LCI SURVEY Lawn care in the '80's: Further future looks More sophisticated mar-keting, a move to secondary markets, customers demanding 
more professionalism and com-
panies expanding their services will all be part of the lawn care industry in the 1980's, according to a number of businessmen sur-veyed recently. In its December, 1978 issue, LAWN CARE INDUSTRY ran a feature entitled Lawn Care in the '80 s, quoting a number of lawn care businessmen across the country. Following are further 
comments from lawn care busi-nessmen. Marketing sophistication. Rich Anda, ChemLawn Corp. branch manager in Arlington Heights, 111, said: "In the '80's, we will see several pesticides im-portant to the lawn care industry removed from the market by the Environmental Protection Agency with no substitutes available." He also said that marketing sophistication and research will become more necessary to main-tain the growth rate the industry had in the 1970's. There will be a movement into smaller second-FIXED FEE Lawn-A-Mat changes franchise agreement Lawn-A-Mat Chemical & Equipment Corp., Westbury, N.Y., has announced a major 
revision in its franchise agree-ments for new franchised dealers. Under the new relationship, the franchised dealer pays a fixed ai\nual fee to the company, which entitles him to receive 
ongoing marketing, management, agronomy research, equipment and other support in addition to t h e Jtf s d of Lawn-A-Mat trademarks. The (Original Lawn-A-Mat dealer agreement required the 
dealer to pay the company 10 ary markets as all of the major markets become more saturated. Also, there will be an overall reduced number of applications of herbicides and even some in-secticides in many markets. "There will be more univer-sity research pertinent to the lawn care industry leading to changes in some of the presently established program phil-osophies, " Anda said. "Also, there will be new, more sophisticated equipment designs allowing the lawn specialist the choice and flexibility of applying 
only needed pesticides on each lawn." He also feels there will be more intelligent customers regarding lawn care as a result on the increasing age of the in-
dustry and the exposure to more to page 30 MIDWEST Lawn salesmen too aggressive? Chicago sod producers say yes Are Chicago-area lawn care salesmen telling potential customers that their newly sod-
ded home lawns are diseased, 
and that the sod came that way from the producer? Sod producers in that metro-politan area say that a number of 
lawn care companies are using this ploy as a sales technique, and the sod producers are up in arms about it. "It is a beautiful sales point if you are working for a lawn care 
company," Dean Hupe, of Evergreen Sod, Peotone, 111., told L4WN [ MwM Serving lawn maintenance Ł JUI^/pH and chemical lawn [ care professionals. INDUSTRY MAY 1979 Ł VOL. 3. NO. 5 Ł A Harvest Publication percent of its gross sales to 
receive these benefits. Executive vice president Pat Lore told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY: "The 10 percent fee basis was practical for about 15 years when our business economics were 
different. Times have changed and we are changing with them. We believe that, ultimately, most of the other franchised services 
will also come to realize this, if they have not already done so." The new fixed fee arrang-ment has many advantages for both dealer and home office, Lore added, and is more suitable to the larger volume of business QUICK STARTS Maryland's $365 million turf maintenance market page 6 How to solve iron chlorosis problems page 7 Don't forget to lime, VPI researcher says page 18 Florida's A-l Wilson grosses $500,000 annually page 19 Dr. Robert Schery on "recarpeting urban America"....page 22 Kids look at lawn care page 28 MEMOS 3 MEETING DATES 4 NEWSMAKERS 5 COST CUTTINGS 6 
MARKETING IDEA FILE 8 TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES 32 PRODUCTS 34 
MONEYWISE 35 being done as the lawn care in-dustry continues to expand rapidly. "In the past, the more business a dealer did, the more he paid us and the more expen-to page 32 LCI SURVEY 91% of firms service more than home lawns More than 85 percent of lawn care companies service commer-cial grounds, and 68 percent ser-
vice condominium/apartment 
complexes, in addition to residential home lawn work, ac-cording to a survey conducted by 
LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. Other non-residential areas mentioned in the survey and per-centage of respondents who ser-vice them are: churches, 53 per-
cent; industrial parks, 33 per-cent; hotels/motels, 28 percent; and cemeteries, 17 percent. Do you service other than residential lawns? Types of accounts: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. "But all of our sod is inspected by the state, and there is no way we can be selling sod that is not up to par." Hupe said that any turfgrass stand can contain disease causal organisms, but "it is just a matter of how hard you want to look. There is no question that there can be disease outbreaks in some situations, but there is just no way we are selling diseased sod. "I am not going to get into mentioning names," Hupe said, "but it has been happening, and I hope the situation does not con-tinue where the lawn care in-dustry is bad-mouthing the sod industry," He stressed that the majority of Chicago lawn care companies are not involved in this situation. Bill Corriveau, of Triangle Sod Farms, and also past presi-
dent of the Sod Growers of Illinois said: "We ran into it five or six times last year, We are unhappy 
that some lawn care salesmen are being a bit too aggressive. We 
don't want it blown out of pro-portion, but we also don't think this situation should continue. "It is easy to get a homeowner excited over something like this 
after he has spent $1,500 for a sodded lawn, and then telling him that it is diseased/' Corriveau said. He said that the growers' association discussed the situa-tion at meetings last year, but no definite action has been taken as of yet. Just nine percent of the respondents said that they ser-viced only home lawns. Other non-residential areas mentioned in the survey included: restaurants, banks, schools, air-
ports, homeowner's associations, athletic fields, hospitals, parks, funeral homes, country clubs, shopping center, model homes, utilities, farms, government con-tracts and commons in sub-divisions. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY marketing research manager Clarence Arnold said the survey is based upon a 24.4 percent 
response on 952 questionnaires mailed last July. Tabulations were made in August by 
computer. YES 91% NO 9% Commercial 86% buildings _9fl IW H0-9NISNV1 1SV3 9019 IDS "1I0S 602 AIND 31V1S NV9IH0IW 3X31* invd aa -8AC-1I03 3a -SN-222te92d3ia istry in Boston, see ig series of indepth e business thrives. «vn care customers, ey go about getting >u I^^pilig l.uniUllltM S. Y Turf Type Perennial Ryegrass Setting a New Standard of Excellence Derby is the dark green beauty which joined Manhattan and Pennfine on the "highly preferred list of ryegrasses." That was last year. Now Derby is setting a new standard of excellence. In the eyes of many Golf Superintendents it reigns supreme among the turf-type ryegrasses today. Why? Because it performs! And a Superintendent knows that claims are great, but performance counts. Ł Consistently performs better than other leading varieties from California to Florida Ł Durable, dark green and has excellent mowing qualities Ł Tolerates a variety of soils & responds rapidly to fertilization Ł Germinates in a week (or even less) under ideal conditions Ł Better-than-average heat and drought tolerance Ł An adaptable and disease resistant cool-season turf grass Ł An excellent record as a Southern winter grass Ł Thrives when close-cut Ł INTERNATIONAL SEEDS, INC. P.O. Box 168 Ł Halsey, Oregon 97348 (503) 369-2251 Ł TWX 510/590-0765 RESEARCH ChemLawn's Miller to Musser board; company donates $5,000 Dr. Robert Miller, vice presi-dent of ChemLawn Corp., Columbus, Ohio has been appointed to the board of direc-tors of the Musser Foundation, the national organization which funds turf research. ChemLawn has also agreed to donate $5,000 to the Foundation over a five-year period, Dr. Miller told LAWN CARE 
INDUSTRY. "The Musser Foundation is one of the few organizations Miller which supports turf research on a national basis, and since ChemLawn is a national com-pany, this is one way of sup-
porting the industry," Dr. Miller said. He said that the company will continue to award scholarship 
and research grants on a selective basis across the coun-try. For further information about the Musser Foundation, created 
in honor of the late Pennsylvania State University turf professor Dr. H. B. Musser, contact: Dr. Fred V. Grau, executive director, Musser Foundation, P.O. Box AA, College Park, MD 20740, 301-864-0090. SHOWS PGMS meeting set for Baltimore in October The 67th Annual Inter-national Grounds Management Seminar and Trade Show, spon-sored by the Professional Grounds Management Society, will be held at the Baltimore Hilton Hotel Oct. 21-24. David Lofgren of the Insti-tute of Maintenance Research, Salt Lake City, Utah, will speak on "Money Management." Prof. James Faiszt of Virginia Poly-technic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va., will speak on "Money Manage-ment." There will also be other specialized workshops. For further information, con-tact: Allan Shulder, PGMS, 19 Hawthorne Ave., Pikesville, MD 21208,301-653-2742. MEMOS LAWN OIRE INDUSTRY Editor: ROBERT EARLEY Associate Editor: BRUCE SHANK Technical Editor: RON MORRIS Assistant Editor: DAN MORELAND Graphic Director: RAYMOND GIBSON Publishing Director: RICHARD J. W. FOSTER Executive Editor: DAVID J. SLAYBAUGH Research Services: CLARENCE ARNOLD Advertising Production: CHRIS SIMKO MARKETING/SALES Circulation & List Rental: TERRI HUTSENPILLER (216) 651-5500 Marketing & Merchandising Services: FRAN FRANZAK (216) 651-5500 New York Office: BRIAN HARRIS (212) 421-1350 757 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Midwest Office: JOE GUARISE (312) 236-9425 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 252-4311 3186 Frontenac Court, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30319 Northwest Office: BOB MIEROW (206) 363-2864 1333 N.W. Norcross, Seattle, WA 98177 Classified: DOROTHY LOWE (216) 651-5500 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 CORPORATE OFFICERS Chairman: JAMES MILHOLLAND JR. 
President: HUGH CHRONISTER Senior Vice President: BERNIE KRZYS 
Senior Vice Presdient: DAYTON MATLICK Vice President: CHARLES QUINDLEN LAWN CARE INDUSTRY is published every month by The Har-vest Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace jovanovich, Inc. at 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 (2161 651-5500. Copyright ' 1979 by The Harvest Publishing Company. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not ne repro-duced either in whole or in part without consent of copyright owner. Controlled circulation postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio. SUBSCRIPTIONS: to Lawn Care Industry are solicited only from owners, managers, operators, buyers, merchandisers, agronomists, technicians, dealers, distributors and manufacturers of products associated with the lawn care and maintenance business. Position ana company connection must be indicated on subscription orders. Publisher reserves tne right to approve all subscription re-quests. Single copy cost $1.00 for current issue. All back issues $1.25 each. 
Foreign $1.25. Subscription rates: $10.00 one year, $18.00 two years, $23.00 three 
years. Group and foreign air mail rates available on request. HARVEST SUBSCRIBERS: Send change-of-address notices, correspondence regarding subscription service to Fulfillment Manager, Lawn Care Industry, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. Change of Address notices should be sent promptly, provide old as well as new address, attach address label from recent issue. Please allow one month for change of address to become effective. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to Fulfillment Manager, Lawn Care In-dustry, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. The Harvest Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., publishers of WEEDS TREES & TURF. PEST CONTROL. NPCA Extra, GOLF BUSINESS. ChemLawn offers iiquid-vs-dry' booklet: In a recent full-page Sunday ad in at least one Midwestern lawn care market, ChemLawn Corp., Columbus, Ohio refuted a number of claims of competing lawn care companies, one of them being the "liquid versus dry" controversy. The copy read: "Competitor's Claim 'Dry products are best.' Try telling that to over one-half million ChemLawn customers (many of our customers have been with us 8-10 years). So what's best Š liquid or dry? This question is relatively unimportant about fertilizers. There are good and not-so-good dry, granular fertilizers. Add a little water and you get good or not-so-good liquid fertilizers. Our competitors like to tell you different, 
because we're the largest lawn service company." The ad continued: "Read their claims carefully: 'Liquids can cause surge growth' (so can dry); 'Liquids can be less ef-fective' (so can dry). ChemLawn uses only the most appropri-ate products for your lawn, formulated by season and just for your area Š based on thousands of soil tests. Weed and insect controls are definitely more effective in liquid form. Dry granular products bounce off weeds and have to be watered in to get insects. Liquid weed controls stick to weeds for maximum effectiveness. Liquids can get to the insects more easily than dry products. Be wary of simplistic claims." The ad also included a clip-out coupon offering a free "Liquid-vs-Dry brochure. Perf-A-Lawn runs with 'no price increase' campaign: In recent Sunday newspaper ads in at least one major Mid-western lawn care market, Perf-A-Lawn Corp., New Carlisle, 
Ohio announced its "no price increase" program for 1979. The ad copy read: "Perf-A-Lawn is one of the few major lawn care companies to announce no price increase for 1979. Perf-A-Lawn, in compliance with the President's anti-inflation program, is holding the line on prices to help you cut costs. 
You save a lot of green . . . you get a lot of green." Lawncare offers 30% off: In its recent round of spring brochures to new customers, Lawncare, Inc., Cleveland-based lawn care company with five offices, offered a 30-
percent-off plan. The offer was good through March 31. The 
brochures went out in mid-March. The company reports good results with the campaign. Franchising full disclosure: After July 1, a franchisor who asks you to pay $500 or more to set up a local outlet for any product or service must give you almost as much information as you would get in a prospectus required for new stock issues. The franchisor will be prohibited from making claims about how much money you can make from the franchise unless it provides you with a pack of facts about the records of other franchisees. If a franchisor violates the new rules (adopted by the Federal Trade Commission) it will be subject to penalties of $10,000 for each failure to comply. Consumer lawn marketers use TV: The top three marketers of consumer lawn care products Š Scotts, Vigoro and Ortho Š are turning to the tube rather than taking the traditional print route with their spring-summer stories of how to make the grass greener. The big three are relying on television to build business in a market industry sources say is $150,000,000 and growing. The pricing problem that plagued the lawn care area earlier in the 1970's resulting from a shortage of raw nitrogen, has now leveled off. Prices are slightly higher to the consumer, the marketers say, but only as a result of inflation. O.M. Scott & Sons spends about $5 million annually to ad-vertise its Turf Builder line. The company is the acknowl-edged leader. Vigoro products, from the Estech division of Es-mark, are considered to be the number two brand nationally. Vigoro is moving into the network market for the first time, using golfer Jack Nicklaus as a spokesman. The Ortho divi-sion of Chevron is a close competitor for the number two slot, and will spend $5 million to promote its lines this year. NFSA to concentrate on members: There was some talk earlier this year about the National Fertilizer Solutions Association making an attempt to offer services and programs for members of the lawn care industry. At a recent meeting a special NFSA lawn/turf task force decided to concentrate its efforts on present members of the association who are involved in lawn and garden fertiliza-tion either in a retail or wholesale capacity. A special group was put together to write and publish a brochure emphasiz-ing the benefits of fluid fertilizers for lawn and garden use. Another project will be to solicit university proposals for research projects that will be submitted to NFSA's agronomy committee for funding in 1980, newly appointed executive vice president David Murray told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. MEETING DATES < 2 >-CC H C/3 D Q Z w a: < u z < J Symposium on Turfgrass Diseases, sponsored by Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, ChemLawn Corp., University Holiday Inn, Columbus, Onio, May 15-17. Contact: Dr. P. O. Larsen, 2865 E. Orange Rd., Calena, Ohio 43021, 614-422-6987. Texas A & M University Turfgrass Research Field Day, TAMU Turfgrass Field Lab, College Station, Texas, May 24. Contact: Dr. Richard Duble or Dr. James Beard, Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas 77843, 713-845-
1551. The Fertilizer Institute Marketing Con-ference, The Greenbriar, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., June 10-13. Contact: Doug Culkin, TFI, 1015 18th St., N.W., Washing-ton, D.C. 20036, 202-466-2700. American Seed Trade Association, Annual Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington, D.C., June 24-28. Con-tact: Association, Executive Building, Suite 964,1030 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Michigan Turfgrass Field Day, Crops Bam, Michigan State University, East Lansing, July 10. Contact: Dr. John K. Kaufmann, 322 Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, Mich. 48824. American Sod Producers Association Summer Convention and Field Days, Hilton Inn East, Columbus, Ohio, July 18-20. Contact: Bob Garey, ASPA, Associa-tion Building, 9th "and Minnesota, Hastings, Neb. 68901, 402-463-5691. Penn Allied Nursery Trade Show, Hershev Convention Center, July 24-26. Contact": S. Howard Davis, 169 W. High St., Carlisle, Pa. 17013, 717-243-1786. Massachusetts Turf Field Day, South Deerfield Turf Plots, July 25. Contact: Dr. Joseph Troll, Stockbridge Hall, Univer-sity of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass. 
01003, 413-545-2353. Illinois Landscape Contractors Associa-tion Annual Summer Field Day, Kankakee Nursery, Aroma Park, Illinois, August 8. Contact: Carole Racheskv, 665 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn, 111. 60137, 312-858-8574. 34th Annual National Hardware Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, August 13-16. Contact: Samuel Black, 535 N. 5th St., Reading, Pa. 19601, 215-373-4267. Iowa Turfgrass Field Day, Iowa State University, Ames, August 14. Central Plains Turfgrass Foundation, Turfgrass Field Day, Kansas State Uni-versity Turf & Research Plots, Manhat-tan, August 15. Contact: Dr. Robert Carrow, Department of Horticulture, Waters Hall, Manhattan, Kan. 66506, 913-532-6170. Rhode Island Turfgrass Field Day, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, August 22. Contact: Dr. C. R. Skocley, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Uni-versity of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I. 022881. The Fertilizer Institute Trade Fair, Stouffer's Riverfront Towers, Sheraton St. Louis and Mayfair Hotel, St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 22-23. Contact: Doug Culkin, TFI, 1015 18th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20036, 202-466-2700. Illinois Turfgrass Field Day, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, 111., Septem-ber 11. Contact: Dr. John Street, 106D 
Horticulture Field Lab, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, 111. 61801, 217-333-2123. Five new compact diesels! It's a new kind of Ford! 13 to 30-hp. Big-tractor features include optional 4-wheel drive Take a look at something new and different from Ford. Five compact new diesel tractors, each offered with optional 4-wheel drive. They're built like the big ones, but sized from 13 to 30-horsepower. Look at the big-tractor features! The efficiency and stamina of a liquid-cooled diesel eWgine ... an all-gear power train with 10 to 12 forward speeds to let you choose the right speed for most any job . . . built-in hydraulics and three-point hitch to lift and lower implements at a finger's touch ... 540 rpm PTO .. . and diff-lock. Optional front-wheel drive gives you four-wheel traction. There's a full line of implements and attachments to match the power of the model you choose. The 1000 Series Fords ... five small and versatile tractors with a combi-nation of size, strength and power that makes them the "just right" choice for a wide variety of jobs. Come in and see the compact Ford diesels ... a new kind of Ford, at a compact price. It's a new kind of Ford! FORD TRACTORS Ł # Garden Industries of America Conference and Trade Show, Convention and Exposition Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 14-16. Contact: Paul Anderson, Box 1092, Minneapolis, Minn. 55440, 612-374-5200. Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Pope and Talbot Convention Center, Port Ludlow, Wash., Sept. 24-27. Contact: Dr. Roy Goss, Western Washington Research 
and Extension Center, Puyallup, Wash. 98371, 206-845-6613. Florida Nursery and Allied Trade Show, Expo Hall, State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Fla., Sept. 28-30. Contact: FNATS, Inc., P.O. Box 16796, Temple Terrace. Fla. 
33687, 813-985-8511. Turf Equipment, Irrigation and Supplies Field Day, Rutgers University, Staaium and golf course, Route 18 (River Road), Piscataway, N.J., Oct. 2. Sponsored by Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey. Contact: Dr. Henry Indyk, Box 231, Rutgers University, New 
Brunswick, N.J. 08903, 201-932-9453. Central Plains Turfgrass Foundation An-nual Meeting, K-State Union. Kansas 
State University, Manhattan, Oct. 3-5. Contact: Dr. Robert Carrow, Waters Hall, Manhattan, Kan. 66506, 913-532-6170. Florida Turfgrass Association Annual Meeting, Holiday Inn Central/Curtis Hix-son Hall, Tampa, Fla., Oct. 14-17. Contact: David DeBra, 1520 Edgewater Dr., Suite E, Orlando. Fla., 32804 305-425-1581. 19th Annual Southern California Turf-grass/Landscape Materials and Equip-ment Educational Exposition, Oranee County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, Calif., Oct. 17-18. Contact: Ed McNeill, SCTC, 
1000 Concha St., Altadena, Calif. 91001, 
213-798-1715. Southern Turfgrass Conference, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, Oct. 
18-19. Contact: Dr. Arcfen Baltensperger, Department of Agronomy, Box 30, NMSU, Las Cruces, N.M. 88003.' Professional Grounds Maintenance Soci-
ety Annual Meeting, Baltimore Hilton, Oct. 21-24. Contact: Allan Shulder, 19 Hawthorne Ave., Pikesville, Md. 212068, 301-653-2742. Michigan Green Industry Seminar and Trade Show, Davisburg, Mich., Oct. 23-24. Contact: Gregory Patcham, Michigan State University, Cooperative Extension Service, North Office Building, Pontiac, Mich. 48053, 313-858-0887. National Institute of Parks and Grounds Management, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 28-Nov. 2. Contact: Erik Madisen, P.O. Box 1936, Appleton, Wis. 54910, 414-733-2301. Atlantic Seedsmens Association Annual Meeting, Belmont Hotel Golf Beach Club, Warwick, Bermuda, Oct. 29-Nov. 2. Con-tact: Margaret Herbst, 101 Park Ave., New York, N.Y., 10017, 212-685-5917. South Carolina Turf Conference, Clemson University, Nov. 13-14. Contact: Dr. Landon Miller, Department of Horti-culture, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29631. New York State Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, War Memorial Stadium, Syracuse, N.Y., Nov. 13-15. Contact: Ann Reilly, 210 Cartwright Blvd., Massapequa Park, N.Y. 11762, 516-541-9034. Texas Turfgrass Conference, Texas A & M Conference Center, College Station, Texas, Dec. 3-5. Contact: Dr. Richard Du-ble, Department of Soil and Crop Science, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, 713-845-1551. Delaware Turfgrass Association Annual Meeting, Hercules Country Club, Dec. 4. Contact: Dr. William Mitchell, Agricul-ture Hall, University of Delaware, Newark, Del. 19711. Ohio Turfgrass Conference, Cincinnati Convention Exposition Center, Dec. 4-6. 
