For other BrightView Landscapes stock information or other financial reports, please visit our investor website.

This inaugural ESG Report covers BrightView’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, activities, and achievements. The report was informed by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Professional and Commercial Services Sector Standard. Statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed.

The debate between frequent formal shearing of shrubs versus seasonal rejuvenation pruning can get as hot as the summer sun but fans of shearing diminish as they come to understand the numerous health, environmental and aesthetic benefits of seasonal pruning. You probably see examples of both practices every day but may not be familiar with the specifics.

Health Benefits

Shearing is detrimental to the long-term health of a shrub and eventually may lead to its death but proper seasonal pruning can enhance a plant’s health over time. Shearing stimulates growth of a twiggy outer layer that shades the interior of the plant and becomes full of dead wood and leaves. The shaded interior is more prone to insect attack, dieback and damage from frost or drought. Because the outermost shell is woody rather than leafy, shearing also inhibits the shrub’s ability to produce nutrients through photosynthesis. Fighting off attack and disease while working harder to produce nutrients depletes the plant of energy and causes sheared shrubs to die faster than rejuvenated shrubs. The natural growth pattern of a rejuvenated shrub allows light and air to reach the plant’s interior reducing dead wood and disease and encouraging nutrient absorption.

Environmental Benefits

Frequent shearing promotes rapid growth and requires constant upkeep to maintain a desirable shape. This constant upkeep can create an environmental strain since gas-powered hedge trimmers and blowers necessary to clean up debris generate exhaust fumes and emissions, more green waste must be hauled off site requiring additional trips to the landfill, and the unnecessary waste takes up additional landfill space. Sheared shrubs also burn more energy requiring considerably more water to stay alive. Rejuvenating instead of shearing uses less gasoline and irrigation water, generates less air pollution and requires fewer trips to landfills.

Aesthetic Benefits

As shrubs are frequently sheared, it becomes difficult to achieve a consistent shear on every shrub resulting in many different shapes and looks. Frequently sheared shrubs will also appear inconsistent as they try to flower (see picture). Over time, the constant shearing will show unsightly dead wood on the shrub. Since most landscapes are designed by a landscape architect taking into consideration many different physical and aesthetic factors, formal pruning sacrifices the vision that the architect originally intended. The natural shape of seasonal pruning not only increases the lifespan of shrubs but it also provides a look that is more consistent with current landscape design trends. 

• Formal Pruning/Shearing

  

  Also known as shearing; consists of shaping or shearing shrubs every month during the summer growing season. Sheared shrubs will look mostly green year round with minimal or inconsistent flowering. Frequent shearing is a practice that  was started to remedy the problem of shrubs outgrowing their allotted space but became popular as many people like the tight, “manicured” look. 

• Seasonal Rejuvenation Pruning

  Consists of pruning or rejuvenating shrubs based on the individual plant species’ natural flowering cycle. Rejuvenative pruning is completed after a plant has flowered. The frequency of pruning depends on the planting density of the landscape; usually every 1-3 years. After the flowering cycle is complete, pruning is accomplished by reducing the crown of the plant by approximately 30-50% and allowing it to grow back naturally during the next growing season. Some plants need to be cut back further, almost to the ground.

Let BrightView Landscape Services Help You

BrightView takes pride in the landscapes we create for our clients. Starting with the design phase, we aim to bring your vision to life choosing the right plantings for your environment. 

The state of your landscape speaks volumes about your property and therefore needs to be properly maintained. It will be important to balance the visual appeal of your property with the cost to sustain and protect it.

You can benefit from a comprehensive landscape maintenance plan designed to meet your needs and exceed your expectations, no matter the environment or season.

Here’s a bit of trivia. What resource can improve the health and appearance of your landscape, save you time and money, and helps reduce weeds, pests, plant diseases and fungi? Surprise—it’s an irrigation system. This landscape superhero can make all the difference for your property. If you don’t yet have one, here’s what to consider.

These Aren’t Your Grandma’s Sprinklers

You might be envisioning the irrigation systems of old—large, unsightly sprinklers that detract from the appearance of your landscape. But irrigation systems have come a long way, and today’s systems are only visible when in use, or in the case of drip irrigation, not visible at all. Plus, today’s technology includes smart, cloud-enabled solutions that can automatically adjust irrigation based on your local conditions.

