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Author: LM Staff

Photo: istock.com/alexeys

Cut nonproduction hours

About seven years ago, Chris Speen and the team at Twin Oaks Landscape in Ann Arbor, Mich., realized they needed to cut back on nonproduction hours—aka “a lot of guys standing around.” “We’re now at 12 crews, but as we got bigger—around four to six crews—it was hard,” says Speen, general manager of the $2.4 […]

Construction equipment: Which do you use and why?

Anthony DeFranco DeFranco Landscaping Hague, N.Y. “We’ve used Kubota equipment for over 20 years. We use the U35 mini excavator and M59 backhoe every day—from loading materials in our yard to getting into the tightest areas on our job sites. We couldn’t run our business without them.” Frank Nicastro Nicastro’s Landscaping Lincoln, Maine “The John […]

Illustrations: Fiverr.com/artist_team

Step by Step: Identify EAB damage

Infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) once were confined to the Upper Midwest U.S. Now they’re in Canada, as far east as New Hampshire and as far west as Colorado—and spreading further. Not to mention, one researcher has found evidence the invasive green beetle now is attacking the white fringetree, an ash relative. Here […]

December 2014: Editorial advisory board

In five words or less, describe the current state of the landscape and lawn care market. Landscape Professionals Richard Bare Arbor-Nomics Turf, Norcross, Ga. “Coming back with a vengeance!” Bill Bemus Bemus Landscape, San Clemente, Calif. “Time to raise prices.” Chris Joyce Joyce Landscaping, Cape Cod, Mass. “Extremely busy with exciting growth.” Adam Linnemann Linnemann […]

Ep. 108: Customizing your plant material

  Rob Swanekamp of KubePak discusses how you can customize your plant material by working closely with your grower. You may not realize it, but growers need to be at least six months ahead of the season. By planning ahead and working with your grower, you can have plant material grown to your specifications and […]

Industry Pulse: Year in review

A look at the 2014 headlines that could have a lasting impact on the green industry. TruGreen: On its own and preparing to grow ServiceMaster completed the separation of its TruGreen business on Jan. 14. The move was announced in November 2013, after the company reportedly lost 300,000 customers in two years. It was executed […]

Ep. 107: Is your social media social?

Shaun Kanary, director of marketing for Weed Pro, discusses the best social media channels for the green industry. He also explains how to grow your social channels and improve their effectiveness, as well as where social media fits into the consumer decision process. In addition, Kanary analyzes the 4E social media model and describes how […]

HydroPoint unveils Fall 2014 WeatherTRAK

HydroPoint Data Systems debuted its Fall 2014 WeatherTRAK Smart Irrigation system at the 2014 Irrigation Show & Education Conference. According to the company, the new model was designed to help property managers, water managers and site maintainers address larger sites, better manage irrigation assets, share documents and notes and streamline controller configurations and reporting. New features on the irrigation […]

Ep. 106: Payment processing tips

In this episode, Alan Brandfon, managing partner of Priority Payment Systems Atlantic, discusses the past, present and future of credit card processing, as well as where the fees are and how you can save money. In addition, he talks about your options in terminals, mobile readers and gateways. He also defines PCI compliance and describes […]

Underhill intros Novo 2Wire Converter

Underhill introduced its Novo 2Wire Converter, which has the ability to test and program field decoders and 8-station senders. The converter, available with built-in testing and programming features, is compatible with all major controllers, the company said. The converter also has a new diagnostic feature that avoids callbacks. According to Underhill, it can manage up […]

Notable software programs for green industry businesses

As part of the November 2014 cover story “Cracking the code,” LM compiled a list of notable software programs for green industry business, presented in the table below. The original version of this table, which ran in print, comprised 46 programs. This online version lists more programs, per reader input and additional reporting. Know of a software we missed? […]

Ep. 105: Turfgrass science then and now

Bruce Clarke, Ph.D., director of turfgrass pathology at Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School, discusses the Rutgers turfgrass program, from its early history to its present day format. He talks about how the turfgrass industry has evolved over the years as well as where he sees future growth opportunities. He also discusses the difficult challenges that […]

Video: Dan Gordon on financial management

Dan Gordon of Turf Books talked to LM after his Power Talk during the Professional Landcare Network‘s (PLANET’s) Green Industry Conference 2014 in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 22-24. Watch to see what he has to say about the best and worst ways to manage your finances.

