How Innovative Turf Equipment Benefits Your Landscape and Controls Noise

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Autonomous equipment is a game changer. Eco-friendly and reliable, robotic mowers are delivering impressive results. For property managers keen on reducing noise, robotic mowers are among a class of next gen options designed to provide a less disruptive landscape maintenance experience.

ELM is currently testing autonomous equipment and plans to use on unique, size-constrained areas, such as green roofs, or to simplify tough mowing jobs, such as clearing vegetation from sloped areas. 

As part of ELM’s ‘future ready’ initiative, Husqvarna robotic mowers will become part of a fleet of smart commercial grade equipment that will help us offer new and existing clients increased efficiency, added safety, and the opportunity to deliver complex and less disruptive turf services in a new way. 

Overall, autonomous vehicles are safer, produce fewer emissions than conventional mowing equipment, and offers specific benefits to property owners seeking environmentally-friendly options for green build or LEED credits. 

ELM is applying green technologies to support our clients’ and our own sustainability goals and robotic mowers are an important next step in flexibility, scalability and improved services. 

To learn more about how advanced technologies can make a difference in your landscape management services, contact Bruce Moore Jr. at 203-316-5433.

Bruce Moore Jr. is “Living for Landscaping”

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Capping a first year of leadership success as ELM’s president, Bruce Moore Jr is “Living for Landscaping” in the August issue of Irrigation & Green Industry magazine. Learn how ELM’s strategy for offering exceptional service is winning customers and how everyone at ELM is empowered to drive growth.

https://igin.com/article-7564-Bruce-Moore-Jr-Living-for-landscaping.html?fbclid=IwAR23w5w3edDqzSmV8QC667MBf9K-5PXwQUZ4Xnch5ft2fUMpajme7Z_VkZk

ELM Receives Top Honors from National Association of Landscape Professionals

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Eastern Land Management was recognized with two 2018 Awards of Excellence from the National Association of Landscape Professionals for its work at Merritt7 Commercial Office Park, Norwalk CT, and Landmark Square, Stamford, CT.

The annual awards program, now in its 49th year, salutes landscape projects that exemplify the best in their category and address unique areas of expertise and proficiency.

 

“We accept these prestigious awards on behalf of our clients,” said ELM President Bruce Moore Jr. “Our team displays discipline and dedication to their work and this recognition underscores our commitment to continue delivering quality and best practices across our entire service portfolio.”

 

The awards will be presented at the national association’s annual Awards of Excellence ceremony at LANDSCAPES2018, the industry’s annual conference and expo in Louisville KY, October 18, 2018.

 

The landscape competition has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in the nation and reflects the rapidly evolving professionalism that the industry represents.

 

Photo:  Merritt7, the Charles O. Perry sculpture garden.

 

 

09-20-2018

 

 

 

 

 

Green Technologies Help Property Managers Move Toward a Culture of Alternative Fuel Sources and Reduced Environmental Impacts.

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ELM recently launched its alternative fuels and advanced engine technology program as an effective way to improve air quality and support commercial property LEED® initiatives.

To support the firm’s fuel forward goals, ELM is working with Mean Green Mowers and Green Works Commercial Equipment on an energy action plan that includes growing its fleet of electric mowers and trimmers.

Beyond the initial focus of reducing environmental impacts on commercial landscapes, ELM is promoting innovation in green performance and value improvements that support higher standards in leaner service cycles, while providing real estate clients with the right information to drive sustainable decisions and make their properties more competitive and attractive for tenants.

 

  • Embracing automation: ELM is working with its suppliers to test and deploy next generation robotic mowers, and use renewable energy and alternative fuels to reduce cost, maintenance and emissions; apply GPS and mobile time tracking software, customer relationship management software, digital communications and reporting tools, to improve performance, and underscore ELM’s sense of responsibility to run a leaner and cleaner operation.
  • Accelerating turn-around. The speed at which ELM can roll out new greener services and technology improves its ability to scale up. ELM is committed to forecasting client needs and investing in proactive team training and tools to improve bottom line goals.
  • Optimizing data for continuous improvement. ELM captures data from benchmarking studies, customer surveys, and process improvements to shape its ability to be faster, more flexible and a more client-centered service company.
  • Increasing efficiencies to become more competitive, cost-effective risk managers. Seasonal weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards and droughts, drive ELM’s proactive commitment to safety. Weather forecasting software, advanced training for snow/ice and emergency storm response keeps ELM on top of potential risk factors to prevent problems before they happen.
  • Innovating water management to improve environmental concerns. ELM is coordinating with utility companies, manufacturers and conservation specialists to educate its clients about drought and resource management. ELM’s water management program delivers on tight budgets to repair deteriorating irrigation systems and improve conservation metrics with cloud-based technologies designed to improve sustainability profiles, safeguard ground water quality, and reduce annual water costs.

