We at Preferred Landscape and Lighting wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Testimonial Tuesday
"Baptist Medical Center employees love the light display on our building and trees. At the end of a long day at the hospital, it is so nice to leave the building and see the lights that make our campus sparkle. The lights remind us of the season we are celebrating. Preferred Holiday Decor was wonderful to work with and very professional. Your team worked with my team to assess the electricity and other needs to ensure we would have a great outcome.
Thank you for continuing to check on the lights at our hospital to ensure they look great. We appreciate the service after installation. Thanks Again."
Susan Alwais
Office Manager, Baptist Medical Center Administration
Monday, December 10, 2012
Congratulations to Alan!
Alan Burroughs is the most recent Preferred employee to graduate from the North Chamber's Leadership Lab program!
Leadership Lab is the North Chamber’s award-winning and innovative approach to leadership development and workforce preparedness targeted to San Antonio’s up-and-coming business leaders from the corporate, non-profit and small business environments. The nine-month training program is based on the most current thinking, research and best practices in leadership development focusing on five core elements including: professional performance, leadership, management, community service and self-awareness.
Leadership Lab involves a commitment from class participants to attend seminars monthly over a nine-month period. The series requires attendance at nine sessions beginning with a two-day, overnight retreat and eight (8) full-day sessions monthly thereafter. The course culminates in a graduation ceremony at the end of the year.
Preferred is committed to the career development of its employees as well as encouraging our employees to serve in our community. This program is a perfect fit and we have many employees who have completed the program in the past and continue to serve on the alumni boards.
For more information, please go to https://www.northsachamber.com/leadership-lab/.
Leadership Lab involves a commitment from class participants to attend seminars monthly over a nine-month period. The series requires attendance at nine sessions beginning with a two-day, overnight retreat and eight (8) full-day sessions monthly thereafter. The course culminates in a graduation ceremony at the end of the year.
Preferred is committed to the career development of its employees as well as encouraging our employees to serve in our community. This program is a perfect fit and we have many employees who have completed the program in the past and continue to serve on the alumni boards.
For more information, please go to https://www.northsachamber.com/leadership-lab/.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Congratulations to Nieves!
We are excited to announce that Nieves Montemayor of our own Preferred Landscape and Lighting has been selected for the 38th class of Leadership San Antonio! This program aims to give participants an in-depth knowledge of the community, awareness of its institutions and familiarity with its leadership and structure.
Congratulations to Nieves! For more information, see the following link.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
SAWS Rebate
Yesterday, we announced SAWS new rebate for both residential and commercial customers for the purchase of mulch and compost.
Attached is the link to SAWS websites with the details.
http://www.saws.org/Conservation/Rebates/
Attached is the link to SAWS websites with the details.
http://www.saws.org/Conservation/Rebates/
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
New Rebate from SAWS!
SAWS recently announced a new rebate program for their residential and commercial customers for purchases on mulch and compost. The program is temporary and all rebate requests must be postmarked by December 31, 2012 to qualify.
Program Details:
Residential
2-5 yards = $75 rebate
Over 5 yards = $150 rebate
Commercial (minimum of 5 yards)
5-10 yards = $200 rebate
over 10 yards = $350 rebate
You may purchase mulch and compost to qualify for two rebates. You may spread product yourself or use a contractor. The rebate is given as a credit to your SAWS account once the customer provides original receipts.
This is a great program is a great incentive to get your yard winterized. If you would like Preferred to help take advantage of this program, please give us a call at 210-657-7737.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Light Up Downtown S.A. This Holiday Season
Light Up Downtown San Antonio is getting ready for its second year this holiday season. Participants will be comprised of merchants and businesses in the downtown area. All street level properties within the central business district are encouraged to apply. The contest will begin on Friday, November 23, 2012. Mark Metzger, the holiday decor division director of Preferred Holiday Decor, stopped by the Fox News First studios Tuesday morning to talk about this year's event.
Check out the clip to see the interview - great job Mark! If your business needs help with holiday decor this year, please give us a call 210-657-7737.
http://www.foxsanantonio.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/vid_12113.shtml
Check out the clip to see the interview - great job Mark! If your business needs help with holiday decor this year, please give us a call 210-657-7737.
http://www.foxsanantonio.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/vid_12113.shtml
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Check out our updated website!
We have made some changes to our website in an effort to make it more user friendly. We have also added a link under the careers tab to our new hiring website. This website makes it easier to find our current job openings with versions in both English and Spanish. Please check it out and let us know your thoughts!
