September 2011 Landscape Trades by Landscape Ontario

SEPTEMBER 2011 VOL. 33, NO. 7

landscapetrades.com

Legal matters: Knowing liability protection options

Reconnecting with customers Hole family builds a new garden centre model in Alberta

Social acceptance leads to sales Business owners cannot avoid 24/7 accountability

Horticultural challenges and solutions ... in Dubai

QR codes start to connect plants with buyers

Perennials to colour fall landscapes

PM40013519

EXPO 2011 Preview Section

contents SEPTEMBER 2011 VOL. 33, NO. 7

PUBLISHER Lee Ann Knudsen CLP | lak@landscapeontario.com Editorial Director Sarah Willis | sarahw@landscapeontario.com Editor Allan Dennis | adennis@landscapeontario.com Web editor Robert Ellidge | rob@landscapeontario.com Art Director Melissa Steep | msteep@landscapeontario.com Graphic Designer Mike Wasilewski | mikew@landscapeontario.com Accountant Joe Sabatino | joesabatino@landscapeontario.com Sales Manager, PUBLICATIONS Steve Moyer | stevemoyer@landscapeontario.com COMMUNICATIONS assistant Shawna Barrett | sbarrett@landscapeontario.com

FEATURES 6 Creating a local connection The Holes build a community gathering place in St. Albert BY SARAH WILLIS

12 Greening the desert Horticultural challenges in Dubai BY MICHAEL PASCOE

16 Mobile marketing

Advisory Committee Gerald Boot CLP, Laura Catalano, Hank Gelderman CHTM, Tim Kearney CLP, Marty Lamers, Jan Laurin, Bob Tubby CLP

Barcodes give customers instant information BY COLIN BECKINGHAM

In this issue:

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

EXPO 2011 show preview

39 Protecting green infrastructure

Pages 27-35

Assigning a dollar value to trees BY COLLEEN CIRILLO

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Carla Bailey, Rachel Cerelli, Paul Day CDE, Lexi Dearborn, Tony DiGiovanni CHTR, Denis Flanagan CLD, Sally Harvey CLT CLP, Helen Hassard, Lorraine Ivanoff, Jane Leworthy, Kristen McIntyre CHTR, Kathy McLean, Linda Nodello, Kathleen Pugliese, Paul Ronan, Ian Service, Tom Somerville, Martha Walsh

columns LEGAL MATTERS

38 Construction liability insurance explained

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

BY ROBERT KENNALEY

BUILDING BUSINESS

Subscription rates: One year – $46.89, two years – $84.73; three years – $118.63, HST included. U.S. and international please add $20.00 per year for postage and handling. Please make cheque payable to Landscape Trades. All rights are reserved. Material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Landscape Trades assumes no responsibility for, and does not endorse the contents of, any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its members, but are those of the writer concerned.

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

departments

GREEN PENCIL NEW PRODUCTS CNLA NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS COMING EVENTS CLASSIFIEDS WHERE TO FIND IT

4 22 43 46 48 49 50

26 Doing business through social channels BY GEORGE URVARI

ROAD TO SUCCESS

36 Company owners are always ‘on’ BY ROD McDONALD

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING

44 Investing in organic amendments BY SEAN JAMES

MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

40 The art of developing managers BY MARK BRADLEY

HIDDEN GEMS

24 Fall foliage standouts BY DAVID VAN DE VEN

greenpencil Helping your customers cope with pesticide bans spells opportunity

Every business owner has a choice by sarah willis

Chances are good that if you have kids or grandkids, they are devoted to Spider-Man. The guy has it all; ability to sling webs across skyscraper canyons, a crack special effects team and a pretty girlfriend. And surprisingly in today’s media landscape, he even espouses solid values. Spider-Man understands that, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and, “Every hero has a choice.” Homeowners are making some interesting choices, according to a recently released survey conducted by BlackSheep Strategy for CropLife Canada. The survey was conducted in mid-June 2011, two years after the cosmetic pesticide ban was put in place in Ontario. Only homeowners with lawns were surveyed, and results included both participants who had used pesticides on their lawns before the ban, as well as those who had not. With province-wide bans in place in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and under consideration elsewhere, the results resonate across Canada. CropLife Canada represents the manufacturers, developers and distributors of pest control products. It compared data from a homeowner survey done before the 2008 ban with this new information, and found homeowners like the idea of the ban, but perhaps not the reality. In 2008, 75 per cent of homeowners were in favour of a cosmetic pesticide ban. By June of this year, the new survey revealed only 45 per cent favour the ban.

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They are trying, though. An impressive 74 per cent of folks said they are taking better care of their lawns since the pesticide ban was implemented, 66 per cent are getting better at accepting weeds and 43 per cent are feeding the soil and the plant roots with fertilizer. However, 30 per cent of homeowners surveyed admitted to breaking the law by applying stockpiled, banned product, or using effective-butunregistered products from out of province. Our green infrastructure is suffering. Nearly half of participants report being less satisfied with the state of public green spaces since the ban. With a diminished toolkit, the quality of non-irrigated park lands has degraded in a short period. In my home town, the local school boards are replacing all natural turf sports fields with artificial turf. Through working retail at my husband’s garden centre and volunteering at Master Gardener advice clinics, I know the average gardener still does not understand that weed-and-feed products or rose sprays are considered pesticides, and can’t be bought in Ontario. The reality is that pesticide bans are here to stay. As independents, whether garden centre operators or other sectors, we remain a prime source of credible information for homeowners. It’s a great responsibility, reflecting our industry’s great power to inspire and educate. Why not be a hero, and choose to promote the tools we have — products, plant selection or care — to help your LT customers succeed?

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Customers just want to have fun!

The Hole family continues to inspire Canadian retailing with Alberta’s The Enjoy Centre

BY SARAH WILLIS

“It used to be

that the garden centre was the only place in town to buy plants,” says Jim Hole. “Then the world shifted and box stores and grocery stores got in on the act. My brother Bill and I knew our garden centre needed to change in order to be competitive and realized that, in this market, small incremental changes wouldn’t cut it. The change had to be dramatic.” Bill and Valerie Hole had admired the Dutch style of garden retailing on several trips to Holland, and so the seed for The Enjoy Centre was planted. Hole and his brother took a chance on creating a destination that brings together a group of locally-run, like-minded businesses in a new model for community involvement. Not counting the space that houses St. Albert’s The Enjoy Centre, there are approximately 2,500 sq. metres within the building that are leased to other local independent businesses that complement both the products and the ideals that the Holes strive for. Unlike any garden centre in Canada, The

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Above: The Holes cement their well-deserved reputation as effective garden problem solvers with this polished reference area and garden chemical display at The Enjoy Centre. Left: The production greenhouses are irrigated using a flood floor. Below: There are five terraced outdoor sales yards. Gabion basket retaining walls add character to the area.

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Above: On Saturday mornings, the open, airy Square is a-buzz with demonstrations, tastings, talks by Jim Hole, and performances by local community groups. Presentations can be viewed from both upper and lower floors of The Enjoy Centre. Left: The nine-meter ceilings create a unique atmosphere for shoppers at the Enjoy Centre, and help prevent temperature extremes in the building.

Enjoy Centre is a gathering place where customers can come to shop for plants, garden decorations, birding supplies and soil amendments. While there, they can take in a tai chi demonstration, pick up some fresh baked goods, vitamins, groceries, locallysourced meats, furniture, high-end kitchen tools, wine, and then sit down for a meal or go for a spa treatment. Ambition, with sustainability Ground was broken to create The Enjoy Centre two years ago on a 4.5-ha location just outside the Edmonton suburb, adjacent to the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, a freshwater wetland ecosystem. The Holes made a conscious decision to site their facility

on a hillside, so they could utilize the terrain to design advantage. The Enjoy Centre is three stories high, with the outdoor sales yards in five organically-shaped terraces hugging one side of the building. Offices take up the top floor, Hole’s garden shop, green houses, banquet space, the Prairie Bistro and Hillaby’s occupy the second floor, while the rest of the shops, spa and production facilities are located on the first floor, which is cut into the hillside. Construction wasn’t quite complete when I visited in July, and Jim Hole noted they were about six months behind planned timetables saying, “This has been like a home renovation times 1,000!” The principles of local sourcing, sustainability and energy conservation were

utilized in the design and construction of The Enjoy Centre wherever possible. Water from the extensive greenhouse roofs is collected in500,000 litre tank, UV-treated and used as non-potable water in the greenhouses and washrooms. The production greenhouses were constructed with flood floors and flood tables are used in the retail sales area. A co-generation unit provides electricity on site and utilizes the waste heat produced as well, in an efficient cycle that saves approximately $200 per day in heating costs. Additionally, situating the warehouses on the ground floor allows the waste heat to rise, to be used in the greenhouses above. The ceilings of the double-pane glass greenhouses rise nine metres above the shop

A local legacy The Enjoy Centre is the third incarnation of the Hole family business. Almost by accident, Lois and Ted Hole became vegetable farmers in 1952, selling farm-fresh produce from a roadside stand and their iconic red barn. In the late 1970s the company relocated and changed its focus to home and garden retailing, growing the annuals and perennials they sold in their greenhouse range. Lois Hole, noted for her kind and generous personality, was known as “the Queen of Hugs.” Gradually becoming the face of the family business, Hole authored over 15 gardening books, some of them with her son Jim, who took over as family scribe after his mother’s death in 2005. Lois Hole left a legacy of community service and selfless generosity. She was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 1999 and was the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. She has been recognized and honoured in many ways, through the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park and the Lois Hole Library in Edmonton. The Memory Project at The Enjoy Centre is a unique testament to the Holes. The brainchild of Bill Hole, it is a pictorial history of the Hole’s business, from vegetable plot to greenhouses and garden centre. The photos run along a wall of the building, and are accompanied by memories of former employees and customers, submitted for this purpose. The Memory Project took 500 hours to put together. A guest book bears thoughtful and thankful inscriptions from visitors as far away as South Africa. “People love it,” says Jim Hole. 8 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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After June, the display greenhouse is emptied and does double duty as a banquet facility. Here, staff have begun to decorate for a Chinese wedding ceremony and reception.

floors. Hole explains that 80 per cent of heat loss in a greenhouse is through the roof, so they could use dramatically high side walls to enhance the atmosphere in the building, with no additional heat loss. The soaring ceilings have actually created a more stable atmosphere, as the space is slower to warm and cool, avoiding the dramatic temperature swings of traditional production greenhouses. Heat retention curtains are used to save energy. Benches to banquets The Holes created their new facility to be sustainable environmentally, socially and economically. In most Canadian garden

centres, a large portion of the seasonal sales area sits empty for most of the year. The Holes reimagined the use of their greenhouse, turning their indoor seasonal sales area into a 600-person banquet facility after clearing out the product in June — the banquet facility is available to rent for nine months of the year. The greenhouse was constructed with this in mind, and has a polished concrete floor that can be heated or cooled with water as needed. Large architectural ‘moonflowers’ on the supports can be dramatically lit for night-time events. Hole says acoustics in the greenhouse are great, and that in the short time the event space has been open, they have hosted weddings, an operatic society

