Caterpillar Joins UTV Market with Two New Models: This Week’s Industry News

Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry.

Caterpillar Joins UTV Market with Two New Models
Caterpillar introduces its first-ever Cat utility vehicles – the CUV82 (gasoline model) and CUV102D (diesel engine). Both models feature rugged steel cargo beds and offer 1,000-lb. total rear cargo capacity and 2,000-lb. towing capacity. The new CUV082 and CUV102D utility vehicles boast a four-wheel independent suspension system with a front sway bar to provide unmatched stability at full load. A long swing-arm suspension, custom-tuned springs and shocks deliver a balance between a smooth ride and hauling loads. Ample ground clearance ensures these vehicles navigate rough terrain with ease.

These new Cat UTVs efficiently complete hauling tasks, quickly maneuvering over rugged terrain at the worksite at speeds reaching 45 mph, depending on model. The CUV82 is powered by a 0.8L three-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 50 hp, while a 1.0L three-cylinder diesel engine delivers 25 hp power to the CUV102D. The CUV82 and CUV102D comfortably seat two riders side-by-side with ample leg, elbow and headroom for tall riders. Customers can customize their Cat UTVs through more than 50 accessory options. Multiple cab options with sealed surfaces on the ROPS structure provide a weather tight enclosure, while other offerings include snowplows, heater, front winch and power dump. Cat UTVs are prewired for quick do-it-yourself installation of all options.

NHLA Launches “Proud to be Green Collared” Campaign
The National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA) is encouraging landscape professionals to proclaim their pride in being “Green Collared.” The NHLA is offering landscape professionals the opportunity to purchase a “Proud to be Green Collared, Making America MORE than Beautiful” bumper sticker for $5. All proceeds will go towards student scholarships for those preparing themselves for a career as a landscape professional.

Weathermatic’s New President, Aborjet’s New Marketing Manager
Weathermatic appointed Fred March president for its wholesale irrigation division. Fred March has been employed by Weathermatic the past 15 years, and represented the company in the western United States. Dave Estey, a Vermont native, recently joined Massachusett-based Arborjet Inc. as product marketing manager. He comes to Arborjet after working as director of product development at Propel Marketing.

Arborwell Transitioning to 100 Percent Employee Owned
Arborwell, Inc., a tree care company with 200 employees, recently announced that it has completed the transition to employee ownership by becoming a 100 percent Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Trust, effective January 1, 2017. Peter Sortwell, founder of Arborwell, views this as a natural step, consistent with his recognition of the contributions of each employee in the success of the company, and his desire to share the rewards of that success. “I acquired a very small residential operation in 2001, and in the years since, our employees have been instrumental in driving not only tremendous growth, but exceptional professionalism,” says Arborwell founder Peter Sortwell.

The Harvester Group, Pro-Motion Consulting Announce Peer Groups
The The Harvest Group recently announced the Harvesters’ Virtual Peer Group. The group, meeting monthly via phone, provides business owners the opportunity to talk with peers in similar-sized companies about the everyday challenges of running a company. Lead by Fred Haskett, The Harvesters’ Virtual Peer Group brings together groups of eight to 12 fellow contractor-related businesses from different geographic areas. Also, Adam Linnemann, president of Linnemann Lawn Care & Landscaping Inc. near St. Louis, and Phil Harwood of Pro-Motion Consulting also announced they are starting and will be co-facilitating landscape industry peer groups.

Editor’s note: Stay tuned for the Turf December cover story “Power Up With A Peer Group.”

PERC Honors Miami Dade County Parks with Green Award
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) presented the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, & Open Spaces Department with the Green Leadership City Award. “For nearly ten years, the Miami-Dade parks department has maintained the community’s greenspaces with propane mowers, which reduce emissions and greenhouse gases that can be harmful for the public. They should be commended for that effort,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC, which donated $5,000 to the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade.

Redexim North America Hires National Sales Manager
Redexim North America has announced the addition of Troy von Holdt as the National Sales Manager. His main objective is to act as the primary support role for Redexim’s wide customer base by adding value to our dealerships and end user experiences. Troy comes to Redexim from Land Pride-Kubota, prior having spent over 8 years with Redexim, in direct end user sales and as a Regional Sales Manager.  In total, von Holdt has 18 years experience in the golf, turf and equipment industry.

Profile Products Adam Dibble Earns Designation as a CPESC-IT
PROFILE Products LLChas announced that Adam Dibble, senior marketing and erosion control brand manager, recently achieved the designation as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control In-Training (CPESC-IT). Dibble joined Profile in 2009 and has a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Dibble is also on the 2016-2019 Board of Directors for the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). Dibble also became a Certified Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Inspector (CESSWI) in 2015. The CPESC designation recognizes expert knowledge in the principles, practices and legislation of erosion and sediment control. Those with the CPESC certification have demonstrated the ability to observe, evaluate and synthesize information related to Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), Erosion and Sediment Control plans, installation of erosion and sediment control practices and other related activities such as assisting regulators, authoring handbooks or educating the public. The In-Training designation recognizes professionals who are continuing their education and have completed the first portion of the challenging, two-part exam.

JCB Dealer Network Expands With Addition of Norlift JCB in Washington, Idaho
Norlift JCB, a division of Norlift, Inc. in Spokane, Washington, is the newest member of JCB’s growing North American dealer network. The dealership is located in the heart of Spokane’s industrial and commercial business district at 512 North Fancher Road. Since 1970, Norlift, Inc. has sold material handling equipment to the Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho regions. Now, as Norlift JCB, the company will sell and service JCB’s compact excavators, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, small telehandlers and the one-of-a-kind JCB Teleskid, the first skid steer with a telescopic boom for increased versatility and accessibility. Norlift JCB will also offer used equipment acquired via trade-ins and rental fleet sales.

Project Evergreen Rennovates Pingree Park in East Detroit
Planting trees, improving grass play areas and painting backstops in November doesn’t seem to fit with the season when leaves and temperatures are falling, but the transformation of Detroit’s Pingree Park is starting to bloom right before the eyes of neighborhood residents. Project EverGreen in collaboration with local business partners, including Troy-Michigan-based Magna International, community groups and the City of Detroit, started the renewal of the 18-acre park November 3-4 when about 200 volunteers pruned and planted trees, filled in ruts in the natural grass playing area, painted backstops and removed weeds and sticks from the playground.

Target Specialty Products and Scotts Sign Marketing Agreement for Professional Turf Products
Target Specialty Products, a leading national wholesale distributor of turf & ornamental and pest control products, is partnering with Scotts to develop a complete line of new professional turf products backed by Scotts PRO technology and the latest advancements in turfgrass management. The marketing agreement will allow Target Specialty Products the exclusive ability to co-brand with the Scotts PRO logo and related marks and will further strengthen Target Specialty Products’ position in the marketplace and its product offerings to customers.

Arborjet Welcomes New Product Marketing Manager
Arborjet Inc. has announced that Dave Estey has joined the company as Product Marketing Manager. In this role, Estey will be responsible for positioning Arborjet’s products in the marketplace, executing strong go-to-market campaigns and managing product lifecycles. Prior to his role at Arborjet, Estey worked as Director of Product for national marketing agency Propel Marketing, now ThriveHive, and was a Senior Content Strategist at C-4 Analytics, a digital marketing services company. He holds a BA in communications with a minor in writing from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire.

