Landscape Trades - February 2023

TRADES LANDSCAPE

Reliability that counts

FSA 135 R BATTERY BRUSHCUTTER①

HIGH POWER SOLUTION FOR PROFESSIONALS.

The FSA 135 R is the latest brushcutter in our battery-powered line-up that can be used in noise-sensitive situations. It is a lightweight, powerful and efficient choice for landscapers, municipal workers and those that have large yards to upkeep. The AP battery can be inserted directly into the powerhead, as opposed to using an adapter system. The ergonomic loop handle makes it comfortable to operate and easy-tomanoeuvre, while also providing a three-step speed adjustment with LED light. Built with a metal mesh air filter, it delivers a longer service life and provides optimum motor cooling. Also, a wide selection of cutting attachments can be used on the FSA 135 R to suit the job at hand.

NOTE: Bike handle version also available.

SPECIFICATIONS

CUTTING

Battery Power. Made by STIHL.

PRO-FLEET COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE PROGRAM

STIHL’s Pro-Fleet Commercial Landscape Program is designed to provide commercial landscapers a volume discount on major purchases of five or more landscaping power tools. Receive additional savings on STIHL battery products until June 30, 2023. Visit your STIHL Dealer today to find out more and take advantage of the savings!

Scan code for more product information or visit www.stihl.ca

Rick Hulbert believes every garden has

own “genius loci“ or “spirit of place” — and it’s up to the photographer to discover and portray the magic.

ABOUT THE COVER

New for 2023, Techo-Bloc introduces the Industria Flora slab and the Lumi fire bowl.

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Scott Barber

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Mike Wasilewski

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Robert Ellidge

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Karina Sinclair

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Greg Sumsion

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Liz Lant

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Angela Lindsay

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Charlotte Guena

ACCOUNTANT

Joe Sabatino

STAFF CONTACT INFO AT LANDSCAPETRADES.COM/CONTACT

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Gerald Boot CLM, Lindsay Drake Nightingale, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman CHT, Bob Tubby CLM, Nick Winkelmolen Landscape

MARK BRADLEY

KENNALEY

ALWAYS READY AT ANY TIME

WORKS DAY AND NIGHT

Around your schedule

AUTONOMOUS

Operates 24/7, rain or shine, day and night

ADVANCED AUTOMATION

So you can rest assured the job’s done right

EMISSIONS FREE OPERATION

Better for the environment and our customers

QUIET OPERATION

Avoid disturbing customers in noise-sensitive areas

REMOTE COMMAND & MONITORING

Via smartphone app or online portal –because work doesn’t stop when you’re busy doing other things

WORKS WITH TM-2000

In other words, Driving Range 2.0 comes with healthier, better-looking turf

ARE YOU READY? ECHOROBOTICS.COM

Record breaking Congress

BY SCOTT BARBER

AFTER TWO YEARS without a live event, it was so nice to be back at Landscape Ontario Congress. Canada’s largest and longest running trade show and conference for landscape and horticulture professionals celebrated its golden, 50th anniversary Jan. 10-12, 2023. As the official media partner of Congress 2023, the Landscape Trades team was thrilled to be part of a record-breaking event that saw 17,662 visitors at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. I know the promise of free beer was a strong pull — samples of Great Lakes Brewery Canuck Pale Ale were served at

our booth as part of the Congress Ale Trail — however, it was clear there was a lot of enthusiasm for our publication, too. We had so many great conversations with readers during the show. More than a few people commented on how much they enjoy the new layout and design we implemented in 2021, under the leadership of our creative director Mike Wasilewski. Our goal was to modernize the look and feel of the magazine, and to put exceptional photography front and centre.

We also heard some great feedback about the new contributing columnists who joined the magazine’s roster last year. We’re glad you’re enjoying the Internet of Nature and the Art of Gardening columns as much as we are. It is truly gratifying to see the changes we’re making are appreciated by readers.

Believe it or not, we also value hearing constructive criticism, too. Often we’ll hear: “Why don’t you cover topic X. Or, why are you so focused on issue Y…” We love those comments because they give our team a

chance to discover and develop new story ideas. After all, we’re in the storytelling and news sharing business. The more ideas we get from professionals in the landscape trades the better!

That’s what trade shows are all about: getting together with colleagues and business partners to generate new ideas and get inspired for the year ahead. Congress is the perfect forum for this, with over 430 exhibitors promoting their latest equipment, products, nursery stock and materials. All this is topped off with a world-class educational lineup at the ticketed conference event and free LIVE Stage demonstrations. Many of the new product introductions from the show are featured in this special new products issue. I hope flipping through these pages helps get you and your team energized for the season ahead. LT

Scott Barber

Landscape Trades. He can be reached at sbarber@landscapetrades.com.

is the publisher and editor of

Congress visitors stopped by the Landscape Trades booth to chat about the magazine and sample free beer.

POWER TO LIGHTEN ANY LOAD.

If you measure the day in jobs done, we have the way to take it further than ever before. See your Bobcat dealer to go the distance.

COMPACT UTILITY LOADER

The Gravely AXIS will be available in diesel and gas configurations with tracks or wheels in early 2023 at independently owned and operated Gravely dealerships in the United States and Canada. A full line of attachments will be offered, such as a standard bucket, heavy-duty bucket, four-in-one bucket, an auger, pallet forks and trencher, along with many more.

Gravely gravely.com

CONSTRUCTION

TELEHANDLER

Bobcat introduces the TL519 telehandler, the most compact model (six feet wide) in its current lineup. The all-new telehandler features a 74-horsepower engine, twospeed hydrostatic transmission and a standard Power Bob-Tach mounting system so operators can easily swap attachments without leaving the cab.

Bobcat bobcat.com

COMPACT TRACK LOADER

The Kubota SVL75-3 compact track loader was designed with the operator in mind, featuring a one-piece sealed and pressurized cab with sliding front door and wide cab entrance. The new machine can connect to a variety of Kubota attachments, including an auger, power rake, snowblower, snow pusher, cold planer, box blade with Trimble EarthWorks Go 2D grading system and more.

