See the winners of the 2023 Women In The Green Industry Award and learn how overall winner Ana Avalos, president of Colorful Impression Landscapes, rose to the top.
The story of how Ana Avalos, winner of the 2023 Women In The Green Industry Award and president of Colorful Impression Landscapes, transformed her childhood dream of working in the landscape industry into a colorful reality.
16. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | ALL IN ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Green industry experts weigh in on what companies can do to make sure their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are up to par.
18. LAWN CARE | INSECT ID AND CONTROL
Lawn care specialists list the top insects that lawn care operators should look out for in early summer and discuss how to control them.
20. MOWING & MAINTENANCE | SAFE USE OF MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
Association representatives explain how landscape companies can ensure crews are operating maintenance equipment safely this season.
23. EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY | SOFTWARE ONBOARDING MISTAKES TO AVOID
A list of the top items business owners should keep in mind when onboarding a new software program.
24. HARDSCAPES & DESIGN | WHAT’S HOT IN HARDSCAPES
An insider’s look at the top hardscape and design trends of 2023.
26. LIGHTING & IRRIGATION | WATER SMART: SMART IRRIGATION TIPS
The scoop on how irrigation pros can change up their watering tactics, save on money and water and make a real difference.
28. SNOW & ICE MANAGEMENT | LIQUID COURAGE IN THE FORM OF DE-ICING
A glance into the pros and cons of prewetting, anti-icing and liquid de-icing agents and how to implement them into a snow operation.
04. EDITOR’S NOTE
06. DIGITAL HITS
08. FRESH CLIPPINGS
31. PROJECT PROFILE
32. NEW PRODUCTS
34. CONTRACTOR PROFILE
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Forty-seven percent versus 9 percent. Those are the percentages of women in the overall U.S. workforce and women in the green industry, respectively.
Jenn Myers, executive director of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Foundation, presented that statistic to me during our interview for this month’s diversity, equity and inclusion article (p. 16).
I shouldn’t have been surprised by that information as I often find myself in the minority when reporting on green industry conferences or trade shows, where, for example, at a table of 10 people, I am the only woman.
And yet, those numbers jarred me.
I know the industry has come quite a way in the past few decades, and had I been sitting at tables of industry events years ago when some of our winners of this year’s Women In The Green Industry Award (p. 10) started out, I may have been one in 30 or even 40.
What’s more, initiatives throughout the green industry—such as NALP’s
Women In Landscape Network, SiteOne’s Women In The Green Industry Conference and our own Women In The Green Industry Award—buoy my spirits when it comes to including more women in the industry.
But still, more can be done to encourage women to join the industry— and empower them to climb the ranks at their respective companies. An industry comprised of nine percent women compared to 91 percent men demonstrates the still-sizable gap.
All of that said, we should celebrate the women who have embraced the challenges that come with being a woman in the green industry and who have paved the way for others to start their career journeys in the industry.
And, we should also recognize that lifting women up in the industry doesn’t bring men down. Instead, it brings everyone up and elevates the lawn care and landscaping world as a whole.
What do you think can be done to include more women in the industry? What resources have you leaned on? I’d love to hear your thoughts—and I’m sure your fellow readers would, too. Email your ideas to swebb@acbusinessmedia. com or connect with me on LinkedIn by following the QR code below. And, be sure to look out for next month’s issue, where we will present our annual Editor’s Choice Awards. Having taken a look at some of the entries, I can tell you that this year’s winner list is chock full of new and innovative products to bring the green industry a cut above.
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BY SARAH WEBB @GREENINDUSTRYPROSAs a small business owner, you can’t escape your to-do list. That’s why Progressive makes it easy to save with a commercial auto quote, so you can take on all your other to-dos. Get a quote in as little as 6 minutes at ProgressiveCommercial.com
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This year’s Women In The Green Industry Award winner Ana Avalos, president and owner of Colorful Impression Landscapes, sat down with Green Industry Pros Editor Sarah Webb to discuss her experience as a woman in the green industry, what she thinks the green industry could use more of, her advice for other women starting out and much more. Do you have an interesting story that you’d like to talk about on our podcast? Email your ideas to Webb at swebb@acbusinessmedia.com, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode of our Grass Roots podcast.
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More than 50 green industry and golf communications professionals gathered in Portland, Maine, for the 33rd annual Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) meeting April 25-27.
The organization is made up of editors, writers, publishers, photographers, public relations and advertising practitioners, industry association leaders, manufacturers and others involved in green industry communications. The 2023 event included various educational sessions, several of which emphasized how companies can engage trade show attendees in a postpandemic world.
Attendees of the 2023 TOCA meeting certainly took advantage of being together in person, with networking opportunities and excursions dispersed between the educational sessions.
Throughout the three-day event, attendees had the chance to
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Equip Expo and Hardscape North America (HNA) are now offering exhibit space in the West Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) for the 2023 trade shows, which are co-located and set for Oct. 17-20 and Oct. 18-20, respectively.
“With every inch of space sold six months ahead of the show, we have companies waiting in line to exhibit,” said Robert Thomas, president and CEO of the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association, which produces HNA. “As our industry and the show grow, our goal is to offer all companies an opportunity to have a presence. If you have products for hardscapers and landscapers, we want you to be here, where your buyers are, at the hardscape industry’s largest event.”
Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which owns and manages Equip Exposition, echoes that sentiment.
The Georgia Urban Ag Council’s Landscape Equipment and Agricultural Fairness Act was signed into law recently by Governor Brian Kemp.
This legislation prohibits local governments from regulating gas-powered equipment like leaf blowers differently than other types of leaf blowers such as battery-powered leaf blowers.
Upon signing HB 374, Governor Kemp said, “This bill is about choice and freedom.”
“While the West Wing is different—it’s been used for a wide range of purposes—it does allow existing exhibitors to showcase their products,” Kiser said. “Taking space in the West Wing also allows new exhibitors to get into the show and ‘get in line’ for space that could become available in other areas of the KEC.”
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Georgia is the first state in the nation to codify the protection of use of this equipment. The law comes as other states and municipalities have put laws into places to prohibit or limit gaspowered equipment.
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Ana Avalos showed interest in the green industry long before she even knew what it was called.
While growing up, Avalos would walk around her neighborhood, envisioning designs for landscapes and gardens to beautify her area.
“As a child, I grew up in a place where there was no garden, and the few garden beds in the neighborhood had only bare soil,” Avalos says. “I grew up in the poor part of town but in a beautiful county full of beautiful gardens. I was really attracted to the colors and textures of the plants and flowers. I was either admiring the garden designs I saw or creating designs in my mind of areas needing attention. I felt drawn to plants and design and the color that was available here in our area.”
An immigrant from Guatemala who was brought to the U.S. by her mother at 8 years old, Avalos learned English and decided to pursue a career in the green industry as, even at such a young age, she knew she loved the outdoors.
It’s safe to say Avalos’ career blossomed from there as she’s now the owner of Colorful Impression Landscapes, a company she helped build at age 23, and the winner of the 2023 Women In The Green Industry Award.
