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2  HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
269 Sunset Drive St. Thomas, Ontario N5R 3C4 Phone: (519) 631-1008 Fax: (519) 631-0818 E-mail: tji@canadale.com
Chapter events
For more chapter event listings, visit www.horttrades.com. October 21 Georgian Lakelands Chapter meeting Meaford Golf and Country Club, 408 Ridge Road, Meaford Join the Georgian Lakelands Chapter at the Meaford Golf and Country Club at 7 p.m. with speaker J. Paul Lamarche of JPL Consulting discussing finances. Contact Heather Williams at hwilliams@landscapeontario.com with any questions. October 21 Golden Horseshoe Chapter meeting Duke Equipment, 1184 Plains Rd E., Burlington Join the Golden Horseshoe Chapter from 10 – 2 p.m. for a discussion about snow contracts by Jim Hornung Jr. of the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA). For more information, contact Helen Hassard at hhassard@landscapeontario.com.
November 2 Durham Chapter meeting Holiday Inn, 1011 Bloor Street East, Oshawa Landscape Ontario Night: Welcome leadership and staff from LO’s home office at 7 p.m. to share planned activities of this coming winter season. For more information on the meeting, contact Helen Hassard at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354, or helen@landscapeontario.com November 4 Toronto Chapter meeting Join the Toronto Chapter at 6:30 p.m., as Stewart Knight presents The Art of Powerful Conversation. Location TBD. November 9 London Chapter meeting Lamplighter Inn, Royal Palm Room, 591 Wellington Rd. S., London Join the Chapter to find out the latest trends in hardscapes and permeable pavers. Member profile
will be Stone In Style. The social hour runs from 6 to 7 p.m. There is no charge for this meeting. Meeting sponsor is Unilock. Contact Wendy Harry at 1-888-211-5606, ext. 2356, or wharry@landscapeontario.com. November 10 Upper Canada Chapter meeting Strathcona Paper Centre, Napanee Join the Upper Canada Chapter meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, contact Helen Hassard at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354, or helen@landscapeontario.com. November 19 Waterloo Fall Freeze-up Waterloo Inn, 475 King Street North, Waterloo This year’s Fall Freeze-up has an all-new location — Waterloo Inn — and menu. The annual Freeze-up is one of the most popular Waterloo Chapter events of the year. Call Cheryl at 519746-2288, or email Cheryl@tsbenefits.net.
LO and industry events
For more Landscape Ontario and industry event listings, visit www.horttrades.com. October 15 LO Day with the Ti-Cats vs. Argos Rogers Centre, Toronto Put on your black and gold, or double blue and celebrate Landscape Ontario Day at the Rogers Centre, where Toronto Argonauts will play the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. LO has set aside a block of tickets for our members to enjoy a fun-day out and a great networking opportunity. For information, contact Helen Hassard at helen@landscapeontario.com, 905-875-1805, ext. 354.
October 18 Garden Centre Symposium Berton Room at Toronto Congress Centre Interest is escalating for the most exciting lineup of speakers to ever take part in Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre Symposium. It will all come together on Mon., Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Berton Room at Toronto Congress Centre. Registration for Expo trade show takes place Oct 19-20. For more information visit www. loexpo.ca.
October 19 - October 20 Expo 2010 (Formerly Garden & Floral Expo) Toronto Congress Centre This trade-only event has grown to be Canada’s premier fall buying show for the green and floral industries and offers a Window to the World in 2010. Show hours are Tues., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wed., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.loexpo.ca.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 3
Landscape Ontario staff LO staff members are committed to member service. Please call with your questions or concerns. Tel: (905) 875-1805 or 1-800-265-5656 Fax: (905) 875-3942 Web: www.horttrades.com
Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural industry in Ontario. Suffix for all e-mail addresses below: @landscapeontario.com
Executive Board
Windsor Chapter
E-mail suffix for all staff members: @landscapeontario.com Executive director Tony DiGiovanni CHT, ext. 304, tonydigiovanni@ Executive assistant Kathleen Pugliese, ext. 309, kpugliese@
President
President: Mark Williams Board rep: Garry Moore
Past president
Garden Centre
Controller Joe Sabatino, ext. 310, jsabatino@
Grounds Management
Administrative assistant Jane Leworthy, ext. 301, jleworthy@
Tom Intven, tintven@ Robert Adams, robertadams@ First vice-president
Tim Kearney CLP, tkearney@
Chair: Michael Van Dongen Board rep: Bob McCannell, bmccannell@
Second vice-president
Chair: Mike DeBoer, CHT Board rep: Brian Marsh
Secretary/treasurer
Growers
Phil Charal, pcharal@ Jacki Hart CLP
Provincial Board Durham Chapter
President: Greg Scarlett Board rep: Mark Humphries, mhumphries@
Chairs: Mark Ostrowski Board rep: Dave Braun
Interior Plantscapes
Chair and board rep: Stephen Schell CHTI
Irrigation
Manager, education, and labour development, Sally Harvey CLT, CLP, ext. 315, sharvey@
Education, labour, and certification project coordinator Rachel Burt, ext. 326, rachelb@ Seminar and safety group coordinator Kathy McLean, ext. 306, kathym@ Membership coordinator, Helen Hassard, ext. 354, hhassard@ Chapter coordinator, Georgian Lakelands Chapter Heather Williams, ext. 370, hwilliams@
Chair: Chris Le Conte Board rep: Steve Macartney CIT, smacartney@
Chapter coordinator, London Chapter Wendy Harry, 519-488-0818, wharry@
President: Michael LaPorte CHTC Board rep: Warren Patterson
Landscape Contractors
Chapter coordinator, Ottawa Chapter Martha Walsh, ext. 368, mwalsh@
Golden Horseshoe Chapter
Lawn Care
Manager, information technology Ian Service, 416-848-7555, iservice@
Georgian Lakelands Chapter
President: Fiore Zenone Board rep: Brian Cocks
London Chapter
President: Grant Harrison Board rep: Peter Vanderley CLP
Ottawa Chapter
President: Sarah Johnston Board rep: Bruce Morton CLP, CIT
Toronto Chapter
President: Lindsay Drake Nightingale Board rep: Ryan Heath CLP
Upper Canada Chapter
President: Dan Clost CHTR Board rep: Paul Doornbos CHTM, CLP
Waterloo Chapter President: Rob Tester Board rep: David Wright
Chair and board rep: Peter Guinane Chair: Steve Tschanz Board rep: Alan White, awhite@
Landscape Design
Chair: Tony Lombardi CLD Board rep: Beth Edney CLD, bedney@
Lighting
Manager, Pesticide Industry Council Tom Somerville, tsomerville@ Nursery technical analyst Francesco Pacelli, ext. 377, fpacelli@ Executive director Ontario Parks Association Paul Ronan, ext. 349, pronan@
Chair and Board rep: John Higo
Director of events and trade shows Gilles Bouchard, ext. 323, gbouchard@
Snow and Ice Management
Trade show manager Paul Day CDE, ext. 339, paulday@
Chair: Ed Hewis Board rep: Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@
Members at Large Gregg Salivan Bruce Warren
CNLA Board Rep
Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@
Horticulture Review Views expressed in Horticulture Review are those of the writer concerned. Horticulture Review and Landscape Ontario assume no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2010, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 12x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $43.51 per year (HST included).
For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com
4 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
Trade show coordinator Linda Nodello, ext. 353, lnodello@ Director of public relations Denis Flanagan CLD, ext. 303, dflanagan@ Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLP, ext. 314, lak@ Editorial director Sarah Willis, ext. 313, sarahw@ Editor Allan Dennis, ext. 320, aldennis@ Web editor Robert Ellidge, ext. 312, rob@
The Voice of Landscape Ontario
October 15, 2010 • Volume 28, No. 10
Trade show manager Lorraine Ivanoff, ext. 366, lpi@
ISSN 0823-8472 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses To: Circulation Department Horticulture Review 7856 Fifth Line South Milton, ON L9T 2X8
Art director Melissa Steep, 647-723-5447, msteep@ Graphic designer Mike Wasilewski, ext. 343, mikew@ Sales manager, publications Steve Moyer, ext. 316, stevemoyer@ Communications assistant Angela Lindsay, ext. 305, alindsay@
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The challenge of relevance By Tom Intven LO president
O
ne of the many challenges that our green industry will face in the next few years is to keep our activities relevant. In 2007, the greenhouse industry was asking, “Is gardening dead?” This ominous thought was entertained because seven to ten years ago, gardening was the numberone pastime in North America. Two years ago, it did not even register in the top 10. Tom Intven In October of 2008, Anna Ball addressed the Canadian Greenhouse Conference on all the negative trends working against gardening. The urban and computer savvy generations X and Y are the first generations to not be in direct contact with soil and nature. They appeared to have little, if any, interest in gardening. The baby boomers began demonstrating more interest in cooking, entertainment, personal health and golf, rather than gardening. If you listened to the visionaries of the time, one would not be very confident about investing in our industry. Renewed interest in gardening Since the great recession, however, things seem to have turned around for the better with respect to the relevance of some of our industry activities. Led by a renewed interest in grow-your-own gardening, heightened environmental concerns and staycations, society is just beginning to understand the huge and profound benefits of green space, gardens, landscapes and plants. The front page headline article in the Globe and Mail on this past Victoria weekend, stated, “A Nation of Gardeners.” It spoke of the return to gardening in the last two years by all generations, including Xers and Yers, who are now finding that gardening can be a pleasant outdoor break from indoor computer time. A recent article in Greenhouse Grower magazine suggests that the recession is changing our value system. There has been a collapse of greed and self-indulgence and a new culture of giving, creating and collaborating that is emerging. Some have argued that we are enter-
ing into the ‘Reflection Economy,’ where sharing a passion and receiving recognition will replace taking as the new status symbol. In the new culture, espoused by Barack Obama, volunteerism is rising, and a shift from me to we will trump greed. “The ascendant generation of GRUPS (30-to-50 something grownups) are redefining adulthood with their young-atheart lifestyle, driving demand for products made from recycled materials in sync with their focus on social and environmental issues. Mindful is in. Bling is out,” states the article. Keep the ball rolling It seems the recession has tipped things in our industry’s favour. Now it is our job to keep the ball rolling and raise awareness for the economic, environmental, energy reduction, carbon trapping, oxygen production, air quality improvement, social, recreational, tourism, therapeutic and social benefits of our green industry. This is what the Green for Life campaign is all about. Interest is building right across Canada as you read this article. Make sure you do your part to build this brand. Tell your story So what can you do to tell your story in a way that raises awareness for the benefits of what we do for a living? While it varies slightly from sector to sector, engagement is the key (Sounds like a good theme). Here are some ideas: • Become more environmentally sustainable, while at the same time remind the public we are the original green industry and that we generate green jobs. • Display your Green for Life logo everywhere you can (truck decals, letterhead, website, promotional literature, advertisements, signage, etc.) • Find ways to encourage young people to garden. Get involved in your local school. Donate a tree, visit a classroom, participate in a community garden project, support the local slow food movement, and support local farmers’ markets. • Support your local Communities in Bloom program by donating plants, offering tours, or volunteering on the committee. • Garden centre operators could start a Kids’ Garden Club. This is a great way to get the next generation interested in gardening, as well as influencing the parents.
