Chapter events
For more chapter event listings, visit www.horttrades.com. August 18 Golden Horseshoe Chapter Golf Tournament Willow Valley Golf Course, Mount Hope The Golden Horseshoe Golf Tournament will start with registration at 11 a.m., followed by a barbecue lunch and shotgun start at 1 p.m. Contact Bruce Wilson at 647-225-6932, or Helen at hhassard@landscapeontario.com.
August 22 Waterloo Chapter 2010 Baseball Tournament and Summer Picnic Bloomingdale Ball Fields Join the Waterloo Chapter for its baseball tournament, starting at 8:00 a.m. on Sun., Aug. 22. Teams must have a minimum of eight players (two must be female). Cost is $125 per team for the tournament and $10 per family for the picnic. For more information or to register a team, contact Helmutz Landscape and Interlock at 519-888-9536.
August 27 Ottawa Chapter Golf Tournament Canadian Golf and Country Club, 7800 Golf Club Way, Ashton Join the Ottawa chapter for its annual golf tournament. Registration is at 11 a.m. The putting contest is from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., with the shotgun start at 1 p.m. For more information on the tournament or sponsorship opportunities, contact Martha Walsh at mwalsh@landscapeontario.com.
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September 10 London Chapter Golf Tournament Pine Knot Golf Course, 5421 Hamilton Rd., Dorchester The 5th annual London Chapter Golf Tournament’s tee-off time is 11 a.m. Cost is $125 per golfer, which includes golf, cart, lunch, dinner and prizes. For more information, contact Wendy Harry at 519-488-0818, or 1-888-211-5606, ext. 2356, or wharry@landscapeontario.com.
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September 11 Windsor Golf Tournament Tilbury Golf Course, 20425 Cty. Rd. 46 The Windsor Chapter’s annual golf tournament includes 18 holes of golf, hotdog and pop at the turn, steak dinner and great prizes. For more information on the tournament and how to register contact Jay Rivait at jaytopgrade@hotmail.com.
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August 26 Georgian Lakelands Golf Tournament Innisbrook Golf Course, 2957 Lockhart Road, Barrie The Chapter’s annual golf tournament will take place at the Innisbrook Golf Course. Cost is $150 for 18 holes. Lunch and registration will begin at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. There are also sponsorships opportunities involving the putting contest at $100 and individual green sponsorships at $300. Contact Heather Williams at handk@sympatico.ca.
September 14 London Chapter meeting Lamplighter Inn, Royal Palm Room, 591 Wellington Rd. S., London Join the chapter and Mathis Natvik at 7 p.m. for an informative presentation on LEED Certification. Natvik will also talk about a new system for evaluating landscape sustainability known as Sustainable Sites Initiative. Social hour is from 6 to 7 p.m. There is no charge for this meeting. For more information, contact Wendy Harry at 519-488-0818, or 1-888-211-5606, ext. 2356, or wharry@landscapeontario.com.
Landscape Ontario and industry events
For more Landscape Ontario and industry event listings, visit www.horttrades.com. August 18 - 19 Advanced tree appraisal workshop University of Toronto campus The Urban Forest Innovative Solutions is sponsoring a workshop, entitled, Advanced Tree Appraisal. Registered consulting arborist Scott Cullen will conduct the workshop. Complete details and registration information are available at: www.ufis.ca/ pdf/advanced_tree_appraisal_workshop. The program is being hosted by University of Toronto Faculty of Forestry. For more information, contact, info@ufis.ca, or 905-274-1022. August 19 Guelph Turfgrass Institute Research Field Day 328 Victoria Rd., Guelph In collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation, the annual turfgrass field day will take place at the Institute. The day begins at 8 a.m. For more information, or to register, go to www.guelphturfgrass.ca.
August 20 Annual trial garden open house for industry Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton Visit the University of Guelph annual trials at the LO office in the morning, and see for yourself how next year’s crop of new plants perform in the landscape. In the afternoon, go to the University of Guelph trial gardens in Guelph. To find out more about the sponsorship opportunities available with the Trial Garden, contact Rodger Tschanz at rtschanz@uoguelph.ca, or Kathleen Pugliese at kathleenp@landscapeontario.com. August 21 Annual trial garden open house for the general public Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton Members of the public are invited to the LO Milton site to get a peek at next year’s crop of new plants,from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, contact Kathleen Pugliese at kathleenp@ landscapeontario.com. As well, the LO trial gardens is just one of the 10 places to visit on the Milton Community in Bloom Garden Tour. For more details on sponsorship or to volunteer for the garden tour, contact the Milton United Way at 905- 875-2550.
September 1 - 2 Snow and Ice Symposium Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, 400 East Ave., Kitchener The Snow and Ice Sector Group of Landscape Ontario will host its annual symposium and equipment display program on Sept. 1 and 2. For further details go to www.horttrades.com/ snow-symposium-2. September 12 MGOI Short Course Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. 4890 Victoria Avenue N, Vineland Station Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and Master Gardeners of Ontario present an educational short course. Take a tour of the Centre and enjoy a tasting at The Foreign Affair Winery. Plus, learn about leading edge horticultural science and innovation and its practical applications in the garden. Cost is $50. September 14 Growers Tour Mark your calendar for the Growers Tour to the Niagara region. Watch www.horttrades.com for more details.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 3
Landscape Ontario staff LO staff members are committed to member service. Please call with your questions or concerns. Tel: (905) 875-1805 or 1-800-265-5656 Fax: (905) 875-3942 Web: www.horttrades.com
Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural industry in Ontario. Suffix for all e-mail addresses below: @landscapeontario.com
Executive Board
Windsor Chapter
E-mail suffix for all staff members: @landscapeontario.com Executive director Tony DiGiovanni CHT, ext. 304, tonydigiovanni@ Executive assistant Kathleen Pugliese, ext. 309, kpugliese@
President
President: Mark Williams Board rep: Garry Moore
Past president
Garden Centre
Controller Joe Sabatino, ext. 310, jsabatino@
Grounds Management
Administrative assistant Jane Leworthy, ext. 301, jleworthy@
Tom Intven, tintven@ Robert Adams, robertadams@ First vice-president
Tim Kearney CLP, tkearney@
Chair: Michael Van Dongen Board rep: Bob McCannell, bmccannell@
Second vice-president
Chair: Mike DeBoer, CHT Board rep: Brian Marsh
Secretary/treasurer
Growers
Phil Charal, pcharal@ Jacki Hart CLP
Provincial Board Durham Chapter
President: Greg Scarlett Board rep: Mark Humphries, mhumphries@
Chairs: Mark Ostrowski Board rep: Dave Braun
Interior Plantscapes
Chair and board rep: Stephen Schell CHTI
Irrigation
Manager, education, and labour development, Sally Harvey CLT, CLP, ext. 315, sharvey@
Education, labour, and certification project coordinator Rachel Burt, ext. 326, rachelb@ Seminar and safety group coordinator Kathy McLean, ext. 306, kathym@ Membership coordinator, Helen Hassard, ext. 354, hhassard@ Chapter coordinator, Georgian Lakelands Chapter Heather Williams, ext. 370, hwilliams@
Chair: Chris Le Conte Board rep: Steve Macartney CIT, smacartney@
Chapter coordinator, London Chapter Wendy Harry, 519-488-0818, wharry@
President: Michael LaPorte CHTC Board rep: Warren Patterson
Landscape Contractors
Chapter coordinator, Ottawa Chapter Martha Walsh, ext. 368, mwalsh@
Golden Horseshoe Chapter
Lawn Care
Manager, information technology Ian Service, 416-848-7555, iservice@
Georgian Lakelands Chapter
President: Tim Cruickshanks, tcruickshanks@ Board rep: Walter Hasselman
London Chapter
President: Tim Cradduck, tcradduck@ Board rep: Peter Vanderley CLP
Ottawa Chapter
President: Sarah Johnston Board rep: Bruce Morton CLP, CIT
Toronto Chapter
President: Fiona Penn Zieba Board rep: Ryan Heath CLP
Upper Canada Chapter
President: Diana Cassidy-Bush CLP Board rep: Paul Doornbos CHTM, CLP
Waterloo Chapter President: Rob Tester Board rep: David Wright
Chair and board rep: Peter Guinane Chair: Steve Tschanz Board rep: Alan White, awhite@
Landscape Design
Chair: Tony Lombardi CLD Board rep: Beth Edney CLD, bedney@
Lighting
Manager, Pesticide Industry Council Tom Somerville, tsomerville@ Nursery technical analyst Francesco Pacelli, ext. 377, fpacelli@ Executive director Ontario Parks Association Paul Ronan, ext. 349, pronan@
Chair and Board rep: John Higo
Director of events and trade shows Gilles Bouchard, ext. 323, gbouchard@
Snow and Ice Management
Trade show manager Paul Day CDE, ext. 339, paulday@
Chair: Ed Hewis Board rep: Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@
Members at Large Gregg Salivan Bruce Warren
CNLA Board Rep
Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@
Horticulture Review Views expressed in Horticulture Review are those of the writer concerned. Horticulture Review and Landscape Ontario assume no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2010, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 12x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included).
