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Photo Credit: Marion Brenner

An upgraded landscape at Mission Boulevard Linear Park in Hayward, CA demonstrates how reuse of materials on a grand scale can save money and reduce climate impacts. Designed by landscape architects at Surfacedesign, the mile-long park and walking and biking trail repurposed asphalt, concrete, trees, soil, and even benches.

Photo Credit: Marion Brenner

Surfacedesign saw an opportunity to try something new at the site. The existing landscape at Mission Boulevard Linear Park included a run-down trail with cracked asphalt, overgrown plants, and dying trees. Abandoned land on either side of the trail spanned 60’. Yet the existing trail could be expanded and enlivened by native trees and plants, new seating areas, stormwater management systems, and visual connections to the surrounding mountains.

James A. Lord, FASLA, founding partner at Surfacedesign, said reducing costs for the client, the Hayward city government, was a priority, but it wasn’t about that alone. “We thought: how can we reduce our carbon footprint? How can we reuse what was already there?”

Surfacedesign pitched their reuse plans to the city government during the midst of the pandemic. They found a champion for their vision in Michelle Koo, the city landscape architect, and other officials. “This project required tenacity but also visionary people in government who allowed it,” commented Lord.

The team then collaborated across multiple departments to get permissions and source city-owned materials.

Creative Tenacity

Photo Credit: Marion Brenner

Upgrades at the Mission Boulevard Linear Park included:

Photo Credit: Marion Brennan

• The existing cracked asphalt was cut to create more sinuous pathways. Since dog walkers had complained the hot asphalt hurt their dogs’ feet, the width of the trail was expanded by adding beds of decomposed granite from a local quarry.
• Seating areas incorporated logs from fallen trees.
• Over 10,000 square feet of concrete weighing 250 tons was cut out of the foundation of a deconstructed municipal building and reused as pavers
• The team refurbished benches from the 1980s that were collecting dust in a city boneyard. “We used the same approach as with car detailing,” said Lord.
• Unused soils from another park were brought to the site to form hills that “visually connect to the hills beyond,” commented Lord.
• The team also reused municipal trees. In total, 48 trees sourced for other city projects were planted. “The trees are all native and will soon not require irrigation,” Tyler Jones-Powell, a senior associate with the firm, said. And by rejuvenating soils, many redwoods were saved.

Custom Without The Cost

While there may be a perception that reuse is “bespoke” and therefore expensive, the extensive reuse of materials didn’t cost more, Lord asserted. In fact, the seven-acre project came in at $2 million, or $7.50 per square foot.

The cost of transporting materials was also kept low. “All the materials were from within city limits, just a few miles,” said Jones-Powell. This also resulted in far fewer greenhouse gas emissions from trucking in materials.

Photo Credit: Marion Brenner

This project is a prime example of how old materials can provide new inspiration for landscapes and landscape designers. The history of past use adds to the beauty of the elements. “There is a dynamic register of what the thing was,” Lord said. “The project is about distilling simplicity into something.”

“And reuse was the responsible thing to do,” Jones-Powell said. His advice to other landscape architects:? “Don’t wipe the slate clean.”

Green is the senior communications manager at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and editor of its blog, The Dirt. He authored “Good Energy: Renewable Power and the Design of Everyday Life” (Princeton Architectural Press, May 2021). An original version of this article appeared in The Dirt in February, entitled “New Linear Park Shows the Great Potential of Material Reuse.” Visit asla.org or dirt.asla.org.

All Photos Credit: Marion Brenner

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Takeuchi-US recently installed energy-efficient solar panels at its locations in Pendergrass, GA and Moore, SC. As part of being good global citizens, the company says it is committed to developing and implementing sustainable technologies wherever and whenever possible. Transforming Takeuchi facilities to carbon neutral was part of that plan, first in Japan and then in the U.S.

The new solar panels will cover about 85% of the energy needs at the two facilities. The remaining 15% will be sourced as green energy from local electrical suppliers, allowing Takeuchi’s U.S. locations to remain carbon neutral all year round. To help offset the solar installation project’s costs, Takeuchi will apply for tax credits that the Inflation Reduction Act provides for eligible renewable energy projects.

“We quickly learned that a solar project of this magnitude takes a lot of time and planning,” said Angy Lamb, manager of operational services at Takeuchi-US. “We began meeting with solar energy companies in late summer 2022. Each company had to come on site to tour each building and evaluate the roof structures and electrical systems before drawing up preliminary design suggestions and providing estimates. That process alone took several months.”

