Indiana Nursery & Landscape News
Volume 84 • Issue 4 - July | August 2024
Indiana Nursery and Landscape News is the official publication of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. (INLA) and is published bimonthly.
Indiana Nursery and 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 • rhaggard@inla1.org
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.
Gabriel Gluesenkamp, President Designscape Horticultural Services 2877 S. TC Steele Road Nashville, IN 47448-9584 812-988-8900; Fax 812-988-2639 gabrielg@designhort.com
Shaun Yeary, President-Elect
Greendell Landscape Solutions 749 West State Road 42 Mooresville, IN 46158 317-996-2826; Fax 317-996-2032 syeary@greendelllandscape.com
Bob Wasson, Vice President Wasson Nursery 13279 E. 126th St. Fishers, IN 46037 317-770-1123 bob@wassonnursery.com
Dean Ricci, Past President Ricci’s Landscape Management, Inc. 502 Norbeh Drive, Hebron, IN 46341 219-996-2682; Fax 219-996-2680 dean@rlminc.com
Rick Haggard, Executive Director & Publisher 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247 Indianapolis, IN 46032 Office: 800-443-7336 or 317-889-2382 Cell: 765-366-4994 S rhaggard@inla1.org • haggard.rick@att.net
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Erick Brehob (2026) Brehob Nursery • 317-783-3233 erick@brehobnursery.com
Kyle Daniel — Purdue University 765-494-7621 • daniel38@purdue.edu
Jill Glover (2026) Schneider Nursery • 812-522-4068 jill@schneidernursery.com
Jason Fritz (2025) Stantec Native Plant Nursery (574) 5862412 Jason.fritz@cardno.com
Carlos Reichman (2025) Schuetz Insurance Services (317) 639-5679 carlos@schuetzins.com
Kevin Van Sessen (2024) Blade Cutters, LLC. • 219-661-8206 kevinvs@bladecutters.net
Kent Wilhelmus (2024) Second Nature Landscape Management 812-483-7817 • kent@secondnaturelm.com
Indiana Green Expo 2025, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
Visit http://inla1.org/events-calendar/ for updates and new event listings.
INLA Job Board at www.inla1.org
FREE JOB POSTING for INLA members! Positions are open to any who wish to respond!
To post an open position at your company, please email info@inla1.org and send the job description along with how to apply.
Questions? Contact Rick Haggard, 317-889-2382
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER
Good Day to all the fabulous members of the INLA, whether you are an Active (Regular), Associate, Affiliate, Subscriber or Advertiser to our Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association Newsletter (INLN). It is that time for me to reach out to each and every one of you and ask for some assistance. We have been trying to keep you updated on various industry items, to those of us in the industry of various that could possibly have either a positive or negative impact on your business. The reason for asking for assistance, is as I have traveled to various parts of the state; I see many landscape company’s trucks, hometown garden centers, specialized services (i.e. hardscape, maintenance) that are more than likely not members of the INLA.
My ask is that many of you know of a few of these companies that could also benefit by being a member of the INLA. INLA has a great track record in the legislative realm, as we were questioned by the general public of being an “ESSENTIAL” entity during COVID, but our firms provide a safe, healthy environment for customers, business and the general public at large, albeit a picturesque artistic creation through plants. The other item I personally would like to request is that many of you have special events, human interests, and also do community service work that often is unnoticed unless a local paper, news station, or social media recognition. Please send me any of those in advance of being planned as I would like to promote these to our membership so that they might stop by or also volunteer to pitch in. Now time to focus on one of our (INLA) biggest events of the year, the INLA Summer Tour and INEF Shotting for Scholarships. This year’s event will be in North Central Indiana, August 7th &8th for the first time in a very long while. We will focus in areas of Walkerton (Stantec Native Nursery, celebrating
their 30th anniversary), the city of South Bend (Notre Dame, Foegely Landscape and various other projects) and a visit to our 2024 Summer Host: Red Hen Turf Farm in New Carlisle, Indiana. Plus, the ever-popular INEF Shooting for Scholarships on August 9th at Back Forty Sporting Clays in Bourbon, Indiana. Please remember as well that by attending the summer tours on the 7th and 8th, besides the opportunity to network with many others, all IAH attendees will gain CEU’s to help keep their State certified IAH’s current.
