Author: Emily Schappacher

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Emily Schappacher

Emily Schappacher is a freelance writer based in Cleveland.

Skid-steer. Photo: Bobcat Co.

True workhorses: Skid-steer and compact track loader trends

Skid-steer loaders and compact track loaders (CTLs) always have been true workhorses in the field. As they continue to grow in popularity, equipment manufacturers are working to make these machines faster, more powerful and more efficient for landscape crews to operate. “For landscape contractors, it’s all about time and labor savings,” says Perry Girard, product […]

‘Irrigation geek’ offers his words of wisdom on the industry and how to continually improve its reputation

A lot has changed since Kurt Thompson entered the landscape and irrigation industry in the early 1980s. One thing that hasn’t changed is Thompson’s passion for proper irrigation and sustainable water use. “If you’re going to irrigate,” he says, “then do it with skill and knowledge of the system’s design, maintenance and management.” A self-proclaimed […]

Velke attachment. Photo: Zeppa’s Landscaping Service

Pros share what aftermarket add-ons have the most bang for the buck

Two years ago, Andre Zeppa tested chute blockers for his mowers and was blown away by the results. Each of his crews were saving five to 10 hours per week by not having to blow grass clippings out of beds and off driveways. Zeppa now has more than a dozen mowers equipped with GrassFlap chute […]

Exmark

Easy rider: Pros discuss ride-on spreaders and sprayers

For lawn care operators (LCOs) who have embraced the benefits of ride-on machines, pushing a spreader or pulling a sprayer hose is now a thing of the past. Technology has made ride-on spreaders and sprayers easier to learn and operate while helping LCOs cover more ground in less time. “The lawn care business for many […]

Photo: Senske Services

Preferred prenotification methods

Three lawn care operators share their preferred methods for automated prenotifications. In the late 1990s, Jim Zylstra received an automated call from his dentist reminding him of an upcoming appointment. The owner of Tuff Turf Molebusters in Byron Center, Mich., was so impressed by this service that he quickly began researching how to incorporate it […]

Photo: SiteOne Landscape Supply

Connecting with the latest in controller tech

Today’s irrigation controllers are driven by data and technology. Contractors who embrace these advancements are seeing the benefits. Technology has infiltrated every aspect of modern life, and the irrigation controller is no exception. The devices are more connected and data-driven than ever before, and contractors who are embracing the trends are seeing the advantages these […]

Photo: Pure Green

A clear direction

When asked for advice on how to succeed in the green industry, Nathan Brandon often thinks of one of his favorite quotes. “Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate,” says the owner of Pure Green in Nashville, Tenn. “Meaning, don’t do something now for immediate gratification to the detriment of where you […]

Photos: Canopy Lawn Care

Embracing web-based tools to measure lawns

Before you can generate a quote, you need to know how much area you’re working with. While that typically entails measuring each potential client’s property by hand, some landscape contractors are using property measurement tools to calculate that information. These web-based programs use satellite imagery and point-and-click measuring tools to provide accurate measurements of virtually […]

Photo: Andy’s Sprinkler, Drainage & Lighting

How a deliberate, thoughtful approach sets Andy’s Sprinkler, Drainage & Lighting apart

When Andy Hulcy’s grandfather died, the job of maintaining the family’s lakefront property was passed on to Hulcy and his father, Deck. This included teaching themselves how to operate and maintain the dual-pump system Hulcy’s grandfather had engineered to bring water up from the lake to irrigate the property, which was situated on a small […]

Photo: Country Club Lawn & Tree Specialists

Vegetation management as a viable add-on service

Mark Black has some words of wisdom for his fellow lawn care operators: “Remember, one part of your business is to make it clean and green,” says the owner of Country Club Lawn & Tree Specialists in South Roxana, Ill. “The other side is to kill everything.” While “killing everything” might sound like an LCO’s […]

What switching to propane is actually like

A gray, smoggy sky over Salt Lake City inspired Doug Duschene to think twice about the pollution emitted from his fleet of landscape vehicles and equipment. “We have all these mowers, trucks and equipment that just burn fuel,” says the owner of Bozeman Site Services in Bozeman, Mont. “I thought, ‘There has to be a […]

Photos: Strauser Nature’s Helpers

Getting inspired with natural, sustainable landscapes

About four years ago, Zech Strauser suggested that one of his commercial resort clients do something a little different with a large, unused green space next to its basketball courts. The project, completed by Strauser for free, turned 8,000 square feet within a 2-acre space into a sustainable plant paradise. It includes native grasses and […]

What to know before buying a spray rig

Dave Arnett knows that when lawn care operators (LCOs) purchase a spray rig, they have their eyes set on growth and efficiency. “The reason you buy a spray rig is because of the revenue you can produce in a day or in a year,” says Arnett, sales manager for Graham Spray Equipment in Douglasville, Ga. […]

Photo: Patrick DuChene, DuChene Design Solutions

Design software to-do’s

Landscape professionals offer tips and tricks for getting the most out of design software. To Patrick DuChene, choosing the right landscape design software program is only half the battle. “The software is important, but it’s more about how you use it,” he says. Landscape design software can be a costly investment, so it’s important for […]

Photos: Lawn Plus

Why one man traded in his temporary gig for a long-term career

Rodney Creech turned his accidental lawn care business into a long-term, sustainable career. Rodney Creech always thought he would be a farmer. After all, his family farm goes back four generations. So it was a surprise when after college he found himself knee deep in the green industry. “I technically had a lawn care business […]

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