Colorado Green Sept/Oct 2019

SEPT/OCT 2019 | VOL 35, NO 5 WWW.ALCC.COM

Navigating the labor shortage Northern Water grants support water-wise landscapes Transplanting trees has big benefits

years 2019

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In this issue

Sept/Oct 2019 | Vol 35 | No 5

Feature 44

Northern Water launches collaborative water-efficient landscape grants

44

Grant recipients get professional and fi nancial assistance

BY FRANK KINDER

24

Profile

24

Pre-design collaboration with builder & architect set stage for project succuess

Lingren Landscape brings Cherry Creek to Fort Collins

BY LYN DEAN

28

Landscapes soar to new heights with transplanted trees

35 years of Colorado Tree Spade

BY LYN DEAN

Business Sense

32

Navigating the labor shortage

Three strategies for landscape contractors

BY KIM NAUGHTIN

34

Sell ready-built success to next-gen entrepeneurs How baby boomers can get the most from businesses they nurtured

BY LYN DEAN

6

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In this issue

Departments

010 13 53

Perspective

Sept/Oct 2019 | Vol 35 | No 5

13

Green News & Notes Ad Index

Milestones

20

Taking on the waves of regulatory change

23

FX Luminaire shining strong after 30 years

Workforce

42

23 42

High school students get head start in certification

Top Plant Picks

50

52

CSU Research

Tough and proven perennials for Colorado

Spotlight on Plant SelectÂŽ

Dwarf leadplant is a small and mighty low-care shrub

Parting Shot

54

Sleep power: It keeps you on your game

Cover photo: Fossil Lake Ranch Estate Lindgren Landscape

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publication ALCC servingindustry the green in industry in the Rocky Mountain region Official publication Official of ALCC servingofthe green the Rocky Mountain region

Perspective

C O L O R A D O

Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region

Changes continue to accelerate even as season slows down

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Colorado Green Production Team

C O L O R A D O

EDITORIAL

John McMahon

his year has been one of change for our industry, and the rate of change doesn’t look like it will slow down with the close of the calendar year. The Landscape Industry Certified Technician hands-on exam was held last month for the last time in Colorado. It was truly the end of an era: countless industry members collaborated to administer the test and provide feedback for improving it over the years. We appreciate their efforts. Colorado landscape professionals played a lead role in helping NALP (then PLANET) develop the manuals that so many candidates used as their test prep material.

As the certification exam transitions in 2020 to an online format, ALCC feels strongly about the value of a hands-on demonstration of landscape technician skills. We are committed to the upcoming technician boot camp and look forward to working with our national association to make it a success.

The changes continue with this fall’s launch of the Sustainable Landscape Management Colorado initiative. Look for updates and course schedules in future issues of Colorado Green or at www.alcc.com. Staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to develop a program that builds upon ALCC’s ongoing efforts: GreenCO BMPs, Sustainable Landscape Partners and promoting professionalism in our work. I look forward to sharing it with you in the coming months.

In October, when our leadership comes together for strategic planning and to lay the foundation for the next year, our discussions will center around the many changes happening in the country, in the Colorado green industry, and within ALCC. Landscape professionals are faced with a shrinking workforce and must learn to adapt to changing expectations of the next generation. We’ll talk about how to navigate the changes and use them as an opportunity to evolve and grow.

From legislation and regulation to education and technology, the business of landscaping is never static. ALCC and Colorado Green will continue to keep you up to date, and we invite you to join us in shaping the future of our industry.

ALCC CEO John McMahon Editor Lyn Dean Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region Communications Director Cherie Courtade Circulation and Adminstration Rachael Coleman DESIGN

C O L O R A D O

Graphic Design Tracy Gulden ADVERTISING SALES

Sales Director Amy McCraken (303) 478-7895 Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region AmyM@EvergreenCustomMedia.com Sales Director Martha Dickenson (303) 257-6499 Mimi_nwp@yahoo.com CONTACT

Feedback, ideas, subscriptions 303 757-5611 or info@alcc.com

Published by ALCC for the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region

ALCC

President Matt Hiner Hiner Landscapes, Colorado Springs Vice President Michael Moore Diggable Designs LLC, Lakewood Past President Mike Ransom Lifescape Colorado, Denver

John McMahon, CEO, ALCC Colorado Green (ISSN0195-0045) is published bimonthly by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, Inc., 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 831, Denver, Colorado 80222, phone: 303-757-5611, fax: 303-757-5636. Colorado Green is distributed to contributing members and professionals throughout Colorado, and educational and governmental institutions across the state. Subscription rates: $27 per year; $6.75 per copy. Colorado residents only, please add 3.5% sales tax. Postage paid at Denver, Colorado. Publisher assumes no responsibility for safekeeping or return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts, and reserves all rights to edit material submitted for publication. Approval for publication of copyrighted material submitted to Colorado Green is the sole responsibility of the advertiser/contributing authors. ©2019 by Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado. All rights reserved. Reproduction of materials contained herein allowed only with permission of the publisher. Post master: Please send Form 3579 to ALCC, 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 831, Denver, Colorado 80222.

For advertising inquiries, please call Amy McCraken at 303-478-7895, or email amym@evergreencustom media.com.

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Green News& Notes

The Broadmoor Estate House

ALCC members recognized in ColoradoBiz Best of Colorado

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oloradoBiz magazine recently published The Best of Colorado Maintenance 2019, a list determined by readers’ favorites. Timberline Landscaping, Inc., Colorado Springs, was selected in the Best Landscape/Lawn Contractor category. It was recognized for its commitment to education—including the number of employees who are Landscape Industry Certified—as well as their award-winning projects, such as The Broadmoor Estate House. Runners-up included Designs By Sundown, Littleton, and Davey Tree Expert Company, Denver.

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Green News & Notes

Plant Select® presents awards at annual meeting

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uring the its 2019 annual meeting June 11, Plant Select® honored several outstanding individuals and organizations with awards.

Kiyota Greenhouse, Fort Lupton, received the Organization Partnership Award for its extraordinary contribution toward the mission and vision of Plant Select.

Two Individual Partnership Awards were given this year: Brian Core, propagation foreman and Keith Williamson, inventory manager, both of Little Valley Wholesale Nursery, Brighton.

High Plains Environmental Center, Loveland, received the Showcase Garden Award, which acknowledges achievements of a public garden toward education and promotion of the mission and goals of Plant Select.

The Golden Shovel Award was received by Sedalia Gardens. The Golden Shovel recognizes a Demonstration Garden partner exhibiting superior design and use of Plant Select plants while providing excellent educational opportunities to visitors. The garden must first receive a Showcase Garden Award to be eligible.

