Annual product expenditures Product Grass seed Fraction of sample purchasing 73.3% Average per purchaser $ 3,205 Dry-applied fertilizer 81.6 5,704 Liquid-applied fertilizer 37.9 12,399 Pre-emergence herbicides 78.2 6,085 Post-emergence herbicides 66.5 3,079 Turf insecticides 71.4 4,493 Turf fungicides 53.9 1,745 Soil amendments 30.6 1,195 Tree insecticides 34.9 1,811 Tree fungicides 15.5 851 Source 1981 LCI survey HBj A Harcourt Brace Jovanovicn Publication X.CI SURVEY 8 of 10 fertilize diy, 4 of 10 liquid, many companies use both More than eight of 10 lawn care companies apply dry fertilizer, and almost four of 10 apply liquid, but the liquid companies are spending more on fertilizer pur-chases, according to a recent sur-vey conducted of the readers of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. This data indicates that while there are more companies using dry fertilizer, the larger companies are using liquid. Also, many com-panies utilize both liquid and dry fertilizers in their customer pro-grams. In the survey, 81.6 percent of the readers of the magazine said they purchased an average of $5,704 worth of dry-applied fertilizer an-
nually. The survey also showed 
that 37.9 percent of the magazine's readers said they purchased an to page 8 Volume 6, Number 1 JANUARY 1982 KY Serving lawn maintenance and chemical lawn care professionals 774 ATTEND PLCAA LOUISVILLE SHOW Erbaugh is PLCAA president J. Martin Erbaugh, president of Lawnmark Associates, Peninsula, 
Ohio, was elected president of the Professional Lawn Care Associa-tion of America (PLCAA) at the group's recent meeting in Louis-
ville, Ky. Almost 800 lawn care businessmen attended the three-day conference and trade show, 
about a 10 percent increase over the previous year's attendance. The trade show featured 84 exhibitors in 144 booths. This was about a 65 percent increase in exhibitors and more than a 100 
percent increase in exhibit booths 
over the previous year's show. KTHT Dealers and lawn care businessmen mingle on exhibition floor QUICK STARTS ALCA business workshop 5 Turner on thatch crisis 8 Kansas panel on zoysia 11 L.A. maintenance marketplace 14 Golf course defector 28 New Ford tractor line 30 Upfront 4 Marketing Idea File 27 Moneywise 36 
Cost Cuttings 26 Tools, Tips, Techniques 18 Products 37 
Newsmakers 33 Meeting Dates 33 MISP 0010570 M M DH P F RI^KF PPHF MICHIGAN S T AT r UNI V CROP E SOIL SCL E LANSING M I 48828 SCF Elected vice president was Ron-nie Zwiebel, Green Care Lawn Service, Inc., Birmingham, Ala. 
Elected secretary-treasurer was 
Don Burton, Lawn Medic, Inc., Bergen, N.Y. There were four new board members elected. They were: Bill 
Fischer, Spring-Green Lawn Care Corp., Plainfield, 111.; Des Rice, The Weed Man, Mississauga, On-
tario; Paul Bizon, Prograss Lawn Service, Hubbard, Ore.; and John Kenney, Turf Doctor, Inc., 
Framingham, Mass. Board members who will be continuing their terms are: Doug 
Baker, Leisure Lawn, Inc., West Carrollton, Ohio; John Latting, Lawn Groomer, Normal, 111., Larry Brandt, Spray-A-Lawn, Cincin-nati, Ohio; Dr. Robert Miller, ChemLawn Corp., Columbus, Ohio; Gordon Ober, Davey Lawnscape Service, Kent, Ohio; Marty Erbaugh and Rick White, Village Green Lawn Spraying, Ltd., West Chicago, 111. Continuing on the board as past president is Jerry Faulring, Hydro 
Lawn, Gaithersburg, Md. Chosen 
to be the associate member on the 
board to serve as supplier's liaison 
was Bill Stinson, O. M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio. Continu-to page 24 ŁŁŁŁ 3-5 YEAR LAWN QUALITY DECLINE? Aerification: The missing fink in today's industry? The growth of the lawn care industry in the United States in the last 10 to 15 years has been nothing less than astronomical. The beaut-
iful lawn that in the late 60's was within reach of only the wealthy 
who could afford a gardener or the local agronomic nut who missed Dr. John Hall: "The disturb-ing observa-tion made by honest lawn service com-panies is that some lawns on their programs seem to have their best quality after being on the 
program three 
to five years." his calling, was finally put in reach of the average middle-class family by today's lawn care industry, says Dr. John R. Hall, turf extension agronomist at Virginia Tech. " A nice lawn has always been an integral part of the 'Great American Dream,' and now part of that dream can be purchased just like a 
house, car and boat," Dr. Hall said. 
"The lawn care industry is well-entrenched and is providing a much-desired service to today's 
society." He feels the future of the lawn care industry looks bright, but there are indeed some problens. "The disturbing observation made by honest lawn service com-panies is that some lawns on their programs seem to have their best to page 23 n > Make sure your lawn care jobs don't come back to haunt you. With labor and gasoline what they are today, the cost of a call-back is fright-ening. Add in the hidden costs of unhappy customers, and it's enough to scare you to death. That's why you need DURSBAN* insecticide in at least two of your yearly applications. You see, in most parts of the country, insects are a problem in both the Spring and later on in the Summer. If they don't get you the first time, they just might get you the second. And that can mean costly call-backs. So think twice before you decide to skimp on DURSBAN. And think about how little it costs-as little as $3.50 for a 10,000 sq. ft. lawn. Which is a lot less than the cost of a call-back. DURSBAN insecticide gives you results you can count on, too. It gets all your major problem bugs. And it controls them 
for up to eight weeks instead of the more common four to six. DURSBAN. Makes sure all your returns are happy returns. Available in 2E and 
double-strength 4E formulations. See your Dow distributor. Also ask him about our new "DURSBAN delivers 
the goods'' incentive program. Be sure to 
read and follow all label directions and precautions. Agricultural Products Depart-
ment, Midland, Michigan 48640. DURSBAN Call-backs haven't a ghost of a chance. DOW Chemical U.5.A. ŁTrademark of The Dow Chemical Company. Ad No.: 1907 UPFRONT 00 Ol Z < >« oc H C/3 D Q Z i < U z £ < X y* / \ ^^jïWr : WML* ^ f « swPx Q Next show it's Indy Plans are already in the works for this year's Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) Conference and Trade Show, which is scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Headquarters hotel will be the Indianapolis Hyatt Regency, and further information can be obtained from: Jane Stecker, PLCAA, Suite 1717, 435 N. Michi-
gan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-
644-0828. Yes, PLCAA is already planning L4WN OIRE INDUSTRY ROBERT EARLEY, Editor/Publisher PAUL McCLOSKEY, Associate Editor JOAN HOLMES, Production Manager MARILYN MacDONALD, Production Supervisor DENISE JOHNSON, Graphic Design JOAN SMITH, Circulation Supervisor DAVID PETERSON, Reader Service Manager JULIE LAITIN, Promotion Director MARKETING/SALES New York Office: ROBERT EARLEY (212) 888-2892 757 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017 Southern Office: JIM BROOKS, National Sales Manager RON KEMPNER (404) 233-1817 3091 Maple Dr., Atlanta, GA 30305 Northwest Office: BOB MIEROW (206) 363-2864 1333 N.W. Norcross, Seattle, WA 98177 Classified: DAWN ANDERSON (218) 727-8511 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802 Please send advertising materials to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 120 W. Second St. Duluth, MN 55802 218-727-8511 HARCOURT BRACE JOVANOVICH PUBLICATIONS (HBJ ROBERT L. EDGELL, Chairman RICHARD MOELLER, President LARS FLADMARK, Executive Vice President 
ARLAND HIRMAN, Treasurer THOMAS GRENEY, Group Vice President EZRA PINCUS, Group Vice President LAWRENCE WITCHELl Group Vice President 
JOE BILDERBACH, Vice President JAMES GHERNA, Vice President GEORGE GLENN, Vice President HARRY RAMALEY, Vice President LAWN CARE INDUSTRY (USPS 397250) is published monthly by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications. Corporate and Editorial offices: 757 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Advertising offices: 757 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017, 111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601 and 3091 Maple Drive, 
Atlanta. Georgia 30305. Accounting, Advertising Production and Circulation offices: 1 East First Street. Duluth, Minnesota 55802. Subscription rates: one year, $15 in the United States. $18 in Canada; all other countries: $40. Single copies: $2 in the United States and Canada; all other countries $4.50. Second Class postage paid at Duluth, Minnesota 55806 and additional mailing offices. Copyright © 1981 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, P.O. Box 6200 Duluth, Minnesota 55806-9900. for next year, but what a show the group had in Louisville late last year. Booth space was up more than 100 percent, number of exhibiting companies was up more than 50 percent, and number of lawn care companies attending 
was up more than 15 percent. Not 
bad for PLCAA's second show. The business and educational sessions were well worth the 
crowded rooms, and the smaller 
workshops proved to be very use-
ful to the lawn care businessmen in attendance. Even the night workshops were well-attended. Many exhibitors said that floor activity was not as frenetic as it was at PLCAA's first show, but that 
might be explained in part by the strong efforts most suppliers are 
putting forth with aggressive early-order programs, that begin working before the November dates of the show. Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. has an aggressive early-order program available to lawi\ care businessmen, but their booth again proved to be the centerpiece 
of the PLCAA exhibits. The corn-ever, the liquid companies are purchasing more fertilizer, 
meaning that the larger com-
panies, for the most part, are 
liquid. There was also quite a bit of interest in Container Mfg.'s Tip 'N Measure for measuring concen-trates, Continental Software's computer package, Metromail 
Corp.'s mailing services, the PLCAA insurance booth, among many, many others. Not to men-tion activity in the Diamond Shamrock booth to find out when Dacthal will be available again, and also in booths of Rhone-
Poulenc, Stauffer, Lakeshore, Mallinckrodt, The Andersons, Patterson Green-Up and USS 
Agri-Chemicals, among others, to check on availability of alterna-tives to Dacthal for pre-emergence weed control. At the annual neeting, Jerry Faulring turned over the presi-
dential reins to Marty Erbaugh, of 
Lawnmark Associates, Peninsula, 
Ohio. Good luck to Marty and the 
PLCAA board for the future. ************** Lakeshore's booth: Focal point of the pany has been zeroing in on the lawn care businessman for longer than most suppliers, and the traffic 
that came through its well-staffed booth was testament to how long they have been around. Right next to Lakeshore in the center of the exhibit floor was the 
Professional Turf Specialties/ 
Bulkkem, Inc. booth. Bulkkem's bulk concept of materials handling 
created a lot of interest at the show, 
and it will be interesting to see how the concept fares during the 
upcoming lawn care season. Many lawn care businessmen stopped by The Andersons' booth 
to inquire about the company's fertilizers and Pel-Tech pelletized benefin. It was the same story at 
the C. P. Chemical Co. booth, where many were interested in the company's new liquid fertilizer. There were quite a few fertilizer suppliers present, including BFC Chemicals, Inc., Allied Chemical, W. A. Cleary Chemical Corp., 
Estech General Chemicals, Haw-keye Chemical Co., Howard Johnson's Enterprises, Knox Fer-tilizer & Chemical Co., Lakeshore, Lebanon Chemical Corp., Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, N-P-K-Ca 
Concepts, Inc., Patterson Green-Up Co., Plant Food Chemi-cal Co., O. M. Scott & Sons, USS Agri-Chemicals and Vogel Seed & Fertilizer, Inc., just to name some of them. This is a far cry from just a few years ago, when there were 
very few fertilizer suppliers who 
were interested in the lawn care industry. As you can see from the chart on page 1 of this issue, about eight out of 10 lawn care com-panies used dry-applied fertilizers and about four out of 10 use liquid-applied fertilizers. How-PLCAA show floor At the recent ChemLawn-sponsored Symposium on Turf-grass Weeds, the company's Dr. Barry Troutnan told the audience that "thatch is a time bomb waiting to go off." From all of the people we have spoken to in the industry, this very much seems to be the case. As Virginia Tech's Dr. John 
Hall says in the issue, "The dis-turbing observation made by hon-est lawn service companies is that 
some lawns on their programs seem to have their best quality after being on the program three to 
five years. After this time period, they seem to be declining in 
quality. One of the reasons for this decline in lawn quality is the excess buildup of thatch caused by 
annual maintenance programs 
which include three to five pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet plus insecticides, herbicides and 
limited amounts of fungicides." This issue carries three articles dealing with the thatch problem. The first contains Dr. Hall's com-ments, the second contains com-
ments from Dr. Thomas Turner of the University of Maryland, and the third is the report on a panel that took place at the Missouri Lawn & Turf Conference late last year dealing with thatch on zoysiagrass. If thatch is really a "time bomb waiting to go off" these articles are required reading for every lawn care businessman. U Oy ALCA 1981 MAINTENANCE SYMPOSIUM Maintenance contractors brainstorm at Cherry Hill The recent Associated Landscape Contractors of America 1981 Maintenance Symposium held in 
Cherry Hill, New Jersey was the subject of considerable national attention by lawn care mainte-nance companies interested in developing their marketing, budgeting, and selling methods 
for the coming maintenance sea-son. Attended by over 150 mainte-nance contractors from as far away as California and Texas, the sym-
posium offered four areas of con-centration: Marketing Potential, Budgeting for '82, Successful Sel-ling Methods, and Equipment Costing. Each topic was presented 
by a principal speaker and then followed up with a group work-shop in which attendees were invited to work out specific prob-
lems. The marketing potential semi-nar, presented by Ken and Tom 
Oyler, Oyler Brothers Co., Or-lando, FL, and Ray Gustin of Gustin Gardens in Gaithersburg, 
MD, defined marketing as the working balance between your company's sales vs. market poten-tial. Among the significant points raised were: Marketing guidelines Ł There are five types of data sources available for determining 
market potential: population fig-ures, income, employment rates, sales and state tax rates. These 
figures will provide you with "a nucleus of concentration of both consumer and industrial mar-kets," said Gustin. Ł Read reference publications, trade publications, and even pub-lications of interest to your clients. They provide both specific and intangible knowledge of your market. Ł Use consultants. They have been used widely by the land-scaping industry in general. Find 
one with some industry experi-ence. Ł Define your geographic area. Determine who the most profitable clientele will be. Ł Subtle marketing techniques. Membership in civic associations, 
trade associations, and neighbor-hood groups can provide you with valuable leads and give you greater knowledge of your 
marketplace, said Oyler. Ł Many colleges and univer-sities have business and marketing 
classes and are looking for com-panies for the subject of marketing research projects. It's inexpensive 
and you can get tremendous re-sults. Richard Reasoner of Dendron, Inc., Novato, CA, presented a seminar on how to budget prop-erly for 1982. Among the principal issues raised was the reminder that "billings do not equal sales, earned revenue equals sales," Reasoner said. One of the more popular semi-nars, Successful Selling Methods, 
was presented as a series of 
video-taped workshops conducted by Steve Brown, president of the Fortune Group. The session was 
moderated by Irv Dickson of the ChemLawn Corporation. During the presentation Brown explored the realities behind the common dictum that in order to be 
a successful salesperson, one has "to have the right attitude." At-
titudes, said Brown, are not ac-quired by willpower, but changed 
only by environment and condi-tion. One of the ways to maintain a successful attitude, said Brown, is the development of product knowledge. Like a physician, he 
submitted, the lawn maintenance sales person must be totally in-formed of his product and field. "Self confidence in sales is the result of product knowledge, people knowledge, and selling skills," said Brown. A salesperson must have em-pathy toward his clients, said Brown. Empathy he defined as the ability to project yourself into the mind of the client. "The test for positive empathy," said Brown, "is deternining how accurately you can predict how the other person will think." Creating confidence Brown closed his seminar with a guideline for successful sales in the form of an acronym. Creative sales, said Brown, is the result of the ability to Create confidence, Revitalize the mind, Evince logi-cally, Arouse desire, Trigger 
urgency, and Effect closure: 
C.R.E.A.T.E. The final presentation and workshop was moderated by Phil 
Christian of the ChemLawn Corp., who spoke on Equipment Costing. to page 25 Brown: "Self confidence in 
sales is the result 
of product, people, and sell-ing knowledge Oyler: "Member-
ship in civic and trade organiza-
tions can provide valuable mar-keting leads. " Gustin: "You have to deter-mine a nucleus of 
concentration of both consumer and industrial markets You can win against weeds in early spring and lose to disease by early summer. But that won't happen when you make two applications of Daconil 2787* flowable fungicide a basic part of your early season program. Daconil 2787 controls Helminthosporium leaf spot, red thread and dollar spot. The three major diseases that can destroy everything you've done early in the season to give your customers a vigorous, good looking lawn. Leaf spot develops in cool weather when temperatures range between 45° and 60°F. Dollar spot and red thread immediately follow, developing at temperatures between 60° and 75°F which is exactly the time when leaf spot starts to become severe. First rate, effective control of all three diseases starts with Daconil 2787. Get the first spray on at "green up" or shortly after the first mowing. Make your second Daconil 2787 spray two to three weeks later. And count on superior coverage, unsurpassed retention and proven residual control. Plus excellent turf tolerance. What's more, Daconil 2787 is just as effective against 29 ornamental diseases. So when you start your early season program this year, don t forget to fight disease with Daconil 2787 fungicide while you fight weeds. Daconil 2787 from Diamond Shamrock. It's the way to healthier lawns, better customer satisfaction 
and higher profits. For a FREE copy of our Disease and weed control guide for turf and ornamentals, write: Diamond Shamrock, Agricultural Chemicals Division, 1100 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Diamond Shamrock Agricultural Chemicals Division Diamond Shamrock Corporation 1100 Superior Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Always follow label directions carefully when using turf chemicals. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR ROUNDUP Roundup* is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. © Monsanto Company 1982. RUP-SP2-102 Lots of lawn care jobs you do are easier and faster with Roundup. Wherever you use it, Roundup* herbicide helps make weed control around your cus-tomers' homes fast, easy and effective. Just one application of Roundup controls tough labeled weeds right down to the roots, so they won't 
grow back. That means less need for time-
consuming repeat treatments. And Roundup has no residual soil activity, so it can't wash or leach from treated areas to injure desirable vegetation. Whether you apply Roundup with a back-pack sprayer or a hand-held wiper, it effectively controls weeds wherever they grow. Around shrubs and bushes. In sidewalk cracks. Along driveways. At the base of trees. Along fences. In and around flowering ornamentals. Spot lawn renovation. 
