Avoid making a mountain out of the maligned mole The much-maligned mole does not really munch the roots or bulbs of plants, but it may damage them when tunnel-ing through the soil in search of grubs and earth-worms. If turf managers see mole tunnels and find plants dis-appearing, "they should suspect field mice or voles," says Bob Hochmuth, a former University of De-
leware extension agri-cultural agent who now 
works at the University of Florida. "These rodents will use mole tunnels for protection and as avenues to food sup-plies,he explains. "Because moles eat in-sect pestsŠincluding Jap-anese beetle larvaeŠthey can be beneficial," he points out. "A mole has a tremen-dous appetite and can con-
sume nearly half its own 
weight in food daily." The common mole, which is the most wide-spread species in the east-ern United States, is a See MOLES Page 19 WWN ORE INDUSTRY Serving commercial mowing and chemical lawn care professionals VOLUME 13 NUMBER 9 1UZ1L1 I PUBLICATION SEPTEMBER 1989 Patio project: Lawn Care Associates, Inc. of Ludlow, Mass. completed this job in Somers, Conn, at a 110-year-old home overlooking the Wilbraham Mountains. LCA started doing this type of work in 1984. MOSS The growth cycle for moss begins in the fall; controls are available. 10 TODAY'S TORF Set up a complete fertilization program for your business by 4ft using expert advice. I £ CLASSIFIED See what's for sale, A ft miscellaneous items. £ D Extra income generated via walkways, patios BY JAMES E. GUYETTE Editor Creating and repairing walkways and patios can be a viable alter-native for turf managers seek-ing to diversify their operations, but some concrete 
answers are needed before 
going out and hitting the bricks. One major question is figur-ing out the investment re-quired to obtain the necessary equipment. w * * MAHITU * to ,V f. y%Š: r lJ 1 b rT 48 e 93 157 30486132 10 PEXE l^H-HitlAH IB^Y 1 TKJpr, pT| r 3D(j HTCHIGAN ST4TE (JA^T I AMCTM7 UNI V MJL 4337^1 W ' "Obviously the cost is going to be a lot higher than a fertil-ization program," says Steve Koeninger, chief executive of-ficer at Lawn Care Associates, Inc. in Ludlow, Mass. His company has made a successful transition, with 
brickwork amounting to 25 percent of its jobs. "Ten years ago all I did was mowing," Koeninger recalls. In late 1984 LCA first started doing brick walkways with a 
$2,000 investment. Just recently the company reached a culmination of its efforts when it completed a 
$76,000 pool patio renovation job. A six-man crew did it in two-and-a-half weeks. The work involved the re-moval of an existing concrete patio area and replacing it See BRICKS Page 9 The green, green grass of home! Local turf varieties may become reality BY JAMES E. GUYETTE Editor Is it possible to have a grass that is developed for a specific area? A number of turf breeders are con-vinced that regional vari-
eties will be on the market 
within a few years. "I contend, along with other turf scientists, that 
variety development will be-
come target oriented," says Dr. Craig Edminster, direc-tor of research at Interna-
tional Seeds, Inc. in Halsey, Ore. "The lawn care industry continues to grow in product 
awareness," he adds. "Variety 
selection ultimately will be 
based on performance objec-
tives outlined by consumers 
and lawn care professionals in 
a given region." Edminster compares the situation to corn Š where 
there are many varieties, some 
with very subtle genetic dif-ferences. Some hybrids are so fine-tuned that they are planted in just a two-county area. The turf industry is not likely to get that fine-tuned, but look for more focused vari-
eties. "Within five years we'll have regional varieties like that," says Dr. Jerry Pepin of Pickseed West, Inc. in Tan-gent, Ore. Bluegrass may be a prime candidate. "We still have our big collection of bluegrass that 
we are working with," says Pepin. "A lot of the cost is al-ready built in. Most of the crossing and research has al-ready taken place." Similar varieties ear-See VARIETY Page 7 wm\ LATE NEWS Tru Green buying competitors ATLANTA, GA.ŠTru Green Corp. has purchased four Evergreen branches for an undisclosed sum. The purchased operations are in Philadelphia, Pa., Virginia Beach, Va., Columbus, Ohio and Atlanta. Tru Green will consolidate the Evergreen facilities and customer lists with its own, says Joseph L. Winland, Tru Greeks vice president of support. 4'Any identification with Evergreen will be eliminated," he explains. The purchases were a particularly prudent venture because Tru Green already has branches 
competing in each of the cities involved, Winland says. "It made good business sense," he adds. Tru Green, which is based in Atlanta, is "trying to preserve and maintain" the jobs of the Evergreen employees involved in the acquisition, 
according to Winland. LCI Ryan brings quality aeration from golf greens to green lawns. Make more money by the yard. Because time is money, the Lawnaire 28 is designed to cover big jobs quickly Š up to 24,000 sq. ft. per hour. But because not every job is big, it's also compact and maneuverable. Just 34 inches wide, the Lawnaire 28 easily fits through yard gates. The unique 
tricycle front wheel gives the unit a zero turning radius while aerating! Even the tightest spots are no 
problem. And because it's a Ryan, you can rest assured that the Lawnaire 28 will keep you on the job and out of the repair shop for years to come. Check out Ryan's reliability in your own backyard. Contact your Ryan dealer and ask for a free demonstration today. Or call toll free: 1-800-228-4444. RYAN Introducing the new Ryan Lawnaire® 28. The revolutionary Lawnaire 28 combines the technology and preci-sion of golf course aeration with the demands of lawn maintenance. Its reciprocating, crank mounted tine arms feature a vertical coring ac-tion similar to larger Ryan aera-tors. Tines penetrate straight in to a depth of ZYz inches, and come straight out. The results are a more professional-looking job, better root development, greener lawns, and more satisfied customers. BUILT TO LAST A CUSHMAN Product Group 6523 Ryan, P.O. Box 82409, Lincoln, NE 68501 © Outboard Marine Corporation, 1988. All rights reserved. WWN OIREINDUSTR/ JAMES E. GUYETTE Editor ROBERT EARLEY Group Vice President JERRY ROCHE Executive Editor CAROL HIMANGO Production Manager ROSY BRADLEY Production Supervisor BRYAN VOLLMAN Graphic Design JOAN SCHUMACHER Circulation Supervisor GAIL PARENTEAU Reader Service Manager THEODORE C. MATHEWS Promotion Director JOHN PRESSELLO Graphics Manager MARKETING/SALES Midwest Office: JON MIDUCKI (216) 243-8100 ext 422 FAX (216) 826-2832 National Sales Manager 7500 Old Oak Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44130 MARSHA DOVER (216) 243-8100 FAX (216) 826-2832 Regional Sales Managers 7500 Old Oak Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44130 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 233-1817 FAX (404) 261-7022 3475 Lenox Road, N.E., Suite 665 Atlanta, GA 30326 Western Office: BOB MIEROW (206) 783-0549 FAX (206) 784-5545 1515 N.W. 51 Street Seattle, WA 98107 Classified DAWN NILSEN (218) 723-9349 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802 Please send advertising materials to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 120 W. Second St. Duluth, MN 55802 218-723-9192 EOGELL COMMUNICATIONS. INC PUBLICATIONS ROBERT L. EOGELL, Chairman RICHARD MOELLER, President LARS FLADMARK, Executive V. Pres 
ARLAND HIRMAN, Vice Pres./Treasurer THOMAS GREHEY, Senior V. Pres. EZRA PINCUS, Senior Vice President 
JOE BILDERBACH, Vice President 
JAMES GHERHA, Vice President GEORGE GLENN, Vice President 
HARRY RAMALEY, Vice President LCI ADVISORY COUNCIL iE MARTY ERBAUGH Erbaugh Corp. Peninsula. OH RON KUJAWA KEI Enterprises 
Cudahy. Wl A. J. POWELL U. of Kentucky Lexington. KY JACK ROBERTSON Robertson Lawn Care Springfield, IL LAWN CARE INDUSTRY (ISSN 0160-6042) is published monthly by Edgell Communica-tions. Inc. Corporate and Editorial offices: 7500 Old Oak Boulevard. Cleveland, Ohio 
44130. Advertising Offices: 7500 Old Oak Boulevard. Cleveland, Ohio 44130, 111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601 and 3475 Lenox Road. N.E. Suite 665 Atlanta. 
Georgia 30326. Accounting, Advertising Pro-duction and Circulation offices: 1 East First Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802. Subscrip-tion rates: $25 per year in the United States: $50 per year in Canada. All other countries: 
$100 per year. Current issue single copies 
(pre-paid only): $2.50 in the U S ; $5.00 in Canada; elsewhere $10.; add $3.50 for ship-ping and handling per order. Back issues, if 
available $10; add $3.50 per order for ship-ping and handling (pre-paid orders only). Of-
fice of publication: Edgell Communications. Inc., 1 East First Street. Duluth, Minnesota 55802. Second class postage paid at Duluth, Minnesota 55806. Copyright © 1989 by 
Edgell Communications, Inc. All rights re-
served. No part of this publication may be 
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by 
any means, electronic or mechanical includ-ing photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without per-
mission in writing from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, P.O. Box 6200, Duluth, Minnesota 55806. AMP VBPA LAWN CARE INDUSTRY SEPTEMBER 1989 ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ MEMOS John Deere is putting 11 of its best safety films onto one 84-minute video. Mowers, tractors and other pieces of heavy equipment are featured. The 1/2-inch VHS videocassette is suitable for professionals and 
students. It can be ordered for $15 in the United States. For more information, contact Deere & Co. in East Moline, 111. 
Phone: (309) 765-2967. More from Deere: Its model 285 tractor has electronic fuel 
injection. Company engineers say it's the first time electronic fuel injection is being used instead of a carburetor on a lawn and garden tractor. They promise quick starts in cold weather. A briefing paper on the benefits provided by fertilizers is being distributed by The 
Fertilizer Institute. TFI says the document aims to provide "concise answers to the most frequently asked questions." The Washington, D.C.-based organization can be reached at (202) 675-8250. Big plans are ahead for the Indiana State Lawn Care 
Association. The organization's announcing its first annual conference and trade show Nov. 14-15. ISLCA Pres. Robert E. Andrews reports show will be at the 
Indiana State Fairgrounds in 
Indianapolis; he's proud of the Hoosiers' progress. Golden State LCOs can see more involvement on trade 
show circuit as AgFRESNO show, 
Nov. 8-12, will include entire 
green industry. The former all-ag show now invites LCOs, etc., with a focus on water and conservation 
issues. The event takes place at 
the Fresno Fairgrounds. LCI When you need color and turf density Š Glade. It does the job in sun and up to 60% shade. Widely accepted 
as the improved sun and shade 
bluegrass variety, Glade gives you 
confidence that your turf will perform beautifully Š excellent texture, pleasing 
green color, and offers improved 
disease resistance. For a healthy turf in sun or shade, insist on glade in every mix Š from your local wholesale seed distributor. Kentucky bluegrass Another fine, quality controlled product of Jacklin Seed Company U.S. Plant Patent 3151 Canada License No. 2133 UPFRONT I Charity, marketing combine for a big hit Combining a spring sales promotion with a desire to help a deserving charity has made a winner out of Phil Fogarty. For three years now, Phil, owner of Crowley Lawn Service, Inc. in Cleveland, has sponsored a baseball outing to see the beloved Cleveland Indians. This year he spent about $3,000 for 750 tickets to a July contest featuring the Tribe vs. the dreaded New York YankeesŠlong a crowd-pleasing rivalry. A good number of those tickets went to Phil's 
customers, who earned them 
by agreeing to prepay their contracts in the spring. Local landscapers who provide Phil with subcontracting work also were rewarded with a trip to 
the or ballpark. The remaining ducats, though, were applied toward 
the fight against cystic fibrosis. "It's the No. 1 genetic killer of young people in the country," says Phil, who JAMES E. GUYETTE EDITOR holds a personal grudge against the tragic ailment. Cystic fibrosis is a disease in which the body produces an abnormal amount of mucus that clogs the lungs and pancreas, interfering with breathing and digestion. About 30,000 people in the United States have the 
disease. It can cause stunted 
growth, liver and intestinal 
diseases, and clogged lungs.) As Crowley Lawn Service signs up customers in the 
spring, each client is offered a choice of two Indians tickets or a 5 percent discount if 
they prepay their contract. Most people pick the tix. 
