Landscape Management articles from August 2002

Landscape Management archives from August 2002

Next month: what's coming up in September.(landscaping industry)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... * Cover story: State of the Industry report A comprehensive, analytical, and entertaining assessment of the current state of the lawn care, grounds and landscape industries * Ornamental options A fresh look at what residential...

Upheavals mark seed trade. (on the record).(turfgrass)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... Turfgrass is the green thread binding the diverse Green Industry. Its utility and versatility is the cornerstone of our industry. Turfgrass is essential to our livelihoods--reason enough to keep track of what's happening with the turf seed...

Go with the cash flow: living hand-to-mouth is for rookies and those of you who want to lose your business, not grow it. (my way).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... One of the biggest challenges facing any business is the careful management of cash flow. While difficult for all companies, cash flow management is even more challenging for seasonal businesses. The equation is pretty simple: the shorter your...

When you budget, you win. (inside the owner's head).(ND Landscaping)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Nick DiBenedetto and Manuel DeSouza took their company, ND Landscaping, Topsfield, MA, to the next level, but it took them 15 years to do it. Their "next level" was the $1 million mark, but when they got there, there wasn't much cause for...

Toro inks equipment rents deal. (Clippings).(Toro Co., Volvo Construction Equipment)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... BLOOMINGTON, MN -- The Toro Company and Volvo Construction Equipment Rents signed an agreement to make Toro the preferred supplier for Toro Dingo compact utility loaders.

Deere to equip U.S. Open course. (Clippings).(Deere and Co., Olympia Fields Country Club)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... MOLINE, IL -- John Deere has been named the exclusive equipment supplier to Olympia Fields Country Club, host of the 2003 U.S. Open.

BASF seeks billion dollar acquisitions. (Clippings).(BASF AG)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... FRANKFURT -- Chemical company BASF is seeking four acquisitions worth up to EUR2.5 billion. One of the company's targets is the insecticide business Bayer is being forced to sell as part of its takeover of Aventis CropScience. BASF is also...

Weed man grows. (Clippings).(Growing Opportunities Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... ROCHESTER, NY -- Growing Opportunities, Inc. of Rochester, NY, bought the sub-franchising rights to 32 Weed Man territories in Upstate and Western New York State. Bob Ottley, co-owner of Growing Opportunities, Inc., and partner Phil Fogarty of...

Weeks: `we're a specialty company'. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Aventis CropScience S.A., Bayer AG, acquisition)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Josh Weeks has heard from lawn care operators and he says their feedback regarding Bayer AG's acquisition of Aventis CropScience has been positive. Bayer AG's long-awaited purchase of Aventis was finalized in early June. The deal led to...

Clopyralid lost to home lawns. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Dow AgroSciences L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... INDIANAPOLIS -- A widely used herbicide for control of invasive, noxious and other hard-to-control weeds will no longer be used on U.S. residential lawns, as a result of an action taken to address regulatory concerns by the product's primary...

EPA says most organophosphorus pesticides safe. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON, DC -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed off on the safety of 28 of 30 organophosphorus pesticides it studied to look at whether they're unreasonably dangerous to human health when combined. Over the past few...

Deere closes two production plants. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Deere and Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... MOLINE, IL -- Deere & Company announced June 17 it will shut down two plants that make commercial lawn equipment and streamline operations at a third, resulting in 300 job cuts and a $50 million charge in the third and fourth quarters. Ken...

Truck parade. (Surfin' Turf).(Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Web site)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Don't look now, but there's a truck parade cruising through a portal near you. Anticipating a steady stream of Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles coming off closed-end leases throughout the year, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America (MFTA) announced that...

Environmental Industries. (People & Companies).(Kelly F. Duke promoted)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Environmental Industries promoted Kelly F. Duke to vice president, pre-construction services of Valley Crest, its landscape and site development company.

Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction. (People & Companies).(Chris Raimondi hired)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction hired Chris Raimondi as director of property management and business development.

Becker Underwood. (People & Companies).(Brian Buckallew)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Becker Underwood named Brian Buckallew product manager for its distribution sales business unit

L.R. Nelson Corp. (People & Companies).(Chris Pine, Tom Kane named sales managers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The L.R. Nelson Corp. named Chris Pine sales manager for the northeastern U.S. and Canada, and Tom Kane sales manager for the mountain states region.

American Society of Irrigation. (People & Companies).(appoints new officers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The American Society of Irrigation Consultants appointed James Barrett president, Dan Benner vice president, Dave Davis secretary, Bob Scott treasurer, and Brian Vinchesi immediate past president.

Clarence Davids & Co. (People & Companies).(Annual Environmental Improvements Awards)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Clarence Davids & Co. received a grand (first place) award for the 600 N. Michigan Ave. building and a merit (second place) award for Hybernia Homeowners Association in the 32nd Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program sponsored by ALCA....

Davey Tree acquires National Shade. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... KENT, OH -- The Davey Tree Expert Company has acquired Houston, TX-based National Shade L.P. The acquisition makes Davey the largest tree moving company in North America. "Adding the specialized equipment and experienced staff of...

