V4 Do you have a minimum square footage you will service? Yes Š 28.2% No Š 71.8% If yes, please specify: CONVENTIONS ALCA meeting draws 650; first lawn care session held More than 650 landscape con-tractors attended last month's annual meeting of the Associ-ated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) in Orlando, Fla., many of whom attended the first-ever lawn care technical specialty session on the last day of the show. Ronald A. Ahlman, of Law-rence & Ahlman, Inc., Chicago, was named to be the 16th asso-ciation president. Also elected were: president elect, Bill Thorn-ADVERTISING Yellow Pages ads: how to make them effective The classified section of the phone book in any city across the United States Š the Yellow Pages Š is an advertising main-stay of lawn care companies and others in the service field. Ma Bell does a good job of promoting her Yellow Pages ("Let Your Fingers Do the Walk-ing") and has focused even more attention on this form of advertising in the recent past. A recent independent study revealed that 95 percent of the consumers interviewed found the Yellow Pages helpful in locating the product or service they wanted; 78 percent said they contacted a firm after con-sulting the Yellow Pages and half of these people purchased a ser-vice or product as an aftermath. Poll a cross section of lawn maintenance owners in an area, and you get mixed reactions to money spent for this type of advertising. One owner said "definitely good for the image but as far as concrete results, not ^r ^ffllServing lawn maintenance Ł MgMB^^kn and chemical lawn | care professionals. INDUSTRY MARCH 1978 Ł VOL. 2, NO. 3 Ł A Harvest Publication ton, Jr., of Thornton Landscape, Cincinnati, Ohio; vice presi-dents, Wallace SaBell, of Sa-bell's, Inc., Denver; and Vernon D. Smith of Millcreek Gardens, Salt Lake City, Utah; treasurer, Ritchie B. Skelton, of Duncan Landscape Associates, Vienna, Ohio; and secretary, Allen Kee- sen, of Allen Keesen Landscape, Inc., Denver. Last year's presi-dent Dick Brickman moves to the post of immediate past presi- dent. Speakers on the lawn care panel were: Robert Person, mar-keting manager, Finn Equip-ment Co., Cincinnati; Peter H. Connelly, general manager, Hydro Lawn Spray, Salem, Va.; Irvin Dixon, regional manager, ChemLawn Corp's Commercial Division, Atlanta; Skip Strong, Strong Enterprises, Inc., Miami; and Bob Earley, editor of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. Erv Denig, president of Lawn & Turf Land-scaping, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., organized the lawn care pro-gram. Also well-attended were the maintenance technical specialty to page 4 much." Another operator said he found the Yellow Pages "the only medium you can count on get-ting you business." A couple said they were trimming their Yel-low Pages budget and empha-sizing other types of advertising, specifically, direct mail and shopper newspapers. One thing is certain: Owners found it the most fruitful means of attracting business from new-comers to a community. Lawn maintenance firms to page 36 QUICK STARTS National turf federation born in Texas page 2 Fall turf fertilization recommended page 11 Carter asks limits on business owners'benefits . . page 13 Correcting that employe mistake page 17 Should a contract be written or verbal? page 20 Lawn care and Playboy magazine page 6 MEMOS NEWSMAKERS MONEYWISE MARKETING IDEA FILE .... MEETING DATES ^nr-Anr^ TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES .... bfcARD COST CUTTINGS COUELHON PRODUCTS For a complete market study of the lawn care industry in St. Louis, see MARKETPLACE, page 24. This is part of a continuing series of indepth looks at regions of the country where the lawn care business thrives. The study includes a profile of the city, potential lawn care custom-ers, lawn care companies that operate there and how they go about getting and keening customers. BUSINESS ChemLawn agronomist speaks out on lawn care professionalism A ChemLawn Corp. agronomist based in Westminster, Md. has con-tacted that state's supervisor of pesticide regulations asking for his help in upgrading the quality of professionalism among lawn care ser-vices. Late last year, agronomist Philip E. Catron wrote a letter to super-visor David Shriver pointing out that literature has been circulated in the Baltimore area "containing blatant agronomic inaccuracies and erroneous assumptions in regards to materials and plant growth." Recently, Catron told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY: "I just read your comment in the 'Behind This Issue' portion of the January issue con-cerning unsavory business practices among lawn companies. I could- n't agree with you more and it is about time someone expresses con-cern." He sent a copy of his memo and the erroneous literature to the magazine "to let you know how some of us feel." The memo to Shriver read in part: "Earlier this year I attended a meeting in Springfield, Va. It was or-ganized by many professional lawn services throughout the upper Vir-ginia area. Landscapers, irrigation people, chemical lawn companies, etc., and featured many fine speakers from nearby universities and also people in the lawn care industry. "I was quite pleased," Catron continued in the memo, "to see an organization of lawn companies all getting together under one roof. The first speaker said some mighty appropriate words to the gathering to not only start the meeting off but also to try to relate a kind of atmos-phere that might encompass lawn care professionals in general. He said, the reason why we are all here is to learn, to exchange ideas, and most importantly, upgrade the professionalism of the lawn care in-dustry by working together for the advancement of turf and give the homeowner a fair shake." Catron attached to the Shriver memo a piece of literature given to his company by a potential customer when she called for a survey and estimate. He continued in his memo: "I would like you to take time to read this piece of advertisement. It does not bother me that it is anti-ChemLawn. I have heard and seen anti-everything before. What concerns me is, first, the blatant agron- omic inaccuracies and erroneous assumptions in regards to materials and plant growth, and second and most important, the total lack of pro-(o page 2 Z*/dLL Xi NOIiViS 3D3T10D AINO Wf Xi IDS 1IUS 3 dOdD 30 iddO ** doad davda Sdwvr ao HO- -LLk-HI -SN-zssf/tzaDao 3> a? 3 K o a group of professionals collec-tively or individually, maybe you can impress upon them the im-portance of working together rather than apart." About the literature, Shriver last month said, "I wouldn't be able to do anything officially to stop the circulation of the liter-ature. "I agree that there were inac-curacies in it. If I knew who the company was that was circulat-ing it, I might call him up and say, 'You're running a flim-flam operation.' " The state's laws give the pesticide section regulation auth-ority of lawn care company ad- vertising, but the section does not have the power to regulate liter-ature that one company circu-lates about another, he said. Also in response to the "Be-hind This Issue" published in the January issue of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, John Hogg, presi-dent of John's Spray Service in Daytona Beach, Fla, said: "It was good to hear/ read your comments about unsavory business practices in our indus-try in your January issue. I've fought the problem for the past 25 years Š especially 'promising the world' and 'not providing promised services.' But the good always survive, even though it is a battle sometime." L4WN GIRE INDUSTRY Publisher: HUGH CHRONISTER General Manager: RICHARD J. W. FOSTER Executive and editorial offices: 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Editor: ROBERT EARLEY Executive Editor: DAVID SLAYBAUGH Associate Editor: BRUCE SHANK Assistant Editors: RON MORRIS, SCOTT SCREDON, MIKE CASEY Graphic Director: RAYMOND GIBSON Circulation Manager: JACK SCHABEL Research Services: CLARENCE ARNOLD Production Manager: PATRICIA KELLEY MARKETING/SALES Advertising Director: STEVE STONE (212) 421-1350 757 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Circulation & List Rental: TERRI HUTSENPILLER (216) 651-5500 Marketing & Merchandising Services: FRAN FRANZAK (216) 651-5500 Midwest Office: JOE GUARISE (312) 236-9425 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 252-4311 3186 Frontenac Court, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30319 Southwest Office: JOHN SANDFORD (213) 933-8408 5455 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1107, Los Angeles, Ca. 90036 Northwest Office: BOB MIEROW (415) 982-0110 582 Market St., Suite 1904, San Francisco, Ca. 94104 Classified: DOROTHY LOWE (216) 651-5500 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 LAWN CARE INDUSTRY is published every month by The Harvest Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace lovanovich, Inc. at 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 (216) 651-5500. Copyright © 1978 by The Harvest Publishing Company, all rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced 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 and 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. SUBSCRIBERS: Send change-of-address notices, correspondence regarding subscription service to Fulfillment Manager, Lawn Care Industry, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. Change of Address notices should be sent pro- mptly, 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 Industry, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. The Harvest Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., publishers of WEEDS TREES & TURF, PEST CONTROL, NPCA Extra, GOLF BUSINESS and the Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. PROFESSION ALISMfrom page 1 fessional ethics involved in such literature. Such advertisements serve only to antagonize other services and lead to total confu-sion of the homeowner." The two-page advertisement distributed in the Baltimore area started out like this under the headline "More Competition": There is a lawn care outfit in the Midwest called ChemLawn. They are a spray operation whose prices are exception-ally low. Recently, they opened up opera- tions in Baltimore, and rumor has it that they plan to spread throughout the East Coast. If you are faced with them as compe-tition, the following points should be help-ful. . . . The advertisement then goes on to discuss 12 points against the ChemLawn program that Catron says contain the agronomic inaccuracies and erroneous as-sumptions. In completing his memo to Shriver, Catron wrote: "I'm not asking you to com-ment on the legality, for those are questions only our lawyers can answer. What I would hope can be done from you in the posi-tion you hold, is that if you ever have the opportunity to speak to Dr. James B. Beard (left), professor of crop and soil sciences at Texas A 8r M University, and former long-time Michigan State University turf professor, re-ceived the Meritorious Service Award from Michigan Turfgrass Foundation fresident James Smith at the 48th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference in anuary. ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ LEGAL Unlicensed operators reviewed in California The Colorado Landscape Contractors Association has retained a Sacramento con- sulting firm to review the feasibility of controlling the per-formance of landscape mainte- nance and installation work by unlicensed operators. William H. Geyer, a suc-cessful legislative consultant, will research and advise the As-sociation on possible courses of action to resolve the long-standing problem plaguing the industry. He will evaluate various pos-sible approaches to clarifying or amending the contractors' license law through legislation. These will include the enactment of present regulations into statutes, clarification of the terms "maintenance" and "installation," creation of a separate licensing program or other politically necessary ex- emptions for small operators and gardeners. He will also investigate the possibility of development of a consumer protection program with the force of law, and any other reasonable alternatives. TURF National federation is born in Texas With cautious optimism a group of industry leaders en-dorsed the creation of a national turfgrass "federation" during the International Turfgrass Confer- ence sponsored by the Golf Course Superintendents Asso- ciation of America in San An-tonio, Tx., last month. A temporary slate of officers and a committee to write a set of bylaws were chosen during the breakfast meeting. The original idea of a nation-al turfgrass federation is attrib-uted to Dr. Fred Grau who made the motion for creation and con-sequently put his idea of 1953 into action in 1978. Richard Morey, publisher of Brantwood Publications, and Dr. Richard Duble, a Texas A & M research-er, are credited for making this latest and temporarily success-ful push for a national body to represent turf interests. The desire is to make the or-ganization resemble the Council on Agricultural Science Science and Technology, (CAST) a rela-tively suckussful and non-competitive organization repre- senting agriculture. Without actually lobbying, CAST gathers data and polls industry leaders regarding topics of critical inter-est to agriculture. As a result, government officials consult CAST before making decisions of agricultural issues. Dr. James Beard, well-known author and Texas A&M profes-sor, cautioned the organizers of the federation against taking any kind of competitive stance with other industry associations. Beard recommended the name of council rather than federation for this purpose. "The group needs to have a total industry scope and must not threaten the vested interests of other groups," Beard said. James Watson of Toro Co., Minneapolis, seconded Dr. Grau's motion for creation and was named to the bylaw commit-tee along with Grau, Beard, and Tom Mascaro. The committee will also determine how the fed-eration will be funded. The officers chosen are Lou Greco, superintendent of Squaw Creek Country Club, Ohio,-presi-dent; Gene Nutter, of Chem-Lawn Corp.,-vice president; and Richard Duble Š secretary treasurer. Š Bruce Shank Controls weeds and controls costs for economical turf maintenance PROVEL® herbicide is a new formulation of dicamba, +2,4D, proven effective against broadleaf weed pests like dandelions and plantain, plus more than two dozen other tough ones, including chickweed, knotweed, clover and English daisy (see label for complete listing). Cost savings are dramatic: you can provide broadleaf weed control for an average home lawn with less than 16$ worth PROVEL® herbicide per 1,000 sq. ft. per application. PROVEL® herbicide is packaged 6x1 gal. per case, 2x2)4 gal. per case and 30 gal. drums. Contact your Velsicol turf distributor or send coupon for product data and specimen label to ŁVelsicol r Mr. L. E. Carls Velsicol Chemical Corporation 341 East Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611 NAME COMPANY ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP Before using any pesticide read the label Circle 115 on free information card © 1977, Velsicol Chemical Corporation ALCA from page 1 sessions, organized by Frank Timmons, president of Ladybug Industries, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. Joseph M. Marsh, vice president of the maintenance division of Environmental Industries, Inc., San Jose, Calif, replaces Tim-mons as chairman of the ALCA maintenance committee. He ex- plained and promoted the committee's plans for this year's maintenance symposium, to be scheduled near the end of the year in San Jose, Calif. The ALCA maintenance sym-posium held late last year in At-lanta was well-attended and dealt with equipment. Marsh told ALCA members that this year's symposium will deal more heavily with chemical use, and that he hopes to include many chemical manufacturers on the program. Connelly, realized about $60,-000 gross in his first year. He said the most important thing when starting out is explaining fully to your customers what you are go-ing to do for their lawn. "If you do not do this, too many people become dis-appointed with your work when they get hit with a problem that has nothing to do with the ser- vice you are providing them," he said. Dixon said the lawn care industry is not even on the thres-hold of its business potential. He explained that he helped start the commercial maintenance division for ChemLawn, based in Atlanta, and that his main job is selling and production in At-lanta. "The commercial customer spends money with you so he can be in a more favorable position to make money with his clients that visit his grounds," he said. ChemLawn approaches commer-cial accounts with regional sales forces across the country, staffed with professional full-time sales-men with a knowledge of the in-dustry. He also said that they deal primarily with manage-ment companies. There was much audience in-terest in a plan that Dixon men-tioned where employers can pay their workers a straight salary the whole year through, and still have them working up to 55 hours in the busy part of the lawn care season. The time is made up in the off-season, and no overtime is involved. He said the system is recognized by the government. Strong told the lawn care audience that a lawn care busi-ness can save up to $1,000 a year with an auxiliary engine for his sprayer tank rather than a PTO system. He says the savings comes in less gas used by the ve-hicle. Connelly said he preferred a PTO system because the auxil-iary engine makes too much noise in the residential areas where he does work for his lawn care business. Ron Ahlman (center), of Lawrence & Ahlman, Inc., Chicago, new presi-dent of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, elected at its annual meeting last month in Orlando, Fla. To his right is president-elect and meeting chair-man Bill Thornton, Jr., Thornton Landscape, Cincinnati, Ohio; also pictured is vice president Vernon Smith, Millcreek Gardens, Salt Lake City, Utah. They were at the board meeting following the annual meeting. What's a Kubota? People are always getting our name mixed up with something else. We're not a fig. That's Kadota. We're not a couple of states. They're Dakotas. We're Kubota. The tractor com-pany. But even people who know tractors don't know us too well. We're not that famous. Yet. UIH0 ORE WE? Our company is 87 years old, and we're the fifth largest tractor maker in the world. Since 1970 we've had the good fortune to sell our tractors in the U.S.A. And we've sold more than 34,000 of them. As American tractor sales go, that's not a lot. But we've been growing steadily. And here's why. THE IHW-SIZE TRRCT0R. Kubota is giving America some-thing it needs. A mid-size tractor. We don't make 100 horsepower giants. And we don't make glorified garden tools. Instead, we cover the ground in between. Our tractors range in size from 12 to 47.5 horsepower. And they are real tractors. Tough, durable, strong. You can get power take-offs front and rear and 4-wheel drive. And a three-point hitch that handles just about every implement under the sun. Rear-or mid-mount mower, back hoe, culti- vator, dozer blade, whatever you need. WHO HEEDS IT? Whether you're working three acres or three thousand, you probably have a place for Kubota. PESTICIDES Label additions for Diamond and Monsanto Diamond Shamrock Corp., Cleveland, and Monsanto Agricultural Products Co., St. Louis, have announced addi-tions to product labels granted recently by government agen-cies. Bueno 6 herbicide, from Dia-mond Shamrock, has been approved by the state of Idaho for application on grass seed for controlling wild oats and certain other broadleaf and grassy weeds in bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass seed production. Monsanto's Roundup has three new weeds added to its label Š napiergrass, silverleaf nightshade and wirestem muhly. REGULATION EPA announces list of restricted pesticides The federal Environmental Protection Agency has an-nounced its official list of re-stricted use pesticides Š those that can legally be used only by certified applicators. Of the 23 pesticide ingredi-ents on the restricted-use list none are used extensively in turf, but some are used in tree and ornamental work. They are: Aldicarb, marketed by Union Carbide Corp., San Francisco, under the trade name Temik for insect control on ornamentals. Allyl alcohol, marketed by Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich, for use on nursery seed beds. Azinophos methyl marketed under the trade name Guthion by Chemagro, Kansas City, Mo. for insect control on ornamentals and shade trees. Demeton, marketed by Chemagro under the trade name Systox for control of aphids and mites on ornamentals. Methomyl, an insecticide for ornamental use marketed as Lan-nate by Du Pont Co., Wilming-ton, Del. and as Nudrin by Shell Chemical Co., San Ramon, Calif. Methyl bromide, a fumigant for soil and nursery stock, mar-keted by Great Lakes Chemical Corp., West Lafayette, Ind., as Bromo-O-Gas and Terr-O-Gas, and by Dow Chemical Co. and others. Paraquat, a herbicide for non-crop and industrial weed con-trol around shade trees and orna-mentals, marketed by Chevron Chemical Co., San Francisco. Picloram, a herbicide sold for non-crop use in brush control and for utility and other rights-of-way, marketed by Dow Chemical Co. as Tordon. RESEARCH Wetting agents studied for crabgrass control Surfactants in the form of detergents are useful in washing dishes and fabrics. As wetting agents, they can improve water penetration into a thatchy cus-tomer lawn. Now there is evidence that certain types of surfactants can affect germination of hairy crab-grass seeds Š with potential benefit to lawn care business- men. According to University of Delaware turf specialist Dr. Wil-liam H. Mitchell, tests con- ducted under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions at the Delaware Agricultural Experi-ment Station have shown that several wetting agents can be effective when applied for this purpose. Crabgrass seeds