I want to close by reminding you that Indiana does have an Invasive Species List of plants that are not allowed to be brought in, installed or sold within the state lines. Many are not aware that this is genus and species and is not cultivar specific. IAH hopefuls: There will be an IAH testing in September or October at Designscape in Belmont (Nashville, Indiana). President Gabriel Gluesenkamp is offering this opportunity to those that might find this locale be closer depending on travels. Feel free to contact me with any questions; rhaggard@inla1.org or call 317-889-2382.
I am hoping to see everyone up north and meet many new faces while in that area, you will find the registration form in this edition on pages 20 and 21.
Keepin it green, Rick Haggard – INLA Executive Director
New INLA Members!
Meet the INLA's new Marketing and Publication Specialist
Nina Tadic is a marketing and digital media specialist with an educational background in communications and computer science, and nearly a decade of experience working as a freelance graphic designer, photographer, journalist, and most recently, Marketing Coordinator for the Porter County Public Library System. She joins the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association team with the goal of bringing a more vibrant, lively energy to the INLA's marketing campaigns, web presence, and print magazine issues. She hopes that with her creating promotional materials for major events such as the Summer Tour will help further the INLA's enrollment, and will encourage members to participate in all of the amazing opportunities the INLA has to offer!
Associate Oasis Pools (219) 351-0440
David Edgren 13419 Delaware St. Crown Point, IN 46307
Red Hen Turf Farm (574) 232-6811
Jeremy Cooper 29435 Darden Rd.
Active
Sepke's Landscaping (219) 309-6192
Austin Sepke 13359 Gabriel Dr. Cedar Lake, IN 46303
Rick Haggard
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
"A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period –When March is scarcely here
A Color stands abroad On Solitary Fields That Science cannot overtake But Human Nature feels.
It waits upon the Lawn, It shows the furthest Tree Upon the furthest Slope you know It almost speaks to you.
Then as Horizons step Or Noons report away Without the Formula of sound It passes and we stay –
A quality of loss Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached Upon a Sacrament."
-Emily Dickinson ‘A Light Exists in Spring’
How’s your Spring?
I am not one to wax philosophically about deep meanings in old poetry, but Dickinson’s words hit just right for me thinking through the beautiful spring season we have had this year and now moving into summer.
“That Science cannot overtake – But Human Nature feels” resonates so deeply with me considering the tremendous blessing we have to work in nature and make that connection that cannot be fully understood by someone who has not spent time in the soil.
Here in Brown County, we started our spring season extremely early. Since the second week of February, we have continued to see growth in our landscapes, customer demand, and team support. The early start and extended growing conditions of steady rain and cooler temperatures have not come without their own challenges as the grass and weeds are growing just as fast as all the trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Many places we are mowing 6 times a month and the marestail, thistle, and bindweed are all out in full force. Regardless of the challenges of extra labor input needed to keep up with the growth, I have been blessed to spend early mornings on my front porch listening to the bard owls, seeing Carolina wrens nesting in our basket ferns, and now ready to start catching fireflies with the girls. Our Yellowwood and many other spring flowers have never bloomed so full, and I honestly cannot recall a Spring that has lasted so long without much interruption -now going on 4 months strong. The summer heat is trending as we speak but I encourage you not to just rush onto the next season, but take some time with your family and your team to talk about the things you have enjoyed over this season.
INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla1.org
Now on to the practical portion of this letter. How are your KPI’s looking? If you have not gotten into the black yet you should be asking yourself why. With almost a month’s extra production and regardless of rain days profit should be trending strong by now. I mentioned in the last article the importance of watching your hours and commitments because I bet we are all in the same boat when it comes to being over expected hours to date for our contract customers. We are extremely fortunate to have great customers that are generally understanding when the communication is done well. If you don’t already know, we are in a time like never before in that over the last 5 years and continuing for the next 5 years more people are retiring than ever before in our history as a nation -- thank you Baby Boomers! The point to all this is if your KPI’s don’t look better than in years past you should reach out to a mentor ASAP and help get your business on the track to succeed because the opportunity has never been greater.
Something we have been doing with great success is upselling our entire list of services to our existing customer base and not taking on new single serve customers that eat up large amounts of our admin time or require heavy mobilization, costs without ensuring that time is estimated and accounted for correctly. Specifically, Baby Boomers love a nice lawn and there are all sorts of opportunities for upselling in that arena. My friend Dean turned me on to a drop seeder, aerator, topdresser all in one and we both separately came to the exact same sales rate per hour needed to get a good ROI. It’s crazy how companies on the opposite end of the state that don’t share books can be so close -- back to my point about KPI’s and knowing your numbers. Another friend, Kevin, moved their turf applications to an organic formula and there are many new products that are available in that arena.
