Double rebates for commercial landscapes converted to xeriscape!

Author: Carrie Johnson; Published: Mar 11, 2011; Category: Xeriscape; Tags: Landscape Maintenance, Special Offer, Watering, Xeriscape; No Comments

A view from above. Green rectangles. Watered regularly. Fertilized, aerated, inspected daily for spring green. Once lush, taller than 2” or so—what happens to the lush green growth? We cut it! Bag it. Toss it. Week after week, spring through fall. *sigh*

Sounds like a plot to a nonsensical movie; one that never seems to get to the point or leaves you wondering ‘what just happened’? What did just happen? A lot of hard work and then you get to look at a yellow crispy rectangle through winter, until we start it all again.

Stop the madness, I say!

Don’t get me wrong, having a lawn in your front yard or in front of the snazzy retail center that has your favorite coffee-stop is lovely to look at, but what is the purpose? Is it worth the cost of water and maintenance? Lawn does use a lot of water, and it’s simply not practical in all scenarios.

How about converting that unused lawn into a gorgeous xeriscape, one that does have purpose:

• butterflies, hummingbirds and bumblebees have a food source
• run-off water from roof and sidewalk has an area to collect and absorb back into the earth (instead of sheeting and flooding the neighboring property)
• visual interest via evergreens and seasonal flowering shrubs, along with sculptural hardscapes
• lower water bill
• utility bill rebate

Wait—what was that? Rebate? The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) not only has a rebate program, but right now is giving out Double Rebates for commercial customers! “Double rebates” means you receive water bill credits of $1.50 per sq. foot of qualifying landscape. All landscapes must be  inspected and approved by the Water Utility Authority prior to conversion.

Additionally, your commercial project could win a Xeriscape contest with a $12,000 grand prize, $8,000 runner-up, and $5,000 third place, credited against your water bill. Xeriscapes will be judged on design and water-saving potential. The Hilltop can help you with both of those criteria, putting your business or organization in the running for the grand prize.

Visit abcwua.org or download the flyer for more information.

Winter is the best time for trimming trees, shearing shrubs

Author: Fred Roybal; Published: Jan 28, 2011; Category: Tree Care; Tags: Plants and Trees, Special Offer, Tree Care, Trimming Trees, Winter; One Comment

Winter is upon us, and the trees are sleeping. Time to get those trees trimmed, shrubs sheared, and your roses pruned.

It’s time to think about our trees and shrubbery. It is a great time to have the annual pruning done while they are dormant. Fruit trees especially benefit from proper pruning to protect branches from breaking and to increase the quality of fruit production. Trees that bear fruit at the branch ends, tip bearers, are particularly susceptible to breakage due to heavy loads imposed on the outer ends of the branches. Another benefit to regular pruning of your fruit trees is to keep the fruit within reach for ease of harvesting and reaping the “fruit” of your labor.

I love to take a cup of tea and my pruning shears on a Saturday morning and do my trimming—very therapeutic! I think I can even hear my favorite shrubs calling me to come over and give them a little attention. My Japanese Maple seems a little jealous of all the time I spend on the Wisteria even though I try to convince her that she is my favorite. But that unruly Wisteria needs so much more attention just to keep it from taking over the world! So I find that keeping the peace amongst all my trees and plants in my back yard requires some “cutting edge” plant psychology, a little tender loving care, and sometimes a machete!

If you are not sure of the proper pruning of your trees and shrubs, check back on our blog for more tips and “how-tos” in coming blog posts. I’ll be talking about where, why and how to make a pruning cut. Making the wrong cut can affect your tree for decades.

Or you can have your trees and shrubs trimmed by our tree care professionals, who work under my instruction (I’m an ISA certified arborist). Having your trees cared for by a professional on a regular basis has the added benefit of early diagnosis of disease and insect infestations. Early detection means easier control and minimizing the damage done to the trees. Give us a call for a free estimate, and do take advantage of our “10% off” special for work completed in January and February.