Agave Assassin

The Uninvited Guest In Your Landscape

They're the scourge of the succulent world — half-inch long beetles with a serious snout problem. Meet the agave snout weevil, a tiny beetle with a big appetite and an even bigger impact on your beloved agave. This 'agave assassin' may be small, but this invasive pest has earned a spot on the "Top 100 Worst Global Invasive Species" list, and they’re rapidly spreading a reign of destruction. 

Who's Eating My Agave?

The Weevil's Deadly Cycle

Imagine this: your agave plant, once a proud and spiky centerpiece, starts to look a bit... off. The leaves droop sadly, and there's a suspicious mushiness at the base. Enter the villain of our story — the agave snout weevil. This dastardly little beetle, with its distinctive snout, burrows into the heart of agaves to lay its eggs and spread deadly bacteria. The grubs eventually burrow into the soil to pupate or grow, emerging later as a new plague of adult agave snout weevils. Their downward-curved snouts, like needles, inject deadly bacteria straight into the agave's core as they lay their eggs of destruction.

Stop the Assassination Early

Spot the Signs

• Wilted and Discolored: Lower fronds or leaves losing their spunk? Could be a sign.
• Rotten at it’s Core: A foul smell and mushy base is a telltale sign of an advanced infestation.
• Give it a Rock: If your agave wobbles with a gentle push, it's loose in the soil and time to request back-up.

The Best Defense is a Good Offense

Stop the Spread 

Don’t wait for the weevils to RSVP — the best defense against the agave snout weevil is a good offense.

• Check Newly Purchased Plants: Carefully inspect new plants for signs of stowaways or hitchhikers before planting.
• Water Wisely: Overwatering is like sending out an open invitation. Use well-draining soil to keep it dry and drama-free.
• Insecticide Armor: Suit up your succulents seasonally with a systemic insecticide soil drench — think of it as giving the agaves some extra muscle to fight from the inside out.

Evict the Invaders

Treatment & Prevention

If you discover an infestation among your succulent ranks, act quickly.

• Insecticide Intervention: Apply a systemic insecticide to affected and nearby plants. It’s like having reinforcements show up.
• Remove the Ruined: Sometimes, you've just got to clear out the troublemakers. Remove severely affected plants to prevent reinfestation.

With some diligence, you can rest easy knowing your agave garden is protected from the tiny terror of the snout weevil. 

Don't let this tiny terror ruin your landscape oasis. See how BrightView can help you stay vigilant and take proactive measures to protect your agaves from the dreaded snout weevil.

Get ready to plant trees like a boss! We're about to unleash your inner tree-whisperer with our fun and easy guide. Say goodbye to boring plantings and hello to green-thumb glory! Let's dive into the dirt and turn that sapling into a superstar. Get your shovel and let's make Mother Nature proud!"

The best way to celebrate Earth Day is outside, of course! This scavenger hunt is a fun way to find everyday sustainability superheroes in your landscape. Gather your coworkers to make it a teambuilder or take it home to enjoy with family and friends.

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HERE’S HOW TO PLAY:

• Decide if you’ll compete in small groups or individually.
• Set the parameters for how far you can search, such as within your own landscape or within the neighborhood.
• Use your phone to capture a photo of each item on the list.
• You cannot use the same answer more than once.
• Disputed answers can be settled by the organizer or a group vote.
• The first team or individual in your group to complete the scavenger hunt wins!

Have you ever wished you could see into the future? Now you can. At BrightView, we’re making cutting-edge technology and the latest sustainability best practices available to the properties we serve. 

Are you wishing you could bring these same futuristic benefits to your property? Don’t be green with envy! We’ll bring them to you, too. Get in touch to discuss your sustainability goals. 

The 2024 Corporate Responsibility Focus Areas infographic showcases BrightView's unwavering commitment to being a good corporate citizen. At the forefront of its initiatives is the dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Through meticulous attention to these pillars, BrightView has prioritized sustainable practices that minimize its environmental footprint, foster positive social impacts, and uphold the highest standards of governance. This infographic details insights into BrightView's sustainable strategies, including the addition of electric and battery-powered equipment and promoting water conservation and smart irrigation technology, enhancing community engagement, and maintaining transparent and ethical business practices.

With sustainability at the heart of its operations, BrightView aims to not only meet, but exceed the expectations of its stakeholders, driving meaningful change, and creating long-term value for the company and the communities in which its team members work, live, and play.

