July/August 2014
Volume 38, Number 4
PGMS Explored “the Mini Apple�
As PGMS explored and conquered Minneapolis, Minn. from Aug. 3-4 for the Regional Seminar and Site Visit, attendees boasted about the inspirational education, the take home tips and tools, the camaraderie, and much more. Check out page six and the PGMS Facebook page to view more photos from the event. Looking for the next best PGMS event? The School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO is right around the corner. Join us and hundreds of other grounds professionals as we take over Louisville, Ky., Oct. 22-25. Get a preview of the pre-conference field trip on page ten and be sure to visit http://pgms.org/2014school ofgroundsmanagement/ for details and registration information. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProfessionalGroundsManagementSociety. Link up with us at www.linkedin.com/groups/Professional-Grounds-Management-Society-4173565. Watch us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/PGMSheadquarters.
Walt Bonvell, CGM President’s Message
No More Dog Days of Summer
The Forum Newsletter is published six times a year by the Professional Grounds Management Society 720 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 410-223-2861 / Fax 410-752-8295 E-mail: pgms@assnhqtrs.com pgms.org Board of Directors: President Walter Bonvell, CGM President-Elect John Burns, CGM Vice Pres. John Doiron Treasurer Marion Bolick, CGM Past President John Van Etten, CGM Directors Cary Avery, CGM Diana Bramble Gerry Dobbs, CGM Mark Feist Ted Heywood, CGM Ron Hostick, CGM, CSFM Gerald Landby Joe Payne, CGM Susanne Woodell, CGM Staff Thomas C. Shaner, CAE Executive Director Kelly Mesaris Associate Director Monica Shaner Financial Manager Molly Baldwin-Abbott Director of Communications Meghan Brady Assistant Director of Communications Opinions expressed in PGMS Forum are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opinions or policies of the PGMS Board and its membership. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.
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I can remember a time at my work when summers were considered a slow down period. We were able to catch up and get things done after the hectic graduations and spring cleanups. Now, as most of my fellow PGMS members, CGMs and CGTs will concur, I have come to realize that, in reality, there are no slow down times - at least, not any more. Summer activities on campus are numerous and, as a result, there are more tasks to accomplish during the summer months than ever before. Except for those of you living in warm weather states and fortunate enough not to experience the dreaded winters of the north, we have just come out of one of the longest and hardest winter seasons of memory. It wasn’t until April/May that we were able to begin the task of renovating our turf from the damage of salt, ice, and winter equipment. Here we are in August, traditionally the end of summer, and many of us are still removing the dead plant material that did not survive the cold temperatures. Even with all the extra work caused by the extreme winter, we are still managing to get the work done. Whether we are a supervisor, manager, technician, mechanic, or groundskeeper, every PGMS member faces many challenges within the everyday aspect of our jobs. We look forward to some of those challenges as they help us expand our knowledge and confidence in what we do. However, other challenges seem an almost insurmountable test of our skills and patience. For me, being a PGMS member has enabled me to better meet those challenges. I hope it does the same for you. One of the best benefits of being a PGMS member is having the opportunity to attend regional conferences, the School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky., and the numerous local events that are put on by the PGMS branches. Being a part of such a great association has given me the opportunity to learn new ways to accomplish projects, the exposure to new ideas, and the ability to network with and meet other professionals in my business. It has also instilled in me the importance of working alongside other professional organizations of our industry. One of those organizations is the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). Just recently, on July 28, a group of PGMS members and I had the privilege and pleasure of working with over 400 members of PLANET at the Renewal and Remembrance event at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Representatives of our group were John Burns, CGM (President-Elect), Adam Newhart and Eric Wenger (Washington D.C. branch), Hugh Weldon (Philadelphia branch), Jimmy Viars, CGM, Tony Byrd, and Wayne Blanks (Virginia branch). Our Past President, John Van Etten, CGM, started the collaboration last year. Since participants found it such a touching and honorable experience, it was important to me to continue working with PLANET this year. We were able to provide 10 PGMS members the opportunity to attend the event. Within three hours volunteers put down 80 tons of lime and 22 tons of gypsum, installed lightning rods in trees, repaired irrigation, and planted trees and shrubs. I highly recommend volunteering your time on this project, it was very rewarding. PLANET has been doing this event for 18 years and I am honored that PLANET has invited PGMS member involvement. I am happy to say that John Burns, CGM will continue this event with PLANET next year. One of the questions that I am often asked by members, or potential members is, “What do I get for my dues?” One of the benefits is the opportunity to attend the regional meetings. I know that it is often difficult to find the time or resources to participate in spring and summer events, but I encourage you to consider attending if at all possible. Having just returned home from this year’s summer regional, I must tell you that it definitely hit the top of the chart. With over 40 attendees, it was one of the best yet! As a professional in the green industry, a visit to a large corporate headquarters is much anticipated and worthwhile. Through the assistance of Paula Sliefert, Toro senior marketing manager and supplier member representative on the PGMS Board of Directors, PGMS members were treated to a full day visit at the Toro Headquarters in Bloomington, Minn. at this summer’s August regional. The morning
