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Katrina takes out the Superdome

After getting mauled by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' Superdome, the last refuge for more than 20,000 residents, now needs to be evacuated because of the…

Energy picture not pretty

When I handed the pizza delivery guy a buck for a $10 pizza, he made an expression like I had tried to slip a week-old…

Lawnmower heaven

My lawnmower died on me.It was a slow and painful death for the old boy. Though reliable for many years, this summer he started to…

No more annoying ring tones!!

OK! Here's some real "news you can use." Researchers at MIT have come up with The Cellular Squirrel (left). This cuddly looking squirrel is actually…

In cities all around us …

I was on a plane recently (big surprise there) and in one of the in-flight magazines I came across an article profiling a Texas- and…

Cell phones and traffic don’t mix

I do a lot of driving and I also (like just about every other human on the planet) use a cell phone. Yep, I sometimes…

Crazy fuel prices

I keep wondering how high fuel prices will have to go before people really start to change their driving and fuel-use habits. Does gasoline and…

Sell smart, not slick

What's the secret to being a successful salesperson in the landscape industry? Six top producers share their best practices.

My Way: How to keep the best ones

I found out that listening to others and acting upon ideas and recommendations was, by far, the most important thing to do to keep employee morale up.

Let’s make an irrigation connection

There seems to be a disconnect between the contractor segment of the Green Industry and the irrigation industry as a whole. I came to this conclusion by comparing my experience at the recent International Irrigation Show to what I saw just a few weeks earlier at the Green Industry Expo.

A day in the life of a landscape professional

Early to rise, late to bed and busy the whole day through

Say no to ZTR mower mishaps

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Training needs to address the fact that many zero-turn operators are foreign born.

Avoid hazards

Here are ten ways to work more safely; and stories from three landscapers who have learned the hard way.

Make ‘mow’ money

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Mowing isn't rocket science - you fire up a mower and go. But making money at mowing might qualify. Why? Because you can't just eyeball a job site, quote a price and send your guys out scrambling every which direction to fulfill the contract. You have to have systems in place to make sure equipment is properly maintained, routes are in order and everyone is on the same page.

Clients’ 10 biggest lawn care gripes

As the IPM homeowner specialist for the University of Georgia, I talk to an inquisitive public each day. Many times, I'm called for second opinions and used as a sounding board for public skepticism that, too often, is directed towards the lawn service industry.

Buy, rent or lease?

Cash is king in professional landscaping and lawn service businesses, and cash flow is critical. The choices you make on equipment ultimately determine whether you can keep the cash coming in and going out of the company.

Owning a piece of mind

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Your product is your brand. Whether you offer specific products or perform services, what you sell is your brand.

Reduce callbacks

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Even if you've been a lawn care professional for a long time and have spent years streamlining procedures, it seems like you still have to frequently go out do the same work twice no matter what. Weeds, of course, can be stubborn.

Convert your clients

Converting your design/build projects into maintenance contracts is a tonic for your business. Maintenance contracts can help you build long-term relationships with your clients.

Gear up for graduation

Every spring, grounds managers on college campuses see it coming like a monster thunderstorm, its towering purple thunderheads causing feelings of both excitement and dread. The event - graduation weekend.

The look of a Green Industry leader

This truth is simply this: Your crew is a direct reflection on you. Your team is looking at you to see what a leader should look like.

Water Management: Lessons learned from the drought

What these lawn and landscape pros learned during the 2002 drought will help you this year

Business planning is strong medicine

If budget and business planning are so wonderful, why is it that so few small to mid-sized Green Industry companies use the techniques? Three contractors we talked to agreed that a big part of the problem is ignorance.

Win with water

The Morell Group is overcoming the challenges of Atlanta's water shortages by focusing on installing, maintaining and managing efficient irrigation systems using the latest technology. But the company's leaders acknowledge that better technology is just part of the answer. The Morrell Group's management team also takes an active role in shaping customer water use habits and helping mold water regulations.

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