Good morning Shannon, 

Thank you so much for your email. That is a very nice gesture and we appreciate it.  I have to tell you that I keep hearing so many good comments from our neighbors. The lawn is looking much better and the difference is notable! I am sure will get more positive comments once the landscaping for the entrances is completed. 

Thank you and be well.

You’ve done a wonderful job, very impressed!   We look forward to working more with you as well. 

Thank you so much for your continued efforts, especially during this wacky time.

KUDOS! Please tell your whole team what a great job they did mowing yesterday. The Commons in front of us look fabulous, and the E….. were very happy with the hand mowing of the new sod in front of their home. They said the man who did it was very careful and thorough…and was wearing a yellow vest that said “Foreman” on the back….   Anyway, the E…. were very pleased. Thank you.

I am a Townes of Burke resident and just wanted to reach out to provide feedback on recent outstanding service provided by Blade Runners on Friday,  12 June. I just wanted to commend the crew on cutting back the bush in front of my home!  The growth was getting out of control!  Keep up the great service!

Thanks!

Carolyn

Burke Towne Court

Hi Shannon, 

Everything is looking absolutely great around here! Your guys are doing a fantastic job. I will walk around and inspect carefully over weekend. 

Thanks,

Mary Sue

Terry, 

Dear Lanelle,

I just wanted to let you know a couple of things.  First, compliments to whoever cut the holding pond on Seabrook after the water finally drained out.  They did a great job.  Also, I noticed the Begonias had been planted at the entrance flower beds on Middleford Drive.  We are pleased that BladeRunners went back to using Begonias as our Spring/Summer flower choice.

Shannon, 

Hope your day is going well. I just wanted to write on behalf of our HOA leadership to express how happy and impressed we are with our first service from BladeRunners. The initial mowing was great and the team’s brush clean up and mulching today was so thorough and neatly done! 

We are looking forward to continuing our work with you all, and the improvement of our community.

Thank you,

Laura

Hi Lanelle,

Of course I know it can’t last because of all our shade, but it’s wonderful to see so much green grass out front right now! 
Also when your crew was here last I happened to notice how carefully they were picking up sticks etc.   We really appreciate that attention to detail.

Genny

Dear Shannon,

I am writing to compliment you and your team for your work in maintaining our property at The Duke Condominiums.

Your workers are courteous and hard working. During this difficult time we appreciate that all your workers are masked and go about their work in a diligent manner.

Keep up the good work. We are impressed!

Marie
Landscape Committee Chair

Good morning Shannon,

Hi there,

The crews that you sent to us to do our first cut/cleaning up and the mulching did a fabulous job.  You sent us some very hard working folks who really paid attention to what they were doing.  I didn’t want them to think that went unnoticed.  If you could please pass along our thanks, I would appreciate it. 

Thanks,

Kristine

Lanelle,

Thanks to your crew!  The grounds look wonderful after the first mowing. Thank them for carefully moving the extension cord running between our lighted sign and our banners! 

God bless you all and Happy Easter in advance!

Peg 

Dear Blade Runners Clients:

Blade Runners believes it falls under the Category of Essential businesses as defined by various state and government interpretive guidelines:

State of Virginia:

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-53-Temporary-Restrictions-Due-To-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf

8. Although business operations offering professional rather than retail services may remain open, they should utilize teleworking as much as possible.  Where telework is not feasible, such business must adhere to social distancing recommendations, enhanced sanitizing on common surfaces, and apply the relevant work place guidance fro state and federal authorities.  

Homeland Security interpretation:

https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

• Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
• Support, such as road and line clearing, to ensure the availability of needed facilities, transportation, energy and communications
• Support to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste and hazardous waste

State of Maryland

https://www.dentonmaryland.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/OLC-Interpretive-Guidance-COVID19-04.pdf

b. The Commercial Facilities Sector includes, but not limited to:

i.    Lodging.

ii.   Building and property maintenance companies, including, without limitations plumbers, electricians, HVAC service companies, roofers, environmental services companies, exterminators, arborists and landscapers. 

iii.   Janitorial firms

iv.    Companies that sell supplies and materials for maintenance of commercial and residential buildings, including “big box” home improvement supply stores, plumbing distributors, electrical distributors and HVAC distributors. 

v.    Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry services

vi.   Commercial and residential construction companies.

vii.   Self-Storage facilities. 

