Landscape Management articles from September 2001

Landscape Management archives from September 2001

Embrace the Challenge.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Recently there's been much discussion of the challenges facing the professional landscape and lawn care industry. It's true that these hurdles, whether they are competitive, economic or regulatory in nature, can interfere with our best-laid...

Welcome to the 2001 Landscape Management annual State of the Industry report : A Year of Competitive Challenges.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Landscape Management's State of the Industry survey shows that business is more challenging for all aspects of the professional landscape and lawn care industry. Whether you're an entry-level firm, mid-level operator or large, established...

Still going strong -- PART ONE: What a difference a year makes!(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Last summer, the Federal Reserve Board hoped its six interest rate hikes would cool a too-hot economy. It worked. We've had a dramatic reversal in the economy, and now the Fed keeps dropping rates to spur it along. The good news is that the...

Still going strong -- PART TWO: Challenge: Handling Growth 2000 in Review.(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... It's been a banner year for professional landscape management. We interviewed hundreds of landscape managers to see how their year has progressed and how they view next year's business (see note below). Here's what they said: * Business...

Regulation to watch: Ozone alert, ergonomics breather.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Time moves quickly and that's why 2005 isn't that far away for landscape professionals in the Houston-Galveston area of Texas. The year 2005 is when a ban on gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment use from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. will take effect...

Snapshot 2001 -- PART THREE: Operations Review.(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Respondents in Landscape Management's 2001 survey represented all sizes and types of landscape and lawn care organizations, and are typical of thousands of others (see note Page a5). While there is no "typical" professional landscape...

Snapshot 2001 -- PART FOUR: Strategies for 2002.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... How do landscape professionals see five years into their future? A full 73.6% of survey respondents said they plan to grow much larger, and 48.8% predicted they'll be serving new customer groups. Some (30.2%) envision expanding into larger...

Snapshot 2001 -- PART FIVE: Property management issues are different.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... How is landscape doing from the client's perspective? We asked large property managers, who say the economy is slow, but not dead. According to Mike Nalley, senior vice president of Trammell Crow Company, "The residential and corporate...

Green 'Web' Outlook.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Landscape Management's 2001 Reader Survey (see data at LM.net) shows that the Internet is already an important utility in this industry across all revenue categories. Here's how some pioneers are working better/faster/smarter thanks to the...

Events : WHAT, WHEN & WHERE.
September 1, 2001... September 2001 18 Fall Field Day & Nursery Tour / Georgetown, SC; 864/592-3868 18 Turfgrass and Landscape Management Field Day / Riverside, CA; 909/787-4430 18-19 Turfgrass and Landscape Field Days / Blacksburg, VA; 540/231-5897...

It's all about me!(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... If you're passionate about your business or organization, read on. Your organization may be the perfect operating clone of your own personality, brains and drive. You probably eat, sleep and dream about it. Like many Green Industry...

Net jabber mostly for yucks.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Screwdriver is probably dead. I haven't seen him in years and nobody mentions his name anymore. I thought of him for the first time in 20 years as I was reading postings on the Yahoo message board for ServiceMaster (NYSE-SVM)....

Teaching old dogs new tricks.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The success of any business lies in the quality of its people. Even with all the technology that's been developed, people are still needed. No computer or device can react with the passion and understanding of a human being, and this will never...

Medallion labeled for landscape use.(Syngenta Professional Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... BASEL, SWITZERLAND -- Medallion (fludioxonil) fungicide, manufactured by Syngenta Professional Products, received a new label from the EPA for control of certain foliar, root and stem diseases in azaleas, begonias, gerbera daisies, roses and...

Roundup sales boost Monsanto.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... ST. LOUIS, MO -- A record 4% increase in sales of Monsanto Co.'s Roundup herbicide lifted the company's second quarter net income to $389 million compared to last year's Q2 net income of $248 million. The company said sales during the first six...

BASF implements restructuring.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY -- BASF has completed a reorganization into 38 regional and 10 global business units under its "Fit for the Future" motto. The new structure will allow the company to respond quickly and flexibly to worldwide customer...

Chipco's Finale granted state label.(Chipco Professionals Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... MONTVALE, NJ -- Finale herbicide, produced by the Chipco Professionals Products group of Aventis Environmental Science, was granted a state label for turf use by the California Department of Pesticide Regulations.

