Indiana Nursery & Landscape News, March/April 2014

The Official Publication of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 74 • Issue 2

March/April 2014

www.inla1.org

The Plant Issue A Plant’s Perspective on This Winter

A Salute to Sweet Gum and White Spruce Shrubs for Shady Areas Covering Ground with Perennials Top Ten Pests in Indiana Nurseries and How to Control Them p.16 Cover: INLA Award of Excellence Winner Hardscape Design/Build Residential Bruce Ewing Landscaping, Inc./Jim Saxton

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Scholarship Opportunities 6

Member Profile 12

2014 Turf and Landscape Field Day July 15, 2014 | W.H. Daniel Turf Center | West Lafayette, IN This one-day event presents Purdue University’s latest turfgrass and landscape research.

Attendees will learn about current topics concerning the green industry, as well as see displays and demos of the latest management tools. This event provides a great networking opportunity with over 40 industry vendors available in the trade show.

The 2014 Turf and Landscape Field Day will again combine the expertise of the Purdue University Turf Program and the Extension Specialists from the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture & Landscape Architecture. This provides the basis of the three educational tracts offered— Lawn & Sports, Golf, and Landscape tracts.

Exhibiting at the Field Day Trade Show Interested vendors should know this event successfully draws crowds of 475 to 600. The Field Day is a great opportunity to get noticed by Indiana green industry professionals.

Visit www.mrtf.org for exhibitor information or contact Tammy Goodale, tgoodale@purdue.edu or 765-494-8039.

Plan to Attand!

Pre-registration (includes lunch): ............................ $40.00 Onsite registration (lunch not included): ............. $60.00 Become a new member of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) before the Field Day and one person will get free admittance into the Field Day! Call Tammy Goodale at 765-494-8039 for more information.

Visit www.mrtf.org for registration from or contact Tammy Goodale, tgoodale@purdue.edu or 765-494-8039.

We hope you can join us on July 15 for the 2014 Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day. Sponsored in part by Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, Purdue University Turf Program and Extension, Department of Agronomy, and Department of 2012 event Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 74 • Issue 2 March/April 2014

Contents The Plant Issue 20 A Plant’s Perspective on This Winter

Kyle Daniel, Purdue University

22 A Salute to Sweet Gum and White Spruce 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 Donna Sheets, Executive Director, INLA 317-889-2382 • dsheets@inla1.org Editor and Ad Sales Mary Breidenbach, Cumulus Design 317-205-9635 • mary@ecumulus.com

Michele Robeson-Howard, Robeson Farms

26 Shrubs for Shady Areas

Annette Hancock, Brehob Nursery

28 Covering Ground with Perennials

Kate Jones, Blue Moon Farm

30 Top Ten Pests in Indiana Nurseries and How to Control Them

Vince Burkle and Eric Bitner, Indiana Department of Natural Resources PLUS

Advertising Rates: Available upon request.

Member Nurser y List! p.32

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 on Lake Wawasee. Photo courtesy of Bruce Ewing Landscaping, Inc./Jim Saxton. See page 18 for a list of all the INLA Award of Excellence winners.

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8

Departments 2

President’s Message

4

Calendar

6 6 7 8 12

INLA News Horticultural Scholarship Opportunities Movers & Shakers Indiana Green Expo 2014 Member Profile: Mike Womack, Charlotte Creek Nursery 14 Trees in History: One of America’s First Amenity Tree Appraisals 16

2013 Indiana Nursery and Landscape Awards

34

George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide

16

35 Advertiser List 36

IAH Quiz! Earn CEUs by completing the quiz!

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2012

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President’s Message What a winter it’s been! As I write this letter it’s mid-February and there is still snow covering the ground with the prediction of a few more inches coming our way. Hopefully, as you read this, we will be starting our spring thaw.

Speaking of challenging weather, I want to thank everyone for coming to the Indiana Green Expo despite the record snowfall we received that week. We are a hardy and determined bunch.

The conference and trade show was well attended and I hope provided you with new information to take back and use this Robert Johnstone coming season. Once again, the participants of the 2nd Annual Landscape Challenge built some fantastic booths. Congratulations to the winning team of Dean Knipp, JDK Hardscapes. Thanks too, to all our sponsors for without them we could not have such a nice show. A summary of the Indiana Green Expo with lots pictures is on pages 8-10.

Also at the Indiana Green Expo we celebrated the best of 2013 with our annual award presentation. Tough competition this year with so many stand-out projects. See pages 16-18 for complete list of all the winners. After the awards we held a live auction that benefitted the INEF scholarship fund. A big thanks to all who donated material for the event and of course, to all those who made purchases that night.

As the warm weather approaches, I’m sure you are getting excited and making plans for the 2014-planting season. The INLA is doing the same thing. We kicked off the year with our annual committee meeting in February where INLA members volunteer to be on a committee and plan the year ahead. You may not realize it, but INLA exists because of members donating their time to create the education, communication, membership, and events you receive throughout the year. While the meetings went very well, we always have room for more. You are welcome to join a committee at any time during the year. Just call Donna Sheets at the INLA office or myself and we’ll get you in touch with the committee of your interest.

The Indiana Flower and Patio Show is coming up on March 8-16 at the State Fair Grounds. This event always seems to jump start the year and gets me pumped for spring. It’s a great opportunity to check out beautiful gardens and visit with the INLA members who also have booths at the event.

With the excitement of spring, I hope you enjoy this expanded edition of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape News with it’s theme of plants. It contains a wealth of information and recommendations for the season ahead.

Yours in Rock, Robert C Johnstone robert@fireboulder.com 317-750-7384

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

–Abraham Lincoln

2014 INLA Officers Robert Johnstone, President Fireboulder 226 E. Staat St. Fortville, IN 46040 Ph: 317-750-7384 Brian Julius, President-Elect Walnut Ridge Nursery & Garden Center 2108 Hamburg Pike Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Ph: 812-288-6691; Fax 812-288-1580 Erick Brehob Vice President Brehob Nursery, Inc. 4316 Bluff Road Indianpolis, IN 46217 Ph: 317-783-3233

Rich Blankenship, Honorary Secretary Mark M. Holeman, Inc. 7871 Hague Road Indianapolis, IN 46256-1753 Ph: 317-849-3120; Fax 317-578-0439 Donna Sheets INLA Executive Director and Publisher Mailing address for INLA office: 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Ph: 317-889-2382 or 800-443-7336 Fax: 317-889-3935 • www.inla1.org Email: dsheets@inla1.org

INLA Board of Directors Jim Calvin (2015), Calvin Landscape Ph: 317-247-6316 Kyle Daniel (2014), Purdue University, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture • Ph: 765-494-7621 Brian Franco (2016), Franco Landscaping Ph: 317-858-3858 Kim Glass (2014), M.J. Schuetz Agency Ph: 317-639-5679 Gabriel Gluesenkamp (2016), Designscape Horticultural Services • Ph: 812-988-8900

Stay connected to INLA between issues.

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

Receive: Latest notices, the digital version of the magazine, reminders for events, and much more.

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Kate Jones (2014), Blue Moon Farm Ph: 765-675-2413 Dave LaFara (2015), Tiffany Lawn and Garden Supply • Ph: 317-228-4900 Mark O’Brien (2016), Cardno JFNew Ph: 574-586-2412 Dean Ricci (2014), Ricci’s Landscape Management, Inc. • Ph: 219-996-2682 Open postion

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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CALENDAR March 2014 4–7 Clarke Mosquito Control Workshops (Various locations in Indiana) • Free • 10:00 am – 3:00 pm • Each session will help you analyze your program and provide practical information to help maximize your operation.

March 4 – Clarksville March 6 – Fort Wayne March 5 – Indianapolis March 7– Hammond Registration: http://www.clarkeworkshops.com Maximum CEUs: 8(4), RT(4) 28

Spring Landscape Meeting Roots Roadshow Fort Wayne, IN • Topics covered — tree health, planting, insects.

Contact: Rick Kemery, 260-481-6435, kemeryr@purdue.edu Maximum Credits Available: 2(4), 3A(4), RT(4)

April 2014 10

4th Annual Interior Plantscape Symposium Longwood Gardens • Kennett Square, PA • This one-day technical symposium offers practical training for the front line with opportunities to earn CEUs toward Landscape Industry Certified recertification as well as pesticide credits.

Contact: PLANET, www.landcarenetwork.org 22

Earth Day & PLANET Day of Service This grassroots effort allows industry professionals to create volunteer lawn care and landscape projects in their own communities and helps raise awareness about the importance of caring for green spaces. In the past five years nearly 1,000 projects have been conducted in communities across the country.

More information: www.planetdayofservice.org

New & Returning INLA Members Active Greenvision LLC (765) 429-4900 Brian Klemme PO Box 831 Lafayette IN 47902

Laura Stine Gardens (260) 414-7758 Laura Stine 3703 Suburban Drive Fort Wayne IN 46804

Kairos Landscape & Design (812) 598-9862 Benjamin Kloc 10320 Old State Road Evansville IN 47711

Not Just A Garden Center (574) 257-4361 Brett Parks 1502 Union Street Mishawaka IN 46544

Associate M & K Quality Truck Sales of Indianapolis (317) 784-3740 Mark Dawson 1401 Harding Court Indianapolis IN 46217

4

Terebinth Tree Care (317) 507-4197 Sean Riley 11463 Old Stone Drive Indianapolis IN 46236

New Initial IAH

Nina Evans, Indianapolis, IN Alicia Aldridge, Indianapolis, IN Cindy Nelson, Indianapolis, IN Kathy Neihaus, Indianapolis, IN

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Spring Home & Garden Shows Porter County Home & Lifestyle Show March 7 – 9, 2014 Porter County Expo Center Valparaiso, IN http://www.hbanwi.com/events/ home-and-lifestyle-shows/ Indiana Flower & Patio Show March 8 –16, 2014 Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis Admission: Adults $13; Children 12 and under free www.hsishows.com Greater Lafayette Home and Garden Show March 15 – 16, 2014 Tippecanoe Fairgrounds, Lafayette www.midwestrentalsinc.com Monroe County Master Gardeners GardenFair 2014!

