The Scoop Online - May 2023

PRUNING HYDRANGEAS

PLUS MNLA FOUNDATION AWARDS HIGH SCHOOL GRANT

ALSO INSIDE: FIVE TIPS FOR HIRING AND RETAINING

a mix of trees in urban treescapes is beneficial for plant survival and could prevent the decimation of a tree population.   35

Modern Delight

Congratulations to the team at Livit Site + Structure for winning the 2023 Excellence in Planting award.  57

Finding good people that are the right fit for your company and team is hard. Be sure you’re doing what you can to keep them.  61

AFSA

8 Events

10 A Legislative Whirlwind Executive Director Cassie Larson shares issues MNLA has been tracking during the 2023 legislative session.

21 MNLA Member Services & Discounts

How does MNLA save you money?

28 GILI: Session Topics

Students will cover a wide range of topics throughout the year, including problem solving, managing conflict, and authentic selling.

38

3 Reasons to Renew Your MNLA Membership

Legislative advocacy, timely industry news, and vetted partnerships are just a few of the benefits offered to MNLA members.

45 MNLA Regulatory Update

Watonwan, Clay, and Faribault Counties have been quarantined for EAB.

55 End of Session – What Can I Do to Continue my Involvement?

PAC contributions, big or small, go a long way in MNLA’s ability to advocate for issues important to the green industry and your businesses.

62 Share The Scoop!

Be sure you and your employees or coworkers are signed up to receive the online Scoop

63 MNLA Foundation Partners Fund

Consider participating in this fundraiser for the MNLA Foundation to grow a brighter future for the green industry.

Cover photo: iStock.com/HuyThoai. Table of Contents Images: Top Left: iStock.com/canbedone. Middle: Courtesy of Livit Site + Structure. Bottom: iStock.com/welcomia.

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

Successful Businesses Grow Here!

1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113

651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986

Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986

www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org

Mission: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Randy Berg, President

Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center

507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com

Matt Mallas, Vice-President

SiteOne Landscape Supply

763-512-2849 • mmallas@siteone.com

Terri McEnaney, Secretary-Treasurer

Bailey Nurseries

651-459-9744 • terri.mcenaney@baileynursery.com

Susan Bachman West Bachman's, Inc.

612-861-7600 • sbachman@bachmans.com

Kim Gaida-Wagener

Rock Hard Landscape Supply

612-619-3312 • kgaida@rockhardmn.com

Greg Krogstad

Rainbow Treecare

952-922-3810 • gkrogstad@rainbowtreecare.com

Patrick McGuiness

Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC

651-331-6500 • pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com

John O’Reilly

Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping

952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com

Jim Shimon

Willow River Company — Landscaping & Tree Farm

715-386-3196 • jimshimon@willowrivertree.com

Cassie Larson, CAE

MNLA Executive Director

651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz

STAFF DIRECTORY

Executive Director:

Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz

Associate Director: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz

Dir. of Government Affairs: Felipe Illescas • felipe@mnla.biz

Education & Cert Mgr: Hallie Chasensky • hallie@mnla.biz

Communications Coor: Brianna Burns • brianna@mnla.biz

Regulatory Affairs Mgr: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz

Foundation Program Mgr: Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz

Administrative Assistant: Louise Nemmers • louise@mnla.biz

Accountant: Pam Helgeson • accounting@mnla.biz

Advertising Sales: 763-295-5420

Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com

Legislative Affairs Consultant: Doug Carnival

CER T I F IED P ROFE S S IONA L

33RD ANNUAL WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT

Shotgun Start at 8:30am. The Widmer Golf Tournament is an 18-hole, best ball scramble tournament with great networking, prizes, contests, golf, and more! Proceeds support research activities and education important to the green industry.

Crystal Lake Golf Club: 16725 Insbrook Drive, Lakeville, MN 55044 ➽ mnla.biz/events

COMO JAPANESE GARDEN MAINTENANCE TOUR & SOCIAL HOUR

Join us at the Como Japanese Garden for a maintenance-focused tour with horticultural staff followed by a social hour hosted by MNLA at the Como Lake Pavilion.

Como Park, Saint Paul, MN ➽ mnla.biz/events

MNLA NIGHT AT THE SAINTS

Take a break from your busy season to enjoy a game at CHS Field. Registration to come. CHS Field, Saint Paul, MN ➽ mnla.biz/events

MNLA FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT

This sporting clays tournament is fun for everyone and is a great way to spend time with colleagues and friends this fall. This is a 75-round course and the difficulty level is FUN! First time shooters are welcome, and guns are available for rent. Proceeds support workforce development.

Game Unlimited: 871 County Road E, Hudson, WI 54106 ➽ mnla.biz/events

MNLA PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM

Save the date! Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2023. Additional test dates on Oct 13 & 20 and Nov 3 & 17. MNLA Office, Roseville, MN ➽ mnla.biz/events

PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION WORKSHOP

Obtain recertification credits by attending the Pesticide Recertification Workshop and have your current license scanned and checked by MDA. Applicators MUST bring their license identification card.

