NEWS
January 19, 2012
Right Plant, Right Place! When you match the right plants to the right environment, your plants grow stronger roots and are much healthier!
This link will take you to Florida Friendly Landscaping's Handbook for Right Plant, Right Place!
http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/handbook/Right_Plant-Right_Place.pdf
January 10, 2012
Stop by our Facebook and answer! Performing a site visit today! What type of things are important to you in keeping your landscaping beautiful?
December 21, 2011
GROW: Year End Article
As we reach the end of this year it seems we as landscape professionals find ourselves facing challenges in new forms or in more force. From, pesticide restrictions to increases in fuel and product costs, to strange and more damaging diseases and pests, the coming year is going to be interesting to say the least.
However, I find these challenges refreshing, because I know we will find new ways to innovate and to adapt to the changes that are coming.
It is always so fascinating to see how quickly our industry adapts and improves and how what seemed to be a major defeat turns into great triumph.
Often times I send out these letters and have a new disease to announce, and in most cases there is no treatment and no cure. But with those announcements comes the realization that we must go in a different direction, either through plant choice or plant care. The result tends to be that we improve the look of a community or that we use a more resilient species.
So, what are going to face next year? Change and lots of it, and everyone here at GROW will be ready for it.
Tyler Kaulbars
November 30, 2011
GROW: Article - Sabal Palm Disease & Lady Bugs!
Sabal Palms have recently been plagued in our area by a Phytoplasma. This disease is transported via an insect and is thought to be very difficult if not impossible to manage. Here is an article published in 2008 when it first appeared on the other coast: http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/palm_prod/pdfs/Sabal-palmetto-Infected-with-Phytoplasma-in-Florida.pdf
Evidence points to this disease making its way to our side of the state. As we continue to make our entire world smaller, new diseases from all over the globe have begun to effect us. Most of the problem with new diseases is that no natural predator exists for the insects that spread the problem, thus leading to more impact than normal.
One of the things we at Grow have begun to look into is introducing natural predators into your landscape. For example, (and this does not relate to the Phytoplasma mentioned above) there are now places to buy Lady bugs. Lady bugs believe it or not are natural predators of aphids and some insects that attack plants. My goal is to incorporate this option into our approach in the coming year. Stay tuned for more info.
Of course as is the case with the above mentioned Phytoplasma, not all disease can be prevented. However, the more we understand the balance between plant health and the environment the better we will be at handling future plant diseases.
Progress in the counties may mean some short term regress in disease management when dealing with plants and trees. As always, I will continue to alert you to changes and improvements in all that is green, except of course money no one can predict or report accurately on that.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
October 19, 2011
Rain Rain Go Away! With all of the recent rains in our area lately it is important to keep safety in the forefront of your activities. GROW Inc.'s safety topic this morning is how to avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls. Stay Safe!
October 13, 2011
It is not wise to use an unlicensed pest control operator. GROW Inc. has a Certified Pest Control Operator on staff!
October 10, 2011
Stop by our YouTube page to see our newest videos!
October 4, 2011
Great information from Planet! Your back is one of your most important assets. It's very important to take care of it.
Safety Tip of the Week: Preventing Back Injuries
www.landcarenetwork.org
September 30, 2011
September 2011 Article : Welcome Back
Welcome back.
It seems that those of you who go North for the summer are either on your way back or are already back in Florida.
Here are a few things you missed while up North:
This summer has had the most rain since 2007. The lake levels are finally where they were in 2006. In one week we had a report of 8” of rain in south Fort Myers. We have a new Queen palm disease (surprising I know, notice my sarcasm?) that literally kills them in a matter of weeks – the disease is known as Sudden Queen Palm death. Sudden Queen palm death is not preventable or treatable.
I love the fall and winter seasons, because it means Impatiens and Geraniums are back. We look forward to working with all of our clients as we mulch, plant, and enhance your properties in the coming months.
