Question: I’m a developer and am considering working directly with a commercial landscape design company.  What are the benefits of working directly with a design company?

Answer:  We are perfectly happy to work with General Contractors or Developers. If you’re a developer and are considering working directly with a landscape design company, there are several benefits. First and foremost is that you are communicating directly with the contractor doing the work. By working directly with the contractor, there are fewer communications issues. Our pricing directly to developers is the same as it would be through general contractors. Finally, particular to SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC, we have a project management system that tracks the progress of each project. This means we are able to work equally well with general contractors and developers.

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Question: We really need a quick turnaround on an upcoming project.  How much lead time do you need to get it done right?

Answer: Well, a lot of that depends on the project. A more involved design project that includes conceptual design through execution might take 3 months to complete. Factors that would influence the timetable include scope, boundary issues, the type of decision-making involved (e.g. committee decision process), etc. For projects where the design is straightforward or is already determined, it will take much less time. We can give better estimates as some of the variables are answered.

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Question: Once we start work on a project, how long does it typically take to complete?  What might get in the way?

Answer:  Again, this depends on a few variables.  The things we’ve found that tend to get in the way include boundary issues, inclement weather, or a delay on the client side for whatever reason. 

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Question: Does SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC do more than just design and installation work?

Answer:  Yes. We’re a full service commercial landscaping company. In addition to design and installation, we handle all services around your commercial landscaping needs. Our services are listed on our services page here. We’ve won awards for our different services and prefer to handle all aspects of your landscaping needs. For instance, our three year warranty is offered on the condition that you allow us to provide maintenance on your property also. Click here to see our warranties. 

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Question: I’ve worked with a few others in town and it seems like I have to babysit my project.
What kind of communication can I expect from SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC?

Answer:  When the contract for work is signed, you will receive a New Customer Kit and we assign a project manager.  The designer and project manager get together to go over materials and timetable.  Once the timetable is agreed to, we begin work.

We’ve found over the years that successful projects are products of good communication and collaboration with our customers (part of the “Partnership” bond).  Toward that end, we stay in constant contact regarding progress, changes, etc.  We communicate with our customers in the manner our customers prefer whether that be phone, email or fax.  This communication process is established between the project manager and the customer. 

We initiate and maintain that communication until you’re satisfied that the process is complete and the site is cleaned up.  At that point, we hope that you’re so pleased with the finished product that you’re willing to sing the good praises of SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC.

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Question: Why should I use SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC?

Answer: BECAUSE WE CARE! is the first reason, and also because we are the best at transforming your vision into a reality. We provide excellent service at a reasonable price, on time and within budget. We also back up our services with warranties.

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Question: Who will I be working with?  Will it be several people?

Answer: No.  After you’ve given the go-ahead, you’ll be working with a project manager to completion. If you need to communicate with someone else within the company for another reason, feel free to look at our contacts page.

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Question: Who has SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC worked with in the past?  Do you typically work on a certain type of project?

Answer:  We’re proud to say that we’ve worked with the top general contactors and developers in town in addition to some of the highest profile projects.  Feel free to take a look at our list of clients and projects.

We entertain any kind of commercial landscape work.  Check out our list of services.

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Question: What’s our responsibility on the project?

Answer: SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC is responsible for transforming your vision into a living, thriving product. YOUR responsibility is to stay in touch with us to ensure that the project is developing to meet your expectations. After installation, if you have not engaged us for irrigation or maintenance, it is YOUR responsibility to care for the plant material to make sure it develops as it should (water, proper care, etc.). We’ve put together a general list of tips with some valuable advice on the proper care of landscaping. SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC can assist you with proper care instructions that are specific to your project upon request.

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Question: Who handles the communication with city/county governments regarding boundaries, ordinances, etc.?

Answer:  We will discuss the best plan for communicating with the appropriate government bodies.  We may do this for you or may ask you to do it as the project dictates.

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Question: Is any insurance available to cover problems that might arise?  If so, who is the insurance carrier?

Answer: SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC insurance agent is Mr. Brent Loggins of Sidney O. Smith Insurance Agency, located in Gainesville, GA. We carry general commercial liability insurance up to $2,000,000, auto liability for $1,000,000, umbrella liability for an additonal $2,000,000 and Workers Compensation and Employers Liability.

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Question: Do you treat the trees with anything?

Answer:  Yes. We use Mycor (short for Mycorrhizae). Mycor is a fungi that helps trees grow in harsh surroundings such as in urban landscapes. Mycor uses available water and nutrients more efficiently under both good and challenging conditions, resulting in hardier, stress-tolerant plants. The bottom line is that this natural product boosts the arbors chance to survive and flourish. Mycor comes free of charge with our products.

