National Mall Lawn Restoration, Swingle and LawnAmerica Merger: This Week’s Industry News

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Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry.

Senske acquires Lucky Lawns in Idaho
Senske Lawn & Tree Care, headquartered in Kennewock, Washington, has acquired Lucky Lawns LLC, a lawn and tree care provider based in Meridian, Idaho. Lucky Lawns, manager and owner Jeffery Simpson established the company in 2007. Effective immediately, those customers will be serviced by Senske Lawn & Tree Care’s Meridian location, said a press release from the company. Senske, founded in 1947, offers lawn and tree services in locations across the Intermountain West.

Swingle Grows its Multi-Regional Presence by Merging with LawnAmerica
Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, announced a meerger with Tulsa, Oklahoma-based LawnAmerica on September 20. The merger results in Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care owning the majority of the assets of LawnAmerica, which has been in business since 1999. LawnAmerica employs approximately 60 people and is active in the Tulsa, Oklahoma City and portions of the North Carolina/South Carolina markets. Both companies will continue to operate as independent businesses, but will explore new ways to combine resources, experience and share best practices.

Massive Turfgrass Makeover Being Readied for Inauguration
Do you feel like your operation can handle a $40 million lawn restoration? Your first response might be “No, we’ll have to pass.” Your second response might be “Who has that kind of money anyway?” The answer: the federal government, of course. The $40 million figure refers to the cost of the reconstruction of the huge ribbon of turfgrass on the National Mall between Third and 14th Streets. Turfgrass? Actually, prior to the reconstruction of 18 acres of one of Washington D.C.’s most iconic features most of that area was little more than dirt. It was so badly compacted that not even weeds flourished there. That’s what happens to a lawn when it hosts 33,000 events and is traversed by the feet of as many as 33 people annually. In a recent Washington Post article, diagrams show how our national lawn is being revived and how it will be maintained so that it stays green and attractive into the future.

NALP Offers New Event for Young Professionals at LANDSCAPES 2016
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) is hosting a new Young Professionals networking community at LANDSCAPES 2016, in Louisville, Kentucky, October, 19-21, thanks to Brett Lemcke, NALP president and vice president of R.M. Landscape in Hilton, New York and NALP member, Kelly Dowell, business developer, Dowco Enterprises Inc. in Chesterfield, Missouri. NALP will host a free networking reception for young professionals (under 40) during LANDSCAPES, on October 19, from 9-11 p.m. in the Louisville Downtown Marriott. RSVP to NALP membership manager, Andrea Berberick, at andrea@landscapeprofessionals.org or 703-456-4211.

Project Evergreen Urges Municipalities to Enter “Our Winning Green Space” Contest
Project EverGreen, based in Cleveland, Ohio, in partnership with Exmark Manufacturing, the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE) is sponsoring the “Our Winning Green Space” contest to give parks & recreation and public works departments a chance to win an Exmark Lazer Z X-Series mower package – valued at $15,000 – and a “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” renovation project for their city. Municipalities can submit an essay and photos online declaring why their city deserves the new equipment and renovated playing field, and how it will assist them in maintaining a healthier, safer area for kids to play. Submissions can be made at ProjectEverGreen.org through Nov. 1, and the winner will be announced in early December.

ASLA Releases New Guide to Resilient Design
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) launched a new online guide that explains how communities can better protect themselves from natural disasters through resilient landscape planning and design. The Resilient Design Guide is organized around disruptive events that communities now experience: drought, extreme heat, fire, flooding and landslides. Biodiversity loss is an underlying threat also explored. The guide includes hundreds of case studies and resources demonstrating multi-benefit systems as well as small-scale solutions. It also explains landscape architects’ role in the planning and design teams helping to make communities more resilient.

CASE & Chris Young Raise $10K for Team Rubicon
The second annual “Labor of Love Music Festival”, hosted by CASE Construction Equipment and headlined by award winning country music star Chris Young on Labor Day 2016, raised $10,000 for Team Rubicon. The festival began as a way of connecting veterans with jobs and training in the skilled trades.

Schill Grounds Management Achieves SN 9001 Certification
Schill Grounds Management, a groundskeeping and snow removal company serving commercial properties in Northeast Ohio, recently earned SN 9001 quality management system (QMS) certification after an audit by Smithers Quality Assessments (SQA). Adherence to SN 9001 ensures that snow contractors have the correct documentation in place to protect themselves and their businesses against liability claims.

California Mandates Labeling Requirements for Landscape Irrigation Equipment
Governor Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 1928 that resets deadlines for the California Energy Commission. The Bill establishes water efficiency performance standards and labeling requirements for landscape irrigation equipment by Jan. 1, 2018, reports the Lake County Record-Bee. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Energy Commission (CEC) have created and approved strict water efficiency standards for indoor water fixtures and appliances. However, there has been no standard or labeling requirements for landscape irrigation equipment, despite the fact that landscaper irrigation comprises about half of residential water use.

