Browse Landscape Management - 2013 Issues


Volume 52, No. 1

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
1 Table of Contents
2 Online Now
4 Editor's Note: Let This be the Year...
6 News + Views: Face to Face: Landscape Management's Inaugural Lawn Care Forum Provided Attendees with Excellent Networking and Educational Opportunities
10 Giving Back: Planet Community Stewardship Award Winner: A Ripple Effect: One Neighbor's Goodwill has Led to Much Greater Giving
12 LM Success Story: The Grounds Guys: A Fresh Start
14 Best Practices: The Power of Peer Groups
16 The Benchmark: Why are We in Business?
18 Weed Watch
18 -Common Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
18 -Red Clover, Trifolium pratense
21 Special Report: Peer Power
22 -A Group Effort: Owners of Large and Small Green Industry Businesses Alike can Benefit from the Professional Companionship and Outside Perspective of Fellow Company Operators
25 -Peer Group Confidential: Two Facilitators Give Us the Inside Story About Peer Group Dynamics
28 -Raising the Bar: With Its Annual Next Level University, the Next Level Peer Group Opens Up the Discussion to Its Managers, Challenging Them to Grow and Learn from Their Counterparts
31 Market Watch
31 -Irrigation: Locking Out Backflow Device Theft: With Backflow Device Theft on the Rise, Protecting This Equipment Keeps Customers Happy and has a Positive Social Impact
32 -Maintenance: Cash Flow Woes?: Flexible Equipment Payment Options Provide Relief When Money's Tight
34 -Lawn/Tree Care: Learning from Florida: Five Tips for Dealing with State and Local Fertilizer Regulations
36 -Design/Build: Night Light: At PLANET's DBI Symposium, Landscape Lighting Expert Jan Moyer Tells Design/Build Pros There's More to Lighting the Landscape Than Meets the Eye
38 Listen Up!: Potential Hearing Loss is a Concern for You and Your Workers. Protect Your Team with a New, Free Training Course
40 Profiting from Design: Everybody Gets the Same Leads
42 Add-On Biz: Let's Roll: Bocce Ball Court Construction Drives Revenue for a Division of Brewer Landscape Construction
44 LM Reports
47 Classified Showcase
47 Resources: Ad Index
48 1-Minute Mentor: Dina Dwyer-Owens: Chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group, Parent Company to The Grounds Guys


Volume 52, No. 2

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
1 Table of Contents
2 Online Now
4 Editor's Note: About Us
6 News + Views
12 Giving Back: Planet Community Stewardship Award Winner
12 -Getting More Than You Give: Drake's 7 Dees Focuses on Helping Neighbors - In Its Own Backyard and Abroad
14 -A Good Habit: Knowing There's Always Someone in Need has Driven a Florida Company to Participate in an Array of Service Efforts
16 Best Practices: Coping with Uncertainty
18 The Benchmark: Plan Now for 2014 Health Care Reform
20 Weed Watch
20 -Eclipta, Eclipta prostrata
20 -Hairy Galinsoga, Galinsoga ciliata
22 Risk Management: Avoid Common Workers' Comp Mistakes
24 Finance Report
24 -Own Up to Your Personal Financial Planning: Six Key Focus Areas for Green Industry Business Owners
34 -Choose a Good Accountant: A Good Number Cruncher is Vital to Your Financial Success. Should Yours be an Inside Employee or an Outside Professional?
38 -Deduct T&E Expenses Right: Avoid Exposing Your Company to an Audit
43 Market Watch
43 -Irrigation: Measuring for Success: Texas A&M Researchers Seek a Simple Turfgrass Watering Formula
44 -Maintenance: No Longer an "Alternative": At Sebert Landscaping, Propane- and Battery-Powered Equipment are Business as Usual
46 -Design/Build: Park It Here: Ramp Up Your Designs by Offering Seating Options
47 -Lawn/Tree Care: 6 Ways to Make Your Website Sell: Don't Just Set It Up and Forget About It
48 LM Reports
52 Project Portfolio: Mediterranean Dining
54 Add-On Biz: Stormwater Woes: Twin Oaks Landscape Differentiates Itself by Fixing Clients' Stormwater Problems
55 Classified Showcase
55 Resources: Ad Index
56 1-Minute Mentor: Maurice Dowell: President of Dowco Enterprises Inc., St. Louis