The post Caterpillar Joins UTV Market with Two New Models: This Week’s Industry News appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2Afx6pr
via IFTTT

Lucky The TurfMutt Shares Maintained Landscapes’ Benefits

Nobody knows Lucky’s exact age, although he’s believed to be about 12. Lucky’s a rescue dog and, in his case, his name matches his circumstances; he’s a celebrity, the most recognizable four-legged proponent of healthy, managed lawns and landscapes on the planet.

Lucky is the hero of TurfMutt, the outdoor education and environmental stewardship program led by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation. He was rescued by and lives in the Virginia home of OPEI President and CEO Kris Kiser.

He didn’t start out being the green industry’s most recognizable “spokesdog.” Kiser had to convince the OPEI board to give it a go. That the board agreed to the fund the TurfMutt program turned out to be smart.

Over the past six years Lucky’s popularity has soared thanks to his regular appearance as a cartoon in publications such as Weekly Reader and Scholastic (the global leader in children’s publishing), and being showcased live on CBS’ popular Saturday morning “Lucky Dog” television show. It is estimated that OPEI’s TurfMutt program, offering tips on environmentally sound lawns and landscapes, has reached more than 60 million children and dogloving adults.

“We just signed on for a third season with CBS (“Lucky Dog” show) and got new numbers from Scholastic. The TurfMutt Program is hitting the right spot with the right message at the right time,” says Kiser. “I never dreamed it would turn into something like this.”

The post Lucky The TurfMutt Shares Maintained Landscapes’ Benefits appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2BBikrd
via IFTTT

Story Of A Landscape: Transforming A Neglected Yard In A Historic District

Lyle Collins, owner of Tucker, Georgia-based Southern Trillium LLC, is all about creating unique gardens, which made him a great match for the Beach family as they renovated the landscape around their early 20th century bungalow.

A cornhole terrace? No problem. The need for approval by the local historical board? Just follow the guidelines. However, that’s not to say he didn’t find the entire site a challenge, and what he found underground even thrilling.

He explains his company got the job on a referral from an arborist friend who had worked for the Beaches at their former residence and been called in to consult on some trees on their new property.

Before Photo: Southern Trillium LLC

“They bought it and wanted to rework it, and he referred us to them as designers, since we do both the design and installation,” says Collins. “We met with them and they chose us to do their whole property, from the street to the back fence.”

Collins adds that the problems were numerous for the .3-acre lot. Although the house had been occupied, the landscape had been extremely neglected, particularly in the back, which was overgrown with weeds and English ivy.

“The front yard had a few maples, and the arborist had already taken out two trees, but with the position of the sun it ruled out any type of lawn,” he says. “I told them a fescue lawn might work, but they said they were fine without one; they wanted more of a garden in the front.”

Beyond that, their wishes for the front of the home were simple. They wanted a seating area with a couple of chairs, a small water feature and a walkway from the front sidewalk to the front door. Collins could give them two out of three.

During installation Photo: Southern Trillium LLC

“The house is in a historic preservation district, and everything visible from the street had to be approved by the historical board,” the designer explains. “We worked within their guidelines, but we had to get board approval, right down to the type of stone we used.”

The stone for the seating area ended up being a Pennsylvania-type bluestone. Collins says the historical board required something in the bluish-gray color range, and the other option would have been to use slate. And, for the water feature, he says he was fortunate and found a small bowl-shaped boulder he had drilled out.

“It’s pondless and recirculates a very small amount of water,” he says. “It really disappears, but it makes a small bubbling sound.”

The walkway from the front sidewalk through the seating area to the front door was another story.

“The panel said absolutely not, even though other houses on the street have the walkway to the front door,” Collins says. “Their response was that they’re not historically correct and we’re not allowing them anymore. So, we went down the driveway about 15 feet, then have people step down into the sitting area with a connection from there to the front door.”

For the plant palette, Collins says the owners were interested in low growth/low maintenance plants, so he focused on ground cover with Hydrangeas, some Yew species and Creeping Jenny. He added Dwarf Mondo Grass to the joints in the seating area for more green.

The designer says the clients were also clear on what they wanted in the back. Again, they wanted some seating areas and a firepit. Of importance, however, was a lawn area for family gatherings, as well as a terrace on which to play the game cornhole.

“As soon as we went to work in the backyard, we immediately went into the root zone of some massive trees,” he says. “They understood the competition the shade gave us, so it, too, became gardens and pathways and plantings. We just worked our way through the light conditions in the entire property.”

Photo: Southern Trillium LLC

Collins says his favorite feature from this job is the cornhole terrace, which is not only custom, but because of the way the property falls away toward the creek at the back of the lot, it’s hidden from view from people in the house.

“I worked with one of my team members to come up with ideas for where they could have a permanent installation of the cornhole boards,” he says. “The boards are cut from natural stone slabs and we have stone benches on either end. The area is too short to be a regulation court, but we worked with what we had and it’s big enough for them to have fun.”

He also adds this is the first time he’s had a request for such a court.

The main seating area in the back does utilize slate, in a crushed state that’s available from only one Georgia quarry. However, it’s what’s around the slate that Collins finds so pleasing.

“As we dug through the backyard (by hand to protect the existing root zones) we turned up granite cobblestones,” he says. “Granite is local to the Atlanta area, and the previous owners had found others and stacked them under the deck. We used what we were finding and then added to it to make a cobblestone lining, so we were reclaiming material we found on the property and working it back into the installation.”

Finishing off the seating area is a dry-stacked retaining wall made of Tennessee field stone.

Photo: Southern Trillium LLC

In a similar way, the Southern Trillium crew was able to utilize old brick found on the property in rebuilding the stairs to the front door.

“We sawed the bricks in half front-and-back, so we’d have enough of them, and then we added to them,” Collins says. “You can’t match 100-year-old brick, but we were able to use enough of what we were finding that it looks as if the stairs had been done when the house was built.”

The company’s crew also reassembled pieces of a broken burial stone found on site and incorporated that into the walkway to the creek.

While making use of old materials for part of the project, Collins says another important feature of the job is a modern rain harvesting system. Although the natural slope of the property helps it drain toward the creek, at the request of the owners, the drainage from the roof gutters is captured by a 1,500 gallon tank under the back deck.

“A few years ago, we had mandatory water restrictions, and for a brief time, no outdoor watering at all,” he explains. “Being very environmentally conscience, water issues were important to them.”

Still, it’s the natural features of this approximately nearly $100,000 project which was built in two phases and won both Distinction and Green Star Awards from the Georgia Urban Ag Council of which Collins is most proud.

Photo: Southern Trillium LLC

“Being a very small lot and what would normally be considered a tough thing to work with, we managed to create multiple spaces from the front area to the side area and then worked our way back,” he says. “And, we were able to hide each area. A lot of times people want big expanses of space, but here, we gave them multiple areas to enjoy.”

And, despite needing to work with the historical board, Collins says in the end it was the site conditions that presented the greatest challenge.

“There were so many varying conditions on it,” he says. “We had the shade, the trees, the root zones and the changing elevations in the back. The biggest challenge was putting all that into a design, especially when we couldn’t grade the property.”

And, the job also taught him a huge lesson that he is still benefiting from: pay attention to what you’re finding on a site.

“In a newer house, that’s not an option,” Collins notes. “Being on a property that’s been left alone, we were able to find and identify and then utilize these different pieces. Now, when I meet new clients, I ask them if there’s anything piled somewhere and find a way to work it back into the landscape. It makes it much more personal.”

The post Story Of A Landscape: Transforming A Neglected Yard In A Historic District appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2AhQdzJ
via IFTTT

California Emissions And Ethanol Misfuelling Challenges

Change (and challenge) is always in the air in the power equipment universe, especially when it comes to the regulatory community.

