Disposal of clippings complicates composting plan Interest in composting is piling up nationwide be-cause of mandates re-stricting solid-waste dis-posal in landfills. But until more research takes place, grass clippings should stay out of the com-post pile, says a waste man-agement specialist at Ohio State University. "You can't just toss grass clippings in municipal or private compost piles," says Joe Heimlich, who advises public officials on recycling and composting. "Most bagged clippings come from chemically treated suburban lawns," he points out. "Scientists don't know what happens to all the chemicals if the clippings become part of compost piles. They do know that some chemicals don't break down. That makes the com-post unusable for gardens." It's difficult to suc-cessfully compost grass clippings for other reasons, Heimlich says. Clippings have a high moisture content and they pack together tightly. This restricts airflow and growth of microorganisms, pre- venting the clippings from decomposing rapidly. Strong odors result from the slow breakdown oc- curring under wet condi-tions and lack of oxygen. "A good compost pile is half air," Heimlich says. "Leaves compost quick-See TRASH Page 26 WWN ORE INDUSTCY Serving the needs of the professional lawn care operator VOLUME 13 NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 1989 PEAT MOSS Usage tips for sphagnum peat moss are offered by Canadian firms. 12 SHOPTALK Prepare your spraying equipment for winter's onslaught. 14 CLASSIFIED See what's for sale, n-J miscellaneous items. £ / BY JAMES E. GUYETTE Editor Hurricane Hugo's path through the Carolinas left widespread de-struction, and turf managers were expecting to reap tons of workŠprovided their busi-nesses could survive the im- mediate aftermath. Damage was so extensive that it could take years before rebuilding is completed. As it stands now, authori-ties were predicting that it will NEXT MONTH 5-DIGIT 488 »v/*861 32 10 93 PETE COOKINGHAM LIBRARY WŠ121 USGA TURFGRASS MICHIGAN STATE EAST LANSING file 30G-INFO FILE UNI V MI 48824-1048 Test with backhoe shows: Dwarf fescues have long root systems Hurricane havoc: Houses were destroyed and trees toppled as Hugo breezed through Charlotte, N.C. Turf areas were left with deep gouges, and fescue lawns were smothered under brush piles. Huge hassles, opportunities in Hurricane Hugo's wake be Christmas before all the storm debris is removed and restoration can begin. Numerous yards have huge gouges in them where trees, poles, cars, houses and boats were slammed to the turf. Lawns are taking an addi-tional beating as the various cranes, front-end loaders and utility trucks are forced to drive over them. Grass buried in darkness under giant piles of brush con- tinues to die. In addition to renovation opportunities, most likely treatments will be needed to control fire ants, yellow jack- ets and other insects stirred- up and made homeless by Hugo's wrath. Some business operators, though, were concerned about See HUGO Page 11 BY JAMES E. GUYETTE Editor Dwarf tall fescues have deep root systems equal in depth to traditional tall fescue varieties, according to a recent test conducted at a California sod farm. As turfgrass breeders have worked to develop dwarf tall fescues, there has been nag-ging concern and controversy over the effectiveness of the root systems. "The single biggest ques-tion that has been raised re-garding the truly dwarf fescues is the depth of their roots," reports Steve Tubbs, vice president of Turf Merchants Incorporated in Tangent, Ore. Does shortening the plant affect the depth of the root systems? "One of the most desirable characteristics of tall fescues is drought tolerance, and this is certainly a key issue," he says. (The definition of a dwarf tall fescue remains open for de- bate as well. Tubbs believes that the only varieties that exhibit "dramatically reduced vertical growth rates" are TMI's Bonsai and Pickseed's Shortstop.) "There is no evidence to date that the true dwarf fes- cues have any different root systems than other tall fes-cues," says Tubbs. "It's not true that reduced top growth means reduced root systems," he says, declaring that "we think they will re-de-fine the low-maintenance mar- ket for turfgrass as we know it." Less mowing is required be-cause the dwarfs are genet-ically tuned to day lengthŠas days get shorter they don't grow as much, which also leads to reduced clipping levels, ac-See DWARF Page 10 LATE NEWS Ł Toro buys Lawn-Boy for $85 M. MINNEAPOLISŠ The Toro Co. has agreed to buy Lawn-Boy, Inc. for about $85 million. The seller is Outboard Marine Corp., which earlier sold the Cushman Group to Ransomes America for $150 million so it could concentrate on its marine products line. By 1991 Toro expects its profits to greatly improve because it will nearly double its trim mower line without bringing on additional overhead costs. Lawn-Boy makes its own mower engines, ending Toro's need to buy them from other manufacturers, the company said. Toro earnings for 1990 are expected to be reduced due to the one-time cost brought on by the purchase. For FY 1989 Toro sales were $643.5 million, earning $22.1 million. In 1988 Lawn-Boy had sales of $153 million, earning $6.2 million. LCI Ryan brings quality aeration from golf greens to green lawns. Introducing the new Ryan Lawnaire® 28. The revolutionary Lawnaire 28 combines the technology and preci-sion of golf course aeration with the demands of lawn maintenance. Its reciprocating, crank mounted tine arms feature a vertical coring ac-tion similar to larger Ryan aera-tors. Tines penetrate straight in to a depth of 2V2 inches, and come straight out. The results are a more professional-looking job, better root development, greener lawns, and more satisfied customers. Make more money by the yard. Because time is money, the Lawnaire 28 is designed to cover big jobs quickly Š up to 24,000 sq. ft. per hour. But because not every job is big, it's also compact and maneuverable. Just 34 inches wide, the Lawnaire 28 easily fits through yard gates. The unique tricycle front wheel gives the unit a zero turning radius while aerating! Even the tightest spots are no problem. And because it's a Ryan, you can rest assured that the Lawnaire 28 will keep you on the job and out of the repair shop for years to come. Check out Ryan's reliability in your own backyard. Contact your Ryan dealer and ask for a free demonstration today. Or call toll free: 1-800-228-4444. RYAN BUILT TO LAST A CU8HMAN Product: Group 9018 Ryan, P.O. Box 82409, Lincoln, NE 68501 Cushman, Inc. 1989. All rights reserved mmmmmmmmm INDUSTRY NEWS 3 Ł Founders of PLCAA feted in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS, NEV.