Please make sure to visit our Facebook page and like us. You will find a monthly “special” on Facebook that will only be applied to your invoices if you mention that you saw it on Facebook, so make sure to check in with us monthly.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Certified Arborist and Horticulturalist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes or what types of fertilizers work best in the summer months email me at mailto:tyler@joingrow.com
September 19, 2011
Stop by our Facebook and see what new projects GROW is working on! Last week GROW Inc. and Ron from Water Intrusion Specialist, Inc installed a beautiful hard-scape of stairs at the tee of Hole #1 at Pelican Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs. We can't wait to see the completed project with enhancements!
August 30, 2011
August 2011 Article : Rain, Rain, Go Away!
Rain, rain, go away.
So, for the last two years I have complained every summer about not having enough rain. Well, now I am begging it to stop! I am pretty sure it has a mind of its own.
The additional rain has been creating challenges for us that I almost forgot about. Between fungus, not being able to mow some days, and the hedge-trimming schedule behind by two weeks, the rain has caused its fair share of issues. The lakes are up and the water table is being replenished so it is hard to be too upset.
To help address these concerns and challenges, we have been working extra hours in order to get caught up on trimming, and in some cases we had to add another crew. The fungus spraying is dependent on rain, if it rains we cannot spray, so we work when can on this challenge. Mowing is always a battle in the summer; we just take one day at a time.
We keep hoping for some days without rain! However, at the same time, we try not to forget what it was like without the rain.
Mulch season is right around the corner. I will be sending out mulch proposals soon. It is all first come, first served for scheduling so if you want a specific date make sure to respond quickly.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Certified Arborist and Horticulturalist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes or what types of fertilizers work best in the summer months email me at tyler@joingrow.com
August 22, 2011
Hurricane Irene may be on the way to South Florida as early as Thursday this week. To help you prepare, FPL has a great Storm Preparation Checklist:
http://www.fpl.com/storm/storm_prep.shtml
August 15, 2011
Here is a link to some great information from the Lee County Extension on the Ficus Aurea, or as we commonly know it, Strangler Fig.
http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/Ficus_aurea.pdf
August 11, 2011
Did you know that shade trees can make buildings up to 20 degrees cooler in the summer! It's like natural air conditioning!
August 1, 2011
10% off of enhancements in August! Stop by our Facebook for details!
July 29, 2011
July Article : Fungus!
Summer flowers – there’s a fungus among us!
Every year holds its unique challenges and this summer has been no different.
It has been a challenge, to say the least, in keeping our summer flowers alive. The recent multi day rains have a dramatic impact on this issue. It may be hard to believe but this summer is different than the past 2 or 3. We were fortunate to get rain over the past couple of summers and when we got rain it was here and gone quickly. This summer we have seen long lasting and multi day rains which I am not complaining about however, the challenge is that the ground is not able to dry out properly. It is a perfect breeding ground for fungus and we have seen the effects. The perfect rain cycle would be great to have.
Fungus has weird symptoms sometimes. It often appears as if the leaves are dry and shriveling up. We have found some very good chemicals for treating these issues and are beginning applications.
Of course, what would work be without challenges?
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
July 25, 2011
GROW's enhancement crew helped beautify Lake San Marino in Naples this morning! Check out our Facebook page for pictures!
July 25, 2011
Healthy lawns are beautiful! Just looking at a freshly cut and edged lawn can be as refreshing as looking at a work of art. (Don't forget your lawn chair, a glass of fresh lemonade, and enjoy the view!)
July 13, 2011
Stop by our Facebook page today and view our newest videos! www.facebook.com/joingrow
July 7, 2011
This past week may make us Floridians rethink this fact...
Hawaii is the wettest state in the U.S, which receives an annual rainfall of 63.7 inches. Florida being 5th at 54.57 inches!
June 27, 2011
June Article: Ganoderma – the palm tree killer
Since beginning our business in the mid 90’s, Ganoderma has been the culprit in most palm tree deaths that I have seen. Ganodermais a fungus that attacks the bottom 5 or so feet of a palm tree. It is typically most active on Queen, Areka, and Paurotis palms; however, all palms can get Ganoderma.
This disease is the worst disease for palms because of two factors. 1) There is no cure. 2) There is no way to prevent the spread of this disease. Removal of infected palms as soon as it is noticed is the best prevention, but it does not guarantee further spread of the disease.