April 5, 2014 • 9am – 4pm Indiana National Guard Armory Bloomington, Indiana www.mcmga.net/gardenfair.htm Tippecanoe Master Gardens’ Garden Expo April 26, 2014 • 10 am – 3 pm Tippecanoe Fairgrounds, Lafayette Admission: Free www.tippecanoemastergardener.org Orchard in Bloom Garden Show May 2 – 4, 2014 Holliday Park, Indianapolis Admission: $10 www.orchardinbloom.org

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

© 2014 Walters Gardens, Inc.

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INLA News

Horticultural Scholarship Opportunities ­ Upcoming Spring deadlines!

Several horticultural scholarships are available to high school and college students.

Below is a summary of what is available. Each scholarship has its own rules and eligibilities, so please go to the appropriate website and read the details carefully.

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Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association’s Scholarship (Indiana) Deadline April 15 • Information: www.inla1.org/schalorship

The Indiana Nursery Endowment Fund is offering a $2,000 scholarship to be awarded to a full-time student enrolling at Purdue University or Vincennes University in landscape horticulture. The scholarship recipient will receive $1,000 at the beginning of the fall semester.

The final $1,000 will be awarded to the recipient at the beginning of the third semester provided they are still enrolled in landscape horticulture at Purdue University or Vincennes University and have achieved a C grade average.

Lawn & Landscape/GIE Media Horticultural Scholarship (national) Deadline: April 15 • Info: www.lawnandlandscape.com/horticultural-scholarship.aspx

Lawn & Landscape and its parent company, GIE Media, have established a fund to support academic scholarships for outstanding college students focused on leading in the green industry. Two scholarships each worth $2,500 available.

2014 American Floral Endowment Scholarships (national) Deadline: May 1 • Information: www.endowment.org

Now is the time for horticulture and floriculture students to apply for more than 20 different scholarships through the American Floral Endowment (AFE). AFE offers scholarships to three different levels of students: for only undergraduate students, for undergradute or graduate students, and for only graduate students. AFE encourages students to apply for scholarships early as the need for financial assistance in floriculture and environmental horticulture programs is great. For 2014, AFE will award just less than $40,000 in scholarships.

Horticultural Research Institute Scholarship (national) Deadline: May 31 • Information: www.HRIresearch.org

The HRI has three scholarships available nationally —the Bryan A. Champion Memorial Scholarship, the Springmeadow Nursery Scholarship, and the Mugget Scholarship to students studying horticulture, landscaping and other related nursery industry studies. The scholarship award ranges from $1,000 to $3,000.

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INLA News

Movers

&

Shakers

Listed are INLA members, their employees, or their organizations who have achieved recognition, special acknowledgments, an award, or a new position. Submit your news to Donna Sheets at dsheets@inla1.org or by fax at 317-889-3935.

Salsbery Brothers Landscaping Named Carmel Chamber Business of the Year

Salsbery Brothers Landscaping was named Business of the Year for the small- to mid-sized category at the Carmel Chamber’s December 11 annual awards luncheon. The Applause Business of the Year award is presented to a small to mid-sized business and a large business based on their success in growth and stability, commitment to quality, creative and unique solutions to challenges, entrepreneurial spirit, and overall contribution to the community.

The company is a strong partner for local organizations and events, including Carmelfest, Carmel’s Japanese Garden, Carmel Clay Historical Society, Hamilton County Humane Society, Eastwood School and more. They host field trips and hayrides for schools and organizations, and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

Winner of the 2013 Carmel Green Award

The Green award sponsored by Vine & Branch and the Carmel Chamber of Commerce was recently presented to the City of Carmel Utilities for their city-wide trash and recycling program, which increased recycling and reduced the cost of trash collection at the same time. Prior to the program, approximately 33% of Carmel residents participated in curbside recycling; participation is now 80%.

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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Indiana Green Expo 2014 Thank you for weathering the weather!!!

Donna Sheets, INLA Executive Director The 2014 Indiana Green Expo was a true test of determination and resilience by our exhibitors and attendees…weathering more than 15 inches of snow in some areas and subzero temperatures as low as -15ºF… I personally haven’t seen anything like it since 1978 and hope to never see it again in my lifetime.

The day before our set-up, my home/ office lost power, so checking into a hotel was mandatory. While talking with one of our IGE attendees who lives near me, he loaned us a generator to at least keep the furnace running. My husband was left to hold down the fort. A big thank you to Ralph Hill of Lighthouse Lawn and Landscape for his kindness and generosity.

On Tuesday, January 7th, we offered move-in for our equipment exhibitors. Unfortunately many of them couldn’t make it due to equipment buried and frozen in the snow but they showed up the next day! San Juan Pools managed to bring a 36´ trailer and fiberglass pool from Chicago in the subzero temps… mind you, it took him 9 hours. (Read description of this whiteknuckle road trip on page 9.)

In spite of the weather, we had a great turnout from our exhibitors and attendees.

This show is always a great time of reunion, education, and opportunity to see new products and those that are tried and true!

Now more than ever we appreciate each and every one of you who attended, educated, exhibited, sponsored, and vol8

unteered during the Indiana Green Expo 2014!

As not-for-profit organizations, we continue to run a pretty lean operation.

Without our volunteer boards and committee members, we could not pull this off.

There are always some who go above and beyond... you know who you are and we thank you.

Additional highlights this year are…

• 1,330 green industry professionals registered • 123 companies/organizations exhibited, occupying 182 booths • CCHs and CEUs were available • Best of Show Booth Awards were presented to: - Green Goods: Heartland Growers - Hard Goods: Unilock - Most Interactive:

Kenney Machinery Corporation - Equipment: Bobcat of Indy Educational programming was coordinated by Purdue’s Aaron Patton for the MRTF and Kyle Daniel for the INLA. Each organization received suggestions from their respective board and education committee members.

INLA’s Scholarship Fund (INEF) raised more than $10,059 (a record amount) due to the booth product donations of our exhibitors and our live auction for the Landscape Challenge products.

Considering many exhibitors are travel-

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

ing much lighter, this was a great success.

Thank you INEF board members (comprised of INLA Past Presidents).

Once again, we thank you for your continued support. If you didn’t have time to complete the education and trade show evaluations provided, take a minute and send an email to dsheets@inla1.org or tgoodale@purdue.edu. Your comments are critical to improving our programming and trade show each year.

Thanks to all the

2014 IGE Sponsors

The Winning Landscape

Corporate Sponsor

Blue Grass Farms Signage Sponsor

Brehob Nursery Trade Show Break Sponsor BASF Stoops Freightliner ICPI Lunch Sponsor TechoBloc Opening Session Break Sponsor Pathway Biologic Friday Lunch Sponsors Agrium Direct Solutions BASF Blue Grass Farms Brehob Nursery Cardno JFNew Greendell Mulch & Mix Indiana Flower & Patio Show LaPorte County Nursery Price Nurseries Reading Rock Lounge Furnishings Engledow Group Landscape Challenge Sponsors Blue Moon Farm Brehob Nursery CM Hobbs, Inc. Forrest Commodities Greendell Mulch & Mix Tiffany Lawn & Garden Unilock

Landscape Challenge 2014 This year’s winning team was titled “The Cutters” by our chair, Brian Franco. We had two teams confirmed and one team from northern Indiana that planned to compete.

When the weather became an obstacle, Brian reached out to several companies to see if they would be interested. As you can imagine, this was a daunting task with the snow and subzero temps.

Dean Knipp of JDK Hardscapes stepped up and took the challenge. His team was composed of Michael Knipp, Cole Hetrick, and Danny Taylor (who is with Tiffany Lawn and Garden). The final touch was added by Dean’s wife, Jessica Knipp, who was also their biggest supporter!

We appreciate the time each company gave to participate. We look forward to next year! Additional photos of the Challenge are at www.indianagreenexpo.com.

The Winners!

Team JDK Hardscapes

The Competition!

San Juan Pools’ Drive to Indiana Green Expo Probably the biggest highlight of the trip from Chicago to Indianapolis was how long it took, 9 hours. Tuesday morning, when John Paravola, Regional Sales Manager, came to pick me up, we actually considered waiting until Wednesday morning, but we thought it could cause a problem at the Indiana Expo. Because of the size of our pool, we needed to be in the Convention Center early. With the understanding that I-65 was still closed, we said, “Let’s give it a try.” We really didn’t travel much over 20 miles an hour for over 50% of the trip. I-65 was like a country road, with multiple potholes, and downtown Indianapolis was just as bad. Even though it was long, and something neither John nor I had everexperienced, we were very glad we made the trip. The Expo was very productive for our company, and we look forward to showing at the Indiana Expo again in the future.

–Tom McCarthy, National Sales Manager, San Juan Pools

More on the Indiana Green Expo on page 10.

Tom McCarthy and John Paravola

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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INLA News

2014 IGE Exhibitors AAT Direct Solutions.............. 219-313-5545 Acorn Farms, Inc.................... 614-891-9348 Advanced Turf Solutions........ 317-842-1088 AgFuel Energy Systems.......... 417-440-2091 Agrecol..................................608-223-3571 American Express Open......... 317-850-9996 Aquatic Control, Inc...............812-497-2410 Automatic Irrigation Supply........................... 317-842-3123 Bailey Nurseries, Inc............... 573-910-3266 BASF ...................................... 937-604-5617 Bayer......................................630-215-6110 Belgard Hardscapes............... 317-787-3201 Bert R. Hybels, Inc................. 219-707-7731 BFG Supply Company...........440-498-8337 Biodyne Midwest................... 260-414-5902 Black Swan Enterprises.......... 765-421-3161 Blue Grass Farms................... 765-649-1012 Blue Moon Farm.....................765-675-2413 Bobcat of Indy....................... 317-787-2201 Brehob Nursery, Inc............... 317-783-3233 C.M. Hobbs, Inc.................... 317-837-8301 Cardno JFNew........................574-586-2412 Caudill Seed Co.....................502-724-3644 CISCO Companies, The..........317-357-7013 CountryMark......................... 317-238-8218 Dow AgroSciences..................317-727-2241 Drainage Solutions, Inc..........317-346-4110 Eason Horticultural Resources......................859-578-3535 Eby’s Evergreen Plantation, Inc............... 574-848-4520 Eco Border............................. 813-732-3301 Eco Surface Solutions............ 574-227-4156 Everdry Waterproofing..........260-493-4100 Everris................................... 513-300-0033 Fireboulder............................ 317-750-7384 Forest Commodities, Inc........ 765-349-3291 Forrest Keeling Nursery......... 573-895-5571 Gilson Gardens, Inc.............. 440-259-4845 Golf Cars Plus........................ 765-499-1944 Grasshopper Company..........620-345-8621 GrassMasters Sod Farm.......... 812-779-5468 GreenCycle............................ 317-773-3350 Greendell Mulch & Mix......... 317-996-2826 Greenleaf Nursery.................800-331-2982 Grigg Brothers.......................260-450-4772 Harrell’s LLC........................... 863-687-2774 Heartland Growers................ 317-896-9355 Heiby Supplies, Turf Div........ 419-368-4238 Hill Company, The.................260-409-3363 Holly Scent/CTI Cable Ties..... 765-793-2318 Home Nursery, Inc................. 618-248-5194 Hortech, Inc.......................... 616-842-1392 Indiana 811............................ 317-893-1404 Indiana DNR, Div. of Entomology & Plant Pathology...........317-232-4123 Indiana Flower & Patio Show.317-576-9933 Indiana Golf Course Superintendents Association........................ 765-744-6145 Indiana Mulch & Stone LLC... 317-638-8334 Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association... 317-889-2382 10

