Media Brands

For owner-operators

For trucking professionals

For contractors

For dealers and distributors

Data Solutions

Identifying active trucking fleets

Construction market intelligence

Ag equipment valuation data

Heavy equipment data & analytics

Motor carrier risk assessment

Specs, VIN decoding and values

Precision targeting at scale

Learn more about Fusable

Design-Build: Page 117

Video seeks to attract young people to green industry

Finding and keeping good workers is a challenge in any industry, but especially in the green industry. A key issue as to why recruiting quality employees in the landscaping business is so hard is the lack of knowledge about what is really involved. New England Grows and its four founding partner organizations have set about […]

December 1, 2015

Nearly half of fatal falls involve ladder accidents

For anyone who has seen “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” recalling Clark Griswold’s shenanigans on a ladder as he tries to decorate his house is bound to prompt a grin. However, ladder safety isn’t something to joke about. In fact, it’s still a leading cause of unintentional injury mortality nationwide. In the past decade, 43 percent […]

December 1, 2015

For anyone who has seen National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation,” recalling Clark Griswold’s shenanigans on a ladder as he tries to decorate his house is bound to prompt a grin. However, ladder safety isn’t something to joke about. In fact, it’s still a leading cause of unintentional injury mortality nationwide. In the past decade, 43 percent of fatal falls have involved a ladder, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The three most common causes of ladder accidents are using the wrong ladder, using a ladder in poor condition, or using a ladder improperly. So here are some tips to pass along to your employees this holiday season, whether they’re stringing lights or pruning trees later on in winter. Select the right type It is important to use a ladder that is tall enough that it does not require the user to stand on the top three rungs, whether it’s a straight or extension ladder. The ladder also needs to be able to bear the amount of weight that will be on it. Don’t forget that the total weight is the user and whatever tools are being taken up. Ladders are typically made of fiberglass, aluminum or and wood. Aluminum should not be used around electricity or corrosive or flammable materials. Fiberglass and dry wooden ladders are safe around electricity. Inspect first Inspecting a ladder may seem like a waste of time if it was fine the last time you used it, but taking the time to do so could save you from an injury or worse. Ensure there is no slippery or sticky material on the rungs, steps or feet. Check for cracks, splits, dents, frayed rope and the like, and make sure the spreaders are in working order. Any time a ladder has fallen, been dropped or struck by something, it should be examined for possible damage. Defective or unsafe ladders should be removed from use immediately and labeled as such; they should not be used with a temporary fix. Use ladders properly When setting up a ladder, it should be placed 1 foot from the wall for every 4 feet between the base and the support point. Extension ladders need to extend 3 feet beyond the support point. When climbing a ladder, it is important to have slip-resistant shoes. Also, remember to wipe off any mud or slippery substances from shoe soles. Maintain three points of contact at all times by either keeping two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body centered on the ladder. Be sure not to lean too far in either direction; if something is out of reach, get down and move the ladder. Avoid working on a ladder when the weather is windy. Finally, when placing a ladder on frozen surfaces, ensure the safety feet are deep in the ground. Use a claw hammer to dig 2 to 3 inches deep into the surface and place the feet in the hole. If the ladder is on an unstable surface, secure it either on the top or bottom to prevent displacement.

Landscaper charged with gutting yard he once maintained

A landscaper in New Britain, Connecticut, reportedly trashed a lawn with his pickup truck in alleged retaliation for being replaced. According to New Britain Herald, the culprit is 22-year-old Ryan Ragalis, who is now facing charges of first-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, operating with a suspended license, breach of peace, interfering with the police and […]

November 30, 2015

Photo: Examiner.com

Transport crew in style with Toyota’s Tundrasine limo

During the SEMA show we saw a lot of rather complicated concepts. Whether it was Toyota’s minivan-meets-Tacoma “UTV” concept, Honda’s next-gen Ridgeline racer tease or Nissan’s land-speed record racing Titan, truck makers go to great lengths to impress attendees of the show. But one of the more impressive concept trucks at the show this year […]

November 28, 2015

With leather interior and a 5.7-liter V8, this Toyota Tundrasine was among many eye-catching concepts on view at the recent SEMA show. Photo: Equipment World

Rain Bird introduces mobile-ready update of its IQ Platform

Rain Bird says its IQ Platform for central control of irrigation systems can now be used with smartphones and tablets to meet the industry’s growing demand for mobile-compatible water management tools. The mobile update enables irrigation professionals to manage systems from their smartphones and tablets using IQ-Cloud v. 3.0, the company says, noting there are no recurring […]

November 27, 2015

Click to enlarge.

On day of giving thanks, trees should make the list

This Thanksgiving, when counting life’s blessings and listing those things to be grateful for, don’t forget to add trees to the list. It’s easy to forget these silent beauties and the impact they have on our lives. The best way to show gratitude to trees is to give them proper care. Here, from Davey Tree […]

November 26, 2015

From cleaning the air and water to increasing property values, trees do much more than stand around looking beautiful.