Photo courtesy Dressel-Martin Mediaworks

Jim Tolstrup, High plains Environmental Center; Dale Kiyota, Kiyota Greenhouse; Ross Shrigley, Plant Select; Ursula Rogers, Sedalia Gardens; Keith Williamson and Brian Core, Little Valley Wholesale Nursery

New appliance water standards apply to irrigation systems

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olorado House Bill 19-1231, “New with the new standards. WaterSense offers a Appliance Energy and Water Efficien- searchable database of certified products and cy Standards,” was signed into law on a downloadable spreadsheet of products at May 30, 2019. The bill aims to reduce energy www.epa.gov/watersense/product-search. and water waste by establishing standards for Penalties for knowingly selling or offering new appliances sold and installed in the state. to sell non-compliant products could be sigO R per A Dviolation O Those working in the landscape industry in nificant: Cup Oto L$2,000 or up to Colorado will need to be aware of this law as it $10,000 per violation if the victim is an elderly applies to irrigation systems. person. Each sprinkler body is considered a viThe law applies to spray sprinkler bodies olation, so installing non-compliant sprinkler sold as new in Colorado, stating that they bodies on a large project could result in sub“must include an integral pressure regulator” stantial penalties. and meet EPA WaterSense specifications— unless they are specifically excluded from the scope of WaterSense specification. The full specification and exclusions can be found at C O L O R A D O the WaterSense section of www.epa.gov.

The act goes into effect August 2, 2019, but individual sections will be phased in. The rule regarding spray sprinkler bodies will apply For information and to sales that take place on or after January 1, rates contact Martha at 2021. mimi_nwp@yahoo.com Landscape professionals installing new irrigation systems or repairing existing systems should be aware of this law and verify that 303.257.6499 the sprinkler bodies they install are compliant C O L O R A D O

Photo courtesy Hunter Industries

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NOW

Green News & Notes

ISA-RMC Tree Climbing Championship is for pros and kids

Colorado landscape companies make 2019 LM150

In

late June, Landscape Management magazine list issued its tenth annual

list of the top 150 revenue-generating landscape companies Eight Colorado-based businesses earned spots on the 2019 LM150: Metco Landscape, Aurora, No. 27; Landtech Contractors, Aurora, No. 65; Designscapes Colorado, Centennial, No. 76; Designs By Sundown, Littleton, No. 82; Timberline Landscaping, Colorado Springs, No. 128; Schultz Industries, Golden, No. 132; Lifescape Colorado, Denver, No. 134 and Emerald Isle Landscaping, Greenwood Village, No. 146.

In addition to companies with Colorado headquarters, there were six national companies on the list that have operations in Colorado: BrightView, Plymouth Meeting, PA, No. 1; The Davey Tree Expert Co., Kent, OH, No. 3; Bartlett Tree Experts, Stamford, CT, No. 4; Weed Man, Oshawa, Ontario, No. 12; SavATree, Bedford Hills, NY, No. 14 and The Grounds Guys, Waco, TX, No. 17.

Photos courtesy Brian Sawyer

Anessa Winn

Luke Glines

ISA

Rocky Mountain Chapter’s (ISA-RMC) annual Tree Climbing Championship (TCC) provides both competitive and educational opportunities for working arborists in the Rocky Mountain region. Arborists met to compete, and demonstrate and exchange new climbing techniques and equipment, as well as safe work practices. The event also provides positive public exposure for the profession in the region.

In the professionals’ competition, held July 19-21 at Crestmoor Park in Denver, Luke Glines received the top score for men and

Anessa Winn scored highest for women. Daryl Roe and Andy Harem ranked second and third, among male contestants, while Jacqueline Fink and Jacquelina Salas ranked second and third among women.

The top-ranked climbers will represent ISA-RMC at the North American TCC hosted in San Diego, in October.

This year, a Kids Climb was hosted for those 12 and under. Children used professional safety gear to ascend a tree just like professional tree climbers as they were introduced to possible career opportunity.

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Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Green News & Notes

Photo courtesy Winger Photography, LLC

Stringer receives International Landscape Design Award

heri Stringer, a Colorado landscape designer, was honored during the

2019 Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) conference, held July 25-30. The APLD International Landscape Design Awards Program honors excellence in landscape design. Projects in eight different categories were judged on the basis of difficulty, craftsmanship, attention to detail and execution.

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A bronze award in the Residential Category was presented to Stringer of TLC Gardens, Longmont, for her Polaris Escape project in Longmont, Colorado. The judges said that the “before and after” was stellar, and they loved the striking site and view within the great landscape.

The award is TLC’s sixth APLD award since 2016.

Cheri Stringer

Photo courtesy APLD

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TLC Gardens’ Polaris Escape project

Denver park receives award from Toro

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copy

Toro award for La Lomita Park

“The theme of Greater & Greener 2019 is Exploring Natural Connections, and the La Lomita project is a great example of how agencies working together can leverage funds

Photo courtesy City Parks Alliance

enver Parks & Recreation’s La Lomita Park was awarded $50,000 for improvements during the Greater and Greener conference.

The Toro Urban Park Innovation Award, sponsored by The Toro Company, recognizes innovation in park management and practices, and was presented in partnership with City Parks Alliance at the conference held July 20-24 in Denver. The funds from the award will be used to establish a learning lab in the park for environmental education. The community and nearby schools will benefit from the interpretive signage the funds will support.

The design and implementation of the La Lomita Park project was a collaborative effort between Denver’s Parks and Recreation and Public Works agencies and has set a new bar for future interagency collaborations.

The park provides stormwater management, open spaces for recreation, and a playground that includes nature play elements.

and expertise effectively to produce multiple benefits for the community,” said City Parks Alliance Executive Director Catherine Nagel.

Green News & Notes

Denver hosts Greater & Greener 2019 Conference

Reception at Confluence Park

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Photos courtesy Denver Parks & Recreation

Volunteer Service Day at St. Charles Park

reater & Greener 2019: Exploring Natural Connections successfully showcased Denver’s one-of-a-kind park system and the innovative solutions being developed to face the city’s unique challenges.

Attendees representing 218 different cities, 40 U.S. states and 13 countries enjoyed conference tours and mobile workshops that took attendees to Denver’s most beloved and scenic spots—from Summit Lake and Red Rocks, to the restored Platte River, historic City Beautiful parks and beyond. The Mile High City’s commitment to recreation, open space and green infrastructure was evident.

The conference, presented by City Parks Alliance, took place July 20-24, 2019. Urban Greening and Biodiversity was a key theme throughout the week, emphasizing the relationship between parks and quality of life, economic benefits and environmental resilience, along with the role of parks and city-building.

The experiences offered during this international conference fostered honest dialogue around social equity, cross-agency and cross-sector partnerships, funding models, and replicable solutions for parks around the world.

Denver was chosen as the 2020 host city because of the success of its urban parks system.

Attendees experienced Denver’s extensive and varied parks system.