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4 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
Trade show coordinator Linda Nodello, ext. 353, lnodello@ Director of public relations Denis Flanagan CLD, ext. 303, dflanagan@ Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLP, ext. 314, lak@ Editorial director Sarah Willis, ext. 313, sarahw@ Editor Allan Dennis, ext. 320, aldennis@ Web editor Robert Ellidge, ext. 312, rob@
The Voice of Landscape Ontario
August 15, 2010 • Volume 28, No. 8
Trade show manager Lorraine Ivanoff, ext. 366, lpi@
ISSN 0823-8472 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses To: Circulation Department Horticulture Review 7856 Fifth Line South Milton, ON L9T 2X8
Art director Melissa Steep, 647-723-5447, msteep@ Graphic designer Mike Wasilewski, ext. 343, mikew@ Sales manager, publications Steve Moyer, ext. 316, stevemoyer@ Communications assistant Angela Lindsay, ext. 305, alindsay@
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Is this déjà vu all over again? Tom Intven LO president
T
he headlines of the June 30 edition of the Globe and Mail read, “World recovery under threat as growth slows, stimulus wanes.” The article goes on to say that “consumer confidence is faltering, and worries about deflation and unemployment are mounting.” Investors are fleeing to the secure bond market. Our stock portfolios took yet another hit. Is this déjà vu all over again? I am Tom Intven writing this article on July 1. Who knows what will transpire between now, and when you read this article? My observations have been that most sectors have enjoyed a reasonably good spring season, but there are cracks appearing in everyone’s business. Profit is very elusive, unless meticulously planned well in advance. Job bookings are becoming more difficult to procure, and may only be out a few weeks instead of a few months. Customers are becoming much more price conscious. The indicators mentioned in the Globe and Mail article are beginning to appear in some areas, such as ‘consumer confidence is faltering, and there is downward pressure on prices.’ These are clear signs of a changing economy. Our industry, I would argue, is NOT recessionproof, as some have suggested. We all have had to re-adjust our business plan and the way we operate our businesses: cutting costs at every opportunity, tightening inventory control, scrutinizing every line item in detail. We continue to be challenged and readjust as we move forward. Looking into the future, what do we plan for? Recovery? Or, is it re-entry into recessionary mode, or even worse? The question that resurfaces again is how can LO help you to survive and thrive in this ever-changing economy? Peter Berger, the great sociologist, said that mankind’s most basic fault is that man forgets, and needs constant reminders of the important issues in life. With Peter’s support, I would like to repeat to all of you my theme: ‘Prosperity through Engagement.’ Quoting my AGM address, “The message
I would like to emphasize to our members and prospective members is, the more they become engaged in what our community of LO has to offer, the more successful they will become and the stronger our association will be, especially in these rapidly changing times. The best way to face the challenges of the new economy is to fully embrace Landscape Ontario; its culture, its programs, its network of members and staff, and its sense of community. Now more than ever, the value of membership in Landscape Ontario will be made evident to those who, not just participate, but become fully engaged… “I propose that we are better positioned to face the challenges of uncertain times if we stand united together with friends, partners and colleagues, than if we stand alone. When we renew our membership, we declare that we believe that we can be more successful with the help of like-minded professionals in our community of Landscape Ontario, than by working alone.” Again, here’s my advice to you all: Enrol Enrol in our many education offerings to rework your business plan, build your skills in leadership and management, build the technical skills for yourself and your staff to offer quality work and products, start your journey of lifelong education with an end goal in sight. A special educational review committee, competently chaired by Richard Rogers CHT, is revamping our educational offerings to align all the courses and clearly define the pathways to success for owners, managers and employees of member companies. The pathways of lifelong learning will become even clearer next year for you and your staff. I applaud the committee and staff’s efforts. Network Network with like-minded business owners in our association. There are so many opportunities to learn and share strategies and information — either at the chapter level or at the sector level, with whichever you feel the most comfortable associating. The value of this is unquestionably the most significant reason to belong to LO. Here is a small personal example: At a recent LO meeting, during the break the topic of the new OHSA Workplace Violence and Harassment Act enforcement came up. One of the members generously offered a well thought-out new policy to all those present say-
ing, “We’ve spent a lot of time on this to cater our policies to our industry. There is no sense in all of us re-inventing the wheel.” Our company took the member up on the offer. By adapting their policy to our company, we saved many hours of work and were compliant and on time. That opportunity would not have happened, had we not been engaged in the activities of LO. Get involved Get involved with your chapter activities, with your sector group, Canada Blooms, or with our many activities. You will get back what you put in with compound interest! At last year’s Great Lakes Nursery and Landscape Council conference, where the directors and executives of the seven states bordering the Great Lakes and Ontario assembled to share strategies and information, one of the U.S. representatives commented on the fact that the time was right for members to rethink their commitment to their associations. He changed the famous words of past president, John F. Kennedy to, “Ask not what your association can do for you, but rather, what you can do for your association.” There seemed to be consensus from our American counterparts, who were suffering from a much more depressed economy than their Canadian counterparts, that there was a new found need to get involved and reap the benefits of contributing to our associations in some way. This concept, which has precipitated in the depressed economy south of the border, is at the heart of the theme, Prosperity through Engagement. Let’s try to be ahead of the curve and start tomorrow to make our businesses and association stronger through our engagement. By the way, we have the tools to quickly survey our members to see how people are really doing. Many people I hear from are saying that maintenance is good and construction is down. Garden centres had a good early spring. I am not sure about profitability. Here are the links to two of the surveys. We have decided to split the surveys up into commodity groups, so that the information is more relevant. Garden centres: www.surveymonkey.com/ s/gardencentresurvey Growers: www.surveymonkey.com/ s/nurserysurvey Tom Intven may be reached at 519-631-1008, or tintven@landscapeontario.com.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 5
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
How are you doing this year? to 5% • 1 5% reported that average sale was up 15% • 11% reported that average sale was up between 16 and 20%
Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO executive director
M
embers are constantly asking me about how the industry is doing. A couple of weeks ago we sent out a survey to find out. Here is a summary of the results for the garden centre sector Overall the garden centre sector is having a good year, but is sensitive to the changing consumer climate. The consumer is becoming more knowledgeable and cautious. The mood is upbeat for the future. Tony DiGiovanni Next month I will summarize the surveys for the other sectors of our membership. There is still time to contribute if you have not already taken the survey. Garden centre Are your sales up or down this year? • 62.5% up • 37.5% down If your sales are up, what percentage are they up? • 80% up 5% to 15% • 20% up 16% to 25% If your sales are down what percentage are they down? • 82% down 0 to 15% • 17% down more than 26% Was your average sale up or down this spring? • 61% up • 39% down If your average sale was up, what percentage was it up? • 73% reported that average sale was up 0
Sales numbers If your average sale was down, what percentage was it down? • 75% reported that the average sale was down from 0 to 10% • 14% reported that the average sale was down 16 to 25% • 8% reported that the average sale was down more than 26% Was your customer count up or down this spring? • 59% reported that customer counts were up this spring • 41% saw fewer people If your customer count was up, what percentage was it up? • 52% experienced customer counts up from 1 to 5% • 48% experienced customer counts up from 6 to 10% If your customer count was down, what percentage was it down? • 46% reported customer counts down from 1 to 5% • 39% reported customer counts down from 6 to 15% • 15% reported customer counts down from 16 to 20% Were big ticket items more popular or less popular this spring? • 30% reported that they were more popular • 70% reported that they were less popular Note: Clearly consumers are more cau-
tious with their spending this year. However, according to this survey, many are still spending significant resources on smaller-ticket garden centre items. Best Department Which department performed the best this spring? • 41% reported strong growth in annuals • 3 0% reported strong growth in perennials • 11% reported strong growth in deciduous shrubs • 7 % reported strong growth in evergreen trees • 3% reported strong growth in giftware Which department performed the worst this spring? • 2 3% disappointed with deciduous tree sales • 19% disappointed with deciduous shrub sales • 12% disappointed with annual sales • 1 2 % disappointed with evergreen shrub sales • 7 % disappointed with water gardening supply sales • 7% disappointed with pest control sales • 7 % disappointed with native tree sales • 4 % disappointed with perennial sales • 3 % disappointed with outdoor furniture sales • 3 % disappointed with book sales • 3% disappointed with fertilizer sales Have you sold more or fewer plants this spring? • 5 0% more • 50% fewer Were there more or less bargain shoppers this past spring? • 68% more • 32% fewer Has your profit margin gone up or down this past spring? • 3 9% up • 6 1% down New Economy What have you done to deal with the new economy? Note: Excellent comments below provide proactive advice on how to improve your business: • C ost cutting, increased marketing, new and better specials, more training • Started big discount sales earlier in the season, as early as May • Advertise more — differentiate our
6 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
• • • • • • • • •
• • • •
product line, extensive training of staff, higher quality staff hired, service and knowledge was our focus Started marketing to the 20 - 28 year-old homeowners through different media (Facebook and Twitter) Installed P.O.S. system — able to track margins better, and better inventory tracking Improve customer service More diverse marketing, i.e. radio/Internet More in-house presentations/workshops Changed presentation of plants and how they can be used in more applicable ways Better displays, cut hours, raise prices Have more sales to clear stock out, so don’t have to maintain for too long I have less large ticket items for sale and more lower ticket items. Our sale started earlier. I seem to be catering to more bargain conscious consumers. Advertise in local papers, sales Scaled down inventory, less sales, reduced labour Shorter hours, less staff, less inventory Less bedding flats (1204s), more four-inch
and up annuals, more mixed flower pots 12” and up, more vegetable plants of all sizes; actually raised returns per square foot, but because we changed container sizes at same time, customers don’t compare to last year’s prices • Pray • More promotions and more events • Improved selection of large trees and focused on 12” and larger hanging baskets • Advertise excellent sales, provide great customer service — the box stores cannot match • More website optimization • Tried to correct my ordering and concentrate on the customers who are still coming in What is your forecast for the next one to two years? • 94% feel that the next two years will be either stable or will improve • 6% predict a decline in growth
Sign up to receive your own copy of LO’s weekly e-mail update
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Tony DiGiovanni may be reached at tonydigiovanni@landscapeontario.com.
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 7
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Ontario sod on the world stage By Denis Flanagan CLD Director of public relations
Photo by Ian Service
O
n July 16 two of the top soccer (football) teams in the world, Manchester United and Celtic Football Club, played an exhibition game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Working with LO’s public relations company OEB, Ian Service and I covered the match at field level as part of the 100 members of the press. The top soccer teams in the world insist on playing on real grass. Denis Flanagan Artificial turf is not conducive to the game at this high level. The ball reacts differently, the surface can get too hot and players find it hard to tackle properly and safely, particularly when sliding. As part of the contract to host the exhibition soccer match between these two famous teams,
President of Greenhorizons, Ron Schiedel, puts water to the newly laid sod at the Rogers Centre, just before game time.
the Rogers Centre had to take up and store its artificial mats and install real grass for the day. It is quite the job to remove a vast field of the artificial surface, then temporarily replace it with real turf, where world-class athletes will trample it over the course of 90 minutes. The goal was to have the complete installation of over 100,000 square feet done in less than 12 hours.
Who better to trust than one of our own LO professional members, Greenhorizons, the successful bidder for the job? This is a quote from the company’s website: “Before the game, the pitch was inspected by the officials and the managers from both clubs. The green light was given and at 7 p.m. the real test got underway, when 22 world-class players stepped out onto Ontario-grown sod. “Over 40,000 fans and media reps from several different countries watched an exciting 90 minutes of play with Man United winning the game three goals to one.” Peter Rauwerda, Greenhorizons operations manager, said, “I am excited to have been involved with the Rogers Centre installation. It was enjoyable to see how the entire Greenhorizons staff was energized by such a project. These are things that we do on a daily basis, but to be part of something that is so much in the public eye brings new excitement to what we do.” Our industry scored big time, when at the post game press conference, Sir Alex Ferguson, probably the world’s most respected and celebrated soccer manager, was asked what he thought about the playing surface. In a broad Scottish brogue, he confirmed that he was very impressed. As Manchester United moves on to play in three other North American cities — Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Houston — we should be very proud of our industry. LO members and sod growers know that we can compete and shine in the big leagues. Denis Flanagan may be reached by email at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.
8 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
PROFESSIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Apprenticeship and certification training while on the job By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP Education and Labour Development Department
A
s we celebrate surviving this hot, dry summer, we must not lose sight of the need to train our technical staff. According to the report, People without Jobs, Jobs without People by Rick Miner, February 2010, we should expect more than one-third of the workforce to retire within the next two decades. This may seem like this is years away, Sally Harvey however, it is critical to build the foundation for our businesses of tomorrow. Miner says, “Higher education is becoming ever more important. In the next five years, about two-thirds of new jobs will need post-secondary education.” This post-secondary education may include college, university, apprenticeship, or industry certification. The focus for this month’s article is on postsecondary apprenticeship and certification training, and how this can easily happen while on the job. Many of us are challenged with the time and tools to train our staff, while we focus on growing our businesses in a meaningful direction. Four-step process Supported by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, CNLA has worked with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council over the last two years to provide On-the-Job Training (OJT) tools aimed at the horticulture industry. We have identified the serious shortage of skilled workers in the landscape horticulture trade, thus this program aims to give employers the tools to provide applied and effective in-house training. In essence, the OJT is a train-the-trainer program. This system’s basic approach provides an outline for training a wide variety of tasks. It focuses primarily on a four-step process that has increased the effectiveness of training by at least 50 per cent, resulting in greater return on investment. The method employed was originally used in World War II to train people to work in the jobs vacated by soldiers. The training needed to happen immediately (instant productivity) with no loss to quality or safety.
Gen. MacArthur passed this training along to the Japanese following the war, and it became the system that Toyota still uses today to train one of the most productive workforces in the auto industry. It ensures that workers will be trained quicker without loss in quality, speed or safety. Landscape Ontario has participated in the pilot of this program and hopes to make it available to our members’ trainers this seminar season. Most of the learning in our industry happens every day, on-the-job, working side-by-side with a more experienced or knowledgeable person. There is no doubting the skills of the trainer, but how many people have ever had training on how to train? Just because you are able to do something very well, does not mean you are able to teach or train others. If that were the case, then
“Most of the learning in our industry happens every day, on-the-job, working side-by-side with a more experienced or knowledgeable person.”
benefit greatly from the OJT process. The Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities oversees apprenticeship in Ontario. A major component of the apprenticeship experience is on-the-job training. When an employer registers an employee, he also agrees to train and sign-off on levels of competencies listed in the training document, as the levels are achieved. The OJT is a fantastic tool for these employers and their trainers, providing guidelines on how to train and to assess a trainee’s competence. Candidates for certification will also greatly benefit from the OJT method. I know many candidates would fast track their successful completion if this OJT method was available to them. Landscape Ontario is eager to make this tool available to the industry this winter. Effective training is not an easy task, especially when training learners have so many different learning styles. OJT simplifies that daunting task. I look forward to hearing from you. If you wish to discuss this opportunity in more detail, contact me at sharvey@landscapeontario.com, or 1-800-265-5656, ext. 315.
Wayne Gretzky should be the greatest teacher/ coach in hockey. This customized system approach to training focuses on teaching the trainers about how others learn, and the best methods for improving training skills. Improved training will lead to a quicker training process, and more effective and productive skilled labour. This will improve employee retention and elevate safety and quality. Improved training equals profit! The course is designed as a two-day session. Each session has a limited number of attendees in order to maximize the experience. This is hands-on training, just like the real thing. Participants act as both trainees and trainers throughout the day, learning proper procedure from this simulated on-the-job experience. All participants in the session will receive a copy of the training standards, method outline, quick-review cards, and training moment templates. This method is sure to make training process faster and more efficient. Who should attend? Anyone involved in the training of technical skills should take this course. This may include college faculty and instructors, apprenticeship instructors, seminar instructors, and on-the-job trainers. Employers who engage their employees in apprenticeship or industry certifications will HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 9
Educational events and great speakers at Expo 2010 Landscape Ontario’s Expo 2010 has a lineup of educational events that offer show attendees excellent learning opportunities to expand upon their knowledge and skills. With three symposia and the Green for Life stage, these four key educational events are scheduled at separate times, between Oct. 18 and 20, at the Toronto Congress Centre, providing show attendees with an opportunity to register for all events offered. “In 2009 Landscape Ontario introduced a new look, a new show and a new experience and we hope to continue that trend this year, especially with our symposia, Green for Life stage and the speaker line-up,” said Sally Harvey, CLP, CHT, manager, Education and Labour Department.
on Store School: Part 1, The Store as a Marketing and Customer Service and Store School: Part 2, Consumer Based Store Design – From Entrance to Major Departments to Exit, and Doug Green, Social Media in the Garden Centre: Making Sense of What Works and What Doesn’t on the Net. The symposium begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs to 5 p.m.