An example of where we are consolidating is in stand-alone irrigation services. For those in high urban density your customer base is generally close to your future sales, but for us, we dropped all the accounts that just wanted turned on and winterized and are outside of our service bubble. Seemingly there is always another short-lived, cut-rate landscaper who is willing to do anything for gas money. We also stopped providing stand-alone arborist services in that switching over all our gear was eating at time we could be making as good of money doing things in our regular queue. We are still happy to do irrigation and tree work, but we just changed our formula and sales approach to weed out things that take more time than the customer is willing to pay.
As always, if you read this and think to yourself, “I could really use some advice on the ABC’s of landscaping,” please reach out to myself or Rick and if we don’t have the answer we can find you someone that does. The resource pool of the INLA is strong and I don’t take that for granted as that mentorship is why our company continues to succeed over the long haul of almost 40 years now in business. Best wishes to you and yours over this next season. Hope to see you all in person for the Summer Tour August 7th-9th. It is going to be a great one!
Cheers, Gabriel Gluesenkamp
• Net Power: 26.8 kW (35.9 hp)
• Max. Digging Depth: 3.53 m (11 ft. 7 in.)
• Operating Weight: 4920 kg (10,847 lb.)
ARTICLE: DOES WEED CONTROL IMPROVE WITH ADDING A CONTACT HERBICIDE TO GLYPHOSATE?
Written by Kyle Daniel, Nursery and Landscape Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, daniel38@purdue.edu
A recent conversation with a landscaper about tank mixing led to a brief discussion about glyphosate products with a contact herbicide included. I thought I would share my thoughts on the addition of contact herbicides and its effectiveness on weed control.
We all know that we live in a microwave society. Most people want things immediately. I recall a comedian’s joke several years ago about a baked potato taking so long to cook that he put one in the oven in the morning before work, just in case he wants one for dinner. The immediacy of our society has even evolved into herbicides.
Herbicidal properties determine how long after a herbicide is applied until symptoms are observed. Contact herbicides typically show symptoms relatively fast, sometimes in a couple of hours. Systemic herbicides typically take longer to show symptoms due to their mode of action and sites of action.
Glyphosate is a non-selective, systemic herbicide, meaning it kills most weeds and is translocated throughout the plant via the (primarily) phloem. Glyphosate’s site of action is located in the shikimic acid pathway, which leads to many secondary metabolites, such as lignin and tannin. Since glyphosate works on the secondary metabolism (aka non-photosynthesis/making of carbohydrates), symptoms won’t be evident until 8-10 days after treatment. Since it’s one of the slower acting herbicides, some companies began to add a contact herbicide to increase
herbicide phytotoxicity quicker than stand-alone glyphosate. This leaves us in a kind of quandary. For systemic herbicides to be most effective, the weeds need to be actively growing. The more active the growth, the more translocation of the herbicide occurs.
Adding a contact herbicide to glyphosate will injure the weed before much of the translocation occurs with the systemic nature of glyphosate. In a 2008 study, it was found that glyphosate-based, ready-to-use products with diquat, weeds showed symptoms soon after application, but long-term weed control efficacy with glyphosate alone was improved over time. The diquat reduced the translocation of the glyphosate, thus didn’t work as effectively as compared to glyphosate alone. The study also indicated that an increase of 60% of glyphosate would be needed to counteract the antagonistic effect of the diquat (Wehtje, et.al. 2008).
In some situations, a glyphosate product with a contact herbicide included will be needed if a quick burndown is the goal. In most cases, omitting the contact herbicide will increase the efficacy of the product and result in more effective weed control.
References: Wehtje, G., Atland, J.E., and Gilliam, C.H. 2008. Interaction of Glyphosate and Diquat in Ready-to-Use Weed Control Products. Weed Technology. Volume 22. Issue 3. Pp.472-476.
IDNR ARTICLE: SPOTTED LANTERNFLY IN INDIANA
Written by Eric Bitner, Nursery and Compliance Officer, IN DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology
As members of the ornamental landscape community, it
is up to all of us to monitor plant health issues in the field, at retail stores or installing plant material. The latest plant health risk that has garnered media attention is the spotted lanternfly (SLF). With all the activity of selling and installing plants, it is always best to inspect plant material to ensure it does not harbor SLF egg masses or live adults. The initial invasion of this pest arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014. In July 2021, a population of SLF was discovered in Indiana. Since then, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Purdue University have been working together to mitigate the spread of this insect as well as educate Hoosiers on what they can do to help. This insect is still on the move, and as of now 17 states have established infestations and there are seven known counties within Indiana.
