ALCA Influence May June 2013 by Association Outsource Services, Inc.

The

ALCA

A R I Z O N A L A N D S C A P E C O N T R AC TO R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

May/June 2013

Proper and Sustainable Tree Pruning Practices

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

May/June 2013

The

ALCA

ARIZONA LANDSCAPE C O N T R A C T O R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

President’s Message............................................................. 4 CEO Message - ALCA Field Day............................................ 6 ALCA Calendar................................................................... 8 ALCA Sponsors.................................................................... 8 New Members..................................................................... 8 ACLP Workshops................................................................. 9 ALCA Excellence Awards.................................................... 10 ALCA Profile: John Deere Landscapes................................... 12 ALCA Profile: Vista............................................................. 13 ALCA Profile: DLC.............................................................. 14 Sustainble and Proper Pruning Practices................................ 15 Protect workers from electrical shock: Implement, follow safety practices........................................ 18 Member Updates............................................................... 19 Open Houses.................................................................... 20 ALCA Mixer...................................................................... 21 Resource Guide................................................................. 22

2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President

Matthew Johnson

PUBLICATION Advertising

President Elect

Association Outsource Services, Inc. (916) 990-9999 www.aosinc.biz

Asset Landscaping

Design

All Year Round Trees

Tony Acosta

Vice President

Lori Mattas

ILM

Printing

Robert Clinkenbeard

Secretary Kim Kleski

AZTEC Engineering

Treasurer

Steve Shields

Hill & Usher Insurance & Surety

Chief Executive Officer Judy Gausman

judy@AZLCA.com

You worK in all conditions... So does it.

Diversified Print Solutions

Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association 5425 E Bell Road, Suite 105 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Phone: 602-626-7091 Fax: 602-626-7590 www.AZLCA.com

The ALCA Influence is the official publication of the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association. ALCA and The ALCA Influence assume no responsibility for the statements or opinions appearing in articles under an author’s name. The services of an attorney or accountant should be sought in legal and tax matters. For editorial information, contact the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association, 5425 E. Bell Road, Suite 105, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254; telephone, (602) 626-7091; facsimile, (602) 626-7590; e-mail, judy@AZLCA.com.

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May/June 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SLM Certification Gains Momentum

A Matthew Johnson 2013 ALCA President

few years ago when several members got together in various venues to review a draft of some maintenance standards, I am not sure what anyone had in mind for the future of these standards. I know I had hoped this would add some credence to what many of us have been advising our customers for years regarding professional landscape management. I do know that we were happy to have a book to support proper horticultural practices specifically for the desert southwest. Looking back only a little over a year we have been certifying contractors in Sustainable Landscape Management. Today we have had stories published in national magazines, partnered with many highly respected trade organizations in the green industry and now Sustainable Landscape Management for Community Managers is a course being taught at the Arizona Association of Community Managers in their CAAM program. While the CAAM certification covers many areas of Community Management, we are excited to have a program written and supported by ALCA being taught to managers who have contact with a significant amount of home owners throughout the state. Additionally, this program asks for Managers to use ALCA member contractors for their work. There is no more important time to have your

SLM certification than now with all of the momentum this program has behind it. To date, 455 contractors have earned their SLM certification and over 2,000 SLM books have been sold. This equals a significant number of people that are learning about SLM. The focus of SLM is to change the public perception about pruning styles and how beneficial SLM methods will benefit everyone in the short and long term. Educating the public is just one avenue that is working. Another is for people to begin to see the difference in pruning methods. Not so long ago, most landscape areas had shrubs that were formally manicured and trees were topped or pruned back enough to be unrecognizable. Just driving around town these days you can see a difference. The results are clearly manifested throughout the valley. With water conservation, air quality, dust control, and many other factors being the municipal hot buttons, SLM is the solution to address all of these key issues in a way that is simple to put in place. If you haven’t already done so, pick up the Sustainable Landscape Management book, take the SLM Certification class, and start spreading the word about sustainable maintenance practices that work in today’s world.

Matthew Johnson, ALCA President

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CEOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MESSAGE

ALCA Field Day

Judy Gausman ALCA CEO

Another successful Field Day goes down in ALCA history with nearly 300 green industry family members participating and enjoying a barbeque lunch and competitive events. They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Please check out all of the fun photos from Field Day, 2013!

This event was made possible by our Field Day Sponsors. Please support the companies that support you! All Season Wholesale Growers Arizona Machinery Co Auto Safety House Belgard Bingham Cutting Edge Curbing DIRT DLC Resources Empire Southwest Evergreen Turf Ewing Hill & Usher Insurance Horizon Hunter/FX Luminaire Irritrol/Toro Co./Unique Lighting John Deere Landscapes Rain Bird Rodeo Ford San Tan Landscape Management Southwest Sod Sunrise Tree Farm Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting West Coast Turf Wilbur Ellis

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

T May/June 2013

ALCA Presents

a series of 3 Low Voltage Ligh�ng workshops covering Troubleshoo�ng, Design and Installa�on June 18 8:30—11:00 AM

