How to ensure an equipment failure doesn’t cost you your business
Most business owners understand the importance of insuring their physical property. But too many are unaware of the need for insurance to cover losses resulting from that physical damage, such as lost revenue when mechanical equipment fails.....
Sterility and Invasive Plants
Read the latest Research for the Real World article, brought to you by the MNLA Foundation:
Sterility and Invasive Plants ....
13 big ideas any size company can learn from
The companies on the LM150 list are chock full of good ideas that firms of any size can learn from. We take a look at 13 programs, systems and philosophies that can help you boost business in 2013 and beyond.....
Avoid 3 Summer Lawn Diseases
All lawn diseases have their peak seasons, and some in particular are more prone to show during the summer months. Here are three to look for as the weather warms up. ....
Mid-Season Mower Maintenance Tips
Now that mowing season is well under way, the last thing you want is for your mower to experience downtime. The following tips will help you keep your mower running in tip-top shape.....
Are We Really Back to Better Health?
I'm hearing that business conditions are back to where they were in the 2005-6 time frame. It's taken a while to get there, but I'm starting to believe that we're actually back.....
Profit-Building Routing
Mowing, lawn fertilization, cleanups, mulching, prepping for seasonal color, aerations - the particular task doesn't matter. You can only bill for the work that you do.....
Rain Delay
When the wet stuff stops field work, be prepared with projects to keep crews busy in the shop.....
The Buzz on Neonicotinoid Insecticides
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a serious concern for honeybee populations and the successful production of many fruit, nut, and vegetable crops; although some research has suggested a possible link between imidacloprid and other neonicotinoid insecticides, which show up....
4 Hidden Inefficiencies in a Landscape Company
The potential for inefficiencies exists in every landscape company. But the bigger you get, the more those inefficiencies compound. Next thing you know it, you're losing thousands and thousands of dollars a year. Growing landscape companies must become systems-oriented and ....
Taking It Slow with Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)
Can plant growth regulators find a home in the residential market? “Trimming less, but maintaining the more visual aspect by adding other services, is a great way to implement PGRs in your business,” Goodrich says. “You can reduce labor costs or reallocat....
Propane Trends
Typical payback on a propane conversion – which can be refueled at a rate of eight gallons per minute – is 18 to 24 months on 20,000 miles per year, which do not include federal incentives and tax breaks on purchases of green vehicles.....
U.S. Poll of Consumer Perceptions about Yards, Landscapes, and Landscape Companies
To better understand what homeowners feel about their landscapes and get their perceptions of professional landscape companies, PLANET recently commissioned Harris Interactive, a nationally recognized research firm, to conduct an online survey of 2,893 adults ages 18 and ol....
Prepping Your Lawns for Summer
As spring approaches, it's never too early to start thinking about rejuvenating lawns and getting ready for the summer. Lawns are classified as being either cool season or warm season, depending on the turf species. Understanding which types of lawns you service, and your ....
The Zen of Rock Balancing
As it turns out, you don't need sleight of hand or even mud to design gravity-defying cairns. You do need a bit of patience, though, and a knack for "knowing the rocks," according to Michael Grab, an land artist who has been balancing rocks since 2008. He builds ....
Aeration and soil compaction in turf
The effects of traffic and compaction in turf are usually easy to see—thin turf, worn paths, areas of bare ground that do not respond to applications of fertilizer or water. Turfgrass growing in compacted areas has shallow rooting, causing greater susceptibility to dr....
Don't waste your time on bad leads
Sniff out a bad lead early in the process and avoid losing a serious job offer.....
Colorful Planters
When it comes to planters, a brightly hued container works as a stage, drawing attention to all the botanical drama transpiring inside. And while those seeking colorful containers once had to transform bowls into planters or paint them by hand, s everal new designs are just....
Good News About Turfgrass
Contrary to the perception held by a significant segment of the general public, and especially those concerned about water quality, a properly maintained, healthy lawn can benefit the environment. Without a doubt, fertilizers that reach surface waters can have a negative ....
Make Money Mowing
When the new housing starts slowed down, or became nonexistent, many landscape companies had to find other ways to bring in revenue. Some of the ones that have survived have done so by refocusing on mowing and maintenance. The fact is, mowing and maintenance can save your ....
The Natural Thing to Do
Before launching into the reasons why you should add organic products to your lawn care program let's start with a caveat - the multi-application service based on using synthetic fertilizers isn't going away. Not in the foreseeable future. It consistently delivers green and....
The Future of Mulch
Research has been pursued involving the possible harvest and use of species described as “unwanted” or “underused” as alternative and environmentally friendly sources of wood-based mulches . One species that has been suggested as a candidate is eas....
Northern Green Expo 2013: Lawn, Garden & Landscape Management Seminar Highlights
Lawn, Garden & Landscape Management Seminar Highlights
To view the entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions for the sessions below, visit the new interactive schedule online at www.NorthernGreenExpo.org .
Everythi....
Using Research to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species
Although winged euonymus ( Euonymus alatus ), also commonly called burning bush for obvious reasons, is an attractive and popular landscape plant, it may also have the potential to escape cultivation and become invasive.....
5 Ways Landscapers Can Avoid Business Burn Out
Ask super-successful entrepreneurs what it takes to be a success and they’ll mention hard work, determination, clear goals and teamwork. But what they may not mention is the frequent, almost certain, but very real experience of feeling burned-out emotionally and phy....
Uphill battle
Economic turmoil. Political uncertainty. Monumental seasonal weather swings. That, plus with other regional market quirks, create extremely challenging conditions for property managers. So how does a contractor best navigate those waters? And better yet, what can give him ....