• Landscape contractors must understand that the new generation may not be into gardens, but they are into creative, well designed outdoor entertainment spaces. Sell the garden as the outdoor living and entertainment venue – the outdoor room. • Décor is as important as plants. Colour, design themes, furniture, spas, etc. are all important components of the garden. Your job is to help green their life. • Irrigation contractors must stress water efficiency. Water conservation has become a very important issue. The image of irrigation systems running in the rain must disappear. The benefits of using water to maintain our green infrastructure must be front and centre of your customer communications. The use of rainwater and cisterns must be encouraged to replace treated water as a source for irrigation. • Lawn care companies must continue to stress the many societal benefits of turf, while at the same time focussing on cultural practices to grow healthy turf. • Learn how to use social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter. These are the communication tools of the next generation. Ikea gets it – they have made it a mandate this year to spend over 50 per cent of their marketing budget on Facebook. Healthy green spaces We must all push the fact that healthy green spaces are a necessity and have high societal priority! We need to convince our customers to make the paradigm shift from luxury to necessity. Let’s tell our story — get it out there. The whole point of our Green for Life program is to raise awareness for the societal benefits of green space. It is designed to leverage the collective communication power of our membership. Millions of impressions are possible if we all collaborate telling our story or better yet shouting our story. We need to strike while the iron is hot — get our message out there NOW. Reclaim the green of the green industry. Let’s create a green future together. Tom Intven may be reached at 519-631-1008, or tintven@landscapeontario.com.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 5
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Importance of telling our story Tony DiGiovanni CHTR LO executive director
T
he other day at a retirement event for Sid Baller (long-time gardener at Humber Arboretum), I was reacquainted with a former student of mine from over 20 years ago at Humber College. She recalled a story I had told in the classroom about how when I was a young horticultural student, I enjoyed taking my girlfriend (now my wife) for walks in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. For those who may not know Tony DiGiovanni the Toronto area, Mount Pleasant is one of the best arboretums in North America. It has a huge collection of mature trees from all over the world, and it is one of my favourite places. I was surprised she remembered that story. I’ll bet she could not remember much about the
rest of the course. It seems we humans are hard-wired to tell and listen to stories. The cinema, theatre and book industries are based on story-telling. Some of the most effective communication and advertising are based on storytelling. The best songs are really stories. The sacred texts of the world’s great religions are full of stories. And, all of us have personal stories. A couple of weeks ago my wife and I watched Green Fingers. It was a story about hardened inmates whose lives were changed by starting a garden on the prison grounds. The prisoners became so good, they entered one of England’s most prestigious flower and garden shows and were recognized by the Queen. What a great redemption story! Now how does this relate to you? You, as a member of this industry have a very important story to tell. It is a diverse story of societal and community benefit. It is a story of life-enhancement. It is a story of engagement, learning, spirituality, sharing, life lessons, hope, beauty, utility, envi-
ronment legacy and much more. President Tom Intven’s article this month makes some great suggestions on how to tell “our story” in ways that are relevant and relate to our audience. In addition to these proactive ideas, it is good to remember that some of the most powerful and lasting stories can be told without words. A great deal of communication happens through the language of action. Every time someone performs a task under the umbrella of your organization, they are telling a story. Every time members of Landscape Ontario fly the banner of the association, they too are telling a story. We have an awesome responsibility to ensure that the story told is one of life enhancement, benefit and legacy. Recently, one of our members sent me a letter he received from one of his customers. I won’t mention the member’s name as he is the type of person who does not like being in the spotlight. However, the letter reflects a wonderful story of service, community benefit, competence and professionalism. Here are some excerpts: “Every aspect of our landscaping project was handled professionally and with quality workmanship. We have received many compliments and are proud of the finished result. “It is rare these days to be getting such professional and conscientious service. “Our neighbours commented, not only on how lovely the front of the house looks now, but also noticed how well the crew worked. They worked hard, were always courteous and were always very tidy clearing everything thoroughly at the end of each work day. “The foreman made sure that every detail was taken care of to our complete satisfaction.” The letter reflects a story of his company’s values, training, competence and service, communicated in the powerful language of action. It also reflects well on our industry and association. I felt proud. This is just one simple story that reveals a little about the great achievements of our industry. And though it is a simple letter, it is an example of how day-in and day-out, we provide life enhancement, positive difference and legacy. We need to shout our stories much more through words, because we already provide the action. Tony DiGiovanni may be reached at tonydigiovanni@landscapeontario.com.
6 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Make the web work for you By Denis Flanagan CLD Director of public relations
J
ust over two years ago, following a directive from the provincial board, a new consumer website for LO was created. The board invested funds to create a professional and informative website for the consumer by forming a branding committee, under the name Green for Life. Through public focus groups, the committee arrived at its main objectives, which included: • Promote horticulture — We do this with online information and videos and by linking with numerous other partners in the original green industry. • Be a source for consumer questions — We do this by partnering with the Master Gardeners to answer questions and by directing the public to our garden centre members for advice. • Create awareness and business — Members of the public can easily access a list of LO members who work in their home area, and
find out more about the member by viewing that member’s online profile. As I travel around the province, members often tell me about the work they are getting via the Green for Life site. In fact, at a landscape designers’ meeting the other day, it was a topic on the agenda. Here is some feedback: “The LO web site has connected my company with a far greater number of people than I could have reached alone. It has also publicized this company’s website. As a result, I have received a variety of calls from prospective clients requiring the services of a qualified landscape designer.” Judith Humphries CLD, A Garden for All Seasons, Mississauga. “I have found that customers are using all the tools that are available to them to make a more educated and informed decision with their purchases. The LO website has generated a good number of leads for us, while providing an opportunity to introduce ourselves, without even speaking to them.” Tony Lombardi, Dr. Landscape, Scarborough.
“The Landscape Ontario website has been a good source of leads for us over the years.” Harry A. Gelderman, Gelderman Landscaping, Waterdown. As we all know, maintaining a quality website can be a challenge. To ensure this happens we made some internal staff changes in order to have the website updated and edited on a regular basis. Rob Ellidge is doing a great job on your behalf. He compiles a monthly report. The following was recorded last month. Total visits to website are up 7.5 per cent over the previous year. Total visits to the website: 14,224 in Aug. 2009, 15,252 in Aug. 2010. Don’t forget that Landscape Ontario’s Green for Life is your website. Please use it to your advantage by uploading your profile information and link to your own company’s website to take full advantage of your membership in your association. It’s easy, just visit www. horttrades.com/greenforlife for instructions. Denis Flanagan may be reached by email at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 7
PROFESSIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Red Seal advantage for landscape horticulturists By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP Education and Labour Development Department
T
he fall season means that it is time to register your employees for apprenticeship program. The training is available this year at Fanshawe College, Humber College, Kemptville College, and hopefully at Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. Training typically occurs over the winter months, which is perfect for most landscape firms. The Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship became the 50th Red Seal trade in the 50th year of the apprenticeship program (2009). The Red Seal designation brings many advantages: • Work experience reinforced with technical training • Improved competency and confidence within your staff • Achievement of credentials upon successful completion of the Certificate of Qualification exam • Journeypersons are 26.5 per cent more
productive • Marketing opportunities announcing that you have a Certified Journeyperson on staff • Mentorship culture is developed within the workplace • Training grants for the apprentice • Completion grants for the apprentice • Training tax credits for the sponsoring employer In order to qualify for the apprenticeship program, one must have a grade 12 certificate or equivalent and have sponsorship by an industryrelated employer. The program’s duration is two 12-week terms in school. It takes approximately 5,400 workplace hours to complete the Apprentice Training Standard. The employer/ trainer sign-off of each skill training objective, that was established by the industry, are essential to become a skilled Landscape Horticulturist. If you are interested in registering your employees for the apprenticeship program, go to www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/ employmentontario/training to learn more from
the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). You may then complete and submit the pre-registration form to your local MTCU office as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Any questions on the program, contact Sally Harvey at sharvey@landscapeontario.com. Shortage of skilled workers Dan Clost, a double graduate in agriculture and horticulture from the University of Guelph, has been professionally involved in the green industry for over 20 years. A supervisor at Connon Nurseries CBV Trenton, Clost volunteers as a member of LO’s Education Committee, and president of LO’s Upper Canada Chapter Board. He provided the following to me: “The word green is exceptionally popular with governments, educational institutions and, of course, us. In spite of economic downturns, our industry has experienced positive growth. With innovative entrepreneurs, new directions for businesses to explore are constantly emerging. In short, we are an attractive trade. “However, for a variety of reasons, we are suffering from a shortage of skilled workers who look at horticulture as a career and not just a summer job. “One approach, and perhaps the best method for us, is to get the message out to those potential employees. This means that we actively engage personnel at the educational institutions and other government, or local boards, developing partnerships with them. We need to become assertive in promoting our industry’s needs by speaking to students, participating in work fairs, hosting tours, or whatever it takes to get our message out. In short, we need to get involved.” Education seminars Congress and seminar guides are available this month. Plan your education and training journey for next year in order to ensure that you achieve your training goals. The seminars feature dynamic industry speakers who will share their expertise and insights within each of the Prosperity Partners pillars of success: Financial Health, Professional Operations, Sales Success, Leadership, Customers for Life and Technical Education. For more information on Prosperity Partners, go to www.horttrades.com/prosperity. Sally Harvey may be contacted at sharvey@landscapeontario.com.
8 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
SYSTEMS FOR SUCCESS
Technology to improve snow and ice operations By Mark Bradley
Following Bill’s advice from last month, Dan put together a budget for his snow and ice division. Using his numbers, he developed a picture of what he needed to sell, and the resources he required to get the work done while earning a fair profit. Next, he needed a plan of action, so Bill walked him through some of the technology he used to improve his snow and ice operations.
“I
might be getting older,” stated Bill, “but I haven’t ignored technology that can improve my bottom line. I look at technology like equipment – we get more done, in less time, with fewer people. If you really want your business to succeed, Dan, you need somebody in your company who embraces technology. There’s a solution for every area of your Mark Bradley business, from accounting to sales to timekeeping. Let’s look at some prime examples.” Sales and marketing technology Put technology to work where it counts: your sales pipeline. With the right tools, you can open more sales opportunities with fewer salespeople. A great website is an interactive business card, available 24/7 to people you’ve never met. What could be easier? Anyone under the age of 35 uses the web to make buying decisions. Do not ignore the importance of a great website. • Develop your site for your desired customer. If your target market doesn’t feel your site speaks to them, they will move on to the next site (your competition!). • Include pictures (jobs, equipment, staff, etc.). • Use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to get your website to the top of the search results. If you don’t know how to do this, get help. Don’t waste money on a website that people can’t find. • Google Adwords are a cheap and effective means of advertising. Social media/networking Free sites like Facebook or Twitter help build customer relationships, loyalty and your brand. By engaging your customers in your company’s social networks, you get in front of your customer
more often. Just don’t waste their time. Offer good information: Weather and storm updates, service updates, interesting photographs, events, or news, upsells – Christmas decor, lighting, cleanups, etc. You’ll engage your customers more often, and with better information. If you have no idea how to get started, Landscape Management Network has published two free guides to get you up and running in 30 minutes or less. www.lmnblog.com/lmn/2010/create-afacebook-page/ www.lmnblog.com/lmn/2010/twitter-guide/ Estimating and job mapping technology Put away your pen and calculator. For next to nothing, you can implement an estimating, pricing and mapping system that ensures your jobs are priced and serviced accurately, every time. I love technology. In my living room, watching football, I can sit back and measure our jobsites, for free. Tools like Google Earth don’t replace a hands-on site visit, but they will save you time scaling a survey, pacing off a parking lot, or walking around with a wheel. Google Earth offers both a free version and a pro version ($399). Estimating and pricing software: With your sites accurately measured, you can estimate the required labour, equipment and materials. Use estimating software to quickly calculate costs on a job and apply the right markup to ensure you’ve covered your overhead and profit. Budgeting and estimating tools work together to make accurate, profitable pricing a seamless process. Instantly print or email a professional proposal and you’ve got another leg-up on your competition. Routing and site maps With your jobs priced right and sold, you need efficient execution. Use mapping/routing software (Google Earth, Microsoft MapPoint) to set routes for your crews. When your routes are complete, just zoom in and create site maps. Google Earth enables you to draw transparent shapes in different colours on your sites. You can assign different colours for plowing, walkways, and pile locations to make it simple for anyone to understand site requirements. Your site maps will leave a lasting professional impression with your customers, and they’ll also eliminate many common mistakes, reducing both your costs and your liability.
