Posted by Jo Erickson on Wed, Nov 16, 2011 @ 08:07 AM
Green Holiday lighting isn't just for Christmas anymore! Green lighting, the movement—not the color, is becoming popular for all holidays, especially the energy-consuming Christmas season. The amount of power used during the holiday seasons is astronomical so using environmentally friendly lighting is super important and uber chic. The good news, in addition to it being the holiday season, is that going green is both easy and affordable these days.
Make the Switch to LEDs
The simplest, and biggest green improvement for your holiday lighting is making the switch from the old-school incandescent light bulbs to LEDs. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) use only 10% of the electricity sucked up by their incandescent counterparts. They have come down in price in recent years, just about matching that of incandescent AND will save you money in the long-run by saving you 90% of your holiday lighting bill. LED bulbs will last significantly longer than incandescent, giving you a full 100,000 hours.
Also, in addition to making your wallet happier, you can view your bright, showy lights with a clean conscience knowing that your lights are using less caustic materials like mercury and tungsten. Also, you can rest happily knowing that your holiday lights are safe for your family as they are cool to the touch and fire-safe, unlike their spark-causing alternatives.
If we haven't convinced you yet to upgrade to LEDs, here is the kicker: when one LED goes out, the rest of them stay lit! That's right, no more replacing every bulb in the chain to find out which one burned out.
Get Your Solar Panel On
Due to the low energy use of LEDs and CFLs they can be run from the power of solar panels—even in the winter with less daylight hours. While these require a small investment in the beginning, solar panels will pay for themselves time and time again—not just during the holidays either, they can be used year-round!
Timers
Timers are a great way to control the amount of power that is used because they set the time that your lights turn on and off automatically. Timers ensure that you don't fall asleep with your lights on or overuse them. Timers are also a great way to control your lights while you are away visiting your family during the holidays, a tactic that can scare away home robbers.
By making a few simple changes you can change your white Christmas to a green Christmas; a holiday season that will help save the environment and put a little more green back into your wallet. To greenify your holiday season simply install automatic timers to control your energy use, solar panels to cut down on the energy you buy, and replace incandescent lights with more-efficient LEDs. Make these three small changes and your holiday season will be bright, safe and efficient.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Mon, Nov 07, 2011 @ 12:58 PM
Posted by: Geoffrey Fornari, APLD
Most of October brought us unseasonably warm weather which I’m sure we all enjoyed and were thankful for. Then on Saturday October 29th, we were greeted with a nasty storm usually reserved for the dead of winter. Unfortunately Mother Nature’s timing was very poor. Most of us hadn’t even begun, never mind completed the gardener’s task of preparing our lawns, plants and masonry for the coming winter season. Even Mother Nature herself seemed conflicted as her deciduous trees hadn’t fully dropped all of their leaves. It was this combination of heavy wet snow on top of trees full of leaves that has left most of us in disbelief. Once the storm had passed most of us looked out over our gardens with feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment. For some it was over the hard earned money that was used to create our own little paradise. For others it meant a deep loss. A loss of a tree or trees that have been with us for many many years like a cherished pet. Others lamented that all of their planning and hard work to implement their dream garden design was in one day, crushed by a unique storm. For some of us though it meant a new challenge. A challenge for us to remain open minded and find the opportunity Mother Nature has presented us with. This destruction gives us the chance to begin anew and re-design the area or areas of our landscapes that were forever changed by that storm.
I lost a thirty year old Florida Dogwood (Cornusflorida) that anchored the front right corner of my home. This beautiful tree was split into four pieces and will now have to be removed. Once I dealt with the sadness of losing such a majestic tree, I began to think of all of the different ways I could re-landscape that corner of the garden. Will I replace it with another ornamental tree like a Prairie Fire Crab Apple (Malus ‘Prairie Fire’) or a Winter King Hawthorne (Creatagus viridis ‘Winter King’). Will I turn this corner from a shade garden into a sunny garden filled with long blooming colorful perennials mixed with ornamental grasses. Or will I simply replace it with a new Cornusflorida. This is the challenge I’m faced with. One that excites me! We all have our own challenges. There will be challenges that we can handle on our own and there will be some that will require us to reach out to those more qualified to help us with our choices. I think the important thing is to accept the inevitable change and embrace the opportunity to create something new. This event reminds us that a garden is a process of evolution. The scale, proportion and function of the hardscape and structure of a garden may last for a long time but the plants will always provide us with a new look and feel. The look and durability of the materials used in the construction of the hardscapes will change over time as well. I know we hate the thought but a gardens appearance is constantly under going change.
