BlueStar Landscape Get The Scoop

Get The Scoop

Here’s what we’re up to at each property we serve, as well as some handy seasonal tips to keep your own landscape looking its best.

September 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Time for a Change. September means the start of overseeing in Arizona when we switch the Community from summer Bermuda grass to winter Rye grass. To do so, we first conducted an extensive audit of the irrigation system. We found and repaired a number of issues with the system including a major leak near the Bocce Courts and another near the Design Center. Afterwards, we began drying out the turf areas. Next we started scalping and seeding these areas with winter Rye grass. Now we wait for the new turf to germinate. When finished, the turf will be lush and vibrant green all winter long.
  2. Just a Trim. After the monsoon winds ended, we worked hard to get all the trees in the community back in shape. Crews went to work trimming, lifting and removing sucker branches from trees in several neighborhoods affected by the summer storms. We also replaced or salvaged a number of cactus that had been blown over.
  3. Clean Sweep. Finally, we worked to clean up the remaining storm damage from around the community, clearing silt and removing debris from neighborhood streets, pathways and common areas. And, we continued power washing the fountain at the community’s entry to keep it free of algae.
  4. New & Improved. Crews will be installing pavers and new concrete precast benches in the Legacy portion of the community, expanding the area to provide an inviting outdoor gathering area that can be used by more Residents.

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Grass is Greener. In September, we focused on getting the winter grass in ahead of the cooler weather. To do this, we first conducted an extensive audit of the irrigation system. We found a number of issues caused by the summer rains. Our team repaired valves in Salome Vista (5A & 5B), Horseshoe Bend (8A), and the Collector. We also repaired wiring in Salome Vista (5A). In addition, we began drying out the turf areas and lowered the mowers for scalping. When this is finished, we’ll apply Rye seed to the turf areas.
  2. After the Storm. Once the summer thunderstorms ended, we got busy cleaning up the mess left in their wake. We cleared silt from the roads and walkways in Salome Vista (5B), Boulder Canyon (5C), 7B, the Collector and Resort Collection. We also cleared silt and repaired erosion damage near Toll Brothers in 3D. We repaired the pothole on the Collector Road northeast of Lot 93. And, we continued to pump water out of the retention area west of the Welcome Center. Crews also cleared drain culverts and cleaned dry well covers throughout the community to ensure water flows properly.
  3. Tree Repair. With the monsoon’s high winds, trees throughout the community took a beating this summer. We spent considerable time the past few weeks repairing this.  Crews went to work trimming, lifting and removing sucker branches from trees in Four Peaks Shadow (2A), Mazatzal View (3B), Sierra Ancha (4A), Horseshoe Bend (8A), as well as the Collector and the Common Area of the Resort Collection. In addition, we installed two 24-inch box Desert Museum trees west of Lot 326 and we removed the stump in the cul de sac at the end of Desert Vista Trail, both in Four Peaks Shadow (2A).

