Green Industry Pros Nov/Dec 2018

FINANCE FOR LANDSCAPING BUSINESS OWNERS OF ALL SIZES, PART 1 PAGE 34 SUPPLIER PROFILE Faster Bidding with Far Less Hassle ❯Page 14

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TABLE OF CONTENTS THE MANAGEMENT RESOURCE FOR LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS AND EQUIPMENT DEALERS

CONTRACTOR PROFILE

Volume 30, No. 7 | November/December 2018

10

Contractor Profile

Deck the Halls—A Lawn Care Company with All the Trimmings Lawn Care Specialists has provided its customers and community with a commitment to consistent service for every season for the last 38 years.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

14 Supplier Profile Faster Bidding with Far Less Hassle

4 Through the Grapevine

Web-based tools can help speed up the estimating and proposal-building process for landscape contractors, resulting in less cost, happier customers and more time to focus on other areas of the business.

6 Industry Dirt 32 Advertisers Index

18 SPECIAL FOCUS: Theft Prevention and Loss Mitigation Equipment on Lockdown

34 Cutting-Edge Business

20 Beyond the Blade Liability: Is Your Landscaping Business at Risk?

8 New Products

Use a variety of security solutions in lockstep to help prevent landscaping equipment theft and mitigate loss.

Landscaping companies need multiple types of insurance for complete coverage.

PRODUCTS

22 GIE+EXPO Highlights

33 Lawn Care Corner Myth-Buster: Do Insects Die off in a Cold Winter?

Here are four tips a landscape contractor can use in the fight against insect infestations.

8

12 14

20 18

XX www.greenindustrypros.com

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22 GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 3

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THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

Pros

Published by AC Business Media

The Voice of Your Customer

I

recently had the pleasure of attending Caterpillar’s year-end press briefing at the Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center near Peoria, Illinois. The company was proud to present its Next Generation mini hydraulic excavators, 440 and 450 backhoe loaders, 903D and 918M compact wheel loaders (check the 903D out on Page 28), and CUV85 and CUV105 D utility vehicles, just to name a few.

There were equipment demonstrations, product presentations and machine walkarounds. I even had the opportunity to get my hands on the equipment. But more importantly, Caterpillar flew in a handful of the end users that participated in its customer feedback process during the design of some of these new products. It was an effective strategy bringing in this customer panel to discuss the particulars of the machines and their role in refining the design process to match what end users actually need in a piece of equipment because it dovetailed nicely with Caterpillar’s mantra—Inspired by Customers.

This customer-centric approach to engineering can help result in right-sized equipment that’s intuitive for landscape contractors to use because landscape contractors were consulted during the design phase. One example of a new feature Caterpillar incorporated into a machine due to customer feedback is joystick steering (called the Stick Steer) on its Next Generation mini hydraulic excavators. This new steering system allows you to switch—with the touch How often of a button—from conventional lever/foot-pedal steering to left-hand do you seek joystick control. Since I had a chance to hop on one of these mini excavators, I can attest to its ease of use and smooth operator control. customer The joystick was not only responsive, but also intuitive. feedback?

I worked on a product design business-to-business magazine in a different life and I made it my mission to try to get my design engineering readers to think more like an end user. There were countless tales of design engineers missing the mark on a product because they were thinking like design engineers and had a hard time putting themselves in end users’ shoes. Often, they would build extra bells and whistles into a product just for the sake of having them.

These added features not only frequently drove up the cost of the product, but also added undue complexity to the product, thus intimidating end users.

One of the guys on Caterpillar’s customer panel mentioned that he enjoyed his work because of the sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction that accompanies the completion of a project. Another said he liked playing in dirt when he was a kid and he still loves it today. While new technologies and fancy features are novel, at the end of the day, landscape contractors just want equipment that works productively— whether it’s mowing grass or moving dirt—and gets the job done.

Wikipedia says the “voice of the customer is a term used in business and information technology to describe the in-depth process of capturing customer’s expectations, preferences and aversions.” The voice of the customer is critical because it’s how you figure out how to meet and hopefully exceed customers’ expectations.

But first, you have to initiate that conversation.

It’s built into Caterpillar’s production process.

Is it built into yours? How often do you seek customer feedback? If you receive constructive criticism, do you take steps to address it? If not, maybe it’s time to start searching for the voice of Carrie Mantey (920) 542-1238 your customer and then listening to it. cmantey@acbusinessmedia.com

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

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Publisher...................................................................................... Eric Servais eservais@acbusinessmedia.com Sales Representative....................................................... Paula Carpenter pcarpenter@acbusinessmedia.com Sales Representative..........................................................Amy Schwandt aschwandt@acbusinessmedia.com Sales Representative............................................................. Sean Dunphy sdunphy@acbusinessmedia.com Sales Representative............................................................. Nikki Lawson nlawson@acbusinessmedia.com Sales Representative............................................................... Kris Flitcroft kflitcroft@acbusinessmedia.com National Automotive Manager ............................................. Tom Lutzke tlutzke@acbusinessmedia.com

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INDUSTRY DIRT

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Responds to Leaf Blower Misinformation The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) recently sent the below letter to the editor to the Wall Street Journal in response to an op-ed entitled “Leaf Blowers Are Loud, Ugly and Dangerous,” which was published on October 18. An edited-down version was subsequently published. The original letter, penned by OPEI president and CEO Kris Kiser, in the hopes of encouraging the green industry to continue to combat the negative perception of leaf blowers in the media, follows: Dear Editor, In “Leaf Blowers Are Loud, Ugly and Dangerous” (Oct. 18), author Adrienne Bernhard attacks leaf blowers in a sweeping indictment, and is clearly working with old data, old narratives, and old stereotypes of these valuable tools without any understanding of the current marketplace reality and progress of modern outdoor power equipment.

Once again, we have an author asking for the removal of a working tool for the working man. There is a simple reason why leaf blowers and other outdoor power equipment products are ubiquitous. They work. They save labor and time when clearing sports fields, parking lots and garages, and other large spaces, and the leaf blower is important to the landscaper who is paid by the job in communities with rigorous zoning on leaf pickup and removal. They also save water, helping clean surfaces without having to use potable water from a hose. They help people with physical limitations maintain their own properties, such as my 85-year-old mother who would be quite challenged with a rake.

Instead, she uses her small electric leaf blower to clear her steps and walkway of debris and leaves. Those are the practical realities of the need for this valuable tool.

Most troubling of the piece, however, was the author ignoring the innovation and progress around emission and noise reduction of these products, and pointing to an outdated 2011 study to indict all leaf blowers today. These products are regulated by the federal government and the state of California, and they are the cleanest and quietest they’ve ever been. We invite her to walk into any Lowe’s, Home Depot or equipment dealer’s showroom floor to see the myriad of both commercial and consumer products powered by lithium-ion battery and the updated reduced-emission four-cycle, gasoline-powered engines. Today’s leaf blowers are 75

percent quieter than those used a decade ago and manufacturers have reduced emissions by as much as 80 percent. Yet the author rails against all leaf blowers.

The author also seems to believe one “answer” to ending leaf blower use is to deaden the landscape, and instead promote hardscapes and succulents. She suggests getting rid of the “leafy trees and green lawns” altogether. How is that promoting sustainability?

Trees and ordinary turf grass are brilliant at sequestering carbon, producing oxygen, capturing and filtering precious rainfall, collecting dust and particulate matter, and reducing heat. Green spaces are not just something pretty to look at. They are working 24/7 to make our world greener and healthier. Lawns and shade trees also are integral to outdoor living, and a safe space for kids and pets, not to mention valuable urban habitat, food and resting places for wildlife. We invite this author to dig a little deeper in her research on what living landscapes achieve and contribute to communities worldwide. (Oh, and she should also notice the number one home to Lyme disease-riddled ticks are leaf piles.)

The manufacturers of these outdoor power tools are “outsiders” who understand that the outdoors and living landscapes are a vital part of our well-being. As an industry, we champion these products and tools because they are creating safe, healthy spaces for outdoor living, our families and pets. We understand sometimes it’s a shortterm inconvenience to have power equipment working around you, but removing living landscapes and removing the working equipment of the laborer isn’t the answer. The ongoing extensive innovation of outdoor power equipment is the answer.

Kris Kiser President and CEO, OPEI

UNIT SALES OF STIHL BATTERY-POWERED PRODUCTS SEE MAJOR JUMP IN U.S. STIHL has been present in the United States since 1974, with its own production and sales company, STIHL Inc., located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The STIHL Group generates around 30 percent of its revenue in the U.S. Over the past year, the company has recorded a jump in sales of battery-powered products in the U.S., which has traditionally been the most important market for it. Within just 15 months, the market share of STIHL battery-powered tools in the U.S. has increased tenfold. The

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product portfolio has also expanded—from one line of battery products to three.

Norbert Pick, executive board member of marketing and sales, explained, “We set extraordinarily high standards in everything we do and customize our products exactly to our customers’ requirements— with the result that we have been successful for more than 90 years in a constantly changing environment.”

Additionally, Bjoern Fischer, president of STIHL Inc., emphasized that sales of

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STIHL products in the U.S. have more than doubled over the past 10 years.

“I see further enormous potential for our market in the area of battery-powered products, particularly as we are able to offer our customers a broad and attractive range of STIHL products via our large sales network of 9,000 servicing dealers,” said Fischer. “In the future, there will also be a greater focus on digital products and services."

www.greenindustrypros.com

11/30/18 9:29 AM

STARTUP TO ZERO IN ON THE STAND-ON ZERO-TURN SPRAYER AND SPREADER MARKET

OTHER TOP NEWS

Steel Green Manufacturing recently announced plans to begin operations in Lebanon, Indiana. The startup will manufacture equipment for the professional lawn care industry, including stand-on zero-turn sprayer and spreader machines.

The company is founded by Scot Jones, Matt Smith, Michael Floyd, Craig Conyer and Brent Mills, all previous employees of the Z-Spray manufacturer, L.T. Rich Products Inc. Jones, senior parts manager of Steel Green Manufacturing, said of the new business, "With over 100 years of combined experience in the landscape equipment industry, our team understands the needs of landscape contractors and grounds professionals, and we're proud to build equipment with them in mind."

With more than three decades in the agriculture, turf and equipment fabrication industries, Jones was a parts manager for the last 15 years. Smith brings over a decade of experience in sales and retail management to his new role as sales manager for Steel Green.

Floyd, inventory control manager, previously worked eight years in various departments, including parts and service, shipping and receiving, purchasing, inventory control and warranty. Conyer brings over 20 years of experience in the spraying equipment industry to his new role as production manager.

Mills has worked in the sprayer equipment industry since 1987. He spent the last 10 years performing tech support on zero-turn sprayer spreader machines.

HERBICIDE RESISTANCE IN ANNUAL BLUEGRASS of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass populations across Tennessee.

Additionally, Brosnan's team is going to develop new diagnostic assays to detect herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass, research annual bluegrass seed persistence in soil, as well as study the effects of turf grass cultural practices on annual bluegrass infestation.