July 10 8:30—Noon

LVL TroubleshooƟng

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Voltage drop Ohms Law Wiring method Connec�ons

August 7 8:30—Noon

LVL Design

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Fundamentals of Design Design Concept Focal Points Demo’s Levels of light Selling on Design LED

LVL InstallaƟon

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Ohms Law Wiring methods Systems Eﬃciencies Connec�ons Voltage Drop

WHERE: ALCA oﬃce—5425 E Bell Rd, #105, Sco�sdale 85254 COST: $60/workshop; $150 to a�end all three. Class size is limited to 27. INSTRUCTOR: Brian Qualls, RLA, LEED AP, District Sales Manager for Unique Ligh�ng Systems

REGISTER: www.AZLCA.com/calendar or call 602‐626‐7091. NO REFUNDS will be given a week prior to each workshop; you may subs�tute a�endees. Martin Munoz 13 years

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THE ALCA INFLUENCE

MEMBER UPDATES

New Members

2013 Calendar

of Events

All Year Round, LLC

May 10 ALCA Annual Golf Tournament 14 DIRT University 15 Phoenix Member Mixer 18 & 22 ACLP Tree & Shrub Pruning Workshop, ALCA Office 21 ALCA Board of Director’s Meeting 23 ACLP Tree & Shrub Pruning Workshop, Prescott 25 ACLP Tree & Shrub Pruning Workshop, Tucson 27 Memorial Day, ALCA Office CLOSED 28 Excellence in Landscape Awards Application Deadline

Larry Brown P O Box 31727 Phoenix, AZ 85046 Phone: 602-647-4747 Email: larry@allyearroundtrees.com Profile: All Year Round provides expert tree and landscape management services throughout the Metropolitan Phoenix area.

Enterprise Fleet Management

Kyle LeBaron 1440 W Drivers Way Tempe, AZ 85284 Phone: 480-783-8128 Fax: 480-947-7400 Email: kyle.b.lebaron@efleets.com Profile: Enterprise works with businesses that own and operate vehicles to reduce their total costs of ownership.

GNL Landscaping LLC

June 5 SLM Workshop, ALCA Office 15 & 19 ACLP Safety & Tools Workshop, ALCA Office 18 Low Voltage Lighting Workshop, ALCA Office 19 Phoenix Member Mixer 20 ACLP Safety & Tools Workshop, Prescott 22 ACLP Safety & Tools Workshop, Tucson 27 ACLP Exam Retakes, ALCA Office

July 4

Independence Day, ALCA Office CLOSED 10 Low Voltage Lighting Workshop, ALCA Office 13 & 17 ACLP Pesticides & Calibration Workshop, ALCA Office 17 Phoenix Member Mixer 18 ACLP Pesticides & Calibration Workshop, Prescott 20 ACLP Pesticides & Calibration Workshop, Tucson

Gary Stewart 2518 E Saratoga St Gilbert, AZ 85296 Phone/Fax: 480-671-7680 Email: gstewart@gnllandscaping.net Profile: We provide landscape maintenance to various commercial properties throughout the valley.

Landscaping Contractors CRG, LLC Matt Giordano 7201 W John Cabot Rd Glendale, AZ 85308 Phone: 602-548-1088 Email: info@ landscapingcontractorsaz.com Profile: Landscape, irrigation, tree service

Legacy Green Solutions

Carl Gille 528 W 3rd Ave Mesa, AZ 85210 Phone: 480-827-7878 Fax: 480-827-7902 Email: carldgille@gmail.com Profile: We are a turnkey artificial grass and putting green company. Family owned and operated.

Monroy Construction Inc

Sunburst Landscaping, Inc.

Bryan Monroy PO Box 1141 Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 Phone: 602-850-5114 Fax: 623-748-0481 Email: bmonroy@ monroyconstruction.com Profile: Concrete slabs, patios, sidewalks, driveways, demolition, footings, foundations masonry and pavers

Noelle Boothby 8757 N 78th Ave Peoria, AZ 85345 Phone: 623-412-2200 Fax: 623-412-0053 Email: Noelle@ sunburstlandscaping.com Profile: Sunburst Landscaping has been serving Arizona since 1976 in Commercial Landscape Construction, Residential Landscape Construction, and we are the exclusive dealer and installer for Easyturf Synthetic Lawns and Putting Greens. We are family owned and operated and value our committed to service, integrity, and value that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

New Leaf Landscaping

Thad Purslow 17832 N 42nd St Phoenix, AZ 85032 Phone: 480-227-6837 Email: rtpurslow@yahoo.com

Santa Maria Tree Farm

Ed Fornes PO Box 459 Laveen, AZ 85339 Phone: 602-403-4394 Email: ed@mknhay.com Profile: We raise Mexican Fan Palm Trees (Washingtonia Robusta) for sale to nurseries and landscapers. Currently have stock of 30,000 trees.

