A recent addition to the Optimus line of commercial battery-powered equipment, this heavy-duty unit is the industry’s first battery-powered, stand-on, zero-turn spreader-sprayer. It features an 8-kW, 82-volt battery system with dual 5-kW wheel motors. These power a 60-gallon liquid tank capacity and a 10-foot spray reach, while the dry hopper holds up to 220 pounds.

The spreader-sprayer’s development was driven largely by direct feedback from professional contractors seeking a more reliable alternative to gas-powered units, which are often difficult to maintain and unpredictable, says Corey Fisher, Greenworks’ director of vehicle engineering. By eliminating the internal combustion engine, Greenworks removes nearly 70% of the maintenance issues and mechanical failures associated with stand-on spreader-sprayers, he says.

“When you’re spraying and spreading, the chemicals corrode a lot of different components, and the industry, by and large, has made it easy to replace and service spray nozzles and tubes,” Fisher says. “But the two service items you can not get away from are the gas engine and the hydraulic transmission. Those two things cost upwards of $1,000 per year in maintenance. So, eliminating those service items was our number one goal.”

Because the spreader-sprayer is typically a spring and fall tool, a machine may go months between uses, leading to maintenance issues. Fisher explains that gasoline is in a constant state of degradation, regardless of whether stabilizers are used. Over several months, fuel remaining in a unit will accumulate moisture, fouling fuel lines and filters and creating a maintenance burden that contractors have come to expect after a period of dormancy.

“As long as [the battery-powered unit] is kept in a normal-temperature environment of a garage and shed with a reasonable charge, they’re ready to go,” he says, adding that Greenworks’ high-capacity batteries lose only 1% to 2% of their charge per month.

Beyond maintenance, the drive speed and controls of the Greenworks battery-powered spreader-sprayer introduce a level of precision and efficiency previously unattainable with gas engines. Unlike traditional units that rely on inconsistent RPM adjustments and operator guesswork to maintain speed, Greenworks’ electric motor allows for speed settings accurate to within a tenth of a mile per hour.

This level of precision is critical when applying fertilizer or a pesticide, where speed directly dictates the accuracy of material distribution, Fisher says.

“With mowing, it doesn’t matter if you’re going six miles an hour or eight miles an hour because you’re just trying to be productive,” he says. “With a sprayer-spreader, speed is accuracy because if you over-distribute [material], you’re going to have issues. Either you’re wasting money by putting too much product down, or you’re killing grass by putting too much chemicals on it.”

The Greenworks spreader-sprayer platform offers simplicity and precision by removing the need for operator expertise. The machine features four preset speeds to ensure it drives at an exact, repeatable pace every time, Fisher says. This is key for work requiring frequent stops. With a gas unit, an operator must engage the parking brake and throttle down before dismounting. Upon returning, they must throttle the unit back up while attempting to guess the correct RPM for consistent application.

“That could be off by 5% to 25% every single time [the operator] does that, and that could be five times an hour, ten times an hour or more depending on the project,” he says. “With the Greenworkers spreader/sprayer’s operator presence controls and simple parking switch, the operator gets off to grab something and gets back on, that unit is ready to go again. You don’t have to change anything.”

Additionally, Greenworks’ spreader-sprayer platform addresses landscape professionals’ dilemma of labor shortages and high turnover rates, especially for a tool used in the spring and fall.

“Often, the guy the contractor hired in the spring may not be the one running the spreader-sprayer in the fall,” he says. “Greenworks has made a machine that the contractor doesn’t have to teach an operator how to adjust and dial in the application. Instead, you put in the speed and the flow rate, and it works every time. That’s the precision that the landscape professional needs.”

Greenworks’ spreader-sprayer’s remarkable energy efficiency addresses the industry’s pervasive issue of range anxiety. Fisher explains that while electric mowers consume roughly 80% of their power for blade rotation, the spreader-sprayer lacks such high-energy draws.

“In a single charge, Greenworks’ spreader-sprayer is doing right around 25 to 35 acres of spraying and up to 40 acres of spreading,” he says. “That’s a lot of distance, and more than most commercial crews are going to do in a day or a week.”

