At the start of every new year, I like to take some time to reflect on the best insights I gleaned from industry colleagues over the past 12 months. Here’s the hard-won wisdom I’ll be focusing on most intently in 2019: “I have never seen young people so interested in company culture.” This intel came from Phil Allen, Ph.D., a... read more
Offering turf aeration services can be daunting for a lawn care operator (LCO) because customers often don’t understand how aerating can benefit their lawns. LCOs may opt out of offering aeration because they have limited manpower or a competing lawn care company offers cheaper services, says Rich Clark, account manager for Billy Goat Industries. Aeration can be a lucrative add-on,... read more
Chinch bug damage to lawns can range from subtle to dramatic, resulting in brown turf that can be confused with drought stress or leaf spot disease. Here, David J. Shetlar, Ph.D., professor emeritus of urban landscape entomology at The Ohio State University, offers some recommendations for how you can ID and control a chinch bug infestation. Identify the culprit. Chinch... read more
Crabgrass and goosegrass are two of the most prevalent turf nuisances in the country. Here are a few tips LCOs can use to identify and control these troublesome grassy weeds. Crabgrass Know your enemy: Upright-growing, summer annual grassy weed that grows in patches; Yellowish-green in color; As it germinates, the wide leaf blade is generally wider than turfgrasses; Large crabgrass... read more
Casey Hurd Manager member Greenscapes LandCare, Worton, Md. 1. How big is your family? I have a wife, two daughters and a big 100-pound yellow lab. My family keeps me organized and on my toes. With two young kids, you have to stick to routines to make things less hectic. Quinn is 4, Tessa is 1 … Gomer, the lab,... read more
In the hustle and bustle of serving lawn care customers and managing employees, it can be daunting to streamline operations and track where crews and equipment are at any given moment. Integrating GPS tracking into your operation can help — and will pay off in the long run. “Lawn and landscaping companies have a lot of challenges to solve,” says... read more
