Green Industry Pros May/June 2022

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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S VOLUME 34, NO.04 | MAY/JUNE 2022

THE MANAGEMENT RESOURCE FOR LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS AND EQUIPMENT DEALERS

COVER STORY

10. Women in the Green Industry The inside scoop on this year’s Women in the Green Industry Award winners, including overall winner Linda Nelson (pictured), president of Greenscapes.

10

DEPARTMENTS

04. E DITOR’S NOTE 06. D IGITAL HITS 08. F RESH CLIPPINGS

F E AT U R E S

News from around the industry

30. P ROJECT PROFILE

14. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | W HY SOFTWARE IS KEY IN GROWING

Great Outdoors, Ann Arbor, Mich.

YOUR BUSINESS

Jay Worth of SingleOps explains how software can benefit green industry companies and offers suggestions on how to get started.

32. E QUIPMENT FOCUS

Snow removal products

34. CONTRACTOR PROFILE

16. LAWN CARE | KEY BENEFITS OF USING SOIL AMENDMENTS A look at how soil amendments can offer solutions to soils lacking organic matter.

Pierre Bridger, director of operations, Vibrant Outdoors

20. MOWING + MAINTENANCE | MOWER MAINTENANCE MUSTS Mowing experts from John Deere and Husqvarna explain what landscape professionals need to know when it comes to mower maintenance.

22. EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY | IN-CAB TECHNOLOGY DRIVES SAFETY How companies can use driver apps and dash cam technology to discourage distracted driving and monitor driver behavior.

26. HARDSCAPES & DESIGN | M ICROSPACES: DESIGNING FOR CLIENTS WITH SMALLER LOTS

Ideas design pros can share with clients who are looking to spice up smaller spaces with hardscaping and plant life.

28. LIGHTING & IRRIGATION | KEYS TO SMART WATER MANAGEMENT The Irrigation Association celebrates pioneers of the irrigation industry and the innovators focusing on smart irrigation and the future of water management. www.greenindustrypros.com

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

BY SARAH WEBB

CLEARING T

THE PATH

he ratio of men to women in the green industry hovers around 9:1, depending on which source you consult.

There is no doubt that the green industry has made some progress in its inclusion of female employees and leaders over the past several years, but I’d venture to say that there is still a lot more work that can be done.

I have talked a lot in my last few columns about getting out of my comfort zone, especially when I first started reporting on the green industry—I am a female in a very male-dominated field.

While I have grown more accustomed to being one of a few women in rooms full of men, I’m still aware that I stand out.

I’m sure many of this year’s winners of Green Industry Pros’ inaugural Women in the Green Industry Award have felt the same at one point or another in their careers, whether they’re attending a trade show, out talking to customers or even leading an all-staff meting at their own companies.

In fact, this year’s winner, Linda Nelson, president of Greenscapes, spoke on exactly that topic and shared ways in which the industry can make strides to add more women into that room full of men. You can find that story on p. 10 and a full list of this year’s winners on p. 12.

For nearly every story I write, I’m told by sources that the green industry is struggling with labor, despite it being a viable and fulfilling career path.

Why not fill that labor gap with more female employees?

And for those women already thriving in the industry, why not encourage other women that they can do the same?

Linda Nelson said it best when she stated: “Many great women have cleared the path for us, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that no weeds grow in that path and that it stays clear so we can get other women to keep pushing forward.”

So, what strategies is your company implementing to clear that path and add more women into the ranks? I’d love to hear them—and I’m sure your fellow readers would to. Email your ideas to swebb@acbusinessmedia.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Published by AC Business Media 201 N. Main Street, 5th Floor Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 538-5544

Volume 34, Number 04

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DIGITAL HITS

THE LATEST ONLINE GET PUBLISHED

Green Industry Pros wants to highlight the landscaping projects you have completed in past seasons. From hardscaping to lighting and design, introduce us to the projects that showcase your company’s landscaping talents. What are you most proud of? What challenges did you face along the way? What would you do differently? We want to hear it all! Reach out to Editor Sarah Webb at swebb@ acbusinessmedia.com or Associate Editor Hannah Gooch at hgooch@acbusinessmedia.com today.

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STAY SOCIAL

As a supplement to our main feature on Linda Nelson, president of Greenscapes in Naples, Fla., this year’s inaugural winner of the Women in Green Industry Award, Editor Sarah Webb sat down for a chat with Nelson about what it takes to be a female in a male-dominated industry, successes and challenges she has faced throughout her career and more. Be sure to check out that conversation and others using the QR code. Do you have an interesting story that you’d like to talk about on our podcast? Email your ideas to Green Industry Pros Editor Sarah Webb at swebb@acbusinessmedia.com, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode of our Grass Roots podcast.

To stay up to date on the latest happenings around the green industry, be sure to follow Green Industry Pros’ social media channels: @Syifa5610.adobe.stock.com

6 GREEN INDUSTRY PROS

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FRESH CLIPPINGS

PROJECT EVERGREEN, I WANT TO MOW YOUR LAWN PAIR UP

T

wo nonprofit organizations that offer mowing services to certain groups are teaming up.

Project EverGreen, which offers free basic lawn care and maintenance services to military personnel, and I Want to Mow Your Lawn, a nonprofit that provides lawn services to the elderly, military veterans and others, are teaming up to “expand their bandwidth” and offer more services to more people.

“Forming an alliance to help more military families, veterans and other deserving individuals made sense for many reasons,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Our two organizations together can cast a wider net and help more families and individuals enjoy all the benefits healthy, accessible green spaces have to offer.”

These initiatives provide the platform for individuals and

businesses with the skills and bandwidth needed to maintain healthy lawns, which, in turn, deliver peace of mind to families during stressful times such as deployments or rehabbing from a service-related injury. The alliance will work to raise the profile and availability of the programs to fill current gaps and the opportunity for new volunteers to give back to their communities.

“The partnership will multiply efforts to provide relief for families of active military and give back to those who ©Dmytro – stock.adobe.com have proudly served our country,” said Brian Schwartz, founder of I Want to Mow Your Lawn. “It’s our way to say thank you for the service and sacrifices families make to protect our freedoms.”

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The Hearts of Stihl program is designed to help preserve state parks throughout the United States.

