Nlanlsept2013

Official Publication of the Nevada Landscape Association | www.nevadanla.com

SEPTEMBER 2013

23RD ANNUAL TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE

Application

Page 4

Netafim Wins 2013 Stockholm Water Award Page 6

Full Circle Soil Fertility

Page 7

THE SCIENCE OF PRUNING Page 8 Perennials in Nevada Page 9

Fall Is a Great Time to Feed Your Soil Page 10

P.O. Box 7431 Reno, NV 89510

Nevada Landscape Assoc.

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RENO, NV PERMIT NO. 379

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Landscape Nevada

7/18/13 11:19 AM

SEPTEMBER 2013

www.nevadanla.com

A Letter from the President Esteemed Members,

A

s I sit in my office, pondering what to say in my second to last presidents message; I think back to the many that I have written already to see what I can draw from them. Is there a recurring theme? Have I had any luck at conveying my thoughts? Are they even coherent? And although the last two questions may be suspect, I think that there is an answer to the first.

When I first started writing these messages two years ago, we were in a different time and place as an industry. My messages included talk of hope and looking towards a brighter future. They were sometimes scathing as it pertained to activism and membership in the NLA. We were trying to keep a severely crippled NLA ship afloat in the worst economic climate that many of us had ever seen. Much like the challenges we were collectively facing with our own businesses, the Board of Directors was scrambling to find solutions to problems we had never faced before.

Membership was crashing, money was short and tempers were sometimes shorter.

As time began to pass, as it always does, more and more optimism crept into my president’s message. Things felt like they had hit the bottom and were holding steady. I cannot tell you how many times I heard the quote “flat is the new up”. The NLA felt this ever-so-slight change as well; as function attendance crept up, new members began to trickle in and new faces began to show up at board meetings. Things were not great by any means, but the dark cloud had lightened a couple of shades.

Today, the optimistic feeling is higher than ever. Landscapers are busier now than they have been in years, some are even turning down business. Can this be?

I am happy for all of us and I hope that this trend will continue. I must also make my quarterly appeal for membership and activity in the NLA. If you are a current member, join the board or recruit your buddy. The time couldn’t be better. I believe that our little industry has some of the best people around, and the NLA is lucky to have you all as members. Here is to a strong end to the summer!

Thanks and Cheers,

Matt Melarkey

NEVADA LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Many people view their fallen leaves as nothing more than a nuisance, but these leaves are actually beneficial. In nature, when leaves drop from trees, the leaf litter builds on the forest floor where it begins to decompose through insect, worm and fungal activity. Nothing goes to waste; every living thing eventually returns to the earth and the nutrients are recycled to be used again in the grand circle of life. Read more on page 10.

PUBLISHER Landscape Nevada is published by: Kathy Hess, Just Imagine Marketing and Design 775.746.4138; kathy@justimaginemktg.com

NEVADA LANDSCAPE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Matt Melarkey, President — Crop Production Services (775) 358-6166 Sara Anderson, President Elect /Director — All Seasons Lawn & Landscaping

(775) 329-2744

Heidi Kratsch, Director — University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (775) 784-4848 Jason Perry, Director — Western Turf and Hardscapes

(775) 356-8873 Tim Laskowski, Director — Signature Landscapes

(775) 857-4333 Dan George, Director — Century Landscapes

(775) 358-5222

Leslie Lyles, Director — Stewardship Horticultural

(775) 849-1215 Steve Churchillo, Director — City of Reno Urban Forester

(775) 334-2270 David Squier, Director — Reno Green Landscaping (775)852-8952 LANDSCAPE NEVADA is the official publication of the Nevada Landscape Association, P.O. Box 7431, Reno, Nevada, 89510, phone 775.673.0404 or 800.645.9794, fax 775.673.5828, website: www.nevadanla.com, email: nlainfo@nevadanla.com.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & SUBMISSIONS Write to Landscape Nevada at the address above or email the publisher at kathy@justimaginemktg.com or phone 775.746.4138.