Here’s her story.
While Avalos found herself fascinated by the green industry from a young age, that fascination alone wasn’t going to cut it if she wanted to become the head of her own company.
The first step on Avalos’ career path began when she attended a job fair at her high school and visited the agricultural booth at Santa Rosa Jr. College.
“I recall talking to one of the professors about careers in the green industry, and he was so excited about the industry that it really caught my attention,” Avalos says.
From there, she attended Santa Rosa Jr. College and attained a degree in landscape design.
To further her industry knowledge
and gain hands-on experience, Avalos starting working at Pacific Landscapes in 2004, while continuing her education to work toward her contractor’s license. At Pacific Landscapes, she garnered experience in sales, HR and field management.
“When I started working there, I worked directly with one of the owners, and I learned a lot from him,” Avalos says. “He would always tell me, ‘In this industry, you have to work with different types of people,
The story of how Ana Avalos, winner of the
Green Industry Award, transformed her childhood dream of working in the landscape industry into a colorful reality, despite challenges along the way.
and everyone has different desires, so flexibility matters a lot.’”
Avalos took that lesson and many others to heart when she decided in 2007 to start her own company, Colorful Impression Landscapes, with a partner, who had nearly 30 years of experience and retired just last year.
“It was a difficult decision because I was working with good people, gaining a lot of experience and I was very young, but it really turned out to be a great decision,” Avalos says.
In the early years, the duo ran every aspect of the company entirely by themselves: the sales, the designing, the physical work, promoting.
“We were just so excited about what we were doing and wanted to do our best, and it really showed in the work we did,” Avalos says. “The company has since grown, and we still have clients who have been with us from the beginning. We have had property managers move
to different locations and call us to request our service. Also, our employees recommend us as well, because we have a really good culture and great benefits.”
Today, the company boasts 20 employees.
In addition to cultivating a welcoming company culture and creating beautiful work, Avalos credits her Latina background and ability to speak English and Spanish as another reason for the company’s success.
“The fact that I am bilingual and a Latina woman, I can communicate directly (with clients and crews),” Avalos says. “So, I think that has been very helpful
the company as well.”
Despite what Avalos’ collected demeanor may suggest, increasing the size of her company did not come without challenges.
As a woman in the industry and a young one at that, Avalos says some people didn’t take her seriously in the beginning.
“When I started my company, I would go to meetings or present at board meetings, and clients would ask, ‘Where’s the owner? We were expecting someone with more experience,’”
Avalos says. “I would have to explain that I do have knowledge in this industry and experience with a commercial landscape company.”
In addition to receiving comments about her age, Avalos also received remarks about being a woman in the industry.
“I remember them very clearly, the time while I was working on a project, and a man would come up to me sarcastically and say, ‘Are you going to be out there digging holes with all the men, too?’’’ Avalos recalls. “I would say, ‘yes, I am a landscape designer, and I am going to be with my team.’ I would be questioned about my physical ability. People shouldn’t expect certain roles to be filled by a man or a woman. In some people’s opinion, like the man who asked me if I’d be digging holes, to his knowledge, that job was only something a man could do.”
Avalos determined not to take those comments to heart and instead, pushed herself to do the best possible job for each project, which helped change the minds of some of the doubters and, in turn, forged a path forward
for other women in the industry.
“You have to be confident about your own physical and mental abilities,” Avalos says. “It is an industry where there is a place for women, and we are capable of doing anything we set our minds to.”
She also willed herself to be a continuous learner, both in the industry and in life. Besides her own experiences, Avalos has looked to books and other industry veterans to continue her lifelong quest for learning and bettering herself. She also signs up for seminars and continuing education sessions in her area and encourages her crew members to do the same.
“Sometimes people have a hard time trusting someone so young, because of the lack of experience, but you learn as you go,” Avalos says. “You must learn the physical work, the bookkeeping, business management, the labor laws. There’s a lot of learning involved with starting a business. Twenty years in the industry and I’m still learning. No matter what someone’s age, if they think they are 100 percent right in everything and that they don’t have any more learning to do, there’s something wrong there.”
Looking ahead, Avalos says she would like to continue to develop her company, while maintaining the same high quality of service that she provides to her clients now.
“Now that I’m the sole owner, I am certainly looking to grow the company,” Avalos says. “When you have a partner,
it helps because you can share the responsibility, but it’s also limiting because you don’t necessarily agree on everything. I am hoping to expand my company, increase my team and maintain the company culture where we bring in people who are hardworking.”
She says both hiring and promoting a strong company culture will be two keys to that growth plan.
“When I started working, the recession was going on, so I saw a lot of people coming in, asking for an opportunity and there wasn’t enough work for the people at the time. That was heartbreaking for me,” Avalos says. “I put a lot of effort in to hire, train and keep my employees long term and provide an atmosphere where they feel like the belong.”
For other women looking to find their way forward in the green industry, Avalos suggests laying out goals and plans and silencing the voices of doubt that often get in the way of achieving them.
“Sometimes we stop ourselves from doing things because we want to feel fully confident, but confidence is built,” Avalos says. “You don’t just have confidence and have everything figured out—you build it by trying new things and learning as you go.”
She adds that knowing the numbers to showcase your knowledge of the business and quantify success doesn’t hurt either.
“When you purchase equipment or vehicles, be prepared with numbers,”
Avalos says. “That gains respect from the people you’re working with. That will also help you negotiate with confidence and communicate better.”
Finally, she commends initiatives and programs that further women in the industry as a way to boost their confidence and standing in the industry.
“Those initiatives show women they can be part of something that’s really important and that we as women have an important role in the industry, too,” Avalos says. “If they want to start a business or advance their career, those things will encourage them and make a big difference for the industry as well.”
Green Industry Pros: What could the industry use more of?
Avalos: The industry could promote itself to be more of a career choice for kids who are still in school. I was in high school when I first learned about this career. I would love to see the landscape industry promoted to kids in middle school and high school, so they can get into it, love what they do and make an impact on the planet because that’s something that affects us all.
Green Industry Pros: What’s your favorite part of the industry?
Avalos: I like going into a property, working with clients and making their ideas a reality. In California, with the drought, a lot of landscapes were changed to native California plants that require little water and low maintenance. Being part of that and educating clients has also helped the business grow and keeps our clients happy and loyal to our company because they know we’re really looking to help them maintain the best landscapes.
Chelsi Abbott
Technical Adviser, Education Specialist | The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Alicia Abell
Branch Manager | Monarch Landscape Management
Diana Aponte
Operations Coordinator, Lean Implementer | United Veterans Construction & Landscape Solutions
Tara Ashbaugh
Co-Owner, Marketing Specialist | Sure-Loc Edging
Ana Avalos
President | Colorful Impression Landscapes
Tessa Blair
Accounts Receivable Specialist | Smith Lawnscapes
Michelle Byrnes
Project Manager | Lewis Landscape Services
Sarah Cason Ory
Customer Experience Director | Dream Lawn
Natalie Chesebro
CFO | Your Personal Gardener & Arborist
Adrienne Dabbs-Stutz
Branch Manager | Russell Landscape
Katherine Dauphin
Water Management Department Leader | K&D Landscaping
Shar Davis
Director of Human Resources | Stockman Lawnscape
Christine Davison
Senior Marketing Manager, Commercial Power | Briggs & Stratton
Jenny Earnest
Senior VP, Sales and Marketing | Oldcastle APG
Leslie Ebert
Owner | Stonegate Gardens
Shelly Fjelstad
Owner-Operator | Creative Landscaping
Anita Gottschalk
CEO | Garrick-Santo Landscape Co.