California, which is seriously considering draconian emissions laws, is serving up one of the most vexing regulatory challenges to power equipment manufacturers and equipment users these days, offers Kris Kiser, OPEI president. The state is mulling evaporative standards that are aimed at small off-road engines, including offering incentives for landscapers and homeowners to abandon their gasoline-fueled mowers, trimmers, blowers, etc. in favor of electric/battery-powered units.

“Some companies may choose to leave the marketplace, especially people offering niche products that don’t have a significant market share there. They are going to look very closely whether it’s cost effective to do business there or bring a battery product into the marketplace,” says Kiser.

Then, of course, there is the seemingly ever-present challenge to educate the users of equipment powered by small engines to avoid fuels containing more than 10 percent ethanol. Manufacturers design and warranty their engines to perform satisfactorily at no more than 10 percent ethanol. Because of misguided federal legislation a decade ago, “now we have too many gallons of ethanol chasing too few gallons of gasoline,” explains Kiser. Consequently, many stations are selling fuel with 15 percent ethanol (85 percent in many locations) and unaware power equipment users are misfueling and damaging their equipment as a result.

The OPEI has expended tremendous effort on its “Look Before You Pump” outreach program to educate users of power equipment with small engines — mowers, motorcycles, marine engines, UTVs, etc. — about the danger ethanol can do to their equipment.

The power equipment market itself, like the regulatory arena, is constantly changing. OPEI must acknowledge and help guide this change to the benefit of equipment users. For this reason, it’s relatively new Battery and Electric Products Committee is working on standards for this growing product category, says Kiser.

“We don’t favor one power source over another; we represent all of them. But there’s a significant push toward electricity and batteries,” acknowledges Kiser. He says OPEI is in the process of determining “how this shakes out in both the commercial and consumer markets,” as well as how it will be viewed by regulators.

Even more recently OPEI instituted a Robotic Electric Lawnmower Committee to oversee activities associated with the development of the ANSI/OPEI standard. It is one of more than 20 active committees within the organization, a very big challenge considering that OPEI is just over 100 member companies.

The post California Emissions And Ethanol Misfuelling Challenges appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2Ajj7PJ
via IFTTT

A Life-Changing Climb To Bring Water To Those In Need

If one of your dreams is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and you finally get the opportunity, you can expect to hear “polepole” over and over again. This Swahili phrase loosely means “slowly” or “gently.” Your guide will surely remind you time and again “polepole” due to altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation as you trek slowly and deliberately to the 19,330-feet summit of the tallest mountain in Africa.

Professional irrigator Aaron Katerberg joined 15 others in 2016 on a strenuous hike up to the peak of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. They undertook the exhausting, eight-day trek to raise funds for Lifewater International, an organization that provides safe water wells and education in sanitation and hygiene to remote communities in sub-Saharan African and other impoverished regions of the world.

Aaron Katerberg Photo: Grapids Irrigation

Katerberg, 43, owns and operates Grapids Irrigation, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a third-generation professional irrigator. His grandfather Ev Katerberg founded and ran an irrigation company in the region for many years, starting in 1957. Grapids Irrigation provides commercial and residential irrigation services throughout western Michigan.

Although Grand Rapids is a mere 610 feet above sea level, Katerberg loves to climb mountains, something he discovered while attending graduate school in British Columbia. He and his wife have since climbed “fourteeners” — mountains reaching 14,000 feet or more — in Colorado.

“It was amazing for me,” recalls Katerberg of his group’s deliberate ascent up Kilimanjaro. Everyone in the group, including a 73-year-old grandmother and her 16-year-old grandson, reached the summit. More importantly, the team (after eight days trekking and sleeping together you do become a team) raised more than $120,000 for Lifewater International. Since 1977, the Christian-based non-profit has reached more than 2.5 million individuals with life-saving clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

Katerberg and other supporters of Lifewater International view the availability and quality of fresh water as one of the biggest health challenges facing the earth’s growing population. Katerberg views the challenge of climbing to aid others with fresh water as a perfect fit for his business passion. “Water is my business, after all,” he says. Donations from customers and suppliers help him in his selfless outreach.

The need for fresh water and adequate sanitation is great, he’s come to realize. One in nine humans on the earth does not have access to a reliable source of fresh drinking water and worldwide one of every children under the age of 5 dies of a water-related disease.

“It (ascending Kilimanjaro) was a life-changing event for me and the money we raised changed 20 communities around the world,” says the Michigan business owner.

It would seem that given the incredible effort required to reach the mountain’s summit, the group would celebrate. (It is estimated just 65 percent of “climbers” actually reach the summit.) And it did – for less than an hour. The wind chill approaching minus 30 below negated any desire for lengthy congratulations. And this in spite of the mountain being located just 225 miles south of the equator.

“Then we started hiking down and the guide reminded us again ‘polepole,’ which of course means slow, slow,” says Katerberg who is now contemplating climbing Aconcagua. At 22,838 feet this mountain in Argentina near the border with Chile is the tallest in South America. If all goes well Katerberg and others will climb it as part of the Lifewater International clean water and sanitation effort. We’ll keep you posted.

The post A Life-Changing Climb To Bring Water To Those In Need appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2zO4nc9
via IFTTT

OPEI: What It Is And Why We Need It

Small in member numbers, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is vitally important to the green services industry. Whether you maintain or install plant material, specialize in landscape construction or provide turf and ornamental health care services, OPEI has your backs.

The 65-year-old OPEI is the international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. Whether you are a green pro or a homeowner, you rely upon the equipment manufactured by OPEI member companies. Equally important, these member companies collectively advocate on your right to perform your services as well as develop standards to ensure the safety and performance of the power equipment that you daily use.

Many of you know of OPEI because of its co-sponsorship with Sellers Expositions in putting on the massive OPEI EXPO in Louisville, Kentucky, each October. This year the EXPO is again co-located with Hardscape North America trade show. Also, again this year the National Landscape Professionals Association (NALP) and the Professional Grounds Manager Society (PGMS) are holding their annual educational conferences in conjunction with the EXPO.

Kris Kiser became president and CEO of OPEI in August 2011. An attorney, he came to OPEI after previously serving an as aide to former Congressman Lee H. Hamilton. After joining OPEI and prior to being named OPEI’s president, he advocated on the Institute’s behalf before the U.S. Congress and Administration, sharing OPEI’s message on issues related to fuels, emissions, manufacturing, environment and water.

As Kiser says, “It’s a great job, a great association and it represents a great industry.”

The post OPEI: What It Is And Why We Need It appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2zMPVS0
via IFTTT

The Future Of The Equipment Industry

Equipment is an integral part of a landscape contractor’s work … and a hot topic of conversation whenever they gather. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) held its 65th annual meeting in June in Kohler, Wisconsin, where equipment manufacturers and suppliers discussed the many trends and issues impacting the outdoor power equipment industry. Here’s what they had to share.

Innovation

A key conversation at the OPEI annual meeting focused on technological changes and innovation in the marketplace, specifically the diversification of power sources.

“Growth in alternative power — as well as improvements to traditional power sources — is a trend that will continue,” says Dan Ariens, chairman and CEO of the Ariens Co. and current chair of the OPEI board of directors. “The diversity of power supply will make the equipment product offering look very different than it did even a few years ago. The user interface of equipment will become more important as technology migrates into the equipment segment. It remains to be seen what impact the new generation of homeowners will have on equipment but it is starting to show up in features and overall product design. The strength of the economy (housing starts, job growth, etc.) has caused both residential and commercial consumers to be more interested in innovations that make it easier to use or maintain equipment. When economic confidence is high, both groups have a mindset geared toward ‘trading up’ and products that provide a newer, easier solution will have a broader market than in previous years. Customers will have more reasons from manufacturers to purchase a new model.”