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Plant Recovery. We’ve had a heavy infestation of leaf roller worms which has damaged shrubs such as the Yellow Bells, Orange Jubilee, and Torchglow Bougainvillea, as well as the Crimson Fire and Sparkey Jubilee. Unfortunately this is a Valley-wide problem this year and there is nothing we can do except cut the affected plants back and allow them time to recover. Our team replaced also replaced 45 5-gallon shrubs and three Elm trees at the Club, as well as an additional six 5-gallon shrubs in the Resort Collection.
  2. ’Tis the Season. It might be too early for Christmas, but it’s the right time of year to overseed so the turf areas at Encanterra stay green all winter long. To do this, we finished flushing the irrigation system of the Potassium Permanganate treatment. We then conducted an extensive audit of the turf areas, and began drying these areas out to encourage the Bermuda grass to go dormant. Next we started scalping and seeding these areas with winter Rye grass on September 20th. We will finish the process over the next few weeks. Residents will notice us watering these areas several times a day.
  3. Putting Things Back Together. With the end of Monsoon Season, we’ve worked hard to get the community back in shape. Crews went to work trimming, lifting and removing sucker branches from trees along Neroli Drive as well as other neighborhoods affected by the summer storms. We also repaired erosion damage, cleared debris from streets and walking paths in the Hashknife Neighborhood, and cleaned grates and drains to ensure any future rain will flow correctly on property.
August 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Weather Watch. The Monsoons have kept us on our toes all month. We’ve had several substantial storms so far this summer which have impacted our regular schedule. As a result, crews have been focusing on taking care of immediate homeowner needs. We’ve cleared several downed trees and removed the stumps to restore the beauty of the affected area. We also have been working hard to repair other damage and remove debris following each storm event to keep the Community in top shape.
  2. Thinking Ahead. With the rains and winds, we’ve also been working to keep ahead of any potential future problems. Crews have been thinning and trimming trees along the sidewalks, walkways, and paths to minimize damage and danger to the community. We’ve also made several necessary repairs to the irrigation system to ensure it remains in top shape.
  3. Going Green. Aside from the storm damage, a big project this past month was getting a full soil analysis for the Kiva Club and the Dog Park. IAS Laboratories conducted the study and provided our teams with a detailed report listing all the required nutrients and supplements. Following these recommendations, we treated and aerated the soil. We also mixed in fresh organic soil to get the conditions just right. With that finished, our crews cleaned out the culverts and both areas will soon be looking perfect.
  4. Attention to Detail. Finally, we’ve focused hard on making sure we get the basics right. That has meant keeping up on regular community maintenance no matter how many storms pass through. One such job is power washing the fountain at the Main Entry each week to keep it looking its best.

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Storm Report. More than 11 inches of rain has fallen over the past three weeks. We’ve had multiple big storms and our crews have been cleaning up and making repairs every single day. This includes removing broken branches and cleaning silt and debris from community streets. We installed five new irrigation timers that failed due to the storms. Timers were replaced in the Discovery Center, Four Peaks (2A & 2B), and at the North Collector. We also pumped water from the west retention basin at the Welcome Center and the west retention basin in Salome Vista (5A). We expect more repairs throughout the month.
  2. Hold Please. All the storm damage and clean up has seriously impacted our schedule. With all the rain and repairs, we postponed the plant replacements. The heavy rain would’ve been bad for the new plants. We also rescheduled the anticipated 404 Wash clean-up. Much of the trash and debris has been washed away by the recent flash flooding. We will revisit this after the weather settles down.
  3. Keeping Up. Along with the storm clean-up, we’ve been hustling to keep pace with our tree work and routine maintenance schedules in the Four Peaks Shadow (2A & 2B), Horseshoe Bend (8A) and Salome Vista (5A) neighborhoods. The tree work especially will help minimize damage and keep the neighborhoods looking great despite the weather. Also, in anticipation of overseeding, we’ve reduced the irrigation on all turf areas.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Damage Control. We’ve had multiple big storms and our crews have been cleaning up and making repairs every single day. We replaced 39 shrubs and are working to salvage a number of olive trees that were blown over. Other work includes removing broken branches, grinding stumps and cleaning silt and debris from community streets almost daily. We’ve had more than 7 inches of rain over the past 45 days, leading to some substantial flooding.  Our crews also have been busy repairing erosion damage and regrading and resurfacing need areas to bring the community back to form.
  2. Turf Care. With the rains, we’ve shut off the irrigation for a bit to let the turf areas begin to dry out in preparation for September overseeding. We will monitor our systems to ensure the entire community gets the moisture it needs while conserving this natural resource. We also began treating turf areas for Spurge weed, halting its progress and keeping the grass healthy and beautiful.
  3. On the Water. We’ve also continued auditing and flushing the irrigation system as required following the Potassium Promagnate treatment And, we are relocating the effluent line to increase efficiency.
July 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Storm Watch. The Monsoons have kept us on our toes all month. We’ve been constantly monitoring our systems and adjusting irrigation to ensure we aren’t wasting water. We also have been working hard to repair damage and remove debris following each storm event, to keep the Community in top shape.
  2. Staying Ahead. With the rains and winds, we’ve also been working to keep ahead of any potential future issues. Crews have been thinning and trimming trees along the sidewalks, walkways, and paths as well as around the Model Homes, to minimize damage and danger to the community. We’ve also made several necessary repairs to the irrigation system to ensure it remains in top shape.
  3. Looking Good. Finally, our teams have been busy keeping up on regular community maintenance. The added heat and humidity have made it necessary for us to power wash the Main Entry each week to keep it looking its best. We’ve also been busy refreshing the gravel in the front yards of neighborhood C43, and we are keeping on top of necessary plant replacements as they arise.

