As homeowners continue to view their outdoor living space as an extension of their home, more of them are taking what is commonly found indoors outside, including showers.

While to most, showering outdoors may seem awkward or unnerving, these additions have proven to be a luxury that is both useful and relaxing if installed correctly. If you’re curious about offering outdoor showers as a service, here are some of the main factors to keep in mind. 

Popularity

Some sensations will sweep the nation, but others will only be wildly popular in areas that are suitable for them. The success of selling outdoor showers is one of the services that greatly depends on what region you’re working in.

For Strata Landscape Architecture, based in San Francisco, California, almost all of its projects in Hawaii feature an outdoor shower, and the company recently started integrating them into their California gardens after the success in Hawaii.

Photo: Strata Landscape Architecture

“It really depends on the location,” said Dustin Moore, a partner at Strata. “(It’s) definitely popular in Hawaii and Southern California. Most of the outdoor showers in Northern California are related to the pool as a wash off the area and not located in shower gardens like our Hawaiian projects.”

Meanwhile, locations like Virginia are also popular for outdoor showers, as they typically have a good climate for outdoor living during much of the year.

Anna Boeschenstein, a landscape architect and owner of Grounded, LLC based in Esmont, Virginia, says that owners like outdoor showers because they are a luxury item that can be done without significant extra cost. In fact, she is in the midst of building one at her own house, noting it comes in handy for life in the country.

“I think they are becoming more popular,” Boeschenstein said. “As people experience outdoor showers at friends’ houses or vacation rentals, they are hooked and then want one at their own house. Isn’t an outdoor shower at the end of the day one of the best things about beach houses?”

Usage

Depending on how your client plans on utilizing their outdoor shower, certain design aspects can be greatly affected, so be sure to discuss this with them.

Photo: Strata Landscape Architecture

This also may differ by regions, as they are primarily used as showers in Hawaii but are more a wash off station in areas like California and Virginia.

If your client is uncertain how they want to use their shower, inform them that some local codes require showers to drain into a sanitary sewer drain or septic if they plan to use it for bathing, while those that are for pool wash off generally do not have this requirement.

There are other codes that require drains that lead to sanitary or septic to be covered by a roof, and permitting is by locale, so they need to look into local and state regulations to see what limitations or regulations they must follow, depending on the type of shower they’re wanting to install.

If your customer is only wanting the shower for washing off sandy feet or dirty dogs, they can opt for cold water only, keeping things inexpensive and simple. If they do indeed want to take showers outdoors, then you need to determine if they want hot water and what kind of amenities they need nearby including benches, soap holders and towel racks.

Privacy

Probably the paramount element to consider if your client does want to bath outdoors is how you will achieve privacy for them without making them feel like they are basically indoors.

The location of the shower, which we’ll cover shortly, plays a part in how you can go about providing privacy for your customer. It’s important to have it tucked away from prying eyes, but you still want the user to have a view.

Landscape architecture by Anna Boeschenstein/groundedllc.com. Architecture by Formwork Photo: Lincoln Barbour

“It depends upon the site, but planting, screens or walls all make great containment for outdoor showers,” Boeschenstein said. “What I do require, however, is a window or opening at eye level. There’s nothing better than being able to look out at a framed view while you shower outdoors.”

Moore says his company typically uses a series of fences or walls to screen a shower. Some have fences at a lower height, so the individual can look out while their bodies are covered.

“That requires measuring a client like they are getting a suit to ensure the amount of the body is covered with the fence,” Moore said. “The showers that are part of a guest suite are normally walled on all sides with trees strategically placed to block views into the private space.”

Moore says that poolside showers can be a little tricky when it comes to seclusion.

“We have a discussion with our clients about how the shower will be used and how private they want the space,” he said. “Some showers have a fence or screen to block views in from the pool while some directly face the pool. I have to admit that the ones that face the pool do feel a little exposed.”

Location

As for the best location for an outdoor shower, this varies based on the site and privacy needed, as mentioned earlier, as well as other factors.

“I think the best spot is somewhere secluded with a wonderful view,” Boeschenstein said. “The location should be accessible via a paved surface to the interior of the house. You want to be able to walk barefoot without tracking in grass clippings and you’ll use it more frequently and all months of the year if you’re not worried about getting cold en route.”

Photo: Strata Landscape Architecture

Outdoor showers should be located somewhere that gets a lot of direct sun, as this not only makes the activity more enjoyable but keeps the shower walls and floor drier, preventing mold and rot.

