APHIDS Orthene approved for control of Ohio greenbug outbreak Ohio lawn care businessmen have an effective new weapon against a troublesome lawn pest, thanks to a cooperative effort by the state's lawn care industry and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Cen-ter, Wooster. The lawn pest is a tiny aphid known commonly as greenbug. The new chemical weapon is Orthene Tree and Ornamental Spray. It was cleared for us in the state in mid-September, when the Ohio Department of Agriculture granted a special local need label. The clearance is good news for at least four Ohio cities where lawns have been especially hard hit by heavy infestations of the greenbug. These include Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Springfield. The problem was diagnosed a few years back. An investigation was launched to find out why populations and damage have in- creased each year since 1970. Research and experiences of lawn care firms show that the in-sect has apparently developed resistance to the insecticides Dursban, Diazinon and malathion. This is probably the main reason for what appears to be a greenbug invasion. A "crash" program was in-Ł¡^KMHi INFLATION Businessmen to raise prices in 1980 Those lawn care professionals recently contacted by LAWN CARE INDUSTRY predict a five to 20 percent increase in the cost of their services in 1980. The businessmen attribute the immi-nent price increases to greater chemical, labor, and fuel costs. Surprisingly, most of those contacted said they did not ex-pect to lose a significant number of customers as a result of the in- creases. Rick Eldred, vice-presi- dent and general manager of A-Perm-O-Green Lawn, Ft. Worth, Texas, said, "I think the public will accept a price increase as long as it's not out of line. "They realize that almost everything is going up in price," he added. "We've had a price in-crease every year we've been in business and we felt we've never lost any customers as a result of it." Rick White, of Village Green Lawn Spraying, Ltd., Glen Ellyn, 111., agrees. "I really think the customer expects to see an in- crease," he said. "They realize that everything is going up in price. I think they would be sur- prised if there wasn't an in- crease." Few companies can be sure of what impact the 1980 price in-creases will have on their busi- nesses, but Ron Zwiebel, presi- dent of Chem-Care Lawn Service of Alabama, Inc., Birmingham, Ala., is optimistic. "We've already sent out 700 L4WN Serving lawn maintenance Ł JUI^pB and chemical lawn | care professionals. INDUSTRY DECEMBER 1979 Ł VOL. 3, NO. 12 Ł A Harvest Publication KENTUCKY CONFERENCE Choice of nitrogen source critical for fall fertilization Choice of nitrogen sources for fall fertilization is very critical because of the logistics problems the liquid chemical lawn care in-dustry faces, ChemLawn Corp. regional agronomist Tom Ruther-ford told the audience at the Kentucky Turfgrass Conference in Owensboro recently. "If you believe, and I think we all do, that two fall fertilizations are necessary for cool-season grasses to get up and growing in spring," the Atlanta-based Rutherford said, "then you often have to begin this fertilization in August, when the weather can be hot." The problems of choosing fer-tilizer sources for the hot August weather was covered by Ruther- ford as part of a discussions of li-quid versus dry fertilization, sources of phosphorus and potassium for the lawn care in- dustry, and some new sources of 1 QUICK STARTS Lawn care no threat, garden retailers say page 5 Lease or buy? page 7 Cutworms damage Midwest lawns page 8 Bare ground weed control Memphis company's backbone page 10 $161,000 New Mexico irrigation installation page 18 April application controls chinchbugs through summer page 19 MEMOS 2 MEETING DATES 3 NEWSMAKERS 4 MONEYWISE 6 TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES 14 COST CUTTINGS 16 nitrogen. Liquid versus dry. Rutherford said that there are no major dif-ferences in turfgrass response to liquid or dry fertilizers, if clip-pins are not removed. to page 15 BUSINESS Industry growth up 31% over last year Lawn care businessmen said their gross receipts increased an average of 31 percent this year compared to last year's figures, in a survey conducted recently by LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. The median response was an in-crease of 20 percent. When asked how their 1978 gross receipts compared with 1977 in the same survey, lawn care businessmen replied they experienced an increase of 41 How did your business' total gross receipts in 1978 compare with 1977? letters informing our customers of our price increase," he said, "and thus far only five have can- celled. That's less than one per-cent of our customers." Gordon Ober, general manager of Davey Lawnscape, Kent, Ohio, said his company will increase prices five to 10 percent in 1980 because of a number of factors. "We don't have one cost that is going down," he said. "The three ma-jor elements that have really hit us are fertilizer, labor, and equipment costs. "Marketing costs are also in-creasing," he added. "The same newspaper ad that we put in last year is going to cost us about 10 percent more this year." Ober also noted that the lawn care industry is at a disadvan-tage to other businesses, in terms of pricing. "One of the problems with our industry is we can only adjust our prices once a year," he said. "We're not like a grocery store owner who can increase his prices whenever his costs go up." White, of Village Green, said his company expects to increase their prices by nine percent because of increased gas and labor costs. Surprisingly, material costs are not a signifi- cant problem for Village Green. "Material costs have in-creased," he said, "but not considerably. As we grow we're getting better buying leverage so I can't say that the cost of materi-als is hurting us nearly as much as the increased cost of labor and gas." Dave Murphy, of Green Valley Co., Shawnee Mission, Kan., said his company expects to increase to page 22 percent. The median response was an increase of 25 percent. In a survey conducted last year by the magazine, the lawn care businessmen surveyed said they expected an average increase of 33.5 percent in gross receipts be-tween 1978 and 1979, which is 2.5 percent over the actual figure ob-tained in this year's survey. According to LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY market research manager Clarence Arnold, the results are based on a 47.4 per- cent response to 500 question- naires mailed in July and tabulated in August and Septem-ber. How do you expect receipts in 1979 to compare with 1978? ÏWLL XI ** HQ-HOIIS 3931103 AI Nil w 3 V SVX31 id3Q 33N3I3S düdD 3 1I0S N311 Vti W N3A3IS -ÒÌWIÙ3 3d s to the lawn care in-DE THE INDUSTRY, pth looks at business, 'e businessman faces e been suggested by Source: 1979 LCI survey u Ex3 Q OC H CO D Q Z w OS < u z < WILLIAMSBURG Contract mowing to be discussed at Virginia conference A special panel on contract mo-wing and a number of talks dis-cussing chemical lawn care are set for the Virginia Turfgrass Conference Jan. 30-31 at Fort Magruder Inn in Colonial Williamsburg. Dr. James B. Beard of Texas A & M Univer-sity, College Station, Texas, will be keynote speaker. Merell Petet, owner of Petet's Lawn Service, Lorton, Va., and Cary Padgett of Garden Gate Landscape Co., Richmond, Va. will lead a panel dicussion of "Facing Reality in Contract Mo-wing". Dr. Beard will speak on altering turf maintenance con-cepts in response to decreasing resources of energy. Other speakers include Dr. Charles Darrah, ChemLawn Corp., Columbus, Ohio, who will speak on separating fact from fic-tion in pesticide safety; Dr. Houston Couch, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI) on common sense use of fungicides in a lawn care program; VPI's Dr. Wayne Bingham on lawn weed control. Also, Jerry Faulring, Hydro Lawn, Gaithersburg, Md. on pro-fessionalism in the lawn care in-dustry; Roger Ratcliffe of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture speak-ing on chinch bug and sod web- worm control; Dr. Kirk Hurto of the University of Massachusetts, speaking on thatch decline; and Dan Moreland, assistant editor of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, speaking on the future of the lawn care industry. For further information, con-tact: John Shoulders, Dept. of Agronomy, 419 Smyth Hall, VPI, Blacksburg, VA 24061, 703-951- 5797. PUBLICATIONS Fertilizer handbook features world prices Green Markets 1979 Fertilizer Price Handbook , from McGraw Hill Publications Co., provides access to price levels for 18 ma-jor fertilizer products in key U.S. and world markets. The handbook includes weekly U.S. and world wholesale prices from January 1977 to June 1978; U.S. fertilizer production and consumption figures by type of finished product and raw material; and U.S. farm retail prices for key products from 1974-1979. To order the handbook contact E. Ness, Green Markets, 457 National Press Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20045. Price per copy is $112 in the U.S. and $122 out-side the U.S. LAWN OIRE INDUSTRY Editor/Associate Publisher: ROBERT EARLEY Technical Editor: RON MORRIS Assistant Editor: DAN MORELAND Graphic Director: RAYMOND GIBSON Publishing Director: RICHARD J. W. FOSTER Research Services: CLARENCE ARNOLD Advertising Production: CHRIS SIMKO Editorial Secretary: JEANNIE SUTTON MARKETING/SALES Circulation & List Rental: SHARON JONES (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, JEFF DREAZEN (312) 236-9425 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 233-1817 3091 Maple Dr., Atlanta, Ga. 30305 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 i: JA President: Hi Senior Vice President: BERNIE KRZYS Senior Vice President: DAYTON MATLICK Vice President: CHARLES QUINDLEN Chairman: JAMES MILHOLLAND JR. IUGH CHRONISTER HARVEST 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 (216) 651-5500. Copyright « 1979 by The Harvest Publishing Company. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be 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. Change 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 Publishin Inc., publishers of WEEDS GOLF BUSINESS. Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, TREES & TURF, PEST CONTROL. NPCA Extra. MEMOS ChemLawn featured in Forbes: ChemLawn Corp. specifically and the lawn care industry in general were featured in the Sept. 17 issue of Forbes. The magazine has a special section called "The U-and-Comers" and featured the Columbus, Ohio-based company under a heading "A Green Machine: Spraying chemicals on suburban lawns is an easy business to get into, but careful ChemLawn has avoided the fly-by-night image and given the industry credibility." The article points out that the company's 675,000 customers make it the market leader in the $2 billion lawn care industry. The industry has been growing at a rate of 25 to 30 percent a year, Forbes reporter Sharon Reier said, and ChemLawn has grown even faster Š from under $10 million in sales in 1973 to $64 million last year, or 45.6 percent compounded, to prov-ably $85 million in the fiscal year which ended last month. Over the same period, earnings grew 42.7 percent and return on equity averaged 64 percent. The article notes that growth has not come free, saying that ChemLawn's balance sheet is highly leveraged. The article says that late founder Richard L. Duke, who died two years ago of a heart attack at 48, took ChemLawn public in 1970 Š but to a limited market Š by issuing 30,000 shares of stock to customers and employes at $5 a share. Each of those shares, after the equivalent of a 15-for-l stock split, is now worth $41 over the counter. ChemLawn refused a takeover bid by ITT in 1971. Today, Merrill C. Berman, a New York private investor, now controls five percent of the company's 2.4 million shares outstanding. He is still buying, and believes ChemLawn is still a bargain at 41 Š even though that is 30 times last year's earnings and 23 times the $1.80 a share expected this year. Why does Berman endorse this "outrageously" high multi-ple? As he is quoted in the article: "There are 48 million private homes in the United States and Canada. That's a $5 billion to $6 billion market, which I think they can get 15 percent of." That's between $750 million and $900 million, if you don't have your calculator handy. Households, 1995: The Census Bureau projects the number of households will increase by 28 percent to 41 percent over the 1978 total by 1995. That means the number of households would be between 97.2 million and 107.5 million. There were 75.9 million households (not single-family households, how-ever) in the United States in 1978, according to the Census Bureau. Social Security wage base increase: The Social Security wage base will increase from $22,900 to $25,900 effective January 1. The rate remains at 6.13 percent. This means each employe earning $25,900 will now pay $1,587.67 a year. This amount is matched by the employer. we meet your requirements < OC H C/3 D Q Z Cd OC < u Z NEWSMAKERS Dr. Robert M. Barry, operations manager for R.W. Collins, Inc., , Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., has announced the following person-nel assignments: Dan McElroy has been named branch manager of the com-pany's Punta Gorda, Fla. lawn care office; Steve Leker has been named branch manager of the company's Indian Harbour Beach lawn care office; Ed Bell has been named branch manager of the company's Daytona Beach, Fla. lawn care office. Also, Robert Smith has been named assistant branch manager at the company's New Port Richey, Fla. lawn care office; Mark Flowers has been named turf specialist for the company's Atlanta lawn care office; and Vaughn Kerstetter has been named area pest control manager for the company's Florida east coast section. Stephen Czarnecky is owner of Lawn Care based in Vallejo, Calif. Dr. Alfred J. Turgeon, associ-ate professor of turfgrass science at the University of Illinois has been named professor and resi- dent director of the Texas A & M Research and Extension Center, Dallas. The center has eight scientists, turf plots and plans are in the works to add a turf breeder soon, Dr. Turgeon said. associate professor of turfgrass and turfgrass extension special-ist at Ohio State University. His new post will be 75 percent ex-tension and 25 percent teaching. He begins Feb. 1. Street Burton The Agricultural Chemicals Division of Diamond Shamrock Corp., Cleveland, has named Dr. Ralph P. Burton supervisor of product registrations. Lawrence E. Fey is sales manager for Excelawn Corp., Indianapolis. Paul Sullivan is owner of Lawn Aid, Ltd., North Haven, Conn. Kathy Allen is landscape manager for M.S. Management Assoc., Countryside, 111. The company recently moved from Joliet, 111. offices. Stuart Crippen is owner of Best Lawn, Denver, Colo. The company handles both mowing/maintenance and granular application of fertil-izers and pesticides. John F. Shoulders, extension turf specialist at Virginia State Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, will be retiring March 1 after 35 years with the college. Dr. Thomas Turner has joined the turfgrass extension depart-ment at the University of Mary- land. His post is 100 percent extension. He recently received his Ph.d. from Pennsylvania State University. Turgeon Eckert Ann J. Eckert has been appointed office services super-visor for the Jacobsen Division of Textron, Inc., Racine, Wis. Bob York and Art Leffler are handling advertising for Ashland Chemical Co., Columbus, Ohio, replacing Bob Cook, who has left the firm. F.F. Durbin is owner of F.F. Durbin Landscaping, Indi-anapolis. Kenneth R. Schmalz is owner of Schmalz Custom Landscaping, Appleton, Wis. Allan G. Duey is president of Jay-Lan, Inc., Sioux City, Iowa. The company is a liquid lawn care company. Marilyn R. Duey is secretary and Thomas Minard is vice president. Jim Walter is owner of Specialty Spraying, Inc., Latrobe, Pa. His chemical lawn care business involves both liquid and granular application. Don Zerby is owner of Zerby Landscaping, Willoughby, Ohio. Carole Reed Allaway has been named communications manager for Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp., Glendora, Calif. Earl Pinegar is owner of E.P.'s Lawn Service, Chesapeake, Va. Dr. John Street, assistant pro-fessor and turfgrass extension specialist at the University of Il-linois, has accepted a post as William H. Link, director of landscaping for Century Development Corp., Houston, was elected president of the Professional Grounds Manage- ment Society at the organiza-tion's recent annual meeting. Davids RoJsky Board members of the organiza-tion include: Len Spencer, presi- dent of The Spencer Co., Houston; Clarence Davids, Sr., president of Clarence Davids & Sons, Blue Island, 111.; and Mort Rolsky, Pro Care Landscapers, Indianapolis. Enter a trial subscription by returning this card. Read LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY for: Ł Timely reports on how other lawn care and maintenance companies handle their business problems. Ł Useful tips on the tools of your profession: Direct mail, selling, customer service, equipment care, business management, service techniques. Ł Ideas, facts and figures to maximize