SPECIAL THANKS Leslie Lyles for newsletter submissions and editing.

Holly Bromley for newsletter editorial.

MISSION STATEMENT The Nevada Landscape Association provides leadership by promoting professionalism and integrity within the Green Industry through education, high standards and community involvement. We guide policy and uphold responsible resource management for the beautification and enhancement of our community.

www.nevadanla.com

3

NEVADA LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

SCHEDULE – RENO SHOW

23rd Annual Trade Show & Conference

SET-UP: Tuesday, Feb. 18 | Noon – 5 pm SHOW HOURS: Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 8 am – 4 pm TAKE DOWN: Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 4 – 7 pm

APPLICATION FOR EXHIBIT SPACE

EXHIBITORS WILL NOT BREAK DOWN BEFORE 4 PM

Reno Sparks Convention Center • Reno, Nevada • February 19, 2014 The Exhibitor named below agrees to lease space from the Nevada Landscape Association (hereafter referred to as management) according to the terms and conditions contained in this application. Table rentals are based on a first come first served basis with locations held by payment only. Table rental purchased after January 25th will increase by $100.

PREFERRED EXHIBIT SPACE: #1_____________________________________ #3_____________________________________ #2_____________________________________ #4_____________________________________ SKIRTED TABLE RENTAL COST: Member: $300 Non-Member: $600 2 table spaces = 10% discount

Prime booths #1 and #48: Prime booths #24 and #25: 3 table spaces = 20% discount

$1,000 $800 4 or more table spaces = 30% discount

Electricity is limited. Price to be determined.

Amount Enclosed $_____________. Please make checks payable to Nevada Landscape Association.

Or Credit Card (MasterCard/Visa) #_____________________________ Credit Card Expiration Date ________ Signature for Credit Card ____________________________________ 3-digit Security Code ____________ SEND TO:

NEVADA LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION, P.O. BOX 7431, RENO, NV 89510-7431 Phone: 775-673-0404; Fax: 775-673-5828

Products to be displayed: ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Prefer not to be located near: ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Company Name ___________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________________________

Phone ( )______________________ Fax ( )_____________________ Representative ___________________________________________________________________

Phone ( )______________________ Fax ( )_____________________ Exhibit representatives requiring badges: ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________________________ Exhibitor hereby acknowledges he has read and understands the terms and conditions on page 2 of this contract for exhibiting in the Nevada Landscape Conference & Trade Show contained in the application for exhibit space. The exhibitor agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions upon receiving acceptance of this Application/Contract and deposit by Exhibit Management. Acceptance to be effective upon mailing to exhibitor a formal notice of Assignment of Space.

Signature of Applicant ____________________________________________ Date____________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR NLA USE ONLY Accepted By

______________________________ Total Fees

$ __________________

Booth Assignment

______________________________ Less Deposit

$ __________________

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Landscape Nevada

Balance Due

$ __________________

2. EXHIBITOR SPACE All spaces will be provided 8’ draped table and 2 chairs. Standard exhibit space is 10’wide and 10’deep.

Additional booth furnishings, freight, shipping and decorating requirements may be obtained through the service contractor at an additional charge. Exhibitor packages with additional information regarding the contractor will be sent to the exhibitors prior to set–up upon request by exhibitor.

Exhibits may not exceed 8’ in height in back and 3’ on sides, except with written permission by NLA. Management reserves the right to have any part of an exhibit removed should it be considered illegal, objectionable or unsuitable.

The space shall be occupied by the exhibitor named on the agreement only. Any assigning or subleasing booth space to another party is not allowed.

3. LEASE AGREEMENT Should exhibitor not occupy leased space prior to show opening management will retain any deposits paid and exhibitor remains liable for any balance due. Any display in booth space not paid for in full by close of show will be placed in storage until contract balance and storage fees are paid in full.

Cancellation must be made in writing to the Nevada Landscape Association, P.O. Box 7431, Reno, NV 89510-7431.