Contact: Dr. David Martin, 1827 Neil Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43210, 614-422-2592. Oklahoma Turfgrass Research Founda-tion Annual Meeting, Lincoln Plaza, Oklahoma City, Okla., Dec. 6-8. Contact: Dr. R. V. Sturgeon, 115 Life Science East, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, 
Okla. 74074. Illinois Turfgrass Conference, Ramada Inn Convention Center, Champaign, 111., Dec. 11-13. Contact: Dr. John Street, 106D 
Horticulture Field Lab, University of Illinois, Champaign-lJrbana, 111. 61801, 217-333-2123. NEWSMAKERS Douglas Youtz recently started Fairway Green, a lawn care company based in Fargo, N.D. Larry and Ed Wolf recently started Mr. Lawncare, a lawn service company based in East Cleveland, Ohio. Dale Liddicoat is a tree specialist and troubleshooter for Ed Wing Power Spraying, Holly-
wood, Fla., according to company president Ed Wing. David Swihart, Gary Buirley and Kevin Bomhard are service technicians for Turf Gard Co., Troy, Ohio, according to com-pany president Gary Weaver. Techniturf, Inc., Boston area lawn care company based in Framingham, Mass., recently opened a branch office in Brock-ton, Mass. The new office ser-vices the South Shore of Boston, and is about 50 miles from the home office. New service repre-sentatives are Randy Kruk, 
Arthur Byers, Jim MacDonald and Michael Reed, according to fulfillment manager Jim Fother-gill. Keith Weidler, owner of Shur-Lawn Co., Omaha, Neb. recently was elected vice presi-dent of the Nebraska Turfgrass Foundation, Shur-Lawn has a branch office in Lincoln, Neb., 
and recently built a new office 
and operations building in 
Omaha. Jerry Kaplan recently started Groundskeepers, a lawn mainte-nance company based in Houston. Tillison In its continuing expansion program, Atlanta-based Rollins Lawn Care has added new super-visory and technical personnel to its branches in Marietta and Tucker, both in the Atlanta area. Heading new branch manage-ment operations for the Mari-etta office is Richard Tillison. George Presinger was also named as turf technician for the branch. The Tucker branch is 
headed by Roy Conard, and Edwards Echols has been named 
turf technician. Mike Bailey owns a Super Lawns franchise based in 
Gaithersburg, Md. Michael Bussard owns company 
franchises in Silver Spring, Md. and Bowie, Md. Bill Tacynel 
owns company franchises in Columbia, Md. and Colesville, Md. Super Lawns, Inc. is based in Rockville, Md. Alister Bell was recently named Springfield, Va. branch manager for Gaithersburg, Md.-based Hydro Lawn. Springfield assistants are Gary Garrick and Charles Yowell. Greg Richards is manager of the Gaithersburg branch with Jim Doll and Jim Smith as assistants. Robert Johns, a general con-tractor with offices in Colum-bus, Ohio, recently started Summertime Lawn Care Prod-ucts. The company hopes to go into the wholesale liquid fertil-izer business, as well as possibly service residential lawns. Charles Wesson has joined Agrilawn Corp., Goshen, Inc. as an agronomist, according to com-pany president Jerry Hartsough. Wesson is a Purdue graduate and worked as a county agent in Ken-tucky. He was most recently em-
ployed by the Farm Bureau of In-diana. The company has also promoted Jim Carpenter to the post of sales manager. Tom DeArmond has started Pro-Grass Lawn Care Service in Hubbard, Ore., affiliated with 
Oregon Turf Farms. Century Landscape Con-tractors recently held an open house to celebrate its 10th anni-versary and the opening of its newly completed corporate headquarters in Agoura, Calif., 
according to Robert Bailey and Fred Sperber. Roger Widrig has joined Lakeshore Equipment & Supply 
Co., Elyria, Ohio to serve as a sales representative in central and northeastern Florida. Also, Keith Langshore has joined the company to serve the Florida market. Jacklin Seed Co., Post Falls, Idaho has opened a Pacific Coast office in Oregon's Willamette 
Valley at Salem, and has named Richard H. "Dick" Bailey 
manager of the Oregon oper-ation. Bailey, formerly with Turf-
Seed, Inc., Hubbard, Ore. is cur-rently president of the Merion Bluegrass Association and is 
incoming president of the Oregon Seed Trade Association. The announcement was made by company marketing manager Doyle Jacklin. The Agricultural Chemicals Brookhouser Division of Diamond Shamrock Corp., Cleveland, Ohio has named Roger B. Sebek business manager for fungicides. Also, the company has named Dr. Lynn W. Brookhouser as its Southwest region manager, serving Arkan-sas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and portions of Missouri and Ten-
nessee. Richard A. "Rich" Lewis has been named an agricultural sales representative for TUCO, Divi-sion of The Upjohn Co., Kala-mazoo, Mich., by marketing 
manager Owen B. Lewis. If you want to feed your trees for 2 years, step on it. :Mi . 1 Ł» .. ' MMlLVPMmmft The Agriform fertilizer probe makes tree feed ing fast and economical. It's simple.Take the probe and step on it. Just punch holes around the drip line of the tree. mam Drop the Agriform Tablets down into the root 
zone and walk away, for two years. No fertilizer bags to mess with. No spikes to hammer (and 
break). And, they won't burn or leach away. Order your Agriform fertilizer probe for $6.99 and we'll give you a $3.00 coupon for Agriform Tablets Sierra Chemical Company 1001 Yosemite Drive Milpitas, California 95035 Please send me probe(s). I have enclosed a check for $6.99 each. Don't forget the coupon 
worth $3.00 toward my purchase of a case of Agriform Tablets for each probe I ordered. Offer expires June 1,1980. Name Firm 
Street City State Zip You can fertilize a 4" diameter tree for two years for less than $1.00. And the money-off coupon that comes with each probe saves you $3 to start with. Agriform Tablets Šnothing could be faster, 
easier, safer, or more economical. © AGIiiFORM Aeriform (T> is used as a trademark of Sierra Chemical Company for its brand of controlled release fertilizers. <8)1979 Sierra Chemical Company. < 2 COST CUTTINGS >« a: P (0 2 D Z w 0c < u z < J Recommend deep watering to customers Michigan State University turf specialists stress the importance of a thorough soaking (six to eight inches deep) when watering a lawn, in order to keep it green and healthy throughout the summer. This type of information should be conveyed to your customers so that they can do their part to save you time and money. Such soaking, however, should be infrequent "in order to encourage deep rooting and discourage diseases. The special-ists also say "don't apply too much water too often. "Overwatering can kill roots by eliminating their supply of soil oxygen. Lawns require watering at the first sign of 
wilt." Deep watering can be achieved by simply taking the nozzle off a hose and lying it on the ground in different areas of the lawn rather than the popular sprinkling method of watering, experts say. MARKETS $365 million spent yearly on Maryland turf maintenance Almost $365 million is spent annually on turf maintenance in the state of Maryland, according to a recent estimate by Univer-sity of Maryland extension turf specialist Dr. Charles H. Darrah. More than $272 million of this is spent annually on mainte-nance of 350,000 acres of lawns in the state, both professionally and by homeowners themselves. Other turf areas, number of acres and total maintenance ex-penditures, according to Darrah's estimates are: lawn es-tablishment, 11,000 acres, $31.2 
million; sod, 9,000 acres, $6.4 
million; golf courses, 13,500 acres, $16.5 million; federal in-stallations, 22,000 acres, $11.4 million; schools and colleges, 18,-FROM BOLENS / POWER YOU NEED FROM PEOPLE 
YOU KNOW. UN «* hi. / vf M*-VA< i 24 hp. loader backhoe. Match the work that you need done with the right Bolens Diesel, and you'll have a tractor that works when and where you need it. To get the right Bolens Diesel, see your Bolens dealer. He'll suggest one that has the maneuverability and versatility that you need to get the job done. Day after day. Year after year. And if after all that dependable service something should go wrong, just give him a call. He's been factory-trained so he knows © 1979 FMC Corporation what makes a Bolens Diesel tick. And the parts are in-stock. Or available within 24-hours. And that minimizes downtime. There are 4 Bolens Diesels ranging from 15 to 24 hp. All with proven technology from Iseki, Japan's largest maker of farm equip-ment. Each is water-cooled, has multi-speed PTO, a 3-point hitch, and a choice of 2 or 4-wheel drive. Plus a variety of custom-matched, quick-change attachments, from mowers to 
snowthrowers and backhoes to front-end 
loaders. Or anything in-between. The Bolens Diesel and the Bolens dealer. Equally capable. Equally dependable. See them today. For the name of the Bolens Die-sel dealer nearest you, call 800-447-4700 toll-
free anytime (in Illinois, call 800-322-4400). Or write the FMC Corpo- jb m* gm ^pg ration, Port Washington, ^A) I^mIh Wisconsin 53074. WW* %i 800 acres, $8.8 million; recreation areas, 25,000 acres, $12.4 million; churches and cemeteries, 13,200 
acres, $2.5 million; airports, 6,200 acres, $459,000; and highways (state roads), 24,000 acres, $2.6 million. Darrah said that only a well-conducted survey can verify the 
accuracy of these turfgrass figures, and said that to conduct such a survey, a tremendous ef-fort is required from all facets of the Maryland turf industry. "It is important that state legislators be made aware of the effort so that state funds can be 
appropriated to support the sur-vey, " he said. UP 15% Landscapers predict '79 business increase Despite what economists may be predicting for this year, the 
landscape business will continue 
its upward trend, says the National Landscape Associ-
ation. In a recent economic survey taken of NLA members, more 
than 92 percent of the landscape 
firms responding are expecting 
increased sales this year. The average increase expected was 15 percent, according to the sur-vey. Pacific Coast firms listed the highest percentage increase ex-pected at 27 percent. Other 
regions of the country and expec-ted percentage increases were: Southwest, 20 percent; Great Lakes, 15 percent; Northeast and 
Southeast, 14 percent; and West-ern Plains, 11 percent. 96 PAGES Scotts publishes lawn info manual Turf varieties, troublesome weeds, diseases and insects are major topics covered in the new Information Manual for Lawns, just published by O.M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio. (Scotts) iNfOR^S^^S IJWNS m The 96-page, hard-cover book also discusses lawn planting, lawn management and spreader usage, with key concepts high-lighted in more than 140 color photos and illustrations. The manual may be ordered from: Bill Boyd, O.M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, OH 43040. Individual copies are $7.95 each, 
including postage and handling. WEST, SOUTHWEST How to solve iron chlorosis problems A problem that many lawn care businessmen face in the. West and Southwest is iron chlorosis. In lawn care programs in these areas of the country, the importance of iron as a needed 
plant nutrient may be ranked just after nitrogen. According to Dr. Jackie D. Butler and M.A. Harivandi of Colorado State University, min-eral soils in Colorado may con-tain from 0.5 to 3 percent total iron. However, the amount of total iron in the soil does not truly reflect the amount of iron available for plant use. The two spoke on the subject at last year's Nebraska Turfgrass Conference. Soils with high pH's and lime content (calcareous soils) are of-ten deficient in plant-available iron, Dr. Butler and Harivandi said. Plants grown on such soils are subject to "lime-induced" 
chlorosis. Iron availability is at a minimum in soils with a pH of 7.5-8.0. They said that iron deficien-cies may be caused or made 
worse through heavy phosphorus fertilization. Nitrogen fertiliza-tion may induce or accentuate iron chlorosis of turfgrass. High soil moisture, perhaps from overwatering Š which 
causes lack of oxygen Š may 
favor iron deficiencies. Also, an imbalance of metallic ions, such 
as high availability of copper or manganese in relation to iron, can induce iron deficiencies. The problem. A yellowing of turf may indicate problems such as deficiencies of certain nutrients, the presence of certain insects or diseases, extended 
periods of cloudy weather. In the West, it is not unusual for a lawn care businessman to confuse an 
expressed plant need for nitro-gen, or perhaps even sulfur, for the need for iron or vice versa, the two said. If the turf is 
weedy and lacks density, the problem is likely to indicate a 
need for nitrogen fertilization; while a dramatic and often patchy yellowing of the grass of-
ten indicates an iron dficiency. An acute shortage of available iron may be expressed 
by a bleached, almost white ap-pearance of the turf. If the iron deficiency is severe, the lawn may die. The foliage of turf that shows iron deficiency is often quite flaccid. And mowing may produce ragged and matted turf. 
If there is doubt as to the cause of a nutritional deficiency, it is possible to determine the 
nutrient or nutrients needed through trial applications of various fertilizers. The effect of applying iron-containing materials, such as ferruous sul-fate and ferrous ammonium sul-
fate, normally gives a dramatic green-up in one to two days. In the West, a routine soil test may provide information on available iron. Soil test levels of 10-15 parts per million of iron are normally considered adequate for most cool-season turfgrasses. Solve the problem. In more arid regions of the West, iron 
chlorosis of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, red fescue and bentgrass occurs rather fre-quently. Of these, the bent-grasses seem to be the least prone to iron chloris. The other three do not seem to differ much, under the same growing conditions, in their susceptibility to iron chlorisis. Tall fescue, smooth brome and western 
wheatgrass do not appear to be nearly as prone to iron chlorosis as Kentucky bluegrass. In general, the two reported, the severity of iron chlorosis in-creases as the growing season ad-
vances. In Colorado, the problem normally becomes acute in August and September. In the spring in Colorado, the turfgrass will usually have its normal color, even those cultivars which 
will be showing extreme chlorosis in a few months. Thus, the need for supplemental iron applications may depend not 
only on the kind of grass grown, but also on the time of the year. Late summer applications of iron may not be necessary in Colorado since the turf usually tends to be green without supple-
mental iron at that time. Iron applications. Several different commercial iron-
containing materials are 
available for use on turfgrass 
and other landscape plants. Both foliar and granular ap-plications of iron are used in lawn maintenance programs. Ferrous sulfate is the commonly used iron supplement, both for dry and liquid application, for turfgrass in Colorado. Ferrous ammonium sulfate and iron chelates are also utilized to sup-ply iron for turf. Ferrous sulfate 
and ferrous ammonium sulfate have generally proven satisfac-tory. The amount of an iron material to use to correct an iron problem is often unknown, and unsatisfactory results can occur 
from the use of insufficient or ex-cessive amounts of iron. Since the recommendations for iron usage to correct problems are of-ten quite variable, it would be wise for the lawn care busi-nessman to determine, through 
trial applications, the amount and frequency of application necessary for satisfactory 
results. Foliar applications of from two to eight ounces of ferrous sulfate have been noted as a means of getting green-up. Such applications may give a rapid green-up (two to three days), but such green-ups may be short-term. Amounts applied as dry 
material may be high by foliar standards. Granular applications as high as Vi to 1 pound of actual 
iron from ferrous sulfate or 
ferrous ammonium sulfate are sometimes used on turf. But since these materials may cause phytotoxic reactions, frequent light applications may be most desirable, especially since green-up may be temporary, and repeat applications necessary, 
they reported. Forget all the claims. Banvel® Herbicides give you what you really need Š exceptional weed control, without turf damage, at a more than competitive cost per acre. Banvel 4S gives you broad control of tough weeds, while Banvel® + 2,4-D provides an even wider spectrum of 
control, but see the label for certain 
grasses susceptible to 2,4-D. Both mix readily, and are stable in storage. And, Banvel HerbicidesŠ Tough on Weeds, Easy on Turf. Use Banvel Herbicides on your next broadleaf weed application. For more information: ŁVelsicol Velsicol Chemical Corporation 341 East Ohio Street Chicago, Illinois 60611 Banvel Herbicides offer special translocation properties. This means they attack the entire weed both from the roots up and the leaves down. Effective, yet economical weed controlŠ that's what Banvel Herbicides can add to your turf care program. When all is said and done, isn't that just what you need? Before using any pesticide read the label. _ CT> OJ < 2 >-QC H C/D D a z w OS < CJ z < MARKETING IDEA FILE Atlanta company launches customer newspaper Rollins Lawn Care, Atlanta-based Southeastern lawn care company, has introduced a new means of communicating timely lawn maintenance tips and guidance to its growing base of customers. Through a new newspaper entitled Lawn Talk, Rollins now disseminates a continuing flow of information to its clients ranging from information on feeding, watering, weed, insect and disease control, to mowing, dethatching and reseeding. The paper is distributed free of charge to all customers on a regular basis throughout the year. Lawn Talk was introduced at the end of last year with an initial distribution of 15,000. Upon its second issue distributed earlier this ye.ar, company officials report that customer response and interest in the new communications tool has been excellent. The types of articles featured in Lawn Talk include regular in-depth interviews with customers whose yards have been selected as the Rollins Lawn Care "Yard of the Month," interviews with a Rollins "Turf Technician of the Month," a "Customer's Corner" explaining to lawn owners precisely 
how to prepare their lawns for upcoming Rollins treatments, and special articles catered to seasonal lawn problems and specific precautions to take in order to maximize benefits from Rollins treatments. Additionally, Don Hastings, a recognized horticultural ex-pert in the Southeast, contributes an editorial column in each issue on the newspaper. His most recent article, entitled, 
"Winter ... No Vacation Time from Lawn Care," described the lawn care required for spring weed control and seeding. A question-and-answer series also appears in each issue, allowing customers to pose specific problems and obtain solutions. Lawn Talk also informed readers about the introduction of the Rollins Lawn Care Speakers Bureau. This new program 
offers customers Š also free of charge Š the opportunity to engage the services of professionally trained experts to 
address various clubs and organizations on the subject of lawn care. Commenting on the purpose behind the newsletter development, Rollins Lawn Care operations manager Floyd Franklin told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY: "Because the chemical treating service is relatively new, we feel the news-letter can serve as a method of providing customers a better understanding of the services offered." TURF BLAZER 72 Time tested, field tested, this rugged front mounted 72" mower is built for high capacity mowing, day in and day out, and with our "O" turning radius, you have the trimming capabilities of a small push-mower in congested or confined areas. A commercially constructed hydrostatic transmission enables the operator to establish a ground speed conducive to his varied mowing conditions. Other sizes manufactured are 48", 60", 82" and 180" plus a full line of attachments. Are you looking to get the most for your mowing dollar? Call your local Turf Blazer distributor and ask for a 
demonstration. HOWARD Price lUHFEDUIPMENI Circle 110 on free information card 18155 Edison Avenue Chesterfield, Mo. 63017 GROWTH REGULATORS Embark distribution expanded this year Embark plant growth regula-tor, commercially introduced last year with limited distribution, will this year be sold on a broader scale, according to 3M Co., St. Paul, Minn., which developed and manufactures the product. A trained 3M sales force has been established and will be augmented by 20 distributors and 
custom applicators on a non-
exclusive, non-franchised basis. Primary marketing concentra-tion will be in the Northeast and on the West Coast, where the 
company said there are more grass species that the product controls. Embark minimizes for up to eight weeks the turf growth of 
Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, 
common bermudagrass and several native California grasses and broadleaves. It also inhibits seedhead formation. Treatment results in less fre-quent mowing and trimming ac-tivities. Proper spring applica-
tion can extend suppression until 
normal turf growth slow-up in 
mid-summer. When used as a turf management tool comple-
menting conventional fertilizing, broadleaf control and mowing programs, the product provides cost savings and reallocation of labor and materials, the com-
pany said. Uniform application is to be made to healthy, actively growing grass with standard spraying equipment and calibrated nozzles capable of 
applying 15 to 150 gallons of fin-
ished spray per acre. There are no seasonal restrictions on time of application. It can be made any time from after the two-week spring "green-up" period to just prior to winter dormancy. The product is now labeled for two 
applications per season on the same turf. Primary applications include commercial/industrial/govern-mental maintenance, apartment and condominium complexes, highway rights-of-way, cemeteries, parks and golf 
courses. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY Marketplace By Dan Moreland, assistant editor and Bob Earley, editor Boston Boston conjures up images of the American Revolution, Beacon Hill, Boston Common, and New England's beloved Red-Sox, Bruins, and Celtics. Like its professional sports teams the city 
is strongly rooted in decades of prideful tradition. Yet Boston 
remains a paradox. Twentieth Century skyscrapers dwarf Nine-teenth Century "brownstones," the city's theatre district is within shouting distance of its 
seamy "Combat Zone" (burles-que area), and "Yankee Conservatism" predominates in an area with nearly as many universities as Irish policemen. In virtually every instance Boston offers a splendid blend of the old and the new. However, in 
terms of the typical Bostonian's view of lawn care the old ap-pears to have the upper hand 
and at the expense of the in-
dustry. The typical "died-in-the-wool New England Yankee" gener-ally views the lawn care industry through, at best, skeptical eyes. It is safe to say that Boston has not 
exactly welcomed lawn care businessmen with open arms and it has been even less receptive to entrepeneurs espousing the vir-
tues of spray operations. Boston has been one of the toughest markets to crack for 
lawn maintenance pro-fessionals. Only 13 lawn care companies are listed under the heading "LAWN MAINTE-NANCE" in Boston's Yellow Pages and of those several have already gone out of business. The most successful companies have been those which have estab-lished customer credibility in the only way New Englanders understand; by being a part of the business community for a long period of time. Techniturf, Inc. and Turf Doc-tor are the two most successful companies in the Boston metro-politan area. Both are located 
about 25 miles west of Boston. One of the primary reasons for their business success has been 
their ability to stay in the market long enough to establish a name 
for themselves and, in turn, 
develop a rapport with the New England client. Techniturf has been in the Boston area for more than 20 years and Turf Doctor was established in 1970. Boston's climate, soil composition, and extensive tree 
cover have proven to be nearly as troublesome as its conserva-tively entrenched clientele. The weather is unpredictable. Win-ters are generally cold and snowy, summers usually hot and sticky, and virtually any weather 
situation can exist throughout the year. The average temperature 
extremes are 29.9 in January and 73.7 in July. New England's soil, like vir-tually all of the East Coast, is highly acidic and requires significant amounts of lime to produce optimum turf condi-tions. The average soil pH is be-
tween 5.3 and 5.5. Predictably, the soil also con-\ The city of Boston is a unique blend of the old and the new. ABOVE: The 60-story John Hancock Tower is located next to Boston's historic Copley Square. Architects I. M. Pei and Partners of New York developed the design for the 790-foot structure. An observatory, located on the top floor of the tower, provides one of the most exciting views of old and new Boston. The observatory is the highest man-made vantage point in all of New England. LEFT: One of Boston's older buildings is reflected in the thousands of panes of glass of the John Hancock Tower. Although Bostonians have readily accepted new trends in architecture they have been less receptive to the development of the lawn care industry in New England. Boston has been one of the hardest nuts to crack for the lawn care professional. There are currently only 13 lawn companies listed under "lawn maintenance" in Boston's Yellow Pages, but one look at census figures for the area ensures that metropolitan Boston is capable of absorbing significant numbers of lawn care companies. The greater Boston area consists of 83 cities and towns covering about 1,057 square miles with a total population of more than 2.5 million. However, the Boston market has some inherent problems including highly acidic soil, extensive shade conditions, and a conservatively entrenched clientele. The weather is also unpredictable. Winters are generally cold and snowy, summers are usually hot and sticky. tains a high percentage of sand because of Boston's close prox-imity to the ocean. However, leaching has not been a particu-
larly troublesome problem for 
lawn care operators in the area. Because of New England's significant amount of tree cover there are also extensive shade problems. Yet another problem con-cerns the expansion of lawn care 
operations in the area. Down-town Boston, like most large 
metropolitan areas, has very lit-
tle turf cover and the suburbs to the north and south are flanked by the imposing presence of 
Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor. Therefore, the only area where expansion can occur is in the suburbs to the west including Framingham, Wellesley, Hollis-ton, Weston, and a number of other small to moderate-sized 
cities. Although lawn care business-men undoubtedly encounter 
more than their fair share of 
lawn problems in Boston, the 
area also possesses some impor-tant plusses. The region's gener-ally cooler temperatures results 
in fewer insect problems and is 
detrimental to the growth of turf 
diseases. Further, the soil's high sand content decreases the occurrence of most compaction-related problems. Without question, the market's disadvantages outweigh its advantages, but lawn care operators in the area agree that with correct treatment the Boston market is capable of substantial growth in the near future. One look at census fig-ures for the area ensures that the market is capable of absorbing a substantial number of lawn care companies. The greater Boston 
area consists of 83 cities and towns covering about 1,057 square miles with a total popula-tion of more than 2.5 million. 
