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Author: Landscape Management

New book says immigration benefits the U.S. economy

A new bestseller by Harry S. Dent, Jr., “The Great Depression Ahead,” makes some interesting observations about immigration, and how it benefits the U.S. economy. In the book, published last year, he makes the point that, although immigration creates social costs, including the costs of health care and education (which critics are always quick to […]

Should "People’s Garden Project" be about veggies?

When U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack whipped out his trusty old jackhammer and started demolishing a slab of concrete in front of the USDA headquarters in honor of Lincoln’s Birthday recently, it’s not likely he envisioned the excitement, misunderstanding and coverage (on the blogosphere ini particular) that would follow. Apparently, the ceremony and obligatory […]

Great new bio-herbicide on the way?

Biological control of weeds in turfgrass is the equivalent of the holy grail in lawn care, the reason why a new bio-herbicide from Scotts may be the next big thing. Karen L. Bailey, with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, and Scotts Canada are in the registration process for a product based on the fungus phoma […]

PLANET Day of Service a great idea

If you’re the owner or manager of a landscape, lawn care or irrigation service company, mark April 22 on your calendar. That’s the day of the first-ever Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Day of Service. What better time to do something worthwhile for your local community than during these tough economic times. Think up some way […]

U.S. EPA — "No bad deed goes unrewarded"

American industry, including the Green Industry, is always hopeful that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency bases its policies and decisions on science and not politics. Longtime observers of the EPA (in spite of what every incoming agency administrator promises) remain skeptical. For good reason, says Henry I. Miller, a physician and fellow at Stanford University’s […]

Trade Shows — what’s the future hold?

You have to wonder about the continued health of trade shows. That’s not to suggest they’re going away soon, not the big ones anyway. These shows have strong educational and professional accreditation components planned around them. But in these uncertain economic times, and with consumers (including business people attending trade shows) scrutinizing the need for […]

Atlanta-area landscaper can pick’em up and put’em down

I’m familiar with Roswell, GA, and I know several people that live and work there in the landscape business, but I don’t know 37-year-old landscaper David Rindt. But, even if I did know him, I’m sure I couldn’t keep up with him. This guy can run. I read in the Huntsville, AL, Times where he […]

Staffing your landscape company? 5 things you must ask

Mel Kleiman runs the Texas-based consulting business Kleiman/HR Exchange. I heard Mel speak at a Bayer “Healthy Lawns, Healthy Business” seminar a couple of years back. I was impressed with Mel, an energetic and entertaining presenter, and with his suggestions for hiring new employees. He laid out a plan. Having a plan is better than […]

UK landscapers facing stiff challenges, too

If this is any comfort in this economic climate (and in the spirit of misery loves company), landscapers in UK are experiencing the same challenges as we are. A group of 15 landscapers met recently there, and Wyevale garden center trainer Neville Stein offered these 13 suggestions to keep them going: • Overhaul your website […]

Monmouth University serious about going ‘green’

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — College campuses are often venues for progressive ideas, and that’s certainly the case at Monmouth University as the school strives to enhance its environmental commitments through an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agreement, a memorandum of understanding signed Jan. 16 by university and EPA officials, outlines […]

7 tips for attracting more A-list clients

You know who your best clients are. They only complain when there’s a legitimate issue, they pay on time, they say good things about you to their associates. Your goal in these tough times is to find other customers just like them. Heed these seven simple tips and you’ll land more of the kind of […]

God look over the inauguration; we can fix the grass

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Most of us will be glued to our televisions midday Jan. 20, the third Tuesday this month, to watch Barack Obama take the oath of office as our nation’s 44th president here. The oath of office will be administered on the steps of the United States Capitol. At noon the president-elect becomes president. […]

Unemployment picture could dim H2B expansion hopes

Proponents of the H2B seasonal guest worker program keep pushing for a Congressional fix that would expand the 66,000 visas now allotted to the program, giving U.S. companies access to more foreign-born laborers. Whether Congress, faced with much bigger issues, will revisit the Save Small Business issue is unknown. But there’s always hope. (Click on […]

Dallas firm gets into true spirit of the Xmas

DALLAS — Moore Lawn & Garden and Moore Tree Care employees organized a food drive to help the less fortunate here this Christmas. “The economic downturn has affected many individuals and we wanted to assist those families in our area, ” said Brenda Scott, Garden Manager for Moore Lawn & Garden. Beginning December 8 employees […]

Dallas firm gets into true spirit of the Xmas

DALLAS — Moore Lawn & Garden and Moore Tree Care employees organized a food drive to help the less fortunate here this Christmas. “The economic downturn has affected many individuals and we wanted to assist those families in our area, ” said Brenda Scott, Garden Manager for Moore Lawn & Garden. Beginning December 8 employees […]

Ruppert Nurseries donates 5% of profits to charities

Ruppert Nurseries pledges to share at least 5% of the company’s budgeted profit, which is budgeted at $300,000 for 2008, with charitable causes in the community each year. A major recipient of donations this year was Easter Seals, but Ruppert has supported at least 50 nonprofit organizations with financial, in-kind or labor donations. The Easter […]

Where consumers cut back during a recession

Many companies can anticipate the performance of their sectors in a recession. McKinsey research shows that during the 1990 – ‘91 and 2001 – ‘02 downturns, for example, U.S. consumers reprioritized their spending rather than cutting it across the board. Consumer spending dropped in discretionary categories like dining out, personal care products and charitable donations. […]

Am I missing something on this phosphorus issue?

Having lived literally within sight of the Great Lakes almost all of my life, I’ve seen what pollution can do to a body of water, especially Lake Erie, which now supplies my drinking and washing water, and provides me, my family and friends with excellent recreational opportunities. A NASTY LAKE I saw the lake covered […]

How the Brits view the landscape biz in ’09

Source: Horticulture Week, which covers the Green Industry in Great Britain “It is hard to say exactly what the outlook is going to be for 2009 but if I’m honest I’d say there is going to be more of a slowdown. “It is still busy at the moment but without a doubt there has been […]

New Cowboys stadium will be incredible!

How bot dem Cowboys, eh? Apart from the New York Yankees, what other team is ready to plunk down a cool $1 billion for a new stadium, in this case $1.1 billion. For that price, the stadium better get lots of use, and it looks like it will. It’s already being touted as perhaps “the […]

Can Canada’s ag community stand by and watch?

OTTAWA, CANADA- Author and Ottawa Citizen columnist Dan Gardner was the guest speaker Wed., Dec. 3, at a national agricultural conference co-hosted by CropLife Canada and the Grain Growers of Canada. Gardner, author of Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear, will talk about why – at a time when the world population is the […]

Dallas plans first fully sustainable urban square block in U.S.

The City of Dallas will host a full-day “Design Charrette” Friday, Dec. 5, to examine the necessary framework and community impact of what will become the first fully sustainable, urban square block in the United States. The Charrette, attended by community design and urban planning experts from across the nation, will be held at City […]

Along comes a robotic mower that’s also a security guard

OK, here’s a question for you — which will come first: A robotic mower that can be used for daily commercial mowing? Or We land a man on Mars? We ask that because we’ve seen or read about more than a dozen units designed and built by university students over the years, mostly in competitions. […]

Big Canadian retailer to stop selling "cosmetic pesticides"

Rona Inc., a big Canadian retailer that sells home improvement and garden products, says it will quit selling cosmetic pesticides (pesticides used on home landscapes and lawns) by next July, reports CBC News. Taking these products off its shelves will cost it $20 million in annual sales, out of total revenues exceeding $6.3 billion (Canadian) […]

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