Wilder Foundation, Saint Paul, MN

The Scoop, May 2023, Issue 5 is issued monthly, 12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2023, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one year, which is included with member dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113.

Editorial Contributions. You are invited to share your expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. When submitting an article, please contact the editor at brianna@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987. MNLA reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.

A Legislative Whirlwind

The 2023 legislative session has been one of the fastest, if not THE fastest, moving session ever. In fact, a communication from Speaker Hortman indicated that the House introduced and moved five times the number of bills as they do in a typical session year.

That being said, MNLA tracked a high number of bills and proposals this session. As I write this, the session is not yet complete, but here is a sampling of issues we have been tracking so far in 2023:

Duty to Defend: MNLA has been proactively advocating to end the Duty to Defend. As currently stated in Minnesota Statute 337A, general contractors can contractually require subcontractors to pay legal fees for liability incurred by the general contractor, even when the general contractor is negligent, and the subcontractor is not. If a subcontractor doesn’t agree, the subcontractor is removed from consideration for the contract. This inherently unfair practice threatens businesses of all sizes throughout Minnesota, and particularly burdens small and emerging businesses without access to in-house legal counsel.

Reduction of Chlorides in Minnesota Waterways: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) currently provides training for salt applicators on best practices to significantly reduce the use of chlorides while maintaining safety. This proposed legislation connects anti-slip/antiice application’s best management practices to liability

protections for salt professionals — the small business owners across the State of Minnesota — to avoid uncontrollable circumstances and unexpected litigation costs while protecting the public’s safety and the health of Minnesota’s waterways.

Sales and Use Tax Clarification: MNLA hosted a meeting with staff from the Minnesota Department of Revenue where members and staff presented feedback on the current system and suggested potential changes that could take place in order to make the system less confusing. We continue to push for clarity, especially where installation and maintenance overlap on a single project.

Solutions for Wood Waste Disposal: MNLA has been part of a multitude of conversations around wood waste disposal. District Energy in St. Paul is currently one of the few ways to dispose of the growing amount of Ash waste (that will continue to rise in the months ahead). MNLA supported funding for this facility in the short term as long-term options continue to be explored. MNLA is also exploring if we can help to create a Wood Utilization Network similar to those that currently exist in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Cassie Larson MNLA Executive Director

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / Wolterk

Pesticide Preemption: MNLA supports science-based regulations, and a statewide approach to pesticide regulation. This ensures that oversight of pesticides is based on the scientific expertise of career regulators at the state and federal level, versus politicians at the local level where resource and scientific expertise may be limited and regulatory mechanisms do not currently exist.

Gas to Electric Equipment Conversion: MNLA worked with legislators to delay implementation of a bill with an unreasonable timeline to convert all gas equipment to electric. We are now working with legislators to lead the transition to new power sources, not just electric, on a reasonable timeline that will work for manufacturers in addition to practitioners.

Minnesota Nursery Law Updates: MNLA has been supporting MDA in its pursuit of several substantive changes along with some minor, technical changes to the Minnesota Nursery Law including changes to the certification categories and a modified fee structure. The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Regulatory Advisory Committee (MNLRAC), on which MNLA staff and several members participate, provided input and feedback on these changes prior to their introduction.

Legislation Related to the DNR Forest Nursery Production: MNLA continues to oppose expanding production at the Minnesota State Forest Nursery beyond the 10 million seedling cap already in statute and believes that Minnesota’s private growers can provide the seedlings necessary to meet demand. While no legislation has been introduced in 2023 to specifically change the previously outlined agreement, we continue to diligently follow this issue.

These are only highlights from the 2023 legislative session. In addition, MNLA continues to work on a long list of regulatory issues as well including jumping worms, EAB, water use, noxious weeds, invasive species, and more. If you have questions on the status of these or other issues moving forward feel free to reach out to MNLA at any time.

It always makes me think, what if there were no MNLA acting as a voice for green industry issues? The outcomes of these topics and many others would likely look VERY different. Your membership matters. Your membership dues help to support legislative and regulatory initiatives. Do you know a company who is not a member? Encourage them to join the association. The more voices that work collectively, the more we can do together. Grassroots grow results!

THE PROS AND CONS OF ‘NO MOW MAY’

‘NO MOW MAY’ RECEIVED WIDE ATTENTION AND PARTICIPATION last year and I would anticipate an increase in this for 2023. Driving around town and listening to customer concerns demonstrated that many did not understand what they were participating in, nor what to do in June. So, why should a homeowner participate in this program?

‘Pause’ mowing your lawn for the month of May to provide habitat and nutrition for earlyseason pollinators. This allows flowering plants to bloom in urban areas where sources of pollen would otherwise be sparse this time of year.

I say ‘pause’ mowing, because as we know in Minnesota spring comes when it wants. We could have the need to mow in April or maybe it wouldn’t even be necessary until June. In this way, educating folks on this strategy is important.