If such cancellation is received 30 days prior to show, the NLA shall be entitled to retain or collect 50% of the exhibitor’s total contract obligation as liquidated damages. No refunds will be made if cancellation notice is received later than 30 days prior to show and the NLA shall be entitled to collect 100% of the exhibitor’s total contract obligation. Any refunds will be paid after the conclusion of the Nevada Landscape Trade Show.

Management shall not be liable for any damages or expenses incurred by exhibitors in the event the show is delayed, interrupted or not held as scheduled.

If the show is not held due to reasons beyond the control of the Management, Management may retain an amount paid by the exhibitors to defray expenses already incurred.

4. SECURITY Management will provide security during non-exhibit hours to avoid loss or damage.

Management accepts no responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged items.

5. LIABILITY The Nevada Landscape Association accepts no liability at any time for loss, damage or injury occurring in or to the exhibit or its occupants.

The exhibitor is responsible entirely for the exhibit space leased to him and shall not damage or mar any part of the building. The exhibitor agrees to reimburse the management for any loss or damage due to the exhibitor’s activities. If the exhibitor desires insurance, he must obtain it.

6. COMPLIANCE All exhibitors must comply with city ordinances and regulations including but not limited to the Fire Marshal and any facility codes.

7. DECISIONS Exhibitor agrees to abide by any decision made by the Management for the good of the show.

Nevada Landscape Association A3 A1-6 - Tabletop Exhibits (48) A2 A4 A5

A1 A6

Booth Set Up

storage

storage

7

8

9

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19

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29

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44

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24

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48

47

46

45

12

4.0 ft

13.8 ft

set up access

Area for food service/buffet lines

storage

48 8' x 30 table top exhibits 2 chairs each booth ? power for booths Banquet = 176

storage

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5

NETAFIM WINS 2013 STOCKHOLM INDUSTRY WATER AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

By Nancy Hardwick

etafim, an industry pioneer in dripline and micro-irrigation technology for agriculture and landscape, and the world’s largest irrigation company, has been named the 2013 Stockholm Industry Water Award laureate. The commendation was presented at a World Water Week ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 3.

The prestigious award recognized Netafim’s innovative approaches to sustainable water management and the development of new products and technologies in agricultural irrigation that help mitigate world hunger.

The laureate was granted by the Stockholm International Water Institute in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

“We are truly honored to receive the 2013 Stockholm Industry Water Award,” said Netafim President and CEO Igal Aisenberg, “As the global pioneer and worldwide leader in drip irrigation, we have always focused on saving water.

With water and land scarcity topping the list of today’s major global challenges, we’re leveraging our expertise and experience in drip technology to achieve water sustainability and help combat food price inflation and ensure food security.

“This award is testimony to our efforts and inspires us to continue to help reduce water usage and to make the world a better, more sustainable place,” he said.

Netafim is an active participant in the global effort to promote sustainable water management, and the company’s worldwide presence enables it to make a significant impact on water usage. Netafim operates 16 manufacturing plants in North and South America, Europe and Asia, including Israel, and serves an everincreasing number of agriculturists in more than 100 countries.

“Globally, 70 percent of our finite freshwater is used for agricultural irrigation, and with rapidly expanding demand for agricultural products, there is a dire need to improve water productivity,” said the Stockholm Industry Water Award Committee in its citation.

“Netafim’s remarkable achievements, helping farmers across the world to ‘grow more with less,’ are directly contributing to a more water- and food-secure world.”

Netafim actively participates in international organizations dedicated to implementing recommended water usage practices. In this capacity Netafim partners with leading food and beverage corporations to ensure the deployment of efficient water usage methods throughout the value chain.

Netafim is a member of the UN CEO Water Mandate and works with international organizations, governments and academic institutions. The company participates in global forums aimed at improving water usage in agriculture worldwide.

Netafim was founded at Kibbutz Hatzerim in 1965 in response to the water shortage in Israel, particularly in the Negev desert. Today, over 10 million hectares of farmland worldwide are irrigated with Netafim dripline irrigation.