Depending on if your client wants a hot faucet may also determine how far the shower can be from the house, as they’ll need to tap into their home’s hot-water supply. Outdoor showers in colder areas should have a water shutoff valve inside and have the pipes blown out to avoid water freezing in the pipes.

Keep drainage in mind as well when selecting the site for your customer’s outdoor shower. Even if they don’t plan to use it for bathing, you need to ensure that the water is running off away from the structure. If the homeowner’s soil is well-draining, you can let it seep into the landscape as long as the shower isn’t too close to the house’s foundation or used too often.

If the ground takes more than five minutes or longer to absorb water poured on it, you may want to suggest installing a French drain or dry well to divert runoff.

“They do not require a pan system like an interior shower,” Moore said. “We recommend using a mortar and grout with a latex additive to help seal the mortar, as the bed can cause effloresce. On our modern gardens, we try to avoid using any metal drains and use a trench or channel drain at the shower.”

Installation

When it comes to the installation, Boeschenstein advises leaving it to the professionals and hiring a licensed plumber.

Typically, there aren’t any common issues with outdoor showers if the shower and water lines are built and insulated properly. However, the showers do need to be rated for outdoor use.

Photo: Strata Landscape Architecture

“We generally use stainless steel, copper or bronze for the material,” Moore said. “We have found that 304 stainless steel will rust in a coastal environment and recommend using a fixture made with 316 stainless steel.  We have also found that shower nozzles with plastic parts tend to degrade rapidly, especially in a coastal area.”

By using high-grade materials, maintenance can be kept to a minimum.

As for the design of the shower, both Moore and Boeschenstein agree that the architecture of the house should dictate the design themes.

“This approach maintains continuity between the site and house and otherwise you can wind up with a piece-meal landscape,” Boeschenstein said.

When it comes to the price tag for an outdoor shower, it can be all over the place, and a majority of it depends on what your client wants.

“All you really need is a hot faucet, a cold faucet and a shower head,” Boeschenstein said. “The rest is gravy!”

The article was originally seen at https://www.totallandscapecare.com/business-add-ons/how-to-personal-april-showers-to-enjoy-more-flowers/

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This year’s 42^nd NCLC was held at Alamance Community College in Graham, North Carolina.

In one of the classrooms, tables with blank design boards stood at the ready for students as they quietly trickled in for the exterior landscape design event. Some looked nervous, but they all came prepared, setting out the tools of their trade.

For this event, students had an hour and 50 minutes to follow the program requirements and include all the design elements listed. The designs were judged based off of meeting the program requirements, creativity, usage of space and other categories. Time served as a tie breaker for this event.

Adam Hallauer, design manager for Designs by Sundown, who was one of the industry members helping run this event, said it challenges students to work under pressure while still creating a good design.

“I think this is the starting point of all landscapes,” Hallauer said. “This is the design element that starts everything that I think that comes in our industry. From here, it becomes an installation, so that’s construction, and then from there it becomes maintenance, so this is where it starts. You have to have this piece to sell everything else.”

In other buildings on Alamance’s campus, students participated in various plant ID tests. At the plant problem diagnosis test, students bent their heads over 28 stations, looking over the various plant samples and pictures having to answer four questions per station.

Some of the questions required students to know the life cycle and management of the sample, its common or scientific name and other details.

“When you’re dealing with plants, you have to be able to correctly diagnosis it,” said Meg McConnell, a diagnostic service manager with Bartlett Tree Experts.

McConnell would occasionally call out time for students to switch and move on to the next ailing plant. Throughout the buildings, students were tucked away in corners or hallways studying or chatting about the industry.

Studying was particularly crucial for events like annual and perennial ID, as participants had to know the proper spelling of the scientific and common names of 50 plants out of the 200 possible species listed online.

“Well, we hope that they will understand and just learn and shortly memorize their plants,” John Hoffman, president of Hoffman Nursery, said about the event. “They’ll need to know their plants, depending on what career path they follow. They’ll need to understand and realize what plant material is out there that they can utilize in the design world.”

Meanwhile, outside the day was slowly warming up as the sun climbed in the sky and school teams worked on installing irrigation and operating various compact equipment.

At the skid steer operation, event sponsor Caterpillar changed the course up slightly from past years, no longer using a bucket filled with water to gauge students’ operation skills.

