NEW YORK GOVERNMENT Dursban, Diazinon under fire in East In a move promising to stir heated debate between the chemical lawn care industry and state govern-ments, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in New York is currently evaluating a proposal to block further turf applications of the insecticides Dursban and Diazi-non. A ban of the materials, consid-ered indespensible to the control of grub infestation, would render turf managers virtually defense-less against the major insect pests. Citing recent examples of bird-kill on golf courses in Long Island and Westchester Counties, a spokesman for the wildlife divi-sion of the DEC attributed the deaths to both accidental and intentional poisoning of the birds with Diazinon, known to be par-ticularly toxic to species of the black duck and Canada goose. While not especially harmful to other animals, the geese have an unusually low tolerance for the to page 5 REGULATION Possible 2,4-D ban for Canada lawn care? Recent tests revealing previously unrecognized contaminants in the widely used herbicide 2,4-D may result in a conditional ban of the chemical in Canada by as early as this winter. The discovery by Agriculture Canada's Food Pro-duction and Inspection branch would have disastrous effects on the viability of lawn care and weed removal operations throughout Canada, with possible conse-quences for U.S. users as well. According to Des Rice, presi-dent of the Weed Man, one of Canada's largest weed and fer- tilizer sprayers, legislation dis- continuing use of the herbicide would put virtually all of Canada's lawn care herbicide users out of business. "I guess we'd all have to take the next train to the States if it went through," he told Lawn Care Industry, jokingly, but with a tinge of seriousness. New chemical waste laws in effect, lawn companies should register with EPA, PLCAA president says Two weeks after the country elected a president pledged to "get government off the backs of the American people," that govern-ment began enforcing what may be the most complicated set of regu-lations ever devised. And the lawn care industry is going to be hearing a lot more about the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) put into effect by the Environmental Pro- tection Agency (EPA) Nov. 19, according to Jerry Faulring. He is president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA). The law covers all businesses involved in hazardous waste gen-eration, transportation and dis-posal, Faulring told a standing-room audience on the last day of PLCAA's First Annual Conference and Show in November in Louis-ville. EPA officials say that for the first time since the chemical revolution began after World War II, the government will know who is generating the wastes, who is WWN jjMl ^M Serving lawn maintenance Ł JUI^hi and chemical lawn [ care professionals. INDUSTRY JANUARY 1981 Ł VOL. 5, NO. 1 Ł An HBJ Publication transporting them and how they are being disposed of. To put the regulations in place, the EPA required all companies which generate, haul or store wastes to notify the agency of their existence. Some 58,700 have done so and they have been assigned identification numbers. Faulring told the audience of lawn care businessmen that most lawn care companies can be exempt from the law. However, he said, it appears that all lawn care companies have the potential to become hazardous waste generators. "Pesticide spills or container mismanagement could put any lawn care firm into the category of a hazardous waste generator or storer of hazardous wastes," he said. "To preclude possible fines and liability problems for owners and managers, it is deemed advisable to fully understand the regulations and register with EPA as a poten-tial hazardous waste generator," he said. He also said that due to the very serious nature of this issue, the industry as a whole needs to give it very serious attention. "I feel that one of our most prominent concerns right now is to avoid negative publicity which to page 8 The herbicide is currently said to represent about 25 percent of all weed-killers applied annually in Canada and is the staple of lawn care businessmen who offer a broadleaf weed spraying service. The highly effective weed killer has been reported to contain min-ute traces of dioxins, a chemical compound well known for its high toxicity. The most lethal variety, identified as TCDD has been found in the previously banned her-bicide 2,4,5-T, but never in 2,4-D. Pressure from environmental groups charging that the chemical can cause cancer, birth defects and spontaneous deformities may to page 5 LCI SURVEY Businessmen spend $14.7 million annually on lawn spray tanks QUICK STARTS Proper site establishment a must page 7 Perf-A-Lawn celebrates 10th anniversary page 11 Nebraska businessman moves to liquid page 17 Lawn businessmen speak out on minimum wage page 22 Mobile irrigation supply in Southwest page 24 Understanding growth of turfgrass plant page 26 MEMOS 4 NEWSMAKERS 6 MARKETING IDEA FILE 6 MONEYWISE 7 TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES 8 MEETING DATES 15 COST CUTTINGS 20 PRODUCTS 28 Readers of Lawn Care Industry spend more than $14 million an- nually on spray tanks, according to a recent survey conducted by the magazine. In the less-than-500-gallon cate-gory, 31.1 percent of the readers in the survey said they spent an average of $1,720 on spray tanks in 1979. This would project to $5.2 million worth of purchases across the readership of the magazine. In the 500- to 1,200-gallon cate-gory, 6.8 percent of the readers said they spent an average of $6,372, for a readership projection of $4.2 million worth of purchases. In the more-than-l,200-gallon category, 4.7 percent of the readers said they spent an average of $11,463, for a readership projec-tion of $5.3 million worth of purchases. In an earlier survey conducted by the magazine, which charted total equipment inventory and not just purchases, 71.8 percent of the readers said they owned spray tanks of less than 500 gallons. The average number of tanks owned was 2.26, for a readership projec- tion of 15,000 owned. In that same survey, 20.5 percent of the readers said they owned tanks of between 500 and 1,200 gallons. The average number of tanks owned was 2.72, for a readership projection of 5,200. Also, 3.4 percent of the readers said they owned spray tanks of more than 1,200 gallons. Average number owned was 7.4, for a readership projection of 2,300. The results of the 1980 survey are based on a 53.6 percent re-sponse to 500 questionnaires mailed to readers of Lawn Care Industry earlier this year. For a copy of the survey, contact: Bob Earley, editor/publisher, Lawn Care Industry, 757 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017. SPRAY TANK PURCHASES, 1979 A For a report on what happened at the first Professional Lawn Care how held recently in TRY, page 12. The jchnical problems the Jext year's show is set 828**? Ib ** hq-9NISNV1 3 IDS HQS 3 dOdD A1 Nfl 3ifiS NV9IHDIW 30dd 3 >31 d 3 d XiD ToftQ-MK-OiCOTOOdSlW Tank size % sample purchasing average per purchaser projection to LCI readership Less than 500 gallons 31.1% $ 1,720 $ 5.2 million 500-1,200 gallons 6.8 6,372 4.2 million More than 1,200 gallons 4.7 11,463 5.3 million Source: 1980 LCI Survey WHY 9 OUT OF lO LEADING USE 1 1 1 Iff When the top 9 of 10 lawn care Firms in America all choose DURSBAN* brafrd insecticides as their predominate insecticides for surface insect control...there has to be a good reason. Or two. Well there are two. 1. DURSBAN insecticides last longest of all ' Wf/lJ^^^^Brn leading insecticides. fm 2. DURSBAN insecticides cost less to use than other wT leading insecticides. K %Y In fact one application of DURSBAN 4E, % oz. per 1,000 sq. ft., costs only about 45*. Yet with this small amount, you get six to eight weeks of unsurpassed residual control of dozens of turf pests. $ Compare this to two to four weeks with any of the other leading insecti And although DURSBAN insecticides are highly effective against insects, they are kind to turf, to people and to pets. You also use a lower dosage rate with DURSBAN than with other leading insecticides. That means you handle fewer drums to do the job So ask your supplier for the turf insecticide that saves you time, I trips, storage space and money. Ask for DURSBAN 2E pyjp l insecticide or double-strength DURSBAN 4E insecticide. Just be sure to read and follow all label directions arid > precautions. Agricultural Products Department, 4i ?Jr W* Midland, Michigan 48640. I IT Ł 1 A r ^pp Circle 125 on free information card DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. 'Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company 00 05 Z < MEMOS oc F X D Q Z i < u z < "Hose jockeys"? We received a letter recently from a reader at the applicator level of employment who was looking for some guidance as to employment opportunities in the lawn care industry. Nothing strange about this: we receive many calls and letters from lawn care businessmen and suppliers looking for leads on jobs throughout the industry. Also, where we used to see want ads for lawn applicators, most of them were seeking no special experience. Now with the proliferation of companies in the industry, there is an experienced pool of applicators building, and many want ads now are asking for specific lawn care experience. Nothing strange about this either, you could almost expect it the way the industry is growing. But back to our lawn applicator friend. He wrote that he was looking for employment opportunities for a person holding a B.A./B.S. degree other than "hose jockey" or "Cyclone cruiser" levels. His colorful language refers of course to spray applicators and dry applicators specifically. Are there other colorful terms for the front-line people actually doing the work on the lawns in the industry? Let us know. Committee proceeds on landscape standards: The Landscape Standards Committee of California, under sponsorship of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) met recently with representatives from the Associated General Contractors, Associated Landscape Contractors of America, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Golf Course Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects, California Association of Nurserymen, Interior Plantscape Association, The Irrigation Association, Northern and Southern California Turfgrass Councils, and officials of CLCA. WWN OIRE INDUSTRY Editor/ Publisher: ROBERT EARLEY Assistant Editor: PAUL McCLOSKEY Graphic Coordinator: ROBERT ANDRESEN Graphic Design: DENISE JOHNSON Production Manager: MAXINE HAGEN MARKETING/SALES New York Office: ROBERT EARLEY (212) 888-2892 757 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Midwest Office: KIMBERLY CORRY (312) 773 2300 111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601 Southern Office: DICK GORE (404) 233-1817 3091 Maple Dr., Atlanta, GA 30305 Northwest Office: BOB MIEROW (206) 363-2864 1333 N.W. Norcross, Seattle, WA 98177 Classified: DAWN ANDERSON (218) 727-8511 1 East First St., Duluth, MN 55802 Circulation Supervisor: CLAUDIA PLAUNT 1 East First St., Duluth, MN 55802 Reader Service: GENE BAILEY (218) 727-8511 1 East First St., Duluth, MN 55802 Please send advertising materials to: LAWN CARE INDUSTRY 120 W. 2nd St. DULUTH, MN 55802 218-727-8511 HARCOURT BRACE JOVANOVICH PUBLICATIONS HBJ ROBERT L. EDGELL, Chairman RICHARD MOELLER, President LARS FLADMARK, Executive Vice President ARLAND HIRMAN, Treasurer THOMAS GRENEY, Group Vice President EZRA PINCUS, Group Vice President LAWRENCE WITCHEL, Group Vice President JOE BILDERBACH, Vice President JAMES GHERNA, Vice President GEORGE GLENN, Vice President HARRY RAMALEY, Vice President LAWN CARE INDUSTRY (USPS 397250) is published monthly by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications. Corporate and Editorial offices: 757 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Advertising offices: 757 Third Avenue, New York, New York, 111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601 and 3091 Maple Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Accounting, Advertising Production and Circulation offices: 1 East First Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802. Subscription rates: one year, $15 in the United States and Canada; all other countries: $40. Single copies: $2 in the United States and Canada; all other countries: $4.50. Controlled circulation postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio 44101. Copyright © 1981 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from tne publisher. POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to LAWN CARE INDUSTRY, P.O. Box 6017, Duluth, Minnesota 55806. The Committee was formed last year to establish minimum acceptable standards for the California landscape industry. It is expected the standards will be adopted and used by all segments of the industry including individuals, organizations, public agencies and educational institutions. Specialized sub-committees have been formed to develop standards for mowing/maintenance and other specific areas such as site preparation, irrigation and planting. We know of many states that are working along these lines, and we think it is a good idea. For further information, whether you are working in California or other states, contact: Roger Fiske, Three Cherry Hills Court, San Ramon, CA 94583, (415) 828-8680, who is chairman of the standards committee. An industry grows: Steve Derrick, of Professional Turf Specialties and Lawn Groomer in Normal, Illinois, outlined growth of the lawn care industry at the Midwest Turf Conference held at Purdue University last year. Here are some excerpts of his talk: "An industry grows in many ways," he told the audience of lawn care businessmen. "Most people measure industrial growth in relation to size or dollar volume. It's true that the lawn care industry has grown from about 5,500 companies in 1975 to 9,400 companies in 1980. Also, total dollar volume in 1975 was about $960 million, and 1980 estimated volume is $1.4 billion. "However, there are other ways to measure an industry's growth. I believe more important yardsticks such as knowledge, performance, integrity, customer acceptance and satisfaction are also important measuring criteria. "Certainly a great deal of the lawn care industry's growth has to be attributed to increased knowledge. Ten years ago a few of the large companies were familiar with fertilizer breakdown, disease problems and herbicidal half-life. Today, most firms blend slow-release fertilizers with water-soluble to attain an even nitrogen release. They can do this with confidence and full understanding of their length of release. The knowledge doesn't stop there. Through university and individual efforts, the entire industry is now better informed on cultural and chemical methods to maintain better turf. "Performance grows out of knowledge. Every lawn care company strives to offer the best lawns economically possible. And once the knowledge was available, the lawn care industry has provided thousands of neighborhoods across the country with weed-free, healthy turf. In addition, the cost is less than that at which the homeowner could buy equal material at retail cost. "The reputation of any industry lies in its integrity. A few who have not understood lawn care applications have accused the industry of spraying water, cutting rates, etc. The customers knew better. Through a constant effort to provide good service, answer turf problems and provide the customer with mailers and informative brochures, this industry has growth in integrity also. You can spend $700 for a television or $8,000 for a car, but you can't get the company to come out to your house and examine those products when something goes wrong without paying a high service call. The lawn care industry does come out, and at no cost. That's service and that's integrity. "Increased knowledge, high performance and a continued level of integrity have given the lawn care industry a high level of customer satisfaction. It is this acceptance by the customer that has made our industry the $1.4 billion industry it is today. And now that the Professional Lawn Care Association of America has been established, the level of integrity will increase even more. "Our industry is made up of small businessmen, located in every size marketplace, with a great potential for more growth. The industry is young and exciting. We are growing. Not only in size and dollars, but also in product qualityŠwhere it counts most!" We couldn't have said it better Steve. Do bankers understand our industry? We received this letter recently which proves out the importance of gathering information about our industry, a job that the Maintenance Division of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) and other groups are working on. The letter was from the assistant vice president and manager of a bank. It read in part: "I am considering making some loans to a company that specializes in lawn care. The services they offer are lawn spraying, sprinkler system installation and lawn renovation. I have tried the local libraries for reference material on this industry, but can find nothing. "If you have any information concerning companies of this type, or of a general nature in this field, please send it to me. Specifically, I am looking for comparative financial statements, industry history, industry projections for the future, trends, etc." Your banker might have written that letter. We as an industry need to develop this kind of information, and it behooves each and every company to cooperate with groups such as ALCA and PLCAA in developing it to give the banking community a better idea of where we are at and where we are going.ŠBob Earley $ 8 £ CO CO Z3 0) Ło o c § CO 0) £ 3 O CD Q) 5" CD Q. >-D If o® a z o i -< CD 0) Z o Ł Ł> 1 CD Q-2 5 ® ® 2 w £ CO CO w O o o> 3 q "O 9 AS H< O m C 2.3! i'i fsr 3 £ I o» Cc= jod ffllfiscl gflslil'! - = ^ i o ®«o 9. c. < o 15 SI ill III Ła I § £ Sift |il| I H CD 0) O 0) D CJ CD O O CD CO CO CD CL 2SS2 cn J11 Il||f I liiglfhl ? <8 I ^oss: s ? - 5 II » | ? £ I >Jf| pfi! ff«H 2sti «I2§ JANUARY 1981 (Expires in 60 days) reader service card Use this card to obtain more information...fast. (O UJ >. UJ O CL o < z n > z a c cn H 70 M-> z KU". V4, . .'A * FOR LITERATURE ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL FOR ROUNDUP. CALL TOLL-FREE Roundup" is a registered trademark of Monsanto Co. 1-800-621-5800 RUPSP1102D @ Monsanto Ca 1981 In Illinois. 