Indiana Nursery & Landscape News, Jan/Feb 2017

The Official Publication of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 77 • Issue 1

January/February 2017

www.inla1.org

The Business Issue

Training New Employees — The Journey Lessons Learned from Reality TV New Level and Grade Tool and more!

Cover: INLA Award of Excellence Winner for Hardscape Residential Design/Build under $50,000 (2015) — Hank Metzger Landscape Co.

Follow us!

Calendar 8

INLA Joint Committee Meeting 10

IDNR Spotlight 12

Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association

Membership Challenge To All INLA Members:

Just one . r e b m e m new

The INLA membership committee is asking each member to bring one new member into the association during the challenge period of January 1 – May 1, 2017.

Just one new member. All of us knows at least one landscape or nursery company that isn’t currently a member.

In growing our membership we strengthen not only our association, but perhaps more importantly, our green industry.

Membership Challenge Prize!

The company that brings in the most new members will win a year’s paid dues for the INLA. In case of a tie, we will draw the winner.

The winner will be announced May 5, 2017.

Please contact either Kim Glass (317-639-5679) or Rick Haggard (765-366-4994) with any questions.

For INLA membership information, online application, and a current list of members, visit www.inla1.og.

Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association

www.inla1.org

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 77 • Issue 1 January/February 2017

Contents

The Business Issue BUSINESS

15 Training New Employees — The Journey BusinEss Indiana Nursery & Landscape News is the official publication of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. (INLA) and is published bimonthly.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Phone: 317-889-2382 Toll Free: 800-443-7336 www.inla1.org Publisher Rick Haggard, Executive Director, INLA 765-366-4994 • haggard.rick@att.net Editor and Ad Sales Mary Breidenbach, Cumulus Design 317-757-8634 • mary@ecumulus.com Advertising Rates: Media Kit available online at www.inla1.org

Copy Deadline: First of the month preceding the month of the issue. Reprint permission granted if source is indicated.

Views expressed in articles or editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its directors, but are those of the writer. Trade names used in articles are for identification only. No discrimination is intended toward similar products and the INLA does not endorse the use of the products mentioned.

Subscriptions: Included with membership to the INLA. Nonmembers: $36.00 per year (six issues per year).

For questions regarding subscriptions, please call INLA at 317-889-2382.

Cover Photo: Private residence, Terre Haute, Indiana.

Photo courtesy Hank Metzger Landscape, Inc.

18 Lessons Learned from Reality TV

18

Education

20 New Level and Grade Tool Community

21 Spring 2017 Home and Garden Shows Community

22 FFA Called, Vine & Branch Answered

20

Education

24 New on the Bookshelf

Plus More!

2

Past President’s Message

4

President’s Message

6

Executive Director’s Message

8 Calendar 10

11

INLA News Joint Committee Meeting DCA Acquires Brehob Nursery, Inc.

12

IDNR Spotlight Emeral Ash Borer ... Bio-Control

5 2

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Certification & Education IAH Quiz! Earn CEUs George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide

28

Advertiser List Classifieds Toolbox Talks

10

Past President’s Message

Another View from the Ridge!

Brian Julius

Welcome winter! Even though we all knew it wasn’t going to stay warm all winter, it was still nice to have warm weather as late as we did. I don’t know that I remember a time when we saw high-80 degrees in late November, and more warm days than cold! It sure kept our landscape crews going longer than normal. At least that was the case down in Southern Indiana where we are. We even took a little time to get a late-season round of golf in! What a crazy year! Hopefully those of you in the snow business will have plenty of work and those who aren’t will be able to take some time to enjoy the slow season. We all need a little time to spend with our families and loved ones.

The theme for this issue of the newsletter is business. There are articles about everything from knowing your numbers to training your employees. Winter is a great time to look at the past year and see what we need to do to be better. The last couple years we have really tried to attack our budget and see what the numbers tell us about the business. We are taking it to the next level this winter with a new cost base estimating software that will better integrate with our accounting software and our design programs. So amongst all of our other projects and snow work, that is what I’ll be doing for the next couple months.

Hopefully we will be ready to hit the ground running for spring. So wish me luck!

Chances are by the time you read this we all will have just gotten back from this year’s IGE. The trade show/IGE committee have worked extremely hard to make it another great show. For the first time in many years, not only was the trade show floor sold out but we had a few booths out in the hall. The education was top notch as usual and we had several new vendors. When the national trend seems to be that shows are getting smaller or going away altogether, the committee should be commended for their efforts!

This year’s trade show will be my last as the acting president after two years. At our annual meeting I will officially hand over the gavel to incoming president Brian Franco! I have enjoyed the experience more than I ever guessed I would. My dad told me for as long as I can remember that his time on the board and as president was extremely rewarding. Now I can see what he meant. It’s very humbling to be voted onto the board and then even more so to be asked to be president. I have learned so many things about our industry and our business that I will forever be better for it. Best of all I have met friends and colleagues that will last a lifetime. So I would like to thank all of the board members and presidents before me for all their advice and help, especially my father for setting the example years ago. And thank all of you for being part of this amazing industry and association! You are what makes this industry and the INLA great! Thank you! Have a great upcoming year. Good Luck, Brian!! You’ll kill it!

Brian Julius Walnut Ridge Nursery and Garden Center bjulius@walnutridge.com

2017 INLA Officers Brian Franco President Franco Landscaping, Inc. PO Box 34156, Indianapolis, IN 46234 317-858-3858; Fax 317-858-8906 bfranco@francoland.com Dave LaFara, President-Elect Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply 4931 Robison Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268 317-228-4900; Fax 317-228-4910 david.lafara@tiffanylawn.com Dean Ricci, Vic President Ricci’s Landscape Management, Inc. 502 Norbeh Drive, Hebron, IN 46341 219-996-2682; Fax 219-996-2680 dean@rlminc.com Brian Julius, Past President Walnut Ridge Nursery & Garden Center 2108 Hamburg Pike Jeffersonville, IN 47130 812-288-6691; Fax 812-288-1580 bjulius@walnutridge.com Rick Haggard, Executive Director & Publisher 3596 Linkside Court, Carmel, IN 46032 Office: 800-443-7336 Cell: 765-366-4994; Fax: 317-889-3935 haggard.rick@att.net • www.inla1.org

Board of Directors Jim Calvin (2018) Calvin Landscape • 317-247-6316 jim@calvinandscape.com Kyle Daniel (2018) Purdue University, Nursery & Landscape Extension 765-494-7621 • daniel38@purdue.edu Kim Glass (2017) M.J. Schuetz Agency • 317-639-5679 kglass@mjsis.com Gabriel Gluesenkamp (2019) Designscape Horticultural Services 812-988-8900 • gabrielg@designhort.com Mark O’Brien (2017) Cardno • 574-586-2412 mark.obrien@cardno.com Bob Wasson (2018) Wasson’s Nursery and Garden Center 765-759-9000 • bob@wassonnursery.com Shaun Yeary (2019) Greendell Landscape Solutions • 317-996-2826 syeary@greendelllandscape.com

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

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12/5/13 10:54 AM3 Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

President’s Message

Brian Franco

As the new incoming president, I have been thinking about writing this letter for as long as I have been a board member and how great it will be to lead such a great association! There have been many great leaders in the past that I have learned so much from that I have big shoes to fill. I want to thank Brian Julius for his leadership over the past two years — a job well done, my friend! I also want to personally thank Donna Sheets for her awesome dedication as the past executive director and always going above and beyond. She has officially retired but I know we all appreciate her and all that she has done. Thank you, Donna!!!

