The client had just moved into a brand-new custom built home. She was
referred to Green Guard by her home’s builder for high quality lawn care.

Taking Good Care Of The New Lawn
   Joe Hertzler, Green Guard’s owner, has worked hard to create this area’s best
lawn care program. With the help of experts at Virginia Tech, Green Guard applies the remarkable advancements made in the last few years, instead of just doing it the way it has always been done. Green Guard’s lawn care program is designed specifically for the conditions in Virginia. In addition, Joe strives to make dealing with his staff and technicians an enjoyable experience that is as
responsive as though they were your personal gardeners.
   While the Green Guard technician was answering the client’s questions about
their new lawn, a question came up about their shrubs. The technician promised
to have Green Guard’s landscape designer give her a call to help her.

How Can I Make These Shrubs Look Better?
   With an on site consultation, the landscape designer found that the client
was unhappy with her landscape’s appearance and growth. This is not an uncommon problem. The home building contractor is not a landscape designer, and isn’t expected to be. On top of that, the landscape is installed at the end of the construction process, so it gets last priority. Furthermore, the landscape budget — too small to start with —often gets eaten up by contingencies that happen during the construction process. Therefore, the landscape firm employed to install a landscape must do a threadbare design and cut corners during the installation in order to make their small profit.

Am I Doing Something Wrong?
   It is actually quite common for new clients to contact Green Guard after 2 to
4 years in their new home with persistent problems in their landscape. Poor landscape planning is obvious after a few years. With plant growth, some plants are too close to the house. Or too big for the position they are in. The plants are weak or growing poorly. Some may have died.
   Is the client doing anything wrong? Usually what’s wrong is that the builder
used an economy landscaper who couldn’t afford to have a qualified designer make a proper plan, or take the necessary time to install plants properly. Or supply quality plant material. Or all of the above.

The Difference With A Well-Conceived Design
   In this case Green Guard’s landscape designer listened to the client’s concerns. He asks a thorough series of questions to clarify and understand the client’s preferences in many dimensions, including colors, plants and style, as well as the client’s lfestyle and usage of the landscape.
   Our designer combines a distinctive artistic talent with an extensive knowledge of plant species and horticulture science. His horticulture degree is from Virginia
Tech. His designs compliment the architecture and integrate paved areas, fences,
and other structures for a pleasing and funcitonal whole. Thus, any
problems in the landscape are solved in visually appealing ways. A well-conceived and executed design is what makes an attractive, enjoyable
landscape, a place for your family and friends to enjoy all year round.
   Our designer created a comprehensive landscape plan that captured the client’s
preferences and ideas. The plan included the right plants for the right places
so that the plants can thrive for years to come without a maintenance
struggle. With the future in mind, this landscape plan also involves a brick patio and other features that can be added when the client is ready.

Looking Much Better
   A Green Guard crew was soon planting trees, shrubs, and a new lawn.
The workmanship and teamwork was visibly apparent. Impressed with their
efforts, the client gave the guys a watermelon! But what may be invisible to a
client is that the plants were installed correctly.
   Establishing plants properly takes more time and more effort, but it pays off
in plants that grow well, require less maintenance, and develop to their fullest
potential. Green Guard crews are trained with the latest research for soil
preparation and the specific planting methods required by the conditions of your
site.

Japanese Beetles Are Eating My Plants!
   When the Japanese beetles attacked as they do each summer, the client called
Green Guard for help. She was particularly concerned about the damage being done to her crepe mrytles.
    Joe Hertzler, one of Green Guard’s certified arborists, designed a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that put the client’s concerns to rest for the remainder of the year.
   Homeowners benefit from healthy, and therefore more beautiful, long-lasting
plants with the Green Guard IPM program, a systematic approach of diagnostic
check-ups and prescription pest control.
   Throughout the growing season, trained IPM specialists inspect the landscape,
checking for problems and applying treatments where necessary. Regular
monitoring ensures that small problems stay small.
   An integrated, year-round approach to pest management is the most effective
way to reduce pest damage. Also, our programs are designed to support the
plants’ natural ability to resist certain insect and disease pests.
   Green Guard uses targeted spray treatments instead of blanket coverage
spraying. Less pesticides are used by treating only the plants that need it.
This can result in fewer serious insect infestations because the natural
predators of pests are able to survive and keep pests in check.
   Research shows that blanket applications of insecticides actually weaken the
plants. Pests plague weakened plants. Responding with even more pesticides that
further weakens the plants perpetuates a chemical dependency in your
landscape. Vigorous, healthy and beautiful plants attest to the success of the IPM approach.