Hiring Website Links
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Testimonial Tuesday
Look at what some of our recent lighting customers had to say about their experience with Preferred:
"Very well designed and installed LED lighting system. Installation crew very professional and neat. Would recommend again."
~J.P.
"Great job! Inventoried existing 20 year old lighting system and redesigned new state of the art LED system. On time and budget during installation"
~ A.F.
Friday, September 14, 2012
The best fall annuals for San Antonio
 |
| Petunias |
Almost every landscape needs a fall refresh to give your landscape new life for the fall and prepare for cooler temperatures.
Now is the right time to do the following:
- Add mulch to the landscape beds
- Compost on turf
- Replace plants that have died over the summer
- Add seasonal annuals to your beds and pots
 |
| Sweet Alyssum |
What season annuals work best in San Antonio? We recommend Petunias, Fall Aster, Dianthus and Sweet Alyssum. Many want to plants Mums this time of year and that will work here but for a very short window of time.
 |
| Dianthus |
 |
| Fall Aster |
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Fall is just around the corner...
It may not seem like it with San Antonio still experiencing triple digit temperatures however fall is just around the corner.
Fall is the perfect time for new plantings in South Texas. If you are considering new landscaping or even just a fall refresh project, now is the time to give us a call 210-657-7737. We are currently scheduling our customers for new designs and installations and our spots are filling up fast. In our next post, we will tell you the best fall annuals to plant this season in San Antonio - Stay tuned!
Monday, September 10, 2012
We need help!
We are recruiting for …
ü Maintenance Foreman (Tracking code 69-581)
ü Install Foreman (Tracking code 68-581)
ü Holiday Lighting Tree Climbers (Tracking code 220-581)
ü Labor for Holiday Lighting ( Tracking code 219-581)
ü Labor for Landscape Installation (Tracking code 202-581)
ü Landscape Maintenance Account Service Representative (Tracking code 217-581)
ü Landscape Maintenance Account Service Representative & Holiday Décor Account Mgr ( Tracking code 75-581)
ü Landscape Project Manager (Tracking code 210-581)
ü Temporary Holiday Lighting Project Manager in San Antonio (Tracking code218-581)
ü Tree Climber Foreman (Tracking code 152-581)
ü Tree Climber (Tracking code 90-581)
If you are interested or know someone who is, please follow the links and apply online.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Save the Date!
Preferred will be hosting our annual Fall Fest on October 25th! Fall Fest is an event to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. More information to follow but please plan on joining us for dinner and fun on October 25th!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Plant your wildflower seeds this fall
Would you like to have your own wildflower patch in your garden next spring? It is close to time to get them planted - end of September and beginning of October is best. Now is the time to pick out the seeds and prepare the soil for planting.
We posted last spring about bluebonnets specifically but the advice works for most other wildflowers as well (skip step 4 for seeds that don't have the hard protective coat). http://preferredlandscape.blogspot.com/2012/04/create-your-own-bluebonnet-patch.html
We posted last spring about bluebonnets specifically but the advice works for most other wildflowers as well (skip step 4 for seeds that don't have the hard protective coat). http://preferredlandscape.blogspot.com/2012/04/create-your-own-bluebonnet-patch.html
Monday, August 27, 2012
It is back to school time for most kids this week and this time of year always makes me excited about the upcoming fall and the cooler temperatures.
Last week, we discussed what needed to be done in the vegetable garden at this time of year but what else do we need to do?
You can also divide any plants that have gotten too large - Daylilies, Iris, Liriope, Ferns, Cannas and Amaryllis are examples of plants that are easy to divide.
Last week, we discussed what needed to be done in the vegetable garden at this time of year but what else do we need to do?
September is a great time to feed your lawn - it will help growth next spring. You can also lay sod in October if you want to fill in some spots that didn't survive this summer.
Fall is also a great time to plant trees. The trees will grow roots throughout most of the winter and be much more prepared for the hot weather next summer.
You can also divide any plants that have gotten too large - Daylilies, Iris, Liriope, Ferns, Cannas and Amaryllis are examples of plants that are easy to divide.
You can add color to your landscaping beds this fall with some new perennials. For shade areas, Columbine and Turk's cap work well in the fall. For sun areas, Iris, Roses, Butterfly Bush, Lantana, Salvia, Santolina, and Copper Canyon Daisy are a few of our favorites to plant in the fall.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
What should you plant this fall?
So what should you plant and when should you plant it? In the chart below, it tells you the common vegetables planted in the fall as well as the optimal timing to plant them. As you can see, the next few weeks are key for many of them (and we are late for a few of them!).