Three paths to profit: wanted: `big ugly jobs'... to turn into beautiful landscapes. Labor-saving equipment, skilled foremen spark Morton Landscape's growth. (Cover Story).
August 1, 2002... Barry Morton's grin is as wide as his sun-reddened face. It's a picture-perfect morning in June, the kind of morning that you dream about if you've got a big outdoor job that needs doing. Wheeling his Caterpillar loader into a mountain of...

Three paths to profit: one-stop growth plan. (Cover Story).(Rob Estes, Estes Landscaping)
August 1, 2002... Young Georgia entrepreneur surrounds his landscape company with related services to compete in a hot market. Most landscape company owners can only dream about operating in a market that's expanding as fast as the City of Atlanta. Even so,...

Three paths to profit: slow and steady. (Cover Story).(Sponzilli Landscape Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... Sponzillis' attitude toward growth simple: don't sacrifice quality for the sake of higher revenues In July, Jason Sponzilli, brother Daniel, father Richard, and other key decision makers in the trio's $4 million landscape company, the...

Lawn care in nowhere: how one lawn care business owner found success in the logistical nightmare of Worland, Wyoming. (Lawn care).
August 1, 2002... Todd Graus remembers the trip like it was yesterday. A person called and pleaded with him to come out and offer treatment advice for his lawn. "No one else will," the man said. Graus hopped in his pickup truck, and, over the long journey, was...

Abbott laboratories: 2001 PGMS grand award winner for industrial or office park. (award-winning landscape management).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... How do you maintain the grounds of a Fortune 500 company? The Fortune 500 way, of course. Larry Dolnik and his grounds crew employ the same work ethic in their day-to-day chores that it took for Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical and...

Landscape lighting shines. (LM Reports).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Landscape lighting is enjoying a surge in popularity as more people invest in lighting systems for aesthetics and security. "This is what upper-scale consumers are looking for," says Linda Haslage, president of Cascade Lighting, Akron, OH....

Make disease management pay: solve clients' turf and ornamental disease problems--and profit from it. (Service Opportunity).
August 1, 2002... Each year Cliff Drezek knows what to expect in terms of disease management for his tree and shrub customers. In his area just west of Boston, apple scab on crabapple trees, anthracnose on flowering dogwoods and diplodia on hard pines are as...

Fight tree killers: microinjection becoming weapon of choice against invaders threatening our shade and forest trees. (Insect Control).
August 1, 2002... The accidental introduction of China's Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) into New York City and Chicago poses a serious threat to both shade and forest trees of the United States. Government officials responded quickly by destroying thousands of...

Get hosed. (Products: tech center).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2002... The Hannay PW Series reel is designed to quickly mount to almost any type of pressure washer. Constructed of 12- and 16-gauge steel, it has a pressure rating of up to 4,000 psi and can handle product temperatures from 20[degrees] to...

Dig deep. (Products: tech center).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2002... At 3,687 lbs., the 301.5 mini hydraulic excavator is the smallest excavator Caterpillar manufactures. Powered by a Cat 3003 naturally aspirated diesel engine with flywheel power of 17.4 hp, it incorporates a triple pump hydraulic system...

Make a splash. (Products: tech center).
August 1, 2002... Otterbine Barebo's new Saturn aerating fountain is one of the company's newest additions to its extensive line of water quality management products. Considered a compact version of Otterbine's Sunburst pattern, it's smaller in diameter and...

Yes master. (Products: tech center).
August 1, 2002... Toro's Z Master Z200/253/255 Series mid-mount ZTRs are powered by Kohler Command Pro engines ranging from 20 to 25 hp and Kawasaki 25-hp engines. Blade tip speed is 18,500 ft. per minute. They come standard with choice of 52-, 62-, or 72-in....

Total control. (Products: tech center).
August 1, 2002... Rain Bird's new IM Series controller features a design that allows customization of the system for each specific landscape requirement. It's equipped with 12 stations standard, and can be upgraded to 48 stations. The number of pulse or switched...

Spread `n' go. (Products: tech center).
August 1, 2002... TrynEx International's new LG 575 mid-size granular spreader is designed to spread seed, fertilizer and control products. Standard with a variable-speed controller, its material flow gate calibrates and controls material flow. Designed to work...

Anchors away. (Products: tech center).
August 1, 2002... Better Bilt Products' tree anchor is available in three sizes that securely anchor trees up to 11 in. in diameter. The product works by driving it into the ground with a driving rod to the desired depth, removing the driving rod and using the...

Events: what when & where.
August 1, 2002... August 16 Annual Field Day / Gloucester, VA; Sponsored by the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association; 540/382-0943 17 Certified Landscape Technician Exam / Joliet, IL; 630/472-2851 22 Indiana Professional Lawn and Landscape...

Response time, not price, wins jobs. (Best practices: guidelines to help an industry grow).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Landscapers have "the need for speed." How speedy is your company in returning phone calls when potential clients call? How much time does it take you to get a proposal into the hands of a prospect after that initial call? Does "speed"...