Tag Archive for: HOA lawn care

Alexandria BOD President compare Blade Runners to past Vendor

Another resident complimented the edging you guys are doing today. I know you guys do good job….
That one person who got off the no touch list probably due to the better job you guys are doing comparing to the old guys and his wife also mentioned in passing that you guys are doing a great job
Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend!
Thanks! KS

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Property Manager Comments


Thank you! I wish the board had opted to go with Blade Runners for 2020 – you’re so responsive and helpful it’s very refreshing. If you keep supplying these awesome proposals I can see them changing companies next year. Fingers crossed!

Community Association Manager

Sentry Management Inc

602 S. King St., Ste. 400

Leesburg, VA 20175

 

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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Release Statement on Round Up


Blade Runners, Inc. is Determined to use the best products for your site.  Recently Round Up has been in the news, below you will find information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).

– Statements on Round Up from EPA and NALP.

EPA Takes Next Step in Review Process for Herbicide Glyphosate, Reaffirms No Risk to Public Health

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking an important step in the agency’s review of glyphosate. As part of this action, EPA continues to find that there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen. The agency’s scientific findings on human health risk are consistent with the conclusions of science reviews by many other countries and other federal agencies. While the agency did not identify public health risks in the 2017 human health risk assessment, the 2017 ecological assessment did identify ecological risks. To address these risks, EPA is proposing management measures to help farmers target pesticide sprays on the intended pest, protect pollinators, and reduce the problem of weeds becoming resistant to glyphosate.

Full Statement from EPA –

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-next-step-review-process-herbicide-glyphosate-reaffirms-no-risk-public-health

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) recently released an updated statement regarding the recent jury decisions and the safety of Bayer Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer or glyphosate.

“NALP understands the important role glyphosate plays in managing landscapes and delivering crops, and we are committed to promoting and ensuring its safe and effective use based on scientifically supported decisions made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” NALP said in a press release. “NALP members are licensed and certified pesticide applicators that use glyphosate and other products in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.”

The EPA announced on May 6, 2019, that a final interim determination on the review of the herbicide glyphosate was reached.

The EPA’s conclusion was “that there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen.”

NALP says the EPA reached this determination after extensive human health and ecological risk assessments were conducted. NALP also notes that the interim final determination followed the publication of a draft assessment on glyphosate in 2017, which also found that glyphosate was not harmful to public health when used in accordance with label instructions.
Full Statement from NALP-

https://www.totallandscapecare.com/chemical-care/nalp-releases-update-statement-on-glyphosate/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=02-06-2020&utm_campaign=Total%20Landscape%20Care&ust_id=618b2f2a66c9b083e396ebb22f135d9e4588923a&oly_enc_id=7998G9338467F6R

 

 

 

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Who should I talk to on the site???

Let’s review the Management Chain of Command

ACCOUNT MANAGER–handles direct contact with you, the client
PRODUCTION MANAGER–handles management over-site for quality
CREW CHIEF–is in charge of the crew on site; works with the crew
CREW MEMBER–performs physical work

HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY THEM?

Account Managers and Production Managers drive one of these three vehicle types–feel free to talk  to them anytime.  Account manager CarManagers vehicle

 

Production manager truck

Crew Chiefs and Crew Members wear blue shirts with the Blade Runners logo.  They are the ones working on the site.  IT IS BEST NOT TO TALK TO THEM.  THEY ARE COMPLETING WORK FOR YOU AND NEED TO GET THEIR TASKS COMPLETED.

Shannon Picture 3 employees -2

 WHO CAN I TALK TO AT BLADE RUNNERS?

1)  Send your questions/concerns to the contact page on the website, which is directed to the president’s desk.

2)  Talk to the manager in the car, van or little truck–as pictured above.

3)  Contact your property manager or main point of contact for the service. (there is always one)

WHY NOT TALK TO THE CREW?

1)   They do not know the full scope of all the work on the service contract.

2)   They are busy doing a physical job and need to focus.

3)   It often results in frustration and miscommunication.

4)   You may resolve your concern one time for that visit, but not for the future when someone else comes the next visit.

5)   They are under pressure for a good deal of quality deliverables that do not involve client contact.

6)   Your concern might have nothing to do with what they are tasked for that day.  For instance, you might want to know about shrub trimming and they are  there to mow.

The contact page is really the best, it goes to the president’s desk.

https://www.blade-runners.com/groundsmaintenance_contact.php

Picture 4

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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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Sycamore Ridge Condo Association of Arlington Praises Blade Runners Lawn Care E-mail Notification System


Dear Eric,

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

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Blade Runners Landscape Contractor Drivers are CPR Certified


Osha has a requirement that all drivers have CPR training. This is often overlooked by contractors and clients should really ask about it.

First-aid and CPR training in Toronto 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

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Blade Runners Landscape Contractor Complies with VA Dept of Agriculture Pesticide Licensing


All people that apply pesticides and herbicides are required to have licensing from the Virginia Department of Agriculture. As such extending education is required each year. See the certificate for Eric Storck, President of Blade Runners, completing this requirment.

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Oak Manor HOA of Oakton VA Compliments Blade Runners Landscaping


Eric,

I want you to know that I am getting nothing but compliments from our residents about the landscaping work. Even the biggest complainer in the HOA began his latest whine with the qualifier that “the common area looks much better.”

I know first-hand from my own career that quality service delivery doesn’t “just happen.” It takes a lot of hands-on supervision and attention to details. We appreciate very much the successful efforts your company is making to keep our neighbor looking first class.

BTW, we are having our first social event of the season this Sunday starting at 5 PM. It is a very informal wine party at the gazebo with some snacks. I don’t want to impose on your weekend, but if you and/or Mike want to stop by with your wives and meet some of our residents then you are most welcome to do so.

Thanks much,

Merle Russ

 President and Grounds Chairman Oak Manor HOA

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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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