ALCA Influence March/April - 2016

The

ALCA

A R I Z O N A L A N D S C A P E C O N T R AC TO R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

March/April 2016

Ideal Planting Times: When to Plant in the Desert Southwest Safety Pays

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

March/April 2016

The

ALCA

ARIZONA LANDSCAPE C O N T R A C T O R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

President’s Message............................................................. 4 CEO’s Message................................................................... 6 New Members..................................................................... 7 New Retirement Plan Benefit Available to ALCA Members......... 7 ALCA Sponsors.................................................................... 7 ALCA Calendar................................................................... 7 ALCA 2015 Excellence Awards......................................... 8-11 ACLP................................................................................ 12 ALCA Member Profile: Ewing.............................................. 13 ALCA Member Profile: Southwest Sod.................................. 14 ALCA Member Update: Dirt Insurance & Risk Management..... 15 2016 Board of Trustees and CEO........................................ 17 ALCA Mixers..................................................................... 18 Staying SOBER.................................................................. 19 Ideal Planting Times: When to Plant in the Desert Southwest.... 20 Valley Partnership and Florence Crittenton Community Project. 21 Resource Guide................................................................. 22

2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President

Robert Clinkenbeard

PUBLICATION Advertising

President Elect

Association Outsource Services, Inc. (916) 990-9999 www.aosinc.biz

Four Peaks Landscape Management

Printing

ILM - Integrated Landscape Management

Jim Trog

Vice President

Diversified Print Solutions

Cutting Edge Curbing Sand and Rock

Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association

Marty Monroy

Secretary Kim Kleski

Olsson Associates

Treasurer

Steve Shields

Hill & Usher Insurance & Surety

5425 E Bell Road, Suite 105 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Phone: 602-626-7091 Fax: 602-626-7590 www.ALCA.org

Chief Executive Officer Judy Gausman judy@ALCA.org

The ALCA Influence is the official publication of the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association. ALCA and The ALCA Influence assume no responsibility for the statements or opinions appearing in articles under an author’s name. The services of an attorney or accountant should be sought in legal and tax matters. For editorial information, contact the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association, 5425 E. Bell Road, Suite 105, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254; telephone, (602) 626-7091; facsimile, (602) 626-7590; e-mail, judy@ALCA.org.

Chapman has been in the commercial truck business for over 30 years, and we’re still family owned and operated. That means you can count on an old-fashioned commitment to quality, service and caring. Things that seem to be missing in business lately. But at Chapman, we’ve always placed a higher value on reputation than on finances. Maybe that’s why we’ve got the highest customer service index in Arizona.

We lease and sell the best commercial vehicles available.

We back them up with the best customer service in the Valley, including dedicated commercial service facilities.

Plus, we respect and appreciate your bottom line, so we make the deal fit. And we do it all with a big smile and a warm handshake. Yes, you can buy or lease a truck anywhere.

But there’s only one Chapman Experience.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Ramping up for 2016

L Robert Clinkenbeard ALCA President 2016

andscape contractors have had a somewhat slow start to 2016 and I hope that the weather improves and property/ community mangers get back into their groove after being quiet over the holidays.

As we brace ourselves for dealing with weed germination, after the heavy rains, we are also ramping up for a busy time of year with renovation pruning of shrubs, olive tree pruning and various property upgrades which need completed before the heat of the summer arrives.

On a national basis we are seeing more activity on the merger and acquisitions front with private equity companies and strategic buyers viewing the landscape industry as an attractive market and forecasting some great opportunities for expansion.

It is also nice to see landscape companies seeing higher revenues, being more optimistic about the future and lower fuel costs to balance out the higher health care costs.

In terms of the ALCA Board, we are actively working on some great activities. These include: 1) Moving the Trade Show hours to begin at 3 p.m. to increase attendance.

2) Developing a comprehensive education program schedule and looking to add more speakers aimed at attracting owners and managers.

3) Increasing the number of members through increasing committee sizes and creating good strategies.

4) Introducing a mentor/navigator program to help new members easily integrate into the association and get maximum value.

5) Improving our communication to members and prospects through increased social media activity.

6) Providing safety and landscaping tips for member use as well as to share with your customers and community management companies.

7) Increasing awareness on governmental affairs.

8) Partnering with Janet Waibel in the development of her Sustainable Landscape Construction publication.

9) Improving water management awareness.

10) Leveraging our associate member’s resources to share educational links, product information and other knowledge to all members.

I look forward to serving you during 2016 and encourage you to join a committee, attend events or volunteer in any way you can.

Sincerely, Robert

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CEO’S MESSAGE

Education, Education, Education

In

Judy Gausman ALCA CEO

the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

With over 60 technical workshops scheduled throughout 2016, the goal for ALCA members is to take the knowledge they will learn and change their world to work more efficiently, identify landscaping issues, effectively repair, replace or replenish and understand why they do what they do.

Classes are filling up rapidly for the ALCP program that has been in existence for the past 40 years. To take the existing program to the next level, ALCA’s Director of Education Beth

Postma has spearheaded an advanced ACLP course which covers in-depth information on the following subjects: • Plants & Tree Identification • Irrigation Tech II • Diseases/Pests • Tree Health Next year, four additional topics will be added to the calendar and students will be able to earn an ACLP II certification.

With a high demand for hiring employees with irrigation experience, ALCA continues to offer basic irrigation training. With a great team of volunteers, ALCA’s Education Director Kasey Billingsley is compiling the curriculum for an advanced course for irrigation technicians that will roll out later in the year..

