TLC0914

SEPTEMBER 2014

TotalLandscapeCare.com

Honoring with Service Landscapers renovate Arlington National Cemetery

page 26

How To Find (And Keep) Good Employees page 15

Skid Steer Maintenance Checklist page 39

INTRODUCING THE ALL- NEW FORD TRANSIT

THE MOST VEHICLE CONFIGURATIONS IIN N IITS T S CLASS. C L A S S*.

OPEN FOR 6'5" TALL BUSINESS OVER

A WIDE VARIETY

With an available cargo ceiling taller than some basketball players, the Transit van has loads of room for boxes, tools 6'5" and you. That comes in handy if you want a mobile workshop that lets you stand up straight. And the advantages just keep piling up.

OF DIMENSIONS The Transit van and wagon are available in 2 different wheelbases, 3 different lengths and 3 different heights. That makes it easy to choose one that will fit you and your business exactly. And if that’s not enough, it’s also available as a chassis cab and cutaway.

THE ALL-NEW

2015 TRANSIT •

The Transit van is available with the best-in-class** maximum rear cargo door opening height. The doors open a full 270°† and the floor is as low as 28 inches.† It’s all about making loading and unloading easier. No matter what your business is.

THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE

•

*Based on body type, body length, and wheelbase and roof height. Class is Full-Size Vans. **Class is Full-Size Vans. † When properly equipped. ††Class is Full-Size Vans, when properly equipped. Excludes diesel competitive models.

The 2015 Transit can offer a best-in-class gas-powered maximum CARGO CAPACITY OF 487.3 CUBIC FEET.†† Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

America’s Hottest-Selling Compact Track Loaders Own the ultimate in worksite power and versatility with Kubota SVL series compact track loaders. With precisely engineered Kubota diesel engines, powerful bucket breakout force, self-leveling vertical lift and versatile attachment options to help you get more done, it’s no surprise Kubota SVL is the hottest-selling compact track loader on the market.

SVL75-2: 74.3 HP – 6,204 lbs. Breakout Force

www.kubota.com Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

SVL90-2: 92.0 HP – 7,961 lbs. Breakout Force

©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2013

table of contents

September 2014 Volume 8 | Issue 9

industry news

5

Breaking Ground: Call to Service

7

Field Report: Top Louisville Spots

How supporting military members will change their and your lives

What to do while you’re in town for GIE+EXPO

26

Cover Story: Preserving Memories

Landscapers give back with day of service to those who gave it all.

equipment

11

Editor’s Picks: Personal Protective Equipment Stay safe on the jobsite with this footwear and hat

23

Safety Watch: No Escape

Skid steer tips forward and turns deadly

39

Equipment Matters: How To Maintain Skid Steers

What should be on your maintenance checklist

45 Guide

ProPickup: Toolbox Buyers

12 new cargo management products to keep your tools and equipment safe

26 business

design/build

15

56

Business Bests: How To Find (and Keep) Good Employees

8 ways to hire and nurture the best people

Portfolio: Vegas View

Bringing a taste of Sin City to the West Coast

33

Landscaper of the Year Finalist: Man on a Mission

Florida Keys landscaper finds success using business skills, experience in niche market

Cover Photo: Hundreds of landscapers went to Arlington National Cemetery for PLANET’s day of Renewal & Remembrance. Photo Credit: Lauren Heartsill Dowdle

S E P T E M B E R 2014

TotalLa nd s ca p eCa r e.co m 3

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.

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

Called to Serve

Design & Production

How supporting military members will change their and your lives

Construction Media

Your business is founded on service. So what’s stopping you from giving back to those who served us all?

Although I grew up just 30 miles from Arlington, I had never visited Arlington National Cemetery until the PLANET Renewal & Remembrance event July 28. My expectations were quickly exceeded after seeing hundreds of industry professionals uniting in the cemetery to use their skills to give back to these fallen soldiers. (Read more about the event on page 26.)

Seeing all of the selfless acts of service – from landscapers spreading tons of lime to children laying flowers on graves – made me think. What else can we do?

I guess a better question might be, “What can’t we do?”

Programs like Project EverGreen’s (projectevergreen.org) GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops help connect military families with industry professionals and volunteers. In addition to Renewal & Remembrance, PLANET also has a Day of Service to encourage landscapers to give back to their communities.

Some are taking service projects to another level. Last month, I talked with a landscaper who, after helping two military families, wanted to completely transition into a non-profit business to give back even more.

While you don’t have to make an extreme change like that, I think it’s important to give back when possible.

As 12-year-old Emma Gilbey, a Renewal & Remembrance volunteer, so simply put it, “They respected us, so we should be very respectful and give back to them.”

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

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 of Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Audience Development: Prescott Shibles 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 507.1.5.2); 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...

Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Editor-At-Large

S E P T E M B E R 2014

TotalLa nd s ca p eCa r e.co m 5

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.

©2014 Takeuchi Manufacturing.

Contact your dealer for current warranty and financing program details.

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

FieldReport: news, trends & cool stuff

PhoTo CourTesy of LouisviLLe ConvenTion & visiTors Bureau

Bourbon, Bands and Bites What to do while you’re in Louisville for GIE+EXPO

By LaurEn HEartsILL DOWDLE

PhoTo CourTesy of LouisviLLe ConvenTion & visiTors Bureau

T

he biggest show in the landscape industry is just a month away.

While there will be plenty to do at the expo center Oct. 23 to 24 – such as operating equipment, meeting with manufacturers and seeing new products – don’t forget about all there is to see in the city.

Here are just a few fun things to do while you’re in Louisville, Kentucky, for GIE+EXPO (gie-expo.com).

The evan Williams Bourbon experience offers distillery tours, tastings and a shop for bourbon lovers.

Bourbon Known for its bourbon, Louisville is the perfect place to enjoy drinks from your favorite distilleries.

If you want to get a taste of what used to be called “Whiskey Row,” visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (528 West Main Street).

Visitors start their tours by going through video

experiences where they learn the history of Evan Williams and later pass by the artisanal distillery.

The tour is concluded with tastings and a visit to the gift shop, which has everything from personalized bottles to bourbon-scented soap.

Other stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail include Proof on Main, Bristol Bar & Grille, Jockey

s e p t e m b e r 2014

TotalLa nd s ca p eCa r e.co m 7

fieldreport:

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUISVILLE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

TOP BITES

There will be free concerts at Fourth Street Live! each night after the show ends where you can see bands like Montgomery Gentry.