Garden Centre Symposium A highlight at this year’s Garden Centre Symposium, on Oct. 18, is the appearance of Eve Tigwell, well-known U.K. garden centre expert, who over the past summer conducted the garden inspection program through CNLA. Her topic at Expo will be, How to Run a Profitable Garden Centre. Other speakers include, Judy Sharpton,
Canada Blooms is now accepting applications from landscape architects, designers and design/build firms who wish to participle in the creation of a feature garden. Participants’ gardens will be featured in major media promotions leading up to Canada Blooms. If interested in building a feature gar-
Landscape Designers The following day, Oct. 19, landscape designers take over with the ever-popular symposium. Theresa Syer, Syer Hospitality Group, will lead the presentations this year. Her subject is Creating the
WOW Customer Experience. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Interior Plantscape Symposium The final day of Expo features the interior plantscape Symposium. This year’s event on Oct. 20 is Environmental Design: Interior Plantscape Breakfast and Networking. A panel will discuss living walls, LEED opportunities, and new trends. Speakers include Joanne Young of Greenery Office Interiors and Kathy Fediw of Johnson Fediw Associates. The symposium is scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 a.m. For more information, go to www.loexpo.ca.
Build a garden at Canada Blooms
Palace Perennials
Proudly growing fine perennials in Wyoming, Ontario for over 22 years • • • •
Over 1200+ varieties of perennials Many unique and hard to find varieties Available in 9 cm, 15 cm and 2 gal. pots Great fern and ornamental grass section, plus tropical vines, hardy vines and clematis • Herbs in 9 cm pots, waterplants with large picture tags • Ornamental grasses in 50 cells for growing on (and contract growing) Phone: 866-843-0438 (sales) or 519-542-8353 Fax: 519-542-1079
Robert Schuijt (on the road sales): 519-827-0853 Catalogue at www.sipkensnurseries.com 10 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
den, submit an application by Aug. 27. Visit the Canada Blooms website, www. canadablooms.com/html/feature-gardenapplication.html, and complete the form, sending it by email, or mail. Note that feature garden space is limited and submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance.
CANADA BLOOMS
Canada Blooms – the value of our brand By Mark Cullen Chair of marketing, Canada Blooms
C
anada Blooms will be 15 years old this coming year. Over this period of time, the members of LO have invested heavily in it and grown it to be one of the greatest horticultural events on the continent — and by extension, the world. As a recent member of the board and current chair of marketing, I have some observations that may interest both LO members, who have personally contributed to this investment and others who hold an interest in it through LO membership. LO owns 50 per cent of Canada Blooms with the Garden Club of Toronto (GCT) holding the other half. While both groups are equal partners, the fact is that the value of the Canada Blooms brand accrues to us, for the most part. We are the people who benefit from the strength of the public perception that Canada Blooms stands for the best in its class, as we do business with the public, or as vendors we support businesses that do. Our investment is not like a bond or an annuity. We cannot take it to the bank and demand a return on it, or borrow against it. I suggest that Canada Blooms is more valuable than that.
Return on our investment When do we receive a return on our investment? Only when LO members support the activities of Canada Blooms and associate their company name directly with it, do the members and their businesses benefit. The return that you receive on your investment is no accident. I am not suggesting that you bet the family farm on Canada Blooms, but it is a wise member who carves some time from his schedule and puts aside resources to invest in it each winter and spring. Ask Tim Kearney, or Beth Edney (see stories in March and April, 2010 editions of Horticulture Review). New opportunities While the cost of entry was prohibitive to many landscapers, designers, retailers, vendors in the past, a new concept is evolving that offers an exceptional opportunity to willing participants of any size or means. Recent developments have created a great opportunity for anyone and any firm that is a member of LO to make a valuable contribution. Arguably the grandest of all feature gardens
at the 2010 edition of the festival was the LO Green for Life garden. With more than $300,000 worth of plants, professional design, materials and labour invested by over 40 LO member firms and 200 individual volunteers, a great deal was accomplished. And, contributors received a return on their investment. The brand, Canada Blooms, is growing in value with every additional edition of the event. In fact, the value grows every time Canada Blooms is discussed in public and in the media. Think about this: when OEB, our public relations firm set out to gain media exposure at this year’s event, we could not have predicted that our media hits would more than double from the previous year. As a result, we experienced more than 23 million impressions (an impression equals one person exposed to our message). Sitting in their favourite chair in the comfort of their own home, they heard the good things about our industry by way of the Canada Blooms story. To draw direct benefits from the Canada Blooms brand, all LO members need to invest in Canada Blooms and then associate yourself and your company with it. Recommended steps If I was a landscaper, retailer or supplier to the trade I would: • Purchase bar-coded discounted tickets to the festival. I would give a pair to my 50 best customers this Christmas with a hand-written note, “Come to Canada Blooms and see how the best in the business do it! I appreciate your business.” The value is $18, but as an LO member, you will only pay $12. You will be charged only for tickets used. Contact Lisa Pascoe at 1-800-730-1020, or info@ canadablooms.com for more information. • Print ‘Proud supporter of Canada Blooms’ on all of my business cards, business letterhead, truck lettering, etc., and then I would be sure that my company DID support Canada Blooms. • Call my three closest friends in the business and challenge them to join me at Blooms for a co-operative garden installation. • Contact my three best vendors and invite them to make a contribution of products, or cash, or labour towards a feature garden. • Ask my accountant to come early on Saturday morning to help out and to bring a pair of steel toed boots. • Seriously consider reserving space in the
expanded Marketplace to sell both products and services. It is important to note that our pre-sales of the marketplace are already 30 per cent sold out. Last year at this time, we were at zero per cent. Where is the value? When Wayne Gretzky played his last game in the NHL, he was interviewed by Ron McLean during the second intermission and asked, “Why, when you could have played for any team in the NHL when you started out, did you play for a ‘B’ team in Edmonton?” Wayne answered, “I knew the players, the coach and it was in Canada, my home. I knew that if I played for the love of the game, the money would come.” Now is the time to sign up to participate in a feature garden or the Marketplace at Canada Blooms. Play for the love of the game and we all win. Mark Cullen may be reached at www.markcullen.com.
Festival reflects well on industry Canada Blooms is a not-for-profit organization that has donated more than $600,000 to community horticultural projects. All plants at the end of the festival are distributed to the elderly in the Toronto area. By the numbers • $7,700,000 total value of public relations of Canada Blooms over 14 years. • $4,900,000 total cash value of all advertising associated with the festival over 14 years. • 156 million total media impressions from all public relations since the inception of Canada Blooms. • One-million actual attendance at Canada Blooms in 14 years. Value to L.O. members who do not plan on participating in this year’s event? Not much. Value to those who do? Lots, depending on how you lever the value of the Canada Blooms brand and connect it to your own.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 11
Growers raise over $22,000 at auction If success is measured in dollars, the 2010 Growers’ Group Auction was a resounding success. Compared to last year’s auction, it outraised that event by $4,000. This year’s estimate is $22,000, raised through the donated plant material and related products to benefit horticultural research and scholarships. Organizers were concerned that moving the date forward and onto the property to home office may hurt the event’s attendance. That didn’t happen. Other areas that saw an increase were the number of bidders and the amount of donated plant material. Traditionally the auction is held in September, but this year it was moved forward to July 15. It is also normally hosted by a grower, while this year it took place at LO’s Milton location. Also new this year was Endorsed Suppliers Lane, along with two great speakers. Paul Zammit, director of horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens presented new ideas in container arrangements, while Al Green of Dimex, an ICPI-certified paving contractor, spoke on edge restraints. He was sponsored by Agrium Advanced Technologies. As well, LO’s recycling depot was open to receive horticultural plastic. Each auction lot was assigned a raffle number, with all winning bids entered into a draw for a 40-inch LCD TV donated by Plant Products and Premier Hort. Dave Tillaart of Dutchmaster Nurseries held the winning ticket. Following lunch, sponsored by Agrium Advanced Technologies, and just before the auction began at 1 p.m., announcements were made by Growers’ Group chair Mark Ostrowski and LO president Tom Intven. They were followed by LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni and Brian Cocks CLT, who announced his pledge of $100,000 to the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation from his estate. A new program will
ask LO members to match that commitment. See Nurseries, Mulligan Marketing, Nisco National complete story on page 23. Leasing, Plant Products, Premier Hort, Sheridan The Growers’ Awards of Excellence entries Nurseries, Somerville Nurseries, Stam Nurseries, were judged in the morning and the winners Timm Enterprises, Tradewind International announced at the end of the auction. An Awards Sales, Verbinnen’s Nursery, Vineland Research of Excellence certificate went to each of the 12 and Innovation Centre, V. Kraus Nurseries, winning lots, which were then auctioned off. Willowbrook Nurseries and Winkelmolen The winners will again be recognized during the Nurseries. Retail Garden Centre program luncheon being held at the Toronto Congress Centre on Oct. 18, in conjunction with Expo. Growers Award Winners, 2010 Special appreciation goes to the dedicated members of the awards judg- Category Plants Company ing panel, who offered their time and Category 1 Taxus x media Mori Nurseries ‘Densiformis’ expertise: Jen Llewellyn, OMAFRA; Evergreens Field Grown Chris Graham of Kimberley Cottage Upright and Spreading Garden; Glen Lumis of the University Category 2 Evergreens Willowbrook Nurseries of Guelph; Len Mancini of Holland Evergreens Grown Park Garden Gallery; Jeff Gregg of V. Container Upright and Spreading Kraus Nursery and Francesco Pacelli, Category 3 Broadleaf Mori Nurseries LO nursery technical analyst. Broadleaf Evergreens Evergreens 2010 auction donors Product was generously donated by the following companies: Agrium Advanced Technologies, ASB Greenworld, Braun Nursery Limited, Canadale Nurseries, Chase Paymentech Merchant Services, Connon Nurseries/NVK, Downham Nurseries, Dutchmaster Nurseries, Elements Canada, General Motors, Gro-Bark (Ontario), Ground Covers Unlimited, Hofland Gardens, HortProtect, J. C. Bakker and Sons, Kam’s Growers Supply, Kato’s Nursery – British Columbia, Kobes Nurseries, Langendoen Nurseries, Living Colour Nursery, M. Putzer Hornby Nursery, Mankar Distributing, Marks Work Warehouse, Mori
12 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
Category 4 Deciduous Shrubs
Deciduous Shrubs
Sheridan Nurseries
Category 5 Deciduous Ornamental Trees 300 Cm Or Less
Quercus palustris ‘Pingreen’
Connon Nurseries/NVK
Category 6 Deciduous Ornamental Trees Top Grafted/ Worked
Syringa Meyeri ‘Palibin’
Willowbrook Nursery
Category 7 Caliper Trees
Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory silk’
Sheridan Nurseries
Category 8 Vines and Groundcovers
Vines and Groundcovers
Connon Nurseries/NVK
Category 9 Perennials
Perennials
Mori Nurseries
Category 10 Unusual and Rare Plants
Tetradium daniellii (syn. Evodia danielli)
Connon Nurseries/NVK
Category 11 Design on a Skid
Assorted material
Sheridan Nurseries
Judges’ Choice
Evergreens
Willowbrook Nurseries
Trial gardens open for two days this month that the edible part of garden is included in the trials. Selections include cultivars from Seeds of Change, Ontario Seed Company and Floranova.
Suntory’s executive general manager Yasuyuki Murakami Ph.D., of Japan, was pleased with what he saw at the LO trial gardens. In photo, garden manager Rodger Tschanz shows Suntory’s executive some of his plants that are part of the trials.
