TLC0814 by Richard Street

AUGUST 2014

TotalLandscapeCare.com

Driving in the 10 Snow +

Tips for Snow Removal Crews page 26

New Winter Equipment page 30

Racing to Plant at Churchill Downs page 7

How To Deal with Unhappy Clients page 21

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table of contents

August 2014 Volume 8 | Issue 8

industry news

Breaking Ground: Kicking It Off Right

Field Report: Off to the Races

Three ways to create a winning business playbook

Churchill Downs doesn’t disappoint with spectacular plants

equipment

Editor’s Picks: Secure Travel

Safety Watch: Toxic Wind

Trim, dig and protect valuables with these machines and tools

How to prevent injury from pesticide spray drift

Cover Story: Icy Roads

10 tips for safe driving in snowy conditions

Roundup: Snow Removal

Equipment and products to tackle snow and ice

ProPickup: Road Test

Behind the wheel of the 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD

7 business

lawn care

Business Bests: Dealing with Unhappy Clients How to handle and learn from customer complaints

Landscaper of the Year Finalist: Great Outdoors Matthew Gilligan’s love for nature drove him to start his landscape business.

Chemical Care Rise & Fall of Weeds

Fall herbicide applications provide the latest in broadleaf weed control.

design/build

Portfolio: School Yard

Despite hurdles, landscape team creates relaxing space for university

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Tackle Tough Jobs EXPERIENCE OUR NEW TRACK LOADERS Need to get more done in a day? Count on Takeuchi track loaders. Featuring a light footprint and an impressive rated operating capacity of 2,105 lbs, the new TL8 track loader offers an unrivaled blend of power and efficiency. With bucket breakout forces exceeding 6,800 lbs, and loader lift arm forces of over 6,700 lbs the TL8 is able to deliver unmatched performance in the most demanding applications. Find your new edge on productivity. See the full line at takeuchi-us.com.

FIND OUT WHAT OTHERS KNOW. VISIT TAKEUCHI-US.COM TO FIND THE DEALER NEAREST YOU. Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

breaking ground totallandscapecare.com /TotalLandscapeCare @TLCmagazine

Editorial

Editor-At-Large: Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Online Managing Editor: Patty Vaughan editorial@totallandscapecare.com

Design & Production

Art Director: Richard Street Graphic Designer: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Linda Hapner production@totallandscapecare.com

Construction Media

Senior VP, Market Development, Construction Media: Dan Tidwell VP of Sales, Construction Media: Joe Donald sales@randallreillyconstruction.com

Corporate

Chairman/CEO: Mike Reilly President: Brent Reilly Chief Process Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Administration Officer: David Wright Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Vice President, Audience Development: Stacy McCants Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Director of Marketing: Julie Arsenault

3200 Rice Mine Rd NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: totallandscapecare@halldata.com For subscription information/inquiries, please email: totallandscapecare@halldata.com. Total Landscape Care (ISSN # 1932-8303) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly Publishing Co. LLC, 3200 Rice Mine Road NE, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Single copy price: US $6, Canada/Mexico $9, Foreign $12. For subscriptions, call (800) 517-4979 in the U.S. or (847) 763-9610 outside the U.S. U.S. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tuscaloosa, AL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Total Landscape Care, PO Box 2196, Skokie, IL 60076-9852. All contributions in the form of unsolicited letters, manuscripts, stories, materials, photographs or art are welcome, addressed to the editor. These submissions cannot be returned except where the sender provides a postage-paid, addressed, stamped envelope. RandallReilly Publishing Company, LLC cannot assume responsibility for unintentional loss or damage to submitted materials. All advertisements for Total Landscape Care magazine are accepted and published by Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC on the representation that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/ or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC harmless from and against any loss, expenses or other liability resulting from any claims or suits for libel violations of right of privacy or publicity, plagiarisms, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or suits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Copyright ©2014 RandallReilly Publishing Company, LLC All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Total Landscape Care is a trademark of Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee regarding the quality of goods and services advertised herein.

Total Landscape Care is a proud supporter of...

Kicking It Off Right 3 ways to create a winning business playbook Put on your school colors, grab some tailgating food and turn on the big screen: Football season is finally here. If your team is going to win this year, they’ll need conditioned players, a dedicated coach and a good playbook. And a landscape business is no different. Here are three ways to prepare your team to beat the competition. Practice. For the most part, you’re on the sidelines while your employees are out on jobsites. So, it’s important to teach them the fundamentals, including safety training and how to interact with clients. Just like a football team wouldn’t practice once a season, you also need to hold regular meetings with employees. (Download free safety materials at totallandscapecare.com/safetywatch.) Watch film. Unlike a coach, you probably won’t watch recordings of your employees working each day. But, you can look back and learn from your past experiences – good and bad. Did you under bid a project, miss a deadline, make a bad hire or have an unhappy client (read tips on dealing with upset clients on page 21)? Analyze what went wrong and how to prevent that loss in the future. On the flip side, did you send a mailer that brought in a lot of leads or gain community recognition from winning an award? Figure out what worked and how you can recreate that success. Play at a high level. Don’t just do enough to beat your competitors. Instead, challenge yourself, and look for ways to continually improve. Want tips on how other landscapers are winning with their businesses? Read the Landscaper of the Year Finalist article on page 37. Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Editor-At-Large

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YOUR INSIGHTS. BROUGHT TO LIFE.

Building your landscape business together. Our G-Series Compact Excavators may be small, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re full of big ideas from landscape contractors like you. For example, a wider entryway. Improved visibility. A third service door for easier maintenance and cooler cleaning. And a dependable, no-fuss Final Tier 4 engine. You asked for machines that are operator-friendly, dependable, and easy to maintain. We made sure the G-Series delivers. See for yourself at your dealer or on our website. JohnDeere.com/excavators Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

FieldReport:

news, trends & cool stuff Text and Photos By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle

Statues of jockey Pat Day and Aristides are focal points in the formal garden.

Planting A to Win Churchill Downs doesn’t disappoint with spectacular foliage

s the world turned its attention to California Chrome during this year’s Kentucky Derby race, the grounds crew at Churchill Downs focused on something just as flashy: plants. Keeping the 147 acres at this Louisville, Kentucky, attraction in immaculate shape is no easy task. More than 25,000 plants come out of its greenhouse each year, and tropical plants are especially popular, says Matthew Bizzell, director of horticulture at Churchill Downs. They start installing the foliage after the last frost in April, which was in the middle of the month this year. Needing to be ready for the Kentucky Derby in May, Bizzell and his team added about 18,000 plants in a seven-day span. Bizzell’s department, which has eight employees including him, does

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fieldreport:

(Above) The 1,200-square-foot greenhouse is right off of the track. (Top Right) The California Chrome winner’s silks statue matched the existing foliage. (Bottom Right) The track holds races throughout the week.

not maintain the turf, which is handled by a team of four crewmembers. “The Derby is like a machine,” Bizzell says. “You either go with the flow or you get run over.” They use plants including mums, ginger, pansies, Gomphrena ‘Pink Zazzle,’ Japanese maples, European weeping birch, prostrate blue spruce, flowering kale and ornamental cabbage. They get some varieties from Proven Winners and Monrovia. In the most formal garden at Churchill Downs, hellebores surround statues of Aristides, the horse that won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, and Pat Day, the all-time-leading jockey at Churchill Downs. Recycled tires transformed into pavers line the paddock area, and tropical hibiscuses enclose the space. Want to see the grounds or museum while

you’re in Louisville for GIE+EXPO? Churchill Downs offers a historic walking, barn and backside van, inside the gates, twilight and Horses & Haunts tours – all for $15 or less per person with museum admission. Visit derbymuseum.org/tours.html for more information. View more photos from the greenhouse, grounds and races at totallandscapecare.com/churchilldowns. Watch a video tour of Churchill Downs at totallandscapecare.com/tour-churchill-downs.