I’m going to use that change as an opportunity to be creative and have fun and I invite you to join me! After I clean up the mess I will begin the design process in an effort to create a new focal point for the corner of my house. I’m not sure what I will end up with yet but I know I will enjoy the design process and in a few years this storm and the destruction it caused will be a distant memory as I will be enjoying a new element to my wonderful garden.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 11:42 AM
It's finally fall, and all your yard-work duties are finished for the growing season right?
WRONG!
There are a few things left to ensure that all your spring and summer hard work doesn't fade into another tough Massachusetts winter.
Fall clean-up services prep your yard for the cold hard winter ahead by removing leaves, cutting the lawn to the optimal height, sprinkler blowouts, winterization, and more.
Here are few of the most important things that can be done for your lawn to prepare.
Leaf and Debris Cleanup
Raking the lawn might be why you had children, but for the final preparation before winter you and your minions most-likely don't have the know-how to remove all debris needed to ensure your healthy lawn makes it through the winter. Any plant diseases spreading in fall will likely remain there until the spring thaw by living in leftover debris like leaves, dead branches, soil or other fungal-holding material. Elements such as mycelium, spores and other reproductive fungal cultures are the best way for plant-killing diseases to span the winter and infect your yard again in the spring. It’s always best to have the final fall cleanup done by professionals who can identify and eliminate them.
Winterization
Winterization might just be the single most important step to fall services. Preparing your lawn, plants and soil for the upcoming difficult Massachusetts' winter ahead will preserve your hard work for the spring and save you money by cutting down on the number of plants you need to replant in the spring.
To prepare for your yard's winter 'hibernation' you need to replenish the nutrients that have been depleted throughout the growing season by using a professional-grade fertilizer. The nutrients absorbed by plant roots from the fertilization will help them withstand winter weathering. To avoid ugly brown spots and odd patches lawns need to be properly aerated, fertilized and winterized. In addition to fertilizing, winterization procedures also include aeration; aeration drills small holes in your lawn that reduce thatch build-up and allows essential nutrients from the fertilization to be properly distributed and absorbed.
Yard Waste Removal
Yard waste removal is a simple concept but difficult to complete on your own. Hauling away the waste from winterization, fertilization, raking, debris clearing, and other fall cleanup services is critical to ensuring that your yard is clear and does not have any breeding ground for plant diseases, mosquito and bug larva, and other harmful outdoor problems.
Fall Lawn Seeding and Dethatching
Fall is actually one of the best times to repair your lawn, especially for those looking to do intensive renovations, repairs or spot touch-ups. Professionals know exactly how short to cut your specific type of grass to ensure vitality throughout the cold season. Every lawn is different though and a customized lawn-improvement plan will ensure your lawn is perfect as possible—and better than your neighbor's.
Fall Sprinkler Blow Out
Fall sprinkler blowouts require the professional help of technicians to turn off your irrigation system and perform a thorough blow-out and draining, to protect the system from winter freezes.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 11:32 AM
Winterizing Your Plant Beds…
Posted By: Geoffrey Fornari
Another long and wonderful garden season is quickly coming to a close. There will still be a few decent weekends ahead for us to get out into our gardens and make sure we are helping them transition into the coming winter. Continuing to work in our gardens through the next month will ensure that we will have healthy vigorous plants come spring.