In March 2023, Takeuchi chose Renu Energy Solutions to install solar panels at both the Georgia and South Carolina facilities. The next project phase involved getting the appropriate permits from local government authorities as well as interconnection agreements with local power companies. Renu took care of those details, and in September 2023, all the necessary panels and hardware were shipped to Pendergrass and Moore. Soon after, Renu began installing the systems with almost no disturbance to business operations other than the final “tie-in” which requires a building’s power to be shut down while the solar panels are connected to its electrical system.

“The first building to ‘go live’ was our South Carolina office building in February 2024,” said Jeff Stewart, president of Takeuchi-US. “That was quickly followed by our Training Center in Pendergrass, GA and then the manufacturing plant in South Carolina. Finally, the machine distribution center, corporate office and main distribution center in Pendergrass came online in early July.”

The solar panel installation project is just one example of Takeuchi’s commitment to going green. The company has also converted its main distribution center in Georgia and plant in South Carolina to energy-efficient LED lighting, and its secondary distribution center is almost entirely illuminated by LEDs. Takeuchi’s three-year-old Training Center in Georgia was built with all high-efficiency systems, including LED fixtures. Later this year, Takeuchi will convert all lighting in its corporate offices over to LED, and in 2025, it will convert the remaining portion of the lighting in its secondary warehouse to LED, greatly reducing its electric bills.

“One element of Takeuchi’s corporate commitment is cooperation,” said Stewart. “In that commitment, we pledge to ‘thrive in conjunction with society, cultivating a mindset based on harmony and thoughtfulness.’ We put this into action by partnering with the global community and by being good environmental stewards.

“Moving our facilities to a carbon-neutral position helps us live out our commitments and achieve our goals by being a better global partner. We try to take steps that will ensure the long-term success of not only Takeuchi, but also those who work with and around us.”

For more information about Takeuchi track loaders, excavators and wheel loaders, visit www.takeuchi-us.com.

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SiteOne® Landscape Supply will be hosting the 26th Women In Green Industry conference in Chicago, IL. Landscape professionals including business owners, managers, purchasing agents, installers, and crew members are invited to attend. The conference will take place from September 19 through 21 at the Renaissance Chicago Downton Hotel.

Contractor registration is open now through Sunday, August 4. The $999 registration fee covers lodging, most meals, educational sessions, and networking activities. Packages including airfare are also available.

“This event is valuable for women in the Green Industry, offering professional growth and personal development,” comments SiteOne Director of Events, Christina Moore. “Attendees gain access to expert training, cutting-edge product showcases, and unparalleled networking with industry leaders and peers across the U.S. and Canada. It’s a unique opportunity to bond, share experiences and celebrate with like-minded professionals, making it a worthy investment in your career and well-being.”

During the three-day conference, attendees can take in a variety of sessions pertinent to landscape professionals. There are a wide range of topics including talent retention and development, marketing, sustainability practices, irrigation, cleaning and sealing hardscapes, and many more industry subjects.

Attendees will also hear from a large slate of speakers, including executives, founders, CEOs, and senior professionals who will present a wide range of Green Industry issues.

The conference offers many networking opportunities throughout the event. These include a Lake Michigan dinner cruise on the evening of September 20th.

To see more details and the conference agenda, or to register for the conference visit the SiteOne Women In Green Industry page.

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As the 2024 Summer Olympics open today, two Weed Man franchise owners will have a particularly personal perspective on the event. Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing, a dynamic Olympic curling duo and married couple, took over Laing’s family-run Weed Man franchise in Barrie, Ontario, this past April and plan to infuse their business with the same dedication and excellence that propelled them to international sporting success.

One of Canada’s most successful female curlers ever, Jones is an Olympic champion, two-time world champion, and six-time national champion. In 2014, Jones led her team to the Olympic Winter Games, not only winning gold, but becoming the first women’s curling team to go undefeated in Olympic competition. Jones made her second Olympic appearance at Beijing 2022 where at age 47 she became Canada’s oldest ever female Winter Olympian.

Laing is a three-time Canadian and world champion who has been playing with the same team since the 2014-15 season. They won their first national title together in 2016, going on to win the world title.

While Jones and Laing competed together in the 2023 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships, this year the two are ready for a new team challenge: taking over the family franchise. “At the end of the day we’re just a part of a different team. This is a team that delivers customer service in the lawn care industry, whereas before it was a team that delivered shot making on the curling ice,” comments Laing. “It’s the same, you know. You plan, you execute, you debrief, and you replan, and you execute, and you debrief. And all the way along it’s not a straight line up, but it’s all about getting better at what you do being more efficient.”