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Monsoon Madness. The storms this month have been intense, requiring crews to focus heavily on cleaning up and repairing damage in their wake. To minimize damage, we continued to lift and thin trees in the Mazatzal View (3A & 3B), Salome Vista (5A & 5B), and Sierra Ancha (4A) Neighborhoods as well as along the Collector Road.
  2. Water Works. Not related to storm activity, we had a few irrigation repairs to look after, as well. We replaced a faulty irrigation timer at the Welcome Center and re-routed a broken irrigation main line to the entrance of developing parcel B6.
  3. New Color. Crews installed 15 new Red Lantana in the Bullnose at the East Entrance. These will add fantastic color and texture to the area. We’re also making certain the turf areas stay healthy and green by continuing to dethatch needed areas and keeping the grass well fed with fertilizer (everywhere except the dog park).

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Ride the Lightning. We’ve had a wild ride with the summer thunderstorms. More than two inches of rain has fallen at the Club so far this summer and our crews have removed, salvaged, or trimmed more than 100 trees, including 30 that were lost throughout the community. We’re constantly monitoring our systems and adjusting irrigation to ensure we aren’t wasting water. We also have been working hard to repair damage and remove debris following each storm event, to keep the Community in top shape.
  2. Playing Offense. With the rains and winds, we’ve also been working to keep ahead of any potential future issues. Crews trimmed trees on the Hashknife walking trail of the Delanova (N3) and Balearic (N2) neighborhoods. They also trimmed trees along the Giocare (N6) walking path, removed Yucca stalks from along Combs Road, and trimmed the Mexican Fan Palms at La Casa. Finally, we sprayed for weeds along the Encanterra Marketing Path to keep that area looking great.
  3. Staying Fresh. We’ve also been flushing the irrigation system as required following the Potassium Promagnate treatment and are auditing the condition of the irrigation system at the homesites. This will enable us to keep all the landscaping under our care healthy as we begin transitioning to fall.
May 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Maintenance and Monsoon Prep. Crews spent considerable time focusing on their regular maintenance schedule with work in the Salome Vista (5A and 5B), Sierra Ancha (4A), and Mazatzal View (3A and 3B) neighborhoods. These are looking great. We also began preparing trees in these neighborhoods for the strong winds and heavy rain that accompany Arizona’s Monsoon Season.
  2. Keeping It Green. With the heat beginning to set in, we continued our work to encourage a healthy transition from winter rye to summer Bermuda grass by de-thatching turf areas throughout the community. Next we will be aerating and applying fertilizer to these areas.
  3. Made in the Shade. The team installed 10, 36-inch Southern Live Oaks along the Collector, four along the east collector and six along the north. They also replaced plants at the corner of Fort Verde and Summit Springs Roads, adding 35 new plants of various types. Finally, the re-routing of the irrigation at the main entry was completed and everything is looking perfect.