The buzz at this year’s California Spring Trials was Ball FloraPlant’s black petunia, Black Velvet. Is it truly black? Both trade members and the public may see it first-hand at the open houses at the Landscape Ontario trial gardens. Black Velvet is among the 500 plants that are being evaluated this year. The gardens will open to members of the industry on Aug. 20, while the public will have an opportunity to see the new plants on Aug. 21, and as part of the Milton Horticultural Society’s annual garden tour. Annuals are the mainstay of the trial garden. Along with three selections in the black family of petunias, there are great new selections of verbena, calibrachoa and lantana. Plant breeders with product on display are Ball, Syngenta, Suntory, Proven Winners, Floranova and Takii.
Jelitto were planted in 2010. Vegetables for small urban spaces will also be on display. This is the second year
Open house dates Industry: Fri., Aug. 20, LO Trial Garden (Milton) 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and the Guelph Trial Garden 2:30 - 4 p.m. (free admission). Events include talks and tours of this year’s trials (refreshments at the LO site) and a lunch at the LO site. Trial Garden sponsors will be on hand to talk about their products. Public: Sat., Aug. 21, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the LO Trial Garden (free admission). Note: This year the LO trial garden will be a tour stop on the annual Milton Horticultural Society’s Garden Tour, a fundraising event in support of United Way. Tickets for the full garden tour are $25 and can be purchased on the Milton United Way website at www.miltonunitedway.ca. To find out more about the sponsorship opportunities available with the Trial Garden, contact Rodger Tschanz at rtschanz@ uoguelph.ca, or Kathleen Pugliese at kathleenp@landscapeontario.com.
Visitor from Japan In late July, Suntory’s executive general manager Yasuyuki Murakami Ph.D., of Japan, visited the trial gardens at Landscape Ontario. He told Horticulture Review, he was very impressed with the size and condition of the gardens. He also complimented Landscape Ontario on its involvement and was impressed with the size and scope of the association. Perennials also make up a good portion of the trial gardens, now in its fourth year. More new perennials from Ball, Blooms of Bressingham, Takii, Vanhof and Blokker and HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 13
SYSTEMS FOR SUCCESS
Equipment decisions that make sense By Mark Bradley
In this month’s article, Dan and Bill discuss the issue of equipment costs compared to labour costs.
D
an and Bill finished discussing the costs and benefits of hiring superstars vs. average staff. Feeling like he was prepared to make better hiring and payroll decisions, Dan met with Bill to analyze his equipment. Dan wanted to buy another skid steer, but his wife and his bookkeeper didn’t feel like it was affordable. As Dan explained the stalemate, Bill recalled when he and Mark Bradley his wife started their business. “The easiest way to make a joint decision is to use numbers. Without knowing the costs and benefits, you are arguing over your instincts.” Dan agreed, “Don’t get me wrong, we don’t like relying on only our instincts. We just don’t know where to start. In my mind, I know we need another skid steer. We spend too much time messing around trying to share the one we have. But on the other hand, we’re not in a financial position to take on more costs. Our dealer can finance for about $700 per month, but we’re not ready to commit to a fouryear term without knowing whether we can afford this.” Bill got out his pencil and began writing. He explained what he was doing, “Dan, the reason you’re stuck is because you’re looking for the answer after solving only one part of the problem. You’ve figured out how much it will cost you to own the skid steer, but then you stopped. You just need to look a few simple steps further. “There are three important factors you must consider when evaluating an equipment purchase: • What are the costs of not owning the equipment (labour, productivity loss)? • What will the equipment cost to own and operate? • How could the new equipment impact sales? “Given that we’re always looking at our productivity, we start our decision knowing what
it’s costing us not to have the machine. What’s it costing you without the skid steer? How many crew hours are spent wheel barrowing, digging or loading, unloading, and transporting materials that could be done more efficiently with a machine? How much time is spent moving your current machine from site to site?” Dan thought for a minute, “We spend no less than four man-hours every week on tasks that could be done in minutes with a machine.” Bill jotted some numbers into his chart. “If you could save 16 labour hours per month, and your labour costs (including burden) are around $25 per hour, you could save $400 of that $700 monthly payment by saving labour hours.” Replace labour with machines Bill continued, “But if you replaced those 16 man-hours a month with the machine, could your labour be working on other billable tasks? If those man-hours could be spent laying stone, or planting, or working on any other billable parts of your jobs, then you’ve added 16 labour hours of billable opportunity. Maybe your labour costs won’t change, but you can do more sales in less time. And, with increased sales volumes, your overhead markups drop, making your pricing more attractive to customers. Now we’re starting to see how the equipment will really affect your business, both from a cost and sales perspective.” Dan liked Bill’s direction. “Yes, there’s no shortage of work, but I am always short on quality people who can bring the job in on time.” Bill agreed, “Every contractor has trouble finding great people, but I’ve never met a contractor who couldn’t find good equipment. By putting on more of your sales volume using equipment, you’ll have an easier time running your business. From a management perspective, it’s much easier to manage $50,000 worth of equipment, than it is $50,000 worth of labour.” “I hear you!” agreed Dan. “Dig deeper now and analyze the other hidden costs with your situation. There’s time spent floating equipment from site to site, reduced productivity doing work by hand because the equipment is not available, and the cost of schedule disruptions waiting for needed equipment. Don’t forget, you also have to factor the extra equipment operating costs such as fuel, maintenance, repairs and insurance,” said Bill. “So we throw these numbers in our operating budget and see how it pans out.” nod-
14 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
ded Dan. “I see exactly where we’re going with this. The increase in sales and decrease in labour costs has to outweigh the increase in equipment costs.” “Exactly,” confirmed Bill. “The numbers will show you whether this is a good, or bad, investment for your company. We analyzed our equipment purchases using numbers instead of opinions, and gradually became a company that relied more heavily on equipment, instead of labour, to meet our sales goals. Our equipment costs are higher, yes, but we’re more profitable because our increased sales and reduced labour spending more than compensates for the extra equipment costs. “It’s been easier to grow my business using more equipment and less labour. Dollar-fordollar, equipment is more productive and less risky. However, I wouldn’t be in this position today without knowing that each of my equipment investments would pay for themselves. Sit down with your wife and bookkeeper and put numbers to these questions: 1. How much do you expect to save in labour costs? Include: • Production labour savings (time) • Equipment transportation savings (float costs) 2. What is it going to cost you to own plus operate the equipment? Include: • Purchasing/financing costs • Operating costs (fuel, insurance, repairs, etc.) 3. Will sales increase as a result of owning the equipment? Include: • Faster, more efficient production • More competitive pricing (due to lower production costs) • Increased sales opportunity by focusing your skilled labour on tasks that can’t be done by machine “After you’ve answered these questions, review your budget and make a logical decision based on dollars and cents.” “Brilliant,” nodded Dan. “This is the way my business was meant to be run.” To put Bill’s systems to work for your company, join LMN for the business management/ operating budget workshop series. For more information, email info@landscapemanagementnetwork.com, or call 1-888-347-9864. Mark Bradley is the president of The Beach Gardener and Landscape Management Network.
Chapter News Gardens of Distinction meets with great success in second season By Wendy Harry CLT
Perfect skies and warm temperatures combined to make the second annual Gardens of Distinction Tour another huge success. The day was steady with over 300 visitors who purchased passports enjoying the 14 London-area gardens in the tour. Each garden offered a different theme and unique feature. All were truly inspiring with individual creative solutions to challenges that always arise when planning and designing a garden space. Visitors were amazed with what can be done for various challenges, such as small size, slopes, combining mature and new landscapes, drainage problems, privacy issues and more. All of the gardens offered a tranquil setting that the homeowners will enjoy for many years. All who visited the gardens went home with great inspirations for their property. The tour demonstrated first-hand that every LO member has a unique flair and creative design style. The unique aspect of this tour allows the public to see and hopefully make a connection for a future project. The idea behind the tour is to offer LO members an opportunity to present a living showroom of their professionalism, to brand LO and promote Green for Life. Members are at the
garden they created, and are able to explain to visitors various aspects about the property. The program includes garden centre and associate supplier members who help sell passports. Proceeds are donated to local charities, making it a win/win situation for everyone. Approximately $4,000 was raised to go toward the Diabetes Association Global Garden at Banting 300 people toured the beautiful gardens created by LO House, the Gardens of Over members of the London Chapter. In photo is Kevin Marshall CLT, Fanshawe College and the owner of Turf-Pro Landscaping, discussing the garden his company London Chapter for com- created. munity projects. Members involved in the tour included: Hakkers, Michelle Peeters, Jason Zehr and PGS Landscape, Eden Gardenworks, TLC Wendy Harry who all did a great job organizing Professional Landscaping, Patrick Callon the event. A thank you to the following members Landscape Designer, Beamish Landscape, RW who helped promote and sell passports: Baseline Allen Horticultural Services, Escapes Outdoor Nursery, Bycraft Gardens, Canadale Nurseries, Living Design, Lobo Landscaping/Sifton Fisher Landscape and Golf Supplies, Grand River Properties, Rural Roots, Turf-Pro Landscaping, Brick and Stone, Moore Water Gardens, Oxford Tydan Landscape Design, Ericks Horticulture Insta-Shade, Parkway Gardens, Silverthorn Services and Coldstream Land Escape Landscape and Supplies, Springbank Gardens, Company. V&P’s Topsoil and Van Horik’s Greenhouses. The garden committee members are Jerry
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 15
Hillen Nursery Inc Botanical Name
Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Botanical Name Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