5 FACTS ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS

In 1955, a $300,000 automatic sprinkler system was installed in the entire grandstand and clubhouse.

To fund construction for the track, Col. M. Lewis Clark raised $32,000 by selling 320 membership subscriptions for $100 each.

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3 4 5

The track showed its first profit in 1903 – 28 years after its founding. The first national telecast of the Kentucky Derby aired May 3, 1952. Churchill Downs covers 147 acres, and on Derby day, crowds can reach more than 150,000.

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“The way to make a smart purchase is to try it first.” CHRIS CHARNESKY VG Scapes, Wyckoff, NJ

GIE+EXPO’s 19-acre Outdoor Demo Area Conduct your hands-on new-product research on Thursday and Friday at the show.

Oct. 23-24, 2014 Louisville, Kentucky

Kentucky Exposition Center

Toll Free: (800) 558-8767 Thinking about expanding your services? Browse the newest hardscape products in Hardscape North America — co-located with GIE+EXPO, indoors and out. See the fast-paced Installation Championships & upgrade your registration to learn the best installation techniques in the HNA Outdoor Arena.

WWW.GIE-EXPO.COM

CONNECT WITH US ON:

CO-LOCATED WITH GIE+EXPO 2014:

fieldreport:

Pets We Dig

It’s Your Call.

Gunner

weed Control that gIves You summer hours.

Guard Dog Canine keeps the property clear of intruders

Last Call™ herbicide delivers post-emerge control of more than 40 grassy and broadleaf weeds – including mid-tiller crabgrass – when most other herbicides check out. And since Last Call is labeled for most managed areas in cool-season turf, there is no reason to feel the heat this summer. Plan your summer, it’s your call.

To have your pet featured online and in the magazine, visit PetsWeDig.com and enter your pet’s photo.

See your diStributor or NufArm.Com for more iNformAtioN. Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com

6-year-old German Shepherd, Gunner is more than a family companion. He loyally rides to the shop each day with his owner. But he might not be a welcoming furry face to all who come to Summit Lawn & Landscape’s office. One of his jobs is to walk around the property throughout the day to do security sweeps. He does them every hour on the dot. But employees don’t have to worry. Gunner knows who is and isn’t supposed to be in the back area and alerts his owner if needed.

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TotalLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 11 7/21/14 1:35 PM

When you miss a job in landscaping, you lose more than money–you lose your reputation. That’s why so many landscapers trust Mobil Delvac™ heavy-duty diesel engine oil in their trucks–it helps reduce sludge and wear and is formulated for long engine life. To learn more, visit mobildelvac.com

A reliable truck means reliable business

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com © 2013 Exxon Mobil Corporation. Mobil and Mobil Delvac are trademarks or registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.

BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Trim, dig and protect valuables with these machines and tools

Load & lock Keep valuables secure from bad weather and thieves with Highway Products’ aluminum truck tonneau cover. While the tonneau cover is closed and locked, the tailgate can still be opened for access to the truck bed. The cover folds in half, so you can carry tall items when necessary. For more information, visit totallandscapecare.com/ highway-products-cover.

Added force With an operating weight of 8,289 pounds, Takeuchi’s TB240 compact excavator delivers 9,959 pounds of bucket digging force – nearly 15 percent more than the previous TB235. The excavator has a computer-controlled Yanmar engine, adjustable auxiliary-flow settings, reinforced boom and a redesigned body for groundlevel panoramic serviceability. For more information, visit totallandscapecare.com/takeuchi-tier-4-excavators.

Attach & mow John Deere added five Tier 4 Final models to its line of front-mount mowers with the new 1500 Series TerrainCut: 1550, 1570, 1575, 1580 and 1585. The 1550 TerrainCut has a 24.2-horsepower engine, and the 1570, 1575, 1580 and 1585 models use a 37.4-horsepower engine. The 1575 and 1585 models have factory-installed cabs. Available implements and accessories include snow blowers, blades, brooms, a weight transfer kit, auxiliary hydraulics and a cold-weather heater block. For more information, visit totallandscapecare.com/ deere-terraincut-mowers.

For product information, text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCREQUEST.COM

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editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picks

Fewer parts With an electric clutch, the Exmark 2015 Turf Tracer S-Series mower has about 250 fewer component parts compared to previous models. The S-Series mowers come in 36-, 48- or 52-inch UltraCut Series 3 cutting decks, and an hour meter comes standard. The mowers are available with a variety of engine options, including the Kohler PCV680 EFIpropane powerplant and Kawasaki engines. For more information, visit totallandscapecare.com/ exmark-turf-tracer. exmark-turf-tracer

Close cut The Scotts AirShoc petite pruner features titanium non-stick blades, impact-resistant grips with antimicrobial protection and an aluminum structure. The 1/2-inch-cut blade resists sap and adhesive substances, and replaceable blades are available in bypass, anvil and snip. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also an integrated wire cutter. For more information, visit totallandscapecare.com/scotts-airshoc.

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Whether your business is putting plants in the ground or pipes in the ground, we carry everything from compact machines with rubber tracks that won’t damage existing lawns, to larger excavators and wheel loaders for infrastructure expansion.

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We offer quick and convenient financing options including the Cat Commercial account as well as all major credit cards. You can come in and pick your machine up, or we’ll deliver any size machine to your job site.

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© 2014 Caterpillar All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. www.cat.com www.caterpillar.com

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Toxic Wind BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

How to prevent injury from pesticide spray drift THE ACCIDENT: A crewmember is applying pesticides on a commercial property using a backpack sprayer. It’s a particularly windy day, and as he is spraying a section of the lawn, a wind gust picks up and blows the chemicals onto the worker. The pesticide gets on his hands, face and in his eyes. It causes his skin to be irritated and his eyes to burn and swell for several days. THE BOTTOM LINE: Getting pesticides or other chemicals on your skin can cause mild to severe dermatitis. The employee should have worn the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and avoided spraying when it was so windy. Not only can pesticide drift result in injury, it can also cause off-target areas – such as water features and plants – to be sprayed. Here are precautions employees should take when working with chemicals: • Check the wind speed and direction to make sure they are both within the recommendations on the pesticide label. • Wash your hands and face before eating or drinking, and shower after work. • If using a truck equipped with a tank, pump and hose to apply chemicals, don’t park it near water or storm drains. The vehicle should also carry a spill kit. • Wear PPE and the proper clothing: gloves,

ILLUSTRATION BY DON LOMAX

• • • •

eye protection, long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Read the chemical’s label to understand how to mix, apply and store the pesticide. The label will also tell what type of PPE is required. If pesticides are sprayed or spilled on your body, wash immediately with clean water. Owners should educate employees on spray drift management. Keep the spray nozzle as close to the target area as possible.