your business development and profits. Edited to help you do a more ef-fective job. L4WN GIRE INDUSTRY 9800 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44102 "DON'T CONSIDER THEM COMPETITORS" Lawn care companies no threat, garden supply retailers say Lawn care companies are not a threat to a majority of garden supply retailers polled recently by Garden Supply Retailer magazine. In an article prepared by the magazine's editor Richard W. Chamberlin, the retailers polled also said that the influence of lawn care companies should begin to wane in many areas over the next five years. About half of the retailers quoted in the story said that there are no lawn care com-panies presently operating in their areas. The others said there was some activity, but that it wasn't seriously cutting into sales of fertilizers and chemicals. Some comments from the story follow: "I don't consider them com-petitors," said Denny McKeown, Natorp Garden Stores, Cincin- nati. "For a while they had taken a share of the market, but in the last two years we've had an in-crease in sales of regular lawn food. Customers have become dissatisfied with the forced feeding method because it works three or five years, but then the lawn quality starts to decline. In addition, this service is getting expensive. We show our customers how they can care for their own lawns at much less ex-pense." "There is very little of this type of service in upstate New York," said Dick Tate, Tate Equipment, Horseheads, N.Y. "Most of our customers are self-sufficient. A few firms have started but gone out of business. It seems this ser-vice only appeals to the very busy or the very wealthy." "We have some basic insect problems in Florida, especially the chinch bug," said Randy Knight, Poole & Fuller's, Winter Park, Fla. "These lawn care busi-nesses will come in and spray and do some fertilizing. But most equipped to do it, so these ser-vices do cut into our business somewhat. But I'm not con-cerned." "I don't feel that they've cut into my business, but they are doing business here so they must have," said Punky Foard, Valley View Farms Country Store, One garden supply retailer set up a program to compete with lawn care businessmen in his area. He doesn't go out and do the servicing, but rather sets up the customer on a program of his own. Then he sells the merchandise. He keeps records so he knows just when the customer is due for an application. Then he delivers the product to the customer's garage. people in Florida will put on supplemental fertilizer. We feel that we should provide good ad-vice to our customers to help them grow beautiful lawns. "That is a difficult task in this area and some people just aren't "Iwish my quarterbacks as durable as were Coach Dan Spadoni, Dollarway High School, Pine Bluff, Ark. Last season, Coach Spadoni had all four of his quarterbacks out at one time or another with injuries. But his John Deere 850 Tractor never missed a day's work. "In the two years we've had it, we've used it to mow both of our football fields, the practice field and the grounds around the school'/ says Coach Spadoni. "And we've never had any problems. Even opposing teams have told us ours is the best field they've played on'.' Which, of course, is why Coach Spadoni and School Superintendent James Matthews decided to buy a John Deere 'Little-Big' Tractor in the first place. Not too big, not too small They were looking for a tractor big enough to handle -Maximum PTO horsepower at 2600engine rpm (by official test). -'Maximum PTO horsepower at 2400engine rpm (by official test for the 9S0, factory observed for the 1050). a large-acreage mowing job. Yet small enough so it would be economical to buy and operate. The 22- PTO-hp* John Deere 850 filled the bill on both counts. Its compact, water-cooled, 3-cylinder diesel engine has the power and stamina to run a rotary mower day after day, year after year. Yet being a diesel, it gives the kind of fuel economy a school's budget really appreciates. More than just a mower Another reason Coach Spadoni picked the John Deere 850 is its versatility. It has a well-spaced 8-speed transmission that can match up to just about any job you want to do, plus a differential lock. It has a Category I 3-point hitch, 540-rpmPTO and adjustable drawbar, plus more than 20 power-matched implement options. And it's available in a variety of different tire styles and sizes. Built to last Of course, like all John Deere tractors, the 22-PTO-hp 850 is built to last. "You can actually feel how solid it is when you ride it" says Dan Spadoni. And to prove it, we ask only that you test drive one yourself at your nearby John Deere dealer. Try out the 850, the 27-PTO-hp 950 or the new 33-PTO-hp 1050 with turbo-charged diesel engine** See for yourself why John Deere 'Little-Big' Tractors are a big winner with schools, parks and golf courses everywhere. Nothing runs like a Deere For more information, write John Deere, Dept. 63, Moline, Illinois 61265. The little-big tractors from John Deere Cockeysville, Md. "But on the surface it hasn't affected our sales at all so we haven't developed a plan to counteract this competition." "I've seen their ads in the paper, said Bob Tuinstra, Fruit Basket Flowerland, Grand Rapids, Mich. "It has been tried in the Grand Rapids area in the past and failed. But I do think they can give us problems although none have surfaced thus far. I've always said if you can't beat them, join them. I did that with artificial flowers. When I added the silk flowers, it in-creased sales of live flowers as well. The same thing happened with artificial Christmas trees." "This service is slacking off in popularity here," said Lloyd Franz, Franz Fruitmarket, Napoleon, Ohio. "Customers are complaining because they're feeding the grass too much nitro-gen. After a couple of years this brings the roots to the surface and the grass dissipates. "There are so many people in this business now that I'm con-cerned that there should be some regulations. Some of these firms are fly-by-night operations that come in for a few years, take the business, and then leave. The customer will always come back to the reliable business. "We have had a lawn care pro-gram ourselves and we send literature on it to our customers It's crabgrass control and fertil-izer in the spring; broadleaf weed control in May and June; and a fall weed and feed pro-gram. We use granular-form walk-behind spreaders and we have a large crew taking care of our customers. When spraying you need experienced people, so we use our landscaping crews for that. One mistake and you've lost a customer." "We have one of these busi-nesses in Martinsburg," said Phil Ernst, of Woodbrier Nursery in that West Virginia town. "He has stimulated interest in good lawns so we don't mind him. Customers hear about this service and would like to have it but can't af- ford it. So they come to us and want to know how to get a better lawn. We advise them on what to put down and it has been advan-tageous to us. "We also decided to set up a program ourselves. We won't go out and do the servicing, but we do set the customer up with a care program of his own. We sell him the merchandise, tell him how to apply it and when. We to page 17 r* > Z n > » m Z a c C/3 H 50 a m n u a Q OC cn D Q 2 w a: < u 2 MONEYWISE Turning snow into cash Snow removal is a business that can be expanded from just covering expenses and overhead to a profit center well worth a firm's time, according to panel members who discussed snow removal at a recent meeting of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association. The panel's thoughts on drawing up a comprehensive con-tract, terms, being certain about requirements and schedul-ing were printed in The Landscape Contractor. "Last year, we thought we had the contract problem licked," recalled John Schwarz Nursery and Gar-den Center. "Thanks to previous experience we knew better than to write a contract that stated 'we'll plow X lot for X dollars for the season.' However, no one in our firm planned a contract that foresaw the financial impact created by the amount of snow we handled last year. Like so many others, we were forced to run double shifts, pay double time, and take on new help at a ridiculous rate. Add manpower prob-lems to equipment costs, downtime for repairs, obtaining parts, and you know we had problems. This year you can bet we are going to include all those variables in a contract." "Our bidding is usually done on a square-foot basis," says Jim Bussey of J.B. Design. "We have a basic idea of how much each job should take and we set a limit to the amount of snow per occurence and bill accordingly. Our breakdown runs from one to two inches, two to four inches, and four to six inches of snow on the ground." Terms. "One of the most important things to include in a snow removal contract," Schwarz said, "is exactly what is to be done and when you get paid." Many landscapers found that their clients created a slow payment situation because they hadn't budgeted enough for snow removal. "Don't forget to write a timetable for payment into your contracts so you'll know when to expect payment. If you are in this business to correct a negative winter cash flow, pay-ments arriving in August won't be much help," he said. "I've heard some excavation contractors require a start-up fee or what they call an autumn retainer fee. That's an idea to look Professional SPRAY EQUIPMENT AT AN ECONOMICAL COST!!! DEPENDABLE ACCURATE Ł ECONOMICAL 2. Inductor illowt you to nix chomicalt ont yard at a tina. Your spray company is different than others so you need a sprayer tailored to your needs. That's why the Professional Turf Specialties system is used by lawn spray companies from Chicago to Texas. No other system con suspend large particles such as IBDU and nitroform and offer a separate tank that allows you to mix one product, one lawn at a time, through an inductor as well as these features: 1) A pumping system that can load or unload itself and other trucks. 2) Remote throttle tachometer and pressure gauge for finite accuracy. 3) Ability to suspend slow release nitrogen such as IBDU® or nitroform. 4) Can be mounted on your present equipment or on any new truck. 5) Optional compartmentalized tank, allowing you to fill one section from the other and custom mix chemicals on the job through an inductor. Professional Turf Specialties CALL COLLECT (309) 454-2467 SUPPLIERS OF EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICALS FOR TURF MAINTAINENCE 1801 INDUSTRAL PARK RD. Ł NORMAL, ILLINOIS 61761 Circle 111 on free information card into because it would give cash flow to those late fall weeks when there's not much else to do but get ready for winter. All start-up time would be billed for including snow plow hook-up, attaching lights, hydraulic systems, and preventive main-tenance." "Our company is considering a retainer fee in the contract for storing a piece of equipment on the job site all winter," said Don Nowotny of Theodore Brickman Co. "The clients would appreciate it as they realize our operators will be to their rescue faster and have the snow cleared away before the employes start arriving on the lot. Don't forget, many com-panies feel that not having a comprehensive snow removal plan will cost them money." Be certain about requirements. According to Schwarz, the best way to determine a job's requirements is to lay plans long before there are threats of snow. "Make an appointment and sit down with your client and together agree on a site's requirements," he said. "Get the client to agree on what the conditions of the site have to be before the client expects your arrival. One company bills according to the amount of snow, with breakdowns running from one to two inches, two to four and four to six. "We use the one-inch of snow on the ground and more snow falling as our contractual starting point. Some clients are admittedly more fussy and expect to see dry pavement all winter," he said. "Be sure you understand the client's needs before each contract is written. Include what you are expec-ted to do about blowing or drifting snow. Try to list what machines will be needed and whether or not the snow is to be hauled off the site. "If the client wants the snow hauled off the site, you are go-ing to need to plan on where you will haul the snow, and get permission," he said. "Subcontractors may be needed. You'd better have it in the contract who is to pay them, you or the client. Also, will your firm be responsible for tree and shrub damage on the site? You may discover a damage charge deducted from your invoices if you don't try to foresee every possible service problem. Scheduling. Denny Church of D.L. Church Landscape Co., uses the '80 percent of capacity philosophy' as a rule of thumb for scheduling men and equipment. "This worked well last year," he said. "Don't contract your-self up to capacity or you will be asking for service problems. Good management dictates you hold back a reserve of men and equipment to cover breakdowns and illness problems." "We make a map outline of each site," Bussey said. "Our written outline describes the best procedure for plowing each site. We include which section should be plowed first, the location of manhole covers, cracks in the pavement, and all the little characteristics of the site. One of these outlines is on file for each of our snow plow sites. Should a person become ill, another crew member can take his place with enough information about the site to avoid unnecessary trouble." Also available with gas engine and mounting base. For both Volume and Pressure Use Hypro series 5200 Big Twin piston pumps. Here's a rugged two-cylinder piston pump that will deliver up to 10 gpm at 400 psi (600 rpm) for tree spraying, area spraying, fogging, or termite pretreating. Handles many kinds of weed and pest control chemicals including wettable powder suspensions. Available with solid shaft or with hollow shaft for direct tractor, truck, or jeep PTO mounting. FEATURES: Leather or impregnated fabric piston cups. Heavy duty ball bearings. Suction & discharge ports tapped %" NPT. A DIVISION OF LEAR SIEGLER. INC 319 Fifth Avenue NW, St. Paul, Minnesota 55112 Circle 106 on free information card Lease or buy? by Ned Brinkman, manager, general sales, Turf Products, facobsen Division of Textron, Inc., Racine, Wis. However, some lessors will pro-vide for trading up, or buying out before the lease expires. Since these provisions can give you the flexibility similar to ownership, Faced with high interest rates, inflation, new regulations and cash flow requirements, the financing of new equipment has become a complex consideration for lawn care businessmen in re-cent years. One obvious way to get that new machine on the job and generating income is simply to buy it through an outright cash purchase. If ample cash is available, ownership may be the right deci-sion. The machine may cost less, you'll be able to depreciate it, and benefit directly from any investment tax credit that is available. New equipment purchased outright can actually cost just one-third of the list price for a business in the 48 percent tax bracket when depreciation and investment tax credit are pro- perly figured. For many lawn care busi-nesses, buying is the right deci-sion. But for many others, the best alternative is to lease that new machine. Just as in buying, you get the machine right away when you lease. You have the machine but somebody else holds the title. You pay "rent" to the owner to cover his cost of financing the purchase, his expenses and a reasonable profit for his efforts and risks involved. When your lease is up, the other party still owns the equipment, not you, compared to a loan where the title is conveyed to you after your final payment. On the positive side, you can deduct all lease payments as a business expense. And usually you can acquire the machine for a reasonable sum at the end of the lease term. While it is impossible for us to make a broad recommendation on whether to buy or lease, we can give you some general infor-mation to help you reach your decision. Since buying is usually a whole lot easier than leasing, we'll delve into the latter in more detail. A word of caution: Leas- ing can be complex so you'll want to have professional advice before committing to any arrangement. True lease? The first item you'll want to be sure of is that the contract is a "true lease" un-der the federal Internal Revenue Code. A true lease lets you, the lessee, claim rental payments as tax deductions, while the lessor can claim the tax benefits of ownership, such as depreciation. Another item to watch is the purchase option of the lease. