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Lawn & Landscape Magazine » On-Line Extras

On-Line Extras

July 2008

  • HOA Saves with Soil-Moisture Sensors - Wednesday, August 6, 2008
    The installation of soil-moisture sensors has translated to a considerable savings for one of Private Greens of Nevada’s homeowners’ association clients in Las Vegas.

June 2008

  • The Magic Touch - Wednesday, August 6, 2008
    A landscape designer from Louisiana prefers designing by hand.

  • Top 100 2008 -- Interactive Map - Friday, June 13, 2008
    To accompany the annual list of the industry's top revenue generators, the Lawn & Landscape staff created an interactive map of the firms' headquarters.

May 2008

April 2008

  • Eye on Tree Diseases - Wednesday, April 16, 2008
    Cross-training lawn technicians to identify potential tree and ornamental diseases can position a firm as a property management partner, not just another service provider.

  • Mower Attachments Provide Relief - Tuesday, April 22, 2008
    Like skid-steers, mowers also have their fair share of time-saving attachments.

March 2008

February 2008

January 2008

December 2007

  • Adding Edging Services - Wednesday, December 19, 2007
    Consider these cost and installation guidelines when investigating what materials to offer.

  • Adding Irrigation Installation - Wednesday, December 19, 2007
    Mike Kukol of Horizon Landscape & Irrigation Company added irrigation installation to become a full-service company.

  • Adding Lawn Care - Wednesday, December 19, 2007
    When business is good, lawn care can be one of the more profitable services a landscape company can offer.

October 2007

September 2007

  • Chainsaw Emissions Basics - Tuesday, September 11, 2007
    The cost of a chainsaw partly depends on its emissions durability.

  • Cutting and Pruning Extra: Lost and Found - Tuesday, September 11, 2007
    For many contactors, pruning equipment is usually lost before its needs replacing.

  • Getting the Word Out - Tuesday, September 11, 2007
    With the advent 2003’s National Do Not Call Registry, telemarketing has gone the way of the dinosaur for lawn care operators.

  • Holiday Lighting Extra: Playful Displays Become Popular - Tuesday, September 11, 2007
    Along with an increase in multi-color holiday lighting installations with the advent of LED bulbs, holiday decorators say clients are becoming more playful with the displays they’re requesting, too.

  • September Equipment Extra: Acquiring a Mini Skid-Steer - Tuesday, September 11, 2007
    Like the many creative attachments that can be paired with a mini skid-steer, creative ways to get hold of one are allowing contractors to add them to their equipment fleets.

  • Training for Fall Fertilization - Tuesday, September 11, 2007
    There are a few things LCOs should keep in mind to ensure an effective fall fertilizer application.

July 2007

  • July Cover Story Extra: Organics - Monday, July 9, 2007
    Sam Lang, president of Fairway Green Lawn Care, purchased an organic lawn care company and learned that the clients were more focused on a healthy, vibrant lawn than organic products.

June 2007

May 2007

April 2007

  • April Issue Extra: Roundtree Podcast - Tuesday, April 17, 2007
    A podcast is available featuring the Lawn & Landscape April cover story subject, Johnette Taylor, president of Roundtree Landscaping in Dallas.

  • Low-Pricing Woes - Tuesday, April 10, 2007
    If you’re considering being the cut-rate contractor there are a few things you should know about attracting business through low-pricing tactics.

March 2007

January 2007

  • Cover Story Extra: Getting Started - Monday, January 29, 2007
    Shayne Newman, president of YardApes, describes how he got started in the business.

  • Cover Story Extra: Quick Tip - Tuesday, January 30, 2007
    If you have primarily residential clients who like their properties maintained just before the weekend, schedule your mowing crews for Tuesday through Friday each week, leaving Mondays open.

  • Perimeter Pest Control: Get the Word Out - Friday, January 5, 2007
    Once clients know about perimeter pest control services, LCOs say they are eager to add the bug-busting service.

  • Predicting the Weather - Friday, January 5, 2007
    Weather stations are devices that track environmental factors to determine soil moisture, which is arguably the best way to keep track of when a landscape should be watered.

