ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPE SERVICES

Frequency: 3 times per year (March, June, and September)

The recommended fertilization schedule is three times a year for maximum growth. Slower growing citrus needs less fertilizer than more vigorous varieties. Newly-planted trees should not be fertilized the first year because they are too easily burned. The recommendations on chemical citrus fertilizers bags are generally too high. To be safe, apply at half the rate recommended. Slow-release chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion can also be used and are less likely to burn. Slow-release fertilizer can be applied at the beginning of the growing season in March and once again in the middle of the growing season in early June, assuming a fertilizer has approximately a 4-month release period. Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion should be applied monthly during the growing season for maximum growth. Any one of these fertilizers can be applied less often and at lower rates. Citrus trees can go for years without fertilizers and be relatively healthy as long as they are watered correctly. Fertilizing will simply help a citrus tree grow better and produce more fruit. Goodman's has a comprehensive inventory of fertilizers and can create an appropriate fertilization schedule for your fruit trees to ensure that they stay as healthy and productive as possible.

Frequency: 2 to 3 times per year

The Queen Palm is the most misunderstood of all the Palm species in Arizona. These normally hearty Palms come from the sandy, tropical soils of the Gulf Coast and Brazil. They were chosen as a desert transplant because they are a non-aggressive rooter and can tolerate extreme heat. The problem is that they are a Tropical, rather than Desert Palm and require different nutrients to thrive. After several years in our soil, the lack of nutrients they would naturally absorb in their native soil becomes evident in their appearance. A well-formulated Palm fertilizer should contain all the minerals important to the health of Tropical Palms. This includes adequate amounts of nitrogen, magnesium, sulfur, iron, copper, and especially manganese. If your Queen Palms are looking stressed or a bit shabby, we recommend having deep root feeders installed and regular injections until health is restored. A 2- to 3-times-a-year application after recovery maintains health for most Queen Palms.

Note: Some Palms reach a point of deteriorated health from which recovery is not possible. Determining this point is not always possible, we've seen some "iffy" Palms recover while others continue to deteriorate in spite of treatment. In some cases, it may be more economical to remove and replace the sickly Palm.

Frequency: 9 times per year (January to June, September, and October)

The Arizona Rose Society recommends applying 90-day slow-release fertilizer granules such as Osmocote in March, June, and September. However, they do note that because of our heat, 90-day slow-release fertilizer really only lasts about 60 days, so a twice-a-month feeding cycle is preferred. The alternative is a 20-20-20 granular applied every 6 weeks at 1/2 the regular rate during summer months. Goodman's has a comprehensive inventory of fertilizers and can create an appropriate fertilization schedule for your rose bushes to ensure that they stay as healthy as possible.

Frequency: every other week

Annuals bloom best when they are fertilized on a regular basis. In the ground, every 2-3 weeks; in containers, every 10-14 days. Plants in containers do well with a time-release fertilizer. Goodman's has a comprehensive inventory of fertilizers and can create an appropriate fertilization schedule for your flowers to ensure that they stay as healthy as possible

Frequency: 4 times a year

This treatment program consists of 4 applications per year with Citrus and shrubs receiving an application of slow-release granular fertilizer, followed by a liquid soil conditioner to aid in the absorption of the nutrients. Queen Palms receive an application of all the minerals important to the health of tropical palms including adequate amounts of nitrogen, magnesium, sulfur, iron, copper, and manganese. Adhering to a regular fertilization schedule helps the semi-arid and non-arid adapted plants you have in our yards thrive in our harsh Arizona soils.

Frequency: 2 times a year

While herbicides cannot achieve 100% control, they are an integral part of a weed control management program which includes manual removal and spot treatment. Pre- and Post-Emergent Treatment helps keep the manual aspect of weed control at a manageable level. In order for this treatment to be effective, the weed needs to be above ground and have enough surface material to absorb the spray. A Pre-Emergent is included at no additional cost and helps prevent seedlings in the immediate area from sprouting. The herbicides used need to work into the root system before die back is visible. This process takes approximately 1 to 4 weeks, however, the weed can be removed after 7 to 10 days. Pre- and Post-Emergent Treatment is guaranteed for up to 6 months, and includes up to 1 warranty spray per 6-month period as long as a regular treatment schedule is followed (twice yearly treatment). Guarantee excludes emergence of Bermuda, rye grass overseed, or nut grass.