Linda Greenfield
Owner | Fields of Green
Beth Hammonds
Residential Account Manager | Exscape Designs
Elizabeth Helton
Vice President, Financial Services | McFarlin Stanford
Nikki Hendrickson
Sales Representative | Advanced Turf Solutions
Molly John
CEO, Owner | M.J. Design Associates
Maria Johnson Love
Operations Manager, Landscape Maintenance Division | Phoenix of Coastal, A Yardnique Co.
Melissa Kiefer
Director of Environmental & Sustainability | Oldcastle APG
Andréa Kütemeier
Service Manager | Ricci’s Landscape Management
Julia Lange
Owner | Green Leaf Environmental Service
Natalie McNeill
Operations Manager | The Davey Tree Expert Co.
JoLynn Mollenhauer
Director of Operations | Designer Concepts Landscape Architecture
Bridgette Moss
Landscape Construction Manager | Bay Landscaping
Marianne Murray
Market General Manager, Baltimore | TruGreen
Ashly Neneman
General Manager | Sun Valley Landscaping
Gail Nozal
Area Manager | The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Cleopatra Pfunde
Service Manager | TruGreen
Elizabeth Powers
LCP, Principal Designer | The Garden Angels
Megan Pratt
Belgard Sales Manager | Belgard
Allie Prosinski
Residential Account Manager | Exscape Designs
Doreen Rettenberger
Senior Service Manager | TruGreen
Rebecca Rose
Plant Health Care Division
Head | Great Outdoors
Destany Ross
Owner-Operator | Green Goddess Lawn Care
Jackie Rubin
Office Administration | Shearon
Environmental Design
Susanne Saylor
Director of Interiors | Shearon
Environmental Design
Melanie Scogin
HR Manager | Bay Landscaping
Susan Skordensky
Seasonal Color Manager | Elliotts
Landscape Group
Savanaha Spencer
Co-Owner | Spencer Lawn Care
Beth Stauffer
Crew Leader | Exscape Designs
Emilie Steinauer
Designer | Ryan Lawn & Tree
Nicole Stone
Director of Maintenance | LMI Landscapes
Julia Sutterfield
Vice President | KC Landscape
Jenneka Temkin
Owner | J&J Property Pros
Vanessa Terry
Senior Project Manager | The RCF Group
Janie Thomas
Co-Owner | Smith Evergreen Nursery of Wilson, DBA Great Gardens Nursery and Landscape
Laura Vahle
Owner | Spring Green Lawn Care
Jodi Vermaas
Founder, Instructor, Program Evaluator | Stonepile
Maryann Ward
Account Manager, Seasonal Color | McAdam Landscaping
Green industry experts weigh in on what companies can do to make sure their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are up to par.
While the acronym DEI gets tossed around a lot, the actual implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts should be anything but flippant. DEI initiatives seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who may have been historically underrepresented or discriminated against.
Industry experts including Jenn Myers, executive director of the National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation (NALPF); Erin Barr, owner of Erin Barr Consulting; Ashley Nyen, officer manager at Crimson Valley Landscaping in Rockford, Ill.; and Mike Sanders, owner of Crimson Valley Landscaping, discuss the steps companies can take to implement meaningful DEI initiatives.
Green Industry Pros: How can companies set up DEI initiatives?
Sanders: As a company, we want to look like our community and be a reflection of where we live. If you look around, and your company is completely a reflection of its owner—which, in a lot of cases is a white male—then there’s probably a flaw in the building of your company.
Promote internally and also be sure to let your crew know to bring in anyone who could be a fit. Promote job openings externally, through TV advertising or multicultural newspapers or social media. Choose uniforms that all employees feel comfortable in and allow them to submit sizing discretely.
Finally, treat everyone with respect. If there’s ever someone who doesn’t treat everyone with respect, they can’t work at our company.
Nyen: It even comes down to including everyone at events, regardless of gender or background. We do our best to make sure everyone’s included in all the things we do here.
Barr: Understanding your company culture is important to identify how you’re going to change the culture if needed. Do some internal housekeeping. Make sure you have set pay ranges and that everyone is being paid fairly across the board. Make sure you don’t have any internal policies that inadvertently impact diverse communities. Would any policies you have be a barrier to entry for a female or a person of color?
If you set up a DEI committee, make sure there are diverse perspectives and that there are different levels of management. It’s also important that initiatives have the support of leadership.
Green Industry Pros: What resources can companies lean on?
Myers: The NALP Foundation released a workforce demographic study to identify room for improvement. The NALPF also released three toolkits: build a diverse workforce, retain a diverse workforce and cultivating growth, a collection of resources to support advancement of underrepresented workers into leadership roles.
Green Industry Pros: How can these types of initiatives move the industry forward?
Barr: Across the green industry, we’ve seen thousands of positions going unfilled. So, if we can attract more talent, that continues to be important to get the work done. However, it’s also thinking
about innovation and maintaining the future of our companies—you need diverse perspectives to do that. We’re not going to get there doing the same old thing. We’ve got to be more modern and innovative in our approach.
Myers: When you have a wide variety of people contributing, you can move forward. If you’re in a room with only people who think, look, act, speak and experience things the same way you do, you’re not representing the true population, and you’re going to get stuck.
Green Industry Pros: What other advice do you have for landscape companies looking to ramp up their DEI efforts?
Barr: Setting realistic expectations is key. It’s great to have big picture goals, but understand that those need to be made up of smaller goals. If you start something and drop it halfway through or back off, you can negatively impact employees’ perceptions.
Myers: Take a step back and consider how you support different types of people to join your organization and the industry. Look at your website, your facilities, your staff, and make sure there’s equal representation. You can also do your own workforce demographic study to figure out where you are and identify gaps. From there, you can set goals for where you want to be in three years, five years, etc. You can also talk to diverse populations in other industries and ask why they continue to work where they do and what’s important to them.
September 10-13, 2023
Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center Dallas, Texas
ELEVATE was a great way for my team to stay on top of the latest innovations in the industry. We are excited for 2023 in Dallas!
J. T. Price, CEO,
Landscape Workshop
97% of attendees left with new ideas, insights andtakeawaysconcrete
The ELEVATE Bash will be held at the iconic Gilley’s honkytonk. Enjoy an epic night of mechanical bull riding, armadillo races, line dancing and more.
Take part in more than 30 cutting-edge education sessions and cultivate new relationships at the ELEVATE Expo.
Join us for the On Tour facility tours of Southern Botanical, LandPatterns and EarthWorks, where you can see top industry leaders at work!
