June Newsletter
Summer Growth, Heat Preparation, and Protecting Your Investment
Summer Growth, Heat Preparation, and Protecting Your Investment
Summer Growth, Heat Preparation, and Protecting Your Investment
As we move into June, landscapes throughout the Triangle are entering one of the most critical periods of the growing season. Longer days, increasing temperatures, and the beginning of summer stress can quickly impact turf, plant material, and overall property appearance. Taking proactive measures now can help protect your landscape investment while keeping properties healthy and attractive throughout the summer months.
🌱 Recognizing Turf Stress Before It Becomes a Problem
While warm-season turf is actively growing, increasing temperatures can quickly create stress conditions. Signs of stress often appear long before turf begins dying and should be addressed early.
- Common signs of turf stress include:
- Footprints remaining visible after walking across turf
- Wilting or folded leaf blades
- Discoloration or thinning areas
- Increased weed pressure in weakened areas
Addressing these signs early helps reduce long-term damage and expensive repairs later in the season.
🧴 Don’t Forget About Yourself: Summer Skin Protection
While protecting landscapes during the summer months is important, protecting yourself is equally critical. Long days outside, increased UV exposure, and rising temperatures can quickly create health risks when working or spending extended time outdoors.
- A few simple reminders as temperatures rise:
- Apply sunscreen regularly, especially during prolonged outdoor exposure
- Wear hats, sunglasses, and lightweight protective clothing when possible
- Stay hydrated throughout the day—not just when you feel thirsty
- Take breaks when working during extreme heat conditions
Taking care of yourself during the summer months helps ensure you can continue enjoying everything that comes with the season safely.
🌺 Summer Annual Color Installations
June remains an excellent time to refresh seasonal color and maintain strong curb appeal heading into peak summer.
- Successful summer color programs focus on:
- Selecting heat tolerant varieties
- Proper soil preparation and installation practices
- Monitoring moisture during establishment periods
- Managing disease pressure during warm, humid conditions
A well maintained color program helps keep entrances, amenities, and common areas looking their best all season long.
🌳 Protecting Trees & Shrubs During Summer Stress
Unlike turf, trees and shrubs often show signs of stress much later—making early monitoring extremely important.
- Keep an eye out for:
- Leaf curling or premature leaf drop
- Dead branch tips or canopy thinning
- Afternoon wilting
- Newly installed material struggling to establish
Protecting these long-term investments early helps reduce replacement costs and maintain property appearance.
🚶 Mid-Year Property Walkthroughs
By June, spring installations have typically had enough time to establish and reveal potential concerns. Mid-season walkthroughs are a great opportunity to identify small issues before they become larger problems.
- These evaluations can help identify:
- Enhancement opportunities
- Warranty concerns
- Plant performance issues
- Erosion or drainage concerns
- Planning opportunities for future improvements
Proactive planning now can help avoid reactive repairs later.
🚧 Current Construction Projects
As part of our commitment to continuing growth throughout the Carolinas, our construction teams remain busy delivering projects across multiple markets and scopes.
📍 Tryon Station – Garner, NC – Our team is currently wrapping up work at Tryon Station alongside Progress Carolina. This project included landscape installation, irrigation systems, and large-scale site improvements as the development moves toward completion.
⛳ Pinewild Country Club – Pinehurst, NC – We are excited to announce the start of work at Pinewild Country Club as part of their significant clubhouse transformation project. Pope Landscape & Irrigation is proud to be providing concrete, landscape installation, irrigation systems, and paver installation as part of this exciting project.
This major renovation and expansion will nearly double the size of the existing clubhouse while adding expanded amenities, dining areas, event spaces, and member experiences. We look forward to sharing progress updates as construction continues.
🌭 Team Spotlight: Celebrating Our Flower Crews
Spring annual color season is one of the busiest times of year for our teams, and after completing another successful flower installation push, we wanted to take time to recognize the people who make it happen.
Recently, we hosted a cookout for our flower crews as a small thank you for their hard work, long days, and dedication throughout the season. From early mornings to long install days, their efforts help create the colorful entrances, amenities, and common spaces that make our clients’ properties stand out.
We appreciate the hard work and commitment from every member of our team and look forward to another strong summer season ahead.
👋 Meet The Team: Emily Watanabe
This month’s featured team member is Emily Watanabe, Purchaser / Horticulturist at Pope Landscape & Irrigation..
🌱 What is your role at PLI?
My title is Purchaser/Horticulturist. Basically, I purchase materials for all divisions and help with estimating, design, and construction. As a horticulturist, I help choose plant material, monitor quality and good practices in the field, and run our floriculture program.
⏳ How long have you been with the company?
I recently joined the team this past January, but I have worked in landscaping and with ornamental plants for over 20 years. I have a BS in Horticulture from NC State and grew up in Cary, NC. Go Wolfpack!
🌺 What is your favorite part of your job?
I am a plant nerd. I love talking about and working with plants.
🎨 What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Gardening, spending time with my dog (and boyfriend), crafts, calligraphy, and traveling.
⚡ Coffee or energy drinks?
No coffee in the summer and energy drinks anytime. Lol
🌅 Early bird or night owl?
Being in this industry has conditioned me to be an early bird. I am the sharpest and happiest in the morning.
🛒 What is one thing people may not know about you?
I despise grocery shopping.
🥪 What is your go-to lunch spot?
Side Street Cafe
🐶 Dogs or cats?
I love both and had both growing up. Currently, I have a 1-year-old Australian Shepherd named Hobbes.
Thank you, Emily, for everything you do to help keep projects moving and landscapes thriving.
⛳ On The Course: NAIOP Annual Golf Tournament
Recently, our team participated in the annual NAIOP golf tournament alongside many great industry partners and clients throughout the Triangle.
Pope Landscape & Irrigation was represented by Kurt, our Construction Branch Manager, and Chris, our Client Relationship Manager, who teamed up with Trey Griffin from James River Equipment and Caleb Kaliebe from Southeast Turf.
The team finished 3rd place in our flight, but more importantly, we enjoyed a great day networking, strengthening partnerships, and supporting an organization that continues to help grow our local construction community.
Congratulations to the team and thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success!
Let’s Take a Look at Your Property
As always, our team is here to help evaluate your property, discuss enhancement opportunities, and ensure your landscape remains healthy through the summer months.
📞 Interested in scheduling a property walkthrough or discussing landscape improvements? Reach out to our team—we would be happy to help.
Thank you for continuing to trust Pope Landscape & Irrigation.