For more Safety Watch articles, visit totallandscapecare.com/safetywatch.

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Viento tóxico POR LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Cómo prevenir lesiones causadas por las ráfagas de pesticida EL ACCIDENTE: El miembro de una cuadrilla está aplicando pesticidas en una propiedad comercial con un rociador de mochila. Es un día particularmente lleno de ventiscas, y mientras se halla rociando una sección del césped, se alza un ventarrón que sopla los químicos sobre el trabajador. El pesticida le cae en las manos, la cara y los ojos. Ello hace que se le irrite la piel y que le ardan y se le hinchen los ojos por varios días.

CONCLUSIÓN: Los pesticidas u otros productos químicos que caen sobre su piel pueden causar una dermatitis que puede ir de ligera a severa. El empleado debió haber usado la indumentaria de protección personal (PPE, siglas en inglés) apropiada, y evitar el rociado cuando corría tanto viento. No sólo una ráfaga de pesticida puede causar lesiones, también puede hacer que se termine rociando áreas no planeadas, como elementos acuáticos ornamentales o plantas. Aquí algunas precauciones que los empleados deberían seguir al trabajar con productos químicos: • Examine la velocidad y dirección del viento para asegurarse de que ambos se hallan dentro de las recomendaciones incluidas en la etiqueta del pesticida. • Lávese las manos y la cara antes de comer o beber, y báñese después de trabajar. • Si utiliza un camión equipado con un tanque, debe bombear y aplicar los químicos con una manguera, no estacione cerca de agua o de

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ILUSTRACIÓN POR DON LOMAX

•

• • •

drenajes de tormenta. El vehículo debería cargar también un kit para derrames. Utilice indumentaria de protección (PPE) y la ropa apropiada: guantes, protección ocular, mangas largas, pantalones largos y zapatos de punta cerrada. Lea la etiqueta del producto químico para entender cómo debe mezclar, aplicar y almacenar el pesticida. La etiqueta le dirá también el tipo de PPE requerida. Si los pesticidas se rocían o derraman sobre su cuerpo, lávese inmediatamente con agua limpia. Los propietarios deberían educar a sus empleados en el control de las ráfagas de spray. Mantenga la boquilla del rociador lo más cerca posible del área designada.

Para más artículos de Safety Watch, visite totallandscapecare.com/safetywatch.

Your Vision, Their Dream – Anywhere Communicating your vision to prospective customers has never been easier with PRO Landscape design software. Whether your design platform is a desktop, laptop or tablet you can design and sell anytime, and now – anywhere. PRO Landscape is not only easy to use, but feature rich including stunning photo imaging, night and holiday lighting, 2D CAD, 3D renderings, and complete customer proposals.

Bring your customer’s dreams to life – starting today!

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. ™

Introducing the OREGON® 40V MAX* Cordless Pole Saw. Whether your crew is trimming at sunrise or cutting for hours overhead, there are situations when heavy gas equipment is unnecessary and inconvenient. Add the OREGON 40V MAX* Cordless Pole Saw to your equipment lineup, and you’ll get unmatched lithium ion battery power with instant start, quiet performance and a light, balanced design. So no matter what the day brings, you can power on.

Learn more about the OREGON® Cordless Pole Saw and the rest of the 40V MAX* Cordless Tool System at OregonCordless.com. *Fully charged battery voltage measured without a workload is 40 volts. Nominal voltage is 36 or 37 depending on battery used.

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business bests

Dealing with

Unhappy Clients By ArriccA Elin SAnSonE

How to handle and learn from customer complaints

ometimes bad things happen: The wrong bricks were ordered. The crew got lost and showed up late. The whole lot of plants got washed out in a downpour. The client keeps changing his mind or wants something for nothing. No matter what the source of your client’s discontent, it’s vital to your company’s future to listen, decipher and solve the problem without taking it personally. Negative feedback can make your business stronger by teaching you how to improve your services and public relations skills. “You may not want to hear a complaint, but it’s unrealistic to think it’s never going to happen,” says Eric Bruss, APLD, president of Bruss Landscaping (brusslandscaping.com) in Wheaton, Illinois. “Our goal is to create a personal, positive environment within the culture of the company, and turn bad into good.” When the inevitable occurs, follow these nine pointers for translating complaints into opportunities for progress.

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business bests

2 Document everything.

Listen and learn.

Listen actively to the client, which means making a neutral comment such as, “Tell me why you’re upset,” and then actually hearing the person out without interrupting. Next, repeat his concerns back to him. Sometimes the simple act of agreeing with a client disarms him. “An unhappy client is often more receptive to hearing your solution after you’ve made him feel he’s had a chance to air his grievances,” Bruss says.

3 Do a reality check.

“When we’re dealing with unhappy clients, we have to ask ourselves: ‘Did we make a mistake?’” Bruss says. Talk to the customer, foreman and crew. Examine your notes, contract and log books. Assume nothing and research everything. Try to see the issue from the customer’s point of view: How would you feel if this were your property? If you discover it’s your blunder, ’fess up, apologize and offer a fix.

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Keep written records of estimates, jobs and customer preferences so you have valid points if an issue does come up. “It doesn’t have to be complicated. For example, we keep simple log books with the trucks on each route,” says Jason Coffin, owner of A Cut Above Lawnscapes, in Schaghticoke, New York. “One column lists customer service notes such as, ‘The customer wants clippings from the backyard bagged because they have a dog.’ This also allows better consistency in the level of services.” Some install GPS units on trucks to verify routes and time spent on properties, which can help if clients dispute whether or not a crew was present, for example.

4 Know when to cut your losses.

“No one ever wants to walk away from a job,” Coffin says. “But sometimes you and the client don’t match up. It doesn’t help anyone to stay and struggle in the long run.” If they’re a slow payer, for example, next season may be the time to send out a carefully worded notice that indicates you’re realigning company goals and will not be able to offer a la carte services. Or if you’re on a job and cannot make a customer happy no matter what you do, you may be better suited refunding their money and restoring the property to its original condition. Like any relationship, you may have to call it quits if it’s no longer mutually beneficial.

business bests

Nip problems in the bud.

It may be tempting to sweep complaints under the rug, especially if you’re feeling bombarded by bad weather, lost workdays and the usual stress of running a business. But that’s never a good idea because little problems can quickly turn

Lose some to win some.