Kubota

kubota.ca

SHORT TAIL SWING COMPACT EXCAVATOR

Takeuchi has added the new generation TB335R short tail swing compact excavator to its TB300 Series. The cab model TB335R has an operating weight of 8,310 pounds, a maximum bucket breakout force of 9,127 pounds, and a maximum arm digging force of 4,290 pounds. The TB335R offers two working modes – Standard and ECO – allowing operators to match the mode to the task at hand, choosing more power or fuel savings as desired.

Takeuchi takeuchi-us.com

EXCAVATORS

John Deere adds the P-Tier and G-Tier excavator models to its portfolio of mid-size machines. As part of its Performance Tiering Strategy, John Deere added the 135, 210, 245, 250, 300 and 345 models to its lineup of P-Tier excavators. In addition, John Deere is introducing a brand-new model to its family of G-Tier excavators: the 200 G-Tier.

John Deere deere.ca

MITER SAW

Dewalt announced the 60V Max Brushless 12-in. Double Bevel Sliding Miter Saw. The saw provides users with efficiency through Regenerative Braking Technology that extends runtime by redirecting lost energy back into the battery, while the bevel-drive transmission reduces power losses that may occur with belt-driven designs.

Dewalt dewalt.ca

BATTERY-POWERED MATERIAL HANDLING BUGGY

The Ultra Buggy is powered by Toro’s HyperCell battery technology which delivers up to eight hours of run time and charges using a standard 120V wall outlet. The compact design allows the electric Ultra Buggy to fit through a threefoot door with a crash bar and reach areas of the jobsite that larger machinery cannot.

Toro toro.com

DROP DECK TRAILER

Miska’s new Drop Deck trailer lowers flush to the ground to provide a gentle angle for scissor lifts and other low clearance equipment to be loaded with ease. The trailer comes standard with tandem torsion

BATTERY-POWERED ROTARY HAMMER

The Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt Cordless Brushless 1 1/8-in. D-Handle SDS Plus Rotary Hammer is compact and lightweight, with plenty of power to drill up to 220 holes per charge.

Metabo HPT metabohpt.com

PORCELAIN PAVERS

With its light buff colour and natural veining, Porcea Algonquin is a nice replica of Algonquin limestone found in the Owen Sound region of Ontario. Similar to all other Porcea Stone outdoor porcelain pavers, Algonquin is anti-slip and low maintenance due to its lack of pores, making it a great choice for any pool deck, patio, walkway, facade, or driveway (when installed on a concrete base).

Porcea Stone

porceastone.com

NATURAL STONE

Stonearch Moderno Beige is a sandblasted limestone with a warm-beige colour tone that is neutral and calming. This natural stone is designed to complement modern brick and masonry and works beautifully as an accent coping with its smooth straightcut finished edge profile. The subtle pattern offers a premium design aesthetic, making Stonearch Moderno Beige suitable for any high-end landscape design project.

Stonearch

stonearch.ca

MODERN SLAB

Taking advantage of Best Way Stone’s DesignLoc surface refinement technology, the Lyra slab provides both a modern design and a highly detailed surface. New for 2023, Lyra will be offered in 24x24 and 12x36-in. sizes.

Best Way Stone

bestwaystone.com

PATTERNED SLAB

Inspired by Mediterranean ceramics, the Industria Flora series from Techo-Bloc brings soft and sophisticated visual interest to the outdoors with its textured floral patterns. This 600x600-mm slab, available in two staple colours and six different patterns, pairs perfectly with Industria Smooth 600x600-mm and offers unlimited design possibilities.

Techo-Bloc

techo-bloc.com

TRIALED. TESTED. PROVEN .

This unique hydrangea hybrid has proved it really CAN DO anything! First, it sets its flower buds along the entire length of its stems, not just at the tips like conventional rebloomers. So if it’s cut back or damaged by cold, those lower old wood buds will still develop into flowers. Plus, it reblooms faster, providing continuous displays of star-like double flowers through frost.

COBBLE PAVER

Modelled after traditional hand-cut granite cobbles, Nordic Cobble from Unilock is a stylish option for striking borders, grid patterns and circular designs. Nordic Cobble can be installed either traditionally, or on a permeable base to allow water to flow through.

Unilock

unilock.com

HEXAGONAL PAVER

Barkman Concrete’s Hexagon 65-mm paver breaks away from traditional paver design in favour of something more playful. Colours can be mixed and matched to create striking geometric designs that enliven any outdoor space from any angle.

Barkman Concrete barkmanconcrete.com

SYNTHETIC LUMBER

Made of high-density polyethylene reinforced with fibreglass, WearDeck is weatherproof, waterproof, heat-reflective and rated for ground contact and underwater installation. The structural, synthetic lumber comes in eight different colours and profiles for marine, residential, commercial, and municipal applications.

Owens Corning WearDeck

weardeck.com

Available from Baycrest Distribution baycrestdistribution.ca

HORIZONTAL FENCE SYSTEM

The TruNorth Slide & Go Fence System is a horizontal fence system specifically designed to provide the strength and endurance of aluminum, with the durability and low maintenance of composite, plus the warmth and privacy of a natural wooden fence.

TruNorth Decking

trunorthdeck.com

MAINTENANCE

BATTERY-POWERED ROTARY MOWER

Building on a 50-year history from the introduction of the Groundsmaster 72 back in 1973, the battery-powered Groundsmaster e3200 features the same rugged chassis, commercial-grade mowing deck and intuitive operator controls as the current diesel-powered platform.

Toro toro.com

BATTERY-POWERED OPE

Cat launches a new lineup of battery-powered outdoor power equipment manufactured by Positec Tool Corporation. The new line of tools includes lawnmowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, blowers, and hedge trimmers, each powered by the same 60V, 2.5Ah and 60V, 5.0Ah lithium-ion batteries.

Cat catpowertools.com

UNMANNED MOWERS

Using a proprietary real time kinematic (RTK) network, Kress Mission unmanned mowers maintain large turfgrass surfaces easily and efficiently. Kress Mission mowers cut lawns systematically and with centimetre-level accuracy for professional-grade results – and require no boundary wires or antenna installation. Kress Mission mowers can be highly customized and cover areas from three quarters of an acre to nine acres.

Kress kress.com

STAND-ON MOWER

Grasshopper introduces its first-ever stand-on mower, the SO26. The new mower features a 4.5-in. adjustable control tower, zero-turn pivot point and a shock-absorbent operator platform for comfort, and a T-Drive transmission and extra-deep DuraMax decks for durability.

