THE NEW JERSEY
Winter 2019
Landscape Contractor
The Official Publication of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association
• 2018 Landscape Achievement Award Winners • 2019 Landscape New Jersey Trade Show & Conference
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The New Jersey Landscape Contractor magazine is the official publication of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association, dedicated to the professional landscape industry of New Jersey. NJLCA was founded in 1966 as the Bergen County Landscape Contractors Association, and is today comprised of over 550 member companies throughout New Jersey. New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association 465 Mola Boulevard, Ste. 4, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 Phone | 201-703-3600 -- Fax | 201-703-3776 E-mail | info@njlca.org Visit our website at www.NJLCA.org Publisher/Editor Gail E. Woolcott Contributing Writers John Allin | Greg Carpenter | Dr. Bruce Clarke | Nate Clemmer Chad Diller | Patrick Donovan | Bill Eastman Charles Gamarekian | Richard Gaynor | Eric Gilbey Phil Harwood | Gene Huelster | Steven Jomides | Paula Korinko Dr. Roman Kreyman | Nelson Lee | Steve Rich Rob Swanekamp | Gail Woolcott Matt Zawacki NJLCA Combined Board President | Nelson Lee Vice President | Richard Goldstein, CLT Treasurer | Greg Carpenter, CLT Director | Anthony Agudelo Director | Jeff Baker Director | Joe Bolognese Director | Justin Flatow, CLT Director | John Freitag Director | George Futterknecht, CLT Director | Dan Kindergan Director | Michael McMorrow Associate Director | Kenneth Cerullo Associate Director | David Gaynor Advisor | Dr. Bruce Clarke, Rutgers University Advisor | Dr. Steven Fischer, Bergen Community College Advisor | Dr. James Murphy, Rutgers University The New Jersey Landscape Contractor magazine is published triennially. 600 print copies are distributed to members and over 4,000 digital issues are sent to professionals in the Green Industry of New Jersey, as well as educational and governmental institutions. Subscription rates: $45.00 per year; $15.00 per copy. New Jersey residents only, please add 7% sales tax. To advertise in The New Jersey Landscape Contractor, please contact Gail Woolcott at (201) 703-3600 or e-mail gwoolcott@njlca.org. Article and photo submissions are encouraged and may be sent to NJLCA at the above address. Publisher assumes no responsibility for safekeeping or return of photos or manuscripts, and reserves all rights to edit material submitted for publication. Š 2019 New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. PUBLISHED February 2019
Cover Photo: CLC Landscape Design, 2018 Landscape Achievement Awards Winner
contents
Winter 2018-19
FEATURES 15 2018 Landscape Achievement Awards 32 And the Winner Is... 38 Head: Feeling a Bit Salty 42 Meeting the Standards of the Road 45 Emerging Expectations for Leading a New Generation 46 The Good, Bad and Ugly of Online Reviews 50 One Industry, Two Opinions on the New Minimum Wage 51 Impatiens Downy Mildew Resistance Revives the #1 Bedding Plant 52 History of the Rutgers Turfgrass Program 54 See Something, Say Something, Do Something 57 Front Cover Fantasy 60 Technology Opportunities - Part II 64 Deicers: Eliminate the Mess of Salt
IN EVERY ISSUE...
NJLCA News Briefs 4 President’s Message 4 Upcoming Events 5 Letter from the Editor 6 Landscape New Jersey 2019 Show 39 Welcome New Members 40 Contractor Focus: Raimondi Horticultural Group 41 Associate Focus: Bartlett Tree Experts 63 Holiday Gala 66 Advertiser Index Columns 5 The Buzz: Industry News 13 Turf Talk 39 The [Safety] Culture Club 43 Snow Business 53 Legal Ease 55 Trending 61 Design Time 65 Grass Roots NJLCA.ORG
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President’s Message
I
hope you all had a great holiday season! This winter, NJLCA conducted a survey of our members and we were so happy with the results! Thank you to everyone who participated. What we learned was exciting and informative. First and foremost, we were pleased to find out that 81% of our members are either satisfied or extremely satisfied with their membership in the NJLCA. We try very hard to give our members a balance of what we feel is needed in this industry, from education to social events, news and interesting stories, legislative advocacy and information at hand when you need it. We found that the most important issues to you appear to be legislation and labor, but what was interesting is that many of you are looking at licensing as something you consider vital to the future of the industry. And professionalism is right behind that on the level of importance. One of the other questions we asked was what topics are of most interest to you. There were clear preferences in those results. Industry updates, how to’s, new equipment, legislative, meeting and event information top the list. We hope we have much of that covered in this and future issues of the magazine, as well as our weekly eblasts! Finally, some of the comments you had, included wanting more networking opportunities, cooperative buying opportunities, more continuing education opportunities and credits, along with promoting the importance of membership within the industry and customer base. We have taken your responses and comments to heart and are working to continue to offer you more benefits and follow through on these requests this year and into the future! This year’s Landscape New Jersey Trade Show and Conference does answer many of those requests, with education at a maximum, new and returning vendors with exciting and
U
innovative equipment and materials and of course, non-stop networking throughout the day with anyone and everyone in the Green Industry! Do not miss the greatest landscape show in New Jersey on February 27th! And check out the pre-con education on the 26th with industry veterans and experts, Monroe Porter and Tom Grandy, along with an opportunity to become a New Jersey Certified Fertilizer Applicator. One final item I’d like to talk about is our legislative engagement. Throughout the year, we will reach out to you asking for your support in contacting your legislators regarding issues that impact our industry. I want to impress upon you how important it is that you take a few minutes time to reach out when we ask. Even if you don’t use the H-2B program, it will affect you if the labor pool is even smaller come spring because some of our members didn’t get their seasonal employees. Whether you are for or against the minimum wage increase, it will affect how you do business. Whether or not you work in the town where a blower ban is proposed, should it pass successfully, it will reach other townships before you know it! You should also reach out to your legislators when they do something to help our industry. Both Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman and Assemblyman Kevin Rooney have sponsored legislation that will prevent hold harmless clauses in snow services contracts, disallowing property owners to put all of the onus on you, the contractor. Reach out to them and say “thanks” for supporting us and let them know we support them. Furthermore, just reach out to your local legislator and create a relationship with them. They are there to help their constituents and need to hear from you. A call from someone in their district is worth 300 calls from someone who is not. Have a great spring season and hope to see everyone at the Trade Show and Conference on February 27th, where we will help you reach the finish line!
Nelson Lee, President
PCOMING EVENTS:
February 21st - Membership Meeting at Aquarius Supply February 26th - NJLCA-U: Trade Show Pre-Show Workshops February 27th - Landscape New Jersey 2019 Trade Show & Conference March 6th - NJLCA-U: Grow Your Business in 2019 March 12th-13th - NJLCA-U: OSHA 10 Hour Certification March 14th - Membership Meeting at Bartlett Tree Experts March 29th - NJLCA’s Tony Defeo Annual Pizza Night April 11th - Membership Meeting at Al D’s
4 WINTER | 2018-19
The Buzz
C
ONGRATULATIONS to all of our Landscape Achievement Award Winners! Below we share our special award winners.
Alex Arenas of American Beauty Landscape Design received the “Volunteer of the Year” Award. “Contractor of the Year” John Raffiani was unable to attend. Wade Slover accepted the “Associate of the Year” Award on behalf of SiteOne Landscape Supply. SNOW Magazine won the “Media Partner” Award
DynaScape took home the “Innovator of the Year” Award for their DynaScape 360 App and Software
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman and Assemblyman Kevin Rooney received the “Legislator of the Year” Awards
Letter from the Editor
T
his issue of The New Jersey Landscape Contractor is jam-packed with information and articles. It is bursting at the seams with knowledge that you can’t get anywhere else! Of course, see our opening section all about the Trade Show. We have some amazing speakers of international renown, along with tons of new exhibitors this year! Don’t miss the unofficial, official kick off to the spring at the Meadowlands Expo Center on February 27th (pre-con education on February 26th). Then step into the world of our award-winning projects from the 2018 Landscape Achievement Awards. The number of winners and the diversity of projects was unparalleled this year. Check out their amazing projects and how they were accomplished from pages 15 - 37. In addition to all of that, we have a full sized issue of the magazine with all of the articles to help you grow and improve your business! 2019 is looking to be an amazing year here at the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. We have already had worldclass education courses at our NJLCA-U workshops. From OSHA 10 hour courses that are finally geared towards the landscape contractor to wildly successful landscape contractors, including Chris James, Mark Borst, Rich Goldstein and Tom Canete talking about their processes and how to follow them, members have and had the opportunity to learn more than they could during a full semester at college! We (the Green Industry) have been dealing with some pretty serious legislative issues as well. H-2B is still an issue, with the cap simply not meeting the needs of not only the landscape industry, but other seasonal businesses throughout the country. And we have just seen the passing of a bill that will increase the minimum wage to $15.00 by 2024. See page 50 for some very differing opinions on this change that will greatly affect our industry, no matter how you feel about it. Rob Swanekamp talks about some great ideas for plant material in this issue and Chad Diller tells us how to deal with online reviews of all sorts. Dr. Bruce Clarke gives us a great history lesson on the beginnings of the Rutgers Turfgrass Program and Charles Gamarekian talks about outdoor pavilions. We take a look at two more of our members in our Contractor and Associate focus and Pat Donovan tells us not to be “this guy” in one of our great columns. So take a few minutes, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy this latest issue of The New Jersey Landscape Contractors. Have a wonderful spring and I look forward to seeing each of you at the Trade Show! Sincerely,
A very special “Best Actor” Award was presented to Rich Goldstein for his portrayal of Willy Wonka at the 2017 Achievement Awards and Holiday Gala!
Gail Woolcott Director of Operations Editor in Chief
NJLCA.ORG
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February 27, 2019
8:00 am - 3:30 pm Meadowlands Exposition Center 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Hundreds of Booths...Multiple Educational Classes
www.njbobcat.com 201 Maltese Dr, Totowa, NJ 07512
(973) 774-9500
Register Early! Save $10 per person - Register before Feb. 1, 2019.
www.NJLandscapeShow.com 201-703-3600
Pre-Con Education Workshops Tuesday, February 26, 2019 NJ Fertilizer Training & ProFACT Exam (Español) 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Dr. Raul Cabrera, Rutgers University NJ Fertilizer CEUs – 3
Room A
Entrenamiento de ProFACT para aplicadores profesionales de fertilizantes (Qualifica que usted tome el examen de certificación. Aplicadores Certificados recibirán 3 créditos de educación continua) Clase y manuales serán en español. El tema incluye: • Introducción a la ley de fertilizante de NJ • Riesgos de contaminación de nutrientes para cuerpos de agua • Mejores prácticas de manejo para el manejo de nutrientes del césped • Como leer la etiqueta de fertilizante • Uso y calibración del equipo • Leyes, reglas, y reglamentos para la aplicación de fertilizantes para césped Raul Cabrera es profesor asociado y especialista en extensión de cultivos en la Universidad de Rutgers. Raúl tiene una maestría en fisiología y un doctorado en Biología de planta de la Universidad de California en Davis. Sus proyectos actuales incluyen el uso de aguas alternativas (agua, reclamada) para la irrigación, optimización de la fertilización y cultivos de invernadero y la productividad y evaluación del uso y conservación del agua del paisaje urbano.
NJ Fertilizer Training & ProFACT Exam (English ) 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Dr. James Murphy, Rutgers University NJ Fertilizer CEUs – 3
Room A
ProFACT training for professional fertilizer applicators (Qualifies you to take the certification exam. Certified Fertilizer Applicators will receive 3 credits of continuing education). Class, manual and exam in English. Topics discussed include: • Introduction to the NJ fertilizer law • Nutrient pollution hazards to waterbodies • Best management practices for nutrient management of turf • How to read a fertilizer label • Equipment use and calibration • Laws, rules, and regulations for fertilizer application to turf Dr. James Murphy conducts extension and research programs on best management practices for turfgrasses grown in and around New Jersey. His work focuses on a better understanding of turfgrass responses to soil-related stresses. Dr. Murphy holds a BS in Agriculture from Western Illinois State University and an MS and PhD in Crop and Soil Sciences from Michigan State University.
How to Survive and Prosper as a Landscape Contractor 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Room B Monroe Porter, Proof Management
Attendees will learn how to avoid the most common mistakes contractors make and how to become the best employer in your market place and attract and keep the people you need. Participants will learn useful information they can put to immediate use. Topics covered include how to identify winning and losing jobs, profit strategies and pricing, the ins and outs of collections, how to build efficient business structures and much more. This program helps contractors grow their bottom line without increases to their stress level or workload. Also understand how to become the best employer in your market place and how to attract the people you need. Learn how to communicate with employees with less conflict and the attributes of high performing employees. Understand the common coaching and training mistakes most organizations make. Columnist. Speaker. Consultant. Renowned for his innovative, practical solutions to the problems that businesses face, Monroe Porter has been conducting seminars and consulting business owners and employers about the value of their organization for over 20 years. His entertaining and insightful convention presentations have earned him an international reputation as a top convention speaker, while his problem solving skills have made him an in-demand consultant for businesses hoping to improve their operations or open new opportunities for growth and marketing. Monroe actively runs a network for landscape contractors and has spoken at numerous landscape conventions, such as the GIE Show, International Concrete Paving Institute, Idaho Nursery & Landscape Association, Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and the Alberta Landscape association. He has: • Traveled over 4 million miles to teach over 2000 seminars for clients ranging from Fortune 500 giants such as W. R. Grace and 3M, to small business associations like the National Chimney Sweep Guild. • Trained hundreds of thousands of businesspeople in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. • Developed powerful, time-tested solutions for issues ranging from marketing to employee recruiting and training to accounting to ownership transition. • Created PROSULT™, a networking concept bringing together small business owners from around the world together to share solutions and support one another in the achievement of their respective goals.
All pre-con education workshops include trade show admission the next day! NJLCA.ORG
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Pre-Con Education Workshops Tuesday, February 26, 2019 The Price Is Right…or Is It?
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Room C/D Tom Grandy, Grandy & Associates
Sales UP, Profits DOWN!!! Sound familiar? It does to all too many contractors today. Year after year you work hard to get sales up, while profits continue to fall. This full-day seminar/workshop deals with the most basic of issues: “How much do we have to charge to cover our costs of doing business while still generating a profit?” This program is presented in a workshop setting with each company using their own information to determine what they need to charge per hour just to stay in business. This program has been presented to thousands of service contractors across the country and in Canada with very positive results. Each seminar attendee will receive a 130+ page manual which contains all the sides, worksheets, and examples used during the session. You will find out how to: 1. Determine what your REAL cost of doing business is. 2. How much you MUST charge per hour to cover your unique costs of doing business—while still generating a profit. 3. Perform the “WHAT IF” process to MAXIMIZE PROFITABILITY. 4. Track costs on a monthly basis to INSURE PROFITABILITY. Tom Grandy is founder of Grandy & Associates, based in Owensboro, KY. The vision of Grandy & Associates is to “teach contractors how to run profitable companies”. Tom has been the general manager of a service company, Director of Company Development for the DIAL ONE Franchisee and currently presents his (5) seminar/workshops to contractors across the country and in Canada including their industry acclaimed two-day workshop entitled ”Planning for Profit”. Mr. Grandy has presented programs for NLCA, NACCA, PHCC, MCA, and SMACNA plus distributors and manufacturers across the country. Tom is also the founder of the web-based “Profit University Audio Series”. Mr. Grandy also writes numerous articles for trade magazines including Contracting Business, News, HVAC Insider and regular monthly articles for RSES Journal, Reeves Journal and Contracting Canada. He is a 1970 graduate of Virginia Tech and brings a unique perspective to the industry with his Industrial Engineering degree and over 30 years experience.
All pre-con education workshops include trade show admission the next day!
Pesticide Recertification Education Schedule February 27, 2019 Reduced Risk and Low Impact Pesticides
8:30 am - 9:30 am Room A/B Michael Reed, SynaTek Credits: NJ: 3A, 3B,CORE=2, NY: TBD, PA: PC,07,18,23=2
Environmental Protection Agency approved Reduced Risk and Low Impact Pesticides are available and are a good fit for controlling insects, weeds and certain diseases in Turf. These products are extremely low in toxicity to most non-target animal including birds, fish, bees and humans. So why are we as an industry reluctant to embrace these new technologies? Let’s take a look at some commonly used Turf Products and see how they can effect environment and suggest some Reduced Risk and Low Impact Pesticide alternatives. Mike Reed is a Regional Sales Representative for SynaTek. Prior to joining SynaTek, he worked as a Sale Representative for 5 years at Holganix, a Plant Bio-Nutritional Company, and Lesco/John Deere Landscapes for 16 years as a Market Sales Representative. Serving the green industry for over 30 years and starting out as a pesticide applicator, Mike’s classes are taught from a common-sense approach that applies to the real world. Mike holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the County College of Morris.
What the Boxwood Blight?