Grasshopper donates mower to combat-wounded veteran

Moundridge, Kan.-based Grasshopper donated a commercial-grade zero-turn mower to a combat-wounded veteran for the second year in a row. Grasshopper awarded the new mower to 2014 recipient Steve Ellsberry, a retired combat-wounded Army staff sergeant from Jacksonville, Fla., in partnership with Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF), a 501(c)(3) organization providing support for combat-wounded heroes, and […]

Download: How to secure a mower on a trailer (PDF)

Featured is a PDF version of the November 2014 Step by Step on “How to secure a mower on a trailer” for use in company training efforts. Click here to download.

Big Picture: Terrific Terrace

LOCATION: The hills of Marin County, Calif. COMPANY: Gardeners’ Guild, Richmond, Calif. THE DETAILS: A piece of a multilevel Craftsman style residence built into the hillside, below street level, this project received a 2013 National Landscape Awards of Excellence Grand Award from the Professional Landcare Network. It was involved in a renovation project on the […]

Efficiency Tip: Lunch-time

At Inside Out Design, a design/build and maintenance firm based in Frankfort, Ky., efficiency has improved since the company implemented a bring-your-lunch-to-work policy. Co-owner Andrea Wilson Mueller estimates it saves nearly a man-hour per day, in addition to other benefits. For the company’s first few years, workers routinely left job sites to take their breaks […]

Mowers: Which do you use and why?

Adam Delagrange Founder, Delagrange Landscaping Centerburg, Ohio “Hustler. From a price point of buying these machines new, the Hustler brand tends to be cheaper than comparable models but they don’t lack the quality. Currently, we’re running two Hustler X-ONEs with 26-hp Kawasaki engines and 60-in. decks, and I also have a Hustler TrimStar walk-behind with […]

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Step by Step: How to secure a mower on a trailer

Hauling an unsecured load may have serious consequences. Do you want to risk a traffic citation (which could affect insurance premiums)? Could your company survive the litigation of a potentially fatal accident? Trucks, trailers and loads that weigh 10,000 pounds or more are considered commercial motor vehicles under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and […]

Ep. 104: The future of the green industry

Tony Lobello, design director at Mariani Landscape, discusses some of the educational aspects of the green industry. For example, Lobello explains what types of job opportunities there are or will be in the future and what high school and college students should be looking for if they want a career in the green industry. He […]

Video: Jeff Synder on irrigation trends

Jeff Snyder, director of agronomics for Mainscape, talks to LM after his Power Talk during the Professional Landcare Network‘s (PLANET’s) Green Industry Conference 2014 in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 22-24. Watch to learn some of the best techniques for evenly watering a landscape.

Bayer acquires DuPont assets

Bayer CropScience purchased certain crop protection and land management assets from DuPont in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2014, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. This acquisition allows Bayer’s Environmental Science business unit to expand its […]

Video: Domenic Chiarella on the ‘pyramid of success’

Domenic Chiarella, of 7 of 7 Best Business and Life Strategies, talks to LM after his Power Talk during the Professional Landcare Network’s Green Industry Conference in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 22-24. Find out how to build your company based on Chiarella’s “pyramid of success.”

Million Trees NYC to use mobile data-collection system

Nektar Data Systems, a mobile data software solutions provider based in Edmonton, Alberta, secured a contract with New York City to assist the parks department to monitor and report on trees planted as part of the city’s Million Trees NYC environmental initiative. The New York City parks department required a cloud-based mobile data collection system […]

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