Tennessee Greentimes - Summer 2014

VOL. 15/NO. 2

Summer 2014

UT Gardens’ 2013

Best & Beautiful Roses, Trees and Shrubs Gardening to Save a Species...

Ruth’s Golden Aster Five Business Expenses You Should Never Skimp On

Table of Contents

Green Gatherings Tennessee Green Industry Expo, October 2–3, 2014

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VOL. 15/NO. 2

Summer 2014

In the Landscape UT Gardens’ 2013 Best & Beautiful Roses, Trees and Shrubs

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more features Eye on Business Are you Penny-Pinching Yourself Out of Business?

Five Expenses You Should Never, Ever Skimp On.........................................................15

DEPARTMENTS From the President, Matt Dawson.....................................................................................6 TNLA New Members..........................................................................................................7 Calendar of Events............................................................................................................17 Index of Advertisers..........................................................................................................18

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In the wild garden Gardening to Save a Species...

Ruth’s Golden Aster

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The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee GreenTimes, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2014 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. Tennessee GreenTimes is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Green Times allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs.

Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

From the President Matt Dawson

Make a Decision

One TNLA Would like to

Thank

the following companies for being

Membership Sponsors Gold Membership Sponsors Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. Greenrise Technologies, Inc. Hale & Hines Nursery Co. Randall Walker Farms Samara Farms Swafford Nursery, Inc.

Silver Membership Sponsors Allen Landscape Management, LLC Common Grounds Syngenta Flowers, Home & Garden Tennessee 811 Warren County Nursery

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of the most crippling diseases that can creep into an organization or someone’s personal life and affect productivity, enthusiasm and accomplishment is the mind-boggling condition of indecision. As we avoid, procrastinate and sidestep decisions that need to be made, we are not only “treading water,” but also we are slowly sinking into a sea of complacency and confusion. Individuals and organizations often find themselves in the mire of unfinished projects and unresolved issues because no one has the courage to simply make a decision. It is easier to offer someone else a multitude of choices and allow them to take the blame if it ends up being the wrong one than to take the responsibility yourself and move forward confidently in your choice.

As Earl Nightingale once said, “The minute we choose to not make a decision about something, we put ourselves in the hands of circumstances or under the control of others who will make a decision. Decide, and even if you make a wrong decision, it will usually become apparent, and you can correct it. But if you make no decision at all, you will never find out what is right or how you could have made it right.”

It is so evident when I enter a company that has developed a culture where individuals can approach their daily work with confidence in making good decisions that people are thriving on the opportunity to think and act. Taking ownership for both good decisions and bad liberates individuals and allows them to grow and make better, more important decisions in the future. Children who have the opportunity to choose with the guidance of their parents and then pay the consequences of those decisions become more independent and develop a greater self-esteem than those who are told what to do and when to do it.

We learn by risking being wrong, and we move forward by making better choices the next time around. If we limit our employees, our children or even ourselves by avoiding tough decisions, then the future is always in the hands of others and grows more uncertain and confusing than it needs to be. Indecision and waiting to the last minute do not help, either. They create stress and worry for all involved.

As members of an organization, we have choices to make that either strengthen or weaken the group. As president of this organization, the board of directors and I must make decisions that will affect the entire organization as a whole. The decision to move our trade show to October and combine efforts with MTNA was a tough decision, but it was made with confidence.

It is now your decision to be just a member or be an active member. With our show just around the corner, I ask each of you to make a decision and take this opportunity to be an active member of this organization. We joined together in this organization to create strength in numbers. Let’s work together to make TNGIE the best show horticulture has to offer. The choice is yours.

Matt Dawson 2014 TNLA President

New TNLA Members

Welcome,

TNLA New Members!