The following are optimal "windows of time" for planting fall vegetables:
| |
| Beans - 8/1 - 9/1 (lima beans 7/15 - 8/15) | Muskmelon (Cantaloupe) - 7/15 - 8/1 |
| Beets - 9/1 - 10/15 | Mustard - 9/15 - 10/15 |
| Broccoli plants - 8/1 - 9/15 | Parsley - 8/15 - 10/1 |
| Brussels sprouts - 8/1 - 10/1 | Peas, English - 8/15 - 9/15 |
| Cabbage plants - 8/15 - 9/15 | Peas, Southern - 7/1 - 8/1 |
| Carrots - 8/15 - 10/15 | Pepper plants - 7/1 - 8/1 |
| Cauliflower plants - 8/15 - 9/15 | Potatoes, Irish - 8/15 - 9/15 |
| Chard, Swiss - 8/1 - 10/15 | Pumpkin - 7/1 - 8/1 |
| Collard/Kale - 8/15 - 10/1 | Radish - 9/15 - 10/15 |
| Corn, Sweet - 8/1 - 8/15 | Spinach - 9/1 - 10/15 |
| Cucumber - 8/1 - 9/1 | Squash, Summer - 7/15 - 8/15 |
| Eggplant plants - 7/15 - 8/1 | Squash, Winter - 7/1 - 7/15 |
| Garlic - 9/1 - 10/15 | Tomato plants - 7/15 - 8/1 |
| Kohlrabi - 8/15 - 9/15 | Turnips - 10/1 - 11/1 |
| Lettuce (leaf) - 9/15 - 10/15 | Watermelon - 7/1 - 8/1 |
Source: http://easttexasgardening.tamu.edu/homegardens/fallveggarden.html
Monday, August 20, 2012
Fall is just around the corner...
I know it seems odd to think about fall with 100 degree days but now is the time to start your fall vegetable garden! We are lucky in South Texas to actually have two different growing seasons when we can swap out our spring plantings and get in some plants that will soon enjoy the cooler temps.
The first step is getting your soil ready. You need to pull the weeds and till in some compost to the soil. Keep any plants that are still producing - peppers planted in the spring can often continue to produce throughout the fall planting season as well as many of the herbs.
The next step is to determine what you want to plant. Look for varieties of plants that have a fast maturity so you can get as much harvest before the first frost.
What are you planting this year? In the next post, I will go through our favorite plants for the fall season and when they need to get planted.
The first step is getting your soil ready. You need to pull the weeds and till in some compost to the soil. Keep any plants that are still producing - peppers planted in the spring can often continue to produce throughout the fall planting season as well as many of the herbs.
The next step is to determine what you want to plant. Look for varieties of plants that have a fast maturity so you can get as much harvest before the first frost.
What are you planting this year? In the next post, I will go through our favorite plants for the fall season and when they need to get planted.
Friday, August 17, 2012
We are hiring!
Happy Friday to all!
These are our current job openings. Please apply if you are interested!
Maintenance Account Service Representative
Landscape Install & Maintenance Foreman
Tree Climber Foreman
Tree Climber
Friday, August 10, 2012
Community in Action
The following is an article of a project we were honored to be a part of. They are still looking for volunteers to help tomorrow if you have any free time!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Preferred is now pinning!
Preferred Landscape and Lighting is now featured on Pintrest! Our boards are a work in progress but can't get enough of looking at other people's great ideas. We are excited to share pictures and ideas for landscaping, lighting, holiday lighting, outdoor kitchens, arbors,etc.
Have you been on Pintrest yet? What boards do you find the most interesting to you?
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Preferred is on the Fast Track!
We will attach a link to the article as soon as it is available.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Christmas in July
The holiday season is just a few months away and now is the time to start planning! Preferred offers Holiday decor sales, design, installation and consultation services. We offer architectural lighting for commercial, public and residential spaces using cutting edge technology and products. We offer large scale commercial installation services and are recognized as an industry leader and are currently working with retail centers, corporate offices and municipalities throughout Texas
Monday, July 9, 2012
Beat the Heat!
Top 3 things you can do to help your landscape beat the heat!
1. Mulch is vital to plants for keeping cool. There are many benefits to adding mulch to your landscape
- Keeps root zones cooler, moist and prevents evaporation.
- Prevents weeds which steal water and nutrients from your plants
- Properly mulched planting beds hold water longer.
2. Drip, Drip, Drip
Drip Irrigation is the best way to water your planting beds as it is much more efficient than traditional irrigation. As much as 60% of the water used by traditional spray and rotor irrigation is lost to evaporation and never makes it to your thirsty plants. Drip irrigation, however, is a much more effective delivery system that puts water directly onto the root zones of the plants. When the drip tubing is properly covered with mulch, almost none of the water is lost to evaporation.