9:45 am - 10:45 am Room A/B Matt Walters, Bartlett Tree Experts Credits: NJ: 10, 3A, 3B,9=2, NY: TBD Conditions of wet weather and high humidity have been very favorable for boxwood blight in our region this past year, where we have seen many cases and some serious of boxwood blight. Topics will include: How to identify Boxwood Blight, disease management strategies, best management practices, Spotted Lanternfly updates and more.
Matt Walters has been part of the green industry for over 20 years. He has applied his well-rounded arboriculture experiences to landscapes in NY, Fairfield County, CT and more recently, Northern New Jersey. Very early on in his career, Matt realized that his value to his clients would be helping them to make educated decisions on how best to maintain their investment in their landscapes. By working closely with people, and customizing every aspect of care for their trees and shrubs, Matt works diligently to meet and exceed client expectations every day. A key to Matt's success is his admiration and respect for nature, a consistent yearning to improve his professional knowledge base, and a strong desire to help his clients strike an ecological balance in managing their landscape environments.
Pesticide Recertification Education Schedule February 27, 2019 DEP Regulatory Update, Safety and Storage
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Room A/B Stephen Bross, NJ-DEP Credits: NJ: CORE=2, PA: Core=2
All Commercial and Private Pesticide applicators licensed in the state of New Jersey must comply with Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations for pesticide storage and safety. Core presentation on topical information including DEP updates, pesticide safety practices and pesticide storage. Will also include updated information on navigating the NJ DEP Pesticide Control Program website. Stephen Bross is an Environmental Specialist 3 at the NJDEP Bureau of Licensing & Pesticide Operations. He is a former enforcement officer for the NJDEP.
Biología Básica para Jardineros (Basic Biology for Landscapers)
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Room A/B Raul Cabrera, Rutgers University Credits: NJ: 3A, 3B=2, CORE=1, NY: TBD Tema: Presentación en Español sobre los conceptos básicos de Biología de plantas, aplicación práctica en prácticas comunes de manejo del paisaje y manejo mejorado, incluyendo resistencia a las plantas, control cultural y biológico y insecticidas de riesgo reducido.
Raul Cabrera es profesor asociado y especialista en extensión de cultivos en la Universidad de Rutgers. Raúl tiene una maestría en fisiología y un doctorado en Biología de planta de la Universidad de California en Davis. Sus proyectos actuales incluyen el uso de aguas alternativas (agua, reclamada) para la irrigación, optimización de la fertilización y cultivos de invernadero y la productividad y evaluación del uso y conservación del agua del paisaje urbano.
Topics: Presentation in Spanish on the basic concepts of plant biology, practical application in common landscape management practices and improved management, including plant resistance, cultural and biological control and reduced risk insecticides. Raul Cabrera is an Associate Professor and the Extension Specialist in Nursery Crops at Rutgers University. Raul holds a MS in Plant Physiology and a PhD in Plant Biology from the University of California at Davis. His current projects include the use of alternative waters (graywater, reclaimed) for irrigation, optimizing nursery and greenhouse crop fertilization and productivity and evaluation of urban landscape water use and conservation.
Business Education Schedule February 27, 2019 Setting Up a Mobile Office to Increase Profits and Efficiency 8:30 am - 9:30 am Frank Bourque, FrankBorque.com
Room C
This session will be all about how to integrate technology and mobile applications in the business and setting up a mobile office to increase productivity, efficiency, and profits with the team. Attendees will learn about the many available options to design, track, monitor, communicate, advertise, share and access information more easily, from anywhere at any time, reducing effort and cost. Frank is an award-winning hardscape professional, speaker, writer, consultant, and entrepreneur with an extensive background in business and hardscape construction. He has been a part of the Green Industry for over 20 years as a business owner. He has spoken at Hardscape North America, GIE Expo, Landscape Ontario Congress and many more. He is also a certified ICPI & NCMA instructor and Certified Landscape Horticultural Technician.
Perennial Maintenance: Need to Do, Nice to Do and Nuts to Do 8:30 am - 9:30 am C.L. Fornari, GardenLady.com
Room D
The need-to-do, the nice-to-do and the nutsto-do. Everything you need to know about keeping perennials looking healthy and beautiful for your customers. C.L. Fornari is a creative gardening expert (aka plant geek) who transitioned from artist to green industry communicator in 1995. She is the author of seven books including her latest, The Cocktail Hour Garden, published by St. Lynn's Press. She has presented at the NY Horticultural Society, NE Grows, Landscape Ontario and many others!
Design, Sell and Build Outdoor Spaces
9:45 am - 11:15 am Room C Jeff Rak
A discussion that will include design ideas and specifications to help you create the perfect outdoor kitchen surrounded by an outdoor living space.
Jeff Rak founded Land Creations in 1991. Jeff is a 1989 graduate of Ohio State University / Agricultural Technical Institute with a degree in Landscape Contracting and Construction. After years of learning Jeff is now sharing his experience with other contractors through public speaking, educational events and private consulting.
NJLCA.ORG
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Business Education Schedule February 27, 2019 Profit is Important‌But Cash Flow is Critical!
Using Water in Landscape Design
9:45 am - 10:45 am Room D Tom Grandy, Grandy & Associates Most companies that go out of business do so during their highest volume, most profitable year! Cash flow problems put more companies out of business than any other single cause, except improper labor pricing. During today’s program we will take a close look at why developing a month-by-month, department-by department, cash flow budget is critical to your company. Having the ability to project monthly cash flow needs might just be the piece of the puzzle your company needs to help it continue profitable growth in these economic times.
Landscaping with Grasses - Annual & Perennial 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Stephanie Cohen, The Perennial Diva
Room D
Landscape contractors often underuse or overuse ornamental grasses. Stephanie will show you how to use beautiful ornamental grasses to make sustainable and pleasing designs, focusing on both new and tried-andtrue grasses that fit these categories. Stephanie Cohen (aka The Perennial Diva or the Vertically Challenged Gardener) is an author, lecturer, educator and consultant. She has received awards from the Philadelphia Horticulture Society, and the Perennial Plant Association and was instrumental in establishing an arboretum at Temple University. Stephanie has lectured in 35 states, and written many magazine articles.
Technology on the Worksite - Tools & Crew Efficiency 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Frank Bourque
Room C
Frank will share specific habits, tools, and technologies that are used by highly effective teams, field leaders, and crews. In addition, he will share the latest information regarding how contractors can increase efficiency, productivity, and profits as a landscape and hardscape company along with enlightening strategies on how several industry leaders have created award-winning companies.
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm Room C Mike Gannon, Full Service Aquatics, The Pond Hunter Adding and offering water features as part of your landscape designs repertoire can be easy and profitable. Give your customers an experience in landscape design they'll enjoy and interact with. Mike Gannon, water feature expert, demystifies adding water features to your landscape designs.
Mike Gannon is the owner of Full Service Aquatics based in Summit, NJ. Mike has been a lifelong pond enthusiast and fishkeeper. He is host of The Pond Hunter Radio Broadcast. He is also the author of the Love Your Pond blog found on fullserviceaquatics.com.
Annuals That Deliver
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm C.L. Fornari, GardenLady.com
Room D
If your clients are paying for new annuals every summer, they want plants that deliver color. From the brand new to tried and true, this talk is far more than a group of photos with the usual accompanying plant list. Learn new ways to plant groups of annuals that go beyond color bedding. Find ideas to talk about annuals in new ways that excite customers. You will come away with ideas of annuals that will flower all summer in a variety of growing conditions.
Perennials that Drink Responsibly 1:45 pm - 3:15 pm Stephanie Cohen, The Perennial Diva
Room D
The hot and dry summers can create water usage challenges. In choosing perennials, consider their water requirements and how much water will be guzzled by any given plant. Your perennials will have to learn to drink responsibly; else the horticultural police will take them handcuffed to the compost pile.
Plus... Breakfast Roundtable Discussions at 7:00 am (pre-registration required) Latino Mix and Mingle at 1:30 pm (pre-registration recommended)
Visit www.NJLandscapeShow.com
10 WINTER | 2018-19
Registration Form Attendee Information
Business Name: ___________________________________________ Business Address: _________________________________________ City: ____________________________ State: ______ Zip: ________ Phone: ___________________ E-mail: ________________________ Print First and Last Name of all attendees as they should appear on name badge below. (Name badges will be mailed to you.) Please check all that apply below each name. You MUST pre-register for each individual credit class that each person is taking and for the roundtable breakfast.
Attendee #1: _____________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________ Attendee is: q Owner q Purchasing Influence q Have no input Attending: q NJ Fertilizer Training & ProFACT Exam - $99 - Members/$149 -Non q FE2-English q FE1-Spanish Date of Birth: _____ License #: _______ q PC1-How to Survive and Prosper - $99 - Members/$149 - Non q PC2-The Price is Right...Or Is It? - $129 - Members/$179- Non Pest Classes: Date of Birth: _____________ License #: _________________ q 02-Reduced Risk and Low Impact Pesticides q 03-What the Boxwood Blight? q 04-DEP Regulatory Update q 05-Biología Básica para Jardineros (Basic Biology for Landscapers) Attendee #2: _____________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Attendee is: q Owner q Purchasing Influence q Have no input Attending: q NJ Fertilizer Training & ProFACT Exam - $99 - Members/$149 -Non q FE1-English q FE2-Spanish Date of Birth: _____ License #: _______ q PC1-How to Survive and Prosper - $99 - Members/$149 - Non q PC2-The Price is Right...Or Is It? - $129 - Members/$179- Non Pest Classes: Date of Birth: _____________ License #: _________________ q 02-Reduced Risk and Low Impact Pesticides q 03-What the Boxwood Blight? q 04-DEP Regulatory Update q 05-Biología Básica para Jardineros (Basic Biology for Landscapers) Attendee #3: _____________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Attendee is: q Owner q Purchasing Influence q Have no input Attending: q NJ Fertilizer Training & ProFACT Exam - $99 - Members/$149 -Non q FE1-English q FE2-Spanish Date of Birth: _____ License #: _______ q PC1-How to Survive and Prosper - $99 - Members/$149 - Non q PC2-The Price is Right...Or Is It? - $129 - Members/$179- Non Pest Classes: Date of Birth: _____________ License #: _________________ q 02-Reduced Risk and Low Impact Pesticides q 03-What the Boxwood Blight? q 04-DEP Regulatory Update q 05-Biología Básica para Jardineros (Basic Biology for Landscapers)
All Attendees - Breakfast Roundtables: q B1-Snow and Ice Management q B2-Landscape Maintenance q B3-Contracts & Risk Mgmt.
Qty: ________ Qty: ________ Qty: ________
Trade Show - February 27, 2019 NJLCA Member Pricing Qty. Total Pre-Registration Fee: $20 per person ____ _____ Registration at Door: $30 per person Non-Member Pricing Pre-Registration Fee: $30 per person Registration at Door: $40 per person
Membership - Special Trade Show Price
Qty. Total _____ _____ ____________
Workshop Subtotal ____________ Roundtable Breakfast: $20 mem/$30 non-mem.
____________
Trade Show Registration Subtotal
____________
Grand Total ____________ All educational sessions, except for the Pre-Show Workshops are included in the price of attendance at the show. Pre-Show Workshop attendees receive entry to the trade show at no cost.
Payment Information Credit Card: Cardholder's Name: _______________________________________ Signature: _______________________________________________ Card Number: ___________________________________________ Billing Zip Code: _______________ Exp: _________ CCV: ________ Check: Make checks payable to: NJLCA - Must be received by February 22, 2019. No refunds after February 22, 2019. No snow or rain date. Please send check, purchase order and registration form to: NJLCA, 465 Mola Boulevard, Suite 4, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 Phone: (201) 703-3600 Fax: (201) 703-3776
Please tell us more about you! Please indicate types of services performed: q Residential Maintenance q Residential Design/Build q Commercial Maintenance q Commercial Design/Build q Residential Snow Svcs. q Commercial Snow Svcs. q Irrigation and/or Lighting Installation q Plant/Lawn Care q Organics q Pesticide q None of the above, we supply services and/or products q Other: ________________________________________________
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SOCIALIZE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES THE DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 THE TIME: 6:30 P.M. THE PLACE: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL 79 PASCACK ROAD WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ THE COST: $32.00 PER PERSON FOR NJLCA MEMBERS, WIVES, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
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Turf Talk
I
think that the trend that is most pertinent and will change the face of the landscape industry is the SHORT CUT, especially when it comes to the corporate accounts. When you become an “SP” (service provider) for one of the corporate service brokers, you have just agreed to provide only necessary services to maintain the landscape. Items like spraying shrubs for insects and disease, thatching, aerating, proper turf nutrition -all of these items and more are out the window, along with your profits. You will find that now you need to focus your time on the least profitable work. Working for such companies may have you experiencing a 600-foot bed, 4 feet wide where there is no provision for pre-emergent, mulch or post-emergent. The contract stipulates that beds will be kept weed free. “Gee, thanks.” Don’t get me started on the cleanup. Blowing the beds and cutting the lawn does not qualify as a cleanup. If your last leaf visit in the contract is the same as the cleanup, you are kidding yourself or you need more training. You may be saying, “What’s the big deal?” Well, when this corporate broker mentality trickles down to the residential accounts, it becomes a “big deal” problem. One residential customer may work for a management company and sees no need for the premium level of service we offer for his home. He would prefer a half-witted contract that he may have on commercial sites for his home as well. If I work for him in that regard, now I have to comply with his wishes in order to keep my commercial accounts. What happens if you already work on his street for his 7 or 8 neighbors’ homes? They are all at a block party and everyone is chatting about me and now Mr. Underpriced chimes in and shares his “expertise” about how what we offer isn’t necessary. Skip a few weeks into the future and my old friend Mr. Sod Web Worm comes to town and when I advise Mr. Underpriced that he needs insecticide, he ignores me. Two weeks later 35% of his front lawn and 50% of his rear lawn are destroyed. The neighbors ask me what’s wrong with his lawn and I reply “you can’t get champagne service with beer money.” Now I’m vindicated, but it only lasts momentarily. The
News Briefs
problem is the seed has been planted in their heads that they may not need all that I offer. This will be a problem for me going forward; maybe not this season, but in the coming years. I have heard the “short cut” is also impeding on landscape construction jobs as well. A young homeowner once stated that he only needed his patio to hold up for about five years, not for the thirty years guaranteed by the contractor. He didn’t expect to remain in his new home all that long; but as a contractor you want your work to hold up, since the entire neighborhood knows who built it. I liken this to people who ask why some people charge so little to plant a spruce and we charge four times that amount. Let’s start with the hole. One of my professors in college used to say, “a $20.00 hole for a $2.00 plant”. It drove me crazy every time he said it, but he was right. If you don’t dig a proper hole, you will end up with poor
results, because you took a “short cut”. You need to remove the basket, open the burlap, scarify the roots and amend the soil, planting at the proper height. Yes, it takes four times as long. Don’t take short cuts. Do it right the first time. Good Luck & Keep Growing Greg Carpenter, CLT is co-owner of American Beauty Landscape Design since 1983. He attended the SUNY Farmingdale Turfgrass Program and is the Treasurer of the NJLCA. Greg also serves on the Rutgers Turfgrass Advisory Board and the Bergen Community College Horticultural Advisory Board.
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825 Black Oak Ridge Road, Wayne 973-616-SNOW (7669)
BY THE BAG, PALLET, TRUCKLOAD
Feature Story
Exclusive Stoneworks Wins Four NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards of Excellence
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xclusive Stoneworks of Lyndhurst, NJ has won four Awards of Excellence and an Award of Distinction for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards. Design/Build: Landscape Lighting Exclusive entered their “Mosera Lighting” project into this category. This residence has no shortage of accent lighting throughout the hardscape and landscape. The main feature of this entry is the well lights core drilled into the custom made 6” thick stone hearth. Design/Build: Installation without Pool: Up to $25,000 Exclusive won Awards of Excellence for two of their projects in this category, the “Lentin Residence” and the “Kapp Residence” projects. The client at the Lentin Residence is an author who works from home. She wanted a space she could go outside and work in privacy. She wanted it to look as natural as possible. Exclusive created a green screen of trees to block out any foot traffic and a water feature using stone found on site to drown out any noise. Exclusive was called into the Kapp Residence, given a budget and told to do whatever they wanted! Exclusive took this blank canvas and designed a space to have a few sitting areas and a free flow within a 400 square foot area. They exceeded the client’s expectations of what they could do in this small area.
Design/Build: Installation without Pool: Over $100,000 Exclusive won an Award of Excellence for their “Mosera Residence” for design/build (projects may be entered in multiple categories). The Mosera Residence is just as stunning during the day. Exclusive was hired as the mason to install the veneer on this new construction. The client felt comfortable with them and allowed them to design the hardscape. The new home is set far back on the 1.25 acre property. The selection of natural stone and using native boulders helped it look as if it had always been there. The yard now features two grills, a gas pizza oven, fireplace and firepit. Exclusive Stoneworks also won an Award of Distinction for their “Cavaleri Residence” project. See pages 32-37. For over a decade, Exclusive Stoneworks has taken pride in bringing unparalleled professionalism and high quality craftsmanship to an affordable budget. Their team of highly skilled, well trained, and highly motivated craftsman have proven themselves repeatedly, as well as work together to provide a well-coordinated and stress-free professional service to their clients. For more information, visit www.exclusivestoneworks.com.
