An empty lot in Saint John, N.B. has become a new urban tree nursery for the production of a new generation of saplings for a non-profit organization working on environmental improvement initiatives. READ MORE

A new city park will officially open on Saturday in Edmonton. Alex Decoteau Park will become Edmonton's first off-leash dog park to have artificial turf. READ MORE

About 450 new trees and shrubs will be planted Sept. 23 at Milton, Ont.'s Drumquin Park in celebration of National Forest Week. The trees and shrubs are expected to lessen stormwater runoff volumes, stabilize soil, increase plant species diversity and increase oxygen production by plants.

A group of young scouts from St. Albert, Alta. recently banded together to plant more than 800 trees in the Fort McMurray area to help with the area's reforestation efforts in the aftermath of 2016's devastating wildfire.

Lawn and garden expert and Home Hardware spokesman Mark Cullen says two-cycle outdoor power equipment is excessive for the job it is intended to do. He presents his list of alternatives to what he considers to be loud and dirty equipment.

As we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday this year, it got me thinking about where I was and what I was doing at the time of our centennial year in 1967. July 1 was still called Dominion Day 50 years ago and was less than a week removed from the end of my Grade 2 school year.

In Canada, being able to work outside during the summer months is a welcomed opportunity for many workers to enjoy the warmer temperatures, spend more time outdoors, and to work closer to nature. However, working outside can bring an increased risk of exposure to the growing health threat posed by Lyme disease.

Scott Dodson isn’t the first Canadian superintendent to be working at a U.S.-based golf course, nor is he likely to be the last. But with 25 years under his belt at Buffalo, N.Y.’s Park Country Club, he is apt to be among the longest serving Canadians to be employed south of the border.

The Dodsons may not be the first family among golf superintendents in Canada, but with four generations now having worked in the profession, they’ve got to be near the top.

A veteran Cambridge, Ont. lawn bowling greenkeeper, curling ice maker and cemetery property manager reflects on his career, noting both the upsides and downsides to his varied occupations.

The Seymour (B.C.) Golf & Country Club opened its new back nine holes in June, and superintendent Jim McGarvey gives his take on what led to the redesign and how the project progressed.

The giant hogweed, a noxious plant that can cause third-degree burns or permanent blindness if contact is made, is spreading throughout British Columbia and Ontario. Eradicating the plant has proven difficult.

The owners of an executive golf course near Sudbury, Ont. have dedicated themselves to making the property a model of ecological business. In order to promote an environmentally-friendly haven for wildlife, they have adopted a traditional Scottish design aimed at minimizing pesticide use and creating wildlife habitat.

The lawn at Richmond, B.C.'s city hall is an eco-friendly mix of tall fescue, micro-clover and wildflowers, called Fleur de Lawn, that is chafer beetle resistant. It is a "living lawn," the city's environmental coordinator says, adding it attracts beneficial insects while denying crows, skunks and racoons the chance to dig up chafer beetle grubs.

A newly-published guide offers best practices for landscape professionals to better protect such pollinators as bees and butterflies while reducing the amount of pests in lawns, golf courses and other managed turfgrass settings.

After a spring of beautiful weather we have all been busy taking care of customers and keeping the business up and running. Sometimes that means we get so busy that we get behind on some jobs that we know would make life easier down the road but don’t ever seem urgent enough to make it to the top of the to do list.

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland, Ont. is investigating improved turf grass cultivars in combination with new pest management tools to provide lawn care practitioners with the tools to grow healthy turf in residential areas.

Dollar spot is the No. 1 disease golf superintendents fight each year, and it’s important to be able to correctly identify it so that the proper control methods can be undertaken, superintendents attending BrettYoung Seeds Limited’s winter turf academy were told in March.

Lawn care season is in full swing for another year, but lawn care professionals need to realize that the events from one year may not necessarily repeat themselves during the subsequent season and that adjustments may be required.

Sports turf managers are in the business of developing playing surfaces and not in the business of growing grass, and everything they do to grow grass on athletic field surfaces is likely contrary to what the turf wants done, those attending the eighth annual Nutrite lawn care seminar in Guelph were told in March.

Trees need water. No kidding, right? The need for water is probably the simplest concept of plant growth, however, a commonly overlooked fact is that tree health in managed landscapes usually suffers more from excess or improper irrigation than from lack of irrigation. There are a number of reasons why tree health suffers from improper irrigation, some direct and some related to secondary issues such as disease or decay.

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course superintendent Dan Nolin has shared the step-by-step process for which greens are resodded. The objective is to return them to a full bentgrass cover after poa annua had established itself, contributing to inconsistent play.

As part of its strategy to better manage in urban forest canopy, the City of Kitchener, Ont. is inviting up to 100 people to take part in a workshop whose purpose is to outline the benefits of trees and ideas to support trees on city and private property.

A nine-hole golf course in Kingston, Ont. will close its doors at the end of the season to make way for such other recreational uses as rugby, soccer, ultimate frisbee, hiking and cycling.

A proposed city bylaw in Victoria, B.C. aimed at preserving the turfgrass quality in its city parks will have an adverse effect on several homeless people who use the parks for shelter, a local lawyer argues.