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calls it a "purchase contract" rather than a lease if the pur-chase option is not stated at fair market value at expiration date, or if the lease is worded so the purchase option is automatic. Payments cannot be defined as "rent" or as a recurring business expense. If the lease says you buy the machine for salvage value at expiration date, the IRS people won't go along with it. Net lease. Probably the most common lease to the lawn care industry is called the "net lease". This means that rentals are payable net to the lessor and all costs in connection with the use of the equipment, insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc., are paid by the lessee, with all warranties, guarantees, special services, instruction, etc., passed on to you. The usual term for a net lease is three to five years. Operating lease. This other common type of lease covers a comparatively short period of time such as one year. With it you use the machine for only a fraction of its productive life. The lessor often provides ser-vices and sometimes even per-sonal property taxes. A way out? Normally a lease is not cancelable for its initial term. facobsen's Ned Brinkman (right) at a student seminar earlier this year that was sponsored by the Racine, Wis.-based company. they should be carefully checked out, or bargained for. Lease flexibility. A lease can be flexible in many other ways. For example, leasing companies responded to the investment tax credit by passing the credit on to the lessee to the extent allowable under IRS code. Some leases take seasonality into consideration and skip pay-ment during certain months. Sometimes payments can be deferred for up to six months even though the turf machine is being used, giving the lessee financial flexibility at the outset. Usually at the end of most leases you have the option to renew at a very attractive rate. And when the lease is up, you always have the option to get a new machine without having to worry about what to do with the old model. Capital care. Even if the econ-omy is stable and business is booming along, you'll still want to think twice about buying. It to page 17 A BEAUTIFUL RYE. There's no doubt about it. REGAL is the new turf-type perennial ryegrass that combines color, vigor and density for an elegant turf. REGAL's dark green, fine-textured leaves look beautiful alone, or blend well with other turf-type ryegrasses. It has excellent tillering characteristics, and during periods of transition with bermudagrass, helps to maintain a lush, green, uniform turf. And REGAL cuts clean, for a beautiful lie on tees, greens, fairways and roughs. Without ragged edges, or grainy areas. Ł y Ł Š ï V ^ ' LWi mr : Ì» Try REGALŠbred for rapid germination, exceptional vigor, density and persistence. Good disease resistance, too. If you'd like more information on REGAL, contact North American Plant Breeders. P.O. Box 2955. Mission, Kansas. 66205 8-5256 (liNAPB X/^ NORTH AMERICAN Y« PLANT BREEDERS First in the science of seeds. REGAL the ryegrass that gives your course a beautiful edge. 8 INSECTS Š Cutworms damage £ Cutworms are character-istically a serious pest of golf u course greens in the Midwest, and damage to Kentucky blue-grass lawns has usually been in-frequent and usually not exten-sive. However, in May of this year, large patches of dead grass were fe observed in many lawns throughout Illinois, according to Dr. John R. Street, assistant pro-fessor of turfgrass at the Univer-sity of Illinois. Dr Street and Dr. z Roscoe Randell, associate pro-fessor of entomology, studied the ~ problem. Upon close observation, the brown areas were found to be highly populated Š 20 or more per square foot in some areas Š with larva or caterpillars. The caterpillars were identified as the bronzed cutworm. Cutworm feeding was so prevalent that many lawn care companies in- cluded insecticide control of the cutworm as part of their regular program. Cutworm description. The bronzed cutworm larva is a dark, Bronze cutworm bronzy brown color and striped from head to tail with five pale to yellowish lines. One stripe runs down the center of the black (dorsal) side and another runs transversely below structures called spiracles (external open- ings towards the base) on either side of the body. In contrast, the black cutworm larva is pale grey to black, greasy appearing, without distinct stripes or markings. Small black spots do occur, however, in a uniform pattern across the upper (dorsal) surface of the body. These black spots develop from hair-bearing tubercules (small, knob-like protuberances) that are heavily pigmented with black. The mature larva are thick-bodied and one-and-one-half to two inches long. The larva usually curl up when at rest or disturbed. The adults of all cutworms are moths with dark brown to grey front wings, variously marked with darker or lighter spots and narrow bands, and lighter colored hind wings. The color markings of the front wings are key characteristics used to differentiate among cutworm species. For example, the basal two-thirds of front wing of the black cutworm is darker than the outer third; wheras, the central area of the front wing of the bronzed cut-worm is usually darker and olive-tinted, compared to the in- ner and outer wing. The wingspan of the adult moth is about one-and-one-half inches. Feeding and damage. Cutworm larvae injure turfgrass plants by chewing the grass leaves off at or near the soil surface. The leaves may be severed from the crown Midwest lawns leaving a stubble, or the crown may be injured as well. Where feeding is heavy, large areas of turf may develop a brown colora- tion. Cutworm larvae feed most ac-tively during the night. The larva usually hide in tunnels in the soil, just above the soil surface, or in the thatch during the day. The adult moth does not damage the turf in any way. The adults feed at night by sucking nectar from flowers, and often are at-tracted to lights. Life cycle. The bronzed and black cutworms have distinctly different life cycles. The bron- zed cutworm overwinters as par-tially grown larva and has only one generation each year. The larvae begin feeding in the spring (March to May, depending upon location), pupate during the summer, and adult moths appear from early Black cutworm adult September to early October, with peak moth flights generally in mid-September. Greatest in-jury from bronzed cutworm lar-vae occurs during the spring. In contrast, the black cutworm overwinters as a larva or pupa and has three or more genera-tions each year in the Midwest. In the spring, adult moths emerge from pupal cells in the soil, mate, and shortly thereafter lay eggs. Larvae hatch from eggs Abnormal pupa (left) and normal in a week or less. The larval period lasts from 25 to 35 days and the entire life cycle from egg to adult requires 45 to 55 days. Where three generations are common, the first moth flights generally peak in mid-May, the second in mid-July, and the third in August or September. Diagnosis for cutworm. Cutworm larvae feed on turf-grass at night and usually hide in the thatch or soil during the day. Precision 2-cycle engine with solid-state ignition and ball and needle bearings throughout All-position carburetor with fuel shut-off Positive priming system Silencer-type air cleaner, spark arrestor muffler \ I d, heat-treated Encased, heat-treated drive shaft Six great gas-power-tough trimmers: MODEL 1900 High-quality economy trimmer. Here is famous Green Machine quality and performance built into a new, low-priced 14.9 cc gas-trimmer. Unlike many low-end gas trimmers, The Green Machine Model 1900 has plenty of powerŠso much power that it comes equipped with two heavy-gauge long-wearing .080 Green Line cutting strings. Coupled with great engine performance is a simple but effective 2-string, manual-feed cutting head. A TFCŽ automatic-feed head is available as an option, as well as a new flexible rubber blade for fast trimming of weeds. Other features of the 1900 include a flexible, enclosed drive shaft, light overall weight for ease of operation, multi-position molded handle. SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: inverted 2 Cycle Air Cooled Cylinder Type: Single Alum Alloy Chrome Plated Displacement: 14 9 cc Bore & Stroke mm 27 x 26 Compression Ratio: 621 Max H.P. (H.P/RPM) 65/6500 Carburetor: Butterfly Type All Position Ignition: Contact Point Type Clutch Housing: Direct Coupled Lubrication (Fuel Mixture) 20 to 1 Fuel Capacity: ( 4Li 42Qt Shaft: Hex Type Reduction: None Cutting Head (Std): 5 Dia Cutting Swath: 17 in Weight (with cutting head) 10 lbs (4 5kg) ŁI ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ Ł MODEL 2000 Loaded with Power. This model is equipped with the popular 22.5 cc Green Machine engine. There's power to spare for the toughest string trimming operations. Standard equipment includes the reliable, manual-feed head. You can also use it with the optional TFCŽ Tap-For-Cord head. A light tap on the ground automatically releases fresh cutting string. The Model 2000 can also be used with the new fixed-line head (.105 line). Other features include an all-position diaphragm-type carburetor with positive fuel shut-off. Power is transmitted through a rugged, enclosed flexible drive-shaft. As with the 1900, the mid-handle is easily adjustable to the operators height and can be quickly reversed when the unit is used for edging. It's a beautifully built unit, ideal for those that want additional power and efficiency. SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: Upright 2-Cycle Air Cooled Cylinder Type: Single Alum Alloy Chrome Plated Displacement: 22 5 Bore A Stroke mm: 32 x 26 Compression Ratio: 6 5 1 Max H.P. (H.P/RPM) 1 2/6500 Carburetor: Slide Type All Position Ignition: Contact Point Type Clutch Housing: Direct Coupled Lubrication (Fuel Mixture) 20 to 1 Fuel Capacity: ( 6L) 64Qt Muffler: Spark Arrester Shaft: Flex Type Reduction: None Cutting Head (Std) 5 Dia Cutting Swath: 18 in Weight (with cutting head): 11 lbs (5kg) MODEL 2500 A great string trimmerŠand more. Powered by the proven 22.5 cc engine, here is a string trimmerŠthat's more than a string trimmer. Model 2500 comes equipped with a new Universal TFCŽ head for fast, efficient grass and weed trimming. Just switch to one of tne optional quick-change metal blades and you've got a great brush cutter or tree pruner. The performance of this unit in tough brush and pruning opera-tions has to be seen to be fully appreciated. 1 The brush blade lets you cut through heavy brush and vines up to % inch in diameter. The saw blade, used with a combination chopping/sawing action can slice easily through branches up to three inches in diameter. It is equipped with a straight solid- steel shaft with spiral-bevel gears. Four optional heads are available for this unitŠsee chart on back page. SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: Upright 2-Cycle Air Cooled Cylinder Type: Single Alum Alloy Chrome Plated Displacement: 22 5 Bore & Stroke mm: 32 x 26 Compression Ratio: 6 51 Max H.P. (H.P/RPM) 1 2/6500 Carburetor: Slide Type All Position Ignition: Contact Point Typo Clutch Housing: Direct Coupled Lubrication (Fuel Mixture) 20 to 1 Fuel Capacity: (6L) 64Qt Muffler: Spark Arrester Shaft: Solid type 8mm Reduction: 1 26 Gear Drive Cutting Head (Std) 5 Dia Universal TFC Cutting Swath: 18 in Weight (with cutting head): 13 lbs (5 9kg) it Blades and blade guards shown in top photo are optional items it Fuel mixture ratios shown in specifications are with conventional 2-cycle oils. For convenience and long engine life we recommend ONE-MIX w, the great new multi-ratio oil Detection requires careful exam-ination of thatch and soil in the brown patches, as well as the ad-jacent living turf. Pellets of green excrement (frass) located in the surface thatch or soil indicate that cut-worm larvae or other caterpillars have been feeding. A good method of flushing out larvae is to slowly apply a solution of pyrethrin containing one tables- poon of one to two percent pyrethrin in one gallon of water to a test area of one square yard. The pyrethrin solution irritates the larvae and brings most of them to the surface. Control. Both granular and li-quid insecticides are available for cutworm control. Liquid in-secticides should be applied in a sufficient volume of water (five to 10 gallons per 1,000 square feet) to thoroughly wet the leaves, stem and thatch. The cut-worm larvae are killed by con-tacting the insecticide directly or by taking in the insecticide dur-ing feeding. The turfgrass area should be wet prior to treating, if an adequate amount of water will not be used during spraying. Irrigation should be withheld from the turfgrass area for 72 hours following application to allow adequate time for the in-sects to contact the insecticide. If rain occurs shortly after applica-tion, it may be necessary to repeat the treatment. Granular applications are best applied to dry foliage and watered in lightly to move the insecticide off the granule. CORROSIVES Report discusses pumping herbicides The use of bronze rotary gear pumps for spraying of herbicides is described in a field applica-tion report by Oberdorfer Pump-Co., Syracuse, N.Y. Discussed are pump speeds, type of packing and other equip-ment adapted for applications in on-site spraying. For a copy of the report, con-tact: Norman O'Brien, vice pres-ident, Oberdorfer Pumps, 6130 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13221. TRAINING Scott's turf manuals are now available Scott's Professional Turf In- stitute has a limited supply of the widely used Professional Turf Manuals and weed and grass identification manuals now available. The turf manuals are available for $10, and the identification manuals are available for $4.50 by writing: O.M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, OH 43040, 513-644- 0011, etx. 2481. IH "STANDARD OF THE INDUSTRY" MOOEL 3000 SS Nov» with more power- plus solid-state ignition Commercial-quality TFC Tap-For-Cord head equipped with Green Line extra long-life nylon string. (Model 3000SS, as well as 2500, 4000, and 4500, also accept metal blades for brush cutting and tree pruning.) MODEL 3000SS The Pro's Choice. This Green Machine has set the standard for commercial-quality trimmers. Thousands are in use by professional gardeners, grounds maintenace crews, and large-acreage owners. The 3000SS has been made even better with a new, more powerful engine and solid-state ignition. Like the 2500, these units can also be used for brush cutting and tree pruning, using the accessory metal blades. Model 3000SS comes equipped with the commer-cial quality TFCŽ Tap-For-Cord string trim-mer headŠthe first automatic-feed head built r for the professional. Other heads available include the ultra-simple, 2-string (.105) manual head designed specifically for rental-yard and other special uses. Quality features include: solid, heat-treated drive-shaft and spiral-bevel gears; anti-vibration clutch hous-ing with dual bearings; larger, quieter muffler and air cleaner; larger gas tank. SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: Upright 2-Cycle Air Cooled Cylinder Type: Single Alum Alloy Chrome Plated Displacement: 24 1 Bore & Stroke mm: 32 x 3C Compression Ratio: 65 1 Max H.P. (H.P/RPM): 1 3/6500 Carburetor: Slide Type All Position Ignition: Solid-State-Transistor Type Clutch Housing: Anti-Vibraticn Lubrication (Fuel Mixture): 25 to 1 Fuel Capacity: ( 7L) 74Qt Muffler: Spark Arrestor Shaft: Solid type 8m Reduction: 1 26 Gear Drive Cutting Head (Std): 6 Dia TFC Cutting Swath: 18 in Weight (with cutting head): 15 lbs (6 8kg) pacs from The Green Machine. No guess, no mess! MODEL 4000 The high-production trimmer, brush cutter. This is the high powered Green Machine designed specifically for specialized, day-after-day trimming of grass, weeds, and brush. A harness with hip-pad and wide handle bars provides maximum operator efficiency for such demanding operations as highway road-side mainte-nance. The 37.4 cc easy-starting engine has power to spare to operate the com-mercial TFCŽ head with .105 cutting string. Other heavy-duty features include larger drive shaft and larger spiral-bevel gears. With accessory blades, the swiveling center shaft of the 4000 makes it ideal for hillside brush cutting and pruning of low-hanging tree branches. SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: Inverted 2-Cycle Air Cooled Cylinder Type: Single Alum Alloy Chrome Plated Displacement: 37 4 Bore & Stroke mm: 38 x 33 Compression Ratio: 9 1 1 Max H.P. (H.P/RPM): 2.7/7500 Carburetor: Slide Type Float Ignition: Contact Point Type Clutch Housing: Direct Coupled With Swivel Lubrication (Fuel Mixture): 20 to 1 Fuel Capacity: (11L) 1 1 70t Muffler: Spark Arrestor Shaft: Solid 10mm Reduction: 1 26 Gear Drive Cutting Head (Std): 6 Dia TFC Cutting Swath: 20 in Weight (with cutting head): 21 lbs (9 5kg) MODEL 4500 The Green Machine Forestry unit. Modern forestry practice demands fast, efficient tree and brush clearing. Here is the tool for the job. Using a combination chopping-sawing action, saplings up to 4 inches in diameter can be felled in a single stroke. One man equipped with the 4500 becomes a formidable system of forestry maintenance. This unit is specially-designed to withstand the continuous side-shock impact imposed by this type of work. Extra anti-vibration features as well as an exceptionally heavy-duty shaft are included. The special handle guards help protect the operator. The 4500 comes equipped with brush blade, saw blade and blade guard. The commercial quality TFCŽ Tap-For-Cord head is available as an option. SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: Inverted 2-Cycle Air Cooled Cylinder Type: Single Alum Alloy Chrome Plated Displacement: 37 4 Bore & Stroke mm: 38 x 33 Compression Ratio: 9 11 Max H.P. (H.P/RPM): 2.7/7500 Carburetor: Slide Type Float Ignition: Contact Point Type Clutch Housing: Direct Coupled With Swivel Lubrication (Fuel Mixture): 20 to 1 Fuel Capacity: (1 1L) 1 170t Muffler: Spark Arrestor Shaft: Solid 12mm Reduction: 1 26 Gear Drive Cutting Head (Std): Blades Weight (with cutting blade): 22 lbs (10kg Contact your distributor or write today! The Green Machine HMC, 22133 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90502 ® LAWN SEED MIXTURES Fine fescues good for cool sites with moderate shade Fine fescues are most important as components of lawn seed mix-tures for cool sites with moderate shade, according to Robert C. O'Knefski, New York state exten-sion agent. "Blending or mixing several fescues together to make use of the best qualities of each would be recommended," he said. "If a lawn is to be planted entirely of fine fescues, about four pounds of seed are needed for each 1,000 square feet." He said that most fine fescues currently in use for home lawns are strains of red fescue. Fine or red fescue strains are good grasses for dry soil in sun or shade. They make a tough, dark green sod. The grass leaves are wiry and hard to cut with a dull mower. They turn brown naturally during hot, dry periods, but recover quickly during cool, moist periods. "Fescues are not successful in wet locations or poorly drained soils," O'Knefski wrote in the bulletin of the New York State Turfgrass Association. "Most types will not tolerate excessive watering, fertilization or close mowing, less than one-and-one-half inches." Fine fescues may be classified into four major groups Š che- wings, creeping, spreading and hard fescues. Chewings, creep-ing and spreading fescues are commonly referred to as red fescues. Groups differ in ap- pearance, growth habit and adaptation. Varieties have been developed in each group and new improved varieties are in various stages of development. He said chewings fescues are fine-leaved, low-growing with very little spreading because it lacks rhizomes. Creeping fescues are fine-leaved with a slight undergroup spreading habit due to presence of small rhizomes. Spreading fescues have wider leaves similar to some Kentucky bluegrasses, longer spreading rhizomes and do not produce as dense a turf as the chewings and creeping types. Hard fescues are fine-leaved, low-growing and non-spreading. They have a slower vertical growth, better disease resistance and better adaptation to shade and poor soil than chewings fescues. In tests for disease tolerance to dollar spot on Long Island, he said the following varieties did well: Biljart hard, Scaldis hard, Highlight chewings, Jamestown chewings, Banner chewings and Pennlawn spreading. In tests for disease tolerance to Helminthosporium in Michigan, he said the following varieties did well: Biljart, Jamestown, Banner and Dawson creeping. In tests for disease tolerance to Helminthosporium at Cornell University, he said the following varieties did well: Scaldis, Highlight, Banner, Dawson, Koket chewings, Boreal spread- ing and Wintergreen chewings. O'Knefski recently moved to new offices in Plainview, N.Y. r* > S Z n > 33 m z a c CD H 33 a w n VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Bare ground weed control backbone of Memphis lawn company's business If you are still tackling vegetation management with a non-chemical program (cutting, hack-ing or swearing) maybe you should consider some alternate approaches to weed and brush problems. Southern Spray Co., for example, has implemented several new ideas in vegetation management. Southern Spray is head-quartered in Memphis and covers the mid-South. Since opening its doors in the early 70's, founder-owner-president Keith Throckmorton notes that various factors have changed concepts in vegetation manage- ment: ŁNew chemicals ŁIncreased labor costs ŁPreventive treatments ŁPrescription programs Throckmorton also notes that the image of the custom ap-plicator is changing, for the bet-ter. "Applicators who skimped on rates, used the wrong chemicals or got off-site injury gave the en-tire industry a bad reputation," he says, "but we're overcoming that. The need for weed and brush control may not be greater, but problem awareness is better to- day, he adds. Most of Southern Spray's business comes from small customers who don't have the time, equipment, manpower or knowledge to solve weed and brush problems chemically. In-creased labor costs eliminated many mechanical programs, while licensing eliminated many part-time operators who dabbled in vegetation management. "When we started out, most of our work was brush control with Ammate in drainage ditches, but that's a much smaller segment of the total business today. The fastest-growing segment is in residential lawn care," he said. Throckmorton says that bare ground weed control has become the backbone of the business. February-March applications of Hyvar X with retreatment at reduced rates the following year is a basic program in many areas. "The trend in vegetation management has gone to bare ground versus dead weeds," he said. "You try to avoid the two-foot dead weed. That's not only unsightly, but also a fire hazard. Our objective is to get it bare and keep it bare, so we've gone to new programs to prevent the problem instead of waiting until we've got the problem. "Once we've got it under con-trol, the cost of retreatment goes down in subsequent years because then we can use reduced rates, and that's attrac- tive to our customers," he said. Prescription programs. "We spend more time today analyzing to mow, You donl need a fleet yw vacuum, blow, plow, grade, I,dump, sweep,and spread. You need a Professional like our Toro GMT. Collect leaves and clippings as you mow with a self-contained vacuum pickup attachment. / mk Customize your GMT with a wide range of optional accessories. Choose a 48" or 60" deck to match your cutting needs. Fertilize fast and easy with an optional dry spreader. Throw snow right or left with a two-stage snowthrower. Also options: V-plow and angle blade. idter j. i ŁV Ł y . . You're a professional. So you expect professional performance and results. But what if a fleet of specialized machines doesn't fit your budget? Meet Toro's versatile GMTŽ. Engineered to be a grounds keeping crew in itself. It's a maintenance tractor for all seasons. Works fast with one-lever traction control. Mows 48" or 60" wide and collects up to 20 bushels. With optional accessories, it does many otner jobs, including snow removal. Saves you money. Want a demonstration? Call your Toro distributor. Or, mail the coupon. TORO. The Professionals Circle 117 on free information card j Sweep hard surfaces with a nylon brush that comes with an optional grounds maintenance vacuum. And, there's also an optional de-thatching reel for the grounds maintenance vacuum. Tell me more, Toro. I'm interested in a free demonstration of the Toro GMTŽ. Please have my Toro distributor call me. Mail coupon to: The Toro Companv Commercial Marketing Dept. LCI 129 8111 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis. MN 55420 Even with four spray crews, Keith Throckmorton, owner of Southern Sprav Co., handles some of the work. He also doubles as mechanic and oc-casional salesman. the problem and selecting the best material instead of trying to use one material for every type of application and time of year job. Brush control used to be just summer foliage treatments," he said. Throckmorton says he's found it necessary to keep evaluating new materials and concepts in vegetation management because his problems are constantly changing. "For example," he says, "a few years ago, Johnsongrass was our number one weed problem, but in areas where we've treated, we see very little of it anymore. We can control Johnsongrass, but we're seeing a lot more vines." He says he typically experi-ments with new chemicals for several years before using anything new on a commercial basis, and one new material he's evaluated and is now using in prescription programs is Krenite. He says: "We're looking for Krenite to fit into programs to clean up various hardwood species that escape applications with other herbicides, especially in drainage ditches and along right-of-ways." Krenite is a growth regulant. Applied in fall, most susceptible brush species go through for a normal fall defoliation, but fail to refoliate the following year. Applications also minimize "brownout". In addition, this new material is non-volatile (doesn't pose a drift hazard) and is safe to use around farm crops or near water. Throckmorton says these char-acteristics make it especially useful on utility right-of-ways that are inaccessible with ground equipment but can be reached with aerial sprays, work he can and does subcontract. The biggest mistake in vegeta-tion management is waiting too long to bring a problem under control, he notes. "Runaway brush and weeds are not only more difficult to handle," he said, "but also more expensive." BALTIMORE Lawn talks on tap at Maryland conference Discussions on computers for the lawn care industry and about fertilizer regulations in Mary- land will headline a special lawn care session to be held during Maryland Turfgrass '80 set for Jan. 7-9 at the Baltimore Con-vention Center. Speakers on the fertilizer panel are Maryland state chemist David Clark, Frank Stevens of Pro-Lawn-Plus, Inc., Baltimore, and ChemLawn Corp. regional agronomist Philip Catron, based in Westminster, Md. There will also be many other talks of interest to lawn care businessmen, including one on Fusarium roseum by Dr. Richard Smiley of Cornell University, and one on turf renovation by Dr. John R. Hall III of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. For further information, con-tact: Dr. David Wehner, Agronomy Department, Univer-sity of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, 301-454-3717. SAN DIEGO Workshops highlight ALCA convention The 1980 ALCA Annual Meeting and Trade Exhibit will feature a wide-ranging series of specialty and management workshops, in addition to an outstanding keynote session and extensive trade exhibit. The convention, sponsored by the Associated Landscape Con-tractors of America, will be held Feb. 3-8 at the Town & Country Hotel, San Diego, Calif. The convention will feature 11 separate workshops, covering numerous technical specialties, as well as several business topics. There will be technical sessions on: lawn care, landscape maintenance, chemicals, design/build con-tracting, interior landscaping, erosion control/revegetation and a unique "back to basics" session on basic contracting. For further information, con-tact: John Shaw, executive direc- tor, ALCA, 1750 Old Meadow Rd., McLean, VA 22102, 703-821-8611. ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ BUSINESS Outboard Marine cuts dividend in half, fiscal net fell 36% Even though "significant" sales gain were achieved by its lawn mower and turf vehicle divi-sions, Outboard Marine Corp., Waukegan, 111., halved its quar- terly dividend and said it ex-pects to report fiscal 1979 earn- ings about 36 percent below the year-earlier level. The quarterly dividend was cut to 17 cents from 35 cents, pay- able Nov. 30 to stock of record Nov. 16. The reduction, Charles D. Strang, president, said, was made because "disappointing" results for fiscal 1979 and the "economic conditions forecast for next year's selling season which indicate considerable uncertainties in projecting de- mand for domestic outboard motors." Sales were projected at $741 million against $703.8 million the year before. IRRIGATION Irrigation conference meets in Houston The First Agri-Turf Irrigation Exposition and Technical Con-ference will be held Feb. 24-27 at the Galleria Plaza and Houston Oaks hotels, Houston. The event is being sponsored by The Irriga-tion Association. More than 100 exhibit booths have already been sold to a wide and diverse cross-section of the irrigation industry. Exhibitors in-clude: L.R. Nelson Corp., Peoria, 111.; Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp., Glendora, Calif.; Rain-drip, Inc., Panorama City, Calif.; Royal Coach Sprinklers, Inc., Fresno, Calif.; The Toro Co.'s Irrigation Div., Riverside, Calif.; Vermeer Mfg. Co., Pella, Iowa; HERBICIDES New Betasan turf formulation registered Stauffer Chemical Co., West-port, Conn., has been granted a federal label for Betasan 7-G selective herbicide, a new for-mulation, for pre-emergence control of weeds in turf, orna- mentals and groundcovers. The new formulation is a seven percent granule of Betasan recommended for use on home lawns, parks and golf courses, ornamental plants and ground-and Weather-matic Div., Telsco Industries, Dallas. There will be breakout ses-sions for turf/landscape, includ-ing maintenance sessions. For further information, contact: The Irrigation Association, 1.3975 Connecticut Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20906, 301-871-8188. covers. It controls crabgrass, an-nual bluegrass, redroot pig-weed, 'barnyardgrass, lambs-quarters, goosegrass, sheperds- purse and deadnettle. The formulation is recom-mended for application anytime from fall through early spring. To control crabgrass, apply six pounds of Betasan 7-G uniformly per 2,500 square feet. For annual bluegrass, goosegrass and other annual weeds, apply 10 pounds per 2,500 square feet. For further information, con-tact Stauffer Chemical Co., Agri-cultural Chemical Division, Westport, Conn. 06880. More than 600 professional turf and landscape workers attended the recent Ohio Turf and Landscape Day in Wooster. Here entomologist David Nielson showed damage and explained how to control bronze birch borers to Dale Pinter, Spray-A-Lawn, Orrville, and George Wessig and Jeff Sunderland of Akron Tree Experts. Landscape workers listen as Nielson explains how to identify bronze birch borer damage. Nobody else builds power rakes like Ryan. For more than 18 years, the Ryan Mataway® and Ren-O-Thin® power rakes have set increasing standards of toughness, durability and performance. Here's why. (1) The Mataway's self-propelled upmilling action and 19" swath lets you cover up to 10,000 sq. ft. per hour; (2) Snap-in blade sets offer normal, wide or 7-hp Ren-O-Thin IV engine, or the economical 5-hp Ren-O-Thin III; (8) All Ryan power rakes are built to deflect debris from the operator as they power rake. With operating costs constantly rising, you need to get the most out of every hour's wage you pay. That takes a dependable crew, using dependable equipment. Extension agent Fred Buscher explains that pruning shrubs requires the right tools and proper techniques. (3) A hefty 10-hp engine gives the Mataway mus-cle; (4) A micro-screw adjust ment gives cutting depth control that's precise enough to deep slice greens accu-rately; (5) The Ren-O-Thin cuts a wide 18" swath; (6) A floating front axle follows the contours of your turf; (7) Choose the gutsy Like the Ryan Mataway and Ren-O-Thin. Ask your Ryan dealer for a demonstration, and see for yourself how we build power rakes. SO-CUR-4 Mataway & Ren-OThin Power Rakes RYAN =-CARE EQUIPMENT Day An, Day-Out Performance 3053 Cushman P.O. Box 82409 Lincoln, NE 68501 05 t^ OÌ U W G Lawn care in the 80's z I Industry suppliers predict widespread use of smaller I tanks, closed-system spray units, and improved seed varieties, along with greater emphasis on the mowing/maintenance market by Bob Earley Editor/Associate Publisher In the 1980's, liquid chemical lawn care companies will use smaller trucks and there will be more attention paid to the precise metering of fluids. More closed-system application units with injection systems will be manufactured and used by the lawn care industry. In landscape maintenance, there will be more emphasis on contract care as opposed to in-house maintenance. Lawn care companies will be looking to increase their gross by going back to their customer list and offering more services, especially services like tree and orna-mental work, disease control, and over-seeding. Those companies that do offer seeding will be using more proprietary varieties of turfgrass seed. There do not seem to be any major new products coming on the market, although many in the industry feel that the interest in the new slow-release liquid fertilizers will continue, and that more lawn care businessmen will move to use these types of.fertilizers. The industry has not yet peaked and will continue to grow, but not at the growth rate experienced by the lawn care industry in the 1970's. As the industry grows, and raw materials costs increase, look for the gloves to come off and price competition to get tough in some areas with a high saturation of lawn care companies trying to add the same homeowners to their customer list. - These are some of the thoughts suppliers to the lawn care industry have as to what the industry can expect for the 1980's. One major point these suppliers brought out in discussions with LAWN CARE INDUSTRY is that they see an increase in "financial problems" of undercapitalized lawn care companies, and that "slow pay" customers will not be tolerated in the 1980's. As one major supplier said: "I'm sure some suppliers of equipment, fertilizers and chemicals have experienced these problems already Š as we have Š and if situations such as this continue, the sup-plier's attitude toward the market is going to be a little different than