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Picture perfect

We know there is a lot of great work out there, and, well, we want to see the proof. So, we started a contest for you to show your stuff. The entire month of February we are asking readers to send us a photo of a job they are especially proud of doing, and a description of the project.

Here are the rules:

Companies have to email a photo and short project description to Associate Editor Carolyn LaWell (clawell@gie.net) from Feb. 1- 29. The submitting company also has to like our Facebook page. If a picture is submitted but our page is not liked by that company, it does not count.

All the submitted photos will be posted in a photo album on March. 1. Companies will be encouraged to direct people to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lawnandlandscape) to like the photos. Likes will be counted until 5 p.m. EST March 15. We will have two winners: a reader's choice and an editor's choice (each winner will receive a $50 gift card). The reader's choice will be the photo with the most Likes. Each Lawn & Landscape editor will pick their favorite photo. From those three, we'll pick a winner. Along with the gas cards, the winners will be allowed to display more photos of the project in Lawn & Landscape and on our Facebook page.
 

By the book

The December Grow Show podcast tackled the topic of employee handbooks. If you don't have one in your company, you could be missing out on a critical tool in communicating policies to employees, specifying benefits programs and outlining key procedures to ensure legal compliance.

Below are a few notes to take into account before you listen to the podcast at bit.ly/gshandbook.

• First, generic employee handbooks are not usually current on all of the local, state, and federal laws that may affect a company's operation.  
• Second, generic employee Handbooks presume "one size fits all." That is like saying that the ValleyCrest employee handbook is the best fit for Ed's Landscaping Company with 15 employees. While we certainly know that is not the case; we also know that could severely increase the company's liability.  
   

Hello, San Diego

Editor Chuck Bowen traveled to San Diego and came back with these videos from the Irrigation Association Show. Type in the bit.ly links to access the videos below. Visit www.lawnandlandscape.com and search "irrigation show" to watch all the videos.

Regulation update
Chad Forcey informs contractors on WaterSense’s turf restriction and products.
bit.ly/iashow2011

Climate logic irrigation
New sensor technology helps customers save water with little work.
bit.ly/climatelogic

Less wire worry
Underhill’s new two-wire product is geared at simplifying control systems.
bit.ly/wireworry

Top Tweets Some stories our Tweeps liked: Jet Blues Joe Calloway gives a brief look into why he isn't fooled by all of Jet Blue's bells and whistles. bit.ly/joejetblue Santa knows best Christmas may be over, but you can still learn from Santa on how to brand your business. bit.ly/santamow Giving thanks Here are some tips on how to tap the power of a "Thank You!" to your employees and customers. bit.ly/thankstips New web software ServiceTrack has been designed to help landscape and snow contractors better track and organize customers and schedule jobs more efficiently. bit.ly/servicetrack