session consisted of “Coaching a Winning Team” with Steve Keating, senior manager of sales and leadership at Toro. After that, we attended a lecture presentation by Mike Baron, Toro’s national water management expert on “The Best Practices of Water Management for Multi-Acre Facilities.” That lecture was followed by the topic “The Importance of Product Safety” presented by Carl Osterhaus. The morning session concluded with Steve Keating’s talk on “Developing the Leader in You.” What a great morning! We all found it very educational and interesting. After lunch, we were all treated to a special tour of the Research and Development section of Toro HQ. It gave us all a new appreciation for the work that is involved in developing equipment. Great job Toro! On the second day of the regional, PGMS members were treated to a behind the scenes tour of Bailey Nurseries. Arriving at Bailey, we were met by Terri McEnaney, Bailey President. She gave our group a warm welcome and an introduction to what we were going to see. Bailey started in 1905 and is a fifth generation family business. They operate over 5,000 acres in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. Our tour took us behind the scenes to learn how plants start from cuttings and end up in garden centers and to over 4,500 customers worldwide. It was an amazing tour and different from any that PGMS members have participated in before. Be sure to check out Bailey at www.BaileyNurseries. com. Thank you, Bailey Nurseries, for taking the lead in the Green Industry. We ended our day at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum of the University of Minnesota. The Arboretum is 1,200 acres, half of which is planted and well taken care of. To maintain the property, the arboretum is staffed by only four
full time employees, seasonal workers, and six interns. This small staff expertly takes care of 32 display gardens, 48 plant collections and over 5,000 plant species and varieties. As the group toured the arboretum, our first stop was at the turf plots. Here, Sam Bauer taught us about the different types of turf species capable of tolerating the harsh Minnesota winters. Next, we were treated to a lesson from Jeffrey Johnson on the many varieties of trees and shrubs. We then continued to the ornamental grass collection where we met Dr. Mary Meyer, professor and extension horticulturist. Here, our group took an extensive walk through and discussed ornamental grasses. What a great tour – visit the arboretum at www.arboretum.umn.edu. In closing, I would like to stress the importance of networking and meeting new members. Two of those members that I had the pleasure of meeting at the Minnesota regional were Will Terris, supervisor of grounds services at Brigham Young University, and Glenl Wear, grounds director at Brigham Young University. It is always a great honor to meet new professionals as well as rekindle old friends from PGMS. I want to thank Tom Shaner and his staff for their dedication in putting on a regional of such professionalism. And, as always, thank you Gerald Landby, Diana Bramble and Gerry Dobbs, CGM for all your assistance in making this regional an exceptional event. Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Walt Bonvell, CGM PGMS President
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PGMS Philadelphia Branch Hosts Summer Site Visit By Jared Rudy, CGM, superintendent of grounds, Villanova University
On June 19, 2014, Jim Bolton, assistant director of operation at Muhlenberg College, hosted 20 plus PGMS members for a site visit at their campus in Allentown, Pa. Shearon Environmental Design sponsored the visit with two demonstrations with one focused on rain gardens where Gene Huntington talked about rain garden plant selection and installation. Furthermore, Gene hit on how to educate clients and changing the culture about rain gardens by using proper signage. Next, Jay Buck walked us through their intensive maintenance program on the Muhlenberg’s soccer and practices fields. Afterward, the PGMS members socialized and networked over a wonderful lunch.
PGMS Knowledge Center Wants Your Submissions The PGMS Knowledge Center is a resource for members to increase their knowledge base in grounds management. PGMS members are the experts in your industry, why not share you knowledge with your peers? This is an ongoing campaign so please send in any articles, case studies, etc. that you see fit. Need some suggestions on topics to write about? PGMS has a few to get your head spinning with ideas:
• snow removal • recycling practices / sustainable practices you use and why • natural turf vs. artificial turf • keeping staff happy / staff benefits / education • budgets • dealing with difficult bosses • safety in the workplace So we have started you off on the right foot, it’s your turn to grab a hold of the topic, write up an article (it doesn’t have to be long) and submit it to share with your green industry friends! Please e-mail it to Molly Baldwin-Abbott, PGMS Director of Communications at mollybaldwin@assnhqtrs.com.