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Milestones

Taking on the waves of

regulatory change years 2019

2011

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olorado Green magazine’s creation was seen as a way to promote and elevate the professionalism of the green industry. With that mission, the magazine has always communicated that professionalism includes being in compliance with laws and regulations. Making landscape professionals aware of current and proposed legislation and regulatory changes has been part of its content since Day One. The very first issue of Colorado Green in Summer 1979 led with a reprint of ALCA’s legislative bulletin, as well as a contact list of Colorado senators and congressmen. The second issue spoke to the importance of trade associations like ALCC, which, as then-executive-secretary John Duke explained, serve industry members by representing them in the legislative and regulatory discussions and keeping professionals aware of laws and regulations that affect their businesses.

2014

Making landscape professionals aware of current and proposed legislation and regulatory changes has been part of Colorado Green’s content since Day One.

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2015

Milestones

2017

2018 From having the governor hand out awards at the 1980 annual awards ceremony to reviewing the latest federal tax laws and their effect on businesses in 1982, government and regulatory agencies have appeared in these pages in many forms and in most issues.

When Becky Garber (now Garber-Godi) assumed a leadership role at Colorado Green, she took pride in using each issue to help the green industry understand and prepare for laws and regulations. Looking back on her tenure with ALCC and its trade magazine, Garber-Godi noted that sharing information to help companies navigate the often-confusing regulatory

2018 and legislative world gave her job a stronger sense of purpose.

Making sense of, and complying with, laws and regulations can be a full-time job itself. For small business owners it can be overwhelming.

Colorado Green aims to keep landscape companies up-to-date on significant legislation and give them useful information for dealing with regulatory bodies. In this issue, readers can learn about a new state law regarding appliance efficiency that could impact the sprinkler parts used in irrigation installation and repair. In the November/December issue, business owners can read about the Equal Pay for Equal Work

Act, which will affect how jobs are advertised within and outside a company and how salary history and pay ranges are discussed.

As the magazine moves into its fifth decade of publication, these pages will continue to serve as a vital resource to the green industry by making professionals aware of legal and regulatory issues and by helping them better understand what updated or changed statutes mean for their business. It is all in support of ALCC’s mission to help landscape companies have successful businesses. |CG

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Milestones

FX Luminaire

shining strong after 30 years T

his year, FX Luminaire celebrates 30 years in business and is proud to look

back on three decades of “innovation in outdoor lighting technology.” Founded in 1989 by Joshua Beadle in San Diego, the company was borne out of the landscape contractor’s dissatisfaction with the quality of the outdoor lighting available to him. He began by making fixtures for his own projects, but the reputation of his quality lighting led to interest from fellow contractors, and FX Luminaire soon became Beadle’s full-time business venture.

Innovation in outdoor lighting technology

Over the years, FX Luminaire has developed controllers, path lights, hardscape fixtures, energy- and money-saving technology, smart lighting systems, and more. Their current focus is on LED technology and fully digital lighting control systems over zoning, dimming, and color changes.

The company was acquired by Hunter Industries in 2009, giving the FX Luminaire greater resources to grow their distribution, increase product development, and offer a strong support system for both employees and consumers. Distributed through landscape supply sources, the products are available for both residential and commercial, adaptable to current lighting specifications.

“I feel a lot of pride for what we have accomplished as a team over the years,” says Ryan Williams, director of marketing. “To think that the company started in a garage and now is a powerhouse in the global environment — it is truly humbling. In the years to come, I expect to see significant advancement into international markets, with a greater focus on efficiencies, flexibility, and control.” |CG

Photo courtesy FX Luminaire

To think that the company started in a garage and now is a powerhouse in the global environment — it is truly humbling.

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Pre-design collaboration

with builder & architect set stage for project success

24

www.alcc.com

Photos courtesy Lindgren Landscape

Profiles

Work on this stunning outdoor space earned Lindgren Landscape The ELITE Award for Design/Build.

Lindgren brings Cherry Creek to Fort Collins home

“

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houghtful planning, phasing and homeowner collaboration are the reasons this project was successful, and our client is a ‘very happy camper’ (in her words),” says Georgia Perry, senior designer at Lindgren Landscape, Fort Collins. “We started the landscape design process before construction of the home began.”

Perry and her team worked with the builder and architect—with whom Lindgren Landscape had partnered with on several projects before—to be sure the transition from the home to landscape was seamless, and to ensure the outdoor living goals of the client were met.

The homeowners have two active young children and a dog, and love to entertain.

Public versus private areas

The property had an expansive and exposed front yard on a corner lot, and by comparison, a small backyard. The final design created both a feeling of grandeur with the very public front yard, as well as feeling of privacy and intimacy in the backyard.

The courtyard in the back was designed as a retreat area with a fireplace, water feature, plants and, importantly, privacy. The area needed sufficient screening to create a visual barrier from intrusive neighbors. Strategic placement of the fireplace and wall, as well as hedges that have grown to provide more screening, were installed. Dense shrubs and trees were also the homeowners’ preference

By Lyn Dean

Georgia Perry Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Photos courtesy Lindgren Landscape

Profiles

Backyard retreat space

“We started the landscape design process before construction of the home began.”

because they wanted to “bring Cherry Creek” to their Fort Collins home—they wanted a more mature-looking landscape to accompany their sprawling, traditional-style home. All hardscape installations including walls and pavers were chosen to provide architectural continuity with the home.

The sizable front yard was softened with rolling contours and details that add interest.

Planned phasing

Plantings and other installations in the yard were phased to meet short-and long-term budget needs. Hardscapes and the irrigation system were installed the first fall of the project, as were the substructure and utilities for the backyard structures. The next spring, backyard 26

www.alcc.com

structures were completed and plants were added. Plant material continues to be added, and annual and bulb displays layer showy color throughout the season.

Making the dream come alive

“It’s not just a catchy saying: ‘it takes teamwork to create dreamwork,’” says Perry.

“Projects don’t happen without a client who is invested in the long-term vision. Likewise, without a beautifully designed and constructed home, a nice landscape is just a side attraction to the home.” Perry passionately adds that though design is the linchpin, it is the craftsmen and production team who bring it to life.

Each piece is critical, and success reigns when they come together. |CG

Backyard fireplace before tree and shrub plantings were complete Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Profiles

Landscapes soar to new heights with 35 years of

Photos courtesy Colorado Tree Spade

“

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he biggest challenge we face is most people have no idea trees can be moved!” says Susan Pfeifer, founder, Colorado Tree Spade, Highlands Ranch. “They tend to think if a tree is in a bad location, they either have to cut it down or just deal with it.”

Pfeifer wants us to think again. Colorado Tree Spade has been moving trees for 35 years and has numerous success stories with customers ranging from homeowners with small properties to high-profile Front Range personalities with large properties to well-known commercial properties including the Pepsi Center, Denver Broncos Training Facility and The Broadmoor. “We still have clients we have worked with since the 1980s,” she says.