Edging around obstacles. You name itŠthere's virtually no limit to the uses of Roundup! So reach for Roundup before you begin your next lawn care job. It'll help make weed control faster and easierŠwhich can mean more profit 
for you. FOR A FREE GUIDE TO ROUNDUP, CALL 1-800-621-5800 TOLL FREE. IN ILLINOIS, CALL 1-800-972-5858. Monsanto VERSATILE, Circle No. 120 on Reader Inquiry Card LAWN CARE NOTEBOOK Thatch control: the key to turfgrass management One of the major recurring prob-lems observed in turf is the forma-tion of thatch. This is due in part to the interrelationship of the detri-mental effects of thatch with the weather, but also in part to the failure of the lawn care business-man to stay on a program designed to minimize thatch. Too often, an attempt is made to control thatch and then it is ig-
nored and it builds up again to detrimental levels. Although thatch is certainly not a new problem, it is one of which the 
lawn care businessman must al-ways be aware, says Dr. Thomas R. Turner, extension turfgrass specialist at the University of Maryland. Thatch has been defined as a tightly intermingled layer of living and dead stems, roots and leaves 
which develops between the green 
vegetation and the soil surface, Dr. Turner said. It is formed from the periodic sloughing of roots, 
rhizomes, stolons and mature leaf sheaths and blades. However, 
clippings (leaf blades) do not ap-pear to be nearly as major a 
contributor to thatch build-up as 
the other plant parts mentioned. Where little thatch exists, clip-pings should not be expected to contribute to thatch and contribute to nutrient recycling. Where sub-stantial thatch already exists, 
however, clippings may decom-pose more slowly and thus can contribute to thatch. Therefore, return of clippings will probably be beneficial where little thatch exists, whereas clippings should be removed where a thatch prob-lem already exists. A thatch layer will begin to form and increase in depth whenever: Ł Conditions are favorable for increased vegetative production and the subsequent death of plants 
or plant parts and/or Ł Conditions are unfavorable for the decomposition of organic matter. Excessive nitrogen Many factors are involved in these processes, but several have been shown to be of particular importance. They include vigor-ous species and cultivars, exces-sive nitrogen fertility, poor soil 
conditions and use of pesticides. Vigorous shoot, rhizone and root producers will tend to form 
thatch more quickly. Also, some species Š such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass Š contain greater 
amounts of plant constituents 
which are more resistant to de-
composition than many other species. Thus, thatch tends to form 
more quickly. Bunch-type grasses 
also tend to produce thatch at a slower rate than rhizomatous or 
creeping-type grasses. One advantage of perennial rye-grass (bunch-type) over Kentucky bluegrass (rhizomatous) is its ten-dency to produce much less thatch. Large differences can also exist among cultivars. Kentucky bluegrass such as Merion and Birka will produce more thatch than a less vigorous cultivar such as South Dakota common. Increasing nitrogen fertility re-sults in increased shoot and root production, Dr. Turner said. Ap-
plying more nitrogen than is 
needed for satisfactory recupera-tive potential and visual quality 
will thus increase the rate of thatch 
accumulation as well as contribute to a variety of other problems. Since the breakdown of the organic debris which causes 
thatch is dependent on soil micro-bial activity, any soil condition which is detrimental to microbial activity will result in thatch ac-cumulation. Thus, acidic soils (less than 6.0 pH), poorly aerated soils caused by compaction and excessively wet soil caused by 
either poor drainage or excessive irrigation will eventually result in thatch buildup. Earthworm diet The use of certain pesticides in the past has been shown to contri-
bute to thatch buildup, either through a direct effect on earth-
worms or soil microbial popula-tions or an indirect effect on these organisms through changes in soil 
conditions, such as lowering pH. 
Pre-emergence herbicides used in the past, such as bandane and calcium arsenate, have resulted in significant buildup of thatch, pri-
marily due to their effect on re-ducing earthworm populations. Pre-emergence herbicides such as DCPA, siduron, benefin and bensulide, have no detrimental effects on earthworms and do not induce thatch buildup. Continued to page 27 CHART from page one average of $12,399 worth of liquid-applied fertilizers annu-ally. For grass seed, 73.3 percent of the readers said they purchased an average of $3,205 worth of prod-uct. For pre-emergence herbicides, 78.2 percent of the readers said they purchased an average of $6,085 worth of product. For post-emergence herbicides, 66.5 percent of the readers said they purchased an average of $3,079 
worth of product. For turf insec-ticides, 71.4 percent of the readers said they purchased an average of 
$4,493 worth of product. For turf fungicides, 53.9 percent of the readers said they purchased an average of $1,745 worth of product. For soil amendments, 30.6 percent of the readers said they purchased an average of $1,195 worth of product. For tree 
fungicides, 15.5 percent of the readers said they purchased an 
average of $851 worth of product. LESCOSAN CAN-- CONTROL CRABGRASS MORE EFFECTIVELY than any other pre-emergence herbicide. - CONTROL CRABGRASS LONGER than any other pre-emergence herbicide. - BE APPLIED WITH CONFIDENCE. Lescosan is labeled for bents. Lescosan does not damage grass roots or thin turf. - BE PURCHASED NOW IN CONVENIENT FORMS. Lescosan 4E is competitively priced, an emulsifiable concentrate, not a wettable powder, for ease in mixing and application. In addition to Lescosan 7G and 12.5G, Lescosan 3.6G -»- Fertilizer is available in a formulation to provide cleaner, greener turf with one application. LESCOSAN CAN DO ALL THIS. CAN YOU AFFORD TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE? Lescosan* (Betasan-registered trademark of Stauffer Chemical Co.) CALL BARB. SHELL TAKE YOUR ORDER. (800) 321-5325ŠNationwide The patented ?hheembeLsTgnUnun VJ\. \ (800) 362-7413-ln Ohio in the business LESC# PRODUCTS Division of Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. 300 South Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 (216)323-7544 Circle No. 117 on Reader Inquiry Card the Reader Service numbers of those items of interest to you. Inquiries serviced for 90 days from date of issue. For those countries outside the U.S., please apply appropriate postage before mailing READER SERVICE INFORMATION CARD 1-82 1 For more information on products or services mentioned in this issue, circle the corresponding numbers below, fill in appropriate information and mail today ¡21 108 115 122 129 136 143 150 157 164 102 109 116 123 130 137 144 151 " 103 110 117 124 131 138 145 152 132 139 146 153 133 140 147 154 161 134 141 148 155 135 142 149 156 PLEASE CHECK BELOW YOUR PRIMARY BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION: 104 111 118 105 112 119 126 106 113 120 127 107 114 121 128 A. CONTRACTOR OR SERVICES ŁLawn care service business involved primarily with fertilization, weed, and insect control Please specify method of application: 10 Ł Liquid 11 DDry 12 DBoth 20 Ł Primarily mowing/maintenance service 30 Ł Landscape contractor/lawn service company 40 Ł Nursery or garden center/lawn service company 50 DPest control/lawn service company 60 Ł Irrigation contractor/lawn service company B GROUNDS CARE/MAINTENANCE AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FACILITIES: 110 Ł Private or public estate 164 171 178 185 192 199 206 213 220 I 165 172 179 186 193 200 207 214 221 I 166 173 180 187 194 201 208 215 222 I 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 223 168 175 182 189 1S6 203 210 217 224 169 176 183 190 197 204 211 218 225 170 177 184 191 198 205 212 219 226 LOCATION: 238 120 130 140 ŁSchool, college, university, hospital, or similar facility 
ŁCondominium housing development or industrial park ŁGovernment grounds; parks, around municipal buildings, facilities 150 Ł Cemetery or memorial garden 190 Ł Other (please specify) military C SUPPLIER 210 Ł Chemical dealer or distributor 220 Ł Equipment dealer or distributor 
230 OSeed broker/dealer 240 DSod grower NAME BUSINESS NAME. CITY _TITLE . .ADDRESS _ _STATE_ _ZIP_ _TELEPHONE_L ) AREA CODE I WISH TO RECEIVE (CONTINUE RECEIVING) LAWN CARE INDUSTRY EACH MONTH Ł YES Ł NO SIGNATURE DATE BUSINESS REPLY CARD FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH, MINNESOTA POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE READER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WWN OIRE INDUSTRY POST OFFICE BOX 6200 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES KANSAS CONFERENCE PANEL Control thatch, control zoysia lawn problems We power rake every two or three years as a rule." He said he does not renovate before May 1, because he does not want to touch the lawn before it starts growing. He then comes in with a pre-emergence herbicide application right after the mechanical work to get the summer grassy weeds. He also no later than August. For renova-tion he recommends an E-Z Rake, Ryan Ren-O-Thin, Thin-O-Thatch, or F. D. Kees equipment. Hawes said that he sees in the Washington, D.C. area some of the 
oldest zoysia lawns in the country, some planted in the 1940's and 1950's. "If you control the thatch, Most problems on zoysiagrass home lawns are related to thatch build-up. If the lawn care businessman can control the thatch, he can control many of his lawn problems. This was the conclusion that was drawn by a panel of seven turfgrass experts at the recent Kansas State/Central Plaints Turf-
grass Foundation Turfgrass Con-ference held in Manhattan, Kan. 
Speaking on "Zoysia Lawn 
Maintenance and Problems" were: Moderator Larry Leuthold of the horticulture department at Kansas State; Fred Crowe, of the plant 
pathology department at Kansas 
State; Dick Grey, Crestview Coun-try Club in Kansas; Larry Stouse, 
Johnson County, Kansas hor-ticultural agent; Doug Hawes, U.S. Golf Association Green Section agronomist; horticultural agent John Pair; and Dick Crowl, Leisure Lawn, St. Joseph, Missouri. Main points brought out by the panel were: Ł There is a lack of information and uniformity on zoysia lawn maintenance, not all of the experts 
agree. Ł There is a strong correlation between higher mowing heights and thatch build-up. Ł Zoysia was originally sold as a cure-all in the Midwest transi-
tion zone; sound preventative maintenance programs have been 
neglected in the past. Ł "You can't power rake too often," one of the panel members 
said. Ł Heavy-duty renovation equipment and reel mowers are 
suggested for zoysia lawns. "Full-page ads for zoysia plugs are very much a merchandising scheme," Leuthold told the audi-
ence. "You send away, and they 
send you 100 dead zoysia plugs. 
When you send them back, they 
usually send you more dead plugs." Experts puzzled Leuthold said his department gets many requests about zoysia problems, and that there is a lack of uniform information on zoysia maintenance, and a lack of infor-mation on why some zoysia lawns look good and some bad. He said that when zoysia is mowed tall, it looks like Kentucky bluegrass. But he said the experts are not sure which is the best mowing height. "We do know that there is a correlation, a strong one, between higher mowing heights and thatch build-up," he said. Crowe said that he is concerned with disease reports on zoysia, but most are not sure what the problem 
is. He said that most of the prob-
lems are not infectious disease 
problems, although brown patch and rust is common. He said that most problems are stress or man-agement problems. Also, because zoysia is a slow-growing grass, it is often hard for it to keep up with 
chinch bug problems. Pair said: "We all thought that zoysia was the answer to our problems, but we neglected to sell 
preventative maintenance. You ought to figure on cultivating the lawn every 10 years." He also said that he has seen zoysia doing better in shade where the thatch is not so deep, and says: "Perhaps we oversold zoysia as heat and drought tolerant." Leisure Lawn's Crowl said that most problens his company ex-periences in zoysia lawns are related to thatch. "We always power rake when we have problems," he told the lawn care audience. "And we almost always have to use a vac-uum, because the debris is so fine. "We are still scratching our heads about all the problems we have had with zoysia. This attitude towards zoysia when it came out was that it was a cure-all, but management problems are opposite now. before is no around recommends mowing power raking, so there "wrapping" of the grass the equipment. As for fertilization, "We treat our lawn with our bluegrass fer-tilization program in spring, but not in fall," he said. He fertilizes you control your lawn problems," he told the audience. He recom-mends mowing with a heavy reel mower. Stouse said: "We are still scratching our heads about all of the problems we have had with zoysia. The attitude towards to page 33 |JsS/Vertagreen 10% Concentrated Balan8 For Professional Use USS Agri-Chemicals offers a Major breakthrough in crabgrass control NEW FORMULATION SAVES $8.00 PER ACRE! Ł More economical than other pre-emergence herbicides. Ł Ideal for liquid spray systems. Ł 20 pounds of product per acre provides 2 pounds of Balan. Ł Compatible with most N-P-K base fertilizers. Ł Contains special wetting agent for proper tank mixing. Ł Extremely effective in 1980 and 1981 applications. Ł Now available in time for 1982 application period. Price delivered anywhere in the continental U.S. O O Subject to change without notice Balan. a product of the Elanco Products Division of Eli Lilly and Company, is the trade name for technical benefin (UsS) Agri-Chemicals Division of United States Steel P O Box 1685. Atlanta. Georgia 30301 Phone: (404) 572-4132 Clip and mail this coupon today to receive more information on USS Vertagreen 10% Concentrated Balan * For Professional Use. Name Address City State - Zip _ S < u Announcing Now save time, labor, space and money with bulk delivery of Betamec-4* and Trimec ® TURF HERBICIDE It's decision time in the lawn-care industry. 1982 is a year of unparalleled opportunity for the efficient ... and correspondingly it is a year of peril for the 
inefficient: Bulkkem can substantially increase the efficiency of lawn care companies who use enough chemicals to justify bulk delivery and storage. The problems of careless spillage, materials left in the container, and all those drums to dispose of, no longer exist when you buy from Bulkkem. With bulk delivery you have more precise metering which 
results in more accuracy of ap-
plication thus eliminating cost-ly re-treatments. Furthermore, with Bulkkem service you can place firm orders which will guarantee delivery and firm, 
season-long prices. So if you have a lawn-care company and desire to grow through increased efficiency, Bulkkem is here to serve you. We can save you time, labor, space and money. What is BULKKEM? Bulkkem is a joint venture of PBI/GORDON Corporation Š the Trimec People Š and Lattick Incorporated with headquarters in Normal, Illinois. The purpose of Bulkkem is to substantially reduce herbicide costs by delivery in bulk ... Betamec-4 (Betasan); Trimec; Amine 2,4-D; and MCPP. It is doubtful that any organization is more aware of the problems of the lawn-care industry, and more capable of constructive help in solving lawn problems, than John Lat-ting and Steve Derrick of Lat-
tick Incorporated. They are totally immersed in the lawn-service business... it's their life! 
And they are both now 100% in-volved in the day-to-day man-agement of Bulkkem. PBI/GORDON Corpora-tion, on the other hand, is cer-
tainly the leading supplier of herbicides Š like Trimec and Betamec-4 Š to the turf indus-try. Gordon's experience in handling bulk is unmatched in the turf industry. Willis West, who has been in charge of lawn-care sales for PBI/GORDON, will now devote full time to Bulkkem, seeing to it that all the technical know-how of PBI/ GORDON is made available to customers of Bulkkem. What volume is required to justify BULKKEM? Perhaps desire to grow and increase efficiency is more of a factor than present chem-ical usage, because Bulkkem is able to tailor bulk facilities to 
your individual needs. 220-gallon mini-bulk tanks, and 
stationary systems of any ca-pacity are available. There are accurate metering systems for 
all sizes, and installations are supervised by the engineering 
staff of PBI/GORDON to help assure compliance with all gov-
ernmental regulations. Will BULKKEM customers be assured of Betamec-4 during 1982? Yes, Sir! Bulkkem cus-tomers can place firm early orders which will guarantee delivery of Betamec-4 (Betasan) 
during the 1982 season. They 
will also be guaranteed a firm price all season long on Trimec. And these guarantees are backed up by PBI/GORDON. With Dacthal out of pro-duction for 1982, guaranteed price can actually mean the difference between making 1982 a banner year, or a disaster! What area does BULKKEM serve? Bulkkem now has ten men in the field and three established bulk-delivery centers: 1. Central Illinois Š serving Chicago and St. Louis and all of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wiscon-sin and Missouri. 2. Central Ohio Š serving Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. 3. Northeast Š serving the area from Virginia to New England. Shouldn't you at least check BULKKEM prices? We have made the flat statement that nobody in the industry is going to beat our prices on Betamec-4, Trimec, Amine 2,4-D or MCPP. But price per gallon is only one dimension Š there are so many ways that Bulkkem serv-ices can help the lawn-care operator reduce his costs and increase his efficiencies. Call us toll-free at 800-447-4131 and let us tell you the entire story. "Betamec-4 (Betasan Š registered trademarK of Stauffer Chemical Co.) Trimec® is a registered trademark of PBI/GORDON Cor-poration. Product covered by U.S. Patent No. 3,284.186. Why you should switch to BULKKEM. Ł Guaranteed delivery and firm prices. Ł Saves time, labor, space and money. Ł Reduces container handling and eliminates disposal problems. Ł Allows more precise metering. Ł Reduces waste from product left in containers. Ł Provides easier, more accurate inventory control. Ł Increases productivity. Ł Reduces theft. 
Ł Reduces spillage problems. Ł Provides increased accuracy of application rates. Ł Provides a unique inventory management system. 'To reduce chemical costs and guarantee delivery... BULK'EM. BULK SUPPLIERS OF m LAWN CHEMICALS The Bulkkem Corporation, 400 Northtown Road, Normal, Illinois 61761. Phone Toll-free 800-447-4131 MOWING/MAINTENANCE MARKETPLACE 14 > H CO D < U z £ 3 Los Angeles: Where the future is now Los Angeles is the crisis center of the nation's maintenance indus-
try. It has to do with neither construction slowdowns nor con-sumer thrift. Nor labor unrest. Not the current Sunbelt safari for jobs and a better life. And as far as 
turfgrass goes, it is the best of all possible worlds. No, L.A. is beset with a crisis of abundance. From the climate that allows all turfgrass varieties to 
coexist, to the surfeit of labor which is bringing on the labor unions, Los Angeles mowing I maintenance lawn care business-
men have learned that to survive in their market they must cast out all waste, adapt quickly to consumer 
trends, and work closely with their manufacturers. "There's more in Orange County alone than we can possibly handle," said Bill Vandergeist 
with a smile. "There's a tremen-dous potential out here." Van-dergeist is president of Van-
dergeist Landscape Care, a maintenance concern that sends 20 laborers, five crew chiefs, three superintendents, and two full time mechanics into the field each day. Among the wider national trends that he has capitalized on is 
the surge in the cooperative home association market. Orange County abounds in these developments, made popular by the dwindling availability of trad-itional single family dwellings. 