Volume 52, No. 3

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
1 Table of Contents
2 Online Now
4 Editor's Note: Vitamin N
6 News + Views
12 Giving Back: Planet Community Stewardship Award Winner: Well Worth It: Acres Group Invests in Its Community with an Array of Service Work
16 Best Practices: Family Business Transitions
18 The Benchmark: Revenue Growth: How do You Compare?
20 Weed Watch
20 -Southern Brass Buttons, Cotula australis
20 -Lesser Swinecress, Coronopus didymus
22 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Family Businesses: Practical Advice from Experts & Execs in the Green Industry
32 On the Web: The Ins & Outs of Houzz: This Online Platform May Give Residential Landscape Designers and Design/Build Firms a Boost
39 Market Watch
39 -Irrigation: Water Reincarnated: Use of Recycled Water in Landscaping is Slowly Catching on, Researchers Say
40 -Design/Build: Finding Balance: Instituting a Few Changes Improved Business - and Quality of Life - for One Green Industry Owner
42 -Maintenance: Free Food: Educating Clients About the Benefits of Leaving Lawn Clippings is an Obstacle
44 -Lawn/Tree Care: The Grass Master: Ohio's Applicator of the Year Proves There's More to Quality Lawn Care Than Fertilizer
46 Profiting from Design: The Problem with Negotiating
48 Add-On Biz: Custom Growth: A Tucson-Based Landscape Company Finds a Unique Niche in the Maintenance Market
50 LM Reports
55 Classified Showcase
55 Resources
56 1-Minute Mentor: Bob Dobson: President of Middletown (N.J.) Sprinkler Co. and President of the Irrigation Association


Volume 52, No. 4

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
1 Table of Contents
2 Online Now
4 Editor's Note: Art of Simplicity
8 News + Views
14 Giving Back: Planet Community Stewardship Award Winner: Students and Survivors: Columbus State Community College Students and Alumni Band Together to Help Cancer Patients
16 Best Practices: Just Getting Started?
18 The Benchmark: Growing Net Profit
20 Weed Watch
20 -Slender Aster, Eurybia compacta
20 -English Lawn Daisy, Bellis perennis
22 Risk Management: Cut your Costs: Insurance Costs are Increasing - Here are a Few Tips to Keep Them Down in Four Vital Categories
50 The Old College Try: There’s a Lot to be Learned from Student Business Owners Who have Found Success
60 Social Marketing: Humanize Your Business: How Social Media Makes Your Firm More Likeable, Trustworthy and Attractive to New Customers
65 Market Watch
65 -Lawn/Tree Care: ESA at Play: RISE Serves Up the Latest on the Endangered Species Act and Its Impact on You
66 -Design/Build: What's Hot: The ASLA's 2013 Residential Trends Survey Shows Demand for Mainstay Landscape Elements Plus New Areas of Interest
68 -Maintenance: Selling on the Frontline: Encouraging Employees in the Field to Sell Add-Ons can Improve Net Profit. Here’s How to Get Started
69 -Irrigation: Intro to Lobbying: Use These Points to Guide Your Advocacy Efforts
70 Project Portfolio: Shopping in Style
72 Add-On Biz: Far East Design: Offering Japanese Gardens has been Both Profitable and Fun for This Wyoming Landscape Company
73 Build Your Business: Webinar #1: Landscape Bed Weed Control
74 LM Reports
79 Classified Showcase
79 Resources
80 1-Minute Mentor: George Gaumer: Retired V.P. and General Manager of Davey Commercial Grounds Management, Kent, Ohio
   
Lawn Care Market Report
S1 Cover
S4 Table of Contents
S5 Blue Skies Ahead: Lawn Care Operators are Positioned for a Strong 2013
S7 -What Major Pests are You Combating This Year?
S10 Share of Wallet: Lawn Care Companies are Adding Services When Looking to Grow
S13 Organics: A Balancing Act: Some Lawn Care Pros See a Rise in Demand for "Natural" Turf Service Offerings
S16 Expense Tracking: Lawn Care Operators Report Concern but Stability for 2013
S18 Is the Price Right?: Lawn Care Companies Carefully Consider Charging More
S20 Bound by Restrictions: The Industry Addresses Fertilizer and Pesticide Regulations at the Local, State and National Levels
S23 Talkin' Tech: Jerry Corbett, Technical Services Manager, Quali-Pro