Helping your landscaping customers prepare for winter

is coming and while your clients are thinking about poinsettias and Christmas trees, there is still work to be done before snow begins to fall. Here are five things you can remind your customers that they – or, better yet, your crews – should do before the cold sets in for good. Get digging […]

November 25, 2015

Design software company Vectorworks releases 2016 update

The company landscape designers may know as Nemetschek Vectorworks is rebranding itself as simply Vectorworks. The rebrand was announced at the same time the company released the English language version of the 2016 update of its design software. Called Vectorworks 2016, the software release includes more than 100 updates and new features, according to a […]

November 25, 2015

The software maker says landscaping companies will find significant new features for hardscaping in the 2016 version, such as the slope indicator shown here. Photo: Vectorworks

NECA webinar will highlight National Electrical Code changes

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) will play host Dec. 9 to a 90-minute webinar on significant changes in the National Electrical Code. The online session is set for 11 a.m. EST. Every three years, the National Electrical Code is updated to reflect the newest installation practices in the industry. Normally, hundreds of changes are […]

November 24, 2015

How to: Harvesting rainwater is specialized, lucrative

Rainwater harvesting is primarily used for landscape irrigation, although it’s also used as non-potable water for things such as laundry and drinking water.

November 24, 2015

An attractive stone aqueduct from the adjacent building roof brings water to a cistern.

A rose is a rose is a bionic fuel-cell producer

After more than 20 years of research, scientists at Sweden’s Linköping University have managed to install electronic circuitry into a plant, creating a bionic rose. This isn’t the first plant to receive a technological upgrade. Michael Strano, a chemical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, managed to insert carbon nanotubes in spinach […]

November 23, 2015

Photo: Eliot Gomes/Linköping University

California city weighs banning front-yard grass altogether

One California city is planning to update its landscaping ordinance by banning grass in front yards in an attempt to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s turf reduction requirement. The Paso Robles City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday in favor of the ban, which has possible exceptions that allow homeowners to add turf if the proper documents […]

November 23, 2015

Many Californians have swapped out their lush lawns for xeriscapes.

Toro backs Irrigation Foundation’s outreach to next generation

Toro has contributed $20,000 to the Irrigation Foundation to help support the organization’s E3 program, which seeks to attract the next generation into irrigation work through “exposure, experience and education.” Under the E3 program, college professors and other academic officials nominate outstanding students for consideration as E3 learners. Those same officials can apply to be […]

November 23, 2015

Landscaper’s vintage fleet of work trucks drive branding

In reaching back, Michigan landscape company owner Gow Litzenburger has really gone forward. Litzenburger has 36 vintage trucks in his fleet, including models from the 1930s, which have helped his business stand out in a crowded field. Although Harbor Springs is a small town of roughly 1,500 residents, there are several landscaping companies to choose […]

November 21, 2015

Recent research illustrates importance of rotating fungicides

A study conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has revealed that the plant pathogen phytophthora is resistant to the fungicide mefenoxam. The water mold known as phytophthora infects almost any ornamental plant, from landscape trees to small indoor plants, and causes millions of dollars in damage yearly. The […]

November 20, 2015

Phytophthora infestans is the species of fungi that caused the potato blight in Ireland and is still the most destructive of solanaceous crops.

Drought draws grant money; turf-removal incentives climb

The U.S. Department of Labor has released another $6 million to the state of California as part of a National Dislocated Worker Grant to help people whose jobs have been affected by the 4-year-old drought there. The latest grant payment brings the total released to California thus far to $9 million. The first $3 million […]

November 20, 2015

Drought conditions have prevailed for several years now in California and portions of the desert Southwest.

How one small landscaping firm makes the most of their marketing dollars

Marketing for a small landscaper can sometimes feel “like you’re shooting into a black hole,” says Dorene Schuster with Greenleaf Landscaping & Gardens, Greenleaf, Wisconsin, a 2015 Landscaper of the Year finalist. Because of this, Dorene, who owns Greenleaf along with her husband, Ken Schuster, says the couple is not afraid of experimenting. The 45-year-old […]

November 20, 2015

Greenleaf Landscaping & Gardens owners Dorene and Ken Schuster of Greenleaf, Wisconsin.

Legacy of love: 3rd generation Greenleaf Landscaping & Gardens focuses on family, faith

Family runs deep in Greenleaf Landscaping. Ken and Dorene Schuster took over the family firm from Ken’s father in 1984 and now they have all three children – Genine, Monica and Bill, plus a son-in-law, Bryan – working side by side with them. In addition, two of Ken’s brothers, Gregg and Warren, run […]

November 20, 2015

A recent project showcased Greenleaf’s hardscaping skills, creating both a communal area and a path leading to an overlook ideal for private reflection.

Page 117 of 229

Echo demonstrates new battery-powered landscaping equipment at 2026 Power-On-Athon outdoor event

Total Landscape Care's coverage moving to EquipmentWorld.com

On Oct. 1, Fusable will cease production of Total Landscape Care as a stand-alone website and newsletter and will migrate the brand’s existing coverage of the landscaping industry to sister brand Equipment World.

Man operating green and yellow John Deere lawn mower on residential property with brick house and trees

John Deere refines Z700 ZTrak Mower lineup

Red and white zero-turn radius lawn mower displayed on green grass field with trees in background

Kress expands autonomous mowing lineup with new 60-inch Voyager

Two people in purple shirts holding a black and white dog at an equip 2025 event

The TurfMutt Foundation’s signature events set for Equip Expo 2026

Blue tracked skid steer loader clearing brush in autumn forest

Vanquish vegetation: Brush cutters for skid steers and compact track loaders

The Attachments Idea Book

Landscapers use a variety of attachments for doing everything from snow removal to jobsite cleanup, and regardless of how often they are used, every landscaper has a favorite attachment.

Attachments Idea Book Cover