Landscape Management articles from March 2003

Landscape Management archives from March 2003

Next month: what's coming up in April.
March 1, 2003... * Cover story: Enhancements and service add-ons How to up-sell a contract once you have it locked in * Nasty turf insects Dr. R. Chris Williamson tells you what to do about the bad bugs * Handoffs from installation Strategies to get...

So this is southern hospitality. (on the record).(Mark Perschel of Perschel Brothers Lawn Service)
March 1, 2003... If you ever get down to Jacksonville, FL, look up Mark Perschel of Perschel Brothers Lawn Service. I promise that you won't just get valuable business advice from the man, whose company grosses about $800,000 a year doing mostly...

What, you never read a book?! All of the successful business people that I know read and consider it essential to their ongoing self-education. (business ideas).
March 1, 2003... When I began my landscaping career, I attended a number of networking opportunities. On one such occasion, I sat next to a man at dinner who owned 12 stores and helped found a local bank. I asked what his favorite business book was, and he...

Deere pursues lawsuit with Toro. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Deere & Co. can pursue its lawsuit against rival Toro Co. over a patent for a machine that aerates soil on golf courses and other playing fields, a U.S. appeals court said. Deere accused Toro of using its patent for a wheeled...

Textron changes name to Jacobsen. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Textron Golf, Turf & Specialty Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ATLANTA -- Textron Golf, Turf & Specialty Products recently announced that it has changed its name to Jacobsen, a Textron company. The new name better reflects the position of the company as a leading supplier of quality turf care equipment and...

LawnCareSuccess.com expands. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... PITTSBURGH -- LawnCareSuccess. com, a Web site that offers helpful information to landscape and lawn care business owners, acquired LawnSite.com and PlowSite.com, two popular industry specific forum Web sites. Both sites have grown to be two of...

Home Depot targets Texas Arlington first of five landscape store locations in rollout. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Arlington, Texas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ARLINGTON, TX -- Giant home improvement retailer The Home Depot is wooing Texas landscapers with new Home Depot Landscape Supply stores. The company is opening several concept stores this winter and spring, beginning in Arlington. There...

STM becomes ValleyCrest. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(STM Landscape Services changes name to ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... OAKTON, VA -- STM Landscape Services is now ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance. ValleyCrest Companies, headquartered in Calabasas, CA, acquired STM in 2000. Gary G. Blosser founded STM, then known as Shenandoah Turf Management, in 1977. It...

Turf pros bend lawmakers' ears on pesticide regulation. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ALBANY, NY -- Landscape and lawn care company owners and other turfgrass professionals presented their case to state lawmakers here this past February. The New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA) sponsored the event, Turfgrass Advocacy...

PLCAA to ARAS: let's develop a closer relationship. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Professional Lawn Care Association)(Allied Regional Associations)
March 1, 2003... TAMPA, FL -- The Professional Lawn Care Association (PLCAA) seeks closer ties with its Allied Regional Associations (ARAs), particularly in monitoring and responding to state and regional legislative/regulatory issues. Tom Delaney, PLCAA's...

Surfin' turf: Bayer site more than promotion. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Bayer Environmental Science)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Bayer Environmental Science's redesigned Web site (www.BayerProCentral.com) is a consolidation of the Bayer/ Aventis pest management professional and Aventis/Chipco sites. The site goes beyond the promotion of Bayer products and programs by...

Montreal moves toward pesticide ban. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Montreal, Quebec)
March 1, 2003... MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- The city of Montreal (which now includes its former suburbs) is considering a bylaw severely restricting lawn care. The bylaw, basically a ban on pesticides, could go into effect yet this spring if Montreal Mayor Gerald...

Motivational ideas spring from ALCA executive forum. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Associated Landscape Contractors of America)
March 1, 2003... SANIBEL ISLAND, FL -- You don't need cash to incentivize employees to work more productively or safer--but it helps. Check out these ideas that landscape company owners and managers shared at the Associated Landscape Contractors of America...