ŠA home-coming of sorts was scheduled Nov. 6-9 in Las Vegas for in-dustry pioneers who attended the first meeting of what be-came the Professional Lawn Care Association of America. The historic meeting June 14, 1979 at the Cincinnati-South Holiday Inn in Fort Mitchell, Ky. was called by Bob Earley, then-editor of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, recounted James R. Brooks, PLCAA ex-ecutive vice president. Plaques were to be pre-sented to the PLCAA foun-ders who were able to attend the Vegas fete. "We're going to recognize that group," Brooks said just before presstime. Attendees at the original organizational meeting were: Paul Hairston, Pat Lore, Stan Weber, Jerry Amstutz, Dr. Paul D. Schnare, Ronald D. Baker, Doug Baker, Doug Halterman, Harry Sloan, Glenn Bostrom, Bob Kautz-man, Howard L. Evers, John Hayes, Rick White, Jerry Faulring, Dave Murphy, Gor-don L. Ober, Ron Giffen, Ronald W. Collins, Joe O'Donnell, Tom Brune, Fred Rowley, Ronnie L. Zwiebel, Jim Kelly, J. Martin Erbaugh, John Latting, Steve Derrick, Don Burton, Larry Brandt, Will Schulze, R.B. Skelton, John L. Cruse, Jr., Jim Dun-can, Rick Elred, Kent Potts, Bill Fischer, Ronald A. Ahlman, Bob Earley and Dick Foster. LCI OTF expects to draw crowd COLUMBUS, OHIOŠMore than 3,500 people are expected to attend the Dec. 4-7 Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Con-ference and Show in Columbus. A record 3,500 attendees were at last year's show in Cin-cinnati, and attendance should increase this year, ac-cording to Dr. John R. Street, executive secretary. For more information, call (614) 292-2601. LCI N.C. exhibit is Jan. 10-12 RALEIGH, N.C.ŠThe 28th Annual North Carolina Turfgrass Conference and Ex-hibit will be Jan. 10-12. For more information con-tact Dr. Arthur Bruneau at (919) 737-2326. LCI IPM course to be in Jan. COLLEGE PARK, MD. The Second Annual Ad-vanced Turfgrass Inte-grated Pest Management Short Course will be Jan. 15-18 at the University of Maryland. The cost is $600, and en-rollment is limited. For infor- mation call Dr. Lee Hellman at (301) 454-3845. LCI FLAGS EX Y( S CAUTION PESTICIDE APPLICATION KEEP OFF CUSTOMER: PLEASE REMOVE AFTER 72 HRS. Designed especially for the lawn care industry 9 flag colors 8 ink colors 90° bend in staff Shipped straight. You bend when used. 18" or 24" PVC staff (Vs" diam.) Custom printed if you like Less than 60 ea. (Min. 1000) Actual Size: 4"x5" flag P.O. Box 86 Ł Neligh, NE 68756 FAX# 402-887-5171 BLACKBURN MANUFACTURING COMPAN^ TOLL-FREE / 800/942-5816 East of Rockies 800/552-3524 West of Rockies P.O. Box 276 Ł Cambria, CA 93428 FAX# 805-927-1601 Circle No. 101 on Reader Inquiry Card 304 S.S. 600 gallon tank ELP Ł dual stage centrifugal pump (100 GPM or 200 PSI) Ł sparger agitation Ł PTO drive Ł 12 volt electric reel Ł low to the ground work platform Ł Options: 5 gallon hand rinse tank & bracket Ł SOLO 425 (475) 435 485 Knapsack Sprayer and stand NEED A SKID UNIT? / WE GOT IT! SWk Westheffer Westheffer Company, Inc. PO Box 363, Lawrence, KS 66044 1-800-332-0003 In KS 1-800-362-3110 USA 1-913-843-4486 FAX OVER 100 MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM. EACH BUILT TO MEET YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS. Ł Single or dual tanks Ł 50-600 gallonage Ł Mechanical or jet agitation Ł Diaphragm, piston or centrifugal pump Ł Electric or manual hose reel Ł Green Garde or Kuritec hose Ł Hypro, JD9CT or Chemlawn gun 0 WHILE IMAGE IS CLEARLY NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENT SERVICE, WITHOUT A DISTINCT AND POSITIVE CORPORATE IMAGE, YOUR COMPANY IS SIMPLY ONE OF MANY. Too often, customers know only two things about their lawn care company: What they do keeps my lawn looking okay and every month or so I get an invoice. A custom Focal Point newsletter can establish that critical positive image for your company, and explain the value of your services. It can generate new accounts, increase sales to existing accounts, reduce service calls and cancellations, promote upcoming specials, and more. A Focal Point newsletter costs less than traditional advertising, but can have more impact. No other form of promotion has the sustained influence of a handsomely designed, expertly written Focal Point newsletter. Your customers will think of your newsletter as a valuable source of news and knowledge. So your newsletter is actually readŠ unlike the thousands of advertisements your customer sees, hears, and receives in the mail each year. And you can maintain absolute control of your newsletterŠ without the problems involved in going it alone. Your newsletter helps establish the image of an industry leaderŠ authoritative, professional, knowledge-ableŠ that's easy for brand-conscious customers to remember and rely on. Please call for free samples from our latest Portfolio of newsletters and other communication tools designed exclusively for the green industry. FocalPoint COMMUNICATIONS 800 525 6999 FOCAL POINT COMMUNICATIONS Ł 11171 EMBASSY DflVE Ł CINCINNATI, OHIO 45240 i Circle No. 122 on Reader Inquiry Card Circle No. 111 on Reader Inquiry Card CATCH A RISING STAR with the best in components design and servicing. a MEMOS L a LAWN CARE INDUSTRY NOVEMBER 1989 MEMOS L a Keep your head when devising safety rules. A company was fined $1,500 under OSHA for an employee who didn't wear required hardhat. The firm supplied the helmets and mandated wearing of same, yet the ruling said enforcement program was remiss because no penalties were issued for disobeyingŠa reminder was given and that was not enough, say Feds. Biotechnology is bigger in Texas as Zoecon Corp. unveils new $1 million expansion at Dallas plant. Biotechnology product development will occur at state-of-the-art facility. Hepe&l of IBS estate freeze rules is being sought by trade organizations. Existing law (IRS Code Sec. 2036c) eliminates some of the most commonly used and legitimate methods of