Irrigation Boosts Your Property Value

Having an irrigation system makes your property more valuable all around. The upgrade is a major selling point to potential buyers should you be in the market to sell. It’s also an attractive feature for conservation-minded tenants who will appreciate the water-saving benefit. And finally, an irrigation system can help you maintain consistent curb appeal, especially during the heat of the summer months when dry soil can lead to bald spots in your lawn and stressed plants that are more vulnerable to pests and disease.

Convenient & Cost-Effective

Sure, you could drag around a hose and hand water as needed, but that’s ineffective for a number of reasons. Aside from being a time-consuming, clunky process, hand watering is prone to user error. Are you overwatering? Underwatering? It’s hard to know, especially since different plants have different water needs.

This is where an irrigation system excels. With today’s smart technology, your system can be set to run at the optimum cadence, time of day, and duration for your landscape. Rain sensors can turn off your system to save you money during a storm. Soil sensors monitor the moisture level in your soil and adjust watering as needed. There are even flow sensors that can alert you to unusually high or low water usage and turn off your system if a leak is detected. And best of all, WIFI-enabled controllers make it easy for you or your landscape partner to manage your system from anywhere.

Totally Customizable

Today’s irrigation systems can be configured a number of ways, making them tailor-fit for your property. This further allows for cost savings by reducing run-off, maximizing performance and ensuring you don’t pay for features or equipment you don’t need. When designing your irrigation system, your landscape partner will consider factors like drainage, slopes, hills, and your specific plant material. For example, they might recommend drip irrigation for its ability to deliver targeted amounts of water close to the soil.

How to Make the Leap

When you’re ready to install a system, enlist a licensed and insured landscape partner, like BrightView, with irrigation specialists on staff. They’ll carefully explain the technology to help you make the best choice for your property. They’ll also discuss ongoing management of your system to adjust configuration as needed and devise a plan that work with your preferences, such as remote management capabilities, in-house management, or management by your landscape partner.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, don’t forget to arrange for regular maintenance and inspection once your irrigation is installed. Your landscape partner will recommend appropriate intervals for this service based on your system and may also recommend winterization based on your region. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent issues that could require costly repairs down the line and to keep your system running in peak efficiency. It’s a simple way to protect your investment and ensure it continues to deliver benefits for years to come.

BrightView Maintenance has been selected by Colorado’s Town of Superior to maintain its park and recreation landscapes starting Jan. 1, 2020. The contract covers more than 630 acres of parks, green space, and open space, the Town of Superior, and its 35 miles of public trails.

The agreement includes sustainable landscaping maintenance and snow removal for the public grounds, parks, and walkways throughout the town.

BrightView is one of the nation’s largest users of zero-emission commercial landscaping equipment and also a leader in the use of state-of-the-art water conservation technology and innovative landscaping practices, such as green roof installations, LEED-certified landscape consulting, waste reduction programs, and xeriscaping.

“Being able to partner with the Town of Superior and provide sustainable landscaping is a point of pride for Brightview,” said Bradley Hill, BrightView Senior Branch Manager. “Our team is thrilled to not only provide green landscaping to some of the most stunning trails in Colorado, but to also make a lasting connection with this close-knit community.”

The Town of Superior was founded in 1896 and is believed named after the "superior" quality of coal found in the area. The stunning mountain-filled backdrop is enhanced by the vast public spaces and parks throughout the town.

“The Town of Superior is looking forward to working together with BrightView to serve all who live, work, and play in our community,” said Leslie Clark, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director, Town of Superior.“ We believe BrightView and their people will provide us with the excellence we have become accustomed to, as well as propel us into the future of renewable energy and sustainability.”

Learn more about the parks, trails, open space, and recreation within the Town of Superior here.

About The Town of Superior:
The Town of Superior is a municipality of approximately 15,000 people located 22 miles northwest of Denver and 8 miles southwest of Boulder, Colorado. Incorporated in 1904 and named for the “superior” quality of the coal it produced in the local mine, the Town boasts a rich history. The Town now consists of four-square miles that include hundreds of acres of quality parks, open space and trails produced and maintained for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.

The South is no stranger to combating pesky pests once warm, humid weather sets in. Controlling whiteflies can be especially tough since they thrive year-round and have brutal effects on your landscape if not taken care of properly. Thankfully, waving the white flag isn’t your only solution. There’s plenty you can do to keep whiteflies from invading your landscape, and the first step is education. Here’s what you need to know.