And in Los Angeles in particular, it has caused a shift in the market-ing emphasis of the major mainte-nance contractors. It has also produced, however, new problems with regard to turf management. Many maintenance businessmen feel that the de-velopments simply were not de-signed with total ground care in mind. "The architects had no idea 
what a mowing and maintenance guy goes through," said Van-dergeist. "Many times you'll see the lawn area tied into the shrub area, with the sprinkler heads all but against the shrubs. This is plainly the architect's fault." Design vs. maintenance Since municipal regulations hold that a certain amount of lawn area in each development must be maintained professionally, maintenance businessmen feel that they should be more thoroughly consulted during the design stage. "The industry has just begun to feel the effects of environmental consciousness," 
said Vandergeist. Condominium and homeowner association work has also created Bill Arman: "Whenever we can mow at 36" we'll put the Bobcats out It'll pay four and a half times the savings." certain voids in the industrial 
machinery market, submits Van-dergeist. Because the homeowner association developments often have large common areas or sloped greenbelts, he feels a more durable 
weed eater is needed. "Both the weedeater and the blower are greatly underdeveloped," he said. Los Angeles maintenance businessmen, and Vandergeist is a good example, are seeking man-
ufacturing innovations that the consumer demand has in turn placed on them. Engine design is a 
case in point. Any company of VLC's size uses thousands of gas-powered machines that need clean 
air for combustion. "We end up 
cleaning our air filters once a week," said Vandergeist. "And 
that's no way to handle it." Nothing will kill an engine faster than a bad air cleaner, said 
Vandergeist. He feels that the air cleaner research and development should be a top priority for man-ufacturers of two-stroke engines. "We're looking for anything that 
might be new and innovative," he said. "Maybe we could even send 
out a questionnaire to various professionals for suggestions." Martin Rippens of Hydro-Dig, Inc., in the San Fernando Valley 
thinks that the market for mainte-nance accessories has been neg-lected by manufacturers. "A lot of it has to do with landscape design in the first place," he said. "Take tree guards for example. Every-body in the world uses weed whips, but it's the worst thing in 
the world for a tree. We should all be using tree guards." Some manufacturing designs have been of great benefit to the industry, especially for the maintenance field. Whether the market has grown to fit the prod-uct, or vice-versa, Vandergeist feels that the intermediate self-propelled walk-behind mowers have been a great boon to the industry. "The Bobcat 5f 6 36-inch 
walk behind is the best thing they came out with," he said. "You can put a sulky behind it and ride it and it's also easilv transported." The amount a company invests in the bigger walk-behind mowers 
presents an interesting measure of that company's rate of develop-ment. Although the larger 36-inch 
mowers can cut labor time signifi-cantly, each unit is priced in or around the $2,000 range. The 
question many maintenance businessmen face is whether to amortize their equipment costs over the long run with smaller mowers or whether to place an 
immediate cash investment into the larger, less labor-intensive in-termediates. "It's a question of capitaliza-tion," said Alan Shariton, presi-dent of Tierra Verde Landscaping, 
who, like Vandergeist, is heavily involved in homeowner associa-tion maintenance. "With interest rates as high as they are it becomes a very difficult decision." Like most maintenance businessmen, Shariton spends a lot of time figuring out how best to cut his labor costs. Labor costs, he estimates, soak up about 90 per-cent of his operating budget. And because of that he feels that he has to stabilize his equipment costs. "There's a big gap in the market-place," he said. "We've got one 
Toro frontrunner, the king of kings, but we mow 52 weeks a year out here and you just can't run that long with these garden tractors. It's ironic that the intermediate self-propelled models are just be-ginning to see the light of day." But Shariton's biggest concern is obviously labor efficiency. In 
order to cut down on his labor costs he is trying to use more growth retardants in and around sidewalks. Small turf areas devour maintenance time. "We're also 
trying not to over-fertilize," he said. "We don't want to load up the turf with a lot of nitrogen." But as all lawn care business-men know, when you introduce innovations into your turf man-agement program the customer may be the biggest obstacle to cost efficiency. Shariton believes that consumer education is of utmost importance in his business, espe-cially in dealing with the home-
owner associations. Professional awareness When he uses growth retardants instead of mowing, the customers want to know why his crews didn't mow in those areas. They have a 
hard time believing that the an-swer had nothing to do with employe delinquency. "So many times the consumer is just looking at the dollar sign," he said. "I'd like to see the industry become 
more professionally aware of con-sumer education. Their attitude so often is 'Here's a penny, now give me a dollar's worth of work.' " Like others involved in associa-tion maintenance, Shariton has special public relations problems that many lawn care businessmen don't often face. Because a major-ity of an association's budget is 
appropriated for mowing and maintenance, the contract is sub-ject to approval by committee, a sure stumbling block to fast deci-sion making. But Shariton is an experienced association bidder. "You have to know how to negotiate a contract 
with public relations in mind," he said. "For one thing you don't just key on the president of the associ-ation, because he may be gone 
before you know it. You have to deal with the organization as a whole." Mickey Strauss and Jerry Bliss agree. Strauss is president and said. "On hillsides you can't use a riding mower and the self-propelled models I've seen just don't cut it. The best built are the 
Sensation and the Bobcat, but because they're so heavy, most guys are reluctant to use them." Bliss thinks that if the man-ufacturers could develop a high 
horsepower self-propelled 30-inch mower they would fill a great void 
in the marketplace. "The three 
horsepower mowers are just use-less," he said. 'They're not going Alan Shariton: "There's a big gap in the mar-ketplace. We mow 52 weeks a year. You can't do it with just garden tractors." another, and the evolution of turf-grass variety. If water scarcity continues to rise, says Strauss, "you'll probably 
see the end of bluegrass in south-ern California." The change may 
again require major and costly shifts in Los Angeles maintenance strategy. The industry has definitely come of age, says Strauss. "We used to be called gardeners and now are referred to as maintenance profes-sionals. The industry has ad-vanced way beyond the cut and 
trim stage into total grounds man-agement. As developers go into second class lands to build, the industry will become even more indispen-sible, Strauss believes. "Architects can't tell you about plants, pre-emergents, or hydro-seeding," said Bliss. "The industry has be-
come almost a cultural necessity." One of the largest maintenance companies in Los Angeles is 
Environmental Care, Inc. in Orange County, a kind of lawn maintenance trend setter in the area. Bill Arman, a branch manager in charge of maintenance, is in 
agreement that mowing and 
maintenance companies must 
study the future very closely. The biggest concern, he believes, is water scarcity and energy man-agement. "Water is starting to Bill Vandergeist: "The landscape architects have no idea what a mowing/maintenance guy goes through." become extremely precious out here," he said. Arman believes that the mainte-nance industry has become sophisticated enough in Los Angeles to require employes with a horticulture background. "We have to look five years down the road," he said. "We have to beef up our energy management expertise as a company and ask ourselves 
'Where are we headed?' " In order to facilitate his com-pany's search for cost effective alternatives, each manager has been given an area of responsibil-ity or expertise. It's his job to study one of several areas of field man-agement and be able to report on current developments to the com-pany team. "We have to be able to 
adapt readily to the needs of the consumer," said Arman. An area that they have de-veloped successfully is gas effi-ciency for their fleet. Although gas prices have generally risen at an astonishing rate across the coun-try, Environmental Care's percent-age of gas use has systematically dropped. Some simple reasons for the turnabout: "We switched our supervisory personnel over to fuel efficient Toyotas instead of pic-
kups," said Arman. "And every-
body reports to the job site and not the office." They are also investigating the possibility of using diesel, pro-pane, and even electric-powered cars in their business and are curious about the development of 
three-wheeled motorcycles for on-site transportation. "If we can save one mile per gallon, we're ahead," said Arman. Aside from just fuel savings considerations for their fleet, Arman must study the gas con-
sumption rate of their sizeable 
mowing inventory. The largest mower they use is a 15 foot three-gang Howard Rotary which is all hydraulic. "It's overall per-formance is unbelievable," says Arman. They also use two Toro 
Parkmasters, six Toro Grounds-master (72 inch), about 20 Bobcat 36" internediate sized mowers, 50 or 60 Bobcat 21 inch self-propelled mowers, a six-foot Longines back trencher, and an Excel Hustler 
thatcher. "Whenever we can mow at 36 inches we'll put the Bobcats out there," said Arman. "It will pay four and a half times the savings of a 21 inch," said Arman. "It costs a lot to keep all those 21 inch mowers running." Arman believes there's a tre-mendous market for the inter-
mediate sized mowers in the Los Angeles area that manufacturers 
should take advantage of. "If they got the bugs out of the bigger 
mowers," he said, "the market would really take off." In order to move all this equip-ment Arman says that Environ-
mental Care's sales teams are try-
ing to develop clusters of mainte-nance areas so that transportation 
costs can be minimized. "You really have to schedule effi-
ciency," he said. "It won't come through just because you have the right piece of equipment. It has to be put to efficient use as well." Putting efficient machinery to efficient use is the theme that all 
the maintenance businessmen in-terviewed voiced in one way or another. Although the Los Angeles market seems open-ended, serious environmental issues threaten to change market conditions yearly. It's what most businessmen fear the most Š unforeseen changes. Many of the design changes and business innovations maintenance 
companies will begin to see a few years down the road probably got 
their start in California. The maintenance industry there is huge. It is also being guided by 
sophisticated businessmen who so far have met the challenge of market abundance. Bliss maintenance manager of 
American Landscape Mainte-nance, a large total ground care company north of Los Angeles. "The best homeowner association to bid is a third year group," said Strauss. "The first year you're still working with the developer. The second year you may be working against the first year board. But by 
the third year the board has settled down somewhat and communica-tions can inprove." American Landscape Mainte-nance also contracts a good 
amount of work with the city's public agencies, but has found that municipal specifications are a 
great snafu to reasonable contract negotiations. "The private con-tractor is a threat to the municipal work force," said Strauss. "The 
city's specifications are generally over-inflated and if you bid a job 
accordingly, you'll never get the contract." Strauss finds that industrial maintenance contracts are on the whole much simpler to negotiate. In that instance, the contractor is dealing with just one facility man-ager and he generally wants things to settle down as fast as possible. As far as equipment improve-ments are concerned, Bliss feels that the push type mowers need to be developed more fully. "We do in two weeks what the normal homeowner does in one year," he to stand up to daily wear and tear." Many of the design changes mowing and maintenance businessmen seek are not major innovations, but simple inprove-ments that can add life and ver-
satility to equipment over the years. A simple example is the handles on Snapper, Sensation, 
and Bobcats that break down into 
two or three pieces for packaging purposes. Unit construction and different packaging methods would serve the professional mar-ket effectively, according to Strauss and Bliss. Los Angeles maintenance com-panies have a wide variety of grasses to maintain, Strauss points out. For this reason, the manager must determine which grasses he 
can culturally maintain. He must also decide which mowers will cut the grass best for lasting results. Strauss says, for instance, that he has to cut his bermudagrass with a reel-type mower because it has to be cut close. Bluegrass, on 
the other hand, must be cut with a rotary because it requires a higher cut. "You have to determine if you want to manage it in the first 
place," he said. It's not an easy decision to make in many cases. The maintenance businessman must take into ac-count the type of accounts he wants to service, the profitability of one maintenance emphasis over The self-propelled 36 inch walk behind mower: Most L.A. businessmen feel that it's a key to labor efficiency. maintenance A -. . - T » : i'. V1 £ . -.>v r1 v .. m-M-Ł -v.. . ' " Ł K * I via Ł ; ' * ^¿Mfi' ^Ûï^ ri '/."vw.'V Long lasting crabgrass control just takes one application. Whether for bluegrass, fescue, bentgrass, or Bermudagrass, it's a fact that more turf care 
professionals demand Betasan® herbicide over any other brand. The simple reason. Betasan delivers the maxi-mum amount of crabgrass control with a mini-mum amount of effort. Just one application at labelled rates stops crabgrass before it starts. Stops it without hurting 
established turf. And stops it in most of the U.S. 
all season long. That's the furthest man has come in lighting crabgrass. But you don't have to go far for your own supply. Just to the distributors listed here. They've all put Betasan into their own herbi-cide products. Because they want to bring turf care professionals the ultimate in protection against crabgrass. Follow label directions. Stauffer Chemical Company, Agricultural Chemical Division, Westport, CT 06881. ® T.M. of Stauffer Chemical Company. Betasan No* 1 against crabgrass Firm Agway, Inc. Syracuse, New York The Andersons Maumee, Ohio Balcom Specialty Products Greeley, Colorado Faesy & Besthoff, Inc. Edgewater, New Jersey Lakeshore Equipment and Supply Co., Inc. Elyria, Ohio Lebanon Chemical and Fertilizer Corp. 
Lebanon, Pennsylvania Brand Name Betasan 7-G Sales Area Northeast Betasan plus fertilizer Midwest Clean Crop Betasan National 
4-E and 7-G F & B Northeast Betasan 4-E, 3.6-G and 7-G Lescosan National 4-E, 12.5-G and 7-G Betasan plus fertilizer Lebanon Betasan National plus Fertilizer, 4-E and 7-G Firm Mallinckrodt, Inc. St. Louis, Missouri Occidental Chemical Co. Lathrop, California PBI Gordon Corp. Kansas City, Kansas Pratt-Gabriel Div. Miller Chemical and Fertilizer Co. Robbinsville, New Jersey Pro-Lawn Products, Inc. Syracuse, New York Rockland Chemical Co. West Caldwell, New Jersey Brand Name Sales Area Pre-San National 4-E, 12.5-G and 7-G Best West Coast 4-E and 12.5-G Southwest Betamec-4 National Pratt Northeast 4-E, 12.5-G, 7-G Betasan 7-G Northeast Rockland Betasan Northeast 4-E, 12.5-G and 7-G Betasan plus fertilizer. Circle No. 127 on Reader Inquiry Card Circle No. 124 on Reader Inquiry Card Š TOOLS,TIPS,TECHNIQUES Calendar for rush orders It's that time of year when the lawn care businessman and his industrial suppliers begin the ritual sun dance known as 
pre-season purchasing. Every order is a rush, every day lost is a 
setback. The root of the problem, according to Lebanon Chemical Company, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, lies in the standard Roman calendar: Only four or five Fridays each month, too many non-productive weekends, and, bane of the business world, the 
sacrificial First. In order to provide a more reasonable purchasing schedule for the lawn care businessman, Lebanon has devised a new rush-order calendar for the spring purchasing crush. As you can 
see, with it an order placed on the seventh of the month will be 
filled by the third. Since all of you want orders by Friday, there are two of them in every week! Some additional highlights: Seven days at the end of the month for procrastination. There is no first and the 10th and the 15th have been omitted in case you 
are asked to pay on those days. Finally, a new day each week called Negotiation Day has been added. Just get on the phone and get your order yesterday! DEC mi FRI THU WED IDE MOW 8 7 
6 5 4 3 2 16 15 14 13 12 11 9 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 31 30 29 28 27 26 24 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 HERBICIDES LEAD Pesticide production to increase 1.4% annually thru 1985 Domestic production of pesticides is forecast to increase 1.4 percent annually from some 1.4 billion pounds in 1980 to about 1.5 billion pounds by 1985, reports Frost & Sullivan, Inc. Concurrently, market value will grow 8.4 percent from about $3.9 billion to $5.8 billion. Production of herbicides, the largest pesticide class, is seen building at a 1.9 percent annual 
clip, climbing from 600 million pounds in 1980 to nearly 700 million pounds by 1985, the mar-
keting research firm says in a new 
study, Pesticides Market. Dollar value is projected to rise 8.6 percent annually from about $2.3 billion to almost $3.5 billion. Insecticide production is fore-cast to grow 0.9 percent annually 
from 585 million pounds to 611 million pounds over the period. Value is estimated to climb 7.8 percent per year from more than $1.3 billion to just under $2 bil-lion. Fungicides, the smallest of the major pesticide classes, will show a 1.4 percent increase in annual production, from 165 million pounds in 1980 to some 173 million pounds by 1985. Value is seen escalating 8.1 percent annu-ally from about $270 million to 
$415 million. When segmented by chemical class, the pesticide market is cur-
rently dominated by five active ingredients. Organophosphates account for 19 percent of total 
value; carbanates, amides and 
heterocyclic nitrogens each have 18 percent shares; and, dinit-roanilines control 12 percent. 
These ratios are expected to re-main intact through 1985. Government actions are seen as influencing pricing. "It is clear that many more pesticides will 
become restricted and removed from the market," Frost & Sullivan said. "This will reduce selection of pesticides, and the fewer products available, the higher the prices." Beyond the trend to higher prices, the 366-page study also looks for a continuation of the 
decline in research and develop-
ment activity, spurred by rapidly rising costs. "The increased R&D 
costs will stifle competition in that only major chemical companies 
will choose to remain and build up their pesticide capabilities," Frost & Sullivan said. "Mergers will increase and many smaller firms will be absorbed into larger or-ganizations." All told, 14 major companies currently have shares ranging fron 
one percent to 20 percent of the 
overall domestic market, the re-port says. Monsanto, St. Louis, 
leads the pack with a 20 percent slice, followed by Ciba-Geigy Corp., Greensboro, N.C. at 13 per-cent, Stauffer Chemical Co., 
Westport, Conn, at 12 percent, Eli Lilly Š which includes Elanco 
Products Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Š 
at 10 percent, and Du Pont Co., 
Wilmington, Del. and American Cynamid Co., Wayne, N.J. at eight. PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS... IS OUR BUSINESS 'GARDEN TIPS' NOW IS THE TIME... Ł It is your "monthly handshake" with all your customers and prospects. Ł It is yours Š personalized with your name/ company/phone. Ł 100% of our subscribers to "Garden Tips" renew year after year. WHY 100% RENEWAL? 95-98% customer readership. is Sells-to increase your profits. is Retains the best customers while building customer confidence. is Gets new customers... your name is there when they need you. Circle No. 109 on Reader Inquiry Card QUALITY HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS... MAKE MORE MONEY EXPAND INTO THE TURF + ORNAMENTAL BUSINESS PROFESSIONALLY Ł NO FRANCHISE FEES OR ROYALTIES. Ł KEEP YOUR INDEPENDENCE. Ł WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE. ... We are the ONLY company providing the complete 
services you need. GREEN PRO COOPERATIVE SERVICES Ł SUCCESS PACKAGE Ł FOUR-DAY ACADEMIES to prepare you for the waiting profits. Ł IN-FIELD CONSULTATION Circle No. 110 on Reader Inquiry Card EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER THE UNBEATABLE PROFIT-MAKER (1) Hydraulic Deep-Root Feeder Designed For Easy Operation 
Hour After Hour (2) High-Organic Root Food Well positioned and efficient flow control Cupped splash guard & step plate \ A DIGEST OF INFORMATION - IDEAS - AND BUSINESS BUILDING AIDS Rubber handles for cold weather comfort Forum of Ideas. Current Information You Need Week By Week. What to Look For and What To Do. Latest Innovations Sample Customer Letters Advertising & Promotion Money-Making and Money-Saving Tips There is Nothing Better on the Market. Chisel Point for hard or rocky 
ground penetration. ALSO Ultra easy in * Bu)k Lawn pood 
soft ground ^ ßu|k storage Facilities Ł Spraying Equipment Ł Soil Conditioners PLUS: PROFIT WORKSHOPS to directly help you build your business with hands-on sessions. PLUS: GROUP PURCHASING of equipment, materials, sales aids, advertising brochures. Circle No. 112 on Reader Inquiry Card YOUR ONLY COMPLETE SOURCE Circle No. 111 on Reader Inquiry Card (516)4830100 380 S. FRANKLIN ST., HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. 11550 THE ONLY SERVICE OF ITS KIND, How do you make a great crabgrass herbicide even better for turf? PRODUCT NUMBER 2145 k ŁTHE' CHIPCO RONSTAR G CHPGO RONSTAR G HERBICIDE H ER BICH (è RHÔNE POULENC selective, preemergent herbicide for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in Turf and woody Ornamental shrubs, vines, and trees. ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Oxadiazon l2-fert-butyl-4-<2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxy phenyl)-A2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one| 2.0% INERT INGREDIENTS 960% WARNING KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT IF ON SKIN wash with soap and water. IF IN EYES flush with plenty of water; get medical attention. See Back Panel for Additional Precautionary Statements ¡PA Est. No. 297-CA-1 EPA Reg. No. 359-659 SR-OMO Manufactured By RHÔNE-POULENC CHEMICAL COMPANY AGROCHEMICAL DIVISION RHÔNE POULENC INC. Monmouth Junction, N J 06852 NET CONTENTS 50 POUNDS 22.68 KILOS You cut About the only thing that could make ChipcoH Ronstar" G herbicide better for turf would he to lower die cost. So that's what we've done. Now you can get the superior performance of RonstarGata r dramatically reduced price. Nothing controls crabgrass and gcxxse-grass better than Ronstar G. And you get this great weed control for the whole sea-son with just one easy, early application. Treat your turf with Ronstar G.The great crabgrass herbicide with the better-than-
ever price. Rhône-Poulenc Chemical Co. 