Frequency: 4 to 5 times a year in growing season, over a 2 to 3 years period

Currently, nut grass cannot be eliminated permanently, but it can be controlled from season to season with an aggressive treatment program. Nut grass, also known as Nutsedge, is one of the most difficult type of grasses to control. This is due to the method by which it propagates. Sedges spread through tubers, nuts, and rhizomes. They can be controlled with a scheduled program of herbicide applications during their active growing season: March through September. The recommended schedule is 4 to 5 applications during each season over a period of two to three seasons. The herbicide applied is systemic and moves through the ground. When applications are made, it kills the active parts of the plant above ground and stimulates dormant tubers to become active, allowing for more surface area to be treated at each application. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment will lessen the amount of seasons needed to bring it under control.

Frequency: 1 time a year (January or February)

Old-fashioned olive trees produce fruits in late summer through fall, dropping olives that are time consuming to pick up, attract rodents and other pests, and stain pathways and driveways. Yearly spraying suppresses olive fruit formation in late summer to fall. Treatment season begins in late January and continues through March. Advance reservations are required for this treatment. The earlier trees are treated within the specified time frame, making the treatment more effective.

Frequency: 1 or 2 times a year, or as needed

A plant can go from thriving to dead within a very short time span when grubs are present. In fact, it is quite common to find them still feeding as you are removing the dead plant material. Grubs will move from one plant to the next when left untreated. The presence of grubs in your landscape also tends to attract larger animals and pests such as birds, mice, rats, gophers, and skunks, to name a few. The damage caused by digging to find the grubs can injure or cause the demise of plants adjacent to the stressed/dying plant. Treatment consists of spraying susceptible plants (such as Agaves) with a systemic that kills the grubs. Treatment does not guarantee that plants may not have already been damaged beyond recovery.

Frequency: Weekly until gone

Whiteflies damage plants by sucking out plant juices. Because large amounts of sap can be removed, primarily by the developing nymphs, heavily-infested plants can be seriously weakened, grow poorly, or die. Leaves often turn yellow, appear dry, and drop prematurely. Also, because whiteflies suck out more plant juice than they can digest, the excess is excreted as a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew covers leaf surfaces and acts as a growth medium for a black, sooty mold. Both the removal of plant juices and the presence of the black, sooty mold growing on the honeydew can interfere with photosynthesis, causing, at minimum, an unsightly stressed plant and at maximum, a plant you'll need to replace.

Frequency: Weekly until gone

Spider mites are little red arachnids which exist throughout the United States. They are very small - smaller than a poppy seed - and many times are confused with clover mites or chiggers. Plants that have spider mite damage will have the mites themselves, web-like material on the bottom sides of plant leaves, bronzing of the plant stem, and leaves where activity is highest and in extreme cases, plant death. Unlike other mites, spider mites can reproduce quickly. Several cycles may be complete in one season. If conditions are good, they may go through all cycles in under a month. Their cycle includes egg, nymph, two molts of the nymph, and then adult. Since they don't migrate quickly, most populations will grow around each other, slowly moving outward as their population increases. The main part of their nest is usually where damage is most prevalent. Expect to find dead leaves and plant parts. Upon closer observation, you will see the mites feeding or slowly moving if you disturb them. Spider mite control should be implemented as soon as activity is diagnosed. This will prevent further damage and help to minimize treatments. However, spider mite control will almost always take several treatments. This is because the spray will not kill eggs. Consequently, eggs will be hatching following your first treatment. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment will mitigate damage and lessen the number of treatments needed.

Frequency: 1 time a year (September or October)

Warm season grasses, such as Bermuda or Bermuda Hybrids go dormant and turn brown when soil temperatures fall below 60° F. Living in Arizona, you can enjoy a green lawn all year round by overseeding your lawn with perennial Ryegrass seed. Temperatures should be around the mid-sixties at night on a consistent basis for good overseed weather. This usually occurs between mid-October to mid-November. Each year varies, so an exact date can not be provided. We do know from experience that installing your Winter lawn at the earliest opportunity, after weather conditions are right, results in the best looking and healthiest winter season lawns. Knowing ahead of time that you want a winter lawn will allow us to pre-plan and execute the installation efficiently and at the earliest opportunity. We send Estimates out to existing customers as early as late July/early August. Unless otherwise stated in the Estimate or Service Agreement, Winter Lawn Installations include the following items: Pre-programming of a seed germination watering schedule, scalping/thatching, seeding, fertilizing, mulch, lawn head check, and activation of pre-programmed watering schedule. If you are not an ongoing service customer and are interested in having us install your winter lawn, call us to put your name on our Winter Lawn List.

