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 […]
Thanks & Giving New Milford 11/23/21
GIVING & THANKS Giving thanks is acknowledging thanks for something someone has given us while gratitude is all about appreciating what we already have. At YardScapes, we are always grateful and never take for granted what we have, but at this time we are also giving many thanks to all of the golfers, sponsors, donors, […]
LANDSCAPER AWARDS / FALL IN NEW ENGLAND 10/20/21
YOUR VOTE COUNTS! In the next issue, which comes out on Election Day, we will be asking you to cast a vote for your favorite YardScapes team member to receive the coveted ‘Scaper of the Year Award. This honor is given to the field staff team member who consistently demonstrates initiative and who also exceeds […]
DEER CONTROL IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY 10/5/21
New homeowners and those new to this area are often delighted to see deer along roadsides or in their yards. That is, until they see the unsightly and oftentimes irreversible damage the deer can do to their trees and plantings. There are many ways to deter deer from using your precious plants as their personal […]
FALL LANDSCAPING AND GRUB CONTROL! 9/21/21
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox occurs at 3:20PM tomorrow afternoon when the sun crosses the “celestial equator” and fall officially begins. Daylight hours will start to become shorter as the sun continues to rise later and set earlier. Then, at the winter solstice on December 21st, the days will […]
FALL LAWN, GARDEN AND ESTATE CARE 9/7/21
The heat waves of summer are behind us with warm days and cool nights ahead. Autumn is approaching and that only means we still have a considerable amount of work to do. Fall is not only the perfect time to seed and feed your lawn, but it is also crucial to inspect and treat for […]
Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer
Here was are in August already with another month-and-a-half of summer to go. In ancient times, they saw this as the beginning of the harvest season because everything was growing, blossoming or fruiting and ready for picking and the first grain was cut for the upcoming winter. There were festivals where they celebrated and shared […]
A Busy Summer / Ponds & Waterfalls
A Busy and Eventful Summer It’s been a very active summer so far and we’re not stopping yet. I returned earlier this week from five days In Washington, DC as I serve in my role as the president of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). The Board of Directors, Senior NALP Staff and I […]
YardScapes at Arlington National Cemetery and The National Mall
July 19 Marks the 25th Anniversary of the Renewal & Remembrance Volunteer Service Event Arlington, Va., (July 13, 2021) —On Monday, July 19, Shayne Newman, owner of YardScapes Landscape Professionals in New Milford, CT, along with hundreds of landscape industry professionals will convene at Arlington National Cemetery and on the National Mall to offer their [...]
July 6 – We Need Your Help!
It’s That Time Again Wow! The 2021 YardScapes Quad-Am Golf Classic player registration SOLD OUT in record time! All player spots are full and now we’re seeking sponsors and donations. Again this year, Pratt Nature Center in New Milford will receive 100% of all proceeds raised at, what appears to have turned into, this very […]
Summer, Watering Techniques, and Photographs Wanted!
This year the summer (or June) solstice happens on Sunday, June 20th and marks the official beginning of the long-awaited summer season! Hot days, warm nights, cool breezes, cold drinks and making memories are all on tap as we get outside and spend more time with friends and family once again. No more dressing in […]
All Critters Are Not Our Friends
From the tiniest blacklegged tick to the biggest black bear, “pests” and fickle New England weather are the only things that normally keep us from enjoying our outdoor spaces. While we can do nothing about the weather, we can deter bothersome pests from having a good time on your property with some simple prevention steps. […]
Add Instant Color with Annuals!
DO IT ALL ANNUALS Spring annuals are the absolute quickest way to add color, interest, and life to your landscape. They come in a wide variety of colors, heights, and shapes so there is something for every landscape and the design possibilities are endless. Annuals can fill a flowerbed, showcase a specific flower, create a […]
DAY OF SERVICE RECAP
Our Volunteers Stepped Up Again Our Spring Day of Service was held on April 24th and the participation was impressive! Coinciding with Earth Day, our staff and their families locally cleaned over 100+ pounds of litter from sections of Aspetuck Ridge Road, Boardman Road, Paper Mill Road, River Road and Young’s Field. Our seasonal workers […]
EARTH DAY EVERY DAY April 20, 2021
“We believe that everyone everywhere benefits from a connection with nature.” That’s our philosophy and we live it every day not just on Earth Day, which is this Thursday, April 22. Helping our clients create a yardscape that they genuinely enjoy and look forward to spending time in, while also being good stewards of the […]
Solid & Enduring
What exactly is a hardscape? Basically, anything that isn’t a natural, horticultural element like a plant or tree. Hardscape elements can be made from natural material such as a stone walkway or wood deck, or out of man-made materials like a concrete patio or a metal garden bench. Typically, the hardscape elements on your property […]
Ready, Set…..
We’ve been prepping our equipment and we are ready to GO! Daylight saving time added that precious hour of “man-made” daylight but this period around the vernal equinox, (the first day of spring), is the time of year when the increase in daylight minutes is growing the fastest. Longer days mean things will be warming […]
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