For information on improving your green footprint, assessing the aesthetics of your facility’s open space, implementing sustainable approaches to irrigation, stormwater filtration, or creating a stronger continuity of pedestrian-friendly common areas, contact Vice President, Operations, Bruce Moore, Jr. at 203-316-5433.

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It’s Tick Season. How Landscape Modifications Can Protect Your Employees.

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Tick-borne diseases are an emerging health problem. In fact, the number of people getting diseases from ticks, mosquito and fleas, is on the rise.  In Fairfield County, the Connecticut Department of Public Health is advising its residents to take added tick prevention measures, at home and at work, to avoid the tick-borne Lyme disease.

The best defense is to manage risk. Currently, no vaccines are available in the U.S. against any tick-borne disease so landscape adjustments and the use of integrated pest management are among the most effective ways to reduce exposure, especially on commercial properties featuring high grass, brushy or wooded areas, and areas adjacent to ornamental plantings, walls, and walking trails.

ELM recommends the following tick control measures:

  • Increase buffer zones to increase sunlight, reduce tick habitat, and discourage rodent hosts.
  • Create clean and clearly defined borders between planted areas, beds, and lawns.
  • Cut back wood and brush lines to protect pedestrians from brushing up against vegetation.
  • Introduce mulch or gravel barriers between wooded areas and lawns.
  • Clear brush, debris and leaf litter, especially along edges of walls, driveways, and lawns.
  • Add hardscape, such as stone, tile, and gravel paths to increase tick safe buffer zones.
  • Manage or remove invasive plant species that provide habitat for ticks carrying Lyme disease.
  • Keep lawn areas mowed.
  • Discourage foraging deer by introducing deer-resistant annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.
  • Apply deer repellents to limit deer feeding territory.
  • Use a safe and sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) program that uses either organic or insecticidal methods to reduce risk, and monitor and control disease-bearing insect populations during summer’s warmer months.

For more information on ELM’s pest, tick, mosquito and flea-management program, contact Vice President, Operations, Bruce Moore, Jr. at 203-316-5433.

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Photo: Adult black legged (deer) tick.

 

Best Landscape Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Property.

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With spring weather and longer days, pedestrian-friendly outdoor spaces are back in business.

For many properties, landscaped open spaces pulls the business together. Open air verandas, greenways for biking and interconnected systems of nature paths and walkways can often become the heartbeat of your campus.

Our harsh winter, however, may have left your grounds in need of repair. Excess water, from abundant snow melt can lead to drainage problems above and below the surface. Sunken pavers or damaged pavements and cracks in retaining walls are problems that are easy to spot on a walk-through.

Sometimes issues that are minor are more extensive that you might think. We can diagnose potential problems and help you decide what to tackle first.

To keep it simple, we recommend the following list of freshening projects and repair solutions that will deliver the greatest return on your investment. 

Plant more trees: Trees are one of the few plants that continue to add sustainable economic value, long after other plants outlive their peak performance. They absorb pollutants, improve air quality, regulate air temperature, and their root systems add nutrients to the soil and anchor the landscape to reduce rates of erosion.

Reimagine lawns: High performing lawn alternatives include replacing traditional or under-utilized lawn areas with perennial meadows, planting foot-friendly ground covers, and installing wide herbaceous borders planted with ornamental grasses and shrubs to add interest.

Improve outdoor work spaces:  On corporate sites, outdoor rooms, covered patios, terraces, above grade decks, and recreational amenities are shaping the new integrated work space.  Bocce ball and sports courts, roof top gardens, and courtyards encourage employee social interaction and productivity.  Privacy screens using strategic plant material provide quiet work area alternatives and warm weather collaboration space.

Reduce environmental impacts:

Pedestrian friendly is also bike friendly. Bolster the health benefits your stakeholders receive from your property with bike paths, racks and storage areas. Use reclaimed masonry and lumber to refresh built elements; monitor water usage through high tech digital systems; control drainage and erosion problems to protect ground water quality; restore habitat areas to attract pollinators and beneficial insects; and modify streams to protect estuaries, and riparian corridors.

Create accessibility:

ADA-compliant improvements in benches, walkways, ramps, and parking surfaces help corporate properties be inclusive to all individuals. Rehabilitate facades, upgrade signage, walkways and medians, with improved safety lighting will significantly increase market value.