passing family business to next generation. Heirs face huge tax burden if parent kept interest inŠor received money fromŠ business. Law said to he confusing even the experts. Urge senators to support S.849. Fees were incorrectly collected from applicator licensees in Empire State, says New York State Green Council. Group wants to fight authorities in court; lawyer says $25,000 is needed just to get started. Money sought from members, other industry organizations. Chemical specialties industry supplies expanded information base through publication of Vendors to the Trade '90. Guide has more than 100 categories, in depth descriptions. Order through Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association, (202) 872-8110. LCI turf performers. ŁFirst-rate disease and weed control demands a professional's touch. And here are the Turf Care products that have what it takes. Daconil 27875 The cornerstone of a profes-sional spray program. Daconil 2787 is economical to use and the most effective, broadest-spectrum turf fungicide on the market. Controls 12 major turfgrass diseases. Available as a flowable or wettable powder formulation. Dacthal.® The preemergence herbicide that consistently delivers superior broad-spectrum control of crabgrass, spurge and 22 other tough annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. Available as a flowable or wettable powder formulation. Daconate® 6. The proven postemergent herbicide. Highly effective against pesky weeds such as crabgrass. (Sold as Bueno® 6 in western states only.) 2 Plus 2 (MCPP + 2,4-D Amine). As effective as it is economical against more than 20 hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds such as clover and dandelions. Contains no dicamba. Frigate® adjuvant. The only product specif-ically formulated to enhance the performance of Roundup* for control of perennial and annual weeds. For turf renovations and non-cropland use, too. When it comes to turf care, you'll see the difference in the professional's touch. Fermenta ASC Corporation, 5966 Heisley Road, P.O. Box 8000, Mentor, OH 44061-8000. TheTM Care* pros. ŁRoundup is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company Always follow label directions carefulfy when using turf chemicals. ^^L WWN GIRE INDUSTRY JAMES E. GUYETTE Editor JERRY ROCHE Executive Editor JON MIDUCKI Publisher ROBERT EARLEY Group Vice President CAROL HIMANGO Production Manager ROSY BRADLEY Production Supervisor BRYAN VOLLMAN Graphic Design MARILYN COPP Circulation Supervisor GAIL PARENTEAU Reader Service Manager THEODORE C. MATHEWS Promotion Director JOHN PRESSELLO Graphics Manager MARKETING/SALES Midwest Office: JON MIDUCKI (216) 826-2855 National Sales Manager MARSHA DOVER (216) 891-2739 Regional Sales Manager BARBARA THOMAS (216) 826-2886 Regional Sales Manager 7500 Old Oak Blvd. Cleveland. OH 44130 FAX (216)826-2832 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 233-1817 FAX (404) 261-7022 3475 Lenox Road. N.E., Suite 665 Atlanta, GA 30326 Western Office: BOB MIEROW (206) 783-0549 FAX (206) 784-5545 1515 N.W. 51 Street Seattle. WA 98107 Classified DAWN NILSEN (218) 723-9349 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802 Please send advertising materials to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 120 W. Second St. Duluth. MN 55802 218-723-9192 EDGELL COMMUNICATIONS INC PUBLICATIONS ROBERT L. EDGELL, Chairman RICHARD MOELLER, President LARS FLADMARK, Executive V. Pres ARLAND HIRMAN, Vice Pres./Treasurer THOMAS QRENEY, Senior V. Pres EZRA PINCUS, Senior Vice President JOE BILDERBACH, Vice President JAMES QHERNA, Vice President GEORGE GLENN, Vice President HARRY RAMALEY, Vice President LCI ADVISORY COUNCIL MARTY ERBAUGH RON KUJAWA Erbaugh Corp. KEI Enterprises Peninsula, OH Cudahy. Wl A. J. POWELL JACK ROBERTSON U. of Kentucky Robertson Lawn Care Lexington. KY Springfield. IL LAWN CARE INDUSTRY (ISSN 0160-6042) is published monthly by Edgell Communica-tions, Inc. Corporate and Editorial offices. 7500 Old Oak Boulevard. Cleveland. Ohio 44130 Advertising Offices: 7500 Old Oak Boulevard. Cleveland. Ohio 44130. 111 East Wacker Drive. Chicago. Illinois 60601 and 3475 Lenox Road. N.E. Suite 665 Atlanta. Georgia 30326. Accounting. Advertising Pro-duction and Circulation offices 1 East First Street. Duluth, Minnesota 55802. Subscrip- tion rates: $25 per year in the United States; $50 per year in Canada All other countries: $100 per year. Current issue single copies (pre-paid only): $2.50 in the U.S.; $5.00 in Canada; elsewhere $10.; add $3 50 for ship-ping and handling per order. Back issues, if available $10; add $3.50 per order for ship-ping and handling (pre-paid orders only). Of- fice of publication: Edgell Communications. Inc., 1 East First Street. Duluth. Minnesota 55802. Second class postage paid at Duluth. Minnesota 55806. Copyright © 1989 by Edgell Communications. Inc. All rights re- served. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical includ-ing photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without per-mission in writing from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, P.O. Box 6200. Duluth. Minnesota 55806. W VBPA NAME TITLE FIRM ADDRESS CITY PRINT PHONE NUMBER BELOW Š STATE PHONE( 101 116 131 146 161 176 191 206 221 236 251 266 281 296 311 326 102 117 132 147 162 177 192 207 222 237 252 267 282 297 312 327 103 118 133 148 163 178 193 208 223 238 253 268 283 298 313 328 104 119 134 149 164 179 194 209 224 239 254 269 284 299 314 329 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330 106 121 136 151 166 181 196 211 226 241 256 271 286 301 316 331 107 122 137 152 167 182 197 212 227 242 257 272 287 302 317 332 108 123 138 153 168 183 198 213 228 243 258 273 288 303 318 333 109 124 139 154 169 184 199 214 229 244 259 274 289 304 319 334 110 125 140 155 170 185 200 215 230 245 260 275 290 305 320 335 111 126 141 156 171 186 201 216 231 246 261 276 291 306 321 336 112 127 142 157 172 187 202 217 232 247 262 277 292 307 322 337 113 128 143 158 173 188 203 218 233 248 263 278 293 308 323 338 114 129 144 159 174 189 204 219 234 249 264 279 294 309 324 339 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220 235 250 265 280 295 310 325 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 WWN GIRE INDUSTRY NOVEMBER 1989 This card void after Jan. 15,1990 1. CHECK BELOW YOUR PRIMARY BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION: A. LAWN CARE COMPANY: Read each choice before answering. 