The SPRINT of SPRING

Well, everybody, believe it or not, it’s that time of year to shake off the snowy remnants of winter, dust off the maintenance equipment that’s been hibernating in the shed and get your crews ready to warm themselves up as we head into the sprint that is the busy spring season.

Of course, it’s important to remember that some regions may get hit with a stray snow storm here or there in the early spring months, but for the most part, it’s time for landscape professionals around the country to “rise and grind.”

To get that momentum going—and keep it going—we have quite a spread of fresh content and ideas for you to think about as we kick off the season.

Our cover story gives a rundown of what landscape pros can expect from the latest mower technology and how they can use it to their advantage (p. 12); our business management department provides insight on what companies can do to make sure their bench is stacked throughout the season (p. 16); our mowing and maintenance department lists the different types of maintenance landscape pros should be performing on equipment so it’s ready to go with minimal downtime this season and offers up a few mulching tips (p. 24); and our irrigation section explains how irrigation professionals can properly install smart controllers and what they can do to recycle outdated irrigation components (p. 34).

Outside of this issue, we’re also gearing up to present our annual Women in the Green Industry Award, the winner of which will be profiled in our May/June issue. And, on social media, we’re rearing to go on our Mower Madness campaign, which will pit the industry’s top mowers against one another and ask you, our audience, to vote on your favorites.

Stay tuned to our social media channels for more on those initiatives. In the meantime, I wish you all a healthy and productive spring season!

What are you most looking forward to this spring season? I’d love to hear your thoughts—and I’m sure your fellow readers would to. Email your ideas to swebb@acbusinessmedia.com or connect with me on LinkedIn by following the QR code below.

EDITORIAL

Editor Sarah Webb swebb@acbusinessmedia.com

Managing Editor Gigi Wood gwood@acbusinessmedia.com

Associate Editor Emry Lloyd elloyd@acbusinessmedia.com

Technology Editor Charles Rathmann crathmann@acbusinessmedia.com

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Audience Development Manager Angela Franks

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Sales Representative Kris Flitcroft kflitcroft@acbusinessmedia.com

AC BUSINESS MEDIA

Chief Executive Officer Ron Spink

Chief Financial Officer JoAnn Breuchel

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Chief Digital Officer Kris Heineman

VP, Audience Development Ronda Hughes

VP, Operations & IT Nick Raether

Content Director............................................... Marina Mayer

Director, Online & Marketing Services Bethany Chambers

Content Director, Marketing Services Jess Lombardo

Director, Demand Generation & Education Jim Bagan

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Megan Perleberg mperleberg@acbusinessmedia.com