News Articles

June 2005

Filling a Hole in a True Fir ( Minnesota Christmas Tree News, Spring/Summer '05) is a reprint of an article by John Tillman, editor of Northwest CTA 's Christmas Tree Outlook . Tillman says, “One of the most challenging cultural practices is filling in a hole on a true fir. . . . This last spring we tried a new method that produced some amazing results. . . . we decided to tie up a branch from underneath the hole to help fill the area in. We tied the branch against the main stock of the tree very tightly hoping this would cause the branch to pull away from the tie and grow outward. The branch we selected to tie up was left untipped. We tied the branch about half way up and left a few inches to the tip. . . . What turned out to be the biggest surprise was when we returned to the tree in the fall. The new summers growth had come straight out from the tree, just like a branch. It had filled the hole in so naturally that it was hard to tell it was ever tied to begin with.”

Taking your business to the next level with the help of good company is the “Business Management” feature in MNLA News (Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Assn, June '05). Advice includes, “Keep a list of experts on file and reach out to them for advice, feedback, and to bounce creative ideas off of when brainstorming. If you don't already have a list of informal mentors, seek them out at networking and speaking events, company web sites or business-focused blogs.” The author, Richard Kroll, CFP, also recommends selecting your customers carefully. “Create a customer base that feeds your goals—and not one that distracts you from opportunities in the best interest of your company. . . . Taking on clients aligned with your expertise, moves you closer to reaching higher business goals as well as unearthing beneficial new prospects.”

Bankruptcy Reform from Both Sides by Mark Battersby ( Landscape Construction , June '05) notes, “Chapter 11 is used mainly by businesses that want to keep operating and pay creditors under a plan of reorganization. . . . The new law established a new, expedited form of Chapter 11 reorganization for small businesses with less than $2 million in aggregate debts. The process includes a standard form for disclosure statements and reorganization plans, uniform national reporting requirements and rules, enumerated duties that must be performed on schedule and a general rule that plans must be filed within 180 days. . . . Under the new rules, if no reorganization plan is filed within 300 days, the bankruptcy case can be dismissed or converted into a Chapter 7 liquidation.”

5 most dangerous jobs for teens (CNNMoney.com, June 10, 2005 ) “Agricultural field work topped the list. The report said the agricultural industry accounted for 42 percent of all work-related fatalities of young workers between 1992 and 2000. Construction work, which is the third leading cause of death among young workers, was No. 2 on the list.” The No. 3 most dangerous was “outdoor jobs in landscaping, groundskeeping and lawn services . . . The NCL said work involving tractors and all-terrain vehicles was ranked as No. 4. Rounding out the list at No. 5 were jobs that require teenagers to travel door-to-door selling candy, magazine subscriptions or other items.” Read the complete article at http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/09/pf/worst_jobs/index.htm?cnn=yes .

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