may remain dormant for over a period of sev-eral months following maturity. Therefore, at any time in a crab-grass-infested lawn there will be dormant as well as actively germinating seed. Dr. Mitchell's tests show that both types of seed are damaged by surfactants. Rarely was there complete kill of seeds in any given test, how-ever. The turf specialist has further found that subjecting treated seed to subfreezing tempera-tures for a period of 12 hours in-creases the effectiveness of the surfactant. Since crabgrass plants are easily destroyed by freezing temperatures, he specu-lates that use of surfactants prior to cold weather may have the ef-fect of triggering germination, thus setting the stage for further seed damage. "Most biological processes are not as simple as this," Dr. Mitchell told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, and he stresses that only through testing of these findings under field conditions will he really know how effec-tive wetting agents can be in con- trol of crabgrass. Among manu-facturers of wetting agents are Kalo Laboratories, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.; W. A. Cleary Corp., Somerset, N.J.; and Aquatrols Corp. of America, Pennsauken, N.J. If your place is small, we have a model that's exactly right to do all those hard jobs that involve tilling, digging, or hauling. If your place is big, you probably own several big tractors already. But it doesn't make much sense to fire up a 100-plus horsepower rig to clear some weeds. Not with today's fuel and maintenance costs. qualified to clue you in on what our tractors can do. And participating dealers will also explain how you can get in on Kubota's Super Sweepstakes going on now. So see your dealer soon. And talk to him about a job. We're looking for work. GIVE THIS TRRCTORR JOB. Now that you know a little bit about us, we hope you'll consider our job application. But no matter how much we tell you here, your Kubota dealer is best QUICK! Please rush me your newest, brightest, full-color brochure so I can find out even more about what makes your tractors so terrific. Mail to: Advertising Department Kubota Tractor Corporation 300 West Carob Street, Compton, CA 90220 NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP LCI 3 aUBOTH MEETINGS Pesticide Applicators plan Seattle meeting The International Pesticide Applicators Association has scheduled its annual convention for Sept. 13-15 at the Sea-Tac Motor Inn, Seattle, Wash. The program is pegged for turf professionals, nurserymen, applicators and consultants and will feature speakers on man-agement, extension research and the Environmental Protection Agency. Dick Beeler, editor of Agrichemical Age, is the key-note speaker. For further information, con-tact: Ed Walters, 20057 Ballinger Rd., N.E., Seattle, Wash. 98155, or call (206) 362-9100. group and from Feb. 6 to 10 for another, were at the company's headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. At the sessions, employes from St. Louis, Nashville, Tenn., Indianapolis, Ind., Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland, discussed and ex-amined the regional differences in lawn care. Three representatives from Ohio State University's turf and soil programs conducted the pro- gram. They are Dr. Ron Allter-ton, Dr. Phil Larson and Dr. David Martin. COMPANIES Perf-A-Lawn holds training for over 70 Seventy Perf-A-Lawn em-ployes attended training sessions focusing on soils, fertilizers, shade management, renovation, insects and problem solving. The sessions, which lasted from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3 for one usePRdTT PROTECTIVE PESTICIDES. for professional turf care W£ Pratt's Betasan^ formulations Selective pre-emergence herbicide for control of crabgrass and poa annua in greens and turf. Betasan® 4-EC, Betasan® 12.5G, and Betasan® 3.6G. Pratt Vapam® Soil fumigant for new and established turf. Rids soil of weeds, weed seeds, harmful fungi and nematodes. The Pesticide Specialists tor over 70 Years. To get your FREE new catalog copy, clip this ad to your letterhead and mail to: ) Reg. Trademarks of Stauffer Chemical Co. B. G. PRATT DIVISION \ Gabriel Chemicals Ltd. Dept. L3 \ 204 21 st Avenue Ł P.O. Box 2138 \ Paterson, NJ 07509 \ Phone 800-526-5222 MEMOS Benomyl, cadmium, pronamide studied: Officials for the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) say they are evaluating data submitted by the manufacturer and inter-ested parties in the safety review of pronamide, and still accepting data in the safety reviews of cadmium and benomyl. Pronamide is a herbicide marketed by Rohm & Haas Co., Philadelphia, under the trade name Kerb. Benomyl is a fungicide marketed by Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Del., un-der the trade name Tersan. There are a number of cadmium fungicides on the market, the most notable manufacturers being Mallinckrodt, Inc., St. Louis, Mo. and W. A. Cleary Corp., Somerset, N.J. Pride or pay? Pride of craftsmanship rates higher than pay raises in an Indiana University survey of 3,000 workers' most desirable work-related feelings. But among younger workers, higher pay was more important. Only five percent of the 3,000 workers agreed that "working hard makes a man a better person." Single-family homes: In 1974, only about a third of new home sales were single-family units. Last year the figure was estimated at nearly half, and some building industry officials are predicting that by 1980, single-family detached homes will be preferred by 70 percent of new home buyers. And single-family homes represent the largest lawn care poten-tial. Auto sales down, home spending up? The home furnish-ings market may be a principal beneficiary of the sluggish-ness that has been developing in auto sales, security analysts believe. Since the trough of the recession, most of the increased consumer spending on durable goods has been for autos, they say, but in the next year or two, they expect the emphasis to switch to home furnishings, as it has done in past economic cycles. Can the same be said for lawn care services? New breed of worker: Employers are responding to a new breed of younger, more independent worker, surveys show. Many bosses welcome the new independence, which often generates greater aggressiveness. "Young people have an attitude of "give me a job and I will show you what I can do," one lawn care owner said. But others see declining loyalty and less attention to work. Another recent survey found 62 percent of executives polled have problems supervising and motivating young workers. Crabgrass caucus: Charging that they are being discrimi-nated against by the federal government, congressmen from suburbs have banded together to fight back. They were led by Cleveland Democratic Congressman Ronald M. Mottl, who thought of forming a suburban caucus to counteract what he said was pressure from the cornstalk brigade on one side and the urban brigade on the other. "We're the crabgrass brigade," Mottl says. Average hourly pay: Just so the lawn care business-man knows what he is competing against, the average hourly pay of factory workers in December rose to $5.87 from $5.81 the preceding month, the Labor Department has reported. Pounding those house nails: Construction of new hous-ing units in the third quarter of last year was up 34 percent compared to the year previous. The following 10 metropoli-tan areas led the nation in new housing units during that period Š Houston, Chicago, San Diego, Dallas, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Seattle/Everett and Denver. Lawn care and Playboy: One of the country's most popu-lar magazines Š Playboy Š has finally taken notice of the lawn care industry in its March issue. While this might not be a family magazine, we still certainly can't print what is on page 21 in the "Playboy After Hours" section. Circle 124 on free information card How a fertilizer originally designed for golf courses can give a lawn service the competitive edge. All fertilizers are not created equal. Not only are all analyses not alike, but manufacturing processes can also differ... dramatically. In fact, because of patent restrictions, no other company in the country can offer you a fertilizer quite like Scotts ProTurf High Density Fairway Fertilizer. A name you can trust.' < Scotts...the grass people.\ It's a name both you and your customers know well. ProTYirf...Scotts' professional turfgrass division. It means that this is no garden store variety of turf product. It's developed, manufactured and sold specifically Š and exclusively Š for professional users...like golf course superintendents and lawn service companies. Results you can count on. ProTurf High Density Fairway Fertilizer is a combination of both fast-acting and sustained release forms of nitrogen, so you can expect quick green-up and long-lasting effects. And because it's non-burning when used as directed, it can be used with confidence throughout the entire growing season. ProTurf High Density Fairway Fertilizer is also completely homogeneous, so the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are distributed evenly. That means that grass plants get nutrients in the same proportions / you selected...so you can be sure every lawn you treat is getting a uniform feeding time and time again. ProTurf High Density Fairway Fertilizer was originally developed to meet the needs of golf course superintendents for a high quality, high nutrient, easy spreading, dust free, non-burning, / long-lasting maintenance fertilizer. It is now applied by thousands of turf managers in all sorts of use and environmental conditions. You buy directly from Scotts. All ProTurf products are sold directly to professional users. For more information about High Density Fairway Fertilizer or our fifty other fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, combination fertilizer/pesticides, seed and equipment, all you have to do is call us. Save during ProTbrPs special Spring Sale...only for lawn services and landscape contracting companies. Now until March 31st, you can get special discounts on the whole line of ProTurf lawn service products during our special Spring Sale. And you can wait till late summer Š when your cash flow is better Š to pay. Call the toll free Scottline: 800/543-0006. (In Ohio, call collect: 513/644-2900.) ProTurf Division Ł O. M. Scott & Sons Marvsville, Ohio 43040 Circle 119 on free information card © 1978, O. M. Scott & Sons When they bag more, When there's no compromise in performance, they're worth even more. Introducing Toro Front Runner rotaries. They're self-contained vacuum grass collecting systems designed specifically to bag and carry heavy loads without penalizing performance. Result? They stop, start, steer and maneuver as well loaded as many mowers with add-on bag systems do empty Since they're designed for big grass loads, strain on engines, transmissions and other components is cut way down. Which cuts way down on repairs and down time. What's more, Front Runners offer the largest grass collection capacities available. The GMT (left) handles up to 20 bushels and mows 48" or 60" wide. The Turf Truck, with hydraulic dump system, handles up to 50 bushels and mows 60" wide. Benefit: More mowing between grass dumpings. Or, for wide mowing without bagging, choose the giant 80" batwing deck on either unit. Outer wings follow contour of ground to eliminate scalping. To make your GMT worth even more, choose a snow plow, snow blower or sprayer. Increase the worth of your Turf Truck with all season cab. Toro Red Wagon Service is one more reason your Toro is worth more. Every Red Wagon mobile van comes with a trained pro and the equipment and parts he needs to perform most maintenance on the spot. Call 800-328-2858 toll-free for the name of your nearest Toro distributor and a demonstration. Even fully loaded, Front Runners maneuver as well as most riding mowers, thanks to "bend in the middle" articulated steering Wide track design, long wheel base and flotation tires provide excellent stability, even when capacity loads are carried. Circle 112 on free information card BEAUTIFUL ALL OVER. 0217® brand Fylking Kentucky bluegrass is beautiful in every way; brilliant green in early spring, consistent green in summer heat and long-lasting green into autumn. It has improved resistance to many dis-eases, drought, heat, cold, smog and traffic. Low-growing, Fylking forms exceptionally thick-knit rhizomes and root system for a dense sod that helps resist weed invasion. Now you can have a home putting green because fine-textured Fylking thrives on low-mowing (even as low as 1/2 inch). This physically pure, genetically true seed contains no annual bluegrass (Poa annua), bentgrass, or short-awned foxtail. Beautiful in price, too. Fylking Kentucky bluegrass seed costs less than most other elite bluegrasses. Ask for the Swedish beauty, 0217® brand Fylking Kentucky bluegrass seed when ordering at your local wholesale seed or sod distributor. mS FYLKING KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS ^^^^^^^ U.S. Plant Patent 2887 Another fine, quality-controlled product of Jacklin Seed Company. 10 LAWN CARE INDUSTRY MAR 1978 Circle 109 on free Information card NUTRITION Fall turf fertilization recommended by VPI's Hall Nitrogen is the center of the spider web of turfgrass manage-ment. Alter the nitrogen level in a home lawn and you alter irriga-tion needs, mowing frequency and height, herbicide, insecti-cide, fungicide, aerification and verti cutting programs, nutritional needs and other management factors. "If used properly, nitrogen provides high quality turf," says Dr. John R. Hall III, extension turf specialist at Virginia Poly-technic Institute and State Uni-versity (VPI), Blacksburg, Va. "If used improperly, it destroys turf." Dr. Hall recommends taking advantage of the benefits of fall fertilization to produce the best lawn for your customers. Lawn care businessmen who attended the Virginia Turf Conference heard VPI researchers tell of the virtues of fall fertilization. Also, Dr. James F. Wilkinson, research director for ChemLawn Corp., Columbus, Ohio, has said his company is doing extensive research on fall fertilization. Dr. Hall says that when temperatures are greater than 55°F., application of nitrogen to cool-season grasses leads predominantly to leaf growth. This leaf growth response will be greater in the spring than in the fall and will occur at the expense of both the applied nitrogen and the stored plant carbohydrates. The potential for root and rhizome growth decreases in almost direct proportion to the amount of shoot growth the ap- plied nitrogen will stimulate. "In other words," Dr. Hall said, "if the applied nitrogen produces a great requirement for mowing, then little root or rhizome growth is likely to result from the application." He said Kentucky bluegrass, bentgrass, tall fescue, creeping red fescue and perennial ryegrass should be fertilized predominantly in the fall when green leaf tissue is alive and applied nitrogen can force photosynthetic production of carbohydrates. During these cool months, respiration (food-using pro-cesses) rates are low and pro- duced carbohydrates are more likely to be utilized for root growth and food storage. The ex-tensive root system and stored food developed in the fall will be essential for survival of the cool-season grass plant in the follow-ing June, July and August. "Use late fall applied nitro-gen in moderation," Dr. Hall warns, "because excessive late fall nitrogen applications greater than IV2 pound soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet at any one time can have harmful effects on turf." In addition to the in-creased succulence and pro-bability of frost damage or win-ter injury, there can be excessive promotion of top growth, he said. Nitrogen applications made in November and December can create excessive growth as late as March or April of the follow-ing lawn care season. "Proper nitrogen selection is essential to achieving maximum benefit from late fall fertiliza-tion, he said. Under normal rates of application, the fast release materials make possible a more efficient utilization of applied ni-trogen. They also are capable of providing rapid cold- temperature response. He said that studies have shown that win-ter nitrogen applications on bent-grass increase root growth and carbohydrate reserves. The slow rate of nitrogen release from urea formaldehyde and natural organic materials at soil temper- atures less than 50°F. makes their late fall application of questionable value. He said IBDU, manufactured by Swift Agricultural Chemicals Corp., Winter Haven, Fla. does not rely heavily on soil temperature for release and has provided satis-factory late fall fertilization results. Dr. Hall said examples of fast release inorganic nitrogen carriers include ammonium nitrage, sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. Urea is considered a fast release organic nitrogen carrier. These materials exhibit high water solubility, rapid plant response, high rates of nitrogen recovery, low cost per unit of nitrogen and minimal dependence on soil tem-perature for availability. "I was very pleased with the entire magazine. Really, I enjoyed it very much. There was quite a bit of information. Keep up the good work." Nicholas Sacco Paul Sacco k Sons Long Branch, New Jersey "Good luck. Great magazine! Thank you for helping us all better understand the industry!" Thomas E. Ritchie Landscaping k Lawn Maintenance Englishtown, New jersey "The most informative lawn care magazine ever!" Sam DeVito Cardinal Landscaping Cleveland, Ohio "Your articles would be helpful to anyone in the business." Ray May Lawn Medic of Erie Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania "Your magazine is very informative and will be very helpful to those of us that have not been in the business very long." Steven C. Fry Nu-Lawn South Vienna, Ohio "Very good start! Continue Marketplace.' LeRoy Cask in Lawn Aid Tipp City, Ohio "Yom have the makings of a very informative publication." David A. Brown, Jr. Pinebrook Guardian System Winston-Salem, North Carolina "Very good first issue. Let's have more." Michael A. Nawa A. J. Nawa k Sons Wyomissing Hills, Pennsylvania "This publication is very helpful and informa-tive to persons involved in the lawn care industry." Kurt E. Craeser Graeser's Landscaping k Nursery Louisville, Kentucky "Your magazine is a must as it tells latest develop-ments in lawn care industry." Jerome Bonicos Econo Lawn Service Waldwkk, New Jersey "We really like the entire paper. We needed it. I'm at the point where some nitty gritty expressions and/or financing theory articles could help." John Leonard Papp Lawn-Spray Company Califon, New Jersey "I think this is great!" Dan Hollingsworth Lawn Consultants Lilburn, Georgia "The best magazine in the field." Ward L. Hartzell Beauti-Care Gardening Mountlake Terrace, Washington "Fantastic!" Larry Kapp Green Lawn, Inc. Ft. Wayne, Indiana "Your publication has a good start. Keep it short and to the point." Don Teske Don's Lawn k Garden Care Beloit, Wisconsin "The content is excellent. Don't change. Best and most precise and informative paper I've read in 25 years! Excellent! Congratulations." Clarence Davids, Sr. Clarence Davids k Sons, Inc. Blue Island, Illinois Thank You Readers! "I think you have a winner! Manufacturers should jump on this magazine. We need special equipment." Allen A. Dall Lawnco Inc. Brooklyn Heights, Ohio "Your first issue is excellent. Keep up the good work!" George F. Boairight Lawn E)octor of Central Virginia Lynchburg, Virginia "An excellent publication which will be very helpful in keeping everyone informed and which should do much to bind us as an industry." Flovd Franklin Rollins Lawn Care Atlanta, Georgia "First edition was great.' E. Meffert E. Meffert Landscape Mount E)ora, Florida "Seems like everything was covered pretty well. Keep up the good work." Thomas G. Brune Atwood Lawnspray, Inc. Sterling Heights, Michigan "I'm really impressed with LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY. You all did a fine job. If I can help in any way, please let me know. Agrilawn is a fairly small company, but we've run the same problems getting started as everyone else." Robert L. Habermehl Agrilawn Incorporated C&ensboro, Kentucky "Keep all publications like the first and you've got it." Ted Kabat Diamond Shamrock Nazareth, Pennsylvania "Excellent publication. Enjoyed reading it very much. Anxious for next issue." John E. Meadors Meadors' Lawn k Grounds Maintenance Danville, Virginia NEWSMAKERS Robert J. Moeller, has been named to the new post of vice president, marketing and sales, for Toro Co.'s Outdoor Power Equipment Group, Minneapolis. The assignment gives him overall responsibility for the marketing, sales and service of all of the company's consumer and profes-sional equipment for lawn and turf maintenance. Dan Skahill has been named to manage advertising and pro-motion for Moody Sprinkler Co., Costa Mesa, Calif. Also, Steven R. Solorio has been named technical services manager. He will be responsible for technical communications with dis-tributors and users as well as field service and repair facilities. Duke, owner of Duke Lawn Equipment, Burlington, Ontario, will handle the Canada terri-tory; and Greg Thomas and Jim Listerman, owners of J/G Out-door Products, Cincinnati, will handle the Cincinnati/Tri-State area. Voorhees Gambrell New distributors have been an- nounced for Hahn, Inc., Evans-ville, Ind.: Bill Voorhees, owner of Bill Voorhees Co., Nashville, Tenn., will handle the central Tennessee territory; David Gam-brell, manager of Gambrell Equipment Co., Memphis, will handle the Memphis/eastern Tennessee area; Wayne M. John-son, sales manager of Drake Hardware, Burlington, Iowa, will handle the Iowa, Illinois and Missouri territories; Richard Wehner Barber Dr. David J. Wehner has joined the staff of the University of Maryland department of agronomy as an assistant pro-fessor. His duties will be in the area of turfgrass research and teaching. He received his B.S. in chemistry at Notre Dame in 1972. Following graduation, he