Operations technology Before and during an event, timely communication is critical for efficient, profitable operations. Smart phone-equipped drivers and operators mean you can talk one-on-one, or you can quickly blast an email to all staff in seconds. Many smart phones also arm your drivers and operators with cameras, which can help by: • Taking pictures of pre-existing damage, accidents or incidents • Recording images of work completed (for proof of service, or future marketing) • Resolving disputes, without travelling to the site • Solving site or vehicle/equipment issues with email pictures Bill said, “I’ve fixed more than one equipment issue on-the-fly by emailing my equipment vendor a quick picture of the problem. The float savings alone more than paid the cost of the phone.” Time tracking Time tracking is essential for payroll and billing. In 2010, crews can now punch in and out on phones, have their punch-in locations tracked by GPS, and import the data directly to accounting for billing and payroll. How much time is your office spending on paperwork? How many hours have been paid, but not billed? Small investments in technologies like the Exaktime JobClock system www.exaktime.com pay for themselves every month in improved information and efficiency. GPS tracking systems GPS not only gives your customers the security of your accountability, but it also forces your employees to be responsible for their whereabouts. And, with many add-on sensors for batteries, plows and salters, you can track and record every piece of information you need to avoid problems and improve productivity. “The lesson this month, Dan, is don’t be afraid of technology, embrace it. Use these and other tools to boost your company to new levels of service, professionalism, and efficiency. Best of all, you’ll leave your tech-scared competitors behind,” said Bill. Mark Bradley is president of The Beach Gardener and the Landscape Management Network, www.landscapemanagementnetwork. com.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 9
Vineland hosts short course for Master Gardeners
Members help Jason’s wish come true Members of Landscape Ontario and the community of Stouffville joined forces with MakeA-Wish Canada to fulfill a young boy’s dream of having an outdoor space to relax and spend quality time with his family. LO members taking part in the project include The Beach Gardener, Yorkshire Garden Services and Caledon Hills Perennials, who with LO’s director of public relations Denis Flanagan, made the project a reality.
CNLA acquires Canadian rose genetics The Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association (CNLA) announced that on Sept. 23 it acquired the rights to a wide range of genetics from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) ornamental breeding programs at Morden Research Station in Manitoba and SaintJean-sur-Richelieu Research Station in Quebec. These programs are famous for developing the internationally-recognized Explorer and Parkland series of prairie-hardy roses. Michel Touchette, CNLA Research Chair, said “Canada’s wholesale industry will have access to important genetic material that has been developed by AAFC researchers.” Royalty fees paid by nursery growers on new plant varieties previously introduced by AAFC will be reinvested by the CNLA into the development of new plant varieties. Rose genetic materials have been transferred to Vineland Research and Innovation Centre with research already underway. CNLA has also partnered with the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation for the monitoring and collection of royalties on present and future new varieties. 10 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
On Sept. 12, Landscape Ontario sponsored an educational short course for members of Master Gardeners of Ontario (MGOI). Presented by Vineland Centre for Research and Innovation, 150 master gardeners were able to choose from eight sessions offered by Vineland researchers on topics including nonchemical weed control methods for landscape beds, plants for insect control, growing vegetative annuals, fruit tree pest management for the backyard garden and more. Tony DiGiovanni, LO’s executive director, gave the keynote presentation at lunch. He spoke on the multitude of benefits that horticulture offers and urged the master gardeners to use their points of contact with the gardening public to tell this good-news story. See page 12 in this issue for his message. The sessions offered an opportunity for laypeople to catch up on the latest in horticultural research. Dr. Hannah Mathers presented an overview on results of non-chemical weed control research, and held an impromptu weed identification test at the same time. Her talk emphasized the need to understand the different lifecycles of annual and perennial weeds in order to use cultural or physical controls. LO member, Richard Reed, of Dufferin Lawn Life, teamed up with Vineland research director, Dr. Michael Brownbridge to present Turf Wars: Life After the Ban. Reed, who has had a long-time organic bent, talked about his holistic approach to lawn care. Dr. Brownbridge took a closer look at biopesticides – their modes of control, use and efficacy. Throughout the day, each session spurred many thoughtful questions from enthusiastic master gardeners. MGOI president James Lee was pleased with the short course, noting that the event was a sell-out.
Canada Blooms voted a top-100 event
The American Bus Association (ABA) named Canada Blooms one of the Top 100 events in North America. Each spring, a committee of ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators selects the Top 100 Events for the year. Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, and commemorative events that have been nominated by ABA members.
Growers’ tour of Niagara area proves a popular choice
Cor Vanderkruk gives a detailed history of Connon Nurseries CBV Holdings, from its inception as a garden centre to a thriving wholesale yard and a multi-farm production facility. In the last 10 years, Connon CBV has expanded its production of pot-in-pot container grown trees.
Blue Sky Nursery wowed the tour participants with its high quality plants. The tour was greeted by owner Alice Klamer. Here members of the growers’ tour check out some of the plants at Blue Sky, known for ericaceous shrubs, flowering shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
At J.C. Bakker & Sons, participants were taken around the nursery in smaller groups for an indepth look at the nursery’s production practices. John Bakker III gives a tour of their new irrigation control room, where environmental sensors are used to run the irrigation program in the container division.
All 120 attendees packed in the gravel yard surrounding the retractableroof greenhouses at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, where Dr. Hannah Mathers gave a brief summary of her accelerated liner trials.
Mori Nurseries accommodated the extra-large group of growers with tractor-drawn wagons and took the participants on an in-depth tour of its large container production yards, guided by Rob Thompson.
The growers’ tour in 2009 set a record for attendance at 104. This year smashed that number, when 120 people climbed aboard two charter buses to visit six sites in the Niagara area. The 2010 LO Nursery Growers’ Tour set out on Sept. 14, visiting Connon Nurseries - CBV Holdings in Waterdown, Blue Sky Nursery in Beamsville, Vineland Research and Innovation
Melissa Spearing, following in her father’s footsteps as a student at Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, takes a group of growers on a private tour of the beautiful Niagara Parks gardens. Melissa is a secondgeneration grower at Ground Covers Unlimited. The tour group was treated to an incredible dinner catered by the school’s own chefs.
Centre at Vineland Station, J.C. Bakker & Sons Nursery, near St. Catharines, Mori Nurseries at Niagara-on-the-Lake and concluding at Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. The 2010 Nursery Growers Summer Tour organizers included, Dave Braun, Gerwin Bouman, Jen Llewellyn, Alex Verbinnen and Kathleen Pugliese.
The following companies were thanked for the sponsorship of the 2010 Summer Tour: ASB Greenworld, Gro-Bark (Ontario), Nursery Supplies and Plant Products. The photographs on this page reflect some of the amazing sites and people visited by the growers.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 11
Expo: The place to be for value, trends and networking Expo, Canada’s fall show for the floral and garden industry, promises something of value for anyone in the green industry. From educational symposia, with leading experts from around the world, to networking with industry peers, suppliers and experts, the Oct. 19 to 20 show at the Toronto Congress has it all. “Besides the educational opportunities, vendors and networking, the best reason to attend Expo 2010, is to discover the latest trends, concepts and methods to create a unique selling
proposition in your market,” says show manager Lorraine Ivanoff. Before the exhibition floors open, a great line-up of dynamic speakers will grace the podium at the Garden Centre Symposium. The following days feature speakers at the Landscape Designers’ Breakfast and the Interior Plantscape Breakfast. Expo, formerly Garden & Floral Expo, is now in its 11th year at the Toronto Congress Centre. Expo is produced by Landscape Ontario in partnership with Communities in Bloom –
Vineland receives approval for $1.5 million research project Vineland Research and Innovation Centre received approval for $1.5 million in federal funds to create best practices for pest and weed control and fertilization, optimal production conditions to reduce energy consumption and improved product development. The funding announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Member of Parliament Greg Kerr (West Nova) in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, on Sept. 1. Results of the research are expected to help increase profitability through improved efficiencies and new market opportunities. Minister Ritz said, “This targeted investment will bring together the best and brightest minds in the business to turn innovative ideas into dollars for the growers’ pocket.” The agriculture minister went on to say,
“The horticultural sector is vital to Canada’s agriculture industry and plays an important role in the economy. In 2009, farm cash receipts for the Canadian horticultural sector (edible and ornamental) totaled almost $6 billion, a five per cent increase from the previous year, and the value of exports of horticultural products reached $3.8 billion.” “Delivering the ornamental horticulture cluster on behalf of the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance is a major step forward for both Vineland, and the horticulture industry,” said Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO at Vineland. “The cluster will bring together top class horticulture scientists at Vineland and from across the country, to conduct leading-edge research that will deliver environmental and economic benefits for Canadian producers of ornamental plants.”
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Ontario, Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., Master Gardeners of Ontario, Niagara Economic Development Corporation and The Canadian Academy of Floral Art (CAFA). All sessions to the Green for Life stage are included with trade show admission. Visit www. loexpo.ca to register.
Rodger Tschanz honoured by university Rodger Tschanz, well-known among LO members as the manager of the trial garden, was among 14 outstanding University of Guelph employees to receive the President’s Award for Exemplary Staff Service. University president Alastair Summerlee presented the awards. It was announced at the award presentations on Sept. 7 that Rodger Tschanz was honoured for “the ideas of community service. His humble attitude makes it difficult to know how many community projects he is involved in, but they include the United Way, Big Brothers, Guelph Museum, Canada Blooms and the Guelph Interaction conference.” Tschanz also received the Susanne Sprowl Community Service Award. Presented by United Steelworkers Local 4120, it recognizes significant contributions to the university and external community through community spirit and volunteer work.