Agrochemical Div., Rhône-Poulenc, Inc. Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. (ifc«.««. Chipco Ronstar G ^ M ^ HERBICIDE ^ gives superior control. As you can see in the following charts, Ronstar G gives effective control of grassy weeds all season long. 100 50 Survey of results Š % Crabgrass Control in Turfgrass. 100 ^^^ Betasan S Ronstar G z n 50 Balan u Dacthal # 0 50-100 101-150 151-200 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT Survey of results Š % Goosegrass Control in Turfgrass. 100 Ronstar G % CONTROL 50 >SSSSSs^ Hartha 1 Betasan 0 50-100 101-150 151-200 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION Survey of results Š Grassy Weed* Control in Turfgrass. Ronstar G Betasan Dacthal Balan 50-100 101-150 151-200 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION In field trials conducted from 1973 to 1977 *Crabgrass and Goosegrass. With control like this, you can go for a whole season with no complaints, no call-backs. Balan is a registered trademark of Elanco Products Company Dacthal is a registered trademark of Diamond Shamrock Betasan is a registered trademark of Sta utter Chemical Co. Plea>e read label carefully, and u>e only directed. THATCH from page 1 quality after being on the program three to five years," Dr. Hall said. "After this time period, they seem to be declining in quality. One of the reasons for this decline in lawn 
quality is the excess buildup of thatch caused by annual mainte-nance programs which include three to five pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet plus insec-ticides, herbicides and limited amounts of fungicides." Thatch is the tightly woven layer of living and dead stems, rhizomes, stolons and roots that accumulates on the soil surface. In the early stages when this layer is a half-inch thick or less, it actually has the beneficial effect of in-creasing wear tolerance, reducing weed populations, reducing water evaporation from the soil surface 
and insulating the crown tissue, modifying temperature fluctua-tions, Dr. Hall said. Low nitrogen level Where turf is maintained with moderately low levels of nitrogen, limited applications of pesticides and cultivated infrequently, 
thatch buildup is seldom a prob-lem. When turf receives three to five pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually, repeated ap-
plications of pesticides and no cultivation Š thatch is eventually going to be a problem. "Today's lawn care industry is faced with the problem of how to deal with excessive thatch buil-
dup," Dr. Hall said. In transition zone climatic areas where turfgrasses are often pushed 
to their survival limits by limited moisture and extremes of temper-ature and disease, excessive thatch 
can be deadly. This lignified layer of undecomposed organic matter is capable of altering pest popula-tions, moisture relations, nutrient utilization patterns, soil tempera-tures and other climatic and biotic factors. Pathogenic organisms causing Helminthosporium leaf spot, stripe smut, dollar spot, brown patch, Fusarium and Pythium are harbored by the thatch layer. The moist micro-climate created by the thatch layer favors fungal invasion 
and allows pathogenic micro-organisms to live and sporulate on thatch. The probability of insect pathogens surviving the winter is increased by the insulating effect of thatch. Thatch penetration Soil-borne fungus and insect pathogens often escape control methods due to the inability of applied pesticides to penetrate the thatch layer. The hydrophobic thatch layer prevents adequate water infiltration, causing reduced root growth and increased poten-tial for wilt damage. When thatch layers are kept moist, roots tend to develop in this zone and crown regions of the individual turfgrass plants tend to be elevated in the thatch. This elevation of the crown region away from the soil leads to increased exposure to cold and hot temperature extremes and greater probability of stress damage. In-terception of lime and fertilizers applications by thatch layers pro-duce erratic fertilizer response. In some cases the microorganisms tie up the applied nitrogen indefi-nitely, delaying the use of the 
nitrogen by the turfgrass plant. There is no simple method of controlling thatch, Dr. Hall said. 
Most golf course superintendents solve the problem on golf greens by topdressing with sand-soil-peat mixtures a minimum of twice a year. This solution is economi-cally unreasonable for the lawn care industry. In-depth attempts to "spike" thatch layers with microorganisms that facilitate thatch decomposi-tion have thus far met with very limited success. At this point in time, although the theory is prom-
ising, the technique is not reliable enough to be utilized, Dr. Hall said. Another curative method of sol-ving the thatch problem involves dethatching with a vertical mower. This solution is as radical as surgery is to the human being. When faced with the prospect of 
surgery one often asks, "What could have been done to avoid this?" Dr. Hall said. And, he feels, so the homeowner will eventually ask, "What could have been done to avoid the necessity of de-thatching my lawn?" Dethatching lawns is labor-intensive, extremely disruptive and expensive. It is a management tool that is only used by the lawn care industry in terminal situa-tions, Dr. Hall said. Most home-owners are not willing to pay the price of dethatching their lawn every two to four years, especially 
when the question of who created the thatch to begin with is a valid 
one. What then are the alternatives for today's lawn care industry? "Someone in the industry must take the lead and build thatch-reducing cultivation techniques into their program," Dr. Hall said. There are no reliable thatch-decomposing materials available and the public wants dense, green lawns that are free of weeds and damaging insects and diseases. Economic survival in the industry 
therefore demands the use of ni-trogen and pesticides in amounts that can create excessive thatch. 
Given this problem, one solution for today is aerification that re-moves cores of soil and reinocu-lates the thatch layer. This will to page 37 I* a lget Technos Tree tare Ser» IIK11 Now you can learn about Micro-Injection, the fastest growing technology in tree care today. A Mauget Tree Care Seminar in your area brings you this technology. Makes your business more profitable, too. Seminar topics include: Ł Micro-Injection techniques Ł Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Ł Label expansions Ł Research highlights Ł Tree physiology Ł Disease and insect control Ł Correcting tree deficiencies Plan Now To Attend Contact the Mauget aistriouior in your area for location details or call J. J. Mauget Co., 800-423-2699. (California residents call 213-849-2309) Registration fee Š $25 per person 
(includes lunch) Seminar Dates January 11 11 Toledo, OH 12 Columbus, OH 12 Pensacola, FL 14 Akron/Canton, OH 15 Cleveland, OH 15 Montgomery, AL 20 Albany, NY 25 Parsippany, NJ 26 New York City, NY 29 Stratford, CT 29 Minneapolis, MN 31 Oshkosh, Wl February 1 Portsmouth, NH 4 Boston, MA 5 Worchester, MA 8 Woodbury, L.I., NY 9 Los Angeles, CA 9 Springfield, MA 10 Boston, MA 19 Maui, HI i i Ł SEND THIS REGISTRATION COUPON OR FACSIMILE TODAY TO: J. J. MAUGET COMPANY, P.O. Box 3422, Burbank, CA 91504 (Distributor for Digital Shigometer)^ Registration Fee: $25. Make checks payable to: J. J. Mauget Co. No Confirmations. In event meeting is rescheduled for any reason, notification will be by phone, if number is provided. Please reserve-Name .places at the. (Location) .meeting. Business. Address _ Phone-LCi & Locations March 1 1 State College, PA 3 Hershey, PA 3 North Myrtle Beach, SC 4 Durham, NC 4 King of Prussia, PA 5 Asheville, NC 5 Cherry Hill, NJ 6 Hauppauge, L.I., NY 8 Atlanta, GA 
8 Syracuse, NY 
9 Birmingham, AL 9 Rochester, NY 10 Nashville, TN 11 Frankfort, KY 11 Pittsburgh, PA 12 Erie, PA 15 Omaha, NE 16 Cincinnati, OH 17 Indianapolis, IN 17 Tarpon Springs, FL 18 Lansing, Ml 22 East Aurora, NY 23 Scottsdale, AZ 24 Salt Lake City, UT "Cultivation machinery that grooves, slices, forks or spikes is not going to be adequateDr. Hall said. "Although not the final solution, the drum aerifier is the most likely to fill the bill today/9 PLCAA from page 1 ing as industry liaison is Bob Earley, editor/publisher of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. The conference was highlighted by a series of presentations and workshops given by various in-dustry experts, including a key-note address by Ralph L. Lewis, Jr., vice president and coordinator of 
communications for the Gulf Oil Corporation. Lewis gave a rousing speech on the interdependence of geography, history, politics, and energy in the world today. The heavily attended sessions tended to emphasize company management rather than turf sci-
ence, keying on subjects as varied as "Operating Lawn Care Equip-ment for Maximum Efficiency," 
"Safety Engineering and Loss Control," "Planning: The Key to Success in Office Management," "How to Analyze Financial State-ments," "Accounting Practices for the Lawn Care Industry," and 
"Lawn Care Employer Hot Spots: Wrongful Discharge and Proper Compensation of Employees." Turf topics were not neglected, however. Evening workshops 
were devoted to discussion of toxic waste and herbicide, insec-
ticide, and pathology updates. Represented were Dr. A. J. Powell, Jr., Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., Dr. Harry Niemczyk, professor of turfgrass entomology, Ohio Agricultural 
Research & Development Center, 
Wooster, OH, and Dr. Noel Jackson, Department of Entomol-ogy, University of Rhode Island in 
Kingston. One of the more popular talks was delivered by Richard I. Lehr, 
an attorney from Birmingham, AL, who specializes in the field of labor relations. Lehr stressed the need for lawn care businessmen to be very careful of the manner in which employes are discharged and compensated. Very often a businessman can be liable for damages resulting from negli-gence or ignorance of labor laws, 
said Lehr. Above all, the presentations stressed the need for energy con-servation and the elimination of waste. Jim Hughes, fleet manager 
for the ChemLawn Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, held a workshop 
that was heavily attended by lawn 
care businessmen seeking the an-swers to questions on the desira-bility of propane and diesel as alternative fuel sources. Exhibitors included: Agro-K Corp.; Agrotec, Inc.; Allied Corp.; American Lawn Applicator; American Pelletizing Corp.; The 
Andersons; BASF Wyandotte Corp.; BFC Chemicals, Inc.; B & G 
Co.; Balcom Chemicals, Inc.; Brinly-Hardy Co.; The Bunton Co.; E. F. Burlingham & Sons; CLC Labs; C. P. Chemical Co.; W. A. PLCAA BOARD MEMBERS YOU AND AMPEL You and AmpelŠa No. 1 combination when it comes to healthy, beautiful turf. Ampel's popu-lar brands of lime and gypsum are pel-letized Š so applica-tion is fast, easy, and 
clean. No dust. No mess. And, you'll see a difference in your soil! Ampel's pelle-tized lime goes to work immediately to neutralize soil acid-
ity and improve its general condition. Ampel's pelletized gypsum gets right 
down to the roots Š breaking up hard, clay soil, improving 
soil structure. Ampel products are econ-omical, too! Costing 
only pennies per pound, Ampel's pel-
letized lime or gyp-sum products are the best investments 
you can make for 
your soil! For the finest in lawn and turf care, go with a winning team Š You and 
Ampel. For more informa-tion about Ampel products, contact: Anpeh American Pelletizing Corp. P.O. Box 3628 
Des Moines, Iowa 50322 Circle No. 102 on Reader Inquiry Card Baker Brandt Lotting Bizon V / Kenney White Zwiebel Cleary Chemical Corp.; Container Mfg., Inc.; Continental Software, Inc.; Crown Chemicals; Cushnan1 Ryan/OMC Lincoln; Diamond Shamrock Corp.; Dow Chemical, U.S.A.; Du Pont Co.; Echo, Inc. Also, Encap Products Co.; Es-tech General Chemicals; FMC 
Corp.; Forshaw Chemicals, Inc.; Great Salt Lake Minerals & Chemi-cals; Green-Lawn, Inc.; Grounds Maintenance; HDN Books; Hahn, Inc.; Hawkeye Chemical Co.; Heimerdinger Mfg. & Distributing; George W. Hill & Co., Inc.; Inter-
national Harvester Co.; Inter-national Seeds, Inc.; International 
Spike, Inc.; Howard Johnson's Enterprises; Knox Fertilizer & Chemical Co.; Lakeshore Equip-ment & Supply Co.; LAWN CAEE 
INDUSTRY; Lawn Care Profes-sional; Lebanon Chemical Corp. Also, Lofts Pedigreed Seed Inc.; 10 page 26 PUMPING SYSTEMS' LAWN SPRAY RIGS 
MEET EVERY LAWN 
CARE OPERATOR'S NEEDS: ....Long-life fiberglass tanks Š 55 to 1200 gal. (single or multi-compartments) ....Flow rates from 1 to 100 GPM ....High-volume jet agitation ....Top-quality components and workmanship (low maintenance) ....Completely self-contained rig design provides easy mounting and easy access to equipmentŠ at curbside or tailgate ....Custom design w/many options CALL TOLL FREEŠ 800-638-1769 SPRAY RIGS for the LAWN CARE PROFESSIONAL pictured: MODEL LS-500-M (Ask about our finance plans) UMPING SYSTEMS Columbia, Md. (301-596-3700) i NC. TURNER from page 8 use of several fungicides, such as thiram, maneb, benomyl, ip-rodione, Cadminate, Bromosan and Duosan has resulted in thatch accumulation, probably due to a lowering of soil pH and thus reduced microbial activity. By understanding these primary causes of thatch accumulation, much can be done to minimize the thatching potential of the turf. Thatch is similar to many factors involved in turf production Š you can get too much of a good thing. Small amounts of thatch Š in the range of X/A to V2 inch Š can 
actually result in an improved 
turfgrass stand, Dr. Turner said. However, as the thatch layer de-velops beyond this thickness, and particularly beyond a thickness of 
one inch, problems which are 
often severe begin to arise. Thatch benefits Although the list of beneficial effects of thatch is not long, each of the following characteristics im-parted by thatch to the turfgrass stand is important. Surface resiliency is one. The ability of turf to "give" or act as a 
cushion is enhanced by a thatch layer of to V2 inch and is an important characteristic of many turf uses. This resiliency can re-duce the chance of injury of chil-
dren playing on home lawns or parks. Wear tolerance is another. Sev-eral studies have related the ability 
of turfgrass stands to withstand wear damage from foot traffic and equipment traffic to the presence 
of a moderate thatch layer. Environmental stress tolerance is a third beneficial effect, Dr. Turner said. A moderate thatch layer can act as a buffer between air and soil temperatures, thus some-what reducing the potential im-pact on the turfgrass stand of very high or very low temperatures or rapid changes in temperatures. Also, improved water infiltration can result when a thin layer of 
thatch develops, which can be a benefit under restricted moisture conditions. The number of potential detri-ALCA from page 5 In his presentation Christian broke down the actual costs of an actual 
piece of maintenance machinery. As an example, he used the hand-mower, common to all mainte-nance professionals. He began by determining the average hourly use of a mower during the course of the year. By dividing that figure by the pur-chase price, he arrived at the cost of owning the mower per hour. The detailed analysis of the mower emphasized the need for the lawn care maintenance businessman to be very specific in determining the long-term cost of his equipment. For instance, if the mower cost $300, a return on investment of that amount at 25 percent would 
equal $468.75. "In other words," said Christian, "we need a $168.75 return on investment on that 
machine to make it cost effective." The symposium was rounded out by keynote speaker Dr. Robert Miller, ChemLawn Corp., who 
gave a talk on the effects of pesticides in our world. mental effects of thatch is great, and includes increased insect and disease problems, reduced effectiveness of some pesticides, 
reduced selectivity of some pes-ticides, inefficient use of water, poorer mowing quality and re-duced effectiveness of over-seeding. The thatch environment is an excellent medium for survival of many insects and diseases. For example, many of the organisms 
causing disease survive as resting structures or as saprophytes (or-
ganisms living on dead organic matter) in the thatch material. 
