MGS Purchases C&W Lawncare

For Immediate Release
Charlotte, NC

Metro GreenScape Purchases C&W Lawncare Company


Charlotte, NC – Metro GreenScape recently purchased Lancaster, SC based company, C&W Lawncare, previously owned by Frank Watson.

Watson started C&W Lawncare 11 years ago with a focus on lawn and landscape maintenance. Darin Brockelbank, President of Metro GreenScape, is confident about creating a seamless transition for Watson’s former clients.

“We hope to foster those same kinds of trustworthy relationships with our new clients and future clients as they gain the benefit of the additional services that Metro GreenScape will offer. This is an exciting time for us and our clients,” said Brockelbank.

Metro GreenScape recently assisted with a landscape build on an episode of the popular ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In total, the company donated 1,000 man-hours and $30,000 worth of services.

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About Metro GreenScape:
Metro GreenScape is the first choice landscape design and outdoor living specialist for the Charlotte and surrounding areas' most prestigious and growing neighborhoods.

The Basics of Pruning

You are walking around your yard and thinking, "What do I prune now?" There are several plants that should be pruned during the colder months to help promote new Spring growth. You can prune anytime to remove dead, dying and broken branches. However, there are a handful of plants that need specific pruning during the winter.

A butterfly bush should have the seed heads removed before Spring due to re-seeding. However, do not remove any branches until the Spring. All dead perennials should be cut back 4 to 6 inches. Leave some growth on top to protect the roots from any hard winter freeze. Also, cut back any watersprouts on trees. Watersprouts are fast growing, vertical shoots that grow from healthy branches. They divert energy from a tree's overall growth.

Here are a few plants that you should not prune in the winter:
Lavender or Butterfly Bush Branches
Ornamental Grasses
Evergreen or Semi-Evergreen Perennials
Roses
Hydrangeas
Also, leave some food for wild life over the winter months. Leave viburnum, cotoneaster, ilex and hawthorn fruits on the plants. Leaving the ornamental grasses provide some protective habitat for wildlife. Birds, insects and small animals will nestle in clusters of dead branches and debris through winter.
A great book to read for more information is The Pruning Book by Lee Reich. Click Here to read more about this informational book.

Sneeze Free Gardening...Ah, Relief!

It's almost Spring and for some of us we don't think about beautiful flowers or nice weather...We think about dealing with sneezing and watering eyes! However, there are ways to be able to enjoy the outdoors without being bothered by the side effects of pollen. Here are a few suggestions:

Identify the plants that cause your allergies and the time of year when they are worst. Tree pollens usually occur in February and March where grass pollens are worse from late May to mid-August.

Plant brightly colored or fragrant flowers. Their pollen is large and because insects pollinate them, the pollen is seldom airborne. A good sign as to whether a plant is a good choice is if you see a lot of bees and butterflies around it.

Here are a few examples of plants that are less allergy provoking than others:
Vinca
Azalea
Dogwood
Magnolia
Hosta
Iris
Salvia

Spring Show Ticket Giveaway: Enrty 1

In one sentence, tell us what "Everything Outdoorzy" means to you. The first eight (8) people to comment on this post win a pair of tickets (2) to the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show. See Official Rules at www.facebook.com/mgscharlotte.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Metro GreenScape and Customers Assist with Landscaping for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Show

Charlotte, NC - We are excited to announce that we have been selected to assist with the hardscape build for a Charlotte-based episode of the popular ABC show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We are donating $30,000 worth of services toward a home makeover for a deserving Charlotte-area family.

Filming will begin on December 11th, as will construction of the family's new home - led by Bellamy Homes.

Darin Brockelbank, our very own President of Metro GreenScape, was approached by the show's producers to assist with the build and immediately saw an opportunity to get our customers involved. We have sent invitations to our customers and vendors, encouraging them to donate their time - for a total of 1,000 man hours of service.

Says Brockelbank, "We're thrilled to have this opportunity to give back - especially in such a difficult economic climate. And to have such a wonderful response from our customers, vendors, and friends is a real testament to the generosity of our community. We are asking that anyone and everyone LIKE our company Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mgscharlotte. We are donating $25 for every person that LIKES our page."

Metro GreenScape is Featured in New Book: 50 Marketing $ecrets!

The inspiration to write 50 Marketing $ecrets, came after Sherré DeMao witnessed the frustration business owners feel when seeking the best ways to market their business for the greatest return. After hearing the same questions “How do I market my small business?” “Where is my money best spent?” “Why hasn’t what I have been doing worked?” “Where do I begin?” while instructing small business marketing classes and consulting with clients, Sherré determined her tried and true approach to marketing should be validated.


Sherré captured the stories of more than 60 companies presenting real-life examples of how and why they continue to grow even in a down economy. The book starts with an explanation of the CRISP Principle: The Study which was the catalyst for confirming what works and what doesn't in practical and profound ways. Chapters one through twelve discuss image and attitude. The middle section of the book, chapters thirteen through forty-three, focus on each of the CRISP Principles: Power of Five® sharing numerous core marketing initiative tactics which can be put into immediate action within a business. The final section, chapters forty-four through fifty, includes supplemental tactics and the success formulas involved in using the CRISP Principle.

Go to http://www.50marketingsecrets.com for more information.

Metro GreenScape Testimonial

I was recently relocated out of Charlotte. Our house qualified for a buyout, but we had an issue with our retaining wall. The railroad tie wall was 20 years old, and rotted. The relocation company mandated the wall be fixed before buying our home. I contacted several companies regarding replacement of the retaining wall. Some companies never returned my calls, others provided quotes that were all over the board - ranging from $10k to $30k. Metro-Greenscape wasn’t the cheapest quote, but they were willing to work with me to find a cost effective retaining wall solution. Throughout the quoting process Metro-Greenscape was always very responsive to any questions I had and willing to discuss how the project would work. The retaining wall construction was planned to occur after I moved out of the house, so I needed to have trust in the contractor I chose. Metro-Greenscape’s quick and continuous responses to my questions helped build that trust. The project was completed ahead of the projected schedule with no unforeseen issues, no cost increases, and most importantly – no headaches! Metro-Greenscape was actually able to upgrade the wall from a wooden wall to a much nicer looking block wall. Near the end of construction I had to come back to Charlotte and decided to check on the wall while I was in town. During this visit, I had a neighbor stop his car and tell me the new wall looked great and was very impressed with the work. I have also had friends drive by the house and all have commented on how well the new wall turned out. After my experience, I would highly recommend Metro-Greenscape for any outdoor needs.

Jamie