Landscape Management articles from September 2003

Landscape Management archives from September 2003

Next month: what's coming up in October.
September 1, 2003... * Cover story: Train for success Practical strategies that produce employees that make a difference in a company's bottom line * Strategic planning Tips for landscape cos. that want a surefire long-term growth plan * Tips for...

No whining from this corner.(on the record)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2003... Things could be better, you say? They could be a whole lot worse. Just look around. Compared to many other businesses in the United States, I'd say the professional landscape/turf care industry is weathering these uncertain economic times...

GE taught us how to meet: meetings are a time to resolve problems and make decisions. The actions decided on from these meetings move the company forward.(business ideas)
September 1, 2003... Meetings cost money. A lot of money. When you calculate the cost of the people in the meeting and time away from the work at hand, meetings are expensive. So why do companies have so many meetings? Have you ever heard any of these comments? ...

Bruce Moore: [c] Eastern Land Management, Inc.(inside the owner's head)(Interview)
September 1, 2003... Bruce Moore owns Eastern Land Management, Inc., a $2 million full-service landscape company located in Stamford, CT. He is a member of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America and JP Horizons' Owners' Network. You've been in the...

Industry's hot trend: site tours.(In the know: trends and news, Ed Castro Landscapes hosts landscaping industry convention)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ROSWELL, GA -- Opening your facility, including your operations, to a group of other landscape business owners and managers takes a lot of preparation--not to mention courage. But it's one of the most popular ideas to hit the industry in years,...

FMI Services acquires Good Earth, Inc.(In the know: trends and news)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... CHARLESTON, SC -- With more capital and access to national accounts, management at The Good Earth, Inc. says that being acquired by FMI Services Group, Inc., Frederick, MD, is a good thing. David Schwartz, branch manager of the landscape...

How about this view?(In the know: trends and news)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... CALABASAS, CA -- How would you like a new three-acre corporate campus with a 360-degree view overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains and San Fernando Valley? Better get to work building a $620 million landscape company. After 24 years in...

Reorganization at Jensen Corp.(In the know: trends and news, Jensen Corporation Landscape Contractors becomes: Jensen Construction and Jensen Landscape Services. )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... CUPERTINO, CA -- On Aug. 1, Jensen Corporation Landscape Contractors became two separate wholly owned divisions: Jensen Construction and Jensen Landscape Services. "We want to better service our customers. We believe we can accomplish this...

Dow AgroSciences LLC.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Dow AgroSciences LLC appointed Beth Whitehouse sales specialist for turf and ornamental accounts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and the western half of Indiana.

Syngenta Professional Products.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Syngenta Professional Products strengthens its turf and ornamentals (T&O) sales force with the addition of Tom Halvorson, Midwest district sales manager; Howard Jaekle, Northeast district sales manager; and Pablo Perez, sales specialist in...

The Toro Company's National Support Network (NSN).(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Jay Bentivegna joined The Toro Company's National Support Network (NSN) as field trainer.

Ferris Industries.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Ferris Industries appointed Bill Baltzer southeast regional manager, Bob McLaughlin northeast regional manager, and Paul Levett western regional manager. The company also named Steve Demick Salesperson of the Year.

Excel Garden.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Excel Garden appointed Michael Schupp manager of its newly created Professional Turfgrass Group.

Wayne Water Systems.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Wayne Water Systems named Terry Atwater president of the company

Tanaka.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Tanaka promoted Douglas Hellbuyck to national sales manager.

Grunder Landscaping Co.(People & companies)(Better Business Bureau award)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Grunder Landscaping Co. received an Eclipse Integrity Award in the annual awards program presented by the Better Business Bureau at the Dayton Convention Center.

BASF Corp.(People & companies)(McGee Poole joins Professional Turf & Ornamental Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... BASF Corp. added McGee Poole as a sales specialist in its Professional Turf & Ornamental Group. Poole will work in Kentucky and Indiana.

PBI/Gordon Corporation.(People & companies)(Mark Miller promoted)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... PBI/Gordon Corporation promoted Mark Miller to vice president of sales, Professional and Agricultural Products Group. Miller has been with PBI/Gordon for 14 years.

Bayer Environmental Science.(People & companies)(Dave Ravel )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Bayer Environmental Science has hired Dave Ravel as a lawn care specialist covering the Southeast from Atlanta through Maryland.

RedMax.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... RedMax promoted Phill McCallon to field sales manager for Distributing.

The American Nursery & Landscape Association.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The American Nursery & Landscape Association named Peter Orum (above, left) vice president, Dwight Hughes, Jr. (above, center) Region III director, and Dale Bachman (above, right) president. The Association also awarded Alfred Hicks its Hall of...

Wright Manufacturing.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Wright Manufacturing has honored the E. J. Smith Group, Inc. with its 2003 Distributor Achievement Award.

The Toro Company.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Toro Company appointed Terry Ormrod residential & commercial irrigation sales manager in Western Canada.

Kubota Manufacturing of America.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Kubota Manufacturing of America was named "Georgia Manufacturer of the Year" in the large size company category.

Employees own Gardeners' Guild.(In the know: trends and news)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... SAN RAFAEL, CA -- Gardeners' Guild, Inc., became employee owned in mid-summer. Linda Novy began transitioning the ownership and leadership of the company to its employees in 1988. She says that she'll remain active with the company and serve on...

ASIC honors the Sarsfields.(In the know: trends and news, American Society of Irrigation Consultants )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ASHVILLE, NC -- The American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC) honored Chet and the late Wanda Sarsfield with its Sam Tobey Lifetime Achievement Award. The couple launched Irrigation Technical Services, and the two produced and published...