Start by turning off your irrigation zones that water your plants. A garden that is too wet going into the winter can cause root rot in many perennials and a few trees and shrubs. A good rule of thumb is to have the zones that water your beds turned off on October 1st. If you have just installed new plantings then keep the system running but adjust accordingly for any rainfall we might have. If you have older plantings and we have a dry spell, provide evergreens with supplemental water by hand watering so they go into the winter with a leg up on drying winter winds.
Next, cut back most, not all, of your perennials. Any perennial that looks ragged, is flopped over, or does not provide any late fall/early winter interest should be cut back. For example, A plant that provides no interest beyond this point is Leucantheum ‘Becky’ (Shasta Daisy) which should be cut back to about 6-8” tall. That is the approximate height of the thick stand of foliage at the bottom of the plant. My Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome' looks unsightly right now. A combination of too much rain this year and not pinching it back in early summer left me with a plant that has flopped over. I will cut this back to 2-3” giving that area a clean look. I mentioned not all perennials need cutting in the fall. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ and Astilbes are a few examples of perennials I leave alone until the spring. The seed heads of the Sedums and Astilbes look good until a heavy wet snow crushes them to the ground. Occasionally you may find a Sedum or Astilbe that looks ragged and or rotted. If that is the case then certainly cut them back. Another group of plants I leave till spring are Ornamental Grasses. The look great until the snow covers them completely. Remember to add all of your clippings to your compost piles unless they contain a disease, then just discard.
Once you have cut back all of your perennials, remove any annuals you may have planted and add them to the compost pile. Now it is time to rake all of the leaves out of your bed. This will help decrease the chances of root rot. The leaves can be shredded and added to your compost pile. Shredded leaves spread 1” thick can also be used next spring as organic mulch for your plants beds. You can use leaves to cover the bases of sensitive plants like Tea Roses or hydrangeas. If you do not wish to use them for gardening purposes then make a big pile you can play in for a day or 2 then get rid of them through your town/city leaf collection program. Once the leaves are removed from the ground, weed. Yes weed! Then go through and prune out any dead wood in your trees and shrubs. Most of this wood can be used as kindling for either your outdoor firepits and/or your indoor fireplaces this winter. In Late fall make sure you apply an anti-desiccant spray such as Wilt-Pruf to your evergreen plants. This will assist them in making it through the winter by reducing moisture loss. Be sure to read all directions thoroughly before applying any products to your plants.
Now your garden should be ready for winter. So put away the gardening tools, drive in your snow stakes, tune up the snow blower and wait, cause here he comes again…Old Man Winter!!!
Posted by Jo Erickson on Wed, Oct 05, 2011 @ 06:16 AM
The term 'holiday lighting' evokes imagery of lit-up Christmas trees and icicle lights, but what other holidays call for holiday lighting? Halloween is an often overlooked time of the year to make use of outdoor lighting, but can be the most effective form of lighting—just ask Halloween aficionados.
There are various ways to use Halloween lighting to add to the spooky ambiance of your outdoor Halloween decorations:
Strobe Lights
Using strobe lights in your yard can add an eerie effect to your other decorations—and goes extra-eerily well with the sounds of the 'Thriller' album. To use strobe lights set them to low setting (to avoid people having seizures on your lawn) and set them to illuminate your scary exhibits. For those who go all-out for the holidays set the strobes on a timer to illuminate your different displays at random times to display them in a sequence.
Black Lighting
Black lighting goes beyond the 70s and Pink Floyd concerts—they look cool on Halloween too. Black lights provide the quintessential lighting effect for Halloween, and can be paired nicely with fog machines and other lighting effects like strobe lights.
Lightning Machine
While overkill for some, a lightning machine for Halloween adds just the right touch to your scary showcase. Be sure to time the thunder sound to strike just before the lightning for an uber-realistic effect.
Graveyard Lights
Using individual lights to highlight gravestones is the perfect effect for any spooky Halloween graveyard. In addition to gravestone illuminations you can add a spooky effect with a few (fake) ravens and cleverly-carved jack-O-Lanterns. Use the gravestones lights from above for maximum impact and not from below where you over-expose the stones. For maximum effect consider blue or other colored light bulbs.