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BY SARAH WEBB
about four to six weeks for the immature chinch bugs to go through their life cycle or mature. When temperatures begin to cool off in fall, the adults will return to the base of the plants to overwinter.
Identification: Varying in size from 1/4 inch to 11/2 inches, white grubs have a creamy white, C-shaped body, six legs and a brownish head. The tail end of a grub is called the raster.
Damage: Grub damage looks like brown, thin or dead patches of grass that may be random, irregular or isolated. The grass may be loose and roll up easily. The turf can also feel spongy.
Top lawn care specialists describe early-summer insects and discuss how to control them.
Identification: Ranging in size from 3/16 to 1/5 inch long, chinch bugs are dark in color with shiny, light-colored wings and a black triangle in the middle along their shoulder (thorax). They have crossed forewings with silver markings.
Damage: Small, irregular yellow patches appear in some areas of the lawn, mostly in full sun exposure. As the insects spread, these patches enlarge up to 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Chinch bugs use their mouth parts to penetrate grass blades, sucking the fluids out and causing it to yellow and wilt. As the grass blades die, they change from green to pale yellow and eventually a reddish brown. Chinch bug feeding damage symptoms often look like drought stress.
Location: The hairy chinch bug occurs
in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. The southern chinch bug occurs in Florida and Gulf Coast region. They are primarily found in St. Augustinegrass.
Control: Preventive practices can include moderate nitrogen fertilization, reducing the thatch layer or using resistant varieties of St. Augustinegrass. For chemical control, imidacloprid and pyrethroid insecticides like bifenthrin work well. Chinch bugs should be treated in the summer once the pest has been identified and a threshold of 20-25 insects per square foot has been reached. Use growing degree day models and historic knowledge of where chinch bugs have overwintered.
Additional info: When scouting for chinch bugs, pull the grass back in damaged areas at the edge of healthy turf. They’ll scatter near the soil at the base of the plants. Chinch bugs emerge in the spring and start to lay eggs. In the hottest summer months, it takes
Location: Grubs can be found throughout most of the continental U.S.
Control: Target the adult beetle. In the Southern U.S., treat chemically for adult grubs during June through mid-July to prevent adults from laying eggs into the soil. Using a contact product, eradicate what is in the soil at that time. Earlier-season preventive applications with a residual systemic insecticide can provide seasonlong control. Use a neonicotinoid insecticide or a diamide like chlorantraniliprole in the late spring to middle of summer when the larvae hatch. Diamides can be used in places where neonicotinoids are not allowed. Curative products like carbaryl or trichlorfon can be applied in the soil to control larval stages. For biological control, milky spore bacterium can be used.
Additional info: Adults emerge in midsummer to mate and lay eggs, which
Lawn care experts list the top insects that lawn care operators should look out for in early summer and discuss how to control them.Jim Castner, UF/IFAS
hatch in about two weeks. Once the eggs hatch, those grubs feed on the grass roots from late summer into the fall. If it’s known that a specific property is infested, be proactive and make sure that lawn has adequate fertility and moisture.
Identification: Billbug larvae are creamy white with a brownish head and are legless. When fully developed, they are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long with an elongated snout.
Damage: Adults will chew a hole in the grass blade and lay an egg. When the larvae emerge, they’ll feed from the inside out of that leaf blade. Early signs of damage are small irregular areas of brown, dying turf that spread. In damaged areas, pull back the grass, and it will break off at the soil. A powdery frass or excrement from the insect will be visible on the soil line.
Location: Billbugs can be found throughout the continental U.S.
Control: Billbug populations can be managed with resistant turf varieties, adequate irrigation and proper fertilization, as well as by raising the mowing height slightly. Pyrethroid insecticides can be used to reduce adult populations, and neonicotinoid and diamide insecticides can be used to target early-stage larvae. Apply insecticides in the spring to treat both larvae and adults. Imidacloprid and thiamethoxam insecticides can help get rid of insects before they move into the crown of the plant.
Additional info: The two common billbugs are the bluegrass billbug and the hunting billbug. Each can be found in warm- and cool-season turfgrass. If a property has a history of billbugs, more treatments may be required. Billbugs don’t fly or walk well.
Identification: Fall armyworms can be identified by an inverted
white “Y” pattern along their face.
Damage: Armyworms cross the turf surface as a group and create a noticeable line between damaged and undamaged turfgrass. Damaged areas will often originate around a site where egg masses can be easily laid, such as sign posts and buildings and expand outward. Newly installed sod is more susceptible to damage.
Location: Found throughout the U.S., fall armyworms are more notorious in the Southeast for the extent of the damage they can cause but are an occasional pest in the Southwest from northern Texas across to California.
Control: Fall armyworms can have multiple hatches that last longer than some product residuals. Insecticides with active ingredients such as chlorantraniliprole and tetraniliprole can be effective for long-term control. Bifenthrin can be a highly effective when used curatively as a rescue treatment.
Additional info: Large armyworm populations can feel like they emerged overnight and do not stop eating from the moment they emerge from an egg until they pupate.
Identification: Cutworms are caterpillars that curl into a “C” shape when picked up. The black cutworm is a common species and can be identified by its overall “greasy” appearance, uniform body color and a typically brownish head. Some older larvae have a netting pattern over their eyes.
Damage: Cutworm damage looks like small pock marks. Closer examination reveals a small burrow and several grass plants around the perimeter of the burrow that have been sheared off near ground level. Often, these burrows are lined with green, pellet-like matter. This is caterpillar frass, or excrement.
Location: Cutworms can be
found across the entire continental U.S, but this species does not tolerate colder temperatures.
Control: The first and second instars of the larval stages of cutworms and armyworms are small and easily missed. The “dish soap” method can be used to monitor for cutworms present in the thatch and soil surface. In healthy turfgrass, pour a mixture of 1 to 2 tablespoons of dish soap with 1 to 2 gallons of water over 1 square yard area and wait five to 10 minutes and see if any insects emerge.
Additional info: Cutworms get their name because they “cut” through plant stems at the soil surface when they are feeding, usually targeting young plants or seedlings.
Sources: Ben Hamza, Ph.D., product development director, FMC Corp.; Edwin Afful, Ph.D., insecticides product development manager, FMC Corp.; Julia Willingham, SiteOne business development manager, pest management; Amy Agi, Ph.D., field scientist for Corteva U.S. Turf & Ornamental; Matt Giese, technical services representative for the Midwest for Syngenta; and Richard Fletcher, technical services manager for turf & ornamental at Nufarm.
Experts explain how landscape companies can ensure crews are operating maintenance equipment safely this season.
The adage “safety first” is used so much that it may seem cliché, but the importance of landscape companies enforcing safe practices among employees cannot be stressed enough.
“No business wants an injury claim, and we don’t want our people hurt,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. “Operated safely, the machine will do the work. It’s when the operator uses the machines in a way they’re not designed where people get hurt. It’s up to us to be mindful of how we operate them.”