“I assess situations on a caseby-case basis,” says Rene West, president of Executive Landscaping in Pensacola, Florida. “It’s cheaper to keep a customer than to find a new customer, and referrals are worth more than ads.” In one case, West had about 40 $2 plants die during an exceptionally cold winter. Though it was no one’s fault, he chose to replace them, and the client was thrilled and spoke highly of him to her friends. As a result, West obtained new clients and gained more in the long run than was lost in the short term.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EXECUTIVE LANDSCAPING

into big problems. “If a client is unhappy, I’ll let the designer try to correct things once. But if that doesn’t work, I step in,” Bruss says. Hearing from the top also helps clients feel you value their business, which may help foster a solution.

Going the extra mile for customers can help prevent unhappy clients down the road. This proactive approach could include replacing plants that die from cold/hot weather or giving a discount if a project isn’t finished on time.

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business bests

Identify 7versus “demanding” “difficult.”

A demanding client wants things done a certain way but is willing to pay for it; a difficult client isn’t happy no matter what you do. “I have no problem working with demanding clients because they make you better,” West says. On the other hand, if a client talks down to crew, complains on a regular basis or takes advantage of your crew by asking routinely for services not part of the regular contract,

the relationship may not be worth nurturing. “Trust your gut,” West

suggests. “It’s OK to bid high and filter these clients out the next time around.”

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business bests

Avoid hiding 8 behind technology.

“Growing up on a farm where every deal was sealed with a handshake, I don’t believe in relying solely on technology,” Coffin says. “Yes, technology is fantastic and time-saving, but don’t rely on it.” Instead, go knock on the door. Even the most demanding customers usually respect you for making time for a face-to-face conversation. It shows you value their business and care enough to make time for them.

the 9 Study outcome.

Whether you resolved the issue or had to cut ties with a customer, ask yourself (and your staff members) what you’re taking away from the experience. Did you learn a better way of ordering supplies? Have you decided you need to tweak the preliminary questionnaire when clients call for the first time? Most importantly, determine what you can do so you don’t repeat the same scenario in the future, West advises. No one ever gets better at anything without stumbling a few times, so chalk up the occasional complaint to experience and move on a little wiser.

See us at TNLA EXPO ~ Aug. 14th - 16th ~ Booth #2307

Text info to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com a u g u s t 2014

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cover story

SNOW DRI

10 tips for hitting the road this winter BY BRUCE W. SMITH

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cover story

IVING 1 1

hether the first snowfall cools the Labor Day festivities or sharpens the smells of Thanksgiving dinner, it signals the change in many Snow Belt landscape contractorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; annual business cycles from moving rocks and dirt to moving ice and snow. And snow removal is big business. It provides a steady winter income helping area businesses keep driveways and parking lots accessible and safe for their patrons. That means those who are doing the snow removal are the ones driving in the worst conditions as they go about their work or move compact loaders, side-by-sides and other equipment on trailers from one frozen jobsite to the next. Veterans owners make the transition from warm-weather driving habits to winter within the first few hours of driving on snow. But employees new to the winter climes, or younger, less experienced drivers arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as adept, which can lead to costly incidents.

Photo: Bringing a jackknifing trailer back in control requires keeping the pickupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheels straight while adding throttle to help pull the trailer back in line. Controlled trailer braking comes after the combo is straightened out.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an intuitional change born from years of experiences and lessons learned. Here are 10 tips that can help make the transition from summer to winter driving faster, smoother and safer for both newbies and seasoned pickup drivers. Tire Pressure: Driving safely on slippery surfaces is all about maximizing traction at all four tire contact points of the truck. There are several keys to being a good winter driver including adjusting vehicle speed for the conditions, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s critical to keep the running the proper tires and tire pressures and balancing the trailered load. tire pressures at the vehicle manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommended psi. Under/over-inflated tires upset vehicle control. Matched Tires: Never run mixed tire tread patterns, sizes or tread wear on a vehicle in the winter. Again, equal traction on the front and rear are critical for vehicle control. New tires on the front and old on the rear will cause the truck to oversteer (rear to slide out); new tires in back, old in front will cause understeer (push, not turn). Replace tires in sets of four. Tire Type: The best tires for winter use in areas where heavy Shocks and suspension components take a beating when subjected to snowplow use. Shocks snowfall is common are dedishould be checked annually and the fronts should be replaced at least every 25,000 miles. cated snow tires. About Shocks: Worn-out shocks cause instaSnow tires (they carry the mountain snowflake bility when the truck encounters dips and bumps, symbol) are made with tread compounds designed cornering and towing. Instability upsets vehicle to maximize tread flexibility and road contact while balance and control in slick conditions. Replace driving on snow/ice. All-season and all-terrain tires factory shocks at least every 25,000 miles and are marginal. Mud/traction tires are not recomaftermarket gas-shocks every 50,000 to be safe. mended for snow driving.

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foot on the brakes to test the slipperiness of the road surface. You’ll know if your speed is appropriate. Straighten To Turn: If you are trying to make a turn and the truck doesn’t respond, straighten the steering wheel while keeping off of the brakes or throttle. Front tires turned too sharp can’t get traction. They skid instead of roll, creating a “plowing” effect. Straightening the wheel helps regain steering control. Trailer Skid Control: If the trailer starts to jackknife, accelerate and don’t brake. At the same time, keep the tow vehicle’s wheels straight – don’t counter-steer in the direction of the sliding trailer. Once the trailer is straight, slowly brake to regain control. Boxing Corners: Another winter towing tip is “V-ing off” the corners by braking in a straight line before entering the corner then steering through it, before accelerating out of the corner when the truck and trailer are again in a straight line. Never turn and brake at the same time. Weight Balance: Keeping the vehicle (and trailer) balanced at all times Equipping pickups that work everyday in the snow with dedicated snow tires provides is the primary goal for winter driving. the driver with an added margin of vehicle control and safety. When the weight balance on the tires Replace front shocks twice as frequent when using shifts front to rear, or side to side, because of agthe truck for plowing. gressive driving habits, the vehicle control beBrake or Turn: The first lesson in snow drivcomes an immediate issue. Accelerate easily. Turn ing school is when making a corner, either brake smoothly. Brake lightly. or turn, never both at the same time. Brake in a Driving like you have the proverbial raw egg straight line before the turn, then lift off of the under your foot is ideal in slick conditions. brake and turn the wheel slowly. Smoothness is the key to being a good winter driver. Want your employees to be better equipped Adjust Speed: The biggest mistake when on how to handle snow and ice, whether drivdriving on slick roads, especially snow-packed or ing a pickup or towing trailers? Bridgestone’s plowed roads, is driving too fast. Speeding can’t be Winter Driving School (winterdrive.com) in corrected by braking on snow/ice. That problem is Steamboat Springs, Colorado, provides corcompounded when towing a trailer. How fast is too porate classes with hands-on and classroom training throughout the winter. fast? Test the road surface from time to time when no one is behind or ahead by lightly putting your

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Snow Removal

Clear ice, snow with these machines, attachments BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Automatic Traction