Identification and Life cycle
Spotted lanternfly has one generation per year meaning it completes its lifecycle within one growing season. Egg masses containing 30 to 50 eggs are laid in the fall and begin hatching in April to May. After hatching, SLF goes through four instars over an eight-week period before becoming adults in mid-summer. The adults then feed through the summer and into the fall when they begin mating and laying their eggs up until the first frost. SLF egg masses are flat and covered in a grayish, waxy, mud-like deposit for protection and can be found on plant material, rocks, vehicles, houses, trees, and almost anything else. SLF has an incomplete metamorphosis, meaning eggs hatch into nymphs, which look somewhat like adults. SLF nymphs are tiny, starting at about oneeighth inch long, and are black with white spots. They grow to about one-half inch long, or the size of a dime, by their final nymphal stage (or instar), when their color changes to red with white dots and black stripes. Adult SLF are around one inch long and a half-inch wide with a black head and long black legs. The body is primarily black, but females have yellow bands on the underside of their abdomen. The forewings are a grayish color
with black spots. The tips of the forewings are also black and gray and appear to have a striped pattern. Their hind wings are more colorful with red, black, and white markings. SLF adults are the only life stage with wings, and while they can fly, they are weak fliers and prefer to use their legs to walk or hop. Thus, their wings are rarely open, which largely hides the colorful hindwings and allows them to blend into the bark they typically feed from.
Signs of Damage and Impact
Different SLF life stages often feed together sometimes in extremely large populations. SLF is a sap feeder, damaging the host by removing water and sugar from the plant. Typically, this feeding is mainly a plant stressor that weakens the plant, though high levels of feeding can cause plant decline. SLF feeding causes the insects to produce large amounts of liquid excrement called honeydew. Sap from the plant is high in sugar content –as is the honeydew – which often results in a sticky covering for any object underneath the feeding insect. The honeydew may be the main nuisance of this pest as it attracts many other insects, including ants, wasps, and bees. Due to the high sugar content of the honeydew, a dark fungus called sooty mold grows. Sooty mold covering leaves can reduce a plant’s ability to photosynthesize and can also stain objects on which it grows, including vehicles and tree trunks.
SLF feeds on over 100 different species of plants in Indiana, including many that are common in the nursery and landscaping industry. In the natural environment, they will preferentially feed and reproduce on tree-of-heaven, which is their primary host and yet another invasive species in North America. Other industries such as vineyards and orchards as well as forest health are being affected as well. For example, when grapes are infested, vineyards will experience severe reductions in plant health and yield while feeding damage will cause the crop to be unusable. Not only will SLF damage ornamentals and be unsightly, but they will also impact the economy in our state if not managed.
Where are they now?
In Indiana, SLF was originally found in Switzerland County in July 2021. A homeowner reported to the Indiana DNR an unusual looking insect and subsequently an established population was found to have infested around one hundred acres of woodlands. This area was also infested with tree-of-heaven in 2022, another homeowner report was received from Huntington County in a residential area adjacent to an old factory yard and rail line. SLF has a history of spreading by hitching a ride on vehicles such as rail cars. The abundance of tree-of-heaven along rail corridors make establishment a high possibility. In 2023 more populations were found in Allen, Elkhart, St. Joseph and Porter counties and in Noble county in 2024, all of them being along a rail line that is a major transport artery running across the northern portion of the state; there is also a large railyard located nearby that is surrounded by volunteer tree-of-heaven. The start-and-stop nature of rail car movement in this area offers plenty of opportunities for mated female SLF to hop off a train and find a suitable place to lay her eggs.
It’s important to remember that trains aren’t the only vehicles that can have SLF passengers. These insects, and their egg masses, can be found on just about any surface, including the car you drive to work, the RV you use for recreation, semi-trucks that cross the country, and more. Purdue Entomology and Indiana DNR are encouraging everyone to please inspect your vehicle should you travel through any of the infested areas. Also check vehicles, RVs, and trailers for spotted lanternfly egg masses; if found, scrape them off into a bag or bucket filled with soapy water. We also want to encourage everyone to please burn any firewood where you buy it, as this eliminates movement of numerous pests. The egg masses of SLF will stick to firewood and can survive our winters very well.
What can I do?