“We really wanted to make it about (the) actual application on a landscaping area or a jobsite, so they have to go through a course (and) weave in tight areas,” said Megan Couch, a trade show director for Caterpillar. “They have to change attachments to test their aptitude there. They have to go over rough and rocky terrain, so we’re really trying to simulate a jobsite and how well they can operate in that environment.”

The skid steer operation is a timed event and safety plays a large portion of the score. Aside from driving home the importance of the various safety tasks one should do every time when operating, Couch says NCLC is an ideal time to expose students to the different brands and equipment available.

First time NCLC attendee Tim Follin, a junior horticulture major from the College of DuPage, said the event was a great learning experience and opportunity to meet people from across the country you wouldn’t normally meet.

A new event to NCLC this year was the introduction of the mini track loader operation.

“This event here is the first time that they’ve had a mini track loader event in a long time,” said Michael Ten Clay, public relations supervisor with Bobcat. “So, we saw the opportunity. Bobcat sees the value in NCLC and NALP in and of itself and this is a good opportunity for us.”

For this event, students performed a general knowledge test and then used the mini track loader to move pallets with various sized balls worth varying amounts of points to different locations across the course.

“This gives them a real-world application,” Ten Clay said. “A lot of these students are going to school to either further their career or to start a career, and stuff like this-what we’re doing, what Cat’s doing, what John Deere’s doing- that just helps them further their careers even quicker and gives them confidence when they go into the workforce.”

Secluded in a quiet shop room, the 10 finalists for small engine repair were briefed on the event before they went to their stations to start working on a Stihl KombiSystem power head.

The finalists were required to conduct a full Stihl engine check safely, look up the parts needed to repair the engine and fix the unit so it would run properly. The engines students work on is changed every year to prevent certain competitors from having an advantage.

David Sease, a technical training coordinator with Stihl, said students can learn a lot from this event due to power equipment being such a large part of the industry.

As the day progressed, university teams gathered around the perimeter of the hardscape installation event, a crowd favorite, cheering on their teammates. Hammers and tampers pounded and saws ground as the teams rushed to install their roughly 8 by 8 patios and fire pits.

“Hardscaping is actually a growing segment of the green industry and so it’s really fun to be able to showcase hardscaping itself as a segment of the industry that works out really well for promoting the overall outdoor living concept,” said Tim Huinker, a construction specialist with Anchor Wall Systems, who competed in the hardscaping event himself 30 years ago.

The event was overseen by 10 judges watching crews work, monitoring their safety. While each team had the same set of plans, each group went about installing their hardscapes with different processes with varying paces. Many crews followed the slow and steady route, but some were unable to finish their projects after spending too much time creating the base.

After time was called, the judges assessed various criteria, including structural soundness and attention to detail.

“I think it’s just fun because there’s so many different events and the networking you can do,” said Pamela Fletcher, a student from the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture. “You can try different events and see if you actually like it and then if you really like it you can get into that career.”

Other events focused more on the lawn care side of the business, including truck and trailer operation and landscape maintenance operation. Both of these tasks required students to navigate obstacle courses and display their ability to complete them safely.

In a parking lot over from the truck and trailer event, chainsaws and drills were powering away under the large tent hosting wood construction as teams worked on building a bench similar to the one made in 2016.

Up in the trees, students were demonstrating their knowledge of the proper arboriculture techniques with one tree for ascending and another for testing throwline skills. Michael Dye, the district manager of the Davey Tree’s Minneapolis operation, says these events teach students patience and teamwork, as they have to count on their teammate just as they would with their co-workers in the real world.

“It’s almost like a job interview,” Dye said. “It mimics what we do out there in the field and it gives students a way to distinguish themselves, and I think it could probably lead to really competitive job offers as they place highly. It shows how well their programs do at training their people and I think that that makes us more willing to go there and offer high paying jobs.”

As the day drew to a conclusion, school contingents began to trek toward the final and fan-favorite event, landscape plant installation.

Returning to NCLC for a second time, Diana Vasquez, a junior horticulture major from Kansas State University, was one of the many students competing in the landscape plant installation event.

“NCLC is really important to me because you get to meet a lot of companies and a lot of people,” Vasquez said. “And I know that sometimes because we’re still in school we feel like we’re not really as prepared as we’d like to be to be in the industry, but when you come to NCLC you see that we’re on the right path.”

Despite the sun still shining, the majority of the students had to deal with extremely muddy plots for the installation. Crews raked and shoveled clods of dirt, while others started measuring and spraying the outlines of the design on their plots.