There is some confusion on what plants or ‘weeds’ are being encouraged that would actually support pollinators. Letting grass grow long DOES NOT support pollinators, nor do all spring weeds provide beneficial nutrients to pollinators. Below are some common weeds that bloom in May and provide some support to pollinators. They provide a habitat for pollinators and are a source of food, especially if you have beneficial flowering plants. However, tall grass itself does not provide any benefits for pollinators.

I have seen a great deal of debate on how much support some of these flowers bring, but I think the most important thing is to educate homeowners as to the purpose of not mowing in May. These are the plants that are encouraged:

Shay Lunseth Organic Lawns by LUNSETH

NE W

• Chickweed

• Dandelion

• Wild geranium

• Oxalis (yellow woodsorrel)

• Clover

• Creeping Charlie

Success of ‘No Mow May’ depends on several factors

• Grass Type: Fine fescues is slow growing and would be adapted to this mowing delay, leaving a lawn looking clean through the month. Kentucky bluegrass, however, is not adapted to long growing periods and it’s quick growth and can create a mess.

In Januar y, MNLA will be introducing a redesigned Scoop Our goal is to provide even greater value to you, the member, through this vital communication ser vice. To do that, we need to know what your current needs are! We would like to gather your feedback on how you read The Scoop, which content you value most, and what you wish we would include Please take five minutes and give us your opinions via a quick 5-question sur vey found here: http://www.sur veymonkey.com/s/ScoopFeedback. If you’d rather for ward your comments via email, send those to jon@mnla.biz.

• What is there now?: Are there currently flowering plants or is the lawn 100% grass? This will determine how other plants might adapt to the yard, or leave space for invasive species to move in. Invasive plants that don’t tolerate mowing could get a foothold in the yard if not addressed. Bare spots can also provide a spot for plant species that do not support pollinators to move in.

WRITERS WANTED

• Weather: The everchanging Minnesota weather could be beneficial, or a detriment to the lawns growing period. Low spring temperatures will slow the growth of the grass and if slowed enough, the grass wouldn’t even need to be mowed before the end of the month. With the everchanging Minnesota weather, this campaign should be less about the month and more about season.

What to do on June 1st?

Withholding mowing for four weeks could let the grass get really long! Trying to mow down too much at once can result in excessive clippings and injury to the grass itself.

We’re also looking for members who love to write – members who want to share useful information, ideas, and innovations with their fellow members in the association’s monthly magazine. Write from the perspective of your industr y segment (landscape install, garden center, grower, etc.); share knowledge on business management or human resources; or offer insights via our soon-to-premiere features “Ideas That Work” and “My Favorite Tool.” To offer your ser vices and/or receive information on deadlines and other parameters, email susan@mnla.biz or call Sue Flynn or Jon Horsman at 651-633-4987.

NEVER cut more than ¹⁄3 of the grass blade off at a time. Mow in small increments and gradually bring the mowing heights back down to a proper height when the no mow period is over. Also be sure to rake excessive clippings so they don’t wind up in the streets and/or sewer drains. This will ensure the grass isn’t stressed going into the hot summer months.

What you can do all season?

‘No Mow May’ is a nice initiative, but it might be better to advertise this strategy differently. It should be called ‘Mow Less All Year’ and increase your tolerance of weeds. Another strategy would be to plant pollinator-friendly plants in containers that bloom throughout the growing season or dedicate a section of your lawn to a pollinator garden. The main agenda can be carried out for a whole season, while also changing how homeowners think about their lawn. The following goals should be followed all year:

Mowing

• Mowing every two to three weeks, rather than weekly (a study from 2018 UMass found that lawns mowed every three weeks had as much as 2.5x more lawn flowers, and lawns mowed every two weeks supported the greatest number of bees.).

• Mow high all year. Keep the mowing deck between 3.5"–4.5" high.

• Don’t cut too short or too much at a time — the idea is to protect the grass plants you have, especially when entering the stress of summer.

• Have a purposeful lawn — keep it maintain for its intended use; are you playing in it or providing a wildlife habitat?

• Support pollinators or grow grass higher in concentrated areas that are not being used for any specific purpose.

• Consider eliminating the lawn altogether and replacing it with plants or garden spaces that don’t require frequent maintenance and support native insects and wildlife.

Tolerate

• Help encourage blooms within the lawn — 5–10% of non-grass plants should be tolerable.

• Allow flowering plants to persist, especially clover.

• Allow some dandelions in the early months as they are early pollinator food.

Plant

• Plant pollinator friendly plants and native wildflowers that bloom all season and support the most amount and most diverse population of pollinators.

• Consider planting that supports:

• Increased soil organic matter

• Increased soil quality

• Improved stormwater infiltration

Be Environmentally Friendly

• Water Less

• Have a goal of 1" of water per week. Odd-Even ordinances don’t mean that you ‘should’ water every other day.