Roots of the uprooting business

As a pair of 20-something young adults, Pfeifer and her former husband were finding their way in life, working jobs and managing

Profiles

transplanted trees Colorado Tree Spade

By Lyn Dean

The “Bigger Digger” is Colorado Tree Spade’s 124-inch spade.

rental properties. A friend of Pfeifer’s father had a tree spade business, and she liked the idea of saving trees and having a positive impact, even before “it was cool to be green.”

In 1984, the pair founded the company when they bought their first tree spade, and within a year, they purchased a second spade.

“We quickly learned that when in business for yourself, it seems there are no ‘business’ hours,” Pfeifer says. “We drove trucks during the day, and at night I’d return calls and do the book work.”

Everything they learned was self-taught, from driving the trucks to using the computer and bookkeeping systems. “We were at the top of the class in the school of hard knocks,” reflects Pfeifer. She quit driving the trucks when expecting her first child but continued with the phone calls and office work, and the company hired additional drivers.

The founders continued to balance running

their tree spade company and raising two children, while managing rental properties, until about 2006, which was shortly after the marriage and partnership dissolved. Colorado Tree Spade became a woman-owned company.

The employee roster remains small, averaging three to five employees. “Our equipment does the work of 5-10 people,” Pfeifer says.

Though she admits staffing is a challenge, as with other businesses in the green industry, she gratefully acknowledges an employee, Jeff Wolff, who has been with the company 30 years. He has seen and done it all when it comes to transplanting trees and is masterful with the trucks.

Biggest tree spade ever!

One the most significant changes in the company’s business was when it started getting into larger machines—those that could handle bigger trees. “We were the first to

“Most new development I see has mature trees that can be saved by transplanting.“ have a 110-inch spade custom made. Then we went on to have a 124-inch machine made, the biggest size that could be made as a mobile unit,” says Pfeifer. “This opened up work for us across the nation, not just in Colorado.”

Bigger spades are rare, which means Colorado Tree Spade’s fleet can handle bigger tree jobs and can collaborate with other tree movers as subcontractors. Pfeifer sees her company as a partner—not a competitor—with other treemoving companies, and also a partner with landscape companies. “We can help them do their work.”

Currently, the company owns eight spades in various sizes and has the largest fleet and Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

29

Profiles

“When landscape companies and arborists consider tree removal, I wish more took into account transplanting and saving trees as an option to cutting them down,” he says.

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widest variety in the state, and one of the largest in North America, according to Pfeifer.

She adds that the largest tree spade, which can carry trees 40 feet tall with a root ball weighing over 40,000 pounds, is used only to move trees on the same property because the loaded truck is not road legal.

Get the word out about transplanting trees

Educating people that trees can be moved is the biggest challenge of the company. Pfeifer says she meets people both within and outside the industry who say, “I wish I had met you earlier. I had to cut down a tree because I didn’t know other options.”

“Many of these precious trees can be saved!” she declares. “Most new development I see has mature trees that can be saved by transplanting.” With proper access, Colorado Tree Spade can move trees from 4 - 40 feet in height.

She wants more homeowners to know that they can move trees to open a view or block a view, whether they are putting on an addition to their home or adding a pad for their RV. All this can be accomplished by moving trees to more ideal locations.

Anyone who wants a tree, or owns an unwanted tree, or knows someone who wants or owns a tree, is a potential client. Her company can move bigger trees than the ball and burlap trees landscape contractors get from a nursery, and transplanted trees have a high survival rate.

Many of the company’s transplanted trees are moved to a different location on a client’s property or to a different property of the client. Other clients donate unwanted trees to a charitable organization, such as a church property, local parks or schools.

The company has a list of people who want big trees and looks for “homeless trees,” trees that people no longer want.

Tree moving is inherently satisfying

“Moving trees creates a lot of excitement and satisfaction,” says Pfeifer. “On a homeowner’s property, people are in awe of the big, heavy, hydraulic equipment which often draws a small crowd of neighbors.”

Transplanting trees can be cost effective

The company maintains that moving established trees more than 12 to 14 feet in height is more cost effective than buying a similarly sized nursery tree and planting. The cost to buy a 14- to 20-foot tree could be at least $2,000. Colorado Tree Spade says that the average cost to transplant a mature tree starts at about $600 and it has a high likelihood of survival. Importantly, a tree is saved that might have been cut down.

Furthermore, when a tree is removed from a property, typically the recipient pays for the entire move. This means property owners can have their trees removed for free! Better yet, by ‘donating’ the tree to a 501(c)3 charity, the

Photos courtesy Colorado Tree Spade

Profiles

Aaron Pfeifer and Susan Pfeifer

tree owner could receive a tax deduction for the value of the tree!

Passing the torch

Recently, Pfeifer began considering her exit plan for the business. For the past few years, her son, Aaron Pfeifer, a Colorado School of Mines engineering grad, has been a consultant for other businesses, helping optimize operations and strategic planning. Recently, he started working with Colorado Tree Spade to prepare it for transition, but ended up having extreme interest in growing

the business personally. “This is such an awesome business—helping people and saving the environment,” he says. “What could be better?”

Aaron has several new ideas about rebranding and new messaging for the company. He is learning by doing, through “sweat equity,” as his mother says. Aaron is passionate about sharing the value of moving trees and spreading the word to more landscape and tree moving companies. “We want to facilitate the saving of mature trees within land development projects,” Aaron says. “If people knew there was another option, we could save trees while increasing the value of their projects. Our capacity to facilitate moving trees is huge given that our medium-sized, truck-mounted machine is bigger than most other trees movers’ biggest one.”

“When landscape companies and arborists consider tree removal, I wish more took into account transplanting and saving trees as an alternative to cutting them down,” he says. |CG

wingerphotography.photoshelter.com Winger Photography, LLC

Landscape photography at its best w i n g e r p h o t o g ra p h y. p h o t o s h e l t e r. co m

Photographing Award Winning Landscapes Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Business Sense

Navigating the labor shortage Three strategies for landscape contractors

By Kim Naughtin

O

ne of the largest challenges faced by landscape contractors in Colorado’s booming economy: hiring quality seasonal workers. With the low unemployment rate (3.5% as of March 2019), the H-2B guest worker program has long been the industry’s go-to solution. But because the program is based on a lottery system and limited to 66,000 people across the United States, it can’t be the only answer to a problem that’s not going away.

When it works, H-2B can be a game-changer. Keesen Landscape Management, based in Englewood, received 180 employees this year through H-2B. “Receiving this amount from H-2B is critical,” states MJ Kasper, President of Keesen Landscape Management. “We keep

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Business Sense

around 140 people on staff year-round, and if there was a shortage of seasonal workers, we would have to consider letting folks go.”

The Keesen team works hard to prevent that situation, collaborating with a local workforce recruiter and staying tuned in to the community to maximize their chances of retaining solid seasonal employees.

This year, Denver-based Phase One Landscapes received 25 employees through the H-2B program. The company relies on seasonal workers they source through H-2B to meet the high demand for landscape services in its service area. “2018 was a different story,” shares Principal Dennis Frank. “We received no workers from H-2B last year, which caused a two-month delay in our scheduled projects.