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. More Monsoon Prep. Our crews spent considerable time prepping the community for the upcoming (hopefully) summer rains, known locally as Arizona’s Monsoon Season. The Arizona Monsoon Season starts June 15 and ends September 30. The peak of the season in Arizona is from mid-July to mid-August. Monsoon storms result from a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds within the region. During summer, Arizona receives moisture/humidity from Mexico which builds into impressive afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Along with rain and impressive lightening, these storms bring high winds, which can damage trees and other property. In response, our first task was to trim all 383 of the large Date Palms throughout the community in May. We have many other projects on our list before the storms arrive. This is a busy time of year.
  2. Renovation Update. Last month, we completed the renovation work from the exit gate on Trilogy Blvd to the traffic light at the Water Fountain/Main Entrance to the community, and we began working along Trilogy Blvd inside the gate, from the Main Entry towards the Four Corners and Kiva Club entry. Currently, our crews are active at the intersection of Blue Sky and Trilogy Blvd, and the entrance to the Kiva Club. When this is completed, we will move to Reunion Park, where we will remove the Acacia and Rosemary ground cover and add new plants to adjacent areas of parcel C21. Once this is completed, our crews will get all of the newly landscaped areas top dressed with new granite. The original granite color is no longer available. However, our provider will mix two different types to blend the color as closely as possible. The area already looks better and will be immaculate once this substantial project is finished.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Staying Sharp. The teams have spent a lot of time this month making sure the community is in top shape. This means a heavy concentration on our normal maintenance rotation, moving from one area to the next according to schedule. The renovation project at Vesper Trial is in full swing and will be completed at the end of the month. Palm trees have now been trimmed by removing the fruit and dead and hanging fronds. The drain in the turf retention off Encanterra Blvd will have the floor drain installed at month’s end – just in time for summer Monsoons. Plant replacements continue in designated areas of the community and in the Resort Collection homes. Finally, all summer annuals have been installed throughout the Club and annual beds in the Community.
  2. Green is Good. Turf transition is now a main focus as we transition from winter rye grass back to summer Bermuda grass. We are at our desired mow height and will stay at this height to keep the Bermuda lush and healthy with adequate air and light. We fertilized all the turf areas and are increasing our watering as we welcome the Bermuda grass back for the summer. The final step in the process will be aeration of turf areas, which will be underway in the coming weeks.
April 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Spring Fresh. Our crews have been super busy over the past month. A big focus for our team has been continuing the routine maintenance in the Four Peaks, Horseshoe Bend, Salome Vista, Boulder Canyon, and Sierra Ancha neighborhoods. In addition to our regular duties, we will finish our plant renovation work in these areas by month’s end, including Collector Road.
  2. Summer Color. In preparation for summer, we’ve begun removal of the fall annual flowers, replacing them with summer blossoms. We began installations at the Welcome Center, Clubhouse, and Discovery Center the week of April 12th. We will be finishing up throughout the community as we move into May. We also increased our weed-control work this month following the March rains. Luckily, we’ve seen only minimal weeds throughout the community. Finally, we are increasing irrigation throughout the community in response to the rising temperatures and are finishing up our plant replacement work. Crews planted lantana at the Welcome Center Bullnose, along the Main Drive inside the gates, and along Wood Chute Pass.
  3. Monsoon Preparation. Summer (hopefully) means a return of Arizona’s monsoon season. To get ahead of this, we began lifting and thinning trees in the Salome Vista neighborhood and will be continuing throughout the community. This work helps us protect the trees as much as possible from high winds and heavy rain that can accompany our summer storms.