Whiteflies are Unwelcome Guests

Whiteflies are an invasive species, native to South America and the Caribbean. Just as the name suggests, whiteflies are small insects with white wings and short antennae. They feed on the underside of leaves with sharp mandibles that pierce the plant and allow the whitefly to suck its nutrients. The byproduct of their feeding is honeydew, a sticky substance the whitefly secretes that leads to sooty black mold. Not only is the mold unsightly, but it can stain nearby surfaces like concrete.

Adult whiteflies measure 1/16 inch long, so they’re not always easy to see, and are sometimes mistaken for moths. But what is easy to see is their damage to the plant, which can manifest in stunted growth, yellow leaves, leaf drop, and in the worst cases, death.

Unfortunately, whiteflies are a year-round struggle in the southern and coastal states, with whiteflies attacking more than 250 different varieties of plants, including gumbo limbos, hibiscus, poinsettias, citrus and other fruits and veggies.

Among Florida’s Whiteflies, There Are 3 Top Offenders

Worldwide, there are over 1500 species of whiteflies, with dozens of species seen frequently in the South. While Florida has seen a wide variety, there are of 3 that cause the most trouble: Ficus whitefly, Rugose spiraling whitefly, and Bonday’s nesting whitefly.

• Ficus Whitefly
  Ficus whiteflies are the picky eaters of the bunch. While other whiteflies are less discriminatory in selecting their host plant, ficus whiteflies are singularly focused on—you guessed it—ficus trees and hedges. You’ll know when a ficus is infected because its formerly lush foliage will yellow and eventually drop.
   
• Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
  The spiraling whitefly got its name from the spiraled pattern in which it lays its eggs. Some of the spiraling whitefly’s common hosts include wax myrtle, live oak, palms and black olive. 
   
• Bondar’s Nesting Whitefly
  In addition to fruits like avocado, guava, lemon, mandarin orange and naval orange, the nesting whitefly also enjoys banyan trees and stinkwood. The nesting whitefly’s calling card is the characteristic pattern of wax that forms around its pupa, hence the name “nesting.”

Act Fast, Because Whiteflies Multiply FAST

As nymphs, whiteflies overwinter on leaves. Come spring, females can lay as many as 400 eggs, which hatch in roughly a week’s time. Immature whiteflies tend to blend in with the plant, but it won’t be long before they’re easier to spot. It only takes 25 days for the whitefly to mature.

Thankfully, treatments are available, both to treat and prevent infestations. Spraying the infected plant with a strong stream of water is a low-tech solution, so long as it’s followed up with an application of insecticidal soap or a horticultural spray.

More serious infestations may require the use of a systemic insecticide. Your landscape partner will be sure to choose one that’s recommended for the control of whiteflies, but won’t harm beneficial insects like lady bugs, who happen to be a predator of the whitefly.

In the event of heavy infestations, it’s best to remove and replace the affected plant before more of your landscape is affected, and clippings from an infested plant should always be disposed at the closest landfill to avoid further spread

Aside from these solutions, one of the best things you can do to prevent an infestation is maintain a regular fertilization schedule. Doing so bolsters the health of your plants and helps your landscape thrive while keeping pests out. If you suspect whitefly damage or want to prevent problems before they begin, request a free quote or give our team a call at 844.235.7778">844.235.7778.

This year’s Earth Day finds us at an unusual time. Like many of you, Earth Day has historically been an important day of reflection and action for us. Yet this year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s taken on a new meaning.  As we all examine how we can stay healthy and better care for our communities in light of the novel coronavirus, we realize the lessons of Earth Day are more important than ever. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the planet’s largest civic event. While the need for social distancing has canceled events, the spirit is still alive and well. This year’s theme is “Climate Action,” challenging each of us to consider how we can contribute to the goal of a zero-carbon future. Here at BrightView, we’re thinking about how we can be your change agent, helping you create outdoor environments that contribute to the wellbeing of both the people who enjoy your property and the planet. 

One of the ways we’re achieving this is by pioneering the use of zero-emission, low-noise electric equipment. We also optimize our daily routes to ensure maximum efficiency and emission reduction. But we’d be remiss to not mention that our most important partner in carbon reduction is Mother Nature herself. Some of the biggest impacts come from the things we grow, with her help of course. For example, the trees grown in our nurseries will consume more than 5 million tons of carbon over their lifetime. That’s in addition to the more than $100 million worth of carbon-consuming plant material we add to landscapes each year.  This is just the tip of the iceberg. From LEED-certified landscape consulting to water management, green roofs to climate-based landscapes and more, check out our Environmental Sustainability Page to get some ideas about ways you can combat climate change and improve the health of your environment.