Community partners “We’ve partnered with like-minded local business that are committed to operating sustainably,” says Hole. There is a potential to share labour and marketing, and as The Enjoy Centre is such a novel concept, he expects other opportunities to evolve over time. In addition to Hole’s garden centre, Enjoy Centre visitors can shop at: Amaranth Whole Foods Market Beautiful Home and Gift Hillaby’s Tools for Cooks Liquid Harvest The Prairie Bistro The Prairie Baker Sandyview Farms The Water Garden Spa and Wellness Retreat

function, and a University of Alberta banquet, as well as fundraising dinners. While there are no cooking facilities on site, a prep kitchen is available for off-site caterers. One floor down, at the other end of the building, the Park Room is a smaller meeting space accommodating 140 guests, with windows on three sides offering lots of natural light and a great atmosphere. In a real example of the synergy of the many businesses within The Enjoy Centre, couples can book the Moonflower Room for their wedding, photos and reception, and have the wedding party’s hair and nails done at the Water Garden Spa. In between service and reception, guests can relax while wandering the shops at The Enjoy Centre or get a snack at the bakery or bistro. “The way the world is going now, most people’s first connection with plants is at a chain store,” says Hole. “By creating The Enjoy Centre, we’re trying to flip it around and draw young people out to a place where they can reconnect with plants and their local community. Most people are happy to support local businesses. We’re trying to give people an uplifting experience.” Most Saturdays Jim Hole can be found giving a short gardening talk at The Square, an open airy space that can be viewed from two floors of The Enjoy Centre. The Square is home to dynamic demonstrations, tasting, lectures and performances. Getting the word out about The Enjoy Centre has been easy. The state-of-the-art facility has enjoyed lots of attention from media, with Global TV doing live segments, and articles in newspapers and business journals. Jim Hole is a popular garden communicator and hosts an openline gardening program weekly, and he sends out a brief weekly e-letter with gardening tips, personal observations and a look at what’s coming up at The Enjoy Centre. “There is nothing standard about this place at all,’ says Jim Hole. “It’s unlike any place else in the world. Still, fundamentally it is a greenhouse. It’s a greenhouse PLUS a whole LT lot more.”

10 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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Greening the desert:

A horticulturist visits Dubai

BY MICHAEL PASCOE

Michael Pascoe visited several countries in the far east scouting for possible field trip locations for Fanshawe College students. Over the next few issues of Landscape Trades he gives a horticulturist’s perspective of gardening in some very different climates.

Dubai, with a population of 2.6 million in 2008, is one of seven emirates that are the United Arab Emirates. Located in the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai has seen unprecedented development. Along with that development comes the need for landscaping, in a desert that presents challenges Canadian landscape managers would find incomprehensible. In a climate where the summer temperatures can reach above 55° C, with annual precipitation less than 120 mm, one would expect very little plant life to grow. That is actually the case. The local vegetation consists of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera), Acacia and the imported mesquite (Prosopssis sp.), as well as other minor species. These tough, resilient plants are found throughout of the country where the landscape consists of low and high dunes and flat, arid plains. Of course the United Arab Emirates is not all desert; there are mountains, rich coastal areas and of course the ubiquitous oases, where the vegetation is quite lush. However over 80 per cent of the country is desert; landscaping here has its challenges. In coastal areas the humidity is almost unbearable, both to plants and people, but of course the paucity of water is the overwhelming challenge for all who design, build and cultivate landscapes. The drying heat climbs as summer approaches; by early April the temperature reaches 35° C at mid-morning and will climb rapidly to its July apex of 55° C. Limitations for landscapers Landscaping has severe limitations, including water, heat, soils, 12 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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An urban retreat designed by Desert Group. The road allowances in prosperous subdivisions are often landscaped, and may feature tropicals such as agave and desert rose (Adenium obesum). (Photo: Michael Pascoe)

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Above: The Dubai Garden Centre features a wide variety of pots and urns, often quite large, many from the company’s own factory. (Photo: Jeff Hicks) Right: Most public landscape plantings are irrigated, like the masses of petunias planted alongside the highway interchanges in the downtown core. Water is filtered, untreated municipal grey water, often releasing a unique smell as it is sprayed through the irrigation heads. (Photo: Jeff Hicks)

plant availability and of course the difficulty of maintenance in such a dramatic climate. Planting is thus relegated to high visibility, popular-use areas such as large government and high-profile commercial facilities, private residential areas, golf courses and the median areas in the downtown core. There are several large landscape companies operating in the region; Canadian Jeff Hicks is project manager for Desert Group. Hicks says one of the greatest challenges, other than the obvious heat and humidity, is working with desert soils. Hicks states, “The pH of the soil and ground water is around 8; many plants such as the commonly used Rubiaceae family develop chlorosis above 7 – 7.2. Additionally, the soil is often very salty.” He explains there are unusual things about the soil, once a young ocean floor, “It took me forever to understand that its elemental makeup can kill plants quickly, with no explanation evident in traditional soil tests.” Calcium carbonate is a gas that is released from disturbed subsoil — excessive amounts are lethal to plants — however, as a gas, it does not show up on soil tests. Hicks’s strategy to detect this lethal gas is to pour vinegar on the soil and watch for a chemical reaction. In instances where reactions were severe, planting had to be delayed. 14 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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Since there are so few landscape companies in the region, contractors such as Desert Group must be full service. Seven separate companies operate under the Desert Group umbrella, offering everything from swimming pool and water feature installation to turf services, golf course construction, wholesale nursery growing and a full-service garden centre, which on a recent visit even had a library where expats could get partial credit for novels and books they want to exchange. Retail strategy I would have expected to see something different in one of the very few garden centres in Dubai, and I did. Unusual because of the scarcity of residential landscape equipment, the garden centre offered gasoline-powered weed trimmers, hedge shears and lawn mowers. The Dubai Garden Centre became not only a retailer of such landscape gear, but also a regional distributor. Otherwise, this rare garden centre was the epitome of garden centres in Canada who serve highend clients. Where gardens are scarce and difficult to maintain, many have turned to container gardening, a culture that has evolved over hundreds of years in this region and is

experiencing a renascence. The Dubai Garden Centre featured an extensive range of very large pots and urns, with many produced by Desert Group’s own factory; the selection, row upon row, would shame most Canadian garden centres. In a climate fraught with the obvious horticultural challenges, problems abound for the transplanted Canadian. Understanding complex soils, an intimate knowledge of irrigation and, of course, learning an entirely new repertoire of plants, are all in a day’s work. What about the employees? Hicks’s first job right off the plane from Canada was to meet with a client’s Egyptian and Palestinian engineers, Desert Group’s upper caste Indian project managers and lower caste Indian and Pakistani tradesmen, Nepali and Bangladeshi labourers and a Filipino supervisor — their project: to build a roof garden in a climate where the temperatures LT already exceeded 35° C. Michael Pascoe is professor and academic program co-ordinator for the Horticulture Technician and Apprenticeship Horticulture Programs at Fanshawe College in London, Ont., and director of The Gardens of Fanshawe College and the A.M. Cuddy Garden.

The green industry should consider tapping into the instant information today’s barcodes provide.

by Colin Beckingham

Fred goes into a landscaper’s yard and searches through the trees displayed for sale. He sees a tree that looks suitable for a use he has in mind, but the label on the tree does not give enough information for him to be able to make a choice. He looks around for a human helper and sees several who are already engrossed in helping other customers. He’ll have to wait. Then he notes that one of the tags on the tree has a QR (Quick Response) barcode that he vaguely recognizes. He pulls out his smart phone, uses the phone’s camera to focus in on the barcode and snaps the image. Automatically the browser in the phone opens a website at a page that gives comprehensive information about the tree. Fred finds that the page is authoritative, it confirms his thinking, he loads the tree onto a cart, pays, and is on his way, secure in the thought he has made the right choice. Somehow, the phone recognized the format of the barcode, was able to decode its information and found that it contained a Uniform Resource Locator (web page address in http:// format). The barcode not only contained the website name but also additional instructions, so the phone knew that it should open the browser, find the website and pass on the instructions. And the website knew what to do, presenting the right page with the specific information needed. While this imaginary scenario would be unusual in a landscaper’s yard, it is all quite feasible with today’s technology — and commonly used already in other industries. The old situation There’s nothing new about barcodes. The 16 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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first barcode was invented in 1948, and they have gone through a number of changes and improvements since then. Barcodes are commonplace today in shipping labels, inventory control and point-of-sale systems, and are widely used in the horticulture industry. The common one-dimensional (1-D) barcode most often translates into a simple number, which identifies a record in a database, containing all related information. In a garden centre, this might be the price, name and cultural information, speeding up the checkout process while making it far less subject to error, as well as providing extra information that supports the sales activity. We are starting to see these 1-D barcodes on printed receipts. This is really handy at the returns desk, where a quick scan of the receipt brings up not only detail about the items purchased, but the entire master sales record including place, date and time, method of payment and current warranty status. Using your camera on a 1-D barcode would not get you very far. While it might yield the unique number of the tree in the vendor’s database, the camera would not know what to do with it. There’s just not enough information encoded. What is new Barcodes can now be square and come in other shapes. The rectangular shape of 1-D barcodes is intended to deal with error correction and helping the barcode scanner read it easily, but the barcode still contains only one number. Two-dimensional (2-D) barcodes can contain thousands of alphanumeric characters. Here are three different types (among

Photo: Dianne Cordell

Barcodes: Promising tools for horticulture?

many) of 2-D barcodes. The three examples illustrated all say the same thing, “http://www. landscapetrades.com, “ the URL of the on-line pages of Landscape Trades magazine. The first image is in PDF417 format, the second in QR code format, and the third is a Microsoft Tag.

PDF417

QR Code

Microsoft Tag

There are a number of free on-line services which allow you to create and decode these barcodes, which separate you from the nittygritty of generating and decoding single examples. If you have a printed version, you can scan with a phone or a flatbed scanner, to get an image for decoding. If you are viewing an on-line version, simply copy the image. Once you have the image, submit it to one of the on-line decoders. You can even use a smart phone to scan an image displayed on your monitor. The Microsoft tag can justifiably claim to be the most advanced of the three, since it grew out of the QR code project, and expands on the same idea using colours and shapes. However its compact size and colour requirements might not make it a good choice if you need to print it on a narrow POS receipt

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with a black ribbon using a dot matrix print head.

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The QR code in more detail For those interested in a close-up of how to use one of these codes in a practical context, consider the QR barcode. For an open-source enthusiast such as myself there is only one way to go, with my own tools operated locally on a Linux server. There are open source software tools available for coding and decoding these images with no limitations (apart from size restrictions) on use or content. A generator which works well is available from: http://fukuchi.org/works/qrencode/ manual/index.html and a reader which can decode the pictures using Java is available at : http://qrcode.sourceforge.jp/

Finally a loyalty program that rewards you with additional discounts on both Units AND Accessories! Take advantage of the industry’s leading FLEET PROGRAM and

SAVE... all year long! www.echo.ca

18 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

Barcode contents The contents of these barcodes or tags can be entirely arbitrary. You can say “Hello, I am an English hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha). I grow to 15 ft. or 5 m tall, prefer full sun, flower in May and am not particular regarding soil type. Watch out, I have thorns!” Or you can say the same thing in French or Portuguese, or say the same thing in English and French and Portuguese all on the same tag. It’s your call. Since web pages can contain even more information, it is an easy leap to just encode a URL which leads to the same type of information. For example, take the Plantapedia database run by Peter Rofner of Richmond Nursery, near Ottawa. Using a URL such as: http://www.plantapedia.ca/ plants.php?mode=details&id=830 takes us straight to a page about Rosa glauca — redleaf rose. It’s a simple matter of changing the “id=xxx” part to take us to a different plant.