Deere 3rd quarter up 68%.(In the know: trends and news)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... MOLINE, IL -- Deere & Company recently reported worldwide net income of $247.5 million for the third quarter, a 68% increase over last year. For the first nine months, net income was $572.4 million compared with $251.2 last year.

Statistics: industry trends by the numbers.(landscaping industry)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2003... statistics INDUSTRY TRENDS BY THE NUMBERS SI'S BEST MLB PLAYING FIELDS Dodger Stadium 23.2% Edison Field (Angels) 11.2% Safeco Field (Mariners) 9.5% Oriole Park at Camden Yards ...

Times of opportunity, uncertainty: readers remain optimistic despite yo-yo economy and erratic weather.(2003 State of the Industry)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2003... Then the rains came... That's the biggest difference between this season and 2002 for many of our readers, particularly for those working east of the Mississippi. Not just rain--snow, too. Winter grabbed the Midwest and Northeast by...

Suppliers see growth continuing: Green Industry struts from behind agriculture's shadow.(2003 State of the Industry)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2003... Professional landscaping, lawn service and grounds maintenance are pieces of a much larger Green Industry that has, within only the past generation or two, emerged as a dynamic and definable part of the U.S. economy. Nowhere is this more...

Look out below: falling budgets: grounds pros say they like what they do and can adapt to smaller staffs--at least for now.(2003 State of the Industry)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2003... It's nice to know that grounds managers can still keep the smiles on their faces through tough times. Despite the fact that many of you have been subjected to deep budget cuts over the last couple of years, the majority of you who...

From laborers to leaders: the tale of three Hispanic workers who reaped the rewards of hard work and a willingness to accept responsibility.(Your Business)
September 1, 2003... Jesus "Chuy" Medrano is in his truck, heading toward one of his crews still toiling away at a job site as dusk approaches. The setting Colorado sun is a deep red, red as the blood some of his workers shed from minor cuts they're too busy to pay...

Greening the Alamo: in-house irrigation installation key to major grounds improvements.(Ground Success)
September 1, 2003... Sometimes you roll up your sleeves and tackle the tough job yourself. Maybe you want to make sure it's done right, or maybe you like to challenge yourself. Or, maybe you're trying to stretch your budget. Mark Nauschutz says that when he...

Clients' 10 biggest lawn care gripes: ... and a sure fire plan to calm client concerns about turf diseases, and keep them on your professional program.(Your Business)
September 1, 2003... As the IPM homeowner specialist for the University of Georgia, I talk to an inquisitive public each day. Many times, I'm called for second opinions and used as a sounding board for public skepticism that, too often, is directed towards the lawn...

Amazing control: irrigating multiple landscaped properties with a single central control system saves water and labor.(Technology that works)
September 1, 2003... When the Moreno Valley School District in California decided to grab control of its irrigation, it turned to centralized control. With 34 school sites scattered over 510 acres, it was time to bring order to a process. The district's...

Supplies adequate; prices stable.(Turfgrass Management)
September 1, 2003... Expect stable prices and adequate availability for most turfgrass species and varieties. The biggest change from last year is the rising price of perennial ryegrass seed. Jacklin Seed Manager Glenn C. Jacklin says that proprietary Kentucky...

Get the power in hand.(LM Reports)
September 1, 2003... Every landscape professional knows the importance of balancing the books. Victor Garlanger, owner of Garlanger Lawn Maintenance, Orlando, FL, knows the importance of balanced equipment, too. Like most operations, he has a set of blowers, edgers...

Baffles the mind.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... Toro's Z Master Z500 series zero-turn rider features the new Turbo Force 52-, 60- and 72-in. decks with a fine-tune adjustable baffle. Designed for speed and convenience, the baffle is easily moved within seconds without tools. In long, dense...

Hydro helper.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... At 35-in. wide, Ferris Industries' new HydroCut walk-behind can get in and out of places other commercial walk-behinds can't. Available in 32- or 36-in. cutting widths, features such as Integrated Comfort Controls and Quick-Adjust height-of-cut...

Save water.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... Water2Save's on-line service reduces irrigation water usage up to 50% through the use of a wireless electronic module that's easily added onto any existing irrigation system. The wireless subscription service adjusts daily irrigation schedules...

Utilize this.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... E-Z-GO Textron's new MPT (multi-purpose truck) turf utility trucks are designed for use for grounds maintenance applications. Models include the MPT 1200 (gasoline, 1,200-lb. capacity), MPT 1000 (48v electric, 1,000-lb. capacity), MPT 800G...

Dispense like a pro.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... Strong Enterprise's Green Machine Pro fertilizer dispenser for use with either a conventional sprinkler or drip irrigation system is available in capacities of either 1, 5, 10, 30 or 55 gallons. They sit atop a pedestal base and are designed...

Fix anything.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... Christy's is proud to introduce its new and improved "Slick-Wrap" that includes an epoxy putty stick for all types of difficult repairs to plastic, metal, copper and poly pipe. It's a specially formulated water-activated fiberglass tape--just...

Power boost.(Products: tech center)
September 1, 2003... Echo's PB-650 Power Blower offers reliable, commercial-grade power with a comfortable, easy-to-operate design. Featuring heavy-duty performance and operator-friendly features, the blower provides superior operator control that translates into...

Events: what, when & where.(Calendar)
September 1, 2003... September 18-19 Southwest Horticultural Trade Show & Conference / Phoenix, AZ; 480/966-1610; www.amwua. org 21-24 ANLA Legislative Conference / Washington DC; 202/789-2900; www.anla.org 23-24 Virginia Turf Council Field Day /...

Explain desired performances.(Best practices: guidelines to help an industry grow)(job descriptions)
September 1, 2003... Most companies today have job descriptions for most of their key positions. But whether or not they're effective in driving behavior is a whole different story. Job descriptions don't cause employees to succeed or fail. Designed properly,...