Netafim’s turf and landscape division features a complete line of dripline products for landscape irrigation.

Netafim Techline is used to irrigate turf, shrubs, trees and flower beds, and can be installed in landscapes, sports fields, tennis courts, golf courses and more.

The Techline family includes: Techline® DL, Techline® CV, Techline® EZ and Techline® RW. All Techline products are made from recycled materials, an irrigation industry first and a new opportunity to earn LEED credits on landscape installations. www.netafimusa.com.

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The prestigious award recognized Netafim’s innovative approaches to sustainable water management and the development of new products and technologies in agricultural irrigation that help mitigate world hunger.

Full Circle Soil Fertility

By Craig Witt, Owner Full Circle Compost, Inc.

N

ot knowing it at the time, my current adventure in soil fertility started fifty three years ago. I am a native Nevadan who was raised on a dairy farm in Minden; named the Milky Way Farm.

Many afternoons I would ride out to the “Marshall” pasture with my grandfather, in his old Chevy pickup truck to gather up the Holstein dairy cows for the afternoon milking. It would take almost an hour because the pasture was half a mile down the dirt road that divided our farm, and the cows, being heavy with milk, walked very slowly to the second milking of the day. This provided a lot of time for my grandfather and I to talk, and for me to learn about farming.

I remember asking my grandfather, “Papa, why don’t the cows eat that tall dark green grass around their cow pies?” It seemed to me that it would be easier for them to eat the tall grass versus continuing to eat the already short, previously grazed areas in the pasture. His answer was always the same, “Animals don’t like to put their noses down near their own poop.” Was Papa’s answer correct?

In 2005, forty-five years later, while I was attending my fifth “Reams Advanced Soil Seminar; The Biological Theory of Ionization” the correct answer to the question became apparent to me. Dr. Ream’s famous quote, “See what you are looking at” was part of the answer. What my grandfather and I were really seeing when the cows refused to eat the lush, tall dark green grass was their “instinct” telling them that there was too much urea (NH4) present because of the overabundance of nitrogen fertility coming from the ammonia in the fresh manure. If eaten, this caused the cows to have a high Milk Urea Nitrogen (M.U.N.) content. M.U.N. gives the cows a stomach ache and causes them to use an excessive amount of energy trying to eliminate the toxic effects of excessive urea in their bodies. What the cows cannot eliminate in their urine, they are forced to excrete in their milk, which causes undesirable flavors and shorter shelf life of the milk they produce.

Instinct vs. Reason: Only man has the gift of reason and it often times overpowers his gift of instinct. This is why animals can travel great distances relying only on their instinct to guide them and man is lost without a GPS or map as a guide. For years the guide for soil scientists has been a pie graph showing the three major components of soil (see pie charts to the right).

Notice that all three pieces of the pie are equal.

For many years now we have not given enough credit to the biological side of soil fertility. Soil biology in fact, is now being shown to be the most important factor in producing high quality, high yield, and nutrient dense produce. The equality in the above pie graph is now shifting to a new biological based

soil fertility paradigm. Biology can now be considered to be the main driving factor, up to 80%, of the factors that produce healthy plant growth.

On page 73 of his book, “How to Grow World Record Tomatoes”, Charles H. Wilbur states, “I believe a plant can consume only what the bacteria will release.” The physical and chemical aspects of the soil support soil biology which in turn balances and improves the physical and chemical aspects of the soil leading to stronger, healthier plants. Plants should be thought of as the “Mineral Bridge” for animals to get the nutrition they need from the soil.