Propane power was also a growing trend OPEI members discussed. According to Jeremy Wishart, the Propane Industry Education and Research Council‘s deputy director of business development, “acceptance of propane power in the industry has come a long way in a relatively short time when you consider the number of propane mower models offered by outdoor equipment manufacturers and the number of contractors choosing to operate propane machines compared to a few years ago.”

Recent research commissioned by the Propane Education & Research Council was clear in its findings: More commercial landscapers will power their mower fleets with propane in the near future.

This past summer, at least 15,000 commercial propane mowers were in operation across the country. More than 135 propane mower models are now produced by 12 manufacturers in a variety of zero-turn, wide-area walk behind and stand-on units.

A newer trend — electric power — was next on the agenda.

“Most anyone will agree, electric mowers are the future of mowing. It is no longer a matter of if, but when,” says Joe Conrad, president and founder of Mean Green Products. “Many industry leaders would surely agree that when electric mowers are within 25 percent of the initial purchase price of a comparable ICE mower, most everyone will be forced to switch to electric in order to compete with the low operating costs. We are quickly closing in on that number and several factors such as new federal tax credits looming on the horizon could, literally, put electric mowers to the forefront of the mowing industry overnight.”

Another key conversation among OPEI members at the annual meeting focused on the growth of robotic equipment.

“Robotics and alternative power sources are significant issues that will dramatically affect the industry in the coming years,” says Kris Kiser, OPEI’s president. “Several of our members have introduced robotic mowers, and more will be bringing them to market in the future. Robotic mowers are going to be a significant part of the industry going forward.”

To address the anticipated growth of this segment, OPEI established a robotic mower standards committee specifically to develop the first-ever ANSI/OPEI safety standard for robotic mowers in the U.S. The association serves as the outdoor power equipment industry’s recognized safety standards development organization. Currently, OPEI has 17 active safety standards for other equipment, including multiple power sources.

“Our association’s strength is our member’s engagement, and OPEI is successful when it’s able to pull its members together and address industry challenges together,” Kiser says. “Manufacturers are adapting to a changing regulatory environment, and the industry is always evolving to adapt to consumers’ needs and tastes, as well as comply with ever-evolving governmental regulatory requirements, both at the federal and state level.”

Technology is rapidly advancing

Technological innovation is at its peak right now and getting more and more reliable, according to Rajesh Joshi, product marketing director for turf and RTV at Kubota. The landscape industry will be impacted by these technologies just as many others already are.

“On the hardware side, battery and sensor costs are significantly down, data storage is cheaper and overall packages are getting smaller in size and easier to fit into current equipment without significant redesigns,” Joshi says. “On the software side, there are canned data analysis and apps more readily available and customizable for customers and companies to help use the data in meaningful ways to improve reliability. The winners will be the ones that can use technology and transform the data to enable operators to lower their operating costs without any sophisticated additional means.”

Some manufacturers have been investing in autonomous and smart technologies combining this with consumer insights to develop new products.

“The winners of tomorrow will be the companies that understand the needs of their product users intimately, serve them well over the entire life of the products and provide added value with innovation that matters,” says Jean Hlay, president and chief operating officer of MTD Products Inc.

More productivity

Productivity is still king in the landscape professional’s mind, says Tom Vachal, Kubota’s senior product manager.

“Landscape professionals are looking for durability and performance,” he says. “Ease of use is very important for landscape companies with larger fleets as their operator pool is transient.”

Vachal sites products with new technology that allow for less demand on engine torque and better ground speed, all for the purpose of enhancing productivity.

Other innovations for improving efficiency include management information systems that allow supervisors and managers access to work planning, scheduling and performance on their phones or tablets, says Steve Booher, founder & CEO of Smart Guided Systems.

Other advancements reduce maintenance, therefore maximizing equipment use on the job. One example is mower blades that don’t require sharpening; they sharpen themselves as they cut, wearing away old material and exposing a new, sharper blade edge, explains Andy Stupp, vice president of Fisher Barton.

What to expect

Advancing technology is moving business and the equipment industry at warp speed these days, and the industry can expect this to continue. While no one knows exactly what will come in 10 years, it’s certain the foreseeable future will bring better and more innovative equipment.

The post The Future Of The Equipment Industry appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2Bro6M0
via IFTTT

6 Off-Road Vehicles For Your Landscape Business

Getting around quickly and safely on every job site is made easier with an ATV or UTV that’s easily adaptable for your crews’ needs.

They put the fun in functional. These frisky little vehicles are sold for recreational purposes to those who love bouncing around on sand dunes, creeping through hunting grounds and zipping along groomed and ungroomed paths. But their versatility has won the favor of landscape professionals, many of whom customize their vehicles to fit their specific needs.

They’re infinitely adaptable, both to terrain and to accessorizing. So if you need a way to cover ground quickly and easily, consider one of these little beauties.

1. Cub Cadet

Cub Cadet Challenger 750 Crew Photo: Cub Cadet

Utility vehicles offered by Cub Cadet include two-seaters and four-seater crew models, all of them built for the hard work you’ll put them through.

The Challenger 750 Crew model, with room for four, runs 155.5 inches long, 65 inches wide and 77.75 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 113 inches. Bed dimensions are 35.5 inches by 44 inches, and the model comes with a standard bed liner.

Front tires are 26 inches by 9-12 inches front, 26 inches by 10-12 inches rear; supported by aluminum allow wheels.

Minimum ground clearance is 11 inches, providing plenty of room for maneuvering over back roads and unimproved paths. The cargo bed payload is 350 pounds; towing capacity is 1,200 pounds.

Fuel tank capacity is 7.6 gallons.

Accessories include a rear dust panel, 72-inch snow blade and a cab enclosure.

Cub Cadet Volunteer 4X4 EFI Photo: Cub Cadet

Cub Cadet’s Volunteer 4X4 EFI, with room for two, is 119 inches long, 63.55 inches wide and 73 inches tall; ground clearance under the foot platform is 11 inches, and the turning radius is 11 feet.

Front tires measure 26 inches by 9-12 inches; rear tires are 26 inches by 11-12 inches; 12-inch steel rims are standard.

The vehicle’s steel cargo box measures 51.6 inches long, 42 inches wide and 11.5 inches deep, and has a capacity of 1,000 pounds. Towing and payload is rated at 1,400 pounds.

Fuel capacity is 6 gallons.

2. Kawasaki

Kawasaki Mule Pro-FX EPS Photo: Kawasaki

Strong as its name, the Kawasaki Mule Pro-FX EPS boasts a 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, DOHC engine with selectable 4-wheel drive with dual-mode rear differential and 2WD/4WD/4WD with rear differential lock. Fuel capacity is 7.9 gallons.

The Mule’s ground clearance is 10.4 inches, and it has a turning radius of 16.0 feet. Overall length is 133.3 inches; width is 64.0 inches and height is 77.4 inches. The wheelbase spans 92.3 inches.

Cargo bed dimensions are 54.1 inches long by 53.3 inches wide, with a height of 11.0 inches; capacity is 1,000 pounds, and load capacity is 1,616 pounds. The vehicle can tow up to 2,000 pounds.