Silks Bourbon Bar, Blu Italian Grille, Maker’s Mark and Brown Hotel Lobby Bar.

Bands Each night after the show ends, head to Fourth Street Live! for free concerts (400 S. 4th Street).

After dealer day on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Montgomery Gentry – known for songs like “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Lucky Man,” “Roll With Me” and “My Town” – will preform at 9 p.m.

Opening for Montgomery Gentry is Jeni Carr and her band, TwangTown. They will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Their style is a mix of classic country and Southern Rock, and their songs include “Famous By Now” and “In My Own Backyard.”

On Thursday, Oct. 23, The Crashers will perform at 8 p.m. This Louisville band has also found national fame with songs like “She’s Got This Love” and “Never Let You Go.” Closing out the concert series is Olivia Henken with opener Josh Logan at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Henken and Logan were on Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice.

There are plenty of places to eat in and around Fourth Street Live! such as Eddie Merlot’s, Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and the Hard Rock Café.

To read about more things to do, including museums and hotels, visit totallandscapecare.com/ louisville-trip.

8 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m

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Hot Brown: This sandwich, which originated at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, can be found around town. It is an open-faced sandwich with turkey, bacon and covered in Mornay sauce or another variation. The hot brown was named one of America’s Best Sandwiches by Travel and Leisure magazine.

Garage Bar: Named on Food & Wine’s list of Best Pizza in Unexpected Places, Garage Bar’s menu includes brick oven pizzas like sweet corn, margherita, milled tomato and house-made pepperoni. They also have oysters and ham tasting platters. 700 E. Market Street, garageonmarket.com Proof on Main: Located in 21c Museum Hotel, this eatery was named No. 3 in USA Today’s Top 10 list of America’s Best Hotel Bars.

702 West Main Street, proofonmain.com St. Charles Exchange: Across the street from Proof on Main, this restaurant is located in one of the oldest buildings in Louisville’s West Main district. The menu includes seasonal variations of food classics from the turn of the century.

(Don’t miss their maple-bourbon cake with candied bacon.) 113 S. 7th Street, stcharlesexchange.com

Off to the Races

Read about Louisville’s Churchill Downs track and grounds at totallandscapecare.com/tourchurchill-downs.

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

YOUR PLANS. CARRIED OUT.

Building your landscape business together. To grow your business, you need equipment that’s seeded with your thinking throughout. And rooted in the needs of your company. No wonder our E-Series Skid Steers and CTLs are perennial favorites. You wanted more foot room. We achieved it by making the foors fat.

You wanted more horsepower. We upped it by 10% on our large-frame models.

You wanted switchable controls. We offer selectable ISO, H-pattern, and foot controls on all models. You wanted easier attachment hookup. We hooked you up.

To learn more, see your dealer or visit our website.

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JohnDeere.com/Eskid

editor’s picks

BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Stay safe on the jobsite with this footwear and hat

Sporty design Keen Utility’s athletic silhouette Aurora Mid WP features a rip-stop nylon upper with PU foot cage. The shoes also have a waterproof, breathable membrane; high-abrasion resistant heel panel and an oil- and slipresistant non-marking rubber outsold. The Aurora has left and right asymmetrical steel toe protection. For more information, visit keenfootwear.com.

Cover up Protect your face and neck from the sun with Sunday Afternoons’ Derma Safe Hat. The hat is designed for people with extra sun sensitivity, and it offers comprehensive UV coverage. The hat has flip-up sun protective panels covering the mesh ventilation. For more sundayafternoons.com. information, visit sundayafternoons.com

Firm footing Don’t worry about slipping or falling in wet, hilly or uneven terrain with Stabilgear’s Stabilturf cleats. Produced in the United States, the traction cleats stretch over any boot or shoe to provide traction for wet or rough surfaces. The replaceable cleat and tread combination provide secure footing for walk-behind operations. For more information, visit 32north.com.

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

S E P T E M B E R 2014

TotalLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 11

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

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

editor’s picks

finish the job.

and then keep

going.

Gain traction Magnum’s Hi-Tec Baltimore work boots are made with full-grain leather and a waterproof membrane. The boots also have a protective ankle impact zone, heavy-duty TPU toe guard and molded TPU heel guard. The Baltimore series has a slip- and oilresistant rubber outsole, toe traction and heel brake zone. For more information, visit magnumboots.com/us.

Foot warmers

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

Find out about the latest offers from your New Holland dealer at newholland.com/na Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com

As temperatures drop, keep your feet warm with ThermaCell’s ProFlex heated insoles. The insoles have removable, rechargeable batteries and remote control operation. They are made from polyurethane foam that has shock absorbency. The insoles are also water resistant to protect the electronics from moisture and perspiration. For more information, visit thermacell.com.

©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

S E P T E M B E R 2014

Tota lLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 13

New Kubota Z700 Series: We Mean Business

Kubota’s new Z700 Series commercial zero-turn mower raises the bar for quality, durability, precision and all-around productivity. No other commercial mower in its class comes close. Available with 48, 54 or 60-inch decks and a wide variety of attachments and accessories. Ready to cut with the best? Give your business the Kubota Z700 edge. Demo one today at your local Kubota dealer.

ŠKubota Tractor Corporation, 2014

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

www.kubota.com

business bests

How To Find (and Keep) Good Employees 8 ways to hire and nurture the best people

BY ARRICCA ELIN SANSONE

ny smart businessperson knows people are the heart of an operation. Employees can make or break you, bring in business or drive it away, and cause your company to thrive and grow or wither and die.

But finding the right employees – and keeping the good ones – isn’t the easiest task.

“Unquestionably, employees are our greatest blessing and our greatest challenge all wrapped into one,” says Mark Halla, owner of The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center in Chaska, Minnesota, and a TLC Landscaper of the Year Finalist.

Finding employees that are a good fit for your company is key. Sometimes the person who seems the most qualified for the job isn’t necessarily right

for the position.

“Like any relationship, it takes a long time to get to know each other,” Halla says. “We used to hire based on skill sets, but we learned that was the wrong approach for our company. It’s really more about personality and character for us. If they’re willing to learn, we can teach them anything.”

Whether you are looking to hire seasonal workers or full-time staff, here are eight ways to find, nurture and invest in long-term relationships with your employees.

S E P T E M B E R 2014

Tota lLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 15

business bests

1Ask for referrals.

Even in the digital age, word-of-mouth is still a valuable method for hiring.

