Turftenders

Oct 9, 2018

Greenscape merges with Turftenders in North Carolina The merger helps Greenscape expand into the Triangle area. RALEIGH, N.C. – Greenscape recently announced its merger with Turftenders, a Raleigh landscaping company that was established in 1981 and is owned and operated by Steve Hill. Turftenders brings a team of over 35 employees to Greenscape, a commercial landscaping company that has served the North Carolina's "Triangle area" for nearly 40 years. With current branch locations in Raleigh, Durham, and Holly Springs, the merger allows for further expansion with an additional branch in north Raleigh, which will be led by Hill. Greenscape retains all of Turftenders staff, and also intends to add several new positions to the team. “Turftenders is a good fit strategically, logistically and culturally with our current business and helps move us towards our vision for the future," says Greenscape president Daniel Currin. Atlantic Water Gardens acquired by OASE Living Water OASE, based in Germany, hopes the Atlantic Water Gardens deal will help the company dive into the North American market. Headquartered in Hörstel, Germany, OASE provides water gardening products. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Atlantic Water Gardens has a 30-year history of supplying professional grade water feature products to landscape contractors through distribution channels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. “We have been collaborating with European landscapers for years and see an opportunity to build on this experience with professional contractors in the North American market,” said OASE CEO Thorsten Muck. “We are excited about this expansion as it gives us the opportunity to work with the highly respected and talented team at Atlantic. Their product range and expertise will enhance our ability to serve an even broader range of customers world-wide.”  “Joining forces with OASE will provide excellent channels to deliver our state-of-the-art water features to landscapers beyond North America. What’s more, OASE’s wide range of premium water gardening equipment is highly complementary to Atlantic’s systems and projects,” said Jeff Weemhoff,  the president of Atlantic Water Gardens. “We look forward to providing OASE’s cutting edge, German-engineered technology to our clientele. Together, we will create the most innovative and comprehensive water gardening business in North America.” Weemhoff added, “Whether the beginning hobbyist or the professional landscaper – by reaching out to a more diverse base of water garden enthusiasts, our goal is to transform and inspire the North American water gardening industry.”  Our October issue is now live, which means you can read our annual State of the Industry section and see who won some of our  Leadership Awards . In the State of the Industry Report, we identified how contractors are facing some of their biggest problems head-on, which includes keeping legal under a heightened focus on H-2B. We not only checked the industry's pulse this month, but we also sat down with some of the field's most seasoned veterans and emerging leader s. Plus, we caught up with the 2018 Turnaround Tour winners to see what changes Harvest Group Landscape Business Consulting has recommended this time around. Also inside, you'll read about best practices to introduce GPS tracking systems without irking employees, ways to put fire at the forefront of your hardscape designs, and why keeping fun around the workplace is so essential. The Aspire Software Company announced the addition of Matt Winn to the company. Winn will join the team as an account manager, with primary responsibility for maintaining Aspire’s level of service through the software implementation process. Winn comes to Aspire with 10 years of account management experience, including many years as the general manager for a turfgrass management company. Prior to joining Aspire, he was the account manager for a landscape company in Nashville, Tenessee, where he managed the recurring services for more than 50 commercial and high-end residential accounts. His job responsibilities will include training and supporting Aspire clients in all areas of the software during their deployment, go-live and ongoing use. “We are pleased to add Matt to an already great team of 13 Account Managers implementing our software in companies across the country. Matt’s industry experience and work with production software will add value to the clients that he implements on Aspire,” said Aspire director of client services Bryan Mours. “ In addition to his professional experience, he is a Certified Lawn Care Manager through the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and was also awarded the 2017 Rookie Account Manager of the Year. Winn attended Middle Tennessee State University, majoring in Business Management and minoring Accounting. Booth #1054 In response to the growing compact track loader market, New Holland Construction designed its most powerful vertical lift compact track loader yet. The C245 CTL offers an operating capacity of 4,500 pounds, breakout force of 9,188 pounds and enhanced cab comfort and visibility. In addition to power and lift capacity, operators can perform quick maintenance with the flip-top cab. C245 “The trend in the industry is for larger machines that are capable of doing more work in a shorter amount of