Kiser and Sam Steel, safety adviser for the National Association of Landscape Professionals, offer advice to help landscape companies keep employees and customers safe this season.
First things first: companies should have a written safety program that outlines procedures and safe practices.
“Safety measures and trainings are put in place to protect the important human resources (employees) from hazards and risks; comply with local, state and federal safety and health regulations; recognize safe work behaviors and habits with input from safety committees and management; reinforce the company’s reputation for its commitment to safe work practices; and let employees know that the firm genuinely cares about their safety and welfare,” Steel says.
According to Steel, the safety program
should include the following:
• Identification of all hazards that could result in illnesses and injuries to employees.
• Prioritization of the identified hazards.
• Development of safety policies and procedures.
• Selection and implementation of training tools for eliminating or reducing the risk of injury or illness.
• A system for documenting training, safety briefings and updates.
• Observation of worksites to ensure that safety training and desired behaviors are followed.
• Retraining as needed to maintain a high level of safety.
When training operators on handheld equipment, landscape companies should provide examples of safe operation methods and allow the trainee to demonstrate their learned behaviors through training exercises. Training should occur at the beginning of each season for both new and veteran employees. “With employee turnover in mind, a comprehensive early season training program is important,” Steel says.
“Using a ‘buddy system’ of experienced employees working with and monitoring new employees will have a positive impact on the safety and health of all crew members.”
Beyond the initial safety and health training in the spring, landscape firms can use weekly all-employee training sessions, on-site safety tool box training and site briefings to remind workers about hazards specific to their current worksite.
For example, slopes and dropoffs are serious hazards at some maintenance sites, so reminders for operating equipment at these sites is important. Steel says that briefings are also critical at worksites where trimming or removal of large trees is being done.
“It is important for the tree climbers and ground crew members to understand the importance of constant communications to prevent traumatic injuries from falls and falling debris,” Steel says.
While different brands of equipment may be similar in design, Kiser notes that each piece of equipment is unique.
“Oftentimes, they have modest changes by manufacturer,” Kiser says. “The key to safe operation is genuine familiarity with the equipment. It may sound trite, but know your owner’s
manual. Go online and familiarize yourself with that equipment. Ask yourself what safety equipment that particular machine has.”
Kiser adds that many manufacturers provide equipment trainings in video format and in various languages, including Spanish.
Because spring and summer bring more people outside, Kiser stresses that landscape crews should take extra note of their surroundings—looking out especially for kids and pets.
“We don’t want any kids hurt,” Kiser says. “They like to emulate their parents or adults, and they can creep up on you. Both kids and pets can be quick and move unpredictably. Also, don’t teach a kid how to use the machines because they’re curious and will try to use them unsupervised and could get hurt.”
Kiser adds that crews should walk yards before performing maintenance work, making sure obstacles are removed.
“We encourage people not to mow in reverse,” Kiser says. “If there’s a toy left behind by the dog or a kid, the machine will find it, and you don’t want the machine to find it.”
Because handheld maintenance equipment produces a lot of flying debris that can result in severe eye injuries, eye protection is a must.
Steel recommends eyewear that provides impact, peripheral and ultraviolet light protection and that is certified by an American National Standards Institute Standard referred to as Z87.1. Certified protective eyewear will have the Z87.1 designation imprinted on the inside of the stems of the glasses.
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“Fashionable and aviator style glasses do not normally meet the standard and should not be used when protective eyewear is required,” Steel notes.
Handheld equipment such as gas-powered chainsaws, trimmers and leaf blowers can expose landscape crews to excessive noise levels, otherwise known as decibels.
“With the knowledge that above 85 decibels of noise for a duration of eight hours or more, there is a strong possibility of hearing loss, hearing protection through the use of ear plugs or ear muffs is required,” Steel says.
Keep in mind that in order to reduce operator exposure, hearing protection should provide at least 20 decibels of protection. In other words, the hearing protection should have a noise reduction rating of at least 20 to 25 decibels. Steel says that manufacturers rate the noise levels in dB at 50 feet from the operating equipment.
Finally, Steel says it’s not enough for crews to have access to hearing protection—they must also be wearing it properly.
“There is a right and wrong way to insert ear plugs,” Steel says. “Make sure proper insertion methods are provided through training demonstrations
to workers in need of hearing protection.”
When using equipment, it’s important that crews don’t disable safety features. Kiser points to the rollover protection systems on mowers as an example.
“Those safety devices are there for a reason,” Kiser says. “Don’t modify it, change it or remove it.”
Whether equipment is powered by batteries or gas, landscape operators should be sure to properly store that power source. Kiser notes that companies should pay attention to safety recommendations on the conditions, temperature and humidity when it comes to storage.
“If you follow the manufacturer’s guidance, you just lengthen the life of the product, it’ll run better and more efficiently and it’s a safer product overall,” Kiser says.
The decision to switch or purchase business software is a significant one for landscape contractors and snow removal professionals. It can be stressful. The process, which takes time and strategy, includes advanced research to determine the best vendor, walking through demos, reviewing the software and negotiating the final agreement.
All of this adds extra pressure to owners, managers and employees up and down the company ladder to ensure the software delivers the return on investment that is expected.
The real pressure comes after the
agreement is signed and the onboarding process begins. User onboarding is a massive responsibility for the person(s) assigned to lead the charge. According to research from customer strategy advisory firm ThinkJar, nearly 70 percent of customer churn could be prevented if issues were resolved during the software onboarding process. Client support during the onboarding process is critical. Nearly two-thirds of customers say that onboarding, which refers to the level of support they’re likely to receive after the sale, is an important consideration in whether they make the purchase in the first place.
That said, when onboarding the software, there are several things to keep in mind.
1. Avoid thinking software is a cure all for mismanagement. New software will help streamline processes and efficiencies, but it can’t cover up poor planning or decision-making.
2. Don’t expect software to be perfectly implemented on day one. An enterprise software should be thought of as adaptable and capable of growing with a company’s needs. Reports should show the following questions:
• Are direct costs too high or too low?
• Are production factors
too fast or too slow?
• Are margins too high or too low? These key performance indicators need to be reviewed, fine-tuned and corrected to make sure proposals are competitive.
3. Ensure the correct people are in place to guide the deployment. Either the people managing the deployment are overworked and don’t have the time, or they are not familiar enough with the company to answer key questions about the direction of the deployment. The onboarding process needs someone to manage it. It’s not a full-time job, but it is a task that takes attention. As the company grows, so does that person’s responsibilities with the system.
4. Set a realistic timeframe for implementation or setting any hard goals for the team.
Failure to do this results in going too fast and making mistakes or not setting priorities or benchmarks for deployment because everything else takes priority. Many of the onboarding mistakes contractors make are a result of one or a combination of these. A successful onboarding process requires setting clear goals and expectations and providing both the proper people resources and time to do it right.