Stihl has launched its Hearts of Stihl program, aimed at preserving state parks throughout the United States. The program will give $20,000 to a state park in six different regions of the country. Parks can apply for grants to be used on projects associated with sustainability and conservation.

“For more than 15 years, Stihl has been privileged to support America’s State Parks, and this program allows us to expand our efforts to help in the conservation and care of these national treasures,” said Roger Phelps, Stihl corporate spokesperson. “Hearts of Stihl is a natural extension of the Stihl commitment to caring for our environment and making it easier for people to work in and with nature.”

The 2021 Hearts of Stihl program focused on the planting of 2,021 trees in two western state parks in response to the effects of the 2020 wildfires. The project included Oregon and California state parks workers, as well as hazardous tree felling and training by arborist and Stihl Spokesperson Mark Chisholm and others.

“Following the wildfires in 2020, Stihl demonstrated its

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commitment to environmental conservation, stepping up to aid in our recovery efforts,” said Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “The program helped Collier State Park and its community get a leg up in the healing and recovery from such devastating wildfires.”

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 9

COVER STORY

BY SARAH WEBB

FEMALE

Forging A Path

While the green industry has made steps in the right direction when it comes to the promotion and inclusion of female employees and leaders over the past several years, there’s still more work to be done.

That is why Green Industry Pros magazine is honored to recognize those women who are forging the path for others through our inaugural Women in the Green Industry Award.

The award was developed to honor outstanding female leaders in the green industry whose accomplishments offer a road map for other leaders looking to leverage the landscape industry for competitive advantage. The hope is that these women who have been selected will inspire even more women to choose careers in the green industry.

“Many great women have cleared the path for me, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that no weeds grow up in that path and it stays clear for other women to keep pushing forward,” says Linda Nelson, president of Greenscapes and overall winner of Green Industry Pros’ Women in the Green Industry Award.

Congratulations to Linda and to our other winners of the Women in the Green Industry Award. Be sure to check out the list of overall winners on page 12 and Nelson’s story beginning here.

Frontrunners

Linda Nelson, president of Greenscapes and winner of the inaugural Women in the Green Industry Award, describes her journey in the green industry and how she got where she is today.

Clearing The Way

Greenscapes

10 GREEN INDUSTRY PROS

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www.greenindustrypros.com

When Linda Nelson attended her first landscape conference in the 1980s, male attendees often mistook her for conference center waitstaff, asking her for coffee refills or for directions to the restroom.

“They were not accustomed to me being there so it came as a challenge,” Nelson says. “It was the way we were cultured. Women went to college to find husbands, become teachers or become nurses. Very few went to college

Humble Beginnings

Nelson got her start in the industry by laboring at her family’s landscape company, started by her mother before Nelson was born.

“The green industry was always in my nature because my mother opened up her landscape company pretty much the same day that she found out that she was pregnant with me,” Nelson says. “I love the green industry because you’re giving something back and you’re getting to see things grow. I can honestly say I have never gone to work a day in my life. It’s a rewarding field.”

Under her leadership, Greenscapes transformed from a small residential lawn care firm with two parttime employees and two fulltime employees into a commercial company with a clientele of condominium and homeowners’ associations. The 286-employee company was recently acquired by The Sperber Cos., and Nelson continues to serve as president of Greenscapes.

In addition to leading Greenscapes, Nelson continues to give back to the landscape industry. She serves on a Collier County committee to assist in

Greenscapes

to come out and do landscaping.”

Nelson, president of Greenscapes in Naples, Fla., refused to let those (often unintentional) snubs discourage her. If anything, she doubled down, building her family’s small landscaping firm into one of the largest landscape enterprises in Southwest Florida.

“It was more into the early `90s when I started to get the recognition of Greenscapes being a female-owned company,” Nelson says. “It’s been great to see it evolve, and it’s been very rewarding to see more women get involved in this industry.”

The green industry has come a long way since Nelson was identified as someone who did not belong in the industry, but there is still room for improvement.

Nelson shares her story in hopes that women and men alike will thrive in the industry.

the development of local codes that have impact upon landscaping and the preservation of the environment, The University of Florida’s IFAS has asked her to speak and teach on numerous occasions and The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association sought her input during the development of The Horticultural Professional, a textbook that is used throughout the state.

A certified best management practices instructor, Nelson also singlehandedly developed a standardized, comprehensive 12-hour curriculum for a local 83-year-old nonprofit, The Wonder Gardens, establishing the Florida Landscaping Expert Certification program. She delivers the adult learning program every year.

Despite her successes, Nelson has experienced hurdles as a female in a male-dominated industry even outside of conferences, for example, when she would go out to talk to potential customers.

“You could feel communities going out to bid show favoritism toward the men sitting in the room,” Nelson says.

However, Nelson says that mentality is changing.

“Now as there are more landscape committees being female based, you can see the dynamics in the room changing, but it’s about the introduction,” Nelson says. “It’s introducing an industry that has been historically male-dominated to the value and benefits of the female perspective. Celebrating and welcoming diversity in our company

www.greenindustrypros.com

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has been a key driver in our success.”

Geared for Growth

Nelson attributes her tremendous success to two main factors: continuing education and her team.

In fact, her nomination form stated: “Linda’s belief in and reliance upon education and training has always considered the alignment of objectives and company goals. Linda thoroughly enjoys witnessing employee ‘firsts’ that being part of Greenscapes provides; whether this is an employee’s first successful sentence in English or a first car purchase or moving his or her family into their own home, her delight is apparent. Linda loves helping all of her employees succeed and does so by providing educational opportunities and mindfully working to reduce any barriers that could hamper that success.”

Intertwining employees and training programs, Nelson developed a teambased operating strategy built upon comprehensive educational training programs to make the team proficient in various functions. Each team has a team captain who supervises the members in their expertise in areas such as trimming, mowing or installations.

To further keep employees accountable, Nelson created collateral materials to achieve these goals, and the company sets clear goals and performance measures, provides continual training and then measures performance.

Nelson’s educational pathways for employees have resulted in several women assuming supervisory and

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 11

COVER STORY Beth Berry

VP of Turf and Ornamental | Advanced Turf Solutions

Allison Berry

Molly John

Norma Lynn Haughwout

Sandy Munley

Bridget Donovan

Ramona Black

Co-Owner | Environmental Landscape Solutions

Kersten Dupree

Team Leader, Quality Control | Forrest Green Landscaping

General Manager | Aggieland Green, A Green Group Co.