Coming back with a game plan after trying their hand at the event last year was the three-student team from the County College of Morris from New Jersey.

The group acknowledged they didn’t prepare well enough last year and they say they have gone over the plan more than once this year.

“We went over our plan already but (we want) to go over it one more time to really make sure that everyone knows what their job is,” said Doug DeAndrea, a junior landscape management and design major. “We know how to work together but stay out each other’s way so that we can be safe and have the point guy.”

Teammate and fellow junior Marcelo Simone said they would make a point to not throw tools and divide and conquer this year.

“One way or another, we’re just happy we made it here again,” Simone said. “It’s good to be back and we’ll see what happens.”

The team also tried its hand at the hardscaping installation for the first time this year and they are already planning how to improve from the experience.

“I’m sure next year we’ll take away what we learned, come back next year and really make sure to hone in on how to do it better,” DeAndrea said. “Pay more attention to those details and make sure we can just do it better.”

The article was originally seen at https://www.totallandscapecare.com/landscaping/students-in-it-to-win-it-on-nclc-competition-day/

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This statistic is from the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), and if this number sounds alarmingly frequent to you, it is because many are unaware that they need to call 811 before they dig.

April is National Safe Digging Month and while the ground may not even be thawed where you’re located, it’s still a good reminder to know what you need to do before breaking ground on this year’s projects.

There are more than 100 billion feet of underground utilities in the United States, according to data compiled by CGA from various industry groups, so you can’t assume your customer’s property doesn’t have any.

There is no allotted depth before a person needs to call 811. Whether you are just planting small shrubs or installing fences, CGA says any time you are putting a shovel in the ground you need to call due to the fact that many utilities are buried just a few inches below the surface.

Even if a spot has been previously marked, erosion and root system growth can alter the depth or location of buried lines, so it is important to call each time you start a project.

Calling 811 isn’t an optional task either, as every state has a variation of the law requiring individuals to call before digging. While the time period to call 811 before digging varies, you can check out your various state’s guidelines here.

It is a common misconception that calling 811 costs money, but calling is free. The cost is paid by utility companies to protect you, your crews and your customers. The real costs affect your business when you don’t call, hit a utility line and are held responsible for the damage.

Some utility companies charge not only for the cost of sending a crew out to repair or replace the damaged property but also for the loss of service that comes from the lines being out of commission.

Other states have introduced penalties and fines in recent years to help enforce the law. In 2016, Mississippi passed a law that required first time offenders to complete a training course on compliance.

Second time offenders in a five-year period require a training course or a fine of up to $500 per incident. Third time offenses in a five-year period result in up to $2,500 per incident, and malicious acts with intent to damage underground lines result in a training course and fines up to $5,000 per incident.

Below is how the 811 process works and what you can expect:

1. Notify your local one-call center by dialing 811 or making an online request two to three days before digging.
2. The one-call center will notify the affected utility companies. Wait two to three days (this varies by state) for the utility operators to respond to your request. An average of seven to eight operators are notified for each request.
3. Confirm that all the affected operators have responded to your request. State laws vary on the process for confirmation.
4. Dig carefully around the marked areas. The majority of state laws prohibit the use of machines within 18 to 24 inches of a marked utility. If there is a need to dig nearer, hand dig or use vacuum excavation.

Keep in mind that the locate ticket is only valid for a certain period of time depending on the state, and if you wish to continue you must call 811 again for a re-mark.

If one of your employees does end up hitting a pipeline, stop work immediately. Depending on the type of utility line hit, the following steps vary.

For natural gas, propane or petroleum lines, evacuate the site, call 911 and the facility operator. Don’t do anything that could cause a spark and alert everyone of the premises. Rope off the area and keep the public away. Stay up wind from the gas and do not try to fix the pipe yourself.

For electrical lines, warn everyone in the area, including emergency response personnel, that the ground and objects near the point of contact may be energized.

Contact the electrical utility operator or fire department if a radio or phone is at hand. Otherwise, remain on the excavator and signal for someone to call for utility and emergency assistance.

Those near the excavator or point of contact should remain still with both feet together. They should not touch the excavator or material. Only leave the excavator and area after an official of the electric utility has said it is safe to do so. If immediate evacuation is needed due to the threat of fire, explosion or other hazard, jump (don’t step) from the equipment and land with both feet. Hop at least 25 to 30 feet away. Do not take normal, walking steps.