Watch Out for That Falling Branch!
   On that same service call about the Japanese Beetles, Joe Hertzler’s trained
eye noticed a dangerously weak branch hanging directly over the deck. A tree crew was promptly dispatched to install a cable system that reinforced the unstable branch and neutralized the hazardous condition of that tree. The crew took this opportunity to prune several other trees that needed attention to maintain their health and safety.
   With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake — not to mention the
integrity and appearance of your property — the certified arborists with Green
Guard help you make sure you understand what really needs to be done, if
anything.
   It is generally recommended that mature trees be inspected each year.
The most common misconception is that trees take care of themselves. The
truth is that most trees in yards across America are growing in somewhat
unnatural environments, and often can use help to survive and flourish.
   Green Guard clients rely upon Michael Harbin, Green Guard’s Tree
Division Manager, who is a certified arborist with a master’s degree in
forestry. He brings over 20 years of forestry experience to the tree-related
needs of Green Guard customers.
   Caring for mature trees often involves special equipment, techniques, and
trained people. Green Guard has professionals with the knowledge, training,
skills, experience, and equipment necessary to properly care for your trees.

Before Trees Mysteriously Die
   Additionally, Joe recommended treatments that can help the large trees recover from the recent stress of house construction.He explained that for 75% of newly built homes, valuable trees ‘mysteriously’ die from 2 to 5 years after construction. Too late, the homeowner realizes the impact — and expense — of construction damage on their trees.Visible symptoms of construction damage to your trees may take years to appear. Because of this delay, homeowners often attribute tree losses to other causes.
   Trees can be damaged or killed by a wide variety of construction activities.
Some are obvious injuries, such as broken branches or torn bark. But trees
normally adapt to such injuries. The unnatural problems remain hidden below ground with the most vital part of the tree: the roots.
   Bulldozers, excavations, grade changes, concrete wash, utility trenches, and
other common building practices can cause problems to a root system that is
beyond a tree’s ability to repair naturally. Even minor damage can slow a tree’s
growth and weaken its resistance to potential killers, such as insects, disease,
and weather-related stress.
   Did you realize that roots are shallow? And far spreading? 90% of a tree’s roots are in the top 18 inches of soil. And they typically spread as far out as the height of the tree. With this understanding, you realize that a utility line trench running next to a tree cuts off 40% of a tree’s root system. That hurts!
   The treatments that Joe offered for this client won’t help in a case where
40% of a trees roots are lost. But the fertilizer and mycorrhizae will assist the a declining trees in their recovery process.
   Mycorrhizae are a beneficial fungus that is an essential part of tree health
that is often depleted in urban soils. The fungus can extend several feet from the plants roots, acting like a secondary feeder root system, to greatly increase the root system’s intake capability of water and nutrients. Inoculating the root system with mycorrhizae is an important prescription for saving trees in decline or improving the health of trees.
   Joe always reminds homeowners of this main point: If your trees and shrubs are kept healthy, they will be able to maintain an adequate defense against most insects and disease problems and better resist storm damage. A recommended yearly inspection can help identify and save many suffering trees before it’s too late.

A Satisfied Customer —Guaranteed!
   Protect your landscape investment with the help of Green Guard
professionals.You will benefit from the latest research and technology for the most
beautiful and healthy landscapes. It’s our mission!Our tree, shrub, and lawn care specialists take pride in serving you with their knowledge, experience and training. Green Guard offers Certified Arborists with the International Society of Arboriculture, as well as active memberships with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, the National Arborist Association, and the Virginia Urban Forest Council.