Phil says he's even gotten cold calls from people asking: "Is this the company that has the Tribe tickets?" Crowley Lawn Service also Here, nature's constantly pulling out all the stops to make life difficult. In this neighborhood, turf doesn't survive on good looks alone. What makes you think you can handle a turf 
test this tough? non TOTAL TURF CARE A division of Lebanon Chemical Corporation sells tickets from the company headquarters, and the profits from those are used in the fight against cystic fibrosis. As Game Day approaches, extra tickets are distributed to others involved in the 
battle against the disease. During this year's contest, Phil got to see little of the big game. Instead he was busy 
sweating as he manned the "Speed Pitch" booth deep 
inside the stadium (pitching-proud fans compete against a radar gun). He was able to earn an extra $500 toward 
the CF fight. Actually, it was kinda lucky that Phil was below the deck. He was able to avoid 
seeing the sad spectacle 
taking place out on the field. The beloved Tribe clumsily fell 5-1 to the 
dreaded Yankees in a game 
that saw ace pitcher Greg Swindell go out with a potentially season-ending arm injury. Still, Phil's clients and friends felt good about themselves and the event as the game progressed. "People can make a family outing out of it," Phil 
explains, noting that his 
employees enjoy it, too. Especially Service Rep. Mike Byrne, who got to throw out the first pitch: "He got it over the plate." The Crowley Lawn Service name was displayed on the massive scoreboard, too. Phil guesses that over the last three years he's given away more than 2,500 seats at the ballpark, and he says it's worth every penny. "It's always a really fun night." And because he combines business with charity work, it attracts a diverse crowd of peopleŠpeople who might have never become aware of cystic fibrosis. The helping nature of the outing makes it far more of an event than just a business-oriented perk, and nobody feels any pressure. "It makes it easier to contribute." And Phil points out that the lawn care industry and its related operations does 
indeed generate a good mix of people. "We have a tremendous pool to draw from." Phil says there's little hard evidence that the baseball 
outings bring in more 
business for Crowley Lawn Service, but he finds this annual event extremely rewarding on a personal level. Phil's much too modest to say so, but an observer can't help but notice that Phil enjoys a high stature in the local communityŠa factor that advertising campaigns 
and marketing promotions just can't buy.. .at any price. the Reader Service numbers of those items of interest to you. GET MORE COVER STORY VARIETY from Page 1 marked for use in similar cli-mates can be developed at the same time to save money, Pepin notes. "A lot of the work needed to get a variety (to the market) can be expanded to three or four varieties. You'll be work-ing parallel with other prod-ucts." For example, a grass that does well in a coastal region can also do well in high eleva-tions with warm days and cool nights, according to Dr. Eliot C. Roberts, director of the 
Lawn Institute in Pleasant Hill, Tenn. "Breeding specifically for small markets is difficult to justify economically," notes Eric K. Nelson, director of turf 
research at Northrup King. 
"However, in the course of breeding for broad environ-mental adaptation there will be some turfgrasses which per-form well only on a small geo-graphic or climatological 
scale." Nelson adds that "con-sumer demand and market 
size will determine whether a company can recoup an in-
vestment in producing, con-
ditioning, bagging, shipping, 
advertising and selling at higher prices and profit mar-gins on grasses adapted to 
these small niches." Developing a variety costs big bucks, and a new develop-ment usually gets the heave-
ho if it is not likely to have wide appeal. Varieties that were placed on the shelf in the past because 
they lacked a large enough market potential could be re-vived and targeted to a smaller 
area. "You may find one that works good in California but 
doesn't on the East CoastŠ but it wouldn't matter because you'd only be using it in Cal-See VARIETY Page 8 New Jersey waiving insurance TRENTON, N.J.ŠBecause of the expense and unavailability of pollution insurance coverage, New Jersey authori-ties are waiving insurance re-quirements for the time being. "We're just putting it tem-porarily on hold until we study it," said Ray Ferrarin, assis-tant director of pesticide con-trol programs at the Depart-ment of Environmental Pro-tection. It is not known when the study of the insurance issue will be complete, but Ferrarin said the insurance will eventually be required. "If anyone has insurance we suggest that you keep it," he said. LCI Grace joins with Sierra MILPITAS, CALIF. W.R. Grace has merged with the Si-erra Chemical Co. The new firm will be known as Grace/ 
Sierra Horticultural Products. The product line will be ex-panded, according to Peter Horner, director of marketing. "We're going to be able to do a lot more," said Horner. "Every day we learn more that we can do." Grace/Sierra will offer a line of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and soil 
mixes. W.R. Grace has owned 28 percent of Sierra for a number of years. Grace owns 49 per-cent of the new firm, and the other 51 percent is owned by outside investors, according to Horner. LCI Questions about Pesticides? Call 1-800-858-7378 National Pesticide Telecommunications Network Milorganite America's Number One Natural Organic Fertiliser Ł Many of the finest parks and grounds in America are fertilized with Milorganite. Ł Non:buming, cost-effective, turf fertilizer. Ł Rich in organic iron Š 4% minimum guaranteed. Ł 90% Water Insoluble Nitrogen (W.I.N.), slow release nitrogen promotes vigorous growth. Ł Supplies humus and improves water holding capacity of soils. Ł The golf course choice. Circle No. 114 on Reader Inquiry Card FREE LITERATURE Mail in the coupon below for further information or call 414-225-2222. Please send me further information Ł Milorganite's Specialty Fertilizer Program LCI-S Ł Milorganite s Iron Š Technical Bulletin t «>M » Mail to: Milorganite Ł 7J5 N. Water St. ŁMilwaukee, Wl 53202 COVER STORY New turfgrass varieties are expensive to develop BY ARDEN JACKLIN Most people, myself in-cluded at times, have 
no conception of what it costs to develop, test and in-troduce a new variety of 
turfgrass. (My figures here are mostly based on Kentucky bluegrass, 
as this is the kind with which I 
am most familiar.) Let's start with a new selec-tion or a new hybrid which has passed the first screening and is ready for more extensive testing. That first screening costs about $500 for each entry. Of all the entries, about 10 per-
cent pass the first screening. So, we start with a $5,000 cost on each entry, which does not include the cost for obtain-
ing it. Two-thirds fail Preliminary testing for turf quality and seed producing ability in our plots runs about 
$4,000 per accession. A fair ap-praisal shows about two-thirds of the accessions fail in 
this test. So the investment in this test is $12,000. The next step is advanced turf and disease resistance 
testing in both the western 
and eastern United States. Eastern testing is necessary because in the West we don't have all the diseases that af-fect turf in the largest (east-ern) consumption area. These tests will cost about $5,000 per entry. Assuming 
that an average of two-thirds will fail to show promise, we come up with $15,000 per suc-
cessful accession. National testing important So far, it's only our word that it's a good or superior va-riety. Therefore, it's necessary to give it wider and more open 
public testing in the National Variety Testing trials, which involve some 30 testing sites. The charge is $1,800 for a three-year test. In our experi-ence about one-third will fail, 
generating a cost of $2,700 per 
accession. At this point, while it's still an experimental num-ber yet to be registered as a named variety, we have a total 
investment of $34,700 in it. It is now time to produce breeder seed, from which foundation seed will be pro-duced. Breeder seed fields, or plots, are smallŠrequiring much work at high cost. An arbitrary cost, well above what the seed can be re-sold for, is about $4,000 for a breeder plot. Plant variety protection Next it is advisable, if not entirely necessary, to "insure" 
ownership by protecting rights to and registering the variety. This is done through 
the PVP (Plant Variety Pro-tection) process, which for 
bluegrass costs $2,000 per en-try. Gathering information for submission on a PVP applica-tion costs an estimated $3,000. The same data for PVP can be used to register the variety with the American Society of Agronomy and provide data to the various state certifying 
agencies for their certification 
standards. The variety must be adver-tised and promoted to get po-
tential customers. We average 
$30,000 per variety for first-year promotion, which in-cludes magazines, in-house publications, convention dis-
plays, advertising brochures and favors. A whopping total The grand total for a vari-ety is $73,700. That's a lot of money! To back up or justify Turfseed pioneer: Arden Jacklin is credited with applying "row crop" technology to grass production. These are early swathers at work just prior to harvest. seed that kind of investment re-quires an ongoing, aggressive marketing setup to reclaim it. Not too many companies will take the gamble, and it practically rules out public agency releases. Conversely, when an accession succeeds 
and is properly marketed, it 
becomes a valuable asset. The foregoing does not in-clude the "ability to do the job" in terms of technical know-how, knowledgeable personnel at each level of de-
velopment and suitable land sites. Also required are small lot seed processing equipment and plot machinery. Obviously, a development program for more than one, or 
even a few varieties, must op-erate on a continuing basis for reclaiming costs. The time frame to go through the foregoing process 
takes about 10 years. LCI VARIETY from Page 7 ifornia. In the past the whole thing would have been re-jected," observes Crystal Rose Fricker at Turf-Seed, Inc. in Hubbard, Ore. Still, says Fricker, "You want to be sure that the target area is worthwhile; in Califor-nia the overseeding market makes it worthwhile." Some areas may not pro-vide a large enough market to support a regional variety, but Fricker notes that "the more popular ones can carry the less 
popular ones" when finances 
enter the picture. "There are a couple of vari-eties that we are selling that 
will be used in specific re-
gions," she says, adding that Murietta Dwarf Tall Fescue does particularly well in Cal-ifornia. People in the turf industry also cite Shortstop by Pick-
seed and Bonsai by Turf Mer-chants, Inc. as being grasses well-suited to California. Elka, a dwarf perennial rye, is mentioned as being well-suited to cooler areas, plus parts of the transition zone. 
Jacklin's Huntsville is men-tioned as a regional transition See VARIETY Page 20 Yow old fertilizer formula may get the job done. About the Author Arden Jacklin was a founder of 
the Jacklin Seed Co. in 1936. He remains active in turfgrass 
research. Most distributors can only offer you stock answers. You have to choose from the product line they have in-stock. But DOTS offers you something uniquely different. Your DOTS distributor will provide custom-blended formulas to match your particular soil needs, climate and grass conditions. We then offer personalized service i? Smooth work: A Wacker Plate Compactor was used to prepare the patio site for the bricks. Step up: These poured concrete steps were laced with bricks to fit the antique decor. BRICKS from Page 1 with used brick; installation of a timber retaining wall; the planting of shrubs and trees; installation of turf and subsur-face drainage; and the placing of landscape lighting. "It is not recommended that lawn maintenance com-panies move from mowing lawns to handling projects of this size overnight," Koen-inger advises. "However, a gradual shift toward projects of this nature could prove financially bene-ficial." LCA is able to generate ad-ditional revenue by extending its season, and adverse weather conditions are not a major factor in the bottom 
line. "This is pretty steady be-cause it's not subject to any 
drought," says Koeninger. "Even if you have a downpour you can continue working. We do quite a bit of this work into the fall." DOTS custom-blends will do it perfectly providing helpful and timely advice for fertilizer and pesticide program, call your concerns. So why use a standard 1-800-345-DOTS for the DOTS dis-product, when you can use a fertilizer tributor nearest you. program created specifically for you? At DOTS, we help your turf Distributor's Own For more information on the DOTS look its best. So you look your best. Turf Supplier The company has built a reputation for doing profes-sional work, so much so that Koeninger notes that a large chemical lawn care company has recommended it for sev-eral jobs in the area. The diversification concept is important to Koeninger be-cause he believes that "most customers want to deal with 
one individual" when consid-ering property work. A wealthy client who had the pool patio installed in Somers, Conn, was a previous customer of LCA's lawn care 
division. "We do work at his shopping center." The client had faith that Koeninger could get the pro-ject finished in a hurry. "It was a rush job. There was a party 
on the 22nd of July and he 
wanted it done in time for the party." It was finished July 20. Careful planning is needed before a turf 
manager should con-sider diversifying into brick-work, warns Koeninger. "The first job is always going to be the toughest, so you'd better be prepared. Make sure you know exactly what you're going to do and how you're going to do it." Figuring the costs involved is crucial, and it's necessary to find out if a return on the in-vestment can be obtained. Once the costs/profits are determined, the contractor "should shop around and find out if his (or her) prices are 
comparable to others in the field," Koeninger advises. "If it is comparable you should get out there and get 
going. If it isn't comparable you should wait until you have enough capital." Once the decision has been made to pursue the venture, 
it's time to hit the bricks. 