Diseases particularly enhanced by excessive thatch are Fusarium blight, stripe smut, and Helmin-thosporium leaf spot. Thus, one biological approach to reducing pest problems is to reduce thatch. Several insecticides and her-bicides show reduced effective-
ness when excessive thatch is present. Insecticides such as diazinon and particularly Dursban are tied up by thatch. Thus, control of white grubs where excessive thatch exists will be reduced when 
these insecticides are used for their control. Maryland damage Numerous home lawns in the Maryland area suffered this prob-lem during the 1980 lawn care 
season. Research has also shown that the degradation rates of two pre-emergent herbicides tested Š benefin and DCPA Š were faster in thatch than in soil. Thus, pre-emergence herbicides applied to thatchy turf may have to be applied at higher rates or more frequently to obtain season-long control of crabgrass or other an-nual grassy weeds. Research at the University of Illinois has just shown that the selective nature of some pesticides (the ability of the pesticide to injure or kill the target pest with-out danaging the turf) can be reduced on thatchy turf. For example, turf injury by some pre-emergence herbicides has been 
shown to be severe on thatchy turf 
areas whereas no damage occurred on thatch-free turf. Although a small amount of thatch may increase water infilt-ration, excessive thatch can cause several water-related problems. First, thatch tends to become hydrophobic (water-repelling) with time and thus more irrigation water and rainfall is lost by run-off. As the thatch becomes increas-ingly hydrophobic, localized dry spots form which are difficult to wet and wilt rapidly. Second, as 
roots and rhizomes tend to grow in the thatch layer rather than pene-trate into the soil, soil under excessive thatch often remains compacted, which reduces the 
amount of water which will move into the soil. Third, Dr. Turner said, since most of the pore space in thatch is large, thatch has lower moisture to page 27 Sooner or later you'll need Ryan, Chances are it'll be sooner. Today's sophisticated fertil-izer, herbicide and insecticide treatments are making lawns and 
large turf areas more beautiful every season. But professionals know that thick, green lawns eventually develop thatch. The professionals also know that it's easier, better and more econom-ical to de-thatch and aerate on a 
regular basis to allow air, fertilizer and water to reach the roots. That's where the Ryan® power rakes and aerators come in. Since 1948, Ryan has been making preci-sion turf equipment for profession-
als. . .equipment that is designed to give you day-in, day-out perform-ance, year-after-year. The gutsy 7-hp Ren-O-Thin® IV, and the economical Ren-O-Thin III, for example, are rugged power rakes that handle those big de-thatching jobs with a wide 18-inch swath. Both feature a floating front axle and easy micro-screw height adjustment to aid in setting the exact depth you need. A choice of three optional 
blade reels lets you adjust for every type of turf. And the self-propelled Lawnaire® III makes it easy to aerate large areas. With 50 lbs. of water in the 
ballast drum, the Lawnaire HI Circle No. 126 on Reader Inquiry Card delivers up to 2V2 inches of penetration at 7-inch intervals over a 19-inch swath. Discover how easy it is to maintain that fine stand of grass year after year. Make the Ryan line a permanent part of your equipment 
pool. You can count on professional results when you use professional Ryan equipment. cur2 5954 RYAN EQUIPMENT 2305 Cushman. P.O. Box 82409 Lincoln. NE 68501 For the location of your nearest dealer, call 402-435-7208 © Outboard Manne Corporation. 1981. All rights reserved. PLCAA from page 24 MLS Computer Services; Mal-linckrodt, Inc.; J. J. Mauget Co.; Metromail Corp.; Miller Chemical & Fertilizer; Mobay Chemical 
Corp.; Monsanto Agricultural Products; Moyer & Sons, Inc.; F. E. Myers Co.; N-P-K-Ca Concepts, 
Inc.; Northrup King Co.; Olanthe Mfg., Inc.; PBI/Gordon Corp.; 
PLCAA Insurance Services; Palm 
Industries; Patterson Green-Up Co.; Perf-A-Lawn Corp.; Plant Food Chemical Co.; Professional Turf Specialties/Bulkkem, Inc.; Pumping Systems, Inc.; Rhone-Poulenc Chemical Co.; Rockland 
Chemical Co., Inc. Also, O. M. Scott & Sons Co.; Is it Costing You Too Much To Only Be Doing Half The Job? We can do more for you than you can do for yourself. That's not an insult, it's a fact: Ł Can you cut your chemical costs to 20% of your gross sales? Ł Can you get fleet prices on trucks and equipment if you only buy one-at-a-time? Ł Do you have national recognition to enhance your credibility as a professional? Ł Do you have a $65,000 computer program to streamline your office procedures? Ł Do you have the benefit of tried and true quality adver-tising materials and proven marketing techniques to improve estimate closings to as high as 90%? As a Lawncare franchisee, we enable you to save money, increase profits and maintain a high standard of quality. And, we give you something no one else can: The proven, pat-ented two for the price of one process that keeps customers coming back. Some franchisors take advantage of you. We invite you to take advantage of us. For more information, write or call (216) 481-5000 QSlfìUJnCfìRE INTERNATIONAL, INC. 19506 Nottingham Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44110 Circle No. 116 on Reader Inquiry Card Past into present: Marty Erbaugh accepts gavel from outgoing president Jerry Faulring. Faulring will stay on the board as past president. COST CUTTINGS What with the April 15 deadline for income tax returns looming, lawn care businessmen are now probably in mad dashes between the file cabinet and the calculator. In order to provide perspective in the search for tax advantages this spring, here is a list of salient guidelines from Selwin E. Price, partner in the Alexander Grant & Company, a Chicago-based national certified public accounting firm. Using tax advantages should be part of a cash management program that also includes controlling accounts receivable, reducing inventory, curbing overhead, and deferring cash payments, he said. Here are seven tax advantages that Price has explored: Ł Accelerated depreciation. This gives you a faster write-off in the early years and thus helps save tax dollars. Ł Investment credit. Be sure you get every credit for which you qualify. These are permanent savings. Ł LIFO inventory valuation. LIFO means last in first out. This raises the cost of goods sold and thus lowers profits and taxes. But once you make the LIFO switch for tax purposes you must also use it for your financial statements. Ł Completed contract method. For long term contracts, if you're on this method you don't pay tax until the job is completed rather than as it progresses. Ł Leasing. Consider the tax advantages, which are often substantial, because you're paying more money up front. Also, some leases qualify you for an investment tax credit. Professional Turf Specialties Spraying Systems The System that answers every need THE PROFESSIONAL TURF SYSTEM includes: 1. Tank (Single or compartmented) 2. Bed 3. PTO and drive train 4. Pump 5. Tachometer 6. Pressure gauge 7. 300 ft., Vi inch high pressure hose 8. Electric hose reel 9. Sight gauge 10. Spray gun 11. High volume agitation 12. Chemical inductor 13. Carbon Steel or Stainless Tanks 600, 1,000 and 1,250 gallon tanks available Toll Free: (800) 447 4388 or Call Collect: (309)454-2469 Professional Turf Specialties 400 North town Road Normal, Illinois 61761 Smithco, Inc.; Snowco; Sta-Green Plant Food Co.; Stauffer Chemical Co.; Torco Equipment Co.; TUCO, Div. of The Upjohn Co.; Turf-Seed, Inc.; USS Agri-Chemicals; Vogel Seed & Fertilizer, Inc.; Wanner Engineering; Warren's Turf Nur-sery, Inc.; Westheffer Co., Inc.; 
Wheel Spray Corp.; Wilcox All-Pro Tools & Supply; and Yardmaster. This year's PLCAA Conference and Trade Show is set for Tuesday 
through Thursday, Dec. 16-18 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Headquarters hotel is the Indianapolis Hyatt Regency Hotel. For further information, contact: Jane Stecker, PLCAA, Suite 1717, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL. Future M/M Marketplaces: Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Milwaukee, Wash., D.C., K.C., Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis MARKETING IDEA FILE TURNER /rom page 25 retention under low water poten-tials than most soils. This factor, coupled with the shallow rooting of turf in thatch results in increas-ing the susceptibility of turf to moisture stress. Finally, due to the major differ-ences in pore size distribution between the thatch layer and the underlying soil, unsaturated water flow from the soil to roots in the thatch is made more difficult, once again increasing the risk of drought injury. As a result of these effects, turf with excessive thatch 
needs to be irrigated more fre-quently, which can lead to more serious pest problems, particularly diseases. Mowing risks Due to the spongy nature of turf having excessive thatch, uneven 
mowing and an increased risk of scalping occurs on thatchy turf. A very non-uniform, patchy turf can result. A major problem in home lawn renovation is the failure of new overseedings to survive in a 
thatchy site. Although survival of perennial ryegrass overseeded into thatchy areas may be better than Kentucky bluegrass, thatch 
reduction measures should be taken before any renovation or overseeding measures are taken. This same thing is true of winter overseeding of warm-season gras-
ses. Survival of the overseeding may be only 50 percent on a 
thatchy site versus a thatch-free site. Numerous other problems can also be caused by excessive thatch, such as less predictable response to fertilizer. Unfortunately, many lawn care businessmen fail to link 
many of the turf problems they face with excessive thatch. A par-
ticularly vicious cycle among 
thatch, diseases and pesticides can be set up, Dr. Turner said. As the thatch layer builds up, disease can be encouraged by this organic matter plus the necessity for more 
frequent irrigation on thatchy turf. The lawn care businessman will then use fungicides to control these diseases. However, many 
common fungicides are them-selves thatch-inducing. The problem can thus get worse and worse. The only answer is to limit or reduce thatch. Thus, optimum nitrogen rates could range from one to 4Va pounds per 1,000 square feet. Care should be taken to apply nitrogen 
at the proper times during the season for the species being 
grown, Dr. Turner said. Frequent light watering or ex-cessive irrigation which keeps the soil nearly saturated will contri-bute to more rapid thatch buildup. Under these conditions, roots will proliferate near the surface rather than growing to greater depths, which will eventually accentuate a problem of thatch. Excessively wet conditions are unfavorable for the micro-organisms involved in organic matter decomposition and thus will result in faster thatch buildup. Water only when absolutely necessary, then water thoroughly 
to a depth of four to six inches (light syringing of the turf is certainly desirable during stress periods, wetting only leaves and crowns but not soil). to page 36 Marketing through education The lawn care industry can use local community adult education programs as a marketing tool, said Ray Gustin, president of Gustin Gardens, Inc. in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "It's a cheap date," Gustin told a crowd of lawn care businessmen at the recent ALCA Maintenance Symposium in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. "Adult Education is an untapped marketing tool." Gustin said that his company offers a seminar program, run by his staff horticulturist, and charges $60.00 per person for four weeks. If the person completes the course, the fee can be rebated back to them as a gift certificate on company services. "It's a low-key public seminar," said Gustin, "and a great marketing tool." Gustin said they advertise the classes in the local newspapers and that the response rate has been excellent. As a marketing and public relations method, it's a relatively soft sell with big results. Cure and prevention Thatch is certainly not a new problem, and unfortunately, there are no new solutions to its control. Control of thatch, like many prob-lems, can be put into two groups, 
preventative and curative. Pre-ventative control measures prima-rily include changes in or modifi-cations of normal management practices. Curative control prima-rily includes physical removal of 
thatch by mechanical means. Preventative control of thatch requires attention to factors which 
contribute to thatch. Of critical importance are nitrogen nutrition, watering practices and soil condi-tions. As nitrogen rates increase, so does the potential for thatch buil-dup. No more nitrogen should be 
applied than absolutely necessary to maintain the level of turfgrass quality that is desired or required. There's nothing on earth like toase i Ame '-»»nee bred t°7hUeYdea\ ba*Tfcôtne I slands Up do —.»SS«--Ł J** Eclipse Kentucky bluegrass seed available exclusively from: COWBELL SEEDS, INC., 1093 129th St., Bradley, Mich.; 850 N. Old 23. Brighton, Mich. GARFIELD WILLIAMSON, INC., 1072 West Side Ave., Jersey City, N.J. JACKLIN SEE0 COMPANY, W. 5300 Jacklin Ave., Post Falls, Idaho* NUNES TURFGRASS, INC., 2006 Loquot Ave., Patterson. Calif. TWIN CITY SEED COMPANY, 500 30th Ave., N.E., Minneapolis. Minn. Ł R0THWELL SEEDS (IN CANADA), P.O. Box 511, Lindsay, Ontario 28 HICKORY, N.C.'S TOM GRAVITTE C/5 3 < U z £ s Golf course defector has diversity thru lawn care üT^my^ ^ 1NC0PP0RÄTET Tom Gravitte is something of a maverick in many golf course superintendent circles. In the golf course business for 20 years and 
ultimately director of a 36-hole course at Lake Hickory Country Club in North Carolina, he proba-bly had another 20 years of the country club life assured to him. 
Instead, he chose to strike out into the sometimes precarious world of professional lawn care. Gravitte is president of Gre-neleves, Inc. of Hickory, North 
Carolina, a lawn care company that offers total vegetation control for municipal roads, irrigation in-
stallation, seeding, aerification, athletic field care, and lawn care. If that seems like a lot for a low-over-head operation, there's a reason. "I can't make it on just lawn spraying in a town this size," he told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. "You have to go after the moneymakers." Greneleves, Inc. is a company whose market orientation is simi-lar to thousands of medium-sized lawn care companies who supply the bulk of the nation's lawn care demand. Without a major met-ropolitan market to cast about in, these companies have to target their buyers with precision. Not an easy task when supplying services to four distinct markets. LAWN SPRAY PROGRAM 328-6260 Tom Gravitte of Greneleves, Inc., Hickory, N.C. Lawn care represented about 50 percent of his company's gross receipts last year. The result was built through diversity. But Gravitte's first priority is lawn spraying. It made up about 50 percent of his company's $118,000 
in gross receipts just last year. It also gives him about three-fourths LEARN HOW YOU CAN CONTROL: Fusarium Neucrotic Ring Spot Disease, "STRESS 
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THROUGH CHEMISTRY" Circle No. 101 on Reader Inquiry Card Free from Hypro Sprayer Pump Handbook New Edition! 8 pages of helpful information to help you select and use your pumps better. Hookup diagrams for piston, roller and centrifugal pumps. Graphs of pump outputs, flow through spray nozzles. Data on pump and sprayer component selection plus much more. Send for your free copy now. When you need -.mm pumps for sprayers ^^ or pressure wash systems, make your choice Hypro. A DIVISION OF LEAR SIEGLER. INC àl9 Fifth Ave NW, St Paul, MN 55112 Ł (612) 633-9300 Circle No. 114 on Reader Inquiry Card Advances in Turfgrass Pathology published by HARCOURT BRACE JOVANOVICH PUBLICATIONS in cooperation with Dr. B. G. Joyner, Dr. P. O. Larsen and Chemlawn Corporation This extensive volume contains chapters on: Ł turfgrass diseases Ł cooi v.s. warm season pythium blight and other related pythium problems Ł snow molds of turfgrasses Ł fairy rings 
Ł leaf spot of Kentucky Bluegrass in Minnesota Ł initial and filed fungicide screening 
Ł turfgrass disease resistance 
Ł PLUS MUCH MORE! ADVANCES IN TURFGRASS PATHOLOGY is a compilation of more than 23 reports and discussions by the nation's leading turfgrass pathologists. Explore the diseases that attack turfgrass. Find out how to conquer the battle of turfgrass diseases. KEEP CURRENT WITH NEW IDEAS ON HOW TO HANDLE TURFGRASS PROBLEMS WITH ADVANCES IN TURFGRASS PATHOLOGY. $27.95* (hardcover) $18.95* (paperback) COPIES LIMITED Š DON'T DELAY! Return this coupon to: Book Sales Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications One East First Street, Duluth, MN 55802 YES! Please send me copy(ies) of ADVANCES IN TURFGRASS PATHOLOGY. Name. $27.95* hardcover $18.95* paperback Quantity rates available on request. A check or money order for. Js enclosed. Address. City Phone _ -State . -Zip-'Please add $2.50 per order plus 25C per additional copy for postage and handling. Please charge to my Visa, Master Card, or American Express (circle one) Account Number Expiration Date. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. of his decision-making headaches. Because Hickory is surrounded by North Carolina's vast turf transi-tion zone, Gravitte has been forced to treat his accounts as if they were separate turf laboratories. Hickory's deep shade areas re-quire two different overseeding mixtures: In sunny areas about 80 percent K-31 tall fescue and 20 
percent Pennfine perennial rye-grass. And because shade requires 
a high quality seed, fescues K-31, Pennlawn, and Jamestown in those areas. "We have problens with bermuda infestation," said Gravitte. "So in September, we mow it down and overseed with the cool-season grasses." His spray season begins on Feb-ruary 20 with four five-week cy-cles. Each cycle requires a broad-leaf weed control of 2,4-D and MCPP. And because of the phosphorus-deficient soils in eastern Carolina, he uses a lot of 10-10-10 fertilizer. "We will also contract out on grading and drain-
age control on a 10 percent basis," said Gravitte. "But that's it. We've gotten stung in the past with landscape maintenance." Athletic field maintenance Gravitte's second priority is athletic field maintenance. It's a business sideline he entered partly 
because of its similarity to lawn maintenance, and partly because of his interest in civic affairs. He now maintains two fields for the 
local college and one for the high school his two daughters attend. Included in the job is sprinkler and irrigation maintenance, over-seeding, aerification, and sprig-
ging. "During the overseeding 
season, I can get help from the local Catawba Valley Technical College," he said. The fields are mainly bermuda and aerified eight times during 
the course of the year. It breaks down to four double aerifications 
in May, June, July and August. "We've been able to double our coring speed," said Gravitte, "and 
now can hit all three fields in one day." Greneleve's third business facet is what is called total vegetation control for area highways, boulevards, fence rows, parking lots, and tennis courts. It repre-
sents about 15 percent of the company's gross income and re-flects Gravitte's emphasis on com-pany diversity. "We have to con-centrate on the moneymakers," he said. "We can't just spread good will in one market and hope to profit by that." to page 30 Bookstore Cost Doto in/ 010, 015 Ł ADVANCES IN TURFGRASS PATHOLOGY by Dr. B. G. Joyner & Dr. P. Lmn Leading U.S. turf pathologists report on turfgrass diseases, pythium blight, snow molds, fairy rings, leaf spot of Kentucky Bluegrass in Minnesota, initial and filed fungicide screening, turfgrass disease resistance, etc. Contains new ideas on how to combat turfgrass problems. $27.95 hardcover, $18.95 paperback 110,120 - TURF MANAGER'S HANDBOOK by Dra. William Daniel and Ray Freeborg This specially designed manual by leading turf specialists is a comprehensive, organized approacn to turfgrass science and care. An easy, on-the-job reference for planning, purchasing, hiring, construction and plant selection. $18.95 hardcover, $14.95 paperback 630 - TURFGRASS: SCIENCE & CULTURE by James Beard Comprehensive basic text and reference source used in many leading university turf programs. Includes findings of current research compiled from more than 12,000 sources. $23.95 340 - CONSTRUCTION DESIGN FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS by Albe E. Munson 
Design specifications for layout, grading, drainage, structures and irrigation. Also explains mathematics of drafting. $24.50 345 - COST DATA FOR LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION 1981 - Kathleen W. Kerr, Editor An updated unit cost data reference for designers, and cost estimators. Developed to fill the tremendous need for detailed landscape construction cost data. Laid out in easy-to-use CSI format. Annual. $24.95 365 - PLAN GRAPHICS by Theodore D. Walker Focuses on plans, elevations, sections and lettering. Provides many different examples to be used as guidelines in personal skill experimentation. Includes graphic techniques for site analysis and design concepts. $21.00 355 - PERSPECTIVE SKETCHES by Theodore D. Walker A reference source of ideas, media use, styles and techniques. Grouped by 
subject matter. Illustrates technique for vegetation, vehicles, play equipment and 
recreation facilities, people, animals, etc. $19.50 375 - SITE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILING by Thaodore D. Walker An introduction to the subject of site design and construction detailing. Focus is on design implementation. Discusses the nature of construction drawings. Presents the characteristics, origin and nature of construction materials. $24.00 r > n > c cn < co 00 370 - LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS: MANAGEMENT, METHODS A MATERIALS by Leroy Hannebaum An in-depth examination that combines technical training in landscape science with methods of accounting, business management, marketing and sales. Discusses effective methods for performing lawn installations, landscape planting and maintenance. Step-by-step accounting calculations are explained in simple terms. $17.95 360 - HOME LANDSCAPE by Garret Eckbo Provides designs, examples and current innovations and refinements to older traditional designs. Covers all aspects of residential landscape planning. $18.95 400 - WESTERN HOME LANDSCAPING by Ken Smith, LA Illustrations and description of western landscape plants and structures for your design idea file. Covers foolproof plants, irrigation, patios and decks, walls, pools, and shelters. $7.95 530 - INTERIOR PLANTSCAPING by Richard Gainea One of the first handbooks directed at the professional interior plantscaper. Includes design and maintenance clues for foliage. $28.50 380 Ł MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS by Michael Dlrr A teaching text and reference on ornamental decidiuous trees, shrubs, ground cover ana vines. Provides identification characteristics with ornamental and cultural features all in one volume. $19.00 390,395 - PHOTOGRAPHIC MANUAL OF WOODY LANDSCAPE PLANTS by Michael Dlrr Reference encompassing photographs of plant habit and ornamental characteristics. Brief descriptions of plants with major thrust on black-and-white photos selected to accurately represent growth habit and other ornamental characteristics such as bark, fruit and flower. $22.00 hardcover, $14.60 paperback 780 - PARK AND RECREATION MAINTENANCE by Sternoff & Warren Preventative maintenance through planning, personnel considerations, equipment maintenance and an examination of public safety, liability and vandalism are covered. Chapters on general outdoor maintenance focusing on outdoor lighting, solid waste sanitation and maintenance of roads, parking lots and trails. $18.95 790 - RECREATION PLANNING AND DESIGN by Seymour M. Gold A comprehensive look at recreation needs for parks and how they can design the park facility for the community. Book's content can help justify construction and 
maintenance needs. $27.50 RECK: 0\ ' w.ifvat ' 1. .V.:£\f\T Recreation Planning and Design ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁi ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁa ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁa ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁa TREES Introduction to Floriculture HOKTIS SeymouWGoW 665 - THE OXFORD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES OF THE WORLD - Bayard Hora, Editor An authoritative reference describing the principal trees of the world. Includes biology and growth of trees, ecology of different types of forest, forest management, timber usage, and pest and disease control. $24.95 385 - TREES FOR ARCHITECTURE AND THE LANDSCAPE by Robert L. Zlon A book of photographic tree definitions, or portraits, intended to facilitate communication between the landscape architect, the architect and the layman. $11.95 740 Ł TREE FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT by James Vardaman A guide to help you increase profits from tree farming. Major problems confronting large and small tree farms and how to meet them including recommendations for seeking out accountants, lawyers and other professionals. $20.50 710, 720 - SHRUB IDENTIFICATION by George Symonds Pictorial key to identify shrubs. Contains more than 3,500 illustrations to check 
specimens. Popular and botanical names are given for each shrub with handy 
index tabs for quick reference. $18.00 hardcover, $8.00 paperback 540 - INTRODUCTION TO FLORICULTURE by Roy Larson Text is divided into two sectionsŠone covering cut flowers, the other potted plants. Propagation, plant culture, pest control and individual considerations are given for chrysanthemums, carnations, roses, snapdragons, orchids, gladiolus, bulbous plants, azaleas, pot mums, poinsettias, Easter lilies, glesneriads, hydrangeas, cyclamen, begonias, kalanchoe and other flowering pot plants, bedding, hanging and foliage plants. $29.50 550 - PLANT PROPAGATION by Hudson Hartmann Up-to-date coverage of all phases of plant propagation by seeds, cuttings, grafting, budding layering, division and tissue culture propagation. Emphasis on the most recent c' such as disease prevention. ADDITIONAL TITLES 410 - DISEASES & PESTS OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS $26.50 660 - DISEASES OF SHADE TREES $23.50 610 - DISEASES OF TURFGRASSES $30.00 420 - EXOTIC PLANT MANUAL $37.50 440 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ENTOMOLOGY & PLANT PATHOLOGY $22.00 450 - GARDENING IN SMALL PLACES $7.95 490 - GREENHOUSE OPERATION & MANAGEMENT $19.95 670,680 - GUIDE TO TREES $19.95 hardcover, $8.95 paperback 350 - HANDBOOK OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCTION $48.50 690 - INSECTS THAT FEED ON TREES & SHRUBS $42.50 545 - MODERN WEED CONTROL $18.50 700 - THE PRUNING MANUAL $14.95 730 -TREE CARE $8.95 750 - TREE IDENTIFICATION $9.00 760 - TREE MAINTENANCE $29.95 
770 - TREE SURGERY $18.95 650 - TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT $17.95 640 - TURF IRRIGATION MANUAL $22.95 620 - TURF MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK $14.65 560 - WEED SCIENCE $24.00 570 - WESTCOTT'S PLANT DISEASE HANDBOOK $34.50 580 - WYMAN'S GARDENING ENCYCLOPEDIA $29.95 CLOSEOÜTS ORDER THESE TITLES AT SPECIAL REDUCED PRICES! 430 - FLOWER & PLANT PRODUCTION $13.60 590 - FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE $19.15 460 - GREENHOUSE ENVIRONMENT $21.20 470 - GREENHOUSE GROWER $12.40 500 Ł HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE $18.70 520 - HOW TO GROW HEALTHY H0USEPLANTS $5.05 770 - MANAGEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL LAKES & PONDS $16.95 600 - SOIL & SOIL MANAGEMENT $11.90 -uaio uuvoiaye ui an (jnasers ui yiani yiuyayaiiui i uy »cbus, uuiunyu, yiau ng layering, division and tissue culture propagation. Emphasis on the mos t developments in propagation methods, equipment and related subjects 
as disease prevention. $24.95 510 - HORTUS THIRD from Cornell University A 1,300-page concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. A reference which every horticultural professional should have $99.50 480 - GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT FOR FLOWER & PLANT PRODUCTION by Ken nerd Nelson Approaches business from two aspects - the soil environment and air environment and stresses their interrelationship. Management of business procedures, physical facilities and marketing are discussed as well as the importance of crop rotation and scheduling. $15.35 Mail this coupon to: Book Sales Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications One East First Street, Duluth, MN 55802 Name Address-City -State--ZiP-Signature Phone Number. -Date-Please send me the following books. I have enclosed a check* for the total amount. Please charge to my Visa, Master Card or American Express (circle one) Account Number Expiration Date ORDER NUMBER QUANTITY PRICE TOTAL PRICE 'Please add $2.50 per order plus 25c per additional copy for postage and handling. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery Prices subject to change. Quantity rates available on request (postage & handling) Total Enclosed LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY MODELS Ford introduces new Series 10 tractor with major improvements The lawn care industry may bene-fit from the introduction of Ford Tractor Operation's industrial lineup for 1982, according to J. A. Davies, manager of industrial 
products, Ford Tractor and Im-
plement Operations Š North America. At a recent news conference in Reno, Nevada, dealers were told that LCG (low center of gravity) model industrial tractors, used in the lawn care industry for mow-ing, maintenance, and aerator hauling, would benefit from the massive research and develop-
ment effort that went into Ford's 
new Series 10 Tractor line. Among the LCG model refine-ments are major diesel-engine im-provements, a new synchromesh transmission, and other improve-ments that permit on-the-move 
shifts. The displacement of the three-cylinder diesel engine for the 230A model is increased 10.7 percent, from 158 to 175 cubic inches, for improved lugging abil-ity, pulling power and fuel effi-ciency. The net engine horse-power has been increased from 34 to 40, a 17.6 percent increase, while fuel economy at rated horsepower has been boosted about 11 percent. The new model 530A industrial tractor has a 201-cubic inch, three 
cylinder diesel engine Š the first production tractor engine from 
Ford equipped with headland pistons. Net engine horsepower SEND FOR FREE CATALOG PROFESSIONAL LAWN & GARDEN PRODUCTS ROCKLAND CHEMICAL CO., INC . PASSAIC AVE WEST CALDWELL N J. 07006 Circle No. 125 on Reader Inquiry Card TURF MANAGERS' HANDBOOK By Dr. William Daniel and Dr. Ray Freeborg $23.95* hardcover $18.95* paperback This essential reference book covers: Łscope and organization «pests and controls Łgrasses and grooming «uses of turf Łrootzones and water »serving turf needs Łnutrition «AND MORE The TURF MANAGERS' HANDBOOK is an easy on-the-job reference to planning, purchasing, hiring, 
construction, and plant selection. These 424 pages contain 150 illustrations, 96 color photographs plus 
240 tables and forms. Ordering Information Please send. Signature. i of the hardback ($23.95' ea.) Name (print). ì of the paperback ($18.95* ea.) Address Quantity rates available upon request. 'Please add $2.50 per order plus 25c per additional copy for postage and handling. Please charge to my Visa, Master Card, or American Express (circle one) Account Number Expiration Date. City Phone. -State . -Zip-Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Send to: Book Sales Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications One East First Street Duluth, MN 55802 has been increased from 55 to 59. Ford's headland piston has an L-shaped ring with its top surface at the top of the piston, rather than a short distance below as on other piston designs. The headland de-sign offers better sealing and eliminates the narrow "dead" area between the upper side of the piston and the cylinder wall to improve combustion efficiency. Major diesel improvements Š headland pistons All diesel engines in the indust-rial tractor line-up have been fitted with new controlled-flow injector 
nozzles for more precise fuel met-ering. The new injector nozzles are manufactured to closer tolerances for uniform atomization which improves engine performance and fuel economy. More efficient fuel usage also minimizes carbon de-Gentlemen Prefer Bonds. So do ladies. And there's good reason. You see, United States Savings Bonds are one of the best ways to save. 