Once a palm is removed that has been infected with Ganoderma, it is best to not plant a palm back in the same spot. Many believe leaving the soil alone for 5 years will help, but there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.
We also have troubles removing them. In some cases the palm can have complete rot at the base making it unsafe for climbing. We experienced this last week when one of our men was removing a palm that appeared to be in the early stages of the disease, yet it was rotten enough at the base to fall over, once it did fall over it injured one of our climbers. Because of this unknown danger, we have made it mandatory that all Ganoderma infested palms either be dropped using the bucket truck or if that is not possible it will be dropped away from a home yet in some cases this may be on top of plant material.
I hope this information helps our customers understand the challenges we face with this silent killer.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Certified Arborist and Horticulturalist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes or what types of fertilizers work best in the summer months email me at Tyler@joingrow.com
June 10, 2011
Stop by our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/joingrow to see pictures of GROW crews from todays Site Visit
June 8, 2011
GROW Inc. had a GREAT hands on safety meeting this morning! The topic: Placement of Cones
We Think Safe to Help Keep YOU Safe!
May 31, 2011
May 2011 Article : Employee Successes
Often times we forget what it was like to start at the bottom of the ladder and through hard work and determination rise through the ranks. When we look back on our own career what may have seemed to be small steps in the beginning eventually lead to our success.
I thought it would be nice to share with our clients that some of our men are making their way through the ranks. Juan Antonio and Luis Andres started here just a few years ago as simple laborers running weed eaters and edgers. Now, these two are proud to be called foreman as of two weeks ago.
It is hard to describe the feeling one gets after giving someone more responsibility, but I guess in very simple terms it feels great. Not only knowing that they have achieved something good, but that we were part of that.
So thank you to all of our great clients who make us who we are and who share in Grow’s success.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Certified Arborist and Horticulturalist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes or what types of fertilizers work best in the summer months email me at mailto:tyler@joingrow.com?subject=Whitefl
May 23, 2011
Check out our newest pictures on FaceBook of our newly completed Claw truck. It looks GREAT! You can't miss it when it's driving down the road!
May 18, 2011
GROW Inc.'s Claw truck just got back from the paint shop! Check out our newest pictures on FaceBook!
May 11, 2011
Greenscape Alliance: Instructors are instrumental in the protection of Florida’s waters
* Alberto Chavez, Community Contributor
* Naples Daily News
* Posted May 9, 2011 at 1:36 p.m.
Instructors from diverse backgrounds and locations representing the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), other state agencies, various organizations, local governments and industry are dedicated to creating a “culture” of landscaping practitioners using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect the water resources in Florida.
As part of the Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) program, this seamless training network of educators, government employees, industry professionals and citizen volunteers is responsible for organizing and teaching landscaping BMP classes. These classes are designed to increase the knowledge of the lawn and landscape professionals, and provide them with tools and skills not only to minimize the environmental impacts of non-point sources of pollution related to their business practices, but also to effectively and efficiently maintain urban green spaces such as parks, yards, gardens and medians.
Urban green spaces are vital to protect our water quality by reducing soil erosion and runoff and leaching of contaminants. They also reduce dust, dissipate heat, abate noise, reduce glare and provide a series of recreational, aesthetic and psychological benefits. It is primarily the landscape professional who is caring for these treasured green spaces that ensures the delivery of benefits associated with proper mowing, pruning, mulching, plant selection and planting, fertilization, irrigation and pesticide application.
Following the enactment of the Watershed Restoration Act in 1999, DEP has been actively working to evaluate the quality of Florida’s waters and promote the necessary mechanisms to reduce pollution. One of the strategies employed is the implementation of BMPs for non-agricultural nonpoint sources. Soon after passage of the act, the DEP Nonpoint Source Management Section, in partnership with UF/IFAS and representatives of the various stakeholders, developed the landscaping BMPs described in the Florida-Friendly Best Management Practices for the Protection of Water Quality by the Green Industries manual. Consequently, DEP and UF/IFAS, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) section 319(h) grant program, developed a training program in 2003. The latest version of the program was released in 2010.