With these tools you can very quickly and automatically encode and decode QR codes on the fly. Having your own server allows you to generate a large number of codes and with no user intervention, freeing up time to do other things. On an older machine you can generate 500 URL QR barcodes in less than five seconds. Practical for horticulture? On the golf course, you come up to the tee on the 14th hole, scan the QR code by the ball washer and immediately find a web page 18 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

Connecting Face-to-Face On the Path to Success

Grow and prosper from the connections made at our events Increase brand recognition Discover new customers Capitalize on new markets Source new suppliers

Canada’s fall show for the floral and garden industry Retail Trade Event October 19-20, 2011 Toronto Congress Centre Scan with mobile North Building, Toronto, Ontario device to see what’s new.

loexpo.ca

THE

CANADIAN

SNOW & & ICE ICE EXPO EXPO SNOW

CANADIAN THE

Canadian Snow and Ice Expo Industry Trade Event September 12-13, 2011 Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre Ottawa, Ontario www.snowandiceexpo.ca Municipal and Contractor Fall Equipment Show Industry Trade Event September 14-15, 2011 Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex Kitchener, Ontario www.fallequipmentshow.com In partnership with:

Canada’s International Horticultural Lawn and Garden Trade Show and Conference Industry Trade Event January 10 – 12, 2012 Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, Ontario

locongress.com

Scan with mobile device to see how to exhibit.

For exhibitor or visitor information call: 1-800-265-5656

detailing the distance to the hole, overview of hazards, the names of all the members who holed-in-one there, and estimated time to the 19th hole given current players on the course. On the side of a piece of equipment, a QR code links back to a database which contains the details of all the fluid capacities and major part numbers for filters, and indicates when it was last serviced and by whom. At a garden centre point of sale checkout you are generally interested in one thing,

identifying the product and quantity as quickly as possible, and likely a 1-D barcode on the tag is all that is required. However in the display area, there is room for 2-D barcodes to provide information that otherwise would have to be printed and is liable to become out of date or fade in the sun. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the issue of space on a small plant tag. While the Microsoft colour barcode might fit, a QR code would likely call for a much larger plant tag. On an invoice for a lawn tractor, for support purposes you want to be able to

Dependability. Weather or Not.

Doing the right thing is easy when you use Draglam Salt. For more than twenty years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve built our reputation on delivering the highest quality salt whenever and wherever you need it. And through our unrivalled purchasing power and innovative strategic planning process, Draglam Salt will be your safety partner for whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

draglamsalt.com GandLgroup.com

20 | SEPTEMBER 2011

Concrete

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

Aggregates

Soil

Salt Waste

give a customer access to your on-line server which records past and future servicing details of the machine, so you print a QR code on the invoice. Then the customer can scan the code at any time and access the information through a URL. In this way there can be a number of barcodes on the invoice; one for the vendor, one for the warranty provider and one for the manufacturer. QR and other codes are particularly valuable when the URL is long and complex, where a customer might make a keyboard error and end up in the wrong place. Many businesses are introducing barcodes by offering specials or prizes to customers willing to use them. Technology for today 2-D barcodes are here and now, working accurately to condense complex information into a convenient image. They are cheaper than RFID tags, and more importantly, they are immediately accessible to the vendor and customer using existing, non-specialist tools. Do 3-D barcodes exist? Yes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; some consider that the addition of colour in the image adds a third dimension. Others use a true 3-D approach; they are not very common, but they work on 2-D principles, where each of the component squares or triangles has a height dimension as well as length and width. The height is calculated by measuring the time it takes for the light beam to be reflected back to the scanner. Such 3-D barcodes are capable of storing huge amounts of information. The problem for the horticulture industry might be that customers consider these barcodes too strange to be useful. How many of your customers have smart phones capable of decoding the images you offer, and how many would use them? A few years ago we might have asked the same question about DVD players. It costs very little to participate in this new idea (printing and dovetailing with existing software), with the benefit of gaining firsthand experience in a new technology, and LT the security that experience brings. Colin Beckingham is a freelance writer living in eastern Ontario, with experience in the green industry. He works professionally with open-source solutions in the areas of database management, accounting, voice control and telecommunications.

Dutchmaster

N U R S E R I E S LT D . We make your day easier

Specialists in caliper trees Vast selection of container plants Various nursery supplies for sale 40 years of industry experience Growing with our customers in mind All of your nursery needs in one place

T : 905 683 8211 F : 905 683 3734 E : sales@dutchmasternurseries.com 3735 Sideline 16, Brougham, ON, Canada L0H 1A0 www.dutchmasternurseries.com

newproducts Winter protection

Deer repellent

NuVue Products introduces an innovative new product to protect perennials, shrubs and small trees from winter damage. These synthetic mesh covers eliminate the need for burlap wrap. The company claims its covers perform better, are reusable and are an extremely cost effective solution that last years and years. The mesh material allows sun, water and air to penetrate, keeping the plants healthy. They repel road salt spray, heavy snow, freezing rain and animals. NuVue Products www.nuvueproducts.com

Bobbex Deer Repellent is now registered for use in Canada. Bobbex is an all-natural topical plant repellent that will not wash off. It stops deer from browsing, using smell and taste deterrents. The manufacturer claims it is longer lasting, utilizing fish oil as a sticking agent. Bobbex Inc. www.bobbex.com

Multi-use baskets

Wireless pet barrier

Outdoor LED lighting

The v2 Lighting Group presents the Tripod collection of luminaires suitable for inside and outside applications. Tripod is CNC machined from solid stainless steel, brass or aluminum and uses all stainless steel hardware. Available in a wide array of finishes, the collection includes indoor and outdoor wall sconces, pendants, landscape bollards and custom configurations. The Tripod line is listed for both wet and damp locations. All models are focusable, dimmable and have a variety of mounting and installation options. v2 Lighting Group www.v2lightinggroup.com

Electric-powered sprayer Flat tire baskets are unique and innovative products made from recycled tires. These baskets are strong and practical and possess a rough natural beauty that will add a unique charm to any home and garden. At 14 in. high and 12 in. wide, they are versatile enough for many uses. Jalisco Imports www.jaliscoimports.ca

Invisible Fence introduces PetFree, a mobile wireless system to train pets to avoid areas of the home or yard where they might get in trouble such as garbage cans, compost pile, kitchen counters or valuable furniture. PetFree is professionally installed by Invisible Fence Brand experts who also introduce the system to pets and provide customized, professional training. Pet owners can adjust the system to keep pets up to six feet away from designated “pet free zones,” establishing safe pet-friendly zones anywhere in the yard or home. Invisible Fence Brand www.petfree.com

22 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

Natural herbicide Weed Knock-Out by Turf Revolution is a 100 per cent natural alternative for nonselective weed control. With seven per cent acetic acid, it is fastacting, ready to use and leaves no harmful residue in the soil. Available in one-litre spray bottles. Turf Revolution www.turfrevolution.com

SnowEx presents its new SL-80 and SL-80SS push sprayers for ice management on sidewalks and other small areas. Completely electric-powered, the sprayers provide enhanced performance when compared with similar ground-driven units. Available with a powder-coated steel frame (SL-80) or stainless steel frame (SL-80SS), both sprayers have a 13-gallon, corrosion-resistant polyethylene tank. Each model includes an adjustable-height, boomless nozzle, which sprays most salt brine and liquid ice melters up to 48 in. wide. The units also come with an adjustable spray wand for spotspraying applications. TrynEx International LT www.trynexfactory.com

Providing Essential Growth Tools and Supplies for Canadian Horticulture and Landscape Professionals

Water Solubles POLYON® Controlled-Release Fertilizers utilize our patented Reactive Layers Coating™ to provide the most reliable and predictable nutrient feeding to your plants. We have a full spectrum of options including Homogenous NPK Blends, Season Long Field Blends, Nursery, and Topdress Blends, that all provide unparalleled results whatever the application.

Our full line of premium single element and complete formulation water soluble fertilizers provides growers with the confidence and flexibility needed to achieve maximum results. From the 20-20-20 Multi Purpose to the 10-52-10 Plant Establishment formulation, we have you covered to meet your water soluble needs.

Landscape Supplies Agrium Advanced Technologies is a one stop shop for landscape professionals. We carry a full selection of Dimex EdgePro® landscape edging, Typar® professional landscape fabric, and Premier Tech® Horticulture Soils.

Made in Canada by Agrium Advanced Technologies® For all your nutritional needs visit us at www.prohort.ca Contact us at 1-855-228-2828 or prohort@agriumat.com Agrium Advanced Technologies, 10 Craig Street, Brantford, ON N3R 7J1 © 2011 Agrium Advanced Technologies (U.S.) Inc. DIRECT SOLUTIONS, AGRIUM ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES and designs are trademarks owned by Agrium Inc. POLYON is a trademark of Agrium Advanced Technologies. PROHORT is a trademark owned by Nu-Gro Ltd. EDGEPRO is registered trademark of Dimex Corporation. TYPAR is a registered trademark of Reemay Inc. PREMIER TECH is a registered trademark of Premier Tech Ltée. Reactive Layers Coating is a registered trademark owned by Agrium Inc.

buildingbusiness

Social acceptance:

Build tight referral networks BY GEORGE URVARI

How do you become the marquee company where you’re the one, go-to person with whom everybody wants to be associated? Everyone else is using you; so-and-so used your company, so therefore you must be good. In fact, the goal for your business should be to get into this position, so that you can get the best jobs with the best margins. In the higherincome world, money often becomes less of an issue because it is abundant. Although it is still an important consideration, value and time tend to be even more important. Join the club As I have hinted in earlier articles it is important to get out there and network, especially within a group. I joined a golf/ tennis/curling and squash club about six years ago, and I now get tons of quality business because of it. Fortunately, early on, a few people took the chance on hiring my firm. Now everyone is hiring my firm. It’s not that I am necessarily the best, but rather we are “the company to use” in that circle. As I found out, members of golf clubs do

not have time to cut their own lawns or micromanage people. Their time is very valuable, and they would rather pay to play and pay to have work done. There just are not enough hours in the day to work and play. Social acceptance equals trust Trust is another key factor. If everyone trusts you, then you must be trustworthy. It is less likely in your peers’ minds that you would try to pull the wool over their eyes. In fact, you are viewed as trustworthy by the group because of social acceptance, and how you behave amongst them. These tight networks, in upper income brackets, can quickly become a huge source of revenue. It builds brand, loyalty and a steady source of work. It costs only the investment of your leisure time, an expensive membership and some annual fees. If you want to get better business more easily, consider joining some sort of high-net worth club. It usually starts with someone finding out what you do and asking for advice. On one of my golf trips with “the boys,” I

FINALSAN

met a senior partner in a law firm who bills out at more than $800 per hour and he asked me about stonework at his farm. I gave him a referral since our company does not do work in the country. A year later I got a call for a landscape project on his home in the city worth well over six figures. It is important to never hard sell these people. Once they are comfortable with you for who you are — the true you — they will call. I am closing at about 90 per cent on club referrals so far! The reason people join groups is because they are like-minded and have similar interests. Leverage this opportunity for your business while having fun. Clubs are a great forum for branding and marketing. As a bonus, instead of staying home and watching TV, get out there and exercise with your family. You will be healthier LT and richer for it. George Urvari has been a partner in a Toronto-based design-build landscape firm, for over 20 years.

Non-Selective Herbicide by Neudorff Controls grass, weeds, moss, algae An attractive alternative to vinegar products TAP INTO THE POWER OF THIS FAST ACTING � NON-CORROSIVE � NON-STAINING HERBICIDE WITH � NO HARSH FUMES � EVEN WHERE PESTICIDE BANS ARE IN PLACE For more information contact

J.B. & D. COMPANY LTD.

