Landscape Trades - October 2021

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GREENPENCIL

Highlights from the 2021 Trial Gardens

BY RODGER TSCHANZ

BEING A BIT OF A PLANT NERD, I never grow tired of my

role as Trial Garden manager at the University of Guelph.

I find it so much fun to receive seed packs in the mail or cuttings in the spring, and then be able to grow them out.

And to see a flower for the first time, it’s almost like Christmas morning.

The Trial Gardens — located at Landscape Ontario in Milton, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and at the University of Guelph — allow us to see how new plants perform throughout the season in both landscape and container applications.

Profusion Zinnia Red Yellow Bicolor

Developed by Sakata Seed, Profusion Zinnia Red Yellow Bicolor is the recent recipient of gold medal awards from both the All-American Selections and Fleuroselect judging competitions.

What’s really unique about this Profusion cultivar is it starts off with a beautiful gold petal and dark red centre and ages to shades of pink.

Instead of going directly from a brilliant colour to a brownish colour, it actually turns into an attractive second colour that adds to the ornamental depth.

Hummingbird Falls

Hummingbird Falls is a new Salvia x guarantica from Dummen Orange.

We have seen this colour of bloom and calyx before, but this is the first time it is being introduced in a more compact format.

Hummingbird Falls features a semi-trailing, bushy format ideally suited for container applications. This salvia cultivar remains as attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds as previous versions.

Shamrock Lantana

Shamrock Lantana is a new series from Ball FloraPlant, available in white, peach, orange flame or rose cultivars. All colours in this series have a similar mounding growth habit with medium vigour, making them suitable for container applications. They seem to perform well in our landscape trials, while maintaining an attractive mounded appearance.

Verbena Cake Pops

I’ve been trialling verbenas since the beginning of the Trial Garden program in 2001, and this is the first time I’ve trialled the rigida species.

The inflorescence on the stock is reminiscent of Verbena bonariensis, except this variety from Proven Winners has a semi-trailing habit. It’s low-growing habit makes it very container friendly, but creates an attractive ground cover in the landscape as well. It’s currently available in pink and purple flower colours.

Ladybird Calylophus

Calylophus is another trialling first for me. Commonly called Texas primrose, the Ladybird series from Proven Winners is available in colours of deep yellow (Sunglow) and pale yellow (Lemonade). I’ve been very happy with the vigorous and consistent blooms these plants have produced throughout the season — and so are the pollinators that always seem to be visiting!

Ladybird features a very fine foliage and low growing habit that’s suitable for flower beds or containers.

Suncredible Saturn

A unique trait of Proven Winners’ Suncredible Saturn is the flowers feature a red or rusty inner ring on the petals. As well, the stems have a reddish hue to them. This everblooming sunflower has a bush-like habit and does not require deadheading to encourage re-bloom, although deadheading may improve the plant’s overall ornamental appearance.

Rex Begonias

In the shade house at Landscape Ontario, we have a collection of 12 different Rex begonias from Ball planted in containers. They’re perfect for shade conditions and add a zing to an ornamental display.

The Jurassic Junior Purple Spec received a lot of attention at our summer open house, as it has a nice speckling purple on a white background. The Jurassic Junior Berry Swirl is another variety to note. It has dappled purple in the centre and a green and white leaf perimeter.

Rodger Tschanz is the University of Guelph’s trial garden manager, and oversees three sites located at Landscape Ontario in Milton, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and the University of Guelph’s GTI in Guelph.

OCTOBER 2021 | 3

TRADES

OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 43, NO. 5

LANDSCAPETRADES.COM PUBLISHER

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CONTENTS GROUNDS MANAGEMENT ISSUE

LANDSCAPE

COLUMNS

36

32 WHEN DOES A DEFICIENCY CLAIM EXPIRE?

The “plausible inference” test may have consequences for construction.

BY ROB KENNALEY

36 THE PROBLEM WITH UNIT PRICING

Assuming a fixed costs per item may be detrimental to your bottom line.

BY MARK BRADLEY

50 MENTOR MOMENT

Brad Paton shares 30 years of grounds management success.

DEPARTMENTS 3 GREEN PENCIL 38 CNLA NEWS 42 NEWSSCAPE 47 NEW PRODUCTS 49 EVENTS/ADVERTISERS

10

FEATURES

16

6 6

NEW PLANTS

The latest annuals, perennials, roses, edibles and woody plants headed to Canadian nurseries and garden centres next spring.

6 10 16 24 25

ANNUALS PERENNIALS WOODY PLANTS EDIBLES ROSES

26

30 26 HISTORIC SITE MELDS

HERITAGE GARDENS WITH ANCIENT TREES

It’s takes some Macgyvering to maintain the more than 645 acres of Hatley Park on Greater Victoria’s west shore.

BY KEITH NORBURY

30 NEW GROUNDS GEAR

Here’s some of the latest equipment for landscape maintenance contractors.

ABOUT THE COVER Suncredible Saturn, a new helianthus hybrid from Proven Winners, photographed by Landscape Trades editor Bill Tremblay at the Landscape Ontario Trial Gardens in Milton, Ont. OCTOBER 2021 | 5

Time to take

I

STALK NEW FOR 2022

Here’s the latest annuals, perennials, woody plants, edibles and roses headed to Canadian nurseries and garden centres next spring.

6 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

ANNUALS

Augusta Lavender

Petunia Headliner Enchanted Sky

Endurance Sunset Gold

Heliotrope hybrid This new heliotrope variety features a strong upright habit. Its large, vigorous and dense with a lattice-like branching structure that helps maintain its upright form. Augusta pairs well with other medium vigour varieties..

Proven Winners

Petunia Enchanted Sky features both a hazy white star and sky pattern, backed in a pink flower colour. The Headliner Series is known for its mounded, mediumvigour habit, ideal for hanging baskets.

Selecta One

F1 Tagetes triploid Endurance is an F1 cross of African and French marigold. It bears fullydouble flowers on a French marigold habit and finishes quickly. The new series includes three colours — sunset gold, yellow and orange.

Syngenta Flowers

Suncredible Saturn

Digiplexis Firecracker

Jurassic Rex Begonias

Helianthus hybrid Suncredible Saturn builds upon the success of Suncredible Yellow.

The bicolour yellow and russet red sunflower will bloom from summer through fall, growing to about 90 cm tall. Suncredible Saturn works well in containers and in landscapes.

Proven Winners

Digiplexis Firecracker blooms all summer long.

Small, vivid orange-yellow flowers have a hint of rosy overtones. The flowers are produced above narrow, gray-green leaves that form a tight, small mound of foliage. Firecracker is a perennial in Zone 8 and above.

Walters Gardens

Begonia rex hybrid There are now four series of Rex Begonias from Ball Ingenuity. Jurassic Dino has a compact habit for supersmall pots or small-space gardens.

Jurassic Jr. has 40 per cent smaller leaves than Jurassic and Jurassic Megalo is ideal for 10-inch pots and larger feature containers.

Ball Ingenuity

OCTOBER 2021 | 7

ANNUALS

Unplugged Pink

Verbena Beats

Salvia hybrid Pink Salvia is a colour expansion for the Unplugged Series, and features fuchsia to pink flowers on dark calyxes and deep green foliage. This variety is an upright plant that grows to half the size of Rockin’ Salvias, reaching a mature height of 35 to 75 cm.

Proven Winners

Verbena Verbena flower early and are tolerant to heat, cycling and water stress. The series includes bicolours Purple+White, Red+White, and four colours, Red, White, Purple and Blue.

Selecta One

Tophat Scarlet Imp.

Rivulet Begonia

F1 Begonia x hybrida Scarlet Imp. is a new colour for the Tophat Series that finishes at least one week earlier than other varieties. Bred for versatility, its pure white blooms are up to 20 per cent larger than the Big and Megawatt series.

Syngenta Flowers

8 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Begonia boliviensis Rivulet Begonia offers a stream of medium-sized begonia flowers all summer long. The plants have a medium trail and good vigour. The well-branched habit makes a rounded body, suitable for pots and hanging baskets. There are five colours available in the series.

Ball Ingenuity

Calliope Medium Dark Red Dark Leaf

Pelargonium interspecific A new addition to the Calliope Medium Series, Dark Red Dark Leaf develops large, dark red flowers above dark green foliage. Ideal for 1.25 to 2.5 quart pots.