The DNR and Purdue are managing various projects to both survey for and attempt to control spotted lanternfly spread in Indiana. Traps are being placed in high-risk locations, visual surveys are being conducted along rail lines, and tree-of-heaven is being recorded in several areas to monitor for potential SLF populations. Some control efforts are also being implemented to help slow the known population growth and potential spread. However we need your help, and we are asking everyone to report sightings. You can report them online by using the DNR SLF reporting tool linked below of calling 1 866-NO-EXOTIC. You can also check https://ag.purdue.edu/reportinvasive for up-to-date information on all kinds of invasive species.
Resources
National SLF map: https://www.stopslf.org/where-is-slf/slf-map/
Indiana DNR SLF webpage: https://on.in.gov/spotted-lanternfly
Indiana DNR SLF Distribution Map and Reporting tool: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7b5fd32790554abfbf2e8
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An Interview with Kevin Van Sessen
Written by Scott Johnsen
With the 2024 Summer Tour in South Bend right around the corner we thought we’d take a moment and sit down with one of the individuals who has a large part in organizing the last few Summer Tours, Kevin Van Sessen of Blade Cutter’s Landscape. Kevin is a board member of the INLA as well as chairman of the Summer Tour committee and has been instrumental in helping put the summer events together.
Tell us about yourself: your name, business, partners, etc.
Kevin Van Sessen: My name is Kevin Van Sessen of Blade Cutters Landscaping in Crown Point, Indiana. I’ve been in business for 25 years, but you could say I’ve been in horticulture my entire life. Even from a young age I loved playing outside and all forms of plant species.
I got involved with the INLA about 8 years ago. I was brought on by Dean Ricci from RLM Landscaping to be on the summer outing committee. His role was adjusting as he was moving to a Vice President position, and I was asked to come in because he thought it’d be a good fit. Prior to the INLA I was involved with non-profit philanthropy for 20 years, so it was a natural fit for me to fall into that. Back in 2009 I also spearheaded the Northwest Indiana Landscaping Association with two or three other landscapers in The Region. We really wanted to bring comradery in the industry to our little geographical area. Fast forward to 2015 and Dean Ricci asked me to join the INLA. I welcomed the opportunity, and thought it would be a benefit for Blade Cutters to go to the state level with that.
What inspired you to become head of the Summer Tour Committee?
Kevin Van Sessen: Once you’re part of the association and you’re on the committee, over time you move up in the chain of command. So when I was initially asked to come on for the summer outing, I began to learn the ways that things run and how I could make a difference. As most business owners do, you kind of just take things on respectfully and responsibly. After some time spent doing that, here I am as the chair of the committee.
In the last four years that you’ve been chair of the association, how has the dynamic changed as far as putting the Summer Tour together?
Kevin Van Sessen: When I came into the picture, Dean Ricci was running it and Shooting for Scholarships was the emphasis. The idea was to get money for students to be able to get scholarships through the INLA. There was a tour on Thursday, and then Friday was the main event. Looking at all of that from a higher perspective and respecting the way that it was built, I felt there was a new direction to go, and the key ingredient to that was bringing spouses and getting children involved - creating more of a family dynamic - in the INLA as well.
In my first year I used the same parameters that Dean Ricci had in place for the Summer Tour layout, which was a tour on Thursday and Shooting for Scholarships on Friday, with the auction to drive money for scholarships taking place after the shoot on Friday afternoon. In my second year, after looking at things from a different perspective, I felt it would be more advantageous for us to have more people at the auction to drive money a little differently. With the permission of the board and committee, I moved the auction to Thursday night. In doing so, we went from having roughly 50 to 70 people at the shoot to over 100
people at the banquet the night before, and that’s where the auction takes place now. That decision perpetuated the drive for money to a much higher caliber. We’re able to bring in a lot more money this way, and put 100% of those proceeds towards much needed scholarships.
What is your favorite aspect of putting together the Summer Tour?
Kevin Van Sessen: I am inquisitive and curious about people’s lives and who they are, so it’s always fun to go to a new geographical area of the state. I love seeing the types of businesses that come from that area, and interacting with all the different landscaping companies. The diversity the event brings to the table as far as blending together different subcultures and companies within the state of Indiana is always inspiring.
This year’s tour is going to be held in South Bend. What are you most looking forward to regarding this particular tour?
Kevin Van Sessen: I feel it will be beautiful for all of these different individuals of the state to come to South Bend and see Notre Dame’s facility. It’s a great opportunity for us to witness some of the jobs up on the Michiana shore; larger projects done on summer homes of people from Chicago and New York. South Bend is a very unique area, and Notre Dame is a beautiful college with some interesting history behind its facility and why they chose to implement certain plants and trees on the property. It demonstrates a really remarkable and in-depth understanding of horticulture, and it’s very cool to see.