Today, the GI-BMP training is required by many local governments for commercial and institutional landscapers, and it is also a prerequisite to obtain the Limited Certification for Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer Application. According to a state law that went into effect in 2009, all commercial fertilizer applicators are required to obtain this fertilizer certificate from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by January 2014.
To assist with the large training task ahead, DEP’s Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, in collaboration with UF/IFAS, created the GI-BMP Instructor Program. The program is administered by UF/IFAS under a grant from DEP and EPA. The UF/IFAS state-wide GI-BMP coordinator and three DEP regional coordinators train and credential new instructors and provide support and technical assistance to the existing instructors. Currently, the program has 160 instructors who have successfully trained more than 11,000 landscapers statewide.
The quality of the instruction dictates the success of all education efforts. Prospective instructors must follow a series of steps to become certified and are required to carefully follow DEP guidelines. Instructors are instrumental in the protection of Florida’s water resources by assuming the social and environmental responsibility of training professionals on how to implement these critical practices. Maintaining a high quality training program is especially important for the protection of our water resources.
For more information on becoming a GI-BMP instructor, please contact me Alberto Chavez, GI-BMP regional coordinator, at (239) 417-6310, extension 222, or via email at Alberto.Chavez@dep.state.fl.us.
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The Greenscape Alliance includes local organizations and agencies with a common goal of protecting natural resources through innovative strategies in Southwest Florida. For more information about the Alliance and its members, visit www.rookerybay.org/greenscape-alliance.
Source: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/may/09/greenscape-alliance-instructors-are-instrumental-p/
Thank you!
April 29, 2011
April 2011 Article : Organic Fertilizer
Although all fertilizers are organic, not all come from organic sources. Why the recent push for organic fertilizers? Well, in my opinion it is simply a sales pitch that is intended to make people feel better about what they are using on their turf and shrubs.
So can we do anything different to help with the environment? Yes, and Grow has been at the forefront of that movement for over 3 years. Simply fertilizing smarter and using slow release fertilizers can make a dramatic improvement to our water bodies. In fact do not be surprised to see more and more regulations come down on fertilizing in the next few years.
Heavy regulations in the future require action now. I am constantly changing and improving our fertilizer mixtures and ingredients to stay ahead of, not just in line with, regulations and improve our service without sacrificing the aesthetics of our communities. For example, I am going to test using micro amounts of gypsum in our fertilizer this summer. Although there is no specific studies done, there is scientific belief that occasionally adding gypsum can help reduce salt build up in soils and help reduce (minimally) the PH of soils, which should improve the health of plants and turf.
You can proudly say that your property is a steward of the environment.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Certified Arborist and Horticulturalist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes or what types of fertilizers work best in the summer months email me at mailto:tyler@joingrow.com?subject=Whitefly
Visit our blog about plants @ http://www.joingrow.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
April 20, 2011
Greenscape Alliance: Landscape businesses find value in GI-BMPs
* Renee Wilson, Community Contributor
* Naples Daily News
* Posted April 14, 2011 at 2:33 p.m.
Ask any landscaper in Florida if their job has changed over the past several years and they will undoubtedly say “yes.” Following new legislation, the state’s landscaping industry, and particularly fertilizer application, has evolved to require training that ensures Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMPs) are followed for the protection of water quality.
The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in Naples, managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (DEP/CAMA), works in partnership with the city of Naples, University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services/Collier County Extension Office, Collier County Stormwater Management Section and others to train landscapers on the best methods to maintain residential, municipal and commercial landscapes while minimizing nonpoint source pollution entering local waters. Landscape business owners and managers are finding this training to be beneficial in a variety of ways.
Linda Rae Nelson, president of Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, has embraced the training wholeheartedly. As a third-generation Collier County resident, Nelson knows how valuable clean water is to the local economy, and she ensures her staff does their part to help protect it. Her company maintains more than 10 million square feet in the Southwest Florida area, and she began requiring all of her supervisors and team captains to take the training before it was mandatory.