  • The Impacts of Drought - Friday, January 5, 2007
    Drought is a big contributor to water shortages and can necessitate the imposition of water-use restrictions.

December 2006

  • Holiday Party Tips - Wednesday, December 6, 2006
    Tips for throwing a holiday bash for employees, clients and other acquaintances.

October 2006

  • FROM THE FIELD: A Canopy of Color - Tuesday, October 3, 2006
    Did you ever wonder why some leaves turn yellow while others turn red each fall? Or perhaps you’re curious why some leaves maintain their color before falling to the ground each year.

September 2006

  • Burden of Proof - Friday, September 8, 2006
    The burden is on the contractor to explain the value of passive conservation products – like advanced sprayheads and rotors – to his customers and outline their benefits.

  • Does H-2B Really Need a Cap? - Wednesday, September 6, 2006
    Employers question why the H-2B cap has never been adjusted in more than 15 years to reflect current economic conditions or meet the needs of growing service industries.

  • Free to Treat - Friday, September 8, 2006
    Some contractors choose microinjection to treat trees because in certain situations it can pose fewer constraints than spraying.

  • Smooth Talk - Friday, September 8, 2006
    H-2B expert shares tips for influencing lawmakers.

July 2006

June 2006

  • Preparing to Sell Your Business - Friday, June 2, 2006
    Good advance planning and the help of a professional mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisor can increase the opportunity for a smooth-running and financially rewarding transaction.

  • Valuing a Business for Sale and Other Issues - Friday, June 2, 2006
    Learn to value your business as Ken Pagurek, June's cover story subject, did.

May 2006

  • HOW WE DO IT: Great Garden Show Displays - Friday, May 12, 2006
    A landscape professional explains how he attracts new clients by maintaining a presence at home & garden shows. This is an online-only supplement to the "How We Do It" column that appears in our May i

  • Methods of Marketing - Friday, May 12, 2006
    To promote the company’s services, Platinum Landscape focuses on a few targeted marketing initiatives.

  • Teaching Time Efficiency - Friday, May 12, 2006
    Rick Meinzer of Platinum Landscape believes in educating his employees on the best systems to get the job done.

March 2006

  • Stand-On Safety Secrets - Friday, July 14, 2006
    The ability to get on and off a stand-on quickly adds a built-in safety feature to the machine.

January 2006

  • Irrigation Technology - Thursday, February 16, 2006
    If you have an irrigation division, these products can help you manage everything from the water itself to invoicing for your work.

  • Snow Info from Landscaping Concepts - Thursday, February 16, 2006
    Landscaping Concepts' Bob Langille shares information and forms that help him run a successful snow division.

December 2005

November 2005

October 2005

  • Proper Mulching Techniques - Friday, December 9, 2005
    These tips from the International Soceity of Arboriculture will help ensure that your clients' trees are well protected with an appropriate layer of mulch.

September 2005

  • Application Advice - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Making fall fertilization applications? Use these hints for effective applications.

  • Dan's Landscaping & Lawn Care: High-Spirited Success - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Settling into systems didn’t stop Dan Standley’s contagious energy from growing an enterprise founded on camaraderie, client concern and quality.

  • Dan’s Landscaping Does What Works - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Figuring out what systems work for your company? Dan Standley shared some operations insights that work for him at a facility tour held during the Weed & Insect Management Seminars.

  • Efficient Fall Clean-Ups - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Business owner Paul Perotti offers systems his company has in place to make fall clean up as efficient as possible.

  • Low-Volume Irrigation Data Analysis - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Use these steps to measure distribution uniformity in low-volume irrigation systems.

  • Regional Reinforcements for Fall Fertilization - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Applying the appropriate amounts of certain nutrients differs depending on region and turf variety.

  • Simple Solutions For Fuel Efficiency - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Keeping your mowers tuned-up can be the best way to decrease fuel consumption.

  • The Fall Factor - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Fall fertilization is the best way to keep turf healthy, but it's not for instant gratification.