Winterize Equipment Case Construction Equipmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snow removal package for the SR250 and SV300 skid steers includes high-flow auxiliary hydraulics, which provides 37.6 gallons per minute of use. The package also comes with hydraulic self-leveling, ride control, an enclosed cab, heated air-ride suspension, block heater, fourcorner LED strobe kit and 14-by-17-1/2 tires. casece.com

Remove up to 6 inches of snow, sand, dirt and gravel with the Ariens Hydro Brush 36. The Hydro Brush 36 features a hydrostatic transmission, thermal management system, 40-degree brush head rotation and automatic traction control. The brush has a 36-inch clearing width, a steel dash construction and handwarmers. Optional attachments including a snow cab, debris deflector, tire chains and wire bristles. ariens.com

Adjustable Design Boss Snowplow released 14- and 16-foot box plows with an adjustable hitch fork system that attaches to any size tractor loader bucket. The plows feature self-adjusting wings and a segmented trip-edge design. They also have heavy-duty wing shoes and 49-inch moldboards. bossplow.com

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Stay in Cab Caterpillar’s snow blowers are designed for removing snow from streets, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. The two-stage design uses augers and impellers to move the snow, and a reversible auger and impeller allow the operator to expel obstructions without exiting the machine. The blowers can be attached to skid steers, multi-terrain loaders, compact track loaders and compact wheel loaders. cat.com

Pivoting Scraper Propel Snow Grasshopper’s PTO-driven DriftBuster snowthrowers are available for its zeroturn FrontMount power units. The 48- and 60-inch models have a 12-inch-diameter auger and heavy-duty, replaceable scraper blades. The discharge spout is controlled from the operator’s seat and rotates 180 degrees to propel snow up to 30 feet away. grasshoppermower.com

Tackle snow with the Toro Power Max HD 1128 OXE two-stage snowblower. Powered by a Briggs & Stratton 342-cc overhead valve four-cycle engine, the Power Max can clear up to 2,200 pounds per minute. It features a pivoting scraper that helps clear down to the pavement and Quick Stick controls, which adjust the chute direction. Additionally, the handle-mounted triggers give the operator the ability to disengage one or both wheels. toro.com

Cab Controls Tailor material ice control application rates using Hiniker’s Model 775 dual-motor electric auger spreader. The 5 3/4-inchdiameter auger has an in-cab console that gives operators variable speed controls for both the conveyor and spinner, along with blast and reversing functions. It also has a 2-cubicyard standard hopper capacity and fits in 6 1/2- or 8-foot pickup beds. hiniker.com

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GOT A BEAST OF A JOB? YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ITS WEAK SPOT. Need extra reach for your excavator? The only clamp-compatible extendable arm in the industry gives you more than a fighting chance. Get power and lifting performance when it’s retracted or additional dig depth and reach — without the need for repositioning — when it’s extended. Add a clamp and monster jobs can never escape your grip.

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Large Areas The FFC Snow Push by Paladin Attachments attaches to skid steers, backhoes, compact wheel loaders and traditional wheel loaders to move large volumes of snow without leaving windrows. Available in widths ranging from 6 to 16 feet, it can move up to 21 cubic yards of snow at one time. An optional Pull-Back Kit draws back snow away from buildings, fences and confined areas. The FFC Snow Push is available in 127, 3600 and 4800 Series models. paladinattachments.com

Mount & Melt Spread bulk or bagged ice melting material from 4 to 12 feet wide with the SnowEx SP1675 Precision Pro spreader. Designed to handle varying sidewalk widths, the SP-1675 has a 6-cubic-foot capacity, volumetric vane feed system and electric drive system. The SP-1675 is offered with three mounting systems for attaching to three-point hitches, utility vehicles or 2-inch receiver hitches. snowexproducts.com

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Extend Edges Now available in stainless steel, Western’s MVP 3 V-plow has flared wings that extend from the center to the outer edges at varying heights depending on the model. Its blades are available in widths ranging from 7 feet 6 inches to 9 feet 6 inches. The plow is designed with a reinforced blade structure with eight vertical ribs, a large center hinge pin, a lift ram with 1 3/4-inch diameter cylinder and a T-frame design. westernplows.com

Clean Pass SnowWolf’s Ultra Series blades come in five widths, ranging from 6 to 10 feet, and attach to skid steers and utility loaders from 4,000 to 14,000 pounds. The Ultra Series has a 35-degree plowing angle and tight moldboard curvature. The blades can oscillate up to 6 inches and feature a 9-inch trip edge. The plows have dual pivot A-Frames, triple backbones and nitrosteel cylinders. snowwolfplows.com

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REACH OUT AND CONQUER

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Responsiveness matched only by its shadow.

now that’s smaRt. Take control of your day in the Boomer™ 3000 with help from: • EasyDrive™ Series II Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for seamless speed changes • Single-pedal control to manage travel and engine speed • Cruise control to hold, fine tune or resume working speed • Four-wheel drive at the flip of a switch for improved handling • R3 turf tires with shallow treads for gentler traction (optional)

Find out about the latest offers from your New Holland dealer at newholland.com/NA ©2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. NHB05149379R3

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finish the job.

and then keep

Clear Paths Compatible with the John Deere TerrainCut 1500 Series and former model front mowers, the 60-inch snow blower handles wet, heavy snow. A low-speed auger collects snow and moves it to the center of the machine, and a high-speed impeller then blows snow out the discharge chute. The discharge chute can be rotated hydraulically 180 degrees from left to right from the operator’s seat. johndeere.com

going.

Smooth Rotation Blow snow off driveways, parking lots and sidewalks with Bobcat’s snowblower attachment. A chain and sprocket system eliminates loose, tangled and frozen cables in the chute rotation. By adjusting the deflector up or down, the chute points snow in almost any direction and throws snow wherever the operator wants it to be placed. bobcat.com

Find out about the latest offers from your New Holland dealer at newholland.com/na

Remove wet, heavy or drifted snow with snow blades on Terex’s compact track loaders. Three different models let operators match the blade to the width of their machine, and they attach to the quick-attach interface. Snow blades for Terex loaders include four compression trip springs and a bolt-on cutting edge that is reversible and replaceable. terex.com

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Quick Attach

©2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. NH04149257FT

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Mark & Kay Halla The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Centers Chaska, Minnesota

David Land Tulsa Landscape, Inc. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Lewis Bennett & Dana Shook Green Dreams Landscape Management, Inc. Pinebluff, North Carolina

Joe Hanauer Landscape Architecture, LLC Madison, Wisconsin

Scott Reister TG&R Landscape Group Rock Hill, South Carolina

Ross Bowen Ross NW Watergardens Portland, Oregon

Dustin Hanson Hanson Landscape, Inc. Big Rock, Illinois

Terry Sims The Garden Artist, LLC Boise, Idaho

Matthew Gilligan Magnolia Landscape, LLC Virginia Beach, Virginia

Claude Kershner III Reef Tropical Lawn Key Largo, Florida

Stephen Wright Creative Landscape & Irrigation, Inc. Asheboro, North Carolina

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Great Outdoors BY AMY MATERSON