Boost image:

The exterior of your building is the first impression people have. Exterior areas that are inviting, interactive, and vibrant with flowers and trees, and use an interesting mix of building materials, send a message that speaks to the quality and spirit of your brand while complementing the look and feel of your property.

Get LEED® certified:

Landscape improvements can qualify for LEED® by improving soil, addressing water efficiency and drainage, and the strategic use of plants and trees.  Our ecologically sound principles for maintenance, and maintenance practices, which include the proper application and use of nutrients and chemical alternatives to reduce toxicity, are critical to achieving green credits for energy efficiency.

As corporate campuses adapt to changing needs, ELM can help property owners and managers revitalize landscapes and assist in the planning of hardscape improvements to coordinates with other site infrastructure upgrades, as well as implement programs for annual repair and maintenance.

For more information on re-energizing your landscape, support LEED® goals, or simply to offer your employees a thriving integrated outdoor space, contact Bruce Moore Jr., vice president operations at 203.316.5433

Photo caption:  Ecological restoration projects are win-wins that benefit habitat biodiversity and serve corporate sustainability goals.  ELM created a healthier waterway in this stream reclamation project by re-directing the creek’s flow, re-building the stream bed and its banks as part of a drainage swale project for Oracle Corporation in Stamford. © ELM.

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Hard Times for Tulips

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Just when we thought spring was finally here, freakish weather hit everyone’s favorite flower and brought with it a late leaf-out of landscape trees and shrubs.

While the damage can be upsetting, all is not lost. In many cases, replacing or pruning out dead or injured plant material is the best course of action, especially if the plants or stems have died back.

If your landscape has experienced late winter trauma, we recommend:

  • Spread nutrient-dense mulch around plants to hold warmth in the soil and protect roots.
  • Assess and prune damaged plants once there is no longer a risk of frost.
  • Aerate lawns, sod or seed bare spots.
  • Set up lawn and plant health care program.
  • Clean up and divide perennial foliage, and thin roots.
  • Prune shrubs damaged by frost before any new growth appears.
    Clean up left over leaves and debris from winter storms to keep landscape free of pathogens, mold and decomposed material.
  • Cut back ornamental grasses to prep for spring growth.
  • Apply pre-emergent herbicide to beds when temps warm and before seeds germinate.
  • Spray susceptible trees and shrubs with non-toxic products to prevent disease and infestation.
  • Assess drainage problems and look for potential ground water issues and fix.
  • Run sprinkler systems to adjust for optimum coverage and inspect for leaks.
  • Check sprinkler heads for damage by weather, equipment, or burrowing animals.
  • Repair broken outdoor lighting that took abuse in the winter.
  • Upgrade outdoor outlets with safety devices.
  • Upgrade obsolete irrigation systems with automatic, Wi-Fi controlled systems and to comply with local water restrictions.

ELM’s customer support team cares deeply about the success of your landscape and is at the forefront of making sure your spring starts off on the right foot.

If you have any questions about the health and well-being of your landscape, contact ELM operations vice president

5 Reasons Property & Facility Managers Find Increased Value with ELM

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It’s a question every building manager and buyer of landscape services asks: “am I getting my money’s worth?”

We know that there are lots of reasons a customer might choose to partner with us, but what we’ve found in over 40 years doing what we do best, the reason is essentially this:  exceptional service, competitive pricing, and quality work.

All things being equal, most good landscape contractors do the same things.  Like us, they invest in the right tools, continuous training, and substantive programs to stay ahead of the curve on problems and solutions.  But here’s where we think we’re different and why we think this matters in a way that helps you and your property perform at its best.

The difference between good and great

Our goal to become a great company means that we are always moving forward.  We know greatness is not easily achieved but the process of becoming great is something everyone at ELM works at. Even better, every one of our team members can tell you how we define greatness and what they do to help drive it. To us, having fun as a team, helping people advance their careers, serving our communities, and volunteering for causes we believe in, makes us feel like we’re the luckiest company in the world. It’s this sense of gratitude that we bring to our relationships with every individual we are lucky enough to work with and for.

Dedicated and personal service

Going beyond is more than a tagline, it means that we understand your businesses, your strategic goals, and we work to help you get where you need to be.  We also know that you’re busy. This means we don’t waste a lot of time and money on unnecessary tasks. We respect what’s on your plate, and believe that great service requires a give AND take, not give or take.

A history of forward thinking, proactivity

As a privately-held, family-owned business, we are independent and nimble and believe that agility has kept us relevant in periods of uncertainty. Our ability to adapt and deliver value at all times is part of who we are. It is a mindset that helps us meet your needs in an ever-changing market and prepares us to stay out in front of trends in our own industry, as well.

