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Improving methods of building homes is always a positive for home owners and the builders. If it improves flexibility for design then this is an absolute boom.

Industrial Buildings

Recycled concrete walls can look fantastic, however, the best I have seen is the drystone wall. They are strong and if built properly can last for 100's years with little maintenance. DO yourself a favor and ask about replacement with a dry stone.

Industrial Buildings

Did you know Social Networking websites continue to gain media market share? Facebook, www.facebook.com, recently announced it has reached over 400 million worldwide users and Twitter, www.Twitter.com, follows in its foot steps with reaching a benchmark of 50 million tweets per day. Together, Facebook and Twitter boast triple-digit growth in 2009 and presently account for 11% of all consumer time spent online.

Not only have user accounts experienced significant growth but time spent surfing social networking sites. In fact, a report from the Nielsen Company indicates a huge increase of 82%. This research concludes overall social media sites such as Facebook are the more common user homepage and people now spend the majority of their internet time either using a form of social network or blog. So, the question is ‘in relation to use of social media as a marketing or public relations tool to create ‘green awareness’, what is your level of participation?’

Believe it or not, during a volunteer ‘green’ advocacy activity, I recently had its leadership mandate that formats of social media could not be used to communicate their activities. Yes, you read the prior sentence correctly. Not only is this sector failing to adequately communicate its presence, it has mandated its failure to accept a viable present-day communication, social media.

On the contrary, let me share the success story of my colleague Kathy Jentz, editor & publisher for Washington Gardener magazine – www.washingtongardener.com. I first met Kathy through an Industry organization, the National Garden Writers Association. Since start up of her publication, I’ve contributed back-page columns, cover-story contributing writer features; and recently, participated in her 5th year anniversary celebration. So, I’ve watched Kathy transform an idea into a viable media business. As a result, the story of Kathy’s start up business is featured by Magazine Launch, http://www.magazinelaunch.com/case-studies/washington-gardener-magazine-....

This case study reveals tips and strategies for the implementation of successful print, online newsletter, blog and other forms of social media usage. Still, specific to Kathy’s online presence, is there additional proof of her success? Yes, a ‘google search’ reveals more than 137,000 web links exist, supporting the concept that all forms of web activity including social media are viable formats of communication.

Nevertheless, there are people and organizations that continue to fear usage of online formats; and to be candid, as in any form of media whether paper or electronic, there are privacy issues. So,
• don’t use a weak password, a good technique is to insert numbers within alpha characters,
• don’t except under secure circumstances provide your full birth date and/or credit card number,
• limit access to private information to a select few,
• specific to children, don’t include identifying name and/or home location,
• don’t mention ‘when you will not be home’,
• specific to Facebook, establish a secure personal home page and then, create groups that are used to advertise your professional, civic and/or business activities;
• in other words, apply the same caution applied in any other area of personal/business communications.

Having discussed the ‘don’t’ of social media formats, why participate? To simply state the obvious – it works! So, separate personal from professional or special interests. For example, I maintain a personal Facebook page and through this activity have acquired numerous ‘friends’ who share common interests. I also maintain my professional business group – The Wright Scoop, a community special interest group – Laurel Historic District Virginia, a professional networking group – Richmond Women’s Network and a cultural arts group – the National League of American Pen Women (arts, music and writing). As illustrated by my activities, use of social media is an array of opportunity.

So, where are you in your level of present-day media format participation? Are you refusing as the mentioned Industry organization to so to speak ‘get with the program’ or are you striving for all-star status such as my colleague Kathy? Related to personal exploration, are you prodding along at the rate of a prior era or pacing at the rate of a world-wide-web globe traveler? To share comments, ideas or strategies related to this subject or other communication topics, post comment or contact me at Sylvia@TheWrightScoop.com. Or, acquire a copy of my book - The ABCs of Green Industry Communications: assess, brand & communicate, http://www.lulu.com/content/6083320, which challenges all to ‘grow green their market share’. Together, let’s create a series of column topics that are helpful to the Industry. For additional details, link to www.TheWrightScoop.com.

