Every landscaper has faced that situation where, no matter how much tending, pruning or fertilizing you do, the plants and grass just don’t seem to thrive. That may mean it’s time to look beneath the surface – in the soil.

Amendments are often necessary to correct an imbalance or offset a structural problem in the soil. These organic or nonorganic substances are tilled several inches into the topsoil, unlike mulches or top dressings which are left on the surface. Amendments release nutrients and aerate the soil, supporting an ideal growing environment. Understanding the soil you’re working with and addressing its needs can help to cultivate that flourishing landscape your customers crave.

Read the full story from the January issue here.

ST. LOUIS – Jackson Tree Service, a company that services St. Louis homeowners with tree removal and trimming, moved to a new headquarters in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

“As our family expanded, so has our business so we are moving to gain more space. This larger space allows us to invest in the community we’ve served for almost 60 years and will make us more efficient, allowing for savings that can be passed on to our customers,” said co-owner Mike Ballard.

The Jackson Tree Service shop size is expanding from 1,200 square feet to 2,700 square feet, and the yard went from 8/10 of an acre to 1.5 acres at the new location. The company will continue to service clients in most St. Louis suburbs, including Florissant, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights and Overland.

“We have done work for the City of Maryland Heights over the years and appreciate the relationship we have with the community development, street maintenance and parks departments. Working through the move with the City of Maryland Heights has strengthened our resolve to stay in this area as the city has worked hard to accommodate our needs and help us through the process,” said co-owner Rachel Ballard.

MILWAUKEE – Vanguard introduced the first product in a complete line of all-new single-cylinder horizontal shaft commercial gasoline engines. Vanguard developed the new engines around key areas of performance critical to improving overall productivity, including starting, maintenance intervals, service and support, and total cost of ownership. The new line will span from 5 to 13 gross horsepower to meet power requirements for a wide range of global commercial applications.

“For decades, manufacturers have been modifying old designs. We went out and asked people what they wanted and needed out of a single-cylinder engine before we even started designing this platform,” said Jim Cross, marketing manager, Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power. “We interviewed hundreds of stakeholders including rental houses, end users and dealers worldwide to better understand the issues they face; the need for improved starting, reduced maintenance, less noise and vibration, and better service and support. Then, we engineered a superior product that outperforms the competition in each category.”

The ground-up design process allowed Vanguard to comprehensively engineer all-new carburetion, ignition and combustion systems to promote reliable starting in any environment. To ensure four-season starting, the engine is designed to start at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. To further improve starting, all surfaces inside the carburetor that contact fuel feature special corrosion and stale fuel resistant plating.

The new line of engines also includes an advanced version of TransportGuard, Vanguard’s single ignition and fuel shutoff designed to prevent oil dilution during transport. The lever now incorporates throttle control, expanding application opportunities and repower capabilities.

To reduce maintenance and downtime, the engine features an oil management system that allows the engine to run efficiently for up to 200 hours between oil changes.

An advanced fully-cyclonic air filtration system lessens downtime by extending recommended air filter replacement intervals to 600 hours. This system is standard on the new single-cylinder horizontal shaft engines.

Vanguard also engineered the engine’s main components to lessen the impact of vibration on performance and engine and equipment wear, as well as to enhance operator comfort.

“We didn’t stop with performance. Our feedback indicated customers feel other manufacturers fall short when it comes to service and support,” Cross said. “That’s unacceptable. From training to warranty processing, we provide customers with unmatched support so they can be more productive and, at the end of the day, have more money in their pockets.”

For additional information, visit vanguardengines.com.

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga., – Graham Spray Equipment has expanded its offerings with a new box truck option.  The fully enclosed truck protects spray equipment and chemicals from colder fall and winter temperatures, giving lawn care companies the ability to treat residential and commercial properties up to 10 weeks longer. By extending the spraying season, the box truck can effectively increase the revenue-generating portion of a company's year.

“In many parts of the country, lawn care is a seasonal business,” explained Graham general manager, Donny Pitts. “Some of this has to do with the type of turf, trees, and shrubs to be treated, but the colder temperatures of fall and winter are also a factor. When temperatures dip, chemicals often don’t mix up or spray as well, and that determines when a company stops spraying for the season. Our box truck takes some of the bite out of fall and winter so companies can stay out in the field longer.”

The Graham box truck provides ample storage and reduces repetitive loading and offloading of equipment, tools and supplies. Side and back doors offer access to tanks, hoses and cargo.

The 18-foot truck can be outfitted with a variety of Graham spray units configured to customer specifications such as single, dual and split tank options; mechanical or jet agitation; and multiple hose reels.