• Water deeply and infrequently, especially before a hot/dry stretch.

• Keep irrigation to OFF position.

• Plant More

• Designate a percentage of the lawn to perennials, groundcovers, shrubs, and trees to reduce need for:

• Water consumption

• Pesticides

• Fertilizers

Let’s continue to support the initiative of ‘No Mow May,’ while also educating about the why and the how. Remember, simply having long grass doesn’t support pollinators. It’s the flowering plants in the grass and your landscape that provide food. This can be a good kickoff to a season that supports our pollinators, wildlife, and environment. Hopefully the trend will continue through the whole season and for many years to come.

The Ultimate Bagger for the Ultimate Mower. The all-new WrightVac system is designed to meet the demanding needs you face everyday as a professional landscaper. Our goal was to create a bagger system to match the performance of the mower. This means the WrightVac was engineered to produce enough airflow to prevent clogging even when mowing at max speed. In addition, the WrightVac shares the same heavy-duty low-maintenance elements as our other mowers resulting in a truly commercial-grade powered bagger. WrightVac is now available on WSZK, WZXL and WZXT model Wright Commercial Mowers.

Distributor:

➽ SHAY LUNSETH is the owner of Organic Lawns by LUNSETH. She can be reached at: organiclawnsbylunseth@gmail.com.

Our mission is simple: Improving your productivity and bottom line through reliable supply and support of premium outdoor power equipment.

PRUNING HYDRANGEAS

Author: Julie Weisenhorn, University of Minnesota Extension

Reviewed by: Debbie Lonnee, Bailey Nurseries

How and when to prune them depends on the shrub. Heading cuts redirect growth or shorten small branches. The high point of a heading cut should be about ¼" above a bud.

Hydrangea paniculata, panicle hydrangea

Prune back stems to just above a fat bud — called a heading cut — in fall, late winter or spring. These plants have conical-shaped flower heads. The dry, tan flower heads on the plant can provide some winter interest in your landscape, so wait to prune these until late winter or spring. Some favorite panicle hydrangeas:

• Quick Fire® (H. paniculata ‘Bulk’ PP16, 812)

• Limelight (H. paniculata ‘Limelight’)

• First Editions® Berry White® (H. paniculata ‘Renba’ PP28, 509)

Hydrangea macrophylla, big leaf hydrangea

These plants produce buds in late summer to early fall (August–September) that will form next year’s flowers. So prune these shrubs after they finish blooming before August with a heading cut.

An exception is Endless Summer®, the original Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla ‘Bailmer’ PP15,298), and other cultivars in the Endless Summer series from Bailey Nurseries such as Blushing Bride, BloomStruck® , Summer Crush®, and Twist ‘n’ Shout®.

The H. macrophylla bloom on last year’s wood and new wood that grows this year. So it will bloom whether you prune it or not.

Protect H. macrophylla in winter from rabbit browsing on the stems with a large, 4-foot tall ring of hardware cloth.

The Endless Summer hydrangea is popular in Minnesota for its pink to blue color flowers (achievable with proper soil amendment) and because it blooms on old and new wood.

Hydrangea arborescens, smooth hydrangea

Let these plants grow a season or two before doing any hard pruning. Once the shrub is established and has a couple of growing seasons, prune these hydrangeas in the spring down to the ground.

Do not prune at all if you want a larger shrub. Flower buds will grow on this season’s growth or new wood.

Some favorite smooth hydrangeas:

• Invincibelle Mini Mauvette® (H. arborescens ‘NCHA7’ PP30,358)

• Incrediball® (H. arborescens ‘Abetwo’ PP20571)

• Annabelle (H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’)

Hydrangea petolaris or climbing hydrangea

This tough, gnarly vine needs little to no pruning, except for removing any dead wood that develops. Plant this vine in full sun on a solid trellis or fence where you want a long-living, dense screen. It is hard to get rid of once it gets established.

HYDRANGEAS are one of the most popular blooming woody shrubs in Minnesota landscapes.

➽ JULIE WEISENHORN is an extension educator at the University of Minnesota, and Debbie Lonnie is a product development manager at Bailey Nurseries.

University of Minnesota Extension

MNLA Member Services & Discounts

How does MNLA save my business money?

1. Money-Saving Partnerships

As a member of MNLA, you can take advantage of vetted industry partnerships we call Member Services.

Save up to $2,300 when you purchase a vehicle with DODGE/ JEEP/CHRYSLER.

Save 30¢/gallon for 90 days, then save 7¢/ gallon at CIRCLE K & HOLIDAY STATIONSTORES.

Save 7¢ on every gallon of fuel at KWIK TRIP, plus 10% off most instore purchases.

2. Special Member Rates on Education

Get 2 months and a customized implementation free when you sign up for GREENIUS.

Free initial legal consultation plus a 15% discount on all legal fees from ZLIMEN & MCGUINESS, PLLC.

Bulk volume discounts on GARDEN CENTER TRAYS with Liberty Carton.