Dr. William Albrecht watched where cattle would instinctively prefer to graze and correlated the information he found on soil analysis taken from those areas. He developed the foundational principles of balancing soil nutrients using the Cation Exchange Capacity or CEC. According to Niel Kinsey, the percentage soil base saturation guidelines for major cations are: • Ca++: 60-80% • Mg++: 10-20% • K++: 2-5% • Na++: 1-3% • H++: 10-15% Through balancing the above CEC percentages, farmers can produce the highest yielding and most nutrient dense produce possible. These mineral percentages create the most hospitable environment for a thriving healthy soil ecosystem. However, one key concept no to be missed is that the analysis for the CEC percentages does not always tell us what nutrients are “available” to the plant. The easiest way to understand the role of nutrient availability in the soil is through the “Truck Analogy.”

Trucks deliver all groceries to the market. In the soil, nutrients are delivered the same way. Calcium is the “truck” that transports all other nutrients to the plant’s roots. Every truck needs a driver, and the driver of the calcium truck is Boron. Every truck also needs fuel, and the fuel of the calcium truck is humus. Humus is the end result of a proper composting process. Without these three important elements available in the soil, the truck will not be able to deliver the nutrients to the plants and optimal yield and nutrition can never be achieved.

Humus based soil fertility concentrating on healthy soil biology supplemented with balanced soil nutrition delivers the highest and best yields possible.

It is essential to work with local soil fertility specialists that understand these principals to ensure optimal success in your garden and landscape endeavors.

Old Soil Fertility Concept

Microlife Biological

Physical Soil Structure

Chemical Mineral Nutrients

New Soil Fertility Concept Chemical Mineral Nutrients

Physical Soil Structure

Microlife Biological

www.nevadanla.com

7

The Science of Pruning S

cience of pruning? Is there an actual science to cutting back landscape shrubs, grasses and perennials? Well, if you stop to ponder the fact that all plants are living organisms, each with specific growth patterns, bloom times and individual physiological characteristics, the answer becomes a definitive “yes,” there is a science to pruning.

Of course it is possible to simply prune back any plant at any time for any reason. But when the physiological characteristic of each plant is ignored, there is often a negative consequence.

Take for example a shopping mall that I used to pass by on occasion: For several years in mid July, the landscape crew would do some routine pruning to make sure that the shrubs didn’t get “too big.” The problem is that they took hedge shears to Russian Sage in order to prune it back 6–8 inches. Russian Sage, which has the primary appeal of lovely purple blossoms in late summer, would be sheered right before they graced the mall with brilliant color.

The crew obviously had no awareness that they were destroying the sole purpose of planting this plant and had no understanding that the woody perennials had already reached mature height anyway; they were investing costly time and effort into not only needless, but destructive pruning.

Now granted, the Russian sage is a terminal bloomer; shearing this plant above scenario could be in the fall destroys the purpose for which it was planted. avoided with good practical Here, terminal buds were cut prohibiting further bloom common sense based on and leaving a view of a weedy, unattractive hillside knowledge of what was instead of vibrant blossoms. being pruned, but at its heart, that common sense is really based on science—simply knowing the basic biology of the plant that is being cared for. If the simple biology of various plant species is taken into account, the science of pruning produces a very orderly and logical system for the “how, why, and when” of pruning.

KNOW THE GROWTH HABIT

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

PRUNING STIMULATES GROWTH

When pruning flowering shrubs, timing really is everything. Your landscape crew should be educated enough to know which plants bloom in the spring and which bloom in the fall. Fall or winter pruning of spring bloomers such as lilac, quince, flowering almond, bridal veil spirea and forsythia removes the flower buds that formed the previous summer, thus destroying their ability to bloom in the spring.

Flowering shrubs such as rose of Sharon, butterfly bush, Anthony Waters spiraea , Russian sage and Caryopteris (blue mist spirea) can be pruned in the late fall or winter as the new flush of spring growth will also aid in the development of their blooms. (Note that Caryopteris has beautiful papery seed pods that provide winter interest; leaving them alone until early spring adds beauty to the landscape.)

Ornamental grasses also add wonderful winter interest to winter landscapes with their dried seed heads. Delaying pruning grasses until late winter is an asset to the landscape when all else is dormant and lacks interest.

