http://www.igin.com/ With the holidays just winding down, now is the time to get your ducks in a row for the spring start-up season. Don’t put it off; the more you plan and do now, the more successful your season will be. Luck tends to frequent those who do their homework..]]> I’ve learned by seeing, assessing and fixing thousands of ponds, done by do-it-yourselfers or “certified” high dollar so-called “professionals”. There’s always some individual walking around with a rubber mallet, looking for another anvil to break.]]> Reactivation, inspection, tuneup, evaluation, system turnon—no matter what terminology is used, irrigation systems are routinely evaluated for proper operation and condition.]]> At the age of 51 Jody Shilan feels like he’s been in the landscape business all his life, certainly for the majority of it: 38 years. “I had a paper route up to the age of 13,” Shilan recalls, “and one of my friends was making money cutting lawns for his neighbors.]]> When the hospital renovated its underground conference center in the mid 2000s—the courtyard is actually the conference center’s old roof—it was also time to do something about the ‘monstrosity.’.]]> Can finding the right sprinkler head leave you as perplexed as Ponce De Leon on his quest for the Fountain of Youth? If you have a lot of confusion distinguishing one type of sprinkler head from another, or figuring out which applications will best serve your needs on a specific project then read on.]]> Every contractor and landscape service provider knows that the lawn cutting business is more a marathon than a sprint.]]> Landscape companies of all sizes are being pushed to achieve increased capacity and better margins. Today’s business climate requires contractors to squeeze higher volume and productivity out of the same 24-hour day.]]> Like many entrepreneurs, Tom Oyler had a dream. He wanted to build his Florida landscape maintenance business, Oyler Brothers Landscaping, into a giant company that could service the needs of customers in many different climates and regional areas.]]> Patricia Ramsey, Chairman of the Board of United Pipe & Supply Co., Inc., Portland, Oregon, passed away in early July. She was 61. Ramsey became actively involved in the business after her husband, Dave Ramsey died in 2003.]]> If you work in the residential market, opportunity abounds. With the economy trying to ease out of the doldrums, and the price of gasoline keeping families off the road, what a perfect time to look at the great outdoors of your client’s own backyard.]]> Say the word `recycling` and what usually comes to mind is taking aluminum cans. ]]> This story begins and ends with the perspective that “No one was hurt.” Considering the damage, that’s a miracle in itself. ]]> ]]> Education has long been one of the pillars upon which the Irrigation Association has stood. In fact, IA’s vision is to be the authority on irrigation. To achieve this vision, IA strives to be the source of quality industry education and to offer a thorough portfolio of industry education resources.]]> Tom Campbell is the owner and operator of Water Scout, a North Bay, California company that specializes in irrigation planning and water auditing. Late last year, one of Campbell’s clients called to explain that he was expanding his property to seven acres and needed professional advice.]]> Even the landscape industry. “The best candidates for the franchise business model are landscape contractors who are looking to grow their existing business and aren’t exactly sure how to go about doing it,” says Scott Frith, president, Lawn Doctor, Matawan, New Jersey.]]> ]]> ]]> Now is the time to be thinking about getting your company’s growth engine restarted, even if the economy is still on shaky ground. Many firms in our industry have enjoyed a great season this year because they launched aggressive actions to get new business coming into their doors.]]> Priorizing is a must in business. By now, with all your years as a manager or owner in the green industry profession, you should know how to prioritize.]]> It all started when a young man decided to go into the landscape business after he’d been working for a company as a field foreman or supervisor for a few years. He thought that the field knowledge he’d gained was the most important thing, and had given him the knowledge he needed to start his own business.]]> Designers of the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, selected products from Baseline, Inc., Meridian Idaho, to provide irrigation to the trees that were planted at the memorial and museum complex.]]> Should your business have a Facebook page? Or more importantly, why hasn’t that Facebook page that you created lived up to your initial expectations?]]> I just finished another onsite consultation with a $2m landscape management company. Not the worst situation I’ve seen, but still, a lot of improvement was needed in most areas.]]> When maintaining, repairing, and/or installing drip/low-volume irrigation systems, there is a good chance that the technician will be dealing with polyethylene supply tubing of some type and size. Determining the size (or “outside diameter”) of the tubing is essential to know which size of compression fitting to use.]]> Max Walker, founder of Walker Manufacturing, Ft. Collins, Colorado, passed away September 19, 2011. He was 88 years old.]]