season-after-season-header

4-1-1 on New Plant Introductions for 2015

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Mon, Apr, 27, 2015 @ 13:04 PM

best_new_plant

New plant varieties are always exciting to the gardener or landscaper, as we search for just the right accent plant or component for the border. An understanding of some of the new varieties, what the breeders are aiming for, how the new plants have application in our own home gardens, and what to think about the endless parade of new plants will be covered on the upcoming #Plantchat. 

Find out more about new plant varieties for 2015! This Twitter chat is a way to unravel some of the finer points with Proven Winners Stacey Hirvala and the voice of Corona Tools, Chris Sabbarese.

PLANTASTIC PRIZES

The most active tweeter will win* a new Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub! (Limited to the U.S. only). *If the most active tweeter resides in another country, Proven Winners will send a Plant Geek t-shirt. 

This week on #Plantchat ask questions or share favorite stories about new plants of 2015 with the team at Proven Winners!

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools and #plantchat co-partner, Stacey Hirvala representing Proven Winners @Proven_Winners on this week's topic, New Plants for 2015. The live chat begins Monday, May 4, 2015 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST, were we come together with green industry experts and fellow horticultural tweeps each week to discuss all things related to plants and horticulture, since 2014.

Discussion Overview 

  • New plant varieties on the market for the 2015 Season 
  • What makes new varieties special and different?
  • Share what you're looking for in new plants
  • What new varieties are you excited about? 

Join the Conversation

Plantchat logo on Corona Tools

Don’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #plantchat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hashtag to all your tweets or join us in the plantchat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Plantchat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now plantchat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries.

Topics: Corona Tools, #Plantchat, Proven Winners, New Plants for 2015

Tips to Spruce Up Your Sprinkler System with EPA Water Sense

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Sun, Apr, 26, 2015 @ 10:04 AM

Ewing-4-23-2015EPA-sprinkler-spruce-up-infographicSprinkler season is nearly upon us. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Water Sense program suggests that people choose Water Sense labeled products in your home and business landscapes, as well as taking simple steps to save water each day.

Ewing Irrigation and Corona Tools welcome special guest, EPA Water Sense, to kick off #SprinklerSpruceUp Month and share information on saving water with homeowners and landscapers. What tips can you offer fellow tweeps on the chat? Learn more about "Inspect, Direct, Connect, Select" on this upcoming #Landscapechat. 

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools and chat partner Ewing Irrigation with Social Media & Digital Strategist, Laurie Ory tweeting as @EwingIrrigation along with special guest EPA Marketing, Development & Social Media Outreach Director, Kathleen Horan tweeting as @EPAWaterSense for #Landscapechat on Wednesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. P.T.or 2 p.m. ET.  This is the Twitter chat where we come together with green industry experts and fellow landscape tweeps, each week to discuss all things related to landscape, since 2011.

Discussion Overview

On the live Twitter #Landscapechat learn about these 6 key takeaways for #SprinklerSpruceUp 

What is a "Sprinkler Spruce Up"? and how it came about

EPA-Recommended Tips for Homeowners #SprinklerSpruceUp 

Hear what EPA recommends when it comes to watering times for yards and landscapes

Key Factors to Smart Irrigation that homeowners need to know

Discussion of the impact this program has had on water conservation in general

Resources Discover what resources for improving irrigation systems

Join the Conversation

Corona Tools Landscapechat

Don’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #landscapechat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hashtag to all your tweets or join us in the landscapechat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Landscapechat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now landscapechat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries.

Topics: Corona Tools, #Landscapechat, Ewing Irrigation, #SprinklerSpruceUp Month

Hot Social Media Trends for Marketing Landscape and Tree Care Businesses

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Sun, Apr, 26, 2015 @ 10:04 AM

SMMW15

Social Media Examiner's Social Media Marketing World was arguably the year's hottest social media event. The upcoming #Treechat is hosted by Chris Sabbarese of Corona Tools USA, who attended the 2015 SMMW, reviews many conference high points, including trends in visual marketing, video, mobile, new networks, plus strategies and tactics gleaned from the conference. If you are actively involved in developing or implementing a social media plan for your company or freelance, you should definitely check out the #Treechat covering this recent event.

PARTICIPATING ON TREECHAT

On Tuesday, April 28, 2015 join "the Voice of Corona Tools", Chris Sabbarese tweeting as @CoronaTools for a great Q&A discussion on the recent SME-SMMW conference held in San Diego in late March. The live chat begins at 11AM PDT / 2PM EDT via Twitter, where we come together with industry experts and fellow tree tweeps each week to discuss all things related to trees and tree care, since 2010!

