Perennials That Pop

Now that summer is in full bloom, perennial gardens are starting to pop! This is the time perennial gardens take center stage with vibrant, long lasting flowers that can handle the summertime heat. The key to a perfect perennial garden is balancing color and size. The more colorful and vibrant your flowers are the more noticeable they will be. Truesdale Landscape Services can provide a perennial garden that will be planted with tender care and precision. Types of perennial gardens include: pool scape, patio scape, and every day scape garden that flourish during the summertime.

Poolside Perennials

The Hogan residence, pictured above, is a beautiful example of what a thriving poolside perennial garden should consist of:
Coreopsis Lilies
Ferns
Shasta Daisies
Salvia plants
Veronicas

The hydrangea bush adds a touch of elegance to the area as well. Not only is this family able to enjoy their beautiful pool during the summer days but they also get to enjoy the gorgeous blooming flowers and shrubs that are planted around it.

Every Day Perennial Gardens

Everyday perennial gardens can make a property look like something straight out of a magazine. The Dinizo residence has let their perennials transform the yard into a colorful oasis. Although in every perennial garden you want to have plants that are meant to flower for fall, spring and summer, summer is the time where perennial gardens start to really catch the eye. Some plants that endure the summertime climate very well are:
Shasta Daisies
Asiatic Lilies
Coreopsis Moonbeam
Enchinacea
Beebomb flowers

Blacked-eyed Susans and day lilies also are very common in summer perennial gardens. Truesdale master gardener, Linda Dinizo mixes catmint in with her flowers to spice up the garden. Perennial gardens can work with either shade or sun depending on the flowers. Whatever your preference, Truesdale can plant a garden that will bloom throughout the seasons!

Patio Perennials

The Delmauro residence showcases a patio perennial garden. When dealing with perennial gardens like this one, it is best to plant them in height order so that the tall plants are towards the back and the small flowering plants are in the front. For the best outcome, the flowers should be planted in clumps so that it’s an eye pop full of color. As you can see, this is a great way to create privacy and offer a warm secluded space to enjoy.

Truesdale offers a wide variety of perennials that can transform your property into your long awaited dream. We have advanced knowledge and expertise dealing with plants; we will make sure that you are satisfied along every step of the way. Our shrub and bed care program involves three yearly visits, one visit per season - spring, summer, and fall. Our crews will make sure your property is cut and cleaned to perfection. We are experts in perennial gardens and would love to give you a show off worthy property.
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July Customer Appreciation: New Providence Neighbors

July Customer Appreciation: New Providence Neighbors

Two of Truesdale’s new customers and neighbors Lisa Hora and Steffie Adams, live on a sleepy New Providence back road. This is a nice area but it's also a severe flood zone. These homeowners were especially at risk for water damage because they live on the downward end of a slope. After Truesdale installed their drainage systems, these two neighbors have yet to see any water accumulation, water damage or even wet spots.

The drainage system installed on the Hora property in early August 2011 also included an entire landscape installation, a new walkway with steps, a driveway and new plants. This was perfect timing because when hurricane Irene hit New Jersey in late August, just a few weeks later, she had no water issues. “I was so happy, for the first time since I moved here five years ago my basement was dry.” Lisa boasted.

Lisa’s hurricane triumph sparked the attention of her neighbor Steffie Adams. Adam’s called us when she noticed wet spots in the basement after hurricane Irene. We installed a drainage system that connects and diverts water from both homes to the storm drains on the street so these homeowners no longer have to worry about water damage. As an extra precaution, a second storm drain was also installed on the Adam’s property.

Adams and Hora receive weekly ground maintenance with shrub and bed care. In addition, the Hora property receives our agronomic services for the property’s trees, shrubs and lawn. These two Truesdale customers deserve recognition for trusting us and their loyalty this past year. We are happy to help them maintain their beautiful properties.

Protect your family and pets from fleas and ticks this summer!

Summer’s here and has brought a few unwelcome guests along. It looks like nature is getting an early start on flea and tick season this year, but that’s no reason to stay indoors. With the past winter being so mild, we may be expecting an over load of these pests throughout the summertime. Eliminating flea and tick infestations requires treating your home and your lawn with the proper products that only a licensed agronomic specialist can apply safely. With Truesdale’s guidance, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape and weather without the worry of these pests. Although fleas are not harmful to your lawn these miniscule creatures from the spider family can cause trouble everywhere else. Fleas cause health problems for humans and pets since they feed on the blood of mammals to survive. It is necessary that you take the precaution and rid your lawn and garden of fleas for the protection of your family and pets. Ticks are even more dangerous because they carry and transmit aggressive and life-threatening diseases such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They are not harmful to turf but are extremely harmful to any human or mammal they latch to as a food source. It is very hard to identify fleas, as well as ticks, so it is necessary that you take the precautionary steps when dealing with these types of bugs. Spraying for tick and flea prevention or treatment will allow you and your family to be safe and healthy while enjoying the nature of your back yard. A systematic approach of several applications is required to keep your property clear of an infestation. Only two or three applications will be needed to control these pests. Our agronomic specialist, Glenn Koleda, has expert advice and advanced knowledge of bug infestation. He can walk you through our different agronomics programs and help you select one that fits your needs and budget. So don’t let the summer bug you! Contact us today for a free lawn analysis and estimate.