Grasshopper

grasshoppermower.com

ZERO-TURN MOWERS

For 2023, Gravely introduces the Pro-Turn 300, 500 and Mach One. The Pro-Turn 500 is a commercial grade zero-turn mower with upgraded seating, mower deck, and transmission. The Mach One (pictured) has a tunnel chamber deck that is designed to direct clippings away from the blades to prevent bogging down in wet grass.

Gravely gravely.com

CHAINSAW

The Echo CS-4920 chainsaw features a 50.1 cubic centimetre professional grade twostroke, stratified scavenging engine that provides more power and less emissions than any other saw in the same class. At just five kilograms with professional features like dual drop prevention bar nuts, it’s ideal for a range of jobs.

Echo Power Equipment echo.ca

BATTERY-POWERED MOWER

Ryobi’s 30-in., self-propelled, walk-behind lawn mower features 80V HP technology and is 70 per cent quieter than gas. With four Cross-Cut Blades, the new mower delivers up to 90 minutes of continuous runtime.

Ryobi ryobitools.ca

BATTERY-POWERED SPRAYER

Milwaukee Tool’s M12 Handheld Sprayer provides instant, constant, and adjustable pressure with no manual pumping. The new sprayer features a three-mode pressure adjustment knob that adjusts the pressure between 2080 PSI and delivers 17 feet of vertical spray distance.

Milwaukee Tool milwaukeetool.ca

V-PLOW

The SnowDogg VMXII is a brand new addition to Buyers Products’ lineup of V-plows. The VMXII is built with a 304 stainless steel moldboard and weight optimized for half-ton pickup trucks. The RapidLink Attachment System allows you to mount and dismount with ease, and the Floating A-Frame contours the road for clean scraping.

SnowDogg — Buyers Products

buyersproducts.com

STABILIZER PADS AND PAD HOLDERS

Hiab’s new composite outrigger stabilizer pads help distribute loads where they make contact with the ground for excellent stability and safety. Made of durable, industrial-strength plastic, they are lightweight, have a long service life and will not absorb moisture or chemicals. Compact, corrosion-resistant steel pad holders use minimal truck/trailer space and open on the sides to release trapped debris.

Hiab Available from Atlas Polar Company hiab.com atlaspolar.com

PERFORMANCE GARDENWEAR

Coming to the Canadian market in 2023, Genus Gardenwear is a brand of high-performance, technical clothing specially designed by gardeners for gardeners. Genus offers a range of men’s and women’s gardening clothes and gardening accessories, with new styles and colours being introduced on a regular basis.

Genus Gardenwear

genus.gs

MULCHING HEAD

Loftness has updated its highly successful Battle Ax S Series mulching head with new features for enhanced durability and serviceability. Designed for skid steers and compact track loaders with 28-62.9 GPM hydraulic flow and 50-150 hydraulic horsepower, the S Series now includes a reversible secondary shear bar in the two-stage cutting chamber to always allow a fresh cutting edge.

Loftness

loftness.com

BATTERY-POWERED HANDHELD TOOLS

The 60V Max Revolution Series Handheld tools are powered by Toro’s Flex-Force Power System. The new line includes a dualbattery backpack that can hold two 10 Ah batteries — which is designed for comfort and available as a power source for the leaf blower or string and hedge trimmers to keep jobs moving all day.

Toro toro.com

LAWN EDGER

The Kress 60V Commercial Lawn Edger delivers power up to the 30-cc gas-powered range for any landscaping need. With a contoured blade guard combined with a rubber debris shield and gunning sight, operators can easily achieve straight cuts even in the roughest conditions. The Kress Commercial Lawn Edger also features a built-in LED control panel and an IPX4 waterproof rating.

Kress kress.com

BATTERY-POWERED BLOWER

The Milwaukee Tool M18 Fuel Dual Battery Blower reaches full throttle in under one second and delivers an output of 17.7 Newtons Newtons and maintains that power level throughout the full charge of the battery.

Milwaukee Tool milwaukeetool.ca

FORD SUPER DUTY

The next generation 2023 Ford Super Duty lineup targets the most towing, payload, torque and horsepower of any heavyduty full-size truck. The new line offers four engine choices, including all-new standard 6.8-litre V8 gas engine, and new high-output 6.7-litre Power Stroke diesel V8. Every Super Duty features a Ford-designed and built 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission, and every chassis cab model comes standard with a power take off connection to run added equipment, like boom lifts and plows.

Ford ford.ca

RAM 1500

The 2023 Ram 1500 features up to 12,750 pounds of towing capability and 2,300 pounds of payload. The eTorque 48-volt mild hybrid system delivers improved fuel efficiency in both V6 (standard) and V8 configurations. Dodge says the Ram 1500 is North America’s most powerful half-ton diesel pickup with 480 lb.-ft. of torque delivering up to 8.0L/100km highway and over 1,500 kilometres of range on a single tank of fuel.

Dodge dodge.ca

GMC CANYON

The 2023 GMC Canyon midsize truck boasts a fully redesigned exterior, a new premium suite of advanced technology, and a new interior design. All next generation Canyon models feature a 2.7L Turbo High-Output Engine delivering a GM-estimated 310-horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque and an Off-Road Suspension Package with factory lift and ultra-wide stance.

GMC gmccanada.ca

TESLA CYBERTRUCK

With up to 3,500 pounds of payload capacity and adjustable air suspension, Cybertruck is the most powerful tool Tesla has ever built. Expected to launch in Canada in 2023, the Cybertruck is engineered with 100 feet of cubic exterior, lockable space — including a magic tonneau cover that is strong enough to stand on.

Tesla tesla.com

OUTDOOR

STRIP LIGHT

Take lighting design to new lengths with the 20-ft. SRP RGBW Strip Light. Twice as long as the original model, the new version lets you create seamless designs. Plus, all required accessories are included for easy installation.

MODULAR WALL SYSTEM

The new ecoPartition Sipario from Nardi is a free-standing modular wall system that is ideal for separating outdoor spaces. The system consists of three grid elements, easily hooked together without using screws, and includes a self-watering container for plants.