In Tennessee, turf grass is big business, contributing $5.8 billion to the state's economy in 2013, the latest year for which measurements are available. In a survey of Tennessee turf grass industry managers conducted by UTIA researchers, nearly all of the state's golf, sports field, lawn care and sod production professionals indicated that weed control has been an important and problematic issue influencing the profitability of their businesses.

Nationally, the turf industry is valued to exceed $62 billion, but that figure dates to the mid-2000s in an industry that is notoriously difficult to quantify. Weeds, however, are everybody's problem.

The UTIA studies should result in optimized annual bluegrass management plans that integrate both cultural and chemical techniques to mitigate herbicide resistance in Tennessee and beyond.

www.greenindustrypros.com

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into Small Empire www.greenindustrypros.com/21032129

• Woman Admits Embezzling $300,000 from Landscaping Company www.greenindustrypros.com/21032122

• Labor Department Seeks New Process for Hiring Foreign Guest Workers www.greenindustrypros.com/21032107

• Trump Immigration Fraud Focus Yields

Limited Results www.greenindustrypros.com/21031492

• Three Men Shocked During Landscaping Accident www.greenindustrypros.com/21031341

• What Will the Landscape Company of the Future Look Like? www.greenindustrypros.com/21025900

• Petition to Limit Gas-Powered

Landscaping Equipment Is Gaining Speed www.greenindustrypros.com/21030687

• New Low-Mow Grass at Former President's Home Only Had to Be Cut Once this Year www.greenindustrypros.com/21030701

• Groundskeeper Accepts Reduced $78

Million Award in Monsanto Cancer Suit www.greenindustrypros.com/21030682

EPIDEMIC IN TURF MANAGEMENT: Annual bluegrass is one of the most common weeds of turf grass on golf courses, sports fields and sod farms, not to mention residential and commercial lawns. Unfortunately, this nemesis of pristine landscapes has also developed resistance to many common herbicides.

Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) are participating in a national effort to address what many landscape managers call an epidemic of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass plaguing managed turf systems.

As part of a $3.2 million, 15-state United States Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant, UTIA turf grass researcher Jim Brosnan is going to lead a team of Tennessee weed scientists in sampling annual bluegrass populations across the state. The team is going to travel the state's three grand divisions to take samples.

The sampled specimens are then going to be propagated in a controlled laboratory setting and tested for resistance to commonly used herbicides.

The goal is to quantify the scope

• Kicking Grass: Evergreen Lawn Care Grows

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• Cigarette Flicked from a Car Window Puts Lawn Care Provider out of Business www.greenindustrypros.com/21030181

• Grass Clippings Spontaneously Sparked

Fire, Investigators Say www.greenindustrypros.com/21025918

• Five Ways to Banish Burnout in your

Landscape Business www.greenindustrypros.com/21029211

• The Workforce Shortage Is Real … Here’s How the Green Industry Plans to Cope www.greenindustrypros.com/21028491

• Labor Department Accuses Landscaping

Company of Visa Program Wage Violations www.greenindustrypros.com/21028471

• Rethinking Groundcovers: Ecologists

Suggest It’s Time to Reimagine the Modern Lawn www.greenindustrypros.com/21027359

• Emails About Hush Money and Inflated

Bids Revealed at Evans Landscaping Trial www.greenindustrypros.com/21033001

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NEW PRODUCTS

Venieri Earthmoving Equipment Arrives in the U.S. Applied Machinery Sales now offers VF-Venieri front loaders, backhoe loaders, articulated backhoe loaders and compact minis in the U.S. market. According to the company, Venieri machines come equipped with: • Power, operator efficiency, balance, stability and safety.

• Four- or six-cylinder turbo-cooled diesel engines.

• Hydrostatic transmissions, Z front-bar linkages, inching brake pedals, balanced weight distribution and frame-mounted rear oscillating axles, depending on the model and type of loader.

• An enclosed cab with 360-degree visibility to minimize blind spots.

• An efficient ventilation system with automatic and manual climate control.

• Sound-absorbent materials and special anti-vibration rubber shock absorbers to ensure optimum operator comfort.

• Optimized ergonomics and a compact footprint. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027401

Battling On-the-Road Distractions PRO-DEFENSE courses from Instructional Technologies Inc. (ITI) help drivers battle distractions on the road. The defensive driving program addresses the increasing amount and types of distractions that professional drivers face on the road. The company says the structured system includes eight courses introducing seven concepts: • Distraction avoidance.

Instant communication and information systems in today’s vehicles are a leading cause of distracted driving.

• Effective communication. Driving predictably, as well as reading the intentions of other

motorists, can help ensure safety.

• Fatigue management. Fatigued driving can have a serious impact on reaction times and the ability to operate safely.

• Evaluating space. Creating a safety zone and constantly checking surroundings can help avoid collisions.

• Navigating hazards. Awareness of low clearances, merging lanes, and changing conditions means being aware of surroundings.

• Speed management. Driving at a safe speed for road and environmental conditions is key to avoiding crashes.

• Essential planning. From interstates to city streets to customer locations, maximizing safety requires effective planning every day. www.greenindustrypros.com/12362391

Rewarding Pros Who Go Above and Beyond with Their Work LawnStarter recently released a new feature that allows consumers to tip their lawn care pro through its technology platform that connects consumers to local lawn care professionals. The system additionally delivers: • An optional way for consumers to reward professionals who go above and beyond with their work—LawnStarter says 91 percent of its surveyed customers indicated they would like a tipping capability.

• The flexibility to customize a tip to match what the consumer thinks the lawn care pro earned.

• Delivery of the entire tip, less credit card processing fees, to maximize the profitability of LawnStarter professionals.

• Compatibility with the LawnStarter mobile app or web platform. www.greenindustrypros.com/ 12429369

The Whole Maintenance and Overhaul Kit and Caboodle Maintenance kits for lawn mowers and other small engines are among more than 325 new items in Rotary’s 2018 catalog. Maintenance kits are a quick and easy way to keep engines performing at maximum efficiency before, during and after the season. The catalog additionally highlights: • Availability of maintenance kits for many brands, including Briggs & Stratton, Kawasaki and Kohler.

• Maintenance kits with up to 10 items, including an air filter, pre-filter, oil filter, fuel filter, hose clamps, spark plugs and oil.

• Overhaul kits with all of the parts commonly required to rebuild engines—including oil seals, intake and exhaust valves, gasket sets, piston assemblies and connecting rods—for a variety of small engines, including Briggs & Stratton, Clinton, Kohler and Tecumseh models.

• More than 9,500 parts, tools and accessories for outdoor power equipment. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027384

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Excavator Stump Pullers with Extended Service Life Solesbee’s Equipment designed its excavator stump puller attachment with high-strength alloy steel and replaceable wear tips to extend service life by allowing operators to simply change out the tips as opposed to purchasing an entirely new stump puller.

According to the company, the attachment, known as the Stumper, additionally provides: • The efficient extraction of stumps of all sizes.

• The ability to increase production by as much as 30 percent compared to other land-clearing methods, such as bucket attachments, bulldozing and forestry mowing.

• Two shanks that easily cut through roots so operators can remove stumps without displacing a large amount of dirt, which means backfilling and leveling take less time.

• A curved shank design to increase the breakout force for slicing through tough surfaces when extracting forestry material.

• Claws on the back of each shank to push stumps away from the excavator, enabling operators to better position stumps and other materials.

• Suitability for 15- to 40-ton excavators.

• The flexibility to be paired with Solesbee’s excavator thumbs to lift and stack stumps, limbs and debris, and Solesbee’s quick coupler to make attachment changes fast and easy.

• A two-year warranty.

A Battle Ax of a Skid-Steer Mulching Attachment Loftness says it recently released the Battle Ax horizontal drum mulcher for skid steers with: • A two-stage cutting chamber to permit material to be cut twice by the rotor and help produce some of the smallest particle sizes in the industry.

• A staggered tooth pattern to ensure single-tooth contact with the work surface at all times.

• 61- and 71-inch cutting widths for skid steers with 50 to 120 hydraulic horsepower.

• A 17-inch-diameter rotor with built-in depth gauges, which function similarly to raker teeth on chain saws to prevent the attachment from engaging too much material at one time.

• An adjustable primary shear bar for customizing particle sizes.

• Availability with two hydraulic motor options—a fixeddisplacement gear motor that operates at a constant RPM, and provides an optimal balance between speed and torque, or a variable-displacement piston motor that automatically shifts the rotor RPM from the highest speed to a lower range for increased torque as needed.

• A design optimized for use with all cutting teeth, which are mounted to the rotor with a single hex bolt for easy removal on the jobsite.

• Universal skid-steer mounting and adjustable skid shoes from 0.5 to -1.5 inches for below-grade mulching.

www.greenindustrypros.com/ 21025770

Carry this Three-in-One Backpack Vacuum Anywhere Milwaukee Tool recently unveiled its M18 FUEL three-in-one backpack vacuum to bring performance, portability and versatility to jobsite cleanups. The company says the vacuum boasts: • A POWERSTATE brushless motor and cyclonic design to deliver powerful suction, while remaining up to three times quieter than traditional jobsite vacuums at only 76 dBA. • A quick-release removable harness, integrated canister hook and handle to allow users to wear, hang and carry the vacuum anywhere.

• 55 CFM, 76 inches of water lift and 159 air watts to clean up drywall dust, concrete dust, wood/metal shavings and other jobsite debris quicker and more efficiently.

• The ability to empty the debris bin—in seconds—at the touch of button.

• An M18 REDLITHIUM HD9.0 battery pack with a runtime of up to 25 minutes on high mode and more than 40 minutes on low.

• A capacity of 1 gallon. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027409

• An adjustable push bar with welded claw hooks and an integrated pressure gauge.

• Efficient vegetation management, including right-of-way maintenance, land clearing, forestry applications and more. www.greenindustrypros.com/21026253

Edger Offers Smooth Blade Engagement The Brave BRPE105H lawn edger comes equipped with: • A 10-inch double-sided blade and an all-steel cutter head.

• An easy all-inclusive operator hand control for smooth blade engagement, belt tension and depth control.

• Four steel-hubbed wheels with ball bearings for better maneuverability and stability.

• Sealed bearings for extended life and durability • Honda power. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027412

www.greenindustrypros.com

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE

By Angie Mellor

DECK THE HALLS— A Lawn Care Company with All the Trimmings Lawn Care Specialists has provided its customers and community with a commitment to consistent service for every season for the last 38 years.

H

ow does a landscaping business not only stay profitable, but also earn new business once the cold weather arrives? If you’re the founder and CEO of Lawn Care Specialists of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Joe Bilskemper, you do it with Christmas Decor, quality employee training, environmentally friendly practices and the highest level of commitment to serving clients.

Green Industry in the Blood

These insights and practices are the culmination of Bilskemper’s 38 years of experience in the green industry. After completing a double major in sociology and religious studies at Viterbo University, it wasn’t long before Bilskemper started his own business.