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New Member Profile: Wayne By John Burns, CGM
Blanks
John: Wayne, it was nice getting to know you a little more while we were in Washington, D.C. to volunteer and participate in the Renewal and Remembrance event at the Arlington National Cemetery. What a meaningful experience that was! Thank you also for being willing to let the rest of the PGMS membership get to know a little through this member profile. Do you mind telling us a little about your background? When and how did you get into the green industry? (It seems you have broad background and I thought it would be interesting.) Wayne: I’m a 22 year U.S. Navy veteran in the Aviation Electrics field retiring from active service in 1998. About that time my two sons were interested in the grounds management field and we began a small company. In July 2000 we had the opportunity to purchase another company, J & H Lawn Service, Inc., from an older gentleman and his wife. Interestingly they began the business as a legacy for their two sons but they decided upon other careers. The name actually stands for Janet and Henry. We decided to keep the original name. John: I understand you are the President of J & H Lawn Service, Inc. Tell us a little about your company. Wayne: Since we acquired the business in July of 2000, my sons, David and Daniel, do the day to day operations and my wife Carolyn and I have worked the administrative areas. She is a majority stock holder and handles all the financial matters as well as billing. Daniel serves as vice president and David manages the crews. We are proud of the fact we have grown in revenue each year and are now some 600% larger than we were in July 2000. I attribute the growth to the fact we believe in quality, as our motto states, “Quality Starts at the Roots!” John: How did you hear about PGMS and why did you decide to join? Wayne: We became associated with PGMS as a result of a bid for an RFP that required us to be a member of a professional organization. In looking, we liked PGMS because it fell in line with our motto. Hence, all four of us are now members of the Virginia Branch. John: As a member of the Virginia Branch do you have anything you would like to share about the branch or your experiences with it? How has it been a help for you? Wayne: As members we have had many opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. We met many other professionals through our meetings and have learned from them as well as being one of the first to acquire the now required “Virginia Fertilizer” certification due to PGMS sponsoring the first course in the state. And of course, having the opportunity to be a part of the Arlington National Cemetery Day of Remembrance will remain with me for the rest of my life. I highly recommend anyone that expects to grow to be a part of PGMS and anyone in Virginia, we welcome you to our Branch!
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Summer in the Twin Cities PGMS Summer Regional Site Visit • Aug. 3-4, 2014 • Minneapolis, Minn.
Bailey Nurseries
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
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Toro Headquarters
Member Profile: Ellen By John Burns, CGM
John Burns, CGM: Ellen, when I first joined PGMS you were very active as either an officer or at least on the Board of Directors, so I have known you for years. I have also had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful campus and seeing a lot of your sustainable practices. Thank you for allowing the PGMS membership the opportunity to get to know a little more about you. How long have you been a member of PGMS? I mentioned that I thought you were an officer when I joined. When were you president? Is there something you would like to share about something you have done with PGMS? Ellen: I joined PGMS in 1993 when I became the Grounds Supervisor at Utah State University. I started getting information in the mail about various organizations, so I asked my predecessor Kent Bagnell (past PGMS Board member) which organization would be the best for me to join. He immediately replied PGMS and he was certainly right! I attended my first conference in Baltimore in 1994 and was impressed by how friendly and welcoming everyone was as well as how willing they were to share their professional knowledge. I became a member of the Board in 2000 as the Far West Director (as the west was then called) and then President in 2006. PGMS is a great organization to help one become a better professional in the green industry. Between the crews and me, we have taken advantage of the programs offered by PGMS including the Green Star Awards, the CGM program, the School of Grounds Management & GIE +EXPO, the regional visits, and we are hoping now to work on the new Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation. The more active a member you are, the more you can get out of PGMS, but just as important, the more you can pay back and help other members. We are planning on sending one of our newer supervisors to Louisville in October; I know he will really enjoy it and bring back lots of ideas. John: So you are the Associate Director of Landscape Services at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Would you mind telling us how you ended up in Tempe? Ellen: Richard (my husband) and I were getting tired of the cold in northern Utah and while he was down in the Tempe area on business he found he really liked it. He called and said “look to see if there is a job at ASU” and sure enough this job was posted. I got the job and moved down 10 years ago this October. I love the 365 day growing season, don’t miss snow, and like being able to ride horses year round too. John: What are some challenges you face in your position? Ellen: The biggest challenge is the extreme weather combined with the very large student population on campus. We hold the world record for the lowest recorded humidity at 2%, which is very hard on all but the most adapted desert plants, a yearly rainfall of only seven inches, and averaging 30 plus days over 110 degrees makes keeping the landscape green a challenge. Then add to that 60,000 plus students during the school year and 25,000 during the summer sessions, all spending time outside working and playing, generating trash, recyclables, litter, and wear and tear keep us busy keeping the campus event ready. Oh,
Newell, CGM
and lots of construction! John: What does a day in the world of Ellen Newell look like? Ellen: I like this job because there is lots of variety. I’m out touring the campus at least once on most days, going to coordination meetings, meeting and visiting with the crew, one on ones with the supervisors, inspecting construction, working with budgets, designing and supporting programs to meet the University’s sustainability and carbon neutrality goals, and my favorite, representing grounds and making sure our needs and the landscapes’ are considered in all future university plans. I have an hour commute to and from work so I spend that time planning and reviewing the day for both work and play. John: What do you do for fun? Ellen: I love to ride our horses all around Arizona, go hiking, tend to my vegetable garden, watch birds and other wildlife, collect and tumble rocks, read, travel and cook... the list could go on and on. John: Well I am cheating because I have visited you on your campus, but tell us what you drive to get around campus and why. Ellen: I ride a bike on campus instead of using a vehicle or electric cart! I always rode a bike at USU and continued that at ASU. I find it the best way to tour the campus and get around to all of the areas too small for vehicles. It’s great exercise and certainly sustainable and I think it makes me more approachable and personable to the crew. John: What would you say is the most important benefit of being a PGMS member? Ellen: The networking with a great bunch of peers! John: Ellen, thank you for taking time to do this interview to allow the PGMS membership to get to know a little more about you and what you do. You are really doing a lot of interesting and innovative things with sustainable practices on the campus at ASU. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit your campus a couple of years ago during a PGMS Spring Regional and getting to see the wonderful job you and your team are doing to make ASU a beautiful and sustainable campus. What a wonderful learning opportunity it was for us all. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that you were instrumental in developing the Regionals Site Visit program. In fact you hosted the very first regional in 2006. It is a real privilege to know you and to be able to network with you.