The construction industry has slowly been converting to the smart phone sector, with BlackBerries leading the way for years now. For good reason too, as they are durable and easy to communicate with. The competition is catching up though.

UDA Technologies has announced the release of iPhone apps for the construction site. The new iPhone is sleek, elegant and fragile. Some would say it is made to be broken, thus making an iPhone repair almost inevitable. One drop on concrete and the iPhone could be toast, although on the upsell protective accessories are available. Assuming the iPhone can stay in one piece, what are the benefits of these iPhone apps?

The mobile applications tap into UDA’s construction suite software with estimating and costs, scheduling and time management, QuickBooks integration, contracts and proposals. These fold into ConstructionOnline, a parallel service that puts all the documents and materials online in the “cloud” where authorized users can pull down exactly what they need via their own PC, a mobile phone or at a client’s office.

Additionally, pictures and video can be instantly uploaded so the field crew can share what is going on. The newer, younger employees crave this technology.

Additionally, devices like the the iPad are almost made for a construction site, as the larger screen can make the process very stylish and functional. If you are looking for an edge over competition and a better way to communicate, an iPhone, BlackBerry and Android all seem like workable solutions to increase productivity.

This is the year of extremes - excessive cold and now, hot: an extended season of back to back 100 degree days with little or no rain. So, if your lawn is similar to my lawn - it is stressed.

Here are a few tips and strategies shared by my colleague Mike Goatley, Jr., Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech ---- "Cool season turfgrasses throughout Virginia are experiencing difficulties associated with summer heat stress. Heat stress results in the grass becoming weakened to the extent that it becomes much more vulnerable to both mechanical and biological stress. Summer decline is therefore a complex of individual factors that can interact to cause more summer problems than each individual stress acting alone.
Extremely high day time temperatures of over 90 degrees, night time temperatures above 70 degrees, and high humidity, have combined to place cool-season turf under significant heat stress. The fact that these conditions have relentlessly persisted for many since mid-May (especially in central and eastern Virginia) has resulted in direct heat stress injury as well as making the turf more vulnerable to damage from other summer related stresses (e.g.; excessively close mowing, traffic and wear, warm weather fungal diseases, poor water quality, poor soil drainage, poor air movement, insect damage etc.). As a result, heat related injury and the associated decline in turf quality is often a result of a complex of individual factors acting together. For this reason it is often difficult to get a handle on specific causes of summer decline. Put quite plainly, during a period of mid-summer heat stress like we had during the past month, the grass plants are more vulnerable to everything that can cause damage. During cooler times of the year these stresses are either non-existent or the grass is healthier and more tolerant. Besides air and soil temperatures, another extremely important environmental influence on the plants ability to cool itself through transpiration is the relative humidity. At high relative humidity the plant is much less able to effectively cool itself and as a result is even more prone to heat buildup and direct heat injury.
An important point to remember in measuring heat stress is that standard meteorological weather data records temperature at 5 ft. above the ground and that temperatures at the turf level may exceed the recorded high. In southside Va recently, when air temperatures were 93o F, the actual temperature at the surface canopy of a bentgrass/Poa putting green was 106o F. Note that concerns with the heat are not only limited to natural grass systems – many artificial turf fields have (or should have been) rendered unsuited for play because field surface temperatures have reached the 140 to 150o F levels during the day, temperature levels that present safety concerns to field users. In addition, high air temperatures are only part of the cause of reduced plant vigor. Prolonged heat stress significantly increases soil temperatures and soil temperatures greatly influence root growth, root health and function. Spring high temperatures are less damaging since the root is in a cooler soil environment. As summer arrives the night temperatures are less cooling on the soil and soil temperatures rise. High soil temperatures result in less root production, rapid root maturation and die back, and little production of new roots. Above ground the turf thins and individual plants become more spindly
A profile of each site and its isolated microenvironments will involve a number of “inventories” as they relate to susceptibility to prolonged heat stress. Conditions and brief explanations of how they might influence summer decline of cool-season turf follows:

