Quote for today: Loyalty isn't standing by someone when he's right... that's good judgement. Loyalty is standing by someone when he's wrong.
- Susan Estrich

Article by Michelle Dunn

Marketing is one of the most important things you do for your business. A common mistake new entrepreneurs make is thinking that they only have to market their business in the beginning to obtain new customers and get their business off the ground. You have to market your business every day forever. Here are some things you can do to help you in your marketing endeavor:

One clever method is used in my area by a local landscape company. They place their flyer in a small plastic bag (the flyer is folded in quarters) along with a few small landscape rocks and seal the bag. Then in the neighborhoods that they already work, they drive down the streets and toss these bags onto the driveways. It's fast, covers many homes, and because they are unusual, the flyers get looked at and read!

The Federal Trade Commission has strict rules on when a business can use the telephone to solicit customers. Violation of these rules can result in a fine. The rules are:

• Call only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Inform the customer that it's a sales call
• Describe the goods or services you're selling
• If there is a prize involved, explain the odds of winning and that no purchase is required to win

Marketing can be a fun part of your business day, make sure to do at least one thing to market your business every day. Don't get discouraged; it can take months or even years to see results from your marketing efforts. I recently obtained a new customer, which was the result of my visiting their office over a year ago and leaving a folder of my information!

About the Author:
Michelle Dunn is the author of "Starting Your Own Collection Agency" and "MAD Collection Letters and Forms." Visit her site at www.madagency.com or her online credit and collections community at www.credit-and-collections.com.

Irrigation Installation & Maintenance Time Savers

Article by Jack Stone

Q&A
Questions from our readers...

Q. We are contemplating adding a garden "pool" or pond to our backyard. We live in hot & sunny south Florida.  I've looked at the plastic "pond" linings at Home Depot.  Based on the fact that the plastic garbage can can't last a year in the sun without cracking, I don't think these are the way to go.  I'm thinking we will have to build our own using concrete.  Does anyone have any advice in regard to this? Know of any sites that describe how to do such a thing?

catharine

A. The plastic pond liners work great.  The plastic is UV stabilized and won't crack like your trash can.  If you really want to do a concrete pond you need to consider a number of areas.  If the pond has steep sides you will need to build a form to hold the concrete in place until it sets.  A gentle sloped pond can be done free-form.  Small ponds can be done with concrete only, but larger ponds will need a wire frame to help keep the concrete from cracking.  You can add color to the concrete to give it a natural look.  After the concrete sets you can coat it with Thompson's water seal to keep it from leaking (concrete is porous and the water will seep through it without a sealer).

Check out www.pondmarket.com and pondarama.com  There's also regular columns on ponds in our online magazine ProGardenBiz.  Good luck on your project.

Q. We are interested in bordering a vegetable garden with railroad ties, but someone has told us that railroad ties are treated with chemicals that will get into the soil and also into the food.  Have you heard of this problem?

A. Railroad ties are treated with creosote to preserve them. This can leech into the soil so I would not recommend using them around a vegetable garden. There are other ways to treat wood to preserve it, such as Thompson's Water Seal, but you should check the label to see if it can be used around vegetables.

Another solution is to use a cedar timber. Pecky Cedar works well. Cedar is naturally resistant to termites, but it will still deteriorate from exposure to water and sunlight. It will, however, last for many years.

Q. I really enjoyed the article in your first issue on Pocket Gophers. Mr. Oliver was very thorough in his description of traps and chemical controls, but I would be interested in knowing what biological controls are available. I have heard of a plant called "Gopher Purge". Is it effective at all?

T.G.
La Mirada, CA

A. We know of no scientific study to determine the effectiveness of Gopher Purge, but many people have commented that it appears to work. The only sure way would be to try it. Let us know what happens.

Q. When mowing lawns do you recommend picking up the clippings or leaving them?

A. It's better for the lawn to leave the clippings. It adds valuable nutrients back to the soil instead of removing them. If you use the proper mower, one that is designed to cut and mulch, not bag (many are designed to do both) then the clippings will be cut fine and the mowing job will appear the same as if the clippings were bagged.

Have questions? We have answers. Send your questions to editor@progardenbiz. Your questions are welcome and will be answered by email and appear in our "Letters" or "Ask?" columns.

Starting a Landscape or Gardening Business:

ProGardenBiz, a landscape and garden magazine for the Green Industry is your online resource for starting and operating a business as a landscape contractor or landscape and lawn maintenance gardener. Related fields covered by ProGardenBiz are irrigation installation and maintenance, sprinklers - repair and maintenance, waterscapes, water features, and ponds. You will also find information on plants, plant identification, trees and tree maintenance, and many other topics that span the Green Industry.

If the answers you seek are not readily found, then drop us an email at: editor@progardenbiz. Your questions are welcome and will be answered by email and appear in our "Letters" or "Ask?" columns.