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LO MEMBER PROFILE
Ridgeview Garden Centre grows from a small fruit stand By Allan Dennis
T
ony Sgambelluri began business 15 years ago with a small fruit stand on the side of Highway 81 in Grimsby. As customers began requesting more and more gardening items, it wasn’t long before Ridgeview Garden Centre was born. Sgambelluri moved to the area from Mississauga when he was eight. “I love working outside, so moving to this area was the best thing for me.” He has 50 acres on which to grow produce. Serving an area encompassing the communities of Beamsville, Grimsby, Smithville and Vineland, Ridgeview is one of the few full-range local garden centres in the area. The retail outlet stocks the usual selection of garden supplies, plants, soil, etc. But it’s more than that, also handling a large selection of unique home and garden decor and giftware. There is also a full florist service on the premises. The list of other services from Ridgeview includes such items as bulk supply of soil and mulch, snow removal, interlock paving, container gardening, and water features. Today the fruit stand remains, albeit it
is also much bigger than when it first opened, while the garden centre has grown to take in four acres. The fruit stand remains separate from the garden centre. Sgambelluri says that the clients are also different for each operation. “Customers who come for the fruit and vegetables are not interested in the garden centre, and those coming to the garden centre are not interested in the fruit stand.” He laughs at how the staff at the fruit stand will ask the staff at the retail store to send over some customers when things are busy in the garden centre, and it’s a reversal when the season picks up with the fruit and vegetable stand. New promo ideas help improve season The past summer was not a great one for most garden centres, and Sgambelluri said he also found the season not as good as anticipated. “Business began great, but stalled in July.” To help build numbers, some creative ideas came from staff to improve the season. One of those was to stage an auction with all the proceeds from two lots in the auction given to charity. There was a strong promotion campaign in place, in co-operation with the charity. “It was a great idea. Despite terrible weather, we sold 37 of the 50 lots put up for auction,” said Sgambelluri. He says Ridgeview will definitely repeat the event next year.
Tony Sgambelluri stands in front of his garden centre in Grimsby.
Helping to organize Garden Centre Symposium As a member of Landscape Ontario’s garden centre sector group, Sgambelluri is helping organize the Garden Centre Symposium on Oct. 18 at Toronto Congress Centre. “I can’t understand why anyone owning a garden centre would not attend this full-day symposium.” Sgambelluri points out that there are a number of highly respected speakers scheduled to make pre-
sentations at the event. “These are world class people who are able to provide great ideas that work for those operating an independent garden centre.” Sgambelluri is also chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention to be held in February in St. Catharines. He says his experience with this group has shown him how valuable, in terms of education and promoting new concepts, that conventions and symposia can be. “And, it’s all available at a very inexpensive price. Anyone who doesn’t attend this event is really losing out.” Another avenue that Ridgeview uses to gain insight into new ideas is visiting other garden centres from April to June to see how they operate. “It’s a great way to pick up new promotional ideas that have worked for others.” Sgambelluri says he hopes to see many of his fellow independent garden centre owners at Expo, where they all can share ideas to make sure their industry remains vibrant, healthy and progressive.
Uxbridge Nurseries
“We keep on growing” P.O.BOX 400, UXBRIDGE, ONTARIO L9P 1M8
905.655.3379 1.877.655.3379 FAX: 905.655.8544 sales@uxbridgenurseries.com
www.uxbridgenurseries.com
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 13
MEMBERSHIP
End of summer creates a whirlwind of activity at LO By Helen Hassard Membership coordinator
A
ugust and September were a time of whirlwind activity. The August events that kept me on the road included the Toronto and Waterloo baseball tournaments (both articles appearing in September Horticulture Review) and the Golden Horseshoe, Georgian Lakelands and Ottawa golf tournaments. The three golf tournaments were lots of fun and each was unique in its own way. Helen Hassard Golden Horseshoe held a tournament at Willow Valley Golf Course. Thanks to the help of the chapter board, volunteers and the chair of the golf committee, Bruce Wilson of Permacon, the tournament went off without a hitch. Proceeds for the tournament went to The Ronald McDonald
house in Hamilton. The Georgian Lakelands golf tournament was equally exciting and despite a chilling breeze, all had a great time. Past president Bob Adams and I spent the day driving the course, meeting golfers and snapping photos of each foursome. The tournament itself was one of the fastest moving with the dinner wrapping up well before 7 p.m. This was great for me, as I had to get to Ottawa for that chapter’s tournament the next day. Ottawa’s tournament was also a blast. Thanks to Martha Walsh and her diligent planning committee, I actually got to spend the day golfing. As a golfer at the tournament, I can’t give a synopsis on whole event, but I will say it was well worth coming from Milton to meet everyone and enjoy such a great day out on the links, even if it meant leaving mid-dinner when I realized my flight home was going to leave without me. Thanks to Paul Doornbos and his superb driving skills, I made it in the nick of time. Check out www.horttrades.com to see Martha’s summary of the tournament.
Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd. For Bareroot and Container Grown Trees
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September also a busy time September was no slower, with the Snow and Ice Symposium kicking off the change of seasons on Sept. 1 and 2 in Kitchener. The symposium was followed up with the London and Windsor golf tournaments on Sept. 10 and 11, respectively. Both were very well run. Speaking as a golfer, I found both to be a great time with tons of prizes and plenty of food. For a complete write-up by Wendy Harry of the London golf tournament, go to www.horttrades.com under the London chapter. Other major September events include the Golden Horseshoe Chicken Roast, Artistry with Bulbs lecture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens and the Durham Chapter’s Fall Barbecue and Supplier Night. Check out November Horticulture Review to read about these events. On Oct. 15, we have an Argos vs. Ti-Cats football game. Permacon has generously sponsored a bus for the event, with stops in Grimsby, Hamilton and Burlington. Right after the football game is Expo on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Toronto Congress Centre. This will be my first time at the show. I ask anyone who hasn’t met me yet, to please come by the LO booth and say hi. You should have received the Professional Development Seminar Guide inside this copy of Horticulture Review. In the chapter events section, you will find a list of the chapter meetings by month. Feel free to attend any of the chapter events, not just those in your geographical area. To contact Helen Hassard email hhassard@landscapeontario.com.
NEW MEMBERS Georgian Lakelands Lawlor Haulage Ltd Patrick Lawlor 9289 Hwy 12 West, RR 2 Orillia, ON L3V 6H2 Tel: 705-325-4582 Membership Type: Active
148 Lynden Road, P.O. Box 190 Lynden, Ontario L0R 1T0 Tel: 519-647-3912 Fax: 519-647-3720
www.winkelmolen.com 14 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
Ottawa The Cutting Edge Jesse Paterson 173 Kinross Private Kanata, ON K2K 3P8 Tel: 613-868-9290 Membership Type: Active
Chapter News Landscape Ontario’s summer golf events
er laxing aft ursome re fo n ig s e tech D ament The Land golf tourn a d a n a C r the Uppe
In Ottawa, John Smith with Go Mob ile’s Trisha Henderson and Kristen Head rick
me at Equipment fourso The Stratford Farm ent London’s tournam
Georgian Lakelands chapter p LaPorte w resident M ith Lois P ich udden, Co and John u rtney Melt ael Renaud a on t the GL g olf tourna ment
ent ournam t o t n o he Tor es at t i r e s r er Nu Humb
Compliance Safety Solutions at the Golden Horseshoe tournament HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 15
Hillen Nursery Inc Botanical Name
Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Botanical Name Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
VINES Ampelopsis glandulosa Elegans 285 8.00 Aristolochia durior 14 6.00 157 Campsis radicans 86 8.00 Campsis radicans Balboa Sunset 61 8.00 Celastrus orbiculatus Hercules 258 8.00 Celastrus scandens Diana 213 8.00 Hydrangea anomala petiolaris 280 6.00 407 8.00 Lonicera japonica Halliana 138 8.00 Lonicera per. Belgica Select 63 8.00 Lonicera per. Serotina 108 8.00 Parthenocissus quinq. Engelmannii 72 6.00 Parthenocissus quinquefolia 165 6.00 Parthenocissus tricus. Veitchii 1,000 6.00 Polygonum aubertii 1,000 6.00 EVERGREENS Azalea Northern Lights 225 Buxus Faulkner 330 Buxus microphylla 264 5.00 382 Buxus X Green Gem 1,000 5.20 1,000 Buxus X Green Mound 1,000 5.00 1,000 Buxus X Green Mountain 1,000 5.00 361 Buxus X Green Velvet 1,000 5.20 1,000 Chamaecyparis pisifera Filifera 45 5.00 180 Chamaecyparis pisifera Filifera Aurea 293 5.00 Cotoneaster dammeri Coral Beauty 1,000 5.00 Cotoneaster dammeri Major 462 7.00 Cotoneaster microphyllus 178 5.00 45 Cotoneaster salicifolius Repens 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Emerald ‘n Gold` 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Canadale Gold 305 5.00 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Coloratus 944 5.00 Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety BL 240 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Emerald ‘n Gold 195 5.00 Euonymus fortunei Goldtip 903 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Sarcoxie 277 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Sunrise 672 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Surespot 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei Vegetus 258 7.00 Ilex X meserveae Blue Prince 970 5.00 Ilex X meserveae Blue Princess 1,000 5.00 703 Juniperus chinensis Gold Coast 104 5.00 399 Juniperus chinensis Gold Star 121 5.00 380 Juniperus chinensis Mint Julep 608 5.00 479 Juniperus chinensis Pfitz. Compacta 208 Juniperus chinensis San Jose 45 5.00 Juniperus communis Green Carpet 48 5.00 587 Juniperus conferta Blue Pacific 505 5.00 374 Juniperus horizontalis Andorra Compacta 1,000 5.00 1,000 Juniperus horizontalis Bar Harbor 158 5.00 258 Juniperus horizontalis Blue Prince 40 5.00 255 Juniperus horizontalis Icee Blue 396 6.00 1,000 Juniperus horizontalis Turquoise Spreader 407 Juniperus horizontalis Yukon Belle 122 5.00 983 Juniperus media Armstrongii 142 5.00 250 Juniperus procumbens nana 304 5.00 316 Juniperus sabina 307 Juniperus sabina Buffalo 165 5.00 261 Juniperus sabina Calgary Carpet 307 5.00 Juniperus squamata Blue Carpet 120 5.00 336 Juniperus squamata Blue Star 6 5.00 495 Juniperus virginiana Grey Owl 207 5.00 245 Larix laricina 382 7.00 Metasequoia glyptostroboides 307 7.00 Microbiota decussata 1,000 5.00 350 Picea abies Nidiformis 204
16 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
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Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
Picea glauca 1,000 7.00 Picea glauca Conica 249 Picea pungens glauca 636 7.00 Picea pungens glauca StJuan 696 7.00 Picea pungens Globosa 842 Pinus mugo var. mugo 1,000 Pinus strobus 10 5.00 1,000 Taxus cuspidata Aurescens 265 5.00 208 Taxus cuspidata nana 400 5.00 Taxus X media Densiformis 558 5.00 Taxus X media Hicksii 751 5.00 59 Taxus X media Hillii 158 5.00 1,000 Taxus X media Wardii 1,000 5.00 14 Thuja occidentalis 1,000 Thuja occidentalis Brabant 237 5.00 Thuja occidentalis Brandon 98 5.00 188 Thuja occidentalis Hetz’s Midget 121 5.00 151 Thuja occidentalis Little Giant 570 5.00 38 Thuja occidentalis Nigra 1,000 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis Smaragd 1,000 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis Wintergreen 582 5.00 522 Thuja plicata Spring Grove 54 5.00 324 Tsuga canadensis 1,000 5.00 60 7.00 1,000 Tsuga canadensis Jeddeloh 133 Yucca fil. Aureomarginata 198 Yucca filamentosa 229 7.00 56
