HERBICIDES WILLIAMSBURG Basagran cleared for yellow nutsedge control Basagran herbicide, a product of BASF Wyandotte Corp., Parsippany, N.J. has been cleared for use on turf in all states, the company announced last month. The product, having under-gone extensive testing over the past three years, has "been noted for its effectiveness on yellow 
nutsedge in turf," according to Hans Loose, a product manager for BASF. The main prospects for Basagran on turf are lawn care businessmen who service 
residential or commercial/in-dustrial customers, Loose said. Tests show that all major varieties of turf are tolerant to the herbicide. Basagran is a con-tact herbicide that should be ap-plied when the yellow nutsedge is actively growing. NEW YORK Businessmen told to make industry needs known to government Government officials need a better definition of the turf industry so that dollars can be allocated for research and other needs, and it is up to lawn care and landscape maintenance businessmen to organize and compile concrete evidence on the size of the industry. That's what New York co-operative extension agent Tom Corell told the 600 turf managers in attendance at last month's Pro-fessional Turf and Landscape Conference in Nyack, N.Y. "Landscape maintenance needs are not being met, and we need the figures to back us up with state legislatures," Corell said. A recent survey of Nassau and Suffolk counties showed gross lawn care revenues at more than $138 million, he said. Homeowner expectations, financial management, program development discussed in Virginia A lineup of seven lawn care speakers highlighted the 19th An-nual Virginia Turfgrass Confer-ence in late January at Colonial Williamsburg. Topics discussed included homeowner expectations, what a lawn service company can provide, timing of fungicide applications for effective dis-
ease control, critical manage-ment practices for lawns, developing timely, effective and flexible customer programs, 
financial management concepts, and effective advertising, promo-tion and marketing for a lawn care business. Gus C. Constantino, presi-dent of Wilson Feed Co., Rich-mond, was re-elected president of the Virginia Turfgrass Coun-cil. Attendance was 350, and standing-room-only crowds packed the lawn care sessions. Virginia extension agent Charles L. Hall told the lawn care audience that the individ-ual homeowner needs to be given information on what he has to do to help maintain his lawn, in addition to lawn care services. L4WN jJ Serving lawn maintenance Ł J^MU^^^mm and chemical lawn | care professionals. INDUSTRY MARCH 1979 Ł VOL. 3, NO. 3 Ł A Harvest Publication LCI SURVEY Average lawn care businessman owns four spray tank trucks A recent survey conducted by LAWN CARE INDUSTRY reports that the average lawn care businessman owns almost four vehicles with liquid applica-tion tanks. In the survey, 54.7 percent of the respondents indicated they owned vehicles with liquid ap-plication tanks. The actual average inventory was 3.5. QUICK STARTS Agrico ready to supply the market page 4 "Schlock" operators hit page 4 Daconil labeled for anthracnose in Michigan page 4 Cushman-Ryan honors "quota busters" page 8 Lawn insects and their control page 9 
Survey shows 2.2% of revenues spent on ads page 18 MEMOS 4 NEWSMAKERS 7 MEETING DATES 8 
TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES 9 COST CUTTINGS 17 MARKETING IDEA FILE 18 
MONEYWISE 34 PRODUCTS 38 ŁŁMMHi "But don't expect too much from the homeowner in the way of watering and proper mowing, because if he has a bad lawn, he Ì ìrvlnlr» m n nhr>t n ti i /I i in na ro inr 1W 1 io J 3(na us u-i¿ o0¿ AI Nil 31V1Í lAiid TfWd eia HO- J ià -SN-¿2¿cc ; a 3*ry in Atlanta, see ¡series of indepth business thrives, n care customers, y go about getting In the same survey, 70.3 per-cent of the respondents said they owned an average of 3.9 granular 
applicators. Other equipment, percentage of responses and averages included: pickup trucks, 81.9 percent, 2.8 average inventory; seeders, 56.9 percent, 2.4 average inventory; aerators, 40.1 percent, 2.0 average inven-tory; dethatchers, 44.8 percent, 1.8 average inventory. Of the respondents who said they owned vehicles with liquid application tanks, here is a 
breakdown of tank capacity in gallons, and percentage of tanks in that range: 0-50 gallons, 3.4 percent; 51-250 gallons, 29.2 per-cent; 251-500 gallons, 23.3 per-
cent; 501-750 gallons, 8.9 percent; 751-1,000 gallons, 13.6 percent; 1,001-1,250 gallons, 14.0 percent; Equipment Vehicles with liquid application tanks Pickup trucks Granular applicators Seeders to page 25 HOUSTON ALCA elects officers; Thornton president Bill Thornton, Jr., of Thorn-ton Environmental Industries, Cincinnati, was elected presi-dent of the Associated Land-scape Contractors of America at its annual meeting last month in Houston. Almost 700 persons attended the annual meeting, a highlight of which was a lawn care specialty session on the last day of the show. Speakers were John 
Latting, Professional Turf Specialties and Lawn Groomer, Bloomington, 111.; Bob Earley, 
editor of LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY; and Larry Brandt, Spray-A-Lawn, Inc., Cincinnati, a division of Thornton Environ-mental Industries. Erv Denig, to page 36 1,251-1,500 gallons, 5.1 percent; and over 1,500 gallons, 2.5 per-
cent. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY market research manager Clarence Arnold said the survey results are based on a 24.4 per-cent response rate to 1,000 
questionnaires mailed to readers of the magazine last year. Tank capacity in gallons 0-50 51-250 251-500 1,251-1,500 over 1,500 ( ) Average Inventory 1(3.5) Aerators Dethatchers (2.0) (1.80) Diazinon is labeled for How many will you Diazinon" not only controls, label in the business, but is labeled for more turf insects You'll count 24 turf insects in than any other turf insecticide. all. Including white grubs, sod Just take a look, it's the biggest webworms, cutworms, chinch bugs, © 1978 Ciba-Geigy Corporation every insect on this page, face this season? army worms and ants. This season, be sure to ask your local supplier for Diazinon. And put the biggest label in the business to work for you. Ciba-Geigy, Ag. Div., Box 11422, Greensboro, NC 27409 Diazinon by CIBA-GEIGY The biggest label in the business. CIBA-GEIGY oc < > oc ~ c/3 D Q Z u oc < u Z < MOWERS Wisconsin Marine builds new plant Wisconsin Marine, Inc., manufacturers of a complete line of Bob Cat trade name commer-cial lawn mowers, recently began construction of a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Lake Mills, Wis. The plant will consolidate manufacturing operations 
presently taking place in three separate locations. The company expects to release a new riding mower within the next few months. The unit is undergoing field testing at present. HERBICIDES EPA allows use of pronamide on turf The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that uses of the herbi-
cide pronamide Š marketed as Kerb Š would be allowed to con-tinue as currently used on turf, but with additional precautions to reduce potential risks to human health. "To reduce potential risks to applicators of pronamide, we would require that the use of the pesticide be restricted to trained applicators wearing protective 
clothing, and that it be marketed 
only in water-soluble packaging to keep down dust emissions when mixing," EPA assistant administrator Steven D. Jellinek 
said. Pronamide is used primarily for Poa annua and other weed control on southern turfs. It is marketed by Rohm & Haas Co., Philadelphia. EQUIPMENT Slight growth projected for power equipment An overall one percent unit growth in selected industry ship-ments for the 1979 model year has been projected by par-ticipating companies of the Out-door Power Equipment Institute. Unit shipments of walk-behind power mowers are pro-jected to increase by two percent to 5.51 million units while a slight decline of .5 percent to 746,000 units is seen for lawn tractors and riding mowers. FUNGICIDES Daconil cleared for anthracnose in Michigan Diamond Shamrock's Agricul-tural Chemicals Division an-
nounces the approval by the state of Michigan for the applica-tion of Daconil 2187 W-75 fungicide to turf for the control of anthracnose. A supplemental label for "Application to Turf for Control 
of Anthracnose" can be obtained by writing the company at 1100 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44114. WWN OIRE INDUSTRY Publishing Director: RICHARD J. W. FOSTER Executive and editorial offices: 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Editor: ROBERT EARLEY Executive Editor: DAVID J. SLAYBAUGH Associate Editor: BRUCE SHANK Technical Editor: RON MORRIS Assistant Editor: DAN MORELAND 
Graphic Director: RAYMOND GIBSON Research Services: CLARENCE ARNOLD Advertising Production Manager: PATRICIA KELLEY MARKETING/SALES Circulation & List Rental: TERRI HUTSENPILLER (216) 651-5500 Marketing & Merchandising Services: FRAN FRANZAK (216) 651-5500 
New York Office: BRIAN HARRIS (212) 421-1350 757 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Midwest Office: JOE GUARISE (312) 236-9425 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 252-4311 3186 Frontenac Court, N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30319 Northwest Office: BOB MIEROW (206) 363-2864 1333 N.W. Norcross, Seattle, WA 98177 Classified: DOROTHY LOWE (216) 651-5500 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 LAWN CARE INDUSTRY is published every month by The Har-vest Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. at 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 (216) 651-5500. Copyright 1979 by The Harvest Publishing Company. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not he reproduced either in whole or in part without consent of copyright owner. Controlled circulation postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio. SUBSCRIPTIONS: to Lawn Care Industry are solicited only from owners, managers, operators, buyers, merchandisers, agronomists, technicians, dealers, distributors and manufacturers of products associated with the lawn care and maintenance business. Position ana company connection must be indicated on subscription orders. Publisher reserves tne right to approve all subscription re-quests. Single copy cost $1.00 for current issue. All back issues $1.25 each. Foreign $1.25. Subscription rates: $10.00 one year, $18.00 two years, $23.00 three years. Group and foreign air mail rates available on request. SUBSCRIBERS: Send chanse-of-address notices, correspondence regarding subscription service to Fulfillment Manager, Lawn Care Industry, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. Change of Address notices should be sent promptly, provide old as well as new address, attach address label from recent issue. Please allow one month for change of address to become effective. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to Fulfillment Manager, Lawn Care In-
dustry, 9800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. The Harvest Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., publishers of WEEDS TREES & TURF, PEST CONTROL. NPCA Extra. GOLF BUSINESS and the Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. HARVEST MEMOS Maryland, you have to be tough: Last year, the heat went out in the exhibit and conference hall for the Maryland Turf-grass '78, and exhibitors and attendees alike shivered their way through. This year, they moved the event to Baltimore, and were hit with a problem of another sort Š at 5:00 a.m. on the last day of the show, just about all of the attendees were routed from their hotel rooms when the Baltimore Hilton was 
hit with a fire. Dr. Charles Darrah of the University of Mary-land and the rest of the conference planners have their fingers crossed for next year. Single-family homes: According to a recent survey con-ducted by Fred Andresen, ventures manager for Ciba-Geigy 
Corp., Greensboro, N.C., there are about 42 million single family homes in the United States. He said that about 12 million of these homes are above the median household in-come in their respective regions, which differs from one metropolitan area to another. Agrico ready to supply the market: According to Ted Black, northeastern manager of market development for Agrico Chemical Co., Wilmington, Del., there exists a good opportunity for his company to supply the complete fertilizer used by lawn care businessmen on customer lawns. Black told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY recently: "In our Northeast region, for example, we have 26 company-owned and operated Farm Centers, which produce and sell dry-blended fertilizers, which can be made into custom formulations used by the lawn care industry. This would in-clude the use of nitroform urea, which is a necessary in-gredient of a good lawn formulation. We are also distributors for the major herbicides and insecticides, and these are available, or can be made available, at the Farm Centers." He said that most of Agrico's Farm Centers are not that far from the metropolitan areas of the Northeast, and that a lawn care businessman could economically afford to pick up his fertilizers and pesticides at these locations. He also said that Agrico has a patented process for manu-facturing fluid blend fertilizer, which can be used success-
fully in the lawn care industry. His address is P.O. Box 7013, Wilmington, Del. 19803. Phone is 302-478-4504. Unemployment insurance: Jobless payments are going to many unqualified persons, a recent study suggests. Over-charges for state unemployment insurance is a "major cor-porate illness," says PCS Reports, New York, which studied 1,5Q0 claimant files at 45 New York workplaces. Many lawn care businessmen across the country might agree. The conclusion: state governments are charging for many unwarranted claims, and employers are paying nearly 40 per-cent more than necessary for jobless insurance. PCS doesn't 
attribute the overpayments to outright fraud, but to admin-istrative complexities that impede clear communications be-tween employers and state officials. Chemical to mowing/maintenance: Many mowing/main-tenance firms have traditionally gone to chemical lawn care to expand their operations, but there is also a trend for chemical lawn care only firms going into mowing/mainte-nance. The reason: Many commercial/industrial accounts only want to deal with one firm for their landscape main-tenance needs. Says Ed Wolf, owner of Mr. Lawncare, Cleveland: "I've got the commercial/industrial accounts now, but I am going to lose them if I can't offer them full maintenance. So I've got to provide a full program." Other examples of chemical lawn care companies that have expanded to full-service mainte-nance are American Lawn Service, Milwaukee, and some A-Perm-O-Green Lawns, Inc. franchises in Texas. He meant hand mowers: In the January Marketplace feature on Miami in LAWN CARE INDlISTRY, Vic Nocera of Leisure Landscape of South Florida was quoted as saying "if the engine goes down, it's cheaper to replace the whole mower than try to replace the engine." He was referring to his hand mowers only, not his riding mowers. And he still la-ments the fact that no mower on the market can give him 
more than three months service. "Schlock" operators: Another lawn care businessman doing some lamenting is Charles Racusin of Environmental Landscape Services, Inc., Houston. His beef is what he calls "schlock" operators, who bid low and get a job, and then figure out how to staff it later, if at all. "We take on these jobs halfway through the season," he told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, "and we have to double what the other guy was charging to do the job right. Then the account expects miracles, and miracles are hard to come by." LAWN CARE INDUSTRY READER SERVICE CARDŠ MARCH 1979.(expiresin90days) Use this prepaid reader service card to get additional information on products or services mentioned in this issue (Card must be completed before processing) NAME TITLE BUSINESS ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP If you would like a subscription to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY circle number 101. Subscription cost is $10.00 per yei To help us better service you editorially, please answer the following: 4. Title: Ł President Ł Owner Ł Manager Ł Technician 
Ł Other (specify) Application Ł Liquid Ł Granular Ł Both 1. Are you primarily involved in. Ł Chemical lawn care and maintenance services Ł Chemical application only Ł Mowing and other maintenance services 
Ł Other (specify) 2. Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office 3. Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) 5. Number of accounts: Ł Less than 500 Ł 500-1,000 
Ł 1.001-5.000 Ł 5.001-10.000 
Ł 10.001-25,000 
Ł 25,000 or more 6. Estimated annual sales volume: Ł Less than $50,000 Ł $50,001-100.000 Ł $100,001-250,000 Ł $250,001-500.000 
Ł $500,001-1.000.000 Ł $1,000,000 or more Ł Please send product information only on items circled Ł Please have a salesman call me about items circled. Best time to call me is . SIGNATURE. CIRCLE THE ITEM NUMBERS FOR FREE DETAILS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 2675 CLEVELAND. OHIO ATTENTION: THE EDITORS LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 9800 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44102 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH. MINN POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE LAWN CARE INDUSTRY P.O. BOX 6136 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 Editor's Information Card HELP US TO HELP YOU The editors of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY would appreciate your comments on the magazine's contents. Please write your message below, tear out the card, and mail. Postage is prepaid. Which article in this issue did you find the most interesting and/or helpful? What subjects would you like us to cover in future issues of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY? TITLE B CITY »TATE ZIP z n > PC m cc H PC > PC Jfyou art a cLa wn/4pplica tof I want to see you "Yes, I want to see you about Lescosan 4E (Betasan*) emulsion and why it is out-selling other pre-emergence crabgrass controls. I want to tell you how you can save by buying direct from the formu-lator, and all about its full-season control. Lescosan is very effective on all grasses and many ornamentals and ground covers. We can also supply it in 12.5 or 3.6 granules. *(BetasanŠregistered TM of the Stauffer Chemical Company.) "I also want to tell you about the other fine LESCÇ) PRODUCTS, including LESCO Thirty-Six Sulfur-Coated Urea. "Call me on my toll-free wats line (1-800-321-5951) or write to me and I'll be in touch with you immediately. There is no obligation, of course." LESC^ PRODUCTS Div. Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co 300 S. Abbe Road Elyria, Ohio 44035 A Family of Fine Products: Lescosan 12.5G Š Lescorene Š Leseo 4 Š Lescobor Š Lescopar Š Lescopex Š Leseo Non-Selective Herbicide Leseo MSMA Š Leseo Thiram 75W Š Lescozyme Š Lakeshore Chinch Bug & Sod Webworm Control New Controlled-Release, Non-Burning Liquid Nitrogen for Lawn Applications. Ashland LIQUID FERTILIZER If you'd like to find a liquid nitrogen source that offers convenience in handling and blend-ing, as well as improved performanceoverdry products, the new SLO-RELEASE products from Ashland Chemical could be your answer. 25 is a clear liquid 26% organic nitrogen solution with excellent non-burning characteristics. 25 lets you: Apply any time during the growing season and be assured of non-burning, controlled-release feeding.* Expect complete nitrogen utilization during one growing season.* 25 blends easily with insecticides, herbicides, and P and K. There are more good reasons why you should test SLO-RELEASE 25 and our other SLO-RELEASE products this spring. 'When applied at normally acceptable nitrogen rates. Yes, I'm interested in your SLO-RELEASE products. Ł Send Technical Literature. Ł Have your salesman call Name Title _ Company Address Š City Phone Number (. .State. -) Š Ł Zip Just fill in the coupon and mail it to Chemical Systems Division, P.O. Box 2219, Columbus, OH 43216. Ashland Ashland Ashland Chemical Company DIVISION OF ASHLANO OIL. INC NEWSMAKERS Tom Smith has been hired as a specialist in turfgrass manage-ment for Michigan State Univer-sity. Kevin Mathias, former branch manager for the Hydro Lawns branch in Springfield, Va., has accepted a research position at the University of Maryland. Hydro Lawns is based in Gaithersburg, Md. Mathias Rackley Diamond Shamrock Corp.s Agricultural Chemicals Division, Cleveland, has named Anderson Rackley as sales supervisor for eastern Georgia and South Carolina. He had previously been employed for BASF Wyan-dotte Corp., Parsippany, N.J., and Union Carbide Corp. s Agri-
cultural Products Corp., Jack-sonville, Fla. Diamond Shamrock Corp. has also named Dr. Dan R. Harlow to fill its newly created position of manager of regulatory affairs. New appointments have been announced in the agricultural marketing division of Allied Chemical Corp., Houston. John 
C. Thieman has been named director of product development and marketing. M. G. Warthan has been named director of pro-duct management. I. Swisher has been appointed director of dis-tribution and E. D. Keller has 
been named director of national accounts. The company this year is beginning marketing of fertil-
izers to the lawn care industry. Richard L. Gilliland, has* left his post as executive vice presi-dent of the National Fertilizer 
Solutions Association, Peoria, 111. Dave Murray is interim ex-ecutive vice president. Boh Cohen, president of The Green Scene, Los Angeles, has opened a second branch in Santa 
Monica, Calif. J. Martin Erbaugh, president of Lawnmark, Inc., Peninsula, 
Ohio, announces that the company will he opening lawn 
care branches in Cleve-land/Akron, Rochester, N.Y., and Milwaukee this month. Gordon O b e r, general manager of Davey Lawnscape Service, Kent, Ohio, announces that the company will he opening two new branch offices in their Cleveland and Detroit locations. The company has lawn care branches in eight midwestern cities. Dick Bailey, president and general manager of Turf-Seed, Inc., Hubbard, Ore., has left that 
company, and will most likely go into business for himself. John R. Wittpenn, president of Rockland Chemical Co., West Caldwell, N.J., was elected presi-dent of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association at its recent annual meeting. Arthur V. Edwards, former publisher of WEEDS TREES & TURF magazine, has joined FMC's Agricultural Chemical Group as public relations manager. The company is based in Philadelphia. A1 Herbster of the University of Chicago, was elected presi-dent of the Illinois Turfgrass 
Foundation at its recent annual meeting. Members of the hoard of directors include: Boh Bethel, Little Wheels Turf & Equipment; John batting, Professional Turf 
Specialties and Lawn Groomer, 
Bloomington, 111.; Duane Hobbs, Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Del.; Charles McGinty, McGinty Brothers, Inc., Long Grove, 111.; and Rick White, Village Green, Ltd., West Chicago, 111. has been named to the hoard of 
directors of the Maryland Turf-grass Council. Carl Ofsik, ChemLawn Corp., branch manager in Fairfield, N.J. has moved to a newly opened 
branch in Upper Saddle River, N.J. Mike Nichols moves from Chicago to the Fairfield branch. Lawn technician Ted Obara has moved from the Fairfield branch to the Hartford, Conn, branch. 