Summer Agronomic Problems and Solutions

Summer is around the corner which means homeowners need to be aware and prepare for the problems they may face dealing with lawn care as well as the damaging heat that may harm trees and shrubs. Chinch Bugs and Grub Chinch bugs and Grub pests can destruct even the best lawn care program. Chinch bugs use sharp mouth parts to draw sap and insert toxins into the crowns and stems of grass plants causing extensive damage to your lawn. Chinch bug infestation is usually discovered when irregular patches of grass begin to turn yellow and then straw colored. Watering is not the solution to this problem. These patches will continue to become larger even if you are consistently watering. Damage normally occurs during the hotter, dryer weather from June into September. Usually, the best timing for chinch bug control treatment is in early June. Our lawn care specialist, Glenn Koleda, will recommend a program that integrates both curative chinch bug treatments and preventive measures in order to maintain maximum pest control in your lawn. Grub pests which reside and live under the grass may pose an even larger problem to a homeowner’s lawn. A Grub pest eats the roots of your grass which may cause you to not realize its presence until the grass starts to die. Results of grub damage will include dead grass, plants and flowers. Summer Heat The oncoming summer heat may be especially damaging to your tree and shrub layout causing the infestation of Spider Mites. Early detection is essential for spider mite control. The first sign of an infestation is the damage they do to leaves. This is usually seen first as a speckling or white dotted pattern on the leaves. Underneath these leaf dots will be mites that are barely seen with the naked eye. A magnifying glass may be a good investment when detecting this infesting insect. Bronzing, stippling and burning on the top side of leaves are signs of the presence of spider mites. Damaged leaves turn yellow, dry up and drop from the plant. Another method to detect Spider Mites is to hold a white sheet of paper under a plant and shake the plant. Mites will fall off onto the paper as tiny black dots. A single monthly treatment to prevent mite outbreaks is an easy solution to this problem! Lawn and Plant Fungus Powdery mildew, caused by the microsphaera alni fungus, usually starts on older lilac leaves around July. Although powdery mildew usually won't kill your lilac bushes, it can ruin their appearance and can reduce or stop next season's blooming. Conditions favorable to fungus development include: Warm and/or humid weather Too much shade Over fertilization Crowding Over-watering Not only are lilacs very susceptible to fungus throughout the summer days, Kentucky Bluegrass does not tolerate mildew as well. If your Kentucky Bluegrass lawn looks extraordinarily dry you may have a fungus problem. Watering the infected grass will end up agitating the lawn even more. An antifungal control is the best way to solve your fungus problem. Our lawn care expert, Glenn Koleda uses a broad spectrum fungus control that will leave your lawn beautiful and green throughout every season. It is not too late to apply an application which will act as a 21 day preventative or that can cure the plant altogether. It’s always best to prevent a problem - early detection will give you the upper hand when opposing this pest. Glenn Koleda has extensive training and knowledge that can take care of any of your problems. Call us today and we will be more than happy to work with you to get the best possible outcome for your lawn. Email or call us today.

June Customer Appreciation

June Customer Appreciation

Christine Bertoni sat on her perfectly arranged cast iron furniture petting her labradoodle, Cooper, while explaining to Kathryn and me her history as a Truesdale customer, which has been 18-20 years. She laughs as she explains to us that she’s known Ralph since before we were born. In fact, she has been a customer of Truesdale before we were even Truesdale. Christine has used Truesdale’s services on two different properties for so many years that we felt it necessary to thank her for her loyalty and offer her a gift as a token of our appreciation.

The Bertoni family spends a lot of time in the backyard enjoying the flagstone patio which is surrounded by a luscious lawn, flowering azaleas, and rhododendron bushes. It’s a perfect oasis, which Truesdale designed and installed last fall. The property includes an intricate drainage system which keeps the yard from flooding. “Ralph is crazy about water and does everything he can to keep it away. During hurricane Irene, we had no flooding issues!” boasts Christine.

When asked what she loves the most about Truesdale, Christine claims, “I love the turn around, how fast this company gets the job done.”