“We ask our best employees if they have friends who are interested in working for us,” says Shayne Newman, president of YardApes in New Milford, Connecticut, and a TLC Landscaper of the Year Finalist. “We’ve found that good workers often associate with the same kinds of people we want to hire.”

Personal and business associates, professional organizations and job fairs are other sources for referrals.

The Mustard Seed sponsors free field trips to its location, offering learning stations on animal husbandry, apiculture, wellness, renewable energy, composting and horticulture. Staff members lead each station, which helps employees learn the importance of passing on their knowledge to the younger generation.

2 Get the word out.

The wider you cast your net, the more numerous your options.

Place a sign in front of your office. Post an application on your website. Set up a hiring hotline that’s displayed on your trucks. Don’t neglect social media such as Twitter and Facebook, which typically garner many responses in a short time.

But remember these are all only first steps. You still need to get people in the door for a face-to-face session to weed out prospects.

16 To t al L a n d s c a p e C a r e . com

S E P T E M B E R 2 014

a formal 3 Create interview process.

After initial contact with potential employees, most businesses conduct a personal interview. Some companies pre-screen via the phone.

“We ask very basic questions such as, ‘Do you have a driver’s license? Do you have a way to and from work? What kind of experience do you have,’” says Jason Cromley, owner of Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio, and a TLC Landscaper of the Year Finalist. “Those are key issues to figure out if we should even take the next step with a potential hire.”

Next, some companies do oneon-one interviews, while others prefer a panel approach with five or six candidates in the room at once.

Mangers or direct line supervisors should be present because they’ll be the ones working with these individuals on a daily basis.

“One of the first things we look at is if they even show up to the interview on time,” Newman says.

“That says a lot about work ethic.”

Larger companies hire a human resources manager to handle hiring.

If you’re on the fence about a hire, some companies offer a working interview, in which a potential employee is taken on for a two-day stint in the field.

“We learn a lot about how someone is going to work out in that time,” Cromley says. A background and driving check is also advisable before hiring.

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business bests

a spirit of 4 Build teamwork.

A productive environment evolves from a company culture in which people feel everyone is striving toward a common goal.

“We can’t necessarily pay more, but we can make this a place people want to work,” Newman says. To encourage team building, Newman offers incentives such as cookouts, fishing trips and visits to the local amusement park when there’s been no lost work due to safety issues. Some companies sponsor community service and volunteer projects as a way to pull everyone closer.

At the annual summer picnic, YardApes employees engage in a friendly game of soccer.

5 Be clear about expectations.

A common reason employees don’t work out in the long run is that they don’t have a good feel about what their jobs entail.

“We have a positional agreement that describes duties on a daily, weekly and monthly basis,” Cromley says. “We go over this during employee reviews, which typically occur twice a year, and discuss how well they’re fulfilling their duties.” Reviews are also a time to discuss goals such as future positions an employee might work toward within the firm.

At The Mustard Seed, an employee’s first assignment is to read the company manual, which may take several hours. “We encourage questions. We want them to understand how we operate, as well as what tasks we want them to do,” Halla says.

Each day, assignments are posted on a marker board. Regular staff meetings help define and clarify the company’s upcoming objectives and projects. “We are direct about what we want, but we tell them it’s up to them to follow through. It’s up to them to succeed or fail Company uniforms enhance professionalism in the eyes of customers and help The Mustard Seed staff here,” Halla says. feel part of a unified team, regardless of what duties they perform in the company.

18 To t al L a n d s c a p e C a r e . com

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THE NEW SPRINTER

The best way to succeed out here is to maximize your efforts every day. To make that happen, you need a commercial vehicle that works as efficiently as you do. With a 2-stage turbocharged diesel engine and 7-speed transmission, the New Sprinter has the power to get you moving, with fewer stops at the gas station. The 2014 Sprinter—anything but ordinary. www.freightlinersprinterusa.com

DRIVEN LIKE YOU Options shown. Not all options are available in the U.S. Š2014 Daimler Vans USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

business bests

6

Show your appreciation.

Acknowledging birthdays and work anniversaries with a gift card to a local business is one way Hidden Creek Landscaping shows people are valued.

At YardApes, Newman’s employees vote for the employee of the month, with the winner receiving a gift card and having his or her photo posted in the shop.

But their efforts don’t Customers vote online to choose “Employee of the Year” at YardApes. An awards dinner, ape trophy and have to be a huge investgift card go to the winner. ment. “Treat employees as your most important asset,” Halla says. “It’s the simple things like saying hello. Know your people’s names.

Thank them for doing a good job, and encourage them for what they’re doing right.”

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Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com 20 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c om

S E P T E M B E R 2 014

business bests

7 Encourage learning.

Most owners realize employees who keep learning gain a profound sense of accomplishment and pride in their work, which can aid retention.

For example, YardApes employees who keep improving their skills by earning certification through PLANET are rewarded with small pay raises, Newman says. For each training module they complete, they might get a 10-cent raise per hour. When they complete a certification exam, they may get a dollar more per hour.

YardApes employees and friends volunteer time for the annual PLANET Day of Service.

8 Trust your gut.

Sometimes you have to go with your intuition when it comes to hiring. “A person’s nature matters to me,” Halla says.

“I ask people to tell me what they know about themselves, and you can often learn a lot from their answers. I may hire them even if they don’t have a lot of experience in this industry. The bottom line is that character and work ethic aren’t really things you can teach. But if they possess those traits, we can train them in anything else they need to know.”

Come See Us at GIE Booth #10206

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com S E P T E M B E R 2014

LTRich_TLC0914_PG.indd 1

Tota lLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 21 8/26/14 10:00 AM

. ™

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.

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

No Escape

BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Skid steer tips forward and turns deadly THE ACCIDENT: A 23-year-old crewmember is working with another laborer on a residential project to prepare the site for a concrete slab. The laborer is operating a skid steer, which is carrying gravel and sand, while the crewmember directs him. The skid steer operator raises the bucket 6 feet so he can see the crewmember, which is standing in front of the house.

The crewmember signals the operator to stop at the edge of ILLUSTRATION BY DON LOMAX the excavated form and then directs him to dump the load.