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Feature Story
CLC Landscape Design Wins Two NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards of Excellence
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LC Landscape Design, located in Ringwood, New Jersey has won two Awards of Excellence, in the NJLCA’s Achievement Awards for their Contemporary Montclair Backyard and Luxurious Livingston Backyard projects in the Landscape Installation with Pool: $100,000-250,000 category. The Contemporary Montclair Backyard project required a landscape for their three children to enjoy. The two elements they wanted included were a swimming pool and outdoor living space. CLC designed and installed a rectangular
swimming pool, a square pergola with a louvered roof and an outdoor fireplace with natural granite veneer. CLC used quartzite for the patio because of its interesting appearance and that it stays cooler in full sun. They transplanted several large specimen trees that were already on-site prior to the design. Low voltage LED landscape lighting was added for ambience in the evening. The homeowners of the Luxurious Livingston Backyard project desired a yard they could relax
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in with family and friends. CLC designed and installed a rectangular pool, which includes four deck jets, a quartzite patio, fieldstone walls with a built-in water feature, an extra large, ground-mounted umbrella and landscape lighting for the ambience. CLC also coordinated with the homeowners and the architect in the installation of the cabana. The town required three seepage tanks for the drainage system. Due to the lack of space, CLC coordinated withe cabana builder and installed the seepage tanks beneath it. Since its inception over 40 years ago, CLC Landscape Design has been a leader in design/build landscaping by blending classic design concepts with cutting-edge design ideas. In addition, they consistently incorporate into their landscapes new-and-improved plant varieties, hardscape materials, and installation techniques. With a vast knowledge of landscape design concepts and material options, they tailor each of their landscapes to meet the unique style of each of their clients. For more information, visit www.CLCDesign.com.
Feature Story
Limone Farm & Gardens Wins Two NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards of Excellence
Design/Build: Water Feature The Stunning Waterfall Project entailed developing an unusable, unsightly hill that was at a focal point of the property into a large, naturalized waterfall. The design had to remain proportionate with the surrounding area. There was difficult access to stage a large amount of boulders and other material. As the project developed, the slope became very steep and dangerous, especially for moving large equipment and boulders.
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imone Farm & Gardens, located in North Haledon, New Jersey has won two Awards of Excellence for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards. Maintenance: Public Space
Limone Farm and Gardens is a contemporary design/ build landscaping company rich with history. Established in 1906 by James V. Limone as a small roadside produce market in Teaneck, NJ, Limone’s Farm (as it was called then) eventually grew to include more than just produce and prepared foods. It soon became one of the leading garden centers in the area. Since the 1970’s under the ownership and vision of Andre Limone, Limone Farm and Gardens has grown exclusively into an award-winning landscape design company that offers a wide variety of landscaping services. For more information, visit www.LimoneGardens.com.
In this very busy downtown district, Limone prepares the beds with high organic compost. They plant, mulch and maintain 1/4 mile of gardens on this main city street. They apply time release fertilizer early in the season, as well as liquid feed every 10 days. They also prune three times during the season. There is no irrigation. Therefore, in the heat of the season, Limone delivers and disperses approximately 2,000 gallons of water each week. They provide early a.m. watering three times a week to avoid traffic.
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Feature Story
Scenic Landscaping Wins Two NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards of Excellence
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cenic Landscaping, located in Haskell, New Jersey has won two Awards of Excellence and two Awards of Distinction in the NJLCA’s 2018 Landscape Achievement Awards. Maintenance: Residential Scenic was brought onto the Closter Garden Property to create a beautiful, sprawling and intricate garden space. The client wanted color throughout every season, and to have gardens that worked as screening. Intensive maintenance services allows this property to thrive and look like a dream. Scenic’s team enhances the property seasonally, rotating out the container gardens to bring in new colors, and new materials to complement each season. This property continues to grow and evolve. Landscape Installation with Pool: Up to $100,000 The Denville “Spool” Design was created for a family who had a rather unusual and unusable backyard space. Given the small lot and the difficult site, Scenic needed to be extra creative in developing a design that could fit many elements in the limited space. This included rock walls, a boulder wa-
ter feature, planting beds, patio space, and a small pool with jets. Bringing in seasonal plant material added color and texture and softened the look of the rocks throughout. The size of the property limited the size of the pool, thus Scenic created a pool/spa, a “spool”.
Scenic Landscaping also won two Awards of Distinction for their “Westchester Residence” and “Bernardsville Pool and Outdoor Living Design” projects. See pages 32-37. Scenic Landscaping was formed in 1975, with just one pickup truck and a trusty lawn mower loaded into the back. It was Mitchell Knapp’s dream to turn his one man show into the respected business that Scenic Landscaping is today. Over 100 people now play a part in making Scenic Landscaping into the landscape company that it is today. From their talented landscape designers, dedicated project managers, and passionate crews, everyone plays a role in maintaining Scenic’s high standards. For more information, visit www.ScenicLandscaping.com.
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Feature Story
Young’s Landscape Management Wins Two NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards of Excellence
Landscape Installation without Pool: Over $100,000 The Caprarola-Margate project is at a bayside home and is designed to create a warm, welcoming retreat for the owners to enjoy during the summer months. The architectural use of travertine and veneer stone provides a classic, European element. The use of mature Evergreens, accents and abundant amounts of annuals, nestle the home on the property, providing spectacular curb appeal. This low-lying property sits in a flood-prone neighborhood. A well-planned drainage system needed township approval to tie into their stormwater lines.
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Young’s Landscape Management also won an Award of Distinction for their “Kolovos Residence” project and an Award of Merit for their “East Gate Square” projects. See pages 32-37.
oung’s Landscape Management, located in Moorestown, New Jersey has won two Awards of Excellence, one Award of Distinction and one Award of Merit for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards. Landscape Installation without Pool: Up to $25,000 Young’s was approached in 2017, after septic work had wiped out the Nace Residence’s existing screening along a very busy road. While separating the road and residence was key, protecting the new septic field from heavy machinery and future wandering roots was paramount. Deer tolerant material was also necessary for the success of this landscape bed. The variety of young plants that Young’s installed will mature into the desired diverse screen.
Young’s Landscape Management has been serving the South Jersey area since 1993, transforming customers’ houses into beautiful homes worthy of the title “Paradise.” Dan Young, owner, has been cutting lawns since he was a young boy and found the joy of not only a hard day’s work, but the feeling of looking out onto the landscape of a newly mowed lawn and the transformation that small bit of landscaping brought to a person’s home. Young’s Landscaping is the result of Dan Young’s passion for beautiful landscaping and a work ethic that is unmatched in the industry. For more info, visit www.YoungsLandscape.com.
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Feature Story
Blu Sol Pools Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
caps, treads and wall caps. Natural stone was used to veneer the spa, the pool waterline, as well as all steps/ walls. The interior finish was applied with a beautiful wet edge polished pebble, with mother of pear applied over finish. The sloped backyard was a challenge in itself. Blu Sol resolved this issue by using the hill to their advantage with the raised spa, then stepping down to the main patio area. They build up the waterfall on the opposing side to give the look of a flatter area. The waterfall was core drilled and bubblers were installed inside rocks to allow for a better visual from inside the house.
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lu Sol Pools, located in Bloomingdale, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence for their North Caldwell Pool project in the Landscape Installation with Pool: $100,000250,000 category. This client wanted an elegant, yet natural pool setting on their sloped backyard. Blu Sol completed their wishlist with a free form gunite pool, complete with a natural waterfall, raised spillover spa and a swimout deep end bench. The spa spillover stones were individually placed and jut out in a unique way to have the water from the spa trickle over, while making more of a waterfall noise than a typical spillover. The waterfall stones were hand-picked to give it a unique appearance while tying into the rest of the project. Blu Sol installed a full colored bluestone wet-laid patio, along with all blue stone pool coping,
Blu Sol Pools is an award winning pool design and installation company that has been building, renovating and maintaining pools in Northern New Jersey for fifteen years. They custom design, build, renovate, repair and maintain pools through spring, summer, fall and winter. They pride themselves in their ability to transform rough ideas into the backyard of their clients’ dreams. For more information, visit www.BluSolPools.com.
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Feature Story
Castle Point Landscape Design Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
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astle Point Landscape Design, located in Basking Ridge, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence and an Award of Distinction in the NJLCA’s Landscape Installation without Pool: $50,000-100,000 category. For the “Purpora Driveway Design”, Castle Point removed almost 150 cubic yards of crushed bluestone, beach pebbles and base material to prep for a new paver driveway. The Belgian block curbing was already in place, so their elevations were constrained by them and they had to be creative in achieving proper pitch/drainage. They also had to cut out approximately 400 linear feet of concrete curb to get it close to the Belgian block edge. Castle Point then built back their geotextile/base, sand and vehicular rated pavers in a large size format (heaviest paver shape was approximately 60-70 lbs.
and almost 3.5” thick). Drainage was installed under the driveway, as were conduits for future driveway pillars and lights. Accent borders and custom inlays were placed at select locations. Properly staging over 45 pallets (3 tractor trailer loads) of pavers so they weren’t in the way, but were accessible and spaced so material was efficient was a challenge. Castle Point had to complete the project for a hard deadline of Thanksgiving while fighting the bad weather, with only one access point into the job through the driveway! Castle Point also won an Award of Distinction for their “Strauss Property Overhaul” project. See pages 32-37.
Castle Point Landscape Design traces its roots to 1989. Starting the business when he was just 11 years old, owner Steve Graul channeled his love for the great outdoors into a successful enterprise. Originally called Steve’s Landscaping, the business was renamed Castle Point Landscape Design in honor of Steve’s college alma mater. At Castle Point Landscape Design, they pride themselves on their ability to meet deadlines and consistently exceed expectations. They pay attention to the details and deliver on them time and time again. From visionary landscape design to skilled drainage and grading, their team has the expertise needed. For more information, visit www.CastlePointLandscape.com.
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Feature Story
Horizon Landscape Company Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
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orizon Landscape Co., located in Wyckoff, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence and an Award of Distinction for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards. Maintenance: Residential Horizon entered their “Battifarano Residence” project in this category and won the NJLCA Award of Excellence. The project consists of keeping the property in its finest shape. Horizon provides full maintenance, including treating the lawn to provide a deep green, weed-free grass, pruning the plant material and complete bed maintenance. They also provide the homeowner with seasonal enhancements throughout the year. Horizon also won an Award of Distinction for their “Gross Residence” project. See pages 32-37. Horizon Landscape has been serving Northern, New Jersey for over 40 years delivering unparalleled quality in landscape design and construction, landscape lighting, lawn maintenance, lawn and ornamental care, irrigation systems, drainage solutions, and commercial snow and ice management. For more information, visit www.HorizonLandscape.com.
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Feature Story
Landscape Techniques, Inc. Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
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andscape Techniques, Inc., located in Nutley, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence for their NJ Sharing Network Meditation Garden in the Design/Build: Commercial/ Industrial category. The NJ Sharing Network Meditation Garden project included the construction of a soothing, linear, multi-level water feature, surrounded by lush, colorful plantings. The main emphasis of this garden however was the construction of an “honor wall” representing the brave, unselfish individuals that have donated a lifesaving organ. Rutgers University student Muzi Li, Landscape Architecture Masters Program, designed the winning submission. Landscape Techniques was initially asked to assist in the construction development, then subsequently awarded the bid. “This was and extremely rewarding project
to work on and an honor to collaborate on with Rutgers University and the NJ Sharing Network,” said Brian Koribanik of Landscape Techniques. Once a contaminated site, remediation left in its wake very poor soil, or in some areas no soil at all. Planting bed preparation was critically important. The space abuts a substantial size parking lot so the designer cleverly incorporated the IPE honor wall and plantings to completely minimize its impact. Landscape Techniques has over thirty years of experience in the design and construction of beautiful, functional commercial and private landscapes in the Tri-State Area. During their long history as one of the premiere landscape and custom pool builder companies in the state, they have created beautiful and functional spaces for hundreds of private homes and estates, as well as high-profile businesses and public areas such as Liberty Science Center and Liberty State Park, the Wall of Honor at Ellis Island, the AT&T Conference Center in Bernardsville, the Long Branch Beach walk redevelopment, and public park projects in Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York, Roosevelt Island, among many other local communities. For more information, visit www.LandscapeTechniquesInc.net.
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Feature Story
Let It Grow Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
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et It Grow, located in River Edge, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence, in the NJLCA’s Maintenance: Condo/Townhouse category. Hudson Tea is a luxury condominium located along the Hudson River in Hoboken, NJ. Let It Grow has been providing year round, high-end landscape maintenance surrounding the building and on the private rooftop gardens. Let It Grow uses integrated pest management and practice BMPs to maintain the site. They install annual flowers and site furnishings. They are in constant communication with the property owner to ensure that everything they maintain is looking flawless all year round. Let It Grow, Inc. was established by Paul Imbaratto in 1986. The reputation they earn with their customers has transformed their capabilities to offer a vast array landscape
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and site construction disciplines from 24 years of dedicated service. They pride themselves in never losing sight of the communities they serve. For more information, visit www.LetItGrow.com.
Feature Story
Siciliano Landscape Company Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence proximity of neighboring properties.
Siciliano Landscape also won Awards of Distinction for their “Aulwood Lane Residence” and “Munson Residential Maintenance” projects. See pages 32-37. “Corners are the only things we don’t cut” ® is Siciliano’s tag line. Karen Siciliano’s grandfather started the business by tending to the formal estate gardens of Rumson, New Jersey in 1935. He attributed his success to making sure every customer was a satisfied one.
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iciliano Landscape Company, located in Red Bank, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence and two Awards of Distinction for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards. Landscape Installation without Pool: Over $100,000 Siciliano entered this category with their Irving Place Residence project and won the NJLCA Award of Excellence.
While Siciliano has grown tremendously over 80 years and three generations, their family owned and operated business thrives by delivering exceptional quality and service in design, installation and maintenance. Licensed in the state of New Jersey as a Landscape Architecture firm and woman owned business enterprise, Siciliano proudly serves residential and commercial properties, as well as homeowner associations. For more information, visit www.SicilianoLandscape.com.
They created the overall master plan design and handled construction for this single family residence in Red Bank, NJ. The design called for a new front walkway and a custom gate, new driveway, new custom fencing, patios a custom cedar pergola vegetable garden, new landscape and landscape lighting. Protecting one of the largest American Sycamores in the state was a challenge. Siciliano was also charged with honoring the client’s request, making the final space feel enclosed and secluded from the close
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Feature Story
Sponzilli Landscape Group Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
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ponzilli Landscape Group, located in Fairfield, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence, in the NJLCA’s Design/Build: Commercial/Industrial category. The NYU Langone Kimmel Hospital project includes a 1-acre ground level arrival plaza and a 26,000 square foot outdoor terrace on the 7th level overlooking the East River. The ground level includes an arrival garden and plaza that blends seamlessly and safely next to vehicular arrival and drop-off. The 7th level terrace includes dedicated outdoor space specifically designed for pediatric patients with an outdoor classroom, gardens and a variety of interactive elements. Resiliency
planning was incorporated into the landscape by integrating a retractable flood barrier set within the ground level plaza. The unique micro-climatic conditions on the upper terrace inspired the program zoning as well a three different zones for the plant selection: sunny, wind-tolerant native coastal plantings; seaside garden plantings and shade-loving, low height, highly textured plantings. To accommodate the planting, the terrace was designed to accommodate a 24” soil depth, so planting could be set flush with the pavement to create a more garden-like setting. Sponzilli handled the landscape installation for the entire project including the 7th floor Children’s Terrace and roof garden with a view to the Empire State Building, designed to give parents access to sunlight and fresh air while staying in the hospital with their children. Sponzilli Landscape Group is headed by founder Richard Sponzilli and his two sons, Jason and Daniel. Richard began Sponzilli Landscape 42 years ago and has created a reputation for outstanding quality and service. They strive, throughout all of their interactions, to be positive and progressive experts in their field and community. For more info, visit www.Sponzilli.com.
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Feature Story
Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development Wins NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence Around the spa is a perimeter overflow edge with square cut coping. Bobe stainless steel knife-edge allows for the Lautner lawn edge and cantilevered bluestone creates the patio edge. Over 100 gallons per minute of water are in transit while marinating this mirror finish. Thomas Flint also won Awards of Merit for their “Liebowitz Residence” and “Rosano Residence” projects. See pages 32-37.