11.00 22.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 13.50 11.00 11.00
DECIDUOUS SHRUBS 9.00
11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 13.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00
Acanthopanax sieboldianus 734 7.00 Acer ginnala 419 7.00 Acer rubrum 642 7.00 Acer saccharinum 700 7.00 Acer saccharum 427 7.00 Alnus rugosa 637 7.00 Amelanchier canadensis 1,000 7.00 11 Amelanchier laevis 176 7.00 Aronia mel. Autumn Magic 342 7.00 Aronia melanocarpa 667 7.00 Aronia X prunifolia Viking 253 7.00 Berberis thunbergii Concorde 192 6.00 98 9.50 7 Berberis thunbergii Rose Glow 495 6.00 375 Berberis thunbergii Royal Burgundy 350 Berberis thunbergii Royal Cloak 184 6.00 Betula papyrifera 401 7.00 Buddleia davidii Black Knight 442 7.00 Buddleia davidii Ellen’s Blue 404 7.00 Buddleia davidii Ile de France 583 7.00 Buddleia davidii Nanho Purple 476 7.00 Buddleia davidii Petite Plum 660 7.00 Buddleia davidii Pink Delight 443 7.00 Buddleia davidii Purple Prince 918 7.00 Buddleia davidii Royal Red 351 7.00 Buddleia davidii White Profusion 332 7.00 Caryopteris clandonensis Dark Knight 213 7.00 Caryopteris clandonensis Grand Blue 281 7.35 Cephalanthus occidentalis 299 7.00 Cercidiphyllum japonicum 247 7.00 Cercis canadensis 633 7.00 Chaenomeles speciosa Nivalis 262 7.00 Chaenomeles speciosa Rubra 692 7.00 Chaenomeles speciosa Texas Scarlet 668 7.00 Clethra alnifolia Paniculatum 310 7.00 Clethra alnifolia Pink Spire 467 7.00 Cornus alba Elegantissima 1,000 7.00 Cornus alba Gouchaultii 283 7.00 Cornus alba Ivory Halo 1,000 7.45 Cornus alba Red Gnome 340 7.00 Cornus alternifolia 258 7.00 Cornus amomum 680 7.00
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c. Botanical Name
Many More Cultivars and sizes available Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Botanical Name Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
Cornus racemosa 1,000 7.00 Cornus stolonifera (sericea) 721 7.00 Cornus stolonifera Bud’s Yellow 298 7.00 Cornus stolonifera Kelseyi 1,000 7.00 Corylus avellana Contorta 237 15.00 Cotinus coggygria purpurea 217 Cotoneaster acutifolius 628 7.00 Cotoneaster apiculatus 360 7.00 Cotoneaster horizontalis 359 7.00 Cotoneaster preacox Boer 1,000 7.00 Deutzia crenata Nikko 599 7.00 Deutzia gracilis 605 7.00 Deutzia gracilis Duncan 115 7.00 Deutzia X Strawberry Field 175 7.00 Diervilla lonicera 537 7.00 Euonymus alatus Compactus 1,000 5.00 1,000 Forsythia Kumson 493 7.00 Forsythia X inter. Northern Gold 1,000 7.00 Forsythia X intermedia Goldtide 318 7.00 Forsythia X intermedia Lynwood 627 7.00 Genista tinctoria Royal Gold 209 7.00 Hibiscus syriacus Diana 218 5.00 278 Hibiscus syriacus Lavender Chiffon 241 5.60 Hibiscus syriacus Marina 145 5.00 Hibiscus syriacus Woodbridge 468 5.00 4 Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle 1,000 7.00 Hydrangea macr. Bouquet Rose 276 7.00 Hydrangea paniculata Kyushu 472 7.00 Hydrangea paniculata Limelight 281 7.60 Hydrangea paniculata Little Lamb 529 7.60 Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky 571 7.60 Hydrangea paniculata Tardiva 263 7.00 Hydrangea quercifolia PeeWee 284 Hydrangea serrata Bluebird 268 7.00 Ilex verticillata Jim Dandy 410 7.00 Ilex verticillata Afterglow 1,000 7.00 Ilex verticillata Southern Gentleman 469 7.00 Ilex verticillata Winterred 267 7.00 Kerria japonica Pleniflora 296 7.00 Kolkwitzia amabilis Pink Cloud 1,000 7.00 Ligustrum jap. Aureomarginata 193 7.00 Ligustrum ovalufolium 298 Liriodendron tulipefera 378 8.50 Lonicera tatarica Arnold Red 395 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum Clavey’s Dwarf 592 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum Emerald Mound 956 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum Miniglobe 746 7.00 Magnolia stellata Royal Star 269 Magnolia X Butterfly 238 Magnolia X loebneri Leonard Messel 365 Magnolia x Susan 287 Philadelphus coronarius Aureus 475 7.00 Philadelphus Innocence 795 7.00 Philadelphus Minn.Snowflake Dwarf 459 7.00 Philadelphus X virginalis 695 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolius 547 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolius Diabolo 1,000 7.60 Physocarpus opulifolius nanus 304 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolius Seward 613 7.85 Populus tremuloides 675 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Abbottswood 276 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Coronation Triumph 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Dakota Sunrise 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Gold Drop 307 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Goldfinger 518 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Goldstar 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa McKay’s White 459 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa Tangerine 637 7.00 Prunus cistena 1,000 5.00 1,000 7.00
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Qty. 1 Gal Qty. 2 Gal Qty. 3 Gal Avail. Price Avail. Price Avail. Price
Prunus virginiana 560 7.00 Quercus bicolor 523 7.00 Quercus macrocarpa 235 7.00 Quercus palustris 262 7.00 Quercus robur Fastigiata 1,000 9.00 Rhus aromatica Low Grow 1,000 7.00 Rhus typhina 1,000 7.00 Rhus typhina Tigers Eye 108 10.50 624 Rosa Henry Kelsey 394 7.00 Rosa Bonica 1,000 7.00 Rosa Carolina 1,000 7.00 Rosa J P Connell 543 7.00 Rosa palustris 277 7.00 Rosa rubrifolia 314 7.00 Rosa rugosa 1,000 7.00 Rosa rugosa Hansa 381 7.00 Rosa rugosa Morden Blush 405 7.00 Rosa x Champlain 288 7.00 Rubus odoratus 491 7.00 Salix discolor 1,000 7.00 Salix eriocephala 1,000 7.00 Salix exigua 1,000 7.00 Salix gracilis Purpurea Nana 1,000 7.00 Sambucus canadensis 559 7.00 Sambucus canadensis Aurea 723 7.00 Sambucus pubens 600 7.00 Sorbaria aitchisonii 340 7.00 Sorbaria sorbifolia 1,000 7.00 Sorbaria sorbifolia Sem 560 7.00 22 Spiraea alba 1,000 7.00 Spiraea arguta 472 7.00 Spiraea bumalda Gold Mound 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Anthony Waterer 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Crispa 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Dakota Goldcharm 631 7.00 Spiraea japonica Darts Red 262 7.00 Spiraea japonica Flaming Mound 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Froebelii 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Genpei 324 Spiraea japonica Goldflame 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Little Princess 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica Shirobana 589 7.00 Spiraea japonica White Gold 281 7.00 Spiraea nipponica Snowmound 520 7.00 Spiraea vanhouttei 1,000 7.00 Stephanandra incisa Crispa 478 7.00 Symphoricarpos albus 1,000 7.00 Symphoricarpos chenaultii Hancock 323 7.00 Syringa meyeri Palibin 269 7.00 Syringa patula Miss Kim 320 7.00 394 Syringa Tinkerbelle 900 7.50 Syringa vulgaris Primrose 245 7.00 Tilia cordata 350 7.00 Viburnum lentago 302 7.00 Viburnum opulus Roseum 313 7.00 20 Viburnum plicatum Mariesii 332 1 Viburnum trilobum 1,000 7.00 Weigela florida Alexandra 503 7.60 Weigela florida Bristol Ruby 367 7.00 Weigela florida Elvira 225 7.60 Weigela florida French Lace 391 7.60 Weigela florida Java Red 305 7.00 Weigela florida Minuet 391 7.00 Weigela florida Nana Variegata 716 7.00 Weigela florida Polka 625 7.00 Weigela florida Purpurea Nana 1,000 7.00 Weigela florida Red Prince 415 7.00 Weigela florida Rumba 626 7.00 Weigela florida Tango 321 7.00
12.50
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RR 2, Mount Brydges, ON N0L 1W0 Tel: 519-264-9057 • Fax: 519-264-1337 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 17
Emerald ash borer confirmed in Perth County and Ottawa The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed two more emerald ash borer (EAB) findings in Ontario. The areas are Perth County, in the Whalen Line and Granton Line area, and in the City of Ottawa, outside the current Ottawa - Gatineau regulated area. In Ottawa, an adult EAB was retrieved from an insect trap south of Fallowfield Road, near Richmond Road. Restrictions on the movement of ash are placed on the affected property. Further regulatory measures will be considered once survey work is completed. The emerald ash borer spreads rapidly if moved by people. The key challenge in limiting the spread is to prevent people from moving potentially infested ash materials, such as logs, branches, nursery stock, wood chips, and firewood of all species to non-infested areas. First detected in Michigan in 2002, the emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees in southwestern Ontario, Michigan and surrounding states. It poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas in both countries. Fighting EAB in Hamilton could cost $36-million In a late September a Hamilton Spectator article revealed that experts recommend Hamilton spend $36 million over the next 10 years to deal with the emerald ash borer. It is estimated there are 23,000 city-owned ash trees on Hamilton streets, parks and cemeteries. It is also estimated there could be well roughly over 300,000 ash trees on city, private and conservation area lands at risk from the beetle. The Spectator article stated that city forestry manager Mike McNamara and plant health consultant Ken Marchant recommended Hamilton spend $36.3 million over 10 years on a pre-emptive management plan to detect infested ash trees, cut them down and dispose of them, stump and all, as well as replace them with other tree species. EAB has been found in the central Mountain area of Hamilton. The article also reported that the rule of thumb is that there are about the same number of ash trees on private land as there are on city lands. Estimates were given that the Royal Botanical Garden in Burlington has about 50,000 ash trees, including 100-year-old specimens along the Westdale Ravine Trail that are 100-feet tall. The Hamilton Conservation Authority, the city’s largest landowner, may have about 200,000 ash trees.
New weed-info service now online A new website featuring the latest information, illustrations and photographs on weeds is now available. The project involved a team made up of weed scientists, extension specialists, ecologists, plant taxonomists and an environmental management expert. The project was led by Mike Cowbrough of OMAFRA. The website can be used as a search tool by typing in the name of a weed (common names, botanical name, or Bayer code) to access information for that specific weed. If you don’t know the name of the weed, simply search using descriptive terms such as yellow flower, or thistle. The address for the new service is www.weedinfo.ca.
18 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
Dutch designer wows crowd with lecture on artistry with bulbs Dutch landscape designer Jacqueline van der Kloet captivated her audience of 275 attendees at the Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) on Sept. 16, when she gave a lecture on the artistic possibilities of flower bulbs. Organized by LO’s Toronto Chapter, proceeds from the event will go towards education programs at TBG. A well-known Dutch designer, van der Kloet encouraged attendees to use bulbs to create a unique colour pattern to the landscape. LO’s public relations director Denis Flanagan CLD, who attended the lecture,
said the speaker showed fabulous examples of her work in Europe and U.S., including the New York Botanical Gardens. Caroline de Vries, owner of Tradewinds International, announced at the event that her company was organizing a donation of 10,000 bulbs to be planted at the TBG this fall. Watch for LO’s e-news and Horticulture Review for information on that event. Proud sponsors of the lecture were Tradewinds International, International Flower Bulb Centre, Toronto Botanical Garden and Landscape Ontario.