Ralph’s philosophy is simple: when his crew begins to work at a location, they will work from first thing in the morning well into the evening or even through weekends to complete the job. At Truesdale, we never spread ourselves thin with too many ongoing projects; this is the reason many customers have to wait for us to even begin our work. We can assure you, it’s worth the wait because we will give every customer and every project the time and attention it deserves. We will also work with dedication to complete any of our projects in a timely and professional manner.

Christine’s least favorite thing about Truesdale is explained with a chuckle. She yells, “The prices!” She then explains, “I am just kidding, this is much more than a lawn care service. Truesdale goes above and beyond. The level of expertise that comes with this company is why I completely trust whatever Ralph wants to do.”

Now that the landscape installation is complete the Bertoni property receives our three times a year shrub and bed program, our tree and shrub program and our annual applications of premium lawn care services. These services guarantee the property looks amazing. Truesdale is proud to have such a wonderful customer and we whole heartedly thank Christine for her business and loyalty over the years.

Plant, Insect and Disease Control

Spring is four weeks ahead of schedule and that could mean a potential pest infestation for homeowners – especially since the past winter was mild. Agronomic specialist Glenn Koleda is extremely concerned, he states, “I’ve already seen aphids and soft scale this year which means even more will hatch within the next few months.” Aphids, also known as plant lice are small sap sucking insects that cause curling, yellowing and leaf distortion. Soft scales remove sap from plants and cause yellowing of leaves and overall plant decline. Aphids and soft scale also produce sticky excrement which may grow a black sooty mold fungus. For protection against aphids, soft scale and other pests, Truesdale recommends an application of Insect and Disease Control. An I&D application is a 30-day preventative, as well as a solution to curtail pests that have already hatched. Delaying this application could result in such a severe infestation, trees and shrubs will need to be replaced. Another application recommended in May or June is a fungicide preventative to protect plants throughout the summer. All trees and shrubs are at risk of fungus during the hot humid months of July. A major fungus in our area this year will be cedar apple rust; which, presents as orange specks on the leave of crab apple trees. If left untreated the fungus will spread as soon as the environment is humid enough for it to thrive. Once this occurs, the crab apple tree will defoliate and this means in July the tree will have no leaves. This is just one example of thousands that could destroy your trees and shrubs. A fungicide application applied soon will offer protection now and throughout the hot humid month of July when fungus becomes a major issue for all trees and shrubs. Either of these applications can be applied within 10-15 minutes and they are safe for animals and children. If you have any questions about an existing condition or the Truesdale Tree & Shrub program, please call our office to make an appointment with our agronomic specialist, Glenn Koleda.

Promoting Education: The Truesdale Team Goes Back To School

Promoting Education: The Truesdale Team Goes Back To School Truesdale’s priority has always been providing superior service to our clients. We ensure our customers are getting the service they deserve by providing our staff the opportunity to receive an education and stay ahead of the industry curve. Throughout the year our crew attends seminars, workshops, classes, and trade conventions. This includes every member of the Truesdale team - office support, landscape crew, foremen and even Ralph Dinizo the company president. This winter we sent two of our up-and-comers, Kyle Gates and Carlos Martinez to The Rutgers School of Agriculture for a 12 week plant identification certification. The rigorous course covered ornamental trees, conifers, evergreens and shrubs, to name a few. At the seven week mark Kyle and Carlos were asked about the course. Kyle responded, “Because of this class I not only know how to identify even more trees based on the key ID feature overview, I also know the necessary environment every tree and shrub needs to thrive.” Carlos added, “Trees are like people, they have different hair, different skin and different needs. Now we have a greater understanding of both.” While taking this course, Kyle and Carlos, as well as other landscapers, attended the NJ Plant show, a one-day Tree Planting and Installation course at Rutgers and a Call Before You Dig safety seminar. The Rutgers course on tree planting was a one day overview of the maintenance and standard practices of tree, shrubs, and other woody plants. This included a comprehensive outline of installing, transplanting and excavating plants based on environmental factors. As well as, a guide to troubleshooting and diagnosing trees and shrubs that may be stressed or diseased. The NJ Plant Show was also a great learning experience for not only Kyle but foremen Andrew Lynch and Ray Merrill. The crew attended seminars, interfaced with vendors and even did some purchasing. Grace our marketing communication coordinator also got into the spirit of advancing when she attended the 10th Annual NJ Flower Show this past February. Truesdale has kept busy this winter and we are fully prepared for the upcoming season. Our crew has received a great education, our foremen have been training and even our office support has been immersed in trade knowledge. It doesn’t stop here, in March we’ll be sending the next wave of crewmembers back to Rutgers for pruning refresher courses. By advancing the knowledge of our team, we guarantee that our customers are dealing with professionals and experts in the field.