With a degree in horticulture and a certified applicator from OPM, Kasey has also put her knowledge to work by preparing a program for those individuals that wish to become a certified applicator in Right-of-Way and Ornamental and Turf categories. During this workshop, students will review the necessary study materials to prepare to take their applicator exams.

While all of these technical trainings have fulfilled a great need for the members, ALCA’s Director of Education Clayton Graham and his committee have spearheaded additional workshops for business owners, human resource employees, account managers and landscape operations. Never fear, you can be certain that

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Ashley will be emailing these upcoming events to you as they are scheduled throughout the year: • OSHA 10 • Truck and Trailer Regulations/Defensive Driving • Professional Sales Development • Wage and Hour Workshop • Social Media 102 • Online Marketing (SEO) • Landscape Operations • Account Manager Training While attending a committee meeting, Dave Londen with Back to Nature Landcare expressed what it meant to belong to ALCA by saying, “One of the biggest benefits of ALCA membership has been the education programs that help us grow and get stronger internally. With the SLM, ACLP, irrigation workshops and other courses offered, it makes us a more professional team especially when speaking to clients, property managers and business owners. They seem to realize that we know what we are talking about because our team members feel more confident about the work they are doing and they really take pride and ownership in the job they are doing”.

For a complete schedule of the ALCA education opportunities, please visit our website at www.ALCA.org and click on calendar.

Best to you in 2016!

Judy Gausman

ALCA BULLETIN BOARD

New Members Classic Grass LLC

Cory Bloomberg P O Box 333, Waddell, AZ 85355 Phone: (623) 535-3183 Email: classicgrassllc@aol.com Profile: Classic Grass LLC is a family owned landscaping & maintenance company since 2001.

Servicing commercial & residential landscaping and landscape maintenance needs. Specializing in quality customer service with personal care and concern for each property we service.

DHM Landscaping

Paul Stringer 623 W Commerce Ave, Unit D #6 Gilbert, AZ 85233 Phone: (480) 250-6311 Email: Paul.Stringer@DHM-LLC.com Website: www.DHM-LLC.com Profile: Full service commercial landscaping organization innovating commercial landscape management through thought leadership, business savvy solutions, excellent customer service and the highest quality standards.

Outback Imports – Kanga Phoenix

Adam McCann 1257 E Morrow Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85024 Phone: 314-662-0737 Email: kanga@outback-imports.com Website: www.kangaloader.com Profile: Outback Imports - Kanga Phoenix is a family owned and operated company that supplies quality mini skid steer machines with over 45 attachments. Kanga has never been big on grandiose claims about our products. For the last 36 years Kanga has simply let the machine do the talking for itself. From the sturdier, tougher frame, to the large operators platform witch offers increased safety and superior ergonomics that makes Kanga the world’s most trust mini loader.

Precision Concrete Cutting

Charlton Lucas 1724 W 10th Pl, Ste 8, Tempe, AZ 85281 Phone: (480) 588-5351 Email: azadmin@safesidewalks.com Website: www.safesidewalks.com Profile: Precision Concrete Cutting is a leader in uneven sidewalk repair and trip hazard removal having a long experience in concrete repair, concrete cutting, concrete grinding, sidewalk pumping and maintenance. Our patented process saves you money, makes sidewalks ADA compliant and eliminates trip hazards and fall liability.

We implement updated technology and latest equipment on sidewalk repair and thus, decrease 70-90% cost compared to sidewalk replacement.

Sunburst Landscaping

Jenni Burgamy 7753 W Golden Ln, Peoria, AZ 85345 Phone: (623) 412-2200 Email: Jenni@sunburstlandscaping.com Website: www.sunburstlandscaping.com Profile: Commercial and residential landscape contractor/Artificial Turf Supplier

VOX Landscaping & Construction

Beth Rohlfs 5629 E Windstone Trail, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 Phone: (480) 538-8081 Email: beth@voxlandscape.com Website: www.VOXLandscape.com Profile: Landscape design and build construction services

New Retirement Plan Benefit Available To ALCA Members!

• ALCA has established a 401(k) multiple employer plan available to you as an adopting employer.

• Tax savings for employers – can reduce your tax liability.

• Flexibility by offering different plan options for your company to meet your employee’s needs.

• Significant savings on administration and compliance costs as an ALCA member.

• Open architecture investment platform and institutional share class means lower fees and better overall investment return for you and your employees.

For more information, contact Debbie Norrell of Retirement Systems of Arizona at 480739-2374 or by email: dnorrell@retsystemsaz. com. Or contact Alan Cox of Northpoint Financial at 623-215-7118 or by email: acox@npfin.net.

Special Thank You to our

ALCA Sponsors Platinum Sponsors

Bayer Belgard Hardscapes Cutting Edge Curbing Sand & Rock DIRT Insurance & Risk Management DLC Resources, Inc Evergreen Turf, Inc Ewing Irrigation Products, Inc Horizon Distribution, Inc Hunter Industries / FX Luminaire Rain Bird Corporation Rodeo Ford SiteOne Landscape Supply Southwest Sod, Inc Sunrise Nursery, LLC The Toro Company / Irritrol / Unique Lighting Systems

2016 Calendar of Events March 4 SLM – ALCA Office 10 ACLP Annuals & Perennials – ALCA Office 7:30 – 11:30 am 10 ACLP Plant Problem Diagnosis – ALCA Office 12:30 – 4:30 pm 12 ACLP Annuals & Perennials – Tucson and ALCA Office 7:30 – 11:30 am 16 Phoenix Member Mixer – Sponsored by Tube City IMS 18 Intro to Basic Landscape Irrigation Tech Training – ALCA Office 24 ALCA Board of Director’s Meeting 30 DOL Wage and Hour Seminar