Ashley Miller

CFO | Allison Outdoor

Director of Maintenance Operations | Genesis Landscape Solutions

Judy Gausman

Linda Evanitus

Corporate Officer | Arizona Landscape Contractors Association

Naslha Espinal

Office Manager | Grasshopper Lawns

Ann Moore

Chief Leadership Officer | BASE4

VP & Co-Owner | Grassperson Lawn & Landscape

Loriena Harrington

Rebecca Rose

President | Beautiful Blooms Landscape and Design

Bonnie Pickett

Operations Manager | Beechfield Landscaping

Sara Hey

VP of Business Development & Speaker | Bob Clements International

Colleen K. Chappell

Office Manager | Perennial Landscape Corp.

Kathleen Litchfield

Owner, Lead Designer | Petro

Dawn Oldag

Accounting Manager | Pleasant Places

Tanya Taylor

Chief Estimator | Pleasant Places

Linda Adams

Ashley Lopez

Crystal Dahlberg

Office Manager | Green and Clean Landscaping and Construction

Carita Koen

Chief Marketing Officer | Green Magic Landscapes

Abbie Jackson

Amanda Corr

Media and Marketing Director | Green Side Landscaping

Rebecca Bullene

President | Greenery NYC

Kristy Nixon

Executive Director | Ohio Landscape Association, The

Plant Health Care Specialist, Division Head | Great Outdoors

Owner | CC’s Landscape And Garden Senior Account Manager | Center Cut Landscape Management

CEO | MJ Design Associates

Grounds Maintenance Specialist, James Island County Park | Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission

Linda Rae Nelson

Annette Marie Mercer

Mekaela Arellano

President | Greenscapes of Southwest Florida

Owner | Quality Lawn & Landscape Owner | Queen Bee’z Lawn & Garden

Kelly Gilligan

VP of Shearon Environmental Design, Chester County Diviision | Shearon Environmental Design Co.

Carla Sebesta

Partner/Owner | Texas Landscape Group/Coastal Green

Kira Williams

Senior Service Manager (Pompano, FL Branch) | TruGreen

Brenda Barney

Region Director (Plains Region) | TruGreen

Garden Center Manager | Grizzly’s Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping

Susan Allen

Kim Hren

Mary Kay Woodworth

Groundskeeper | Cross Keys Village, The Brethren Home Community

Linda Silich

Vickie Lea Coonrod

Alex Julius

Rachel Henningsen

Jennifer Lemcke

Jaylene Walter

Wendy Wightman

Janna Bradley

Jennifer Wilson

Landscape Designer/Sales | Corso’s Landscape

Jessica Coutu

General Manager | Countrybrook Farms

Sheri Becker

Owner | Groundworks Landscaping Owner | Groundworks Landscaping

Employee Development and Safety Training Specialist | Davey Tree Expert Co., The

Co-Owner | Henningsen Property Maintenance Owner | J. Walter Landscape & Irrigation

Karen Wise

VP, Environmental Consulting, Davey Resource Group | Davey Tree Expert Co., The

Dana Karcher

Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder | Landscape Management Network (LMN)

Project Developer & Area Manager Environmental Consulting, Davey Resource Group | Davey Tree Expert Co., The

Debbie Alexander

Lisa Liberati

Angela Hayward

Office Manager | D. Liberati Concrete

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Operations Manager | Landscapers Supply CEO & President | Leisurescapes

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www.greenindustrypros.com

Market General Manager (Dayton) | TruGreen Executive Director | Urban Ag Council (UAC) President | Vickie Lea Designs CEO | Weed Man, Mosquito Hero, Turfbot Officer | Wightman’s Landscaping CEO & Operating Owner | Wilson Nurseries

Nancy L. Barbour

Owner | Yard Barbours, The

Jennifer Rodriguez

Talent Manager | Yard Solutions

Greenscapes

for $500,000 worth of work every year.’

So it’s building them up that way.”

Nelson’s development of her employees doesn’t start and stop with only women, however. Several Greenscapes employees are the third generation of their families to work for the company, and under her tutelage and with her blessing, some have even gone on to open up their own companies.

“It energizes me and makes me to

want to go out and inspire more and to see how I can reach and help,” Nelson says. “I hope that I’m planting enough seeds that these ‘trees’ will grow and provide shelter and shade for generations to come.”

Looking Ahead

For other women looking to build a career in the landscape industry, Nelson encourages them to open the door and take the first step forward for themselves “Women have so many talents and sometimes, they don’t allow themselves to express those talents because they’re going back to that 1980s mentality that it’s a man’s career when it’s quite the contrary,” Nelson says.

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management roles, decades before other companies caught on to the practice.

She jokes that her company was the “Wild West” in the late `80s with a 95 percent female installation team.

Now, women comprise 30 percent of general entry, 50 percent of middle management and 70 percent of senior level positions at Greenscapes.

Nelson says promoting careers in the landscape industry as a viable career path for women has been a natural fit for the company.

“Everyone is treated equally, everyone’s got a job to do, whether you’re male or female,” Nelson says.

“It’s also about good identification.

Future employees identify with that person in the picture in our hiring brochures. Part of our employee development is talking to some of these women and saying, ‘I was in the field, but now I’m an operation managers two years later, responsible

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 13

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

WHY SOFTWARE IS KEY

In Growing Your Business

stock.adobe/AndSus

Jay Worth of SingleOps explains how software can benefit green industry companies and offers suggestions on how to get started.

I

n January 2020, Salesforce released its “State of the Connected Customer” report. It stated that 75 percent of consumers expected a business to use technology to deliver a better customer experience.

A survey from Oracle showed 77 percent of consumers felt that inefficiencies in their service experience “detracted from their quality of life.”

Also, 84 percent of businesses that improved the experience for their customers saw an increase in revenue.

The research is explicit: You should be using software.

The Benefits More professional proposals, generating proposals faster, tracking job histories, improved job scheduling functions, automated communication and reporting are among several benefits of software.