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homas Flint Landscape Design & Development, located in Midland Park, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence and two Awards of Merit for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards. Landscape Installation with Pool: Over $500,000 At first glance, it was obvious that the Compain Residence was perfect for an infinity edge. Faced with a very steep slope, Thomas Flint’s building envelope was limited. The existing pool was placed at an unusual angle and there was very little usable patio space. The clients were designing a very clean lined contemporary home to update this 1960’s ranch. Their desire for minimalism and simplicity with “no grass” inspired the aesthetic for this design. Upon removal of the old pool, Flint didn’t discover load bearing soil until a depth of 18’ below the finished floor of the deep end, 400 yards of gravel later they were at grade to start forming the pool. From the bottom of the basin to water level, this pool acts as an 8’ retaining wall. To accomplish this simple look, Flint employed three different types of edges, all filtered independently. The vanishing edge is a standard knife-edge finished with glass tile.
Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development was started in 2004 with owner Tom Flint and 2 employees. Their focus was the same in 2004 as it is now, constructing high quality outdoor living spaces and swimming pools while offering the best customer service and experience in the industry. The company focuses purely and only on construction. They have grown to 19 employees over the last 12 years all of which have been hand selected because they have the right attitude and mindset to fit the framework of the company. For more information, visit www. ThomasFlintLandscape.com.
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AVOID THE PORT. BRAEN is now offering preseason pricing, stocked and ready to go at our Haledon Quarry and Braen Supply Haledon.
400-402 Central Avenue, Haledon, New Jersey 07508 www.braenstone.com | www.braensupply.com
Feature Story
Wicklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors Win NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award of Excellence
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icklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors, located in Flanders, New Jersey has won an Award of Excellence and two Awards of Merit for projects entered in the 2018 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Awards.
rano were able to make it a reality. They achieved a transitional design/build project by incorporating contemporary landscape elements to compliment the traditional architecture of the estate. Wicklow and Laurano also won Awards of Merit for their “Ledgewood Commercial Maintenance” and “Bedminster Pool Pavilion and Patio” projects. See pages 32-37. Wicklow and Laurano Landscaping and Excavating is a full service, high-end, residential and commercial landscape firm. They specialize in the management and implementation of all aspects of each project, ranging from site development, custom masonry, hardscaping and plantings, as well as property maintenance. For more information, visit www.WicklowandLaurano.com.
Landscape Installation without Pool: Over $100,000 The Franklin Lakes Bluestone Patio and Outdoor Kitchen project was borne of the clients looking to enhance their rear outdoor program. Wicklow and Laurano designed and built bluestone lawn pavers at entry points to rear patio and pool areas. The patio addition was constructed of bluestone and includes a treated lumber pergola and stone veneered outdoor kitchen. They also installed a series of plantings throughout the front and rear yards to compliment the estate’s architecture. The clients had a distinct vision and Wicklow and Lau-
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Feature Story
And the Winner Is... Maintenance: Commercial/Industrial Award of Merit: Wicklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors Project: Ledgewood Commercial Maintenance
The commercial plaza in Ledgewood, NJ included large areas of planting and lawn maintenance. Wicklow and Laurano were contracted to maintain planting and lawn areas. They installed layers of native plants to enhance the plaza’s aesthetic. Annual mulching, fertilization, seasonal planting and spring and fall cleanups are part of this maintenance contract. The original plants that they installed are flourishing and they have yet to replace any struggling or dying plant material.
Maintenance: Residential Award of Distinction - Siciliano Landscape Company Project: Auldwood Lane Rumson Residential Maintenance
Siciliano maintains this gorgeous estate in Rumson, NJ. They maintain meticulous edges, plantings and a lush green lawn.
Award of Distinction - Young’s Landscape Management Project: Kolovos Residence
Since installation, Young’s has maintained this property for two full seasons. Their services include spring and fall cleanups, seasonal color, mulching, mowing, tree and shrub IPM program, along with turf fertilizations. There is an 80 foot elevation difference from rear to front property lines. Irrigation needs to be managed in the steep graded areas due to sun orientation and water runoff. The deer population here is also abundant.
Award of Merit - Vander Sluys Landscape Development, LLC Project: Wragge Residence
This entire property is maintained using constant attention. Full seasonal color in spring, summer and fall is provided. Vander Sluys also provides weekly garden maintenance, weeding of beds and dead heading plants. All beds are mulched with Nutri Peat organic mulch in the late spring/early summer. The property now has a lush lawn with manicured plantings, leaf free beds that are clean and edged. Vander Sluys also maintains the rubberized mulch in the play area and 3/8” stone, keeping them in place.
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Feature Story Design/Build: Commercial/Industrial
Award of Merit - Wicklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors Project: Bedminster Pool Pavilion and Patio
This client was looking to expand their existing pool area by incorporating additional seating and entertainment for users. Wicklow and Laurano designed and built the patio area out of tinted concrete and brick bandings to match the existing hardscape. They also designed and built the pavilion structure out of lumber posts that sit on stone veneered footings to match the surrounding buildings. Plantings, outdoor furnishings and a bar were added for users to enjoy. The challenge of matching new materials to the original pool area was met and the entryway, as well as furnishings are ADA compliant and handicap accessible.
Design/Build: Foundation Planting Award of Merit - Vander Sluys Landscape Development, LLC Project: Draganescu Residence
Vander Sluys removed all of the outdated landscaping for these new homeowners. They added color, height and texture to the landscape. They added large rocks and created a larger planting bed than what had been there before and they added a planting bed around the lamppost. The original landscape beds had 12” of mulch in them, which had to be removed before Vander Sluys added new soil for plantings. They also added two window wells.
Design/Build: Condo/Townhouse Award of Merit - Young’s Landscape Management Project: Cooper River Plaza
This 520 unit residential apartment building was in need of a major facelift. The tired landscape, drab 50 year old decor and lack of gathering space needed enhancement. Bluestone walkways, mini-creta seatwalls, mature accents and colorful plantings add to the main entrance’s character as residents enter and exit the building. Proper planning and organized logistics were vital, as hundreds of residents entered and exited the construction zone on a daily basis.
Design/Build: Lighting Award of Distinction - Vander Sluys Landscape Development, LLC Project: Wyckoff Residence Landscape Lighting
This project consisted of lighting a very nicely landscaped home. Vander Sluys installed FX Luminaire PL Series path lights, RS uplights, wall wash lights and in ground well lights. They highlighted the key elements of the property to give it the wow factor to all that drive and walk by. The clients emphasized that they didn’t want the lighting to be overpowering and too bright, but once they started, they wanted more!
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Feature Story Landscape Installation without Pool: Up to $25,000 Award of Distinction - Vander Sluys Landscape Development, LLC Project: Wyckoff Residence
For this project, Vander Sluys installed a new paver front walkway, stone veneer steps with bluestone treads and Belgian block borders by the apron and garage doors. They created a walkway inside the patio area by the side door. They installed Dwarf English Boxwood on both sides of the walkway, with Little Lime Hydrangea on each side as well. Along the driveway and mailbox they used colorful perennials and low plantings to show off the natural stone wall that has been there for years.
Award of Merit - Vander Sluys Landscape Development, LLC Project: Woessner Residence
This client planned to expand their deck, which required shrubs to be removed. Vander Sluys installed a 2x3 bluestone walkway with full landscaping. They removed dead trees and replaced them with privacy screening to shield them from the neighbors yard and the street. Holly and Japanese Maple were able to be saved and worked into the design.
Landscape Installation without Pool: $25,000-50,000 Award of Distinction - Landscapeworks, Inc. Project: Bernabe Residence - Side Yard
This project was contained along the right side of the home with a severe 14.6’ change in grade over a distance of approximately 45’. The project consisted of remove all existing, deteriorating hardscapes and drainage. Demolition included stump removal, as well as hardscapes including wood and fieldstone retaining walls. New hardscapes were installed to accommodate the steep change in grade and provide a safe, seamless transition between the front and rear side yards. New drainage and lighting were added as well.
Award of Distinction - Horizon Landscape Co. Project: Gross Residence
Horizon redeveloped this property to provide entertaining spaces and expand the back yard to be more functional for recreational use. They were responsible for drainage and grading, a natural stone retaining wall, irrigation, a new patio and walkway, plant material and turf. They continue to maintain the property as well. They were successful in maximizing the entertaining area in a smaller back yard.
Landscape Installation without Pool: $50,000 - 100,000 Award of Distinction - Castle Point Landscape Design Project: Strauss Property Overhaul
After this client fully renovated/expanded their home, Castle Point did a complete property overhaul. Work included grading and drainage, plantings, paver patio and walkways, extension of the front stoop into a landing with a retaining wall. They had to blend new work into the old, installing a new bluestone landing, entrance pillar, cultured stone, low-voltage lighting, including lights set into the patio, new Belgian block curbing on both sides of the driveway and bermed beds for privacy trees.
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Feature Story Landscape Installation with Pool: Up to $100,000 Award of Distinction - Exclusive Stoneworks Project: Cavaleri Residence
This back yard was a blank slate and the client deferred to Exclusive for their ideas. The first design gave them everything they wanted. A younger couple with small children, they leaned on Exclusive to create something that their children could enjoy throughout their youth into adulthood. The idea was to create an outdoor living area that flowed well with each element - stone, fire and water.
Landscape Installation with Pool: $100,000-250,000 Award of Distinction - Scenic Landscaping Project: Bernardsville Pool and Outdoor Living Design
This was a vacant lot when Scenic was brought in, with a slope in the back of the property. The homeowners wanted to create an outdoor living space that would be ideal for hosting parties as well as for the whole family to enjoy. A large freeform pool with spa and waterfall out of natural stone boulders was constructed, with a large surrounding patio for lounging, as well as a custom outdoor kitchen and dining area. The entire property was landscaped to create the naturalistic feel, softening the boulders and making the pool fit in.
Award of Merit - Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development Project: Rosano Residence
This project was a pool renovation that included the addition of a large waterfall and spa. The existing pool walls were not reinforced with large enough steel to support the new additions, so Thomas Flint needed to remove the existing wall of the pool where the spa and waterfall were proposed, install new 1/2� grade 60 steel to support the weight of the stone and the spa. The pool was then re-plumbed, re-plastered, new coping added, patio and plantings. This was a full pool renovation and landscape that drastically changed the feel of this back yard.
Landscape Installation with Pool: $250,000-500,000 Award of Distinction - DiTomaso Landscape Group Project: Ramsey Residence
The goal of this project was to develop a master plan of the rear yard in Ramsey, which would be completed in two stages. Phase 1 would be the pool and the backdrop landscaping. Phase 2 would include the outdoor entertainment space after a proposed addition to the house was completed. The outdoor entertaining space includes a sitting area, fire pit and outdoor kitchen. The greatest challenge was to integrate Phase 2 (which was completed 3 years later) and provide the same appearance as Phase 1.
Award of Distinction - Scenic Landscaping Project: Westchester Residence
Scenic was brought onto this project to construct an entire property renovation. The site was compromised and clogged with large bushes, sunken wood patios, uneven elevations, multi-level deck and an abundance of shrubs. The site was an extreme slope, that needed to be pushed back and leveled to create an upper lawn area for their children to have room to play. The vision was to blend the new pool design and patio to match the existing architecture of the home, by keeping everything in cool tones and modern.
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Feature Story Landscape Installation with Pool: $250,000-500,000 Award of Distinction - Siciliano Landscape Company Project: Auldwood Lane Residence
This project consisted of the design and installation of a rear master plan for a single family residence. The design includes a 20x40 gunite swimming pool, 12x20 Azek pergola, custom cedar fencing, a fire pit, bluestone walkways and patios, a drystacked wall, along with landscape and landscape lighting.
Award of Merit - Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development Project: Liebowitz Residence
This client charged Thomas Flint with creating an infinity edge pool that offered great reflections and complimented their newly constructed home. This pool was built into the hillside and used to retain the grade for the lower lawn area, as well as provide a stunning water element in their back yard.
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Feature Story
Feeling A Bit Salty
S
alt has been in the spotlight, as of late. Beginning in mid- to late-summer, salt availability was a major concern with North American snow and ice management contractors. A perfect storm of scenarios had many insiders predicting a run on rock salt for commercial contractors in the fall once DOT’s and municipalities filled their bins. This forced a number of snow fighters to seek out foreign salt and make hefty investments in both money and good faith that the product not only showed up but was viable for commercial ice mitigation. So far, I’ve only heard positive experiences, but more on that in the future. In addition, a considerable amount of contractor interest has centered on liquid deicing and the use of brine. Brine and other blended alternatives are seen as more efficient, effective and sustainable. Without a doubt, this deicing practice has really gained momentum within the last two winters, influencing many contractors to invest heavily in liquid deicing technology, and leaving the rest clamoring for information. In fact, a recent analysis of Snow Magazine reader trends from the last quarter of 2018 had “deicing,” “liquids,” and “liquid deicing” as the top searched terms on our website. Salt popped up recently, though, in a way I believe is a cause for concern. Recent studies, including one making the rounds from the University of Maryland, suggest U.S. freshwater is getting saltier and rock salt – from both highway and commercial activities -- is partly to blame. In a nutshell, we use tons and tons of rock salt to manage safe roadway and pavement conditions throughout winter. The salt eventually washes off the surfaces, into the surrounding environment and makes its way to nearby waterways. The long-held belief had this salt washing away, heading downstream and dissipating, however, recent findings suggest its sticking around and building up into unsafe levels. In addition to the obvious environmental and ground water ramifications, experts says different salt compounds interact and cause corrosive chemical cocktails that are destructive to urban infrastructure. A notable example is the lead leached from pipes into Flint, Mich.’s drinking water. These findings paint a target on the snow and ice management industry -- both highway and commercial. As popular opinion and the financial cost to deal with the consequences of salt use compound, I predict the tool we’ve relied on – and
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by Matt Zawacki, ASCA and SNOW Magazine taken for granted -- to make parking lots and walkways safe for the general public to traverse will come under scrutiny. This could manifest into restrictive laws and regulations, costly fines and/or taxes to offset infrastructure replacement and environmental damage, or meddlesome and intrusive government oversight into our industry Therefore, we need to be proactive and self-regulating when it comes to the use of rock salt for commercial snow and ice management. Some initial steps commercial snow and ice contractors can take include: Education – Make sure everyone on your team is knowledgeable in proper salt application, the impact of pavement conditions on deicing, how to correctly calibrate equipment, and how to recognize when product is being overapplied or misused. In addition, the onus falls on us to ensure property owners and managers understand how rock salt and other deicers work, what’s most appropriate for their properties, and why and – maybe most importantly -- when it’s applied. Investment – Calibration and distribution technology has come a long way and continues to improve. Be sure you’re investing in deicing equipment that allows you to dial in the correct application rates. Unsatisfied with the level of control from your favorite brand? Manufacturers put a lot of stock into the “voice of the customer,” so let them know you are committed to responsible salt use and demand they comply by upgrading their technology. Communication – Get the word out and promote the fact that your snow removal ops practices responsible use of rock salt and deicing chemicals. Be prepared to knowledgably defend your deicing practices and that the correct amount is being used for the job at hand. Mark my words, this is not the last you’ll hear of this problem. If our industry wishes to continue to use rock salt, then we must get ahead of this, address how our industry can effectively respond, and take the responsible steps to self-regulate the safe, cost-effective and sustainable use of this vital deicing tool. If not, others will do so for us and add new and ponderous layers of bureaucracy and financial costs to the task of snow and ice management. Mike Zawacki is the editor of Snow Magazine and the ASCA’s content and curriculum manager. You can reach him at mzawacki@gie.net.
The [Safety] Culture Club
A
Don’t Be This Guy
s an industry, we are in a constant battle with many issues such as; weather, rules, regulations, laws, insurance, crazy low ball competitors and so much more. Why would anyone jeopardize the life and safety of themselves or their staff as shown in the attached photo. The title of this article “DON’T BE THIS GUY” is not by any means a suggestion, it is a directive. By “This Guy,” I don’t necessarily mean the person in the bucket of this skid steer, I also mean the person operating the skid steer. Examine the photo for a minute and ponder the potential infractions and violations these workers are exposed to. From the lack of approved fall protection devices, using a piece of equipment for purposes it is not intended to be used for, absolutely NO chainsaw safety equipment and what would seem the least of all infractions, no traffic protection! If the trimming of this tree was important enough to jeopardize the safety of all employees involved, it should be important enough to secure the proper equipment, safety and otherwise. Think about the business side of this scenario for a minute. The haphazard practices displayed in this photo could have cost someone their life, their ability to work in the future, or their freedom if convicted of negligence if an injury or death occurred. Now, if industry standards were complied with, this tree trimming could potentially be done as follows: For the height of this trimming, a ladder might work. Explaining to your client what proper pruning technics will be used since you are a professional in the industry. The use of proper personal safety equipment such as chainsaw chaps, helmet, gloves, face shield, etc., and last but not least, use a pole saw to circumvent all of the above. Lack of the proper tool does not create the opportunity for disaster. If we, as contractors, cannot provide safe working conditions for ourselves, our staff and the people we service, it is difficult to call ourselves professionals. We are in the image business. Everything we do impacts image, be it ours, our clients, our environment, our community and I think most importantly, our industry. One cannot wonder why we are not considered professionals if we don’t consider ourselves professionals. Act the part and you will be paid the part, I say. Let us, as an association and an industry, hold ourselves to a higher standard. Lets be the top 10 percent, not the bottom 10 percent! Pat Donovan is the owner of Classic Landscaping and is a retired Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Officer. He is also the Chairman of the NJLCA Safety Committee.
