LandsMagazine Features

Important Information

GIE+Expo Feature Article

LandsMagazine Feature Article

U.S. Composting Council Feature Article
     Click Here for USCC Fall Newsletter

Green TV

Products and Product Demos

Product Demos

• Talpirid by Bell Laboratories, Inc.
• Construction by Bobcat
• Multi Terrain Loaders by Caterpillar
• BedShaper by Little Wonder
• Estate Master Lawn Sweeper by Minuteman Parker
• APEX by Nature's Wonder
• Pro's Choice by Oil Dri Corporation of America
• Advanced Grind Geometry by Oregon® Brand
• Speed-Feed by Shindaiwa
• V-twin Power by Tecumseh
• Lassenite by Western Pozzolan Corporation
• Compact Excavators by Yanmar

Education and Webinars

Webinars

• The Contractor's Time-Clock by Exaktime, Inc
• Culture by Stens Corporation
• People by Stens Corporation
• Process by Stens Corporation
• SportsTurf Managers Association

Education

• CEU Opportunity #1 GIE+Expo in Louisville, KY
• CEU Opportunity #2 STMA Online Training 24,7,365
• CEU Opportunity #3 LandsConference Online 24, 7, 365

Planting Bed Establishment with Compost
Excerpted from the Field Guide to Compost Use, ©2001•The US Composting Council

As shown in last months article, compost is increasingly being used to improve soil health, and in some more recent applications such as green roof media and erosion control applications.  This month we will focus on the compost use that is probably the most popular use for compost products by horticultural professionals and homeowners: amending planting beds for the establishment of various food and ornamental plants.

Plant growth benefits are often substantial when using compost because existing soils around homes and commercial sites are typically of poor quality due to the practice of soil stripping before construction. The addition of compost improves the physical structure of the soil, which in turn, promotes root development and heightens a plant’s resistance to stress. Compost also adds organic matter, beneficial microbes, and vital nutrients, all of which store and maintain soil fertility.

What has field experience with compost shown us?

• Typical application rate is 3 to 6 cubic yards per 1000 sq. ft. (about 1-2” of depth.  See detailed use instructions below)
• Lower application rates can be used when composts possessing higher organic matter contents are used or where soil quality is moderate. Excessively coarse-textured (sandy) or fine-textured (clay, clay loam) soils will require higher application rates. Soil test results are helpful in establishing application rates.
• Lower compost application rates may be necessary for salt-sensitive crops such as geraniums or where composts with higher salt levels are used. The soluble salt concentration of the amended soil should not exceed approximately 1.25 dS/m where seeds, young seedlings, or salt-sensitive crops are to be planted. Although salt-related injury is not common, thorough watering at the time of planting can further reduce potential problems. Care should be given when using composts possessing a high pH near acid-loving species.
• Only use good quality of compost. Unfortunately, simply being in a bag is no guarantee of quality. Table 1 shows the characteristics of compost for use as a planting bed amendment. It is best if the compost producer participates in the USCC’s Seal Of Testing Assurance (STA) program, or at the very least uses a lab that specializes in compost testing

 

To learn more about compost benefits, applications, and how to use compost in your landscaping and other projects that require improved soil and planting media, join us at the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference & Trade Show, January 26-29, 2009 at the Westin Galleria, Houston, TX. The USCC hosts the Largest Conference & Exhibition in North America for the Composting, Wood Waste & Organics Recycling Industry. Attendees participate in the most comprehensive program of training courses, educational & technical sessions, and facility tours & equipment demonstrations. Register at www.compostingcouncil.org

The USCC is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting industry in the U.S.The USCC also directs the Composting Council Research and Education Foundation (CCREF), a charitable foundation, which administers public and private research and education activities. For more information about the composting industry and membership in the USCC, visit www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC office at 631.737.4931.

Prepared by: Cary Oshins, Assistant Director for Programs, US Composting Council

Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Gears Up
for Green Industry Conference in Louisville - The Largest Annual Conference for Green Industry Professionals Offers New Topic

By Polly Motor

After last year’s successful alliance between PLANET’s Green Industry Conference (GIC) and Green Industry Expo (GIE) with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI’s) International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, PLANET’s conference planning committee went to work looking for ways to build on the conference for 2008.