3. Program your irrigation system
In order to optimize your ability to water your landscape and follow the watering restrictions, it is important to review your programming for your irrigation system. Resetting your controller so you are using your drip irrigation on all the allowable days and watering your turf on the correct day of the week will keep your landscape in good shape and keep you in compliance and avoid citations with the watering authorities
Monday, July 2, 2012
We are hiring!
Preferred Landscape and Lighting has the following positions open:
Landscape Maintenance Account Service Representative:
Foreman & Labor positions
Please contact us if you are interested!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Whats the difference between Drip Irrigation and Soaker Hoses?
Here is a great answer to this common question from SAWs website:
Customers frequently ask what the difference is between drip irrigation and soaker hoses. Most of the time, they are grouped together as fairly efficient means of applying water directly to the soil without exposing it to evaporative loss. But, there are some differences and these become important in Stage 2 Drought Restrictions.
Think of them as different types of cars. One is slow and very efficient. The other strains to be fast, but is not very efficient. Drip irrigation can be thought of as the slow, efficient car. It provides water to the soil and plant in a gradual, exact manner. Most drip systems are designed by professional irrigators to maximize coverage. Moreover, drip irrigation is pressure regulated to provide the same amount of water throughout the system.
Soaker hoses, on the other hand, provide water inexactly and in varied amounts. The variations can be extensive if the hose bib is turned too far. Never turn the bib more than a quarter turn. Even then, on a single hose, you may have a lot more water in one spot of the garden than another, and soaker hoses typically put out more water at the front end of the hose. This is because soaker hoses are not pressure regulated or have pressure regulated emitters built in.
In Stage 2, soaker hoses may only be used on your designated watering day and only during the approved hours of 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Drip irrigation can be used on any day as long as it's during the approved hours. Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day in Stages 1 and 2.
For more information, go to http://www.saws.org/conservation/newsletter/summer/article.cfm?id=260
Customers frequently ask what the difference is between drip irrigation and soaker hoses. Most of the time, they are grouped together as fairly efficient means of applying water directly to the soil without exposing it to evaporative loss. But, there are some differences and these become important in Stage 2 Drought Restrictions.
Think of them as different types of cars. One is slow and very efficient. The other strains to be fast, but is not very efficient. Drip irrigation can be thought of as the slow, efficient car. It provides water to the soil and plant in a gradual, exact manner. Most drip systems are designed by professional irrigators to maximize coverage. Moreover, drip irrigation is pressure regulated to provide the same amount of water throughout the system.
Soaker hoses, on the other hand, provide water inexactly and in varied amounts. The variations can be extensive if the hose bib is turned too far. Never turn the bib more than a quarter turn. Even then, on a single hose, you may have a lot more water in one spot of the garden than another, and soaker hoses typically put out more water at the front end of the hose. This is because soaker hoses are not pressure regulated or have pressure regulated emitters built in.
In Stage 2, soaker hoses may only be used on your designated watering day and only during the approved hours of 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Drip irrigation can be used on any day as long as it's during the approved hours. Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day in Stages 1 and 2.
For more information, go to http://www.saws.org/conservation/newsletter/summer/article.cfm?id=260
 |
| Soaker Hose Example |
 |
| Drip Irrigation Example |
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Make a great first impression
Check out the following clip from Preferred Landscape and Lighting's appearance on Great Day SA!
http://www.kens5.com/great-day-sa/Make-a-great-first-impression-157873195.html
http://www.kens5.com/great-day-sa/Make-a-great-first-impression-157873195.html
Monday, June 25, 2012
Watch Out: How to prevent your backflow device from being stolen
Stolen valves are a troublesome problem these days particularly as the economy struggles, and these thefts can be costly. Replacement valves are only a portion of the costs to residents and businesses as the theft often results in damage to the grounds and to the pipes. Additionally, businesses may be forced to close and water service may be interrupted during the repairs.
What is being stolen
A backflow device is located near the water meter and can be above ground or in a box below ground. It is used to keep dirty water from entering the city water supply and in essence, keeps the neighborhood safe.
Why they may be stolen
The device is typically made of Brass, which is a valuable commodity. They are being stolen either to reuse by unlicensed individuals on the installation of new ‘bootlegged’ irrigation systems or to be sold for scrap to make a quick dollar.