Greenworks engineering philosophy centers on the intersection of productivity, intelligence, and simplicity. By prioritizing these three pillars, Fisher says Greenworks eliminates the marginal time losses that add up to significant productivity drain for professional landscape contractors.

“Eliminating the pain points for the operator, for the maintenance and service, and for the use is what we’re all about,” he says. “We want to deliver that productivity through that simplicity and that intelligence with our products. That’s something we’re really proud of.”

<p>The post Greenworks Industry-First Series 9 Battery-Powered Stand-On Spreader-Sprayer for Commercial Crews first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

Three books on my shelf address this problem from three very different angles, and together, they form what I consider the clearest diagnosis of why otherwise healthy, well-led companies still underperform.

“The Advantage”

Patrick Lencioni, best known as the author of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” wrote in “The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business” that the single greatest competitive advantage any company can develop is not its strategy or even its technology, but its organizational health. Many leaders ignore organizational health entirely because it feels “soft.”

A healthy organization is led by a team that is cohesive, where the strategy is clear and shared, communication is reinforced throughout the organization and there is minimal political dysfunction. Smart, well-resourced companies fail not because they lack answers, but because they are unable to act on the answers they already have. 

For landscape company leaders, this hits hard. Most of us have identified our problems. The glaring question is, “Why don’t we fix them?” The answer is the health of the leadership team at the top.

“The Knowing-Doing Gap”

Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton’s “The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action” is one of the most honest books ever written about organizational failure. The authors spent years studying why companies that attend the right conferences, hire the right consultants and read the right books still don’t change. Their conclusion is uncomfortable: Talk substitutes for action. Planning, benchmarking and strategizing become ends in themselves.

For those of us running landscape companies, this is recognizable territory. How many times have we left an industry conference energized, only to find that six months later, nothing has changed? Why? Fear is the primary culprit. More specifically, fear of failure in organizations where mistakes are punished rather than used as learning opportunities. 

They also point to complexity. When measurement systems and approval processes become too layered, people stop acting and start waiting. The antidote is radical simplicity and leaders who model doing rather than just directing.

“Overcoming Organizational Defenses”

Chris Argyris, Ph.D., spent most of his career at Harvard Business School studying why organizations fail to learn, and “Overcoming Organizational Defenses” is his most accessible and practical work. His core insight is that the problems that matter most in any organization — the ones that are genuinely limiting performance — are precisely the ones nobody talks about. He calls them “undiscussables.”

Every company has them. The branch that everyone knows is struggling but whose manager is politically protected. The pricing strategy that field teams think is wrong but never say so in the room. The leadership behavior that is costing the company talent but has never been named directly. 

Argyris shows that these “undiscussables” are not accidents. They are the product of defensive routines that leaders themselves, often unconsciously, reinforce. The most sobering finding in his research? The smarter and more successful the people, the more defensive they tend to be, because they perceive they have the most to lose from being wrong. Making the undiscussable discussable is the hardest and most valuable thing a leadership team can do.

These three books are about one problem, seen from three angles. Read together, they offer a clear picture of why execution is rare and what it takes to close the gap between a company that knows what to do and one that does it. That gap, more than any strategic insight or market advantage, is where company value is won or lost. 

<p>The post The CEO’s bookshelf: Why smart companies fail to execute first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

The CSI End User Rebate Portal is an online platform that allows customers to enroll in rebate programs, track rebate activity, view rebate history and maximize rebates in one convenient location. The portal automatically captures qualifying purchases from participating distributors, eliminating the need for paperwork or invoice submissions and making rebate management faster and more efficient.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for customers to participate in our rebate programs and see the value they are earning throughout the season,” said Brian Jones, Quali-Pro director turf and ornamental. “The new rebate portal provides greater transparency, convenience and access to rebate information whenever customers need it.”

The Triple Threat and Fire Fight rebate programs, which began in March and run through June 30, 2026, provide customers with opportunities to earn valuable rebates on qualifying purchases of select Quali-Pro products, including Doxem T&O, Contrado and Suprado. These programs are designed to reward turf professionals for investing in proven solutions for insect control and overall turf performance.

Customers can register through the Quali-Pro Rebate Portal and begin managing their rebate activity through a secure registration process with two-factor authentication.

For more information about the Triple Threat and Fire Fight rebate programs and the Quali-Pro Rebate Portal, go here.