Even with all of the market's problems it's tough to ignore 
those figures. Giles Adams, president of Lawn King, Inc. of Weymouth, said New England's weather and customers pose the two primary problems for lawn care oper-ators in the Boston area. "New England customers are very 
tough," he said. "For the first couple of seasons I had pretty tough sledding until the people realized I wasn't trying to rip them off." Adams, 53, described the typical New England customer as being "25 years behind the times. The old diehard Yankee is pretty tough to deal with when it comes 
to showing him something new," he said. "He wants to see how his neighbor's lawn comes out before he tries it himself." The troublesome New England client and the often rugged weather are not the only problems posed by the Boston market, according to Adams. Hilly terrain and a preponder-ance of crabgrass are also obstacles New England lawn care operators must hurdle. "I 
would say we have to do about 50 percent of our lawns by hand because the terrain is so hilly that we can't get our machinery on the lawns," he said. "I'm also 
on the edge of the cape (Cape Cod) where it is very sandy and there isn't much loam so you're trying to grow grass in sand and rock." "Crabgrass is my biggest weed problem," he added, "but if I can have a lawn for two seasons the customer is very happy with the results." Adams said he doesn't think pre-emergence herbicides are par-ticularly effective in controlling crabgrass in New England. "I believe the only way to kill a 
weed is while it's growing and 
you're only suppressing it with pre-emergence herbicides," he said. "But I don't care what you do you will never get rid of "To protect ourselves we only deal in full services," he said. "If I can't improve a lawn I don't want to touch it. If a customer calls and says all he wants is his lawn fertilized then I turn him down," he said. All customers receive a granular four-application service which includes: Špower aeration and rolling, fertilization, reseeding, fungus control, grub control, and weed control. Špower aeration and rolling, fertilization, weed control, chinch bug control, pre-
emergence crabgrass control, sod Boston's public gardens, located next to famed Boston Common, is one of the most picturesque areas of the city. Both the gardens and the Common have been a part of downtown Boston since the 18th Century. They were initially established to provide green space and a recreation area for Bostonians. crabgrass completely because it's God's way of saying there will always be something green on this earth as long as there is some sunshine. Insects are probably the least of Adams' worries. "I haven't seen a chinchbug in five years," he said. "There have probably been some around, but I haven't had them on my lawns." Adams added that he has had some infestations of grubs, but he has never had a reoccurrence. Lawn King of Weymouth was established in 1974. Adams pur-
chased the franchise after a back operation necessitated him leav-ing the heavy construction 
business. He initially started the 
business as a part-time venture to supplement his regular in-come. At first he ran the oper-ation by himself, but today he 
employs three persons and grosses $50,000 per year from about 275 accounts. webworm control, and fungus control. Špower rolling, fertilization, post-emergence crabgrass con-trol, chinch bug control, sod web-worm control, and weed control. Špower aeration and rolling, fertilization, reseeding, weed control, grub control, and fungus 
control. Four additional check back visits are also included in the program. These visits are con-ducted three to four weeks after 
each application to determine how the lawn is responding to the treatments. Adams said Lawn King has entered the spray field as an 
additional part of its service, but he is apprehensive about chang-
ing from the granular program. 
"I'm still convinced that a granular operation gives you a longer residual period that in the 
long run will give you a better 
lawn," he said. Once a lawn care operator corrals a New England customer 
his problems are not over, ac-cording to Adams. "One big problem I have with them is 
changing their mowing habits," he said. "For years they have been mowing their lawns right 
into the ground. Therefore, I in-sist that they raise their mowing height or I won't take care of their lawn." And Adams is quick to point out that he has cancelled custom-
ers who have disregarded his instructions. "I've got a nice big truck with Lawn King on it and 
I'm certainly not going to go out 
into a neighborhood and have people see me working on a lawn which is in bad shape because the homeowner mows it into the ground." Because Lawn King of Wey-mouth is the only Lawn King 
franchise within 200 miles of Boston, Adams has encountered some advertising problems. "I can't do any television advertis-ing because I can't co-op my 
advertising with anyone," he said. "I've tried using a mailer service, but their coverage was 
very poor." Adams' most successful form of advertising has been through fliers passed out in selected 
neighborhoods by high school marching bands and members of church groups. "The kids do a very good job for me and I get about a 30 percent return on the fliers," he said. Adams attributes the good response to his flier ads to being straightforward. "I've simpli-fied both my newspaper and flier ads and I've gotten a better response as a result," he said. "You have to be careful with these old Yankees because they've got a good idea of what 
they want. You're not going to Buffalo them." Because there is only one other Lawn King franchise in 
Massachusetts Adams is extend-ing himself further than he would like. "I would be more than happy to have more dealers in the area because then we 
could co-op our advertising and materials," he said. "I'm already extending myself about 30 miles 
which is too far." Adams predicts that the Boston market will continue to grow in the future though not as rapidly as other markets throughout the country. "The Boston market is very slow for the time being, but it is gradu-ally building up," he said. "It's new in this section of the coun-
try, but it's growing all the time." One man who has seen both the old and the new in terms of lawn care in the New England area is Roy A. Johnson, general manager of John D. Lyon, Inc., a wholesaler and retailer of lawn 
and garden products in Cam-bridge. Johnson, 51, has been with the company since 1952. "It has become a much more compli-cated business since we first en-tered the field," he said. "It's 
much more competitive and there are a lot more chemical products on the market today." John D. Lyon grossed about $500,-000 in 1978 with about 50 percent of its total sales coming from the wholesale landscape industry. New Controlled-Release, Non-Burning Liquid Nitrogen for Lawn Applications. Ashland LIQUID FERTILIZER If you'd like to find a liquid nitrogen source that offers convenience in handling and blend-ing, as well as improved performanceoverdry products, the new SLO-RELEASE products from Ashland Chemical could be your answer. <$IO-Relea<^e 25 is a clear liquid 26% organic nitrogen solution with excellent non-burning characteristics. 25 lets you: Apply any time during the growing season and be assured of non-burning, controlled-release feeding.* Expect complete nitrogen utilization during one growing season.* 25 blends easily with insecticides, herbicides, and P and K. There are more good reasons why you should test SLO-RELEASE 25 and our other SLO-RELEASE products this spring. "When applied at normally acceptable nitrogen rates. Yes, I'm interested in your SLO-RELEASE products. Ł Send Technical Literature. Ł Have your salesman call Name Title _ Company Address _ City Phone Number (_ . State. -) Š Zip Just fill in the coupon and mail it to Chemical Systems Division, P.O. Box 2219, Columbus, OH 43216. Ashland Ashland Ashland Chemical Company DIVISION OF ASHLANO OIL. INC Johnson said the two major lawn care problems in the Boston area are chinchbugs and crab-grass. "Chinchbugs weren't a problem here until a few years ago," he said. "We used to read about them being in Long Island and the south, but now they're 
here and it looks like they're 
here to stay." The two most popular pro-ducts for chinchbug control, 
according to Johnson, are Durs-ban and Diazinon. "Dursban is 
certainly the primary choice because it seems to have four times the life of Diazinon in this soil," he said. "In fact, we've dropped Diazinon here for chinchbug control because it was not doing the job although we still handle it in liquid form." "As far as crabgrass is con-cerned we have found two prod-ucts that take care of 99 per-cent of our requirements," he 
added. "If you're putting in a new lawn there is only one pro-
duct to use and that is Tupersan. 
For people who are not seeding there seems to be one product head-and-shoulders above the rest and that is Betasan." Regarding fertilizers, John-son said, "The granular, concen-trated, high nitrogen fertilizer is the most popular. We have our own called Lyon Lawn which is a 25-10 and it's a good example of a concentrated, pelletized material which will go through a cyclone spreader easily and give good coverage." "The 10-6-4 is still very popu-lar, but the more concentrated fertilizers have replaced it to a large extent," he added. "We have also carried a 6-8-3 since before WW II, but it's used mostly as an all purpose tree, shrub, and garden fertilizer rather than on lawns." Johnson said bluegrass is still very popular among lawn care professionals in the Boston area, 
but fescues and perennial rye-grasses are gaining ground. "Fescues are used a lot because there are a lot of shade problems in this area," he said, "but the 
big thing around here now are the new fine-bladed perennial ryegrasses. Fine-bladed ryes, particularly Regal, eliminates so 
many lawn care problems 
because it's so disease resistant 
and it germinates so quickly. We're very enthusiastic about it." Johnson added that pellet-ized lime and gypsum have also increased in popularity in the Boston area. Regarding spray operations, Johnson said New England is 
probably the last area of the 
country to enter the spray field. "I think the average homeowner is skeptical of chemical lawn Tradition and history are readily visible throughout Boston. For example, the famous warhsip U.S.S. Constitution is moored at Boston Harbor. care," he said. "I think it's here to stay, but in Boston it's only a small part of the business." John-son also cited New England conservatism as one of the pri-mary factors for a lack of liquid lawn care activity in the Boston area. "It's hard to change New England," he said. "The people 
just don't think that anyone run-ning over a lawn with a machine 
is going to give it the care they think their lawn deserves." However, Johnson added that he thinks spray operations will 
have more of an impact on the market in the future. "It will become more and more popular as people find 1.) it does work 
and 2.) it costs less than tradi-tional lawn care." The individual given the diffi-cult task of convincing New Englanders that ChemLawn 
Corp.'s service is effective is Chuck Deal, general manager of that company's branch in 
Holliston, about 25 miles west of Boston. Surprisingly, Deal, 29, doesn't view the typical New England customer as being particularly 
difficult to handle. "We haven't 
had a particular problem with getting New Englanders to accept chemical lawn care," he said. "They were a bit skeptical at 
first, but after last year's 
business we're starting to get a lot of referrals." Roy A. Johnson, general manager of John D. Lyon, Inc., is enthusiastic about fine-bladed ryegrasses. "I really don't think custom-ers here are any more demand-ing than they are in the rest of the country," Deal added. "Because of inflation I think customers everywhere are more aware of what they are buying." The key to securing New England customers, according to Deal, is to have a good product. 
"The proof is in the pudding/' he said. "We give them results with what we put down and they become less skeptical about a liquid program." Deal attributes much of his success in dealing with New England customers to the fact that all three of his technicians are originally from New 
England. "It takes a New Englander to understand a New 
Englander," he said. "They're a 
little different breed of people, 
but that doesn't mean that they're any less likeable." ChemLawn entered the Boston market in the spring of 1978 and currently operates three trucks and services about 600 accounts from its Holliston office. "ChemLawn had been thinking about entering the market for a couple of years," Deal said. "Both the population and the money is here so they 
wanted to enter the market as soon as they could without over-extending themselves." ChemLawn's four-applica-tion program is basically the same in Boston as it is in other northern markets. The only differences are in the Boston 
area they must use extensive 
amounts of lime (40 tons last year) and the last application is in granular form rather than the traditional liquid form. "We put a granular fertilizer down in the fall because we can apply it a lit-tle heavier," Deal said, "and of-ten times it's simply too cold to operate our pumping equipment ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ in the fall." Both weeds and diseases have not been a problem for Chem-Lawn's Boston operations. "We run into a lot of weeds you associate with older lawns like hawkweed and ground ivy, but I 
haven't found any unique weed problems," Deal said. "We haven't had a particular problem getting New Englander's to accept chemical lawn care. They were a bit skeptical at first, but . . . we're starting to get a lot of referrals." Chuck Deal, ChemLawn, Corp., Holliston HIRE THE INSECTICIDE THAT LIKES TO WORK OVERTIME. DURSBAN* brand insecticides provide un-surpassed residual con-trol of cutworms, chinch bugs, sod webworms, and a dozen other turf pests. Both DURSBAN 2E Insecticide and double-strength DURSBAN 4E Insecticide keep working a lot longer than other turf insec-ticides. This residual action saves you time, trips, and labor. It also saves you money. In fact, ŁTrademark of The Dow Chemical Company Ask your DURSBAN" 2£ INSECTICIDE DURSBAN insecti-cides cost less than most other turf insecticides, supplier for the turf insec-ticide that works over-time for you. Get DURSBAN 2E Insecticide or double-strength DURSBAN 4E Insecticide. Just be sure to read and follow all label directions and precautions. Agricul-tural Products Depart-ment, Midland, Michigan 48640. Circle 112 on free Information card DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. "As far as disease is con-cerned it is as close to non-existent here as I've seen in any market," he added. "We haven't had any problems with any real 
obnoxious diseases." Deal said the biggest differ-ence between the Boston market and others across the country is the soil composition. "I would say aside from being acidic the 
soil here is pretty good. As a general rule you never see a lot of compaction problems because of the high sand content in this soil," he said, "but it's generally not high enough to cause a lot of 
unusual leaching. There is still enough clay and loam in the soil to keep it from being totally porous." According to Deal there is only moderate competition in the Boston area. "I don't think we have the competition pressure they do in Long Island because there is still a lot to learn about this market." What does he look for in the Chuck Deal, general manager of ChemLawn's Holliston office, saia turf disease is almost non-existent in Boston. future? "I would say there is no lid on the future of this market." John Kenney has a mind for detail. Sitting in his office with his brother Drew and some other staffers, the date January 31 
comes up in the conversation. Kenney tells everyone that it is the birthdate of Donny Marks, one of his childhood friends. The fact of the matter is Kenney, who 
is 30, hasn't seen Marks since he 
was eight-years-old. Kenney has effectively ap-plied this mind for detail to his 10-year-old Turf Doctor business. Statistics flow from him on every 
facet of the business. Percent-ages are not 85 or 90, but 87. He is very exact. The former Boston College athlete started with an Auto-Lawn franchise, which changed to Lawn Doctor in 1972. He says the company's growth was very good in the beginning, but tailed off in later years. He ended last year with between 2,500 and 3,-
000 accounts on the books and a gross in the vicinity of $500,000. "New England is a very uni-que area," he said. "Consumers have a 'show-me' Yankee men-tality and the customers can be very tough. When I first started out customer reaction was 
skeptical, very skeptical." "In New England the con-sumer is not willing to take on a new idea right off the bat," he added. "If it has been around for 
a while and it has proven itself then New England will allow it to exist." He said Boston area lawn care companies also have basic technical and timing problems in caring for turf. "We start out about two weeks behind the rest of the country, and it can be very in-tense getting all of the lawns ser-viced," he said. "We catch up to the rest of the country by about June 1." About 30 percent of the lawns he services are in the shade. There are "rocks everywhere, and very little topsoil." Soil acid 
levels are high because of the high level of precipitation. The area is also very sandy. Turf Doctor offers three basic services to its customers Š the lawn maintenance service, the deluxe lawn service and optional services. The lawn maintenance ser-vice offers four fertilizer applications, fast-release in each application along with slow-
release in early and late sum-mer, and a balanced blend in 
spring and fall. It also includes 
vining and broadleaf weed con-trol in all four applications, pre-emergence crabgrass control in spring, and chinchbug and sod webworm control in the summer applications. His minimum charge for this program is for 4,000 square feet. Cost is a total of $94, broken 
down into an initial payment of $23.50 and five equal payments of $14.10. For an 8,000-square foot 
lawn, the total charge is $152. For a 10,000-square-foot lawn, the 
charge is $184. John Kenney, of Turf Doctor, said New England consumers have a "show me" Yankee mentality. His deluxe service offers four major applications per year and six intermediate check-ups. The service includes fertilization, 
seeding, pre-emergence weed control, insect control, broad-leaf and vining weed control, dis-ease control and soil treatments. Kenney said that $225 is the mini-
mum charge for the deluxe ser-vice. The average lawn size receiv-ing the deluxe service is about 5,200 square feet and the average maintenance service lawn is about 7,000 square feet. He said 
about half of his lawns receive the deluxe program and half the maintenance program. For the deluxe program, he tries to sell his customers on a 
two-year plan to build up the lawn. He offers a 10 percent dis-count on these lawns the second 
year. Optional services are adver-tised as supplements to existing programs or a program can be 
designed to meet specific lawn needs. Services and costs for some of the options are: Fast-release fertilizer, $8.90 for a minimum 4,000-square-feet area, and $1 for every 1,000 square feet after that; slow-release or balanced blend fertil-izer, $10.20 minimum and $1.80 
for every 1,000 square feet past that; overall weed control for whole lawn, $10.40 and $1.20; spot weed treatment, $5.20 and $0.60; crabgrass pre-emergence control, $15.20 and $2.80; chinch-bug and other insect control, $14.80 and $2.40; grub control, $21.20 and $4; grub-proofing, $13.60 and $1.80; seeding for a whole lawn, $28.80 and $6.80; spot seeding, $14.40 and $3.40; disease control for whole lawn, $19.20 and $4; spot disease con-trol, $9.60 and $2; power aeration and rolling, $16.80 and $4.20; "double" aeration and rolling, $25.20 and $6.30; liquid liming, $14.80 and $2.40; and limestome application, $20.40 and $3. His brother Drew manages the sales department with four others. The sales people work six 
consecutive days followed by three days off. There are also ten Beacon Hill is the home of Massachusetts state government. The building's shining, copper-colored dome is visible from virtually anywhere in the city. The Hill overlooks historic Boston Common where many Bostonians have a leisurely lunch when the weather cooperates. part-time sales people during the peak season. Kenney pays $3 an hour for the part-timers and of-fers a $1 bonus for appointments with homeowners. He estimates that his cost of securing new customers is about 15 percent of the gross sale. A total of 55 persons are em-ployed at Turf Doctor and vir-tually all of those are local peo-ple. "We don't hire any imports because they are going to be an 
immediate tipoff because they 
don't have the right accent," Kenney said. "We really haven't had any problem finding good employes because there are an 
abundance of them here." Kenney hopes to expand his business within the next few 
years to areas outside of eastern New England and hopes to be grossing $5 million annually within the next ten years. And he just might do it. If you have ever worked for a company which was successful Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox, Beantown's professional baseball team. Bostonians still haven't recovered from last year s assault by the New York Yankee's. Perhaps this will be the year the Red Sox bring home a pennant. You don't become the world leader in turf care equipment without paying attention to what people want. So we listen to our customers. To our distributors. To people who buy our equipment. To people who service it. And to the people who go out under the hot sun and use it. Then we design our products with new features. Make sensible improvements. And bring out new models. All to be sure that every product we offer to you is made to match your needs. And then we back our products with the kind of service and parts inventory to keep the equipment running like it should. Next time you re ready to order turf care equipment, ask your Jacobsen distributor for his recommendation. And why. The more you listen to what he has to say, the more you'll know we've been listening. We hear you TEXTRON Jacobsen Division of Textron Inc. largely because of the relaxed atmosphere developed by the boss then you already know an awful lot about Dean Squier. The president of Techniturf, Inc., a lawn care company based 
in South Berlin, Mass., is 56, but he looks more like a pre-maturely gray 35-year-old. The 23-year-old company will gross in the vicinity of $1 million this year. Squier surrounds himself with young staff members, gives them their freedom to develop 
the business under his direction, and is very quick to give them the 
credit when things go well. He also has his business in perspective and is anything but a workaholic. Squier is active in both art and theatre in cul-turally rich Boston and he is also 
restoring an old-fashioned house on the property where his com-pany is headquartered. Information comes out of him in dribs and drabs and in order 
to get a complete thought a visitor 
has to slow him down. It's not that he talks too fast, but he 
moves quickly from one topic to the next. The points are well 
thought out, but a listener has to have his hand held to get from Point A to Point B at the same time Squier does. A couple of other pertinent points: When the national lawn 
care giant ChemLawn Corp. moved into his territory a few Dean Squier, president of Techniturf, advocates an integrated pest management program. Techni-turf has been in business for 23 years. years ago, at their request he showed them around his oper-
ation and gave them all the back-ground information about Boston they needed. He also says he has never gotten anywhere by "being 
conventional" and the fact that just about every one of his 20 lawn care trucks is a different 
color attests to that. Further, he doesn't believe in advertising, but does believe in 
an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to lawn care, a true lawn care "guarantee," soil and tissue testing and late fall fertilization. Back in 1956, Squier was run-ning a landscape business, but not making any money at it. He saw the possibilities of a volume lawn care business, started Techniturf, and was almost laughed out of the idea by his 
customers and fellow land-scapes. "My biggest mistake in the beginning was not charging enough," he told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. "Now I let people decide what work they want 
done after I make my recom-mendations, and charge them ac-cordingly." He offers fertilization, as much as needed, averaging one application per month or more to Dec. 1 (starting usually in April). He puts down an average of four pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. His basic service also includes inspection and spraying for insects and dis-
ease and seeding repairs, no mat-ter what the cause of damage. Cost for the basic service last year was $113.40 for his average 12,000-square-foot lawn. In addition to these services, last year he charged $42 for all-season broadleaf weed control, 
$47 for Japanese beetle grub dis-ease inoculation (one-time only 
for new customers), $53 for pre-
emergence crabgrass control for the whole season, $67 for lawn aeration with a Howard Turf Quaker (if thatch is 3/»-inch or 
more this is recommended) and $2 for a pH test at six different points in the lawn. These figures 
are all for his average 12,000-square-foot lawn. "Three-quarters of my business used to be fertilization, now only one-quarter of it is," he said. "And when we say that we guarantee our work, we mean it, even if the lawn is damaged by vandalism or a customer throwing a bucket of detergent water on it." As we said, he and his key with a spray unless it needs it," he said. Techniturf visits a lawn seven or more times a year. If the technician sees a problem developing, he or she sprays for it. "Why put down a pesticide "My biggest mistake in the beginning was not charging enough. Now I let people decide what work they want done after I make my recom-mendations and charge them accordingly . . . And when we say that we guarantee our work, we mean it, even if the lawn is damaged by vandalism 9 f Dean Squier, Techniturf, Inc., South Berlin, Mass. staff members, 27-year-old Fulfillment Manager Jim Fother-gill and 28-year-old Logistics Manager Alan Bebka believe in IPM. "Basically, IPM is simply just not going out and bias-ting a lawn unless you have to?" he said. 
