In this article from the January 1995 issue of Landscape Management, Warren Brown, a vehicle and grounds manager, discusses the challenge of caring for the facilities at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, Mo., the largest retirement complex in America at the time. The design of the facility meant that crews were often working in tight spaces and used zero-turn... read more
Five years ago, Andrew Hoffman, owner of Hoffman’s Lawn & Fertilization, got tired of using a push spreader and a spray reel on lawns in his hometown of Delaware, Ohio. Two years earlier, he moved his business from Ohio from Salt Lake City. “In Salt Lake City, you could get away with a hose reel and a push spreader with... read more
“You’ve got to work on your business, not in your business,” says Benjamin Schoot, a franchisee with The Grounds Guys in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “The longer you’re on a truck, the longer you’re handcuffing your business.” Schoot is not alone in this assertion. The motivation to join a franchise is often more about the need to grow a business than... read more
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of dealing with grubs is that they infest thick, healthy turf stands. “Grubs eat the roots — they like thicker lawns because those are a better food source, and they live in the thatch,” says Luke Hawthorne, owner of Emerald Lawns in Round Rock, Texas. “They’re going to be looking for lawns that’re taken care... read more
There comes a time in a lawn care company’s life when it’s time to expand the size of its fleet. It’s important, however, to know when is the right time to add that truck or van to the business. Purchasing this equipment comes down to several factors: Do old fleet vehicles need replacing, and is the company growing? Nate Moses,... read more
At the 2019 Irrigation Show, LM sat with a few (relatively) new faces to the industry during the Young Professionals Breakfast to see where the industry is headed. Olin Unruh, 28, owner and CEO of Wetlands Irrigation in McPherson, Kan., discussed what he’s encountered so far in his 10 years of working in the industry. Wetlands Irrigation is a $650,000... read more
