One of the “extra services” that we have to add from time to time is for a front end loader to remove the snow piled up in the 14 visitor spaces or the mounds of snow from large accumulations. The basic service only covers a plow coming through and pushing the snow into piles. If there is a 6+ inch event, there is only so many places you can push snow before it begins to block edges of the roadway, corners, and general parking areas. The only way to get these areas cleared is with a front end loader and smaller Bobcats. When you order this service there is an extra fee which is by the hour but worth it.

There are really never any complaints about their service. One year someone that lives on a corner complained that when the truck came by there was too much left in front of her driveway versus getting right up to the curb. She lives on a corner that is hard to get and since then they always get closer to her driveway. She complains about everything and hasn’t complained about this in the past 3 years so that is a good sign. Also the Magic Salt does appear to work as the road is never slippery.

I am sure you can find cheaper alternatives; however, I don’t think you will find anyone as thorough, reliable, and RAPID. The last thing I would want to do is change services and then find out 12 hours into a snowstorm that they don’t do snow removal anymore, or their ONE truck has broken down. Good luck in your search!

Jack MacNeil

President

Towns Of Waterford Hoa

Reston VA

Glad you mentioned BladeRunners. They are included in our landscaping bidding process. How is your experience with them?

They do a good job and very knowledgeable in the field. I would definitely consider them if your Board is looking for a landscaping company concentrating on going green, in regards to the environment. BladeRunner are on the cutting edge on this movement. Even their grounds men are wearing blue shirts with the “going green logo” so in short they have my endorsement.

Derrick Springfield

Site Manager

Legum & Norman, Inc.

An Associa® Member Company

Read all about Virginia Property Owners’ Association Act requirements for new notice of pesticide application 

Many Virginia HOA Boards, Property Managers, and landscape contractors were blindsided by a Virginia Statute (§ 55-510.3 ) requiring 48 hours of posting notice for all agronomic applications.

Read the actual statue § 55-510.3. Common areas; notice of pesticide application.  The association shall post notice of all pesticide applications in or upon the common areas. Such notice shall consist of conspicuous signs placed in or upon the common areas where the pesticide will be applied at least 48 hours prior to the application

Posting Agronomic Signs & Blade Runners Approach:

While this may produce added expense for the association it really is a good idea.  Effective communication to the residents, if done properly, communicates service dates, contact phone numbers for residents with questions, and provides residents with support documentation of pesticide products to be applied, along with product labels and contact information should they have further concerns.  

Blade Runners has long provided this pesticide sign posting service as an option for HOA’s.  This not just littering the community with pesticide application flags vaguely communicating the something was applied. 

We provide highly visible, solid real estate-style signs placed at specific areas of the property. It contains the dates of application along with a phone number to call with questions, as well as, our website address.

Proper implementation for both pesticide notice posting and the agronomic applications takes planning.  Adequate inventories of signs are needed to replace weathered and/or stolen signs.  Coordination planning is necessary in order to time the application after a turf mowing for maximum control along with the required 48 hour advance posting visit to place the signs. In the event of poor weather, an additional visit might be needed to alter the date.  Signs are removed from the site after the application.

 Blade Runners has a resource manual that contains

• Product label and MSDS sheets for all products we use.
• Phone numbers for state and government agencies should the client want addition information.
• Questions and answers regarding the service
• Our methods of production and the manner in which we deliver the service.

As with many things there is more to this than meets the eye. Associations should be careful that there solution is a comprehensive one that adds value. 

Turn this annoyance into a positive thing for your community.

“Eco-Friendly” Fertilizers Minimizing The Impact On The Environment

Our competitors use the lowest common-denominator fertilizers for cost savings, while Blade Runners thinks about both the customer and the environment

Blade Runners, Inc. is using a new no-phosphorus fertilizer product, Signature Brand fertilizer – Prospect Plus®, which is aimed at giving turfgrass only the nutrients they need as they need them, thereby reducing excesses that can run off the property and harm waterways.