Save on the CAREERS JOB BOARD on MNLA.biz.

Members receive discounts on registration for Northern Green and many other educational programs. Plus our library of free online education and our partnership with Greenius helps you save money while training your crews.

3. Bottom Line Advocacy Results

MNLA has a long history of green industry advocacy, and has been instrumental in enacting beneficial legislation over the years. Your membership dues help pay for our government affairs program, and without MNLA advocacy...

• You’d be getting double-taxed on the purchase and sale of fertilizers and herbicides.

• Family nurseries in Minnesota would collectively owe over $800,000 more each year in property taxes.

• Minnesota’s nurseries would lose over $500,000 every year in other taxes.

• Minnesota’s garden centers would have lost millions of dollars when Japanese beetle hit hard in 2011.

• The spring of 2020 would have been a financial crisis for the green industry. When ill-advised Covid-19 policy threatened your business, MNLA made sure policymakers knew you were essential and needed the freedom to operate at such a critical time.

Together, MNLA members grow government affairs results. Join us and help build a large united front for lawmakers.

4. Insights from Peers

Sometimes your best resource is a colleague who has gone before you. Many members have stories of finding “just-intime” answers to nagging questions, and saving thousands of dollars as a result. Don’t miss out on your next epiphany!

MNLA Membership Bottom Line Impact

Savings on one Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler vehicle $2,300

Savings of 7¢/gallon on 5,000 gallons of fuel $350

Free 2 months of Greenius with customized implementation

$797

Free initial legal consultation with Zlimen & McGuiness, plus a 15% discount on all legal fees $3225

Member rate savings on Education Events ($30 x 2 events) $60

Member rate savings on Northern Green registrations ($20 x 3 tickets) $60

Benefits gained and protected over MNLA’s history of green industry advocacy

$3,300

TOTAL $7,192

www.MNLA.biz/value

MNLA’s mission is to help YOU operate your business more successfully. We hope membership in the association helps you connect more, know more, and save more.

DIVERSIFYING THE TREE PALETTE

Emily

IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE,

natives and clonal selections.

When he began working in urban forestry more than 20 years ago, Scott Altenhoff and his team would refer to a list of trees known to be strong performers in different conditions.

“We would call them ‘bombproof’ because they could withstand tough urban soils, drought stress, hot, bright conditions in full sun and such,” said Altenhoff, manager of Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program. “We could usually always count on them to perform well.”

Over the last five to 10 years, many of those historically go-to trees have continued working in urban environments, but many have shown signs of struggling due to the effects of climate change.

“Red maples used to be considered bombproof — they were trees that did well no matter where they were placed — but we’re seeing them suffer from drought stress and

heat,” Altenhoff said. “So, we recognize we need to be flexible and expand and have more diverse palettes. We need to shift and adapt the choices and align them with what we know are likely to be harsher environmental conditions.”

Some of these conditions include extended drought, weather extremes, smaller growing spaces, diseases and pathogens. A warming climate could mean invasive pests such as the emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly would be able to have a wider geographic range for longer seasons. If an oak borer got a foothold in Oregon, it could potentially decimate the state’s oak population, according to Altenhoff.

“Right now, we have a lot of choices of cultivars and trees and species to select from, but the trees the major nurseries are growing tend to be clonal,” Altenhoff said. “The genetic diversity is just not there, so if a pest or pathogen were to appear on the scene that liked red maples, that could really take its toll.

Diversity rules

Nancy Buley, director of communications for J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. (JFS) in Boring, Oregon, said the best way to tackle this

challenge is by making sure palettes include a diverse set of adaptable trees, and genetic diversity within those tree species.

JFS grows trees for wholesale growers, garden centers and landscape construction firms across the U.S. and Canada. Buley, who has worked there since 1994, said the goal is to grow trees that will thrive now and survive for the next 50–100 years in urban environments.

“The climate is becoming much warmer. We’re already seeing tremendous temperature extremes, both hot and cold, as the climate warms,” Buley said. “It’s challenging to select and grow trees for such an unpredictable climate pattern.”

In the last 30 years, Buley has seen a trend of customers in cities selecting native trees. “People want native trees for a lot of good reasons, but the problem with native trees is that cities are not native habitats — they’re urban heat islands and come with all sorts of challenges,” Buley said.

So about four decades ago, a plant breeder at JFS, Keith Warren, set out to select high performers out of native plant seedlings that would have a better chance at city living. Out of the millions of seedlings the company

growers have become more conscientious about offering a mix of

“RED MAPLES USED TO BE CONSIDERED BOMBPROOF — THEY WERE TREES THAT DID WELL NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE PLACED — BUT WE’RE SEEING THEM SUFFER FROM DROUGHT STRESS AND HEAT.”