When the operator begins to dump the materisimilar skid steer accidents. als, the skid steer rolls into the slab’s depres• Equipment operators should load, unload and sion and tips forward toward the crewmember. turn on level ground when possible, and they The crewmember is pinned against the building should avoid slippery surfaces. by the bucket. The operator lowers the bucket, • Establish a safe distance and position for the backs away from the building and calls 911. The signal person from the loader. crewmember collapses and dies shortly after at • Don’t leave the operator’s seat while the the hospital. engine is on, and keep your hands, arms, legs and head inside the operator’s compartment.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Operators should keep • Lower the bucket or attachment so it is flat on the loader’s bucket as low as possible when the ground before exiting (unless using a lifttraveling and should only lift it as high as necesarm support device). sary for dumping a load, since weight shifts to • Never modify or bypass safety devices. the front axle when the bucket is loaded. The • Operators should receive training on how to victim also should not have placed himself in safely use the equipment. front of the machine and in an area that limited his retreat.

For more Safety Watch articles, visit Here are more safety practices to prevent totallandscapecare.com/safetywatch.

S E P T E M B E R 2014

Tota lLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 23

Sin salida POR LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Minicargador se inclina hacia adelante y se vuelve mortal EL ACCIDENTE: Un miembro de una cuadrilla de 23 años trabaja con un compañero en un proyecto residencial preparando un área para una plancha de concreto. El trabajador está operando un minicargador en el que lleva grava y arena, mientras el otro miembro de la cuadrilla le sirve de guía. El operador del minicargador eleva la cubeta a 6 pies (1.8 metros) para poder ver al compañero que está parado en frente de la casa.

El trabajador hace una señal al operador para que se detenga al borde del área excavada y luego lo guía para que deje caer su carga. Cuando el operador empieza a botar los materiales, el minicargador rueda hacia la fosa de la plancha de concreto y se inclina hacia adelante sobre el trabajador. Este es aplastado contra la edificación por la cubeta. El operador baja la cubeta, se aparta de la edificación y llama al 911. El miembro de la cuadrilla colapsa y muere poco después en el hospital.

CONCLUSIÓN: Los operadores deberían mantener la cubeta del cargador lo más bajo posible al desplazarse y deberían elevarla sólo a la altura necesaria para dejar caer una carga ya que el peso se desplaza hacia el eje frontal cuando la cubeta está cargada. La víctima tampoco debió haberse colocado en frente de la máquina ni en un área que limitaba su retirada.

Aquí otras prácticas de seguridad para prevenir accidentes con minicargadores.

• Los operadores de maquinaria deberían cargar, descargar y girar en un terreno parejo cuando

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ILUSTRACIÓN POR DON LOMAX

• •

•

• •

sea posible, y deberían evitar superficies resbalosas.

Establezca una distancia y una posición segura del minicargador al trabajador que da las señales.

No abandone la silla del operador mientras el motor está encendido y mantenga sus manos, brazos, piernas y cabeza dentro del compartimento del operador.

Baje la cubeta o el accesorio para que llegue plano al piso antes de salir (a menos que esté usando un accesorio de apoyo al brazo de elevación).

Nunca modifique ni prescinda del instrumental de seguridad.

Los operadores deberían recibir capacitación sobre cómo utilizar las maquinarias con la seguridad debida.

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

Exceptional

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cover story

Preserving Memories Landscapers give back with day of service to those who gave it all.

PHOTOS AND STORY BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

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cover story

I

t’s all about the stories, from veterans who were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery to landscapers and their families who volunteered their time to renovate the grounds.

It’s the stories of the children who have come for the past decade and are now leading groups, those who have personal ties to the military and others who can’t imagine not coming every year.

But the most important stories are the ones that have ended.

This day was about honoring the men and women who gave their lives for this country.

Showing gratitude More than 400 men, women and children from more than 30 states met in Arlington, Virginia, July 28 for PLANET’s annual Renewal & Remembrance event. Many brought equipment, lime, tools and the spirit of service to the cemetery, which is having its 150th anniversary.

During the opening ceremony, all of the speakers focused on the importance of having an event to honor fallen soldiers.

“Some sacrificed all, and that’s who we’re here to give back to today,” says John McCutcheon, PLANET president. “It’s an easy decision for me to come back each year.”

All of the landscapers came together for inspirational speeches and to be reminded why they were giving back before heading to their different sites.

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cover story

R&R By the NumBeRs 22

tons of gypsum were applied to 841/2 acres

45

acres of turf were aerated

7

trees were pruned, cabled and braced Landscapers used push and ride-on spreaders to distribute lime throughout the cemetery.

They split up to cover more ground.

78

tons of lime were applied to 180 acres at the cemetery

100

landscape industry companies and organizations were represented 28 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c om

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Walt Money, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and with Bartlett Tree Experts, also addressed the crowd before they headed out.

“Unlike those interred here, we can leave this place and return to our families,” Money says. “They gave their last ounce of devotion so we can come here and do what we love and enjoy.”

Coming full circle The landscapers were divided into several groups to cover the more than 180 acres at the cemetery. Projects included aeration, irrigation, spreading 78 tons of lime, adding tree protection and planting foliage.

One group using push and ride-on spreaders included Shane Newman – owner of YardApes in New Milford, Connecticut, and a 2011 Landscaper of the Year finalist – and members from Lawrence Landscape Design in Yonkers, New York.

Lawrence “Larry” Wilson, owner of Lawrence Landscape Design (lawrencelandscapedesign.com), and his wife and children have been coming to Renewal & Remembrance for a decade.

“It’s a public service opportunity, and we wanted to get our children involved with it early on,” he says. “We ask, ‘What more

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

cover story

Industry professionals’ children volunteered their time to install plants, create flower arrangements and later lay the flowers on the graves. They also talked about why giving back was important to them.

can we give?’ because this is nothing, compared to what they gave.”

His wife, JoAnne, recalls bringing their son, James, to Arlington 10 years ago for his first day of service. “When we started, he was little and used the hand cranks,” she says with a smile. “Then, he moved up to the push spreader, and now he is on the electric spreader.”

Now 18, James is a member of the ROTC and a Naval officer.

Not only have their children grown, but the event has also expanded since the Wilson family first started attending. “We used to park alongside the streets when it first started,” JoAnne recalls.

“It’s gotten much bigger since then.” Now, groups are transported in several buses to and from the grounds.

Another one of the PLANET teams worked on adding lightning protection to three of the trees.

Jeremy Baker, with The Care of Trees in Dulles, Virginia, and three others from his company attached the wire to the tree and placed it underground.

“Arlington is a national treasure,” says Baker, whose father and grandfather were in the military.

“The least I can do is come and serve for a day.”

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For those who have never attended the event, Baker urges them to volunteer next year. “Come be a part of something bigger, and you’ll find yourself,” he says.