Summer Tour has shifted from a two day event to a three day event in recent years. Where do you see the Summer Tour in another five years?
Kevin Van Sessen: We’ve evolved this event over the years to better fit the intention behind it. We’ve realized that the 30 to 50 companies that get involved enjoy each other's space immensely, and we don’t get opportunities to meet like that very often. Adding that extra day has been really nice in that it extends the timeline to connect in that setting. You learn a lot of things, but it’s also about the meeting of all these different people throughout the state. I don’t know if we’ll expand the Summer Tour more per se, but we’re focused on making it more efficient for everyone involved and making it worth your time and energy to be involved with the ones you love and people you know. We want to make sure there’s ample time for that so that’s where the initial added day came in.
What type of value do you see the Summer Tour bringing to members and nonmembers alike?
Kevin Van Sessen: The Summer Tour has a lot to do with comradery; business owners talking with one another, discussing business tactics and life, and understanding where we all stand in the industry. Everyone involved plays a role in the industry, whether as business owners, as nursery men and women, as management, as employees of any capacity. They all have different understandings of
what life brings you and how things are done. This event allows us to get into a social atmosphere and a psychological atmosphere that we can all relate to. It helps us to know that we’re not alone and allows us to work together. Friendships are made in these events.
Even beyond the Summer Tour, I feel that the INLA in general provides immeasurable benefits for its members. I know I’ve felt the impact of those benefits personally with Blade Cutters. Between education, comradery, the legislation side of things, and horticulture knowledge, the INLA has support for it all. When I moved part of my business to Florida I was part of the Florida Nursery Association (FNA). The chair
of that association also knew Rick Haggard, and that helped us with getting new licensing down there. Knowing that I have a team of people in Indiana that are willing to help me move and find other coordinators from other states is incredible. There’s something to be said about that level of support.
My mom always taught me that if you get one piece of information out of an 8 hour seminar it was worth going. If you stick around with the INLA for 8 years as I have, it’s unbelievable how much information and education you can get out of that by just talking to people–by simply being involved in people’s lives and speaking with them about how they ran their business in different parts of the state and even in other states. Gaining that information, putting it together and formulating your own business practices. That’s the big perk that you get out of it. You can get that from other organizations as well, but the INLA provides something special, particularly when it comes to things like horticultural history. The INLA is involved with IOMA which comprises 13 of the idwest states as well as Canada. We’ve got the biggest group of the most intelligent people in the horticulture industry out of 13 states, and a lot of them are in Indiana. That’s a beautiful thing to be part of.
We are a recruiting agency specializing in seasonal to permanent staffing services for U.S. companies.
Amigos Recruiting has developed a program to provide additional sources of reliable labor. We have established recruiting networks within Spanish speaking communities in different parts of the United States and its Commonwealths that experience higher rates of unemployment than the rest of the country. For a
SENATE FEDERAL RULE 216 UPDATE
FEDERAL RULES IMPACT ROLLOUT OF SEA 216
Written by Steve Wolff - IOMA Legislative Liaison
SEA 216 Agriculture and Pesticides, authored by Sen. Kyle Walker (R), goes into effect on July 1, 2024. When effective, it provides the industry with much-needed clarity and new options to improve the regulatory environment for all Hoosier Landscape Businesses.
The law requires the Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OISC) to develop policies and procedures to conform with the new law. IOMA has collaborated closely with OISC to ensure that the new policies and procedures will work to the benefit and not the detriment of Hoosier Landscapers.
One OISC policy and procedure that IOMA has been deeply involved in is the definition of “reasonable suspicion.” SB 216 mandates the OISC to have 'reasonable suspicion' before conducting inspections on public or private property.
The initial interpretation was that OISC must have 'reasonable suspicion' before conducting any inspection. However, EPA Federal Rules do not permit a state agency to operate as the enforcement authority (in place of the EPA) and enforce state laws and penalties (instead of more stringent federal laws and higher federal penalties) without the authority to conduct random field inspections. Considering this, OISC will apply the 'reasonable suspicion' mandate to
inspections that arise from complaints or tips but will continue to conduct random inspections.
When effective, SEA 216 provides the regulatory clarity needed and the following benefits.
-Notification – The OISC must notify a business of the alleged violation before making a final determination or issuing a penalty.
-Ten Days – OISC must allow a business ten days to provide records.
-Five Violations – OISC is limited to five civil penalties on multiple counts of the same violation.
-Harm Required – Drift violations require an adverse effect or harm to a non-target site.
