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Author: LM Staff

Arborjet launches Arbor-OTC to enhance tree health

Arborjet released Arbor-OTC, an injectable, systemic antibiotic, to enhance the health of non-food bearing palms and trees. According to the company, this product delivers an antibiotic punch via trunk injection into the tree’s xylem, where it is taken up by the vascular system and distributed throughout the plant to suppress disease-causing bacteria. The injection stays […]

2014 Lawn Care Forum: LCOs offer employee tips

Landscape professionals at LM‘s 2014 Lawn Care Forum share advice for attracting and retaining good employees. You’ll hear from the following lawn care operators: • Bobby Jenkins, ABC Home & Commercial Services • Bob Mann, Lawn Dawg • Nate Wandrey, Dobson’s Woods & Water • Bruce Bachand, Carol King Landscape Maintenance • Dan Trudeau, Caretaker […]

Ep 116: The art, heart and science of business

When it comes to the design/build sales, Dan Pestretto, founder of Salespeople-On-Demand, adds a unique step to improve the process. Regardless of whether a sale was made or not, his sales team always has a debriefing. They will sit down and discuss why that particular sale succeeded or failed. This way, each sales person can […]

Case rolls out line of skid-steers, CTLs

Case Construction Equipment introduced a number of vehicles to its product lines, including the SR240, SV280, SR270 and SV300 skid-steers and TR340 and TV380 compact track loaders (CTLs). SR240 and SV280 skid-steers The SR240 and SV280 skid steers feature Case’s particulate matter catalyst solution. The skid steers, weighing in at 7,400 lbs., are rated at […]

Porous Pave recycles 6 million pounds of tires

Through December 2014, Porous Pave recycled a total of about 6 million pounds of rubber recycled from 200,000 tires. Porous Pave is a surfacing material made of of 50 percent recycled rubber, 50 percent stone aggregate and a moisture-cured urethane-binding agent. According to the company, Porous Pave retains stormwater runoff on site, decreases the volume and […]

Walpole releases new line of outdoor pavilions

Walpole Outdoors launched its new line of outdoor pavilions at the 2015 International Builders’ Show. The outdoor pavilions are designed to provide shade and protection from weather for outdoor kitchens and living spaces, says the company. The pavilions are made from Walpole’s cellular PVC material and come available in 17 sizes ranging from 8 ft. […]

Exmark intros new UTVs

Exmark Manufacturing expanded its 2015 product line with two side-by-side utility vehicles: the 500S and 700S. Both models include two- or four-wheel drive as well as a customizable two-in-one tilting cargo boxes that transforms from box to flatbed in minutes. The UTVs feature dual-range automatic transmission, single-cylinder engines with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), four-wheel hydraulic brakes, […]

Drafix releases PRO Landscape Version 21

Drafix Software released its PRO Landscape Version 21, which includes a number of new features and enhancements. According to the company, Version 21 includes an expanded image library, enhanced plant information, direct export from CAD to PDF, new color CAD options, and new step and deck commands. In addition, it features an enhanced edit menu, […]

New England Grows schedules earlier dates for annual conference

New England Grows, in response to exhibitor and attendee feedback, scheduled its next annual conference and green industry exposition for Dec. 2-4. According to the organization, its survey responses from last year’s conference and expo showed more than half its attendees requesting an earlier date for the show. “After 23 years of growth, we are […]

Ep. 115: Benchmarking: High profit

Kevin Kehoe of Aspire discusses what numbers in your financial reports matter most. He provides a wealth of business building and benchmarking ideas to help green industry professionals better understand their businesses as compared to the industry. One key takeaway or insight was for contractors that provide commercial landscape maintenance services. Net profits for a […]

Loftness debuts updated version of Kwik-Trim

Loftness Specialized Equipment released a new version of its Kwik-Trim compact mechanical tree trimmer. The trimmer is powered by a 47.6 hp diesel engine and includes an upgraded chassis and powertrain, said the company. Compared to the previous Kwik-Trim model, the new trimmer is approximately 800 lbs. heavier and is 7 in. wider 7 ft. […]