“I worked one year as a greenskeeper,” Bilskemper remembers. “I noticed that people in Madison and Milwaukee were doing lawn care, so the next year, I said, ‘I’ll start a lawn care business.’” Bilskemper was no stranger to the green industry. In addition to his college education, he also gained valuable knowledge and experience by spending his childhood working with his father. “My dad was a landscaper, so I was rolling sod when I was 10 years old,” he explains.

Armed with his work background and fresh from his studies, Bilskemper started the first full-time lawn care service in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1978. “I bought the spray truck, went to some seminars, talked to people, and started with a commercial mower and a small mower. I eventually sold off my mowing interests to a competitor, then just got down to fertilization, weed control and insecticides,” he says.

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Seasonal Specialties

Lawn Care Specialists offers those traditional lawn care services, but once the regular season wraps up, the technicians stay busy by helping area homeowners prepare for the holidays. The company is a franchisee of Christmas Decor, a firm that specializes in the design consultation, complete installation, proactive maintenance, and timely removal of holiday lights

and displays. Lawn Care Specialists provides Christmas Decor services to the cities of Sparta and Tomah, and the counties of La Crosse and Winona, with Winona County residing just over the border in Minnesota.

This year, the company hung its first lights on October 21. “We stop spraying lawns one day and, the next day, we’re hanging Christmas lights,” Bilskemper declares. “We do all the

Lawn Care Specialists acts as a Christmas Decor franchise in the off season. The lawn care company’s CEO Joe Bilskemper stands by a Christmas Decor-bedecked truck.

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tough jobs first—the ones with two stories you have to hang lights on. We want to get those high roofs done before the snow flies and the ice comes.” Most recently, the TIM JONES, JOE BILSKEMPER, GENE FAGA, company lit up trees, hung GENERAL MANAGER FOUNDER & CEO HYDROSEEDING MANAGER lit garland and big red bows, and displayed meteor lights lawn care customers who have never ground and what I’ve learned over time, for the Lights over North La Crosse heard of Christmas Decor or have I do open-book tests with the techs, so opening ceremony at Copeland Park. been thinking about it, or we get when they get in that room, the knowlChristmas Decor customers have somebody who is a Christmas Decor edge just comes to them and they pass.” their own boxes of decorations stored customer who may also choose to use Bilskemper believes that, once the at Lawn Care Specialists and each our lawn care services,” technicians pass the box is fully inspected prior to use.

Bilskemper notes. As exam, their education “We want Technicians test the lights and replace an additional incentive really begins. “After they to keep our any bulbs if necessary before going for using both services, pass, we send them out customers to hang them. “It’s an important part customers who use with our lead manager, of our business now and it’s a good Christmas Decor and Tim Jones. He spends not for one break for the guys,” Bilskemper says. sign up for a year of lawn a week with them.” season, “They get to do something different.” service get their first According to Bilskemper, not for one Not only does Christmas Decor give lawn treatment free.

“Tim goes over everyemployees a change of pace, but it also treatment— thing—from how to provides new business for the busy Training hang an invoice on the we want to season. “We have customers who are Technicians door to how to pull the keep them to Serve hose out to how to spray In addition to keeping a lawn, where to start, forever.” busy during the off where to end and how – Joe season, Bilskemper to put your flags out.”

Bilskemper, credits quality techTechnicians are also nician training and trained to hold a high Lawn Care education as one aspect standard of service Specialists of Lawn Care Specialists’ through communication success. The company with customers. When boasts eight full-time licensed technia customer calls, Bilskemper instructs cians, some of which Bilskemper has his employees to return the call before personally coached through the state leaving for the night or, at the very licensing test. “With my teaching backleast, within 24 hours. Moreover, he encourages them to strike up conversations as they work.

“We tell techs: If the customer comes out and is watching you, take the time to say hi and get to know them.

If they have a comBeing a Christmas Decor franchisee offers Lawn Care Specialists employees a change of pace in the winter.

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CONTRACTOR PROFILE

plaint, we’ll provide a free treatment.

We want to keep our customers not for one season, not for one treatment—we want to keep them forever,” he says.

Less Pesticide Use, More Sustainable Practices

Along with training his employees properly, Bilskemper believes that part of his commitment to customer service is in the green equipment and procedures he uses. For instance, Lawn Care Specialists uses the Gregson-Clark Eco-505 injection system to spray lawns.

This system consists of a spray gun with two separate tanks and hoses, one of which is attached to the fertilizer, while a much smaller hose is attached to the weed-killer tank. This allows the technician to spray weed killer in small amounts only where weeds are already present. “In the old days, that technology was not available, so we used to just blanket every lawn with weed killer. But this system has reduced our use of pesticide by 50 percent,” Bilskemper says.

Lawn Care Specialists also invested in reusing and recycling water from the tanks by installing a catch basin.

“When the techs wash their trucks at the end of the day, the water that comes off the truck can contain trace

Lawn Care Specialists technicians recycle the water from washing their trucks to use in the truck’s tank the next day.

amounts of pesticides. The water hits the floor, goes through the drainage system, travels down into an underground tank and gets pumped out into a separate tank. It doesn’t go into the city sewer,” Bilskemper clarifies. “After the water has been pumped, and cut with fresh water and a rinse aid, we use it to fill the trucks the next day, so it’s always being recycled and reused.”

A Commitment to Customer Care

While employee training and sustainable practices contribute to keeping customers satisfied, Bilskemper also hosts a customer appreciation day and the Lawn Care Specialists’ Cup, a golf tournament in the La Crosse area community to treat and educate his cus-

As a franchisee, Lawn Care Specialists incentivizes its Christmas Decor customers to become lawn care customers with a free lawn treatment with the purchase of a year’s worth of services.

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tomers instead of spending money on advertising. This year marked the 25th golf tournament, which Bilskemper started to connect with the local golfing community and promote the benefits of turf grass. “Turf grass does a lot of good things for the environment that people don’t really realize. It cools the earth, takes in carbon dioxide, gives off oxygen, traps dust and pollutants in the air, beautifies the landscape and acts as a fire retardant,” he notes.

In addition to providing food, drink and fun, Bilskemper uses these events as an opportunity to hear from and connect with his customers. “We get people to come [to our events] and they tell their neighbors, then a neighbor tells a neighbor. We don’t spend any money on advertising today. Not a cent,” he claims. “In this industry, the battle is won on the ground. You need boots on the ground going out and completing the work. You have to be committed to stick with this.”

As CEO and owner of Lawn Care Specialists, Bilskemper takes pride in the company and reputation he’s built. “People recognize me. They know I’m going to answer the phone and call them back, and that’s very important to me,” he says. After all these years in the industry, Bilskemper isn’t quitting any time soon either.

“When you first start out, you struggle, but I’ve been at it for 38 years and I have no intention of retiring.”

Angie Mellor teaches communications and writing classes at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin, while freelance writing and editing.

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SUPPLIER PROFILE

By Gregg Wartgow

Faster Bidding with Far Less Hassle

Web-based tools can help speed up the estimating and proposal-building process for landscape contractors, resulting in less cost, happier customers and more time to focus on other areas of the business.

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andscape contractors should always look for ways to save time on laborious, unbillable tasks that not only add cost, but also fail to add value for the customer. The estimating and proposal-building process is a chief example. That’s not to say it isn’t important. In fact, competitive prices and a healthy bottom line depend on meticulous attention to detail. But when you look at the traditional ways many contractors estimate and bid, there is often a tremendous amount of redundancy, inefficiency and wasted time.

Go iLawn’s built-in tools allow quick and accurate online property measurements.

Anything that can be seen in the image can be measured or counted.

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Measuring Properties Online Property measuring is one of the first things that comes to mind. Mike Rorie, CEO of GIS Dynamics, knows this well.

He was a successful landscape company owner before joining GIS Dynamics in 2010. GIS Dynamics is the creator of Go iLawn, a web-based tool that allows users to measure properties remotely.

“If a prospective new client called from 20 miles away asking for a price, the first thing you’d probably want to do is drive there to take some measurements with a measuring wheel,” Rorie says. “When you’re using Go iLawn, on the other hand, you can look at photos of the property right when you’re having that first phone conversa-

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tion with the client. You can have the property measured in less time than it would take to drive out to the property.”

Through the use of high-resolution aerial photography, Go iLawn allows users to view properties online. Users can then capture accurate measurements and make notations using Go iLawn’s built-in tools. “Anything you see in an image can be measured and counted,” Rorie points out.

Back in 2009, when Go iLawn was first introduced, devices like smart-

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in the office doing all of the bidding and prospecting. I need this tool.”

The prospecting component is important to mention. Online measuring tools can help contractors scope out properties they’d like to pursue as new clients. Having insights on a property when first reaching out to a prospective new client can give the contractor a nice head start. This is especially the case when high-quality aerial images are in hand. The client sees a level of preparedness and professionalism that is rather unique.

Image Quality Is Key Nearmap’s built-in tools allow users to quickly and accurately measure lengths and widths.

phones and iPads were a novelty. Thus, Go iLawn was initially developed as a web-based tool for computers. Now an updated version is available that is designed to work on mobile devices.

“The new Go iLawn still has all of the same features as the original, such as the high-resolution aerial photography, and measuring, labeling and color-coding tools,” Rorie says. “Only now, everything is cloud-based.”

An Australian company offers a similar type of online measuring tool. Nearmap, which has had a U.S. presence in Utah for the past five years, caters to roofing, real estate and utility industries. But Mike St. Louis, Nearmap’s director of marketing and demand generation, says landscaping is another important market for the growing company.

“We did our first Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) in October,” St. Louis says. “It was great.

We generated a lot of really solid leads.”

Many of the leads were from smaller, family-oriented landscape firms in which the owners wear several hats. St. Louis says that, on more than one occasion, a wife would say, “You’re in the field doing the work all day, but I’m back

Some landscape contractors assume that free services, such as Google Earth, can provide the images and image quality they need.

According to St. Louis, nothing could be further from the truth.

Nearmap contracts with pilots who fly the country to capture aerial photos. The small fixed-wing planes are equipped with proprietary high-definition camera systems. “These cameras capture images that are four times the clarity of satellite images,” St. Louis points out. “The pilots fly two or three times per year so images are always up to date. They capture approximately 430 metropolitan areas, which is roughly 72 percent of the U.S. population.”

Nearmap images are offered in three views—vertical (top-down), panorama and oblique—providing users with a kind of 3D look at a property. Similarly, Go iLawn imagery is provided in five views: top-down, North, South, East and West.

“Go iLawn purchases its imagery from a company called Pictometry,” which also shoots high-resolution photography from low-flying planes, according to Rorie. “The five views we get are far superior to satellite imagery, which only provides a top-down view,” he continues.

Making Use of Online Measurements

With online property-measuring tools, contractors still need to have

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a good handle on their production numbers. For instance, Go iLawn or Nearmap can help measure the different elements of a property, but in order to accurately estimate the job, the contractor needs to understand how long it takes to complete different tasks relative to the measurements.

