Weeee're baaaaack!

Weeee're baaaaack! Hello to all of the Grapevine readers! We have taken some time off from the newsletter business to take care of business. We have been very fortunate assisting old and new clients prepare and modify specifications and rebid contracts. As always, Tommy, Tom, Paul, Michael, and Ed are still out in the real world inspecting properties. Oh, and lest we forget, Cheryl Stewart has rejoined OLM to assist us in the janitorial world!

Can we see the light at the end of the tunnel that started in 2008? We think so. We are seeing clients reinvesting in their landscapes and irrigation systems; addressing some deferred maintenance items; and making upgrades to the property’s curb appeal. We are seeing landscape companies seek out better and more efficient ways of service delivery; investing in equipment that is more environmentally friendly such as propane mowers; realizing that training is still key; unsure about immigration reform; and other “overhead” related issues that relate to creating the best most competitive bid possible.

Until property owners decide to pave their property to the front door, you can rest assured that OLM will be around to help you manage one of the key components in your budget!

Contact us if there is anything you would like to learn about!

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO…

Three plants. Three different sets of issues. What is happening to:

1. Liriope muscari . You used to be able to plant it upside down and it would flourish. In the southeast, we are seeing large areas under decline due to Phytophera palmivera, a crown rot fungus. As the picture shows, you will see yellowing and browning of foliage close to the base of each plant. These leaves quickly rot and are easily removed, however, the fungus problem still remains in the soil. Solutions would be to closely manage water keeping beds on the dry side. Get on a preventative fungicide program. “Groom” or remove declining foliage for aesthetics. Experts say that you should not re-plant new Liriope in the same space because it will get re-infected, and, unfortunately, there are no “curative” fungicide options.

It could be time to relandscape the space. If groundcovers are needed, options could include: Wintercreeper, Asiatic Jasmine, Ivy, Pachysandra, or Mondo grass. If shrubs can be used to fill in the bed, there are numerous options available. Talk to your landscaper or OLM consultant for some options.

2. Impatiens. For eons, it has been the staple annual flower for partial shade/shade conditions. Numerous color options and potential combinations. Now my landscaper says his growers won’t supply them. Why?

Downy Mildew is the culprit. In the photo you can see the underside of the leaf has a white caste and can be rubbed off to see the green leaf beneath the “mildew”. This fungal disease has found its way into the greenhouses and into the landscape and the only way to resolve the problem is to stop planting Impatiens for a while, or in other words, “crop rotation”. For now, the industry is recommending to cease and desist planting impatiens until the growers come up with a sure fire way of eliminating and controlling the fungus or a new “disease resistant” cultivar is developed.

Substitutions could include: Coleus, New Guinea Impatiens, Caladium, or Begonias.

3. ‘Knockout’ Rose. The stunning color is great for the landscape. Other than a yearly rejuvenation and some thorns, it is a plant with minimal maintenance requirements for a prolonged bloom period. What is this “rose rosette” virus? Why are my plants getting this bizarre flurry of new reddish/purple growth? The spider mite is the “vector” of this disease. In other words, the spider mite while sucking the moisture out of the leaf re-infects it with this virus that it got from who knows where. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as controlling the mites to control the disease.

If there is evidence of Rose Rosette disease in your area, in a matter of time it will infect your plants and there is no cure! The extension agents recommend removing the plant and discarding it, far away. Incinerating it or sinking it to the bottom of the sea are two other options.

Since you already have the plant in your landscape, we would recommend living with the threat and acting when you see it your plant material. At that point, relandscape the area utilizing different plants and give your entrance a face lift!

DID YOU KNOW THAT???

• OLM has been in business for over 24 years!
• OLM conducts over 2200 site inspections per year!
• Tommy, Ed, Tom, Michael, and Paul have over 125 years of landscape experience- and you are relying on your account manager who has how many years of experience? Or should I say, “ Cuantos anos de experience tiene su ejecutivo de cuenta?”
• OLM has 50 clients who have been with us for over 5 years and 30 over 10 years! What are you waiting for?
  • 25% of our clients are Suburban Office
  • 25% of our clients are HOA/Condominium
  • 15% of our clients are Community Development Districts
  • 10% of our clients are Retail/Mall
  • 3% of our clients are World Headquarters
  • 3% of our clients are Community Improvement District
  • 19% Other—Cities, Resorts, Master Planned Developments
• What does this breakdown mean? OLM’s capability and knowledge is far reaching both in product type and geography. OLM is the LARGEST 3rd party landscape management company in the country? Contact us to see how we can be of service!