Soreno®

STUNNINGLY CONTEMPORARY

FLAMED TEXTURE

No modern pool deck project is complete without a smooth and sophisticated paver surface, and Soreno offers just that and more. Its flamed-like texture, created using fine-grained, natural stone grit, provides a surefooted surface grip, while the EasyClean factory-sealed coating ensures integral stain resistance, making cleaning up spills a breeze.

The pavers are also manufactured with EnduraColor, making them durable and highly colorfast, allowing them to retain their original look for years after installation. Scan QR code for more information.

Light Grey

Toscana Beige

grows each year, Warren selected some to test for suitability for growing and adapting to urban conditions. Over 10 to 15 years, he observed how they performed to find ones that particularly stood out for being resistant to heat, mildew or other conditions.

Out of the bur oaks tested, one that stood out was named the Urban Pinnacle® oak (Quercus macrocarpa ‘JFS-KW3’ PP22815), and out of the swamp white oaks, the American Dream® oak (Q. bicolor ‘JFS-KW12’ PP23632) performed the best. Over the next 15 to 25 years, JFS produced new cultivars from cutting or grafting those high-performing selections.

Buley noted another cultivar, Redpointe® red maple (Acer rubrum ‘Frank Jr. PP16769’), that has a broad range where it could perform better in both hot and cold climates.

“Redpointe handles heat and drought better than most red maples but also does better in cold climates,” Buley said, adding it does well in Chicago and New Mexico alike. “It also handles higher pH levels. Most red maples perform best in more acidic soil, but this one is also adaptable to higher pH soils.”

Another is a flowering cherry called Pink Flair® (Prunus sargentii ‘JFS-KW58’) that is adaptable from North Dakota to California, South Carolina to New England.

Some of the company’s customers are experimenting with planting warm-climate trees further north, but Buley said the problem with that is the potential for cold snaps that can kill trees that would otherwise do well the rest of the year.

“Planning a diverse palette of genus and species is really important,” Buley said. “I don’t agree with people who advocate for only native trees. We need to introduce trees that can handle our changing climate and native trees that are adaptable.”

Maria Zampini, owner of UpShoot Horticultural Marketing in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, helps spread the word about trees that do especially well in urban conditions. In her role as Tree Program Manager of the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Trees branded plant line tree by Spring Meadow Nursery, Zampini helps bring to market the species that are known for their beauty, disease resistance, retail appeal, multi-season interest and ability to fit in a landscape. “It’s my job to source genetics and work with growers,” she said.

Zampini started her career working at her family’s wholesale nursery, and she said she’s noticed a shift in focus on climate change over the years. “When I started in the industry we talked about hardiness zones, but now

it’s also about the heat tolerance zone. Asking about drought and heat tolerance has become a natural part of that conversation, not an afterthought,” she said.

Growers look for many things in a tree, including disease and pest resistance, and the ability to fit in smaller spaces, but the durability to handle the effects of climate change has also become a core factor.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity to connect with urban foresters,” Zampini said. “We can sell what’s fast and easy, but we need to look for what’s going to survive and thrive in the long term.”

From what she’s seen, customers from homeowners to cities and businesses are more conscientious about climate change and thinking about diversity in their landscapes. “There are some growers who want to carry the tried and true because that’s what their customers will ask for and what sells, but I think there are people who make it their differentiation strategy by having that diverse palette to offer,” Zampini said.

Regionality is also important to consider. “A lot of nurseries, especially in the Oregon area, are not just growing and selling for the Pacific Northwest, they’re shipping all across the country, so they need to know what those clients are asking for. ‘Are there regional

“I DON’T AGREE WITH PEOPLE WHO ADVOCATE FOR ONLY NATIVE TREES. WE NEED TO INTRODUCE TREES THAT CAN HANDLE OUR CHANGING CLIMATE AND NATIVE TREES THAT ARE ADAPTABLE.”

things I as a grower need to be offering that work for those areas?’”

Alan Heinrich, vice president of horticulture at Everde Growers, said his company grows a diverse palette across multiple states. He said carbon sequestration is important for customers to consider when choosing trees for their landscapes because it can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

“Of all the plants, trees are likely the ones that sequester the most carbon,” Heinrich said, adding that oaks in particular are some of the best at sequestration due to their broad canopy, dense wood and long lifespans. “There are all kinds of benefits to trees: they’re a great place for wildlife, helpful for erosion control, and one thing you don’t hear a lot about are trees sequestering carbon.”

Heinrich also noted it’s important that cities continue to plant trees in parking lots and road medians to decrease the heat going back up into the air.

Bailey Nurseries of St. Paul, Minnesota, breeds and grows trees in Minnesota, Illinois, Oregon and Washington. James Kuon, sales manager at Bailey Nurseries, has been seeing a slow, subtle shift of warmer zone trees moving north.

“Crepe myrtle [Lagerstroemia spp.], for

example, has seen a slow, somewhat steady creep north over five to ten years,” Kuon said. “This would occur naturally as trees experience a change in their environment, so we’re trying to monitor that. When you work closely with the environment you see these changes more acutely than someone who is not in agriculture or horticulture.”