accep-ted a research assistantship in turf management at Penn State University. His M.S. thesis dealt with varietal identification of Kentucky bluegrass. He con-tinued at Penn State and com-pleted his Ph.D. program in 1977. For his Ph.D. he studied heat tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Davis Division of J I Case, Wichita, Kan., recently announ-ced the promotion of Steve Bar- ber to manager of marketing ser- vices. He is responsible for coor- dinating and supervising sales promotion plans, advertising and product training programs and to work closely with new product development. Powell Pam Fay has joined FMC Corp.'s Outdoor Power Equipment Divi-sion, Port Washington, Wis., as product manager for Bolens front and rear engine rider products. Also, the company has announ-ced the appointment of three new service parts distributors: Carl A. Anderson, Inc., Minne- apolis, will distribute service parts in North and South Dakota, most of Minnesota and a portion of Northeastern Wisconsin. R.P.W., Inc., Omaha, Neb., will cover most of Iowa and Nebraska; and H. A. Waterman Co., Indianapolis, will cover most of Indiana and portions of Illinois, Kentucky and Tennes-see. The following Bolens dis-tributors have expanded their facilities and territorial coverage for service parts: M & S Lawn Supplies, San An-tonio, Texas will distribute ser-vice parts in Oklahoma, most of Texas and a portion of Louisiana with Norwood Bicycle and Lawnmower Shop, Jacksonville, Fla., now covering Alabama, Georgia and a major portion of Florida. Gary D. Powell has joined the Carl A. Worthington Partnership, Boulder, Colo, as a senior associ- ate in the firm. He is a registered landscape architect in Colorado. Lawrence A. Tomlinson has been named manager, advertising and sales promotion, professional chain saws and special markets for Homelite Division of Tex-tron, Inc., Charlotte, N.C. SPRAYERS Whether your needs are for weed control, lawn insect or fungicide spraying, ornamental and shade tree spraying, or any general out-door work, we have the exact sprayer you require. Our reinforced fiberglass low profile tanks are available in the following sizes: 50, 100, split 100 (2 x 50), 200 and split 200 (2 x 100) gallon sizes. The reinforced fiberglass tanks are a low profile square design to minimize space, look attractive, and reduce chemical sloshing that you get in higher round style tanks. These tank sizes can be incorporated into many varieties of sprayers using Hypro, Bean, Cat or Sherwood pumps, either electric or gasoline powered. All our spray units come complete with tank, pump unit, welded steel chassis and hose reel, either skid or trailer mount. P.O. BOX 124 AMITYVILLE, NEW YORK 11701 516-799-7805 J l Hahn M New! Lawn size version - ^ of Hahn professional aerifier used on golf courses. Hahn Aeri-Boy, Jr. Attaches to riding mower to aerify to beautify the lawn while mowing 30" Aeri-Boy, jr. has spoons that pull a plug of soil, forming a cavity to let air, water, and fertilizer reach grass roots. Low investment. Use throughout the season. Hahn Estate Aerifier® Self-propelled aerifier with 3 H.P. Briggs & Stratton engine. Only Hahn makes an Aerifier for homeowner use. Write for complete information 1625 N. Garvin, Evansville, IN 47711 Mike Dempsey has joined the San Jose branch office of Target Chemical Co., Cerritos, Calif. He is a state licensed pest control advisor in California. His pri-mary responsibilities will be pest control advisor to landscape* con-tractors and golf superinten-dents. He also has an agricultural pest control operators license in weed control; nurseries; orna-mentals and turf; residential and institutional; and vertebrate pests. His experience includes four years as manager of a land-scape maintenance division of an area landscaping firm. He is a member of the board of directors of the Northern California Turf-grass Council. Dempsey Raymond Jeff Raymond has been pro-moted to sales manager for Applied Biochemists, Inc., Me-quon, Wis. Keith Woodruff is assistant manager of Lawn Groomer, Bloomington, 111. He had previously been an applicator. Michael Tanzini is vice presi-dent of the Landscape Depart-ment for Ted Collins Associates, Ltd., Victor, N.Y. He had previously been a sales representative. Guadagni Shepersky Bob Guadagni has been named district manager for northern California and northern Nevada for Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing Corp., Glendora, Calif. He will have responsibil-ity for the company's turf sprinkler activity in this area. Also, Keith Shepersky has been named district manager tor Hawaii. He will be working in both the turf and agricultural fields. John Shaich is a lawn care ap-plicator for J. C. Ehrlich Co., Inc., Reading, Pa. The announcement was made by Paul Waner, manager of the company's lawn care division. Mitchell Crose is vice presi-dent of sales and public relations for Ace on the Ball Pest Control, Inc., Clearwater, Fla. He had previously been secre-tary/treasurer. Dwight Thompson is manager of Flo-Lizer, South Solon, Ohio. The announcement was made by Shirley Farrell. FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 2675 CLEVELAND. OHIO BUSINESS REPLY MAIL Postage will be paid by: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 9800 DETROIT AVENUE CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 2675 CLEVELAND, OHIO BUSINESS REPLY MAIL Postage will be paid by: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 9800 DETROIT AVENUE CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 Attn: Editor JMJN OH RE INDUSTRY Serving lawn maintenance and chemical lawn care professionals. SUBSCRIPTION GROUP SUBSCRIPTION RATE: 5 or more copies Š $7.00 per subscription. Includes all names and addresses on separate page. Ł PAYMENT ENCLOSED Ł BILL ME Make check or money order payable to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. 1 Year Š $10.00 2 Year Š $18.00 3 Year Š $24.00 NAME-TITLE. COMPANY. BUSINESS ADDRESS . -CITY. . STATE-ZIP. If any of the address information listed above is new or different from the mailing label on the front cover of the magazine, please cut out and include that label so we carl properly credit your subscription. To help us to better serve you editorially, please answer the following: 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 Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office 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 O 25,000 or more 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 $500,001-1,000.000 Ł $1,000,000 or more Title: Ł President Ł Owner Ł Manager Ł Technician Ł Other (specify) Your signature Date 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 mail. 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? Additional comments Please be sure to complete the following: NAME TITLE COMPANY COMPANY ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP MEETINGS Kansas conference, field day are set The Central Plains Turfgrass Conference is scheduled for Oc-tober 4-6 in Manhattan, Kan. In addition, the Central Plains/Kansas State University Field Day will be August 23 at the University in Manhattan. At both events, topics to be discussed will include research results from Kansas State University and turfgrass culture information for lawns, general grounds, parks, athletic fields and golf courses. At the con-ference, training sessions will be held October 4. For further information, con-tact: Dr. Robert N. Carrow, assis- tant professor of turfgrass science, Kansas State Univer-sity, Horticulture Department, Waters Hall, Manhattan, Kan. 66506, or call (913) 532-6170. marketed east of the Rockies Pratt Betasan 4E, Pratt Beta-san 12.5G and Pratt Betasan 3.6G, B. G. Pratt Division, Gabriel Chemical Co., Paterson, N.J., marketed in the Northeast Pre-San, Mallinckrodt, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., marketed nationally Rockland Betasan 4E and Rockland Betasan 12.5G, Rock-land Chemical Co., West Cald-well, N.J., marketed in the North-east Betasan is a preemergence herbicide that controls crab-grass, Poa annua, goosegrass, henbit, foxtail and fall panicum, the company said. It will not leach because it has good residual properties, the company said. The 1978 officers and trustees of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation are pictured at the recent OTF Conference and Show. Front (left to right) Dave Martin, executive secretary; Lou Greco, past president [Squaw Creek Country Club); turv To John Fitzgerald, president (Century Toro Distributors); Merrill Frank, presi-dent-elect (Brookside Golf Fr Country Club); Bill Hill, vice president (Geo. W. Hill Co.); Mark Yoder, treasurer (Worthington Hills Country Club). The trus-tees are (back 1-r): Gene Burress, Cincinnati Golf Courses; Dick Warner, O M Scott ft Sons; Bob Robinsorpr ChemLawn Corporation; Kermit Kelk, Spring-field Country Club; Ron Giffen, Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co.; Gary Fichter, Ironwood Estates & Golf Club; John Goodwin, Shawnee Country Club; and Bill Burdick, Canterbury Country Club. TAXES Carter asks limit on owners' benefits A proposal by President Car-ter to Congress has asked for a limit on fringe benefits for peo-ple who own more than 10 per-cent of corporation. And the pro-posal could hurt owners of some small businesses. The President wants only 25 percent of benefits or outlays for benefits for all employes to be for the owners; any excess would be taxed to the owners. Thus, a one-owner firm such as a lawn care company can spend $400 for the owner's medical insurance if its spends $1,200 for the em-ployes. Or it can buy the owner $16,666 of life insurance if it buys employes $50,000 worth. It will hurt some small busi-nesses, a spokesman for the Treasury Department said. But something should be done about owners who get free medical and life coverage from their firms and give employes little or noth- ing, he says. HERBICIDES Private labeling of Betasan announced Stauffer Chemical Co., West-port, Conn., has announced that Betasan selective turf herbicide is now available to commercial lawn care businessmen under several private labels. The product names, com-panies and sales regions include: Best Betasan 4E and Best Betasan 12.5G, Occidental Chemical Co., Lathrop, Calif., marketed on the West Coast Betamec-4, PBI Gordon Corp., Kansas City, Kan., marketed nationally Lescosan 4E and Lescosan 12.5G, Lakeshore Equipment and Supply Co., Inc., Elyria, Ohio, The LawnFeeder by Finn, sprays granular and liquid lawn The breakthrough of the Finn LawnFeeder provides you, the lawn # maintenance contractor, with a unique ability to spray dry granular lawn care products in slurry form along with other liquid products in one economical operation. Slow release,water insoluble, granular fertilizers can now be incorporated into your program without multiple applications to the turf. The LawnFeeder, uniquely engineered, incorporates mechanical paddle and slurry recirculating agitation and pumps the material through it's centrifugal pump. care products Ł Pinpoint Spray Control Ł Granular Products Applied in Slurry Form Ł Simple One-Man Operation Ł Mechanical Agitation Ł Centrifugal Pump Ł All Steel Construction Ł Hvdrauliclv Powered Drive Ł Up to 300 Foot Hose Lawn?eeder 6 A 2525 DUCK CREEK RD Ł CINCINNATI. OHIO 45208 TOLL FREE 800-543-7166 Ł OHIO COLLECT 513-871-2529 Weed-free turf starts with Dacthal. Gentle on delicate grasses, lough on weeds. Begin with DACTHAL® herbicide before weed seeds germinate. A lot of trouble-some weeds will never see the light of day. Crabgrass. Poa annua. Goose-grass. Foxtail. Carpetweed. It's a great way to start a weed control program. Dacthal is the standard in the industry for preemergence control of annual grassy and broadleaf weeds in turf. And has been for many years. Dacthal gives you broad-spectrum control... stops 21 weed pests in turf and ornamentals. Dacthal controls weeds without harm-ing tender turf. Can be used on almost all grass species and varieties. If you plan to reseed or sow new grass in the fall, you'll want to go with Dacthal for your spring and early sum-mer applications. After new grass seedings have exhibited a greening of the newly sprouted grass (about 1 to 11/2 inches high) you can apply Dacthal without injury to the turf. A two-application Dacthal program provides economical control of both early and late-germinating weeds. Make your first application in early spring be- fore crabgrass seeds germinate. Time the second for mid or late summer, de-pending on your specific weed problems. Veronica filiformis a problem in your area? Hit it with Dacthal as a post-emerge. Thorough coverage of the actively growing weed gives un-equalled control of this pest. Weed-free turf starts with Dacthal... and continues with the broad line of Diamond Shamrock turf products, in-cluding DACONIL 2787®, DACAMINE®, and DACONATE® See your turf chemicals supplier for more information on full-season pro-tection for your turf. Or contact the Diamond Shamrock Agricultural Chem- icals Sales Office nearest you: Three Commerce Park Square, 23200 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood OH 44122 Ł 1401 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta GA 30327 Ł 5333 Westheimer, Suite 850, Houston TX 77056 Ł Commerce Plaza Bldg., 2015 Spring Rd., Oak Brook IL 60521 Ł 617 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City CA 94063. Diamond Shamrock The resourceful company. TURF Tank mixes recommended for hydraulic turf establishment Tank mixes in hydroseeding can range from simply seed or sprigs and water to combina-tions of seed mixtures, fertil-izers, lime, mulches, tackifiers and compatible pesticides. Each of the components should be evaluated for their suitability in achieving the de-sired establishment, according to Dr. Charles H. Darrah, exten-sion turf specialist at the Uni-versity of Maryland. He also says care should be taken to avoid incompatibilities, and that chemicals and fibers are not substitutes for good agronomic practices. In an earlier article (see "Hydraulic Seeding Proc-ess Used To Establish Home Lawns, Nov/Dec, page 25), mulching material and tacki-fiers were examined. This arti-cle discusses other components included in tank mixes. In most instances, Dr. Darrah said, fertilizers and liming mate-rials are added to hydroseeder tank mixes to help overcome fer-tility and pH deficiencies during establishment. Hydroseeding allows the application of both soluble and insoluble types of fertilizer in a slurry. Liming materials and insoluble fertil-izers must be mixed in the slurry and agitated to be kept in sus- pension. From a test of the soil present, the proper ratio of nitro-gen, phosphorus and potassium and the amount fo lime needed for the establishment of the hydryseeded materials can be determined. Dr. Darrah said that slow-release fertilizers have been ad-vocated for use in hydroseeding. According to studies in Califor-nia, if slow-release fertilizer is used, it should be combined with an application of conventional "fast-release" forms. This is to insure that nutrients are avail-able shortly after germination when the plant needs them. Slow-release fertilizers are ex-pensive (several times the cost of conventional fertilizers) and breakage may occur in the hydroseeded materials can be ters their slow-release proper-ties. Another component that has been used in hydroseeder tank mixes is a compatible herbicide. Glyphosate, marketed as Round-up by Monsanto Agricultural Products Co., St. Louis, Mo. has been used in tank mixes to eli-minate existing vegetation, Dr. Darrah said. Also, siduron, marketed un-der the trade name Tupersan by Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Del., can be used to help eliminate weed competition when hydro-seeding Kentucky bluegrass. Also, simazine, marketed under the trade name Princep by Ciba-Geigy Corp., Greensboro, N.C. has been successfully used when hydrostolonizing zoysiagrass. Compatible insecticides and fungicides have also been used in tank mixes. The use of pesti-cides in the tank mixes is gener-ally considered only in special cases, and may not conform to label recommendations, Dr. Dar-rah warns. MEETINGS ChemLawn vp Miller at Southern conference If you're mixing two pesti-cides with unknown compatibil-ity for the first time, always run a jar test and apply the mixture to a small patch of grass, Dr. Robert Miller told conferees at the 1978 Southern Turfgrass Conference. Miller is a vice president of ChemLawn Corp., Atlanta. More than 365 turf professionals at-tended the conference. "If you use the mixture for the first time without testing it you may have a problem. If you use the mixture on 500 lawns, you may have a real problem," he said. At the January conference, he stressed the importance of tank compati-bility when mixing chemicals. The three ways to tell if the chemicals are incompatible, are charts, a jar test and application to a small area. When conduct-ing a jar test, he suggested mix-ing the chemicals at the same portion as would be used in the tank. The April issue of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY will feature Detroit in its Marketplace story. Also, Los Angeles will be fea-tured in May and Cleve-land in the June issue. Mtroform worksf round the eloek to keep lawns greener longer. While others sleep, you can be providing lawn care ser-vice to satisfied customers. The secret is Nitroform® slow-release nitrogen. It works around the clock to give green, healthy lawns. Keeping grass greener between visits is the best way to hold customers, while attracting new ones. Home owners will readily see that your lawn care service does the job with dependable results... at less cost than they can do it themselves. Nitroform is the best way to apply long-lasting nitrogen... whether you have equipment for liquid or dry application. You can use Nitroform as granular BLUE CHIP® or as POWDER BLUEŽ sprayable slow-release nitrogen. Nitroform gives uniform coverage, and is compatible with most lawn care mate-rials, including pesticides. Nitroform is the quality slow-release nitrogen. It's nonleaching. It keeps feeding long after your crew has moved on to other jobs. Because it's nonburning, even inexperienced labor can apply it With Nitroform, benefits are always predictable per-formance, easy application, dependable results. What else could you want except possibly more information? For that write Agricultural Chemicals, Hercules Incorporated, Wilmington, Delaware 19899. Phone: 302/575-5000. M M iUJiUilu Ł^HERCULES INCORPORATED,^ ^Registered Trademark of Hercules Incorporated/^Trademark of Hercules Incorporated 16 LAWN CARE INDUSTRY MAR 1978 For ad on following page circle 117 on free information card + MANAGEMENT 17 suggestions on how to correct employe mistakes Correcting the mistake or error an employe has made can seem easy to handle, but there is much potential trouble. Person-nel today are better educated than in the past. There are more opportunities open to them else-where. But of top importance, each employe has definite ideas about the employer-employe relationship that have to be considered. Here are suggestions to make the corrective step not only easier but with assurance that the right move is being taken. They apply to both small mat-ters and major ones in any lawn care firm management. Avoid acting immediately. Emotions may be misleading. The employe is also on the defensive. A truer picture of the situation will exist when there is time to relax and approach the incident calmly. Be sure of the facts. All of them may not be obvious. Some element below the surface could have major importance. The ef-fort spent toward obtaining the true picture is usually repaid in revelation of the simplest step to take. Show "How to" ... not "How not to." The former is true correction; the latter chiefly guilt placing. There is often a good chance the employe was really not aware of the proper step. The key word is "correction" and not punishment. The latter is generally foremost in mind and has to be kept under control. It has application only where re-peated offenses exist. Keep in mind that punishment should be known about before the mis-take; not afterward. Make that correction pri-vately. When others are present your employe has to go on the defensive to save face. That is go-ing to make the whole thing more difficult to handle. It can also develop ill feeling within your staff. Argument is better avoided. Discussion may have value when correction of an employe is being handled but even mild argu-ment will aggravate the average situation. Control of it is up to you; an employe cannot be ex-pected to do so. Make the whole thing imper-sonal. Refer to effect of that mis-take on the business rather than on yourself. An impersonal situ-ation is easier to handle. Be explicit about the damage done. Often an employe has no idea as to the effect from what has happened. Down playing ef-fect can lead to the same thing happening again in the future. Know your legal rights. Get them from your lawyer as local and state rules enter into it. If dismissal is necessary be sure no action is taken that can bring down the forces of employe protection laws. Keep even mild threats out of it. Telling an employe what will happen if the mistake occurs again is seldom advisable. Doing so is sure to affect future perfor-mance. Have the correct perspec-tive. Labeling a minor mistake as something of colossal impor-tance seldom fools that employe. Instead, respect for yourself and for the business declines. A less proficient employe results. Make it simple and to the point. Approach of a flowery nature only makes things worse. Misunderstanding invariably results. The simplest and most direct approach is invariably best in corrective steps. Try for a co-operative ap-proach. "We can work this outŠ" handles the simple or complicated correction easier than, "This is the way it is to be done." The first attitude also helps put the employe at ease and makes suggestions less diffi- cult to accept. Leave "guilt" out of it. Dwell-ing thereon attains nothing for that employe is well aware of having