VINES Ampelopsis glandulosa ‘Elegans’ 392 8.00 Campsis radicans ‘Balboa Sunset’ 245 8.00 Hydrangea anomala petiolaris 421 6.00 Lonicera per. ‘Belgica Select’ 151 8.00 Lonicera X ‘Mandarin’ 90 8.00 Parthenocissus quinquefolia 241 6.00 Polygonum aubertii 515 6.00 EVERGREENS Azalea `Golden Lights’ 315 Azalea `Orchid Lights’ 439 Buxus `Faulkner` 975 Buxus microphylla 335 5.00 375 Buxus X `Green Gem’ 740 5.20 Buxus X `Green Mound’ 220 5.00 1,000 Buxus X `Green Mountain’ 1,000 5.00 Buxus X `Green Velvet’ 1,000 5.20 1,000 Chamaecyparis pisifera `Filifera’ 150 5.00 222 Chamaecyparis pisifera `Filifera Aurea’ 210 5.00 52 Cotoneaster dammeri `Coral Beauty’ 1,000 5.00 141 7.00 Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Major’ 1,000 7.00 Cotoneaster microphyllus 224 5.00 40 Cotoneaster salicifolius `Repens’ 965 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Canadale Gold` 45 5.00 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Coloratus` 382 5.00 Euonymus fortunei `E.T.` 465 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Emerald Gaiety` 120 5.00 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Emerald ‘n Gold` 215 5.00 213 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Goldtip` 498 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Sarcoxie` 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Sunrise` 140 5.00 280 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Surespot` 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Vegetus` 290 7.00 Ilex X meserveae `Blue Prince’ 109 5.00 201 Ilex X meserveae `Blue Princess’ 79 5.00 402 Juniperus chinensis `Gold Star’ 369 Juniperus chinensis `Mint Julep’ 260 5.00 521 Juniperus chinensis `Pfitz. Compacta’ 350 5.00 524 Juniperus chinensis ‘San Jose’ 290 5.00 168 Juniperus chinensis`Gold Coast’ 513 Juniperus communis `Repanda` 200 5.00 296 Juniperus conferta `Blue Pacific’ 205 5.00 327 Juniperus hor. `Andorra Compacta’ 940 5.00 1,000 Juniperus hor. `Prince of Wales’ 230 5.00 31 Juniperus horizontalis `Bar Harbor’ 390 5.00 785 Juniperus horizontalis `Blue Prince’ 247 Juniperus horizontalis `Icee Blue` 380 6.00 222 Juniperus horizontalis `Wiltonii’ 579 5.00 221 Juniperus horizontalis `Yukon Belle` 300 5.00 568 Juniperus horizontalis ‘Turquoise Spreader’ 595 Juniperus media `Armstrongii` 300 5.00 230 Juniperus procumbens nana 381 Juniperus sabina 290 5.00 595 Juniperus sabina `Skandia` 247 5.00 Juniperus squamata `Blue Carpet` 130 5.00 93 Juniperus virginiana `Grey Owl` 290 5.00 264 Larix laricina 1,000 7.00 Metasequoia glyptostroboides 925 7.00 Microbiota decussata 455 5.00 407 Picea abies ‘Nidiformis 627 Picea glauca `Conica’ 346 Picea pungens ‘Globosa’ 257 Picea pungens kiabob 100 5.00 770 7.00 Pinus mugo var. mugo 1,000 Rhodondendron ‘Northern Starburst’ 191 Taxus X media `Hicksii’ 144 5.00 566 Taxus X media `Wardii’ 490 5.00 314
16 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
13.50 13.50 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.20 11.00 11.00 11.00
11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 13.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 22.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00
Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
Taxus X media ‘Hillii’ 700 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis 80 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis `Brandon’ 490 5.00 866 Thuja occidentalis `Danica` 100 5.00 593 Thuja occidentalis `Little Giant’ 890 5.00 574 Thuja occidentalis `Nigra’ 1,000 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis `Smaragd` 1,000 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis `Wintergreen’ 990 5.00 501 Thuja plicata ‘Spring Grove’ 140 5.00 300 Tsuga canadensis 1,000 5.00 250 7.00 1,000 Tsuga canadensis ‘Jeddeloh’ 405 Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’ 285 Abeliophyllum distichum 232 7.00 Acanthopanax sieboldianus 967 7.00 Acer ginnala 840 7.00 45 Acer rubrum 562 7.00 Alnus rugosa 689 7.00 Aronia melanocarpa 174 7.00 Aronia melanocarpa `Autumn Magic’ 527 7.00 Betula papyrifera 929 7.00 Betula populifolia 270 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Dartmoor’ 250 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Ellen’s Blue` 500 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Ile de France’ 490 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Nanho Purple’ 390 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Petite Plum` 440 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Pink Delight’ 345 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Royal Red’ 344 7.00 Buddleia davidii `White Profusion’ 230 7.00 Callicarpa japonica `Issai’ 140 7.00 147 Caryopteris cland. `Dark Knight` 326 7.00 Caryopteris cland. `Grand Blue` 287 7.35 Celtis occidentalis 450 7.00 Cephalanthus occidentalis 1,000 7.00 Cercidiphyllum japonicum 230 7.00 Cercis canadensis 975 7.00 Chaenomeles spec.`Texas Scarlet’ 662 7.00 Clethra alnifolia `Paniculatum` 490 7.00 Clethra alnifolia `Pink Spire` 292 7.00 Clethra alnifolia `Sixteen Candles` 295 7.00 Cornus alba `Elegantissima’ 1,000 7.00 Cornus alba `Gouchaultii’ 444 7.00 Cornus alba `Ivory Halo` 1,000 7.45 Cornus alba `Sibirica` 231 7.00 Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ 231 Cornus amomum 1,000 7.00 Cornus kousa chinensis 329 7.00 Cornus racemosa 1,000 7.00 Cornus stolonifera (sericea) 1,000 7.00 Cornus stolonifera `Bud’s Yellow` 459 7.00 Cornus stolonifera `Kelseyi’ 1,000 7.00 Corylus avellana `Contorta’ 360 15.00 Cotinus coggygria 200 7.00 Cotoneaster horizontalis 545 7.00 Cotoneaster preacox `Boer` 500 7.00 Deutzia crenata `Nikko’ 90 5.00 752 7.00 Deutzia gracilis 860 7.00 Deutzia gracilis ‘Aurea’ 230 7.00 Deutzia X `Strawberry Field` 285 7.00 Diervilla lonicera 1,000 7.00 Euonymus alatus `Compactus` 804 5.00 1,000 8.00 1,000 Fagus sylvatica `Purpurea ` 530 7.00 115 Forsythia ‘Kumson’ 490 7.00 Forsythia ovata `Ottawa` 939 7.00 Forsythia X inter. `Northern Gold` 1,000 7.00 Forsythia X intermedia `Lynwood’ 679 7.00 Hamamelis virginiana 149 7.00 904 Hibiscus syriacus `Diana’ 80 5.00 260 Hydrangea arborescens `Annabelle’ 1,000 7.00
11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 13.50 13.50 8.00
8.00
8.00
9.00 8.00
8.00 8.00
c. Botanical Name
Many More Cultivars and sizes available Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Botanical Name Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
Hydrangea arborescens `Dardom` 334 7.60 Hydrangea macr. `Bouquet Rose` 305 7.00 Hydrangea macr. `Glowing Embers` 200 7.00 Hydrangea macr.`Princess Beatrix` 327 7.00 Hydrangea pan. ‘Limelight’ 351 7.60 Hydrangea pan. ‘Little Lamb’ 830 7.60 Hydrangea pan. ‘Pinky Winky’ 688 7.60 Hydrangea paniculata `Kyushu’ 500 7.00 Hydrangea paniculata `Tardiva’ 392 7.00 Hydrangea serrata `Bluebird` 560 7.00 Hydrangea serrata ‘Little Geisha’ 245 7.60 Ilex vert. ‘Winterred’ 285 7.00 Ilex verticillata 1,000 7.00 Ilex verticillata `Afterglow` 1,000 7.00 Ilex verticillata `Southern Gentleman` 393 7.00 Kerria japonica `Pleniflora’ 784 7.00 Kolkwitzia amabilis `Pink Cloud` 787 7.00 Ligustrum vicary 390 7.00 Ligustrum vulgaris 470 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum `Clavey’s Dwarf’ 686 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum `Emerald Mound` 595 7.00 Magnolia X loebneri `Merrill’ 345 Philadelphus `Innocence` 679 7.00 Philadelphus `Minnesota Snowflake’ 312 7.00 Philadelphus `Natchez` 280 7.00 Philadelphus coronarius `Aureus’ 243 7.00 Physocarpus opul. ‘Coppertina’ 315 7.85 Physocarpus opul. ‘Seward’ 385 7.85 Physocarpus opulifolus 1,000 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolus `Diabolo’ 1,000 7.60 1,000 Populus tremuloides 475 7.00 Potentilla frut. `Coronation Triumph’ 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Abbottswood’ 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Dakota Sunrise` 760 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Gold Drop’ 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Goldfinger’ 621 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `McKay’s White’ 400 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Tangerine` 645 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Yellow Gem` 395 7.00 Prunus cistena 1,000 7.00 Quercus alba 365 7.00 Quercus bicolor 275 7.00 Quercus palustris 400 7.00 Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ 924 9.00 Rhus aromatica `Low Grow` 1,000 7.00 Rhus typhina 740 7.00 Rhus typhina ‘Tiger’s Eye’ 546 Rosa ‘Henry Kelsey’ 345 7.00 Rosa `Bonica` 577 7.00 Rosa `J P Connell` 195 7.00 Rosa rugosa 1,000 7.00 Rosa rugosa `Alba’ 1,000 7.00 Rosa rugosa `Hansa` 138 7.00 Rosa rugosa `Morden Blush’ 170 7.00 Rosa X `Champlain` 206 7.00 Rosa X `The Fairy’ 221 7.00 Rosa x ‘Morden Amorette’ 240 7.00 Rubus occidentalis 760 7.00 Rubus odoratus 283 7.00 Salix bebbiana 38 7.00 Salix beblonia ‘Crispa’ 100 7.00 Salix discolor 961 7.00 Salix eriocephala 1,000 7.00 Salix exigua 1,000 7.00 Salix gracilis `Purpurea Nana` 431 7.00 Salix integra `Hakura Nishiki’ 150 7.00 Salix integra ‘Flamingo’ 117 7.00 Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa Aurea’ 170 7.00 Salix nigra 360 7.00
11.00
8.60
12.50
Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
Salix repens 50 7.00 Sambucus canadensis 1,000 7.00 Sambucus canadensis `Aurea’ 531 7.00 Sambucus nigra `Guincho Purple’ 210 7.00 Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ 45 9.50 317 Sambucus nigra ‘Thundercloud’ 185 7.00 Sorbaria aitchisonii 300 7.00 Sorbaria sorbifolia 1,000 7.00 Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ 558 7.00 150 Spiraea `Pink Parasol` 120 7.45 Spiraea alba 1,000 7.00 Spiraea arguta 265 7.00 Spiraea betulifolia `Tor’ 150 7.00 Spiraea bumalda `Gold Mound’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea bumalda `Gumball` 30 7.00 Spiraea jap. ‘Dakota Goldcharm’ 315 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Alpina’ 997 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Anthony Waterer’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Crispa’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Flaming Mound’ 772 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Froebelii’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Golden Princess’ 125 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Goldflame’ Spiraea japonica `Little Princess’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Magic Carpet’ 1,000 7.25 Spiraea japonica `Manon` 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Neon Flash’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Shirobana’ 163 7.00 Spiraea japonica ‘Genpei’ 200 7.00 150 Spiraea japonica ‘White Gold’ 580 7.00 Spiraea tomentosa 418 7.00 Spiraea vanhouttei 1,000 7.00 Spriaea vanhouttei ‘Golden Fountain’ 30 Stephanandra incisa `Crispa’ 1,000 7.00 Symphoricarpos albus 1,000 7.00 Symphoricarpos chenaultii `Hancock` 377 7.00 Syringa patula `Miss Kim’ 30 Syringa vulgaris `Beauty of Moscow` 77 7.00 199 Syringa vulgaris `Primrose` 327 7.00 Syringa vulgaris `Sensation’ 65 7.00 287 Syringa vulgaris ‘Dappled Dawn’ 45 7.00 Syringa vulgaris ‘Monge’ 15 7.00 210 Syringa X hyac. `Pocahontas’ 107 7.00 Tamarix pentandra 337 7.00 Tilia cordata 400 7.00 Viburnum `Emerald Triumph` 90 7.00 Viburnum dentatum/recognitum 287 7.00 Viburnum dentatum`Chicago Lustre` 130 7.00 Viburnum lantana 196 7.00 Viburnum nudum `Winterthur’ 150 7.00 Viburnum opulus `Nanum’ 90 7.00 Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ 24 7.00 160 Viburnum rhytidophyllum `Alleghany` 91 7.00 Viburnum trilobum 570 7.00 Viburnum trilobum `Bailey Compact` 253 7.00 Weigela florida `Alexandra’ 250 7.60 Weigela florida `Bristol Ruby’ 546 7.00 Weigela florida `Elvira` 275 7.60 Weigela florida `Java Red’ 90 7.00 Weigela florida `Minuet’ 1,000 7.00 Weigela florida `Nana Variegata’ 690 7.00 Weigela florida `Polka’ 790 7.00 Weigela florida `Purpurea Nana` 980 7.00 Weigela florida `Red Prince’ 345 7.00 Weigela florida `Rumba’ 580 7.00 Weigela florida `Tango’ 515 7.00 Weigela florida `Variegata’ 382 7.00 Weigela florida `Victoria` 200 7.00 Weigela florida ‘Minor Black’ 105 7.00
11.50
8.00
8.00
9.00
8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00
8.00
RR 2, Mount Brydges, ON N0L 1W0 Tel: 519-264-9057 • Fax: 519-264-1337 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 17
MEMBERSHIP
Golf tournament season in full swing By Helen Hassard
I
am fast approaching my three-month anniversary here at Landscape Ontario. It feels as if it’s been a year. Not because the time has dragged, but completely the opposite. So much has happened in the last three months and I have learned so much; I can see that this is an association that never sleeps (I mean that quite literally). The corporate culture here at LO has been very welcoming. I feel Helen Hassard as though I have found my place, not to mention picked up a few tips on gardening; and yes Allan, those plants you gave me are alive and well. Anyway, on to a more exciting topic, golf tournaments. As I sit here writing this article prior to the start of LO’s summer sports season, I expect the tournaments will all be very success-
ful and fun for all. If the weather we’ve had lately is any indication, then bring sunscreen and lots of water. Just a reminder that the tournaments left to participate in after this article is published are Golden Horseshoe on Aug. 18, Georgian Lakelands on Aug. 26, Ottawa on Aug. 27, London on Sept. 10 and Windsor on Sept. 11. If golf isn’t your style, then we have the Toronto baseball tournament on Aug. Eric Price, left, and Bill Cross of Thornbusch 15, Waterloo baseball tournament on Aug. Landscaping Company enjoyed the day at the Upper 22, and the Argos vs. Tiger-Cats football Canada Golf Tournament on July 16. game on Oct. 15. In addition to the sporting events, Golden will be posted as they become available at Horseshoe and Georgian Lakelands will each www.horttrades.com. host chicken roasts, while the Toronto Chapter, I want to remind all of you that as an assoin partnership with LO and the Toronto Botanical ciation we are all part of the same team, so if you Garden, is hosting Artistry with Bulbs. All three see a topic or speaker that interests you at another take place on Sept. 16, so keep that date open to Chapter’s meeting, feel free to attend and meet a enjoy a full-day of exciting Chapter events. new group of LO members. The Chapters are also working diligently on finalizing dates, topics and speakers for Helen Hassard may be contacted at regular monthly meetings. Stay tuned, as details hhassard@landscapeontario.com.