Rich Anda, former regional agronomist for ChemLawn, moves to a Chicago branch as branch manager. Greenview Lawn & Garden Products, a division of Lebanon Chemical Corp., Lebanon, Pa. has expanded its organization. Mike Horgan has been promoted to national sales manager with these new district sales mana-gers: Craig Crouse, Boh Moore, Ed Leva and Bert Sampson. Ron E. Burkland has been named district sales manager for OMC-Lincoln's Cushman and V Burkland Kujuwu Ryan professional grounds main-tenance equipment. His territory will include Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Mon-tana, Utah and eastern Nevada. The company is based in Lincoln, Neb. Irrigation, Inc. a newly formed subsidiary of Kujawa En-terprises, Inc., Cudahy, Wis., has recently been appointed franchised turf distributor for Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp., Glendora, Calif. Ron Kujawa is president of Kujawa Enterprises, Inc. Herbster Welfelt David Weifet has been named product manager of the Turf Equipment Div. of Excel In-dustries, Inc., Hesston, Kan. He will he responsible for the identification and development 
of new products in the division. In addition, he is communi-cations director for all marketing and product bulletins, as well as newsletters to distributors and owners of Hustler mowers. He has been working in the turf and landscaping field since graduating from Kansas State University in 1974 with a B.S. degree in horticulture. Dave Lee has been named sales manager for Sensation Mfg. Co., Omaha. Company president 
Carl Johnson announced the appointment. Frank Stevens, president of Pro-Lawn Plus, Inc., Baltimore, The taller the grass ...the higher we pop! From residential to light commercial turf installations, Champion has a pop-up to do the job! When you compare the cost, precision construc-tion ond performance, you'll buy Champion. The 18HP (2" pop-up), 
the P180 (2W pop-up) and the 
6178 Impulse pop-up ore just three of over one-hundred fifty sprinklers, volves, controllers ond accessories featured in the new Champion, full-color catalog. Ask for your free copy. m CHAMPION SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT 1460 N. Noud St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 221-2108/(213) 223-1545 Circle 126 on free information card AQUA-GRO THE KEY TO MORE SUCCESSFUL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE REDUCED WATERING Ł FASTER RESPONSE TO FERTILIZATION AND PESTICIDE CONTROL Ł REDUCED LABOR COSTS Ł ELIMINATE PUDDLES AND DRY SPOTS Ł REDUCED PROBLEMS WITH THATCH Ł HEALTHIER AND HEARTIER TURF. Shallow rooted turl, poor moisture distribution from area not treated with Aqua-Gro amended water Deep rooted turf, good moisture distribution from area treated with Aqua-Gro amended water Aqua-Gro is available in liquid concentrate or spreadable granular. For additional information write to: AQUATROLS CORPORATION OF AMERICA 1432 Union Ave. Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110 (609) 665-1130 MEETING DATES Midwest Turf Conference, Purdue Uni-versity, West Lafayette, Ind., March 12-
14. Contact: Dr. 'William H. Daniel. Department of Agronomy, 2-443 Lilly Hall, West Lafayette. Ind. 47907, 317-749-2891. Northcentral Pennsylvania Turf School, Smethport Country Club, Smethport, Pa., March 20. Contact: Clarence E. Craver, Court House, Smethport, Pa. 16749. Landscape Maintenance Short Course, Mecklenburg, County Agricultural Cen-ter,Charlotte, NC.. N/farch 20-21. Contact: M.A. Powell, North Carolina State Uni-versity, Kilgore Hall. Raleigh, N.C. 27607. Maine Turf Conference, March 21-22. Contact: Dr. Vaughn Holyoke, Deering Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473. First Annual Meeting of the Lawn and Card en Manufacturers Association, Sheraton O'Hare Hotel, Chicago, April 8-10. Contact: Stuart Greenblatt. LAGMA, One Illinois Center, 111 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago, 111. 60601, 312-644-6610. 33rd Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Con-ference, Georgia Coastal Plains Station and Rural Development Center, Tifton, Ga., April 9-10. Contact: Clara Wheeler, 
P.O. Box 748, Tifton, Ga. 31794. Southern California Turf and Landscape Institute, Convention Center, Anaheim, April 18-19. Contact: Ed McNeill. 1000 Concha St., Altadena, Calif. 91001, 213-798-1715. Arizona Turfgrass Conference, Tucson, 
Ariz., May 9-10. Contact: Dr. W. R. Knee-bone, Professor of Plant Sciences, Uni-versity of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. 87521. Symposium on Turfgrass Diseases, sponsored by Ohio State University. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, ChemLawn Corp., University Holiday Inn, Columbus, Onio, May 15-17. Contact: Dr. P. O. Larsen, 2865 E. Orange Rd., Galena, Ohio 43021, 614-422-6987. The Fertilizer Institute Marketing Con-ference, The Greenbriar, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.. June 10-13. Contact: Doug Culkin, TFI, 1015 18th St.. N.W.. Washing-ton, D.C. 20036, 202-466-2700. American Seed Trade Association, Annual Conference. Hvatt Regency Hotel, Washington, D.C., June 24-28. Con-tact: Association, Executive Building, Suite 964,1030 15th St.. N.W., Washington, D.C.20005. Michigan Turfgrass Field Day, Crops Barn, Michigan State University, East 
Lansing, Julv 10. Contact: Dr. John K. Kaufmann, 322 Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, Mich. 48824. American Sod Producers Association Summer Convention and Field Days, Hilton Inn East, Columbus. Ohio, July 18-20. Contact: Bob Garey, ASPA, Associa-tion Building. 9th and Minnesota, Hastings, Neb. 68901, 402-463-5691. Penn Allied Nursery Trade Show, Hershev Convention Center, Julv 24-26. Contact: S. Howard Davis. 169 W. High St., Carlisle, Pa. 17013, 717-243-1786. Massachusetts Turf Field Day, South Deerfield Turf Plots. July 25. Contact: Dr. Joseph Troll, Stockbridge Hall, Univer-sity of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass. 01003,413-545-2353. The Fertilizer Institute Trade Fair, Stouffer's Riverfront Towers, Sheraton St. Louis and Mayfair Hotel, St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 22-23. Contact: Doug Culkin, TFI. 1015 18th St.. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, 202-466-2700. EQUIPMENT Cushman-Ryan honors its top turf dealers Sixtv-two turf equipment dealerships received 1978 "quota luister" plaques from Cushman-Ryan, Lincoln, Neb. at last month's Golf Course Superinten-dents Association of America show in Atlanta. Daniel L. Heclglin, North American sales manager for the company, jiresented the awards. Dealerships honored were: The Magovern Company, Inc., of Windsor Locks and Stam-ford in Connecticut; Storr Trac-tor Co., Westfield and Ronkon-koma in New Jersey; Adams Equipment in Baltimore and Silver Sjiring, Md.; Hector Turf & Garden, Inc., Miami; Tri-State Toro, Davenport, Iowa; Wis-consin Turf Equipment Corp., 
Janesville, Wise. Midland Imjilement Co., Bill-ings, Mont.; Capital Equipment Co., Alexander, Ark.; L. D. Johnson Co., Denver; Champion Turf Equipment of Wichita, Kansas City, Mo. and 
Springfield, Mo.; Wait Sales Co., Tulsa; Southwest Toro, Albu-querque; San Diego Toro, San Diego; Oregon Toro Distributors, Inc., Tigard, Ore.; Westward Power Equipment, Edmonton, 
Alberta; and Morin Equipment Ltd., Ste. Foy, Quebec. Sawtelle Brothers, Inc., Swampscott, Mass.; Wilfred Mac Donald, Inc., Clifton, N.J.; Malvese Mowers & Equipment, Hicksville, N.Y.; Rhodes Mobile Equipment Co., Southharrqiton, Pa.; G. L. Cornell Co., Gaithers-burg, Md.; Porter Brothers, Inc., Shelby, N.C.; Krigger & 
Company, Inc., Pittsburgh; Debra Enterprises, Hollywood, Fla.; Zaun Equipment, Inc., of Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Orlando and Ft. Myers all in Florida. Lawn & Turf, Inc., Conyers, Ga.; Moon Equij)ment Co., Cin-cinnati; Baker Vehicle Systems, Inc., Macedonia, Ohio; Illinois Lawn Equij)ment, Inc., Orland Park, 111.; Little Wheels Turf & Equipment, Peoria and Iowa City, Iowa; Horst Distributing, Inc., Chilton, Wis.; ReindersTurf Equipment, Elm Grove, Wis.; Cushman Motor Company, Inc., Minneapolis; Boyd Martin Co., 
Salt Lake City; Robison's Lawn & Golf, Inc., Grandview, Mo.; Big Bear Equi|)ment, Inc., Omaha. Justice Golf Car Company, Inc., Oklahoma City; Dakota Turf Supply, Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.; Southern Sjiecialty Sales Co., New Orleans; Bell Company, Inc., Albuquerque; Watson Dis-tributing Company, Inc., Dallas; Associated Supply Company, Inc., Lubbock, Texas; Westoro 
Distributing, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.; Central Valley Golf, Fowler, Calif.; Electric Car Dis-tributors, Inc., Rancho Mirage, Calif.; Cushman Motor Sales, Inc., Cerritos, Calif. Inter-Island Equi|)ment, Inc., Hilo, Hawaii; Bait/ & Son Co., Portland, Ore.; Sunset North-west, Bellevue, Wash.; Audubon Sales, Inc., Sj)okane, Wash.; Duke Lawn Equipment, Ltd., Burlington, Ontario and Sacra-mento, Calif.; Fallis Turf Equip-ment, Ltd., Richmond, B.C. In a tight economy, it's right to insist on fertilizer that lasts longer and works harder. That's why Nitroform® slow-
release nitrogen is right for you and your customers. The 38% nitrogen is released slowly and steadily to work between applications. Nitroform is compatible with many other materials used in your lawn care program, including 
most pesticides. Nonleaching, the nitrogen stays to feed. Nonburning, yÇû2 xCi P* Nitroform can be /v' applied with fiU fitto ease by any member of the crew. Use Nitroform and give your cus-tomers grass that's long on beauty. Use Nitroform and treat your cus-tomers to grass that looks good between visits. Make them glad to give up the do-it-yourself lawn. You and your customers work hard for your money. Let Nitroform work hard and long for you. Granular Blue Chip® is for dry application and Powder for spraying. Š# WHEN CUSTOMERS SINK MONEY IN LAWN CARE THEY WANT LONG-TERM RESULTS. For Qualify Nitrogen Ł Ł Ł HERCULES INCORPORATED Agricultural Chemicals, Wilmington, Delaware 19899 Phone (302) 575-5000 ® Registered Trademark of Hercules Incorporated, Ž Trademark of Hercules Incorporated. STH79-2 Dr. Harry D. Niemczyk is professor of entomology at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster. He has worked closely with lawn care businessmen in Ohio and many other parts of the 
country on research geared specifically for the needs 
of the lawn care industry. He said that reference or recommendation of specific insecticides was enerally avoided in this article because current in-ormation and lists of recommended materials are available from state extension services. Reprints or 
extra copies of this issue are available. TURF Insects and their control by Dr. Harry D. Niemczyk The insects pests of turfgrass can be placed conveniently into two categories: Ł Leaf stem and thatch in-habitants Š those that live and feed above the soil, such as aphids, mites, chinch bugs, adult billbugs, cutworms, armyworms and sod webworms. Ł Soil inhabitants Š those that live and feed in the soil such Łas grubs, billbug larvae, ground pearls and mole crickets. The target principle Classification of pests according to the segment of the turf habitat which they occupy helps focus attention on the fact that whatever control measures are applied they must reach the target in that habitat. This con-cept may be called the target 
principle of pest control. The target principle is ap-plicable to any pest Š insect, fungus or weed. It does, how-ever, recjuire that those applying 
it he well-grounded in the iden-tification, life cycle and damage symptomology of the pest in the area of its occurrence. This arti-cle is presented by LAWN CARE INDUSTRY to provide such basic information on pests most frequently encountered in the lawn care business. Soil-inhabiting insects Grubs. Grubs are the larvae of many species of beetles, mainly belonging to one family. The adults differ in their color markings, habits and life cycles, but grubs are generally similar in appearance. Fully grown larvae are 3A to V2 inch long, white to grayish, with brown heads and six distinct legs. They are charac-terized by the C-shaped position they usually assume in the soil. Severe infestations feeding on turf roots can cause the sod to 
turn brown and die. Moles, birds and skunks actively feed on grubs and in the process tear up the turf as they search for them. Life cycle. The life cycles of grubs can he classified according to the time required for comple-
tion of the cycle from egg to adult, namely, less than one 
year; one year; and two years or more. Among those with three-year cycles are some species of 
May beetles or "June bugs," of-ten seen around lights on warm nights. These beetles are generally large, hard-shelled, and vary in color from tan to brown to black. Some species feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs, others do not feed at all. Feeding, flight, mating and egg-laying are done at night. Masked chafers, European chafers and one species of a Texas June beetle are examples of beetles which complete their life cycle in one year. The com-mon Japanese beetle is perhaps the best example of this group. Grubs of the Japanese beetle are about one-inch long when fully (o paRa 10 TOOLS,TIPS & TECHNIQUES This trailer was designed by Herman Carruth, president of AAA Lawn Industries, Inc., Atlanta. The tailgate also serves as a ramp to 
load and unload Carruth's tractor mowers. THE BEST LAWN CARE UNIT HAS TO BE STRONG V STRONG ON SAVINGS...STRONG ON QUALITY... STRONG ON PERFORMANCE... THE STRONG PC1200/PC800 LAWN CARE UNITS Ł High quality fiberglass tank, available in 1200 or 800 gal. capacity. Ł Matching fiberglass engine and pump cover. Ł First unit of its kind that can be bolted to either truck frame or flatbed body. Ł Superfeatures...at an incredibly low initial cost factor. Ł Tank constructed of chemically resistant fiberglass resins, baffled to reduce liquid surge. Ł FMC John Bean pumps. Ł Units designed to pump liquids or non-soluble fertilizers. Ł Many options and components to choose from. Ł Custom fabrication available upon request. STRONG UNITS ARE STRONG UNITS! SPECIFY FROM ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST PRODUCERS OF HI-VOLUME CAPACITY LAWN CARE UNITS. SPECIFY STRONG! For complete specifications on the PC1200/PC800, or any other Strong unit, circle the reader card, or please write or call: STRONG ENTERPRISES, INC. 7270 S.W. 42nd Street, Miami, Florida Ł (305) 264-5525 J INSECTS from puge 9 LEAF & STEM Mites Aphids Scales THATCH Chinch Bugs Sod Webworms Armyworms Cutworms Billbug Adult Scales SOIL Grubs Billbug Larvae Mole Crickets Ground Pearls Bottom Sido of Lost Sogmont Boors tho Raster N. Masked Chafer Black Turfgrass Ataenius European Chafer Asiatic Garden Beetle May Beetle Above left: Classification of pests according to the segment of the turf zone they occupy helps emphasize that controls should be aimed at specific targets in that zone. This concept is called The Target Principle. Above right: Identification is a necessary step in achieving control 
of grubs. Examination of the raster with a 10-power hand lens will identify the common species. grown and have the same general appearance as other 
grubs. The adults are V2 inch long with hard, metallic, blackish-green bodies. They have coppery brown wing covers and small tufts of white hairs along the sides and back of the body. The adults are commonly seen during July feeding on the leaves of 
many species of trees and shrubs. When egg-laying begins, clusters of the adults are fre-quently seen on the turf. The black turfgrass ataenius is occasionally found on home 
lawns. This species completes two cycles each year in some locations and one in others. Adults fly and lay eggs during the daytime. Grubs are similar in general appearance to those of other species except they are smaller. Unlike most species in this group of pests which overwinter as larvae, the ataenius beetle overwinters as 
an adult. Identification. There are many species of grubs, and iden-
tification is based primarily on the pattern of spines found on 
the underside of the tip of the abdomen. This area is called the 
raster and the configuration of the spines the rastal pattern. A 10-power hand lense is adequate for examining the rastal pattern 
of most grubs, unless they are very small, in which case a mi-croscope is needed. Diagnosis. Evidence of grub damage includes patches of wilted, dead or dying turf visible during spring (April and May) 
and fall (October and Novem-ber). Presence of grubs in the fall 
is also made evident by the 
feeding activity of skunks and 
other mammals which tear up the turf in search of grubs. In the spring, large flocks of various to puRe 12 The same EXCEL HUSTLER mowers that excel in grounds maintenance maneuvers also come with a liquid-cooled industrial engine. The new model 295 of-fers superior performance and a long engine life with low upkeep and little downtime. The only significant difference from the proven 275 and 285 is its liquid-cooled Continental engine, built in the USA, to Excel's specs for use on the new model 295. 
This industrial engine is not to be confused with automo-tive type engines commonly converted to mower use. Continental 2-cylinder liquid-cooled engine has long 
stroke and develops high torque at lower RPM. Powerful 2-cylinder engine is easier to maintain & service. Al-
together, that's economy! Like other EXCEL HUSTLER mowers, the new 295 is controlled with fingertip ease. Twin hand levers direct power independently to both drive wheels via dual hy-drostats, with immediate response. The big 72" mower can make intricate twists and turns around trees, signposts, park equipment Š it even mows out corners 
with no time-consuming back-and-forth antics that mark ordinary mower operation. Crew chiefs report one prob-lem: their operators argue over who gets to run the EXCEL HUSTLER, and who has to settle for conven-tional mowers! Summed up, the new 295 is the same superior mower with more power than ever, and the full safety package. 
Attachments that stretch its working seasons the full 
year also interchange with all EXCEL HUSTLER mod-els from 272A through 295. Watch for a field demo or write for free literature and Distributor's name. Call toll-free (800) 835-3260; in Kan-sas or Canada, call (316) 327-4911 collect. EXCEL HUSTLER turf and groundskeeping equipment is built right by Excel Industries, Inc., Box 727, Hesston, Kan-sas 67062. For GSA: GS-07S-03665 For HUD: OAH(CO)m 2635 llllllfll Turf Equipment ThereS a Difference! EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC. Box 727 / Hesston, Kansas 67062 / (316) 327-4911 / (800) 835-3260 NEW EXCEL HUSTLER 295 liquid-cooled engine puts industrial power on an industrial mower. i SPLIT PERSONALITY. Another fine, quality-con-trolled product of Jacklin Seed Company. M z n > PC K in H PC > PC KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS U.S. Plant Patent 3151 Bright sunshine or moderate shade makes little difference to Glade Kentucky bluegrass. With its split per-sonality, Glade grows well under both conditions. A Rutgers University selection, low-growing, deep green Glade has im-proved resistance to most races of leaf rust, stripe smut and to powdery 
mildew in up to 60% shade. Because of its better than average resistance to most races of Fusarium blight, Glade Kentucky bluegrass is being used as a fortifying ingredient in many professional turf grass mixes. It blends beautifully 
with the new, fine-leafed rye grasses, fescues and other elite bluegrasses. Specify Glade for your next turf grass mix. You'll appreciate the split personality that thrives in both sun and shade. t 12 a: < in oc p CO D Q Z a a < U z < a INSECTS from pafle 10 blackbirds feed on grubs heavily infested areas. Ground mole actiivity is also a good in-dicator of grub problems. The only sure way to detect grubs is to cut into the turf in four or five locations, examining the root zone and first three inches of soil 
carefully. Billbugs. Several species of billbug seriously damage in the United States. Among these are hunting billbug on zoysiagrass, the Phoenix billbug on bermuda-grass, and the bluegrass billbug on perennial bluegrass. Larvae are legless, white soil inhabitants, Ve-inch long and have a yellow to brown head. They are fat with the tail end of the larvae somewhat larger than 
the head end. Larvae feed on 
turfgrass roots and stems, often cutting the stems off at the crown 
so they are easily pulled. Life cycle. In the northern states, bluegrass billbugs pass the winter as adults in the lawn The typical target Š grubs feeding on turfgrass roots under a layer of thatch. and sheltered areas nearby. In spring they begin to move about and are commonly observed 
wandering around on driveways and sidewalks. During May and June, adults lay eggs in cells cut near the 
crown in the grass stems. These eggs hatch in about two weeks. The larvae feed within the grass stem for a time and then burrow down the stem to feed on the 
crown. Later they move to the Bluegrass billbug larvae feed at crown of bluegrass and later move to the soil to feed on plant roots. root zone, feeding on roots and rhizomes. Larvae are abundant during mid-July to mid-August. After completing development, they pupate in small cells in the soil and soon emerge as new adults. New adults are abundant during 
late September and October when they are frequently found in considerable numbers on driveways and sidewalks. As winter approaches, the adults Bluegrass injured by bluegrass billbug larvae breaks off easily at the crown when pulled. Evidence of tunneling in the stems identifies this pest as the causal agent. seek shelter in turf, hedgerows and other protected areas. Diagnosis. The wandering nature of bluegrass billbug adults during May and June and again during September and Oc-tober is a good indicator of a potential problem in nearby turf. 
Careful observation for adults on sidewalks, driveways and along gutters during these times should provide warning of a possible in-
festation of larvae in July and August. Mole crickets feed on turfgrass roots and use their spade-like front feet to tunnel in the soil. If small patches of turf ap-pear to be dying from June to September, the best way to determine if billbugs were responsible is by carefully examining the damaged turf. 
Look for evidence of larvae 
feeding at the base of the stem and use a knife to probe among the roots to look for larvae. Turf damaged by larvae is easily pulled out by hand with the stems breaking off at the crown. A good indicator is the Ground pearls live deep in the soil and feed on turf roots. Centipedegrass is commonly attacked. (Photo courtesy Dr. J. A. Reinert). presence of fine, white, sawdust-
like material left by larvae feeding in the root zone. Mole crickets. Mole crickets are pests of major importance on most turfgrasses grown in the southeastern United States. The Puerto Rican and southern 
species are responsible for most of the damage. Adults are about lV2-inches long, gray to light brown, and have short spade-like 
front legs well adapted for tunneling. All stages feed on Sod webworm larvae live in silk-lined tunnels in thatch during the day and come to the surface at night to feed on grass blades. grass roots and burrow in loose soil, causing the turf to dry out. Burrows are V2 to one inch in diameter and easy to see. Damage can be especially severe in newly planted turf. Life cycle. In spring, adults burrow into the soil to deposit eggs well below the surface. Eggs hatch in two weeks, produc-ing nymphs in May that look like adults except they are smaller and have short wings. One year is required for nymphs to become mature and there is one Pellets of green excrement (frass) in the thatch indicate sod webworms or cutworms have fed on the turf. generation each year. Except for adult mating flights which occur in the spring, mole crickets remain in the soil most of their life. Ground pearls. Ground pearls are important soil-inhabiting in-
sect pests throughout most of the southern United States. Actually, they are the immature stages of a scale insect that completes its development inside the pro-tective pearl-like shell (cyst) which it secretes. The shells are yellow-purple Black cutworm moth and vary in size from a grain of sand to 3/16 inch in diameter. Most warm-season grasses are susceptible to injury, but centipedegrass is most com-monly infested. Life cycle. Relatively little is known about the life history of these insects. Mature females (crawlers) leave their protective shells, move a short distance and lay eggs in the soil. Newly hatched nymphs attach them-selves to roots by their piercing mouth parts and form a shell THE INSECTICIDE THAT LIKES TO WORK OVERTIME ŁTrademark of The Dow Chemical Company DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. Black cutworm larva about them. The life cycle from egg to adult requires at least one and possibly two or three years. Removal of plant fluids by the nymphs causes turf to turn yel-low, then brown, in irregular 
patches. Examination of the en-tire root zone for presence of the cysts is recommended for detection. Control: Application of the target principle Control of turf damage by soil-inhabiting pests involves practical application of the target Bronzed cutworm moth principle. Such effort requires concentration on getting a specific control material to a specific target; in this case, the target lives beneath a layer of thatch. Grub control. Since cancella-tion of chlordane and other chlorinated cyclodiene insecti-
cides, the organophosphates remain as chemical tools for grub control. Among the biological methods available is the use of 
milky spore disease. Both chemical and biological ap-proaches are, to a degree, effec-tive; however, both have their 
limitations. Organophosphates. Several Bronzed cutworm larva organophosphate insecticides are variously labeled for grub control, however, among them are products that are either not effective, too toxic for use on home lawns or too expensive to be economically feasible. Among those that are safe, relatively economical, and fairly effective are diazinon and trichlorfon (Dylox or Proxol). Both are used extensively by the lawn care in-dustry for grub control. Like most organophosphates, the effectiveness of these two in-secticides is limited by their short residual activity in soil (14 days or less) and the fact that they are subject to fairly rapid breakdown by environmental factors like light and heat. These characteristics emphasize the importance of uniformly dis-lo page 14 r-> Z n > 50 ra Z a c CD H 5D S > 50 DURSBAN* brand insecticides provide un-surpassed residual con-trol of cutworms, chinch bugs, sod webworms, and a dozen other turf pests. Both DURSBAN 2E Insecticide and double-strength DURSBAN 4E Insecticide keep working a lot longer than other turf insec-ticides. This residual action saves you time, trips, and labor. It also saves you money In fact, DURSBAN insecti-cides cost less than most other turf insecticides. Ask your supplier for the turf insec-ticide that works over-time for you. Get DURSBAN 2E Insecticide or double-strength DURSBAN 4E Insecticide. Just be sure to read and follow all label directions and precautions. Agricul-tural Products Depart-ment, Midland, Michigan 48640. INSECTS from page 13 tributing the proper rate at a time when the pest is most vulnerable. Again, the life cycle, 
not the calendar, determines the 
vulnerable period. For proper distribution, li-quid materials should be applied as coarse sprays, finer sprays are subject to drift and tend to volatilize the insecticide more rapidly once the spray reaches the turf. A minimum volume of four gallons per 1,000 square feet should be used when treating northern turfgrasses. However, with the deeper thatch of south-ern turfgrasses, 20 to 40 gallons per 1,000 square feet is needed. Both diazinon and trichlorfon have other limiting factors worth knowing about. Diazinon has a moderately strong affinity for organic matter. Because of this, 
some of the material applied to turf binds to the thatch before reaching the target. Some lawn 
care firms claim the addition of 
certain wetting agents apparently lessens binding and gives better grub control. Trichlorfon, on the other hand, does not bind to thatch but breaks down rapidly when the pH of the tank mix is high. Some 
reports indicate a half-life of 63 
minutes at a pH of 8; 6.4 hours at a pH of 7; and 3.7 days at a pH of 6. The pH of water is used to prepare tank mixes varies with the time of year and location, thus lawn care firms would be well-advised to have their water 
supply tested for pH and buffering capacity. Products are available to adjust pH levels 
downward. Low pH is usually not a problem. While the performance of organophosphate insecticides is reduced by thatch, timely use of 
irrigation by the customer can 
help achieve maximum control from treatments. Liquid insecti-cides should not be applied to dry thatch. Under such cir-cumstances the spray is likely to evaporate before penetrating the thatch. If not moist from previous 
rain or irrigation, the customer should be advised to irrigate the turf the day before treatment is scheduled. Instruction should also be left to apply an additional Vi inch of water immediately after treat-ment. Post-treatment irrigation 
or rain is essential to moving the insecticide off the grass blades, through the thatch and to the 
target. Delays in watering-in the treatment significantly reduce the probability of successful con-
trol. When granular formulations are used, the grass blades should be dry at the time application is made so the insecticide particles bounce off the blades and sift as 
deeply as possible into the thatch. This brings a con-centrated particle close to the target and also provides protec-
tion from breakdown by light 
and other factors. While the urgency to irrigate following granular application is not as 
great as for liquid application, it should be done as soon as possi-ble. At least V2 inch should be applied. Customers and lawn care operators often expect to see dead grubs a few days after treatment. Actually, it may take 10 to 14 days before significant Army worm larvae numbers of grubs ingest enough insecticide to cause obvious mor-tality. Customers should be ad-vised of this delayed action. Milky spore disease. While insecticides are the principle means of controlling grubs, milky spore disease provides an effec-tive alternative for control of the Japanese beetle. The bacterial 
causal agent Š Bacillus popilliae Š is only effective against Japanese beetle larvae. Infection takes place when resting spores of the bacterium 
are ingested by the grub along Growth stages of the hairy chinchbug from egg to adult. with food and soil particles. The spore germinates inside the grub, producing bacteria which mul-tiply and produce millions of spores that eventually fill the en-tire body of the insect. Infected grubs may live for months but eventually are killed, dis-tributing spores at a new loca-
tion. Yearly infection and death of grubs plus birds and mammals feeding on them further helps 
distribute spores over the turf 
area. In addition to the natural oc-currence in the soil, dust contain-Beauvaria sp., a naturally occurring fungus disease, destroys many chinchbugs (left) in the fall when the turf is moist. ing the resting spores can be pur-chased and artificially dis-tributed. The cost of artificial distribution ranges from $60 to $80 per acre depending on the concentration of spores in the product and rate applied. Dust may be applied any time the ground is not frozen. A com-mon method is to apply one teaspoonful (about 200 million spores) of dust in spots at inter-vals of four feet in rows four feet apart. This is about 12 pounds of dust per acre. In northern states, several B7100DT 4-wheel drive. 16 hp. 3 cyl. Our biggest selling tractor. Small enough for grass cutting and general work around private homes. Strong enough for a wide variety of commercial applications, 
especially park main-tenance, nurseries, landscape contractors. Implements include post hole digger, front blade, 
trencher, front-end loader, backhoe, snow-
blower, as well as all those listed under B5100. L185 2- or 4-wheel drive. 17 hp. 2 cyl. Works as mowing tractor with turf tires. With 2-wheel drive it is versa-
tile chore tractor on large 
farms. For farm or indus-
trial use where ground is soggy, we recommend 4-wheel drive for maxi-mum traction. Category 1 3-point hitch can handle plow, cultivator, disc 
harrow, rotary tiller. Also a wide range of earth moving and excavating implements. Rental operators will find this model in great demand. L24S 2- or 4-wheel drive. 25 hp. 3 cyl. This model has many 
crop applications, espe-cially vegetable growing 
and orchard work. A wide range of implements is available, including back-
hoe, front-end loader, 
post hole digger, front 
blade, box scraper. L245HC (not shown) 2-wheel drive. 25 hp. 3 cyl. 