“Part of the success of the program for us has been over the last four to five years we have saved literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in pesticide use and fertilizer applications,” said Nelson. “No longer are we putting down fertilizer in a ‘willy-nilly’ fashion, but more of a calibrated fashion because the people actually applying it have taken the course and understand the consequences.”
She added that all of her personnel would be following Best Management Practices guidelines in the years to come, because “this will be taking care of our environment and providing it for our children and our children’s children.”
Darrell Caple, vice president of Caple Landscape, a Collier County business since 1988, has found some different benefits in the program. According to Caple, “The program has been extremely valuable to a company like ours because we are able to get some really pertinent information down to the most basic level, where the guys in the field are getting it first-hand.”
He also believes it is instrumental to employee morale, in part because “we couldn’t possibly provide this kind of training in-house.”
Another value business owners find in BMP training is credibility. Tyler Kaulbars is the owner and general manager of GROW, Inc., and has been in the landscape business in Southwest Florida for 15 years. He agrees with the cost savings aspect, stating “just by doing things differently it has helped me increase my profit margin by about 25 percent, (resulting in) more money to put into services I provide instead of products we purchase.”
He also believes that the program was helpful in growing his business “because certification makes you appear more legitimate in clients’ eyes… it has helped me gain and retain clients as it gives them more confidence in our ability to do our job.”
Kaulbars has even taken the next step in becoming a certified GI-BMP trainer. “I am able to teach others on a smaller scale the right ways of doing things… and with property managers it is very helpful when they understand the restrictions we deal with,” he added.
The GI-BMP program reflects the collaborative efforts of DEP Nonpoint Source Management Program, the University of Florida, several state and local agencies, as well as numerous stakeholders and private industry partners. Modules covered in the training program include lawn and landscape, irrigation, pesticide handling and fertilizers.
Training for GI-BMP instructors is coordinated regionally by three DEP/CAMA sites around Florida: Rookery Bay NERR in the south region, Apalachicola NERR in the northwest region, and Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR in the northeast region. To date more than 200 professionals have been certified to teach the program in English or Spanish and are tasked with training nearly 100,000 landscapers statewide over the next three years.
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Renee Wilson is a coastal training specialist for Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Greenscape Alliance includes local organizations and agencies with a common goal of protecting natural resources through innovative strategies in Southwest Florida. For more information about the Alliance and its members, visit www.rookerybay.org/greenscape-alliance.html.
Source: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/14/greenscape-alliance-landscape-businesses-find-valu/
April 13, 2011
GROW is the FEATURED LANDSCAPER OF THE MONTH at Greenway Landscape Supply in Estero, Fl
Thank you!
April 11, 2011
GROW has a YouTube page! Stop by and check out our Tree Trimming Videos from the STIHL vs ECHO test! http://www.youtube.com/user/Joingrow1
April 8, 2011
FACT: Did you know that trees located along streets act as a glare and reflection control? Just the thing we need here in Florida!
March 31, 2011
March 2011 Article : Weeds
Weeds, I hate them.
As the winter comes to an end and spring begins, it is often a time where I reflect on the season gone by and evaluate what we could do better in the future.
The easiest answer this year is weeds. It seems that no matter how much we sprayed the grass for weeds they just kept growing and coming back. I think it has more to do with the cold weather we experienced more than anything else. However, I do think something can be done about them.
That is why this coming November we will be changing our strategy when it comes to weeds. Instead of fertilizing and then coming back to spray for weeds, it makes more sense to include a weed killer in our fertilizer mix. So starting this coming fall we will begin adding weed control to our fertilizers at no additional cost to our customers. It is just one more way we will improve our service to you as a client.
Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Certified Arborist and Horticulturalist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes or what types of fertilizers work best in the summer months email me at mailto:tyler@joingrow.com?subject=Whitefly
Visit our blog about plants @ http://www.joingrow.blogspot.com
March 30, 2011
Phase II Water Restrictions - Effective Saturday, March 26, 2011
(Users conducting landscape irrigation with reclaimed water are not restricted)
No irrigating on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays
No irrigating between 8:00 a.m. and midnight
Landscape Irrigation – Established
ODD Numbered Addresses – Irrigation is limited to two days a week, Wednesday and Saturday, between 12:01 AM and 8:00 AM for all types of irrigation.