Kuon said his company works closely with sales representatives across the country and Canada to monitor what the market is requesting, so Bailey Nurseries can adjust accordingly. The company sells across the market from retailers and growers to landscape contractors, municipalities and botanical gardens. “We see customers asking for native species and trying to diversify their plant palette,” he said.

Collaboration is key

Taking an interdisciplinary approach will be fundamental for the future of urban forestry, according to Altenhoff of the Oregon Department of Forestry.

“Those in state government like me or at the city level need to be talking with growers and landscape architects and civil engineers, the people spacing out trees in urban areas,” Altenhoff said. “We also need to do a better

job of reaching out to nontraditional partners. Real estate brokers and agents could play a major role in educating people about the value of trees and building resilience.”

Altenhoff added there needs to be more education and engagement with stakeholders who have not traditionally been part of the conversation, including architects, transportation planners and urban planners.

“Right now, there’s a major opportunity,” Altenhoff said, referring to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which set aside $1.5 billion for tree planting. “We’re scrambling to put that [money] to the highest use and set up a network of growers and contractors and people in my position for how to make this work for everyone and build the capacity.”

Altenhoff said challenges include the loss of trees due to forest fires as well as supply chain and labor force issues within nurseries. “We need more trees, and trees that can withstand the stressors we’re seeing,” Altenhoff said. “We need to keep communicating and working together as a total industry.”

➽ EMILY LINDBLOM is an Oregon-based freelance journalist covering business, environmental and agricultural news. Visit her website at emilylindblom.com or reach her at emily@emilylindblom.com.

“CREPE

MYRTLE [LAGERSTROEMIA SPP.], FOR EXAMPLE, HAS SEEN A SLOW, SOMEWHAT STEADY CREEP NORTH OVER FIVE TO TEN YEARS…”

GREEN INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE SESSION TOPICS

1. Knowing Your Own Strengths

Leadership begins with you on a personal level, understanding how you can make the most of your own talents and attributes. This session explains how to read your two assessments: Strengths Finder 2.0, and iDISC. Discover individual strengths, your particular style or traits, appreciate the differing strengths of others on the team, and learn how to work with what individuals can contribute to create high-performing teams. Participants will also complete a project management worksheet that identifies, in detail, their project intentions.

2. Staying on Top of the Work

What works best for you when managing time in the environment you must work within? How do you capture all that needs to be done, and how do you prioritize? How important is it to stick to a plan or review a schedule? Let’s dig into various time management concepts and systems so that you can personally identify areas for improved efficiencies. Participants will also speak in front of the class by presenting their project scope.

3. Authentic Selling

Most people do not realize how important selling becomes in their daily lives. Authentic selling centers on the awareness and confidence you hold in your personal selling style. This session offers insights and tips in communicating effectively based on selling styles, listening levels, and convincing; all of which become the foundation for building your selling-culture.

4. Understanding Our WHY

The foundation for great customer service comes from our WHY. Do you know yours? Customer service is one of the most used and abused phrases in business. You and your competitors all proclaim to have great customer service, but can you prove it? This session will discuss the impact we can have in serving our customers because of our WHY.

5. Problem Solving and Decision Making on the Job

Decision making…do you really know and understand how you make decisions? Do you realize what happens when an issue comes up and you are in the lead and supposed to take care of it? Do you problem solve in an effective and efficient manner? In this session we will discuss decision-making styles, review a simple method that any leader can use with their teams to problem solve, and practice using the tool on green industry specific problems.

6. Managing Conflict

Every one of us leads a life filled with conflict. It is everywhere and part of our lives – whether we like it or not. If handled poorly, conflict can have destructive consequences. When conflict suddenly flares up, we don’t have time to read a book. Even so, we can still respond effectively by knowing ourselves better. We will

challenge ourselves to deal with conflict from different perspectives after discussing concepts, tools, and skills needed when leading others.

7. How We Impact the Bottom Line

Understanding what makes a business tick financially is required of every business leader. Even though you may not be in charge of the profit and loss statements, it is imperative to be aware of how you and your direct reports affect the bottom line. Make yourself an invaluable asset by learning to understand the basics of cash... as they say, “Cash is King.”

8. Creating Accountability

If you’re directing people, you must have a basic understanding of how your reports, crews, or team members view what they are accountable for. As leaders, we are responsible for establishing an environment where accountability thrives. This session will address strategies for working with others: setting expectations, effective performance reviews, training tips, and watching out for people issues before they become disruptive. In addition, we will begin to discuss mentorship and how you can use it to improve yourself.

9. Managing Change with Resilience

Today’s competitive business environment requires new ways of thinking and innovative ways of working. The required skillsets and mindset for change leadership include resiliency, adaptability, and emotional intelligence/self-management. Managing change incorporates practical day-to-day performance management practices geared toward helping employees thrive in a fast-moving workplace. In this session you will pick up insights, tips and strategies that will help you manage a change process.