<p>The post Quali-Pro launches new end user rebate portal for rebate participants first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

That is what makes our Summer Growth Summit (Detroit, Aug. 18-20) worth serious attention. The event is built around tours of two established Michigan firms — Troy Clogg Landscape Associates and Great Lakes Landscape Design. Many of the presenters will be executives and managers from these companies, along with leaders from Jeffrey Scott Consulting and a select group of industry experts.

The format reflects a broader shift in the landscape industry. Growth is becoming more complex. For many companies, adding revenue is no longer the primary challenge. The harder question is how to grow consistently without recruiting setbacks, margin erosion or leadership bottlenecks. At the summit, both founders will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how they have navigated these challenges, sharing not just what worked but how they made critical decisions along the way.

Highlights from the Summer Growth Summit in Detroit include:

Sales and marketing remain opportunities for improvement. Owners have long relied on referrals, relationships and hustle to drive new work. But informal methods eventually hit a ceiling. Attendees will hear how leaders are approaching business development, marketing, sales management, CRM use and sales team development. The takeaway is clear: Sales is becoming a more deliberate management function, not just an extension of ownership or estimating.

Equipment management as a profit center. Contractors are under pressure to make smarter capital decisions, especially while equipment costs remain high. A session on equipment financing and ROI should remind attendees that buying and allocating equipment is not just a field decision, it is a strategic one tied to utilization, cash flow and return on invested capital.

Efficiency is foundational. On the first day, attendees will dive into lean principles and how they apply to production. During the facility tours, they will see how the host companies design their shops and yards to support readiness, maintenance and daily execution. As landscape firms add crews, branches and service lines, facility layout and production flow become more important yet are often underexamined.

Leadership structures. The Summer Growth Summit will highlight a new way to manage. At Great Lakes Landscape Design, attendees will meet Desiree Bouchard, who serves as an integrator-style general manager overseeing operations, supported by the company’s director of continuous improvement. For many entrepreneurial firms, that kind of structure represents an important evolution, moving away from founder-centric management toward an operating model where accountability and improvement are distributed more intentionally.

AI is no longer optional — it’s operational. The question is not whether artificial intelligence (AI) matters, but how companies are using it. A panel featuring contractors, vendors and software leaders will focus on practical applications — what is working now, where efficiencies are being gained and how companies are integrating AI into daily operations.

Operational success. Additional sessions will cover hiring and training systems, acquisition integration, adding new services and the playbooks used in maintenance, installation, irrigation and lighting. Attendees will also learn how to profitably handle large design-build projects.

Snow time. Troy Clogg’s company is known regionally for its snow work, and its team will share how they approach the logistics, equipment and planning required to scale snow operations effectively.

The Summer Growth Summit offers a useful snapshot of where the landscape industry is headed. The agenda points to greater sophistication in our industry and will help you stay relevant, forward-leaning and on top of the changes. 

Bring your teams and use this event as a confirmation and catalyst for change and growth. For more information and to register, click here. 

<p>The post How top landscape companies are scaling smarter first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

The FX Luminaire Cora CG-51 is a premium in-grade and well light engineered to deliver powerful, low-profile illumination for walkways, hardscapes, walls, and landscape features. Designed with both versatility and durability in mind, the CG-51 combines rugged performance with a refined architectural appearance, making it an ideal solution for residential and commercial outdoor lighting applications. Its premium select brass construction offers exceptional corrosion resistance and long-term reliability, even in harsh outdoor environments.

The fixture features interchangeable 180° and 360° faceplates, allowing lighting professionals to customize beam distribution while reducing the need for multiple fixture types. An open 180° faceplate eliminates the center brace, producing clean, unobstructed illumination for smooth ground washing effects. The CG-51 also includes a threaded-top design that conceals exposed screws for a sleek, modern finish.

With an IP66/67 rating, the CG-51 provides superior protection against dust and water intrusion, ensuring dependable performance year-round. Its low-profile design integrates seamlessly into paving, walkways, and hardscape surfaces, while compatibility with standard 2½” Schedule 40 conduit simplifies installation and retrofit projects. Available with multiple MR-16 lamp options, the CG-51 delivers flexible lighting control, energy efficiency, and professional-grade performance in one compact fixture.