"Contacting the current base of customers is the best thing you can do," Koeninger says. An advertisement in the Yellow Pages is a good idea, 
too. "They're going to pick up 
a lot of attention." When it comes to tackling the work itself, some addi-
tional education may be needed. "The best way to learn 
is to research bricklaying books in the library," he says, adding that "in this area our community college offers sum-mer classes" in the various See BRICKS Page 25 Koeninger: Be prepared. Heavy load: These rocks had to removed from the pool site before the brickwork could begin Consider starting moss treatments during the fall They say that a rolling stone gathers no moss-but a customer's lawn is a different story. If a client is mad about moss, fall is the best time to begin treatment. "That's when the moss cy-cle starts," says Dr. Thomas W. Cook, associate professor of horticulture at Oregon State University. Cook and former graduate student John Whisler have studied moss and it's impact on lawns. "It's a problem that isn't a problem," Cook comments. "A lot of it comes and goes and does its own thing." He explains that many homeowners do not view moss as a problem, but some do. Although these mosses are a significant lawn pest, sur-prisingly little is known about them. Only about a dozen spe-
cies have been identified 
worldwide, according to Cook 
and Whisler. Moss growth normally starts with fall rains and 
reaches a peak in early spring. "Moss is often associated with weak lawns," Cook notes. Because most grasses grow poorly in winter, mosses are Fine Lawn Research proves... not all Turf-Type Tall Fescues are created equal Fmelawn TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE Top Rated Finelawn 1 Hirf-iype Tall Fescue llirf Quality NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM COLUMBIA, MO 1988-89 VARIETY AVG. SCORE Finelawn 1 Apache Rebel Bonanza Mustang Jaguar Rated 1-9; 6.1 5.5 5.5 5.3 
4.9 4.6 : Best Spring Greenup NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM 1984-87 VARIETY AVG. SCORE Finelawn 1 5.7 Bonanza 5.6 Apache 5.6 Rebel 5.5 Arid 5.5 Jaguar 5.1 Rated 1-9; 9 = Best Fall Density NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM 1984-87 VARIETY AVG. SCORE Finelawn 1 Mustang Rebel Olympic Falcon Rated 1-9; 7.1 
7.0 
7.0 6.8 6.7 Best Shade Performance NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM 1984-87 VARIETY AVG. SCORE Finelawn 1 5.4 Apache 5.3 Jaguar 5.0 Mustang 5.0 Bonanza 4.8 
Rebel 4.8 Falcon 4.6 Rated 1-9; 9 = Best lXX-^t VTMj \JL 1 \ . V IA.Š v \ Šv \ \ For additional information, See your distributor or dealer, or Write to Fine Lawn Research, Inc. P.O. Box 290, Madison, GA 30650 able to invade and often domi-nate lawns in only a few months. Moss growth declines in summer as conditions be-come drier and turfgrass growth increases, but under 
shady, irrigated conditions moss may grow through sum-mer. Moss can tolerate long peri-ods of drought in a dehydrated 
condition and rehydrate and grow with the onset of fall rains. Cultural control Although moss will invade well-maintained lawns, it usu-ally occurs extensively in ne-glected lawns where cultural 
conditions enable it to out-
compete turf. Moss encroachment is gen-erally associated with thin 
turf, low fertility, highly acidic 
soils, shade, wet soils, and turf injury from insects, diseases, chemicals or cultural prac-
tices. Long-term moss control is impossible unless these condi-tions are corrected. Often turf is thin because it lacks fertilizer. Properly timed 
nitrogen fertilizer applica-tions will increase turf den-sity, vigor and competi-tiveness. Late fall and spring are im-portant times to fertilize to minimize moss growth. Liming soil to raise the pH to between 6.0 and 6.5 will benefit some grasses in the long run but will have no direct effect on moss. Grasses grow poorly in de-nse shade because of lack of 
light and increased disease ac-tivity; therefore shady lawns 
usually have more moss than lawns in full sun. Thinning out trees by selective pruning or removing trees completely 
may reduce moss encroach-
ment. In some cases, it is easier to redesign the area and elimi-
nate turf than it is to improve 
lighting. When planting new lawns in shady sites, be careful to se-lect shade-tolerant species. In relatively dry shade, the fine fescues will perform well. In wet, shady sites, roughstalk bluegrass will persist better 
than other grasses. Wet soils, caused by poor drainage or ex-cessive irrigation, provide a perfect environment for germination and growth of 
moss spores or plant frag-ments. Poor drainage can some-times be improved by promot-ing water infiltration via core cultivation, slicing or thatch removal. These practices also 
improve turfgrass vigor and competitiveness. Often drainage can be im-proved only by changing grad-ing or installing subsurface drain tubing to lower the water When you want a tall fescue turf that you can be proud of, Finelawn 1 Turf-Type Tall Fescue is the one. Its bountiful green color and attractive narrow tapering leaves are quick to green up in the spring and maintain density throughout the summer and into the fall. Plus, Finelawn 1 has demonstrated superior tolerance to heat, drought, and J^jHJI^^^Hpi^^l some of the nastiest turf diseases. Ł Thoroughly tested beauty, quality and performance, yet economical Š Finelawn 1 is the choice when you demand the best in home and professional turfgrass! Another quality product from. Simplicity Mfg. buys Middlesworth Eng. table. Wet soils are sometimes due to excess irrigation. Avoid nightly watering, particularly in fall or early spring when moss growth is vigorous. Thin turf, caused by injury, is a common contributor to moss encroachment. Unirri-gated lawns turn brown and thin out during summer, and 
when fall rains come, these lawns may not recover fast enough to compete with moss. Lawns injured by chinch bugs in summer are often slow to recover in fall and are easily overrun by moss. Severe dethatching in fall may also predispose the lawn to moss because the turf is thin when fall rains come. Proper culture that pro-motes healthy, dense turf dur-ing the moss season will 
reduce moss encroachment in most situations. Mechanical control Moss can be removed by de-thatching in early spring. Optimum timing is mid-March through April when moss is still healthy and vig-orous. With a flail type de-thatcher, as much as 75 per-cent of the moss can be 
removed. Follow dethatching with ni-trogen fertilization to stimu-
late turf growth and increase density. Where moss has in-vaded extensively, apply 
chemical sprays after de-
thatching to increase control. Chemical control Many chemical materials will effectively kill moss in lawns. Most commercial 
formulations contain metals 
such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) as the active in-
gredient. Cryptocidal (moss-killing) soaps are also available. All of these materials can kill moss, 
but some are more effective 
than others. "Soap products in general work," says Cook, "but some work better than others." Cool recommends products containing potassium salts of fatty acids. Iron compounds are highly effective moss killers in turf. These compounds work quickly and the iron in them 
also stimulates a "green-up" of 
turf. Complete fertilizers with iron efficiently remove moss and stimulate grass growth, which improves turf appear-
ance. Iron stains concrete and many other surfaces, so it 
must be applied carefully. Salts and chelated iron products applied as liquids work well on moss when used at rates of V2 to 1 pound of iron per 1,000 square feet. Dry formulations or fertilizer-plus-iron products are gener-ally effective at rates of 8/io to IV2 pounds of iron per 1,000 square feet. The key to effective control with iron compounds is thor-
ough coverage of moss foliage. Liquid materials are ex-tremely effective and give al-most instant results. Dusty fertilizer-plus-iron products are more effective than clean granular products 
because they provide better 
coverage of the moss. Cryptocidal soaps are rela-tively new chemicals for moss control. Soaps act as contact killers and tend to bleach the moss to a whitish yellow, in contrast to the dark brown of moss treated with iron. Soaps are safe on sidewalks and other structures. Typical 
application rates for cyrptocidal soaps are 2V2 quarts of product per 1,000 square feet. Limited testing at Oregon State University indi-cates these rates are effective. Cooper and zinc will re-move moss on roofs and walks and will not stain structures. Unfortunately, compounds containing these elements act slowly as moss killers and may injure desirable turfgrasses in lawns. Some publications include ammonium sulfate as a moss 
control material. Extensive tests at Oregon State University indicate it 
has little impact on moss but it stimulates turf growth, which 
can mask the moss. LCI PORT WASHINGTON, WIS. Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc. has purchased Mid-dlesworth Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. of Green-town, Ind. The price was not disclosed. Middlesworth produced a line of commercial zero-turn radius mowers, including sev-eral models which incorporate a patented design. The company had sales of approximately $500,000 last year. "It will enable Simplicity to participate in the growing pro-fessional turf care market," said Warner Frazier, Sim-plicity's chief executive offi-cer. Simplicity will offer the zero-turn mowers with either a lever control or steering wheel design. "The ability to offer this ex-clusive option and Mid-dlesworth's reputation for 
durable, high-performance machinery attracted us to the company," Frazier said in a 
statement. LCI Handle your grub situation fast, before things get really ugly At the very first sign of grub damage, apply DYLOX® insecticide. Nothing kills all species of white grubs faster. Within hours, the grubs are dying and the turf is recovering. When grubs threaten, act fast. DYLOX is a Reg. TM of Bayer AG, Germany ©1989 Mobay Corp. 7454! Use DYLOX. And turn an ugly little problem into a lot of beautiful turf. For more information, contact Mobay Corporation, Specialty Prod-ucts Group, Box 4913, Kansas City, MO 64120. Dylox Mobay Corporation A Bayer USA INC COMPANY Bayer TODAY'S TURF LAWN CARE INDUSTRY SEPTEMBER 1989 iMMHHMHHH^ Developing a fertility program is a complex project BY RICHARD J. COOPER Developing a fertility program is one of the most important and complex decisions a lawn care 
company will have to make. While it would be conven-ient to have a generic program that could be applied to all sit-uations, there is no one pro-
gram which will produce excellent turf under all condi-tions. Fertilizer needs vary ac-cording to existing soil nutri-ent levels, species and 
cultivars being grown, soil 
physical conditions, level of quality desired, and many other factors. Thus, rather than provid-ing a "cookbook" recipe for success, it is more reasonable to discuss the components of a sound fertility program and then adapt those principles to 
a particular situation. The four main variables in any fertility program include 
the nutrient to be applied, fre-
quency of application, rate of 
application, and timing during 
the season. Of the essential mineral ele-ments necessary for growth, 
nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) are the 
principal nutrients applied in most fertility programs. Turfgrasses require N, P and K in a ratio of approxi-mately 4-1-2. Thus, when fertilizing es-tablished turf, it is a good idea to use a fertilizer that provides N, P and K in roughly this 
ratio rather than a fertilizer that provides more P than K. Nitrogen is the backbone of a fertility program and is ap-plied in the greatest amount because of its many effects on turfgrass growth. Adequate nitrogen is needed to maintain a dark green color, high shoot density and the ability to recuperate About the Author Dr. Richard J. Cooper is with the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. The information contained in this 
piece was originally presented at the Michigan Turfgrass 
Conference in January, 1988. from stress or pest injury. On the other hand, ex-cessive N can increase 
disease problems, re-duce tolerance of high and low 
temperatures and result in moisture stress due to in-creased growth that exceeds available moisture. Thus, it is important to provide N at a frequency and rate that will assure vigorous growth without overstimula-tion. A source of N can be chosen which is either quickly avail-able to the plant (water soluble nitrogen or WSN) or slowly available to the plant over a period of months or even years (water insoluble nitrogen or WIN). Both types of N have ad-vantages and disadvantages. WSN comprises the major-ity of N applied by most lawn 
care operators. Ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and urea are some of the types 
of WSN used, with urea being 
the most commonly used by far. It can be applied in either granular or liquid form and is less expensive than the WIN sources. Because the release of N from WSN sources is relatively independent of temperature, WSN can be 
used throughout the season 
with acceptable results. These attributes are the ad-vantages associated with WSN. Compared to WIN, some disadvantages of WSN include high foliar burn potential when applied at excessive rates or during periods of high temperature, relatively short period of plant response (six to eight weeks at normal rates), and greater potential for loss 
via leaching or volatility (gas-
eous losses). Although the characteris-tics listed above have been de-scribed as either advantages or 
disadvantages, you must de-cide how those characteristics affect your particular situa-tion. For example, many lawn care operators do not consider 
a six- to eight-week residual With DOW you have over Dow covers the country with more qualified people than any other company in the business. The people you see here play key roles in implementing the philos-ophy we call The Partnership5Ž services. In a nutshell, The Partnership is everything Dow offers you, above and beyond the products themselves. It represents Dow's commitment to you and your industry... a commitment of both human and material resources to the goal of helping you succeed and furthering the interests of your industry. Dow field sellers support you. Your Dow representative is your key to all the benefits of The Partnership. 