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Out with the Rye. The rich emerald green of perennial rye grass creates a spectacular background for Trilogy at Vistancia’s outdoor environment. However, as the daily temperatures rise and the sunshine intensifies, that lush color slowly begins to fade. To keep the community beautiful throughout the warmest part of the year, we are beginning to bring the underlying Bermuda grass out of its long winter’s slumber. This is a deliberate and careful process to ensure the health of the Bermuda grass. We begin by slowly dropping our mowing height down to that which is customary for Bermuda. We also fertilize with nitrogen every two weeks until the turf areas are at least 90 percent Bermuda. You may also see our crews using de-thatchers to remove the rye grass as it dies out, clearing more space for the Bermuda to grow. If done properly, you will see a smooth transition, leading to cool, beautiful turf areas throughout the summer.
  2. Colorful Changes. Along with our regular maintenance of the neighborhoods and the transition from cool-season to warm-season grasses, our crews were also busy changing out all the annual beds and pots. We plan to complete this transition in late April, giving the plants plenty of time to root and get acclimated before summer begins. The flowers we are planting include: Red Pentas, Pink Pentas, White Pentas, mixed color Angelonias, mixed Perfusion Zinnia, Ipomoea marguerite, Blackie and Yellow Dot. These will have spectacular color all through late spring, summer, and early fall, keeping the community looking its best.
  3. Renovation Update. We’ve completed all the renovation work in Phase 1 from the exit gate on Trilogy Blvd to the traffic light at the Water Fountain/Main Entrance to the community. It is looking immaculate. We’ve now turned our attention to renovating the landscaped areas along Trilogy Blvd inside the gate, from the Main Entry towards the Four Corners and Kiva Club Entry.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Summer Cut. This month our crews were very busy wrapping up our plant renovation project throughout the community. Our focus has been on trimming sage plants down to 12 inches. We also cut back the Bougainvillea’s, Lantana, Brittoniana, Ruellia, and Cordia. This important work helps to improve the plants’ overall health by promoting new growth. It also encourages them to flower vibrantly throughout the spring and summer.
  2. Get the Rye Out. With rising temperatures, the emerald green of our winter rye grass has begun to fade. To keep the community beautiful throughout the warmest part of the year, we are beginning to bring the underlying Bermuda grass out of its long winter’s slumber. This is a deliberate and careful process to ensure the health of the Bermuda grass. We begin by slowly dropping our mowing height down to that which is customary for Bermuda. We also fertilize with nitrogen every two weeks until the turf areas are at least 90 percent Bermuda. You may also see our crews using de-thatchers to remove the rye grass as it dies out, clearing more space for the Bermuda to grow. If done properly, you will see a smooth transition as we head to summer.
  3. Seasonal Color. Also, in preparation for summer, we’ve removed all the fall annual flowers and have replaced them with summer blossoms. Planting the warm-season flowers now will give them plenty of time to take root before summer arrives. The flowers we’ve planted are Mixed Cana Lily, Summer Snapdragon, Potato Vines, Pentas, and a few Vinca.
  4. Spring Cleaning. Finally, this month our crews began the big renovation of the common area at Maygrass Lane. The Acacia ground cover has all been removed. Irrigation has been checked for leaks and the new plant locations have been flagged. We’re beginning plant installations now. Afterwards, we’ll check the irrigation one last time and install the granite. We expect this project to be completed by the end of the month.
March 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. All Good in the Hood. We conducted Routine Maintenance in the Horseshoe Bend, Boulder Canyon and Matazal Neighborhoods. Our crews did a great job and those are looking outstanding as we get to the heart of the spring season. We will continue our work through the rest of the community in the coming weeks.
  2. Growth Spurt. We began expanding our plant renovations throughout the community as nighttime temperatures warmed, adding Texas Sage, Brittle Brush, Fairy Duster, Globe Mallow, Creosote, Dahlia, Cassia, Coral Fountain, Autumn Sage, Chuparose and Mexican Honeysuckle to the list. These plants are now poised for continuous, healthy growth over the coming weeks. We also installed new plants along Kinder Cross Pass, Wood Chute Pass, 3A Breezeway, and the Middle Retention Area in 3A. Likewise, we added new plants along the walkway east of Ord Court and at the corner of Fort Verde and Summit Springs Roads.
  3. Water Works. In anticipation of robust growth and warming temperatures, our crews began adjusting the water cycle throughout the community. Currently, we are watering turf areas three days a week, twice a day. We will continue making adjustments as conditions evolve, to ensure the health of the community’s landscaping.
  4. Hit Refresh. We completed the 8A retention renovation between lots 1213 and 1214. This includes new irrigation installation, new plants and fresh granite. The area looks fantastic now and will just keep getting better and better.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. A Little Off the Top. We continued our plant renovation project throughout the entire community with a focus on trimming sage plants down to 12 inches tall. We also cut back all the frost damaged plants, including: Bougainvillea’s, Yellow Bells, Orange Jubilee’s and Ruellas. This important work helps to improve the plants’ overall health by promoting new growth. It also encourages the them to flower vibrantly throughout the spring and summer.
  2. Spring Cleaning. The team completed its regular maintenance duties along Encanterra Blvd, as well as Algarve Place and the Magma Wash area. We are extremely pleased with how these areas are looking as we get to the heart of spring. We will be moving through the rest of the community in the weeks ahead.
  3. Under Construction. We also focused on a couple of big projects this month. We rebuilt the landscaping on the corner of Kenworthy and Combs Road. The sewer was rebuilt, and our property was disturbed. However, thanks to the crew’s hard work the area looks new again. We also are hard at work on the corner of Neroli Road and Encanterra Blvd, installing new irrigation and plant material as well as sprucing up the granite and rip-rap. We expect to finish this job in April.
  4. Prepping for Summer. Also in April, we will begin prepping the community flower beds for summer beginning April 5th. We will start by removing the winter flowers, turning the soil and adding fertilizer and a fungus treatment. Once the beds are ready, we will install Canna Lilly’s around the Club areas. Other beds will have a mix Angelonia. The pots will have potatos vine called Ipomoea Marguerite and Blackie. The HOA beds will also have the mix Angelonia.