ServiceMaster Q2 income drops 23%.(second quarter)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- ServiceMaster announced a 23% drop in its second quarter (Q2) net income and reduced its earnings outlook for 2001. Q2 2001 earnings per share (EPS) were $.17 on net income of $51 million compared to Q2 2000 EPS of $.21 on...

Eco Soil to reorganize.(Eco Soil Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... SAN DIEGO, CA -- Eco Soil Systems Inc. will reorganize its core business, including actively seeking to sell non-core assets in an effort to pay down debt and improve the company's working capital position. The company has also substantially...

Century Rain Aid opens new offices.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... MADISON HEIGHTS, MI -- Century Rain Aid opened five new branch locations: Springdale, AR; Phoenix and Surprise, AZ; Riverhead, NY; and Warrendale, PA.

Acquisition expands and strengthens Brickman's reach in midwestern markets.(Brickman Group acquires Duke-Weeks Landscape Division)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... LANGHORNE, PA -- Consolidation among landscape maintenance companies continues with the August 1 purchase of Duke Weeks Landscape Division by The Brickman Group Ltd. Duke-Weeks, which started as an in-house landscape department for the...

Yazoo/Kees expands plant.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... BEATRICE, NE -- Yazoo/Kees recently expanded its production plant by 57,000 sq. ft. to bring the total building size to 167,000 sq. ft. As part of the expansion, the company has also added a $1 million Milbank painting system and robotic...

Grass is greener on the other side.(water conservation program helps landscapers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Lured by water bill credits, homeowners out west are ripping out their grass. But irrigation and landscape contractors are hardly complaining. When the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) began offering homeowners money to rip up their...

5 ways to use H2B to your advantage.(seasonal labor)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... 1. Count to 120 backwards. No, it isn't a sobriety test. Count back 120 days from when you want your work permits to begin and be sure your petition is filed on that date to ensure the earliest chance of getting your approval on time....

Got turf problems?(Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Got turf problems?...Then get the new pocket guide, "Turfgrass Problems: Picture Clues and Management Options," from the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES). The guide is 214 pages and costs $24.95 plus shipping and...

Spindle assemblies.
September 1, 2001... Spindle assemblies...for walk-behind and riding mowers abound in Stens' new 2001 catalog. The selection includes replacement spindles for AYP, Murray and others. Stens also carries MTD 6 point star center hole blades. For more information on...

Training tractor loader backhoe operators.(Vista Training Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Training tractor loader backhoe operators...is now easy with VISTA Training's complete instructor kit for training tractor loader backhoe operators. The new "tool kit" contains two videos, an easy-to-follow instructor's packet, and a CD-ROM....

Lock up seed purchases: higher prices on the horizon.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... SALEM, OR-- If you're anticipating a lot of seeding work this fall and next season, consider buying your seed soon. Unfavorable growing conditions in prime turf growing regions of the United States will cause seed prices to rise but there...

Environmental Industries named Richard Sperber.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Environmental Industries named Richard Sperber President and Chief Operating Officer. The company also named John T. Law, Jr., Ph.D., Director of Technical Services for the West Coast, and Andrew J. Mandell senior vice president and chief...

Bozzuto Landscaping Co., Greenbelt, MD, promoted Bruce Leonard.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Bozzuto Landscaping Co., Greenbelt, MD, promoted Bruce Leonard to area manager and Randy Abshier to vice president. The company also hired Tom Hopkins as area manager.

Dow AgroSciences LLC appointed Martin Posset.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Dow AgroSciences LLC appointed Martin Posset turf and ornamental product communications manager, Beau Miller turf and ornamental market research manager, Dan Loughner field biologist, Kerry Avirett Texas sales representative, John Price Ohio...

Aventis Environmental Science's Chipco Professional Products group named Joseph Grippi.(Joseph Grippi)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Aventis Environmental Science's Chipco Professional Products group named Joseph Grippi sales representative for western Michigan and northern Indiana and Scott Parker sales representative for southern Indiana, northern Kentucky and central...

Oregro Seeds hired Hagen Ledeboer.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Oregro Seeds hired Hagen Ledeboer as outside sales representative for the southwest.

The J. R. Simplot Company's Turf & Horticulture group named Steve Franzen.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The J. R. Simplot Company's Turf & Horticulture group named Steve Franzen western region director of sales for its fertilizer division. U.S. Lawns added its 82nd franchise, U.S. Lawns of Simi Valley, CA.