He or she can put on sales, business and technical training seminars for your staff. Help you answer customer questions. Recommend sound market-ing strategies. Provide sales support Jerry Beachell material. Even speak at local meetings. And what's the benefit to you? Infor-mation and support services that can 
help you run your business more effi-ciently and profitably. No other company in the business has so many highly trained people in 
its field sales staff. And they all work for you in The Partnership. Technical help when you need it. There are over ten Dow Technical Services and Development (TS&D) 
specialists, most of them with advanced 
science degrees, including urban Vanelle Carrithers Jim Bean Janet Rowley Barb Hill I f+ Vince Geiger District Manager Brian Schneider Les i tfiePartmsfiip DOW'S COMMITMENT TO YOU Judy Bertholf Bryan Clutter One does not want to pay more for a product that will fertilize a customer's lawn for several months or years if the customer cancels early in the program. response a disadvantage. They want the customer to notice a decline in color so that along with the next application the 
customer notices an improve-ment in color. Another type of nitrogen that can be incorpo-
rated into a fertility program is water insoluble ni-trogen (WIN), which releases its N slowly over a longer pe-
riod of time than WSN. Because of their avail-ability to meter out N slowly over a long period of time, slow release N sources have a low potential for foliar burn. They also provide a longer residual plant response than WSN and do not result in flushes of rapid growth. WIN is less reactive than WSN so that less is lost via 
leaching and volatilization. Potential disadvantages as-sociated with WIN include: 
slow color response, inability to use some sources in liquid 
delivery systems, high cost per unit of N, and potential car-ryover of N into the following growing season. This last aspect (carryover of N) is a problem unique to the lawn care industry where 
customer cancellations are a 
common occurence. One does not want to pay more for a product that will 
fertilize a customer's lawn for several months or years if the customer cancels early in the program. Typical slow release N sources include ureafor-maldehyde products (UF), iso-butylidene diurea (IBDU), sulfur coated urea (SCU) and products derived from natural organic materials such as acti-
vated sewage sludge, seaweed 
and other plant and animal residues. All of these WIN sources can provide good results when properly used. However, UF 
products and SCU sources are most widely used in the lawn care industry. Ureaformaldehyde (UF) fertilizers depend upon micro-bial activity to release N from 
complex organic polymers (long chain compounds). 50 partners in the field. entomology. One of their major func-tions is to conduct continuing studies on Dow products and how they work in actual practice. They relay their 
findings to you and other operators so you will have the most up-to-date technical information. As experts on 
insects, weeds, and their control, they conduct training seminars in the areas of chemistry, botany and entomology, 
among others. Located at key points Mike Gelhaus Cliff Mohrhaus, Field Sales Manager throughout the country, these TS&D specialists provide technical infor-mation and application advice that specifically pertains to serving your customers. The Partnership is More... It's continual research and testing, to assure both safety and efficacy. It's Brian Olson John Peterson training, workshops and seminars, on business management, on selling, on products. It's informational literature on a variety of subjects. Your success is the goal of every aspect of The Partnership. That's because we believe the more successful your business is, the better for every-one involved... you, your customers, 
and the entire industry. The Partnership is Dow's commitment to you. John Madia District Manager Thus, factors that favor mi-crobial activity will also favor N release. Soil temperatures > 55°F, adequate moisture, adequate aeration and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 will allow UF products to work properly. Sulfur coated urea (SCU) releases N slowly because the urea pellet (prill) is covered 
with a coating of sulfur and, sometimes, plastic. Thus, N leaks through the pores at a slow rate compared to uncoated urea. Prills that have an incomplete or cracked coating will behave like WSN. Thinly coated prills will re-lease N more rapidly than thickly coated prills. Adequate moisture and warm soil temperatures (> 55°F) are factors favoring re-lease of N from SCU. Because both WSN and WIN have desirable attri-butes, it is often a good idea to use a fertilizer that contains 
some of each type. Indeed, many commercially available fertilizers contain 
both WSN and WIN. The ratio of each in the product will vary according to release rate desired, price and other 
factors. A material containing ap-proximately 20 to 25 percent of the N as WIN can provide some of the advantages of 
WSN (quick greenup, release independent of temperature and lower cost than WIN) 
while incorporating some ad-
vantages of WIN (lower burn potential, less leaching and less frequent application than WSN). Once an N fertilizer has been chosen, one must decide at what rate to apply the product. Fertiliza-
tion rate depends on many fac-
tors, such as N source to be applied, time of the year and fertility requirement of the species and cultivars present. When using solely WSN, application rates of 1 to 1.5 lbs. N per 1000 ft.2 are recom-mended in order to avoid un-desirable growth surges and potential foliar burn. If the fertilizer contains some WSN, the application rate may approach the 1.5 lb. limit. Fertilization during July and August should be ap-proached cautiously in order to avoid excess growth during periods of high temperature and moisture stress. The proportion of WIN in a fertilizer is often increased during the summer to protect 
against foliar burn. A typical fertilization pro-gram results in the application of about 3.5 to 5 lbs. N per 1000 ft.2 per season. Keep in mind that the main objective is to produce acceptable quality turf. If the customer is 
satisfied and the turf is healthy at a rate lower than 5 lbs. N per 1000 ft.2, reducing the rate is justified. Programs utilizing only Recovery from summer stress injury as well as increased tillering and rhizome production occurs during the fall. WSN will require more fre-quent applications to main-tain acceptable turf than a program which incorporates some WIN. In general, most lawn care programs make four to five ap-
plications to a lawn per season with three or four of those ap-plications containing N fertil-izer. The timing of those fertil-izer applications during the 
season is an important consid-eration. In the northern U.S., many agronomists consider the late 
August/early September fer-tilization to be the most im-portant. Recovery from summer stress injury as well as in-creased tillering and rhizome production occurs during the fall. Thus, N must be provided in order to maximize these processes. An N application during late spring is also 
widely practiced in order to 
enhance color going into sum-mer and to encourage growth before the high temperatures 
and moisture stress of summer 
occur. It is important that this ap-plication does not stimulate the turf to rapid growth during 
the stressful summer months (especially if irrigation is not available). When a third fertilization is practiced, a late season appli-cation is often chosen. This 
application should be made when the turf has stopped growing (several weeks after the last mowing) but before it has lost its green color. An application at this time will enhance winter color and can provide earlier spring 
greenup (three or four weeks) 
than programs without a late season application. This con-cept has also been shown to improve Kentucky bluegrass 
rooting during spring. Results on bentgrass and fine fescue will likely differ from those on Kentucky bluegrass. While late season fertiliza-tion is increasing in popu-larity, it is a concept that must be well understood in order to produce optimum results. Jacobsen does wonders for your appearance. To make your customers look their best, you have to use the best. And Jacobsen, the leader in professional turf equipment, makes a good impres-sion on their turf. And that makes you look good. Take the Jacobsen 524-100 self-propelled seeder/slicer. It's designed to aerate, dethatch and overseed in one operation for better germination at a lower cost. It s ideal for overseed-ing as well as planting new lawns. Only the Jacobsen seeder has a seed roll to precisely meter seed at the desired rate. The seed is dropped into a pre-cut slit in the soil, for three times better germination TEXTRON Jacobsen Division of Textron Inc rates than broadcast methods. Other seeders can t control seeding rates as effectively Š and that's important with today's high seed costs. Jacobsen offers a complete line of turf maintenance equipment, all de-signed to make you look good Š not 
only a complete line of mowers, but 
also aeration equipment, blowers, vacuums, trimmers and edgers. To see our complete line of rugged commercial equipment in action, 
contact your Jacobsen Commercial Products dealer today. Attractive finance plans available. Jacobsen Division of Textron Inc., Racine, Wl 53403. C Jacobsen Division of Textron Inc 1989 J-6-9 Thus, consult with your state turf specialist before em-barking on a late season pro-gram. Finally, many programs also employ an early spring ap-plication of N. This applica-tion is used primarily to 
enhance greenup at the time when preemergent weed mate-rials are being applied. If a late season application is used, the N rate during early spring can be reduced substan-tially since color will be mark-
edly enhanced from the late season application. Also, many lawn care oper-ators are applying iron during early spring to enhance color 
without forcing excessive 
growth. While N is the main compo-nent of all fertility programs, several other elements also 
bear mentioning. Potassium (K) is needed by turf in amounts second only to N. Adequate K fertility im-proves wear tolerance, heat and cold toler-ance, stolon and rhizome growth and rooting (thus im-proving water uptake). While every fertility appli-cation may not include K, 
those applications preceding 
stress periods are good times 
to supplement K. The early fall application in particular is often made with a fertilizer containing K and N 
in a 1:1 ratio to improve winter survival without over-
stimulating growth. K should be applied on the basis of a soil test. Phosphorus (P) is helpful in improving both the rooting and winter hardiness of turf. In particular, it is essential when establishing new seed-ings of turf. Adequate P in the seedbed helps to insure rapid establishment. On mature turf, P is rarely found to be deficient. Thus, there is little value to applying P unless a soil test shows it to be deficient. P is strongly bound to the soil and will not easily move 
downward, therefore it is a good idea to apply P in con-junction with some process which will facilitate its incor-
poration into the soil (aera-tion, vertical mowing, etc.). Another element which can be incorporated into a fertility program is iron (Fe). Iron functions in chlo-rophyll synthesis and thus is used to provide a rapid in-
crease in green color when the 
growth stimulation associated with N is undesirable. Early spring or summer ap-plications of Fe are becoming increasingly popular. Iron is very strongly ab-sorbed to the soil and thus is often unavailable to the plant for use. In order to in-crease plant availability, iron is applied as a liquid rather than as a granular product. Also, "chelated" iron is The art of application for maximum germination. POUNDS OF TYPE BENTGRASS KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS FESCUE RYEGRASS PERENNIAL MIXTURE The Ryan® Mataway® Overseeder is simply better. Better results begin with the basics, like seed calibration. An easy-to-read chart on the Mataway Overseeder tells you the exact set-ting for pounds of seed needed per 1,000 sq. ft. Just look it up, load it up, select setting, and you're ready to go. Two-inch spacing between rows gives you a dense pattern for one-pass application. Gandy® pre-
cision metering and an easily re-moved disc-type seed delivery system places the seed directly into the slits for uniform seed/soil contact allowing maximum germination. The result is a lusher, thicker lawn. The Ryan Mataway Overseeder gives you the flexibility to power 
rake, overseed, or to do both at the same time. Call today or contact your nearest Ryan dealer for more information and a free test drive demonstration. Call toll free 1-800-228-4444 for all the details. RYAN BUILT TO LAST 6522 Cushman, OMC-Lincoln, P.O. Box 82409, Lincoln, NE 68501 © Outboard Marine Corporation, 1987. All rights reserved. SEED PER 1000 S BRAND PENNEAGLE SEED PENNCR0S ASPEN RUGBY PARADE SCALDIS HA often chosen as a source of Fe. A chelating agent is a soluble 
organic compound that binds 
with Fe to make it more avail-able to the plant. Intelligent use of Fe can re-sult in a healthier plant and reduced need for N. In conclusion, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration when 
formulating a fertility pro-gram. A basic knowledge of plant nutrition, fertilizers and soils as well as a willingness to ex-
periment with your current 
programs are keys to finding 
the program best suited to your situation and your cus-tomers. LCI BUSINESS SENSE Expansion requires cost control system One problem companies often experience in 
adding new volume or expanding into a new service is 
a drop in profits of the basic 
service. Oftentimes, when a com-pany fails, financial informa-
tion on the performance of the 
work comes to the owner too late in the year to allow him the time to take any corrective 
action. Thus, a company fails 
because it was not on top of the 
costs of doing business while performing the services. To prevent this, the mana-ger needs to evaluate financial information on a regular basis. This is accomplished by hav-ing a cost control system. Cost control systems are methodical examinations that determine the profitability of 
the job for each job the com-pany does. A cost control system col-lects all of the costs directly related to the performance of an individual job and then 
compares them to the revenue received for the job. These sys-tems can be either manual or 
computerized. In the chemical lawn care business, identifying costs specific to an individual job is 
not easily accomplished. Good 
systems are, however, coming into the market. Some systems will track the amount of materials that are pumped from a spray tank. Other systems determine the time it takes to do an individ-
ual job. For high cost jobs, it is im-portant to have a job cost sys-tem that will collect all of the costs incurred directly for the job. This is similar to the sys-f.Seed' tm disco^p; sod to bill bugs. Jothcr pests & chemtcflls! ful CITATION II Turf-Type Perennial Ityegrass is well known for its rapid establishment, fine texture, dark green color, improved mowability and drought tolerance, both in a monostand or as part of CBS II blend. But, the REAL plus is Citation II's high endophyte level (over 80%) that make it naturally resistant to leaf eating insects. This plus results in savings... in chemical costs to maintenance people and less exposure to insecticides for applicators, homeowners, golfers and picnickers. Citation II is not only an investment in finer turf, but it's a savings account for turf managers... and our delicate planet. PVP 8400142. Unauthorized propagation prohibited. Left, insect damage in perennial ryegrass. Right, endophytic ryegrass resists insect pests. .Black lines are endophyte mycelium Magnified endophyte in seed, in leaf tissue. Qualified turf grass associations can earn cash for turf research by saving 
Citation II Oregon certified blue 
tags. Call us or write for details. Produced and marketed by: Turf-Seed, Inc. PO Box 250, Hubbard, OR 97032 Outside Oregon 1-800-247-6910 503-981-9571 TWX 510-590-0957 FAX 503-981-5626 Circle No. 120 on Reader Inquiry Card tem that construction com-panies employ in the construction of homes and of-fice buildings. Various companies offer this type of system to the lawn care industry. Several that have been used by our clients are Slice and Pro Source. 