An online measuring tool makes a lot of sense for landscape maintenance and lawn care contractors. Holiday lighting companies can benefit since they are in need of measurements, such as tree and shrub quantities and heights, roof dimensions and gutter lengths, as well. Snow removal contractors can also benefit since they are primarily interested in parking lot dimen“The point sions, driveway is that the and sidewalk lengths, etc. busy owner/ Annotation operator tools allow doesn’t contractors to specify, for have to instance, where spend snow should so much be piled on an image. time birdLikewise, dogging irrigation conall of these tractors can note where lines are go-sees.” running and – Mike sprinkler heads Rorie, GIS are located, complete with Dynamics dimensions.

“You can export a property image with those objects on top,” St. Louis explains. Those images can then serve as site maps to help crew leaders better manage projects. Additionally, images from Nearmap can be brought into certain design software to serve as the base layer of a landscape design.

New App Aims to Alleviate Design/Build Pain Points

Landscape design can be another time-consuming, laborious task. Shayna Orr knows this as well as anybody.

After earning a master’s degree in land-

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SUPPLIER PROFILE

scape architecture from the University of Oklahoma, Orr moved to San Diego and began working for a large landscape architecture firm. She didn’t like the fact that she was spending most of her time behind a desk, so she eventually took a different job as a designer and sales representative for a smaller paver company.

In search of a more efficient way to handle the design and proposal process, Orr began building an app for personal use. Once she started showing it to others, she realized that many landscaping professionals shared the same pain points with the process she was experiencing: sketch a design on paper, meet with clients to look at catalogs, finetune the design and produce a proposal, meet with the client again to discuss the proposal, often revise the proposal based on budgetary needs, redraw the sketch and recalculate the proposal, and repeat as many times as necessary.

This process is not only time-consuming, but it can also become drawn out over a long period of time, which is rarely good for the client or the pro.

Orr calls her solution BIDNANO, as in “bids in a nanosecond” or “really fast bids.” Using the BIDNANO app, users can draw designs on a tablet or even a smartphone, so any future revisions can be made electronically—and easily.

One interesting feature is that users can select materials from a prepopulated catalog broken down by category, i.e., hardscapes, lighting, turf, pebbles, fencing, plants, trees, mulch, etc. Once the different materials are selected, the user can begin sketching the design and pulling in different elements. Different types of materials can also be color-coded so they are easily identified on the sketch.

The per-unit pricing associated with each type of material is automati-

cally populated in the client proposal tool. Measurements and quantities are also automatically calculated because the sketch is to scale. BIDNANO then calculates the total price of each line item while also tallying a total proposal price as the design is built.

Like with online measuring tools, a landscape company does have some back-end work to do. In the case of BIDNANO, materials and pricing need to be entered into the app. Orr says her company can assist with that for a fee. However, she says it is not a very complicated process. Material vendors should also be eager to assist by providing electronic price files, which can be easily uploaded into BIDNANO. “The other thing is that we’re already assembling a large database of common landscape products,” Orr points out.

“So then a user would just have to customize pricing for different items.”

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Saving Time Is a Good Investment

Orr is investing her own money to develop the BIDNANO prototype. She is also talking with investors, but is striving to refrain from going down that path.

To make BIDNANO commercially available in 2019, Orr is instead conferring with dozens of landscape companies about pre-ordering. She’s hoping for roughly 75 customers to pre-order. As of early November, she was feeling confident about getting there, although she wasn’t really surprised. After all, she personally experienced the time savings of BIDNANO. She could see from the beginning what a good investment it could be for landscape contractors.

Rorie and St. Louis can say the same about online property-measuring tools. For a relatively modest

BIDNANO users can sketch a landscape design directly on a tablet computer or even a smartphone.

monthly investment, the savings and overall benefits really add up— regardless of company size.

For smaller companies, the owner could delegate the task of taking calls, qualifying properties and captur-

ing measurements. “The point is that the busy owner/operator doesn’t have to spend so much time bird-dogging all of these go-sees,” Rorie suggests.

For larger companies that are more systems-driven, a web-based measuring tool creates speed and consistency.

“Large companies often order up the addresses they want measured and have the images sent directly to their estimator,” Rorie says. “Then the estimator does the measuring before sending it on to the salesperson to do the final pricing and negotiating.”

Landscaping is still a people business, though. Online measuring tools and design/build apps aren’t going to completely replace site visits and faceto-face interaction. But they can help landscaping professionals save time and fuel, improve the customer experience, and get ahead of the game—not to mention the competition. ❯

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SPECIAL FOCUS: THEFT PREVENTION

By Carrie Mantey

Equipment on Lockdown

Use a variety of security solutions in lockstep to help prevent landscaping equipment theft and mitigate loss.

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re you operating under a false sense of security? Ironically, it’s easier to see the weaknesses in your equipment security after someone steals you blind. With that being said, however, security options abound to help protect your equipment and mitigate business losses due to equipment theft—surveillance cameras, fencing, locks and lockboxes, equipment-tracking devices and more.

If you are envisioning the gaps in your security strategy right now, it’s time to start visualizing a way to plug them. With landscaping equipment thefts on the rise, one gap is too many since the theft of a piece of equipment can devastate a landscape contractor’s business or cripple an equipment dealer’s bottom line.

According to Andrew Ewig, a marketing manager at Briggs & Stratton, “Our most recent research suggests that nearly 50 percent of dealers have experienced equipment theft, while only 20 percent were able to recover those assets. The losses can total tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Because of the mobility of the equipment and the usual traffic of trailers in a dealer’s lot, the theft can occur quickly and often right under their nose. Landscape professionals are no different, with units being removed from their lots, sheds or trailers. But for them, it’s a double-edged sword.

Not only are they out thousands of dollars from the loss of their asset, but they are now unable to work or service their customers. Their livelihood has literally been taken away.”

Under Lock and Key

“One big step that contractors and equipment dealers can take to prevent theft is keeping their equipment and trailers locked up when they are not

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being used,” advises Jason Buckles, a sales account manager at STRATTEC Security, the manufacturer of BOLT locks. “Thieves tend to go to targets of opportunity, so if they see that your equipment is locked up, they are going to move onto an easier target.”

That seems like a simple enough theft-prevention solution—lock up your

equipment and vehicles when not in use—but some landscape contractors forego locking up on the jobsite because it’s inefficient. Because each lock requires a different key, there’s always a scramble to locate the right key for every piece of machinery that needs to be accessed throughout the day, which can be time-consuming. To simplify the process so operators don’t avoid locking up in the first place, STRATTEC developed one-key lock technology—one key that fits all locks. The technology permanently programs each lock to an ignition key upon the first insertion and rotation, making it easy for personnel to follow protocol because they don’t have to shuffle through a whole set of keys to secure equipment and vehicles.

“Do you want convenience or security?” asks Buckles. “With most theft-prevention solutions, you have to pick. If the equipment can be conveniently accessed, easily taken out and

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used, it is not very secure. If you lock it down with extra chains and have additional locks on your trailers, while the equipment is secure, it is not very convenient to use. BOLT offers a convenient, but secure option. By working with the vehicle key, you can have as many locks as you’d like to be secure, but with the convenience of only having one key to open all of your locks.”

The company offers an extensive range of locks to fit most applications, including a 2-inch padlock for locking toolboxes, trailer doors, gates and more; a cable lock for locking up mowers, generators or even coolers; and  STRATTEC more specialized Security’s BOLT locks, “such as our family of locks off-vehicle coupler works with your lock, which is perfect vehicle key. for locking up trailers when they are not attached to your truck,” Buckles specifies. “Whether it is keeping equipment locked up with a cable lock in the bed of their truck to towing an enclosed trailer with padlocks keeping the doors shut, BOLT has the right lock for landscape contractors.”

Another straightforward solution that may appeal to landscape contractors who transport expensive gear or important documents out in the field is a lockbox, which can be outfitted on vehicles or even the landscaping equipment out in the field. A well-hidden lockbox can keep critical information and other belongings not only out of sight, but also out of mind for would-be opportunity-seekers on the jobsite. Many different sizes of lockboxes can accom-

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modate everything from paperwork and electronic devices to small engines or trimmers, according to Eric Kuhlman, Tuffy Security Products’ director of sales.

“Small business owners like landscape contractors must constantly leave vehicles out in public areas.

Making sure nothing of value is visible from outside a vehicle can help make a thief decide to move on to a more lucrative target,” explains Kuhlman.

“Contractors and small business owners are always on the road and their vehicles are quite often their second homes. Most carry business documents, paperwork and electronic devices that have sensitive customer information. These items are exactly what thieves are looking for … stolen laptops can be sold for quick cash, but the information on them are just like gold. The last thing a small business owner needs to deal with is explaining to customers how their personal information was compromised.”

Equipment Monitoring to Steal the Limelight

Ewig believes that landscaping equipment owners are evolving from some of the more traditional security solutions, such as locks and lockboxes, to closed-circuit security systems and, even more recently, to asset-monitoring solutions. For example, Briggs & Stratton launched InfoHub for Commercial Turf for landscape contractors last year and InfoHub for Dealers for their demo fleets this year.

Ewig says InfoHub equipment-tracking technology, which is compatible with gas- and diesel-powered equipment and vehicles, works like this: “The device attaches to the equipment’s engine or vehicle dashboard, and delivers a real-time signal back to its owner.

That signal identifies the precise GPS

 Fleet Services from Husqvarna can help track equipment to its last known location to facilitate recovery.  Tuffy Security lockboxes can help keep the valuables in your vehicle out of sight from opportunistic jobsite thieves.

coordinates of the unit, and into information that can be used to whether or not the equipment is help boost productivity. This cloudmoving or idle, or if the engine based system connects landscape is operating. The result of this contractors with their entire fleet smart technology is the ability of machines directly to an online to see and prevent unauthorized portal or mobile app via Bluetooth, use or suspicious activity. For instance, enabling them to have insights into should a piece of equipment turn on their operations at their fingertips. or move outside of business hours, an Fleet Services can help track lost email or text alert is delivered to the equipment to the last known location owner with precise location information to facilitate the recovery of equipment so the asset can be located.” left on jobsites and to alert conSimilarly, InfoHub for tractors that equipment may Dealers offers geofencing have been stolen. As soon as to trigger alerts when demo the sensor is within Bluetooth Making sure or loaner equipment leaves range of the app on an operator’s nothing of the property, so the dealer phone, its location is registered value is knows the virtual perimand can be seen on the app’s visible from eter was breached. Ewig says map, always providing landscape outside a the solution enables equipcontractors with an overview vehicle can ment dealers “to monitor so lost or stolen equipment can help make a the location and operations immediately be identified based thief decide of their demo fleet through on location, and then retrieved. to move on to InfoHub instead of clipEwig suggests that, beyond a more boards, paper logs or word new locking systems and locklucrative of mouth. InfoHub delivboxes, and beyond equipment ers peace of mind that assets target. monitoring technology, landare where they need to be. scape contractors and equipment [After all,] dealers’ demo dealers should first get practi– Eric Kuhlman, Tuffy Security Products and loaner fleets can be the cal about their security, then difference in keeping or get creative. “Be vigilant, and losing a commercial customer. When create checks and balances. Some of a landscaper’s unit goes down, it’s the preventive solutions are simple, but the dealer’s loaner that keeps his or not always implemented. For dealers, her business from shutting down.” detailed checkout logs for demo units Comparable to InfoHub, Fleet help with accountability. For landServices, which Husqvarna is launchscapers, keep units in closed trailers or ing in early 2019, captures the machine storage sheds, and secure your property status data of the outdoor power with gates. And get creative. Sometimes product to which a small wireless even a simple security sign or sticker sensor is mounted, and translates it on an asset can help to deter theft.” ❯

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BEYOND THE BLADE

By Jason Hargraves

Is Your Landscaping Business at Risk?