Miramar Wholesale Nurseries promoted Kelley Smagacz.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Miramar Wholesale Nurseries promoted Kelley Smagacz to purchasing manager and appointed Debbie Binczewski controller.

ANLA elected Briggs Nursery CEO Gary Briggs.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... ANLA elected Briggs Nursery CEO Gary Briggs president of the association.

Northwestern Landscape Company, Puyallup, WA, promoted Randy Morris.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Northwestern Landscape Company, Puyallup, WA, promoted Randy Morris to vice president of operations, construction division, and Linda Oakes to vice president of finance and administration.

Biohabitats, Timonium, MD, hired Michael Lighthiser.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Biohabitats, Timonium, MD, hired Michael Lighthiser as a bioregion leader.

Unique items sold here.(Searchoutside.com)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Searchoutside.com went live in July, joining many other Web sites that make it easier for buyers and sellers in the Green Industry to conduct business. But searchoutside.com is a little different in that it provides a source for unique...

Champagne landscapes on beer budgets : Give your customers the best possible landscapes at the least possible cost.
September 1, 2001... Turning beer into champagne is the kind of miracle landscape contractors are frequently asked to perform. Many clients have high expectations but limited budgets. How do you cope? Two experienced contractors who have been successful with...

Opening the books : This landscaping company found that sharing everything with employees was the key to greater success and motivation.
September 1, 2001... Since starting their dad-and-sons landscape installation business in 1976, the Bratt family has become a diverse business with its fingers in a lot of landscape-related pies. But the thing that turned Bratt, Inc., Pleasant Grove, UT, into...

Resurrection Medical Center : A 2000 Honor Award Winner of the Professional Grounds Management Society for Hospital or Institution.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Being a hospital, there's no doubt Resurrection Medical Center is one busy place. But its six-person in-house grounds crew is just as busy, maintaining all building entry areas, disposing of refuse, cleaning paved surfaces and even replacing...

Bring profits in from the cold.(snow removal)(Interview)
September 1, 2001... These companies have learned how to plan and stay productive all year long Successful snow and ice operations don't just happen. It takes a tremendous amount of planning, marketing and the right equipment and supplies. If done correctly,...

What's 'hot' in snow and ice : Manufacturers want to keep you warm, dry and happy.
September 1, 2001... Manufacturers in the snow and ice arena are pretty resourceful when it comes to designing and developing products that are multi-task oriented, less-fatiguing and can save the contractor time and money in the long run. They also know that...

Non-toxic deicers.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... America West's All Clear and First Down are environmentally friendly deicers made from all-natural, organic materials. They can be used near streams or other sensitive environmental areas and won't harm vegetation and animals. All Clear is...

Stay connected to the sky.(online weather reports)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... DTN Weather Services' Storm Guard is a PDA- (Personal Digital Assistants) based weather system and goes anywhere a cell phone does. Dialing in to an internet service provider, via the cell phone, allows the user to automatically download...

Quick position plow.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Fisher Engineering's EZ-V multi-position snowplow's adjustable V-plow configures to scoop, straight or "V" position in seconds. Insta-Act hydraulic system locks blade wings to act as one while Fish-Stik hand-held control operates all blade...

Attach and throw snow.(Kubota Tractor Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Kubota Tractor Corp.'s versatile T-series tractors can be fitted with a belt-driven, single-stage snow blower with a 38-in. cutting width, a standard mechanical lift, replaceable skid shoe/cutting edge and manual-rotating discharge chute....

Don't get iced in.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Natural Solutions Corporation's Ice Ban deicers have a melting power to -78[degrees]F. Ice Ban products are less corrosive than rain water, yet they melt snow and ice on contact. Applied with your existing equipment before, during or after the...

Quick on/off.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Western Products' Ultramount System makes the on/off attachment procedure on plows simpler by incorporating a pivot bar which rotates, allowing the drive in points to remain level -- even when the blade is not. Two receiver brackets on the...

Sassy brat.(snow plow)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Country Clipper's Brat is more compact, with most of the features of its Zeton "Big Brother." It has Zeton's stand-up deck for easy under deck maintenance, and your choice of either joystick or conventional twin stick steering. Drive is total...