Evergreen shrubs such as junipers, mugo pine, photinia and laurel are the most versatile when it comes to pruning. Since they don’t lose their leaves and go dormant, nor do they have a bloom cycle, they can be pruned any time of year. Have your crews delay pruning these until the rush of spring and summer maintenance is over. Doing off-season pruning on these shrubs is a great way to effectively use your limited man power in the rush of high-season and to keep good employees working when much of the other maintenance is done.

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Landscape Nevada

By Holly Bromley, B.S. Biology ISA Certified Arborist (#WE-5667A)

The single most over-used method of pruning is hedge sheering and unfortunately, it is often the most destructive method of pruning. The only shrubs that are well suited to hedge sheering are those with short internodes—the distance between leaves. Shrubs such as boxwood, junipers, spiraea, and barberry fit well into this category. Of course hedge sheering also eliminates the Cutting tall leaders back to a lateral branch natural form of the various shrubs union (see arrow) not only controls height and turns them into geometric shapes. without disrupting the hormonal control of the Hedge sheering is best for creating a plant, but also helps to thin crowded branches. formal look in the landscape whereas selectively pruning out the tallest branches by cutting them back at a branch union within the plant’s interior leaves the natural form of the shrub (Figure 1).

Plants that have broad leaves and long internodes such as laurel, photinia, dogwood, and mugo pine do not respond well to hedge sheering as this method mangles leaf tips and makes pruning “cuts” at the wrong place on the plant stem. Also, each hedge sheering multiplies the stems and creates a dense outer canopy in which light can no longer penetrate the interior. The result is that interior leaves die back and dense growth is concentrated on the tips (Figure 2). This necessitates pruning the shrubs higher and higher with each successive pruning and thus does not contain the plant size effectively (Figure 3).

Hedge shearing creates a thick outer canopy of branches.

When plants are pruned, the removal of the tip of each branch releases hormones in the lower buds and prompts them to start growing. For this reason, non-evergreen shrubs should not be pruned in late summer as the pruning will stimulate growth and cause the plants to use up stored This Amur maple has been sheared at three energy in growing new foliage right at different levels, leaving crowded branches at the time when they should be storing each level. (Note: The landscape crew did not up carbohydrates in their tissues to be recognize this as a small tree and mistakenly used in the spring for new growth. pruned it as a shrub, destroying its natural This is particularly true of roses form.) that are more susceptible to disease and winter death than most other shrubs. While “common” rose pruning knowledge in other parts of the country call for fall pruning of roses after they become dormant, our high-desert climate calls for a different approach. Winters here can have nice warms spells of 60+ degree weather shortly after winter storms. Pruning roses in the fall or winter can cause them to start growing

too early and lead to extensive cane death. Hold off on rose pruning until late March or Early April to avoid winter damage.

LEAVES ARE FOOD FACTORIES Leaves are where the photosynthesis that produce carbohydrates as the food source for each plant occurs.

The same day that I started this article, I witnessed a paid landscape crew in a high-end neighborhood prune 90% of the foliage out of several lilac bushes (Figure 4). In addition to the fact that this left each lilac looking like some perverted, multi stemmed umbrella, it also most certainly did a lot of physiological harm to the plants. These shrubs were pruned in mid August and with most of the leaves gone, each plant has very little foliage left with which to create the necessary carbohydrates that it needs to store in the woody tissues over winter. As such, the plants will likely push as much new growth Lilac (spring bloomer) was severely as possible late in the summer, not only depleting any reserve over pruned AND at the wrong time of carbohydrates they may have in storage, but likely too late to year. Result­—spring blossoms will be make up for the deficit prior to first frost. I will not be at all minimal and shrubs severely stressed and surprised if these shrubs either die or are so severely damaged susceptible to insect and disease attack. that they struggle to recover for the next several seasons. And just like our bodies fall victim to illness when overwhelmed with stress, plants also become highly susceptible to disease and insect infestation when they are stressed.

These formerly healthy plants have, no doubt, been severely damaged by a paid yet ignorant crew.