APRIL 5

OPM Pre-Certification Training for ROW and O & T 9 ACLP Turf Care & Installation – Tucson 14 ACLP Turf Care & Installation – ALCA Office 7:30 – 11:30 am 14 ACLP Plant ID – ALCA Office 12:30 – 4:30 pm 15 ALCA Board of Director’s Planning Meeting 16 ACLP Turf Care & Installation – ALCA Office 7:30 – 11:30 am 19 Social Media Workshop 20 ALCA Member Mixer – Sponsored by SiteOne Landscape Supply 29 Basic Intro to Irrigation Tech Training – ALCA Office

MAY 5 12 12 14 18 21 24

ALCA Golf Tournament/Sky Blu Underwood – FireRock Country Club ACLP Tree & Shrub Pruning – ALCA Office 7:30 – 11:30 a.m.

ACLP Tree Planting & Staking – ALCA office 12:30 – 4:30 ACLP Tree & Shrub Pruning – ALCA Office 7:30 – 11:30 a.m.

ALCA Member Mixer – Sponsored by Midway Chevrolet/Isuzu ACLP Tree Planting & Staking – Tucson Tucson Member Mixer – Sponsored by Mountain States Wholesale Nursery

Gold Sponsors Hill & Usher Insurance & Surety Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting

Silver Sponsors West Coast Turf

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ALCA LANDSCAPING AWARDS

2015 Excellence in Landscaping Awards AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Mariposa Landscape Arizona, Inc. Commercial Maintenance $75k - $100k Eastmark Great Park Eastmark Great Park is a City of Mesa park that contracts with the private sector for a variety of services for the benefit and welfare of its residents. Services performed by Mariposa Landscape include but are not limited to cleaning, pressure washing, irrigation, sprinkler system maintenance, trimming, mowing, weed control, fertilization, and overseeding depending on whether the area is turf, desert, or a combination of both.

San Tan Landscape Management, Inc. Low Voltage Lighting Residential Installation Langer Residence This beautiful basement home in south Chandler is the perfect setting for state of the art LED landscape lighting. This home recently had upgrades to the landscape and hardscape and it was noted during the upgrades that “box store” lighting was in place and not operating. All previous lights, transformers and wire were removed. A single transformer now provides power to all fixtures in the front and back yards. Care was taken to ensure no “spill light” onto neighboring properties occurs. New path lights were installed to accent shrubs and provide illumination of walkways. This retired resident and her parents now have full use of the yard after sunset. The new lights have given them a better sense of security and enjoyment. This LED system will not use more than $65 a year in electricity!

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION Sustain Scape LLC Single Family Residential Installation Under $25k Naughton Residence The Naughton residence, located in DC ranch, had a typical small postage stamp backyard. Outdoor living or an extension of the house was desired for the entertaining that the family does on a regular basis. A large paver patio was created to give them enough room to have a full set of outdoor living furniture. The layout worked around an existing BBQ and incorporated large hybrid mesquites to provide a shady patio setting and relief from the western sun. Small landscaped areas and the positioning of pots within the patio gave the space greenery and seasonal color. In the evening the client spends a good amount of time in the space so bistro lighting overhead along with low voltage lighting around the perimeter was installed to showcase the plants.

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ALCA LANDSCAPING AWARDS Sponsored by:

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION Solana Outdoor Living Single Family Residential Installation $250k - $350k Ritz Carlton Residence-Lot 64 This design process started out with the idea of a rustic Hacienda design style.

The client originally wanted a full pool but ultimately landed on a spool design that created the center focus for the backyard living area. We integrated Belgard Lafitt Rustic Slab pavers with a brown clay brick border to enhance the edging and tie into the accent architectural materials on the home. The stone fire pit with ceramic logs adds a perfect area to retire at the end of the evening and enjoy the western sunset views. Synthetic grass was integrated into the space for the client’s pets and grandkids to enjoy, not to mention adds a visually cooling effect to the backyard. In the design, we transitioned smoothly from natural desert by enhancing the area with a few citrus trees and several varieties of flowering shrubs and groundcovers. The low voltage lighting was integrated throughout to showcase not only home features but the beautiful sculptural plantings and large saguaros that were brought in after salvage.

Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management Commercial Maintenance $25k - $50k Pueblo at the Boulders The Boulder’s Pueblo is located in the southern half of the Boulders Master Homeowners Association at the far north end of Scottsdale Road.

The Association is made up of 66 homes, a community pool, and several common areas. Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management is responsible for maintaining the front and back yards of each home plus the pool and common areas.

The Groundskeeper Commercial Maintenance $75k - $100k JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa A luxury resort in Tucson, Arizona, the JW Marriott is nestled on the high Sonoran Desert. This prestigious Arizona luxury resort seamlessly combines elegant grandeur with a sense of adventure. Breathtaking hotel features picturesque views of majestic saguaro cacti of remarkable age and the majestic backdrop of Tucson Mountains. Prestigious landscape smoothly converts into natural surroundings of desert full of wildlife. Enchanting landscape design of resort is based on desert planting combined with highly maintained features such as lush turf, citrus orchard, modern mass planting or planters with herbs located at the terrace.

