May 2012 Landscape Trades

May 2012

VOL. 34, NO. 4

landscapetrades.com

Power questions deflect complaints, inspire solutions Merchandising: A plan for success Green industry is ready to serve markets in China

Best of the Best Portfolio of Canada’s award winners

PM40013519

contents MAY 2012 VOL. 34, NO. 4

PUBLISHER Lee Ann Knudsen CLP | lak@landscapeontario.com Editorial Director Sarah Willis | sarahw@landscapeontario.com Editor Allan Dennis | adennis@landscapeontario.com Web editor Robert Ellidge | rob@landscapeontario.com Art Director Kim Burton | kburton@landscapeontario.com Graphic Designer Mike Wasilewski | mikew@landscapeontario.com Accountant Joe Sabatino | joesabatino@landscapeontario.com Sales Manager, PUBLICATIONS Steve Moyer | stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com COMMUNICATIONS assistant Shawna Barrett | skbarrett@landscapeontario.com Advisory Committee Gerald Boot CLP, Laura Catalano, Hank Gelderman CHT, Marty Lamers, Jan Laurin, Warren Patterson, Bob Tubby CLP

FEATURES

Landscape Trades is published by Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Phone: (905)875-1805 Email: comments@landscapetrades.com Fax: (905)875-0183 Web site: www.landscapetrades.com

A step by step approach to effective merchandise management

BY stephen head

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Carla Bailey, Darryl Bond, Laura Brinton, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, Sally Harvey CLT CLP, Helen Hassard, Jane Leworthy, Heather MacRae, Kristen McIntyre CHT, Kathy McLean, Linda Nodello, Kathleen Pugliese, Paul Ronan, Ian Service, Tom Somerville, Martha Walsh

22 LEGAL MATTERS | Demystifying backcharges and deficiencies

Landscape Trades is published nine times a year: January, March, April, May, June, July/August, September, October and November/December.

26 MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS | Think solutions, not problems

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30 ROAD TO SUCCESS | Great advice available for the asking

All rights are reserved. Material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Landscape Trades assumes no responsibility for, and does not endorse the contents of, any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its members, but are those of the writer concerned.

ISSN 0225-6398 PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES AGREEMENT 40013519 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT LANDSCAPE TRADES MAGAZINE 7856 FIFTH LINE SOUTH, MILTON, ON L9T 2X8, CANADA

6 The cream of the crop A portfolio of landscape award winners from coast to coast

12 Growing garden centres in Asia Gardening goes corporate; lots of opportunity for growth in the far east

BY john stanley

14 China’s cities shop for green Shanghai show reflects sustainability mandates

BY lee ann knudsen

16 Advocacy in action A ground-breaking report quantifies value of green infrastructure

BY colleen cirillo

20 Simplifying purchasing decisions

COLUMNS BY robert kennaley

24 SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING | Protecting and investing in mature trees

BY SEAN JAMES

BY MARK BRADLEY

BY ROD McDONALD

DEPARTMENTS Green Pencil PROVINCIAL NEWS CNLA NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS

4 23 35 36

NEW PRODUCTS COMING EVENTS CLASSIFIEDS Where to Find it

40 44 45 46

ON THE COVER: Award-winning landscape by Plantenance, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. A portfolio of Canada’s landscape winners starts on page 6.

MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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greenpencil

Value and experience are proven performers

Discounts destroy your brand Do you Groupon? WagJag? Lately, I’ve been offered online deals for lawn care, summer annuals, bulk soil and landscape services, so it seems like most sectors of the green industry are dabbling with this promotional tool.

If you aren’t familiar with them, group buying sites target local businesses, inviting them to post attractive offers that are only available if a minimum number of people bite. Once the daily deal is offered, and emailed to the group’s subscribers, it is hoped that subscribers will forward the deal to interested friends, and the deal goes viral. Great for the host couBy Sarah Willis pon site, but not necessarily great

By Sarah Willis for the company running the deal as a loss-leader, in an attempt to reach new customers. The internet is full of stories of woe from companies whose discounted coupon hurt their business more than helped it.

The problem with these online discounts seems to be that, while they draw consumers to your business, they train them to wait for sales. I have several friends who troll discount sites, buying online deals for cheap spa treatments, yet never return to pay full price for a service the second time.

Last week, I read a great quote by brand strategist Laura Ries; she says, “Coupons are like cocaine. The first time you do it, it is the best feeling in the world.

4 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

But over time it takes more and more of it to achieve that same feeling.” Ries says coupons teach customers that your prices are too high, and conditions them to buy only when given a discount. She adds that coupons don’t build a brand, they destroy it.

It’s better to reward loyal clients, than lose money attracting bargain-hunters. Even worse, by discounting your products or services, you are not just losing money, your company is damaging its future earnings, destroying the perceived value of what you do, and devaluing your brand.

Offering unexpected service when working at a client’s home is a proven way to keep prices up, gain referrals and build your brand and business. Our columnist Rod McDonald believes in surprising valued customers with a complimentary plant, earning appreciation at a fraction of the cost of a discount. Creating an experience for customers at your store will keep you at the top of their mind as the go-to for green goods, and encourage repeat business.

To be fair, the judicious use of coupons can build business. I bought one online coupon, for a store where I have a long-term relationship. I haven’t asked the owner how many new ‘regulars’ she gained through Groupon, but suspect she would have been better off mining her POS database and rewarding her loyal, frequent buyers.

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Award winners profit from goodwill

Best in class Your horticultural trade association has a ready-made business management tool for you.

Its awards of excellence program offers built-in promotion, staff recognition and marketing opportunities.

6 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Everybody loves a winner; sending a press release and picture to your local paper(s) can generate free publicity, and position you as a local garden design guru. No other industry has access to the naturally beautiful, stunning photographs you can take of your projects. Make them available to local media, post them on your Facebook page and on your website. Have a recognition plaque made for your client — you can bet they’ll be tickled, and will happily pass your name onto friends and family.

Creating the beautiful landscapes pictured on these pages took innovation, hard work and artistry. Congratulations to all the awardwinning companies from British Columbia to Newfoundland. However, once you’ve won the award and commended your staff, don’t let the plaque languish on a shelf — put it to work for your company. An award-winning project is a gift that keeps on giving.

Manitoba 3 Seasons Landscaping, Winnipeg, Man.

Ontario Kiva Landscape Design Build, Fonthill, Ont.

British Columbia Pure Landscapes, Vancouver, B.C.

Newfoundland Bowering Ponds & Gardens, St. John’s, Nfld.

Quebec Paysages Rossignol, St.-André-Avellin, Qué.

Alberta Homescapes Complete Residential Landscaping, Calgary, Alta.

MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

7

British Columbia Landscape 2000, Vancouver, B.C.

Quebec Les Artisans du paysage, Québec, Qué.

Ontario RJ Rogers Landscaping, Kars, Ont.

Newfoundland Murray’s Landscape Services, Portugal Cove, Nfld.

8 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Nova Scotia Down to Earth Gardening & Landscaping, Wolfville, N.S.

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Nova Scotia Joe Bidermann Landscaping, Fall River, N.S.

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Does Asia have garden centres?

BY JOHN STANLEY

During the last few weeks I have been working with garden centres in China and Japan. When I mention this to people, one of their first comments is, “Do they have garden centres in those countries?”

The answer is, “Yes,” and they are businesses we can learn from. These are rapidly-developing businesses that are using ideas from around the world. In Japan, Joyful Honda has 16 of the largest garden centres I have seen anywhere, while Hong Yu, in China, is developing a franchise chain that already has 16 stores and is growing.

It is good to see that the industry is attracting young people in this part of the world, unlike many other countries. In China, I worked with managers who were in their early 20s and keen to move their business forward. At the Hangzhou Lifestyle Conference and Exhibition, many sessions were full of students keen to gain as many ideas as possible.

Here are the main lessons I came away with: The plant areas in Japan can be large, which is a surprise in itself, but they are focused on getting as many stock turns as possible. This means the plant area is stocked with product that has eye-appeal all the time.

I saw highly coloured plant areas where the entire product was saying, “Buy me!” And this was in the middle of a Japanese winter, when you would think purchasing plants would be delayed until the spring China has a less developed market. My client has 20 garden centres, but these have only been developed over the last two years. What I found unusual about the retail industry in China is that while they make many products for export, Chinese consumers prefer over12 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Honghue Garden Centre in Hangzhou, China, is one of a 20-chain franchise.

These centres are full of colour and product is available from around the world.

seas products to those of their home market.

I came across products from Finland, UK, Germany, Italy, USA and Canada in the garden centres, and few locally grown or made products.

Customer service is still alive. Walk into a Japanese or Chinese retail business and you will be greeted warmly. It is part of the culture and shows the team really cares about the customer. This makes shopping a pleasure for a growing number of consumers who are demanding more of retailers in this part of the world.

Miniature gardening is a growing trend in the western world, although in countries like Australia the trend is yet to arrive. In Japan and China, where space is limited, the trend has been around for some time. Studies have shown that miniature gardens as indoor decorations are especially appealing to older women. Clearly, minature garden-

ing is a trend we should all be aware of and looking at the marketing opportunities this provides.

Do not stand still. The industry in both these countries is moving forward rapidly. It is continually offering new ideas to the consumer. Many garden centres in the west are not changing displays rapidly enough and, as a result, are not getting the repeat business and word-of-mouth marketing they should.