There are also other, equally 
effective, cost accounting packages available. Every company, no matter what size, needs a cost control system in place. The purpose is to provide the owner with timely feedback on costs in-
curred against revenue earned 
on all jobs. The size of the company may impact what system is chosen. Don't wait Cost control systems need to be put into place as a com-
pany begins to generate sales. Oftentimes, a company begins doing this with the prepara-
tion of monthly financial 
statements. While this does provide a snapshot of the performance of the company for a given in-
terval, one month, it often does not provide the owner with the detailed information needed to determine how ef-fective the company is per-
forming specific jobs. There are two principal cost control systemsŠjob cost 
control and process cost con-
trol. Job cost control would be used by a companr that per-forms services that are non-
repetitive in nature, i.e., the building of homes. Process costing is used when similar units are being 
produced in volume, i.e., the manufacture of cigarettes. With process cost account-ing, there is limited ability to determine the specific cost in-
curred by a particular unit. In job cost accounting, there is specific identification of the cost of an individual job. Cost control systems can create a positive situation for a firm, but they need to be both 
timely and accurate to benefit a company. Neither factor should be compromised. LCI About the Author Ed Wandtke is a senior partner with All Green Management 
Associates, Columbus, Ohio. Introducing Gallery." Nothing's more terrifying than to hear a customer say, "They're back." Dreaded broadleaves. Costly callbacks. You want to scream. Your nightmares are over at last. Elanco introduces the unique preemer-gence broadleaf weed control for turf-grassŠnew Gallery 75DF. Featuring an advanced new chemistry, it casts broad-leaves into the dungeon and throws away the key all season long. Your customers won't be haunted by spurge. Or oxalis. Or white clover. Or 41 
other tough broadleaves. And you'll be haunted less by costly callbacks. Yet turfgrass has nothing to fear. New Gallery is actually more tolerant on your turf than other herbicides. So 
there's no risk of off-site damage to nearby ornamentals, gardens and trees. Put an end to the horror of broadleaves. Instead of hearing "They're back," start saying, "They're gone." With new Gallery. See your Elanco distributor. Or call 
toll-free: 1-800-352-6776. Elanco Products Company A Division of Eli Lilly and Company Lilly Corporate Center Dept. EM-455, Indianapolis, IN 46285, U.S.A. Gallery1"Š(isoxaben, Elanco) MAINTENANCE METHODS People are the key to profits in industry Landscape maintenance service is a people-in-tensive industryŠ35 to 50 percent of each incoming 
dollar pays the people needed 
to run the business. Most 
payroll dollars go to produc-
tion or service people. The labor intensity of our industry has improved in the past, and the percentages may change in the future, but peo-
ple power will be the heart of the business for years to come. We have not been able to substantially reduce the man-hours per acre required to sat-isfy our customers, even in the light of improved plant mate-
rial, more sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment and more effective control-type chemicals. No relief in the near future for the labor intensity of our 
industry is a frightening thought. The U.S. Department of Labor has confirmed our fear that the pool of available workers is shrinking and will get even smaller in the future. The industry will continue to experience more com-panies, mostly competitors, chasing fewer available work-ers. We need to carefully evaluate the impor-tance of the produc-tion worker. It is difficult, at first, to accept the reality that the production worker, the lowest paid and often a part-time employee, should be the focal point of our management systems. A production unit is a crew that includes labor, equip-ment, material and transpor-tation. The labor for one 
production unit consists of one crew chief or working fore-man and one or more crew 
members. The crew chief has emerged from the 1980s as the specialist of the 1990s, with an expanded role in landscape mainte-
nance. The difficulty and ex-pense of communication links and direct supervision of mobile service crews, coupled with the need to have an expe-rienced, knowledgable em-ployee on the property at all 
times, has re-shaped the value ra 4 z m ' V v- ' Ł Ł ;N Ł ^ t v ' N 4> w a - y> , ^ / Wit V The difference goes beyond appearance! We all know Falcon Turf Type Tall Fescue looks a H heck of a lot better than 
K-31. Its denser, greener and 
liner leafed blades are preferred by professionals like yourselves, hands down. But the difference goes beyond appearance. Falcon is far superior for insect, drought and disease resistance. Even though it may cost a little more, it just doesn't make good business sense to use inferior seed. After all, it's such a small percentage of your land-scape budget. It's tough enough to keep that beautiful turf your clients expect. Plus, Falcon was especially developed to withstand heavy traffic. That's why Falcon is preferred by so many profes-sionals like yourself for use in stadiums, playgrounds and /' ^sf l Falcon shows quick germi-li v s I nation and seedling develop-ment. Plus, Falcon offers improved resistance to brown patch and net blotch. It pays to spec "The Tougher Turf' professionals prefer... Falcon Turf-Type Tall Fescue! E.F. Burlingham & Sons. RO Box 21" Ł Forest Grove, OR 9~U6 (503) 357-2141 Ł Telex: 36-0274 FAX: 359-9223 Ł 1-800-221-~3§3 * TUrf frocks r-rrŠ"r-C-r^i jwMmm Ł and job description of the tra-ditional working foreman or crew chief. Companies that recognize this expanded role for the crew chief will unclutter their orga-nization by eliminating the middle managers and produc-tion supervisors. They will re-distribute these assets, up-grading the role of the mod-
ern-day crew chief. The value and importance of the crew chief and the pro-duction worker cannot be 
overstated. Even when the marketing strategy is sound, the bidding process accurate and the con-tract signed, cash will not flow 
until the production people do something to the customer's property. From the customer's per-spective, the delivery people or production workers are the company. Customers like to be mar-keted to intelligently. They appreciate fair pricing and professional sales people, but they just want the grass to be mowed. The customer relates to the people we send to make the delivery. The customer is going to see these people 30 times a year. Most production workers are attracted to our industry 
because they prefer to work outside. They will usually ad-mit to having respect for equipment and "green things" and do not object to physically 
demanding work. They want fair pay, reasonable working conditions, year-round em-ployment andŠmost of allŠa 
position they enjoy and one which will allow them to grow. What specific traits should we look for when hiring a pro-duction person to work under an experienced crew chief? After the basic require-ments have been met, look for the person who needs to be active at all times, who appears to be bursting 
with energy. The production worker we look for usually has little re-
gard for detail and is difficult Playgrounds About the Author Philip D. Christian III of Alpharetta, Ga. is a consultant with All-Green Management Associates in Columbus, Ohio. Circle No. 101 on Reader Inquiry Card to train in the classroom. They learn by doing and are good candidates for on-the-job training programs, provided 
the objective is getting them to take action, not improving 
their knowledge. The sad reality is that most true production people leave our industry because we do not see ourselves as managing a production operation. A production organization should be staffed and orga-
nized so the entire company is a support system for the pro-
duction workers and produc-
tion units. The functioning produc-tion organization is structured 
so management will not inter-fere with production. Production workers per-form best when they are man-aged as team members, or athletes, rather than laborers. They need specific goals set for each day. The company standard for performance must be demonstrated by the crew chief. The procedures leading to the standards can be taught in on-the-job practice 
sessions with the crew chief. The production worker's output, or the result of the day's effort, must be moni-tored so the management company can promptly report 
winning performance. When the performance is not up to standard, the com-pany must let them know how close they are and the specific 
action to be taken to meet the requirements. Most people want more than a paycheck for a day's work. Part of management's re-sponsiblity in a production or-
ganization is helping each player on the team to build self-esteem. If we intend to meet the challenge of the '90s, we must increase the productivity of the mowing maintenance crews, earning more revenue per person without compro-mising quality, safety or the 
welfare of the production peo-ple. LCI Garden State field day set PISCATAWAY, N.J. Š The 25th Annual Turfgrass, 
Equipment, Irrigation and 
Supplies Field day will be Oct. 
