Andy's Sprinkler Service

WATERLOO, Iowa — The sure signs of spring in the Cedar Valley have popped up. Among them: graders, shovels and cement mixers.

Another landscaping season has arrived.

Area landscaping companies say they have gotten a head start on the season, thanks to the unusually warm late winter.

“It’s been really busy,” said Ryan Adams, owner of Frontier Landscaping Lawn Care in Grundy Center. “With lawn care, the grass started growing two or three weeks ahead of usual. There’s always something going.”

Adams’ project roster is “about normal,” he said.

“I’ve bid a bunch of jobs; I’ve got five or 10 retaining walls lined up,” he said. “Every year, it seems the landscaping business is pretty strong.”

Adams, whose 6-year-old company has five employees, said his projects are mostly around Grundy Center, “A lot of work is retaining walls, with some edging and mulch beds,” he said. “Some are new grass or sod or fixing the bad spots. It’s a good mix; every job is different.”

Some companies throw some commercial business into their project mix. Waterloo-based Matthias Landscaping Inc., for example, has taken advantage of the warmup to work around the new amphitheater in downtown Waterloo, said Craig Gibleon, senior designer with Matthias.

“On the Riverfront Renaissance project, we’re doing all the landscaping and all the limestone block work and sodding and seeding areas,” Gibleon said, adding that the company also did some work on the other side of the Cedar River.

“We also have street restoration projects in Cedar Falls and Waterloo,” Gibleon said.

He added that landscaping has been “pretty consistent” business when other economic sectors lag.

“Even when the construction industry is down, people that aren’t building houses switch to remodels,” he said. “I know new house construction in the area is down, but a lot of people are adding patios, decks, fire pits and things like that. And commercial-wise, we run pretty much a gamut of commercial projects.”

Greg Hassman, owner of Cedar Falls-based Royal Turf Lawn Care, agreed that business opportunities have rolled along regardless of economic pressures.

“In my opinion, we haven’t seen a downturn,” he said.

The company, which has four employees on jobs every day, has a variety of commercial and residential clients, he said.

“I can get bigger if I want to; I’m not sure I want to,” he said. “All you do is pay more taxes.”

http://wcfcourier.com/business/local/landscapers-hit-season-in-full-stride/article_b0c81c89-3bed-573f-a2c3-3dfde2d8d205.html

Noel Oliu M.D., physician, 401 W. North Blvd., Leesburg, 34748.

D’angelo Inspections LLC, inspection services, 5401 Zinnia St., Leesburg, 34748.

SXJ Marketing LLC, marketing, 232 Boca Ciega Road, Mascotte, 34753.

Classic Unique Creations, retail, 8002 Cardinal Winds Lane, Mascotte, 34753.

The Puerto Rican King of Cuban Sandwich, restaurant, 856 W. Myers Blvd., Mascotte, 34753.

Stark Construction and Supply, construction, 17602 Fosgate Road, Montverde, 34756.

New Leaf Home Renovations LLC, renovation, 17635 Washington St., Winter Garden, 34787.

Top USA Gold Buyers LLC, jewelry, 10300 U.S. Highway 441, Suite 2, Leesburg, 34788.

Amazing Brow LLC, retail, 10401 U.S. Highway 441, Suite 242, Leesburg, 34788.

Amber Wilnau Health Fitness, fitness, 11321 Lakeview Drive, Leesburg, 34788.

Jaqueline Schneck Kristin Fleming Cleaning, cleaning, 11626 Fairmont Ave., Leesburg, 34788.

Total Solution PC Inc., professional associate, 33820 Silver Pine Drive, Leesburg, 34788.

Meritime Ventures, 35208 Silver Oak Drive, Leesburg, 34788.

Medical Ventures of America PLLC, professional associate, 8404 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, 34788.

Joan Di Martino A B C Support, service, 7309 Otter Creek Court, Yalaha, 34797.

Alpha Zone Ammo LLC, retail, 7435 County Road 48, Yalaha, 34797.

Orange

JA Construction Inc., construction, 1885 Lee Road, No. B, Orlando, 32810.

Osceola

ASW Law P.A., attorney, 1101 Miranda Lane, Suite 120, Kissimmee, 34741.

Skypro Trading, trading, 1965 S. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, 34741.

Epic Delights Bakery, bakery, 2 W. Monument Ave., Suite 203, Kissimmee, 34741.

Platon Painting, painting, 4111 Spitfire Ave., Kissimmee, 34741.

Pedro Gomez Car Wash, car wash, 830 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, 34741.

Rina Samnang Nail Tech, nail salon, 1257 W. Columbia Ave., Kissimmee, 34741.

Huong Xuan Nguyen Nails, nail salon, 1257 W. Columbia Ave., Kissimmee, 34741.

Mid Florida Staffing, staffing services, 2211 Clay St., Kissimmee, 34741.

Kissimmee Helicopters, service, 233 N. Hoagland Blvd., Kissimmee, 34741.