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What’s Growing On With...the On June 3, 2014, the PGMS Cincinnati Branch toured a university campus for the second time this season. This time, the branch was hosted by Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in Highland Heights, Ky. Founded in 1968, NKU now has a student body of over 15,000 students. Dedicated to sustainability and innovation, NKU was the first state-funded university in Kentucky to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment to work towards reducing and eventually eliminating NKU’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions, leading to a carbon-neutral and sustainable campus. NKU was also the first college to apply for and receive the Tree Campus USA designation. The early evening tour began at the facility and grounds maintenance building. Bill Moulton, superintendent of horticulture, made introductions of his staff Kim Yelton and Roger McCulley. Since the campus is several hundred acres and growing, Bill arranged for a bus tour to orient members to the entire university. During the tour, Bill explained some of the issues that are so familiar to anyone maintaining a campus, such as the effect of severe weather on the campus’ landscape plants and turf, and the challenges that come with new building construction and sub-contracted landscape installations.
Cincinnati Branch
the pleasure of the company of two more PGMS partners, The Davey Tree Expert Company and Bartlett Tree Expert Company. To end the evening, we gathered again at the facility and ground maintenance building where we all talked about what we saw and learned, and were treated by Walt Bonvell, CGM to a raffle and giveaways for the NKU staff and PGMS members. There were 15 attendees and a wonderful time was experienced by all. Bill Moulton did an excellent job in hosting another successful Cincinnati Branch event for the members. If you would like to learn more about Northern Kentucky University’s green roof, please visit www.greenroofs.com/ projects/pview.php?id=1556. If you would like to contact Bill he can be reached at moultonw1@nku.edu.
The bus tour ended at the student union building where we shared a great dinner and a lecture on the design and building of NKU’s green roof on Griffin Hall, NKU’s first LEED Certified building. Rose Seeger, owner of Green City Resources, gave PGMS members a detailed lecture on the challenges, successes, and benefits of the green roof structure that covers 8,100 sq. ft. or 23% of the building’s roof area. After the presentation, the group walked over to Griffin Hall and took a tour of the green roof. This was not the typical green roof planted in trays. Like in a beautifully designed and landscaped garden, we were able to walk among the plantings of grasses, herbs, perennials and at the same time, overlook the campus. The group then began a final walking tour of the campus that allowed members the opportunity to network, discuss problems, and just enjoy each other’s company and a great evening on campus. As we were walking, we came across a planter from EarthPlanter from our PGMS partner Bob Buckley. We also had
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Event Spotlight: Pre-Conference
Field Trip
Kicking off the Professional Grounds Management Society’s (PGMS) School of Grounds Management, as part of the GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky., will be an exclusive field trip to a nationally recognized historic cemetery and Louisville’s only arboretum, Cave Hill, on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 12:30 p.m.
As Louisville’s only arboretum, Cave Hill prides itself on outstanding maintenance and continues to follow the landscape theory of creating a controlled naturalistic environment where trees, shrubs, waterfowl and family memorials blend together to form the beautiful panorama of a traditional rural cemetery.
Attendees of the fieldtrip will experience up close and personal access to the cemetery grounds. The trip will start with a guided tour visiting some of the historical portions of the Cemetery, including some of their champion trees and horticultural practices that their gardeners are doing. There will also be time allotment for attendees to network and walk the grounds on their own to look at some of the sculptures, trees, gardens and some of the over 5,500 tombstones of soldiers from the Civil war and other wars. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, this garden cemetery became the repository of symbols of success in the form of true monumental art. The landscape gardeners embellished the natural setting with exotic trees and shrubs while the marble sculptures and granite fabricators erected elaborate memorials to individuals and families. Cave Hill has been blessed by a succession of competent and innovative landscape gardeners, and Louisville has been a regional center for monument makers. The result is a rural, garden-style cemetery which has always been considered a model to emulate.