18 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
Nearly 50 candidates take part in certification testing Under rain clouds, 49 candidates took part in the two-day Landscape Industry Certified testing on July 8 and 9 at Landscape Ontario home office in Milton. “Yes we had a rainy day, but this did not deter our dedicated judges and candidates,” said Rachel Burt, LO’s project coordinator. “All of the sincere love for the industry and dedication to certification was a great thing to see from everyone.”
Documentation was sent to Planet in the U.S. on the grades for the written tests, but results had not been returned to LO by press time. “Successful CLTs should be announced next month,” said Burt. “By successfully earning any designations in the Landscape Industry Certified testing, members of the industry prove their competence to themselves, their employers and customers,” she concluded.
Anyone interested in challenging the Landscape Industry Certified exam should not delay. To register, go to www.horttrades.com/ landscape-industry-certified. Valued sponsors of the test days include: Clintar, Stihl Canada, Echo, Battlefield, Exmark, Walker Mowers, Unilock, Permacon, Hamilton Sod, Bobcat of Hamilton, M. Putzer Nursery and Van Dongens Garden Centre.
Show us your logo
Hey LO members, show the industry how you display the Green for Life logo on your equipment, vehicles or office. We will post them on the horttrades.com website and possibly the magazine. Send photos to:
adennis@landscapeontario.com HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 19
It’s time to think about Awards of Excellence It’s that time of year to think about all the great projects completed over the past season. And, with that, it’s time to show off a bit through LO’s Awards of Excellence program. As a member of LO, your company is able to market itself as professional, and LO’s Awards of Excellence program provides that opportunity. As an award recipient, you can showcase your company’s professional talents. Our industry is filled with creative, skilled and enthusiastic people, and the awards program proves that each and every year. It’s a time to showcase the best of our best. LO manages several awards programs, including Retail Garden Centre with 14 categories, Growers (see page 12 in this issue) with 11 categories, and Construction, Maintenance and Design with an astounding 39 categories. Each year the winning entries are seen by thousands of consumers and those in the trade. Award winning projects have been featured on HGTV, in Garden Inspiration magazine, dozens of newspapers and publications and at Canada Blooms and Congress. As well, there
Entry deadlines for 38th awards program Garden Centre Program on Aug.16, 4:00 p.m. Construction, Maintenance and Design on Oct. 4, 4:00 p.m.
have been numerous articles on websites and in newspapers, such as The Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, London Free Press, Toronto Sun, and many more, not to mention trade publications including Landscape Trades and Horticulture Review. Many LO members, with the help of Landscape Ontario’s public relations staff, have press releases printed by their local media. The positive marketing from such articles results in priceless public relations opportunity within the member’s community. Photos are important Taking great photos is important in order to showcase the creative talent required to produce each winning entry. As a bit of advice, landscape photographers should look for an overcast day to create a vivid landscape shot. A bright Taking great photos is important in order to showcase the sunny day does not capture creative talent required to produce each winning entry. the hues and deeper shades in a landscape. Also keep shadows in mind, as For more information on the Landscape they can detract from the image. Always take Ontario Awards of Excellence programs, more shots than you need. Better to have more contact Kathleen Pugliese at kathleenp@ choices when it comes time to put your entry landscapeontario.com, or visit www. together. loawards.com.
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Letter to the Editor In response to the request published in the executive director’s column in the July 15 Horticulture Review, what follows are my thoughts on accreditation. I’m not sure if it helps the process to determine the “how” of accreditation, but it expresses my thoughts on the subject, nonetheless. Leadership is a choice. That’s a statement we all can agree upon without dispute. One can be born into privilege, but one still has to choose to utilize the privilege to lead! Accreditation is similar. Through LO, we all have the privilege of access to the tools that will lead us to accreditation, but first we must make the choice to do so. Look at all successful companies, no matter the industry. What is the basic item that differentiates those companies within their respective industry? It is one distinct item: All of them believe that they still have much to learn, and continually strive to be the very best at what they do, whether that is through their staff, product, or personal development. The brand, therefore, is to excel. All the pioneers of our association had it, and all those who currently lead have it. I am confident that all those who will continue the development of this industry will also have it; the “it” being a desire to continue to improve an industry through the collective improvement of others and themselves. There is no such thing as reward without effort. In order to succeed, you must first learn how to not succeed; then you will realize that not succeeding on the first try is not failing, but rather failing is not learning from our mistakes and repeating the same behaviour and expecting
a different result. It sounds silly, but all great winners had to learn to be a good loser before they could truly win. We grow and win by learning from our mistakes. Through sharing with each other, we gain insight into prevention. But, by repeating our mistakes, we show our ignorance. It is not difficult to create a system that discourages elitism, which happens when you exclude others from receiving an equal opportunity. When equal opportunity exists, then elitism is only a perception. Those who view the process to accreditation as elitist, use it as an excuse to not get involved. Instead, they look for the magic pixie dust to sprinkle over their operation and become an instant success. The real challenge is how we measure accreditation. This is difficult, because it is a journey and not a destination, therefore making it hard to define. For example, look at Garden Creations and Thornbusch Landscaping. Both companies promote certification and have certified people on staff. Both companies also volunteer and give back to the industry and their communities, and are Awards of Excellence winners, promote safety, have codes of conduct and operation policies, and send staff and themselves to events and educational opportunities, etc. Yet, one has over 25 years in business and the other is in Year Four. I consider both as accredited companies, but would have no difficulty having the years in business acknowledged. Maybe we need third party assistance, where we as LO set the criteria through research into what other associations or industries use to determine accreditation. Once the criteria are decided upon, then
we bring in an outside source/third party judge to decide whether one meets the criteria. The armslength approach will give more validation to the process. Paul Doornbos CHT,CLP Thornbusch Landscaping Lansdowne
NEW MEMBERS Golden Horseshoe Scenic Endeavors Landscaping Bryan Jongbloed 5445 Vaughan Rd St. Anns, ON L0R 1Y0 Tel: 905-386-1232 Membership Type: Active Total Equipment Rentals Geoff Erkelens 1240 Colborne St W Brantford, ON N3T 5L7 Tel: 519-449-1200 Membership Type: Associate London Advance Landscaping Co. Ltd Bill McAvoy 20891 Denfield Road, RR 41 London, ON N6H 5L2 Tel: 519-657-1210 Membership Type: Active Old South Lawn, Garden & Construction Bren Silk 34 Langarth St E London, ON N6C 1Z1 Tel: 519-902-6341 Membership Type: Active
October 19-20, 2010 Toronto Congress Centre Toronto, ON Canada loexpo.ca
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 21
LO STAFF PROFILE
Denis Flanagan CLD Director of public relations
What is your basic job description at LO? Following a directive from the provincial board, I am now in the position of director of public relations. I work with help from the Branding Committee and the entire LO staff to ensure that our Green for Life message is shared with as many organizations and media connections as possible. Our goal is to connect the public with our website and ultimately our members. What is your background before coming to LO, and when did you begin work at LO? I graduated in horticulture/landscape design from Surrey, England. After moving to Canada, I started working as a landscape designer for Weall and Cullen Nurseries and eventually became manager of the Landscape Division, which in the early 1980s had 22 designers and 15 authorized contractors. During that time I also got married to Elaine, and we have two wonderful children Gillian and Chris (who today are in their mid-20s and both avid gardeners). I managed the Landscape Division for Weall and Cullen Garden Centres for 15 years, and was the chair of the LO Garden Centre commodity group for four years at the same time. I handled many media enquiries, which eventually led to an offer from HGTV to host a show called, The Indoor Gardener. This was followed by One Garden, Two Looks. In total, I spent 10 years as a TV gardener. During the winter months, I also taught at Humber, Seneca and Conestoga colleges.
This experience proved useful when Tony DiGiovanni approached me to coordinate a youth training program at Landscape Ontario. I followed this by becoming manager of membership services, which I served for five years. When not at work, where can you be found? On the fairway, or more accurately, in the trees beside the fairway. And, of course in my own garden. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher. I guess that kind of happened. What inspires you during your time at LO? I enjoy running into successful members, who I remember when they were young people starting in the industry. Being involved with members on community projects, the generosity, commitment and humility always amazes me. Name your all-time favourite movie, musical group and TV show. Movie, Peter Sellers as Chauncey Gardener in Being There; music, Leonard Cohen, Stéphane Grapelli, The Beatles; and TV, Fawlty Towers and M*A*S*H. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Alaska. Tell us one thing about you that few of your colleagues know about you. I have participated in a wide variety of sports and activities including squash, dragon boating, soccer, cricket and moose calling. I would love to see Landscape Ontario form a team to compete in dragon boat racing.
22 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
Be aware of restrictions when purchasing property Nathan Helder, president of Gelderman Landscaping, wants his fellow Landscape Ontario members to be aware of potential restrictions when purchasing property. “Anyone who is thinking of purchasing property for his business, needs to make sure that there are no restrictions placed on the land by organizations such as a conservation authority,” says Helder. He learned first-hand that, even though he owned property that was zoned commercial, a portion of that property was deemed sensitive wetlands by the Halton Conservation Authority (HCA). Helder found out when the Authority notified him that, not only did he not have control over portions of his property, but he needed to restore portions within the area deemed sensitive. “Until the Conservation Authority contacted me, I had no idea the property was deemed sensitive wetlands.” The area was approximately one acre within an area Gelderman Landscaping wanted to develop. The cost to the company to improve the area was around $20,000. Helder reflects that the property appeared dry to him, but HCA had it located within a wetlands protection area. Instead of fighting the CA, Helder decided to turn the issue into a positive experience. He moved a driveway over 14 metres outside the sensitive area, as well as removing a massive mulch pile, bringing the area back to an acceptable condition. “It’s buyers beware. There is nothing online, it’s up to you to go to the Conservation Authority’s offices to find out if your land is within the wetlands area,” cautions Helder. He’s happy with the outcome. Although his immediate reaction was anger upon hearing the news that a part of his property was deemed lost within the wetlands area, in the end it was more beneficial to work with the CA instead of against it. Nathan Helder and his company received a 2010 Conservation Award, in the stewardship category, for his efforts (See July 2010, Horticulture Review). Helder serves as the chair of LO’s environmental stewardship committee.
Work begins to study issue of locates
Brian Cocks CLT, centre, announced a pledge of $100,000 towards the OHTF endowment fund. He was joined in the giant cheque presentation by Foundation president John Wright, left, and LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni CHT.
Pledging estate donation will help future of industry Brian Cocks CLT is asking LO members who have benefited so much from this industry, to give back to it through a special donation in their will. During the Growers Auction, held on July 15 at LO’s home office, Cocks made a presentation and public pledge for $100,000 towards the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (OHTF). “I want to show members I am very serious about this program,” he said. The Foundation administers an endowment fund to support scholarships and research for the horticulture industry. It endorses the legacy campaign, and will be encouraging members to participate. Cocks, a member of the OHTF board, says the Foundation last year gave out nearly $24,000 in scholarships. Cocks foresees a day when the Foundation has over $10-million as a legacy to help more students pursue careers in horticulture. He says if half the members of LO, which is around 1,000, pledged $10,000 in their will, that would amount to $10-million. “For most LO members, leaving $10,000 in their will is peanuts,” says Cocks. The tax considerations alone make it worthwhile. Each contribution will receive a receipt for tax purposes.“It is hoped that those who have benefited so much from this industry will now give back to it through specifying funds in their will,” he said. Forms are available at the LO home office, or by contacting Brian Cocks, at 905-643-1978, or e-mail brian@briancocks.com. You may also contact John Wright, chair of the Foundation, at 519-581-2942, or john@wright.on.ca.