Silver Lands, Inc

Steven Olmos 2901 South Highland Drive, Suite 15A Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: 702-459-3192 Fax: 702-459-4372 Email: steveno@silverlandsinc.com Profile: Silver Lands Inc. is a family owned and operated business that has been servicing the greater Las Vegas and Phoenix area. We strive for excellence in all that we do from the smallest residential maintenance account to our largest 500 unit commercial account. Every job is taken with great pride, attention to detail, and above all else meeting our customer’s needs.

Sven Gunn Designs

Sven Gunn 4300 E Placita Baja Tucson, AZ 85718 Phone: 520-577-1515 Email: slagunn@comcast.net

Terra Environmental Services, LLC

Randal Wren 11760 N Mandarin Ln Oro Valley, AZ 85737 Phone: 520-861-4792 Email: liv1des@netscape.net Profile: Landscape, Irrigation, and Water Harvesting Design & Installation

Trademark Companies Inc

Lorenzo De La Garza 1915 East Clair Drive Phoenix, AZ 85022 Phone: 623-869-7110 Fax: 623-780-0595 Email: srdelag@aol.com Profile: We are a design build and maintenance company.

Special Thank You

to our ALCA

Sponsored by:

Caretaker Landscape & Tree Management; Photograph provided by Michelle Izquierdo Commercial Maintenance Pleasant Valley Judges Award

Asset Landscaping Commercial Maintenance Arizona Traditions Association Award of Distinction

Caretaker Landscape & Tree Management; Photograph provided by Scott Cosgrove Commercial Maintenance Vistancia Judges Award

Landmark Land Management Commercial Maintenance Augusta Ranch Judges Award

DLC Resources, Inc. Commercial Maintenance Desert Mountain Master Association Judges Award

ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance Commercial Maintenance Anthem Community Council, Inc. Award of Distinction CareScape, Inc. Commercial Maintenance Lyonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gate Community Association Award of Excellence May/June 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

John Deere Landscapes John Deere Landscapes is growing!!! Have you been in to check out the new John Deere Landscapes location in the Scottsdale Airpark? “We have a great location that is easy to get to” says Scott Hayes, branch manager. “I’ve been looking forward to keeping up the “old school” customer service that this industry is known for. I’m excited to be doing that with John Deere Landscapes!” continued Hayes. The branch in Scottsdale has been open since the middle of February and is really taking off. With so many services to offer customers, how can a Contractor afford not to work with John Deere Landscapes? Have you checked out John Deere Landscapes? We offer: PX3 Maintenance Package: Provides a comprehensive professional maintenance portfolio complete with quoted maintenance material list, using online imaging to provide an accurate MTO and customize products to the market and the contractor. Project Services: Provides an online tool for Contractors to Source Leads, receive estimating portfolios including takeoffs for commercial projects, quote projects and receive a fully quoted price

Business Solutions: John Deere Landscapes uses their purchasing power to secure discounted pricing with some of the largest companies. We all use and shares those discounts with their Partners in the Industry. By being a Partner with John Deere Landscapes you too can receive: • up to 25% off of Verizon Wireless • up to 23% with Sprint • up to 65% at Office Max • up to 15% on Paychex • 25-30% with ADP • Health Insurance you and your employees need with NAWP Health Care Benefits • Fuelman rebates up to 4.5 cents per gallon Agronomic Solutions: John Deere Landscapes has a wide selection of professional products to help you accomplish any fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, fungicide application needs. Now with 5 locations in the Valley, John Deere Landscapes is here to serve you with the best customer service, product knowledge, and product availability you require as a busy Contractor. 60

202

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

T May/June 2013

Warner Rd

Santan Fwy

Power Rd

Recker Rd

Higley Rd

Elliot Rd

ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Vista In business and expanding its operations for 27 years; Vista designs, manufactures, and supplies a wide range of distinctive lighting fixtures, transformers, HID ballasts and accessories for the lighting professional. Vista manufactures products for both the low voltage and line voltage lighting markets and is the leading manufacturer of LED landscape lighting products. Vista products are manufactured in-house at the company’s headquarters in Simi Valley, California in a vertically-integrated manufacturing process that custom-builds and ships all products within 24-hours of receiving an order. Over 2,000 distributor locations worldwide stock Vista products and provide local product support. Vista works hard to ensure the success of all of its customers. No other architectural and landscape lighting manufacturer does more to educate and support professional installers. In the last decade, Vista has educated thousands of professional contractors on designing and installing reliable lighting systems for residential and commercial properties. By providing a wide range of educational programs, technical support, in-the-field site visits, specification assistance and contractor business development, Vista stands out as a leader in total customer support. Since the beginning, Vista has prided itself on being one of the most vertically integrated manufacturers of architectural and landscape lighting products, carefully controlling each step of the manufacturing process at its facilities. This approach has proven to be a significant advantage in both quality and response time. Because Vista performs all of