Future of the industry The more than 40 children were also given jobs, which included laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, planting grasses and trees,

cover story

Jeremy Baker and his team from The Care of Trees add lightning protection to a tree near the cemetery’s entrance. Altogether, they added protection to three trees that day.

creating flower arrangements and laying the flowers on graves. When asked who had come to Renewal & Remembrance before, the majority of the children raised their hands.

One of their leaders, Roger Phelps not only came to give back, but he also wanted to pay a visit to his lost friends who were buried at the cemetery. Phelps, with Stihl and on PLANET’s board, served in the Navy for eight years of active duty and two in the reserve. “It’s a chance to serve my shipmates and pay my respect,” he says.

While he says it’s important for landscapers to come out and use their talents, he thinks it’s especially vital for the children to be here. “It’s important for this generation to understand service and sacrifice,” Phelps says. “They need to know what they can do for their country and that they have a role.”

The children ranged from preschoolers to teenagers, and each was given a task to handle. Emma Gilbey, a 12-year-old from Maryland, has been attending Renewal & Remembrance for four years.

Her father is a landscape architect with Vectorworks.

When asked what has been her favorite part of the experience, Gilbey responds, “All of it.”

She says it’s important to come back each year.

“They respected us, so we should be very respectful and give back to them,” Gilbey says.

One spectator who completely understands what it means to serve was Col. Joseph Simonelli, U.S. Army and Chief of Staff at Arlington National Cemetery. He visited the different groups to show his appreciation for their efforts.

“Having them come out here shows they know what it means to be an American,” Simonelli says.

“It shows gratitude of what our soldiers have done.”

As the afternoon approached and work came to an end, aeration plugs and lime lined the luscious grass. Red and white flowers arranged by little hands adorned the graves. But most importantly, a group of landscapers came together for a day to honor the fallen service men and women.

To see more photos from Renewal & Remembrance, visit totallandscapecare.com/renewalremembrance-2014. Learn how you can get involved next year at landcarenetwork.com.

“Some sacrificed all, and that’s who we’re here to give back to today.”

-John Mccutcheon

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Tota lLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 31

Presented by

Join the Best in the Industry!

Boost your business’s reputation and network with the best landscapers from across the country by entering our Landscaper of the Year program.

All of the finalists win an all-expense-paid cruise to the Bahamas and have their business featured in an issue of Total Landscape Care magazine.

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totallandscapecare.com/loy

Congratulations to our 2014 Landscaper of the Year and Finalists!

LANDSCAPERS OF THE YEAR Andrea Wilson Mueller & Michael Mueller Inside Out Design Frankfort, Kentucky

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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Man on a Mission

BY PATTY VAUGHAN

Florida Keys landscaper finds success using business skills, experience in niche market

L

ocation, location, location.

It’s a word that means a great deal to Claude Kershner III, president of Reef Tropical Pool, Lawn and Construction.

A savvy businessman from the Philadelphia area who enjoyed spending vacation down in the Keys, Kershner knew he needed a change.

“For me, it was about a lifestyle business and a geography decision,” Kershner says. “I think people should be geographically where they want to be and then look around and see how can I make a living because this location seems to agree with me.”

In 1998, Claude Kershner III (center) started Reef Tropical. With help from his son Claude Kershner IV (right) and landscape manager Adam Foley, Kershner uses his entrepreneurial skillset to continue to grow the business.

This mentality is exactly what led Kershner to purchase Reef Tropical Lawn in June of 1998 in the heart of the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida.

Making the switch Running his family’s $35 million, 170-employee furniture business provided Kershner with a great deal of experience. He knew he wanted to apply those skills elsewhere in what he says is “the hardest place I ever had to leave on vacation.”

After making a phone call to the most successful businessman he knew in town, Kershner

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landscaper of the year finalist

discovered a small landscape company for sale with about 20 employees and approximately $680,000 in sales.

According to Kershner, as dissimilar as office supplies and furniture are from landscaping, there are quite a few similarities.

“Business is business,” Kershner says. “It’s the same thing with payroll, insurance, benefits, employees, customer service, business development and advertising. A lot of those things are similar.”

The two are alike enough Because there is little soil that Kershner uses a mission in the Key Largo area, Reef Tropical uses natural statement around the ofresources like cap rock fice that focuses heavily on and local vegetation in its landscape designs. business practices, including being the leader in customer service, quality and profit, as well as focusing on building a more “serviceable” installation for property owners and offering above-industry standard wages, help with company benefits in healthcare and 401K saving with matching benefits.

Since the initial purchase, Reef Tropical has tripled in sales and has also purchased a pool company and its competitor.

Reef Tropical handles commercial, residential and high-end residential properties.

Additionally, the company offers maintenance to its home county but will complete installs as far north as Fort Lauderdale and as far south as Key West.

The lawn division of the company has 28 employees divided into different crews, including a main landscaping crew, four maintenance crews, a Key Largo crew and two high-end residential crews on the reef.

The crews perform services such as maintenance, design/build, chemicals, irrigation,

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landscape design, installation, pest control, tree work and pruning.

Safety always comes first For more than 10 years, Kershner has held quarterly meetings to go over two basic items: What are

landscaper of the year finalist

Smart marketing Reef Tropical participates in the bidding process, but it’s not as simple as bidding on every project that comes through the office.

Kendry Sanchez, account manager for the company, says it’s all about communicating and understanding what the client expects.

Sanchez will contact the person in charge of the job and ask when they realistically expect the job to be finished.

S E P T E M B E R 2 014

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Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com

the typical injuries that happen in the landscape business, and what are the things that have happened to the company during the past 10 years?

“It’s not brain surgery to stop what you’re doing for 60 minutes every 13 weeks and talk about safety, so we inject safety through the very fiber of the company,” Kershner says. “We use the saying, ‘Mamma don’t want no one-eyed boys.’”

The company provides a pair of safety glasses every year, pays half of the cost for steel-toed boots, shirts, pants, hats and, if needed, helmets, but it’s up to the crew leader to be responsible for evaluating all of the safety gear and reporting any issues back to Kershner.

And, for Kershner, if the job is too dangerous, he will always say no.

“About four years ago, we had a customer in the reception area insist that we cut his trees that were around power lines,” Kershner says. “We said, ‘We’ve told you, and we’re telling you again, we are not going to do it because it’s near power lines, and the electric co-op will come out and do that for free for you.’”

About two days later, a competitor of Reef Tropical lost an employee trimming the trees.

