Landscape Management articles from July 2003

Landscape Management archives from July 2003

Next month: what's coming up in August.(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... * Cover story: Budget strategies What's a profitable business without a budget? Here's how to build a budget for your company or your grounds facility * ASIC's vital role As the Green Industry addresses the growing scarcity of...

She's all about hot news. (on the record).(Lynne Brakeman, LM award-winning Web Editor )
July 1, 2003... News is immediate. It moves and shifts. We're committed to getting it to you while it's still hot. That's why I think you should be aware of one of our team members that you've probably never seen before on our pages. Her reporting and...

Please ... open the windows! (my way).(maintenance and repair of athletic fields)
July 1, 2003... Opportunities to renovate athletic fields dwindle each year. Those of us in the business spend a lot of time preparing smooth, attractive and safe playing surfaces for athletes. Imagine how frustrating it is to see fields opened for use before...

Ron & Tracey Lester. (inside the owner's head).(Interview)
July 1, 2003... [c] Architerra, Inc. First things first: How did you guys meet? Tracey: I was at a girlfriend's house, helping her write out her wedding invitations. I asked her about every guy whose invitation I wrote out, and one I wrote out was...

Work, weather and wings at SIMA's Snow & Ice Symposium. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Snow and Ice Management Association)
July 1, 2003... BUFFALO, NY -- More than 800 visitors cruised the show floor at the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) Symposium here in mid June. They came to view the latest in snow and ice control products--and there was a blizzard of them. The...

Bayer Environmental Science.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Bayer Environmental Science hired Dave Ravel as a lawn care specialist covering Southeastern states from Atlanta through Maryland.

Tecumseh.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Tecumseh promoted Brian Wilcox to Director of Sales--North America for Tecumseh Products Company's Engine & Transmission Group. William R. Faile, Jr., became Vice President of Sales for the same group

Sipcam Agro USA.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Sipcam Agro USA named Lynn Brookhouser President and Chief Operating Officer, promoted Robert Yarborough to Sales, Marketing and Product Development Manager for the company's Turf and Ornamentals Business, and hired John Moyer as Northern Area...

FINN Corp.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... FINN Corp. named James Loneman manager of the Central States Territory.

RedMax.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... RedMax promoted Phil McCallon to Field Sales Manager for Distributing.

BioSafe Systems.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... BioSafe Systems appointed Kim Babins Marketing Specialist.

Echo Incorporated.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Echo Incorporated appointed Vice President Larry Will to handle issues regarding power blower noise education and management.

Turf-Seed, Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Turf-Seed, Inc. hired Suichang Sun as a consultant to represent their products in Asia.

Dow AgroSciences.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Dow AgroSciences appointed Tom Linnen Senior Sales Specialist for the Mid-America Specialties Group and Randy Smith (left) field research biologist for turf and ornamental products.

L. R. Nelson Corporation.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... L. R. Nelson Corporation named Ernie Dunbar Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest.

The Scotts Company.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Scotts Company named Robert F. Bernstock Executive Vice President and President of the company's North American Consumer Business.

HydroPoint, Toro sign agreement. (Clippings).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... PETALUMA, CA -- HydroPoint Data System, Inc. has signed a letter of intent with The Toro Company to co-develop and market a new generation of weather-based irrigation controllers. Under such a partnership, Toro would license HydroPoint's...

Novozymes acquires Roots. (Clippings).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... SALEM, VA -- Novozymes, which offers growth enhancement and disease control products for turf and horticultural markets, has acquired Roots, Inc., a plant health care products company based in Kansas City. With this acquisition, Novozymes will...

Bayer ES's research site focuses on better turf. (Industry almanac: news you can use).
July 1, 2003... CLAYTON, NC -- Bayer hosted Green Industry editors at its Bayer Environmental Science (BES) technical research facility here in June. At 281 acres, it's believed to be the largest single site in the United States devoted to developing and...

Be aware of OSHA changes. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... In May, a 42-year-old North Carolina landscape worker was killed when the riding mower he was operating tipped over. This tragedy reinforces the need to stay abreast of changes to Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) regulations,...

Info center: videos and literature for the green industry. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(King Innovation)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... King Innovation electrical/irrigation products catalog King Innovation, formerly King Safety Products, announces the release of its new four-color catalog that details the company's products including DryConn Waterproof Connectors, Proline,...

Statistics: industry trends by the numbers.
July 1, 2003... WHAT'S YOUR SALARY? Based on their work with over 50 companies across the country, the consulting firm of KehoeGuido found that owner-managers in high profit companies under $3 million in annual sales are earning combined salary (pay for...

LM 100: big 50 companies.(landscaping industry)
July 1, 2003... These companies are the largest for a reason: they deliver quality service at a fair price year after year. Because of them--and thousands of other smaller landscape, grounds maintenance and lawn care companies--all of us can enjoy the feel of...

LM 100: big 50 breakouts.(landscape management)
July 1, 2003... 26 / Mariani Landscape Frank Mariani, President Lake Bluff, IL Sometimes our future is chosen for us, and at a young age, too. That's just what happened to Frank Mariani of Lake Bluff, IL, a suburb of Chicago where you can find...