Nardi

nardioutdoor.com

Available from BUM Commercial Furniture bumoutdoor.com

avknursery.com

EASILY OPTIMIZE CUT QUALIT Y FOR

A VARIETY OF TURF TYPES

LUSH, WET CONDITIONS

STEMMY GRASSES AND WEEDS

INDOOR/OUTDOOR PLANTERS

Greenville Planters, the Canadian wholesale distributor for the Jay Scotts brand of large indoor/outdoor fibreglass planters, announced the addition of over 30 new sizes and models to its lineup for 2023. The latest additions are available in a vibrant 20 colour palette.

Greenville Planters

FIRE BOWL

The Lumi fire bowl from Techo-Bloc features an antique finish in Warm Grey and includes a stainless-steel burner (natural gas or liquid propane), safety valve, decorative lava rock, and a canvas-style fabric cover. Lumi is 17-in. tall and has an outside diameter of 34-in.

Techo-Bloc

greenvilledesigns.com TurfCare_LPG

techo-bloc.com

RICK Hulbert VANCOUVER, B.C.

RICKHULBERTPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Rick Hulbert is a “Life Member” of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, and a “Fellow” of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. He is a teacher of photography at Simon Fraser University and Langara College in Vancouver, and leads multi-day photo workshops throughout Europe and North America. Rick’s international, award-winning photography is informed by his background as a professional, awardwinning and published architect and urban designer. His teachings reflect his knowledge of both the history of the two-dimensional arts of drawing and painting along with the sciences of human vision.

How did you get started in landscape garden photography?

As a former practicing architect and urban designer, I learned to appreciate the value and importance of garden landscapes and how they enhance designed and constructed environments. I most admire the character and charm of a publicly accessible or private garden with clearly defined boundaries.

What catches your eye when you are photographing a garden?

A great garden can be designed as a series of volumetric spaces and places for people and their activities. “Spaces” are essentially designed to move through while garden “places” are designed as destinations in which to enjoy, individually or collectively. Alternatively, a garden can be designed as a set piece to be enjoyed from a distance or from an exterior patio deck, or terrace, or windowed interior room.

Do you have any tips or tricks to share?

Consider how gardens change their personality depending upon the season of the year. I enjoy capturing the early morning dew or glistening drops of water after a rain shower. I appreciate the quality of morning and afternoon “golden hour” light.

What are some of your favourite gardens to photograph?

I enjoy the challenge of photographing all types of gardens, large and small. Every garden has its own “genius loci“ or “spirit of place” — it’s up to the photographer to discover and portray the magic.

What is your favourite camera gear for photographing gardens?

For me, the key piece of gear is the camera lens. I enjoy every focal length from fisheye and super wide-angle lenses through and including short and long telephoto lenses. The camera lens can mimic a human’s eye view, a snail’s eye view, or a bird’s eye view. Controlling the depth of field can allow the resulting photograph to highlight key aspects of a garden. LT

Five tips to build better teams

BY MARK BRADLEY

IT’S TOUGH to find good people. It always has been, and in the landscape industry, it’s even harder. For over 20 years, I was fortunate to grow a business to more than 500 crew members at our peak. How to keep those people was among my top concerns.

And I’m not alone. We recently polled 450 landscape business professionals and 84 per cent said finding and keeping qualified labour is their biggest challenge.

For business owners, you’re only as good as your people. You get new business, and you need reliable, quality teams to deliver. But if you struggle with finding, training and retaining great people, you’ll never succeed.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen this way too often with business owners across North America. Way too often owners are so caught up in the next job or growth stage that they forget critical components when hiring and retaining

1. Sell a career, not a job: It’s easy to place an ad for a crew worker or to find a team leader. But to be successful, you must showcase not just a job, but a long-term vision for the work you do. It’s not just about cutting grass. It’s about making the lawns of customers better, being outdoors, and doing great work. And if you do this well, you’ll see your financial earnings grow exponentially each year through increased employee loyalty. If you can position open roles as careers, and have examples of employees who have moved up the ladder, you’ll be much more successful in attracting and retaining talent.

2. Invest in training, and don’t stop: Make training part of your employee onboarding and annual staff

employees’ careers, and you can be confident your teams know exactly what to do and how to do it well. Companies that fail or falter hire people and expect them to know what to do. That’s a recipe for failure. Invest in training. You won’t regret it.

3. Be beyond competitive with pay and benefits — It will pay for itself: Do you pay the market rate? Or could you pay a couple of dollars more per hour and still be profitable? Do you offer a retirement plan, health insurance and time off? Pay is what most companies promote, but the more diverse your “all-in” benefits package is, the more you’ll stand out to potential candidates.

When I owned a landscaping business, my team leaders earned well above the local competition. We paid well, took care of them with great benefits and hearty bonuses each year, as we did with our

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crews. The result? Our average crew lead or foreperson was with us for more than 10 years, and our crew members stayed an average of more than five years. This allowed us to continue to deliver for our customers through happy team members. It’s a simple formula, but it works.

Is it hard? Sure. You must understand the economics of your business and what you need to pay to be competitive — and what this means to your pricing structure and mark-ups. But if you’re consistent and rigid in your pricing structure, you can be successful in offering leading benefits packages to your employees which will drive retention.

4. Demonstrate a clear career path: I can’t tell you how important a career path or ladder is, no matter how big or small your company. New employees want to know how their career will grow. And with this growth, what will come? More money? Bigger titles? And when?

To do this, you must have consistency in processes. Job descriptions, career trees,

job pay bands and more. If you can paint the picture to prospective employees of where they will be in three years — and deliver on it, you’ll be in a great spot.

5. Build a family: Lastly, and this may sound cliché, but remember, your crews and teams are like family. The closer you get, the harder you work, and the more you achieve. Landscaping (and snow removal in winter) is tough. It’s not a nine to five job. It requires early mornings, late nights, and sometimes, sacrificing weekends. Successful businesses learn this quickly and work to create a family environment where you support each other, know each other, laugh, celebrate and even cry together — because you can only be as good as the collective team. This gets harder as your company grows, but having a family-type environment is very important.

It doesn’t take much. Host a holiday party. Give birthdays off. Offer free lunch on Fridays. These little yet important gestures matter and will go a long way toward your future success.

Talk to any consultant in the landscape business or other industries and they’ll tell you there are more tips to finding and retaining top talent. And all are applicable without a doubt.