> The blower features a 120-volt electric start with recoil backup, 3.2 quarts of fuel capacity, automatic traction control, and 6 mph forward, 2 mph reverse speeds. Additional features include a 200° remote chute control, high wear reversible skidshoes, hand warmers, and a halogen headlight.]]> When maintaining, repairing, and/or installing drip/low-volume irrigation systems, there is a good chance that the technician will be dealing with polyethylene supply tubing of some type and size. Determining the size (or “outside diameter”) of the tubing is essential to know which size of compression fitting to use.]]> Should your business have a Facebook page? Or more importantly, why hasn’t that Facebook page that you created lived up to your initial expectations?]]> I just finished another onsite consultation with a $2m landscape management company. Not the worst situation I’ve seen, but still, a lot of improvement was needed in most areas.]]> Most people look at leaders in our industry and believe that they have some magical business formula, technology, tools and team, or that they must be cutting corners in order to be so successful. The truth be told, leaders have most of the same tools and technology that you possess. Think about it—everybody knows which mowers, small equipment]]> zero-Turn Mowers Available in SZ and LZ models, the TANK series zero-turn mower offers two different methods of steering. The SZ model features a steering wheel and 4- wheel steering technology. The LZ model features an adjustable lap bar system on their mower.]]> Our industry lost a legend with the passing of Burt Sperber, Founder, CEO and Head Gardener of ValleyCrest Companies. I worked with and learned from Burt.]]> Peck began his career in the industry while attending college at the University of Wisconsin at White Water, spending his summers working for Teledyne Total Power’s Power Center outlet store in New Berlin, Wisconsin. After graduating UW with a degree in business management, Peck joined the company full time.]]> Volunteers Improve Arlington National Cemetery Irrigation Association members and other volunteers came together to improve and enhance the efficiency of the irrigation systems at Arlington National Cemetery. The team worked as part of PLANET’s annual Renewal and Remembrance event.]]> On-line, single outlet, point-source emitters, (once available in only a few non-pressure compensating types) are now produced by many manufacturers, and are available in a wide variety of designs and flow rates.]]> In March, I received a call asking what I know about bees. Being a Florida state-certified pest control operator and having a pest control business, I responded. Some folks had shaken the nest, and the bees were swarming and stinging and basically going nuts trying to get at the workers, who were running, ducking and swinging away at them.]]> The Model 116 Backflow Rock Enclosure is designed to camouflage most 2” backflow pipe devices. Constructed of lightweight polyethylene, the enclosure weighs 21 lbs, and is ASSE standard 1060 approved for heat, insulated and noninsulated classifications of protection.]]> Liquid Algaecide GreenClean Broad Spectrum Algaecide Liquid controls a broad range of algae and bacteria.]]> You may have been to an Irrigation Show in the past, but I invite you to see how IA’s 2011 show will give you more opportunities to learn, network and conduct business than ever before. The show runs November 6-8 and the Innovations in Irrigation Education Conference runs November 3-8 at the San Diego Convention Center.]]> While much has been said and written about the ever-changing competitive landscape and market dynamics, smaller contractors who may feel overwhelmed should note that their mere size may actually hold advantages that can be leveraged.]]> Quick Response (QR) codes are those little square bar codes that are showing up on advertisements, direct mail and product cartons. I’m seeing them used by my clients, so I want to share some thoughts on how to leverage them successfully in your business.]]> What about the old balance sheet? Do your employees generate work reports from the field so that you know what your costs are for that day’s work? Do you keep a continuing record on all job costs? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you are working blind.]]> Drip/Low volume irrigation systems operate at much lower pressures than sprinkler systems, and so a pressure regulator is usually required to bring the dynamic pressure down to an acceptable range, normally between 15 and 35 psi.]]> How do you prove you’ve got what it takes in this world? If you’re an irrigation contractor, you can get certified by the Irrigation Association.]]> With most companies reviewing and revising their strategic plans and supply management practices at this time of year, i encourage you to take a hard look at the past, present and future. Assess what lessons the past has taught you, and ensure that you’ve leveraged what you’ve learned into specific and measurable action plans.]]> zero-Turn Mowers Available in SZ and LZ models, the TANK series zero-turn mower offers two different methods of steering. The SZ model features a steering wheel and 4- wheel steering technology. The LZ model features an adjustable lap bar system on their mower.]]>