For damaged telecommunication lines, notify the facility owner and do not examine or stare at broken, severed, disconnected fibers. Move a safe distance away and keep the area barricaded to keep others away.

After assessing the situation and seeing that nothing appears damaged, still contact the pipeline operator. Minor nicks or dents could cause serious problems in the future.

If a homeowner has consulted you but plans on going the DIY route, stress to them that 811 isn’t just required for professionals; everyone who plans to dig needs to call this number.

The article was originally seen at https://www.totallandscapecare.com/business-best-practices/before-you-shove-in-a-shovel-call-811-to-avoid-trouble/

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When it comes to organizing plants and designing a landscape your customers will treasure for years to come, it’s true that a lot of thought must go into the planning.

Understanding and implementing techniques such as massing, grouping and repeating patterns can help add depth and dimension to an area, and it can also help bring out certain attributes of the landscape that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Take a look at a few tips we’ve compiled to help you better understand why these particular techniques and ones similar to them help bring out the best of a landscape.

Massing/grouping

When choosing the option of massing/grouping for a landscape, it simply means that you will take one type of plant and mass it into one big group or section. Massing has been used for ages to achieve well put together looks in lawns.

When you plant a large group of one plant type tightly together, you are able to achieve a good visual impact, and it also works to balance and proportion out the landscape. If plants aren’t massed together, it can sometimes be difficult to achieve this same aesthetic impact with plants scattered in little groups here and there.

When plants are massed together, it helps create texture, form, larger pops of color and it can reduce maintenance in some situations. Plus, when comparing the landscape to surrounding features like houses, large trees and other buildings, massing the plants together can help them stand out from their competition.

But how many plants do you need in an area to consider it massed? To start off, planting about six should suffice; after that, the choice is really up to your customers. When working with grasses, woody shrubs, sturdier perennials, groundcovers and sometimes annuals, this technique will work well, and you can even consider grouping five or so planted pots together to achieve the same look.

Plants such as hydrangeas, catmint, ferns and black-eyed Susans group very well together and can either provide a dramatic pop of color or a tantalizing patch of green, depending on your customer’s preference.

Repetition and patterns

Repetition is one of the key principles of landscape design. Repetition is sometimes the repeated use of elements or features that create sequences or patterns in the landscape, and it can also be used simply by using repetition with the same color, form or texture throughout the area.

Consider repeating colors, forms, lines and textures throughout the landscape to create a unique rhythm in the area. To do this, first, take time to consider the natural way your eye focusses on objects that are a distance away. Eyes are drawn to areas with symmetry, and when items are grouped in threes, fives and sevens, the eyes tend to be drawn to them more.

Using the same plant over and over again in a landscape is a simple method of repetition, and using the same series of pots, arches and more elements like that throughout can also be considered simple repetition. A third easy method of repetition is using a group of similar features that differ slightly in color, size or texture.

Whether it’s taking advantage of repeating stepping stones, stone structures, baskets, planters and more, don’t be afraid to use the repetition of items and hardscapes to your advantage. The repetitions don’t have to be saved for just the green elements.

When considering what look to go for in your customer’s yard, take note of how some plants naturally form patterns when left to their own devices. They will mix and mingle, grow over each other and spread out naturally, so don’t be afraid to let things become a little wild when it comes to design.

Patterns are most commonly created by using layers and repetition, and layers can occur both vertically with height variation and horizontally with plant masses along the ground.

By taking advantage of repetition, patterns can be created, and when organizing the plants, always remember that the first step is to create the horizontal and vertical layers before the repeating patterns.

Vertical layers take place at the ground level and include turf and lower plants that grow about 6 inches high. These plants cover the soil and can serve as the composition baseline. In the foreground layers, plants will usually be about 6 inches to 2 feet tall. When massed together, these smaller plants can work to form the edge of plant beds to serve as the transition to larger plants. The midground layer is the next and consists of plants from 2 to 5 feet tall. These plants will take up most of the space and can serve several functions, such as creating special definition, creating color and texture and more. The last and tallest layer features the background plants and consists of trees and larger shrubs. These are often used to block views or provide shade.

Horizontal layers are considered the plant masses that interlock and overlap from the plant bed’s front and run to the back of the bed along the ground. Any plant masses here should vary in depth across the front of the bed, just like the height should vary along the top of the plants. Overall, it’s good to stick to two simple rules when it comes to creating horizontal layers: space the individual plants enough so they don’t touch each other once they’ve completely grown and overlap the masses to connect them and make them flow with no space between them. Be sure to keep large gaps and open areas from appearing between the masses, as any voids will attract more attention and distract from the overall look you’re wanting to create.