done something wrong. Emphasis on the guilt factor merely builds up a defensive attitude. Pick the right time. Handle it when things are relaxed. Any outside pressure is sure to result in hurried action that may be re-gretted later. Penalty has to be fair. Over penalizing results in nothing but future trouble. The scared individual can never be totally productive in the future. Encourage questions. Doing this is one good way of making certain the employe not only understands what happened but also what is to be done in the future. Use a compliment or two. This is one time that your em-ploye definitely needs a "pat on the back." Roundup.Therels no better grooming aid for unruly turf. RoundupK belongs in your turf renovation program. Renovation of a weedy fairway, sod farm or other grassy area used to be a laborious and time-consuming chore, but not any more. Not with Roundup* herbicide by Monsanto. Because one application of Roundup will control many annual and perennial weeds, yet allow you to proceed with tillage and planting operations as soon as seven days later. Roundup also makes sense wherever treatments for grounds maintenance are called for. One man with Roundup in a backpack sprayer can replace many of the herbicides and frequent repeat treatments that are often necessary. Roundup gets to the root of the problem. Including many of your toughest vegetation problems, like: bluegrass, bermudagrass, quack-grass, bindweed, johnsongrass, fescue and vaseygrass. Can you afford to let another season go by without Roundup in your turf renovation and arounds maintenance programs? Vour local chemical dealer is the one to see for your supply of Roundup herbicide. Roundup has no residual soil activity. That's why you can go in seven days later and re-plant. Roundup won't wash, leach or volatize from the treated area to injure desirable vegetation. Naturally, normal precautions should be observed to avoid spray drift. "Translocation" is the key. Roundup is applied to the weed foliage, absorbed through the leaf surface, and "translocated" throughout the entire plant. In this way, Roundup destroys the entire weed, including the roots or rhizomes. ALWAYS READ AND CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR ROUNDUP HERBICIDE. Roundup" is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo. 1 Monsanto Company, 1978. There's never been a herbicide like this before. Monsanto Cash in on the in lawn Call in the FUSARIUM BLIGHT PYTHIUM BLIGHT OR COTTONY BLIGHT nig potential disease control. TERSANteam. FUNGICIDE One sure way of increasing your profits without major investment is to promote lawn disease control to your customers. Every lawn in your area can get disease when the weather conditions stress the grass. By learning how to recognize and control stripe smut, leaf spot, dollar spot, Pythium blight and Fusarium blight, you can have more satisfied customers and extra income. But you've got to diagnose the disease early and then treat it quickly That's where the TERSAN team can help. Because this lineup of four fungicides gives you a proven, effec-tive control for just about every lawn disease you'll ever run into. No shotgun treatments. No guesswork. No waste or extra expense. To learn more about lawn diseases, write DuPont for its literature. Just fill out and mail in the coupon at the right. Łtc I want to see you "Yes, I want to see you about Lescosan 4E (Betasan*) emulsion and why it is out-selling other pre-emergence crabgrass controls. I want to tell you how you can save by buying direct from the formu-lator, and all about its full-season control. Lescosan is very effective on all grasses and many ornamentals and ground covers. We can also supply it in 12.5 or 3.6 granules. *(BetasanŠregistered TM of the Stauffer Chemical Company.) "I also want to tell you about the other fine LESC^ PRODUCTS, including LESCO Thirty-Six Sulfur-Coated Urea. "Call me on my toll-free wats line (1-800-321-5951) or write to me and I'll be in touch with you immediately. There is no obligation, of course." LESC# PRODUCTS Div. Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co 300 S. Abbe Road Elyria, Ohio 44035 A Family of Fine Products: Lescosan 12.5G Š Lescorene Š Lesco 4 Š Lescobor Š Lescopar Š Lescopex Š Lesco Non-Selective Herbicide Lesco MSMA Š Lesco Thiram 75W Š Lescozyme Š Lakeshore Chinch Bug & Sod Web worm Control Diazinon is labeled for How many will you Diazinon" not only controls, label in the business, but is labeled for more turf insects You'll count 24 turf insects in than any other turf insecticide. all. Including white grubs, sod Just take a look, it's the biggest webworms, cutworms, chinch bugs, ©1978 Ciba-Geigy Corporation every insect on this page, face this season? Circle 107 on free information card army worms and ants. This season, be sure to ask your local supplier for Diazinon. And put the biggest label in the business to work for you. Ciba-Geigy, Ag. Div., Box 11422, Greensboro, NC 27409 Diazinon by CIBA-GEIGY The biggest label in the business. CIBA-GEIGY St. Louis The lawn care industry began in St. Louis about 12 years ago. At the time, the homeowners of that city might not have even known it existed, because perhaps only a few hundred were even receiv-ing a bonafide full-time lawn care service. Sure, many of the residents may have been having their lawns mowed by neighborhood kids or one of the few lawn maintenance firms in business at the time. But the appetite of the homeowner/potential lawn care customer was just being whet by one of the original lawn care franchises out of New York Š Lawn-a-Mat Chemical & Equip-ment Corp. The company was in full force by the early 70's; five franchises blanketed the city. As one franchise owner recently said: "If you could not get 10 customers signed up on a Sunday at that time, it was a bad day." But there were problems. Perhaps the fact that St. Louis was just so far away from the Northeast stronghold Lawn-a-Mat holds on the business today, and the program and marketing techniques just were not the same. But the Lawn-a-Mat grip on the city loosened. Lawn Medic, another company from the Northeast, made inroads, but still did not dominate. It might have set the stage for the second development stage of the lawn care industry in St. Louis begin-ning in 1972 and 1973. ChemLawn Corp. out of Ohio opened a branch in suburban Manchester. Evergreen Lawns was also becoming established. And these two companies started what was to become the most im-portant development stage of the St. Louis market. They employed mass marketing techniques Š advertising on a large scale, door hangers, direct mail, lawn specialists that were well-trained and well-disciplined. Along with trucks that were washed and waxed at the end of a work day. The approach worked. Those two companies Š Evergreen and ChemLawn Š set the stage for four more developments in the St. Louis lawn care market: (1) Perf-A-Lawn, another ma-jor company out of Dayton, Ohio, now with two branches in the city. (2) A number of secondary li-quid fertilization companies, some that have come and gone out of business in one lawn care season, and some that have the potential to be future factors Š Terra Green Corp., Spray-Green and a number of others. (3) It also brought on the pro-fessionalism of the lawn mowing and trimming operations; after ChemLawn and Evergreen, the small companies could never send workers out with long hair, no shirts and cut-off jeans Š and still keep the customer. (4) The regrouping of former Lawn-a-Mat franchise holders and other believers in a dry material application program is the last factor. They are forming companies that use the same techniques as the liquid fertiliza-tion companies, but basing it on granular fertilizer, and also in- cluding aeration, power raking, verticutting, reseeding, liming, and in some cases even mowing. Their belief is that the home-owners of St. Louis have been introduced to lawn care by the larger companies, like the idea, and are ready for the "full maintenance" concept. "The The Climatron (leftJ in the Missouri Botanical Garden in to an arid Moroccan desert. The 630-foot high stainless St. Louis is a geodesic-domed greenhouse that houses steel Gateway Arch is the focal point of the St. Louis four distinct climates ranging from a tropical rain forest riverfront. spray companies are the greatest thing that ever happened to us, they are our best advertising," one of the owners of this type of company told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. So the lines are drawn. The smaller companies say they sell their accounts over a cup of cof-fee with both the husband and wife present at the kitchen table. The larger companies sell their customers with heavy duty advertising and competitive prices based on volume. But the competition is not all big versus little. At the inter-section of Axminister Drive and Larkin Williams Road in subur-ban Fenton, the south St. Louis branches of ChemLawn and Evergreen are no more than 200 feet from each other. And you can bet they are trying to woo the same customers. The final dividing line that almost all lawn care companies in St. Louis adhere to: North County, South County and West County Š all unofficial sections of St. Louis County, but divided by geography and linked by 1-270 forming a crescent around the whole St. Louis metropolitan area. All but the largest com- panies remain within their boun- daries. As the population of the city of St. Louis, limited by city bor-ders set by its founding fathers, has been on the decline, St. Louis County has been welcoming the former city-dwellers and the county, according to St. Louis County commissioner Gene McNary, "is going like gang-busters." He points out that the county is involved in a tremendous rebuilding of blighted areas and rehabilitation of older houses in many of the 92 cities which com-prise St. Louis County. The county plans to spend about $144 million in the next five years to upgrade Lambert International Airport and it is promoting the area near the airport as a natural distribution center. McNary predicts a housing boom in the next five years with housing starts up over 50 percent in his county. The population of St. Louis is expected to rise 1.8 percent by 1982 to more than 2.4 million people. It is ranked 12th in population of U.S. cities, right behind Houston and right in front of Pittsburgh. Lawn care companies oper-ating in the St. Louis area include all different levels representing large and small numbers of customers and employes, primarily liquid fertilization and pesticide applications, on gran-ular, mowing and full mainte-nance. A partial listing of com-panies would include: Frank McGarvin of Terra Green Lawns in Florissant; Mart Flaker of Bonafide Landscaping Service in Overland; Gerald Wille of C & G Lawns and Gardens in Olivette; Thomas Brockmann of Charles Lawn in St. Charles; Dennis Gowan of Good Time Lawn Care in St. Ann; Loald Hinderleider of Lawn Medic of South County; John Cross of Spray Green; Randy Dweifel and Jim Sanders of the Perf-a-Lawn branches in Fenton and Maryland Heights; Dave Schlegel and foreman Bill Rohland of J.D. Schlegel Land-scaping Co. in Creve Coeur; Paul Daverede, president of Evergreen Lawns, and more. Here are profiles of six differ-ent lawn care companies oper- ating in St. Louis. Dex Harper operates Chem-Gras with his son Jim Harper and son-in-law Don Rogers in the South County area. He started this business in 1974 after own-ing a Lawn-a-Mat franchise. They apply all granular materials and offer full mainte-nance except for mowing. "We try to base our service on quality and know-how," Dex recently told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY. "There is definitely a demand for this type of service that we perform. Spray people are our best advertisers. They get the people interested, but most liquid programs are not complete at all. They don't give control of insects and disease. Grubs were bad last year, but we had no grub problems .on our lawns because our granular insecticides get down into the soil and keep the grub population down." Jim Harper says that most of the lawns his company cares for are bluegrass, along with some zoysiagrass, and some mixtures that also include ryegrass and red fescues. "We are in the transition zone Š and you have to have a different program for each, because there is jut no per-fect grass for this area," he said. Dex Harper agrees with many lawn care businessmen across the country when he says that suppliers are not reacting enough to small lawn businesses like his. He has almost 300 customers. He says if he has an equipment breakdown in the middle of the lawn care season Š which he inevitably always does Š he has a hard time getting parts and service. Chem-Gras does one thing that many companies in St. Louis and elsewhere do not Š they attempt to get as many lawns as they can in the city of St. Louis, lawns with no more than 2,000 to 2,500 square feet. Most com-panies feel they cannot make a profit handling this size of lawn, but Rogers says, "we would like to have as many of these as we can handle. If we can get three or four in a row, it is just like han- dling one large lawn out here in the suburbs, but it brings in more dollars." Jim Harper said that "the easiest man to sell a lawn care to page 26 St. Louis from page 25 service is the man doing it him-self. He has the knowledge of the work involved and also, more importantly, what it costs." He says they lose many potential customers who are looking for a lawn care service for the first time. "They price us out and see that we charge three times what the spray companies do, and we usually lose him/ But we get him the second time around." Dex Harper says that he tries to sell most of his accounts on a two-year program contract. "I tell them they are throwing money away if they just stay with me for one year, that they are not going to see any appreciable re-sults." They estimate that 40 percent of their customers are profes-sional people such as doctors and dentists. Another 25 percent are widows that are financially pretty well off, but also some on Dex Harper Social Security and pensions. Another 10 percent are people in the 25-to-32 age bracket with both the husband and wife working. The rest are a cross-section of the St. Louis population, with about 15 percent of the total are people who formerly had liquid fertil-ization. They sell 60 percent of their customers in the spring and 40 percent in the fall. They say fall is really the best time to start the type of lawn building program that they perform, but that most of their customers are spring- conscious. Their average lawn is about 5,600 square feet, but they have one that is 30,000 square feet and one that is only 500 square feet. They don't go for the new lawn market, because as Rogers says: "The lawns are about five years away from being one of our cus-tomers. They go okay for about three years after being installed, and then they start to go bad. But the people could not afford us anyway, after they have spent so much for the house the way prices are today." Their system runs two men to a truck, with about seven jobs averaged in a day. One man aerates while the other spreads fertilizer, pesticides and seed, depending on the timing of the year and which of the four appli-cations is due. In the spring, they offer crab-grass control, along with fertil-izer, weed control, power aera-tion and spot seeding. Their early summer application in-cludes fertilizer, weed control, chinch bug control, sod web- worm control, and disease con-trol. Their summer application includes control for weeds, dis-ease, chinch bug and sod web-worm and fertilizer. Their fall application includes fertilizer, weed control, grub-proofing, power aeration and reseeding. They have done no news-paper advertising, but put out 20,000 flyers distributed to in-dividual households last year and still rely mostly on their Yel- low Pages ad. "The Yellow Pages calls are people in trouble," Dex Harper said, "with the flyers we get alot of shoppers." He says they had 50,000 flyers distrib-uted the first year, but had a feel-ing that most of them were never delivered by the service they em-ployed. So now they are concen-trating on sending out 1,000 at a time themselves in selected neighborhoods. Mike Beard, 30, has been operating his AAA Lawn Service in Ballwin for 10 years Š four years full-time. About half of his work is residential and the other half commercial. He offers a complete service, although he does not do major tree pruning. He runs three crews of three workers during his peak lawn care season. "I have learned alot from my earlier mistakes," he says. "For example, pricing. Now I figure I have to get $30 an hour to pay for three men and their equipment to make a clear profit. Before I wasn't charging enough." He says he wishes he jumped on the "spray bandwagon" a few years ago, but feels that he offers a more personal relationship than a big company can, and of course, more services. He also says he has the same problem many lawn care businessmen have Š finding good labor. "You can't find Łl< - I Rogers anybody who wants to work anymore. And they don't care about equipment either. But I tell them that if they break up a piece of equipment through neglect that they will have to pay for it." The main thing Beard says he stresses in his business is per- sonal contact and service. "I have one customer who mows his lawn the first time out every spring, and then he calls me in. He says he just wants to be able to appreciate how much work and time I am saving him." Although he can't afford to do this for too many people, if he is driving around a neighborhood where he has customers, he looks to see if the lawns need water, and if they do, he pulls in the driveway and hooks up the sprinkler. "I tell them that if they are not going to water the lawn, then I am." As his business grows, he says he is going to be more selective in what customers he takes on, and he is going to continue to raise his prices and only work for the customers who can afford him. "There is no way we can compete with neighborhood kids that mow lawns, and with com-panies like ChemLawn for price in straight fertilization and weed control. I am going to stress quality service at a quality price in the future." The only advice he offers to a lawn care businessman like him-self is this: "Don't get caught in the middle. Either stay small and offer personalized service, or take on more customers and charge less. But the man in the middle gets squeezed." Glen McKinnon and his son Wayne started Land Mainte-nance, Inc. 11 years ago with one hand mower. And they have built the business into over a $100,000 operation, with almost 30 percent growth last year and they are hoping for 50 percent growth this year. "In the past two or three years," Wayne said recently, "we have been consciously setting goals for ourselves Š try-ing to decide what we want to do in the future, where we want to be." For the first time this year, they will be offering a complete lawn maintenance program, whereas in the past they have just offered mowing. They have purchased a one-ton truck, have a630-gallon spray tank, and "we hope to have it swamped by June and doing enough business to buy another one." They also will be offering power raking, aerifying and seeding. Until this lawn care season, their work has been split 50/50 between residential and com-mercial, including the 20 Schnuck's supermarket com- plexes that blanket the whole St. Louis area. "Commercial ac- counts are fine, but they are fickle, you have to resell them every year. We feel that residen-tial accounts are more solid, and we will be pursuing them on a larger basis this year," Wayne said. They have a full-time me-chanic that works from six p.m. to midnight servicing their more than 25 mowers, because "we run the daylights out of them," Glen said. The man checks routine maintenance on the mowers and other eqquipment, and greases and changes the blades on them every night. "We have to have a full-time man, because downtime knocks you dead, you have to have the equipment ready to go," Wayne said. "I know it sounds like we are Beard going overboard, but we are really expecting 50 percent growth this year," Wayne says. They charge a $10 minimum for mowing any lawn in the city, and will be soliciting business all over the city, because with the Schnuck's accounts, they have business in all sections of St. Louis County and surrounding counties. So they already are working in all geographic areas of the city. They have hired a full-time secretary this year for the first time, have moved into office space in an industrial park, have all of their checks on a com-puterized accounting system done by a service for $65 a month. "The service is great," Glen said, "it gives us a pro-fit/loss statement every month, and these kinds of records are a lot more impressive when you go to a banker. A lot more impres-sive than slips of paper and receipts in an envelope." Their average prices for a 10,000 square foot lawn are $30 for each spray application of fer-tilizer and pesticides; they aerify twice a year at about $20 a time; mowing prices are $10 a cut, 25 cuts a season; they power rake for about $8 per 1,000 square feet, with a $30 minimum; and they charge about 70 cents per 1,-000 square feet for overseeding for labor, plus the cost of the Glen McKinnon seed. Wayne estimates that their average residential customer will be paying about $450 for their full maintenance, plus mowing. "Up until now, people have had a pretty bad image of guys like us," Glen said. "Anybody with a pickup and a mower thought he was a landscapes But companies like ChemLawn helped us a lot. They got people to accept lawn care, and they have set some pretty high stand-ards for the rest of the industry. Now we have to have guys and machinery looking sharp, our trucks have to be clean and our signs professionally lettered," he said. "Before we were little guys with little ideas," Wayne adds, "but ChemLawn showed us what could be done." Edward Brunetti, 55, and Charles Moser, 35, up until this past year were primarily in-volved in the exterminating business, Ed for 20 years with Brunetti Pest Control Co. in St. Louis. Last year they started Brunetti-Moser Lawn Service, and hope to have 350 accounts by mid-season. "We found that many of our pest control accounts also wan-ted us to do lawn work," Brunetti said, "so we decided to go into li-quid fertilization and pesticide application." They charge an $18 minimum for a 5,000 square foot lawn and $1.25/1,000 after that. They also get into doing many trailer court homes that average no more than 1,500 square feet. They charge $12 for this service. They have sold most of their accounts through their pest con-trol operators. "We tell them to ask the customer if they would like a lawn service if the lawn looks bad," Moser said. "Educating the public is the biggest thing you have to do in the lawn care business," Brunetti said. Both of them have given talks free of charge at PTA meet-ings, women's groups, and home associations. Also, when Moser goes out to measure a job he tells them "it is not going to be an overnight thing. I tell them it will take a while to build the lawn back up to where it looks good if it is in bad shape Š like most of ours are when we take them on." They also rent power rakes and aerators for $3.75 an hour, and realize they don't make much money on it, but view it as a service to their customers. In the next five years, Moser plans to expand his business to 15 times what it is now, and also to increase the amount of in-dustrial weed control work they are doing now (about $10,000 gross last year) and also get into mowing services if he can find the right employes. One investment they have made is $85 for a Haines Direc-tory Š which lists all of the homeowners by name and ad-dress in each section of St. Louis. They send out personalized mail-ings rather than ones addressed "Occupant", and say the pro-gram has worked successfully. Ken Schien of Carefree Lawns in suburban Hazelwood had worked for a holder of a lawn care company franchise in m t " ŁŁŁ Vr , ** v >v .