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Renovation Rolls On. We’ve been working hard prepping for warm weather by renovating all the landscaping in Phase 1. Currently, our teams are working from just outside the exit gate on Trilogy Blvd all the way to the traffic light at the Water Fountain/Main Entrance to the community. This project has proven to be incredibly labor intensive with the large amount of mulch and dander beneath the Acacia, Redlons and Rosemary. The pump station that feeds the irrigation lines to this area is also down for maintenance. As a result, the project is taking a little longer than anticipated. Because we did not want to install plants without the ability to water them, we are taking this time to install new irrigation. We expect to complete all the landscaped areas outside the main entry by the end of March. Next, we will begin working along Trilogy Blvd towards the Four Corners on the entry side.
  2. The Big Change. While the winter annuals are looking really healthy, adding lots of beautiful color to the entries and pots throughout the community, the time to change them out ahead of the warm weather is rapidly approaching. We will begin changing out all the annual beds and pots the Monday after Easter and expect to have the job completed by April 23rd. We must make this change early so the new annuals will have time to root and get acclimated in their beds before the heat of summer arrives. The flowers we will be planting include: Red Pentas, Pink Pentas, White Pentas, mixed color Angelonias, mixed Perfusion Zinnia, Ipomoea marguerite, Blackie, and Yellow Dot. These will have spectacular color all through late spring, summer and early fall, keeping the community looking its best.
February 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Spring Clean. We completed our Routine Maintenance Cycle in Sierra Ancha, Mazatzal and Four Peaks Neighborhoods. Those are in picture-perfect shape and will have great color as we progress through the season. We will continue our work through the rest of the community in the coming weeks.
  2. A Little Off the Top. We completed our work removing plants throughout the community stressed by the cold weather and began adding new plant species that will thrive in the coming warm weather. We also completed our spring cutbacks of the Deer Grass. As nighttime temperatures increase, we will be adding more species.
  3. Green Thumb. Nothing says springtime like lush green grass. To ensure the community looks its best, our crews have fertilized and prepped all turf areas. They’ll be in perfect shape as we move into March.
  4. A Time to Sow. Spring is a great time to plant new species and our crews got a head start on the action. In February, we installed three 24-inch box Agave Weberi along the wall to the 9th tee box and completed the 8A retention renovation project between lots 1213 and 1214. We also installed 90 five-gallon Lady Slipper at the entrances, and we planted 50 five-gallon Bougainvillea around the east half of the Dog Park.

