Executive Care Inc.

January 2010 – Click to Download and View

Before we start with our first editorial of the New Year, I want to wish everyone a good upcoming year. I trust that Christmas went well, and its purpose of giving and receiving was meaningful (more than just material gifts, but time spent with family and friends). We are caring for our aged mother (she will be 89 this year) and cannot be easily moved, so family comes to see us. So for a few short days the home is full, with my wife cooking away while I was recuperating from a “minor surgery” (I don’t think any surgery is minor, it all hurts!), so I was of no help at all. This time of year between Christmas and New Year is probably the only time that business, with the exception of retail, takes a much needed pause, so I hope you took one. Especially you ladies, you are the “stars” of the Christmas/Holiday season; so thank you for all you did, and continue to do. Continue reading ‘A Time For New Growth – Jan.’

Feb 2010 Concepts on Ideas and Design (PDF Download)
As owner of Executive Care Landscape my service to you, my clients, is very much based on my own experiences, education and beliefs. So knowing a little about me, or any company’s owner, is valuable to you, the consumer. Continue reading ‘Up Close and Personal – Feb.’

By Arthur Navarrette of Executive Care Landscape

Click Here to Download PDF  of our March 2010 Article

Welcome to our March story. If you have not read February’s story, please do (it is on my website under publications), it reviews landscaping points, my experience, new products and a “punch list” of important garden duties to do in the next month (try to finish them before all the pruning begins). If you follow the list you will ensure that your landscape gets off to a good start. Also, I want to thank all of you that I met at the Home and Garden show. It was a pleasure to meet you, and the positive comments about the monthly stories were very encouraging. It makes getting up at four in the morning to write them worth it. Continue reading ‘Design Elements: Hardscapes -March’

PDF – Design Elements: Pt. 2 – Lighting

Welcome to our April story and Part II of Design Elements. For those of you who did not read March’s magazine please go to my website (under publications) and read Part I on hardscapes. In brief review, last month we discussed design elements as they pertain to hardscapes Continue reading ‘Design Elements Pt.2 – April’

Apr 09 Keeping a Beautiful Landscape Beautiful (PDF Download)

I am going to repeat a phrase so that after finishing this article, one truth will be evident and remembered. A beautiful landscape remains beautiful in direct proportion to the correct maintenance it receives. As a landscape contractor, we go to a lot of effort to design and install a landscape that is unique, colorful and welcoming, which takes time and money. Through the years, I have revisited the homes we have finished, and typically the landscapes look good to the untrained eye but are falling short of their potential. Our clients are not knowledgeable enough and/or too busy to address it properly. Unfortunately, while hardworking the typical maintenance mow and blow crews lack sufficient knowledge of ornamental horticulture to address the issues. All the plants are pruned the same, at times cutting off the forming buds, and watered the same, regardless of sun or shade, i.e. generic maintenance instead of beautiful landscape. Continue reading ‘Keeping a Beautiful Landscape Beautiful’

PDF – Let’s Have Some Fun (June)

By Arthur Navarrette
of Executive Care Landscape

In this article I am finally able to tell a story and release some photos about my experiences on a TV show. Last October I filmed an episode of Turf War, the DIY Network series. Now that the episode has aired (May 9th) I can share my behind the scenes stories. If you haven’t seen it, watch for it on reruns. Continue reading ‘Let’s Have Some Fun – June’

July 2010 – PDF Download

Welcome to June’s edition of “Landscape Talk.” Those of you who read my article monthly know that I cover a wide range of topics. Last year, because of the concerns about water restrictions, I did a survival series that covered water smart products such as nozzles and timers, proper drip installations, lawns that require only once weekly irrigation, rain cisterns, and other related topics. I started this year explaining why run-off from our properties is a concern, the effect of synthetic fertilizers, and the reason we should start incorporating more “bridge” product fertilizers. These may contain some synthetic fertilizer for a quick start, but also have organic fertilizer with beneficial soil micros that improve the plant’s environment without harming our own. Continue reading ‘In Review – July’

August 2010 – PDF Download

Welcome to our August edition of “Landscape Talk.” Last month we started to review the articles written to date in order to provide readers with an index of the information available. We have already covered January-July 09. Now we will continue with August 09 and finish the year. For those of you who do not receive this publication monthly, you can request it from Home Improvement & Remodeling Magazine, or view all our articles either on our website, www.executivecareinc.com, under publications or on www.homeimprovement-magazine.com. So with that introduction, let’s get started!

Continue reading ‘In Review, Pt 2 – August’

House2HomeShowcase.com – PDF Download – August

Welcome back to Landscape and a continued discussion of the thought process and design principles that are used to create an attractive landscape. This is the final article in the series, so I am going to begin with a brief review. Continue reading ‘Putting it All Together – August’

September 2010 – PDF Download

Welcome to our September edition.  I recently met with a new client who inadvertently trusted the wrong landscaper. His story reminded me of how important it is for you to know how to select a credible contractor, and how working with one is a wise investment. Instead of doing it twice, you only do it once.
Continue reading ‘Wise Decisions – Sept.’

May 09 Landscape Survival Guide (Pt 1)

In this continuation of April’s article I am emphasizing “survival tactics” for stage 3 water restrictions; stage 3 being defined as the restriction of watering landscapes to two days a week. Currently, at the time I am writing in mid-April, I believe only the City of Folsom has imposed these limitations. The other municipalities are on voluntary water conservation, setting a goal of 20% to 25% less water usage per end user. So what happens if a mandatory water restriction occurs, is your landscape prepared for it? Continue reading ‘Landscape Survival Pt. 1′

Jun 09 Landscape Survival Guide (Pt 2)

In the last issue we focused on “Survival Tactics” for Fescue lawns, which is the most commonly used lawn variety in Northern California, there fore it was important to discuss ways to protect it during water restrictions. If you have not read last month’s editorial, please go to www. HomeImprovementMagazine.com. In February and March I wrote about what makes a great landscape, and in April I talked about keeping beautiful landscapes beautiful. This month I want to introduce two new lawns, and by the time we are finished making the comparisons between them and Fescue, you will have a good understanding as to why I believe these will be the lawns of the future. Continue reading ‘Landscape Survival Pt. 2′