Remedy
Install a new box to cover the in ground unit and bolt the lid on or install a box with a locking lid. The above ground units can be covered with a ‘gorilla cage’ that is bolted to a concrete pad.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Watch us on TV!
Tomorrow morning Darryl Cook will be on Great Day SA (KENS 5 at 9am). Darryl will be representing Preferred Landscape and Lighting and discussing LED Lighting. Show your support and tune in.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
They're Back...
You may heard their loud, raspy, pulsating sound or seen them munching the leaves in your oak trees - the Central Texas Leaf Katydids have arrived in South Texas this summer. In the 2007 outbreak, these voriacious eaters defoilated thousands of trees and now they are back for more.
They look similiar to a grasshopper and are often referred to as a "Longhorn Grasshopper" due to their long antennea or "Red Katydid" due to their red color. While masses of them can damage trees, especially the canopy of oak trees, they don't tend to inflict much long-term damage. They are mostly considered a nuisance because if they pick your trees as their summer home, in mass they make a loud noise that can be heard day and night and they will eat most of the leaves on your oak trees.
As of May 11th, outbreaks were being reported in Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Comal, Hays, Kerr, Medina, Travis and Williamson counties. Have you seen or heard them yet?
As of May 11th, outbreaks were being reported in Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Comal, Hays, Kerr, Medina, Travis and Williamson counties. Have you seen or heard them yet?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
A picture is worth a thousand words
Another example of what adding drip irrigation under your turf can do for your lawn....
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Community in Action
Big Angel BBQ
05/14/12
A San Antonio business has stepped beyond the generosity of financial assistance to hands-on involvement with the organizations and causes it supports. On Memorial Day week, Soldiers' Angels will be the latest organization to benefit from their support.
Preferred Landscape and Lighting, LLC (recently acquired by national company The Millard Group) has an extensive history of community involvement. In business for 17 years, they maintain connection to their local university, Rotary Club, and other need-based communication organizations. As they became more and more well-known for their financial support, they decided that they wanted to include a hands-on service component to get their 80 employees directly involved in the community. Getting their employees to take action is part of the company's management principle of "Servant Leadership," as President David Dunne explains, "It's part of who we are."
In a very creative answer to the company's outreach goals, Preferred Landscape and Lighting bought a 24-foot long mobile/towable BBQ pit! Each month the company's staff gets together to barbeque as part of fundraising for a San Antonio-area organization. In the last three years they have raised of $50,000 for worthy organizations, far more than they could have donated themselves.
On May 28, Preferred Landscape and Lighting will bring their mobile BBQ to the Soldiers' Angels Support Center as part of the Memorial Day commemorative festivities. It will be the second time they time they've done this for Soldiers' Angels. Soldiers' Angels discovered the mobile BBQ pit simply by word by word of mouth and is honored to have Preferred include SA in their support. "We evaluated Soldiers' Angels on the work they are doing and we felt they deserved our help," says David Dunne. We had wanted to support them." A huge thanks to David and his staff for their wonderful support!
http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1067&cntnt01returnid=59
Preferred Landscape and Lighting, LLC (recently acquired by national company The Millard Group) has an extensive history of community involvement. In business for 17 years, they maintain connection to their local university, Rotary Club, and other need-based communication organizations. As they became more and more well-known for their financial support, they decided that they wanted to include a hands-on service component to get their 80 employees directly involved in the community. Getting their employees to take action is part of the company's management principle of "Servant Leadership," as President David Dunne explains, "It's part of who we are."
In a very creative answer to the company's outreach goals, Preferred Landscape and Lighting bought a 24-foot long mobile/towable BBQ pit! Each month the company's staff gets together to barbeque as part of fundraising for a San Antonio-area organization. In the last three years they have raised of $50,000 for worthy organizations, far more than they could have donated themselves.
On May 28, Preferred Landscape and Lighting will bring their mobile BBQ to the Soldiers' Angels Support Center as part of the Memorial Day commemorative festivities. It will be the second time they time they've done this for Soldiers' Angels. Soldiers' Angels discovered the mobile BBQ pit simply by word by word of mouth and is honored to have Preferred include SA in their support. "We evaluated Soldiers' Angels on the work they are doing and we felt they deserved our help," says David Dunne. We had wanted to support them." A huge thanks to David and his staff for their wonderful support!
http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1067&cntnt01returnid=59
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Examples of Drip Irrigation under turf
Preferred has done many successful installations of drip irrigation under turf. The following is a great example of a project we did this spring for a customer that included adding drip to their turf. As you can see from the pictures, the customer now enjoys a green, healthy lawn as well as some low maintenance landscaping.
Before
After
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