In addition, your customers expect you to use this. The tools are available. You have adopted the usage of the internet, email and cellphones. Why would you still use old-fashioned methods to send pro-

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posals and manage job scheduling?

In short, if you’re not using software to help you keep track of proposals, questions from clients or to send work orders to your field labor, you’re missing the mark in 2022.

What To Look For Think about the service lines that you currently offer. Which are you trying to grow? Which are most profitable?

If your focus is design/build, look for software that allows you to propose large planting jobs and hardscaping.

If you run a lawn care business, focus on something that caters to recurring visits. For tree care companies and full-service landscapers, you want something that quickly does both recurring jobs and one-off job proposals.

Here are some items that you should consider.

Time tracking: Do you need to keep track of the hours spent on the jobsite? How about the ability for crew members to clock in and out?

Scheduling: How easy is it to schedule work in the software? What about if you

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www.greenindustrypros.com

have a cancellation: Can you rearrange without throwing off the whole day?

What about batch rescheduling (in case you get rained out for an entire day)?

Automation: What things will the software do for you automatically?

Following up on outstanding proposals or communicating with customers can save you many hours per week.

Implementation: From “signed contract” to “using the software daily,” how long does that take?

Customer support: Take a look at some reviews. Talk to people you know who are currently using the software and ask what their experience has been. Is the customer support team responsive when there’s an issue?

Product improvement: What is that company doing to improve the product? How are they listening to their customers about what they need from the software?

Jay Worth

Marketing Manager SingleOps

L AWN CARE

KEY BENEFITS

OF USING SOIL AMENDMENTS

While healthy soil is critical to the success of most landscape projects, most soils are underamended with organic matter, leading to a host of challenging issues. Here’s how amendments can offer solutions to soils lacking organic matter.

M

ost landscape projects require soil conditioning and fertilization. Fertilizing is an additive process based on need by identifying the missing nutrient and adding it to the soil. Soil amendments correct a problem or condition that already exists in the soil. Typically, soil amendments address various existing (or created) soil problems like low organic matter, compaction and water penetration or retention.

The key to improving soil is identifying the limiting issue and then finding the correct product to address that issue. Before starting any project, it’s wise to test the soil for problems. Some soil conditions are easier to change than others; soil texture, for example, cannot be altered without excavation. Soil texture describes the composition of sand, silt and clay. Unless the project allows for a large amount of added topsoil, the soil texture will not change with the addition of soil amendments.

Let’s say, for example, that the project at hand has

compacted, tight clay soil. It’s impossible to change a predominantly clay soil texture, but there are amendments that change how those clay particles aggregate. Without any disruption, clay particles will stack up like microscopic plates or sheets in the soil, leaving no room for water and oxygen to penetrate. Add soil amendments to reduce this problem.

The No. 1 tool proven to fix soil issues is organic matter.

Soil organic matter is the foundation of every healthy and productive soil. Unfortunately, soils are underamended with organic matter on most landscape projects. Adding to the soil organic matter will likely fix many existing soil problems. The best way to address this issue is to review the soil test; if the soil organic matter is under three percent, add soil conditioners containing organic matter.

Not all soil amendments (containing organic matter) behave the same way. Organic matter is typically described by its stage of decomposition and the effects the microbes have on the

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organic matter (whether they degrade it or stabilize it). Compost, aged manure and work casting are examples of active organic matter soil amendments. While these products are great for feeding soil microbes and loosening up the soil, they are quickly degraded by soil microbes.

Stable organic matter is the component of soil organic matter that is no longer being degraded by soil microbes. Humic acid, for example, is a stable organic matter that persists in the soil for decades and centuries.

Humic acids are the decomposed remnants of living organisms, similar to extremely old compost and, for the most part, are fully digested by soil microbes. The sequestered carbon that builds up in the topsoil over centuries is primarily humic substances like humic acid. These stable organic acids are typically described by their molecular weight and can be separated into three subgroups: fulvic, humic and humin.

Why Amend?

The construction and landscaping process disturbs the topsoil to the extent that much of the carbon stored in the topsoil is no longer where it should be. Often, the approach is to add some compost or wood shavings to replace the lost soil organic matter.

The problem with this approach is that the soil microbes actively digest these amendments. As much as 60 to 80 percent of compost or manure is digested by soil microbes and lost within the first year, leaving the soil and entering the air as carbon dioxide.

Humic acids are stable and persist in the soil for decades after application.

Humic acids in a granular form are called humates. Commercially available humates are derived from mined ore deposits, which are an accumulation of ancient plant material. Humates spread like fertilizer and work well as a soil amendment. Broadcast applications of

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@wordweaver.adobe.stock.com

L AWN CARE

humate on established plants and turf work well, but more soil incorporation is encouraged on new installations.

Water conservation is greatly impacted by soil organic matter. How does it do this? The answer has to do with how the organic matters loosens the soil by forming aggregates. The space between the aggregates is called porosity. Organic matter increases soil porosity by adding macropores and micropores to a soil profile. This additional space in the soil allows it more room for air and water conservation.

Humates contribute to passive soil organic matter. The application of humate in the soil can release plants’ nutrients that used to be locked up.

Because humates can release and store nutrients, manufacturers will often blend humates with fertilizers.

When purchasing humates, look at the label for additional ingredients that may have been added.

One beneficial characteristic of soil organic matter is its high cation exchange capacity, commonly referred

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to as CEC. Fertilizers are made up of two components, and each has a positive and negative charge. The positively charged fertilizer components are called cations. This means that some fertilizers are attracted to soil organic matter, meaning they help store the nutrient.

By increasing CEC, more fertilizer is stored, which helps keep nutrients available to ensure plants are healthy and growing. Storing fertilizer longer in the soil also reduces the runoff of plant nutrients into rivers, lakes and oceans.

Humates are used for the following purposes: to add stable organic matter to the soil, make more efficient use of applied fertilizer and water, condition clay and sandy soils and mitigate the effects of salts. The longterm impact of humates complements conservation goals, making them a wise choice for the property owner.

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MOWING AND MAINTENANCE

BY SARAH WEBB

MAINTENANCE MUSTS

Mowing experts from John Deere and Husqvarna explain what landscape pros need to know when it comes to mower maintenance.

A

s landscape professionals enter peak mowing season, it’s crucial that they keep their fleet maintained properly.