Vancouver's $10-a-tree sale aimed at reaching 150,000 new trees by 2020 is on course, but one city councillor believes more should be done to ensure the trees have a better chance of achieving maturity.

An explosion of dandelions this spring in Edmonton's parks and sports fields has forced city council to explore a number of options for their control with the cheapest option estimated at $2 million.

A Charlottetown, P.E.I. city councillor wishes to do away with a $50 fee residents must pay to apply for the right to have their lawn sprayed with banned pesticides. Coun. Bob Doiron wants "to stop this tax grab."

Construction of a new, high-end natural turf field at a Hamilton, Ont. high school has been delayed until the spring due to complications in obtaining city approval. Unexpected stormwater management issues are cited for the delay.

The removal of ash trees in Hamilton, Ont.'s Mohawk Sports Park is continuing as scheduled as the city has reached the midway point of its 10-year plan to remove more than 23,000 ash trees in its fight against the emerald ash borer.

About 450 city-owned trees in Regina, Sask. are being banded to prevent a spring outbreak of cankerworm. The insect eats the leaves of trees, stripping them of their energy reserves. The city wishes residents to also get involved in the tree banding process.

A peaceful resolution has resulted from a dispute between a Whitecourt, Alta. resident and the local town council over the colour of an area of boulevard artificial turf. Municipal rules stipulate artificial turf must be two-tone, but the resident successfully argued his turf was installed before the requirements were made clear.

A sports turf complex in Nanaimo, B.C. could be adding a new artificial turf field with lighting if the city adopts a recommendation from its minor soccer association. One city councillor said artificial turf "is the way of the future" while another said the city must "get up to speed."

The tools superintendents use to maintain their golf courses continue to evolve with each passing year, and much of what is available today can help save significant amounts of time, labour, inputs, resources and money. One such technological wonder that has recently left its mark on the industry is the drone, which has several useful applications on a golf course.

In these days of dwindling budgets, when labour tends to be the first casualty, golf course superintendents are increasingly challenged to produce consistent playing conditions with less.

Briggs & Stratton has introduced the Vanguard Oil Guard System for its 810cc EVI V-Twin and Big Block commercial engines, offering productivity gains and allowing for 500-hour oil change intervals.

Virtual technology is making landscaping easier, allowing both professionals and homeowners to use an app to preview how applied changes and additions can dramatically alter a residential landscape.

The Toro Company has improved upon its GreensPro® greens roller with a new model that features split stainless steel smoothing rollers. The GreensPro 1260's smoothing rollers reduce the risk of scuffing during turns and overlapping heads that deliver a consistent playing surface with each pass.

DeWalt has expanded its Flexvolt system with outdoor power equipment featuring batteries that automatically change voltage when the operator changes tools.

John Deere Golf and software company OnGolf have joined forces to provide golf courses with a cloud-based golf course management system that collects data and manages equipment, labour, water, chemicals, nutrients and playing conditions.

The Irrigation Association’s version of ABC’s popular reality TV show “Shark Tank,” Pitcher’s Mound, debuted at the recent 2016 Irrigation Show and Education Conference. Pitcher’s Mound was designed as an avenue to help inventors, entrepreneurs and business people in the irrigation arena bring new products to market.

DeWalt has expanded its 40V Max battery-powered outdoor equipment line for landscapers with the addition of its six-pack charging station (DCB116) and pole hedge trimmers (DCHT895 family).

A new cordless cooling fan jacket has been introduced by Makita to be worm in circumstances where heat could be an issue. The jacket provides constant air flow to improve sweat evaporation and maintain ideal body temperatures. It features three external pockets on both the left and right sides as well as the left chest. There are three air flow settings (low, medium and high) plus a turbo mode with LED indication. The turbo mode operates at maximum speed for about one minute when rapid cooling is desired. The fan can easily be removed from the jacket when it isn't required. Sleeves can be unzipped to convert the long-sleeved jacket into a short-sleeved one. The battery adaptor features dual USB ports to enable convenient charging of mobile devices on the job site. The shell is 100 per cent polyester. For more information, visit http://www.makita.ca/index2.php?event=newaccessorydetailstemp&id=1716&catid=1

Harper Turf Equipment has introduced its next generation of self-propelled turf vacuums. The T35 has been redesigned to save time and includes such economical features as a new cooling system, ergonomic operator station and smooth foot pedal operation. Most notable is the remote-mounted radiator and oil cooler for improved temperature control. The hydraulic powered cooling fan can be reversed to blow debris off the screen. The screen can be easily removed for deep cleaning. The operator station layout addresses performance and well-being through the ergonomic control placement and convenient adjustments. Controls for the unit have been moved to the right of the operator, providing greater productivity and increased visibility. The new, fully adjustable suspension seat reduces driver discomfort and improves posture. Brake release tools and cylinder stops can be stored in the operator station tool box. A manually controlled hydrostatis foot pedal provides a wide speed selection for comfort and convenience. The features allows operators to keep both hands on the steering wheel while adjusting ground speed and direction. The system increases pedal feedback, improving control and performance. The Kubota engine is available in either diesel or gasoline models. The four-cylinder Tier IV interim turbocharged diesel engine combines clean and quite power at 44 horsepower. The spark-ignited gas engine, at 49 horsepower, saves money and promotes faster job completion.