Arizona Muti-housing Association Trade Show | Landscape Company Booth

ProQual continues to support the AMA at their 2012 annual trade show in Phoenix AZ

ProQual alway has so much fun mingling with AMA members throughout the 2-Day event. Make sure to visit our booth at these events... you wont be disappointed.

This year ProQual gave away two flatscreen televisions to two lucky winners! You can't win if you don't come join the fun :)

See you at the next show...

Scott Needham shows off his
football muscles for the crowd

It's all fun and games until...

Xeriscape Series Part Six...

Turf Alternatives...

The variety of grass used on turf areas of you Xeriscape make a big difference when it comes to water consumption. There are many native grasses and hybrid grasses that have been specifically cultivated for turf lawns in warm regions. Some of these grasses can survive with only 25% of the water required for many other varieties. here in the low desert of Arizona, these warm season grasses are the greenest in June through September when night-time temperatures stay well above 70 degrees.

For the cooler months, October through April/May, the warm season grass will turn brown and have a straw-like appearance. It is best to scalp and over-seed turf areas with a variety of grass that will thrive in the lower temperatures of the cool season. Some bluegrass varieties specially cultivated for the cool season can also reduce water consumption by at least 30%. Using the appropriate grass, reducing the amount of grass, and regular maintenance can significantly reduce water requirements.

If you need to save money on your landscaping water usage... ProQual can develop a smart watering plan tailored specifically for your property. Give us a call at: 480-456-0608

Xeriscape Series Part Five...

Mulch is Important to Arizona Plants

Mulch does a lot more for plants than you might think. Using the proper mulch for the proper plants is really important.

In Arizona, we see the use of inorganic mulches such as rock or gravel quite often. While surrounding plants with these materials looks very natural with our Arizona desert landscaping themes, this practice should be limited. Surrounding plants with rocky material tends to retain heat and only very heat resistant plants should be considered.

On the other hand, organic mulches such as wood chips, tree bark, or sawdust actually help cool plants. These organic products should be applied 3-4 inches deep (not just visually covering the ground). This practice will keep the soil from crusting or compacting and will help prevent weed growth while minimizing evaporation.

There is a misconception that Xeriscaping eliminates the need for heavy mulch... this is not the case. The proper use of much will help soil beds retain moisture and plants thrive!

“It’s real simple… We have fun!”

Last week, ProQual Landscaping had its Manager’s Meeting at Octane Raceway in Phoenix Arizona. The Account and Division Managers got out on the track, were able to race each other and just had a great time. “It was awesome to see our lap times get better and better, each and every race,” says Account Manager Devin Shepard. “We all have a ton of fun together!”

ProQual Landscaping has brought on 16 new Landscape Management Communities so far this year. When asking Vice President Scott Needham, What’s the secret to your success? He said, “It’s real simple… We have fun, we work as a team and love what we do! We help each other out and really care about our customers. ProQual is a family company. We work hard to make each of our customers, part of our ProQual Family.”

That really showed out on the track, as the ProQual Team helped each other learn the best race lines and shared advice to help improve their lap times. It’s safe to say everyone had a great time and can’t wait to go back to show off their skills!

Check out some pictures of our night…

Xeriscape Series Part Four....

Appropriate Plant Zone and Soil

Different areas of your property receive different amounts of light, moisture and wind. Another way to minimize water waste is to group plants with similar light and water requirements together. You can then select the areas of your landscaping that match these requirements before planting.

It is important to place moderate-water-use plants in low-lying drainage areas, near downspouts, or in the shade of other plants. On the other hand, turf areas will require the most water while shrub/perennial beds will only require approximately half the amount of water. Let the dry, sunny areas support low-water-use plants that grow well in our Phoenix AZ climate. Don't forget to include a variety of plants with different heights, color and textures creates additional interest and beauty.

Are you thinking about using more xeriscaping to help reduce water consumption?
Call ProQual to get started with your xeriscape plan today - 480-456-0608

Arizona Xeriscape Series Part Three...

Irrigation Efficiency

Efficient water usage is especially important here in the Phoenix AZ area. Xeriscaping at it's very core is all about using drought resistant plants and trees that require very little water. When using an automated irrigation system, it is a good practice to water trees and plants deeply, but less frequent in order to develop the deep roots that enable dry climate plants to thrive.