Look Ma, no hands!(snowthrowers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Simplicity's two-stage, commercial duty snowthrowers are available in eight (860DLX), nine (970M) or 11 (1180M) hp models. Designed to make snowthrowing easier and faster. Contact a Simplicity dealer nearest you or www.simplicitymft.com /...

Load or blow snow.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... The Bobcat skid-steer loader can blow snow off driveways, sidewalks and tight places. A rotating chute and deflector point the snow in any direction. With an attachment control kit, the user can hydraulically control these functions from the...

Stay cool spreader.
September 1, 2001... JRCO, Inc.'s electric broadcast spreader features a polyethylene no-rust hopper with 130 lb./2.2 cu.ft. capacity. The spreader improves productivity by maintaining a constant spread pattern at increased ground speed, reducing operator fatigue....

Cut down turnaround time.
September 1, 2001... Snowman receiver hitch models are designed for commercial use with full size 1/2- to one-ton four-wheel-drive trucks. The Snowman pull plow eliminates back dragging and turnaround time. Add extension wings to the 7-ft. moldboards to increase...

A broom for all seasons.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Walker Manufacturing Company's rotary broom with 47-in. sweeping patch and five-position angle head is ideal for lawn dethatching and raking and for sweeping debris or light snow on hard surfaces. Contact Walker Mfg. Co. at 970/221-5614 /...

Versatile rotary cutters.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Woods Equipment Company's BrushBull single spindle cutters are available in 10 models with cutting widths from 48 to 84 in. The series includes rotary cutters for a variety of applications. The BrushBull series features the sloped, clean-top...

Wide spread.
September 1, 2001... TrynEx International's Micro Pro 375 tailgate spreader features a material flow gate that, with a standard 10-ft. control cable, calibrates and controls material flow. Hopper holds up to 3.25 cu. ft./225 lbs. of dry, free-flowing material...

Traction to spare.
September 1, 2001... All Season Vehicles, Inc. (ASV) features its RCo30, a driveable, all-surface loader that fits in the back of a pickup and features rubber-tracked technology that significantly reduces hard labor, works with power and traction and goes just...

Light for dark mornings.
September 1, 2001... BOSS Snowplow's plow light package, called SmartLight, projects light wider and further out in front of the vehicle. The light output of the SmartLight features a custom-designed composite light with dual halogen bulbs and has been specifically...

Winterizing your irrigation system.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Expensive equipment needs care and irrigation systems are no exception to this rule. In areas where the frost level could extend below the depth of installed pipe, irrigation systems need to be drained to prevent freeze damage. Enduring...

Selecting ornamentals : Understanding how different plants respond in different regions might help you find something new for your client.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Over the years, hundreds of articles have been written on selecting plants. That's because there are hundreds of things to think about when selecting ornamentals. I want to propose two new ways of thinking about plants for your customers or...

Tree tools go high tech.
September 1, 2001... Tree management has gone high tech. While the old standbys like tree trimmers and tree spades remain important parts of the landscaper's toolbox, the business has changed. Injectable and sprayable materials are making it easier for...

Artful way to inlay : This landscape contractor combines art and technology to produce great looking patios.(Corey Johnston Wise of Johnston's Nursery)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Johnston's Nursery has been in the landscape design and maintenance business since 1928. Yet the task of building a paved patio with an inlay elk head 16 feet by 20 feet proved to be a challenge for owner Corey Johnston Wise, who not only...

Ask The Expert.
September 1, 2001... Kudzu quandary We're having problems managing Kudzu weed. Can we use PBI-Gordon Brushmaster herbicide safely to manage it? -- NC Kudzu is a severe weed pest in many parts of the southeast. Transline, a selective herbicide by Dow...

Tight walkin'.
September 1, 2001... Sutech says its Stealth mower, a 33-in. walk-behind, is lightweight and maneuverable and can get into tight areas and trim around anything. The deck is made of 11 gauge fabricated steel, and mower has mulching and cutting capabilities. Other...

Strength with support.
September 1, 2001... Tree-Mate-O permits a newly planted tree to achieve proper development. It was made to encourage greater caliber and quicker root strength. When it is attached to a single "T" or "U" post, a torsion bar effect improves the post's ground...

Fun in the sun.
September 1, 2001... Irritrol Systems' SPC-2 converter allows the company's battery-operated IBOC Plus Series hybrid controllers to run on solar power. It can be mounted either on top of the controller or up to 1,000 feet away, and contains a three-year,...

