Westturf Landscape

1 Heather Collins

(Business Development-Sales and Marketing)

Westturf is pleased to announce their latest team member. We hope the best for her and are excited to have her on board.
Heather has been in the landscape industry for over 15 years and active with Community Associations Institute (CAI) for over 10 years. She is on the Community Relations and Membership Committee for CAI and has been on the Board of Directors for 5 years. She has served on her own Board of Directors for the Encinitas Ranch Homeowners Association and prior to getting into the landscape industry was a portfolio manager in the CID industry for 3-1/2 years. Heather received the CAI San Diego Chapter Member of the Year in 2003, the Social Coordinator of the Year in 2000, and Networker of the Year for the Women's Referral Network group in 2000.


1
(Petite Butterfly Flower)
1
(Petite Butterfly Shrub)
Petite Butterfly-Sweet Pea Shrub
(Polygala Fructosa)
Polygala Fructosa is a flowering evergreen shrub. Produces beautiful vibrant colors, purple and magenta, flowers throughout the year. The foliagel grows three to four feet high and wide.
Blooming plants are perfect for the focal points of a property. Plant under windows or entries, softening borders and framing are also good places for this plant. Petite Butterfly will bloom throughout summer if given the appropriate care. Get creative and combine this plant with others such as, Pink Pearl Bougainvillea, Petite Pink Crape Myrtle, Agapanthus, or New Zealand Flax.
Follow regular watering during the first months of establishment. This will help the roots to establish a deep, extensive root system. Fertilize before new growth begins in the spring. Full to partial sun.
Quick Links
Hiring the Right Company
As a business owner, association manager, or commercial property manager, landscape maintenance is a vital component for your community and investment. Choosing the right company can be daunting especially if you have changed recently and have not found the right fit.
Here are a couple tips to think consider when choosing a new vendor.
Prepare for the interview...
  • Plan out the project; what needs to be done, what you would like to be accomplished, your goals and expectations, budgets, and lists of requirements and permits needed.
  • Generate a list of possible candidates; research and check for certification and credentials such as
    • Better Business Bureau
    • California Contractors State License Board
    • Pesticide Regulation Permit
    • Review their references
  • Know what you're looking for; activities such as mowing, edging, raking, aeration, pruning, irrigation control, fertilizing, pest management, etc.

When you are done with your list and know what your goals are, you can start interviewing the candidates. Here are some topics you might want to touch during the interview.

1. Irrigation System: Properly installed, planned, and maintained irrigation systems are necessary to maintain a healthy environment. A properly maintained system will also save water and save you money. Ask what the schedule will be for irrigation during every season. Ask if they use CIMIS for reports on evaporation rates in your area. In most cases water is used inefficiently and cost us not only money but valuable resources. With todays technology, there should be no reason we can't water more efficiently. The company you hire should be focused on saving water while still providing a healthy environment.
2. Plant Selection: Proper plant selection can reduce maintenance and water use and create an attractive environment. The company you hire must not only be familiar with plants in general but also with Southern California natives. These plants provide an attractive natural appearance to any property and require little water and maintenance.
3. General Maintenance: When asking about general maintenance, think of what type of service is necessary to maintain your landscape. Make sure you understand what their responsibilities will be to maintain the landscape and if there is any sort of emergency plans that the company will provide to you.
4. Fertilizer Management: A proper fertilizing management plan, is essential for your landscape. The proper nutrients for plants to thrive are important to maintain your landscape. Most companies over fertilize. This is not a good thing. In most cases the excess fertilizer is not absorbed into the landscape and may run off into our storm drain system which feeds right into our beaches. Ask your provider if they calibrate their equipment prior to application.
5. Erosion: Erosion is a common problem, mostly caused by wind and water movement, it can also be caused by things such as construction, traffic, or routine maintenance. Make sure that the company you want to hire has a plan on how to correct such issues. Some solutions consist of appropriate plant selection, maintained irrigation systems, and utilization of mulch or compost.
6. Pest Management: Pest management is also an essential part of the contract. Make sure you know what products will be used and that they have a knowledge of the proper use of such products. For more information look at the article below PESTICIDES AND PESTICIDES REGULATIONS.
Pesticides and Pesticides Regulations
Pesticides: Why do we use them?
In our agricultural environment a pesticide is a very common thing. A pesticide is a substance used to prevent, control, or lessen the damage by a pest. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, microbes, nematodes, etc. A pesticide may be one single chemical substance or even a mixture of different substances. For this reason, it is essential for us to understand the correct use and possible harm the chemicals we use may cause.
Pesticide Regulations
As a property manager or owner, you have to be very cautious about the use of pesticides around the community. Ask for information on the pesticide being used if needed. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) are sheets that should be provided to you prior to starting any kind service plan. They will have all the information on the pesticide such as product and company information, composition, hazardous identification, first aid, etc.
What to look for?
When hiring a company to do the job, make sure that they have a legal license. Anything that is being used needs a label. The label should have the name, first aid and health warnings, protective equipment needed, and directions for applying the pesticide. Other common words you might see in a label are:
DANGER: This means that the pesticide is extremely harmful.
WARNING: This means that the pesticide is moderately harmful.
CAUTION: This means that the pesticide is slightly harmful, but can still make you sick.
You should be warned and consulted with prior to any use of a chemical that has a rating higher than CAUTION. All danger chemicals require a permit from the county AG. department.
Please ask for a list of chemicals they plan on using or they use on a regular basis. This list should be short and all be under a caution sign. If not, please ask other sources to verify the need of such pesticides.
It is the contractor's duty to use the proper equipment and the right chemical. The equipment that you can look for is as follows...
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Eye Protection: This means that they are wearing safety glasses, a face shield, or a full face mask, Regular or Sunglasses DO NOT qualify as protective eyewear
Hand Protection: Gloves must be worn at all times when handling a pesticide or handling any equipment that was used for applying pesticide. These gloves must be latex or rubber. They cannot be leather or cloth.
Lung Protection: Respirators used when the label of the chemical requires one.
Body Protection: Clean coveralls at all time when applying pesticide.
These precautions are not only to keep the applicator safe, but to also protect the community. Applicators that are properly trained, understand the safety requirements that are needed for them and their surroundings.


Special thanks to Morning View Associates for giving Westturf Landscape an opportunity to service two more of their properties.
Sand Trap Villas
7525 Jerez Court
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Vista Ladera
2112 E. Vista Way
Vista CA, 92084
Westturf Landscape - 701 Mercantile St. Vista, CA 92085 - (760) 650-3120 - service@westturf.com