The design/build sector finally shows signs of growth. After years of decline, the construction business finally is showing signs of a turnaround, reports Engineering News-Record magazine in its latest Construction Industry Confidence Index. The second-quarter report released in June showed that a record 69 percent of more than 300 respondents felt optimistic about the state of the market, indicating it... read more
How to determine the most effective methods for treating scale insects. Green Industry professionals facing down scale insects have a variety of treatment options on their hands, but knowing which one to choose for which species can be tricky. In May Joe Boggs, assistant professor at The Ohio State University Extension, and Rex Bastian, regional technical advisor for The Care... read more
The Greenery targets new movers for its residential maintenance and retail garden center business. Homeowners who’ve recently moved are a target for The Greenery, a $34.4 million landscape company based on Hilton Head Island, S.C. The company provides landscape maintenance services, but it also has a retail component. The Greenery may be on to something, considering new movers spend more... read more
Irrigation professional Tim Malooly shares the latest efforts to implement the first U.S. landscape irrigation sprinkler standard. Water districts and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most notably through its WaterSense program, have pressured the irrigation industry to use water more efficiently. Some contractors are taking notice and action; the Irrigation Association has ramped up education, promotions and advocacy; and landscape... read more
At some point, it seems that every successful owner is eager to branch out. Perhaps the company needs to expand in response to growth, gain a competitive edge or capture and create opportunity. Opening a branch can reduce travel time and put the crews closer to their customers. It can also be a solution if your company outgrows its main... read more
Carpentry projects have led one New Jersey company to launch a new division. Doing the occasional pergola or deck project for some of his landscape clients led Simon Darlington, owner of Darlington Designs in Glassboro, N.J., to launch an entire carpentry division for his landscape company. Though he knows it’s a bit of an unusual service for a landscape company... read more