Our crews worked long hours and we man-

aged to catch up, but it was a very stressful season.”

Frank’s story is just one example of how unpredictable the program can be. Tim Flanagan, owner at Sustainable Landscapes Colorado (SLC), typically receives 30 workers.

This year, his seasonal employees were not available until late June – three months later than expected. Once the seasonal employees were available, Flanagan only brought on eight of his typical 30. His teams worked overtime throughout the spring but were hard pressed to keep up with current contracts, so Flanagan decided to sub-contract SLC’s mowing operations. “Sub-contracting comes with its own set of frustrations,” he admits, “but it did resolve our immediate stress.”

“We keep around 140 people on staff year-round, and if there was a shortage of seasonal workers, we would have to consider letting folks go.”

Three Strategies to Navigate the Labor Shortage What can landscape contractors do to offset the limitations of the H-2B program and navigate the current labor shortage? Focus on full-time employees (FTE). While it may seem counterintuitive, using these strategies to enhance and optimize your FTE’s experience and productivity can lessen the impact of unreliable seasonal staffing.

1

Maintain the bulk of your crew full time. A dedicated full-time staff makes you less dependent on H-2B and more able to weather its inconsistencies.

To find the right balance for your company, compare your financials in the higher-income summer months to lower-income winter months. Consider adding offseason work in the winter like landscape project prep work, snowplow operations, seasonal maintenance, storage yard organization, and personal development and education.

Employers can also consider Job Attached Unemployment, in which workers can claim unemployment benefits for 16 weeks as long as they are job-attached. With that data and those considerations, determine how many team members you can keep on payroll throughout the year.

2

Create a great company culture.

A strong, positive company culture attracts talent and keeps your team happy. Offer reward programs for employees where they can earn prizes through their hard work and receive bonuses for recommending friends or family for employment. Build a sense of community within your team by planning frequent socials and including your workers’ families. And remember to tell your unique company story online and inperson at your headquarters. Use your website and social media to showcase what makes your organization great – and why people should want to work for you.

Employers can also invite employees to share their stories through social media or include these personal stories on their website – having a positive impact on recruiting.

3

Designate a full-time internal recruiter. Green Industry Pros magazine recommends a business spend $500 per seasonal worker they intend to hire. If your business needs 30 workers to staff your crews, that equates to a $15,000 investment in recruiting. Instead of outsourcing that spend, turn it inward and designate a team member to focus solely on recruitment. Recruitment strategies can include job listings, working with a local recruiter, referral bonuses for employees and recruiting through local high schools and community organizations. For inspiration, check out the July/August 2019 issue of Colorado Green to learn how Fisk Lawnscapes owner Benjamin Fisk developed innovative “Hiring Days” to meet his labor, skills and cultural fit needs.

—Kim Naughtin is the owner and founder of the Denver-based AEC Consultant Group and is a member of ALCC. She can be reached at 303-817-8331 or Kim@AECconsultantgroup.com to learn more about trainings and consultant services.

Photo courtesy Drew Kartos

The H-2B program can be an excellent way to source high-quality seasonal workers, but it shouldn’t be your only option. By building a strong foundation with full-time employees, a meaningful company culture and internal recruiting, landscape contractors can create a dependable, cost-effective workforce that you – and your clients – can rely on. |CG

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Business Sense

Sell ready-built success to next-gen entrepreneurs How baby boomers can get the most from businesses they nurtured

By Lyn Dean Greg Ritscher contributed to this story.

B

aby boomers (BBs)—those born 1946 to 1964—are an entrepreneurial generation. Wealth Management.com reported in 2015 that an estimated 12 million BBs own businesses. As this generation ages, time is a critical factor for developing a succession or exit plan. Experts suggest planning should start at least three to five years before the transition.

A lot is at stake for business owners who want to retire. For many, their businesses are performing well and they are living comfortably, yet their life savings are tied up in an asset that is not liquid. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that small-business owners are less likely than their employees to have to a pension or retirement plan, including 401(k)s. In other words, many owners are depending on the using the proceeds from selling their business to fund their retirement.

When to sell – sooner or later?

Since many businesses are doing well in the current economy, waiting to sell may give owners time to build an exit strategy if they don’t have one. And yet they risk the uncertainty of future economic changes that may reduce the value of their business. Many experts believe a strong selling market exists now and suggest not waiting very long to sell.

Another important economic factor BBs have to comprehend is the sheer number of

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fellow aging business owners wanting to sell within the next 10-15 years, which could flood the market and possibly overwhelm the buyer side of the equation.

It’s a good time to buy a business

On the buyer side, the ongoing ‘silver tsunami’ of businesses for sale by retiring owners offers many opportunities for younger entrepreneurs—for at least another decade—according to a Fast Company.com article (published 1.16.16). Buying an existing successful business gives new owners an established client base in a business that has a proven concept and has been making money.

Buyers should know that businesses owned

by BBs have the least amount of corporate debt; generally, have high customer loyalty; have the lowest operating cost structure and have proven system models, according to Greg Ritscher, Delphi Consulting, Metro Denver. That’s why they are in a position to sell their businesses.

Who are the potential buyers?

As baby boomers age into retirement, the millennial generation—those born in 19812001—has fully moved into the workforce and range in age from 18 to nearly 40. According to Pew Research, 2019 is the year that the population of millennials is projected to overtake boomers as the largest living adult generation.

Business Sense

How can a business owner attract the attention of the generation starting out, or the GenXers, born 1965-1980? There may be many in the younger generations who prefer to work for themselves—be an entrepreneur—than be on the clock working for someone else.

They care about the business they’ve built and want to sell to people who have similar values and will continue to nurture and build the company. Buyers who connect with a seller in this way will have an edge, the Fast Company article tells us.

Buyers and sellers prepare!

Connect with people to facilitate a match. Sellers and buyers should network with a variety of peers and professionals in several areas (industry contacts, business brokers, financial advisors, CPAs, chambers of commerce, etc.) to learn more about the seller if they are a buyer, or the buyer if they are a seller. What they learn may help inform the seller-buyer match.

From either the seller or buyer perspective, some steps for preparedness are similar.

The books. Sellers should pick the best possible business valuation method, something they think is fair. They need to be certain that business records are accurate and up-todate and be forthcoming with additional information such as audits or litigation. Buyers need to conduct their due diligence, reviewing the books and asking appropriate questions.

Both buyers and sellers should work with professionals, as needed, to ensure the business is accurately represented.

Look for good chemistry. Sellers have put years of work into growing their business.

Wisely, sell yourself into a new job

Most BBs will be selling their business to either a Gen Xer or millennial. “Why not offer to sell the business for a fair price and then stay on as a ‘business maven’ for two or three years?” suggests Ritscher. An industry veter-

an’s knowledge and experience will go a long way in addressing the factors that lead to small business failures—except fraud and disasters.