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There were about 120,000 people interred by 2002, with space remaining for 22,000 more graves. More than 200 Confederate soldiers are buried in Section “O” of the cemetery, with 30-40 buried in a row in the National Cemetery. Included in the Section “O” burials is a Confederate Brigadier General, Alpheus Baker. There are two other Confederate generals buried in other locations in the cemetery. In the addition to Section “O” are a number of residents of the Kentucky Confederate Home, who died around the start of the 20th century. More information on the cemetery can be found at www.cavehillcemetery.com/.
Claim your spot now to be a part of this annual event. More details and registration information are available at pgms.org/2014schoolofgroundsmanagement/.
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Calendar of Events Sept. 4, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting Ruppert Nursery Gaithersburg, Md. Sponsor: Bartlett Tree Service Oct. 2, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting UM Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility College Park, Md. Oct. 22-25, 2014 2014 PGMS School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO Galt House Hotel Louisville, Ky. Nov. 6, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting Gaithersburg Equipment Gaithersburg, Md. Visit pgms.org/calendar-of-events for details.
Communication Center Below is a list of recent e-mail blasts: Aug. 15 - PGMS Grounds for Thought Monthly E-mail - August 2014 Aug. 12 - Thank You for Attending PGMS’s Summer Regional Seminar and Site Visit! July 21 - LAST CHANCE - Early Bird Deadline for PGMS’s Summer Regional Seminar and Site Visit Ends Today! July 17 - PGMS Grounds for Thought Monthly E-mail - July 2014 July 10 - Special Announcement from PGMS Silver Partner in Professionalism Bayer July 10 - Last Call for Green Star Award Nominations! June 24 - Special Announcement from PGMS Gold Partner in Professionalism Kawasaki June 16 - PGMS Grounds for Thought Monthly E-mail - June 2014 June 10 - LAST CALL - PGMS Needs Your Input for a Tree Care Survey June 3 - PGMS Needs Your Input for a Tree Care Survey May 21 - Summer is Almost Here, Relax with the Latest Issue of the Forum! If you are not receiving PGMS e-mail blasts visit pgms.org and make sure we have a current e-mail address in your profile.
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PGMS Members Make Best Landscaped College List Duke University is the No. 1 best landscaped college on the East Coast according to lawn care blog LawnStarter. The rankings of the top 10 campuses are based on factors such as the amount of green space on campus, the prevalence and uniqueness of landscape installations, and the attention given to lawns and landscapes. Here’s the full list of rankings: 1. Duke University* 2. Harvard University 3. The College of William and Mary 4. University of Maryland* 5. University of Vermont* 6. Virginia Tech* 7. University of Virginia 8. Yale University 9. UNC-Chapel Hill* 10. College of Charleston Schools with an asterisk next to their name have a PGMS member on staff. Source: www.bizjournals.com/triangle
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Roses for a Sustainable Landscape By Susanne Woodell, CGM, historic gardens manager, Biltmore
“Miracle On The Hudson” winner George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose Of The Trials (Best in Show); Chauncey Beadle Award for Best Shrub Rose; William Cecil Award for Best Growth Habit; and Lord Burleigh Award for Most Disease Resistant. Available through Roses Unlimited. (pictured left)
Does it seem inconsistent to talk about roses and sustainability in the same sentence? After three years of conducting an International Rose Trial, we at Biltmore are finding it is indeed possible. In 2011, we began a trial for breeders to submit roses to be evaluated for their disease resistance, overall attractiveness of the plant, flowering, and fragrance. The goal is to select roses that make great garden roses for homeowners. After two years of evaluations, the rose community is very excited about the results. Being roses that require minimal maintenance and perform well without pesticides, they would also make great roses for a Grounds Manager’s sustainable landscape. Each plant in the trial has been submitted by the breeder, planted into the garden, judged eight times over a period of two years by a permanent jury and a final time by a jury of international rose experts. The scores of each evaluation are tabulated and averaged to determine the winners.
“Honorine de Brabant” Award of Excellence For Best Established Rose
The roses in the trials are maintained using sustainable practices and only natural products. Plants are received at Biltmore in January/February as either a bare root plant or in a one gallon pot. So that all plants begin in the garden on an equal footing, they are potted into a three gallon pot using a mixture of pine fines and worm castings and grown on in a cold frame. Before planting into the garden in early May, they receive a drench of a mycorrhiza mixture. After planting, plants are fertilized with a natural compound fertilizer and mulched with ground composted leaves collected on the estate. Plants are fertilized again mid-summer with same natural fertilizer. Each plant is monitored for disease and insect pests, however no fungicides or insecticides are applied to roses in the trials. When temperatures and conditions are favorable for thrips populations to develop, the beneficial insect mite Amblyseius swirskii is released to control them. Other insect pests as well as beneficial insects are monitored and while some aphids are spotted, especially in spring with tender new growth, beneficials have also been spotted and they control the pest population. “Sweet Drift” Frederick Law Olmsted Award for Best Groundcover. Distributed by Star Roses and plants available at garden centers nationwide. (pictured left)
Plants are routinely inspected for black spot. If the disease is detected and less than 1/3 of the leaves are infected, the leaves are removed. If the plant becomes infected three times, it is automatically removed from the trials. If a plant contracts Rose Rosette, the infected branch is removed, the same control method we practice throughout the garden. Roses in the trials are categorized by their growth habit: shrub, groundcover, hybrid tea, climber, and floribunda. If the breeder does not submit under one of these categories, it is entered as an open class. “Munstead Wood” Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil Award for Most Fragrant Rose. Available in the U.S. through David Austin Roses in Tyler, Texas.