Indianapolis Landscape Association.................... 317-837-8801 Indy Bubbling Boulders......... 317-410-6252 IPLLA......................................317-575-9010 J West LLC.............................. 574-606-6548 J. Frank Schmidt & Son..........800-825-8202 J&D Turf................................ 317-842-1088 John Deere Landscapes.......... 317-535-7891 Kankakee Nursery Co............ 815-937-9358 Kenney Machinery Corp........ 317-872-4793 Knox Fertilizer Company....... 219-871-4076 Kuert Supply Center.............. 574-232-9911 L.T. Rich Products..................765-482-2040 La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed LLC........................765-557-4455 LaPorte County Nursery........ 219-785-2891 Lastec.................................... 317-892-4444 Lebanon Fertilizer and Seed... 517-339-1987 Links Aerification Plus............ 317-627-4368 Locke De-Icing Solutions....... 317-443-3527 M&K Quailty Truck Sales....... 317-701-4045 MacAllister Machinery Co...... 317-788-4624 Mid-State Truck Equipment... 317-849-4903 Midwest Equipment & Supply Co., Inc.............. 812-425-6216 Midwest Golf and Turf...........765-461-9026 Midwest Groundcovers......... 847-742-1790 Midwest Invasive Plant Network........................ 317-829-3812 Midwest Regional Turf Foundation....................765-494-8039 Millcreek Gardens LLC........... 740-666-7125 MJ Schuetz Insurance Services, Inc................... 317-639-5679 Mower Shop, The.................. 317-849-9500 National Irrigation Association.317-842-3123 National Nursery Products..... 317-652-5927 Natural Stone and Tile........... 317-863-5926 NewPro Containers............... 317-733-8499 Northland Farms................... 616-846-1477 Office of Indiana State Chemist......................... 765-494-1589 PBI-Gordon............................ 317-432-6195 Perennials Plus....................... 317-867-5504 Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab, Purdue University.......... 765-494-4641 Plantangible LLC....................828-551-8361 Power Equipment Distributors....................800-624-2932 Price Nurseries....................... 574-936-4459 Professional Golfcar............... 812-322-5168 Purdue Extension The Education Store.......765-496-6398 Reading Rock, Inc...................317-417-6027 Residex LLC............................248-881-2411 Reynolds Farm Equipment......317-757-9766 Salt Services.......................... 317-733-2993 San Juan Pools...................... 630-206-4004 SePro Corporation................. 317-580-8282 Shade Trees Unlimited, Inc....260-248-2733 Sod Solutions....................... 843-284-2335 SpinalCare............................. 317-272-4100 Sterling Formulations............ 317-490-0823

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Stone Center of Indiana......... 317-849-9100 Stoops Freightliner................ 317-916-6526 Studebaker Nurseries.............937-405-5588 Syngenta................................317-431-3318 Tenbarge Seed & Turfgrass Supplies.........................812-768-6157 Tiffany Lawn & Garden.......... 317-654-5105 Turf Fuel.................................248-881-2411 Twixwood Nursery, LLC......... 269-471-7408 Unilock.................................. 630-892-9191 Vine & Branch....................... 317-846-3778 Wehrkamp Enterprises........... 419-678-8666 Wolf Creek Company............ 937-470-2799 Woody Warehouse Nursery... 317-994-5487

Best Booths

Green Goods: Heartland Growers

Hard Goods: Unilock

Most Interactive: Kenney Machinery Corporation

Equipment: Bobcat of Indy

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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12/5/13 10:54 AM

INLA News

Member Profile — Mike Womack Mike is the founder and co-owner of Charlotte Creek Nursery in Carthage, Indiana. Charlotte Creek grows a variety of shade, ornamental and evergreen trees for the industry. The nursery will celebrate 10 years in the green industry next season. Charlotte Creek was certified as a Woman Owned Business (WBE) in 2013 by the state of Indiana.

What is your company’s specialty and what is your position in your company?

We are a family-owned, wholesale grower of shade, ornamental, and evergreen trees to the industry. We began growing in 2005 on our farm east of Greenfield, Indiana.

My official position is Vice President, but my job (like many of yours) is varied and exciting, working on everything from selecting the varieties of trees we plant to overseeing our production staff and working with customers. Never a dull moment!

Charlotte Creek focuses on growing quality 1.5˝ to 5˝ balled and burlap trees and evergreens. We farm over 40 acres of trees, approximately 20,000 at some stage of development. My wife Carrie became active in the business in 2010 and we became a certified Woman Owned Business in the state of Indiana in 2013.

How did you get started in the green industry? What led you to your current position?

I began my trek toward the green industry with a biology degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from Ball State. After cofounding and managing an environmental engineering firm for about a decade, I was ready for a new challenge. I traded the management of projects and people for trees. Nurseryman Mike Cook of Rose Hill Creek Nursery in Manhattan, Illinois, was instrumental in my transition. He mentored me in the field and answered countless questions. Always encouraged to not get too high or low with the swings in the industry.

Sound advice looking back!

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What have been some of the challenges you have overcome or are working to overcome?

The challenges are always where the opportunities lie. Here are a couple that come to mind: 1. What do you do with 3˝ trees when no one is buying? An issue we all faced in one way or another. Prices had dropped well below what it cost to grow the material.

Looking to the future, we were generous with our time, talent, and TREES. We donated hundreds of trees to worthy causes versus bulldozing them. It doesn’t always pay the bills tomorrow, but it improves the environment and builds relationships that last a lifetime. Many of those projects have led to connections and great friends we still work with today.

2. How do you know what to plant for harvest in 3–5 years? The question I wrestle with most. As we’ve seen in the market, varieties and cultivars can fall in and out of favor in a couple years. It seems that the environment we are asking the trees to perform in is getting tougher (weather extremes, exotic pests, pollution). Add to that the explosion of new cultivars being introduced to the market every year (at last count 40-50 a season), and the architects, growers, and landscapers have a real challenge on their hands.

I posed this question to Michael Dirr when he visited the Indy Green Expo.

He agreed with the challenge, but couldn’t offer any silver bullet other than “You have to plant them for yourself to determine if the marketing material is true.” The reality is our customers and the environment are ever changing and a mix of the “old standbys” along with a selection of the “improved cultivars” will likely be the most effective. The questions for the grower: which ones and how many?

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What has helped you progress in your position?

The single most helpful tool is interaction with people. Spending time with customers (delivering to their jobsites), working in the field with the crew, attending seminars with colleagues; each is invaluable. There is no substitute for seeing with your own eyes and listening with your own ears.

If I can add one more, it would be hiring people better than you to work alongside. Jeremy Addleman (IAH) is an exceptional farm manager who works at the nursery, passionate about growing great trees and a great listener and communicator.

His leadership has been instrumental in our growth.

Do you have a pet green industry issue or area that you like to progress or are excited about?

My pet “green issue” is what we plant for the next 30 years. I believe we need to leave our “neighborhoods” with trees that can withstand, and thrive. At Charlotte Creek, we grow a wide variety of trees, natives to new cultivars. Because “seeing is believing,” we want to grow as many new offerings as we can to see how they do in our fields. We also stay in close contact with our customers on how they are performing in the “real world” over time.

What sustains your interest in and out of work?

What sustains me is my wonderful wife Carrie and our three great children (9, 7, and 3). They take up the majority of any free time. Coaching little league, weekend basketball games, and fun with friends fill our lives. We are blessed by the many opportunities that cross our path.

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Jud Scott, Vine & Branch, Inc.

One of America’s First Amenity Tree Appraisals Tree disputes have existed in America from the beginning of European settlement.

In 1683 Frances Nurse sued Zerubabell Endicott for trespass. She claimed in her suit that “Mr. Endicott’s agents had trespassed onto her property and cut forty seven of her trees as they gathered firewood for Mr. Endicott for the winter.”

According to the Salem Quarterly Court Records and Files on March 20, 16821683, agents John How and John Dale “appraised the damages to Nurse at 47s., there having been forty seven trees felled and carted away…”

Testimony for the defense laid out that in fact the trees belonged to Mr. Endicott because the property line was “upon the county road below the hemlock tree…which tree was attested to be the bounds between the property owners.” Further testimony showed that the “hemlock tree had fallen upon the sawmill frame” but that the line was indeed at that point. The court ruled in Mr. Endicott’s favor because the trees were in fact on his property. Mrs. Nurse appealed and lost a second time.

What we see from this court record is that many things have not changed. In America and across the world, trees are still cut and hauled away, property owners still do not know their property lines, people still appraise trees, courts still rule, and plaintiffs still appeal.

It is my speculation that John How and John Dale were perhaps the first Amenity Tree Appraisers in America?

Little dam near Beisel sawmill. Photo courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

About the Author Jud Scott is a lover of trees and history and has earned the designation of Registered Consulting Arborist #392 (RCA) with the American Society of Consulting Arborists. As an RCA, Jud advises attorneys, landscape companies, park departments, developers, architects, and insurance companies, as well as homeowners concerning their trees and landscapes.

Jud can be reached at Vine & Branch Inc., 317-846-1935, Treeconsultant@aol.com.

Website: www.vineandbranch.net.

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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The annual Indiana Nursery & Landscape Awards were presented on January 9, 2014, at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis during the Indiana Green Expo.

These awards recognize excellence in our industry — both the outstanding physical projects in 2013 as well as contributions by individuals throughout their career.