1-800-972-5858. As Donald Dusek will tell you, controlling tough weeds is just part of his grounds mainte-nance problem. As a park superintendent, Don is also responsible for protecting his valuable trees, shrubs and plants. So he insists on Roundup® herbicide by Monsanto. With Roundup, Don can be confident that all of his valuable vegetationŠincluding this beautiful 75-year-old pecan treeŠcan continue to flourish. He just follows label directions for Roundup. Since Roundup has no residual soil activity, and won t wash out of treated areas, Roundup helps Don control weeds in many different situationsŠeven in his most delicate areas. See your local Monsanto representative or chemical dealer soon for your supply of Roundup. Like Don, you'll find that Roundup is the solution to many of your toughest weed control problems. Monsanto Nothing works like Roundup. "I wouldn't do anything to harm this tree.That's the reason I use Roundup'' Donald Dusek Park Superintendent, Victoria, Texas NEWSMAKERS Dr. William D. Phillips has been named to the board of directors of Mallinckrodt, Inc., St. Louis. He compiled more than 25 years of experience in long-range product development work with Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Del., and is cur-rently professor of chemistry and chairman of the chemistry de-partment at Washington Univer-sity in St. Louis. Dr. James H. Strimple has joined W. A. Cleary Chemical Co., Some-rset, N.J. as manufacturing man- ager. He was previously employed by NL Industries. The announce-ment was made by company president Barbara Cleary. The Agricultural Chemicals Di-vision of Diamond Shamrock Corp., Cleveland, Ohio has named William W. Gregroy sales super- visor for its Southwest Region. He will be responsible for the sales and service of company products in south Texas. He is a June graduate of Auburn University, holding a B.S. degree in agricul-tural economics. mi-Wiggins The company has also named Morton M. Wiggins sales super-visor for its Western Region. He will be responsible for the sales and service of company products in Montana, Utah, Wyoming, southern Idaho, northern Nevada and eastern Oregon. He is a June graduate of the University of Georgia, with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics. Glen W. Lessig has joined Lake-shore Equipment & Supply Co., Elyria, Ohio as a salesman for the lawn care industry. He formerly worked for four years as a branch manager for Leisure Lawn and Excelawn Corp. of America in Dayton, Ohio and Crestwood, Ky. He holds a degree in political science from Western Kentucky University and has attended vari-ous agronomy and business courses at Indiana University and Purdue University. Linden L. Griffin is president of Griffin Lawn Care, Kalamazoo, Mich. J. Wayne Bro is manager and Glen Holmes is applicator. The company offers liquid chemical lawn care services. Ray May is owner of Lawn Medic of Erie, Harbor Creek, Pa. The company offers both liquid and granular chemical lawn care and mowing/maintenance ser- vices. It is a franchise company of Lawn Medic, based in Bergen, N.Y. Jack Jensen is co-owner. The Sensation Corp., Omaha, Neb., has named two new dis-tributors for its line of mowers. Fortune Sales Co., Ltd., Spring-field, Mo. will handle Sensation's line in Missouri and Arkansas. Philadelphia Toro, Doylestown, Pa., will handle sales in Delaware, southern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Welch Koch John G. "Jack" Welch has been named senior sales representative for specialty products in the Nor- theast for Stauffer Chemical Co., Westport, Conn. He replaces Ernie Koch, who retired from the posi-tion recently. Welch will be re-sponsible for promotion and further development and sales of the company's products in the turi fields, among others. Welch previ-ously has worked for O. M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio; Northrup King Co., Minneapolis; and Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co., Elyria, Ohio. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and will be based in the company's Dayton, N.J. office. The B. Hayman Co., Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif., one of the West's largest independent dis- tributors of turf maintenance equipment, has announced a realignment of its sales territories for increased efficiency and serv-ice. According to vice president and general manager Robert Henshaw, sales responsibilities have been realigned as follows: A1 Nobel will specialize in sales to government agencies on the city, county and state levels. Al Reider has assumed responsibility for all company sales territories in Orange County and the tri-county areas of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Nick Dykman will continue to make sales calls on both old and new customers in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Phil Paquin will service San Diego and Imperial counties. Larry Robinson will handle the sales territory which includes the outer areas of San Bernardino County and Palm Springs and Las Vegas. In-house sales will be handled by sales manager Harold Shaw. Among major product lines car- ried by the company are Jacobsen, National, Bunton, E-Z Go, Home-lite, Olanthe and Smithco. Boyki n Haesler Gregory I. Boykin, Boyco Land-scape Maintenance, Wilson, N.C., has been elected president of the North Carolina branch of the Pro-fessional Grounds Management Society, based in Pikesville, Md. Peter L. Haesler has been named international marketing manager for Briggs & Stratton Corp. MARKETING IDEA FILE How do you advertise your lawn business? While conducting an evening workshop on lawn care advertis-ing at the recent Professional Lawn Care Association of America Conference and Show in Louisville, Lawn Care Industry editor/publisher Bob Earley conducted an interesting survey among the 62 participants in the workshop. He asked three questions: (1) What forms of advertising do you use? (2) What is your total ad budget? (3) What percentage of your gross do you spend on advertising? Here is the answer to the first question in percentages: Yellow Pages 90% Newspaper 68% Direct mail 60% Door hanger 53% Personal solicitation 43% Home & garden show display 35% Radio 35% Discounts/rebates for referrals 25% Phone solicitation 25% Billboard 18% Television 18% Other 15% As for average amount of money spent on advertising their lawn care business, the participants in the workshop said they were spending $9,268 annually. Two abnormally large answers ($500,000 and $380,000, which kind of makes the average lawn care businessman dream) had to be discarded to keep things in line and meaningful. Computing the percentage of collective grosses represented in the room spent on advertising, the average answer came up 5.9 percent. The mode, or most common answer given, was five percent of gross spent on advertising. For the record, the company spending $380,000 on advertising said it was 4.2 percent of its gross, and the company spending $500,000 said it represented eight percent of its gross. And what were the "Others?" Answers here included magazines, Welcome Wagon, garden centers, transfers of realty, and one company in the room said it had used a hot air balloon successfully. Hunter (left) and Goldstein Ed Hunter, vice president of the Toro Irrigation Division of Toro Co., has been named 1980 Man of the Year by Landscape West & Irrigation News magazine. Each year the magazine singles out an individual in recognition of his contribution to the landscape in-dustry in the West. "Noted for his use of engineered plastics, Ed has helped propel the growth of the irrigation industry," publisher Denne Goldstein said. Hunter holds nine patents on various irrigation devices. He heads the research and development section of the company, based in San Marcos, Calif. Dale E. Jones and Donald J. Mundy are partners in High Country Lawns, Grand Junction, Colo. The company offers liquid chemical lawn care and hydro- seeding. Dan Duncan is president of Apex Pest Control & Lawn Care, Inc., Bradenton, Fla. Pat Duncan is treasurer and Ed McKinzie is sec-retary. The company offers both liquid and granular chemical lawn care and mowing/maintenance services. Sidney De Jong is president of Tender Lawn Care, Grand Rapids, Mich. Ed De Jong is vice president. The company offers both liquid and granular chemical lawn care and mowing/maintenance ser- vices. Carl A. Rothmeeler is landscale maintenance manager for Adam Tecza and Sons, Inc., Elgin, 111. James E. Hardy, president of Brinly-Hardy Co. of Louisville, Kentucky, recently announced the following promotions: Arnold T. Van Etten from treasurer to vice-president/treasurer; C. Robert Lievel from marketing coordinator to manager/marketing and pro-duction; and James R. Allen from sales representative to Brinly product sales manager. MONEYWISE Increased debt, increased return? Many lawn care businessmen are proud of the fact that they have financed the growth of their company out of their own profits, and not with debt. But sometimes, by adhering to the myth that a lack of debt indicates financial prudence, companies can limit their possible return on equity. Often, the reason given for not borrowing more is the interest cost. That, to some, is tunnel vision. The key is the difference between the cost of the money and the possible return. If, for example, a company can borrow at 12 percent (an impossibility at the writing of this article, but interest rates do go down) and get a 15 percent return, the loan is a good deal. But is the possible return is only eight percent, the loan is a losing proposition. Lack of debt usually indicates lost growth opportunities and limits the return on investment capital. To increase sales, you must first increase inventories, expenses and receivables. Debt is often the only way to bridge the lag time between the money spent to get new lawn care customers and the revenue increases from those new customers. In other words, someone has to pay for the lemons to make the lemonade. Of course, the debt burden has to be in keeping with the financial strength and needs of the company, Inc. reports. But reasonable debt is an important and legitimate tool for growth. Here is a chart that shows how increased debt can mean increased return: Debt-to equity Debt Assets Assumed return on assets (20%) minus interest expense (13%) Return Equity = on equity 1 to 1 $100,000 $200,000 $27,000 2 to 1 200,000 300,000 34,0000 3 to 1 300,000 400,000 41,000 4 to 1 400,000 500,000 48,000 $100,000 27% 100,000 34 100,000 41 100,000 48 INSTALLATIONS Proper site prep for lasting establishment Proper establishment is a critical factor in the development of a dense, healthy lawn for your cus-tomers. One of the most important steps in establishing a new lawn is correct preparation of the site. As important as this is, many lawns are established on in-adequately prepared, highly com-pacted topsoils or subsoils. Turf experts at Michigan State Univer-sity recommend the following es-tablishment sequence when pre-paring a site for seeding or sod- ding": Soil sampling. Collect soil sam-ples to a depth of two to three inches from 20 locations around the establishment site. Always use clean equipment for sampling and mix the 20 sub-samples well. Air dry about one-half pint of soil, package it securely, and send it to your local County Cooperative Extension Service or a reliable laboratory for testing. The test will indicate the soil acidity level and the phosphorus-potassium con-tent. Always sample again if the topsoil is modified in any way. Kill perennial weeds. It is im-portant to kill perennial grassy and broadleaf weeds with a recom-mended non-selective herbicide prior to disturbing the soil. A subsequent application of the her- bicide may be necessary prior to establishment if additional weeds have germinated. Tilling the area to control perennial grasses is usually not effective. Remove debris. Remove all de-bris on and below the surface, including rocks, roots, stumps, piles of sand and gravel, buried wood, shingles and other con-struction materials. Grading. The topsoil, if of desir-able texture and adequate quan-tity, should be removed and stock-piled nearby prior to building construction or any other proce-dure requiring excavation or ex-tensive grading. The slope away from buildings should be more than one percent, but normally should not exceed 25 percent. Contours can be added on the site, but always avoid areas where standing water may collect. Areas immediately surrounding estab-lished trees should be left at the original grade. Be careful not to damage the existing root systems. Deep cultivation. On many sites, severe compaction has occurred due to the heavy equipment re- quired in construction. This will often lead to serious maintenance problems such as diseases, poor rooting, and a tendency to wilting. If the topsoil has been removed, cultivate the site to a depth of four to eight inches to lessen compac-tion and to mix different layers of soil. Subsurface drainage. In addi-tion to grading for adequate sur-face drainage, it may be necessary to install subsurface drainage in poorly drained soils or where impermeable soil layers are pres-ent. Subsurface drainage should normally be installed by a con-tractor. Spread topsoil. If the topsoil is a clay loam, loam, sandy loam or loamy sand texture, no soil mod-ification should be necessary. Spread the stockpiled topsoil back onto the site to a depth of six inches or more. Tilling a portion of the topsoil into the upper two or three inches of subsoil will help avoid the formation of distinct soil layers which may interfere with water movement. Soil settling. After the topsoil is spread back on the site, allow the area to settle for a period of time prior to establishing the final grade. Any underground installa-tion (irrigation, special lighting, etc.) can be done at this time, but avoid mixing subsoil from the trenches with the topsoil. Nutrients and lime. Follow rec-ommendations based on soil tests for lime, phosphate and potash needs. The amount of nitrogen to be applied will depend on the type of establishment. For seeded areas, apply IV2 to 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. For areas to be sodded, this amount should be reduced to V2 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet of one-one-one ratio fertilizer when seeding lawns. When sod-ding, use a fertilizer low in nitro-gen and high in phosphorous and potassium at 10 pounds per 1000 square feet. Incorporate the nut- rients and lime into the upper three to four inches of topsoil. Final grade and soil prepara-tion. Establish the final grade one inch below adjacent sidewalks and driveways. The seedbed should be firm enough to prevent a human from sinking more than V2 inch. Several irrigations or rainfalls will aid in settling the soil. Repeated raking and leveling are necessary to avoid depressions which may allow water to pond. Always make sure water drains away from any buildings and rake the area in order to obtain V2 inch of loose granular soil. This can best be achieved when the soil is moist but not saturated. Conclusion. Many future prob-lems will be avoided if lawn establishment is done properly. Shortcuts save time now, but may ultimately lead to costly mainte-nance problems or an unsatisfac-tory lawn. All of the procedures listed are necessary in order to obtain the best lawn possible. COMPANIES Hooker releases chemical directory Hooker Chemical Company has just published their new chemical product directory, listing over 1,100 chemical products man-ufactured by the company, a sub-sidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation and one of the world's largest chemical producers. The 100-page directory covers detailed information on agricul-tural products, chemical inter-mediates and additives, industrial inorganic and organic chemicals, plastics, plating products and surface treating products. The di-rectory includes several indexes to trade names, products by industry, and a sales information index to help buyers locate the proper product sources. Hooker Chemical provides in-dustry with raw materials, finished and intermediate chemi-cal products technology and en-gineering, and has over 70 facilities throughout the United States, Europe, the Far East, Mexico and South America. For a copy of the guide, contact Hooker Chemical Company, P.O. Box 4289, Houston, Texas 77210, or call (713) 840-3956. "Our new TORCO sprayers have proven to be the best investment we ever made " " The high interest rate really had us scared Š it seemed to be a bad time to replace our old spray units. However, we have virtually eliminated "down time" expense and high maintenance cost with this fantastic 500 gallon TORCO sprayer unit. It greatly improved our performance over our former spray units, and it's built to keep on performing long after others have been "cannibalized". TORCO has proven to us that great equipment pays for itself!" Frank Reynolds, pres. Lawn Rescue, Inc. TORCO means tough! TORCO Equipment Company*207 Eiler Ave.