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PGMS Teams up with PLANET to Give Back
Several PGMS members participated in the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET) Renewal & Remembrance event that took place on July 28, 2014 at Arlington National Cemetery. Members that participated include: Walt Bonvell, CGM, John Burns, CGM, Wayne Blanks, Tony Byrd, Adam Newhart, Hugh Weldon, Eric Wenger, and Jimmy Viars, CGM. PLANET is proud to honor America’s veterans and leaders during this nationally recognized day of service. Each year, this event draws hundreds of landscape and lawn care professionals from across the country to Arlington National Cemetery to spend the day mulching, cabling and installing lightening protection for trees, pruning, planting, and liming and aerating more than 200 acres.
This year marked the 18th anniversary of PLANET’s Renewal & Remembrance event, which is the largest green industry day of service in the country. In 2014, more than 400 adults, approximately 100 companies and 40 children participated in this time-honored event. Check out photos from the event below!
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PGMS Welcomes Newest Members! New members since May 16, 2014 Bradley Barbee Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Gary Nedorostek Bartlett Tree Experts
Kevin Blanchard
Vincent Patterozzi Louisiana State University
George Bradney City of Roanoke
Douglas Paul Improved Environments Landscaping
Michael Carr Armstrong State University
Richard Ridener Indiana State University
John Cook Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
Mark Rogers
Donald Coffman Dependable Landcare LLC Web Cowden Mirimichi Green Express LLC Keith Downs Downs Landscape & Design, Inc. Faron Glenn Indiana State University Justin Hayes Indiana State University Samuel Hill Indiana State University Christine Howard University of Kansas Medical Center Robert Jackson Indiana State University Janice Nease Armstrong State University
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Philip Schretter Armstrong State University Dave Shuart St. Luke’s Boise Megan Smithberger OPE, Inc. dba CORE Outdoor Power Kathryn Twining Armstrong State University Michael Watkins Indiana State University Know someone who isn’t a member? Help grow your profession and spread the word about joining PGMS! Membership details can always be found on the PGMS website at www.pgms.org.
Update On: PGMS’s Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation Program Since launching the PGMS Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation Program back in March, the response for more information on the program has been impressive. This program is a dynamic evaluation tool that can be utilized by facilities and organizations that have a landscape services or grounds component. Through peer expertise, the program evaluates strategic grounds management principles and practices that produce and guide the delivery of properties to an attractive, healthy, sustainable and high quality state. How Does the PGMS Landscape Management and Operations Program Benefit Your Organization? To meet current demanding environmental challenges and expectations, grounds and landscape operational functions should effectively integrate with sound management practices. This accreditation offers the roadmap for this process and provides organizations with several meaningful and important benefits. For more information please visit http://pgms.org/accreditation/ or call PGMS headquarters at 410-223-2861.
PGMS Announces New CGMs
PGMS has announced two grounds management professionals have become Certified Grounds Managers (CGM). James Hogan (pictured top) of Severna Park, Md. has become the 153rd CGM. Hogan currently serves as the horticulturist at Chartwell Golf & Country Club. Brandon Martin of Waco, Texas has become the 154th CGM. Martin currently serves as the grounds manager at Baylor University. PGMS: Why did you want to become a CGM? Hogan: It seemed to be a next logical step in my career development. As a grounds manager, the next step is to become certified and recognized nationally as a professional. Going through the process allowed me the opportunity to organize and set structure and standards for the department. Prior to working at Chartwell Golf & Country Club, my position did not exist. They have allowed me the opportunity to develop my position and create a vision for the future for the department. Going through the process of becoming a CGM forced me to put the vision on paper. Martin: Starting four years ago I began my career as a Grounds Manager. Growing up I led a landscape maintenance crew for my dad’s business. Here is where I began to love landscapes and knew that I wanted to continue my passion into college. Following that, I discovered the Landscape Architecture program at Texas Tech where yet again I enjoyed landscapes and understanding how they are designed. When I began as a Grounds Manager I thought that I knew about landscape maintenance, but I was wrong. Becoming a CGM is the next step in that love and passion for the outdoor environment. I am proud to be alongside so many other great landscape experts and people that I can only hope to learn from in the future.