As we start the next chapter of this association without Donna, Rick Haggard (the new executive director) and I have some great things planned for the upcoming year and intend to take this to the next level. For example, the Indiana Green Expo has expanded and actually was sold out of booth space this year! Registration was up and it looks like the trade show will continue to grow in the future! Rick and I are working on merging with an additional “green” profession in the next couple of years to expand this by another third. We will keep you posted, but hope you enjoyed the classes and expo this year.

If you could not come, you missed the best expo we have had since the recession. Mark your calendars now for next year, as it will be January 16 – 18, 2018.

Speaking of marking your calendars, our next event is very important and is the next step for you to become involved in our association.

February 22nd at Automatic Supply will be our committee involvement and planning meeting. It has been said by many that “you only get out what you put into the association” and at this meeting is where it all starts. We are looking for some of you to step up and help our committee chairmen (current board members) with small tasks to make the committees run smoothly and help spread out the tasks involved. Doing so will help you grow as a person, and in turn, will help grow your business. So many great members are out there and the more you interact with them, the easier running your business will be. I know from my own experience. (Just ask. I would be happy to share stories with you.) I hope to see you there! More information on this event is on page 10.

As we begin this new year, I can’t imagine that we would have another crazy year of weather as in the past. Last year we had little snow over the winter, a very long spring, a hot and humid summer, a record warm fall leaving us little time to get our properties cleaned up, and then snow, with below 0 temps right before Christmas. My hope is that this upcoming year will be a “normal” weather year for all of us, that we take this time to plan out our year, have our crews ready to get at it when the weather turns, and most importantly, for you to have a prosperous and profitable year ahead!

Everything happens for a reason, just make the best of it!

Brian Franco Franco Landscaping, Inc. bfranco@francoland.com

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

New & Returning INLA Members Active Countryside Landscaping Ross Miller 10641 N SR 10 DeMotte, IN 46310 219-987-7700 Kim Rayburn Landscape Design and Consultation Kim Rayburn 2810 California Court Columbus, IN 47201 812-764-4326 Smoot Landscaping, LLC Chelsea Smoot 3333 N Commerce Dr Muncie, IN 47303 765-216-1087 Turfworx, Inc Luis Rivera 10542 Jessup Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46280 317-843-1393 Vive Exterior Design Ryan Coyle 12595 Cumberland Rd Fishers, IN 46038 317-813-2567 Associate 5 Saplings, LLC Eric Bitner 503 Crestview Ct Jeffersonville, IN 47130 502-264-2986 Contree Sprayer & Equipment Co., LLC Kevin White W9898 Jackson Rd Beaver Dam, WI 53916 800-433-3579 Suburban Indy Shows Donell Heberer Walton 8383 Craig St., Ste. 315 Indianapolis, IN 46250 317-908-3815

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5

Executive Director’s Message I hope all of you are doing well and have enjoyed the holidays.

As you are reading this the 2017 Indiana Green Expo, the annual trade show and educational session, presented by the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) has been completed with the early dates of January 3 – 5, 2017.

Rick Haggard

The trade show was a success, as far as booth sales go, with it being sold out and having close to 190 total booths. If this is any indication of the economy it could be a very good year again for our industry as we had two companies from Canada, plus three companies from Oregon, and some returning companies, after a few years’ hiatus, from Tennessee, Ohio, and Minnesota in the show.

The educational session continues to rival some national conventions with the addition of a complete Spanish track put on by the National Hispanic Alliance at the 2017 Indiana Green Expo. We are very fortunate to have Purdue involved in the educational sessions, with many speakers either from the university or through their endless contacts at other prominent horticultural, chemical, and turf-related universities and companies.

I think many individuals working for companies strive to become better-educated employees, and this trade/educational show is one of the best ways to assist in furthering their development. It may only be a two-day event for general registration, but there is more opportunity by attending one of the many workshops offered on the day prior to the general session. While there is an additional fee to attend the workshops, it provides the opportunity to delve into topic and with more focus.

If you were unable to attend, you can still view the program offered by visiting the Indiana Green Expo website www.indianagreenexpo.com and clicking on your various interests.

On this site you will find the educational schedule, speaker highlights, workshops, show program, and the trade show floor plan for 2017.

Stay connected to INLA between issues.

Sign up for the INLA monthly eNewsletter at www.inla1.org.

You will receive: Latest news, the digital version of the magazine, reminders for events, and much more.

Please mark your calendars for our 2018 Indiana Green Expo being held on January 16 – 18, 2018. The event once again will be held at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.

I would like at this time to recognize the award winners honored at our 2017 Annual Meeting. There will be more to come and pictures in the March/April 2017 issue of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape News. The asterisk noted were part of the INLA Summer Tours in 2016. Unfortunately we had no submissions for commercial projects.

Awards of Excellence Hardscape Residential Design Build Over $50,000.00 – Franco Landscaping * Hardscape Residential Design Build Under $50,000.00 – Corressell Landscaping Special Project – Lighting – Franco Landscaping * Landscape Design Build Over $50,000.00 – Mark M Holeman, Inc. Landscape Design Build Under $50,000.00 – MG Landscape and Irrigation INEF Scholarship Central Nine Career Center $5,000.00 Special Achievement Awards 2016 Nursery and Landscape Achievement Award – John and Judy Brehob 2016 Award of Merit – Donna Sheets Keep It Green, Rick Haggard, INLA Executive Director haggard.rick@att.net, Cell: 765-366-4994

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

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1/22/16 10:18 AM

CALENDAR January 2017 18–19 Certified Irrigation Technician Training (IPLLA/IICC) & Testing (IA)

Training on January 18 / Testing on January 19 Noblesville, IN • Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds Contact: http://iplla.com/event-2372722 24–26 Indiana Arborist Association (IAA) Annual Conference

Indianapolis, IN • Indianapolis Marriott East

Event starts with a preconference workshop on Plant Health Care strategies and continues with many educational sessions. CEU’s and CCH’s available. Speakers from all over the country providing information on research, current trends, and industry issues.

Info: www.indiana-arborist.org

February 2017 11

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IMA Horticulture Symposium 2016, Color in the Garden: Bloom and Beyond Indianapolis, IN • The Toby at the Indianapolis Museum of Art This daylong symposium, featuring national and regional horticulture experts explores a hybrid of wild and cultivated design strategies.

Information: http://www.imamuseum.org/hortsymposium2017

15, 16, IPLLA Regional Advanced Training 28 & Plainfield (2/15), Columbus (2/16), Fort Wayne (2/28) and Merrillville (3/1) 3/1 Topics covered: Lawn, turfgrass, pests, landscape beds, and more.

Contact: Bob Andrews, IPLLA or visit www.iplla.com CCHs available: 2(3), 3A(4), 3B(4), 5(2), 6(3), 7A(2), RT(4) 22

INLA Joint Committee Meeting 2:00 – 4:00 pm • Automatic Supply (116 Shadowlawn Dr, Fishers, IN 46038) All INLA committees meet to plan the year ahead at this one-day gathering.

This is a great opportunity to become more involved with the association.

Information/Registration: See page 10 in this issue or contact Rick Haggard, haggard.rick@att.net, 800-443-7336.

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Horticultural Business and Marketing Symposium Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis Contact: Kyle Daniel, 765-494-7621, daniel38@purdue.edu website: www.hort.purdue.edu/greenindustry See inside back cover for more information.

March 2017 7 NWINLA Winter Seminar, Advanced Garden Center Training

Merrillville, IN • Avalon Manor More information: www.nwinla.com 11–19 Indiana Flower & Patio Show

Indianapolis, IN • Indiana State Fairgrounds http://indianaflowerandpatioshow.com/

April 2017 7–8

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Landscape Industry Certified Written and Hands-On Exam (CLT) Central Nine Career Center, Greenwood, IN www.inla1.org/certification

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

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INLA Joint COMMITTEE MEETING

Join us... and bring your good ideas!

