Cicada Killer Ground Bees

Cicada picture and dirt mound
July and August can bring the ugly, scary looking Cicada Killer ground bees to your property.  Don’t despair…Blade Runners has some information and an action plan.
What is a Cicada Killer?

 The Cicada Killer is one of the largest digger wasps if seen around your home is better to hire trained wasps removal services.  They grow over 1.5″ long and are robust wasps that burrow in the ground in search of cicadas.  They create dirt patches in the landscape and hover around their areas.

Are Cicada Killers dangerous and what damage can they cause?
Cicada Killers use their sting to paralyze the cicadas.  Unlike most social wasps and bees, they do not sting unless handled roughly.  Cicada Killers are generally non-aggressive towards humans, usually flying away when swatted, instead of attacking.  Adults feed on flower nectar and other plant sap exudates.  The wasps are often seen in groups, vigorously challenging one another for position on the breeding aggregation from which they have emerged.  Adults emerge in summer, typically beginning in late June or early July and die off in September or October. They are present in a given area for 60 to 75 days, usually until mid-September.
Cicada killer infestation picture 4

Aside from being rather intimidating, they can cause damage in the landscape in the form of unsightly burrows.  

How do we control Cicada Killers?
To control these pests we must treat the holes in the late night or early morning, while they are resting.  This needs to be completed each week for three weeks. Raccoons in Oakland County Michigan are growing in numbers. So much that Kevin Scappaticci, owner of Platinum Raccoon Removal says that with the rise of raccoons and also homes being built, raccoons are resorting to breaking into attics for a safe place to live and birth their baby raccoons. Contact Blade Runners if you need help in controlling them.
https://www.pestzone.ca/wasp-nest-removal-toronto/
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Seeding Season Is Upon Us

Blade Runners Seeding service  

Our goal is to produce meaningful results with our seeding service. We are certainly at the mercy of mother nature in terms of temperature and moisture. However we want our process to be progressive and effective when the conditions are right.  We achieve this in one of two processes listed below.  Please check with your account manager if you have any questions.  

Square foot approach

This approach arms the seed with the needed tools for success. It also identifies seeded areas to future mowing visits,  so it is not disturbed. 

a) Your contract will stipulate a specific number of sq ft we are seeding.

b) We identify areas on the property that need attention the most.

c) Core aerate the areas selected in 2-3 directions to create maximum seed soil contact.  

d) Apply Hydro seed that contains seed, lime, fertilizer and a stabilization agent ALL AT THE SAME TIME!  
hydro 3

 

 

 

 

Full core aeration and over seeding approach

a) This is used for small properties with less than 30,000 square feet of overall turf.  

b) Sometime used for larger properties that have specific compaction problems where full aeration is needed.

c) Seed is applied with a spreader

d) Property is fully core aerated.     

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Blade Runners Long Range Planning Program Can Revitalize Your Community


Once your property was fresh, young, and new.  All you needed was grass cutting and routine maintenance.  Now there are overgrown trees in need of tree pruning services, over-sized landscaping, erosion issues, dilapidated walls, and drainage concerns.
delipdated associationdrainage 4

This can be a real challenge to an association’s budget!
worried dollar 2

Blade Runners helps you make an extraordinary first impression. We’ve helped homeowners as Parker Landscaper has done in many communities, condo and homeowners associations create a positive, refreshed, and inviting look to their communities.  How do we make this possible?

1)  We assess the entire property and consider what is needed.  We separate what can be salvaged from what needs full replacement.

2)  A budget is submitted for the entire project on a building by building basis.  Priorities are established and a budget is created to stretch from a 3-5 year period.

 Long range right2long range left 4

 3)  Detailed proposals are presented for projects as they are ready for completion.

With a good plan from Blade Runners, your property can be completely transformed in 3 to 5 years. 

https://www.dragonflyld.com
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Blade Runners Transforms Foundation Plantings of a Mature Condominium Property

Plants have a life cycle like everything else.