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BrightView (NYSE: BV), the leading commercial landscaping services company in the United States, today published its 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report, highlighting the Company’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen focused on environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance. The report is available on BrightView’s website.

“This report reflects our team’s hard work over the past year and continued focus on corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives. Every day we set out to positively impact our stakeholders, including our employees, clients, investors, and neighbors,” said Dale Asplund, BrightView President and Chief Executive Officer. “The actions we take, and the projects we promote, are designed to do our part to help improve our environment and to help take care of our team members and customers, and the communities we serve. We remain committed to setting ambitious goals, tracking our progress transparently, and continually improving our performance to ensure we’re working to create a bright future for the world around us.”

Fiscal 2023 Highlights

Environmental

• Established a baseline Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory.
• Ongoing replacement of our fleet with electric and fuel-efficient alternatives resulting in 17% of our vehicles being hybrid or electric as of the end of Fiscal 2023.
• Continued conversion of gas and 2-cycle landscaping equipment to electric power, with an additional 480 battery-powered handheld units, 200 electric/hybrid vehicles, and 80 electric mowers deployed.

 Social

• Continued to diversify our workforce.
• Once again, maintained a total recordable injury rate lower than the landscaping industry average, demonstrating safety is a top priority.
• Raised over $160,000, through the BrightView Landscapes Foundation, to support team members in critical situations.
• Team members contributed over 550 volunteer hours, as part of our Volunteer Time Off program.

 Governance

• BrightView’s Board maintains oversight of societal and other matters affecting the Company’s stakeholders and the environments in which we operate.
• Nine of 10 Board members are independent, with an average tenure of under five years.

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

This Corporate Responsibility Report aims to provide a consolidated overview of BrightView’s non-financial performance. Metrics included in this Report cover our activities during the FY2023 (October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023) period, unless otherwise noted. This Report includes select metrics from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Professional and Commercial Services industry standard.

BrightView generates value for the communities in which we operate, as well as our customers, business partners, suppliers, team members and stockholders. Our commitment to the core principles of ESG – Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance – is a source of pride for every member of our team.

Find all of our past and present Corporate Responsibility Reports here to download at your convenience.

BrightView generates value for the communities in which we operate, as well as our customers, business partners, suppliers, team members and stockholders. Our commitment to the core principles of ESG – Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance – is a source of pride for every member of our team.

Committed to creating a greener, more sustainable planet on Earth Day and every day, BrightView (NYSE: BV) – the nation’s leading commercial landscaping company – reaffirms its industry leadership by focusing on three key environmental priorities as it designs and maintains the best landscapes on Earth: 

Greener Fleet: By deploying more battery-powered mowers and hand-held tools, as well as adding electric and hybrid vehicles, BrightView will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase use of renewable energy sources. Last year, BrightView invested in over 1,000 new pieces of electric equipment and added 400 hybrid or electric cars and trucks.  

Water Conservation: With many regions experiencing drought conditions and local governments enacting water restrictions, BrightView offers superior irrigation management services to clients, including smart irrigation controllers, turf conversion, and xeriscaping to better ensure water efficiency and conservation. Xeriscaping, a landscaping technique that uses plants appropriate to the local climate, can reduce water use by 60 percent or more.

Ecosystem Preservation: Every year, BrightView plants tens of thousands of trees, shrubs, and grass as part of its best-in-class landscaping work. In 2022, BrightView partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 300,000 trees. These plantings help revitalize the ecosystem, while cleaning the air, filtering water, and sequestering carbon.  

“As landscaping stewards, operating in an environmentally-friendly manner is the keystone to BrightView’s core business beliefs,” said Andrew Masterman, BrightView President and Chief Executive Officer. “We take great pride in setting the industry standard to ensure future generations benefit from our responsible way of how we serve our customers and communities where we live, work and play.” 

Learn more about BrightView’s Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) goals and strategy in its 2023 ESG Report.

Every Day is Earth Day at BrightView

This Earth Day, and throughout the year, BrightView team members nationwide will volunteer their time and participate in enhancement projects and local events to make a positive impact in their communities, including: 

• Renovating and rejuvenating community centers’ gardens and flower beds 
• Cleaning up and revitalizing cemeteries and public spaces
• Planting trees, building pollinator boxes, and releasing ladybugs 
• Distributing educational materials and flower seeds at client locations