Kershner’s son, Claude Kershner IV, is an owner and operator for the company and also focuses a great deal on safety.

“I would rather have the company stop operations and everyone go home than have someone die under our management,” Claude says. “I would be in a terrible place. To have someone cut his finger off, get hurt, be in the hospital or, God forbid, pass away under our leadership is impossible to deal with.”

landscaper of the year finalist

“The first thing is we want to make sure that whatever we bid, we can actually do,” Sanchez says. “Normally, we try to bid as competitive as possible to obviously get the job.”

However, if there are concerns with plans or specs, Sanchez will sometimes give two prices on the job to see what he recommends versus what the client is expecting.

“We would go out of business if we just blindly bid everything that came across our desk,” Claude says. “I think any The company prides itself in having a maintenance division with the benefit of being able to work landscape owner or landscape year round due to the tropical weather. company manager would feel written to her that were deleted from the general the same way, because you can be inundated and just sit there bidding all day long.” ledger.

As far as finding the right projects to bid on, After looking back four years in the investigaClaude markets and brands the company in a varition, the company found the former employee had ety of ways, including the Internet, word of mouth taken approximately $220,000. That employee and by spending up to $20,000 a year in paid served four years in jail. advertising.

Kershner took this as a learning opportunity and Some of the channels he uses include Google quickly changed the way he handled finances.

Analytics, Google advertising, Facebook, Twitter, “All bank statements are mailed to my house, all LinkedIn and paid advertising through Yellowbook of the credit cards come to my house and I’m only and Yellow Pages. The company also purchases the signer on the checks,” Kershner says. “We put commercials on television and has gone as far as in checks and balances that we didn’t have before.” purchasing commercials in movie theaters.

“A lot of our advertising is more of a rifle apNext generation proach as opposed to a shotgun approach,” Claude The company has experienced a great deal of says. “We try to target our customers first.” growth, including growing more than $20,000 in maintenance per month in just eight months.

Checks and balances Kershner’s entrepreneurial drive has been To enter to Kershner hasn’t been immune to probpassed down to Claude, who has plans be Landscaper of lems and concerns, however. to take the company to the next level. the Year, visit “Many years ago, I had an em“By the time he transitions the busitotallandscapecare. ployee who had resigned, and there ness over to me, I would like to be a $5 com/loy. was some irregularity,” Kershner says. million company in sales,” Claude says. “I “We were in the process of checking some want to have almost twice as many employthings before she left. I wasn’t really suspicious of ees, and I want to operate with more equipment.” her, and I trusted her like a sister.”

For the time being, Claude will continue to However, after going through the process, Kerlearn from his father about what it means to run shner found a check and another check that were a business.

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landscaper of the year finalist

4 TIPS FOR SUCCESS 1

Attracting and keeping good people.

“We’ve really decided that we want to have some of the best people,” Kershner says. “We try to pay an above-industry standard wage to our people. In addition, we offer them a set of benefit packages that are unheard of in landscaping.”

2

Implementing next generation of technology. “We have automated our business with handheld PDAs to communicate with managers and foremen in the field and analyze data,” Kershner says. “The new generation is putting technology to work.”

3

Maintaining strong work ethic. “As the older generation, I like to think that work ethic is showing up every day, returning phone calls and doing what you say you’re going to do,” Kershner says. “We have standards, and sometimes we have to train people about that, and they either get that quickly or they don’t.”

4

Focusing on maintenance. “Using our strength in maintenance and planting with a maintenance prospective in mind is important to me,” Kershner says. “A satisfied customer right after we plant is good, but it’s great when they can see that we’ve taken into account maintenance and how it’s going to survive and grow. That’s when the recommendations reach much further for us.”

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Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCre-

“Under my dad’s guidance, leadership and mentoring, I have learned more, I believe, since I have started here than I thought I could have ever learned,” Claude says. “I’m pretty happy with where I am, what I am doing and I hope to take the company, one day, to the next level.”

To see more project photos from Reef Tropical, visit totallandscapecare.com/reef-tropical.

quest.com

To watch a video about their success story, visit totallandscapecare.com/reef-tropicalsuccess.

<

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equipment matters

How To Maintain Skid Steers PHOTOS AND STORY BY

LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

Follow this daily checklist to keep your equipment out of the shop.

S

kid steers can be a versatile piece of equipment, but it won’t do you much good if it spends more time with your mechanic than on the jobsite.

To keep your machines out of the shop, it’s important to follow a proactive maintenance schedule.

“When looking at maintaining a skid steer loader, the first thing you should do is go through a daily maintenance check,” says Mike Fitzgerald, product specialist, Bobcat.

Here are the four spots you need to look at before operating your skid steer.

1. Tailgate The majority of the vital components can be inspected at the back of the machine. Start by opening the tailgate and checking the oil levels.

Most of the skid steer’s maintenance points can be found by opening the tailgate.

S E P T E M B E R 2014

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equipment matters

“Make sure to have those fluids at the full and proper levels,” Fitzgerald says.

Check the hydraulic oil, which is on the top right, to make sure the levels are correct. The gauge will either be on the top or side, depending on the model.

The oil type is also important because it needs to be compatible with the treatment system on the machine – whether it be a catalyst or filter on the exhaust system.

“One of the things that’s important on newer machines and all new equipment that’s made to meet EP requirements for Tier 4 is the engine oil you use,” Fitzgerald says. “You want to make sure you use a CGA 4 or above-level oil that’s approved for these engines.”

Next, look at the cooling components to make sure they are clean and getting the proper airflow through. The cooling recovery bottle, which is to the left of the air filter, should be full.

Look at the gauge on your hydraulic oil daily to make sure the levels are where they need to be.

3 WAYS TO EXTEND LIFE OF SKID STEER To extend the life of a skid steer, operators should follow these three simple operating tips from Jonathon Ferguson, Terex Construction Americas.

1

2

Know your surroundings. Operators must constantly be aware of where the skid steer loader is operating, how it is operating and its proximity to existing infrastructure, landscaping or other jobsite objects during operation. Unintentional contact, even the slightest bump, with objects in the loader’s work zone can result in potential structural damage, like cracks or dents, which could inhibit the machine’s future performance and productivity.

Match the attachment to the machine. With such a wide variety of attachments available for use on a skid steer, it is important the attachment is correctly sized for the machine.

For instance, an oversized attachment may become too heavy for the loader to repeatedly lift overhead, causing premature wear to the loader’s lift arm cylinders. Also, the wrong size of attachment can cause

40 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c om

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the machine to become off balance during operation, which could also result in extra wear on the machine’s components.