Accessories run the gamut from windshields, roofs and doors to cargo bed dividers and extenders. Plows, plow mounts and winches can be added, as well as hitching equipment.

3. Polaris

Polaris Ranger XP Photo: Polaris

The two-seat Ranger line from Polaris includes models built for light to heavy duty — and everything in between.

The Ranger 500 and 570 models measure 110 inches long, 58 inches wide and 73 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 73 inches; each has a ground clearance of 10 inches. Payload capacity is 1,000 pounds; towing capacity is 1,500 pounds.

A 4-stroke, single cylinder engine (32 horsepower) is standard on the 500; the 570 carries a 4-stroke single cylinder DOHC engine (44 horsepower); both have electronic fuel injection with a fuel capacity of 9 gallons. Front tires are 25 by 8-12, 489; rear are 25 by 10-12 489 on stamped steel wheels.

Drive system is On-Demand True AWD/2WD/VersaTrac Turf Mode.

A full range of accessories includes cab heaters, roofs and windshields, rear panels, cargo and bed storage, winches — and plows.

Polaris General Photo: Polaris

The Polaris General 1000 EPS Deluxe model runs on 100 horsepower out of a 4-stroke twin cylinder engine; fuel capacity is 9.5 gallons. The vehicle measures 118.2 inches long, 62.5 inches wide and 75 inches tall with a wheelbase of 81 inches. Ground clearance is a generous 12 inches.

Standard tires are 27 by 9-14 front and 27 by 11-14 rear; wheels are cast aluminum.

Similar to the Ranger, the General’s drive system is On-Demand True AWD/2WD/VersaTrac Turf Mode.

Available accessories include a wide range of tires and wheels as well as roofs, windshields, rear panels, doors and plows.

4. Toro

Toro 500 EFI Photo: Toro

The EFI twins from Toro — 500 and 700 — both offer versatility in a utility vehicle that offers 10 inches of suspension travel plus 10 inches of ground clearance, as well as a 2-in-1 carbo box that easily converts to a flatbed capable of handling up to 1,500 pounds of payload — and features manual dumping for hauling and placement materials.

The digital display gauge presents 14 critical operation indicators, and the shift lever is located on the dash for easy access. A park gear allows for secure parking on steeper grades. Added versatility comes with a standard front brush guard and 2-inch receivers on both front and rear.

Both vehicles sport a wheelbase of 85 inches; both measure 129 inches long, 60 inches wide and 79 inches tall.

Toro 700 EFI Photo: Toro

The 500 EFI has an SOCH 36 hp, 4-stroke, four valve engine with electronic fuel injection; the 700 boasts 46 hp. The 500 can reach ground speeds of 44 mph; the 700 zips along at 55 mph. Fuel capacity for both vehicles is 8.2 gallons.

The 500 operates with 2/4 wheel drive; the 700 adds an electric front differential lock. Twenty-six-inch by 9-inch 14 tires on the front and 26-inch by 11-inch 14 tires on the rear are supported by steel wheels for the 500 and aluminum wheels for the 700.

The range of available accessories for both models is nearly limitless, including light bars; a 3,000-pound winch; cab kits and headliners, glass windshields and even Tiger Trax that provides increased traction in snow, sand and challenging terrain.

5. Yamaha

Yamaha Grizzly EPS SE Photo: Yamaha

Yamaha offers a wide range of off-road vehicles, with selections for competitive sports, outdoor recreation and trail riding. So if you need a small, rugged vehicle just to get around, Yamaha’s offerings may fill the bill.

The Grizzly EPS SE and Kodiak 700 EPS SE ATVs are tough transports that can take you to the most remote and difficult-to-reach areas of challenging property. Not much room for tools, but with high-performance tires, four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, independent double wishbone suspension (front and rear) and a ground clearance of up to 11.3 inches, you’ll access those tough-to-reach areas.

Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS SE Photo: Yamaha

The Grizzly measures 81.5 inches long by 48.4 inches wide by 49.3 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 49.2 inches and a turning radius of 137.8 inches. Front and rear racks can hold 110 pounds and 198 pounds, respectively. Towing capacity is 1,322 pounds. Fuel capacity is 4.76 gallons.

The Kodiak measures 81.5 inches long by 46.5 inches wide by 48.8 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 49.2 inches and a turning radius of 126.0 inches. Ground clearance is 10.8 inches. Front and rear racks can hold 110 pounds and 198 pounds, respectively. Towing capacity is 1,322 pounds. Fuel capacity is 4.76 gallons.

6. Club Car van boxes

Club Car’s van box for Carryall work utility vehicles Photo: Club Car

Already have a Club Car utility vehicle? Then you might need storage for tools and supplies. The company’s new van box systems, designed to fit the Carryall 500 and 700 work utility vehicles, are composed of rustproof, powder-coated aluminum and feature lockable double doors.

Standard features include:

• interior LED lighting for greater visibility
• bolt-on panels that allow for easy replacement in the event of damage
• reinforced corners that increase durability in commercial applications
• no windows, which eliminates leaking and improves cargo security
• magnetic catches on unlatched doors for easy opening and closing,
  especially on inclines

Available accessories include:

• optional shelves that increase the usable area within the van boxes
  and are ideal for parcels or supplies. Carryall 500/510 shelf supports 75 pounds (34 kg); Carryall 700/710 shelf supports 150 pounds (68 kg)
• dual top-mounted ladder racks that support 150 pounds (68 kg)
• high-mount brake light and backup light system that improves visibility and safety (These items are required on Carryall 510/710 LSVs.)

More options

Need to see more? Check out the vehicles from these manufacturers:

• Arctic Cat
• Bobcat
• Cushman
• Deere
• Hisun Motors

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in American Nurseryman Magazine.

The post 6 Off-Road Vehicles For Your Landscape Business appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2zsHsPj
via IFTTT

Like A Boss: Shining A New Light On Warranty Work

Photo: Exscape Designs

Landscape lighting can be a valuable upsell. But a frequent amount of warranty work led Exscape Designs, headquartered in Novelty, Ohio, to pursue new possibilities when it came to installing path lights. Their solution — incorporating lighting into the surrounding tree canopies and eliminating path lights when possible — not only solves the ongoing warranty issues but can create a unique feel to the space.

Path lights are inherently problematic, says Allen Guenthner, landscape designer and project director for the company. Being so close to ground level, they can get damaged easily. Whether it’s from shoveling snow, falling limbs, mowing, or even just knocking them over when walking, it doesn’t take much to do damage. So, Guenther says this is the first year that they’ve started suggesting other options to replace path lights altogether.

“We’re always looking at ways to hide the light sources to begin with,” he says. “So, we’ve started pitching projects in which we are putting lighting in the canopies of trees and projecting it down onto the path, eliminating the need for path lights. This is beneficial as we have more warranty issues with path lights than any other type of lighting.”

Guenthner says that this is not only a solution to frequent warranty issues but also helps create a “mood” in a way that path lights never could.

“There is a totally different feel to a space that is lighted this way,” Guenthner says. “It’s like the path is awash in moonlight. And as opposed to needing a dozen path lights to light up a path, we might only have three or four fixtures.”

The key, says Guenthner, is the appropriate brightness and positioning of the lighting. When done right, it’s a beautiful look.

“Path lights aren’t necessarily the most attractive option but this is something really beautiful,” he says. “It sets a mood that path lights simply couldn’t achieve.”

Still, Guenthner says not everyone is sold on the idea. For one, it’s more expensive in terms of upfront cost. But Guenthner says that over time, clients are going to reap the benefits of not having to have fixtures frequently replaced.