< -m I Wayne McKinnon the early 70's and saw the worth and the profit potential of the lawn care business. But he got disenchanted with some of the practices, thought that often the company became overextended and did not feel the customer was always getting his money's worth. So he has started his lawn care business "on the premise that whatever I tell people, that is what they are going to get and I am going to give them the best lawn care service I can. I may go broke doing it, but then at least I will know if it can be done at all," Schien told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. His main advertising has been through flyers inserted into the local newspaper at a cost of three cents apiece. "Advertising to page 28 Training, management stressed in ChemLawn regional office Each regional office of ChemLawn Corp. through-out the country is staffed by a regional manager and a reginal agronomist. For the St. Louis region, Rich Anda (left) is regional agronomist and John Kerr (bottom) is regional manager. While Kerr handles the business details of setting up and running branches in the St. Louis territory, Anda, who received his turf education at Michigan State University, runs agronomic training programs in Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City, Wichita and St. Louis Š nine branches in all. Training programs such as Anda's are one of the things that make ChemLawn stand out in the lawn care industry. From early January to mid-March, Anda is on the road conducting average three-day training sessions for each of his branches. He told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY that the standard ChemLawn examination has three levels of proficiency, which is based not on tenure with the company but rather on test scores. Level I is basic weed and in-sect identification and basic agronomic principles. Level II explains the "whys" of the lawn care programs. Level III consists of indepen-dent projects supervised by Anda. These independent projects might include attending a turf field day or setting up and supervising a demonstration plot near a branch office. "Three years ago there were three regional agronomists in the company," Anda said, "now there are 11. And the effect on the lawn specialist and also the effect on the customer has been very noticeable. Knowledge has changed the lawn markets, and you might parallel the position our lawn specialists hold in some ways to that of the extension agent in each county. They are looked to for lawn knowl-edge." ChemLawn specialists and other personnel are trained from a manual that includes extensive information on identification, timing of applications, special problems of different turfs, soil testing, optimum conditions for ffifw the best weed control, calibration, mathematics, etc. "We are continually upgrading our lawn care personnel, and we are also getting better applicants all of the time," Anda said. "I think the two-year associate programs at colleges in many ways are going to be the future of the industry because of the trained people coming out of these programs." Anda said that in the future it will be necessary for the lawn care industry to put a lot more time and effort into training the lawn ser-vices customer. "We try now to give them as much information about their lawn as we can," Anda said, "and we will be doing even more in the future. "One of the biggest industry problems is stressing the responsi-bility of the lawn owner himself. It is necessary to tell them that they are going to have to water their lawns adequately, mow to the proper height of cut and dethatch a fertilized lawn more often." He said that in the future it might not be uncommon for companies like ChemLawn and others to sponsor field days for customers where they could visit branch offices and attend seminars and demonstrations. Jtk St. Louis from page 27 in the newspaper is not that ef-fective, " he says, "because mostly what I get is people who just want me to mow their lawn." He offers eight visits a year, four of them check-back calls, similar to the basic Lawn-a-Mat or Lawn Medic program. His spring visit includes seeding, fertilization, aeration, crabgrass control, weed spray-ing; his early summer visit in-cludes fertilization, fungicide ap-plication, sod webworm control, Brunetti chinch bug control, and weed spraying; his summer visit in-cludes "chelated iron" applica-tion, sod webworm control, chinch bug control and weed spraying; and his fall visit in-cludes seeding, fertilization, aeration, grub-proofing and weed spraying. The iron application does not promote growth, but rather helps to keep the lawn green dur-ing the summer stress months when over-fertilization might help cause disease. This is a trick many golf superintendents use before big tournaments to keep the turf green. He says that spike-type aera-tion adds to compaction prob- lems and that he is going to a verticutting system this lawn care season. He feels that public relations with his customers is one of his biggest jobs. "When I worked in the lawn care business before, they advocated a vacuum cleaner salesmen approach to handling customers. For exam-ple, they said if the customer of-fered you coffee, not to take it, because it might slow you down. But that is just not my style," he said. His charges are about one cent a square foot for each appli- cation, or about $220 a year for four applications on his average W I MARKETING IDEA FILE Market research on a shoestring Market research is great, you say, for a $1 billion com-pany like IBM or AT&T. But can the lawn care businessmen apply basic research techniques to the operation of his business? Some marketing experts have suggested contacting a busi-ness or marketing instructor at a university in your area. They usually are eager to have their students work on practical business problems. Whatever approach is taken, it is important that the research gives you information in four key areas: (1) your product and your competitor's product; (2) your customer; (3) your customer's problem; (4) how your product can best solve the customer's problem. Educating your customer "How do you educate your customers about lawn spray programs?" asks Marion Grove, president of Greenlawn in Greenville, S.C., "they seem to think our spray program has some kind of magic to it." The owner of a lawn spray business that begins its second lawn care season this month thinks she has a way of edu-cating her customers and also bringing her new business at the same time. She has bought booth space for the Greenville Home and Flower Show later this month, for her $250 fee she will have access to 30,000 potential customers in four days Š all with their own home lawns on their mind, too. In her exhibit she will have information on her company and bags of the Powder Blue sprayable slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, manufactured by Hercules, Inc., Wilmington, Del. that she uses. She will also have slides showing her oper-ators spraying lawns, and plenty of information about what the spray program can and cannot do for lawns. Moser 5,500 square foot lawn. "Sure, it costs more than the liquid fer-tilizer companies, but I do a lot more for the lawn and I also of- fer check-back calls," he said. He says he takes on about Stewart two-thirds of his new customers in the spring and the rest in the fall. He plans on doubling his business to over 100 customers this year in his part-time opera-tion. His goal is to have 350 customers in a few years, but he does not want to take on more than he can handle at any one time. "Lawn care is relatively new," he said, "and prices are finally coming down to where the middle class can afford them. With both the husband and wife working in many cases, they don't want to spend their week-end on the lawn. And with sales-men on the road, when they get home they want to kick off their shoes and pour a highball and relax. These are my potential customers." Tom Wozniak, 24, manager of the ChemLawn Corp. branch in suburban Fenton began with ChemLawn in 1975 working at its Indianapolis branch. His assis-tant manager is Marc Sewart, 25, The manager of the Bridgeton branch is Gerald Spear. His assistant is Dennis Phillips. "If any doctrine is preached around here," Wozniak told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY recen-tly, "it is service. This is a service organization Š we offer the best service that money can buy." He said the company offers five "rounds" a year with a steady, balanced diet for their customers' lawns, including fer-tilizer, weed control and insecti-cides. "This is the transition zone," Stewart said, "and it sometimes can be difficult to have a beauti-ful lawn in these weather con-ditions. Like other midwestern cities, summers can get very hot and very dry. What is typical is that the weather is not typical." Wozniak said the company looks for hard-working, agressive people to fill the lawn specialist Wozniak posts. "Our people are well-trained, we give them respon-sibility for sales and service calls and they do their own routing based on guidelines that have worked in the past." Schien Wozniak said that by April, 90 percent of the St. Louis ChemLawn lawn specialists will be certified pesticide appli-cators in the state of Missouri. "This is where we can excel, in our training and people," he said. TAXES Social Security rules for self-employed Next month is the tax-filing deadline, and the Internal Reve-nue Service has published a set of Social Security tax rules for those self-employed, as many lawn care businessmen are. An annual report of taxable self-employment income must be filed with your form 1040 in-come tax return on schedule SE. The tax rate for 1977 is 7.9 per-cent and is limited to $16,500 of this class of income or a $1,303.50 maximum tax. The rate for 1978 is will go up to 8.17 percent on $17,700. In general, a person who car-ries on a trade or business as an individual or a partner, or ren-ders service as an independent contractor is deemed to be self-employed. Spouses do not split their self-employment income when filing joint returns. A separate Sched-ule SE must be filed by each, if each has net earnings from self- employment of $400 or more. TURF Musser Foundation takes funding action The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation voted to hire a professional estate plan-ner/fund gatherer at a meeting during the GCSAA Conference in San Antonio, Tx. Bill Lyons, Lyons Den, Canal Fulton, Ohio, will be in charge of the fund raising effort which is financed by a $1,000 grant from board member Hugh Chronister representing Harvest Publishing Co. The Musser Foundation gives financial grants to turf students. One grant to an Ohio student has resulted in a major discovery of the life cycle of the extremely destructive Ataenius spretulus beetle. The Foundation, under the direction of Dr. Fred V. Grau, wants to expand its scholarship work by broadening its financial base through memorial con-tributions and gifts. LEGAL Jacobsen will contest FMC, Tore suits Jacobsen Manufacturing Co. plans to contest a patent-in-fringement suit filed against it by the FMC Corp., Chicago. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, claims that Jacobsen infringed on a mulch-ing mower patent. FMC markets the mower under the Bolens Mulching Mower Trademark. FMC is asking damages and an injunction. Dick Pedersen, Jacobsen's vice president of technical af-fairs, said, "Our position is that we are not infringing, and we will continue to manufacture the mower." A hearing date on the suit has not been set. In other legal action regard-ing Jacobsen, Racine, Wise., a patent-infringement suit was filed Feb. 8 against it by Toro. In its suit, Toro claims that Jacob-sen is infringing on Toro's pat-ent for a snowblower, "called Snow Pup." The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Wilming-ton, Del. Toro, Minneapolis, Minn., is requesting treble damages of an unspecified amount and an in-junction to stop the claimed pat- light-weight snowblower, but ent infringement. Jacobsen has plans to produce and market it, not started production of the Pedersen said. m^mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Discussing the importance of graphic skills in residential landscape design are four persons who narticipated in the Landscape Design Short Course con-ducted at the OARDC. They are (from left) Forrest Smith, an instructor at Wayne General Technical College; Joe Krisko, of Bob Schmitt Homes in Berea; Brenda Clark, of Clark Nursery in Millersburg; and Fred Buscher, Area Extension Agent, Horticulture, and one of the short course instructors. SHEA STADIUM, HOME OF THE NEW YORK METS, CHOSE ADELPHI... AND THEY'RE GLAD OF IT! They could have chosen any one of a number of new grasses. Because of the results they'd seen at other locations, they chose "ADELPHI" Kentucky Bluegrass. Jim Thomson, vice-president of the Mets, says, "In all my years in baseball, which includes Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field and Shea Stadium plus all the fields I've visited, I have never seen a field stand up as well, have the color and overall ap-/MQ Dian»D^n»Mrt ^cm pearance and receive as many compliments from (u.o. riant ratent no. oiou) bQth players and spectators, as I've received from our "ADELPHI" installation." Adetphi ^L -V. KENTUCKY I BLUEGRASS ADELPHI... RATED OUTSTANDING FOR OVERALL PERFORMANCE IN ACTUAL USE. ADELPHI... GROWS NATURALLY TO A DEEPER, RICH GREEN COLOR WHICH IT MAINTAINS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GROWING SEASON. ADELPHI...YIELDS TURF OF EXCELLENT DENSITY, IS LOW GROWING AND EXHIBITS GOOD RESISTANCE TO COMMON DISEASES. IF TURF IS YOUR GAME, "ADELPHI" BELONGS IN YOUR "BALLPARK," TOO. FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: J & L ADIKES, Inc. Jamaica, N.Y. 11423 JONATHAN GREEN & SONS Farmingdale, N.J. 07727 NORTHRUP KING CO. Minneapolis, Minn. 55413 VAUGHAN-JACKLIN CORP. Bound Brook, N J. 08805 Ł Downers Grove. III. 60515 Spokane. Wa. 99213 Canadian Inquiries: National-NK Seeds Ltd., Box 485, Kitchener, Ont. Rothwell Seeds Ltd., Box 511, Lindsay, Ont. Other International Inquiries: Northrup King Co., Minneapolis, Minn. 55413 A searching look into the future of the Lawn Care Operator: fair prices, can substantial business, several ways. There is every indication that the e fficien t opera tor who will do really superior work at build a long-range, We can help in If you have Š or may establish Š a Lawn Care Business, the outlook is good. The market potential, already large, is on the threshold of further growth because the sociological-economic factors are favorable. Many families today, whether living in a house, condominium or garden apartment, want at least a handsome lawn, trees, flowers and ornamentals. They want the benefits, but without the work of tending such landscaping personally. While many enjoy puttering with vege-tables or flowers, they tend to shun lawn chores that involve seeding, feeding, weed-ing, de-bugging. The do-it-yourself trend is giving way to a new lifestyle. Today, more and more women are profita-bly employed outside the home, sharing routine housework. With resulting higher combined earnings, these families can well afford professional lawn care, as well as golf, tennis, boating, summer cottages and long vacations. Thus, while this opens new vistas for the Lawn Care Operator, his work is certain to be fraught with difficulties, including keen competition. Naturally, the fittest will survive and prosper. Now, what does this mean for you, the Lawn Care Operator? It means you must provide exceptional service: Superior work, using efficient meth-ods, the best of equipment and products. Above all, you must avoid needless com-plaints, call-backs and retreatments. You simply can't afford to "fight fires" or handle needless complaints which tarnish your name, destroy profits, and waste time you urgently need to cultivate new business. If you do your job well, your customers will stay with you; you won't have to re-sell them year after year. The Gordon Turf Team can help you solve the single most persistant and troublesome problem of the turf industry Š weed control. Weed control will remain the thorniest bugaboo because weeds are visible. Failing to kill them brings costly complaints. In fact, you may have complaints even after the most thorough weed spray. The reason (and the cure) is crucial. As you know, weeds don't magically disappear the same week you spray them. You know the best herbicides work slowly. But your customer may not know this ... and that's the problem. Meet Trimec®, the solution Unlike some herbicides that quickly "burn" the foliage but tend to leave the root alive, Trimec broadleaf herbicide is slow, thorough, efficient. It kills the whole weed, root and all. Here's why: Trimec is a unique, patented formulation of 2,4-D, MCPP and Dicamba Š unlike any other. Its exceptional power and slow, gentle action results largely from the synergism of its active components; from their interaction which produces weedkill strength far greater than the sum of the components separately. This synergistic gain multiplies Trimec effi-ciency so that smaller amounts of chemical can be fully effective on the greatest number of weeds, with a light dosage, continuously through the growing season Š even at 50° F. or cooler. strength relies greatly on synergism rather than on heavy concentrations of chemicals, root absorption is minimal. Thus it poses little threat to flowers, trees, ornamentals and tender grasses. "Drift" hazard is reduced. Biodegradeable, precisely factory-formulated ... Trimec eliminates the need for on-site mixing and its chance of costly error. Broad-spectrum control, lowest cost Trimec controls the widest range of weeds Š even hard-to-kill species Š usually with one application. We're surprised if we find a weed that's Trimec-resistant. Because of its unparalleled efficiency, Trimec does not cost more to use, but less. Comparisons show that Trimec costs less per acre of weed control than any other herbicide. You use fewer gallons, you seldom need retreatment, your total cost-per-acre Š the true measure of economy Š is lower. Improved customer relations Home owners who don't under-stand weed control often com-plain in panic, "My weeds are still alive!" We help you avoid such calls by providing an instructive door hanger. Left on the doorknob after each treatment, it explains Trimec's slow, thorough action, suggests patience, assures your customer his weeds are dying. This advance explanation stops many needless trouble calls, explains that you have indeed used the finest weed treatment available. A generous supply of door hangers is available with each Trimec order. More than weed control As your lawn service prospers Š perhaps growing into services beyond mere weed-and-feed Š Gordon's total commitment in the turf market will support your expansion. Your Gordon distributor has a complete family of superior, tested products tailored for the turf professional. His technical expertise is freely available. Should you need it, he has a direct line to Gordon's Technical Service Department. This includes our separate Lawn Care Division, with a field specialist whose sole concern is providing product informa-tion and technical assistance to the Lawn Care Operator. For instance . . . Meet HERBI, a unique new portable sprayer The HERBI illustrates our total involve-ment with lawn care. This advance-design sprayer was made expressly for problem areas and for those times when herbicides should be applied separately, apart from fertilizer. The HERBI story is summarized on the next page. See your distributor for complete information. Safeguards the environment Trimec is ecologically sound and troublefree. Because its PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS pbi /GQRdon coRpoRation 300 SOUTH THIRD STREET KANSAS CITY. KANSAS 66110 913-3A2-B7QO TRIMEC is a registered trademark of PBI/G0RD0N Corporation, U.S. Patent No. 3,284,186. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY MAR 1978 Circle 122 on free Information card Controlled-droplet_ Application HERBI: a new approach to applying herbicides Herbi is a lightweight, portable sprayer of high efficiency. It lets a walking operator make Ultra Low Volume controlled-droplet applications on target, low to ground, with little drift. Ideal for smaller problem areas, and areas inaccessible to heavy equipment. Gives controllable, 4-ft. clean-cut swath close to trees and shrubbery, with excellent control in wind. Battery-powered atomizer in head gives uniform 250-micron droplets; saves water, chemicals ... pene-trates better. Three nozzles included for different solutions, emulsions and Š with proper additive Š wettable powders. Fully self-contained; weighs 12 pounds loaded. Five-pint tank treats 33,000 sq. ft. or more at normal walking speed. Instruction manual and spare parts list included. Gordon distributors have full information. Authorized Distributors Gordon Professional Turf Products ALASKA Palmer Ł Alamasu, Inc. ALABAMA Birmingham Ł Norala Company, Inc. Ł Tieco, Inc. Montgomery Ł Tieco, Inc. ARIZONA Phoenix Ł Capitol Nursery Supply Ł Target Chemical Company Tucson Ł Copper State Chemical Co. ARKANSAS Alexander Ł Capital Equipment Co. CALIFORNIA Anaheim Ł Foster-Gardner, Inc. Bakersfield Ł Abate-A-Weed Co. Cathedral City Ł Butlers Mill, Inc. Cerritos Ł Target Chemical Co. Chula Vista Ł Wilbur-Ellis Company Coachella Ł Foster-Gardner, Inc. Manetca Ł Ramsey Seed Company Newark Ł L & V Farm Sales, Inc. Orange Ł Robinson Fertilizer Co. Oxnard Ł Coastal Ag. Chem. Sacramento Ł Orchard Supply Company San Diego Ł Butlers Mill, Inc. San Gabriel (Ł J Harold Mitchell Co. San Jose Ł Foster-Gardner, Inc. Ł Moyer Chemical Co. Ł Northern California Fertilizer Co. Ł Target Chemical Co. San Leandro Ł Custom Chemilene Santa Ana Ł Moyer Chemical Company Santa Barbara Ł Agri Turf Supplies, Inc. Santa Rosa Ł Purity Chemical Products Co. South Gate City Ł Los Angeles Chemical Co. COLORADO Arvada Ł S.A.J. Turf Products Colorado Springs Ł Gorby, Inc. Denver Ł Van Waters & Rogers Ł Western Gard'n-Wise Pueblo Ł Pueblo Chemical & Supply CONNECTICUT Devon Ł Somers Turf Supplies Greenwich Ł Emanuel Shemin Greenhouses & Nurs. Hazzardville Ł Old Fox Chemical, Inc. So. Windsor Ł Turf Products Corporation DELAWARE Wilmington Ł Turf Enterprises FLORIDA Homestead Ł Atlantic Fertilizer & Chemical Jacksonville Ł Bingham Seed Co. Pompano Beach Ł Swift Agricultural Chemical Corp. Pensacola Ł Gulf Shore Turf Supply, Inc. Ł Tieco Gulf Coast Sanford Ł Chase & Company Winterhaven Ł Swift Agricultural Chemical Corp. GEORGIA Atlanta Ł Regal Chemical Co. College Park Ł Stephenson Chemical Co. Conyers Ł Lawn & Turf, Inc. Doraville Ł Georgia Golf & Garden Ft. Valley Ł Woolfolk Chemical Works, Inc. HAWAII Hilo Ł Occidental Chemical Co Honolulu Ł Occidental Chemical Co. Kahului Ł Occidental Chemical Co. Lihue Ł Occidental Chemical Co. IDAHO Boise Ł Steve Regan Co. Caldwell Ł Wasatch Chemical Co. Idaho Falls Ł Wasatch Chemical Co. Rupert Ł Wasatch Chemical Co. ILLINOIS Barrington Ł Olsen Distributing Co. Bloomington Ł Professional Turf Specialty Chicago Ł George A. Davis, Inc. W. Chicago Ł Turf Products, Ltd. Decatur Ł Scruggs-Drake Equipment, Inc. E. Peoria Ł Leon Short & Sons, Inc. Peoria Ł Behm & Hageman, Inc. Geneseo Ł C. D. Ford & Sons Morton Grove Ł V-G Supply Company Rockton Ł Turf Management Supply Springfield Ł Drake-Scruggs Equipment, Inc. Wheeling Ł Arthur Clesen, Inc. INDIANA Indianapolis Ł Desco Chemical, Inc. Ł Cory Orchard Supply Co. Nappanee Ł Desco Chemical, Inc. IOWA Cedar Rapids Ł Hawkeve Seed Co. Inc. Council Bluffs Ł Leisure-Aid Davenport Ł Tri-State Toro Co. Des Moines Ł Toro Service Center W. Des Moines Ł Big Bear Turf Ł Resthaven Turf Service Elkader Ł Meyer Equipment Co. Iowa City Ł Little Wheels, Ltd. Sioux City i Ł W R. Anderson Dist. Co. Waterloo Ł Foster's, Inc. Waukee Ł Baer Ag Supply West Burlington Ł Brayton Chemical, Inc. KANSAS Kansas City Ł Pest Control Supplies Ł Rhodes Chemical Co. Salina Ł The Landsco Corporation Wichita Ł Bartels & Shore Chemical Co. Ł Champion Turf Equipment, Inc. Ł Robert S. Wise Company KENTUCKY Florence Ł George W. Hill & Co., Inc. Louisville Ł Bunton Seed Co., Inc. Ł Ky-lnna Turf Supply Co., Inc. LOUISIANA Baton Rouge Ł Gulfshore Turf Supply Ł Wyche's Golf Course Specialties, Inc. Covington Ł Tammany Turf & Supply, Inc. New Orleans Ł Southern Specialty Sales Co., Inc. Plain Dealing Ł Wyche Golf Course Specialties, Inc. MARYLAND Baltimore Ł Cornell Chemical & Equip. Co., Inc. Ł Miller Chemical & Fertilizer Landover Ł Vaughan Seed Company MASSACHUSETTS Newton Center Ł Grounds Equipment Co., Inc. Waltham Ł Farm Bureau Coop Assn., Inc. West Newton Ł The Clapper Company MICHIGAN Birmingham Ł W. F. Miller Company Detroit Ł Terminal Sales Corporation Grand Rapids Ł Mollema & Son, Inc. Ł Parmender & Andre Hartford Ł Desco Chemical, Inc. Kalamazoo Ł J. J. Dill Company Royal Oak Ł Lawn Equipment Saginaw Ł Burdick Seed Company Taylor Ł Turf Supplies, Inc. Traverse City Ł Fergusons Company MINNESOTA Minneapolis Ł Minnesota Toro, Inc. St. Paul Ł R. L. Gould & Company Ł Turf Supply Company Savage Ł The Castle Chemical Co., Inc. MISSISSIPPI Jackson Ł Southern Seed Company, Inc. MISSOURI Chesterfield Ł Beckman Turf & Irrigation Grandview Ł The Landsco Corp. Ł Robison's Lawn & Golf Supply Kansas City Ł Bartels & Shore Chemical Co. Ł Champion Turf Equip., Inc. Ł Standard Seed Company Maryland Heights Ł Outdoor Equipment Co. St. Louis Ł Crown Chemicals Ł Kitten & Bear Springfield Ł Champion Turf Equip., Inc. MONTANA Billings Ł Turf Aid Dist. Company Helena Ł Mr. Turf NEBRASKA McCook Ł Cornbelt Chemical Morrill Ł Jirdon Agri Chemicals, Inc. Omaha Ł Big Bear Equip., Inc. Ł Midwest Toro Ł The Yard Company Ł Leisure-Aid Ł Tri-Valley Corporation NEVADA Las Vegas Ł Clark County Whol. Merc. Co. North Las Vegas Ł Las Vegas Fertilizer Co., Inc. NEW HAMPSHIRE Greenland Ł Turf Specialty, Inc. NEW JERSEY Boundbrook Ł Loft Seed Company Ł Vaughan-Jacklm Corporation Freehold Ł Green Hills Turf Supply Maplewood Ł Pierson's Mill Company Mountainside Ł Andrew Wilson, Inc. Rahway Ł Fertl-Soil Company Saddle Brook Ł The Terre Company West Caldwell Ł Rockland Chemical Co. Yardville Ł Jep Sales, Inc. NEW MEXICO Albuquerque Ł Albuquerque Chemical Co., Inc. Roswell Ł Roswell Seed Company, Inc. NEW YORK Farmingdale Ł Wagner Seed Company Hamburg Ł Eaton Equipment Company Hawthorne Ł Metro Milorgamte Hauppauge Ł Maxwell Turf, Inc. Jamaica Ł J & L Adikes, Inc. Bergen Ł Lawn Medic Rexford Ł S. V Moffett, Inc. South Hampton Ł James H. Lynch, Inc. Lincolndale Ł Westchester Turf Supply Co. Syracuse Ł Agway, Inc W. Henrietta Ł S. V. Moffett, Inc. NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte Ł Seedmen, Inc. Shelby Ł Porter Brothers, Inc. Winston Salem Ł Goltra, Inc. OHIO Canton Ł Letherman Seed Company Cincinnati Ł Century Toro Dist. Inc. Ł Thorton Wilson Cleveland Ł Sidney L. Dryfoos Co. Ł U.S. Garden Sales, Inc. Columbus Ł Century Toro Dist. Inc. Ł W. R. Grace & Company Dayton Ł Century Toro Dist. Inc. Elyria Ł Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. Findlay Ł Desco Chemical, Inc Mantua Ł John R. Skinner Co. Toledo Ł Century Toro Dist. Inc. OKLAHOMA McAlester Ł Tonys Chemical House Oklahoma City Ł Estes Chemicals, Inc. Tulsa Ł All Best, Inc. Ł Thompson-Hayward Chemical Co. Ł Wait Mfg. & Sales Co. OREGON Portland Ł The Charles H. Lilly Co. Ł Van Waters & Rogers Ł Wilbur-Ellis Company PENNSYLVANIA Doylestown Ł Philadelphia Toro Hanover Ł Miller Chemical & Fert. Corp Harleysville Ł Geiger Corporation Horsham Ł Pocono Supply Company Lebanon Ł Lebanon Chemical Corp Malvern Ł Fisher & Son Co., Inc. Philadelphia Ł Farm & Golf Course Supply Co., Inc. Phoenixville Ł Lawn & Golf Supply Pittsburgh Ł E. H. Griffith, Inc. Ł Krigger & Company Reading Ł Reading Bone Fertilizer Wycombe Ł Histand Supply RHODE ISLAND East Providence Ł Old Fox Chemical, Inc. SOUTH CAROLINA Inman Ł Woolfolk Chemical Works, Inc. SOUTH DAKOTA Sioux Falls Ł C & R Supply Company TENNESSEE Knoxville Ł Regal Chemical Co. Memphis Ł Axon Corporation Ł Bob Ladd, Inc. Ł Oldham Chemical Co., Inc. Nashville Ł Central South Turf Dist. Ł Tieco, Inc. TEXAS Amarillo Ł Amarillo Seed House Dallas Ł Chemical & Turf Specialty Co. Ł Van Waters & Rogers El Paso Ł El Paso Turf Supply Paris Ł Estes Chemical, Inc. Waco Ł Estes Chemical, Inc. Wichita Falls Ł Estes Chemical, Inc. UTAH Orem Ł Wasatch Chemical Div. Salt Lake City Ł Wastach Chemical Div. VIRGINIA Chesapeake Ł Turf & Garden Div. Harrisonburg Ł Wetsel Seed Company Richmond Ł Richmond Power Equip. Co., Inc. Roanoke Ł Agri-Turf Products Co., Inc. Ł Miller Chemical & Fertilizer WASHINGTON Kent Ł Van Waters & Rogers Renton Ł Pacific Agro Company Seattle Ł The Charles H. Lilly Co. Ł Western Farmers Association Tacoma Ł NuLife Fertilizers WASHINGTON, D.C. Ł Lea's Green Meadows, Inc. WEST VIRGINIA Charleston Ł Youngs, Inc. WISCONSIN Chilton Ł Horst Distributing Co. Elm Grove Ł Reinder Bros. Turf Equipment Milwaukee Ł Loft-Kellogg Seed, Inc. Sun Prairie Ł Turf Management Supply CONSTRUCTION Housing starts skid record 29% in January Housing starts dipped a record 29 percent in January to a 1,549,000-unit adjusted annual rate, the federal Commerce Department reported. Bad weather was blamed, of-ficials said, although starts are likely to trail 1977's level anyway. However, the January rate was 11 percent above the year-earlier rate of 1,393,000 units. Even though the rate was expected to be reported up when the February figures are in, the rate still will probably not be as high as 1977, when 1,986,700 single-family homes were started. UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE TM makes pesticide-liquid fertilizer combinations mix and stay mixed for uniform trouble-free ap- plications. d> (TRY A LITTLE!) The totally new compatibility agent . . . THAT WORKS. S-Hopkins agricultural chemical co. Box 7532, Madison, Wl 53707 Call 608/222-0624 H-U-13 MEETING DATES Midwest Turf Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Inc., March 13-15. Contact: Dr. William H. Daniel, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. 47907. North Central Pennsylvania Turf School, Holiday Inn, Bradford, Pa., March 21. West Virginia Weed Control Association Annual Meeting, Holiday Inn No. 2, Charleston, W. Va., March 28-29. Contact: Association, P.O. Box 1986, Charleston, W. Va. 25327. The Irrigation Association Turf Short Course, Management Education Center, Troy, Mich., March 28-30. Contact: Association, 13975 Connecticut Ave., Silver Springs, Md. 20906. Second Associated Landscape Contractors of America Collegiate Field Day, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss., March 31-April 2. Contact: Dr. Robert A. Callaway, Briscoe Hall, P.O. Drawer MQ, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss. 39762, (601) 325-4811. 32nd Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference, Rural Development Center, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Ga., April 10-11. Contact: Dr. Glenn W. Burton, Agricultural Research Station, USDA, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Ga. 31794. Turf-Landscape Institute, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif., April 19-20. American Sod Producers Association Summer Convention and Field Days, Sheraton-Spokane, Spokane, Wash., July 19-21. Contact: (402) 463-5691. Central Plains/Kansas State University Turfgrass Field Day, Kansas State University, Man-hattan, Kansas, August 23. Contact: Dr. Robert N. Carrow, Horticulture Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan. 66506. International Pesticide Applicators Association Annual Convention, Sea-Tac Motor Inn, 18740 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, Wash., Sept. 13-15. Contact: Ed Walters, 20057 Ballinger Rd., N.E., Seattle, Wash. 98155, (206) 362-9100. 1978 Northwest Turfgrass Conference, Holiday Inn, Richland, Wash., Sept. 25-28. Contact: Dr. Roy L. Goss, Western Washington Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, Wash. 98371. Central Plains Turfgrass Conference, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, Oct. 4-6. Con-tact: Dr. Robert N. Carrow, Horticulture Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan. 66506. Professional Grounds Management Society Conference and Trade Show, Atkinson Hotel, Indian-apolis, Ind., Oct. 8-11. Contact: Allan Shulder, 19 Hawthorne Ave., Pikesville, Md. 21208, (301) 653-2742. Eighth National Institute on Park and Grounds Management, Regency Inn, Denver, Colo., Oct. 29-Nov. 2. Contact: National Institute, Box 1936, Appleton, Wis. 54911, (414) 733-2301. when it comes to sprinklers don't buy on * Compare price, precision construction and performance and you'll buy Champion, o Our full line of residential, commer-cial and agricultural impulse sprinklers are the reliable performers for those big jobs. Construction is of all brass and stainless steel. Ł Champion s pop-ups are impervi-ous to wear and engineered to take years of punishment while delivering years of trouble-free service. Available in all brass model, or with plastic body and stem with brass insert and bottom nut. Ł The products shown are just two of over one hundred fifty sprinklers, valves, con- OTH trollers and accessories in the Champion line. Champion is your one-stop source for every irrigation need. Call or write Champion today. We have a man in your area who'll be happy to tell you the full Champion story. Ask for free, full color catalog. t CHAMPION SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT 1460 N. Naud Street, Dept. LC I. Los Angeles, California 90012 / (213) 221-2108 Circle 103 on free information card Circle 106 on free information card Great Western Seed in Albany, Ore. has finished another phase of its expansion project which began with the erection of a new seed warehouse (see LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, September/October, page 10). The latest phase consists of in-creasing their office space Š which is not unusual Š but one of the pro-ducts used in the construction (above) does deserve mention. One wall of the office is made of ryegrass straw (below). The wall is finished with a new product, the major component being straw which has been pressed into a hardboard paneling with unusually fine decorative effects. The straw in itself produces an interesting sur-face effect, but it is further decoratea by superimposing ever-green boughs, slivers of cedar and dried flowers. r LAWN CARE INDUSTRY READER SERVICE CARD MARCH 1978 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 COMPANY .CITY. .STATE. ZIP. BUSINESS ADDRESS If you would like a subscription to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY circle number 101. Subscription cost is $10.00 per year. To help us to better serve you editorially, please answer the following: 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 Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office 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 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 $500,001-1,000,000 Ł $1,000,000 or more Title: Ł President Ł Owner Ł Manager Ł Technician Ł Other (specify) Your signature CIRCLE THE ITEM NUMBERS FOR FREE DETAILS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Date u 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 163 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH, MINNESOTA BUSINESS REPLY MAIL Postage will be paid by: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY P.O. BOX 6136 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 c FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH, MINNESOTA BUSINESS REPLY MAIL Postage will be paid by: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY P.O. BOX 6136 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 LAWN CARE INDUSTRY READER SERVICE CARD MARCH 1978 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 COMPANY 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 to better serve you editorially, please answer the following: 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 Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office Number of accounts: Ł Less than 500 Ł 500-1.000 Ł 1,001-5.000 Ł 5.001-10.000 D 10,001-25,000 Ł 25,000 or more 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 $500,001-1,000,000 Ł $1,000,000 or more Title: Ł President Ł Owner Ł Manager Ł Technician Ł Other (specify) Your signature CIRCLE THE ITEM NUMBERS FOR FREE DETAILS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Date 101 102 126 127 151 152 176 177 201 202 226 227 251 252 ,276 277 103 104 128 129 153 154 178 179 203 204 228 229 253 254 278 279 105 106 130 131 155 156 180 181 205 206 230 231 255 256 280 281 107 108 132 133 157 158 182 183 207 208 232 233 257 258 282 283 109 110 134 135 159 160 184 185 209 210 234 235 259 260 284 285 111 112 136 137 161 162 186 187 211 212 236 237 261 262 286 287 113 114 138 139 163 164 188 189 213 214 238 239 163 264 288 289 115 116 140 141 165 166 190 191 215 216 240 241 265 266 290 291 117 118 142 143 167 168 192 193 217 218 242 243 267 268 292 293 121 146 171 196 219 220 221 244 245 246 269 270 271 294 295 296 119 120 144 145 169 170 194 195 122 123 147 148 172 173 197 198 222 223 247 248 272 273 297 298 124 125 149 150 174 175 199 200 224 225 249 250 274 275 299 300 T M soFifcsoil Gypsum adds profitable extra sales to your lawn care business! 'm M r /JL< I my-Ox y*j I J i -v; h iM-ci^ i-Ł< / Ł Ł. i tfr1 m-ST .If' t u j X [A % not rti';l 1 » pr ^"id If fi A I' * ŁSfffl Tr*Š Sof'n-SoilŽ Lawn & Garden Gypsum is a natural soil conditioner you can depend on to help boost your business two ways, two times a year. In Spring, application of Sof'n-Soil gypsum helps make fertilizers work more effectively all season long by loosening up heavy clay. This allows root systems to develop normally to keep lawns thriving all summer. In Fall, application of Sof'n-Soil gypsum works like health insurance to protect against the harmful effects of winter de-icing salt. Sodium chloride is toxic to most plants, causes heavy clay soils to tighten, keeps water from leaching out the salt. The available calcium in Sof'n-Soil gypsum replaces toxic sodium attached to the clay soil particles, permits new seed or sod to grow normally. Look into the multi- ,, \ profit opportunities of adding Sof'n-Soil gypsum ^ J/f benefits to your services. Remind ecologically- } conscious prospects that Sof'n-Soil gypsum is non-toxic, noncaustic, harmless to plants, pets and people. Ł For specifics, write to us at 101 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, III. 60606, Dept. XX-OOO. JT, <1 frim^''. Y?" j< " MS my* ŁŁ >> .ft If Mm J I iWjtf j''r m vu CHEMICALS DIVISION UNITED STATES GYPSUM PRIMARY SUPPLIER OF SECONDARY PLANT NUTRIENTS CONFERENCES Northwest Turfgrass meeting in September The 1978 Northwest Turf-grass Conference is set for September 25-28 at the Holiday Inn in Richland, Wash. Conference organizer Cliff James said it will be conducted in a similar manner to the successful 1977 conference held in October in Gleneden Beach, Ore. Conference attendees will have free time after about 1:30 p.m. each day throughout the conference. For further information, con-tact: Dr. Roy L. Goss, Western Washington Research & Exten-sion Center, Puyallup, Wash. 98371, or call (206) 845-6613. TURF Practices that affect turf wear tolerance Turf wear tolerance can be a problem for lawn care business-men dealing with residential lawns that have much incidence of children playing and other traffic. Beard Dr. James B. Beard, professor of Crop and Soil Sciences at Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, recently ex-plained to an audience of lawn care professionals cultural prac-tices that cause decreasing turf wear tolerance, and mentioned a number of varieties that wear particularly well. He said that lower mowing heights, excessive nitrogen fer-tilization, potassium deficiency and excessive irrigation over a period of time will decrease turf wear tolerance. According to Dr. Beard, zoysiagrass and bermudagrass have the best tolerance to wear. He said bahiagrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue are rat-ed as good in terms of tolerance to wear.He rates St. Augustine-grass, and Kentucky bluegrass as only fair in terms of wear, and centipedegrass and red fescue and creeping bentgrass as poor. TOOLS,TIPS & TECHNIQUES Make your turf equipment needs known Many lawn care businessmen say that the turf equipment industry is not as responsive as it could be to the needs of the lawn care professional. While not expressing total dis-content, Frank Timmons, president of Ladyhug Industries, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., recently echoed the sentiments of many lawn care businessmen on the topic. And he should be in a pretty good Timmons position to know, he has served the last two years as the chairman of the maintenance committee of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America. He said: "In many cases, the equipment that is available to us is either tailored for the homeowner or for the larger needs of the golf course superintendent. The consumer equipment is not heavy duty enough for our needs, and the golf course equipment is much too large and costly for the bulk of the work." The climate may be changing. Toro Co., based in Minne-apolis, recently contracted out a survey to lawn care profes-sionals with a cover letter that started like this: "You probably feel that your opinions and judgments, as an expert in your field, just are not getting proper attention from the manufacturers of turf care equipment. We'd like to remedy that, so that you can have your say-so before next year's models come out." The survey went on to ask four pages of questions, mostly about riding mowers, some of which you should perhaps keep in mind the next time your turf distributor asks you what your needs are for lawn care work. The survey discussed foot pedal controlled hydrostatic drive that provides instant forward, reverse and speed con-trol, good or bad; rear wheel steering allowing operator to maneuver in small areas and trim around small radius ob-jects, right or