Landscape Management articles from October 2003

Landscape Management archives from October 2003

Next month: what's coming up in November.
October 1, 2003... * GIE past and present LM goes in-depth with the GIE: where it was, where it is today and where it's headed * People of the Year Find out who we picked as our People of the Year in the landscape, grounds and lawn care industries...

Facility tours a 'win-win'.(on the record)
October 1, 2003... How'd you like 50 company owners and managers showing up at your company, quizzing your key people and spending about two hours dissecting your operation? The owners of two Boston-area landscape companies opened their firms to 50 other...

Saving [H.sub.2]O--the next wave: with expanding populations, we must take measures to conserve our water.(my way)
October 1, 2003... Outdoor irrigation for our crops and landscapes is the lifeline that allows our cities to thrive. Modern irrigation works silently in the background--so well that we tend to take our water for granted. Along with its immense benefits,...

Dave Rooney: [C] Rooney landscape.(inside the owner's head)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... Dave Rooney owns Rooney Landscape, a $2.7 million full-service landscape company located in Rolling Meadows, IL. He founded the company in 1986 and today has 48 employees. You aren't Irish, are you? No, no way. With a last name like...

ANLA members voice concerns in DC.(In the know: news you can use, American Nursery & Landscape Association )
October 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Hurricane Isabel came and went from Washington, DC, Sept. 18-19, but another hurricane made up of 150 American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) members followed, intent on opening legislators' ears to issues on their agenda....

STMA adopts new logo.(in the know, Sports Turf Managers Association )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -- The Sports Turf Managers Association recently released a new logo and positioning statement. The organization's new tagline is: "STMA: Experts on the Field, Partners in the Game." The marketing revamp also...

CompuScapes.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... CompuScapes has added Brent Totman to its sales and management team.

The Boston Society of Landscape Architects.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Boston Society of Landscape Architects recently honored Joseph T. Geller with its 2002 Excellence Award. Geller founded Geller Associates Inc. in 1983, and the landscape architecture firm now has a staff of 35 professionals.

Tanaka.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Tanaka hired Dennis Opalacz as regional sales manager.

Dakota Peat & Equipment.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Dakota Peat & Equipment hired Tim Obregon as account manager with the company's customer service team.

John Deere Landscapes.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... John Deere Landscapes named Pete Johnson area manager for Orange and San Diego counties. The company also named Michael Maggard and Steve Mullican regional sales managers.

Precision Laboratories.(People & companies, Village Nurseries Wholesale, LLC)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Precision Laboratories hired Don Spier as Director of Turf Business Unit. Village Nurseries Wholesale, LLC appointed David R. House president.

Electrolux Professional Outdoor Products.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Electrolux Professional Outdoor Products named PACE, Inc. the first recipient of the Innovative Distributor of the Year award.

Wright Manufacturing.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Wright Manufacturing named Steven Willand, Inc. of Augusta, NJ its 2003 Distributor of the Year.

Yazoo/Kees.(People & companies, winners of distributor sales contest)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Yazoo/Kees announced the winners of the distributor sales contest that was held from June 2002 until December 2002. First place and $5,000 went to Bobby Garner of Carswell Distributing in Winston-Salem, NC; second place and $3,000 went to Ron...

Reliant Stadium a glimpse at future.(in the know, Airfield Systems, LLC astroturf project)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- One-year-old Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL Houston Texans, is a $400-million technological wonder. The same can be said for its playing field, and makes one wonder what else lies ahead for athletic turf. But big and...

Orbit acquires Di Tai plastics.([Clippings]: Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc., Di Tai Plastics Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... NORTH SALT LAKE, UT -- Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of irrigation products for the residential and commercial markets, recently announced its purchase of an equity interest in Di Tai Plastics Corp. in China. The...

Rogers sells sprayer division.([Clippings], Rogers Innovative Inc. sprayer division now called Rogers Sprayers Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... SASKATOON, CANADA -- The sprayer division of Rogers Innovative Inc. is under new ownership. The name has been changed to Rogers Sprayers Inc. to better reflect the equipment.

