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Author: Marisa Palmieri

Marisa Palmieri

Marisa Palmieri

Marisa Palmieri is an experienced Green Industry editor who's won numerous awards for her coverage of the landscape and golf course markets from the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA), the Press Club of Cleveland and the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). In 2007, ASBPE named her a Young Leader. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, cum laude, from Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism.

Race to the top

A look at the data and trends behind the largest 150 companies in the landscape industry. Collectively, the largest landscape companies in North America grossed $8.5 billion in 2014—a 10 percent increase from the $7.7 billion in revenue they generated in 2013. These firms, members of the LM150 list, reported an average growth rate of […]

Productivity & Profits: Here and there

How three LM150 firms are becoming more profitable by being more productive. “Doing more with less” has been a mantra among successful landscape company operators since the Great Recession. To some, it may feel like a cliché by now, but it’s not to companies who’ve seen their 
bottom lines improve. At least three firms on […]

Monarch to acquire more this year

Monarch Landscape Holdings plans to come out of the gates quickly, making several more acquisitions by the end of 2015. Monarch is a new, private equity-backed firm formed by ValleyCrest Cos. veteran Brian Helgoe. His sights are set on consolidating landscape companies on the West Coast. Last month, Monarch made its first purchase when it […]

Yellowstone acquires Perimeter Landscape branches

Yellowstone Landscape Group expanded its footprint in Georgia with the acquisition of Perimeter Landscape Management’s Atlanta and Lake Oconee operations. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Perimeter, which has an annual revenue of about $4 million, retains its location in Augusta, Ga. The company was founded in 1995. In January, Yellowstone was acquired by […]

UTA stops sale of ArmorTech ALT 70 fungicide

On June 5, United Turf Alliance (UTA) issued a voluntary stop-sale notice for ArmorTech ALT 70. Customers may return the product for full credit. The product, manufactured by Tessenderlo Kerley, is a systemic fungicide with the active ingredient fosetyl aluminium. It’s labeled for use on golf courses, sod farms and commercial turf areas. An investigation […]

5 Questions with… EPA’s Ken Kopocis on new clean water regs

Late last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule. It was more than a year in the making, and there has been much talk among members of the landscape industry and its trade organizations about how certain provisions could affect landscape and lawn care operators. LM […]

LandCare’s Bogan reveals rebranding details, new trucks

It’s not a huge surprise that TruGreen LandCare dropped the first part of its name earlier this week, rebranding to LandCare. But some of the things CEO Mike Bogan shared with LM about the company’s rebranding process were unexpected. First, the trucks and trailers will be orange. The company refers to the new hue as “tangerine.” […]

LawnStarter raises $6M to expand network

On-demand lawn maintenance platform LawnStarter secured a Series A investment of $6 million led by San Francisco-based Binary Capital. This round brings LawnStarter’s total funding to $7.25 million and will help the company expand its geographical coverage and make key hires. The startup is based in Austin, Texas. This round of funding comes six months […]

TruGreen LandCare rebrands

TruGreen LandCare, based in Ijamsville, Md., rebranded, changing its name to LandCare. A new logo and colors also debuted along with the tagline, “Your Land. Our Care.” The brand was developed with input from branch teams. CEO Mike Bogan, a former Brickman executive who took the helm in 2014, met with several hundred team members […]

Graphic: LM Staff

Mulching vs. collecting

Despite evidence that leaving lawn clippings is good for turf, landscape companies sometimes face the mulch-or-bag question. Walk through the options here. If you do collect… There are many benefits to leaving clippings on the lawn. For example, mulching returns essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, back to the soil, says Mark Schmidt, principal scientist for […]

Mobile-ize

This month’s cover story touches on mobile phones and their role in the smart home movement. It’s an interesting read from Associate Editor Sarah Pfledderer. But that’s not what this column’s about. It’s about another piece of mobile-related information pertinent to your business. But first: Do you ever stop to marvel at all the things […]