Syngenta Flowers

Bowler Bronze Leaf White

F1 Begonia x hybrida A vigorous, bronze leaf begonia with large flowers and a unique, branched and mounding habit. The chocolatebronze foliage contrasts with its large, bright white flowers.

Syngenta Flowers

ANNUALS

Shamrock Lantana

Lantana camara A new, medium-vigour series, Shamrock works well in a wide-range of container sizes as well as hanging baskets. The series is uniform across all four colours (white, peach, orange flame or rose), and the plants are well-branched with a mounded habit.

Ball FloraPlant

Dekko Sorbet

Petunia hybrida Sorbet develops a wide range of core and unique colours ideal for mixed combos and baskets. Its versatile habit suits small pots or landscape applications.

Syngenta Flowers

Supertunia Vista Jazzberry

Spitfire Coleus

E3 Easy Wave

Madinia Maximo Scarlet

Solenostemon scutellarioides Spitfire is a micro coleus that shows off stunning colours and patterns, and can be used in full sun or shade. It’s very late to never-flowering, offering landscapers a low-maintenance, highimpact plant. It holds its colour well in vibrant pink and lime green.

Ball FloraPlant

Spreading Petunia E3 is a brand-new Wave Series that flowers at 10 hours daylength. It has a manageable, uniform shape and vigour, and offers simple production to save on labour costs. The series includes seven colours: red, white, blue, pink cosmo, coral, sky blue and pink.

PanAmerican Seed

Petunia Supertunia Vista is now available in electric magenta purple. The new Jazzberry features large, upright mounded plants that are blanketed in self-cleaning flowers all season long.

Proven Winners

Mandevilla hybrida A new colour for 2022, Maximo Scarlet was selected for its vining habit and huge flowers, which are ideal for trellised container programs.

This variety features continuous flowering, drought tolerance and disease resistance.

Syngenta Flowers

OCTOBER 2021 | 9

PERENNIALS

Alpino Early

Saxifraga x arendsii The Alpino Early Series has large blooms in an array of red and white shades. The white and picotee varieties are more vigorous and finish two to four weeks earlier than the Touran Series. The new carmine colour also joins the collection. Hardy to Zone 4.

Syngenta Flowers

Starship Rose

Lobelia x speciosa The Starship Series offers many improvements on perennial lobelia, including earlier flowering, improved branching, low stretch, uniform production and controlled habit. Rose is brightly coloured and performs well in both annual and perennial mixed container combos. Hardy to Zone 6a.

Kieft Seed

10 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Rock ’n Grow Back in Black Sedum hybrid New to the Rock ’n Grow collection comes an upright sedum with near black leaves. When late summer rolls around, flowers with deep garnet red centres and cream petals appear.

Hardy to Zone 3.

Walters Gardens

Daring Deception

Hemerocallis Daring Deception is a rebloomer with large, cream-pink flowers with a purple eye-zone and picotee along the pie-crust edge. Flowers are produced early- to mid-summer, with a secondary bloom possible later in the season. Hardy to Zone 3.

Walters Gardens Brookdale Treeland Nurseries

Amazing Daisies Marshmallow

Leucanthemum superbum A new and unique look for Proven Winners’ Shasta Daisy Marshmallow.

Large, 9-cm, fully-double, bright white flowers cover the medium-sized habit.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Willowbrook Nurseries - Proven Winners

Artemisia SunFern

Artemisia gmelini SunFern is a new collection of fernlike textured Artemisia gmelini that resemble an evergreen shrub. Plants are non-invasive and won’t spread.

Available in two varieties: Olympia (with dark green foliage and red stems) and Arcadia (medium-green).

Hardy to Zone 4a.

Darwin Perennials

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OCTOBER 2021 | 11

PERENNIALS

Jolt Purple Interspecific Dianthus

Dianthus barbatus interspecific Jolt stands out in the landscape with high durability. It withstands hot conditions and has few disease issues.

It continues to flower without setting seed. Hardy to Zone 7a.

PanAmerican Seed

Ocean Sunset

Delosperma hybrid The Ocean Sunset Series has a high flower count per plant. Outstanding performance in pots, with showy flowers that close at night and open mid-morning. The vivid colours are ideal in rock gardens and borders.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Darwin Perennials Willowbrook Nurseries

12 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Buddleia Chrysalis

B. davidii Chrysalis The Chrysalis Series was bred for its flowers that attract butterflies.

Chrysalis blooms from spring through late summer. Available in five colours for its 2022 debut: blue, cranberry, pink, purple and white.

Hardy to Zone 5a.

Darwin Perennials

Amazing Daisies Banana Cream II

Leucanthemum superb Like the original, flower buds are lemon yellow and eventually brighten to creamy white. Improvements include more flowers, holding the yellow colour longer, a more appealing habit, and earlier to start flowering.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Walters Gardens

Clockwise Compact White Blush

F1 Campanula portenschlagiana This F1 hybrid creates uniformity and fast flowering for potted plants to gallon containers. Full of blooms with blushing on petals, Clockwise Compact White Blush is perfect for finishing from June to August. Hardy to Zone 3.

Syngenta Flowers

Firefly

Lysimachia congestiflora A flowering groundcover that brings burgundy foliage and continuously blooming, bright yellow flowers to shady locations. Works as an accent plant, and mixes well with other varieties.

Darwin Perennials Willowbrook Nurseries

OCTOBER 2021 | 13

PERENNIALS

Midnight Purple

Mermaid Lavender

White Lion

Salvia nemorosa A new perennial with purple flowers on dark stems. Growing in an upright habit, Midnight Purple blooms in late spring and reflowers throughout the season. Hardy to Zone 3.

Willowbrook Nurseries

Iberis x hybrida Mermaid Lavender is a first-year flowering Iberis that provides season extension with some heat tolerance.

Overwintering this plant will create a deeper lavender colour in the garden.

Hardy to Zone 3.

Syngenta Flowers

Leucanthemum x superbum The new White Lion leucanthemum features a critical daylength of only 10 hours and is ideal for early-spring flowering, from either overwintered production or annual production.

Hardy to Zone 3a.

Kieft Seed

Amsonia String Theory

Clematis Duchesse of Cornwall

Nonsitnal Atlantis

Amsonia hybrid String Theory can be described as a compact version of the industry standard, Amsonia hubrichtii. The compact habit is covered with light periwinkle blue flowers in late spring.

String Theory displays healthy dark green leaves throughout the summer.

Hardy to Zone 4.

Walters Gardens

14 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Clematis Clematis Duchesse of Cornwall is a new introduction to the Raymond Evison Clematis collection. This repeat flowering variety produces violet flowers in early season. As temperatures warm, the flowers get a little darker in colour. Hardy to Zone 4.

Brookdale Treeland Nurseries

Sedum takesimense Small, serrated leaves are dark green with wide creamy yellow margins.

From a distance, the margins catch the eye and become tinged with pink blush tones with cold temperatures late in fall. Hardy to Zone 4.

Walters Gardens Willowbrook Nurseries

LET THE MIGHTY 3 DIG IN

JOHN DEERE 3E COMPACT UTILITY TRACTORS Build water features. Move mulch. Dig drainage ditches.

Plant a row of trees. Dump gravel. Run with us with a 24.7 HP* (18.2 kW), 31.1 HP (22.9 kW), or 37.2 HP (27.4 kW) 3E Compact Utility Tractor with an optional backhoe and a loader and really dig in. With all the attachments you can get, there’s really not much that you and your crew cannot do. The 44 in. (111.76 cm) turning radius is tight, so nothing will get in your way. Dig in with the mighty 3.

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Nothing Runs Like A Deere™ | Run With Us Search “John Deere 3 Series” for more OCTOBER 2021 | 15

WOODY PLANTS

Wee Bit Giddy

Hydrangea macrophylla Wee Bit Giddy shares the same intense red flowers and dwarf habit as Proven Winners’ Cityline Paris hydrangea. However, it adds durability for improved performance in the landscape. Hardy to Zone 5.

Proven Winners Willowbrook Nurseries

Fire Light Tidbit

Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPK’ Firelight Tidbit is a tiny, tidy hydrangea.

Big, lush mop-head flowers appear in early summer, nearly obscuring the textured green foliage. As summer progresses, the flowers begin to develop bright pink and red tones.

Hardy to Zone 3.

Proven Winners - Hillen Nursery

16 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Silver Cloud Maple

Acer saccharinum This selection is noted for its improved hardiness, upright crown form and symmetrical branching. A good choice for larger spaces, Silver Cloud grows to a height and width of 12 m.