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ALCA LANDSCAPING AWARDS

2015 Excellence in Landscaping Awards AWARDS OF DISTINCTION Northwest Landscaping, LLC/Landscape Design West, LLC Low Voltage Lighting Commercial Installation Canyon Pass at Dove Mountain Photograph provided by Robin Stancliff Canyon Pass is the exceptional gated community located at the pinnacle of Dove Mountain, in Tucson, Arizona. In 2013, Northwest Landscaping was awarded the new maintenance contract. They contracted with Master of Landscape Architecture, Shelly Ann Abbott, as consultant to create a new landscape lighting plan that would result in a dramatic stunning night time lightscape.

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ALCA LANDSCAPING AWARDS Sponsored by:

JUDGES AWARDS

Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc. Single Family Residential Installation Under $25k The Stiff Residence

Horticulture Unlimited, Inc. Single Family Residential Installation Under $25k Glaser Residence

Sonoran Oasis Landscaping Commercial Maintenance $25k - $50k Pontatoc Canyon Estates HOA

Xeriscapes Unlimited, Inc. Commercial Maintenance $25k - $50k Ocotillo Bay Apartments

CareScape, Inc Commercial Maintenance $25k - $50k Palm Valley Phase 8 HOA South Parcel

Desert Classic Landscaping Commercial Maintenance $75k - $100k Boulder Creek Homeowners Association

Blue Marble Landscape Commercial Maintenance $75k - $100k Sonoma Ranch

Horticulture Unlimited, Inc. Commercial Maintenance $75k - $100k Hill Farm HOA

Caretaker Landscape and Tree Management Commercial Maintenance $75k - $100k Paseo Crossing HOA

ISS Grounds Control Low Voltage Lighting Commercial Installation Broadstone Camelback Lighting March/April 2016

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ACLP SCHEDULE

Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association Presents the

AZ Certified Landscape Professional Program (ACLP) Workshop

Saturday ALCA Office

Thursday ALCA Office

Saturday Tucson

Annuals & Perennials

March 12 7:30 - 11:30 am Nate Wallace

March 10 7:30 - 11:30 am Ursula Schuch PhD

March 12 7:30 - 11:30 am Shannon Scott Ursula Schuch PhD

Instructors Plant Problem Diagnosis

March 10 12:30 - 4:30 pm Kasey Billingsley

Instructor Turf Care & Installation Instructors

April 16 7:30 - 11:30 am T J Winzeler

Plant ID

April 14 7:30 - 11:30 am T J Winzeler

April 9 7:30 - 11:30 am Shannon Scott

April 14 12:30- 4:30 pm Bruce Solomon

Instructor DESCRIPTION – ANNUALS & PERENNIALS Through this course, students will learn how to create and maintain functional and pleasing color bed displays with annual and perennial plants.

What will you learn?

• Selection & transportation of annuals • Bed preparation for annuals or herbaceous perennials: soil preparation, calculating amendments or mulch needed • Understand the blooming season for common annuals & herbaceous perennials • Proper planting techniques • Pre and post irrigation techniques • Maintain a flower bed including irrigation, fertilization, pruning/deadheading, insect/disease control, weed control & mulching • Troubleshooting common disease, insect & abiotic problems • Frost preparation DESCRIPTION – PLANT PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS Through this course, students will identify common environmental, insect, disease & weed problems encountered in Arizona landscapes.

What will you learn?

• Differentiate between plant stress disorders & biological diseases • Discuss the importance of proper plant health care in an urban environment • Identify common weeds & recommend appropriate control methods • Recognize common insects & determine what controls are needed • Determine if a pathogen is present and if it is treatable • Identify plant nutrient deficiencies and how to treat accordingly

DESCRIPTION – TURF CARE AND INSTALLATION Through this course, students will learn ways to identify turf grasses, basic mechanical steps required to install sod and basic maintenance practices.

What will you learn?

• Identify the varieties of turfgrass used in the desert southwest and where to use them • Mechanical steps to properly install sod • Proper mowing techniques, thatch removal, overseeding, fertilization & irrigation requirements for various turfgrass • Problem solving strategies for common turfgrass problems DESCRIPTION – PLANT IDENTIFICATION Through this course, students will learn to identify plants by using basic plant structures. Students will learn to use tools and techniques to make identifying plants easier.

What will you learn?

• Demonstrate knowledge of leaf terminology for plants, scientific names of plants and how to pronounce them • Recognize plants that perform well in Arizona landscapes • Demonstrate proficiency in identifying plants by their leaves, flowers and fruit • Distinguish the different types of palms and pines • Compare and contrast different species within a genus WHERE: ALCA Office - 5425 E Bell Rd, Ste. 105, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Tucson - Pima Community College, Building CC, Amethyst Community Room located at 1255 N Stone Ave in Tucson, AZ 85709 COST: $60 for ALCA members / $120 for non-members CERTIFICATION: Anyone may attend the workshops to increase their knowledge and skills. To become certified, each student must attend the workshops. Participants will be declared an AZ Certified Landscape Professional when he/she receives at least a minimum score of 70% on each section of the exam.

REGISTER: www.ALCA.org/calendar QUESTIONS: Contact the ALCA office at 602-626-7091 or email Kasey@ALCA.org

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ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

And the Winner is...

Doug Donahue

Ben Schottke

We work in a great industry. We really do. Did you know that the landscape industry is larger and provides more revenue than the NBA and even the NFL? Part of what makes this a great industry is the people that we work with and the relationships that we enjoy with those people. It all starts with great customer service. That great customer service leads to mutually beneficial business relationships and in many cases, friendships.

Ewing Irrigation celebrates its 94th year in 2016. Customer service has been part of Ewing’s culture right from the very beginning. King W. Ewing said it this way many years ago “Treat your customers right. The best advertising you can have is a satisfied customer.” Today, “Strive for service excellence” is the number four bullet point on Ewing’s mission statement.