Cat rolls out new products, facility

Caterpillar‘s Building Construction Products division, headquartered in Cary, N.C., launched a variety of new equipment and unveiled its 18-month-old facility in Athens, Ga., to the media April 7-9. The Athens plant is the new production site for mini hydraulic excavators from the 303.5 to the 308E2 and small track-type tractors. Cat received board approval to […]

Branding: The McKay way

Why this lighting company focuses on three key marketing segments. Jerry McKay loves marketing. The owner of McKay Landscape Lighting in Omaha, Neb., has a lot of ideas, but chasing too many of them doesn’t always get the best results. A few years ago McKay determined his best bet was to focus marketing and branding […]

Backstory: Adam Linnemann

Adam Linnemann President, Linnemann Lawn Care & Landscaping Columbia, Ill.   Education Columbia High School Columbia, Ill. Class of 1999 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, Ill. 1999–2001 “I specifically remember sitting inside the classroom thinking, “Man, I could be out there making money,” so I gave it up. Mom wasn’t very happy at the time, but […]

Seeking satisfaction

Do you know the story of the tourist and the fisherman? You may have heard it from a motivational speaker or read it in a chain email along the way. I don’t recall where I first heard the tale, attributed to German writer Heinrich Böll, but I often think of it in relation to the […]

Ready, set, control

Follow these steps for optimal weed control in landscape beds.   Control by the calendar Here are some guidelines for when you should pencil in your landscape bed herbicide applications. Winter • Install mulch. • Apply first preemergent application for summer annual weeds. Late spring/early summer • Apply second preemergent application for late germinating summer […]

Improve your cash flow: Get paid consistently

This post is part four of LM’s “5 ways to improve your cash flow” series. Read on to part four, “Understand basic accounting,” here. “Bill as you go” is the default invoicing method for many landscape companies. Problems with this tactic can stack up, especially for seasonal businesses that have little or no income during some […]

Improve your cash flow: Get credit before you need it

This post is part two of LM’s “5 ways to improve your cash flow” series. Read on to part three, “Recognize the power of recurring revenue,” here. Phil Catron started Frederick, Md.-based NaturaLawn of America, which today has $50 million in annual revenue and franchise locations in 24 states, just like many others in the landscape […]

To the point

Maybe it’s the reporter in me, but I always prefer plain language over complicated descriptions. In journalism school, they teach you to treat euphemisms like clichés—“avoid them like the plague” is the old joke. For example, someone doesn’t “pass away.” He or she dies. Workers aren’t “downsized.” They’re fired. The company doesn’t sell a “business […]

Bill Dysert, owner, Exscape Designs, Chesterland, Ohio. Photo: Laura Watilo Blake

Man with a plan

In seventh grade Bill Dysert wrote an essay about what he wanted to be when he grew up. His dream? It wasn’t to be a pro athlete, doctor or teacher, like a typical kid. He wanted to own an excavating company. After all, one of his first work experiences was helping out at his neighbor’s […]

Video: Jamieson discusses PLANET rebranding process

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) will rebrand as the National Association of Landscape Professionals next month. Here, President-Elect Scott Jamieson discusses the rebranding process, including how the association sought to maintain transparency and worked with a business-to-business branding agency.

Cali, New form coaching firm McFarlin Stanford

Jim Cali and Jason New, former executives at Dallas-based Southern Botanical, founded McFarlin Stanford, an executive coaching firm for companies both inside and outside the green industry. Areas of focus include leadership development, financial management, strategic planning and systems development. The firm’s principals said it’s a natural partnership because they share similar beliefs in terms […]

Video: PLANET leaders address rebranding

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) launched its new brand at its Great Escape conference at Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Watch as PLANET CEO Sabeena Hickman and PLANET President Jim McCutcheon address the new name and rebranding effort.

Logo: Professional Landcare Network

PLANET launches new brand

The National Association of Landscape Professionals is the new name of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). The association made the announcement at its Great Escape conference at Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. It will begin using the new brand in April. Along with a new name and logo, the association will undergo a complete rebranding […]

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