"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy" - William Blake

Illuminate your Home! Want to brighten your mood and land-scape during the dark days of winter? Illuminating the outside of your home is one of the fastest growing sections of the landscaping industry with the incorporation of low-voltage land-scape lighting. This may be a surprise to some, but as you drive around at night, look and you will see an in-creased amount of businesses and resi-dences softly lit. There are a number of benefits associated with the intro-duction of low-voltage lighting to one's home or business. Security - While landscape lighting

is breathtaking in its beauty, it also provides a safe, secure and welcom-ing environment to come home to. Low-voltage landscape lighting is a proven primary deterrent to resi-dential crime.

Safety - One of landscape lighting's most practical sides is that it’s a great way to mark pathways or ac-cent garden areas. Consider mark-ing all of your walkways with path lights to safely guide you to your destination.

Extension of outdoor use - What typically happens when it gets dark? We go inside right? Well, you don't have to anymore. A garden with low-voltage landscape light-ing can bring a whole new setting to the home and provide the perfect spot for outdoor entertaining. Pathways, ponds, statues, trees, and shrubs all produce a serene envi-ronment when landscape lighting is applied.

A Message from the Vice President I would like to thank each of you for not only your continued support throughout the year, for allowing our team to con-tinue serving your prop-erty needs, but also for the connections and rela-tionships we have built over the past nineteen years. Brian and I have been truly blessed, as we appreciate the op-portunities in both our personal and profes-sional lives. Brian and I have completed our 19th year in business, and our team is growing and ex-panding in our knowledge and services. We are truly thankful to have the team of profes-sionals, with dedication and experience be-yond our dreams. Our children are growing, and began ‘working’ with us around the office and shop. Cameran (10) does filing, envelope stuffing and stamping, and Brody (8) helps the crews unload tools, sweeps the shop, and dabbles at times with envelopes too. As we begin a new year, Almony’s will be add-ing new product lines and services to our portfolio. I’m also continuing to obtain my degree at York College, where I finished 4 years in December , with a projected 5 more to go - it’s not about how long it takes, it’s about the journey itself! Don’t forget to keep up with us on our web-site and on Facebook - simply search for Almony’s Property Solutions. Thank you again, Carrie Almony, VP/Office Manager

Winter 2016 / 2017

In This Issue:

A Message From the VP

Organization Services

Illuminate Your Home

Almony’s Dumpster Services

Hardscape Design

Managing Snow and Ice

Lawn Services

Winter Preparation

GIE

Pressure Washing

Keep up to date with

us at:

We know your time is valuable, so we want to make sure you enjoy it. Almony’s offers organization services to help you tackle those tough tasks - check out our latest garage transformation! This client was so overwhelmed with the thought of having to organize her garage, but we put together a plan and did all the hard work for her.

She shared with us that “Almony’s did an amazing, profes-sional job of organizing my garage and eased my mind from having to tackle this overwhelming task myself.”

Give us a call so we can tackle your project now!

Did you know Almony’s does . . .

Lawn Services

Mowing

Lawn Treatments

Fertilization

Aeration

Over Seeding

Exterior Pest Control

Field Mowing

Leaf Cleanup and Removal

Landscape

Landscape Design

Landscape Installation

Landscape Maintenance

Season Flower Packages

Shrubbery and Tree Care

Trimming / Pruning

Insect and Disease

Treatments

Hardscape

Hardscape Installation

Retaining Walls

Walkways/Sidewalks

Patios

Fire Pits

Outdoor Living Spaces

Ponds

Excavation

Site Preparation

Septic Installation

Shed Pad Installation

Grading/Re-Grading

Drainage Resolutions

New Lawn Installation

Driveway Installation

Brush Hogging

Other Services

Snow Removal

Firewood

Roll Off Dumpster Rentals

Organization Services

We accept Online Payments: Bank Account, Discover, Visa,

MasterCard and AmericanExpress

“A snowflake is winter's butterfly” Dumpster Services by Almony’s

When it comes to getting rid of the things you no longer need at home, one of the hardest parts is looking for an efficient way of disposing of the trash since typical kitchen trash bins cannot manage to do the task. If you’re in the midst of a

home renovation project, construc-tion or even just throwing out old junk, renting a dumpster may be

the most benefi-cial way to dis-pose of the waste. Once you rent your dump-ster from Almony’s, you can have it delivered to your home at a time that’s convenient for you. Having a dumpster handy will allow you to focus your time on your project without worrying about how you’re going to remove all of the waste/trash/debris from your home. You can throw away junk at your leisure and when you are finished with your project, we can pick up the dumpster at your earliest convenience. Give us a call today to re-serve your dump-ster and start the New Year with a new, clutter free space!