Cagwin & Dorward chosen as Bradshaw's Pick of the Week. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Cagwin & Dorward Landscape Contractors of Novato, CA was recently chosen as Broadcast News Channel's "Pick of the Week" hosted by prominent NFL personality Terry Bradshaw. The Pick of the Week is a series of broadcast television segments that...

JD Landscapes readies big Detroit-area store. (Industry almanac: news you can use).(John Deere Landscapes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ROMEO, MI -- John Deere Landscapes is opening of a major new 12-acre facility in Romeo, MI, approximately 40 miles north of Detroit. The branch is scheduled to open yet this spring. John Deere Landscapes, with 250 locations across the...

Profile Products LLC.(John A. Schoch named President and Chief Executive Officer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Profile Products LLC named John A. Schoch President and Chief Executive Officer.

John Deere Landscapes.(Brian Day appointed Southwest Regional Vice President )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... John Deere Landscapes appointed Brian Day, formerly of Century Rain Aid and Bamboo Pipeline, as its Southwest Regional Vice President.

Scotts.(James Hagedorn named Chairman of the Board)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Scotts Company's Board of Directors appointed James Hagedorn Chairman of the Board. Hagedorn is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Scotts.

Echo, Inc.(Steve Herbst named Product Manager)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Echo, Inc. hired Steve Herbst as Product Manager for trimmers, power blowers and shredders.

Peterson Pacific Corp.(Larry Cummings named General Manager)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Peterson Pacific Corp. hired Larry Cummings as its new General Manager.

Husqvarna.(inducted people into President's Club)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Husqvarna inducted several sales leaders into its President's Club for achieving overall excellence in five key categories. They are: Harry Combs, Billings, MT, Jeff Lees, Candia, NH, Paul Mancuso, Pittsford, NY, Pat Quillen, Riverton, UT, Mike...

Cebeco International Seeds.(Bob Maycock named 'Man of the Year')(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Cebeco International Seeds named Bob Maycock as its "Man of the Year."

BASF Corp.(named Stephen Briggs Director)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BASF Corp. named Stephen Briggs Director, Specialty Products Department.

Statistics: industry trends by the numbers.(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... ANNUAL HOUSING STARTS (1993-2002) Single- Multi- Year family family Total 2002 1,358,900 346,900 1,705,800 2001 1,273,300 329,400 1,602,700 2000 1,230,900 337,800 1,568,700 1999...

Make subcontracting pay; strategies to boost revenues and still deliver your high level of service by enlisting the help of other firms. (Subcontracting success).
March 1, 2003... Human beings by nature want to have as much control over as many aspects of their lives as possible. This holds true in the landscaping profession as well, where contractors find it extremely difficult to give up part of a hard-earned contract...

Win with property managers: savvy landscape professionals reveal how to build (and retain) this valuable book of business. (Customer Relationships).
March 1, 2003... Editors' note: This is the first article in a two-part series. Next month we focus on what property managers expect from you. Building long-term relationships with property management firms is one of the most lucrative moves a landscape...

Outsourcing--why and how: a blend of budget money, materials, manpower and expertise leads to outsourcing success. (Grounds Management).
March 1, 2003... A world-class winemaker, a champion NASCAR owner and an award-winning grounds manager wouldn't seem to have much in common. Each works in a different universe, faces different challenges and measures success by different standards. However,...

Wrigley's green tradition: traditionalist Roger Baird and his crew give one of baseball's cherished fields a fresh look. (Athletic turf: grub control success).(Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team)
March 1, 2003... Experiencing the look of awe on a young child's face as he or she lays eyes on a Major League grass ballfield is enough to melt any adult's heart. For Roger Baird, veteran head groundskeeper at "the friendly confines" of Wrigley Field, home to...

Sing your positive song: tired of playing the low-bid game? Here's how to build your company's name and reputation in your marketplace. (Marketing Magic).
March 1, 2003... Many landscaping companies are being forced to bid so low on projects that they're virtually working for free. Price cutting often has a ripple effect, with too many companies low-balling themselves out of business. What can you do when players...