The article was originally seen at https://www.totallandscapecare.com/landscaping/mass-group-repeat-organizing-plants-to-your-advantage/

The post Mass, group, repeat: Organizing plants to your advantage appeared first on Kelch Turf & Landscaping.

“The RS-75 and VS-75 reflect our mission of producing equipment that makes our customers’ lives easier with industry-leading performance,” said Jim DiBiagio, ASV chief operating officer. “The machines’ productivity-boosting qualities, easy serviceability and overall longevity assure a fast ROI.”

ASV says it builds the RS-75 and VS-75 with unique skid-steer frames that use a single chassis for both compact track loaders and skid-steers. ASV says it designs the frame for its Posi-Track and skid-steer lines independently to provide customers with the highest performance.

The result for the RS-75 and VS-75, ASV says, is a 10.5-inch ground clearance, which the company says allows the machines to travel easily over obstructions with less risk of getting hung up. The purpose-built chassis, the company says, allows for a 24-degree departure angle, which is said to decrease the risk of machines getting stuck when starting to climb a steep hill.

Both machines feature a swing-out door and cooling system that opens quickly to expose the engine, filters and other daily checkpoints. ASV says it includes drain plugs on all service items, including chain cases, the hydraulic tank, the radiator and the engine oil pan. The company says that zerk fittings on the end of all pins make greasing easy, and standard metal-face seals ensure the drive hubs don’t require maintenance for the machine’s life.

Additionally, the company says the machines feature a direct-drive pump, which they say eliminates the labor-intensive belt servicing that comes with belt-driven pumps.

ASV says the high speed of the machines allow for fast and easy travel uphill or downhill as well as over wet, uneven and rough terrain. To achieve speeds like this, the company says it designed the machines with efficient hydraulics, optimal cooling capacity and high-quality drive system components.

The company says both models feature an industrial 74-horsepower diesel engine, and the aspirated 2.9-liter displacement engine produces 192 foot-pounds of torque.

ASV says the skid-steer’s auxiliary hydraulic system is designed to operate efficiently with optional 30.9-gpm high-flow pump capacity and 3,335 psi system pressure. Both machines, according to ASV, include large sizes, hydraulic coolers and direct-drive pumps, which transfer more flow and pressure directly to the attachment and prevent power loss.

This design, the company says, optimizes performance and allows operators to run attachments more efficiently than with higher-horsepower competitive units. ASV notes that the models’ skid-steer-focused design provides optimal weight distribution and reduces the time wear while maximizing lift capacity.

Featuring a rated operating capacity of 3,500 pounds, the VS-75 features a tipping load of 7,000 pounds, while the RS-75 has an ROC of 2,600 pounds and a tipping load of 5,200 pounds. Both are 72 inches wide, and ASV says the RS-75 has a 10.4-foot lift height while the VS-75 has a 10.8-foot lift height. For increased mobility in tight spaces, ASV says standard reversible wheels narrow the machines to 66 inches, and ASV manufactures the machines to be over-the-tire track ready.

Both machines feature quick-attach to accommodate all conventional attachments, and an optional all-weather cab not only includes head and air-conditioning but also, according to ASV, is pressurized for a clean operator environment.

Husqvarna launches “Just ask Alexa” for robotic mowers

Husqvarna recently demonstrated the functions of “Just ask Alexa” and other future Amazon Alexa features for Husqvarna robotic mowers.

The company says the first version will be available Sept. 1 in all Automower Connect equipped robotic mowers from Husqvarna. This first version will be able to take care of the most commonly used commands such as start, stop and park. This, Husqvarna says, provides an additional way of integrating with the robotic mower, besides the existing mobile applications.

“We are the pioneer, innovation and market leader in the field of robotic lawn mowing: now we made our Husqvarna Automower Alexa compatible, as cloud-based voice services are growing fast,” says Sascha Menges, president of the Husqvarna Division. “Our customers rightly expect Husqvarna products to be in the forefront, giving them multiple and ever more convenient ways of interacting with the product.”

New trap created for spotted lanternfly

Throughout the eastern United States, the spotted lanternfly has become known as the latest stowaway to bug tree owners. Native to Vietnam, China and India, the spotted lanternfly is now threatening fruit, shade and ornamental trees in most eastern states from Massachusetts to Florida.