Legacy campaign support growing The new legacy campaign, to help continue the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation’s (OHTF) good works, has received $145,000 in pledges. LO members, who have benefited so much from this industry, can give back to it through a special donation in their will. The program was introduced at this year’s Growers’ Auction by Brian Cocks CHT, who pledged $100,000 from his estate towards the OHTF. The Foundation has contributed thousands of dollars over the years to research programs. Since 1998, the Foundation has given $425,000
towards research projects to benefit the green industry and $226,000 towards scholarships. “This shows the real value gained by any money raised by the Foundation,” says Cocks. “It truly is the best way to give back to the industry from which we have received so much benefit.” Forms are available at the LO home office, or by contacting Brian Cocks, at 905643-1978, or e-mail brian@briancocks.com. You may also contact John Wright, chair of the Foundation, at 519-581-2942, or john@ wright.on.ca.
Long-time LO member marks 50th anniversary Zimmermann’s Nursery and Supplies in Strathroy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The business was founded by John and Else Zimmermann in 1960. An open house took place on Sept. 21 with members of the trade helping the family celebrate the special occasion. A public celebration took place back in July. John and Else arrived from Romania in 1950, with John soon entering school to study horticulture. He then worked on a number of farms until deciding to start his own business, purchasing three-and-a-half acres in Strathroy. John and Else Zimmermann have two children, John Jr. and Tony, and six grandchildren. John Jr. and Mary Zimmermann now run the garden centre, and Tony and Tina Zimmermann operate the wholesale nursery. The special anniversary celebration was covered by the Strathroy Age Dispatch. The newspaper quotes John Jr., “I worked here all my life, ever since I was a kid. That a business can last for 50 years means a lot to me.” John Jr. said that business has been good this summer. He noted that the main reasons for 50 years of success are the attention to quality, and relationships with the customers. He is quoted as saying, “Mom and dad were always fussy with workmanship and honest with people. That means a lot.” Zimmermann’s Nursery and Supplies has been an active member of Landscape Ontario since 1978.
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Lawn care survey:
Results reveal high level of frustration, but also optimism for better future In his column in last month’s Horticulture Review, LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni touched on the lawn care sector survey conducted among members of the sector group. It’s a sector group that has experienced some major hurdles placed in its path over the past two years. Some of the problems were created by politicians, others by Mother Nature. Some of the best information on the state of Ontario’s lawn care industry is revealed, not so much in the multiple-choice answers, but in the comments by those who took the survey. After two years of working under the Ontario pesticide ban, many in the business are frustrated with the situation. But, some of the answers show a sense of optimism. A total of 20 companies took part in the survey. The size of the companies ranged from one to five employees (60 per cent of those taking part), while 20 per cent were companies with 11 to 20 employees, 10 per cent with over 50 employees and 10 per cent with six to 10
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employees. Half the respondents had sales volumes under $500,000, while the rest were over that total. There are a number of contrasting answers from members on rating 2010, as far as business was concerned. Those taking part in the survey had five options to choose from. Surprisingly, half rated the year as moderately satisfactory and 15 per cent said it was a satisfactory year. Only 10 per cent rated it terrible, while a quarter of the respondents said the year was disappointing. No one described 2010 as “terrific.” The following statement captures the respondents’ general feeling: “My cost is up, quality of weed control is down and my ability to control insects is a joke.” Those three areas of concern — cost, quality of product and ability to control insects — were consistently expressed as the main problems facing the lawn care sector. Expectations for 2011? A total of 45 per cent chose “optimistic,” to answer the question, “What are your expectations for 2011?” The other options included, apprehensive, predicting a slow year and about the same as last year. A total of 25 per cent chose apprehensive, while the other two choices each received 15 per cent of the answers. Comments on the question of expectations by lawn care professionals included: “Having to add HST to our clients, rather than just GST, is causing a serious reaction from our new clients. Also, with the pesticide ban and having to use the organic (Fiesta), it has added a considerable cost to our materials. Therefore, with added cost and reduced control of weeds and insects, we have many unhappy clients. I also think that we are being gouged with the cost of Fiesta ($18 per litre is ridiculous).” “Customers trying Fiesta may not do it another year.” “People will check back into lawn care. With weed control and less recession, business should improve.” “I think the free-fall will stop and we will start gaining customers as we can show that weed control is working.” Comparing last year On the question of how members compared last year’s sales volumes to this year, two comments
20 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
reveal the real frustration felt by lawn care professionals: “We are down from 700 customers to about 500, thanks to Dalton McStinky.” “We are down 70 per cent in weed control sales, and still going down. With the addition of Fiesta, that should change.” One business owner wrote, “We’re just barely hanging on. In a year or two, we won’t exist.” Level of service draws lots of response Members had lots to say when it came to revealing the level of service their clients are expecting. This question drew the most responses. The answers reveal a great deal of frustration that both lawn care operators and their clients are experiencing with the total ban on pesticides. Home owners are frustrated because they don’t see weed-free lawns, while costs go up. Operators are equally frustrated because they don’t have the tools to create that level of service, and the tools that are available are expensive. Some of the responses follow: “They (customers) expect weed-free lawns!” “They want more results for less money.” “The pesticide ban has affected business negatively. HST is now also affecting business.” “Our long-time customers are generally happy with our level of service. Many changes (pesticide regulations, HST) have some customers concerned with the future of their properties and the cost associated with professional maintenance.” “They all want the same thing — dead weeds at a reasonable price.” “It is impressive, the number of people that want us to cheat.” “I’m telling them that they cannot expect a weed-free lawn anymore. Most are accepting that, but the big problem is the large increase of cost for reduced weed control. This they do not accept.” “The cost of products needs to come down, or my customers can’t stay with lawn care anymore.” “Everyone is teed-off about not having the traditional weed products. These are the same people who did not go out to the pesticide meetings, because they were made to feel
like criminals for wanting a weed free lawn. Many are still using banned products.” “If we can’t kill weeds for them, they might as well do their own fertilizing and flag down cheap aeration.” “Clients want to see more dead weeds. Pulling some of the weeds just isn’t good enough.” The lone statement of optimism was, “We work long/hard hours, and so far our clients are very pleased with our work. No one has yet has mentioned next season. Our best hope is to keep all our clients from this year into next year.” Increased competition On the question of experiencing increased competition from others that members might not normally have received, it reveals many inexperienced people fresh from layoffs were in competition with the established professional firms. This despite what one member wrote, “No one would be that dumb to get into lawn care at this
time.” Others wrote: “A lot of people are doing it themselves.” “With many layoffs in our area, lawn maintenance seems to be an increasing new business. Hard to compete with the small independents that don’t have the same overhead costs (insurance, WSIB, etc).” “The door knockers are killing the aeration market with low prices.” “Low-ballers are sodding for $8.75 per sq. ft. and interlock installers at $5-6 per sq. ft. That makes us look too expensive.” “I found out that a retired couple had started to cut lawns for half the price we quote in the area that we normally service for potential customers. This explains why we never heard back from customers, after supplying them with a quote to cut their lawns. As a company, we can’t complete with their price.”
Financial concessions On the issue of financial concessions to clients, those lawn care companies taking part in the survey were split on answering the question of keeping prices down. “My clients were unwilling to accept price increases for organic products, because they feel results were not up to expectations.” “Our costs have increased dramatically (new Fiesta herbicide), while we froze prices.” “None of my clients are willing to pay $90 per application for a weed control on a small lawn. I have lost all my large properties, because they will not pay $600 to $1,000 for a weed spray.” “We used the useless weed control (Fiesta) and had to do a free re-spray to keep the lawn care clients from cancelling.” To view the completed survey results, go to the Lawn Care sector page on www.horttrades.com.
Largest Ottawa numbers yet take part in certification day The largest participation ever for certification testing in the Ottawa area saw 29 candidates taking part. The Sept. 16 and 17 event took place at Kemptville College. “The Ottawa Chapter should be congratulated on its dedication and volunteerism, which is what made the certification test day such a success,” said Rachel Cerelli, project coordinator for Landscape Ontario. The Ottawa Chapter now has several new CLTs, but data must be confirmed before names are announced. The predicted rain held off and the weather co-operated to ensure that the 2010 Landscape Industry Certification event was a success. The participants wrote their exams on Thursday, with the practical exams on Friday. The 24 judges, led by Jeff Lowartz CLT, provincial certification chair, and Kennedy Johnston CLT, eastern Ontario certification chair, evaluated the students at the stations throughout the day. The event was led by Rachel Cerelli, with support from Sally Harvey CLT, CLP from the Milton home office, and Martha Walsh, Ottawa Chapter coordinator. The new Kemptville College Horticultural Program coordinator Claude Smith organized for the students currently enrolled in the Kemptville Horticultural program, a guided tour of the stations was led by Kennedy Johnston. Landscape Ontario and the Ottawa Chapter acknowledge the following mem-
bers and companies that sponsored and donated time to CLT Kemptville 2010: Echo, Geosynthetic Systems, Stihl, Walker Mowers, Battlefield Equipment, Garden Creations, Exmark, Greely Sand and Gravel, Cullen Landscaping, Peter Knippel, Connon Nurseries CBV, B&T McFarlane, Carrier and Porrier, Ritchie Feed and Seed, Greenscape, Manderly Sod, Precision Landscape Group, Bytowne Lawn Repair, Lindsay Landscapes, Ganden Landscape, Yates Custom Lawn Sprinklers, RJ Rogers Landscaping, Thornbusch Landscaping Company, Clintar Landscape Management — Ottawa, Hirsig Landscapes, Rockliffe Landscaping and Fraser Wilson. Appreciation is given to the following individuals who volunteered their time
as judges: Dan Clost CHT, Rick Mowry CIT, Will Winsor, Darrell Kekanovich CHT, CLT-S, Stephen Anderson, Trevor Cullen CHT, Diana Dawson, Albert Jerome, Richard Rogers CHT, Paul Doornbos CHT, CLP, Phil Lindsay CHT, Kent Peddie, Ryan Kearney CHT, CLT-THS, Stephen Barkers, Andrew Thompson CHT, Rodney Monteith, David Stewart CHT, Sonja Hirsig CHT, Chad Smail CHT, CIT, Fraser Wilson, Jeff Lowartz CHT and Kennedy Johnston CHT. “The co-operation of all the individuals and member companies who sponsored and volunteered their time made for a successful event. Thank you to everyone who participated,” said Cerelli. Stay tuned for the confirmation of dates for the 2011 Ottawa certification.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 21
LO STAFF PROFILE
Lorraine Ivanoff Expo show manager
What is your basic job description at LO? Assistant show manager for the Landscape Ontario Congress trade show and show manager for Expo (formerly Garden and Floral Expo), which oddly enough takes place this month, Oct. 19 and 20 at the Toronto Congress Centre. I mostly handle partnerships for Expo, booth sales for both shows and customer service for Canada Blooms and the two trade shows (aka anything to do with technology). I also help out at Canada Blooms — mostly the new product showcase and celebrity stage. What is your background before coming to LO, and when did you begin work at LO? My first day at LO was on Apr. 16, 2007. Prior to that, I worked for the Conference
Board of Canada as a researcher, and then at two chapters of the Project Management Institute, Montreal and Southern Ontario (Toronto). When not at work, where can you be found? Reading a book, or watching a movie. Or, hanging out with my family. You know, just chillin’ after a hard day’s work. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Prime Minister of Canada. What inspires you during your time at LO? I hope this is not a cliché, because it is not meant to be. The members — especially those who volunteer their time to Landscape Ontario events and initiatives,
because they already give so much to their business, and here they are giving of what little time they have available to them and using it to help the association flourish. WOW! Name your all-time favourite movie, musical group and TV show. I am always discovering something new so this is not a fair question. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Italy and I would sit at a cafe, sipping a cappuccino at a beautiful piazza that overlooked something of historical significance. Perhaps, I would do this while being Prime Minister of Canada. Could happen! Tell us one thing about you that few of your colleagues know about you. You must be joking... right? Everyone knows everything about me. And that’s a problem. I talk too much.