Wednesday, February 22, 2016 • 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Automatic Supply, 116 Shadowlawn Dr, Fishers, IN 46038 To register, please fax this form to the INLA office at 317-889-3935 or email to haggard.rick@att.net.

The Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion, and representation. The planning and implementation of most INLA activities are handled by volunteer groups. All groups are supported by INLA staff. INLA committees have ongoing, results-oriented tasks. The interaction between group members promotes effective planning and evaluation of tasks.

You can help!

Sign up now! Review the following list of committees and check off those of interest to you. Return this form to the INLA office and you will be registered to attend.

Volunteer Sign-Up Form I am interested in giving some time to work in the following areas:

 Awards Committee: Organize selection of annual awards.  Communications Committee: Newsletter, website, directory, etc.  Education Committee: Works to enhance educational opportunities for all members of the industry, ranging from those with extensive practical experience to new members of the industry and students preparing for green industry careers.

 IAH Committee: This committee works closely with educational and vocational-technical levels and oversees the Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Program. This meeting will be held in northern Indiana at an alternate date.

 Legislative Committee: Works in partnership with the Green Industry Alliance.  Membership Committee: Promotes the INLA by securing new members and assisting current members by providing member services.

 Summer Meeting: Planning and organization of annual INLA Summer Meeting.  Trade Show Committee: Plans and conducts the premier trade show for the industry in Indiana annually.  Landscape Industry Certified (CLT) Committee: Work on this national certification committee to implement the hands-on field exam.

 FFA Committee: Volunteer to judge state and national career development events. (This committee will not meet; however, you can volunteer to judge these industry-related events in April and October.)

Name(s):______________________________________________________________________________________________ Company: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip:_________________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone:___________________________________________

Fax:__________________________________________

Email:_______________________________________________ My primary area of business (check all that apply): ____Grower

____Garden Center

____Landscape

____Other (specify) ____________________________________

To register, please fax this form to the INLA office at 317-889-3935

Email: Rick Haggard, haggard.rick@att.net, or mail to: INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Ste. 247, Indianapolis, IN 46237 Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association • Phone: 317-889-2382 or 800-443-7336 • Website: www.inla1.org 10

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

INLA News

DCA Acquires Brehob Nursery, Inc. On December 1, DCA Outdoor announced its acquisition of Brehob Nursery, Inc., a wholesale nursery and landscape distributor serving professional landscape companies and garden centers in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. This acquisition doubles its sales and distribution capacity, and allows DCA Outdoor to extend the reach of its distribution network to a third major metropolitan area.

DCA Outdoor, Inc., based in Kansas City, now brings its eight brands under one umbrella. Vertically integrated, DCA Outdoor’s family of brands connect the agricultural, nursery stock production, landscape distribution, agritourism, and transportation industries. The DCA Outdoor mission is to create a family of green industry companies that provide unparalleled production and vertical integration.

“DCA Outdoor represents the culmination of years of hard work, an eye for aligning production and distribution, and dedication to the industry. With the addition of Brehob, we anticipate continued success in 2017 and beyond,” said Tory Schwope, president and founder of DCA Outdoor. “Brehob brings more than 45 years of experience and tradition to our company and is known from coast to coast as a leader in providing the highest-quality

products to Indianapolis landscape contractors. We are honored to have Brehob join the DCA Outdoor family.”

“We are excited to see our nursery join the family of companies that Tory Schwope has assembled,” said John Brehob, owner of Brehob Nursery. “We are confident he will continue the tradition of exceptional quality and service that has been the hallmark of our family and employees.”

About DCA Outdoor DCA Outdoor was founded in 2016 by Tory Schwope. With a mission to create a family of green industry companies that provide unparalleled production and vertical integration, DCA Outdoor serves as the parent company for a family of brands, including Anna Evergreen, Brehob Nurseries, Colonial Gardens, KAT Wholesale Outdoor, PlantRight, Schwope Brothers Tree Farms, Utopian Plants, and Utopian Transport. Focused on integrating nursery stock production with distribution, transportation, and sales and marketing, DCA Outdoor creates a more efficient and sustainable operation positioned for long-term success. To learn more about DCA Outdoor, visit www.dcaoutdoor.com.

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11

IDNR spotlight

Emerald Ash Borer … Bio-Control Jared Spokowsky, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first detected in 2003 in southeast Michigan.

Its introduction probably preceded its discovery by at least a decade. Since then it has spread to 30 states and two Canadian provinces. Currently within Indiana there are only two counties in southwest Indiana in which EAB has not yet been found.

Although chemical control of EAB is possible with landscape trees, there is no feasible way to control EAB in a forested setting. The only means of management to date has been through the use of quarantines, which slows the human-assisted spread of EAB. There have been two main approaches taken to try to control EAB on an environment-wide scale. The first avenue is by trying to find, breed, or engineer a tree that has a resistance mechanism to EAB and is able to survive EAB attacks. The second approach has been biological control.

Many who are reading this may not be well versed with the concept of bio-control.

Bio-control is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the reduction in numbers or elimination of pest organisms by interference with their ecology (as by the introduction of parasites or diseases), or an agent used in biological control.”

Currently in a United States Department of Agriculture Lab in Brighton, Michigan, there are four bio-control agents being reared for control and management of the Emerald Ash Borer. To ensure that the potential Emerald Ash Borer bio-controls would not attack native insects, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) started collecting insects from the wild in the native range of the parasitoids.

Thousands of wood-boring insects from a dozen insect families were collected. If a parasitoid was observed attacking a wide host range, it was eliminated from consideration for release in the United States.

After the initial field data was collected, the parasitoids were studied in the lab with “no choice” lab studies in which the parasitoids are given what’s believed to be a non-host insect and observing if they will attack it.

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Some species of the Agrilus genus, other than EAB-like two-lined chestnut borer and bronze birch borer, were documented being attacked but all parasitoids were observed to show a very strong or absolute host preference for EAB. Three of the species are larval parasitoids, and one is an egg parasitoid. A parasitoid is an organism that feeds on its host like a parasite but eventually kills the host. The four insects are Oobius agrili (the egg parasitoid), Tetrastichus planipennisi, Spathius agrili, and Spathius galinae.

Oobius agrili is a minute egg parasitoid about the same size as an EAB egg, around 1 mm. Adult Oobius spend most of their time searching the surface of ash trees looking for EAB eggs. When one is found, the female will lay an egg inside the EAB egg. The developing Oobius will feed on the EAB egg, eventually mature, and in the process completely destroy the EAB egg.

Tetrastichus planipennisis is a small wasp that can locate EAB larvae under the surface of the bark of ash trees. Tetrastichus

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

are only a couple of millimeters long, and when they locate a EAB larvae beneath the surface of an ash tree, they drill through the bark and deposit eggs inside the larvae.

As with Oobius, the developing Tetrastichus larvae eventually kill the EAB host.

Spathius galinae and Spathius agrili are somewhat larger than Tetrastichus and biologically they are similar in the way they find and kill EAB larvae, with the exception that Spathius lay their eggs ON the larvae and not IN them. The other notable difference is their size. Spathius are about the size of a mosquito, which may not seem significant. However, in thicker barked (older) ash trees, the Spathius galinae and Spathius agrili have an easier time reaching the EAB larvae. Spathius species have longer ovipositors, which help to penetrate deeper into ash trees reaching more EAB larvae.