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Landscape Central Tips

We install irrigation systems to help plant material thrive and flourish. The irrigation system ensures that you’re protected by our warranties. In the event that you choose not to use an irrigation system, you need to ensure that the plants are manually watered consistently.

The guidelines include watering early in the morning and watering on certain days in your area. Regulations and guidelines supercede any contradictory advice you may read into this. When there is a conflict, water conservation is the priority.

The State of Georgia, as well as some surrounding states, has been in a drought situation (Level 4 currently) for several years now http://www.gaepd.org/Documents/outdoorwater.html. It doesn’t appear that the situation is going to change in the near future. We abide by and encourage full compliance with all state regulations and guidelines concerning water use. Here’s a good site concerning proper water use - www.conservewatergeorgia.com.

Trees and shrubs initially have more needs than an irrigation system can supply when they are first installed. This is called the “shock” period. During this period (first 14 days), deep root watering needs to take place. For this we recommend hand watering. The amount of water depends on the type and size of the plant, with trees requiring more and shrubs less. While you need to be in line with any water restrictions in place, it is strongly recommended that you hand water to the deep roots every day during this 2 week period. After two weeks, the trees and shrubs should be watered every three (3) days until the fall of the year. If SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC is under contract with your company we handle the watering for the first two weeks after the plant material is installed.

Proper irrigation is a key determinant of healthy turf. For new turf, regular watering is critical. We recommend that you set the irrigation system to run 2-3 times a day for the first 2-3 weeks depending on the outdoor temperature and time of season. If you don’t have an irrigation system, then you will have to use a hose and sprinklers daily to keep turf and soil consistently damp for that 2-3 week time period. After the crucial early period, you can reduce your watering back to 2 to 3 times per week. A good rule of thumb after that is the 1” of water rule per week. We encourage you to follow the water use guidelines here - www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

The key to landscape maintenance is frequency. Here are some basic maintenance tips. Note that good maintenance involves mowing, watering and fertilization.

Grass Type	Mow (Cut) to Height
Tall Fescue	2" - 3"
Common Bermuda Grass	1" - 2"
Hybrid Bermuda Grass (Sod)	0.5" - 1.5"
Zoysia	0.5" - 1.5"
Centipede Grass	1" - 1.5"
Rye Grass	1" - 2"

Mow all turf every 7 to 10 days on average. Follow the 1/3 rule. That is, if turf is 3 inches tall, take off only 1” of blade height. At a minimum, you should apply fertilizer and weed control 3 times a year to keep weed pressures manageable and turf the correct color.

We recommend the following fertilizer program-

Month	Turf Type	Treatment
February/March	Bermuda	Pre-post Emergent
	Zoysia	Pre-post Emergent
	Tall Fescue	Weed / Feed
April/May	Bermuda	Weed / Feed
	Zoysia	Weed / Feed
	Fescue	Weed / Feed
August/September	Bermuda	Weed / Feed
	Zoysia	Weed / Feed
	Tall Fescue	Starter Fertilizer

Proper pruning - In the first season there is a small amount of pruning. If you find broken limbs or branches on trees or shrubs, prune them off. For shrubs that flush new growth, you can tip

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Articles

A Typical Southeastern Schedule for Maintenance

FALL

September

TURF

• Mow, Edge & Trim Turf Areas
• Apply Weed Control Post-emergence As Needed
• Apply Lime
• Aerate, Overseed and Fertilize Fescue Areas
• Begin Fall Fertilization of Turf with High Potassium Fertilizer

BEDS

• Edge and Trim Beds
• Fertilize Trees and Shrubs
• Treat Disease and Insect Damage As Needed
• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers

October

TURF

• Remove Fall Leaves and Debris
• Mow, Edge & Trim Turf Areas As Needed
• Complete Fall Aeration, Overseeding and Fertilization of Fescue Turf
• Complete Fall Turf Fertilization (High Potassium) BEDS
• Begin Fall Annual Flower Installation
• Prune and Shape Shrubs
• Treat Disease and Insect Damage as needed
• Complete Fertilization of Trees and Shrubs

November

TURF

• Spot Mow and Edge Turf Areas
• Remove Leaves and Debris

BEDS

• Complete Fall Annual Flower Installation
• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers As Needed
• Prune Shrubs As Needed
• Turn Off Irrigation System and Winterize
• Apply Post-emergence Weed Control to Turf and Shrubs As Needed

WINTER

December

TURF

• Remove Leaves and Debris

BEDS

• Apply Post-emergence Weed Control to Turf and Shrubs As Needed
• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers As Needed
• Apply Pine Straw Mulch After Removal of Leaves and Debris