TOPIC DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

Some of the main discussion points that will be covered during the live chat include:

Why Video Is Hot in Any Format - YouTube and native Facebook videos

Visual content - Why it's your best bet for driving traffic to your website

Consistency vs. Frequency - which is more important?

Facebook Organic Reach - It's not dead and you can increase yours

Pinterest - Gaining on Google as a top search engine

Mobility - If your site isn't mobile, be prepared to lose (more) in the world of SEO

New Networks - Meerkat and Periscope are they right for your social media strategies?

If you are actively involved in the developing or implementing a social media plan, you should definitely check out the #Treechat on this conference.  

treechat_514-1It's easy to join the conversation on our treechat discussion.  Even if you aren't on Twitter you can still see the conversation and click on the links and resources.

If you do miss the chat, you can still access the #treechat Storify 24/7 that will be posted following the chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion.

Come share with us on this great topic and look forward to sharing with you on the live chat!



Topics: #treechat, Social Media Examiner Social Media Marketing World

'Slow Flowers' for Mother's Day and Everyday Gardeners

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Tue, Apr, 14, 2015 @ 13:04 PM

AHS-DebraPrinzingSlowFlowers-4-13-1015

The snow is gone, tulips are blooming, and Mother's Day is right around the corner -- let's talk cut flowers this week on #plantchat. Whether you grow them, or buy them -- or both -- cut flowers bring the garden indoors and are a treat for mothers everywhere.  Join us for this great topic and discussion packed with great hosts, some impressive floral eye candy and prizes throughout the chat!

The American Horticultural Society and Corona Tools are delighted to chat about American-grown flowers, floral design and more with Debra Prinzing, the "Voice" of the Slow Flowers Movement and renowned author of Slow Flowers and The 50 Mile Bouquet as a special guest on the upcoming #plantchat The "Slow Flowers" movement is akin to Slow Food, with an emphasis on following the seasonal products of local farms and gardens.

Debra Prinzing is an award-winning author, speaker and leading advocate for American-grown flowers. She is the creator of Slowflowers.com, a free online directory that helps consumers find florists, designers, studios and farms that supply American grown flowers. Debra's book Slow Flowers (St. Lynn's Press, 2013) received a Silver Medal from Garden Writers Association in 2014. She is the producer and host of the Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing, which is available for free download on iTunes or at debraprinzing.com.

Join our conversation with Debra, tell us your favorite flowers of each month, and which blooms you discovered in the "off seasons" in your garden.

This week there are great prizes for the top tweeters during the #plantchat hour.

Our prizes this week can all convert into great gifts for Mother's Day too! Win a one-year membership in the American Horticultural Society, Debra's books "Slow Flowers" and "The 50 Mile Bouquet", a Slow Flower bouquet shipped anywhere in the U.S., and Debra's favorite flower snips from Corona Tools, ComfortGEL Snips.

Bring your experience with floral design and American grown flowers to #Plantchat and bring your questions too!

You're Invited!

Join @CoronaTools and #Plantchat co-partner, American Horticultural Society Digital Communications Manager Charlotte Germane @AHS_Gardening, along with special guest Debra Prinzing @DKPrinzingThis week's topic is 'Slow Flowers' and Prizes with Debra Prinzing. The live chat begins Monday, April 20, 2015 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST, were we come together with green industry experts and fellow horticultural tweeps each week to discuss all things related to plants and horticulture, since 2014.

Discussion Overview  

5 KeyTake Aways from Debra during #Plantchat: 

  • Learn where most grocery store flowers are grown 
  • Discover how local flowers are different from imported flowers
  • Discuss the impact of local flower farms on the U.S. economy 
  • Hear about unusual local flowers you can order, each month of the year 
  • Tips for sending local flowers to Mom on Mother's Day

Join the Conversation

Plantchat logo on Corona Tools

Don’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #plantchat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hastag to all your tweets or join us in the plantchat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Plantchat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now plantchat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries. 

Topics: Corona Tools, #Plantchat, AHS, Slow Flowers, Floral Design, American-grown Flowers

Plant a Tree and Become a Tree Hero for Arbor Day

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Tue, Apr, 14, 2015 @ 13:04 PM

Bartlett-ArborDay-TreeHero-4-21-2015

This week #treechat is a celebration of tree planting with Bartlett Tree Experts. DYK? Arbor Day dates from 1854. J. Sterling Morton proposed a holiday to plant trees on April 10 of that year to be known as 'Arbor Day' to encourage planting trees needed as windbreaks to stabilize the soil and give shade from the sun. In 1855, Arbor day became a legal U.S. holiday and was moved to the last Friday in April. Each of the states now have their own official Arbor Day that is location-specific to the time of year best suited for planting trees. 