Of course, the client must also have trees in positions where it can help provide lighting to the path. If they don’t, this could be another reason why this solution won’t work for them.

In terms of selling a job like this, Guenthner says they’ve been most successful by setting up a demo. In other words, rather than trying to explain what a difference tree canopy lighting can make, it’s easier to show clients.

“With a demo, we set it up with the fixtures in the trees so that customers can have the actual feeling of what it was like to have it set up this way rather than path lights,” Guenthner says. “Once they see it, it’s an easier sell.”

Our Like a Boss series highlights some common business challenges landscape professionals face and how they conquer them. Discuss your biggest business challenges on LawnSite’s Business Management forum.

The post Like A Boss: Shining A New Light On Warranty Work appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2i2X9cO
via IFTTT

Make The Effort And You Will Find The Talent

“I was one of Bob’s Boys,” says Michael Hatcher, matter-of-factly. The president of Michael Hatcher & Associates in Olive Branch, Mississippi, is referencing the late Robert “Bob” Callaway, who served as his advisor when he was a student in Mississippi State University’s College of Agriculture & Life Sciences more than 35 years ago.

Callaway was one of the educators most influential in defining the skills and mindset of several generations of landscape contractors. Even more than 35 years ago when landscape company owners grappled mightily with their public perception, Hatcher fondly credits Callaway’s “visionary understanding of what the landscape contractor’s profession required.”

That visionary understanding, far from dissipating since Callaway’s tenure at MSU, has expanded exponentially. Not only do most of the nation’s land grant universities offer courses leading to degrees in horticulture, design, contracting and turfgrass, education in those disciplines are now commonly offered at junior colleges and vocational schools, as well.

This brings us back to Callaway who, along with Michigan State’s Roy Mecklenburg and Ohio State’s Ron Smith, is credited with initiating what is now known as the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ National Collegiate Landscape Competition. In 1977 that event, ALCA Field Days, attracted about 200 participants from five schools to MSU.

By contrast, more than 1000 students from 60 schools competed at Brigham Young University in Utah this past March. Today, state and regional industry associations now offer similar student competitions but on a much smaller scale of course.

If you’re looking for energetic young talent for your company, you owe it to yourself to build relationships at universities, junior colleges and vocational schools with active landscape programs. Better yet, sponsor or actively participate in one of their student competitions.

The post Make The Effort And You Will Find The Talent appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2i2OKWL
via IFTTT

A Comprehensive Bushfire Safety Resource for Your Kit Home

With very dry weather conditions this year, there’s a high chance of a bushfire occurring in rural areas. Are you ready for a bushfire?

You may be preparing to have fun this coming summer, but it’s also important to prepare yourself, your family, and your property for a bushfire. This includes creating a bushfire survival plan, assessing and reducing your bushfire risk, and learning about fire safety. If you live near grassland like on a farm or in a country town, you’ll also need to prepare for a grassfire.

Bushfire forecast in 2017

NSW has been experiencing very dry weather conditions this year, with high temperatures and a lack of significant rainfall. Dryness acts as fuel for a fire and the amount of fire activity in 2017 has doubled compared with 2016. Since July, there has been more than 5,000 fires across NSW. And some of these fires lasted for several weeks.

The most at-risk areas in NSW include forested areas along the coast, some inland areas, and the North-West of the state. As for the rest of Australia, high-risk areas include coastal and inland areas, and central Australia.

With summer almost upon us, you can expect to see more warm and hot days in the following weeks, along with windy weather. This means there’s a high possibility of more fires occurring. Firefighters predict that this upcoming bushfire season will be potentially deadly.

Create a bushfire survival plan

The RFS have many detailed resources on how to create a bushfire plan. There are four steps you should take:

1. Have a discussion with your family about what to do if there’s a bushfire, eg will you leave early or stay and defend your property?
2. Prepare your home for a bushfire, eg keep the grass short and have a cleared area around your home.
3. Know the bushfire alert levels (blue, yellow, and red) and the fire danger ratings (low-moderate to catastrophic).
4. Keep key information to stay up to date on conditions in your area, eg emergency numbers, websites, and a smartphone app.

Prepare your home

Here’s how you can prepare your home for bushfires:

• Remove leaves and twigs from your gutters.
• Install metal gutter guards and a fire sprinkler system.
• Repair your roof if tiles are damaged or missing.
• Install fine metal mesh screens on doors and windows.
• Seal gaps in external walls, under the house, and around doors and windows.
• Trim the grass, trees, and shrubs.
• Remove fallen leaves, twigs, and debris from your property.
• Have a long hose that reaches around your house.
• Put a Static Water Supply sign on your property entrance if you have a pool, tank, or dam. This way, firefighters know they can get water from your place.
• Check that your home and contents insurance is adequate and up to date.

Prepare yourself and your family

You and your family should also prepare yourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. A bushfire can be a scary situation. The flames, intense heat, and strong gusty winds can make you tired fast. Thick heavy smoke can choke your lungs and sting your eyes, making it hard for you to see and breathe.

The sound of roaring fire can be frightening. Embers raining down can cause spot fires around you. Your power and water supply may get cut off. You might find yourself alone in a dark, noisy environment that can be mentally and physically demanding.

If you don’t think you can cope, plan to leave early before a fire reaches your area and before you’re under threat. Children, the elderly, the disabled, and those with health problems should also leave early. It’s the safest option.

Assess your bushfire risk

You can assess your bushfire risk using the Bushfire Household Assessment Tool. You can also check if you live on bushfire prone land.

Grass fire dangers

Grasslands cover about 80% of NSW. Grass fires can start easily in pastures, paddocks, crops, and undisturbed natural grasslands. They can also move three times faster than a bushfire, which leaves you little time to get ready.

If you’re not prepared and you live on a farm or in a country town, a grassfire can cut roads and destroy your home, crops, and livelihood.

Prepare your farm and property for grass fires

Due to dry weather there’s an increased risk of grass fires this summer, so it’s important that you prepare your farm and your property for a grassfire.

Here’s what you can do:

• Make a bushfire survival plan so you and your family know what to do when there’s a grassfire nearby.
• Keep the grass short by mowing, grazing, or slashing it back.
• Create firebreaks to prevent fire escaping or entering your property – mow, graze, or plough around crops, valuable assets (livestock, buildings), and fence lines.
• Maintain your machinery to prevent them from starting fires.
• Find a place where you can move your animals to safety.
• Check and maintain equipment you can use to fight a fire such as hoses and pumps. However, do not attempt to control a fire on your own. Always contact your local fire service.
• Make sure a fire truck can enter your property, eg keep gates and bridges open, and remove obstructions.
• If you use fire on your property, go to your local Fire Control Centre and find out if you need a permit.

Teaching your family about fire safety

You can learn about fire safety at FireFacts.org. You’ll find information for parents that can help you and your family make your home safer, as well as games, activities, and colouring pages for children that help teach fire safety. With this valuable resource, you can educate your children about the dangers of fire and what to do if there’s a fire near or in your home.

If your family lives in the country, especially on a remote cattle station, you and your children can also learn some bushfire safety tips from Bushy the Bushfire Wallaby. The program is run by the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ). Here are some tips:

• Prepare well before the bushfire season.
• Make a plan, eg what to do and where to go if there’s a fire.
• Clean up around the house and the property.
• Have the firefighter ute ready with water to flow in the event there’s a fire and strong winds start to blow.
• Have heaps of water out in the paddock, etc.
• Put in firebreaks.