Volume 52, No. 5

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
2 Table of Contents
4 Online Now
6 Editor's Note: Designation Style
8 News + Views
8 -Where Consumers Spend: PLANET/Harris Interactive's Research Reveals Consumers' Spending Habits on Professional Lawn and Landscape Services
14 Giving Back: Planet Community Stewardship Award Winner: Jumping at the Opportunity: Volunteer Efforts are Ingrained in ALCC's Culture
16 Best Practices: Knowledge: Your Secret Weapon
18 The Benchmark: Revenue Growth: Closing More Sales
20 Engine Source: Get Smart: Closed-Loop EFI Brings High-Tech Brainpower and Unmatched Fuel Efficiency to the Mower Engine
22 Weed Watch
22 -Southern Crabgrass, Digitaria ciliaris
22 -Downy Brome, Bromus tectorum
24 B the Change: Companies Seek B Corporation Status to Emphasize Stewardship of the Community, Environment and Their Employees
32 Volunteerism: Build a Better Business with Generosity: Why Companies are Pitching in to Support Charities and Their Communities
35 Market Watch
35 -Maintenance: Blade Runners: Handling Mower Blades with Care Preserves Quality and Productivity at Mainscape
36 -Irrigation: Finding 'Liquid Assets': Contractors can Add Value to Their Irrigation Services by Identifying Cost-Saving Opportunities for Clients
38 -Design/Build: One-Stop Shop: A Florida Outdoor Living Co-Op Presents Opportunities and Challenges
42 -Lawn/Tree Care: Going Organic: Several Lawn Care Pros Using Organic Soil Amendments Say They'll Never Go Back to Their Old Ways
43 Build Your Business: Webinar #2: Treating Scale
45 Snow + Ice Guide
45 -On the Home Front: Three Snow Contractors Put a New Twist on Winter's Residential Market
52 -Snow Strategy: Off-Season Analysis
54 -Products
56 Profiting from Design: Bigger Project, Smaller Deposit
58 Add-On Biz: Selling Safety: A Virginia-Based Company Profits from Safety and Damage Control Services
59 LM Reports
62 Classified Showcase
63 Resources
64 1-Minute Mentor: Bill Cox: President of Lawn Management Co. (LMC), Houston


Volume 52, No. 6

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
1 Table of Contents
2 Online Now
4 Editor's Note: Yours for the Taking
6 News + Views
12 Mailbox
14 Giving Back: Planet Community Stewardship Award Winner: Honest Work: American Profit Recovery Strives to Include Employees in Its Service Efforts
16 Best Practices: Make Training Stick
44 The Benchmark: Manage Your Capital, Banker
46 Engine Source: Cutting Edge: There's No Need to Wait for the Future of Commercial Mower Engines
48 Weed Watch
48 -Horseweed: Conyza canadensis
48 -Dogfennel: Eupatorium capillifolium
50 Risk Management: Well Covered: What You Need to Know About General Liability Insurance
52 Point & Click: A Beginner's Guide to Green Industry Pay-Per-Click Marketing
64 Side by Side: Two Landscape Industry Competitors Decide to Share Space and Find a Whole Lot More Than They Bargained for
67 Market Watch
67 -Design/Build: Getting Attached: For One Business Owner, a Small Investment in Attachments Pays Off Big
70 -Maintenance: Protecting Equipment: Pro Care Horticultural Services Minimizes Equipment Loss with a Financial Incentive
71 -Irrigation: Smart Communication: A Look Inside a Successful Smart Irrigation Month Marketing Campaign
72 -Lawn/Tree Care: It's Bed Time: Landscape Bed Weed Control is an Attractive Service Opportunity, Says One LCO
74 Project Portfolio: Room for a View
76 Add-On Biz: In Store: With Seasonal Containers, a Virginia-Based Landscape Firm Finds Work Styling the Exterior of a Boutique
78 LM Reports
81 Classified Showcase
81 Resources
82 1-Minute Mentor: Jim McCutcheon, LIC: CEO of HighGrove Partners, Austell, Ga.
   