“In planning the conference this year, we tried to keep courses and speakers that are attendee favorites, as well as look at new areas in which to develop courses,” said GIC committee chairman Bob Grover, CLP, CLT.  “This year we are adding courses that deal with ‘green’ and sustainability issues.”

New topics will include water conservation, how to “go green” and still make a profit, and Xeriscaping (landscape design that minimizes water use). In addition to new offerings, some of the most popular industry experts are back this year. Marty Grunder, Chuck Zamora, and Kevin Kehoe will teach courses on building and managing landscape industry businesses. Grunder will be speaking on effective and cost-efficient marketing plans, relationship selling, and finding business opportunities. Zamora’s lectures will focus on working and having fun as a team, setting goals, and leadership through personal power. And Kehoe will be speaking on profitability and managing a “down” market.

“The conference isn’t all work, however,” explains Jason Cupp, CLP, president of PLANET. “Networking and having fun is the most important part of GIC.” Members have opportunities to share ideas at a variety of receptions, at the Breakfast With Champions, at outings, such as the golf tournament and tour of Churchill Downs, and at concerts and a live auction. 

More than 2,000 landscape and lawn care professionals attend the conference each year, participating in the more than 80 courses, seminars, and roundtables on topics including improving business and financial practices, leadership, customer service, safety, design, and more.  Many members also take tests to become a Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) or obtain one of PLANET’s other certification designations. 

The conference, GIC, will take place from October 22-25, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky at the Louisville Marriott Downtown and the Kentucky Exposition Center.  The tradeshow, GIE+EXPO, will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center October 23-25.

For more information, visit LandcareNetwork.org, or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.  

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,200 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.

SmartScapes Online Class Coming Soon.

By Steven Jay Porus, Green Industry Education

This project assessed a residential landscape, re-designed a sustainable landscape, perform site preparation and planting of new sustainable landscape. All phases of this project will be
documented on video and used to create a new online training session.

View Smartscapes Flyer.

 

View Bell Labs Demo  

Sales Email, Bell Laboratories, Inc.

TALPIRID is the first and only mole bait designed, developed and scientifically proven to kill moles. It mimics the mole’s natural food source, the earthworm. One worm can kill in 24 hours.

 

View Bobcat Demo  

Sales Email, Bobcat Company

No other manufacturer offers so many solutions to maximize your return on investment. Bobcat® interchangeable attachments let you do more and make more money. Our panoramic serviceability provides easy access for maintenance and repairs.

 

View Caterpillar Demo  

Sales Email, Caterpillar, Inc.

It doesn't take long to recognize the added value of Cat® Multi Terrain Loaders (MTLs). Find out some of the various operating strategies and maintenance steps at our Product Demo.

 

View HydroPoint's WeatherTRAK ET plus Demo  

Sales Email, HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc.

WeatherTRAK smart ET controllers adjust irrigation automatically as local weather changes. Achieve healthier landscapes while you and your customers save money, time and water.

 

View Little Wonder BedShaper Product Demo  

Sales Email, Little Wonder.

The Little Wonder BedShaper cuts crisp clean edges, tree rings, even “S” curves up to 100 feet per minute.  Cut costs nearly as fast as you cut edges with the Little Wonder BedShaper.

 

View Minuteman Parker Product Demo  

Sales Email, Minuteman Parker

The Estate Master Lawn Sweeper is a real workhorse for professional applications. A configurations of three Suburbanite Sweepers operating together from Minuteman Parker
is considered the ultimate lawn sweeper performer.

 

View Nature's Wonder Product Demo  

Sales Email, Nature's Wpmder

 

The organic compounds found in APEX-10 contain structures that can complex metals, oxidize and reduce elements, while enhancing or reducing the uptake of nutrients by plants andsoil microorganisms. Through low pH extraction and the natural evolution of selected peat, APEX-10 provides the elements for a complete organic uniformed product.

 

View Oregon® Brands Product Demo  

Sales Email, Oregon Cutting Systems Group

Faster out of the box, see what advanced grind geometry can do for you. Go to Oregonchain.com for a complete lookup of over 7000 quality replacement parts and more information about the Oregon® brand.

 

View Pro's Choice Product Demo 

Sales Email, Pro's Choice

Pro Mound® packing clay, delivers all-star performance on the mound and in the batter’s box by bonding to form a solid subsurface player’s can really dig into and holds up season after season.