Managing snow and ice damage The weight of snow and ICE CAN CAUSE LIMBS TO

BREAK OR TOPPLE WHOLE TREES. How you deal with damaged trees after the snow or ice melts will impact their health now and for years to come. Keep the following tips in mind when caring for storm damaged trees and shrubs:

Young, recently planted trees that have fallen over can usually be saved. Cover any exposed roots as soon as possible to protect them from drying out or freezing. Mature trees and trees with trunks over 10-12” in diameter that fall should be removed. In ad-dition, trees that partially uproot and have over 1/3 of their roots exposed are typically beyond help and should be removed.

If shrubs are weighed down with snow, sweep the snow off the branches with a broom. Always sweep upward – sweeping from the top down can result in more broken branches. If the snow is frozen onto branch-es and will not easily dislodge by sweeping, allow it to melt naturally. Don’t shake trees and shrubs to remove snow.

Most shrubs damaged by snow and ice can be severely pruned if necessary. Most broadleaf evergreen shrubs (camellias, azal-eas, HOLLIES) AND DECIDUOUS SHRUBS (SPIRAEA, but-terfly bush, Knockout rose) can be treated this way, but conifers (thuja, juniper, cedars, aRBORVITAE) CANNOT. CONIFERS THAT BREAK APART IN ICE

STORMS WILL NOT RECOVER AND SHOULD BE REMOVED.

KEEP IN MIND SPRING BLOOMING SHRUBS CUT BACK

NOW WILL NOT BLOOM THIS YEAR.

When pruning broken branches, know where to cut. Cutting in the wrong place can lead to decay, failure in future storms, and tree death. Smaller pruning wounds are preferred, even if they leave what looks like a stub. There is no need to paint over pruning CUTS WITH WOUND dressings – in fact, this can actually harm trees if not applied correctly.

And most importantly, stay safe! Never cut limbs tangled in power lines – call the power COMPANY INSTEAD. Also, don’t climb trees, lad-ders, etc during snow or icy conditions; simply wait until things melt some before attempting to tackle the damage. Any questions, call or email the office!

When people think about landscaping, first thoughts usually lean toward the greenery: the plants and grass. But there's more that should be considered first in order to turn a backyard into an oasis. Patios

and sidewalks are not only a necessary first step in any landscap-ing overhaul, they also provide a design structure that will inform the rest of the landscape plans.

Hardscaping is a term that refers to the hard ele-ments, or nonliving features of the landscape. This can include anything from decks and walkways to edging and ornamental features. When choosing hardscape features for the home, consider their overall purpose in addition to your current style or theme. Almony’s can create a beautiful hardscape design that works for you and fits perfectly into your outdoor living space.

Lawn Services Even though the mowing season has ended, it is never too early to think about your lawn for Spring. Almony’s is currently accepting new clients for lawn services. We can help you mow,

fertilize and maintain your lawn so you can just sit back and enjoy it! Here are a few rea-sons you should con-sider hiring a lawn care professional.