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New insurance carrier named for HortProtect Marsh Canada has been appointed as the exclusive insurance and risk management broker for the HortProtect Property and Casualty Insurance Program. Toronto-based brokerage firm Sinclair Cockburn and Lombard was the previous broker under the HortProtect program. Marsh refers to itself as the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, with over 23,000 employees with clients in over 100 countries. The announcement switching insurance carriers came through the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), with the changeover effective Sept. 15. “Sinclair Cockburn and Lombard imposed a significant coverage restriction, effective July 1, 2010, therefore removing any liability coverage for snow removal operations along with double-digit rate increases to all members,” said CNLA executive director Victor Santacruz, CAE, CLP. “This restriction was clearly unacceptable and CNLA and its insurance committee began to seek alternative solutions.” According to Santacruz, some of the specific reasons that set Marsh apart were: • Experience with trade associations and group programs with dedicated specialists • Extensive access and relationships with
Ottawa hosts its first Build a Bid Ottawa’s first Build a Bid workshop provided those fortunate enough to attend, with practical, hands-on information on how to accurately present a bid and close the deal. The event took place at the RA Centre on Sept. 22. Created by the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA), it was facilitated by Robert Smart of Smart Snow and Ice Management and Phil Harwood from Pro-motion Marketing. The day-long program was generously sponsored by the following: Go Mobile Communications, Greely Sand and Gravel, Robinson Brothers Transport Spécialisé, Twin Equipment Limited and Landscape Management Network. Next year, the Chapter will host the first-ever Ottawa Snow and Ice Symposium, on Sept. 12 and 13, at the Rideau Carleton Raceway Entertainment Centre, at 4837 Albion Rd. Contact Martha Walsh at mwalsh@landscapeontario.com.
domestic and international insurers • Risk management approach to risk identification and innovative solutions to create program stability • Claims management and advocacy for our members • Ability to offer local service through 13 offices nationally and retail broker network, including current existing sub-broker relationships • Ability to develop collaborative solutions for participating member organizations Presently CNLA and Marsh are negotiating with a number of insurers to provide an insurance and risk management program for association members under our HortProtect brand. “We encourage members to support this new initiative and we will provide you with tools to help you minimize your overall costs,” says CNLA’s insurance committee chair Gerald Boot, who is
also past president of Landscape Ontario. The committee requests association members take part in a survey at www.surveymonkey. com/s/XSDVRLM. To contact Marsh Canada, use the toll free telephone number at 1-888-9494360, or email cnla.hortprotect@marsh.com. What are the next steps? Once an inquiry is made under the HortProtect Insurance program, a representative will contact you within 30 days, depending when your current policy expires. “It should be noted that sharing your information does not obligate you in any way to participate in the CNLA HortProtect Insurance Program, and the information being collected will allow Marsh to conduct further analysis and build a product that meets your needs,” says Santacruz. For more information, contact Joel Beatson CLP, CAE at CNLA , 1-888-446-3499, ext. 8620, or go to www.canadanursery.com.
Companies needed to take part in salt research study The Snow and Ice Management Sector Group of Landscape Ontario has commissioned a research study aimed to develop an optimum and defensible standard for salt application rates for parking lots. Dr. Liping Fu of the University of Waterloo will conduct the research this coming winter on parking lots in the Region of Waterloo. However, the research team wants to extend the data collection outside the Waterloo area. Contractors will be fitted with a unique salt-spreader controller that logs all the data required for this project. That data will include location (GPS), date, time, speed and amount of material spread on a given area, via spinner compensation. The information will be transferred via the web to the research team for further analysis. The controller will be closed loop, road speed oriented with spinner compensation. This cost-effective controller is adaptable to hydraulic or electric spreaders. How to participate You will be required to purchase the controller. One of the member distributors will make 25 systems available at a 10 per cent discount for qualifying private and government organizations. The systems are adaptable to hydraulic and electric spreaders, having a separate control for the spinner. Those taking part will also be
required to adhere to the methodology set out by the research group. Liability is a very serious issue in the snow and ice management industry. The cost of insurance continues to climb and in some cases insurance companies are refusing to cover snow and ice operations. In addition, the over-use of salt causes a great deal of economic and environmental damage. “Developing a defensible standard will assist to elevate the level of professionalism, reduce excess salt use and reduce slip and fall liability,” says Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of LO. Every year, Canada spends over $1-billion to clear snow and ice on private and public roads, parking lots and sidewalks. Most of the past research efforts have focused on roadway maintenance with little study of parking lots and sidewalks, which use 20 to 30 per cent of the five million tonnes of salt to keep them safe. “There are now few defendable and uniform guidelines for using salt in this manner, says Robert Roszell, who is chairing the research committee through LO’s Snow and Ice Sector Group. Registration for the program is through Tony DiGiovanni, who may be contacted at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 2304, or tonydigiovanni@ landscapeontario.com. The deadline for registration is Nov. 1.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 23
LEGAL ISSUES
Is our dispute really settled? By Robert Kennaley McLauchlin & Associates
I
f you don’t have a dispute with the client every now and then, you don’t have enough clients. Knowing that disputes will arise is why a business owner must take steps through risk management, contract drafting, recordkeeping and communication to minimize their impacts. You hope the steps you take will put you in the best possible position to resolve disputes as they arise. You Rob Kennaley also hope that when disputes arise, the other side is reasonable in negotiating a resolution, so as to avoid unnecessary time and expense. Litigation is time-consuming It has been said that a good settlement is one where neither side is happy. There is a lot to this saying. Litigation is time-consuming, expensive and inconvenient. It is also fraught with uncertain outcomes and no one gets all of their legal costs back, even if successful. Accordingly, parties with excellent cases often do, and should, settle for far less than what they are entitled to. The earlier settlement occurs, of course, the more inconvenience and expense can be avoided. When settlement occurs, you have no doubt already agreed to discount your position in order to obtain the resolution. It is therefore important to ensure that the settlement is properly documented to avoid gaps or misunderstandings which can come back to haunt you, down the line. Answer all questions Where you are in the middle of a project and have negotiated a resolution over a change in the work (such as unforeseen site conditions or the need for additional materials or engineering), settlement documentation should clearly determine whether or not the settlement includes for all ‘impacts’ associated with the change. In other words, if you have settled, how much you are to be paid for additional excavation? Have you also settled the issue of delay? Will the owner expect you to keep to the original schedule?
Will you be entitled to additional compensation if the delays push you, for example, into winter work? If these questions are to be left to another day, the settlement documentation should make this clear. Often, dispute resolution occurs after the contractor has left the site, with no intention of returning. This generally occurs when the dispute is over alleged deficiencies or monies owing, or both. An important consideration in such a circumstance is the extent to which the contractor will maintain his warranty over the work performed. If, in your view, the resolution of the dispute should bring all possible obligations of the owner under the contract to an end, you should probably incorporate this into the settlement documentation. If not, you run the risk that the owner may claim on the warranty, if a further dispute arises. Settlement agreement Another important consideration in drafting a settlement agreement is to consider how and when payments to the contractor are to be made. Is the settlement monies payable by certified cheque, bank draft or money order? If not, a number of days (perhaps up to two weeks) will be required before the payment will clear. Does the contractor have the luxury of waiting? Will his lien rights, for example, expire in the interim? Is he counting on the monies for some immediate purpose? If it is important for the contractor to have the monies in hand right away, a provision for certified funds should be made part of the agreement. The appearance that the contractor doesn’t trust the client can be avoided with an explanation as to why the immediate receipt is required. If the agreement calls for the contractor be paid amounts over time, the settlement documentation should address what happens if one or more of the payments are missed. Sometimes, settlement documentation is drafted to provide an incentive for the owner to make payments on time. This can be done by an agreement that if the missed payments are not corrected within a certain period of time, the contractor will automatically receive a court judgment in a greater amount (perhaps as much as the contractor’s initial claim, less payments received to date on the settlement). Also, if the owner is a corporation, a principal of the corporation can be asked to personally guarantee the settlement obligations. Where litigation has already commenced,
24 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
the settlement documentation should address who will incur the cost of taking out any necessary court orders to conclude the litigation. Full and Final Release A document commonly used by lawyers to bring finality to a dispute is the Full and Final Release. Care, however, needs to be taken in drafting these documents. First, the release must accommodate any future obligations, such as the owner’s obligation to pay additional monies, a party’s obligation to address court filings, or the contractor’s warranty obligations. Sometimes, the Full and Final Release is held in escrow, pending the completion of certain steps. Also, items not covered by the release can be expressly excluded from its scope. Full and Final Releases, like contracts, can sometimes be vague and ambiguous on the one hand, or overreaching on the other. If you do not intend to give up all possible claims against the other side, you should never sign a release. Also, it should be remembered that (pursuant to the doctrine of “contra proferentum”), an ambiguous full and final release will generally be interpreted in favour of the party that did not draft it, so long as that person’s interpretation of the document is reasonable. Seek legal advice All of the above leads us to recommend that, depending on the issues and amounts involved, even where a resolution can be negotiated directly between the parties, it is often worthwhile to seek legal advice with respect to the settlement documentation, to avoid confusion and possible disputes down the line. Unfortunately, we have seen over the years far too many settlements that went sideways, resulting in increased costs and inconvenience. Robert Kennaley practices construction law in Toronto and Simcoe. He speaks and writes on construction law issues and can be reached for comment at 416-368-2522, or kennaley@mclauchlin.ca. This material is for information purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice in relation to any particular fact situation. Readers who have concerns about any particular circumstance are encouraged to seek independent legal advice in that regard.
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 25
PROSPERITY PARTNERS
Gearing for winter improvements By Jacki Hart CLP Prosperity Partners program manager
B
y the time you read this, the growing season is shifting gears, as plants of all descriptions prepare for the coming winter. Are you preparing for the coming winter? We are very fortunate in this industry to have a shoulder season. For many, it’s a long stretch of down-time. While the winter months may present cash flow challenges, for many Jacki Hart the huge benefit of a more flexible schedule allows us to catch our breath, and reflect on what we need to do differently next year. Of course, for others among us, winter means long hours of clearing snow and ice. Consider for a moment how you would answer the following questions: • What is the one thing that really caused you the most stress this year at work? • Based on your answer (and there may well be a tie for what caused you the most stress, so it’s perfectly OK to have more than one thing you want to address), how would you like that one thing to change in order to reduce stress at all levels and for everyone next year? • If you start with that end in mind, and work backwards, what things would you address in order to get a more desirable outcome? • What skills do you, or anyone you work with, have to help create a solution?