Halloween Light CAUTION!
Adventurous lighting is fun around the holidays, but stay safe. Every year emergency rooms see over 12,000 people for lighting-related injuries. This can include cuts, falls, shocks, burns and more, so be careful with all of your lighting stunts. To ensure your safety use only lights that were safety tested by recognized testing laboratories like UL AND ETL. For extra safety only plug outdoor decorative lighting into plugs that work on fuses.
If you know The Veron Company then you know that we love being as environmentally friendly as possible. With our energy efficient and environmentally friendly LED lights you will not only use 80% LESS electricity but they are more durable and they even run cooler. Learn more about our LED Holiday lighting here: http://www.theveroncompany.com/blog/bid/72975/LED-Holiday-Lights
Posted by Jo Erickson on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 09:20 AM
4 Money-Saving Ideas for Commercial Snow Removal Service in Massachusetts
First tip to save money: get out the shovel. HA HA Just kidding, shovelling snow blows (trust us—we should know). Choosing to have a professional snow removal service will save your back, your time—but can it save you money? Perhaps, if you follow these 4 money-saving tips:
Oral Agreements aren’t worth the paper they're written on!
Tip #1
Get an agreement in place BEFORE they remove the snow—preferably in writing. Unfortunately there are snow removal services in Massachusetts that are slightly unscrupulous, so ensure you have an agreement in place. Preferably you will want to set out the agreement BEFORE the snow starts falling, this will ensure that you have snow removal coverage in place and that you get the best rates (sometimes companies will jack up their prices right before or after a big snowstorm—ah capitalism).
Location(s), Location(s), Location(s)!
Tip #2
Be sure to get a snow removal contract for each of your locations. This may include your residential address, your business address (es), retail, etc. Also consider creating a contract with your neighbors, it’s not just neighborly—it could save you some money. Also, if you have elderly parents or grandparents, it might be a nice gift to include them on your contract as well (OK, so this one might not save you money but there's no price on peace of mind).
Time = Money
Tip #3
Many people avoid buying a snow removal service, thinking it will save them money. But, how much is your time worth? Calculate how long it takes to shovel your driveway after a heavy snowfall, then multiply that by the average number of snowfalls in your area. By the way Massachusetts receives an average of 42 inches per year from an average of 23 annual snowfalls. Is your back hurting yet just thinking about it!!?
Hope for the Best...Plan for the Worst
Tip #4
You should build contingencies in your written snow removal agreement. Many snow removal contracts seem extremely competitive—until you find out their rates for 'excess' ice and snow removal. That's right, not everyone knows but most snow removal contracts only cover you for a certain number of visits and/or for a certain quantity of ice and snow.
Cover yourself—before the snow and ice cover you.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 09:09 AM
Massachusetts Property Owners Now Have Legal Responsibility To Shovel and Treat Snow and Ice
Did you know that last year the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overruled 125 years of Massachusetts Snow Removal Law and determined that plowing, shoveling, and sanding isn't an just option for property and business owners anymore. It's now required by law. If someone slips and falls in front of your business or home property …yes you guessed it they can sue!
All Massachusetts property owners and business owners must remove or treat snow and ice like any other dangerous condition on property.
If a person falls on your property because of snow or ice that hasn't been cleaned up, they can sue you. Before this new ruling, a lawsuit could come if they prove that an "unnatural accumulation" had built up, such as frozen discharge from a gutter. Now, with this new law all they need is a snowy or icy sidewalk or driveway to have grounds for a lawsuit.
You’ve got merely 24 hours after a storm to get it cleaned up. The same goes for store owners as well. Many cities, like Northampton, have ordinances which require stores to shovel their sidewalks and steps within 24 hours after a storm. This new law will make them liable for their customers' safety as well.
What this change in Massachusetts snow removal law means for all property owners, both residential and commercial, is that they need to be extra careful and tentative after snow and ice storms, and clear all relevant areas in which the public and visitors have access to–early and often. Removing snow alone often times does not do the trick because there is still a risk of black ice build up. Consider the professional application of Magic Salt; Magic Salt is a highly effective ice melting product. It is a less corrosive, biodegradable and environmentally friendly product, that can melt snow faster than any other product.