Currently the Indiana DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology (DEPP) is releasing these parasitoids at 12 state-owned sites in southeast Indiana

A shipment of parasitoids from the USDA Lab in Michigan.

All photos by Jared Spokowsky

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including Brookville reservoir, Crosby Fish and Wildlife area, Hardy Lake State Park, Austin Bottoms, and Atterbury Fish and Wildlife area. There are also sites in which these parasitoids have been released and established by Purdue University in northern and central Indiana. The long-term goal of these releases is not eradication. These insects are released in a couple of different ways. Live adults are simply shaken out onto the surface of an ash tree. Parasitized eggs in pill bottles and parasitized EAB larvae inside ash log bolts

are hung from ash trees so the parasitoids can emerge over time as they mature.

Any hope of eliminating EAB has long since passed. The objective now is to manage the EAB infestation in such a way that ash trees can survive with minimal damage. In China, where these parasitoid wasps and EAB coexist, white ash (F. Americana) that have been attacked

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(Emerald Ash Borer ... Bio-Control continues on page 14.)

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

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Emerald Ash Borer ... Bio-Control (continued from page 13) populations due to The rate of naturally occurring success that the bio-controls in their EAB parasitoids will native range. achieve is unknown.

Many times bioThe program is in controls that were its very early stages selected previously though preliminary were generalists and results seem to could reproduce be encouraging. on a variety of Currently in hosts. Now when Michigan where looking for bioEAB bio-control has control candidates, been ongoing for Emeral Ash Borer generalists are the greatest length of eliminated and time, large numbers researchers focus on finding host-specific of bio-controls are being recovered. In species. Bio-controls are tested in a lab one study 92% of all trees at a release site setting prior to being released into the were found to have EAB larvae parasitized environment to ensure that their viability

by Tetrastichus. Hopefully with the as a prospective control measure is introduction work being done now, along ensured. Some of the many case histories with the work already done by Purdue of successful uses of biocontrols include University, the EAB population will be the control of cottony cushion scale by managed and we can continue to enjoy the vedalia beetle in Hawaii and the the many benefits of ash trees across the continental U.S. The walnut aphid has Hoosier state. been controlled mainly through the use The parasitoids were produced of a parasitoid wasp that parasitizes the and supplied from, the United States aphids. Here in Indiana and throughout Department of Agriculture’s Animal and much of the U.S. you can see biological Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), control at work with the control of the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) weed purple loosestrife. Loosestrife is EAB Parasitoid Rearing Facility in controlled with two Galerucella species of Brighton, MI. For parasitoid information beetles that only feed on loosestrife. please call 866-322-4512.

About the Author

Jared Spokowsky is a Nursery Compliance Officer for the Indiana DNR for southeast Indiana. He moved to Indiana from upstate New York, where he worked as a nursery inspector and supervisor for the New York Department of Agriculture on various programs including Plum Pox virus, Golden Nematode, and nursery inspections. He enjoys spending time with his wife and five children and anything outdoor related, but especially hunting and gardening

800-948-1234 www.millcreekplants.com sales@millcreekplants.com 15088 Smart Cole Road, Ostrander, OH 43061

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

January/February 2017

The Business Issue BUSINESS

15 Training New Employees — The Journey BusinEss

18 Lessons Learned from Reality TV Education

20 New Level and Grade Tool Community

21 Spring 2017 Home and Garden Shows Community

22 FFA Called, Vine & Branched Answered Education

24 New on the Bookshelf

Training New Employees — The Journey Laura M. Shartle, SiteOne Landscape Supply Most business leaders would agree that employees are their company’s most important asset. Why, then, is training often the first thing ignored when we hire new associates or accelerate timelines for a new job? We can all agree that the balance between knowledge, hiring, and the bottom line is challenging.

How can we effectively train associates in a timely manner on company culture, processes, and systems without overwhelming them?

At SiteOne Landscape Supply, we have used online training, classroom training, large group training, one-on-one training, on the job training, even no training — it feels like we have tried it all.

What have we learned? What works best?

Regardless of the format used, we have found that training needs to have three major characteristics: • Be relevant and meaningful — learners can see the direct tie to their job.

• Be delivered in quick, bite-sized pieces — considering time of attention spans and availability.

• Be completed just-in-time — right when the associate will be able to apply it hands-on.

As an example, we previously required that our associates complete a cold-stress training course during newhire orientation, regardless of the time of year. This wasn’t very meaningful to our associates hired in July, and it certainly wasn’t delivered just-in-time to those associates either. Furthermore,

it was becoming a multi-day process to successfully complete the required safety trainings as a new hire, rather than allowing them more time to be training hands-on in the field.

Learning from that mistake, we reviewed our entire suite of safety training and adjusted the requirements; we now spread it out over the entire year. Instead of a new hire completing a cold-stress class in July, for example, we now have “Cold-Stress” Awareness Month in October, where all associates exposed to cold climates are required to refresh on the course each year. The result is a more meaningful and timely training experience, where associates can begin putting their knowledge into action immediately.

Another example of creating relevant training actually started from our own internal audits. With good intentions we would audit our different stores to ensure they were operating as we had “trained” them. After the audit, we left the results behind and moved on to the next store.

What we found was that when the auditor returned to the store months later, the improvements either never happened or weren’t sustained.

The audit only identified what was wrong, but didn’t provide any hands-on, relevant training to correct the issues long-term. Therefore we transitioned our auditors to become training focused so that they would not only complete the audit with the store team, but they would teach them real time the relevant activities to be more operationally efficient.

(Training New Employees continues on page 16.)

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

15

Training New Employees — The Journey (continued from page 15)

About The Author SiteOne Landscape Supply is the nation’s largest supplier of wholesale irrigation, outdoor lighting, nursery, landscape supplies, fertilizers, turf protection products, grass seed, turf care equipment, and golf course accessories for green industry professionals in the United States and Canada. The Partners Program, Business Solutions, and valueadded services that SiteOne offers, can provide you with what you need to operate your landscape business professionally and profitably.

Laura M. Shartle is the Director of Talent and Organizational Development at SiteOne Landscape Supply. She is focused on building effective training and development approaches that will provide all associates with skill improvement and personal growth opportunities. Prior to joining SiteOne, Laura has held various Training, Organizational Development, and Change Management positions over the last 21 years.

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Our search for more meaningful, bite-sized, and timely training has also led us to deliver training through quick videos.

Videos don’t have to be fancy or expensive.

One of our leaders recently recorded a five-minute iPhone video updating associates on internal changes. This video was then posted on our website and emailed directly to associates. We also offer an entire leader-led video series on exceptional customer service. It is now part of our common practice to use videos not just to provide training and share internal learnings, but also to instantly share celebrations and information about SiteOne current events, products, and services with all of our associates.

Along with the success of internal videos and the rise of social media, we have started to communicate more frequently about SiteOne’s capabilities externally as well. Our customers and vendors can follow us through our own Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram accounts to view quick video tutorials, catch up on the latest SiteOne news, or find out about upcoming new products, specials, or workshops.

For those customers looking for more in-depth training, informational seminars, or certifications, we offer SiteOne University. SiteOne University is a live event that takes place at various cities throughout the country, and is a collaboration with our vendors and partners to deliver in-person training and knowledge to those seeking more. The classes at SiteOne U help contractors steer their business in the right and profitable direction by gaining knowledge, and in some cases even certifications, directly from vendors and SiteOne’s highly trained professionals on topics such as: • Turf & Ornamental Maintenance • Pest Control • Landscape Lighting • Irrigation • Business Management As we continue on our journey to provide training that is meaningful, digestible, and timely, our main objective remains the same: to keep our associates and customers ahead of developing industry trends, which will help them grow their businesses.