But don’t try to boil the ocean. Focus on the details. Focus on your people. Contractors across North America already know this, but sometimes we all just need reminders, especially because we work so hard.

Give these five tips a try. You’ll see your business grow, and you’ll see happy customers. And most importantly, you’ll see committed and engaged workers. And with that, your future will be brighter than ever. LT

future OF FENCE & DECK

MARK BRADLEY is CEO of LMN (Landscape Management Network) and former CEO of TBG Environmental.

Construction dispute resolution: changes for a post-COVID world

BY ROB KENNALEY

ON DEC. 15, 2022, Alberta’s Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2022 (No. 2), SA 2022, c-20 came into force. Among other things, it allows Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor to increase the province’s small claims court jurisdiction from $50,000 to up to $200,000. The change was made to take pressure off the province’s more senior courts and to improve access to a (theoretically) better, more streamlined and cost-effective process for smaller claims. Although the increase has not yet been initiated, it causes us to reflect on how construction dispute resolution is both undergoing, and in need of, change. It is virtually undeniable that, in Canada, construction participants are not always well served by traditional litigation

processes. This is so for a number of reasons. First, construction litigation can be extremely expensive, as well as document and issue intensive. Consider, for example, that where deficiencies and changes in the work are in issue, a ‘mini trial’ has to be had over every disputed item — often requiring evidence on both liability and damages. In addition, (often competing) delay claims will put often numerous scheduling and sequencing documents in issue. Also, in an overwhelming number of cases, the participation of experts will be required.

Second, Canadian judicial resources are stretched to capacity, with little relief in sight. As a consequence, it can take a very long time for matters to get to trial. Also, many regions lack judges experienced in construction, leaving lawyers and their clients to educate the Court on often complex engineering or architectural designs, systems or components. In addition, in our postCOVID world it is unlikely that the pressure is going to subside. Governments will be hard pressed to invest significantly in more judicial resources, given the amounts spent on COVID recovery and the need to invest in health care, etc. Also, our Courts were shut down for some period of time because of the pandemic. Criminal trials, in particular, were not being heard. This, after our Supreme Court of Canada had previously telegraphed, in R. v. Jordan, [2016] 1 S.C.R. 631 that our criminal courts had to do better to avoid delays in criminal proceedings. As a result, and not surprisingly, our Courts will be focused for some period of time on catching up on the COVID-related criminal case backlog.

It remains to be seen if an increase in the monetary jurisdiction of the small claims court would be a welcome change for construction participants in Canada. The small claims court face their own back-logs and resource limitations, and extended delays in small claims proceedings are already somewhat common. From this perspective, increasing the small claims court workloads without adding resources cause even more delays. In addition, documentary disclosure obligations and requirements can be much more informal in small claims courts. Production often does not occur until after the pre-trial, for example, such that the utility of that conference for settlement purposes can be lost. In addition, small claims courts will often take a more informal approach to the rules of evidence than will their more senior counterparts. Finally, given the complex and document intensive nature of construction disputes, parties will

often feel compelled to retain counsel, even though the potential to recover legal costs are generally extremely limited. This is not to say that increasing the small claims limits or engaging the small claims courts is necessarily a bad thing. It is only to say that in many circumstances the promise of an efficient and inexpensive remedy in the small claims court might not be realizable. To the extent that this is a problem, it is magnified as the small claims’ limits increase.

Alternatives to construction litigation (be it in small claims or senior courts) might accordingly be worth considering, and we can already see trends in this regard. The move to prompt payment and adjudication in most Canadian jurisdictions is one example. At the time of writing, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the federal government have all adopted such legislation, while British Columbia and Quebec have it under consideration. Although the adjudication provisions are directed in large part at the ‘interim’ resolution of disputes during ongoing projects, there is no doubt that the provisions are drafted with the expectation that parties will often (if not generally) accept the results of interim adjudication and forgo subsequent litigation in that regard. There is also no question that the adjudication regimes provide a substantially less time consuming, expensive and document intensive process: in Ontario, for example, an adjudicator’s decision can be obtained as quickly as in 46 days or less.

Construction adjudication might not always be available towards the resolution of a construction dispute, however, depending on the provisions of the applicable statute. In Ontario, for example, the process is not available if the contract or subcontract under which the dispute arose has been completed, unless the parties agree otherwise. This is a restriction which many find frustrating, as many disputes will not crystalize until post-completion. Given the timely and efficient remedy offered by adjudication, we accordingly recommend construction participants in

THE

Ontario consider including an agreement to adjudicate post-completion expressly in their contracts and subcontracts. Those outside Ontario should consider the options available under the applicable

Other dispute resolution options include mediation and arbitration. We will not spend any real time discussing the former, as its processes are relatively straightforward and well known. We will say, however, that the mediation of construction disputes enjoys a relatively successful track record. Even if unsuccessful, mediations will generally result in a narrowing of issues and/or lay the groundwork for future discussions such that they are rarely a waste of time or money. In our experience, however, mediation is not always considered as

Arbitration is also becoming increasingly prevalent in the resolution of construction disputes, for good reason. Parties can agree on both their arbitrator and the terms of the arbitration. This allows the parties to control the process to ensure that documentary disclosure and evidentiary issues are managed to provide a reasonable result in a timely and efficient way. It also allows the parties to ensure both that the matter is heard before an arbitrator with the particular expertise required and that the result remains confidential between them. They can also determine the extent to which the arbitrator’s ruling will be subject to appeal. Parties who wish to avoid the time and expense associated with litigation should accordingly consider setting out mandatory arbitration provisions in their contracts or subcontracts. Said another way, appropriate mandatory arbitration provisions are becoming increasingly popular in our post-COVID world for, we believe, good reason. LT

ROB KENNALEY is with Kennaley Construction Law, a construction law firm with offices in Simcoe, Toronto and Barrie, Ont.

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO CONGRESS SMASHES ATTENDANCE RECORD

Landscape Ontario Congress celebrated its 50th anniversary in style with record-breaking attendance. Over 17,600 visitors flocked to the Toronto Congress Centre Jan. 10-12, 2023 to see what Canada’s largest trade show and conference for landscape horticulture professionals had to offer. This was a return to an in-person event for the first time since 2020, when 15,492 professionals visited the show.

