Kane Landscapes

Crabgrass Already?

2012-03-07T12:20:00.002-08:00

The unusually warm winter had its perks, but it will likely cause one problem in lawns across the area; namely, CRABGRASS. Usually, we do not see the first seeds of crabgrass germinate until late March or early April when soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees. However, our managers have already spotted crabgrass in lawns of homeowners that have requested estimates from us.

So what is crabgrass? This weed gets its name because it grows from a central root low across the ground, resembling a crab. It is a warm season annual weed that reproduces quickly in hot, dry conditions. Unfortunately, even a cold winter cannot kill this weed. Before the actual weed dies in the fall it distributes thousands of seeds which germinate in the spring. That is why it is so important to maintain a healthy lawn and have a prevention plan.

Prevention and Maintenance

· Set a higher mowing height. This allows the grasses to shade and prevent the germination of crabgrass seeds.

· Water lawns deeply and less frequently to strengthen grass and discourage weeds. Water the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches. This usually requires the equivalent of 1/2-1 inch of rainfall.

· Have a lawn care program that includes at least two applications of pre-emergent in the spring to kill crabgrass seedlings as they germinate (Note: If you choose spread seed in your lawn during the spring you cannot use pre-emergent as it will kill the seed. Instead use Tupersan which will not damage grass seed).

· Fertilize your grass with slow releasing fertilizers and, better yet, compro. Remember, maintaining a healthy lawn is the best way to prevent all types of weeds.

Kane Landscapes’ 6-step lawn care program includes the pre-emergent applications, fertilizer, and spot treatments necessary to supress weeds and maintain a healthy lawn. Please contact us if you would like us to design a lawn care program to keep your lawn healthy all year long.

Habitat for Humanity Masquerade Ball

2012-03-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

On March 3, 2012 Loudoun Habitat for Humanity previewed Mardi Gras locally with a gala fundraising event to support its ongoing efforts to continue to build more homes for those in need within the county. The event was a combination masquerade ball and silent auction held at the River Creek Country Club located in Leesburg.

Kane Landscapes has contributed to Loudoun Habitat for Humanity over the past five years and showed continued support at the masquerade ball with a $1,000 donation. "There is an increasing need for affordable housing options within the county, and we want to do our part to address this important community issue" stated Josh Kane, President of Kane Landscapes.

The event was a huge success with an evening full of dinner, dancing, games, and fun. To see a list of other contributors to the event or to find out how you can help, visit Loudoun Habitat's website at http://www.loudounhabitat.org/

Mulch Volcanoes

2012-02-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Spring is the air and so is the smell of newly laid mulch. In many yards and landscape beds you will see mulch that was haphazardly piled into mounds around tree trunks, creating what many call “mulch volcanoes.” Many people, and companies, feel the more mulch the better and as a result, they are harming and in some cases, slowly killing these trees.

It is important to note that mulch has its values, including its ability to retain soil moisture during times of drought, moderate temperature in during extreme temperatures associated with winter and summer, and suppress weeds. However, the value is lost when the mulch is misapplied, or over-applied as is the case with “mulch volcanoes.” Mounding mulch against tree trunks causes existing surface roots to suffocate and new roots to grow into the mulch instead of the soil, which leaves them at risk of drying and dying once the mulch decays. In addition, mulch volcanoes soften the bark of young trees, and invite insects, rodents, and disease to invade the tree.

Kane Landscapes’ crews are trained to properly apply the correct amount of mulch so that it is beneficial to your trees and plants. If you are interested in our Fall Mulching service to keep your plants and trees safe this winter, please contact us for an estimate.

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce

2012-02-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

Kane Landscapes is proud to announce its membership with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1968, the Loudoun County Chamber has grown to become the largest Chamber of Commerce in Northern Virginia. Our more than 1,200 members form the premier network of businesses and community leaders in the nation’s most economically vibrant and fastest growing counties. Northern Virginia’s finest businesses are Loudoun County Chamber members because they need the finest networking, marketing, information and leadership opportunities in this very competitive market.

As members of the Chamber, we come in contact with the best businesses and contractors in the area, meaning we can provide our customers with dependable referrals. Whether you are looking for an accountant, plumber, electrician, mortgage lender, insurance agent, etc.. we can steer you in the right direction.

