Landscape Management articles from February 2004

Landscape Management archives from February 2004

Immigration needs a big fix.(On the record: from the boss)
February 1, 2004... Our nation's immigration policy is a mess, the kind of sprawling, unworkable and dangerous tangle that only a confused bureaucracy can construct. Worse yet, the problems that it's supposed to address worsen by the day. How else can you...

Safety changes start at top: the most important factors in an effective safety program are consistency and accountability.(Best practices: raising the bar)
February 1, 2004... Many companies are starting to take a much harder look at developing a safety program because of rising insurance costs. Unfortunately, many companies wait until they start to have a bad claims experience before becoming serious about safety....

Presentation jitters? Try these tips.(In the know: news you can use)(Eric Ingram, one of the presenters at the two recent JP Horizons Sales Jams)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Standup comedian Eric Ingram says that selling a comedy routine to a tough audience is a lot like selling landscape services in a competitive marketplace. To his mind, selling is selling--whether it's a joke or a maintenance deal. To do it...

Deere and friends aid Ronald McDonald.(In the know: news you can use)(John Deere Landscapes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON D.C. -- Ronald McDonald is smiling. A group of local contractors here put a smile on Ronald McDonald's face. The landscapers, partnering with John Deere Landscapes and working in the snow and cold, put in outdoor lighting at the...

Who is 1-800-Lawncare anyway?(In the know: news you can use)(About 90 lawn care company owners across the United States share that number)
February 1, 2004... What's in a vanity phone number? Plenty, if that number happens to be 1-800-LAWNCARE. About 90 lawn care company owners across the United States share that number. How can that be, you ask? All are members of a three-year-old national...

ASIC correction.(Clippings)
February 1, 2004... The 2004 American Society of Irrigation Consultants is meeting in Newport Beach, CA, May 1-4. The Hyatt Newporter will serve as home for the group's conference. For additional information visit the Web site www.asic.org or call 312/372-7090.

Exmark acquires adjacent plant.(Clippings)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BEATRICE, NB -- Exmark purchased a former American Tool/Newell Rubbermaid plant, giving the company 49,500 sq. ft. of needed room to expand its product testing facilities and manufacturing capacity. Renovation to the building is expected to be...

Polaris building a development facility.(Clippings)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Wyoming, MN -- Polaris Industries, Inc. will build a 100,000 sq. ft. product development facility here. It will be home to engineering, design and development personnel for all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft and motorcycles.

Ohio owner wins Husqvarna package.(In the know: news you can use)(Jeff LaValley and Harold Catha.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Jeff LaValley, owner of LA Sprinklers in Centerburg, OH, tries out the driver's seat in the fully outfitted truck that he received as the winner of the 2003 Husqvarna Feel The Power Landscaper Sweepstakes. The truck, valued at more than...

Shindaiwa.(People & companies)(Rod Harms and Charles Caubet)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Shindaiwa added long-time industry veteran Rod Harms as Product Manager for its lineup of professional chain saws and Charles Caubet as Marketing Services Manager.

Exmark Manufacturing.(People & companies)(Roberts Supply Inc. named 2003 "Distributor of the Year" and Terry Gibson named Exmark's Southeast region Salesman of the year.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Exmark Manufacturing named Roberts Supply Inc., Winter Park, FL, as its 2003 "Distributor of the Year." In addition, Roberts Supply Territory Manager Terry Gibson was named Exmark's Southeast region "Salesman of the Year."

Swingle Tree & Lawn Care.(People & companies)(Swingle Tree and Lawn Care recognized as a Torch Award finalist.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Swingle Tree & Lawn Care was recognized as a Torch Award finalist in the Denver/Boulder area by the BBB for leadership in ethics.

Troy Clogg Landscape Associates.(People & companies)(Troy R. Clogg passes ALCA exam.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Kudos to Troy R. Clogg, CLP of Troy Clogg Landscape Associates, LLC, Wixom, MI, for passing ALCA's Certified Landscape Professional exam.

Dow AgroSciences LLC.(People & companies)(Jerome Peribere chosen to replace A. Charles Fischer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Dow AgroSciences LLC chose Jerome Peribere, Vice President, Agricultural Chemicals, to succeed A. Charles Fischer as President and CEO.

Make it eight wins in a row.(In the know: news you can use)(Rain Bird's entry, "Springtime Symphony." The manufacturer of irrigation products and services earned its 8th consecutive Grand Marshall Trophy)(2004 Tournament of Roses Parade)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PASADENA, CA -- If you were up early enough to see the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade, you couldn't have missed Rain Bird's entry, "Springtime Symphony." The manufacturer of irrigation products and services earned its 8th consecutive Grand...