Company employes spread 
fertilizer with a hand-held 
Cyclone gravity spreader, and if they see a disease, insect or weed problem, in most cases they go back and spot spray to New EXCEL HUSTLER 261 Mows a full 60" where most 50" mowers can't go! A new concept deck design* turns the EXCEL HUSTLER 261 into a 4-way system: for mulching, or discharge to side, to rear, or into optional catcher. Adjustment is no trick at all. Operator can change from one mode to another in the field, without using tools. The new mid-size 261 is the latest performer to wear the proud EXCEL HUSTLER name. Featuring the proven dual hydro drive, it introduces a whole new generation of innovative features: Ł all-new in-line power train Ł new quiet power engine Ł shorter wheel base Ł and the multi-option deck For groundskeepers who must mow narrow 
passages, its wide 60" cut with only 3" wider running width may be the finest new feature of all! Both mowing deck and engine are mounted on a single floating frame, maintaining constant relationship. Resulting straight line 
belt drive produces top power efficiency and long belt life. New deck design minimizes scalping. Dependable Briggs & Stratton 16 hp 4 cycle, twin cylinder engine; service and parts are as close as 25,000 factory trained authorized dealers the world over. Watch for a field demo or write for free literature and Distributor's name. Call toll-free (800) 835-3260; in Kansas or Canada, call (316) 327-4911 collect. EXCEL HUSTLER turf and groundskeeping equipment is built right by Excel Industries, Inc., Box 727, Hesston, Kansas 67062. For GSA: GS-07S-03665 For HUD: OAH(CO)m 2635 Ł patents pending I HUSTLER Turf Equipment There's a difference! EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC./ Box 727 / Hesston, Kansas 67062 / (316) 327-4911 / (800) 835-3260 control it. A large percentage of Techni-turf's first-time customers were signed on for a simple fertiliza-tion program. "But we don't allow this cur-tailed program any more," he said. "People forget what they told you to do, and they blame you if they have problems even if they told you not to treat for them. When we went to this stepped-up program we expec-ted all of our low-end customers to drop out. But our renewal rate was the same." He has about 20 route people on his payroll, two people who 
handle seeding and aeration full-time, two full-time office staff 
people, and three maintenance people. Route people start at $200 a week draw against commission, and work their way up to about $250 a week by the end of the first season. With commissions based on produc-tion, Fothergill said that the route people earn about $10,000 in eight months. Dean Squier shows off one of the PVC boom sprayers Techniturf utilizes in the Boston area. Squier believes in getting a written agreement for lawn care 
services down on paper, because "it helps both ways" in explain-
ing to the customer what work will be done, and protecting Techniturf against a customer coming back and saying a certain job was not done. "It's all on paper," Squier said, "although they can cancel anytime they want just by calling us up." Squier believes in late fall fertilization. "We like to get an 
application down in Novem-
ber," he said. "You can always pick out lawns that had this, because in spring they look a lot better sooner." Techniturf's Logistics Manager Alan Bebka fabricates 3/e inch polypropylene spray tanks for Techniturf. He figures it costs him $8,000 to buy and outfit a step van for his route work and he usually gets about nine years out of a truck. The trucks are outfitted with stainless steel fertilizer bins, and square 3/8-inch poly-propylene spray tanks that Bebka fabricates in the shop. He 
utilizes Hypro roller pumps and PVC booms, also fabricated by Bebka. Alan Steinam, like Squier, had difficulty making his land-scape business turn a profit its first few years in existence. But 
Steinam, 25, stuck with it and this year Alan Steinam's Landscape and Lawn Care Service, 
Framingham, is expected to gross about $200,000. "When I was 12 I started working on lawns in my neighborhood," he said, "and by the time I was in high school I had three guys working for me full-time. They put me through the University of Massa-chusetts. " However, after graduating with a degree in land-scape operations Steinam had difficulty supporting himself on the income from his lawn ser-vice. A change was necessary so Steinam decided to focus on a three-city area (he was servicing more than a half dozen) and charge prices which would pro-
duce a profit rather than be competitive with those charged 
by other landscapers in the area. . m \ t Alan Steinam, 25, put himself through college by running a lawn care service. "I think getting paid what it takes to run the business turned it around," he said. "I was charg-ing $10 to $12 an hour, but I couldn't make ends meet so I started charging a flat rate of 
$13.50 an hour and I'm making money now." Basagran. Yellow nutsedge control your customers never had before. "In fact, in the past three weeks I yj have outsold my entire gross for last year. I attribute that to the fact that landscaping is a hedge > 
on inflation. People are much ? more willing to put $1,000 or $2,- £ 000 into their homes now > because they think of it as an investment." g c n After several days of observa- Jo tion it becomes apparent that the Boston lawn care industry may 
not be in tip-top shape, but is far 
from being on the critical list. 
However, there is room for opti-mism because when New England embraces a trend it em-
braces it wholeheartedly. Take for instance jogging. Boston un-doubtedly has more joggers per square foot than anywhere else in the country. Bostonians jog in the mornings, in the afternoons, in the evenings, and presumably 
in the wee hours of the night. Now if the industry could just convince them that lawn care is 
also beneficial to their health. The old and the new co-exist in Boston, but in terms of lawn care the old appears to have the upper hand. Here, a 19th Century church is dwarfed by the John Hancock Tower. Steinam shows off one of the yards he landscaped in an expensive suburb west of Boston. Steinam's six-point landscap-ing program consists of spring cleanup, chemical lawn care, shrub maintenance, lawn mowing, shrub and insecticide spraying, and raking. "The only thing we don't do directly our-selves is chemical spraying of the lawns," he said. "I've subbed-out my lawn spraying to Turf Doctor 
for the past five years. It pre-vents a lot of headaches for me." Steinam also subs-out tree related problems to Framing-
ham Professional Tree Co. Steinam looks for the New England landscape market to continue to thrive. "Overall, I think people who live on the coast are more landscape con-scious than those who live in the interior of the country," he said. Basagran is now cleared for use in established com-mercial and residential turf. Basagran provides consistent yellow nutsedge control, while it's gentle on your customer's lawns. For more information, write or call our nearest Regional Office: 5720 W 85th Street Suite 216 Indianapolis Indiana 46278 '317) 299-4122 6263 Poplar Avenue Suite 850 Memphis Tennessee 38138 (901) 761-2001 6405 Metcalf Suite 317 Shawnee Mission Kansas 66202 (913) 677-2424 Basagran For consistent yellow nutsedge control. Basagran, every time. Follow label instructions BASF Wyandotte Corporation Agricultural Chemicals Division 100 Cherry Hill Road Parsippany, New Jersey 07064 BASF ^ SOIL pH Don't forget to lime, VPI researcher says Lawn care businessmen need to be aware that soil pH is dynamic and can be rather fast-changing if conditions are right. Liming, although sometimes overlooked, need not be con-sidered secondary to any agronomic practice in impor-tance, said Dr. John R. Hall III, extension specialist in turf for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. "Two years ago, a progressive northern Virginia lawn mainte-nance company sampled 1,184 customer lawns and found that 716 of those lawns Š more than 
60 percent Š had a soil pH of less than 5.5," Dr. Hall said. "This is shocking, especially when one considers the reduced prob-ability of producing quality turf with a soil pH of less than 5.5" He said that the general effect of excessively acid soil pH upon turfgrass is primarily observed in (1) decreased availability of Hall many of the major essential ele-
ments, (2) increased availability of some elements that can be 
considered toxic when present in excess, and (3) alteration of mi-crobial activity contributing to 
excessive thatch build-up and deceases in nitrification. These 
effects interact to produce low 
density turf with very poor root growth and response to applied nitrogen, he said. "The decreasing availability of some of the major essential 
elements as a result of increasing soil acidity is primarily the result of soil chemical interactions," Dr. Hall said. "As most soils become more acid they tend to contain less calcium and so it tends to become increasingly deficient as pH decreases. Soil phosphorus is generally most 
available between soil pH's of 5.5 and 7.0. It becomes decreas-ingly available below and above this range." At low pH, iron and alumi-num tie up the phosphorus, while at high pH the calcium precipitates it. The effect of pH 
upon potassium release and fixa-tion by a soil is complex and remains a controversial subject, he said. However, it is generally conceded that the greater the 
degree of calcium saturation in a soil, the greater the absorption of potassium by the clay, and there-fore, less potassium leaching is likely to occur, leading to more efficient utilization of applied 
potassium. "The most universal negative effect of acid soil pH upon turf-grass quality is considered to be aluminum toxicity," he said. 
"Every soil except peat or muck 
is considered to have the poten-tial to kill turf plants with the release of excessive aluminum if the soil pH is allowed to get too low. The actual pH at which alu-minum reaches toxic concentra-
tions depends upon the native level of aluminum in the soil, the turfgrass species and other fac-
tors." The process of nitrification, which converts ammonium (Nhh) to nitrate (N03) is impor-tant to the turf plant because nitrate is thought to be the major source of nitrogen assimilated by the grass plant, Dr. Hall said. Many investigations have dem-onstrated the significant correla-tion between nitrate production and pH. In very acid environ-ments, nitrification proceeds slowly and at extreme acidities the species responsible for nitrification are rarely present. increasingly acid. "Some nitrogen fertilizers have significant acid-forming potential and can cause de-
creases soil pH," he said. "For instance one pound of nitrogen applied as ammonium nitrate or urea requires 5.34 and 3.56 
pounds, respectively, of pure 
calcitic lime to neutralize the VPI's Dr. John Hall: "Liming need not be considered secondary to any agronomic practice in importance . . Lawn care businessmen should be aware that declining soil pH or increasing soil acid-ification is a continual process that is occurring at a rate which is determined by several factors. 
Nitrification, soil leaching, root activity, decomposition of 
organic matter, nitrogen source and other factors will influence the rate at which a soil becomes HHHHHIHHHIHIHIH^HI acidity that will be produced 
from the nitrogen application. "Therefore, a four pound ni-trogen per 1,000 square feet per year program with nitrogen being supplied by ammonium 
nitrate requires 21.4 pounds of pure calcitic lime per 1,000 square feet to neutralize the fertilizer-produced acidity," Dr. Hall said. Control 15 major lawn pests with versatile SEVIN carbaryl insecticide. They nip, munch, burrow and bite. As sure as grass is green, lawn pests will try to make life miserable. You can minimize the misery STOP! ALL PESTICIDES CAN BE HARMFUL with SEVIN TO HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT rarh^rvl IF MISUSED. READ THE LABEL CARE- UcXI UcU / 1 FULLY AND USE ONLY AS DIRECTED. inSeCtlClde And protect lawns from as many as 15 different problem pests. Both the most common ones and the worst: ants, bluegrass bi 11 bugs, chiggers, chinch bugs, cutworms, ear-wigs, European chafer, fall armyworm, fleas, green June beetle, leafhoppers, millipedes, mosquitoes, sod webworms (lawn moths) and ticks. Broad registration only starts the list of SEVIN benefits. It's also compatible with many other commonly used insecticides, miticides, fungicides and foliar nutri-ents. And residents can resume using 
the grounds 
or yard as soon as the spray dries. There's a choice of FLORIDA 'It was finally time to reap the benefits' A1 WILSON LAWN SPRAY When Bob Feeley and Paul Fulmer marked their 10th anni-versary of working for a lawn 
spray company in 1964, they didn't have much to celebrate. Although they practically ran the company, they had little to show for it. So in 1965, Feeley and Fulmer bought out a lawn care business in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and 
have been enjoying the rewards 
of ownership ever since. Today they have 17 employes, 13 spray trucks, more than 5,000 customers and yearly billings in 
excess of $500,000 in what has become one of the largest lawn 
care companies in the Fort 
Lauderdale area. They have come a long way considering all they had at the start was themselves, one spray truck and a secretary. Through their corporation Š A-l Wilson Power Spraying Š Feeley and Fulmer offer a monthly lawn care service to 
residential customers that con-sists of three main functions Š fertilization, weed control and insect control. In the months of October, January and April, A-l Wilson concentrates on its lawn fertil-ization program. Feeley and Fulmer agree they achieve the best results when fertilizing 
during these cooler months of the 
year. "If we fertilize in the sum-mer, growth is stimulated too A-l Wilsons Fulmer (left) and Feeley: They started out with themselves, one spray truck and a secretary, today they have yearly billings in excess of $500,000. much and resulting lush turf 
tends to attract armyworms," Feeley told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. Depending upon the weather, the company adjusts the amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phos-phorus it applies. The basic pur-four formulations Š sprayable, wettable powder, flowables and SEVIMOl! 4, a liquid blend of SEVIN and molasses. Granules, dusts and baits are also available for certain specialized uses. Plus, SEVIN isn't harsh on the environment. It is bio-degradable; and when compared with other insecticides, it ranks low in toxi-city to people, animals, birds and fish. So it's probably no surprise to hear that SEVIN carbaryl is one of the largest selling insecticides in the United 
States today For more information about SEVIN contact your pesticide supplier or Union Carbide at the address below. Make SEVIN carbaryl insecticide your answer to pest control too. SEVIN o CARBARYL INSECTICIDE ^^^^^ IS THE ANSWER. SEVIN and SEVIMOL are registered trademarks of Union Carbide Corporation for carbaryl insecticide Union Carbide Corporation. Agricultural Products Division. 7825 Baymeadows Way. Jacksonville. PL 32216 Circle 124 on free information card pose is to place the proper amounts of primary and second-ary nutrients into the soil at the right times, Fulmer said. "We use about 660 tons of fertilizer each year and repre-sentatives from W.R. Grace have told us we apply more fertilizer 
than any other lawn service Company in southern Florida," 
Feeley said. W. R. Grace & Co. is based in Cambridge, Mass. Once in autumn and again in spring, the company services its accounts by applying herbi-
cides. The co-owners haven't set-tled on one product for weed control. Instead, they use a num-
ber of different products on a variety of weeds. Because of the hot, humid climate of Fort Lauderdale, turf insect problems abound and thus 
present an excellent market for A-l Wilson's insect control ser-vices. In fact, this aspect keeps the company busy from early May through September. Three specific pests account for much of the company's insect control work Š armyworms, sod 
webworms and chinch bugs. For control of armyworms and sod webworms, Feeley and 
Fulmer rely on Sevin, manu-factured by the Union Carbide Corp. Agricultural Division in Jacksonville, Fla. In June, all of A-l Wilson's accounts are 
sprayed with an 80WP (wettable powder) formulation. "It even kills caterpillars on shrubs and gives control of millipedes too," Fulmer said. "Another thing is that it has a good residual." They also use the insecticide for controling fleas and ticks. "Southern Florida's warm 
climate is ideal for fleas and the pest can cause problems when 
family pets carry them into homes," Feeley said. For control of chinch bugs, the company utilizes Dursban, 
manufactured by Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., and Diazi-non, manufactured by Ciba-Geigy Corp., Greensboro, N.C. 
There has been some problem with chinch bugs developing resistance to these insecticides. In addition to applying effec-tive products, Feeley and Fulmer attribute the success of their company to gaining customer satisfaction. A high percentage of 
A-l Wilson's original customers 
still rely on the company for lawn care. Also, the company averages 60 to 70 new accounts 
each month, interesting in the fact that Feeley and Fulmer do very little advertising or pro-motion. Their best sales tool is a recommendation. Tfiror best sales opportunities and ugly, but very profitable. are rotten Cash In with > S z n > m z a c Cfl H ?o > H: TERSAN. fungicides When you know and show these lawn diseases to your customers, you sell a new service and make new profit with the TERSAN disease control program. Learn to recognize these five sales tools (from left to right): fusarium blight, leaf spot, stripe smut, dollar spot, pythium blight. Every time one of these shows up on a customer's lawn,"you've got a great opportu-nity to sell an additional service, right on top of your 
basic lawn-care programs. To cash in on this high-margin opportunity, you've got to spot the disease early and identify it correctlyŠthen tell your customer what it can do to his lawn, and how you can prevent it. And the TERSAN program is the key, with four dif-ferent TERSAN fungicides, each one a proven, effec-
tive control for each disease that's likely to show up. For more profits, put these five sales tools to work for you. Start by mailing in the coupon for more 
facts on identifying and controlling lawn diseases. | E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Inc.) I TERSAN Lawn Products-Room N-2533 Wilmington, Delaware 19898 Please send me your literature on lawn disease control. Name Title Company Address City State Zip Services Offered No. of present accounts: No. of employees: With any chemical, follow labeling instructions and warnings carefully. (jjJPOjjJ) Lawn Products Circle 115 on free information card 22 TURF OVERVIEW < DC H C/D D D g w a: < u z < Recarpeting urban America by Dr. Robert W. Schery Director The Lawn Institute Marysville, Ohio In a previous discussion (see Lawns: A Concept Proven, LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, April, 1979, page 9) I talked about the disturbed habitat that today is urban America, and how the most efficient, environmentally desirable, and socially accept-
able means for managing much 
of it is probably as lawn. During the rapid evolution of the lawn care industry, nothing has been more spectacular than the development of special lawn-grass cultivars chosen specifi-cally for the task of clothing ur-ban surroundings. No longer is it 
necessary for keepers of the lawn to have only pasture and meadow varieties to choose from, i.e., the ''common" grasses that were almost alone the only thing available until fairly recen-tly Today there are more named cultivars than one can keep tab of, in varying shades of color, texture, and growth habitats, suited to many needs and diver-
sified tastes. They represent not only a product tailored to the need Š being low-growing, good-
looking, generally tolerant of 
pests Š but they provide the 
potentiality for a lawn that ac-complishes more than to just "fill up space" between ornamental 
beds. Ever since Merion broke the premium lawngrass barrier in the 1950's, grass quality has become increasingly a concern, 
and the lawn can itself be a landscaping focal point. Still, for 
those not aspiring to such elegance, durable lawngrasses 
are also had which can make a relatively untended lawn 
passable. A panoramic glimpse of the cultivars carpeting urban America these days is the topic of this essay. In the lawngrass game two contrasting forces are at play, 
one dedicated to stability and proven worth, the other to vari-ability and competitive perfor-mance. Thus the species that yield modern lawngrasses mostly have been around a long, long time. Mainly, for top quality 
lawns, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), lawn fescues (Festuca rubra in several subspecies) perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), bentgrasses (Agrostis spp.j and rough bluegrass (Poa Trivialis) for the North; bermudagrass (Cynodon spp. 
and hybrids), Manillagrass 
(Zoysia japonica), St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum), centipede (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bah i a (Paspalum notatum) for the South. All are introductions made mostly in Colonial times. Their adaptability as a con-sort of mankind in his restructur-ing of the wilderness is well known. By and large the same species that we use today were the camp followers of civiliza-tion when first the soil was culti-vated. These very species proved themselves in the crucible of natural selection during these early epochs, with ecotypes and biotypes succeeding with almost no assistance (in the days of the 
pioneer seedbed preparation was crude, fertilization and irrigation almost nonexistent, "mowing" little more than graz-ing by livestock). Indeed, modern lawngrass breeders 
build upon a solid base of adap-tability, self-sufficiency and recuperativeness that makes modern cultivars something bet-ter than pampered upstarts. But specialization and "improvement" are the normal accoutrements of civilization, too. So from these major species are bred new lawngrass culti-vars, and spit-and-polish "varieties" are chosen. Even the earliest agriculturists selected 
for productivity, and for various genetic manifestations that made cropping easier and more boun-teous. We have long taken this for granted for agricultural 
crops, even to the point of 
breeding high-yielding (or more suitably shaped, as for efficient harvest) types which would have a hard time surviving other than 
as the wards of agriculture. 
Strange that it took so long for this to happen with our urban 
"cropland", the lawns beyond our front door! Actually, very lit-tle was done to mold lawngrass 
to front yard needs until the most 
recent quarter century, although as early as the 1930's search had 
begun for better golf green bent-grasses. The tempo has defi-nitely picked up within the last 
decade or two, and lawngrass 
cultivars coming to market today 
are much better "engineered" for the job Š survival under low 
mowing, suited to prevailing 
climatic conditions, and adapted 
for the many services required of them Š than were their fore-
bear pasture and field counter-
parts. Lawngrasses of the future can be expected to show superiority over those of the pre-
sent, as additional breeding stock is assembled (and proven out), 
and more stringent qualifi-cations are met. Many avenues are open for the creation of an improved lawngrass. The most ancient method of all, the searching out Your Trimec Distributor Your real competition in the lawn care industry is the quality of your work and the efficiency of your management. Read how we can help you, regardless of your present size. Your lawn customer judges your work every time he sees his yard. He looks for weeds; he expects to see no dandelions, no chickweed, no weeds whatever. If he finds his lawn immaculate, he'll tell his friends (your free salesman)! And your own sales will improve because you'll know with conviction that you are doing truly superior work. Acceptable profit requires that you excel the first time around. Your profit margin has little room for mistakes. Your phone is for sales Š not for complaints, call-backs and retreatments. What's the answer? First, know the Problems The most persistant bugaboos are weed Your Authorized Trimec Distributor: ALABAMA control and customer relations. The Gordon Turf Team can help you with both. Being trained and experienced, you unders-tand that weeds do not magically disappear with the touch of a spray wand. Good, systemic herbicides are slow. But if your customer doesn't understand that Š expect a problem. Montgomery Ł CASSCO Ł Tieco. Inc. Semmes Ł Al Te Birmingham Ł Norala Company, Inc. Ł Tieco, Inc. Gadsden Ł Marker's of Clubview ' Ł CASSCO Ł J Tex Nursery ALASKA Palmer Ł Alamasu, Inc. ARIZONA Phoenix Ł Arizona Agrochemical Co. Ł Capitol Nursery Supply Tucson Ł Copper State Chemical Company ARKANSAS Alexander Ł Capital Equipment Company CALIFORNIA Anaheim Ł Eagle Chemical Company Bakersfield 
Ł Abate A Weed Company Cerritos Ł Target Chemical Company Chula Vista Ł Wilbur Ellis Company Coachella Ł Foster Gardner, Inc Gilroy Ł El Camino Crop Supply. Inc. Manteca Ł I & A Enterprises Orange Robinson Fertilizer Company 
Oxnard Ł Coastal Ag Chemicals Sacramento Ł Orchard Supply Company San Diego Ł Butler's Mill, Inc. 
San Gabriel Ł J. Harold Mitchell Company 
San Jose Ł Moyer Chemical Company 
Ł Northern California Fertilizer Company 
Ł Plant Gro Ł Target Chemical Company 
San Leandro Ł Custom Chemilene 
Santa Ana Ł Moyer Chemical Company 
Santa Barbara Ł Agri Turf Supplies, Inc. Santa Clara Ł Eagle Chemical Company 
Santa Rosa Ł Puritv Chemical Products Co. South Gate Ł Los Angeles Chemical Co. COLORADO Colorado Springs Ł Gorby, Inc Pueblo Ł Pueblo Chemical & Supply Westminister Ł S.A.J Turf Products CONNECTICUT Devon Ł Somers Turf Supplies Greenwich Ł Emanuel Shemin Greenhouses & Nurs. 
Hazzardville Ł Old Fox Chemical, Inc. 
South Windsor Ł Turf Products Corp FLORIDA Homestead Ł Atlantic Fertilizer & Chemical Jacksonville Ł Bingham Seed Company Pompano Beach Ł Swift Agricultural Chemical Corp Pensacola Ł Tieco Gulf Coast Sanford Ł Chase & Company Ł Southern Chemical Co Wmterhaven Ł Swift Agricultural Chemical Corp GEORGIA Atlanta Ł Regal Chemical Comply College Park Ł Stephenson Chemical Co Conyers Ł Lawn & Turf, Inc Doraville Georgia Golf & Garden ley Woofolk Chemical Works, Inc. Ft. Vail HAWAII Hilo Ł Occidental Chemical Company 
Honolulu Ł Occidental Chemical Company 
Kahului Ł Occidental Chemical Company 
Lihue Ł Occidental Chemical Company IDAHO Boise Ł Steve Regan Company ILLINOIS Barrmgton Ł Olsen Distributing Company Chicago Ł George A Davis, Inc. 
W. Chicago Ł Turf Products. Ltd. Decatur Ł Drake-Scruggs Equipment. Inc. Trimec Can Solve It Trimec is not a her-bicide newcomer; it has been a leader for years. Repeated tests have proved it's the most effective, most cost-efficient, widest-spec-
trum broadleaf herbicide 
on the market. Yet it contains absolutely no Silvex. It never did. Trimec is a unique, patented formulation of 2,4-D, Mecoprop and E. Peoria Ł Leon Short & Sons. Inc. Geneseo Ł C D Ford & Sons Morton Grove Ł V-G Supply Company Normal Ł Professional Turf Specialty Rockton Ł Turf Management Supply Wheeling Ł Arthur Clesen, Inc. INDIANA Indianapolis Ł Desco Chemical. Inc. 
Ł Cory Orchard Supply Company Nappanee Ł Desco Chemical, Inc IOWA Davenport Ł Tri-State Toro Company Des Moines Ł Toro Service Center W. Des Moines Ł Big Bear Turf Coe Ł Resthaven Turf Service Elkader Ł Meyer Equipment Company Iowa City Ł Little Wheels. Ltd Sioux City 
Ł W R Anderson Dist. Co. Waterloo Ł Foster's Inc 
Waukee Ł Baer Ag Supply KANSAS Garden City Ł Pueblo Chemical Co. Kansas City Ł Rhodes Chemical Company Salina Ł Landsco Corporation Wichita Ł Bartels & Shores Chemical Co. Ł Champion Turf Equipment Co Ł Robert S. Wise Company KENTUCKY Florence Ł George W Hill & Co.. Inc. 
Lexington Ł Fayette Seed Company 
Louisville Ł Bunton Seed Co.. Inc. Ł Ky-lnna Turf Supply Co.. Inc LOUISIANA Baton Rouge Ł Gulfshore Turf Supply Ł Wyche's Golf Course Specialties. Inc. Covington Ł Tammany Turf & Supply. Inc. 
