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Maintenance/Lawncare
Q. What is the best day to have my property maintained?
A. I have based this answer on 30 years of experience. The best days to have your property maintained are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays for homeowners (Monday for corporate clients). Why Wednesday? Well, except for approximately 6-8 weeks in the Spring when turf is at its peak growth, there is very little difference in cut appearance come the weekend. With 99% certainty, CJL will never have to show up on Saturday to provide service due to 1, 2 or 3 days of rain earlier in the week.
Q. Do you catch or recycle the clippings?
A. Wherever and whenever we can we recycle the clippings back to the turf as grass blades, and leaves being 80% water and nutrients, are the very best compost for building long-term highly organic soil. We only catch when an area is too small or we may get too many clippings in gardens. If we choose not to catch your grass clippings, be assured even if we have to do a double cut based on a 7-day mowing cycle, there will be no extra charge to you, and you will always have a high quality appearance.
Q. I have to have my property cut on Friday. Can you accommodate me?
A. We base the scheduling of our clients on the following: Open availability for existing or new route: Route density and efficiency: With the price of fuel and labor, we route just like UPS and Federal Express. Years with Chris James Landscaping will get you closer to the weekend. If you must have Friday, there will be an added cost if it does not fit our existing route, just as next day air will cost you extra with UPS.
Q. I’m having an event or party, can you pay special attention at my property?
A. Please let us know 7-10 days ahead and we will provide weekly service the day before your party. With 14 days notification we can also provide a detail crew service, mulch, pruning and seasonal color so that your property will look its best before your big day!
Q. How much water does my lawn need in the summer?
A. Cool season turf, which is the dominant turf grass in Northern New Jersey, requires approximately 1" of water from your sprinkler, irrigation system or Mother Nature or a combination per week.
Q. What size mowers do you use?
A. The size of the mower used is based on the size of each given area of lawn. A good landscape company will have many different size mowers with deck sizes from 21" to 52" or larger. The right machine is as important as the qualifications of its operators.
Q. At what height do you cut the lawn?
A. From late April to late November we use a 3" mowing height. This is when your lawn is most actively growing. It is also in the recommended range of height of cut by Rutgers University, one of the worlds leading turf research Universities in the world. During early Spring and late Fall we will lower the height of cut to 2.5 to 2.75.
Q. Why is mowing at the right height and alternating patterns of cut so important?
A. The right height will cause less damage to the blade of grass so the plant is under less stress. This in turn will allow for better vigor which in itself will help shade, fend off weeds and protect against insect damage.
Q. How often do you sharpen your mower blades?
A. We sharpen our blades on average about every 12 to 15 working hours, so about ever 8-10 mowing hours 3 to 4 times per week.
Q. Do you provide shrub pruning?
A. Yes, we do. It is one of the most sought after services that we offer at CJL as we hand prune. Full time clients can sign up with their yearly agreement or by mail. Single-service clients can download a form from our website. Full-service clients get first availability.
Q. Do you provide commercial grounds maintenance service?
A. Yes, we do and we have done so for over 25 years. We have won state awards for commercial grounds management and enhancement. We care for 50 plus acre world headquarter campus to large and small condominium complexes. When curb appeal and image really matter, CJL is your best choice.
Q. What types of maintenance plans do you offer?
A. We provide three yearly maintenance plans from basic lawn maintenance to platinum garden care. Two are set-monthly charges, one by man-hour range. All include spring clean ups and fall clean ups based on man-hour rate, two types of lawn care programs with pre-pay discounts. We also offer low voltage lighting and irrigation service agreements.
Q. Do you provide seasonal color?
A. Yes. We provide spring bulbs, summer annuals, fall mums and more. Programs start at approximately $500.00 and up.
Q. How can a well-landscaped home help to sell my home?
A. According to appraisers and realtors, a beautifully landscaped home will sell fast and for more money.
Q. How do plants and trees help?
A. Plants and trees absorb ozone-damaging pollutants, produce oxygen and help keep temperatures down and according to the Plants for Clean Air Council, efficient landscaping can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20%.
Q. How is a lawn helpful to the environment?
A. A turf area 50' x 50' can absorb enough carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride and convert it into enough oxygen to suport a family of four
Q. How much will it cost me to hire your company?
A. This all depends on the services you desire. We are a legitimate year round company with well trained, legal and fully insured employees. We use a multiple, overhead, recovery system to disperse and recover our overhead, labor and equipment costs, plus add fair professional profit. To find out more, give us a call.
Q. What type of training do your employees receive?
A. All employees go through a full day of orientation at least once yearly. We also perform tailgate training and have safety talks throughout the year. We are one of the top three companies in yearly attendance and most dollars spent at Rutgers University Continuing Education Program and have been for more than 10 years.