program and what you can learn as you examine your operation. PGMS: How do you think having the CGM designation with help you professionally? Hogan: It has further validated me as a professional. I think that many people view what we do as something that people don’t need extensive training or skills to do. To be able to tell them that I am certified and to show them everything that I had to do to reach that goal will hopefully open their eyes to what it takes to make things look the way they do. I hope this certification will be a strong addition to my resume and open doors in the future. Martin: I think it is worth mentioning that John Burns, CGM is one of the most respected and knowledgeable Grounds Managers in this country. When I learned he would be my mentor, I was blown away. I knew at that point I would be successful in achieving this certification and be challenged to turn in a quality product. His feedback and direction was very insightful and helped me understand how to piece everything together.
PGMS: How has the CGM program helped you further your career? Hogan: It has helped me organize my department to both the benefit of myself and my company. I hope that it will allow me to be more marketable in the future. Martin: To become a part of such a quality group of experts can only be a benefit to my career and give me great opportunities in the future. I can only hope to mirror some of the great careers other CGM’s have built through the years. PGMS: What advice do you have for aspiring CGMs? Hogan: Go for it! While the process can take considerable time, it certainly makes you think and analyze all things that you do. It takes your education and real world applications and synthesizes the two. It also opens your eyes to your strengths and weaknesses and shows you what areas you need to improve your skills. Martin: First off, don’t wait. Secondly, get ready to be amazed by the depth of the
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Celebrating 100 Years: Lessons in Building a Company That Lasts Tough times never last, but tough companies do. That’s evident from the challenges Toro faced from the start. In Toro’s first 30 years, the company’s leaders navigated through the Great Depression and two world wars by staying true to the company’s core ethics and values - and those principles have driven the company’s longevity and success ever since. Here are some of the surprisingly simple strategies that have worked for Toro over its first 100 years: Intense focus on solving customer problems, first and foremost. Hard-sell tactics have never been part of Toro’s culture; it has always been about finding out what the customer needs, meeting those needs and providing exemplary service. In fact, Toro got its start in the golf industry by listening and solving problems. Our first two prototypes (a fairway roller in 1918 and a fairway mower in 1919) came out of requests from golf clubs in Minneapolis. The staff at each club collaborated with Toro on a number of early products, offering input and helping to test equipment. Taking care of the customer after the sale. Toro co-founder and first president John Samuel Clapper thought that any manufacturer of a complicated piece of machinery should care more about that product after the sale than before. For the last century, Toro has done that in three key ways: 1.) Standing behind the product. Toro assigned its first manufacturer service representative in the golf business in 1926. Mungo “Scotty” Reid McLaren was charged with traveling the country to visit every golf course that had purchased Toro equipment at least once a year. At each stop, he inspected the equipment with the crew, helped them fix any problems and provided much appreciated training. That tradition of customer service continues today. In the words of a superintendent at a Country Club in Scotland, Pa., “I can tell anyone considering purchasing Toro equipment, you won’t go wrong. When I had a problem with my fairway unit, Toro took the high road, stood behind its product, and made me a loyal customer.” 2.) Standing behind our distributor partners. McLaren not only supported our customers, he also visited all of our distributors and trained them. To this day, we stand behind all of our distributors with ongoing training, exceptional parts fill rates, sales and technical support, warranty coverage and many other tools to help them provide the level of service our customers have come to know and trust. As another loyal Toro customer in Boone, N.C. stated, “It’s truly a blessing to have dependable equipment in combination with exemplary service.” 3.) Staying close to what’s important to the customer. Toro’s
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third president, Ken Goit, once said, “The success of this company is no secret. It has been due to two simple things: building a good product and treating customers honestly and fairly.” This fundamental approach has allowed Toro to reach our 100th year, and it’s also how the company hopes to approach the future. Every new product, feature and improvement we develop is driven by the need to make life easier and more productive for the people we serve. That attitude is reflected in comments from another superintendent at a Country Club in Warren, Pa., as posted on the Toro Leaderboard, “It is obvious that Toro has listened to customer wishes and needs, and delivered us into a new era of precision mowing with ‘all the fixins’!” Providing exemplary expertise in sales and service and unparalleled local support. Another loyal customer at a Golf Club in Mendham, N.J. states that “The expert sales staff at my Toro distributor gives me product support whenever I need it. That’s why I love my Toro!” The importance of local support permeates the fabric of The Toro Company and can be traced back to Clapper’s foresight and belief that Toro should have a network to provide the local, expert service golf courses needed. The Toro Company set up their first distributor in 1922 and had 17 distributors by the end of 1925 providing a big competitive advantage as it relates to serving golf courses around the country. Our distributor network, to this day, continues to play a vital role in our golf business, delivering local support our customers depend on. Some of these distributorships are in their fourth generation with Toro. Taking care of your employees. Toro’s focus on taking care of customers extends to their long history of taking care of employees. As Ken Melrose, Toro’s eighth president said, “We believe the single most important factor that influences our success as a company is the Toro employee.” Several of Toro’s presidents were known for walking the plant to talk with workers regularly. They knew their employees’ names and their families. An interesting example of how Toro stood out in support of their employees is that during the Great Depression, while many companies simply let go of employees, The Toro Company opted to cut back hours instead of jobs to keep people earning paychecks. Even in those early years, company leaders knew and acted upon the belief that people were our greatest asset. Thanks to our customers for putting their trust in Toro! Any company that lasts for a century must inevitably endure challenges, turning points and difficult economic times and
learn from those experiences. The Toro Company has been able to overcome these trials and tribulations to achieve lasting success by focusing on, and not losing sight of, our core people and performance values and the true needs of our customers. As we celebrate our centennial, we’re not only looking back but also forward at new ways to take care of our customers honestly, fairly and ethically in the years to come. That means both our valued channel partners as well as end-user customers. For us, it’s not just what we do, but how we do it that counts. At the end of the day, it is our foundational values that extend from Toro through our Distributor Partners that have helped our company weather the test of time. And of course, it is only proper that we conclude by expressing our sincere thanks to all of our end-user customers for putting their trust in Toro.