10 Ł Chemical lawn care company 30 Ł Both chemical lawn care company and mowing/management lawn care company B. SUPPLIER 70 Ł Chemical and equipment dealer and/or distributor C. OTHER (specify) 2. WHAT IS YOUR TITLE? I would like to receive (continue receiving) LAWN CARE INDUSTRY each month: Yes Ł No Ł Signature: -Date_ BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH, MINNESOTA POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE READER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WWNG1RE INDUSTRY POST OFFICE BOX 6080 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806-9780 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII UPFRONT Should LCOs charge for a lawn analysis? Should lawn care com-panies charge a service call fee to do an analysis of a potential customer's lawn? One LCO says yes. L.V. and her husband own a smaller lawn care operation in a rural area of a Mid-western state. "No matter which way we go it's 20 miles there and 20 miles back," says L.V., who requests anonymity. L.V. is plum fed up with what she refers to as the "wild goose chase" call. "A person we consider a prospect for our lawn service requests a lawn analysis; we, in good faith, travel 20 miles or more, do the analysis, make recommendations, spend much of our precious time (and gas is not cheap), only to find that the cus- tomer wanted free information so he could do the job himself." Another annoyance is fel-low LCOs who have their friends order up an analysis to check out the local compe- tition. Wild goose chase calls are particularly bad during the busy season in the spring. "This is a small company. We don't have a salesperson to go out and do this type of thing. It's taking time away from work to be done," L.V. complains. "I took a look at the Big Picture and decided, 'Why are we doing this?'" L.V.'s solution? The com-pany now charges a $5 consultation/service fee, which is applied toward the bill if the potential client signs up. "With this $5 fee, if the customer takes the service they're really not losing any- thing. It weeds out the ones who are just shopping around." It can be used as a market-ing technique when dealing with a legitimate prospect, she believes. "It would really enhance their interest in using that service rather than losing $5," she explains. "If they're serious about getting a service they're going to think twice about calling someone else and losing that $5. If you're serious you're not losing anything," L.V. points out. "If these people realize they don't like your service you should be paid for your time." L.V. got to thinking about other services that make re-quested house calls, such as plumbers, appliance repair people, electrical contractors and phone installers. And when making a trip into town to visit a doctor, lawyer or other professional, "You put your hand on the door knob and it's $25." With all these occupations, "whether they do anything or not they charge you for a service call, and it's about time that our industry does the same!" If LCOs consider them-selves professionals, then they should be charging con-sultation fees like other professionals, L.V. observes. "That service fee is estab-lished, the customer is aware of it and the customer must pay it. Why should our ser- vice be any different?" L.V. tells the people over JAMES E. GUYETTE EDITOR the phone about the $5 fee, and "I also tell them that it will be put toward the service if they buy the service." Because she began her plan in the late summer sea-son, she has little information on reactions from possible customers. A doctor ordered an analy-sis and gladly paid the fee because, well, because he's a doctor and the fee sure seemed normal in his eyes. (He signed up, too.) Everyone else also ac-cepted the fee and became a client, except for one woman. "She paid the $5 but didn't take the serviceŠbut that's okay because we didn't go on a wild goose chase," L.V. recounts. She concludes, "Maybe we're going in the right di-rection, maybe we're not." Well, readers: Is she? L.V. wants to know what others in the industry are thinking. Please drop me a line with your opinions, and your reactions will be dis-cussed in a later column. Send your cards and let-ters to me at LAWN CARE INDUSTRY; 7500 Old Oak Blvd.; Cleveland, Ohio; 44130. If you mail your reply be-fore midnight tonight, you'll receiveŠabsolutely freeŠmy sincere thank-you. ACCLAIM KILLS CRABGRASS ALL SEASON LONG. icnoUARY Ma^CT Use ACCLAIM 1EC Herbicide instead of a pre. 1 Don't gamble that your ik pre will still be around JŠ t0 prevent crabgrass SSnce-skip it entirely. And in new or rSdS turf where pre's aren t an optwp. ACCLAIM is ideal Sir £ JULY border*,» ^ Kejain customers by killing crabgrass before AUULVI kil|s crab wwfcSEt turf. Its ato^J1^Ž' your customs "V^'i'Wnf.'u ^.fcsBUiues _ Hoechst S3 r mmmmrnŠ- ' m -< XLAEVf 1EC Herbicide is a safe, effective product for postemergence control of crabgrass. And you can use it anytime after the one-leaf stage. Whatever your current program, remember that no other herbicide gives you such flexibility in controlling crabgrass. Make ACCLAIM part of your lawn care service today, and keep your customers satisfied. Because your turf is always on display. Circle No. 112 on Reader Inquiry Card Special Bonus Savings: Buy3gaUmsof ACCLAIM befiyre March 16, andget lgallonfice. Granted, DURSBAN* TUrf Insec-ticide won't do you much good in a dark alley. But when it's time to get tough on surface- feeding insects, it doesn't make any sense to take chances. What makes sense is using the industry standard-DURSBAN insecticide. More muscle for your money. Nothing's meaner on Chinch Bugs, Billbugs, Sod Webworms and other surface-feeding thugs. Nothing. And there's simply no better value for liquid lawn care applications. One tough insecticide. What's more, DURSBAN TUrf Insecticide offers excellent resi- dual, low odor and superb broad spectrum control. The kind of control you've come to expect-ant! customers demand. So arm yourself with DURSBAN TUrf Insecticide. And keep surface feeders off your turf. Wearing a black leather jacket during application is, of course, not recommended. DURSBAN TUrf