EVEN Numbered Addresses** – Irrigation is limited to two days a week Thursday and Sunday, between 12:01 AM and 8:00 AM for all types of irrigation.
** Includes even and odd addresses in the same irrigation zone - multi-family, HOA, and common areas with no address.
Any plant material may be watered using low volume irrigation, micro-irrigation, low volume hand watering methods, rain barrels, cisterns, or other similar rain harvesting devices without regard to the watering days and times allowed.
Landscape Irrigation – New (in place less than 60 days)
ALL Addresses – Five days a week, Monday through Friday, 12:01 AM to 8:00 AM for all types of irrigation; low volume hand watering allowed anytime. Irrigation is limited to targeted areas containing 50% or less new landscaping only. If new plantings consist of more than 50% of the area you may irrigate using zone irrigation for the new plantings in that zone.
Landscape Irrigation - Watering-in ALL Addresses - Watering-in of fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides, where recommended by the manufacturer, or by federal, state or local law or best management practices, shall be allowed under the following conditions:
a. Such watering-in shall be limited to one application unless the need for more than one is stated in the directions for application by the manufacturer
b. Such watering -in shall be accomplished during the normally allowable watering days and times as stated above.
Irrigation System Maintenance
Existing Systems – Ten minutes per zone per week; a person must be present and working on the system during each such operation.
Other Outdoor Water Uses
Other outdoor water uses, including car, truck, and boat washing, and the washing of exterior home surfaces and roofs, shall be allowed anytime with the use of Low Volume Pressure Cleaning Equipment, Low Volume Mobile Washing Equipment and/or water hose equipped with an automatic self-canceling or automatic shutoff nozzle. In all cases, the water used must drain to a pervious surface or to a water recycling/reuse system.
The Water Irrigation Ordinance of Collier County, ordinance number 2002-17, provides the guidelines for landscape irrigation and other outdoor water use for county residents and business. Click here to read the ordinance.
Questions regarding irrigation restrictions, please call Customer Service at 239-252-2380 or visit the South Florida Water Management District web site Water Shortage Watch
.
Source: http://www.colliergov.net/Index.aspx?page=1843
March 25, 2011
FACT: Early Presidents Washington and Jefferson both used sheep to keep their home lawns at manageable heights. (Can you imagine having sheep in your community to keep your lawn trimmed?!)
March 21, 2011
On Wednesday March 9th our Tree Crews tested out the new ECHO prototype chainsaw. Our crews met with an ECHO engineer from Japan, (Echo is Japan's leading manufacturer of chainsaws) a national representative, and a local representative. ECHO made this prototype to compete the STIHL 200 chainsaw. Let’s see how they compared!
The first crew member to try out the new chainsaw was Manuel. Manuel was cutting down palm trees and cutting them into logs. The chainsaw did very well considering it was a little small for the job as this was not what it was created for. After the test the engineer took pictures of how the cuts were in the tree and asked Manuel a lot of questions. Manuel liked a lot of features about the chainsaw including its weight, balance, and endurance. However, he also gave feedback on what he didn’t like, which was the speed at which it cut.
The second crew member was Joshua. Joshua is one of our best trimmers. On this day Joshua was trimming a tall palm which is what this chainsaw was made for! On a daily basis Joshua has to climb a ladder to reach the tall fronds on the palms so he really liked the lightness of the ECHO chainsaw compared to our STIHL for this reason. Again, the negative feedback was on the speed at which it cut. (See video of Joshua in action on our FaceBook page!)
The ECHO representatives were very attentive to the feedback our crew members have given to them and wanted to test the speed out for themselves. The ECHO local representative set a log out for them to do a speed test on. Results…
The first test was Joshua with ECHO and representative with STIHL. The STIHL won!
The second test was Joshua with STIHL and representative with ECHO. The STIHL won!
The third test was again Joshua with STIHL and representative with ECHO. The ECHO got stuck! STIHL won!