Facts at Your Fingertips • John Clapper, Toro’s first president, holds 16 patents for Toro innovations. • In January 1929, just 10 months prior to the stock market collapse, Toro offered its first common stock to the public at $1.40 per share. • During the war in 1942, the company made plans for additional manufacturing space and new products to prepare for the anticipated post-war boom of suburbia and demand for homeowner products. • In 1951, Toro opened a new manufacturing plant in Windom, Minn., to serve as a primary consumer products production facility. • Agronomist James R. Watson, Ph.D., (1920-2013) joined Toro in 1952. Dr. Watson led a team of 25 scientists at Toro’s R&D facility, conducting cutting-edge agronomic studies that significantly advanced turf care knowledge and helped revolutionize the industry. Dr. Watson became a living legend in the turf industry. • In 1966, Toro helped prepare the field for Super Bowl I, forming a partnership that continues to this day. • Toro traded stocks on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time in 1978. • Building on the legacy of Dr. James Watson, Toro’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology (CATT) was formed in 1998.
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Classifieds
There is a $10 fee for PGMS members, $20 for non-members required to place a classified posting on the website and in an issue of PGMS newsletter the Forum. Postings will remain online for one month. The editor will have final editing rights. To place a classified ad on the PGMS website and in the PGMS Forum, please e-mail the ad to Meghan Brady at meghanbrady@ assnhqtrs.com. For a payment form please visit pgms.org/job-bank/. To view details on any of the positions below visit pgms.org/ job-bank/. For internship details visit pgms.org/job-bank/ internships/. As a free, PGMS members only benefit, we will post your resume for two months on the PGMS Job Bank webpage. For more details please visit pgms.org/pgms-member-resumes/.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE Certified Arborist - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation / Williamsburg, Va. Assist in scheduling, management, and implementation of the daily maintenance of Colonial Williamsburg trees. This position is deemed as essential personnel and is required to report whether the Foundation is closed or not, regardless of the emergency weather related, or otherwise. High School Landscape Stewardship Teacher Position - Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School / New York, N.Y. Seeking a high school teacher or career professional looking to become a high school teacher to provide a career and technical education instructional program in historic landscape preservation and management. Preferred applicants should have education, experience, or a keen demonstrated interest in historic landscape management, preservation practice, or horticulture with the ability to develop and deliver an effective high school curriculum. The selected candidate will use theoretical instruction and applied learning methods to integrate contemporary trade landscape management practices with historic preservation; effectively positioning students for higher education, professional apprenticeships and/or careers in historic landscape stewardship. Maintenance Worker (General) - Penn State Harrisburg / Middletown, Pa. Penn State Harrisburg is accepting applications for a Maintenance Worker (General) A position with the Office of Physical Plant. Duties included planting,
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weeding, pruning, and cultivating trees, grass, shrubbery, etc. Apply herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Fertilize, mow, and seed lawns as required. Assist immediate supervisor in compiling daily work schedules. Operate University vehicle as required. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to a standard background check. Assistant Director, Horticulture & Grounds - Salisbury University / Salisbury, Md. Provide direction, supervision, and leadership to ensure work is planned and prioritized, to assure campus exterior spaces are attractive, functional, safe, and conducive to teaching, learning and attracting prospective students. Operations include: lawn, tree, and shrubbery maintenance campus-wide; landscape design and installation; managing staff; refuse removal; recycling; operation of computerized irrigation control system; interior plantscape design, installation and maintenance; greenhouse production operations; athletic field preparations and maintenance; snow removal; supporting campus activities; computerized plant records; and grounds equipment maintenance. This position also has the authority to act in the absence of the Director of Physical Plant to manage the day to day operations of the division.
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