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

AFFILIATE MEMBERS

Harrell’s, LLC: Turf & Landscape Division Mickey Lovett 1110 Brentwood Street Paris, TN 38242

Larry R. Arrington UT Institute of Ag 101 Morgan Hall 2621 Morgan Circle Drive Knoxville, TN 37996-4505

Plant Source Nursery Joey Massengale 45 Riveree Road Brooks, GA 30205

Tim Cross UT Extension 2621 Morgan Circle, Room 121 Knoxville, TN 37996

Power Equipment Co. Steve Woodby 3300 Alcoa Highway Knoxville, TN 37920-5558

The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editors Dr. Bill Klingeman Dr. Amy Fulcher Associate Editors Dr. Donna Fare Dr. Nick Gawel Dr. Frank Hale Mr. Gray Haun Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Matt Dawson Samara Farms 1st Vice President Jeff Harrell Tennessee Valley Nursery 2nd Vice President Kim Holden Holden Nursery 3rd Vice President Josh Woodlee David’s Nursery Secretary-Treasurer James Hines Hale & Hines Nursery, Inc. Associate Director Tony Graham Tractor Supply Co. Ex-Officio Bill Seaton TruGreen LandCare Executive Director Louree Walker Administrative Assistant Pam Stern

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In The Landscape

UT Gardens 2013

Best & Beautiful Roses, Trees and Shrubs

By Susan Hamilton, Ed.D., Director of the UT Gardens; Beth Willis, Trials Coordinator; James Newburn, Assistant Director; Holly Jones, Kitchen Garden Manager; Jason Reeves, Curator of the Jackson UT Gardens; Carol Reese, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist; and Andy Pulte, Plant Sciences Faculty Instructor, The University of Tennessee Note: All plants listed below are growing at UT Gardens in both Knoxville and Jackson, TN.

TOP ROSES California Dreamin™ Hybrid Tea Huge blooms up to 5" across, in a lovely pink and white bi-color, make this hybrid tea a winner. The cream center blends flawlessly to the pink edges. It also has a strong, citrus fragrance. If deadheaded in a timely manner, this rose blooms in flushes throughout the season. Introduced in 2009 by Conard-Pyle, it was bred by Jaques Mouchette of France.

Livin’ Easy™ Floribunda Double blooms and a beautiful apricot-orange color make this rose an outstanding choice for any garden.

A repeat bloomer with dark green foliage, this rose also exhibits good resistance to black spot disease.

Scentimental ™ Floribunda Rich burgundy blooms with irregular white stripes make this a unique performer in the landscape. One of our perennial favorites, this rose has a strong fragrance, as its name implies.

With so many petals per bloom, it is reminiscent of old-fashioned roses.

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Sweet Drift ® A cross between groundcover roses and miniatures, drift roses are a great choice for small gardens, border plants or mass plantings. Sweet Drift has clear-pink double flowers on dark-green, glossy foliage with abundant, continuous flowering and outstanding disease resistance.

Tahitian Treasure™ — Rosa ‘Radtreasure’ A brand new rose from Star Roses, this is a breakthrough in breeding — it is a grandiflora that performs like a landscape rose. Trialed as a potential introduction in the UT Gardens, we’ve had our eye on this rose for a couple of years. It is truly amazing, and we’re excited that it has been introduced to the market.

Outstanding re-blooming, beautiful richpink color, great flowering density, good growth habit and very disease resistant — this rose has it all.

In The Landscape

TOP trees & Shrubs Cercis canadensis ‘JNJ’ — The Rising Sun™ Eastern Redbud The most brilliantly colored selection of the redbud yet, this brand-new introduction offers spring foliage of deep apricot-orange, maturing to yellow and then speckled lime-green in summer, only to return to its rich golden tones for autumn. Abundant, rosy-orchid blooms.

It is reported to have a more compact growth habit, although its ultimate height is unknown, as it may be a slow grower.

Tolerant of light shade, it is very adaptable and easy to grow. Introduced by Ray Jackson of Jackson Nursery in Tennessee. Zones 5-9.

Chaenomeles Double Take™ Series — Japanese Quince This unique quince is thornless! It also features flowers with higher petal counts that resemble camellias more than classic quince. The deciduous shrub flowers before leaves appear, creating an eye-catching contrast of colorful blooms on bare wood that occasionally blooms again and again. Available in three flower colors: red, pink and orange.

Cold hardy to zones 5–8 and likes part to full sun. It blooms February through April, depending on climate conditions.

Hydrangea paniculata Royal Majestics® — Baby Lace® Panicle Hydrangea A dwarf panicle hydrangea that is covered in petite, lacy white blooms against dark-green foliage. Its smaller size of 4' by 4' makes it perfect for container plantings and small gardens.

It makes a wonderful cut flower and dries beautifully for long-lasting arrangements. Flowers later than ‘Little Lime’, extending the season for a “dwarf,” and seems to have stronger stems.