First identified in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, this leafhopper now has 13 counties under quarantine. The recommended treatment for reducing the population, according to Penn State Extension, includes installing sticky bands from mid-May to the end of August to trap lanternfly nymphs.

With this issue in mind, the company BugBarrier says its Tree Band will trap the pests using adhesive technology. The company says the dense, flexible fiber and polyester film with a thin coating of adhesive work together to prevent passage into the canopy, and the film comes with the adhesive already applied. When installed, the adhesive faces the tree, which the company says eliminates unsightly debris and bridging. It installs in minutes and, once removed, the company says it can be recycled with household recycling.

Greenworks adds to leaf blower and edger to lineup

Greenworks Commercial recently announced that it has expanded its 82-volt line with the new GBB 700 dual battery port backpack blower. This blower, the company says, is the first of its kind to offer the performance and power needed to support landscapers, golf maintenance professionals and turf management crews.

The company says 690 CFM and 165 mph are now available on demand at the push of a button, and operators can customize their performance and power usage with the variable speed trigger, turbo button and cruise control lever. This unit, the company says, is equipped with two battery ports that come standard with automatic battery switch-over. This feature, Greenworks says, automatically switches from one battery to the next once the first battery is depleted.

Powered by Greenworks Commercial’s proprietary 82-volt lithium-ion battery platform and brushless motor technology, Greenworks says the GBB 700 dual battery port backpack blower also has the power station feature. The company says the operator must simply disconnect the blower tube and motor housing from the side of the unit and the blower will be transformed into a mobile power source.

The company says the GBB 700 yields 50 percent less noise and five times less vibration than gas equivalent products, which Greenworks adds will protect crews from long-term hearing damage and chronic conditions.

“As we continue to evolve our distributor relationships throughout North America to ensure that professionals have access to our award-winning tools at their favorite dealers, we push forward with new and exciting technologies that will make the workday more productive and less strenuous,” said Chris Allen, president of Greenworks North America. “For 2018, we’ve put a focus on providing innovative battery management solutions to increase the amount of productivity users can get on the job site.  The new dual battery port backpack blower provides users with optimal performance to get tough jobs completed in a forward-thinking, green way with double the run-time of previous models.”

Greenworks also recently announced that it has expanded its 82-volt system with a new commercial-grade tool called the GE 080 stick edger.

The company says the GE 080 stick edger utilizes a proprietary Greenworks 82-volt lithium-ion battery, and the unit’s 8” heat-treated blade is driven by a direct-drive brushless motor that provides high torque, zero-maintenance and zero-exhaust.

With an “instant on” start switch and variable-speed trigger, Greenworks says the GE 080 is quiet enough to allow landscape professionals to get their work days started earlier.

The company says the 82-volt stick edger provides all the power and function landscape and turf management professionals need.

Along with eliminating the odors associated with gas-fueled tools, Greenworks says the GE 080 stick edger yields 50 percent less noise than gas equivalents and produces five times less vibration than gas-powered competitors.

Greenworks says the push trigger start also eliminates pull cords completely, and it extends the battery’s charge by eliminating unnecessary run-time.

“We are excited to continue to build on our award-winning 82-volt system of outdoor power equipment, with new solutions for landscape and turf management professionals that encounter new noise and emission ordinances every day,” said Allen. “Like all of our tools in the 82-Volt system, the new stick edger provides users with high performance in an environmentally responsible way.  The GE 080 is up to the toughest of edging tasks, so we’re excited to see pros begin putting it to the test this spring.”

Casella launches Flow Detective

Casella, air sampling, noise and vibration monitoring specialist, has introduced the Flow Detective air sampling pump calibrator. The company says this product is the first in the industry with the ability to measure pulsation with a 70-hour battery life and double the duration of competitive products.

Casella reports that there is an estimated 18,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems a year caused or made worse by work, and an estimated 12,000 deaths from lung diseases linked to exposure at work.

The company says air sampling is crucial and the latest Flow Detective is a robust solution allowing air sampling pumps to be calibrated. The Flow Detective is an electronic flow meter calibrator designed to measure the flow of air sampling pumps to within two percent accuracy.

Casella says this product will be the first on the market with Bluetooth connectivity through Casella Airwave App. The company says Flow Detective is the first calibrator with the ability to measure pulsation, indicating if the air flow pulsation exceeds 10 percent. To adhere to ISO 13137, air sampling pumps must have a pulsation level less than 10 percent.