JC Bakker and Sons

Cheer Drops

Thuja x ‘SMNTDGT’ Proven Winners ColorChoice Cheer Drops is a fresh green, dense arborvitae with a unique Weeblelike, teardrop habit. Ideal for creating shorter, wider hedges and windbreaks, or as a specimen plant.

Hardy to Zone 3.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners

Rosy Teacups

Cornus kousa x nutallii ‘Rosy Teacups’ An exciting new flowering dogwood with an abundance of large deep pink flowers, Rosy Teacups is both heatand disease-resistant. Glossy green leaves turn red in fall. Hardy to Zone 5.

Canadale Nurseries

Flirty Girl

Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘ Minsnow3’ Unlike climbing hydrangeas, which can take a while to produce flowers, Proven Winners ColorChoice Flirty Girl false hydrangea vine produces flowers in two or three-gallon containers with loads of lightly fragrant white blooms.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners

INVINCIBELLE Spirit II ®

Hydrangea arborescens

There’s so much to love about the INVINCIBELLE® Spirit II hydrangea,

The INVINCIBELLE® Spirit II hydrangea has raised over a million dollars for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, $1 at a time. That’s pretty powerful.

from its dark green foliage to its rich, pink flowers held up on strong, supportive stems. Want more reasons to love this hydrangea?

Learn more at InvincibelleSpirit.net and BCRF.org.

We’ll give you a million.

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INVINCIBELLE® Spirit II Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA2’ pp#28,316, cbr#5622 Full-part sun • USDA Zone 3-8 3.5 - 4' (1-1.2m) tall and wide

www.provenwinners-shrubs.com OCTOBER 2021 | 17

WOODY PLANTS

Quick Fire Fab

Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPM’ Large, upright, football-shaped blooms are densely packed with delicate, cruciform flowers of a coconut-lime colour. Watermelon hues quickly appear at the base of the bloom. Hardy to Zone 3.

Proven Winners - JC Bakker and Sons

Emerald Petite Cedar

Thuja occidentalis ‘Thusid4’ The first true dwarf emerald cedar has a symmetrical, pyramidal habit and glossy, bright green, lacy foliage. It is a perfect ornamental tree for use as a small-scale formal hedge. It grows to a height of 1.8 m with a spread of 60 cm. Exposure is full sun to part shade.

Hardy to Zone 3.

Hillen Nursery

18 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Head Over Heels Dream

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib5’ This compact hibiscus has large, white flowers with red centres, creating a stunning display that contrasts nicely against burgundy foliage. Works well in containers or the garden.

Hardy to Zone 4.

Star Roses and Plants

Little Hottie

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bailpanone’ With a compact habit and high heat tolerance, Little Hottie is a versatile panicle hydrangea that has full flower heads that open green and turn sparkling white. As evening temperatures drop in the fall, blooms turn antique shades of white and pink.

Hardy to Zone 4.

Bailey Nurseries - First Editions

Paraplu Rouge

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minsyrou17’ This is possibly the darkest reddishpink Rose of Sharon. This largeflowered single is a standout plant in both trials and test gardens.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Spring Meadow Nursery

Fizzy Mizzy

Itea virginica ‘SMNIVMM’ An unconventional itea noted for its numerous, upright white, early summer flower spikes. A neat and tidy habit, Proven Winners ColorChoice Fizzy Mizzy has thick, dark green leaves that contrast nicely with the lightly fragrant, pure white blooms.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners

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OCTOBER 2021 | 19

WOODY PLANTS

Head Over Heels Desire

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib4’ This hibiscus has scarlet-coloured blooms that contrast with rich, burgundy foliage. Large, saucershaped flowers are presented on a dense, compact plant. Works well in containers or the garden.

Hardy to Zone 4.

Star Roses and Plants

Lighthouse Linden

Tilia A new linden characterized by an ascending crown structure, strong branching and dark green disease- and insect-resistant foliage.

Developed and tested for 20 years, this tree has proven hardiness and adaptability across Zones 3 to 6. The abundant yellow fragrant flowers are followed by limited seed production.

Jeffries Nurseries 20 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

New Age White Lilac

Little Lime Punch

Syringa vulgaris ‘G13103’ The compact form stays small, but with fragrant, full-sized white flowers.

It grows to a height and spread of 1.5 m. Hardy to Zone 4.

Hillen Nursery

Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPH’ This hydrangea features a compact stature and emerging lime-green blooms, which age to pink. New blooms emerge for a mix of pink, green, white, and Hawaiian Punch-red, all on the same plant. Hardy to Zone 3.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners - Canadale Nurseries

Fairytrail Bride

Matcha Ball Ash Leaf Spirea

Hydrangea x ‘USHYD0405’ Proven Winners ColorChoice Fairytrail Bride is a new class of cascading hydrangea. Long, trailing stems draped in white lace with a bouquet of florets at every leaf node creates a dramatic display. Hardy to Zone 6.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners

Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Levgreen’ Matcha Ball Ash Leaf spirea has fernlike foliage in a fresh shade of green.

In early spring, the colour in the leaves ranges from red to orange-peach in colour, ultimately maturing to green.

Hardy to Zone 3 and reaches a mature size of 90-cm tall and 90-cm wide.

First Editions - JC Bakker and Sons

OCTOBER 2021 | 21

WOODY PLANTS

Starfield Hydrangea

New Age Lavender Lilac

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hortmafarfa’ Starfield produces so many flowers throughout the season, it looks like a galaxy of blooms. The flowers are pink in neutral soil, and blue/mauve in acidic soil. Reaches a mature height and width of 90 cm. Hardy to Zone 4.

Bloomin’ Easy - JC Bakker and Sons

Syringa vulgaris ‘G13099’ This is a new generation of lilacs that are compact and mildew resistant.

Full-sized, fragrant lavender flowers emerge in the spring. It grows to a height and spread of 1.5 m.

Hardy to Zone 4.

Hillen Nursery

Pugster Pinker

Kimono Hydrangea

Buddleia ‘SMNBDB’ A bright, new colour has been added to the dwarf Buddleia series; replacing the original Pugster Pink. Proven Winners ColorChoice Pugster Pink boasts the same large blooms on a compact, tidy plant, but with deeper, richer colour. Hardy to Zone 5.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners

22 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hokomabebos’ The Kimono Hydrangea offers a contrast of delicate white inside winered margins in each floret. Hardy to Zone 5, Kimono grows in a compact form, and reblooms all season long.

Reaches a mature height and spread of 60-90 cm.

Willowbrook Nurseries Bloomin’ Easy

Invincibelle Lace

Hydrangea arborescens subsp. radiata ‘SMNHRLL’ Proven Winners ColorChoice Invincibelle Lace is the first smooth hydrangea with plum-purple lacy florets and wiry stems of a dark ruby hue. Hardy to Zone 5.

Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners

Wee Bit Grumpy

Hydrangea macrophylla Like its sister plant Wee Bit Giddy, Wee Bit Grumpy was selected for its combination of pure, intense, saturated flower colour and landscape performance. In acidic soils, blooms take on a deep purple-blue.

Hardy to Zone 5.

Proven Winners Willowbrook Nurseries

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OCTOBER 2021 | 23

EDIBLES

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Rosy Belle

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24 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Scarlet Belle

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ROSES

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OCTOBER 2021 | 25

History grows at

Hatley Park

26 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

BY KEITH NORBURY

T

he Butchart Gardens is probably Canada’s most well-known horticultural attraction. However, about 20 km to the south on the west shore of Greater Victoria are the gardens at Hatley Park — a national historic site that today encompasses Royal Roads University.

The two Vancouver Island-based gardens share a key piece of Canadian landscaping history. The same man, Isabuo Kishida, designed signature Japanese gardens at both locations, notes Paul Allison, supervisor of gardens and grounds at Hatley Park.

Kishida had come to Victoria in the early 1900s, at the invitation of his son and a business partner, to design a garden to accompany a Japanese tea house at Gorge Park in nearby Esquimalt. Attending a garden party at Gorge Park were Jenny Butchart, the visionary behind her namesake gardens, and Laura Dunsmuir, the wife of former B.C. Premier James Dunsmuir, who had bought the Hatley Park property just a few years prior. While Greater Victoria’s two most celebrated gardens share a similar origin, they evolved into vastly different entities a century later.