The trade show featured more than 425 exhibitors across eight acres, exhibiting the latest equipment, tools, nursery stock, materials and supplies for the landscape trades. The Congress Conference showcased industry experts and speakers covering horticulture, business and special interest topics. Special events that week included the Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence ceremony, Landscape Designers Conference, LO’s Peer to Peer Network Workshop, and the popular Tailgate Party.

Ernest Williams, a territory sales manager for Aquascape, said, “We’ve been coming to Congress well over 25 years. We come mainly for the interaction with all our clients that we get to meet. A lot of new leads come out of this show. We’re a small enough industry that partnerships like this are important and LO provides a forum for us all to meet up together. We love the Congress show for that.”

James Riddell, area manager for SiteOne Landscape Supply agreed. “It is my favorite week of the year. There’s nowhere else you can go and see this many people in one turn. If you’re not here, you’re missing out on an opportunity for great education and to expand your business horizons,” said Riddell. “It’s amazing to get everybody together in one room, unite around what are the most topical ideas and conversations to have and really just to start to learn more from each other and learn from the positives and negatives that we’ve all experienced so that we don’t have to duplicate things that we don’t want to duplicate.”

Congress was also a chance for new companies and brands to expand their exposure to contractors and partners. “This is actually our first year here at Congress,” said Erin Batty from Uxbridge Stone & Landscape Supply. “We’re a fairly new company in this industry, so we’re just trying to make relationships with people and tell people that we’re here. It feels really cool to be a part of this awesome community.”

MSI Surfaces was also a first-time exhibitor. “We came to Congress because we wanted to market our products in the best show possible” said sales rep Ryan Ali. “And this is probably the biggest platform to do just that.”

Save the dates Jan. 9-11, 2024, for next year’s event, and visit LOCongress.com to learn more.

Kress won best booth (800+ square feet) for their vibrant display of commercial battery-powered equipment.

IPM COUNCIL HIRES WENDY BURGESS

The IPM Council of Canada announced that long-time environmental policy and operations specialist Wendy Burgess will succeed retiring executive director Teri Yamada to lead the council into the future.

“Burgess brings significant experience with both not-for-profit and for-profit

organizations, including the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and most recently as the Director of Corporate Policy and Operations for ClubLink Corporation,” the IPM Council stated in a news release. “These skill sets are well suited to guide the Council through ever-changing business and

regulatory environments. As a past president of the IPM Council of Canada, she also brings a deep understanding of any challenges that the Council may face into the future. Teri Yamada has agreed to stay on for a brief period after Wendy assumes the role of executive director on Jan. 1, 2023, to ensure a smooth transition.”

Based in Milton, Ont., the IPM Council of Canada brings together industry associations and groups committed to having integrated pest management (IPM) as the standard in turf, landscape care, structural and industrial vegetation management. The Council believes science has shown IPM ensures environmental sustainability and minimizes the requirement for pesticides. The Council administers IPM Certification and Accreditation Programs for golf, public works, cemeteries, specialty turf and sports turf that are recognized within Ontario Regulation 63/09 under the Pesticides Act

JONES NAMED CEO OF POSITEC NORTH AMERICA

Positec Tool Corporation announced Michael A. Jones has been appointed president and CEO of Positec North America. Previously, Jones served as Executive Vice-Chairman for Ranpak Holdings.

Positec Tool Corporation based in Suzhou, China, with North American headquarters in Charlotte, NC, manufactures lawn, garden and power tools under the Worx, Rockwell, Kress and Cat brand names. Positec most recently launched the Kress brand in North America, introducing new battery technologies for commercial lawn and landscape professionals. In addition, the company is pioneering new consumer and professional-grade robotics for in-home and outdoor applications.

Michael A. Jones

WORK PERMITS EXTENDED TO TFW FAMILY MEMBERS

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced Canada is extending work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers. This temporary, two year measure expands the eligibility for work permits to family members accompanying the principal applicant to Canada, which the federal government says.

“Everywhere I go, employers across the country continue to identify a lack of workers as their biggest obstacle,” said Fraser. “Today’s announcement will help employers find the workers they need to fill their labour gaps by expanding work permits to family members at all skill levels, resulting in family members of over 200,000 foreign workers being able to work in Canada.

Prior to this announcement, spouses were only eligible for a work permit if the principal applicant was working in a high-skill occupation. This temporary measure aims to improve the emotional well-being, physical health and financial stability of workers by

keeping families together.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, the eligibility to work in Canada expanded to spouses and working-age children through a phased approach for workers at all skill levels. As a result of this new approach, it is estimated that family members of more than 200,000 foreign workers could begin working in Canada, offering a greater opportunity for

both foreign workers seeking to work in Canada and for employers addressing their labour needs. The temporary measure will be implemented in three phases to ensure its successful rollout:

Phase one will enable family members of workers coming to Canada through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP) to apply for an open work permit. Phase two aims to expand the measure to the family members of workers from the low-wage stream of the TWFP, following consultations. Phase three will include consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders to assess operational feasibility for expanding the measure to family members of agricultural workers.

The federal government issued over 645,000 work permits between January and October 2022 — nearly four times more than the 163,000 issued over the same period in 2021.

Sean Fraser

SO HOT RIGHT NOW.

BTN WINS GROWER OF THE YEAR

Brookdale Treeland Nurseries (BTN) has been awarded the title of International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2023 by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). The coveted ‘Gold Rose’ award was presented to BTN by Royal FloraHolland CEO, Steven van Schilfgaarde, at the AIPH IGOTY Awards Ceremony on Jan. 24, 2023 at IPM Essen, Germany.

BTN is one of the largest and most respected growers of garden plants in Canada. They service garden retailers, landscape contractors, municipalities, and golf courses throughout Canada and the United States. With four farms in Ontario and one in British Columbia, BTN has a land base of more than 800 acres.

Jeff Olsen, President and CEO of BTN, commented: “We feel amazing, so blessed, to be honoured with these awards. It means so much to me personally and our whole team back in Canada. We’re so excited to tell them the news.”

Jason Rekker, National Production Manager for BTN, added: “The level of competition here is extremely high and we’re humbled by that. There are so many fantastic growers here, so it feels very special for us to be recognised in this way.”