Under attack: the Canadian lawn care industry continues an uphill battle against pesticide regulation. Their advice? Be prepared, U.S.(Pesticide Regulation)
February 1, 2004... Chris Lemcke offered a perfect analogy to lawn care professionals in the United States in an article he recently wrote on pesticide regulation for Turfgrass Producers International's Turf News. The technical coordinator of Weed Man USA...

10 keys to profit in 2004: here's your plan for joining the Green Industry's highest profit operations.(Winner's Strategies)
February 1, 2004... What will 2004 bring for your company? For many in the Green Industry, 2003 was a good but trying year. A hard winter in many parts of the country delayed the spring start-up, and above average rainfalls hampered production schedules throughout...

Trucks for tough jobs: check out what your colleagues are using, including a peek at their "dream" vehicles.(Wheelin' To Productivity)
February 1, 2004... Contractors want their trucks to be rough and tough and durable enough to endure brutal weather conditions and the employees who sometimes mishandle them. It's not such a tough order to fill when it comes to the four contractors listed...

Brian light: [C] Luminary Landscapes.(Inside the owner's head: personality profile)(Interview)
February 1, 2004... Brian Light owns Luminary Landscapes, a $1 million full-service landscape company located in Knoxville, TN. The company's two main services are commercial maintenance and residential design/build. In peak season, the company employs 17 people....

"Husky" aerifier.(Innovations: hot new products)
February 1, 2004... The new TA48 aerator is the largest in Husqvarna's product line and requires a towing tractor of 18 hp or greater. Two independent rotors with 40 interchangeable closed spoon 1/2-in. tines provide precise coring up to 3 in. in depth with an...

Shape up.(Innovations: hot new products)
February 1, 2004... Edge or shape beds from the comfy seat of a Grasshopper or Walker mower with Little Wonder's BedShaper. It's now available as a front-mount attachment for both mowers. With cutting depths from 1 to 4-1/2 in., the BedShaper can handle most...

Catch'em comin' and goin'.(Innovations: hot new products)
February 1, 2004... The BugBarrier Tree Band protects trees from gypsy moth and cankerworm. This dense flexible fiber barrier is wrapped around a tree trunk to fill bark crevices and to cut off insects' escape routes. The film barrier is installed over the fiber....

Aerate great.(Innovations: hot new products)
February 1, 2004... Look for a new sulky attachment for this popular unit this spring, making it easier to aerate like you mow: round and round or back and forth. Whether you're hugging slopes or going around trees and beds, the TurnAer 26 aerator drives like a...

Why shop 'zones' save time: look over categories such as lubrication, blade sharpening and battery service to build your zones.(From the shop: shop management)
February 1, 2004... One of the toughest things to do in our industry is maintain a neat, efficient equipment maintenance area. Most technicians spend too much time just walking--from the grinder to the toolbox, from the mower to the grease gun, from the oil drum...

Warm-season weed control: stay cool by incorporating the latest products for weed warfare.(Efficacy Update)
February 1, 2004... Weed control is an important practice for those maintaining warm-season turfgrass such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass. Weed control in these species is similar, but not identical, to that used in cool-season...

Cool-season weed control: what to use, where to use it and when to use it to control pesky grassy and broadleaf weeds.(Cultural & Chemical Strategies)
February 1, 2004... Spring is just around the corner and one thing is certain--last year's bumper crop of weeds produced enough seed and vegetative structures to ensure that a vigorous new generation will emerge in lawns within a few short weeks. This year get a...

Walk-behind mowers.(LM reports: your guide to product research)(buying tips)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2004... The Toro Company D Tru Trak sulky allows ride-on capability on the ProLine mid-size walk mowers. Available with 13-, 15-, 17-hp Kawasaki; or 15-hp Kohler engines. Other features include pistol grip or fatigue-reducing T-Bar control...

Rotor checkup: seven steps to guarantee season-long irrigation operating efficiency.(Maintenance Savvy)
February 1, 2004... If you look at an irrigation sprinkler as merely a collection of gears, springs and seals encased in a rigid tube, you're looking at it all wrong. Hey friend, give that finely engineered piece of equipment its proper due. Just take a...

Dorchester Towers: 2003 PGMS Grand Award Winner for condominium, apartment complex or planned community.(PGMS: award-winning landscape management)(operated by E. G. Reinsch Corporation)
February 1, 2004... When Jock Robertson interviewed with the E.G. Reinsch Corporation 33 years ago, he told the boss he wanted a job that he didn't have to work that much at. The boss replied by saying, "I don't care how much time you take off, as long as you get...