New high-clearance tractor, ideal for specialty crops such as vegetables 
and tobacco. Provides 
ample 22" ground clear-
ance plus an uncluttered, 
off-set operator's plat-form for excellent visibility. BS100 2- or 4-wheel drive. 12 hp. 2 cyl. Designed for grass cutting, vegetable 
gardens, and general 
estate maintenance. For home owners, this tractor is a step up from riding mowers. Can use mid-mount 
or rear-mount mower, rotary tiller, plow, disc harrow, rear blade. scapers, nurserymen, and other commercial users requiring a tractor to handle variety of materials. BE1BB 2- or 4-wheel drive. 14 hp. 3 cyl. Similar to B5100, but bigger engine offers more pulling power. Can handle all the same im-plements as the B7100DT 
Good tractor for land-Have you noticed the color of our Kubota tractors? Orange. Every one of them. It's our way of making it easy for you to choose a good tractor. Now all you have to do is pick an orange. That way you won't get a lemon. In the 12 to 55.5 hp range, no one offers as many models as Kubota. And all our mid-size Kubotas give you the qualities that separate real tractors from the lightweight garden variety. All Kubotas have water-cooled diesel engines, which are designed with more cylinders than many competitive models. Standard equip-ment on all models includes rear PTO and a 3-point hydraulic hitch that accommodates a variety of implements. For more information, write or call us. Better yet, see your Kubota dealer. He knows more about how to The adult stage of the bluegrass billbug is a thatch inhabitant often seen walking across sidewalks and driveways in spring and fall. years may elapse before spores are well-distributed throughout the soil. During this time, grub infestations must be tolerated to permit infection and death of grubs. Once distribution is ac-complished, the treatment will 
provide control of Japanese bee-tle grubs for many years. Billbug larvae. Control of damage from the billbug is a situation where application of the target principle determines 
the approach to control. To pre-Rhodesgrass scales are covered with cottony material secreted by the insect. (Photo courtesy Dr. J. A. Reinert). vent the development of the damaging larval stage, insecti-cide may be apllied early in spring (April for the bluegrass billbug) to eliminate adults 
before they lay eggs. At this time the insect is inhabiting the sur-face and thatch and irrigation 
following treatment is not ad-visable because the objective is to keep the material in the thatch where the pest is located. How-
ever, once a larval infestation develops, the pest becomes a soil Bermudagrass scales are covered by a shell-like covering and are found on grass stems. Infested turf appears "moldy". (Photo courtesy Dr. J. A. Reinert). inhabitant, and irrigation follow-ing with an insecticide treatment is advisable to move the material to the target. Mole crickets. In areas where damage from mole crickets has 
occurred previously, further in-
jury can be prevented by apply-ing sprays of insecticides during 
June while the nymphs are still small and relatively easier to control. Such sprays may also be 
applied later in the summer when damage appears. Thorough Invisible to the naked eye, bermudagrass mite feeding causes growth distortions in the form of tufts. (Photo courtesy Dr.). A. Reinert). and deep irrigation before and after spray applications is neces-sary to reach the target. Various baits containing low percentages (V2 to two percent) of several insecticides have been effective when uniformly ap-plied over the turf in late June. 
Here the objective is to bring the target Š a young mole cricket nymph Š to the surface to feed 
on the bait. Applying the target r* > Z O > 70 m Z a 
c en H 70 >< S > 70 Greenbugs line the upper surface of bluegrass blades to suck out plant fluias and inject salivary fluids that kill tissue around the feeaing area. principle in this case means no irrigation should be applied. Ground pearls. Ground pearls can occur 10 inches or deeper in turfgrass soils. This fact, coupled with the difficulties of achieving penetration of insecticides, has lead to the conclusion that there is no practical, effective means of controlling this pest. Manage-ment practices, particularly Turf damaged by the greenbug has a yellow to orange cast. Injury is frequently seen under trees but also occurs in open areas. pick an orange than anybody. For specific information about any Kubota tractor, call 1-800-241-8444. (In Georgia 1-800-282-1333.) Ask for Operator 63. We're looking for work. PKUB0TH HELP! To help me pick an orange, please send free spec sheets on the following Kubota models: 1. (Model No.) 2. (Model No.) 3. (Model No.) Mail to: Advertising Department Kubota Tractor Corporation, 550 W. Artesia Blvd. P. O. Box 7020, Compton, CA 90224 TELEPHONE NUMBER LCI3 irrigation and fertilization which keep the turf growing vigorously, temporarily helps grass to over-come injury. Leaf, stem and thatch-inhabiting insects and their control in 
turfgrass Sod webworms. Sod web-worms include a complex of species such as the tropical sod webworm, vagabond carambus, bluegrass sod webworm and many others. The extent of in-jury from this group of thatch-ln page 17 T? L285 2-wheel drive. 30 hp. 4 cyl. 4-cylinder diesel engine 
provides lots of smooth 
power. Built to accom-modate a long list of 
implements, including rotary rear-mount mower, tillers, disc harrows, box scraper, front blade, front loader, backhoe, plow. Good main tractor on small farm. Also wide applica-
tion for institutional or governmental grounds maintenance. With front loader, it is excel-lent machine for dairy farmer. I295DT 4-wheel drive. 30 hp. 3 cyl. Will outpull many larger farm tractors that only have 2-wheel 
drive. Can handle most 
medium-sized Cate-gory 1 farm implements. Also, earth moving capability makes it suit-able for general build-ing contractors. Out-standing fuel economy for its size. Draft and position control is 
standard. 1345 2-wheel drive. 34 hp. 4 cyl. Brand-new model designed to fit into popular horsepower range. 4 cylinders let it run more smoothly than many competing models. Fine all-round performer as chore tractor on large farm. Handy for general contractor because it doesn't require a heavy-duty trailer to haul it to construction site. Live rear PTO, 
draft and position control, power 
steering are standard on this model and all larger tractors. II14500DT 4-wheel drive. 55.5 hp. 6 cyl. Our big brute. Tremendous pulling power for its size and weight. Works beautifully as primary tractor on smaller farms. Fine for land where traction is critical. Ideal for building contractors who start work in the North as soon as frost is out of the ground. 1114000 (not shown) 2-wheel drive. 47.5 hp. 6 cyl. 
Good number one tractor for small farms, 
especially vegetable crops. Also excellent 
for many types of small to medium exca-vating work. 6 cylinders provide smooth torque. Quiet running. Economical to 
operate. 16 forward gears supply wide range 
of ground speeds to match many different implement uses. WE RECOMMEND LESCOSAN In two seasons, we reduced the crabgrass population from 90%-plus to less than 10%. And this is on big lawns of almost an acre. Lescosan is the mainstay of our crabgrass control program. ŠJOHN R. LINKHART Perf-A-Lawn Vice-President (Sales) As John R. Linkhart knows, Lescosan is the answer to pre-emergence crabgrass control. The undeniable proof exists in every application. "Nashville is the premier area for crabgrass. And Lescosan is the main-stay of our crabgrass control pro-gram. It works better on crabgrass and foxtail than any other product." The Perf-A-Lawn profes-sional chemical lawn main-tenance company specializes in liquid spray applications and they're building more than turf. They're building a reputation. "Since we are constantly expanding our franchise market, we must be sure a product works. So we recom-
mend Lescosan to our franchisees." Lescosan (Betasan*), available in 4E emulsion or 12.5 granules, provides full-season effectiveness on all 
grasses, as well as on a number of ornamentals and ground covers. When Perf-A-Lawn buys Lescosan from Lakeshore, they buy from the formulator. And for Perf-A-Lawn, that means quality and savings! If quality, savings and performance are selling 
Lescosan to you, take advan-tage of our toll-free informa-tion service and call Barb today. Those east of the Mississippi can reach her by dialing 1-800-321-5951. (In 
Ohio, dial 1-800-362-7413.) If you're west of the Missis-sippi, call Barb collect at 
216-323-7544. She'll have our represen-tative contact you so you'll know why Perf-A-Lawn rec-ommends Lescosan and how our other fine LESCO Prod-ucts (including LESCO 36 Sulfur Coated Urea) are 
selling themselves every day! Our LESCO Quality Prod-ucts and Friendly Service are always as close as your phone. Ł(BetasanŠRegistered TM of Stauffer Chemical Company.) LESC^ PRODUCTS Division of Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. 300 S. ABBE ROAD, ELYRIA, OHIO 44035 A FAMILY OF FINE PRODUCTSŠLescosan 12.5GŠLescoreneŠLeseo 4ŠLescoborŠLescoparŠLescopexŠLeseo Non-Selective Herbicide Leseo MSMAŠLeseo Thiram 75WŠLescozymeŠLakeshore Chinch Bug & Sod Webworm Control INSECTS from page 15 inhabitants varies with the species and location of oc-currence. Usually only a few species are responsible for most of the damage in a given area. Sod webworm adults are small, grayish-white to beige moths with a wingspread of 3A inch frequently seen flying over lawns at dusk or just after dark. When at rest the wings are folded closer to the body. The head has a snout-like projection in front, thus they are also called snout-moths. If disturbed during the day, the moths fly erratically for a short distance, then come to rest on the turf. The moths do not damage turf. The larvae are caterpillars varying in color from greenish to beige, brown or gray, depending 
upon the species. When mature, they are 3A inch long and most have characteristic dark circular spots scattered over the body length. As the larvae mature, they construct tunnels or burrows through the thatch, sometimes extending into the 
soil. The name sod webworm is derived from their habit of lining these tunnels with webs of silk-like material they produce. The larvae do not place webbing on the turf surface. Feeding and consequent damage is done only at night. Some species chew off grass blades close to the plant crown and pull them into the tun-nels where they are eaten. The tropical sod webworm chews 
notches along the sides of the grass blade. If feeding is exten-sive during dry weather, the plants may he killed. Life cycle. Female moths drop their eggs on the turf as they fly over the turf at dusk. Eggs hatch in a week to 10 days. At an 
average temperature of 78°F., about six weeks is required for 
development from egg to adult. The most common species on northern turfgrass Š bluegrass webworm and larger sod web-worm Š have two generations 
each year and overwinter as lar-vae in silken webs (hibernacula) within the thatch. In southern climates, species such as the tropical sod webworm have several overlapping generations each year. In south Florida, generations continue through the year. Diagnosis. Flocks of birds that frequently return to a turf area usually mean that sod webworms 
or other larvae are present. Further evidence of bird activity 
is probe holes left by birds searching for larvae. Close examination of the turf in such areas either reveals larvae, or the green pellets of excremenl 
(frass) left by them. An effective method of detec-tion is to mix one tablespoon of one to two percent pyrethrins (a common garden insecticide) in one gallon of water and apply the solution uniformly over one square yard of turf. The solution irritates the larvae which soon 
come to the surface. A fairly ef-fective substitute for pyrethrins is V\ cup of powdered household detergent. Cutworms. Cutworms are the larvae of nightflying moths two to three times larger than sod webworm moths. The two species most common in turf-
grasses are the black cutworm and bronzed cutworm. The lar-vae feed at night on grass blades which they chew off close to the base of the plant. The black cutworm is pale gray to olive black without dis-tinct stripes or marking. It does 
have one narrow pale stripe on the upper surface. The bronzed cutworm is dark brown black above, pale on the underside and has a distinct bronze sheen. The upper surface of the body has three narrow yellow stripes and a broad pale white-yellow stripe on each side. When mature, the larva are 1 Vi inches to two inches long and have a dark brown to brownish-gray head. The adults 
of these cutworms are robust, hairy moths, brownish tan to grayish in color with wingspread of 1 Vi inches. The front wings are darker than the hind pair and usually have various light and dark markings. In page IB s COST CUTTINGS Back-up signal on tank trucks cuts accidents A lound, piercing back-up signal noise is Ł standard equipment on all Davey Lawnscape Service spray tank trucks, and general manager Gordon Ober feels that the device 
has gone a long way in preventing driving ac-
cidents. "When our trucks pull into a residential neighborhood, children come right up to the truck," Ober told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, "and when a technician comes back to the truck after spray-ing he will sometimes find the children even climbing on the truck. "Because of the size of the truck, and the blind spot of the side mirrors, we feel these back-up signals are necessary to prevent accidents," he said. He says that most truck manufacturers have these back-up signals available, and that lawn care companies should inves-tigate having them installed when they purchase a new truck. The unit is a switch that hooks into the transmission, similar to back-up tail lights. Davey is based in Kent, Ohio. MOWS AND BAGS WET OR DRY GRASS WITHOUT CLOGGING! No.1 CHOICE OF LAWN MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONAL AND PERFORMANC 
SEEKING 
HOME- j/ 
OWNERS Jr Seeking Performance...Power... Durability? GET A SENSATION! With exclusive valve rotator, replaceable wheel bearings, mag-aluminum cast deck, patented air lift blade with balanced fly wheel for bagging wet grass without clog-ging...SENSATION more than ever the No. 1 Choice. THE HIGH-WHEELER MAKES SHORT WORK OF TALL GRASSES AND WEEDS... Put power into your big jobs with the 24" self-propelled Hiah-Wheeler. 5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine and geared trans-mission with 3-speed forward and reverse makes it ideal for toughest weeds 8c grasses. No. 1 features that make the No.1 difference for you! WRITE TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SENSATION MOWERS... THE SENSATION CORPORATION 3601 North 16th Street Ł Omaha, Nebraska 68110 INSECTS from page 17 Life cycle. Adult moths lay their eggs at night on the turf-grass surface. The larvae feed at night, hiding in the thatch and soil during the day. The number of generations each year varies 
with the location. In the northern states, the black cutworm prob-ably overwinters as a pupa in the soil and has three generations. The bronzed cutworm over-winters as an egg that hatches in late February. Small larvae are often the first found, usually in April. There is one generation each year. Diagnosis. Birds, particularly starlings, have a keen ability to locate cutworms and other cater-pillars in turf. When these birds return frequently to a given area, leaving probe holes, larvae are usually present. Examination of the feeding area usually reveals cutworms or green excrement pellets left by the feeding larvae. These fecal pellets are often three times larger than those of TANKS FOR THE MEMORY! MARKETING IDEA FILE Survey says 2.2% of income goes for ads The average percentage of sales income designated for advertising and promotion is 2.2 percent, according to a re-cent survey conducted by the National Landscape Associa-tion. "Word of mouth" was ranked the most effective advertising medium by landscape firms in the survey. Yellow Page advertising was a close second, with newspaper follow-ing. Other media mentioned (in descending order) were: signs, radio, direct mail, magazines and television. How large a bite do the different media take out of that advertising budget? Newspapers take the most Š 31.9 percent nationally Š followed closely by Yellow Pages with 31.6 per-
cent. Other media and percentage of budget were: radio, 11 _ percent; direct mail, six percent; signs, 5.2 percent; magazines, 2.8 percent; television, 2.3 percent; and other, 8.4 Ł percent. For the first time in pesticide history, "The Silver Skunk" gives you the convenience and precision required for urban 
and industrial spray operations. It is a revolutionary new portable high-pressure pesticide sprayer. Utilizing the exclu-sive Micro-Injection System, "The Silver Skunk" accurately meters small amounts of pesticide concentrate directly into the high-pressure water flow. You may eliminate bulky mix-ing tanks, for "The Silver Skunk" allows you to couple directly to a garden hose for a water source. "The Silver Skunk" features portability, simple calibration, allows the 
operator to easily switch from one concentrate to another, records total gallons used on each job and is designed for extended service life. The unit comes complete with 100 feet of high-pressure spray hose, a wand, three nozzles and 
adapters. You're ready to go to work the moment "The Silver Skunk" walks through the door. Power Spray Technology, inc. Suite 8, Township Square Building Hook and Calcon Hook Roads Sharon Hill, PA 19079 Phone:(215)461-6331 information card the sod webworm larvae. Solu-tions of pyrethrins or detergent brings larvae to the surface. Armyworms. Like cutworms, armyworms are the larval stage of night-flying moths three times larger than those of the sod web-worm. There are two important species. The true armyworm is an occasional pest in northern states but commonly a serious pest of southern turfgrasses. The larvae vary in color from gray to 
yellowish green and are clearly marked with light stripes. When mature, they are IV2 to two inches long and have gray to yellowish heads. The fall army-worm has a characteristic white inverted "Y" marking on the front and head capsule. The lar-vae frequently feed in one area, then migrate, in mass, to another during the night, thus the name "armyworm." Life cycle. Adult moths of armyworms deposit eggs in 
masses on grasses and other plants. The larvae feed at night, and hide in the thatch during the day. In areas like southern Florida where no freezing oc-
curs, all stages may be present during the year. The fall armyworm is a serious southern pest that migrates. Occasionally, larvae from eggs laid by adults that migrate to northern states cause severe damage to northern turf-grass. In 1977 this occurred as far north as Minneapolis. None of the life stages overwinter in the 
north. The armyworm occurs throughout the United States. In northern climates, larvae 
overwinter in soil or debris. 
Adults lay eggs on turf in May. There are three generations each year. Diagnosis. The methods described for sod webworm and cutworms are also effective in 
detecting armyworm infesta-tions. Chinchbugs. Two species of chinchbugs are considered im-portant pests of turf. The hairy chinchbug, a pest of northern turfgrasses, causes severe damage to bluegrasses, fine fescues and bentgrass. The southern chinchbug feeds on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, but is primarily a serious pest of St. Augustinegrass. Chinchbugs generally occur in scattered patches rather than 
being evenly distributed over the turf. Sunny areas are most heavily infested with popula-tions often reaching 200-300 per square foot. Plant injury occurs as a result of the insect sucking fluids from the plant and at the same time injecting salivary fluids into the plant. The presence of the salivary fluid 
disrupts the water-conducting system of the plant, causing it to wilt, then turn yellow and brown. Injury is particularly severe when heavy infestations occur in turf that is dormant from moisture stress. Such dry con-ditions are particularly con-
ducive to chinchbug growth and population development. Adult chinchbugs are 1/5 inch long, black with white wings 
folded over the back. The wings of some extend to the tip of the abdomen, but others extend only halfway to the tip. The nymphs lo pugn 20 Termite control vf T M soPn^oil Gypsum adds profitable extra sales b your lawn care business! V / iiit v ij Ł - *bf U i H _ \hi -y--Š Sof'n-SoilŽ Lawn & Garden Gypsum is a natural soil conditioner you can depend on to help boost your business two ways, two times a year. In Spring, application of Sof'n-Soil gypsum helps make fertilizers work more effectively all season long by loosening up heavy clay. This allows root systems to develop normally to keep lawns thriving all summer. In Fall, application of Sof'n-Soil gypsum works like health insurance to protect against the harmful effects of winter de-icing salt. Sodium chloride is toxic to most plants, causes heavy clay soils to tighten, keeps water from leaching out the salt. The available calcium in Sof'n-Soil gypsum replaces toxic sodium attached to the clay soil particles, permits new seed or sod to grow normally. Look into the multi-profit opportunities of adding Sof'n-Soil gypsum 
benefits to your services. Remind ecologically-conscious prospects that Sof'n-Soil gypsum is non-toxic, noncaustic, harmless to plants, pets and people. Ł For specifics, write to us at 101 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, III. 60606, Dept. LC-39 rt CHEMICALS DIVISION UNITED STATES GYPSUM PRIMARY SUPPLIER OF SECONDARY PLANT NUTRIENTS INSECTS from page 18 (immature states) range from 1/20 inch long, soon after hatching, to nearly the size of an adult. Upon hatching, nymphs are bright red with a distinct 
white band on the abdomen. This color changes first to orange, then orange-brown, then black as 
the numph goes through five growth stages. Each of these stages inflicts injury on the turf. Life cycle. Adult chinchbugs insert eggs in the lower leaf sheaths of grasses. The number of eggs laid is known to range from 233 to 289 per female. The development of eggs and stages thereafter is directly de-pendent upon temperature Š 
and therefore location Š in the United States. One generation may take six weeks at 83°F. and 17 weeks at 70°F. In south Florida and Louisiana, generations may 
be continuous with up to seven generations each year; ihree to four generations in north Florida; two generations in Ohio; and one in an area such as Rochester, N.Y. In southern regions, chinchbugs remain active during the winter months, but in north-ern areas they become inactive 
and go into a resting stage (diapause). In Ohio, these adults become active again in March and early April, laying eggs in May that develop into damaging populations in July and August. They produce another genera-tion in September which develops into adults that move from the turf to nearby sheltered areas for overwintering. While 
adult chinchbugs are capable of flight, crawling is their primary means of mobility. Diagnosis. Infestations of chinchbug are often masked by the general drouthy appearance of turfgrass when under mois-ture stress. If adults are present, they are often seen wandering across sidewalks or driveways on 
warm afternoons. Close exami-nation of the turfgrass, particu-
larly thatch, usually exposes the insects. Chinchbugs are susceptible to infection by a fungus disease 
Beauvaria sp. The fungus is most 
infectious when the turf has moisture adequate for good growth. When moist conditions occur during the second genera-tion in Ohio, for example, popu-lations can be reduced dras-tically by the fungus. Another effective method of detection is to remove both ends 
of an empty coffee can, cut the rim off one end and push the sharp edge two to three inches into the turf in an area where chinchbugs are suspected. Fill the can with water and wait a few minutes. If chinchbugs are 
present, they will float to the sur-
face. The tiny red nymphs may be difficult to see. Adult billbugs. Adults of most billbugs are gray to black weevils with a distinct snout that has 
chewing mouth parts at the tip. 