time,” says Ryan Anderson, New Holland Compact Track Loader product marketing manager. “The 90-HP C245 not only delivers more power, more lift capacity, more hydraulic horsepower and more hydraulic flow, the rugged construction, smooth, stable ride and operators to work with more confidence and speed.” Operators can empty the bucket faster and easier, which in turn increases cycle times. “Whether loading gravel into a truck, stacking dense, heavy bales, placing pallets of brick, block or sod, or lifting and carrying other heavy materials, the bigger, beefier C245 is exceptionally productive,” says Anderson. Exmark Booth #7080 Exmark will launch a new commercial stand-on riding mower at GIE+EXPO 2018. The new machine delivers the commercial-grade performance, durability, ergonomics and ease of service landscape professionals need to maximize productivity and profitability. A low center of gravity design optimizes weight distribution for increased stability and traction. Exmark’s exclusive UltraCut cutting decks are available in a wide range of cut widths, including a compact 32-inch model designed to fit through gates as narrow as 36-inches. Exmark is also giving away one of the new models in its booth (#7080) on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 4:00p.m. PERC Booth #7094 Contractors who visit booth #7094 at GIE+EXPO can enter their name into a drawing for a chance to win a 16-foot Big Tex trailer loaded up with an Exmark propane-powered mower, tools, and accessories from the Propane Education & Research Council. The trailer is central to PERC’s 2018 booth theme that showcases how propane equipment can help a contractor’s business over the long haul. “We’ve seen time and again that once a landscape contractor tries propane equipment for the first time, they don’t turn back,” said Jeremy Wishart, director of off-road business development for PERC. “Propane offers contractors so many long-term business benefits, including lower fuel costs, a cleaner operation, and more productivity all season long.” To enter the contest is visit PERC’s booth and sign up for The Cut, a quarterly e-newsletter from PERC that offers business tips, propane facts, and peer case studies. Contractors must be present in the booth at 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 18 when the drawing takes place in order to win. In addition to the trailer itself, the winning contractor will also take home the following tools and accessories: An Exmark Lazer Z S-series propane 60” zero-turn mower. A propane grill. Project EverGreen Booth #365 To help green industry professionals attending the GIE + EXPO say “thank you” to our nation’s heroes, Project EverGreen will sponsor a thank you card writing initiative. The cards will be delivered to military personnel through Operation Gratitude , a national organization that provides care packages and messages of appreciation to military members. “Sometimes the simplest gestures mean the most and taking a few minutes to write a note of appreciation is a way all members of the green industry can thank our military personnel for their sacrifice and service to our country,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “We encourage all attendees of the GIE + EXPO to stop by our booth, complete a card and learn more about our GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops programs.” Attendees can stop by the Project EverGreen booth (# 365) to write their note on a special pre-printed postcard. Attendees writing a note will be eligible to be entered into a drawing to possibly win a Yeti 35” Tundra cooler. Attendees of the GIE + EXPO can also enter to win a Yeti cooler by picking up a Project EverGreen Passport Card and collecting stamps at any of the following participating partner booths:   Nufarm Booth #22110 Nufarm will highlight Sure Power Selective Herbicide, a new standard in weed control, that provides fast early-season and late-season control of more than 250 challenging broadleaf weeds. “In many ways, we’re seeing Sure Power take the professional lawn and landscape market by storm. It’s an exciting new label that is producing excellent cleanup of typically tough challenges like ground ivy and wild violet,” said Sean Casey, Nufarm VP Turf and Ornamental Sales. GIE attendees can visit Nufarm booth #22110 to tour a live display of wild violet takedown. Presentations will take place Thursday, Oct. 18 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with Jason Fausey, Ph.D. Visitors can also join the Sure Power interactive training experience during all booth hours. The first 15 Sure Power training participants will receive a Nufarm “Power Pack,” including a solar-charged power bank. Attendees can alternatively earn the power prize (while supplies last) by registering for Nufarm Edge Rewards, the 2019 early order program, at the booth. View eligible products and use the Nufarm Edge Rewards Calculator to review your savings potential at the booth. GIE attendees can claim a gift for visiting Project Evergreen’s Green Care for Troops at booth #365 and visiting its sponsors, including Nufarm. GreenCare for Troops connects green industry professionals with opportunities to volunteer lawn and landscaping services to help deserving military families with a deployed service member. Also at the Nufarm booth, a live drawing will be held on Oct. 19 at 11:00 a.m. for a portable jump starter.