Congratulations to all winners this year!

INLA Award of Merit Frank Gieseking

Greendell Mulch & Mix Excerpt from presentation given by Stephonie Sheldon, ShrubWorks, Inc.

It all started with a little knowledge, a can-do attitude, a willingness to learn, and the ability to soak up wisdom whenever and wherever. This individual worked his way up from a job right out of high school to being the successful owner of Greendell Mulch and Mix. Not only learning all he could about the operations of the mulch business, but business in general got him where he is today.

It was not just from his work experience; he also gained knowledge from working with industry peers and his association affiliations.

Frank has served on various industry boards including the INLA for over 10 years as well as holding offices and as past president.

With a vision of what Greendell could be, he became the owner in 2001. His model was educating his clients, great customer service, a great product, and being fair with customers or anyone he dealt with. He continues to be a market leader with quality products and continually takes care of his clients.

Frank’s employees know he is very deserving of this award due to his commitment to the landscape industry, always treating his customers with generosity and respect and a willingness to help and give advice. Frank is the kind of person you just have to like with his contagious laugh, great sense of humor, giant heart, and the wisdom to let his employees help him succeed — making for a great boss and very deserving of the Award of Merit.

Frank Gieseking and Stephanie Sheldon 16

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Nursery & Landscape Achievement Award Jud Scott

Vine & Branch Excerpt from presentation given by Mary Breidenbach, Editor, Indiana Nursery & Landscape News

I nominated Jud because I believe he exemplifies what this award is all about. That is, someone who has given freely of his time to strengthen the green industry in Indiana. For the past five years Jud has faithfully contributed a regular column to the INLA News called, “Trees in History.”

Hopefully you are familiar with the column. But if you are not, the column explores the history behind some of the oldest trees in Indiana as well as trees that were significant in our state’s history.

These stories remind and educate us about the significance and influence trees and nature have on our shared history and how they continue to do so. This type of reflection strengthens our connection with the state, our communities, and each other.

In addition to his part-time writing career, Jud Scott is an accomplished tree expert. He is...

• President of Vine & Branch, which is an arboricultural contracting firm in the Carmel specializing in tree preservation, plant health care, and tree care.

• One of three Registered Consulting Arborists in the state of Indiana • Certified Arborist • Member (and Past President) of the American Society of Consulting Arborists • Member, UK Arborists Association

This award is just a token of our appreciation for all the time you’ve spent over the past 5 years researching and writing these stories. We thank you for sharing your love of trees and history with us, and are grateful that you will continue to do so in 2014.

Mary Breidenbach and Jud Scott

Indiana Nursery & Landscape Employee of the Year Award Ben Eddington

Mark M. Holeman, Inc. Nominated by Rich Blankenship, Mark M. Holeman, Inc..

There are so many reasons why I nominated Ben for this award. Here are just a few of those reasons.

Scholarships H.W. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship:

The Henry W. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship, a permanent trust fund established to support and maintain one or more awards, has been presented annually since 1975. A permanent plaque bearing the names of scholarship winners is located in the Purdue Department of Horticulture.

This year’s winners are: Katie Myers Alex Milanoski (unable to attend)

• Ben Eddinton has been with Mark M. Holeman for seven years as IPM manager. He took the job and has grown this department by 50%, through efficiencies and hard work.

Katie Myers receiving the award from Dr. Robert Joly.

• Ben is trusted and respected by clients. I hear often from clients how much they feel comfortable with Ben on their properties and how responsible and caring he is.

Clients feel they can count on Ben to serve them in many capacities.

• He is always willing to jump in and lend a hand where needed. He is task-oriented, never complains, and gets the job done.

• He performs his IPM job with the type of responsibility and integrity required to use and apply pesticides.

• In addition, Ben is unselfish, dedicated, and easygoing.

• Ben is respected by peers and management as a go-to person for whatever help is needed.

• He is the inaugural winner of our company’s “Employee of the Quarter” award. Hands-down picked by his peers.

• Ben is a true model employee that all at our company rely on and are proud to be working beside every day.

• In addition, Ben is married with one child born around this time last year.

I am happy to present this award to Ben before he moves into his new position this season managing our maintenance staff and services.

Indiana Nursery Endowment Fund:

The recipient must be enrolled as a new full-time student in a degree objective program in the fall of the year at Vincennes University or Purdue University. The major must be Landscape Horticulture. Awards are based on academic merit, personal qualities and interests, and letters of recommendation. INEF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

This year’s winner is: Andrew Becker

Andrew Becker receiving the INEF scholarship from Rick Haggard.

Rich Blankenship and Ben Eddington

More awards on next page!

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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Landscape Design/Build Residential Bruce Ewing Landscaping/Jim Saxton Project: Private Residence, Lake Wawasee Jim Saxton Bruce Ewing Landscaping/Jim Saxton

Landscape Maintenance Residential The American Gardener, LLC in conjunction with GardenArt Project: Private Residence, West Lafayette Karen Sullivan The American Gardener, LLC

Hardscape Design/Build Residential Bruce Ewing Landscaping/Jim Saxton Project: Private Residence, Lake Wawasee Jim Saxton Bruce Ewing Landscaping/Jim Saxton

Hardscape Installation Residential Small’s Landscaping, INC. Project: Private Residence, Michigan City Nancy Small-Marshall Small’s Landscaping, Inc.

Landscape Installation Commercial Becker Landscape Contractors, INC. Project: Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville Steve Hastings Becker Landscape Contractors, Inc.

Landscape Design/Build Commercial Becker Landscape Contractors, INC. Project: Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville Adam Bossung Becker Landscape Contractors, Inc. Educational programs, such as the Indiana Green Expo, offer outstanding learning opportunities.

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Hardscape Installation Commercial Becker Landscape Contractors, INC. Project: CityWay, Indianapolis Bill Babcock Becker Landscape Contractors, Inc.

Hardscape Design/Build Commercial Aspen Outdoor Designs, Inc. Project: Reading Rock Outdoor Display, Fishers Blake Herbst and Jeff Behlmer Aspen Outdoor Designs, Inc.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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The Plant Issue 20 A Plant’s Perspective on This Winter 22 A Salute to Sweet Gum and White Spruce 26 Shrubs for Shady Areas 28 Covering Ground with Perennials 30 Top Ten Pests in Indiana Nurseries and How to Control Them

PLUS Member Nurser y List! p.32

A Plant’s Perspective on This Winter Kyle Daniel, Purdue University

This winter has held a long, cold grip on the Midwest and eastern part of the country so far this year. Even southern states down to southeastern Texas, Louisiana, and others haven’t been spared from the record cold temperatures.

In January, the temperatures were -10’s, with wind chill values recorded at -53oF in Lafayette, Indiana. With all of these freezing temperatures, many people are concerned about the negative effect on plants. For the most part, there shouldn’t be much damage to plant materials.

Figure 1: Snow piling up in landscapes and parking lot islands most likely contains salt or other ice melting chemicals. This could affect plants in 2014.

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Plants that are marginally cold hardy to your specific location could incur some damage, including dieback to the ground, such as crape myrtle. In recent years, these marginal plants survived due to mild winters, but expect possible damage this spring. Also, plants that have been stressed due to abiotic (non-living) or biotic (living) factors could exhibit some damage due to the abnormally cold temperatures this year.

The cold weather could indirectly cause notable damage due to the copious amounts of salt and other chemical treatments applied to roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots. Since the temperatures have stayed cold enough for several snowfall events to pile on these areas, road chemicals are being piled into landscapes and parking islands (Fig. 1). Plants that are sensitive to salt, for example Taxus spp., will most likely sustain some amount of damage in 2014.

Salt damage resembles drought symptoms or root damage. To mitigate this, rainfall or irrigation has been shown to be able to leach some of these products to minimize their effects on plants.

Plants that have evolved in temperate zone climates, such as the Midwest, use various methods to overcome freezing temperatures. The primary strategy utilized by deciduous plants is the process of dormancy. When dormancy begins in the late summer and into the fall, the plant is preparing for cold temperatures. This is accomplished via short days and cool temperatures. After the plant becomes

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

dormant, a specific number of chilling hours must occur before the plant will begin growth in the spring. It is during this endo-dormancy period that a plant is the most cold hardy of the season (Fig. 2).

The cold temperatures that the Midwest experienced have been during this period of maximum cold hardiness, so little damage is to be expected to normally “healthy” plants.

Plants have processes that contribute to cold tolerance. These processes are mechanical and chemical in nature.

Mechanical processes, such as evacuating water from intracellular to intercellular (inside to outside) the cell to prevent ice formation that damages the cell, are a part of what is regarded as super-cooling.

This process, in turn, will increase the amount of solutes, including salts, within

Figure 2: The cold hardiness of temperate deciduous plants at the beginning of dormancy, during dormancy, and at bud break. The plant is most cold hardy during the winter.

A Plant’s Perspective on This Winter (continued) the cell. This decreases the freezing point within the cell, thus limiting the amount of intracellular freezing and the amount of damage to the plant as a whole. Plants produce chemicals, such as phenolic compounds, which contribute to cold hardiness via the production of suberin, tannins, and other products. Also, some hormones help regulate both mechanical and chemical changes in the plant that contribute to protection.

Most plants are most cold hardy in the buds, which is where the actively dividing cells will begin to grow in the spring (Fig. 3). In cold hardy plants, the buds can survive through extremely low temperatures.

Due to the plants being at maximum cold hardiness, this cold weather streak we have experienced should not cause adverse effects on plants. Expect normal bud break this spring with few issues.

Figure 3: Two buds from Gingko biloba taken in late January 2014. Notice the green tissue of the vertically dissected sample in the apical end of the buds, which illustrates the lack of cold injury.

About the Author Kyle Daniel is the Nursery and Landscape Outreach Specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. He can be reached at daniel38@purdue.edu. Check for updates to our website for the Nursery and Landscape Industry and the Purdue Nursery and Landscape Extension on Facebook.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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A Salute to Sweet Gum and White Spruce Michele Robeson-Howard, Owner, Robeson Farms

Sweet Gum in the field and at rigiht, a close-up of their beautiful, dark green, glossy leaves.

It was seven, maybe eight years ago, and they called it the 100-year flood. A sea of water, 2 feet deep, sat in my fields for two weeks. I feared the worst. Hundreds of trees would die.

No tree could survive two weeks of standing water. Or could they?