DON’T INFECT THE PLANTS Every single pruning cut is a wound to living tissue. Because plants are living organisms, they are susceptible to infection by various fungal and bacterial diseases. If pruning equipment is contaminated with diseasecausing micro-organisms, then every cut made with that equipment is infected and the plant inoculated.

Some plants, such as roses and dogwood are particularly susceptible to fungal infections and disease infected canes can die from an invading fungus. To prevent infecting plants when pruning them, disinfect all pruning equipment between jobs, after cutting dead and diseased material and even between every plant when pruning roses. One of the easiest ways to disinfect pruning tools is by spraying the blades with Lysol brand disinfectant spray. Good disinfection practices will keep your maintenance crews from spreading disease from plant to plant and from one client’s yard to another’s. It is just one small step that creates excellence in your company’s service.

Understanding just a little bit about the blooming habit and growth patterns of landscape plants helps us to understand that each has individual characteristics that require differing approaches to pruning. With this knowledge, we can then orchestrate the timing so that a schedule can be made to space out this task over the entire year, rather than trying to squeeze pruning tasks into a one-size-and-time-fits-all approach that takes up significant time during the busiest season of the year.

Companies can increase the value of their service that they offer clients by caring for landscapes in a way that best cares for the individual types of plants. And of course, companies that provide excellent and knowledgeable service that maximizes the beauty of the landscape—the very thing that they are hired for— are more likely to retain clients that are satisfied with the service they are getting.

Perennials in Nevada

By Dan and Rachel McClure, owners of Nevada’s Own Perennials Wellington, Nevada

T

he “Perennial Question” We Get Most is “What grows Here?” So we all have favorite plants, and one of ours is Agastache. This plant is probably in our top three for the number of positive responses we get back from our customers. The hummingbirds love it and deer and rabbits leave it alone. So here is our dilemma, in the past eight years we have seen this plant go from relative obscurity to…yeah I actually saw it in a Box store.

This is the problem, and it’s one we regularly experience here in northern Nevada with regards to plant selections: not all Agastache are the same. Hardiness can range from USDA zones 3 through 9, but most are for zones 6 through 9. So, we recommend you go with our two favorites Agastache cana and Agastache rupestris because they are USDA Zone 5 and always return in our garden year after year when we’ve left them alone through the winter and cut back the previous years growth in mid to late spring.

Agastache cana flowers appear over a long June to September bloom period. This is a compact, uniformlybranched, woody-based perennial with an upright habit, typically growing to 16-36” tall and as wide. It has aromatic oval leaves. Agastache cana is native to New Mexico and western Texas where it is sometimes commonly called mosquito plant, because rubbing the aromatic foliage on one’s skin reportedly repels mosquitoes. Leaves may be used fresh or dried to flavor teas. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies as well.

Agastache rupestris is 36–42” tall x 18” wide. Often called Licorice Mint Hyssop, it is a superior perennial enjoyed in the garden for its spicy fragrance, uniquely colored flowers and finely textured foliage. It is also a superb hummingbird plant attracting them for several months with its nectar-rich flowers. Agastache rupestris loves a hot, sunny position in well-drained soil. Keep an eye out for the hummingbirds when this plant is in bloom. Its nectar-rich flowers are unsurpassed in bringing hummingbirds into the garden.

Save the Date 23rd Annual Nevada Landscape Association Banquet Silver Legacy, Reno, NV November 8, 2012 Cocktails 6 PM • Dinner 7 PM You won’t want to miss this event celebrating Trophy Award Winners, Landscape Industry Certified, New Members and Sponsors. For Information Please Call the Nevada Landscape Office at 673-0404.