 
LM 150: Think Big
S0 Cover
S0 Table of Contents
S1 Sponsor's View: Listening and Learning
S1a Rankings
S3 Think Big: We Analyze Data from the Green Industry's Largest 150 Firms. Plus, 13 Ideas Any Size Company can Implement to Boost Revenue and Profits
S4 Top 25: The LM 150's Leaders in Client Mix and Service Segment
S6 Double-Digit Growth Spurt: 58 LM 150 Companies Grew 10 Percent or More in 2012. Here They are and How Six of Them Continue to Grow
S8 13 Big Ideas for 2013: Any Size Company can Learn from
S19 XL: Three LM 150 Company Executives Reflect on 40 Years in the Industry and Share How They'll Celebrate Their Anniversaries
S21 LM 150 Company Index


Volume 52, No. 8

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
2 Table of Contents
4 Online Now
6 Editor's Note: Reducing Costs, Improving Lives
8 News + Views
8 -National Mall Upgrades to Propane Mowers: One-Third of the Park Division’s Mower Fleet has Changed Over from Diesel, Thanks to a PERC Donation
10 Best Practices: To Branch or Not to Branch
12 The Benchmark: Coach for Revenue Growth
14 Weed Watch
14 -Corn Speedwell, Veronica arvensis
14 -Wild Violet, Viola spp.
16 'Affordable' Care?: Though the New Health Care Law is a Tough Pill to Swallow, Small Companies May Benefit from Some Provisions
24 Are You a Resonant Leader?: Emotional Intelligence isn’t Just Feel-Good Stuff. It’s About the Bottom Line
29 Market Watch
29 -Maintenance: Welcome Wagon: The Greenery Targets New Movers for Its Residential Maintenance and Retail Garden Center Business
30 -Lawn/Tree Care: Up to Scale: How to Determine the Most Effective Methods for Treating Scale Insects
32 -Design/Build: Construction Comeback?: The Design/Build Sector Finally Shows Signs of Growth
34 -Irrigation: Sprinkler Standard in the Pipeline: Irrigation Professional Tim Malooly Shares the Latest Efforts to Implement the First U.S. Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler Standard
37 Snow + Ice Guide
37 -Summer School: Snow and Ice Management Professionals Studied Up in June and July at Several Industry Educational Events
42 -Snow Strategy: Smart Portfolio Management
44 -Products
48 Project Portfolio: Addressing Gettysburg
50 Add-On Biz: If You Build It: Carpentry Projects have Led One New Jersey Company to Launch a New Division
51 LM Reports
54 Classified Showcase
55 Resources: Ad Index
56 1-Minute Mentor: Harold Enger, LIC: Director of Education, Spring-Green, Plainfield, Ill.


Volume 52, No. 9

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
1 Table of Contents
2 Online Now
4 Editor's Note: What You do have
6 News + Views
8 Best Practices: 12 Things High-Profit Companies do
10 The Benchmark: Get the Best from Managers
12 Weed Watch
12 -Narrowleaf Hawksbeard: Crepis tectorum
12 -Bristly Oxtongue: Picris echioides
14 Zero to $250 Million: Fifteen Years in, Scotts LawnService Seeks to Balance Top- and Bottom-Line Growth for a Sustainable Future
22 And the Winner is...: Facebook
29 Market Watch
29 -Design/Build: Fostering Feedback: Client Advisory Boards Provide Business Owners an Outside Perspective
31 -Maintenance: A 'Fair' Shot at a Second Chance
35 -Lawn/Tree Care: Grub Talk: The BugDoc Answers Readers' Grub Questions
35 -[Grub and Animal Damage to Turf in Zone 9]
35 -[Grub Infestation Risk in Shaded Areas]
35 -[Treatment for Recurring Grub Infestations]
36 -Irrigation: Decoding Irrigation Certifications: Determine Which Credentials May be Good Additions for Your Business
38 Profiting from Design: The Site Visit Proposal
40 Add-On Biz: Water Ways: Aquatic Maintenance Services are a Must for Some of Terracare's Commercial Clients
42 LM Reports
47 Classified Showcase
47 Resources: Ad Index
48 1-Minute Mentor: David Frank: President and CEO, David J. Frank Landscape Contracting, Germantown, Wis.
   