1. Save time - Perhaps the biggest reason to hire a lawn care company is the time you’ll save. First, you’ll have to spend several hours plan-ning and researching what exactly your lawn needs. Then, you’ll need to invest the time to drive out to a couple different stores to buy equipment, fertilizer, seed, and whatever else you need. Finally, you’ll have the recurring (probably weekly) time commitment of mowing and maintaining your lawn. 2. Expertise - People hire experts for a rea-son. Experts know what they’re doing. Hiring a lawn care company is a great reason to expect bet-ter than average re-sults directly because of their knowledge and expertise. 3. Cost - For you to equal the quality of a lawn care company on your own, you’d have to purchase the equivalent of the equipment, but to truly equal the power and performance of professional lawn care companies, you’d have to spend a fortune. So, in most cases, you’re actu-ally saving money by spending it on a lawn care company. 4. Liability - A professional contractor will be licensed and insured, meaning you won’t have to worry about liability. Some folks simply enjoy working on their lawn. If that’s you, by all means, keep up the good work. One can experience a great pride in man-ual physical labor, especially if that labor results

in the beautiful pro-duction of a pristine lawn. If you would rather save the time, money, and stress, hiring a lawn care company might be the best decision. Stop wasting your valuable time, and

enjoy your freedom. Call or email the office!

Winter Preparations: Winter's coming, and with it, plunging tempera-tures and shorter days that make you want to curl up and relax, warm and cozy by the fire. As the coldness looms and you prepare to pump the heat, it's important to protect your home from potential damage and address heat and energy leaks. These simple tasks will help you stay warm, safe and energy-conscious this winter. Get your hearth ready! Before getting chestnuts ready for the roasting, get your fireplace set for the fire. Grab a flashlight and look inside for build-up, bird's nests or obvious cracks. From the outside, check for broken bricks and crumbling mortar. Ensure that your damper opens and closes, and seals tightly. Clean out the ashes and remember that in addition to these steps, you should have your chimney professionally cleaned every other year (more often if you burn a lot of fires). Stock up on wood and kindling, and you're ready for a comfy, cozy season by the fire. Seal the windows! Seal drafty windows to keep heat in and energy bills low with one (or both) of these two simple tasks. First, caulk the cracks. Sold in temporary or permanent form, caulking is inexpensive and easy to apply. Second, cover your windows in a thin plastic film (available at any hard-ware store) and tape it down with waterproof dou-ble-sided tape, heating the edges with a hair dryer and pressing the protective layer into place. When it gets warmer outside, simply peel the film off, open the window, and let the sun shine in. Clear out the gutters! Clogged gutters block the drainage of rain and melting snow, resulting in household leaks and damage to your landscape and foundation. As trees shed their last leaves, grab a ladder, a garbage bag, some rubber gloves and dig in. Check that the downpipes are clear of obstruction and then ensure the entire sys-tem is un-clogged and leak-free by running water through it. Don’t forget about heating maintenance! Is your heating system ready to weather the win-ter? Have a professional check your heating sys-tem and ensure it's in good working order before you turn it on. Schedule checks for your furnace, venting system and chimney. Don't forget to re-place the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, in case any of your heating systems are overworking. Now, winter on my friends!

We think always keeping up on our knowledge is important to continue giving you the best service. That is why Brian and three team members Attended the GIE (Green industry expo) in Louisville at the end of Octo-ber. Brian and the team learned so much about new equipment that will help keep our crews efficient, cutting edge techniques for lawn and landscape maintenance, new hardscape products that will extend the life of your outdoor projects and safety practices to ensure that our crews are al-ways putting the safety of themselves and others first.

Of course, the crew also spent time walking the expo, trying out lots of new equipment and watching installation demon-strations. This year was the biggest expo yet!

GIE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

Power washing ?

Did you know that Almony’s also does power washing? Our team offers reli-able, efficient, and high-quality power washing. We use only the highest quality products and professional equipment to ensure you receive the most efficient and long lasting clean-ing results. Whether your home’s exterior siding is in need of a cleaning, your roof has ugly algae streaks that need to be removed, or your sidewalk, parking pad or garage has gum, grease or debris that needs to be re-moved, Almony’s can tackle this mess for you. Call or email the office today!

O u r M i s s i on S t a t e m e n t …

T o c on si s t e n t l y pr ovi d e h i g h qu a l i ty a n d r e l i a b l e pr ope r ty s e r vi c e s t h r ou g h t e a m w or k , pr ofe s si on a l i sm , a n d d e d i c a t i on to c u s tom e r sa t i s fa c t i on .

1024 Georges Court Glen Rock, Pennsylvania 17327

717.235.5981 Office 717.235.3073 Fax www.AlmonysPropertySolutions.com

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