-Faster Training – Technicians may complete training and begin applications on the same day. Businesses can choose the appropriate method from five choices, including an online training program. Upon completing any of the five choices, a technician may begin applications.
Above from left to right: The Coydon Group from our 2024 IGE - Chris Gibson, Principal; Kim Williams and Steve Wolff - IOMA Legislative Liaison
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Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Update & Announcement
Written by Rick Haggard
The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist (IAH) formerly known as Indiana Accredited Plantsmen (IAP) was established via a joint effort of Vincennes University, Purdue University as well as numerous stakeholders for development of creating a certification horticultural program for our membership. The IAH is now the only state certified horticultural program in Indiana without possessing a college degree.
What a month June has been regarding IAH testing has been in the Indiana state boundaries, with testing being given in New Castle on the 12th, Richmond on the 17th and 18th, and 2 different locations in the Indianapolis area on the 20th, 21st and 26th.
The tests were given to over 30 students in total over the dates above. There are plans for another IAH testing to take place at Designscape in the September/October timeframe, but a definite date has not been set.
The testing will take place at: Designscape 2877 T C Steele Rd Nashville, IN 47448
* If you might be interested please email me at rhaggard@inla1.org and I will send you a registration form once we have an exact date to sign up and pay for the test itself. You can also email me with any questions prior to registering for the testing
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One of the many benefits of your membership is the opportunity to have your work or business professionally photographed and showcased on our social media platforms. If you have a project you would like to highlight, we've got you covered! It's FREE!
INDIANA NURSERY
T H R E E D A Y S
O F T O U R S I N
S O U T H B E N D
s t a y a t s t y l i s h
A l o f t S o u t h B e n d
S t a y a t l u x u r i o u s A l o f t S o u t h B e n d C e n t r a l l y
l o c a t e d i n d o w n t o w n S o u t h B e n d t h i s s t y l i s h
h o t e l o f f e r s a p o o l , b a r a s w e l l a s a f i t n e s s
c e n t e r
T o u r s o f R e d H e n T u r f F a r m & S t a n t e c N a t i v e P l a n t
N u r s e r y
E n j o y t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t a b e h i n d t h e
s c e n e s l o o k a t t w o o f o u r a s s o c i a t i o n ’ s
b i g g e s t s u p p o r t e r s f r o m N o r t h e r n I n d i a n a .
D i n n e r , L i v e A u c t i o n & L i v e M u s i c T h u r s d a y a t
R e d H e n T u r f F a r m
S u m m e r T o u r
J o i n u s f o r t o u r s o f N o t r e D a m e a n d l u x u r i o u s
H o w a r d P a r k f o l l o w e d b y a n a f t e r n o o n o f
j o b s i t e t o u r s f r o m f e l l o w I N L A m e m b e r s
S h o o t i n g f o r
S c h o l a r s h i p s
J o i n u s f o r a F r i d a y m o r n i n g o f f r i e n d l y
c o m p e t i t i v e s h o o t i n g , l u n c h a n d l i v e a u c t i o n
a t B a c k F o r t y S p o r t i n g C l a y s A l l p r o c e e d s
g o t o w a r d s t h e I N E F S c h o l a r s h i p F u n d
B O O K N O W !
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p o r t a t i o n p r o v i d e d L u n c h p r o v i d e
a t H o w a r d P a r k A b r i e f t o u r o f R e d H e n S o d F a r m f o l l o w e d b y D i n n e r & L i v e M u s i c - $ 1 2 5 0 0 p e r
p e r s o n .
O p t i o n 2 - D i n n e r a
*You can now register online at www inla1 org*
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsors will be acknowledged verbally and on signage through- out the
in addition to an upcoming issue of the INLA magazine Sign up for sponsorships soon and realize the maxi- mum benefit of pre-event publicity!
Door prize donations (please describe-suggestions are coolers, tools, bag chairs, electronic items, event tickets, gift cards, etc ) $250 Transportation Donation (2 Opportunities)
Please submit form or register online by July 25, 2024
Email: rhaggard@inla1 org Questions: 800-443-7336 or 317-889-2382
$250 Tour Transportation Sponsors (4 opportunities) Includes signage and an opportunity to do a 5minute talk about your company/product
$500 Lunch at Howard Park (2 Opportunities)
$700 Dinner Sponsor (2 opportunities)
$350 Dinner Beverage (2 opportunities, alcoholic beverages during dinner only and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day)
Live auction donations (please describe-Suggestions are gift cards, landscape material, products, electronics, equipment, etc )
$250 Station Sponsors your logo/name on individual station signage PLEASE PROVIDE A LIVE AUCTION ITEM (20 opportunities or 2 per station)
$250 Friday Breakfast at Back Forty Sporting Clays (2 opportunities) Silent/Live auction donations (please describe-Suggestions are gift cards, landscape material, products, electronics, equipment, etc )
$300 Prize (2 opportunities) will be awarded to first-place individuals on each team ($50 Visa gift cards)
IAH STUDY GUIDE
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.