Matthew Gilligan Magnolia Landscape Virginia Beach, Virginia

Matthew Gilligan’s love for working outside pushed him to create a landscape business focused on clients, good working environment and steady growth

or Matt Gilligan, working with the soil is something he wanted to do a long time before he ever launched his own landscaping company. He’d worked different types of jobs – including one for a landscaper and another with a dairy farm – and he realized his favorite jobs had

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landscaper of the year finalist

(Above) Magnolia Landscape provides a range of landscape styles, including this natural design that allows the customer to add personal touches. (Right) This small space includes container plantings and large palms, which were lifted in with a crane.

always been outdoors. So, when it was time for the upstate New York native to attend college, he chose dual enrollment at Syracuse University and State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry to study in the landscape architecture programs. Upon graduation, Gilligan ignored Mother Nature’s tug and took the conventional road to success, accepting a position as a landscape architect with a large firm in Washington, D.C. It didn’t take long for Gilligan to become unhappy with the job, though. “I was in a cubicle for nine hours a day,” he says. “I went stir crazy.”

Pursuing passions Fortunately for Gilligan, fate intervened. At a barbecue, he met his future wife, Kristen, a Virginia native who wanted to return home. The couple moved to Virginia Beach, with Gilligan taking a

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position with a local firm. Although he enjoyed design work, he knew he needed to follow his passion for being outside. With Kristen’s enthusiastic support, he launched Magnolia Landscape (maglandscape.com) in 2007. “Matt was so frustrated in the office,” she says. “He was really unhappy, so I said, ‘Start your own company.’” The Gilligans knew launching a business would be a challenge, which would then be intensified by a struggling economy. They started by lining up mowing clients to have an income while steadily

landscaper of the year finalist

Magnolia Landscape maintains excellent relationships with local homeowners associations, such as Christopher Farms, a 5-acre residential development with which Matthew Gilligan has a multi-year contract.

building the design side of the business. “We focused on mowing for about three years,” Gilligan says. With just a handful of employees, the Gilligans were able to slowly build a client base, and Magnolia Landscape began to take off. They would buy equipment such as zero-turn mowers, aerators and tillers as needed and were careful about what they chose. “We’d usually pick up slightly used equipment,” Gilligan says. “It would usually just need a little maintenance and care. With the economy the way it was, we didn’t want to have a ton of debt, so we found deals and worked it out.” This purchasing strategy often led to innovative repurposing, particularly when it came to vehicles. They found a used Chevrolet Suburban for $4,000 that they felt would serve as an excellent work vehicle – it didn’t matter to them that it served as a K-9 unit in its former life. Magnolia Landscape quickly amassed much of the equipment they needed, without the burden of heavy debt.

Confident crews and clients The company’s workforce was added at a slower pace than the equipment, as the Gilligans were interested in bringing on people they could trust but who they also enjoyed working with. Aaron Davies, Magnolia’s senior employee, says he enjoys the outside work. “I started by working a summer for Magnolia,” he says. “I found I really liked it; there’s a good atmosphere here.” Davies is now experienced enough to run the mow crew, which frees up Gilligan to deal with the design side of the business, as well as being an “office guy” when needed. “He’s great at it,” Gilligan says. “I let him run the crew and leave them alone. Nobody likes the boss breathing down their neck all the time.” When the Gilligans and their two daughters, 4 and 7, went on vacation, he trusted Davies to run the whole shop and supervise both the landscaping and mowing crews. He’s so pleased with Davies’s work and attitude that he’d like him to follow in his footsteps. The company now has eight employees, as well

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as Kristen’s brother, Brad, who helps out on a parttime basis when he’s available. “He’s really good with lighting,” Gilligan says. All of the employees love the family-friendly atmosphere, and most of them, including Gilligan, play ice hockey. “Everyone is so friendly,” says employee Scott Duke. “Yes, we work hard, but we also have fun.”

4 SECRETS TO GILLIGAN’S SUCCESS

Good partnership. “Mine happens to be my wife,” Matt Gilligan says. “Having a good partnership helps take some of the burden of the new and growing business.”

Client-focused employees. “Have good employees who reflect your personality and how you want your business to be,” he says. “We like to select our foreman as really personable people, really friendly. If a client comes out and has a question, I don’t want them to be rash and rude. I want them to be patient, caring and listen to what they say so they can get closer to the clients. If we can become friends with the clients, they’ll refer us to their friends. Repeat business is the way to go.”

Attention to detail. “I like to use this analogy: Starbucks makes coffee, and anybody can make coffee – but they do it the best,” he says. “When it comes to landscaping, anybody can plant flowers or mow the yard, but I want to feel like we do it the best. We pay attention to the details.”

Slow and steady growth. “I would love to grow the company as big as possible, but we try to limit our growth to 20 to 25 percent a year. That’s a comfortable growth for us,” Gilligan says. “You don’t want to grow too fast where the quality starts slipping.”

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Gilligan says he’s Although there’s To enter to ready to add more a lot of landscapbe Landscaper of staff as needed, ing companies the Year, visit though. “In the in the area, Giltotallandscapecare. first few years, ligan’s talent and com/loy. we bought so much qualifications have him equipment. Now, we want positioned to succeed. He’s to invest in our employees.” able to come up with solutions Although the company’s to problems while still giving the scope of work has shifted customer what they want. He’s to approximately 65 percent particularly good in placing the landscaping and just 35 percent right plant material to ensure mowing, attracting all of those long-term survival. mowing clients in the early days “A lot of people pick things of the business has had a lasting that look nice now but won’t effect on Magnolia Landscape. do well later,” he says. “I’ll put “In my own neighborhood, in the right plants for the right we mow more than 30 houses place.” weekly,” Gilligan says. His The company has a 60/40 friends and neighbors often bemix of commercial and residencome customers for the firm. “If tial clients and works frequently they’re not friends to begin with, with homeowners associations they become friends.” and military families stationed at the nearby bases. Although A balancing act the company initially worked For the Gilligans, owning a throughout the Hampton Roads growing business and being metropolitan area, Magnolia busy parents led to taking a Landscape now has enough serious look at time managework in Virginia Beach alone to ment. Kristen quit her full-time keep them busy. position and now handles much The Gilligans are interested more than just office paperwork. in continuing to grow Magnolia She tackles estimating, makes Landscape, but carefully. Curnursery runs, meets with clients rently, the company is expeand handles the company’s marriencing between 20 and 25 keting and social media, as well. percent growth per year, which “She’s a great business they see as manageable. “We partner,” Gilligan says. “I didn’t could grow more and be bigger, anticipate her helping out as but we have to be able to mainmuch as she does. I make taketain a high standard of quality,” off sheets for her, and she does Gilligan says. “I think the sky’s all the quotes. I really don’t the limit.” even know the prices of things To see more of Magnolia anymore.” Kristen also has her Landscape’s project photos, own side business as a freelance visit totallandscapecare.com/ educational writer. magnolia-landscape.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF OHIO STATE WEED LAB ARCHIVE, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, BUGWOOD.ORG

chemical care

The Rise and Fall of Weeds Fall herbicide applications provide the latest – and greatest – in broadleaf weed control. BY CINDY RATCLIFF

f summer’s high temperatures and drought-like conditions have forced you to put weed control on hold, don’t panic. You still have time to take aim at weeds. In fact, for certain broadleaf weed herbicide applications, later is greater. “Fall is a much better time to control some of the hardiest and most durable perennial broadleaf weeds because they are actively growing in cool-season turfgrasses,” says Ken Hutto, Ph.D., technical service manager for FMC Professional Solutions. It’s the active growing that promotes the spread of the herbicide throughout the weed plant. Targeting these weeds in the fall not only boosts herbicide