Protect your home and family from fire

Bushfires and grass fires are dangerous, so don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your property and family for a fire. With careful planning and preparing in advance, your home and family can survive a fire this summer.

The post A Comprehensive Bushfire Safety Resource for Your Kit Home appeared first on Kitome.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2A0jdet
via IFTTT

Story Of A Landscape: Uncommon Plants, Rainwater Harvesting Create Sustainable School Garden

Sometimes, not even being a prize-winner can save a landscape from demolition. Just ask Mark Fockele, owner of Fockele Garden Co., based in Gainsville, Georgia, and the man behind a sustainable garden for the charter school his children attended.

The Smartville Garden at Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy earned a Grand Award for a commercial project from $100,000-$500,000 from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and a similar designation for a commercial project from $75,000-$200,000 from the Georgia Urban Ag Council.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

However, when the decision was made to build a new school at the site, the garden became nothing but a memory and photos for Fockele, the volunteers who helped build it, and the children who enjoyed it.

Fockele stresses that it was primarily a volunteer project.

“It wasn’t a company project, although it used a lot of company assistance to get it done,” he says. “The principal asked us to help start a garden on the school property. We started with a little area and a bunch of volunteers and got some interest going, and then we added to it over the years as it went along.”

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

The garden went in over approximately a five-year period that began nine years ago, and Fockele explains that not only was the Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy looking for a beautiful and inspirational garden, but they wanted something that would serve as a resource designed to fit the school’s curriculum, including a component called “Nature Smart.”

“The garden’s design and installation methods would also correct existing erosion problems,” he says. “Stormwater runoff had caused erosion. The topsoil was gone and the remaining soil supported only weedy grass and a few trees.”

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

Further adding to the challenge was a lack of designated pathways for foot traffic, which had compacted the soils. An historically severe drought and the local water restrictions that followed brought additional concerns, as did utility lines both above and below the site.

And, summer vacations would leave the garden untended during the peak growing season.

Additionally, the .7-acre site had to support a wide range of uses and many users including students engaged with their teachers in class sessions, school counselors finding a quiet place to work with a child, para-professionals escorting whole grade levels of children from the building to the playground, and parents, staff and visitors crossing to and from the parking lots to the building.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

Given so many constraints, site preparation was certainly one challenge with the job.

“Determining the locations and functions of communications cables, electric, gas, water and sewer lines was challenging but essential to the project,” Fockele says. “It was especially important because the rainwater collection and distribution component of the garden depended on tying in to the school building and its utilities. And, since dense plantings were to encompass the entire space, accurate utility location was critical to tree planting, bed preparation and irrigation system installation.”

When a courtyard was added to the project later in the process, the irrigation system grew to include a total of seven various storage tanks — both above and below ground — harvesting rainwater from the school’s roof, and roof and downspout repairs were made during the initial installation.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

Not only did pump sizes and locations have to be carefully selected to match water delivery needs, but it also had to be determined how they could best support the landscape, which incorporated swales, primary and secondary basins, a bog, and a green roof on the pump building.

“Through research and expertise, we designed and built a versatile and interesting water collection system that also provided maximum teaching and learning opportunities,” says Fockele.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

Grading was complex because the school is bounded by sidewalks and required use of a silt fence. Fifty feet of sidewalk, a metal canopy, and unwanted plants and trees were removed. The Bermuda grass was scraped and composted onsite.

Fockele explains that his staff participated in projects that required technical expertise, as well as providing instruction to the volunteer teams. Necessary garden tools were stored onsite.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

Choosing the plant palette for the garden also required expertise. Extensive research was required to identify and source the uncommon plants that integrated with the rainwater infiltration system. Ultimately, the garden incorporated more than 70 different species and more than 1,000 plants were used.

“We used a lot of big, strong, wild plants with textures and good colors — all the things that kids like,” he says. “They like spiky stuff and bright red colors and scent and things that attract butterflies and bumblebees and hummingbirds.”

He notes the Smartville Garden also provided a wildlife habitat with plants for food and nesting, feeders, birdbaths and birdhouses.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

It’s the array of unusual plants used in the project that makes Fockele most proud.

“When the season was high, and the garden was full and in-bloom, it was really a beautiful sight,” he says.

However, he adds that closely tied to that is the integration of the plants and the water conservation measures. The largest infiltration pond on the site was approximately 30 foot by 20 foot by 1 foot deep and could hold a great deal of rainwater.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

“It was the integration of the right plants with the rainwater infiltration system and good soil preparation,” he says. “There were years when we didn’t have to take even the harvested rainwater, except for new plants.”

It’s that same combination of plants and what the project did with the water that provided Fockele with the most personal education. However, he says he’s always looking for opportunities to include sustainability in his projects and he likes to introduce the idea to customers who are interested in including sustainable features in their home landscapes.

“It’s fun, we enjoy doing it and it makes sense,” he says.

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

Fockele adds that he was still learning as the project wrapped up, since aside from the soil preparation, the hardest part of the garden was dealing with on-going maintenance.

“We were gradually working toward trying to reduce the need for any repeat maintenance problems,” he says. “By that, I mean the predictable maintenance problems you can see coming from year to year.”

The decision to tear down the school building and the garden along with it was a controversial one.

“We thought it was a shame to lose the landscape,” he says. “The children really enjoyed it, and that is an important part of this story. It was fun to see the kids relate to the garden, and they seemed to learn quite a bit.”

Photo: Fockele Garden Co.

The post Story Of A Landscape: Uncommon Plants, Rainwater Harvesting Create Sustainable School Garden appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2jNyolk
via IFTTT

Making Money With Holiday Lighting

“The first year or two was kind of a learning curve for us — it just took us a little while to figure out how to make money at it,” says Aaron Wiltshire, president of Oklahoma Landscape in Tulsa. In addition to switching to a leased-light model, Oklahoma Landscape made a few other changes to ensure profitability.

Customers now must sign up for a two-year lease agreement to begin, which provides Oklahoma Landscape with the assurance that its investment in purchasing the lighting materials makes sense. “The first year, we take a little bit of a hit because we have to actually purchase lights for them. But most people stay on the lease system; we don’t have a lot of people dropping off.”

And if and when customers do move out of the area or stop the lease agreement for whatever reason, Oklahoma Landscape owns and stores the lights at its warehouse, so it is able to repurpose them for new customers in future years. “So when we’re selling new projects, a lot of times we’re not having to buy new lights, but rather are repurposing lights from customers who have come off the lease program,” says Wiltshire.

To further protect itself financially and ensure that this is a profitable service, Oklahoma Landscape has established a minimum lease agreement ($1,200 per installation). “That seems to work for us; at one point we had a lot of $200 and $400 and $600 projects, and it was just hard for us to make a profit making so many stops in a day,” explains Wiltshire. “And on every install, you have to come back and take down, so you’re going back to these little jobs to do take-downs. A lot of companies get into this business and think they’ve made their money after the installation, but you actually have to go back and take everything down, too.” Customers are also required to pay upfront because collecting payments for holiday lighting services proved to be a challenge sometimes, says Wiltshire. “We were struggling to get the rest of the payments in; we were into March and April and even May waiting for payments,” he explains. “We just decided one year that it’s too big of a hassle, and it’s too much of a fast and furious time of year to worry about getting paid, or getting paid late.”

Holiday lighting is still a growing part of Oklahoma Landscape’s business. “It’s still a very popular service … people are looking for a hassle-free experience,” says Wiltshire.