Jones agrees. “We have such a strong relationship, strong friendship, and so much respect for each other that it just seemed natural for us to go into business together and try to use that strength that we have in our relationship to try to be successful in business.” She adds, “…it’s a way that we can continue our curling partnership, like a partnership where we’re working together after curling is over. So it’s been really, really fun and great for us. And it’s a way to keep that competitive fire, I think, alive in us and figure out how we can grow the business.”

Laing’s father, George, and his mother bought the first Weed Man franchise in Collingwood in 1982.

Laing, whose parents purchased the first Weed Man franchise in Collingwood in 1982, has deep roots in the business. “I don’t remember life without the green and yellow truck in the driveway,” he recalls. For her part, Jones looks forward to her new role. “This is just a well established business. Brent had been in the business. It meant a lot to us to be able to keep it in the family because his parents had worked so hard to make it so successful and we love it, we love working together.”

Currently, the duo is focused on empowering their team, enhancing customer service, and implementing forward-thinking strategies to stay ahead in the industry. “We just want to get marginally 1% better everywhere, whether that’s the customer service, or how we empower our technician team, or how we empower the office staff, or the training that we do. I think we’re only as good as the training we provide for our people, says Laing.

Jones comments, “We don’t just accept an answer, we want to know why. And so I think we’re always asking the employees, ‘Why do we do that?’.. It’s just about learning and educating, and then just trying to surround ourselves with the best possible people. And that’s what you do in sport.” She add, “But we’re also always forward thinking. And I think  our sport background is what we are going to need three or four years from now, or five years from now to keep up…. We’re preparing for what’s next, not just for today.”

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By Brandon Haley
From the June 2024 Issue

Sustainability and savings are rarely mentioned in the same breath, but smart irrigation practices offer a rare opportunity for both. As water becomes increasingly more expensive across the country, opportunities to conserve a natural resource while reducing costs are becoming more available and attainable.

Whether a site is residential or commercial and managed by onsite, offsite, in-house, or contracted staff, there are opportunities to sell business, save money, and conserve a precious resource. It is common to have irrigation conservation upgrades paid for within 18 months depending on local utility rates. However, this is not a blanket recommendation since there is the possibility that consumption will increase in traditionally underirrigated sites. Careful research of historical utility bills will show the best opportunities for savings.

(Photo: Adobe Stock / NICHAPA)

Smart Irrigation Technologies

Conventional irrigation controllers use static timers to schedule irrigation. While dependable, they are reliant on people to set and adjust their run times and lack the ability to monitor and adjust based on weather or site conditions. Smart irrigation technologies overcome the challenge of a manager’s limited time and capacity for daily monitoring by allowing the system to monitor conditions and self-adjust based on weather, sensor data, and by utilizing rain sensors to halt irrigation during precipitation. With internet connections, the system will also notify end users of the changes.

Smart irrigation automation is driven by internal algorithms that gather information about the site, including plant types, soil, and weather. The controller tailors water applications by increasing water during periods of hot and dry weather and reducing water in response to lower temperatures or excessive cloud cover.

Smart irrigation technologies overcome the challenge of a manager’s limited time and capacity for daily monitoring by allowing the system to monitor conditions and self-adjust based on weather, sensor data, and by utilizing rain sensors to halt irrigation during precipitation.

While no system is perfect, research has shown that the typical smart system in a humid environment can reduce water consumption by up to 43% compared to a professional water manager. Compared to systems that were not managed, savings of over 50% are possible without any additional components being added in the field. In arid conditions where rainfall is limited, these savings will naturally be reduced and there will have to be a higher reliance on increasing the distribution uniformity of the system.

Smart controllers operate fully automatically when equipped with a flow meter and connected to the internet. Properly calibrated flow meters can detect high and low flows within the system and have the controller notify the manager, allowing for remote management. To properly calibrate flow meters, users must ensure there are no leaks in a zone. The lower the deviation allowed, the more water that can be saved.

A simple 1″ mainline break can waste over 20,000 gallons of water a day, with 1″ zone line breaks leaking upwards of 400 gallons per irrigation event. Commercial systems with larger pipes will see much higher amounts of waste from leaks. A broken 2″ pipe can leak over 500 gallons per minute (gpm), moving massive amounts of soil and even collapsing roads if not quickly stopped. Flow meters connected to smart controllers can stop this type of waste within minutes and then send notifications through text or email to the end user, giving them piece of mind that a system is operating properly or an alert when it is not.

Modernizing The Entire System

Technological advances go beyond controllers. Nearly every part of an irrigation system now has a more efficient version, such as pressure reducing irrigation heads, multi-stream spray nozzles, check valves, and improved drip components. Modern irrigation designs that use these more efficient parts can drastically reduce water consumption and present unique, sustainable possibilities for sites. With utility rates for water rising, these water saving components will save water as well as money over their lifespan.