it has been in the past, we are going to be a little more dif-ficult to deal with." Smaller trucks. "I think we can look for-ward to more closed-system-type setups for lawn spray trucks, and more towards injec^ tion systems," Skip Strong of Strong Enter- prises, Inc., Miami, Fla., told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. Bill Wanner, president of pump manufacturer Wanner Engineering, Inc., Minneapolis, agrees. "The industry is going to have to get into more precise metering of fluids," Wanner said, "and the way they do that is going to be a big question. This is something we are definitely working on." The reason manufacturers see the move towards more precise metering methods and closed systems is because of the in- creasing influence of government regula-tions on the lawn care industry. Spray equipment manufacturers also say that they feel there will more of a trend towards smaller pieces of equipment. Instead of 1,200 and 1,500 gallon units, there will be more use of 600 and 800 gallon units. The big reason here is fuel efficiency. "There will be a move from two-ton trucks to one-ton trucks," one manufacturer said. "You are hauling one-half the weight, and it can save anywhere from a mile to three miles per gallon of gas." Smaller trucks will also help on maneuverability, getting in and out of areas. As the industry grows and raw materials costs increase, look for the gloves to come off and price competition to get tough in some areas with a high saturation of lawn care com-panies . . . Although at least one company is working on a system that can inject powdered fertil-izers into a spray operation, an executive for that company said "we are working on it, we're trying to decide whether to market it or not. But it might be too late for us, because I think more and more com- panies are going to be going to the liquids. You are going to see more of this, because the materials are going to be much easier to work with, because they don't require special pumps, and they don't require super agitation that you need now with powdered materials." One manufacturer says that many spray units on the market right now are "ob-solete" compared to what is going to be available in the future. "A lot of companies have gotten into the business of building units, but each one is copying the other, everybody is coming out with the same thing," he said. "I don't think the spray equipment available has kept up with the needs and demands of the in-dustry. It's time to move ahead, and there is a need for some standardization in the in-dustry.. Everybody wants different tanks, different pumps and different agitation systems." Auxiliary, PTO or electronics? Some spray equipment manufacturers are look-ing at developing an electric system to drive spray equipment. They say that using auxiliary engines make too much noise, and that a lot of lawn care businessmen don't know how to maintain them properly. The problem with PTO drive is the wear and tear on the truck engine and maintenance problems. "With electric drive of pumping and agitation systems, there is absolutely no noise and you can go into a neighborhood and start spraying at six in the morning, one manufacturer said. "Inflation is really hurting the cost of the units," Strong said. "A year-and-a-half ago my average unit was selling for $7,000, and now the same unit is up to $9,000. This is another reason some companies are going back to smaller units. Commercial-quality mowers. "The in-creasing cost of labor is killing the landscape maintenance industry, and we feel there is going to be more emphasis on labor-saving mowing equipment," said Dave Welfelt of Excel Industries, Inc., Hesston, Kans. He also feels that "for the people using mowing equipment on a day-to-day, week- after-week basis, there is a lot of interest and a real market for equipment that hangs in there. We see a lot of smaller companies coming up from the bottom with lighter, consumer-oriented types of equipment. I guess we feel the market is buying some of this type of equipment on an experimental basis, but the real market is for commercial-quality equipment." Manufacturers feel that the lawn care in-dustry is going to have to be much more conscious of energy costs across-the-board. "This affects the industry in many ways," one mowing executive says. "How much water we use, how much fertilizer goes on the turf, mowing frequency, whether to pick up clippings or not. All of these factors are going to have to be considered very strongly." Manufacturers look for increased exper-tise in use of pest control chemicals because of the inavailability of some chemicals previously available to the lawn care industry, and because of restrictions on some chemicals still available. "It's a sure bet that restrictions on chemicals are not going to get any less than they are now," one manufacturer said, "and it will be up to the lawn care businessman to do all he can to increase his knowledge of handling pesticides and controlling pests in the turf and landscape situation." Add-on business. Manufacturers feel that the lawn care industry in the 1980's LAWN CARE INDUSTRY READER SERVICE CARDŠDECEMBER 1979.(expiresin90days) Use this prepaid reader service card to get additional information on products or services mentioned in this issue (Card must be completed before processing) NAME TITLE BUSINESS ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP If you would like a subscription to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY circle number 101. Subscription cost is $10.00 per year. To help us better service you editorially, please answer the following: 4. Title: Ł President Ł Owner Ł Manager Ł Technician Ł Other (specify) 1. Are you primarily involved in. Ł Chemical lawn care and maintenance services Ł Chemical application only Ł Mowing and other maintenance services Ł Other (specify) Application Ł Liquid Ł Granular Ł Both 2. Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office 3. Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) 5. Number of accounts: Ł Less than 500 Ł 500-1.000 Ł 1.001-5.000 Ł 5.001-10.000 Ł 10.001-25.000 Ł 25,000 or more 6. Estimated annual sales volume: Ł Less than $50,000 Ł $50,001-100.000 Ł $100,001-250.000 Ł $250,001-500,000 Ł $500. DC M,000.000 Ł $1,000,000 or more Ł Please send product information only on items circled Ł Please have a salesman call me about items circled. Best time to call me is . SIGNATURE -CIRCLE THE ITEM NUMBERS FOR FREE DETAILS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 166 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 2675 CLEVELAND. OHIO POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE ATTENTION: THE EDITORS LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 9800 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44102 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH. MINN POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE LAWN CARE INDUSTRY P.O. BOX 6136 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 Editor's Information Card . .. HELP US TO HELP YOU The editors of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY would appreciate your comments on the magazine's contents. Please write your message below, tear out the card, and mall. Postage is prepaid. Which article in this Issue did you find the most interesting and/or helpful? What subjects would you like us to cover in future issues of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY? TITLE ADOPEM B CITY ¿TATE. ZIP LAWN CARE INDUSTRY READER SERVICE CARDŠDECEMBER 1979. OC H co D Q Z Cl] a: < U z TOOLS,TIPS & TECHNIQUES Ten tractor preventative maintenance tips Here are 10 tractor preventative maintenance tips from Paul Kultgen, service manager for Simplicity Mfg. Co., Port Washington, Wis.: (1) Change lubricating oil every 15 hours when tempera-ture exceeds 70 degrees F. As temperatures of the ambient air and of the tractor's engine rise under continuous operation, the oil breaks down, losing its viscosity. (2) Clean the air filter every second day or 16 hours. Dirt is constantly being sucked into the filter. Under continuous operation, this dirt build-up can cause engine failure. (3) Clean the engine shroud every 16 hours. The shroud, which protects the flywheel, becomes thickly coated with dust and grass particles. If not properly cleaned, air circula-tion is restricted causing excessive engine heat and possible engine failure. (4) Under tough conditions, the transmission oil must be Ü checked every eight hours. Heavy use causes oil to dissipate, so make sure it's kept at an adequate level. Also, make sure to check the floor for any oil leaks. (5) Don't use winter gas in warm weather. Winter gas boils at 100 degrees F., summer gas boils at 135 degrees F. Using winter gas in warm weather can cause vapor lock. (6) Here's another lubricating must. Grease fittings should be lubricated every 16 hours when equipment is used heavily. Again, constantiheat breaks-down the oil's viscosity. (7) Check and tighten (or adjust) all fittings^and hardware before each use. (8) Check all seals for oil leaks every day. Seals are located on the transmission axle and engine crankshaft. Oil pressure naturally accelerates the migration outward at the seals. And, if a leak should occur, you'll either have to repair the seal yourself or take it to an authorized dealer. (9) Once a week, make sure to check your battery's post for an accumulation of dirt and corrosion. Crusted posts can cause a short, premature discharge or even a fire. A wire brush and baking soda and water work the best for cleaning. And, when working around the battery, always be careful not to touch metal tools between the posts. (10) Every 50 hours, check the sparkplugs for cleanliness and strength. Properly maintained sparkplugs allow your engine to run efficiently. Compact Tractors from(Ä Compact, Fuel efficient 24 Ł 28 Ł 35 PTO Horsepower Diesels. Priced up to 25% below competitive models. DEALERS WANTED TO SELL THE NEW ... 31 0-C: A 2-cyl. compact, 28 PTO H.P. tractor. Standard fea-tures include: Continuous PTO, 6-speed trans., 3-pt. hitch with draft and position control, and more. Hydrostatic steering op-tional. Excellent turf or small farm tractor. Turf or general pur-pose farm tires. Wt. 3,159 lbs. (approx.). Price with 5.00 x 15/12.4 x 24 GPF Tires. LIST PRICE**: 2-WD Š $5,370.00 260-C Ł This compact 24 PTO H.P., 2-cyl. diesel includes as standard equipment: Continuous PTO, 6-speed trans., 3-pt. hitch with draft and position control, and more. Hydrostatic steering optional. The perfect tractor for turf and horticultural work. Wt. 3,180 lbs. (approx.). Turf or general purpose farm tires Price with 5.00 x 15/12.4 x 24 GPF Tires. LIST PRICE**: 2-WD Š $4,995.00 360-C: A heavy-duty, compact 3-cyl., 35 PTO H.P. tractor engineered for outstanding performance and economy. Stand-ard equipment includes: 6-speed trans., hydrostatic steering*, continuous PTO, 3-pt. hitch with draft and position control, and more. The ideal tractor for heavier turf work or small farm chores. Turf or general purpose farm tires. Wt. 3,630 lbs. (approx.). Price with 5.00 x 15/12.4 x 24 GPF Tires. LIST PRICE**: 2-WD Š $6,550.00 COMPARE PRICE AND PERFORMANCE, AND YOU'LL BUY OE 'Hydrostatic steering to be phased-in on the 360-C. "Prices based on Long Mtg. N.C. Inc. 's current suggested list price, for standard equip-ped tractors with tires as specified, F O B. point of manufacture; and are subject to change without notice. Good Reasons to 8 Sell LONG Compacts: Ł Small in size Š BIG in power. Ł Quality built tractors, priced up to 25% below competition. Ł Fuel efficient Š High performance diesel engines. Ł Precision engineered to give outstanding performance and more horsepower per dollar. Ł Dealer floor planning program. Ł Dealer parts financing program. Ł Regular dealer discounts, plus special incentive discounts. Ł 7 convenient sales and distribution offices to serve you. LONG LONG MFG.N.C. INC. HOME OFFICE: TARBORO. N.C. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Box 1139 (1907 N. Main St.), Tarboro. NC 27886 Tel. (919) 823-4151 Box 918 (2610 Hwy. 77 North). Carrollton, TX 75006 Tel. (214) 242-5102 Box 3928 (3863 W. River Dr.), Davenport, IA 52808 Tel. (319) 324-0451 Box 167 (Hwy. U.S. 41 South), Tifton, GA 31794 Tel (912) 382-3600 Box 13263 (1920 Channel Ave.). Memphis. TN 38113 Tel. (901) 774-6523 Box 259 (#8 Lono Lane), Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Tel. (717) 697-8277 906 Harney St.. Vancouver, WA 98660 Tel. (206) 695-1259 999TD IFA Compliance kit helps franchisors conform to new FTC rule A "compliance kit" to help pro-spective and existing franchisors conform to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) new franchising rule has been published by the International Franchise Association (IFA). The kit features a comprehen-sive overview of the FTC rule and the various state disclosure requirements, along with ex-planatory analyses, comparisons, and checklists prepared by IFA's legal staff. The new rule requires every franchisor to reveal pertinent financial, legal, and operational information to prospective franchise buyers. Packaged in a three-ring binder, the kit includes ten sec-tions: Ł FTC rule and guides Ł Analysis of FTC guides prepared by IFA's Washington counsel Ł History and background of the FTC franchising rule Ł Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) guides to state disclosure Ł A comparison of UFOC and FTC disclosure requirements Ł An outline in selecting dis-closure format Ł A checklist of compliance considerations to follow plus a chart of all state franchise laws Ł A "Who's Who" list of FTC officials with phone numbers Ł A bibliography of franchise compliance publications Ł Advisory opinions issued through September 1979 Those who purchase the kit will continue to receive, at no ex-tra charge, a copy of all signifi-cant advisory opinions issued by the FTC through 1980. The kit sells for $40 to IFA members and $80 to non-members. For further information contact the Interna-tional Franchise Association, 1025 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 1005, Washington, D.C. 20036. GREENBUG from page 1 itiated in July to test alternative insecticides. The OARDC cooperated with lawn care firms in Columbus and Dayton who ap-plied the materials under test on infested home lawns. The Orthene Tree and Ornamental Spray proved effective in all cases, and data was assembled and submitted to Chevron Chemical Co., which is head-quartered in San Francisco. The results of this joint effort was the issuance of the special local need label under Section 24C of amended FIFRA. The product is available com-mercially at turf supply outlets throughout the state. Information can be obtained from state exten- sion entomologist Dr. Richard Miller, Dept. of Entomology, Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210. The new label clears Orthene for use on turfgrass at the rate of one pound of active ingredient per acre. The product is a 75 per- cent sprayable powder, and this works out to one-half ounce per 1,000 square feet of lawn. This should be mixed in one to four gallons of water per 1,000 square feet and sprayed on the lawn when greenbugs or greenbug damage first appear. The lawn should not be mowed for at least 24 hours following application. "There's still not much known about the aphid on perennial bluegrass," Dr. Harry D. Niemczyk of OARDC told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. "More research is planned to study the biology and control of the green-bug. Watch is being kept for other outbreaks of the insect Š some greenbug damage showed up this summer in Toledo and Youngstown. Damage from greenbugs could occur anytime from July to killing frost." NITROGEN from page 1 * "When clippings are removed and the liquid fertilizers we ap-ply are dry on the leaf blade, there is a significant loss in response," he said. "In one regard, you may consider this the Achilles heel of our industry. It is not a big problem but it does sometimes occur." He said there are advantages to applying either liquid or dry fertilizers. Liquid weed control is by far better, so the advantages of applying a fertilizer/herbicide combination in liquid form has an advantage. On the other hand, there is less burn potential in hot weather conditions when a dry fertilizer is applied. Cost is also a factor. "When you mix liquid fertil-izers, a savings is realized and you can also tailor your treat-ments according to soil test results in a particular area," he said. Fertilizer sources. "There are various phosphorus materials, but the one we often end up us-ing is a product with a trade name of Poly-N, which is fre-quently used by lawn care com- panies which has an analysis of 10-34-0, and it is a liquid. He said that many lawn ser-vice companies will start out do-ing business in an area, and not want to invest the capital money to put in a liquid installation, but would rather mix the material in their service tankers. The choice here becomes mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP). It is a dry pro-duct that can be added to a tank mix from bags. It has an analysis of 12-62-0, and is a great deal more expensive than Poly-N. Slippery beds, spills. "We are frequently asked the question of why not use phosphoric acid, because it is so inexpensive," he said. "I guess it boils down to the fact that the beds of the trucks get very slippery, and phosphoric acid is also more apt to inflict a little pain if a spill does occur." For a source of potassium, potassium chloride (with an analysis of 0-0-62) is less expen-sive, but has a higher burn poten-tial than potassium sulfate (with 18 percent sulfur). August applications. For the hot weather of August a dry ni-trogen source of fertilizer would reduce burn potential. Other choices would be use of slow-release fertilizer, or no fertilizer at all, but this would obviously create dissatisfaction in customers, he said. Or a "good slug of soluble urea" could be applied, but would burn the turf, or the nitrogen rate could be lowered. Both of these methods would be unacceptable. "For slow-release sources, you have old standbys like ureaformaldehyde, which is a mixable fertilizer, but requires agitation," he said. "There is IBDU, which is water-dependent for breakdown, but it is a dry product that we cannot use in our tanks. There is also sulfur-coated urea, which is temperature- dependent and water-dependent for breakdown, but it is also a dry product that can't be used in our tanks. 