All of their adult life is spent in thatch except in northern areas where some adults move to sheltered areas to overwinter. Though the adults feed on grass stems, occasionally chewing transverse holes through them, 
the damage inflicted is usually 
minor compared to that from the 
larvae. Some lay eggs in feeding holes and others chew slits in the stems, just above the crown, and deposit eggs in them. Effective chemical control programs can focus on removing adults before eggs are laid. Such 
efforts can be complicated in 
warm climates where genera-tions may be continuous or overlapping. Scale insects. In addition to the soil-inhabiting ground pearl, 
two other species of scale insects are important pests of southern turfgrasses Š the rhodesgrass scale and bermudagrass scale. The body of the rhodesgrass scale is more or less spherical, dark and covered with a cottony material secreted by the insect. These masses are Vb inch in diamater and usually found in 
clusters or colonies on the crown 
of the rhodesgrass plants. These clusters usually have hair-like structures (excretory filaments) extending from them. The insects suck plant fluids from the grass for food. The bermudagrass scale has an oval, white pa per-like 
covering 1/15 inch in diamater 
covering the insect. These scales are usually clustered at the nodes of grass stems, where they suck juices from the plant. Life cycle. Adult females lay eggs within the secreted 
covering. The young (crawlers) spread throughout the turf, begin feeding and secreting a cover over themselves. As the covering develops, the scale loses its legs 
and antennae. Males of these species are usually smaller and are winged. Generations of both species are generally continuous. Diagnosis. Damage symptoms are weakened, yellowish turf which often turns brown as though short of moisture. Damaged stems usually show lit-tle new growth. Infested grass appears covered with mold. Mites. Mites are not insects; all have eight legs and are closely related to spiders. Though the winter grain mite has been known to cause some in-jury, serious damage from this is apparently uncommon on north-ern turfgrasses. In the South, the bermudagrass mite is a serious 
pest. This mite is extremely small, the largest being only 1/125 inch long. They are not 
visible to the naked eye and are often carried by other insects frequenting turf. Only bermuda-grass is affected by this mite. Life cycle. The life cycle of this mite requires about one week for completion. Eggs, laid under the leaf sheath, hatch quickly in warm weather. The mites feed in this area by the hundreds, sucking fluids from the plant. Infested stems turf yel-low, then brown and die. Diagnosis. Mite feeding causes shortening of the stem in-ternodes, causing tufts or rosettes to appear at these loca-
tions. Examination of leaf sheaths with a high-magnification (10 power or more) hand lens reveals the creamy white, worm-like mites. Greenbug. The greenbug is an If you want to feed your trees for 2 years, step on it. ) f Tkt- i ] t4 s The Agriform fertilizer probe makes tree feed-ing fast and economical. It's simple.Take the probe and step on it. Just punch holes around 
the drip line of the tree. Drop the Agriform Tablets down into the root 
zone and walk away, for two years. No fertilizer bags to mess with. No spikes to hammer (and 
break). And, they won't burn or leach away. I I \ Name I I I Order your Agriform fertilizer probe for $6.99 and we'll give you a $3.00 coupon for Agriform Tablets Sierra Chemical Company 1001 Yosemite Drive Milpitas, California 95035 Please send me probe(s). I have enclosed a check for $6.99 each. Don't forget the coupon worth $3.00 toward my purchase of a case of Agriform Tablets for each probe I ordered. Offer expires June 1,1980. I Firm Street City State Zip You can fertilize a 4" diameter tree for two years for less than $1.00. And the money-off coupon that comes with each probe saves you $3 to start with. Agriform Tablets Šnothing could be faster, easier, safer, or more economical. M { AGHIFORMI \ Aeriform (Ti is used as a trademark of Sierra Chemical Company for its brand of controlled release fertilizers. ® 1979 Sierra Chemical Company. aphid, well recognized as a pest of small grains and sorghum in the central and southwestern states. Although scattered references to this aphid on perennial bluegrass date back to 1912, it was not considered a serious pest until the early 1970's, when noticeable damage was reported in Illinois and in Dayton, Ohio. Since then, severe 
injury has increased sharply in these states and damage has been reported in Indiana and Wisconsin. Some lawn care firms in southern Ohio report that an average of two to three repeat applications of insecticide was required to keep damage under 
control last year. In cases where infestations were not controlled, 
damage was so severe that part or all of the lawn had to be replaced. The greenbug is a soft-bodied insect, 1/16 inch long, light green 
with a darker green stripe down the back. The legs are green ex-cept for the tips, which are black. Two short tubes extend out behind the aphid. Feeding is ac-complished by insertion of the piercing mouthpart into the grass blade to suck out plant fluids. Salivary fluids are also injected into the plant, causing the tissue around the probe point to die. Life cycle. The life cycle of the greenbug on bluegrass has 
never been studied, therefore, 
information on the overwin-tering stage, if any, is not known. Lawn care firms report popula-tions begin to appear in late June and may continue to November if the fall is extended. Greenbugs give birth to live young, most of which are female. Optimum temperature for 
development is 75°F. A newly 
born aphid can begin producing 
young after 7 to 10 days. Mating is not necessary for repro-duction. Winged forms are pro-
duced in the fall. Diagnosis. Although damage is frequently first noted in the shaded areas under trees in the yard (however, it is not a tree aphid), it also often occurs in 
open, sunny areas of the lawn. 
Probing and injection of salivary fluids by the aphid causes dead 
leaf tissue to turn yellow to light orange, then darker orange, and 
finally to brown as the plant dies. Examination of infested turf reveals 20 to 30 or more aphids 
on the grass blade. Population of 2,000 to 3,000 aphids per square foot are common on infested lawns. Lady beetles, orange with black spots on the back, are often seen feeding on the aphids in 
such lawns. Control: Application of the target principle Control of leaf- , stem- and thatch-inhabiting pests is less difficult to achieve than control of those inhabiting the soil. The principle of controlling this group of pests is the direct op-posite of that for soil pests. In this case, the objective is to leave the insecticide on the leaves, stems and thatch. Con-trol of the target pest is accom-plished in the following ways: (1) Initial contact of the insecticide with the insect; (2) Future contact of the insect with insecti-
cide residue left on the thatch, by the insect feeding on treated foliage, or a combination of both. Initial contact. Liquid ap-plications have the greatest im-pact on the insect population within the first 24 to 48 hours af-ter application. Insects are either killed by initial contact with the 
insecticide the day application is made or the night following treatment by contact with residual and consumption of treated foliage. The latter is par-ticularly important for chewing insects such as cutworms, sod webworms, armyworms, etc. The initial impact of granular treatment is less than that from to page 24 tr > $ Z n > TO m Z a c CD H TO >< 2 > TO Embark Plant Growth Regulator Puts You In Command-ŁRead label instructions carefully before application Embark" is a registered trademark of the 3M Company. Slows Turf Growth When and Where You Need It. This spring and summer, you decide when to send your mowers into action! "Embark" Plant Growth Regulator reduces turf growth without injuring grass or inhibiting root development. That means less mowing and more-time for other jobs. A spray application of "Embark" Plant Growth Regulator on actively growing turf lasts up to eight weeks. For hard-to-mow areasŠroughs, along fences, highway embankmentsŠEmbark" Plant Growth Regulator keeps most commonly-grown species* of grass on hold. Saves equipment and labor. Plus takes the pressure off a busy season. This year make "Embark" Plant Growth Regulator part of your turf management. It's the common sense way to cut mowing and trimming costs. Distribution of "Embark" Plant Growth Regulator for commercial turf is planned for many areas of the country this season. For a listing of "Embark" Plant Growth Regulator distributors in your area, 
write: Agrichemicals/3M 223-6SE, 3M Center St. Paul, MN 55101 Embark® Plant Growth Regulator is available at these locations: Wilbur-Ellis Co. 696 Naplus Street P.O. Box 935 Chula Vista. CA 92012 Attn: Ralph Cramer Wilbur-Ellis Co. P.O. Box 1286 Fresno. CA 93715 Attn: Don Niboli VanWaters & Rogers 1363 South Bonnie Beach Place Los Angeles. CA 90023 Attn: Paul Sanders Moyer Chemical Co. 1310 Bayshore Highway 
P.O.Box 945 San Jose. CA 95112 Attn: Donald Meyer VanWaters & Rogers 2256 Junction Avenue San Jose. CA 95131 Attn: Be van Cates Moyer Chemical 230 East Dyer Road Unit Santa Ana. CA 92707 Attn: Pat Sano Wilbur-Ellis Co. 14111 Freeway Drive 
Santa Fe Springs. CA 90670 Attn: Mike Bell Walter W. Fuchs Turf Products Limited 2N255 County Farm Road West Chicago. IL 60185 Riley Lawn & Golf Equip. Corp. 6810 Guion Road Indianapolis. IN 46268 Attn: Robert Scobee The Dalton's Incorporated U.S. 30 East P.O. Box 246 Warsaw, IN 46580 Attn: Don Dalton W. F. Miller Co. 1593 South Woodward Birmingham. Ml 48011 Attn: Russ Hancock R. L. Gould Company 3711 Lexington Avenue North 
St. Paul. MN 55112 Attn: Gordon Miller Turf Supply Company 2970 Dodd Road St. Paul. MN 55121 Attn: John Kolb VanWaters & Rogers 3950 Northwest Yeon Avenue Portland. OR 97210 Attn: Romeyn Kruiswyk Wilbur-Ellis Co. P.O. Box 8838 Portland. OR 97208 Attn: Gordon Hidman VanWaters & Rogers 8201 South 212th 
Kent. WA 98031 Attn: John W. Barber Wilbur-Ellis Co. 1200 Westlake Avenue North Suite 10000 Seattle. WA 98109 Attn: Jack Fisher Reinders Brothers. Inc. 13400 Waterwon Plank Road Elm Grove. Wl 53122 Attn: Ed Devinger mmm TERSAN. fungicides Most customers' lawns are targets for diseaseŠand an opportunity for add-on profitsŠwith the TERSAN disease control program. It's like finding money in the grass. Because disease control is add-on business, an additional service to your basic lawn care programs, with your regular customers. And at higher margins than your 
other services, too. But you have to spot the disease symptoms early, identify the disease, and treat it quickly with the 
right fungicide. That's where the TERSAN disease control program comes in. The four TERSAN fungicides give you a specific, effective control for every lawn disease you're likely 
to spot. No guesswork. No spray-and-hope, cure-all treatments. Plan now to pick up those extra profits right under your feet. Mail in the coupon for more facts on identifying and controlling lawn diseases. E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Inc.) TERSAN Lawn Products-Room N-2533 Wilmington, Delaware 19898 Please send me your literature on lawn disease control. Name Title Company. AddressŠ City. State. -Zip-Services offered. No. of present accounts:. .No. of employees:. With any chemical, follow labeling instructions and warnings carefully. Lawn Products J 24 INSECTS from page 21 liquids because the insecticide is applied dry. Contact begins only when the granule absorbs mois-ture, and releases the insecti-< cide. For this reason, granular formulations are not effective against pests such as aphids or mites unless the insecticide is systemic. ^ Future contact. The residual £ activity of liquids and granules have their respective advantages Q and limitations in terms of con-trol beyond the first 24 to 48 £ hours after application. In addition to providing in-| itial control of leaf and stem pests, liquids leaves residues that remain in the thatch, pro-viding control of thatch inhabi-tants for some time. The length of 
this residual activity is, however, generally shorter than that for granules. The reasons for the longer residual with granules is: They are deposited in the thatch where, unlike liquids on the foliage, they are protected from light which rapidly breaks down the insecticide; also, insecticide is leached off granules over a period of time which usually ex-
ceeds the length of residual ac-tivity from liquids. Generally, the length of residual varies considerably with the insecticide and environ-mental conditions under which it is used. For most insecticides, 
data expressing residual as parts per million (ppm) over time have 
been obtained. However, the practical meaning of these data, in terms of actual impact on in-
sect populations in a lawn, is not understood, particularly where the influence of diminishing resi-dues on insects that survive the initial impact of the treatment is concerned. Recent data taken from 17 Ohio home lawns treated by a lawn care firm shows these diminishing residues were im-portant in removing chinchbug that survived the treatment and those that hatched 10 to 14 days after treatment. Application objectives. The objective of liquid application is to deposit insecticide on the 
foliage and thatch to the depth frequented by the target pest. The volume of liquid applied must be adequate for complete 
and uniform coverage. Coarse 
sprays are best because they pro-duce minimal drift. When the thatch or surface soil is very dry, irrigation the day before treat-ment helps facilitate movement of the liquid into the thatch. The volume needed is also dependent upon the nature and density of the thatch. Thatch in 
southern turfgrasses such as St. 
Augustinegrass is dense and deeper than those of northern turfgrasses. In order to penetrate the deeper thatch, a volume of 20 
to 40 gallons per 1,000 square feet is essential. Volumes less than that are simply inadequate. On northern turfgrasses, thatch is usually one inch or less. Under these conditions, three to four gallons per 1,000 square feet should be used. The initial objective of granular application is to get the material as deeply into the thatch as possible. To do so, the 
foliage should be dry so the granules fall off easily. Post-treatment irrigation. The advisability of irrigation follow-ing liquid application depends upon the target pest. If the insect 
is one which lives on the foliage and stems (bermudagrass mite, greenbug) or one that consumes the foliage (cutworms, army-worms, sod webworms) irriga-tion and mowing should be delayed for at least 24 to 48 hours after application. This allows time for contact activity and con-sumption of treated foliage. If the primary target is a thatch inhabitant (chinchbug, adult billbug) and the volume ap-plied is four gallons per 1,000 square feet, a light irrigation is sometimes helpful if done before the spray dries. When large volumes of spray are applied, post-treatement irrigation is not necessary. Rainfall or irrigation a week or so after treatment can briefly reactivate the insecticide residue in the thatch. Irrigation following applica-tion of granular insecticides is essential to move the insecticide off the granules and into the thatch, therefore, only a light 
irrigation (Va inch or so) is needed. Excess irrigation only reduces the residual in the zone 
occupied by the target pest. Insecticide selection. The in-itial decision whether or not to include an insecticide in the treatment program of a lawn 
care business, or to discontinue or change insecticides, is an im-portant one. The basis for such a decision must be the occurrence of insect pests in the market area covered and the extent to which they are responsible for turf 
damage. In other words, will it really make a difference? If the answer is "yes," the next step is to select an insecti-cide which is safe and effective against the target pests and yet is within the realm of economic feasibility. The question is which 
insecticide meets these criteria and is labled for that purpose? Much preliminary in-formation can be gained on this point from discussions with other lawn care firms, and pesti-cide sales persons in the area. However, once such local 
information is obtained, it should 
be discussed, preferably in per-
son, with an entomologist familiar with turfgrass insects of the area and the principles of in-secticides and their activity in turf. Such a consultation should 
provide the businessman with sufficient knowledge to form the basis for a decision on which material to use. Insecticides and other means of insect control will change with new research findings and as use and label limitations permit. However, the principles under-lying achievement of successful control will not change. Current information and lists of recom-mended materials are available 
from the state extension services. For this reason, reference or recommendation of specific in-
secticides was generally avoided in this article. VIRGINIA from pus«? 1 is going to blame you anyway," Hall said. Jerry Faulring, president of Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Hydro Lawn told the audience that many companies have ac-tually specialized too far to the extent that they are not providing the full scope of the customer's Catron: "Are you buying short-term customer satisfaction when you should be considering long-term customer education? Also, rigid programs aren't always right when 
you have so many factors Š like weather Š that don't cooperate. Your programs have to be flexible..." needs and expectations. In a sur-vey his company conducted last year of his 10,000 customers, 49 percent said they would pay ex-tra for mechanical thatch 
removal, 32 percent said they wanted chemical pest control for 
ornamental trees and shrubs, 36 percent said they wanted root zone fertilization for their trees Couch: "Your customers say they are not willing to pay for a preventive disease program? Ask them if they have a life insurance policy. Then ask them if they are mad because they haven't 
collected on it yet. 
It's just about the same thing..." and ornamental plantings, and 14 percent said they wanted a mow-ing service. Dr. John R. Hall III, exten-sion turf specialist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI) told the audi-ence that by only providing fertilization, insect and weed control that too many lawn care companies are "providing only 30 percent of what the lawn needs to remain healthy." Dr. Hall suggested that lawn care companies should better edu-cate the customer as to what a lawn needs, provide those ser-vices, and charge for it. Other speakers included Dr. Houston B. Couch, professor of plant pathology at VPI; Philip Catron, regional agronopiist for ChemLawn Corp. based in West-minister, Md.; and Dr. Robert K. 
Reynolds, VPI extension specialist. Officers of the Virginia Turfgrass Council posed for a picture after re-election. They are, from left: Kenneth P. Giedd, vice president: Rex 11. Harris, assistant secretary-treasurer; Earl H. Odell, secretary-treasurer; and Gus Constantiono, president. A lot of our customers have been wanting a mid-sized mower that's built tough to take it, and that's highly maneuverable at the same time. So our engineers came up with the amazing Turf cat. It's amazing because it's absolutely packed with features that help you get your medium-sized mowing jobs done faster and better than ever. First, you have a choice of a 50" or 60" deck. (They're interchangeable.) Fully articulated, they closely follow ground contours so you get a smooth, 
even cut with practically no scalping. Deck design lets you trim close, and also gives super clipping dispersion. The deck raises and lowers hydraulically for curb climbing and transport. And you can adjust cutting height from 1" to 4". Then, the three-wheel, wide track design gives the Turfcat great stability on slopes. And the foot-operated hydrostatic drive lets you steer and maneuver while 
changing speeds or going from forward to reverse. How about hill climbing? It's a breeze with the power delivered by the husky 18-HP Kohler overhead valve engine. And you can expect a long engine life filled with good fuel economy. Plus, the Turfcat is quiet. All controls are within easy reach. And it might very well be the most comfortable riding rotary in the world. Ask your Jacobsen distributor for a Turfcat demonstration. And have him explain about the many fine features that customers want. The more you listen to what he has to say, the more you'll know we've been listening. We hear you TEXTRON Jacobsen Division of Textron Inc. PRODUCTS Coated grass seed available in spring Oseco, Inc., Brampton, On-tario, has announced that it will introduce a coated grass seed beginning this spring. For further information, con-tact the company at Oseco, Inc., P.O. Box 219, Brampton, On-tario, Canada L6V 2L2, or call 416-457-5080. REGULATION 1,700 Ohio applicators certified; 14% of total More than 1,700 commercial applicators were certified in Ohio through July of last year for turf pest control. The total of 1,749 represents 14.8 percent of the 11,829 com-mercial applicators certified in the state, giving an approximate estimate of the amount of turf ac-tivity in the state. The largest number of com-mercial certified applicators was in the agricultural pest control classification, with a total of 3,-211. Second-largest classifi-cation was the domestic, institu-tional, structural and health-
related pest control classifi-cation with 2,251. Turf pest control was the third-largest classification. Fourth was ornamental plant and shade tree pest control with 1,-163. Fifth was industrial vegeta-tion control with 1,053. Of A C* It's Davis from Metro Lawns. He says to look out the window. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY Marketplace Atlanta If you had a dollar for every street, business, restaurant, bar or boutique in Atlanta that has the word "peach" in it's name somewhere, you'd have a pretty healthy net for a typical chemical lawn care or lawn maintenance businessman in 
that city. Also, if you're at a turf or landscape conference and you want to find out if the guy you are talking to is from Atlanta or not, it's easy enough to do. Simply, if he's got red clay on his shoes or on his car tires, or if he's got the word "peach" either in his company name, address, or in the name of some of the com-
mercial/ industrial accounts he cares for Š he's from Atlanta. New York is the "Big Apple," we have referred to Los Angeles 
as the potential "Big Orange" in lawn care, and Atlanta has to be the "Big Peach." For one thing, it is "ChemLawn South" to Columbus, Ohio's "ChemLawn North." The company es-tablished itself as a force in Atlanta in the late 60's, and there have been others: At one time, Lawn-A-Mat, West bury, N.Y. had five franchisees working the territory; Lawn King, Fairfield, Conn, two; Lawn Doctor, Matawan, N.J. six; and National 
Turf Service out of Washington, D.C. also tried to cash in on the chemical lawn care market. Of the originals in chemical lawn care, ChemLawn is stronger than ever with what its competition estimates at 12,000 to 14,000 home lawns on the books, and Lawn Doctor has two suc-
cessful franchises. Add to this Rollins Lawn Care, a growing factor in the industry using Atlanta as its base, Green-Lawn 
out of Louisville, Ky., and spice it with the entrance of Amoco 
Liqui-Lawn in suburban Conley this lawn care season, and you have a competitive and lucrative 
chemical lawn care market in 
Atlanta. Atlanta is also the home of ChemLawn's Commercial Divi-
sion, which services commer-cial/industrial accounts. This market is also very competitive, with AAA Lawn Industries Inc., 
CLDM, Inc., and many others bidding against each other on landscape maintenance jobs. A cup of coffee and a late af-ternoon on a not-too-busy 
January Thursday is all that George Morrell needs to get cranked up and talking about lawn maintenance. He is co-owner of CLDM, Inc., Decatur Š it stands for Com-prehensive Landscape Design and Maintenance. And once the 34-year-old former New Jersey all-state high school tailback 
does get talking about his business, two things he talks 
about are "cold calls" and "face 
contact." "When I make a cold call on a commercial or industrial ac-count." he told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY recently, "the first thing I do is look around for a place that obviously needs help with their lawn maintenance." He often does not make ap-pointments, but rather just walks in, finds the right person, and begins to explain what he has to offer. "Probably 49 out of 50 are not initially interested," he said. "But my main objective at that point is to simply introduce myself rather than get the job on the spot. If just by knocking on 
the door I can get my business card into their hand, I feel suc-
cessful. Then I try to get our form 
contract into their hands, again not to necessarily sell them, but just mostly to outline what we do and our performance, to try and 
impress upon them that we are not a fly-by-night company. It's soft sell all the way, I try not to come across as a salesman." Morrell says that one of the hardest things for him to do is to go into an account and ask for more money. But he recently had a 75 percent success with his ac-counts asking for a 10 percent hike. And he did it because he 
believes in "face contact." "Public relations is so impor-tant," he said. "Face contact a couple times a year to make sure the account is happy, to get all of his problems straightened out. With this kind of relationship, it's not hard to go back and ask for more money. If we hardly ever see each other, the job becomes more difficult." When he does have to ask for a price increase, he again uses the soft-sell approach of "can you help us out?" He reminds the account that inflation is continu-ing, the minimum wage is going up, the price of say, pine straw, is up 21 percent, along with higher costs in many other areas. Morrell and his partner star-ted CLDM three years ago. After 
the first year they had $40,000 worth of business on the books, 
the second year $210,000, last 
year $385,000* and they expect to gross almost a half-million dollars this year, about half design/build and half main-tenance. His maintenance 
business breaks out to about one-by Bob Earley, editor and Dan Moreland, assistant editor third apartments, one-third con-dominiums, and one-third small commercial sites. "We lean away from apart-ments as much as we can," he said. "The reason is because you are dealing with too many people Š the owner, the management, and the residents themselves. That's three levels of people to make happy. If occupancy is down, they start thinking about cutting down on their main-tenance. Also, there is often a 
new resident manager every year, and you often have to sell the account all over again." He says that condominiums are more image-conscious, "they want to keep up the appearance of the landscape so they can please the residents, and sell 
new ones." He utilizes four 72-inch Hustler mowers manufactured 
by Excel Industries, Hesston, Kan., and is also happy with his 60-inch commercial mower manufactured by Jacobsen Div. of Textron, Inc., Racine, Wis. He also uses a 36-inch Bobcat, manufactured by Wisconsin Marine, Inc., Lake Mills, Wis. for the smaller jobs. He uses 20-inch 
Jacobsen commercial mowers, and says he has fewer 
breakdowns because the unit has 30 percent fewer moving parts, and maintenance is easier too. 