We will continue to keep you aware of any changes and will continue to operate in a manner that is safe for all.

Thank you! I wish the board had opted to go with Blade Runners for 2020 – you’re so responsive and helpful it’s very refreshing. If you keep supplying these awesome proposals I can see them changing companies next year. Fingers crossed!

Community Association Manager

Sentry Management Inc

602 S. King St., Ste. 400

Leesburg, VA 20175

I am a Property Manager handling multiple condo & Home Owner Associations around the Northern Virginia area. Blade Runners is simply the best contractor we have working for us. They are reliable, thorough, and just do a great all around job. Their web site is excellent and a great resource for the individual home owner. Blade Runners makes my job easy when it comes to handling my clients landscaping, lawn maintenance, and snow removal needs. Highly recommended.

Jeff P.

Arlington, VA

I initially tried a local “boutique” gardening service, but found they promised a planting date that was unrealistic – continuing to slip as more business came in…

By contrast, Blade Runners gave (and met) a more realistic planting date.  Karen was excellent both in creating the type of front yard we wanted for our townhouse, as well as in providing advice on how to maintain it over the long term.  This was our second experience with Blade Runners in the past year and we’ve been very satisfied both times.

David K.

Vienna, VA

“Hello!   I was home today trying to get over the tail end of a cold and had an opportunity to observe the work being done on the property today by Blade Runner.  They arrived at circa 9 am and left at 4 pm. They came with lots of equipment and a truck which they nearly completely filled with debris they removed from our property. They cleaned out the flower beds and mulched.  I observed them using rakes to clean out the flower beds; they also cut back plantings that were growing over the sidewalks. They went all over the property to clean out weeds and remove twigs and leaves.  While I was walking around the community to see what was happening and to meet the four Blade Runner employees, one of the residents stopped me and expressed how much cleaner and neater the property was looking due to their work.”

Shannon,

Thank you for the update.  I complimented your team today about their attention to detail with the mulch application.  I wanted to share with you too.

Jennifer C

Blade Runners, Inc. is Determined to use the best products for your site.  Recently Round Up has been in the news, below you will find information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).

- Statements on Round Up from EPA and NALP.

EPA Takes Next Step in Review Process for Herbicide Glyphosate, Reaffirms No Risk to Public Health

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking an important step in the agency’s review of glyphosate. As part of this action, EPA continues to find that there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen. The agency’s scientific findings on human health risk are consistent with the conclusions of science reviews by many other countries and other federal agencies. While the agency did not identify public health risks in the 2017 human health risk assessment, the 2017 ecological assessment did identify ecological risks. To address these risks, EPA is proposing management measures to help farmers target pesticide sprays on the intended pest, protect pollinators, and reduce the problem of weeds becoming resistant to glyphosate.

Full Statement from EPA -

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-next-step-review-process-herbicide-glyphosate-reaffirms-no-risk-public-health

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) recently released an updated statement regarding the recent jury decisions and the safety of Bayer Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer or glyphosate.

“NALP understands the important role glyphosate plays in managing landscapes and delivering crops, and we are committed to promoting and ensuring its safe and effective use based on scientifically supported decisions made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” NALP said in a press release. “NALP members are licensed and certified pesticide applicators that use glyphosate and other products in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.”

The EPA announced on May 6, 2019, that a final interim determination on the review of the herbicide glyphosate was reached.

The EPA’s conclusion was “that there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen.”

NALP says the EPA reached this determination after extensive human health and ecological risk assessments were conducted. NALP also notes that the interim final determination followed the publication of a draft assessment on glyphosate in 2017, which also found that glyphosate was not harmful to public health when used in accordance with label instructions.
Full Statement from NALP-

https://www.totallandscapecare.com/chemical-care/nalp-releases-update-statement-on-glyphosate/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=02-06-2020&utm_campaign=Total%20Landscape%20Care&ust_id=618b2f2a66c9b083e396ebb22f135d9e4588923a&oly_enc_id=7998G9338467F6R

This message is long overdue but I would like to extend my thanks to the hardworking men and women at Blade Runners and share my experience. As President of the Village at Gum Springs HOA I led the decision to switch to Blade Runners in 2018 and would do it again without question. At the beginning of any new relationship there will be misunderstandings and adjustments that need to be worked out. When we were unsure of something or had a concern our account manager, Karen, was prompt, professional and patient.