Knowledge-based solutions

Our experience matters. We view our role as more than being just your service partner. As a curator of your most important asset, our smarter workflow will enable a better return on your investment, deliver better results, and we’ll always be on the lookout for opportunities to improve your outdoor environment as a healthier place to live, work and play.

Safety first risk management

Working with heavy equipment and seasonal weather patterns means that your landscape and grounds can suffer if risk management is not properly addressed. Optimizing safety, reducing liability, and managing risk is what our teams train for.  In fact, the health and well-being of our customers’ properties, their employees, tenants and guests, is our top priority.  We recognize that risk is an inherent component of all outdoor work, so we place a priority making sure safety is always first.  This includes having a highly-trained winter crew, experienced emergency, storm and blizzard responders, and on-call seasonal support.

Stamford, CT.-based Eastern Land Management offers a full range of commercial landscape, grounds and winter services to the northern market of New York City, Connecticut’s Fairfield County and New York’s Westchester County.

As part of ELM’s commitment to serve the growing needs of its Fairfield customers, as well as deliver unmatched asset value advantage for property and facility managers, and school and university campuses alike, ELM is scheduled to open a conveniently-located new service hub in Monroe, CT, in June, 2018.

To learn more about large scale landscape contracting or to just talk about a long-overdue upgrade, contact Bruce Moore, Jr., vice president of operations, 203-316-5433.

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Why Prune in Winter?

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One of the easiest and most effective ways to promote your property’s value is to put your deciduous shrubs and small trees on a seasonal care program that includes structural pruning in winter.

Structural pruning, or pruning designed to ensure a sound structure and aesthetic form, is done during a plant’s dormancy for a number of reasons.  It gets young shrubs and trees off to a good start, removes dead or stressed wood, encourages healthy flowering and foliage in the spring, and improves their ability to survive storms.

Pruning in early winter will protect your trees and shrubs from the toll that heavy ice and snow can take when the weight of snow on branches can break limbs and cause damage to your landscape or liability and safety concerns.

ELM believes that proper pruning is an essential part of an overall commitment to the health of your landscape, a best practice that includes a regular program of soil nutrition, root zone conditioning, smart watering, insect and disease prevention, and plant health care.

Depending on which species of small trees and shrubs on your property, ELM’s pruning team will be identifying which plants on your property will make the cut and why.

If there are holly trees and shrubs on your site, you’re in luck. Cutting hollies back in December means the plant gets a new shape and the clipped branches make jolly holiday decorations.  Just ask. We’ll save some trimmings for you.

ELM’s dormant pruning principles:

  1. Supports disease management
  2. Creates a healthy canopy for spring
  3. Delivers more aesthetic results
  4. Improves spring growth, flowering and foliage
  5. Improves ability to withstand weather events and storms
  6. Proactively supports safety and liability by removing weak branches

For questions on landscape health in winter, or to schedule dormant pruning, please contact Bruce Moore, Jr., vice president, operations at 203-316-5433.

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How Weather Data is Transforming Landscape and Snow Service Decisions

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Bad weather can be bad for business. For property managers, winter storms in particular can significantly impact operations and affect revenue.

To help productivity and improve safety, ELM has invested in emerging weather research to provide you with weather planning as a strategic piece of your overall landscape budget.

“Being able to collect and apply information locally has opened up opportunities for us to improve communications and service timelines as we apply what we learn to be proactive about potential impacts,” said Bruce Moore Sr., who leads the ELM’s hazard and risk planning initiative.  “We know we can’t manage the weather but we can manage the financial implications of what weather can do if we’re not prepared for it,” he added.

Being responsible for the safety of commercial landscape and outdoor environments is mission-critical for ELM’s front line team who ensure that your business is taken care of while your workforce, tenants or campus remains safe.

“ELM’s hazard planning minimizes the disruption of our customer’s business, reduces insurance claims made by injured employees and customers, lowers exposure and increases the safety of everyone,” noted Bruce.

Technology has improved accuracy in predicting extreme weather and is providing exponentially more benefits to property managers looking to address emergency preparedness and site safety. Whether it’s the next generation of radar, new mobile applications, remote weather sensors that manage water conservation, or using forecasts to save money, more accurate predictions makes running a commercial landscape asset easier all year long.
ELM is committed to creating safer communities by protecting life and property, and managing risk.  To learn more about ELM’s weather service, contact Bruce Moore, Sr., Founder & CEO at 203-316-5433.

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Photo: The Connecticut River photographed from Conard weather balloon, a student-driven project of the Frederick U. Conard School’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program. ELM applauds students throughout Connecticut for the work they are doing in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.