The Many Different Ways to Connect with ProQual

We are excited to announce a number of new ways that Proqual Landscaping is expanding in the exciting world of Social Media. In the last couple of weeks we have launched an enhanced Facebook page, a newly designed Twitter profile, arrived on the hot new thing that is Pinterest and expanded our company LinkedIn profile. This is just the beginning of many efforts designed to let you know what's going on here at ProQual and to make it easier for you to get in touch with us and give us any feedback you have on our services.

Facebook

As the number one Social Network worldwide we know many of you are using Facebook to stay in touch with friends and businesses. On our new page you will be able to stay up to date with new services we offer, check out our photo albums and learn about the amazing plant life we have here in Arizona. 

Twitter

What can you say in 140 characters? A surprising amount! ProQual is on Twitter to let you know what we are doing and where we are doing it, but we also use it to be an active member of our communities here in the valley. We love living here and appreciate our amazing weather (OK, we will forget about July and August!), great sports teams and all round awesome outdoor lifestyle. On our Twitter profile you will be as likely to see tips for managing your own desert landscaping to seeing the latest Cardinals score!

Pinterest

WOW, talk about the new kid on the Social Media block! In January 2012, comScore reported the site had 11.7 million unique users, making it the fastest site in history to break through the 10 million unique visitor mark! Now ProQual has arrived on Pinterest to share the best of the web with you. So what will you find on our boards? Well, we hope it's more than just pretty photos. We are building a profile on Pinterest to become a useful tool for you to get ideas for your backyards, see the best of Arizona and even have a smile or two :-).

LinkedIn

Some people call it Facebook for business. Others have named it the most important networking tool of the 21st century. We have found it to be a great way to connect with our existing clients and potential clients, as well as using the website as a way for people to easily learn more about ProQual through our LinkedIn company profile. We are working to get all the profiles of our key staff optimized so that whomever you meet from our company you can connect with them on LinkedIn.

Instagram

OK, so I think we saved our favorite until last. We LOVE Instagram! If you are not familiar with the photo sharing service that is designed for use on smartphones then we encourage you to download the app ASAP. Instagram allows us to be anywhere, on a job, at an event or even hiking Camelback Mountain and take a picture that we can instantly share. This app is truly designed to show off the beautiful landscaping work we do for our clients as well as the amazing views we see every day here in the valley. You can follow us by searching @proqual on Instagram. 

Which social media platform do you use the most? Let us know your @handle in a comment below!

Protecting Plants From Freezing in Phoenix AZ...

It's finally the time of year when you might see frost in Arizona. When temperatures drop to 32 degrees or cooler, you'll need to protect plants around your property. Here are a few simple tips to help prevent frost damage in Arizona and keep your plants healthy:

Landscape plants
Use bedsheets or frost cloth to cover frost-tender plants such as bougainvillea, celosia, ficus, hibiscus, Mexican fan palm, red bird of paradise and sweet acacia.

Fruits and vegetables
Cover with a bedsheet or frost cloth.

Herbs
Bring container plants closer to the house or cover plants with a sheet or frost cloth. Frost-tender herbs to cover when frost is in the forecast: anise, basil, bay trees, scented geraniums, lavender, lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon verbena, marjoram, nasturtiums, Cuban oregano, oregano, rosemary, thyme, peppers and chiles.

Fruit and nut trees
Cover the tree overnight with a sheet or blanket that reaches to the ground. Uncover after sunrise.
Loosely wrap the trunks of young citrus and other cold-tender trees. These wrappings - towel, blanket, cardboard or frost cloth - may be left on during the frost season.

Cactus
Use foam or plastic cups or cardboard boxes to protect the tips of columnar cactus or bloom stalks on agaves and aloes.

IMPORTANT! Plants damaged from frost? Do not prune damaged areas until the plant begins growing in the spring.

If you have a commercial property in Arizona that needs landscape maintenance, contact ProQualLandscaping.com to schedule an appointment and learn how to protect your valuable lanscape assets with the care of an Arizona Certified Arborist and landscape professional.

Frost Damaged Plants in Arizona...

As I’m sure you’re aware, the cold weather is upon. Bitter nighttime temperatures have everyone huddling around heaters, outdoor fireplaces, or staying inside to keep warm. In the outlying areas of the Valley, some even have had to scrape frost from their windshields before heading off to work.

With an Arizona freeze, also comes the unsightly frost damage to many of our native desert plants. No longer do we see the bright Yellows, Reds, Greens, and Oranges, of our landscapes. Instead, we see browned out remnants of our once beautiful plants. While this is an ugly occurrence, frost damage is a normal process for our Arizona plants and landscapes.