Shannon O’Neil Economic Engagement Expert, Strategist and Consultant Boss Software
Once the agreement is signed, and it’s time for a landscape company to onboard new software, there are several things to keep in mind.Make sure to set a realistic timeline for implementing business software. It's important to have a key person in place to take on implementing software. Boss Software
Interest in outdoor living remains high among homeowners. According to a survey from the National Association of Home Builders, 58 percent of respondents, which were comprised of builders and architects, noted that connecting to nature is an important influence on their design choices. A huge trend in design concepts over the past few years is biophilic design. Blending hardscapes and landscapes creates unique spaces that blur the lines between the organic and inorganic. Hardscapes are an integral part of many biophilic designs, complementing or mimicking the natural elements. In addition to biophilic design, there are other key trends and product developments to help you flex your creativity in hardscape design this year.
Data shows that being outside for just 10 to 15 minutes can decrease stress levels by up to 60 percent. People are better prioritizing their health and wellness since the pandemic, with many looking to the outdoors. Spaces like garden rooms and outdoor living rooms are becoming popular to foster a better sense of relaxation. Including features like fountains, plant walls and winding pathways adds to the calmness and serenity to promote wellbeing. Requests for saunas and hot tubs are also increasing.
Hardscapes are no longer limited to a few neutral tones and flat textures. You can add visual interest and dimension to hardscape projects thanks to product development in the tone and texture of concrete, porcelain and permeable pavers. Hardscape manufacturers are creating interesting patterns in the material that
complement any design. Pavers with a texture like organic rock or stone pair well with both modern and rustic design styles. Styles with more textilelike features can be mixed and matched. Color palettes also have expanded, allowing for more complementary or contrasting designs. You can combine contrasting light and dark tones or opt for complementary monotones depending on the look and style of your client’s project to create truly one-of-a-kind patterns.
For more contrast and dimension, pair hardscapes with other materials like metal, glass, wood and composite decking. This helps spaces feel less flat and linear.
The industry continues to develop more sustainable products and manufacturing methods. Consumers are becoming more aware of environmental impact and will be looking for guidance on more earth-friendly, long-lasting recommendations when working with contractors on projects. Permeable pavers mimic the way land absorbs water, helping with water runoff and even drainage issues. They even can be designed in a way to harvest rainwater if that’s of interest to clients. Many local municipalities today are beginning to require permeable pavers in new constructions, so getting up to speed on local requirements is also important.
Augmented reality (AR) tools are revolutionizing the outdoor design process, streamlining communications between contractors and homeowners.
Using AR technology, you can bring ideas to life and offer a better customer experience. You can show clients in near exact detail how their space will look. This can be beneficial so your client sees a better representation of the products and distinction between different areas within the space.
While it may sound like an investment to acquire AR technology, it can be much more attainable when working with vendor partners. Many offer contractor programs providing access to unique tools and training opportunities to help modernize your business.
Joe Raboine Vice President of Design Oldcastle APG
A look at the top hardscape and design trends of 2023.Oldcastle APG Oldcastle APG
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Turfgrass is the target of many advocates for saving water. For example, a new law in Nevada prohibits the use of water for irrigation on all nonfunctional grass by 2027. The Southern Nevada Water Authority is paying residents $3 per square foot to remove grass. Other states are following the example, all intending to reduce water use to reduce the impact of the drought. This approach will not bring about the desired result. Rebates for turf removal will save water, but
more is needed to make the difference they need to solve the problem. Agriculture uses approximately 80 percent of the Colorado River’s water. According to the University of California Cooperative Extension, landscape water use amounts to only 9 percent of the developed water use in California. If we cut the water to zero, we would only save 9 percent. Lawns have been singled out as a water waster but only consume 3.5 to 5 percent of annual statewide water use. This situation is not exclusive to
California. Similar situations exist for all the Colorado River water states.
Turfgrass is expensive to remove. The rebates alone can add up to well over $125,000 an acre for removal. The grass is replaced with another plant type that also requires water. Often, this plant is watered with an inefficient irrigation system, and water waste continues. When it was determined that cars waste too much gas, the solution was not to ban cars. The answer was to use technology to improve mile-pergallon standards. Many less expensive and less restrictive ways to reduce landscape water use exist. Changing how we water instead of what we water can make a significant difference.
The first step toward responsible landscape water use is eliminating traditional spray head irrigation. Conventional spray heads deliver only about 50 percent of the water they emit to your plants or turf. This means 50 percent is wasted. Most of the waste occurs from evaporation and wind drift. You can achieve better results by switching to some of the new rotating nozzles or microspray nozzles available today, along with reducing the pressure of your system. This is an excellent first step in the process.
Switching to drip irrigation allows for precise water delivery to the plant’s root zone, avoiding water loss from evaporation, wind drift or runoff. Drip irrigation also helps landscapes look better. Because water is not sprayed on the plants, there are reduced fungal diseases. Drip irrigation works very well in color beds and shrub beds. Drip irrigation and drip mats are being used increasingly in turf applications. Drip irrigation in turf is more expensive than installing sprays, but the water saving accumulates over the years—the savings more than make up for the extra expense at installation.
By changing up their watering tactics, irrigation pros can make a real difference.Jain Irrigation Installing a smart controller can save up to 25 percent.
A traditional irrigation controller runs a fixed schedule despite the difference in weather day to day. You must set that fixed schedule to accommodate the hotter days of the season, so there is no escaping that on the cooler days, it is applying more water than necessary. The only way to adjust these controllers is to touch them physically. This reduces the number of adjustments made, and often conventional controllers are changed just four times a year. As a result, large amounts of water are wasted.
A smart controller adjusts daily based on the weather. How much you can save with this step depends on the season and your local weather variability, but it typically is about 25 percent. This is a similar estimate for savings due to turf replacements. A smart controller is less expensive than a turf replacement and helps you save water over your entire landscape, not just the turf zones. If you want to reduce water use in landscapes, switching to a smart controller is the best first step.
The best smart controllers adjust daily based on real-time evapotranspiration. Some models will adjust based on historical evapotranspiration. This means the adjustment happens based on what the weather was like in the past. This is better than a conventional controller but will not provide the same savings as a controller adjusting daily based on the daily real-time evapotranspiration.
Check to see how the smart controller uses rainfall information. Predictive analytics are only found in the smartest controller. Consider it a smart controller with a Ph.D., if you will. Here, we apply predictive analytics to add forecast weather to the mix. We go from reactive adjustments—responding to today’s weather—to proactive adjustments, incorporating tomorrow’s weather into today’s schedule. With predictive analytics, water is reduced
today if rain is coming tomorrow. Why fill up the soil with water today if it will rain tomorrow? The Ph.D. part of this proprietary technology is that it learns the difference between what is predicted and what happens over time, so it gets better than the forecast itself.
A sprinkler head that points at the street rather than the lawn won’t keep that lawn healthy, no matter how much water it sprays. A broken drip line becomes a fountain rather than a drip and can wash away all your savings. Even worse, repeated water runoff on hardscapes (sidewalks, pathways, driveways, parking lots, etc.) can erode those, too. This can lead to you losing the investment you made in your landscape and incurring additional repairs for your hardscape—a cost not often considered in landscaping. Monthly wet checks of your system are required.