Insecticide. The Professional Choice. ŁTrademark of The Dow Chemical Company COVER STORY > .. * ? A Borssai Wffr' * \ 4 DWARF from Page 1 cording to Tubbs, who adds that it also has decreased fossil fuel fertilizer requirements. In August, the Pacific Sod Co. in Camarillo, Calif, de-cided to investigate the root length issue and perhaps put it to rest. "They were so tired of hear-ing about the shallow root sys-tems that they took a backhoe to their plots," Tubbs ex-plains. "We'd been hearing so much speculation and concern about root depth," recalls John Rector, a Pacific Sod agronomist. The plots that got the back-hoe treatment were planted in September of 1988. The irrigated high-mainte-nance area received high fer-tilization, no herbicides or fungicides, and it was mowed at one-and-a-fourth inches. "We were growing it as if it's for sod," he points out. Three varieties were planted: Bonsai; Turf Seed's Monarch, defined by Rector as a medium dwarf; and as a con-trol, Turf Seed's Triathalawn Blend, which contains Olym-pic, Apache and Bonanza tall fescues. "In all three cases the roots were all comparable," says Rector. "When we dug down there was absolutely no difference" in the root sizes. Dig deep: Bonsai roots six feet under. thickness of the turf creates a canopy that holds in moisture, leading to humidity-caused diseases in the East. However, in arid Califor-nia, "Who cares about humid- ity problems?" Tubbs queries. "West of the Mississippi there's a huge market for fes-cues, and they don't have hu-midity problems," he points out. The Bonsai crop was sold out way before the harvest, and TMI is now working on a dwarf suitable for markets in the eastern United States. "The advanced interest is what tells us we're on the right track," he says. The new variety will keep the dark color and low growth habit, but the texture will dis-play "a more open growth pat-tern" to eliminate the canopy problem caused by dense turf, Tubbs predicts, adding that the new grass is about two years away from seed produc- tion. LCI Down to earth: Pacific Sod's Victor Oliva monitors the deep root growth found in both the regular and dwarf fescues. The roots were estimated to be eight feet longŠdeeper than the trench. "We dug the hole to six feet, but the roots kept going down there," Rec-tor notes. "There was a tremendous amount of root material at six feetŠwe're talking lots and lots of roots," he observes. Tubbs was delighted with the results, and it was sure to be discussed at TMI's booth at the Professional Lawn Care Association of America's No-vember national convention in Las Vegas. Bonsai, which was bred by Dr. Frederick B. Ledeboer, re-quires less mowing and looks as good as bluegrassŠmaybe even more so, says Tubbs. "The turf quality is so stun-ning, it's better than bluegrass at this point," Tubbs main- tains. Tubbs notes that a draw-back to Bonsai is that the Tecumseh in Italy, France GRAFTON, WIS. The Tecumseh Products Co. has completed the acquisition of Tecnamotor, SPA of Torino, Italy. The purchase price was not disclosed. Tecnamotor is Europe's leading manufacturer of lawn and garden gasoline engines. Sales in 1988 exceeded $78 million. The company has more than 700 employees in Italy, Great Britain, West Germany and France, and it has more than 5,00 dealers in Europe. According to Todd W. Her-rick, Tecumseh's president and CEO, the Tecnamotor purchase and last year's acqui-sition of L'Unite Hermetique of France establishes Tecumseh as a significant Pan-European company re-garding exected growth of the the European market in the 1990s. LCI Stop crabgrass from grabbing hold Once crabgrass takes hold, you're the one who gets squeezed. Angry customers want your neck. Well now there's a pre-emergent pro-gram that's custom-tailored to your needs. It's a unique herbicide program available at your DOTS distributor. You can choose from TEAM" SURFLAN: BALAN* or XL-depending on your location and turf conditions. Your DOTS distributor will customize your choice by matching your desired HUGO from Page 1 being able to stay afloat finan-cially in the immediate weeks following Hugo's blast. Most LCOs were wielding chain saws as dazed citizens returned to what was left of their homes. "It's horrible," said Ellen Boutwell, office manager of Lawn-O-Green in Summer-ville, S.C., which is just out-side of Charleston. "I'm sitting here with no electricity," she said about a week after the big storm. "There's no area in the city that was not damaged." She noted that "the beau-tification of someone's lawn is the last thing on most people's minds. I think we'll just be able to survive." Boutwell thought that some of the impact could be long-term. "We've lost all of our Isle of Palms customers because they don't have houses." There has long been a con-troversy over increased coastal development, and au-thorities may prohibit recon-struction of many formerly upscale properties located on dunes that were swept away by the raging sea. In neighborhoods left in-tact, Boutwell said she was taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the lawns that re-mained under water. Salt tolerant grass varieties are popular in the region, "but how much salt can it take?" Renovations are in the fu-ture, but "for now we're giving people time to clean up their yards." Lawn-O-Green employees were pitching in with chain saws to help out. Because of workers compensation restric- tions they were sticking to cuts that can be made from the ground. Said Boutwell, who stayed in her quaking home as Hugo hit, "I was a lucky oneŠno trees fell on my house. I can look out my back window and see 300 broken trees." Although there were plenty of tree removal opportunities, a financial windfall was not likely because of government-mandated price limits de- signed to prevent profiteering. The going rate now is $45 per manhour. "We're doing everything we can for our employeesŠkeep-ing them with a paycheck. It's part of our survival," Boutwell said. Charlotte, N.C. is about 190 miles from the coast, but after Hugo sacked Charleston the hur-ricane turned right and swept northward through the un-suspecting city. "We were caught com-pletely off-guard," said Mike Francisco, manager of the Charlotte ChemLawn branch. In the days after Hugo's romp, workers from the ChemLawn in Charlotte who were