Join Bartlett Tree Experts and Corona Tools for a celebration of Arbor Day and share your own tree planting stories on #treechat on Twitter.

Be a Tree Hero

Prior to the live event, participants submitted a story or picture of a tree they've planted to win a free redbud seedling. During the live event, Bartlett Tree Experts recognized some of the tree heroes out there too and also shared #treehero stories live.

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools along with chat partner and host, Bartlett Tree Experts with Marketing Manager, Tina McNulty @BartlettTreeExp for a celebration of Arbor Day and sharing of your tree planting stories and photos. The live chat begins Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST. This is the Twitter chat were we come together with industry experts and fellow tree tweeps each week to discuss all things related to trees and tree care, since 2010!

Discussion Overview

Celebrations - Hear how we celebrate Arbor Day on the holiday and all year long with Bartlett’s Trees for Tomorrow program.

Share - Register your tree planting stories and photos at Bartlett Tree Experts and share them during #treechat

Importance of Stewardship - Discuss the importance of tree planting and stewardship in our communities 

Fun Facts - Learn fun tree facts!


Join the Conversation

Corona Tools Treechat

Join us for this information-rich topic live on Twitter! Just sign in, search for #treechat and tweet using the hashtag. You're tweets will appear in the live tweet stream and you will be part of the conversation.  Be sure to add the hashtag to all your tweets or join us in the treechat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live chat, you can still access the complete Storify transcript, available 24/7 following the live chat.  It includes include all the information and links shared during the discussion.

About Treechat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now treechat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries.

 

Topics: #treechat, Corona Tools, Bartlett Tree Experts, Arbor Day, FREE REDDBUD SEEDLI

What Mandatory Water Reductions Mean to Landscapers

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, Apr, 09, 2015 @ 19:04 PM

CLCA-Riverbed-4-15-2015For the first time in California's history, Gov. Jerry Brown has imposed mandatory reductions in water use.  According to California.gov/drought, April snow in California was measured at its lowest level on record. "The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) announced that Californians in cities and towns reduced their water consumption by just 2.8 percent in February. This dismal conservation rate is the lowest monthly figure since the State Water Board began tracking the data in July 2014." It appears that many urban Californians are attempting to ignore the drought.  

It's a topic our industry cannot ignore it and becom the major concern for landscapers around the state.  The continuing drought increasingly impacts landscapers as well as everyone in the US.  Join us for this special April chat along and share your ideas and concerns on this week's #landscapechat!    

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools and noted water expert, Richard Restuccia tweeting as @H2OTrends along with other concerned industry organizations on #Landscapechat.  This important topic, What Mandatory Water Reductions Mean to Landscapers on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 11AM PST/ 2PM EST. This is the Twitter chat where we come together with green industry experts and fellow landscape tweeps, each week to discuss all things related to landscape, since 2011.

landscapechat_logoDiscussion Overview

Key topic discussion points will include:  

  • Why is there a need for statewide mandatory water deductions?
  • What measures have gone into effect as of 4/1/15?
  • How do these reductions affect CA landscape contractors and business owners? 
  • What kinds of recommendations are being made to professional landscapers?
  • How can investments in new technologies help contractors, business owners and residents?

Get 24/7 Access

Not able to attend the live event and discussion?  You can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7!  The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion so you won't miss a thing! Here's a look at some highlights from chat participants;

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About Landscapechat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now landscapechat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries!

Topics: #Landscapechat, Drought, Statewide Mandatory Water Reductions, California Drought, CLCA

How the Honeybee Decline Threatens Gardens and Food Supplies

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, Apr, 09, 2015 @ 16:04 PM

RodaleInstitute-honeybees-4-13-2015

Rodale Institute is talking honeybees on the upcoming #plantchat. With the current honeybee crisis, it's timely to look at the role of honeybees and related pollinators in agriculture, horticulture and just plain economics! The list of crops that would fail to be pollinated if there were no bees is a long one; plants with showy flowers are meant to attract pollinators, thus bringing about fertilization and fruit set, and ultimately impacting our own garden's harvest.  

Since beekeepers first sounded the alarm around 2006, and with an estimated one third of vanished colonies, do you think it is time for the U.S. government to step in and do more to protect honeybees? What first had experiences have you had with honeybee decline?  It's another great topic and discussion in store on #plantchat! 