Garden retailing is moving forward in Japan and China. Companies are investing in new stores and better merchandising and ideas. The region is becoming one to watch LT for future trends.

John Stanley is a consultant, author, trainer and speaker specializing in perishable retailing.

Many of his clients have gone on to win industry awards after his coaching.

China craves green infrastructure

GBC Shanghai

By Lee Ann Knudsen

The numbers on China’s transition to a developed nation are staggering; its economy is 55 times larger than the nation’s 1980 gross domestic product, and its current growth rate is the envy of the world at over eight per cent. Massive programmed migration from China’s countryside to its urban centres fuels the nation’s productivity.

The country’s dynamic energy was on display at the recent Green Building China exhibition and conference, known as GBC2012, held last March in Shanghai.

Since China’s economy opened up in 1978, the country has seen a construction boom.

Visitors to Shanghai cannot miss the forest of construction cranes, building commercial space as well as homes for the millions of Chinese adopting urban lifestyles.

China developed fast, but without the environmental safeguards found in the west.

Severe air pollution continues to spread a

permanent haze over China’s cities.

China’s economic planners are moving ahead with development, but to address environmental and other pressures, China’s leaders have decided to manage growth by creating more than 500 new urban centres, with populations of 1.5 million each.

“Green” is hot, as the new cities are being planned with integral, extensive and mandatory green infrastructure.

Exhibitors at GBC2012 tailored their product offerings to the new mandate for green growth. Many landscape architecture firms, aware of the funding to be allocated for environmentally sensitive urban planning, constructed large, high-style exhibits.

Wood-plastic composites for fences and decking were heavily promoted, as well.

One high-profile exhibitor was Canada Wood, a promotion effort from Canada’s forest industry. While wood construction is

uncommon in China, the campaign is trading on wood’s green characteristics, as well as Canada’s reputation for quality, to sell to China’s domestic market.

Visitors to China cannot help but notice the country’s economic engine is no longer export-dominated. Its growing population, with improved living standards and higher expectations, has created massive domestic demand. China’s ambitious plan to build hundreds of new, green cities from the ground up is a clear opportunity for companies able to deliver the right goods. Canadians are well familiar with the green industry product solutions that will be required; the scale of the enterprises is another matter.

The next edition of Green Building China, www.greenbuildingchina.com, takes place Sept. 13-14 at the Shanghai New InterLT national Expo Centre.

Marketing efforts featured strong green messages throughout the show.

A recent China Daily story promoted green building components, such as walls and roofs, for their ability to improve environmental conditions.

The article cited Canada’s leadership in the green roof movement.

14 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

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New report makes strong case for green infrastructure

By Colleen Cirillo

Ontario faces many challenges — a struggling economy, aging and inefficient infrastructure, an obesity epidemic and associated health costs, and little-understood threats from climate change. A new report by the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition and Ecojustice proposes a new method to the way governments and communities approach these challenges. Health, Prosperity and Sustainability: The Case for Green Infrastructure in Ontario examines how other jurisdictions in North America are leveraging tangible benefits from public policies and investments in green infrastructure, and makes specific recommendations to the provincial government on how to realize similar benefits.

The coalition undertook extensive research and consultation to inform its policy and investment recommendations for the provincial government. More than 400 individuals with direct experience in green infrastructure participated in the consultation process, which consisted of workshops 16 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

in five communities across the province and an online questionnaire.

The coalition defines green infrastructure as natural vegetation, vegetative systems, soil in volumes and qualities adequate to sustain vegetation and absorb water, and supportive green technologies that replicate ecosystem functions. While most people recognize that natural areas, gardens and parks improve our quality of life, few are able to articulate the why and how of this phenomenon. The coalition is attempting to do just that by amassing evidence that demonstrates the infrastructure and energy cost savings as well as the direct and indirect human health benefits — both physical and psychological — of green infrastructure.

Ontario is already reaping the benefits of green infrastructure, such as the economic impact created by the more than 140,000 people employed in the private sector horticultural industry and public sector parks departments; the tax dollars saved by effective stormwater management; and the health

and quality of life benefits of cleaner air and more liveable cities. A coordinated strategy of policies and investments would allow the province to secure even more environmental, social and economic benefits of green infrastructure. With political will, Ontario can become a leader in this field.

Health, Prosperity and Sustainability: The Case for Green Infrastructure in Ontario is available for download at www.greenin LT frastructureontario.org/report.

The Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition is an alliance of more than 80 environmental organizations, businesses, agencies and academic institutions that share a common vision for a healthy, prosperous and sustainable Ontario where the environmental, social and economic benefits of green infrastructure are fully realized.

The coalition formed in 2010 with a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. More information can be found at www.greeninfrastructureontario.org.

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Merchandising management Develop a merchandise plan

BY STEPHEN HEAD

Planned merchandise management should be an intrinsic part of retail.

To be successful, a retailer must offer the right mix of products and range to satisfy consumers, while balancing the needs of the business, its market position and financial goals.

There is no role in a garden centre or retail outlet that can impact the performance of a business more than that of the purchaser. This is not a function to be taken lightly, nor one to venture into without adequate planning and preparation. The best chance of success is to have a well prepared plan to complement the skills of your purchaser. Working within a defined framework helps make purchasing decisions easier and more consistent.

Merchandising philosophy and practices A retailer’s merchandising philosophy sets the guidelines for every purchasing decision. Many stores have an informal merchandising philosophy; however by formalizing it, employees can more readily understand what is expected of them. Formalizing a merchandising philosophy begins with analyzing existing practices and employee roles along with the business’s desired image, values and goals.

It helps in the decision making process of a variety of merchandising issues such as: the assortment of products across the store, the depth offered within each category, inventory levels, the quality of merchandise offered, pricing to correlate with the store’s desired image and financial goals, as well as promotional strategies.

Merchandising philosophy and practices are an evolving process and once completed, should not be left to gather dust. The process should be revisited regularly, especially after the key selling periods, to evaluate performance and make refinements as needed.

Developing the plan Following the assessment of current merchandising philosophies and practices, the next stage is to start developing the merchandising plan. This would include: forecasting, innovation, selection and quality, brands offered, seasonal timing, and allocation.

18 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Forecasting Forecasting is the basis of most purchasing decisions and, while not an exact science, offers a best guess scenario. How detailed and useful a forecast will be is determined by the quality and quantity of information available and how it is interpreted. Of course, there is always an element of chance — we’ve still not figured out how to control the weather! Detailed forecasting can help purchasing by reducing on-the-fly decisions and replacing them with informed decisions, which can help reduce waste and lost sales opportunities.

Forecasting by category (i.e. perennials, annuals, etc.) alone is less useful. It does set sales targets, but fails to provide the detailed information needed to achieve these targets. Out of 100 items in a category, 10 of those items may be generating 70 per cent of sales; the remainder could be dragging down the category performance.

Detailed information is more useful in making key decisions on inventory selection, financial goals, space utilization, and more.

Forecasting also assists in the selection and ideal stock levels of staple products, those essential to the success of any range. These are the ones that consumers specifically come in for and are critical to the success of seasonal merchandise. There are not many sales for red poinsettias in January; conversely it is not good to run out in the second week of December.

Many staple items fall into the category of ‘known value,’ those which the consumer tends to compare on price, so margins may be tighter and mistakes more costly.

Innovation The garden industry is one of fashion and innovation, something that perhaps we don’t capitalize enough on. For example, organic products have been around for decades, however it is only recently

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they have received wider acceptance with our changing social attitudes. Now, these products offer an opportunity for higher margins in a still small, but expanding segment.

Innovation is a key part of the product life cycle. It can help set one seller apart from another, but it is not without its risks.

Misreading consumer trends can lead to getting stuck with large amounts of inventory.

New uses or marketing methods for existing products have proven successful for some vendors—green roof and wall planting are but two examples. Creative and innovative presentation can help differentiate one store from another. The independent garden retailers may compete with box stores, but they don’t need to look like them.

Selection and quality The right selection is a fine line, enough to satisfy consumer needs, but not too much to overwhelm the consumer with choices. Being spoiled with selection can make it hard for the consumer to choose, sometimes resulting in a lost sale.

The first planning decision on selection for a garden retailer would be to determine how many individual lines are offered in any given category and the desired level of inventory.

Of course, financial goals will always be part of any decision making process. If the range of products is increased, will sales go up proportionally? If the range is reduced, what will be the impact on the consumer? How might either impact on profits? What may seem an obvious answer cannot be confirmed without some planning and investigation.

Plant selections can sometimes fall victim to strategies like, the more the better, the widest selection in town, or the most unusual plants that don’t necessarily sell well.

Without evaluating the impact of sales on profits it can be hard to determine which, if any, is the right strategy. A wider choice might appeal to a wider audience, or it may make no difference. It may simply mean fewer plants per variety, and may not allow sufficient space for the top sellers, raising the possibility of running out halfway through a busy weekend.

Quality is also a consideration as it forms part of the garden centre’s image and market positioning. To benefit from a planned market position, the product quality offered should fit the desired image. Wanting to portray your business as a high-end quality 20 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

seller but offering lower quality or budget merchandise and plants, may send a conflicting message.

Research has demonstrated that higher quality merchandise can demand a premium price. Garden consumers are often value driven rather than solely price driven.

Demographics have and continue to change; hobbyist gardeners, who enjoyed spending the majority of their leisure time in the garden are being replaced by lifestyle gardeners, who have more demands on their leisure time, but enjoy their garden as a living space.