Frequency: Biannual (March and September)

The icing on the cake! There is little else in the plant world that makes a property POP! year round than a few colorful pots or planter beds of seasonal flowers. The Phoenix area has summer annuals which thrive in hotter months, and winter annuals which thrive through the colder months. We send Estimates out to existing customers as early as late July / early August. Unless otherwise stated in your Seasonal Flower Estimate, installation includes pick up, delivery, bed and/or pot preparation, layout, installation, starter fertilizer and setting your Irrigation Timer to water flower zones at a new install frequency to help establish rooting. If you have color or design preferences, our designer will be happy to discuss and accommodate whenever possible. If you are not an ongoing service customer and are interested in having us install Seasonal Flowers, call us to put your name on our Seasonal Flowers List.

Goodman's can develop ground level or raised bed gardens. We can select, install, irrigate, fertilize, maintain, AND leave you a basket of fresh vegetable or herbs at your doorstep as produce becomes available in the garden! Installation cost and maintenance of the garden will depend on how much work you and your family would like to do and how much you would like us to take care of.

Frequency: 1 time a year after seed pods emerge (June or July)

Trimming of Palm Trees includes removal of dead fronds, Palm flower, and fruit stalks. The formation of fruit and seed takes strength away from Palm Trees unnecessarily. When mature, fruits may provide food for pests such as rodents and birds. Palms, such as date Palm Trees, produce infertile (where there are no male trees nearby) or fertile fruit that will later drop making a mess or staining concrete surfaces. The seeds of some Palms such as Fan Palm Trees (Washingtonia robusta/filifera) will germinate in undesired areas of the landscape if not removed in a timely manner. Skinning of Palms is optional, but can be done at the same time at an additional cost per foot of skinning.

Frequency: 1 time a year (May, June or July)

In 2008, the National Weather Service decided to take the guesswork out of monsoon start and end dates. June 15 became the first day of monsoon and September 30 became the last day. During the monsoon season, Arizona experiences high winds, dust, and severe downpours that commonly result in flash floods and tree damage. Thinning out trees prior to monsoon season can help protect your trees from damage caused by high winds. Trimming does not guarantee that your tree will not sustain damage or be blown over. However, thinning of the canopy allows winds to more readily pass through the canopy decreasing chances of breakage or the tree falling over completely. Goodman's also offers after-storm clean ups.

Frequency: 2 times a year (January and September)

The Arizona Rose Society recommends pruning back rose bushes by one half in January, and by one third in September. The January pruning forces the rose bush into a short period of dormancy. Proper pruning includes removing all foliage on each bush (never re-use removed foliage as mulch), cutting out of all spindly or crossing branches, and removal of dead wood to open the center of the bush so the sun reach bud unions. In the 3rd or 4th week of September, roses should be pruned back by one third following the same directions as for January EXCEPT foliage is left on the bush.

Frequency: 1 time a year

Installation of frost protection materials for frost-sensitive plants in your landscape helps avoid severe cut back of plant material in the Spring or, at worst, removal of a plant damaged beyond rejuvenation. At the end of the season, you can store undamaged frost protection materials purchased for re-use the next year. For more information on frost damage in Arizona, we recommend that you download this. (If you are unable to download, please call our office. We’ll be happy to email you a copy of the publication, it's only 4 pages and is an easy informative read.)

If your plants do sustain frost damage, please be aware that Goodman's does NOT prune back frost damage until the plants begin growing again in the Spring, unless you specifically request us to do so. Pruning may stimulate new growth which would be vulnerable to late frosts. Additionally, the frost-damaged leaves and stems help trap warm air with the canopy. The damage is often not nearly as bad as it initially looks and new growth may come out of tissue that you thought was completely dead. The full picture of damage sustain can only be observed after new growth starts in the Spring.

Frequency: 1 time a year, or as needed

Wildfires are fed by dried grasses and flash fuels. Brush fire season typically starts in mid-April and continues through September. Those of us fortunate enough to live next to Desert Preserves, Natural Area Open Space (NAOS), or who have properties which include natural desert areas bordering landscaped areas, should be aware this privilege requires responsibility in protecting your property and family from wildfire damage. Defensible space helps protect your property. Homeowners should create a well-maintained, live vegetation zone to prevent damage to structures from wildfire. This defensible space acts as a fire break and should contain only small brush and ground cover to prevent a continuous path of flammable materials leading to inhabited structures.

The City Of Scottsdale Fire Department recommends the following guidelines in maintaining defensible space.

1. Maintain a 15ft zone around your home; remove perennial grasses and thin overgrown bushes; remove dead branches or branches touching the ground.
2. Remove dead vegetation that is down on the ground from an additional 15ft for maximum protection (30ft total).

The vegetation maintenance areas may be increased by the Fire Marshal up to 100-ft, based upon terrain, to provide an adequate defensible space. This would typically occur in hillside areas where fires can quickly spread upwards in addition to outwards and where the deployment of fire trucks and equipment might be difficult. Let Goodman's help you and the fire department protect your property from this natural hazard.