• No phosphorus
• Activates the phosphorus naturally found in the soil
• Less product poundage applied equals less runoff materials

Signature Brand fertilizer – Prospect Plus® contains a complete micronutrient package and a natural, sugar-based spreader-sticker for maximum foliar absorption, and is impregnated with a proprietary nutrient solution that has shown a remarkable ability to improve vigor, quality and stress tolerance in turf, trees and ornamentals.

• Help turf establish or withstand environmental stresses
• Develop a more fibrous, extensive root system
• Enhance early plant growth and vigor
• Build greater shoot mass
• Increase uptake of soil nutrients and moisture
• Increase photosynthetic activity

Cutting the phosphorus

A newer environmental concern involves phosphorus, a second main nutrient that turfgrass needs for root and cell development.Up until recently, phosphorus was thought to be needed by turfgrass in regular amounts, and so turf fertilizers typically included some in every bag.But environmental scientists recently found that excess phosphorus was a key cause of algae outbreaks that were clogging waterways. In turfgrass, some phosphorus occurs naturally from the breakdown of plants, but some also comes from the phosphorus applied to turfgrass in bagged fertilizer. Soil tests found that most turfgrass already have adequate amounts of phosphorus and that a need for phosphorus is lower than thought – due in part to the fact that phosphorus leaches so slowly through the soil.

Blade Runners have been here all morning. I have been outside since 9:00 working on a patio and side garden project so I had an opportunity to observe the workers. Here is my assessment: Perfect. There is not a leaf on the property and these young men work very hard. I even asked them to be careful not to blow towards my garden and they were extremely respectful and courteous. From my perspective, Blade Runners hit a home run today.”

Jeanie
Chancery Square Resident

Please give your mowing crew a big thanks from SHA (Stonehurst Homeowners Association). The grounds look awesome! There were loads of small twigs, broken branches and leaves all over the neighborhood- looked like a hurricane had come through our neighborhood. LOL So make sure they get our thanks- they just left now-7pm-

Mary Foster
Stonehurst Homeowners Association

Thanks again for the great work you do to keep Oak Manor looking well-maintained.

Best regards,

M. Russ

Board of Directors

Sabrina Barnhart

Board President

Glen II HOA

Lake Ridge, VA

Your e-mail notifications are among the Blade Runners features I most treasure, after you, Mike, Raul and our several crews. Your e-mail notices help me monitor our contract, and I want them to continue to enter my mailbox. Previously, Elaine Ely was my colleague on the Grounds Committee, but she quit a few years ago, so she does not need to receive your notices anymore. I think I asked Raul to cancel e-mails to her sometime last year, and it appeared that had happened. So if you can pick up from there, that would be good. Otherwise, leave me on your list and delete Elaine. She still cares, but she has chosen not to be involved on the “responsible” level, so she should be off the list.

I also hope you got your billing situation straightened out. For the first three 2011 payments, you billed Sycamore Ridge Condo Association at the 2010 rate. We have since paid the arrearage, so I hope billing is now on track too.

Not that it matters, but I got two of the appended e-mails from you. Identical. I just thought you’d want to know.

Jo Allen

President, Sycamore Ridge Condominium Association

First-aid and CPR training shall be conducted using the conventional methods of training such as lecture, demonstration, practical exercise and examination (both written and practical). The length of training must be sufficient to assure that drivers understand the concepts of first aid and can demonstrate their ability to perform the various procedures contained in the outline below.

 The following Blade Runners Staff members have recently completed CPR training and certification:

Carlos Rodas                                                   

Andy Montejo

Henry Carranza

Brigiido Azpetia

Cesar t Pu

Carmona Durantes

Edwin Lorenzo

Alexis Majano

Johni Gomez

Carlos Portillo

Amancio Flores

Hugo Lemus

Walter Martinez

Carlos Carcamos

Carlos Lemus

Ever Martinez

Ever Maldanado

Jaun Beccera

Luis Guillen

Andy Montejo

Henry Carranza

Brigiido Azpetia

Cesar t Pu

Carmona Durantes

Edwin Lorenzo

Alexis Majano

Johni Gomez

Carlos Portillo