  • Time & Temperment: Fertilization vs. Frost - Thursday, September 1, 2005
    Planning fall fertilzation can be a challenge when you're not sure when winter will start.

July 2005

  • Free-Flowing Pipes - Friday, July 22, 2005
    Excellent filtration is essential for proper drip irrigation.

  • Mulch Cultivation Curb Appeal - Friday, July 22, 2005
    Five Seasons Landscape Management finds mulch cultivation to be a great way to keep clients who can't afford full mulching services.

  • Proper Drip Irrigation Operation - Friday, July 22, 2005
    To ensure clients fully utilize the benefits of drip irrigation, contractors may want to tell clients how often to run the system and how much water they should apply.

  • Savings With Sulkies - Friday, July 22, 2005
    Stand-on mowers can provide long-term savings for landscape contractors, but that investment comes with an upfront cost.

  • Sit or Stand - Friday, July 22, 2005
    Stand-on mowers have their advantages, but sometimes there’s nothing like taking a load off after you’ve be standing all day.

June 2005

  • Driving Made Easy - Monday, June 13, 2005
    Contractors who are new to zero-turn mowers should get some pointers from their equipment dealers on proper operation.

  • Front or Center - Monday, June 13, 2005
    Could a front-cut zero-turn mower work for you?

May 2005

  • Aquatic Plant Life - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Pond experts share their thoughts on the best plants to use in water features.

  • Building Business - Wednesday, May 25, 2005
    Find out how Second Nature Lawn Care built business by incorporating under one name and doing business under another.

  • Buying Customers - Wednesday, May 25, 2005


  • Field Inspection Report - Wednesday, May 25, 2005


  • Fungicides in your program? - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Do preventive fungicide treatments fit into your service menu? See how other lawn care operators handle the cost and other logisitcs for such a service.

  • Irrigation Business: A Crowded Field - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Many irrigation contractors find their industry overrun with low-ball competition.

  • Irrigation Systems: Seeing is Believing - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Irrigation demonstration kits and brochures can help customers visualize how the systems work and how they can improve their properties.

  • Obtaining Employee Buy-In - Wednesday, May 25, 2005


  • Pond Fish: Creature Comforts - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Do your landscape clients want fish in their water features? Here are some pointers.

  • System Statistics - Wednesday, May 25, 2005


  • Training Technicians - Wednesday, May 25, 2005


  • Trendy Planters - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Give your container plantings a little more pizzazz with more contemporary containers.

  • Water Feature Maintenance - Tuesday, May 10, 2005
    Pond maintenance services can create a new revenue stream for your company and also help contractors better educate themselves on how ponds function best.

April 2005

March 2005

  • Consultant Contacts - Tuesday, March 15, 2005
    Consultant Contacts Need a little guidance? Follow up with green industry business consultants to get your business on the right track.

  • Law Frustrates Tree Care Contractor - Friday, March 18, 2005
    Neighbor notification laws cost New York contractors time and money.

February 2005

  • Paradise Restored: A Photographic Tour - Tuesday, March 1, 2005
    When Jeff Sousa's crew set out to restore the Fairmont Southampton resort after a hurricane, he took his camera along with him.

January 2005

  • Certification Programs - Monday, February 7, 2005
    Check out these links to dozens of professional certifications throughout the industry.

  • Certification: Anatomy of an Exam - Friday, January 14, 2005
    Thinking about becoming certified? Here's a sneak peek into what you can expect for certain industry certificaiton exams.

  • You Say You Want a Resolution - Thursday, January 6, 2005
    May auld business practices be forgotten so these New Years’ resolutions can be put into action.

November 2004

October 2004

September 2004

  • Seamless Snow Removal at Pro Scapes - Wednesday, September 15, 2004
    By starting snow-removal preparations in the spring, Rick Kier helps his company balance overlapping snow and maintenace work with ease.

July 2004

May 2004

  • Common Pruning Definitions - Friday, May 14, 2004
    Refresh your pruning vocabulary with this mini dictionary of pruning terms.

  • What to Prune and When - Friday, May 14, 2004
    Keep bloom time in mind and use these pruning suggestions from Purdue University when dealing with flowering trees and shrubs.