Maruyama renews with Universal.([Clippings]: Maruyama U.S., Universal Studios Florida)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... AUBURN, WA -- Since mid-2002, Maruyama U.S. has been the preferred supplier of two-cycle landscape equipment for Universal Studios Florida. Universal Studios and Maruyama have renewed the partnership through 2004.

H2B success in 11 steps.(in the know, seasonal foreign workers)
October 1, 2003... It's time to start planning for next season's H2-B labor needs. Whether you hire a professional processor or do it yourself, you better get cracking. Follow these 11 suggestions and you'll save yourself a lot of headaches: 1. Count to...

Statistics: industry trends by the numbers.(job estimate systems, sporting event preferences)
October 1, 2003... Estimate great What kind of estimating system do you use? While there are many ways to estimate the price of a job, there are three pricing systems that we've discovered are the most common in the industry in our observation of over 100...

Blueprints for training.(Your Business)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Training might be the single largest challenge that we face in 2004. It's critically important as we strive to elevate our professions in the public's eyes and earn the respect (and the financial rewards) that we deserve. Read and profit from...

Train to fit your culture: consider a tiered approach like the one HighGrove Partners developed. It will give your employees a reason to be more productive and customer-focused.(Your Business)
October 1, 2003... Need a boost to get your training program started? Start by focusing on the people within your company that have the most impact on your customers, your field employees. Keep your training program basic. Keep score. Stick with it. That's...

Training at Duke: focused and thorough.(Your Business)
October 1, 2003... Joe Jackson teaches in a conference room in the Duke University Grounds Building every Monday afternoon for one hour. His pupils aren't typical college students. These people, in most cases, provide for families and, in all cases, get their...

Turn a 'challenge' into an opportunity.(Your Business)
October 1, 2003... Thirty minutes. That's what Ed Romm sets aside each week to train his employees. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But consider that his company, K&D Lawn Care Service, Inc., Norfolk, VA, employs about 100 people, and all of them participate in...

Why contractors fail: 10 signs that your company is headed for trouble.(Your Business)
October 1, 2003... Landscape contractors spend a lot of time maintaining trucks, loaders, mowers, trimmers and blowers. However, they don't see the need to perform "preventive maintenance" on their business operations. As the nation's economy continues to...

Turf renovation 101: there are many ways to renovate lawns, but choosing the right equipment is key.(Your Business)
October 1, 2003... Although many landscape contractors are winding down from a busy summer season, the smart ones know that now is the time to make one final push to ensure all of their hard work is protected. By taking a few steps now, they can generate more...

Highland park: 2002 PGMS Grand Award Winner for Industrial or Office Park.(LM (Landscape Management) presents: award-winning landscape management, Professional Grounds Maintenance Association award)
October 1, 2003... The challenges CoCal Landscape must deal with at Highland Park can be summed up in three words: rocks, geese and water. Colorado's prolonged drought and mandatory water restrictions have made managing the irrigation system a nightmare....

Infill systems--the real scoop: read this if you think the new generation of artificial turf is going to do away with athletic field maintenance.(Athletic turf: grounds success)
October 1, 2003... There's a new player in the parks and stadiums of this country and all over the world. This "new guy" is catching the fancy of administrators and event planners and causing nervousness among sports turf managers. Who's this new player? The...

Tests determine field hardness.(Athletic turf: grounds success)
October 1, 2003... Turf Diagnostics & Design, Olathe, KS, has expanded its services to include artificial turf testing, including field hardness and subgrade testing. This includes F355 and G-max testing that often is used to indicate if an artificial field is...

Winterize or weep: winterize your clients' irrigation system or weep from the consequences.(Technology That Works)
October 1, 2003... Every year, it's a ritual. From Maine to Minnesota to Montana and anywhere, the frost level could extend below the depth of installed pipe. So professional landscape and irrigation contractors must make getting an irrigation system ready for...