*Louisville, Kentucky*40214 (502) 366-1415 RCRA from page 1 could result from violation of the RCRA regulations," he said. "Please, do not assume that this issue concerns someone else. Every lawn care businessman should address this matter im-mediately, by investigating the law, reviewing your current oper-ations and implementing policy that is carefully administered to preclude the condition of non-exempt status." Faulring warned that lawn care companies must comply with the regulations if non-exempt status cannot be maintained. "We must realize that the lawn care industry is possibly the most publicly visible user of materials which fall under the jurisdiction of RCRA," he said. "A single viola-tion could cause considerable long-term harm to the industry. "Currently, compliance is not an impossible task," he said. "How-ever, negligence could create public pressure to make the regu-lations tougher, which could create a circumstance that might be both costly and difficult to accomodate." $1 billion compliance burden. Chemical industry experts say the 2,000 pages of rules took four years to draft, generated 100,000 pages of negative comments and will impose an annual compliance burden on American industry of $1 billion and 5.2 million hours of labor. But no one expects newly elected President Ronald Reagan to push for their elimination be-cause the new rules regulate what many believe to be the most seri- ous environmental problem of the 1980's, that being hazardous chemical wastes. Congress called for this national roadmap of toxic chemicals when it passed the RCRA Resource Con-servation and Recovery Act of 1976 and directed the EPA to get a handle on the 57 million tons of hazardous wastes produced annu-ally in this country. The EPA says only 10 percent of that waste is being disposed of properlyŠa situation the new reg-ulations are designed to correct by making chemical companies and other generators of the waste li- able. Following are some of Faulr-ing's comments about RCRA: "Those of you who are PLCAA members have over the past couple of months received considerable correspondence from PLCAA headquarters regarding the EPA's new regulations regarding hazardous waste materials. "EPA has established that it considers to be careful categoriza-tion of chemicals according to their potential for causing environmental and public harm if improperly handled. At the pres-ent time, products you might be using which are categorized as acute hazardous wastes are 2,4-D, lindane, methoxychlor, PCNB and cygon. "There may be others. Silvex is also on the list. The list will undoubtedly be expanded in time to include more materials, some of which may be now in use by the lawn care industry. "There are several exemptions in the law which are primarily the reason I believe most lawn care firms can now be exempt from the law as a whole. The exemptions regard amounts of waste generated or stored on a monthly basis by each location of a firm. If your's is a multi-location operation, the law regards each location as a separate entity. What is a hazardous waste? "A hazardous waste is any disposed of material which contains a listed chemical such as 2,4-D. This dis-posed of material could be found in concentrated form as manufac-tured or in the residue of a con- tainer, or the sediment of a spray tank or the absorption material used to contain a spill which includes soil or other absorbing agents. "Although the law now exempts many chemicals, I believe it to be in the industry's best interest to treat all chemicals as if they were listed as acute hazardous waste chemicals. This action will create good habits and preclude the problem of an individual not being sure which chemicals are consid- ered acute hazardous wastes. "We must realize that the lawn care industry is possibly the most visible user of materials which fall under the jurisdic-tion of RCRA. A single violation could cause considerable long-term harm to the industry/9 says PLCAA president ferry Faulring. The RCRA hazardous waste law. "Two main criteriaŠquantity and chemical concentrationŠare utilized to measure whether a hazardous waste is exempt or non-exempt. To determine if a liquid or solid waste is hazardous or non-hazardous, an extraction procedure test for toxicity (EP test) is used to determine the concent-ration of the hazardous waste pesticide in milligrams of material per liter (ppm). "Listed acute hazardous wastes which exceed both the minimum to page 11 The faster you can get your customers back in their yards, the happier they are. New SEVIN® SL car-baryl insecticide keeps them very happy. Because SEVIN ranks low in toxicity to people, animals, birds and fish, when compared to other insecticides. So customers can use treated areas as soon as spray driesŠ without en-during harsh odors. SEVIN SL keeps you happy, too. It's a new water-based liguid there's a SEVIN carbaryl formulation that's right for the job. From new SEVIN SL and new SEVIN 20% Bait to a variety of spray- ables, wettable powders, granules and dusts for special uses. Contact your pesticide supplier for sensible SEVIN. It's pest control with peace of mind. SEVIN IS THE ANSWER. UNION CARBIDE AGRICULTURAL PROOUCTS COMPANY. INC., 7825 Boymeodow* Way, Jacksonville, R. 32216 SEVIN isa registered trademark for corboryl insecticide As with ony pesticide, olways follow instructions on the lobel that's easy to handle, mix and clean-up. It may be easy on you and your customers, but SEVIN SL is tough on pests. Especially popular for fleas, SEVIN SL also stops ants, ticks, chinch bugs, sod webworms, mos-quitoes, and many more lawn pests. Whatever the problem, AND NOW INTRODUCING THE SE VIN LIQUID YOU'VE BEEN CARBARYL INSECTICIDE ^ LOOKING FOR. NEW SEVIN SL. CARBARYL INSECTICIDE ALL THE BENEFITS OF SEVIN IN AN EASY-TO-USE LIQUID. It's a convenient new liquid with a water base. Easy handling. Easy clean-up. And more. It's new SEVINK SL carbaryl insecticide. And it's perfect for most kinds of profes-sional grounds maintenance. Because it controls more than 40 pests that attack turf, trees, flowers and shrubs. It's compatible with many fungi-cides, miticides and insecticides. And people are free to use grounds as soon as spray dries. No handling hassles. No objec-tionable odor. No re-entry restrictions. New liquid SEVIN SL-now available at your pesticide supplier. SEVIN is a registered trademark for carbaryl insecticide As with any pesticide, always follow instructions on the label Union Carbide Agricultural Products Company. Inc.. 7825 Baymeadows Way. Jacksonville. FL 32216 1 RCRA from page 8 concentration and weight limits are considered hazardous waste material which is non-exempt. "We can be both a generator and storer of hazardous waste material. Waste is the key word. This is material which is disposed of and deposited in a sanitary landfill or even a non-acceptable point of disposal. It does not include liquid or solid material which results in material left over and recycled back into our equipment and then used in regular operations if this is accomplished within the specified time frame. Our two concerns are generation and storage. Generation. If a location gener-ates a hazardous waste greater than the following limits within one month, it becomes non- exempt and is, therefore, subject to meeting the special disposal re-quirements of the law: Ł One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of any commercial undiluted chemi-cal product which is categorized as a hazardous or acute hazardous waste. Ł Any hazardous waste chemi-~~' cal containers larger than 20 liters (5.25 gallons) which are not at least triple-rinsed. Ł Ten kilograms (22 pounds) of inner liners (bags) of such contain- ers per month. Ł One-hundred kilograms (220 pounds) per month of any clean-up material (such as ver- miculite or clay) used to contain a ^ spill of a commercial, undiluted Wr hazardous waste chemical. Ł Any liquid or solid hazardous waste in quantities greater than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) per month which exceeds per-missable concentrations allowed . the EP toxicity test. / j Storage. Faulring explained limits of accumulation by specific example: Ł Commercial 2,3 2,4-D or icygon (undiluted) waste which exceeds one kilogram (2.2 pounds) which is held for disposal over 90 fjA days. *// Ł Commercial lindane or Bmethoxychlor waste exceeding Jl,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) iheld for disposal longer than 90 days. Waste resulting from a I hazardous spill chemicals cleanup i or sediment in excess of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) which fails the EP test and is held for disposal longer than 90 days. Ł Containers over 20 liters (5.25 gallons) containing 2,4-D, lindane or methoxychlor which are not triple-rinsed and held for disposal longer than 90 days. Containers which are emptied must have a date written on them when they were emptied. Faulring said that one should never allow locations to become storers of hazardous waste. Any chemical in the hazardous waste category is not designated as a waste material until it is categorized as needing disposal. When hazardous waste exists but is in exempt quantities (below generation regulations) no permit is necessary to have it disposed in a sanitary landfill, although the carrier must know that the waste exists. Waste procedures. Faulring said that whenever liquid or solid material enters a refuse container, it becomes waste material. This includes not only pesticide con-tainers but also sediment from trucks or other tanks. "Although the hazardous waste generated by most lawn care firms probably does not exceed the limits," Faulring said, "we should inten-tionally never accumulate enough hazardous waste to break exemp-tion laws. Each manager must know what the limits are and calculate whether or not the loca-tion has exceeded the limits." Rules to follow. He suggested the following rules to maintain non-generator status: (1) Any commercial, undiluted pesticide should never be impro-perly disposed of whether it is or is not a hazardous waste material. (2) Container disposal: (a) Bags and boxes must be com-pletely emptied before dis-posal. (b) Liquid containers must be triple-rinsed with the rinse solution not being used in reqular operations. Do not let empty container numbers ac-cumulate, especially ones over 20 liters (5.25 gallons). Remember, any size drums which contain hazardous waste pesticides must be dis-posed of within 90 days. (c) Never let any material be allowed to reach a drain or sewer. Always recycle mate-rial to be used on lawns or landscape rather than dis- pose of it. (d)Drip pans must be utilized under all spigots or valves on any pesticide containers. The drippings must be added to a spray truck or disposed of in regular operations unless ab-sorption material is used to collect the drippings which should then be disposed of frequently enough to main-tain exempt status. (e) Spills should be immediately contained. Absorption cleanup materials must be at or below exemption limits to avoid EPA notification. If this is not the case, EPA must be notified. What if you exceed limits? "First of all, it would be hard to do this if the above procedures are followed," Faulring said. How-ever, if a mistake does occur, one of the following would probably have been violated: Ł Liquid pesticide containers are not triple-rinsed before dis-posal. Ł More than 100 kilograms of cleanup material is accumulated following a hazardous waste chemical spill. Ł Over 1,000 kilograms of waste material (from cleaning out a tank, for example) which has 2,4-D, methoxychlor or lindane at levels over the EP test allowances. Ł Concentrated 2,4-D, lindane or methoxychlor over one kilog- ram (2.2 pounds) is disposed of. Ł Used containers of hazardous waste pesticides are stored over 90 days. "All these examples are avoida-ble situations and our responsibil-ity is to not let them occur," he said. "However, if an installation commits an act of hazardous waste generation, it is subject to all RCRA laws and regulations. "The disposal of non-exempt amounts of hazardous wastes car-ries with it a tremendous respon-sibility. A hazardous waste permit TOOLS, TIPS & TECHNIQUES What is triple-rinsing? With all the talk about the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) which went into effect Nov. 19 (see lead story on page 1 of this issue), the question will surely arise as to what constitutes triple-rinsing of liquid pesticide containers. The standard procedure for triple-rinsing containers has not been set by RCRA, but a recommended procedure would be to fill the container to be rinsed to a minimum of 15 percent of capacity for each rinse. For five-gallon containers, fill to a minimum of one gallon, shake and rinse three times. For 55-gallon drums, about 10 gallons should be used per rinse. If puncture-type rinse tools are used, the flow rate through the tools should be known to set minimum rinse times. These tips come from Jerry Faulring, president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America. application must be filed with EPA. A manifest must then be filled out by the installation and accompany the hazardous waste shipment for disposal. Everyone including the transporter and ul-timate disposer must sign the manifest. The manifest must then be stored at the installation and held on record. "The EPA should then be notified of all branch and storage warehouse facilities to obtain an EPA number. The only reason for obtaining this number is to use it in case a non-exempt quantity of hazardous waste must be dis-posed. It appears that obtaining the number after the fact will create a number of problems. "Annual hazardous waste forms will be provided by EPA when a number is issued, but do not need to be completed if only exempt quantities of hazardous waste have been disposed." Faulring closed by saying that the PLCAA will publish RCRA guidelines that will be available to both members and non-members. "Due to the very serious nature of this issue, the industry as a whole needs to give it very serious atten-tion," he said. GROWTH Ohio company has ear to the ground The Perf-A-Lawn Corporation, headquartered in New Carlisle, Ohio, has just announced its tenth anniversary of continued success. Started ten years ago when found-ers Mickael Welter and Richard Deering first started spraying lawns in the Dayton, Ohio area, the Perf-A-Lawn network now strad-dles ten states and counts tens of thousands of customers from LaPorte, Indiana to Tampa-St. Pete, Florida. When asked the reason behind their continued prosperity, Michael L. Hiller, vice president of marketing for Perf-A-Lawn, re-plied, "You have to realize that customers aren't a dime a dozen anymore. The future of the lawn care industry will be a very selec-tive one and very customer service oriented." Sound public relations, espe-cially during dry periods of ag-ronomic hardship like the country experienced last year, slowing the industry's production, can only help a healthy business carry-over once conditions return to normal, according to Hiller. One of the ways Perf-A-Lawn keeps in touch with its customers is through what they call 'You-Be-The-Judge' cards, left by their crews after two or three applica-tions. Among the questions posed on the cards are: How was your initial call?; Did it meet your expectations?; How does your lawn look, (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor)?; Are there any new prod-ucts you'd like to see us supply?; Where did you first learn of Perf-£ z 70 W Z O C C/3 H 70 < > z A-Lawn, (referral, radio, TV)? "Among 25,000 customers sur-veyed, we got a whalloping six-teen percent response," said Hiller. At present, Perf-A-Lawn is com-posed of eight to ten company-owned operations and twenty-five franchises throughout the country. Predicting a bright future, they expect around ten to fifteen more outfits to come through in the next year. Organization is one of the biggest problems companies face when considering whether or not to franchise, according to Hiller. "The actual distribution of your product is the key. You have to develop a tight strategy of dis-tribution in order to make the project worthwhile." Perf-A-Lawn franchises use products that are close to 99 percent company pur-chased, thus making it easier on the franchisee. Once established, the franchises themselves contribute substan-tially to company growth. "A satisfied franchisee is our best advertising," he said. While some states have strict regulations gov- erning franchise establishment, Perf-A-Lawn invites interested businessmen to call the nearest outfits for tips and guidelines on starting up. "The customer is getting more and more educated," said Hiller. There has been a drastic change in customer awareness in the last five or six years. The lawn care indus-try must break out of old marketing molds and adapt business tech-niques and strategies used in other, more established industries. "Communication within the in-dustry is important to our overall growth." 12 Inside the industry >« oc EŠ w D Q Z i < u z £ z n > z a c C/J H 73 < > Z ^COMBINE CONVERSION DEVICE* CONVERT YOUR BROADCAST SPREADER TO A COMBINE CAPABLE OF APPLYING 3 DIFFERENT GRANULAR MATERIALS AT ONE TIME. 1. NO MORE HAND MIXING MATERIALS 2. NO MORE USING EXPENSIVE PRE-MIXES 3. NO MORE $15,000 OR MORE SPRAY TRUCKS 4. NO MORE EXPENSIVE COMBINES 5. NO MORE HUGE EQUIPMENT EXPENSES TO SERVICE MORE CUSTOMERS 6. NO MORE 2 OR 3 TIMES AROUND THE SAME AREA GETTING DIZZY HERE IS THE ANSWER YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, 1 TIME AROUND DOES IT. Norman Lynd, owner of Green Thumb Lawn Service, located in Willow Grove, PA., has invented and is now manufacturing this conversion device* that will change a broadcast spreader into a combine, without spending thousands of dollars. A. Installation takes approximately one hour and you don't have to be a mechanic. B. Once installed, it can be removed in less than one minute for cleaning and put back together in one minute. C. Installation instructions and directions are included. D. The unit is made with rugged stainless steel and aluminum. (No rusting) E. All nuts and bolts for assembly are stainless steel. F. Because of the simplicity and ruggedness of this unit, it should never need replacement. G.Three adjustable metering slides for calibration are the only moving parts. H. A common ruler is used for calibration settings I. Please allow three weeks for delivery. J. At this time, insert devices are available for cyclone brand spreaders model #99-100 and 100B only. If you want them for other types of spreaders, please send us MANUFACTURERS NAME, MODEL # of spreader and YOUR ORDER. Please allow 6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY. K. These units are not available from any other source at this time. ŁPATENT PENDING L. Payment in full must accompany all orders before shipment is made. M.We will ship all orders via UPS in U.S.A. unless otherwise specified. N.Total price $50.00 per unit plus $5.00 per unit for shipping and handling. GREEN THUMB 2450 OLD WELSH RD. WILLOW GROVE, PA 19090 TELEPHONE 215-657-6200 Call Toll Free Anywhere in U.S.A. Except PA. 800-523-2530 MEETING DATES winning distributorship was rep-resented at the meeting, which featured a red, white and blue patriotic theme, including convention-like state and province banners representing United States and Canada Yard-Man dis-tributors. Presenting the awards and con-gratulatory messages to winning distributors were Roger W. Stockseth, Yard-Man director of marketing, and Paul T. Schmit, national sales manager. ELECTIONS Seedsmen pick executive posts Don Grunebaum, state regulatory specialist, Government & Industry Relations Department, Research Division, O. M. Scott & Sons, Marysville, Ohio, was just elected president of the Atlantic tilizer, and pesticides. He lives in 15 Marysville, Ohio, corporate head-quarters of O. M. Scott & Sons Co. He and his wife have three sons, r one daughter and one grandson. ^ Other officers elected were: 1st z vice-president, Robert Wetsel, > Wetsel Seed Co., Harrison, Va., m 2nd vice president, Randall Pope, z John Zuelzer & Son, Manhasset, N.Y.; secretary, John Glattly, h Whitney-Dickson Seeds, Inc., 5 Buffalo, N.Y.; and treasurer, Charles Waliewicz, Vaughan's Seed Co., Bound Brook, N.J. In addition to the immediate past president, Charles Kindsva- ^ ter, Otis Twilley Seed Co., Tre- z vose, Pa., two members of the £ executive committee were also 2 elected: Charles Schreiber, A. Ertag, Inc., Jersey City, N.J. and Jonathan Burpee, W. Atlee Burpee Co., Warminster, Pa. Margaret Herbst is the executive secretary of the association with offices at 230 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017. The Institute for Agricultural Irrigation, California State University, Fresno, Calif., Jan. 5-16. Contact: The Irrigation Institute, 13975 Connecticut Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20906, 301-871-1200. Nebraska Turfgrass Conference and Show, Holiday Inn, 72nd and Grover, Omaha, Neb., Jan. 12-14. Contact: Paul Bergman, 2428 W. 11th, Hastings, NE 68901, 402-463-5055. Southeastern Pennsylvania Turf School & Trade Show, Westover Country Club, Jef-fersonville, Pa., Jan. 13-14. Contact: Dr. William H. White, Philadelphia County Cooperative Extension Service, SE Corner Broad & Grange Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19141, 215-424-0650. Michigan Turfgrass Conference, Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, Jan. 13-15. Contact: Thomas M. Smith, 323 Agriculture Hall, Michigan State Univer-sity, East Lansing, MI 48824, 517-353-4417. North Carolina Turfgrass Conference, Royal Villa Hotel, Raleigh, N.C., Jan. 13-15. Contact: Leon T. Lucas, Department of Plant Pathology, Box 5397, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27660. 