He replaces the engines every three years and the wheels every year. As far as fertilization goes, Morrell says that his philosophy is to keep the grass as green as he can on his commercial accounts, 
but cut it as little as possible. "This is not a home lawn situa-tion," he said. "We use about 33/» 
to four pounds of nitrogen on the bermudagrass we care for, and up to 4Vz pounds of nitrogen for the fescue." Morrell starts his workers out at $3 an hour, and bumps them up to $3.75 after a couple of weeks if they seem to have promise. Crew leaders earn a minimum of $4 an hour, his spray truck operator about $11,000 or $12,000 a year, and his manager $13,000 a year. "It used to be that we would send out a crew to do the whole job," he said, "but now because of the labor and technical situa-tion, we are beginning to break jobs down and specializing." He is custom-applying fertilizer with 
a spray tank truck manufactured by Strong Enterprises, Inc., Miami, and also will be doing1 the same with his insecticide applications. The same concept applies for trimming shrubs. "We can't af-ford to have two or three $250 trimmers on a crew truck," he said. "This year we will be going to having just one crew handling all of the trimming. "There are too many super-visory hours with the big crews," he said. "If you can cut down on management, it makes you more efficient, and you produce a bet-ter end product at a better profit." He said that he feels good if he nets 10 percent profit on his gross receipts. "Atlanta is a funny market," says ChemLawn Corp. vice presi-dent Dr. Robert Miller. "The growth potential for a city of this size doesn't equal what it might be for a midwestern city. It is a more difficult city to service because of rolling terrain, larger lots, with much natural and plan-ted vegetation to work around, although the average lawn area 
is only 7,500 square feet." Atlanta is the company's southern base of operations, although Dr. Miller said that he 
and some other Atlanta-based personnel will be moving back to ChemLawn's original Columbus, Ohio offices soon. ChemLawn operates two residential lawn 
care branches in Atlanta, and the city is also headquarters for ChemScape, Poseidon and its Commercial Division. 
ChemScape is the company's or-namental and tree spraying divi-sion, Poseidon is its irrigation division, and the Commercial Division handles commercial/in-dustrial maintenance, including mowing. The Commercial Divi-sion is headed up by Phil Chris-tian, and will be expanding to Indianapolis this lawn care season. Dr. Miller said that 80 percent of the lawns ChemLawn services are K-31 tall fescue. The rest is bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass. He said most of the tall fescue lawns have to be overseeded each fall, and that ChemLawn provides information about seeding and offers specific ChemLawn recommended seed shipped from Seaboard Seed 
Co., Bristol, 111. Hhizoctonia brown patch is a problem on tall fescue lawns; armyworms and grubs are the major insect problems, although they can usually be handled by insec-ticide treatments. Weed 
problems are not as great in Atlanta as they are in the north, although purslane, spurge and crabgrass are common on 
Atlanta lawns, Dr. Miller said. ChemLawn is on a five-application program from January through mid-December, four of them liquid applications. Because the lawn care in-dustry has grown so fast in the last five to six years, one of the 
problems many lawn care com-
panies have had is that they ex-panded before they were really 
ready to. A little too much ambi-tion, coupled with not enough ex-perience, has caused serious problems for more than one lawn care company. Rollins Lawn Care, a division of Rollins, Inc., a $300 million, Atlanta-based company, is not going to have that problem, and its because of people like presi-
dent Fred Rowley and 38-year-
old division operations manager Floyd Franklin. Rowley, Franklin and their staff people have put together one of the most deliberately developed programs and plans for expansion in the industry. 
Franklin signed on with the com-pany well before the first Rollins customer lawn was sprayed two lawn care seasons ago, and set up his program based on research of the competition and interviews with industry experts and manufacturers. Franklin is built like a college linebacker, and has the tenacity of one when it comes to attending as many conferences as possible, talking to as many people in the industry as possible to gain infor-mation that will help his business, shopping around for new materials or old materials at better prices Š and is to a great 
extent willing to share basic in-formation with newcomers in the 
industry. Rollins presently has one branch to the northeast of Atlanta, and will be opening a 
second one in the northwest sec-tion of the suburbs this lawn care season. The company also has branches in Memphis, Tenn., Augusta, Ga. and Charlotte, N.C. Franklin said the company is "fine tuning" its lawn care operation this lawn care season, but will most likely move into three new cities in 1980, most likely in the Southeast. To spend a day with Franklin is, to say the least, a lawn care experience. A visitor gets the feeling Franklin could talk lawn care well into the night. The following is a capsulization of some of his thoughts on the lawn care industry: "Scheduling and routing is so important, you have to watch that you don't get spread out too 
thin," he told LAWN CARE IN-
DUSTRY. "Concentration is the key, and we rely on our people to route themselves the way they 
feel is most efficient." Franklin said that if a man can handle bet-ween 20 and 25 lawns a day, the lawn care company is not too spread out. "We've tried just about every form of advertising and promo-tion that you can think of," he said. Although the company has found direct mail and newspaper advertising the most effective in obtaining leads, other forms of promotion Rollins has tried in-clude: home shows, shopping center promotions, offering dis-
counts to clubs, offering free ser-vice to a church for a mention in the church bulletin, billboards, paying for referrals, "cloverleaf-
ing" neighbors of existing customers, door hangers, offer-ing free service to high school football fields for a mention in the program. Franklin even tried an air-plane banner on a Saturday af-ternoon. The only call he got was a person complaining that the plane was flying too low over his home. He feels that home and flower shows are not worth the time and money because "at that 
time of the year (spring) we can't afford to staff a home show." He feels strongly against us-ing phone solicitations, because "the quality of phone leads is 
bad. You waste time and equip-ment, and more importantly, it hurts your applicator/salesman's morale." Response rate is variable on direct mail, Franklin said. He feels it has more to do with the time the piece is mailed rather than the number of times it is 
mailed to a person. "You hear response figures all the way up to four or five percent," he said, "I think if you can get two per-cent that you are doing well." He 
said the company averages a sale on about 50 percent of its leads. "Cloverleafing" is a handy term for the practice many lawn care companies across the coun-try do when they try to get 
neighbors of their existing customers signed up for a lawn 
care program. Rollins mails 
special promotions to next-door neighbors, and the two homes directly across the street from a existing customer. The Atlanta branch utilizes seven spray tank trucks manufactured by Strong Enter-
prises, Inc., Miami, with fiberglass, 1,200-gallon tanks 
manufactured by Tuflex Mfg. Co., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The units also have 200-gallon "drop" tanks for pesticide mixing. The 
unit also utilizes John Bean 20-20 pumps and John Bean spray guns, manufactured by FMC Corp., Agricultural Machinery In puge 28 ATLANTA from page 27 Div., Jonesboro, Ark. The Rollins program calls for five trips from January through November. The late winter trip includes preemergence her-
bicide for control of crabgrass, goosegrass and other grassy weeds. It also includes a 
broadleaf herbicide and a com-plete fertilizer application. The spring trip (mid-March through April) includes a broadleaf her-bicide and a complete fertilizer including slow-release nitrogen. The late spring (mid-May through June) trip includes a complete fertilizer using slow-release nitrogen. The early (Sep-
tember through mid-October) 
trip includes a complete fer-
tilizer including slow-release 
nitrogen, and an insecticide for control of armyworms, sod Miller Christian webworms and grubs. The early fall (September through mid-October) trip includes a com-plete fertilizer including slow-release nitrogen, and an insecti-cide for control of armyworms, sod webworms and grubs. The late fall (mid-October through November) trip includes a com-
plete fertilizer and broadleaf herbicide as needed to control broadleaf winter annuals. This is a cool-season grass program. There is a separate program for warm-season grasses. Cost for an 8,500-square-foot lawn is $138. Franklin says the average Rollins charge is $143.30. Before we get to the facts and figures to explain how 36-year-
old Herman Carruth grossed $2.4 million last year with Atlanta's AAA Lawn Industries, Inc. $1.4 million in maintenance and 
$1 million in design/build Š here are two short vignettes to explain a little bit about the man. Recently a visitor pulled up to "Triple-A's" offices in suburban Tucker two hours late for a meeting, cringing at the thought of having to face a two-hour behind-schedule Carruth. The visitor walked in the door to be greeted by a "how the hell you doing?" and a grand tour of Carruth's impressive facilities. Another story. Four years ago, George Morrell was up in New Jersey, out of a job and wanting to get back to the South, where he went to college, and in the landscape maintenance 
business. He called Carruth for a job. No openings, but Carruth told him to come down anyway, 
lent him a truck and materials and equipment, until Morrell 
could line up his own accounts to go into business for himself. Morrell's CLDM, Inc. is now one 
of Carruth's competitors, but on a friendly basis. Carruth has been in business since 1971, and has a few areas of the business he feels strongly about: Ł "Anything to be different to get the account." Ł"You've got to have a good shop to back you up to make money in the maintenance business." Ł "You get new accounts by having satisfied customers that are willing to give you referrals." Ł "Once you get a referral, it's very easy to blow it because of overconfidence. Treat it just like a cold call." Ł 4 4 S e 11 maintenance 'small.' " Ł "You can expect no con-tract to carry more than a 30-day cancellation clause. Anyway, contracts should be used more as a marketing tool." Ł "Know who your key ac-counts are and keep them 
happy." Carruth and main-tenance supervisor Rick Baird, 36, say that they will put their shop up against any in the coun-try Š including its $10,000 parts inventory. "It's very important to 
have full-time mechanics and the tools and inventory to keep your equipment running," Baird said. "Downtime will kill you in this business." Baird oversees 22 crews of three to seven men during peak times of the season. This year he will be going to a system of hav-ing seven or eight supervisors for about three crews apiece. "The crews were running me last year," Baird said, "and I didn't 
have any time for planning." This year the company is also do-ing away with a time clock and going to what Baird calls a "ticket system" where the crew foreman fills out a ticket for each job done 
and amount of hours worked. 1 le 
feels it will be more efficient. Bill Poythress, 33, is in charge of marketing for AAA Lawn In-dustries. He says he spends about 25 percent of his time on 
new accounts, and about 75 per-cent of his time on public rela-tions with existing accounts. On some of the larger maintenance contracts, he is in daily com-munication with the principals. "We believe in selling main-tenance 'small,' " Povthress told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. "You 
never tell them what it is going to 
cost them a year, but rather what 
it will cost them per month, or even per week." Carruth has $1,000 in his yearly budget for camera film, and he uses most of it before he gets ready to go in and sell a job. "We take pictures of what the account's grounds look like at 
present, and then we balance that off with pictures of what our 
exiting accounts look like," he said. "When we get into a sales 
situation, we insist that the peo-ple look at what we have done in the past. Sometimes Bill even packs lunches and we drive them 
around to check our work." Carruth said that five percent of his 100 accounts represent 40 percent of his business, and that he never forgets it. "These ac-counts, plus about 15 others, are 
on what we call our 'key account' list," he said. "These are the peo-
ple we stay in close contact with, although we have routine inspections of all of our accounts. But on the big ones, we inspect 
them with the customer and explain where their money is tfoing. Carruth utilizes about 20 com-mercial 60-inch mowers manufactured by Jacobsen Div. of Textron, Inc., Racine, Wis. and Excel Industries, Inc., Hesston, Kan. He also uses diesel-powered tractors manufactured by Kubota Tractor Corp., Com-
pton, Calif. For hand work, each 
crew has three push mowers, most of them manufactured by Jacobsen. This year AAA Lawn In-dustries will be going to liquid application of fertilizers and pesticides with three spray units 
manufactured by Strong Enter-
prises, Inc., Miami. They will be 
using a 1,200-gallon unit with a 200-gallon "drop" tank for fer-tilization, and two 300-gallon 
units for pesticide application. Baird said this will cut down on overtime for 22 crews trying to put down applications in granular form at the necessary times of the year. The company will be using Dacthal, marketed by Diamond Shamrock Corp., Cleveland, for much of its weed control. Richard Needle, 41, owner of Lawn Doctor of North Atlanta, has been in the lawn care business since 1971. At one time in the early 70's, his franchise was one of the fastest-growing in the Lawn Doctor network. As he relates, things were rosy in the early 70's. He and other lawn care businessmen were working a virgin Atlanta territory with homeowners who had money to spend on a unique Morrell Carruth new service. Then the 1974 recession hit, and many of the green dollars that resulted from making lawns green began to disappear, and only the strongest companies were able to weather it. Needle was one of those lawn care businessmen, and he has some thoughts on what another recession would do to the lawn care industry Š a subject that is 
often discussed by lawn care businessmen in these days of near double-digit inflation and foreboding forecasts by the likes of the Wall Street Journal and Business Week. "Even though we are at a cheaper price than when I star-ted with Lawn Doctor, if a major 
recession it, I would have to say 
that homeowners would view 
lawn care as a luxury service and drop it." Needle told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY recently. He feels that high-income-bracket homeowners would keep a lawn care service, but that medium-income people would cut lawn care out of their budget. "I would really like to feel positively that lawn care is not a 
luxury, but down deep I still think it is," he said. But he does have some positive feelings about what things will be like in Franklin Rowley the future. As more and more reputable companies enter the 
industry, consumers will become more aware of what the lawn care industry has to offer. "25 years ago, Orkin Exter-minating sold its inside pest con-trol services as a concept of necessity," Needle said. "As the years go on, I hope that our in-dustry will be able to sell this concept too." He, along with many other lawn care businessmen across the country, feels that this will be 
possible. "As people spend more and more for sodding and landscap-ing, they are beginning to realize that they have a lot of money in-vested in their lawn, shrubs and trees," he said. "This is one of 
the things that we are trying to sell our potential customers on." And speaking of selling customers, Needle also has some 
definite ideas about doing it Š the main one being that it costs 
more money now than when he 
first got into the business. He used to spend 10 percent of his annual gross receipts on advertising and promotion; now 
he pegs the figure at about 15 percent. "With the increased competi-tion in Atlanta today in the lawn care business, you can't get away 
with only spending 10 percent of 
your gross to get the numbers vou are looking for," he said. An example of his increased costs would be the fact that he now spends 15 cents for first-class mail handling of each of his 
5,000 mailingss done periodically throughout the year. Using bulk 
mail rates would cut this almost in half, but he explains why he pays first class rates: "We mail our brochures in a window envelope with no return 
address, so people can't say 'hey, here comes some junk mail' and throw it out first thing," he said. Direct mail is just the beginning of his contract with potential customers. He follows up the mailings with phone solicitations, even though he "personally fought 
phone solicitations for awhile, because I resented people 
calling me on the phone." But he finally "took the plunge out of necessity," and has found that it is a useful sales 
technique, and that homeowners do not find it distasteful. He now says that direct mail doesn't produce the necessary leads unless it is followed up with a phone solicitation (as an 
aside, it is interesting to note that many Lawn Doctor dealers this year will be using a company contracted by the home office to 
provide lists, labels and phone 
numbers through computer in 
place of the typical cross-indexed directory used in the past). Between February and May, Needle puts out two mailings to 5,000 potential customers. In two five-week periods, mailings are staggered 1,000 per week, with four girls making follow-up calls no less than three days, and no more than five days after the mailing is received by the poten-tial customer. Needle pays a base three dollars an hour for his phone solicitors. For bonuses, he has tried both paying for total number of leads and number of closes, but says that emphasizing closes "seems 
to work better" in producing quality leads. He pays one dollar per close. On 1,000 calls a week, he says he gets about 150 leads. Once he gets the leads, he and his two part-time salesmen begin work. His salesmen are paid six percent of their gross receipts 
sold, or are guaranteed six dollars an hour®, whichever is 
highest. "This keeps the salesman from getting discouraged if he has a bad night," Needle said. Needle was in department store retailing for 10 years when he saw an ad in the Wall Street 
Journal for a Lawn Doctor franchise. He started in the fall 
of 1971, and by the end of the Baird Poythress year had 100 customers on the 
books. His business grew to the point where he was grossing more than $150,000 annually, as the 1973 "Blue Grass Club" pla-que on his office wall awarded 
by Lawn Doctor headquarters at-tests. This was under the old Lawn Doctor program that included seeding and aerating. At that time, his average charge was $180 a year, with some as high as $450. Hiis average lawn size now is about 7,500 square feet, and his 
average charge $133. This is for the newer streamlined Lawn Doctor program that does not include aerating and seeding. The basic program calls for fertilizer and 
insecticides, and liquid her-bicides and fungicides. Fungicides are applied only on an "as-needed" basis. Needle feels strongly that the non-seeding approach is better 
for a volume lawn care opera-tion, and notes that of the six Lawn Doctor franchisees that were working Atlanta at one time a few years ago, four did not switch to the streamlined program, and those four are no longer in business. "We compete in price with ChemLawn and others, but we feel that we can offer better ser-vice because we are more con-centrated," he said. Most of his accounts are in a six-mile by three-mile square area. His customer lawns are mostly Kentucky 31 tall fescue, 
hut he also cares for common 
and hybrid bermudagrasses, and 
some zoysiagrass and cen-tipedegrass. Insect problems in-clude armyworms ("two years ago they damaged a lot of fescue, and made us some money with the fall seeding that we still do") and sod webworm. The insecticide he uses most is Dursban, marketed by Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich. Weed problems include dan-delion, chickweed and pen-nywort, and he exclusively uses Trimec, marketed by PBI/Gor-don Corp., Kansas City, Kan. for 
control. Leaf spot is his most 
common disease problem, and he charges five dollars per 1,000 square feet for a fungicide spray. Morton Fuchs started his Lawn Doctor of Northeast 
Atlanta business in 1972, and wrote $27,000 worth of business the first year and $75,000 the second. He built the business from there, and then sold it 
almost two years ago. It was not handled well, and this year he 
assumed his old territory and is making another go of it with his Fuchs Needle son Wayne. His basic program calls for five trips a year, with a minimum charge of $80 for a 4,000-square-foot lawn. This is broken down to six monthly payments during the lawn care season of $10 after an 
initial payment of $20. His average lawn is about 7,000 square feet, which breaks down to six monthly payments of $15.75 after an initial payment of $31.50. The total is $126. For a 10,000-square-foot lawn, the total charge is $165 a year, broken 
down into six payments of $20.62, after an initial payment of $41.28. 29 These are 1978 prices. Fuchs uses direct mail, followed up by phone solicita- tr lions. He mails 5,000 pieces at a ^ time, and gets 250 leads, or about z five percent response with the > phone follow-up. He pays his n phone solicitors $3 an hour and % 25 cents for each lead ("You can't § fault the girl if you don't make ^ the sale"). He estimates that he closes between 75 and 80 percent 
of his leads once he goes out to 
sell them. He provides seeding and aerating on an "as-needed" basis. Seeding is done at a charge of one cent per square foot. If he £ can handle a fungicide treatment ^ during his regular trip to the lawn, he charges between $3 and $5, plus the cost of the material. If it calls for a separate trip, he charges 20 percent of the customer's yearly charge, plus the cost of the fungicide. to page 30 thick, thick, thicker THE BEST SEED SHOULD DO MORE THAN GROW GREEN GRASS ADELPHI Kentucky Bluegrass averaged best over 35 other blue grasses for uniformity in turf growth and density, disease resistance, drought, heat, cold ... and is completely free of noxious weeds. ADELPHI, a first generation apomictic hybrid, has been chosen by the Plant Variety Protection Office in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture as the standard dark green color which all other bluegrasses applying for plant protection will be compared to. For a thicker, greener turf insist upon the BEST. ADELPHI For information, contact: J & L ADIKES, INC. Jamaica, N.Y. 11423 JONATHAN GREEN & SONS Farminfldale, N.J. 07727 NORTHRUP KING CO. Minneapolis, Minn. 55413 VAUGHAN-JACKLIN CORP. Bound Brook, N.J. 08805 Downers Grove, III. 60515 Post Falls, Idaho 83854 Canadian Inquiries: ROTHWELL SEEDS LTD., Box 511, Lindsay Ont. K9V 4L9 Other International Inquiries: NORTHRUP KING CO., Minneapolis, Minn. 55413 THE GREENER KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS ATLANTA from page 29 "Most backyard operators are using employes that really don't know anything about lawn care and couldn't care less," accord-ing to Larry Holtzman, owner of Lawn Growers, Inc. "The result is inexperienced workers are liable to go out and treat for the wrong problems and you end up 
with dead sod and unhappy customers." Therefore, Holtzman, 35, trains all of his employes before they enter the field. "We hold educational clinics and seminars with our people so they feel confident when they go out and talk to the customers," he said. "We don't just hire someone to 
work on a truck." He also provides continuing education programs to keep his more experienced employes abreast of new developments in the lawn care industry. Accord-ing to Holtzman, the programs not only instill confidence in em-
ployes, but also help combat the high employe turnover rates experienced by many small busi-nesses. "We really haven't turned over many employes since I started the business in 1976 I've only had one employe leave the company," he said. Holtzman 
currently employs six full-time workers. Lawn Growers is a modest-sized company which provides both liquid and granular fertil-
izer services, along with mechanical aeration to its approximately 1,000 accounts. About 60 percent of its business is residentially based while the 
remaining 40 percent is commer-cially based. Holtzman, who has worked in the lawn care field almost 15 years, said the company uses a number of different chemicals to combat a wide variety of lawn care problems. "We don't use 
general categories of materials," he said. "We blend our fertil-izers depending upon the grass being treated and the time of year." The company also uses a number of different insecticides with the most popular being Dursban and Diazinon. Armyworms and drought have been the most difficult lawn care problems Holtzman 
has encountered in recent years. 
