AGZA and STIHL Inc. Establish Advocacy Campaign

American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) announces a collaboration with STIHL Inc. to support their independent nationwide campaign promoting the benefits of battery-electric equipment in professional applications. The new effort pairs industry-leading commercial grade STIHL battery tools with AGZA’s AGZA Green Zone^® education and certification programs for sustainable grounds maintenance.

For a decade as the global leader in zero-emission sustainable grounds maintenance strategies, AGZA has been advocating for and supporting the transition from gas to electric operations at schools, universities, sports facilities, golf courses, HOAs, retirement communities, hospitals, hotels, and entire cities. AGZA’s certification programs create and verify AGZA Green Zones, and educate and certify AGZA Service Professionals.

On April 12th, 2019, the City of Ojai, CA was certified by AGZA as the first AGZA Green Zone City in Ventura County.

AGZA Green Zones are a scalable model proven to slash hourly operational costs, reduce noise levels, and completely eliminate smog-forming emissions, toxic particulate matter, and greenhouse gasses from grounds maintenance.

More information on the STIHL AP line and AGZA Green Zone case studies that feature STIHL equipment can be found here:

• AGZA Approved STIHL AP Line
• Electric Equipment Rollout for the City of Ojai AGZA Green Zone
• What Does It Take to be a Certified AGZA Green Zone?

American Green Zone Alliance was founded to give clients and crews the most credible advice on which manufacturers and tools are capable of commercial work production. AGZA will showcase the STIHL AP line, along with a select few other brands of AGZA Approved commercial-grade battery-electric equipment, in its advocacy to mayors and city councils, public works departments, sustainability organizations, and academic, municipal, and commercial crews.

As part of the AGZA Green Zone certification for the City of Ojai, AGZA also certified the City’s Public Works grounds maintenance crew as AGZA Service Pros.

“AGZA’s value and credibility depend on our voice remaining absolutely independent,” said Luke Massman-Johnson, AGZA’s communication director. “We test and vet tools from all the top manufacturers ourselves, then put the best in the hands of professional crews in commercial, municipal, and academic settings. We insist on the most candid feedback from operators — both positive and negative. That’s our only guide in determining which brands and tools are truly viable to replace gas machines in large-scale electric operations.”

For over a century, the performance of STIHL has made it one of the most respected brands in outdoor power equipment. STIHL was among the first to apply cutting-edge lithium-battery power to a suite of tools that could challenge the performance and work production of gas machines. The 36v AP line of commercial tools pushes the boundaries of battery power, performance and run-times, and secures the brand’s place as AGZA Approved commercial grade battery electric equipment.

About American Green Zone Alliance

AGZA is a sustainability consultancy for the grounds maintenance industry, and the global leader in low-noise zero-emission land care strategies. Their mission is to transition the entire grounds maintenance industry from noisy highly polluting gas-powered machines to quieter zero-emission electric equipment and sustainable operations.

About STIHL Inc.

STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America, as well as the number one selling brand of chain saws in the world. STIHL is also the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment among U.S. landscape professionals. STIHL products are sold through a network of more than 9,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers from coast to coast.

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The Irrigation Association to Recognize Water Providers

 

The Irrigation Association is to recognize water providers for promoting conservation through efficiency. The Irrigation Association recently announced two new Smart Water Application Technologies awards aimed to recognize water providers for spearheading efforts to conserve water through stakeholder engagement, education and programs that promote efficiencies in outdoor water use. Two new SWAT awards will be presented to water providers at WaterSmart Innovations.

The SWAT awards will annually recognize water providers with two awards:

• Outstanding Industry Partnership Award – This award recognizes efforts to increase partnerships with landscape and/or irrigation professionals.
• Outstanding Public Engagement Award – This award recognizes work to engage and educate residential and commercial end users on smart and efficient technologies, best practices, and programs related to outdoor water conservation.

“Water providers everywhere are developing new and innovative ways to engage and educate their customers on the importance of outdoor water use, conservation and irrigation efficiency,” said Abby Owens, public works compliance analyst with the City of Plano and chair of the IA’s SWAT Promotions Working Group. “I am excited for the IA to recognize these inventive programs that not only save water but also promote education, best management practices and use of efficient irrigation technologies throughout their service areas.”

The inaugural SWAT awards will be presented during the 2019 WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in Las Vegas.

“We are thrilled to be recognizing the hard work water providers put into promoting outdoor water use efficiency and education,” said IA government and public affairs director John Farner. “With conservation in mind, water providers understand the importance of outdoor water use. The IA is honored to recognize water providers who play a leading role in sustaining our water resources for years to come.”

The application process for the awards opens on June 3 and runs through July 31. The application and information about the awards can be found by visiting www.irrigation.org/swatawards.

Important Dates

• June 3, 2019 – applications open
• July 31, 2019 – application deadline
• Sept. 1, 2019 – award recipients notified
• Oct. 2, 2019 – awards presented at WaterSmart Innovations in Las Vegas

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Trimec®Celebrates 50 Years

One of the most popular and widely used broadleaf herbicides on the market is celebrating its 50^thbirthday. Manufactured and marketed by PBI-Gordon since 1969, Trimec has been a leading herbicide choice for countless homeowners and turfgrass professionals. With a line of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and other products, PBI-Gordon Corporation is a national leader in the professional turf and ornamental management industry.