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Juniperus conferta ‘All Gold’ — All Gold Shore Juniper We’ve all known Shore Juniper for years… durable, good green or blue, salt tolerant and drought tolerant.

This selection is one better — bright yellow, but just as tough and useful as the blue or green. Thrives in full sun and is great in a container or used in the foreground of a landscape or as a groundcover. Excellent winter interest!

Grows to 1' tall and can get 4' to 6' wide.

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Zhuzhou Fuchsia’ — Chinese Fringe Flower A very dark cultivar with beautiful, persistent maroon foliage. An upright plant that could prove to be among the largest of the cultivars, easily reaching 15' tall. Flowers are deep pink. Wonderful in a mixed background border. Can be used for screening, as a standard or espaliered. Planting in spring is recommended.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Southern Charm’ Teddy Bear® — Teddy Bear® Southern Magnolia Grows to a mature height of 20' x 12' spread, with a compact upright habit.

Its glossy green leaves are heavily felted and rust-colored on the reverse.

Large lemon-scented white blooms prevail from May to November.

In The Landscape

Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’ — Peve Minaret Baldcypress Our native baldcypress, Taxodium distichum, is one of our favorite plants at the UT Gardens. Our plants have flourished, and the one at the Knoxville Garden is now about 20+' tall. Obviously, it has not read any of the descriptions that still say it only grows to 6' tall in 10 years. At any rate, it is certainly much smaller than the species, with a delightfully distinct texture and habit. The feathery, mint-green branchlets are held on somewhat upright branches in dense tufts. In fall, these branchlets turn brilliant orange-russet and eventually drop, revealing the densely branched form of this selection. After this foliage drop, it takes pruning well. It can be grown in dry soils once established, but it prefers rich, moist spots and can even be grown in a container in water that just covers the pot.

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Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge’ — Valley Forge American Elm A selection tolerant to Dutch elm disease (DED) introduced by the USDA. High levels of DED tolerance and superior horticultural characteristics — including tolerance to air pollution, de-icing salts, drought, poor soil conditions and a range of pHs — make this cultivar an ideal tree for the urban landscape. ‘Valley Forge’ presents a new opportunity to plant an old American favorite with new disease tolerance. Matures to 60' to 70' tall and 60' to 70' wide. Growth habit is upright, arching and broadly vase-shaped, with a full, dense leaf canopy. Bright yellow fall foliage. C

In the Wild Garden

By Philip Moore, Phillip Wadl, Ph.D., Sarah Boggess and John Skinner, Ph.D., Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology; William Klingeman, Ph.D., Dept. of Plant Sciences; and Mackenzie Hodges, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The University of Tennessee

U

nique plants provide variety and excitement to the garden, but the care of these horticultural specimens can often be difficult. One particular Tennessee native plant species would make it easy to handle climactic stress and watering. Ruth’s golden aster (Pityopsis ruthii) performs exceptionally well in both droughty and flooded conditions, thrives in full sun and can spread to cover the ground, yet would not take over the garden. Moreover, it is a perennial plant and presents bursts of yellow flowers just before the season winds down into winter. This grassyleaved golden aster has silvery pubescent foliage in a spiraling linear-lanceolate leaf form.

As fantastic as these horticultural characters are, however, the plant is rare and endangered in its native habitat. So, for now, it is not in cultivation at local native plant nurseries. Stay tuned, though, because researchers at The University of Tennessee are developing propagation methods to aid in recovery of this species. Indeed, commercial production may emerge as a way to save the species.

An endemic in need of academics Unfortunately, researchers don’t know exactly why this plant is in decline.

Graduate student Philip Moore is investigating whether the reductions in pollinators seen across the globe have affected this plant’s ability to reproduce.

Wild honeybee colonies in the U.S. are in heavy decline following the introduction of the parasitic Varroa mite. And Philip’s research shows that honeybees are a primary pollinator for this aster. Still, since only part of the plant’s habitat overlaps with honeybee foraging areas, the native bumblebee and even a tiny flower fly may be crucial to its reproduction.

Genetic research illuminates limitations Cross pollination is a requirement of Ruth’s golden aster reproduction, but the small populations of plants that are present where it occurs may not be genetically diverse enough to successfully breed. Masters student Sarah Boggess and Research Assistant Professor Dr. Phillip Wadl are investigating the genetic

diversity and population structure of the species. In-breeding depression reduces plant vigor and the ability of a species to adapt. In addition to this problem, hybridization with a nearby, closely related plant species can also contribute to genetic decline. Efforts to preserve a species at off-site locations is best achieved when sufficiently diverse plant genetic material can be maintained for eventual reintroduction.