The Flow Detective can be used with any manufacturers’ air sampling pumps, and the company says it will save professionals additional time due to its simple user interface, color screen and wide-flow measurement range.

The article was originally seen at https://www.totallandscapecare.com/chemical-care/product-roundup-asv-offers-rs-75-and-vs-75-skid-steers/

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However, maintaining a lawn can be daunting to them when they consider all the fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides and lawn care required. So, if your customer is wanting to forego their lawn or replace a portion of it, here are six alternatives to suggest and some lawncare near me.

1. Roman chamomile

Photo: Pixabay

This is a fantastic alternative to the typical lawn grass, especially because it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. This low-growing perennial plant produces pretty flowers characterized by their yellow center and white petals. Moreover, the Roman chamomile will make your client’s lawn smell better with a scent reminiscent of apples.

Roman chamomile plants will thrive if they are provided with full sunlight. However, they will still grow even if they receive less sunlight than necessary. Regardless of the season, the Roman chamomile needs to be in a well-draining soil. This will help the plant to spread all over the lawn in no time. Lastly, foot traffic shouldn’t be a problem as long as it isn’t excessive.

2. Synthetic grass

Photo: Yair Aronshtam/Flickr

Lawns require a lot of maintenance, so why not replace the natural grass with an artificial variant? Synthetic grass basically has the same appearance and texture as natural lawn grass. Some artificial grass is made of nylon while others are constructed out of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Nylon grass can resist heavy traffic and sudden increases in temperature. Polyethylene grass feels soft and looks vivid while polypropylene grass sacrifices durability for affordability. No matter your customer’s choice of material, synthetic grass is definitely a cheaper option than natural turfgrass when it comes to maintenance.

3. Black scallop bugleweed

Photo: Forest and Kim Starr/Flickr

Don’t let the name of this plant fool your customers into thinking that their lawn will look completely black. The reality is that the black scallop bugleweed merely has dark leaves and blue flowers. This flowering plant cannot tolerate heavy traffic, but it is a good option as an edging material.

In addition, the black scallop bugleweed can effectively impede pesky weeds from spreading all around the lawn. This plant does not even spread too fast — it will just spread to eight or so inches annually. Use well-draining and fertile soil for growing these plants. Don’t forget to trim the flowers after they have bloomed.

4. Ornamental grasses

Photo: gardener41/Flickr

Apart from synthetic grass, you can also substitute your turfgrass for ornamental grasses. These include various grass varieties such as blue fescue, little bluestem, blue oat grass and fountain grass. These types of grasses have a commendable resistance against extreme heat. They can grow well in most types of soil without much maintenance. You barely have to apply any fertilizer — and they’re resistant to both pests and plant diseases.

Furthermore, these natural grasses don’t need to be mowed like turfgrass. They can easily retain their shape even after being covered by snow. Homeowners will also have no problem with them spreading aggressively since ornamental grasses rely on seeds and not on rhizomes to reproduce. Still, do note that they cannot tolerate foot traffic — they are only meant for the aesthetic enhancement of your lawn.

5. Red creeping thyme

Photo: Andrea_44/Flickr

Summer is a fantastic period to have red creeping thyme on your customer’s lawn. During this season, the flowers will bloom and cover the lawn with delightful red and purple colors. This low-growing plant can withstand regular foot traffic and it looks great when grown around stones and patios. Ideally, red creeping thyme should be grown in well-drained soil and provided with full sunlight.

6. Sweet woodruff

Photo: Deb Nystrom/Flickr

This flowering perennial plant is actually edible, but it’s also a fantastic lawn alternative. It releases a good scent and it looks visually distinct. Apart from the lovely white flowers, the sweet woodruff has leaves resembling the shape of stars. Thus, this plant can enhance the overall texture of your client’s lawn. If those weren’t enough, do note that the sweet woodruff barely requires irrigation and it is highly resistant to weeds.

Overall, homeowners shouldn’t worry about finding a replacement for their turfgrass, as these are just a handful of the many options available. The traditional lawn looks great, but the other choices have their own set of advantages, as well.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written by Ann Sanders, the founder and main editor of A Green Hand. A Green Hand provides information organic gardening and healthy living.

The article was originally seen at https://www.totallandscapecare.com/landscaping/six-lawn-alternatives-for-clients-to-consider/

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