Cutting heights: For the summer of 2010, taller mowed turf is logically performing better than grasses being mowed at heights that are ideal only during periods of optimal growth. Cool-season lawns of 4” cutting heights have survived the heat and drought much better than those cut at 1-2 inches. Although 4” cutting heights are not suitable for sports turf use, again, taller mowed fields have performed significantly better during the summer. Some recovery in cool-season turf is already being noted following spotty rain events. However, many cool-season turfs have been invaded by heavy populations of summer annual grasses such as crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. These grasses will die at first frost and will then lead to invasion by annual bluegrass and other winter annual weeds. Make plans now to initiate reseeding of these damaged areas in late August/early September in advance of the biggest window of annual bluegrass germination (after considering possible limitations from weed control programs detailed below). Choose the best grass possible by consulting the Turfgrass Variety Recommendations List from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Traffic Stress: Heavily trafficked areas have logically suffered during periods of summer stress. Traffic damage will be slow to recover with reduced plant vigor. Higher mowing heights will help in this regard. Plan on reseeding these areas as described above, and where traffic continues (i.e. sports fields) continue to apply small amounts of seed throughout the playing season of the fall.

Public Perception and Maintaining Maximum Aesthetics/Playability: The public ‘expects’ green grass 12 months out of the year. That obviously is not possible even in an ‘ideal’ growing season in a transition zone state such as Virginia. Seasonal environmental conditions will often dictate what should and should not be done to the grass to maintain its ‘aesthetics’ and its ‘playability’. On average, much of the climate of central and eastern Virginia is better suited to warm-season grasses than cool-season turf, so where persistent problems arise on an annual basis, consider if there is not a better species of turfgrass available for your particular area and turf uses. The fall season will provide the opportunity for significant cool-season turf recovery and the memories associated with the summer of 2010 will slowly fade. However, the problems will return during the next ‘difficult’ summer in our future. A turf management program should be flexible to “ebb and flow” with the vagaries of weather, especially in the mid-Atlantic transition zone environment.

Irrigation: As a rule of thumb, continue to irrigate deeply and frequently (using the 1” of water per week guide) IF you have been irrigating this summer. If not, apply no supplemental irrigation (i.e. hopefully allow the turf to remain dormant) and wait for more optimal growing conditions this fall. Continue to irrigate early in the morning in order to reduce leaf wetness periods (i.e. reduce disease infection periods) and ensure your system is applying water efficiently (check heads and nozzles for application pattern, ensure water is not running of the soil, etc.).

Summer Diseases and Insect Pests: Rhizoctonia Brown Patch is most active under warm day temperatures and warm nights (>70 degrees). Heat stress weakens plants and they can become more susceptible to disease activity at a time of year when the disease pressure is the greatest. Fungicides are often applied more frequently and at higher rates in an attempt to control the pathogens. Anticipate grub problems to be exacerbated on weakened turf and be prepared to address significant activity of fall armyworms and cutworms during late summer. Recommendations on disease and insect control are available in the Pest Management Guide through Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Weed control: In general refrain from chemical weed control treatments during summer stress periods. The typical size and growth rate of summer annual weeds (things like crabgrass) is so significant at this time that chemical treatments will likely have little to no effect and/or damage the existing cool-season turfgrass. Applications of standard preemergent herbicides can be made this fall for the control of winter annual weeds, BUT REMEMBER THAT THESE PRODUCTS WILL ALSO CONTROL ANY GRASS APPLIED DURING RENOVATION EVENTS. If your turf is heavily infested with perennial broadleaf weeds (things like clover, dandelions, plantains, etc.), fall is an ideal time to control these pests. Choose appropriate chemicals from the Pest Management Guide and make plans to treat accordingly.

Soil Aeration: The soil must be well aerated for plants to function. Soils that become sealed off at the surface, from compaction, will impair root growth and function and the ability of the turf to cool itself. Tight soils will not readily absorb water and it can make efforts at irrigation difficult. Tight soils, once wet, can often stay wet too long. Plan on utilizing core aeration to improve physical soil conditions this fall, and tie the aeration event to seeding or liming (as indicated by soil testing) applications. Also, topdressing 1-2x per year with ¼ inch depth of a quality compost will improve physical and chemical soil conditions, and its application also is enhanced when done in conjunction with core aeration.