Great safety training plans: borrow from two practical, hands-on grounds safety programs to initiate safety record improvement.(Training)
February 1, 2004... Looking for a grounds safety program to "go to school on?" Two of your colleagues have such programs for your consideration. Todd Cochran, CGM, is assistant superintendent of the Bergen County, NJ, Parks Department with its 24 park areas,...

Deer dilemma: this grounds manager relied on a trusty chemical repellent to reduce browse damage.(Solutions center: real answers to real challenges)
February 1, 2004... What do you get when you combine an award-winning resort, scenic vistas and add deer, armadillo and beaver? A potential landscaping disaster, that's what. Yet despite these challenges, Reynolds Plantation is an example of how to achieve...

Switching bodies.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... Bucks' Switch-N-Go body changing system is ideal for a wide variety of bodies for work trucks in the 11,000 GVW to 26,000 GVW range. Trucks with the Switch-N-Go detachable truck body format can meet immediate needs of landscape businesses. The...

A clean sweep.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... Schwarze PV high dump sweeper includes a 22-hp V-twin gasoline auxiliary engine, 25-gal., noncorrosive plastic water tank and an impact- and abrasion-resistant high dumping hopper. The sweeper may be mounted onto a wide variety of popular,...

Tool time saver.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... Cronus Landscape Technology, Inc.'s Versa Trail landscape contractors' trailer reduces the necessity to load and unload tools and equipment and decreases downtime caused by the crew forgetting to load needed tools. The trailer features a flat...

Convenient foldaway.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... City Trailers' foldaway trailer is a large capacity utility trailer that folds up for convenient storage anywhere (a minimum floor space of 4-ft. x 7-ft. is required). This all-purpose trailer can be used to haul mulch, yard trimmings, lawn...

Need a lift?(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... Handi-Ramp pickup truck loading ramps are universally designed for installation on standard American pickup trucks--Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and GMC. The Handi-Ramp is designed to permit one person to load and unload quickly and easily and to...

Combo deal.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... TruckCraft's TC-200 COMBO is a combination service/dump body for full-size pickup chassis and provides 54 cu. ft. (DRW model) of lockable tool storage, 2.4 cu. yds. of dump volume, and 5,000 lbs. of dump capacity, all on one pickup truck...

The long haul.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... EZ Dumper's EZ508 HD dump trailer is 5-ft. x 8- ft. long and features a 5,200-lb. GVWR with a payload capacity of 3,700 lbs. With a hauling capacity of 2.6 cu. yds., the trailer features a removable, double-acting tailgate which lets you dump,...

Clean up.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... Debris Systems' trailer units have equipment decks ranging from 6.6-ft. x 13-ft. to 8-ft. x 11-ft. An optional 8.5-ft. equipment deck in front and behind fenders is available on some models. A debris bucket holds 27 bushels and dumps into a 9.3...

Staying connected.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... FleetBoss Global Positioning Solutions' AutoGraphics Software, Enterprise Edition, gives managers the convenience and flexibility of true, GPS-based fleet management in a network environment. This product greatly extends the capability and...

Get vertical.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... The Jacobsen Lawnaire 28 is a zero-turn radius, compact cam-action aerator that delivers unmatched precision coring in a 28-in. aeration path. This vertical coring machine is powered by a 7.5-hp gasoline engine and can cover up to 28,000 sq....

Extra lift.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... Stellar Industries Inc.'s X-Tra Lift is a lifting device designed for GMC, Ford and Daimler/Chrysler truck beds. The lift can transport recreational vehicles, large motorcycles, industrial machinery and equipment. Mounted on a 1-ton heavy-duty...

Ferris deck options.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... The Ferris IS 5000Z, which boasts a 31.5-hp Cat diesel engine or 34-hp Daihatsu gasoline engine and four-wheel independent suspension, is now available with two rear-discharge deck options. A 61- or 72-in. rear-discharge mower deck mounts to...

Better stopping power.(Products: tools of the trade)
February 1, 2004... The Toro Workman 2110 utility vehicle features hydraulic self-cleaning front disc and rear drum brakes. The enhanced braking system provides increased braking ability and a towing capacity of 1,200 lbs. when using a heavy-duty tow hitch. In...

Events: what, when & where.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... February 12 Nevada Landscape Trade Show & Conference / Reno, NV; 775/673-0404 12-13 Winter Irrigation Workshop / Toledo, OH; Sponsored by the Ohio Sports Turf Managers.; 419/825-9805 16-19 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Short Course /...

Statistics: industry trends by the numbers.
February 1, 2004... REALIZE RATES The realize rate is a metric that assesses labor productivity and estimating accuracy. It's calculated as revenue dollars (adjusted for materials and subcontractor revenues) divided by labor hours for matched events, like a...