Ken Pavely 519-939-6063 · kpavely.lawnlife@xplornet.ca www.dufferinlawnlife.com

905-477-1881 · info@jbdcoltd.ca · www.jbdcoltd.ca

and ask about FIESTA broadleaf herbicide · FIESTA selectively controls broadleaf weeds, algae and moss in turf ®

24 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

NEW

from Unilock!

Ask about our introductory offer!

Brussels Block Sierra ®

Unilock’s time-proven product, Brussels Block , is now even better with the introduction of a NEW colour, Sierra. This new contribution will be available in ALL sizes as well as in the ® Brussels DImensional Stone . ®

NOW AVAILABLE

at your local Unilock Authorized Dealer.

Designed to be a step ahead. 1-800-UNILOCK | www.unilock.com

hiddengems

Fall foliage standouts BY DAVID VAN DE VEN

While trees and shrubs show off in the fall, we often forget about our perennial plant material. With the recent recongition of Amsonia hubrichtii (Arkansas blue star) as Perennial Plant of the Year, I thought it would be great timing to bring some perennials with unusual characteristics to your attention. A. hubrichtii has been featured in this column in past, so I will refrain from adding all details, but it does turn a fantastic yellow in fall, a great addition to just about any professional planting. Exciting fall characteristics may not be a factor that you as a professional would typically take

in to consideration, but if plant lists are carefully considered, it can very easily be done! Many perennial plants offer fall interest if you take into consideration late-flowering plants like Anemone and Chrysanthemum, or the unusual seed pods of things like Belamcanda (blackberry lily) or even Convallaria (lily-of-the-valley), both with very noticeably bright LT seeds or “fruits.” Just a few of my suggestions follow. David Van de Ven is a perennial grower in Mount Albert, Ont.

Ceratostigma plumbagnoides Leadwort 25 cm tall

Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves’ PPAF Coral bells 20 cm tall

Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’ Flame grass 120 cm tall

Now this is definitely an underutilized plant, and it happens to put on quite the show in fall. With green foliage in spring and summer with bright blue flowers in summer, Ceratostigma plumbagnoides makes a great ground cover — but in fall the foliage begins to change to bronze. Very unique indeed! A location in the design that will permit some afternoon shade would be very beneficial for this selection; it does however tolerate full sun. Planted in large masses it will put on even more of a show, but keep it out of containers, it will not be happy. (Photo credit: Walters Gardens)

Of the extensive list of Heuchera we grow, ‘Autumn Leaves’ ranks as one of my personal top three selections. It has quite large leaves starting out the spring with red/ purple colouring changes as the season continues. By fall the leaves will have evolved into a fantastic bright red. My reasoning for choosing this Heuchera over all of the others is quite simple; different viewing angles seem to change the colour of the foliage! These leaves have a fantastic sheen, which appears to alter their overall colour. Unfortunately it does not tolerate full sun or full shade. Ideally plant Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves’ in dappled shade or an area with morning sun only. Great selection for use in containers and in small groupings throughout the professional design. (Photo credit: Terra Nova Nurseries)

This Miscanthus seems to become more popular every year, probably because of its versatility and durability. Flame grass begins the season in nice full clumps of green grass, perhaps a little more open than other Miscanthus. Mid-way through the summer you will notice the foliage beginning to change to a shade of red-purple. As the season edges closer to fall, the foliage will take on an outstanding red-yellow colour. Plumes will also form in a deep red-purple, and eventually open to a pure white feathershaped bloom! Miscanthus ‘Pupurascens’ looks great in mass plantings or in pockets throughout the landscape, but will certainly not perform well in small containers. Hardy to zone four and definitely needs full sun. (Photo credit: Walters Gardens)

26 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall show for the garden and floral industry Wednesday, October 19 and Thursday, October 20, 2011 Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

www.loexpo.ca

AN INITIATIVE OF

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SHOW PREVIEW 2011

Bringing you closer to your customer

SPONSORED BY

LANDSCAPE TRADES: EXPO 2011 SPECIAL |

Exhibitor list AGRIUM ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES.......................... BOOTH #168 ALL TREAT FARMS LTD................ BOOTH #450 ANISSTONE INC.............................. BOOTH #325 ASB GREENWORLD LTD............... BOOTH #533 ATLAS POLAR COMPANY LTD..... BOOTH #244 BAKKER (J.C.) & SONS LTD......... BOOTH #518 BAYVIEW FLOWERS....................... BOOTH #278 BLUE SKY NURSERY LTD............. BOOTH #629 BOBBEX INC..................................... BOOTH #152 BOSMAN HOME FRONT INC....... BOOTH #651 BRAUN NURSERY LTD.................. BOOTH #545 BROWNRIDGE GREENHOUSES...BOOTH #357 BURPEE CANADA.........................BOOTH #1041 CANADIAN WOODENWARE MANUFACTURERS (THE)......... BOOTH #448 CJ MARKETING LTD....................... BOOTH #328 COSMIC PLANTS INC..................... BOOTH #756 DERCO HORTICULTURE INC....... BOOTH #218 DIG DROP DONE FOUNDATION.BOOTH #639 DIGASAURUS SANDBOX.............. BOOTH #274 DON MARJAMA NURSERY CO., INC...................... BOOTH #601 DOWNHAM NURSERIES INC...... BOOTH #304 DRAMM CORP................................. BOOTH #418 DSD INTERNATIONAL INC.......... BOOTH #229 DUNDALK ENTERPRISES INC.... BOOTH #241 ECO WOOD PRODUCTS LTD....... BOOTH #819 ED’S CONCRETE PRODUCTS LTD........................... BOOTH #628 ENDERLEIN NURSERIES LTD..... BOOTH #254 ENVIREM ORGANICS INC............ BOOTH #430 EUROPA LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS.................................... BOOTH #648 FAFARD ET FRERES LTEE............ BOOTH #144 FAIRFIELD TREE NURSERIES INC.......................... BOOTH #445 FERNLEA FLOWERS LTD.............. BOOTH #370 FLORIDUS DESIGN IMAGES........ BOOTH #638 FOX HOLLOW FARMS................... BOOTH #204 FREEMAN HERBS INC................... BOOTH #579 FRENSCH (C) LTD........................... BOOTH #519 GARDEN CITY GROWERS............. BOOTH #536 GARDENA CANADA LTD............... BOOTH #140 GARDENLINK INC........................... BOOTH #444 GLOBAL ARCH INC......................... BOOTH #666 GOLD HILL NURSERY SALES...... BOOTH #671 GREAT NORTH OUTDOOR PRODUCTS.................................... BOOTH #678 GREEN PLUS NURSERIES............ BOOTH #588 GREENSTAR PLANT PRODUCTS.................................... BOOTH #544 HANEY POTTERY SALES LTD..... BOOTH #154 HERITAGE SEEDLINGS INC......... BOOTH #428

On the show floor Look for these signs on the show floor to quickly locate: 34 | LANDSCAPE TRADES: EXPO 2011 SPECIAL

HIGHLAND EVERGREEN SUPPLY LTD.................................. BOOTH #593 HORTA-CRAFT LTD......................... BOOTH #528 HORTICOLOR CANADA INC......... BOOTH #318 HOWE PRODUCTS.......................... BOOTH #534 HUTCHESON SAND & MIXES.... BOOTH #275 JALISCO IMPORTS.......................... BOOTH #449 JILL JENSEN BOTANICAL SPECIALTIES................................. BOOTH #201 JRT NURSERIES INC....................... BOOTH #672 JVK LTD.............................................. BOOTH #422 KATO’S NURSERY (2007) LTD..... BOOTH #740 KIRK CO. / TEUFEL.......................BOOTH #1029 LAGUNA (A DIVISION OF ROLF C HAGEN INC).............................. BOOTH #262 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO RESOURCE CENTRE................... BOOTH #744 LANGENDOEN NURSERIES INC.......BOOTH #438 LEISURE DESIGN............................ BOOTH #602 LEO GENTRY WHOLESALE NURSERY INC............................... BOOTH #228 LIGHTHOUSE SALES GROUP...... BOOTH #572 MANCHESTER PRODUCTS.......... BOOTH #362 MAPLE LEAF NURSERIES LTD....... BOOTH #1021 MAPLE LEAVES FOREVER........... BOOTH #764 MAPLE POTTERY INC.................... BOOTH #345 MAR-CO CLAY PRODUCTS INC... BOOTH #719 MARSOLAIS ENTERPRISES INC.....BOOTH #266 MARTIN FARMS LTD..................... BOOTH #701 MASSARELLI’S................................. BOOTH #650 MCKENZIE SEEDS.......................... BOOTH #501 MCP MFG LTD.................................. BOOTH #893 MELDAN............................................ BOOTH #378 MERV’S PATIOS & SHEWANS ORNAMENTS.......... BOOTH #679 MORI NURSERIES LTD........BOOTH #300, 401 MULTIPOST RETAIL SYSTEMS... BOOTH #419 NATURAL INSECT CONTROL...... BOOTH #200 NORTH SHORE IMPORTS............ BOOTH #238 ONTARIO FLOWER GROWERS CO-OPERATIVE LTD................... BOOTH #435 ONTARIO SEED CO LTD............... BOOTH #600 OUTFRONT PORTABLE SOLUTIONS A DIV OF ALL COVER PORTABLE SYSTEMS................. BOOTH #682 PACIFIC NORTHWEST PROPAGATORS............................ BOOTH #400 PACIFIC RIM BRACKETS LTD...... BOOTH #523 PACIFIC SPRINKLERS LTD........... BOOTH #500 PAN AMERICAN NURSERY PRODUCTS INC........................... BOOTH #329 PARIDON HORTICULTURAL (1979) LTD.................................... BOOTH #402

Exhibitor List as of July 29, 2011 PARIS GLOVE GROUP OF COMPANIES.................................. BOOTH #453 PEFFERLAW PEAT PRODUCTS INC........................... BOOTH #128 PERENNIALS HOUSE (THE)........ BOOTH #404 PICKSEED CANADA INC............... BOOTH #124 PIEPER NURSERIES INC............... BOOTH #729 PINEBUSH HOME & GARDEN....BOOTH #537 POTERIES BARRO INC.................. BOOTH #618 PREMIER TECH HOME & GARDEN......................................... BOOTH #354 PRESENTATION COTE JARDIN... BOOTH #319 QUALITREE PROPAGATORS INC................................................... BOOTH #551 RAVENSBERGEN (P) & SONS LTD................................. BOOTH #718 SCOTTS CANADA LTD................... BOOTH #566 SESTER FARMS INC....................... BOOTH #570 SHERIDAN NURSERIES................ BOOTH #502 SIPKENS NURSERIES LTD.........BOOTH #1001 SPECIALTIES ROBERT LEGAULT INC................................ BOOTH #344 SPECIMEN TREES WHOLESALE NURSERIES LTD.......................... BOOTH #654 STAM NURSERIES.......................... BOOTH #341 STONE WORLD INC....................... BOOTH #150 SUN GRO HORTICULTURE CANADA......................................... BOOTH #424 SUSTA: THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES TRADE ASSOCIATION................ BOOTH #320 TANDESKI ASSOCIATES INC....... BOOTH #553 TAPIS WAVES CARPETS INC....... BOOTH #223 TELLINI HOME & GARDEN LTD................................ BOOTH #353 THOMAS ALLEN & SON.............. BOOTH #589 TROPICAL EXPRESSIONS............ BOOTH #478 TSC - COUNTRY PRO SERVICES.......BOOTH #582 TURF REVOLUTION....................... BOOTH #522 VALLEYBROOK GARDENS (ONTARIO) LTD.................................................. BOOTH #338 VALLEYVIEW GARDENS............... BOOTH #550 VAN BELLE NURSERY INC........... BOOTH #755 VAN NOORT BULB CO LTD.......... BOOTH #583 VANHOF AND BLOKKER LTD..... BOOTH #639 VRE GREENHOUSE SYSTEMS.... BOOTH #662 WELLMASTER PIPE AND SUPPLY (CARTS).......................... BOOTH #623 WESTBROOK FLORAL LTD.......... BOOTH #466 WILLOWBROOK NURSERIES INC......BOOTH #162 WINKELMOLEN NURSERY LTD. BOOTH #538 WIRECRAFT INTERNATIONAL.... BOOTH #172 YALIAN CANADA............................. BOOTH #301 ZWART SYSTEMS........................... BOOTH #592

REGISTRATION FORM

Your badge will be mailed to you if your registration is received prior to 5:00 p.m. EST on October 7, 2011. Otherwise, your badge will be available for pickup on-site.