919-737-2751. 27th Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Conference, Lory Student Center, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo., Jan. 15-16. Contact: D. Butler, Department of Horticulture, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, 303-491-7070. Virginia Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show, John Marshall Hotel, Richmond, Va., Jan. 20-22. Contact: John R. Hall, extension specialist, VPI & SU, 426 Smyth Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, 703-961-5797. Western Pennsylvania Turf & Grounds Maintenance School & Trade Show, How-ard Johnson Motor Lodge, Monroeville, Pa., Jan. 20-22. Contact: Philip L. Sellers, Allegheny County Cooperative Extension Service, 311 Jones Law Building Annex, 311 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 412-355-4275, or George Morgan, Wildwood Golf Club, 2195 Sample Road, Allisong Park, PA 15101, 412-487-1234. Turf and Landscape Conference, spon-sored by the New York Turf Landscape Association and the Long Island Gardeners Association, in conjunction with the Hud-son Valley and Long Island Cooperative Extension Service, Tappan Zee Inn, Moun- tain View, Ave., Nyack, N.Y., Jan. 28. Contact: Frank Claps, 136 Laurel Ave., Larchmont, NY 10538, 914-834-6846. National Landscape Association/Garden Centers of America Management Clinic, The Gait House, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 1-4. Contact: Robert S. Fortna, 230 Southern Building, Washington, DC 20005, 202-737-4060. ALCA Annual Meeting & Trade Exhibit, Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, La., Feb. 8-13. Contact: John Shaw, executive director, Associated Landscape Contractors of America, 1750 Old Meadow Road, McLean, VA 22101, 703-893-5440. American Sod Producers Association Mid-Winter Conference, Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Lake Tahoe, Nev., Feb. 16-18. Con-tact: ASPA, 9th & Minnesota, Hastings, NE 68901, 402-463-4683. Capital Area Turf & Ornamental School, location to be announced, Feb. 18-19. Contact: Harold E. Stewart, Dauphin County Cooperative Extension Service, 75 South Houcks, St., Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17109, 717-652-8460. Professional Grounds Management Soci-ety Workshop, "Business Management Techniques for Professional Grounds Man-agers," Holiday Inn, Jessup, Md., Feb. 18-19. Contact: Alan Shulder, PGMS, 7 Church Lane, Pikesville, MD 21208, 301-653-2742. Connecticut Groundskeepers Association Conference, Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Conn., Feb. 25. Contact: Glenn S. Moore, Connecticut Groundskeepers As-sociation, P.O. Box 3926, Amity Station, New Haven, CN 06525. AWARDS Yard-Man Co. names Distributor of Year Carswell Distributing Co., Winston-Salem, N.C., was recently named "Distributor of the Year" by The Yard-Man Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Accepting the award for Carswell was its president, Robert E. Carswell, and a large contingent of the company's outdoor power equipment sales staff. The special award for Yard-Man "New Distributor of the Year" was won by Florida Outdoor Power Equipment, Inc., Orlando, Fla. The plaque was accepted by the firm's president, Richard DeShetler. Further, 50 golden "Yard-Man Buster" statuettes were presented to Yard-Man distributors who ex-ceeded their sales goals for the preceeding selling season. Each Seedsmen Association. The as-sociation represents the lawn, gar-den farm, and seed industry and other allied interests in the north- east U.S. Harold Doellinger was the only other Scott associate elected to this position, back in 1967. Don has been associated with O. M. Scott & Sons for 24 years in manufacguring, turfgrass re-search, and for the past 11 years in government and industry rela-tions. Following service in the marine corps, he took night courses in agriculture and attended the highly regarded seed short course at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, the only one of its kind at the time. He is responsible for maintain-ing an effective state government relations program overseeing product registration, coping with state laws, and regulations in- volving seed, fertilizer, pesticides, plant industry, weights and measures. He also has regulatory responsibilities in Canada and other foreign countries. Don serves on legislative com-mittees in state and national trade organizations relating to seed, fer-High speed Hypro Centrifugals help you get the job done right! LIQUID or GRANULAR? Finn LawnFeeder® Handles Both. Centrifugal Pump Mechanical Agitation Variable Speed Hydraulic Drive All Steel Construction 800 and 1200 Gallon Models Vee, Flood and Hollow Cone Nozzle Patterns Liquid and Granular Products Applied in Slurry Form EQUIPMENT COMPANY 2525 DUCK CREEK RD. Ł CINCINNATI, OHIO 45208 TOLL FREE 800-543-7166 Ł OHIO COLLECT 513-871-2529 Whether you're spraying fertilizer or herbicides or insecticides, Hypro Series 9200 pedestal-mount centrif-ugal pumps give you nozzle pressures to get the job done right! Even with those long discharge lines, Hypro centrifugals deliver. Check em out. Rugged, dependable, economical Hypro centrifugal pumps-and a full line of accessories. Send for your free Hypro Sprayer Pump Handbook or pump catalog today. Series 9200 Hypro pedestal centrifugals offer capacities to 130 gpm, handle pressures to 170 psi and speeds to 6000 rpm. Compact, engine driven model features space-saving side-by-side mounting. Choose gear or hydraulic drive. IS) A DIVISION OF LEAR SIEGLER. INC 319 Fifth Ave NW. St Paul. MN 55112 Ł (612) 633-9300 Hypro Series 9000 gear-driven centrifugals mount directly on 1% inch PTO shafts. Hypro Series HM9300 centrifugals come complete with hydraulic motor. Write 109 on reader service card Write 111 on reader service card 16 z < >« oc H CO D Q Z i < u z 5 WIPE OUT GRUBPR0BIH6 WITH PROXOL PROXOL WORKS Kills white grubs, sod webworms, cutworms and armyworms on contact. Proven results for many years by golf course professionals to meet their precise insect control needs. NO ODOR Proxol produces no unpleasant odor to offend customers. PENETRATES THATCH Readily penetrates thatch to concentrate in the soil at the zone of larval activity. ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND Proxol does not produce a long-term residual buildup. At recommended rates it controls principal damage-causing insects as listed on the label without significantly affecting beneficial insects. LOW CONCENTRATIONS Proxol is effective at V/2 oz. to 3% oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. for cutworms and sod webworms. 3% oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. is requiredior grubs. TUCO Division of The Upjohn Company USE IN A PROGRAM Proxol is highly soluble in water. Easily applied with conventional ground equipment. Can be tank mixed with other non-alkaline pesticides. Low effective rates offer economy. CONVENIENT 2 and 5 lb. packages make measurement easy. Eliminates waste. READILY AVAILABLE Over 150 U.S.distributors and 8 regional TUCO Distribution Centers assure convenient product availability. ACTI-DIONE A TUCO broad spectrum fungicide, long used by golf course professionals, to stop turf disease problems before they start. TOLL-FREE INFORMATION For product availability and information just call: Outside Michigan 1-800-253-8600 Inside Michigan (collect) 0-616-323-4000. GENE HEULE Dry-to-liquid switch makes life easier in Nebraska Ordinarily, Gene Heule is a rea-sonable man. But if there is one thing he is adamant about, it's how to run a lawn care business with a minimum of hassles and maximum efficiency. And if there is one thing Gene Heule ought to know about, it's * lawn care. He has been in the business as an independent operator for 12 years. But nothing has been quite the same since he went into business with liquid foliar fertilizer. Before he started using this fer-tilizer, his Columbus, Neb.-based company used dry products with fertilizers and pesticides formu-lated together. All in all, this package had its advantages. "For 10 years, I didn't mix a thing," Heule told Lawn Care Industry. "We would put on four fm Columbus, Nebraska lawn care busi-nessman Gene Heule to five applications per year de-pending on what the customer wanted and what the lawn needed." But Heule wasn't satisfied. "It didn't make life easy," Heule admits. "Not compared to liquid. While I didn't have to mix any- thing, I couldn't carry very much. I was always having to refill the spreader in the middle of the yardŠwalking back from a far corner for the bag. With liquid, I can do a whole lawn without stopping. Depending on the equipment available, that means I can go anywhere from 50,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet without reloading." The equipment Heule refers to includes two Bean pumps instal-led on 1,000-gallon stainless steel tanks plus agitation which he had mounted on a truck near the end of the '80 season. Heule previously used 200-gallon tanks and pumps; one pickup mounted, the other on a trailer to service his average customer's 8,000-square-foot lawn. While Heule maintains that he went with the liquid program for convenience and "because it seemed to do a better job," there have been some unforeseen bene-fits in the switch to Folian, man-ufactured by Allied Chemical Corp., Morristown, N.J. "Since 1979 was my first year and I was testing the product, I didn't advertise the new pro-gram," Heule says. But even with-out advertising, Heule accumu-lated 100 liquid converts and he's gaining additional customers at a rate of two to three a day. "They're switching from a competitor who still uses the dry fertilizer pro-gram," Heule explains. "It's a word-of-mouth sort of thing." Although Heule insists that the grass stays greener when treated with liquid fertilizer, the differ-ence is more than a cosmetic one. "People are dissatisfied with the dry program," he contends. "The dry preemerge isn't working and we're having to go back and spray for weeds that should have been taken care of. And the dry insec- ticide doesn't work any better. "In other words, people are paying more money for the dry program and are not getting as good of a job." An added benefit of using liquid fertilizer is that lawn care dealers and their customers do not have to worry about tip burn. The patented product is unique in this regard, and it reportedly offers a real selling advantage. And then there's the labor effi-ciency factor. "A person can't spread dry fertilizer all day," Heule says, "he'd be exhausted. It just involves too many trips. But a guy can walk around all day and spray with a hose and it won't bother him. So matching it up man for man, you can put on one-fourth more square footage of liquid over dry and not feel the effects of physical exertion." Heule's system for liquid lawn care involves a four-step process: The first treatment, which is applied "as soon as the lawn is greened up and has been raked," consists of fertilizer containing one pound of nitrogen plus Dact-hal preemerge per 3,000 square feet. Dacthal is marketed by Diamond Shamrock Corp., Cleve- land, Ohio. The second step involves the application of one pound of nitro-gen and three ounces of Dursban per 1,000 square feet. Heule says this combination of fertilizer and double-strength insecticide (for billbug and sod webworm control) is usually applied around mid-June. Dursban is marketed by Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich. The third treatment, applied during the last week in July, consists of one pound of nitrogen and one and one-half ounces of Dursban. By late September the stage has to page 20 A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH. You're a pro and it shows. Everything has to be just right-especially the equipment you use. That's why you'll want the Mitsubishi diamond on those rough jobs, where a tractor has to deliver. Satoh Mitsubishi tractors deliver. Versatile, dependable and efficient; they deliver the highest amount of productivity at the most reasonable cost, the least amount of downtime and the kind of application flexibility you demand. Satoh Mitsubishi tractorsŠthey're as professional as you are. For the name of your Satoh Mitsubishi dealer see your local Yellow Pages or write Satoh Mitsubishi, Box 5020, New York, NY 10150. A MITSUBISHI WE BUILD A BETTER TRACTOR Whether for bluegrass, fescue, bentgrass, or Bermudagrass, it's a fact that more turf care professionals demand Betasan ® herbicide over any other brand. The simple reason. Betasan delivers the maxi-mum amount of crabgrass control with a mini-mum amount of effort. Just one application at labelled rates stops crabgrass before it starts. Stops it without hurting established turf. And stops it in most of the U.S. all season long. That's the furthest man has come in fighting crabgrass. But you don't have to go far for your own supply. Just to the distributors listed here. They've all put Betasan into their own herbi-cide products. Because they want to bring turf care professionals the ultimate in protection against crabgrass. Follow label directions. Stauffer Chemical Company, Agricultural Chemical Division, Westport, CT 06880. ® T.M. of Stauffer Chemical Company. Firm Occidental Chemical Co. Lathrop, California PBI Gordon Corp. Kansas City, Kansas Lakeshore Equipment and Supply Co., Inc. Elyria, Ohio Pratt-Gabriel Div. Miller Chemical and Fertilizer Co. Robbinsville, New Jersey Brand Name Best 4-E and 12.5-G Betamec-4 Lescosan 4-E, 12.5-G and 7-G Pratt 4-E, 12.5-G Sales Area West Coast Southwest National National Northeast Firm Mallinckrodt, Inc. St. Louis, Missouri Rockland Chemical Co. West Caldwell, New Jersey Agway, Inc. Brand Name Pre-San 4-E, 12.5-G and 7-G Rockland 4-E, 12.5-G and 7-G Betasan 7-G Pro-Lawn Products, Inc. Betasan 7-G Betasan No. 1 against crabgrass Sales Area National Northeast Northeast Northeast DRY-TO-LIQUID from page 17 been set for the final application of one pound of nitrogen and one ounce per 1,000 square feet of Diamond Shamrock's 2,4-D broadleaf herbicide. Throughout the program, Heule follows the recommended guide-lines which call for a dilution of fertilizer with water in a 5:1 ratio. In all, he applies a total of four pounds of nitrogen to the lawn during the course of the treat- ments. Recent university research con-ducted by Dr. R. P. Freeborg at Purdue appears to confirm what commercial applicators such as Heule have determined for them-NEW YORK Weed slides now available The New York State Turfgrass Association has just announced its release of a 35mm slide set on "Weeds of Turfgrass". The 80 slide set complements two other slide sets available from the New York State Turfgrass Association, "Dis-ease of Turfgrass" and "Insects of Turfgrass in the Northeast." The set is a useful tool in the identification and control of weeds for maintenance personnel at parks, recreational facilities, golf courses, cemetaries, schools, commercial installations and other institutional sites. selves: that Folian delivers the desired N-P-K plus surfur rate without the problem of unaccept-able burn. In the test, the fertilizer's per-formance was measured against that of both liquid and dry sources of nitrogen for turf on bluegrass and ryegrass. The materials were applied to replicated plots on June 25, July 17, and August 14. Phyto-toxicity, quality, color response and growth rate were evaluated at selected intervals during the summer and early fall. After two consecutive years of testing Folian, Dr. Freeborg's findings indicate that the liquid fertilizer equals the performance of other similar fertilizers in all Produced by Dr. Arthur Bing and Robert O'Knefski, the slide set pictures such weeds as tall fescue, annual bluegrass, crabgrass, goosegrass, nutsedges, wild onion and garlic, oxalis, clover, black medic, dandelion, plantain, ground ivy, chickweed, knotweed, spurge, healall, sorrels, speedwell, chrysanthemum weed, mugwort and yarrow. For each weed there is a line drawing and a close-up photo-graph along with shots of the weed interspersed with turf-type gras-ses. For further information, contact the New York State Turfgrass Association, 210 Cartwright Blvd., Massapequa Park, NY 11762, Attn: Ann Reilly, Executive Secretary. Professional SPRAY EQUIPMENT AT AN ECONOMICAL COST!!! DEPENDABLE ACCURATE Ł ECONOMICAL 2. Inductor ailowi you to mil 4. Electric host reel provides quick chemlcels one yerd et * time rewinding and proven service Your spray company is different than others so you need a sprayer tailored to your needs. That's why the Professional Turf Specialties system is used by lawn spray companies from Chicago to Texas. No other system con suspend large particles such as IBDU and nitroform and offer a separate tank that allows you to mix one product, one lawn at o time, through an inductor as well as these features: 1) A pumping system that can load or unload itself and other trucks. 