Correctly sizing the attachment to the skid steer loader’s particular capacity will increase cycle times and utilization rates.

3

Maintain proper tire inflation. Because skid steers have no frame suspension to soften the ride, the air in the tires provides the only cushion between the loader and the ground.

Proper tire pressure and balance is critical for stability and durability. Under-inflated tires, over-inflated tires or if the tire pressure from tire to tire varies greatly can result in accelerated wear and tear on the machine.

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equipment matters

temperatures,” Fitzgerald says. “Make sure to have it at the proper inflated pressure that would be listed in the operations manual.”

(For compact track loader, make sure the tracks are set to the proper tensions, which vary depending on the make and model.)

4. Attachments

Grease all of the moving parts, such as the pivot point on the lift arm.

Not greasing can cause excessive pin wear.

2. Moving parts For smooth operation, you should also grease the pivot points regularly.

“All of the points that move on the machine will have grease circs on them,” Fitzgerald says. They are located on the lift arm and where the attachment connects to the machine.

3. Tires To keep your skid steer rolling, you’ll need to check the tire pressure, especially during the winter months.

“Tire pressures do go down because of colder

For ground-engaging attachments, keep an eye on the bucket cutting edge and teeth.

“Make sure the teeth are in good shape,” Fitzgerald says. “Watch to see if they are wearing down. If they are starting to wear down, you’ll want to replace them before you do any damage to the host tooth holder or the bucket itself.”

Also look at the back of the bucket. “Make sure hoses and tube lines are tight, not leaking and don’t have any debris near them that might cause you a problem later on during your operational task during the day,” he says.

NOTE: This information is a general overview of what you should look at each time before you operate a skid steer. You should also follow the maintenance schedule recommended in the operators’ manual.

Watch the ground-engaging attachment’s teeth to make sure they aren’t wearing too quickly.

Want More?

Clean your tires before inspection to make it easier to spot cracks or other damage.

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To watch the walk-around video with all of the skid steer maintenance checkpoints, visit totallandscapecare.com/skid-steer-checklist.

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KELLY TRACTOR CO.

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Serving Southern Florida Miami, FL 305-592-5360

Serving Louisiana 866-843-7440

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

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Toll Free: (800) 558-8767 Thinking about expanding your services?

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Locked & Loaded

12 new cargo management products to keep your tools and equipment safe

BY BRUCE W. SMITH

L

andscapers are prone to being easy targets for theft of tools and products from their pickup beds and open equipment trailers. So it makes good business sense to keep those precious items in the toolbox and away from the effects of Mother Nature or sticky fingers.

That’s why it’s important to choose toolboxes that are of the highest quality in both construction and security features.

The good news is there are dozens of regional and national toolbox brands from which to choose.

In addition, there are configurations within those brands to fit any need, be it the conventional cross-bed toolbox to a custom-fabricated unit unique to your business.

There are also a number of “combo” tool/fuel boxes that could also be a great upfit for your work truck or trailer. Combos work excellent when you need an extra 30 to 50 gallons of diesel on hand to keep a piece of equipment working when time is short.

Toolbox prices vary as widely as the configurations. But keep this in mind when you are price shopping: In this market, you usually get what you pay for in quality and lasting performance.

To help you on the path to better cargo management, we’ve highlighted a dozen of the newest products in the toolbox category. There should be at least one that’s perfect for outfitting your work trucks or landscape trailers.

S E P T E M B E R 2014

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Ente to W r in!

Enter to win equipment and products from these companies at landscapersdreampackage.com.

SE ASON AFTE R SE ASON

ProPickup

Bak Roll-X

Brute Flatbed Top Sider Flatbed work trucks are always in need of secure, accessible and organized storage solutions. The new Drawer Flatbed Top Sider from Unique Truck Accessories does all of those things and more. Built from .100 brite diamond-tread aluminum, these modular tool boxes have drawers that glide on heavy-duty ball-bearing slides and secure with Strattec high-quality locking cylinders. uniquetruckaccessories.com

Bak’s Roll-X Tradesman is a new style tonneau cover made with the working man in mind. It covers the bed behind the standard 20inch toolbox and has a patented locking rail and solid aluminum slats laminated underneath an OE leather grain vinyl. Roll-X makes it easy to lock the bed and simple to gain access when you need to get loaded. bakindustries.com

KSH Tool/Fuel Need a heavy-duty custom toolbox with a built-in fuel tank?

KSH Fuel Products designs and manufactures all of its toolbox/ tank combos out of high-quality materials. Customization to fit a customer’s specific pickup application is available, and it is key to providing customers with an auxiliary tank that provides the fuel capacity/storage you need. kshmarine.com

LOCK SMART

Highway Products High-Sider These heavy-duty, high-side boxes from Highway Products feature 1/8-inch-thick, marine-grade aluminum construction and theftresistant, T-handle, stainless steel locks to keep tools secure against break-ins. The doors double as a workspace, and the weather stripping is A-grade automotive, so what’s stored inside stays dry and clean. 800toolbox.com

Fumbling through a halfdozen keys just to find the one that fits a toolbox latch wastes valuable time. Having toolboxes with the OEM keys also opens up the possibility that someone else has the keys to your toolbox.

A quick fix to both issues is either ordering your new toolboxes with Bolt Locks (boltlock.com) or retrofitting toolboxes that have paddle-style latches with their special lock kit.

Bolt’s toolbox latch retrofit kit eliminates the need to carry a wad of extra keys for toolboxes by permanently programing the toolbox lock to the specific vehicle’s ignition key.

The kit works with most toolbox brands featuring paddle-style handles.

Another option to consider is upgrading your toolboxes to remote-opening/locking just like your truck’s doors. At least that’s one toolbox manufacturer’s plan.

Weather Guard showed their QuickDraw keyless remote entry system at this year’s The Work Truck Show and hinted it should be available by the end of this summer.

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ProPickup

Mirax Generator Box This Generator Box from Mirax Fuel Products is custom made to fit the most popular portable gensets, including the Honda 2000.