OPERATIONS

the steps needed to convert raw materials into complete finished products in less than 24 hours, the company can quickly respond to custom orders for over 350 different product styles and 15 different standard-finishes. As the industry leader in LED outdoor lighting products for the past five years, Vista now offers nearly 200 fixtures in this energy-saving technology. Compared to their halogen counterparts, Vista LED fixtures consume 75% less energy. For 2013, Vista is proud to introduce their revolutionary thermal composite MR-16 drop-in lamps which will enable you to upgrade any existing landscape lighting installation to the energy-saving benefits of LED without sacrificing performance, longevity or quality of light. These lamps are available in 4.5W(20W halogen equivalent) and 5.5W(35W halogen equivalent) options in 25, 36, and 60-degree beam spreads. Vista’s LED products are independently tested to ensure honest performance reviews and all IES and LM-79 files are available at their website: www.vistapro.com Vista offers a variety of FREE training seminars that cover such topics as: basic installation, troubleshooting, design, sales & marketing, LED technology, and bidding & estimating. These classes are a great opportunity to expand your business and also offer valuable knowledge for those that currently install lighting. For more information, please visit www.vistapro.com or contact Brandon Kelly at 602-501-7825 or BrandonK@vistapro.com. For training information, contact Eric Stammen at 480-7978977 or EricS@vistapro.com.

COMMUNICATIONS

OfficeMax:

Verizon Wireless:

– Save up to 65% on supply needs – Order your office supplies at deep discounts – get an exclusive price-match guarantee.

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Sprint: – Save as much as 23% on phones, accessories, and your service plan – Sprint’s GPS services to track crews, hours, vehicles, and more

GreenCAT®: – Our product catalog software with your own pricing

NAWP Health Care Benefits: – Access to affordable medical acoverage – Other benefits (401k, identity theft coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance

The Hartford: – Spectrum Business Owners Policy – Workers Compensation & Commercial Auto Policies

Px3

Px3 / Project Services – Our Project Services Department will provide you support to source leads, and recieve a precise property breakdown using satellite imagery along with our Px3 material take-off software.

ACCOUNTING

ADP: – Save 25% to 30% on payroll services – HR, tax, and benefits administration services are also available for companies of all sizes

Paychex: – 15% discount on basic payroll processing and HR services setup fees – Manage tax calculation & filing, workers’ compensation reporting service & human resource needs

QuickBooks® Import Tool: – Save on office data entry time by electronically uploading our invoices to your Quickbooks® software

QuickBooks®

Lien Direct Online: – 15% flat contingent rate on any account placed for in-house collections – The Lien Direct Online will waive your annual fee

Business Solutions

Concierge: 800-420-4848 / 248-581-1329 14.103074

May/June 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Still needs a title… DLC Resources, Inc. is a Phoenix based landscape management company. Founded in 1989, DLC provides expert landscape management, arbor management, special projects and water management to our clients; supplying unique solutions to complex needs. In 2009, DLC began transitioning the ownership of the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). To date, the ESOP owns over 40% of the company and has grown by an average of 10% a year since the inception of the program. As employee owners, each person at DLC is charged with making the best decision not only for themselves, but also for the company. Our number one asset is our employees. Without the dedication of our field crews and expertise of our staff, we’d be reinventing the wheel monthly – something that isn’t sustainable in any industry. As a company that works along roadways and with equipment like chainsaws and chippers, keeping our employees safe is always at the forefront of our mind. In order to have a sustainable safety culture, safety has to be the number one priority of each employee at DLC. Sometimes that means confronting a coworker that doesn’t have all their PPE on or questioning a process that could be risky. These conversations aren’t always comfortable or easy, but it is part of being accountable as coworkers and owners. We are all in it together. In our mind, would you rather question a coworker as to why they aren’t wearing chaps while operating a chainsaw or drive them to the hospital because they hit their leg and you saw it coming? The answer is simple, ask the question every time. Nothing is more important than people going home to their families at the end of each work day. Even things that don’t directly relate to safety help foster our safety message. For example, we have shop teams at each yard that focus exclusively on cleaning, maintaining and loading equipment onto our trucks each night. In the morning, our trucks are lined up and ready to go; loaded with the equipment needed for the day. The field crews check out their truck and get on the road – no haggling for needed equipment or trying to repair something that breaks in the field. Our teams leave the yard without running around trying to plan for the day. This allows them to stay focused on driving and working safely without having to worry about how they are going to get their job done without the equipment they need – which ultimately leads to distraction, a key factor in many incidents and accidents. Empowering our team to own our culture of safety is building our future. We’ve been able to achieve an EMOD rating (Experience Modification rating used by insurance companies to assess risk) nearly 30% better than the national average in the landscape industry. For us, it is the little things like daily gate check outs, diligently maintained tools, mock DOT Inspections and an active safety team that have proven to not be so “little” after all. Our employees have bought into the need and value of a healthy safety program; it helps them go home at night and helps them do their job better. In an industry that has seen a lot of change over the past 5 years, keeping safety top of mind, while exceeding clients’ expectation and maintaining profitability, can be a challenge. That’s why it has to be driven and owned by the entire company – office, field, shop. Empowering employee owners to make the best decisions for themselves, their coworkers and the company make us all accountable and responsible for the most important thing we do every day – go home safely.