2) Remote throttle tachometer ond pressure gauge for finite accuracy. 3) Ability to suspend slow release nitrogen such os IBDU® or nitroform. 4) Con be mounted on your present equipment or on any new truck. 5) Optional compartmentalized tank, allowing you to fill one section from the other and custom mix chemicals on the job through an inductor. Professional Turf Specialties CALL COLLECT ( 309 ) 454-2467 SUPPLIERS OF EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICALS FOR TURF MAINTAINENCE 1801 INDUSTRAL PARK RD. Ł NORMAL. ILLINOIS 61761 Leasing program available categories when applied at the rate of 1.5 pounds nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. "Phytotoxicity was minimal," Dr. Freeborg concluded. "The growth rate was restrained, the color response proved as rich as the other products tested, and the quality value of grass as measured by the amount of nitrogen ab-sorbed by leaf tissue showed it to be an efficient N-P-K fertilizer source. Over the years, Heule's been in the position to conduct some ex-periments of his own. "I've tried urea and a lot of agricultural nitrogen sources and I've seen fertilizer really burn. I've seen people put on urea in the spring and for the first two or three mowings, it was nearly impossible to cut. It would grow extremely tall and mush up with a high water content. My fertilizer doesn't do that." Heule's conclusion? "Generally speaking, ag fertilizer is not de-signed for lawns. While I'll be the first to admit that everything works in a cool year, it takes one hot summer to tell you how well everything is working. That's why this past summer has convinced me to stay with the liquid fertilizer program." COST CUTTINGS There's a loophole in payroll taxes Business experts are huddling with each other about a new way to save payroll taxes by having the employer pay both halves of Social Security (FICA) tax and reducing the employe's salary by an equivalent amount. Two of the nation's authorities on the subject, John R. Klug and Kay Adams Mahacek of Denver-based Continental Com- munications Group, Inc., recently published the first manual explaining how a company can implement and benefit from this newly discovered loophole in FICA in tax regulations. "It's neither a tax dodge nor a gimmick," Klug said recently. "Rather than pay only one-half of the total Social Security tax, an employer could pay both halves of the employe's FICA tax and reduce the employe's wage base accordingly. For example, if your secretary earns $10,000 a year, you and your secretary will each pay $613 Š 6.13 percent Š in FICA taxes on her salary. If you reduce her salary by $613 per year and pay FICA tax on a wage base of $9,387, instead of $10,000. The net result is lower overall taxes for the employer and higher take-home pay for the employe." In an attempt to determine how much a company could save using this method, Klug worked out the numbers for a company with 98 employes at an average salary of $10,204 in 1979, an annual growth rate of five percent, and an annual per capita salary increase of eight percent. If this company would have implemented the plan last January, the first-year savings would have been $8,505, and the cululative savings through 1987 would be $138,249. "It's important to remember that these are real greenbacks, too," Mahacek told Inc. "These dollars go straight to the bottom line. Put a different way, the average company would have to do well over a million dollars in increased sales to generate that amount of cash." GRASS DOES NOT LIVE BY NITROGEN ALONE! OR PHOSPHATE OR POTASH Yes, it takes a balance of all nutrients to grow good turf. Country Club products provide total nutrient feeding. Look to Country Club for all your fertilizer and combination fertilizer-pesticide products. You can rely on Country Club turf products for satisfaction and results. For more information, call 1-800-637-2101 (217-446-0983 in Illinois) LEBANON CHEMICAL CORPORATION P.O. Box 647 Danville, IL 61832 P.O. Box 180 Lebanon, PA 17042 Write 118 on reader service card Write 114 on reader service card Turf-type Perennial Ryegrass Was the Grass Good Enough for the Super Bowl and Rose Bowl Derby is the turf-type Perennial Ryegrass that does all things well. That's why it was chosen to form the turf at Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl IX as well as the 1980 Rose Bowl game. Derby was a logical choice because it was tough enough to take a pounding and yet remain handsome enough for the piercing eyes of the television cameras. Yet Derby is also the perennial ryegrass that thrives when cut consistently to 3/16th inch on golf putting greens or at either 1 inch or IV2 inches for general turf use, such as home lawns, parks and playgrounds. A disease-resistant variety, Derby will germinate in a week or less under ideal conditions. It responds rapidly to fertilization and mixes well with other fine-bladed grasses. Derby is also the top choice for the overseeding of dormant Bermuda grass in the Southern U.S. a Product of f inTERMITIOnilli SEEDS, inc. P.O. Box 168, Halsey, Oregon 97348 Telephone (503) 369-2251 Ł TWX 510/590-0765 Here's what you can expect from% Derby Perennial Ryegrass Ł Germinates in a week or less under ideal conditions Ł Mows beautifully Ł Thrives when cut to 1 inch, 1V2 inches or 3/16th for specialized uses Ł Holds its very dark green color even during chilly Southern winters Ł Responds rapidly to fertilization Ł Never, never needs pampering Ł Mixes nicely with other turf-type grasses Ł Is a disease-resistant variety LABOR Minimum wage up to $3.35; lawn businessmen speak out by Paul McCloskey Assistant editor The minimum wage rose twenty-five cents to $3.35 on the first of January. The across-the-board in-crease, usually accompanied by a ripple effect up wage scales, will have a significant effect on the way lawn care businessmen make hir- ing and wage decisions. Some economic analysts point out that increases in the minimum wage fuel inflation. The minimum is at best, they say, a poor substi-tute for direct government aid to the working poor; at worst, a tactic used by organized labor to break down employers' resistance to raises for middle income workers. According to Donald McClos-key, professor of economics at the University of Iowa, "The basic argument against imposing a standard minimum is that $3.35 an hour multiplied by zero is not a very good income." "You have to think about the relationship between the worker and the employer as two people getting together with priced stamped on their foreheads," he said. "The minimum, in effect, prevents these two people from making an economic agreement below a certain level. The result is that those who could come to terms below that level aren't going to be employed." "There are two basic arguments in favor of the standard minimum," he continued: "The first is simple minded. It says that sub-minimum wage jobs are un- dignified. The alternative for many is welfare, however. "The second argument is more sophisticated. It states that by forcing employers to pay higher wages, they are forced to think out new ways to make the employes work harder, therefore boosting productivity and advancing tech-nical change." Lawn care businessmen routinely bring in unskilled work- ers at the minimum wage and expect to advance them according to their merit. How will the in-crease affect them? Lawn Care Industry asked a number of both chemical and mowing/ maintenance company managers their reaction. The response re-flects diverse backgrounds and opinions; it may also provide economic policymakers with a thorough index of economic at-titudes against which they can make their decisions. Ron Zwiebel, president of Chem-Care Lawn Service of The TM Proved tough enough to be a Cushman. People in your profession naturally expect a mower from Cushman to be something special. In its first year, the Front Line proved it is just that. The common-sense engineering and durability of the Front Line are just what you'd expect from a Suspended bucket seat for comfort Large-capacity fuel tankŠ up to 6 hours between refills Cushman® product. But its cut is cleaner and more even than most people expect from a riding rotary mower. Now, in addition to the 72" deck, we are offering a 60" mower deck for smaller jobs. In fact, with just one tractor you can now handle a variety of jobs with the accessories shown below. And this year the Front Line is also available with a diesel power engine. Yes, Cushman has put even more into the Front Line mower this year, so you'll get more out of it in the years ahead. To find out more about what Cushman value could add to your mower operation, contact your Cushman dealer today. Wheel-type steering and clustered gauges for convenience Split front traction assist pedals for sharp turns and maneuverability Mower deck is 12-gauge carbon steel with welded reinforcements Single rear-wheel ^®r:n—9Ž'LhIraCt'°n The famous 18-hp 8 cutting height settings from 1" to 41/2* assist provides a zero turning radius air-cooled OMC engine powers its way through the toughest cuts Differential is 100% Cushman Deck lifts hydraulically for curbs PTO drive is Hydrostatic Cushman quality drive Now versatile enough to pay off all year. These specialized accessories make the Front Line even more productive for you. Diesel Power Ł 4-cycle, 2-cylinder engine Ł Water-cooled Ł Economical CUSHMAN 3037 Cushman. P.O. Box 82409 Lincoln, NE 68501 The Front Line Tough enough to be a Cushman. Call: 402-435-7208 Alabama doesn't feel a minimum wage increase will affect his main line personnel. "Basically, our production personnel won't be affected by the raise. These guys are skilled people already making good money. They work on a merit system and won't be affected by a twenty-five cent increase from below." As for the argument that a minimum increase would boost productivity, Zwiebel says: "That's easier said than done. People would rather do without than do with less." Zwiebel believes those who will be most affected by the increase are the mowing and maintenance people, the nurserymen, and the landscapers. "It's going to kill 'em. In order to cut a lawn on a company basis, they're going to have to charge seven to eight dollars an hour and the customers are going to start to back off real quick. It's going to be hard to justify on that basis." James Walter, president of Spe-cialty Spraying, Inc. in LaTrobe, Pennsylvania, had to abandon the mowing and maintenance sideline of his chemical care company. "The Small Business Adminis-tration suggests that you should charge 2.3 times your base wage in order to ensure a reasonable profit margin. We just couldn't afford it." Some of those interviewed be-lieve they are going to have to charge even more. Mike White, president and general manager of A-Perm-O-Green Lawns, Inc. in Shreveport, Louisiana, and who runs a mowing and maintenance division, said: "We see it having an even greater effect. When you start counting in the cost of gas, wear and tear, and then add on the minimum wage increase, you're going to have to start charging around ten dollars an hour." "Some time back we started advertising for unskilled positions in the three to four dollar an hour range, thinking we'd get more qualified people that way. But the guys who came through had the same skills as the minimum wage people, so we went back to starting them out at the minimum again." A-Perm-O-Green Lawns now hires people at the minimum and advances them through a merit schedule. But White feels the raise may bear consequences for his salaried spray applicators, as well. "They'll see it as a cost of living increase that they have a right to also. The saying that a cost of living increase just means you're making the same money you made last year holds true, so they may expect even more." Not all the businessmen inter-viewed by Lawn Care Industry felt the same way, however. Dr. Gary Seitz, who runs Green Pastures, an Atlanta, Georgia-based outfit, thinks that the minimum is emi-nently reasonable. "Personally, I don't think the $3.35 minimum is too high," he said. "We employ a lot of low-income people from around inner-city Atlanta. If a man has a family to feed and doesn't have the advantages normally given to others, somebody's going to have to help him out." "People are just going to have to realize that along with the eggs, milk, and butter prices going up, our prices are going to go up too." One of the solutions to the to page 25 60", 72" Mower Deck Ł 12-gauge carbon steel Ł Smooth-cutting 48 Snow Thrower (not available for diesel) Ł PTO-driven Ł Adjustable chute Roll-Over Protection Structure (ROPS) and Cab Ł Weather-proof Ł Meets OSHA requirements 60 Rotary Broom (not available for diesel) Ł PTO-driven Ł Long-life Bristles > z CO oc r > Z n > 2 w Z a c c/5 H 70 UsSjVerta green 10% Concentrated Balan* For Professional Use USS Agri-Chemicals announces a Major breakthrough in crabgrass control NEW FORMULATION SAVES $5.00 PER ACRE! Ł More economical than other pre-emergence herbicides. Ł Ideal for liquid spray systems. Ł Only label of its type with EPA approval. Ł 20 pounds of product per acre provides 2 pounds of Balan. Ł Compatible with most N-P-K base fertilizers. Ł Contains special wetting agent for proper tank mixing. Ł Extremely effective in 1980 control tests. Ł Now available in time for 1981 application period. Price delivered anywhere $0 A 50 in the continental U.S. £19 (©) Agri-Chemicals Division of United States Steel PO. Box 1685. Atlanta. Georgia 30301 Phone: (404) 572-4132 PER BAG Balan, a product of the Elanco Products Division of Eli Lilly and Company, is the trade name for technical benefin. Clip and mail this coupon today to receive more information on USS Vertagreen 10% Concentrated Balan * For Professional Use. Name Address City State Zip. 24 IRRIGATION z < >« 06 H c/3 D Q Z i < u z £ < Wholesaler keeps inventory on contractor's job site Just as every schoolboy is familiar with the saying "For want of a nail, the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost," so too does every lawn care businessman who handles irrigation work know how much time and money can be lost for want of a pipe nipple or a small fitting. That is one problem that does not exist for lawn care business-men who can take advantage of the Turf Irrigation Mobile Inventory. It is the idea of Bill Keim, president of Turf Irrigation & Water Works Supply, Inc., a wholesaler head-quartered in Phoenix, Ariz. Keim sends a van loaded with everything that might be needed to thfc job site, to remain there until the job is completed. The lawn care businessman draws on the inventory as parts or equipment are neededŠand pays only for what has been used. "Phoenix has become such a big area," Keim told Lawn Care In-dustry, "that we set up a number of Fitted interior of van with contractor's stock. branches in an effort to get materi- als to the contractor more easily. We have four branches in Phoenix and one in Las Vegas. "But the contractor still had to travel to the branch. With the cost of vehicles, maintenance and gasŠplus time lost on the jobŠwe were looking for an even better way to have material and equip-ment close at hand to the contrac-tor." The logical step, Keim reasoned, was to move the branch to the job. Last January, the first of his two Mobile Inventory vans was in operation. The program has been going so well, he plans to add two more vans. One van is a 24-footer, the other a 28-footer. One side of a van is lined with shelves, the other has racks. The racks are loaded with Lascopipe in the sizes needed for the job while the shelves hold cartons of Lasco Schedule 40 pipe fittings, nipples and valves as well as hack saws, blades, shovels and anything else that may be needed on the job. "We tow the van to the job site and hand the keys to the contrac-tor," Keim said. "It is stocked with whatever is applicable to the job. For example, if there is no pipe over iy2 inches to be used, we certainly don't put in any two-inch fittings. At the end of the job or the end of the month, whichever comes first, we take and inventory and bill for whatever was used, and only that. If the contractor doesn't use anything, the service doesn't cost him a penny. At the end of the job, we bring the van back to be restocked for the next project. "It has saved our customers a tremendous amount of time. For one thing, they don't have to use anything makeshift now. They can always use the right fittings be-cause they're right there, in the van." Turf Irrigation's van being towed to job site. Keim pointed out that the mobile inventory is ideal for jobs that are outside the regular market area, although for the most part the vans have been called upon for jobs in or near Phoenix. "A contractor working on a job 50 or so miles out of town won't have to send a man on a 100-mile round trip for a couple of fittings that may be holding up his job," he said. "With our mobile inventory, he won't be faced with that ex-pense or delay. "But it costs him nothing. This is a service we provide when we bid and get a job. Prices are always competitive in these bids and we may come in a few dollars lower or a few dollars higher than the other fellow. There's little or no differ-ence in priceŠbut there now is certainly a big difference in serv-ice. The mobile inventory means money in the contractor's pocket." The program is not, of course, available for small jobs. The vans generally carry an inventory of about $5,000. "We send them on a job where the contractor may be working for a month, two months, or more," Keim said. "The jobs where they've been used include a high school, a group of town houses, an apartment complex and a golf course. "One contractor used the van to provide for a number of jobs. He had a few projects near each other at one end of town. The van was located at the site of one but his journeymen working on any of the jobs in the area could use the inventory. Security, which is a problem on any construction site, was one of the things Keim had to consider. The vans are insuredŠbut they are his responsibility, not the contractor'sŠand made as secure as possible. When the van is towed to the site, it is immobilized. It cannot be moved or towed away except by Turf Irrigation personnel. The windows are barred, special hinges on the doors are of a type that cannot be removed and spe-cial locks are used on the doors. Admitting that nothing is infal-lible, Keim said that so far no losses have been incurred. There had been one attempt at a break in, as evidenced by signs about the van but, he said: "They evidently gave up; they