With irrigation components designed to last 10 to 20 years, break-even points as low as three to five years yield financial benefits while saving enormous amounts of money, ensuring landscapes have access to irrigation for years to come.

For municipalities with in-line water pressure above the manufacturer’s recommendation, heads with pressure regulating components offer higher savings. It’s common to have pressure spikes and drops during the night, which increase water consumption. In flow meter-controlled systems with tight tolerances, these spikes can even cause flow to rise enough to trigger high flow warnings and shut down irrigation for the night. Spray heads are the most sensitive to over pressurization with industry data showing flow rates increase by up to one gpm, wasting up to 20 gallons of water per head every cycle.

Multi-stream irrigation nozzles have been proven to increase efficiency of irrigation systems as well. Installed on spray heads, these nozzles use rotating streams of water instead of fixed sprays to irrigate. Their precipitation and flow rates are much lower, typically resulting in longer run times than the spray nozzles they are replacing, which can lead to the perception that they actually using more water than normal nozzles. However, water usage is a function of both time and flow rates, and the reduced flow rate of these nozzles easily makes up for the slight increase in run times. With the increased distribution uniformity and reduced runoff from the low precipitation rate, 20-40% reductions in water consumption are possible with just a simple nozzle change in locations where head spacing allows for the conversion.

Determining ROI & Break-Even Points

To determine the break-even point, divide the total cost of the upgrade by the expected annual savings. This will show the number of years until the cost is paid off. To determine the annual Return on Investment (ROI), divide the annual savings by the total cost. This will equal the percentage annual return of the initial investment. For commercial stakeholders or financially driven customers, ROI will be better understood. For residential stakeholders, the “break-even point” will be a simpler way to explain when irrigation upgrades would be paid off.

Make sure to research the current municipal water rates being charged the local utility and any rebates that may be available to the end user. These rates are typically found online and are presented either in costs per 1,000 gallons or per 100 cubic feet (cu. ft.). One cu. ft. of water is equal to 7.48 gallons and to convert costs per 100 cu. ft. to costs per 1,000 gallons, divide the cost by 0.748.

These rates vary wildly by jurisdiction and can range from $4.00 to over $9.00 per thousand gallons across the country. The current pricing trend has utilities moving from a discounted tier structure to one that favors conservation by raising rates as more water is used. This change has dramatically affected the ROI of irrigation upgrades.

There are a few ways to determine potential break-even points and ROI metrics. For system-wide upgrades such as a smart controller, consider the amount of water used over the course of an entire year for irrigation. Actual metered data is best, but without this information, theoretical averages must be used.

Irrigating an acre of turf for 30 weeks with 1″ of water will use just over 800,000 gallons with 100% efficiency. It is highly likely that the site will be using more than this per acre. With an estimate of 30% savings for a smart controller there is a potential of 240,000 gallons to be saved each year. At a cost of $7.00 per thousand gallons, this presents an opportunity to save approximately $1,680 per acre of irrigated landscape each year.

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For individual irrigation components such as nozzles, consider the amount of water that would be saved by that component individually. For example, using the over-pressurized irrigation head example above, it’s possible save 20 gallons per cycle with pressure regulation. With three scheduled cycles per week over 30 weeks, this represents a potential savings of 1,800 gallons per head. At a cost of $7.00 per thousand gallons, installing pressure regulated heads could save $12.60 annually for each head. Even with installation costs, there is potential for an ROI over 40% and a break-even point under 2.5 years. There are similar examples for rain and soil moisture sensors as recent research in 2022 from the University of Arkansas showed an annual potential savings for rain sensors at $87.00 and soil sensors at $200.00 for Bermudagrass lawns.

Smart Savings

The expected savings of smart irrigation technology contribute to a more sustainable, cost-effective, and customized irrigation system that suits the needs of the site and can use drastically lower amounts of water. Conserving water used for irrigation is rewarding and can be profitable as water rates continue to rise. There are opportunities to both make and save money by upgrading irrigation systems. With irrigation components designed to last 10 to 20 years, break-even points as low as three to five years yield financial benefits while saving enormous amounts of money, ensuring landscapes have access to irrigation for years to come.

Haley, CGM, is VP of Grounds Management for SSC – Services for Education, a University and K-12 facilities services provider. He is a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) with the Irrigation Association as well as a Texas-licensed Irrigator. He is also a Certified Grounds Manager through the Professional Grounds Management Society with 25 years of experience in the Green Industry. Haley previously wrote for Turf on “Gas Vs. Electric OPE: Real World Costs.” See that highly informative article here. 