“If landscapers don’t perform routine maintenance, they could have breakdowns, and when the machines are down, they’re not making money,” says Brian Aldinger, product manager for John Deere. “It also keeps machines operating at peak performance.”

Aldinger and Sean Dwyer, product manager at Husqvarna, lay out what landscape pros should do to keep their mower fleet running like a well-oiled machine.

the mower deck is level from side to side and has the proper deck rate.

• Ensure the underside of the mower deck is free of debris.

• Inspect the collection bag where relevant. A season of collecting grass clippings can slowly restrict the breathability of the bag. Users can wash the bag with high-pressure water from the outside in.

prior season, Dwyer says.

“This should be done so the mower deck, for example, doesn’t sit over the winter with caked-on grass clippings that will only become more difficult to remove,” Dwyer says.

“Likewise with the engine: Running the engine out of fuel and replacing the engine oil and air filter will give the best results when spring hits.”

Aldinger agrees that many maintenance items can be taken care of in the offseason.

“This way, machines are ready to go, and it minimizes downtime later,” he says.

The Checklist

Stock up on essentials

• S tart the season with fresh engine oil and a new oil filter.

• Inspect the air filter system, spark plugs and fuel filter and replace if needed.

• Check the hydraulic oil level to see if it is time to change the transmission oil filter according to the recommended service intervals.

• Check the machine for leaks and lubricate all the service points.

• Inspect the tires, check the air pressure and adjust properly.

• Ensure that the batteries charged for electric machines.

• Examine the controls and control linkages, parking brake, safety interlock system and safety guards and shields.

• Look over the machine for any loose, missing or damaged parts.

• Inspect the mower deck drive traction belt drives and verify that the

For those times when a mower inevitably needs a new part, it saves time and money to keep those supplies on hand.

“With the current climate of supply chain headwinds, stocking up on key maintenance items like air filters, mower blades, drive belts and control cables will result in reduced downtime,” Dwyer says Aldinger suggests sourcing all those parts from one store location.

“That saves the mechanic time instead of having to go from store to store,” Aldinger says.

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Refer to the operator’s manual Husqvarna

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The operator manual is great resource.

“There are recommended service intervals according to the engine hours, and there is a list of items to check and inspect before and after each use,” Aldinger says.

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EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

BY CURT BENNINK

IN-CAB TECHNOLOGY Drives Safety

Discourage distracted driving and monitor driver behavior with driver apps and dash cam technology.

stock.adobe/AndreyKuzmin

Situational App Use Drives Safety

Trying to limit use through broad company policies has not proven very effective.

For example, when employees are

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on a jobsite, they may need access to certain applications. When that employee is in a vehicle, access to most applications, except hands-free calling, can be temporarily restricted.

The use will be determined by the employer policy. The technology itself relies on contextual indicators.

“We are not interested in monitoring where people are. There are tracking technology companies that do that,” Boyle says. “We go after the root cause of the issue, which is that we’re addicted to our devices. We stare at

eletrac Navman

D

istracted and inattentive driving are leading causes of vehiclerelated accidents as the influx of mobile technologies competes for drivers’ attention. In-cab solutions help minimize multitasking during critical drive time and detect drowsy driving, aggressive driving and threats from other vehicles on the road.

“It all boils down to the individual employee’s context, such as their proximity to heavy equipment, work group and time of day, for example,” says Joseph Boyle, Truce CEO. “Mobile device permissions adjust automatically and in real time as the employee’s environment changes throughout a shift. Dynamic enforcement of an employer’s mobile device policy based on each employee’s real-time context helps ensure workers are safe and productive, while still giving them the freedom to keep their mobile device on them throughout a shift. We don’t believe phone bans in work environments are the answer.”

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them constantly, most of the time not even realizing that we’re doing it.”

Beyond mobile technology distractions, there are other factors such as driver fatigue and aggressive driving habits that can lead to increased risk. In-cab camera technologies address these issues and protect drivers and companies from liability from accidents caused by other roads users.

On one side, this technology proactively reduces accidents.

“The other side is more incident management or incident capture so

that you can coach drivers, which will ultimately result in safer driving and on-road behavior,” says Mayank Sharma, head of global product management and UX, Teletrac Navman.

Other benefits include driver retention, lower insurance costs and minimizing maintenance costs.

“There is actually a connection between using this data and going to your insurance company to say my fleet is safer, and my premiums should be lower based on how my drivers drive,” Sharma says. “Also, driving safer by not braking too much and not cornering too harshly helps you with maintenance costs and fuel reduction costs.”

Additionally, dash cam technology presents a clear picture of driving events.

“First of all, video provides visual proof and context around telematics-triggered events,” says Andrew Rybak, business development manager, marketplace, Geotab. “It can reveal what the driver

was doing when a harsh braking event occurred. Video captured by dash cam can be used as evidence when a driver is incorrectly deemed at fault for an accident. The installation of a dash cam can immediately reduce accidents or close calls through alerts for unsafe behavior. Some drivers will also be more mindful knowing that a camera is monitoring their driving.”

Not all dash cams are the same.

For example, John Palmer, GM of transportation intelligence, Omnitracs, notes there are dash cams that simply record audio and video to capture information in and around the vehicle as well as more proactive safety systems that are integrated with the vehicle that will alert the driver if they are distracted, fatigued, following too closely or unsafely maneuvering the vehicle.

The driver-facing camera is important for implementation of proactive systems.

“For fleets unwilling to capture what

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is going on inside the cabin, they may install a road-facing-only dash cam, block the driver-facing camera or use the driver-facing camera as a sensor that does not capture video,” Rybak says.

“However, the most effective approach to keeping everyone safe usually includes a road- and driver-facing camera.”

The inward-facing camera is very focused on driver behavior. According to Sharma, phone usage is the most commonly recorded violation captured, followed by seat belt use.

Cameras will give you a true picture of what is happening in the fleet. “With cabin-facing dashboard cameras, the most common events typically captured are cellphone use, drowsy driving, eating or drinking distractions, improper seat belt use and tampering with the camera,” says Rybak. “With road-facing cams, they can capture forwardcollision warnings, stop sign violations, risky lane departures and unsafe

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following distance.”