10 quality small companies: these guys know their customers by name. (LM 100: top 10 small companies).
July 1, 2003... These guys know their customers by name Siciliano Landscaping Wayne, NJ Paul Siciliano might look like an extra for "The Sopranos." But he never makes his customers offers they can't refuse. He doesn't have to. His $600,000...

10 exceptional design/build firms: consistency and innovation make these firms special. (LM 100: top 10 design/build companies).
July 1, 2003... Kinman Associates Dublin, OH Gary and Cynthia Kinman built a successful landscape design/build firm by serving only the best residential clients who they then teach to appreciate the art of professional landscape design. Tired of...

10 leading lawn care companies: these firms excel in customer service and commitment. (LM 100: top 10 lawn care companies).
July 1, 2003... Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care, Inc. Rochester, NY This outstanding 13-year-old company "walks the talk" when it comes to practicing Integrated Pest Management (IPM). About 65% of its '03 revenues will be generated by its IPM-based...

10 dedicated grounds managers: pros that advance their profession in the public's eye. (LM 100: top 10 grounds managers).
July 1, 2003... Damon Ervie / Director of Facilities Liberty Public Schools Liberty, KS Maintaining 230 acres of common grounds and 100 acres of sports turf keeps Damon Ervie and five full-time employees hopping. But this staff has the spunk and...

10 worthy community projects: our readers donate time, material for community causes. (LM 100: top 10 community projects).
July 1, 2003... Spring Green Lawn Care Cicero, IL Bill Gundlach and his employees annually participate in the local Relay for Life event that benefits the American Cancer Society. Each spring, Gundlach inserts a flier in each mailer his company sends...

Buy, rent or lease? Determine the best option for your company using advice and helpful tips from landscapers and suppliers who have already been there. (Equipment).
July 1, 2003... Cash is king in professional landscaping and lawn service businesses, and cash flow is critical. The choices you make on equipment ultimately determine whether you can keep the cash coming in and going out of the company. There are no hard...

Shift to 'maintenance' mode: one of the best ways to grow your design/build business might be to increase your maintenance business first. (Business Management).
July 1, 2003... If you think landscape maintenance is low-end, low-gain work that won't help your business, think again. The landscape industry, shifting from the soaring 1990s to today's downsized expectations, is gaining a greater appreciation for the...

Put wetting agents to work: expand your service offerings and help your clients' landscapes with these underutilized water management tools. (Technology).
July 1, 2003... As a landscape professional, you develop and maintain landscapes that keep your customers happy. Water is a critical part of your business. More stringent water usage guidelines and restrictions make water use a more important issue than...

Fertigation's time arrives: Utah city pleased with "test" results and intends to keep expanding the concept's role in landscape management. (Irrigation Technology).
July 1, 2003... Larry Fredrickson, the Parks & Landscape Supervisor of St. George, UT, manages 475 acres of public property with limited manpower, money and resources. These properties range from hikers' trailheads to intensively maintained sports fields. ...

Bayer Environmental Science. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Bayer Environmental Science manufactures a full line of turf and ornamental products for use on golf courses, home lawns, sports fields, commercial landscapes, nurseries and greenhouses. Bayer Environmental Science continues a...

Buck's Fabricating. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Switch-N-Go is a patent- pending Detachable Truck Body System (sometimes called a truck body changer) that gives truck owners more uses out of a single truck, enabling them to become more productive and efficient. At the push of...

Express Blower, Inc. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus The Express Blower[TM] is the only blower equipment designed and manufactured to quickly and efficiently apply mulches, soil blends, compost, wood chips, sand and aggregates for the landscape, erosion control and construction...

Ferris Industries. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Ferris Industries manufactures the most complete line of mid-mount zero-turn mowers in the commercial mowing industry. Featuring IS[R] Independent Suspension, powerful engines and heavy-duty construction, Ferris mowers...

FMC Corporation. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Overview: FMC's Specialty Products Business, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., is a leading manufacturer of high-performance insecticides, termiticides, termite baits, miticides and ant control products for use by the golf course, lawn...

Ford Commercial Truck. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Ford Motor Company is more than a global corporation. It's a world of people nearly 400,000 strong, connecting with customers every day. Ford offers the widest variety of trucks built for commercial applications. Everything from E-series cargo...

Husqvarna. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Husqvarna outdoor power equipment's exceptional quality and performance can be attributed to exceptional manufacturing. Based on its Swedish heritage, Husqvarna brings a tradition of excellence to every product, providing...

John Deere Construction. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: The John Deere Construction & Forestry Company produces more than 120 machine models used in all facets of earthmoving, including road-building, underground utilities construction, site development and residential...

LESCO, Inc. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... LESCO overview: LESCO is the nation's leading manufacturer and distributor of a broad line of lawn care, golf course and pest control products for the professional turf care and pest control industry. LESCO is a vertically integrated...