Within the next few weeks, Landscape Ontario and the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) will review plans to attack the issue of utility locates. Terry Murphy, former LO manager of human resource development, conducted a study on the problems of locates in Ottawa in Spring, 2010. He says, “Our industry has been leading the number of hits of underground utilities for several years. It’s not only here in Canada, but we are also number one in the U.S., according to the ORCGA.” Murphy continued, “I will be meeting with Jim Douglas, president of ORCGA, in the next couple of weeks to begin a plan to reduce the number of hits. The bulk of the strategy will be communications and bringing the message to the industry.” He feels that the main reason landscapers hit underground utilities is because contractors don’t obtain locates, for one reason or another. “I want to the utilities to provide data on hits, so we can see the trends and measure the effectiveness of our efforts to reduce the number of hits.” Murphy says now that after huge delays in the spring to receive locates, things are getting back to normal in Ottawa. He has outlined some recommendations for 2011 and beyond for the Ottawa Chapter and the entire industry: Alternative Locate Agreement (ALA) — All irrigation contractors and many land-
Powerful Profits
scapers should obtain ALAs so they can eliminate the need for locates on certain jobs and have the approval to dig over the telephone. This should start immediately. ORCGA board — There is a need for the landscape industry to permanently continue to be on the ORCGA board of directors, so that problems such as the one this spring in Ottawa can be more quickly identified and resolved. Forecast of locates required — One of the main reasons for the Ottawa locate problem was that the locate firms did not understand the demand side of their business. It would be prudent to give them a forecast in January, which will go a long way to prevent unexpected demands. If all their customers gave locate forecasts in January, the problems would be identified long before April. Industry meeting with locate company — The industry should take the initiative to call a meeting with the locate companies in December or January, so that each can discuss better ways of serving each other. It seems that both sides were operating in a vacuum, before it was determined that we were in the middle of a nightmare. Join an ORCGA local chapter —ORCGA has set-up local councils or chapters similar to Landscape Ontario. Murphy suggests that LO Chapters get onto the respective ORCGA Councils, as it will provide local networking.
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 23
Plastic recycling effort pays off
Over 120 skids of plastic were collected during National Plastic Recycling Week. In photo, Agnes Zawartka of CNLA is ready to sort another load of plastic pots.
Thanks to the dedication of several CNLA and LO staff, and the commitment of many LO members, over 120 skids of plastic were collected during National Plastic Recycling Week. B.C. also took part in the initiative from June 28 to July 5. In Ontario, homeowners and members of the horticultural trade were invited to bring their used horticultural plastic to the temporary depot at the LO site in Milton. Pots, trays and tags, as well as fertilizers and mulch bags came in car trunks, truck beds, trailers and even dump trucks. Homeowners, garden centres, nurseries and landscapers all took advantage of the opportunity. Users were asked to fill out a short survey that resulted in unanimous thumbs-up
for the program. Next year it is hoped that more depots will be available across the province. Additionally, over 20 skids of used plastic pots were collected during Member Appreciation Day at the LO Growers Auction, held in Milton on July 15. The process was labour-intensive, as all pots, trays and bags needed to be stacked on skids and shrink wrapped before being removed by Plastix Canada. Some of the plastic will be recycled into garden furniture in partnership with CRP Plastics. Currently, there is no Blue Box program to recycle horticultural plastic, even though growers pay a levy to Stewardship Ontario for the pots they use. Events like National Plastic
24  HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
Recycling Week can be used to demonstrate the need for an organized, sustainable collection program. Landscape Ontario will continue to work with other stakeholders to develop solutions to keep our plastic out of landfills. Short video clips taken at the Ontario collection site have been uploaded to YouTube under PlasticRecycling2010. Thanks go to the Ontario champions of National Recycling Week, Agnes Zawartka of CNLA and Lorraine Ivanoff of LO. Kudos are also due to Kim Burton, Martha Walsh, Michael Cerelli, Tyler Garrad, Robert Ellidge and special thanks to Dianne Lang of Plastix Canada for her tremendous work!
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ast month I had an opportunity to catch up with one of the Prosperity Partners program graduates, Frank Selles of Framar Landscape and Maintenance Contracting of Richmond Hill. It tugged me back down memory lane, resulting in me asking why I started working on this program in the first place. Frank and I have both been jerked from our businesses at a time Jacki Hart we thought we could least afford it. In hindsight, we are both so much the better for it. When Frank took the Build Your Prosperity and Prosperity Best Practices workshops, he listened to my story of having a ‘full stop’ in my business six years ago, due to health reasons. He tells me of a little note to himself he had made from learning of my journey, and thought, “One of these days, I should step back and reconsider what I’m doing.” One of these days arrived in spring 2010. Frank was forced to shift his focus from the frantic pace of business this spring, to care for his ailing parents. Sadly, Franks’ parents both passed away in late spring. Now that he’s had a chance to reflect and re-prioritize, his outlook on business is very, very different. Ran business with a passion For many years, Frank worked intensely and exhaustively in his business, developing the construction and maintenance divisions until he had a staff of 25. In typical landscaper form, he ran his business with passion and determination, flat out, until without realizing it, the business was running him. Frank is not alone. The majority of us (me included for my first 15 years in business) continue to run ourselves ragged, racing from site to site, meeting to meeting, drivethru to drive-thru, not knowing where profits are coming in the door, or going out the window. This year, Frank has scaled his business back to focus strictly on maintenance, and to quote him directly, “We are going back to basics, to seven staff, where I know everything that’s happening. And to be honest, we are making
26 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
just about the same money.” Frank realized that not all of the work his company was doing was profitable work. He realized that spending time with his kids (ages eight through 12) is both a pleasure and important. He also realized that he couldn’t remember the last time he and his family sat on the deck relaxing, until the mosquitoes drove them inside. Frank is now on the true path to prosperity. It’s a path that includes interests outside the landscape industry, which for Frank includes singing in a men’s choir, performing at many large venues around Ontario. I can tell you that this transition has Frank looking 10 years younger! Stress is no longer deeply etched in his expression. Re-inventing your lifestyle By stepping back and re-inventing his lifestyle, and his business, Frank is well on the way to a better work/life balance, a healthier company, and a healthier Frank. By visiting his website, www.framar.com, it’s easy to see he is a competent landscape contractor, and that he could easily re-establish the construction division of his business at any point in time should he want to. Frank is on a new path now – one with perspective, clear vision, strong purpose, and unwavering core values. I cannot express how great it is to hear this story, and to know that the founding principles of the Prosperity Partners program are working to make a difference — one company at a time. When Frank told me that he used his notes, the Prosperity Tools, and seminar materials to help him on this journey, it just reaffirms for me and the Landscape Ontario prosperity team that we truly are offering the best owner-based training available. We want you to work SMARTER, not harder. In fact, we know that when you learn how to work smarter, you will make more money, with less effort and stress. Step into your Prosperity journey. Join us by taking the Build Your Prosperity seminar this fall. The next date is Nov. 18 at LO’s home office in Milton. For more information, go to www.horttrades.com//seminars-prosperity Jacki Hart may be contacted at prosperity@landscapeontario.com.
LEGAL ISSUES
A tale of two subcontractors By Robert Kennaley McLauchlin & Associates
Y
ears ago, we acted for a subcontractor who found himself on the receiving end of charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The subcontractor’s men were waterproofing the inside of a large tree box inside an atrium, between two commercial towers. They were applying a very flammable material which emitted vapours that are heavier than air. Accordingly, after applying the material, they had to take steps to disperse the vapours before continuing the Rob Kennaley work. The subcontractor’s men started a normal and time-tested process: using a leaf blower, which has its spark contained, so as to not ignite the vapours. In starting the machine, however, the general contractor for the project complained that the unit was too loud and intrusive to the other trades in the workplace. The subcontractor objected that the fumes had to be dispersed and suggested that the atrium doors be opened, at both ends, to allow nature to take its course. This, too, was rejected. Finally, the contractor’s site supervisor suggested that he had a solution. He offered the subcontractor a fan, and handed it and a plugged-in extension cord to the waterproofing subtrade’s man in the hole. When the subtrade’s man plugged-in the fan, the spark ignited the fumes and very serious burns ensued. The subcontractor (and not the subcontractor’s man) was charged with 17 breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the matter proceeded to trial. Most charges dismissed We were able to get most of the charges dismissed, although liability was found on three offences, which the subcontractor ultimately settled on an appeal. We won’t go into the three charges which stuck. Rather, we note that the 14 charges which were dismissed were largely because the subcontractor had a very good occupational health and safety policy, and good occupational health and safety records in place. The subcontractor had each of the employees take regular OHSA training, updated the policy regularly, had each
employee sign-off on the policy and documented meetings to discuss and emphasize the policy, among other things. The subcontractor had also provided the site supervisors with a credit card to obtain anything his crew might require in the way of safety on a job. In addition, the records were clear that any breach of the policy was grounds for termination. In fact, the employee who stood down in the hole and plugged in the fan admitted at trial that he knew when he did it, that if his boss knew what he was doing he would probably be fired. All of this assisted greatly in establishing a due diligence defence for the subcontractor. Don’t let your focus wane Another subcontractor we know had similar occupational health and safety policies and programs in place at the time of a tree hole explosion incident. This subcontractor had equally good records to establish that the policies and procedures not only existed, but that they were being reiterated and updated constantly, and that they were being followed. Fast forward a baker’s dozen or so years, however, and that subcontractor had let his focus on OHSA more or less wane. When he was charged under the OHSA in relation to an accident (the particulars of which don’t really matter), he faced a problem. When the Ministry of Labour came to investigate, the subcontractor was not able to produce the copy of the policy in place at the time the injured worker was hired. He was also not able to show records to prove that this worker had undergone OHSA training upon being hired. He was not able to produce records to show the workers had attended regular safety meetings. He was not able to produce records to show that he had a system in place to ensure that the policies were being followed, in the field, by the employees. The subcontractor objected that his company had followed the same steps it had been following all along. He said there would have been an initial training session; there would have been a sign-off on the policy; that safety meetings were held almost daily; that safety was stressed again-and-again-and-again as a top priority; that a safety officer attended the jobs sites on a regular basis to spot check the men for safety compliance and that where problems were discovered the men were disciplined. The problem, however, was that the subcontractor had very few records to show
that any of this had occurred. A bigger problem arose because the Ministry of Labour is entitled to interview anyone involved in an accident, without the employer being present. In this case, early on a Saturday morning the ministry officer attended at the home of the site super, who had been in charge of the injured worker on the day of the accident. When asked if the subcontractor had a health and safety policy or program in place for the workers, the site supervisor (for whom English was a second language) said, “No.” You can imagine the ministry’s reaction, and how problematic the file became after that. There is no question that the subcontractor had continued to follow his OHSA policies over the years. There is also no question, however, that his enthusiasm in doing so had waned. It may have seemed to the company that they were stressing the same old/same old, but the emphasis, it appears, lessened over time. More importantly, the required recordkeeping slowly deteriorated to the point that none were really in place to assist the subcontractor when his accident occurred. It is easy to let OHSA policies and procedures slip. It is easy to think you are reiterating the same-old-same-old and to believe all of your workers and subcontractors are on the same page with you, when it comes to safety. Unfortunately, you need records to prove this. Keeping on top of the men and women in the workplace, and following up with paper, will assist you to ensure that, if asked, your workers will never, ever, say no, when asked if you have a policy. Rather, diligence will ensure that, if asked, the answer will be, “Do we? We talk about it constantly to the point that I am sick of it … !” Establishing this diligence is time consuming and inconvenient at times. It is also, however, a very good form of insurance against problems down the road. Robert Kennaley practices construction law in Toronto. He speaks and writes regularly on construction law issues and can be reached for comment at 416-368-2522, or at kennaley@mclauchlin.ca. This material is for information purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice in relation to any particular fact situation. Readers who have concerns about any particular circumstance are encouraged to seek independent legal advice in that regard.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 27
CLASSIFIED ADS SERVICES AND SUPPLIES TREE TRANSPLANTING Transplanting trees up to 9” trunk diameter with 10,000 lb. rootball. 44”, 80” & 90” spades to move trees with and can basket up to 90” 100 acres of trees to choose from. BOTANIX OXFORD INSTA-SHADE RR # 2, Burgessville ON N0J 1C0 Tel: (519) 424-2180 • Fax: (519) 424-2420 Toll Free: 1-800-387-0246 Contact Jan Veldhuizen E-mail: jan@oxfordinstashade.com www.oxfordinstashade.com