New Orleans 
Ł Southern Specialty Sales Co. Inc. TRIMEC BROADLEAF HERBICIDE Plain Dealing Ł Wyche s Golf Course Specialties. Inc. MAINE South Portland Ł Yerxa's, Inc MARYLAND Baltimore Ł Cornell Chemical & Equip Co., Inc. 
Ł Miller Chemical & Fertilizer Landover Ł Vaughan Seed Company Ł Lofts/Maryland MASSACHUSETTS Arlington Ł Lofts/New England Natick Ł Richey & Clapper. Inc 
Newton Center 
Ł Grounds Equipment Co., Inc. West Newton Ł The Clapper Company 
West Wareham Ł R F Morse & Son, Inc. MICHIGAN Birmingham Ł W F Miller Company 
Detroit Ł Terminal Sales Corporation Ł Turf Supplies, Inc Grand Rapids Ł Mollema & Son, Inc Ł Parmenter & Andre Hartford Ł Desco Chemical. Inc 
Kalamazoo Ł J J Dill Company Royal Oak Ł Lawn Equipment Saginaw Ł Burdick's Seed Company MINNESOTA Eafan Ł Tessn Tessman Seed and Chemical Co Minneapolis Ł The Castle Chemical Co.. Inc 
Ł Minnesota Toro. Inc St. Paul Ł R. L. Gould & Company 
Ł Turf Supply Company MISSISSIPPI Jackson Ł Southern Seed Company. Inc. MISSOURI Chesterfield Ł Beckman Turf & Irrigation Grandview Ł The Landsco Corporation Ł Robison's Lawn & Golf Supply of especially able "wild" or volunteer types, still yields remarkable returns. Merion Kentucky bluegrass, perhaps most responsible for the 
improved lawngrass era in the United States, was a chance dis-covery on a golf course apron near Philadelphia. Of course much rogueing and further detailed selection was needed, along with widespread testing, before Merion became the com-mercial success that it was. The same is true for Fylking, a some-what more recent bluegrass breakthrough from Sweden, and 
still more recently Baron and En-mundi from Holland, Sydsport 
and Birka from Sweden, and several other European 
selections which have enjoyed success in America. Here in 
America Arboretum bluegrass 
was one of the first ecotypic isolations (from Missouri), 
Nugget was selected in Alaska, and more recently such notables as Glade, Plush, Ram I and Touchdown have been proved out under aegis of the Rutgers 
breeding program. At least with Kentucky bluegrass there is no question but that the wealth of 
natural variants available to 
diligent search can yield first-
rate cultivars. As such worthwhile geno-types are assembled, the possi-breeding cultivar. Yet it has proven possible for Dr. C. Reed Funk and his colleagues at Rutgers University to earmark especially effective parental bloodlines, and by employing 
various laboratory techniques to make crosses from which highly-
apomictic progeny can be selected. Thus have come to American lawns such non-"Ever since Merion broke the premium iawngrass barrier in the 1950's, grass quality has become a concern . . ." bilities for efficacious man-directed crossings increases. Many technical difficulties con-front the breeder, such as con-sideration of the parent plant's sexuality (apomixis is prevalent in Kentucky bluegrass) and the 
possibility of creating a true-pareils as Adelphi, Bonnieblue and Majestic, among the Ken-tucky bluegrasses. In the South, 
with bermudagrass, Dr. Glenn 
Burton at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experimental Station has 
created the "Tifton" series of hybrids by crossing common ... He Can Help You Grow! Dicamba Š a systemic that kills root and all. Active synergism gives it power greater than the 
sum of its components (it can kill actively growing weeds even in temperatures as cool as 50° F), yet it is very gentle. Trimec's root absorption is minimal, posing little threat to ornamentals and grasses. Drift hazard is negligible. Its chemicals are bio-degradeable. And it kills virtually all weeds with one application, 
costing less per acre 
than any other herbicide. Weed Control and More We are totally com-mitted to product devel-opment and field assis-tance. Your Trimec dis-tributor also has a complete family of pro-
ducts for fungus control, 
soil problems, and more. A specialist himself, Trimec Contains No Silvex! Ł Trimec controls the widest range of broadleaf weeds Ł Gets hard-to-kill species without repeated sprays Ł Gives wide margin of safety to lawn grasses Ł Minimum hazard from root absorp-tion to flowers, ornamentals, trees, shrubs Ł Effective weed control at a wide range of temperatures Ł Biodegradeable: friendly to the environment Kansas City Ł Bartels & Shores Chemical Co Ł Champion Turf Equipment, Inc. Ł Pest Control Supplies Ł Standard Seed Company Maryland Heights 
Ł Outdoor Equipment Co St. Louis Ł Crown Chemical Company Ł Kitten & Bear Springfield Ł Champion Turf Equipment. Inc. MONTANA Billings Ł Turf Aid Dist Company Helena Ł Mr Turf NEBRASKA Morrill Ł Jirdon Agri Chemicals. Inc. Omaha Ł Big Bear Equipment. Inc. Ł Midwest Toro Ł The Yard Company Waterloo Ł Simplot Soil Builders NEVADA Las Vegas Ł Clark County Whol Merc. Co. North Las Vegas Ł Las Vegas Fertilizer Co, Inc NEW HAMPSHIRE Hooksett Ł Turf Specialty. Inc. NEW JERSEY Boundbrook Ł Loft Seed Company 
Ł Vaughan Seed Company Freehold Ł Green Hills Turf Supply Maplewood Ł Pierson's Mill Company Mountainside Ł Andrew Wilson, Inc Rahway Ł Fertl-Soil Company Saddle Brook Ł The Terre Company West Caldwell Ł Rockland Chemical Company Westfield Ł Storr Tractor Company Yardville Ł Jep Sales. Inc NEW MEXICO Albuquerque Ł Albuquerque Chemical Co., Inc 
Roswell Ł Roswell Seed Company. Inc. NEW YORK Cambridge Ł Lofts/New York Oix Hills Ł Island Golf & Turf Farmingdale Ł Wagner Seed Company Hamburg Ł Eaton Equipment Company Hawthorne Ł Metro Milorganite 
Hauppauge Ł Maxwell Turf, Inc. Jamaica Ł J & L Adikes, Inc Bergen Ł Lawn Medic Latham Ł Grassland Irrigation & Equip, Corp. Rexford Ł S V Moffett. Inc South Hampton Ł James H Lynch, Inc. Portchester Ł Westchester Turf Supply Company Syracuse Ł Agway, Inc. Ł Eaton Golf & Tractor W. Henrietta Ł S. V Moffett, Inc NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte Ł Seedmen, Inc Ł E J. Smith & Sons 
Fayetteville Ł Eastern Turf Shelby Ł Porter Brothers. Inc. Winston Salem Ł Goltra. tnc NORTH DAKOTA Fargo Ł Tessman Chemcial Northwest OHIO Canton Ł Letherman Seed Company Cincinnati Ł Century Toro Dist, Inc. Ł Thornton-Wilson, Inc. Cleveland Ł Sidney L Dryfoos Company 
Ł US Garden Sales. Inc Columbus Ł Century Toro Dist., Inc. 
Ł W R Grace & Company 
Dayton Ł Century Toro Dist. Inc 
Elyria 
Ł Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. 
Findlay Ł Desco Chemical, Inc. 
Mantua Ł John R Skinner Company Piqua Ł Midwest Burlap & Grower's Supply Co Tiffin Ł Earl J Crane. Inc Toledo Ł Century Toro Dist, Inc. OKLAHOMA McAlester Ł Tony's Chemical House Oklahoma City he has a direct line to our Technical Depart-ment, our Lawn Care Division and its field manager. Even if yours is a one- or two-man lawn service, your Trimec Distributor wants to help you. For starters, he'll sell you as little as a gallon of Trimec 
to test. And include a complimentary supply of Trimec door-hangers with important weed-kill information for your customers. Many lawn care operators have told us that this literature stops many complaints and call-backs, while enhanc-ing their own image as a first-class service. Make Your Move Today Now that Silvex is suspended, this is the perfect time to make the switch to Trimec; to discoverthe many other superior products and the technical assistance available at your Gordon distributor. Give him a call... let him help you grow. Ł Estes Chemical. Inc. Ł Thompson-Hayward Chemical Co. Tulsa Ł All Best, Inc Ł Thompson Hayward Chemical Co. 
Ł Wait Mfg. & Sales Co. OREGON Albany Ł Great Western Seed Co. Portland Ł The Charles H. Lilly Co. Ł Van Waters & Rogers 
Ł Wilbur-Ellis Company Salem Ł Western Farmers Association PENNSYLVANIA Doylestown Ł Philadelphia Toro Hanover Ł Miller Chemical & Fert. Corp 
Harleysville Ł Geiger Corporation Horsham Ł Pocono Supply Company Lebanon Ł Lebanon Chemical Corporation Malvern Ł Fisher & Son Co, Inc. Philadelphia 
Ł Farm & Golf Course Supply Co., Inc. 
Phoenixville Ł Lawn & Golf Supply 
Pittsburgh Ł E H Griffith, Inc. Ł Krigger & Company 
Reading Ł Reading Bone Fertilizer Wycombe Ł Histand Supply RHODE ISLAND E Providence Ł Old Fox Chemical, Inc SOUTH CAROLINA Inman Ł Wooltolk Chemical Works. Inc. SOUTH DAKOTA Sioux Falls Ł Dakota Turf Supply. Inc. TENNESSEE Knoxville Ł Regal Chemical Company Memphis Ł Axon Corporation Ł Oldham Chemical Co., Inc. Nashville Ł Central South Turf Dist Ł Tieco. Inc. TEXAS Dallas Ł Chemical & Turf Specialty Co. Ł Van Waters & Rogers El Paso Ł El Paso Turf Supply Paris Ł Estes Chemical. Inc Waco Ł Estes Chemical. Inc Wichita Falls Ł Estes Chemical. Inc UTAH Salt Lake City Ł Morgro Chemical Corp. VIRGINIA Chesapeake Ł Turf & Garden Div Harrisonburg Ł Wetsel Seed Company 
Richmond Ł Wilson Feed Company. Inc Roanoke 
Ł Agri-Turf Products Co., Inc. 
Ł Miller Chemical & Fertilizer WASHINGTON Pasco Ł Western Farmers Association 
Renton Ł Pacific Agro Company Seattle Ł The Charles H. Lilly Co Ł Western Farmers Association Tacoma Ł NuLife Fertilizer WASHINGTON, D.C. Ł Lea's Green Meadows. Inc WEST VIRGINIA Charleston Ł Youngs. Inc WISCONSIN Chilton Ł Horst Distributing Co. Elm Grove Ł Remder Bros. Turf Equipment Milwaukee Ł Loft Kellogg Seed. Inc. Sun Prairie Ł Turf Management Supply PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS pbi/GQRdon corporation 300 SOUTH THIRO STREET PO BOX 2276 KANSAS CITY. KANSAS 66110 91 334287BO bermudagrass with an African 23 species; the triploids resulting must be vegetatively planted, since they do not yield seed. £ It is not possible in the space ii at my disposal to review the ^ many breeding programs now > under way in the United States, w Release of the new "turf-type" S perennial ryegrasses has been c 
quite a breakthrough. Selection h and directed crossing yielded a 5 
number of improved cultivars, such as NK-100 and NK-200, but not until Manhattan came along was the stage set for today's spec-tacular mushrooming of the S polycross perennial ryes. % 
Manhattan, another outstanding £ 
development of the Rutgers pro- 50 gram, entailed the polycross con-cept, in which a number of pureline clones are interplanted 
and let cross willy nilly to yield the cultivar. In the case of Man-hattan, sixteen parent strains are 
involved, which were gathered chiefly in Central Park, New York City. Pennfine is an equally notable three-clone polycross developed at Pennsylvania State University. More recently have come Blazer, Citation, Derby, Diplomat, Fiesta, Omega, Regal and Yorktown II, many utilizing germplasm accumulated at Rutgers. The polycross concept has been extended to the breeding of fine fescues, too, e.g. 
Banner from Rutgers, and Koket from Holland; yet equally worth-
while have been selections such as Highlight and Ruby. By and large the northern lawngrasses have lent them-selves to perpetuation as pure lines more readily than have the southern grasses, which for the most part are highly sexual and seldom come true enough from seed. Yet a great deal of interest has arisen in the South, and a large selection of breeding stock is being accumulated, especially at the University of Florida. Some turfgrass breeding and selection is the normal spinoff from other research activities at various centers, and new releases have come from Califor-
nia, Texas and several of the 
southeastern states. Great pro-gress can be expected in the breeding of improved southern turfgrasses in the years ahead; northern grasses will likely be subject to continuing competi-tive winnowing and testing, yielding cultivars perhaps even more specialized than today's notables. More attention will no doubt be given such heretofore relatively ignore traits as resis-tance to insect pests, survival un-der low-maintenance, drought tolerance, and other needs-of-the-times as they evolve. 24 DISEASE Conditions and control of Fusarium blight < The turf disease Fusarium blight is primarily a problem in well-manicured bluegrass home lawns, and lawn care business-men in the Northeast, Midwest £ and northern portions of the £ country have to know how to q recognize and control it. As a general rule, the foliar g stage of Fusarium blight is most severe during prolonged periods y of high atmospheric humidity with daytime air temperatures of 80 to 95 and night air tempera-tures of 70 or above, according to noted plant pathologist Dr. Houston B. Couch. Turfgrass grown under deficient calcium nutrition is more susceptible to Fusarium blight than well-nourished turf-grass. Incidence and severity of the disease is also greatest under conditions of high nitrogen ferti-lization, he said. The develop-ment of Fusarium blight has been reported to be greater in turfgrass where the soil has been allowed to dry out to the point where the turfgrass plant can no longer extract enough moisture 
to offset transpiration losses. While high nitrogen fertiliza-tion does increase the suscepti-High humidity, day tem-peratures between 85° and 90° and night temperatures in the 70's favor Fusarium. bility of turfgrass to Fusarium blight, it is unlikely that a sig-nificant reduction of the disease can be effected by reducing nitrogen levels. In general, the level of nitrogen fertilization re-quired to significantly reduce the severity of Fusarium blight is well outside the range of neces-sary to meet the basic nutritional requirements of the grass. From 
a field standpoint, then, nitrogen 
fertilization, and its effect on the disease, should be considered with respect to thatch manage-ment, Dr. Couch said. Since the thatch serves as the major reservoir of inoculum (pathogenic agent) in established home lawns, a successful program of Fusarium blight con-trol requires that the quantity of this material be held to a minimum consistent with the 
proper management of the grass species in question. For most turfgrasses, Dr. Couch reports, this optimum thickness is about Vi inch. In or-der to keep the Fusarium blight potential of a stand of turfgrass to a minimum, therefore, in-creases in the rate of nitrogen fertilization should be balanced with concurrent increases in the intensification of the thatch management program. Ranked in order of suscepti-bility to Fusarium blight, the 
bentgrasses are the most prone to the disease. The fescues are most resistant. A preventive fungicide program, coupled with cultural 
control, is essential for effective control of Fusarium blight, Dr. Couch said. The fungicide ap-plication should be made immediately after the first occur-rence of night temperatures that 
do not drop below 70 . For most 
effective control of Fusarium blight, Couch recommends that the lawn care businessman spray 1,000 square feet with six gallons of water containing five to eight 
ounces of benomyl 50 percent 
wettable powder, marketed un-
der the trade name Tersan by Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Del. He says the total amount of benomyl applied to the turfgrass within 
one calendar year should not ex-
ceed eight ounces. For example, Paul Constant, owner of Constant Care Lawn & Tree Service, Kansas City, Mo., has many of his customers on a preventive maintenance program to combat Fusarium blight. "People around Kansas City lost a lot of lawns last year to disease, but I saw it coming, and 
sold my customers on spraying with a fungicide. I saved the lawns and the customers," he told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. TURF How to establish and care for a Zoysia lawn There are three ways to start a Zoysia lawn by vegetative methods Š sprigging, sodding and plugging, says Jack Kidwell 
of Kidwell Turf Farms, Inc., Cul-peper, Va. Also, Zoysia japonica, a low-quality species, can be propa-gated by seeding. May through July are good months to plant a Zoysia lawn, he said, because warm weather encourages growth and blocks of Zoysia are still available at nurseries. Since July can be a dry month in much of the South, the application of 
water is the most demanding re-quirement. Sprigging is the most economical of the vegetative 
methods, but it is also the most tedious. Place a strip of sod root-side up, wash away soil with a 
strong spray from a garden hose, and pull sprigs apart. Plant sprigs six inches apart, leaving grass blades above ground. A square 
yard of sod will furnish from 2,-000 to 3,000 sprigs of grass, 
enough to cover 500 to 750 square feet. Sodding is the quickest way to establish a lawn, but it is alsothe most expensive. By placing strips of sod side-by-side in rows on a prepared area, you can have an 
instant lawn for your customer. Measure the lawn area you wish to cover and buy the equivalent square feet of sod. Plugging is easier and faster than sprigging, and much less ex-pensive than sodding. A square yard of sod will furnish 324 two-inch plugs. With plugs staggered 12 inches apart, this is enough to plant 324 square feet of lawn area, or about 81 square feet with sprigs placed six inches apart. Proper spacing can be facil-How to choose the itated by the use of carefully placed and marked strings. Tie each end of three strings to sep-arate stakes. Stretch out two of the strings on opposite sides of 
the prepared area and parallel to 
each other. Mark them to indi-cate the distance between rows. Place the third string at right an-gles to the parallel string. Mark it to indicate the distance between plugs in a row. Dig planting holes and plant plugs of grass where the marks indicate. Move the third string to the next marks on the parallel strings, adjusting it so that marks are staggered equi-distant between plugs planted in the previous row. The time required for com-plete coverage can be consider-ably shortened by the wise use of water and fertilizer. Keep the soil constantly moist but not saturated. Give the grass a light application of nitrogen every two weeks. Keep the areas between the plugs in the rows absolutely free of weeds and other grasses. To encourage the grass to spread more rapidly, begin mow-ing as soon as new shoots are about three inches high. By following these practices, you should have complete coverage for your customer within two growing seasons. Once the lawn is established, lower the mower to cut at the preferred height of Vz to IV2 inches. Regardless of the planting method used, thorough prepara-tion of the area to be planted is necessary for good results. Dig soil to depth of at least six inches. 