Conservation with propagation The riparian areas on the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers in southeastern Tennessee are currently the only home to Ruth’s golden aster. In fact, it prefers the narrow cracks and crevices of boulders that line each river. However, since damming the rivers has changed the water flow, this plant’s survival has been further challenged by invading plant species and recreational activities like whitewater rafting and trout fishing.

Attempts at reintroducing the plant were not particularly successful in past years. Recent efforts by TVA, UT, USFWS and US Forest Service, however,

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In the Wild Garden have shown considerable promise.

A 70% plant survival rate was recorded 1 year after introduction when tissuecultured clones were used, and 30% survived when tissue-cultured seedlings were transplanted. Collaborations between horticultural researchers at The University of Tennessee with The University of Georgia, Virginia Tech University and USDA-ARS in Mississippi are testing the ability of this plant to be part of the cultivated landscape.

Looking towards the future Finding Ruth’s golden aster in a local garden center is still a distant notion.

Many scientific and bureaucratic hurdles must be overcome. Yet, as demand for native plants that tolerate varying climatic conditions increases, desirable horticultural characteristics that make Ruth’s golden aster a remarkable survivor — like its compact size, grass-like silvery leaves, tolerance of both drought and flooded soils, spreading growth habit and dramatic flower display — foreshadow its true potential landscape value. C

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Eye on Business

Are You

Penny-Pinching Yourself Out of Business?

Five Expenses You Should Never, Ever Skimp On

By Sean C. Castrina, Author and Founder of newbizcoach.org

If

you’re bootstrapping your own business, you know all about doing more with less. The ability to stretch a budget is a survival skill, especially in the cash-strapped early days, so you’re always looking for new ways to save money. But here’s the real question: Are you being cheap about the wrong things?

If your goal is to cut costs at any cost, you’re heading into dangerous territory.

Avoiding unnecessary expenses is one thing; becoming a fear-driven, perpetual pennypincher is another. “Cheapness” can hurt the value of your product or service or the efficiency of your business, both of which will drive customers away.

Having started more than 15 companies, I know just how tough it is to write checks to employees, vendors, landlords, banks, etc., when your hopes, dreams, credit and livelihood are at stake. Yet, making those checks too skimpy can cost you big down the road.

Subject every prospective cost-saving measure to this litmus test: What are the possible short- and long-term effects of this decision? Will it save my business money without negatively affecting profits? Sometimes, the answer is “no.”

Here are five penny-pinching sins that are costing your business.

PENNY-PINCHING

SIN #1:

Paying employees the bare minimum.

Excessive tightfistedness on payday sends a very clear message to your employees: “I place a low value on you and what you do for my company. I don’t see you as a person with talents and unique abilities, but as a debit on my monthly expense report.” And that is the kind of message that sends skilled employees running for the hills, costing you money in lost productivity, turnover and customer dissatisfaction.

Yes, some low-skill positions can be filled by just about anyone and shouldn’t come with a high salary. But if you have experienced, efficient employees with a high level of expertise, you need to compensate them fairly. Quality employees can make or break your company.

PENNY-PINCHING

SIN #2:

Using an in-house bookkeeper.

To many small-business owners do bookkeeping in-house. Why is that a problem? First, many boss-designated bookkeepers don’t completely know

what they’re doing. For instance, they may use unnecessarily broad headings or classify items incorrectly. Sooner or later, your accountant (or worse, the IRS) will charge you to correct these mistakes, saving you nothing.

The larger problem, I’m sad to say, is that it’s easy for an in-house bookkeeper to steal from you. It has happened to me and to many other small-business owners. Now I’m adamant about hiring a third-party bookkeeper who reports to me directly. I ask my staff to leave this contractor alone, just as they would an IRS auditor.

PENNY-PINCHING

SIN #3:

Skimping on legal services.

Several years ago, I went through a touchy legal matter. When I described the matter to an older business colleague, his colleague had this to say: “Your attorney is a nice guy, and he’s good with general matters, but for this situation you need a killer. You need someone whose name strikes fear into the heart of opposing council!”