DELEGATE INFORMATION

CODE: PREVEXPO

FIRST NAME: __________________________________ LAST NAME:__________________________________

THREE WAYS TO REGISTER ONLINE: www.loexpo.ca MAIL: Please make cheques payable to Landscape Ontario and mail to: Expo 2011 c/o CONEXSYS, 7050B Bramalea Rd, Unit 34, Mississauga, ON, L5S 1S9 FAX: (905) 405-9870 or (800) 628-8838

LOCATION INFORMATION

Toronto Congress Centre, North Building 650 Dixon Road, Toronto ON, M9W 1J1 Canada Hotel Accommodation Make direct reservations, by October 2, 2011, with your preferred hotel. You may cancel your reservation until 6:00 p.m. on your scheduled arrival day with no penalty. Reservations cancelled after 6:00 pm on the scheduled day of arrival or no-shows will be billed one night’s room and tax charges.

COMPANY NAME: ___________________________________________________________________________

INDUSTRY DESIGNATION(S): __________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:

___________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ______________________________ PROV./STATE: BUSINESS PHONE:

POSTAL/ZIP: ______

BUSINESS FAX:______________________________

EMAIL: _____________________________________________ MOBILE: ________________________________ P I agree to allow show management to send event updates to my mobile phone We are members of: P Landscape Ontario P Flowers Canada Retail P Flowers Canada Growers (Ontario) P Canadian Nursery Landscape Association P Please send information on becoming a member of Landscape Ontario PRIMARY AREA OF BUSINESS: P 1. Event/meeting planner P 2. Gift store or boutique P 3. Greenhouse grower/operator P 4. Hardware department, mass merchandiser, convenience or discount store P 5. Interior designer P 6. Interior plantscaper P 7. Landscape architect/designer P 8. Landscape contractor P 9. Media P 10. Others allied to the trade P 11. Retail florist P 12. Retail garden centre P 13. Supplier to the trade P 14. Wholesale nursery grower/distributor P 15. Other: _____________________

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITY: P 1. Owner/Partner/Senior Manager P 2. Supervisor/Manager/Foreman P 3. Sales/Marketing P 4. Administration P 5. Purchasing P 6. Field Technician P 7. Government Official P 8. Teacher P 9. Student P 10. Other : _________________ REFUND POLICY No refunds will be issued unless event is cancelled by Landscape Ontario Show Management. EARLY BIRD DEADLINE POLICY No extensions to the deadline will be granted.

ALL EDUCATIONAL EVENTS INCLUDE TRADE SHOW PASS All fees listed include HST ( #R119005049) Until Oct. 7, Member Fee

EVENT

Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport Rate: $138 Single or Double Reservations - 416-244-1711 655 Dixon Road, Toronto, ON M9W 1J3 Group Code: EXP Group Name: EXPO 2011 Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Rate: $125 Single or Double Reservations - 1-888-233-9527 33 Carlson Court, Toronto, ON M9W 6H5 Group Name: LDO Radisson Suite Hotel Toronto Airport $141 Deluxe/ $161 Executive Deluxe Suite Reservations 416-242-7400 640 Dixon Road, Toronto, ON M9W 1J1 Group Code: EXPO - online reservation GARDEN - phone reservation

Until Oct. 7, Non-Member

After Oct. 7, Member Fee

After Oct. 7, Non-Member

EXPO EXHIBITS ONLY OCTOBER 19-20 (NO TICKETED EVENTS)

$10.00

$15.00

$20.00

TAKING A GOOD GARDEN CENTRE & MAKING IT GREAT

$55.00

$75.00

$65.00

$85.00

LIVING WALLS AT LONGWOOD GARDENS

$50.00

$70.00

$60.00

$80.00

CAFA INDUCTION CEREMONY & DESIGN SHOW (Note: $35 per person OR $100 for 3. Contact showinfo@loexpo.ca to register groups)

$35.00

CLOSE MORE BUSINESS & HAVE HAPPY CLIENTS

$50.00

$70.00

$60.00

$80.00

CIB ONTARIO LUNCHEON & AWARDS

$55.00

$65.00

CIB ONTARIO AWARDS ONLY (does not include lunch)

$25.00

$35.00

TOTAL $ PAYMENT OPTIONS P Cheque

P Master Card

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roadtosuccess

Your profile: No time off! There is a classic riddle that asks: What takes many years to build but only a few seconds to destroy? Answer: A reputation. When we own our own businesses, as far as the public is concerned, we are always ‘on.’ I am not referring to always being available for work or for free advice. I am referencing how we are being judged. Politicians and television evangelists have attempted for years to explain away misbehaviour as having occurred on their own time. That excuse does not fly with constituents or with parishioners. There is an expectation of behaviour for public persons, and whether you agree with the concept or not, it exists. Here are two examples. There is a shop in our town that has a reputation for being the best in the business. I have used its services for years and they are indeed remarkable. This past winter, my family and I took in a concert at a venue that was serving alcohol. The table behind us was so drunk, so boorish, that I asked them to clean up their act. “Let us enjoy the show if you don’t want to,” were my words. One of the three causing trouble was an owner of that shop. No doubt, he can explain his behaviour as occurring away from the shop and therefore, no reflection upon his business. I don’t buy it. The “what happens at the concert stays at the concert” theory no longer holds water (or beer). A friend of mine, who is the sales manager for a large hotel, did not accept the away from work line when she was faced with a similar situation. One of her staff members attended a golf tournament, got drunk, and made a fool of herself. The employee’s side of the story was that it was on her own time. Her boss’ side was that she was there, representing the company, that there were people from the trade in attendance, and that this was not the 36 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

first report of alcohol-fueled behaviour. She was terminated. I am very much aware that no matter where I am, no matter how removed from the workplace I think I am, I am responsible for how I am portrayed. One night I was in Safeway, getting a few groceries. It was late, I was tired and grumpy. The line was moving slowly because the cashier was not very good at her job. There was a very real part of me that wanted to shout out, “Hey lady, could you speed it up!” I know that everyone in that line would have concurred with my sentiment. But I also knew that at the end of her shift, her story would not be “some guy gave me a hard time, he was a real ass.” Rather it would be, “That guy from Lakeview Gardens is an ignorant jerk.” I chose to remain silent. Good choice. My company’s public face We no longer have that luxury of anonymity. Not with the internet, YouTube and Facebook. News now travels at the speed of light and what we do on holidays, thousands of miles from home, can be made public not long after it occurred. Gordon Campbell, premier of British Columbia, found that out the hard way. He was picked up for drunk driving in Hawaii and within a day, his half-sloshed, grinning mug shot was in the news. It was on the internet, it was in the newspapers, it was on television. It is a little more than difficult to claim, “It was a misunderstanding,” when your photo shows you as being the proverbial three sheets to the wind. Rants by politicians and celebrities in airports, over not being treated as VIPs and being made to wait, are recorded on cell phones and downloaded before the ranter’s blood pressure has dropped to 120/80. It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. It is difficult to deny or to put your own spin on

By Rod McDonald

bad behaviour that has been caught on tape. Ask Mel Gibson. From politicians and Hollywood celebrities, we can segue into our own trade. I was on the trade show floor at a major green industry conference. There were six of us gathered at one booth. Two of the group decided that it was appropriate to openly brag of their grand adventures on a trip into the U.S. According to these two, they had a great time with an abundance of women to entertain them. Need I write that both are married? As they regaled us with their tale, I glanced at the other three and all were uncomfortable. None of us were impressed, nor were we willing to revert to a 1950s attitude of ‘boys will be boys.’ What I fail to grasp is: If your behaviour is inappropriate by most people’s standards, why would you not keep it to yourself? Why would you openly brag? Do you not think that others will repeat the very words that you just spoke? Do you think that somehow your behaviour will not be scrutinized? I often hear as an explanation, when a buyer complains of receiving a disorganized shipment from a supplier, “What do you expect? That company runs on booze.” Sadly, even in this day and age, there are companies that have reputations for allowing and encouraging excessive consumption of alcohol. And while I am not on the bandwagon, preaching abstinence, there is a line being crossed by some between enjoyment and out of control. There is a printing company in my city that runs on booze. The boss is the worst of the bunch and when they are out in public, he runs an open bar tab for his employees. Things invariably get out of hand. I have asked to have my table moved far away from theirs when we have attended the same event, and I am not the only one. Again, do they not realize that there are many people who see their public persona

and refuse to enter their place of business the next day? What they see as having a bit of fun when they are at an event is perceived by others as a reason to avoid having anything to do with them. Can’t take them back Booze set aside, there is something else that affects all of us in the workplace, and that is words. Words can encourage employees to improve their productivity, words can encourage customers to make purchases and words can have the opposite effect. Words can cause employees to quit or to reduce their loyalty to a company and words can cause a customer to leave a garden centre, vowing never to return. Words are very powerful and they should be chosen carefully. All readers of this column will know at least one greenhouse or garden centre operator who continually chooses words without any consideration for the end result. They respond with an inappropriateness that leaves many others shaking their heads. These people exist across all trades and our green trades are not excluded. All of us hear stories from disgruntled

customers of how they experienced an attitude that verged on being an adult temper tantrum at another store. Hopefully, those stories are never told with us as the central character. How many times have I chosen the wrong words, only to wish within seconds to have those words back? Sometimes, my words were not the problem. It was my tone. I think many of us can relate to being children and having our mothers or aunties advising us, “Don’t take a tone with me, young man.” They were training us to be aware that it is not only what we say, but it is how we say it. When I have bitten my tongue in a difficult situation, and chose not to share my innermost feelings, I did not live to regret the silence. None of us, none I repeat, ever regret having said too little when we are upset or in an unpleasant mood. In 1987, I had a regular customer with whom I got along quite well. She called me several times, wanting quotes on different ways of proceeding with her back yard. Had I to do it again, I would have told her, “I am swamped right now with it being May,

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but when it slows down, I will drop by and we will get your dream garden going.” That is what I should have said. Instead, I snapped, “I don’t have time to stop and deal with every ‘what if’ situation you imagine. It’s May and I am swamped!” Not surprisingly, we have not spoken since I uttered those insensitive words. It was a learning experience for me if there ever was one available. We have learned that whenever we are out in public, what we say and do is being observed. We also know that what we say, can and will be repeated by others. We know that there is no longer privacy in today’s world. We know that the more we pay attention to what it is that we do and say, the better off we are. Choose your words and your behaviours carefully, and stay LT on the road to success. Rod McDonald owned and operated Lakeview Gardens, a successful garden centre/ landscape firm in Regina, Sask., for 28 years. He now works fulltime in the world of fine arts, writing, acting and producing in film, television and stage.

