Saturday after being rescheduled from last month. Volunteers will meet at the office for a continental breakfast and a quick meeting to go over the plan for the day. Teams of volunteers will then receive their assignments and head out to their specified locations […]
Earth Day, Every Day
April is Earth Month with Earth Day falling on Thursday, the 22nd. As landscape professionals, we feel that every day is Earth Day and we hold an annual Spring Day of Service in conjunction with this global celebration. This year we’ve moved our event from April 23rd, to Saturday May 7th to allow for more […]
April is National Lawn Care Month
April is the official month of about 35 separate observations and, of course, we are going to put National Lawn Care Month in the spotlight. There are also a few others that pertain directly to our field of expertise as landscape professionals so we will give them a shout-out […]
MULCH MADNESS
HELLO SPRING!! With three snow events since that groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter weather, wildly fluctuating temps, and now more daylight, we are surely ready to welcome the vernal equinox and the beginning of the Spring season on Sunday! We’ve been doing housekeeping at HQ, updating and streamlining our procedures and processes, […]
Happy Yardi Gras!
Happy yardi Gras! While party-goers gather in New Orleans today to celebrate Mardi Gras (aka Fat Tuesday) and one last celebration before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, we'll quietly be celebrating Yardi Gras.at YardScapes. Yardi Gras originated in New Orleans as a result of the pandemic when houses and yards were decorated to [...]
FOR THE LOVE OF FIRE PITS, FIREPLACES, AND FIRE BOULDERS
FOR THE LOVE OF FIRE! There is no denying our love of hypnotizing flames coming from a fireplace, fire pit, campfire, bonfire, or even a tiki torch or some candles as they add warmth, light, and a one-of-a-kind ambience to our surroundings. Add in a comfy seat and the sound of crackling wood and that […]
Green Matters / Eco-Friendly Property
GREEN MATTERS Green plants, whether they be trees, shrubs, or grass are essential in producing oxygen, removing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air, filtering groundwater, providing homes for wildlife, help in keeping temperatures down, and are invaluable to our mental and physical health to name just a few of their benefits. Our company […]
January Thaw / Landscape Planning & Design
In the midst of winter, it’s hard to imagine that there is such a thing called the “January Thaw”. With its beginnings in New England folklore, the January Thaw is a string of days, usually around the 19th-28th, that are unseasonably warmer than usual. It is the winter equivalent to Indian’s Summer in the autumn. […]
Thinking about landscape and garden design / Happy New Year! 1/4/22
WINTER PERSPECTIVE Happy New Year and best wishes for a joyful and healthy 2022! At this quieter time of year when our crews are leaner, landscape maintenance is minimal, and snow is unpredictable, it's still very active at HQ. While you may not see our trucks out and about as much, our administrative staff are [...]
WELCOMING WINTER TO LITCHFIELD COUNTY! 12/22/21
WELCOME WINTER! The darkest days are behind us with the arrival of the winter solstice yesterday morning when at exactly 10:59AM, Earth’s north pole was tilted the farthest from the sun that it will go. Many also refer to this day as the “shortest day” or “longest night” because the number of daylight hours are […]
HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY 12/7/21
We are now in the darkest time of year when we have the least amount of daylight hours due to the low elevation of the sun in our sky. On the winter solstice, the day with the least amount of sunlight, thus the longest night of the year, the winter season will officially begin. The […]
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