 

2019 Product and Packaging

1969 Product and Packaging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trimec was born when PBI-Gordon became the licensee to combine active ingredients 2,4-D, MCPP, and Dicamba. This gave the company the exclusive patent rights to the formulation in the U.S. Initially marketed as Fairwayherbicide, the first gallon was sold to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 

“Trimec has truly been a transformative product over the past 50 years. Not only for our company, but for countless homeowners, retailers, and turfgrass professionals as well,” said Don Chew, CEO of PBI-Gordon.

 

Chew added, “From its founding in 1947, PBI-Gordon’s greatest strength has always been its creativity in exploring, inventing, and formulating pesticides that meet and exceed market needs, and deliver outstanding results to our customers. Trimec is no exception. Its highly effective formulation of 2,4-D, MCPP, and Dicamba ushered in a new era for turf care that continues to this day.”

 

The initial success of Trimec set in motion a process that eventually led to the introduction of numerous market-leading pesticides for turf, including the launches of SpeedZone^®and Surge^®broadleaf herbicides. During the past 50 years, PBI-Gordon has produced more than 80 variations of Trimec, from Trimec Classic Broadleaf Herbicide to the Company’s most recent innovation, Trimec Speed Lawn Weed Killer Concentrate, which controls 250+ broadleaf weeds, including dandelion, clover, chickweed, ground ivy, henbit, and wild violet with visible results in just eight hours.

 

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New Hampshire Company A “Forbes Small Giant”

Outdoor Pride Landscape & Snow Management, a commercial snow removal and landscape management company, was recently recognized by Forbes as one of the top small companies in America. Forbes honored the Manchester, NH-based business as a “Forbes Small Giant,” one of only 25 companies nationwide to earn the distinction.

All Forbes Small Giant honorees “share a commitment to being the best at what they do, providing stellar service to customers, offering employees fulfilling, rewarding work and being vital members of their communities,” according to Forbes. Outdoor Pride was noted for its emphasis on “people, planet and profit” and for strengthening staff members’ connections to one another, which has resulted in the company increasing its annual employee retention rate from 45% up to 85%.

“It is a tremendous honor that Forbes recognized the steady growth of our business and our commitment to fostering an employee-centric environment,” said Mark Aquilino, president, Outdoor Pride Landscape & Snow Management. “As a purpose-driven company, we are constantly striving to exceed our clients’ expectations, which is reflected in our 92% customer retention rate. I truly believe our team-first culture, combined with our commitment to our clients, sets us apart as a leader within an extremely competitive industry.”

With 72 full-time employees and 250 seasonal employees, Outdoor Pride services all of southern and central New Hampshire and all of northern and eastern Massachusetts, providing comprehensive snow management, landscape installation and ground management services. During the past five years, Outdoor Pride tripled its revenue with total revenue exceeding $10 million in 2018. In the next three years, Outdoor Pride is aiming to sustain revenue growth, while also continuing to expand opportunities for employee growth and development.

Photo: Outdoor Pride

The landscaping and snow removal industries are often not seen as long-term career options for entry-level employees, but Outdoor Pride has worked to turn the tables on that perception by investing in its employees. The company has increased employee benefits and is committed to promoting from within, both of which have resulted in significant increases in employee retention.

“Our goal is to create and grow sustainable and impactful relationships with our employees, our customers and with our community,” Aquilino continued. “It’s all about empowering employees to better serve our customers.”

In addition to continuing to expand Outdoor Pride’s business, the company is committed to serving the community. This past February, Outdoor Pride established the Aquilino Foundation to make a positive impact through a variety of nonprofit organizations. Aquilino established the fund with a $25,000 contribution and pledged to continue contributing to the fund each year. The Aquilino Foundation recently awarded its first grant award: a $10,000 grant to the Manchester Boys & Girls Club to support a literacy program aimed at engaging kids in reading during summer months.

Photo: Outdoor Pride

With its commitment to people, planet, and profit, Outdoor Pride has implemented a variety of changes to increase sustainability and to reduce carbon emissions — all aimed at being responsible stewards of the environment. Outdoor Pride has begun using electric equipment, while also utilizing a brine solution for melting snow and ice rather than salt. In summer months, employees work four 10-hour days, rather than five eight-hour days in order to reduce drive time and emissions.

Husband and wife Michael and Dale Aquilino founded Outdoor Pride in 1988 as a full-service landscape company. Michael Aquilino began operations from his home’s garage with a truck and a single landscape trailer, minimal lawn mowing and plowing equipment, one tractor and one employee. Michael and Dale steadily grew the company, moving to a small industrial park in Manchester in 1991, and ultimately to 500 Harvey Road in Manchester in 1998. In 2015, Michael and Dale Aquilino transitioned the company reins to their son Mark, who oversees Outdoor Pride as part of a five-member leadership team.

In addition to its Manchester headquarters, Outdoor Pride has three satellite locations in New Hampshire, including Dover, Merrimack and Nashua, and six satellite locations in Massachusetts, including Andover, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn and Hamilton. The company owns and maintains a fleet of more than 150 pieces of equipment to support all aspects of its year-round services.

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Middle School Winners Announced for “The (Really) Great Outdoors” Contest

After reviewing over 2,700 contest submissions, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation and Scholastic announced the winners of TurfMutt’s national “The (Really) Great Outdoors” contest.

Lauren Wu, a 6^th grade student at Robert Healy School in Chicago, IL, won the $2,500 grand prize for her essay and illustration about creating a community green space for her urban neighborhood. Designed to be inclusive so it serves everyone in the neighborhood, her outdoor space features an oak tree, a tree house stocked with books for reading, swings, zip lines, seating areas, flowers, shrubs and grass. Wu’s teacher, Nicole Hauser, and the school will each receive a $750 cash prize.