April 2004

  • Water-Wise Plant List - Wednesday, April 21, 2004
    Forget the cacti. Drought-stricken landscaping clients have a plethora of eye-catching, water-wise plants from which to choose.

  • Xeric Planning & Design - Wednesday, April 21, 2004
    Assessing microclimates and grouping plants into hydrozones are essential for efficient landscape water use.

March 2004

  • Contract Example - Friday, March 12, 2004
    Bertotti Landscaping offers an example of the new contract wording that helped him spell out job challenges more effectively to clients.

  • Larger Than Life - Wednesday, March 10, 2004
    Measurements must be considered when making plans to move a tree, since size ultimately is what dictates the specifics of the tree-moving process.

  • Spelling Pond Success - Wednesday, March 10, 2004
    How do you spell pond maintenance? Gary Wittstock spells it P-F-B-O-G.

January 2004

  • Future of Design Software - Wednesday, January 14, 2004
    Software manufacturers discuss what the coming years may hold for landscape designers.

  • Man of Mantras - Friday, January 9, 2004
    Years of industry experience have helped Joshua Eike formulate a number of business axioms.

  • Raise Your Voice for IPM - Friday, January 9, 2004
    A new government committee aims to focus more federal energy on making IPM successful – but the group needs your help.

  • Working Lunch - Friday, January 9, 2004
    Joshua Eike knows that a few hours to network with professionals can save years of business hassles.

November 2003

  • Au Natural - Wednesday, November 12, 2003
    Some design/build contractors are taking cues from their clients and creating landscape focal points that blend in more than they stand out.

  • Change of Venue at Del Vacchio Landscapes - Wednesday, November 12, 2003
    Like a couple working toward buying a new house, Vince and Kathy Del Vacchio are looking forward to a business future in a new facility.

  • Lawn Care Call-Backs - Wednesday, November 12, 2003
    Offering call-backs free of charge is common in the lawn care industry, but that doesn’t mean all chances of increased revenue are lost in those situations.

  • Raising Lawn Care Prices - Wednesday, November 12, 2003
    Increased business costs often force lawn care operators into raising their service prices. Here are a couple of approaches.

October 2003

  • Plan First, Build Last - Wednesday, October 8, 2003
    If a contractor is in a position to landscape a site that will eventually include someone’s home, and a retaining wall is the last thing that gets attention, there’s a good chance a terrible mistake i

September 2003

  • Custom-built Trailers - Wednesday, September 3, 2003
    Suburban Landscape Management worked with a trailer manufacturer to create a trailer that fits the company’s needs perfectly.

  • Customer Service Phone-atic - Wednesday, September 3, 2003
    John Reffel knows that his availability by phone is an important part of customer service.

  • Insurance: Defined - Wednesday, September 3, 2003
    Business owners must be multilingual to run their companies well. Learn how to speak “insurance-ese” to protect business assets.

  • Pull Ticket Program - Wednesday, September 3, 2003
    Monitoring traffic infractions through the state DMV helps some companies ensure their drivers are safe and controlled behind the wheel.

August 2003

  • Crews & Co. - Tuesday, August 5, 2003
    Scott Olden empowers employees by setting up crews as their own small companies.

  • Keeping it Real - Tuesday, August 5, 2003
    Bringing business discussions to the dinner table is a no-no for Bill and Scott Neave.

  • Piece by Piecemeal - Tuesday, August 5, 2003
    Scott Olden devised a method of employee payment that helps everyone come out on top.

  • Prize Patrol - Tuesday, August 5, 2003
    Scott Olden holds company parties where employees can make out like bandits - if they’ve kept up with their work.

July 2003

  • H-2B Recruitment Round-Up - Thursday, July 10, 2003
    H-2B providers and recruiter offer information on how American companies find their Hispanic workers.

June 2003

  • Catching vs. Mulching - Tuesday, June 24, 2003
    Both approaches to lawn mowing have their advantages.

  • Pick Your Pleasure - Thursday, June 12, 2003
    More than 400 compounds are registered for use as insecticides in the United States. The following list includes some of the most popular.