We currently use the STIHL 200 chainsaw and as you can see by the videos we won’t be changing anytime soon!
Thank you to all of the ECHO representatives for the opportunity to assist you in your testing of the protocol. Joshua, Manuel, and their crew members had fun!
You can see pictures of this test under our photo album STIHL vs ECHO.
March 16, 2011
FACT: Don't you love having outdoor parties & barbecues? It's hard to have them on a lawn that is not well taken care of. People could get hurt from pot holes, or get pickers on them from weeds. But there are never any worries if your lawn is healthy!
March 15, 2011
We have a winner of our GROW hat & GROW coffee mug! The winner is Deb Dorsett Hanson! Congratulations Deb!
March 4, 2011
FACT: Healthy grass roots penetrate deep into the soil and create an interlocking system which prevents erosion.
February 24, 2011
FACT: The best way to garden is to put on a wide-brimmed straw hat and some old clothes. Then with a hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other, tell somebody else where to dig!
February 18, 2011
FACT: Trees are the longest living organisms on earth!
February 10, 2011
FACT: Lawns are safe for kids and pets. If lawns were bad for you, they would come with a warning label. Pets and kids love the outdoors. Inside things can be static and unchanging but outside the world is always changing! Plus, there is a lot more to see and bark at!
February 8, 2011
Project Greenscape has changed the "Good Plant, Bad Plant, Right Plant" class, originally scheduled for Monday February 21, 2011 to Wednesday, February 23, 2011. The class will still take place at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center from 9am to 12pm. The date change is due to a scheduling conflict with the President's Day Holiday.
February 3, 2011
Even a smaller sized lawn (50 ft x 50 ft) daily releases enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four for 24 hours and absorbs carbon dioxide, ozone, hydrogen fluoride, and other toxins!
January 6, 2011 January 14, 2011 January 19, 2011 January 21, 2011 January 26, 2011 January 27, 2011 January 28, 2011
FACT: Is your lawn getting a little brown? As a homeowner, you can water your own lawn from your hose or rain barrels when there are watering restrictions.
FACT: Lawns are very durable. They take a lot and give us a lot too!
FACT: One single grass plant can have 387 miles of roots!
Come see us at the 2011 Conference & Trade Expo on Friday, February 11 at FGCU! Exhibit doors open at 9:00 am! For more information please visit www.southgulfcoastchaptercai.com We hope to see you there!
January 2011 Article: BMP Certification
What is BMP certification?
That is the question that many in the landscape industry are asking. Better yet it is the question that many homeowner and condo board members are asking.
The answer, all though simple, can also be complex. BMP is an acronym for Best Management Practices and is currently enforced in Lee and Collier counties by local ordinance. Landscaping has a large impact on the health of our local waterways and without an education program, which comes with consequences; our estuaries will begin to fail from run off of pollution caused by improper fertilization techniques. Estuaries, if you are not aware, are areas where saltwater meets fresh water and are necessary for balance throughout the globe and impact human life.
The Florida Senate Bill No. 494 was enacted by Florida state law and is governed locally by each county. By 2014 all landscapers, statewide, must have BMP certification in order to conduct business. Locally, however, in Lee and Collier Counties that deadline has been moved up to no later than October 2009.
How do the BMP ideals affect our landscape health and beauty? Well, the overall goal for the BMP’s is to educate on proper techniques and cares little about the impact on aesthetics of plants and turf. The summer months are the most difficult part of this ordinance because we are unable to apply nitrogen from June 1st to September 31st.
The BMP programs can be attended by anyone including property managers, homeowners and board members. However, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program is best suited for homeowners and is a simplified BMP class.
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Regards,
Tyler Kaulbars
I am a certified BMP instructor, a state Certified Pest Control Operator, Horticulturalist and Arborist. For more information on BMP, Florida Yards & Neighborhood classes email me at tyler@joingrow.com
Current Lee County Fertilizer Ordinance
As written by Naples Daily News-
Originally published April 24, 2009
LEE COUNTY — Lee County’s new regulation on fertilizer use in the county takes effect May 13. The regulation applies to anyone who uses fertilizer and governs the content, amount and methods that can be used.