Learn more about saving your business by preventing a law suit with our professional walkway clearing services and Magic salt applications today.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 @ 07:50 AM
4 Reasons to NOT Shovel this Year
Many Massachusetts residents are like you, dreading another long winter, hunched over shovelling snow. Just in case you’re looking for a rationalization on why to use professional snow removal services this year—we prepared 4 excellent reasons why you definitely should!
Reason #1
The Snow Plow is Going to Block you in Anyways!
It has happened to all of us, you just finished shovelin' your driveway and the dagnabit snow-plow gingerly passes by—filling in the bottom quarter of your driveway.
Take a moment and remember that feeling.
OK now, imagine instead of blocking you in, he comes and clears every square-inch of snow off your property.
Reason #2
Our Equipment is Top-o-the-line
Let's face it; we've got an awesome big truck with giant snow pushers on it. It breaks through extra heavy snow, snow banks, ice, and whatever else you throw at it.
So ...you've got a shovel, or perhaps a snow blower? Either way you are still going to spend hours clearing off the snow then breaking up and melting the ice; all the while freezing outside in the cold til your fingers turn blue.
Let our fancy equipment do the work for you, while you watch from the warm indoors or build a snowman with your kids in the yard.
Reason #3
We Know You Have Better Things To Do!
Unless you are that one die-hard snow fan, you likely have more exciting things to do than shovel or blow away snow. If you are that odd-person-out who loves shovelling, then you're in luck--this winter is going to be a doozy!
If you’re considering snow removal for your Massachusetts business—then you definitely have better things to do; you should be serving your customers, and focusing on your business ...not shovelling.
Reason #4
Shovelling Kills!
Just kidding ...well sort of. Shovelling can be dangerous to your health, especially for anyone with a pre-existing heart condition, muscle problems, back problems, osteoporosis, etc.
If you are a business or property owner and generally have your employees do the shovelling, consider the expense if one of those employees injures themselves in the process—workers compensation claims are significantly more expensive than the snow removal service itself!
Contact us today to learn more about our professional snow removal service.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Tue, Sep 27, 2011 @ 12:53 PM
“Hey Veron Company … Do you think that it makes sense to do an organic spraying now?”
Absolutely, it does make sense to organically spray your yard now that it is fall, and possibly again in the spring.
Massachusetts in the fall is a beautiful time, the leaves are changing, the weather is crisp...the kids are back in school. Only problem, mosquitoes are out in full force. Unfortunately those gorgeous falling leaves create the perfect breeding ground for those pesky little biters, piles of moist leaves and soil. And, in the spring stagnant rainwater will create an equally treacherous breeding ground.
If the mosquito's stinging bite wasn't enough to deter you from the pesky little buggers, they can also carry dangerous viral diseases. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus, Encephalitis (various types, including: Eastern equine, Japanese, La Crosse, St. Louis and Western equine), Dengue Fever, Malaria, Rift Valley Fever and Yellow Fever. Luckily in the United States (and especially here in Massachusetts) cases of most of these diseases are low but there are West Nile virus human cases reported all across the country.
Here in Massachusetts though, far above West Nile or Dengue what we really need to protect our families from is Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has already reported deadly cases this year. EEE has been detected in multiple regions of the state and Massachusetts the second largest number of EEE cases in the country.
Serious symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. In 2010, 57 people died due to West Nile Virus in the United States, seven in Massachusetts!
Recent heavy rains have driven up the number of mosquitoes found with West Nile virus across Massachusetts and the virus has been detected in at least 32 cities and towns of Massachusetts so far this year.
Luckily you can protect your family from the painful sting, burning itch and viral diseases caused by Mosquitoes. You have multiple options: spray each individual family member with bug spray every time they head outside in the yard (yes, we know—groan), or you can simply spray your yard—protecting your entire family with one product.