"Two years ago we had a ter-rible problem with armyworms which we solved strictly through chemical application," he said. "We tried to combat last year's drought by working with the customers to try and get some sort of moderate application of water on the turf, but the prob-lem was compounded by the fact that there was a water shortage in the Atlanta area during that time," Holtzman said. Lawn Growers utilizes a variety of advertising mediums including newspapers, direct mail, and the Yellow Pages, but word-of-mouth advertising has been the most successful. The 
company has traditionally received only a one-half to two percent return on its direct mail 
ads. Holtzman described the Atlanta area as a "growing lawn care market" with excellent 
potential. "It has really just started here. There is a lot of room for the big operators like ChemLawn as well as the small one- and two-man operations. "I expect our business to grow in the future primarily because we are small and can still pro-vide a lot of personalized ser-vice to our customers," he added. The expansion of the Atlanta market is virtually inevitable, but Holtzman does not view the 
next few years as merely a way to "cash-in" on new accounts. "I would rather not take on more customers until I had enough trained employes to handle the new accounts," he said. "Other-wise the quality of our work would decline." There are scores of success stories concerning individuals who have made a substantial profit in the rapidly developing lawn care industry. But for each success story there is another which features individuals who envisioned themselves as successful businessmen, but were unable to make a go of it in the highly competitive lawn care market. Dan Hollingsworth, former owner of Lawn Consult-
ants in Lilburn, Ga., falls into the 
latter category. Hollingsworth, 33, recently sold his business because of a combination of financial and management problems. "Actu-ally, I did fairly well, but I just didn't have enough capital to fin-
ance a business," he said. "Rather than try and fight it 
another year I just decided to sell out." Finances were not Hollings-worth's only problems. "The pri-mary reason for selling the business, other than financial which I think I could have licked, 
was management," he said. "I just didn't have the feel for run-ning and managing a business." Hollingsworth, formerly a manufacturer's representative for Amchem Products, Inc., Am-bler, Pa., added, "I can sell the heck out of anything I have to sell, but when it comes to ac-tually managing a business I seem to be lacking the necessary talents." He said the primary reason he initially entered the lawn care business is he got tired of being 
on the road. "I figured the time to try it was while I was still young so in case I failed I could get back into sales." Hollingsworth plans to work for O.M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio after selling the 
business. Lawn Consultants was formed in 1977 and this year the business was expected to gross about $120,000 from its 600 ac-
counts. All accounts were based on yearly contracts. Hollings-
worth said the company special-ized in dry fertilizers because he 
didn't have enough money to go 
into the liquid fertilizer 
business, although he did have a number of liquid fertilizer ac-
counts. INTRODUCING CHIPCO 2 MVi I'l'i ¡J:;u» Mr ,/v m-' 14- TO 21-DAY INTERVAL FOR NEW 26019. 7- TO 14-DAY INTERVAL FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. Here's a new fungicide that could change your whole way of thinking about broad-spectrum fungus control and spray intervals. Because new Chipco 26019 gives more control with fewer sprays than any of the old fun-gicides you've had to use. It stops the major turf diseasesŠdollar spot (including benomyl-resist-ant dollar spot), brown patch and Helminthosporium (leaf spot). And it does it for up to three weeks, at low, economical rates. It's a nice material to handle, too. It mixes well, with no residual left in the tank. It also presents no problems of phytotoxicity to turf. Last year was a wet one, with unusually high disease pressure in most areas. Yet, Chipco 26019 performed beautifully in wide-spread tests. This year, you'll have the chance to see how well it can perform for you. So ask your chemicals distributor for this welcome addition to the popular Chipco Company equipment in-cluded one tractor-drawn, hydraulically operated spray unit, three portable sprayers, two large hand units, and a num-ber of Scott spreaders. One would expect Hollings-worth to be less than enthusi-astic in his evaluation of the Atlanta lawn care market, but the contrary is true. "I think it's a 
tremendous market. There are lots of homes in the area and people are aware of lawn care 
companies and willing to spend the money for the service," he said. "They also have huge lawns here so the prices are high. The .average front lawn here is 8,000 to 9,000 square feet." However, the climate often has a detrimental affect on 
Atlanta lawn care companies. Hollingsworth said fescues, which compose a substantial seg-ment of Atlanta lawns, are easily 
infested by weeds and insects during "drought stress" condi-tions. "It doesn't seem to make any difference how good of an 
application of fertilizer you make in the spring, if you have a 
drought in the summer, like 
Atlanta had last year, the lawn will suffer," he said. "The prob-lem is the customer seems to equate it with a poor job on your part and everyone plays musical lawn accounts in the fall. I don't care who fertilizes the lawn it's not going to look good if there is a drought in the summer." There is a great deal of money to be made in the lawn care market, but it's obviously not as 
easy to turn a profit as it may in-
itially appear. Just ask Dan Hollingsworth. "I could make a lawn green, but I didn't have the 
feel for the other aspects of the 
business," he said. "There is more to running a business than just squirting some fertilizer on a lawn." The most troublesome lawn care problem for William K. Moore, owner of Green-Lawn of Georgia, Inc., has been Atlanta's 
dry hot summers. "The weather the past two years has been very bad and there were a lot of sprinkling bans. The result is a lot of customers cancelled saying they tried the service and it didn't work," he said. Moore added, "The biggest problem has been a lack of water 
and there is absolutely no way to solve it. There really is no secret to this game. If you put down fertilizer and it rains or the grass is watered, it's going to work." Moore started Green-Lawn in 1977 and currently has approxi-mately 800 accounts, about 85 
percent residential and 15 per-cent commercial. "It took a little time to get started, but it wasn't 
terribly difficult," he said. "You don't jump right into a success-ful business the first day. In fact, I still have problems, but nothing insurmountable." Green-Lawn specializes in line of turf fungicides and herbicides. It will outperform anything else you can use, with about half the number of sprays. "YOU FOLKS HAVE SOMETHING GOOD HERE." "The main reason I'll use Chipco 26019 is to control dollar spot. Pick-ing up brown patch and the others is gravy, as far as I'm concerned. This is a real good new chemical." -Bob Dickison, golf course superintendent Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton, N.J. "I feel very good about this product. We tested it during one of the roughest summers in my memory. I think, over a 14-day period in August, we had very close to 10 inches of rain. It was an acid test for the material. 
These chemicals come and go, and some of them are short-lived. But you 
folks have something good here. The sprayability of Chipco 26019 is very impressive. And you only need six to 10 hours of drying time, which helps a 
lot during rainy periods. Some other materials require at least 12 hours." ŠPaul Boizelle, golf course superintendent, and John Fen wick, foreman, Fiddler's Elbow Country Club, Far Hills, N.J. "We started using Chipco 26019 in June of 1977. Before we started using it, we had very little luck with our other contact and systemic fun-gicides in certain areas. We were applying some con-
tact fungicides at preventative and curative rates, and SB^^^^^H 
still only getting two or three days control, with the m usual cold fronts coming through, followed by large jnmjsJ outbreaks of dollar spot. Since we started using BULK^M^fl vt Chipco 26019, we haven't found dollar spots in these areas at al 1. ŠRandy Wahler, golf course superintendent ^^^^MBhB Glen Flora Golf Course, Waukegan, III. fl^^ggSSKH Rhone-Poulenc Inc. Agricultural Division, 11 Monmouth Junction, New Jersey 08852. rhône-poulenc inc Please read labels carefully, and use only as directed. liquid fertilization and its pro-gram consists of five applica-tions of fertilizer per year along with periodic applications of insecticides, broad leaf weed killers, and pre-emergence treat-ments. Moore, 54, said he looks for the Atlanta market to continue to develop in the future. "The market's not saturated by a long shot and I think there are sev-eral good years of growth left," he said. Residential lawn care mainte-nance has often taken a back seat to the sometimes more popular commercial market, but Ponder A. Hunt, owner of Green Acres Lawn Maintenance, looks for that to change. "In my opinion, there is as much money to be made in Atlanta in the residential lawn maintenance field as there is in the commercial field," he said. "That's not to say the commer-cial market is bad, but I think the residential business is going to get better." Hunt, 42, said the key to securing residential accounts is to actively seek out the home-owner's business. "You just have to get out and get it," he said. "You have got to beat the bushes to make any money and that is what we are trying to do." Hunt added he is surprised that many lawn care companies are shying away from the resi-dential market, but he can understand their motivation. 
"It's hard to explain, but it could 
be that a lot of residential 
customers are hard to work with. In commercial work you only have one person to satisfy, but you have to satisfy both the hus-band and the wife in residential 
work," he said. "To be honest, I've run into more people who are harder to please in resi-dential work than I have in commercial work." He also predicts the resi-dential market will continue to grow as the Atlanta area develops. "The entire metro-politan Atlanta area is growing in leaps and bounds and therefore the lawn care market will con-tinue to grow." Green Acres Lawn Maintenance 
was formed in 1975 and provides complete lawn care service including fertilization, trimming, shrubbery care, along with some landscaping services. About 60 
percent of its $25,000 a year business is commercially based while the remaining 40 percent is residentially based. Hunt em-ploys three to four workers throughout the year. Company equipment includes a number of rotary push mowers from a variety of different manu-facturers, two Roper riding mowers, two Snapper high hack mowers, and a variety of gas and electric string trimmers. Green Acres uses a number of different fertilizers, hut the most 
popular are Sta-Green, Sta-Green Plant Food Co., Syla-
cauga, Ala., and Scotts, from O.M. Scott Co., Marysville, Ohio. All lawn accounts are based on contracts. "They are mostly 
yearly contracts, but it's really 
based on what the customer to page 32 32 ATLANTA ir.Ž />UR«? 31 prefers," Hunt said. "There are some homes we visit four times a month and others we visit only two times. It varies, but it would probably round off to three visits a month on a regular basis." oc < 2 oc h Zfj D Q Z u oc < U Z < J Hunt relies primarily on word-of-mou th advertising, although he also advertises in the phone directory. "1 really don't have to do a lot of advertising. If you do a good job people will call you." In 1978 Hunt encountered one of the more unique lawn care problems of all those operators interviewed by LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY. "I don't know if you have ever heard of this, but this past summer we had a lot of trou-ble with chipmunks getting into the yards and killing the grass and shrubbery." Hunt could do little but hope chipmunk damage to lawns would be minimal. "We also had a lot of prob-lems with wild onions and dan-delions," Hunt said. "It takes a lot of time to combat these two particular weeds. If you don't get rid of them right quick then you have problems." Hunt said Weed-Be-Gone was helpful in controlling the weeds. Hunt considers the Atlanta area a good lawn care market 
and looks for continued growth in the future. "Atlanta is abso-lutely full of lawn care compa-
nies," he said. "I would guess the 
number of companies has doubled since last year and I ex-pect the market to continue because there is an awful lot of big business here as well as a 
large residential area." Charles Baird, owner of Green Thumb Chemical Lawn 
Care, started his own business because he thought there was a 
need for more "personalized" 
lawn care service in the Atlanta area. Baird, a ChemLawn employe from 1970-73, said, "The main 
reason I left ChemLawn is I felt they were getting too big and los-ing that personal touch with the customer and their service. "My wife and I discussed it for about two years and we thought there would be a good market for a smaller company with a more down-home type at-titude," he said. "It was a big decision because ChemLawn is a very high paying company." Baird started Green Thumb in 1974 with about $11,000 in capital, while he was still work-ing at ChemLawn. "We started the company on a shoestring and so far we are still hanging on to that-shoestring," he said. "Since we started the business we have obliterated all of our savings" ($3,000 in cash and $8,000 in stocks). Green Thumb specializes in liquid chemical lawn care and provides a variety of services including fertilization, weed and insect control, fungicide treat-
ment, and preemergence crab-grass control. "We're also on the jrocess of putting down a liquid ime application," he said. About 95 percent of Green Thumb's $00,000 a year business is from the residential market with an additional five percent commercial! based. Baird, 35, said he currently has about 400 accounts and expects to secure 
an additional 200 accounts in 1979. "My future plans are very small scale compared to other larger companies. I would like to got up to about $500,000 worth of business a year," he said. Green Thumb's only medium of advertisement is hand-
distributed fliers in selected neighborhoods. "Even if I had adequate financing I don't believe I would change my 
method of advertising," he said. 
"We get about a three percent in-
quiry return on what we pass out and we sell perhaps one percent 
of those who contact us." Baird added that he does ser-vice several commercial clients although he does not "actively solicit" their business. "My com-mercial clients are residential customers who also happen to own commercial property." All contracts are based solely on vocal agreements and billing 
consists of leaving an invoice arid a self-addressed stkmped en-velope at the customer's home at the time of the application. "The payment terms are 30 days, but that doesn't mean anything. They'll send the money in when they get ready to," he said. Company equipment includes a recently purchased C-60 Chevrolet Truck with an 800-gallon tank. The truck also features a power rewind reel, PTO drive, a Hydra-Cell pump, 
manufactured by banner Engi-neering, Inc., Minneapolis, along with a mechanical agitation unit. Baird said the most signifi-cant lawn care problem he has encountered is the "hot, dry Atlanta summer" which is im-possible to combat "unless you get the people to water their lawns. Once every five years we will also have a fairly severe armyworm problem," he added. Two years ago the problem was so severe that most oper-ators were only getting insecti-
cide residual periods of between four days and two weeks. Baird used Dursban to fight the army-worm problem and had a residual period of about two weeks. "But I heard of others 
who used Diazinon and only got a four to seven day residual period," he said. "The armyworm problem also created a lot of ill will be-tween the operators and the homeowners because the 
customers couldn't understand 
why we were treating the lawn and it wasn't doing any good," he 
added. Despite its troublesome lawn care problems, Baird said the Atlanta market is "extremely 
good. There are 17 companies in the area that I know of and I don't think the market is any-
where close to being saturated yet. I would say it would be maybe five years before the Control 15 major lawn pests with versatile SEVIN carbaryl insecticide. They nip, munch, burrow and bite. As sure as grass is green, lawn pests will try to make life miserable. You can minimize the misery STOP! ALL PESTICIDES CAN BE HARMFUL With SEVIN TO HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT r^rh^rvl IF MISUSED. READ THE LABEL CARE- Uai / 1 FULLY AND USE ONLY AS DIRECTED. IHSeCtlClde And protect lawns from as many as 15 different problem pests. Both the most common ones and the worst: ants, bluegrass bi 11 bugs, chiggers, chinch bugs, cutworms, ear-wigs, European chafer, fall armyworm, fleas, green June beetle, leafhoppers, millipedes, mosquitoes, sod webworms (lawn moths) and ticks. Broad registration only starts the list of SEVIN benefits. It's also compatible with many other commonly used insecticides, miticides, fungicides and foliar nutri-ents. And residents can resume using the grounds or yard as soon as the spray 
dries. There's a choice of market even begins to get saturated/' Educating the consumer about the lawn care industry is a major concern of Joel Bewan, 37, owner of All Seasons Lawn and Landscaping Service in Tucker, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. Bewan said providing custom-ers with information about pro-per lawn care and the cost of running a lawn care business is necessary if the industry is going to continue to develop. "People want to get out of the physical labor of taking care of their lawns, but they aren't really educated about what it en-tails," he said. "It costs some-where between $15 and $18 per man, per hour on the job to pro-vide proper lawn care service and people just don't realize that." He added that lawn care operators would also have less 
difficulty servicing lawns if con-sumers were better educaHed about how to take care of their lawns between treatments. Bewan, a former undertaker in Miami, Fla., started All Seasons "about ten years ago" along with a partner who has since left the business. Bewan said he initially entered the lawn care market because, "It just im-pressed me that there was a lot of money to be made in the business." All Seasons provides lawn maintenance and landscaping services and it sub-contracts its chemical lawn care services to several companies in the Atlanta area including ChemLawn. 
Green-Lawn of Georgia, Inc., and Lawn Consultants. "We used to 
put down a dry application our-selves until ChemLawn started their business about three or four years ago," Bewan said. "But we found it was less expen-sive to use ChemLawn than it was for us to do it ourselves. And the fact is they keep a better eye on it and do a better job." About 75 percent of All Season's $65,000 a year business is in the residential market while the remaining 25 percent comes from commercial work. The company currently carries about 
35 accounts based primarily on yearly contracts. Initially yearly 
contracts were not used and the 
quality of the work suffered, ac-
cording to Bewan. "Years ago is someone called and wanted their grass cut I would run out and do it with a bunch of kids, but it was just'tearing up the equipment," he said. "When I switched to 
yearly contracts the number of my accounts went down, but 1 saved money because I cut my crews and was able to service my customers more efficiently." Bewan employs three full-time workers along with several part-time employes during the busy season, primarily college students. He pays his workers about $4.50 an hour and has had 
"exceptionally good luck" in hiring quality employes. However, Bewan does not at-tribute his success with hiring good workers to the fact that he pays fairly high wages. "I've paid some exceptionally well and they didn't produce and others 
I've paid average salaries and they've performed well. Em-ployes have not really been a 
problem for me." Company equipment includes seven Jacobsen commercial mowers, five Snapper riding mowers, one Sears tractor with a 48-inch cutting swath, a Wheel-horse tractor, and several vacuums and blowers. "I am very pleased with the Jacobsen 
commercial mowers. You can't tear up the 21-inch push type and 
I've had some really tough peo-ple handling them," he said. Although Bewan said the Atlanta market is "saturated" with backyard operators, he ex-pects the market to continue to develop. "As long as the building business continues to grow and 
the economy remains stable I 
think the market will continue to be wide open." For Dr. Tobias F. Dirks, 39, owner of Dirks Indoor-Outdoor Services, lawn care is only a part-time business which aug-ments his pest control oper-ations. Dirks, the smallest operator contacted by LAWN 
CARE INDUSTRY, services only seven accounts in Dalton, Ga., a 
small city about 90 miles outside of Atlanta. When he started his business in 1976 his primary emphasis was on lawn care, but he changed his focus to pest control in 1977 because he didn't have the resources to "dive into the lawn care market full time." "Originally my major empha-sis was on outdoor spraying because I though there was a 
need for it in Dalton, but I changed my emphasis to pest 
control because I had an easier time selling pest control ac-counts," he said. "Sometime in the future I might pursue the lawn care market, but right now I just can't do it." Dirks, an assistant professor of Biology at Dalton Junior College, Dalton, Ga., provides commercial weed control and fertilization on a low-volume basis. "I just don't have the big equipment to do it like the big lawn care companies." Ablut 15 
percent or $3,000 of his $20,000 a year business comes from lawn care clients with the remaining 85 percent coming from pest con-trol accounts. He treats tne lawns an average of four times a year. Dirks employs two part-time workers, advertises little, and bills his customers Quarterly. "I don't have any trouble with my billing because I can keep track of my customers real well," he said with a laugh. His only equip-ment is a high-pressure piston 
pump with a 100-gallon tank. "Right now I would just like to maintain the number of ac-counts I have and learn more 
about the business," he said, "but sometime in the future I 
would eventually like to get a franchise and really develop the market. It's really all contingent 
on getting a franchise." In jHijjr 34 four formulationsŠ sprayable, wettable powder, flowables and SEVIMOl! 4, a liquid blend of SEVIN and molasses. Granules, dusts and baits are also available for certain specialized uses. Plus, SEVIN isn't harsh on the environment. It is bio-degradable; and when compared with other insecticides, it ranks low in toxi-city to people, animals, birds and fish. So it's probably no surprise to hear that SEVIN carbaryl is one of the largest selling insecticides in the United States today. For more information aboutSEVIN, contact your pesticide supplier or Union Carbide at the address below. Make SEVIN carbaryl insecticide your answer to pest control too. SEVIN ^ CARBARYL INSECTICIDE ^ IS THE ANSWER. SEVIN and SEVIMOL are registered trademarks of Union Carbide Corporation for carbaryl insecticide Union Carbide Corporation. Agricultural Products Division. 7825 Baymeadows Way. Jacksonville. FL 32216 ATLANTA from pugt; 33 The number of lawn care businesses across the United States will continue to grow as consumers turn to commercial, industrial, and residential lawn care companies to provide economically-priced, high quality lawn service. While many people are form-ing lawn care companies to 4 4 c a s h - i n " on this rapidly developing consumer market, Max G. Graham, owner of Graham Lawn Care Equipment, recently formed his own company to "cash-in" on the lawn care company market. Graham, 37, is a former ChemLawn employee who decided to make a living off those who are making a living off the consumer lawn care market. He manufactures and sub-con-tracts the construction of a num-ber of lawn-related products including spray nozzles, measuring devices for spray trucks, soil probes, and other custom-made equipment. He carries about a half-dozen pro-ducts in all. "I talk with my customers and find out what they want and what they need and then I try to 
design a piece of equipment which will meet those needs," he said. "I've always had a desire to have my own business and it seemed like there was a definite need for good equipment for 
people in the lawn care field," Graham added. "It's really a pretty good market because there are a lot of new people in 
the business." Graham currently has about 15 customers and he expects to do about $125,000 in business in 1979. "Atlanta right now is not big enough to support a business 
like this so I had to go nation-wide," he said. "My business is spread out over about four different states and I have 
customers in Birmingham, Ala., 
Columbus, Ga., and Mont-gomery, Ala., along with several other cities." However, he added that metropolitan Atlanta is a good national base for selling equipment. His business is 
located in Douglasville Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. A significant segment of Graham's business also comes from the custom modifying of traditional trucks into trucks equipped with spray units. Customers purchase a truck of their choice and Graham con-structs a bed, secures a spray tank, and adds other features the 
customer requests. He said fiberglass tanks are currently the most popular for a number of reasons. "Fiberglass tanks are less costly to maintain, don't rust, are easy to clean, and they look better," he said. Graham does absolutely no advertising because he has been 
able to secure all the business ho can handle through personal 
contact. "1 will be doing some advertising in the future, but there isn't much point to doing il now if I can't do the work." easy on turf. Beautiful results! How often have you tried a herbicide only to end up with poor control or dam-aged turf? No longer. Banvel® 4S, and Banvel® +2,4-D give you economical control of more than two dozen difficult weeds. Weeds that other herbicides often miss. The translocating action of Banvel® attacks the entire weed, roots and all, to get at deep root and regrowth problems. True season-long herbicides, they can be used in warm or cool, wet or dry weather, and store through the winter without loss of potency. They mix readily in hard or soft water, and may be applied with conventional spray equipment. Banvel® 4S for tough weeds, Banvel® +2,4-D for pre-mixed chemicals and broader spectrum control of broadleafs. You get beautiful re-sults, at a cost you'll find pretty attractive, too! oVelsicol VELSICOL CHEMICAL CORPORATION "The turf chemical specialists'' 341 East Ohio Street. Chicago. IL 60611 (312) 670-4592 MONEYWISE Size differs, price same for East, West lawns In spite of the vast difference in the size of an average serviceable lawn between the East and West, the typical per treatment price is about the same, according to Bob Cohen, owner of The Green Scene, Los Angeles. "10,000 square feet of eastern lawn is done for about $30," he told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, "and this is supposedly the 'average' eastern service. In the West, the average lawn is 2,500 square feet and the service is between $27 and $33 depending on lawn type Š dichondra is add-itional because of special treatment. "The actual materials cost is within a few dollars," he said, "because treatments here involve a lot more and different materials. Because of the intricacies of the lawns here, the actual service time per 1,000 square feet is greater than in the East. So all-in-all, the number of jobs per day is quite similar Š12 to 18 lawns a day." What Cohen wonders most about is whether or not the price/demand curve is as "elastic" in the West as it appears 