It’s a great way to pass along knowledge and experience, make some upfront money and continue an income stream over the next two to three years. Such an opportunity may get the seller to Social Security—all while not having the risks of ownership.

Staying on and being the company maven will take some adjustment for a former owner—another reason good chemistry is important, as is selling for a fair price. Sellers will make more money in the long run being by helping their former company make a nice profit over the next several years.

Ritscher says that if you are really astute, you might even think about investing your purchase funds back into the new/former company at a better-than-bank-rate percentage and make money on your money. |CG

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

35

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Mountain landscape industry cares about. Story ideas, media releases and

feedback are welcome.

Contact us at info@alcc.com

Have you recently had a business-related experience—a surprise audit, a great recruitment success story, an innovation that improved your workflow or mistakes that you’d advise others to avoid? Tell your peers and help elevate the field with your knowledge.

Topic areas include: • Green News |Submit your company milestones, anniversaries, awards, and other business news.

• Business Sense | Help company owners improve with the knowledge of your experience.

• Workforce | Tell us how you are recruiting new employees and retaining/promoting those on staff.

• Company profiles | Tell us about your landscape company, how you entered the business, and what keeps you going.

• Sustainability | What does sustainability mean in your company?

• Technology | How are you using new technology? Or are you using old technology in new or different ways to be more efficient?

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Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

41

Workforce

High school students get head start in certification

On

St. Vrain Valley CDC students with instructor Angie McCreavy (L) and Kristie Hayden (R)

a chilly day in late May, high school students gathered at Pickens Technical College in Aurora to test the landscape industry skills they’ve been practicing during the school year. ALCC hosted a Passport to Certification student certification test on May 29. The opportunity allows students in landscape-related studies in high schools and technical colleges around the state to take the first steps toward landscape industry certification. The student certification test combined elements from the Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event competition for Colorado FFA and the

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nationally recognized Landscape Industry Certified Technician program.

Students from two Front Range high schools, Westminster High School and St. Vrain Valley Career Development Center, participated in the following tests: • General Knowledge/Common Core • Landscape Estimating, Plant/Pest/ Equipment Identification • Plant Layout • Basic Program Controller • Lateral Repair and Head Adjustment • Tree Planting and Staking.

Industry volunteers served as judges for the hands-on test problems.

“The students should be commended for taking this step in their professional development. Participating in industry certification at their level of education is really impressive.

Every student who tested passed at least one of the test problems,” said Melissa Emdin, ALCC Programs and Education Director.

ALCC plans to make the Passport to Certification test an annual event and expand the event to include students from more high schools. |CG

Workforce Lucas Naeger, Westminister Hign School with student

Kyler Neumann, Aurora Public Schools and Patrick O’Meara, High Country Landscape

2019

Career Pathways Sponsors

Photos courtesy ALCC

Strategic sponsor

Signature sponsors

Student takes tree planting and staking test.

Thank you to the following companies who donated time, materials or equipment for the student test: • Alameda Wholesale Nursery • Aurora Public Schools • City of Greenwood Village • Designscapes Colorado

• GVR Landscape • High Country Landscape • Pickens Technical College Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

43

Northern Water

launches collaborative Grant recipients get professional and

North Boulder Recreation Center updated its landscape 44

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water-efficient landscape grants financial assistance

North Boulder Rec Center IN PROGRESS

B

By Frank Kinder

erthoud-based Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water) has a long history of facilitating water efficiency through studies, its Conservation Gardens and industry certification classes.

Yet, increased demand for landscape water efficiency assistance has driven Northern Water to expand its support of the green industry and efforts to enhance landscape water use and value.

After collaboration and stakeholder feedback, Northern Water identified opportunities to help water users manage their water better.

Created in 2017, the Water Efficiency Program now offers multiple, complementary solutions to build more capacity for efficient water use in the region.

Northern Water: the big picture

North Boulder Rec Center transitioned to upgraded irrigation and water-wise plants.

The newly installed plants will grow to fill the space.

Photo courtesy City of Boulder

AFTER

Northern Water manages the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which provides supplemental water supplies to about 1 million people and 640,000 acres of irrigated farmland in northeast Colorado. The 66 cities, towns and water districts served include Fort Collins, Boulder, Greeley, Longmont and Broomfield.

Many homes and businesses in those cities have lush, attractive landscapes that add to the high quality of life that attracts many new residents. With that growth, however, many communities are asking for help to improve water efficiency to address increasing water prices, climate change, drought awareness, management challenges and evolving landscape ethics and needs.

Collaborative Water-EfďŹ cient Landscape Grant Program

Earlier this year, Northern Water launched the Collaborative Water-Efficient Landscape Grant Program. Open to public entities, busiSept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

45

Increased demand for landscape water efficiency assistance has driven Northern Water to expand its support of the green industry nesses, homeowner’s associations and others served by Northern Water, the program offers grants up to $15,000 for projects that create and promote Colorado climate-friendly landscapes that thrive on natural precipitation or use minimal, effi cient irrigation. A 50% match of funding or in-kind contributions is required for recipients.

As part of the grant program, Northern Water experts will review the project’s design and assist with signage and other materials so the projects can serve as satellite water-efficiency demonstration and education sites in the region.

Why Grants?

Fairway Ridge IN PROGRESS

Fairway Ridge converting turf island to a plant bed

BEFORE

Fairway Ridge turf island before conversion 46

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For Northern Water’s communities, many factors are driving residents to rethink, redesign or upgrade their landscapes. Grants provide a way to encourage such changes. For example, older landscape designs, through their plant choices, irrigation systems or landscape functions, often use lots of water, are difficult to manage and are expensive to maintain.

While beautiful, they might provide lesser benefits to owners than newer alternatives.

While managing water use and costs is often a primary motivator for residents to pursue landscape updates, HOA boards, property

AFTER

Fairway Ridge after planting is complete

communicate what the upgrades can provide.

Examples include Audubon of the Rockies’ Habitat Hero (https://bit.ly/2UWxxfE) which provides support for birds, and Audubon International’s certifications (https://bit. ly/2SZOWnP). Some might simply plan to upgrade their irrigation systems and management while teaching their users how water is applied differently to the landscape, as well as the benefits of the investment.

What changes are applicants considering?

To qualify for a grant, an applicant’s landscape must have been at least 500 square feet, and for 2020 that will increase to 1,000 square feet. Projects must be designed to use substantially less water than traditional landscapes and include at least 50% plant coverage at maturity.

A five-year maintenance plan and city approval are required.