not on chain saw teams began arriving in Greensboro, N.C. "We're going to be using some of their employees at our facility," said Dana Hall, man-ager of the Greensboro Chem-Lawn. After the excitement dies down in Charlotte, those staff members will return home, ac-companied by Greensboro ChemLawn people (plus Greenville, N.C. ChemLawn employees), to begin work on the lawns. After the initial cleanup is finished, fill-ins, aeration and seedings top the list of work to be done. "Some of the places will need complete renova- tions," Hall observed. All hell broke loose in Charlotte. "The city was basically devas-tated," Francisco reported. "We've quickly gotten into a new line of work. We've got- ten into the tree- and land-clearing business." Price-gougers there re-sulted in a government-en-forced limit of $100 an hour for a three-man crew with two chain saws. "We're basically doing only ChemLawn cus- tomers who call us," Francisco said. The company also donated a crew to charityŠaiding el- derly citizens and others who can't afford professional ser-vices. Like the Lawn-O-Green workers, the ChemLawn sawyers also were restricted to cutting trees that were on the ground. Hospitals in the hurricane-ravaged region reported a rash of chain saw accidents, but the ChemLawn operation boasted an injury-free record. "We're not going into this half-hearted," said Matt Swindler, ChemLawn's Hugo cleanup manager. "We went out and invested in chain saw chaps," and the saws are run only by super-visors. According to Swindler, most of the reported chain saw injuries were suffered by over-eager high school students seeking extra cash and "Joe HomeownerŠwho's never seen a chain saw in his life." Swindler didn't escape completely unscathed. On the day he spoke with LAWN CARE INDUSTRY he had just suffered a painful sting from a yellow jacket. Like many of the human citizens of Charlotte, the in-sect population found itself homeless as toppled trees ruined their root-located abodes. Changes in barometric pressure and the odor of sweet green wood being ground up by chippers all over town brought the beasts down upon the workers manning those de-vices, Swindler said. Huge 200-year-old trees, some as thick as a circle of three people holding hands, came crashing to the ground in seconds. "There's 60- to 80-foot elms out there just snapped at the base," Francisco related. Many trees throughout the re-gion were broken off about six feet above the ground. "We've always been proud of our trees here, and most of them are laying across streets or on powerlines," he la-mented. LCI Tools hard to locate for cleanup CHARLOTTE, N.C.ŠFinding the proper equipment was a major struggle in the daysŠ and weeksŠfollowing Hur-ricane Hugo's unwelcome visit. "You couldn't beg or bor-row a chain saw in Charlotte," recounted Mike Francisco, manager of the local Chem-Lawn Services Corp. branch. In concert with other ChemLawn operations, though, arrangements were made to obtain the needed tools elsewhere and bring them into the storm-ravaged area. "It is great to work for a company like ChemLawn/ Ecolab because of the super cooperation and mustering of resources that I have wit-nessed in the past two to three weeks," Francisco com-mented. Chain saws were rented in Greensboro, N.C., and chip-pers were soon en route from Cincinnati and Atlanta. Throughout the region, green industry manufacturers helped out by offering their products to stricken munici-palities. Garden Way Incorporated of Troy, N.Y. donated 12 pieces of equipment to eight communities in North and South Carolina. Six Bolens chipper/shred-ders and six Troy-Bilt Tomahawk chipper/shredders were contributed. Nathanial C. Stoddard, Garden Way president, called the effort "something we wanted to do as a concerned corporate citizen." Charlotte, plus Charleston, Darlington, Florence, Hartsville, Georgetown, Myr-tle Beach and Surfside Beach, S.C. got equipment. As for Francisco, he said he'd be happy when the initial cleanup is over and things can get back to some degree of nor-malcy: "I'm getting tired of playing Daniel Boone." LCI active ingredient per acre rate with the fertilizer analysis to fit your nutrient demands. Your DOTS distributor then offers personalized service providing helpful and timely advice to maximize results. For more information on the DOTS fertilizer and pre-emergent herbicide program, call 1-800-345-DOTS. At DOTS, we help your turf look its best. So you look your best. Distributor* Own Always Read and Follow Label Instructions. lUrf Supplies PLANTING POINTS Canadians making moves to spread peat moss use Eighteen of Canada's top peat moss marketers have organized the Ca-nadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association to promote what they feel are the unique prop- erties and uses of their coun- try's product. Those 18 member firms are responsible for 98 percent of Canada's total sphagnum peat moss production and for 97 percent of the sphagnum peat moss imported by the United States. According to Gerry Hood, president of the CSPMA, Americans use 18 million six- cubic-foot bales of Canadian peat moss a year, and half of that is used by professionals in the horticultural industry. Peat bogs cover nearly 12 percent of Canada's land sur-face, and in 1988 the country exported an estimated 708,000 tons of the material. "In an age of shrinking water resources and environ-mental concerns, Canadian sphagnum peat's natural, organic composition; superior aeration and water retention capabilities are of particular import," Hood notes. In general, a mix consisting of one-third peat and two- thirds soil helps to replenish the soil's capability to produce healthy trees and plants for years to come, he adds. When used in lawn care, ac-cording to Hood, the peat can prepare a bed for seeding and supply a protective top dress-ing to guard against sudden temperature changes. The CSPMA maintains that sphagnum peat helps ev-erything grow better, includ-ing lawns, flowers, trees, shrubs, bulbs and new seed- lings. Sphagnum peat moss grows in the coldest reaches of Can-ada, in bogs that date back 7,000 to 12,000 years. These sphagnum plants were some of the first to grow on land when the glaciers pulled away at the end of the Ice Age. Over the ensuing centuries, sphagnum plants have grown and formed