Now it’s your turn. Tell us how you’re observing Earth Day by using the hashtag #BVEarthDay on social media. Then, listen along with us on Spotify to keep the good vibes going. While we might not be able to observe Earth Day together and in-person as a community this year, your show of support helps keep the movement strong.

Ask BrightView: Episode 24

Native to Southeast Asia, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that first made an appearance in the United States in 2014. In addition to the damage it can cause to your landscape, the spotted lanternfly poses a large threat to both the ecosystem and the economy. Bill Paige, a certified arborist and BrightView’s spotted lanternfly remediation expert, shares tips for prevention against spotted lanternfly infestation.

(For the full transcript, see below.)

The campus at the University of Pennsylvania offers a natural oasis of serenity directly in the middle of one of our nation’s largest cities. The campus is filled with flowerbeds, shaded walkways, turf areas, and more than 6,000 trees. However, this fall semester, students have returned to a campus that is even more green, and quiet.

BrightView, the nation’s leading landscape services company, has been maintaining the landscape at Penn since the early 2000s and announced last year a commitment to begin deploying electric mowers and other equipment across the country.

The team that maintains the campus is now operating entirely with low-emission electric mowers and hand-held equipment. With each mower running an average of 300 hours per year, the team expects this will eliminate the amount of emissions equivalent to approximately 1,500 cars averaging 12,000 miles each year. These numbers are based on findings from a recent study on emissions by lawn and garden equipment by a California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“This equipment significantly reduces the environmental impact of maintaining our campus which includes noise-pollution,” said Craig Roncace, Urban Park Manager for the University’s Facilities and Real Estate Services Division.

According to the manufacturer, the mowers BrightView uses on the campus emit only 78 decibels versus a standard gas mower that emits 95 decibels.

“Studies show that less noise pollution translates to better student outcomes, more productive workplaces and a more calming environment,” said Tariq Ahmed, Branch Manager at BrightView.

BrightView has been using the equipment on campus this summer and faculty have confirmed that while sitting near a window in a campus building you cannot hear the mower running just outside.

While BrightView uses this equipment across the country, the Philadelphia team is the first to go 100-percent electric. 

“Our partnership with the university played a big role in getting our team to this milestone,” said Dante DeMaria, Associate Branch Manager at BrightView. “It’s quite a process because the equipment requires charging stations in both our branch and trailers to keep running all day.”

“We take pride in the opportunity to create a more sustainable and quiet campus for the students and faculty here and it’s only possible through a great partnership, said Ahmed. “We continue to look for ways make our operations more environmentally-friendly and assist clients in achieving their sustainability goals.”

Native to Southeast Asia, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that first made an appearance in the United States in Berks County, Pa., in 2014. Since that time, it has been found in other parts of Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey and Virginia. In addition to the damage it can cause to your landscape, the spotted lanternfly poses a large threat to both the ecosystem and the economy. The potential impacts are serious enough that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine for portions of the state to help control the insect’s movement.

How to spot the spotted lanternfly

Despite its wings, the spotted lanternfly is a planthopper, meaning it’s not a true flying insect. Measuring about 1-inch long and 1/2-inch wide at rest, the spotted lanternfly is most easily identified by its distinctive red, black, white, and grey markings on its wings. Immature spotted lanternflies — which won’t yet have red patches — are black with white spots and about the size of a pencil eraser. Once mature, it will feature grey wings with white spots and a red underwing.

The spotted lanternfly favors Alianthus (Tree of Heaven) and is also known to feed on grapevines and fruit trees. Weeping, greyish, or black wounds are a telltale sign spotted lanternflies have been feeding on your trees. Their feeding creates a sugary substance called honeydew, which attracts other hazardous pests, including ants, wasps, and yellow jackets. It also generates sooty mold, which can damage your plants and cause unsightly staining on your property.

Fall and winter is critical to preventing the spread

Spotted lanternflies lay their eggs in late fall on trees and smooth surfaces — including outdoor furniture and the wheel wells of cars. The egg masses have a grey, muddy appearance, and as they age, resemble columns of brown, seed-like deposits. If you find a spotted lanternfly or egg mass, place it in a container with alcohol or hand sanitizer, which will kill it. Report the sighting to your local department of agriculture, or call us and we can assist.

One of the best measures of prevention is to have a certified arborist evaluate your risk and prescribe an appropriate prevention and treatment plan to keep your trees and property safe. Properties with trees of heaven are most susceptible, and may want to consider removal or treatment. Our experienced tree care professionals can help you properly identify your trees and make the right choice.