Rich Kidz Web Graphics, web page design, 1060 Plaza Drive, Suite F, Kissimmee, 34743.

Vinny’s Garage, auto repair, 851 Sawdust Trail, Kissimmee, 34744.

Blessing Transport, transport services, 1633 E. Vine St., Suite 217, Kissimmee, 34744.

Elijah’s Canvas Learning Center, instruction, 2242 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, 34744.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-20/business/os-newbiz-052112-20120520_1

Lake Macatawa is one of the most nutrient-rich lakes in the state, according to the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council’s Watershed Project.

That statistic isn’t a good thing. It means too much phosphorous, a nutrient found in common fertilizers that helps plants grow, is flowing through the Macatawa Watershed and into the lake and helping harmful algae to grow, too.

The Macatawa Watershed is 175 square miles and includes the cities of Holland and Zeeland and Park, Holland, Zeeland and Fillmore townships as well as parts of Laketown, Olive, Overisel, Georgetown, Port Sheldon and Blendon townships.

When phosphorous enters the watershed in these areas, it will boost the growth of algae and aquatic weeds, making it harder to swim, boat and fish.

Every year, area residents contribute thousands of pounds of phosphorus to the lake, according to the Macatawa Watershed.
One thing that will help is practicing watershed friendly lawn care maintenance.

5 things to know about watershed friendly lawn care:
1 Do a soil test: Soil test kits are available through the Michigan State University Extension offices for $20 and will show whether fertilizer is necessary for a lawn and which nutrients are needed for the health of the lawn.

2 Careful fertilizing: Purchase fertilizers with zero phosphorus in the mixture. Ottawa and Allegan counties have ordinances that limit the sale of phosphorus fertilizers. Bags of fertilizer have three numbers on them for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Look for a bag that has a middle number of “0.”

3 Buffer zones: Fertilizer should not be used within 10 to 25 feet of a waterway. Instead plant native grasses and shrubs along the waterway that will trap pollutants and discourage Canada geese from landing. Fertilizer should also be kept off paved surfaces, such as driveways and sidewalks, that can wash into storm drains. Many drain directly into area waterways. Sweep fertilizer from a paved surface back on the lawn.

4 Let it grow: Tall grass — 3 to 3.5 inches high — tolerates hot, dry conditions better and will have fewer weeds because it shades them out. It will reduce pests, such as crabgrass and insects also. Leave the clippings, it’s the best food for the grass and could mean no need for fertilizer. During the peak of the summer heat, a lawn should be moved once every two weeks.

5 Water responsibly: If mowed properly, a lawn might not need water at all. Even during the hot, dry, late summer, lawns should only receive 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week, preferably in the early morning before the hottest part of the day. It’s also better to water for short periods, such as 10 to 15 minutes, at a time. Too much water causes runoff into the watershed.

For more information on the Macatawa Watershed, or a list of watershed approved lawn care companies, contact Mary Fales at the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council at (616) 395-2688 or go to the-macc.org.
—Follow this reporter on Facebook and on Twitter @Sentinelnetty.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x624591120/Watershed-friendly-lawncare-5-things-to-know

PADUCAH — The National Weather Service declared drought conditions Thursday for much of the Local 6 area, with rain totals running almost nine inches below average for some of us since the beginning of the year.

That means less work and a smaller paycheck for people involved in lawn care, and a tougher time keeping those lawns green.

We caught up with area lawn care professionals to see how they’re handling the lull in work. Watch the video for more. If you’re viewing this page on our mobile app, head to the videos section.

http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/home/ticker/Dry-weather-drying-up-lawn-care-business-152100325.html

As he stands in 10-inch high grass and weeds, a West Des Moines man who bartered to make it easier for a couple to establish their lawn-care and landscaping company may regret his charity.

It was supposed to be a simple case of quid pro quo. The March 26 contact with a Des Moines couple stipulated that he would purchase a lawnmower and they would pay for it by mowing his lawn and taking care of other landscaping needs throughout the growing seasons both this year and next.

They’ve only been there three times since then and grass and weeds in his flower beds are 10 inches high, he and his attorney told West Des Moines Police last week.

The man’s attorney, Jon Hoffman, told Officer Gwen Fasano that his client had tried to contact the couple, but  got no response.

On May 9, the landscaper showed up at the man’s home and mowed the lawn. When Hoffman tried to serve the landscaper with notice that his client was suing him for breach of contract, the man “threw the paperwork back at Hoffman and shoved him out of the way, then loaded up the lawn mower and left, leaving the yard half mowed,” according to the police report.

Hoffman said he will mail the paperwork to the couple. He told Fasano he is concerned they are taking advantage of his client, who is 75, and “have no intentions of following the contract that was agreed upon.”

http://westdesmoines.patch.com/articles/as-grass-grows-under-his-feet-west-des-moines-man-may-regret-quid-pro-quo-deal