44So we are limited to ureaformaldehyde, which is a poor choice at this time of the year because it requires micro-bial breakdown, and since the weather will be cooling at that time of the year, microbial breakdown will be lessened," he said. "Each of these three sources has a water-insoluble fraction, which is to say that if you dump it in water, a certain fraction will be insoluble and will require bacterial or micro- bial action in the soil to release the nitrogen." "MO-nitrogen" Rutherford said there is a newer source of nitrogen, which he calls "MO- nitrogen" which is short for methylol urea. "This is a liquid source, and it does not contain water-insoluble nitrogen," he said, but it does have certain properties which enable us to solve the problem of August fertilization." He discussed the character-istics of an ideal fertilizer for the early fall period. First, it should release over an eight-to-10-week period, because "you want to do a good job for the turf and get paid for it, not be providing nutrients for two years from now." Second, the nitrogen fertilizer to page 16 Mauget TVee Injection > Seminars, they're meetings worth repeating Should you attend a Mauget tree injection seminar again? New and experienced applicators can profit from yearly Mauget tree injection seminars. If you've been to a seminar before, you'll want to come again for a booster shot of new information. It's a meeting worth repeating. New applicators will learn about the Mauget Tree Injection Process and participate in indi-vidual field training. Experienced applicators will receive information about new injection techniques, results of field research, new EPA registrations, and sales and marketing of the Mauget product line. Add it up. There's new slide programs, new information, and valuable marketing techniques. Plan Now To Attend. Each tree care firm who purchased Mauget capsules in 1979 will re-ceive one free registration. Choose the loca-tion nearest you. Seminars begin at 9 a.m. Evening seminars begin at 7 p.m. February 12 Montgomery, AL Ramada Inn 29 Charlotte, N.C. Registry Inn I-77, Woodlawn Rd. Exit March 3 Macon, GA Ramada Inn Riverside North I-75, Pierce Ave. Exit 4 Birmingham, AL Airport Holiday Inn I-59 & I-20 Airport Exit 5 Memphis, TN Airport Holiday Inn I-55, Brooks Rd. Exit 7 Bowling Green, KY Ramada Inn I-65 Greenwood Int. (Rt. 231) 7 Erie, PA Holiday Inn South I-90 & Rt. 97 Exit 7 8 Knoxville, TN Holiday Inn-University Center I-40 at 17th St. Exit 8 Monroeville, PA Sheraton On-The-Mall PA Turnpike, Exit 6 11 Williamsburg, VA Williamsburg Lodge 11 Mellville, L.I., N Y. Musicaro's of Mellville Rt. 110 12 Gaithersburg, MD Holiday Inn I-270 Montgomery Village Ave. Exit 12 Paramus, N.J. Holiday Inn-Paramus Garden St. Parkway, Exit 165N 13 Hershev, PA Hotel Hersney 13 Armonk, N.Y. Ramada Inn Rt. 684 (Exit 3) & Rt. 22 14 Wilmington, DE Brandywine Hilton I-95, Naamans Rd. Exit 14 Norwalk, Conn. Norwalk Holiday Inn I-95, Exit 13 18 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati Northeast Holiday Inn 1-71, Fields-Ertel Rd. 18 State College, PA Holiday Inn Rt. 322 South 19 Ft. Wayne, IN Hospitality Inn I-69, Exit 111A (Rt. 3) 19 Scranton, PA Scranton Sheraton Inn 1-81, Exit 52 20 Cleveland, OH Brown Derby Inn Ohio Turnpike, Exit 12 & St. Rt. 8 20 Binghamton, N.Y. Holiday Inn, Hawley St. N.Y. 17, Exit 72 21 Farmington, Ml Botsford Inn I-96 & 8 Mile Rd. (Rt. 102) 21 Albany, N.Y. Sheraton Airport Inn I-87, Exit 4, 200 Wolf Rd. 27 Rochester, N.Y. (Evening) Sheraton Inn South I-90 (Exit 46) & Rt. 15 April 3 Syracuse, N.Y. (Evening) Holiday Inn North 1-81 & I-90 (Exit 36) 10 East Aurora, N.Y. Erie County Cooperative Extension 21 S. Grove St. saVeitves 800-423-2699 Circle 108 on free information card SEND THIS REGISTRATION COUPON OR FACSIMILE TODAY TO: J. J. MAUGET COMPANY, P.O. Box 3422, Burbank, CA 91504 Please reserve. . places at the (location) .meeting. Ł Check here for free registration Distributor's Name Name (s) Representing Address Phone _ LC-1 NITROGEN from page 15 should green the turf fully without overstimulating it and making it susceptible to disease. Third, it should not have any burn potential. ChemLawn's Rutherford Rutherford showed slides and ChemLawn test results which showed MO-nitrogen meeting his requirements for and "ideal" fertilizer, although he pointed out that it does have short-comings. He said the Mo-nitrogen does not have long-lasting, slow-release properties. It is a liquid fertilizer with an analysis of 30-0-0. It also has surfactant pro-perties. "Some of us in the industry believe that because of these sur-factant properties, when we ap- ply the fertilizer with a herbi-cide, the herbicide sticks to the leaf blade much longer and we get better weed control," he said. He also said that the MO-nitrogen is very pH-dependent, and in a situation where the pH of the tank mix is too low, it can turn into a "jello-like" substance, which is very difficult to remove from a tank. He said that Ashland Chemical Co. and Georgia-Pacific Corp. both manufacture this type of ni-trogen. He said that Allied Chemical Corp. also had manu- factured some of the product, but was not producing it at present. LINCOLN Expanded lawn talks at Nebraska meeting A comparison of the granular and liquid approaches to the lawn care industry is one of the topics set at the Nebraska Turf-grass Conference Jan. 14-16 in Lincoln. Page Mays of Barefoot Grass Lawn Service, Columbus, and Gary Custis, regional agronomist for ChemLawn Corp., based in St. Louis, will handle the liq-uid/dry discussion. Other speakers include: Dr. Donald Pfleiderer, Lebanon Chemical Corp., Danville, 111., speaking on fertilization with respect to tissue and soil analysis; Dr. Robert Shearman of the University of Nebraska speaking on the role of micro-nutrients in a fertilization pro-gram; Paul Jacqueman, of O.M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio, speaking on the role and some problems in dealing with preemergence herbicides. Also: Ron Giffen, Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co., Elyria, Ohio, will speak on diversifying your lawn care business; Larry Vetter, Northrup King Co., Min-neapolis, will speak on renovating and overseeding; and Bob Earley, editor and associate publisher of LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, will give a look at the lawn care industry in the 1980's. For further information, con-tact: Dr. Robert Shearman, 377 Plant Science Building, Univer-sity of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68503, 402-472-1143. HflHHHHHIHIIHH TRAINING Educational films available from IFA That's Business, a series of educational films for use in franchise training programs, is available from the International Franchise Association (IFA). The series of six films helps franchisees learn to deal with the six most common financial problems in business: record keeping, balance sheets, ac- counts receivable, cash flow management, profit forecasting, and growth financing. Each film runs about 30 minutes and is accompanied by a participant study guide and detailed instructor's manual. The instructor's guide contains a complete description of how to effectively present the program. Participant study guides are also optionally available for each program. The films are available in 16mm or 3/»-inch videocassettes. The complete program (six films with leader's guides) costs $2,295 for the 16mm films and $2,040 for the videocassettes. Video-cassettes are $400 individually and the 16mm films are $450 each. The films can also be rented at a cost of $510/three days for the complete program and $85/three days for one film. A 15 percent service charge is added to all overall costs for non-IFA mem- bers. For further information contact the IFA, 1025 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 or call (202) 659-0790. HERBICIDES Monsanto to increase Roundup production Monsanto Co., St. Louis, said it will build a multimillion-dollar unit at its Fayetteville, N.C., plant site for the production of Roundup herbicide. The chemical concern said the plant, expected to be in opera-tion by 1981's fourth quarter, will boost production capacity for the herbicide by about 50 percent. The company declined to pro-vide either capacity figures for Roundup or the cost of the Fayetteville unit, except to say that it represents a larger invest- ment than the previously an- nounced $23 million Roundup unit being built in Antwerp, Belgium. There just isn't another aerator built like Ryan's. Today, more homeowners are a Lawnaire III is one of your aerating their lawns. The Ryan best possible investments. Lawnaire* III is one reason why. Because its built to stay out It's the latest in a line that of your shop and in the field, started twenty years ago, and packs the kind of features that you want. Here's why. (1) You fill the ballast drum with water to add up to 50 lbs. of weight for deep penetration; (2) You get thorough aeration too, because 30 spoon tines dig as deep as 2-1/2" every seven inches; (3) There's an easy-to- use clutch throttle right on the handlebar; (4) The Lawnaire III is self-propelled by a proven, 3-hp engine; (5) The entire unit secures onto an optional tote trailer that makes transportation easy. With operating costs getting higher all the time, And that means day-in, day-out profits for you. Ask your Ryan dealer for a demonstration, and see for yourself how we build an aerator. 80-CUR-ll The Lawnaire III Aerator FTriAIM TURF-CARE EQUIPMENT Day-ln, Day-Out Performance 3052 Cushman PO Box 82409 Lincoln. NE 68501 Circle 113 on free information card COST CUTTINGS John Beheyt of Eastside Spraying Service, Kirkland, Wash., has designed a special set-up for the room where his route men work when in the of-fice. Beheyt has taken two rooms, cut a hole in the wall in the middle and installed a circular table with a revolving "lazy susan" tray which holds reference information like price lists and technical informa-tion. Each man's desk is placed on the circumference of the reference table. 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 RETAILERS from page 5 keep records so that we know just when he is due for an ap-plication. Then we'll deliver the product to his garage and make sure the spreader is properly calibrated." "Last year was the first one in Minneapolis that this competi-tion made a dent in our sale of bagged lawn fertilizer," said Paul Bachman, of Bachman's. "It's hard to judge just where this competition is coming from because the discount stores are footballing Scotts. So we'd be selling less bagged fertilizer anyway. "I think there is room for the lawn care services. They may cut into our business to some extent but we simply won't get into this business ourselves. We have enough trucks now to worry about. We wouldn't want to tie up more trucks over the winter. "To counter the threat these services may pose, we will give our employes more training in lawn and turf care. If a customer is wavering between hiring the "I think there is room for the lawn care ser-vices. They may cut into our business, but we simply won't get into this business our-selves." service or doing it himself, he can talk to our sales people and be steered into what we have to offer. We must make sure the lawn care products are pro-minently displayed and that our people know all they should about the products and applica-tion. I'd say the lawn care service business will plateau in a few years." "These businesses are very prevalent in the Denver area," sais Steve Driftmaier, Wilmore's Nursery, Wheat Ridge, Colo. "They are competitors in that people who hire them won't come into a garden center to buy fertilizer or chemicals. But we've found that the advice they pro- vide is not always accurate. So we give our sales people proper training so they will provide ac-curate advice. Plus I think the price these people charge is too high.-"I just don't know how strong they are," said Palmer Siegel, Lyndale Garden Center, Min-neapolis. "I see their ads and hear conversation and maybe they are gaining strength. I guess the only way to compete with them is to provide good service and competitive prices." "Most people in California are do-it-your-selfers," said Paul Uenaka, Springdale Nursery Garden Center, San ]ose, Calif. "We have some specialized problems, but the customers will contact landscaping people." "It's more of a hassle to get a pest control license in California than it's worth," said Ron Mar- ciel, Western Gardens, Hayward, Calif. "It's difficult to get the dollar amounts from homeowners and with the average size home tract we have it makes it impossible for such a service to pay here." LEASE OR BUY? from page 17 may be your best bet unless you can use the capital in some pro- ductive way in the future. If this is the case, you'll conserve capital for that time by leasing now. It could help pay for a new building, or meet unexpected ex-penses. You could, of course, bank fi-nance part of the purchase. It is a good idea because the cost will be less in total dollars. But take care. The savings must be weighed against the effect higher bank loan payments can have on cash flow. These kind of calcula-tions should be made before any decision is reached. Inflation. Inflation has always been a friend to leasing. When inflation continues, you pay less for the machine today and use to- day's dollars to make future pay- ments. The same thing seems to be true of bank financing ex-cepting the value of depreciation deductions which cover a longer period of time. Planning ahead. Advanced and accurate cost projections are the rule for successful businesses. Leasing, like bank financing, makes machine costs easy to forecast and account for. You'll know just how long you'll have the equipment and what you'll pay for its use during that period. With other costs figured in, you can compare this to expected revenue. Budget limitations. Businesses must operate within budget limitations. So what happens if you find you need a new Turfcat rotary mower right now? Leasing can be an easier way to acquire it, with rental payments treated as an operating expense. If your budget is particularly tight, deferred or skip payments can ease the immediate cash flow problem. Similar to buying. Leasing is very much like buying in many respects. First you decide on the turf equipment you want, exactly what options and special features you need, and what 17 warranties, guarantees, delivery and services are available. Then you negotiate price. £ When price and other terms have been worked out, you negotiate with the leasing com- pany to determine length of lease, payments, other charges z and optional considerations. Once the lease meets with your approval (equipment, terms, etc., are detailed) and is signed, the leasing company buys the machine. Only when the machine is delivered to you does the lease go into effect. Obviously, leasing is a unique method of acquiring lawn care £ equipment. It can be an attrac-tive, or at least on-balance, alter-native for many operations. But buying outright or bank financ-ing have much to recommend, too. So how do you decide? Your best bet is to consult with the ex-perts who know the details of your operation. CALC-A-LAWN The computer data system for the lawn care Specifically designed for your professional lawn care service company to use for computer program controls in business operations and management planning. Improves efficiency of day-to-day operations resulting in increased profits. Reduces problems of estimates processing, customer records, service routing schedules, invoice printing and delivery, accounts receivable control, and special analyses needed for management. Streamline your internal systems and procedures. Mini Systems Group, Inc. has developed the CALC-A-LAWN system to enable you to keep control of your information processing needs as your lawn care business grows. Our custom data processing program systems are expressly prepared for the needs of your professional lawn care service to enable you the businessman to achieve your goals of efficient and profitable operations. Computer assisted management control has these advantages: Ł reduces employee costs and errors. Ł expedites routing, scheduling, invoicing, and customer inquiries with the result of less lost time and more cash flow. Ł provides better control of accounts receivable and inventory requirements. Ł allows back-up records for emergency use. You may be ready for this system, if your customer base has grown above two thousand service stops. Call or write nowŠand be oper-ating early for the coming season! Mini Systems Group, Incorporated 6500 Pearl Road, Cleveland, OH 44130 Tel.