“This is the first year we’ve expanded our annual contest to middle schoolers, who came up with some beautiful and, more importantly, functional and purposeful designs for green spaces,” says Kris Kiser, president and chief executive officer of OPEI. “A cornerstone of TurfMutt’s teaching is getting kids to understand that our lawns and greenspaces are urban habitats.”

President and CEO of the OPEI, pictured with TurfMutt and the winning entry.

Hope Wheatley, an 8^th grader at Franklin Township Middle School East in Indianapolis, IN, won first place and a $2,000 cash prize for her entry. Wheatley created a comic strip that featured characters working together to design a community garden. Her teacher, Kelly Barnes, and the school will each receive a $500 cash prize.

An illustrated essay by 8^th grader Angelica Undan of Kapolei Middle School in Kapolei, HI, won second place. Her outdoor space included areas for people to meditate and relax their mind and spirit. She will receive a $1,500 cash prize, and her teacher, Daryle Mishina, will receive a $250 cash prize.

“This year’s contest entries were so exceptional that we decided to award two third prizes,” says Kiser.

A detailed makeover plan for a school courtyard took one of the third-place prizes, and was designed by Sean Mayfair-Drennen, an 8^th grader at Braden River Middle School in Bradenton, FL. He will receive a prize of $750. In an essay, he described his design for a courtyard with bright flowers and foliage. His teacher, Nora Hyde, and the school will each receive a cash prize of $125.

The other third-place winner was Luke Benkart, an 8^th grader at Holy Sepulcher School in Butler, PA, who wrote an essay describing a naturescape with trails, waterfalls and playgrounds. His entry included a drawing of his space as well. Benkart will receive a cash prize of $750, and his teacher, Dorothy Johnson, and the school will each receive a cash prize of $125.

The annual contest is part of the TurfMutt environmental stewardship and education program, which teaches students in grades K–8 to care for our living landscapes and appreciate their benefits. The program is marking its tenth anniversary in 2019.

Contest entrants in grades 6 to 8 were asked to design, by writing about and/or drawing, a nature space that works for their lifestyle and community no matter where they live—city, country, suburb, house, or apartment. The contest was sponsored by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.

To enter the contest, students drew upon their environmental science knowledge, planning and problem-solving skills, as well as their creativity to depict how their idea would benefit both the environment and their community, while also motivating the student (and others) to get outside and enjoy nature.

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Bayer To Hold Women In Golf Event For Turf Managers

The inaugural Bayer North American Women in Golf Education event for turf managers, “Welcome to the Club,” will take place September 18-20, 2019 in Raleigh, NC. This year’s event will bring together women from across the United States and Canada to focus on enhancing their careers. Applications are being accepted online until July 1.

(Source: Bayer)

The event will be a celebration of community, commonality and growth. The two-day, all expense paid event will take place at the StateView hotel and Lonnie Poole Golf Course on the campus of North Carolina State University, the Bayer research and educational facility in Clayton, NC and at the new headquarters of the Bayer Environmental Science division in Cary, NC.

The agenda will feature leadership and educational sessions, with a mix of agronomics, personal and professional development, as well as networking opportunities with speakers and other attendees during small group break outs and social activities.

“Although women account for a small percentage of the golf and turf industry, the number of women involved in these industries is growing and we’re thrilled to be a part of that growth and sponsor this event,” said Will MacMurdo, head of the Bayer U.S. Turf and Ornamentals Business. “We believe that diversity and inclusion make for a stronger industry, and this event solidifies our commitment to both. Bayer continues to look for opportunities to grow leaders in the industry through this event and others, like Green Start Academy.”

The event is open to superintendents, assistant superintendents and other women in golf course maintenance roles across the U.S. and Canada. Space for this year’s event is limited to 50 attendees that will be announced the first week of August. Those who want to attend must be 18 year of age or older.   

Click here for more information on the inaugural North American Women in Golf Education event, Welcome to the Club.

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Kubota and Titan Form Exclusivity Agreement for Goodyear® Tire

Goodyear R14 Crossover Tire

Titan International, Inc. (Titan) and Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC) / Kubota Canada Limited (KCL) are pleased to announce an exclusivity agreement for Goodyear R14 crossover tires on select Kubota compact tractor models. As the first-ever exclusivity agreement KTC and KCL have chosen to enter with a tire manufacturer, it’s a move that further strengthens the long-standing relationship between two industry leaders in compact tractors and compact tractor tires.

Prior to entering into the agreement, Kubota conducted significant testing on the Goodyear R14 tire — which features an industry-unique, new-to-market hybrid tread design combining elements of an ag tread (R-1), turf tread (R-3) and industrial tread (R-4). The results from slip and vibration testing showed the R14 tire as being the ideal fit between an R-1 and R-4.

Kubota Compact Tractor

Kubota’s Outlook

“The vast majority of compact tractors on the market are being sold with R-4 tires, but there’s a drawback when it comes to traction. If you go with an R-1, then you have more traction, but more vibration on hard surfaces. Up to this point, there hasn’t been a tire as versatile as the compact tractors they’re going on,” said Jacob Sherman, Kubota product manager, compact tractors. “After testing the R14, we knew it could perform equally as well in the variety of snow, field, yard, loader and pasture applications our customers expect from our machines. That’s why we wanted to jump on this opportunity. We believe the Goodyear R14 is a game-changer for our dealers and customers — it’s one more factor that sets Kubota apart from the competition.”