Fertilization: Conduct a soil test if it has not been performed for the past 3 years. There are numerous private labs that offer this service or you can work with your local VCE agent in having the Virginia Tech lab conduct the test. Fall is the ideal time to benefit from nitrogen applications on cool-season grasses, and after a stressful summer, it is an important part of the grass’ recovery program. During the shorter, cooler days of fall, cool-season turfgrasses devote much of the food they produce in photosynthesis to root systems and storage for later use. Depending on the grass and the expectations/uses of the turf, up to 3 lbs N/1000 sq ft can be applied during the fall months of September, October, and November; apply no more than 1 lb of N/1000 sq ft per month. Apply no more than 1 pound of water soluble N per 1000 sq ft in a single application, and when possible, split the application of water soluble fertilizer into two 0.5 lb N increments. Use phosphate-free fertilizers (example 32-0-10) if soil tests indicate no phosphorus is needed. And be sure to keep all fertilizer off hardscapes in order to protect water quality.
In conclusion, summer heat injury is complex. However, one difference is that we notice the decline as it happens and try to respond in an appropriate manner."

Why should you be concerned related to management of lawn green? Each 50 by 50 square foot green space provides the air quality for a family of four - what are you doing to insure air quality in your area?

More than two years ago, I invited the Industry to explore the world of Green Industry communications. Since extending this invitation, I’ve researched and published articles with Green Profit and Today’s Garden Center magazines, used my ongoing Industry column to gather as well as share tips and strategies; and, combined long-term business experience with Industry specific research to publish a book as well as provide speeches, workshops and one-on-one consulting. Nevertheless, it was during a recent event, the Floriculture Expo – www.floriexpo.com, that I identified an analogy, a comparison of the Expo to modern-day travel.

During the era of my parents’ youth, a day-trip covered 40 or fewer miles. Yet, I on other hand, travelled during this event to four states covering 1000s of miles. So, my comparison is, ‘are you exploring present-day communications at the rate of a prior era or experiencing it at the pace of a globe traveler?’

As an event speaker, I challenge attendees to compare their activities to my ‘talking points’; questioning their niche market accomplishment, understanding of branding techniques and application of communication formats that work-well in a selected market. During the Expo session, some attendees readily admit their lack of knowledge and experience while others indicated various levels of accomplishment.

I deliberately walk a trade show prior to my session and use this opportunity to identify exhibitors that illustrate ‘talking points’. Then, after the session, I again, walk the show and continue to document illustrative displays. Specific to the 2010 Floriculture Expo, I’d say I agree with the assessment of Bob Callahan Show Director for the Floriculture Expo.

“What is most impressive,” says Callahan “is we continue to hear of a positive vibe and energy on the show floor that had not been experienced in prior years. Through the use of survey input, we could not be happier with the results. Although we are only in the beginning stage of expanding the show, this year’s event laid a foundation for attracting new segments. In fact, many of these exhibitors have already signed up to participate in next year’s event. . . . After the show closed at 5pm, there was a tremendous amount of networking which at times, continued for up to an hour after the show closed. We have not experienced this level of participation during past events.”

To be candid, I am not surprised by Callahan’s observation. This was an event that most certainly appealed to the ‘sensory’ – touch, taste, see, hear and smell – aspect of consumer marketing. Outstanding product and service displays entice buyers to purchase and exhibitors to explore. So, what was the difference? I’d say the Expo was formatted – communicated – in such a way as to appeal to its niche market and presented in a layout and design illustrative of effective branding techniques which were supported by communication formats that clearly stated the event’s message ‘connecting the Industry, from seed to shelf’.

Related to your exploration, are you prodding along at the rate of a prior era or pacing at the rate of a globe traveler? Are you an Industry participant who clearly communicates his/her message? To share comments, ideas or strategies related to this subject or other communication topics, contact me at Sylvia@TheWrightScoop.com or post comment below. For additional tips/strageties, acquire a copy of my book - The ABCs of Green Industry Communications: assess, brand & communicate, http://www.lulu.com/content/6083320.