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The annual Snow & Ice Awards hosted by Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) provides its members the opportunity to showcase their company’s professionalism and commitment to creating a culture that honors their employees’ hard work and dedication. It’s also an opportunity for those in the industry to see the latest technology, newest equipment and attend workshops and keynote presentations on all sorts of innovative topics related to snow and… Read more »

The beginning of winter is the ideal time to start thinking of your landscape plans for the next season. Once spring is approaching and the snow is beginning to melt, you really want to step outside and take inventory of what you have, to finalize your plans. Walk your yard and analyze what you want to keep and what needs to go. This is also the perfect time to look… Read more »

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about your landscape projects for the upcoming season. There are many things to consider when you start planning out your landscape but something you may not always think about is how to make your outdoor space sustainable. Below are five key points to consider if you want to reduce your negative environmental impact: Native Materials – Using native materials, especially native plants… Read more »

During the winter in Wisconsin, especially between December and February, the daytime rarely tops 30 degrees and with the wind chill it always feels a lot colder. Wisconsin also gets a lot of snow, with an average of 40 inches to up to 160 inches up north within the Lake Superior snowbelt. The days are shorter and the winter season in Wisconsin is especially long, known to bring on the… Read more »

John Ondrejicka, affectionately known to his co-workers and clients as “Johnny O,” has been a lifelong landscaper who got his start in the industry in 1975 at Lied’s Nursery in Sussex. For the past 11 years, he has finished out his career as a landscape foreman at Villani Landshapers, where he has used his experience and skills to mentor those who are new to the industry. Johnny’s involvement in the… Read more »

Paving stones, also known as pavers, are typically made with natural stone, brick, or concrete. This guide will help you understand the differences between these materials to help you choose the best paver for your walkway, patio, outdoor living space, fire pit, and any other project you can imagine! While a traditional concrete walkway or patio can cost less than pavers in the short term- the installation technique, poor durability, and… Read more »

Fall in Wisconsin has all sorts of indicators: leaves changing colors, cooler temperatures and a progressively earlier sunset. But there’s another involving your trees that’s a telltale sign of the shift in seasons: buck rub. This is when male deer mark their territory by removing bark from trees with their antlers. Signs Buck rubs appear in early September through November. That’s typically when bucks lose their antler velvet, which is… Read more »

“Nature gives to every time and season unique beauty; from morning to night, it’s just a succession of changes so soft and comfortable that we hardly notice the progress.” — Charles Dickens Unless of course you’re talking about noticing that giant bare spot on your lawn due to an invasion of armyworms. Armyworms can cause significant, costly damage to local lawns and green space. These invasive pests can completely destroy a… Read more »

If extreme winter weather has ever taken a toll on your landscaping and plants, you aren’t alone. Every spring, gardeners in regions hit by a tough winter discover the damage it can cause to trees and shrubs. Fortunately, you can take steps in autumn to prepare your landscaping and plants for what’s coming. “Now,” said Ian Thomas- a Client Service Representative at Villani Landshapers- “is the time to think about… Read more »

Okay, commercial landscape owners and managers, it’s nearly holiday in our world! It’s time to start planning, preparing, organizing and strategizing for how we’re going to make every effort to seriously deck the halls and implement some serious holiday décor at our properties this season. Our goal is to amp up any commercial space to reflect the season or holiday – it just takes a little extra Wisconsin flavor. Our… Read more »