Titan’s Take

“We’re really proud of the R&D that went into this R14 tire,” said Scott Sloan, ag product manager for Titan and Goodyear Farm Tires. “We try to keep our finger on the pulse of our customers’ needs, and we knew there was a serious unmet need when it came to tire versatility in the compact and subcompact market. We’re excited that Kubota, as a leader in that market, shares our vision for the future of compact tractor tires. It’s a great partnership that will ultimately benefit both our companies and our collective customers.”

In addition to the sizes offered exclusively from Kubota at the OEM level, the Goodyear R14 line has been expanded to include a total of 18 sizes — both in standard and Low Sidewall Technology^® (LSW^®) options — offered in the aftermarket for compact tractors up to the 150 horsepower range.

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EcoMIGHT Introduces Alternative Organic Weed And Grass Killer

A new organic weed and grass killer, Whack Out Weeds! (W.O.W.), is now available from EcoMIGHT. W.O.W., an alternative solution to toxic chemicals in weed and grass killers currently on the market, is a professional non-selective liquid concentrate that provides powerful results with a minimum risk designation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

With the increasing number of cities banning glyphosate, the industry was seeking a non-toxic solution to weed and grass killer products. Since farming, weeding and gardening by hand is not a viable option for professional landscapers and park and facility managers, a chemical-free alternative was vital. EcoMIGHT offers a safe and effective alternative for applicators that does not adversely affect the environment.

With no re-entry period, when used as directed, the product is safe for use around people, kids, pets, aquatic life and most importantly, the applicator. W.O.W. is readily biodegradable and does not destroy the millions of vital soil microbes, nor causes runoff into groundwater that typically harms aquatic life as a result of chemicals in toxic alternatives. With a simple, direct application, it kills unwanted weeds and grasses to the root.

“We saw a tremendous need to provide the industry with a cost-effective and non-toxic alternative, and we have been testing the product for a few years to ensure its effectiveness and safety for applicators. We’re thrilled to be able to finally introduce it to consumers,” said CEO of EcoMIGHT, Michael Briansky. “We’ve already received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from customers who were seeking organic weed and grass killers telling us, ‘Wow! This works.’”

The emergence of organic products and corresponding research has demonstrated the powerful effect that rival results of synthetic ingredients. With W.O.W., customers do not have to sacrifice effectiveness for non-toxic chemicals. According to W.O.W.’s customers, a significant majority have agreed that the product is stronger and more effective than products made with harmful chemicals.

“I’ve used nearly every alternative weed and grass killer over the last 30 years working in the golf industry, and in order for me to use a product, it must be the best in the industry,” said Shannon Easter, environmental consultant and director of golf course maintenance and sustainability at The Broken Sound Club, Boca Raton, FL. “W.O.W. is not only safe and natural, but it is highly effective and superior to other products I’ve used.”

In addition to W.O.W., EcoMIGHT makes Mosquito & Pest Control INTERRUPTER.  Both naturally organic and highly effective products are available online at www.ecomight.com.

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Boss Snowplow Launches New Solutions for Better Snow Removal

BOSS Snowplow expands its snow and ice removal product offerings to help professionals prepare for the upcoming winter storm season. The newest members of the BOSS family are the FORGE^® 2.0 Long Bed spreader and the SK-R 6 compact vehicle plow, both extensions of popular BOSS collections. Additionally, the popular D-Force^® accessory is now available for DXT Plows.

FORGE 2.0 Long Bed

“At BOSS, we’re focused on every aspect of the contractor’s business — roads, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots — and the solutions they need to work quicker, more efficiently and with more profitability,” said Mark Klossner, marketing vice president for BOSS Snowplow. “We take great pride in listening to our customers and offering the products and accessories they need to operate successful businesses.”

FORGE 2.0 Long Bed
FORGE stainless steel spreaders have become a strong performer in BOSS’ growing line of ice control solutions, and a new design makes the FORGE a quality solution for long bed trucks. The FORGE 2.0 Long Bed features a longer hopper design to optimize its fit on long bed trucks and make filling the spreader easier and quicker with a loader bucket.

SK-R 6

SK-R 6
The SK-R 6 joins the SK-R 8 and SK-R 10 to expand BOSS’ line of box plows for tractors, skid steers and other compact vehicle equipment. The new SK-R 6 features a reversible 1 ½-inch rubber cutting edge designed for quieter plowing operation and protection to sensitive surfaces. SK Box Plows from BOSS are designed to put the full force and maneuverability of compact vehicle equipment into getting the pavement back to black.

D-Force for DXT
BOSS continues to expand products offering D-Force, an accessory that improves scraping when back dragging by maintaining a consistent hydraulic down force powered by a hydraulic accumulator, leaving cleaner pavement in less time than conventional plows. D-Force will now be available on new BOSS DXT 8’2″ and 9’2″ snowplows, adding even more power to the already fully featured DXT lineup.

About BOSS Snowplow
BOSS Snowplow is a leader in the snow and ice management business with a growing line of plows for trucks, UTVs, and ATVs, salt and sand spreaders and box plows built for the snow and ice management professional, as well as the homeowner. All products are designed for ease of use, quality and durability. With a market competitive warranty, uncompromising quality and high level of craftsmanship, BOSS has grown to be a leader in the sales of truck mount plows. BOSS products are designed and manufactured in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in an approved ISO 9001:2015 registered facility. BOSS also recently acquired the Snowrator brand, with production facilities in Windom, Minnesota. BOSS maintains a network of nearly 800 dealers worldwide.