When watering turf areas, make sure to only water at night and use proper sprinkler heads that produce large droplets closer to the ground. Watering during the heat of the day with a fine mist sprinkler pattern will allow for excessive evaporation and significantly reduce water efficiency. ProQual Landscaping offers the latest in smart watering technology with systems that can automatically detect weather changes and adjust your system accordingly.

Don't forget that when you take measures to reduce water consumption, you are also saving money on water utility expenses :)

Learn more at: ProQualLandscaping.com or call: 480-456-0608

Xeriscape Series Part Two...

Arizona Soil Preparation



Each type of plant requires a slightly different type of soil in order to thrive. Most Arizona soil is very heavy in clay and/or content and lacks natural fertilizing properties. Most plants will benefit from the use of compost and mulching to amend the hard soil. However, you might be surprised to learn that many of our Sonoran desert species actually prefer the hard, dense Arizona soil. In fact, some trees and plants thrive in gravely or rocky soil with very little water.




It is very important to choose plants and trees that fit the existing Arizona soil... or the soil needs to be amended to fit the desired plants. 





If you are ready for a more environmentally-friendly landscape that conserves water, call ProQual at 480-456-0608.

Great Job ProQual!

This morning we received an email from the supervisor of a project that we just completed. I am so proud of my staff... I had to share!

Good morning Scott,

Just wanted to thank you and your staff for going WAY above and beyond with your assistance in the Veramonte reclaimed water conversion project. I was the project manager for the conversion and the project’s success has a lot to do with your staff. I can’t say enough about how awesome Matt and Mike are, their knowledge, customer service, and willingness to help really made a positive impression with City staff. Yesterday we conducted the dye test to ensure that there were no irrigation leaks or cross connections, we completed the test in 3 hours. In previous tests at different properties, the same test has taken up to 4 days! ProQual’s property knowledge and irrigation knowledge proved to be an invaluable asset to the success of this project. Again, thank you for allowing Mike, Matt, and all of your staff the time and resources to make this conversion a success, I greatly appreciate it. I look forward to working with ProQual again! 

City of Surprise Public Works

CIP Project Manger

Xeriscape Series Part One...

Xeriscape Design & Planning

Xeriscape design in Arizona begins with a sketch of the property perimeter and all structures and hardscape elements that will remain intact. It is important to include driveways, patio areas, sidewalks etc. Then add any existing plants or trees that will remain after the xeriscape renovation.

Once the base plan of the existing property is complete, it is time to consider any major additions like screened areas, dog runs, park benches or pergolas etc. When sketching in aerial view, it is easy to overlook the elevation view and the desired curb appeal of the finished project.

The final planning step is to add areas for turf, perennial beds, views, screens, slopes etc. Xeriscape requires careful planning in regards to drainage in order to make the most what little rainfall we receive in the Phoenix AZ area. At this point, most of the bugs should be worked out so the plan can be drafted to scale and put into motion.

Considering a xeriscape renovation on your property? Call ProQual @ 480-456-0608

What is Xeriscaping…?

When you live in an arid part of the country like we do in Phoenix Arizona, you tend to hear the term “xeriscape” quite often. So, what is xeriscape and how does it differ from traditional landscaping? Quite simply, xeriscaping takes a drought-friendly approach to landscape in order to reduce water consumption in regions where the water supply may be a concern. Most xeriscape plans focus on using plants and trees native to the region that will flourish with little to no additional irrigation.

With many local municipalities contemplating potential water usage restrictions, it may be a great time to consider updating some areas of your Phoenix AZ landscaping to be more water efficient. ProQual has experienced Arizona Landscape Management Professionals on staff, including Arborists (Tree Specialist) and Horticulturists (Plant Specialists). They are uniquely qualified to handle hardscape and landscape upgrades using the xeriscape approach to modern landscaping in Arizona.

It is our goal to increase the value of your landscape by using sustainable landscape management practices tailored for our dry Arizona climate. Please follow our blog in the coming weeks as we complete a ten-part series on The Principles of Xeriscape in Arizona. Here is a preview of the brief articles to come:

Xeriscape Design & Planning
-       Arizona Soil Preparation
-       Irrigation Efficiency
-       Arizona’s Plant Zone
-       Tree & Plant Selection
-       Mulching in Arizona
-       Alternative Turf Solutions
-       Hardscapes in Arizona
-       Landscape/Xeriscape Maintenance
-       Drainage Considerations
-       Getting Started

Contact ProQual Landscaping at: 480-456-0608