“We don’t want to be another Butcharts,” Allison said. “One of the comments that I get from most visitors is that this is a gardener’s garden. Butchart Gardens is a great entertainment garden.”

Hatley Park, and what Allison is responsible for, encompasses much more than gardens. The estate covers more than 565 acres, including more than 15 km of trails that wind through forests of cedars and Douglas firs up to 900 years old.

The historic site also includes Garry oak meadows, a migratory bird sanctuary at Esquimalt Lagoon, Italian and rose gardens, campus gardens, and Hatley Castle, which has appeared as a backdrop in blockbuster movies like the X-Men films and Deadpool, as well as the MacGyver TV series in the 1980s.

“There are probably more people in the forest right now walking their dogs than

A Japanese garden bridge connects some of the more than 15 km of trails in Hatley Gardens.

there are in the gardens,” Allison said during an interview under the shade of a loggia bordering the Italian garden.

AVOID SOAKING JOHNNY DEPP

All that activity poses challenges for Allison and his crew. When he started at Hatley Park 23 years ago, they mowed as necessary. “And nobody ever said ‘shut that machine down,’” Allison said. “Now it’s the opposite.”

For his staff of 14 that includes five seasonal workers, it means a lot of operational MacGyvering, such as protecting the wisteria from the turbulence of helicopters or preventing “the irrigation system from going on and soaking Johnny Depp,” Allison quipped.

One way Allison and crew have kept the noise down is by utilizing electric tools, such as a self-propelled, 56-volt Ego brand mower that horticulture crew member Neil Ross is using on the turf in the Italian garden. “It’s great,” said Ross, who has worked seasonally at the site for about eight years. “Other electric motors I’ve used, when you hit something tough it powers down. But this guy actually powers up and keeps going.”

It’s the beauty and heritage of the site that keeps him coming back, Ross said, as he takes a break with historic Hatley Castle in the background. James Dunsmuir hired famed Victoria architect Samuel Maclure

in 1908 to build the castle. In doing so, Dunsmuir followed the lead of his coal baron father, Robert Dunsmuir, who some 20 years earlier had commissioned United States architect H.H. Richardson to design Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria.

After James and Laura Dunsmuir died, the Canadian government purchased the Hatley estate in 1940. For the next five decades, a military college, under various names, operated on the site, culminating with Royal Roads Military College, which closed in 1995. Almost immediately, the B.C. government established the civilian Royal Roads University, which continues to this day.

FIRST NATIONS HERITAGE

The heritage of Hatley Park long predates the university, military college or the Dunsmuirs, Allison pointed out. Local First Nations people — the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Lkwungen (Songhees) — lived in the region for thousands of years.

“If you see Garry oak meadows for sure the First Nations have had something to do with it,” said gardener John Kwaksistala, who is of Songhees and Wei Wai Kum ancestry, the latter from Campbell River on northern Vancouver Island.

His work at Hatley Park is diverse. On this day, he’s building a rock wall.

“When you’re a gardener or a landscaper, you deal with pretty much anything that’s in the ground or in the garden,” Kwaksistala

said. “So you do anything from irrigation, drainage, hardscaping, softscaping, landscaping, playing with tractors, dump trucks, excavators — all that kind of stuff.”

Kwaksistala previously worked in construction, but despite the good money he got sick of being around concrete and seeing trees cut down en masse. “Because I’m First Nations, I needed to do something with Mother Earth, nature, ecosystems — something like that,” Kwaksistala said.

So he took a horticulture program, which led to the job at Hatley Park.

“I started seeing past the buildings and past concrete in the streets, looking to the trees and the forests and the mountains and beyond what’s just directly in front of me,” he said. “Take a look. Trees and greenery are everywhere. And we need more of it.”

GREEN WITHOUT ENVY

Kwaksistala’s boss, Paul Allison, is equally enthusiastic when it comes to horticulture.

“Green is in the middle of the spectrum,” Allison explained. “That’s why it’s relaxing and balancing.”

Green is also the predominant colour of the Japanese garden. Its lower part — Allison’s favourite — was designed years after the original by Tadashia Noda.

Originally from Hiroshima, Noda oversaw the Japanese garden from 1913 to 1927.

Allison himself has designed gardens on three continents. A gardener for more than 50 of his 63 years, he explained it’s a OCTOBER 2021 | 27

Grounds worker Courtney Wiens uses an Ego electric mower.

and rhododendrons inside and outside of the Japanese gardens.

“And if I can go into the collection, find them and find the age of them, we will propagate those,” Parry said. “If we do nothing and don’t have any gene source going forward, once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

ALL ABOUT THE WATER

Paul Allison

calling rather than a career. Originally from Cornwall in the United Kingdom, Allison also spent his winters in Japan, teaching in the landscape architecture program at Tokyo Agricultural University for about a decade during his early years at Hatley Park when he was a summer gardener.

One of his last projects in Japan was helping survivors of the 2011 Tōhuko earthquake reintegrate into nature by encouraging them to grow small gardens.

“It’s very powerful the work that I’ve done; and in that sense, it’s very sustaining,” Allison said.

Allison still teaches, but mostly to MBA students about the “nature” of business.

Even then, he invokes what he learned about how the Japanese character for busyness, the kanji, “means to lose one’s heart.”

“If you’re going to be a good businessman, you need to deal with self care,” Allison added.

When teaching, he always asks why people create gardens. Yes, it’s about therapy and connecting with nature, he admits. But it also relates to the Savanna Hypothesis of American ecologist Gordon Orians.

“Our ancestors were looking at the Savanna, which was low-growing grasses, meandering paths or streams, small trees like acacias with branches close to the ground, so we can get in either escaping from the lions or looking at the water hole,” Allison said. “Flowers to our ancestors would mean basically reproduction.”

28 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

PRESERVING GENETIC STOCK

While the lawns are manicured with electric mowers and trimmers, other parts of the grounds are left to nature in order to preserve the heritage trees. “Somebody might say, ‘Why do we have all these tall grasses?’ It looks like we’re neglecting mowing an area,” Allison said. “And we have to educate everybody and say, ‘No, that’s a Garry oak meadow.’”

As part of its lease with Canada’s Department of National Defence, the university must meet stewardship requirements that include preparing full inventories of plants, trees and structures in the gardens and grounds, and establishing a nursery system to preserve the genetic stock of the heritage trees.

An example of the genetic preservation efforts is a Japanese umbrella pine tree that grew from a seed planted by Kishida’s great grandson. That seed came from a tree originally planted in 1910.

The university plans to upscale its small nursery in the near future, Allison said.

Charge hand Martin Parry said the university plans to start taking cuttings of its heritage rhododendrons and sending them out to botanical gardens or even giving them away to the public.

Parry, who joined Hatley Park in the spring of 2021, said the university has applied for grants to assist with the work, but will go ahead with it regardless. That will include propagating beech, tilia and 100-year-old cherry trees, as well as bulbs of native fawn lilies (Erythronium oregonum)

The rose garden — overseen by Greg Higgs, Hatley Park’s longest serving employee — recently had an irrigation system installed that eliminates hand watering.

“It’s all automated,” Parry said of the irrigation system. “And as long as we can keep an adequate amount of moisture in the soil, the roses will keep on blooming.” That six-week cycle begins in the spring and can continue until December, he added.

Hatley Park draws most of its own water from the Langford aquifer, so it doesn’t have to depend on Victoria’s regional water supply. Even in sweltering July heat, a spring from the aquifer bubbles from the bottom of a large pond in the Japanese garden. The aquifer is so prolific that the grounds often require additional drainage. “We could be in the middle of a drought and all this water would run down,” Allison said.

A century-old fish ladder made of concrete and stones also aerates the water.

“You’ve got water in so many different forms — the lagoon, the ocean, the fish ladders, the creeks, the ponds,” Allison said.

“And then you’ve got this huge diversity of forest and different plant material and the nature that goes along with that. What really makes this kind of special is the balance and harmony of so many different things and the buzz of biodiversity that is here.”

During the interview, Allison occasionally stops visitors from the gardens to ask their impressions.

Allison explained later, “I’m always curious what their perception is. If I had more time, I would say, ‘Why do you like the rose garden?’ Because it’s all sensory data coming in.”

Allison reveals that he has coined a name to describe his calling. “I’m a jardinist,” he said “and a jardinist is using horticulture for political and social change. You won’t hear that anywhere else because I only just created it.” LT

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OCTOBER 2021 | 31

LEGALMATTERS

When does a deficiency claim expire?