News Briefs
A warm welcome to our newest and returning members... Caliper Farms Nursery
Kathryn Buzby
& Landscape
Cochranville, PA
Angelo DiMeglio
Student
Belle Mead, NJ L.P. Statile Casey Fuel Tax Refunds
Phillip Statile
William Casey
Springfield, NJ
Watervliet, NY Landscaping by Craig, Inc. Cody’s Mow Mow
Craig Mandell
Lawn Service
East Brunswick, NJ
Cody Bergen West Milford, NJ
Patricia Smith Clifton, NJ
Colson’s Landscaping
Student
Jay A. Colson Belford, NJ
Snow and Ice Management Chuck Lantzman
Earth, Turf, & Blooms
Pittsburgh, PA
Scott Kirk Chester, NJ
Spano and Sons Joseph Spano
Gem Landscapes, LLC
Roselle Park, NJ
James Baumann Tenafly, NJ Hillcrest Garden, Inc. Bella Campanelli Paramus, NJ NJLCA.ORG 39
News Briefs
Contractor Focus: Raimondi Horticultural Group
C
hristopher Raimondi, President and CEO of Raimondi Horticultural Group, got his start in Horticulture at the age of 12, after becoming the top salesman for a local plant nursery during a Boy Scout troop fundraiser. By the time he was a sophomore in high school, he had turned his love of the outdoors into his first business, Raimondi Landscape, which he continued to manage while he completed his studies in Ornamental Horticulture at Farmingdale State College (SUNY). Over the next 20 years, the business expanded into Raimondi Horticultural Group, a full-service Horticultural company with an eye toward environmentally friendly interior and exterior landscape designs. Chris now shares his over 40 years of horticultural knowledge with clients, as well as his students at The New York Botanical Garden and Bergen Community College, where he is an Adjunct Professor of Horticulture. He has held numerous volunteer industry positions, including serving as a Board Member for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). He has also served as a spokesperson for plant health and environmental sustainability at numerous industry events and for various publications, local radio shows, and national television programs. For his educational and professional efforts, he earned the coveted NALP Trailblazer Status, designating him as a credible source for horticultural advising. In the last year, he was a founding member of Pinnacle V, an international peer group of plantscape professionals
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who share best practices and progressive business strategy. Chris is proud to serve his professional and local community as well, by holding a position on the Green Plants for Green Buildings (GPGB) Board of Directors and as a Nationally Certified Trainer for Continuing Education to the Design Community. Additionally, he is a Shade Tree Commissioner for the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. He is a past Chief of the Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department as well as an officer of the Ridgewood Fire Department, both in New Jersey, and continues his commitment to these organizations today. Today, Raimondi Horticultural Group offers a wide array of services, from interiorscaping to traditional exterior landscaping, holiday displays to event florals, and green walls to living wall art.
For more information about Raimondi Horticultural Group and some stunning photos of their work, visit www. RaimondiHG.com
News Briefs
Associate Focus: Bartlett Tree Experts
F
rancis A. Bartlett graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College, now the University of Massachusetts, in 1905 (he would later accept an honorary doctorate at his alma mater). He taught horticulture at the Hampton Institute in Virginia for two years before a benefactor of that college persuaded him to relocate to the New York area, where many valuable shade and ornamental trees were declining and dying. Mr. Bartlett accepted the challenge by founding The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company in 1907. The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company was founded in 1907. In the 1920s, the company expanded into several Northeastern and Eastern Seaboard states, and as far west as Chicago. In 1922, public utility companies asked for Mr. Bartlett’s help in keeping their power lines clear of excessive tree growth that tended to cause outages during storms. That was the beginning of their public utility line clearance division, which until February 2001, when it was sold, supplemented their basic private tree care operations. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Public Utility service, which was extremely active as rural America electrified, sustained the business. In the 1940s, another expansion occurred when offices were opened in almost all of the states east of the Mississippi.
In the years immediately prior to World War I, it became obvious to Mr. Bartlett that he did not have time to manage a growing business while carrying on research and experiments to satisfy his scientific curiosity. By 1926, there was enough scientific work in progress to warrant the establishment of the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, located first in North Stamford, Connecticut, and, since 1965, on a large property in Charlotte, North Carolina. The permanent laboratories staff consists of PhDs in disciplines such as: Plant pathology, Entomology, Physiology and Soil science. They are guided by technicians with degrees in disciplines such as: Horticulture, Botany and Arboriculture. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the Bartlett Company entered markets in Texas, California, and the Pacific Northwest. The company went international in 1994 with the acquisition of Southern Tree Surgeons, Ltd. in the United Kingdom, the largest European tree care firm. Bartlett has also grown significantly in Canada through acquisitions, further building on its international presence. As a result of acquisitions since 2000, more than 30 offices have been added across the U.S., United Kingdom, and Canada. Now in its second century of providing exceptional tree and shrub care services, Bartlett’s future and its heritage are securely anchored in success. Embodying training, safe practices, years of experience, knowledge, and sound management, The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company story continues. Considering it’s history, capabilities, employees, and clients, the Company’s future is quite promising. For more information, visit www.Bartlett.com
Waldwick, NJ Office. Pictured left to right: back row: Frank Molina, Maximo Hernandez, Matt Walters, Stephen Reiver, Patrick Harms, Pat Burke; front row: Antonio DeJesus, Pat Fice, Keith Bimbi, Juan DeJesus, Andres Peguero, Eleazar Bonilla, Jose Rivas, Pablo Velazquez, Luis Mendoza
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Feature Story
Meeting the Standards of the Road
Why a DOT Medical Exam is Important for Business Owners and Their Team
P
ublic safety for those on the road depends on the well-being of the drivers around them. Drivers who obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) are held to a higher standard, especially when it comes to their health. While drivers ultimately have the responsibility for their safety, landscaping and trucking company owners also must play a critical role. Owners must ensure that drivers adhere to DOT regulations, in order to protect their business, employees, customers and community. With that said, owners must prioritize DOT medical exam requirements for drivers. Without this, drivers can receive tickets on their driving record, but owners put their business at risk of lawsuits and government penalties. Prevent a detrimental repercussion to your business by mandating that your drivers receive a DOT medical exam. Here’s what you need to know: To obtain a CDL, drivers are required to pass a physical health exam. As enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a DOT exam follows strict requirements to assess the health of the driver. A passing certificate ensures that our roads are the safest they can be. As a landscaper, it’s likely that your staff drives commercial vehicles to haul heavy machinery to and from jobs. According to the FMCSA, vehicles need to be registered with the USDOT if they: • Transport hazardous materials that require a safety permit for intrastate operation • Have a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 lbs. or more. **Including snow removal** • Can transport greater than 7 passengers and a driver for compensation • Can carry greater than 14 passengers and a driver, but are not used for compensation • Cross state lines for business. The fines for these violations are well over $1,000 per ticket. When going to a DOT Medical Exam, drivers need to bring a list of their current doctors and contact information, along with necessary glasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids. Those who are examined should also be advised to avoid caffeine and tobacco at least one hour before evaluation to prevent skewing test results. If any of your drivers have the following conditions, they’ll need to bring additional documentation to their appointment.
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• Diabetes: blood sugar diary and most recent lab results from endocrinologist • Heart Conditions: medical history, test results, approval from cardiologist • Sleep Apnea: data dating back 90 days • Stroke, Seizures, Brain tumor or bleeding on the brain: medical history, test results and approval from a neurologist • Permanent damage to a limb: records and work-related recommendations from a specialist • Prescribed controlled substances: approval from the prescribing doctor to operate a vehicle • Prescribed a blood thinner: most recent INR results. Preparing all the appropriate documentation before the exam can save time and frustration. (We can bring all necessary forms to your office a week before the exam giving the drivers ample time to fill out) The following requirements are needed to pass the Exam: • Vision: 20/40 acuity in both eyes (Glasses or contact lenses can be used) • Hearing: Ability to hear a forced whisper in a least one ear from five feet away • Blood pressure: 140-159 / 90-99 guarantees a one-year certificate, 160-179/100-109 permits a three-month temporary certificate and >180/110 disqualifies the driver at the examiner’s discretion • Urine: No underlying medical conditions • Drug Test: No trace of marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone or oxymorphone. • This is not required for this certification; however, I am licensed to offer drug testing if needed. Back to Health Wellness Care makes it easy for members to fulfill their DOT Requirement. Visit back2healthtoday.com. As a DOT Medical Health Care Professional and a member of the NJLCA, Dr. Kreyman can perform the CDL exams in my Wayne, NJ practice.
Snow Business
R
Out-of-Scope Scams
ecently, I was working with a snow contractor in the midwest who was being pressured by one of the regional snow players into doing work on customer locations that was not contracted for, and was definitely out-of-scope. The controlling snow contractor felt that they should acquiesce to the customer’s unreasonable demands to perform outside the scope and force the snow contractor actually doing the work to perform without any additional compensation. The fellow performing the work on the site wanted my input into this less than professional attitude towards satisfying an unreasonable customer. This is not the first time I’ve seen this type of behavior on the part of a large regional or national player. One tends to wonder why this happens, and why the contractor with bootson-the ground doesn’t refuse to do this work. The phone calls and follow-up calls demanding out-of-scope work become increasingly more insistent and more verbally abusive. The contract holder sometimes makes promises to get what they (or the customer) wants just so the subcontractor goes to the site and performs as requested. They do not have any intention of paying for the out-of-scope work, but they won’t tell the sub this is what is happening, until it comes time to pay-up. This is not right, not fair and dishonest. They won’t stand up to the customer for fear the customer will threaten to withhold payment or cancel the contract. And, the most egregious thing that occurs is that the contractor performing the work gets caught in the middle. He/she wants to provide good service and provide a safe environment within the scope of work presented to them. But, can be hamstrung by unrealistic demands outside an agreed upon scope of work and refusals to pay for the out-ofscope work. Some contractors end up going bankrupt through no fault of their own. And, the customer ends up with another unsuspecting contractor who cannot possible perform without being paid for services rendered. To be fair, there are a few contractors who will perform uncontracted services, without approval and expect to be paid. This too is not fair, and should not occur. The various trade associations are making strides in obtaining commitments from contractor members to conduct business fairly and with an eye towards making honest profits. However, it is a slow, arduous process. The industry has come a very long way in the past 20+ years, but we still have a long way to go.
Feature Story by Dr. Roman Kreyman, Back To Health Wellness Care If you have 10 or more drivers at one time, he will go to your facility as a convenience. In addition to his normal business hours he is open late Wednesday nights as well as Sunday from 9:00am - 3:00pm. The cost per member is $80.00 each exam. “I personally want to take the time to say Thank You to all of the members that have used our services for your employees. It has been my pleasure to be of assistance. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. I would also like to extend an invitation for a Free Consultation for any chiropractic issues, just mention when calling that you are a member of NJLCA. Our staff would be glad to check your insurance. “We’ve got your back”!” says Dr. Kreyman. Dr. Roman Kreyman is a DOT Certified Medical Examiner and a Chiropractor. His practice, Back To Health Wellness Care, is in Wayne, NJ and you can reach him at 973-595-1809.
John Allin is a full time consultant to property managers, snow management contractors and the legal community. He has written three books on snow and ice management and regularly contributes to industry publications. John can be reached at John@johnallin.com.
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Feature Story
Emerging Expectations for Leading a New Generation
T
he workforce is changing. Millennials comprise a greater percentage of our workers. Technological advances are opening new opportunities never before dreamed of. New approaches to leadership are reshaping corporate cultures in all industries. As workforce expectations change, leadership needs to change as well. This article outlines six emerging workplace expectations that are transforming the business world. According to the Gallup organization, Millennials are the least engaged generation. Extensive polling data shows that only 29% of Millennials are considered to be engaged in their jobs, while 55% are not engaged and 16% are actively disengaged. In Baby Boomer lexicon, this means that less than a third are into their jobs, over half are not into their jobs, and some have completely checked out. Gallup also reports that over half of all Millennials plan to change jobs in the next year, and that most of these job changes will be lateral moves. In other words, Millennials are not hopping from job to job to get ahead. There is something else going on here. They are seeking something that they’re not finding. And, because they are unattached, unconstrained, and super connected, finding a new job is a pretty easy thing to do. What are they seeking and not finding? Actually, there are six things – six shifts that leaders need to be aware of, and respond to, in order to meet emerging expectations of a new generation of workers. Shift #1 My Paycheck → My Purpose The first big shift is from a focus on compensation to a focus on purpose. Previous generations would endure a job for decades simply to earn a paycheck. Those days are over. The next generation wants to know that their work has meaning. The mission matters. Compensation needs to be fair but it’s not the driving factor that it once was. Shift #2 My Satisfaction → My Development The second big shift is from a focus on personal satisfaction to a focus on personal development. Despite what you read in some articles, Millennials do not want to be coddled. In fact, attempts to do so will only backfire. Instead, they want to be developed. They want to grow, learn, and improve. They expect to be invested in and provided a road map for development – or an open door – and support along the way. Shift #3 My Boss → My Coach The third big shift is from a “boss” mentality to a “coach” mentality. Previous generations had bosses that would appear periodically, bark orders, and then leave. That was normal. Today’s leader is expected to be more of a coach who takes time to invest personally in each relationship. Despite what you hear about Millennials, they do not want to be handled softly in some condescending way. They expect a coach who
by Phil Harwood, GrowTheBench.com
is tough, demanding, and who will drive them to be the best versions of themselves. Shift #4 My Annual Review→My Ongoing Conversations The fourth big shift is from an annual review to an ongoing conversation. Previous generations accepted what has become a poster child for bad management practices – the dreaded annual review. A much better replacement is regular ongoing feedback between a manager and his or her subordinates, which allows for minor corrections in real time and opportunities to acknowledge what is going well. Shift #5 My Weaknesses → My Strengths The fifth big shift is from a focus on fixing a person’s weaknesses to a focus on leveraging a person’s strengths. Strengths-based leadership has replaced an outdated remedial approach that never made any sense. We all have natural talents. Why not take this natural talent and develop it into something amazing? This is what the next generation is expecting from their employers. Shift #6 My Job → My Life The sixth big shift is from a mindset of a job being just a job to a mindset of my job being my life. The next generation does not approach the world in the compartmentalized way that my generation did. Work, family, and personal lives are all intertwined. This is why a bad job is not tolerable for a Millennial where it was for my generation. Too many Baby Boomer and Gen-X managers have disdain for the next generation. They’ve read all sorts of false information about them and have their minds made up that this new generation is nothing more than a bunch of entitled snowflakes, demanding bean bag chairs, gluten-free pizza, and avocado toast. This may describe a few but it does not represent the generation as a whole. A better approach for leaders is to understand these six big shifts. Embrace this new generation and strive to meet their expectations. I personally feel that these six shifts are extremely healthy compared to the workplace environments of previous generations. I don’t know why a leader would not want to embrace these changes. What about you and your organization? Do you recognize these six emerging expectations? Are you embracing them or are you resisting the inevitable? What steps might you take this year to provide a more attractive workplace for the next generation? Now go forth. Phil Harwood is a Managing Partner of GrowTheBench. com. GrowTheBench.com provides online education, professional development, and peer groups for the professional landscape and snow industries. Comments are welcome at Phil@GrowTheBench.com.
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Feature Story
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Online Reviews for Landscaping reputation, but search engines do as well. Conduct an online search relating to your business category and location and you’ll see that most noticeable listings often correlate with the amount of reviews the company has posted. And which search results are you more likely to click on, the one with the 3-star rating or the one with 4.75 stars? Yeah, I thought so.