3 at Rutgers stadium and golf course. For more information con-tact Dr. Henry Indyk at (201) 
932-9453 or Len Forlenza at (609) 871-2055. The event is sponsored by the Golf Course Superinten-dents Association of New Jersey. LCI Questions about Pesticides? Call 1-800-858-7378 National Pesticide Telecommunications Network MOLES from Page 1 small, burrowing mammal about 5 to 8 inches long. It has 
gray fur; a long, tapering snout; no external ears; and tinyŠbarely detectable-eyes. Its most distinguishing fea-ture is its broad, shovel-like, front feet. Moles stay underground, seldom venturing out of their burrows. They are most active early in the morning and late in the evening. They plainly proclaim their presence by the aboveground ridges caused by their burrow-ing. wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmwarn "Most of the mole's bur-rowing is a random search for 
food, so many of the tunnels are never used again," Hochmuth says. "Their more permanent or active tunnels usually run along fences, bor-
ders or other protected places." Usually there is no need to control moles, Hochmuth maintains. But if they do be-come a nuisance, the two best 
control methods are trapping 
the moles and reducing insect 
populations. "In my opinion, you may win a few battles without traps," Hochmuth says. "However, the only way to win the 'war' is to trap them." For trapping to succeed, a frequently used tunnel must be selected. "To locate an ac-
tive tunnel, cave in short sec-
tions of several runways with your foot and indicate each site with a marker," he ex-plains. "Moles are very suspicious and will avoid areas that ap-pear odd, so don't disturb the tunnels more than necessary." Check each site the follow-ing day and note tunnels that 
have been rebuilt. A rebuilt tunnel is a prime place to put a 
trap. Two types of traps, the har-poon and choker loop, are gen-erally available. If there is no catch within a day or two, change locations, Hochmuth advises. Moles can also be dis-couraged by treating the prop-
erty with insecticides to reduce the insect population. This, of course, requires time 
and patience on the part of the client. Controlling grubs will often chase the moles away. An inexpensive aluminum barrier can also be used to fend off moles from small, isolated 
areas such as flower beds. "Any kind of bendable metal will work," says Hochmuth, "but a strip of sheet aluminum about 18 inches wide would be best." Bury the metal at least 12 WhyThe Grass Is Always Greener At ServiceMaster. 77% Iast year, rev enues for the lawn care ^ industry as a whole grew 15%. Revenues for ServiceMaster LawnCare grew a whopping 77%! Over five times the industry rate. Obviously, we j ' must be doing some- D . c . w , . . . - ° Re\"enues for ServiceMaster LawnCare tiling right. And we are. grewaverfive times the industry rate. for return on equity in their ratings of the 500 top service companies in America. So if you're looking for the right opportunity to start your 15% own lawn care business, you simply can't find a company with a more consistent record for success. For one tiling, ServiceMaster is one of the few lawn care companies able to provide truly cus-1 tomized treatment to every customer We specially design our own trucks and equipment so you can 
individually tailor your 
treatment to each lawn. If you qualify you could get started in a 
ServiceMaster LawnCare franchise for as little as $7,000 plus additional pORTUNEi Customized treatment. working capital. You can start out while still For another, we pro- keeping your regular job if you wish. \ide complete training For more information, call Stan and back-up support. Pro- Guy toll-free at 1-800-635-SERVE. grams like discount pur-chasing. A1-800 hot line . . lor special agronomic | questions. Year-round marketing support that will help you get busi-ness even in winter. Over 90% of our ServiceMaster franchises are still going strong after three years.This year, in fact, Fortune magazine named us No. 1 Partners in the ServiceMaster Quality Service Network, SeniceMASTER. HRMINIX merry maids. ServiceMaster, LawnCare C I9H9 The ScnlccMaatcr («>mpam LP L16 QaflMderjAfUiiry Card inches deep and bend the re-maining aboveground portion away from the bed at a 90-de-
gree angle to the soil surface. For appearance's sake, Hochmuth suggests lightly covering the exposed alumi-num with a fine bark mulch or shredded mulch. Repellents, such as moth-balls, inserted in the tunnels will drive moles elsewhere. 
Again, though, this method is 
only practical in small areas. Hochmuth cautions again-st using lethal gas or poison 
baits. "Gassing is generally in-
effective since it's almost im-possible to fill all the tunnels with lethal amounts of poi-sonous gas," he says. "Poison baits are dangerous to chil-
dren, pets and other animals and should not be used around 
a yard." LCI VARIETY from Page 8 zone variety. Brian Beckmann of Beck-mann Turf and Irrigation 
Supply in Chesterfield, Mo. is a regional distributor in the 
transition zone, and "I per-sonally would be in favor" of a variety bred just for his area. As Beckmann seeks the best varieties for his custom-
ers he finds it frustrating as he 
tours testing sites. "I try to find the same soil structure as there is in Missouri." That can be difficult be-cause "not every location gets involved with the same test." Another problem he faces is that "there isn't a lot of public 
awareness of what varieties 
are out there and what they 
can do," Beckmann explains. Too many peopleŠinclud-ing professional turf managers and sod growersŠshop price instead of quality. "People say, 'Grass is grass: I want a cheap variety.'" Dr. Phil Busey, a breeder at the University of Florida, 
agrees with Beckmann when 
discussing the methods used 
to test the different turf vari-
eties. "Until the last few years 
we haven't had good regional 
trials." Busey would like to see ex-perimental varieties being tested in such places as local Breeding procedure: Lucy Dela Cruz of Turf Seed, Inc. operates a device that pollenates grass plants. Blade, deck chops-up clippings HESSTON, KAN.ŠExcel In-dustries is introducing a "revolutionary" mower blade and deck system that chops clippings into fine particles. Development of the "Turbo Shredder" deck was prompted by the need for an environ-mentally safe way to dispose of grass clippings without the use of plastic bags, according to the company. "We determined that the best solution was to chop the 
grass fine enough to eliminate 
the need to pick it up at all," 
said Duane Graham, Excel's chief engineer. When the system is used with a catcher the grass can be 
packed more densely because less air is trapped, according to the company. The device will be standard on Hustler 251K models. LCI New blade: Chops clippings. Oregon women meeting in Nov. LAKE OSWEGO, ORE. The First Annual Conference of Oregon Professional Women 
in Horticulture is set for Nov. 4 at Clackamas Community 
College. The conference will feature management topics, industry experts and networking op-portunities. For more information call (503) 654-4585 or (503) 628-0353. LCI REMEMBER THE Roundup Along driveways Along flower beds and planters Edging along fencelines Edminster: Target oriented. yards, parks, golf courses, baseball fields and sod farms. "We've tried to get grasses off the experiment sta-tion. . .and put them on sod 
farms and other testing situa-Williams: Mixes doing well. tions," Busey says. "Who cares if it does well at the experiment station if it 
can't be expanded into the re-gion (where it will eventually be grown)?" Busey adds that "if we kept those grasses at the 
research station they'd all look great" until planted in some-
body's front yard. "I'd like to see the testing done in the real world." Because soil, climate and a zillion other factorsŠeven shade levelsŠdiffer in certain locations, Busey believes that "regional testing is the only way you're going to find out 
that information. Pick states 
that have similar adaptive 
problems." Dr. Frederick B. Ledeboer, who breeds grasses for Turf Merchants, Inc., sees regional varieties on the horizon, but he maintains that the breed-
ing centers are best left in Oregon and selected areas such as New Jersey. He cites the expense in-volved and the scarcity of ex-
perienced turf breeders. "There's not that many of us breeders; you can count us 
on two hands," he says with slight exaggeration. "It's very 
difficult to split yourself that 
thin. Many companies can't 
afford a breeder." Ledeboer feels that the breeding centers can still get 
the job done by "keeping each (seed distribution) company's region in mind." Some locations may al-ready be home to a perfect grassŠmaybe it's growing wild in a park or at a golf Beckmann: Likes the idea. courseŠand perhaps more ef-forts will now be made to find and develop that grass for dis-
tribution. "I see us going into particu-lar areas and gathering genetic material that is particularly suited to that area," says Ron-nie Stapp, a vice president at Pennington Enterprises. Regional varieties can al-ready be obtained by skillfull mixing of cur-rent offerings, says John Zajac of Zajac Performance Seeds. "The overwhelming major-ity of seed companies are re-gional in their distribution. We look to provide regional 
seed companies with varieties they can use." "We do a tremendous amount of mixing to match conditions in a region," re-ports Jim Williams, market-ing manager at Seed Research of Oregon, Inc. "We do that all 
over the country." Mike Robinson, the com-pany's president, points out that they have conducted ex-periments in other locations. "We have rented some land on a sod farm out in Maryland." Taking a regionalized ap-proach has paid off for several 
varieties, like Harmony blue-grass. "If you look at the na-
tional trials it does terrible, 
but it does really well in cer-
tain areas." Robinson says it's sold in parts of Ohio, Ken-tucky, Missouri, the Carolinas and Japan. Seed Research's Trophy and Survivor grasses do well in 
the Carolinas, notes Williams. Robinson comments that the American love for brand-name products may put a damper on the economics of regional varieties. "They still want the big-name varieties 
even though the little guy may 
do better," he says, "so it's going to take some sales-manship." LCI Robinson: Marketing needed. sidewalk cracks Around tree bases 1 , ; t\ tfifW^^^H in the soil. That fact gives you the flex-ibility to use ROUNDUP just about any-where a trimming, edging or weed problem pops up. Spray with confi-dence Š Remember the ROUNDUP. Always read and follow the label for Roundup® herbicide. Roundup® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. • Monsanto Company 1989 RIP-9-101 DR Monsanto For complete information on the many benefits of trim-ming and edging with Roundup, call 1-800-225-2883 Circle No. 118 on Reader Inquiry Card I Now's the time to Remember ROUNDUP® herbicide for all kinds of jobs around the customer's lawn. Remember that ROUNDUP con-trols a broad spectrum of weeds, roots-and-all. With no time wasted on retreatment, you'll have more time for new business. Remember that ROUNDUP stays where you put it...so there's no washing or leaching to harm desirable vegeta-tion. And Remember that ROUNDUP is biodegradeable and won't build up NEW PRODUCTS 30-gal. lawn sprayer is new from Broyhill The Broyhill Co. in Dakota City, Neb. has designed a new 30-gallon sprayer with a low-profile tank design and a 10-inch access lid for cleaning. The model features a tool/ chemical storage area with a 
drain. The unit can be towed with the engine in the front or rear for reduced operator noise. The product comes stan-dard with a spray gun, by-pass 
agitation, relief valve, 80-inch 
coverage boom, filter, 150 psi roller pump and a 3 hp Briggs and Stratton engine. The 30-gallon frame will ac-cept a 60-gallon tank and fea-
tures larger flotation tires. LCI Circle No. 150 on service card. Disease detection kits cut diagnosis to 10 min. Agri-diagnostics Associates in Cinnaminson, N.J. are releas-ing new 10-minute turf disease detection kits. The tests in the MfKHM Ł» ItKMIt m» MfH !»»"ŁŁ! J»IH Re eal kits replace earlier three-hour versions. Based on immunoassay technology from the medical 
diagnostics field, on-site tests contained in a kit for ease dis-
ease allow detection of fungal 
diseases, pythium blight, 
brown patch or dollar spot-before symptoms appear. LCI 
Circle No. 151 on service card. Koos releases 2 fertilizers Two "all-natural, organic" fertilizers are being released by Koos, Inc. The Nature's Best brand All Natural Organic Lawn 
Fertilizer is slow-release and non-burning. According to the company, it does not need to 
be watered in, even when ap-
plied during hot, dry weather. The Nature's Best brand All Natural Organic Garden Fertilizer provides long-last-ing feeding for trees, srubs, 