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

T May/June 2013

TREE PRUNING

Sustainable & Proper Pruning Practices Article provided by Cliff Frink, Sage Tree Care

he growing season is quickly upon us and the phone is ringing off the hook for tree trimming bids. Now is a good time to review pruning procedures and think about not just completing work orders but sustainable and proper pruning practices. What do we mean by “sustainable” and how is it important to our bottom line? Sustainable means pruning with the health and performance of the tree as the priority thereby ensuring it’s viability for the long term. In their natural state, trees do quite well with little interference from humans. We know that removing live branches from a tree robs it of stored nutrients, removes food producing leaves, and causes energy expenditure in order to heal pruning wounds. With this mind, we need to review a couple of key ideas in formulating a sustainable pruning program. Less is more: One of the most common mistakes made in pruning is overdoing it and removing too much. International Society of Arboriculture recommends pruning no more than 25% of the crown at any one time. However this limit is exceeded frequently with tragic results to the trees. Some consequences from excessive pruning include… • Encourages water sprouts • Sunburn (especially to younger bark) • Stress • Encourages insects (attack stressed trees) • Slows growth of tree (when it is under other environmental stresses) • Causes excessive growth (in the case of severe topping an otherwise healthy PHOTO 1 tree) • Stunts root development This palo verde in a parking lot

has been over pruned for public

Keep the amount of trimming to a safety reasons and to allow minimum. Resist the urge to give the access to parking spots. The tree a “good haircut.” 25% is a top end vitality and life span of this tree guideline, stay focused on your pruning has been severely limited. goal and don’t be afraid to walk away. Don’t forget Palms! The same principles apply. Trim out only last year’s growth and seedpods. No more!

PHOTO 2 It is our job to advocate and educate. The owner said the tree will come back fine. Maybe this time….but is this sustainable?

Have a plan: It is critical to have a plan and a specific goal for trimming a tree prior to beginning work. Ask yourself, “Why am I here and what do I want to accomplish”? This is the point where communication and consultation with your customer is critical. As we know, most clients are not arborists and have little understanding of trees. They may have extreme or vague requests. As landscape professionals it is our duty to advocate for the health of the tree and educate our customers on sustainable pruning. Don’t just blindly start cutting branches. The goal is to remove as little as possible while still accomplishing your pruning objective.

Some common sustainable pruning objectives are listed below. 1. Crown Cleaning: Remove dead and broken branches. Remove branches that are crossing. Remove mistletoe. 2. Reduce end weight: Thinning heavy branches that may lead to breaking during wind events. Focus attention on reducing weight out at the tips and do not excessively prune the interior of tree causing lion tailing. See photo 1. 3. Structural pruning: Create a stronger tree by removing branches with included bark at the attachment point, remove a co-dominate leader, maintain good branch spacing along main stems. 4. Crown elevation and/or vista pruning: Remove lower branches blocking pedestrian or vehicle traffic. Clear limbs off structures. which is fine when done on a limited basis but can easily become excessive. This type of pruning is common in parking lots and may be necessary for public safety. When possible is it better to make fewer and larger cuts versus many small cuts. Consider tree removal as an alternative to excessive pruning. See photo 1. Know Thy Tree: No two trees species are the same. They are unique in their growth habits, their shape and growth rates. Knowing these characteristics is important when designing a sustainable pruning program. Each tree needs to be treated differently. Foothills palo verde and Texas ebony for example do not respond to pruning the same way Chilean mesquites and African sumacs do. Aleppo pines and eucalyptus tend to get tip heavy and need the weight reduced, but they respond very differently to pruning. The eucalyptus will easily sprout lateral branches but an Aleppo pine will not and can easily be lion tailed by an inexperienced trimmer. Consider a tree’s mature size. In many cases sustainable pruning is not possible because the wrong tree is planted too close to a building, roadway etc. The kind of pruning required to keep the tree out of people’s way goes beyond what is healthy and removal should be recommended. Information on trees can be found in books and online, but I have learned way more from observations in field. It is a good habit to take note of trees throughout your daily routine. Note how they grow and change throughout the year. Note how same species trees respond to their micro environments from property to property. Young Trees: These trees are especially prone to suffering long term damage by over pruning. The young bark can easily be sunburned leading to severe stunting of growth and in many cases eventual death. Insects such as borers attack the sunburned areas causing further decline. The sustainable approach is to leave as much growth on the young tree as possible. The more leaves, the more food production and the quicker the tree will grow and establish. Avoid excessive crown thinning for the first couple of years. Some minor structural pruning may be necessary to remove codominate stems and to encourage good branch spacing but keep this to a minimum. Explain to customers that the trees will look a bit “unkempt” at first but this will lead to stronger, healthier tree long term. PHOTO 3

These Texas ebony trees have been elevated too early and too aggressively. The bark is severely sunburned and infested with flat headed borers. Long term prognosis is not good for these young trees. This is especially sad because there is no obvious reason for pruning.

continued on page 16

May/June 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

SUSTAINABLE & PROPER PRUNING continued from page 15 One of my favorite shows on TV is Cesar Milan the Dog Whisperer. On the show, Cesar improves the dog’s behavior by teaching the humans to create an environment that mimics how the dog would live in its natural state. A sustainable approach to pruning trees follows a similar philosophy. As landscape managers, it is our responsibility to understand what the tree needs to thrive while serving our clients. In many cases the sustainable and proper pruning practice calls for no trimming at all. This may mean putting off a paying job for another day. The trees will be healthier as a result. Your customers will be happy with your professionalism. Now that is sustainable!