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ertain marketing experiences are etched into my brain. One such story is a tale of an industry pal, Butch. He owns a lawn care company in the Midwest and I’ve gotten to know him over a number of years, hanging out at industry conferences and swapping war stories and marketing tips. He loves his business and team and truly cares about his customers. I saw Butch a few years ago, and he emailed about a month later, as he was staring down the barrel of his first bad online review. I called him and we talked through the situation and I offered some tips on handling the bad review. The funny thing about online reviews for landscaping companies or lawn care and tree services is that we either want to buy them a round of drinks or take them out in the town square and shoot them full of holes. The more passionate you are about your reputation, the more emotions will flow when it’s challenged. In this article, we’ll cover the good, the bad, and the downright ugly reviews your landscaping company or lawn and tree service may get, and how to handle each of them... (and yes, that’s me in that cowboy-photoshop above). An Online Reputation That’s Bigger Than Life Online reviews are one of the most valuable marketing assets for a landscaping, lawn care, or tree service. Online reviews offer social proof and have become an integral way buyers decide which company they want to learn more about and ultimately choose. In fact, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Before they even go to your website or schedule a free consultation with your sales people, online reviews tell the prospect a story that is larger than life. If your green industry company has few (or zero) online reviews, or if you aren’t visibly interacting with the good, bad or ugly reviews your prospective customers are seeing, your reputation may be in grave danger. Not only do your prospective customers care about your
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Extra, Extra, Read All About It! Customer Leaves Good Review We love the good online reviews. We print them out and share them with our team. We want to buy the loyal customer and everyone else a round of drinks. It’s time to celebrate! But just sharing good reviews internally misses a great chance to properly thank your brand evangelist and also show your true colors to prospective customers. Good Reviews & How to Respond: • Try to identify the customer if you can to do some research. Respect their anonymity, but sometimes it’s easy with certain names. • Respond within a week, but even more quickly if you can. • Be grateful for their time and kind words. Most happy customers don’t even leave reviews. • Be original in your response. No comments should ever look similar. • Offer more than a few words. Write several sentences and be clever. Naturally use keywords if possible in your reply. • Talk about what services they mentioned, paying attention to key points other readers may be pondering. • Tell them you’re sharing their comment with your team. It shows a culture that celebrates customer satisfaction. Here’s an example of how to respond to good online reviews for landscaping companies: Customer, Jim P. leaves a 5-Star Review: Wow! I love my backyard. All my neighbors think the work you did looks amazing. I’ll be sure to recommend you in the future. Owner’s Response: Jim, thanks so much for taking some of your valuable time to let us know how you feel and to trust us enough to pass our name on to others! We hope that your family gets a lot of use out of your paver patio! We’ll be sure that your landscape designer and the installation team gets a copy of your review. Reviews like these are the reason we all come to work each day!
Feature Story
Companies, Lawn and Tree Care Services by Chad Diller, LandscapeLeadership.com The Lukewarm Review: Job Was Great, But Slow as Molasses in January Then there’s the lukewarm review, or those with back-handed compliments. These often present themselves with the fence-teetering 3-Star review, but some do make their way into the twos and fours. A customer is fairly happy with results but something went awry along the way. They may forgive you in time, but they want people to know there’s still room for improvement. They also may be fishing to still get some issues resolved. This is a great opportunity for your company to probe more deeply to resolve issues and show your helpful character. Lukewarm Reviews & How to Respond • Respond as quickly as possible. Don’t let it go more than 12 hours. • Try to identify the customer. If it’s not easily concluded, provide them with an alternate means of how to contact you so you can get more details. • Empathize with their concerns and goals. • Don’t make excuses, shift blame, or assume you know the whole situation until you learn more details. • Acknowledge any positive elements of their comment. • Take ownership of the solution. Here’s an example of how to respond to lukewarm online reviews for tree services: Customer, Mary Z. leaves a 3-Star Review: Came out quickly and took the tree down, but the stump’s still there 3 days later. I hope they are coming back or guess I’ll have to call and complain. Owner’s Response: Mary, we’re happy it just happened to work out to fit your tree removal job in a little early for you since the crew finished up a little more quickly than we anticipated on another job. Thanks for allowing us to fit you in on Monday afternoon. Rest assured, we didn’t forget about your stump removal. With the rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, we wanted to make sure the ground wasn’t too soft. Driving the stump grinder on your lawn could have left some ruts. Looking back, we should have given you a call to communicate that, so sorry for assuming you knew this. I just spoke to Mark, the crew leader, and he says the conditions will be favorable on Friday to finish that part of the job. I’ll have him call if something changes. Thanks again and call me directly if you have any other questions! -Bob Smith
Customers can go back and change their review. After the job is all taken care of, discuss with the client, that they have this option once completely satisfied. Just tell them if they wish, they can log back into the site and there should be an easy way to edit their prior review and change the rating. Don’t insist, and only ask politely once. You’d be surprised, but some customers will willingly turn your 3-Star into a four or a five. The Bad Online Review: My Lawn Is Ugly as a Burnt Boot! It’s bound to happen, even to the best companies. Someone is going to leave you not just a bad review, but a downright ugly one. They will personally attack you, your people, and try to hang you in the town square. You may want to come out with guns blazin’, or hide like a yella’ bellied toad. But you just cannot ignore the bad review and hope that it gets buried. You also can’t overreact. It takes true grit to handle a bad review with class and come out the winner on these ugly duels. Bad Online Reviews & How to Respond • Respond as quickly as possible. Don’t let it go more than 12 hours. • State the rarity. Try to let them know that this is an anomaly that you are upset that happened and need to discuss it ASAP with your team. • Empathize with their concerns and goals and use emotionally expressive, yet professional language when responding. • Try to identify the customer. If it’s not easily concluded, provide them with an alternate means of how to contact you so you can get more details. If you cannot identify them easily, state that. • Don’t make excuses, shift blame, or assume you know the whole situation until you learn more details. • Don’t lecture, berate, or patronize the customer. • Document what you have done to resolve the complaint. • Take ownership of the solution, stating your name and contact info. Here’s an example of how to respond to bad online reviews for a lawn care company: Customer, Murray S. leaves a 1-Star Review: What a joke! They said they would get rid of the weeds in my lawn, but yet there is still crabgrass everywhere. I tried calling them multiple times but no one calls me back. Don’t bother using this company!
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Feature Story Owner’s Response: Murray, thanks for taking the time to let us know what’s happening with your lawn. I was saddened to see your comments, because your technician usually does a great job at not missing weeds on properties. I’m pretty sure I have identified your account (we don’t have any other Murray). I see that your tech, Josh, left a note on your invoice explaining that the crabgrass control will take about 10-14 days to die due to the dry, hot conditions. We’ll give you a call on day 14 to see how things look and we can definitely stop back to retreat the weeds at no charge. As far as the unreturned calls, I see that Josh called you and left a message on the home phone, with the last two numbers of “82”. He called on Tuesday at 10 am, and then again on Friday at 3:15 pm. Is that number still good? I’ll try to call you now, but you can also reach me at the office M-F, 7am - 5pm. Just ask for Bob Smith. Of course, there are times where you won’t be able to win, no matter what reasonable efforts or honest mistakes there may be. The point is that everyone online can see your response. No company is perfect and will make mistakes. The measure of the heart of a company is how they handle these situations. The Bogus Online Review: He’s as Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Legs! There’s a chance that some bad online reviews for landscaping companies or lawn and tree services may be completely fictitious. This is rare, but it happens. They may even be a competitor posing as a disgruntled customer. Still, they may be legitimate but you cannot get enough of a response to take any corrective actions. If you’ve gone through the steps above, and haven’t gotten a response, you can also go back and add-to or change your response. Here’s an example of how to respond to the bad online reviews used above. Go back into the review and edit your response like this: Customer, Felicia T. leaves a 1-Star Review: What a joke! They said they would get rid of the weeds in my lawn, but yet there is still crabgrass everywhere. I tried calling them multiple times but no one calls me back. Don’t bother using this company! No Reply, Owner’s Response: Updated Response - Felicia, sorry we still haven’t been able to address your concerns. We’re here if you need us... (original response still remains here). Here’s an example of how to respond to the bad online reviews used above if you cannot identify who the person is. Go back into the review and edit your response like this: No Validation, Owner’s Original Response: I’m sorry and surprised to hear you aren’t fully satisfied. That isn’t very
common that we hear this. I am having trouble finding your account to remedy this issue. We don’t have a Felicia T. in our records. Could this account be under another name, perhaps? You can contact me directly by calling our office and asking for Bob Jones. I’d like to get to the bottom of this and hopefully fix this problem for you. Just not getting a reply isn’t a case for petitioning the review site to remove a review. However, there may be a slight chance of the review sites removing it if they can conclude it’s bogus. I haven’t seen this happen many times, but it’s not impossible. You can typically easily report a review that is abusive or suspicious on the review site. Look for buttons nearby or search online for instructions.
A Trail Blazed for a Purposeful Online Review Strategy How to deal with good and bad online reviews for landscaping companies. After a few reviews, you may start realizing that without an intentional effort, you’re handling online reviews incorrectly. You may need to appoint a new sheriff in your organization with a full array of deputies to assist them in handling reviews. Think it through and make sure to set up the proper notifications so they learn about reviews immediately. You also may be struggling to get more good online reviews for your landscaping company, or lawn and tree service. That’s a story for another time, but that will also take some careful thought and learning what works and what does not. In any case, we hope your great reputation precedes you two towns away and throughout the valley. Much obliged for reading this article, and we wish happy trails to you. Need more help tracking down great marketing tips for your green industry company? Be sure to subscribe to our blog, partner! Visit www.LandscapeLeadership.com. Chad is an Account Manager and Business Developer for Landscape Leadership. Prior to joining our team he served as a marketing manager for one of the Top 150 Companies in the Green Industry. In addition to his vast marketing experience, he also is an ISA Certified Arborist and Landscape Industry Certified Technician. He currently resides in beautiful Lancaster County, PA.
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Feature Story
One Industry, Two Opinions on the Minimum Wage Increase in New Jersey
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ew Jersey’s new minimum wage law puts in place an $11.00 per hour minimum as of January 2019. When the law is fully implemented by 2024, the minimum wage will be $15.00 per hour. I have always been a person who does not think from point A to point B. I think from point A immediately to point Z. If you have a guy who knows very little about landscape and you have to pay him $15 per hour; then, the guy who has one- or two-years’ experience and who can cut, weed-eat and blow proficiently, he will now need to be paid $17.00 - $19.00 an hour. In that case the guy who drives the truck will need to be paid $25.00 an hour. You may ask yourself the question; can I get a job working for myself? The foreman will now make more than you as the owner does. Let us run the numbers. If you have two guys at a combined cost of $43.00 per hour and 30% for workman’s comp insurance and maybe some liability that’s roughly $13.00 per hour. You now have a cost of $56.00 per hour with no equipment, no truck, no fuel expenses. You will now need to charge $80.00 - $90.00 per visit to Mrs. Jones¼ acre property in suburban NJ. The first thing the customer will say is “ok, but you’re only coming to my house 2 times a month.” You will now generate ½ to¾ yards of clippings in spring in a 14-day cycle, so there is another $20.00 you lost. And you guys who cut with no catcher that should look fantastic, not. You will have to cut it 4 times to make it look decent. What is the impact on our industry? It will fragment it. Customers will find someone to cut cheap. They may even do the cleanup and leaves. You will be left with all the Plant and Lawn Treatments and Pruning. Mulch maybe, unless they get someone in to do that for $30.00 per yard installed. Now our labor force will think, do you want to trim bushes all summer in the heat and humidity or stack shelves in Walmart? Both jobs will be paying $18.00 per hour. Where do you think the laborer will go?? Greg Carpenter is co-Owner of American Beauty Landscape Design.
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uaranteeing a $15 minimum wage in New Jersey is the right thing for employers to do. The governor, Senate president and Assembly speaker must find a happy middle ground in their debate to ensure a living wage for those who most need it in New Jersey. I don’t make this claim as a labor advocate, but as a business owner in a field rife with underpaid workers. I am CEO of Lawns by Yorkshire, one of the state’s larger landscaping and snow removal firms, and I believe all of LBY’s employees and, indeed all those in New Jersey, deserve a fair day’s wage — and $15 an hour is right by today’s standards. Recently, I was in a meeting where several of my fellow business owners were expressing concern about this soonto-be mandate. I made the point that we need to be honest about entry-level wages, which in my business are $13 to $14 already, so it’s not much of a stretch to bump it to $15. In supermarkets and warehousing, I see ads offering a starting wage of $15. The $15 is happening because of market forces, and fighting it doesn’t seem right. No doubt there’s a fear among business owners of wages moving up as someone making $15 now might be moved to $17 and so on. But, we need to face the reality that is New Jersey today. We are in a very tight labor market and I see “Help Wanted” signs in most establishments I walk into. If businesses care at all about the goods and services they provide to their customers, they need a workforce able to deliver on their commitments. Even in a business like mine, where the labor force is the single biggest expense. So, in a market where we are competing for high value labor, it’s up to businesses to figure this out. It’s not going to break anyone’s business, especially those focused on a quality product or service. I am doing it right now in my business. More than 90 percent of the LBY staff makes at least $15 an hour. It will soon be 100 percent, with or without a mandate from state. Why? It’s not just about fairness for those who work hard at too low a wage to be able to afford any kind of a reasonable life for their families. It’s about keeping turnover low, so you can deliver for your clients. That should be motivation enough. Happy employees make for a better work product and more value to our customers. That’s what makes businesses successful, not squeezing the lowest-paid employees in a tight labor market. Steve Jomides is the CEO of Lawns By Yorkshire.
Feature Story
Impatiens Downy Mildew Resistance Revives the #1 Bedding Plant by Rob Swanekamp, Kube Pak & Jeanne Svob, Griffin
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othing fills a shady landscape bed better than Impatiens in January 2019, with a full US launch planned for January walleriana. Our old favorite for the shade was the num- 2020. As with Imara XDR, Beacon is also the result of tradiber-one bedding plant, with billions sold until Impatiens tional breeding, testing and selection. Downy Mildew (IDM) found its way into many regions of While we’ve managed to find a few excellent plants to fill North America. The impatiens market fell by half within just our shady beds, so far, none match the abundance of color a few years, hitting the East Coast fairly hard and impacting and the economy of Impatiens walleriana. I’m sure you’re color in shade beds for years to come. pleased with some of the premium plant options that proFast forward to 2019 and Impatiens Imara™ XDR, the first vide color using fewer plants per bed. However, I suspect commercial introduction of Impatiens walleriana with resis- the expense of some of these plants has relegated previously tance to IDM. planted shade color beds to ground cover or mulch. Keep Successful trials over the past two years at Cornell Uni- your bold beautiful premium plants in key focal beds. And versity have confirmed trial performance seen in northern Europe, where IDM wiped out bedding impatiens years before we felt the impact here. Imara XDR, bred by Syngenta Flowers, provides season-long color in gardens and landscape beds, allowing landscapers to effectively re-claim the shade. IDM spores can persist in infected beds for years even without a host plant. The disease becomes active on I. Walleriana plants in cool temperatures and/or high humidity, causing leaves to yellow and drop. Eventually, entire beds of color are wiped out before the end of the growing season. Resistance to IDM allows plants to power through the infection. You may still see some lower leaf yellowing later in the season in beds with high disease pressure. However, the plant will shed those yellow leaves and continue to add new growth and color through the natural growing season. Imara XDR is the product of traditional breeding and selection practices, testing plants from multiple generations of varieties. No GMOs here! Lab tests using a slurry of IDM spores, supported by field trials in multiple locations across US and Europe with known IDM infection and/or using an inoculant, confirm the Bed of Imara series’ high resistance to IDM. Spring 2018 marked the commercial debut of Imara XDR expand your plantings by adding IDM-resistant impatiens in England, to the delight of consumers who’d been without beds to brighten even more shady areas in the landscape. their favorite shade plant for nearly 10 years. (IDM impact More color. More plantings. More happy customers. has been especially devastating in England.) Here in the Make sure to give your top clients their first experience US, we’ll see a limited introduction of Imara XDR ready for with Imara XDR this summer. Talk to your bedding plant planting in spring 2019; the series will be initially available in supplier now, and plant some trial beds into your commersix colors and a mix. A full launch will follow for your spring cial landscapes and home gardens this summer. Then, watch 2020 plantings, for which improvements and additional col- for more in 2020. Jeanne Svob is seed business manager for Griffin. She can be ors are already on the way. Another IDM-resistant impatiens series is also on the ho- reached at jsvob@griffinmail.com. Rob Swanekamp is Owner of Kube Pak Growers in Allentown rizon for commercial sale in 2020, from Pan American Seed. N.J. He can be reached at rswanekamp@kubepak.com. Their series, named Beacon™, will be in grower trials starting
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The History of the Rutgers Turfgrass Program by Dr. Bruce B. Clarke, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University
1931 Rutgers Turf Short Course
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he New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) has a long and distinguished history of providing turfgrass research, education and service programs in support of the turfgrass industry in the state, region and nation. The first turfgrass evaluation plots were established at the NJAES in 1923 under the leadership of G. W. Musgrave to determine the adaptability of Virginia, Metropolitan, and Washington bentgrass cultivars for golf courses in New Jersey (2, 6). In 1925, additional studies were established by Musgrave and doctoral student H. B. Sprague with financial support from the Green Section of the United States Golf Association (2, 4, 6). Dr. Sprague pioneered the establishment of the turfgrass research and extension program at Rutgers University and served as its first full-time turf faculty member from 1927-1942 (1, 2). He was an incredibly productive researcher who released the first turfgrass variety from the NJAES (‘Raritan’ velvet bentgrass) in 1940 (2, 3). Sprague was president of the Crop Science Society of America (1960) and the Agronomy Society of America (1964) and published five turf management books over a career that spanned more than 55 years. After an unusually hot, wet summer in 1928 resulted in extensive turf loss on poorly drained annual bluegrass greens throughout the state, the State of New Jersey appropriated funds to increase the size of the turf research facility at the NJAES. This allowed the emerging turf team of Sprague, Musgrave, E. E. Evaul, T.C. Longnecker, H. R. Cox, and other well-known names on today’s Cook Campus such as J.C. Lipman (Lipman Hall), R.L. Starkey (Starkey Apartments), and F.G. Helyar (Helyar House) to greatly expand their research and outreach efforts. The Rutgers turf program has the distinction of having hosting the Nation’s first turf field day and first turfgrass conference in 1928 (1). The following year it also initiated a five-day Turf Short Course that educated hundreds of turf managers from
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throughout the Tri-State Region between 1929 and 1957. After World War II, the turfgrass program at Rutgers was re-established under the leadership of Dr. R.E. Engel was hired as a full-time turf faculty member (with a 50% research and 50% extension appointment) to replace H. B. Sprague in 1947. Dr. Engel was a superb researcher whose career at Rutgers spanned more than 40 years and who contributed to many of the basic principles on which turfgrass management is based today. He was instrumental in establishing the 10-week Winter Turf Course in 1946, as well as the two-year Professional Golf Turf Management School in 1962 which over the past 54 years has educated over 2,500 young men and women from throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Engel also established the golf course visitation service for the metropolitan area, a progenitor of the current USGA Greens Section Turf Advisory Service. In the 1950s, the Rutgers Turfgrass Program really started to expand. In 1956, Dr. Richard Skogley was hired as a full-time turfgrass extension specialist thus freeing up Ralph Engel to concentrate more on research and teaching. The following year Dr. Richard Ilnicki was hired as a research professor in weed scientist, followed by Dr. John Meade as the extension weed scientist in turf and ornamentals. Dr. Louis Vasvary soon joined the turf team as the extension turf and ornamentals entomologist, as did Dr. Robert Duell who worked extensively on the management of low maintenance turf for roadsides in the state. In 1960, Dr. Henry Indyk was hired as the extension specialist in turfgrass management when Dr. Skogley left Rutgers to lead the turf program at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Indyk helped form the Cultivated Sod Association of New Jersey in 1962, the New Jersey Turfgrass Association in 1970, and was the driving force behind the development of the annual New Jersey Turfgrass Expo educational conference and trade show in 1974. He was also a strong advocate for the certification of seeded turfgrass varieties, and initiated a sod Dr. Reed Funk, godfather of the current day Rutgers Turf Program. certification program in New Jersey, the first of its kind in the United States.