It is important to determine your customer base and pricing strategies based on financial goals as well as market knowledge. A blanket mark-up or guesswork might not be good enough in this evolving market to maintain a competitive edge.

In addition to a premium price, higher quality product may sell more quickly, have reduced waste, and significantly contribute to customer satisfaction and a business’s financial objectives. Research suppliers when evaluating products; compare like for like. Does it meet your standards and specifications? As with any strategy, this requires careful evaluation and risk assessment to ensure it meets the business goals, before implementing any change.

Seasonal timing Nobody in this industry needs reminding about the seasonality of our business. With the intense and short sales window that seasonal sales offer, it is imperative to get the mix right, as well as the timing and volume requirements. Seasonal timing encompasses many facets of the planning process and a number of factors have to be considered such as: forecasting, defining the peak selling seasons, accommodating increased holiday demand, the availability of merchandise, and lead times needed by suppliers. It is imperative to know your suppliers and how they work. This is an important part of the value chain concept.

Taking advantage of early order and volume discounts can offer substantial savings to the purchaser, savings that can be passed on to the consumer by promotions or help the business meet its financial goals. For items that have limited availability, early ordering can help secure supplies for the coming season. The results of seasonal planning and purchasing can have significant impact on the performance of a garden retailer.

Allocation How much real estate will you give up to a product? There is a fine line between eyecatching displays, sufficient volume to satisfy customer demand, and meeting financial goals. It is one of the most challenging jobs for a purchaser/merchandiser. The big guys have computer software to figure out how much they will make from their shelf and floor space. Allocation is a complex subject; however, decisions can be helped with an understanding of the market, product margins, available space, customer flow around the store, and detailed forecasts.

Category management Arranging product grouping is particularly relevant to the garden retailer, as this is how many structure their performance measurement. Category management focuses on the results of a specific category within the store, rather than the performance of specific brands or individual product lines. Where a category is placed can influence its performance, and moving categories seasonally will often give better returns.

Successful category management can set yourself apart from competitors. It can strengthen your image and market position.

The objective should be to drive multiple purchases, increasing the value of each sale.

It is important to position merchandise for maximum exposure to consumers at the optimum time. This means being flexible and changing even within a season, according to peak demand.

Conclusion Merchandise management and purchasing is a challenging and rewarding role. It requires continued study, an understanding of the market, and ongoing assessment of the merchandising plan. The scenario will be different for each retailer, requiring detailed evaluation, planning and risk assessment. It is a best guess, as results are never guaranteed, but planning and flexibility offer great opportunity for your business, customers LT and suppliers.

Stephen Head has worked in the green industry in retail and wholesale capacities and as a training and merchandising consultant.

He now operates a wholesale nursery in B.C., specializing in herbs.

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legalmatters

Of backcharges, deficiencies, warranties and guarantees

BY ROB KENNALEY

Those who work in the construction industry often become confused about how backcharges, deficiencies, warranties and guarantees differ from one another and how these items relate to one another on a construction project. They can arise as between: owners and contractors; owners and consultants; contractors and subcontractors; subcontractors and other subcontractors; subcontractors and suppliers; and in a host of other permutations and combinations. In a two-part series of articles, I will attempt to demystify some of the confusion surrounding these concepts.

Backcharges The backcharge is an accounting mechanism or step. It is used by a person who has hired another for the supply of services or materials to avoid paying for those services or materials, on the basis that money is owed back for some reason. For example,

an owner might assert a backcharge against the contractor for the cost of rectifying damages that the contractor caused in damaging the owner’s building. Similarly, a contractor might assert a backcharge against a subcontractor for the cost of rectifying the subcontractor’s work, and a subcontractor might backcharge a subcontractor or supplier of its own, for the supply of deficient product.

You will very rarely see the word “backcharge” referenced in an actual contract or subcontract. Many contracts will, however, use various types of language to establish the right of the hiring party to claim for, or clawback from, monies otherwise owing under the contract, for certain reasons. In law, the application of a backcharge is the exercise of a right of ‘set-off.’ It is the right of one party to set-off as against monies owed to another on the basis that the other party owes monies back to it.

Generally speaking, the right to set-off

need not be set out in the contract in order for a party to rely on it. In addition, generally speaking the basis of the set-off need not relate to the project in question. Accordingly, for example, an owner could backcharge, or set off against, a contractor for costs incurred or monies owing on a completely different project. Indeed, the owner could set off against a contractor for amounts owing which are entirely unrelated to construction.

Accordingly, so long as the hiring party can establish that monies are actually owing to it, that party can generally apply a backcharge, or set off, against monies which it otherwise owes to the person it hired. In practice, backcharges are commonly applied in construction, rightly or wrongly, for incomplete work, completion costs, deficiencies, unfulfilled warranty obligations and delay. In each case, however, for the backcharge to be appropriate the person raising it would have to show they are entitled to the costs associated with the backcharge, on the basis that the person against whom it is being applied is solely and fully responsible for same.

Deficiencies Although the concept of a deficiency is rather straightforward, it is surprisingly often misunderstood in practice. Most particularly, the distinction between incomplete and deficient work is often blurred in the field. Incomplete work, as the name suggests, is work that a contractor or subcontractor undertook to perform or supply as part of its contract or subcontract. It cannot be considered “deficient” because it has never been started. Deficient work, on the other hand, is work that has been performed or supplied, but is not in conformity with the contract documents.

Care should be taken to ensure that incomplete and deficient work are properly distinguished from one another. It is common, for example, for a consultant or owner

22 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

22 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

to lump the two categories together in assessing what the contractor and/or its subcontractors need to do to complete the work. In that regard, a deficiency list is often prepared which actually incorporates both incomplete and deficient work.

One reason for keeping the distinction between the two concepts clear lies in how, and when, a backcharge can be properly applied. For simplicity, we will use the owner and contractor relationship in providing examples, although the analysis will apply to any contract or subcontract for the supply of services or materials in the construction context. It is most often the case that the contractor will only invoice for the value of the work it says it has actually performed. This is particularly the case in many, if not most, commercial contexts, where the owner or the consultant will only certify payments on the basis of the percentage of the contractual scope of work actually supplied, to date. In this context, the owner might be entitled (in some circumstances) to apply a backcharge for the anticipated cost ofcorrecting deficiencies in work that the contractor had already invoiced for. (I will discuss this in more detail in my next article.) However, unless the work in question had already been invoiced, it would generally not be appropriate for an owner to backcharge for the cost of completing work.

It is only where the owner is entitled to terminate the contractor’s right to perform the work that a backcharge for incomplete work should be applied. Even then, the backcharge should be limited to the premium additional costs of hiring someone else to complete that work. This is because the contractor has the right to complete the work (and be paid for it), unless he has breached the contract such that the owner is entitled to take the work over. Even then, the owner cannot get the work for free: He or she has to credit the contractor for the agreed upon cost of the incomplete work, and should only be entitled to a claim, or backcharge, for any additional costs associated with taking over the work.

In my next article, I will discuss the circumstances where an owner or contractor seeks to apply a backcharge for a deficiency in which the person responsible for the deficiency is willing to correct it, at no cost. We will also discuss the difference between deficiencies and warranted work, as well as when, if at all, a contractor or subcontractor is required to respond under warranty. Finally, we will discuss the concept of the guarantee, in the context of how that LT concept might differ from the concept of warranty.

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Rob Kennaley practises 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.

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MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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sustainablelandscaping

Nurturing mature trees

BY SEAN JAMES

Folks love trees, for good reason.

They’re beautiful. They provide shade and habitat. They cool the planet. And they’re fantastic carbon sinks. (These last two points mean trees help enormously to reduce the effects of climate change.)

As a consequence, we in the landscape industry have an opportunity — several actually. We can make some money, do some good by saving some trees, and make people happy.

Construction crews, including landscapers, frequently re-grade and compact the soil around trees, constricting their root systems.

In addition, we customarily remove every scrap of fallen leaves and debris and grow grass right up to the base of a tree, depriving it of vital nutrients.

There’s lots of hope though! People are starting to realize the value of trees to their properties and to our parks. Even though personal debt loads are at an all time high and municipal budgets are being slashed, people are finding the cash to save their trees.

Greg Hill is the owner of Maple Hill Tree Services in Streetsville, Ont. I had a long chat with him recently about the work he is doing to restore tree health. “Our approach is an organic one,” he says, “where we work to reverse the soil compaction and add organic matter back into the soil.

“When a new park is created, grading and storm water collection is a major concern, and rightfully so. But all too often it is at the expense of trees that the park was designed around. The problem usually starts with the compaction of the soils over the trees’ root systems, which prevents the movement of water and oxygen through the soil, down to the roots. Without these two basic elements, the tree roots cannot function and, in time, will die. In addition, the new grading is designed to swiftly drain rainwater in the park toward the storm drains.

“The impact is rarely obvious immediately,” Hill says. “Most trees have built up 24 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

resources of carbohydrates, like money in the bank, which they will use for growth and the restoration of their root system. The root system may still be performing some of its function but not to full capacity, so the tree starts to deplete its stored resources to manage its survival. As the root system declines and the resources are depleted, slowly over time, the tree starts to shut branches down. In many cases, if nothing is done, the tree will continue to decline in this fashion until other contributing factors like disease or insects finish the job.”

Maple Hill uses a combination of methods to restore soils to their natural condition: radial trenching, soil fracturing, soil aeration, injectable mycorrhizae, the addition of organic material and, of course, watering. Mycorrhizae are beneficial fungi which have a symbiotic relationship with tree roots. Mycorrhizae also need healthy soil conditions to survive.