After that awful year, I divided trees into two categories: trees that can swim, and trees that can’t swim. Of course the Red Maples were fine. They can swim. They didn’t even notice that their roots were under two feet of water. All of my Oaks looked every bit as happy as they did before the flood. But the most impressive showing came from the Sweet Gum. They maintained that dark green, glossy color on their leaves and kept that same vigorous growth habit.

Then, several years later, Indiana blasted us with the complete opposite. We had day after day of 90+ degree weather with no rain for weeks. The Red Maples were decidedly unhappy, but not the Sweet Gum. Again, the Sweet Gum had a dark green, glossy color to the leaf as if to say: “Drought? What drought? You can’t hurt me with no stinkin’ drought!”

But the ability of the Sweet Gum to survive flooding and brutal droughts is just part of the reason I have so much respect for these trees. They have a thick, corky bark; dark green, glossy leaves; a lovely canopy; and well-structured scaffold. They develop a strong central leader and need very little attention with the pruners. They require very little staking, which I’m sure you agree, is a reason to dance with glee. Even better, I rarely see any bugs on them so we never have to spray. I always say, I like a tree that knows what to do without any help from me. Leave a Sweet Gum alone and it just sits there and looks gorgeous.

So, why is the Sweet Gum so often overlooked in landscape planning?

It’s the gum balls, those prickly seed pods. People hate them, but personally, I think they’re charming. The way I look at it, they never mess up the tires on the machinery, and let’s face it, every tree sheds something. Whether it’s needles, leaves, bark, or seed pods, trees shed something at some point in their life cycle.

I guess you wouldn’t want a toddler running barefoot through a yard full of the gum balls, but the Sweet Gum is a perfect tree for many applications. Oh, you can get the seedless Sweet Gum trees, but trust me, they aren’t as durable or as impressive.

Right now, I’m growing ‘Grazam’ (GrandmasterTM) and ‘Moraine’.

Both have done really well under high-stress growing conditions, but the GrandmasterTM seems to grow more vigorously. They both have a nice scaffold structure and terrific fall color.

White Spruce Another tree that is often overlooked is the White Spruce. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of the trees that can swim. Like most spruce trees, it doesn’t like wet feet. But as a grower, I can tell you why this tree is a terrific option for a lot of applications.

Color is the first thing to consider. The White Spruce tends to be blue. They’re not sky blue like a Hoopsii, but more toward an aquamarine blue, like a lake on a clear day. The cool thing is that the color persists all season into winter. So if you’re looking for a tree with some muted blue tones, think about the White Spruce.

Density is another consideration. Since White Spruce grow more slowly than Norway Spruce, they tend to have a denser, less open habit. They also tend to be a bit wider at the bottom than other spruce species. So if you’re looking for a living screen, keep this tree in mind.

(A Salute to Sweet Gum and White Spruce continues on page 24.)

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A Salute to Sweet Gum and White Spruce (continued from page 22)

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White Spruce in the field and at right, a close-up of their dense growth and muted blue tones.

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About the Author Michele Robeson-Howard is the owner of Robeson Farms in Flora, Indiana. For 15 years, Robeson Farms has been growing and selling quality landscape and ornamental trees in central and northern Indiana. This is a wholesale only business, dedicated to serving landscapers and garden center retail businesses and selling only balled and burlapped trees. For more information please visit their website, www.robesonfarms.com or email Michele at robeson123@gmail.com.

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Perhaps the most important asset of the White Spruce is its ability to tolerate abuse.

I have a number of rows of White Spruce planted next to Norways. After the brutal spring winds and late summer droughts, the Norways tend to show more signs of stress and wind dessication, whereas the White Spruce have none. As a grower, the ability of a tree to resist wind damage and dessication cuts your losses.

Another nice thing about the White Spruce is that it is nearly indistinguishable from the Black Hills Spruce. While after years of experience I can tell them apart, there aren’t too many people who can. They’re that close in appearance. My liner grower says they are almost genetically identical. So if you have a job that calls for the elusive Black Hills, ask your customer if you can swap out with a White Spruce.

Now, having said all of that about their growth habit and color, keep in mind that my experience with them is as seedlings. I always tell people that seedlings are like little kids, they’re all a little different. But by and large, they will show the characteristics I’ve talked about.

As a grower, I salute the Sweet Gum and White Spruce. I’ve found that these two species tend to grow very well with very little attention and under the harshest of circumstances.

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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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Shrubs for Shady Areas Annette Hancock, Brehob Nursery, Inc.

Photo credit: Annette Hancock unless otherwise noted.

Oakleaf Hydrangea in bloom Photo courtesy Greenleaf Nursery

Oakleaf Hydrangea fall color

About the Author Annette Hancock graduated from Purdue University in 1993. She has worked in the green industry for 25 years in both retail and wholesale — the last 15 of which have been with Brehob Nursery, Inc. She has a yard that is dry, deep shade that sometimes can’t even grow hostas! Annette can be reached at: annette@brehobnursery.com.

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When people think of plants for shade gardens, most immediately think of hosta and ferns. But shade gardening can be so much more diverse than that. There are many shrubs that grow well and even thrive in the shade, as long as a little extra care is given. Some plants even bloom, and have winter interest or great fall color.

When assessing how much shade an area receives, you need to consider what is creating it. Is the bed on the east side of a building where it will only get morning sun? Is natural filtered shade created by other trees? Is the area surrounded by dense shade trees or other large structures? You also need to consider the amount of moisture in the soil in order to determine which plants will work best. Some areas are shaded by large trees which in turn take up most of the moisture, making it a dry shade. Some areas tend to stay wetter because of the lack of sunlight. These scenarios need to be taken into consideration when determining what to plant.

While shade loving plants don’t usually have the brightest blooms or the richest fall color, there are many selections with lovely attributes. Here are some of my favorites:

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) This wonderful plant provides year-round interest. It has large oak leaf-shaped leaves and a dark burgundy fall color. The long white panicle flowers appear in summer. The exfoliating bark gives a cool effect in the wintertime. The species grows 6-8´ high and wide. There are many cultivars, including ‘Pee Wee’ and ‘Ruby Slippers’, which are more compact varieties.

Oakleaf Hydrangea prefer a moister soil, but once established will tolerate drier conditions.

Hydrangea arb. ‘Annabelle’ (Annabelle Hydrangea) This one is an old favorite, for many reasons. ‘Annabelle’ is a reliable bloomer in the shade. The large white flower heads appear on new wood in midsummer. The entire plant can be cut back almost to the ground in the wintertime, and it will grow back and bloom year after year. Planted in mass, ‘Annabelle’ can be a real show stopper when in bloom. This Hydrangea is intolerant of dry soils, so consistent moisture must be maintained.

Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) Another summer bloomer like the Hydrangea, but the bloom is so very fragrant. Clethra are not the prettiest plants in the winter, and they leaf out late in the spring, but when the white bottlebrushtype blooms appear in midsummer, all is forgiven. The fragrance is fantastic and the best thing is that they bloom consistently in deep shade. Clethra thrive in moist to wet soils, and I have killed more than one by letting it get too dry. Mulch deeply and water regularly in dry conditions and you will be rewarded. There are many compact varieties on the market, including ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘Sixteen Candles’.

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla) This one is a spring bloomer with a white, slightly fragrant bottlebrush bloom. The best quality of this plant is the fabulous fall color.

While it is better and more consistent in partial sun, the combination of burgundy, yellow, and orange foliage in the fall will brighten up those shady spots beautifully. Fothergilla work well in drier soils but prefer consistent moisture until established.

Photo credit: Thomas H. Kent

Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum) Most viburnum work well in shade, but the dentatum varieties have so many attributes I had to include them. This large shrub has glossy green flower fruit foliage that turns burgundy in the fall. Spring flowers are clusters of white followed by clumps of blue-purple berries in the fall. ‘Chicago Lustre®’ is a large cultivar with exceptionally good fall color, while ‘Blue Muffin®’ is a more compact variety.

Buxus (Boxwood) Boxwood is a fantastic plant that is widely used because it is so versatile. Boxwood work well in sun or shade and can be pruned for a more formal look or left unsheared for a more natural look. ‘Green Gem’ (2´ x 2´) and ‘Green Velvet’ (3´ x 3´) are both globe-shaped and work well for hedging, while ‘Green Mountain’ has an upright, pyramidal form that can be used as a specimen or anchor plant. While the blooms are insignificant and there is no real fall color, Boxwood can still be very useful in many shade gardens.

Tsuga c. ‘Gentsch White’ (Gentsch White Hemlock) The shrub form of Hemlock is a cool mounding plant that thrives in shade. Even though Hemlock can be grouchy and unforgiving for even the best gardener, if you can baby it the first couple years you won’t be sorry. ‘Gentsch White’ is a cultivar with dark green foliage with white tips. The white color is more intense in the fall and winter. This plant will not tolerate dry soil when young, and even benefits from supplemental water when older. Grows 4´ high and wide, making it an excellent specimen plant for your shade garden.

Photo credit: David Stegmaier

Shady spots in the landscape don’t need to be dull or boring. There are many perennials that work well in dry or damp shade that will complement these shrubs and work to brighten up dark areas of the garden. Using shade-loving shrubs and perennials together, mixed with some early spring flowering bulbs such as crocus or daffodils, you can create a garden with at least 3 seasons of interest. Give some new plants a try and don’t be afraid of the shade!

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box E Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@fairviewevergreen.com www.fairviewevergreen.com

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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Covering Ground with Perennials Top 10 Non-traditional Ground Covers Kate Jones, Blue Moon Farm (1)

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All ground covers are perennials, but not all perennials are ground covers, right? Well, you might be surprised how many perennials can be used as ground covers. We all are familiar with the standard ground covers; Ivy, Pachysandra, Vinca/Myrtle, and Euonymus.

We can, however, add interest, color, and unique texture to the landscape by planting low growing, low maintenance perennials in place of these ground covers or instead of spreading yards and yards of mulch.

Most perennials will “cover ground.” To consider a perennial as ground cover it should have all or most of the following characteristics: • Low growing — the bulk of the plant, less the flowers, should remain under a foot tall.

• Low maintenance — ideally the plant should require no maintenance, but minimal maintenance with power or hand tools is acceptable.

• Habit — Some plants naturally spread and take up space quickly. Plants that spread via runners, either above or below ground, will fill in nicely, creating a mass.