Locally, contractors have the opportunity to work with one of four Account Managers, the Arizona “Do Crew”. All four have been trained to service the entire Ewing catalog, some 24,000 items! All are equally passionate about customer service. Each was asked to share their philosophy on customer service.

JJ Markell has worked at Ewing for 15 years, his whole career. JJ used to race BMX bikes at the national level. He recently married. JJ’s customers include large commercial construction and maintenance contractors. When asked about his customer service philosophy, JJ said “Ewing customers are part of our family. I look forward to waking up every day to help my customers be successful in their businesses.” Reach JJ at 480287-0030 or jjmarkell@ewingirrigation.com and he’ll help you be successful in your business.

Ben Schottke has been with Ewing for 2-1/2 years. Ben worked in the Tempe and Chandler branches before moving into estimating and ultimately account management. He is an ASU graduate and has played ice hockey since he was six. In fact, he still plays on Monday nights with Bob Schottke, his dad. Ben’s customers are primarily large commercial contractors. His customer service philosophy is “Take care of your customers or someone else will.” Give Ben a call at 480-3873166 or email him at bschottke@ewingirrigation. com and he’ll take care of you.

Dennis Kemp celebrates his 14th year with Ewing this year, serving as our resident staff agronomist. He is an expert in all things fertilizer, seed, and chemical and is very interested in growing things naturally. He is a British sports car enthusiast. Dennis calls on golf courses and works with large commercial maintenance contractors.

His focus is on “outrageous customer service, doing it right the first time.” If you like it done right the first time, try Dennis at 602-321-4589 or dkemp@ewingirrigation.com.

Doug Donahue has been a part of the green industry for 37 years, the last five at Ewing.

Doug is passionate about all aspects of water management. His customers are large commercial contractors and municipalities. Doug loves going onto properties with his customers to help figure out how to help save water. Doug is especially passionate about customer service. He values the relationships and friendships developed with his customers over the years. His customer service philosophy is “The best thanks that I get for doing a great job for one of my customers is to get their next order.” Doug will do a great job for you.

Give him a call at 480-619-9943 or email him at ddonahue@ewingirrigation.com.

Dennis Kemp

JJ Markell

And the winner is... You! You work in a great industry, with great people and you have the opportunity to work with one of Ewing’s four Arizona Account Managers with their “got your back” service philosophy. Let’s work together to make 2016 a great year.

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ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Southwest Sod

We watch the grass grow, so you don’t have to. That’s right, growing turf grass is our thing. In fact, some would say, the grass is always greener on Southwest Sod’s side of the fence. Now, we won’t argue with those turf tales, but we have had lots of practice.

Southwest Sod has been growing high quality turfgrass for more than three decades just south of Phoenix. Our turf is carefully grown on some of Arizona’s best soils by really talented growers.

Some of these growers come from generational farming families. We like to blend the best of old time farmer wisdom and timeless agriculture practices with the latest in technology, and we produce a great product. You could say that we really like our tractors, and we are really proud of our turfgrass!

We ship sod to customers throughout our great state. From Chandler to Cottonwood, we have been there and sodded that. We carry four varieties – Midiron, Santa Anna, Tifway, and Tifgreen.

Those four varieties have stood the test of time and are the best in the business. If you are not familiar, let me introduce you.

Midiron is our top selling product because it is tough, easy to maintain, and looks great. You can find Midiron on large commercial jobsites and home lawns, ball fields and school yards. If your client wants to have the best looking lawn on the block, Santa Anna would be perfect for you. Santa Anna is known for its beautiful dark green color. Now, Tifway can be found on golf course fairways, ballfields and home lawns. Tifway has a medium blade structure and a deep green color. Tifgreen is found on golf course putting greens throughout Arizona, but this grass has amazing versatility.

Tifgreen is probably our softest variety and can withstand lots of traffic. Whatever your application is, we have a great variety for you. Our customers are busy professionals who are running their businesses and serving their clients. The last thing they should worry about is the sod. The turf team at Southwest Sod has those bases covered.

We really like to showcase our product and help our customers achieve their project goals. If you need the sod installed, we can help. If your client wants to hydroseed their site, we’ve got you covered. For those who are new to the turf world, we would love to speak with you. We can talk turf all day, or about anything else that grows in Arizona. We have been known to give farm tours every now and again. There are no projects too big or too small, and there are no bad questions. We are only a phone call away.

We have learned a thing or two over the years about turfgrass and would love to share a few tips with you. You can reach us at 602.271.4266 or our website, southwestsod.com, is also full of helpful information. Now, we may be watching the grass grow, but we are always glad to hear from you. We look forward to speaking with you.

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ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

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MEMBER UPDATES

SiteOne Landscape Supply Acquires Hydro-Scape Products SiteOne Landscape Supply announced the acquisition of Hydro-Scape Products. HydroScape has 17 locations servicing Southern California with landscape products and supplies.

“Hydro-Scape is a terrific company and an excellent fit with our existing business in Southern California. The combination of our companies establishes us as the clear market leader with convenient locations, the broadest line of products and a great combined team of talented and experienced associates,” said Doug Black, CEO of SiteOne Landscape Supply. “Hydro-Scape has been providing irrigation and landscape products to its customers while delivering excellent customer service for over 40 years, and we welcome their associates to our team.”

About SiteOne Landscape Supply: SiteOne Landscape Supply has over 460 locations across North America and is the leading distributor of wholesale irrigation, landscape lighting, nursery, hardscapes, maintenance products and supplies for the green industry. Dedicated to becoming the distributor of choice for landscape, irrigation and turf care professionals, SiteOne also offers additional services that support its core businesses.