Hill says, “The main component in this process is organic material, which we supply through our Renewable Resource Division.

That’s where we compost the wood chips and log material that comes back to our yard through our daily arboriculture operations. We only use material which is disease free. It is most important that the mulch is composted for multiple years, as it will contain elements and natural nutrients in a form that is readily available for the roots to absorb. This mulch is added to the surface and injected into the soil. An added benefit of a healthy layer of mulch over a root system is that it cools the roots in the summer, insulates in the winter, and retains moisture year round.

“It is imperative this mulch be composted. Research has proven that spreading fresh

wood chips over a root system can be detrimental as they can deplete nitrogen from the soil for the decomposition process and harbour disease and insects. Besides this, they have no nutrient value,” he says.

“One of the problems we often come up against as consulting arborists when we are involved with tree preservation on construction sites, is that developers, builders and machinery operators sincerely do not realize they have caused damage to the trees on their properties. In all fairness to them, the trees looked healthy enough when the project was completed so they have a difficult time understanding the concerns of the arborist. These trees often don’t start to show signs and symptoms of the construction damage for three to five years, and some times more, after the damage was done.”

Maple Hill has had great luck stopping the decline of beautiful, old trees in parks in southern Ontario, and even restoring their health. This means there are examples of success stories that can be shown to parks managers and homeowners, to convince them to invest in the health of their trees.

My chat with Greg Hill gives me hope that we can do the right thing, i.e., save the trees and save our heritage. As a businessman, I see opportunity here. As an environLT mentalist, I see our future!

Sean James is owner of an Ontario-based environmentally-conscious landscape design/build/maintenance company. In addition, he is an eco-consultant and a popular speaker.

managementsolutions

Train your staff to think ‘solutions’ not ‘problems!’

BY MARK BRADLEY

Over the years I have come to accept that it is human nature to identify problems without suggesting a solution. I thank my lucky stars each day that my parents gave me the independence I needed as a kid to think for myself and hone my own problemsolving skills.

Unfortunately, many of your staff will not be naturally inclined to resolve the problems they identify on their own. Complaining about this fact to other owners at networking events is not going to fix the problem.

Accepting this fact and doing all the thinking for your staff is going to make it worse, not better.

You are the owner. It is your show. It is up to you to create the culture that will not allow people to identify problems without solutions. You cannot tolerate moaning and groaning about problems.

When people complain, you need to reply with, “What would you like me to do about it?” or better yet, “How would you suggest we change things?”

These questions are what I refer to as power questions. You have the power, and you are clearly transferring it to them and teaching them that, in your operation, they need to be a problem solver. If you try to fix every problem, the moaning will only persist and worsen with time. You will be overwhelmed each and every hour of your day, running around doing everything, but not doing anything particularly well. You will lay down at night tired, stressed, frustrated and feeling alone in your desire to build a successful company.

We all have our share of problems and

26 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

there is no shortage of people who get frustrated by them, or who will point them out to us. However, it is up to you, the business owner, to harness the problem-identification (i.e. complaints) into a continuous improvement cycle that encourages people in your company to become empowered problem solvers.

I recently had an employee tell me that he often feels he is not clear enough on the upcoming workload for his team. He is second in command on the landscape construction crew he works on. I asked him what he meant, and I asked for details. His reply was, “(The supervisor) is not letting me in on the overall plan for the week and the upcoming weeks. I feel like I am not contributing as much as I can because I don’t have all the information.” Seems simple, but it is very complicated in my company, and I am sure it is in many others. I asked this employee for an example. He provided me with a few.

It became clear to me that the information he was missing was likely, in many cases, information that even the supervisor did not have, based on a number of variables.

This employee was clearly frustrated because he thought the supervisor was not communicating all of the information clearly. (I think this was partially true.) I spent close to an hour on a chalk board in our planning room explaining how the project variables impact the capability of the project supervisor to clearly schedule every detail more than a few days at a time (it was a 12-week project) because of weather, other building trades, material management, site logistics, and client and consultant input. I

explained that a major part of the management role in the landscape construction field is to constantly seek information and adapt plans to complete the work as efficiently and safely as possible. I think he understood, but I cannot say for sure that the answer I provided is what he hoped to hear.

My final question to him was, “Does this make sense?” He said he understood, but then he expanded by saying he thinks he needs to ask more questions and identify the project needs sooner, and to consider the variables more. I think he solved his own problem. My point is, sometimes you need to help less experienced people find the answers to complicated issues like this.

An even simpler example came up recently. We had a shortage of parking space in our yard for staff parking in the morning.

One of the employees came to me saying that he could not find a spot. I went and had a look. Our lot is gravel, so there are not any lines painted to keep people parked tight.

I asked him what the solution was. He responded immediately, “The cars are parked too far apart, and we are wasting a lot of room.” I replied, “What are you going to do about it?”

He looked a little puzzled at first, so I repeated myself by asking if he had an idea of what he could do tomorrow morning to fix this problem. He replied, “I will come in early and make sure everybody backs into their parking spaces and that the cars are closer together so there is room for everybody.”

It was a good start in my mind, but not a solution. We don’t need to hire a parking manager each morning. But instead

managementsolutions

of shooting the idea down, I simply asked “Then what?”

Again puzzled he said, “I guess I can do that more often.”

I replied, “Wouldn’t that be a waste of your time?”

He agreed. I helped him by suggesting he leave a note on the cars that are not backing in, or are parking to far apart. Now it is his job, not mine! He didn’t have all the experience needed to fully solve the problem, so I helped, but I ensured the responsibility was left to him, and before parting ways I let him know that I appreciated his interest. I would now be holding him accountable for the parking and the added responsibility was a step forward for him.

Make sure that in your efforts to teach and force people to become problem solvers you don’t forget to coach and help. Some-

times people don’t have the experience to completely solve a problem. In that case help, but don’t do it for them. In all cases, empower your staff to implement improvements and solve problems. Make sure everybody in your company knows that it is better to be wrong once in a while than to sit on your hands or complain aimlessly.

Building a better business can feel like scaling a cliff. You’re staring up at this nextto-impossible climb up a sheer face with just a few ropes to cling to – one of those ropes is your sanity and it’s starting to fray! But it doesn’t have to be that difficult. Instead, think of building a better business like a set of stairs. Individually, each step is small, quick and easy-to-climb, but string them together and they’ll get you to the top. If you look at all the problems in your business at once, it can be tempting to just hang out at

the bottom and talk about how impossible the climb is. But by building one simple step LT at a time, you’ll get to the top.

Mark Bradley is president of The Beach Gardener and the Landscape Management Network (LMN), in Ontario.

LMN provides education, tools and systems built to improve landscape industry businesses.

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roadtosuccess

Ask, and you will receive

BY ROD McDONALD

In the last few months, a few readers of this column have sent me emails thanking me for my writing. The common thread in these emails has been reference to my common sense. All I can think of, as I read these messages, is how unfortunate it is that my mother is no longer living. I only wish, as any son will understand, that my mother had lived long enough to learn that her son has developed common sense. It was a long wait for her.

I have written this before: I truly believe that one of the best methodologies for learning how to become a successful entrepreneur is to talk with successful entrepreneurs within your own community. Why is it that we will shell out 500 bucks for a seminar, or spend $50 for a book, both of which purport to instruct us on the secrets of success? Yet, somewhere within every community, there are several men and women who have not only talked the talk, they have walked the walk. Their success has been field-tested, withstood the test of time — or whatever other metaphor you wish to employ.

Of even greater importance is that their knowledge is available to you for the price of a cup of coffee or a $10 lunch. And, you can call them up for a quick bit of advice, every month, if need be, for the next 10 years.

Clearly, it’s a bargain!

So, there I go again with my long introduction to the issue. Here is what I want to tell you.

There is a local entrepreneur in my city, Regina. His name is Will Brandt. He is an independent auto glass installer, though he runs under the national banner of Novus, for advertising purposes. I have used his services.

The first thing that struck me is how spotlessly clean his shop is, any time of the day. The second observation was the appearance of professionalism amongst his staff, even the younger ones. Will runs a tight ship 28 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

and he does a lot of business. He is also very ing as the beginning of a perfect day. That’s personable, but not in a smarmy or used-car why I brush myself off on a continual basis, salesman way. Most people would describe every 7 a.m.” him as a straight shooter.

I asked Will what the next building block When we talk, he and I always talk about was to the way he operates. He told me he the road to success: How to find tries never to worry about the it and, more importantly, how to money. An entrepreneur can stay on that highway when there drive himself crazy, worrying are so many detours. I asked Will over every line expense and revif I could interview him, for this enue dollar. You aren’t going to column. It didn’t even cost me a come out ahead everyday, so you coffee or a lunch. We did it over should be playing the long game. the phone. As you read this, keep Will Brandt, He tries to look at what is the Novus Auto Glass Repair in mind that I am exceptionally right way of doing things, not fussy, picky and judgmental. There are very what is expedient. Sometimes the right way few business people I admire, very few. Will is costs him a bit more but his question is, “Did one of them. Here is what he shared with me. the customer get the best service possible?”