Š(216) 842-5449 IRRIGATION Automatic irrigation cuts cost for New Mexico VA hospital Rampant inflation and soaring energy costs have made many in-stitutions wary of incurring ma-jor expenditures for grounds beautification. Consequently, high-ticket items like landscape packages and automatic irriga-tion systems are often treated as luxuries, as any lawn care busi-nessman involved in selling, in-stalling and maintaining irriga-tion systems can tell you at the drop of a hat. That is why the purchase of a major automatic irrigation system for the Veteran's Admin-istration Hospital in Albuquer- que, N.M. required indepth costs analyses before the green light to go ahead was given to Site Development Co., also based in Albuquerque, to install an auto-matic irrigation system. John In-man, president of Site Develop- ment, said it took five months to complete the $161,000 project. "We've been able to save money across the board," says Jim Thomas, grounds supervisor for the 19-building, 450-bed hospital complex nestled on 85 acres of New Mexico soil. Some of his comments might be useful to a lawn care businessman on his next irrigation sale. "We have an irrigation system that will quite literally pay for it-self in just five or six years in energy, water and labor sav- ings," he said. "We used to water our 34 acres under lawn cover with an un-wieldy hand-move irrigation system," Thomas said. "The operation of that bulky system was a full-time job for my eight-Nearly 1,000 sprinklers were utilized in the irrigation system in-stalled on the 85-acre VA hospital complex in Albuquerque, N.M. Some of the facts ana figures on how money was saved by installing an automatic irrigation system might be useful to a lawn care businessman on his next irrigation sale. Golf course managers, educators and industry representa-tives from around the world will gather in St. Louis, Feb. 17-22, for the 51st International Turfgrass Conference and Show. Join them for this once-a-year opportunity to learn about the latest developments in turfgrass management, services and equipment. Conference highlights include: Ł preconference seminars Ł four days of education sessions Ł turfgrass industry show Ł annual meeting and election Ł ladies' program Ł certification examination Ł social events More conference information and registration materials will be mailed to GCSAA members in October. Others may use the coupon below to request materials. Please complete and send to: GCSAA Headquarters, 1617 St. An-drews Drive, Lawrence, Kan. 66044 Send GCSAA Conference and Show materials to: golt course/tirm Companies check here for exhibitor information man crew during our watering season from early spring to late fall. And the exposed pipes and hoses were hazardous to our patients, many of whom are blind or in wheelchairs." Thomas said that outmoded watering technique required almost 15 million gallons of water per month to complete with pumps running 10 hours a day. "That 15-million-gallon figure amazingly was cut to seven million gallons per month with the automatic system," he said. "And we reduced the irrigation staff from eight men full-time to one man part-time." Furthermore, Thomas in-dicated that those maintenance staffers were then free to perform many of the other tasks assigned to his department; tasks that had gone undone or were performed in a catch-as-catch-can basis before. "My grounds department is responsible for all jobs to be done outside of the buildings," Thomas said. "That means everything from moving fur-niture and files, to collecting and hauling garbage, to laying out and grading new roadways. Frankly, our irrigation system really saved the day by giving us more man-hours to meet our ex-panded duties." Water for the irrigation system is provided by a 1,000-foot well located on the property and is brought up through a 24-inch cas- ing. This water is then pumped up into the hospital's 100-foot, 300,000-gallon-capacity water tower. Water falling from the tower creates the 47 pounds of Grounds supervisor Jim Thomas adjusts one of his irrigation system's timers. Total cost of the irrigation system was $161,000. pressure needed to drive the system. Additionally, the Hospital is tied into the city water supply for emergency needs only. Controllers for the project in-clude five Rain Bird RC-llA's and two RC-12A's. Nearly 1,000 Rain Bird Model 27A and 41A sprinkler heads were utilized as was 9.25 miles of PVC pipe, rang-ing from one-inch to four-inch diameters. The new system is divided into seven timer locations, the largest of these an area about two acres in size. Each section is watered in 15-minute irrigation cycles every other night, running from mid-March until November 10 in order to augment the eight inches of annual rainfall in Albuquer- que. That schedule compares to ¡¡NT 16 four hours of irrigation per cycle with the old method to properly water the same sections. Thanks to the efficiency of the system, virtually all watering can be completed in the early morn-ing hours before traffic flows onto the grounds. And the auto-matic system is much more ac-curate, keeping major thoroughfares and walkways dry. "We've compared records of water and electricity usage now with records we have from several years back." Thomas said. "The savings are con-siderable, even though elec-tricity prices have skyrocketed since those days. For one thing, pumps are no longer required to run during peak hours of energy usage, significantly reducing energy expenditures." What special problems had to be overcome in the application of an automatic irrigation system for an institution like a VA hospital in the Southwest? One must keep in mind that this institution is a busy hospital. Roadways had to be kept free of construction vehicles all during the installation of the system because of ambulance traffic. Special consideration was also paid to the many blind and wheelchair-bound patients residing at the hospital, keeping sidewalks unobstructed for patient traffic. "Because the lawns and gar-den areas are popular places for patients and their families to gather during the daylight hours," said Paul Clendenin, president of the local irrigation equipment distributor and a co-designer of the hospital sprinkler system, "we had to be sure the system could fulfill watering requirements in the evening hours when everyone was in-side." Thomas said that the hospital has an estimated one-million dollar inventory of mature trees, including elms, cottonwoods, pines and other more exotic varieties. "We had to plan the irrigation system with these trees, some 40 years or older, already on the premises," he said. "There are <00* is the theme of the First National Lawn Care Business Conference and Trade Show March 16-19, 1980 Milwaukee, Wis. Your opportunity to meet, talk with other lawn care professionals, see products exhibited, update your skills and knowledge. To get on the mailing list for more details, write: Lawn Care Conference Box 1936 Appleton, Wl 54913 414/733/2301 Circle 107 on free information card more flower beds on the grounds than before the system was in-stalled, too, because the new system allows greater freedom in selecting plantings. And grounds personnel now have the time to tend these areas." Soil composition ranges from heavy clays with a low degree of absorbency to areas of decom-posed granite that allow mois-ture to percolate very easily. A simple adjustment of the timing clock compensates for these variances in soil make-up, how-ever. Less water is applied to the clay areas than to locations with looser soil composition by means of adjusting the clock to allow a shorter watering cycle. Learning the ins and outs of the irrigation system was eased thanks to a one-day instruction course provided by the local dis-tributor. "But maintenance requirements are minimal," Thomas said. "A week of clean-ing heads, setting timers and other duties is all that is neces-sary to get the system up and run-ning after idle months." INSECTICIDES April application controls chinchbugs through July, August The period during July and August is the single most critical time for damage from chinchbug and bluegrass billbug in the North, according to Dr. Harry Niemczyk of the Ohio Agricul-tural Research and Development Center, Wooster. "At this time, moisture stress is common and the feeding activity of these two pests is highest," he told lawn care businessmen at last year's Ohio Turfgrass Con-ference. "The coincidence of these stress factors in July and August is believed to be respon-sible for the majority of insect-related damage to northern turf-grasses." OARDC's Niemczyk Dr. Niemczyk conducted a study that showed excellent con-trol of chinchbug and chinchbug damage was attained with a single mid-April application of an insecticide. Reinfestation of treated lawns occurred in late August, but only when adjacent infested lawns were not treated. "Though reinfested lawns were retreated," Dr. Niemczyk said, "we think natural mortality in the population by the en-tomophagus fungus Bovaria s.p. coupled with normally abundant rainfall and fall fertilization, probably would have resulted in no visible damage to the turf dur- ing September and October." The fungus he speaks of occurs naturally in rainy periods. Fifteen home lawns in the city of Wooster and two turf areas on the OARDC campus were selected for treatment. There were also untreated controls. Generally, the criteria for selection included evidence of damage from or the presence of chinchbug or bluegrass billbug populations. "The early June treatment time in the tests was selected to fit the time when homeowners and lawn care firms usually make their first insecticide ap- plication," he said. "The mid-July treatment was selected as the latest time first applications are made. The mid-April ap- plication date was selected to test our theory that the impact of early treatment on overwintered chinchbug adults would result in reduced damage from these pests in July and August." Dr. Niemczyk told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY last month: "The lawn care businessman has to analyze his own situation. If he has a history of billbug problems on his lawns, the April application makes sense because he kills the adult billbugs, and then they can't lay eggs. Since there is only one generation, he has solved that problem. "If he also has a chinchbug problem, he knocks off the generation that does the most damage. However, he would get about the same control with a June application too, in place of the mid-April treatment. "But for the lawn care busi-nessman with operators treating 500 to 600 lawns, the last lawns might not get treated until mid- July. These last lawns will show significant damage, and it will also be more apparent in the fall. He simply has a better chance at getting a greener lawn for his customer with the earlier ap- plication." Circle 120 on free information card WHEN THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BEST! > » Model #PC 1200 fiberglass tank equipped with fiberglass pump cover, Model #D 200 gal-lon mixing tank shown mounted on a custom truck body by Strong Enterprises. Bottom view of the Model #PC 1200 tank showing to best advantage the integral molded mounting base and steel hold-down lugs designed for ease in mounting on your truck and eliminating costly installation. THE Tuflex Manufacturing process allows a five year warranty on all tanks. is the only manufacturer to specialize in seamless fiberglass spray tanks specifically for the pest control and lawn care industry. Remember when crafts-manship was an art...at Tuflex it still is! The exclusive Tuflex process carries a full five year warranty on all handcrafted seam-less fiberglass tanks. For economy prices and more s information on our complete line of tanks, write or call now: Tuflex Manufacturing Company Post Office Box 13143 Port Everglades, Florida 33316 ^ (305)525-8815 ^ u w Q >-OC H GO 5 2 w a: < u 2 £ < PRODUCTS Tractor rotary cutter An economy-priced rotary cutter made for use on tractors as low as 12 horsepower is available from the FMC Corp., Agricul-tural Machinery Division. Stan-dard equipment on the Sidewinder SX-42 includes a safety shield on the PTO drive line and a three-point hitch for easy hook-up Circle 204 on free information card Lawn sprayers require no chemical mixing Yardmate Manufacturing Com-pany's line of lawn care sprayers require no mixing of chemicals by the operator. The sprayers are merely attached to the homeowner's water supply. Three models are available: Model YM-31 which sprays one pesticide, Model YM-32 which sprays one or two pesticides simultaneously, and Model YM-33 which is capable of spraying three pesticides at one time. The 15-pound sprayers are shipped complete and ready to use. Circle 202 on free information card Valves and sprinklers featured in catalog A 116-page catalog from Johns-Manville Buckner contains com-plete data on all of the com-pany's controllers, valves, lawn sprays, rotary and pop-up sprin-klers, prevention devices, and quick-coupling valves. A selection guide is also included, along with a complete list of distributors. Circle 206 on free information card can be dumped from the operator's seat. Circle 205 on free information card High-wheel mowers Pro Inc.'s line of high-wheel mowers feature rugged steel con-struction, removable mulcher plates, beltdriven blades, and permanently lubricated, double-sealed ball bearings. The 14-inch, flotation-type rear wheels stabilize the mowing unit and makes handling easier and safer on all types of terrain. Circle 203 on free information card Vari-Cone spreader The Vari-Cone spreader, from Vibranetics, Inc., employs a con-toured, adjustable dam to spread a continuously flowing stream of solids to several times its normal Vacuum picks up twigs and grass clippings Turf Blazer Vac, from Howard Price Turf Equipment, Inc., enables the user to mow and vacuum turf in one operation. The vacuum picks up grass clipp-ings, leaves, twigs, and litter and deposits them in a 13-bushel capacity container. The debris width, allowing it to flow down a chute evenly without segregation or degradation. The spreader can accept dry or semi-dry solids from any direction and can ac-comodate widely varying flow rates and particle sizes without suffering a loss of efficiency, ac-cording to the manufacturer. Circle 201 on free information card. Lawn and garden edging Four models of lawn and garden edging are available from Custom Plastics, Inc. Model IND- 20 industrial grade edging is ex-tra heavy duty with a large hollow bead top. The edging also features two large ridges for in ground holding and extra thick wall construction. Other models include the VE-20, SP-20, and LGE-20. Circle 216 on free information card Cheminjector pumps Cheminjector pumps, from Hydroflo Corp., work with any irrigation system to provide uniform distribution of chemicals into irrigation water. All critical working parts are en-closed by a stainless steel cover to provide maximum protection from the elements, yet ready access to the stroke length ad- juster. Further, various plunger diameters are available for lower capacities or higher pressure operation. Circle 217 on free information card MARKETING IDEA FILE Welcome to Cleveland Stadium Liqui-Lawn-7 Competitors-0 As Dandy Don, Howard, and Frank broke away for a commer-cial message just before halftime of the Cleveland Browns' 27-7 Monday night victory over the Dallas Cowboys, more than 80,000 fans in Cleveland Stadium were also exposed to a commercial advertisement; but in a very different form. An animated advertisement graphically communicating the virtues of Liqui-Lawn, a pre-mixed, ready-to-use liquid fertil-izer, danced across the face of the stadium's million-dollar scoreboard as many in the crowd looked on. Liqui-Lawn, manufactured by Heritage House Products Corp., Warrens-ville Heights, Ohio, is designed for the consumer market as an alternative to purchasing a lawn spray service. "Liqui-Lawn is a complete fertilizer which is used by hook-ing a garden hose right into the special applicator we have that screws on to the top of the bottle," Carl Fazio, Jr., ex-ecutive vice-president of Heritage House Products Corp., said. "Is all you do is turn on your water and the nozzle auto-matically mixes the right amount of water and liquid fertil-izer. It's cheaper than having a spray service do your lawn." Although Liqui-Lawn is in direct competition with spray operations many in the lawn care industry could learn from Heritage House Products' creative advertising philosophy. Fazio said the Cleveland Stadium scoreboard is an effective advertising tool when used in conjunction with