TREES

• Prune Crape Myrtles
• Raise the Canopy of Tree Line

January

TURF

• Apply 1st Treatment of Turf Pre-emergence Herbicides
• Remove Leaves and Debris
• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers As Needed
• Spray Any Fescue in Bermuda Turf
• Begin Turf Scalping (Bermuda and Zoysia ONLY)

BEDS

• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers As Needed
• Apply Pine Straw Mulch
• Apply Post-emergence Weed Control for Turf and Beds As Needed
• Cut Back Liriope
• Prune Shrubs

TREES

• Prune Crape Myrtles
• Raise the Canopy of Tree Line

February

TURF

• Complete Turf Scalping (Bermuda and Zoysia Only)
• Fertilize Fescue
• Remove all Fescue in Bermuda Turf Areas
• Complete 1st Treatment of Turf Pre-emergence Herbicides
• Apply Post-emergence Herbicides

BEDS

• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers As Needed
• Apply Pine Straw Mulch
• Cut Back Liriope - Prune Shrubs TREES - Raise the Canopy of Tree Line

SPRING

March

TURF

• Complete Turf Scalping (Bermuda and Zoysia Only)

BEDS

• Fertilize, Weed and Deadhead Flowers As Needed
• Final Pine Straw Mulch Application
• Cut Back All Liriope and Pampas Grass
• Apply Pre-emergence Herbicides Applications to Beds

TREES

• Remove Die Back From Lower Limbs in Small Trees
• Fertilize Spring Trees and Shrubs
• Prune Rose Bushes
• Prune Crape Myrtles

April

TURF

• Begin Full-Scale Turf Mowing, Trimming and Edging
• Apply Turf Fertilization (High Nitrogen; Slow Release)
• Apply Turf Post-emergence Herbicides
• Begin 2nd Turf Pre-emergence Herbicide Treatment

BEDS

• Prune New Growth of Shrubs As Needed
• Start-Up of Irrigation System
• Inspect Trees, Turf, Shrubs for Insects and Disease and Treat If Necessary
• Start Spring Flower Installation

May

TURF

• Finish 2nd Treatment of Pre-emergence Herbicides
• Fertilize Any Turf Exhibiting Poor Green-Up (Use Iron to intensify Greener Color)
• Apply Turf Post-emergence Weed Control As Needed
• Mow and Edge Turf Areas As Needed

BEDS

• Fertilize, Deadhead and Weed Flowers As Needed
• Apply Mitocides/Iron to Junipers
• Prune Shrubs As Needed
• Treat Disease and Insect Damage as needed
• Remove Any Vines From Shrubs

SUMMER

June

TURF

• Mow and Edge Turf Areas
• Apply Turf Fertilization (Slow Release)
• Apply Post-emergence Weed Control As Needed

BEDS

• Finish Flower Installation
• Finish Mitocides/Iron Application to Non-green Junipers
• Trim and Weed Beds
• Fertilize, Deadhead and Weed Flowers As Needed
• Prune Shrubs As Needed
• Prune Azaleas After Bloom Senescence
• Fertilize Azaleas
• Treat Disease and Insect Damage as needed
• Remove Any Vines From Shrubs

July

TURF

• Mow and Edge Turf Areas
• Apply Post-emergence Weed Control As Needed

BEDS

• Fertilize, Deadhead and Weed Flowers As Needed
• Trim and Weed Beds
• Treat Disease and Insect Damage as needed
• Prune Shrubs As Needed
• Finish Pruning Azaleas After Bloom Senescence
• Finish Fertilizing Azaleas
• Remove Any Vines From Shrubs

August

TURF

• Mow and Edge Turf Areas
• Apply Turf Fertilization (Light, Slow Release)
• Remove Any Bermuda Growing in Fescue Turf Areas
• Prepare for Fall Seeding

BEDS

• Fertilize, Deadhead and Weed Flowers As Needed
• Weed and Edge Beds
• Spot Treat Turf and Bed With Post-emergence Pesticides
• Prune Shrubs As Needed
• Remove Any Vines From Shrubs
• Take Soil Samples Where Needed

TREES

• Inspect for Insects or Insect Damage and Treat As Necessary

* Disclaimer: These are only suggestions from SGS Landscape Consultants, LLC and we cannot be responsible for individual results.

We are interested in any questions you might have that we haven’t included here. Please send any questions, suggestions, or thoughts to info@sgslandscape.com. We’ll get back to you just as soon as possible.

If you need help on an upcoming project, give us a call! - 770-888-4420

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