They're easy. And safe. They're easy when you buy them automati-cally at work, through the Pay-roll Savings Plan. And they're safe because they're guaranteed to pay oif every time. So whether you wear a white collar, blue collar, lace collar or no collar at all, buy Bonds. They're a great way to save. And that, Ladies and Gen-tlemen, is some-thing you'll find quite preferable. Series E Bonds pay 6% interest when held to maturity of 5 years (4l/2% the first year). Interest is not subject to state or local income taxes, and federal tax may be deferred until redemption. Take . stock in^merica. HR A public service of this publication and The Advertising Council posits on engine components for longer service. The three-cylinder 175 and 201 cubic inch diesel engines used in 230A and 530A models have new three inch longer dual-element air cleaners. The larger cleaners in-crease air-cleaner service intervals up to 20 percent. The new optional synchromesh transmission available on 230A and 530A LCG models has eight forward and four reverse speeds that provide evenly spaced ground speed increases. There also are a large number of gears in the working range, to better match job 
requirements and improve prod-
uctivity. The transmission's synchro-mesh gears permit clash-free 
"on-the-go" shifting, except with 
heavy loads, to facilitate a variety 
of tasks. Steering-column-mounted gearshift levers with synchromesh transmission provide clear floor space for added driver comfort. A 
foot throttle aids shifting. Engineers have improved the power-steering system offered on 230A and 530A tractors. Mechani-
cal and pump changes give easier 
steering effort, while a larger steering pump increases pump flow by up to 42 percent. GRAVITTE from page 28 Irrigation installation and maintenance is another important 
industry trend that rounds out the company. Handling any job under 20,000 square feet, Gravitte stres-ses that irrigation control is much 
more than laying pipe. Operating 
between spray cycles or in winter, Gravitte's team hooks the irriga-tion system up to the local river water supply. "It's 50 percent cheaper than water piped into your house," he said. "And, 
there's no sewage charge." In order to coordinate all his various services, Greneleve's employs an accountant, whom, Gravitte says, "is invaluable." "Who's more important," he asks, "a CPA or a lawyer? We don't do 
anything without calling our ac-countant." They also take an expedient attitude when it comes to sales technique, which Gravitte insists, is often too detailed. "A lot of people are high-strung," he said. "They only want to know when 
you are coming and how much it's 
going to cost. They don't need to be sold, they need to be signed, in other words." Troubled by the state of the economy, Gravitte says that franchise affiliation would be too costly to him at this point. How-ever, he does admit that he could have used franchise backing for his sales and advertising promo-tions. On the other hand, he feels that he wouldn't want to be restricted by an exclusive lawn care pro-gram. "After being around country clubs a few years, you're supposed to have learned to pull a few 
tricks," he said. And it has obvi-ously paid off. Because he enjoys speaking to local garden clubs in addition to his responsibilities as director of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina, he generates not a 
few sales leads. "I don't want to get complacent," he said, explaining his involvement. "That's the main thing." Circle the Reader Service numbers of those items of interest to you. Inquiries serviced for 90 days from date of issue. For those countries outside the U.S., please apply appropriate postage before mailing. READER SERVICE INFORMATION CARD 1-82 2 For more information on products or services mentioned in this issue, circle the corresponding numbers below, fill In appropriate Information and mail today. 101 108 115 122 129 136 143 150 157 164 171 178 185 192 199 206 213 220 227 234 102 109 116 123 130 137 144 151 158 165 172 179 186 193 200 207 214 221 228 235 103 110 117 124 131 138 145 152 159 166 173 180 187 194 201 208 215 222 229 236 104 111 118 125 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 223 230 237 105 112 119 126 133 140 147 154 161 168 175 182 189 196 203 210 217 224 231 238 106 113 120 127 134 141 148 155 162 169 176 183 190 197 204 211 218 225 232 239 107 114 121 128 135 142 149 156 163 170 177 184 191 198 205 212 219 226 233 240 PLEASE CHECK BELOW YOUR PRIMARY BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION: A. CONTRACTOR OR SERVICES: ŁLawn care service business involved primarily with fertilization, weed, and insect control Please specify method ot application 10 DLiquid 11 DDry 12 DBoth 20 DPrimarily mowing/maintenance service 30 Ł Landscape contractor/lawn service company 40 Ł Nursery or garden center/lawn service company 50 DPest control/lawn service company 60 Ł Irrigation contractor/lawn service company B GROUNDS CARE/MAINTENANCE AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FACILITIES: 110 ŁPrivate or public estate 120 130 
140 150 190 ŁSchool, college, university, hospital, or similar facility ŁCondominium housing development or industrial park ŁGovernment grounds: parks, around municipal buildings, military facilities Ł Cemetery or memorial garden ŁOther (please specify) C. SUPPLIER 210 ŁChemical dealer or distributor 
220 UEquipment dealer or distributor 
230 OSeed broker/dealer 240 aSod grower NAME BUSINESS NAME. CITY _STATE_ .TITLE _ADDRESS_ _Z\P_ .TELEPHONE J ) AREA CODE I WISH TO RECEIVE (CONTINUE RECEIVING) LAWN CARE INDUSTRY EACH MONTH Ł YES Ł NO SIGNATURE DATE NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY CARDl FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH, MINNESOTA POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE READER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WWN GIRE INDUSTRY POST OFFICE BOX 6200 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 NEWSMAKERS MEETING DATES Pacific Green Corporation has announced two management changes as part of its continuing expansion into the landscape and ornamental horticulture indus-tries. John Culbertson, 42, general sales manager for Pacific Green Sod for the past two years, has been promoted to the newly estab-lished position of director of mar-keting for Pacific Green Corpora-tion. Neal Beeson, 35, former opera-tions manager for Anaheim Stadium and the city's two municipal golf courses, has joined Pacific Green Sod as the new general sales manager, filling the position vacated by Culbertson. As sales manager, Culbertson will handle all marketing respon-
sibilities for Pacific Green, in-cluding new acquisitions, market development, sales coordination, public relations, advertising, 
product promotion, and trade as-sociation liaison. As general sales manager, Be-eson will supervise the Pacific Green Sod sales staff, and be 
totally responsible for sales and service from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border. James M. Bailey is president of Super Lawns of Gaithersburg, 
Inc., Gaithersburg, Md. The com-pany offers granular chemical lawn care, and also aeration and seeding. Joe Motz is owner of Motz Maintenance, Cincinnati, Ohio. Mike Arbogast is lawn technician ZOYSIA /rom page 11 zoysia when it came out was that it was a cure-all, but management practices are opposite what we are used to with Kentucky bluegrass for mowing and timing of fertilizer 
applications." Stouse also said that he does not feel that the aeration equipment on the rental market used by home-owners is generally heavy-duty 
enough to do the necessary job. Gray is dealing with zoysia on a golf course, which is quite a bit different from a home lawn situa-tion. He is on the course every day, and can handle the routine maintenance necessary to keep the turf looking good. He said he favors a 50/50 zoysia and bluegrass mixture because he gets nice blue-grass green-up in the spring, and maintains the color through the 
summer with zoysia. He core-
aerates twice a year, and slices 
three times a year, and has had no 
thatch problems on his 12-year-old zoysia. But he admits it would be difficult to get most homeowners to carry out this rigid mechanical maintenance schedule. Lawn care businessmen in the audience said they felt zoysia was 
best kept at a 3-inch cut, because the lawns tend to stay greener and have less insect problems. One lawn care businessman said he tries to get his customers on his 120 zoysia lawns to cultivate every three years, and he has had good results with 3 to 3Vi pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet a year. Many in the audience and on 
the panel felt that this was too much nitrogen. and Dick Oboetz is lawn techni-
cian. The company offers liquid chemical lawn care and also mowing/maintenance services. Paul Montaperto is president and James Maloney is vice presi-dent of Lawn 4N Turf, Inc., Dix 
Hills, N.Y. The company offers 
granular chemical lawn care ser-vices. Wendell Crockett is owner of Crockett's Green Lawn Service, Northboro, Mass. The company offers chemical lawn care and lawn installation services. Margaret A. (Peggy) Young will join the staff of the Fertilizer Institute as director, environ-mental programs, effective June 22,1981, according to the industry association's president, Edwin M. Wheeler. 20th Annual North Carolina Turfgrass Conference, Jan. 12-14. Eoyal Villa Inn, Raleigh, N.C. Contact: Dr. L. T. Lucas, program chairman, Plant Pathology Dept., North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. 27650. Nebraska Turfgrass Foundation Confer-ence & Trade Snow, Holiday Inn Conven-tion Center, Omaha, January 19-21. Con-tact: Paul Bergman, 2428 W. 11th St., 
Hastings, NE 68901, (402) 463-5055. Virginia Turfgrass Conference, John Marshall Hotel, Richmond, Jan. 19-21. Contact: Dr. J. R. Hall III, Extension Agronomist, Turf, Virginia Tech, 421 Smyth Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, 703-961-5797. Associated Landscape Contractors of America Annual Meeting and Trade Exhibit, Hilton Riviera Hotel, Palm gs, Calif., Jan. 24-29. Contact: ALCA, 1750 Old Meadow Rd., McLean. VA 22102, 703-821-8611. The New York Turf and Landscape As-sociation Annual Turf and Landscape 
Conference, Jan. 27, 1982, Tappan Zee Inn, New York Thruway, Exit 11. Contact: Frank Claps, 136 Laurel Avenue, Larchmont, N.Y. Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America International Turfgrass Con-ference & Show, Rivergate Exhibition Cen-
ter, New Orleans, La. Jan. 31-Feb. 5. Contact: GCSAA, 1617 St. Andrews Dr., Lawrence, Ks. 66044. (913) 841-2240. 18th Annual Northern California Turf and Landscape Exposition, Sac-ramento Convention Center, Sac-ramento, Feb. 17-18. Contact: NCTC, P.O. Box 268, Lafayette, CA 94549. Bergen County Landscape '82 Confer-ence and Trade Show, sponsored by Bergen County Landscape Contractors Association, Ramada Inn, Montvale, 
NJ, Feb. 24. Contact: Michael Loc-katell, 16 Donnybrook Road, Montvale, NJ 07645, 201-391-1442. 51st Massachusetts Turfgrass Confer-ence and 6th Industrial Show, Civic Center, Springfield, MA, March 2-4. Contact: Dr. Joseph Troll, Professor Š 
Turf Management, Stockbridce Hall Room 10, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, 413-545-2353. n > c cz> CD 00 N3 The pros chose SHADOW 41 As professional lawn care specialists, we want our customers' lawns to advertise for us. One of the major problems we find in many of our customers' lawns is stressed areas under and around shade trees. We formulated our Prograss lawn overseeding mix to remedy these difficulties. For our shade mix we chose 90 percent Shadow Chewings Fescue and 10 percent A-34 
bluegrass. We see exceptional results when 
proper overseeding procedures are followed. Shadow makes us look good, too." Shadow is a new variety of Chewings type fine fescue developed for improved shade tolerance and resistance to powdery mildew. Breeding for these attributes was a long and 
tedious job, but the results were better, stronger turf than 
the old line fescues. Insist on the seed the pros choose for your shade mix. "The hottest shade tolerant Marketed by itirf-Seedjnc. mm Circle No. 129 on Reader Inquiry Card P.O. Box 250, Hubbard, OR 97032 503/981 -9571 TWX 510-590-0957 The Research, Production, Marketing Company fine fescue under the sun" YTP JOB #4780 Mike Erb Prograss Lawn Service Field Representative and licensed applicator. [ How are you going the ten dollars ing to spend > we send? Use this HO00 Coupon to meet the three best friends a lawn service can have... company They are Trimec® Turf Herbicide; Belamec-4; and your Gordon Professional Turf Distributor. Together this trio can help you make more money. Read on: Obviously, you enjoy being in the lawn service business. And why not? You're beautifying America, and you have almost unlimited growth poten-tial. Of course, the bottom line is to make a profit that is in keeping with the energy you put into your business, and frankly that can be a problem. But we can help you. On Improving Your Profit As you know, profitable growth in the lawn service business boils down to being able to hold a substantial part of your present customers year after year; being able to secure enough new customers to more than offset the customers you lose through natural attrition; and making adequate profit 
on every job. The secret is to do the job right the first time. When you do the job right, your customer enjoys an immaculate lawn that is nothing short of pristine. No weeds. No crabgrass. It causes your customer to stick with you year after year in spite of all the new business efforts of your contemporaries; and it also prompts him to tell his friends about you. And when you do it right the first time, you do wonders for your profit because you eliminate those gut-wrenching, expensive retreatments. The trio of Betamec-4; Trimec; and your Gordon Professional Turf Distributor can help you do it rightthe first time. The Role of Products Betamec-4 is unparalleled in the field of selective pre-emergence herbicides, and is preferred by lawn care specialists who want dependable results. Consider just a few of its 
unique advantages. ...It has an extended life, which means you can apply it on your time table rather than nature's germination schedule. Apply it early in the year and, even if it freezes before crab-
grass germinates, Betamec-4 will still be there with its control. BETAMEC-4: The premier crabgrass herbicide for established turf. Ł Controls other grassy weeds and certain broadleaf weeds before they emerge. Ł Has been used by homeowners, lawn care specialists and golf course superintendents with complete satisfaction for over 10 years. Ł Controls Poa annua Ł Gives excellent crabgrass control without turfgrass injury. Ł Controls unwanted plant growth before it becomes visible. Ł Apply in fall or early spring for all-season control Ł Can also be used on Dichondra, ornamentals, ground covers, flowers and bulbs. Betamec-4 (Betasan Š registered trademark of Stauffer Chemical Co.) ... Because it's a liquid, it stays in place, and thus is effective over an entire terraced lawn. ... And it is so gentle to established turf and around herbaceous orna-mentals. It has been applied at twice the recommended rate without causing damage. Trimec is unparalleled in the field of selective post-emergence herbi-cides. It is a patented herbicide No. 3,284,186 manufactured by PBI/ GORDON Corporation. Three chemi-cals: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 2-methyl-4-Chlorophenoxy propionic acid; and 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid are all reacted as acids to form the dimethylamine salt of Trimec. The resulting Trimec product has un-
paralleled strength caused by the synergism that occurs from reacting 
the three acids. And yet, the cost per acre is low because the synergistic action of TRIMEC " Turf Herbicide: Only Trimec gives you all these benefits Ł Controls the widest range of broadleaf weeds Ł Gets hard-to-kill species with one treatment Ł Wide safety margin for lawn grasses. Ł Minimum hazard from root absorption No vapor action after application. Ł Effective weed control in a wide temperature range Over-comes water hardness problems. Ł Treated areas may be reseeded within 2 weeks. Ł Non-flammable and non-corrosive in use. Stable several years above 30° F. Ł Biodegradeable: friendly to the environment. Ł Bentgrass formula is also available TRIMEC" is a registered trademark of PBI/GORDON Cor-poration. Product covered by U.S. Patent No 3,284,186 are confident that you will have the same experience, and we urge you to prove it to yourself. To help persuade you, we'll give you $10.00. Go to any of the Gor-don Distributors listed on this page and order five gallons of Betamec-4and five gallons of Trimec. Get an invoice proving 
purchase. Send it with coupon. We'll send you a check for $10. A New Beginning Now, when you get your $10.00 from us, we hope you spend it on something that will bring a little ex-citement into your life. But whatever excitement it brings, it will be nothing compared to the excitement of your customers when they experience the better work you are able to do with the help of this trio. 6000 NEWS Ask your distributor for a supply of Trimec door hangers. Trimec is fully effective with a small amount of chemical which translocates to the root system, resulting in a high degree of kill. We make the flat statement that dollar for dollar and acre for acre of immaculate, weed-free turf, Trimec is the most effective and efficient broadleaf herbicide in the world. Unstinting Professional Service The third member of the team is your Gordon Professional Turf Dis-
tributor. He will not only provide you with Betamec-4, Trimec, and a com-plete line of turf chemicals at a price that will leave you plenty of room for profit. He will back you up with tech-