Kane Landscapes Advisory Board Meeting

2012-01-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

On January 6, 2012, Kane Landscapes, Inc. held it's 8th semi-annual Advisory Board Meeting at Dolce Vita Restaurant in Fairfax, VA. The Advisory Board was established in January, 2008 in order to help Kane's owners and management establish long and short term goals, develop practical solutions to problems, and to advise us on complex decisions. We are fortunate to have many well established and prestigious business professionals on our Board including:

Jason Cupp - Growth Consultant; Former President of PLANET

John Kane - Precise Systems; Long-time Kane Customer

Jim Rice - Attorney, Principal of Brody Wilkinson, PC
John Ryan - President of the Center for Creative Leadership; Former USNA Superintendent

Russ Stube - CPA, is the managing shareholder of Bailey, Stube & Glaser; Long-time Kane Customer

Marcus Vandevliet - Consultant and Founder of MV Enterprises

At the most recent Advisory Board Meeting Kane's owners, board members, and management team discussed the most critical elements of our business including, customer service and retention, employee development and retention, and our financial performance and budget for 2012. In addition, we discussed our company vision and 5 year strategic plan.

The owner's of Kane Landscapes gained insight, advice, and expertise from our established board members and management team. We would like to thank each board member for taking their personal time to help improve our company. And we would like to thank our management team for their dedication and commitment to meeting our goals.

The Gift of Giving

2011-12-21T06:13:00.000-08:00

At Kane Landscapes we are always looking for ways we can help give back to the community and help those less fortunate. What better time to give back then during the Holiday season?

This year, instead of sending Holiday Cards to our customers to show our appreciation, we have decided to give the gift of giving. Our Daily Bread is a volunteer-based organization that focuses on easing the plight of low income residents in Fairfax County. Through their Holiday Program, Kane Landscapes has "Adopted" a family of seven in Falls Church and provided the parents and children with gifts, clothing, household needs, and a Holiday meal.

On Saturday, December 17th, Kane's Managers personally delivered the truck load of gifts to the family. It was such a wonderful and eye opening experience to be able to help this gracious family. We would like to thank our employees and customers for their support in making this possible.

If your family, friends, business, or other organization you belong to is interested in sponsoring a family, donating money, or donating a meal please visit ODB’s website at http://www.odbfairfax.org/. There are more than 2,000 local families on their list this year in need of assistance that will otherwise not be able to afford gifts and food for the Holidays.

Amanda Hamilton, Landscape Industry Certified Technician

2011-10-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Kane Landscapes is proud to announce that Amanda Hamilton, Designer, has officially passed the Landscape Industry Certified Technician-Exterior test. The Landscape Industry Certified Technician Test is a national, hands-on testing program administered by the Landscape Contractors Association (LCA). It recognizes proficiency in the landscape workforce, upgrades the status of the landscape professional, and provides the public with a means of identifying qualified landscape professionals.

Amanda is now among an elite group of landscape professionals, including Josh Kane, Head Designer, who have earned the designation of Landscape Industry Certified Technician. Congratulations to Amanda for proving her ability and dedication to the industry. We are so proud to have her on board at Kane Landscapes. She is a both a talented designer and hardworking, team player.

Kane Wins LCA 2011 Excellence in Landscapes Award

2011-10-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

Before

October 4, Sterling: Kane Landscapes, Inc. is proud to announce that we recently received an award for our entry into the 2011 Excellence in Landscape Awards by the Landscape Contractors Association (LCA). Kane will be receiving a Distinction Award at LCA’s Awards Ceremony on November 16th in the category of Outdoor Living Area for a recently completed project in Grenata Preserve in Leesburg, VA.

After

Dania Kagan, homeowner and long time Kane customer commented, "Josh Kane had a vision for our backyard that made it both functional and beautiful. The attention to detail, the professional crew and the quality of the plantings all helped make working with Kane Landscapes a wonderful experience. Over the past few years we have used them on several projects and are never disappointed. Josh is a truly gifted landscape designer."