Will believes the number one reason peoTypical of the business people whom I ple fail in business is a lack of focus. They admire, Will believes his employees are an don’t know who they are and where they are asset, not a commodity. He is proud of them going. Defining who you are and accepting and that is evident. He invests in them. He that you cannot be all things to all people is asks them what he can do to make them betbeyond important. It is mandatory. ter at their jobs. He listens. A new employee A common characteristic with success- once told him it was the first time she had ful business people is that they are com- a job where she looked forward to coming pulsive list makers. Will has his list, in his to work in the morning. That is what a psyback pocket, at all times. It is divided into chologist would describe as a positive workthe three basic categories: a) must do, b) place experience. That is what I call money should do, and c) if we have time. He also in the bank. acknowledges that those three priorities can When Will was talking about how wonchange from day to day, or in any given day. derful the people are who work for him, my Without his list, he would be lost. As a com- mind wandered to another businessman. pulsive list maker myself, I can relate. Lists This man was very wealthy. He owned five keep you focused.

McDonald’s restaurants. In conversation Will believes in positive thinking, which with me, he said, “I can’t find people who is another characteristic of successful peo- are competent enough to order a five-gallon ple. His metaphor is, “I start each morning bucket of mustard without screwing it up!” by brushing myself clean.” I asked him to That conversation occurred 30 years ago. I clarify. He said, “Every morning, I have my always wondered what type of man he was breakfast and I listen to the news. There are to work for that he had no one competent in all sorts of problems. Then there are the his employ, or did he just like to complain? problems of my own life and business from When I interview successful people, and yesterday and the day before that. I try to set I have interviewed quite a few, it is rare for all of those aside and approach each morn- someone to catch me off guard. Will did

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roadtosuccess just that when he said, “I never worry or think about the competition.” In my career, I spent too much time worrying about what everyone else was doing — from the seasonal greenhouse set up on the parking lot to the box stores. I always thought that competition is what drove many of us to become successful. He had my attention with his comment.

Will told me he once had lunch with another businessman. The fellow spent three quarters of an hour, complaining about his competitors: How they were undercutting him, how stupid they were, how they did not really know what they were doing, and so on. After listening to this man file his litany of complaints, Will asked him, “What about your company? How are things there and what are you doing to improve the way you operate?” The man did not have much to say after that; perhaps he was stunned by the concept.

Will went on to elaborate, “We spend too much time worrying about the guy down

30 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

the street. If he wants to offer prices that are below cost, let him. It won’t last for long. If he wants to take shortcuts, let him. It will catch up to him. I concentrate on how we are doing. Are we being the best we can, and where is there room for improvement?”

I asked Will if there was anything else he wanted to add. He thought about the question and his answer was interesting. He said, “I only have my Grade 10. I never took any business courses. I always wanted to own my own business and I wanted to do things right.”

There you go, PhD advice from a man with a Grade 10 education. He stays on the road to success by ensuring the needs of his employees and his customers are met. As I said, there are few people that garner my respect the way Will has.

There are people within every community with similar great stories to tell. Find them. Talk to them. They will be the people who hold the light high enough for you to find your own road to success.

One final observation to share with my

readers: The adage is birds of a feather, flock together. When you are at conferences, seminars and conventions, notice that after 30 to 60 minutes the successful people will be hanging out with other successful people.

The also-rans will be with the chronic complainers. When I was a young man starting out, I hung out with the ‘big boys.’ I asked questions and, more importantly, I listened.

Perhaps, I annoyed more than one. Having said that, however, they always took my call whenever I phoned. They always gave me their best advice and they opened many doors for me. For their kindness, I have alLT ways been grateful.

Rod McDonald owned and operated Lakeview Gardens, a successful garden centre/ landscape firm in Regina, Sask., for 28 years. He now works full-time in the world of fine arts, writing, acting and producing in film, television and stage.

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britishcolumbiaupdate Landscape Trades devotes space in each issue to provincial association news. This month features the British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA), written by its executive director, Lesley Tannen.

The past year has been full of changes, challenges and new beginnings. We’ve said goodbye to a few staff and hello to new ones, including David Adkins who heads up our Landscape Standard and Industry Development group and Suvan Breen, our new sales associate. Both have made a positive impact here at the BCLNA. We have nearly 700 members. Our three weekly commodity emails have a new look, thanks to Constant Contact and motivated staff.

The website got a facelift that features a new Members Only portal, allowing members to update their profiles, pay invoices, and register for meetings and events online.

Wholesale Nursery Commodity Group highlights

BCLNA’s welcoming front entrance.

The industry experienced low sales in spring 2011 due to bad weather, followed by significant sales increases in fall at the retail level.

Our mild winter has minimized losses from extreme temperatures; nurseries were already shipping as early as Feb. 15. The high Canadian dollar and continent-wide disease concerns will test growers.

Over 85 B.C. nurseries have successfully transitioned from the P. ramorum Nursery Certification Program to the broader Clean Plants Domestic Phytosanitary Certification program with the ‘bolt-on’ P. ramorum module. This completes BCLNA’s direct involvement with the program, as administration of the Canadian Nursery Certification Institute moves to CNLA. BCLNA

will continue to be involved with the P. ramorum module issues as and when required, and to work with the CNCI and growers on issues of interest.

The two finds of Cylindrocladium buxicola in B.C. have reaffirmed the need for vigilance for invasive alien species. With several finds in both the U.S. and Ontario, this spring may prove to be difficult for boxwood growers, as the latency of the disease will show symptoms under temperate wet conditions.

BMPs for C. buxicola were written in collaboration with nursery growers, scientists, technical specialists and government officials, to assist growers to minimize their risk of importing and moving this pest. These BMPs will be available to all growers across Canada, to enable them to proactively manage their Buxus production.

The BCLNA Growers Commodity Group is actively managed by an advisory group, which includes a chair (also the chair of the Commodity Group) as well as six nursery growers from diverse operations. The growers meet six to eight times per year to review issues of significance to industry. Recent meetings have invited presentations from the Mexican Consulate, Employment Standards and WorkSafeBC regarding SAWP and other workers, as well as an intense forum about the Fortress North America progress, and business and financial topics specifically for growers.

Landscape Commodity Group highlights To its credit, this sector has proven itself to be resourceful and robust in an ever-changing busi-

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ness climate. A number of big issues continue to face members in this tight economy, reinforcing the importance of smart working while maintaining professionalism and quality.

This year saw the establishment of the Vancouver Island Chapter’s first certification program.

The Landscape Standard takes on a new format. Through the joint effort of the BCLNA and B.C. Society of Landscape Architects (BCSLA), the new format is innovative, and accessible. New areas have been added including Terraseeding and Hard Landscaping. Each new section can now be purchased separately and will be available online.

Canada’s first certified Living Building Centre, at Vandusen Botanical Gardens, was the scene of a very successful landscape commodity meeting. The centre operates with net zero energy. We celebrated two of our landscape members at the meeting, Moscone Brothers Landscaping and Huston Landscapes. Both were integral in leading and delivering this project, which carries a national standing and is a flagship for sustainability.

Our landscape members excelled with world-class quality garden booths of diverse themes at the B.C. Home & Garden Show this past February. The themes ranged from modernistic clean forms to west coast Asian fusion gardens. Our hat goes off to Beneath Your Feet, Huston, Horizon, Hunter, Jovak, Vandenberg’s, Higher Ground, Bedford and Mijodelu.

Garden Retailer Commodity Group highlights After a strong fall season, retailers are wishing for 12 weekends of good weather this spring to increase sales and profits. Invasive horticultural species are being removed from shelves voluntarily by BCLNA members, with training resources for alternates available for members.

The BCLNA retail commodity is managed by an advisory group consisting of several retailers, retail suppliers and buying group management, chaired

by Leanne Johnson, COO, GardenWorks. It is in the process of organizing training, meetings, trips and resources beginning in Summer 2012.

CanWest Hort Show CanWest continues to be a successful show for B.C. We invite you to Vancouver this September 19 and 20 to network face-to-face with B.C. buyers. Check out all the details at www.Can LT WestHortShow.com.

The Best Fleet Program just got Bigger & Better.

The newly updated Fleet Advantage® Program rewards your commitment to ECHO and Shindaiwa quality with product discounts and “no-hassle” financing. This flexible program allows you to combine equipment, attachments and accessories.

With two levels of discount you will save more as you bundle your purchases - including BOTH ECHO and Shindaiwa products.

• Discounts start at 16%!

• Discounts apply on ANY combination of ECHO and Shindaiwa

products, attachment and accessories. Once qualified the savings get even bigger. Enjoy Fleet discounts on all ECHO Bear Cat units and accessories.

• Low qualifying purchase – only $2,500 – higher discounts apply at $5,000.

• Fleet discounts apply up to 12 months.

Visit your local ECHO® or Shindaiwa® Dealer to get started.

For more information, visit our websites: www.echo.ca www.shindaiwa.ca

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cnlanews Garden Centres Canada The National Plastics Recycling Event is just around the corner. Last year six provinces and more than 40 garden centres participated in the program, collecting 210 skids of plastic, for a total weight of 63,150 pounds!

During this year’s event, all participating garden centres will be plotted on a map on the CNLA website so that consumers can find their closest drop-off point. The event will be held Fri., June 22 to Sun., July 1. If you are interested in participating, please contact rebecca@canadanursery.com.

The results of the 2011 Garden Centres Canada survey are now available. The survey provides

an array of useful information for garden centre owners including: average wage rates and compensation, annual profit, use of website and social media, programs offered and more. Download a copy from the CNLA website.

There is still space available to book your garden centre consultation with Eve Tigwell. During the inspection, Eve will examine different aspects of your garden centre from the front entrance, to garden construction, to your website and much more. There is the opportunity to book a half- or full-day inspection. Download the registration form on the CNLA website or contact rebecca@ canadanursery.com.