Q. When and how should my shrubs be pruned?
A. The following is a basic guideline for pruning. When present, damaged or diseased shrub-limbs and branches should be removed. Most flowering shrubs and ornamental trees, should be pruned after blooming and before the next year's buds set. Prune whenever possible for plant health and to keep the natural shape of the plant. Some ornamentals and vines require dormant pruning in late winter. We highly recommend hand pruning over shearing.
Q. Why should I have mulch on my property?
A. Mulch provides the following benefits for planting when done correctly: For shrubs and ornamental trees, a mulch base of 3"-4" is recommended. It helps to keep weeds in check, retains moisture in the soil and adds organic matter to the soil as it decays. Woody, ornamental and evergreen trees do not need or want their soil cultivated around their roots.
Q. How about mulching annuals or perennials?
A. Mulch should be limited to 1"-2". Ideally a mulch compost mix would be a better choice. Unlike ornamentals, annuals and perennials like loose, tillable soil, so too much is not good.
Q. What type of mulch do you sell and install and what is the cost?
A. We sell the following, from least expensive to most: Double Hammermill, Pine Bark, Cedar, Hemlock and Licorice Root Mulch. Pricing is based on site conditions and quantity. Bed preparation is extra. We do not recommend Pine Nugget as it has no value to your plants and we do not use dyed mulch. We at CJL feel dyed mulch cheapens the look of your landscape.
Q. What are some of the most import things a lawn in North Jersey needs?
A. Proper mowing height should be kept at 3" with a sharp blade, adequate deep infrequent watering, core aeration once per year and 3-4 lbs. of nitrogen per year.
Q. How often should I water?
A. Turf grass should be watered 3/4" - 1" per week. Shrubs and trees should receive deep watering 1-2 times per week. Annual and perennials should be watered 2-3 times per week. This answer is for established landscapes.
Q. What type of program do you offer for fertilization and control of weeds?
A. As different people have different expectations of how they want their lawn to look and also what they want to spend, we offer two programs. At CJL we think of the programs as good and very good. Both meet or exceed the basic needs of cool season turf. Our basic plan is more of an option-based plan, whereas our premium plan is more inclusive of all turf services.
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Snow & Ice
Q. I’m from a commercial property management company. Do you provide Snow & Ice Services?
A. Absolutely! We have done so for over 25 years with NO slip and fall liability. We provide service for industrial, corporate campus, retail, home owner associations(HOA) even large parking structure. We have low-corrosive, liquid deicer, large and small wheel-loaders and multiple salters. We have been awarded the coveted Excellence in Business Award by SIMA. We have a dedicated staff that knows what it takes to provide you with safety, accessibility and a productive environment. We can combine landscaping services with snow & ice services.
Q. Do you provide residential snow services?
A. Yes, we do. Service is based upon availability with a yearly contract and retainer. We offer this only to existing full-service landscape clients. Please call for more information on this highly sought after service.
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Irrigation/Lighting
Q. Do you install and service irrigation system?
A. Yes. We can install and service residential and commercial systems. Please call for more information. Service-call fees do apply.
Q. Is odd/even watering necessary?
A. In most cases the answer is no. It is an easy way for towns and water companies to track restrictions on outdoor watering during peak-water-use periods. It is not very healthy for your landscape. And in our opinion promotes over watering.
Q. I am considering an underground automatic sprinkler system. Can you tell me about it?
A. Think of a sprinkler system as enhancing Mother Nature, not to replace her. In times of dry conditions, it can free you from hours of watering and can, if installed correctly, ensure proper moisture to turf and plants. Don’t think of it as set it, and forget it. Irrigation systems require spring and fall service and periodic water-schedule changes as conditions warrant, but it’s easier then dragging out the hose.
Q. Do you repair and service low voltage lighting systems? I’m not sure of the brand as we just moved into our home.
A. We can and do service all professional brandname systems, Cast, Kichler, Focus and Hadco to name a few. If you have an irrigation system, we can do both at the same visit. Ask our office staff how it will save you money.
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Design/Construction
Q. If you design my landscape, how will I maintain and care for it?
A. Any designed or installed work CJL provides can be maintained or serviced by CJL. This includes full landscape planting, sod or seed, lawn irrigation or installed lighting systems.
Q. What can I expect to spend landscaping my entire property?
A. Assuming your asking for all key components, hardscape, fencing, drainage, irrigation, lighting, plant material, etc., a realistic range is 10%-15% of your home's value. This can be higher or lower based on site conditions, access, plant selection, etc.
Q. We are considering a pond with our new landscape design project. How much maintenance do they require?
A. There is some maintenance required with a pond. In the spring your pond will require opening, cleaning and periodic filter maintenance. In the fall it is recommended that you cover the pond with netting and put a heater in the pond. These services can all be done by CJL. Please contact us for more information.
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