The Veron Company strongly recommends that you protect your family with an organic spray, as opposed to the heavily chemical-laden alternatives. Most chemical-based sprays contain the powerful bug fighter DEET, and DEET has been shown to interfere with brain functions—especially in children and infants--, according to a study done by Duke University.
Instead, protect your family from mosquitoes and the side effects of DEET by opting for an organic spray instead. By using an organic spray you can also cut down on the amount of chemicals you need to regularly spray on the skin of your little ones—reducing greatly the possible side effects.
To safely rid your yard of mosquitoes spraying should occur once a month during mosquito season.
Don't wait until its too late! Call The Veron Company today to schedule your organic pest control spraying.
Posted by Jo Erickson on Thu, Sep 22, 2011 @ 01:25 PM
While we are still basking in our long, warm days, the local squirrels begin their annual preparation for the cold days ahead. They know what it takes to get through our tough New England winters. Preparation; Squirrels need nuts safely tucked away to sustain themselves until spring. People need tools, contracts and people they can count on.
When it comes to the challenges of winter, early preparation is a winning strategy. Autumn is the right time to have service people in to attend to your heating and chimney needs and to get your snow removal plans in place.
2011 brought the New Year and new headaches for commercial and residential property owners in a wide swath of Massachusetts. There were over 100 partial or full roof collapses due to the excessive build up of snow from January to early February. We often enjoy a melting reprieve between snowfalls, but as last year demonstrated, you can’t count on the assistance of nature. Roof snow was a problem, and we also ran out of space needed for shoveled piles along walkways and driveways. Remember the mountains of dirty snow piles in larger parking lots well into summer?
What can you do? Know what you should do and know the requirements of your municipality. When you hire professionals, they should be aware of local requirements. Running a home business? If you are inviting people onto your property you need to provide safe passage for them and their vehicles.
Most municipalities have on-street parking bans from November to April, or during snow emergencies.
Do you have off street parking for your car arranged?
Here is a short listing of local town/city snow FAQs and requirements:
Carry down the precipitation
Before the snow flies, find and repair failed building envelope components. By November, make sure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris. Jammed gutters invite ice formation, which can impact the edging membrane of the roof. Inspect the joints of your house: roof to chimney, look for loose flashing and roof trim pieces. Make sure your doors properly close and that weather-stripping is intact.
Remove access impediments
Make sure the path for the oil delivery person is clear of overgrowth and shovel a path for their use. Store seasonal objects that could become trip hazards when buried in snow. Never pile firewood against the house, it invites bugs and frozen fiascos for your siding. Have a furnace and bulkhead? Removing snow is helpful, should you need emergency access for repairs.
Roof snow load
Cities and towns are considering revising their load bearing capacity requirements. They are regionally determined, check your local Building Codes. Northern and Western Massachusetts counties have higher requirements. The capacity of your roof is based on its structural condition, which is likely hidden from view.
Snow builds up on roofs through successive snowfalls. Melting and compression creates a denser layer of icy snow in the bottom layers. Once the ice forms it is hard to remove and removal can damage your roof. When it snows, you should have a plan in place to remove excess snow.
Creak and run or shovel and get it done? A warning sound of creaking saved lives last year when roof collapses were imminent. Walls may crack, beams may groan prior to collapse so take note of strange sounds and fresh cracks. Do not go on your snowy roof and start shoveling, which is dangerous to humans and risky for the roof, make plans today to avert snowy disasters.
Ice and snow walkway buildup
When you’re already cold and wet, it can be challenging to remember to scrape surfaces clean. Failure to do so often results in the stiff crust of an inch or so, which becomes an icy pedestrian hazard. Calcium chloride is best to eat holes through the ice, which speeds melting and aids in chopping removal. Remember that you can be liable for ignoring fall hazards that result in injury. Homeowners insurance may cover you but it pays to prevent injury.
If all this effort sounds familiar and disagreeable, there is an alternative, which is to hire the services of a professional.
Give us a call today and find out more about being prepared!