Communicating with Karen was very easy and helped us to determine the types of services that would best serve our community. On more than one occasion she would come to the community and walk the grounds with the HOA Board. She would identify plant types that could prevent erosion/flooding, point out trees that were healthy or in need of assistance and offer suggestions on how to improve the overall aesthetics of our community. I could tell she genuinely cared about our community and the service her company provided.

At the conclusion of our walkthroughs we received a breakdowns with several options of services and improvements that we could use to improve the worn down and drab areas in our community according to Linton’s In The Garden. The following year we decided to move forward and expand our services with Blade Runners and the result was more than we could have imagined. During the spring of 2019 our community won the “Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation” award for residential beauty! This was the first time our community received an award for anything and we owe it to the hard work from the Blade Runners team. We look forward to working with Blade Runners in the future and hopefully to win another award or two!

~Arlan A., President VGS HOA

I had literally emailed _______  over the weekend to fulfill their contract and blow the leaves in the rear common area. They have been replying that the weather isn’t good (several times now).

So, this just reinforces we made the right decision by going with you.

Thanks, E

The entire Board wanted to pass along that with the recent work your team did at Rhodes Hill Square this week, the landscaping has never looked better.  Thank you!

Barry C – Board Member

Thank you so very much for keeping us informed…We have lived in POW community since its’ inception in 1972/73 and you have been the best..! 

Maury G – Board Member

Learn More about Snow Operations at – https://blade-runners.com/blog/2016/09/14/blade-runners-snow-improvement/

Learn more about our Ice B’Gone Magic (what set Blade Runners apart) – https://blade-runners.com/blog/2014/02/20/blade-runners-wonders-do-you-believe-in-magic-salt/

Hello Shannon,

It was great to see you this afternoon. Thanks so much to you and the crew for the excellent job cleaning up our neighborhood in time for Thanksgiving. I walked around briefly this afternoon, and everything looks great! What a huge improvement from last week. We really appreciate your prompt response.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, the crew, and your family,

Mary Sue

Landscape Committee

  You can learn more about Blade Runners Leaf Management Process by watching this Video https://blade-runners.com/blog/2017/10/30/blade-runners-leaf-approach-video/

The BR (Blade Runners) tree crew recently completed the removal of quite a few trees in our neighborhood.  They did an excellent job.

Thanks,

Rita (Board Member)

See the Crawler , Blade Runners new Tree Weapon for your HOA.  Remove and Trim Tress in a safer way, that won’t damage your property!

https://blade-runners.com/blog/2019/06/03/blade-runners-crawler/

Hi Lanelle—

I wanted to share with you the positive feedback I received about the anchoring landscape with boulders you installed outside of the office in the annual meeting held last night.

As you know, we took over management of Mt. Zephyr this year.  One of the first concerns they expressed to us was their dissatisfaction with their old landscape company .  You impressed the board right from the beginning with your knowledge of the many trees on the property.  You were quick to point out those that should be pruned or showed signs of disease or stress.  You have continued to impress the board with your quick response time to answering questions and getting things done.   The board specifically noted that the leaf blowing this week went very well and the crew did a great job.  The board also sang your praises for the work that has been done around the retention pond.

I know in this job folks are quick to tell us when they are not satisfied—so I wanted to be sure that I shared with you just how satisfied they are with you and Blade Runners.  Great job and THANK YOU! 

Best Regards,

Michelle, CMCA ®

Community Portfolio Manager – Select Community Services

Lanelle,

Thanks for all your work to make my yard so nice.  I am very pleased.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Nell

Blade Runners Client Village of Gum Springs  honored by Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) beautifying Richmond Highway Corridor.