Let’s Grow “Stronger Together!”

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

17

Business Shark Tank

Bob Wasson, Wasson Nursery, Inc.

Prime-time TV can provide all levels of entertainment. While the quality of the entertainment is sometimes debatable, there are some programs that can actually bring value to managers, business owners, and employees of area lawn and landscape companies. Programs such as ABC’s Shark Tank, CNBC’s The Profit, and SpikeTV’s Bar Rescue stand out in a sea of sameness...or better yet, a sea of lame-ness. I believe there are many tangible lessons to be learned from tuning in to these programs.

About the Author

Bob Wasson is an owner of Wasson Nursery, Inc. Wasson Nursery is a family-based landscaping, lawn care, and garden center business with locations in Union City, Muncie, and Fishers, Indiana. Bob is a member of the INLA Board of Directors.

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Premise of the Show: Budding entrepreneurs get the chance to bring their dreams to fruition in this reality show from executive producer Mark Burnett. They present their ideas to the sharks in the tank — five titans of industry who made their own dreams a reality and turned their ideas into lucrative empires. The contestants try to convince any one of the sharks to invest money in their idea. When more than one of the sharks decide they want a piece of the action, a bidding war can erupt, driving up the price of the investment.

Key Takeaway: “Narrow Focus” Time and time again, a contestant comes into “the tank” with a great idea, product, or service only to be turned away by all five sharks. While the contestant may have had a fantastic idea or product, it is completely overshadowed by a lack of direction or clear plan to achieve success.

The sharks could foresee problems on the horizon. When the sharks sense the participant is overzealous with their vision for the company or unable to define a clear direction for growth, this is almost immediate death. The sharks know that without proper focus, their eventual partners would squander time and money in unprofitable and foolish endeavors.

When trying to start a new venture or even maintain a current business, having the ability to focus all of your energy and resources is crucial. The late Steve Jobs was a believer in this, as evident in his mantra “Focus is about saying no.” A great leader should know when to say “No.” In fact, you should say it far more often than you say “yes.” This principle will force you to focus all of your resources on the most important and profitable areas of your business.

The Profit

Bar Rescue

Premise of the Show: On each episode of The Profit, host Marcus Lemonis offers struggling small businesses a fresh start. Marcus makes a capital investment in exchange for an ownership stake in the company. “When you take this money, just know that I am 100 percent in charge,” he often says as the deal is sealed with an old-fashioned handshake.

Premise of the Show: Jon Taffer is a loud, outspoken, dominating figure in the bar and nightclub industry. In each episode of this series, Taffer helps transform a struggling bar into a vibrant, profitable business. Using his expertise as a nightlife consultant, Taffer applies proven principles of what he calls “bar science” to assist in the successful transformation.

Key Takeaway: The 3 P’s The most important lessons learned from watching The Profit almost always revolve around a philosophy Marcus calls “The 3 P’s” — People, Product, and Process.

People: Marcus does a terrific job of emphasizing the importance of people for smallbusiness success. But while making sure you have the right people working for you may be common knowledge for any entrepreneur, Marcus shows that you also need them in the right roles. On many episodes, Marcus finds a standout employee whose value is not reciprocated by the owners of the business. He will promote and empower these people into leadership roles within the company. This only helps to build morale and grow the business to new levels. In another example in the episode with ECOME, a producer of green cleaning materials, the company’s founder had a trusted family member in a key sales position. But this person wasn’t really a good fit for the sales position — the company had the right person in the wrong job. In a niche industry like landscaping or lawn care, it›s easy to “make do” with the wrong people out of fear of finding a proper replacement. I feel that this common hurdle is one of the most challenging problems facing business owners.

Product: In each episode, Marcus carefully dives into not only what is being sold, but how it is being sold. Pricing, packaging, merchandising, look, feel, smell, taste — everything is reviewed. Many times, small-business owners assume that consumers will view a product or service in the same way they do, but that isn’t always the case. In an episode of Indiana-based 240sweet, a marshmallow company took their product to a farmer’s market. They used the feedback they received to refine their flavors and improve their product. This experience caused them to make a major change to their best-selling flavor and improved profits by eliminating less-popular flavors. As landscapers, we all pride ourselves in delivering a beautiful final product. But as I learned from the above episode, sometimes you need to take a moment to measure and evaluate.

Process: The final element, a company’s operations, is key to ensuring a business’s efficiency and opportunities to scale. The most memorable episode related to failed processes was Planet Popcorn. The company makes and sells its specialty popcorn to corporate clients such as Disney as well as through county fairs. This mostly cash business had absolutely no procedures in place for managing its cash flow. Marcus found piles of cash lying around everywhere. The end result? With no process in place, the company couldn’t account for $400,000 in cash profits, money that had basically disappeared. While this is a very important and specific example, even the smallest, most insignificant, everyday duties need a clear process. Most often, a lack of processes leads to a lack of profits.

Key Takeaway: Take Action The show always begins with Jon Taffer and his team assessing undercover footage of the customer experience and employee interactions.

As Jon eventually confronts the staff and the bar owners with what he’s witnessed, there is a common theme that emerges: “Take Action.”

Most of the struggling bars have an owner who appears to have thrown in the towel. They only see all the big picture — that their business is failing and there’s nothing they can do. They rarely see or seem to care about all the little things that are contributing to the failure. Filthy bars, bad food, bad employees, lack of oversight — the problems are so visible. But instead of putting in the work to constantly improve the service or the cleanliness or the management, the owner sits around in self-pity waiting for a miracle.

Sure, lawn and landscape companies on the surface are very different than a bar or nightclub.

But the key principles apply to every business. Overlooking the small things will eventually snowball into much larger problems.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

19

Education

New Level and Grade Tool Bill Rawn, Accurate Laser Systems I know it can be a big step to move from using a builder’s level and grade rod to do elevation checks. But I want to tell you of another more accurate and convenient way to do the same job.

A builder’s level and grade rod can be a very accurate way to establish grade, but it takes two men to accomplish this process. If the person holding the grade rod is not perfectly plumb, the readings can be suspect. If you move up to the rotating level laser products, you eliminate a person and save time and money. Now a new tool that compliments the laser and makes this process even more error free and even faster is the Spectra Precision DR400 Digirod.

The Spectra Precision DR400 Digirod eliminates the need for grade rods when checking grades with a rotating laser. The all-in-one combination of laser receiver with digital readout, laser distance meter, and built-in tilt sensor provides the information required to take rod-less, accurate readings, even at tilt angles up to 30 degrees. There are no other tools on the market that are comparable to this unit. So far, it is a one of a kind.

This kind of tool can be an asset to you guys in the landscape and hardscape business. It uses the laser measuring technology combined with a rotating laser. You set your laser up as you always would. Now, move to the area that you want to establish as your benchmark. Hit the “benchmark” button on the DR400. It shoots a laser dot down to that point. The unit will beep three times and lock in that spot. It will show on the screen the distance from the laser beam to the benchmark. Now you can move to any spot on the job and hit the “take a shot” button and it will shoot a laser dot down. The unit will beep three times and then digitally display the difference between the benchmark and the elevation shot you just took. The measurement is very accurate. The DR400 has a 20

tilt compensator that will plumb your shot up to 30 degrees. You don’t have to worry about holding a grade rod perfectly plumb.

If you have an elevation plan for a job, you can set your benchmark in actual elevation numbers.

When you shoot the benchmark, there is a “0” blinking on the display. At this point you can digitally run this number up to what the plan calls for. Around Indiana it may be a number like 700 ft. sea level.