The “plausible inference” test may have consequences for construction

BY ROB KENNALEY IN JULY, THE SUPREME COURT of Canada

introduced a new test for the commencement of limitations periods in Canada.

In Grant Thornton LLP v. New Brunswick, the court held the clock starts ticking on a limitation period when a “plausible inference” of liability arises on facts that are — or ought to be — known through the exercise of reasonable diligence. The court also addressed the extent to which a party might need an expert’s report before such an inference arises.

The decision may have significant consequences for the construction industry. This, because the “discoverability” of construction defects has always been difficult to assess. Consider, for example, cracks which appear in a newly-poured foundation. These might be attributable to shrinkage, not a deficiency. They also might not be worth suing over. Has the owner, upon noticing the cracks, “discovered” a claim against the contractor, concrete supplier, geotechnical engineer, structural engineer and architect, simply because a “plausible inference” can be drawn that the cracks might be a deficiency attributable to something any one of them might be responsible for?

Can the owner take a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, or must it investigate the cause of the cracking in an effort to figure out what is going on (and who might be responsible)?

In Grant Thornton, the court was dealing with the two-year limitation period set out in New Brunswick’s Limitations of Actions Act. On its facts, New Brunswick had received a report that financial statements prepared for it by Grant Thornton (upon which the province had relied to its detriment) had not completed in accordance with GAAP accounting principles. New Brunswick did not, however, commence an action within two-years of receiving that report. Rather, it waited for a further report which confirmed the accountants had, in preparing the statements, fallen below the applicable standard of care.

At first instance, a motions judge dismissed the action

32 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

as being out of time, as the first report gave the province sufficient grounds to commence an action, known as “prima facie” grounds in law. New Brunswick’s Court of Appeal, however, held that the province only discovered its legally enforceable right to a judicial remedy once it had knowledge of each constituent element of its claim. On further appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada reinstated the motion judge’s dismissal. In doing so, the Supreme Court moved away from a prima facie case test, stating: “Since the term prima facie can carry different meanings, using plausible inference in the present context ensures consistency. A plausible inference is one which gives rise to a ‘permissible fact inference.’”

At first blush, it appears the Supreme Court has either confirmed or established a low threshold for discoverability: clearly, the mere plausibility of an inference that someone is responsible for damage is a very low bar. However, the citation above makes it clear that the court found it appropriate to apply the plausible inference test “in the present context.” Indeed, the court confirmed that discoverability is a question of fact to be determined in all of the circumstances, upon the application of the particular limitations legislation. It might be, then, that the change in terminology (from “prima facie case” to “plausible inference of liability”) will not represent a drastic change in the law of limitations, in practice. Time will tell.

However, the court also confirmed a plaintiff need not know the exact type of harm it has suffered, or the precise cause of its injury, for the limitations clock to start running. In addition, it confirmed the principle that a plaintiff must exercise reasonable diligence in discovering its claim, such that even a suspicion may be enough to trigger an obligation to investigate. It is in how the court addressed the role of expert reports in the investigation and discovery of claims that, in our view, the Grant Thornton decision became potentially very significant in the construction industry. continued >

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Prior to Grant Thornton, it had been held (in Ontario at least, for example) that a lack of due diligence to investigate is not necessarily fatal to a claim and that it may in some cases be necessary for an expert’s opinion or report to be obtained, particularly where an investigation is required to determine the cause of the damage, where the matter is complex and where establishing liability depends on expert analysis.

The Court in Grant Thornton, however, held that the “standard cannot be so high as to make it possible for a plaintiff to acquire the requisite knowledge only through discovery or experts.” It is unclear whether this statement was intended to address the role of experts in all cases or, rather, only where both damage and causation are already known and a report is required to confirm liability (as was the case in the matter before it).

Only time will tell us what the impact of Grant Thornton will be. In the meantime, construction participants who face a potential claim’s expiry should anticipate that defendants will closely scrutinize the timing of an action and (increasingly) oppose claims they believe may be out of time. Also, potential claimants should be cautioned that awaiting a report on causation or liability may not be as permissible as it perhaps once was. Accordingly, once parties become aware of a possible claim, they would be well-advised to seek counsel as to how to preserve and protect the possible claim.

There is this to be added: In some provinces, statutory exceptions to the “discovery” principle may play a role. In this regard, the Limitations Act in each of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba provide that a claim will not arise until “having regard to the nature of the injury, loss or damage, a proceeding would be an appropriate means to seek to remedy it.” In Nova Scotia, the Limitations Act imposes a “sufficiently serious” exception, providing that: “A claim is discovered on the day on which the claimant first knew or ought reasonably to have known that the injury, loss or damage is sufficiently serious to warrant a proceeding.” Whether or not such exceptions might extend the limitation period in any circumstance is beyond the scope of this article, but it should be noted that such clauses may provide relief where it is found that a claim ought to have been “discovered.” LT

ROB KENNALEY

is with Kennaley Construction Law, a construction law firm with offices in Simcoe, Toronto and Barrie.

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34 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

PA RTN E R CO N TE N T

Aligning technology to your landscape business goals

BY MARK TIPTON CEO & co-founder, Aspire Software

I

n 2021, the technology you use to run your landscaping business shouldn’t be an afterthought. The platform you choose can have a serious impact on your company’s ability to reach its goals. Working with a frankensystem of disjointed solutions and manual processes doesn’t just slow down progress, it can actually send you in the wrong direction—often without even realizing it.

When you use a comprehensive business management system like Aspire, you can confidently set and measure realistic goals. Aspire connects all of your data—from estimating and scheduling to purchasing, invoicing, job costing, and more—so you have full visibility into your business operations. This level of insight allows you to stay on track by making more informed, proactive decisions.

Real-time data Accurate, real-time job costing data is critical if you want to monitor progress effectively.

Aspire Landscape’s best-in-the-industry job costing features yield real-time insights by division, service type, property, manager, crew leader, or work ticket— allowing you to get as granular as possible to review expenses‚ and make changes if necessary.

This doesn’t just save you time in the long run—it also increases consistency and accuracy between estimates.

Support Software can’t help you reach your full potential on its own. It needs users to build and review reports, update work tickets, assign pricing, and distribute schedules.

To get the most out of any platform, users need to be equipped for success through a robust implementation process and dedicated support services.

At Aspire Software, our commitment to customer success starts with a 60-day implementation process and continues with our AspireCare support team, client success managers, and on-demand knowledge base.

Aspire Landscape has the power to take your business to the next level, and we’re here to make sure you get there.

Technology doesn’t have to be your enemy. If you can harness its potential to bring your business processes together under one roof, it can unlock the level of realtime visibility and flexibility you need to identify—and exceed—your landscape company’s goals.

Accuracy Most landscape contractors underestimate their costs by at least 1%, which adds up to $48,000 in lost profits for a $3 million company. One of the quickest ways to boost revenue without incurring additional costs is to evaluate your estimating process. The more accurate your bids, the better chance you’ll have at reaching your goals.

To make the bidding process more efficient and accurate, Aspire Landscape allows you to create kits— sets of commonly used items with pricing associated.

(For example, you could have a shrub kit that includes the cost of the plant, soil, mulch, and labor hours needed for installation.) You can even set up templates for bidding similar types of jobs.

Utilized by more than 51,000 users in over 1,200 locations, the Aspire platform is trusted to manage nearly $4 billion in landscape industry revenue.

For more tips on growing your landscape business, or to learn more about how landscape business management software can improve your profit margins and boost employee retention, visit youraspire.com.

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866.727.7473 OCTOBER 2021 | 35

MANAGEMENTSOLUTIONS

The problem with unit pricing Assuming a fixed cost per item may be detrimental to your bottom line

BY MARK BRADLEY PRICING WORK BY THE UNIT is as old as the landscape industry itself. Many contractors use this pricing system as their default method. Others are forced into unit pricing by cities, architects or project managers who insist on getting bids in a unit price format. No matter why you’re doing it, recognize that unit pricing is hurting your company’s profits, not helping them.

Unit prices seem easy

One of the most significant problems with unit pricing is assuming a fixed amount of labour per item. This might be 1.5 hours per tree or 0.15 hours per square foot, but that labour is just an average.

While it might help you guesstimate the time it’s going to take to complete a job, it’s more than likely to hurt your profits when submitting a unit price bid.