Pre‐Cer�ca�on Training for Core, Right‐Of‐Way and Ornamental & Turf

During this workshop, you will review the study materials in prepara�on for the cer�ed applicator exam

April 5, 2016 8 a.m.— 3 p.m.



Cover Na�onal Core topics including: IPM strategies  Labeling and formula�ons  Pes�cide safety  First aid and emergency response Review federal and state laws and regula�ons Perform exercises in calibra�on, mixing and applica�ons Iden�fy regional weeds and weed management strategies Iden�fy ornamental and turf pests and pathogens Review appropriate professional conduct when dealing with concerned ci�zens 

ALCA Office 5425 E Bell Rd, #105 Sco�sdale, AZ 85254





$150/Members $250/Non‐Members Lunch included





ALCA.org/Calendar



Desert Forrest Nursery, LLC Growing on over 80 acres From 1 gallon to 72” boxes Contract grows available Schedule a tour today Open 6 days a week

623-935-1859

623-505-9626 fax forrest@desertforrestnursery.com Delivery to: AZ,CA, NV, TX, NM

We do the

groundwork for you.

Hill & Usher’s Trim Risk for Maintenance or Construction

602.667.1848 • www.trimrisk.com

Hill & Usher • 3033 North 44th Street, #300 • Phoenix, AZ 85018

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2016 Board of Trustees and CEO The ALCA Board of Trustees is committed to maintaining the properous growth and representation of ALCA members. The Board’s primary responsibilities are to look beyond the day-to-day operations and create long range goals for the association. The Trustees consists of past Board leaders whose hard work, dedication and vision have been instrumental in the success that ALCA has achieved today.

Below are the members of this pretigious Board of Trustees.

Bob Meier

Bob Underwood AAA Landscape

President Michael Rockwell Azul-Verde Design Group Inc.

President Elect Robin Franklin Goodwill of Central Arizona

Vice President Rod Pappas, Xeriscapes Unlimited Inc.

Secretary Glenn Fahringer Earth Care “For All That’s Green” Inc.

Barb Stropko New Desert Gallery, Inc.

Bill Krause Terra Designs Inc.

Introduction to Basic

Craig Potter

David Spector TLC - The Landscape Company

Dale Micetic

Nancy Coxe Sierra Sun Landscaping, LLC

What will you learn?

This hands-on workshop will focus on the most common parts of an irrigation system and how they work, how they most often fail, and what to do to solve a problem. You will learn how to use the tools that every irrigation tech should have at hand.

Students will break out into stations for interactive hands-on activities which include the following: Valves DATES TO CHOOSE FROM:  Open a valve and view all parts, put back WHEN: March 18 together

April 29  Demonstrate how to use a multi-meter June 24  Splice wires to a solenoid August 26  Troubleshoot and assemble drip December Controllers TIME: 7 am — Noon  Program & Troubleshoot WHERE: ALCA Office Sprinklers 5425 E Bell Rd #105  Demonstrate how to adjust gear driven Scottsdale, AZ 85254 rotor COST: $100/ per person  Use arc diffuser screw to hold nozzle in place REGISTER: ALCA.org/calendar  Replace nozzles Pipe  Glue pipe  Demonstrate compression and slip fix couplings All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion

4 CEUs will be available from IA Judy Gausman CEO March/April 2016

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ALCA MIXERS

Thank You to all Season Wholesale Growers and Sunrise Nursery, LLC for Sponsoring ALCA’s First Mixer of the Year.

E

ighty members enjoyed the peer to peer networking event and food at the January 20th mixer at Lucille’s BBQ in Tempe Marketplace. Sponsored by All Season Wholesale Growers and Sunrise Nursery, many of the attendees were able to take home some of their beautiful potted plants.

All Season Wholesale Growers is a full-service, wholesale nursery that specializes in providing high quality trees, shrubs, ground covers. Their growing yard is approximately four acres. They currently provide plants in 1-gallon, 3-gallon, 5-gallon and 15-gallon containers and 24” boxes. They cater to the needs of landscape contractors but also sell to retail nurseries, other wholesale nurseries and general contractors. Due to their relationships with other nurseries, they provide the “One Call Does It All” service. If they do not have the size or species of plant you need to complete a project, they will locate the best quality available in the local nursery industry and deliver the plants directly to you. To save valuable man-hours, many of their customers utilize this service. Not only will you save time but you will also be assured you are getting the best quality plants available. For more information, contact Beth Postma at beth@allseasongrowers.com or (602) 276-0230.

Sunrise Nursery, LLC specializes in producing drought tolerant trees, shrubs, cacti and much more for an arid climate. As a wholesale grower, they supply landscape contractors, landscape maintenance companies, municipalities with premier trees, shrubs, palms trees, cacti, and citrus for small or large commercial or residential projects. Sunrise Nursery stands out among nurseries by offering a level of expertise, affordable prices, and willingness to go the extra mile for each and every customer. They are dedicated to helping you find the perfect trees and plants for a landscape that will not only look beautiful, but will thrive in its natural climate. By choosing sustainable landscaping, you can help maintain the natural splendor and resources of the Southwest region. People keep choosing Sunrise Nursery because they love their service, forging lasting relationships that allow them to anticipate their needs for years to come. For more information, contact Dan Escalante at dan@sunrisenurseryllc.com or (623) 695-1167 or Joe Carranza at jjcarranza@ sunrisenurseryllc.com or (623) 703-0376.