• Provides weed barrier and/or erosion control.

• Interest — The plant should add foliage color, texture, and/or flower power.

• Foot traffic — Some ground covers will tolerate light to moderate foot traffic.

1. Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle) will add a soft texture to the landscape. The foliage is sea-foam green and the leaves are pleated and serrated at the edges. The plant grows to 20˝ and in spring is covered with delicate yellow flowers. Best grown in partial shade with consistent moisture.

2. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Plumbago) has a lot to offer; beautiful gentian blue phlox-like flowers in summer, low growing, fast spreading foliage that turns bronzy-red in the fall. No maintenance is required. The plants grow to 8-12˝ with the flowers held just above the foliage. Plant spreads via underground runners. The best location for Plumbago is in full sun with afternoon shade with consistent moisture. This plant is slow to emerge in the spring, so patience is required.

3. Epimedium sulphureum (Barrenwort) is the best ground cover for a shady dry area, though it will thrive in partial shade in amended soils with adequate moisture. The unique “construction” of Epimedium gives the appearance of the leaves floating above the ground, as the wiry stems are nearly invisible. The leaves are oval and flat and have a tinge of red at the edges in cooler temperatures. Very small yellow flowers bloom prior to the emerging foliage. Depending on the severity of our winter, Epimedium may be evergreen, and will likely require a spring cleanup. It may take two or three years for the colony to fill in, but it will be worth the wait!

4. Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff) is covered in small white flowers in the spring.

The foliage grows in whorls along low-growing stems reaching only 4 to 9 inches.

Galium will fill in quickly when grown in shade or dappled shade with plenty of moisture. The foliage and flowers are fragrant. The only maintenance required may be a quick spring cleanup.

5. Geranium cantabrigiense (Cambridge Cranesbill) is one of many useful Geraniums for covering ground in the landscape. This species is particularly suited as a ground cover as it is one of the lowest growing, topping out at 8 inches, and forms a weed-free mat. Flowers are usually a shade of pink and are persistent, as they produce little seed.

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

As a bonus, the foliage turns a deep red in the fall. As with most geraniums, the best location is in sun, full or partial, with consistent moisture. Little or no maintenance is required. Several varieties are available: Look for ‘Biokovo’, ‘Crystal Rose’, and ‘Karmina’ 6. Lamium maculatum (Spotted Dead Nettle) is a member of the mint family and will spread quickly when planted in partial shade with adequate moisture. This species has both ornamental foliage and long-blooming flowers. The foliage has silver or white spots or edges over green. Depending on the variety, flowers are purple, pink, or white.

During dry periods, a little tidying may be necessary. Many varieties are readily available: ‘Orchid Frost’, ‘Purple Dragon’ and ‘White Nancy’.

7. Mazus reptans – This little-known species is worthy of mention. Very low-growing (2-4˝) rosettes of foliage spread via (7) creeping stems. Blue, sometimes white, 2- lipped flowers, similar flowers in the mint family cover the foliage in late spring.

Mazus will tolerate light traffic, so it’s perfect among stepping stones. Plant in sun or partial shade, with consistent moisture.

Avoid wet areas.

8. Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox) grows beautifully in a woodland understory setting. Woodland Phlox grows best in partial shade with consistent moisture. Neat dark green oblong foliage produces clusters of blue flowers in spring. Fragrant flowers are 1½˝ across. The plant grows to 12˝ with flowers rising above. Spreading via creeping rhizomes, Woodland Phlox is a reliable ground cover.

After flowering, a quick cleanup with a string trimmer will reveal the neat foliage and promote further growth. A few varieties are available: Try ‘Blue Moon’ with large violet-blue flowers.

9. Sedum kamtschaticum (Stonecrop) – There are many sedums that can be used as ground covers. This sedum looks a lot like Pachysandra, but it of course will tolerate full sun. The foliage is chartreuse green, grows in whorls, and forms a low mat. The flowers are yellow, held just above the foliage. Like most sedums, S. kamptchaticum will tolerate the harshest conditions. Little or no maintenance is required. This sedum is sometimes listed as Sedum ellacombianum.

10. Tiarella (Foam Flower) is one of the most underused and underappreciated perennials. Tiarella has fragrant white, sometimes pink, bottlebrush flowers that bloom in spring. The foliage is lobed, similar to Maple leaves, providing texture all summer and often sports fall color as the temperatures cool. Some maintenance is required to keep plants in top form. Tiarellas come in two forms, and varying degrees of, clumping and spreading. The spreading varieties make a fabulous ground cover for a shaded area. Spreading forms of Tiarella include: (10) Running Tapestry, Jeepers Creepers, Brandywine.

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To increase variety and to add a creative uniqueness to your designs, consider trying a non-traditional perennial ground cover.

There are many, many perennial plants that can be used in place of traditional ground covers. Almost any perennial that you have grown successfully can be planted in mass — some, of course lend themselves more maturally to this.

About the Author Kate Jones is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Horticulture Science.

Kate owns and operates Blue Moon Farm — a container grown perennial nursery in Tipton, Indiana. Blue Moon Farm has been serving independent garden centers and landscape contractors in central Indiana since 2007. Over 500 varieties of perennials, ornamental grasses, and ferns including standard, “tried and true” varieties as well as many new and exciting varieties are available at Blue Moon Farm. Kate currently serves on the INLA Board and is a frequent contributor to Indiana Nursery & Landscape News. She is also a member of ILA and the Perennial Plant Association. Kate has been sharing her love and enthusiasm for perennial plants for over 15 years.

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Photo credits: 1) Walters Gardens, Inc.; 2) North Creek Nursery; 3) Blue Moon Farm; 4) Blue Moon Farm; 5) Great Plant Picks; 6) Walter Gardens, Inc.; 7) Creek Hill Nursery; 8) Blue Moon Farm; 9) Stan Shebs; 10) Terra Nova® Nurseries, Inc.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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Top Ten Pests in Indiana and How to Control Them

Vince Burkle and Eric Bitner, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology Indiana state law IC 14-24 requires that each nursery or greenhouse growing nursery stock be inspected once a year by a Department of Natural Resources nursery inspector. The inspection certifies the nursery stock at that location is free of any invasive pests or pathogens, thereby lifting restrictions on movement of these plants through Pest

interstate or intrastate trade. At the end of the growing season a list of the most common native plant pests are compiled among the various regions of the state. Listed below are the top ten nursery pests reported during the 2013 growing season. Description of the pest, type of damage that is caused, and management suggestions are also included.

Description

Damage

Management

Timing

Soft, pear-shaped insects with or without wings. Piercing, sucking mouthparts are used to suck juices out of tender shoots, stems, and leaves.

Some may appear wooly due to waxy secretions covering their body.

Stunting and curling of leaves and shoots. Sticky excrement called honeydew attracts ants, and can cause black sooty mold to develop.

Natural enemies usually keep them in check. Prune out infested branches, or use coarse stream of water to dislodge aphids. Synthetic pyrethroids (cyfluthrin, bifenthrin), imidicloprid, neem oil, horticultural oils, and insecticidal soaps are effective.

Aphids are often found on the undersides of leaves.

Check plants on the upwind edge of the garden twice weekly during rapid plant growth in mid-late spring.

Leaf curling species are difficult to control once foliage is distorted.

2) Mites

Tiny, 8 legged arthropods that resemble spiders.

Piercing, sucking mouthparts suck juices from foliage.

Foliage may appear bronze in color and or speckled. Plants with heavy infestations may have numerous webs on the foliage and stems.

Foliage may also have a “dusty” appearance.

Natural enemies and healthy plants will help curtail spider mite infestations. Coarse streams of water can dislodge mites. Horticultural oils and products containing bifenazate, spiromesefin, and acequinocyl are effective on all life stages with low toxicity to natural enemies.

Check for spider mites by tapping branches over a white piece of paper. Look for tiny specks moving around on the paper.

Warm season mites (i.e., maple mites) are most active during hot summer months. Cool season mites (i.e., spruce spider mite) are active in spring and fall.

3) Leafhoppers

Green, yellow, brown, or mottled insects. Typically wedge shaped and often no larger than 1/4” long.

Very active and often jump or move sideways when disturbed. Piercing, sucking mouthparts suck juices from stems and foliage.

Shoots may be stunted or curled. Foliage may turn brown starting at the tip and may be pale in color, distorted, or blotchy. Cast skins may be present on leaves.

Adult leafhoppers are highly mobile and difficult to control. Immature stages are easier to manage. Insecticidal soaps, imidiclorpid, or synthetic pyrethroids (cyfluthrin, bifenthrin) can be effective.

Leafhoppers typically are blown from southern states on storm winds in the spring and are active through fall. Look for small green, yellow, or brown insects that rapidly fly in and out of foliage when branches are disturbed.

4) Bagworm

Mottled brown caterpillars construct a protective spindle-shaped bag around themselves. Bits of foliage or other plant debris are attached to the bag, making them difficult to see. Caterpillars pupate in September. Females do not leave the bag and lay eggs inside the bag.

Bags are present on trees through winter.

Caterpillars feed voraciously on foliage of many different kinds of evergreen and deciduous plants. High populations can lead to defoliation in 6-8 weeks.

Damage may not be noticed until late July or August when evergreens suddenly appear brown.

Remove and destroy bags containing eggs during the winter months and destroy.

Biorational products containing Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad are effective on smaller caterpillars and are target specific. Products containing orthene, cyfluthrin, or bifenthrin will kill larger caterpillars but will also kill beneficial insects.

Bagworms typically hatch in early June in the south and mid-June in the north. They grow to 2” long by late August. Spray applications are most effective when applied before July 4th when caterpillars are small. Rescue treatments can be applied after July 4th.

1) Aphids

About the Authors Vince Burkle is the Nursery Inspector and Compliance Officer for northeastern Indiana working from Fort Wayne. He has worked for the Division since 2006 and has 10 years prior experience in the nursery industry. He is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Entomology. Eric Bitner is the Nursery Inspector and Compliance Officer for southeastern Indiana working out of Jeffersonville. He has worked for the Division since 2006 and has prior experience in the nursery industry in Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Taylor University with a Master’s degree in Environmental Biology and is a Certified Arborist.

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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Pest

Description

Damage

Management

Timing

5) Scale

Armored scales are small flat insects that are covered with a hard waxy protective shell.