Using unit prices is like forecasting the average weather. The average temperature might be 9 C, but that doesn’t tell you how to dress each day. What if it rains? If you woke up and dressed for the average temperature, you’d rarely be dressed appropriately.

Let’s say you have a job where you have to plant 20 trees.

You’re going to send a four-person crew and figure they can plant those trees in nine hours. Your cost will likely include labour ($720), equipment ($550), trees ($4,000), delivery charges ($400), overhead recovery ($540) and other materials ($1,000). The cost accumulates to $7,060 or $353 per tree, and your price estimate is $11,700 or $585 per tree.

We’re okay here because we calculated the $585 based on the estimated job labour. We’re as close to accurate as we can reasonably get.

Bid changes typically hurt the contractor

Now let’s imagine the customer says: “Thank you for your price.

We’re a little bit over budget, so we only want you to install 15 trees.” I’ll draw up a PO for 15 trees based on $585 per tree, for a total of $8,775.

Unfortunately, in this instance, your costs as a contractor do not drop proportionately to the materials. Here’s why:

36 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

• • • • • •

Trucks still need to be loaded and leave the yard.

The vehicles still need fuel and must be loaded.

It takes the same amount of time to drive to the site.

Equipment must be tied up on the site for the day.

Delivery charges remain the same.

The crew will not clock out at 3:15 p.m. because there are fewer trees, so they’ll likely stretch the job out to the end of the day.

• Overhead on this job doesn’t decrease. We still have the same rent that day, and spend the exact time ordering and managing the work on this project.

• So let’s revisit our estimate, but this time with only 15 trees.

The original estimate of $585 per tree isn’t very good at 15 trees. The cost per tree increased from $353 per tree to $390 per tree, and our price is $585 when it should be $647 per tree. Now our company is eating $100 per tree in increased costs and lost revenue and we’re under-bidding this job by $1,500.

Bid increases can hurt too

Let’s imagine we’re the low bidder at $585 a tree. They liked our bid so much, and they increased their budget from 20 trees to 30 trees.

However, 30 trees are too many to plant in a single day, so we’re going to have to send the crew back for a second day to plant the extra 10 trees. In reality, we’re not going to get to a second job that day. By the time we mobilize, install the trees and break for lunch, there’s not enough time left in the day to start another job.

In this scenario, our cost per tree increases to $374 from $353.

It’s not quite as bad as the previous example, but increased costs and decreased revenue means we’re eating $60 per tree and under-bidding the job by $1,800.

The average price is rarely right

There are scenarios where unit pricing can work in your favour. Not every change hurts the contractor, but changes are far more likely to be to the contractor’s detriment than to our benefit — especially

when contracts are awarded on a low bid basis.

Average unit prices are rarely correct. They cannot factor in significant job variables: • Are we installing five or 100 trees? You’ll undoubtedly install the 100 trees faster per tree as economies of scale kick in.

• What kind of equipment is available for the job?

• How are materials being picked up and delivered?

• What’s the access like to the planting location? Soil conditions?

• Which crew is expected to do the work?

• W hat season will the work be done?

Cost-based pricing

If you are pricing your work with unit pricing, it’s time to stop. It would be best if you always were cost-based estimating using actual labour, equipment, materials, sub and overhead recovery costs when arriving at your bid. Not only will you have a more accurate price, but you’ll also have a clear plan about how long a job should take, what equipment and material should be delivered, and what your actual net profit is.

If you have a customer or bid that insists on this pricing method, you have little choice but to roll with the punches, but always consider the impact of potential changes. If possible, ask for the opportunity to re-price before you agree to any changes.

And at the very least, take the opportunity to educate your customer. Every job is different, but remember, the price is rarely right when pricing is based on averages.

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Master the upsell

Whether you do design/build or maintenance, there’s no profit margin like an upsell margin.

Look for materials that are installed with minimal labour — such as plants, patio furniture, lighting kits, decorative structures or art pieces — and work them into your sales processes. These materials and products typically have substantial markups and drive revenue increases with few labour hours added.

Every accomplished business owner will tell you that knowing your numbers is critical to success. For landscapers, your field labour ratio is the key to maximizing labour productivity. Put these strategies into practice to improve your field labour ratio, and you’ll be well on your way to potentially doubling your net profits. LT

MARK BRADLEY

is CEO of LMN Software, and former CEO of TBG Environmental, both based in Ontario.

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THE SALT DEPOT OCTOBER 2021 | 37

CNLANEWS

THE BEST OF CANADIAN LANDSCAPING

CNLA presents the 2021 National Awards of Landscape Excellence Canada’s top landscape projects and nurseries were honoured at the 2021 National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE).

Presented by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), the NALE winners were announced Sept. 15, via an online event hosted by Mark and Ben Cullen.

The awards celebrate the best-ofthe-best in landscape and horticulture, recognizing the outstanding work of companies across the country that are raising the level of professionalism in the Canadian landscape industry.

The awards consist of five landscape categories, with each provincial association nominating members from its own awards of excellence competition. In addition, the Green for Life Community Award recognizes incredible projects within communities that benefit the public through the construction or maintenance of green spaces. As well, two new awards were added this year: the CNLA Grower of the Year Award and the CNLA Garden Centre of the Year Award.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Aden Earthworks

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CNLANEWS Para Space Landscaping (Burnaby, B.C.) Granville Island Project Green for Life Community Award Granville Island in Vancouver, B.C., is home to about 400 trees, 150 seasonal flower beds, 2.5 acres of lawn, two ponds and three playgrounds. The revamp of Granville Island’s entrance began in 2019, and incorporated a large boulder wall to correct the grade and preserve mature willow trees. A habitat for pond wildlife and perennial flower beds were also created. The site is now recognized for breaking new ground by incorporating core principles of sustainability.

The Cultivated Garden (Toronto, Ont.) Ivey Residence HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Landscape Maintenance Ivey Residence includes a terraced backyard and view of Toronto’s skyline, which creates an open and large impression for the residential property. Staff are on site weekly tending to the perennial garden full of plants selected based on the client’s love of the colour purple.

For contrast, the front yard is simple and green with crisp lines.

“The thing about winning an award is it’s really a testament to the staff’s skills,” said Barbara Rosenzweig of the Cultivated Garden.

“They are the ones that do the hard work.”

VisionScapes

VisionScapes (Calgary, Alta.)

Lotus Gardens HortProtect National Award of Excellence for Landscape Design Lotus Gardens includes a custom-built outdoor kitchen, a hand-carved stone fountain, multiple hidden sheds and an 1,100 kg Buddha sculpture. The pergola design was created by watching how sunlight moves through the property to ensure optimal shade coverage.

As well, thousands of square feet of Batu hardwood was used for fencing and tied in through aspects of the home and landscape.

“This award is definitely not mine. It’s for our team. Everyone that put their heart and soul into this project deserves recognition,” said Jeff Campbell, founder, managing partner and president of VisionScapes.

Millcreek Nursery (Edmonton, Alta.)

CNLA Garden Centre of the Year Award Millcreek Nursery is a century-old family farm located within the Edmonton city limits.

Established in 1903, the farm operated as a dairy farm, before transforming into a retail and wholesale provider of potted trees, shrubs and perennials as well as gifts and garden decor. Today, the dairy farm’s vintage red barn is a landmark for the nursery.

“Probably the greatest award to me is to be a supplier to the University of Alberta,” said Millcreek Nursery owner Ken Riske. “I have a forestry degree and graduated in 1981, and now supply them with products they use on their grounds to beautify the University of Alberta.” continued >

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OCTOBER 2021 | 39

CNLANEWS The Cultivated Garden

Aden Earthworks (Toronto, Ont.) Musee Picass Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence for Commercial Landscape Construction Located at the corner of Bathurst St. and Adelaide St. W in downtown Toronto, Musee Picass creates an oasis for condo residents away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The project included various hardscape and softscape elements spanning several floors of the condo building, as well as individual patios for townhomes and a park on the ground level.

“This project was one of our best projects we have worked on over the last number of years,” said Ben Zlotnick owner of Aden Earthworks.

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Fossil Landscape Construction (Vancouver, B.C.) West Vancouver Estate Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Landscape Construction West Vancouver Estate is located about 25 minutes from the city’s downtown core.

Fossil Landscape Construction worked with the property’s natural bedrock, trees and an adjacent park to create a mixed environment, rich in native plants.