I took my colleague’s advice because I knew he’d been in my shoes. And I’m so glad I did! The matter went away quickly and was some of the best money I ever spent on higher-priced billable

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hours. For general matters, I like hiring young, new-to-their-firms attorneys whose rates are low and who are really trying to earn my business. But for matters in which your company’s survival is at stake, hire the best lawyer you possibly can.

PENNY-PINCHING

SIN #4:

DIYing branded materials.

We’ve all encountered a business that made a poor impression because its employees weren’t wearing uniforms or because its signage wasn’t professionally created.

And don’t even get me started on forms, business cards, stationery and websites made with “do it yourself” kits! The fact is, customers will always judge businesses by their covers. So, if you want to be paid like a great company, you need to look like one.

PENNY-PINCHING

SIN #5:

Relying on word-of-mouth marketing.

If I hear one more small business owner tell me that he or she believes in “word-ofmouth marketing,” I may scream! Don’t get me wrong; customer referrals are very powerful and can really help drive your business. But I’ve never owned or worked with a company — even those with A+ BBB ratings — that owed more than a third of sales to word-of-mouth business. The fact of the matter is, if you try to save money by not budgeting for marketing, you’ll save your way right out of business. You simply must spend money to attract customers.

Here’s the bottom line: In business, you get what you pay for. If you try to skimp on something that affects the experience that your company offers consumers or that compromises its ability to run efficiently, your efforts will probably backfire.

As an entrepreneur, it’s good to be frugal… but it really doesn’t pay to be cheap.

About the Author: Sean C. Castrina is the author of 8 Unbreakable Rules for Business Start-Up Success and the soon-to-be-released 8 Unbreakable Rules for Small Business Dominance. He is also founder of newbizcoach.org. C

Calendar of Events

October 2–3

Tennessee Green Industry Expo To be held in conjunction with the Middle Tennessee Nursery Association (MTNA) Music City Center Nashville, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5833 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tngie.com

October 22–25

School of Grounds Mgmt. and Green Industry Expo Galt House Hotel and Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

July 22–24

SNA 2014 Research Conference, Southern Plant Conference & Trade Show (Southern Nursery Assn.)

Georgia International Convention Center Atlanta, GA Contact: 678-809-9992 www.sna.org

July 27–29

PLANET Legislative Day on the Hill Washington, D.C. Contact: 800-395-2522 www.landcarenetwork.org

July 28 – August 1

Perennial Plant Symposium Hilton Netherland Plaza Cincinnati, OH Contact: 614-771-8431 Email: ppa@perennialplant.org www.perennialplant.org

July 30–31

Penn-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (PANTS) Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia, PA Contact: 723-449-4004 www.pantshow.com

August 13–15

Summer Green Road Show (NC Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, NC

September 12

Univ. of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Field Day University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN tennessee greentimes Summer 2014

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Index of Advertisers Boshancee Nursery, Inc.............................................................................14

John Holmlund Nursery.............................................................................18

Surface Nursery Inc.....................................................................................9

Braun Horticulture......................................................................................12

Low Falls Wholsale Nursery.....................................................................14

Swafford Nursery....................................................................... Back Cover

Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc...............................................................11

McCorkle Nurseries, Inc..............................................................................3

Thomas Nursery..........................................................................................18

D & D Agri....................................................................................................16 Dayton Bag & Burlap Co..............................................Inside Front Cover

Mid Tenn Turf, Inc.................................................................................7, 18

Tennessee 811............................................................................................11 Tree Equipment Design, Inc.......................................................................7

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries...................................................................17

Motz & Son Nursery...................................................................................17 OHP................................................................................................................18

Hidden Valley Nursery................................................................................18

Senninger Irrigation....................................................................................16

John Deere Landscapes............................................................................12

Smith Seed Services..................................................................................18

www.boshanceensy.com www.braungroup.com

www.camtoocamellia.com

www.daybag.com

www.fairviewevergreen.com

www.hiddenvalleynursery.com

www.johndeerelandscapes.com

www.jhnsy.com

www.lowfallsnursery.com www.mccorklensy.com www.midtennturf.com

www.ohp.com

www.surfacenursery.com

www.swaffordnursery.com

www.thomasnurserytrees.com www.tnonecall.com www.treequip.com

Wellmaster Carts........................................................... Inside Back Cover www.wellmaster.ca

www.senninger.com

www.smithseed.com

Digital Marketplace

Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

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