The Kress Commercial platform of battery-powered landscape maintenance equipment is now AGZA Field Tested Certified (AFTC), according to the American Green Zone Alliance. This includes the full suite of Kress 60V handheld equipment and the Kress Commercial CyberSystem, which charges commercial-grade batteries in eight minutes. The AFTC designation marks the culmination of a four-year effort working with Kress engineers, tool designers, and product managers with visits to Florida and California. As a first step, Kress product developers teamed up with AGZA and gathered information from current ..read more

The Propane Education & Research Council has hired David Walters as the new director of autogas business development. In this role, Walters will develop and implement strategic market plans to increase propane autogas adoption and support the research and development of innovative products. David Walters “David has been at the forefront of driving sustainable energy solutions in the transportation sector, and we’re confident he will bring those talents into this role to seize opportunities ahead for our industry,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. Walters brings more than 25 ..read more

A plastic pileup. Photo: APLD It’s Earth Day and this year’s theme is Planet vs. Plastics, with EARTHDAY.ORG demanding a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040 for the sake of human and planetary health. The organization calls for people to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, rapidly phase out all single use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion. In the Green Industry, the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) is addressing the issue of horticultural plastic pots—and ..read more

The City of Glendale in California is now the largest Level 1 AGZA Certified Green Zone municipality in the U.S. An AGZA Green Zone is one in which routine landscape maintenance is independently verified for low impact operations. Glendale joins South Pasadena, South El Monte, Mt. San Antonio College, Altadena Public Libraries, University of Southern California, Los Angles State Historic Park, and Adams House State Historic Park as AGZA Green Zone Certified in LA County. Glendale also joins countless others nationwide. Click to make larger. AGZA Green Zone Certification is a structured progra ..read more

Invasive iguanas are becoming more widespread in southern Florida and Texas and are also located in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As an invasive species, they not only compromise natural ecosystems, but their potential to wreak havoc on lawn and landscapes is truly significant. Invasive & Destructive Invasive iguanas—of which there are three including the green iguana, black spiny tail iguana, and Mexican spiny tail iguana—were introduced to the area during the pet trade in the early 1960’s. Originally from central and south America, they found our environment to be co ..read more

Fairway continues its expansion in Central Florida with the addition of Dr. Jack’s. This will strengthen not only its lawn care business but also its pest control offering. Founded more than 50 years ago in 1972 by Dr. Jack Reinhardt, Dr. Jack’s is a recognized name for pest control and lawn care in the Orlando area.  Jack’s sons, Rick and Jim, have run the business for 20+ years, growing and expanding their father’s legacy. Photo courtesy of Fairway CEO Greg Harbison states, “Dr. Jack’s exemplifies Fairway’s values of service excellence and employee culture. Rick and Jim have grown their ..read more

John Deere, with the help of San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Brock Purdy, has launched an epic hunt for the company’s first-ever Chief Tractor Officer (CTO)! To qualify, you must be a witty, charismatic content creator who is ready to help the JD brand celebrate farmers, contractors, groundskeepers, and brand fans. Picture it: You’re making stops at some of the most iconic stadiums and sporting landmarks, capturing the perfect striping in the outfield. Another day, you’re at Yellowstone National Park creating a #DayInTheLife maintaining the most scenic roads in America. It’s all in a day’s w ..read more

The employee-owners of PBI-Gordon Corporation have announced that Matthew Crowther, Sean Lehr, and Chris Quinlan have joined the company as sales representatives. According to Tim Demerath, vice president of sales for PBI-Gordon Corporation, “Matthew, Sean, and Chris bring a wealth of technical knowledge to PBI-Gordon. We are thrilled to have them on our team and are confident our customers will not only benefit from their expertise but also from their ability to foster deep relationships with our partners.” Matthew Crowther Matthew Crowther Matthew Crowther will manage all sales initiatives f ..read more

By Christine Menapace From the April 2024 Issue   When it comes to specifying landscape plants, most of us start with the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Based on the average annual extreme minimum Winter temperature, displayed as 10˚F zones and 5˚F half zones, the Map is the standard by which one can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location. In fact, an updated Map (the first since 2012) was just released this past November — with about half of the country shifting to the next warmer half zone. The 2023 map is based on 30-year averages and includes data mea ..read more

WAC Lighting has announced the promotion of Becky Li to President, following the retirement of former President Dirk Wald. Tony Wang will continue his role as Chairman of WAC. WAC Lighting Chairman Tony Wang and President Becky Li Wang, WAC founder, commends Becky Li, stating, “Becky has always been an integral and dedicated executive at our firm. With her wealth of experience in senior executive roles and adept strategic planning skills, we are confident in her ability to lead. We look forward to watching Becky at the helm as we continue to prepare this company for exponential growth.” In her ..read more