flowers, vegetables and fruits without salt build-up in the soil, according to Koos. The product reportedly does not Gateway to the Join the landscape professionals at the 1989 Green Team Conference and Trade Show, "Gateway to the '90s." This four-day event is your entree to a two-day exhi-bition of the industry 's finest products and services. "Gateway to the '90s" is sponsored by the Associated Land-scape Contractors of America and the Professional Grounds Manage-ment Society and features three frill days of educational programs that. Ł give you the most up-to-date information on horticultural prac-tices, management techniques and business matters. Ł examine in detail subjects ranging from landscape design/ build and hydroseeding to sales and contract techniques. It's four days filled with opportunities to learn Š to socialize Š to exchange ideas Š to see and enjoy. Plan to attend. Green Team Conference and Trade Show November 9-12, 1989 Ł St. Louis , Missouri St. Louis Sheraton and Cervantes Convention Center Need more information on the1989 Green Team Conference and Trade Show? MAA Contact Associated Landscape Contractors of America 405 N. Washington St. #104 Falls Church, Va. 22046 (703) 241-4004 Professional Grounds Management Society Suite IE, 12 Galloway Avenue Cockeysville, Maryland 21030 (301) 667-1833 harm earthworms or irritate sensitive skin. LCI Circle No. 152 on service card. See tyou *)* St. New Scotts spreader made of stainless steel The Professional Drop Spreader from the O.M. Scott and Sons Co. is made of stain-less steel and has a 36-inch ap-plication width. The tool also has accurate metering and 12-inch-diame-ter pneumatic tires for better ground clearance and easier pushing when applying seed or 
ganular materials, according to the company. LCI Circle No. 153 on service card. Test soil compaction with probe from D-J Soil compaction problems can be identified with a tester from Dickey-John Corp. in Auburn, 111. The tester features a han-dle-mounted pressure gauge 
and a stainless steel probe 
with markings at 3, 6, 9,12,15 and 18 inches. Compaction in pounds per square inch is displayed on a color-coded dial as the probe is pushed into the ground. LCI Circle No. 154 on service card. Have a SPILL? Call Chemtrec 1-800-424-9300 Circle the Reader Service numbers of those items of interest to you. For rapid response, use the peel-off label from the front cover NAME TITLE FIRM COVER LABEL HERE ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER BELOW CITY STATE ZIP | PHONE( ) 101 116 131 146 161 176 191 206 221 236 251 266 281 296 311 326 341 102 117 132 147 162 177 192 207 222 237 252 267 282 297 312 327 342 103 118 133 148 163 178 193 208 223 238 253 268 283 298 313 328 343 104 119 134 149 164 179 194 209 224 239 254 269 284 299 314 329 344 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 315 330 345 106 121 136 151 166 181 196 211 226 241 256 271 286 301 316 331 346 107 122 137 152 167 182 197 212 227 242 257 272 287 302 317 332 347 108 123 138 153 168 183 198 213 228 243 258 273 288 303 318 333 348 109 124 139 154 169 184 199 214 229 244 259 274 289 304 319 334 349 110 125 140 155 170 185 200 215 230 245 260 275 290 305 320 335 350 111 126 141 156 171 186 201 216 231 246 261 276 291 306 321 336 351 112 127 142 157 172 187 202 217 232 247 262 277 292 307 322 337 352 113 128 143 158 173 188 203 218 233 248 263 278 293 308 323 338 353 114 129 144 159 174 189 204 219 234 249 264 279 294 309 324 339 354 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220 235 250 265 280 295 310 325 340 355 L4WN G1RE INDUSTRY SEPTEMBER 1989 This card void after Nov. 15,1989 1. CHECK BELOW YOUR PRIMARY BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION: A. LAWN CARE COMPANY: Read each choice before answering. 10 Ł Chemical lawn care company 20 Ł Mowing/management lawn care company and/or landscape contractor 30 Ł Both chemical lawn care company and mowing/management lawn care company and/or landscape contractor B. SUPPLIER 50 Ł Chemical and equipment dealer and/or distributor C. OTHER (specify) 2. WHAT IS YOUR TITLE? I would like to receive (continue receiving) LAWN CARE INDUSTRY each month: Yes Ł No Ł Signature:. . Date. BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH, MINNESOTA POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE READER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WWN GIRE MDUSTRY POST OFFICE BOX 6080 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806-9780 I,I,LI,I,Inl,II,M,ll.,l,I,,I,nil,,1,11 1 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE I UNITED STATES I BRICKS from Page 9 topics. Koeninger himself had studied engineering and he had experience in construc-tion. When he started doing brickwork he invested $2,000. 
The original tools were a level, concrete saw and plate com-pactor. They went without jackhammers. "If we had to bust something up we used 
sledgehammers." Koeninger also made an ef-fort to be at the jobsite con-stantly. "I had to be there 
initially and then I trained a couple of people who became proficient." A clause that discusses un-foreseen obstacles should be included in any customer con-tracts, Koeninger cautions. This is particularly impor-tant when removing old side-
walks and similar tasks. "Nobody ever knows what's under there." At the property in Somers, huge boulders were discovered under the patio. "One time we 
found a car motor under a sidewalk that had to be re-moved." Blueprints are another method to insure that all par-ties are kept happy. "That prevents misunderstandings" in regard to what the customer wants and what the contractor is able to provide. A blueprint also permits underlings to supervise the 
work if the boss is called away. "Our foreman could run the entire job." LCI Have a SPILL? Call Chemtrec 1-800-424-9300 Palm trees need more care to fight fungi Proper maintenance and care of newly planted palms is critical to their health, says Howard Ohr, co-operative extension plant pa-thologist at the University of California, Riverside. He notes that three of the four main diseases of Califor-nia palmsŠpink rot, diamond scale and Fusarium wiltŠare caused by fungi and are avoid-
able and treatable. The fourth ailment, called Dow sets business seminars MIDLAND, MICH. The Dow Chemical Co. is conducting a 
series of business manage-ment seminars for LCOs. The one-day programs will provide information on finan-cial planning for 1990; creating a meaningful profit and loss statement; and landscape maintenance bidding. They 
feature industry consultants Dr. Rudd McGary and Ed 
Wandtke of All-Green Man-agement Associates in Colum-bus, Ohio. The seminars are set for Oct. 18 (in conjuction with the 
Colorado Association of Lawn Care Professionals), Denver; 
Dec. 11, Rochester, N.Y.; Dec. 12, New Jersey; Dec. 13, Pitts-burgh, Pa.; and Dec. 14, Har-risburg, Pa. For more information con-tact Dow at (800) 248-6700. For information on the Colo-rado meeting call (913) 451-2000; for information on the New Jersey meeting call (609) 234-0400. LCI trunk bending, is a disorder of 
unknown origin that is becom-ing more widespread in South-ern California. "Distortion of foliar growth and trunks are typical symp-
toms that result in downward 
bending of the trunk," Ohr 
says. "Isolations from palm tissues haven't yielded any pathogens to date." Pink rot (also known as pink bud rot or penicillium rot) is perhaps the most com-
mon disease of California palms. It occurs in the greenhouse and in landscape and con-
tainer-grown trees. Trees affected by pink rot include the California fan palm, the Mexican fan palm, 
the Canary Island date palm, 
the Senegal date palm and the Queen palm. Warm and humid green-house conditions are ideal for the growth of the fungus that 
causes pink rot. Susceptible landscape spe-cies such as the California fan palm are attacked by the fungus' spores, which can be spread by air currents or 
splashed from infected to healthy trees. The California fan palm isn't recommended for coastal plantings because it doesn't recover well from winter stress and infections in the cooler 
areas. Careful selection of palm species, site preparation and post-plant care provide the best control of pink rot in landscape palms. Palms should be kept healthy by supplying adequate water and nutrition to mature, 
established plantings. Currently, benomyl is used for pink rot control with mixed results. Poor control may occur because of the se-verity of the disease, fre-quency or timing of spraying, 
or no spray coverage. Queen palms are also sus-ceptible to the pink rot fungus, but instead of attacking the 
bud as it does in the fan palm, 
the fungus attacks the tree 
trunk, gaining entry through 
wounds and growth cracks. It isn't uncommon to find trunk cankers (lesions) that start after tree trimmers have wounded a tree with their spikes. The disease is prevalent in coastal cities such as Ventura but is also found in inland cit-ies such as Riverside. Tree surgery, when com-bined with benomyl sprays, has been an effective control. The best control is to avoid 
trunk wounds. Diamond scale is a common disease of California palms. It 
causes early yellowing and 
browning of the palm fronds 
on the lower half of the tree canopy and diamond-shaped pustules on the leaves. Bordeaux mixtures can provide partial control of dia-mond scale. Before spraying, all affected leaves and leaf bases should be removed to re-duce the spores. LCI Brouwer turf roller model TR224... Designed specially for Rental, Landscapers and other contractors, with proven components for ^reliability and minimum servicing. Outstanding Features Ł Proven single lever F-N-R clutchless transmission Ł Honda 5 h.p. engine for reliability and economy Ł Unique rounded-edge rollers to prevent turf damage Ł 24 in. wide rollers for access to narrow paths Ł Lever assist steering for exceptional maneuverability Ł Two fill/drain plugs per roller for convenience. For more information contact your Brouwer dealer... TODAY BROUWER TURF EQUIPMENT LIMITED An Outboard Marine Corporation Company 7320 Haggerly Rd /Canton Ml. 48187 Telephone 1313) 489 3700 Avenue/Keswick, Ontario. Canada L4P 3E9 Telex 065 24161 Telephone: (416)476-4311 Circle No. 102 on Reader Inquiry Card Landscapers Replacement Engine Specials RIDING MOWER-LAWN TRACTOR OVXL120 - OVERHEAD VALVE 12 H.P. Overhead valves Cast iron Sleeve Ultra-Balanced Recoil Start Electronic ignition 3 Qt. Rust Proof Fuel Tank Multi-Stage Air Cleaner Oil Pump Lubrication $3702 & FACTORY FREIGHT FIND YOUR AUTHORIZED TECUMSEH SERVICE DEALER IN THE YELLOW PACE DIRECTORY "ENGINES, GASOLINE" LISTING AT ALL PARTICIPATING TECUMSEH DEALERS 2 YEAR WARRANTIES ROTARY MOWER TVXL840 - TWO CYCLE 4 H.P. Ball & Roller Bearings Electronic ignition Dual Element Air Filter Cast iron Cylinder Sleeve Mechanical Governor $19235 I ^ A &DEA DEALER FREIGHT ROTARY MOWER 804109B - FOUR CYCLE 4 H.P. Electronic ignition Float Carburetor Oil Pump Lubrication Dual Element Air Filter Mechanical Governor Auto/Compression Release Soft Pull Recoil Starter ^ 2 & DEALER FREIGHT TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY - ENGINE & TRANSMISSION CROUP SERVICE DIVISION PRESERVATION PLAN ON IT Planning on restoring a house, saving a landmark, reviving your neighborhood? Gain a wealth of experience and help preserve our historic and architectural heritage. Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation and support preservation efforts in your community. Make preservation a blueprint for the future. Write: National Trust for Historic Preservation Department PA 1785 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 HANCHETT RESIDENCE PARK. SAN JOSE. CA CLASSIFIED RATES: $1.00 per word (minimum charge, $35). Boldface words or words in all capital letters charged at $1.25 per word. Boxed or display ads charged at 1X $85; 3X $80; 6X $75; 9X $70; 12X $65 per column inch (one inch minimum). (Frequencies based on a calender year). Agency commission 
allowed only when camera ready art is provided by 
agency. For ads using blind box numbers add $15 to total cost of ad. Send ad copy with payment to: DAWN NILSEN, LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802. (218) 723-9505. Fax 
Number (218) 723-9615. BOX NUMBER REPLIES: Mail box number replies 
to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, Classified Ad De-partment, 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802. Please include box number in address. FOR SALE HANNAY HOSE REELS: New in the box. E1526's and E1530's - $349.00 We will ship and pay freight 
anywhere in the U.S.A. and Canada. Immediate 
delivery. Other size reels and parts available at 
fabulous savings! Call 313-543-2200, in Michigan. 
Outside Michigan - 1-800-843-LAWN. TF ROYER DIRT SHREDDER Model 182. In Excellent Condition. $9,000 or B/O. 313-243-3382 or 313-243-8522 Evenings. Jack's Lawn Service, Monroe, Mich. 9/89 BIG OX FACTORY CLOSE-OUT! 1989 Mounted 3 Point Hitch Commercial 60" Estate Mowers -$795. 1989 60" Rotary Tillers - $695. F.O.B., Galva, Illinois. Call Jack Dalton (309)932-2184. 9/89 Don't panic Go Organic A rich green lawn, healthy shrubs and trees S Natural Food Grade Fertilizers </ All Trees, Shrubs, Flowers / Natural Fungus & Disease Control V Garden Plants & Soil S Aeration Products Our products are non-toxic, non-poisonous and will not harm your children or pets. 