In addition to the Gold Rose Award, BTN was also awarded gold in the Finished Plants & Trees category, presented by Bernard Oosterom, Chair of the IGOTY 2023 Jury, and bronze in the Sustainability category, presented by Sarah von Fintel, Key Account Manager for GlobalG.A.P. and G.N.N. Label.

Bernard Oosterom commented: “Brookdale Treeland Nurseries stands out as a business focused on the future; with a wide assortment

and a flow of new varieties it brings something new to the industry all the time. The business prioritizes sustainable production and innovation with a commitment to knowledge exchange and growing a strong team. Its dynamic approach has enabled it to develop new products and markets and is well founded to lead the industry in the years ahead.”

Founded in 2009 with the support of Royal FloraHolland and FloraCulture International, the IGOTY Awards recognize best practice in horticulture by the top ornamental production nurseries from around the globe, celebrating the expertise and energy they give to horticulture.

The IGOTY 2023 category winners are:

Young International Grower of the Year

Eliot Barden

Young Plants

Gold: Morel Diffusion, France

Silver: SB Talee de Colombia SAS, Colombia

Bronze: Xiamen Ican Seed Co., China

Finished Plants & Trees

Gold: Brookdale Treeland Nurseries, Canada

Silver: Giorgio Tesi Group, Italy

Bronze: Fructoplant SP. Z O.O., Poland

Cut Flowers & bulbs

Gold: Royal Base Corporation, Chinese Taipei

Silver: Zhejiang Toyoshima, China

Bronze: Zentoo, the Netherlands

Sustainability

Gold: Allensmore Nurseries, UK

Silver: Xiamen Ican Seed Co, China

Bronze: Brookdale Treeland Nurseries, Canada

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VINELAND PUBLISHES 2022-23 INNOVATION REPORT

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) published its 2022-23 Innovation Report, covering the organization’s latest research and development projects. Based in Vineland, Ont., Vineland is an independent, not-for-profit organization, funded in part by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, federal-provincial-

territorial initiative. It delivers innovative products, solutions and services through an integrated and collaborative cross-country network to advance Canada’s research and commercialization agenda.

The 2022-23 report features articles including: A collaborative approach to automation innovation; TreeCulture

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Research Park hosts first urban greening research project; Finding opportunities in waste; Case study: Speeding up new plant variety development; The 49th Parallel rose breeding program; Science opens a window in the inner-workings of plants; and Vineland at a glance. The report is available for free online at vinelandresearch.com.

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ONTARIO CELEBRATES LANDSCAPING EXCELLENCE

Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence

celebrated 50 years of the best landscape projects in Ontario with a sold out gala celebration on Jan. 10, 2023. About 650 landscape and horticulture professionals packed the ballroom at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport to see over 250 awards announced live during an entertaining and emotional evening.

The annual Awards of Excellence program recognizes breathtaking design and master craftsmanship in landscape construction, maintenance, design, landscape lighting, and interior plantscape projects. Hosted by Carson Arthur, landscape designer and television personality, the winning projects featured outstanding levels of craftsmanship by Ontario’s landscape professionals, ranging in value from $10,000 to over $1 million. The top four awards presented were:

2023 DUNINGTON-GRUBB AWARD

For the most outstanding and highest overall scoring project in the various construction categories.

Winner: Wentworth Landscapes

2023 NEIL VANDERKRUK AWARD

For the highest overall scoring project in the design categories.

Winner: Jennifer Hayman Design Group

2023 CASEY VAN MARIS AWARD

For the highest marks for execution of unique and innovative design in landscaping.

Winner: Niagara Outdoor

2023 DON SALIVAN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT AWARD

For a project in the maintenance program that when properly executed, protects or even enhances the value of the original landscape investment.

Winner: Wentworth Landscapes

Top scoring winners will go on to represent the province at the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s National Awards of Landscape Excellence. Winners will be announced in August 2023. Online entry for next year’s Awards of Excellence program will open for Landscape Ontario member companies on July 1. A replay of the ceremony and photos of all the award-winning landscapes can be viewed at loawards.com

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Wentworth Landscapes won the top awards in the maintenance and construction categories at the 2023 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence.

Pantone announced its Colour of the Year for 2023: Viva Magenta 18-750. “This year’s Colour of The Year is powerful and empowering,” the company said. “It is an animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and selfexpression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement. Pantone 18-1750 Viva

Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a colour that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.

“In this year’s Colour of the Year selection process, Pantone observed a heightened appreciation and awareness of nature represented by countless lifestyle trends,” the company explained. “We’re incorporating more

living things into our homes, such as plants, florals, living walls, and restorative outdoor spaces… Viva Magenta’s organic origins hail from the cochineal beetle. This insect produces carmine dye, one of the most precious, strongest, and brightest of the natural dye family. The red tone of Viva Magenta connects us to original matter, imbibing us with a primordial signal of strength.”

PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR: VIVA MAGENTA

VINELAND STUDIES PROPAGATION TRAYS

What happens in propagation doesn’t stay in propagation, according to a new report titled The Impact of Propagation Trays on Tree Establishment. The report summarizes key findings from a five-year field trial conducted by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland), in partnership with A.M.A. Horticulture (A.M.A.).

Researchers propagated black cherry and eastern cottonwood trees in four commonly used trays, including RootSmart, an open-wall tray designed by Vineland for optimal air pruning and commercialized by A.M.A. Beginning in 2017, researchers dug up a row of trees each year to analyze the root systems for key traits that support healthy tree establishment. The trial found that root defects occurring in propagation were persistent and sustained after five years in the field, creating permanent defects that have been linked with mortality in urban trees, including root girdling and root ball development. The RootSmart tray consistently produced high-quality root systems compared to the other trays, including better overall root quality and distribution, and a higher number of root-soil contact points.

Increasingly, governments and not-for-profit organizations are investing in large-scale urban tree planting programs and solutions are needed to help ensure trees will last their full life cycle. It has been reported that for every 100 urban trees planted, only 50 will live 13 to 20 years. Urban tree planting programs support the fight against climate change and producing quality nursery stock plays a key role in their success.

“As we look to green the landscape, we need to focus on promoting healthy root systems right at the beginning, when it counts,” Rhoda deJonge, Director of Plant Responses and the Environment at Vineland, said. “These findings confirm that once problems occur in propagation, they continue to impact how the tree develops and can lead to poor stability and increased risk of windthrow — critical issues that are only becoming more prevalent with climate change.”