When you have set that up, anywhere on the site you want to shoot, it will give you readings back in sea level. Say you move down from your benchmark.

The reading may say 698 ft. This feature is priceless. No math involved. It adds and subtracts with no mistakes.

This unit also can be used as a vertical and horizontal measuring device up to 200

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

ft. If you want to clamp it to a grade rod to do grade shots, you can do that too, for it also operates as a regular sensor. If any of you are interested in seeing how well this tool works, we can come to your jobsite and do a demo and train whoever may need to use the DR400. To view a video demo of the DR400, go to www.spectralasers.com.

About the Author

Accurate Laser Systems, Inc. has been in business on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 106th and Michigan Rd. for over 30 years. We have worked with many landscapers to set them up with the laser equipment that best fits their needs.

As one of the outside sales people here, I have promoted and sold these DR400 tools for a couple of years now and have customers that swear by them. Contact me if you’d like a demonstration of the DR400. I’ll come to your shop or jobsite and show you and the crew this exciting tool. Bill Rawn: 317-714-2273; brawn@accuratelasersystems.com

Community

2017 Spring Home and Garden Shows Indianapolis Home Show

January 20 – 29, 2017 Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis Features a centerpiece home built entirely inside Exposition Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Show includes construction, home remodeling, interior design, and landscape exhibitors among others.

Home, Garden & Remodeling Show

Indiana Flower & Patio Show

March 3 – 5, 2017 Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY

March 11 – 19, 2017 Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis

The 67th annual Home, Garden & Remodeling Show is the largest, longest running locally owned home show in the region. Think of this as a massive showroom of home and landscaping products.

Indiana’s premier outdoor living show since 1958. The show will feature 40+ extravagant showcase / exhibitor gardens crafted by many of Indiana’s premier landscapers, hundreds of fine outdoor living experts, over 400 exhibitors, and thousands of ideas to take home!

http://louisvillehomeshow.com/

http://indianaflowerandpatioshow.com/

January 28, 2017 / 8 am to 4 pm (CST) Porter County Exposition Center, Valparaiso

Indiana Home & Garden Show

Greater Lafayette Home and Garden Show

The show features presentations by national, regional, and local gardening experts, a seed and bulb exchange (perhaps the largest in the country), 100 exhibitors and vendors, a garden photography contest, and a children’s corner.

http://www.homeshowcenter.com/

www.indianapolishomeshow.com

Porter Co. Gardening Show (14th Annual)

http://www.pcgarden.info/gardeningshow/

Louisville Home Improvement Expo

February 10 – 12, 2017 Triple Crown Pavilion / Ramada Plaza, Louisville, KY

Features the latest innovations and design trends for the home — interior and exterior products. http://www.homeshowcenter.com/

Fort Wayne Home & Garden Show February 2 – 5, 2017 Allen County Memorial Coliseum Fort Wayne

Celebrating its 44th year in 2017, the show offers more than 650 exhibitors. The Fort Wayne Home & Garden Show is the place to see the latest in contemporary home and garden products and services. From seminars by knowledgeable home and garden experts, to beautifully constructed and unique landscapes by our exhibitors.

March 3 – 5, 2017 Indiana Convention Center, Hall A/B

Home & Lifestyle Show Porter County

March 10 – 12, 2017 Porter County Expo Center, Valparaiso The Home & Lifestyle Show offers home improvement, remodeling, and home purchasing ideas as well as ideas to enhance your lifestyle in many other ways.

Green up that lawn, exterminate those pests, and enjoy a new patio this spring.

March 25 – 26, 2017 Tippecanoe Fairgrounds, Lafayette This is the largest and longest-running show of its kind in the Lafayette area. For the 28th year the show provides visitors with anything for your home from the ground up. Over 2,500 people attended the show last year, with more than 80 vendors! www.midwestrentalsinc.com

http://www.hbanwi.com/events/homeand-lifestyle-shows/

Lakes Area Home & Garden Show March 11 – 12, 2017 Best Western Brandywine Complex, Monticello

Over 24,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space devoted to the latest home and garden products and services. http://www.wmrsradio.com/ LakesAreaHomeShow.htm

www.home-gardenshow.com

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

21

Community

FFA Called, Vine & Branch Answered Mary Breidenbach, INLA News

When the National FFA Organization asked if Vine & Branch would provide an Agriculture Career Path Tour during the organization’s national conference, Vine & Branch, a tree care and plant health care firm in the greater Indianapolis metro area, said, “Sure, why not!”

Jud Scott asked his business neighbor, Salsbery Brothers Landscaping, to participate so that the tour showcased both arboriculture and horticulture. Scott pitched the idea to FFA explaining that, “arboriculture and horticulture were two spokes in the wheel of agriculture.” On the day of the tour, over 50 national FFA students from all parts of the country — hailing from New York City to Alaska — split their time between the two companies.

Scott planned an interactive tour that included demonstrations of a WoodMizer portable sawmill, several pieces of equipment provided by John Deere and Vermeer, a climbing arborist, tree trimming with the use of a spider lift, and an aerial rescue of “Clay,” the Carmel Indiana Fire Department mannequin (wearing a Vine & Branch uniform) from a 40-foot tree.

Students also got a chance to handle the climbing safety harness and ropes, which piqued many people’s interest.

“I thought the students loved the interaction with something different than they were used to. Some had experience with sawmills but liked the tree climbing side. The gear and equipment were flashy and the students seemed enamored,” said Scott. “And one of the parent monitors commented that they hadn’t considered the possibilities of arboriculture with their students.”

In addition to demonstrations, Scott spoke of the importance of certification, safety, and involvement in the tree care industry. One particulat stop on the tour reemphasized this point, as the students stood below numerous national safety award banners won by Vine & Branch over the years. The tour also included time with a representative from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), who

Jud Scott leading the FFA tour through Vine & Branch.

answered students’ questions. In addition, the ISA generously offered a free student membership to anyone interested.

Jeff Salsbery and his team had an equally interesting tour planned. Gathering the FFA group around his impressively decked out Purdue University alumni fan bus, Jeff gave the group a great overview of his company, which included a look at landscape contracting, nursery operations, lighting, and their garden center. The tour also included a demonstration of large tree planting equipment, landsacpe design software, and a tour through the garden center grounds. The tour gave a great idea of how a landscape company diversifies for year-round income.

Other members of the Salsbery team who presented to the FFA visitors included Holly Lindzy, garden center manager; Janice Sorenson, office manager and Irrigation service coordinator; and Michael Wietholter, landscape design assistant.

The National FFA’s annual convention, which ran from October 19–22, 2016, drew approximately 64,000 visitors this year. Having recently held the convention in Louisville, Kentucky, the National FFA Organization has signed to a nine-year agreement to hold their conventions in

Indianapolis. This offers central Indiana businesses great opportunities to interact and encourage future arboriculturists and horticulturists.

As far as participating in the future, Scott said, “Most certainly, and I encourage other businesses to think of the future as they present our industry to future employees and end users.

Jeff Salsbery addressing the FFA group.

22

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Equipment demo at Salsbery Brothers.

Tree trimming demonstration at Vine & Branch.

Holly Lindzy leads the group through the Salsbery Brothers’ Garden Center.

Students check out the tree climber’s harness.

Michael Wietholter discusses the landscape design services at Salsbery Brothers.

Jud Scott and the FFA group observing a climbing arborist (not shown).

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

23

Education

New on the Bookshelf Business Management Training Manuals Set Available from the National Association of Landscape Professionals Bookstore

Growing a diverse selection of native trees and shrubs

This set of seven manuals are made as resources for training your management team as well as study material to prepare for the Landscape Industry Certified Manager Exam – Exterior.