<p>The post FX Luminaire: Cora CG-51 first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

That has certainly included pools and pool enhancements. Many companies have eagerly added pool work to their service menus and increased staff dedicated to pool design and construction. Others have dipped their toes in the world of pools (pun intended) when opportunity calls, relying on a network of reliable subcontractors to support their efforts. And for some, pool work is viewed as a necessary evil.

But regardless of how these companies view pools, contractors have remained focused on the wants and needs of customers while at the same time monitoring the newest product offerings from manufacturers serving the pool market.

Count Tyler Beene with Sun Valley Landscaping in Omaha, Neb., among those making sure that supply meets demand when it comes to pools. Sun Valley is a full-service firm serving both residential and commercial customers, and typically, the company is involved in six to eight pool projects a year.

Much of that work is farmed out to a trusted network of subcontractors that the company has cultivated over the years, something that Beene says sets Sun Valley apart in their market.

“We’re not pool experts, but we have a whole group of trusted partners who are going to do things the right way,” says Beene, a landscape design and sales representative for Sun Valley with a long history of working on pool projects. “I think customers appreciate that and our willingness to facilitate these projects.”

Among the trends Beene has noted in the Omaha market is an increased focus on wellness amenities such as cold plunges and saunas.

“There’s always going to be a demand for traditional pools for families with children, for pools that are primarily for recreation,” Beene says. “But a lot of projects now are about relaxation and wellness. They’re about smaller pools with higher-end finishes, intimate settings around the pool.

“We’re seeing a lot of interest from customers in creating their own wellness spaces in their backyard, so instead of having to go to the gym to use a sauna, people want that in their backyard. We’ve also seen a lot of interest in things like self-swimming systems and cold plunges.”

Greg Cole is the president/visionary at Cole Landscaping, a full-service residential and commercial firm serving the Boston area. Among its residential services are pools and water features, and Cole says customers in his market have been responding to new colors and improved materials in the pool work his firm tackles.

“Customers like that dark lagoon look for some reason,” he says. “Dark lagoon type of pools, it’s like a dark plaster with dark water colors. Another big sales point for us is that everything we do is gunite (a concrete composite of sand and cement). We don’t do any fiberglass. We don’t do any liner pools. Everything is custom. We sub that work out, but we do the excavation.”

Cole has also seen an increase in requests for sun shelves — flat, shallow areas in the pools that are essentially extended steps into the water. “It’s only about a foot deep of water … and you can put a lounge chair in there. So, the bigger, the better. Those are really popular.”

Back in Omaha, Beene reemphasized that interest in smaller, more intimate pools and the areas around them had become the prevailing trend.

“It’s been interesting to see that customers are OK with smaller pools … just a place to cool off in their outdoor living areas,” he explains. “It allows them to do a few more luxury items because instead of building a 20-by-40, large rectangle pool, maybe they’re only doing a 10-by-20, and they’re investing more in their landscape spaces around the pool or in those different wellness offerings.” 

<p>The post Installation Solutions: Diving into the biggest pool trends and enhancements first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

Leadership Transitions

Effective Sept. 1, 2026, Richard York will transition from his role as president and CEO of Landscape Products to manage other corporate ventures with the York family, alongside Douglas York, current Ewing CEO. Steve Deist, current chief financial officer of Ewing, will assume a dual leadership role as chief operating officer (COO) of Ewing Outdoor Supply and chief executive officer (CEO) of Landscape Products.

The move is part of a strategically structured leadership succession plan to solidify the organization’s executive leadership team, ensuring operational excellence across both commercial distribution and manufactured product development for the next generation.

The transition follows a transformative tenure of leadership by Richard York, whose contributions have been foundational to the modern scale and success of both organizations, according to the company. As the third generation of family leadership, Richard has been a primary driver in professionalizing and modernizing the distributor’s supply chain operations.

Notably, Richard was instrumental in establishing Ewing’s formalized procurement department and successfully led the purchasing, pricing and inventory strategies for several years. His structural efforts transformed how the company managed vendor partnerships and inventory logistics, directly facilitating Ewing’s evolution from a prominent regional distributor into a nationwide industry name with more than 260 locations. At Landscape Products, Richard’s vision as president and CEO expanded the brand’s market footprint, bringing highly reliable irrigation and landscape solutions to green industry professionals across the country, as well as launching the brand’s professional outdoor lighting line, expanding Landscape Products outside of the irrigation category.