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Making Progress. Our teams made terrific progress throughout February on the major renovation of the landscaping in Phase 1. This is a huge undertaking with the project running all the way from the Main Gate to Kiva Club. Working from the common areas towards the exit gate, we redesigned all the beds and are replacing the old plants with new species. The new plants include several types of Lantana and Agave, Blue Hibiscus, Red Fairy Duster, Texas Sage, and Desert Cassia among others. Each of these will require less water than the plants they replace and will create an excellent mixture of color and textures with continual blooming. The difference will be dramatic and beautiful year-round.
  2. Heavy Load. Since beginning the renovation of landscaping in Phase 1, we have hauled away six 40-yard dumpsters (totaling 30 tons) of landscape material, including old Acacia trees, Rosemary bushes, and layers of debris that had built up over the years. When this project is complete, your community’s landscape palette will not only be more beautiful, but it will also be as fresh, clean, and efficient as it was at opening.
  3. Prepping for New Growth. We also expanded our rejuvenation pruning to the more frost-sensitive species such as Bougainvillea and Lantanas. The Farmer’s Almanac advises the middle of February to be a safe time to begin this work due to less risk of frost. Our early work focused along Upcountry Blvd, as well as the model homes, the clubhouses, pools and other high visibility areas. We expect pruning to continue through the month of March as we work our way into the interior parcels of the community. As a result, homeowners will see healthy, naturally growing plants thriving as we move deeper into spring.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Growing Season. We completed the first half of our plant renovation trimming throughout the entire community. We began by trimming sage plants down to 12 inches tall, and we will be finishing the project in March. This helps the plants maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance and encourages better overall health by allowing the shrubs to naturally grow and bloom.
  2. New Look for a New Year. Our crew also nearly completed the entire planting project at the Gentzel Gatehouse and along Gentzel Road. We’ll tidy up the last few details over next couple of weeks. You’ll love the look. Everything is perfectly manicured and will have great color as the temperatures warm.
  3. Grass is Greener. Most recently, we completed applying fertilizer to all turf areas. Our team used 21-3-3-3 with 10 percent iron. This fertilizer contains sulfur which helps to break up the soil, allowing deeper penetration of the nutrients and creating a healthier overall environment for the grass. This means those cool green lawns will stay lush and vibrant throughout the season.
  4. Steady as We Go. The team completed its regular maintenance duties in neighborhoods 1, 2 and 7. Those are looking spectacular, and we will be moving through the rest of the community in the weeks ahead.
January 2021 Community Updates

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Dreaming of Spring. Though we were in the midst of winter, our crews were working hard preparing the community to look its best come spring. We continued to replace plants stressed by the winter temperatures throughout the community with a heavy focus on the Four Peaks Shadows (2A and 2B) and Horseshoe Bend neighborhoods. We will continue replacing plants as necessary as we move through the community in our Maintenance Cycle.
  2. A Rock Solid Start to 2021. Although the decorative granite throughout Trilogy at Verde River isn’t affected by the temperatures like plants, it does breakdown over time and requires replacement to keep the community looking fresh and well-tended. During January, we completed the granite refresh in the Four Peaks Shadows neighborhood (2A and 2B), and installed 12 tons of ¾-inch minus Madison Gold granite to the common area west of Lot #220.
  3. A Native Beauty. To enhance the beauty of the property and provide a bit of screening in the transition between the community and the golf course, we’ve submitted a proposal to install three large (24-inch box) Agave Weberi along the wall to the 9th Tee Box of the golf course. We plan to begin the installation over the next few weeks as soon as the proposal is approved.
  1. Spring Cleaning. We kicked off the new year tiding up the landscape in the Four Peaks Shadows, Horseshoe Bend, and Boulder Canyon neighborhoods as part of our normal maintenance rotation. We will be progressing through the rest of the community as we transition into February.

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. New Look for a New Year. Our team spent much of January focusing on the major renovation of the landscaping in Phase 1 (the stretch of road from the Main Gate until Kiva Club). Working from the common areas towards the exit gate, we redesigned all the beds and replaced the old plants with new species selected to require less water while providing an excellent mixture of color and textures with continual blooming. We also installed new irrigation for the plants. You’ll love the new look come spring.
  2. A Little Off the Top. We began our rejuvenation pruning with the red yuccas which are the least susceptible to frost damage. We will begin pruning sages and oleanders in February once the weather begins warming. Our early work will focus along Upcountry Blvd, as well as the model homes, the clubhouses, pools and other high visibility areas. Afterwards, we will work our way into the interior parcels of the community to ensure the entire property looks spectacular in the coming weeks.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Ready to Bloom. Along the marketing corridor, we planted Arizona yellow bells and red yucca plants to capture the colors of spring. We also planted Texas sage shrubs accented by little Johns grasses along with the distinctive succulent elephant food set in between as ground cover. Unfortunately, the long and unusually hot summer caused a high mortality rate among the existing plants in the area. But now is a great time to replant, and we look forward to the new plants taking root and thriving.
  2. Just a Trim. On January 28th, we will begin trimming sage plants down to 12 inches tall throughout the entire property. This helps the plants maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance and encourages better overall health by allowing the shrubs to naturally grow and bloom.
  3. Spring Cleaning. The team performed regular maintenance in neighborhoods 3, 4, and 5.
December 2020 Community Updates