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5

Great example of sustainable pruning on this dormant mesquite. Elevated to allow for pedestrian traffic with light crown cleaning and structural pruning on the interior.

PHOTO 6 This is a happy mature Texas ebony that has received minimal and sustainable pruning. Younger branches protected from the sun, minimal thinning. This elm tree looks a little unkempt but this is a great example of sustainable practices. By resisting the urge to “clean” this up, the landscaper is helping it to establish and grow faster.

DESERT TREE FARM

Growing Plants for Arizona’s Future™

Well Rooted Celebrating 40 Years! two convenient locations to serve you Main Yard: 2744 E. Utopia Road Phoenix, AZ 85050 (602) 569-6604 Fax (602) 569-0064

South Yard: 8755 S. 27th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85041 (602) 237-2535 Fax (602) 237-2010

www.deserttreefarm.com Image features Phoenix Bird™

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Blue palo verde tree silhouetted against morning sky shows good branch structure. About 10% of the crown was removed. Pruning objective completed! Sustainability achieved!

PHOTO 7

We know you work hard. Let us work harder.

Lean on us for some of your business demands - we know we can work harder for you. This is why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve implemented the Partners Program and Business Solutions, and the Px3 Maintenance Package. Contact your local branch to learn more about these opportunities. We are eager to help you with as many of your business challenges as possible!

800-347-4272 JohnDeereLandscapes.com

SAFETY

Protect workers from electrical shock: Implement, follow safety practices By SCF Arizona

hen a worker accidentally comes in contact with a live wire or energized metal component on a machine, the result can be electrical shock. That’s because the human body becomes a conductor that completes the closed-circuit path of electricity. A shock of electricity can flow between parts of one’s body or through a body to the ground or the earth. Potentially lethal electrical shock accidents, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, are largely preventable if an employer and their workforce implements – and follows – basic work safety practices. Some of the best work safety practices to help protect workers from electrical shock include: • Turning off (de-energizing) live current before repairing or inspecting electric equipment • Properly maintaining electric tools • Being careful when working around live-energy lines • Using the right protective equipment when working around liveenergy lines; these items may include rubber insulating gloves, hoods, sleeves, matting, blankets, line hose and industrial protective helmets designed to reduce the hazard of electrical shock • Practicing proper lockout/tag-out steps to protect a worker from accidental or unexpected startup of electrical equipment Employees also must be trained to be aware of possible “hot” or energized metal parts if there has been a break in an electric tool’s or machine’s insulation. Coming in contact with a “hot” part can

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mean electrical shock, burn or electrocution. OSHA recommends establishing a low-resistance path from the tool or machine’s metallic case to the ground. (A three-prong plug is one example of equipment incorporating a ground conductor.) Safety personnel may also want workers to use distinctly listed or labeled portable tools and appliances that are made with an approved system of double insulation. It is important to maintain such tools regularly to prevent them from deteriorating. Workers should check tools for defects before using them; if a problem is found, the tool should be tagged and taken out of service until it has been repaired or replaced. Contact with overhead power lines was the most common cause of 3,378 fatal electrocutions from 1992-2002, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Employees who must work under or near overhead lines must maintain a safe distance and ground any equipment (for example, a crane), especially if the lines are very high voltage. Guarding or insulating the live overhead lines can also help prevent accidental electrical shock. About SCF Arizona SCF Arizona is the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, providing coverage to nearly 25,000 policyholders and their employees statewide. SCF has operated in Arizona for more than 87 years and holds in excess of $3.4 billion in assets.

MEMBER UPDATES Hunter Industries CEO retires After 19 years as Hunter Industries’ President and CEO, Richard Hunter is retiring. Effective immediately, the Board of Directors has appointed Greg Hunter President. Richard helped start Hunter with his father, Edwin, brother Paul, and sister Ann in the early 1980s. Richard Hunter Under his leadership, Hunter Industries grew into one of the world’s most respected irrigation and landscape lighting manufacturers. Richard Hunter said, “There is no better time than now for me to leave my post as President and CEO and allow the leadership team to take Hunter Industries to the next level. Our employees are world class and have shown they are capable of doing whatever is necessary to achieve success. I have total confidence in the organization and the current leadership. The best years for Hunter Industries are undoubtedly ahead.” Greg assumes this role having held executive leadership positions within several key departments at Hunter including Engineering, Product Management, Information Systems, and Marketing. He is also a member of the Irrigation Association’s Board of Directors and is involved with a number of other associations and non-profit groups. By trade, Greg is an engineer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. He is looking forward to continuing Hunter Industries’ legacy of innovative products and outstanding customer support. Greg Hunter