MTI--Marsan Turf and Irrigation. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... At Marsan Turf & Irrigation Supply, Inc. (MTI) we offer a complete line of wholesale turf and irrigation products, from sprinklers to low-voltage outdoor lighting. Our warehouse in Southern California is FULL of professional landscape sprinkler...

Rain Bird Corporation. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Why waste time replacing a controller just to add more stations? Rain Bird Corporation introduces ESP Modular Controllers that start with a 4-station base unit, then add 3-station modules during installation or in the...

Shindaiwa, Inc. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Shindaiwa, Inc. has been an industry leader in providing quality outdoor power equipment for professional users since 1981; the company markets its full line of handheld power equipment around the world. Shindaiwa products...

Snapper Products, Inc. (Corporate Capabilities).(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: Snapper makes a complete line of residential walk-behind mowers, rear-engine riders, lawn tractors, tillers, snow throwers, generators and pressure washers. Snapper also manufactures a solid line of commercial mowers that...

Stihl Incorporated. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: The new STIHL[R] FS 110R grass trimmer is the first product manufactured with the STIHL 4-MIX[TM] engine, a patented design that combines the benefits of 2-stroke and 4-stroke technologies combined while providing a solution...

Syngenta Professional Products. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Product focus: The vision of Syngenta is to provide the best products and services in the industry and to build optimal packages of chemistries and technology to help its customers meet their goals. For lawn care operators, Syngenta offers...

United Horticultural Supply. (Corporate Capabilities).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... Business focus: United Horticultural Supply is specifically designed to serve the professional turf and ornamental industries by providing the finest products and technical expertise available. Since our inception, we have committed...

University of Mississippi: 2002 PGMS Grand Award Winner for School or University Grounds. (award-winning landscape management).(Professional Grounds Maintenance Association awards Jeff McManus)(Biography)
July 1, 2003... Grounds management is in Jeff McManus's blood. By the time he was eight years old, he was driving a tractor on his family's 15-acre property. But that doesn't mean he liked it. "I said I'd never be in this industry," McManus says. "I didn't...

Drought: an opportunity? Yes, to those landscapers who create a new profit center by upgrading clients' irrigation systems with ET controllers. (Irrigation Technology).(evapotranspiration)
July 1, 2003... Drought" is a word that's been beaten to death. So many warnings are issued that people stop taking them seriously. Perhaps adding a new definition is in order: Drought--An opportunity for landscape and irrigation contractors to make money....

Tackle these specialty trucks. (Technology).(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2003... Ryan Hughes, president of Hughes Nursery, Inc., Tampa, FL, teamed up with a local fabrication shop and turned his dull-looking vans into multi-tasking specialty vehicles. "When you buy a van, it's a big empty shell," says Hughes. "The vans...

Store it. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... Benko Products' Hazmat storage buildings provide safe chemical storage and secondary spill containment. Available in a variety of sizes and configurations, these non-rated, insulated and fire rated models are available in 5- to 96-drum...

Clip it off. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... Worksaver, Inc. says its new Tree Clipper solves the problem of trimming and cutting hard-to-reach tree branches or unwanted trees. Designed for use with a tractor loader or skid-steer, it features cutting blades made of T-1 steel. The cutting...

Spray day. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... The Tru Mark Athletic Field Marker has a new accessory--the Model E-100 spray boom. According to the maker, it solves the problem of spraying a uniform application of pest controls such as fungicides, fertilizers and deicers. The four quick...

Trim it good. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... RedMax's BC3401DL trimmer/brushcutter provides landscape professionals with the extra power and control to mow down the heavy brush. This heavy duty trimmer/brushcutter's 33.6 cc two-cycle G34L engine drives a six-inch commercial tap-and-go...

Happy trailering. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... Belmont Machine Company's new line of trailers are built with 6-in. channel steel frames reinforced every 2-ft., 2-in. pressure treated deck, and electric brakes on all four wheels. The Model 2016 skid-steer trailer measures 22-ft. 4-in. long...

Rake away. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... Snowman's new SMR80 rake works great for road maintenance and landscaping. It easily levels gravel, topsoil and cinders. Also use it to remove stones, roots and debris from job sites. The eight-ft. rake is available as a complete system or as...

Packin' grass. (Products: tech center).
July 1, 2003... Exalted Mechanicals' new grass catcher mounts easily on the side of mowers. Its cylindrical shape and body slits enhance circular air-flow motion, which ensures that debris is deposited at the rear of the chamber to prevent clogging and allow...

Events: what, when & where.
July 1, 2003... July 17 Sports Turf Workshop / Quicksand, KY; U. of Kentucky and KySTMA; 270/726-6323 23-25 Turfgrass Producers International Summer Convention & Field Days / Dayton, OH; 800/405-8873; www.turfgrasssod.org 26-30 Soil and Water...

Retaining employees: select them carefully; treat them right. (Best practices: guidelines to help an industry grow).
July 1, 2003... The growing season is the busy season, and it places a premium on having good employees. Turnover is a big problem for many companies in this industry. And when employees walk away during the height of the season, it becomes an even bigger...