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legalmatters

Protect yourself with construction liability insurance

Liability insurance policies are

designed to respond to claims made by other people. They are not designed to cover damage to the insured’s own person or property. Liability policies generally provide the insured with two types of coverage, the duty to defend and the duty to indemnify. Where a third party’s claim falls within the scope of a policy’s coverage, the duty to defend requires the insurer to pay for a lawyer to defend the claim, while the duty to indemnify requires the insurer to pay any amounts which the insured might become legally obliged to pay if the claim is successful. It should be noted that the insurer also has the right to defend. You should accordingly not deal with or defend a claim on your own, without giving the insurance company the opportunity to do so. If you do, you might prejudice the insurer such that it will be relieved of its obligations under the policy. Liability policies are never all inclusive. They are drafted to respond to certain types of claims They also generally include specific exclusions. In the construction context, liability policies can be broken down into two basic categories: errors and omissions insurance (E&O) and comprehensive general liability insurance, otherwise known as commercial general liability or CGL insurance. Which type you might require will depend on the services or materials you provide. As will be seen below, in some circumstances both types of coverage should be in place. Errors and omissions insurance covers errors and omissions in your work. In 38 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

construction, and depending on the terms of the policy, E&O policies cover errors in design, inspection, supervision and, at times, contract administration. If your role in construction includes the role of consultant or designer, you need errors and omissions insurance. Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers generally carry CGL insurance. These policies are intended to respond to claims by third parties who allege either personal injury or property damage resulting from an occurrence. An occurrence is most often defined to refer to some kind of “accidental event.” In construction, the insured’s own work is generally excluded from the scope of coverage under a CGL policy, as are any obligations which the insured assumes under contract. CGL policies are thus not designed to cover the contractor’s own deficient work. CGL insurance policies will generally cover, however, damage caused by a construction deficiency to other persons, or other person’s property. In real life An example helps make the distinctions clear. If you as a contractor make a mistake in constructing a retaining wall, such that it falls down, your CGL policy will generally not cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding the wall. From the insurer’s perspective, you did exactly what you wanted to do: there is no “accident.” Further, the provisions which exclude coverage for the contractor’s own work, and for contractual obligations, will generally apply. You will therefore have to rebuild the wall on your own account.

BY ROB KENNALEY

If the wall falls on a neighbour’s car, however, the CGL policy will generally respond to the car owner’s claim against you for liability. The damage to the car can be considered an accident. It is an unforeseen consequence of the construction deficiency, unrelated to the work itself. These types of losses are generally described as “consequential” damages, to which the CGL policy usually responds. Consider, however, where the wall was constructed by a subcontractor you retained to build the wall on your behalf. In this circumstance, the CGL policy may or may not respond, depending on the wording of the particular policy. Some CGL policies expressly cover the deficient work of subcontractors, while some do not. Where the policy covers your subcontractor’s work, it will also generally require you to ensure that the subcontractor itself carries CGL insurance. Consider the situation where you have both designed and built the wall. If you have built it according to your design and the wall falls down due to a design error, the CGL policy will generally not respond. This is because the CGL policy generally excludes liability for inadequate or deficient design. As discussed above, errors and omissions insurance is intended to respond to this type of risk. It is accordingly very important that design-build contractors obtain both types of insurance coverage. Time is money What about where the wall falls down and your client claims damages for delay? For example, if because of the problem your

Valuing

client was unable to open his store for a week, your client might claim the losses he suffered in the store from you. Neither the CGL nor the errors and omissions policy will generally respond to this type of claim, because the policies are generally only intended to respond to claims for property damage and personal injury. They are not, generally, intended to respond to what are often described as purely “economic” losses. Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers should accordingly consider, where possible, including provisions in their contracts which limit their liability exposure for negligence to personal injury damages and property losses, towards avoiding liability for such pure economic losses. Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers should review insurance coverage and needs with their brokers to ensure they are properly protected. This is particularly true if the scope and type of your work changes over time. You should also, where possible, include in your contracts a provision limiting your liability to the limits of your insurance. Again, this is towards ensuring you are not liable to pay more than what your insurance policies will cover. Finally, contractors and subcontractors should include contractual provisions which will require the person they contract with to give them timely notice of any claim for which they might LT face liability. Rob Kennaley practices construction law in Toronto. He speaks and writes regularly on construction law issues and can be reached for comment at 416-368-2522 or at kennaley@mclauchlin.ca. This material is for information purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers who have concerns about any particular circumstance are encouraged to seek independent legal advice in that regard.

nature

Progress toward assigning dollar values to trees BY COLLEEN CIRILLO

Since the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition was featured in the May issue of Landscape Trades, much progress has been made. The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) has joined the steering committee, 50 organizations and companies have become coalition members, and an additional 150 individuals have signed up for monthly electronic updates, bringing the total to 540. In addition, a report, which will make recommendations for green infrastructure investment in Ontario, is well underway. Landscape Ontario continues to play a leading role in this coalition through Tony DiGiovanni’s involvement on the steering committee. Furthermore, the organization has committed in-kind design services for a report to be released later this year. The coalition continues to focus on the development of a strong and convincing case for green infrastructure legislation and investment. In doing so, it relies heavily on ecosystem valuation, a burgeoning research field. This science attempts to assign an economic value to nature and the services it provides. Land use decisions have traditionally been made using a default value of zero for ecological services, in part due to the complexity associated with valuation science. This has resulted in unsustainable development and ecosystem degradation. Ecosystem valuation attempts to remedy this problem by demonstrating the immense and diverse contributions made by nature and by placing a monetary value estimate on these contributions. This enables decision-makers to use a more robust decision support system to evaluate policy options, and to identify the most promising opportunities for investment in the protection and enhancement of living green infrastructure. Professor Andrew Millward of Ryerson University and LEAF, a founding coalition

member, are applying this valuation concept to individual trees in residential areas with the development of the Ontario Residential Tree Benefits Estimator. This interactive web-based tool is designed to describe and quantify the ecological services provided by residential trees. It has the ability to both model future benefits of a newly planted tree as well as deliver the current and accumulated benefits of an existing tree. It will quantify conserved energy, instantaneous demand savings, sequestered or avoided carbon dioxide, stormwater runoff mitigation and air quality improvement (i.e., reduction in ground level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and carbon monoxide). Dr. Millward modeled this tool after the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Tree Benefits Estimator using Ontario data and input from the U.S. Forest Service. A grant from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has funded the development of this important tool. Society readily understands the intrinsic value of nature. Yet, nature is routinely devalued or completely disregarded when important land use decisions are made. Ecosystem valuation and tree benefit estimators seek to remedy this problem by allowing decision and policy makers to conduct full cost accounting. Visit the coalition’s website (www. greeninfrastructureontario.org) to learn more about ecosystem valuation and economic tools for green infrastructure protection and enhancement. Please also consider signing-up for the monthly e-newsletter and becoming a coalition member. Members will receive logo LT recognition on the website. Colleen Cirillo is coordinator of Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition.

SEPTEMBER 2011 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

managementsolutions

Manager, or leader? BY MARK BRADLEY

Brian was an employee

who taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. I hired Brian after about three or four years in business. He was there was every morning, first one to arrive at the yard. He’d be waiting at our gate in his car, finishing his coffee. As I opened the gates, he always had a work-related question. His curiosity was inspiring. Brian was always asking questions. There were a few times where I had to reassure his foreman that Brian wasn’t challenging him — he was ambitious and looking to learn and move up. “We will always find room for another you.” I explained to Brian’s foreman. “Teach him what you know — Brian’s a good student.” In just his second year, we put Brian in charge of his own jobs. I started him with a few simple jobs, then gradually put bigger, and more complex projects on his plate. Brian had learned to read plans very well, and I knew he was studying them at home, because he was always at the gate every morning with a couple of questions or clarifications for me. I knew I had a superstar employee in the making. Stopping in at any of Brian’s sites, you would find one of the hardest working crews in the industry. Brian was always covered in dirt, and jumping in and out of his work to follow in behind his guys and check and correct theirs. If a job was behind, Brian was always in there — digging that much harder and faster, carrying that much more, and staying that much later. Many times, you’d find Brian working at the worst task, and still out-working the rest of his crew. We’d see Brian at the end of the day and couldn’t help but smile. His shirt was always soaked, often ripped, and his foreverdirty hat made him look like he spent the day working underground. But he’d still be

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going; even at the yard he’d jump on one of his guys for not putting away tools correctly, or leaving a mess. Next chapter It was great while it lasted, but within six months, we noticed a change in Brian. He wasn’t first to the gate in the morning. His questions dropped off. I assumed his experience was taking over, but looking back, this was a clue. He still worked hard, but his attitude started to sour. Brian complained about the guys in his crew. They were too lazy, too stupid, or too slow. Brian burned through his share of people; each week it seemed he chased another guy out. Brian grew short-tempered and impatient. Asking him a question was pointless. His answers were brief — even rude. He’d cut you off before you finished your question, and most of the time he’d just push his way in and do the work for you — no help, no instruction, or no explanation. While his first projects went well, Brian’s recent projects weren’t nearly as successful. While we were pushing his limits — testing his capabilities with bigger, more complicated work, the results weren’t living up to Brian’s potential. Brian was constantly calling the office for materials that were needed that minute. Every order was a rush, and often required extra trips. He’d be out of materials or fuel, and be frantically calling someone to bring him more. He drove the other crews crazy, showing up in the morning and expecting that specific equipment and tools were available for him — although he hadn’t checked with anyone to make sure they weren’t needed elsewhere. He’d leave parts of jobs where he’d have questions, but forget to ask for the information until the very minute he needed it.