There are over 700 Indiana Accredited Horticulturists and over 125 Master Horticulturists. The success of the program and the upgrading of the personnel in the nursery industry are direct results of the emphasis the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association have placed on education programs. You are encouraged to take advantage of this valued educational service of your association.
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.
Text: © George Brenn
CHAPTER 10
Study Guide
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, 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 (eg: 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 over winter 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 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.
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 preemergent 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-emergence 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 exstg 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
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 fdeath of the weed. Post-emergent herbicides are often applied with spreadersticker (= 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 & FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS
Jackson Sebinoza
Excel Center West
Indianapolis, Indiana
Nubia Gutierrez
Indianapolis Metropolitan High School
Indianapolis, Indiana
Jonathan Coy
Jonathan (Adam) Fuller
Ethan Gee
Ian Gray
Fungicides are also characterized by their Target Site specificity - Site-specific fungicides react with one very specific, very important biochemical process. Multisite fungicides have multiple modes of action, so they affect multiple target sites, and simultaneously interfere with numerous metabolic processes of the fungus (= many older fungicides like Mancozeb, etc.)
Cadyn Charles
Trenton Gnaden
Da ' Najia Hollis
N.C.C.F.
New Castle, Indiana
Michael Bolin
David Burch
Scott Coffey
Kyle Hutton
Christopher Kelley
Aaron Kistner
James Litherland
Gage Nelson
James O'Riley
Michael W. Purcell
Julio Quillo
Glenn Taylor
David Wright
IAH QUIZ
- JANUARY / FEBRUARY
IAH Quiz
Each quiz will be worth a .5 (onehalf) CEU!
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 (one-half) 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 Co-Chairs
- George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery
- Gabriel Gluesenkamp, Designscape Hort Services Committee Members
- Brian Bunge, Twixwood Nursery
- Wayne Gruber, Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply
- Jim Messmer
- Melissa Mravec, Allen Landscape
- Jodie Overmyer, Marshall County Soil and Water
Quiz Due August 31
1. Annual weeds reproduce by production.
2. Post-emergent herbicides are commonly referred to as ________ ___________
3. A geotextile fabric (weed mat) may be largely ineffective for controlling established perennial weeds in landscape beds. T or F
4. Pre-emergent herbicides must thoroughly cover all weed foliage. T or F
5. A herbicide label provides on the proper rate to apply and on which crops the product may be used
6. "It is a violation of to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its _____________.”
7. Annual weeds can be classified as either annuals or annuals.
8. Wild Carrot and Garlic Mustard are examples of ___________ weeds.
9. Quackgrass and Crabgrass are examples of annual dicot weeds. T or F
10. Weed control methods in nurseries may include prevention & sanitation, cultivation, mowing, and hand weeding.
11. Best weed control is accomplished when the appropriate weed killer is applied to ____________ ____________ weed ______________.
12. Surfactants are often added to post emergent herbicide spray solutions to improve performance. These products are also known as ____________.
13. Weeds among desirable plants are bad because they compete for __________, nutrients and ___________, resulting in poor growth.
14. Simply pulling perennial grasses from a planting area is not a permanent means of weed control because ________________________________________________
15. Some post-emergent herbicides are systemic, which means they are by plant tissues in the leaves and to other plant parts.
16. Poison Ivy would be considered an herbaceous perennial weed. T or F
17. When developing a new planting bed in an open lawn area, killing the existing turf with Glyphosate and installing new shrubs without removing dead turf is acceptable. T of F
18. When remulching a landscape bed in early spring, it would be a good time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide before installing new mulch. T or F
19. 2,4-D is an example of a selective herbicide when applied at labeled rates. T or F
20. Every landscape bed should receive an application of pre-emergent herbicide every year. T or F
Send answers to: info@inla1.org -or- mail to INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237
INDIANA NURSERY
INDIANA NURSERY
Rick Haggard, INLA Executive Director
Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association
7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247
Indianapolis, IN 46237
JULY | AUGUST 2024
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