Break up clods of soil, rake level and remove grass, weeds, rocks, and other debris. The soil should provide a deep rooting zone that can be easily penetrated by air, water and roots. It should hold water between rains and allow the excess to drain away. Natur-al fertility should be high or plant nutrients should be added. Most soils in the South are mixtures of sand, silt and clay, classified as sandy loams, silt 
loams or clay loams. Whatever the soil mixture of your custom-er is, the addition of two to four inches (four to eight cubic yards per 1,000 square feet) of organic matter (sawdust, ground bark, peat moss, etc.) is highly recom-mended. Organic matter will improve aeration and drainage and will make soils easier to handle. To prevent the soil from settling in 
layers, it is essential that the or-ganic matter be mixed thor-oughly with the soil to a depth of six to eight inches. This job can be done either with a s spade or with a rotary tiller. Practically all soils in the South are deficient in nitrogen. Also, most need additional phos-phorus and potassium. In areas where the soil is very acid, lime should be applied. A soil test will determine whether or not your soil needs lime, what nutrients are lacking, and how much of 
each to apply. Lime and fertilizer can be ap-plied on top of the organic mat-ter and all three elements can be mixed with the soil in the same operation. Then rake the sur-face smooth. To avoid future weed problems, you can treat the prepared area with a preemer-gence herbicide. MANAGEMENT What your wife should know about your business Even though your wife may have been your only supporter and perhaps only employe when 
your lawn care business started out, it is doubtful if she could run the business today if something happened to you. For your own welfare as well as hers, there are a number of things she should know about the 
business just in case something should happen to you. LAWN 
CARE INDUSTRY conducted a survey of business consultants, and came up with the following points: Who she can call upon to take over for short duration if you suddenly are incapacitated and cannot make necessary basic decisions. Where the important book-keeping records are kept and how to read the basic information that she may need to 
handle some important problem. The name of your lawyer and exactly how he is to help her dur-ing any emergency. The entire picture of your banking relationships with 
respect to the business and the name of the bank officer she can 
call upon for assistance. Where the safe combination can be found, the keys to locked drawers and cabinets are kept, and which ones to the job in each place. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers, of members of the staff and the specific responsibilities each has in the business, salaries paid them, etc. Any future programs regarding the business to which you have been committed and what she or someone else is to do 
about each of them. The nature of your basic tax records, where they are kept, 
and to whom she is to refer for information concerning any such matters. What promises you have made to specific staff members for the immediate future and what is to be done about them 
should you be absent. A list of the insurance policies covering the business, their type and nature, where they are kept, and whom she is to contact with respect to them. Her legal rights to the business, not just should you pass away, but while you may be 
totally incapacitated for a time, and how she can protect them. What she is not to do as well as what should be done and why you so specify each such restric-tion. The market value of the business just in case you should suddenly pass away. Choosing the right golf club is a serious matter. You need one that's just right for the shot you have to make.\bu should take into account the distance, wind, lie, and obstacles. At Kubota, we feel that you should devote the same careful attention to choosing a tractor. VOII UIOULDR'T TEE OFF UIITH H BASEBALL BHT. And you wouldn't want to get the wrong tractor for the jobs you have to do. Whether you take care of a golf course, an estate, a campus, a park, or do roadside maintenance, you want a tractor that's versatile. Can it handle a mid-mount mower? A gang mower? Can it move dirt? Dig a hole? Kubotas can do all these things. Every Kubota has rear PTO and a 3-point hitch that can accom-modate a wide variety of implements. You don't want a tractor so specialized it can do only one job. Another thing you don't want is a tractor that's too big or too small. KIIBOTR.THE IMD-5IZE TRACTOR. Our tractors range from 12 to 55.5 horsepower. Small enough for economy, large enough for heavy-duty jobs. It's wasteful to use 100 horses for some mow-ing. And it's impossible for 10 horses to do heavy moving or hauling. DIESELS. H KUB0TR SPECIALTY At Kubota, we've been making diesel engines for 30 years. In fact, all our engines are diesels. Rear-mount mowers are available for all Kubota tractors. Diesel engines are rugged and durable.They have no electric ignition system, so they never need a tune-up. And running a Kubota diesel engine 
costs a lot less than running a comparable 
gasoline engine. With 11 models to choose from, we have a tractor that's just right for the maintenance job you have to do. So see your Kubota dealer today. He'll help you get hold of the right iron. FREE HOT LIRE. For specific information about any Kubota tractor, call 1-800-241-8444. (In Georgia 1-800-282-1333.) Ask for Operator 63. We're looking for work. UIRIT! I want more information on all your mid-size Kubotas. Please send me a free copy of your latest brochure. Mail to: Advertising Department Kubota Tractor Corporation, 550 W. Artesia Blvd. P. O. Box 7020, Compton, CA 90224 NAME ADDRESS CITY COUNTY STATE ZIP AREA CODE TELEPHONE NUMBER LCI5 ^KIIBOin ©1979 Kubota Tractor Corporation MANAGEMENT Are you a good boss? Every business person wants to be known as a good "boss" not only among employes but customers as well. Usually one must determine for oneself what the score happens to be. Here are guide lines made up from a recent tabulation of scores of responses by employes them-selves for LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY. They offer a good method for self-rating. You listen to ideas from em-ployes. This pays off in practical results as well as increased inter-est in the business itself upon the part of your staff. Fairness in any difficult situa-tion is assured employes whether it involves a problem in 
handling a given assignment or general performance. You keep your temper 99 per-cent of the time in handling all employe and customer problems 
and particularly those between 
employees and customers. Employee's can depend upon whatever you tell them as being truth in itself and that you will back it up to the end each time. Participation in planning for business operation is given to the people on your staff from time to 
time in order to build that worth-while feeling of togetherness. Communication to employes is done with clarity and clear understanding for them so that they never have to guess about 
instructions being given to them. No request is ever made of employes for work beyond the established job routines except in emergency situations or on 
special occasions when the need is obvious. Favoritism for one member of the staff over another is never 
practiced to the slightest degree on your part in matters con-cerning employment assign-ments. Personal interest in the lives of the people on your staff is regularly practiced but never carried to the extreme where it 
becomes "nosieness." Guidance is supplied em-ployes whenever they are given an assignment that is new and 
different and with which they have had no previous experi-ence. Compliments are not handed out patronizingly or to serve your 
own ends but reserved for occa-sions when employes actually deserve some recognition for performance. You consistently supply your staff with the latest and best 
equipment for their job perfor-mance and never expect peak capability from old and worn out 
units. All relationships are handled on a basis of equal intelligence 
and no member of the staff is ever made to feel inferior. Correction or criticism is never dispensed without sound 
and logical reasons or explana-tions covering their need. Employe questions are never evaded but answers are regularly supplied in clear and plain language so that they can 
be certain of your replies. Promises made to employes are fulfilled in each case or a sound and acceptable reason 
given every individual why delivery upon them cannot be fulfilled. TRAILER MOUNTED SKID MOUNTED ACCESSORIES GREENS BOOM HOSE REEL G-GUN SCREW TYPE JACK Special Products Division HANSON EQUIPMENT CO. 301 CHARLES ST., SO. BELOIT, IL 61080 815 389 2261 MANAGEMENT Do you take your work home with you at night? taken home with one if neces-sary. Build up greater interest in things to go home to and it is easier to set aside business prob-lems. These can be recreational activities of high interest, pro-grammed efforts in family life, association with good friends, etc. Actually, where none are pre-sent one will often take home a business problem or two just to fill in the void sure to be there that evening. Absolutely refuse to think about business (or worry about it) for a period of just two weeks 
during those after hours. If this can be done that one step will make a world of difference. It is going to be difficult to do for the first two or three eve-
nings but once this initial hurdle has been overcome doing so will 
be easier and easier as the days go by. Schedule those small busi-ness matters for the last hour or two of each business day. Keep the involved and complicated ones for handling during the first morning hours. It is the latter type of prob-lem that invariably gets a tight hold and hangs on after leaving the business each night. By dis-posing of first thing in the morn-
ing that hazard has been over-come. Cut short those friends and acquanitances in social circles who want to talk business after working hours; switch the sub-ject to something else each time they show up. As past experiences have probably shown each reader, when these people are given the slightest cooperation it is easy for them to take up a whole evening talking about business and busi-ness problems. Reduce the personal pres-sures that you have acquired and which make you constantly think about business as a means toward satisfying them. The act of doing so mixes up one's personal and business life Any man or woman in the lawn care industry who permits 
business life to consume just about every moment of his or her 
waking existence risks a shor-tened career, breakdown, exhaustion, and a dozen other misfortunes. It is not easy to keep from tak-ing your business life home with you each working day. Where the pressure to do so is rising, how-ever, the following suggestions will prove of value: Tie up all of the loose ends in-volved each night before leaving the premises. These comprise about 75 percent of the bvusi-ness element that an average man or woman will take home 
each night. It takes but a few moments to do so at the end of any average day and it is time well spent. The occasional problem that cannot 
be so handled may safely be Circle 128 on free information card You've got a grow-ing business, we've got a growing business. Why not combine them? Installing under-ground automatic sprinkler systems is easy and profitable. And with quality controllers, heads and valves from Rain Bird, rainmakers to the world since 1933, your customer is assured the best system available. His lawn stays healthier and so do you. For more information on this money-making opportunity, contact your nearest Rain Bird distributor. Or write to us at the address below We'll show you how easy it is to make more green while you make more green. RA/N^B/RD Bringing new ideas to life. 7045 N. Grand Avenue, Glendora, CA 91740 Bird « a registered trademark of Ram Bird Sprinkler Mfg Corp Glendora California c 1978 Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg Corp ALSO CHOOSE FROM FIBERGLASS TANKS/MECHANICAL AGITATION/PUMPS AND ENGINES/BOOMS/HAND GUNS, ETC. WRITE OR CALL: To improve your lawn care business, just add water. to the extent that it will be diffi-cult to bring about any separa-tion of the two. If you just must do "home work" connected with the busi-ness, limit it to one night per week. Pick the evening without any regular commitments and let everyone in the family know that it has been reserved for this pur-pose. Doing so makes it easier to concentrate at that time and free other evenings. Why is it impossible to handle the business chores being taken home during regular hours rather than at night time also? Maybe the solution to the major problem is in finding the answer to that question. Solutions often lie in better use of one's own business time 
and reducing waste elements therein so that everything is han-dled completely and there are no "leftovers" at the end of any business day. Broaden your personal interests in life; many men and women in business take their working problems home with them each night solely because they have developed no other interests in life. Where such a void is present it is only natural to fill it with the things that occupy your normal eight-hour day. Maybe another reason is that you have kept yourself short-handed in the business and there is just too much for you to do in even the smoothest running day. Saving payroll costs through increasing the load one is carry-ing on one's own shoulders proves to be poor business eco-nomics as well as ruining the leisure part of the individual's existence. Does it take too long to really get going each morning? Could it be that you are actually resting 
during the day from the work done at home the night before? Where there is the slighttest suspicion that this is happening 
some shifts are definitely in or-der as a first step. Besides, rest is better attained at home than within the business itself. How many interferences in the business day have you been experiencing regularly? One or two hours worth each day? Often these are not even apparent unless one takes the trouble to do some analysis on the possibility of their being present in one's 
business life. Reduce them right now and the need to work overtime at home may disappear entirely. Finally, perhaps some re-evaluations on the scale of importance of each step in your 
business and personal life, is the 
best step of all to take. Does your business existence take up 98 percent of your time when it should occupy no more than 70 percent? COMING The June issue of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY will feature a report on the 
lawn care market in Washington, D.C. Awards for the first million dollar orders of the year were accepted by C. R. McMicken (second from left), president, B. Hayman Company, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif., and H. W. Graves (third from left), president, H. V. Carter Company, Inc., Oakland, Calif. Presenting the award plaques at ceremonies at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Turfgrass Conference and Show in Atlanta, were facobsen president Frank S. Depew (left), vice president, operations, Howard McPherson (right), and vice president, marketing, Richard J. Dittoe. The B. Hayman and H. V. Carter companies are distributors of turf and grounds maintenance equipment. r* > Z o > 70 m z a c CD H 70 < 2 > I No mixing, no burning, no hassle. Introducing FOLIAN . the easy-to-use liquid fertilizer that's safe and effective on any kind of turf. FOLIAN is a complete fertilizer. Its special formulation of N-P-K, sulfur and iron gets nutrients directly into grass tissue. And FOLIAN will not cause tip 
burn when used as directed. Convenient to use FOLIAN is the only turf-builder you'll ever need. It saves you time because there's no mixing or agitation required before using FOLIAN. And FOLIAN can be applied in more concentrated form than most other liquids. As a result, you 
can service more lawns per truckload with fewer wasted man-hours. A clear solution of the highest quality, FOLIAN won't settle out in your tanks. It's compatible with most pesticides, too. Greens lawns fast Because of its patented formulation and foliar activity, FOLIAN greens up turf quicklyŠfaster than dry fertilizers or suspensions. And at the recommended 
rates, FOLIAN supplies enough residual fertilizer in the soil to keep grass green 
and healthy for many weeks. Good for your business Your customers will love the results FOLIAN gives. And you'll appreciate 
FOLIAN's convenience. Best of all, FOLIAN makes your lawn care service more valuable. It means repeat business from satisfied customers and greater confidence in you. Give FOLIAN a try and discover how it can mean more green for both of you. To find out more about how to get started using FOLIAN, call toll-free 
800-228-2178 Omaha, Neb., 800-446-1841/800-446-1845 Hopewell, Va. or write Allied Chemical Corporation, Dept. AG, Box 2120, Houston, TX 77001. < Chemical ^ Ptant Foods FOLIAN complete liquid fertilizer. Kids look at lawn care by Bob Williams (Editor's note: Bob Williams is an elementary school teacher in St. Louis. We think you'll enjoy his short story on how his students viewed a visit to a lawn care company near their school.) During the twenty-one years that I've taught elementary school youngsters, I've found that they can come up with some unique ideas. Each year we study a unit on occupations. In recent years, a surprising number of students have chosen to read about and report on career opportunities in the lawn care industry. Some of their com-ments have been hilarious; all have been expressed in the delightfully original style of chil-dren. Here's what I mean: "I think career opportunities in lawn care are wide open. But the harder a person works the more successful he will be. When he is first getting started, he might need to work around-the-clock, twelve days a week." "All the different kinds of I "Another name for weed killer is herbicide. But I think I will just stick with the first name and learn it good . . ." ŁŁŁMi I weeds there are have ad-vanced to the point where they are no longer understandable." "Will we ever get to the point where there are no longer weeds on peoples lawns. The chances are 999 out of a hun-dred." Judging from the size of the handwriting, one tyke was under the influence of John Hancock 
when he took time out to report: "Another name for weed killer is herbicide. But I think I will just stick with the first name and 
learn it good." Obviously, one of the fringe benefits of being an elementary 
school teacher is the possibility 
that the next paper I read will contain a "wrong" answer that is 
twice as captivating or though-provoking as the expected one. Here are some thoughts from youngsters who are not reticent about expressing their opinions: "BOO! I did not mean to scare you so bad, but that is how I feel when I think about spraying close to trees but not killing them." "Herbicides could just as well be called something else if we could only think of another name for them." "Lawn care people are very interesting folks. All their ways are hello ways and glad to see 
you ways." "If I could get to own one, I would like to start a lawn care 
business in one of our city's outer skirts." Then I don't suppose I'll ever forget the girl who remarked: "My dad's work is going around and spraying lawns. If anybody ever said people don't have to 
work hard at that type of job, boy would that ever boil my temper." The elementary school young-ster's mind is evidently a vast 
storehouse of miscellaneous mis-information Š half true, half 
false and wholly whimsical. I'm 
sure this next statement is per-fectly true (if I could only figure it out): "The lawn care business will not be like it should be until it gets like it was when we did not have any and could see all the things the lawn care business could do." Children, like mountain climbers, must always make sure that their grasp on a fact is firm, even though they want to leap far 
beyond. Otherwise, they may find themselves trapped on a mental ledge called a Boner. Even when I think the class understands the facts perfectly, I sometimes discover that some-thing is lurking underneath Š something called total con-fusion: "What I would actually do as a solicitor has a very short memory in my mind." "I am not sure how many different kinds of jobs there are in the lawn business, but trying to find out is one of my constant doings." Last year a boy wrote of this frustrating experience: "I looked up the salary range of people 
who work on lawns. I looked it up twice but I forgot it three times." Kids are fresh, original and offbeat in their thinking because that's the only way they can be. They're not like us adults who can reach into our lifetime stock-pile of common expressions for a ready-made way of saying what we wish. Much of the fun in talking to kids comes from the startling way they can put a backspin on their answers, saying some-thing that's ridiculous and sensi-ble at the same time: "When they asked my brother if he would like to have a job working for a lawn companmy, 
he rolled his eyes and flashed his teeth and said sure." "Nitrogen is a well-known grass food few people have ever heard of..." "The last time we had our lawn treated was September the somethingth." "Many ways of fighting weeds that were once thought to be science fiction now actually are." Oliver Wendell Holmes once observed: "Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in INTRODUCING CHIPCO ? THAT WILL OUTPERFORM I WITH ABOUT HALF Tt NSC: 14- TO 21-DAY INTERVAL FOR NEW 26019. 7- TO 14-DAY INTERVAL FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. Here's a new fungicide that could change your whole way of thinking about broad-spectrum fungus control arid spray intervals. Because new Chipco 26019 gives more control with fewer sprays than any of the old fun-
gicides you've had to use. It stops the major turf diseasesŠdollar spot (including benomyl-resist-ant dollar spot), brown patch and Helminthosporium (leaf spot). And it does it for up to three weeks, at low, economical rates. It's a nice material to handle, too. It mixes well, with no residual left in the tank. It also presents no problems of phytotoxicity to turf. Last year was a wet one, with unusually high disease pressure in most areas. Yet, Chipco 26019 performed beautifully in wide-spread tests. This year, you'll have the chance to see how well it can perform for you. So ask your chemicals distributor for this welcome addition to the popular Chipco the world is done by children." Here are some quotes that pro-ved to be unexpected, uncon-ventional Š and undeniably true: "Everybody shouldn't even try to figure out all the things wrong with his lawn. He should 
call a person in that business. 
The difference between now and in the past is today we know not to try to know everything, but to specialize. Like cows give milk while chickens prefer to lay eggs." "Oughtn't congress to pass a law so that people could borrow money to fix up their lawns like they fix up their houses? Are they thinking about it? If not, I make a motion." One skeptical young fellow absorbed all the statistics regard-
ing the large number of home 
owners who have professional lawn care, but got his skepticism across in one crushing state-ment: "The number of people who have their lawns sprayed every year is more for saying 
than believing." Specialists are supposed to be experts who know more and more about less and less. Kids are just the opposite because they know almost nothing about everything. But some of their "Did I get an A on my report about job opportunities in the lawn care industry and why not? . . youngsterisms have a deva-stating logic, e.g.: "As a mattery fact, someone in here once said that lawns should be worked on five times a year. Is this so? I think it is be-cause I think I was the one that 
said it." "Can you tell me if lawns should be sprayed four times or five times a year? I said four and Donald C said five and I said four and he said five and I 
said four and so on. So can you tell us for sure? Oh well, thanks anyway." Sometimes a new bit of infor-mation is turned upside down in 
a child's mind and comes out like this: "Nitrogen is a well known grass food few people have ever heard of." Truth-telling, complete can-dor and awful sincerity are to be found in both the talk and the scribblings of children. This seems to be especially true when they comment on their own per-sonal experiences. Three exam-ples: "My brother teased me that I was interested to read about 
what makes grasses healthy and weeds sick." "Zzzzz. You would be sleepy too if you stayed up and read as 6019. ATURF FUNGICIDE NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN USE, 
IE NUMBER OF SPRAYS. line of turf fungicides and herbicides. It will outperform anything else you can use, with about half the number of sprays. "YOU FOLKS HAVE SOMETHING GOOD HERE." "The main reason I'll use Chipco 26019 is to control dollar spot. Pick-ing up brown patch and the others is gravy, as far as I'm concerned. This is a real good new chemical." -Bob Dickison, golf course superintendent Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton, N.J. "I feel very good about this product. We tested it during one of the roughest summers in my memory. I think, over a 14-day period in August, we had very close to 10 inches of rain. It was an acid test for the material. 
These chemicals come and go, and some of them are short-lived. But you 
folks have something good here. The sprayability of Chipco 26019 is very impressive. And you only need six to 10 hours of drying time, which helps a 
lot during rainy periods. Some other materials require at least 12 hours." ŠPaul Boizelle, golf course superintendent, and John Fen wick, foreman. Fiddler's Elbow Country Club, Far Hills, N.J. "We started using Chipco 26019 in June of 1977. Before we started using it, we had very little luck with our other contact and systemic fun-gicides in certain areas. We were applying some con-tact fungicides at preventative and curative rates, and M still only getting two or three days control, with the JflPJOQ^V usual cold fronts coming through, followed by large (WlS Wm 
outbreaks of dollar spot. Since we started using ^^tfGSEfcfl 0> Chipco 26019, we haven't found dollar spots in these EBRg9 ; areas at all." ŠRandy Wahler, golf course superintendent Glen Flora Golf Course, Waukegan, III. UK^^^^g^Ž , Monmouth Junction, New Jersey 08852. ,p rhone-poulencinc Please read labels carefully, and use only as directed. much as I did about nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. "Did I get an A on my report about job opportunities in the lawn care industry and why not?" This next one is from a girl who is obviously a born writer of mystery stories: "Tell everyone to get quiet and I will tell you a mystery. One night I was asleep. Eek what was that! I heard a man talking about how to take care of lawns, but I could not see him anywhere. I finally solved the mystery by forgetting to turn off my radio." No one looks to the future as eagerly as kids do. Two tiny fore-casters made these predictions that should be of interest to the lawn care Industry: "Grass will be improved so we won't need to have people to fight weeds in a few hundred years. Just wait and see." "Even better ways to take care of our lawns are to be found. Where they are to be found is in the future tense." Here's one blockbuster of an idea Š lost forever: "One way people in the business could spray their customer's lawns without even having to leave their office is, oh I forgot what I started to say." I once had a moppet in my class who had a delightful way of 
expressing her thoughts. Here's how she summed up her feel-ings: "Now that I have studied about how fertilizers can help grass grow, the next time I hear fertilizers being talked about like they are important, I will just twinkle an eye and know why." Perhaps that's an important part of an education, anyway Š to be able to "twinkle an eye" occasionally. IRRIGATION Installing sprinklers without trenching A new pamphlet that explains how to install an underground lawn sprinkler system without 
digging trenches is available free from Charles Machine Works, Inc., manufacturer of Ditch Witch equipment. For your free brochure, con-tact the company at P.O. Box 66, Perry, OK 73077. MEETINGS New York conference trade show expands The New York State Turf-grass Association is pleased to announce the expansion of its trade show being held in con-junction with its annual turf con-ference. This year's dates are Nov. 13-15 at War Memorial Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y. The expanded trade show has tripled in size, permitting not only more ex-hibitors, but also the oppor-tunity to display heavy equip-
ment. For complete information, contact trade show chairwoman Janet Dudones, The Ed Worthin-gton Corp., 50 Petrova Ave., Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983. 30 FUTUREfrom page 1 well-trained lawn specialists. Finally, and yet most impor-tantly, the quality of service will become the most important fac-tor that customers will consider when choosing a lawn care com-< 2 P CO D Q Z w QC, < u 2 § < pany. Fiberglass tanks. Art Brown, owner of Great Lakes Lawn Spray, Farmington Hills, Mich, said that more lawn care trucks will have tanks made of fiberglass, and that tanks will be 
compartmentalized to a greater 
degree. "Computers will be in nearly every office by 1985/' he said, "and mini-computers will aid sprayers with billing and will be on the truck to measure output of materials on the job." He said that hydroseeding will become more popular than 
sodding. Also, potash will become more important, particu-larly in late fall and early spring 
applications. Concentrations of Anda: "There will be new, more sophisticated equipment designs allowing the lawn specialist the choice and flexibility of applying only needed pesticides on each lawn." potash will increase the root system which in turn will enable the plant to "find" food easier, providing less leaching of ap-plied materials. "In the later 1980's, many lawn spray companies will use slow-release liquid prepara-tions," he said. "These will be stored underground in large tanks or reservoirs, with auto-matic refill capacities into the spray trucks, Some lawn spray companies will make use of former gas stations and occupy good, visible locations." Industry more equipment-intensive. Costs for supplies and equipment will continue to rise, according to Kenneth P. Torborg, 
of Chapman-Torborg Grounds 
Maintenance Co., Prior Lake, 
Minn. Turf maintenance equip-ment manufacturers will become 
more aware of the market for commercial turf maintenance equipment. He said that customers will demand more professionalism because of the higher costs for services. Also, smaller areas of turf, but more intensely land-How Roundup® helped Jim Siegfried renovate this fairway in days,without closing it for one minute. Take a good look at this good-looking fairway. Last fall, Jim Siegfried found a way to clean it up, without tearing it up Šat the height of his club's busy season. With RoundupH herbicide by Monsanto. Jim is the Greens Superintendent at Losantiville Country Club, Cincinnati, where bermudagrass had become a serious problem on the 18th fairway.To control it, Jim applied Roundup onceŠwhile the weeds were still actively growingŠright at the start of the Labor Day weekend. "That's really 'prime time' here',' Jim told us."But after we applied Roundup, we kept the fairway in play the whole weekend, and after.The members played right over it, with no problem'.' Since Roundup has no residual soil activity, and won't wash or leach 
out of treated areas to injure desirable plants, Jim simply took normal pre-cautions against spray driftŠand didn't worry about damaging desirable 
vegetation along the fairway. Even better, he was able to re-seed right into the dying bermudagrass 
only 7 days after applying RoundupŠ without loss of playing time or incon-
venience to the membership. Reinfestation won't be a big prob-lem for Jim, either. He knows that Roundup destroyed the rhizomes of the treated weeds, helping prevent 
their regrowth. Jim thinks he'll use Roundup again this yearŠand apparently some 
club members hope so, too. "As soon as they saw how good this fairway looks, some of the members started asking when I'm going to do the same 
for -10, where we have some more bermuda. I'll probably tackle that with Roundup this fall'.' If controlling many tough emerged weeds and grasses is a problem for you, see your local Monsanto representative or chemical dealer soon for your supply of Roundup. Roundup. It worked for Jim Siegfried It can work for you. Monsanto Brown: "Some lawn spray companies will make use of former gas stations and occupy good visible locations." scaped, will make maintenance more difficult. "More commercial/industrial companies will be going to lawn services instead of their own maintenance personnel because of the growing need for greater expertise in the care of turf 
areas," he said. "Also, due to rising wages and benefits, the 
lawn care industry will become 
more equipment-intensive 
rather than labor-intensive, as it is now." Expanded services. In an ef-fort to retain customers, lawn 
care companies in the past have 
expanded services, says Peter Connelly, Hydro Lawn Spray, 
Salem, Va. "They seem to begin to offer their customers more home ser-vices after they have established There's never been a herbicide like this before. MAZICXJ' Grove: "Equipment companies will realize tnat lawn care companies need mowers designed specifically for their needs." a solid customer base," he said. "I think this is for two reasons. One, to generate more income in the same locations, minimizing advertising expenses per dollar of revenue generated. Two, to in-
crease customer satisfaction in the fact that you do offer more services." He feels that lawn care com-panies may explore such un-
related areas as painting ser-vices, gutter repair and others. "The customer is a virtual gold mine, with hundreds of 
possibilities," he said. Marion Grove, owner of Greenlawn of Greenville, S.C. says that the general public will become even more aware that professional lawn care is the best 
buy for their money. Also, she says that equipment manufac-turers will realize that lawn 
maintenance companies must have equipment designed specially for lawn care, rather than equipment designed for golf courses and other areas. 52-inch cut, mow up to 18 acres a day Toro Co. has available a free, detailed data sheet on its Groundsmaster 52, what the com-pany calls a new dimension in riding rotaries Š the perfect 
mid-size mower. It is big enough Connelly: "The customer is a virtual gold mine, with hundreds of possibilities . . . offer customers more home services after they have established a solid customer base.. Change through conflict. John M. Kenney, general manager of Turf Doctor, Framingham, Mass. said: "If, as it is said, change can only come from conflict, then lawn care in the 1980's will be a 
combination of what is good to-
day, of what problems remain unsolved then, and of the unknown solutions to conflicts which yet have to surface. "The industry was sired by suburban growth in the 1950's, in the post-war baby boom exodus from the inner city. "The industry was born in the confusion of the building of the tract developments of the pros-
perous 1960's. The industry's 
early growth has taken place in the over-regulated, under-supervised 1970's, where econ-omic and environmental in-stability has kept the consumer basically uninformed, skeptical and unenthusiastic. "The successful lawn care companies of the 1980's will be keen students of history. They will not be those who have great ideas, but rather those who make 
ideas that have already been put forth work. They will not depend on anything new, but will max-
imize the best of the past. They 
will not do just what needs to be done, but also what should be done." *c>*ofl*M CfMMltiiutlH 33 With hydr»«la«K Mi.fo I riivlk>«>»«.IS.>ol TfO MWW|h' to mow up to 18 acres a day. Maneuverable enough to mow, 
and trim, an acre or less. Hydrostatic drive gives superior maneuverability: single-pedal 
controls forward-reverse with no gears, no shifting, no wasted time. Also, there is a continuous 
range of ground speeds (0 to 5 miles per hour mowing) for great 
cutting control under all 
conditions. Circle 213 on free information card Information available on new perennial rye Many new varieties of peren-nial ryegrass are appearing on the market that will have to prove their performance for home lawn, commercial/in-dustrial and other turf uses. 