“Working on high end residential projects gives us the opportunity to work with some amazing consultants, landscape architects, materials and designs,” said Andrew Foster, project manager for Fossil Landscape Construction.

Strathmore Landscape Contractors (LaSalle, Que.) Rideau Canal Corridor HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence for Commercial Landscape Maintenance Commissioner’s Park in Ottawa, Ont., is situated on the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park’s foliage ranges from annuals to 100-year-old specimen trees.

Each year, Strathmore Landscape Contractors plant 300,000 tulip bulbs in the park’s garden beds, which are later rotated out with annual flowers. Just deadheading the hostas alone requires an entire day’s work for the Strathmore team.

“The nice thing about this property is that the feedback is constant,” said Jessica Milligan, vice president of Strathmore. “We have thousands of people that go through this park on a weekly basis. They really appreciate the work they see happening here.”

Eagle Lake Nurseries (Strathmore, Alta.)

CNLA Grower of the Year Award.

For more than 50 years, the family-owned Eagle Lake Nurseries has supplied prairiegrown trees, shrubs and perennials to the horticulture industry throughout Western Canada and the northern United States.

“We’re always trying new things to see what we can push the envelope on and see what may be hardy,” said Anita Heuver, owner of the nursery.

LT

To watch a replay of the awards, including videos of current and past winners, visit cnla.ca/awards 40 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

OCTOBER 2021 | 41

NEWSSCAPE

SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM NAMED PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) named Schizachyrium scoparium — and its cultivars — the 2022 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Perennials selected for the honour are suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest and are relatively disease-free.

The Perennial Plant of the Year designation began in 1990 to showcase a perennial that stands-out among its competitors.

The wider selection of Schizachyrium scoparium cultivars are selected by perennial experts in several regions of North America.

For the Canadian region, Tony Post of Brookdale Treeland Nurseries - Valleybrook Farm, selected the ‘Standing Ovation’ cultivar.

“This selection adds excellent texture to the summer garden,” Post said. “Burgundy highlights add late season interest. Seed heads are attractive, particularly when backlit.”

Patty Steinhauser of Stonehouse Nursery picked the ‘Carousel’ cultivar for the Great Lakes region.

“This uniquely mounded selection forms a wide clump of bluegreen foliage that emerges nearly horizontal and matures into strong, upright stems that remain standing through inclement weather and winter,” Steinhauser said. “It takes on pink, copper and orange-red tones in fall topped with tiny seed tufts.”

Richard Hawke from the Chicago Botanic Garden selected

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Jazz’ for the Central region. Hawke noted the cultivar reaches about 90-cm tall and 75-cm wide.

“The striking silvery blue leaves of Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Jazz’ are most comparable to ‘The Blues,’” Hawke said.

For the Western region, Nanci Hollerith Allen of MarkWatch Plants notes Schizachyrium scoparium is a tricky plant without reasonably dry, well-drained soil. However, Hollerith Allen recommended ‘The Blues’ and ‘Standing Ovation’ for the pacific northwest and Rocky Mountain regions.

DÜMMEN ORANGE AND CHRYSANNE JOIN FORCES TO FURTHER DEVELOP SUPERNOVA

Left to right: Marcel van der Voort (owner of Van Schie), Noëlia Mansilla (president EMEA of Dümmen Orange), Mike van Os (global product manager, pot plants for Dümmen Orange) and Hans van Leeuwen (owner of Lionplant).

42 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Dümmen Orange is partnering with Chrysanne to collaborate on the further development of the Supernova series, a disbudded pot chrysanthemum.

Growers Lionplant and Van Schie will market the Supernova series under the name Chrysanne.

“The Supernova is already a very nice series, but we are far from finished,” said Mike van Os, Dümmen Orange’s global product manager of pot plants. “Together with Chrysanne we will continue to develop this beautiful plant over the full width.”

The Supernova is distinguished by a reduced need for inhibitors (PGR), which means that production is less harmful to the environment.

The Supernova is a firm, disbudded pot chrysanthemum with larger, double flowers and a shelf life of at least five weeks.

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NEWSSCAPE GISC PIVOTS TO A VIRTUAL EVENT FORMAT a live GISC. Landscape Alberta, the show’s host, considered several options to host an in-person show. However, the consensus was to pivot to a virtual format to provide

The 2021 Green Industry Show & Conference (GISC) will proceed as a virtual event.

Recent changes to Alberta’s COVID-19 protocols created an unlikely pathway for

value by offering targeted seminars to the Prairie horticultural industry.

“It became clear that holding a live event this fall would not offer an optimal experience for our exhibitors and attendees.

We pride ourselves on decades of success with this annual event and that continues as we plan for a live event next year,” said Joel Beatson, CEO of Landscape Alberta.

The virtual conference will take place Nov. 18-19, and feature 14 hours of online sessions.

The online event will not include a trade show, and exhibitor booth fees will be refunded. Sponsors and advertisers will be offered new opportunities or refunds.

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Brandt announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire all shares of Cervus Equipment Corporation.

The acquisition, which values Cervus Equipment at $302 million, will create one of the largest privately-held dealership groups in the world.

“The Brandt team is excited about this deal as it will allow us to better serve our customer base across Canada. The addition of Cervus’ offerings will form three brand new segments at Brandt, dedicated to serving the agriculture, transportation and material handling industries,” said Brandt CEO Shaun Semple.

“These segments, in addition to our existing specializations in construction, roadbuilding, forestry and more, will further establish Brandt as a total solutions provider across our diverse customer groups.”

Cervus Equipment operates 64 dealerships — representing numerous manufacturers — across Canada, Australia and New Zealand.“ As a private company with a committed, well-capitalized and longterm owner, Cervus will be better positioned for the next stage of evolutionary growth for our dealerships. The size and scale of the entity created by the combination of our two companies will allow for increased investment into Cervus for the benefit of our employees and customers,” said Angela Lekatsas, president and CEO of Cervus.

NEWSSCAPE ASPIRE SOFTWARE PARTNERS WITH SITEONE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Aspire Software has partnered with SiteOne Landscape Supply to focus on improving the estimating process in the Aspire Landscape platform.

Following the partnership, Aspire Landscape will include up-to-date catalogues for all SiteOne locations to help estimators obtain the latest pricing on materials and supplies.

With an integrated SiteOne catalogue, Aspire Landscape users are able to eliminate the guesswork in assembling accurate estimates.

As well, the Aspire Landscape and SiteOne integration will provide up-to-date pricing for SiteOne locations, eliminating the guesswork in assembling accurate estimates. As material costs vary from one location to the next, users will be able to access prices for their preferred SiteOne locations for accurate quotes.

The integration will help users create more accurate estimates in less time, since they’ll have current pricing readily available, with no need to contact SiteOne locations directly to inquire about specific products.

LMN ACQUIRES GREENIUS, OPENS PEI LOCATION Landscape Management Network (LMN) has acquired Greenius, an online training software company specializing in landscaping.

Together, the London, Ontario-based Greenius and LMN will create the green industry’s first fully-integrated system offering end-to-end training, combined with comprehensive business management software. Greenius will also continue to provide a stand-alone offering to customers. Financial details on the acquisition are not being disclosed.

The Greenius team joins LMN immediately, filling an increasing customer need. A recent survey found that 70 per cent of LMN customers identified training as a top priority for their employees in the coming years.

“The addition of Greenius to the LMN family is huge for our customers and the

Jan 11-13, 2022

industry,” said Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN. “We know just how important training is to landscaping leaders and their teams, and with Greenius, we can provide the best available training to help customers meet and exceed their needs.”

LMN has also opened its second office in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The new site, in downtown Charlottetown, will house more than 50 employees, including customer service, business development and technology positions. LMN’s chief technology officer, Mike Lysecki, will be based at the location.

“Prince Edward Island and Charlottetown are growing areas for top talent across Canada,” said Lysecki, who recently relocated to P.E.I. from Ontario.

“The province’s proximity to universities and its passionate workforce makes it the perfect place for our expansion.”

Jan 18-20, 2022

OCTOBER 2021 | 45

NEWSSCAPE PLANT HEALTH SURVEY IDENTIFIES PROMISING GLOBAL INDUSTRY INVESTMENT

The International Association of Horticultural Producers’ (AIPH) International Plant Health Survey 2021 reveals a promising bio-secure future for the ornamental horticulture industry.