 
Official Outdoor Must-See Exhibits Guide
S1 Cover
S3 Get Outside!
S3 Table of Contents
S4 Map Your Visit!
S7 AVANT Tecno USA
S8 Exmark Manufacturing
S9 Kubota Turf Equipment
S10 PermaGreen
S12 RAMROD Equipment
S13 Turfco Manufacturing
S14 Vermeer


Volume 52, No. 10

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
2 Table of Contents
4 Online Now
6 Editor's Note: Help vs. Hype
8 Best Practices: Finish Strong for a Good Year
10 The Benchmark: Confessions of a Budget Freak
12 Weed Watch
12 -Common Vetch: Vicia sativa
12 -Canada Thistle: Cirsium arvense
14 Risk Management: Protect and Save: Take These Smart Steps Toward Vehicle Insurance Savings
138 LM Reports
146 Classified Showcase
147 Resources: Ad Index
148 1-Minute Mentor: Glenn Jacobsen, LIC: President, Jacobsen Landscape Design & Construction, Midland Park, N.J.
   
 
Business Planner 2014
17 Table of Contents
18 Lead
18 -How do I Get Ready for 2014
22 -How do I Link My Company's Values to Outcomes?
26 -How do I Develop Good People?
30 -How do I Motivate My Staff?
34 Run
34 -What Key Performance Indicators should I Track?
38 -When is Overtime Ok?
40 -What if I can't Sell My Business?
44 -What if I Get Audited?
48 -How do I Improve Cash Flow?
50 -What's the ROI for Efficiency Training?
76 -How Many Support Staff do I Need?
80 -Should I Consider Open-Book Management?
82 Grow
82 -What should I be doing to Grow My Business?
84 -How do I Avoid Competing on Price?
86 -How do I Market to Produce a Rainfall of Leads
90 -What should be Part of My Branding Repository?
92 -How do I Build a World-Class Sales Team?
94 -How can I Get More Sales?
98 -How can I Generate Buzz?
101 Supplier Resource Profiles
   
 
The Industry Pulse: 2013
S1 Cover
S1 Table of Contents
S3 Sponsor's Word: A Clear Focus
S4 Industry Overview: Ahead of the Curve
S10 M&A Outlook: Eyeing Their Moves: Green Industry Buyers and Sellers aren't Making Many Moves Just Yet
S14 Commercial Market: Quality Comeback: Pricing is Still a Concern on the Commercial Side of the Business, but the Tide May be Starting to Turn
S16 Consumer Market: Picking Up Steam: The Green Industry Benefits as Residential Customers become More Comfortable with Their Finances
S18 Labor Report: Force to Reckon with: As the Labor Market Tightens, Landscape Contractors Continue to Struggle to Fill Key Positions
S20 Costs Report: Expecting Increases: Landscapes Companies Seek Savings as They Plan for Cost Increases in Many Areas of Their Businesses
S23 Q&A: Last Question: We Asked Green Industry Pros What's on Their Minds Right Now


Volume 52, No. 11

Page Section/Selected Titles
0 Cover
2 Table of Contents
4 Online Now
6 Editor's Note: Closing the Gap
8 News + Views
12 Best Practices: Financial Dashboard Starter Kit
14 The Benchmark: 6 Habits of Successful Salespeople
16 Weed Watch
16 -Hairy Fleabane: Conyza bonariensis or Erigeron bonariensis
16 -Hairy Bittercress: Cardamine hirsuta
18 Hiring Heroes: Employing Veterans is About More Than Honoring Their Sacrifices. Why You should Consider Recruiting Former and Current Service Members
22 -My Military Experience: How Two Green Industry Business Owners have Turned Their Military Service into Private-Sector Success
25 Finance: Controller or CFO: What's the Difference?
27 Market Watch
27 -Irrigation: Harvesting Savings: A California Company Focuses on "Smart" Landscaping and Irrigation to Reduce Clients' Water Use
29 -Maintenance: History in the Making: Providence Landscape Gets the Chance to Redesign and Maintain a Proven Winners Signature Garden at 100-Year-Old The Duke Mansion
30 -Lawn/Tree Care: 35-mph Grass: How One Landscape Company Uses Ecolawns as Part of Its Mix
32 -Design/Build: Money Talks: A Plus Lawn and Landscape Grabs Attention with a Unique Marketing Ploy
34 Profiting from Design: The Last Proposal You'll have to Write
36 Add-on Biz: Off the (Green) Wall: Green Wall and Roof Installations are a Profitable Endeavour for the LaurelRock Co.
38 LM Reports
42 Classified Showcase
43 Resources: Ad Index
44 1-Minute Mentor: Chris Williams: Owner of Landscape of South, Canton, Ga.