To succeed Richard and build upon this robust operational foundation, Steve Deist will step into his new dual capacities on Sept. 1, 2026. Deist will vacate his position as CFO to focus on process and operational improvement at both companies and proprietary products strategy.

As CEO of Landscape Products, Deist will guide the long-term commercial strategy, product engineering, manufacturing operations and multi-channel distribution of the brand line. Managing both positions supports better alignment between Ewing’s national branch footprint and its core manufacturing arm, accelerating the introduction of new product lines for our customers. Deist brings an extensive track record of financial and strategic acumen to these positions, having steered Ewing’s fiscal operations through a period of significant scaling and strategic acquisitions.

“Succession and long-term vision are what create a stronger family and a stronger business,” said Doug York. “Richard’s foresight in building our procurement and pricing infrastructure completely transformed our capability to scale nationally. While we will miss his day-to-day guidance at Landscape Products, I am incredibly excited to partner with him on our upcoming family business ventures. Furthermore, I have total confidence that Steve Deist’s deep operational understanding makes him the ideal leader to guide both Ewing’s operations and Landscape Products into their next chapter.”

Ewing Promotions

On top of these transitions, Ewing also announced two key promotions within its executive leadership team. Jack York has been named chief financial officer, effective Sept. 1, 2026, and Jackson Kintzinger has been promoted to executive vice president (EVP) of sales and marketing, effective July 1, 2026.

To ensure operational continuity, Jack York will engage in a structured three-month transition period from his current divisional role. This period will facilitate a seamless handover of his division responsibilities while allowing him to fully integrate into his new corporate financial duties.

As CFO, Jack York will oversee Ewing’s corporate finance, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, treasury and capital allocation strategies. The role entails guiding the company’s financial health, managing risk and aligning fiscal strategy with overall business operations to ensure sustainable profitability and market expansion.

Jack York represents the fourth generation of family leadership at Ewing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in economics with a concentration in finance from the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout his tenure at Ewing, Jack York has held various operational roles, including branch manager, national irrigation product manager, director of product line management and regional manager, giving him deep knowledge of both the financial and functional sides of the business.

Jack York will succeed Steve Deist, who is transitioning into a dual role as Ewing’s COO and CEO of Landscape Products.

During his time with Ewing, Kintzinger has successfully managed and led the company’s inside sales team and national account executives, while working closely and collaboratively with Ewing’s entire sales force and marketing department. Under his leadership, these departments achieved significant milestones in customer acquisition, account retention and business growth. Kintzinger holds a Bachelor of Science in finance and marketing from Oregon State University and a Master of Business from University of Iowa. He joined Ewing in 2016 as a financial analyst.

In his new capacity as executive vice president of sales and marketing, Kintzinger will be responsible for the overarching strategy and execution of commercial operations across the organization. This position entails leading national and regional sales programs, aligning marketing initiatives with sales objectives, optimizing the customer journey and driving market penetration across Ewing’s footprint to enhance long-term B2B partner relationships.

“As a family-owned company, our priority remains focused on steady leadership, long-term stability and providing exceptional support to our customers and vendor partners,” said Tom Childers, incoming CEO of Ewing Outdoor Supply. “Both Jack and Jackson have demonstrated exceptional dedication and strategic capability in their respective roles. These advancements position Ewing effectively for our next era of service and growth.”

Davey Tree elects Jerry Grisko to its board of directors

Jerry Grisko has been elected to the board of directors of The Davey Tree Expert Company.

Grisko is the CEO of CBIZ, a leading professional services advisor with more than 9,500 team members across 160-plus locations throughout the United States, offering expertise in accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance and technology. Prior to joining CBIZ in 1998, Grisko was a partner with the law firm Baker and Hostetler, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law.

“Jerry’s deep expertise in corporate strategy, market trends, mergers and acquisitions and professional services will be a great addition to this board as we continue to grow as a company,” said Pat Covey, chairman, president and CEO of Davey Tree. “He is also passionate about supporting the Northeast Ohio community, so I’m confident Jerry will align perfectly with Davey’s values as he helps lead and support our company.”