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Planting to Attract Birds and Butterflies to Your Bergen County Yard

Whether you are interested in conservation and ecological stewardship, you are a wildlife admirer, or you desire a beautiful landscape for an affordable cost, you should consider designing your Bergen County yard to attract wildlife. If you want your Bergen County yard to be an oasis for native birds and pollinators, you might have to rethink your current landscaping with the help of Borst Landscape & Design. There are several steps you can take to attract butterflies and birds as well as improve water quality, absorb carbon dioxide, and increase the quality of life for existing wildlife.

Plant Shrubs, Perennials and Annuals to Attract Birds and Butterflies

Traditional lawns provide little habitat or cover for wildlife and are practically deserts for pollinator species. Additionally, using pesticides and herbicides to keep lawns looking pristine can be harmful to native species. Borst offers organic pesticides. Since pollinating insects are the foundation of diets for many other native wildlife, it is vital to support these populations by planting strategically. Planting the appropriate shrubs, perennials and annuals can give pollinators both food sources and the necessary habitat to complete reproduction. For example, you can plant black-eyed Susans, coneflows, golden rod, Joe-Pye weed, milkweed, mountain mints, sunflowers, and wild bergamot to help butterfly species have successful caterpillars. It’s also smart to add a mix of perennials and annuals that bloom at varying times and look totally different. This way, pollinators are able to feed throughout the year, and different species can benefit from the different plant types. For example, bees need both pollen and nectar, whereas butterflies just need nectar and some pollinator species have anatomy that is specialized to certain kinds of flowers. The plus side is, your Bergen County yard will have beautiful blooms throughout the growing season and look totally unique!

Plant new things, but keep the old to attract birds and butterflies to your lawn

Planting native plant species in your Bergen County yard is key to attracting both more numerous and more diverse bird species.  Native plant provides fruits and seeds as well as attract insects that are all food for birds. However, both beautifully maintained dogwood or sagebrush and a dead or dying black cherry can act as suitable habitat and cover for birds.  Though you may be tempted to cut down dead or dying trees, considers trimming them and letting them remain in your Bergen County yard for native bird species. You may also rake your Bergen County yard every fall, but fallen leaves are actually beneficial for wildlife.  A light layer of leaves not only makes your soil richer and reduces weed growth, but also gives moths and butterflies habitat for the winter months.

Additional elements to consider to attract birds and butterflies

You can create more habitat by adding additional landscaping features like water, unmolched soil, or stones.  Consider creating a shallow pond where birds can bath. You’ll have to exchange the water every few days to avoid mosquitos, but hummingbirds in particular benefit from places to wash off sticky nectar.  You can surround this miniature pond with pebbles or bare soil. Pebbles warm in the sun and give pollinating insects a toasty landing pad to rest and recharge. Many insects would appreciate unmulched soil as well because they burrow underground to nest. Additional nesting sanctuaries can be added like bird or bee boxes.

These are just a few ideas of how to attract birds and butterflies to your Bergen County yard. With the help of Borst Landscape & Design, you can turn your landscapes into a paradise for native plants and animals! Check out the specific packages Borst offers and contact us today.

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Reconnect With Customers Mid-Summer

The communication is flowing between your lawn care company and your customers early in the season. Folks want you to green up their lawns and keep crabgrass at bay. This momentum keeps up until the hazy days of summer.

But, how do you stay top of mind with your lawn care or landscaping customers in July?

Strategy is Key

Six lawn care and landscaping companies were interviewed to share how they touch base with their clients in mid-summer. Overall, these companies educate their clients, whether it’s about turf disease or upcoming fall services.

All companies were purposeful in their outreach approach and some have specific strategies to reach out to their customers about their summer landscaping. For example, Jay Worth of Tomlinson and Bomberger in Lancaster, PA, says, “We strategically send out email blasts. Since turf diseases were rampant last summer in Pennsylvania because of all of the rain, we also posted blogs raising awareness of turf diseases.”

Stacie Callaghan of Gachina Landscape Management located in Menlo Park, CA, shares: “(I) do my best to schedule regular social media posts highlighting seasonal tasks. It’s important to schedule more than one (social media post), so it sticks. (I) space them out far enough that it doesn’t seem repetitive.”

Photo: Tomlinson and Bomberger

Becoming Customer-Centric

Many lawn care operators educate their clients based on what the customers see in their lawns. For example, Mike Sisti of FMC Global Solutions in Philadelphia, PA, has 25 years in the green industry, including 13 years as an lawn care operator. So, he’s an expert on mid-season communication with customers.

Sisti would send educational newsletters out to his customers. For example, using the Northeast’s rainy summers over the past few years, Sisti would send out newsletters focusing on turf diseases, such as red thread and dollar spot.

And he would teach his customers about smart cultural practices they could use right away, such as sharp mowing blades, cut at 3″, and good irrigation practices.

“These tips, along with images of the diseases, help the homeowner more readily identify the issue, but also help establish your business as a resource,” Sisti says.

Mark Kelbacher of Stay Green Lawn Services of Chicopee, MA, offers these three tips for communicating with your clients mid-season:

1. Proactively reach out via phone or personal email asking your clients how their lawn is doing.
   “The goal here is to open up the lines of communication with your customers and address any potential concerns sooner than later.”
2. Keep communicating through information and educational emails.
   “Keep a close eye on the weather patterns in your market and send an email talking about potential issues the customer may see in their lawns.”
3. Send an email the month before an important service, such as core aeration and seeding.
   “One step further would be to break (down) this email into a couple of groups — those without aeration and overseeding, and those with aeration to upsell the seed(ing),” Sisti states.

Photo: McCoy Horticultural Services, Inc.

Other Ways to Communicate Your Services

Richard A. McCoy, owner and president of McCoy Horticultural Services, Inc., in Ringoes, NJ, educates his clients on his organic lawn and landscape services.