Soft scales are not covered by a hard waxy shell and may appear as bumps on twigs and branches. The “crawler” stage is the only actively mobile stage of both types of scale, and they can be blown by wind to adjacent plants.

Both types of scale feed by sucking plant juices from twigs and branches. Single limbs may suddenly die, and upon closer inspection scale insects may be found. Soft scales exude honeydew, which attracts ants and wasps and may also be black with sooty mold.

Horticultural oil can kill recently settled scale crawlers. Dormant oils can be used on scales that do not overwinter in the egg stage.

Products containing orthene, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin are effective when used to target the crawler stage. Dinotefuran and imidicloprid can be applied as a systemic in spring.

Timing is critical.

There are many different species of armored and soft scales. Many scale crawlers are active from May through July but it is important to know which species of scale you are dealing with, because timing is important.

6) Lacebug

Adults are 1/8” long and have wings that appear lacy. Some species have two grayish-brown cross bands on the body while others are white or tan in color with brown or black markings.

Usually in late April and throughout the growing season, feeding damage can be observed on the leaf surfaces in the form of a stippling pattern.

Look on the lower surface of leaves for black fecal spots.

Acephate has been found to be a cost-effective treatment for the azalea lace bug. Soaps and oils can also be helpful for lower-level populations if good coverage is achieved.

Treatment for azalea lace bug can be done at 120+ Growing Degree Days. For lacebugs in the genera Corythuca (sycamore, oak, or hawthorn lacebugs) treatment can be done around 1266-1544 Growing Degree Days.

7) Japanese Beetle

The adult beetle is 1/2” long and metallic green and bronze. Along the sides of the body are a row of white hairs that resemble spots.

Adult beetles skeletonize the foliage of many different plants. The feeding of grubs occurs on the roots of turf and results in drought stress symptoms.

There are several products available for control of the adults on plants (imidicloprid, carbaryl, acephate, bifenthrin). There are also several insecticides registered.

For best control of adults treat around 1029-2154 Growing Degree Days. To treat the grubs sample the soil in August and treat if you find 8-10 grubs per sq. ft.

8) Flat Headed Borer

Adult borers are often metallic, with flattened bodies that are oval shaped.

The larvae are a creamy color with a flattened portion just behind their head that looks cobra-like.

The larvae damage the plants by excavating tunnels just below the bark surface often killing limbs or whole trees depending on the population.

Prevention is the best management as stressed trees are most likely to be damaged.

Trunk sprays of bifenthrin, permethrin, or pyrethroids, or systemic drenches of imidicloprid are effective.

Timing depends on the species being treated (bronze birch borer, emerald ash borer, or two lined chestnut borer). Apply sprays to the trees when the adult beetles are active and laying eggs. Because emergence and egg laying can occur over a long period of time, monthly or more frequent insecticide applications may be needed over the course of a summer.

9) Zimmerman Moth

Mature larvae are about 3/4” long and vary in color from off-white to pink or greenish with black dots. The adult is small (1-1.5”) and rarely seen as they are active at night.

New terminal and lateral shoots become yellow in spring, eventually turning brown and forming a shepherd’s crook.

Evidence includes accumulations of reddish sawdust like frass and pitch masses on the main trunk.

Bark sprays of permethrin for the larvae are effective in spring (121-246 Growing Degree Days). Another spray is necessary in mid-August (912-1917 Growing Degree Days).

Eggs are laid from mid-July to mid-August and larvae hatch within a week. They overwinter as larvae and begin feeding in early spring. Treat in subsequent spring if damage is seen in previous growing season.

Tiny slender insects (less than 1/20” long) with fringed wings. Immature thrips lack wings.

Feed within buds and furled leaves or other enclosed parts. Distorted or discolored plant tissue or black flecks of feces around stippled leaf surfaces are identifiers.

Healthy plants can withstand damage. If control is necessary, use an IPM program of cultural practices and conservation of natural enemies using low toxic pesticides such as narrow range oils.

There are many different species of thrips, but Western Flower thrips are one of the most destructive.

Use sticky traps to detect populations.

soft

armored

10) Thrips

Photo credit: All photos except #10 taken by Vince Burkle. Thrip photo from www.bugwood.com

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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Member Nursery List!

To access contact and location information for these companies, go to www.inla1.org — member search page.

Indiana Advanced Tree Technology Mark Bruick Specialties: Wholesale, retail, shade trees, evergreens, shrubs.

Clement Nursery David Clement Specialties: Wholesale, shade trees, evergreens, grower, perennials, shrubs.

Arbor Farms Nursery David Geller Specialties: Wholesale, shade trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shrubs, retail, ornamentals.

Eby’s Evergreen Plantation Jeff Alexander Specialties: Wholesale, evergreens, grower.

Blue Grass Farms Brent Schalk Specialties: Wholesale, evergreens, ground covers, grower, perennials, shade trees, shrubs, greenhouse, annuals, ornamentals.

Blue Moon Farms, LLC Katherine Jones Specialties: Wholesale, grower, perennials, ornamental grasses and ferns Brehob Nursery, Inc. Judy Brehob Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, evergreens, greenhouse, ground covers, annuals, perennials, shrubs, fruit trees, ornamentals.

Brookstone Growers Inc. Holli Strack Specialties: Wholesale, ground covers, grower, perennials, greenhouse.

C M Hobbs Nursery Rick Haggard Specialties: Wholesale, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shade trees, shrubs, grower, consultant, annuals, ornamentals, fruit trees, greenhouse, turf/sod.

Cardno JFNew Mark O’Brien Specialties: Perennials, native plants, seed, bare root trees and shrubs, bio-engineering products; liner stock.

Charlotte Creek Nursery Mike Womack, Carrie Womack Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, evergreens, ornamentals, fruit trees, WBE Certified.

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Heartland Growers, Inc. James Gapinski Specialties: Wholesale, greenhouse, annuals, grower.

Henneke Nursery Rodney M. Henneke Specialties: Wholesale, grower, ornamentals, perennials, shrubs.

Hensler Nursery Inc. John Hensler Specialties: Wholesale.

Indiana Berry & Plant Co Debbie Palmer Specialties: Wholesale, retail, grower.

LaPorte County Nursery William Woodruff Specialties: Wholesale, evergreens, ground covers, grower, shade trees, shrubs, greenhouse, ornamentals.

Laura Stine Gardens Laura Stine Specialties: Shade trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials.

Masterson’s Nursery Betty L Masterson Specialties: Evergreens, fruit trees, garden center, greenhouse, ground covers, perennials, retail, shade trees, shrubs, annuals, ornamentals.

Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, LLC Gene E. Bush Specialties: Retail, specializing in native & non-native shade perennials, grower, garden center.

National Nursery Products, Inc. Luann Houle Specialties: Wholesale, shade trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, fruit trees, shrubs, annuals, ornamentals.

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Not Just A Garden Center Brett Parks Specialties: shade trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, fruit trees, greenhouse, turf, shrubs.

Perennials Plus John Platte Specialties: Wholesale, retail, grower, perennials, groundcovers, shrubs, annuals, ornamentals, shade trees, soil, evergreens.

Price Nursery Jim Kenney Specialties: Wholesale, retail, evergreens, shade trees, shrubs, ground cover, perennials, consultant, grower.

Robeson Farms Michele Robeson-Howard Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, evergreens.

Schneider Nursery, Inc. Grant Schneider Specialties: Wholesale, evergreens, greenhouse, grower, retail, shade trees, shrubs.

Shemin Nurseries Dan Hinderer Specialties: Wholesale, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shade trees, shrubs, annuals, aquatics, ornamentals, mulch.

Spence Restoration Nursery, Inc. Lynna & Doug Spence Specialties: Wholesale, grower, perennials, aquatics.

Wasson Nursery Bob Wasson Specialties: Wholesaler, grower, greenhouse, shade trees, fruit trees & small fruit, evergreens, ground covers, turf, perennials, shrubs, annuals.

Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc. Pete Berg Specialties: Wholesale, propagator, and grower of native trees and shrubs. All plants are container grown and sold in sizes ranging from 1 gallon up to 2-inch diameter trees.

Illinois Chadwood Farms Inc Henry Lang Specialties: Wholesale, shade trees.

Home Nursery Inc Crystal Gebke Specialties: Wholesale, grower, balled & burlap, container grown, fruit trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shrubs, ornamentals, shade trees.

Kankakee Nursery Co Tim La Gesse Specialties: Wholesale Midwest Groundcovers Judy Wehrmeister Specialties: Wholesale, grower, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shrubs.

Kentucky Abrams Nursery Kenton Abrams Specialties: Wholesale, balled & burlap, container grown, shade trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shrubs.

Ammon Wholesale Nursery Inc Cora Martin Specialties: Wholesale, grower, re-wholesaler, shade trees, evergreens, perennials, shrubs, hard goods.

Eason Horticultural Resources Inc Bob Maudlin Specialties: Wholesale, shade trees, fruit trees, evergreens, greenhouse, ground covers, perennials, shrubs, ornamentals, annuals, soil.

Michigan Hortech Inc Dave MacKehzie Specialties: Wholesale, grower, ground covers, perennials, live roof & live wall.

New Life Nursery, Inc. Steve Genzink Specialties: Wholesale, grower, evergreens, perennials.

Northland Farms, LLC Greg Helsen Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, fruit trees & small fruit, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, ornamentals.

Twixwood Nursery LLC Jill Roberts Specialties: Wholesale provider of groundcovers, perennials, hostas, daylilies, vines, ornamental grasses and STEPABLES. Grower, shrubs.

Vandenberg Bulb Co. Jack Vandenberg Specialties: Perennials, aquatics, shade trees, fruit trees, evergreens, ground covers, shrubs, annuals, soil, ornamentals.

Missouri Forrest Keeling Nursery Kim Lovelace-Young Specialties: World-renowned originator of the RPM (Root Production Method.)

Ohio Acorn Farms Inc Darrel Gagne Specialties: Wholesale, re-wholsaler, evergreens, grower, perennials, shrubs, shade trees, greenhouse, annuals, ground covers, hardscape, fruit trees, ornamentals.

Klyn Nurseries Inc William Hendricks Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, fruit trees & small fruit, evergreens, perennials, shrubs, bamboo, bog & marginals, vines, ornamental trees.

Listerman & Associates Inc David Listerman Specialties: Wholesale, re-wholesaler, shade trees, fruit trees & small fruit, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shrubs.