couldn't get in." Turf Irrigation may be helping contractors with its Mobile In-ventory, but it is also, admittedly, self-serving. "Our objective is to get the job," Keim said, "and we're doing it by offering a service, not a gimmick. In our bid, we say 'this is the price and, based on this schedule, you can have an inventory at the job site.' Even if we may be a few hundred dollars higherŠand I emphasize 'may be'Šthe Mobile Inventory can be the clincher. "Our sale of fittings has gone up 90 percent. Part of that may be because of the quality of Lasco fittings, but certainly a large part is because of our Mobile Inventory." CONSOLIDATED SALES AND SERVICE, INC. 401 S College St.. Piqua. Ohio 45356 Phone 513-773-3109 Manufacturers of Lawn Care Equipment No matter if you are a dry applicator, totally liquid, or a combination of both. We either have or will design equipment to meet your needs. Complete fuel efficient units or component parts to build or modify your own equipment. Honda & Briggs pony engines ŠCash relief valves Hydra-CellŠHyproŠMeyers pumps Hose Reels Tank hatches & Vents-Gun holsters-Route Box systems Mix tanks & Piping Components CS-80 Power Spreader-Truck & Trailer Spray Units CONSOLIDATED SALES AND SERVICE. INC Manufacturers of Lawn Care Equipment 401 S College St Piqua Ohio 45356 Phone 513 773 3109 Available at quality garden centers Also available: REVEILLE LIMESTONE PELLETS It's pelletized. Fast-acting pellets break down quickly to ^ soften hard, clay soil and improve moisture retention. No dust. No mess. Breaks up hard clay soil. Improves moisture retention. Restores lawn burn caused by winter salt or pets. Ifs the best investment you can make in your soil. Write 105 on reader service card Write 102 on reader service card Ampel. >50322 | MINIMUM from page 22 problem of the unilateral increase in the minimum wage is being offered by the Reagan adminis-tration. President Reagan wants to give unskilled workers a better chance in the job market by low- ering their minimum. This 'two-tiered' minimum would allow employers to hire some at 2.50 an hour (teenagers and college stu-dents, for example), while main-taining the standard minimum for those already covered at the set levels. This proposal is supported by Dave Buccholz, owner and man-ager of Lawn Care of Hunterdon, in Pittstown, New Jersey. Buccholz employs salaried pesticide maintenance personnel at good wages and doesn't believe the minimum wage itself will affect the salaries his skilled people receive. "It's the cost of living that's pushing up wages," he said, "not any imposed minimum." .Asa businessman, you'd make a terrific human being. Some of the things you do for a living can make you feel wonderful when you do them for free. To help people living in your community. Can you set up a budget? Motivate a staff? Program a computer? Type? Read? Tie a shoe? Yes? Then you can help people. In fact, there are prob-ably dozens of voluntary organizations right in your town who would love to have you working with them. Join one. Or, if you see the need, start one. We'll be your contact. If you can spare even a few hours a week, call the Voluntary Action Center in your town. Or write: "Volunteer," Washington, D.C. 20013. You'll get to know some terrific human beings. And one of them will he you. w Yblunteer. The National Center fur Voluntary Action 'The split minimum wage is advocated by others. This, they feel, would enable them to hire unskilled workers at a sub-minimum wage, bringing them up through a merit system." "It will affect us with some people, however. We wouldn't mind paying a minimum wage if it didn't apply to those who are generally less productive. There needs to be a lower threshold in order to absorb the cost of on-the-job training. We have to be able to reduce the risk of hiring a person with no prior proof of his prod-uctivity." It does not readily follow, how-ever, that cutting the minimum for some is better than cutting it for none. According to some experts, a partial reduction would create some jobs, but it would also give employers an incentive to substi-tute workers paying a reduced wage for those entitled to a higher minimum. The general reaction around the industry reflects the awareness of smart buisnessmen. Some believe that the steady increase in the minimum wage level is gradually forcing them out of mowing and maintenance services they would like to supply to their customers. Although the consensus is that it will affect that side of the industry the most, many feel that it will influence the salary levels of their middle-income workers, as well. An equal portion believe there is no alternative to raising their prices. They hold that they are just part of the general increase in the cost of goods and services which the customers must bear. The split minimum is advocated by others. This, they feel, would enable them to hire unskilled workers at a sub-minimum wage, bringing them up through a merit system. The workers could then prove their valuability without the industry absorbing the cost of inadequate production during training. Whatever the real effect of the dispute, economic planners would do well to study the consequences of wage regulation in the lawn care industry. Because they employ a good many workers at the lower end of the income curve, these businessmen are particularly sen-sitive to changes imposed from above. And as the industry con-tinues to grow, any marginal change represents a greater mag-nification of both labor cost and company growth. m Gtxnci A Public Service ol This Magazine & The Advertising Council Tee Time 20-4-10 fertilizer gives you an unbeatable combination of nutrients and pre-emergence herbicides for healthy growth and con-trol of crabgrass and other grassy weeds. 20-4-10 gets your grass off to a healthy start in the early Spring. The combination of available nitrogen, controlled re-lease nitrogen, and sulfur in 20-4-10 stimu-lates initial color response without excessive growth. The controlled release nitro-gen, derived from sulfur-coated urea, doesn't require high soil temperatures or bacte-rial action to start working. Sulfur-coated urea is unique in that it releases its entire nitrogen content during the same growing season to allow the grass full utilization of this major nutrient. The 2:1 ratio of nitrogen to potash also contrib-utes to the proven performance of Tee Time 20-4-10. The proper balance of potash aids the overall health of the grass, increasing resistance to drought, disease, and traffic. To this carefully formulated product, we add Balan® Betasan? or Dacthal® to provide a winning combination for proper feeding and pre-emergence control of crabgrass and other grassy weeds. Pre-emergence products perform as well when combined with fertilizer as when applied sepa-rately, and sometimes even better. A one-step application can save you both time and labor. Our 20-4-10 with Balan® and Dursban® goes even a step further by al-lowing you to add insect control to your feeding and weed-control pro-gram in a single appli-cation. That can mean even greater savings in time and labor. You can switch to The Andersons' Tee Time products with confidence, knowing we spent 10 years developing and refining them. Try using one of our 20-4-10 crabgrass-control products as part of your overall program. One of them is just right for you. Our distributors are 25 > z n > z a c C/3 H 23 A Real Success Stof y Crabgrass control and proper feeding in one application. > z qualified to assist you in determining which of these fine products best suits your needs. If your present supplier does not carry The Andersons' Tee Time products, call us toll- free or write and we'll give you the name of your nearest distributor. You'll be glad you did. the professional's partner Andersons Lawn Fertilizer Division P.O. Box 119 Maumee, Ohio 43537 Ohio: 800-472-3220 Outside Ohio: 800-537-3370 Balan19 TVademark of Elanco Products Co., Div. of Eli Lily Betasan9 TVademark of Stauffer Chemical Co. Dacthal9 TVademark of Diamond Shamrock Corp. Dursban9 TVademark of Dow Chemical Co. TURF BASICS Understanding turf srowth important to lawn businessmen Lawncare businessmen must be shrewd enough to compete in an industry that continues to grow despite inflationary setbacks. But they need not limit their business wiles to marketing techniques and sales projections. Understanding the mystery of the grass plant itself will broaden business sense, for its the plant upon which our livli-hood depends. According to Dr. Peter H. Der-noeden, extention turf specialist at the University of Maryland, the seed of the grass plant is botani-cally classified as caryopsis be- cause the fruit or ovary is simple (derived from a single rather than a multiple ovary), and indehiscent (not splitting open along definite lines, with the ovary wall and seed coat firmly united to one another). The complex process of germi-nation begins with water absorp-tion by the seed. Once absorbed, a hormone (gibberllelic acid-GA) is produced in an organ of the em-bryo called the scutellum. The acid is then transported out of the scuttellum to a thin tissue of cells that surround the seed embryo, where it induces the production of enzymes. The enzymes are used by the young seedling to digest starches which in turn yield energy needed for the production of vital proteins and other growth related processes. The first observable change in the young seedling occurs with the elongation of the protective sheath of tissue which surrounds the primary root. This protective cov-ering eventually stops growing, but the primary root does not and eventually ruptures its protective sheath. The rupture produces three pairs of seminal roots which anchor the seedling in the soil and absorb water and nutrients. The seminal root system is short lived and is replaced in six to eight weeks by adventitious roots which develop on stems rather than the embryo. These roots arise on crowns, rhizomes and stolons at nodes or swollen points of the stem where the roots, leaves and buds develop. Adventitious roots may live as long as the tiller they support and may survive longer than one year as in Kentucky bluegrassŠor they may be re-placed annually, as in bentgrass and ryegrass. Uptake of nutrients is an active energy-expending process gener-ated by respiration. When the supply of oxygen is reduced by waterlogged or compacted soils, respiration is inhibited and nut-rient uptake is dramatically re-duced. Root production and growth occur primarily in the spring in cool season grasses, whereas root growth of warm season grasses is most active in summer. Shortly after the protective sheath elongates, another sheath located opposite its mate on the embryo begins expanding and en-closes the growing point of the plant. The second sheath finally emerges through the soil surface and provides the first glimmer of green in the seed bed. When it grows to about an inch in length, it ceases elongation and is soon ruptured by the first leaf. The growing point remains at or slightly above or below the soil surface until the flower head (in- florescence) is produced. The low position of the growing point of turfgrasses insures that it is not removed by mowing. The growing point of the grass plant is located on an elongaged stem or crown and is about a millimeter long. New leaves are continuously produced by the growing plant basipetally, (i.e. new leaf primordia are produced from below rather than above the apical meristem). The youngest leaf, therefore, is produced on a primordium developing above the preceeding leaf. The young, developing leaf elongates within a cylinder of older leaf sheaths and eventually protrudes above all previously produced leaves. This develop- ment of leaves is best envisioned by a collapsable telescope in which each individual unit is enclosed within the next largest unit of the telescope. Generally, five to eight primordia are present per shoot, but as many as 20 may be produced. When young leaves are mown, regrowth occurs at the base of the leaf blade (laminia) at its point of connection with the sheath collar, or from the growing point located at the base of the leaf sheath. Those cells located in the collar region that are capable of dividing and producing more leaf tissue are referred to as an intercalary meristem. Once the leaf is fully exposed and leaf expansion has been completed, no further re-growth will occur, even after mowing. Leaf production by cool season grasses is favored by mod- erate temperatures, high light in-tensities, and most moist fertile soils. The leaves will generally live between three to five weeks during the growing season. Undeveloped buds, formed in the axil of each leaf, are called axillary buds. Axillary buds may develop into new tillers, rhizomes or stolons. Rhizomes and stolons are lateral stems that develop when axillary buds rupture the leaf sheath, a phenomenon called extra vaginal growth. Tillers are also lateral stems developing from axillary buds; however, these buds develop within leaf sheaths (intra-vaginal growth). Rhizomes are below ground stems, whereas stolons are above them. Both types of stems can produce roots and shoots at nodes. Rhizome and stolon formation of cool season grasses is promoted by cool, moist periods of spring and fall, but inhibited by temperature extremes and dry soils. Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue, and red top are rhizomateous turfgrasses, whereas creeping bentgrass, rough bluegrass and buffalograss pro-duce stolons. Bermudagrass and zoysia grass produce both rhizomes and stolons. Rhizomes, stolons and crowns are also major carbohydrate storage tissues of grasses. Mauget Tree Injection Seminars, Your Booster for Business An annual seminar on the Mauget Tree Injection Process is your best way to keep current. Yearly updating keeps you abreast of new developments. Its's also your best booster for business. Meeting topics include: Ł New drilling technique supplements insertion tool Ł New slide presentations and reports January 12 Danville, PA Holiday Inn Exit 33,1-80 & Pa. 54 13 Hershey, PA Hershey Ldg. & Conv. Ctr. Rt. 322, E. of Harrisburg 14 Bordentown (Trenton), NJ Holiday Inn Exit 7, N.J. Turnpike & St. Rt. 206 14 Tifton.GA Rural Development Center Hwy 41 N., Exit 21 15 Paramus, NJ Holiday Inn - Paramus Exit 165N, Garden State Parkway 16 Mellville, L.I..NY Musicaro's of Mellville Rt. 110 16 Jacksonville, FL Holiday Inn I-95 at Airport Rd. 26 New Haven, CT Holiday Inn 1605 Whalley Ave. Exit 59, Wilber-Cross Parkway 27 Providence, Rl Sheraton Inn Post Rd. U.S. 1 & I-95, Exit 13 sai'cftvcs 28 Concord, NH Highway Hotel 29 Portland, ME Holiday Inn - West 81 Riverside St. Exit 8, Maine Turnpike 30 Boston, MA Holiday Inn - Woburn 19 Commerce Way Exit 11S from I-93 February 8 Oconomowoc, Wl Olympia Resort & Spa 1350 Royal Mile Rd. 10 Rochester,NY Quality Inn - Gate House Exit 46,1-90 Rt. 15 11 East Aurora, NY Erie County Co-op Ext. Bldg., 21 S. Grove St. 21 Sarasota, FL Call 800-423-2699 for more information 26 Gaithersburg, MD Holiday Inn, I-270 Montgomery Village Ave. Exit from leading tree care researchers Ł Updating and use of new, digital Shigometer Plan Now To Attend: Open to all arborists, city foresters, tree care firms, landscape contractors, golf superintendents, and grounds managers. Seminars begin at 9:30 a.m. Mauget Tree Injection products are field and university proven. March 3 Raleigh, NC Ramada Inn - Crabtree I-64 & U.S. 70 3 Delaware (Columbus), OH Holiday Inn 351 S. Sandusky St. Exit Sandusky St. from U.S. 23 4 Myrtle Beach, SC Holiday Inn Surfside 17th Ave., N & Ocean Blvd. 4 Akron (Cleveland), OH Holiday Inn - Fairlawn 3150 W. Market St. Exit 11 .Ohio Turnpike 5 Columbia, SC Ramada Inn I-26 & U.S. 378 5 Monroeville, PA Sheraton Inn on the Mall 101 Mall Blvd. Exit 6, Pa. Turnpike 6 Greenville, SC Downtown Sheraton 1001 S. Church St. 6 Erie, PA Holiday Inn - South I-90 & St. Rt. 97 9 Columbus, GA Airport Holiday Inn 1-185, Exit 5 10 Chattanooga, TN Holiday Inn Downtown 11 Jackson, TN Holiday Inn I-40 & U.S. 45 BYP, Exit 80A 11 Rapid City, SD Call 800-423-2699 for more information 13 Lexington, KY Holiday Inn East 1 mi. W. I-64 & 75, Exit 110 17 Cincinnati, OH Holiday Inn-Cincinnati- NE 1-71 at Fields ErtelRd.Exit 18 Indianapolis, IN Holiday Inn North I-465 & U.S. 421 19 Grand Rapids, Ml Holiday Inn South Rt. 131 at 28th St. April 2 Hawaii Call Trees of Hawaii, Inc. 808-682-5771 for more information i SEND THIS REGISTRATION COUPON OR FACSIMILE TODAY TO: J. J. MAUGET COMPANY, P.O. Box 3422, Burbank, CA 91504 Registration tee Š $15 per person (wives $7.50) includes coffee, danish, lunch. Make checks payable to J. J. Mauget Company. 