Landscape Canada

Over 63,000 pounds of pots and plastics were collected.

There is still time to register for the Landscape Industry Executive Program (LIEP). This program aims to address strategic planning, succession planning, risk management and human resources techniques. Designed by the George Morris Centre in cooperation with CNLA, it comes highly recommended. Jennifer Fleming-MacTavish of the Canadian Sheep Federation has this to say, “Take the course — it’s the best investment I’ve made in

terms of my professional development.”

Check with your local association for provincial government funding links and applications.

For more information or to register, contact Karen Bilton at 519-822-3929 ext. 205 or karen@georgemorris.org.

The results of the 2010 Landscape Canada Survey are in. Download it from the CNLA website to find out what other landscapers are saying about labour, professional development, environmental sustainability and more.

Growers Canada The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recently released a booklet, informing plant importers of their responsibilities and the required procedures to import plants into Canada.

The information includes the topics such as what importers need to know; defining pest risk assessment; outlining common pitfalls for importers; and why the CFIA regulates plants and plant product imports.

The CFIA regulates the import of plants and plant products under several different acts, including the Plant Protection Act and Regulations, and

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the relevant sections of the Seeds Act and Regulations. You can access these and other Acts that the CFIA administers and enforces by going to the Agency’s website at www.inspection.gc.ca and clicking on Acts and Regulations.

transaction size is $1,000 O.A.C.; choice of 12- to 60-month terms, fully-amortizing in equal, monthly payments; full payment to authorized vendors upon confirmation of delivery.

Boxwood blight update

The CNLA has just rolled out four new benefits programs for members. For more information on these programs and how to take advantage of them, visit www.canadanursery.com/benefits. While there, don’t forget to check out the other programs available including Mark’s Work Wearhouse discount cards, fuel, equipment and vehicle savings.

CNLA and CNCI are working collaboratively to establish a C. buxicola certification module as part of the Clean Plants program. In the meantime, nurseries and garden centres are strongly encouraged to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) that have been developed by CNCI’s technical committee. To download your sector’s BMPs and to stay informed on the latest C. buxicola news and resources, visit the Growers’ section of the CNLA website at www.canadanursery.com.

Equipment leasing with RBC Royal Bank This program allows for specialized equipment leasing and was created to support CNLA members in Canada in acquiring industry-related equipment. Features include: low fixed interest rate on lease payment at 6.99 per cent under $10,000 and 5.99 per cent over $10,000; 100 per cent financing can include training, fabrication and shipping; no maximum lease size; minimum

New membership benefits

Payment Solutions Package exclusively for CNLA members through Global Payments This new merchant processing agreement offers significant cost savings with transparent and predictable pricing. Visit the Global Payments page on the CNLA website to view the new rates available.

CNLA wishes to thank all members who submitted their debit and credit card processing statements last year. The data was used to build a case for better rates, and it was successful. View the comparison between the old program rates and the current rates on the CNLA website.

Membership agreement with the Retail Council of Canada Members can now take advantage of the benefits available through the new agreement with the Retail Council of Canada (RCC). Highlights of the new agreement include: access to preferred merchant processing rates with Chase Paymentech; discounts on accounting software with Sage; discounts on RCC event registration; access to current research reports; training resources, etc.

Schooley Mitchell Telecom Consultants Is your company paying unnecessary fees for your telecom services? Schooley Mitchell Telecom Consultants are ready to audit your existing system and find savings for you! Their services include: recovering any overcharges from your current telecom service provider; recommending the best cost options out there (including those with your current provider); and estimating your potential savings. If your Schooley Mitchell consultant can’t recommend any savings, there is no LT charge for the analysis.

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association is the federation of Canada’s provincial horticultural trade associations. Visit www.canadanursery.com for more information.

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industrynews

Landscape Ontario’s Green for Life garden encouraged visitors to enjoy the collaborative efforts of 150 members.

Creative gardens stars of revitalized Canada Blooms Thanks to a co-location agreement between Canada Blooms and the National Home Show, close to 200,000 visitors were able to get a jump on spring by attending North America’s largest home and garden event. Held at Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre in March, Canada Blooms celebrated its CityCulture theme that combined gardens with performances and art installations throughout the 10-day event.

Highlights of the show were a dramatic, lush garden presented by the City of Taipei, the second annual Juno Rocks, featuring four gardens inspired by Juno Award-winning artists Kesha Chante, Jann Arden, Feist and Sarah Slean/ Royal Wood and the Parks Canada Playscape, where Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds and Parks Canada installed a fully-accessible natural playground enjoyed by hundreds of children.

In addition, over 20 feature gardens created by horticulture professionals, as well as students from Humber and Seneca colleges, were built to inspire visitors.

Over 150 Landscape Ontario members worked in collaboration to create the association’s Green for Life Garden. The garden invited visitors to ‘Take Time To…’ and included a number of 36 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Canadian roses, the Maple Leaf flag fashioned from red and white kalanchoes, and some fun features. The design included a large mirror, wind harp, a gabion fence filled with black pebbles, an arbour, gazebo and a water feature running under the interlock pathway. A time-lapse video of the garden build, along with the winners of the feature garden awards, can be seen at www. landscapeontario.com.

Canada Blooms will donate $50,000 in proceeds towards the creation of June Callwood Park, in memory of the celebrated journalist, author and community activist.

Fiskars supports community gardens Two Canadian gardens are recipients of Fiskars 2012 Project Orange Thumb grants. The Explorers Urban Garden Project in Prince George, B.C. and the Cook Community Garden in Collingwood, Ont., will both receive $5,000 in grants and Fiskars tools.

Since 2002, Project Orange Thumb has contributed over $1.3 million to more than 125 community groups in Canada and the U.S. Garden projects are geared to community involvement, neighbourhood beautification, sustainable agriculture and horticultural education. During a Project

Orange Thumb garden makeover, Fiskars partners with Canadian Tire and community groups to transform unused spaces into neighbourhood gardens in a single day.

An additional 2012 Project Orange Thumb garden makeover will take place in Ottawa this June.

Project Orange Thumb applications can be found online at www.projectorangethumb.com.

3D plugin available through Dynascape Dynascape Software is the latest company to become an official reseller of the rendering plug-in to Google SketchUp, Shaderlight. ArtVPS, developers of Shaderlight, has been working with Dynascape since the development of version 2.0 in 2011, which incorporated a number of Dynascape’s plant and tree models in the unique Replace Me feature. The Shaderlight plugin allows landscape designers to add a photorealistic touch to their 3D models for client presentations.

The rendering software fits seamlessly with Dynascape’s Sketch3D product, which allows users to simply export their design to SketchUp format.

Once inside SketchUp, users can render with Shaderlight as normal.

As a plug-in to Google’s popular SketchUp 3D modelling tool, Shaderlight helps to create photo-

realistic images with minimum fuss. It pioneered interactive rendering techniques to SketchUp, allowing users to see their image develop on screen as they continue to work. For more information please visit www.shaderlight.com.

industry veterans can earn credits toward the American Lighting Association’s (ALA) Certified Lighting Consultant designation.

Dave Lewis, owner of A-1 Sprinkler Service in Allison Park, Penn., has attended training programs the past two years. He said, “I felt so much more comfortable after the hands-on install. I actually sold two jobs that first week back. It was a great confidence builder.”

During the courses, attendees discuss the basics of lighting installation, learn the differences between incandescent and LED systems, and discover how wattage and beam spread are selected.

Fundamentals of electrical and voltage differences

Landscape lighting training programs announced Landscape lighting professionals can improve their skills, knowledge, credentials and marketability by attending Kichler Lighting’s Certified Landscape Lighting Training Seminars. With four training courses to choose from, attendees ranging from novice landscape lighting specialists to

are also covered. Additionally, contractors will learn about the benefits of Kichler’s award-winning, energy efficient Design Pro LED technology, including how to sell it, install it and how it can help grow their businesses.

Four different courses for a variety of skill levels are available throughout the year at Kichler’s facilities in Cleveland, Ohio. To learn more about the training seminars, visit www.landscapelighting. com and click “Kichler Certified Training.”

A.M.A. Plastics runs on solar power A.M.A. Plastics Ltd. and A.M.A. Properties recently signed agreements with Solar Power Network to

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industrynews lease approximately 75,000 sq. ft. of roof space on A.M.A.’s Kingsville, Ont. facility for solar power generation. Covering about 70 per cent of the company’s buildings with low angle, leadingedge solar panels, this installation should generate an estimated 750 kW of electricity, more than A.M.A.’s current electricity usage.

For A.M.A., it means moving to green energy with no capital outlay and a revenue stream for the next 20 years from an underused asset, its roof

space. It is also maintenance free, as Solar Power Networks handles the maintenance of the panel installation and inverter systems.

Electricity generated by the solar panels is used in A.M.A. buildings, and any excess gets passed through to the grid. A.M.A. pays its electricity bills from its power supplier, Hydro One, as usual.

Rental income received from the lease agreement with Solar Power Network offsets the electricity bill. Installation is expected to begin in mid-2013.

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38 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Recipe for better biochar The practice of adding biochar to topsoil to boost crop growth goes back centuries, but in recent years, international interest groups have begun touting biochar’s climate benefits as well. Biochar removes carbon from the atmosphere and locks it into the soil for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of years.

