FEATURES
Recipe for Success

by Brooke A. Rockwell

Years ago, I was given a recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Admittedly, I don’t recall having made those cookies myself until recently. I began to crave some oatmeal chocolate chip cranberry cookies, and, as luck would have it, a local restaurant had them for dessert one day when I went out to lunch. I don’t even remember the meal, I just couldn’t wait to taste those cookies. Unfortunately, they were not the cookies of my dreams.

Taking matters into my own hands, I went home and got the recipe out of the box. The recipe called for nuts, but I didn’t want nuts, so I left them out. It didn’t include cranberries, but I wanted cranberries, so I added them in. The result: my absolute favorite cookies (at least for now).

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUTH ELKIN/SXC.HU.

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands, and you’ve got to mix up the ingredients a little to achieve the desired outcome. You might have noticed that we’ve been tweaking the ingredients here. You still have all the elements of Turf, and we’ve added Landscape & Hardscape Design-Build into the mix.

One thing that is becoming more evident is that many of you are doing it all for your clients. You design the landscape plan; spec the products; install the lighting, pavers, turf, fencing, etc.; and then you get the contract for the maintenance. We’re following your lead.

Whether your company has separate divisions for installations and maintenance, or if it’s just you and your crew, we’re doing it all for you in our magazine within a magazine. Now that Landscape & Hardscape Design-Build is included within Turf, there’s no need to go anywhere else to find all the inspiration, tools and techniques you need to get the job done.

When LHCSite.com joined LawnSite.com, it was an instant success with the 90,000-plus LawnSite members. The newly renamed Design-BuildSite.com focuses on the install side of the business, with forums on commercial landscaping, irrigation, hardscaping, lighting and water features.

This month’s issue of Landscape & Hardscape Design-Build will give you a taste of what’s to come with our feature article on decorative stone trends for 2010. You’ll also find the annual Buyer’s Guide, with products listed by category and an alphabetical list of manufacturers, complete with contact information and Web site addresses. Many of them will be familiar, and there’ll be some new names on the list you’re going to want to contact before starting your next job. The 2009 Buyer’s Guide will also be posted online at lhdesignbuild.com, where you can search by company name, product category or by location.

In the December issue, along with articles that target options for landscape design, there will be stories that focus solely on the build portion of jobs.

As we make our way into 2010, softscapes will take the stage with ideas for shade gardens, xeriscaping and ground covers. Tree planting basics, bed edging, soil renovation and mulch options are other topics on the horizon.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started in the hardscapes arena, you’re sure to find something to help you on your next project. Articles will cover fence installation, lighting layout ideas and even a kitchen in a kit.

We’ll help you keep on top of what’s new in the industry with our Design Innovations and Equipment Introductions sections, which will highlight new products and the latest in equipment for all your projects.

Drop me a line and let me know what you think of the new layout, what you’d like to see for future articles, or send me some pictures of your latest project, and tell me what inspired you.

Brooke A. Rockwell
Editor
brockwell@MooseRiverMedia.com