Seed trade keeps innovating: check out this list of many of the newer varieties available in 2003. (Lawn Care).(Directory)
March 1, 2003... Growers and marketers of turf seed are predicting a modest rebound in prices and keeping their fingers crossed for a jump in demand. For the first spring in about three years there likely will be tight supplies--perhaps even shortages--of some...

Botanical garden turf gets quality cuts from Ferris. (Advertorial).(the Missouri Botanical Garden)(Ferris Industries)
March 1, 2003... One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world, the Missouri Botanical Garden includes Japanese, Chinese, English, German and Victorian gardens, as well as a tropical rain forest. Recently, this National Historic Landmark was also...

When synthetic makes sense: too many events, too few fields: Clark University picks a new "infilled" sports surface. (Athletic turf: technology).
March 1, 2003... Athletics are a major part of campus life at Clark University, Worcester, MA. Over 65% of students participate in the school's intercollegiate and intramural athletic programs. They're entitled to safe, quality, playable athletic fields. ...

The Longaberger Company: 2002 PGMS Grand Award Winner for Industrial or Office Park. (LM presents: award-winning landscape management).(Professional Grounds Management Society)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... It must be interesting working around a large basket every day. But Jason Jordan is probably used to it by now. In 10 years, he's worked his way from laborer to head of the Longaberger Landscaping Department. The Longaberger Company is known...

Green Star Professional Grounds Management Awards 2003: we're searching for the country's best-maintained landscapes--31st Annual Green Star Professional Grounds Management Awards.
March 1, 2003... You're invited to enter the Green Star Professional Grounds Management Awards, co-sponsored by Landscape Management magazine and the Professional Grounds Management Society. This annual program recognizes excellence in landscape management...

Maximize pre-emergence success: squeeze the most out of your weed controls by tracking their performance from season to season. (Spring Weed Control).
March 1, 2003... Your choice for pre-emergence weed control depends on factors such as efficacy, cost, availability and application equipment. You should also select a pre-emergence herbicide for its performance based on the environmental effects of the...

Preseason irrigation checkup: this step-by-step program will get clients' systems up and ready to water. (Water Management).
March 1, 2003... Preseason maintenance for irrigation systems ensures a smooth operating season for the client. However, because the procedures are relatively simple and vary little from site to site, it's easy to overlook a problem in a customer's system. ...

No gamble here: American Civil Constructors performs the many tasks at Tunica's Casino properties with versatile equipment. (Solutions center: multi-tasking to maintain costs).
March 1, 2003... Tunica County hugs the east bank of the Mississippi River about 20 miles south of Memphis, TN, and is the South's version of Atlantic City and Las Vegas. This region of Mississippi is awash in casinos, a remarkable change from just 10...

The costs of mowing. (LM Reports).
March 1, 2003... What does it cost a typical residential landscape professional to mow a lawn? Here are some guidelines from Texas A&M. They take into account the different kinds of mowers used and the typical size of a lawn in both a residential setting and at...

Spring cleaning. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Polaris Professional Series power brooms (for use with UTVs) are ideal for cleaning up sand, gravel, leaves, even snow. They feature a 10-hp Briggs and Stratton Intek engine with electric start. The commercial grade poly broom is five ft. wide...

Boost your power. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Echo's PB-460LN Quiet 1 backpack blower features Echo's Power Boost engine, providing 44cc of commercial power and delivering improved combustion efficiency. Using sound attenuation technology, it operates at 65 dB(A) at wide-open throttle. A...

No infection here. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Griffin LLC's Vital 4L is a systemic liquid fungicide that controls pythium, phytophthora and downy mildew pathogens in turf and ornamentals. Being a liquid, pH-neutral formulation, it has excellent mixing flexibility. And it's rapidly absorbed...

Sweep it away. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... The PTO-driven rotary brooms available for all Front-Mount Grasshopper True Zero Turn power units handle dirt, debris, slush and up to eight in. of snow. Also, sweep sidewalks and parking lots. Fixed angle 48- and 60-in. models are available,...