layers, creating this fibrous, organic sub-stance, which reportedly has an enduring structure that re-sists decomposition for years. When used in clay soils that tend to compact, sphagnum peat keeps the soil loose, let-ting in air and giving roots the room they need to develop. Also, since Canadian sphagnum peat is highly resis- tant to compaction, it protects the soil from hardening, ac- cording to the CSPMA. Another benefit being cited is its ability to retain water. Canadian sphagnum peat moss is so porous that it can actually hold 12 to 20 times its weight in water, the organiza- tion maintains. When mixed with the soil, its natural compositionŠit re-portedly contains no harmful additives, damaging insect life or weed seedsŠcreates an un-derground environment that is conducive to growing healthy plants. Also, it has a predictable pH level within the range of 3.4 to 4.8. A soil test will indi- cate if lime or sulfur is required to adjust the pH to 7, the de-sired level for lawns, according to the CSPMA. The organization claims that soils mixed with its peat moss are more productive than soils that are amended Sphagnum Peat Moss Application Guide Application Area No. ot Four Cubic Foot Bales Planting New Lawns 25 feet x 40 feet 23 bales Mix two inches of peat in top six (1,000 square feet) inches of soil. Cover with grass seed and top with a i/T to Y*" layer of peat Overseeding Established Lawns 25 feet X 40 feet 3 to 4 bales Spread a yr to layer (1,000 square feet) over surface to be reseeded Bulb and Flower Beds 3 feet X 8 feet 1 bale Blend peat one third (24 square feet) by volume with soil (you may prefer to use 1/3 peat, 1/3 sand, Y* soil). Shrub Plantings or Transplants 6 or 8 shrubs or 1 bale Blend peat one third by volume trees with soil (you may prefer to use Y* peat, Y* sand, Y* soil). Hood: It retains moisture. Triumph gets rid of the tough" Constant callbacks and retreatments can drive even the best lawn care business right into the ground. But you can reduce your callbacks Šand increase your profitsŠ simply by re-placing whatever insecti-cide you've been using with Triumph! Because no other insecti-cide is proven more effective at controlling problem turf pests, including white grubs and mole crickets. Forexample,inlOyearsof university testing,Triumph has been shown to deliver © 1989CIBA-CEIGY Corporation .Turf and Ornamental Products, Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419. Always read and follow label directions. For retail with products such as bark, manure or compost. "When compared to other peats, for example, Canadian sphagnum peat is purer, lasts longer in the soil, has greater bulk, better water retentive properties and a more predict-able pH," Hood says. When used as a topdressing or as a soil conditioner, sawdust and bark waste mate-rialsŠas they decomposeŠ take up nitrogen and nutrients needed to nourish growing plants, according to Hood. These woody products also lack sphagnum peat's ability to hold water and to prevent leaching, he points out. While the chief function of vermiculite and perlite is to aerate the soil, Canadian sphagnum peat performs the dual function of aeration and water conservation, the orga-nization claims. Vermiculite and perlite soil conditioners can be used effec- tively in combination with the organic Canadian sphagnum peat. When contrasted with the use of leaf molds and other composts as soil conditioners, Canadian sphagnum peat is found to last longer and to of- fer greater water holding and releasing capability, according to the CSPMA. Mixtures of leaf mold, com-post and Canadian sphagnum st turf pests, including these. 90 percent control of white for a full 8-10 weeks. So one your clients, grubs within just 2-3 days late summer or early fall Just that of application. application is all you need they'll more And, unlike other insecti- for effective turf protection, often be the cides,Triumph consistendy Which doesn't mean you green, nego-provides lasting control won't still collect notes from tiable variety sale to and use only by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision, and only for those uses covered by the applicator certification. peat are compatible and effec-tive soil enhancers when used in combination. Manure is also sometimes used as a soil additive. Can-ada's peat, by comparison, is odorless, slower to decompose and free of undesirable biolog-ical components, Hood says. The product is available throughout the U.S. in com-pressed one, two-, four-, five-and six-cubic-foot bales that double in volume when opened and loosened. Prior to use, Canadian sphagnum peat should be pre-moistened to activate its sponge-like water holding ca-pacity. Use a hose to fill the bale with water. The water will penetrate and properly moisten the peat moss over-night. In addition to a pH range of 3.4 to 4.8, the material has a high cation (positively charged ions) exchange capa-city, which is important for the absorbation of fertilizers, according the the CSPMA. The organization points out that the product benefits any soil type, "even in the very highest quality loam." For example, in sandy soilŠwhere water and materi-als tend to leach through too quickly, creating an unending demand for watering and feed-ingŠthe peat's fibers combine with the soil to reduce leach-ing and enhance moisture re-tention. In clay soilŠwhich tends to compact and hardenŠair, water and fertilizer cannot penetrate effectively, which in turn inhibits root growth. Adding the Canadian peat reportedly lets turf managers achieve looser, more aerated soil, "which gives the roots the room they need to develop and permits them to retain the moisture thay need." The organization also maintains that its product lasts longer than other peat materials when applied on the job. LCI Study by mail at Colo. State FORT COLLINS, COLO. Management and Control of Turfgrass Pests is a new corre- spondence course offered by Colorado State University. Topics include mainte-nance of turfgrass, biology and control of weeds, biology and control of insects and related pests in turfgrass, biology and control of turfgrass diseases, pesticide application equip-ment, calibration, integrated pest management and mea-surements, conversions and calculations. Admission to the university is not required and students