Brush it away.
September 1, 2001... Geo-Boy's brush cutter tractor, featuring a Cummins diesel engine and Seppi cutter heads, is designed for clearing brush and small trees in difficult locations. It's available in standard and heavy duty models. For more information contact...

Rad rake.
September 1, 2001... Billy Goat Industries' CR Series compact power rake is engineered with fewer parts and less hardware mounted on a steel deck to reduce noise, vibrations and maintenance. For more information contact Billy Goat at 816/524-9666 or visit...

Process this.
September 1, 2001... Vandermolen Corp.'s 20Q14E is the newest member of the company's All Vegetation Processor line. It's powered by a 14- or 16-hp Vanguard engine and can process four- to five-in. fully dressed branches. A two-in. ball hitch makes it easy to tow....

Split 'em up.
September 1, 2001... Foster Manufacturing Corp.'s Model FLS-550-HV commercial series log splitter can be used in either a horizontal or vertical position. It has a Honda GX-160 5.5-hp engine and can handle logs up to 26 in. long. The splitter also contains a...

Collect 'em up.
September 1, 2001... The ODB Co.'s Metro is a belt-driven vacuum leaf collector with a rear loading unit and hydraulic hose boom. It features a John Deere Model 4020D 4-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine and 14-in. x 120-in. wire reinforced urethane suction hose....

Capable cart.
September 1, 2001... Bachtold Bros.' commercial duty cart wagon has the ability to hold 400 lbs. and up to 5 cu. ft. of material. It has a 14 gauge stainless steel body, angled front and 20-in. nickel-plated wheels. For extra heavy hauling, the handle of the cart...

Light up the night.
September 1, 2001... Sculpturite lighting by Pinecrest can be mixed and matched to suit your tastes. Many of Pinecrest's lighting posts are triangular in configuration. Each design is first carved into hardwood, then used to form the sand molds into which aluminum...

Floodlight fun.
September 1, 2001... RAB Electric Manufacturing's "H101" is a landscape floodlight with a bell design made for easier relamping and glare reduction. The new floodlight has durable one-piece die cast construction with rugged mounting arm. It accepts 150 watt PAR 38...

Keep tools neat.
September 1, 2001... Intromark Incorporated introduces Tool Hugger, a new tool holding clamp that is mounted and used to hang anything from tools to sports equipment. It is constructed of zinc coated steel, flexible steel cables encased in rubber, and can hold...

Get a grip.
September 1, 2001... Bahco Tools has come up with the PX and PXR ergonomic hand pruners. Key benefits of these pruners are less fatigue and a more productive working life. There is a choice of cutting heads that allows the user to adapt pruner to the diameter of...

Hedge hacker.
September 1, 2001... Stihl's HL 73 is an extended-length hedge trimmer with an adjustable angle cutting head that maneuvers from 0 to 90 degrees. The HL 73 can also convert into a broom or power scythe with additional interchangeable attachments. The trimmer is...

No tearing here.
September 1, 2001... Vermeer Manufacturing Co. claims its SC50TX stump cutter doesn't tear up the ground as it goes. It has a 50-hp Caterpillar 3024 diesel engine that allows it to travel from 18 to 110 ft. per minute. Also, it can cut 17 in. deep and 70 in. wide....

Curtain call.
September 1, 2001... Rain Cane is a sprayer that sprays a high volume curtain of water for more gentle and accurate watering of flower beds, seedlings and flats. The company claims users will have less wrist soreness and frustration when using Rain Cane. Watering...

The reel deal.
September 1, 2001... The Hannay GHAT1200 reel, made by Hannay Reels is engineered for portable use in grounds maintenance and features a permanent direct crank rewind. It operates at pressures to 1000 psi and temperatures from -80[degrees]F to +185[degrees]F. ...

Time to excavate.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Caterpillar's 320C L utility hydraulic excavator is ideal for use in urban construction areas and other space-restricted sites. The 320C L has net power of 138 hp produced by a Cat 3066 turbocharged, six-cylinder diesel engine. It also has the...

Fabrics for flowers.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Dalen Products Inc. has introduced a new line of commercial landscape fabrics. The Pro-Shield line includes five materials that the company claims can handle any nursery or commercial application. Pro-Shield Woven 5 and Woven 4 are both...