6 Game-Changing Trends
Even though the industry has stalled, growth is coming sooner than later. If you don’t wrap your head around these six game-changers, you could get left behind. The landscaping industry has been relatively flat since 2007. Thus, many contractors have had a hard time ....
Virtual Field Day A Fantastic Use of Technology
In previous years, the Minnesota Turf & Grounds Foundation (MTGF) and the U of MN held Turfgrass Field Day on campus at the Turfgrass Research, Outreach, and Education Center (TROE). This year they tried something different by offering Field Day virtually by putting tog....
New Fruit Pest In Minnesota
Unlike the common vinegar fly, which typically feeds on overripe or deteriorating fruit, SWD feeds on healthy, intact, ripening fruit and this is what makes them such a serious pest.....
How to steer a landscaping firm toward growth
The president of Clintar Landscape Management tells how his company grew to top $50 million.....
7 Keys To Prosperity In The Residential Maintenance Business
Mike Stegall, president of Manicured Lawn & Landscaping Inc. in Mocksville, NC, doesn't think of himself as a business expert. "But I have learned a few important things along the path of building my business," he adds. Here are Stegall's seven keys to prospe....
Minnesota's Newest Fruit Pest, the Spotted Wing Drosophila
This August, a homeowner from Hennepin County contacted the MDA about some flies she found in a yeast-baited trap she placed near a raspberry patch. Days later, the MDA was contacted by a citizen who found an abundance of maggots in some wild raspberries picked in Ramsey Co....
Supreme Court Rejects Pesticide Trespass
Pesticide that drifts onto an organic farm is negligence -- not trespassing -- the Minnesota Supreme Court said Wednesday, overturning a lower court decision that supporters of organic food had considered a significant victory. But in a mixed opinion, the justices also sent....
6 Keys to Equipment Maintenance
Performing a bit of simple, routine upkeep on your lawn care equipment will save you time and money. As summer winds down, here are six key tips to keep in mind this fall and next spring.....
Imprelis Claims Top 30,000 Customers
Once word spread that the Dupont-manufactured herbicide Imprelis killed trees, Dupont took the product off the market and set up a claims procedure for customers. Now, figures are in on how many requests for compensation the chemical conglomerate has received: more than 30....
Sustainable Environment Resource: IPM & PHC
Over the past decade, as the amount of chemicals used in agriculture and landscaping has come under increased scrutiny, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has proven to be a useful and logical system by which treatment options should be assessed. Plant Health Care (PHC) is mo....
MN Company Benefits from AT&T Commercial
The Lawn Ranger in Eden Prairie, MN, became a Hollywood hotshot when AT&T debuted a commercial featuring the company in February. Todd Dilley, vice president, says the experience – and resulting exposure – has been a thrill for the company, which has been i....
The ABCs of Commission Pay
ABC Home & Commercial Services compensates maintenance crews on a commission-based pay plan. “In every analysis of business processes we do, I am trying to make sure that there are three entities that win: customers, employees and the company,” Jenkins says.....
How to select the right commercial mower
So many mowers! Industry insiders have long been saying that there are far too many brands of zero-turn mowers out there. Results from a recent survey of Green Industry PRO readers could help explain why. Three out of every four brands are not viewed favorably by more than....
Upselling Fungicides: A Patient Approach
Upselling fungicide treatments aren’t always easy as it tends to be an expensive undertaking for the customer. But Sam Morgan co-owner of Weed Man Lawn Care in Lake Norman, N.C., says there are three key points to drive home with customers. Making these part of your ....
How To Buy The Right Work Truck
When it comes to your trucks, pinching pennies is a poor idea if it means you'll end up overloading them. At the same time, today's trucks represent quite an evolution. Some contractors could get away with less than they might think—saving them lots of money both upf....
Invasive Plant Control Database Launched
The Midwest Invasive Plant Network and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have created a new searchable, on-line database of invasive plant control information. The information is targeted towards terrestrial invasive plants. You can check out the database at: http://mi....
Arbors, Trellises, and the Edible Garden
“ Vertical structures turn a vegetable garden into a magical place,” says landscape architect Jennifer Bartley of American Potager in Granville, Ohio, who uses them at home and on her design projects. “They create spaces that seem like an enclosed room, a ....
Landscaping Sales Tax Being Revised
MNLA volunteers and staff have been working diligently to complete a set of recommendations for the Minnesota Department of Revenue which will hopefully prompt clarifications on the sales tax fact sheets that cover landscape, lawn, garden, tree maintenance and installation. ....
A Little Respect for Landscape Grasses
Although sales continue to grow, landscape grasses still don’t get the respect they deserve; education focused on landscape use is needed.....
How To Market Sustainable Lawn Care
Understanding the differences between sustainable and organic lawn care is as important as recognizing who your potential customers are. Experts from Engage Agro USA help answer these questions.....
Capitalizing on PR Within a Marketing Plan
PLANET Consultant Member Lara Moffet, MLA, lays out how the resources expended in public relations activities can work hand in hand with your marketing plan (PDF).....
New Twists on Container Designs
Container designers and plant experts give their favorite substitute plants for those times when your first choice isn’t available or the old stand-by just isn’t cutting it anymore.....
Alternative Fuels – Is Green Really the New Gold?
Is green really the new gold? Does it make sense for your firm to move into greener power pastures? If you’re already using alternative fuel resources, does it pay to continue? The answer is a definitive, “It depends.”....
The Aftermath of Imprelis®
Read the full report in the MNLA Foundation's "Research for the Real World" series.....
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