Landscaping companies need multiple types of insurance for complete coverage.

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wning your own landscaping company can be a smart way to turn your green thumb into a cash cow. Armed with just a lawn mower, edger and leaf blower, you can set out to cover the basic needs of your would-be customers this spring.

What you may forget among all of that lawn equipment, however, are your insurance needs. Even if you are just mowing lawns for a couple of neighbors, you need at least the most basic insurance coverage.

Why? It can mean the difference between success and failure as any unexpected event can tip the scales against a small company.

“Failure to insure against key liability risks is especially dangerous for small businesses,” says Loretta Worters, vice president of communications for the Insurance Information Institute. “You don’t have the financial resources of a big company to back you up in the event of a client lawsuit.”

Business Owner’s Policy Insurance

So now you know why your lawn care or landscaping business needs insurance, but where should you start? First, try a business owner’s policy. This type of policy is a cost-effective way to obtain the coverage you need in a single package instead of buying single policies for each of your insurance needs.

General liability is the most important component of a business owner’s

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policy for a landscaper. It covers expenses associated with bodily injury, property damage, personal injury and even advertising injury. If you have a very small business, then $300,000 in general liability should cover you and is considered a good starting point when thinking about basic insurance coverage.

Although a business owner’s policy covers many of your basic needs, lawn maintenance companies and landscapers should also consider additional types of coverage.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Lawn care professionals provide services as opposed to selling a product, so occasionally, customers who are unhappy with the service may sue your company for damages, contending you injured them financially with an act of negligence, error or omission.

Errors and omissions liability coverage pays for the legal costs

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and damages connected to such lawsuits, which can help protect your business and financial security.

Even if you’re never sued, having “Failure to insure errors and omissions liability against key coverage can give liability risks you a leg up on is especially the competition.

“More and more dangerous for clients require the small businesses. professionals they You don’t have hire to carry errors and omissions the financial insurance,” Worters resources of a says. “You may risk big company to losing the opportunity for a new back you up in the project without it.”

event of a client lawsuit.”

—Loretta Worters, Insurance Information Institute

Commercial Auto Insurance

You should also consider commercial auto insurance

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Many lawn companies transform themselves into snow removal companies.

That makes business sense, but make sure you have the right insurance for that, too.

because you likely are transporting equipment to the jobsite. Your personal policy is not going to cover you if you are traveling for work.

How many vehicles do you use in your business and who is going to be driving them? Your policy rates could be impacted by the driving records of those who use them on a regular basis.

You also may be required by state law to carry auto liability insurance as part of your lawn care business insurance. This pays for medical treatments for those injured by your vehicles, as well as for any property damage your vehicle causes.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Most states require companies with a certain number of employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance in case workers are killed or injured on the job.

Landscapers need general liability insurance to protect them against claims that something they did or

failed to do on a job injured someone.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers both acute and chronic occupational injuries and diseases.

An example of an acute injury is: A lawn maintenance worker falls through a metal grate and wrenches his knee, necessitating emergency surgery and long-term orthopedics.

An example of an occupational injury is: A secretary suffers a repetitive stress injury to his thumbs after typing eight hours a day for 12 years; he has to undergo surgery, therapy and rehabilitation.

Additional Insurance Needs Lawn maintenance and landscaping businesses are unique because owners can easily take on a commercial job or perhaps be asked to do a light masonry project.

That sounds simple, but doing commercial work could require a much higher liability policy that offers coverage in the millions.

Also, that masonry work could be excluded from your current policy.

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And don’t forget the changing seasons. Mowing and edging can keep you busy in the spring or summer, but what about winter? Many lawn companies transform themselves into snow removal companies. That makes business sense, but make sure you have the right insurance for that, too.

Always explain any new business or expansion of your company to your insurer before you take action. If not, you could be putting your business at risk. ❯ Jason Hargraves is a managing editor at insuranceQuotes, which publishes indepth studies, data and analysis related to auto, home, health, life and business insurance. He studies the insurance industry in order to direct and oversee the management of editorial content that provides trusted tips, advice and insights for consumers. A veteran reporter, editor and content creator, Hargraves has covered business, personal finance and consumer trends at major daily newspapers and consumer-driven publications, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Times and Angie’s List.

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GIE+EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

Tackle Dirt and Grime from the Gutter to the Driveway STIHL designed its RB 400 Dirt Boss pressure washer to deliver:

10 Percent More Pulling Force than its Predecessor

• An output of 2,700 PSI of water pressure at 2.7 GPM with a 196-cc, 6.5-HP engine.

• An easy-start pump system that eliminates hard pulls and difficult starts.

• A detergent injector system to easily add detergents to the washer for efficient cleaning.

• 10-inch pneumatic tires with a rugged steel hub for frequent use, and optimal mobility and portability.

• 25 feet of flexible no-kink hose to minimize the need to relocate while working.

• A comfortable spray gun with a rubberized reverse pull trigger to reduce user fatigue.

• A combined on/off and fuel valve control for easy, no-mess transport.

• A four-point vibration isolation system to increase longevity.

• Stainless steel high-pressure nozzles and a brass detergent nozzle to resist corrosion and wear.

• A convenient two-piece lance and gun assembly.

• Suitability for heavy cleaning jobs on the deck, the house or even lawn equipment.

• Compatibility with a wide range of optional accessories for maximum utility.

The new Avant 530 loader comes equipped with: • Two-speed drive motors, making long-distance driving faster and more comfortable.

• A maximum speed of 19 KPH and 10 percent more pulling force than the company’s 528 models.

• A small enough profile to fit in many kinds of working environments, so it’s easy and efficient to use and store.

• A 26-HP engine that transports cargo to a height of 2.8 meters and complies with Tier 4 Final/Tier 5 emissions standards.

• A user-friendly design due to the rigid articulation joint, seat on the front frame and hydrostatic four-wheel drive.

• A light weight to facilitate transportation between locations. www.greenindustrypros.com/21029557

Unprecedented Aeration Productivity at 42,550 Square Feet per Hour Billy Goat says its Next Gen 25-inch PLUGR provides up to 42,550 square feet of aeration per hour in a single pass, as well as: • Variable Aeration Density technology to vary hole spacing from 8 to 45 holes per square foot, so operators can pull plugs at the density suited for turf conditions.

• A reciprocating action that drives plugs up to twice the depth of drums.

• An estimated 30-plus percent greater return on investment versus traditional drum units.

• Performance in wet or dry conditions, maximizing productivity.

• EZ Lift n Drop tine engagement/disengagement to gently drag tines across obstacles in the aeration path with the simple release of a lever—all without interrupting aeration.

• An EZ Lift rear foot pedal that conveniently lifts and locks tines for added maneuverability when using the reverse feature or transporting the unit.

• A 40-pound-capacity water weight tank positioned directly over the tines for better aeration depth and wheel traction in drier conditions.

• The ability to produce 45 holes per square foot at 0.5 MPH for patch repair and seed bed prep.

• Self-propelled rear-wheel hydro-drive and frontwheel casters for ultimate in-ground turning.

• No-tool flip-up hoods to maximize interior machine and belt access for easy service.

• A 163-cc Honda or 203-cc Vanguard 200 engine.

www.greenindustrypros.com/21026203

Conditioning Turf to Handle Stress More Effectively Target Specialty Products recently launched Turf Fuel Cleanse for turf professionals to treat soil that displays signs of localized dry spots, poor infiltration or inferior soil health. According to the company, its advanced soil remediation product also offers: • The power to remove organic acid, restore natural hydration and increase infiltration.

• Soil Sync technology combined with a strong solvent to attack the hydrophobic organic acids responsible for localized dry spots.

• Key enzymes and secondary metabolites to promote healthy soil biology and root system development, while speeding up turf recovery.

• An improved rewetting capability and more robust biological portfolio for the treated soil.

• The ability to condition turf to handle stress more effectively.

www.greenindustrypros.com/21029821

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A Smooth Operator for Quiet Lawn Tractor Applications

JCB’s First Zero-Tailswing Compact Excavator in the 1- to 2-Ton Class The 18Z-1 compact excavator is JCB’s first zero-tailswing machine in the 1- to 2-ton class. Designed and manufactured for optimal durability, the compact excavator is also highlighted by: • An operating weight of 3,856 pounds.

• 500-hour greasing intervals to minimize operator burden and reduce downtime, making it ideal for landscaping.

• All-steel bodywork.

• Special pricing and offers to help you add a JCB machine to your fleet and potentially take advantage of Section 179 tax benefits before the end of the year. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027123

Kohler designed its 5400 Series single-cylinder engine to bring easy starting and quiet, smooth operation to lawn tractor applications. Other features include: • Consistent-Cut technology to maintain engine speed in tough conditions for a cleaner turf cut.

• Smart-Choke technology to allow users to just turn the key and go without having to prime or choke the engine.

• The ability to achieve between 17 and 19.5 HP. • The Triple-Balance System to reduce vibration.

• An inverted oil filter for dripless oil changes.

• Ergonomic quarter-turn knobs for easy access to the air filter for quick, tool-free replacements.

• A comprehensive three-year warranty. www.greenindustrypros.com/21026283

Hauler Handles the Toughest Heavy-Lifting Jobs

Ideal for Jobsites Involving Leveling and Slope Work John Deere recently made an exclusive onboard grade indication option available as a factory or field kit option on 330G and 332G large-frame G-Series skid steers, and 331G and 333G large-frame G-Series compact track loaders. Ideal for jobsites that involve leveling and slope work, this option offers: • The ability to accurately monitor and alter grades from the seat of the cab.

• An accurate real-time readout of the cross slope and mainfall slope on the main display monitor.

• The flexibility to easily configure the readout to display either percentages or degrees, depending on your preference.

• Absolute and relative slope readouts to provide enhanced information to the operator for specific applications.

• Ease of use so operators can take advantage of the technology without specialized training.

• Suitability for applications involving water drainage, general site preparation and clearing work. www.greenindustrypros.com/21025794

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Textron Specialized Vehicles recently unveiled its Cushman Hauler 4x4 to handle the toughest heavy-lifting jobs at your facility. The utility vehicle further grants: • A four-wheel-drive capability, 2,000-pound towing capacity, 1,500pound payload and 1,000-pound cargo box.