After

The backyard of the Kagan residence appeared to be a perfect blank canvas. With almost three acres of open grass area behind the home, there was room to fit in all the client’s wishes. An initial design was created that gave the client everything they desired for this backyard retreat. A large “lagoon” style pool with natural boulder waterfalls, a gas fireplace near the large hot-tub, and a private patio area off the entrance to the basement where the kids can hang out. The outdoor living area connects to the driveway by way of a natural stone pathway. There are two other stone pathways leading from the outdoor room to the pool deck, and from the pool deck to the small patio area for the kids. Along with the lush plantings, a low voltage system, drip irrigation system, and a colorful Mexican tile fountain were also installed.

Giving Back Through Landscape Design

2011-09-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

On September 17, the Loudoun Chapter of Habitat for Humanity held its annual barn dance and auction. The event featured both live and silent auctions, dinner and drinks, a live band, and dancing. Kane Landscapes participated in the event by donating a master landscape design to the highest bidder. The proceeds of $750 will go towards the organizations many projects, including the current new construction under way for two homes located on the outskirts of Middleburg, as well as the purchase of land for new homes.

On September 21, a representative from Kane Landscapes attended Autism in the Office, a networking event and fundraiser geared towards educating business owners and professionals about Autism in the workplace. All the proceeds from the event went to the Autism Society of Northern Virginia. Kane Landscapes again donated a professional landscape design valued at $750 to the winner of the drawing.

Kane Landscapes has shown its commitment to giving back to the community through its continual donations of time and money to local public schools, Habitat for Humanity, and other charitable organizations. We believe strongly in supporting the communities which have supported our employees and company for so many years.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, the Old Man is…..Sopping Up Water in His Flooded Basement with All the Towels He Can Find!

2011-09-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

With the recent rains, many people are noticing they have drainage problems with their yards or worse inside their homes. We all know someone who called their insurance company after their basement had flooded only to find out that the Homeowners Policy doesn’t cover floods. If you were one of the lucky homeowners that did not have damage from the first set of rain storms last week, brace yourselves. We have more rain on the way. There are, however, some simple things you can do to avoid these expensive repairs to your home. The first step is to take a look around your home’s foundation and yard. Here are a few common items to look for:

Check your downspouts:

Do they let out right by your house? If so, the water may not easily flow away and could seep down against your basement walls, possibly making its way inside. Hopefully, if the water does get inside, your sump pump will push it back outside. But, what happens if that sump line also dumps the water out by the foundation? Then the cycle happens all over again. It is only a matter of time until the pump burns out, and you find yourself ankle deep in water.
Are all drainage lines (e.g. the black piping or stone river beds) installed properly with the correct slope away from your house? Make sure the water is let out in a safe area of the property that does not cause other issues or problems for you or your neighbor. The only thing worse than flooding your own basement, is flooding your neighbor's. It will make those neighborhood get-togethers a little awkward.
Are your downspouts buried? Then it is also important to check every few months to make sure the ends of the drain lines are letting water out properly and not blocked or grown over with grass or plants. You may need to call a professional to unblock downspouts that are buried.

Clean your gutters regularly:

Gutters should be cleaned in the spring and the fall and should be checked before substantial storms, like the storms on the way.
If you don’t want to worry about the recurring costs or scheduling issues, have gutter covers installed. These prevent most debris from flowing into the gutter system and blocking the downspouts. Gutter covers also prevent countless trips to the emergency room for all those "do-it-yourselfers" who decide to clean their own gutters.

Check your hardscapes:

Does your driveway or patio slope back towards your house? If so, you either hired the wrong contractor, or you are one of those previously mentioned "do-it-yourselfers." It is best to have this fixed by a professional as soon as possible.
Do you have a "sunken" garage? Make sure there is a large “strip” drain across the driveway that is capable of catching ALL the water even during a torrential rain. Then, make sure the strip drain endind is clear and able to let the water out away from your home.

Check your landscape beds:

Do your landscape beds slope away from your home? A good rule of thumb is to have a 5 to 10 foot slope from your home's foundation that drops at least 5 inches. Many times the dirt around a new home’s foundation will settle over the first few years. Make sure to add soil, if needed, to keep a positive slope away from the foundation.

Check all sunken window wells and basement staircases:

Do you have sunken window wells or basement stairs? If so, clean out the bottom of window wells and staircase drains regularly - especially in the fall. If possible, cover your window well with plastic covers, or, at a minimum, ensure the drain at the bottom is working properly. These areas are the most common location for water to enter into homes.