EQUIPMENT
FINN Hydroseeders & Bark Blowers New and Used • Flex Guard FRM • Soil Guard BFM • Erosion Control Blanket Seed & Fertilizer Toll free: (888) 298-9911 Fax: (905) 761-7959 www.fibramulch.com BOWIE HYDROMULCHERS (New and Used) FLEXTERRA FGM HYDROBLANKETS BFM F4 NETTLESS ECB MULCH IT P.O. Box 100, Putnam, ON N0L 2B0 Tel: (519) 425-0342 • Fax: (519) 425-4195 www.mulchit.on.ca
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN One of Canada’s largest, award winning landscape companies, family owned for 4 generations with a staff of 80 people, is growing again! We require experienced, motivated people to join our team. Landscape Construction Foreman (3 positions) available. Minimum 10 years experience in all facets of large residential and commercial construction. Top wages commensurate with experience. Will pay relocation fees for successful out of province candidates. Please forward resume to salivan@bellnet.ca ONTARIO LANDSCAPING LIMITED Experienced landscape labourers required to perform manual work. To assist in cultivating, digging and planting of trees. Labourer hourly rate $15.00. Also required driver – class A licence, Z certificate and mobile crane operator 0-8. Driver hourly rate $17.50. Seasonal employment starting April 1/10 to Nov 30/10. Job Site Keswick, Ont. Fax resume to (905) 898-0360 or call (905) 898-6856
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INFORMATION All classified ads must be pre-paid by VISA or Mastercard. Rates: $45.20 (HST included) per column inch Min. order $45.20. 15% discount on ads run for entire calendar year. Box Numbers: Additional $10. Confidentiality ensured. Deadlines: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 20th). January deadline is Dec. 1. Space is limited to a first come, first served basis. To advertise: E-mail your ad to Robert at classifieds@ landscapeontario.com or fax to (905) 875-0183. Online advertising: Website only ads are available for $45.20 (GST included). Website ads are posted for 30 days and are limited to 325 words. View these ads and more online at:
www.horttrades.com/classifieds 28 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010
Get INSPIRED Get CONNECTED
LABOUR MARKET Horticulturist I am a graduate of The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, seeking employment in the Oakville/Burlington/Toronto Area. I have extensive supervisory experience in high end property maintenance including Residential/ Commercial/Golf Course. Please contact Tom at (289) 259-0638 or tspies@cogeco.ca. SEEKING PLANTING CREW POSITION Experienced landscape crew member able to help out with planting installations and getting the right spacing and placement. Good driving record. Trained and experienced in horticulture and landscape design. Located in downtown Toronto. Please contact Heather at (416) 768-2311 or heatherspeakman@sympatico.ca
NURSERY STOCK PERENNIALS Large assortment of perennials, ground covers and native plants. Price - Variety list available. FRANK SCHENK PERENNIALS 663 River Road (Belfountain), Caledon, ON L7K 0E5 Tel: (519) 927-5415 Fax: (519) 927-9084 Hofland Gardens Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Groundcovers Tel: 905-355-3392 E-mail: hoflandgardens@phc.igs.net GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED Your Ontario source for ornamental and native ground covers. Call, fax, or write for the 2010 Catalogue and planting guide. GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED 1045 Porter Road, P.O. Box 190 Bethany, ON L0A 1A0 Tel: (705) 277-3005 Fax: (705) 277-9213
AD INDEX COMPANY
PAGE
PHONE
WEBSITE
ACO Systems Ltd.................................................6........... 877-226-4255.....................................www.acocan.ca Braun Nursery Ltd...............................................29.......... 800-246-6984......................... www.braungroup.com Caledon Hills Perennials.....................................26.......... 905-473-1145......... www.caledonhillsperennials.com Christmas Decor (Turf Management Systems)....23.......... 866-615-4147..................... www.christmasdecor.net Connon Nurseries/NVK Holdings Inc...................32.......... 905-628-0112.................. www.connonnurseries.com Easy Flo................................................................2........... 866-507-8348................................... www.easy-flo.ca G & L Group (Brock Aggregates).......................15.......... 416-798-7050................. www.brockaggregates.com Hillen Nursery Inc.............................................16-17.......519-264-9057 Hort Protect (CNLA) ...........................................20.......... 800-328-7887............................www.hortprotect.com Landscape Safety ...............................................3........... 877-482-2323...................www.landscapesafety.com Legends Landscape Supply Inc.........................19.......... 905-336-3369....................... www.landscapestore.ca Limestone Trail Company Ltd.............................26.......... 905-563-8133........................www.limestonetrail.com M Putzer Nursery................................................31.......... 800-337-3363....................putzernursery@primus.ca Mankar Distributing Inc........................................8........... 647-309-7826.................................... www.mankar.ca Newroads National Leasing.................................9........... 416-587-1021................. www.newroadsleasing.com Shaw Bros. Ltd....................................................18.......... 877-625-9677.................................www.shawbros.ca Sheehan’s Truck Centre Inc................................3........... 800-254-2859.................... info@sheehanstruck.com Sipkens Nurseries Ltd.........................................10.......... 866-843-0438................. www.sipkensnurseries.com Stam Nurseries.....................................................7........... 519-424-3350.................... www.stamsnurseries.com Stonemen’s Valley Inc.........................................12.......... 905-841-8400..................www.stonemensvalley.com Truly Nolen (Turf Management Systems)...........7........... 866-615-4147............................. www.trulynolen.com Uxbridge Nurseries Ltd.......................................22.......... 905-655-3379................www.uxbridgenurseries.com Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd....................................13.......... 519-647-3912.........................www.winkelmolen.com Zander Sod Co Ltd..............................................10.......... 877-727-2100............................www.zandersod.com
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 29
OMAFRA NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE REPORT
Potato leafhopper is a significant pest
Adult leafhopper on Caragana: note the large head and how the body narrows at the hind quarters.
By Jen Llewellyn, OMAFRA Nursery Crops Specialist
The year 2009 was unprecedented for injury from potato leafhopper in Ontario nursery crops. It seemed like the stars were in perfect alignment when the first group of adult potato leafhoppers migrated in from the south: leaf emergence was late and prolonged with the cool, wet spring weather. As a result, leafhopper populations took off and several woody ornamental crops sustained moderate to high levels of feeding injury. There are other species of leafhoppers that feed on nursery crops, but potato leafhopper seems to be one of the most common. The following article is aimed at helping you monitor and diagnose leafhopper injury and improve the success rate of your management program. I acknowledge my summer student, Matt Barnett, for doing much of the literature review for this article. Biology An adult potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) is a small, lime-green insect that is only three to four mm in length. They are wedge-shaped, broadest at the head and tapering back to the tips of their wings. Adults are characteristically marked by six white dots located directly behind their heads (visible under magnification with a hand lens). Adult potato leafhoppers are highly mobile when disturbed, often jumping or flying to and from new plants or moving along leaves in a very distinct, rapid sideways running movement. Adults can spring away so quickly, it almost looks like they are being flicked off of the plant. The nymphs of the potato leafhopper are similar in appearance to the adults, except smaller, pale green in colour and wingless.
Though unable to fly, the nymphs still demonstrate the characteristic sideways running movement when disturbed. The nymphs undergo five instars (growth phases) over a period of two to three weeks during development, before maturing into winged adults. Tiny, white skins cast from the nymphs are often found clinging to lower leaf surfaces. Plant Injury Just like other sucking insect pests, potato leafhoppers prefer to feed on soft, newly-emerging leaves but they will also feed on older leaves. Leafhoppers are commonly found feeding from the leaf undersides. Plant injury symptoms caused by potato leafhopper may take several days to become evident after feeding has occurred. As the potato leafhopper probes and feeds on host tissues with its stylet (feeding tube), it disrupts and lacerates host cells under the epidermis. In addition, the potato leafhopper secretes a toxin as it feeds. The toxin and the debris disrupt the tissues and clog the vascular system of the leaf. Not surprisingly, early injury is often characterised by leaf wilt and an off-colour appearance that leads to stunting, leaf curling and chlorosis (yellowing) near the margin of the leaf. Marginal chlorosis becomes marginal necrosis (tissue death) and this type of injury is known as hopper burn. Often misdiagnosed At first glance, hopper burn looks like a phytotoxic response to a chemical application or extreme hot/dry weather and it is often misdiagnosed as such. If you are not out monitoring on a regular basis, you may not see leafhopper injury until weeks after it has occurred. By that time,
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the leafhoppers may have dispersed to other actively growing crops. It’s easy to see how feeding injury from potato leafhopper is often mistaken for something else or becomes an unsolved mystery. Hopper burn and leaf wilt are more common on younger, newly-emerged leaves of woody plants that are colonized by potato leafhoppers. When older, fully-formed leaves are fed upon, symptoms appear as tiny, chlorotic dots on the upper surface of leaves. This injury is often described as bronzing or flecking and is noticeable by early mid-summer. Several studies have shown that potato leaf hopper feeding on Norway and sugar maple causes severe stunting (reduced leaf area and very short internodes on the twig) and the loss of apical dominance on the shoot (Carlson, 1980 and Morette, 1959). Without the strong influence of that apical bud, several of the lateral buds will break, causing an abundance of shoots to form at the tips of branches. As we know, this leads to poor growth habit and form and must be corrected inside the nursery by pruning and training. This can significantly increase to the cost of production for susceptible nursery crops and put growers at an unfair advantage. The vascular damage caused by potato leafhopper may decrease the overwintering survival of the affected shoots. Dead tips in spring mean the loss of apical dominance and again, may lead to an increased number of lateral shoots at branch tips and the need for some additional corrective pruning. There is also some evidence that high rates of nitrogen fertilization may increase nymph survival rates and subsequent egg-laying on nursery crops (Bentz and Townsend, 2001, Roltsch and Gage, 1990). Hosts Although the host list for potato leafhopper is quite extensive, Caragana arborescens (pea shrub), Acer platanoides (Norway maple, especially the red-leaved cultivars) and Acer saccharum (sugar maple) seem to be the most common host crops that sustain injury in the nursery. These are the crops that should be monitored first, for early signs of adult potato leafhopper arrival in spring. Potato leafhopper can also be found on several other woody trees and shrubs such as Betula (birch), Ulmus (elm) and Malus (apple). Susceptibility of a given tree species or cultivar is, at least partially, related to the time of leaf emergence. Several researchers found that those tree species or cultivars that initiate shoot growth
We have it all!
Early potato leafhopper injury is characterized by leaf wilt and an offcolour (see lower leaves) that leads to stunting, leaf curling and chlorosis (yellowing) near the leaf margin (Acer).
the latest in the spring sustained the most injury (Townsend, 1989; Bentz and Townsend, 1997; Townsend and Douglas, 1998). This makes sense, since these trees would be the ones with the newest, softest most desirable foliage about the time potato leafhoppers migrate to the Great Lakes region. Take a look around your nursery; are the cultivars with the most leafhopper injury those that leaf-out the latest? Management practices Effective scouting and management practices are required to help minimize potential damage of susceptible crops. Monitor for arrival of adult potato leafhoppers starting in mid- to late May. Yellow sticky cards can be placed out in the most susceptible crops (e.g. Caragana) and can be monitored one or two times per week, along with regular examination of leaves and crop rows for flying adults. In Canada, Tristar 70 WSP (acetamiprid, Group 4 Insecticide), Sevin (carbaryl, Group 1A Insecticide) and Imidan 50 WP (phosmet, Group 1B) are registered for leafhopper management in outdoor ornamental nursery crops. Applications of insecticides will help protect susceptible crops if they are made to coincide with the arrival of potato leafhoppers, before feeding injury is evident. Once leaves harden off and leafhopper populations disperse, crop protection is not as important. There are some efficacy studies being conducted in the U.S. with various root zone application methods of imidacloprid, the active ingredient in Intercept, Admire and Merit (Oliver et al., 2009). Unfortunately, the soil drench rates that were used in these studies to give effective protection against leafhopper injury are above the maximum rates of active ingredient per hectare allowed on the product label. The researchers are also trying slow release formulations of imidacloprid, such as tablets (known as CoreTect in the U.S.). Oliver et al. agree that more research is required to quantify the relationship between expressed leafhopper damage and economic consequences for tree producers. An exotic fungal pathogen, Zoophthora radicans, affectionately known to some as “potato leafhopper disease” has been found to occur naturally in the U.S. The fungal disease is most common during cooler, wet weather and usually occurs in late July and August. For woody nursery crops, that’s too late, as potato leafhopper damage was done in June. For annual crops, leafhopper disease in summer is a welcome sight. There is some limited research with microbial pathogens for leafhopper management with the hopes of making a commercially available crop protection product. Jennifer Llewellyn may be reached at 519-824-4120, ext. 52671, or by email jennifer.llewellyn@ontario.ca. Her Nursery-Landscape Report can be found at http://apps.omafra.gov.on.ca/scripts/english/crops/agriphone/index.asp.
Trees: Caliper, Bare Root, B&B, Wire Basket, Container Grown Shrubs: Container Grown Broadleafs: Container Grown Evergreens: Field Grown, Container Grown Perennials Grasses, Vines, Ferns
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M. PUTZER HORNBY NURSERY LTD Growing today for a greener tomorrow 7314 Sixth Line, Hornby, Ontario L0P 1E0
Phone: 905-878-7226 s 1-800-377-3363 Fax: 905-878-8737
Quality • Service • Selection HORTICULTURE REVIEW - AUGUST 15, 2010 31
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