Features include a locking front lid and a removable plate on the side that provides air circulation while the generator is in use – and there’s easy access to the pull cord and on/ off switch. The removable plate on the front provides access to the control panel, cord outlets and provides air circulation while the generator is in use. miraxfuelproducts.com

Lund Truck Toolbox Lund’s Storage boxes are constructed with heavy-duty diamond plate aluminum and fully welded seams. Reinforced dome-style lid with weatherproof seal, high-grade locking handles, piano hinge and adjustable strikers protect contents from theft and weather. lundinternational.com

EASYLIFTER: ®

SOMETIMES A NAME TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. Our innovative built-in fulcrum bars make it easier to dump a 6 cubic foot load. And that means it’s easier on you. Made with heavy duty steel and reinforcements throughout, EasyLifter is tough as nails and designed to take whatever you throw at it, season after season. visit CoronaMax.com/WB2

Scan for additional information Patents USA #5,884,924 | Canada #2,291,159

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ProPickup

Northern Tool Crossover This Northern Tool + Equipment Deep Design Aluminum Crossover holds 30-percent more cargo than low-profile boxes, and its one-piece aluminum body construction with a stylish matte black powder-coat finish is built for work. With weather-resistant seals, locking truck-style pull handles, self-adjusting strikers and a continuous pianostyle hinge, this truck box will hold up everywhere you go. northerntool.com

Owens Products Ellipse XPL All Owens Products toolboxes are made of thick, diamond-tread aluminum, which wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rust, pit or corrode. The Ellipse Series boxes feature a domed lid for added storage space with a push-button latching system. They are available in two standard finishes: bright aluminum or black powder coat, as well as 14 special-order powder coat colors. owensproducts.com

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLCrequest.com S E P T E M B E R 2014

Tota lLa nd s ca p eCa r e.com 49

ProPickup

Thule UWS Crossover Built 2 inches lower on the bed rail for a better view from the rear window, Thule’s UWS toolbox features patented fully foamed lid that creates a rigid wall between outer aluminum layers to help prevent bending or warping. Its .063 aluminum construction supports heavy-duty loads and tool drops, while built-in twin trays hold smaller tools. uwsta.com

Transfer Flow Combo Box Transfer Flow’s 40-gallon toolbox and refueling tank incorporates a toolbox with more than 6 cubic feet of storage space. It fits domestic and imported full-size pickups and comes pre-assembled with a 12-V refueling pump, 12-foot hose/nozzle, wire harness with dash-mounted power switch and mounting hardware. The fuel fill neck is located inside the locking storage compartment for added security. transferflow.com

Win 1 of 10 Bypass Pruners!

With a 1-inch cutting capacity, A.M. Leonard’s 1286 bypass pruners cut anything from plants to chicken wire. The sharp, chrome-plated blades resist rust, corrosion and sap.

The pruners have a pivot-locking mechanism and solidforged handles with anti-slip grips.

Enter to win one of 10 bypass pruners at totallandscapecare.com/giveaway by Oct. 15.

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ProPickup

Weather Guard Low-Pros These new low-profile side boxes from Weather Guard provide maximum secure cargo storage without compromising rear visibility. They are built to take on years of hard work, with heavygauge aluminum construction and durable clear or black finishes. WG’s Extreme Protection lock protects against break-ins while the automotivestyle latch provides smooth “one-touch” opening. weatherguard.com

Westin HDX Series Westin HDX toolboxes are commercialgrade quality toolboxes made of heavyduty, .06 corrosion-resistant aluminum with lids that sit flush with box body on all sides, so there is no lid overhang. HDX toolboxes feature cushioned lid mechanics for a soft spring selfopening lid. The lid closure also features a closed cell U-Lock bulb that seals the closure. Lids can be opened from either end of the box with the anti-theft stainless steel folding T-handles. westinautomotive.com

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Join the Conversation Stay updated on green industry news, network with other pros, find project ideas, watch equipment videos and much more on Total Landscape Care magazine’s website and social media pages.

www.TotalLandscapeCare.com

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portfolio

Vegas View

PROJECT:

Bringing a taste of Sin City to the West Coast

W

Apartment complex, Santa Ana, California

LANDSCAPING:

Lifescapes International, Newport Beach, California lifescapesintl.com

hat happens in Vegas shouldn’t always stay there, and Landscapes International proves that with this rooftop project.

Lifescapes International – the landscape architectural firm behind destinations such as the Wynn Resort’s Encore Beach Club and Tao Beach in Las Vegas – completed a 1-acre rooftop design at The Marke apartment complex by Lyon Communities in Orange County, California.

The space includes Las Vegas-style amenities such as a saltwater pool and spa, fire pits, bar, theater, private cabanas and two clubhouses. The landscape team installed a variety of plants such as Medjool date palms, sago palms, kentia palms and bromeliads.

It was the team’s Vegas experience, in part, that helped them win this bid, says Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs, president of Lifescapes International. Her company has worked on To have y our 12 of the most notable destination resorts on the Vegas strip, along with others in project fe atured, email hig the city. h-resolutio n photos, a When Lyon Communities asked for a Vegas-inspired design, Brinkerhoff-Jacobs descriptio n of the pro ject & the and her team were ready for the challenge. “We set out to design and deliver an name of y o ur business environment that is as fun and as entertaining as the successful young professionto lheartsi ll.rrpub als who are moving into The Marke,” she says. @gmail.c om.

For the apartment community’s two courtyard parks, Lifescapes International used plant combinations of Medjool date palms, queen palms, textile bamboos, multi-trunked African tulip trees, Joy perfume trees, Bougainvillea, flax lilies, Blue Chalksticks, Star Jasmine and creeping lilyturf.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC FIGGE

BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE

I never expected to fall in love.

Monika Johnson, Owner Johnson Lawn Care | Toledo, OH

But that’s exactly what happened when I borrowed a 15-year-old Grasshopper from a friend. My brand new mower — which wasn’t a Grasshopper — had broken down, and since grass doesn’t cut itself, I figured even an old mower would do the job well enough. I was wrong. That Grasshopper ran better and cut better than my new mower, so I didn’t want to give it up when I got mine back from the shop. That convinced me to demo a new Grasshopper, and after 15 years they’d just gotten better. Now I have a fleet of them, but what I don’t have are the headaches my old equipment gave me.

My Grasshoppers are low-maintenance, maneuverable and save me hours of work every day — and the more time I can save, the more yards I can cut. I’ve built a reputation on the manicured cut they leave behind. So before you buy anything else, get on a Grasshopper. I guarantee you’ll fall in love. Just like I did.

For more information, call 620-345-8621 or visit grasshoppermower.com.

PROUD PARTNER

IT’S SO MUCH MOWER Read our heroes’ stories at grasshoppermower.com/warrior Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com

© 2014 The Grasshopper Company. All rights reserved.

Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit www.tlcrequest.com