Several Richmond Highway businesses and properties received recognition for landscape improvements at the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation’s (SFDC) 18th annual Mary Thonen Beautification Awards The annual Mary Thonen Beautification Awards are open to any business establishments that are visible from Richmond Highway.

Entrants are judged by SFDC’s Marketing, Community Appearance, Planning, Transportation Committee on general aesthetics of plantings and accent materials, as well as their maintenance/grooming throughout the year.

The event was held on October 2nd. The award was presented to Village of Gum Springs Board President and Karen Baer, Account Manager for Blade Runners, Inc.

https://twitter.com/SFDC_org/status/1179508891622739968

“Shannon- You guys have surpassed our expectations with service. As I knew you would and that’s why I brought you guys on board. I will send you all the info tomorrow ….  I couldn’t stop raving about you guys!   Team BladeRunners!!!”

Property Manager

Legum & Norman, Inc.

Alexandria, VA

Shannon,

Thanks for the feedback!  Your grounds crews always do a great job with the mowing and trimming shrubs.  Thanks for keeping our community looking so nice.

Barry, Board of Directors – Rhodes Hill Square Condo Arlington VA, 22209

Hi, Karen!

We liked the springtime flowers.  We like to shake things up around here and have drastically different colors from season to season.  We are really happy with the dense coverage of flowers as well!  Our upper gardens often don’t get the flowers they need on Saxon Flowers to elongate the view.  You guys did an awesome job!

What is the plan for fall and have you ordered them yet?  Hopefully a complete departure from current springtime colors.

Next spring, we would love white, lavenders or light blue and yellow.

We are happy not looking like everyone else.

 Thanks,

HOA President

Carriage Lawn at Barkley

I recently was putting articles into my car while the Blade Runners team was mowing the grass on my property.  They very politely turned off the mowers and stepped back until I was finished loading my car.  Kudos to the Blade Runners team! I am always impressed with the way the Hunters Green grounds look. The team is obviously trained well and they always do a great job. Thank you, Blade Runners.

Jan Adams–a satisfied customer from the Hunters Green HOA 

“Shannon,  I was out at Colecroft doing a spring inspection with board members & landscape committee yesterday after the crew completed the mowing. The grass looks awesome! Everyone complimented the green and the removed ivy. What a difference! ”

“I am impressed. It was very thick and green. What a huge difference at this property.”

“Walking the property today and had to share the difference! Back of 7505 Ashby,  Very pleased! Job well done Bladerunners!!” -From the Board President 

“Before & After pictures of 7505 Ashby!  Shannon you made this happen! We thank you! Job well done!!!!!”  - From the Property Manager 

We used our Hydro Seeding operations to get these results. – Thank you Stratford Place Condominiums for working with us!

Learn more about that at:  https://blade-runners.com/blog/2017/10/30/hydroseed-video/

The board has been very pleased with your service this year.  The community is also pleased with the front entrance additional flowers. We will need to remember the extra flowers needed for that area for the Spring, Summer and next Fall.  You should have also received our renewed contract for next year.

Stay warm,
Alison 

Hello Eric & Shannon,

Thank you for your “SNOW” related property services update, as we experienced our mid-November Nor’easter storm. As you have stated, with the temps remaining above freezing overnight, I don’t think we will need to do any sidewalk shoveling or parking lot treatments for icy conditions of the new life landscaping. We are fortunate to have had this storm on Thursday morning instead of Friday or Saturday.

 Thank you for keeping our Church of Christ congregation in the SNOW notification alert loop.

 We’re sincerely grateful to have Blade Runner’s Inc. on the job for our Church of Christ Falls Church congregation.

 Many thanks gentlemen,
Kevin

Shannon…One of the main reasons, why we seek proposals from Blade Runners, is the fact that we receive positive feedback from communities that Blade Runners services on properties we manage.

Thanks!–CMSI Management, Inc.  Chantilly, VA 

The common weed killer Roundup (glyphosate) is back in the news after a US court ruled it contributed to a man’s terminal cancer (non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Following the court’s order for manufacturer Monsanto to compensate the former school ground’s keeper US$289 million, more than 9,000 people are reportedly also suing the company.