Grisko has been a member of the CBIZ board of directors since November 2015 and serves on its Executive Committee. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee of the Board of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Executive Committee of the Board of the United Way of Greater Cleveland and on the Board of Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County.

In 1983, Grisko earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kent State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1987.

BASF appoints new turf and ornamentals sales representative

BASF introduced Marcos Heras as the new turf and ornamentals sales representative for the Western region. Marcos is a graduate of the University of Arizona, holds his PCA license and comes to BASF from distribution where he served customers in multiple roles. 

“I am extremely excited to welcome Marcos to the BASF turf and ornamentals team in the West. I am confident that Marcos will be a tremendous addition to our team, bringing vast industry knowledge and a genuine desire to serve and find solutions for his customers,” said Brett Garrard, BASF Western region sales manager. 

Now responsible for sales of both turf and ornamental products in Arizona and New Mexico, Marcos will use his extensive industry knowledge and experience to support the industry and create long-term value for BASF customers, according to the company.

<p>The post People on the Move: Hirings and promotions at Ewing, Davey Tree and BASF first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

First unveiled at Equip Expo 2025 in Louisville, Ky., the APW6000 represents a new generation of portable pulling tools developed in collaboration with Stihl. Integrating the Stihl AP Battery System, which will be compatible with the upcoming Stihl AllPro batteries, the winch combines professional-grade battery technology with PortableWinch Co.’s two decades of expertise in capstan winch design.

“This project brought together two complementary strengths,” said Pierre Roy, founder and president of Portable Winch Co. “Stihl ’s world-class battery technology and our deep knowledge of portable winching. Together, we’ve created something truly unique.”

Lightweight, quiet and emission-free, the APW6000 was designed for professionals who regularly face situations where traditional equipment cannot reach. Arborists, forestry crews, contractors and landowners often need controlled pulling power in tight urban spaces, steep terrain or remote areas where trucks and heavy machinery cannot operate.

Delivering up to 3,300 pounds of pulling force while weighing approximately 29 pounds, the APW6000 provides professional-grade performance in a compact format. Its capstan design allows operators to pull unlimited rope lengths, making it particularly suited for forestry work, tree care operations and other demanding applications where distance and terrain are unpredictable. Powered by a 36-volt brushless motor equivalent to approximately 4 horsepower, the winch reaches pulling speeds of up to 53 feet per minute, while instant torque ensures smooth and controlled operation from the moment the rope is tensioned, according to the company.

Additional features include a pull-activated throttle for precise control, an integrated progress capture system that prevents load rollback, and an aluminum MaxGrip drum designed to maintain optimal rope grip while extending rope life.

The collaboration was initiated as part of Stihl’s “Powered by Stihl” program, an initiative designed to open the brand’s professional-grade battery technology to select external manufacturers.

The company stated that professional arborists field-tested the APW6000 winch for a new promo video, praising its precise control and low noise. The battery-powered winch pulled a 30-foot, 28-inch diameter log through heavy, wet snow in a single-line pull. The video features voiceover by Stihl USA’s Eric Worden.

<p>The post Portable Winch Co. collaborates with Stihl to launch APW6000 battery-powered capstan winch first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

“Lawn care operators don’t have time for trial and error during peak season,” said Bill Roddy, campaign activation manager, U.S. Lawn, Envu. “With the Weed ID Guide, LCOs now have a reliable, go-to resource to quickly reference while on the job, helping them work more efficiently and grow their business.”

The Weed ID Guide gives operators the opportunity to quickly and accurately identify a wide range of weed types. With clearer identification comes more confident treatment decisions, helping decrease costly callbacks and repeat applications, according to the company.

Envu, backed by a portfolio of herbicide solutions, helps LCOs move from accurate identification to effective control. From common weeds to more persistent and complex turf pressures, Envu provides solutions made to support successful pre- and postemergent treatment outcomes.

The Weed ID Guide allows LCOs to focus on delivering weed-free, healthy lawns to help keep customers satisfied and businesses growing. The guide is available for download here.

