Belknap Landscape Company..."We turn Dreamscapes into Landscapes."

Spring seems to have brought along improvements in the confidence local municipalities, businesses and residents have in their properties and in Belknap Landscape. We are operating at full steam, with a significant pipeline of landscape design and construction projects as well as an ever-growing landscape maintenance workload.

In this issue on Landscapes for Living, expect an update on Belknap Landscape's design-build activities, including a couple Lakes Region landscape transformations, one at a public park and another at a local healthcare facility. These are examples of how we turn Dreamscapes into Landscapes at Belknap Landscape!

See also the series of short articles with news relative to plantings on your property. Take a look at the benefits of and proper methods of mulching in an article supplied by BLC's Thomas Stern. You may be surprised to learn that proper mowing heights can significantly benefit the health of your lawn, and save you money in the process.

Included are opportunities to save significantly on Waterfront Permitting Services and on Tree Care, so be sure to save those Certificates! Choose our Waterfront Permitting Services Savings Certificate and/or the BLC Tree Services Discount, including the crane and crew.

Though we have had tropical rains of late, we all know it won't last through the summer season. BLC's Irrigation Division is ready for your irrigation start-up requests, pump checks, lawn zone coverage and to program a schedule on the irrigation controller. Further, should you need design and installation to protect your landscape investment, you'll find none more qualified than our own Gerry DuBreuil.

Our commitment to the local environment is shown in our ongoing business practices and in an unequaled effort to foster environmental education for area youth. Please see what we accomplished, as a courtesy to the community, during Earth Week at multiple public places, most involving local students.

We encourage you to share these landscape tips by using the links to pass Landscapes for Living on to family & friends. If this issue of Landscapes for Living was forwarded to you from another, be sure to sign up for future issues - we included the link just below!

Thank you for your continued faith in us and for your business.

Hayden McLaughlin, Owner
Belknap Landscape Company

Lakes Region Landscape Transformations
We turn Dreamscapes into Landscapes

We turn Dreamscapes into Landscapes

Now a finished outdoor rehabilitation area!

..transformed outside the new healthcare facility, as well.

BLC Commitment to the Environment and to Environmental Education
No Other Lakes Region Landcare Company Compares

***BLC Works To Reduce Polluted Stormwater Runoff...***

We know that Belknap Landscape's actions and specifications have directly impact your property, adjoining properties and especially riverways, streams, ponds and lakes - that our everyday actions affect the most valuable resource in our Region - that of the water quality.

Belknap Landscape is at the cutting edge on environmental practices. We adhere carefully to the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act and all State Pesticide Application rules. We specialize in and recommend the use of native plantings, recycle job-site organic materials in to loam, use only phosphate-free fertilizers, practice single steam recycling at all our construction yards and offices and coordinate efforts to inform area contractors and area residents about alternative, eco-friendly products. These efforts are unmatched by any other Lakes Region landscape company.

Regarding the latter, we have been consistently beating the drum for reducing polluted stormwater runoff. This is evidenced by the recent coordination of speakers at the Lakes Region Chapter of the NH Builders and Remodelers Association. These speakers came from companies providing products that allow natural filtration of stormwater. As stormwater seeps through the porous asphalt, concrete or pavers, it is filtered of pollutants like sediment, heavy metals and petroleum products. No other Lakes Region landscape company lifts a finger to solve these issues.

Our efforts struck a chord throughout the waterfront neighborhood surrounding Rust Pond, in Wolfeboro where some Association members have concerns about sediments entering the pond - as a direct result of stormwater run-off.

We have subsequently been invited to call on property owners who requested more information on solutions to reduce sediments and pollutants, as a direct result of this very article.

You may not know how much Belknap Landscape is committed to environmental education of area youth. For years Belknap Landscape has supported the NH LAKES Association, a statewide, nonprofit, member-supported organization dedicated to protecting New Hampshire's lakes. Specifically, we sponsor and provide advice, trucks and tools to the Association's "Lake Conservation Corps", a summer youth employment program focused on improving our water quality, one waterfront project at a time. Recently, NH Lakes posted a commemorative sign at Laconia's Messer Street boat ramp, where Belknap Landscape teamed (last summer) with the Corps students to reduce polluting stormwater runoff by planting a buffer strip of plantings.