Not just blowing hot air.(LM Reports)
October 1, 2003... What many of us refer to as mulch or bark blowers are used for more than just blowing mulch or bark. Brothers Stefan and Ed Kijewski, operators of MulchMaster Plus, Wallingford, CT, educate contractors, landscape architects, engineers and...

Go for a quick kill: Hawaiian landscaper needed a product that eliminated the ground cover in a big hurry.(Solutions center: technology that works, Green Thumb, Inc.)
October 1, 2003... Green Thumb, Inc., worked quickly to clear a piece of cemetery ground for construction of a new mausoleum. The Japanese-style cemetery, known as the Valley of the Temples, is a popular tourist attraction on the outskirts of Honolulu, and its...

Truck loaders.(Technology That Works, Ideal Landscape owner discusses equipment)
October 1, 2003... Maine has trees, lots of trees. Trees have leaves, lots of leaves, and each autumn they fall onto lawns. Property owners want them gone. That's one of the less glamorous tasks that Brian Creamer shares with landscapers in every part of the...

Tractor-pull.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... McCormick USA has introduced a new transmission and model number for its medium-duty line of CX series (73- to 102-hp) tractors. The CX 05 series features a new optional XtraShift transmission with 24 forward and 24 reverse speeds as options to...

Keep on truckin'.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... American Cargo LLC introduces the Heritage cargo van, available in 10-ft. through 16-ft. lengths and 72- to 96-in. interior body heights. Standard features include a larger bulkhead door, Galvaneal steel rear frame, rear roll-up door with...

Wing it.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Daniels manufactures the Wing Plow that's designed to both push and stack tons of snow, eliminating the need for multiple pieces of equipment. The patented, fold-back wing design reduces the plow size by up to 50% for maneuverability. For...

More time for cutting.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... To spend more time cutting, and less time dumping grass clippings, Dixie Chopper has developed a new large capacity Pro-Vac grass catching system for its line of fast-cutting, zero-turn-radius ride-on mowers. The easy-to-attach Pro-Vac system...

Spread the word.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... SnowEx, a division of TrynEx International, touts its new Vee Pro 8000, the largest capacity bulk spreader in its line. It carries up to 1.5 cu. yds. of material and is constructed of heavy-duty polyethylene. Spread width is infinitely variable...

Out of control.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Rain Bird has added a new modular controller to its ESP controller family. Designed to eliminate the need for replacing a controller to add more stations, the ESP modular controller upgrades from four to 13 stations with the addition of three...

Tree eater.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Bear Cat has introduced a new 6-in. engine-driven, towable chipper to its outdoor power equipment line. Features include a live hydraulic feed system with a variable speed feed roller with instant reverse. A "try again" feed system...

Light up your life.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Your landscape company works so hard that sometimes daylight fails you. The solution? Wobble Light. It has an impact resistant body and counter weighted hemispherical base that quickly returns upright if knocked over. Protected by a floating...

Bye bye algae.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... BioSafe Systems' new non-copper based algaecide, GreenClean granular algaecide, instantly controls a broad range of algae blooms in ponds while oxygenating the water column through its unique oxidation process. It's a reduced risk pesticide...

At a fast clip.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Echo's HC-150i hedge clipper is powered by Echo's new 21.2cc Power Boost Tornado engine with two-stroke technology that delivers improved engine performance and higher fuel efficiency while meeting all EPA emissions regulations. HC-150i's...

Aerate great.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Gandy offers core and knife aerators from 34 in. to 8-ft- wide in tow and 3-pt. hitch models. The 34-in. and 4-ft. models have a central shaft featuring separate dual-wheel coring heads with six cores each and are offered as either tow or 3-pt....

What's the spread?(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... EMAS Attachment Systems' Gal-V is a multi-purpose four-season drop spreader with one-person operation that ensures a non-skid surface. Spread sand, salt or calcium during the winter, or topdress with loam or sand in summer. The Gal-V is hot dip...

Blow it away.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... FINN's new enhanced BB605 bark blower, the industry's only 60+ hp, 4.5-cu. yd. capacity bark blower available for use in trailer or skid applications, has a redesigned hydraulic system to handle greater workloads. It also now offers an optional...