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Document1

Staying SOBER

2/29/04

1 ALCAPage BULLETIN BOARD

2:44 AM

Variety ‘AZT’

Quality, Uniform, Desert Adapted Trees

SIMPLY THE BEST Prosopis Hybrid ‘AZT’ Thornless Mesquite Cercidium praecox ‘AZT’ Sonoran Palo Verde Olneya tesota ‘AZT’ Desert Ironwood Cercidium Hybrid ‘AZT’ Thornless Hybrid Palo Verde Chilopsis linearis ‘AZT Bi-Color’ Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis ‘AZT Desert Amethyst’ Desert Willow Cercidium Hybrid ‘DM’ Desert Museum Hybrid Palo Verde* *AZT propagates the ‘Desert Museum’ with the guidance and permission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

S

ubstance abuse among workers may be one of the biggest and most difficult business concerns employers face. Though it may be difficult, addressing problems associated with alcoholism may improve worker productivity.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) states alcohol is the most used and abused drug in the nation. Alcohol abuse is prevalent in the United States as almost 15 million Americans consume it in excess, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), which sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month in April.

Alcohol abuse in the workplace is wide-reaching, and incidents involving alcoholism often result in higher injury and accident rates as well as increases in absenteeism and productivity losses.

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse annually costs businesses between $33 billion to $68 billion per year, according to NCADD. Employers may want to find effective ways of lowering alcohol abuse in the workplace to decrease the number of safety incidents on the job.

To reduce the number of workplace incidents associated with alcohol use, employers may want to consider establishing an employee assistance program (EAP). NCADD recommended EAPs as the most effective tools to prevent alcohol problems at work.

EAPs provide confidential counseling, assessment and referral for alcohol abuse and its associated problems – everything from mental health to financial hurtles and dependent care. An EAP counselor will monitor an employee’s progress and provide follow-up counseling if needed.

Specimen Trees for Desert Landscapes

ARID ZONE TREES

phone (480) 987-9094 fax (480) 987-9092 e-mail: e-mail:information@aridzonetrees.com aridzonetrees@msn.com

WWW.ARIDZONETREES.COM

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ALCA BULLETIN BOARD

Ideal Planting Times: When to Plant in the Desert Southwest of time. Examples of tropical plants in our area Some desert cactus and succulents such as CarnKasey Billingsley, ALCA Education Coordinator

It

can often be difficult to plant plants at their ‘ideal’ time of year. We often install new landscapes throughout the year, either in the dead of winter or in the scorching summer.

Do you tell your client you are unable to plant a bougainvillea in January since it’s not the ‘ideal’ time to plant this tropical plant? Generally no, but you may end up replacing or ‘doing some explaining’ if we do encounter a late winter frost. What about availability? A number of plants need to be replaced on a property in the fall, yet you have not been able to find the specified plant or size of plant in your area. Sometimes growers are unable to have select plants available year round because of the plant’s life cycle or preferred growing conditions.

If you do have flexibility on when you can plant, here are guidelines to ideal planting times for the desert southwest.

When is it safe to plant tropical trees and shrubs? Generally speaking, you can start planting tropicals or the very frost sensitive plants after February 15th. It is best to find tropical or mesic plants that have been growing in a protected environment or mild climate (hello Southern California) then acclimated to our area for a period

include Ficus microcarpa nitida (Indian laurel fig), Tecoma alata (orange jubilee), and Strelitzia reginae (tropical bird of paradise).

What about our native trees like palo verde or ironwood? Most of our native trees do best if planted when roots are actively growing or anytime in March through October. However, they seem to tolerate planting year round, as long as soil conditions aren’t too moist during the cooler months, which can make for slow root development as soil temperatures warm in the spring. Close monitoring of the irrigation through the first winter will help the trees stay healthy and roots ready to charge into the soil first thing in spring. Trees like Olnea tesota (desert ironwood) does not tolerate overwatered conditions and may leaf out slower in the spring if the soil is chronically saturated.

While some trees tolerate year-round planting, palms do best if planting during the warmer season.

Palms like Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) prefers mild to warm temperatures, anytime between March through October. Once soil temperatures get too cool for root growth, some palms may sit for long periods without root initiation, potentially leading to transplant failure, especially if overwatered during these colder months.

egiea gigantea (saguaro) do best when planted in full summer’s heat. The recommended period for planting Fouqueria splendens (ocotillo) and other accent plants like agave is March through May, again when roots are actively growing. When planting these desert dwellers, take proper precautions to protect from the intense summer sun if planting mid-summer.

There are, however some native perennials that do best if planted during the cold season. Baileya multiradiata (desert marigold) and many of the Penstemon species are not only hard to find in a nursery during our blistering summers, but do best if planted in the colder months of the year, when they are actively growing. Plant these perennials as soon as they come available in the fall so they are ready for a springtime display of color.

While some plants and trees tolerate off-season planting better than others, many plants in our landscape will do just fine when planted year round. There will always be instances where plants fail due to extreme weather or unsuitable soil conditions, but we will have to keep each plant’s ‘ideal’ period in mind if repeated failures occur.

Wishing you successful springtime planting in the coming months!

There’s a new grass in Town!

less waTer + less FerTilizer = More $ in your pockeT and a “greener” grass for the environment

Platinum t.e. now available!