Armyworms Invade Oklahoma Lawns and Pastures
Armyworms are showing up on Oklahoma and pastures lawns earlier and more aggressively than year’s past, reports newson6.com. “The feeding activity by flocks of birds can serve as a sign that armyworms are present,” reports Eric Rebek, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension entomologist. If your lawn looks drought-stressed despite getting plenty of water that could be another sign you’ve been invaded. If you suspect armyworms, insect the turf carefully; you will see them. There are a number of insecticides that can be used to control them, Rebek adds.

New England GROWS Promises Powerful Education Program
NewEnglandGROWS will be help November 30 – December 2 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. A variety of education seminars, all taught by leading practitioners and approved for pesticide license recertification credit, will be taught at New England GROWS, including:

  • Can Insect Pests be Managed Organically? – Michael Raupp, Ph.D., University of Maryland
  • Climate Change & the Impact on Tree-Insect Interactions – Daniel A. Herms. Ph.D., The Ohio State University
  • Planning for Sustainable Landscape Management – Bruce Fraedrich, Ph.D., Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
  • New Management Strategies & Planting Practices in the Urban Forest – Richard Harper, University of Massachusetts
  • Turf Diseases: Taking Control Using Management & Mowing Strategies – John Inguagiato, Ph.D., University of Connecticut
  • Why Do We Have Problems with the Same Old Pests? – Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension
  • Target the Turf: Environmental Management Consideration – Mary Owen, University of Massachusetts
  • Mosquito Smackdown: What You Can Do to Stop the Bite – Michael Raupp, Ph.D., University of Maryland
  • What’s Ahead in Insect Pest Management – Richard Casagrande, Ph.D., University of
    Rhode Island
  • Turf Weed Watch: What to Look Out for in the Year Ahead – James T. Bosnan, Ph.D., The University of Tennessee

UMass Offers ‘Managing P in Organic Residuals Applied to Soils’ Symposium
Turf managers who use composts, biosolids and other organic materials may be challenged to continue to use these materials without exceeding acceptable levels of soil phosphorus (P), particularly given recent Massachusetts regulations that limit P applications. Industry experts from UMass, UConn, UMaine, Cornell, Penn State and beyond will convene for a day-long symposium November 2 at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and share how to develop a balanced system for the use of organics, with all their benefits, without adding to the potential for negative environmental impacts caused by P leaching and runoff.

SiteOne Acquires Glen Allen Nursery in Virginia
SiteOne Landscape Supply, headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, keeps growing ­— one company at a time. In mid September SiteOne picked up Glen Allen Nursery & Garden Center in Richmond, Virginia. Glen Allen Nursery is a 13-year-old nursery landscape supply company serving contractors and homeowners. Earlier this year SiteOne also acquired Blue Max Materials in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bissett in New York City and Hydro-Scape Products in San Diego.

Takeuchi Adds Pennsylvania Dealer to its Network
Compact equipment manufacturer Takeuchi-US added Norris Sales Company in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, as its newest dealer on the East Coast. The full-service dealer began operations in 1956 also has a location in Sicklerville, New Jersey. The dealer will sell and service Takeuchi equipment in five counties in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia. They will feature the entire Takeuchi lineup of excavators, skid steers, track loaders and wheel loaders.

Unique Lighting Systems Partners with Landscape Today, LLC
Unique Lighting Systems is pleased has partnered with Landscape Today, LLC, to help service distributors and contractors in Georgia. Landscape Today, based in Roswell, Georiga, is a sales agency with 25 years of experience in the green industry for Georgia, the Carolinas and Alabama. Unique Lighting’s partnership with Landscape Today comes just after the addition of Tim McKay in the Midwest region, a clear indication that Unique Lighting is looking to expand its reach and dedication to servicing its customer partners

Toro’s Inge Bisconer to Receive IA Industry Achievement Award
Inge Bisconer, technical marketing and sales manager for Toro’s Micro-Irrigation Business, will receive the Irrigation Association’s Industry Achievement Award for 2016. In her 35 years in the industry, Bisconer is a leader in helping agricultural growers improve profitability and sustainability through improved water and resource use efficiency, reports the company. Bisconer will receive the Industry Achievement Award at the Irrigation Association Show and Conference that will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December 2016.

Aquascape Boosts Customer Care Team with New Hires
Aquascape, responding to growing in interest in landscape water features, announced four new hires:

  • Michael Hammer was named national sales manager, coming from Rugby IPD Corp where he served as general manager of the Chicago distribution center and as partner in $120 million wholesale distribution.
  • Ruben Gonzalez is Aquascape’s newest territory sales manager. He previously worked at TruGreen Chemlawn, Ewing Irrigation and Horizon Irrigation.
  • Brad Heuser joined the company as inside sales representative, most recently serving at In the Swim, a manufacturer of pool supplies.
  • Lori Noethen was also hired as an inside sales representative. Noethen spent six years working in the pool industry earning valuable product knowledge.

Dosatron Names Lee Wonders National Sales Manager
Dosatron International, Inc., named Lee Wonders as national sales manager – Horticulture. Lee brings over 22 years of horticulture experience to Dosatron, as a nursery grower, owner, and manager. During his eight years of selling allied supplies to nursery growers, he built strong relationships with his customers and looks forward to building more relationships with new and existing Dosatron customers.