Jain Irrigation
As the price of water continues to increase, the money you save increases with the amount of water cost. Making changes to how you water instead of what you water will make the most significant difference in the shortest period with the least amount of investment. It’s not often that you can get more paying less and put money in your pocket in the form of savings.
Richard Restuccia Vice President, Water Management Solutions Jain Irrigation
Although prewetting, anti-icing and liquid de-icing are commonplace throughout Europe today, winter maintenance professionals in North America have been relatively slow to embrace the technology. However, it’s only a matter of time before liquids become the norm here, too.
Those who implement liquids now could gain a strong advantage over competitors who drag their feet. All it takes is a little liquid courage, so to speak.
The biggest benefit is that salt costs can
be reduced significantly. In fact, a 30 percent reduction in salt use is a realistic expectation at minimum. The majority of contractors probably save closer to 40 or 50 percent. In the right environment, some people have even saved up to 75 percent. The money saved on material can go directly to the bottom line.
The second major benefit of liquid ice management is the environmental aspect. When less salt is used, there is less salt that can potentially wash into waterways, landscaping and other sensitive areas. In some states, there’s legislation introduced to reduce salt usage. While it may not affect most
contractors yet, we can only expect regulations to become more widespread and get more aggressive in the future.
Finally, liquids provide liability reduction. In our litigious society, we’re forced to manage snow and ice as effectively as possible or risk facing a lawsuit. Used properly, liquids can increase the effectiveness of a winter maintenance program.
Roadblocks do exist on the path to liquid ice management, but they’ve gotten much easier to navigate in recent years.
For instance, many contractors aren’t sure how to actually get brine. Many assume they have to make it themselves, but then they see the cost of brine equipment and decide against it. Making brine also requires additional know-how and special licensing.
The best approach for most people is to purchase brine from chemical companies who know what they’re doing and have reliable manufacturing capabilities.
A bigger roadblock may simply be a lack of confidence in using liquids. Various factors, such as ambient temperatures, ground temperatures and weather forecasts, can affect the application and type of liquids used. A certain amount of education is needed to do the job right.
Luckily, that education is getting easier to find through online
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resources, professional associations and even governmental agencies.
An often-overlooked resource is the brine supplier. Representatives from these companies can recommend exactly what liquids should be applied in each condition.
Another common roadblock in the
move to liquids is how to bill for it. Contractors can often overcome this by remembering what exactly the client is paying for—a clear parking lot. The materials used are not of concern to them as long as expectations are met or exceeded. As a result, contractors can confidently bill the same amount for a job even if fewer materials are used.
In reality, billing should actually be considered an advantage to contractors who offer prewetting, anti-icing and liquid de-icing. Many clients would be happy to pay for services that are more environmentally friendly— especially if they work more effectively without costing significantly more.
Winter maintenance professionals can also benefit from the latest electricpowered equipment offerings.
Today, manufacturers have developed high-flow sprayers that are completely electric powered that can produce as much output as engine- or hydraulic-powered ones.
Additionally, advanced controls can help increase efficiency even further on some of the latest sprayers. For instance, software like tracking systems allow contractors to enter desired application rates for each jobsite. The operator can simply drive, and the equipment will automatically adjust the sprayer flow according to the vehicle speed in order to achieve the desired material rate for that property. The controller will also record all important jobsite data, providing documentation for use in billing or slip-and-fall disputes.
Sooner or later, brine will be adopted by many more people in North America, just as it has been in Europe. And, once again, the playing field will be level when the majority of contractors start prewetting, anti-icing and de-icing. In the meantime, there’s still opportunity to get some liquid courage…and start gaining your competitive advantage.
Craig Sandmann Managing Director Hilltip Corp.
Justin Turner, third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, sought a backyard space for hosting family and friends and enjoying the outdoors.
Turner had a few goals for the backyard space: a bigger area for entertainment when he has large groups of people over and a space to relax when he wants to be alone.
“You want to make sure there are areas where you can throw a paper airplane between the two, but still give them enough space where it feels like enough room to just sit and relax along with everything else,” says Shane Stevens, vice president of operations at System Pavers.
To knock the project out of the park, Stevens had a few different issues to tackle.
First, Stevens had to make sure the
land was flat and level. From a simple glance at the land, he could tell there would be an elevation issue. The detached garage was 12 inches higher than the rest of the landings that were already established. Therefore, the crew had to raise a large area up and create stairs back down to the other area to make it functional.
The crew added Belgard pavers, two different barbecue islands and incorporated the smoker that Turner already had. They also added a shelf into the barbecue build, a sink, a refrigerator, storage drawers, a trash drawer and a frame for the second island.
The crew also coordinated with the pavement installer and included an
extra entrance to the deck. The team finally added drainage to make sure water would drain properly and Kichler landscape lights to brighten up the space and create a cozy atmosphere for the night.
Stevens was even able to get hot water for Justin Turner’s backyard, which isn’t always possible for every backyard.
“That’s kind of a trick thing. You can’t always accomplish it because you can’t get the hot water sometimes, but we had the perfect setup for that,” Stevens says. “It’s all over the home, so everything comes from the outside house; nothing comes up from underneath of it. So, we were able to get to everything pretty easily.”
Additionally, Stevens provided the yard with a retreat area off to the side while also making the backyard feel bigger overall by opening it up.
Overall, four to six crew members worked on the project, and it took them a little more than a month to complete the job. The challenges the crew encountered included hardscaping in an area that never had been hardscaped and ensuring that everything drained properly.
The final reveal of the backyard impressed Turner, and he was very satisfied with the finished product.
Stevens says his favorite part of every project he works on is getting to do the full reveal of the backyard because most clients can’t visualize what the final project look will be like.
“It was very cool to see (Turner) doing his thing and cooking some ribs on the island,” Stevens says. “I remember when there was nothing there but an old broken-down fire pit, and now he’s cooking on this 14-foot giant barbecue island.”
Emry Lloyd Contributing Editor System
Aspire Software’s Pro Services is designed to help clients maximize the value of Aspire by providing customizable and individualized consulting services, education services, accounting support, partner consulting, implementation services, growth planning and data migration. Details on features include:
• Aspire’s data migration services help users import their data. Aspire will reformat the file, review errors and suggest practices to streamline operations.
• Aspire’s education services offer one-to-one training and support with a customer education advocate.
• Aspire provides businesses expanding their operations with an implementation team who will help bridge the gap between implementation and going live.
• Pro Services allows customers to bank points, which they can use to request a service engagement whenever they need it. This allows businesses to have access to professional support year round, without having to worry about the costs.
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Milwaukee Tool’s M18 Fuel Brush Cutter is designed for landscaping professionals, can clear away thick brush, has the ability to reach full throttle in under a second and produces less operator fatigue in extended cutting. Additional features include:
• Featuring a PowerState brushless motor, this brush cutter maintains the ability to sustain power underload without bogging down, powering through the most demanding of applications.
• Using RedLink Plus Intelligence, this brush cutter delivers instantaneous throttle response for ultimate control and increased productivity.