View Shindaiwa Speed-Feed™ Demo

Sales Email, Shindaiwa, Inc.

The average time to reload line from container in to the trimmer head is 30 seconds or less!.

 

View Tecumseh V-twin Power Demo 

Sales Email, Tecumseh Engine & Transmission Group.

Re-power tractors and ZTRs with Tecumseh V-twin power at a fraction of the cost of original replacement. Contact your Tecumseh Distributor for details on the OV691EA re-power promotion.

View Valvette System's LittleValve Product Demo 

Sales Email, Valvette Systems Corporation

LittleValve products are retrofittable sprinkler parts that make ordinary sprinklers into the best they can be with great labor savings, substantial inventory reduction and huge water savings due to higher uniformity and elimination of overspray.

View Western Pozzolan Corporation's Product Demo 

Sales Email, Western Pozzalan Corporation

The Benefits of Using Lassenite:
Reduce the frequency of watering. Reduce labor costs. Increase quality and quantity of yields.
Reduce fertilizer consumption. Accelerate blooming and optimize maturation. Reduce compaction. Promote deeper roots. Reduce energy costs associated with irrigation.

View Yanmar's Product Demo 

Sales Email, Yanmar America Corp.

Yanmar's result-sized (TM) compact excavators and strong, single-frame CBL40 Compact Loader Backhoe are designed to meet your needs.  Eleven compact excavator models.  Seven with True Zero Tail Swing. The CBL40 sets class leading performance and durability standards.

 

View Exaktime, Inc. Webinar: The Contractor's Time-clock

Contact by Email, Exaktime, Inc.

Every Jobclock system that we ship out each day is custom designed for the business that orders it. In just a few minutes on the phone, we'll customize a Jobclock System to fit your business and give you complete pricing for your system.

 

View Stens Corporation Webinar: Session 1 - Culture  

Sales Email, Stens Corporation.

Stens works to help your business run better by offering helpful strategies for building your business and providing you with one source for all your replacement parts needs.  Stens carries a wide variety of original and replacement parts for outdoor power equipment including oil and air filters, bearings, belts, blades, chainsaw parts, lubricants, spindles, starters, tires, trimmer heads, trimmer line, safety equipment and other small engine parts.

 

View Stens Corporation Webinar: Session 2 - People 

Sales Email, Stens Corporation.

Stens works to help your business run better by offering helpful strategies for building your business and providing you with one source for all your replacement parts needs.  Stens carries a wide variety of original and replacement parts for outdoor power equipment including oil and air filters, bearings, belts, blades, chainsaw parts, lubricants, spindles, starters, tires, trimmer heads, trimmer line, safety equipment and other small engine parts.

 

View Stens Corporation Webinar: Session 3 - Process 

Sales Email, Stens Corporation.

Stens works to help your business run better by offering helpful strategies for building your business and providing you with one source for all your replacement parts needs.  Stens carries a wide variety of original and replacement parts for outdoor power equipment including oil and air filters, bearings, belts, blades, chainsaw parts, lubricants, spindles, starters, tires, trimmer heads, trimmer line, safety equipment and other small engine parts.

 

View STMA Webinar: The First 25 Years 

Sales Email, STMA Official Site.

 

The SportsTurf Managers Association celebrates their 25th Anniversary in Orlando Florida.

For more information, please contact STMA at (800) 366-0391.

8 Basic Rules For Outdoor Power Equipment Safety
Provided by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)

1 . Know how to operate the equipment.
Read the operator's manual before using any power equipment. Know where the controls are and what they do. Follow safety instructions.

2. Dress properly for the job.
Wear long pants, close-fitting clothes, sturdy shoes, and safety glasses.Don't wear anything that could get caught in moving parts (loose jewelry or clothing; be careful of long hair).

3. Handle gas carefully.
Fill up before you start, while the engine is cold. Don't spill when you fill. Store gas in an approved container in a cool ventilated area. Never smoke around gasoline.

4. Clear the area before you start.
Pick up rocks, twigs, cans, golf balls, anything that could be thrown by mowing equipment.

5. Keep children and pets away from the area until you're finished.
Never allow children to operate a mower. And never carry children as passengers on a riding mower.

6. Operate equipment carefully and follow recommended procedures.
Always turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting to unclog or work on outdoor power equipment. When leaving equipment unattended, turn off the engine and remove key.

