Author: Emily Schappacher

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

For crews at Aspen Tree Expert Co. in Jackson, N.J., chainsaw training begins on day one. In fact, employees will have a solid four hours of training and education under their belts before they even put their hands on a chainsaw. “There are so many things to learn,” says Mark Chisholm, the company’s director of […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

At a time when Landscape Workshop was experiencing rapid growth, the company was operating on what Christianna Denelsbeck called a “frankensystem.” A large portion of the full-service commercial grounds maintenance firm’s back office was running on Microsoft Excel documents and Google Forms, and the company did not have a proper work-order system. “Every day I […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Contractors generate extra wintertime revenue through holiday lighting and décor services

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

After decades of providing landscape construction and irrigation services, leaders at DeVisser Landscape Services in Kalamazoo, Mich., became interested in adding lawn care to its offerings. But, with no prior lawn care experience, they didn’t know where to start. After attending a Weed Man roundtable at an industry expo, they realized franchising might be the […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Spring and early fall are busy times for aerators. Proper maintenance is important to ensure aerators are ready during these short windows of time. “For most lawn care operators (LCOs), aerators do not run every day — they sit stationary waiting for their season to start and quickly end,” says Brandon King, an engineer for […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Dan Delventhal, founder of MowGreen in Fairfield, Conn., has been using battery-powered landscape equipment since 2006 in an effort to lighten his environmental impact. Dan Mabe, former owner of The Greenstation in Los Angeles, used electric equipment because he says it’s much quieter than gas versions. David Mitchell, owner of Mitchell Landscaping in Amarillo, Texas, […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

To remain fresh and relevant to the changing industry, the Irrigation Association (IA) Certification Board has updated the exam content outline for the landscape Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) exam. The revised exam will launch during the 2018 Irrigation Show and Education Conference taking place Dec. 3-7 in Long Beach, Calif. “It’s important to perform exam […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

When Mike Haynes began mowing his neighbors’ lawns in middle school for extra spending money, he didn’t exactly have a passion for cutting grass. But fast-forward 20 years and Haynes will tell you that, today, passion is the main driver behind nearly every aspect of his landscape company. Even its name, Loving, was inspired by […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

David Helt says there is a clear difference between the “old” and “new” ways lawn care operators (LCOs) can manage their fertilizer applications. “The old way of fertilizer application is based on a premise that the customer correlates value with the number of visits—if they don’t see you out there, they think your service is […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Lawn care operators share five considerations for participating in early order programs. About five years ago, Brian Wiese began taking advantage of the early order program offered by his fertilizer supplier. Each December, Wiese, the turf division manager for SunCo in Omaha, Neb., preorders enough fertilizer for rounds one and two at a discounted rate […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Every industry has an array of gadgets that aim to save time and labor, and the irrigation industry is no exception. There are many tools and accessories contractors can add to their arsenals to get the job done quickly and keep their clients’ systems running efficiently. Irrigation contractors and industry experts share some of their […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Mike LaPorte says it’s an exciting time for pollinator-friendly plants. The co-owner of Owl Run Nursery in Catlett, Va., located about 35 miles outside of Washington, D.C., says customers come to him specifically for Owl Run’s selection of native plants that attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds. Plant propagators are also getting in […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Invasive pests are a threat to trees, shrubs, landscapes and crops in every region of the U.S. Left unchecked, they can devastate entire plant species, threatening food supplies and costing billions of dollars in damages. In addition, they’re a nuisance for homeowners trying to enjoy their lawns and landscapes. These invasive insects easily can be […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Over the course of two years, John Bianco worked patiently, yet persistently, with the property managers of a Mather, Calif.-based homeowners’ association (HOA) to upgrade 127 outdated irrigation controllers to smart models. The controllers he encountered on the property were anywhere from five to 20 years old, and none of them were in good working […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

For an irrigation system to run properly throughout the warm summer months, it’s important that it’s turned on and off correctly at the beginning and end of each season. No one knows this better than Tom Horn, president of All-n-One Outdoor Solutions in Jefferson City, Mo., and a trainer for Rain Bird. “The importance of […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

For many lawn care operators (LCOs), fungicide applications are an add-on service for their customers battling turf diseases. It’s important for LCOs to stay up to speed on new products, regulations and customer expectations to ensure they are using the right products as efficiently as possible. “The fungicide market is always changing—and for numerous reasons,” […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Behind the bright flowers and exotic plants that adorn some of Hawaii’s most elegant resorts, you’ll find Sidney Sparkman and his crews. Their simple green shirts don’t bear the company name, only the logo, a honu, which is Hawaiian for sea turtle. Their battery-powered equipment barely makes a sound, allowing guests to enjoy the grounds […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

They say money talks. And it seems lawn care technicians are listening. Companies are offering commission, bonus and incentive programs to increase production rates and motivate their lawn care crews to go the extra mile. “In today’s competitive workplace, it takes a whole lot more than just a flat hourly rate to attract someone to […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

The landscape industry faces its own water challenges, requiring unique solutions that are not always one-size-fits-all. In a recent Irrigation Association (IA) webinar titled “Landscape’s Water Challenges—Solutions from the Experts,” John Farner, IA government and public affairs director, and a panel of irrigation experts discussed some of the industry’s biggest current and future challenges. The […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Skid-steer loaders and compact track loaders (CTLs) always have been true workhorses in the field. As they continue to grow in popularity, equipment manufacturers are working to make these machines faster, more powerful and more efficient for landscape crews to operate. “For landscape contractors, it’s all about time and labor savings,” says Perry Girard, product […]

Emily SchappacherNov 3, 2023

Two years ago, Andre Zeppa tested chute blockers for his mowers and was blown away by the results. Each of his crews were saving five to 10 hours per week by not having to blow grass clippings out of beds and off driveways. Zeppa now has more than a dozen mowers equipped with GrassFlap chute […]