• Several storage locations, including behind and under the seat, and a glove box for transporting everyday gear, such as gloves, goggles and tools.

• A dash with a multi-function display that communicates vehicle performance and diagnostics.

• A quiet 50-HP gas engine or 25-HP diesel engine.

• Availability as a three-person vehicle, whereas the Hauler 4x4 Crew accommodates up to six people.

• Electronic power steering standard on Crew models and optional on three-passenger models.

• High-/low-beam headlights, LED brake lights and taillights, and a locking rear differential.

• Safety features, which include seat belts, doors and a rollover protection system, to protect your crew.

• Many options and accessories, such as a glass windshield, canopy, center seat console, under-seat storage, rearview mirror and more. www.greenindustrypros.com/21028524

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 23

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GIE+EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

Dual-Speed Control for the Right Speed when Needed

Tractor Can Help You Mow, Blow, Plow or Dig All Year Long

BOB-CAT recently released the QuickCat 4000 stand-on mower to complete its Next Generation line of commercial mowers. The company says its QuickCat 4000 comes equipped with: • Dual-speed control for up to 8-MPH cutting—and 10.5-MPH transport—for the right speed when needed.

• DuraDeck mowing decks—in 36-, 48-, 52- and 61-inch widths— with Double-Wave or Air-Gap baffles (on the 61-inch only) for accelerated airflow and improved cutting, as well as dual 10-gauge steel layers with 3- and 7-gauge reinforcements.

• A low center of gravity and low placement of the fuel tank for stability and balance on uneven ground, and traversing hills and slopes with ease.

• A compact design to better maneuver in tight spaces and more easily fit on crowded trailers.

• Thicker control levers to reduce vibration and a more robust pointof-reference bar for better zero-turn control.

• A deck lift that’s easier to use due to its two-position placement.

• Tool-free tracking adjustments to keep operators on the straight and narrow.

• An operator station designed for optimal center-of-mass stability.

• Front caster wheels measuring 13 by 6.5 inches for improved handling. www.greenindustrypros.com/21030194

YANMAR recently unveiled the BULL Series Brahma utility task vehicle (UTV) with its reliable three-cylinder diesel engine.

According to the company, the UTV is further characterized by: • A large, durable cargo bed, and greater payload and towing capacities to get the job done.

• Optimal ground clearance, handling and ride quality due to adjustable shock absorbers and long travel independent suspension.

• Availability of the base canopy model with a hard-top roof; semicab model with a partial enclosure and front windshield that includes a wiper system, a rear window and extra storage; and full-cabin model with weather-sealed door channels, storage, powered dump bed tilt, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that can keep occupants comfortable regardless of the season.

• Two individual bucket seats that can be complemented with a center console and additional storage options. www.greenindustrypros.com/21025731

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A Cut Above— Honda Takes on Sleek Minimalist Look

• The power to groom grass to a carpet-like finish, plus cut taller and thicker grass without stalling—saving time and wear on the engine.

• The Honda Versamow system that employs a lever to operate a sliding door between the mower deck and grass bag, allowing you to easily choose—or change—the preferred mowing option, whether bagging, mulching, or simultaneous bagging and mulching.

• Clip Director technology to facilitate the bagging, mulching, or simultaneous bagging and mulching of grass clippings in varying degrees through 10 separate settings.

• A setting for leaf shredding that recirculates leaves until they are small enough to pass into the rear-discharge grass bag.

• A streamlined engine layout that saves time by making it easier to fill the fuel tank, monitor and change the oil, and access the sparkplug and air cleaner.

• Modern styling and a sleek, aerodynamic design.

• Under-seat and side-access storage boxes.

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• The capability to handle a wide variety of attachments that can help you mow, blow, plow or dig all year long.

• A Quick-Hitch attachment system to facilitate switching between attachments, requiring just a few minutes and no tools.

• Optimal control, even on slopes of up to 30 degrees when equipped with dual tires on the front and rear axles.

• An oscillating frame, articulated steering and four-wheel drive.

• Optional accessories that include hand controls, a Level 2 suspension seat, a dual-wheel kit, a rear weight kit and more.

Honda Power redesigned its HRX Series residential lawn mowers with a GCV200 engine that delivers 10 percent more power and torque to the mower’s blades than the GCV190 it’s replacing, along with features that produce a clean, smooth cut. The company says its Honda HRX is also highlighted by:

New UTV Takes the Bull by the Horns

24 GREEN INDUSTRY PROS

New from Steiner is its 450DX tractor with an efficient 25-HP air-cooled engine and single-speed transmission. Other features of this all-season machine include:

www.greenindustrypros.com/21028938

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Cut-Off Machine Ideal for Limited-Access Cutting Applications The TS 440 STIHL Cutquik cut-off machine is a powerful choice for limited-access cuts and versatile enough for general construction. According to the company, the TS 440 is also highlighted by:

The new C245 Super Boom compact track loader offers the highest level of performance in a New Holland vertical-lift machine yet. The C245 Super Boom additionally boasts: • A rated operating capacity of 4,500 pounds and breakout force of 9,188 pounds.

• Up to 82 hydraulic HP and up to 40 GPM of hydraulic flow with the highflow option, so attachments that require lots of hydraulic horsepower and flow to work at peak performance work efficiently and quickly.

• A long forward-dump reach that can reach up and out to dump cleanly into the center of high-sided trucks and hoppers.

• The ability to empty the bucket faster and easier, increasing cycle times.

• Optimized visibility for a clear view of the jobsite with lots of cab glass and thin side screens.

• A comfortable cab with plenty of head and foot room for easy access in and out of the machine.

• Steel front work lights with side lamps for extra visibility during nighttime operations.

• Compatibility with high-flow, highperformance attachments like heavy-duty forestry cutters and mulchers, high-flow trenchers and augers, concrete and pavement saws, and more. www.greenindustrypros.com/ 21032060

www.greenindustrypros.com/21026226

NOW AVAILABLE!

NEW

PRECISION OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

þ No Maintenance þ No Downtime þ Up to 3x Longer Life

SAY GOODBYE TO FLATS, SEALANTS, PATCH KITS, AND SPARE TIRES

THE MICHELIN® X® TWEEL® TURF™ Airless Radial Tire Family for zero turn radius mowers

LEARN MORE!

New Holland’s Most Powerful VerticalLift Compact Track Loader

• Suitability for challenging cuts, such as bottom portions of walls, cutting in corners, and cutting the underside of in-ground pipes made of concrete, ductile iron, vitrified clay and steel, and in situations in which traditional cut-off machine guard positions limit cutting access.

• An expanded guard adjustability made possible by sensor-activated STIHL Quickstop wheel brake technology that’s capable of stopping the rotation of the cutting wheel in fractions of a second if kickback occurs and the resultant reduced risk of injury from kickback.

• A two-belt drive to deliver high torque to the wheel, reducing the chance of bogging when applying higher feed force.

• A top-handle design for a well-balanced and compact product, thereby increasing maneuverability.

• Electronic water control for easy and efficient water flow adjustment while cutting—the water control feature remembers the last setting, and water automatically stops at idle speed and starts again when the throttle is engaged.

• A virtually maintenance-free X2 air filtration system to maintain a 99.96 percent cleaning efficiency.

• The ElastoStart starter handle with a built-in shock absorber that helps reduce the effort needed when pulling on the starter cord.

• A STIHL anti-vibration system to help reduce operator fatigue and provide a more comfortable working experience.

Sunbelt Outdoor Products Phone: 1-800-438-0660 www.sunbeltparts.com A&I Products Phone: 1-800-657-4343 www.aiproducts.com

Visit www.greenindustrypros.com/10857096

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Pair the best tires on the market with the strongest blades on the market for maximum machine uptime. XHT™ and Predator™ blades with patented heat treating technology last longer and require less sharpening than competing products.

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GIE+EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

Blowers that Can Help Blow away the Competition

The Spider 3RIDER RemoteControlled Mower Can Give You a Lift Dvorak presents the Spider 3RIDER remote-controlled ride-on mower as the only option in its remotely operated portfolio to permit you to sit on and drive the machine. The Spider 3RIDER also boasts: • The flexibility to be operated by a seated driver on slopes of up to 15 degrees, but when the slope becomes too extreme, the operator can dismount, yet continue to control the mower by remote control from a safe position away from the machine.

• Three different steering options, including DANCE STEP steering to enable omni-directional mowing through the use of four-wheel drive and steering to move forward, sideways and backwards with unlimited continuous turning of all wheels through 360 degrees; a sophisticated steering mechanism that allows each wheel to be steered independently, so you can use different configurations for varying terrains; and zero-turn mode in which all four wheels can be positioned at 45 degrees, allowing the mower to turn around its vertical axis without damaging grass or terrain.

• A front-mounted deck measuring 5 feet, 3 inches that incorporates seven high-speed rotary motors and blades—the front row of four blades rotates in one direction, while the rear bank of three rotates in the other direction.

• A 24.9-HP Kubota diesel engine for a quality cut of 2.4 acres an hour.

• Axles independently attached to the main frame to allow the mower to articulate on uneven terrain and a floating mowing deck to follow the contours of the terrain.

• Simple and quick changeover to a mulching option.

ECHO says its PB-8010 backpack blower comes equipped with: • A 79.9-cc engine that achieves high blowing performance—1071 CFM and 211 MPH—with 44 newtons according to ANSI B175.2.

• 3.6-inch-diameter blower tubes with a ring on the end to prevent wear.

• An oversized pleated paper main filter and foam pre-filter for use in high-dust environments.

• A large 83.8-ounce fuel tank for long run times.

• A weight of 24.5 pounds, padded backpack straps and a padded backrest to keep things comfortable for all-day use.

• A carbon fiber plastic frame and fan case to reduce weight.

• Tool-less latches to ease in-field maintenance.

• A vented backpack frame to draw air across the user’s back to keep cool in hot weather and a block-off plate for cooler weather.

• Availability with a tube- or hip-mounted throttle. www.greenindustrypros.com/21026278

Catering to Mowing Conditions, Bagging Needs and Operator Preferences

www.greenindustrypros.com/21032080

Aerate and Overseed with the Same Machine

Kubota Tractor recently added three electronic fuel injection (EFI) commercial mowers to its Z700 family of gasoline zero-turn mowers—the Z751KWi with a 48-inch deck, the Z781KWi with a 54-inch deck and the Z781KWTi with a 60-inch deck—for a total of nine models to cater to landscapers’ preferences, mowing conditions and bagging needs. According to the company, the new EFI models also deliver: • An EFI system that adjusts high-pressure fuel delivery to optimize power and fuel efficiency.

• High performance without power loss—even when confronted by heavy workloads or uneven terrain.

• A suspension seat that allows you to customize the ride with a weight adjustment dial for comfort and less fatigue.

• 24-inch low-profile tires to reduce ground pressure and tire roll.

• A 3.5-inch LCD engine monitor and dial throttle control for precise engine management.

• An 8-gauge steel deck, 6 inches deep, for stability and a quality cut.