Willoway Nursery Todd Espey Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, evergreens, ground covers, perennials, shrubs, annuals, greenhouse, fruit trees, ornamentals.

Oklahoma Greenleaf Nursery Company Steve Coppedge Specialties: Wholesale grower, containergrown plants, including broadleaf & flowering shrubs, roses, grasses, annuals, perennials, conifers & trees, fruit trees, evergreens, ground covers, ornamentals.

Oregon Carlton Plants LLC Gary Eggenberger Specialties: Wholesale growers of bareroot deciduous trees and shrubs - fruit, flowering, shade, rootstocks and seedlings.

Pennsylvania Fairview Evergreen Nurseries Inc Hagan Hetz Specialties: Wholesale grower, shade trees, evergreens, shrubs.

Motz & Son Nursery Wholesale Growers of...

Millcreek Gardens LLC George Pealer Specialties: Wholesale, grower specializing in container-grown perennials, herbs, hardy ferns and ornamental grasses. Ground covers, perennials, annuals.

Shade and Flowering TreeS

Scarff’s Nursery, Inc. Specialties: Wholesale grower & rewholesale supplier. Container and B&B production. shade trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials, grasses and shrub roses. Specializing in boxwood and specimen shrubs.

eSpalier appleS

Studebaker Nurseries Kent Phillips Specialties: Wholesale, grower, shade trees, evergreens, perennials, shrubs, ground covers.

FruiT TreeS dwarf, Semi-dwarf & Standard combinaTion FruiT TreeS (4 in 1) Semi-dwarf, combination & one Variety walnuTS and FilberTS deciduouS ShrubS Write for our stock and price: motz & Sons nursery 11445 n.w. Skyline blvd. portland, oregon 97231 phone 503-645-1342 Fax 503-645-6856

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

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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 6 – Installing and Maintaining Landscape Plants Types of Nursery Stock (Condition of Root System) Bare Root (BR) field grown plants, dug up and soil washed off root system; can be held in controlled atmosphere storage: 32°F + 90% Humidity; must be handled while dormant; lowest freight cost for shipping.

Machine Balled = same as BR, but then packaged in poly bag filled with peat moss: box stores B&B (Balled & Burlapped) = field grown, rootball dug by hand or with tree spade Balled & Potted (Field Potted) = field grown, rootball dug by hand and placed in container CG (Container Grown) = plant has been growing in a container for at least 1 year: could be a bare root plant that was potted, or could be shifted into container as a rooted cutting Handling nursery stock: important to lift plants by pot or by rootball, and NOT by stems or trunk Heeling In -= temporarily storing nursery BR or B&B plants. (see pg 3)

Timing – PLANT in Spring or Fall??? What matters most is when you TRANSPLANT of “dig the plant”

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Spring = moist, cool soil, and plants are preparing to burst into growth. Good time to dig or plant.

Summer = hot and dry conditions = STRESS; OK to plant during summer, but difficult to give specific watering instructions. Generally NOT OK to transplant.

Fall = cooler temps, warm soil, time of maximum root growth. Fall digging usually begins after abscission layer forms and leaves begin coloring or dropping (growth has ceased).

Some trees are difficult to successfully dig and transplant in Fall: Acer rubrum Liriodendron Quercus alba Betula Magnolia Quercus macrocarpa Cercis Nyssa Quercus rubra Cornus Prunus Salix Crataegus Pyrus Tilia

Planting Methods – Planting technique is dictated by SOIL TYPE

DEPTH - hole should be dug NO deeper than depth of rootball; for trees, root flair should be visible, and If not, may be necessary to “shave” top of rootball to expose root flair.

WIDTH - is WAY more important than depth since root will grow outward from rootball: best practice is to dig hole approx 2X rootball width AMMENDMENTS – Peat moss and/or compost may be added relative to soil type, but may not be essential. Avoid excessive fertilizers, but Root Stimulators and CRF’s are good.

BACKFILL – if no amendments are mixed in, be sure to “chop up” soil to eliminate large “chunks.

IAH says backfill should not be packed or tamped, even for B&B trees.

Watering Basin – Dam It!! Saucer formed from soil to aid in watering for first year Mulch ring – conserves moisture, keeps soil cooler; avoid mulch volcanoes Should I remove the burlap? YES, but only from top of rootball. However, be certain to remove any twine wrapped around trunk to prevent stem girdling. Some specifications call for wire basket to be removed from upper section of rootball (probably not necessary).

STAKING & GUYING – not always needed; use fabric mesh bands around tree trunk; staking should allow some “swaying” of tree top. Generally staking is removed after 1 year.

WRAPPING – can prevent sunscald and minimize frost cracks; always start at base of tree and wrap upwards, with 1/3 overlap per wrap; secure top with electrical tape.

Planting BR stock – need to spread out roots into more natural formation: prune off damaged roots Planting CG stock – if necessary, cut container off rootball; good to “frazzle” roots encircling ball and may need to prune off larger circling roots to avoid girdling roots. Recycle plastic pots.

If potted in paper-mache pot – remove top rim of pot to avoid “wicking” of soil moisture.

Planting in Extreme Conditions – like mid-summer, hot, dry, windy situations can cause plants to transpire excessively; good to mist foliage to cool plant and reduce transpiration rate

POST-PLANT – prune off broken, damaged or diseased branches & suckers (basal growth). Also,

check to see that the plant is straight and has received sufficient water. Remove tags from plant unless instructed to leave tags in place. Be certain NO ropes or twine remain around trunk.

34

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

Advertisers Advanced Tree Technology............................................. 24 Blue Grass Farms of Indiana............................................ 19 Bobcat of Indy........................................................11 & 25 Braun Horiculture........................................................... 14 Brehob Nursery..................................... outside back cover C.M. Hobbs Nursery....................................................... 21 Calvin Landscapes.......................................................... 35 Fairview Evergreen Nursery............................................ 27 Greendell Mulch & Mix.................................................. 13 Indiana Irrigation Co........................................................ 7 MacAllister Machinery Co., Inc....................................... 15 Midwest Groundcovers, LLC........................................... 23 Midwest Regional Turf and Landscape Field Day ............................ inside front cover Millcreek Gardens, LLC................................................... 14 Motz & Sons Nursery, Inc............................................... 33 Reynolds Farm Equipment................................................ 3

Looking to purchase existing business:

Studebaker Nursery........................................................ 27

Landscape, Lawncare, Tree and Shrub Care, or Irrigation Business in Indianapolis or surrounding counties.

Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply.................inside back cover Twixwood Nursery........................................................... 7

Call Jim Calvin, Calvin Landscape 317-247-6316

Walters Gardens............................................................... 5

Wahmhoff Farms.............................................................. 6 Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc........................................ 6

Toolbox Talks

National Weather Service Alerts Source: www.safetytoolboxtopics.com Spring is here and we’re getting into the tornado season for this area. It’s important to review what the various National Weather Service alerts mean.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

That means that conditions are favorable for a severe thunderstorm in the area(s) covered under the watch.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

That means that a severe thunderstorm has been spotted in the area either visually or via Doppler Radar. This could mean high winds, lightning, and heavy rain.

Tornado Watch

That means the conditions are favorable for a tornado in the area(s) covered under the Tornado Watch. You do not need to take cover, but you should keep an eye on the conditions and stay near a radio/tv/weather radio.

Tornado Warning

That means that a tornado has been spotted in the area covered either visually by someone on the ground or via Doppler Radar.

That means take cover immediately.

If you have a basement or a storm shelter in your home that is a good place to go. If you’re not sure where to go or need help in determining the best place, checkout the FEMA website at www.fema.gov for detailed information on how to determine the safest place to be.

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • March/April 2014

35

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, Gardens on the Prairie - Jim Messmer - Melissa Mravec, Allen Landscape - Jodie Overmyer, Price Nurseries - Dean Ricci, Ricci Landscape Management

Answers: Please contact the INLA office if you would like to receive the answers or find out your results to any previous IAH quiz.

IAH Quiz: March 2014

Due: April 15, 2014

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.

1) To help cure infected Elms, systemic fungicides must be applied ____________ .

A____ before symptoms appear B____ as soon as possible C____ when less than 25% of crown shows symptoms D____ when less than 5 - 10% of crown shows symptoms 2) The following symptoms best describe which disease? “The ends of twigs turn brown or black and develop a crooked appearance resembling a fishhook.”

A____ Shaeropsis (formerly known as Diplodia) tip blight B____ Fire blight C____ Juniper twig blight D____ Dutch Elm Disease

6) Fungicide sprays to prevent Cedar Apple Rust on crabapple should begin ____________________.

A____ at bud break B____ two weeks after bloom C____ at the “pink” stage of growth D____ none of the above 7) Perennial weeds can reproduce both vegetatively and by seed production.

A____ True B____ False 8) The most important factors that affect preemergence herbicide performance are soil moisture, soil type and size of the weeds.

A____ True B____ False

3) Symptoms of root decline generally first appear ____________ .

A____ throughout the tree B____ in the top branches C____ in the lower branches D____ as sudden leaf drop

9) The first step in weed management plans for a nursery or a landscape is to assess the site.

A____ True B____ False

4) Which of the following is most likely to require fungicide applications?

A____ Maple anthracnose B____ Dogwood anthracnose C____ Ash anthracnose D____ Sycamore anthracnose

10) Geotextile weed matting is commonly used for controlling established perennial weeds in landscape beds.

A____ True B____ False

5) Fungicides, to control leaf disease, are most effective when applied ____________ .

A____ before it rains B____ after it rains C____ during the rain D____ when symptoms of the disease first appear

Name:____________________________________________________________________________ IAH No.:__________________________________________________________________________ Phone:____________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________ Fax: 317-889-3935 or Mail: INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237

36

Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org

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Donna Sheets, Executive Director INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 March/April 2014 Address Service Requested

Our Quality ShOwS in the PlantS we GrOw Thousands of landscape-size boxwood and taxus We grow superb quality trees, shrubs, and perennials Over 80 acres of container grown plants Serving Indiana for 45 years Two sales yards open year round

Mother Nature’s Finest, Indiana’s Best 4316 Bluff Road, Indianapolis, IN 46217 P: 317.783.3233 or 800.921.3233 | F: 317.783.0544 4867 Sheridan Road, Westfield, IN 46062 P: 317.877.0188 or 877.829.0188 | F: 317.877.2238

www.brehobnursery.com