First his paperwork was a few days late, then started going missing entirely. One day I walked in to the shop to find him with a stack of blank Daily Crew reports, backdating them two weeks prior. I had to call him out. Crew reports are filled out daily, not two weeks later. We discussed Brian’s planning — or lack of it. His lastminute reactions weren’t affecting only his jobs. The office people were interrupted, and other crews who had planned work were getting bumped to accommodate his urgent requests. His crew’s constant turnover was putting extra time into hiring and dismissals. Although he nodded in agreement during our discussion, it didn’t help Brian. Throughout our entire conversation, he had a look of helplessness on his face. He recognized the problems, but in his mind, he didn’t believe he could fix any of them. He was working as hard as he could — and it wasn’t working. In his mind, he was a failure. The inevitable A few months later, Brian left my company. I hadn’t given up on him, since I’d gone through the same problems myself. Brian was still new, and learning how to run a job, but it was too late — he’d had enough. When you work as hard as Brian worked and you still feel overwhelmed and underachieving, you lose your will. Did I expect too much of Brian? Did I put too much on his plate? I didn’t force Brian to work as hard as he did — he willingly worked hard — but was I responsible for his burnout? How could I make sure the next Brian didn’t end up the same? I looked at Jeff. He had been a foreman with our company since before Brian’s time. Jeff is a true superstar. His work is planned

and his times are consistent. His sites were neat and organized. Every day at 12:45 p.m., we received an email about what Jeff needed the next day and a preview of the big items needed for the days thereafter. Staff like Jeff make running my business enjoyable. If you drove by Jeffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s site, everyone was busy, but there was a nice, even pace to their work. When their truck rolled up to site in the morning, you watched as a plan sprang into action. Nobody spoke a word, but his lead hand went right to the equipment for inspections and greasing. The laborers were unloading tools and setting up work areas, where tools were grouped by task. Jeff stands back, his head buried in the design, and then his notebook. Then, as if they were guided by the beat of some silent drum, they finished their prep and came back together for a morning huddle. Jeff would go through the design and his notes. Within three minutes they parted again, each one with a deliberate mission. Drop by the next day, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d see the very same thing. Sure, everything didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go exactly as planned, but when Jeffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew members came to him with a problem, Jeff barely moved. He always answered a question with a question. But it was effective. You could watch as the employee stood back, furrowed his brow, and walked away slowly with his head down. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d take a few seconds, sometimes minutes, then suddenly, his pace would quicken and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d get to work. You knew exactly when he figured out the answer for himself. Jeffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot turnover. He chased out the bad apples, but most of the guys wanted to work for Jeff. He wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t social, he rarely said much, but Jeff had a steady pace and order to his work. Two guys who both worked in my company, with the same office, for the same type of customers, doing the same type of work. What was it about Jeff that made him succeed where Brian could not? Brian was a potential superstar, but he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to be a leader, and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it was important enough to invest in helping him to become one. This was, and continues to be, one of the best lessons Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned in my business. If I was going to build a successful business, I needed more Jeffs, but hoping to hire a company of Jeffs was going to take a lifetime. I needed to develop them. And to turn my Brians into Jeffs, I needed to teach my foremen five skills that are critical to our collective success: Time management: Brian was always getting things done. He was in the dirt, behind the wheelbarrow, or carrying the load of lumber. As long as Brian was the hardest-working staff member, he thought he must be doing good work, and the results would follow. Jeff spent less time working and more time planning. He set aside blocks of time each day to review the plans, review the work to date, identify required resources or information, and set and communicate goals to his crew. Jeff â&#x20AC;&#x153;worksâ&#x20AC;? less, but his planning delivers better results. Problem solving: Brian jumped in to solve problems for his staff. Jeff does not solve peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; problems. If he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the best solution, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d often ask, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well what you would you do if you were in my shoes?â&#x20AC;? or, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What would happen if we did it this way?â&#x20AC;? The employees are left to come up with the solution, and because they were the ones who ultimately answered the question, they believed in the solution and carried it out. Discipline: Brian was a drill sergeant. He barked orders, and SEPTEMBER 2011 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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managementsolutions dressed anyone down who stepped out of line. Jeff rarely showed any emotion. When they ran into a problem, Jeff created a system for his crew that would prevent the problem from ever happening again. Brian did not get results because he merely treated symptoms of the problem — his people. His people kept changing, but his problems stayed the same. Jeff’s systems cured the disease. His daily procedures for equipment care, crew meetings, work area prep and tool setup, daily cleanup, and material and equipment planning delivered predictable, consistent results, with fewer problems. Jeff’s crews spent more time getting work done. Training: Brian was too busy to train. If an employee was confused, Brian stepped in and did it faster and better. Jeff saw the value in pausing to explain the method he would use to perform the task. He’d break it down in steps. First he’d show the employee. Then he’d take time away from his own task to watch as the employee repeated the steps. Brian thought that doing it himself was the

42 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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only way things would get done right and on time. Jeff realized that four people working at 90 per cent is far more productive than a crew with one person at 110 per cent and three people working at 50 per cent. Motivation: Brian motivated with fear. You did your work right, or you were going to hear about it — or maybe worse. Jeff didn’t tolerate incompetence, but he didn’t need fear. Jeff used his daily meetings to make sure his crew understood the goals. You knew the plan, your role in the plan, and that you’d be responsible for reporting your results at the end of the day. Jeff gave his people the information they needed to see the job unfold the way he did. Moving up the chain, I needed to give Jeff the information so he envisioned the job the way I did. With this system in place, Jeff’s crew made the job happen as I planned it. Had I known what I know now, I would have invested more time and effort to help Brian realize his potential. I would have recognized that his hard work was a sign

of problems, not a sustainable pattern of success. He was stressed, he burned out, his jobs weren’t very profitable and we lost a good employee and a great opportunity. We all paid a price. It’s not always going to work out. No matter how hard we try, some people will never become Brians. Some Brians will never become Jeffs. But I can’t put my company’s success on hold while we hope that a few Jeffs walk in the front door. By investing in training and developing leaders, we improve productivity, planning, profits, and the work-life balance that keeps us all better balanced in an industry where it’s LT easy to go over the edge. Mark Bradley is president of The Beach Gardener and the Landscape Management Network (LMN). Employee names in this article have been changed.

cnlanews Andy Kuyvenhoven,

president of the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance (COHA), announced the appointment of the alliance’s new executive director, Pierre Cadieux. Cadieux is COHA’s first full-time officer since the organization was created in 2006. Former CNLA executive director, Chris Andrews, had been in charge of the COHA secretariat on a part-time basis since 2006. Kuyvenhoven thanked Andrews for his loyalty and efficiency in carrying out the duties of secretary over the past five years. Cadieux is a graduate of Laval University in political science. He previously served as a senior government relations advisor, a senior management consultant and as an association executive director. “As our new executive director, Cadieux has the mandate to represent, promote and defend the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry in Canada, relating to the various federal programs and services that have a real or potential impact on our industry,” said Kuyvenhoven. Cadieux maintains a permanent base in Ottawa. He has begun a series of visits to COHA’s three founding partner associations, Flowers Canada

Growers, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and the Fédération interdisciplinaire de l’horticulture ornementale du Québec. The visits will enable the new executive director to familiarize himself with a targeted action plan that will accompany the Strategic Plan that COHA will finalize and approve at its annual general meeting in Ottawa at the end of September. The association’s website is www.coha-acho.ca.

National Tree Day CNLA, together with its provincial association partners, will celebrate National Tree Day on Sept. 21. “We will be branching out across Canada, teaching youth about the many great benefits that trees offer the environment – from clean air and shade to beautification, habitat and more,” says CNLA executive director Victor Santacruz. The association is encouraging members to work with schools to teach students how to plant a tree, and about the positive environmental benefits the trees will provide for years to come. Member nurseries, garden centres, and landscape contractors are encouraged to donate trees for planting at

schools, along with their time to educate and excite Canadian students. CNLA has developed press releases and toolkits for National Tree Day, available at www.canadanursery. com/nationaltreeday.

New import rules The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the establishment of a new category in its regulations governing importation of nursery stock. The new regulation, to be known as Plants for Planting Not Authorized for Importations Pending Pest Risk Analysis, or NAPPRA, has the potential for serious impact to the Canadian wholesale nursery grower industry. CNLA will work with CFIA to set up consultations across the country this coming fall to help industry better understand these new regulations and their LT potential impacts. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association is the federation of Canada’s provincial horticultural trade associations. Visit www.canadanursery.com for more information.

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sustainablelandscaping

Organic amendments:

Blankets of goodness BY SEAN JAMES

Soil is interesting stuff. It’s not just soil, y’know. That’s just what we can see and feel, mostly. It’s all the life in it that makes it truly fascinating. Obviously there are the worms and insects that turn the soil, but those white threads that we see occasionally — the ‘fairy rings’, the mushrooms, the soil fungi you can see only if you’re looking for them — those are amazing! There are also the bacteria which are constantly breaking down organic matter nature drops on the soil. It’s a whole world down there … and we brutalize it on a regular basis. We remove all the fallen organic matter. We also compact soil with mowers, bobcats

(my personal over-used favourite), and foot traffic. Am I sounding a bit grumpy? I DO try not to do that. Actually I’m starting to see great things regularly, such as homeowners and landscapers amending the soil with regular additions of their own compost, municipal compost or composted pine mulch, aerating the soil, adding mycorrhizal inoculants when planting and more. We are learning … slowly. Promote beneficial fungi Of all the soil’s flora and fauna, mycorrhizae are the most important. They steal sugars from plants, but in exchange, they massively

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44 | SEPTEMBER 2011

| LANDSCAPE TRADES

increase the plants’ ability to uptake water and nutrients. This improves plants’ ability to feed and cool themselves. Fungi and beneficial bacteria are the largest part of the nutrient cycle, taking fallen leaves and turning them into basic building blocks the plants use to grow. One of the easiest and most cost effective ways of applying organic matter is to have compost or composted pine mulch (CPM) blown down. A highly organic mulch, as opposed to wood mulch, does plenty to keep water in, moderate soil temperature, reduce weed growth, make weeding easier and it looks great. It also supports the aforementioned soil micro-ecosystem. One of the best applications of blowndown mulch is terraseeding. How cool is that? Terraseeding does all of the above, but most importantly, it protects the seed during establishment. It’s also a nifty way to apply seed. Several years ago, my company dormantseeded a lawn with a mix of perennial rye and tall fescue, which is a particularly suntolerant mix. Dormant seeding is late fall seeding, intended to germinate in the early spring. Not only did the fescue germinate in one of the driest springs and summers in my memory, it needed no irrigation until mid-July. It was a lesson for me, if ever there was one. Awareness of the process is spreading. According to Andy Crockett of LandSource Organix of Milton, Ont., “The practice of applying native grass and wildflower seed mixes with the terraseeding process has become popular in the last 10 years. The process involves applying the seed and compost-based soil mix in a single application using a blower truck. The seed is computer-calibrated at the target seed rate and is evenly distributed through the growing medium layer — typically, at a 25

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mm depth.” Many seeds are disrupted during establishment by rain or irrigation moving the seed around before it fully roots. Again, Crockett offers, “With native plants, the stability of the organic soil bed allows seed to remain in place until optimal germination conditions occur. Native plants, in particular, favour the warmer soil temperatures consistent with organic soil mixes relative to conventional topsoil. This makes them especially well suited to terraseeding.” Remember, it’s generally not flowing water that causes erosion, but the impact of water droplets. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The most important thing we can do for our landscapes is to apply organic matter regularly. Composting and terraseeding are the best ways we can do that. They’re easy, and in the long run, they save us money and, occasionally for professionals, make us money. The sub-lesson? Doing good for the environment can be good economics. Everyone wins! Even if one doesn’t believe in ‘green’, perhaps the other green (dollars) can motivate. Either way, it’s good for us as a LT society and the planet as a whole. Sean James is owner of an Ontario-based environmentally-conscious landscape design/build/ maintenance company. In addition, he is an eco-consultant and a popular speaker. Contact him at s at sdjames@on.aibn.com, or post your thoughts on this column at http://www. fernridgelandscaping.com/forum

SEPTEMBER 2011 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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industrynews ASLA honours Canadians Haig Seferian and Janet Rosenberg are the only two landscape architects in Canada to be inducted into The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Council of Fellows for 2011. The Fellowship is ASLA’s highest honour, acknowledging contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large. Haig Seferian, of Burlington, Ont.-based Seferian Design Group, was recognized for his leadership and management contributions. Seferian’s portfolio of work over the past 32 years includes participation in government affairs and advocacy groups, providing industry leadership as a teacher and a mentor. His exceptional accomplishments include designing and building millions of dollars of community space projects that benefit, build and strengthen communities throughout North America. The honour took into consideration his service-oriented leadership style and years of demonstrating selfless devotion, passionately promoting the landscape architecture profession rather than himself. Haig Seferian’s strong efforts to uphold the value and virtue of the industry have led him to be respected

by his peers, while he continues to share and inspire others — especially by mentoring students who are entering the landscape architecture profession. Janet Rosenberg, of Janet Rosenberg + Associates in Toronto, was nominated in the Works Category. She is a design thought-leader in North America, who has received considerable international acclaim. She avidly supports environmental sustainability, with a core affinity for the modern-city aesthetic. An arborist at heart, accomplished networker and proponent of the arts, she is a tireless participant in revitalization task forces and an advocate for walkable cities. In her practice, she has increasingly focused over 27 years on reclaiming public spaces, such as waterfronts, parks, the work environment and the transition space between work and home. The 2011 ASLA class of Fellows will be recognized this fall at the ASLA Annual General Meeting and Expo in San Diego, Calif.