Holiday lighting can be a challenging service to price because there are so many factors to consider: roof pitch, accessibility, height, power location, hanging preference, etc. Missing even one of these factors can decrease job profitability. Photo: A&K Landscape

Alan Marchant, co-owner of A & K Landscaping in Eugene, Oregon, says that holiday lighting can be a very difficult service to price. “There are just so many factors to consider: The pitch of the roof, the material of the roof, the way they have to be hung, accessibility, height, where the power is going to come from, etc.” And you can’t miss one of these factors if you want to price the project in a way that’s profitable, he stresses.

It’s also important that employees are trained in the most efficient way to install and remove the lights. “If you don’t put the lights up the right way, you can really get killed by the labor costs,” says Marchant. “If it takes you too long to put them up or take them down, then you can never make money at it.”

With A & K Landscaping, some customers provide their own lighting, while others purchase them from the landscape company. “I prefer to sell them the materials so I know what I’m going to be working with, which gives me a better idea of what the labor costs are going to be. And they get a higher quality product than if they were to buy just off the shelf because we’re not buying junk from a big box store,” says Marchant, who adds that he personally tries out different lighting materials before ever recommending them to customers.

The customer then owns and stores the lighting materials and has them on hand for installation (hopefully by A & K) the following year. Marchant says that some installation companies like to store the materials for the customer, which helps to ensure repeat business the following year. But Marchant prefers not to do that. The property owner may move, for example. And if they want to use a different vendor, he wants them to have that ability. “We’ve had people do that — they go find someone else to put them up, but then they return to us because it wasn’t the same quality of installation,” he explains. “The products we use are better, and the installation is better. The price may be a little more, but there’s a reason for that.”

Marchant says he would like to continue growing his company’s holiday lighting business; he’s just not sure how much additional demand there would be for the service in that area. “Based on the size of our community and those that are paying for it currently, I’m not sure there’s much more need out there.”

The post Making Money With Holiday Lighting appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2mSgTS0
via IFTTT

2017 Product Roundup: Design And Business Software

Arborgold
Customer/job management software
A customer and job management software for tree, lawn and landscape companies, Arborgold is a full CRM with proposal generator and job scheduling capabilities. Photos and sketches can be added to bids. Keep track of phone messages and appointments with the mobile feature. The software updates everywhere immediately whether edited on a desktop or on a phone.

Aspire Software
Landscape management system
The Aspire landscape management system puts all of the information in one place: CRM – Estimating – Scheduling – Purchasing – Mobile Time – Invoicing – Accounting. Aspire is cloud-based and designed for mobile, so information like contracts, client requests, scheduled services, purchases and billing is available in real-time. Aspire also synchronizes with Outlook and Google calendars and email.

Belgard
Design Studio
The Belgard Design Studio can provide a realistic vision of a design with 3-D sketches, screen shots and fl y-through animations. Designs include dimensional data and estimated material lists. There are 60 free design templates including outdoor kitchens, pool decks, driveways and walkways.

Cambridge Pavers Inc.
Designscape Visualizer 3.0
The Designscape Visualizer 3.0 can help create and save multiple projects to compare before and after images. Photos can be uploaded to create the design and present a visual representation. A variety of Cambridge Pavingstone and Wallstone systems are available. The user can also create a project list of all products used in the design for help in the estimating process.

CLIP Software
Lawn management software
CLIP has the ability to route, schedule, estimate and job cost all projects. It contains contact management software with each customer’s information and history. CLIP works with Quick Books, cell phones and web-based technology to keep track of crews and to easily update completed field work for rescheduling, billing and revenue tracking.

DynaSCAPE
Design software
The DynaSCAPE Design software is compatible with Windows10 and helps draw information-rich landscape designs. Choose from more than 9,000 plants from a Horticopia- powered online plant database. There are 1,200 pre-drawn library fi gures that include natural stone, paving stone, mulch, swimming, pools, ponds, water features, outdoor lighting and irrigation.

Fleetmatics
Mobile workforce solution
Fleetmatics, a Verizon company, is a mobile workforce solution for service-based businesses of all sizes. The fleet management solutions help with managing local fleets and improve the mobile workforce productivity. The web-based service provides fleet operators with vehicle location, fuel usage, speed and mileage.

Hindsite Software
Field service software
HindSite is a field service software that eliminates waste and improves productivity. Manage every opportunity with the sales CRM. The scheduling is simplified and real-time information to track crews’ progress during the day.

ICPI
Permeable Design Pro software
Released by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, Permeable Design Pro Software for permeable interlocking concrete pavement features design solutions with CAD output. The software helps the user create drawings from hydrologic and structural requirements. Users can evaluate PICP solutions for stormwater management for pedestrian areas, parking lots, alleys and streets.

LMN
Landscape estimating and timesheet software
LMN Software lets contractors spend less time handling paperwork and more time running a great business. It includes CRM, budgeting, estimating, timesheets, scheduling, GPS, routing and QuickBooks Integration.

PRO Landscape
Design software
The design software contains photo-realistic imaging, night and holiday lighting, CAD, estimating, 3-D rendering and complete customer proposals. PRO Landscape also offers designers two different landscape design apps to design and bid projects on site with the customer. Cut out tools in the app allow the user to take a picture with the existing landscape.

Punch Software
Punch! Landscape Design
Punch! Landscape Design has released version 19 which features a new interface with 64-Bit technology and an updated user interface. There are new templates with templates as well as 3-D objects, an expanded plant library and pre-made outdoor features.

Real Green Systems
Service assistant app
Here’s a business software and marketing tool for managing and growing small businesses. The Service Assistant app is a CRM software that can streamline tasks and improve customer interaction and retention. Customer accounts can be adjusted or enter payments from a smartphone.

RouteSavvy
Route planning software
RouteSavvy is a web-based, route planning software tool developed by U.S.-based OnTerra Systems. It is designed to help managers of small to mid-sized fleets plan more efficient routes for deliveries, pick-ups, service and sales calls.

Service Autopilot
Route scheduling software
Scheduling and dispatching crews, whether a single team or a larger business, is easier with Service Autopilot. Build more efficient routes with optimized routing. Do more from the field with the mobile app. Collect customer signatures, take before-and-after pictures and manage with drive time-tracking.

Unilock
Uvision 3-D Landscape Creator
The Uvision 3-D Landscape Creator helps designers incorporate predrawn Unilock Elements and pillars into a sketch. The paver and wall images have realistic textures and viewers can see water flow in the walk-through videos. Changes in the lighting can be viewed based on the time of day selected. The software now supports high-resolution displays, including 4k monitors and TVs.

Structure Studios
3D professional hardscaping and landscaping design software
VizTerra is a 3D professional hardscaping and landscaping design software. The intuitive interface and powerful tools make it simple to draw outdoor living projects in 2D and then create a custom, shareable, fully interactive 3D presentation of the design.

Vectorworks
Landmark software
The Landmark software from Vectorworks features a customizable interface and SmartCursor technology. Users can create 2-D and 3-D concepts and maximize effi ciency with project sharing, which enables designers to streamline document production while multiple users are working on the same fi le.

Yardbook
Landscaping business software
Keep track of sales, business operations and records with Yardbook. Some features include lead management, estimates, job scheduling, GPS tracking, credit cards and even chemical tracking. Yardbook Profiles are designed to attract customers, showcase best work and manage inbound leads.

 

 

Have a new product? Submit entries using our Product Form for Turf, Turf Design Build and PLOW, a supplement to Turf.

The post 2017 Product Roundup: Design And Business Software appeared first on Turf.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230377 http://ift.tt/2Bcs23c
via IFTTT