In 2008, Lee County Commissioners approved the fertilizer regulation as a way to protect water quality. Runoff of nutrients into rivers, bays and estuaries contributes to the formation of algae in area waters. and nutrients in fertilizer -- especially nitrogen and phosphorus -- contribute to algae blooms.
To help make residents aware of the new regulation, Lee County is spreading the message to “Fertilize Smart, Do Your Part.”
“It’s well understood that fertilizers -- in this case in the form of phosphorus and nitrogen -- are the catalyst for the devastating impacts we’ve been experiencing in Lee County back bays, estuaries and the Caloosahatchee,” said Lee County Commission Chairman Ray Judah. “They’re part of the nutrient soup that leads to algae blooms, red tides, fish kills and the destruction of our marine ecosystem.”
“Our quality of life is dependent on these water bodies,” said Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall. “Lee County is 1,200 square miles, with 400 of that made up of creeks, rivers and waterways. We need to take responsibility for our part in making sure these water bodies are clean. And that includes being responsible homeowners and business owners when we fertilize.”
Under the new rule, fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus cannot be used during the four-month rainy season, June through September. During the rest of the year, use of fertilizer with those nutrients is limited, with any nitrogen required to be partially in a slow release form. Fertilizer application is prohibited within 10 feet of a water body. And spreaders must have a deflector shield to better target applications. In addition, clippings and trimmings must not be swept or blown into ditches, drains and water bodies, or onto roads and sidewalks.
“If you apply fertilizer and you have what my husband calls a frog strangler -- a heavy, heavy rain -- it’s going to wash the excess fertilizer into our waterways,” said Marti Daltry, regional conservation organizer for the Sierra Club’s Fort Myers office. “And that’s going to contribute to red tide or algae blooms.”
“By having this ban on nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer during the rainy season,” Daltry added, “It will reduce those nutrients so we don’t have as many algae blooms.”
To help publicize the new fertilizer regulation and the message to “Fertilize Smart, Do Your Part,” Lee County is using television, Internet and print materials to introduce two characters: Gen and Russ, nicknames for nitroGen and phosphoRuss. As the regulation bans use of fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus during the summer rainy season, June through September, the Gen and Russ characters will be sent on a vacation.
“A lawn not receiving fertilizer for four months does seem like an awfully long time,” said Tom Becker, Lee County’s extension agent for Florida Yards and Neighborhoods. “But if you have a soil that has built up enough organic matter and nutrient-holding abilities, then there’s no problem. If you have enough compost built into the soil or if you’ve used organic mulch, you’ve built up a reserve that holds the fertilizer you apply before the rainy season.”
“There’s no reason a lawn can’t get through a very wet period and still receive nutrients if it has established a deep enough root system,” Becker said.
The “Fertilize Smart, Do Your Part” characters, nitroGen and phosphoRuss, will also be featured as signage on a LeeTran bus, which will be on display at the Sierra Club Calusa Chapter’s Earth Day festivities, Saturday, April 25 at Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features kayaking, art, food, music and environmental presentations. Admission to the festival is free, but there’s a $5 park charge for a carload of people.
“The fertilizer ordinance is really about taking personal responsibility in managing our ability to have clean water and avoid very expensive methods of cleaning up area waterways,” said Hall. “It will save a lot of money in the long run as we try to assure water bodies stay healthy.”
“I hope there is a heightened awareness by property owners of the direct correlation between the application of fertilizers and the degradation of our back bays and estuaries,” said Judah. “We must be wiser in terms of the use of fertilizers in gardens and landscapes.”
For more information on the Lee County Fertilizer ordinance, contact the Lee County Division of Natural Resources at 239-533-8706.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/24/lee-county-fertilizer-use-regulation-takes-effect-/
http://www.lee-county.com/gov/dept/NaturalResources/WaterQuality/Pages/FertilizeSmart.aspx
FACT: Grass is a great air conditioner in summer and heater in the winter. They stay at the nice temperate ranges of 50-75 degrees even when sidewalks and streets are as hot and cold as 100-30 degrees!