Find out more at www.westernsod.com 800/832-8873

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• • • • • • • •

Extreme salt tolerance Advanced striping ability Shorter dormancy period Shiny exceptionally dark green color Versatile mowing heights from ¼” – 1” Superior low light intensity tolerance Uses 66% less nitrogen than bermuda Excellent drought and wear tolerance

From the growers of bobsod— the Official Turf of the D-backs and Chase Field

ALCA BULLETIN BOARD

Valley Partnership and Florence Crittenton Community Project

On

Saturday, November 7, 2015 an Olsson volunteer crew led

by Kimberly Kleski joined more than 200 other volunteers to begin a full day’s work on beautifying the Florence Crittenton’s Scottsdale Girls Ranch Campus in Scottsdale. The Valley Partnership, an “advocacy group for responsible development”, selected the Girls Ranch earlier in the year to be the recipient of their 2015 Community Project. Kim, of the Phoenix Land Development Team, has been involved with Valley Partnership for three years and a project committee member for two years. The Girls Ranch provides housing, education, medical services, and counseling to disadvantaged girls aged 10 to 21, giving them a safe space to get back on their feet. Since the Girls Ranch was built nearly 50 years ago, it did not have a properly developed space for the residents to relax and get outside.

Kim led the master plan design for the project, supported by graphic designers Michaela Oltmans and James Mullen, and she was joined by Edie Adams, Amy Asher, Elizabeth Blackledge, Pim van der Giessen, and Len Swartz and his wife on the morning of the Community Project day. When volunteers arrived, the work area was a flat, dusty stretch of hard earth. After a tasty breakfast of coffee and pastries and a quick kickoff meeting, volunteers were broken into teams – landscaping teams planted shrubs, laid down sod and decorative bricks, and shoveled rocks; creative teams painted the walls of the Girls House Ranch building, laid out a beautiful rock maze garden, and installed a musical instrument on the north part of the work area. Other teams assembled and painted benches, set up workout and sporting equipment, and erected a shelter in the center of the campus. Five large planter boxes were also set up and seeded with vegetables to allow the residents to grow and harvest their own food. A hot lunch was provided around midday, and crews kept working through the afternoon, changing the campus from a sad, unwelcoming area to a beautiful, supportive safe space.

The transformation was astounding thanks to the many volunteers including the ALCA members that generously donated their time and resources to this worthy project.

• Arid Zone Trees • Belgard Hardscapes • Caretaker Landscape & Tree Maintenance • Cutting Edge • Ewing Irrigation

• FX Luminaire • Gothic Landscaping • Granite Express • ISS Grounds Control • Kalamazoo Materials • Olsson Associates

• Siteworks • Toro • V & P Nursery • West Coast Turf • Western Tree

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RESOURCE GUIDE/AD INDEX INSURANCE SERVICES

IRRIGATION PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS

Hill & Usher

Ewing Irrigation

(602) 667-1848 www.trimrisk.com Please see our ad on page............... 16

(800) 343-9464 www.ewing1.com Please see our ad on page............... 23

Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc.

Horizon

(800) 628-8735 www.lcisinc.com Please see our ad on page................. 3 LeBaron & Carroll Insurance

(480) 834-9315 www.landc.com Please see our ad on page................. 5

(800) PVCTURF (782-8873) www.horizononline.com Please see our ad on page................. 5 Hunter Industries

(858) 535-8000 www.hunterindustries.com Please see our ad on page................. 2 LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION TRAINING/ TESTING Metro Institute

(602) 452-2901 www.metroinstitute.com Please see our ad on page............... 10

LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT DEALER

NURSERIES

Stotz Equipment

All Season Wholesale Growers

(520) 631-7145 www.stotzequipment.com Please see our ad on page............... 22

(602) 276-0230 www.allseasongrowers.com Please see our ad on page............... 10

LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES

Arid Zone Trees

SiteOne Landscape Supply

(480) 987-9094 www.aridzonetrees.com Please see our ad on page............... 19

(800) 347-4272 SiteOne.com Please see our ad on page................. 4 LIGHTING Brilliance LED, LLC

(800) 867-2108 www.brillianceled.com Please see our ad on page............... 22 FX Luminaire

(858) 535-8000 www.fxl.com Please see our ad on page................. 2

Desert Forrest Nursery, LLC

(623) 935-1859 desertforrestnursery.com Please see our ad on page............... 16 POTTERY International Wholesale Pottery

(602) 803-0821 www.iwpottery.com Please see our ad on page................. 6 SOD/TURF Evergreen Turf, Inc.

(480) 456-1199 www.evergreenturf.com Please see our ad on page.... Back Cover West Coast Turf

(888) 893-8873 westcoastturf.com Please see our ad on page............... 20 SUPPLYING LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS Wilbur Ellis

(480) 921-8500 www.wilburellis.com Please see our ad on page............... 19 TRUCKS Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu

(866) 412-2712 www.chapmanchevrolet.com Please see our ad on page................. 3 AD INDEX

All Season Wholesale Growers............10 Arid Zone Trees...................................19 Brilliance LED, LLC..............................22 Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu...................3 Desert Forrest Nursery, LLC................16 Evergreen Turf, Inc................ Back Cover Ewing Irrigation...................................23 FX Luminaire.........................................2 Hill & Usher.........................................16 Horizon.................................................5 Hunter Industries...................................2 International Wholesale Pottery..............6 Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc.........................................3 LeBaron & Carroll Insurance..................5 Metro Institute.....................................10 SiteOne Landscape Supply....................4 Stotz Equipment..................................22 West Coast Turf..................................20

brillianceled.com | 800-867-2108 22

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Wilbur Ellis..........................................19

How is your current supplier winning your business? The better question is, “How are they losing it?�

For nearly a century, our family-owned company has remained a true business partner for landscape industry professionals.

Make the switch to Ewing today.

EwingIrrigation.com/locations