nical knowledge to help you solve Š or avoid Š the problems that plague the lawn care business. He will also provide you with door hangers to help your customers better appreciate 
your service. Thousands of lawn care operators have found that the team of Betamec-4; Trimec; and The Gordon Distributor can help them make more money. We "/ want to supply you with Trimec and Betamec-4." GORDON'S AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS ALABAMA Birmingham Ł Norala Company Ł Tieco Inc Gadsden Ł Markers ol Clubview Montgomery Ł CASSC0 Ł Tieco Inc ALASKA Palmer Ł Alamasu Inc ARIZONA Phoenix Ł Arizona Agrochemical Co Ł Capital Nursery Supply Ł Target Chemical Co Ł Van Waters & Rogers Tucson Ł A C R E Inc Ł Copper State Chemical Company Ł Van Waters & Rogers ARKANSAS Alexander Ł Capitol Equipment Co North Little Rock Ł Turf Aid Inc Searcy Ł Affilliated Growers & Retailers of Agriculture Inc CALIFORNIA Anaheim Ł Robinson Fertilizer Co Bakerslield Ł Abate-A-Weed & Insect Control Cerritos Ł Target Chemical Company 
Chula Vista Ł Wilbur Ellis Company 
Coachella Ł Foster-Gardner Inc Fillmore Ł Coastal Division 
Fremont Ł El Camino Supply Co 
Fresno Ł Target Chemical Company Los Angeles Ł Van Waters & Rogers Manteca Ł L & A Enterprises Oxnard Ł Coastal Division Sacramento Ł Orchard Supply Co 
San Diego Ł Butler s Mill Inc San Gabriel Ł J Harold Mitchell Co San Jacinto Ł Coastal Division San Jose Ł Moyer Chemical Co Ł Northern California Fertilizer Co Ł Plant Gro Corporation Ł Target Chemical Company Ł Van Waters & Rogers 
San Leandro Ł Custom Chemilene 
Santa Ana Ł Moyer Chemical Co 
Santa Barbara Ł Agri Turf Supplies Inc Santa Rosa Ł Purity Chemical Products Co South Gate Ł . Los Angeles Chemical Company Stockton Ł Castle of Stockton COLORADO Colorado Springs Ł Gorby Inc Oenver Ł Van Waters & Rogers Henderson Ł American Fertilizer Co 
Pueblo Ł Pueblo Chemical & Supply 
Westminister Ł S.A.J Turf Products CONNECTICUT Oevon Ł Somers Turf Supplies East Haven Ł East Haven Wholesale Landscape Supply Greenwich Ł Emanuel Shemin Horticulturist Hazzardville Ł Old Fox Chemical Inc Wethersfield Ł Chas Hart Seed Co FLORIDA Homestead Ł Atlantic Fertilizer & Chemical Jacksonville Ł Bingham Seed Co Pensacola Ł Gulf Shore Turf Supply Inc Ł Tieco Gulf Coast Inc Princeton Ł Woodbury Chemical Co 
Sanlord Ł Southern Chemical Co Ł Sunmland Corporation Tampa Ł Southern Mill Creek Products Co Inc Winterhaven Ł Estech Inc GEORGIA Alpharetta Ł Regal Chemical Co College Park Ł Stephenson Chemical Company Conyers Ł Lawn & Turf Inc Ooraville Ł Georgia Golf & Garden Supply Fort Valley Ł Woolfolk Chemical Work inc Madison Ł Pennington Seed Inc 
Norcross Ł Managed Environments. Inc Swainsboro Ł GA AG Chemical Inc HAWAII Hilo Ł Occidental Chemical Company Honolulu Ł Occidental Chemical uo 
Ł Trade West. Inc Ł Van Waters & Rogers 
Kahului Ł Occidental Chemical Co 
Lihie Kauai Ł Occidental Chemical Company IDAHO Boise Ł Van Waters & Rogers Caldwell Ł Good Day Distributors Ł Steven Regan Company ILLINOIS Barrington Ł Olsen Distributing Co 
Ł Rowlands Equipment Chicago Ł George A Davis Inc Crystal Lake Ł Country Gas Company Danville Ł Bt State Turf 
Decatur Ł Drake-Scruggs Equipment Inc 
Evanston Ł Permalawn Inc 
Geneseo «CD Ford & Sons Morton Grove Ł V-G Supply Company Normal Ł Professional Turf Specialty Peoria Ł Behm & Hagemann Inc Rockton Ł Turf Management Supply 
South Holland Ł Paarlberg Chemical West Chicago Ł Turf Products Ltd Wheeling Ł Arthur Clesen Inc INDIANA Ft Wayne Ł Turf Specialties Indianapolis Ł Cory Orchard Supply Ł Desco Chemical Company Ł Indiana Turf 
Nappanee Ł Desco Chemical Inc IOWA Cedar Rapids Ł Hawkeye Seed Co Davenport Ł Big Bear Turf Equipment Ł Tri State Toro Elkader Ł Meyer Equipment Co Sioux City Ł W R Anderson Distributing Co Waterloo Ł Foster s. Inc Waukee Ł Baer Ag Supply 
W Burlington Ł Brayton Chemical Inc W Oes Moines Ł Big Bear Turf Co Ł Rest Haven Turf Service KANSAS 
Garden City Ł Pueblo Chemical Co Kansas City 
Ł Century Laboratories Inc 
Ł Rhodes Chemical Company Salina Ł Landsco Corporation Wichita Ł Bartels & Shores Chemical Co Ł Champion Turf Equipment Inc Ł Robert Wise Company KENTUCKY Florence Ł George W Hill Company 
Lexington Ł Kentucky Garden Co 
Louisville Ł Ky-lnna Turf Supply Co ' Central South Turf Distributors Ł Tieco LOUISIANA Covington Ł Tammany Turf & Supply. Inc New Orleans Ł Southern Specialty Sales Co Inc Plain Oealing Ł Wyche s Golf Course Specialties MAINE South Portland Ł Yerxa s Inc MARYLAND Baltimore Ł Pro-Lawn Products Inc Landover Ł Loft Seed Company Ł Vaughan Seed Company 
Linthicum Heights Ł Cornell Chemical & Equipment MASSACHUSETTS Arlington Ł Lofts/New England Boston Ł Pro-Lawn Products Inc Burlington Ł Tom Irwin Inc 
Natick Ł Richey & Clapper Inc Newton Center Ł Grounds Equipment Company W Newton Ł The Clapper Company W Wareham Ł R F Morse & Son Inc. MICHIGAN Birmingham Ł W F Miller Company Oetroit Ł Terminal Sales Corporation Ł Turf Supplies Inc Grand Rapids Ł Mollema & Son Inc Ł Parmenter & Andre Hartford Ł Desco Chemical Company Royal Oak Ł Lawn Equipment Co 
Saginaw Ł Burdick s Seed House Utica Ł Utica Distributors MINNESOTA Eagan Ł Tessman Seed & Chemical 
Hopkins Ł Potter & Manthei Enterprises Minneapolis Ł Howe Chemical Co Ł Minnesota Toro Inc St. Paul Ł R L Gould & Company Ł Turf Supply Company Savage Ł The Castle Chemical Co MISSISSIPPI Jackson Ł South Central Turf Equip & Supply Ł Specialty Oil Company Inc Madison Ł MFC Services MISSOURI Chesterfield Ł Beckman Turf & Irrigation Grandview Ł Landsco Corporation Ł Robisons Lawn & Golf Course Supply Kansas City Ł Bartels & Shores Chemical Co 
Ł Champion Turf Equipment Ł Colony Chemicals Ł Pest Control Supply Ł Standard Seed Company Ł Tobm Seed Maryland Heights Ł Outdoor Equipment Company Springfield Ł Champion Turf Equipment Inc. St. Louis Ł Crown Chemical Co Ł AH Hummert Seed Company Ł Link s Nursery. Inc MONTANA Billings Ł Turf Aid Distributing Co Helena Ł Mr Turf NEBRASKA Kearney Ł Centra Chemical Services Morrill Ł Jirdon Agri Chemical Inc McCook Ł Cornbelt Chemicals Omaha Ł Big Bear Equipment Inc Ł Eagle Green Corporation 
Ł Midwest Toro NEVADA Las Vegas Ł Clark County Wholesale Merc Co North Las Vegas Ł Las Vegas Fertilizer Co Inc NEW HAMPSHIRE Hooksett Ł Turf Specialty Inc NEW JERSEY Boundbrook Ł Loft Seed Company Ł Vaughan Seed Company Cranbury Ł Chamberlin & Barclay Inc Clifton Ł The Terre Company Dayton Ł Lebanon Chemical Corp Freehold Ł Green Hills Turf Supply 
Hillsdale Ł L S T Industries Maplewood Ł Pierson Mill Company Mountainside Ł Andrew Wilson Inc Paramus Ł Pro-Lawn Products. Inc 
Rahway Ł Fertl-Soil Company 
Riverside Ł Meskers Inc Shrewsbury Ł Raycroft Distributors West Caldwell Ł Rockland Chemical Company Westlield Ł Storr Tractor Company 
Yardville Ł Jep Sales Company NEW MEXICO Albuquerque Ł Albuquerque Chemical Co . Inc Mesquite Ł Agricultural Products Co Roswell Ł Roswell Seed Company Inc NEW YORK Bergen Ł Lawn Medic Brewster Ł Herbst Bros Cambridge Ł Lofts/New York Cohoes Ł S V Moffett Co Dix Hills Ł Island Golf & Turf Farmlngdale Ł Wagner Seed Co Inc Hamburg Ł Eaton Equipment Co Hauppauga Ł Maxwell Turf Inc Hawthorne Ł Metro Milorganite Jamaica Ł J & L Adikes Inc Latham Ł Grassland Irrigation & Equipment 
Portcheater Ł Westchester Turf Supply Co Syracuse Ł Eaton Golf & Tractor Ł Pro-Lawn Products. Inc South Hampton Ł James H Lynch Inc West Henrietta Ł S V Moffett. Inc NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte Ł E J Smith & Sons Ł Forshaw Chemicals Ł Seedmen Inc 
Fayetteville Ł Eastern Turf Goldsboro Ł Jeffreys Seed Company 
Shelby Ł Porter Brothers Inc Winston Salem Ł Goltra Inc NORTH DAKOTA Fargo Ł Minnesota Toro Ł Tessman Chemical Northwest OHIO Canton Ł Letherman Seed Company Cleveland Ł Larry s Garden Center Ł US Garden Sales Inc Cincinnati Ł Century Toro Dist Inc Ł Forshaw Chemicals 
Ł Thornton Environmental 
Dayton Ł G & S Supply Company 
Elyria Ł Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co Findlay Ł Desco Chemical Company Macedonia Ł Krigger & Company Inc Mantua Ł John R Skinner Company 
Maumee Ł The Anderson s 
Piqua Ł Midwest Burlap & Growers Supply Solon Ł Sidney L Dryfocs Company Tiffin Ł Earl J Crane Inc Toledo Ł Century Toro Dist OKLAHOMA McAlester Ł Tony s Chemical House Oklahoma City Ł Paul Blakney Cb Ł Estes Chemicals Inc Ł T-E Agri Supply Inc Tulsa Ł All Best Inc Ł Nick Knott Turf Equipment Ł South Central Vet Supply 
Ł Thompson-Hayward Chemical Co Ł Wait Mfg & Sales Company OREGON Eugene Ł Van Waters & Rogers Portland Ł The Chas H Lilly Co Ł Van Waters & Rogers Ł Wilbur-Ellis Company PENNSYLVANIA Ooylestown Ł Philadelphia Toro Forty Fort Ł Penn State Seed Co Hanover Ł Miller Chemical & Fertilizer Corp 
Harleysville Ł Geiger Corporation 
Horsham Ł Pocono Turf Supply Co Lebanon Ł Lebanon Chemical Corp Malvern Ł Fisher & Sons Company Inc Manheim Ł Pro-Lawn Products Inc Philadelphia Ł Farm & Golf Course Supply Co Inc Ł Pro-Lawn Products Inc Phoenixville Ł Lawn & Golf Supply Pittsburgh «EH Griffith Inc Ł Krigger & Company Ł Pro-Lawn Products Inc 
Reading Ł Reading Bone Fertilizer Wycombe Ł Histand Supply RHODE ISLAND E Providence Ł Old Fox Chemical Inc SOUTH CAROLINA Inman Ł Woolfolk Chemical Works Inc Ł Ramar Laboratories Inc SOUTH DAKOTA Sioux Falls Ł C & R Supply Ł Dakota Turf TENNESSEE Knoxville Ł Central South Turf Dist Memphis Ł The January Company Ł Turf Aid Inc Nashville Ł Central South Turf Dist 
Ł Ernest Hardison Seed Co Inc Ł Tieco Inc TEXAS Amarillo Ł T-E Agri Supply Dallas 
Ł Agricultural Chemicals of Dallas Ł Chemical & Turf Specialty Co Ł Nortex Wholesale Nursery Ł Van Waters & Rogers 
Ł Watson s Distributing Company El Paso Ł El Paso Turf Supply 
Houston Ł Van Waters & Rogers 
Ł Watson s Distributing Company Katy Ł Sigma Chemicals San Antonio Ł Van Waters & Rogers Waco Ł Estes Chemicals Inc Wichita Falls Ł Estes Chemicals Inc UTAH Salt Lake City Ł Morgro Chemical Company Ł Steve Regan Company Ł Van Waters & Rogers VIRGINIA Chesapeake Ł Turf & Garden Division Harrisonburg Ł Wetsel Seed Co Richmond Ł Forshaw Chemicals Ł Wilson Feed Company Inc 
Roanoke Ł Agri Turf Products Company Inc Ł Miller Chemical & Fertilizer Co WASHINGTON Renlon Ł Pacific Agro Company Seattle Ł The Chas H Lilly Co Ł Van Waters & Rogers 
Ł Western Farmers Association 
Ł Wilbur-Ellis Company 
Spokane Ł Van Waters & Rogers Tacoma Ł NuLife Fertilizers WASHINGTON, D.C. Ł Lea s Green Meadow Inc WEST VIRGINIA Charleston Ł Young s Inc WISCONSIN Chilton Ł Horst Distributing Co Elm Grove Ł Reinder Bros Turf Equipment Janesville Ł Wisconsin Turf Milwaukee Ł Loft Kellogg Seed Co Sun Prairie Ł Turf Management Supply $10.00 COUPON Send to PBI/GORDON Corporation. Attached is an invoice from a Gordon Dis-tributor listed on this page, proving that I have purchased 5 gallons of Betamec-4 and 5 gallons of Trimec since January 1, 1982. Please send me a check for $10.00. (Offer expires April 1,1982. Limit one per customer.) Name Address PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS pbi /GORdon coRpoRation 1217 WEST 12TH STREET P.O. BOX 4090 KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64101 816/421-4070 TURNER from page 27 As thatch buildup is in part caused by the failure of soil micro-organisms to decompose organic matter as quickly as it is produced, soil conditions should be made as 
favorable as possible for the activ-ity of these microorganisms. Of most importance are aeration, drainage and soil reaction. Well-aerated soils will exhibit a faster rate of thatch decomposition. Therefore, minimizing compac-tion (through soil modification, changing traffic patterns) or re-lieving compaction by mechanical means (coring, aeration) will aid in reducing thatch. Related to aeration is drainage, Dr. Turner said. By improving drainage through soil modifica-tion or installation of artificial drainage systems, thatching po-tential can be reduced. Soil reac-tion can have a marked effect on thatch. Maintaining a pH above 6.0 will result in less thatch than turf grown below this value, especially compared to soil pH of less than 5.6. Bi-annual applications of 10 to 15 pounds of limestone per 1,000 square feet may aid in reducing 
thatch, although Dr. Turner does not recommend such applications 
unless the soil pH is below 6.3. Where thatch has been a prob-lem, removal by some means may become necessary, Dr. Turner said. Unfortunately, no really new and effective curative means have be-come available. Although several biological products are available which reputedly will accelerate 
thatch decomposition, they gener-ally have not been very effective in research situations. Mechanical removal of thatch through hand-raking (using a thatch rake), vertical mowing, or 
aerification have been used suc-cessfully. Where turf is intensively 
maintained, the incorporation of vertical mowing and/or aerifica-tion into the regular management program as a preventative means of thatch control should be con-sidered. Bi-annual (spring and fall) aerification is particularly effec-
tive. Addition of topdressing ma-
terial will help incorporate soil with thatch material and thus 
accelerate thatch decomposition. * COMBINE CONVERSION DEVICE* ° CONVERT YOUR BROADCAST SPREADER TO A COMBINE CAPABLE OF APPLYING 3 DIFFERENT GRANULAR MATERIALS AT ONE TIME. 1. NO MORE HAND MIXING MATERIALS 2. NO MORE USING EXPENSIVE PRE-MIXES 3. NO MORE $15,000 OR MORE SPRAY TRUCKS 4. NO MORE EXPENSIVE COMBINES 5. NO MORE HUGE EQUIPMENT EXPENSES TO SERVICE MORE CUSTOMERS 6 NO MORE 2 OR 3 TIMES AROUND THE SAME AREA GETTING DIZZY HERE IS THE ANSWER YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. 1 TIME AROUND DOES IT. Norman Lynd, owner of Green Thumb, located in Willow Grove, PA., has invented and is now manufacturing this conversion device* that will change a broadcast spreader into a combine, without spending thousands of dollars. A. Installation takes approximately one hour and you don't have to be a mechanic. B. Once installed, it can be removed in less than one minute for cleaning and put back together in one minute. C. Installation instructions and directions are included. 0. The unit is made with rugged stainless steel and aluminum. (No rusting) E. All nuts and bolts for assembly are stainless steel. F. Because of the simplicity and ruggedness of this unit, it should never need replacement. Q. Three adjustable metering slides for calibration are the only moving parts. H. A common ruler is used for calibration settings 1. Orders shipped within 48 hrs. of receipt. J. Insert devices are available for cyclone brand spreaders model #99-100-100B only. K. These units are not available from any other source at this time. ŁPATENT PENDING L. Payment in full must accompany all orders before shipment is made. M. We will ship all orders via PP. N. Total price $50.00 per unit plus $5.00 per unit for shipping and handling. Please make checks payable to GREEN THUMB 2450 OLD WELSH RD. WILLOW GROVE, PA 19090 TELEPHONE 215-657 6200 How much vacation do you offer? Although many lawn care businesses are small, they are also prosperous enough to give their employes satisfactory benefits. Vacation time being one of the company's principal benefits, compare your system with the following schedule for average U.S. companies from Administrative Management Magazine: After one year of service, most companies offer two weeks of vacation; one week after six months; three weeks after ten years and four weeks after 15 years. Of all U.S. companies, 18 percent give nine paid holidays per year, 13 give eight, and approxi-mately 18 percent give seven or fewer holidays. MONEYWISE Circle No. 113 on Reader Inquiry Card Circle No. 115 on Reader Inquiry Card BUILT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY. The rugged Mighty Spike Spiking aerator and spreader with the precision dispenser. This heavy-duty self-propelled walk behind machine can seed, fertilize and aerate a lawn efficiently, conserving precious time and 
expensive materials. It works in hard to service areas like around pools, trees and steep hills. Power is 
supplied by a gear reduced 3 h.p. Briggs & Stratton engine and is controlled by levers mounted near 
the guide handles. IftipROVEd LAWN EouipiMtNT CoRp. 9 Skylark Drive Ł Spring Valley, NY 10977 Ł (914)354-3933 Scientific Guide To Pest Control Operations PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS by Dr. L.C. Truman Dr. G.W. Bennett and Dr. W.L. Butts Domestic: $25.00* (hardcover) Foreign: $30.00* (hardcover) The SCIENTIFIC GUIDE TO PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS is designed to provide a sound basis for studying the scientific aspects of pest control and promote technical competence. It places emphasis on urban and industrial pest problems. This volume also covers the laws and regulations concerning the ŁŁŁŁŁ¡¡^ŁŁŁŁi pest control industry. The SCIENTIFIC GUIDE TO PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS is written for owners, su-pervisors, servicemen, salesmen, students, persons preparing for state certification under the EPA/state programs for commercial pesticide applicators, and people interested in structural pest control. The SCIENTIFIC GUIDE TO PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS - a must for anyone involved in the field of pest control! Return this coupon to: Book Sales Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications One East First Street, Duluth, MN 55802 Domestic: $25.00* (hardcover) 