Legal Ease Employee Injury Reporting is REQUIRED by OSHA Posting required February 1 to April 30 Please remember to have your OSHA form 300A “summarized work-related injuries and illnesses log” posted in a prominent workplace location from 2/1/19 to 4/30/19. Summary Posting Form 300A is used to summarize work-related injuries and illnesses recorded which occurred in 2018. Employers are required by OSHA regulations to post this log. Employer requirements include keeping and maintaining an OSHA 300 injury and illness log. The 300A summary sheet must be posted in a prominent location from February 1 to April 30. Employers with 10 or fewer employees or who work in certain low-hazard industries are not required to post the summary. Unfortunately there are no “contracting” industry classifications that are considered “lowhazard”. Therefore all landscaping, lawn care, irrigation, hardscape, swimming pool, excavation, grading of land, etc…contracting operations with over 10 employees must comply with this regulation. OSHA defines a recordable injury or illness as: • Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job. • Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid. • Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums. • There are also special recording criteria for workrelated cases involving: needlesticks and sharps injuries; medical removal; hearing loss; and tuberculosis. • Any work-related fatality. Employer required Maintaining and Posting Records The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years. Each February through April, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives. Electronic Submission Companies employing 250 or more workers are currently required to electronically submit their 2018 Form 300A data to OSHA by March 2. However, OSHA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend its recordkeeping regulation. For additional details Visit the OSHA Injury Tracking Application. www.osha.gov/injuryreporting. Info provided by Richard Gaynor of Middleton Insurance. www.middletonins.com.
Feature Story The turfgrass breeding program took a giant step forward when Dr. C. Reed Funk joined the faculty in 1962. At the same time, the University purchased a 200 acre dairy farm in Freehold, NJ to support the new breeding program as well as applied research in cereal crops, forages, and field crops. The first field day was held at the new Plant Science Research and Extension Farm (known as the Adelphia Farm) in 1965. Dr. Funk was a pioneer in turfgrass breeding and was the first full-time cool-season turfgrass breeder in the United States. He helped shape the turfgrass team that is in place today and had an incredibly productive career that spanned over four decades. Funk is credited with the development of hundreds of cool-season turfgrass cultivars with dramatic improvements in pest and stress tolerance. Many of his germplasm releases, such as ‘Manhattan’ perennial ryegrass and ‘Rebel’ tall fescue, are considered landmark cultivars and have served as a foundation for many of the new turf-type cultivars used throughout the world today. His tremendous intellect and keen sense of observation lead to many significant discoveries including the development of the first successful method of breeding Kentucky bluegrass by means of intraspecific hybridization, and the discovery that endophytic fungi can impart increased tolerance to major insect pests and enhanced performance for turfgrasses growing under environmental stress. Reed’s diverse germplasm collection and enhancement programs have revolutionized the turfgrass sod and seed industries throughout the world. Dr. Philip Halisky joined the turfgrass team in the mid-1960s as a research professor in turfgrass pathology specializing in Helminthosporium diseases of cool-season turf. Halisky conducted research and taught in the two-year Professional Golf Turf Management School for over 20 years and was an expert on smut diseases of grasses. By the 1980, Rutgers was a recognized a world-leader in turf research and extension. The program had outgrown its research farm on the corner of Dudley Rd. and College Farm Rd., so the entire operation was moved to Horticulture Farm 2 in North Brunswick in 1982. Dr. Bruce Clarke was hired in 1981 to replace Dr. Spence H. Davis, the extension specialist in turf and ornamental pathology. To expand on that reputation, Dr. Dr. Reed Funk, 1971 Clarke worked with Dr. Richard H. White, turfgrass physiologist at Rutgers from 1987 to 1992, and the rest of the turfgrass faculty to develop a strategic plan in 1987 that set the stage for hiring nine new faculty over the next two decades including: Dr. James Murphy, extension specialist in turfgrass management (1991), Dr. James White, research professor in endophyte systematics (1995), Dr. Michael Richardson, turfgrass physiologist (1995-1997), Dr. William Meyer, turfgrass breeder (1996), Dr. Albrecht Koppenhöfer, turfgrass entomologist (1998), Dr. Steven Hart, turfgrass weed scientist (1999-2014), Dr. Bingru Huang, turfgrass stress physiologist (2000), Dr. Stacy Bonos, turfgrass breeder (2001), and Dr. Ning Zhang, a research professor working with plant-associated fungi. Clarke became the Director of the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science in 1993, a position that he still holds. Continued on Page 55
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Feature Story See... Say... Do...
S
Something
omething...could earn you more services and profit.
Entering my 40th year in construction in North Jersey, I’ve seen and heard lots of things and all of us could go on and on for days. We all hear the crazy lawsuits that happen and shake our heads. I still think the craziest are those people who defend themselves when their house is being robbed and then get sued for hurting the criminal. At a recent pavement maintenance event I heard about sweeping company being brought into a trip and fall lawsuit because the plaintiff ’s attorney stated that the sweeping company should have notified the owner and management that there was a dangerous pothole that existed in the parking lot. The suit stated that the sweeping company swept the lot every week and had to have seen or felt the pothole. Who else traverses the entire lot every week, not just entrances and exits, but the entire parking lot! My attorney (environmental) a few years back, told me about a lawsuit because a new walkway was installed years prior. The contractor while removing topsoil saw an old oil tank fill cap and installed the crushed stone around it and the new steps and walk over it. Years later when the client went to sell the house, an oil tank search was done, and the homeowner found out there was an oil tank. (It was not in use when they purchased the house in the 80’s, so they had no knowledge.) They were suing the contractor for negligence for not alerting them to the tank. They demanded damages for removing and rebuilding the walkway and steps along with costs because the tank leaked, and it was possible the leak started after the steps were put in. At an event, an attorney told me about a landscaper who had been at a house cutting a lawn in the morning. An hour later, a mailman walked across the yard did not see a hole dug by a ground hog. He stepped into it and shattered his leg. The attorney was proving the owner pulls in his garage and goes into his house, they don’t walk their lawn every day or week, but the landscaper does. A simple $4.00 safety cone or better, filling it in and letting the client know to hire an exterminator would have saved a 7-digit lawsuit against the contractor. I don’t know what the results were, but it sure made me wonder where our responsibilities start and end. As mainte-
54 WINTER | 2018-19
by Steve Rich, Owner of Steve Rich Environmental Contractors and Holes Solutions nance contractors, whether it’s landscape maintenance, snow plowing or any of the other services we all provide, we are no doubt the eyes and ears of our client’s properties. A common observation for snow plow contractors is when potholes happen in the winter, fill with water and freeze. Salt will not melt a thick puddle. Whose insurance will cover that, trip and fall on ice because of a pothole or just ice. Teaming up with other contractors that offer services that you don’t do can be a windfall in many ways. First and foremost, it’s always the best advertising to refer other reliable contractors in your network. Your network tells your clients who you are and who you surround yourself with. It also is an opportunity to sub contract the work and take the burden off the hand of your client. Your client will not look at it as you are trying to make money off them but offer a full service. These bundled services only give you more reasons to negotiate with all the value-added things you do for them. Most of all, when things go smoothly, you might not have reason to speak or communicate with them, showing you are aware of things and you are there eyes and ears. Who should we have in our network? First and foremost, everyone we trust and know does good, professional work and will make you look good. • Tree contractors, you see dead branches or leaning trees. • Septic contractors for old tanks or sewer problems • Engineers when you see a failing wall, cracks in a house etc. • Mason contractors for broken railings. • Environmental contractors for buried tanks or soil testing. • Exterminators for holes, nests, rodents. • Asphalt contractors for potholes or trip and falls. • Electricians, loose wiring or broken lights outside. • The list goes on, plumbers, heating and cooling, roofers Teaching your crews to communicate and send you pictures or make notes on daily work sheets can surely save the embarrassment of not saying anything or worse, a law suit. It also can mean a better relationship with your clients and possibly more income. Steve Rich is the owner of Steve Rich Environmental Contractors and Holes solutions, a company specializing in asphalt and concrete maintenance. His barbecue, smoker built out of old oil tanks is available to associations, charity, company parties for free. www.Tankque.com
Trending Artificial Turf Systems Get “Real” – How PlantBased Materials Could Be the New Norm in Artificial Landscaping
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lant based artificial grass might sound like an oxymoron – but using natural, renewable and recyclable materials could become the new standard. Each part of this revolutionary synthetic grass is made with plant-based materials. There is soybean oil in the backing, sugarcane in the thatch, and crushed walnut shell for the infill. With the expertise of SYNLawn’s leading scientist and chemist Dr. Stephan Sic, nearly 60 percent of petroleumbased oil has been replaced with soybean oil. Going one step further, they have created the first ever USDA certified Bio-preferred artificial grass.
With the need for long-term sustainability, it has never been more important for manufacturers to create products that are renewable and recyclable. SYNLawn’s biopreferred artificial grass brings a multitude of benefits over traditional synthetic grass, starting with the fact that it is 100 percent recyclable, 19 percent renewable and certified to have 47 percent bio-based content. For various reasons the landscaping and architectural design industries more frequently turning to bio-preferred products. Bio-based SYNAugustine 547 may be the first of its kind, but it is likely going to be one of many in coming years. Being made with primarily with soybean oil also provides opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers, who until now were able to rely on exports to China to bring in revenue. This bio-based USDA certified synthetic grass is not only an environmentally friendly choice in the long run (when it comes time to retire your turf), it can also help you to drastically reduce your own carbon footprint. It starts with replacing more than half of the petroleum polyethylene with soy-bean based oils and continues with your lack of need for gas or electric lawn equipment. It’s 2019 and more than ever we are focused on ensuring that we don’t deplete our natural resources and are able to leave behind a world we can be proud to see the next generations in. For more info, contact Paula Korinko at pkorinko@synlawn.com.
Feature Story The History of the Rutgers Turfgrass Program Continued The Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science currently has 22 faculty, eight adjunct faculty, and more than 50 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and staff. The core mission of the Turfgrass Center is to generate and disseminate new knowledge and to provide training and education in the turfgrass sciences by fostering internationally recognized, multidisciplinary research, undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education, and service programs in support of the turf- Dr. Bruce Clarke, grass industry. The central theme for turfgrass research Director of the Rutgers Center in the Center encompasses germplasm enhancement for Turfgrass Sciand turfgrass management. Current studies include ence since 1993 developing grasses with better stress tolerance and pest resistance, host-endophyte associations; sustainable turf management, chemical and biological control of insects, weeds and diseases to reduce pesticide inputs; management of the annual bluegrass weevil, developing best management practices for foliar and root diseases, and turfgrass response to traffic, soil and low input management. The breeding team led by Dr. William Meyer and Dr. Stacy Bonos has continued to expand the world famous turfgrass breeding program established by Reed Funk. The turfgrass breeding program interacts very closely with all faculty in the Turf Center, especially Dr. James Murphy as head of the turf management program and Dr. Bingru Huang in the area of stress physiology. Since 1996, extensive collection trips to Western and Eastern Europe have generated over 10,000 new germplasm sources (personal communications W. Meyer) for the Rutgers Turfgrass Program. This has resulted in the largest collection of coolseason turfgrasses in the world. Continuing the germplasm collection and population improvement programs at Rutgers will ensure a continuous stream of cultivars with improved Turf Research Farm at Hort Farm 2 pest and stress tolerance and exceptional turfgrass quality in the future. References 1. Beard, J.B., H.J. Beard, and J.C. Beard. 2013. Turfgrass History and Literature: Lawns, Sports, and Golf. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, MI 648 pp. 2. Engel, R.E., and E.E. Evaul. 1948. The history of turf at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The Greenkeepers’ Reporter. 16(1): 22, 23. 38-41. 3. Funk, C.R., and W.A. Meyer. 2001. Seventy years of turfgrass improvement at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. in: Page 39 in Proc. Annual Rutgers Turfgrass Symp., 10th. A. Koppenhofer and B. Fitzgerald eds. Center for Turfgrass Science, Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J. 4. Musgrave, G.W. 1926. Rep. Dep. of Agron. Miscell. Rep. New Jersey State Agric. Exp. Stn., 1025 46:275. 5. Sprague, H.B. 1928 Turf experiments at the NJ state station. Bull. USA Green Section 8(12):251-252. 6. Sprague, H.B., and E.E. Evaul. 1930. Experiments with turf grasses in NJ. NJ Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull. 497.
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INTRODUCING THE REVOLUTIONARY STAND-ON MOWER FROM EXMARK
STARTING AT $6,999 Exmark engineers reinvented the stand-on zero-turn mower from the ground up. The all-new revolutionary Staris delivers the commercial performance, durability, ergonomics and ease of service that landscape professionals need to maximize productivity and profitability. It’s impressive list of innovative features include a low center of gravity design, intuitive controls and large open platform. FEATURES • Kawasaki commercial-grade engines • 32-, 36-, 44-inch cutting widths (S-Series available in larger deck sizes.) • Commercial-grade UltraCut™ cutting decks • Large, open platform, with a non-slip rubber mat
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Feature Story
Front Cover Fantasy by Charles H. Gamarekian, Chairman / CEO of Cambridge Pavers, Inc.
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fer pricing up front when it comes to their wish list items, so that they are able to make an informed decision based on their finances. This way here there is a solid plan for what will happen now and what they will have to budget for in the future. Open and honest communication will build trust and a foundation for a great working relationship as well as help to ensure future work. You are the expert, so what you say matters, and being confident and having a plan will make homeowners feel secure in choosing you as their contractor. Help homeowner’s see the value in making this type of investment into their outdoor living area. Unlike a car this purchase will never depreciate over time. If they do choose to sell their home down the line this type of add-on will be considered a bonus feature to potential buyers. These types of outdoor spaces are no longer looked at as single season living. With an overwhelming amount of components to complete your outdoor living room, family and friends can utilize this area all year long. A great way to help homeowner’s visual how to add on in phases is to utilize a computer software design program. You can either invest in this type software or hire a firm to
have spoken to a lot of contractors in this industry over the past 35 years. One of the most common things I hear from them is that homeowners want to recreate the front cover of a hardscape catalog, but do not have the budget to make their dream a reality. As a contractor when you find yourself in this positions look at these situations as a way to secure future work with potential clients. Let them know that even though they might not be able to have it all this year in phases over time the ultimate look they CREATE YOUR PERFECT PATIO IN PHASES OVER TIME! desire can be achieved. Too many times contractors look at hardscaping jobs as a one and done endeavor and this is simply just not the case. There is an abundance of opportunity in this field, because in this day and age the sky is the limit in terms of extending our living beyond our four walls. A job is never too small, because with hardscaping DREAM IT DESIGN IT 10 x 10 Paver Patio with Seating Wall 10 x 10 Paver Patio with Pre-Packaged Grill Kit you can always add on, which is a great selling feature for homeowners who are looking to have it all. You need to be the one to help educate and guide them along the way since this is unknown territory for them. When giving your presentation be assertive and paint a picture for homeowners in terms of design ideas and choices they BUILD IT YOUR VERY OWN OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE Add on 100 square foot Paver Patio Extension Add on a 16x16 Paver Patio Extension have from paver shapes and colwith Fire Pit Kit and Radius Seating Wall with High Strength Fiberglass Pergola Kit ors to outdoor components. Of-
Outdoor Lifestyling™ with Cambridge Hardscape and Outdoor Living Products can create beautiful, wide open spaces and unique enclaves for family and guests who appreciate four-season enjoyment just footsteps from their back door.