It is wonderful when all is new…new properties, kitchens, even floor plans!  Yes, everyone likes fresh surroundings.  As properties mature, so do their plantings. They become overgrown and encroach over windows that once provided sunshine and brightness.  All too often, dense bushes block walkways, creating dark and sometimes dangerous paths to doorways. As time passes, condominium properties suffer from age like everything else.A1 Right corner before2Over grown there was a window at some timeHow do you deal with an outdated landscape that needs to compete with newer properties?  Do you remove everything? Do you plant or remove something here or there? Where will the needed money come from?

Blade Runners was called to revitalize the Bentana Park Condominium complex in Reston, VA.  Residents voted for a foundation facelift to update the property and help protect their real estate investment.  The Bentana Park Condo board president said, “We’re so glad we hired Blade Runners to restore and renew our community.  We once again have bright walkways, sun shining through windows, and a welcome environment for our residents!”

  Scroll down below to see the before and after pictures and the positive first impressions created by Blade Runners.              

A1 Top before2A1 top after2A2 before2A2 after2A1 Right corner after2A1 Right corner before2AI Halfway Before2A1 Halfway after2

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Blade Runners Creates Landscape Islands to Enhance Your Property’s Common Areas

Messy Island 1Those dirty rings…you try scrubbing them out, rinsing them out, and you STILL have “Ring Around the Collar!” Those bare dirt-ridden islands. Seeding and watering just create a muddy mess. Where can you place your trash cans for pick-up? Blade Runners has created countless island transformations that eliminate the mud, lower maintenance bills, and provide safety zones for your children and attractive landing areas for trash receptacles.Island Solution d2

Here’s a safe spot for children awaiting their school bus.

island solution B2 An excellent location for trash receptacles        Island solution A.jpg2

 Blade Runners will create appealing curbsides and enhance the beauty of your community.


  

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Blade Runners and Magic Salt are Making Television News!


BLADE RUNNERS is the only contractor in the Washington, DC region to use MAGIC SALT. There are countless reasons to make use of this product…BUT…don’t believe us!  See what 8 different national news television stations are saying about it.

Click on the images below to our MAGIC SALT video website

eyewtness graphic

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Blade Runners really IS better

Are commercial contractors the same? Do they all operate with the same level of safety and quality?

At Blade Runners we do not think so!

 The photos below might seem humorous but really are not funny.  This irresponsibity can create damage on your site and expose your property to unneeded liability.

CHECK UNDER THE HOOD WHEN CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR.

What are looking at


Maybe I should be using a push mower with a bagging attachment here
Big Mowers are fronts save time. But they cause damage to turf, plants and light posts.
Ummm, Look at this track damage
Gas in water bottle in back pocket- Whats with the bandana

Tree badness1 REDONE

tree badness 2 redoneBlade Runners Knows How To Get the Job Done…Safely and Correctly!

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Blade-Runners Helps Reston Community with Water Erosion

Water and Soil Erosion in your Neighborhood

As a child running, jumping and sliding down through puddles and mud left in the backyard after a downpour was as much fun as the slip-n-slide in the heat of summer.  As an adult, the mud-induced slip-n-slide is not so fun and difficult to negotiate while taking out the trash or walking the dog.

Didn’t there used to be grass there?

As an adult, we’ve seen the mud in our community start to resemble a Slip-N-Slide.  While taking out the trash and walking the dog, this can be hard to traverse.  As the neighborhood become

mud slide 1more muddy after each thunder storm, more tree roots are exposed and the turf is slipping away.  Water erosion has started.  This erosion is usually most noticeable during short-duration, high-intensity storms.

Is there anything we can do?

house clearance birmingham can help you with the collection of the waste, they make the process straightforward and hassle-free..  Although this process is “natural” it is not beneficial to our living environments.

Overtime water erosion can damage structures, pollute drinking water and cause accidents.  To prevent this contact us now at the lawn by Maple Land Works.

Solving the Problem

Developing the use of subterranean and surface drainage systems coordinated with select tree removal and canopy thinning, as well as establishing woodchip buffer areas with native plants, Blade-Runners increases the valuegreenary 1 of your property by creating a park-like atmosphere at a one time forgotten or unused or neglected part of the property and resolves your water erosion issues the right way.  Blade-Runners has solved water and soil erosion problems in communities such as Hunters Green Cluster, Bentana Park Condominiums, Oak Spring Cluster in Reston and others in Fairfax and surrounding Counties.  Blade-Runners carefully considers all requirements and recommendations of the community and area before designing recommendations and practices.  By doing this Blade-Runners can ensure their approach to erosion and drainage issues really work.  Contact us today so we can help your community.