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photo courtesy of Walter reeves, the GeorGia Gardener

chemical care

Wild violet is more susceptible to herbicides in the fall when it is actively growing.

efficacy for a more complete kill of weeds, but also decreases the chance of damaging turf, which has only just recovered from the stresses of summer. Taking weeds out in the fall can give turf a competitive advantage when it emerges in the spring and break the weed cycle.

A fall fix In many instances, trying to combat weeds in the summer is not only futile, but it can damage turfgrass, according to Aaron Patton, Ph.D., associate professor and turfgrass extension specialist at Purdue University. “Herbicides are most effective on weeds that are not drought-stressed, and herbicides can be damaging when applied to drought-stressed turf,” Patton says. Instead, a fall application minimizes the risks to turf and maximizes efficacy, taking advantage of the weed’s lifecycle.

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“Many herbicides are effective in late fall because plants are more likely to translocate (move downward) herbicides into root and stem tissues as the day lengths shorten and temperatures cool,” Patton says. While preparing for winter, weeds are storing energy reserves and will readily suck up herbicides. “When turf and weeds are actively growing in the fall, it’s easier for the turf to metabolize herbicides. At the same time, these perennial weeds are shifting their requirements to reproductive growth. They are sucking in nutrients, and moisture and can translocate more effectively,” Hutto says. Weeds like dandelion, clover, plantain, ground ivy and wild violet are all good candidates for fall weed control. “Wild violet has a pretty nasty rhizome to reproduce vegetatively. It’s shifting carbohydrates down into these rhizomes in the fall to be ready to

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emerge in the spring, so by making a fall application, the product is drawn down into the reproductive areas,” Hutto says. Not only is fall herbicide application appropriate, for some weeds, like wild violet, it has proven to be the most effective time for control. According to Hutto, research comparing fall versus spring herbicide application for wild violet has rated fall the prime time. For other broadleaf perennial weeds, you can reach the same level of control whether you time your herbicide application for fall or spring. In these instances, fall can still be a better option. “The major benefit of all weed control is removing competition from turfgrass,” Hutto says. “What that allows you to do is increase the competitive advantage of turf in the fall. If you remove the weeds and you’re fertilizing, those voids can be filled back in, and you’re going into the winter with much healthier turf. So, you’re going into spring with a denser turf, and you’ll do better overall with weeds.”

Before planning your fall herbicide application, first consider whether you’ll put down seed in the fall. If you’re going to seed, you’ll need to time your application early enough so it won’t interfere. Always consult the product label, which will provide specific instructions and restrictions for seeding. With some products, the wait between application and seeding will be minimal. For other products, it could be as long as 30 days. No matter the wait, controlling weeds before seeding is always a good idea. “If you’re seeding into a lawn and you remove weeds prior to seeding, you’ll get much better seed-to-soil contact,” Hutto says. “If weeds are present, you won’t get as good of an establishment. If voids are created by eliminating weeds, much more seed can fill in the gaps. That’s the greatest benefit of fall weed control, whether in established lawns with spot treatment or by reseeding.” From a general weed-control standpoint, temperatures will be a critical factor in the amount of

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control you’ll get in the fall. You shouldn’t apply herbicide when temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Labels will provide more specific information. “As it gets colder, weeds will start dying off and the application won’t be as effective,” Hutto says. You’ll also want to consider the product you’re using and length of control. Some of the most common active ingredients for fall control include 2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba, triclopyr and sulfentrazone + quinclorac. Some products will get you as many as 60 days of control before the first frost hits. Herbicide formulation will also determine the level of control you’ll get from your fall application, according to Hutto. “As you get into cooler temperatures, companies switch to an ester formulation versus an amine formulation,” Hutto says. “Esters hold up better to the cooler temperatures and penetrate the cuticles. That’s another thing to consider for fall application.” Lastly, fertilization is key to ultimately getting rid of weeds in the fall. “In the rules of weed control, the first step is always competitive turf,” Hutto says. “By coupling weed control with fall fertilization, it increases the competition of turf while decreasing the weeds. That’s an important part.”

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The fall is the best time to control perennial broadleaf weeds, like plantain, with two-or three-way herbicide combinations.

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Road A Test: 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Behind the wheel of Chevy’s heavy-duty, bi-fuel CNG 4x4 work truck BY BRUCE W. SMITH

whoosh, like connecting an air hose to a compressor, is the only thing that lets me know I’m in business filling the bed-mounted fuel tank in the 2015 Chevy Silverado CNG I’m driving. Moments after turning on the pump, the digital readout on the dispenser rapidly clicks off the gallons as fuel under 3,600 psi streams into the tank. In what seems to be less than a minute, the readout stops at 11.7 gge (gasoline gallon equivalent). I tap the CNG switch at the far end of the row of auxiliary switches along the bottom of Silverado’s center console and up pops the CNG fuel gauge’s bar graph on the digital dash display; it’s blue all the way to the full mark. The toggle switch’s indicator light blinks for a few seconds then remains on, indicating the truck’s bi-fuel system has switched over to CNG and, in doing so, switches to a separate engine control module (ECM). Good to go.

CNG vs. gasoline Using two separate ECMs was the only way the GM

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ProPickup

LT’s cloth seats, with the optional MyLiink audio/navi system, makes for a comfortable work truck.

engineers could optimize the driving characteristics of the two different fuels. The CNG module has a different engine and transmission calibrations than the module on the gasoline side: Injector durations and flow, engine timing, transmission shift points and a host of other calibrations have been changed to meet stringent EPA emissions goals. Driving the 2500HD on CNG is no different than when regular 89-octane E-10 flows through the 6.0L’s injectors: The engine is smooth, and the exhaust quiet. Where I feel the difference between running on gas and CNG is when you really lay the throttle down. That’s when the power difference between the fuels is readily apparent. The GM 6.0L V8 makes a respectable 360 horsepower on gasoline but drops 59 of those horses when CNG runs through it. GM CNG engineer Mike Jones

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says the drop in power is a result of tuning the engine so it meets EPA requirements. Although the BTU of CNG is closer to that of diesel than E-10 unleaded, Jones says the current engine technology in the way the gaseous fuel is delivered doesn’t take full advantage of that energy. “When we first began experimenting with CNG engines, they made better horsepower and fuel economy than they did running on gas,” notes Jones, reflecting back several years. “But we have to meet certain emissions criteria and that has an adverse affect on both power and mpg with our current technology.”