Visualize it. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... 3D Nature LLC's new landscape visualization technology, Visual Nature Studio 2, extends the realism features of VNS 1 and WCS with new capabilities and workflow improvements for GIS professionals. VNS 2 enables users to drape large numbers of...

Make your move. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Husqvarna's 326Sx Clean Sweep has the power to move materials too heavy for a blower and can be used on turf, concrete and other surfaces. It features the environmentally friendly E-TECH II engine as well as versatile, flexible fins that reduce...

Remove with authority. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... STIHL's PowerSweep KW 85 attachment transforms FS 83R and FS 85R grass trimmers into gas-powered sweepers. Remove debris on wet and dry ground services, or clean off caked dirt on sidewalks and roadways. The belts and fins are made of Dupont...

A walk in the park. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Wright Mfg.'s new Velke Mower can be operated as a walk-behind for tight spaces, or it can be paired with Wright's Velke Pro-1 or X-2 sulkies. Control handles are easy to use and self neutralizing. It's offered with a 36- and 48-in. wide deck,...

Get connected. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... CLIP Software's new CLIP Connect service offers real-time information exchange between the office and the job site. Using a Web-enabled cellular phone, field personnel can update the CLIP Connect Web portal with particular job information, such...

Handle the pressure. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Pressure-Pro introduces an electric-powered, cold water pressure washer that makes minimal noise outside and gives off no gas fumes. The series is available in pressures from 1,200 to 4,000 psi at 2 to 3.5 gpm. Other features include a high...

Bye bye birdie. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Bird-B-Gone, Inc. introduces Goose-B-Gone, a repellent that makes grass areas impalatable to geese and ducks. Apply Goose-B-Gone by spraying it directly on to grass areas such as golf courses, parks, fields or anywhere that geese or ducks are...

Clean sweep. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... The new Z-Broom from ETEC easily mounts to most mid-mount zero-turn mowers to give you a powerful broom that moves snow, dirt and other debris. It also handles dethatching and turf cleanup. Both 4- and 5-ft. models use a commercial grade 24-in....

Feed me manganese. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... A manganese tree spike from Lutz Corp. is designed to help grow maples, river birches, and other manganese deficient trees and shrubs. Each spike contains 16% elemental sulfur which lowers the pH in the feeding area, creating an environment...

Chipper for rent. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... National rental chain HSS RentX has a gas-powered Green Mac towable chipper for rent that shreds trunks and limbs up to 9 in. in diameter and handles palm fronds with ease. It also features a hydrostatic feed, 360-degree rotating discharge...

Get hitched. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Valley Industries' new under-bed gooseneck hitch, which uses a custom mounting bracket attached under the bed, allows for full use of the truck bed when not towing. Rated at 6,250 lbs. trailer tongue weight and 25,000 lbs. gross trailer weight,...

Groom your bed. (Products: tech center).
March 1, 2003... Turf Teq's self-propelled Sidewinder 1300 edger/trencher has variable-angle cut and reversible drive. Other features include a 13-hp Honda engine, hydrostatic drive, and bed-grooming disc blade to manicure existing beds with minimal disturbance...

Events: what, when & where.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... March 18-20 New England Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show / Providence, RI; 401/848-0004 27 Southeastern North Carolina Turfgrass Conference / Wilmington, NC; 888/695-1333 April 6-8 Equipment & Engine Training Council...

Subcontractors: find the right one to help you compete. (Best practices: guidelines to help an industry grow).
March 1, 2003... Outsourcing or subcontracting may be a good business decision in the day-to-day running of a landscape business. But there's a hitch. Many property managers prefer dealing with fewer suppliers when hiring services. They see this as a great...

Management strategies for weed control.
March 1, 2003... Introduction BASF Professional Products is pleased to provide you with this new guide designed to help turf professionals better manage problem weeds. Our goal is to give you and your crew an easy-to-use tool that allows you to quickly...