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THE ALCA INFLUENCE

OPEN HOUSES

SmartWrap Vehicle Wraps Open House SmartWrap Vehicle Wraps held an open house in March showcasing their premises and services to small and medium sized businesses. Turnout was steady all day and SmartWrap staff was able to walk each and every guest through the processes and tour the state of the art facility. The SmartWrap facility includes a beautiful conference room with flat screen HDTV to view design proofs. The installation area was open to the public all day and featured demonstrations of customer vehicles being wrapped. SmartWrap C.E.O. Malcolm Hilcove explained that SmartWrap is in the business of creating “designs that work”. In order to really show what that means, guests participated in a short visual survey. Guests were asked to look at various vehicle graphic and wrap designs and explain what they saw. One of the most interesting results was that 58% of people recognized and remembered a company’s brand or name when only simple black and white lettering was used. In comparison, 85% of people recognized and remembered a company when their actual full color logo was used. What this means to business owners is that if you want people to contact you, your vehicle graphics absolutely have to contain more than simple cut vinyl. Mr. Hilcove sums it up “A great vehicle wrap starts with a great logo”. At the end of the night SmartWrap held a drawing for a free vehicle wrap and one lucky person was picked. The winner received a 100% coverage wrap on a vehicle of their choice, including design and installation. For more information, contact SmartWrap at (623) 889-0862 or email Tim Hilcove at tim@ smartwrap.com.

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Ditch Witch of Arizona Customer Appreciation Day Ditch Witch of Arizona hosted a Customer Appreciation Day on March 15th at their yard located at 4028 South 36th Street in Phoenix. Loyal customers enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs served up by David and Beverly Klingaman.

Customer service is the top priority at Ditch Witch of Arizona Ditch Witch has been serving Arizona’s construction industry for over 40 years. Whether our customers are general contractors, utility contractors, rental stores, landscapers, municipalities, excavators and/or horizontal directional drillers, Ditch Witch of Arizona’s diverse experience and knowledge is superior to its competitors. Their sales, service, parts, and rentals team are committed to providing an overall excellent experience for everyone who walks through their doors. Ditch Witch offers only the best equipment for their customers; providing the complete line of Genuine Ditch Witch equipment and parts, as well as employee Gold Certified Service Technicians for all your service needs. Alongside the innovative product that launched an industry, we carry Hammerhead Trenchless Tools, Doosan Portable Power/ Ingersoll Rand air compressors, Towmaster Trailers, Rayco and Wacker equipment. Ditch Witch of Arizona’s goal is to build and maintain meaningful relationships with their customers by providing unparalleled customer service, offering top of the line products and sharing in your company’s successes. They are a family that is proud of the products and services they provide, and the hope that you are proud of the products you own!

602-437-0351 4028 S 36th St, Phoenix, AZ 85040 6975 N Camino Martin, Tucson, AZ 85741 520-579-0261

MEMBER MIXER

Rain Bird Mixer Sponsor Kurt Rouse of the Rain Bird Corporation celebrated “80 Years of Irrigation Innovation” with ALCA members at the March mixer. Kurt spoke to nearly 75 industry professionals at Lucille’s Smokehouse and presented Rain Birds many new innovative products. Kurt was joined by southwest representatives Jim Boyden, Ryan Day, and Mike Johnston to provide informative new “Intelligent Use of Water” product demos, including the new ESP-RZX and ESP-ME controllers, HE-VAN nozzles, RVAN rotary nozzles, RD1800 spray bodies, ‘Pressure Regulating Stem’ solutions, TBOS II battery-powered controllers, IQ v2 central control software, drainage products, valve boxes, commercial pumps, and more. “Our WaterSense certified controller line and the 2011 Irrigation Association new product winner: HE-VAN – High Efficiency Variable Arc Nozzles demonstrates Rain Birds 80 year history of watersaving innovation.” Kurt Rouse Please visit the Rain Bird website to get the latest Rain Bird Product Information, 2013 On-line Catalog and Mobile App: www.rainbird.com.

May/June 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

RESOURCE GUIDE/AD INDEX EROSION CONTROL/HYDROSEEDING Western Sere (888) 448-SERE (7373) • www.westernsere.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................3

LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION TRAINING/TESTING Metro Institute (602) 452-2901 • www.metroinstitute.com Please see our ad on page...................................................20

PRINT, APPAREL & PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Diversified Print Solutions (520) 393-3551 • www.diversifiedprintsolutions.com Please see our ad on page...................................................19

HIGH QUALITY WHOLESALE GROWER Mazatzal Tree Farm (602) 569-6595 Please see our ad on page...................................................18

LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT Arizona Machinery (602) 917-1530 • www.arizonamachinery.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................5

SOD/TURF Evergreen Turf, Inc. (480) 456-1199 • www.evergreenturf.com Please see our ad on page..................................... Back Cover

INSURANCE SERVICES Hill & Usher (602) 956-4220 • www.trimrisk.com Please see our ad on page...................................................18

LANDSCAPING BOULDERS AND GRANITE We Rock AZ, Inc. (602) 569-3000 • www.we-rock-az.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................4