“We’re in continuous contact with our clients via the nature of our frequent services to their properties, and with that, we speak directly to our clients. Additionally, we encourage them to contact us whenever they have questions or concerns.”

Instead of using blogs, social media, or print marketing, McCoy relies on word-of-mouth referrals, which works perfectly for him.

“Due to the success of our programs and our broad range of environmental services, most of our business has been secured by word-of-mouth referrals. We have a detailed website, but we currently don’t have a blog or social media.”

Photo: Spring Green Lawn Care

Direct mail is another way to stay in touch with your customers. Spring Green Lawn Care, a green industry franchise with headquarters located in Naperville, IL, uses it as part of reconnecting with their customers.

“We send out mail to current and potential customers,” says Rachel Gawel, marketing coordinator at Spring Green.

“Potential customers are sent mail that advertise(s) our lawn care programs, whereas current customers receive information on our additional services, such as Total Home Pest Control, Mosquito Control, etc.

“”We leave these to encourage customers to sign up for additional services. A message is also left on the customer’s invoice,” Gawel says.

Stay connected this summer with your clients by educating and reminding them of your services, whether it’s through face-to-face contact, newsletters, social media, or door hangers. You’ll be glad you did this fall.

Komancheck has a passion for helping small- to medium-sized companies succeed. She writes blogs, website content, and other digital marketing pieces for the lawn care and landscape industries. You can learn more about her at www.landscapewriter.com.

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Keep Ticks Away From Buildings

By Angela M. Tucker, Ph.D., B.C.E.

Protection from ticks should be top of mind for not only homeowners, but commercial facility owners as well. According to the CDC, these pests cause an estimated 300,000 cases of Lyme disease each year, in addition to cases of other tick-borne illnesses, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. While ticks are not considered a “structural infesting pest” (meaning they are not likely to live and reproduce successfully in a structure), any property with a wooded area nearby or a transition zone between a well-manicured lawn and a non-landscaped area could provide harborage for ticks.

Because these environments can occur near both homes and workplaces, it is important that commercial facility managers understand these pests and how to protect against them. These efforts include ensuring the grounds are well-kept to deter ticks from residing on their property and working with landscaping partners or grounds staff on preventive measures.

What Might Draw Ticks to a Property?
Ticks are outdoor organisms that thrive in naturally occurring grasses and habitats. If a property has a wooded area or a transition zone between landscaped grounds and natural, grassy areas, then there is risk of ticks living nearby. In addition, dense ground coverings and small patches of overgrown grass can become secondary tick habitats in the middle of a well-maintained lawn. These habitats provide harborage for developing ticks, as well as a location for an adult female to lay her eggs.

Read more at FacilityExecutive.com.

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Target Specialty Products Introduces TURF FUEL® THE KRAKEN™

Target Specialty Products, a leading provider of turf and ornamental landscaping solutions in the U.S. and Canada, introduces TURF FUEL® THE KRAKEN. THE KRAKEN is an advanced wetting agent designed for turf surfaces that require the highest level of consistency and firmness.

TURF FUEL® THE KRAKEN

“Through exhaustive university trials and close consultation with our network of industry experts, we have learned that professionals at the highest-level demand control over their soil hydration. Kraken combines multiple components to provide ultimate control of hydration and firmness” says Mark Jull, Head of Turf Fuel Products’ Division, at Target Specialty Products. The research has been conducted by Dr. Doug Karcher at the University of Arkansas.

TURF FUEL’S® THE KRAKEN can be used at any time during the season, however, many turf professionals strategically use Kraken in conjunction with TURF FUEL® Cleanse®, Abyss and Vanquish® depending on season and soil conditions to achieve the best results.

TURF FUEL® product development process starts with input from a vast network of technical sales representatives and customers. TURF FUEL® team works with experts in biotechnology, chemistry and agronomy to develop uniquely effective solutions. This approach leads to highly differentiated product innovations.

TURF FUEL® products are designed to help turf professionals get the most out of their turf even in extremely stressful conditions. Target Specialty Products continues to experience exceptional growth and will continue its expansion throughout North America, expanding its footprint and customer service efforts across the West, Midwest, and East Coast regions.

With over 80 years of industry experience, Target Specialty Products is a leading value-added solutions and service provider of turf and ornamental solutions, pest management, application equipment, supplies and education and training programs. Target Specialty Products serves the Turf and Ornamental and Pest Management markets from 43 locations across the United States and Canada.

 

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Yara North America Introduces YaraVita OptimumTurf

Yara North America introduces YaraVita OptimumTurf, a foliar nutrition line specifically designed for the turf and ornamental industry. YaraVita OptimumTurf includes eight products that each deliver a specific nutrient or nutrient mix for efficiently sustaining turfgrass and plant health; boosting performance, durability, and aesthetics.

Backed by more than 100 years of agronomic insights, the newest offerings from Yara are fully formulated liquids enhanced with co-formulants for providing turf with the most efficient forms of nutrients for immediate uptake and utilization.

“Turf managers strive for perfection, and the YaraVita OptimumTurf products allow you to provide exactly what the plant needs with the confidence of knowing the nutrients are quickly absorbed and utilized to ensure high quality results.” said Neil Mayberry, Crop Manager Turf and Ornamental, Yara North America. “A balanced nutritional program is necessary for increasing a plant’s chances of survival, especially when overcoming common stress factors; this is why turf managers must have a product they can trust and is mixable with a wide range of products, ultimately, making their jobs easier.”