800-423-2699 I I Please reserve . places at the meeting (location) Ł Check here for one free registration (available to each firm who purchased capsules in 1980) Name(s) Representing Address .Zip. Phone Area Code ( LC The fourth type of stem pro-duced by grasses is the culm. The culm develops from the growing point and bears the flower head or inflorescence. For many turf-grasses, flowering is induced by a combination of cold, winter tem-peratures (vernalization) and lengthening of daylight in late spring. During floral initiation, the growing point rapidly produces leaf primordia and lateral buds, causing an elongation of the growing point. Eventually, floral parts are formed and the culm elongates, elevating the inflores-cence above the leaves of the plant. There are three primary types of inflorescences produced by mem-bers of the grass family: raceme, spike, and panicle. Most cool season turfgrasses produce pani-cles; however ryegrass produces a spike. The spikelet is the basic unit of the inflorescence consisting of one, two or several flowers. The spikelet of a panicle consists of one or several flowers borne on branches that are connected to the main axis or rachis. Each flower in enclosed by two bracts, the lemma (the larger, outer bract) and the palea. The entire spikelet is en-closed by two, large lower bracts, the glumes. The typical grass flower has three pollen bearing structures (anthers) and two pol-len receptors (stigmas), and one ovary, within which is a single ovule. Once pollination and fertiliza-tion has occured the ovule de- velops into a seed. Two protuber-ances, called lodicules, are located at the base of the ovary and function in separating the lemma and the palea. Once these bracts have been separated, the anthers and stigmas are exposed and pol-lination can occur. Both cross and self pollination can occur within the grass family. Some grasses, most notably Kentucky bluegrass, produce seed asexually. The asexual production of seed involves pollination, but fertilization of the ovule does not occur. This phenomenon is known as apomixis. Apomicitic seed de- velop into plants that are geneti- cally identical to the parent. Apomixis is an extremely desira-ble characteristic because swards produced using apomictic seeds exhibit uniform color, texture and verdure. The events described and atten-dent terminology are complicated. Hopefully, this report has clarified these processes and terms and has provided a meaningful contribu-tion to your knowledge of turf-grasses. ASSOCIATION Power equipment distributors organize The Outdoor Power Equipment Distributors Association, repre-senting a billion dollar industry, was recently formed when leaders of the outdoor power equipment distribution industry met at the GIA Show in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss the need for such an organization. Specifically de-signed to meet the varied needs of the independent outdoor power equipment distributors, officers and directors of the newly formed association were elected. Joe H. Brady, Jr. of Joe H. Brady & Associates, Inc., Birmingham, Alabama was elected as the first president of OPED A. Wyn Eaton of Eaton Equipment Corporation, Hamburg, New York was elected vice president along will Bill Niemeyer of the Niemeyer Corpo-ration, West Chester, Pennsyl-vania as secretary and Joe Porter of Porter Brothers, Inc., Shelby, North Carolina as treasurer. Appointed to serve as the first directors of the new association were: Pete Burgwald of Power Tool Co., St. Paul, Minnesota; Carlos Caccipop of Timsco, Inc., Marshall, Texas; Art Kerckhoff of Sterling Distribution Co., Mary-land Heights, Missouri; Peter McDonough of Summit Power Equipment Distributors, Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana; Sunny Roberts of Southern Seed Co., Inc., Jackson, Mississippi; Bob Carswell of Carswell Distributing, Winston Salem, North Carolina; Scott Smith of Stull Enterprises, Inc., Chester, Pennsylvania; and Gary Merrill of Crandall Hicks Co., Southborough, Massachusetts. The firm of Fernley & Fernley, Inc. has been retained to provide association management services of OPEDA with Stewart G. Potter as the executive director and Thomas A. Fernley, III as consult-ing director. The Fernley & Fernley offices, located at 1900 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA, will serve as headquarters for the newly formed association. BUSINESS PGMS sets first management workshop The Professional Grounds Man-agement Society will hold its first area management workshop Feb. 18-19 at the Holiday Inn in Jessup, Md. The two-day workshop, "Busi-ness Management Techniques for Professional Grounds Managers," will be led by Dr. W. R. Luckham and Professor Robert Reynolds of Virginia Tech. The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Topics to be discussed are: Management Orientation and Managerial Deci- sion Making, Budgeting Tech-niques, Labor Cost and Labor Effi-ciency, Machinery Budgeting, and Machinery Replacement Deci- sions, Job Cost Estimating, Break-Even Analysis and Partial Budgeting. Registration is limited to the first 35 applicants. The fee for PGMS members is $95, and for non-members $115. The fee in-cludes all materials, two lunches and four coffee breaks. Room reservations should be made directly with the Holiday Inn, 7900 Baltimore-Washington Blvd., Jessup, MD 20974, 301- 799-7500. For information and registration brochure, contact: Allan Shulder, Executive Director, Professional Grounds Management Society, 7 Church Lane, Pikesville, MD 21208, 301-653-2742. r > z n > z a c c/3 H 23 < > z UKKUEHR'Y CHEmiCflL CORPORATION 1049 SOMERSET ST., SOMERSET,N.J. 08873 Ł (201) 247^000 PRODUCTS Diesel tractor offers low fuel and long life Designed with the operator in mind, the 19 H.P. diesel rotary tractor from the Bunton Company features an air-cooled engine, forged crankshaft, and cast aluminum crankcase for long life and weight reduction. The tractor frame, built from 11 and 7 gauge steel, is welded into one piece to support the long lasting diesel engine. The cutting deck is constructed with steel reinforcements on stress points and the self-adjusting belt tight- ening system is used to prevent belt slippage in high, tough grass. Steered by a single wheel for a shorter turning radius, the tractor also features assist brakes used for either right or left drive wheels for a complete zero turning radius. The side drive wheels are acti-vated hydrostatically by hydraulic pump along with a differential. Other available attachments in- clude a 60 inch V-type plow, a 60 inch angle-type blade, 60 inch rotary broom, a two-stage snow thrower and a cab for the operator's comfort. Write 701 on reader service card m - 4*. Clean sweep, no swirling A power broom can be a handy item for those of you with huge, time consuming clean-ups that eat up expensive labor hours. This model SHT Power Broom from the M-B Company, Inc. features all steel construction, total hydraulic control and a full six month war- ranty. The unit is custom designed for quick and easy mounting in your tractors' existing holes. The fit is guaranteed. Designed for 18 to 25 horsepower tractors, Model SHT broom widths are available up to eight feet. Write 702 on reader service card Rugged pro-cutter Lawnflite Professionals from MTD Products, Inc. have been designed specifically for use in the commer-cial turf and rental markets. Built to take long, hard use and keep on going without costly breakdowns, each is powered by a big four horsepower Tecumseh XL engine with sealed solid state ignition and double protection, fine-filtration air cleaners. Special durable parts common to the series include long-life sealed bearings, rein-forcing lower handle supports, rugged throttle mechanism, large capacity (1.2 gallon) tank with gauge cap, and easy rolling eight inch steel wheels with thick-wall tires. A distinctive yellow and black finish identifies these as the Lawnflite Professionals. Model 618, a side-discharge 20 inch mower, has an aluminum cast deck that not only weighs less than a comparable steel deck, but shrugs off hard knocks and bad weather. Professional model 638 combines a wide 22 inch cut with all the advantages of rear dis- charge mowing. Providing ba-lance and maneuverability, the model also includes an especially large grass catcher to cut mowing time and trouble. Powerful vac-uum action lifts the grass blades and collects clippings to provide a clean cut and a clean lawn in one pass. Write 703 on reader service card Rotary tiller is a wide driver Recognizing the need of lawn care businessmen and landscape con- tractors for equipment that can stand up to constant, rugged use, MTD Products, Inc., has intro-duced two new Professional rotary tillers. Professional Model 398 is equipped with a heavy-duty handle and has an adjustable depth bar mounted on a tailpiece that pivots left or right for easy turning. Three-step chain reduc-tion drive uses the Briggs and Stratton industrial engine effi-ciently: power flows directly from the engine to the chain drive for quick response. The tiller's sixteen self-sharpening, heat-treated tines gives a 26 inch tilling width. Professional model 418 has a heavy-duty handle that adjusts to nine positions, accommodating tall or short operators and allow-ing them to guide the tiller while walking beside it. The tiller is equipped with a powerful eight horsepower Briggs and Stratton industrial engine plus chain re- duction drive with five speeds to wheels and tines. Throttle control and wheel-engaging clutch lever are mounted on the handle panel and a separate clutch lever en- gages the self-sharpening, heat-treated bolo tines. Tilling width is 21 inches. Write 704 on reader service card Keep equipment in shape with new lift Hanson's sturdy Hydraulic Lift Table has a 2,000 lb. lift capacity. The heavy duty hydraulic ram will lift lawn mowers, yard and garden tractors, snowmobiles, motor-cycles, snow blowers, rototillers, golf cartsŠany small engine equipment you have to service. The lift features a welded angle base frame and a one-eighth inch steel platform for rigid support while you work. A two inch steel safety leg with an automatic latch will hold up the table in the event of a hydraulic or electrical failure and a pressure relief valve built into the hydraulic pump provides overload protec-tion. The platform is made of safety tread steel plate and is painted O.S.H.A. yellow. The flexible table lift is infi-nitely adjustable from floor level to 42 inches. Once off the floor, the platform freely revolves a full 360 degrees. Since it stores flush with the floor, valuable floor space is not tied up when the unit is not in use. Install it near a door and double its usefulness by using the unit as a hydraulic dock lift. Write 705 on reader service card Testing guidelines Harris Laboratories has just pub-lished a new guide to the use of its agricultural testing service which includes revised fees for analysis of soil, plants, feed, vitamins, pesticide and herbicide residue, water and wastewater, and fer-tilizers. The schedule also con-tains listing for microbiological and veterinary pathology analyses. In addition, Harris carries a line of soil sampling equipment and an educational series of general in-formation tapes, anhydrous am-monia tapes. Other soil testing sales aids may be ordered. Write 706 on reader service card Gooseneck or straight tongue hitch trailer Handy Mandy Trailers offer an efficient and economical method of hauling with your compact pickup truck. The Mini-Gooseneck Trailer, available for mini-pickups can be changed to a Mini-Tow Straight Tongue for bumper pulling in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The durable trailer features a tubular construc-tion in both Gooseneck and Mini-Tow tongues, a 2 by 6 inch tubular main frame and a thick one-inch main decking. The frame sports 1500 lb. springs, chrome wheels and white-walled tires. Write 707 on reader service card Embark" Plant Growth Regulator Distributor Locations California Moyer Chemical Co. San Jose Santa Ana Target Chemical Co. Cerritos San Jose Van Waters and Rogers San Jose Los Angeles San Diego Wilbur-Ellis Co. Chula Vista Santa Fe Springs Fresno Woodland Colorado Balcom Chemical Inc. Greenley Florida Souther Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. Palmetto Regal-Chemical Co. Alpharetta Illinois Chicago Toro Drake-Scruggs Equip. Inc. Decatur Turf Products, Ltd. West Chicago Indiana The Daltons Inc. Warsaw Iowa Big Bear Equipment Des Moines Davenport Kansas Champion Turf Equipment Wichita Kentucky George W. Hill & Co. Florence Ky. Maryland Commercial Lawn Services Inc. Rockville Cornell Chemical & Equip. Linthicum heights Massachusetts Richey and Clapper Co. Natick Michigan Lawn Equipment Corp. Novi W. F. Miller Co. Birmingham Minnesota Minnesota Toro Minneapolis Turf Supply Co. St. Paul Missouri BeckmannsTurf Chesterfield Champion Turf Kansas City Nebraska Big Bear Equipment Omaha New Jersey Andrew Wilson Inc. Mountainside New York Agway Inc. Syracuse Green Spaces Yonkers J & LAdikes Jamaica North Carolina So. Agricultural Insecticides Inc. Hendersonville Boone Ohio Chemi-Trol Chemical Co. Gibsonburg LakeshoreEquipmenl & Supply Elyria Oregon Van Waters & Rogers Portland Wilbur Ellis Portland Pennsylvania Farm and Golf Course Supply Philadelphia Lawn and Golf Supply Pheonixville Miler Chemical Hanover Rhode Island Old Fox Chemical East Providence Texas Chemical & Turf Specialty Dallas Virginia Wilson Feed and Seed Richmond Washington Van Waters and Rogers Kent Seattle Wilbur-Ellis Co. Seattle Spokane Wisconsin Reinders Bros. Elm Grove Inc. Zinc-plated bedknives LESCOE Products is now plating its custom-made bedknives with a zinc coating in its new bedknife finishing operation. With this system, bedknife steel stock is produced on rolls at a specialty steel plant and then shipped to LESCOE for processing. Once there, the steel bedknife stock is cut to the required lengths for various mower applications and pierce punched with special die punches to insure accurate align-ment. The knives are then counter-bored and each blade is placed on a magnetic chuck on the Thompson surface grinder. The placement of the blade on the chuck insures that the individual blade is ground perfectly straight. The finished blade is then plated with zinc coating to improve its appearance and handling and to avoid build-up in the grinding stone. Write 708 on reader service card Tractor tailored for all seasons The Ariens Yard Tractor offers the homeowner and businessman added working versatility with a number of useful, durable attach- ments for multi-seasonal use. This Perfect placement with vibratory plow One of the most compact plows on the market, Ditch Witch's new V250, 25 horsepower vibratory plow has newly designed drive and plow lift systems for dependa- ble and efficient production. The V250 can make underground in-stallations without digging up the trenches of power and communi-cations cables, plastic pipe for water or natural gas service lines, or residential sprinkler systems. Write 709 on reader service card year the efficient Yard Tractor Grass Bagger option virtually eliminates the chore of raking up grass clippings and leaves. Two heavy-duty hoppers hold 30 gallon standard plastic bags which, when full, can be tied up, lifted out, and then set out for collection or dumped for compost. The Bagger features a sturdy, steel tubular frame and the cover is vented for proper air movement. Other available attachments in-clude a 42 inch front-mounted dozer blade, a 36 inch two-stage snow thrower, a carry-all trailer and a rear-mounted rotary tiller. Write 710 on reader service card 29 5 z n > z a c C/5 H pa TEXAS Bermudas vary in low-temp hardiness Winterkill is a convenient name for a widespread problem of warm-season turfgrasses in Texas in three of the past four years. It actually includes all types of in-jury to grasses that occur during the winter season. The three major types of winter-kill to turfgrasses are direct low-temperature kill, winter desicca- tion (drying), and winter diseases, according to Dr. James B. Beard, turf and crop physiologist at Texas A&M University with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Winterkill has been especially severe on St. Augustine, with some bermudagrasses also being damaged. Field evaluations give an indi-cation of the overall ability of various grasses to survive winter stresses of the types just men-tioned, but unfortunately, Beard says, they don't necessarily indi- cate low-temperature kill. There is a real need for specific information concerning the com- parative low-temperature hardi- ness of the various warm-season turfgrasses available for use in Texas. For this reason, Dr. Beard and his associates used a low-temperature simulation to test the relative low-temperature hardi-ness of 19 of the commercially available and new-release bermudagrasses. The low-temperature simula-tion chamber permits controlled conditions and can screen large numbers of grasses more effi-ciently than field studies can, according to Steve Batten, who worked with Dr. Beard on this research. Conditions in the simulation chamber included both a moderate cold stress and a severe cold stress. Soil temperature is a more critical factor in low-temperature stress than the air temperatures. Midway bermudagrass ranked superior in low-temperature har-diness regardless of the cold-stress level. Pee Dee, Sunturf, Midiron, and Turfgreen also ranked quite high in low-temperature hardiness under moderate cold stress, while under severe cold stress Midiron proved to be superior to the other three and similar to Midway in terms of low-temperature hardi-ness. These tests confirm that there are significant differences in low-temperature hardiness of the bermudagrasses, Beard says, and provide a sound basis for selecting grasses for those locations where low-temperature stress is a signifi-cant problem. > z z < 30 THATCH /rom page 13 "Our results indicate that de-composition of thatch was possi-bly impeded through the inhibi-tion of microbial activities by unfavorable pH environment and/or by direct toxicity of the fungicides," said Smiley. Citing his recent research, he said that decomposition of surfur-bearing fungicides contri-buted sufficient acidity to restrain the decomposition of thatch and that these acidification processes explain the level of thatch ac-cumulation in most instances. Dr. Smiley says that too often fungicide choice is made only by taking immediate cost and target pathogens into consideration, without considering the long-term effects which the fungicides may have. "The long-term effects of these fungicides are far more important to the overall economy of management programs and to > 06 H CO D Q Z i < u z £ turfgrass quality than the short-term cost and fungi toxic-spectrum considerations." He stresses that costs to remove thatch and to neutralize soil acid-ity are very likely to exceed differ-ences in costs of fungicides. "Whenever possible, turfgrass managers should attempt to utilize the most economical long-range maintenance programs," Smiley reported. "In this study, the combined application of ethyl thiophanate and thiram contributed the highest sulfur amounts. It would require about three pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet per year to neutralize the acidity attributed to soil by this fungicide program." Thatch depth measurements where the combination of thiram and ethyl thiopanate were applied showed a thatch depth of 18.4 millimeters and a pH level of 5.7. Non-treated control grass showed a 6.3 millimeter thatch depth and a pH of 6.3. But, Dr. Smiley points out, acidification is not responsible for thatch accumulation in plots treated with nonsulfur-bearing fungicides, which displayed thatch depths of 13.8, 17.0 and 16.0 millimeters, respectively, while showing pH levels above 6.0. "For these treatments, it ap-pears that direct toxicity toward the microflora is more important than indirect suppression through acidification of soil," he contends. In contrast to these fungicide treatments resulting in significant thatch accumulation, turfgrass treated with other fungicides such as cycloheximide (Acti-dione TGF), cycloheximide & quin- tozene (Acti-dione RZ), captan (Captan), anilazine (Dryene) and chlorothalonil (Daconil 2787) showed minimal thatch accumu-lation and pH levels of 6.3 not significantly different from the test areas. The Acti-dione TFG-treated turf had a