After an unseasonably cool start to the season, warm weather has swept across the country with some areas in the Midwest and MidAtlantic already hitting the high 80’s and 90’s. This means irrigation contractors are in full swing getting customer’s irrigation systems ready for the season. With all the rush of the season, its important to take some time and …
Ask the Expert: 4 Tips for Landscape Lighting Maintenance Agreements
Just as we plant seeds in the earth and work hard for them to grow, the same can be said for customers. Consider you “planted the seed” of outdoor lighting when you put in an outdoor lighting system for them recently. However, just as your plants need water and sunlight to grow, your customer’s relationship with their outdoor lighting needs …
Ask The Expert: Staying Ahead of Weeds This Summer
The season is in full swing in most parts of the country. This means, as usual, it’s a busy time for applicators and landscape contractors in general. Every season comes with challenges. And this season specifically, we’ve seen a wet, cold spring. This puts applicators behind schedule, causing stress that there is enough time in the day to get pre-emergent …
The Importance of the Follow-Up, and the Art of Doing it Well
We have all been there. You send out a ton of proposals, and then get busy doing other things. Whether you are an independent contractor, a company with a fleet of trucks, or even a wholesaler… there are always proposals, with the right follow-up, that could become sales. Don’t let these missed opportunities become lost revenue just because you never …
Ask the Experts: Healthy Soil – What Is it, and How to Achieve It?
What’s the number one priority when growing and managing turf and landscapes? We checked in with John Huber, our Sustainable Products Leader and a 35-year veteran of the Green Industry to learn more. “I’ll give you a hint. It rhymes with toil,” says John. 1. What Makes Healthy Soil? Soils are similar to our bodies. A healthy soil requires a …
4 Solutions to Questions Commercial Contractors Face at the Start of The Season
As the irrigation season ramps up, commercial contractors are busy with start-ups and a backlog of installation work from the winter months. We checked in with Dave Shane, our Commercial Sales Manager, to discuss several common questions commercial contractors face on a regular basis in design/build installation work and various solutions. 1. Question: Should I install a master valve? Answer: …
3 Tips for Early-Season Marketing and Communication
With spring almost here, it’s time to ensure your business is fully prepared for the season. Just as crucial as making sure your equipment and staffing are ready, is making sure your marketing and communications are also ready. Keeping your customers up-to-date on changes in service or hours, notifying them of new and essential services that you have available (such …
Are You Season Ready? 5 Things to Tackle Before the Start of the Season
We’ve certainly had some unusual winter weather across the country this year, and with spring on the horizon, it’s just a matter of weeks (or days) before you and your team are in the full swing of the season. With that in mind, now is the time to make sure you are ready to start off on the right foot. …
Fertilizer—Why Has My Price Gone Up From Last Year?
The “Perfect Storm” We have seen prices of fertilizer rise dramatically over the last year, but why? There are several factors that go into why prices have increased, culminating in where we are today. In hindsight, 2021 was actually the beginning of this “perfect storm” for price increases. 1. Urea Natural Disasters As you may or may not know, urea …
4 Tips for Adding Value to Your Commercial Irrigation Job Bid
Creating design/builds for commercial irrigation projects can feel like walking a tight rope. You need to find balance between overdesigning, which has the potential to price you out of the market, and under-designing where you may not meet a client’s needs or expectations. When you find the right balance, the opportunity is tremendous and will allow you to outperform and …