Northern Water is working with grant recipients to find success with these projects, because retrofits can present unforeseen challenges. When successful, however, the projects will offer many benefits. Municipalities and large water users will benefit by supporting informed, real-world projects that demonstrate before-and-after landscape transitions that achieve multiple goals. Grant projects can serve as case studies about the diverse water management challenges faced by residents and property owners within Northern Water municipalities, while portraying solutions to address them. Participants get assistance on strategies and changes to implement landscape upgrades that improve their property while serving as an educational venue, and the water efficiency industry gains valuable examples of implementation.|CG

Photos courtesy Fairway Ridge HOA

For example, HOA boards can seek to reduce water used in commonly managed areas.

These are often large, connected landscapes within and adjacent to neighborhoods that provide benefits, but can be costly to maintain.

Municipalities can pursue enhanced overall water management through water audits, park and public landscape renovations, or the installation of demonstration gardens that provide habitat and showcase native and xeric plant species. Developers of new neighborhoods could pursue native landscape approaches, and business owners might renovate landscapes to meet new corporate goals or landscape uses, such as outdoor meeting spaces.

Some innovative designs now seek to incorporate stormwater and watershed protection, such as the Watershed Approach (https:// bit.ly/2uvaLzS). Additional outcomes can include conversion to landscapes that add social benefits such as gardening, walking paths or other community uses.

For some applicants, pursuing third-party certifications can be aspirational recognitions of their new designs and benefits. These offer branded designations for design features and

Grant projects and qualification

Fairway Ridge HOA creating a seating and meeting area

This year’s grant recipients include: • Berthoud, which created a Xeriscape Pollinator Garden.

• Windsor, which funded water audits on six city parks.

• Eaton, which built a Children’s Native Garden Park.

• Boulder County, which updated its North Recreation Center’s landscape.

• Fairway Ridge HOA in Loveland, which created planting beds from unproductive turf beds.

• Mariana Cove HOA in Loveland, which renovated common areas with drip and xeric landscaping.

• 7Lakes HOA in Loveland, which renovated common areas.

• Kendall Brook HOA in Loveland, which reestablished native grasses.

• Champion Greens HOA in Longmont, which upgraded its irrigation system.

• Prospect HOA in Longmont, which installed drip-irrigation systems and Xeric plant material.

Grant recipients are asked to have landscape projects completed by Oct. 30. Information about the 2020 grant cycle will be published at www.northernwater.org.

Photo courtesy Northern Water

managers and business owners have other reasons to update their landscaping, too. These motivations include preparing for drought, developing landscapes that add environmental benefits such as habitat, plant diversity and pollination, offering educational opportunities about drought resilience or adding social connectivity opportunities through amenities.

Environmentally and socially responsible use of land and water can save money and be sustainable, too.

—Frank Kinder is the Water Efficiency Program Manager at Northern Water, based in Berthoud.

Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

47

better

by nature

Being a member of ALCC has helped me get my foot in the door with other landscape professionals and has provided me a sense of community. It is such a relief to know people who understand my challenges and inspire me to be a better business owner.

In return, I’m ready to support them any way I’m able.

Mike Moore, CEO/Owner

Diggable Designs Landscape Construction, LLC ALCC member since 2010

ALCC is committed to helping landscape companies succeed Demonstrate your professionalism

Show the public that you strive to do business ethically and responsibly.

Build relationships that build your business

Success can depend as much on whom you know as what you know. ALCC can help you make the right connections to grow your business.

Get valuable education and training

Take advantage of educational opportunities that have been designed by landscape contractors for landscape contractors.

Shape the course of the industry Join ALCC and experience firsthand what makes our members better by nature

ALCC influences policy at the local, state and federal level.

The more members we have, the stronger our voice is— and the easier it is to protect and advance your business and the future of our industry.

Visit ALCC.com/membership or call 303.757.5611 to learn more

Top Plant Picks: CSU Research

Tough and proven perennials for Colorado

T

he following perennials are tough and reliable options for Colorado as demonstrated by their excellent performance in the perennial research/demonstration garden north of the University Center for the Arts on the Colorado State University (CSU) campus. Each of these perennials has been in the garden for several years and, year after year, each has shown adaptability to the area. |CG

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Sea Heart’ (Sea Heart Brunnera)

Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ (Lemon Meringue False Indigo)

Dianthus ‘Kahori Scarlet’ (Kahori Scarlet Dianthus)

Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)

Tips & Tricks: While this plant requires partial shade, it can handle full sun for short periods of time.

Tips & Tricks: Contrast this plant with a dark-colored bloom in the garden to showcase the yellow blossoms. Be sure to allow spacing for mature size.

Tips & Tricks: This plant requires winter watering during months with low precipitation.

Dead-head to encourage secondary blooms.

Tips & Tricks: Blooms attract butterflies. Divide plants in summer after blooming.

Zones 4

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This unique shade perennial boasts early showy spring flowers that open blue, then turn to a lavender pink color. Sea Heart makes an excellent shade groundcover reaching up to 12 inches in height with a 12-18 inch spread. Once established it requires little water.

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Lemon Meringue has a bluegreen compound leaf and an attractive, lemony yellow bloom.

Having overwintered in the CSU demonstration garden since 2014, it has shown to be a long-lived perennial in Northern Colorado. Its height and spread can reach up to 36 inches.

A full-sun perennial displaying a mat of scarlet pink color in spring, the plant forms a mound with attractive green grass-like foliage. It grows to a height up to 12 inches with a spread of 12-18 inches.

Siberian Iris has a deep purple bloom with tall, narrow, grass-like foliage. It can handle a variety of soil types and conditions and reaches up to 48 inches in height with a spread of 36 inches. This hardy selection has been in the demonstration garden since 1982 and survived relocation in 2016.

Top Plant Picks: CSU Research

LEGEND Full sun

Useful for containers

Adapts to part shade

Xeric

Prefers shadier conditions

Requires moisture Requires more moisture Contributed by Lauryn Schriner, graduate student, and James E. Klett, professor, Colorado State University, department of horticulture and landscape architecture, Fort Collins.

Polemonium reptans ‘Jacob’s Gold’ (Jacob’s Ladder)

Salvia ‘Rose Marvel’ (Rose Marvel Salvia)

Salvia ‘Sky Blue Marvel’ (Sky Blue Marvel Salvia)

Tips & Tricks: Allow spacing for mature size. The plant dies back to the ground and requires trimming to 12 inches above the ground to encourage next season growth flush.

Tips & Tricks: Requires partial shade but can handle full sun for short periods of time.

Tips & Tricks: Dead-head in spring after first bloom to encourage blooming later in the season.

Tips & Tricks: Dead-head in spring after first bloom to encourage blooming later in the season.

Zones 3

Zones 3

Zones 4

Persicaria polymorpha (Fleece Flower)

This clump-forming perennial shrub has paint brush-like white blooms. Its late summer bloom offers a naturalized look to the garden. Fleece Flower has overwintered at CSU since 2013 and has not spread beyond a single clump. It reaches 60 inches in height and width.

Jacob’s Gold is a variegated perennial for the shade gardener. It offers a lilac-blue-colored flower throughout spring and summer.