The survey was conducted in early 2021 as part of the International Year of Plant Health 2020, and in response to growing concerns about biosecurity and the ornamental horticulture industry’s duty to sustainability.

The survey aimed to explore how industry organizations work to enhance plant biosecurity in their regions and share information to improve biosecurity within businesses and supply chains.

“The AIPH Plant Health survey is an important commitment of the global ornamental horticultural industry, which relies on international trade to contribute to

the sustainability of its future in supporting plant health,” said Ralf Lopian, chair of the international steering committee, International Year of Plant Health 2020.

“It is particularly essential to consider that prevention is a key aspect and more costeffective than dealing with full-blown plant health emergencies. Plant pests and diseases do not respect national borders and do not show passports.”

Through the report, AIPH concluded that voluntary standards are increasingly relied upon by industry and regulators to reduce the risk posed by plant pests for national or international trade. Worldwide, 11 voluntary standards for plant health management were identified. The highest perceived level of threat from plant pests and diseases was the trade of live plants and cut flowers, with the second-highest level being identified as growing systems.

As well, AIPH found there is a basis for creating an international equivalence framework between standards.

AIPH aims to set up a Global Plant Health Forum to facilitate information sharing and the development of consistency across supply chains.

LT

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NEWPRODUCTS TOUGHSERIES HAND TOOLS DeWalt introduces its most durable line of hand tools yet. Designed for heavy-duty use, the new ToughSeries includes three tape measures, three hammers and two screwdriver sets. The new tape measures are designed to survive a 30-m drop, while the hammers deliver 10 times more corrosion resistance than previous models.

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E88 COMPACT EXCAVATOR Bobcat’s new R2 Series E88 compact excavator delivers a 14 per cent improvement in over-the-side lift capacity, compared to its predecessor.

The E88 comes equipped with dual-flange track rollers, integrated counterweight, extra machine weight and added track on ground.

The 8,900-kg excavator is powered by a new 65.4-hp Bobcat engine.

Bobcat

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SRP STRIP LIGHT Designed for outdoor living spaces, the new SRP Strip Light from FX Luminaire features a unique splice connector design that eliminates the need for heat shrink or adhesive. Each SRP Strip Light is available in 3.1-m lengths with 51-mm cutmarks for precision customization.

FX Luminaire fxl.com

continued >

Infinitely adjustable wings allow operators to easily clear along side curbs without damaging equipment or property.

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OCTOBER 2021 | 47

NEWPRODUCTS

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Designed for half-ton trucks and larger, Hilltip introduces the IceStriker 6000CM Combi Spreader — the largest Hilltip model available in North America. The Combi Spreader features a 4,500-litre capacity and a 30-cm pintle chain-driven unit. Combi spreaders are able to spread salt, sand and gravel, as well as transform into a liquid deicing sprayer.

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STICKYSTONE Techniseal introduces StickyStone, a new professional-grade, vertical adhesive for hardscape installations and veneering applications on a wide range of substrates. The new quick-tack adhesive offers a strong initial grab strength, resists sagging and sustains exposure to UV rays and weathering effects.

StickyStone is a low odour, low VOC single-component product.

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48 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

EVENTS

ADVERTISERS COMPANY

WEBSITE

A.M.A. Horticulture Inc

NOV. 18-19

PAGE

GREEN INDUSTRY SHOW AND CONFERENCE Virtual greenindustryshow.com

amahort.com 48

Aspire Software

youraspire.com

2, 35, 46

Atlas Polar Company Ltd atlaspolar.com 44 Bailey Nurseries Beaver Valley Stone Ltd

beavervalleystone.com 38

Bobcat Company

bobcat.com 51

Boss Snowplow

Husqvarna John Deere Limited Miska Trailers

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO CONGRESS Toronto, Ont. locongress.com

coivic.com 48

durhamartificialgrass.ca 57

Gro-Bark (Ontario) Ltd Horst Welding

JAN. 11-13, 2022

bossplow.com 63

Coivic Specimen Trees Durham Artificial Grass

JAN. 6, 2022

IPM SYMPOSIUM Virtual horttrades.com/ipm-symposium-2022

baileynurseries.com 40

JAN. 18-20, 2022

gro-bark.com 34 horstwelding.com

CONGRESS CONFERENCE Virtual locongress.com

37, 47

husqvarna.ca 23

JAN. 25, 2022

deere.com 15

LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS CONFERENCE Virtual horttrades.com/landscape-designer-conference-2022

miskatrailers.com 52

Neudorff North America neudorff.com 19 PRO Landscape by Drafix Software prolandscape.com Pro-Power Canada Inc

39

propowercanada.ca 33

Spring Meadow Nursery Inc springmeadownursery.com 17 Stihl Ltd

CORRECTIONS

stihl.ca 37

Takeuchi Manufacturing takeuchi-us.com 20 The Salt Depot Walters Gardens Inc

saltdepot.ca 52

An image on Page 34 of the August issue misidentified a Gypsy Moth nest. Images on pages 22 and 23 also inadvertently misidentified the Fisher TrailCommander drop spreader and SnowEx mid-duty UTV plow.

Landscape Trades regrets the errors.

waltersgardens.com 29

Windy Ridge Corporation stonehook.com 25 Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd winkelmolen.com 13 Zander Sod Co Ltd

zandersod.com 46

LET’S TALK ABOUT

Marketing One thing is certain: Your brand will need visibility.

GIVE US A CALL!

GREG SUMSION

647-722-6977 gsumsion@landscapeontario.com

LIZ LANT

416-848-7557 elant@landscapeontario.com

landscapetrades.com/advertise OCTOBER 2021 | 49

MENTORMOMENT

Making the cut in landscape maintenance BRAD PATON is president of Shades of Summer Landscaping, based in Waterdown, Ont. He founded the company in 2009 with a focus on residential maintenance. Today, Shades of Summer has won more than 30 industry awards, and has expanded into landscape design, construction and renovation. Paton also serves as chair of Landscape Ontario’s Grounds Management Sector Group.

You found success quickly after opening Shades of Summer in 2009.

What type of preparation do you believe helped you hit the ground running?

I worked for someone for 17 years before I went out on my own because I wasn’t naive to the fact that it’s not easy.

It’s not easy getting clients, it’s not easy making money and it’s not easy pricing things. You need a place to get rid of brush and a place to park your trucks. That’s all very difficult and you need to have that sorted out before you start your own business.

A lot of people fail within the first few years. You really have to know your stuff. You have to know your numbers, know who your clientele is going to be and know who is going to work for you. And you have to be able to manage yourself.

You also have to learn how to talk to clients. You have to be able to get a sense of who they are and what their needs are. I definitely find that talking to an 80-year-old woman is different from talking to one of our clients that is a neurologist. Some of them are owners of law firms. Those are the sort of guys you don’t want to mess around with. You can’t be a rookie kid coming in there. Our clients want a lot of confidence that they’re getting the best.

You’ve also said you often work with your clients on maintaining a property?

I like to work with them. A lot of our clients are very passionate gardeners themselves. They care about their properties. I think that’s also key to who our clients are. They’re really engaged in their properties.

50 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Is that always an advantage?

It is and it isn’t. Sometimes they’re also the crazy ones that come out and ask you to do ridiculous things. At the same time, we always do it. It’s not to say the client is always right, but we try to make them happy. That’s sort of the way it goes.

When it comes to grounds maintenance, what creates an award-winning property?

It’s the attention to detail and the time we put into the work we do. A lot of the guys I talk to in grounds maintenance have set contracts, but we charge on an hourly basis. So, we just go there and do what needs to be done and make it look perfect.

We probably have at least 10 clients where money isn’t an issue, so we can go and make it look beautiful. And we all enjoy it.

Everybody here that is full-time staff, this is what they love to do. It isn’t a stop-gap job for them. They all like the work and we all take pride in the work we do.

What makes a good grounds maintenance employee?

I think it’s just a positive attitude. One of our employees, when she started with me, I don’t think she had a ton of experience in maintenance. Now, she’s a Red Seal horticulturist. She’s come a long way. She is very creative, very good at what she does and takes a lot of pride in her work.

I know it’s really tough right now, guys are hiring pretty much everybody. The industry is so desperate to find employees and I’ve been there. You get the dream ones sometimes, but they only come by every few years.

What advice would you offer to someone in the landscape profession looking to start their own maintenance company?

I would suggest making sure you get a role with a really good company and learn whatever you can. It’s not easy. LT

OCTOBER 2021 | 51