The TURN™

Darren Gruner

THE TURN is Turf’s Up Radio’s official news segment — delivering real-time updates, industry headlines, product innovations, and expert insights from the green industry. Fast, fresh, and made for pros on the move, THE TURN keeps landscape, lawn care, and outdoor living professionals informed and inspired. Listen daily on Turf’s Up Radio — your industry, your station.

  1. 12/11/2025

    BIG MOVES, SMART TECH, AND BIGGER HEARTS

    IN BUSINESS NEWS, THE SENSKE FAMILY OF COMPANIES CONTINUES ITS NATIONWIDE EXPANSION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF HUERTER LAWN CARE IN THE KANSAS CITY REGION. THE MOVE STRENGTHENS SENSKE’S FOOTPRINT IN THE MIDWEST AND FOLDS HUERTER’S 35-YEAR REPUTATION FOR PREMIUM LAWN SERVICE INTO SENSKE’S GROWING PRO TURF & PRO PEST SOLUTIONS DIVISION. COMPANY CEO NATE HURST SAYS IT’S ALL ABOUT SCALABILITY WITHOUT LOSING THE LOCAL TOUCH — KEEPING COMMUNITY TRUST FRONT AND CENTER WHILE IMPROVING OPERATIONAL REACH. FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE EQUIPMENT YARD, LET’S TALK ABOUT NEW INNOVATION. OTR ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS HAS JUST ROLLED OUT THE WORKBOSS CT — A NEXT-GENERATION COMPACT-TRACTOR TIRE BUILT FOR HYBRID PERFORMANCE ACROSS TURF AND HARDSCAPE. THE NON-DIRECTIONAL TREAD DESIGN PROMISES BETTER TRACTION, LESS RUTTING, AND LONGER LIFE — MAKING IT A SMART UPGRADE FOR CREWS MANAGING MIXED TERRAIN. INDUSTRY PROS SAY INNOVATIONS LIKE THIS ARE HELPING REDUCE DOWNTIME, BOOST EFFICIENCY, AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF HIGH-DEMAND EQUIPMENT. AND FINALLY, WE WRAP THINGS UP WITH A STORY THAT REMINDS US WHY THIS INDUSTRY’S ROOTS RUN DEEP IN COMMUNITY. ALLENTUCK LANDSCAPING COMPANY IN MARYLAND HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH THE CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD FROM CARINGMATTERS FOR OVER TWO DECADES OF VOLUNTEER WORK MAINTAINING THE NONPROFIT’S HEALING GARDENS. SINCE 2003, ALLENTUCK’S CREWS HAVE DONATED DESIGN, INSTALLATION, AND UPKEEP TO CREATE OUTDOOR SPACES OF PEACE FOR FAMILIES NAVIGATING SERIOUS ILLNESS AND LOSS. OWNER BRUCE ALLENTUCK SAYS, “GIVING BACK IS HOW WE MEASURE REAL SUCCESS.”

    2 min
  2. 26/10/2025

    Smart Growth. Sharp Strategy

    IN THE NEWS BUSINESS MOVES AND STRATEGIES The latest from the green industry shows firms are positioning for growth by honing in on efficiency and scaling intelligently. In the fall 2025 outlook featured by a major industry title, companies are urged to leverage fleet‑management data, sharpen workforce planning, and embrace service diversification to weather margin pressures. There’s a clear tactical mandate: don’t just grow — grow smart. This means aligning business models with technology‑driven operations, refining pricing strategies and locking in operational discipline before the next cycle. If you’re still doing business as you did three years ago, you’re at risk of being left behind. NEXT UP EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT On the tech front we’ve got a strong signal from a major manufacturer — they launched a new telematics and fleet‑management platform for model‑year 2026 machines. This platform gives real‑time machine location, usage data, maintenance alerts and integrates mobile/desktop access. What that means is operators and fleet managers get actionable data instead of just end‑of‑month summaries. The takeaway: if you’re not collecting machine‑data, you’re flying blind. Investments in connected hardware plus data analytics are moving from nice‑to‑have to operational imperative. It’s not just about the machine anymore — it’s about the machine’s behavior and value. WANT TO DO MORE TRY COMMUNITY AND GIVE‑BACK This industry isn’t just about dollars and equipment — the community side matters too. A news piece spotlighted a landscaping firm in South Florida that volunteered to revitalize the grounds of an organization serving children in need. They didn’t just donate money — they deployed crews, time and gear to create a better environment for kids. It’s a reminder: giving back isn’t a PR line — it’s culture. Companies that integrate community service into their operations create stronger teams, better reputations and meaningful stakeholder relationships. If you’re a founder or partner in this space, it’s time to ask: what are we doing beyond the job site that lifts our community?

    3 min
  3. 02/10/2025

    October 2025 Wk 2 The TURN.