Its height reaches 18 inches while spreading 10-12 inches. The plant has survived with minimal dieback for over four years at the trial gardens.

Showy, vivid fuchsia pink flowers appear in spring. The compact size of Rose Marvel—14 inches tall and wide—makes it a good choice for small landscapes. The flowers attract pollinators.

This plant offers a compact size and a bright blue bloom that attracts pollinators. Its height and spread reach up to 16 inches.

Sky Blue Marvel handles full sun and requires minimal water once established.

Zones 4 Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Top Plant Picks: Plant Select®

Dwarf leadplant is a small and mighty low-care shrub

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Photo courtesy Ross Shrigley for Plant Select

morpha nana (Dwarf Leadplant) is the toughest and most delicatelooking native shrub promoted

by Plant Select® to date. Despite its relatively small stature, Amorpha nana is tough as nails and has adapted mightily to challenging habitats. It is late to leaf out in the spring—saving it from late frosts—and dwarf leadplant can tolerate the poorest of soils. Due to its ability to fix nitrogen from the air, this plant literally feeds itself. Once established, leadplant is xeric, thriving solely on natural precipitation. In addition to its winning practical attributes, it offers honey-scented violet-purple flower spikes in June. Furthermore, it is deer resistant and provides food for native pollinators.

Water leadplant regularly the first year to establish, and then remove all supplemental irrigation. Make the gardener’s life even easier by planting dwarf leadplant with other xeric plants. You can simplify your irrigation setup and ensure water savings for years to come.

Dwarf leadplant is a low-maintenance, reliable and unique plant for your xeric garden. Look for it in medians, parkways and all scale and style of public and private gardens. It is beautiful in a bed of buffalo grass with Standing Ovation little bluestem, as well as in a formal perennial border next to Wee One lavender and Denver daisies.

Plant it, then kick back and enjoy! |CG

— Contributed by Ross Shrigley and Emily Goldman for Plant Select® Size: 2”-3” tall x 2-3” wide Flowers: violet-purple flower spikes Leaves: light green odd-pinnately compound leaves Form: shrub Light: full sun Culture: dry soils-clay, loam, sandy Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-6 Habitat value: food for pollinators Deer resistant: yes 52

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Design/maintenance tips Plant with other dryland plants native to the plains such as Blonde Ambition blue grama grass and Standing Ovation little bluestem for the perfect non-irrigated landscape.

For more information, explore www.plantselect.org

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Pair with native shrubs such as CHEYENNE® mock orange, PAWNEE BUTTES® sand cherry, or Autumn Amber sumac for the ideal non-irrigated shrub border.

This plant can be trimmed down to 3-4” in early spring to rejuvenate growth for the upcoming growing season. Flowers will bloom the following year. You can also choose not to prune Amorpha nana and enjoy its natural upright rounded habit.

Ad Index Alameda Wholesale Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . 53 www.alamedawholesale.com Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 www.alcc.com Bobcat of the Rockies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.bobcatoftherockies.com Colorado Materials, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 www.coloradomaterialsinc.com DWF Grower Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 www.dwfwholesale.com Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply . . 4-5 www.ewingirrigation.com Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . 15 www.ftcollinswholesalenursery.com Front Range Community College . . . . . . 39 www.frontrandge.edu Harding Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.hardingnursery.com Honnen Equipment Company . . . . . . . . . 40 www.honnen.com Horizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 www.horizononline.com Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire. . . . . . . IBC www.hunterindustries.com LL Johnson Distributing Co. . . . . . 11, 22, 39 www.lljohnson.com Pioneer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 www.pioneerco.com Proven Winners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 www.provenwinners-shrubs.com

“ ” Our Business isGrowing N

Alameda Wholesale Nursery is dedicated to servicing your special needs. By selling only wholesale and maintaining a huge inventory, you will be able to find what you want when you need it. We have a great delivery fleet of specialized enclosed trucks with booms. We keep our turnover limited to plants rather than our dedicated staff! Better plants and better service through specialization...

THAT’S ALAMEDA WHOLESALE NURSERY!

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E Our Location

S Ask for your copy of what has been known as “The Industry Bible”, our wholesale catalog.

ALAMEDA WHOLESALE NURSERY, INC. 1950 West Dartmouth Avenue Englewood, Colorado 80110-1311 (303) 761-6131 Fax 761-6132

Check our online inventory at www.alamedawholesale.com

Advertiser Proof SEPT/OCT Client: Alameda Wholesale Size: 1/3 Square Publication: Colorado Green

SavATree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.savatree.com Siloam Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 www.siloamstone.com SiteOne™ Landscape Supply. . . . . . . . . . 18 www.siteone.com Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 www.unilock.com Wagner Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 www.wagnerequipment.com/UTV Wagner Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wrap www.wagnerents.com Wagner Rents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC www.wagnerequipment.com/buynow Winger Photography, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 wingerphotography.photoshelter.com Woerner Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 rmota@woerner.com Sept/Oct 2019 Colorado Green

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Parting Shot

Sleep power:

It keeps you on your game

By Lyn Dean

D

id you know that even if you are moderately sleep-deprived—awake

for 17-19 hours—your response time and accuracy on simple tasks can be 50% lower than someone with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.05%? Colorado law considers that BAC level “ability impaired.” With more awake hours, performance continues to decline. These findings were published by Occupational and Environmental Medicine (occenvmed. com) in 2000.

Take that in. Then consider one of the first things we do when we are busy and stressed with too much to do: We give up sleep!

Numerous studies in the recent years have linked sleep with work productivity, and physical and emotional health. Insufficient sleep causes a decline in all these factors. More than one third of Americans are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, the RAND Corporation found that sleep

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deprivation costs the U.S. economy $411 billion a year and over one million lost workdays.

Though it is hard to measure, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy drivers were responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries and 800 deaths in 2013. Harvard Mental Health Letter reports that sleep problems may increase both risk for developing particular mental illnesses, as well as result from mental disorders. Sleep deprivation is common and leads to more errors, no matter your job. Errors can be especially serious for workers in certain industries, such as the medical field. In the landscape industry, workers using heavy equipment and power tools can have serious consequences if sleep deprived.

Good sleep is good for us. The deepest stage of sleep produces physiological changes that help boost immune system functioning.

Sleep.org suggests some lifestyles changes we can make to increase the amount and quality

of sleep we get, which helps us to stay healthy and on top of our game.

• Eliminate caffeine, alcohol and nicotine or avoid before bedtime.

• Engage in physical activity. Physical activity during the day helps us fall asleep faster, spend more time in deep sleep, and awaken less often during the night.

• Engage in “sleep hygiene,” which means maintaining a regular sleep-and-wake schedule and keeping the bedroom free of distractions like the computer, smartphone or TV. • Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or restorative yoga.

Before putting in overtime hours and/or asking your employees to consistently work overtime to get the job done, you may want to pause and reflect on the quality and accuracy of the work as well as your personal safety and safety of your employees. |CG

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