Globally, Yara has spent decades researching and developing foliar applications through the YaraVita product portfolio. Foliar fertilizers have proven to be the most efficient way to precisely apply nutrients at the right time, place and rates. With turfgrass under daily stress and needing to be in pristine condition; precise, efficient and effective applications are key. The YaraVita OptimumTurf line addresses a variety of critical plant performance needs and deficiency prevention. The highly-mixable products are easy to handle, safe and include only the highest-quality ingredients.

Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet, to fulfill our vision of a collaborative society, a world without hunger and a planet respected. To meet these commitments, Yara has taken the lead in developing digital farming tools for precision farming and work closely with partners throughout the whole food value chain to develop more climate-friendly crop nutrition solutions.

 

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One Good Job Earns Another… Eventually

A less than stellar backyard layout was transformed to an entertainment oasis with the help of Bahler Brothers, Inc. of South Windsor, CT.

How important is good word-of-mouth? For South Windsor, CT-based Bahler Brothers, Inc., it can cross generations.

When a local couple opted to redo their entire home — inside and out — for the landscape upgrade they turned to the firm the homeowner’s father has utilized shortly after Bahler Brothers’ opened its doors in 1985.

“It simply got transferred on down the line,” says Ryan King, the designer who conceived and supervised the rework of the family’s pool and patio area, and coincidentally won the 2018 award for use of a combination of hardscape products in a residential project of more than 4,000 square feet from Hardscape North America (HNA).

King says discussions with the client began two years before actual construction. At the heart of the project was a poorly designed space the owners wanted eliminated.

“It was an interesting situation,” he says. “When you walked into the backyard, you had to step down, but then about five feet later, you were stepping back up to get to the original pool and patio. The client wanted to demolish the pool, tear everything out, and then recreate the space so it had a better transition from the backdoor to the pool and patio.”

Fortunately, the clients had a large backyard in which to work the transition and still leave a grassy play space for their children.

“The family really wanted a nice area to entertain friends and family, so they wanted a larger patio,” says King. “And, they wanted a garage/pool house connected with an outdoor kitchen, bar, and fireplace so they could entertain guests even when the weather wasn’t the best.”

Bahler Brothers started the project by demolishing the existing pool and patio, and doing what King calls, “a lot of excavation.” However, the pool area is now reached from a handful of steps off the back door.

Photo: Bahler Brothers, Inc.

Asked about the most significant challenge, King points to getting rid of the divided levels and coming up with something that flows.

“We wanted to make it feel like one continuous level so that it felt like part of the house,” he says. “Rather than being separated — like the original pool — we wanted a full continuation of the backyard from the back of the house. Just dealing with the elevations and getting the heights correct so it felt like one outdoor living space was a challenge.

To further disguise that the area isn’t totally flat, King says Bahler Brothers did install a couple minimal retaining walls and raised the firepit behind the pool by a couple steps.

Once demolition and excavation were complete, Bahler Brothers teamed up with Aqua Pool of East Windsor, CT, to handle the pool installation.

“The pool is rather large-scale,” says King. “It’s a 40-foot long free-form pool with an attached spa. It also has a full waterfall and grotto. The grotto is maybe seven feet tall and you can swim under the waterfall where there’s a bench for people to sit behind the crashing water.”

To tie things together, the project utilizes natural stone copings around the outside edge to tie in with the natural stone of the grotto.

While the pool was being built, a team of carpenters who were also subcontracted for the job constructed the combination garage/pool house.

“The client was looking for an overall outdoor living experience,” says King. “We installed landscape lighting to help extend the hours of use for this outdoor space.”

Photo: Bahler Brothers, Inc.

The project utilized lighting from FXLuminaire. King says he opted to use its Luxor lighting because of the products’ ability to zone different lights, as well as adjust brightness and change color.

Other features include a full bar, a grill, and an outdoor TV and audio. The horizonal features, including the pool deck, utilize Unilock pavers, while the vertical surfaces use a natural thin veneer.

“The front of the house features a large veneered area, and the owner wanted to tie that into the backyard,” King explains. “When you pull into the driveway and into the backyard the natural stone continues right through.”

The entire project is a beautiful custom job, he adds.

Photo: Bahler Brothers, Inc.

Because the entire property was being remade, Bahler Brothers also worked on the front landscaping. For instance, with the new garage and expanded driveway, the company installed a decorative paver border around the driveway addition to tie things together. The firm also installed a new front walkway.

New softscape was also installed throughout, although King says privacy for the large lot was protected with a lot of existing trees.

“The owner wanted to continue the natural feel,” he says. “He had a lot of plants he wanted to reuse that were in good shape, so we used as much as we could. A lot of our plantings focused on the grotto to draw attention to it with different colors and heights and variations with a focus on summer-blooming plants.”

Photo: Bahler Brothers, Inc.

As with many clients today, there was also an emphasis on low-maintenance.

Drainage mainly focused on keeping runoff from pitching into the pool, and King notes that softscape played a role there, too. Rather than putting a patio drain in the decking, plant beds were designed within the patio to handle some of the runoff.

He estimates that Bahler Brothers had has many as five men on the project for approximately three months. And, getting things coordinated between them and the subs provided a learning experience for him, King says.

“I learned a lot about coordination of the different contractors, and certain techniques to help ensure the project continued smoothly, without having to do anything twice,” he says. “It was an overall great learning experience.”

Still, he describes the high-end and complex project as a fun one on which to work.

“It pretty much incorporated every outdoor feature, from the grotto on the pool to a full outdoor kitchen with a bar, the fireplace, firepit, lighting,” King says. “It was fun to incorporate everything into one backyard; it was just a fun renovation.”