wrong; free-floating front deck follows ground contours, minimizing scalping, is this important? Also, does the articulated center pivot steering provide ex-ceptional maneuverability; self-contained vacuum pickup attachment with 25 bushel box permits collection of clippings, leaves and light debris, is this good; hydraulic lift operated from driver's seat for cutter deck and other attachments saves time and effort, is this good; large, high flotation turf tires minimize compaction, right or wrong? The survey also asked lawn care businessmen questions about whether having a full line of turf care equipment was advantageous; discussed prices, service capabilities, leasing and long-term financing for purchasing, and many other areas. Among Kentucky bluegrass varieties, he said A-34 is excel-lent and Merion and Baron have good wear tolerance. For Ber-mudagrass, Tiflawn, Tifway, Tif-green, Santa Ana, Sunturf and U-3 are Superior, and Ormond, Texturf and 1-F are rated as ex-cellent. DISEASE Fusarium blight reprints available Lawn care businessmen from across the country have reported that Fusarium blight is one of their most troublesome lawn dis-ease problems at the height of the lawn care season. In July 1976, WEEDS TREES & TURF magazine, published by Harvest Publishing, Cleveland, Ohio printed a special 16-page section on Fusarium blight. Dr. A1 J. Turgeon, who organized the special section, said at the time that it "summarizes our current knowledge on the subject." The special section is now available in reprint form through LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. Contributors to the special section, their topics and affilia-tions at the time were: Dr. Houston B. Couch, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, "Fusarium Blight of Turfgrasses Š an Over-view;" Dr. Herbert Cole, Jr., Pennsylvania State University, "Factors Affecting Fusarium Blight Development." Also, Dr. R. E. Partyka, ChemLawn Corp., "Factors Af-fecting Blight in Kentucky Blue-grass;" Dr. Turgeon, University of Illinois, "Effects of Cultural Practices on Fusarium Blight;" Dr. Joseph M. Vargas, Jr., Michi-gan State University, "Role of Nematodes in the Development of Blight." Also, Dr. C. Reed Funk, Rutgers University, "Developing Genetic Resistance to Fusarium Blight;" and Dr. William A. Meyer, Turf Seed, Inc., Hub- bard, Ore., and Frank H. Berns, Warren's Turf Nursery, Palos Park, 111., "Techniques for Deter-mination of Blight Suscepti- bility." Reprints are available by writing: Bob Earley, editor, LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. Price is $1.75. COMPANIES Ryan honors dealers who top sales quotas Twenty-nine dealers who met or exceeded their sales goals were honored last month by Ryan during the International Turf Conference sponsored by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in San Antonio, Texas. The dealerships received 1977 quota buster plaques from Frank J. McDonald, marketing director. Companies honored were: The Clapper Co., West New-ton, Mass.; Adam's Equipment, Inc., Silver Spring, Md.; Zaun Equipment, Inc.'s Florida opera-tions in Jacksonville, Orlando and St. Petersburg; Hector Turf & Garden, Inc., Miami; Gulf Shore Turf Supply, Inc., Pen-sacola, Fla. Wislar & Co., Inc., Atlanta; Turfaid, Inc., Memphis, Tenn.; Century Toro Distributor's Ohio offices in Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo; George A. Davis, Inc., Chicago; Tri-State Toro Co., Davenport, la.; Outdoor Power Equipment Co., Maryland Heights, Mo.; Reinders Turf Equipment/Irrigation Supplies, Elm Grove, Wis. Midland Implement Co., Inc., Billings, Mont.; Boyd Martin Co., Salt Lake City, Utah; L. L. Johnson Distributing Co., Den-ver; Toro Pacific Distributing, Gardena, Toro Pacific Dis-tributing S.F., Burlingame, and Brady-Holmes Co., Sacramento, all of California; Turf & Toro Distributors, Inc., Kent, Wash. Consolidated Turf Equipment Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba; Duke Lawn Equipment Ltd., Burling-ton, Ontario; Mac Leod's Lawn Equipment Ltd., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and Morin Equip- ment Ltd., Ste. Foy, Quebec. Ryan turf care equipment is marketed by OMC-Lincoln, Lin-coln, Neb., a division of Out-board Marine Corp. For football fields and/or shady glens Glade Kentucky bluegrass is the seed to specify for excellent performance. In full sun or cool shade (up to 60%) you can depend on Glade to germinate quickly, establish fast. Forms a thick rhizome and root system, dense, low-growing, fine-textured turf of medium to deep green in color. Glade Kentucky bluegrass has proven resis-tance to many troublesome diseases including stripe smut and leaf rust. Better than average resistance to today's Fusarium blight has made Glade a vital fortifying ingredient in many pro-fessional turf grass mixtures. A higher level of resistance to powdery mildew in moderate shade. A Rutgers University selection (tested as P-29), Glade Kentucky bluegrass is your guarantee of physically pure and genetically true seed. Specify the sun-n-shade elite Glade Kentucky bluegrass seed for your next lawn seed mix, available at your local wholesale seed distributor. KENTUCKYBLUEGRASS U.S. Plant Patent 3151 Another fine, quality-controlled product of Jacklin id Company. K Ł »' Š >> - 0 I \ \ t> .»Ł* *** *» ' ^ | On one point regarding Yellow Pages advertising, most lawn care businessmen agree Š it is a produc-tive medium for generating busi- ness from newcomers to a commun-ity. One lawn care businessman esti-mates 20 percent of his new accounts spin off his ad in the telephone cla classified section. So put some thought into shaping your lawn care ad; make the space count. Exploit every possibility of getting your money's worth. There are many options open to you in putting together your ad with the possibilities varying according to the size of your ad. Larger display ads permit the use of more copy, illustrative mate-rial, etc. But even those who in-vest in larger space often prefer to keep copy brief, surrounding it with lots of space, feeling it results in more impact. Let's qualify the types of insertions available to you. First come the larger display spots. Sizes vary, ranging up to full pages. Secondly, are the smaller one-, two-, and three-inch boxes which run to one column. They offer room for a short message and stand out against the free listings which most business tele-phone subscribers are provided by the telephone company. Thirdly, the bold face list-ings, a form used by many lawn service firms because it's the least expensive. The bold face type separates your firm name from the free listings. Positioning of their ads is a subject that creates comment among lawn care company owners. Normally, the position your ad is given on the page is determined in alphabetical or- der and by the way pages are laid out. The choice spot, say many owners, for a display ad is the upper right corner of the page. Next, the upper mid-page area. Low mid-page locations are MEET YOUR SPRAYER NEEDS EXACTLY! TRAILER MOUNTED SKID MOUNTED ACCESSORIES GREENS BOOM HOSE REEL ^M G-GUN^H SCREW TYPE JACK ALSO CHOOSE FROM FIBERGLASS TANKS/MECHANICAL AGITATION/PUMPS AND ENGINES/BOOMS/HAND GUNS, ETC. WRITE OR CALL: Special Products Division 301 CHARLES ST., so. BEL0IT, IL 61080 HANSON EQUIPMENT CO. 8i5.3e9.226i given lowest ratings when returns are measured. Several owners said it makes sense before turning copy over to the telephone company advertis-ing representatives to sit down and create a mental image of your customers and write down services you feel most of them desire. One owner said he keeps uppermost in his mind the fact that his ad will be surrounded by those of competitors and that is all he needs to stimulate him to prepare the best ad possible, to add any touches that make it different and make it stand out. Build your ad carefully. Be specific. Concentrate on the essentials. Avoid tricky phrases. Generalizing in ads only leads to unwanted calls. People look for guidance and information in ads. One lawn care owner said he writes his ad-copy as he would a telegram. Suggestion: Don't be bashful about seeking the counsel of the telephone advertising reps. They can offer help on elements such as type face, borders, even illus-trations. But don't be quick to ac-cept all their recommendations. Above all, avoid turning the en-tire matter of putting the ad to-gether over to the reps or your ad will end up looking like all the other on the pages. One lawn care owner said his adman suggested use of a half-inch border section running diagonally from corner to corner inside the ad with the phrase "Our Lawn Service is THE Com- plete One" inserted between the two lines. He is convinced this simple device gives his ad more eye interest. Remember, if you have a ser-vice or two that makes you different, include it. It is vital that you check advertising proofs of your ad carefully for errors or omissions like a wrong number in your ad- dress or telephone number. Remember, you live with these mistakes for a full year and it can cost you much business. It is interesting to note a re-cent survey revealed that in choosing companies to call among those represented in the Yellow Pages, several con-sumers said their decisions were based on (1) amount of informa- tion in the ads and its relevancy to their needs; (2) location of the firm. A good percentage of consumers say they look for the closest source of supply. The energy crisis may have some bearing on this aspect but sev- eral people said they simply feel more comfortable doing busi-ness with someone in the immediate area; (3) recognition of company name. If they've heard about you before, chances are greater they'll select you; (4) identification of any brand names and trademarks. Again, the average person is more com-fortable with products and trade-mark known to him. Here are some tips you might find useful in composing your ad: Ł Your coverage. "Entire City Servicing" is a phrase some use. It is important that you target the territory you are prepared to serve. Ł Longevity. "Over Half a Century of Satisfied Customers" suggests dependability, and Circle 127 on free information card COST CUTTINGS How to keep logo development costs down When creating a company logo, the lawn care business-man should hire a professional graphics designer who also produces the design. A combination graphic designer and producer will keep an eye on the dollars when asked for an idea. A graphics designer may just think of something pretty and develop a logo that would be too expensive, says Ralph Peck, president of Peck and Associates, a Cleveland-based advertising firm. He estimates the cost of developing a logo at between $100 and $300. "The design does not have to be anything elaborate, just use it constantly," he told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. He warns against using drawings given by Yellow Pages repre-sentatives. The drawings usually are not very good and look alike; they do not create an image that sets one company apart from another, he says (For more on Yellow Pages ad- vertising techniques, see story beginning on page one of this issue of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY). A company logo has a wide variety of uses. It can be dis-played on uniforms, vehicles, outdoor signs, Yellow Pages ads, television commercials, stationery, invoices and novelty items like matchbooks and pens. "The most important point is to use it over and over again. Repetition of the image, even if it is bad, is the key," Peck says. "All too often, companies develop a logo which they don't use completely," he says. "If you have a logo on the truck and another one on the invoices, then you have no image. Once you have done the work of getting a logo, it does not cost you anything else to use it." Š Mike Casey Should the firm name or the type of service you provide be stressed in the caption across the top portion of your ad in the Yellow Pages? One Kansas City lawn care businessman makes a strong case for emphasizing the type of lawn treatment ("Lawn Spraying" in this case) given in this prominent spot. dependability is a cherished ingredient among many home-owners when choosing a lawn care service. It helps establish professionalism to say "Estab-lished in 1930." Ł Major services furnished. This is a key. Make your main services stand out in the copy. For example: "Commercial, Residential, Seeding, Spraying, Planting, Sodding." Ł Highlight your firm name, address and telephone number in bold type. If you have toll-free numbers or additional phone numbers, include them. Make it as easy as possible for the pro-spective customer to reach you. Ł Special customer han-dling, features. This can involve a phrase like "No Contract Re-quired," or "Call for Quote and Free 7-Point Analysis," or "Call for Price Quote, No Obligation." Ł Connotations of unique-ness. "Especially Blended for the Special Conditions in this Area" illustrates this approach. Ł Opening hours. Pinpoint them or it may lose you calls. Ł Artwork for impact. It may pay you to have a skilled artist prepare a logo or other illus-Callers react more favorably to a pleasing feminine voice making the initial telephone contact, according to several lawn care businessmen polled recently. It is an element that figures prominently with them in realizing top potential from adver-tising in the Yellow Pages. trations for your ad. Attractive artwork helps establish an image of quality. You can duplicate the artwork, lettering face, borders, etc., used in other advertising. This can mean faster identifi-cation and adds recall value. Bill Frey, Frey & Frey Land-scaping, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., has used the same display ad for the past three years. It runs about 4 x 4V2 inches and costs him in the neighborhood of $2,-500 a year. It occupies a prime location at the top of the page of the 1,300-page city directory. He said he was motivated to invest in this size ad for two reasons. First, he has a sizable number of older customers and he felt that they could separate his ad from the others, read the telephone number easier and not confuse him with other outfits. Secondly, at the time he was gun-ning for more business. Now he has about all the busi-ness he can absorb, 95 percent of it is repeat, and he's considering cutting back from the larger dis-play ad to a bold-type insertion. "The Yellow Pages can be great for getting you off to a good start in the spring," Frey said. "For a few weeks in the spring we are swamped with calls. But the rest of the year our ad doesn't really drum up that much business. "Furthermore, we've graphed our business out and found we are running all the business we can with the number of trucks and employes we have," he ex-plained. "We wouldn't make any more profit if we added another truck and more employes." The Frey ad in the Yellow Pages is enlivened by the slogan "Making Kansas City Green for Three Generations" and a uni-que logo, the work of an artist. Jerry Murphy, at the Green Valley Company, Merriam, Kansas, calls his ad "a solid busi-ness producer." He runs about a 4 x 5-inch ad and is emphatic: The larger display ad is worth it in the business it generates. He says a good 20 percent of his new accounts spin off his ad. People who phoned are immediately sent a handsome brochure which details the services offered. The caption at the top of his ad departs from most of the others. Instead of splashing the name of the firm at the top, the ad has "LAWN SPRAYING" in big type. "It's more meaning-ful," he said, "to stress what you do than to run your name big." The artwork in his ad also details the spraying service. It shows a spray vehicle with spraying equipment and a man in the process of spraying a yard. The ad leaves no question in tele-phone book users' minds: This outfit sprays yards." Jimmy Debo, Home Lawn & Shrub Maintenance, Kansas City, says he will pull out his 2 x 2-inch display ad shortly. Reason: It costs him $168 a month and doesn't pay for itself in the calls it pulls. He's switching to more advertising in shopper newspapers. They get him busi-ness, he says, but they also create a problem of collection. "The Yellow Pages attract business in higher-income brackets than shopper news-paper advertising," relates Debo. "The customers I've got from the shopper papers have more diffi-culty paying bills." Donald Greenfield, Lawns by Greenfield, Kansas City, Kan., estimates his two-inch square boxed ad draws a dozen calls monthly. "It's worth the tab, he says, "in all the snow pushing business it gets me in the winter. When we get a big snow I'm swamped with calls." He doesn't doubt the value of his ad, report-ing that it attracts business from both industrial and residential people. One of the items he men-tioned in his ad is "verti-cutting" and he says people ask about this service when they call. It is basic after investing money in Yellow Pages advertis-ing that calls should be an-swered promptly, courteously and intelligently. It is useful to have any reference tools Š cata-logs, price lists, etc., Š handy to the phone. A baker's dozen of lawn care owners phoned had this recom- mendation: Have a girl make the initial contact with callers. It's sound public relations. People naturally react favorably to a friendly, pleasing feminine voice coming on first. Most good golf courses, parks and home lawns have something in common - FINE LEAFED FESCUE Oregon Fine Fescue - thrives in shady areas, does well in dry spells, germinates fast and blends well. Its straight-growing habit holds the grass up for even mowing* and Oregon grown Red Fescue even creeps to cover the spots left when other grasses fail. Lets get down to grass facts! Average business increase 25% 1976 vs. 1975. More than 8,000 businesses have emerged Š almost over night Š to serve the wants and needs of the 45 million home owners in the residential turf and ornamental market. Last year these businesses served over 4 million accounts, produced $1.25 billion in receipts and a 25% growth. These facts make it clear that chemical lawn care and maintenance services are booming businesses today... and have just scratched the surface of the huge residential market. If you've been trying to sell this emerging service industry, we don't have to tell you how difficult it's been to reach. Now at last there is a magazine that delivers this exclusive audience. Now for the first time you can communicate with this growth market. Now you can match your message to the market. L4WN GIRE INDUSTRY A Harvest business publication. lawn care...the growingest market. PRODUCTS New-design lawn rake The "Smoothie" lawn rake from Henderson Enterprises sweeps leaves faster, cleaner and ) r smoother than any other rake on the market, even the finest leaves and materials that stick to the lawn, the company said. The rake does not scratch or rough up turf when raking leaves or debris from newly planted areas. Two weights are available: .50 gauge for heavy work at $5.98 and .40 gauge for light work at $5.29. Circle 200 on free information card Walk-behind rotaries Ford Motor Co.'s Tractor Opera-tions has introduced three new walk-behind mowers for lawn maintenance. The units will be available in a self-propelled rear bagger and push- and self-propelled mulchers. Further information is available. Circle 201 on free information card Line trimmer designed for commercial use Designed for commercial use, Weed Eater, Inc.'s new model 707 is a lightweight, heavy-duty monofilament line trimmer. The gas-powered unit trims, edges, mows, sweeps and scalps to give your customer lawns a clean, professional look. The unit weighs just over 17 pounds and has an adjustable shoulder harness for even weight distribution. Circle 202 on free information card High pressure washer The jet-A-Way Corp. is manu-facturing a hot/high pressure washer. The Model 1200 dis-charges 360 GHP at 1,200 PSI up to 210°F. It has a generator, gas-oline engine, stainless steel dis-charge pump and an electric clutch. Circle 203 on free information card Electric cord trimmer HMC, manufacturers of The Green Machine gas-powered nylon-cord trimmers and brush cutters, has introduced a new line of electric cord trimmers. The motors are pre-tilted within the motor housings to the ideal trimming position. The mid-handle is tilted back to receive the operator's hand without re-quiring extreme bending at the waist. These features are incor-porated in both model 1200 Š in the $50 price range Š and model 1500 Š in the $60 price range. Circle 204 on free information card Tips on right skid-steer loader Sperry New Holland is offering a 20-page booklet to help pick the right skid-steer loaders. The book includes a glossary of words and terms. Circle 205 on free information card Know computers A booklet on matching small business computers to company needs is being offered by the Digital Equipment Corp. Circle 206 on free information card Blades, monofilament combined in trimmer The Pro 800 is designed for lawn care jobs requiring blades and above the pickup bed and pro-vide inside clearance of 40 and 48 inches over the pickup bed floor. The cap's options include fixed side windows, sliding front windows, crank-operated and screened side windows, slide-away rear door, and roof-mounted ladder rack. Circle 208 on free information card Riding rotary mower The Jacobsen Manufacturing Co. is marketing a riding rotary monofilament. The mono-filament is used for edging, scalping and other ground-engaging operations. For brush cutting and pruning, there are a variety of sawblades. The unit weighs 13V2 pounds and has a 1-pound gas tank for an hour's cut-ting time. It is made by Advanced Engine Products, Inc. Circle 207 on free information card Pickup truck caps The Reading Body Works, Inc., manufactures two cap models to enclose a pickup truck's bed. The models extend 23 and 31 inches mower with an out front cutter deck that mows a 72-inch swath. The mower, with rear-wheel steering, has either a 19.9 hp air-cooled engine or a 25.5 hp four-cylinder, water-cooled engine. Circle 209 on free information card Turf irrigation manual The Third Edition