Since the introduction of Citation perennial ryegrass, developed by Rutgers University and Turf-
Seed, Inc., its special qualities 
are becoming evident under 
usage, the company said. Further information is available about The tdller the grass ...the higher we pop! From residential to light commercial turf installations, Champion has a pop-up to do the job! When you compare the cost, precision construc-tion and performance, you'll buy Champion. The 18HP (2" pop-up), the P180 (21/2" pop-up) and the 6178 Impulse pop-up are just three 
of over one-hundred fifty sprinklers, valves, controllers and accessories featured in the new Champion, full-color catalog. Ask for your free copy. m CHAMPION Sr SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT 1460 N. Naud St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 221-2108/(213) 223-1545 Citation. In thorough testing throughout the nation, excellent ratings were achieved for with-standing high summer tempera-tures as compared to many improved turf-type perennial ryegrasses. In the cool-season grass zone, Citation blends very well with Kentucky hluegrass, the company said. In the South, it is becoming an outstanding over-seeding grass to produce excel-lent winter turf in bermudagrass areas. In tests in Tifton, Ga., Cita-tion rated highest in disease resistance, desirable texture and 
pleasing color over 10 other perennial ryegrasses and rye-grass mixtures for overseeding. Among special qualities include: less mowing, less fertilizer needed to maintain attractive green color, fast germination, dense turf-type growth and high quality seed, the company said. Circle 220 on free information card Diamond announces new Daconil formulation The Agricultural Chemicals Division of Diamond Shamrock Corp. has announced a new formulation for its broad-spectrum fungicide Daconil 2787. It is now available in a 500-gram 
per liter formulation. Ron 
Dezember, manager of market-ing and sales, said that the 
reduced viscosity will make the 
fungicide easier to handle, faster to pour and allow it to disperse 
more evenly in the spray tank. The fungicide controls copper spot, Curvularia leaf spot, dollar 
spot, gray leaf spot, Helmin-thosporium leaf spot and melting out, large brown patch, red thread, stem rust of bluegrass, and in California, Alternaria leaf spot on dichondra. Circle 221 on free information card THE BEST LAWN CARE UNIT HAS TO BE STRONG STRONG ON SAVINGS... STRONG ON QUALITY... STRONG ON PERFORMANCE... THE STRONG PC1200/PC800 LAWN CARE UNITS Ł High quality fiberglass tank, available in 1200 or 800 gal. capacity. Ł Matching fiberglass engine and pump cover. Ł First unit of Its kind that can be bolted to either truck frame or flatbed body. Ł Superfeatures...at an incredibly low initial cost factor. 
Ł Tank constructed of chemically resistant fiberglass resins, baffled to reduce liquid surge. Ł FMC John Bean pumps. Ł Units designed to pump liquids or non-soluble fertilizers. Ł Many options and components to choose from. Ł Custom fabrication available upon request. STRONG UNITS ARE STRONG UNITS! SPECIFY FROM ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST PRODUCERS OF HI-VOLUME CAPACITY LAWN CARE UNITS. SPECIFY STRONG! For complete specifications on the PC1200/PC800, or any other strong unit circle the reader card, or please write or call: STRONC ENTERPRISES. INC. 4240 Southwest 72nd Ave., Miami, Florida 33155 Ł (305) 264-5525 32 i < > OC H co D Q Z w < U z < J TOOLS,TIPS & TECHNIQUES Blend bluegrasses for best disease resistance By Dr. William A. Meyer, vice president-research Turf-Seed, Inc., Hubbard, Oregon The primary objective of a lawn care company is a satis-fied customer with an attractive lawn. Having the most dis-ease-resistant and well-adapted varieties in a customer's lawn should reduce the inputs needed to maintain a high-
quality lawn. Most of the turf areas in the northern United States plan-ted before the early 1950's consisted of common Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue mixtures. The seed sources of Ken-tucky bluegrass used for these lawns were collected by stripping wild naturalized stands. A majority of the plants from these common bluegrass lots were susceptible to 
Helminthosporium leaf spot. Delta and Geary are two 
varieties developed in the 1930's, respectively, that were also susceptible to leaf spot. Park, Newport, Prato and Kenblue were later developments that also are susceptible. Merion was the first Kentucky bluegrass variety that would be considered an improved type. This low-growing, turf-type bluegrass was found to be widely adapted through-out the cool-season growing area of the United States, and also possesses a good level of resistance to leaf spot diseases. Unfortunately, this variety was later found to be susceptible to powdery mildew, stem rust, stripe smut and Fusarium blight. Since the mid to late 1960's, many varieties were released that were considered to be more resistant than Merion to stripe smut and the other previously mentioned diseases. Un-fortunately, some varieties were later found to be more susceptible to dollar spot than other varieties and also have very poor winter color and spring green-up. Fylking and 
Pennstar were later found to be more susceptible to Fusarium blight. Despite the tremendous effort put forth to date to develop TABLE 1. RELATIVE PERFORMANCE OF IMPROVED TURF-TYPE KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSESA HELMINTHOSPORIUM STRIPE FUSARIUM POWDERY DOLLAR STEM STRIPE LEAF SHADE HEAT VARIETY LEAF SPOT SMUT BLIGHT MILDEW SPOT RUST RUST RUST TOLERANCE TOLERANCE A-34B + + -+ -Š C + Š Adelphi + + + 
Š + + = + Š + Aquilla = + = + = + = = Š Baron = = = Š = = = = = = Birka + + = + = Š = + + = Bonnieblue + + = Š = + = + = = Bristol + + + + + = + + + Columbia + + + = + + = + = + Fylking + = Š Š = = = Š Š Glade = + + + = + = + + = Majestic + + = Š + + = + Š = Merion + Š = Š = Š = = Š + Nugget + + = + Š Š = + + = Parade + + + = + + 
= + = + Plush = + = = = + = = = Ram I = + = = = = = Shasta + Š = + = Š Sydsport + + = = = = = = = Touchdown" + + = + = Š Š + + = Victa A. + means that this variety has an improved level of disease resistance or environmental tolerance when used in a blend. Ł means that this variety has had an average level of disease resistance and environmental tolerance being considered and shouldn't change the level of turf performance up or down considerably in a blend. Š means that this variety will most likely produce a negative effect in a blend with reference to the disease or environmental stress being considered. B. These two varieties are very competitive in blends and tend to predominate under high maintenance levels and short cutting heights. C. Information not available. !BUNTON< COMMERCIAL LAWN TURF EQUIPMENT The Bnnton Challenge: cat any hillside yon can walk! Use optional riding attachment where level and safe. Bunton's 36" heavy-duty self-propelled mower provides finger-tip control for easy handling. It mulches and distributes grass clippings evenly. Also avail-able in a 52" model. Bunton builds a complete line of qual-ity lawn and turf equipment. For more information send for complete full-line catalog. 24 in., 5 or 8 H.P. 28 in., 8 H.P. 32 in., 8,10,11 H.P. 
36 in., 8,10,11,16 H.P. 52 in., 10,11,16 H.P. Cutting heights up to 6" 1979 GSA Contract No. GS-07S-03640 [BUNTON.! BUNTON CO. 4303 Poplar Level Road Louisville, KY 40213 U.S.A 502/459-3810 Telex 204-340 Circle 133 on free information card THE BEST GUN IN THE BUSINESS! We can only make this claim because it's true. The famous patented (hem-Lawn Spray Gun, designed specifically for the professional lawn care industry by (hem-Lawn, can now be yours because we have been selected to market it nationally. Professional (hem-Lawn Spray Guns are The Best because they have only 4 moving parts. They're made of tough, durable nylon and carry an internal assembly made of self-lubricating Delrin so they'll never corrode, unlike metal guns adapted to the demands of the industry. There are even more reasons why people are saying these guns are The Best in the Business, (all us today on one of our toll-free numbers and you'll see why we can make this claim. PARTS AŠInternal Assembly $5.40 BŠTrigger $2.00 CŠTrigger Spring $ .80 
Patented Nozzle $5.90 CHEM-LAWN GUN 1Š$44.95 6 to 11Š $42.50 12 & upŠ$39.95 LESC^ products Division of Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. 300 South Abbe Rd. Ł Elyria, Ohio 44035 Call Collect (216) 323-7544 East of Miss. (Plus Kans. & Okla.) In Ohio 1800-321 5951 1-800-362 7413 Circle 134 on free information card L A WN-A-M AT from page 1 sive paperwork and accounting we both had to do to keep track of sales and payments," he said. "The larger volume dealers, in particular, felt that they were paying disproportionately for their success in comparison with dealers of average size." Under the new Lawn-A-Mat license agreement, the dollar amount of fees for each year is determined in advance when the agreement is signed and remains the same regardless of how high a dealer's volume of business may go. "In this way, the dealer knows exactly what his license fee will be and that if he goes all-out to build his business, he will not have to share the fruits of his extra effort," Lore said. Because of the fixed fee, the dealer need not make the voluminous time-consuming reports on his business activity that were necessary in the past. The home office bookkeeping and accounting expenses are also substantially reduced because there is no need to monitor and 
record mountains of paperwork. the perfect variety of Kentucky bluegrass, most recommenda-tions today call for a blend of three or four disease-resistant, well-adapted varieties to develop the best available Ken-tucky bluegrass turf. The blends should be designed to com-pensate for the known weaknesses of the individual varieties. More information is needed on the compatibility of varieties in a blend. The very aggressive varieties Š such as Touchdown, A-34 or Brunswick Š can be used in blends as a lesser percentage because of their competitive abilities. The accompanying table lists the varieties of improved turf-type Kentucky bluegrass that are presently available as seed or that should be available this coming fall. Lawn care businessmen can use this table as a guide in choosing varie-ties for blends. They should strive to choose varieties for blends by considering which disease or environmental stresses are most prevalent in their customer's lawns. There is still much breeding and selection work to be done to find Kentucky bluegrass varieties with even better levels 
of disease resistance and environmental tolerances. Varieties with improved levels of insect resistance are also badly needed to make the care of lawns an easier task. To accompany Dr. Meyer's article, LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY asked a number of seed 
marketers for their comments: Mike Robinson, marketing manager, Pickseed West, Inc., Tangent, Ore., said that although Dr. Meyer's chart shows Touch-down listed as average in resistance to Fusarium blight, trials conducted at the Univer-sity of Illinois and Michigan State University showed Touch-down to have an improved level of resistance. Also, Robinson said that Northeast regional trials showed Touchdown to have an improved level of resistance to dollar spot. Richard Hurley, director of research, Lofts Pedigreed, Inc., 
Bound Brook, N.J., said that ac-
cording to data submitted for its 
Plant Variety Protection cer-tificate, Ram I shows an improved level of resistance to powdery mildew, and an average level of resistance to leaf rust. Doyle Jacklin, agronomist and marketing manager for Jacklin Seed Co., Post Falls, Idaho, had a number of comments. Based on trials across the country and years of experience, he said that A-34 should be listed as having an average level of resistance to Fusarium blight and dollar spot, and an improved level of resistance to powdery mildew. Jacklin said that Adelphi should be listed as having an average level of shade tolerance. REGULATION Federal court upholds 2,4,5-T, silvex ban A federal court in Flint, Mich, last month upheld a temporary ban on use of the herbicides silvex and 2,4,5-T. Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., Chevron Chemical Co., San Francisco, and nine other plaintiffs had requested an in-junction to prevent the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing the ban, but the request was denied. The EPA recently ordered an emergency suspension of most uses of the products after a study 
indicated a "significantly 
higher" rate of miscarriages oc-curred in an Oregon town soon after forests there had been 
sprayed with 2,4,5-T. The ban was to remain in ef-fect until at least late April when the EPA was to conduct hearings on the chemicals. A decision is required by July, with an additional 10 days 
for EPA Administrator Douglas Costle to review the decision before it becomes effective. Also, Birka should be listed as having improved resistance to Fusarium blight and dollar spot. Bonnieblue should be listed as 
having an average level of resistance to powdery mildew. 
He said Fylking has an improved level of resistance to stripe smut, an average level of resistance to powdery mildew, an average 
shade tolerance level and feels that it would produce a negative effect in a blend in regards to dollar spot resistance. Jacklin said Majestic has an average level of resistance to powdery mildew and an average level of shade tolerance. He said Merion would produce a negative effect in a blend in regards to Fusarium blight and 
dollar spot resistance, and that it 
has only an average level of heat tolerance. He said Nugget would have a negative effect on a blend in regards to Fusarium blight and heat tolerance. He said Plush has an improved level of resistance to Fusarium blight and an improved heat tolerance. He said Ram I has an improved level of 
resistance to powdery mildew, 
and improved level of shade tolerance, and an average level 
of heat tolerance, In a tight economy, it's right to insist on fertilizer that lasts longer and works harder. That's why Nitroform® slow-release nitrogen is right for you and your customers. The 38% nitrogen is released slowly and steadily to work between applications. Nitroform is compatible with many other materials used in your lawn care program, including most pesticides. Nonleaching, ease by any member of the crew. Use Nitroform and give your cus-tomers grass that's long on beauty. Use Nitroform and treat your cus-
tomers to grass that looks good between visits. Make them glad to give up the do-it-yourself lawn. You and your customers work hard for your money. Let Nitroform work 
hard and long for you. Granular Blue Chip® is for dry application and Powder BlueŽ for U &>(> &X % spraying. Ł ŁŁŁŁ BOOTS HERCULES BOOTS HERCULES AGROCHEMICALS CO. WILMINGTON, DELAWARE 19899 PRODUCTS Hydraulic lift table Mechanics for lawn care com-panies no longer need to work at floor level with the new hydrau-lic lift table developed by Han-son Industries. Reel and rotary mowers can be easily lubricated, 
blades adjusted, engines worked on. The lift table works as a hy-draulic dock lift as well, pro-viding ease in loading and unloading equipment. Circle 207 on free information card New heavy-duty tractor available from Jacobsen Available from Jacobsen Division of Textron, Inc. is a new heavy-duty tractor that features a Kohler Quiet-Plus four-cycle, twin-cylinder, 19.9-horsepower engine with automatic transmis-sion. The hitch system allows deck detachment in minutes with no pins, bolts, or tools. Available attachments include: 60-inch rotary mower, 48-inch snow thrower, 54-inch trip dozer blade and 48-inch tiller. The unit is standard with power steering, fully adjustable cushioned seat, 
fender-mounted headlights and individual wheel braking. Circle 206 on free information card on the lawn care service industry by Lawn Care Industry research department. Profiles types of businesses comprised in the market universe; types of customer services performed; equipment inventories; buying habits and more. $2.50 per copy Please send me Name Address City reports at $2 50 per copy. State Zip L4WN GflRE INDUSTRY 9800 Detroit Ave . Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Attn: Fran Franzak Data sheet features Buckner rocker jet New literature from Johns-Manville details design advan-tages and performance charac-teristics of the company's Series 500 Buckner rocker jet. Information provided includes pressure at sprinkler base, flow rate, radious of coverage, max-
imum triangular spacing and precipitation per hour for three models Š V2-inch, 3/4-inch and one-inch male IPS. The data 
sheet is IR-189. Circle 222 on free information card Growth regulator for ornamentals Atrinal plant growth regula-tor has been registered by the 
federal Environmental Protec-tion Agency for use on certain ornamental plants, according to Maag Agrochemicals. The pro-
duct received a good reception at the recent Maintenance Sym-posium sponsored by the Associ-ated Landscape Contractors of 
America in San Jose, Calif. Ap-plied as a foliar spray, Atrinal acts systemically as a chemical 
pinching agent for azaleas and other plants. It can be used as a growth retardant for landscape plantings of shrubs, hedges and ground covers, and to prevent flowering and fruit set of certain 
woody ornamentals and street trees. Further detailed 
information is available from the 
company. Circle 223 on free information card Record filing system Shannon Systems, Inc.'s new Datatray is an efficient and visi-ble record filing system ideally 
suited for many small busi-nesses. The system has a pull-out tray that holds up to 70 five-inch by eight-inch filing cards, each in a protective manila pocket. The cards overlap so that only their lower edges are visible, and f* AQUA-GRO THE KEY TO MORE SUCCESSFUL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE REDUCED WATERING Ł FASTER RESPONSE TO FERTILIZATION AND PESTICIDE CONTROL Ł REDUCED LABOR COSTS Ł ELIMINATE PUDDLES AND DRY SPOTS Ł REDUCED PROBLEMS WITH THATCH Ł HEALTHIER AND HEARTIER TURF. t \ l - f&m if! Shallow rooted turf, poor moisture distribution from area not treated with Aqua-Gro amended water Deep rooted turf, good moisture distribution from area treated with Aqua-Gro amended water. Aqua-Gro is available in liquid concentrate or spreadable granular. For additional information write to: AQUATROLS CORPORATION OF AMERICA 1432 Union Ave. Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110 (609) 665-1130 information typed on the edges serves as an index to the information on the tray. Cards are available for inventory con-trol, payroll, personnel, accounts payable and receiveable and other record-keeping functions. Color signals may be attached to the card edge to indicate special situations such as overdue bills or low inventory. Based on modular design, the capacity of the system may be increased in small increments as your lawn care business grows. Trays at-tach to each other, but may be added or removed anywhere in the stack and easily glide in and out. Cards are securely held so they can be written on while in 
the tray and can be quickly 
removed or replaced without dis-tributing other cards. Circle 224 on free information card Tree feeding Creative Sales, Inc., manufac-turer of systemic tree care pro-ducts, has introduced new Medicap MD. The new product was developed for use with a soil-feeding program to promote dark, green leaf development and stimulate feeder root growth. A small Medicap MD implant cartridge slowly releases a special formulation of water-soluble, concentrated plant un-trients directly into a tree's sap flow. The cartridges have a high N-P-K analysis and also contain micronutrients essential to op-timum tree growth. The product is recommended when trees suf-
fer from poor soils, confined root areas, disease, insect stress, frost 
or flood damage, pruning shock, surgery, air pollution or any con-dition that inhibits normal nutrient consumption. Circle 225 on free information card Hedge trimmer A completely new, heavy duty, gas-powered hedge trim-mer, powered by a dependable two-cycle Kioritz engine, has been introduced by Echo, Inc. The new Echo HT-200 is powered by a 21 cc Kioritz engine, eliminating the need for exten-j sion cords that go with electric models. The 30-inch cutter, along with easy-starting two-cycle engine, is designed with a per-manently lubricated gear hous-ing that is built to last the life of the engine. The cutting bar can cut hedges through diameters up to V4-inch thickness. Circle 230 on free information card MONEYWISE Aggressive management makes the difference The Grow It Green by Mike Jones lawn care company, Tacoma, Wash, was not staying in the green Š moneywise, that is. Owner Mike Jones, 36, felt his money was going out needlessly, and that he should be netting more than his $1,000 a month. Last year he made some changes, drastic ones. He fired his entire crew, except for one person, and began looking for new help. His January net was $27 and by July he had gone through 37 employes. But he had also attained an effective, well-functioning staff, his net had jumped to $3,000 a month, and, based on growth over the first two quarters, he projected $170,000 gross on his maintenance work for the rest of the year. Jones says that now his one crew does the amount of two crews before, and that, before, what took five days, is now 
done in four. Now the work is completed, the machinery 
cleaned and oiled by 1:00 p.m. Friday, and Jones is happy to let them take the rest of the day off, with pay. He points to an apartment complex and says, that, whereas before it took a crew eight hours to cut and edge the lawn and blow the park-
ing lot, now his workers are in by 8:00 a.m. and out by 11:15 
a.m. The reasons for the dramatic change? Jones admits part of the fault was his. "I wasn't supervising closely enough," he says. "Now I stay in much closer contact with what's going on Owner Mike Jones (left) and foreman Harold Caruthers repair a sprinkler system. Once Jones got good workers, he was able to instill in them a pride for their work. and am able to solve the problems as they come up." He adds, though, that he's working his way out of this job for he's evolved two good foremen who are able to oversee the opera-tions effectively. A large part of the solution was simply finding the right combination of workers. "Getting good help and good machinery are the two biggest problems in the lawn care business today," Jones says. About the help he maintains, "the work ethic is gone, and people just don't want to work anymore. Cutting grass is hard work, and many people would rather sit around and live on welfare and food stamps." He simply set his mind on getting employes who would put in a full day's work, and hired and fired until he found them. Now that he's got people that work together well there's much higher morale among the employes. "Now they have so much pride in their work they won't even let me take on a partial job on a crummy complex, unless they're allowed to do the entire maintenance up right." Another key factor was organization. Now each job is planned ahead of time, to utilize the most effective use of 
manpower and machinery. "Before one guy would be work-ing the big cutting machine, another would be using the blower, and another a weedeater, all going in different direc-tions. Now their efforts are coordinated, and when one per-son finishes his job, he doesn't knock off. He realizes he's a part of a team and all work together until the job is com-pleted." As a part of his move toward greater efficiency, Jones has his cutting crew, made up of 20 to 25 year olds, specialize only in cutting and blowing the parking lot.Now that this crew is 
functioning well he is building another that will specialize only in weed control, trim, and clean-up. He points to the 13 
or 14 youths he's hired to take care of the summer weeds and says this is because he hasn't had time to organize this area as 
he has the cutting crew. "Next year at this time we'll have a crew of three out there instead of 13, because they will have been doing it all year round and they'll know what they're doing." Jones's drive to get the most for his money also extends to his equipment. His basic machinery includes two 21-inch Bobcats and one 36-inch, all walk-behinds, since he believe the riding machines don't cut evenly enough. His crew has 
three backpack blowers, an edger, and weedeater. Each to page 38 PRODUCTS Lawn/tree sprayer Kim Mfg. Co., Inc. announces availability of Model P-47 elec-tric lawn and tree sprayer. The unit features a rugged steel frame finished with an epoxy 
coating for corrosion resistance. It includes a self-cleaning strainer and built-in tank agitator. The unit will operate 
continuously from the battery and generator system on a lawn tractor. A hand gun is included along with a boom system. Circle 211 on free information card Bluegrass variety gives early spring green-up A data sheet is available on Ram I Kentucky bluegrass, a joint release of Lofts Pedigreed Seed Co. and Jacklin Seed Co The sheet explains that Ram I is a moderately low-growing, leafy turf type variety with an attrac-
tive, rich dark-green color. The companies said it is an excellent bluegrass variety for home lawn uses. It has excellent com-patibility with Baron, Glade, Touchdown and many other improved bluegrasses, or in mix-tures with the improved fine-leafed ryegrasses and fescues. It provides early spring green-up. It has good competitive ability against Poo annuo invasion and excellent resistance to stripe smut and powdery mildew. Circle 215 on free information card "Satoh hugs the hillside like a mountain goat. And that satisfies me'.' Front tire: 9.5L-10 Rear tire: SatlS" faction~starts with the Stallion Ground Hugger s dependable, smooth-running 38hp water-cooled Diesel engine. With nine forward speeds (three reverse) and dual-speed live PTO (540 and 1,000 rpm), the cost-efficient Stallion Ground Hugger is ideal for hilly terrain uses such as municipal park maintenance and golf Circle 131 on course grooming. And its standard power steering gives you effortless 