can study at their own pace. The instructor is Dr. Bert L. Bohmont. LCI SHOP TALK Spray equipment functions better with winter care Winterizing and clean-ing your spraying equipment will re-duce repairs and help make it last longer. "Chemical sprayers are per-haps the most delicate equip-ment you have, (and they) require special treatment be- fore storing for the winter," says Erdal Ozkan, extension agricultural engineer at Ohio State University. "Cleaning a sprayer before storing not only increases its life but also reduces the chance of cross contamination of chemicals next spring and pre-vents (plant) injury," he main- tains. "Once it's clean, it is impor-tant to protect the sprayer from the harmful effects of snow, rain, sun and strong winds." What you clean the sprayer with depends on what pesticide you have applied with it. Ozkan says to check chemi-cal labels for specific cleaning instructions, but a solution of 2 pounds of detergent for every 30-40 gallons of water will re-move most residue. Follow these steps: Ł Remember to take the ap-propriate safety precautions when handling pesticides and cleaning materials. Follow all the detailed instructions in your sprayer's operator's man-ual. Ł Flush the sprayer with clean water. Ł Add the proper propor-tion of detergent and water to the tank and agitate the clean-ing solution thoroughly so it circulates throughout the sys- tem for several minutes. Some pesticides may form a putty-type paste on the wall of the tank that detergent will not remove. Add a gallon of kerosene or diesel fuel for each 25 gallons of cleaning water, allow the paste to dissolve, then agitate and flush with the detergent solution and clean water as described earlier. Ł Remove spray nozzles and flush the system twice with clean water. Ł Clean the nozzle tips and screens in a strong detergent solution or kerosene using a soft brush. Dry these and store Sorry, crabgrass. Sorry, goose-grass. You won't be checking in here this season. Not on turf areas treated with Team preemergence herbicide. Only one group has reservations. Your turfgrass. Even bentgrass can relax, Team is that gentle. That means with a split applica-tion you can take an all-season vaca-tion from weeds. From upset golfers, callbacks and costly reapplications. Application is easy and accurate. Team gets to the ground where you want it. It won't leach out, even in heavy rainfall. Once activated, it forms a zone of protection that shuts the door on weeds for up to 20 weeks. Team is widely available on dry fertilizer from leading formulators, and in granular form from your distributor. So if weeds are planning to visit your turf this season, tell them sorry. You've booked Team for the season. See your Elanco distributor. Or call toll-free: 1-800-352-6776. Elanco Products Company A Division of Eli Lilly and Company Lilly Corporate Center Dept. EM-455, Indianapolis, IN 46285. U.S.A. Team1"Š(benefin+trifluralin, Elanco) /MJUUk ) Refer to the Team label for complete use directions. ^Ši ' With Team on your turf, weeds won't check in all season long. . J ! ' Ł them for the winter in a can of light oil such as diesel fuel or kerosene. Ł Add 1-5 gallons of light weight oil to the rinsing water used in the final flushing to form a protective coating in- side the tank, pump and other sprayer parts. Automotive antifreeze with rust inhibitor will serve the same purpose in the pump or sprayer parts and also pre-vents any water that may not have been removed from the unit from freezing. Ł Hoses should be removed and coiled around a basket or other large round object. Hanging them on a nail or peg will cause a permanent crease that reduces flow through the hose. Ideally, a sprayer should be stored inside during the winter, Ozkan says. However, if this is not possible, some sort of cover should be pro-vided. Trailer-type sprayers should have blocks put under the frame or axle and the tire pressure reduced during stor-age. Touching up scratched paint helps prevent rusting and covering all openings will keep insects, dirt and other foreign material out of the sys-tem, he says. Clean the outside of the en-tire sprayer with a bristle brush and water or with a steam cleaner. Be sure to check the owner's manual for more spe-cific advice. LCI Mower chute guard deflects cutting debris DALLAS, TEXASŠA mower chute deflector made of chain links deposits clippings prop-erly yet helps reduce the dan-ger of flying debris, according to Stan Johnson, vice presi-dent at Las Colinas Landscape Services, Inc. The company's mid-sized walk-behinds are equipped with the devices, which are constructed in the shop by using three-eighths-inch chain and one-fourth-inch steel plate. LCI "TURFLON* herbicides give us about 95% control of problem weeds. The standard three-way products give control in the 80-85% ranger-Rick Steinau, president Greenlon Lawn Care Services Cincinnati, OH In the lawn care business, you know that exceptional perfor-mance reduces callbacks and cancellations-and costs less in the long run. Less callbacks. "We started using TURFLON three years ago," explains Rick Steinau. "TURFLON simply does a better job on the hara-to- control weeds like spurge, oxalis, ground ivy and wild violets. These are the problem weeds that customers usually complain about most. With TURFLON, we've seen a 25% reduction in weed-related callbacks and a 15% drop in cancellations." More savings. "We are definitely saving money by using a premium herbicide," continues Rick. "We know that a treatment with TURFLON costs about 50ulenc. © 1990 Rhone-ftnilenc Ag Company That means it fits perfectly into your regular spray schedule. Third, CHircO® 26019 is tf RHONE-POULENC far the cost of a candy bar, Bob Kapp made the sweet move up toTURFLON. "Our customers expect and demand quality -and we deliver. If it costs an extra 50C a lawn to keep customers, it's well worth it."-Bob Kapp, President and CEO Kapp's Green Lawn Minister, IN How much is customer satis-faction worth? For Bob Kapp of Kapp's Green Lawn, it's worth the performance difference that TURFLON* herbicide can provide. What price customer satisfaction? "We switched to TURFLON two years ago because we weren't pleased with our previous her- bicide," says Bob Kapp. "Cost has never been a deciding factor in the products we use. The extra 50