A.M.A. targets brain tumors On Aug. 11, Rick Bradt, managing director of A.M.A. Plastics, Kingsville, Ont., presented the company’s ninth annual donation to the Brain

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Susan Relecom, of The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada accepting a cheque from Rick Bradt, A.M.A. Plastics.

Tumour Foundation of Canada. As part of A.M.A.’s effort to raise funds and awareness of the BTFC’s services for patients, their families and brain tumour research, A.M.A. donates a portion of every Al’s Flower Pouch sale. Each year, thousands of the Al’s Flower Pouches sold in Canada are printed with the BTFC logo and contact info, in an effort to help patients and their families find information about their condition. The need for better awareness became apparent following Bradt’s brain tumour diagnosis in 2000.

industrynews Nursery monitoring program protect patents

There’s still time for a recovery, he said, because can only be done when the peat is dry. His company the season typically extends to the end of September, has stockpiled peat from last season, so it will be Proven Winners Color Choice, Encore Azaleas, although that will only reduce the duration of the able to continue packaging at a reduced rate for Endless Summer Collection, First Editions, The Knock plant’s shutdown, not eliminate it. some time yet. Out Family of Roses and Drift Roses are joining “You can only salvage the season to a certain In 2010, New Brunswick was the top peatforces in a new enterprise aimed at protecting their extent,” said Michael Watcher, the general manager producing province in Canada, edging out Quebec plant patents and branded programs. of ASB Greenworld, which has a plant in Pointe for the top spot. There were 24 companies extracting Starting this fall, nurseries across the country Sapin. Watcher said mornings are often dewy in the peat in the province, mostly in the northeast. LT can expect a polite inspection by Plant Watch late summer, which shortens the amount of time From New Brunswick Business Journal representatives to see how they are meeting the workers can be out harvesting peat, an activity that requirements of these branded programs. It is well known how expensive it is to establish a plant brand in the landscape and nursery business. Growers who comply with patent and branding requirements are at a disadvantage when infringers undercut prices. The companies have hired Plant Watch to inspect nurseries, report on their findings, and collect fines where warranted to protect compliant growers. Plant Watch started in 2005 and is modeled after the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation, (COPF), a well-known greenhouse monitoring program established in 1964. According to Plant Watch managing director Peggy Walsh Craig, nurseries found to be non-compliant will be assessed a significant fine based on the number of unauthorized plants discovered, and destruction of those plants will be required. Growers are reminded that plant patents and Plant Breeders’ Rights are based on permission to propagate. Peat moss harvesters hit hard Peat moss harvesters in New Brunswick are describing 2011 as the worst harvesting season they have ever seen. Normally, peat moss harvesters depend on hot, dry weather in the summer months for cultivation. Harvesters “fluff” the top layer of their bogs to let them dry out in the sun, which has been elusive for most of the summer. “We haven’t seen anything like this in 30 years,” said Andre Fafard, plant manager with Sungro Horticulture Canada, that runs the region’s biggest peat plant in Lamèque. He said it’s a serious situation because peat production is one of the pillars of the Acadian Peninsula’s economy. Normally Sungro’s plant runs year-round, with 80 full-time employees packaging peat harvested during the busy summer months. But with the harvest at about 15 per cent of its GREENHORIZONS SOD FARMS historical levels, Fafard said the company will have HAMILTON: (905) 389-1315 no choice but to lay off a significant number. “It’s CAMBRIDGE: (519) 653-7494 going to be a major hit for the community,” Fafard said. “Everybody involved knows and they’re worried about what’s going to happen next.”

SOD SPECS ONLINE AT

SEPTEMBER 2011 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

comingevents Sept 11-16, IGCA Congress, Italy www.igcacongress2011.com

September 28-29, CanWest Hort Show, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, Vancouver, B.C. www.canwesthortshow.com

October 26-29, Communities in Bloom 2011 National Symposium on Parks and Grounds and Awards Ceremonies, Quebec City, Que. www.communitiesinbloom.ca

September 12-13, Canadian Snow & Ice Expo 2011, Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre, Ottawa, Ontario www.canadiansnowandiceexpo.com

October 4-7, Greenbuild 2011, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto www.greenbuildexpo.org

September 14-15, Municipal and Contractor Fall Equipment Show 2011, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex www.fallequipmentshow.com

October 5-6, Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, Ont. www.canadiangreenhouseconference.com

September 19-21, GLEE, Birmingham, U.K. www.gleebirmingham.com

October 10-15, International Garden Centre Association Congress, Bolzano, Italy. www.igcacongress2011.com

November 16-18, FIHOQ Expo, Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

October 19-20, Expo 2011, North Building, Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, Ont. www.loexpo.ca

November 17-18, Green Industry Show and Conference, Edmonton EXPO Centre (Northlands), Alta. www.greenindustryshow.com

October 19-22, 61st IPPS Eastern Region Meeting, Seelbach Hilton Hotel, Louisville, Ky. www.ipps.org/EasternNA

November 21-23, HortEast Conference and Trade Show, Moncton Coliseum Complex, LT Moncton, N.B. www.horteast.ns.ca

September 21-24, IPPS Western Region Meeting, Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, Calif. www.ippswr.org September 22-24, IIDEX/NeoCon Canada, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, Ont. www.iidexneocon.com

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October 27-29, Green Industry and Equipment Expo + Hardscape Expo, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. www.gie-expo.com November 6-8, International Irrigation Show, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, Calif. www.irrigationshow.org

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KLOMP’S LANDSCAPING INC. Klomp’s Landscaping Inc. has been creating outdoor living spaces that enhance the lives of our clients by consistently meeting their individual needs since 1989. We have established a reputation as the leader in landscape design and construction within Southern Ontario, through a variety of residential and commercial projects. We are currently offering an exciting opportunity within company.

Landscape Design/Build Company Manager Inside and Out Garden Design is a small, award winning design and build company located in Toronto. We are looking for a manager to oversee all aspects of running the company. Must have at least 5 years experience in the industry, have good people and organizational skills, and enjoys working independently. Please email sheree@insideandoutgardens.ca or call (416) 534-3691

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Bareroot Operations Supervisor Ferguson Forest Centre in Kemptville is looking for a full time Bareroot Operations Supervisor. Applicants should have a minimum of a valid “G” class drivers licence, proficiency in the use of a variety of farm and nursery equipment and good supervisory skills. The successful applicant will be responsible for the supervision of all staff involved and the operations required to produce bareroot stock and cuttings. This is a hands on position under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer. People management skill and good work attitude are of primary importance. Please send resume to ffc@storm.ca or fax to (613) 258-0207 attn: Ed Patchell SNOW REMOVAL AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE FULL TIME MANAGER We are a well established commercial snow removal and landscape maintenance company, located in Ottawa, Ontario. We require an experienced, full time manager to begin this fall 2011. Please send a resume and cover letter by email or fax to: Ian Rowbotham, President; EXEL Contracting Inc. Email: ian@exelcontracting.ca Fax: (613) 831-2794

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Source Book 2012 FIND IT HERE: The product guide for Canada’s horticulture industry

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Exclusive listings for the Canadian lawn and landscape industry. Search by product, name, product category — or search the entire Source Book database.

LANDSCAPE TRADES SOURCE BOOK 2010

2011

OCTOBER 2009 VOL. 31, NO. 8

Payment: All classified ads must be prepaid by VISA or Mastercard. Rates: $56.50 (includes HST) per column inch (Approx. 25 words). Min. order $56.50. Annual rates also available. Deadlines: The 10th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 10th). Jan. deadline is Nov. 10. If day falls on weekend or holiday, deadline is the next business day. Space is limited to a first-come, first-served basis. To place an ad: E-mail your name and phone number and your ad to Rob at classifieds@ landscapeontario.com. Also mention the ad is for Landscape Trades. You will be sent a proof/confirmation/payment form by e-mail. Online advertising: All paid ads are posted to our website at www.landscapetrades.com/classifieds for the corresponding calendar month. Website only ads are available for $45.20 (HST included) and are posted for 30 days. Additional charge for ads over 325 words.

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October 2011 SEPTEMBER 2011 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

classifieds

where to find it PHONE

WEBSITE

ACO Systems Inc

ADVERTISER

PAGE

877-226-4255

info@acocan.ca

www.acocan.ca

Agrium Advanced Technologies

800-461-6471

prohort@agriumat.com

www.prohort.ca

Atlas Polar Company Ltd

888-799-4422

info@atlaspolar.com

www.atlaspolar.com

Beaver Valley Stone

416-222-2424

info@beavervalleystone.com

www.beavervalleystone.com

Brownridge Greenhouses & Nursery Ltd

905-878-1948

info@brownridgegreenhouses.com

www.brownridgegreenhouses.com

Caledon Treeland

800-268-9516

treeland@treeland.ca

www.treeland.ca

Dutchmaster Nurseries Limited

905-683-8211

sales@dutchmasternurseries.com

www.dutchmasternurseries.com

Echo Power Equipment Canada

877-324-6660

info@echo.ca

www.echo.ca

Fafard et Freres Ltee

819-396-2293

andreanne.despins-lafond@fafard.ca www.fafard.ca

Fertilec Ltee/Pefferlaw

800-335-3431

info@pefferlaw.com

www.pefferlaw.com

G & L Group

905-669-3938

seany@gandlgroup.com

www.gandlgroup.com

Greenhorizons Group of Farms Ltd

519-653-7494

info@justsodit.com

www.justsodit.com

Gro-Bark (Ontario) Ltd

888-GRO-BARK

keith@gro-bark.com

www.gro-bark.com

Hanson Hardscape Products

800-265-6496

hardscapes@hanson.com

Husqvarna Canada Corp

800-HUSKY62

John Deere Limited

www.johndeere.com

Neudorff North America

250-652-5888

cam@neudorff.ca

www.neudorff.ca

Oaks Concrete Products by Brampton Brick

800-709-OAKS

info@oakspavers.com

www.oakspavers.com

Permacon Group Inc

800-265-0692

www.permaconpro.ca

Proven Winners

800-633-8859

www.colorchoiceplants.com

Sheridan Nurseries Ltd

416-798-7970

sales@sheridannurseries.com

www.sheridannurseries.com

Specimen Trees Wholesale Nurseries Ltd

604-465-7122

inquiry@specimentrees.com

www.specimentrees.com

519-681-3000

info.canada@stihl.ca

www.stihl.ca

Thames Valley Brick & Tile

905-637-6997

info@thamesvalleybrick.com

www.thamesvalleybrick.com

The Salt Depot

905-479-1177

info@saltdepot.ca

www.saltdepot.ca

Unilock Ltd

800-UNILOCK

georgetown@unilock.com

www.unilock.com

Zander Sod Co Ltd

877-727-2100

info@zandersod.com

www.zandersod.com

Stihl Limited

50 | SEPTEMBER 2011

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