Safe to use next to ponds, lakes and 
streams. Safe for new seeding too, because our products are salt and acid free. Dealer Inquiries: Call 800-798-1069 "I'm not harming a living thing." Organic & Lawn Care "we're nature friendly" Circle No. 122 on Reader Inquiry Card GMC SPRAY TRUCKS Diesel. 1-1981, 47,000 miles, 1,400 Gallon steel tank with Hypro D-50 PTO pump. Electric Hanay hose reel. 1-1982, 40,000 miles, 1,000 Gallon steel tank with Bean PTO pump. Electric Hanay hose reel. Both very clean. (612)437-6622. 9/89 Very profitable 19 year old Lawn and Landscaping Company servicing Northern New Jersey. Hun-dreds of active accounts Spray and granular appli-
cations. Recently added full service landscaping. Much equipment. Retiring to Florida. Marty Teitelbaum (201)492-1189. 9/89 FOR SALE: APPROXIMATELY 400 CUSTOMERS 
in Dayton and Xenia, Ohio area. I am planning to 
reduce the area I service with my Lawn Care Busi-ness so I am offering these customers for sale. Call (513)828-1321, Ohio Toll Free (800)368-5296. 9/89 USED CHIPPERS, BUCKET TRUCKS, BOOM TRUCKS: Stump grinders, stake bodies, tree 
trucks and dumps. New Morbark and Woodchuck Chippers. Rayco stump grinders at discount prices. We also buy trucks and equipment. Op-dyke, Inc., Hatfield, PA (Phil, area) 215-721-4444. 2/90 Bowie Hydromulcher 1100: Trailer mounted with extra duty suspension and extra wide tires, Kubota Diesel powered with heavy duty clutches and powertrain, centrifugal pump and electric hose reel with hose. Well maintained. No rust. $11,900. Call Gary at (317)873-5231. 9/89 WANTED Wanted to Buy - Lawn care companies of all sizes 
anywhere in U.S. wanted to purchase by national 
corporation. If interested, please respond to LCI Box 197. Strict confidentiality maintained. TF WANTED TO ACQUIRE Lawn care companies of all sizes in U.S. and Canada being sought by national cor-
poration. Complete buy out or 
stay and grow with us. If inter-ested, please call me directly: Don Karnes Senior Vice-President TRU GREEN CORPORATION (404) 442-8700 STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY MAINTAINED I TRU GREEN Sod cutting and renovating with a BROUWER sod cutterŁŁŁ designed to make your turf cutting and lawn renovating easy. Check these features: Ł Easy single lever operation Ł Easy adjustable handle bar Ł Easily handled Š lightweight Ł Easy transport and storage with kickstand and fold-away handle »Choice of blades For more information on this and other fine turf care equipment from Brouwer, contact your dealer ... today. Woodbine Ave., Keswick, Ont., Canada L4P 3E9 Tel. (416) 476-4311 Fax. (416) 476-5867 BROUWER TURF EQUIPMENT LIMITED An Outboard Marine Corporation Company 7320 Haggerty Rd., Canton, Ml. 48187 
Tel. (313) 459-3700 Fax. (313) 459-8778 LAWN CARE MANAGER in charge of production wanted for fast growing lawn care company. Tre-mendous potential for advancement and pay in-creases. Pleasant working conditions. Call 203-372-3511 (Bridgeport, CT) Ask for Tony or Bob. 9/89 Ohio landscape construction company wants to expand into landscape maintenance and is inter-
viewing Managers and Supervisors. Excellent 
compensation package. Send resume or letter de-scribing your experience to: Landscape Mana-gers, 11738 Lake Ave., Suite 203, Lakewood, Ohio 44107. 10/89 "Consider all of your employment options in the irrigation and landscape industries. Call Floraper-sonnel, the international employee search firm for the ornamental horticulture industry. Completely confidential. Employer pays fee. Florapersonnel, Inc., P.O. Box 1732,1450 S. Woodland Blvd., Suite 201, DeLand, FL 32721-1732. (904)738-5151. Jim Bambrick, Jeff Brower, David Shaw, CPC, Bob Zahra, CPC." TF HELP WANTED Lawn Doctor, Inc. needs a graduate Agronomist with a minimum BS Degree for National staff work 
with franchises on turf programs, training, safety and regulation. Practical experience with warm season grasses a plus; good communication skills a must. Medium travel from New Jersey Corporate Headquarters. (201)583-3200 or resume/salary history to John Buechner, Lawn Doctor, 73 Atlan-tic Avenue, Matawan, NJ 07747. 9/89 THE PROFESSIONAL LAWN CARE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA We're known by the companies we keep. Virtually every one of America's top 100 lawn care service companies are PLCAA members. But you don't have to be big to know a good thing when you see 
it. Altogether, over 1000 
companies are PLCAA members, 
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corporations to small, growing businesses. PLCAA is their professional edge. PLCAA offers resources unavailable anywhere else. Seminars, publications and training programs. Business and legal newsletters. Cost-saving group health insurance. Environmental voice to defend them in an increasingly hostile political arena. To find out more about what PLCAA can do for you, fill out and mail the coupon below or call us at 1-404-977-5222. Discover for yourself what successful companies already knowŠthat membership in the Professional 
Lawn Care Association of America doesn't really costŠit pays. \ g g I'm interested. Send me more information! Name. 1 I I 
I Company _ Address __ City. State. ZIP _ 
Telephone No.. Mail to: Professional Lawn Care Association of America 1225 Johnson Ferry Road NE Suite B 220, Marietta, GA 30068 I J 89-116P Copyright 1989 Brouwer Turf Equipment Limited Circle No. 103 on Reader Inquiry Card MISCELLANEOUS LANDSCAPE TRAINING VIDEOS Intermediate mower maintenance field and shop repair; efficient/profitable mowing techniques; professional shrub trimming, plant installation, basic landscape plan drawing, etc ENGLISH AND SPANISH. 
Write for free brochure. C.D. Anderson Landscape Videos 515 Ogden Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515 1-800-937-0399 CURBMATE-THE MONEY MACHINE. Patented, electrically driven and self-propelled machine pro-duces beautiful continuous concrete landscape edging. Simplifies the installation of concrete bor-ders between lawns and flower beds, along driv-eways and sidewalks, etc. Applications for residential and commercial settings, golf courses, etc. Turn $5,000-$10,000 equipment purchase into $50,000-$100,000 potential annual income. 
(801)273-3938. 9/89 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES NO. ADVERTISER ADVERTISERS INDEX PAGE NO. ADVERTISER PAGE 102 Brouwer 25 103 Brouwer 26 101 Burlingham 18 106 Classen 27 
104 Cushman 2 105 Cushman 15 
107 Dow Agricultural 12-13 108 Elanco 17 109 Finn Corporation 27 110 Howard Johnson 8-9 
111 Jacklin Seed Co 3 121 Jacobsen 14 
112 Lebanon 4 113 Lesco 28 
114 Milwaukee Sewerage 7 115 Mobay 11 
118 Monsanto 20-21 
122 Organic Lawn Co 26 
117 Pennington 10 116 ServiceMaster 19 119 Tecumseh 25 120 Turf Seed 16 This index provided as an additional service. The publisher assumes no liability for ommission or error. If These Words Don't Scare You... OPPORTUNITY ENTREPRENEUR Financial Independence OWNERSHIP .. .Then This Ad's For You! It's a fact Š the most successful people work for themselves. And now Š so can you. Barefoot Grass Lawn Service now offers the opportunity for independent, ambitious, hard-working people to own and manage their own business. If you think it's about time you put your skills and experience to work for you, then this oppor-tunity is yours to grab. Barefoot Grass is a rapidly growing lawn service (3rd largest) with a nationwide fran-chise network that has been successfully operating for over 13 years. Many franchise opportunities are still available around the country. If you're serious about your future and want to manage your own success then call Barefoot Grass Lawn Service about your franchise. We are the fastest growing major lawn service in the nation. Come join us. Capital requirements start at $25,000. For more information call or write: Mark Long, 1018 Proprietors Rd., Worthington, OH 43085 GBaiefbot Grassr (614)846-1800 LAWN SERVICE CURB KING: Curbing machine that lays continu-ous concrete landscape borders. Low investment, high returns. For information call 303-434-5337 or write PO Box 40567, Grand Junction, CO 81504. 9/89 send a Classified Advertising Message... ... write here. (Please Print) 1. Number of insertions: (circle) 1 2 3 6 9 12 TF (Til Forbid) 2. Start with (month) issue. (Copy must be in by 1st of preceding month.) 3. Amount enclosed: $ To keep our rates as low as possible, payment must accompany order. SIGNATURE DATE NAME COMPANY STREET CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER MAIL AD COPY TO: Dawn Nilsen, LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, 1 East First Street, Duluth, MN 55802. RATES: $1.00 per word (minimum charge, $35). Boldface words or words in all capital letters charged at $1.25 per word. Boxed or display ads charged at 1 x$85; 3x$80; 6x$75; 9x$70; 12x$65 per column inch (one inch minimum). (Frequencies based on a calender year). Agency commission allowed only when camera ready art is provided by agency.For ads using blind box number, add $15 to 
total cost of the ad. Attn: Small Landscapers... the T-50 HydroSeeder® means business. The Finn T-50 yields a top-notch finished job in less time and with less manpower than any other comparable machine on the market. Mixing, suspending and spraying of heavier concentrations of seed, fertilizers, lime and fiber mulches makes the T-50 a real profit workhorse. Your profits will increase because of the terrific cost savings in time and labor. Before you -r^Ž m know it, you'll be competing with the big guys... r T50 HYDROSEEDER Just look at all these benefits: Ł Coverage of 6,000 to 7,000 square feet per tank load Ł Economical, one man operation Ł Variable speed, reversible, hydraulic motor driven agitator Ł Option of diesel power for added operating economy ONE TOLL FREE CALL PUTS YOU IN TOUCH WITH ALL THE FACTS. Toll Free (800) 543-7166 Ohio residents call collect: (513) 874-2818 CORPORATION 9281 LeSaintDrive#Fairfie,cl'0hio45014 ,(513)8742818 AMERICA'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF EROSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT. FiNN GRAVITY Ł SELF-PROPELLED -QUIET RUNNING Ł STRAIGHT UP-AND-DOWN MOTION FOR BETTER PENETRATION Ł EASY MANEUVERING Ł LOW MAINTENANCE Ł ROLLER BEARINGS-CASE HARDENED SHAFT Ł THREE MODELS. Model 400 Model 500 Model 600 24,000 sq. ft./hr. 26,000 sq. ft./hr. 36,000 sq. ft./hr. Classen Mfg. Inc. 1403 Pine Industrial Road Ł Norfolk, NE 68701 Ph. 402/371-2294 Circle No. 109 on Reader Inquiry Card Circle No. 106 on Reader Inquiry Card With all you have to do, "' ood to know one decision is easy Booking your PRE-M order may be one of the easiest business decisions you make all year. That's because LESCO PRE-M® 60 DG Herbicide delivers outstanding preemergent weed control at a cost and performance no other product can match. With the active ingredient pendimethalin, PRE-M delivers broad spec-
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round cash flow. LESCO, Inc., 20005 Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116 (216) 333-9250 PRE-M 60 DG Herbicide kS^ssss"-ingredients 6000% 4000% TOTAL 10000% KKP OUT OF REACH Of CWUJflEN CAUTION ^scolTl Net 10 lb. 5 Or*,* #011965 Always read and follow label instructions before applying any herbicide product. PRE-M® is a registered trademark of LESCO, Inc. (7 CYANAMID Agricultural Division VPC Ventures Wayne. NJ 07470 Circle No. 113 on Reader Inquiry Card