You're Invited to Tweet

Join @CoronaTools and #plantchat co-partner, Aaron Kinsman of Rodale Institute@RodaleInstitute who will host this topic.  The live chat begins Monday, April 13, 2015 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST, were we come together with green industry experts and fellow horticultural tweeps each week to discuss all things related to plants and horticulture, since 2014.

Discussion Overview 

5 Key Discussion Points about Honeybees: 

What do honey bees do for us in our gardens and food supply? 

What is the current state of the honeybee population? 

What is causing the collapse of honeybee colonies? 

Can anything bee done to reverse the trend? 

Honeybee Resources from Rodale Institute

Join the Conversation

Plantchat logo on Corona Tools

Don’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #plantchat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hashtag to all your tweets or join us in the plantchat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Plantchat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now plantchat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries. 

photos courtesy of Rodale Institute

Topics: Corona Tools, Colony Collapse Disorder, #Plantchat, Rodale Institute, Role of Honeybees

Benefits of Shade Trees in the Landscape

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, Apr, 09, 2015 @ 13:04 PM
AngelOak-Wikipedia-1Shade trees are both valuable and, if mature, nearly irreplaceable. It is delightful to relax under the shade of a tree with a large canopy. Distinctive shade trees are named, like the Angel Oak (right). Poems are written about shade trees, "I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree", documents are signed under them and if widely known, they are used as landmarks. 
ACTrees will discuss and quantify the value of shade in the landscape, and the trees that provide it on #treechat on Twitter. Bring your observations and experience to the chat and join in the conversation.

You're Invited to Tweet 

Welcome!  @CoronaTools invites everyone with an interest in trees to enter the hashtag #treechat on Twitter. Chat partner and ACTrees Program Manager Sarah Anderson along with Max Ewart and Nicole Spina, will be tweeting as @alliancefortrees. The live chat begins Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST. This is the Twitter chat were we come together with industry experts and fellow tree tweeps each week to discuss all things related to trees and tree care, since 2010!

Discussion Overview

See the 5 Key Takeaways from this week's discussion:

* The effect of trees on carbon emissions due to decreased electricity use and from direct sequestration.
* How the magnitude of energy savings depends on the tree’s location.
* How shade tree programs benefit utilities. 
* Working with developers for energy considerations.
* Making the case to homeowners who experience virtually none of the carbon and stormwater benefits of tree planting, and whether a subsidy to encourage tree planting is warranted.
Join the Conversation

Corona Tools Treechat

Join us for this information-rich topic live on Twitter! Just sign in, search for #treechat and tweet using the hashtag. You're tweets will appear in the live tweet stream and you will be part of the conversation.  Be sure to add the hashtag to all your tweets or join us in the treechat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live chat, you can still access the complete Storify transcript, available 24/7 following the live chat.  It includes include all the information and links shared during the discussion.

About Treechat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now treechat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries.

Topics: Corona Tools, #Landscapechat, ACTrees, Shade trees, Value of Shade

How to Scale Water and Energy Conservation

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Tue, Apr, 07, 2015 @ 17:04 PM

MeterHero-4-8-2015-JainsJain Irrigation Systems LTD is the largest manufacturer of irrigation equipment in the world. This week Corona Tools and Jain will be talking to MeterHero, which runs the a water and energy conservation exchange. We’ll find out how MeterHero tracks savings, how conservation rebates are calculated, and how to get involved.

Founded by McGee Young, formerly of H2Oscore, MeterHero is designed to use price to encourage conservation. And instead of working through water and electric utilities, MeterHero works directly with end users and funds the rebates through private contributions. In just a few short months, MeterHero is already paying rebates across the United States and even around the world.

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools and partner Jain Irrigation with VP Richard Restuccia @JainsUSA along with their guest, Meter Hero Founder, McGee Young tweeting as @MeterHero on #Landscapechat this week! Tweet with us on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 11AM PST/ 2PM EST. This is the Twitter chat where we come together with green industry experts and fellow landscape tweeps, each week to discuss all things related to landscape, since 2011.

Discussion Overview

Key topic discussion points:

1) The only way to solve the water crisis is to treat conservation as a form of supply.

2) Price works better when it’s a payment for conservation rather than a penalty for over consumption.

3) The water crisis is too big and too important to wait around and hope that the government solves it.

4) People already think they are doing a good job with water conservation. You have to empower them to do more.

5) Water sustainability is in our reach, but it will take a commitment to net-zero consumption. Reuse what you can, offset the rest.


Join the Conversation

Corona Tools Landscapechat

Don’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #landscapechat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hashtag to all your tweets or join us in the landscapechat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Landscapechat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now landscapechat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries!

Topics: Corona Tools, #Landscapechat, Jains Irrigation, Drip Irrigation, MeterHero

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