It also serves as an excellent educational material for owners and managers.

Set includes: Human Resource Training Manual Risk, Law, and Contracts Manual Strategic Planning Manual Corporate Financial Management Manual Leadership and Corporate Citizenship Manual Marketing and Sales Management Manual Exterior Production Operations and Horticulture Manual For more information or to order, go to: https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/nalp/nalp/bookstore/set-0071.aspx

2016 Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants Available from Purdue Extension through Purdue’s The Education Store.

Authors: Bryan G. Young, Purdue University; Fred Whitford, Purdue Pesticide Program; and Joe Matthews, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Specializing in Root Pruning

This is a joint publication of Purdue Extension and Southern Illinois University. This is the 13th edition of the biennial publication, which was previously published by Southern Illinois. This edition contains 780 entries from 38 companies.

An adjuvant is any substance added to an herbicide to increase its effectiveness or make it easier to apply. The purpose of the Compendium is to provide a format that allows for a comparison of adjuvant products that fall within or across the different adjuvant categories.

Print versions of the Compendium are available for $5.50 per copy. Free downloads are also available from The Education Store.

For more information or to order, go to: https://edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=PPP-115

Phone: (317) 994-5487 Toll free: (866) 766-8367 Fax: (317) 994-5494

www.woodywarehouse.com sales@woodywarehouse.com 3339 W County Road 850 N PO Box 259, Lizton, IN 46149 24

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Certification & Education

IAH Quiz

The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee is pleased to provide you an opportunity to earn CEUs (continuing education units) in each issue of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape News.

The IAH quiz offered in each issue can be completed by anyone who is an “Active” (current) IAH (initial or masters).

Each quiz will be worth a .5 (onehalf) CEU (continuing education unit) for the completion of the bi-monthly quiz with a pass rate of 80%. Over a 2-year period, you could earn up to 6 CEUs if you take and pass every quiz!

The INLA office will grade the quiz.

Questions and answers have been provided by the IAH committee.

Thank you and good luck studying!

The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee Chair - George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery Committee Members - Brian Bunge, LaPorte County Nursery - Wayne Gruber, Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply - Jim Messmer - Melissa Mravec, Allen Landscape - Jodie Overmyer, Price Nurseries - Dean Ricci, Ricci Landscape Management

IAH Quiz: January 2017

Due: February 15, 2017

Complete the quiz and mail or fax to INLA by the deadline above. Be sure to write your name, IAH number, and contact information on the bottom of the quiz when submitting. If additional space is needed, please attach the extra paper to this form and submit together. Mark your answers.

1) Spider mite problems are worse under which of the following weather conditions?

A ��� Warm weather B ��� Cold weather C ��� Wet weather D ��� Dry weather 2) Which of the following insects can defoliate a flowering crabapple?

A ��� Bronze Birch Borer B ��� Flat-headed Apple Tree Borer C ��� Apple Aphid D ��� Japanese Beetle 3) White pine weevil actually causes damage as a borer.

A ��� True B ��� False 4) Bagworms spend the winter as ____________ .

A ��� A shiny black egg mass on a twig B ��� Eggs in the body of the female bag C ��� Pupae in the male and female bags D ��� A caterpillar in the male and female bags 5) What is the best strategy for managing a planting of pines that are halfdead due to a combination of bark beetles and borers?

A ��� Spray with a residual pesticide in spring (April) to kill borers going into and boring out of plants.

B ��� Remove and destroy dead and half-dead pines before beetles emerge in April.

C ��� Water the stand, if possible, to reduce the water stress that can promote borer problems.

D ��� All of the above.

6) Spruce spider mites produce honeydew and spittle on many conifers.

A ��� True B ��� False 7) The first symptoms of oak wilt occur in what part of the tree?

A ��� Bottom branches B ��� Top branches C ��� Scattered throughout the tree D ��� The entire tree 8) The overall field pattern for biotic disease often has ____________ .

A ��� A uniform appearance B ��� A random appearance C ��� Both uniform and random appearance D ��� No particular pattern 9) Good water management is especially critical for control of ___________.

A ��� Verticillium Wilt B ��� Anthracnose C ��� Powdery Mildew D ��� Phytophthora Root Rot 10) Which of the following is not a people pressure disease?

A ��� Soil compaction from foot traffic B ��� Drought due to a dry spring C ��� Grade change due to the addition of a new garage D ��� Road salt applied throughout winter

Name:_____________________________________________________________________________ IAH No.:_ __________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_____________________________________________________________________________ Email:_ ____________________________________________________________________________ Fax: 317-889-3935 or Mail: INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237 Answers: Please contact the INLA office if you would like to receive the answers or find out your results to any previous IAH quiz.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

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Certification & Education

Certifications Indiana Accredited Horticulturist (IAH)

The Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association has developed the Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Program to provide a method of self-study and accreditation for individuals in the nursery industry. The goal of this certification and accreditation program is to develop knowledgeable, motivated, professional employees for the landscape nursery industry. >>> http://inla1.org/iah_cert.cfm

Landscape Industry Certified (CLT)

The INLA offers Indiana green industry professionals the opportunity to become internationally certified through PLANET's Landscape Industry Certified program. Become certified in one or all of the following specialties: Hardscape / Softscape / Ornamental / Maintenance / Turf Maintenance / Irrigation with each specialty having their own written field exam. >>> http://inla1.org/clt_cert.cfm >>> www.landscapeprofessionals.org

George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery, created this study guide to help teach the material covered in the IAH Manual. His intention was to assist those trying to master the subjects within the manual.

Chapter 10 – Weed Control in Nursery & Landscape Plantings

Text: © George Brenn

In an ornamental nursery, a balanced weed management program includes an integrated approach of prevention, sanitation, hand weeding, mulches, mowing, cultivation, and herbicides.

Selecting the best methods of controlling weeds in nurseries is a difficult task, although herbicides do play a major role.

In residential landscapes that utilize a balanced approach to weed management, herbicides do not have to play the major role, but can be useful in reducing maintenance and improving appearance.

What Is a Weed?

For our purposes, a weed is a plant growing where it is not desired, or a plant out of place that is undesirable in the nursery or landscape setting.

Why Are Weeds Bad?

1. Competition with desirable plants for light, moisture, and nutrients, resulting in poor growth

2. Weeds in rootballs or containers detract from plant appearance, and could spread into new landscape beds after plant is installed

3. Can harbor pests, like insects, diseases, nematodes, rodents, etc.

Types of Weeds:

Monocot weeds include annual and perennial grasses and sedges (Quackgrass, Crabgrass

Dicot weeds include broadleaf weeds (e.g.: Dandelions, Ragweed) and non-grassy weeds

Life Cycles:

Annuals – complete their life cycle, seed to seed, in 1 growing season, and are the most common group of weeds, but divided into 2 distinct categories: Summer Annuals – germinate in spring, grow & flower in summer, set seed, and

die in fall as temps decrease. (Foxtail, Purslane, Lambsquarter, etc.)

Winter Annuals – germinate late summer, overwinter as a rosette, flower (after

cold treatment) the following spring, and produce seed in early summer,

then die. Exceptions to this pattern are Henbit and Chickweed which do

not form rosettes, but overwinter as immature and mature plants.

Biennials – produce foliage only first year, the flower and set seed in second year,

then die. Wild Carrot and Garlic Mustard are examples.

Perennials – live for more than 2 years, sometimes indefinitely, and have 2 categories: Herbaceous Perennials – foliage dies to ground when frost occurs in fall, then

thay regrow from root in following spring: Bindweed, Canada Thistle, Wild

Onion, etc.

