May 2018

The one-minute management report

June 15, 2018By
profit growth. Image: iStock.com/Auris

When I look at a set of financials, I want to determine within one minute if the company is profitable and if the revenues and expenses are in line with industry standards. So, how do we create such a report? Start with your chart of accounts Surprisingly, many companies use a generic chart of accounts. These charts are usually created... read more

Step by Step: How to aerate properly

June 6, 2018By
Aeration step 2. Illustration: David Preiss

As time goes on, soil naturally compacts. Aeration, also called coring and aerifying, perforates the soil to allow air, water and nutrients to reach a lawn’s roots. It also removes mild thatch. This helps roots grow deeper, making the lawn more vigorous and drought resistant. Aeration should occur when turf is in its peak growing season so it can recover... read more

Big Picture: Clean and classic

June 1, 2018By
A Southern Botanical project in Highland Park, Texas. Photo: James Wilson

Location: Highland Park, Texas Company: Southern Botanical This residence was built in 2001 and hadn’t been updated since. The clients took on a renovation project of the house’s interior, the pool terrace and the landscaping, and they also looked to expand the rear garden for entertaining and build a double-entry drive in the front of the home. For the landscaping,... read more

Web Extra: SafetyWatch in Spanish (transporting dangerous goods)

May 30, 2018By

The following is a Spanish version of SafetyWatch from the May 2018 issue of Landscape Management. It discusses transportation of dangerous goods. Click here for the original SafetyWatch in English or see page 16 of the magazine. Transporte de bienes peligrosos Cualquiera persona que trabaje con bienes, productos o materiales peligrosos debe obtener la preparación indicada para la manipulación de... read more

Safe Company Profile: Belknap Landscape Co.

May 30, 2018By
Informal safety briefing. Photo: Katya Danilova, dorogamedia.com

When Belknap Landscape Co.’s spring safety meeting routine got a little stale, Mark Smith, Belknap’s construction and tree operations manager, tapped outside resources to shake it up. The company began the annual safety meeting 15 years ago. For many of those years, “It used to be just us as managers standing in front of 75 people and doing this talk,”... read more

How we do it: Preferred vehicle setups

May 25, 2018By
BrightView truck and trailer. Photo: BrightView

BrightView BrightView and its predecessors have studied the best truck and trailer setups for years, according to Tim Russell, vice president of operations for the Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based national company. Today, the company has boiled down its preferred rigs to a few setups. The first option, which is a “small percentage of the fleet,” is for crews that operate in... read more