to he in the East. Also, in his own market tests, he says he has not found much advantage in pricing lower as a means of market penetration in California. "Keep in mind," he says, "that at this point there is very little price comparison going on." Before using any pesticides, read the label. Circle 129 on free information card ASSOCIATIONS Green industry groups meet in Washington .The Landscape Industry Advisory Council (LIAC) met recently at the Washington, D.C. offices of the American Associa-tion of Nurserymen to discuss common problems, share infor-mation and coordinate activities. Present at the September meeting were: Robert F. Lederer, 
representing the American Association of Nurserymen and its five family organizations, 
Garden Centers of America, Hor-ticultural Research Institute, National Association of Plant Pa-tent Owners, National Land-scape Association and Whole-
sale nursery growers of America; Pat Gushue, American Institute of Landscape Architects; John Shaw, Associated Landscape 
Contractors of America. Also, Conrad Scheetz, Golf Course Superintendents Associa-tion of America; Cal Bundy, International Society of Arbori-culture; Tom Schiltz, Irrigation Association; Robert Felix, 
National Arborist Association; Allan Shulder, Professional Grounds Management Society; 
and Darryl McEwen, Society of American Florists. Associations also members of LIAC but not represented are: 
American Horticultural Society, 
American Seed Trade Associa-tion, American Society of Land-scape Architects, American Sod 
Producers Association, Bedding 
Plants, Inc., Lawn & Garden Manufacturers Association, 
Mailorder Association of Nurserymen, Roses Incorporated 
and Sod Growers Association of Mid-America. Use the for better, cheaper, easier weed control along fences, roadways, irrigation ditches, around buildings and structures. The HERBI gives Controlled Droplet Application ... a revolutionary approach to the application of herbicides. Its spinning disc produces a consistent 250 micron droplet, meaning ultra low volume spraying, eliminating the need for high volumes of water. Gives exact and thor-ough coverage, with less chemical. Startlingly eco-nomical in cost Circle 142 on free information card Turf Type Perennial Ryegrass Setting a New Standard of Excellence Derby is the dark green beauty which joined Manhattan and Pennfine on the "highly preferred list of ryegrasses." That was last year. Now Derby is setting a new standard of excellence. In the eyes of many Golf Superintendents it reigns supreme among the turf-type ryegrasses today. Why? Because it performs! And a Superintendent knows that claims are great, but performance counts. Ł Consistently performs better than other leading varieties from California to Florida Ł Durable, dark green and has excellent mowing qualities Ł Tolerates a variety of soils 8c responds rapidly to fertilization Ł Germinates in a week (or even less) under ideal conditions Ł Better-than-average heat and drought tolerance Ł An adaptable and disease resistant cool-season^ turf grass Ł An excellent record as a Southern winter grass Ł Thrives when close-cut Ł INTERNATIONAL SEEDS, INC. P.O. Box 168 Ł Halsey, Oregon 97348 (503) 369-2251 Ł TWX 510/590-0765 AI.CA frniii /Mig»; 1 Lawn & Turf Landscaping, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., was chairman of the lawn care workshop. Also elected at the annual meeting were: Wallace SaBell, SaBell's, Inc., Denver, presi-dent-elect; Ritchie B. Skelton, Duncan Landscape Associates, Vienna, Ohio; and Allen Keesen, 
Allan Keesen Landscape, Inc., Denver, vice presidents; Ray Gustin III, Gustin Gardens, Inc., 
Gaithersburg, Md., treasurer; and David R. Pinkus, North Haven Gardens, Dallas, secre-tary. 1978 president Ron Ahlman 
moves to the post of immediate 
past president. Speakers on the landscape maintenance specialty work-shop panel at the conference in-cluded Frank Timmons, Lady-bug Industries, Inc. Brandt: "Our spray program calls for four applications and four checkback calls. If the lawn needs a respray, we schedule it after the checkback call. We have eliminated an awful lot of customer call-ins, because if they learn to expect you out for the checkback call, they will hold up on calling you if they have a particular problem. If the lawn needs disease or grub control, we'll suggest it and charge for it. . ." batting: "The key to a good spray system is the pumping system . . . most companies use positive-displacement type pumps because of the friction going through a small-diameter hose . . . you need 150 to 175 pounds of pressure to get through a 300-foot hose, so you can have 10 to 15 pounds of pressure at the tip . . . low-volume, high-pressure . . . for the deliver system to the lawn, most companies are using a shower-head-type nozzle, and some single-flood or V-jet nozzles. . The passing of the gavel from immediate past president Ron Ahlman (right! to new ALCA president Bill Thornton at the association's annual meeting last 
month in Houston. Denig: "We just finished calling every homeowner who cancelled our service within the last three years, and oicked up 50 new Š or should I say old Š customers ... we lave a radio in every truck, and the applicator wears it on his hip when he is spraying . . . each unit costs us $1,200, but we feel they have paid for themselves in the satisfied customers we have been able to follow-up quickly with . . ." FLORIDA LAWN CARE Sarasota's Sassaman expands into lawn care After 14 years in the engin-eering department of J.B. Foote Foundry, Mansfield, Ohio, Hans Hauser wasn't sure if he was ready to change locations and careers Š all at the same time. Foote manufactures trans-missions used by many manu-factures of lawn mowers. Hauser had been very active with the Outdoor Power Equipment Insti-
tute in Washington, and served on the safety committee of the federal Consumer Product Safe-ty Commistion, which is now re-viewing mower safety stan-dards. In his travels in the mower in-dustry, Hauser had spent quite a bit of time with Dave Sassaman, who had been chief engineer with J I Case's Outdoor Power Equipment Division, Winne-conne, Wis. Sassaman had ear-lier left Case to start up a busi-
ness testing mowers and other products for the lawn and gar-den industry, including Wheel 
Horse and Snapper among his 
accounts. His business is based 
in Sarasota, Fla. Earlier this year, Sassaman decided to branch out into the professional lawn care market, and wanted Hauser as his part-ner because of his background in the industry, and because of his experience running a small nurs-
ery in Mansfield. Hauser still wasn't sure, but when he spent a week with Sas-saman in Sarasota last year and together they sold $106,000 worth of yearly lawn care contracts, he became a believer. They started the Lawn-Pro Lawn Care Services Division of Sassaman Enterprises June 1, and already have 20 people on the payroll, a full-time me-chanic and more business than most nine-month old firms can usually hope for. An additional advantage to their backgrounds is that they have had many offers of use of free equipment from manufac-turers so that tests can be run on it under tough field conditions. The manufacturers depend upon Sassaman and Hauser to pin-point problems rather than, as Hauser says, "just say that some-thing went wrong and not be able to explain why." The division employs 10 per-sons that strictly handle cutting, and nine persons that do addi-tional cutting, bagging, spraying and fertilizing grass, as well as maintaining trees and ornamen-tal plantings. The company handles strictly commercial maintenance, mostly 
condominiums. One condomin-ium they have under contract is "immaculately landscaped," Hauser told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, with 334 individual 
units. We have six full-time men that do nothing but work on it." They handle business only on a 12-month contract, and Hauser feels his main competition is the "onesies-twosies" Š companies that come on the scene one year, underbid and make some easy money, and then are never heard from again. He laments the fact that the industry has "so little 
professionalism" and is adver-tising now for a full-time horti-culturalist to troubleshoot. \ ® Crabqrass ROCKLAND PROFESSIONAL Betasan Selective Prc-cmcrgcncc Herbicide ROCKLAND BETASAN is available in three different strengths, Š 12.5% granular, 3.6% granular and 4 lbs. Emulsifiable Concentrate. (R) Betasan is a registered Trademark of Stauffer Chemical Co. ROCKLAND has a complete line of granular insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for Professional Turf Maintenance. ROCKLAND Fertilizers contain combinations of IBDU, NITROFORM and new SULFUR COATED UREA. Some available formulations Š 25-5-15, 30-2-5 and 20-4-10. All products are formulated with the highest quality ingredients and carriers. ROCKLAND PROFESSIONAL lawn and garden PRODUCTS CATALOG CDCIROCKLAND CHEMICAL CO.. INC. I PASSAIC AVE., WEST CALDWELL, N.J. 07006 Ask your supplier or write Circle 121 on free information card THE TUPF IOIMALS S. athletic fiews.e! »»and.astitut.0. r V r quick transport. Also available with' 11625 N. Garvin St., Evansville, In. 47711 DEALERS WANTED (812) 424-0931 STOP îi ll V ' Before you do anything to your lawn this spring, the following should be of interest and great help: NATURE'S produces METHOD * THE GREEN MAGIC SYSTEM TO REINFORCE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW... 1. Nature has a method and a rhythm that makes plants (lawns) grow healthfully & beautifully. 2. Man has a distinctive ability that quickly destroys Nature's positive responses. For instance, it is common knowledge that: A. Chemical fertilizers create lush growth and make the plants more susceptible to infestations of insects, dis-eases and other undesirables Š plus reduce the plants ability to withstand unfavorable weather and environmental conditions (heat, cold, drought, ex-cessive wet spells, etc.) B. Continual applications of chemicals and pesticides kill the beneficial soil bacteria that decompose Mat and Thatch which convert this accumulation into the neces-sary organic matter (humus) that builds a more pro-
ductive soil. Stopping this natural beneficial process 
creates excessive Mat & Thatch accumulation that makes an ideal media for fungus disease and insect growth that quickly invade and weaken the grass. C. Misapplications and applications of the wrong pro-ducts destroy the soil, make the soil more compact, so compact that air, water and nutrients cannot penetrate, causing short shallow root growth of desirable grasses making the grass weak and unable to cope with undesirable conditions and unable to heal from the wounds. D. The list is endless . . . YOU CAN STOP THESE AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE ACTIONS by converting your operations into a more simplified and exacting program that will produce better and more beautiful results with the assistance of Nature. Agro Chem's GREEN MAGIC SYSTEM is NATURAL and far more exact than anything you have done to date and anything that is currently available to you. LEARN HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM NATURE. Call or write us today for complete literature and details of how you can start working with nature. This program is ideal for Large and Small Lawn area Managers and is The Most Complete Program for companies offering lawn spray services to residential and commercial firms. Programs and packages are available for all types of lawn areas. Dealerships are available for custom spray operators. AGROtCHEM. INC. ê Phone: 312-455-6900 11150 Addison Franklin Park, III. 60131 YOUR TOTAL SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT AGRO CHEM'S Professional spray unit for the small area, and Š it is expandable for the larger area. The basic unit includes (as pictured) lŠRectangular 300 gallon holding tank Š HO lbs. w/4" fill cap & man way lŠ250' light weight pressure hose lŠElectric hose reel lŠGas engine & special Pump lŠLawn gun with assorted nozzels -Pressure regulator and bi-pass unit eachŠSuction & Bi-pass hose lŠRoot feeder This basic spray rig is designed to fit in a pick-up truck, the tank situated between the rear wheel well and cab of truck. The motor, pump and hose reel on the right side leaving the remainder of the truck bed for other equipment and supplies. Van pictured shows the basic wi spray unit in the van, leaving - the entire rear area for * storage of products. As you will see, these sprayer units have been designed with a great deal of thought, research, and years of experience. They are designed and built by professionals, for professionals. For more details, either call or write Mr. Joseph. This basic 300 gallon unit can be expanded to whatever size spray rig desired by simply adding more tanks Š eliminates purchasing new equipment as business expands. Pictured: 16' Flat bed truck carrying 5 Š 300 gal. tanks + 1500 gals. 2 Š 500' hose reels & ability to apply as many as 5 different products or any combina-tion required. *•*«*> r. ' eTj AGROtCHEM. INC. ê Phone: 312-455-6900 11150 Addison Franklin Park, III. 60131 COMPANIES Lawn-A-Mat introduces new logo and trademark Lawn-A-Mat Chemical & Equipment Corp., Westbury, N.Y., has changed its company 
logo and trademark. The original identifying in-signia, which has been in use since the company was es-tablished in 1961, included a silhouette of its multi-purpose tractor-drawn combine. According to Pat Lore, ex-ecutive vice president: "The old identifying logotype has served us well over the years. Through constant repetition in print throughout the country, it helped us to pioneer the message to the public that a professional lawn service equipped with such labor-saving equipment could do the job faster, better and almost as economically as the home-
owner himself." LawnamaTdfefe Old Lawn-A-Mat logo New Lawn-A-Mat logo The new logo emphasizes a symbolized Lawn-A-Mat man, in line with rapid changes in the lawn care industry in recent years, with greater emphasis on the professional stature and ability of the lawn care busi-nessman. The company colors Š blue and orange Š will be retained in the new logo. Lawn-A-Mat dealers throughout the country have received new decals and other promotional and display materials- to facilitate the changeover on their trucks, signs, literature, etc. LAWN PRIDE LAWN SPRAY GUNS Regulate flow with finger tip control LAWN PRIDE 500 Sprays coarse droplets low and wide for control of drift and volatility Covers wide areas AND goes low under shrubs Lightweight and maneuverable LAWN PRIDE 250 Standard lawn care industry oval pattern with a diameter of 40" BOTH FEATURE » Regulate flow with finger tip control » Corrosive resistant-easy maintenance » Vlton O-Rings for lasting performance » Flow rate from 2-10 gallons per minute including urea-formaldehyde and other coarse material PRICE: 57.95 each-includes gun. extension and exclusive nozzle For further information contact: Lawn Pride 223 Big Run Road Lexington. Kentucky 40503 Phone (606)277-1112 Circle 114 on free information card MEET YOUR SPRAYER NEEDS EXACTLY! /HANSON TRAILER MOUNTED SKID MOUNTED ACCESSORIES GREENS BOOM HOSE REEL G GUN^H SCREW TYPE JACK ALSO CHOOSE FROM FIBERGLASS TANKS/MECHANICAL AGITATION/PUMPS AND ENGINES/BOOMS/HAND GUNS, ETC. WRITE OR CALL: Special Products Division 301 CHARLES ST., SO. BELOIT, IL 6iooo HANSON EQUIPMENT CO. 8153092201 PRODUCTS Commercial mower has quick-response governor A quick-response governor, which maintains power even in tall or thick grass, is featured on Ryan's new 20-inch commercial lawn mower. Charlie Hines, en-gineering manager, told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY the air-vane 
governor eliminates linages by operating directly from the air flow off the flywheel cooling fins. As a result, he explained, governor "lag time" is reduced in responding to suddenly higher grass. "Our governor functions very smoothly," Hines said. "It appears to anticipate the need to 
open the throttle to maintain a nearly constant blade tip speed." The mower's 7.7-cubic-inch engine is framed with tubular 
steel to protect it while mowing under shrubs, bushes or fences. The two-cycle engine provides constant lubrication without danger of oil starvation when mowing on slopes. Hines said the mower's two-speed engine has 
needle hearings at four critical points along the crankshaft and connecting rod. He said this feature is designed to increase engine efficiency by "coming as close as possible" to frictionless operation. Other features in-clude five adjustable cutting heights ranging from IV2 to 3l/2 inches, a 1.25-gallon fuel tank for longer running and 12-gauge steel housing. Circle 208 on free information card Spray tank mounted to frame or flatbed New 800- and 1,200-gallon lawn care units from Strong En-terprises, Inc. can be mounted either directly to your truck 
chassis or on a standard-size 14-foot flatbed (12-foot for 800-gallon unit). The fiberglass tank units are designed to pump li-
quids or non-soluble fertilizers. The units are baffled to reduce liquid surge. The units feature a EMC John Bean pump, matching fiberglass engine and pump cover, hose reel, suction strainer and other options and custom fabrications. Circle 201 on free information card Save costly chemicals remaining in container Lawn care businessmen can save loss of costly chemicals remaining in containers, or pre-vent reuse of pesticide con-tainers, and more easily dispose of containers with the new E-Z Rinse can rinser from Phill-Worth Mfg. Features include: Use on plastic or metal con-tainers of any shape and size; use from a water hydrant or T into outlet side of pump on a holding tank; use with water or liquid fertilizer solutions; rinse solutions go directly into spray tank; chemical container is 
punctured to prevent reuse; retail price is $29.20. Circle 203 on free information card High-pressure, low-volume lawn pump Wanner Engineering, Inc. in-troduces its new, high-pressure, low-volume Hydra-Cell pump for the lawn care industry. The pump is gaining acceptance by many major lawn care com-
panies across the country. The HIGH PRtSSURf pump eliminates friction pack-ings and sleeves to minimize maintenance, reducing costly downtime. Pumping is done with oil by means of hydraulic cells transferring pumping action to the solution in the system. Features include: Variable volume from one to 10 gallons-per-minute by varying speed; pressures to 1,000 pounds-per-square-inch; no cups, no pack-ings, no sleeves, no greasings, ex-tremely quiet operation; pump solution end can run dry indefin-itely with open line. A free data 
sheet with detailed information is available. Circle 128 on free Information card Turf guide available from Par-Ex Slow-release IBDU (31-0-0) fertilizer is the subject of a new 24-page booklet entitled Par Ex Professional Turfgrass Perfor-mance Guide. This guide con-, jHb m - v^ pH 9 ^m « Ł > 1 WIM 1 mí ji 1 NTCX tains articles from university and 
private research plus other trade data detailing many aspects of 
slow-release nitrogen materials, important in any lawn care pro-gram. Also included is a fertil-izer program planning guide and 
a handy data sheet for figuring fertilizer application and spreader calibration. The booklet is free. Circle 205 on free information card Catalog on hose, hose reels, spray guns KMC Corp., Agricultural Machinery Division offers a broad spectrum of hose reel sizes and features for the lawn care businessman. The units are explained in a free, four-page catalog available from the 
company. Reel capacities range from 100 to 500 feet. Manual or power rewind may be selected, although power rewind is favored by most lawn care com-panies across the country. Circle 202 on free information card Now, big limestone & gypsum profits in a virtually dust-free pellet form. Ł Opens up a whole new market segment for your lawn care business . without the mess of dusty, uncontrolled spreader applications. Ł Economical, yet highly profitable Ł Works with any type spreader, including broad-cast. Ł Lets you increase customer service plus decrease your fertilizer costs. Ł Ideal for slack periods because REVEILLE can be applied practically year 'round. Available in bag or bulk, both REVEILLE Limestone 
and Gypsum fit perfectly into liquid or dry lawn care operations. LIMESTONE & GYPSUM PELLETS American Pelletizing Corp Ł P O Box 3628 Ł Des Momes, lowa 50322 Circle 139 on free Information card High-pressure vinyl hose resists kinking High-pressure vinyl hose from Robco is lightweight, non-marking and strong. Features in-clude: Less than half the weight of conventional hose; glides over ground and around corners and trees; light yellow color cannot mark patios or curbs; resists kin-king, handles easily; made in 400-foot continuous lengths without splices; comes in sizes of V4-inch, 5/16-inch, Ve-inch, V2-inch, 5/8-inch, and 3/»-inch. Free data sheet available. Circle 210 on free information card New sprayer requires no operator chemical mixing Yard Mate Mfg. Co. early this year began marketing a new generation sprayer that requires no mixing of chemicals by the operator. Inspiration for the sprayer came from the fact that it 
seemed a waste of time and money to haul water around all day when each homeowner has 
an unlimited supply at his house, Yard Mate's Donald B. Forbes told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY recently. He said it has been developed especially for the 
lawn care industry after much 
field testing and use. "We have 
used it exclusively for spraying lawns in our own business," 
Forbes said. "We have found savings in time of from 30 to 75 percent. Features include: Uses homeowner water supply (elimi-nates need for truck and spray-
ing equipment); extremely ac-curate, adjustable, proportions a fraction to 11 ounces per gallon of water, house-to-house changes in pressure have no effect on fin-Custom Designed for Lawn Care Consolidated Services, makers of quality lawn care equipment, offers 
you two standard units or we will 
custom-build to your specifications. 
These features and more are 
available. Contact us direct, today. Ł Choice of tanks, sizes & material 
Ł Low center of gravity & clearance Ł Powered rewind reels Ł One-piece welded construction Ł Mechanical or sparge line agitation Consolidated Services 401 South College St. Piqua, Ohio 45356 PH: (513) 773-3109 ished spray; it weighs only 15 pounds; simply connect water hose to unit, turn on water and spray; sprays at a rate of 1,000 
square feet per minute, standard in the industry; metered, tells you how much material you have sprayed; can he used to spray trees and shrubs as well as the lawn; drift is minimized due to large droplet size; only has to be cleaned once a week; no measuring, mixing, spilling or waste of chemical; minimizes ap-plicator exposure to chemical. Cost is $215. Circle 207 on free information card Prolonged engine life on commercial mower An all-new, 21-inch heavy duty commercial self-propelled mower is being introduced by Sensation Corp. Features include a high-strength, rust-proof mag aluminum alloy deck and a special four-horsepower Briggs & Stratton valve rotator engine that prolongs engine life, some-thing most lawn care business-
men involved in mowing/main-
tenance say they want. Time-
tested ratchet drive allows you to power drive the mower or push it back and forth for trimming. Finger-tip control and large, 10-inch rear wheels provide power, traction and easy operation. The unit mows and bags wet or dry grass without clogging, utilizing an optional jumbo capacity 
catcher (three bushels) Š nearly double many others. New easy-setting, commercial, heavy-duty height adjusters allow nine 
different settings from one to three inches Š without tools. Easy on/off chute deflector with hardware is included with mower. Circle 204 on free information card Test kit to check tank-mix compatibility Do the pesticides and fertil-izers you put together in tank 
mixes always spray together? If 
the spraying goes on without a plug-up of hoses and nozzles, were all the ingredients applied at the prescribed rate over the whole turf area? These questions have plagued many a lawn care 
businessman who later noted spotty weed and insect control. It has also been a topic on many turf conference programs this past winter across the country. 
Now there is a convenient way to test the compatibility of the chemicals and fertilizers you plan for application before you 
put them all together in the tank. A new compatibility test kit is H $> M ^ jfdM * J j By/ 9 being offered at cost by Hopkins Agricultural Chemical Co. to he used with its new compatibility agent, Unite. The kit contains step-by-step directions, measuring spoons, eight ounces of the compatibility agent, plus a sample label. What you'll need, in addition, are small quantities of the fertilizers and the 
chemicals you plan to use, and two glass jars. Circle 206 on free information card SPRMER PUMP HANDBOOK Hypro does it again. In a helpful, informative new edi-tion of their Sprayer Pump Handbook, Hypro brings you 
up to date on performance charts, pump capabilities and hook-up diagrams Š every-thing to help you improve sprayer performance. It's a professional handbook from the makers of the world's best selling sprayer pumps; Hypro. Send for your free copy today. tsi A DIVISION OF LEAR SIEGLER. INC 319 Fifth Ave NW. St. Paul. Minn. 55112 Ł (612) 633-9300 Send my free Sprayer Pump Handbook. Name Address Town State County Zip Circle 127 on free information card TURF Insecticides for the lawn care industry At the recent Maryland Turfgrass 79 held in Baltimore, Dr. Haruo Tashiro of the New York State Agricultural Experi-ment Station in Geneva said that tests will begin this year to develop turf varieties that are more resistant to insect damage than what is presently available to the lawn care businessman to-day. Dr. James A. Reinert of the University of Florida is initiating the testing program, and Dr. Tashiro will also be doing testing. "We hope to have insect-resistant varieties in the future," Dr. Tashiro told the audience, "there is no reason to believe we won't have these." Until that day comes, lawn care businessmen will have to depend on cultural and chemical 
control of insects in their customer's lawns. At the same meeting, Dr. Tashiro mentioned one of the new insecticides presently being tested Š Of-tanol. "It's going to be good," he said "because it has a longer residual than what is presntly on the market." This is good news 
for the lawn care businessman. Dr. Tashiro said that Chemagro Agricultural Division of Mobay 
Chemical Corp., Kansas City, Mo. hopes to submit data for registration of Oftanol this year 
for turf and grub control to the federal Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA). He said there 
is a possibility that the chemical 
could be registered as early as next year. In addition to the manufac-turers and distributors below who have provided information about the insecticides they have for the lawn care industry, a par-tial listing of other manufac-turers and distributors would in-clude: Ciba-Geigy Corp., Greens-boro, N.C.; Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.; Stauf-fer Chemical Co., Westport, Conn.; Union Carbide Corp., Agricultural Div., Jacksonville, Fla.; Garfield Williamson, Inc., Jersey City, N.J.; Cenol Co., Libertyville, 111.; Stephenson Chemical, College Park, Ga.; Lakeshore Equipment & Supply 
Co., Elyria, Ohio; Professional Turf & Ornamental Products, Kansas City, Kan.; Bonide Chemical Co., Yorkville, N.Y.; Woodbury Chemical Co., Prin-ceton, Fla.; C.B. Dolge Co., Westport, Conn.; B.G. Pratt Div., Gabriel, Ltd., Paterson, N.J.; Hopkins Agricultural Chemical Co., Madison, Wis.; and Mobil Chemical Co., Richmond, Va. Fisons Inc. Dr. W. Wayne Surles, manager of field develop-ment for Fisons Inc., Bedford, Mass. told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY that a submission to the federal Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA) is presently 
being reviewed for the com-pany's bendiocarb insecticide for the lawn/turf market, but that it would be "presumptive to 
assume EPA approval." Bendiocarb is the common name for Ficam insecticide, a proprietary product of Fisons, which presently sells the insec-ticide for control of crawling pests by the structural pest con-trol industry. Data generated by university researchers has demonstrated excellent activity 
against turf-feeding white grubs (numerous species) at two to four pounds active ingredient per acre and varying activity against 
other turf-infesting arthropods, Dr. Surles said. Working under Experimental Use Permit programs approved 
by the EPA, Fisons' personnel have field-tested a 76 wettable power formulation of this product the last two years. Non-replicated practical application trials have been conducted throughout the United States for the entire spectrum of turf pests. 