Woody Perennials – includes woody trees, shrubs, and vines (Poison Ivy).

Most perennial weeds have extensive vegetative parts above ground (stolons) and below ground (rhizomes, tubers, bulbs) and are much more

difficult to control than annuals.

Methods of Weed Control – involves an integrated approach that utilizes a combination of methods.

In NURSERIES – starts with site assessment, good site preparation (start clean), and requires a weed management plan, probably including both chemical and manual controls; it would be unwise to depend entirely on chemical controls because of crop tolerance.

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

George Brenn’s Study Guide — Chapter 10 continues

In LANDSCAPES – begins with site assessment, evaluation of plants to be installed, starting clean, and developing and implementing a weed management plan.

Non-Chemical Weed Controls in Nurseries – 1. Prevention & Sanitation – basically “starting clean” by killing undesirable vegetation prior to planting with chemicals (herbicides and/or fumigants), or by repeated cultivation, planting cover crops, fallowing the land, etc.

2. Cultivation – manual or mechanical 3. Planting cover crops 4. Mowing – removes seedheads and reduces future weed populations 5. Mulching – with organic (wood chips, bark, peat, straw, leaves) or inorganic (gravel, etc.) products, or with synthetic geotextiles Chemical Weed Control in Nurseries – Herbicide use is widespread in nurseries and products are most effective when planning involves strategies of prevention and killing of weeds. Extremely important to consider weed control when planting mixed varieties in a field as some plants may tolerate one herbicide, while others may be severely inured by it.

Pre-emergent Herbicides – must be applied prior to weed emergence from soil.

Selectivity of herbicide may be achieved by formulation, e.g.: Many pre-emergent herbicides are formulated as granules and application should be made when foliage is dry and the granules will tend to bounce off the leaves. Most pre-emergent herbicides work best when uniform distribution is followed by immediate irrigation to wash the herbicide off the plant foliage. Some pre-emergent herbicides for field use can last for an entire season, while some pre-emergent herbicides for container application last only 8 – 12 weeks. In any circumstance, uniform application of product provides the best pre-emergent control. Do not expect a pre-emergent herbicide to control perennial weeds or weeds for which it is not labeled.

Considerations for pre-emergent herbicides – 1. Must be applied to weed-free or freshly tilled (to remove existing weeds) soils

2. Soil moisture is important for the maximum effectiveness of pre-emergents

3. Soil type and amount of organic matter can affect pre-emergent performance

Certification Calendar

Upcoming CCHs & Special Dates January 24–26 Indiana Arborist Association (IAA) Annual Conference Indianapolis Marriott East Indianapolis, IN CEU’s and CCH’s available.

Info: www.indiana-arborist.org February 15, 16, 28 & March 1 IPPLARegional Advanced Training Plainfield (2/15), Columbus (2/16), Fort Wayne (2/28) and Merrillville (3/1) CCHs available: 2(3), 3A(4), 3B(4), 5(2), 6(3), 7A(2), RT(4) Contact: Bob Andrews, IPLLA or visit www.ippla.com March 7 NWINLA Winter Seminar, Advanced Garden Center Training Merrillville, IN • Avalon Manor info: www.nwinla.com April 7 & 8 Landscape Industry Certified Written and Hands-On Exam (CLT) Central Nine Career Center, Greenwood, IN www.inla1.org/certification

Post-emergent Herbicides - some provide “burn-down” or contact kill (Diquat, Paraquat) while others are absorbed by the foliage and can be translocated throughout the shoot and root system (2, 4-D, Glyphosate) and cause total death of the weed.

Post-emergent herbicides are often applied with spreader-sticker (=surfactant) to improve herbicide performance. Many non-selective post-emergent herbicides can be used in field production on in landscape situations as “spot treatments” or as directed sprays which shield the desirable plants from contact by the herbicide.

Considerations for post-emergent herbicides – 1. Must be applied to emerged weeds, and best results occur when applied to actively growing weeds.

2. Complete coverage of weed foliage is imperative for “burn down” herbicides like Paraquat or Finale, but not as important for herbicides that translocate after foliar absorption (Glyphosate, 2, 4-D, and grass- specific herbicides).

General Considerations for All Herbicides – 1. Stage of growth is of critical importance for both pre and post-emergent herbicides 2. Application rate is important to avoid potential injury to desirable plantings 3. Sprayer or spreader must be calibrated to ensure proper application rate 4. As always, READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • January/February 2017

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Toolbox Talks

Snow Plow Safety www.safetytoolboxtopics.com Snow plow safety is something that every snow plow driver must be aware of. The blowing, drifting snow mixed with the slick pavement provides for hazardous conditions.

So how can you safely make sure that you or others are not harmed during this process? Here are a few tips that might help you out: • Be aware of your surroundings and know your route.

Always make sure you know what possible obstacles are within your plowing area, like mailboxes, fences, signs, posts, etc. This can save damage to property and to your plow, which in the long run will save you money.

• Always be tolerant and patient of other drivers or pedestrians around you. Imagine yourself in their shoes; seeing a huge truck drive toward you with a plow on the front is not always the most pleasant thing.

• Watch your speed! This is a huge mistake many plow drivers make when going about their jobs. In fact, many of the accidents involving snow plows are created because the driver was going too fast for the weather conditions.

It might be desired to get the job done faster, but it is not worth the injuries to your body, the plow, or possibly someone else’s body. Make sure you are constantly keeping an eye out for ice or obstacles. It is also helpful to know the road and weather conditions before leaving to plow.

• Obey all traffic laws (i.e., wear your seatbelt at all times).

This will save lots of trouble with law enforcement and could save your life in the event of an accident.

• Make sure that you cut off all power to the snow plow and spreader before leaving the vehicle after you have done your job.

• Get a good night’s rest before going out to plow. Although this is sometimes impossible to do, make sure that you are not feeling too drowsy or sleepy. Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously a devastating, fatal mistake.

Plow operators serve the community well during some of the worst weather. However, it is important that EVERYONE, including you the plow operator, gets home safely in the snow.

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Looking to purchase existing business Landscape, Lawncare, Tree and Shrub Care, or Irrigation Business in Indianapolis or surrounding counties.

Advertise in the Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Contact: Mary Breidenbach, 317-757-8634 or mary@ecumulus.com

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Call Jim Calvin, Calvin Landscape 317-247-6316

Horticultural Business and Marketing syMposiuM

Marion County ExtEnsion offiCE

indiana state fairgrounds february 23, 2017 8:15am-4:45pm Registration fee includes panel luncheon.

Pre-register until February 9, $110; onsite registration, $150.

Learn more about: social media risk management Conflict resolution Marketing plans Customer differentiation and segmentation To register, use the form on the back of this flyer, or contact: Lori Jolly-Brown ljollybr@ purdue.edu or 765-494-1296

Rick Haggard, Executive Director INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 January/February 2017 Address Service Requested

MOTHER NATURE’S FINEST,

INDIANA’S BEST. VISIT US ONLINE AT:

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Check current availability any time of the day

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Prices are available if you have a password

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Create, save, and modify plant lists for each project

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Email questions to our sales staff

ON THE JOBSITE AND WANT TO KNOW IF WE HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? Point the browser on your smartphone to our website and use our FREE mobile app.

2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS! CONTACT US TODAY TO GET YOUR PROJECT STARTED: 4316 Bluff Road, Indianapolis, IN 46217 P: 317.783.3233 or 800.921.3233 F: 317.783.0544

4867 Sheridan Road (SR 38), Westfield, IN 46062 P: 317.877.0188 or 877.829.0188 F: 317.877.2238