(Learn more about A Affordable Tree Experts and their multiple tree services on their website)

lawn by Maple Land Works
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Proper Pruning


Creating an Objective: Some of the most common objectives are listed below.

  • Improve structure/health
    • Improve health by establishing a structural pruning program to young trees 15’ or less on the property.  Structural pruning of young trees is the best way to ensure and improve the serviceable lifespan of trees on your property.
  • Provide a view
    • A view can be created or enhanced through crown reduction where the edge of the crown at the top of the tree is reduced or by elevation pruning where lower branches of the crown are removed.
  • Provide clearance
    • Growth can be directed away from buildings lights or parking areas. This is the most commonly request pruning item and will need to be repeated as the tree will grow back to fill the void created by pruning.
  • Reduce risk of failure
    • Risk of tree failure can be reduced by identifying and rectifying hazard conditions such in bark, dead or broken branches or large scaffold limbs. Mature trees need to be monitored to manage these risks. Recommendations will depend on the specific tree.

Types of Pruning

You may have noted several pruning terms listed in the description above. Your proposal should speak in these terms, beware of specs that simply state ‘Pruning’ We use the following terms in our proposals as they are recognized tree standards supported by the International Society of Arboriculture and the American National Standards Institute[ANSI]

Remove Deadwood Crown Cleaning Crown   Thinning Crown Reduction Crown Raising Structural Pruning
Dead limbs exceeding 1″ in caliper   will be removed in order to eliminate a possible hazard to underlying   targets. A light pruning of thinning or   lateral cuts to selectively remove dead, broken, crossing, injured,   co-dominant or diseased branches will reduce the movement of decay, insects   and diseases from dead or dying branches. Selective removal of live   branches to reduce crown density. Lateral or drop-crotch cuts to   reduce the breadth of the canopy or decrease the height and/or breadth of a   tree. Selective removal of branches to   provide vertical clearance above walkways, vehicles, signs, streets and   vistas. Removal of live branches to   establish dominant central leader, influence spacing, growth rate, strength   of attachment and size of branches.

 

When encouraging the healthy growth of your trees and plants it is important for you or your contractor to follow the American National tandards for Pruning (ANSI 300). Read more to see these standards and to get other hints! You should not be confused by the terminology that your contractors use. Be Pragmatic and ask Pointed Questions! Be sure they follow the appropriate terminology and have thoroughly trained staff. Your contractor will know when the best time to prune each specific plant is.

We welcome all calls to your Blade Runners Account Manager should you have any questions!

 

 

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Virginia Property Owners’ Association Act New Notice of Pesticide Application Requirements

 

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. When you need your pest control issues taken care of promptly, call PA Pest Arrest!

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.

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About

Blade Runners was founded in 1984 by Eric Storck, a landscape gardener with a passion to deliver quality service in a courteous fashion.

Blade Runners strives to be different and better than our competitors. We believe the devil is in the details when it comes to comparing companies.

What sets us apart? Blade Runners has a commitment to a trained team of excellent employees. We only work in Northern Virginia, with locations in Sterling, Lorton, and Fairfax and we have a large number of clients located in close proximity to one another. We employee a wide range of progressive environmentally safe products. Our attention to technology is ahead of pack, and we have invested in different smart equipment to save time and money for our clients. Blade Runners has developed dozens of videos and articles to save our clients time making decisions and understanding the landscape maintenance process.

But don’t just believe us, visit our testimonials page or view our Google reviews.

Contact Details

Toll-Free: (888) 773-7494

Toll-Free: (703) 865-4017

Blade Runners, Inc.
3150 Spring Street
Fairfax, VA 22031

Blade Runners, Inc.
45763 Elm Wood Ct.
Sterling, VA 20163

Blade Runners, Inc.
7904 Hill Park Ct.
Lorton, VA 22079

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