Western Sod (800) 832-TURF (8873) • www.westernsod.com Please see our ad on page...................................................23

Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc. (800) 628-8735 • www.lcisinc.com Please see our ad on page...................................................17

LIGHTING Brilliance LED, LLC (800) 867-2108 • www.brillianceled.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................8

IRRIGATION PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS DIG Corporation (800) 322-9146 • www.digcorp.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................3 Ewing Irrigation (800) 343-9464 • www.ewing1.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................5 Horizon (800) PVCTURF (782-8873) • www.horizononline.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................7 Hunter Industries (760) 744-5340 • www.hunterindustries.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................2 John Deere Landscapes (800) 347-4272 • www.johndeerelandscapes.com Please see our ad on page...................................................17 Netafim (888) 638-2346 • www.netafimusa.com Please see our ad on page...................................................23

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SUPPLYING LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS Wilbur Ellis (480) 921-8500 • www.wilburellis.com Please see our ad on page...................................................17

FX Luminaire (858) 535-8000 • www.fxl.com Please see our ad on page.....................................................2

TREE MOVERS AZ Big Tree Movers (888) 761-0249 Please see our ad on page...................................................17

NURSERIES All Season Wholesale Growers (602) 276-0230 • www.allseasongrowers.com Please see our ad on page...................................................19

TRUCKS Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu (866) 412-2712 • www.chapmanchevrolet.com Please see our ad on page...................................................19

Arid Zone Trees (480) 987-9094 • www.aridzonetrees.com Please see our ad on page...................................................22

Sun Country Truck Equipment (602) 438-4956 • www.suncountrytruck.net Please see our ad on page...................................................19

Cox Cactus Farm (480) 220-1848 • www.coxcactusfarm.com Please see our ad on page...................................................21

WHOLESALE NURSERY & GROWER Desert Tree Farm (602) 569-6604 • www.deserttreefarm.com Please see our ad on page...................................................16

POTTERY International Wholesale Pottery (602) 454-0528 • www.iwpottery.net Please see our ad on page...................................................16

Variety ‘AZT’

Quality, Uniform, Desert Adapted Trees

AD INDEX All Season Wholesale Growers................................................................................ 19

SIMPLY THE BEST

Arid Zone Trees....................................................................................................... 22

Prosopis Hybrid ‘AZT’ Thornless Mesquite

Brilliance LED, LLC.................................................................................................... 8

Arizona Machinery..................................................................................................... 5 AZ Big Tree Movers................................................................................................. 17 Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu..................................................................................... 19

Cercidium praecox ‘AZT’ Sonoran Palo Verde

Cox Cactus Farm..................................................................................................... 21

Olneya tesota ‘AZT’ Desert Ironwood

DIG Corporation......................................................................................................... 3

Cercidium Hybrid ‘AZT’ Thornless Hybrid Palo Verde

Evergreen Turf, Inc.....................................................................................Back Cover

Chilopsis linearis ‘AZT Bi-Color’ Desert Willow

FX Luminaire............................................................................................................. 2

Chilopsis linearis ‘AZT Desert Amethyst’ Desert Willow Cercidium Hybrid ‘DM’ Desert Museum Hybrid Palo Verde* *AZT propagates the ‘Desert Museum’ with the guidance and permission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Desert Tree Farm..................................................................................................... 16 Diversified Print Solutions........................................................................................ 19 Ewing Irrigation......................................................................................................... 5 Hill & Usher............................................................................................................. 18 Horizon..................................................................................................................... 7 Hunter Industries....................................................................................................... 2 International Wholesale Pottery................................................................................ 16 John Deere Landscapes.......................................................................................... 17 Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc....................................................... 17 Mazatzal Tree Farm.................................................................................................. 18 Metro Institute......................................................................................................... 20

Specimen Trees for Desert Landscapes

ARID ZONE TREES

Sun Country Truck Equipment.................................................................................. 19

phone (480) 987-9094 fax (480) 987-9092

Western Sere............................................................................................................. 3

e-mail: e-mail:information@aridzonetrees.com aridzonetrees@msn.com

Western Sod........................................................................................................... 23

WWW.ARIDZONETREES.COM 22

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We Rock AZ, Inc........................................................................................................ 4

Wilbur Ellis.............................................................................................................. 17

There’s a new grass in Town!

less waTer + less FerTilizer = More $ in your pockeT and a “greener” grass for the environment

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Extreme salt tolerance Advanced striping ability Shorter dormancy period Shiny exceptionally dark green color Versatile mowing heights from ¼” – 1” Superior low light intensity tolerance Uses 66% less nitrogen than bermuda Excellent drought and wear tolerance

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With millions of miles of Netafim subsurface dripline installed in the U.S., why buy an unproven product? Techline® CV emitters provide reliable, worry-free operation. Here’s why: ■ Continuous self-flushing design and ■ Flow rates for every soil type ■ Built-in check valve for high anti-siphon feature prevent clogging ■ Physical root barrier eliminates or low pressures ■ Use one dripline for all installations chemical additives; can be buried

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