To our many loyal customers, our sincere thanks to all of you for enduring the hardships of the record setting Winter of 2010-11.  Many challenges were faced by the plow drivers and our customers this winter, with the heavy steady snowfalls.

Minnesotans are truly a hardy bunch – especially those of us who did not or could not depart for warmer temps this winter. Once again, our thanks to you for your kind words from phone calls to notes on our snow service.

This is the second winter we used “SNOW ALERTS” to our e-mail customers.  Our weather forecasting services keep us one step ahead of oncoming snowstorms. This timely information allows us to forward YOU a predicted time of our snow-plow service arrival. In addition we mention snowfall amounts and duration of the storms.

Our free, e-mail subscription to this service more than doubled with this wild season of over 80”of snow. If you missed out on the “SNOW ALERTS” e-mail message service this year, please do so for next season by contacting us at:

Call us: 612-869-5878

E-mail: info@parkwaylawn.com

Snowstorm 5^th Largest on Record

Blizzard of December 10-11, 2010*

This blizzard will be remembered as the one that deflated the dome in the 21st century. At 17.1 inches it was the largest snowstorm on record for December, and the fifth largest in the Twin Cities going back to 1891. This was an enormous storm and blanketed central and southern Minnesota with 4 to 12 inches of snow. The Twin Cities International Airport reported heavy snow with a quarter of a mile visibility or less for five hours straight from 9am to 2pm on the 11th and was closed for four hours with this storm. Due to the fairly high water content of the snow, it was difficult to shovel and move.

*Top Five Weather Events of 2010 in Minnesota

As chosen by State Climatology Office – DNR Division of Ecological & Water Resources University of Minnesota

Snow Service Customers

We thank all of our customers for your patience and calls during this record month of snowfall.  We received many kind words along the way as plowing crews tried to keep up or ahead of the snowfalls, the city plows and the wind.

If every service visit was not perfect – please accept our apologies. Heavy and drifting snow made for the worst snow conditions we have seen since the Halloween storm of 1991.

www.parkwaylawn.com

Parkway trucks are ready for snow service!

Before the snow plow arrives…

In order for us to provide faster and more efficient snow-plowing to our winter service customers, we ask a few things of you when a snowstorm occurs:

1. Check your e-mail for a snow alert

message with plow service schedules.

1. Leave your outdoor lights on.

1. Park vehicles in your garage or as far away from driveways as possible.

1. Commercial, Condo & Apartment clients please have your parking lots and driveways cleared of as many vehicles as possible.

Residential Snow Service Contracts

SCHEDULING: The following information will help you understand the snow removal process and times needed to complete the clearing of snow. We generally start snow removal operations about the time the snowfall is ending, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

1.5 to 4 inches approximate time to complete ALL snow removal is 8-12 hours.

4 to 6 inches approximate time to complete ALL snow removal is 12 to 15 hours.

6 to 8 inches approximate time to complete ALL snow removal is 15 to 18 hours.

8 to 12 inches approximate time to complete ALL snow removal is 24 hours.

Over 12 inches AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

If the snowfalls are steady and heavy – requiring us to plow a 2^nd or 3^rd time, there may be 24 hours between visits. Keep in mind that with continuous snow falling and drifting, our initial plowing may be covered up with several inches of snow. This can make it appear as if we have not plowed yet.

Sign up for Snow Service Alerts!

If you would like an e-mail message sent to you with winter service updates, please email us at info@parkwaylawn.com. Once we have your e-mail address we can provide you with updates on our service schedule as we monitor the progress of on coming winter snow storms.

Snow service updates provide you with the following information.

If and when we will be plowing.

Expected snow fall amounts.

Start time for plowing operations.

Expected finish time of all snow plowing.

Ice Melting

Parkway Lawn Service has ice melting products that we can apply to your walks and driveway, and parking lots after we shovel and plow. We use deicing products made from Calcium and Magnesium Chloride to melt ice even at very low temperatures and are safe for plants and carpet. Call us to find out more about how to make your walks and driveway safer for you and your guests. (612) 869-5878

Roof Ice = dangerous “Ice Dams”

Roof Raking and Ice Removal…
Snow is rough, but ice is dangerous. Take a good look up at your roofline next time you venture out to see if icicles are forming.

Parkway Lawn Service has partnered with Minnehaha Gutter Cleaning to help take care of roof ice and roof snow raking.
Parkway Lawn Service handles one story homes of snow raking – while our partner company is available for snow/ice service on any 2^nd story and larger homes and most commercial buildings of snow and ice removal.
Snow Hauling or Snow Removal
Parkway Lawn Service is available for moving large piles of snow and re-stacking it on your property – if space permits, or hauling it away to a different location. We contract with heavy equipment operators to pack and move out larger snow piles from properties with essential parking areas and space or property line limits.

Please call to schedule

Special Snow Service Requests,

Roof Snow Raking & Ice Removal

Visit: www.parkwaylawn.com

Renovating and Seeding Your Lawn

The extreme hot we have had this season has caused severe damage and thinning out of turf grass.  Considering this stressful condition that many yards have experienced, Parkway Lawn Service will be doing a great deal of Over Seeding and Lawn Renovation this fall.

AUGUST 15^th THRU THE END OF SEPTEMBER IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO RENOVATE AND SEED YOUR LAWN! Here are some reasons why…

1. Fewer problems with weeds encroaching with your new grass seed.

2. Warm days and cool nights germinate grass much quicker than in the spring.

3. Cooler weather in the fall and following spring, provide ample time to establish and encourage new grass to mature.

We also understand some folks would like to do this work themselves.  Listed here are step by step instructions to help you repair your lawn on your own.

