Lawn & Landscape has published its annual State of the Industry report for the US landscape industry. The findings should come as no surprise to company owners: labor is in short supply, and there is more work available than most companies can take on. But despite the ongoing challenges and a slight decrease in revenue, more than three-quarters of respondents said that their companies saw a profit in 2020.

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has recognized Denver Water with its 2021 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award. Four agencies received honors this year.

The award was launched in 2014 to “recognize member utilities that have made a commitment to sustainable management.” It was a repeat performance for Denver Water, which received the award in 2018 as well. The honor is especially impressive in light of the fact that an agency cannot receive the award in consecutive years and is eligible every three years.

Resources regarding paid sick leave requirements in Colorado 

Read the signed bill text of SB20-205

Read the CDLE rules regarding HFWA (pdf)

Read CDLE's Interpretive Notice & Formal Opinion (“INFO”) # 6A, Paid Leave under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (pdf)

Read CDLE's Interpretive Notice & Formal Opinion #6B Paid Leave under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act ((pdf)

Read CDLE's Interpretive Notice & Formal Opinion #6C, How Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (“HFWA”) Paid Leave Differs in 2020 & 2021, and How It Differs from Federal Law, Prior Colorado Law, and Paid Family/Medical Leave (pdf)

The renovation of the UCCS Sustainability Demonstration House water-wise garden was completed late this summer. Staff are planning an official opening, but those who have worked on the project are celebrating the success of a project that faced challenges related to the pandemic, supply chain issues and labor shortages in addition to the expected challenges that can occur with such an ambitious collaboration.

Earlier this month, President Biden announced a plan for OSHA to develop proposed rules requiring some employers to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees. The emergency temporary standards, which have not yet been released, would affect employers with 100 employees or more. Many questions remain about the rules, compliance, and enforcement, but employers should be aware of the forthcoming rules and prepare as best they can.

As COVID restrictions on in-person events are eased and groups are able to gather again, ALCC has ramped up its slate of fall education and events. A look at the calendar reveals the expected topic areas like Sustainable Landscape Maintenance and Irrigation Boot Camp as well as timely topics such as Pricing & Estimating in Inflationary Times. But ALCC is also piloting a new program: Landscape Technician Boot Camp.

After a summer of record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events, OSHA has been tasked with developing a standard for safety in extreme heat. Along with the new standard, OSHA will also develop a program to emphasize heat safety in inspections and has issued guidance on inspections related to heat safety compliance.

The City of Denver’s Community Planning and Development continues to accept applications to serve on a technical advisory committee to update the 2019 Denver Green Code. Landscape industry experts are encouraged to apply for the committee by the October 1 date.

This was the thirteenth year Colorado State University has conducted Cool Season Trials at the Annual Flower Trial Garden. The overall goal of this project is to determine which cool-season plant varieties are best suited for marketing and growing in the Rocky Mountain Region. Starting in November 2020, data recording was taken monthly till May 2021, unless there was heavy snow cover. Irrigation was monitored throughout the trial period and any additional water added, besides snow and rain, was recorded. The trial included 60 varieties representing seven taxa including pansies, violas, flowering kale and cabbage, Aurinia, Primula and Arabis.

Snow Magazine recently released its annual Top 100 snow management companies list. Five Colorado companies earned spots on the list this year, as well as ALCC member BrightView, headquartered in Pennsylvania but active in Colorado.