October has arrived, and the welcome relief from the heat may turn attention away from drought. While Arizona had a decent monsoon season, it was nowhere near enough to pull the region out of drought status. Now is the time for landscape professionals, property managers, homeowners and community residents to double down efforts and work together to reduce landscape water usage, all while maintaining attractive outdoor spaces. ALCA has created this Irrigation Efficiency Checklist to guide this cooperative effort.

Follow these basic safety principles to get the most productivity out of your hedge trimmer. A high-quality hedge trimmer is durable, powerful and smooth, making hard work seem almost effortless. As an operator, it’s important to remain vigilant when it comes to safety—and not allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security. While many of today’s hedge trimmers are designed to be safer than ever, there’s little standing in the way of careless operation.

Tips to help prevent injuries Landscaping is a dangerous profession. Heat, power tools, sharp implements, and repetitive work can all lead to painful and sometimes debilitating workplace injuries.

Protecting trees during construction

Working Near Roadways- The resources below can help managers and crew members significantly reduce injury risks when working near roadways. Failure to operate equipment safety can result in cuts, lacerations and punctures which OSHA sites as the second leading injury type in the landscape and horticultural industry. Proper safety training is necessary to reduce the risk of injury.