• What skills are you missing, or if you don’t know where to start creating a workable solution, what resources do you have to gain the skills needed to reduce the stress resulting from the problem you identified in the first question above? In the Prosperity Partners program, we take a look at gaps which may exist in your business, and the available resources to help make improvements. The best place to start is with our Professional Development Guide. This guide, mailed with your issue, is full of excellent training opportunities for people at all levels and a variety of jobs in your business. All of the professional development at Landscape Ontario is organized by six pillars: Technical Education, Professional Operations, Sales Success, Financial Health, Leadership and Developing Loyal Customers. First, take the time to consider where the people you work with need to expand their performance ability. Then go to the relevant Prosperity Pillar and find the training you need. Be sure to check out the Prosperity Partners resource page (www.horttrades.com/prosperity) for additional business and professional development offerings, which are either available on the Internet, or locations outside of Landscape Ontario’s facilities. If you have taken the Prosperity Partners program, you may recall the following expression, “If you are aiming at NOTHING, you will hit it with HUGE accuracy.” Tim Glover, Jump-Point. So, WHAT are you aiming at? I am here to encourage you to step back as the season winds towards a chance to catch your breath. Start considering what you are going to change for next year. Develop a professional development plan for the company
Landscape Ontario Annual General Meeting
team, budget for it, and go for it! I have always used the month of November for this kind of working ON my business, and it has always ensured that my team and I emerge the following spring with a bit more gas in our tank, and a few more tools in the company tool box to lever and make improvements to service, scope and the behind the scenes stuff. The 2010 season has been interesting with many sectors seemingly split down the middle, as to whether or not this year has provided a more confident consumer base, or a more conservative one. There is definitely change all around us – to name a few, change in attitudes, spending patterns, the way we communicate with customers, and in the way they make decisions. Every business, regardless of the sector, needs to be proactive, creative, collaborative and prepared for change. The stronger the skill sets at all levels in your business, the better your road to success and prosperity. Business awards Prosperity Partners Business Engagement Award submission deadline is Oct. 31. The 2nd annual event will take place at the Landscape Ontario Awards Gala during Congress 2011, on Tues., Jan. 11. This award pays tribute and acknowledges business owners in LO who are actively engaged in working to improve their business from the inside out. It honours participants in the program who follow the principles of growing a prosperous business within the Prosperity Partners framework. This program requires the submission to seven questions. All the winners will be notified in advance of the awards ceremony. Prosperity Partners participants should have received their ballot questions by email. To request a copy, email prosperity@landscapeontario.com and place Prosperity Awards Submission in the subject line.
Join your fellow members on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
in the International Ballroom at the Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport, 655 Dixon Rd, Toronto. Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. with the meeting to commence at 8:00 a.m.
Prosperity through engagement Please RSVP Kathleen Pugliese at 1-800-265-5656 ext 309 or fax 905-875-3942 or email: kpugliese@landscapeontario.com by January 4, 2011.
26 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
For more information on the Prosperity Partners program, go to www.horttrades.com/ prosperity.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 27
CLASSIFIED ADS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EQUIPMENT
For lease Garden centre (florist) established 25 years with store and greenhouses. Owner retiring. Growing area. Maple, Ontario. Great exposure. (416) 708-8005
Management Position with Azilda Greenhouses (www.azildagreenhouses.com). Future ownership potential exists. Responsibilities: Retail operations, nursery management, greenhouse production, Requirements: Horticulture Diploma/CHT, min. 2 yrs. horticultural industry experience. Send resume to pandovanderkooy@gmail.com
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
FOR SALE OR LEASE Established garden centre since 1973. Five acre property zoned prestige industrial. Located in a rapidly growing community (Bolton). One large sales building, two large greenhouses, one small polyhouse, one family bungalow. Contact Katy or Joe at (905) 880-0366 IRRIGATION BUSINESS PARTNER Established 6 year-old irrigation company looking for a new partner, the old one is retiring. We are located in Durham Region and have a large customer base with potential for growth. Please e-mail irrigationpartner@gmail.com SELL YOUR MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS Established landscape company interested in buying small or medium-sized landscape company with interior or exterior maintenance contracts. Please fax info to (416) 757-3845
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INFORMATION All classified ads must be pre-paid by VISA or Mastercard.
ONTARIO LANDSCAPING LIMITED Experienced landscape labourers required to perform manual work. To assist in cultivating, digging and planting of trees. Labourer hourly rate $15.00. Also required driver – class A licence, Z certificate and mobile crane operator 0-8. Driver hourly rate $17.50. Seasonal employment starting April 1/10 to Nov 30/10. Job Site Keswick, Ont. Fax resume to (905) 898-0360 or call (905) 898-6856
SERVICES AND SUPPLIES TREE TRANSPLANTING Transplanting trees up to 9” truck diameter with 10,000 lb. rootball. 44”, 80” & 90” spades to move trees with and can basket up to 90” 100 acres of trees to choose from. BOTANIX OXFORD INSTA-SHADE RR # 2, Burgessville ON N0J 1C0 Tel: (519) 424-2180 • Fax: (519) 424-2420 Toll Free: 1-800-387-0246 Contact Jan Veldhuizen E-mail: jan@oxfordinstashade.com www.oxfordinstashade.com
Rates: $42.00 (HST included) per column inch Min. order $45.20. 15% discount on ads run for entire calendar year. Box Numbers: Additional $10. Confidentiality ensured. Deadlines: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 20th). January deadline is Dec. 1. Space is limited to a first come, first served basis. To advertise: E-mail your name, phone number and ad to Robert at classifieds@landscapeontario.com or fax to (905) 875-0183. Online advertising: Website only ads are available for $45.20 (HST included). Website ads are posted for 30 days and are limited to 325 words. View these ads and more online at:
www.horttrades.com/classifieds 28 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
BOWIE HYDROMULCHERS (New and Used) FLEXTERRA FGM HYDROBLANKETS BFM F4 NETTLESS ECB MULCH IT P.O. Box 100, Putnam, ON N0L 2B0 Tel: (519) 425-0342 • Fax: (519) 425-4195 www.mulchit.on.ca
NURSERY STOCK Hofland Gardens Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Groundcovers Tel: (905) 355-3392 E-mail: hoflandgardens@phc.igs.net GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED Your Ontario source for ornamental and native ground covers. Call, fax, or write for the 2010 Catalogue and planting guide. GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED 1045 Porter Road, P.O. Box 190 Bethany, ON L0A 1A0 Tel: (705) 277-3005 Fax: (705) 277-9213
Get INSPIRED Get CONNECTED
AD INDEX COMPANY
PAGE
PHONE
WEBSITE
ACO Systems Ltd................................................21.......... 877-226-4255.....................................www.acocan.ca Braun Nursery Ltd...............................................29.......... 800-246-6984......................... www.braungroup.com Canadale Nurseries Ltd.......................................2........... 519-631-1008............................. www.canadale.com Connon Nurseries/NVK Holdings Inc...................31.......... 905-628-0112.................. www.connonnurseries.com Draglam Salt (G&L Group).................................3........... 416-798-7050......................... www.draglamsalt.com Dutchmaster........................................................32.......... 905-683-8211......... www.dutchmasternurseries.com Gro-Bark...............................................................7........... 905-846-1515............................... www.gro-bark.com Hillen Nursery Inc.............................................16-17.......519-264-9057 Hort Protect (CNLA) ...........................................19.......... 888-446-3499............................www.hortprotect.com Landscape Safety ...............................................7........... 877-482-2323...................www.landscapesafety.com Legends Landscape Supply Inc..........................6........... 905-336-3369....................... www.landscapestore.ca Limestone Trail Company Ltd.............................20.......... 905-563-8133........................www.limestonetrail.com M Putzer Nursery................................................30.......... 800-337-3363....................putzernursery@primus.ca Mankar Distributing Inc........................................8........... 647-309-7826.................................... www.mankar.ca Newroads National Leasing................................10.......... 416-587-1021................. www.newroadsleasing.com Nisco National Leasing.......................................12.......... 888-634-9559...............lcatalano@niscocanada.com R.M. Adams Trucking Ltd (Adams Landscape Supply)...........................29.......... 519-774-0151 .........www.adamslandscapesupply.ca Sheehan’s Truck Centre Inc...............................22.......... 905-632-0300..................... www.sheehanstruck.com Sipkens Nurseries Ltd.........................................22.......... 866-843-0438................. www.sipkensnurseries.com Stam Nurseries....................................................18.......... 519-424-3350.................... www.stamsnurseries.com Uxbridge Nurseries Ltd.......................................13.......... 905-655-3379................www.uxbridgenurseries.com Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd....................................14.......... 519-647-3912.........................www.winkelmolen.com Zander Sod Co Ltd..............................................18.......... 877-727-2100............................www.zandersod.com
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010 29
Growing today for a greener tomorrow
New location successful for Snow and Ice Symposium
Trees: Caliper, Bare Root, B&B, Wire Basket, Container Grown Shrubs: Container Grown Broadleafs: Container Grown Evergreens: Field Grown, Container Grown Perennials, Grasses, Vines, Ferns
We have it all!
M. PUTZER HORNBY NURSERY LTD 7314 Sixth Line, Hornby, Ontario L0P 1E0
Phone: 905-878-7226 s 1-800-377-3363 Fax: 905-878-8737
Quality • Service • Selection 30 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010
A first-time partnership between the Municipal Equipment and Operations Association (MEOA) with Landscape Ontario and Ontario Parks Association met with great success through the annual snow and ice symposium and equipment display program. The combined effort provided a larger snow and ice management symposium and trade show under the name Partnering for Success. MEOA had produced its fall trade show each September at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. LO and OPA also staged a trade show each year at the Milton home office. This year a decision was made to join in with MEOA at the Kitchener venue. It resulted in a highly successful equipment display that took in two complete arena floors, and filled the front and rear areas outside the Auditorium on Sept. 1 and 2. “Together we sold 41,500 square feet of exhibit space, featuring 117 companies,” said Gilles Bouchard, LO director of events and trade shows. He also said that the attendance for the day was in the 300 range. “We had around 40 registrants for the Build a Bid program on September 1 and just under 70 registrants for the technical symposiums on the 2.” Organizers felt that combining two shows under one roof was a huge benefit to everyone. All involved were in agreement that the event was a success. Planning is under way for next year already. Build a Bid The Snow and Ice Management Association’s Build a Bid featured two wonderful instructors, Rich Arlington CSP and Phil Harwood CSP. Responses from the event attendees included: “Thank you. This seminar was both fun and interactive.” “Speakers were knowledgeable and passionate. I rate this as excellent.” and short, but to the point, “Excellent seminar!” Contractors in attendance really took advantage of the expertise of the speakers on hand, and discussions were quite lively. One topic in particular that stood out was health and safety. Two other hot topics included, ‘Weather to be or not to be,’ along with the session on tenders and contracts led by lawyer Rob Kennaley. Both were considered standouts. Another popular attraction was the presentation by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) on the rules of the road for industry members. MTO’s representative Mark Bonner said that there were some great questions, “Time went fast and there were a few questions that we just didn’t spend enough time on.” Rachel Cerelli, LO project coordinator, said, “With more than 100 attendees for the education sessions, the whole program was a success from both attendance and great subject matter.”
Symphony
Compose a of
Colour
2010 $UNDAS 3T 7 (WY 7EST &LAMBOROUGH /NTARIO s 4EL s &AX s WWW CONNONNURSERIES COM s EMAIL MAIL CONNONNURSERIES COM HORTICULTURE REVIEW - OCTOBER 15, 2010  31
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