Walker Landscape Maintenance LLC Santa Maria Tree Farm Sonsray Machinery

To join... please call the Nevada Landscape office

at 673-0404 or visit our website at www.nevadanla.com www.nevadanla.com

9

Fall is a Great Time to Feed Your Soil

By Holly Bromley, B.S. and Leslie Lyles, M.S., Stewardship Horticultural

O

ne chore you may want to forgo this fall is raking up every fallen leaf from your clients’ beds; by leaving the leaves you can improve the health of your client’s landscape plants. Many people view their fallen leaves as nothing more than a nuisance, but these leaves are actually beneficial. In nature, when leaves drop from trees, the leaf litter builds on the forest floor where it begins to decompose through insect, worm and fungal activity. Nothing goes to waste; every living thing eventually returns to the earth and the nutrients are recycled to be used again in the grand circle of life. Decaying leaves and other plant material not only help reduce soil erosion and retain soil moisture, but they also enrich the soil, improve soil aeration and nourish living plants and many biological organisms in the soil that the plants depend on.

In our urban environments landscapes are often “raked to death.”

Constant raking and removal of fallen leaves prevents natural recycling of nutrients and deprives our soil, and thus our plants, of nourishment.

Additionally, when there is no decomposing organic matter at the soil surface, there is no food for earth worms or other types of decomposers that keep the soil loosened and aerated. The result is that the soil (the combination of organic and inorganic matter) becomes just sterile dirt – a tough place for plants to grow. Poor quality soil leads to plant stress, which makes plants more susceptible to attack by insects and disease organisms.

In our desert environment, the ground we plant is already lacking organic matter. We plant beautiful landscapes that enrich the once barren land, but then prohibit nutrient recycling and soil enrichment by raking the ground clean of every fallen leaf.

Landscape plants would benefit if maintenance workers would work with Mother Nature and leave the leaves. We are not advocating letting piles of leaves build up, but rather leaving at least a thin layer of leaves (2–4 inches) in planting beds over the winter to decompose. If the fallen leaves are large (maple, sycamore, catalpa) they can be run through a chipper and planting beds mulched with the smaller pieces that will break

down easier. In the spring rake the fallen leaves up lightly, leaving the most decomposed layer (leaf mold) at the soil surface.

If you can’t stand the idea of leaving the fallen leaves in your client’s landscape beds, there are other, tidier ways of improving soil health while decreasing soil erosion and retaining soil moisture. Top dressing planting beds with several inches of compost (available commercially in bags or bulk) or applying a layer of organic mulch such as wood chips or bark, will benefit your soil and landscape plants. Over time these materials will decompose, providing nutrients and structure to your garden soil (do not use a landscape fabric under organic mulches, as the fabric prevents the decomposed plant material from reaching the soil and benefiting your plants).

Remember that soil is more than just the inorganic rocks and minerals; it is also the complex array of organic material and biological organisms.

Healthy soil means healthy plants. Healthy soil contains organic matter that feeds the microorganisms and improves its texture, allows it to retain moisture better, and allows uninhibited root growth. By caring for your soil, your landscape plants will be healthier and have fewer insect and disease problems.

Leslie and Holly are Horticultural Consultants and I.S.A. Certified Arborists (#WE1220A; #WE -5667A) at Stewardship Horticultural (849-1215). They specialize in plant problem diagnosis and work with Landscape Maintenance companies and homeowners to help them understand their plant’s needs and get the most beauty from their landscape.

Are your clients getting the most beauty from their perennials? Old, crowded perennials have smaller and fewer blooms. To remedy:

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3

Divide tired perennials such as iris, daylily, coreopsis, bee balm and asters every 3–4 years to keep them healthy.

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Divide in the fall when air temperatures are cooling, but soil temperature is warm.

Landscape Nevada

Renew garden beds with compost before replanting.

Replant the healthiest divisions that are approximately one fourth the size of the original clump.

Water well after transplanting to facilitate new root growth.

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775-358-6166 www.nevadanla.com

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My customer wanted to grow his

Efrain Ramirez

Lighting Specialist 15 years

lighting sales. So I gave him a tip—

install the wire when you trench the pipe, then put in temporary lights to demo for your customer. 90% of the time,

they’ll want to keep them in!

Ready to get started?

Talk to your local Horizon lighting specialist today for more ideas on how to grow your business.

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