LCOs can also join the Envu Horizon Annual Rewards program, a program built to support LCOs with year-round rewards and savings.

<p>The post Envu releases Weed ID Guide to help lawn care operators make smarter herbicide selections first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

“The MX Series provides what today’s contractors are asking for — equipment that is immediately ready for use,” said Joel Hicks, product line manager at Kioti. “By standardizing the features operators use every day, we’re delivering greater value, productivity and a lower total cost of ownership for operators in a variety of fields.”

The MX350 standard model features a zero-tail swing design, allowing for efficient operation in confined jobsites. The remaining models incorporate a reduced tail swing configuration that enhances maneuverability while maintaining stability and performance.

Kioti stated these machines deliver value by coming factory equipped with an angle blade, thumb, auxiliary hydraulics and a mechanical quick coupler — eliminating the need for aftermarket additions. 

Smooth, stable multi-function hydraulics enable precise, simultaneous movements, giving operators greater control and improving overall efficiency, according to the company. Reinforced structures, protected components and load-holding valves support long-term durability across demanding work environments.

<p>The post Kioti enters the mini excavator market with MX Series first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

Backed by newly expanded EPA-registered claims, LIV 2.0 protects against mosquitoes and no-see-ums up to 3,140 square feet from a single hub with 10 repellers without sprays, smoke, scent or mess. The company stated that is generally enough to protect a regular pool area, outdoor kitchen, dining space and lounge area combined.

LIV has expanded efficacy claims beyond mosquitoes to include no-see-ums (such as biting midges and Culicoides), addressing persistent, outdoor pests that can significantly disrupt comfort and enjoyment across residential and commercial outdoor spaces. The new LIV 2.0 was field tested and evaluated at the Thermacell Science and Research Center in Hampton, Fla., and builds on the LIV product line trusted across more than 8,000 residential and commercial installations.

As the U.S. enters peak mosquito season, warmer temperatures and longer insect activity periods are increasing mosquito pressure across many regions of the country. According to CDC surveillance data, mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile Virus, Dengue and Zika continue to expand geographically, increasing demand for reliable outdoor protection solutions for homes and businesses. LIV 2.0 utilizes Thermacell’s spatial repellent technology to repel mosquitoes that may transmit diseases, consistent with EPA-registered claims.

“Outdoor spaces deserve the same level of comfort as the indoors, without mosquitoes,” said Adam Goess, executive director of global insights and inovation at Thermacell. “LIV 2.0 delivers scalable, on-demand protection that integrates seamlessly into how people live, entertain and gather outdoors, without the hassle of spraying your entire yard and reapplying again and again throughout the season.

The system can be activated, scheduled and monitored remotely via the LIV 2.0 app, with added voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Professional-grade 1.7-ounce refills through pest control professionals provide extended full season protection for most home users with refill-runout notifications through the app. Priced roughly on par with a full-season yard spraying, according to the company, a typical configuration (covering 900-plus square feet) includes a hub, three repellers and refills.

LIV 2.0 is available nationwide through Thermacell professional installers. Systems are customized based on property layout and coverage needs.

<p>The post Thermacell launches next generation of its outdoor mosquito protection system first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>

Landscape Supply offers equipment sales, contractor-focused supply products and service. The business serves a wide range of customers across Central Texas, including commercial cutters, contractors and homeowners.

Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed by General Manager and Co-founder Curtis Goolsby, with the existing approach to customer service and product offerings remaining in place. Spark will support the business with additional resources and new product offerings, while maintaining a locally managed operation with the existing team. As part of Spark Dealer Group, Landscape Supply will have access to centralized resources including marketing support and operational systems.

“Landscape Supply is one of the premier outdoor power equipment dealers in the country. This is a testament to the incredible organization built by Travis and Jana Yoder and Curtis Goolsby,” said Jon Salinas, CEO of Spark Dealer Group.

“Landscape Supply has one of the strongest teams in the industry, with a customer-first culture that permeates through the store,” Salinas continued. “We are excited to add this strong operator to the Spark Dealer Group. Our role is to support the team, invest where it makes sense and continue serving customers across the region without changing what already works incredibly well.”

<p>The post Spark Dealer Group expands Texas footprint with Landscape Supply acquisition in Waco, Texas first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>