Safety systems can leverage DriveCam streaming data in real time to measure impending inclement weather and advise the driver to reduce speed. It can also monitor vehicle health and the location of a vehicle to dispatch maintenance when there is an issue where they are parked unsafely.

AI technology can gauge the condition of the driver by tracking the iris and the direction the driver is looking.

“Those technologies are available, and they’re pretty mature,” Sharma says. “You are able to pretty accurately detect if the driver is distracted; it’s called engaged tracking. There is also head tilt tracking; if your head is tilted down, you really can’t focus on the road. You are focusing on something else.” Audible alerts are used to get the driver refocused.

Other technologies detect risk using a combination of sensors such as accelerometers, machine vision and artificial intelligence.

“Accelerometers allow us to capture unsafe driving events such as hard acceleration, braking, speeding, cornering and high G-force events,” says Ofelia Chernock, senior product marketing manager, Lytx. “Machine vision and AI provide additional vehicle and driver movements that can help identify risky and distracted driving.”

To ensure a successful implementation, companies need to communicate with drivers. “It is just transparency.

You need to be open with your drivers about what you are actually recording and for what purposes.”

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Real-time monitoring through integrated technologies can proactively prevent accidents. However, there is a balancing act. Too many alerts coming from multiple devices can actually cause the warning devices to become the distraction.

“Because we are starting to see a breadth of safety alerts in the vehicle, it is important to integrate with the vehicle to only alert the driver from one system,” Palmer says. “For example, if the vehicle has a forward collision warning system, the dash cam will not confuse the driver by offering up duplicate alerts at the same time. With the growing breadth of potential alerts that may be given to the driver at any time, visual or text to speech alerting ensures that the driver clearly understands what they are being asked to do at that time.”

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HARDSCAPES & DESIGN

MICROSPACES: Designing for Clients with Smaller Lots

Check out these ideas landscape pros can share with clients who are looking to spice up smaller spaces with hardscapes and plant life.

O

utdoor living spaces are becoming grander and multifunctional—with multiple rooms, intricate designs, bigger furniture and accessory features.

While multiroom, multifunctional spaces are perfect for suburban areas with ample square footage, what about clients who don’t have that kind of land?

Microspaces Developers in recent years have created smaller, more walkable neighborhoods, which are great for physical activity and visiting neighbors but not so much for yard size. The way these developments are structured cuts down on the size

of private backyards—not to mention urban areas where there’s more brick than grass. Regardless, residents in these areas still crave outdoor living spaces and can use the help of a professional to optimize the land they have available.

Fully functional microspaces and hybrid spaces are now dominant forms of renovation for smaller, single-family homes without an abundant yard. Microspaces are a great way to maximize smaller outdoor areas and reap the benefits of spending time outside, no matter the surface area.

Thoughtful and compact design can include a variety of different project styles and use multiple materials to create a cohesive, modern area. Here are a few ideas

@ wagner_md .stock.adobe.com

Vertical gardens add more visual interest to a space.

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to spice up a smaller space.

1. Vertical Garden and Patio

A small patio and vertical garden can liven up a small outdoor area and make it more appealing. Laying pavers, whether it’s over natural materials or concrete, give the space a cleaner, more uniform look, and there are several options to fit any style. Permeable pavers are an excellent choice if the project is in an area that experiences higher moisture.

Paired with a vertical garden, these spaces create an inviting atmosphere.

Vertical gardens add height to the area and can be constructed from wood planks, as well as modular hardscape materials, depending on the homeowner’s style and preference.

Various types of plant life can be integrated to add greenery, extra privacy or even food for the table; edible gardens are always a popular choice.

2. Front Porches

Many single-family homes now have a front porch space, especially if the backyard size has been reduced for development. Front porches are an excellent place for relaxing or spending time with family and friends, and you can get creative with design ideas.

Flooring can be upgraded with pavers for a sleek look, and there are options that are frost- and skid-resistant for projects in colder areas. You also can add a walkway directly to the street, if space allows, with a unique design and geometric patterns.

3. Flex Spaces

Who says any of these spaces have to serve just one purpose, though?

Creating a patio or sprucing up a front porch allows your client enough room to engage in multiple activities. A patio with a vertical garden is the perfect backdrop for an outdoor workout area.

If there’s enough space, you can add water features for more ambiance. Let’s say your customer wants to cook and dine alfresco—a grill can be added to patios and porches (as long as the area is well-vented). For those looking for

a work-from-home space, make sure there is adequate lighting and electrical access.

You also can infuse these outdoor living areas within more “nontraditional” free space. Using space on the side of the home, along lot and fence lines or alleyways, is the perfect way to augment the area in which you have to work.

@ Luoxi.stock.adobe.com

Selling the Space

In our industry, we’re much more accustomed to working in mid- to largesize areas where there’s ample space to design and install, but potential customers who don’t have a palatial backyard are still viable to our business.

Don’t be afraid to take on the smaller

projects if it suits your business model and create a microspace that can change your clients’ entire outdoor living area.

Plus, these projects are typically less time-intensive, so you can finish quickly and move on to the next client.

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 27

L I G H T I N G & I R R I G AT I O N

Keys to SMART WATER MANAGEMENT The Irrigation Association celebrates pioneers of the irrigation industry and the current innovators focusing on smart irrigation and the future of water management.

A

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theme is Proud of our past. Focused on the future. The IA looks forward to celebrating the invaluable pioneers of the irrigation industry and the current innovators and contributors who are focusing on the future of our industry and how smart irrigation will continue to benefit our society through more efficient food production and sustainable landscapes.

Promote Your Work During July

Smart Irrigation Month is the ideal opportunity for you to share that you are the future of irrigation, helping your

©Nenov Brothers – stock.adobe.com

s the calendar turns to June, summer announces its official arrival in many parts of our country with the familiar sounds of irrigation systems: watering our home and business landscapes and gardens, parks and sports fields. For those in the green industry—as well as their customers— this time of year puts a different focus on the irrigation side of our businesses.

Whether it is a response to drought conditions in the West, a commitment to maintain a special recreation space, a desire to be good stewards of a fragile natural resource or simply a shocking water bill, there is a strong momentum, even necessity in many areas, to use irrigation water as efficiently as possible while maintaining a healthy and attractive landscape.