other forms of advertising. "I've been very pleased with the response we've received from advertising at the stadium," he said. "Lots of people have mentioned that they've seen our ads on the scoreboard." Surprisingly, the cost of advertising on the scoreboard is not prohibitive. A spokesman for the Cleveland Stadium Ad- vertising Department said four or five different packages are available. "The most popular package consists of 200 spots (two during every Browns and Indians game) for $7,000, or $35 a spot," he said. The Browns play nine home games per year and the Indians play 81 home games per year. Other packages include: Ł One spot per game for both Browns and Indians games $4,-500. Ł Two spots during every Indians game $5,200. Ł One spot during every Indians game $3,000. Ł Two spots during every Browns game $2,500. Ł One spot during every Browns game $1,500. The first four hours of computer work in developing the -animation for the ad is also provided at no charge, according to the Advertising Department spokesman. Fazio said advertising at sporting events is generally more expensive than traditional advertising, but in the long run it pays off. "I think you have to understand the value of being associated with professional sports or otherwise you wouldn't make the buy," he said. mmmmmmmmm Seven-foot stake body for mini-trucks A seven-foot stake body especially designed for mini-trucks is available from Midwest Body, Inc. Called Profitmaker, the stake body is available in either steel or wood slat models. Both models feature a one-piece side with rear tracks that swing open for ease of loading and unloading. Optional equipment includes rear light panel and bumper assembly. Circle 208 on free information card NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL First Class Permit No. 2675 Cleveland, O. Postage will be paid by addressee L4WN GIRE INDUSTRY Attn: Circulation Department 9800 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44102 WWN GIRE INDUSTR/ The news monthly serving chemical lawn care and maintenance professionals. Please enter my introductory subscription to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY for just $10 (12 monthly issues). I understand that if LAWN CARE INDUSTRY doesn't meet my expectations I can cancel and receive prompt refund. Ł Bill company Ł Bill me Ł Payment enclosed Name Firm Business Address City Title-State. .Zip. Signature Type of Business (check one) Ł Chemical lawn care & mow-ing/maintenance services Ł Chemical lawn care only Date-Ł Lawn mowing and other mainte-nance services Ł Other (specify) CLASSIFIED FORSALE BE YOUR OWN BOSS! For sale in midwest: Chemical Lawn Care com-pany with established accounts and equipment. For more information please write to Box 16, Lawn Care, Box 6951, Cleveland, Ohio 44101. REMARKABLY PROFITABLE lawn spraying business. Suburban north Jersey. 700 selected accounts. Details: Alfred Lockwood, 239 Brookvalley Rd., Towaco, N.J. 07082. FOR SALE: Very profitable lawn spraying company serving Chicago and suburbs. One of the largest such firms in the area and offers both li-quid and dry application. Write: Box 14, Lawn Care Industry, Box 6951, Cleveland, Ohio 44101. MISCELLANEOUS KELWAY SOIL pH TESTER, used by professionals everywhere. Direct reading, longlasting, portable, lightweight, no power source. Model HB-2 reads moisture too. Available through local distributors or contact Kel Instruments Co., Inc., Dept. L, P.O. Box 1869, Clifton, N.J. 07015. 201 471-3954. USED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: 10-1977 Chevy one-ton trucks, 750 gal. spray tanks, R & M 3L4 pump, electric hose reels, spray hose, ready to spray. Phone 513 845-0631. FOR SALE: 1978 Chevy, 1 ton, 13,000 miles. 575 epoxy line tank, 10-10 bean pump-PTO-electric reel & hose. Ex-cellent condition. $10,500. 317 297-3314. FOR SALE: 5-800 Ballon Tuflex spray tanks, 2 years ola in excellent con- dition. 513 761-4100. HELP WANTED SELL LAWNSPRAY DEALERSHIPS Š Join one of America's oldest and fastest growing natural and organic lawnspray companies as a company-trained representative earning top commissions. Degree and agronomic experience preferred, but not ab- solutely necessary. Unlimited poten-tial and free training for the right candidates across tne U.S. Send resume in confidence, or call Tom Hughes, V. P. Marketing, Agro-Chem, Inc., 11150 W. Addison, Franklin Park, Illinois 60131, 312 455-6900. NATIONALLY KNOWN LAWN CARE service needs foreman to supervise in the servicing of over 2,-200 accounts. We need a take charge person capable of over seeing our entire service department. Un- limited opportunities for the right person. Supervisory experience is necessary. Knowledge of the lawn business is not a requirement. Lawn Doctor, Box 198, Morrisville, PA 19067. CHEMICAL LAWN CARE company needs working foreman with at least three years experience in turf management including supervision, sales, customer and employee rela-tions. Must have mechanical back-ground. 214 690-1900. Lawn Doctor, P.O. Box 30121, Dallas, TX 75230. BAREFOOT GRASS Lawn Service of Denver, Colorado will be accepting applications for Lawn Technicians in December. Positions will be available, beginning February 1st, 1980. Send resume by January 5th, 1980 to: 2045 S. Valentia St. No.18, Denver, Colorado 80231. WANT A CHALLENGE? Full re- sponsibility for customer service. Must know lawn problems. Previous customer contact necessary. Some sales background. We are the fastest erowing dry granular applicator. Full Benefits year round. Top salary to right person - Northeast Ohio. Resume - Chimo Enterprises, P.O. Box 09209, Cleveland, 44109. ESTABLISHED SERVICE corpora-tion is looking for experienced in-dividuals who have Knowledge of Technical Turf/Shrub Management. We have openings in some of the wealthiest counties in the nation. Must have sales ability and some business background. The right ap- plicants will assume directorship of an established region. Salary com-mensurate with experience. Excel- lent benefits. Send resume to or call Tech-Turf, Inc., 42 Main Street, Madison, New Jersey 07940. 201 822-0742. CHEMICAL LAWN CARE COM-PANY looking for manager. Must have experience in management and in the lawn care industry. Also must have sales ability. Company located in mid-Atlantic states; nas approxi- mately 1,000 accounts and expecting to expand. Excellent salary and fringe benefit package for the right person. Send complete resume in-cluding experience, education, references and salary requirements to: Box 15, Lawn Care Industry, Box 6951, Cleveland, Ohio 44101. ADVERTISERS INDEX Agro-Chem, Ine 22 Consolidated Services 20 Deere & Co 4-5 GCSAA 18 Hanson Equipment Co 14 HMC 8-9 Hypro, Div. of Lear Siegler, Ine 6 Lawn Care Business Conference 19 Lebanon Chemical Corp 14,19 Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Ine cover IV J.J. Mauget 15 Mini-Systems Group 17 Monsanto 21 North American Plant Breeders 7 Professional Turf Specialties 6 Rhone-Poulenc cover III Ryan n,i6 Tecumseh 3 The Toro Co 10 Tuflex Mfg 19 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 Roundup" 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 Circle 109 on free information card Monsanto There's never been a herbicide like this before. BEHIND THIS ISSUE Throughout the 12 months I have been associated with the lawn care industry I have consistently been impressed with the high degree of professionalism exhibited by its members. As you may or may not know, during my first year at the Harvest Publishing Com-pany I have split my duties as assistant editor between LAWN CARE INDUSTRY and PEST CONTROL magazine. Thus, I have had the opportunity to observe and compare these two closely-related service industries. One would logically expect the better es-tablished pest control industry to be far ahead of the youthful lawn care industry in terms of professionalism. Surprisingly, the lawn care industry fares very well when compared not only to the pest control in- dustry, but to all service-related industries. In its short 20-year history lawn care has not only developed rapidly in terms of size, but also in terms of professionalism. This can possibly be attributed to the fact that the lawn care industry has been afforded the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of allied members of the green industry, thereby "sidestepping" some of the prob-lems inevitably experienced by businesses forced to "go it alone." The industry's concerted effort to develop worthwhile educational programs and seminars is yet another factor. I re- cently attended one of these educational programs, the popular Maintenance Sym-posium, sponsored by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). While attending the ALCA symposium in Milwaukee I was again impressed with the lawn care businessman's desire to obtain practical knowledge and put that knowledge to work in the field. I expect to encounter that same type of enthusiasm when I attend the Ohio Turfgrass Con-ference in Cincinnati, Dec. 4-6 and at the Virginia Turfgrass Conference in Williams-burg, Jan. 30-31. It would be foolish to assume that the lawn care industry is without members who lack professionalism, but overall lawn care businessmen score well in their desire to promote a professional image. A WORD TO THOSE WHO THINK IT 1AKES A FORTUNE TO MAKE DIG MONEY IN LAWNGARL ANNOUNCING THE LOW-INVESTMENT, NO-FEE. NO-ROYALTY, NO-ADD-ON PROFIT PROGRAM FROI^I AGRO-CHfeM. For as little as $5000, you can become part of the fastest growing field in the great outdoors. As an independent dealer of Agro-Chem, a leader in lawncare products and training. Agro-Chem will supply you with everything you'll need to grow along with the incredibly profitable lawn-spraying industry that has seen sales increase more than 20% in the past year alone. As manufacturers, we ship directly to you from our modern plant in Franklin Park, Illinois. There are no profit-picking middle-men involved. (Our profit comes from the products you buy.) And best of all, you remain your own boss. Free to grow with the rising demand in your own area. WE HELP YOU ALL THE WAY. We'll teach you the very latest in organic, scientific lawncare. And we'll supply you with super-effec-tive sales tools. Newspaper ads. Radio commercials. Brochures, door-sellers, publicity and advertising. You supply the desire to make big money in this growing field. AGRO P I I I I A UNIQUE, ORGANIC LAWNCARE PRODUCT LINE SUPERIOR TO OTHERS. Agro-Chem lawn nutrients are totally organic. Natural. And specially formulated by us according to soil tests in your area. There are no harsh chemicals that can lead to weakened, disease-ridden lawns. Instead Agro-Chem nutrients create a natural, deep-root growth that assures green lawns and turns undesirable thatch into humus. And all Agro-Chem products have been proven effective, and profitable, after thousands of residential, commercial and institutional applications. IT DOESN'T COST A FORTUNE TO START IN BUSINESS NOW! The return investment is substantial, from the start. For instance, an initial product order costing you $5000 can bring you a gross profit of about $10,000. Even if you begin with a small truck and only a 300-gallon product tank. IT ONLY TAKES A PHONE CALL. OR A STAMP. Call us collect today, or fill out and return the attached coupon to receive our no-obligation booklet describing your incredible profit potential as an Agro-Chem dealer. But act now, and be ready for the big profit season ahead. CALL MR. THOMAS GREENE, COLLECT CHEM, INC. 312-455-6900 Where the grass is always greener. 11150 W. Addison, Franklin Park, Illinois 60131 OK. Send me your book that shows me how I can make big money as an Agro-Chem dealer. I understand there's no obligation. Name-Address. City/Town. _ State _ -Zip. MAIL THIS COUPON TO: Agro-Chem, Inc. 11150 W. Addison Franklin Park, Illinois 60131 1 I I I I INFLATION from pagel the cost of its service by 10 to 20 percent. Eldred, of A-Perm-O-Green, cites skyrocketing fuel prices as the key factor in his company's six to 10 percent increase in prices for 1980. "Driving a three-ton truck is not getting any cheaper these days," he said. Chem-Care's Zwiebel said his company will increase its prices about 25 cents per 1,000 square feet in 1980 (a five to seven per-cent increase). "We've found out that chemical costs went up 11 to 12 percent last year, gasoline costs increased 30 percent, and equipment went up 15 percent," he said. "So we felt very pleased that we could handle a five per-cent price increase and still stay in the ballgame." However, not everybody in the industry plans price increases for 1980. Erv Denig, president of Lawn & Turf Landscaping, Inc., Ft. Wayne, Ind., was the only lawn care businessman con-tacted by LAWN CARE INDUS-TRY who did not plan a price in-crease. The reason? "We in- creased our prices about 10 per-cent last year," he said, "and I didn't feel we could raise our prices again and remain competitive." It appears that almost across the board the industry will have to increase prices in 1980. How-ever, most lawn care business-men agree that they will not be able to increase prices enough to absorb 100 percent of increased operating costs. Ober, of Davey Lawnscape, said, the industry "couldn't bear" lawn care businessmen passing on 100 per- cent of their increased operating costs to the customer. "So it forces us to increase our effi- ciency and our productivity, while maintaining a quality ser- vice," he said. "You don't want to start cutting materials or cutting back on service calls or you will lose your customers for non price-related reasons." Therefore, the key to success for the lawn care professional in 1980 appears to be increased prices, along with an increase in productivity. »MM«#, * ál wÉk t V * » , \ FERTILIZER 37-0-0 Lescosan, the name you remember for crabgrass control. LESCO Sulfur-Coated Fertilizer, the name to remember for greener lawns. Ron Giften, Vice President of National Sales I've told you about our Lescosan (Betasan*), the best selling pre-emergence crabgrass control on the market. You've proven its effec-tiveness. I'm here to tell you now that Lakeshore Equipment & Supply produces an equally effective line of sulfur-coated fertilizers. LESCO Sulfur-Coated Urea and 100% Sulfur-Coated Fertilizers pro-vide the perfect ingredients for denser, greener lawns. The sulfur coating, applied to the fertilizer components, provides controlled release of nutrients for prompt and sustained feeding for safe, ef-ficient and economical fertilization of lawns in all areas of the country. As supplier of the most effective full-season crabgrass control on the market Š Lescosan (Betasan*) Š and of the latest in controlled-release (sulfur-coated) fertilizers, manufactured by our subsidiary, Ag Industries Manufacturing, we have a special interest in the lawn care market. Lakeshore carries a complete line of turfgrass supplies made and distributed with you in mind. The full family of fine LESCO Pro- ducts mean quality at affordable prices. Call Lakeshore today and ask about Lescosan, Sulfur-Coated Fertil-izers and our other turfgrass supplies. Ask for Barb Š she'll have one of our lawn service specialists give you the full story and work out a complete program tailored to meet your specific needs. * (Betasan Š registered TM of the Stauffer Chemical Company.) A Family of Fine Products Lescosan 12.5GŠLescoreneŠ Leseo 4ŠLescoborŠ LescoparŠLescopexŠLeseo Non-Selective HerbicideŠLeseo MSMAŠ Leseo Thiram 75WŠLescozyme ŠLakeshore Chinch Bug & Sod Webworm Control. PRODUCTS Division of Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. 300 South Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 (216) 323-7544 Circle 121 on free information card 1-800-321.5325 Nationwide 1-800-362-7413 In Ohio iurf The shot heard 'round the.world: i SO GOOD IT'S REVOLUTIONARY! From the producers of Baron Kentucky Bluegrass. Available through all Lofts divisions and leading seed houses. ? TU If1« LOFTS -, * ï » Ł . Ł. ¿A ' i ? Lofts Pedigreed Seed, lite. Bound Brook, N.J. 08805 / (201) 856-8700 Revolutionary because: Yorktown II rated the best in summer performance (heat tolerance) in tests con-ducted at Rutgers University under the direction of Dr. R. Funk. . .yet rated number one in fall and winter performance as well. The "all-year long" ryegrass. Revolutionary because: Yorktown II rated number one in turf quality in tests conducted at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center under the direction of Jack Murray. Revolutionary because: Yorktown II ". . .was the only variety to produce acceptable turfgrass quality without the use of fungicides" based on a 1-year trial at Beltsville, Md. More disease resistant. Revolutionary because: Yorktown II proved number one in overall turf quality. . .including appearance, density, mowing quality and disease resistance in two separate testings conducted at Rutgers University against 33 and 39 other ryegrass varieties. Add to these new test results the qualities you've come to expect from using Yorktown. . .good color, fast germination, great seedling vigor, neat mowability and a great compatability with varieties like Jamestown fescue for use in southern overseeding programs. No wonder YORKTOWN II is so good. . . Circle 138 on free information card