Trilogy at Vistancia

  1. Getting a head start on weed control. It might be chilly now, but spring is just around the corner. The rain we received was just enough to get weeds growing once the warm temperatures return. The best way to manage this is to stay ahead of them. Our crews have been busy applying pre-emergent herbicides to all granite areas maintained by BlueStar Landscape. Will be working hard for the next few months to keep the community weed-free.
  2. Improve color via turf fertilization. Among the many ways our team keeps the turf in great shape is how we approach fertilization. In order to keep the grass growing strong, we apply a granular fertilizer to feed the roots. In addition, to keep the turf that beautiful emerald green color, we spray an application of liquid iron which greens up the grass without causing large amounts of growth. These two particles together make for the lush, green grass you see throughout the community.
  3. Renovation-style pruning to protect plant health. Renovation-style pruning applies to shrubs and groundcovers in a designed urban landscape. This type of pruning permits plants to grow back into the space throughout the growing seasons. This process cannot take place while the plants are in bloom, so we are using this low-growth window to get this work done now.
  4. Plant Renovation in Phase 1. If you’ve driven through Phase 1 (the stretch of road from the Main Gate until Kiva Club) recently, you probably noticed the overgrown and unsightly Acacia Redolens, Rosemary, and other surrounding shrubs. Both the Acacia Redolens and Rosemary have outgrown the area in which they are planted, and they have become habitat for rats and other unwanted wildlife. Over the next month, our crew will be working in small sections to remove the existing plants, then install new irrigation and shrubs, and finally, add the top dressing and granite once planting is complete.

Trilogy at Verde River

  1. Getting a head start on weed control. It might be chilly now, but spring is just around the corner. The rain we received was just enough to get weeds growing once the warm temperatures return. The best way to manage this is to stay ahead of them. Our crews have been busy applying pre-emergent herbicides to all granite areas maintained by BlueStar Landscape. Will be working hard for the next few months to keep the community weed-free.
  2. Keeping the community beautiful. On the other side of the coin, cold temperatures bring troubles of their own, stressing many of our plants beyond their ability to recover. To ensure Trilogy Verde River always looks its best, we’ve been diligent about replacing plants wherever necessary throughout the community. In December, we replaced plants in the Four Peaks Shadow neighborhood (2A & 2B), the Mazatzal View neighborhood (3A & 3B), the Sierra Ancha neighborhood (4A), and the Horseshoe Bend neighborhood (8A). This work is in addition to improvements at the main entry and in the Resort Collection homes. More work will continue in all neighborhoods throughout the season.
  3. Creating a clean start to the New Year. Runoff from rain and wind are very efficient at funneling debris into the community’s many washes. We completed the fourth quarter trash clean up and are about to begin the Madison Gold granite refresh in the Four Peaks Shadow neighborhood. More of this work may be ahead if we see winter rains in the coming weeks.
  4. Continuing the Routine Maintenance Cycle. The year finished in the Mazatzal View neighborhood, which is week 6 of the normal rotation. For week 1 in January, we return to Four Peaks Shadow and Horseshoe Bend.
  5. Fertilization and removal. All turf areas in the community were treated with a 21-7-14 fertilizer mix. The fertilizer will help the growth and overall appearance of our turf. Due to the deteriorating health of a saguaro behind homesite 765, it was removed for safety reasons.

Encanterra Country Club

  1. Improve color via turf fertilization. Between the Bermuda which has started going dormant and the growing conditions facilitated by rain and then steady sunlight, we’ve fertilized all of the turf areas throughout the community. With the fertilization, we should see both improved color and improved density (which also helps color). Our goal is to get to that deep, rich green as soon as we can.
  2. Prepare for the next storms before they come. We are blessed to have many maturing trees in the community, and it is imperative that they are trimmed regularly if they are going to stay healthy. To that end, our crew is thinning trees where needed, particularly the mesquites and palo verdes which have the highest propensity for breaking/falling.
  3. Renovation-style pruning to protect plant health. Renovation-style pruning applies to shrubs and groundcovers in a designed urban landscape. This type of pruning permits plants to grow back into the space throughout the growing seasons. This process cannot take place while the plants are in bloom, so we are using this low-growth window to get this work done now.