Results, at the present time, in-dicate that bendiocarb consisten-tly provided good control of the white grub complex at two pounds active ingredient per acre in most areas, Dr. Surles said. Late summer and early spr-ing trials have demonstrated good activity against all larval stages of the sub-surface insect pests. Post-treatment irrigation or timely rainfall was required in all instances to insure this high level of activity for white grub control. Additional trials have been conducted against the surface-feeding complex of arthropods that attack turf. Generally speaking, a maximum rate of one pound active in-gredient per acre has provided 
good control for insect species such as chinchbugs. Data has not been generated for other insect species, but application for registration has not been made at the present time, Dr. Surles said. "Our research findings com-plement the results obtained from researcher trials and con-firm the desirability of eventual registration of bendiocarb," he said. "Excellent turf safety has been observed in all bendiocarb trials. "In summary," he said, "Fisons has submitted an ap-
plication for registration to the 
EPA for the labeling of a 76 wet-
table powder formulation for the control of white grubs. We are 
continuing the research program this year so that we can develop recommendations for the control of the surface-feeding complex of turf pests as well. The EPA is presently reviewing our applica-tion, and we are hopeful that registration will be granted in 
the next few months." TUCO, Div. of Upjohn. Proxol insecticide, manufactured and marketed by the Kalamazoo, 
Michigan-based company, has been providing effective control of larval populations of various 
beetle species, plus sod web-worms, and cutworms. In 1978 experiments conduc-ted by Dr. Roger Funk, vice president of research and development foor Davey Tree Expert Co. and its Davey Lawnscape Service division, Kent, Ohio, tested the effec-tiveness of several chemicals against European chafer in a home lawn situation. The experiments were run in the Rochester, N.Y. area, and Dr. Funk told LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY that Proxol "consisten-tly gave the best results in these experiments. On our own lawn at our research facility in Kent, we noted similar results for the con-
trol of Japanese beetle grubs." TUCO researchers report that Proxol is one of the fastest-acting turf insecticides on the market. A water-soluble powder, it is designed for use on lawns and 
can be used alone or in conjunc-tion with disease control programs. Proxol breaks down 
rapidly and does not accumulate in the environment. Rockland Chemical Co. John R. Wittpenn, president of the For Carriage-Trade Results... WATER SOLUBLE PLANT FOODS by PRO-LAWN Ideal for establishing and maintaining shrub plantings, gardens and lawns. Plant foods available in 25 and 45 lb fiber drums with poly lining or in reusable plastic drums. 30-10-10 For acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreens, camellias. 20-20-20 Excellent for foliar feeding. For roses and all perennial and annual flowers. PLUS High- and extra-high phosphate . . . low- and no-phosphate formulations. Timely Deliveries. Samples on request. Pro-Lawn has a complete line of fertilizers in both water soluble and granular forms. For more information, current prices, write or call: PRO-LAWN PRODUCTS, INC. Box 4908 * Syracuse NY 13221 Ł 315-477-6112 prolawn Circle 130 on free information card To improve your lawn care business, justadd water. You've got a grow-ing business, we've got a growing business. Why not combine them? Installing under-ground automatic sprinkler systems is easy and profitable. And with quality controllers, heads and valves from Rain Bird, rainmakers to the world since 1933, your customer is assured the best 
system available. His lawn stays healthier and so do you. For more information on this money-making opportunity, contact your nearest Rain Bird distributor Or write to us at the address below. We'll show you how easy it is to make more green while you make more green. Ra/N^Bird Bringing new ideas to life. 7045 N. Grand Avenue, Clendora, CA 91740 Ł Rain Bird is a registered trademark of Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg corp Clendora California c 1978 Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg Corp LAWN CARE INDUSTRY READER SERVICE CARDŠ MARCH 1979.(expiresin90days) Use this prepaid reader service card to get additional information on products or services mentioned in this issue (Card must be completed before processing) NAME TITLE BUSINESS ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP If you would like a subscription to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY circle number 101. Subscription cost is $10.00 per year To help us better service you editorially, please answer the following: 4. Title: Ł President Ł Owner 
Ł Manager 
Ł Technician Ł Other (specify) fffSSS?0 5 Number of accounts: Ł Granular Ł Less than 500 Ł Both 1. Are you primarily involved in Ł Chemical lawn care and maintenance services Ł Chemical application only Ł Mowing and other maintenance services Ł Other (specify) 2. Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office 3. Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) Ł 500-1.000 Ł 1,001-5.000 Ł 5.001-10.000 Ł 10,001-25,000 Ł 25,000 or more 6 Estimated annual sales volume: Ł Less than $50.000 Ł $50.001-100.000 Ł $100.001-250.000 Ł $250.001-500.000 
Ł $500.001-1.000.000 Ł $1.000,000 or more Ł Please send product information only on items circled Ł Please have a salesman call me about items circled. Best time to call me is . SIGNATURE _ CIRCLE THE ITEM NUMBERS FOR FREE DETAILS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 2675 CLEVELAND. OHIO POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE Attention: Circulation Dept. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 9800 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44102 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 665 DULUTH. MINN POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE LAWN CARE INDUSTRY P.O. BOX 6136 DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55806 SUBSCRIPTION GROUP SUBSCRIPTION RATE: 5 or more copies Š $7.00 per subscription. Include all names and addresses on company letterhead. Ł PAYMENT ENCLOSED Ł BILL ME Make check or money order payable to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY. 1 Year Š $10.00 2 Years Š $18.00 3 Years Š $23.00 BUSINESS ADDRESS STATE ZIP Are you primarily involved in: Chemical lawn care and maintenance services Ł Chemical application only Ł Mowing and other maintenance services Ł Other (specify) Application Ł Liquid Ł Granular Ł Both 2. Is your business location: Ł Headquarters Ł Branch office 3. Is your business: Ł Independent Ł Chain Ł Franchise Ł Other (specify) . 4. Title: Ł President Ł Owner Ł Manager Ł Technician Ł Other (specify) . 5. Number of accounts: Ł Less than 500 Ł 500-1.000 
Ł 1.001-5.000 
Ł 5.001-10.000 
Ł 10.001-25.000 Ł 25,000 or more 6. Estimated annual sales volume: Ł Less than $50.000 
Ł $50.001-100.000 Ł $100.001-250.000 Ł $250.001-500.000 
Ł $500.001-1.000.000 
Ł $1,000.000 or more Signature . West Caldwell, New Jersey-based company, told LAWN CARE INDUSTRY that his com-pany is anticipating announcing availability of a new turf insec-ticide Š Rockland Grub Control Granular with Dylox Š in the very near future. Other products his company offers include: granular Dursban Chinch Bug Killer, Super Dursban Lawn Insect Killer recommended for larger turf 
areas; granular Diazinon Lawn Insect Killer; 5% Diazinon Granular; 14% Diazinon Granular; and Dursban 2-E. Southern Mill Creek. William W. Broome, Jr.,vice president of Southern Mill Creek Products Co., Inc., Tampa, Fla., outlined for LAWN CARE INDUSTRY his company's pesticide formula-tions designed specifically for the lawn care businessman: Dursban Plus Š A special for-mulation of Dursban and DDVP with wetting agent to be used in the control of armyworms, sod webworms, crickets, ticks and fleas. It penetrates deep into grass thatch, driving the insects up and out. Dursban 2E Š Contains two pounds chlorpyrifos per gallon. 
Labeled for many turf and or-namental usages, also mosquito and area tick control. Diazinon AG500 Š Very ef-fective on most insects attacking turf and ornamental plants. Lawn & Perimeter Granules Š Contains one percent chlor-pyrifos. May be used in a fer-tilizer spreader on turf for many 
turf insects. Dursban Mole Cricket Bait Š Special bait to control mole 
crickets damaging ornamental turf in coastal areas. Crown Chemicals. Stephen O'Rourke of the St. Louis-based company listed insecticides his company handles for the lawn care industry: Cygon 2E, Dexon 35 WP, Diazinon 4E, Dursban 2E, Dursban 4E, Kelthane, Lindane, 
Metasystox R, Sevin 80, Sevin 50W, DZ-25, Bagworm and Mite Spray, Baygon 1.5, Diazinon 50W, Hopkins Lawn Granules, Ficam and Diazinon 14G. O.M. Scott & Sons. Ed Dotson, manager of commercial sales for ProTurf, a division of O.M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio recen-tly told LAWN CARE IN-
DUSTRY that lawn care com-
panies should be considering 
long-range lawn care programs 
to upgrade or maintain the customer's lawn at a uniform level of turf quality and density. Also, that important considera-tion in their program be geared 
to preventing serious damage 
from insects. He added that many lawn care companies are currently us-ing ProTurf insecticides to con-trol active insects or as a preven-tive measure. ProTurf firmly 
believes that regardless of the approach to the insect problem, it is critical to identify any problem in the early stages, know the insect causing the 
damage and use the correct product per label instructions. Dotson said: "If you are not sure what type of insect you are trying to control, either contact your area ProTurf tech rep or call us toll-free at 1-800-543-0006 
and ask for myself, Jim George, Jim Diley or Dennis Kasper. He added, "ProTurf is a company ready and willing to help iden-tify a problem even if you are not 
using our products." Dotson said ProTurf has three well-tested and proven insec-ticides that are currently being 
used by the lawn care industry. Those products are: ProTurf Insecticide One, ac-tive ingredient Diazinon; ProTurf Insecticide III and ProTurf Fertilizer Plus Insec-ticide III. The latter two contain the active ingredient chor-pyrifos (Dursban, registered of trade name of Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.) All three granular insecticide products are pre-formulated and ready to use right out of the bag Š so you will get the proper rate of both is insecticide and fer-tilizer without pre-mixing or 
measuring. Dotson points out that the best product for a lawn care company might be the ProTurf Fertilizer Plus Insecticide III because it combines a complete fertiliza-tion with an insecticide. "You can do two jobs at once, whereas in many cases you many have 
been making two trips to your customer's lawn." He said the 
exception to this would be where billbugs and/or white grubs are a recurring problem Š if so, ProTurf Insecticide I is necessary. COMPANIES Eagle Chemical moves, realigns sales staff Eagle Chemical has com-pleted its move to larger, 
company-owned facilities in 
northern California, and is now offering improved service and efficiency from its three loca-tions in Anaheim, Coachella and Santa Clara. According to Eagle Chemical president Ron Richardson, the compnay's new facility at 3185 Molinaro St., Santa Clara, has 22,000 square feet of warehouse space and stocks more than 2,500 products, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, liquid and dry fertilizers, seed and related items. Walt May manages the new facility. The company has also an-nounced the assignment of new territories to field representa-tives Gary Atkins and Alex "Sandy" Stuart. Atkins has assumed new responsibilities for sales and customer relations in San Diego and Orange counties, while Stuart has taken over the territory which includes east Los Angeles, San Bernardino, River-side and Kern counties. > ? z n > m Z a 
c CD H TO s > 70 How Roundup® helped Jim Siegfried renovate this fairway in days,without closing it for one minute. Li Take a good look at this good-looking fairway. Last fall, Jim Siegfried found a way to clean it up, without tearing it up Šat the height of his club's busy season. With Roundup" herbicide by Monsanto. Jim is the Greens Superintendent at Losantiville Country Club, Cincinnati, where bermudagrass had become a serious problem on the 18th fairway. To control it, Jim applied Roundup onceŠwhile the weeds were still actively growingŠright at the start of the Labor Day weekend. "That's really 'prime time' here',' Jim told us. "But after we applied Roundup, we kept the fairway in play the whole weekend, and after. The members played right over it, with no problem!' Since Roundup has no residual soil activity, and won't wash or leach out of treated areas to injure desirable plants, Jim simply took normal pre-cautions against spray driftŠand didn't worry about damaging desirable 
vegetation along the fairway. Even better, he was able to re-seed right into the dying bermudagrass only 7 days after applying RoundupŠ without loss of playing time or incon-
venience to the membership. Reinfestation won't be a big prob-lem for Jim, either. He knows that Roundup destroyed the rhizomes of the treated weeds, helping prevent 
their regrowth. Jim thinks he'll use Roundup again this yearŠand apparently some 
club members hope so, too. "As soon as they saw how good this fairway looks, some of the members started asking when I'm going to do the same 
for -10, where we have some more bermuda. I'll probably tackle that with 
Roundup this fall!' If controlling many tough emerged weeds and grasses is a problem for you, see your local Monsanto representative or chemical dealer soon for your supply of Roundup. Roundup It worked for Jim Siegfried It can work for you - Monsanto There's never been a herbicide like this before. BEHIND THIS ISSUE ADVERTISERS Adelphi 29 Agro-Chem 37 
American Pelletizing 41 Ashland Chemical Co 6 Aquatrols Corp. of America 7 Champion Brass 7 
Ciba-Geigy Corp 2-3 Consolidated Services 41 Diamond Shamrock Corp cover III Dow Chemical Co 12-13 Du Pont Co 22-23 Excel Industries 10 Mahn, Ine 36 
1 lanson Equipment Co 40 Hercules, Ine 8 1 lypro, Div. of Lear Siegler 39 International Seed 35 
Jacklin Seed Co 11 
jacobsen, Div. of Textron, Ine 24-25 kubota Tractor Corp 14-15 Lakeshore Eqpt. & Supply Corp 5,16 
Lawn Pride 41 
Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Ine cover IV Micron West 34 Monsanto 41 
Power Spray Technology, Ine 18 Pro-Lawn 40 Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp 39 Rhone-Poufenc, Ine 30-31 Rockland Chemical Co 36 Sensation Corp 17 Sierra Chemical Co 20 Strong Enterprises, Ine 9 3 M Co 21 I Inion Carbide Corp 32-33 
U.S. Gypsum 19 Velsicot Chemical Corp 34 COMING The April issue of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY will feature a report on the San Francisco market by assistant editor Dan Moreland. Also, Moreland is working up an indepth report on how some of the major lawn care companies across iho country handle their em-
ploye training programs. Also on tap are a story comparing different advertising mediums by New York Lawn-A-Mat franchisee Sheldon Ofshe, and a story which discusses the merits of leasing lawn care vehicles by leasing expert Steve Martin. Ofshe Martin You know, I complain a lot, but I really don't have it all that bad. And three of the reasons why I say that are the ladies in the picture to the right. LAWN CARE INDUSTRY has a circulation in excess of 12,000 readers, and Terri Hutsenpillar is in charge of processing all of the subscription or-ders that come through our offices. Her assistants are Ange Slusher and Sharon Jones. Make no mistake about it, they have to handle a lot of phone calls, and spend a lot of time decipher-ing hand-written notes from people who want to begin receiving the magazine (lawn care business-men are right up there with doctors when it comes 
to legibility of handwriting). It is just a lot of paper-work, and Terri, Sharon and Ange do a great job. They also do a great job in brightening up our of-fices, as you can see from looking at the picture. And they are pretty patient with me too. When I go to a turf conference or industry meeting, I inevi-tably come hack with a briefcase-full of business cards and cocktail napkins with the names of lawn care businessmen who want to begin receiving the magazine. I just dump it all on their desks and they take it from there. The reason I bring all of this up is that our circu-lation is growing every day, and as it grows, the magazine and the industry it serves is becoming more tightly knit than ever before. Terri, Sharon and Ange are as much a part of LAWN CARE INDUSTRY as any of our editors or marketing staff, and I think it is important that you know them. If you have a problem with your subscription, there are two things you can do. First, you can call Terri collect at 216-651-5500, extension 563, explain what your problem is, and she or Sharon or Ange 
will do all they can to get it solved as quickly and 
easily as possible. Your second choice is to call me Slusher (left), Jones, and Hutsenpillar with the problem. I kind of like it this way, because then it gives me an excuse to go over to their offices and visit with them a little bit Š and I usually remember to give them the information too. Like I said, I really don't have it all that bad. CLASSIFIED When answering ads where box number only is given, please address as follows: Box number, c/o LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, Dorothy Lowe, Box 6951 Cleveland, Ohio 44101. Rates: 35c a word for line ads, 65c a word for display ads. Box numbers add $1 for mailing. All classified ads must be received by the publisher before the 10th of the month preceding publication and 
be accompanied by casn or money order covering full payment. Mail ad copy to Dorothy Lowe LAWN 
CARE INDUSTRY, Box 6951, Cleveland, 
Ohio 44101 HELP WANTED OUR EXPANDING OPERATION enables us to offer several excellent opportunities for highly qualified ex-perienced individuals in the follow-
ing areas: 1) Landscape De-sign/Sales: Responsibilities include; negotiating with architects, developers and contractors to secure 
landscape construction contracts; es-timating and bidding; site-design; scheduling and supervision of 3 to 5 crews; and complete coordination of landscape construction projects. Successful applicant will have a Bachelors Degree in Landscape Architecture and 1 to 2 years experi-
ence or the equivalent in experi-ence. Š 2) Landscape Foremen: responsibilities include: proper in-stallation of plant material and landscape features including grading; correct use and care of equipment; and supervision of crews. Successful applicants will 
have 1 to 3 years of experience in the landscaping industry with at least 1 
yearin a supervisory capacity and knowledge of reading blueprints. Š 3) Landscape Maintenance Fore-men: responsibilities include: pro-per care and maintenance of plant material (i.e. fertilizing procedures, spraying, mowing, pruning and culti-
vation); correct use ana care of equipment; and supervision of 
crews. Successful applicants will have 1 to 3 years of experience in 
landscape maintenance with at least 1 year in a supervisory capacity. These are year-round positions with excellent starting salaries and full company benefits. If you feel you are qualified for one or more of these positions described above, and you are an ambitious self-motivated, knowledgeable individual who en-joys a challenge and one who takes pride in his work, then you are what we are looking for. Please contact 
our office immediately. Bob's Green Thumb Landscaping Co., Inc., Rae Ann Borst, Secretary, RR 1, Box 131, 
Mundelein, Illinois'60060. (312) 634-9300. POSITIONS OPEN NOW. Leading 
horticultural services company in Houston, Texas (established, 1959). 
Major expansion program requires experienced working crew super-
vision and assistants in Landscape Maintenance Division (leading to superintendent positions). Chemical Division (industrial weed control and chemical lawn maintenance) and Landscape Division Š experi-
ence all levels. All division, 
including Indoor (plant leasing & greenhouse) offer career oppor-tunities for untrained, but willing to learn. Apprentice program, pro-motions, excellent fringes. Year round, no layoff jobs. The Spencer Company, P.O. Box 16113, Houston, Texas 77002. Call Len Spencer (713) 691-3991. GROWTH OF ESTABLISHED 
CHICAGO lawn care firm offers op-portunity for individuals with 
proven performance record. Facility manager: Seek seasoned profes-sional with strength in operations management. Service supervisor: Experience necessary for manage-ment of $200,000 plus accounts and service staff. Agronomy/turf back-ground and field experience desirable. Service technicians: Ex-perienced desired, but will train growth-oriented person. Send qualifications or call for immediate consideration. Sherry Roethe, c/o Tempo 21, Inc., 195 É. Kehoe, Carol Stream, Illinois 60187. 312 682-3201. EXPERIENCED WORKING FOREMAN for landscape crew. Planting, grading, and pruning ex-perience. Benefits. Rutland Nur-series, Massachusetts. Phone 617 886-4972. EXPERIENCED INSTALLER for installing and maintaining all un-derground irrigation systems. Benefits. Rutland Nurseries, 
Massachusetts. Phone 617 886-4972. EXPERIENCED FOREMAN for fertilizing crew. Benefits. Rutland Nurseries, Massachusetts. Phone 617 886-4972. FOR SALE FOR SALE; Finn Lawn Fertilizer Feeder, 800 gal. 16 HP Briggs, 1 year 
old, like new. Available witn 1970 In-ternational cabover 2 ton truck, or without. Lawn & Turf Landscaping, Inc., 6136 Winchester Road, Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46819. PRACTICE RANGE GOLF BALLS from $1.50 per dozen. Solid yellow balls $2.50. Free brochure. Raven Golf, 6148 Thornycroft, Utica, Mich. 48087. 313 731-3469. USED EQUIPMENT 1976 G.M.C. Lawn spray trucks, 800 and 1200 gallon. Fully equipped. 1 305 859-0182. 1976 CHEVY C-150 lawn spray truck, excellent condition, 1,200 gallon steel tank mounted on 14 foot platform. 2 Hannev electric hose reels with 500 feet of hose on each. Bean 20-20 pump mechanical and jet agitation. $11,500. Call or write Rusin Land-scaping, Inc., 340 North Drive, Lorain. Ohio 44053. Phone 216 233-8217. MISCELLANOUS OVERBOOKED?? ... BREAKDOWNS?? RENT OURS DAILY, WEEKLY OR MONTHLY Tankers Š 1500 gal., P.T O., Auto Rewind . . $115.00 Day 1 Ton Š 750 gal., P.T.O., Auto Rewind . . .$ 75.00 Day NEED CAPITAL?? We buy your equipment and lease back!! NEED NEW EQUIPMENT?? We lease all kinds!! WRITE NOW TO: GREEN THUMB LEASING CORP. 9325 Harriet Ave S., Bloomington MN 55420 KNOW pH INSTANTLY. Electronic tester, portable, handheld. For soil,liquids, etc. Low cost (under $25). Details free. A & H Marketing, Dept. L-2, 8325 Dru Ave., SE, Albu-querque, NM 87108. For the turf you care for: season-long protection against crabgrass, Poa annua and other annual grasses and weeds with America's leading preemergenceturf herbicide. Dacthal is number one in its field. Not only because it is so effective, but because it con-trols more than 20 unwanted weeds and grasses. Applied properly, it lays down a barrier that stops early and late germinating annual weeds without affecting healthy, growing 
turf grasses. Tough weeds like crabgrass and Poa annua can't stand up to Dacthal. The help you need for total turf care. Dacamine® provides postemergence control of over 70 broadleaf weeds including dandelion, annual chickweed, knotweed and Canada thistle. It works right down to the roots. So tough perennials don't return. Daconate® is the postemergence herbicide that knocks out nutsedge, chickweed, wood sorrel, sandbur and other grassy weeds. It'sa ready-to-use liquid herbicide with a built-in surfactant for uniform wetting. Daconil 2787® is the broad-spectrum fungicide that stops nine fungus diseases on turf. Use it from spring to fall to prevent dollar spot, leaf spot, red thread, stem rust of blue grass, large brown patch. It's effective even in hot weather. Provides disease con-trol on a number of ornamentals. Count on the big four from Diamond Shamrock to make your job easier. Circle 145 on free information card Diamond Shamrock The resourceful company. See your turf chemicals supplier, or contact the Diamond Shamrock Agricultural Chemicals Division sales office nearest you: Three Commerce Park Square. 23200 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, OH 44112 Ł 1760 The Exchange. Suite 100. Atlanta. GA 30339 Ł 5333 Westheimer. Suite 850, Houston. TX 77002 Ł Commerce Plaza Bldg . 2015 Spring Rd . 
Oakbrook. IL 60521 Ł 617 Veterans Blvd.. Redwood City, CA 94063 ^mtt U irn - Ł JELmf S v -. « Ł * ft » J*< Ł : . . . - r rakt % . ; v,V> t/ % % JU J? J? i * * -Ł kl ^ - 3 "w 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 POUNDS Sold Worldwide baröh KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS Baron Outsells Merion by more than 10 to 1 ! No Wonder: Quicker Germination Less Fertilization Required Greater Disease Resistance . More Widely Adaptable Less Expensive Merion KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS 1976 1977 1978 Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Inc. Bound Brook, N.J. 08805/(201) 356-8700 Lofts/New England Arlington, Mass. 02I74 617-648-7550 Great Western Seed Co. Albany, Ore. 79321 
503-926-2636 Lofts Kellogg Seed Co. Milwaukee, Wis. 5320I 414-276-0373 Lofts/New York Cambridge, N.Y. I28I6 518-677-8808 Lofts/ Maryland Landover, Md. 20785 301-322-8111 Oseeo Ltd. Brampton, Ont., Can. 416-457-5080 Merion production figures taken from "Seed Crops" published by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Crop Reporting Board, W ashington, D.C. Baron production figures supplied by Barenbrug Holland and Lofts Pedigreed Seeds, Inc.