Nifty nozzle.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Full Coverage Irrigation has expanded its line of high uniformity sprinkler nozzles to include a retrofit spreader (close in) nozzle for Rain Bird Model 900 Eagle sprinklers. The FCI Eagle 900 spreader nozzle improves distribution uniformity by...

Internet ready.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Rain Master claims it has come up with the industry's first Internet-based irrigation system. The iCentral system allows Rain Master customers using Eagle series controllers to receive instant alerts, connect to real-time weather updates,...

High capacity controller.(products: tech center)
October 1, 2003... Hunter Industries has released the IDS, a new high capacity, two-wire decoder controller for commercial installations. The unit is housed in an all-weather stainless steel or plastic pedestal for vandal-resistant industrial applications. One...

www.landscapemanagement.net: what's new on-line.
October 1, 2003... * View the State of the Industry report online! * Features from the October issue of LM * LM Week in Review * The latest Green Industry news * Place a classified ad * Get editorial information and advertising rates *...

Events: what, when & where.
October 1, 2003... October 8-9 Turfgrass, Landscape and Equipment Expo/Pomona, CA; Sponsored by the Southern California Turfgrass Council; 800/500-7282 17-18 Xeriscape Conference Albuquerque, NM; 505/822-8222; www.xeriscape nm.com 18-20...

Make improvements in the slow season.(Best practices: guidelines to help an industry grow.)
October 1, 2003... Now that another peak growing season has come to a close, companies should focus on making improvements in areas of their operations that didn't go perfectly this past spring and summer. As a whole, the landscape industry doesn't plan as...

Rewarding success.(GreenScapes Landscape Architects methods for motivating employees)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Since 1988, GreenScapes Landscape Architects and Contractors owner Bill Gerhardt, of Columbus, OH, has rewarded his management group and hourly employees. His keys to successful rewards programs: 1 A solid system rewards employees for...

Owners find money doesn't always talk.(From the front lines, J. Michael Landscaping )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Extra cash for a job well done--an incentive that is like money in the bank? According to many landscape company owners, when it comes to motivation, money isn't always the answer. Mike Lesher, MCLP, and owner of J. Michael Landscaping in...

Share the success.(Running LAPS, excerpt from "Growing Dreams" by Jim Paluch)(Excerpt)
October 1, 2003... The following is an excerpt from Jim Paluch's book, "Growing Dreams." It chronicles the fictional adventures of two partners growing a landscape business. Read on and you may find a bit of yourself in the story: "It's not just about...

Networking and skill building are among the benefits of serving as ALCA committee chairperson.(American Landscape Contractors Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... He might be a rookie, but Tom Heaviland--who became an ALCA committee chairman in July--says he already is reaping the dividends of his position. As co-chair of the education committee with James River Ground Management's Maria Candler,...

Great training leads to great rewards.(excerpt from "Action Learning" by David Dotlich)(Brief Article)(Excerpt)
October 1, 2003... When training is viewed as fixing someone and they perceive the selection as nothing more than being forced to participate in another worthless training exercise, they may be already negatively predisposed to their learning. Leaders must...

ESOPs--fable or fairy tale? James Martin Associates, Inc. rewards its employees by making them company stockholders, which gives them the opportunity to control the company's destiny.
October 1, 2003... Seeking a more consistent method to promote an environment of shared ownership, Jim Martin, owner of James Martin Associates, Inc. in Vernon Hills, IL, decided to motivate and reward them with something very close to him--his company. Ten...

Thrival campaign: financial fun and frolic.(tool developed by JP Horizons)
October 1, 2003... Thrival Campaigns are a simple tool developed by JP Horizons that companies utilize to focus employees on accomplishing a specific result that they help develop and systematically define. It provides a path that they can follow on the specific...

Measuring and charting success.(By the numbers)
October 1, 2003... What a year this has been for those of us in the green industry. While many segments of the American economy have fought to stay afloat, it seems that many landscape contractors, as well as the companies who serve them, have just gotten busier....