The Irrigation Association’s (IA) mission is to promote efficient irrigation, which means the wise and efficient use of water. Each year, the IA spotlights these efforts through its Smart Irrigation Month initiative celebrated throughout July. Smart Irrigation Month promotes the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in landscape, turf and agricultural irrigation. It also highlights those who share our commitment and responsibility to the most efficient and effective use of our most precious resource: water.

In 2022, the Smart Irrigation Month

customers, community and the public understand that efficient irrigation tools and practices save them water and money, while being good stewards of the land. Take advantage throughout the month of July to promote your company as a leader in water-saving irrigation practices and promote the smart irrigation solutions you can provide, as well as the people and technology behind them.

One way to do this is by sharing your stories with the IA. We want to hear what your company and teams are doing to promote smart irrigation practices, how you are focused on creating a sustainable future involving irrigation and who in your company is championing your efforts to spread the word about the importance of efficient irrigation. Go to smartirrigationmonth. org and use our Smart Irrigation Month questionnaire to share your smart irrigation story and submit photos or videos of your team and your work to help your customers irrigate efficiently.

Throughout July, the IA’s social media channels will highlight your stories and share how landscape contractors and

The IA has designated July 5 as Technology Tuesday, an official kickoff to Smart Irrigation Month.

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irrigation companies are doing their part to promote water-efficient irrigation practices and technologies.

Ride the Blue Wave

The IA has designated July 5 as Technology Tuesday, an official kickoff to Smart Irrigation Month. On July 5, we encourage those in the industry to wear blue to support and bring awareness to this important initiative. Post photos of you and your team wearing blue on your own social media accounts and use #smartirrigationmonth to join our blue wave.

The IA’s 2022 Smart Irrigation Month is a national event, promoting the use of smart irrigation practices and products in all parts of the country.

There are numerous other ways you and your company can be involved: • Make a splash on social media using a video, photographs or colorful infographics. Kick off your social media blitz

on July 5.

• Use the Smart Irrigation Month logo on your website, as backdrops for your Zoom meetings and on marketing materials throughout July to let your web visitors, business partners and customers know you support smart irrigation.

• Include a note in information sent to clients about how your company is using water-efficient practices.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper sharing why efficient water use is important to the industry.

• Request a proclamation from your city officials to recognize July as Smart Irrigation Month.

• Issue press releases about your participation in Smart Irrigation Month to local media.

Need help getting started? Resources, tools and education materials for all of the ideas above and more are available at www.smartirrigationmonth. org. Use Smart Irrigation Month

to your full advantage by celebrating and promoting the many benefits that efficient irrigation has to offer.

Smart and sustainable irrigation practices are valued year-round, and July is an opportunity to collectively encourage customers to use smart irrigation products and technologies when installing an irrigation system or to make existing systems more efficient with easy retrofits—and you are their partners and leaders in this important effort. Your work helps ensure that we are protecting one of our world’s most valuable natural resources while maintaining beautiful landscapes that play an important role in our lives and communities and contribute to our overall physical and mental health.

Natasha Rankin

CEO Irrigation Association

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 29

PROJECT PROFILE

BY HANNAH GOOCH

A Great Project for

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

T

o do great work, you have to enjoy the work you do. Rebecca Rose, plant health care specialist and division head at Great Outdoors, knows this and has applied it to her job for nearly 40 years.

Rose got her start in the green industry by running a landscaping business while she was in high school. Since its small beginning in 1983, Great Outdoors has grown to 30 employees and provides service in lawn care, garden design, installation, design/build, drainage, snow removal and more.

While the company puts its best effort into every project, there is one project that shines brighter than the rest: the Sanitate/Middleton project.

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“We have been working on the Sanitate/Middleton home and gardens for more than 20 years,” Rose says.

“In 2006, we were awarded a Gold Award for our work from the Michigan Green Industry Association.”

Set on more than 3 acres, the property hosts the client’s home, offices and a pond.

“Our goal was to create an oasis that would serve our client for many years,” Rose says. “This was our first project working with landscape architect Allison Arscott. She used a variety of plants, created specialty gardens and designed pathways and plantings that allowed our client to enjoy their stroll to the office as much as their walk around the pond.”

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The manmade pond was a focal point for the property that featured custom stone work by stone mason Tony Zilli.

The pond itself was dug by Peter Stone in the early stages of the project.

The pond came with minor obstacles, though, as critters found the pond to be as ideal as the clients did.

“Challenges over the years are mostly due to the wildlife there,” Rose says.

“It’s a really beautiful pond, and the neighborhood deer visit every day.

So do the raccoons, skunks, muskrats and especially groundhogs.”

Even so, the wildlife seemed to only add to overall aesthetic of the landscape.

Rose’s favorite part of the project was the stone wall completed in 2017.

“We continue to add to it each year, but I do believe we reached our ultimate goal early on,” Rose says.

Great Outdoors

Great Outdoors

“We purchased an old barn foundation and built a beautiful retaining wall with a stone staircase that widens as it leads you to the pond,” Rose says.

A permeable Pennsylvania irregular bluestone patio sits above the wall, bordered by lavender. This part of the project included the client in the design process.

The scenic spot has been designated for a wedding ceremony in the coming months. In the background, a willow tree and the pond bring the whole design together.

Originally, a John Deere 110 machine with an auger was used to plant most of the trees on the property. However, this time, Rose’s team will be using a Bobcat

Great Outdoors

MT85 machine with an auger to plant the extra trees in time for the wedding.

“We installed all of the plantings, including an apothecary garden, scores of evergreens for privacy and hand-selected trees throughout the property,” Rose says. “We continue to add to it each year, but I believe we reached our ultimate goal early on.”

Moving forward, Great Outdoors continues to grow its services and expand its customer base.

“Recently, we’ve added plant health care to our list of services,” Rose says.

“Last year, we were given the opportunity to care for two more estates here in town, which will allow our team to collaborate and showcase all of the ser-

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vices we offer. I’m excited to see what our team can do for our new clients.”

For Rose, the green industry was and is her passion.

“I’m still in love with my job after 39 years, mostly because of our team here at Great Outdoors,” Rose says. “I’ve joined a peer group that helped me understand so much about our industry, business, leadership and the importance of defining your own success. Plus, I love that my work is centered in the ‘great outdoors.’”