A study recently published by scientists at Rice University in Texas, notes that backyard gardeners who make their own charcoal soil additives, or biochar, need to heat charcoal to at least 450 degrees Celsius to ensure that water and nutrients get to their plants.

“When it’s done right, adding biochar to soil can improve hydrology and make more nutrients available to plants,” said Rice biogeochemist Caroline Masiello, the lead researcher on the new study.

In its study, Masiello’s team learned that when it comes to helping get water to plants, not all forms of biochar are the same. The researchers found charcoal produced at temperatures of 450 C or higher was most likely to improve soil drainage and make more water available to plants, while charcoal produced at lower temperatures could sometimes repel water.

The study, published in the Journal of Biomass and Bioenergy, is timely because biochar is attracting thousands of amateur and professional gardeners, and some companies are also scaling up industrial biochar production.

Studies over the past decade have found that the charcoal-amended soil holds more water and nutrients and also makes the water and nutrients readily available to plants. The charcoal, or biochar, that is used to create such soil can be made from wood or agricultural byproducts. The key is to heat the material to a high temperature in an oxygenstarved environment. Native Americans did that by burying the material in pits, where it burned for days. Today, industrial-scale biochar production is beginning to occur, and dozens of do-it-yourself videos online show how to make biochar in just a few hours using steel drums.

The agricultural benefits of biochar are just one reason there’s a groundswell of interest in biochar production. Some enthusiasts are drawn by a desire to fight global warming. That’s because about half of the carbon from wood chips, corn stalks and other biomass — carbon that typically gets recycled into the atmosphere — can be locked away inside biochar for thousands of years.

— Jeff Fitlow, Rice University 38 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Regalia Maxx granted Canadian approval Marrone Bio Innovations recently announced today that Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has approved Regalia Maxx biofungicide for outdoor and greenhouse use on a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as on wheat and ornamentals. In conjunction with the approval, MBI has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Engage Agro, a Canadian distributor specializing in high-value fruit and vegetable crop protection products.

Regalia Maxx is a product derived from a natural plant extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, which triggers plants’ natural defense systems to combat several bacterial and fungal diseases. It will be sold in Canada for use in fields and greenhouses to protect tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, cucurbits, ornamental plants and wheat.

According to the manufacturer, Regalia Maxx is particularly important to growers because it offers another weapon to combat the increasing threat of pest resistance to chemical treatments. Used in tank mixes, in program rotations and as a standalone product, Regalia Maxx is proven to control diseases such as powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and gray mold, bacterial blight, and septoria leaf spot. The product can be applied up to and including the day of harvest (PHI of zero days).

sites of interest to professionals, including several garden centres.

What makes this trip so appealing are all the other experiences on the tour, including an African safari, great sightseeing opportunities, history, architecture, wineries and opportunity to meet locals.

Valleybrook’s groups are limited to a maximum of 16 travelers. The group will enjoy first class accommodations, unique experiences and lots of

fun. Former tour participants rate South Africa as their favourite destination.

The itinerary and registration forms are available online at www.valleybrook.com, or call 1-800 824-1120 for more details. The trip begins Oct, 25, 2012, with a Kruger safari. After the 15day main tour, there is an opportunity to add a four-day visit to Victoria Falls and additional outLT standing safari lodges.

Horticultural pros to tour South Africa Valleybrook Nurseries offers its third horticultural tour to South Africa this fall. South Africa offers much to those with an interest in horticulture — a great climate, tremendous plant diversity, lovely gardens, a long agricultural tradition as well as outstanding garden centres are just a few of the reasons. Participants will visit a number of

A South African tour includes visits to garden centres and wineries along with a safari adventure.

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new products Customizable flatbed body Malley Industries designed this versatile flatbed service body from lightweight aluminum to carry more when loaded, and use less fuel. The innovative socket design makes customization a breeze.

Headache racks, tool boxes, cabinets, stake pockets, tie-downs and flip-down sides all bolt directly to the deck for maximum flexibility, and can be moved to better suit the service need with the turn of a few threaded bolts.

Malley Industries www.malleyindustries.com

Grass seed Cutting Edge Grass Seed is a low-maintenance blend of Kentucky bluegrass and other top rated cultivars that revolutionizes lawn care. It can establish a root system up to 48-inches deep, resulting in a durable, drought-tolerant, disease and insect resistant lawn. The developer claims it requires mowing approximately two to four times per year, and is the perfect solution for areas with water bans or that prohibit herbicides.

Cutting Edge Grass

www.cuttingedgegrass.com

Garden cutting tools Fiskars introduces a group of new bypass pruners engineered with lever and gear mechanisms that the company claims maximizes power and reduces effort, to make every cut easier. Sharper blades with low-friction coating deliver cleaner cuts. The gearing technology of the ergonomically-designed PowerGear bypass pruner multiplies leverage to make cutting up to three times easier than standard tools. And, Fiskars’ Power Curve technology makes cutting up to two times easier on the Power Curve I and II bypass pruners.

Fiskars www.fiskars.com

Connect with Canada’s green industry business-to-business buyers. Let Landscape Trades, build your brand’s visibility — and sales.

Call for help with your marketing strategy today!

Contact Steve Moyer, Sales manager:

1-800-265-5656 ext. 316 or 905-299-5366 E-mail: stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com 40 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Zero turn mowers

Landscape design software Drafix Software has released PRO Landscape, Version 18, containing new and enhanced features that make it easier and faster to create both photo imaging and CAD designs, as well as professional quotes. Version 18 adds 1,000 new items to the imaging database, bringing the total to more than 10,000. Version 18 also improves the ability for designers to create irrigation plans with new automatic sprinkler layout tools. Other features include enhanced integration with QuickBooks, as well as new paver tools and improvements to colour CAD drawings. Also available is the new PRO Landscape Companion for iPad. This application allows designers to take PRO Landscape out in the field and impress customers with the ability to create, edit and present their high quality designs right on site.

Wright Commercial Products has introduced a new mid-mount zero turning radius mower, the ZTO (Zero Technology Optimized). The ZTO, with deck widths of 48-, 52-, and 61-inches, has low profile 23- x 10.5-inch rear tires and 13- x 5-inch run flats for front tires. The transmissions are Z3400 series Hydro-Gear.

(This class of mower is usually equipped with the lighter 3100 series.) An undercarriage cage protects the transmissions and their filters, and an exclusive transmission interlock is built into the controls, eliminating the need for a separate parking brake.

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Mulching attachment Loftness’ Carbide Cutter G3 high-performance mulching head attachment for skid steers incorporates the latest cutting-tooth technologies and power drive systems. Available with 51-, 61- and 71-inch cutting widths, all models are offered with a variety of carbidetipped and heat-treated steel teeth to match any job application. The spiral tooth pattern on the rotor ensures continuous tooth contact with the material being cut. A two-stage cutting chamber, with staggered counter teeth and a shear bar, results in small particle sizes, while eliminating jamming and wrapping issues.

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new products Reel mowers Fiskars expands its reel mower family with its StaySharp and StaySharp Plus reel mower. Both 17-inch mowers feature Fiskars’ StaySharp cutting system and its InertiaDrive reels. The StaySharp system cuts grass without the blades touching, greatly reducing friction and blade wear, while the InertiaDrive reels provide more cutting power. A unique grass discharge chute on the Plus model throws clippings forward and away from the user.

Fiskars

www.fiskars.com

LED path lights Kichler Lighting introduces seven new Design Pro LED Path Lights in a variety of styles, finishes and materials.

With a 40,000-hour lifespan, Kichler’s Design Pro LED Path Lights emit a warm, white light using 75 per cent less energy than incandescent lights. They have a 15year residential warranty. Installation advantages include the elimination of voltage drop by operating anywhere between nine to 15 volts while producing the light output, as well as a colour rendering index (CRI) in the mid-80s.

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TIMM ENTERPRISES LTD. Mail: P.O. Box 157, Oakville, Ont. L6J 4Z5 Office & Warehouse: 5204 Trafalgar Rd., Milton, Ont. L0P 1E0 Phone (905) 878-4244 Fax (905) 878-7888 Sales 1-888-769-TIMM (8466)

Your headquarters for specialized supplies and equipment for the green industry.

Please visit our website at: www.timmenterprises.com

Ethernet irrigation control

Soil calculator app Solty Garden Centre has created a new soil calculator app, now available free on iTunes. This soil calculator determines how much soil, mulch or aggregate is needed to complete outdoor projects. Enter the width, length and depth of the area in question to learn how many cubic yards and wheelbarrow equivalents are required. At this time, the App is compatible with Apple products only.

Hunter is introducing a new communications solution for IMMS central control: an Ethernet, or Local Area Network (LAN) com module. The ACC-COM-LAN looks like other ACC communications modules from the front, but features a standard network jack on the back for easy connection to a customer’s computer network. Now, network systems can be used for IMMS irrigation control and monitoring, offering many advantages over more traditional communications. Hunter also offers a free update for existing customers of IMMS software that allows IP addressing of irrigation sites.

Hunter Industries

www.hunterindustries.com

Solty Garden Centre

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/soil-calculator/id515871929

Backhoe/tractor loader John Deere has released its K-Series Backhoe Loaders. The new K-Series meets today’s emission regulations and comes equipped with a five-speed transmission that allows top speeds of 25 mph when roading. A single loader lever with integrated electrohydraulic (EH) auxiliary loader control eliminates the need for a second lever when using a multi-purpose bucket. Updates include a joystick redesign that gives operators even easier operation, with equal lever efforts in all directions, for smooth and productive operation. The new K-Series also has improved swing control that allows for more precise trench work with less backhoe wag.