• A two-speed control feature provides users with maximum run time in low applications where less power is needed while maximizing power for increasingly demanding applications.
• A dual shoulder strap harness and a lightweight, balanced design give users more comfort and ease of use.
• The M18 Fuel brush cutter is fully compatible with the entire M18 line.
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The TREX 44 by Evatech is designed for slope mowing applications and other areas that are deemed risky or uncomfortable for humans. Standing for Terrestrial Robotic Explorer, the TREX improves productivity and reduces labor costs, according to the company. It has a low center of gravity, performs well on rough terrain and comes with rugged tracks. The patented hybrid power system generates the power needed to drive the high-torque DC motors. Specifications include:
• Weight: 500 pounds
• Hybrid power
• Electric power propulsion system
• Cutting width: Twin blades, 44 inches
• Cutting motion: Forward and reverse
• Blade control: Electromagnetic clutch
• Max mowing slope: 40 degrees or 84 percent
• 2-gallon gas tank
• Ground pressure: 1.16 pounds per square inch
• 19-hp Briggs and Stratton gas engine
• 350-foot range
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Syngenta’s Recognition Herbicide controls more than 40 weeds including all major sedges, dollarweed and clover in St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, buffalograss and kikuyugrass. Recognition features a proprietary safener, metcamifen, which allows for broadcast applications rather than making repeated spot treatments. Recognition also safens certain herbicides in tank mixtures for faster, stronger and broader-spectrum control. While Recognition alone has excellent turf safety to bermudagrass, it can also be tank mixed with Fusilade II herbicide to remove bermudagrass (common and hybrid) from established zoysiagrass with excellent turf safety to zoysiagrass. This offers an alternative to burndown herbicides and means bermudagrass can be converted to zoysiagrass about six weeks faster by oversprigging.
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Vectorworks’ 2023 product line called Service Pack 4 delivers a direct connection to NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform for developing and operating metaverse applications via an integrated Omniverse Connector. The new plug-in connects Vectorworks 3D models straight to the Universal Scene Description (USD)-based Omniverse platform. Users can drive their collaborative efforts even further with newly added USD import and export capabilities. Supporting 3D geometry, texture and metadata, USD is the emerging standard in design and collaboration. The file format can now be tapped by Vectorworks users to gain access to a world of exciting applications and technologies, as well as to work more efficiently with fellow designers and consultants. Upgrades to Sheet Layer Viewports create a more responsive user interface, speeding up the documentation process and increasing performance and accuracy when viewing, rendering and navigating sheet layers. Low-resolution previews of sheet layer viewport contents are created automatically with the option to snap easily with others’ viewports. This reduces file size, making it easier for users to share their work with clients and collaborators. To address the evolving needs of architects and landscape architects, newly added functionality allows users to conform hardscape objects in their site models. Hardscape objects in any configuration can now excavate the site model surface and accurately calculate the cut and fill volumes.
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Bravo Trailers’ GreenPro trailer is part of the company’s full line of enclosed cargo and race car trailers. GreenPro brand trailers have been engineered and tested for the rigors of daily lawn care professionals’ and landscape contractors’ heavy use. They feature stronger frames, heavy-duty (and cableless option) ramp doors, reinforced tool hangers, beefier materials and a high level of construction, according to the company. Bravo Trailers backs the GreenPro models with a five-year warranty.
https://gpros.co/yhr9gd
Nufarm’s Tourney EZ Fungicide is a new liquid formulation designed for fungicide resistance management. It’s a broad-spectrum DMI fungicide lasting up to 28 days for effective preventive applications on more than 16 tough turf and ornamental diseases, including turf diseases dollar spot, brown patch and fairy ring, as well as ornamental diseases apple scab, anthracnose, leaf spots, powdery mildew and conifer blights. The new Tourney EZ Fungicide can be used by lawn care companies on commercial and residential landscapes, by golf course superintendents, sport turf managers and sod farms on their turfgrass, as well as greenhouse, nursery, tree and arbor markets for ornamentals and nonbearing trees. The liquid formulation will have the same low use rate as the water-dispersible granule for both foliar and drench applications, allowing Tourney EZ users to do more with less, saving money on applications.
https://gpros.co/mc55l5
GIP: How did you all get into the industry?
Jenneka: I started to learn the ropes of plant identification and maintenance and design. Jared was a farmhand, had a mowing clientele and did side work in construction. Janna had her cleaning and pet care business that eventually merged with the landscaping side. We didn’t pick landscaping. It picked us.
GIP: Tell me about J&J.
Janna: We were separate from the start, but then we had cross clients, so we were scratching our heads and saying, ‘why don’t we join forces and become a one-stop shop?’
Jenneka: We merged in 2020 to become J&J Property Pros. Before it was just the landscaping side. We do landscape maintenance, cleaning and pet care. On the landscape side, we offer landscape maintenance, design, hardscapes and sub out and provide irrigation and fall and spring cleanups. With cleaning, we do deep cleans, organizing, decorating, staging, things like that.
GIP: What have been some of your successes and challenges along the way?
Jared: A success would be people seeing what we offer as a business and wanting that.
Janna: There are so many variables in a day, and you have so many human elements when you’re trying to do a project.
Jenneka: A lot of successes came with getting our modes and systems in place. When you have an all-encompassing service, things can get confusing. We’ve streamlined our client process and created a monthly system for billing and property plans.
GIP: Do you have a favorite tool in the shop?
Jenneka: Java has changed our lives. We can schedule our teams, send invoices and estimates and communicate with it.
Jared: Battery-powered hedge trimmers from Echo.
GIP: What are your future company goals?
Jared: The end goal would eventually be to bring the business to a point where it can be sold, employee owned or franchisable. To be employee owned and profit share would help our employees. They’re able to make a living full time doing landscaping, but it’d be nice to even go beyond that.
GIP: What could the industry use more of?
Jenneka: The industry sometimes gets a bad rap of not being professional. People don’t realize there’s a lot of expertise and knowledge that goes into it. We’re trying to create a space for our team to say, ‘this is
a professional business, so let’s treat it as such.’
Jared: There are some ‘weekend warrior’ type people who don’t take the industry to a professional level, but that lowers expectations for everyone in the area.
GIP: What advice would you give to others?
Jared: When we first started off, our mother had breast cancer and was given only a few months to leave. She survived another 11 years, but at that time, everything was stressful. We were scaling up almost too fast, and when our mom passed away, we still had to function and do our jobs. In some areas, we were burnt out because we didn’t have the right systems, and we grew too fast. So, take your time, grow slowly, hire slowly, fire quickly, make sure you have a good team around you and learn to enjoy it.
Jenneka: Also, get an accountant as soon as you can.
GIP: What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Janna: Canoeing, reading, hiking, traveling, dabbling in fashion.
Jenneka: We were all home-schooled, which played a part in learning to grow and being content where you are. There’s so much beauty in the small simple moments of life. Traveling also nourishes our souls. We get to see cultures, and it helps restructure our perspective.
Jared: We believe that in life, you never stop learning until you’re done. So, if you’re still breathing, you’re still learning.