In light of this, Cancer Council Australia is calling for Australia to review glyphosate’s safety. And tonight’s Four Corner’s report centres around Monsanto’s possible cover-up of the evidence for a link between glyphosate and cancer.

Juries don’t decide science, and this latest court case produced no new scientific data. Those who believe glyphosate causes cancer often refer to the 2015 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that classified the herbicide as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.

What did the IARC and others find?

Glyphosate is one of the most used herbicides worldwide. It kills weeds by targeting a specific pathway (the shikimic acid pathway) that exists in plants and a type of bacteria (eubacteria), but not animals (or humans).

In terms of short-term exposure, glyphosate is less toxic than table salt. However, it’s chronic, or long-term, exposure to glyphosate that’s causing the controversy.

Pesticides and herbicides are periodically re-evaluated for their safety and several studies have done so for glyphosate. For instance, in 2015, Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment suggested glyphosate was neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic.

But then came the IARC’s surprising classification. And the subsequent 2015 review by the European Food Safety Authority, that concluded glyphosate was unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard, didn’t alleviate sceptics.

The key differences between the IARC’s and other reports revolve around the breadth of evidence considered, the weight of human studies, consideration of physiological plausibility and, most importantly, risk assessment. The IARC did not take into account the extent of exposure to glyphosate to establish its association with cancer, while the others did. Supplements like SARMS are able to combat any negative effects very easily as well.

Demonstrating the mechanism

Establishing whether a chemical can cause cancer in humans involves demonstrating a mechanism in which it can do so. Typical investigations examine if the chemical causes mutations in bacteria or damage to the DNA of mammalian cells.

The studies reviewed by IARC, and the other bodies mentioned, that looked at glyphosate’s ability to produce mutations in bacteria and to mammalian cells were negative. The weight of evidence also indicated glyphosate was unlikely to cause significant DNA damage.

Animal studies

Animal studies are typically conducted in rats or mice. The rodents are given oral doses of glyphosate for up to 89% of their life spans, at concentrations much higher than humans would be exposed to.

Studies examined by the European Food Safety Authority included nine rat studies where no cancers were seen. Out of five mouse studies, three showed no cancers even at the highest doses. One study showed tumours, but these were not dose dependent (suggesting random variation, not causation) and in one study tumours were seen at highest doses in males only.

This led to the European Food Safety Authority’s overall conclusion that glyphosate was unlikely to be a carcinogenic hazard to humans.

Human studies

The European Food Safety Authority looked at 21 human studies and found no evidence for an association between cancer and glyphosate use. The IARC looked at 19 human trials and found no statistically significant evidence for an association with cancer. It did find three small studies that suggested an association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (not statistically significant).

As already mentioned, the large Agricultural Health Study found no association between cancer and glyphosate in humans. And the 2016 review by Australia’s regulator concluded glyphosate was safe if used as directed.

The grounds look great! Blade Runners’ mowing and pruning crews always do an outstanding job.

Thanks, Shannon and team for the hard work. 

Sincerely,

Barry C.
Rhodes Hill Square Condominium Board Member

A shout-out to Blade Runners again this year!  They completed my personal spring cleaning today…HUGE shout-out!

It looks amazing to me and I am thankful for them.

From a grateful customer in Hillside Ridge Homeowners Association, Sarah S.

Some of you might be seeing white looking blades of grass on your property. This can be disconcerting and lead you to believe something was done incorrectly. This actually is a progressive approach to a real problem on the landscape. Have no fear: your preferred fescue will not turn white or be damaged.

The summer months bring some real challenges with Weed and unwanted Grass control.  The summer heat allows crabgrass to emerge as well as a number of other unwanted warm season grasses. In the past we had a limited ability to control crabgrass and other warm season varieties we aloud to thrive untreated.

                                                        Unwanted varieties

There is new product that allows us to control all of these unwanted varieties. Many contractors will not take this approach as it is expensive, and they are fearful the client will be upset with the appearance. Blade Runners is not afraid as we know it has tremendous benefit to our client’s property.

Please follow the link below to more information about the problem grasses.

https://blade-runners.com/blog/2015/05/26/unwanted-warm-season-grasses-invading-nova/