Turf Irriga-tion Manual by James A. Watkins is available from Telsco In-dustries. The manual provides 350 pages of material. Circle 210 on free information card Crown -Your Herbicide Center Crown Chemicals carries a full line of Velsicol "specialist" herbicides for virtually any lawn care problem. Banvel® herbicides for broadleaf weed controlŠthe unique 2-way absorption through leaves and roots gives excellent control of many problem lawn pests. These 1-application herbicides come in economical pre-mixed formulations for easy use. Available in 6x1 gal. polyethylene jugs and 5 gallon drums. The ideal herbicide for most common turf weeds. Crown also stocks the new Prove!" lawn and turf herbicide. This formulation contains a lower dicamba and 2,4-D content for use in single or multi applications to provide broad spectrum weed control, less risk to ornamental shrubs. It also provides a more economical application averaging less than 16$ per 1,000 square feet per application. Provel is packaged 6x1 gallon polyethylene jugs per case, 2x2^ gallon cans per case, and in 30 gallon drums. Provel is effective against over two dozen lawn and turf weeds, including chickweed, knotweed, dandelions, plantain, clover and English daisy. In addition to the above, Crown also carries a full line of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and application equipment. Call today, toll-free, for our latest price list and catalog. Circle 126 on free information card Crown ChemicalsŠ Your St. Louis based source for Velsicol herbicides crown chemicals 4235 Duncan Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 Phone-1-800-325-3316 TOLL-FREE PRODUCTS New Kohler engine Narrow washer The Walsh Manufacturing Co. Trimatic High Pressure Washer is 8 inches narrower for in-creased maneuverability and easier storage. It is 20 inches wide with a 1 HP motor, a 3 GPM pump, which develops 500 PSI at the pump head through a 3/s-inch pulsation hose. Circle 211 on free information card Give callers on hold a company message A telephone answering unit, which allows callers to give a short tape-recorded message while on hold, is made by Remco International. It also can tell callers on hold about store hours, sales, special events or premium offers. The unit is called the Tele-Message Series 2000. Circle 212 on free information card Easy-to-mount front end loader The new Bush Hog SL-70 will fit most tractors with at least 65 hp and can be mounted by a man in under four minutes after original installation, according to its manufacturer. It has 3,500 pounds lifting power and 5,000 pounds breakaway strength. Circle 230 on free information card Kohler Co.'s newest engine is a 16 horsepower, two-cylinder, horizontal-shaft model K422. It is of opposed cylinder design and combines the weight saving of an aluminum crankcase with the durability of cast iron cylinder barrels, crankshaft and cam-shaft. Circle 213 on free information card New mower offers cushioned comfort grip The Bolens rear-bagging mower, introduced by the FMC Corp. delivers a 21-inch cut and is powered by a 3V2 hp engine. It features folding handles with adjustable and floating height positions, easy click-lock height adjustors on each wheel, cushioned comfort grip and handle-mounted throttle control. Circle 214 on free information card Pop-up sprinkler to avoid side splash Rain Bird, Glendora, Calif., is making a pop-up sprinkler with an arm to eliminate side splash. The model 15105C also offers an arm hood to prevent debris from entering the arm bearing and trip mechanism splines. The sprinklers are capable of full or part-circle coverage of 20 degrees to 340 degrees. Circle 215 on free information card Many lawn diseases controlled by fungicide A detailed brochure on Acti-Dione Thiram lawn fungicide is available from TUCO Division of The Upjohn Co. It is a broad-spectrum fungicide designed for prevention and control of most common turf fungus diseases, in- cluding dollar spot, fading-out, gray leaf spot, Helminthospor-ium leaf spot, large brown patch, melting-out, pink patch, pow- dery mildew, rust and snow mold. Circle 216 on free information card Chemical spreader The Pro Wheelie, made by Wheel Spray Co., Inc., spreads li-quid chemicals without gas-oline, batteries, cords or water hoses. Pushing activates the ground-driven pumping system. The WS-470 model distributes li-quid weed killers, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers. Circle 217 on free information card A new Powerake A centrifugal clutch for easier starting and operator safety has been added to the F. D. Kees Manufacturing Co.'s Powerake. The new model 100528 includes these new features a single-action height adjustment, a dual filter air cleaner and an impro-ved heavy-duty wheel with grease fittings. The model has a 5 hp engine. Circle 218 on free information card Flexible-line trimmer The new trimmer from Garden Pro, Inc. weighs just five pounds. I. GARDEN PRO SPINTRIN Model JT103 / 1 & It features a V2 horsepower, 3.8-amp motor for powerful cutting. New cut-off blade trims flexible plasticized resin cutting line automatically. Fl filter system keeps motor clean. Circle 219 on free information card Utility vehicle The Promark Products Corp., is making a three-wheel, multi-purpose utility vehicle. The Quarter Horse, with engines by Kohler, carrys up to 1,000 pounds and seats two persons. Circle 220 on free information card A 25-hp tractor Satoh has introduced a 25-hp, diesel-powered tractor with two-Ł 1 wheel or four-wheel drive. The Bull has a two-cylinder, water-cooled, four-cycle, overhead-valve engine, which delivers maximum horsepower at 2,500 rpm. It is made by the Satoh Agricultural Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd. Circle 221 on free information card Rear-bagging mowers have maneuverability The 18-inch rear-bagger from the Toro Co. is ideal for your smaller customer lawns where plantings and low-hanging trees make peak maneuverability important. It's suggested retail price is about $215, the company said. The unit weighs in at 50 pounds, which makes it easier for long operator days in the busy part of the lawn care season. A quick-change lever on each wheel adjusts cut-ting height to any of five posi-tions, from V2-inch through three inches. Power is provided by a 3.5-horsepower four-cycle engine. The bagging unit holds 2V2 bushels and takes only seconds to detach, empty and replace. There are four other models in Toro's Rear-Bagger line, all with a 21-inch cutting swath. Prices range from about $240 to about $370. Circle 222 on free information card 26-horse tractor with 72-inch mower Gravely has announced intro-duction of a new 26-horsepower maintenance tractor. It offers features such as: all-gear, eight-speed transmission; instant for-ward reverse; power steering; individual wheel brakes; and three-valve hydraulic system. With its optional 72-inch, center mount rotary mower and 50-inch wing deck, the unit cuts almost a 10-foot swath, with a 360° turning circle, leaving no uncut grass in the circle, and trimming capabilities within one inch of Pelletized Profit? Now, big limestone & gypsum profits in a virtually dust-free pel let form. Ł Opens up a whole new market segment for your lawn care business. without the mess of dusty, uncontrolled spreader applications. Ł Economical, yet highly profitable. Ł Works with any type spreader, including broad-cast. Ł Lets you increase customer service plus decrease your fertilizer costs. Ł Ideal for slack periods because REVEILLE can be applied practically year 'round. Available in bag or bulk, both REVEILLE Limestone and Gypsum fit perfectly into liquid or dry lawn care operations. LIMESTONE & GYPSUM PELLETS American Pelletizmg Corp Ł P O Box 3628 Ł Des Moines. Iowa 50322 obstacles. The company said an operator can mow as much as 33 acres in a standard, eight-hour day. Circle 223 on free information card Self-propelled mower The Yard-Man Co., introduced its Model 12304 self-propelled, rear drive, rear discharge rotary mower. The four h.p. gasoline engine gives a 20-inch cut. Cut- ting heights can be adjusted from 1 to 3V2 inches. Circle 224 on free information card New all-aluminum hydradump trailer A free, four-color brochure on the new complete line of self-contained hydraulic dump and utility trailers is available from OME, Inc. Twin cylinders are operated by the unit's own 12-volt hydraulic power system. Circle 225 on free information card 19V2-horse tractor with hydrostatic drive The model 720 from Allis-Chalmers Corp. has the power and versatility to perform a multitude of jobs, from light in-dustrial to large lawn care. Engine rpm's, horsepower needs and ground speed are matched through the hydrostatic drive system, which connects a three-speed transmission. Front and rear PTO's are standard equip- ment for the variety of imple- ments including mowers, tiller, plow, cultivator, loader, snow-thrower, towing hitch and other accessories. Circle 226 on free information card Dual tank with three-point sprayer The dual tank three-point sprayers are designed to fit any category two or three-point hitch and most quick hitch. The 360- and 500-gallon sprayers are equipped with full length Vs-inch sprayer tube and are available with 28, 35, 40 and 47-foot double folding booms. They are made by Ag-Chem Equipment Co. Circle 227 on free information card 12-horse tractor with attachments Expansion of its Landlord line of tractors with a 12-horsepower hydrostatic drive unit has been announced by Simplicity Manu- facturing Co. According to the company, the drive provides ins- tant forward and reverse with-out braking or clutching. Attach-ment options include 42-inch and 48-inch rotary mowers, 42-inch and 46-inch dozer blades, 42-inch grader blade, 1,000-pound dump cart, 26-bushel vacuum collector, a 36-inch or 42-inch snow thrower and a snow cab. Circle 228 on free information card 18-horse tractor Topping Massey-Ferguson's new line of six lawn care tractors is the 18-horsepower MF 1855, featuring an infinitely variable hydrostatic transmission. Powered by a two-cylinder, 48-cubic inch engine, it is compati-ble with a wide range of lawn, snow and utility implements. Front PTO and electric start are standard. Circle 229 on free information card CLASSIFIED When answering ads where box number only is given, please address as follows: Box number, c/o LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, Dorothy Lowe, Box 6951 Cleveland, Ohio 44101. Rates: 35c a word for line ads, 65c a word for display ads. Box numbers add $1 for mailing. All classified ads must be received by the publisher before the 10th of the month preceding publication and education in Agronomy or Turf, ability to deal witn public, and some field experience. Salary and be accompanied by cash or money order covering full payment. Mail aa copy to Dorothy Lowe LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, Box 6951, Cleveland, Ohio 44101. HELP WANTED SERVICE SUPERVISORS. Rapidly growing liquid lawn care company, with offices in Chicago and In-dianapolis, seeks qualified in-dividuals for supervisory positions in both cities. Requirements include benefits commensurate with your abilities. For a challenge and a future send resume to: Lawn Care, P.O. 15, Lombard, 111. 60148. WANTED TO BUY WANTED: used hydro mulcher, trailer mounted, 300 to 800 gallon capacity. 313 743-7736. WANT TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD IN LAWN CARE INDUSTRY? Write: Dorothy Lowe LAWN CARE INDUSTRY BOX 6951 Cleveland, OH 44101 We standout like a green thumb. Because we're the only magazine to reach the entire residential lawn care service industry. This is a growth market of 8,000 companies selling chemical lawn care and maintenance services to the 45 million home owner/ residential turf market in the U.S. A market with a 25% growth last year. And $1.25 billion in sales. And we hit the top management. Stand out in the one magazine covering the fastest growing service industry in North America. Join us. Contact: Steve Stone Nat'I. Ad Director 757 Third Avenue New York, New York 10017 (212) 421-1350 A Harvest Business Publication. Subsidiary of Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, Inc. WWN GIRE INDUSTRY BEHIND THIS ISSUE It was a year ago this month that LAWN CARE INDUSTRY was born as a special 48-page supplement to our sister magazine WEEDS TREES & TURF. That supplement carried portions of our market research data on the industry, articles by people like Dr. Robert W. Miller, vice president of ChemLawn Corp.; Dr. Roger C. Funk, director of research for Davey Lawnscape on developing a good chemical pro-gram; Milliard C. Daily, president of Liqui-Green Corp. on building a lawn care business, and more. The supplement was the final test before the beginning of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY in the news tabloid format that you have in your hands today. Based on the favorable response we received from the supplement, we decided to go ahead with publication in July of last year. We put out three bi-monthly issues and then in January we went monthly. And perhaps it is appropriate that as the lawn care season this month gets into full swing in all parts of the country, we are celebrating our biggest issue to date Š 44 tabloid pages. We are of course pleased. But you should be too, because it is a tribute to you as an industry that companies like the ones listed below are taking note of your needs and designing products specifically for the future of your business. And what a future it is going to be. ^ ADVERTISERS INDEX Adelphi Kentucky Bluegrass 29 American Pelletizing Corp 41 Champion Brass Mfg. Co 32 Ciba-Geigy Corp 22-23 Crown Chemicals 39 Diamond Shamrock Corp 14-15 DuPont Co 18-19 Essco Mfg. Co 12 Finn Equipment Co 13 Hahn, Inc 12 Hanson Equipment Co 36 Hercules, Inc 16 Hopkins Agricultural Chemical Co 32 Jacklin Seed 10, 35 Jacobsen Mfg. Co 44 Kubota Tractor Corp 4, 5 Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co 21 Monsanto Agricultural Products 17 Oregon Fescue Commission 37 PBI-Gordon Corp 30-31 B. G. Pratt 6 O. M. Scott & Sons 7 Sensation Corp 20 Sierra Chemical Co 11 Swift Agricultural Chemicals Corp 42, 43 Toro Co 8, 9 U.S. Gypsum 33 Velsicol Chemical Corp 3 11211 IPROFESSIOI distributors PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Capitol Nursery Supply, Inc. Phoenix, Arizona 85005 602/272-5508 Swift Agricultural Chemicals Corp. Los Angeles, California 90023 213/264-5800 Foster-Gardner, Inc. Coachella, California 92236 714/398-6151 Foster-Gardner, Inc. Anaheim, California 92801 714/761-2521 Agri-Turf Supplies Santa Barbara, California 93101 805/963-3691 Abete-A-Weed Bakersfield, California 93308 805/589-0615 Robinson Fertilizer Company Orange, California 92666 714/538-3575 Wilbur-Ellis Company Chula Vista, California 92012 714/422-5321 Caceres Chemical Company Los Angeles, California 90046 213/876-1460 Moyer Chemical Company San Jose, California 95108 408/297-8088 Moyer Chemical Company Santa Ana, California 92707 714/549-2871 Agri-Chem, Inc. Ft. Lupton, Colorado 80621 303/288-4281 Avon Cider Mill Avon, Connecticut 06001 203/677-0343 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Winter Haven, Florida 33880 813/293-3147 McMullen Feed Store Clearwater, Florida 33516 813/446-5961 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 305/772-5550 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Atlanta, Georgia 30304 404/955-0774 Lawn & Turf, Inc. Conyers, Georgia 30207 404/483-4743 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. East St. Louis, Illinois 62201 618/271-5650 Turf Products, Ltd. West Chicago, Illinois 60185 312/668-5537 Turf Management Supply Company Rockton, Illinois 61072 815/624-7578 Paarlburg Chemical Company South Holland, Illinois 60473 312/474-3086 Olsen Distributing Company Barrington, Illinois 60010 312/381-9333 Professional Turf SpeciaKies Bloomington, Illinois 61701 309/829-5031 Indiana Seed Company, Inc. Noblesville, Indiana 46060 317/773-5813 Deisch-Benham, Inc. D/B/A Desco Chemical Nappanee, Indiana 46550 219/773-7781 Chemi-Trol Chemical Company Indianapolis, Indiana 46225 317/634-7963 Seedkem, Inc. Evansville, Indiana 47708 812/424-2401 Tri-State Toro Company Davenport, Iowa 52802 319/326-4416 Leisur-Aid A Division of Aidex Corp. Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712/336-2441 Toro Service Center Des Moines, Iowa 50318 515/243-0498 Big Bear Equipment Company West Des Moines, Iowa 50318 515/243-1271 Champion Turf Equipment, Inc. Wichita, Kansas 67209 316/943-0283 Rhodes Chemical Co. Kansas City, Kansas 66103 913/432-2424 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 301/760-5927 Cornell Chemical & Equipment Co, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland 21227 301/247-1525 Vaughan's Seed Company Div. of Vauahan - Jacklin Corp. Landover, Maryland 20785 301/322-8800 R.F. Morse & Son Company Wareham, Massachusetts 02571 617/295-1553 L. & E. Chemical, Inc. Div. of Lawn Equipment Corp. Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 313/398/3636 J.J. Dill Company Kalamazoo, Michigan 49005 616/349-7755 Turf Supply Company St. Paul, Minnesota 55121 612/454-3106 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Jackson, Mississippi 39205 601/366-4401 Champion Turf Equipment Inc. Kansas City, Missouri 64114 816/333-8000 Champion Turf Equipment, Inc. Springfield, Missouri 65803 417/869-2551 Professional Turf SpeciaKies St. Louis, Missouri 63155 314/225-7515 Big Bear Equipment, Inc. Omaha, Nebraska 68137 402/331-0200 Rhodes Chemical Company Lincoln, Nebraska 68507 402/466-8156 Clark County Wholesale Mercantile Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 702/382-7700 The Terre Company Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07662 201/843-6655 Vaughan's Seed Company Div. of Vaughan - Jacklin Corp. Bound Brook, New Jersey 08805 201/356-4200 Wagner Seed Company, Inc. Farmingdale, New York 11735 516/293-2920 Eastern Turf Equipment Inc. Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301 919/483-0179 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 919/371-2216 Sidney L. Dryfoos Company Cleveland, Ohio 44146 216/439-4363 Van Atta Seed & Imp. Company Cincinnati, Ohio 45225 513/541-2051 C.O. Lowe Sales Columbus, Ohio 43229 614/891-9668 Lee Road Nursery, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio 44101 216/561-3786 Larry's Garden Center, Inc. Maple Heights, Ohio 44137 216/662-3884 Binding Stevens Seed Co. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918/627-4480 Lawn & Golf Supply Co., Inc. Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460 215/933-5801 Allen's Seed Store, Inc. Slocum, Rhode Island 02877 401/294-2722 Bell Oil Company No. Myrtle Beach, So. Carolina 29582 803/249-261" 516 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Columbia, South Carolina 29250 803/254-5189 Central South Turf Distributor, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee 37211 615/832-7725 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Houston, Texas 77002 712/682-6217 Turf & Garden Division of Todd Farm Equipment, Inc. Chesapeake, Virginia 23320 804/543-2071 Swift AgricuKural Chemicals Corp. Vancouver, Washington 98660 206/696-3321 Turf Management Supply Company Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590 608/837-5598 Reinders Brothers Inc. Elm Grove, Wisconsin 53122 414/786-3300 i P jiiiFi The Professional's Choice Every customer wants the very best fertilizers for their lawn. Why? Because today everyone is green conscious. With IBDU and PAR EX fertilizers, you can provide the most complete, balanced nutrition available for turf and ornamentals. Month after month, IBDU and PAR EX fertil-izers release just enough nutrients to keep turf and ornamentals green and hardy. IBDU, un-like all other slow release nitrogens, is acti-vated by soil moisture, not soil bacteria. It releases at an even, steady rate that can't be hurried or slowed by extremes in temperature. Precision mixed with other nutrients, gives you the best balanced fertilizer available today. Start your customers out with a nutrition program that includes IBDU and PAR EX fer-tilizers. Your customers will like the results. And you'll like the added green. Contact your PAR EX distributor or call us, 813/299-5010. Łtill ŁPROFESSIO PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Swift Agricultural Chemicals Corporation Winter Haven, Florida 33880 The revolutionary HF-15. What happens when you combine the advantages of the Jacobsen F-10 mowing tractor with the advantages of hydraulically driven reels? You get seven reels that can cut turf beautifully even while it s raining. Constant reel speed is maintained hydraulically. This means you can cut to your schedule instead of the weathers. Two cutting frequencies-easily selected at front of unit The same reels can now cut formal and rough turf areas. You also get increased versatility. The hydraulically driven reels will give you a beautiful cut on formal turf areas as well as rough areas where Blitzer units would be used. With the HF-15, you simply change the cutting frequency instead of changing reels. You also get the mowing job done faster because mowing speed is increased. And from the driver s seat, the operator can raise and lower reels in several combinations, and put them into forward or reverse. Reverse can be used to quickly unclog reels from branches, rocks and grass clippings. Plus, we use wheels instead of skids or rollers to support the reels. Just to reduce scalping on sharp ground countours. And, our exclusive tension springs put even pressure on height adjustment rollers for smoother cutting. . tfl More good news. Reels can be easily backlapped without being removed or disassembled. Its all in one complete mowing system. The amazing HF-15. Get more details from your Jacobsen distributor. The HF-15 is a complete mowing system that combines the time-tested Jacobsen F-10 mowing tractor and Fairway gang unit. Plus many new features. de* Jacobsen Manufacturing Company Racine. Wisconsin 53403 BEARD coLiicnoh An Allegheny Ludlum Industries Company 44 LAWN CARE INDUSTRY MAR 1978 Circle 120 on free information card