maneuverability. Let Satoh satisfy your tractor requirements like a pro. It satisfies Sagh^X Get it at your SAI NN D r/rvi mine. SATOH tractor dealer. P.O. Box'5020, New York, N. Y. 10002 free information card DERBY POWERED AERATOR Weighs 51 lbs. ... aerates tt to ltt inches deep ... can be operated very effectively by young inexperienced help. Aerates 18 inches wide Weighs 51 lbs. Very easy to use. Remarkable new machine will add thousands to your profits each year. Not found in stores, sold factory direct to save you money. Good engineering + sim-
ple design = low price. Powered by 2 hp Briggs Stratton engine ... aerates % to 1 16 inches deep ... Very easy to control . . . Works in hard to get at places . . . Safe and easy to operate. Engine warranted for 90 
days . .. Gear train & tines carry 1 full year 
warranty ... try one for 15 days .. . your money back if not fully satisfied. Can be used as a tiller to weed beds and shrubs from 6 to 18 inches in width. One of the most versatile lawn-garden machines money can buy . . . Built by Company with 30 yrs. experience in the manufacture of tough dependable tools. For full information write to: r DERBY TILLER COMPANY | P.O. Box 21 | Rumson, New Jersey 07760 I want more information | Name Street City State Visa-Bank Americard & Master Charge orders accepted by phone Mon-Sat 9-5. Call (201) 741-0601 -Zip-PRODUCTS 250,000 square feet in one tank load The Liqui-Matic, manufac-tured by Hill's Liqui-System, performs like the biggest tank truck, the company said, but its gross vehicle weight is 10,000 pounds. Lawn treatment load is 250,000 square feet. Tree feeding load is 1,000 caliper inches. The unit's patented metering system gong signals each 2Vi gallons pumped. It is furnished complete with truck, hose and tools. Circle 202 on free information card High-pressure hose is extremely flexible Flexispray, a high-pressure spray hose, has been introduced by Flexitube International Corp. square-inch burst strength. It is available in Vi-inch to 3/4-inch in-side diameters, and in standard coils of 300 feet. A free new catalog, as well as samples of 
Flexispray are available upon request. Circle 217 on free information card Easy-spreading granular limestone Limestone Products Corp. of-fers a four-color brochure on its Lime Crest easy-spreading granular limestone. The product, Slide-back carrier hauls lawn tractors Huller Industries has in-troduced a smaller-sized carrier 
to its slide-back series. (T / the grass IS ALWAYS greeherwith UMJE, CRKtl Designated the Mini "H" unit, this model has up to a 3,000-pound capacity, ideal for hauling lawn maintenance tractors. Available in 11- and 12-foot lengths, the body is power-take-
off-hydraulically operated, 
sliding back, then down to the ground for loading. After securing the vehicle to the bed, the Mini "H" is placed back into 
traveling position, ready to 
transport the load. Circle 214 on free information card New sprayer developed for the lawn care market FMC Corp. recently unveiled a sprayer developed for the lawn 
care market. Designed with the lawn industry in mind, the unit 
comes complete with tank, body, LIME CREST EASY Sets AD GRANULAR mm Tough, lightweight and ex-tremely flexible, the hose is ideal for insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. It features a tightly woven inner nylon layer, making it superior to 
other spray hose reinforced with loose braid. Highly resistant to most spray solutions, the hose is manufactured with a smooth in-ner tube for easy flow and boasts a whopping, 2000 pounds-per-in addition to reducing soil acidity, improves soil structure; provides a perfect balance of calcium and magnesium (dolomite equivalent is 9.1 per-cent); "unlocks" plant nutrients, making fertilizer more active; is 90 percent dust-free, no matter what kid of spreader is used. Circle 216 on free information card hose reel, gun, lights and safety equipment. The unit features a baffled 1,200-gallon fiberglass tank with a stainless steel me-chanical agitator. Either a 10- or 20-gallons-per-minute pump is available on the unit. The pumps 
feature hardened stainless steel seats and valves. Power is sup-plied by the truck power-take-off 
or a 12-horsepower Kohler 
engine with electric start. Custom-made binder easily holds entire years copies of LCI magazine. Green binder with logo protects your magazines and gives your library a neat appearance. Magazines can be inserted as they are received....send check or money order to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 9800 Detroit Ave. Ł Cleveland, Ohio 44102 SPRAYING SYSTEMS CO. Teejefr. SPRAY NOZZLES AND ACCESSORIES SPRAY BOOM CONTROL VALVES PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES f LINE and SUCTION STRAINERS Vari Spacing. Split-Eyelet and Hose Shank BODIES and NOZZLES SPRAY GUNS Over 800 INTERCHANGEABLE SPRAY TIP TYPES AND CAPACITIES... tapered edge, even and wide angle flat spray ... hollow and full cone ... disc type hollow and full cone ... and flow regulators. The most complete line for spraying herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, liquid fertilizers and foam solutions. All materials. For complete information write for Catalog 36 ... and for foam spraying ask for Data Sheets 13602 and 13626. DPRAYING SYSTEMS CO. North Ave. at Schmale Rd., Wheaton, III. 60187 Telephone: 312 665-5000 / Telex No. 72-8409 PROMPT SHIPMENT FROM STOCK A Hersey water meter is built into the unit for recording out-
put. Also, piped in is a nitrogen 
filled accumulator, reducing pulsation and a cutoff bypass system for high-pressure opera-tion. This allows the operator to utilize the full pressure of the 
pump for high-pressure require-ments such as spraying trees. The body features an integral frame, 25-inch side platforms, 
and a rear platform that is big enough for an extra tank for touch-up work. One tool box comes with the unit and a second 
is optional. The high-speed return FMC hose reel features a V2-horsepower electric motor for dependable operation. To apply materials, FMC has designed a spray gun especially for lawn spraying. Made entirely of 
stainless steel, the gun features a ball seat which virtually elimi-nates plugging. The trigger-type shutoff features a lock on and the 
output can be regulated for touch-up or finish spraying. And interchangeable discharge discs allow three or five gallons-per-
minute application rates. Lights and safety equipment built into the unit include body 
clearance lights, reflectors, 
flasher beacon light and safety 
back-up horn. Mud flaps are also standard equipment. The com-plete unit can be easily mounted in the field or at the company's plant. Circle 204 on free information card New catalog features turf care equipment Ryan's professional turf care equipment line, which can han-dle lawn care duties ranging from thatch removal to grass mowing, is showcased in a new 
catalog available free upon re-quest from the manufacturer. Although essentially product-oriented, the 16-page catalog explains basic turf maintenance techniques such as aerification. It also contains color photos, il-
lustrations and specifications of the 14 products in Ryan's 1979 
turf maintenance line. Circle 201 on free information card Lakeshore to market ChemLawn spray gun The spray gun designed specifically for the professional lawn care market by ChemLawn Corp. is now available from Lakeshore Equipment and Sup-ply Corp. These guns only have four moving parts and are made of tough, durable nylon with an internal assembly made of self-lubricating Delrin. The company said that the advantage to using these materials is that they do not corrode like the materials found in metal guns that have been adapted to the needs of the lawn care industry. Quantity prices are available. Circle 208 on free information card Herbicide spray tips outlined in brochure Picture your toughest broad-leaf weed problem. Then con-trol it with Banvel. A new I* - We customize your weed control program. ''Łv-rs Ł :/< V U - , * 11 * t «y * vvVelsicol Herbicides brochure describing the uses of Banvel 4-S and Banvel -I- 2,4-D on 
lawns is available from Velsicol Chemical Corp. Contained in the new brochure are label specifications, a weed suscep-tibility chart and herbicide spray tips. A special feature of the brochure is a graphic explan-
ation of Banvel's translocation 
properties. Circle 203 on free information card Nylon liquid strainers Spraying Systems Co. in-troduces the new 124 liquid strainers in nylon. The liquid strainers, available in lV2-inch and lV2-inch NPT (F) con-nections, feature a threaded bowl that can be easily un-screwed by hand for quick and easy removal for cleaning of screens. Only a 2V2-inch space below the bowl is required for removal. Data sheet No. 15353 is available for free. Circle 212 on free information card Adelphi offers brochure on its hybrid bluegrass Adelphi is offering a new, four-page brochure which describes the features and benefits of the "man-made" hybrid Kentucky bluegrass. The Granular applicators outlined in brochure Gandy Co. has just published an eight-page, four-color 
brochure illustrating its com-plete line of turf equipment. The FOA A THICKER DARK GflEIN TURF NOTHING SURPASSES ^\cietphi THE GREENER KENTUCKY IUK&HAS* four-color literature illustrates Adelphi from its planting stage to harvesting with photos in use on home lawns and other turf areas. It spells out in detail its develop-ment in 1962 to the establishment 
and care. It is listed as Bulletin 
Number 7. Circle 209 on free information card literature includes descriptions and specifications of Gandy fer-tilizer spreaders and granular chemical applicators for lawn use. Application accuracy, long service life and stainless steel components are emphasized. Circle 210 on free information card New close-trimming tractor/mower introduced The Bunton Co. introduces a new tractor/mower that allows close trimming with both sides. This 19.6-horsepower unit, with either a 71-inch or 61-inch front-Managers, Instructors, Librarians Finally, An Aid For Teaching Turfgrass Purdue University's turf experts, Dr. William H. Daniel and Dr. Ray P. Freeborg, have coauthored a comprehensive, organized approach to learning turfgrass science and care. Based upon years of teaching experience at Purdue, Drs. Daniel and Freeborg cover management of all major turf uses today. The book, a valuable reference, includes specifications for planting, fertilizing, regulating growth, mowing, and other maintenance practices. Whether for quick reference or as a basis for all turf knowledge, the book will be among books by Couch and Beard on the reference shelf. The book is 420 pages and contains 16 pages of color illustrations. TUfTF manalGers' HanDteooK Comprehensive Practical Instruction for All Turf Professionals W. H Daniel R. P. Freeborg Harvest Publishing Company. 1979 Ordering Information Please send copies of the hardback ($18.95 each*). copies of the solfback ($14 95 each*) *A shipping charge of $1.25 per book must be added A check or money order for Is enclosed I would like to use my Master Charge Acct. No or My Visa Acct No. | understand that delivery 
may take six to eight weeks Signature Name (Print) _ City _ _ State-Published by Business Publication Division The Harvest Publishing Co. 9800 Detroit Ave Cleveland. Ohio 44102 ATTN: Book Dept If PUBLISHING COMPANY center mower attachment, elimi-nates the side discharge of 
clippings. Instead, the mower mulches clippings and drops them evenly. Since there is no side-discharge or chute exten-
sion, it is easy for the operator to trim closely with either side of the mower. The front-center mower attachment is raised by a hydraulic lift for climbing curbs 
and transporting. A 60-inch rotary broom and a 60-inch snow plow attachment are available as 
options. Circle 205 on free information card Hypro sprayer 
pumps Choose from a wide range of pump designs and materials to suit your requirements: cast-iron, Ni-Resist and bronze pump housings... even nickel plating on piston pumps. PISTON PUMPS ROLLER PUMPS Choice of nylon, polypropylene or rubber rollers. Series 6500 7.6 gpm at 100 psi 6 gpm at 200 psi 4 hp gas engine Other models up to 44 gpm at 50 psi. CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Series 9200. Output to 124 gpm. Pressures to 70 psi. Speed of 4200 rpm. Send for your FREE Sprayer Pump Handbook ISI A DIVISION OF LEAR SIEGLER INC 319 Fifth Ave NW. St Paul MN 55112* (612)633-9300 Series 5200 Big Twin 10 gpm output at 400 psi with 6 hp engine Series 5400 4-Cylinder 25 gpm output at 600 psi < 2 DC H C/3 D Q 2 w a; < u z < _3 BEHIND THIS ISSUE You know those little four-color charts we run on page one of each issue of LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY? Some lawn care businessmen I visit have them tacked up on their walls, and many others often thank me for the information, saying that they use the information for planning. As much as I'd like to, I can't take credit for them, or any of the other research on the lawn care industry that we do. That's hard work, and the man that does it is our market research manager Clarence Arnold. In addition to the information contained in those charts, Clarence has worked up our annual "Profile of the Lawn Care Industry," our survey of "Million Dollar Lawn Care Companies," a survey of consumer attitudes on lawn care and is just beginning a series of monthly "pulse reports" on product movement in the green industry. On top of that, he is a pretty fair forward on our lunchtime basketball team. The former college professor of marketing and statistics says: "Through our research, we are trying to develop a history of the lawn care in-
dustry, and take that one step further and focus on trends. Since the industry is relatively young, we 
are still in the process of establishing a data base to Marketing manager Arnold work from, so that we can build upon it to docu-ment if and where growth is taking place and ul-
timately show where the industry as a whole is headed. It's definitely in a growth period now." Bravo, I say. To the growth of the lawn care in-dustry, and to the job he's doing to document it. u ^v j* pj^f MONEYWISE from page 35 v fcIC I l^fclC^ piece has a back-up double. Jones was having such trouble .it. . with rakes that now he is Allied Chemical Corp 27 f . , . Aquatrols Corp. of America 34 manufacturing his own The 
Ashland Chemical Co li basic model he s using is that m-BASF Wyandotte Corp 17 vented in 1943 by a man, aged 93, BuntonCo 32 jn Seattle, with the ominous Champion Brass Mfg. Co 31 f j h gt u Fiye Derby Tiller Co 35 j.ff } r . . , 
Diamond Shamrock Corp Cover III different companies Started pro-Dow Chemical Co 12-13 ducing the rake, and five went DuPont Co 20-21 broke. Jones says that a primary Excel Industries, Inc 16 reason is that the rake is too FordT^^;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' "companies have a hard Hanson Equipment Co 26,34 time selling a second rake to a Hercules, Inc 33 customer if the first one is still Hypro, Div. Lear Siegler Corp 37 working fine," says Jones. He's !a?o^ gone into partnership with Ray Kubota Tractor Corp 24-25 Henderson in Oregon. This Lakeshore Eqpt. & Supply Co 32 separate organization is called 
Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Inc Cover IV Henderson Enterprises and the Monsanto Agricultural Products Co 30 rake [s named the "Smoothie PBI/Gordon Corp 22-23 T jkt*oi »Ł i Howard Price Commercial Turf 8 Lawn and Nut Rake. Jones Rainbird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp 26 points out the main advantages Rhone-Poulenc, Inc 28-29 being that it rakes cleaner and Satoh Agricultural Machine Mfg. Co....35 faster than other rakes that it will 
Sierra Chemical Co ..5 fake QUt gravel without roughing Spraying Systems Co 36 - . r ° , fl° ° Strong Enterprises, inc 31 the turf, or clean out a flower Union Carbide Corp 18-19 bed without hurting the flowers. Velsicol Chemical Corp 7 It sells retail for $5.29. CLASSIFIED When answering ads where box number only is given, please address as follows: Box number, c/o LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, Dorothy Lowe, Box 6951 Cleveland, Ohio 44101. Rates: 35c a word for line ads, 65$ a word for display ads. Box numbers add $1 for mailing. All classified ads must be received by the publisher before the 10th of the month preceding publication and 
be accompanied by casn or money order 
covering full payment. suburbs. Over 1200 customers. Granular app Send reply to Box 4892, CI 
Ohio 44126. bonif ide lication. 
eveland, Mail ad copy to Dorothy Lowe LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, Box 6951, Cleveland 
Ohio 44101 HELP WANTED MANAGER and applicator position open at new chemical lawn care division of established landscape maintenance company in fast-growing Houston, Texas. Tremen-dous opportunity for those havine 
experience with national or regional USED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: Finn Lawn fertilizer 
feeder, 800 gallon, 16 horsepower Briggs, 1 year old, like new. Available with 1970 International cabover 2 ton truck, or without. Call 219 747-3298. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-EM-PLOYMENT. Move to sunny Florida. Eighteen year established ground maintenance and spraying business. Phone 305 859-1440. MISCELLANOUS lawn care companies, knowledge of St. Augustine lawns and marketing capabilities. The right people will 
have unlimited advancement poten-tial. Send complete resume in-cluding education, experience and salary history to: Environmental, 7544 Harwin, Houston, Texas 77036 or call collect 713-784-1750. FOR SALE FOR SALE: Lawn fertilizing business. Cleveland and western OVERBOOKED?? ... BREAKDOWNS?? RENT OURS DAILY, WEEKLY OR MONTHLY $115.00 Day $ 75 00 Day NEED CAPITAL?? We buy your equipment and lease back!! NEED NEW EQUIPMENT?? We lease all kinds!! Tankers Š 1500 gal., P.T O., Auto Rewind 1 Ton Š 750 gal., P.T.O., Auto Rewind WRITE NOW TO GREEN THUMB LEASING CORP. 9325 Harriet Ave. S Bloomington, MN 55420 KNOW pH INSTANTLY. Electronic tester, portable, hand-held. For soil, liquids, etc. $21. Details free. A & H Marketing, Dept. L3, 8325 Dru Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Jones and Henderson have also improved on the original model by designing the handle to go into a holder which is built into the rake and held in place with a tack, as opposed to the riveted fastening which was more apt to break. The rake had 
not been on the market for about seven years before Jones and Henderson put $40,000 into the 
enterprise to get it back into the public eye. Though Jones hopes to make money through mer-chandising the rake, he says it was his own needs in his lawn care business which impelled 
him to involve himself with it. "Before we'd go through a gross, or 144 rakes a year," he says. "Now we go through no more than two dozen, and that's work-ing them hard." Jones's other creative think-ing in terms of machinery lies in lawn mowers. Jones began in residential work, for another company in '64. He formed a partnership in '67, and in '68 con-tinued on his own. His early work was all residential, but he gradually grew into apartment complexes. Now this is his specialty. At present he cares for 14 complexes, ranging from $7.25 to $11.00 a unit. He says that lawn mowers are made mainly for 
residences or golf course-type maintenance, but not for the work he's involved in. "They're not designed for the rolling un-dulating grounds of an apartment complex. There's always prob-lems of scalping. And they're not made to take the abuse of being hauled onto and off of a truck." He says that for the past nine years he's been asking manufac-turers to help him design a machine which will cut at six 
miles an hour, and will, in two minutes, change to a parking lot 
brush and vacuum. A machine that will also cut evenly on 
rolling ground and moreover will cut efficienly, and pick up grass in the rain. This is especially im-
portant in the Northwest where 
it may rain 50 percent of the time. "People said I was crazy," Jones says. But he adds that he's found an inventor of harvesting 
equipment in California who thinks the machine can be made. Each blade will have its own separate oil motor, which will move, not stiffly together, but 
rather independently of each other, and so roll with uneven ground. The machine will have no belts or chains, and, instead of 
a 20 horsepower will have the equivalent of a Ford Pinto engine. The motor will be so quiet, that, if need be, a parking lot can be swept at night without 
waking apartment dwellers. Jones hopes to have the first one ready for testing in about a year. "It will sell at $10,000 to $12,000, 
but will be worth every penny of 
it," Jones maintains. "Machines now are in the $7,000 bracket, but you have to put $3,000 a year into them in repairs. This one will last three to five years without major problems, only needing 
new blades, oil changes, and tune-ups." Jones uses a similar agressiveness in his purchasing of conventional equipment. Local wholesalers won't sell him their goods for a wholesale price, but he uses enough of it so he doesn't think he should have to pay retail. Several years ago he began taking vacations in various parts of the country, during which he would search out the best gardeners in the area, find 
out what they were using, and ask around until he discovered "cut-throat dealers" who would 
offer me a good price. By doing 
so he's cut his equipment costs by 30 percent. When Jones first went into the business he determined to understand what he was doing, 
and learn how to do it most effec-tively. So he's always worked closely with university extension programs in fertilizer and herbi-cides, and has been licensed to treat flower beds, ornamental turf, trees, the outsides of swimming pools and ponds, and other areas. In terms of advertising Jones used to invest heavily in con-ventional forms, radio, TV, newspapers and Yellow Pages when he did residential work. He still does newspaper and yel-
low pages promotion, but now feels his most effective efforts 
are those in whic he deals direc-tly with the key people who can provide him with business. Š Story and photos by Mike Major For the turf you care for: proven protection against nine damaging diseases from America's leading fungicide for turf. Now a 500 gram per liter flowable formulation. Daconil 2787 is the broad-spectrum fungicide that helps you fight such problems as dollar spot, gray leaf spot, large brown patch and red thread. Easy to handle with great flowability. Disperses quickly in the spray tank. Effective even in hot weather. Daconil 2787 also provides effective disease control on a number of ornamentals. Now in a new 500 g/l formulation. Diamond Shamrock gives you all the help you need for weed problems, too. Dacthal® is the preemergence herbicide that controls more than 20 weeds and unwanted grasses. Stops early and late germinating weeds without affecting healthy, growing turf grasses. Tough weeds like crabgrass and Poa annua can't stand up to Dacthal. Dacamine® gives postemergence control of over 70 broadleaf weeds including dandelion, annual chickweed, knotweed and Canada thistle. Kills 'em right down to the roots so they won't come back. Daconate® gives the postemergence herbicide that knocks out nutsedge, chick-weed, wood sorrel, sandbur and othergrassy weeds. It'sa ready-to-use liquid herbicide with a built-in surfactant for uniform wetting. For beautiful turf and ornamentals, count on the big four from Diamond Shamrock to make your job easier. Diamond Shamrock The resourceful company. See your turf chemicals supplier, or contact the Diamond Shamrock Agricultural Chemicals Division sales office nearest you: Three Commerce Park Square. 23200 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, OH 44112 Ł 1760 The Exchange. Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30339 Ł 5333 Westheimer, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77002 Ł Commerce Plaza Bldg., 2015 Spring Rd, Oakbrook, IL 60521 Ł 617 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94063 Circle 119 on free information card baron KENTUCKY BLUE6RASS is the most customer - proof ~ z ~~ -- sac. * ~ -s - , i H&Sy.,-. v'V L lean buy CUU~ /pUyJL Alan Maged, |f Lawn-A-Mat dealer, Garden City Park, Long Island, New York. .. one of the largest independent lawn care dealers, servicing over 2000 lawns. rass s ml "I make sure Baron is in every pound of grass seed we use. Last year it amounted to 80,000 pounds of Lofts special lawn seed mixtures. If all goes well, I'll order even more this year. "Why do I insist on Baron? Because my customers expect me to compensate for everything, from the weather to their own mistakes. Some homeowners may let their lawn grow to six or eight inches, then cut it to three-quarters of an inch! Or they'll forget to water their grass during a drought, or SCIENTIFIC WHYPPMa" pll jr ^ AUTOMATED 742-5021 use their lawn for a baseball field. With all that abuse, they still expect a good lawn. "I need a 'customer-proof' grass seed mixture. So I specify Baron, Yorktown and other top quality Lofts grasses in my special mixture. I get a lush, green color, an excellent root system and the best resistance to leaf spot I've ever seen. Guess that's why I get better than 85% renewals every year. "One last thing, I really depend on my suppliers for delivery and service. I've dealt with the Lofts people for 15 years and they haven't failed me yet. That's very important to me.' Lofts Pedigreed Soodj Inc. Bound Brook, N.J. 08805/(201) 356-8700 Circle 103 on free information card