May 2003

  • Delegation Details - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    Contractors who find themselves managing every aspect of their green businesses can ease their loads through the power of delegation.

  • GPS: Great Profit Strategy - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    Global positioning equipment is becoming increasingly popular in the green industry.

  • HR Know-how - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    Hiring a Human Resources manager can help your landscape company find and keep an effective management team.

  • Name Game - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    When coming up with a name for the company, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Heads Up Landscape President Gary Mallory knew he had to think of something besides Gary’s Landscaping.

  • Nuggets of Enhancement Wisdom - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    The business of selling enhancements can be quite profitable, but a few contractors with experience in that venue have some tips to offer their fellow enhancement installers.

  • Scheduling & Routing Quick Tricks - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    Contractors offer tips for scheduling and routing crews effectively.

  • Summiteering Success - Wednesday, May 14, 2003
    For six years, Heads Up Landscape, Albuquerque, N.M., has met with seven other landscape companies twice a year to network and discuss ideas – they call it summiteering, and the program is facilitated

April 2003

  • Flowering Tree Foes - Wednesday, April 16, 2003
    Managing pests on flowering trees is much the same as ridding non-flowering trees of insect and disease problems.

  • Landscaping for a Mouse - Wednesday, April 16, 2003
    Jeff Bowen recalls the lessons learned and experience gained while working as part of Walt Disney World's landscaping crew 20 years ago.

  • Perfect Profit - Wednesday, April 16, 2003
    When pricing services, contractors need to remember that the percentage markup on services does not equal the percent profit.

  • Top 10 Lighting Design Issues - Wednesday, April 16, 2003
    When installing landscape lighting, learn from the mistakes of others and heed the advice of professionals to avoid complications.

  • Tree Spade Tips - Friday, May 2, 2003
    Proper use and maintenance keep tree spades working at their peak efficiency.

March 2003

  • Herbicide Research - Monday, March 24, 2003
    Researching the vast array of options is essential when a contractor is choosing products for weed control.

  • Marketing Must-Dos - Monday, March 24, 2003
    When it comes to marketing and advertising, lawn care and landscaping companies should strive to highlight two things: their services and themselves.

  • Sprayer Calibration Keys - Monday, March 24, 2003
    Pick up some tips and tricks for correct sprayer calibration.

  • Sprayer-Use Specifics - Monday, March 24, 2003
    Sprayer manufacturers share the finer points of proper sprayer use to help lawn care operators get the results they and their clients want.

  • Subcontractor Solutions - Monday, March 24, 2003
    How can contractors get subcontractors to represent their companies properly?

February 2003

January 2003

July 2002

June 2002

May 2002

  • A Cleaner, Friendlier Engine - Thursday, May 30, 2002
    Four-stroke engine technology may put a greater dent in your wallet, but Honda representatives claim the benefits clearly outweigh the costs.

March 2002

  • Against All Odds - Friday, March 15, 2002
    One landscaper strives to build a successful business despite facing many obstacles.

January 2002

  • 25 Ways To Do Direct Mail Better - Thursday, August 30, 2001
    QUINCY, Mass. - Direct mail can be one of the most efficient, cost-effective marketing vehicles available today.

November 2001

  • A Breath of Fresh Air - Monday, November 19, 2001
    Donated plants freshen air at school near ground zero.

  • A Closer Look at…Winter Maintenance - Friday, November 2, 2001
    Application equipment that will be sitting idle for extended periods of time is a prime candidate for overhaul, rebuilding and preventive maintenance.

October 2001

August 2001

April 2001

February 2001

  • 7 Traps To Avoid - Thursday, February 22, 2001
    This year is probably going to be a good year but probably not as good as last year was for the irrigation industry.

  • ALCA/ANLA Operating Cost Study’s Critical Profit Variables - Wednesday, August 29, 2001
    HERNDON, Va., and WASHINGTON - ALCA and ANLA have published the 2001 Operating Cost Study, which provides detailed financial results from many participating landscape firms.

January 2001