    BUSINESS MOVES AND STRATEGIES IN RECENT Green Industry Pros COVERAGE, THE BIG MOVE IS THE LAUNCH OF EarthaPro — A NEW BACK‑OFFICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE BUILT FOR SMALL LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPE BUSINESSES. EarthaPro WAS NAMED THIS YEAR’S EDITOR’S CHOICE IN THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CATEGORY. IT OFFERS TOOLS FOR JOB MANAGEMENT, CUSTOMER CRM, SCHEDULING, ESTIMATING AND INVOICING — ALL DESIGNED TO GET OPERATORS UP AND RUNNING FAST. THE PITCH IS SIMPLE: DON’T LET THE BACK OFFICE BE WHAT HOLDS YOUR BUSINESS BACK. WITH STREAMLINED OPERATIONS, OWNERS CAN FOCUS ON GROWTH, CUSTOMER RETENTION, AND SCALING THEIR SERVICE LINES. EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT OVER AT Green Industry Pros, THE LATEST HEADLINE IN AUTOMATION IS THE Sunseeker L3 ROBOTIC MOWER. THIS UNIT USES LIDAR AND AI VISION TO NAVIGATE AND MOW, AIMED AT HOMEOWNERS — BUT IT REPRESENTS THE TREND WE’RE WATCHING FOR COMMERCIAL ADOPTION. IF AUTONOMOUS MOWING IS GOING TO MOVE FROM PILOTS TO FULL CREWS, TOOLS LIKE THE L3 DEMONSTRATE HOW SENSOR FUSION, MAPPING, AND MACHINE LEARNING WILL HELP MACHINES HANDLE COMPLEX TURF LAYOUTS. WE’RE NOT QUITE AT “MOW‑AND‑FORGET” IN ALL SCENARIOS — BUT EACH NEW MODEL PUSHES THE ENVELOPE FOR EFFICIENCY, LABOR SAVINGS, AND CREW REDEPLOYMENT TO DETAIL WORK. COMMUNITY AND GIVE‑BACK FROM Landscape Management, A STANDOUT STORY: Weed Man franchises in Ontario ARE GIVING BACK IN A BIG WAY. Weed Man Huntsville HAS PLEDGED $1 PER LAWN CARE SERVICE PERFORMED IN 2025 TO THE LOCAL HOSPICE. OTHER FRANCHISES HAVE BACKED YOUTH PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO FUEL POSITIVE LOCAL IMPACT. AND ON A BROADER SCALE, THE INDUSTRY’S Renewal & Remembrance DAY OF SERVICE SAW VOLUNTEERS WORKING AT SITES LIKE THE FDR MEMORIAL AND ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, PERFORMING PRUNING, MULCHING, TREE CARE, AND HARDSCAPE UPGRADES TO HONOR VETERANS. THAT’S THE SPIRIT THIS INDUSTRY CAN LATCH ON TO — USING OUR SKILLS, EQUIPMENT, AND HEART TO GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS.

    3 min
  4. 27/09/2025

    October 2025 The TURN

    BUSINESS MOVES AND STRATEGIES. WORKWAVE IS MAKING LEADERSHIP CHANGES, BRINGING ON ARJUN RAMCHANDRAN TO LEAD POST-SALES OPERATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, LAWNPRO PARTNERS CONTINUES ITS RAPID EXPANSION, ACQUIRING GREEN MACHINE LAWN CARE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND SEACOAST TREE AND TURF IN NEW ENGLAND. BOTH BUSINESSES WILL KEEP THEIR EXISTING TEAMS IN PLACE, SHOWING HOW LOCAL COMPANIES CAN RETAIN THEIR IDENTITY WHILE GAINING RESOURCES FROM NATIONAL PARTNERS. CONSOLIDATION IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY IS CLEARLY ACCELERATING, GIVING REGIONAL OPERATORS NEW WAYS TO SCALE. IN OTHER NEWS, EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT. THE 2025 EQUIP EXPOSITION IS SET TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEXT WAVE OF SMART SOLUTIONS. EXPECT TO SEE ROBOTIC MOWERS, DRONES, AND CONNECTED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS THAT PROMISE MORE EFFICIENCY AND LESS LABOR STRAIN. HANDS-ON TEST TRACKS WILL LET CONTRACTORS PUT THE LATEST GEAR THROUGH ITS PACES, FROM ADVANCED TELEHANDLERS TO CUTTING-EDGE SOFTWARE PLATFORMS. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. TECHNOLOGY IS NO LONGER OPTIONAL. IT IS THE DRIVER OF COMPETITIVENESS IN LANDSCAPING AND LAWN CARE. AND IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN GIVING BACK, AND YOUR FOCUS IS ON COMMUNITY, LISTEN TO THIS. MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS RECENTLY CAME TOGETHER FOR RENEWAL AND REMEMBRANCE AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND THE FDR MEMORIAL. VOLUNTEERS DONATED THEIR TIME AND EQUIPMENT FOR TASKS LIKE PRUNING, MULCHING, AND HARDSCAPE WORK. AT THE SAME TIME, PROJECT EVERGREEN’S “GREENCARE FOR TROOPS” CONTINUES TO PROVIDE DONATED SERVICES TO MILITARY FAMILIES, VALUED AT OVER TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS TO DATE. AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WEED MAN FRANCHISES ARE RUNNING THEIR GRASSROOTS GIVING FOOD DRIVES, COLLECTING NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY RIGHT IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE INDUSTRY ISN’T JUST ABOUT GROWTH AND PROFIT. IT’S ABOUT SERVICE.

    3 min

About

THE TURN is Turf’s Up Radio’s official news segment — delivering real-time updates, industry headlines, product innovations, and expert insights from the green industry. Fast, fresh, and made for pros on the move, THE TURN keeps landscape, lawn care, and outdoor living professionals informed and inspired. Listen daily on Turf’s Up Radio — your industry, your station.