Check your Homeowners Insurance:

Does it cover floods? Probably not. If you have any of the above risk factors (and do not plan on fixing them) or have had your home flood before, you may want to look into purchasing a separate Flood Insurance policy.

If you have questions or concerns with the drainage around your home make sure to call a licensed, professional contractor (preferably Kane Landscapes, Inc.) that has experience with these types of problems. Water issues can be tricky; the only thing worse than having your home flooded is having it happen again.

A Time for Planting

2011-09-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

In late March, early April we all see our neighbors reappear from winter hibernation. We see them taking walks with their dogs, riding bikes with their kids, and wearing shorts before they have had a chance to hit the tanning salon. We also see our neighbors planting vegetables, plants and flowers in their garden. Perhaps they are just looking to spend more time outdoors, or perhaps they believe, like so many people do, that spring is the best time for planting. After all, doesn't the emergence of leaves on trees, the sound of baby birds chirping, and the smell of pollen in the air all signal life and growth (and a serious allergy attack)?

Actually, fall is the ideal time to install perennials, evergreens, and deciduous trees and shrubs. In the metropolitan area, fall would be defined as September, October, and even early November or at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes. When plants are installed in the fall, the warm soil from the summer encourages root growth and these roots continue to grow through the winter until the ground freezes. Then, in the spring these plants have an early start because they will have a well-established root system. By the time summer arrives, these plants are better equipped to deal with heat and drought. Plants that are installed in the spring get a slower start due to cooler soils and are not as well equipped to deal with the summer climate. In addition, plants installed in the fall have more dependable rainfall (as we have witnessed these past few weeks), cooler temperatures, and less diseases and insect infestations.

If you are thinking about adding plants to enhance your landscape, contact Kane Landscapes today so we can provide you with a landscape plan and prepare for installation in September and October. By next spring you will recognize the difference this investment has made in your home’s appeal. Instead of planting your landscape, you can sit back and enjoy it.

Aeration, Seeding & "Poop"

2011-09-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

Last fall, my sister's family came for a visit; and as my nephew walked through the front door, he yelled, "There's poop in your grass!" I immediately thought one of our neighbors had failed to clean up after their dog. However, when I asked my nephew, "Where?" he enthusiastically exclaimed, "Everywhere!" I started to get really mad at my countless inconsiderate neighbors, until my husband explained that my nephew was referring to the grass and soil plugs left behind by the aerator.

So, why do so many lawn-conscientious homeowners have "poop" in their lawn every fall? Core aeration alleviates soil compaction, allows more water and oxygen to the roots zone, provides more room for grass roots to grow, and creates a cool damp place for seed to germinate. Core aeration is most beneficial for cool season grasses (most common to Northern Virginia) when done in September or October along with over-seeding and applying fertilizer. If you are a customer of Kane Landscapes and have signed up for the Lawn Care package, these service will be provided to you. Just remember to water your lawn before and after the services are performed to help the seed germinate. We recommend watering your lawn 2-3 times per week at least one week before and three weeks after your service. Please call our office for your scheduled visit date.

Speaking of "poop", top dressing your lawn with Orgrow is the most effective treatment to establish a thick, green lawn. If your own dogs have done damage to your yard or the summer heat and drought have left your grass in need of some serious TLC, applying a thin layer of Orgrow will go a long way in repairing damage. Orgrow is a 100% organic soil media containing a tremendous amount of naturally occurring nitrogen (including manure, A.K.A. cow poop), which is what makes the grass so green. Top dressing your lawn is extremely beneficial because it improves soil composition, reduces soil born diseases, improves water holding capacity, and reduces thatch. In addition, it breaks down over an extended period of time, keeping your lawn healthy throughout the year.

Besides the aforementioned "poop" related services, Kane Landscapes also provides several other lawn renovation services geared towards repairing summer damage, preparing the grass roots for the winter, and maintaining healthy grass throughout the season, including: power seeding, dethatching, applying fall fertilizer (non-poop based), and weed control. Better yet, Kane Landscapes can provide a full-year, customized Lawn Care Program to make your lawn and landscape the envy of your neighbors.