Comparing MPG Consequently, when the CNG switch is activated, the Silverado takes a 20-percent hit in both horsepower and fuel economy as the trade-off for running an environmentally clean fuel. I saw 15.1 mpg running the

Part of the $435 “Cargo Convenience” option package is this under-seat rear storage compartment.

truck on E-10 gasoline on the 108-mile round-trip stretch of relatively flat I-10 I use for testing fuel economy between Gulfport, Mississippi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi. The run is at a steady 70 mph. Switching over to CNG, the fuel bar and the percentage readout above it showed 45 percent left in the tank at the end of the same round-trip test. That’s the equivalent of 11.6 mpg. At that rate, the range on the 17GGE CNG tank should be almost 200 miles. But that’s not how CNG works. In today’s CNG vehicles, the capacity on the tank is not the useable capacity: The useable capacity is about 2/3 of the tank’s rating, or in this instance, 12 GGE with a driving range of about 140 miles.

ProPickup

GM uses a bar graph and percentage readout to provide CNG fuel tank data.

The 360 horsepower 6.0L makes 301 horsepower when switched over to CNG.

Tank capacity That’s because CNG is under tremendous pressure (3,000 to 3,600 psi), and the fuel tank

needs to stay at that pressure for the fuel system to work. As there’s no internal fuel pump, like in a gas tank, when

the CNG internal pressure drops below a certain pressure threshold, the system shuts down. The bed-mounted tank on the Silverado 2500HD has a useable CNG capacity between 12 to 13 GGE – not 17 as indicated on the spec sheets. So instead of a 200-mile operating range on CNG, it’s really closer to 140 to

Text info to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com a u g u s t 2014

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ProPickup

150 miles. And that range can vary depending on how warm (or cold) it is outside, which affects the pressure inside the fuel tank. When the CNG ECM shuts the system down, the onboard computers truck automatically switches back to gasoline. The changeover happens seamlessly, and the only visual indicators being the light on the CNG switch blinks, and the familiar gasoline fuel gauge reappears on the dash.

Ride, handling & comfort

As for the Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab, LT is a comfortable package. The steering and over-

all handling are excellent, and the loaded ride is stable. I noticed a little rear suspension kick unloaded, exaggerated when the LT tires are inflated to their 80-psi max-load pressure rating. Drop pressures down to 50 psi, and the ride is much nicer. The new truck has the same body as the new model 1500s in that the doors are once again inset into the sides instead of wrapping up into the roof where they generated a lot of wind turbulence. Driving the 2015 HD at interstate speeds has occupants in a quiet, comfortable cab where conversations and audio quality are not being impacted by the

road noise. The truck also has excellent brakes, and even rolling on work truck LT tires, it was one of the best stopping pickups I’ve tested, netting a 60 to 0 mph distance of 140 feet. As for interior highlights, the base LT-trim Silverado 2500HD should never get a complaint. The cloth seats are comfortable, storage space is abundant with a full-width storage tray under the split-60/40 rear bench seat, and there’re enough creature comfort amenities to make any workday in the cab pleasant. With heated power front seats, GM’s MyLink navigation/audio system and the other upgrades that came in the test truck, it was

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easy to stay comfortable mile after mile while conducting business over the hands-free Bluetooth link.

CNG ROI Is the CNG bi-fuel Silverado HD worth it? The answer to that lies solely on one’s ROI expectations: If CNG is readily available, the GGE price is low enough to offset the loss in fuel economy and you can afford to put in your own fueling station, then, yes, the cost of the $9,500 CNG package would be a good fleet decision. But if you are small (1 to 5 vehicle) fleet owner who has to buy CNG from a retail outlet, then it’s probably not a good option to switch at this time.

BASIC SPECIFICATIONS

2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC 4x4 Bi-Fuel MAKE/MODEL: 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4 CC LT BASE PRICE: $42,655 PRICE AS TESTED: $58,800 Major Options: Bi-fuel CNG ($9,500); Trailering Pkg ($905); LT Convenience Package ($1,525); Front Power/Heated Cloth Bucket Seats ($795); 6-inch Black Tubeular steps ($700); Chevy MyLink Audio/Nav ($495); Cargo Convenience Package ($435) ENGINE: 6.0L V-8 Bi-Fuel Gas/CNG HORSEPOWER: Gas: 360hp/380 lb.-ft, CNG: 301hp/333lb.-ft AXLE RATIO: 4.10 TRANSMISSION: 6spd Automatic FUEL ECONOMY (Observed): Gas: 12 City/15.1 Hwy, CNG: 9.6 City/ 11.6 Hwy FUEL CAPACITY: Gas: 36 gals., CNG: 17 GGE (13 GGE, useable) MAX TOWING: 13,000 lbs. PERFORMANCE: CNG: 9.9 sec.m Gas: 9.1 sec. CNG: 17.6 @ 78.7mphm, Gas: 16.8 @ 82.8mph Braking (60 to 0 mph): 140.2 ft. *TESTS CONDUCTED AT GULFPORT DRAGWAY USING STALKER ATS

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School Yard BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Despite hurdles, landscape team creates relaxing space for university

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o create a serene space for students, faculty, patients and alumni to enjoy, Mom’s Landscaping & Design installed a 7,400-square-foot project at the Northwestern Health Sciences University. The campus added on a wing to an existing building, which created this open space. One challenge for this project, which mainly used Belgard materials, came from classes being in session during its construction. So, the equipment access was through the existing parking lot and space shared with other building contractors. “The initial layout was critical on this job because of the extensive conduit sleeving required to accommodate irrigation and low-voltage lines,” says Becca Bastyr, project designer. The team also had to take into consideration the thickness of the walkway materials installed. They used six different materials with six different thicknesses when laying the base and bedding sand. All of the pavers also had to be removable for engraving because the university gave alumni and students the opportunity to purchase them for memorializing donors. Adding to the meditation area, they installed four basalt stone waterfalls using a 75-ton crane that lifted and placed the 1- and 3-ton rocks after installing the sidewalks. To see before and during construction photos of this project, which won a Hardscape North America (HNA) award, visit totallandscapecare.com/school-yard.

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Some kids have their futures handed to them. I had to push. With college only a few years away, I was looking for ways to earn a little extra cash. So my dad, wise man that he is, gave me the best gift he could – an old, beat-up push mower – and sent me on my way. I made enough that spring and summer to buy a better mower the following year. And that mower earned me my first Grasshopper. By the time college enrollment came around, I was looking at trucks and trailers, had two buddies working alongside me and was building a reputation for the best cut in town. Sure, it took me a bit longer to get that business degree – but it also ensured I never had to worry about tuition and books, and took the financial pressure off Mom and Dad. Now I’ve got both a successful business and a degree. And while I had to push a bit to get started, thanks to my Grasshoppers, the future looks like a pretty smooth ride.

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