Pavestone introduces Panorama Combo Series

Pavestone introduced its Panorama Combo Series, which is a five-piece system used to create courtyards, sidewalks, pool decks, garden paths, promenades and plazas, according to the company. The paver line is available in three Panorama DemiCombo sizes and three Panorama SupraCombo sizes. In addition, the pavers are made from no-slump concrete mix and have an average […]

Toro launches side-by-side utility vehicles

The Toro Co. released its new line of side-by-side utility vehicles, which include the 500 EFI and 700 EFI. Four-stroke engines with electronic fuel injection (EFI) technology power these four-wheel drive vehicles, and they come equipped with Duramatic automatic transmissions and dynamic engine braking. In addition, they feature digital displays that provide access to operating […]

Preservation Tree owner retires, transfers ownership

Dallas-based Preservation Tree’s executive management team entered into an ownership transition agreement with its retiring owner and founder, Harold Spiegel, to acquire 100 percent of the company. “Preservation Tree has been a major focus of my life for the past two decades,“ Spiegel said. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to create such […]

TruGreen and The PGA of America form multiyear partnership

TruGreen and The PGA of America formed a multiyear partnership, with TruGreen becoming the official lawn care provider of The PGA of America and the PGA Championship. The companies made the announcement at the 62nd PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. “We are proud to welcome TruGreen to The PGA of America family,” said Pete […]

Ep.114: The next generation of smart controllers

Chris Spain, co-founder of HydroPoint, explains how this next generation of smart irrigation systems will make it possible for an irrigation contractor to respond to a high flow alert, remotely verify when the master valve is closed down and send a status report to the property manager. Irrigation controllers have advanced significantly with the emerging […]

PodRoof releases steel roof kit

PodRoof released its steel roof kit, which allows users to create sheltered storage or work areas. These ready-to-assemble kits are made of galvanized steel framing, Galvalume roof sheeting and zinc-plated hardware. The structures can easily be disassembled, moved and reassembled, according to the company. In addition, the kits are rated for 100 mph and 25 […]

2014 Lawn Care Forum: LCO outlook for 2015

At LM‘s 2014 Lawn Care Forum, industry professionals shared their opinions on the outlook of 2015 for the green industry. See why they anticipate a successful year.

Ecolawn rolls out compost spreader

Ecolawn introduced its ECO 150 Compost Spreader, a self-propelled, forward broadcast spreader. The spreader is 34 in. wide and weights 390 lbs. It features a wider conveyor belt, a Vanguard 6.5 Briggs & Stratton engine and re-designed controls. It also includes a polyurethane hopper designed to eliminated bridging, according to the company.

Big Picture: Timeless Elegance

LOCATION: Glencoe, Ill. COMPANY: Mariani Landscape, Lake Bluff, Ill. THE DETAILS: The homeowners of this lakefront residence discovered the house in a dilapidated state. Vines covered the windows, and the grounds were overgrown from years of neglect. Believed to have been built in the 1920s, the house was then uninhabitable. In 2013, Mariani Landscape earned […]

Download: Mowing SafetyWatch

Featured is a PDF version of the January 2015 SafetyWatch on mowing. See how many mowing safety hazards your employees can identify. Click here to identify the mowing hazards. Click here to see the list of mowing hazards.      

SafetyWatch: ID mowing safety hazards

This photo was staged to show several safety hazards or dangerous work habits. How many can you identify? Click here for a list of potential hazards. Ed. Note: Thanks to Schill Grounds Management in North Ridgeville, Ohio, for participating in our SafetyWatch photo shoots. Schill and LM do not endorse unsafe behaviors demonstrated during photo […]

SafetyWatch: List of mowing safety hazards

The list of hazards in this photo includes, but is not limited to: • Lack of hearing protection. • Lack of eye protection. • Mowing improperly on a slope (up and down vs. side to side), especially near water. What did we miss? We invite you—as employers and workers in the landscape industry—to share your […]

Download: Take great landscape lighting photos

Featured is a PDF version of the January 2015 Step by Step on “Taking great landscape lighting photos” for use in company training efforts. Click here to download.

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