Seeing green

Times change — and with more emphasis on the environment than ever, lawn care companies like Maple Leaf Associates are doing what they can to be a little greener.

Richard Bevilacqua, director of landscape operations, says this is especially true in the company’s Hudson Valley, N.Y., market.

“Some of our properties are on the Hudson River — there are all kinds of restrictions that go along with working near bodies of water,” he says. “So that’s been a bit of a challenge, and we’ve been trying to find the right combination of products that still give great results. Things are working but it’s been about getting over that hump.”

Another change the company is making is in its commercial lawn care services.

“We’re getting into more and more work with our commercial clients,” he says. “We’re going to a three-application program instead of a four-application program. We’re utilizing polymer-coasted products that are much slower release.”

Bevilacqua describes the switch as a win/win; Clients are saving money by receiving less applications and Maple Leaf is doing its part to reduce its environmental footprint.

“We can offer a bit of a more competitive price this way,” he says. “But it’s also about being better stewards of the environment and reducing our impact. It’s better for us, better for the environment, better for the turf, better for the equipment and better for the client. It’s a win/win for everybody.”

Bevilacqua adds that switching products has also helped to reduce the lawn maintenance needed on these commercial sites — another win/win as clients continue to save dollars and Maple Leaf saves some time and labor costs.

“With nitrogen-bound, you’re kind of creating your own maintenance problem,” Bevilacqua notes. “You’re creating the growth spike that you now have to go mow.”

Overall, Bevilacqua says the company’s clientele have been happy with the changes implemented this season.

“People have been more or less receptive to it,” he says. “They’re seeing a little bit of a savings, and they don’t notice a difference to the finished product.”