Do you have a comment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, or send an e-mail to the Editor at cmenapace@groupc.com.

After building and growing Nufarm in North America for the past 9½ years, Brendan Deck will return to Australia in December of 2024. In his new role, Deck will continue to support Nufarm as a strategic advisor to the Group, utilizing his considerable commercial and product experience.

Brendan Deck

Under Deck’s leadership, Nufarm has achieved important and significant milestones in North America. These achievements include the greenfield development of Nufarm’s state of the art formulation facility in Greenville, MS. The modernization and expansion of Nufarm’s facilities in Chicago Heights and Alsip was also an achievement of Deck. He also spearheaded the development of important strategic relationships with customers and suppliers.

Deck’s leadership drove growth in relevance and profitability for Nufarm with a relentless focus on customers and ease of doing business. Under his leadership, revenue in Nufarm North America increased from $38,862,8090 (AUD$589M) in FY2015 to $831,360,600 (AUD$1.26B) in FY2023. In FY2023 the North American segment was the largest contributor to group revenue.

Ken Barham

Deck will be succeeded as Regional General Manager, North America by Ken Barham, effective October1, 2024. He is currently the VP Sales for Nufarm’s crop protection business in the US.

Ken Barham joined Nufarm in August 2017 as North American Customer Marketing Lead. In 2021, he moved into his current crop protection sales leadership role. With a comprehensive understanding of the crop protection sector, Barham has worked in the field for 20+ years. His career included senior roles in operations and sales and marketing. His experience spanned roled at Alligare, Syngenta, and Nufarm.

Barham shares a passion for customers and for making Nufarm increasingly relevant and valuable to its channel partners. His success at Nufarm includes the implementation of digital marketing technology, an evolutionary approach to customer account planning. It also includes the oversight of key product launches into the North American market. Barham has been an instrumental part of a leadership team that has achieved significant milestones in processes, capabilities, and growth.

Brendan Deck and Ken Barham epitomise Nufarm’s focus on delivering for its customers and suppliers, through quality solutions and ease of doing business.

For Turf Magazine‘s most recent Get Equipped: Pesticides, Herbicides & Fertilizers product spotlight featuring NuFarm’s Allstar™ Herbicide, click here.

DLF is excited to present 4Most Seed Enhancement By DLF, a new seed enhancement solution developed with environmental sustainability in mind, created specifically for turf and forage applications.

DLF developed 4Most internally to give the company full control over R&D, product development, and continued efficacy testing. Every component was rigorously tested to ensure high-quality ingredients in optimal ratios. The 4Most formula integrates targeted, slow-release nitrogen with several different species of beneficial microorganisms specific to turf and forage, aimed at providing seedlings and their root systems with a long-term boost in nutrition. The recipe also features a biodegradable, starch-based super absorbent designed to help maintain moisture around the seed, and a calcium carbonate protective layer intended to improve soil contact and moisture retention.

4Most is formulated to support seedlings in developing deeper and more extensive root systems, to help the emerging plants with greater stability and durability while enabling them to access water and nutrients across more soil, and convert soil-bound nutrients into plant-available nutrients.

“Each stage in the plant’s development has a corresponding component within the formulation, so each area of the plant’s establishment is covered,” says Susanna Sieke, director of seed enhancements at DLF. “The active ingredients and targeted nutrition should empower seedlings to emerge and establish faster, resulting in more seedlings surviving and converting to healthy, mature plants.”

The 4Most seed enhancement formulation is intended to outperform raw seed pound-for-pound and may reduce the need for additional starter fertilizer or adjustments in seeding rates, aiming for better vertical growth and coverage with fewer seeds.

“Enhanced seed contains less seed than a bag of raw seed, but based on our research trials, outperforms raw seed because more seeds can survive and thrive,” explains Dr. Leah Brilman, director of product management at DLF. “We are focused on increasing the performance, vigor and value of each seed.”

4Most is manufactured at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Albany, OR, where  construction was recently completed on a new 141,000 square foot production facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology for seed blending, enhancement, packaging, and palletizing.

“The new seed enhancement line uses proprietary technology developed by DLF that is intended to make 4Most look and function vastly different than what is available on the market today,” says Brian Jaasko, senior vice president for DLF wholesale and production in North America.

DLF will be introducing the technology to U.S. wholesale turf customers for its initial rollout and has already shipped its first batch of 4Most enhanced seed to a professional turf customer. The company plans to expand to all turf and forage markets in the U.S. and Canada in the future. In the meantime, 4Most seed samples are available upon request through a DLF Professional Turf Account Manager or via email to susanna.sieke@dlf.com.

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