John Deere

www.johndeere.com

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comingevents April 27-May 13, Arbor Week, www.arborweek.com May 3-4, Soils and Urban Trees 2012, University of British Columbia. www.ufis.ca/soil2012.php June 20-23, 15th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium, Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Buffalo, N.Y. www.sima.org June 21, Darwin Perennials Day, The Gardens at Ball, Chicago, Ill. www.darwinperennials.com

July 14-17, OFA Short Course, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio. www.ofa.org July 30-August 3, Turf Producers International Summer Convention, Ashville, N.C. www.turfgrasssod.org July 31-August 2, Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, Penn. www.pantshow.com August 11-15, ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show, Sydney, Aust. www.isa-arbor.com

July 5-6, Hydrangea 2012: international symposium for professionals and lovers of hydrangeas, Terra Botanica Park, Angers, France, www.hydrangea2012.com

August 12-15, CGTA Fall Gift Show, International Centre and Congress Centre, Toronto, Ont. www.cgta.org

July 4-10, 30th Annual Perennial Plant Symposium, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston Mass. www.perennialplant.org

August 21-23, Canadian Fertilizer Institute 67th Annual Conference, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. www.cfi.ca

August 21-23, Independent Garden Center Show, Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill. www.igcshow.com August 22-25, Plantarium, International Trade Centre, Boskoop, Holland. www.plantarium.nl August 23-25, Farwest Show, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Ore. www.farwestshow.com August 23-26, Pondemonium, St. Charles, Ill. www.pondemonium.com August 26-31, IGCA Congress, Bonn, Germany. www.igcacongress.com September 2-4, Spoga-Gafa 2012, Cologne, Germany. www.spogagafa.com September 17-19, GLEE, Birmingham, U.K. www.gleebirmingham.com September 19-22, IPPS Western Region Meeting, Ventura, CA. www.ipps.org

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LARGE TREE MOVING AND SALES 115 inch and 90 inch tree spades available for hire. Largest truck mount machine in Ontario.

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NEED HELP WITH YOUR PROJECTS? If your company needs assistance with projects, or if you have too many projects for you to professionally deliver — we can help!

Connecting Stones specializes in residential and commercial projects: interlock paving around swimming pools, cover porches, interlock driveway, walkway, asphalt driveway, parking lots and tennis court. Cement projects, retainer walls, armour stones, custom built and natural stone steps, flagstone dry lay or cement installation, river rocks, sodding and planting. Supply and install snowmelting system. Landscape lighting and more...

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Please contact us at connectingstones@yahoo.ca c/o: Lino Genova

SENIOR LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR We are a well established landscape construction company, located in Burlington. We require an experienced and highly motivated estimator to help us in 2012 and beyond. Excellent wages and benefits offered. The applicant must have 3 – 5 years experience in residential and commercial projects.

FIRST NATURE NURSERY LTD. Wholesale supplier of native branches.

Looking for Willow, Dogwood, or Poplar stems?

We supply native cuts from 1ft.-10ft.

Live stakes, fascines, wattlings and fencing Native and ornamental species available.

Call (519) 647-0716 or (905) 973-3605 or wayne@firstnaturenursery.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESS FOR SALE Owner retiring from growing seedlings and 1-5 gallons pots for over 27 years. Formally of Waterford, Ont. Must sell all equipment, or all nursery stock or both. Retail on the nursery stock is approx. $20,000. Call Lana at: (817) 718-7038 or (519) 443-4444 Email trees@execulink.com www.mcguireevergreen.ca

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INFORMATION Payment: All classified ads must be pre-paid by VISA or Mastercard. Rates: $62.15 (includes HST) per column inch (Approx. 25 words). Min. order $62.15. Annual rates also available.

Deadlines: The 10th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 10th). Jan. deadline is Nov. 10. If day falls on weekend or holiday, deadline is the next business day. Space is limited to a first-come, first-served basis. To place an ad: E-mail your name and phone number and your ad to Rob at classifieds@ landscapeontario.com. Also mention the ad is for Landscape Trades. You will be sent a proof/confirmation/payment form by e-mail. Online advertising: All paid ads are posted to our website at www.landscapetrades.com/ classifieds for the corresponding calendar month. Website only ads are available for $67.80 (HST included) and are posted for 30 days. Additional charge for ads over 325 words.

Start Date: ASAP (as soon as possible) Wage: Negotiable Medical Benefits after 3 months Responsibilities: * providing estimates and negotiating contracts * meeting with clients to present estimates * site layout and supervision when required Qualifications: * excellent technical knowledge in all aspects of both hard/soft landscaping * good communication and organizational skills * able to work with clients and capture their needs * be self motivated and have the ability to meet deadlines * the ability to manage and provide direction to on site crews Please send a resume and a cover letter by email or fax to the contact information provided below.

Email: decrastone@gmail.com Fax: (905) 331-3169

EQUIPMENT

NURSERY STOCK FIRST NATURE NURSERY LTD. Wholesale supplier of native evergreens White Pine.......... 80-250cm........ 600+ White Spruce...... 80-250cm...... 2500+ White Cedar....... 80-250cm...... 2000+ Blue Spruce...... 150-250cm...... 1000+ Hemlock........... 100-200cm........ 500+ Potted, B&B and wirebaskets available Call (519) 647-0716 or (905) 973-3605 or wayne@firstnaturenursery.com WHOLESALE TREE NURSERY Growing caliper shade trees and evergreens.

Custom tree basketing.

Contact us for availability and pricing.

STAM NURSERIES INC. 593836 Hwy 59, RR 2 Burgessville, ON N0J 1C0 Ph. (519) 424-3350 • Fax (519) 456-1659 E-mail: info@stamnurseries.com www.stamnurseries.com

ProLineGRABBER Ball & Pot handlers.

Ideal for moving & loading trees & plants.

Complete Line of Attachments for Skidsteers, Loaders, Excavators & Tractors.

Toll Free: (877) 625-9677 Website: shawbros.ca

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

View these ads and more on our website at

www.landscapetrades.com

MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

45

where to find it COMPANY

PAGE

PHONE

EMAIL

WEBSITE

800-767-3221

na.marketing@atl.agcocorp.com

www.agcocorp.com

AGCO Corporation

23

Alrange Container Services

46

www.alrange.com

AMA Plastics Ltd

30

800-338-1136

ama@amaplas.com

www.amaplas.com

Atlas Polar Company Ltd

35

888-799-4422

info@atlaspolar.com

www.atlaspolar.com

Beaver Valley Stone

32

416-222-2424

info@beavervalleystone.com

www.beavervalleystone.com

Becker Underwood Inc

27

306-373-3060

request@beckerunderwood.com

www.beckerunderwood.ca

Best Way Stone Ltd

21

800-BESTWAY

info@bestwaystone.com

www.bestwaystone.com

Caledon Treeland

41

800-268-9516

treeland@treeland.ca

www.treeland.ca

Cut Above Natural Stone

31

888-557-7625

www.cutabovenaturalstone.com

Dutchmaster Nurseries Limited

25

905-683-8211

sales@dutchmasternurseries.com

www.dutchmasternurseries.com

Echo Power Equipment Canada

33

877-324-6660

info@echo.ca

www.echo.ca

Fertilec

9 888-831-1085 gosselin@fertilec.com seany@gandlgroup.com

www.fertilec.com

G & L Group

30

888-907-7258

General Motors of Canada Ltd

15

800-GM-DRIVE

www.gmcanada.com

Hanson Hardscape Products

48

800-265-6496

www.hansonhardscapes.com

John Deere Limited

19

www.johndeere.com

Kubota Canada Ltd

hardscapes@hanson.com

www.draglamsalt.com

13, 47

905-294-7477

info@kubota.ca

www.kubota.ca

Miller Compost - The Miller Group

34

866-887-6457

compost@millergroup.ca

www.millergroup.ca

Munger Lawnscape Inc

39

519-738-2571

www.mungerlawnscape.com

Nesbitt Aggregates

22

800-465-5764

info@nesbittaggregates.com

www.nesbittaggregates.com

Neudorff North America

42

250-652-5888

cam@neudorff.ca

www.neudorff.ca

2

800-709-OAKS

info@oakspavers.com

www.oakspavers.com

5

Oaks Concrete Products by Brampton Brick Permacon Group Inc

800-463-9278

www.permacon.ca

Pro Landscape by Drafix Software

37

800-231-8574

sales@prolandscape.com

www.prolandscape.com

Stihl Limited

11

519-681-3000

info.canada@stihl.ca

www.stihl.ca

Stonemen’s Valley Inc

43

905-841-8400

info@stonemensvalley.com

www.stonemensvalley.com

Thames Valley Brick

44

905-637-6997

info@thamesvalleybrick.com

www.thamesvalleybrick.com

TIMM Enterprises Ltd

42

905-878-4244

Turf Tech Inc

29

905-636-0731

info@turftech.ca

Unilock Ltd

17

800-UNILOCK

georgetown@unilock.com

www.unilock.com

Zander Sod Co Ltd

38

877-727-2100

info@zandersod.com

www.zandersod.com

46 | MAY 2012 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

www.timmenterprises.com

out of the ordinary

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Whatever your project, choose Hanson Hardscapes for results that are truly out of the ordinary.

Visit hansonhardscapes.com to learn more about this and other extraordinary products.

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