Foreign: $30.00* (hardcover) YES! Please send me_ -copy(ies) of the SCIENTIFIC GUIDE TO PEST CONTROL Js enclosed. OPERATIONS. A check or money order for_ Please charge to my Visa, Master Card, or American Express (circle one) Account Number Expiration Date 'Please add $2.50 per order plus 25c per additional copy for postage and handling. Name Address City Signature-Phone -State. _Date_ -Zip-Quantity rates available upon request. Pleast allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Lebanon Professional Turf Care Products COUNTRY \ CLUB GREENSKEEPER\GREEN GOLD Your success is our reputation! There's a "LEBANON" professional turf care product for every turf need! "Country Club", "Greenskeeper" and "Green Gold" are names you can stake your reputation on. Lebanon's crabgrass control and weed control chemicals in combination with our premium fertilizers are designed to give 4 maximum results with minimum labor. Quality lawn care and maintenance of clean, attractive, fresh growing landscapes for 
business, recreation or the home are more efficient and economical with "LEBANON" products. Our carefully selected network of Resale Distribution Center^ puts our product close to you. Call us for more information. LEBANON LEBANON CHEMICAL CORPORATION LEBANON, PA 17042 MidWest (800)637-2101 (Illinois) (217)446-0983 Northeast (800) 2334)628 (Pennsylvania) (717) 273-1687 PRODUCTS Low profile tank for level loading Finn Corporation's new 1981 T80 tank features a low profile tank design for ground level loading and a hydraulic powered, variable speed paddle agitator. The T80 is operated by one person and in-cludes many other features that have been standard on Finn Hydroseeders for over 30 years. Circle No. 170 on Reader Inquiry Card Lawn vac is also a storage trailer The PEU, from PeCo Inc., is actu-ally two tools in one. First it is a lawn vacuum able to pick up and Š A mulch clippings, leaves, thatch, and common lawn debris while the tractor operator mows the lawn. The new vacuum can also be converted into a sturdy, steel util-THATCH from page 23 create conditions which are con-ducive to the decomposition of thatch. In addition, other benefits of aerification will accrue, such as increased aeration of the soil and increased water infiltration. "Cultivation machinery that grooves, slices, forks or spikes is 
not going to be adequate," Dr. Hall 
said. "Although not the final solu-tion, the drum aerifier that extracts cores and distributes them on the 
turf is the most likely piece of machinery to fill the bill today." There is a need for the develop-ment of an aerification machine that can rapidly aerify a lawn in a single pass, process cores, collect the thatch plug, and deposit enough soil to positively affect thatch decomposition. New weed control problems and aerification 
timing problems will arise with the inclusion of this management technique in lawn care industry programs. However, these chal-lenges will be solved and are minor when contrasted with the 
alternative Š excessive thatch buildup. "As lawn care markets continue to tighten, reducing the annual customer turnover rate will become key to survival in the lawn care business," Dr. Hall said. "The companies that will thrive in this 
climate will be those whose pro-
grams improve the quality of 
lawns indefinitely, not whose pro-
grams lead to declining turf qual-ity after three to five years." ity trailer, complete with tail gate. The universal hitch on the PEU 3200 makes is usable on virtually any 14 hp lawn and garden tractor on the market. Other features in-clude a totally self-latching and self-locking door, and tapered box and trailer for easy mulch removal. Circle No. 171 on Reader Inquiry Card Undermount mowers for Deere tractors Woods Division of Hesston Corp. offers new undermount mowers specifically designed for John Deere 650 and 750 tractors. Woods Model L59 JD cuts a five-foot swath and will mount on either John Deere tractor, including the four-wheel-drive Model 750. Woods Model L306 JD cuts a six-foot swath and mounts on a two-wheel-drive Model 750 tractor. Both mowers offers Woods field-proven reliable per-formance features such as Š easy-
adjust cutting heights from one to six inches, heavy-duty blade spin-dles and positive-action, single V-belt drive. Circle No. 172 on Reader Inquiry Card Blow low grade mulch The new B250 blower from the Finn Corporation is totally rede-signed with an increased capacity to blow low grade mulch material. The B250 features a power feed with variable speed control, up to 25 ton per hour capacity and six cylinder diesel or gasoline power. Circle No. 173 on Reader Inquiry Card Nozzle beats back turbulence EROCON-Pacific Corporation's new Super Nozzle system uses the laminar flow principle of move-ment. This characteristic provides a significant improvement in the application of water, or water-based slurries, used for hydraulic seeding and fire fighting. The super nozzle system mod-ifies violent turbulence created in the centrifugal pump, to straight-line stream flow as it leaves the nozzle to tip. This action helps 
increase the application distance. 
Friction is further reduced by the 
smooth inside surfaces of the noz-
zle parts. The Erocon Super Nozzle sys-tem consists of two nozzle tubes 
and six different nozzles. Circle No. 174 on Reader Inquiry Card Introducing Pel-Tech: Little benefin pellets that solve big turf problems. The Andersons, the professional's partner, has done it again. After rigorous, on-the-job liquid spray testing, we proudly introduce Pel-Tech ... the state-of-the art in pellet-ized benefin, an industry acclaimed top choice for effective pre-emergence crabgrass control. We're gonna stir up some excitement. Major lawn service companies that assisted us in proving Pel-Tech's high efficiencies and outstanding economies are already applying it confidently. And they're coming back for more. Cost savings are ranging from 20 to as high as 40 percent against leading competitive products. Exciting? You bet! Here's some more good news: Ł Pel-Tech disperses quickly with minimum mechanical agitation. Ł It's compatible with most commonly used fertilizers and pesticides. Ł Won't stick to plant foliage. Ł It's EPA approved. Ł Pel-Tech is conveniently packaged. Ł Urea carrier delivers 35 percent nitrogen. The Big Difference. The big difference that sets Pel-Tech way out in front of the competition is the result of our unique pellet forming process. Developed in The Andersons' research labora-tory, the technique has enabled us to combine a nutritional urea carrier with a performance proven bene-fin compound. What this means for you is that, with Pel-Tech, you're getting a stable herbicide product that's nearly 100 percent composed of active ingredients . . . throughout each pellet! Not just an out-side coating. Call us toll-free or write for the name of your nearest Pel-Tech distributor. He'll be able to tell you more good news about this exciting breakthrough for sprayable pre-emergence crabgrass control. You'll be glad you did. the professional's partner The Andersons Lawn Fertilizer Division P.O. Box 119 Maumee, Ohio 43537 Ohio: 800-472-3220 Outside Ohio: 800-537-3370 Circle No. 103 on Reader Inquiry Card co D Maintenance marketplaces This issue contains the first in a series of articles devoted to a side of our industry that many of you are involved in, but for one reason or another, doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Starting with this issue, LAWN CARE INDUS-TRY will present a regular feature series called Mowing/Maintenance Marketplace. In it, we will spotlight a major metropolitan mainte-nance market and investigate its characteristics. 
What kind of machinery do maintenance businesses use? How do they integrate their chemical lawn care businesses with mainte-nance? What types of maintenance accounts do they seek? And why? What distinguishes their market from others half way cross the country? For a growing number of lawn care busines-ses, mowing and maintenance is not just a sideline anymore, but a prospering enterprise 
that rounds out their businesses and tightens cash management. In Los Angeles, the subject of 
the first article, most maintenance companies are a part of a wider total grounds management operation. It's a condition of the market itself. In California, maintenance, lawn care, irrigation, landscaping, and tree care are often offered in bulk. The article is an attempt to discover why and how maintenance fits into their lawn care concept. In the following months we will visit various metropolitan marketplaces to conduct inter-views. Among them are Atlanta, Miami, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Kansas City, Cleve-land, Milwaukee, and Portland. Instead of trying to speak with all of the maintenance businessmen in the area, we will try to speak in more depth with just a handful in order to 
present a better picture. We look forward to 
meeting with you. CLASSIFIED RATES: 50* per word (minimum charge, $20). Bold face words or words in all capital letters charged at 75* per word. Boxed or display ads charged at $50 per column inch (one inch minimum). Agency commissions will be given only when camera-ready 
art is provided by agency. For ads using blind box number, add $5 to total cost of ad. Send ad copy with payment to Dawn Anderson, LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, 1 East First Street, Duluth, MN 55802. 
BOX NUMBER REPUES: Mail box number replies to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, Classified Ad De-partment, 120 W. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802. Please include box number in address. FOR SALE MAKE BIG MONEY Š PLANT BIG TREES Š New and used tree transplanting equipment. Call or write for list. Financing available. Turf & Tree Supplies, Inc., P.O. Box 291, Rockton, Illinois 61072, Phone: 815 624-7578. 9/82 LAWN Š TREE Š SHRUB NUTRIENTS. Now you can get superior LAWN FOOD in bulk Š as little as 
300 gallons Š at substantial savings. Delivered 
within 250 miles of Long Island, NY. Also 55-gallon 
drums. Delivery to other areas easily arranged. Root food for trees and shrubs in 5-galk>n pails shipped continental U.S. Highest quality long-lasting; low, low chlorides. Not using liquids? . . . Phone or write for the reasons why the largest operations do. Bulk tanks available, sale or lease. For quick orderingŠGREEN PRO COOPERATIVE SERVICES, 380 S. Franklin Street, Hempstead, NY 11550(516)538-6444. 1/82 For Sale Š Used spray trucks. 21979 GMC 6,000 in good condition, PTO operated hypro centrifugal pumps up to 170 PSI, 16 ft. wood beds with 4 ft. 
reinforced sides (will carry dry & liquid). One with 1,200 gallon steel tank and 2 manual hose reels. One with 500 and 300 gallon plastic tanks and 1 manual hose reel. Your choice, $9,750 each. 
Questions, call 219-769-8313. TF For Sale: 1980 Finn Bantam 800 Hydroseeder on 
Trailer Š electric reel, 200 feet hose, discharge platform and stand. In excellent condi-
tion, only 171 hours on engine. $10,250.00. Con-tact Garry Struyk, Omaha, NE 68117. Call 402-592-2233. 1/82 Used Spray Units for Sale 1,250-gallon stainless steel tanks, Mechanical agitation. FMC 20 gallon/minute pump. Hanney electric reel. Ford F600 and Chevy C60's Š 
76 s, '77s, 78 s and 79 s. Call 502-241-7341. TF Hydro-Seeder (Finn)Š900 gallon mounted on 1974 Ford. Both in excellent condition. Priced to sell fast. Call 216-481-5000. 2/82 HELP WANTED HELP WANTED: MANAGER for Landscape Maintenance Department of Central Texas firm. Must have sound background in hiring, training, and supervising maintenance personnel. Salary, com-pany vehicle. Send resume to LCI Box 61. 1/82 Expanding eastern Pennsylvania landscape/tree care company, is looking for good sales people. Groundfloor opportunity for a take-charge person. Income opportunities unlimited for the right people. Rusk Landscaping, Ltd. P.O. Box 91, Levittown, PA 19059. 2/82 Nationally know lawn care firm, needs branch manager to supervise in the sen/icing of over 1800 accounts. We need a take-charge person capable 
of overseeing our entire operation. Unlimited 
opportunities for the right person. Supervisory 
experience is necessary. Knowledge of the lawn business is not a requirement. Send resume and 
salary requirements to Lawns Š P.O. Box 198, Morrisville, PA 19067. 2/82 DEALER/REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED for Specialized Lawn-Shrub-Tree Care Products, Equipment, and Marketing and Educational Pro-grams. Write: Green Pro Cooperative Services, 380 S. Franklin Street, Hempstead, NY 11550, Attn. R. Riley or Call (516) 538-6444 1/82 Branch Manager Š Dry chemical lawn care Š strong competitor. Must be experienced to at least the Assistant Manager level. Excellent salary, bonus and benefits. Will pay moving expenses. Booming midwest location. Send resume to LCI Box 62. 1/82 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GREEN PRO EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER Š the Only Newsletter for the Lawn Care-Shrub/Tree Care businessman. Full of ideas, timely information, model letters, promotional pieces to bring in more sales, tips to save you money + make you money. Call Rich Hawkes (516) 483-0100. Or write: Green 
Pro Cooperative Services, 380 S. Franklin Street, 
Hempstead, NY 11550 1/82 LIQUIDATING, MUST SELL OR LEASE (8) 1976-81 Lawn Spray Trucks, 750 gal. to 1500 gal., (3) 8000 gal. steel storage tanks. Electric pump & meter for fertilizer fill system, 300 gal. bean sprayer. Call for complete list & prices. 216-357-8400. 4/82 "GARDEN TIPS" Š Prepare now to increase next year s profits. "Garden Tips" the monthly customer newsletter, with your company name/phone. Pro-ven response . . cements customer relations, 
gets them to spend more, opens new doors expertly in new expansion areas. Low cost, effective profit building. Call today (516) 483-0100. We ll send complete information. Or write Green Pro Coopera-tive Services, 380 S. Franklin Street, Hempstead, 
NY 11550. 1/Q2 Low cost advertising readers depend on! Get the response you want! INTERESTED in expanding into SHRUB & TREE CARE (insects disease control and feeding)? Attend our unique four-day ACADEMY January 13-16, 1982. Prepares you Š just as if you bought into a franchiseŠto take advantage of big profits waiting for you. Tuition includes EVERYTHING YOU NEED to get started, including advertising, promotional pieces, specialized forms and, of course, BASIC 
KNOWLEDGE from several teachers with specialized experience you'll find invaluable. Call GREEN PRO COOPERATIVE SERVICES (516) 
483-0100 or write to 380 S. Franklin Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. Remember, on-the-job tuition is the most expensive kind. Get it for a very small fee before you get on the job. We've already paid for the mistakes. 1/82 ADVERTISERS Reader Inquiry No. Page No. 101 Agro-Chem 28 102 American Pelletizing 24 103 Andersons (Regional) 37 104 BFC Chemicals 40 105 Bulkkem 12-13 106 Diamond Shamrock 5 107 Dow Chemical U.S.A ... 2-3 108 Eclipse 27 109 Grass Roots 18 110 Grass Roots 18 111 Grass Roots 18 112 Grass Roots 18 113 Green Thumb 36 114 Hypro Div 28 115 Improved Lawn Equipment ...36 116 L
 & M Lawncare 26 117 Lakeshore Equipment 8 118 Lebanon Chemical Corp 36 119 J.J. Mauget Co 23 120 Monsanto Co 6-7 121 PBI/Gordon 34-35 122 Professional Turf Specialties . 26 123 Pumping Systems ...24 124 Rhone Poulenc Chemical . 19-22 125 Rockland Chemical Co 30 126 Ryan Equipment 25 127 Stauffer Chemical 16-17 128 Tuco Agri Chemicals .. 39 129 Turf Seed 33 USS Agri Chemicals 11 NEW PRODUCTS 170 Low profile tank for level loading 37 171 Lawn vac is also a storage trailer 37 172 Undermount mowers for Deere tractors 37 173 Blow low grade mulch 37 174 Nozzle beats back turbulence 37 This index is furnished for the reader's convenience. However, the publisher can not guarantee its accuracy due to circumstances beyond our control. PROM KILLS GRUBS AND SURFACE FTOERS EHST! £ z c <z> There's no need to wait over a month for a grub control to work. Economical Proxol 80SP insecticide readily penetrates thatch to work fast for an effective broad spectrum kill, including grubs and surface feeding sod webworms,armyworms,and cutworms. You apply Proxol with the liquid applica-tion equipment you already have. So there's no need to haul spreaders and bulky pack-ages on your rig, put up with package break-age and waste, or carry them in inventory. Proxol's convenient 2-and 5-lb. packages make measurement easy. Eliminates waste. You can even mix Proxol with other non-alkaline chemicals. And you can rest easy with Proxol. Custom-er's children and pets are not exposed to \ H I a granular residue left on the turf. Proxol is easy on the environment, too. No unpleasant odor to offend customers. No long-term re-sidual buildup in the soil. Proxol kills grubs and surface feeders. Fast! Over 150 U.S. distributors and 8 regional TUCO Distribution Centers assure convenient product availability. These same sources al-so have Acti-dione; a TUCO broad spectrum fungicide, long used by golf course super-intendents, to stop turf disease problems be-fore they start. For more information, call toll-free: Outside Michigan-800-253-8600 Inside Michigan (collect)-616-385-6613 "TUCO Division of The Upjohn Company Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 Circle No. 128 on Reader Inquiry Card Nitr» I CI rm paints a pretty picture Nitroform® provides a consistent 38% nitrogen that's released by soil bacteria slowly and predictably Š just when it is most needed to make turf and ornamentals green and healthy. And Nitroform continues this slow, steady release to sustain growth for over six months (even during periods of sparse rainfall). You'll find Nitroform nonhuming, nonstreaking, nonleaching. It's easy mixing and :lean handling, too. This versatile nitrogen source is available in Blue Chip® for dry applications, Dwder BlueŽ for liquid use, and it can be mixed and applied with insecticides and fungicides. When you're buying a complete fertilizer be sure to check the label to see that it itains Nitroform, the most efficient source of Water Insoluble Nitrogen. TM Nitroform can do beautiful things for your business. BFC CHEMICALS, INC. 4311 LANCASTER PIKE, WILMINGTON, DE 19805 Ł Ł Ł Ł Ł