Below are a few pictures of plants typically hit the hardest by Arizona frost:

Bougainvillea - Cape Honeysuckle - Gold Mound Lantana

 

Frost damaged Ficus in Phoenix Arizona

Arizona trees are no exception to the frosts ability to strike. At the left is a picture of a large ficus tree in Phoenix damaged by our nighttime freeze.

While there is a sense of cleanliness to trimming off this burnt, deathly looking material from the plants, it is NOT recommended. The dead plant material, surrounding the inner portion of the plant, acts as a blanket keeping the plant warm throughout the remaining threats of frost.

If trimming must be done, a light trimming of the outer 20% of the plant may be done to keep the plant in an aesthetically pleasing shape. Cutting more than this recommended 20% may cause injury to the interior, not yet frozen or damaged, portion of the plants energy system.

Once the threat of frost in Arizona has passed (typically around February 14th), pruning back plants can be done with relative success. This will be the time to trim off any frost damaged portions of our plants like Lantanas, Bougainvilleas, Oleanders, Honeysuckles, or Natal Plums. It is important to remember that once the plant has been trimmed back, the built up bio-matter trapped around the base of the plant must be removed as well. This bio-mass of decomposing plant material limits the amount of oxygen the plant uses for respiration. Removing it will help with nutrient uptake, the natural cooling process of the leaves, and strength of the roots. Be careful not to damage the base of the plant when removing the decomposing material as the outer layer of the plant in this area is very sensitive.

After frost pruning has been completed, a light application of a balanced slow-release fertilizer is recommended. 6-20-20 is what we use. This can be purchased at your local nursery, as they can help explain the proper rates at which to apply the product.

With a little patience and timely Arizona landscape management practices, the beauty will soon return to our Native Arizona plants. The smell of spring will be enhanced by the fragrance from our flowers and trees as they recover, naturally, from the long and cold winter months. Soon, spring will be here…

Have a great and safe New Year!

Scott Cosgrove  ISA Certified Arborist in Arizona, CLP, CDLP, ACPA, CTM
ProQual Landscaping

Arizona Storm Damage Trees and Landscaping

Repair or Replace Trees in Arizona

Arizona its fair share of both summer monsoon and winter storms that damage trees.  Once power is restored after a storm and the clean up process starts, land and homeowners can begin to assess damage to their Arizona landscape trees. In the case of simple ornamental trees, cleanup and tree trimming doesn't have to be done immediately unless life or property are threatened.

Arizona landscape storm damage to trees can range from relatively minor damage with only the smallest branches being injured to splitting of the trunk and uprooting of the tree.  While minor injuries seldom result in permanent damage to the tree severe injuries can increase a tree's susceptibility to insect and disease attack ultimately killing the tree. Damage to landscape trees should therefore be properly treated and repaired by a Certified Arborist to maintain the health of the tree. All serious tree damage should be treated by a tree specialist. A tree specialist should treat other more serious damage especially if extensive bracing, cabling of removal of large branches is required.  Never try to remove branches or trees from utility lines.  Let the Arizona tree care professionals at ProQual Landscaping do it.

Whether repairing a storm damaged tree or replacing the tree, please consult a tree care specialist before making your decision. This could save you thousands of dollars in the end. If you would rather remove the storm damaged tree, the professionals at ProQual have the equipment to quickly remove the tree and haul off the debris. Don't let just anyone with a chainsaw and a truck remove your landscape trees... ProQual does it right!

Save Your Valuable Trees in Arizona!

Trees are a lifetime investment and your most valuable landscape assets.  As with anything that is supposed to last a lifetime and is valuable, your trees should be continuously monitored and managed by professionals with the right credentials.  Arizona's finest Certified Arborists that are part of the ProQual Landscaping Team are dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology advancement, and the professional practice of managing trees in Arizona.  If  you need a Tree Doctor... give us a call at: 480-456-0608

A Certified Arborist Makes A Difference...

Our Certified Arborists are committed to providing the full range of tree management services to include:

•         Certified Arborist Supervised Tree Work
•         Evaluations for Trimming, Thinning & Crown Reduction
•         Assessments for Health & Deep Root Fertilization
•         GPS Mapping & Inventories
•         Tree Removals and Replacements
•         Comprehensive and Individualized Tree Budget Program
•  

Certified Arborist – Certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, these professionals are trained and tested in 10 areas of competency, are required to have 10 continuing education credits per year to maintain the certification and must retest and renew their certification every 3 years or they are no longer a Certified Arborist.  ProQual’s Certified Arborists use this comprehensive level of knowledge to develop tree care programs specific to the individual clients’ community and their trees.

Click here to learn more about professional tree care and landscaping services in Arizona.