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GREEN CITIES FOUNDATION RECEIVES $250,000 FROM FEDDEV ONTARIO

Representatives from the Green Cities Foundation were joined by Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton, Ont., to announce $250,000 in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund at the Green Cities Foundation office.

The Green Cities Foundation, an organization whose mission is to connect plants and people to grow a greener, healthier urban climate, has been a partner in the St. Matthew’s House revitalization project since 2019. With the additional financial support from FedDev Ontario, plus sponsorship from RBC Insurance and help from Landscape Ontario members, Green Cities Foundation has been able to improve the children’s playground with new shade sails, walkways, fencing, trees and shrubs, garden beds and seating areas. A green community gathering space will also be constructed to support older adults facing isolation and children attending a childcare program in the Barton Village area.

The Green Cities Foundation project at St. Matthew’s House is among the 31 tourism and community projects across the Greater Golden Horseshoe that received $7.5 million in funding from FedDev Ontario in January 2023.

“This investment for Green Cities Foundation will support the creation of a green community gathering space with a new children’s playground, outdoor walkways, gardens and seating areas for everyone to enjoy,” Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, said. “Together, our government is making smart investments that put people first.”

“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in community infrastructure that promotes social inclusion and drives resilient local economic growth through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund,” van Koeverden, Minister of Health and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport, said. “This

“St. Matthew’s House was fortunate enough to be selected by Green Cities Foundation to be the flagship project,” Brent Bentham, Chair of St. Matthew’s House Capital Committee, said. “The work that has been done has been transformative. Not just to our organization, but to the larger community.”

“The Hamilton project around St. Matthew’s House in Barton Village is a cornerstone of what the Green Cities Foundation represents,” Alan White, Chair of the Green Cities Foundation, said. “Green Cities Foundation’s partnership with St. Matthew’s House is so connected to the mission of creating healthy urban climates. It’s connected to youth with the daycare here, and with the seniors in the community.”

Peter Guinane, who is leading the project to revitalize St. Matthew’s House and surrounding community parks, said he’s grateful for the government’s financial support. “The tremendous amount of funding will help us complete this project, bringing green and healthy space to an under-served community. We’re really excited by the generosity of the Green Cities Foundation and the members of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association have already shown what is possible with our profession and what we can do to give back to the community. It’s very exciting and inspiring.”

Managed by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, the Green Cities Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to connect plants and people for a greener, healthier urban climate. Established in 2018, the foundation is committed to protecting the environment, renewing failed green spaces and increasing the amount of public green space in Canadian cities. Learn more at gcfoundation.com.

GCF volunteers at St. Matthew’s House in Hamilton, Ont.

ADVERTISERS

EVENTS

FEB. 28 2023

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO IRRIGATION CONFERENCE

Milton, Ont.

horttrades.com/irrigation-conference-2023

MARCH 29 - APRIL 2, 2023

CALIFORNIA SPRING TRIALS Calif. 2023cast.com

JULY 9-12, 2023

GARDEN CENTRES CANADA SUMMIT Vancouver, B.C. cnla.ca/events/gcc-summit-2023

JULY 15-18, 2023

AMERICANHORT PRESENTS CULTIVATE Columbus, Ohio cultivateevent.org

SEPT. 10-13, 2023

ELEVATE BY NALP Dallas, Texas landscapeprofessionals.org/elevate

OCT. 17-21, 2023

EQUIP EXPO

Louisville, Ky. equipexposition.com

NOV. 16-17, 2023

GREEN INDUSTRY SHOW AND CONFERENCE Alta. greenindustryshow.com

JAN. 9-11, 2024

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO CONGRESS

Built Canadian tough

JASON LONGLEY has been part of the transportation industry for more than 20 years, starting with Cervus Equipment/ Peterbilt, and for the past four years as the general sales manager for Miska Trailer Factory, a utility trailer manufacturer based in Hamilton, Ont. Established in 1994, Miska’s motto is “built Canadian tough.” Longley oversees the day to day sales, marketing and business functions of the company. In 2021, he was elected to the Board of Directors for the Canadian Transportation Equipment Association, an opportunity Longley says he relishes as a great way to give back to the industry.

What do you enjoy most about being a supplier to the landscape trades?

The most satisfying aspect of being a supplier to the landscape trades industry is being part of our customers’ success. We take great pride in the feedback from our customers in the landscape community that rely on Miska’s equipment as the backbone of the trailer fleet.

What have been the biggest challenges over the past few years? How have you and Miska overcome those obstacles?

I am confident this won’t come as a surprise: the biggest challenge was keeping up with the demand throughout the pandemic. We typically pride ourselves on having 800 to 1,000 trailers in stock,

and it was challenging to keep up with heightened demand. Miska overcame those challenges by working diligently to increase our raw material levels to ensure we limited production disruptions due to supply chain challenges.

What innovations and new product introductions are you most excited about?

At Miska, we pride ourselves on being the market leader when it comes to providing the most innovative designs. I was thrilled to be back in person at Landscape Ontario Congress in January to share the excitement about our new Ultra Low Pro Dump Trailer with the lowest deck height in the industry, providing our customers with stress-free loading. Our engineering team is always busy tweaking and improving our trailers such as our patented industry leading Dump Trailer Ramps. Over the past four years we’ve launched a number of new products, including Steel and Aluminum Dump Bodies, Drop Deck Trailer and the 20/30 Ton Floats.

What do you think are the keys to being a successful supplier to the landscape trades?

A supplier should always be listening to and understanding the needs of the landscape trades. I believe the key to being a successful supplier is providing the best quality product with competitive pricing and delivering on your commitments. LT

Do you know someone who’d be great to feature in an upcoming Mentor Moment Q&A? Let our editor Scott Barber know: sbarber@landscapetrades.com

KUBOTA KNOWS LANDSCAPING.

From mowers to compact track loaders, UTVs to stand-on compact loaders, and all attachments in between — Kubota provides landscaping equipment built to handle Canadian demands. Our range combines quality performance and lasting durability to deliver professional results. Best of all, we offer competitive commercial financing options and support from our Canada-wide dealer network to maximize productivity and reduce downtime.