And, he concludes, the relationship is continuing, although whether that will extend to another generation is yet to be seen.

“We did landscape maintenance for them last season, and also applied a patio sealer,” King says. “We’ve also talked a bit about doing more landscape plantings in the far backyard.”

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Alliance Tire Americas Expands Compact Tractor Tires

Alliance Tire Americas, Inc. (ATA) has announced that it is continuing to expand its Galaxy Garden Pro line of tires. Specifically built for compact tractors operating on turf, soft soil, and grasses, and for roading on hard surfaces and even snow, the Garden Pro has a multipurpose tread pattern and radial construction to maximize performance, longevity, and rider comfort.

Alliance Tire America’s Galaxy Garden Pro Tire 15

According to Nick Phillippi, product manager of the Turf segment at Alliance Tire Americas, the radial construction and unique tread design of the Galaxy Garden Pro allow it to excel in a variety of applications. “With more than four years and thousands of operating hours behind us now, our experience is that the Garden Pro provides years of service and performance and a comfortable ride, all while protecting soil from damage,” he says.

Because of the specific needs of compact tractors operating in vineyards, on produce small acreage farms, and a wide variety of other applications, the Galaxy Garden Pro is designed to distinguish itself in purpose and performance from the typical R-1, R-3, or R-4 tire. With its specially engineered block-type directional traction tread and rounded corners, it offers traction when needed in soft soil; long, even wear on hard surfaces; and gives protection to turf and more delicate surfaces.

Currently available in 20 sizes with an additional 12 sizes to come, the Galaxy Garden Pro is original equipment on John Deere’s 2-series compact tractors. It is the most complete line of multipurpose tires designed exclusively for compact tractors and is covered by ATA’s seven-year agricultural tire warranty.

Alliance Tire Americas, Inc. (ATA) is the American sales and marketing arm of the Alliance Tire Group (ATG), a global leader in agricultural, logging, construction, material handling and other off-the-road (OTR) tires. ATA is also the exclusive U.S. distributor for Aeolus truck, bus and OTR tires, and also markets its own Constellation brand of truck and OTR tires.

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June 9-15 Is National GreenCare for Troops Awareness Week

Military families face many challenges when a loved one is deployed. Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops was founded to ease the burden on the families of deployed military personnel by providing complimentary lawn and landscape services during the length of deployment.

The nationwide program recognizes June 9-15, 2019 as National GreenCare for Troops Awareness Week, and issues a call for volunteers to register to help meet the growing number of military families requesting services. It also hopes to raise awareness with military families, and encourages eligible personnel to register to receive services.

GreenCare for Troops marks its 13th year in 2019 and has seen more than 11,000 military families register to receive an estimated $8 million in donated lawn care and landscape services from more than 6,000 green industry professionals.

“GreenCare for Troops is more than a program that checks a box and takes care of a necessary service, it has become a transformative experience for both volunteers and recipients,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Not only do our volunteers provide a valued service and relieves a burden, but they are also allowing military families to benefit from two powerful forces — their families and nature.”

What does GreenCare for Troops mean to a military family? Here is one recipient’s words of appreciation:
“Thank you for caring for the troops and their families. There are no words to say how much of a weight is lifted off our shoulders not having to worry about lawn care and being able to focus on my family.”
– Emily S., military spouse and GreenCare for Troops service recipient.

Nufarm is the presenting partner for GreenCare for Troops. Platinum partners include The Toro Company, and SiteOne Landscape Supply. Arborjet/Ecologel Solutions is a silver partner.

Project EverGreen also offers a SnowCare for Troops program that provides complimentary snow and ice removal services for families of deployed military personnel. The national awareness week for SnowCare for Troops will be recognized January 19-25, 2020.

Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, Project EverGreen is a national non-profit committed to bringing people together to make a difference in how yards, parks and communities create a greener, healthier, cooler Earth. Project EverGreen also supports military families through the GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops initiatives and communities and children with the Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids. program.

Watch this video below to learn more about GreenCare for Troops. And for more information on how to register to become a GreenCare for Troops volunteer, call 888-611-2955 or visit the Project EverGreen website.

 

 

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Friday Funny: This Summer, Work Smarter, Not Harder

Most bosses would be less than pleased with an employee who hangs out at the zoo in a lawn chair all day, posting on social media. But that’s exactly what the higher-ups at Husqvarna are looking for in their new summer employees.

(Photo: Husqvarna)

As part of Husqvarna’s Smartest Summer Job campaign, the company will select two college students to serve as Managers of Chilling to showcase how easy it is to get a perfectly mowed lawn with its Automower® robotic lawn mower. For $15 an hour, these students will sit in a lawn chair at Zoo Miami and watch the robotic mower do all the work to keep the zoo’s lawns perfectly trimmed. They’ll also act as brand representatives and engage with passersby and on social media to share the key benefits of Automower, such as a better lawn and more free time.

“For Smartest Summer Job, we are looking for candidates who know how to work smarter, not harder,” says Michelle Sordi, Senior Director of Marketing for Husqvarna North America. “Automower is already keeping more than 1.5 million lawns around the world perfectly mowed at all times, and we’re excited to show people exactly what it can do. We’re offering candidates the chance to become experts in robotics so they can share this message while they hang out with Automower.”

The Managers of Chilling will be responsible for supervising the Automower for 10 days, documenting its progress via their personal social media channels and Husqvarna’s social media channels. Smartest Summer Job will run from July 15 to July 24, 2019, which includes travel days to and from Zoo Miami…

Interested? Read more at FacilityExecutive.com.

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