1. Survey area and determine what weed controls, if any, are needed before seeding.
2. De-thatch areas where it is needed, if required.
3. Depending on condition, double or triple aerate the lawn.  This is crucial to provide good seed to soil contact.
4. Top dress with soil if needed or practical.
5. Select the appropriate grass seed.
6. Slice seed or distribute seed with drop spreader and rake in.
7. Apply starter fertilizer.
8. Follow instructions from Parkway’s ‘Care Information Sheet.’  Call our office and we will be happy to send this crucial information to you for free.

Have questions?

Call our office.  We will be happy to come out and give you FREE step by step customized instructions for your lawn, we’ll even give you our price for doing the work.

This article says it best.

By Gary Johnson, University of Minnesota Extension St. Paul, MN (8/6/2007)

“For trees and shrubs, the single, most effective way to moderate soil moisture fluctuations and reduce irrigation is to apply a generous layer of mulch (preferably organic).

It is astonishing how long the soil below a generous mulch layer remains moist, even in drought periods. In addition to moderating soil moisture extremes, organic mulches break down and continuously add organic matter to the soil horizon.

Use a minimum of three to four inches of coarse organic mulches (e.g., wood chips, but not redwood nuggets), or two to four inches of finer mulches (shredded bark, hulls, composted leaves). Don’t pile the mulch against the stems of plants.

If you annually add a fresh topping of mulch, do not remove the old mulch. When old mulch is removed, all of the wonderful fine roots of the trees and shrubs are removed, too. Treat your trees and shrubs as a forest or prairie does with annual, light applications of organic materials.

(Natural areas do this with their old leaves, dead roots, and dead branches and thatch.) Mulches don’t make water–they conserve water. Make certain that the rhizosphere (root environment) is thoroughly moistened before the mulch is applied. Use a soil probe to check.

This photo features a pleasant appearance and functional use of mulch in landscaping

PARKWAY LAWN SERVICE can help advise you on using mulch in your yard. Along with conserving soil moisture, Mulch adds to the overall beauty of garden spaces and landscaping giving the space a finished look.

Call PARKWAY at 612-869-5878 for a free MULCHING estimate.

TEMPORARY MOWING SERVICE…

If you, a neighbor, a friend or relative need short term lawn services, Parkway is glad to help.  We get many calls from folks who will be on vacation – and want their lawn kept in good shape.

Bob Kroth, Owner
Certified Turfgrass Professional
Parkway Lawn Service
(612) 869-5878

Visit us at  www.parkwaylawn.com
Click here to see what others are saying about us. http://www.parkwaylawn.com/lawn-care-testimonials.html
Check us out at the Better Business Bureau!  http://www.thefirstbbb.org/

GUTTER CLEANING

We will continue cleaning gutters through the end of the month. Make sure your gutters are clear of debris for proper water flow from your rooftops.  Call us at PARKWAY LAWN SERVICE, to schedule this important service.

*(Sorry, we are unable to clean 2- story gutters)*

HAPPY 4^th of JULY!

Parkway Lawn Service wishes our customers a happy & safe July 4^th Holiday.

*(Crews will not be mowing on July 5^th)

JOHN KROTH

April 7, 1951 to March 23, 2010

We announced in our April newsletter our sad news of the sudden passing of our brother, John Kroth.

John was our office manager at Parkway Lawn Service for more than (12) years.  Always the tallest guy in the room, John had a big smile, a big personality and a tender heart the size of Texas. No one could spin a taller tale, or tell a better joke than John.

John grew up in South Minneapolis and graduated from Washburn High School. He became a Comptroller for the Marriott Hotel chain which led him to jobs in California, Arizona and Texas.  His joy of the hospitality industry and entrepreneurial spirit steered him to start his own business.  He and his wife Marci ran their own “Back to the 50’s” styled restaurant, called “Memories, A Finer Diner” in Flower Mound, Texas for many years.

Minnesota called John and his family to move home after his Dad, Tom passed away in 1996.  John, Marci, their (4) children Amy, Adam, Andrew and Alan moved back to reconnect with the rest of the Kroth family.

Bob and Greg offered John a position with Parkway Lawn Service in 1997.  He took over the daily office duties, customer service and helped grow the business to where it is today.

John, an avid Twins fan, enjoyed fishing, cooking and entertaining family and friends. He was above all else – a great family man.  He loved to spend time with his kids and two grand kids, Blake and Emma. His children made him very proud by their participation in the military service for our country.

John is survived by his wife and best friend Marci, who runs the catering division of Rascals Restaurant in Apple Valley.  He is also survived by daughter Amy, who trained in law enforcement and works in federal security. Her husband Steve is a U.S. Marine. They have two children Blake and Emma.  His oldest son Adam just returned in mid-February from a tour of duty in Basra, Iraq with the Minnesota Red Bulls Army Reserve.  He and his fiancée Sharon will be married this summer.  Son Andrew works for Marci in the catering business at Rascals.  Son Alan was in U.S. Air Force training camp and just returned to Minnesota.  He recently became engaged.

John was the oldest son of Tom and Mary Kroth, including siblings: Barbara, Jennifer, Bob, Greg and Liz.

We feel a huge loss of a brother, friend and office manager. He will be missed very much. Please bear with us as we make transitions at the Parkway office to get back on our feet.

Bob, Greg and John Kroth

Our family appreciates the many kind words of sympathy over the phone and cards of condolences from so many customers, vendors and friends who knew John through Parkway Lawn Service.