thatch accumulation LESCOSAN CONTROL CRABGRASS MORE EFFECTIVELY than any other pre-emergence herbicide. - CONTROL CRABGRASS LONGER than any other pre-emergence herbicide. - BE APPLIED WITH CONFIDENCE. Lescosan is labeled for bents. Lescosan does not damage grass roots or thin turf. BE PURCHASED NOW IN CONVENIENT FORMS. Lescosan 4E is competitively priced, an emulsifiable concentrate, not a wettable powder, for ease in mixing and application. In addition to Lescosan 7G and 12.5G, Lescosan 3.6G -I- Fertilizer is available in a formulation to provide cleaner, greener turf with one application. LESCOSAN CAN DO ALL THIS. CAN YOU AFFORD TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE? Lescosan* (Betasan-registered trademark of Stauffer Chemical Co.) CALL BARB. SHE'LL measuring 2 mm. and a pH of 6.3; Acti-dione RZ-treated turf had a thatch accumulation of 2.8 mm and a pH of 6.5, compared to a thatch accumulation of 6.3 mm. and a pH of 6.3 for non-treated control turf. ELECTIONS New PGMS officers elected Members of the Professional Grounds Management Society cast their ballots during their annual conference in Kansas City, Mis- souri for new officers to lead them in 1981. Having been elected last year to serve as president-elect, John R. Van Vorst advanced au-tomatically to the presidency this year. He is a former treasurer of the society and a past award winner in the Grounds Maintenance Awards Program. Mr. Van Vorst is super-visor of parks for Tenafly, N.J. The new president-elect, E. Earl Wilson, is a founder and charter member of the Southern Ohio Branch of PGMS, and was active in the founding of the new Miami Valley of Ohio branch. Vice presi-dent of National PGMS in 1980 and board member for three years, Mr. Wilson is vice president of Thornton-Wilson, Inc., Maineville, Ohio. Vice President Fred Rigger has been a national board member for the past three years, a director of the Free State branch of PGMS, and co-chairman of the 1979 an-nual conference. Mr. Rigger is assistant manager in charge of grounds for the Padonia Swim Club in Cockeysville, Maryland. Treasurer Robert Fisher, elected to a second term, is a past national PGMS president and has been a PGMS member since 1940. Mr. Fisher is a consulting horticul-turist and is retired from the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, Mount Vernon, Vir- ginia. Joining these officers in the executive committee will be Im-mediate Past President William H. Link, Century Development Cor-poration, Houston, Texas; and Allan Shulder, Executive Director of PGMS, Baltimore, Maryland. Elected to serve three year terms on the board of directors were J. Paul Barefoot, chief of grounds maintenance, landscaping and transportation division, U.S. Sol-diers' Home, Washington, D.C.; Phil Lee, parts manager for the Cornell Equipment Company of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Fred A. Lennertz, Jr., superintendent of grounds and transportation for Indiana University-Perdue University in Indianapolis, In-diana. Appointed to serve during 1981 on the board of directors replacing Robert Peters, who resigned, George Eib served as the commit-tee chairman for the 1980 annual conference. Mr. Eib is superin-tendent of forestry and land-scaping for the Parks and Recrea-tion Department of Kansas City, Missouri. Other members of the current PGMS board of directors were Clarence Davids, Sr., Blue Island, Illinois; Kenneth Rust, Zionsville, Indiana; Len Spencer, Houston, Texas. TAKE YOUR ORDER. The patented ChemLawn Gun. The best gun in the business (800) 321-5325ŠNationwide (800) 362-7413ŠIn Ohio LESC^ PRODUCTS Division of Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. 300 South Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 (216)323-7544 CO © 0) O ? o a> o c * CD O < ® o o 3 3 C CD CD O CD < >-o S! o® o a Z o 0) 1 3 O 5 ° y ® CD 3 CD Q. C CO -o Ł8 8 » ; Ł CD ICDQ-W o c 5 3 52. w ® 2 w ® CO H £ U CO o ? I CO 8 $ 8 8 <0 o Mail To: Company Name Your Title First Initial --Š Š Š Š Š © Š Š Š Š Š Š Š Š f ST Š -Š Š 3 £ © CO Š Š Š Š © Š Š Š Š Š Š Š Š ro IM Ik) ro ro ro -» ro -» IV o> ui* to ob>j ŁŁ Ł Uf if fi» C I 3 C § Ł ° llf&iffr S» _ » 3 | g av»uo Š A u u uuuu ro -»OtOS>J Si CT> mXUM Ł ŁŁŁŁ » ŁŁŁŁŁ = liSigHiilSKlIll! iiP§ii 2SS2 cn 0(2)001| St? ft if {ills 1 81 i-lsl s1 ? V n jT 5 0 ? Ł Ł it*! 1 £ I ptlS till 2|»i si® JANUARY 1981 (Expires in 60 days) reader service card Use this card to obtain more information...fast. y in 1] 8 CL o UJ z C t CO 5 to £ UJ a. CO CD (O to < -I o D LONG LASTING CHIPCO 26019 IS STRONG MEDICINE, FOR LAWN DISEASE PREVENTION. What do you say to a customer when the fungicide you're using on his lawn fails to keep turf diseases from breaking out between treatments? Even if the customer thinks that a lack of water is causing that brown, burned look, you know better. Now you can prevent major lawn diseasesŠwithout making extra service callsŠwith CHIPCO 26019 fungicide. Chipco 26019 gives you the longest residual on the market. Long enough for you to effectively prevent diseases with your established spray schedule. When diseases threaten your customers' lawns-and your reputation-don't make excuses for a fungicide that fails,or doesn't last. Make sure, with Chipco 26019. It's the long last-ing, strong medicine for lawn disease prevention. For de-tails, ask your chemical distributor, or contact: Rhone Poulenc Chemical Co., Agrochemical Div., Rhone Poulenc Inc. Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. (gfaHdNe.POULENC Write 119 on reader service card Ł Please read label carefully, and use only as directed. 32 BEHIND THIS ISSUE 2 < E-C/3 D 5 2 w < u 2 £ < Šj The first Professional Lawn Care Association of America Conference and Trade Show is history, but here are a few postscripts. One is from a founding member, the other from one of PLCAA's newest members. First, Paul Hairston of Vitalawn Chemical Lawn Care, Jeffersontown, Ky. writes: "I was so proud of us. Just over a year ago 24 or so of us founded the PLCAA, and then we had more than 700 participants at our first convention. It was great to meet fellow lawn care businessmen from all over the country. We are indeed a fraternal bunch. We all have obsession for success, have an automatic appreciation for the necessary 14-hour days and understand the importance of good employees and keeping the customer first but our most valuable asset is each other." Then came the letter from Richard Steinau, president of Greenlon, Inc., Cincinnati: "I must tell you, since the inception of PLCAA I have, at best, been skeptical of the intentions of the founding members. I felt they were aiming towards a self-serving goal. You know, the 'Let's-give-ourselves-a-title-and-fool-the-public' syndrome many new service industries go through. 'Okay,' I said to myself, Til go to their meeting just to prove these people are not ready to stand on the pedestal they are building for themselves.' Well, now I have attended, I owe this written apology to the organizing members and to those who had faith from the start. The entire conference was impressive and tremen-dously informative. I have now joined the PLCAA and have offered my services to the board of directors as an expression of confi-dence to this new organization. Companies of all sizes and services can and will benefit from the work this association is doing and I strongly advise anyone in the lawn care industry to join. "Any of you who are hesitant to join are invited to contact this former doubter." U My CLASSIFIED RATES: 40* per word (minimum charge, $15). Bold face words or words in all capital letters charged at 60* per word. Boxed or display ads charged at $40 per column inch (one inch minimum). Agency commissions will be given only when camera-ready art is provided by agency. For ads using blind box number, add $5 to total cost of ad. Send ad copy with payment to Dawn Anderson, LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, 1 East First Street, Duluth, MN 55802. BOX NUMBER REPLIES: Mail box number replies to: LAWN CARE IN-DUSTRY, Classified Ad Department, 120 W. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802. Please include box number in address. HELP WANTED LAWN CARE MANAGER in training Š An exceptional opportunity for a self-starting, ambitious, hard worker with a young but prominent lawn care company. Training will be intensive and thorough as you assist in manag-ing our company owned outlet serving Chicagolana's southwestern suburbs. Within a year or two there is a possibility of transferring to another city to manage the supervision and servicing of our franchises in that area. The ideal candidate will have super- visory experience and a good working knowledge of lawn and tree care. A personable manner and well- developed communication skills are a must. Competitive salary and benefits. Send resume and salary history requirements in confidence to: Spring-Green Lawn Care Corporation, P.O. Box 908, Naperville, Illinois 60540. EXPANDING EASTERN PENNSYL-VANIA lawn care company needs experienced manager. Excellent op- portunity for individual willing to put in the effort. Background should be either chemical lawn care or in land-scape maintenance. Individual will needs strong supervisory background to take care of our growing operation. This is a ground floor opportunity with many possibilities for advance- ment. We currently service over 1600 accounts, with plans to double within 18 months. Write LCI Box 34. Rapidly expanding maintenance pro-gram seeks individual with at least 5 years experience at supervisory levels. Must be skilled at crew organization, customer relations, plant pathology, irrigation troubleshooting and pest control application. Good salary, commission, company truck, paid health insurance etc. Send resume to: AAA Landscape, 3139 East Price, Tucson, Arizona 85716. MANAGER needed for lawn care company in Houston, Texas. Must have sales experience and be aggres-sive. Long working hours all year. Turf knowledge is a must. Answer this ad ONLY if you feel you fit this descrip- tion. Excellent salary, great benefits and best opportunity for advancement in the lawn care industry! Send re-sume and include present salary re-quirements and financial expectations for next 1,2,3,4,5 years. Write LCI Box 41. Career opportunity in Pittsburgh. Chemical lawn care company desires Senior Applicator. Excellent salary, benefits and bonus with outstanding future. Turf experience necessary with excellent past employment history. Send resume to LCI Box 38. HELP WANTED: GENERAL MAN-AGER: For a success orientated chemi-cal lawn care firm in the Washington, D.C. area. We are erowing and need a take charge individual to lead the way. A thorough working knowledge of liquid & granular applications is re-quired and at least (2) two years management experience. Send resume and salary history to: Dennis J. McNeil, Johnson Lawn Systems, Inc., 13760 Travilah Road, Rockville, Maryland 20850. TURF SPECIALIST Š FOREMAN, WITH DEGREE OR EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY, TO HEAD FER-TILIZING DEPARTMENT FOR WELL -ESTABLISHED CUSTOM LAND-SCAPE FIRM. RUTLAND NURSE-RIES, INC., EMERALD RD., RUT-LAND, MA. 01543. 617-886-4972. FOR SALE 1979 LAWN SPRAY TRUCK, 750 gallon compartmentalized tank. 15,000 miles. Electric hose, reel. $9,950 Like new. Call for photo & details. 216-357-8400. LAWN SPRAYING BUSINESS. Estab-lished Ohio liquid lawn care business for sale. 5000 accounts. Six figure selling price. Owner could assist buyer. Write LCI Box 29. CLEVELAND AREA OPPORTUNITY Š Landscape and lawn care business for sale. Turn key operation available with or without property and build-ings. Sales exceeding one million annually. Terms available. Write LCI Box 28. FOR SALEŠ2-1976, 2-1977, 4-1978 Chevy One-ton spray trucks. 750 gal. steel tanks, hose & electric reels, mech. & by-pass agitation. Low mileage. All in good shape and ready to spray. Phone 513-845-0631. Ask for Charlie Pratt. For Sale: Jacobsen F133, power driven reels, 133" cut. $3200.00. Box 1845, Athens, GA 30601. FOR SALE: Lawn maintenance busi-ness. Working partner or buyer wanted for $100,000 gross mowing operation. $10,000 minimum investment. Write LCI Box 30. FOR SALE: Electric Addressograph Multigraph, model 1900, and electric typewriter plate maker. (Graph-O-Type) metal frames and plates, for 6,000 customers, storage drawers and cabinets. Used for routing, invoicing and advertising. Addressograph has many features such as: manual or automatic feeding of plates, automatic skip or repeat control and automatic counter. All in excellent condition. An $8,000.00 value for $3,600.00 com-plete. Call 216-351-3885 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. weekdays. Lawnco, Inc., 4900 Van Epps Road, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio 44131. Move to Colorado. Booming Land-scape Maintenance business in large metro area. Established commercial contractsŠExcellent potential; terms available (owner will carry). Write LCI Box 39. For SaleŠLawn care and landscape business. Established 5 years. Excel-lent clientele, high potential, equip-ment top shape, $50,000 gross, owner could assist buyer. Located in Zanes-ville, Ohio. Jim Drake, 58 Spreading Oaks Village, Athens, Ohio 45701. 614-592-2122, Whole business or equipment only. For Sale: Davis Trimline 70. New teeth. $1000.00. Box 1845, Athens, GA 30601. For Sale: Automatic Lawn combine. 4 granular bins, 2 seed bins, aerates, rolls, sprays liquids. . . . just rebuilt. . . . plus Cub 128 tractor . . . plus trailer to carry. Ready to go. $4500.00. Box 1845, Athens, GA 30601 For Sale: 1976 GMC 6500 series lawn spray truck. Allison automatic trans-mission, 1500 gallon fiberglass tank, electric hosereel and hose, Meyer 200 6 gpm centrifugal pump. Will handle liquid or solids. Ideal for nurse truck as well as spray truck. Complete $10,500 or cab and chassis only $4,500. 312-438-5161. MISCELLANEOUS PREPARE NOW to increase next year's profits. "Garden Tips" the monthly customer newsletter with your company name/phone. Proven response . . . cements customer rela- tions, gets them to spend more, opens new doors expertly in new expansion areas. Low cost, effective profit build- ing. Call today 516-538-6444, we'll send complete information or write: Garden Tips, Box 117, Garden City, NY 11530. OPPORTUNITY! If you have 500 or more lawn service customers, spray or dry, we have a proven way for you to definitely create $25,000 or more of bonus net profit this year. No invest-ment, equipment, additional person- nel or big promotion outlay required. We are not selling franchises or any- thing. We remain independent and cooperate for mutual benefit. This project is largely off-season. Please write and include brief confidential idea of your business scope. Write to LCI Box 40. KELWAY® SOIL ACIDITY TESTER, used by PROFESSIONALS nation-wide. Direct reading, lightweight, portable, fully serviceable, no power source. Model HB-2 reads moisture too. Available through distributors. For brochure contact Kel Instruments Co., Inc., Dept. L, P.O. Box 1869, Clifton, N.J. 07015. 201-471-3954. WANTED TO BUY ACQUISITIONS WANTED: Lawn service company seeking growth through acquisition. Seeking firms servicing between 400 and 1,500 cus- tomers. Team up with experience. Key people retained. Smooth transition. Flexible. Write LCI Box 19. ADVERTISERS Agro-Chem, Inc 13 American Pelletizing 24 Andersons (The) 25 Cleary Chemical Corp., W.A 27 Consolidated Sales & Service, Inc 24 Cushman Turf 22 Diamond Shamrock/AG Chem Div 33 Dow Chemical U.S.A 2, 3 Finn Equipment Co 15 Green Thumb Lawn Service 14 Hypro Division/Lear Siegler 15 International Seed Inc 21 Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co 30 Lebanon Chemical Corp 20 Lofts Pedigree Seed 34 Mauget Company, J.J 26 Mitsubishi Agricultural 17 Monsanto 5 Professional Turf Specialties 20 Rhone-Poulenc, Inc 31 Stauffer Chemical Co./Agri Chem Div 18, 19 3M Company 28, 29 Torco Equipment Co 7 Tuco Agricultural Chemicals 16 Union Carbide 8, 9, 10 USS Agri Chemicals 23 f ) Tough, hard-to-get weeds such as crabgrass and Poa annua are no match for Dacthal W-75 preemergence herbicide. Fact is, Dacthal delivers effective control of more than 20 unwanted broadleaf weeds and grasses and does it better than any other herbi- cide. In the 20 years since it was first introduced, Dacthal has become the standard of excellence for preemergence weed control in turf. Dacthal kills weeds as they germinate. So they never get a chance to compete with turf for nutrients, moisture and light. Turf gets all the room it needs to grow and flourish. What's more, Dacthal can be used for reliable and consistent weed control, year after year. For getting rid of unwanted broadleaf weeds and grasses, make it Dacthal, that's all. It'll do a job for you just like it's doing for the lawn care industry. You can count weeds out when you count on Dacthal W-75. Always follow label directions carefully when using turf chemicals. Diamond Shamrock AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS DIVISION 1100 Superior Avenue Cleveland. Ohio 44114 Write 107 on reader service card Stop crabgrass with Dacthal. Count on it, Ł . Ł . *W>: £ . I blue, than There's no rass better III IT KENTUCKY BLUB « Philip Horowitz: Lawn Doctor of Edison/Metuchen, New Jersey 'Baron assures me of quick germination, a deep green color and a thick stand. That's what my customers want. That's what Baron gives them. Of course there are those homeowners who abuse their lawns. Baron stands up to more of this abuse better than any other bluegrass. 'I'm convinced the less nitrogen you use, the less disease you'll have. Baron performs very well with less fertilizer than other bluegrasses. Plus Baron has a natural disease resistance all its own. My customers love trouble-free lawns. 'I service a heck of a lot of lawns each year and I get a fantastic renewal rate. I must be doing something right. Dealing with Lofts has surely been a help. They're reliable. When they say they'll deliver.. .they deliver. Today, that's almost miraculous. I know Baron and Lofts will continue to be a major part of my program for a long time to come." Write 115 on reader service card LOFTS Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Inc. Bound Brook. N.J. 08805 / (201) 356-8700 Lofts/New England Arlington, Mass. 02174 617-648-7550 Great Western Seed Co. Albany, Ore. 97321 503-926-2636 Lofts Kellogg Seed Co. Milwaukee, Wis. 53201 414-276-0373 Lofts/New York Cambridge, N.Y. 12816 518-677-8808 Lofts/Maryland Landover, Md. 20785 301-322-8111 Oseco Ltd. Ontario, Canada 416-457-5080 IJERVKE f/y LAWN* DOCTOR