Topping last years effort, this past Earth Week, as a part of an annual, nationwide "Day of Service" orchestrated by the Professional Landcare Network (known as PLANET), we accomplished four environmental enhancement/environmental education efforts with area youth.

Included were:

A spring clean-up and play sand & playground wood chips replacement at Lakes Region Child Care play ground in Laconia
Courtesy ornamental Pear tree pruning at Laconia's Rotary Park
The coordination of 64 students from the Winnisquam Agricultural Center in clean-up and trail maintenance at Tilton's 55-acre Buffalo Park
We finished with a presentation by BLC Owner Hayden McLaughlin explaining our environmentally friendly practices, along with the business of landscaping to 21 attending student FFA member

BLC's Andrew Morse surrounded by Winnisquam Regional High School Agriculture Students

Reporters from two local papers wrote nice articles about the Buffalo Park effort, available at these links:

The Laconia Citizen: PLANET Day of Service Article

The Laconia Daily Sun: PLANET Day of Service at Buffalo Park Article

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING DESIGN-BUILD and IRRIGATION SERVICE

One-stop Shopping at Belknap Landscape

Selecting multiple companies for landcare services at your home or business can generate multiple contacts for assistance and advice. Simplify your landcare life with Belknap Landscape!

Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting
There are few things quite as pleasing as an artfully illuminated landscape, but it can be a surprising challenge to make it relatively natural. Sure, you want a little drama, but you don't want pathways that look like landing strips and annoying glare coming from every tree. That's where experience and training provide much more value than a box 'o lights. Lighting should never be intrusive to you, your family or your neighbors and the experts at BLC are specially trained in the artistry of subtle lighting for your landscape. In this spirit, BLC is proud to support the International Dark Sky Association....

This is the perfect time to schedule a system review, the time to make fixture aim adjustments, bulb exchanges for the proper effect, as well as checking thoroughly for any damage from this past winter or from rodents . We'll also check for other hazards like blind spots and exposed wiring.

if your present landscape lighting does not do your landscaping investment justice, please let us provide a no-obligation review and propose a low voltage lighting design for your home or business.

Learn more: BLC Low-Voltage Lighting Systems

Irrigation - Lake-fed or City Water Systems
Irrigation system start-ups are scheduled in time for maximum impact for the growing season. Don't let recent extended rainy days fool you - dryer days are ahead. Irrigation systems both protect and enhance your landscape investments, if calibrated properly by professionals.

**1-stop for landcare needs - that's BLC!**

Let us go through a comprehensive system start-up, checking the water supply, pump operation, verifying proper distribution at each zone, making adjustments as needed to rotors, sprays, and any drip systems, too. BLC technicians will program the irrigation controller for the growing season. We follow, at your option, with monitoring each month to adjust the controller as Mother Nature alters wet and dry conditions.

Irrigation and Change of Seasons
As spring rolls on and seasons change, we must not forget that plants, trees and lawns require different levels of watering throughout the growing season.

In the spring, much of the watering needs come naturally with rains, given that precipitation stays true to the season. At this time, lawn and bed zones can go with low to moderate watering and less often. Rain and moisture sensors, installed by BLC Irrigation Techs, help to avoid over watering.

As summer approaches, watering times can be increased to daily schedules with longer run times to offset sun exposure and drought. Some planting bed watering provided by drip irrigation systems can remain on a two or three day schedule with increases in the run times to allow for some drying of root systems, maintaining plant health.

Of course when fall arrives, watering can be cut back as plantings prepare themselves for winter. At this time, BLC Techs shift to light watering for the lawn and adjust to a short, bi-daily watering schedule for fall plantings.

At Belknap Landscape Company, all of the above irrigation schedule changes can be taken care of automatically with a monthly irrigation monitoring program. Our Technicians always strive to protect the health of your landscape.

Learn more: BLC Irrigation Systems Gerry DuBreuil, Irrigation and Landscape Lighting Division Manager
gerry@belknaplandscape.com or call 603.737-0015 Ext. 903