7. Keep hands and feet away from moving parts.
Never work on equipment while it is running. Never remove or tamper with safety devices and labels... they're provided to protect you and your family.

8. Wear hearing protection.
When working with equipment that generates increased sound levels be sure to protect your ears. Wear hearing protection such as special earmuffs to prevent potentially damaging sounds from reaching your ears without eliminating the sounds you'll NEED to hear. So protect your ears from sounds that are too LOUD and too CLOSE for too long

 

Hustler Turf Equipment's 2 and 3 Bag Catchers

Easy-on, easy-off blower and hopper assemblies. 3 Bag Catcher holds 12 bushels and fits Hustler Zs and Super Zs. 2 Bag Catcher for the FasTrak holds eight bushels.

Phone: (620)327-4911

Web: www.hustlerturf.com

 

Boxer Equipment's 22 HP Diesel Mini Skid

The new 322D mini-skid offers the robust power that Boxer is famous for, only in a smaller, lighter package. The 322D accepts all of the same standard attachments as the larger Boxer models, but is a designed to cater to the unique needs of landscape contractors, homeowners and especially the rental market due to its ease of operation, smaller footprint and exceptional lifting power.

Phone: (800) 476-9673

Web: www.boxerequipment.com

 

LawnShark's High-performance Leaf and Litter Collection System

LawnShark effectively collects, chops and stores wet and dry leaves, dead grass, sticks, pinecones, pine needles, paper and plastic debris and aluminum cans. Features include 42" clearing width wet or dry: a 6-blade mulching impeller for high reduction rate, variable speed dual hydrostatic transmission, 13 or 17 HP Kawasaki electric start engine, adjustable deck height for thatching and hard surface capabilities, 1/4 yard easy dump zipper-less bag, suction hose with wand and mulching shoot are available. Currently there are two models being produced, a Heavy Duty Commercial model and a Light Duty Commercial model.

Phone: (866) 904-9071

Web: www.lawnsharkusa.com

 

Toro's TRX Walk-Behind Trenchers

The low-profile tracked design of the Toro® TRX models provides a low center of gravity and a large footprint for increased stability on side hills and smooth operation on uneven terrain. “These tracks will make the operator more productive and deliver added traction in almost any ground condition,” says Greg Lawrence, product marketing manager for Toro. “Plus, there won’t be damage to existing turf during transport because the TRX models have a light footprint, with ground pressure as low as 4.1 psi.” Each model trenches up to 36 inches, deep enough for nearly every job.

Phone: (888) 384-9939

Web: www.toro.com

 

John Deere's 6D Series Utility Tractors

The four new models 6D Series (only three pictured here) provide even more features and value for the dollar. Key model specifications include a 100 to 140 engine horsepower range and a 82 to 115 pto range. The 6D Series tractors are available in two-wheel drive (2WD) or mechanical front-wheel drive (MFWD) configurations.

Phone: (309)765-8000

Web: www. deere.com

 

Safty Rules for Lawnmower Operation

By Steven Jay Porus, Green Industry Education

In this episode the Oudoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) presents "Mowing Rules! Safety Rocks!"

View Episode 3009.

GIE+Expo
October 22-25, 2008
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Kentucky Exposition Center

New topics will include water conservation, how to “go green” and still make a profit, and Xeriscaping (landscape design that minimizes water use). In addition to new offerings, some of the most popular industry experts are back this year. Marty Grunder, Chuck Zamora, and Kevin Kehoe will teach courses on building and managing landscape industry businesses. Grunder will be speaking on effective and cost-efficient marketing plans, relationship selling, and finding business opportunities. Zamora’s lectures will focus on working and having fun as a team, setting goals, and leadership through personal power. And Kehoe will be speaking on profitability and managing a “down” market.

More than 2,000 landscape and lawn care professionals attend the conference each year, participating in the more than 80 courses, seminars, and roundtables on topics including improving business and financial practices, leadership, customer service, safety, design, and more.  Many members also take tests to become a Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) or obtain one of PLANET’s other certification designations. 

The conference, GIC, will take place from October 22-25, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky at the Louisville Marriott Downtown and the Kentucky Exposition Center.  The tradeshow, GIE+EXPO, will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center October 23-25.

For more information, visit LandcareNetwork.org, or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.  

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,200 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.  

 

 

 

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