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NJLCA.ORG 57
STARTING AT $6,999 Exmark engineers reinvented the stand-on zero-turn mower from the ground up. The all-new revolutionary Staris delivers the commercial performance, durability, ergonomics and ease of service that landscape professionals need to maximize productivity and profitability. It’s impressive list of innovative features include a low center of gravity design, intuitive controls and large open platform. FEATURES • Kawasaki commercial-grade engines • 32-, 36-, 44-inch cutting widths (S-Series available in larger deck sizes.) • Commercial-grade UltraCut™ cutting decks • Large, open platform, with a non-slip rubber mat
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Feature Story do the work so you can focus on other jobs. The rendering the party! This set-up is also a plus for parents who are able to you see in this article was created by Online Design Scapes. keep a close eye on children swimming in the pool or playing They will overlay your company logo on the completed im- on the patio. Homeowners typically spend the majority of their time in the kitchen and living room, so why not double the pleasure by adding these family hubs outdoors as well. Have a client who still is not buying the idea of four season living? Then it is time to introduce him or her to the idea of a pergola or pavilion. Pergolas & pavilions are great options and they offer a lot of versatility in terms of aesthetics and function. Clients can dress up a pergola with bistro lights and add all the indoor amenities to a pavilion while ensuring shelter from the elements. At the end of the day I venture to say that we have all experienced wanting something that we could not quite afford in that exact moment. A front cover image is always going to capture the attention of homeowners that is why it was chosen, but that does not mean it is attainable to all whom set eyes on it. Your job is to work with your clients to create a space that Cambridge Pavers Stone Veneer Grill Island fits into their budget as well as offers them the opportunity to build upon that initial project in the future. Every homeowner ages as if you did all the work yourself! Now a days potential should be able to have an outdoor space they love to come clients see this type of things all the time on popular home home to and enjoy all year with family and friends! improvement networks, so they expect to see these in your proposals as well. This is the best way to sell them on how to Charles H. Gamarekian is the Chairman/CEO of Cambuild in phases. bridge Pavers Inc. He is one of the founders and a current This is an important selling feature during your initial board member of the Interlocking Pavement Institute. Orgameeting with potential clients. Remember to paint the pic- nized in 1993, ICPI is the North American trade association ture as I mentioned earlier. Discuss how a fire place or fire pit representing the interlocking concrete paver industry and conwill create a warm and cozy space where loved ones can gath- sidered by peer associations around the world as the leader in er and enjoy cocktails and conversation. Talk to them about development and dissemination of technical information for how an outdoor kitchen will change the way they entertain. design professionals and contractors. Mr. Gamarekian is recNo more running in and out of the house to cook or prepare ognized worldwide as an expert in his field and is a frequent food for their family or guests. These outdoor kitchens have speaker on the proper installation of Pavingstones, Wallstones all they need to be productive while still remaining a part of and many outdoor living products.
Cambridge Pavers MaytRx Seating Wall Kit - Half Round
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Feature Story
Technology Opportunities for Landscape Business Owners - Part II by William Eastman, Greenmark Consulting
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his is article 2 in our series on Technology Opportunities for Landscape Business Owners. Today’s topic is using technology for internal operations: Automation • Generic vs. Landscape Specific Software • Marketing, Sales, Production, Service + Financial Information • The Cloud M-Commerce • Messaging • Tracking • Training • 5G Wireless Automation is the elimination of repetitive functions to speed up the process and reduce errors. All of that is shorthand for using technology for increasing revenue with better margins. You have two sets of choices, automate or not to automate, and use generic or landscape specific software. Let’s deal with the first choice - you don’t have one. If you your goal is to run a profitable business which requires efficiency, you already made the choice. Marketing, sales, production, and service cannot be managed in-
side your head or by using sheets of paper. Very quickly you will forget something or cannot find the right note and miss an opportunity or do not follow up. That leaves the only remaining choice, purchase software designed for the landscaping and snow removal industry or generic software. Here are the pro’s and con’s of both. Industry specific is usually more expensive (initial costs) and easier to master (cheaper long term). Generic software is lower priced but requires customization to fit your operation. The smart move is to buy industry specific software because of your available resources - nobody is lying around with nothing to do. Large companies buy generic and customizing because they are paying an IT department to get it done. Automating the marketing, sales, production, and service functions is the core of any software platform. It forces you to think through how you intend to surround prospective customers with messaging (marketing), moving them through the sales funnel (sales), managing projects to deliver on time and on budget (production), and upselling existing customers (service). The best place to start is make a list of every step involved in each function to build an overall list and add to the software. It will create calendar events, tasks, and reminders to keep everybody focused on their critical responsibilities. The best platforms also provide reporting ability so you can create a daily picture of what is happening, who is
Get all of your equipment ready for the season: Tires, equipment rubber tracks, mower tires, foam fill and mechanical repair
60 FALL | 2018
Design Time Driving at a Better Design Process certain amount of guesswork used to exist with the question: Can a design accurately portray the ability of a vehicle to successfully maneuver on a real-world site? When identifying the answer, you must take into account vehicle maneuverability requirements, such as vehicle size and turning radius. This can require manually simulating the wheel and body paths, a time-consuming task. It can be tempting to either hire outside help for these studies or make drastic changes to the vehicular use areas to avoid potential conflicts, but with Vectorworks 2019, you can resist these temptations, thanks to our latest partnership with Transoft Solutions and its AutoTURN Online technology. The integration of AutoTURN Online within Vectorworks makes checking vehicle maneuverability a much faster process. AutoTURN eschews the trial and error process of manually testing vehicle maneuverability, allowing you to conduct simulations and then place the analysis into your design. Information necessary in testing a vehicle’s maneuverability, like a vehicle’s size, can be easily accessed and utilized in your simulations. The tool offers three free, digital vehicles along with additional bundle options to access all of the vehicles you may need to successfully execute your analysis. Additionally, AutoTURN Online features an immense range of turning behaviors that you can simulate directly in your designs. With a virtually effortless simulation of wheel and body paths, you don’t have to worry about making drastic changes to vehicular use areas to avoid conflict. You simply import your design through the AutoTURN menu command, conduct the analysis within a browser window right inside of Vectorworks, and click “Get Analysis.” From there, you can view how a vehicle fits and moves in your drawing, based on the vehicle model and behaviors you’ve selected. The degree of specificity available in vehicle type and vehicle behavior options allows for accurate analyses that illustrate vital information about a vehicle’s clearance for turning, backing up, parking and more. With Vectorworks and AutoTURN Online, what was once a time-consuming and potentially worrisome task can now be executed within a matter of minutes, giving you the time to focus on other aspects of your design.
Feature Story
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Eric Gilbey, PLA, utilizes his professional experience as a practicing landscape architect and his expertise in CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in his role as product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, Inc., He currently serves as the Association of Professional Landscape Designers’ president-elect and co-chair of ASLA’s Digital Technology Professional Practice Network.
doing what, and what is falling between the cracks. Plus there is one more critical contribution to running the business - a financial picture. This is where the software makes another significant impact on the running the business. Using the information it provides, you can examine variable costs - money spent to deliver a customer solution. Every job has 3 basic components: material costs, labor costs, and a gross margin (the difference between what you charged and what it cost). The software breakdowns jobs into these 3 categories to track performance. The benefit - if you are not making the predicted margin, first you know it and can determine if the problem is pricing or managing the job. You can take quick action to run the business more efficiently. Some landscape specific software packages do a better job at this than others, but they all do it.
M-Commerce is using 4G and 5G wireless technology to integrate everything. Once you have centralized on the cloud rather than a server, most landscape software packages are enabled for total mobile operations. That means you can have real-time reporting from the field without paper, GPS tracking to know the location of equipment, and instant messaging. It is a better solution than texting by phone because it places the text inside the customers file. I have one more benefit. You can use texting technology to transmit training videos. The next article will cover how Technology is impacting your External Operations. Bill Eastman is a Senior Consultant with the GreenMark Group and can be reached at 833.RUGREEN (833.784.7336) or weastman@greenmarkgroup.com
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Wayne Wholesale Fertilizer Trailer and Equipment 10 Myrtle Avenue, Wayne, NJ
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Record Breaking Achievement Awards & Holiday Gala
NJLCA.ORG 63
Feature Story
Formic Technology Deicers Eliminate the Mess of Salt by Nate Clemmer, CEO, Branch Creek
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s the variety of deicing and anti-icing materials has grown in recent years, facility maintenance decision makers must balance the pluses and minuses of the solutions available. Which are most effective – and most cost effective? What are the environmental impacts of the material used? How quickly and conveniently can the material be applied? Importantly, facility managers and maintenance contractors must consider how deicing materials impact surfaces and fixtures – indoors and out. Outdoors, some areas require careful attention: parking lots, sidewalks and wheelchair ramps, for example – while being mindful of deicers’ impact on metals in light fixtures and railings as well as nearby plant life. And, managers are increasingly unwilling to accept stained and damaged floors and carpeting due to deicing material being tracked into their buildings. To examine these deicing material challenges, let’s begin not where the products are applied, but where they have still have important aesthetic, financial and safety impacts – indoors. Deicers’ Impact Indoors For most facility managers, a key consideration should be how the deicing and anti-icing materials impact the carpeting and flooring in their buildings. More than just an issue of appearance, when some materials are tracked into a building, they can cause permanent damage, increased maintenance costs – and pose a health risk to the building’s occupants and visitors. Two of the most commonly used deicing materials – sodium chloride and calcium chloride – can cause permanent damage. Sodium chloride – sometimes referred to as rock salt – leaves a white residue that can dull the finish of wood floors and cause them to splinter. Carpeting exposed to sodium chloride can develop dry rot, fading the color. When calcium and magnesium chloride-based products are tracked into a building, they coat floors with an oily resi-
64 WINTER | 2018-19
due that damages wax and urethane finishes. It also makes hard surface floors slippery, putting employees and visitors at risk for slip and fall injuries. These materials also degrade carpets by wearing out carpet fibers and attracting dirt. To protect against floor and carpet damage, frequent upkeep is required during snow and ice events, which costs time and money. An alternative to these granular deicing materials are formic technology-based liquid deicers. Their neutral pH formulations eliminate tracking, reducing near-term labor costs associated with manual cleaning, estimated at $50 per entrance per day according to the International Sanitary Supply Association’s Clean Management Institute. In the long-term, this reduces the need for full strip and recoats, which represents a significant financial investment. Deicer’s Impact Outdoors More and more, consumers, institutions and municipal users of deicing and anti-icing materials have become aware of the impacts these materials can have on the surfaces on which they are applied. The salt residue left over from many products can cause permanent damage to pavers, asphalt, concrete, masonry, decorative stone or other custom walkways and metal light fixtures and railings. Most chloride-based products cause some form of harm to humans, pets, plants and aquatic life. Sodium chloride products cause irritation and burns to the skin and eyes and, if swallowed, to the mouth, throat and digestive tract. The products’ deleterious effects are true for dogs, too. Calcium chloride-based products can burn human skin when contacted. If inhaled, dust particles can cause severe irritation. If ingested, they can cause severe irritation and bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. They irritate dogs’ paws – and worse, are poisonous to canines. When spread into gardens and on to vegetation, calcium chloride products can have a defoliating effect on trees and other plants. Magnesium chloride-based products are considered to be better for the environment than products made from sodium and calcium chloride, but they cannot be considered child and pet friendly ice melts. All three chloride-based products are hygroscopic; they absorb moisture from the air – and they pull moisture from hands, skin and vegetation. Finally, if leached into waterways, chloride-based products reduce the water’s available oxygen levels, leading to the death of aquatic life. Formic technology deicers are 100% chloride free and are readily biodegradable. They are safer for water, plants, concrete, asphalt, stone and metals.
Grass Roots Oh no, not again! Price increases and rising freight costs rice increases are a subject no one likes to discuss, but are also a necessary, and sometimes inevitable discussion that must be had. There are many factors that can cause price increases, including ever-changing and increasing freight rates. Here we will take a look at some causes of increased freight rates and what one leading manufacturer is doing to help combat these rising costs. When I discuss freight rates with customers, many feel that freight costs should have decreased over the past few years as fuel costs have decreased. Many people are not aware there were new federal regulations put in place at the end of 2017 that require the use of Electronic Data Loggers (“EDL”) in all commercial freight trucks. The EDL monitors how many hours are driven each day in order to ensure drivers take required breaks, thereby eliminating the “fudge” factor in the previously used hand written logs. To promote safe driving, there are significant fines for driving over the hours permitted without the required downtime. Due to this new regulation, I have personally seen trucks delayed almost three additional days, adding to the cost of delivery. Another factor in rising freight costs is the shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. National Public Radio reports that according to the American Truck Driver’s Association, 70% of goods consumed in the US are transported by truck, and estimates that companies will need to hire almost 900,000 new drivers to handle the increasing demand. In addition, a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average age of today’s truck driver is 55 years old. The shortage of qualified drivers leaves fewer trucks available, thereby driving up the cost to have goods delivered on time. So, what can be done? Lebanon Seaboard, one of Grass Roots’ biggest partners, is trying to combat these increases by maintaining long-standing relationships with multiple carriers. According to Chris Gray, Marketing manager at Lebanon Turf (a division of Lebanon Seaboard), this allows Lebanon to offer a guaranteed minimum number of trucks for a longer period of time. Chris also notes that Lebanon negotiates season-long contracts with carriers, which provides priority placement for the shrinking number of available trucks. It seems to be that companies will need to employ these long-term types of solutions in order to help manage these rising costs. When you factor in all of the above, the unfortunate realization is that, at least for the foreseeable future, freight costs are on the rise.
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Gene Huelster is the Lawn and Sports Turf Division Manager for Grass Roots Turf Products, a position he has held since 2007. Gene previously spent 15 years as a golf course superintendent. He holds a degree in turfgrass management from Rutgers University. Gene has served on the board of the Pocono Turfgrass Association and is a member of New Jersey Landscape Association.
Feature Story Pedestrian Safety While potential damage inside and outside is critical, we can’t forget about the primary purpose of anti-icing and deicing materials – creating a safe surface for pedestrians to walk. An important aspect of creating a safer walking surfaces is the time required to ensure safety. Chloride-based granular deicers take three to five minutes – often more - to achieve an acceptable ice melt. By contrast, liquid deicers based on formic technology quickly and reliably remove thin layers of ice and prevent new snow and ice from accumulating. In fact, some formic technology deicers have a speed of melt of about 30 to 50 seconds by reducing the freezing point to temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Cost-effectiveness Determining the cost-effectiveness of a deicing material requires considering a number of factors: speed of melt (discussed above), amount of material required to create a safe surface and the physical application process itself. Ease and speed of application combined with reduced transport and loading costs make using liquids extremely attractive from a labor perspective. Using granular products can be very labor intensive, slowing the application process and negatively impacting safety in high-traffic pedestrian areas. For example, on stairs, applicators have to carry heavy bags, spreading material by hand. In larger areas and walkways, push spreaders are often utilized. Liquid applications are far more efficient. Liquid tanks fill quickly, and today’s spray applicator technologies are convenient and easy to use, providing for very precise application rates. The low quantity of liquids required to produce an adequate melt combined with the ease and speed of application makes most liquid deicers more cost-effective than granular products. Most users will achieve a lower application cost per 1,000 sq. ft. with liquids than with granular deicers. And, because the liquid achieves a melt three times more quickly than granular products, it creates a longer-lasting and safer walking surface. Last winter, Brooks Dodson, Director of Sports Turf & Grounds for The Denver Broncos, replaced the calcium chloride deicers he had been using at The Broncos’ UCHealth Training Center with a formic technology deicer. “When you are handling or spreading bags of (calcium chloride) ice melt, you can smell it. And if the wind is wrong, it’ll get in our mouth and you can taste it. I don’t know about you, but I prefer not putting that type of stuff in my body. “We try to be good stewards of the environment. We are very cognizant of the products and chemicals we use around our facility and the impact they have on our environment, not only on-site but downstream as well. “The formic technology deicer we are now using is a cleaner, safer, effective product that does not destroy concrete or building interiors.” So, when deciding what kind of deicing material to use this winter, check four boxes - a safe, walkable surface outside; reduced damage, both inside and out; and cost-effectiveness. Nate Clemmer is the CEO of Branch Creek (trulyabouttomorow.com), makers of Entry™ deicing and anti-icing fluid (chloridefree.com).
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