In her experience, Rose says teamwork and hard work are the keys to running a successful business.

“Do good work,” Rose says. “There is always work for a good contractor.”

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROS 31

EQUIPMENT IN FOCUS

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Western Products

Western Impact UTV V-Plow And Straight Blade Snowplows

• The Western Impact Heavy-Duty and Mid-Duty UTV snowplows are available in v-plows or straight blades. The v-plow is 6 feet wide, allowing it to handle 5-foot sidewalks and gates in angle, scoop or V mode. The heavy-duty 6-foot straight blade fits full-sized UTVs. The midduty straight blade works with midduty recreational utility vehicles. All models feature highstrength, low-alloy steel components and an easy-on/easy-off UTV mounting system with removable receiver brackets for ground clearance. The Impact heavy-duty UTV plows can attach to a wide range of subcompact tractor models using the new Mount Kit.

greenindustrypros.com/22223429

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SnowEx Helixx Hopper Spreaders

SnowEx

• The Helixx hopper spreaders feature an exclusive Helixx material delivery system that sets the spreaders apart from every other spreader on the market. This system has a corkscrew design to prevent clogging and boost material flow. The Helixx hopper spreaders are available in stainless steel construction in .35- to 6-cubic-yard capacities and in polyconstruction in 1.5- to 5-cubic-yard capacities. With a plug-and-play liquid upgrade kit, the spreaders are able to spread, prewet or spray all with one machine.

greenindustrypros.com/22223390

Fisher XLS

The Fisher XLS Expandable Wing Snowplow

• The Fisher XLS Expandable Wing Snowplow features independent wing control and trip-edge protection, aiding in efficiency and versatility. Flared wings and a wide-scoop position give the plow the ability to carry more snow. The Fisher XLS Expandable Wing Snowplow is available in the following blade sizes: 8 feet retracted to 10 feet expanded and 8 feet, 6 inches retracted to 11 feet expanded. Both sizes come in stainless steel and Storm Guard powder-coated steel. The leading wing angles forward to increase windrowing efficiency and reduce spilloff by directing snow to the 14-gauge moldboard. The moldboard’s 6-inch high-carbon steel cutting edge makes for a more durable plow.

greenindustrypros.com/22198080

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Presented by

formerly LANDSCAPES and GIE

SEPTEMBER 18-21, 2022 | ORLANDO, FL ELEVATE is taking over the vibrant Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center, making it easy to meet and network with other attendees in education sessions, receptions and on the expo floor, all under one roof.

Register Early & Save!

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ELEVATE Expo is fully integrated into the conference experience. Just a short walk down the hall, you’ll connect with the manufacturers and technology providers that can give your business the edge.

Platinum Partner: Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center Orlando, Forida

CONTR ACTOR PROFILE

BY SARAH WEBB

PIERRE

BRIDGER Green Industry Pros: How did you get started in the landscaping business?

Bridger: I started mowing my

neighbors’ lawns when I was probably 12 or 13, and it just kind of snowballed.

At the same time, I would go knock on doors and take my shovels in the winter and go clear driveways because I grew up in northern Indiana, and we were about a 60-inch snow market.

When I got to be about 14 or 15, I got a landscaping job in a really wealthy neighborhood, and I got a referral from that and then more and more.

I graduated high school and went to college and studied criminal justice and sociology and got degrees in both of those, but I never used them. I took a flyer and interviewed at TruGreen and started there as a salesman, then became a sales manager for a couple locations, was a service coordinator and pretty much did everything except branch management in those 17 years.

I came to this company in November 2001 and have been here ever since.

Green Industry Pros: What are the successes or challenges you’ve encountered along the way?

Bridger: From a challenges standpoint, our business model is very different than most landscape management companies. We don’t mow, we do very little of our own irrigation, we do about 25 percent of our gross annual snow removal and we contract out probably 75 percent of our hardscaping, so our

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business model is really Vibrant Outdoors heavily leveraged on subcontracting.

I have talked to friends and peers and they said, ‘You don’t deal with the labor problems like I do’ when in fact, in some cases, it’s exacerbated because, for instance, with mowing, you not only have to find a mowing contractor that’s going to provide quality service and meet clients’ expectations, but you also have to price such that you can add an admin fee.

On the success side, I’ve been here 20.5 years, and two or three of my subcontractors have been with me longer than I’ve been here. One has been with me 22.5 years, and another one’s been with me 25 years. Another one’s been with me 18 years. I pride myself on treating labor well. I think we’ve done a good job recruiting contractors and making sure that they’re taken care of. With our business model, we’re not the cheapest, and I don’t want to be the cheapest. We provide a service, and we know what we do very well.

Green Industry Pros: What advice would you give your younger self starting out in the industry?

Bridger: If I’m starting out, I’m going

to network as much as I can with bigger companies that know more than I do so that I can learn from them, do some work for them and show them some value. Then as you grow, you can move on from that. Your mowing services have to stand on their own; all your services have to stand on their

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own. If you’re just starting out, make sure you understand all your costs.

Green Industry Pros: What’s your favorite part about the industry?

Bridger: My favorite part of being

in the industry is the people. Our internal team came back last Tuesday, so I had a meeting with them. And my first comment was, ‘I’m glad to see you guys.’ That goes hand in hand with my customers. I’m of the opinion that you need to be very upfront with customers, and you need to have conversations with them that they don’t like, but I love that about the industry where you can work with clients, have those difficult conversations and still move forward with the relationship.

Green Industry Pros: What do you like to do outside of work?

Bridger: I like motorsports. When I

was younger, I went to probably seven or eight IndyCar races a year. I talk to my daughter who is in the Marine Corps every day or every other day and try to talk to my son who is 18 as much as I can. I love to travel.

I also enjoy giving back some value to the industry. I’m involved in many associations, and in my spare time, I like to try and figure out ways to get more people involved in the industry.

Pierre Bridger

Director of Operations Vibrant Outdoors

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Interested in becoming a Rotary dealer? Visit rotarycorp.com or call 800.841.3989. ©2022 Rotary Corporation. Rotary is a registered trademark of Rotary Corporation. Available through servicing dealers & distributors. *Next day delivery available in most areas. Delivery time is subject to change and may vary.

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