• A deck step indicator to improve comfort and ease operator entry.

• A 6.5-inch no-flat caster tire to eliminate downtime.

• A 12-volt outlet to charge and power 12-volt devices. www.greenindustrypros.com/21028658

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RYAN recently released a custom spreader attachment for the Lawnaire ZTS stand-on aerator. The commercial electric spreader— manufactured by Spyker—helps achieve a new level of productivity when aerating and overseeding. The spreader further offers: • A hopper that holds up to 120 pounds of material, so you can complete large tasks with fewer refills, getting the job done faster.

• Variable-speed control, mounted within an arm’s reach of the operator platform, for easy control of a spread swath of up to 16 feet.

• Increased productivity due to its ability to aerate and overseed with one machine.

• An AccuWay adjustment cable to adjust the material flow forward or backward, which allows you to maintain a balanced spread pattern, regardless of the material.

• Simple installation without cutting, drilling or fabrication. www.greenindustrypros.com/21029552

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Go into Stealth Mode with BatteryPowered UTVs

The Largest CASE Compact Track Loader Ever Built CASE introduces its TV450 compact track loader as a 10,610-pound vertical-lift machine with a rated operating capacity of 4,500 pounds at 50 percent tipping load.

According to CASE, this compact track loader—the largest one the company has ever built—also comes equipped with: • The capacity to handle heavy materials, yet still provide the advantages of low ground pressure for jobsites where finished lawns and underground utilities may exist.

• 9,188 pounds of breakout force, and optional high-flow (3,450 PSI at 39.5 GPM) and enhanced high-flow (4,000 PSI at 35 GPM) hydraulics for high-power attachments.

• Availability with standard mechanical H-pattern controls, or optional electrohydraulic controls with H- and ISO-pattern interchangeability, as well as optional mechanical hand and foot controls.

• A wide cab and low-entry threshold for easy access to the cab and greater visibility to the front of the machine.

• A cab-forward design with 360-degree visibility and site lines to the bucket edge.

• A large rounded rear window and in-cab rearview mirror to optimize rear visibility.

• Heavy-duty front and side lights, front cylinder guards, a heavy-duty rear door, remote oil and fuel filters, as well as debris ingression sealing to prevent material from entering the engine compartment.

• A single point of quick access to all routine service points.

• An easy-tilt cab for easy access to the drivetrain compartment.

• Compliance with Tier 4 Final emissions standards.

• A selective catalytic reduction system that only requires diesel exhaust fluid—no maintenance or lifetime service related to diesel particulate filters is required.

Greenworks recently unveiled its first ever line of lithium-ion-powered utility terrain vehicles (UTVs)— the Stealth and Stealth Crew—as a safe, emissionfree solution for outdoor maintenance needs. These new UTVs deliver: • The ability to navigate rough terrain, while hauling all of the tools and materials needed to complete any task.

• The power to reach top speeds of 25 MPH on a variety of terrains—from forests to farmland to swampy hunting grounds—and go up to 45 miles on a single charge.

• A payload capacity of 500 pounds and towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.

• A 13.8-KWH, 80-volt lithium-ion battery to power an AC-rated 7.5-KW motor.

• A two-year frame warranty, and three-year battery and motor warranty.

• A wide range of options (such as mud tires, a 3,500-pound winch, a full windscreen, etc.) to customize the machine’s performance for whatever mission you want to accomplish. www.greenindustrypros.com/21030452

www.greenindustrypros.com/21031626 Visit www.greenindustrypros.com/10155867

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GIE+EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

Taking Commercial Debris Clean-up Productivity to a New Level Billy Goat’s Hurricane X3 and Z3 zero-turn radius stand-on blowers take commercial leaf and debris clean-up productivity to a new level. According to the company, the Hurricanes are highlighted by: • A quad control handle system for the seamless operation of forward and reverse directions, automatic return to neutral, integrated operator presence control and a self-activating parking brake.

• A joystick deflector control to quickly and easily adjust the airflow from left to right to forward, eliminating the need to blow in reverse.

• A blower housing that efficiently draws air from both sides of the housing to move more air faster—up to 165 MPH—and quieter.

• A dual-deflector airflow system that permits you to change the airflow angle.

• A torsion-mounted front axle assembly to negotiate curbs with ease and high flotation turf tires for optimal hill handling.

• Maximum travel speeds of 9 MPH for the X3 and 11 MPH for the Z3.

• A 627-cc Vanguard engine on the Hurricane X3 and a 993-cc Vanguard engine on the Hurricane Z3.

One of the Highest Performing Handheld Blowers on the Market ECHO presents its PB-2620 professional handheld blower as one of the highest performing on the market. The PB-2620 blower additionally boasts: • 456-CFM and 172-MPH performance, with 15.8 newtons according to ANSI B175.2.

• A round-end pipe with a wear ring and a flared-end pipe, allowing output to be tailored to the job.

• A pleated paper main filter and foam prefilter with toolless access, permitting use in high-dust environments.

• A rubber main handle, secondary handle and variable locking cruise control to help keep your hands comfortable.

• An oversized 20.3-ounce fuel tank.

• Hot restartability. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027129

www.greenindustrypros.com/21030411

A Consistently Eversharp Mower Blade Fisher Barton says its LaserEdge Eversharp lawn-mower blade sharpens itself while in use, thus producing a quality cut, while avoiding downtime. The company announced additional manufacturers offering its LaserEdge, including: • Grasshopper.

• Ariens.

• Cub Cadet.

• Ferris.

• Hustler.

• Snapper Pro.

• Husqvarna.

• John Deere.

• Big Dog.

www.greenindustrypros.com/21032339

• Kubota.

H E AT E D

W I P E R

B L A D E S

www.everblades.com

Visit www.greenindustrypros.com/21033231

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The Wright Stand-on Mower for Entry-Level and PartTime Pros

Weeding, Mulching, Aerating and More Earthquake recently released its MC33 and MAC mini-cultivators, the latter of which is the company’s lightest, most efficient and compact, yet powerful, right-sized mini-cultivator to work in the tightest garden spaces. The mini-cultivators further grant:

Wright Manufacturing designed its Stander B stand-on mowers for entry-level or parttime landscapers, as well as consumers who prefer a well-built commercial mower. According to the company, the Stander B comes equipped with: • More productivity than a walk-behind and more cost efficiency than a full-featured stand-on mower.

• A floating 48- or 52-inch deck.

• Optimal hillside stability.

• Step-off stopping in an emergency or to pick up debris.

• A Hydro-Gear ZT-3100 transmission.

• A Kawasaki FS651 engine.

• Sturdy construction. www.greenindustrypros.com/21028499

• The versatility to weed, mulch, work in fertilizer and aerate soil.

• The ability to nimbly maneuver around even delicate plants.

• A low center of gravity for ground-hugging control and stability.

• Energy-efficient Viper 43- or 33-cc engines to deliver plenty of power to get the job done.

• An advanced air filtration system to protect the engine from damaging dust and dirt.

• A front bumper on the MAC to protect the engine from fence posts and other obstacles, plus the flexibility to serve as a stand for storing the MAC against a wall in a garage or shed.

• An adjustable wheel set on the MC33.

• A compact size and light weight.

• A five-year limited warranty. www.greenindustrypros.com/21030656

Over 30 Different

FUEL STABILIZERS at everyday low prices!

Improve engine performance and fuel economy!

Cat Can Now Load More, Faster Caterpillar introduces the Cat 903D compact wheel loader with increased performance, expanded work tool capabilities and enhanced operator comfort due to: • A 25 percent increase in lifting capacity and travel speed compared to its 903C2 predecessor, so you can do more, faster.

• An ergonomic operator station with improved leg room and pedal positioning, easier entry, a suspension seat and tilt steering wheel.

• A multi-function joystick that provides controls for directional changes, the third-function hydraulic system, differential locks and continuous hydraulic flow.

• A Tier 4 Final Cat C2.4 engine rated at 40 net HP and a hydrostatic transmission that provides travel speeds to 12.4 MPH. • An auxiliary (third-function) hydraulic system that delivers a flow of up to 14 GPM at pressures to 3,481 PSI, producing ample hydraulic horsepower to operate any number of hydraulic work tools.

• Compatibility with buckets ranging from 0.8 to 1.3 cubic yards, forks, and a selection of powered and non-powered work tools.

• A Z-bar loader linkage for aggressive bucket-digging ability and efficient control in fork applications.

Call 1.800.841.3989 or visit rotarycorp.com Servicing dealers and distributors only.

www.greenindustrypros.com/21030648

Visit www.greenindustrypros.com/10155905

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GIE+EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

Powerful New Engine in Command of Commercial Walk-Behind Mowers

Trimmer Takes a Big Bite when Taming Overgrown Hedges

Kohler recently expanded its Command PRO commercial lineup with a rugged vertical-shaft engine launching in three displacements—173, 200 and 224 cc. Intended for commercial walk-behind mowers, the new Command PRO engines, the CV173, CV200 and CV224, respectively, provide:

The WORX 40-volt, 24-inch hedge trimmer is highlighted by a 180-degree rotating cutting head that cleanly cuts hedges up to ¾ inches thick. The Euro-styled trimmer additionally delivers:

• Consistent-Cut technology to maintain high engine speeds in difficult mowing conditions, making quick work of tall, wet grass.

• The power to accommodate larger mowing decks and faster ground speeds, which have been trending for both ride-on and walk-behind applications.

• A clean and consistent turf cut.

• Cast-iron cylinder bores to ensure peak performance for the life of the engine.

• Dual lubrication to optimize performance in all mowing conditions and help extend maintenance intervals.

• Heavy-duty Quad Clean cyclonic air filtration to protect the engine from contaminants.

• A steel blower housing and recoil for long-lasting performance and dependability in the field.

• Easily accessible maintenance points for simplified service.

• A three-year commercial warranty.

• The flexibility to trim a variety of species, such as boxwood, yews and shrubs, for shaping tasks or topiary sculpting.

• The capability to minimize the contortions—the stooping, twisting and stretching as you switch from cutting the top of a hedge to its sides—that typically accompany hedge trimming because the blades can be quickly and easily repositioned to stay in line with the trimmer’s handle, allowing you to maintain a comfortable posture.

• A package that includes two 20-volt MAX Power Share 2.0-Ah lithium batteries, a dual-port charger and a three-year warranty.

• A soft-grip D-shaped rear handle and fully wrapped overmold frontassist handle for maximum comfort and control.

• Stamped-steel, smooth-cutting, dual-action, fully hardened, factorysharpened blades that operate at 2,200 strokes per minute, minimize vibration and help reduce operator fatigue, especially during extended use.

• A high-impact transparent hand guard for protection and debris deflection.

• A two-step trigger to prevent accidental startups.

• An LED power gauge on each battery to indicate how many bars are left before it needs recharging by pressing the battery’s red keypad.

• A weight of 9.3 pounds.

www.greenindustrypros.com/21032101

www.greenindustrypros.com/21031648

Get the Dirt on Biochar American BioChar says its VITAL Blend organic soil amendment— which blends biochar with plant-derived humate—is highlighted by: • The power to create a soil reef for microbes that attracts and retains water in the soil thanks to pores in the biochar.

• Stronger grass roots and soil remediation.

• Improved pest resistance and nutrient uptake.

• Increased urban tree survivability, extended perennial blooming and healthier fruit trees.

• Organic Materials Research Institute (OMRI)-listed and freshwater-sourced humate to provide macro- and micro-nutrients, and high-energy food for plants and soil microbes.

• Biochar, which can last more than 600 years in soil, produced from renewable feedstock.

• Granular or liquid formulations.

Specialty Herbicide No Longer Considered Restricted Use Kerb SC specialty herbicide, manufactured by Corteva Agriscience, a division of DowDuPont, recently received Environmental Protection Agency federal registration on an amended label, removing the restricted-use pesticide classification. The turf and ornamental herbicide offers: • Preemergence and early postemergence control of winter annuals and perennial grasses.

• The capability to aid in the removal of perennial ryegrass from warm-season turf grass during the spring transition.

• Optimal control of Poa annua.

• An easy-to-apply liquid formulation. www.greenindustrypros.com/21027154

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www.greenindustrypros.com/21025282

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www.greenindustrypros.com

11/30/18 9:50 AM

Think Green.

Search Green.

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• Contemplating ways to improve your business?

• Wondering about the latest industry trends?

• Need new equipment to power up your operations?

Search no further than GreenIndustryPros.com. Our newly redesigned website will give you more of what you are looking for, and less of what you’re not, so you can click with confidence.

We know you’re busy. Turn to GreenIndustryPros.com for quick and easy access to the information you need, so you can get back to business.

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GIE+EXPO HIGHLIGHTS

Hover Mower Conquers Steep Slopes and Banks with Ease

New Mulching Head Shreds Wood in Minutes John Deere recently added the MH60D mulching head to its Worksite Pro lineup to remove 8-inch trees and 12-inch stumps with ease, shredding underbrush and woody materials into a beneficial mulch in minutes. Moreover, the mulching head provides:

Toro recently made its HoverPro hover mower available to landscape contractors across North America. Previously only available in commercial golf and sports field segments through Toro distributors, the HoverPro can now be purchased through authorized Toro equipment dealers. It is highlighted by: • The ability to hover above the

• 30 double-carbide-tipped teeth to provide a powerful mulching solution, no matter the tree type or location.

surface of turf during operation, allowing it to reach areas

• Large-material knockdown, plus the ability to chew out difficult stumps below the soil level.

that traditional mowers and trimmers cannot.

• Suitability for specialty applications, such as maintaining turf on steep

• Automatic shifting of the motor to a higher displacement when the preset pressure level is attained, increasing torque for reduced stalling and faster rotor-speed recovery time.

slopes, tight undulations or areas near water.

• Three models—which include the HoverPro 400 with a 16-inch cutting width, a 25-degree operational angle, a nylon wire cutting system

• A redesigned mulching chamber that enables more efficient material

and a weight of 27.5 pounds; the HoverPro 450 with an 18-inch cut-

flow and reduces wear points for optimized shredding performance.

ting width, a 45-degree operational angle, a steel cutting blade and

• Internal counter-combs to help shatter incoming material, creating

a weight of 38.2 pounds; and the HoverPro 550 with a 21-inch cutting

a finer mulch.

width, a 45-degree operational angle, a steel cutting blade and a

• A three-position heavy-duty push bar to help protect the carrier while toppling trees or brush.

weight of 41.8 pounds—to tackle a variety of applications.

• A light footprint and rugged design to promote maneuverability and

• A 60-inch high-capacity smooth rotor design to reduce material drag and horsepower requirements.

durability, making light work of challenging terrain.

• A 57-cc Honda engine on the HoverPro 400, and a 160-cc Honda

• Compatibility with John Deere skid steer loaders and compact track loaders, as well as most competitive models.

engine on the HoverPro 450 and 550.

• An acrylonitrile butadiene styrene injection-molded deck that con-

• A two-speed hydraulic system to efficiently use available horsepower.

tributes to a strong, yet lightweight frame, which optimizes control

• A prominently positioned pressure gauge to permit operators to easily

and stability in extreme conditions and cutting areas.

monitor hydraulic operating pressure.

• A number of optional accessories, such as a high-rise kit to increase

• Enhanced frame construction and bolt-on skid shoes to reduce debris buildup and extend wear life.

the height of cut by 1.4 inches, transport wheels to maneuver the machine with less effort around the jobsite and extension handles

• Optional knife tools for smoother cutting and finer chip sizes.

to simplify the process of working on slopes.

www.greenindustrypros.com/21028518

www.greenindustrypros.com/21029189

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NaturaLawn of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Progressive Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Rotary Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 35 Sunbelt Outdoor Products Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Verizon Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

www.greenindustrypros.com

11/30/18 9:50 AM

LAWN CARE CORNER

By Alex Briggs

MYTH-BUSTER:

Do Insects Die off in a Cold Winter?

Here are four tips a landscape contractor can use in the fight against insect infestations.

N

o one enjoys a bitter winter, but there’s always a bright side to it, right? At least a cold winter kills off all of the insects.

Well, not so fast.

Insects are very adaptive and there are plenty of means available to them to endure cold climates. For example, some bugs bury themselves underground or underneath a pile of leaves to hibernate. Insects like the arctic woolly moth create an alcohol within their bodies that allows them to avoid freezing at temperatures as low as -70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other insects migrate, just like many birds often do. Most notably among them are monarch butterflies. These butterflies travel thousands of miles to warmer regions. Other insects burrow into tree bark or underneath leaves to weather the winter, and still more lay eggs in the fall that hatch in the spring.

Succinctly put, a small portion of insects die off in the winter, but the severity of the winter doesn’t make much difference. And in truth, there are plenty of insects that are beneficial to a household garden: Bees play a large part in pollination, ladybugs and dragonflies eat harmful pests that set up shop in backyards, and earthworms are vital for having a nutritious, aerated soil for plants and grass.

Take Advantage Before the Weather Gets Too Warm With all of that said, the winter

and spring are great times to get ahead on managing the more unsavory species of insects. Most pests go dormant when the temperatures get cold and try to find places to hide.

This provides landscapers with a chance to dramatically aid their clients with potential insect problems.

Here are a few tips a landscaper can really use in the fight against insect infestations.

➊ Clear the Debris

Winter and spring provide soggy conditions that have a way of collecting mold and mildew. In flowerbeds, on houses, inside, outside—you name it. Mold attracts insects and makes an excellent home for many bugs. And that’s just the start.

Leaf piles and other organic debris clump together in sodden lumps that are perfect homes for nesting insects.

For landscapers, this provides a fantastic opportunity to eliminate the nesting insect population before they can become active and multiply.

➋ Clean Gutters

Gutters are another breeding ground for pests. The moisture and presence of leafy debris provides a shelter for insects that isn’t usually seen and remains undisturbed.

Gutters need a thorough cleaning in spring and regular maintenance to remove new debris. Make sure to keep drainage pipes clear as well.

www.greenindustrypros.com

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The winter and spring are great times to get ahead on managing the more unsavory species of insects. Most pests go dormant when the temperatures get cold and try to find places to hide. This provides landscapers with a chance to dramatically aid their clients with potential insect problems.

➌ Prune Plants

Every homeowner wants a colorful garden. Problems arise, however, when homeowners allow plants near their home to grow without pruning.

The larger a bush or collection of vegetation is, the more likely it is that insects are going to use it as shelter.

Be wary of fruit trees as well.

If fruit is falling and remaining on the ground, it can attract insects in a short amount of time.

➍ Mulch Carefully

Mulch does so much to aid in the health of a homeowner’s plants.

It protects plant roots from severe weather, helps prevent weeds from growing, adds nutrients and aids in the overall appeal of a garden.

However, if mulch is piled up haphazardly, it also makes a great home for insects. Make sure not to use too much mulch and spread it evenly to prevent potential issues. ❯ Alex Briggs is a contributing author for Choice Pest.

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CUTTING-EDGE BUSINESS

By William Eastman

Finance for Landscaping Business Owners of All Sizes

Part 1:

The first piece of the finance puzzle starts with understanding the mechanics of money.

W

hile green industry business owners have varying levels of financial knowledge, few have a solid understanding of the mechanics of money. The reason is most landscape contractors are great technicians, but perhaps not financial wizards. The ultimate goal, however, is to be successful, profitable, scalable and salable.

For most landscaping business owners, the first few years are the toughest time to create a profit. Why? The majority are more concerned with cash in, not the cash remaining. Sales are easy to measure, whereas calculating costs requires infrastructure.

Once you understand how to run the business by the numbers, it becomes second nature. This is something you need to learn, though, so make time to drill down on numbers. This analysis keeps you accountable and improves your ability to sleep.

Remember: It is simple. Money comes in. Money goes out.

As a business owner, the following three financial reporting documents are your friend because, together, they provide the business performance details you need: ❶ T he monthly balance statement, which is a picture of an event, delineates the business’ financial position at the end of each month. Its purpose is to provide a clear picture of your assets, liabilities and equity.

Assets are what you own that drives revenue or supports business operations. Liabilities are long-term or additional obligations you have to gain assets. Equity is the leftovers when taking on liabilities to acquire assets. ❷ T he monthly income statement (or profit and loss statement), which is a picture of the process, elaborates on business during the month by chronicling its level of profitability over the month. This a critical document for bankers and other lenders to determine if the business is a good risk. It is a picture of revenues and gains, and expenses and losses. It explains how the balance statement changes from month to month.

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❸ T he monthly cash flow statement, which is an explanation of the process, reveals how the income statement created the balance statement.

It reorganizes the information from the income statement into operations, investing, financing and supporting. Operations addresses the sources of cash.

Investing covers acquiring the assets needed to operate and grow the business.

Financing refers to shares and dividends.

(Most small business owners do not take or pay dividends during the company’s early stages, so this is usually blank.)

Supporting covers non-financial transactions and taxes paid during the month.

These financial statements report the health of your business, and are useful for making decisions on expansion and financing. The data can also figure into marketing decisions by showing which aspects of company operations provide the best return on your investment. ❯ William Eastman is a senior consultant at GreenMark Consulting Group.

For more information, please visit www. greenmarkgroup.com.

For more information, please listen to the associated podcast at www.greenindustrypros.com/21034213.

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www.greenindustrypros.com

11/30/18 9:56 AM

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Know driver and job status from your phone.

Verizon Connect GPS fleet tracking and field service management software gives landscapers visibility to see vehicles on a live map. Whether you’re on a desktop computer or your smartphone, see job status, vehicle and driver location, and instantly dispatch new jobs to workers. Invoice and collect signatures from the field and verify timesheets against work orders back at the office.

Learn more now at verizonconnect.com or call us for a demo at 866.844.2235.

Š2018 Verizon. All rights reserved.

Visit www.greenindustrypros.com/10845592

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