10. True Leadership

What goes around, comes around...as our final session, we will circle back to focus on leadership. By this time, we are ready to define “true leadership” including the most important traits, components, and perceptions of what a Green Industry leader embodies in the workplace today. This session becomes a culmination of almost a year of project work, personal development, team building, and self-assessments with the participants presenting for a good portion of the session. Sponsors and managers are invited to sit in on this session and will be asked to offer up observations and advice to the graduates.

GILI is a unique leadership program custom-designed with a green industry focus. The course meets 10 times during the year, covering topics chosen based on feedback from the MNLA community. It incorporates highly interactive exercises, discussions, lecture-style learning, and project-based activities and sessions.

The precision engineered, ruggedly designed Kubota machines. Built upon a single-minded truth understood by operators on jobsites all over the world. Reliability comes in just one color

MAKE A BOULDER STATEMENT

Boulders make a fantastic visual statement and serve a variety of great landscaping functions. Their aesthetic appeal and incredible durability make this natural

stone a trendy option for homeowners and landscape architects. Best of all, they require very little maintenance. Here are some important applications for the use of boulders.

Retaining Walls

Boulders are a popular option for retaining walls for a few main reasons. One important reason is the longevity of the product. You can rest assured that a boulder wall will remain in place for generations to come. They are incredibly strong building materials that are resistant to degradation over time. The other main reason is that they provide a gorgeous natural look to your property. Each boulder is unique in its look and shape. Boulder retaining walls have a classic feel, as if your feature was stumbled upon during a nature hike.

Outcroppings

Outcroppings are large, rugged boulders that are flatter and more compatible for stacking. For that reason, outcroppings are a fantastic option for stone steps, pathways, water features, as well as retaining wall applications. It’s a great marriage between the pleasing natural look of stone and the

functionality of the cleaner lines and surfaces that make for easier landscape design and building. Outcroppings can also be standalone rocks or groups of rocks that are staged in the middle of lawns surrounded by mulch, decorate rock or sand. Their placement in landscape designs can mimic what you might see out in the wild, near rivers caves and cliffs.

Shoreline Restoration

Boulders are a fantastic and versatile option for shoreline applications. Maintaining a healthy shoreline can be stressful as considerations have to be made for erosion and water runoff to ensure healthy water systems. Boulders are a great option because they are a natural product and can withstand harsh conditions like ice heaving, heavy rain, and pounding waves. They also typically meet codes and regulations surrounding lakes and waterfronts. The other fantastic thing about using boulders for shorelines restoration is how aesthetically pleasing they are!

Monument Stones

Boulders make an attention-grabbing statement when used for applications of providing signage or information. Whether it be welcoming you into a neighborhood development or telling you the par and yardage at every hole of your favorite golf course, monument stones provide a regal and classy tone. If you want an element that conveys timelessness and dependability, the monument stone is a fantastic option.

Minnesota is rich with great boulder options such as Fieldstone, Limestone, Granite, MN Gneiss and Dresser Trap to make sure you have the variety you need for your projects. C5 Stone out of Elk River is an area leader in the sourcing of these products and has

relationships with some of the most product rich quarries in the state, in addition to working with rural farms to remove and utilize their Fieldstone. The ability to be able to specifically obtain sizes to fit your particular needs is important because you don’t end up with loads that are partially unusable because they don’t fit your application.

Another thing to be considered when using boulders is to make sure they can be delivered with high quality equipment like a clam track. With their claw like mechanism, clam trucks can deliver boulders in tighter spots than dump trucks and are also able to limit the amount of debris that comes in the delivery load. Even more important is that there can be significantly less damage to your property with clam delivery. Locally, C5 Stone has multiple clam trucks and skilled operators that ensure quality delivery!

Boulders are an excellent way to design a truly customized outdoor space. From eye-catching color and texture to added dimension and functionality—there's no limit to what you can achieve!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the content of this advertorial, feel free to reach out to Derek Chicos at 507-461-0235 or visit www.c5stone.com.

BY TIM JOHNSON, LIVIT SITE + STRUCTURE

Excellence in Planting Project Profile

Minnesota’s Tree Care Companies

Remember to renew or apply for your MDA Tree Care Registry certification. Minnesota law requires companies and persons conducting tree care activities to be registered with the MDA commissioner. All public, private, and governmental entities

This year’s winner of the Excellence in Planting Design Award is the project “Modern Delight” by Tim Johnson of LIVIT Site + Structure. This special designation was created by the Landscape Awards Task Team to promote projects that showcase outstanding planting design. The goal is to encourage landscape designers to feature plants in their plans while incorporating artistry, proper horticultural practices, and appropriate installation in their projects. This award is chosen in the same way as the Judges’ Choice Award. At the end of reviewing all projects, judges submit their top picks for both the Excellence in Planting Design Award and the Judges’ Choice Award.

Project Description

This couple had lived in their home for several years before we tackled their back yard. They are hugely into entertaining and their place is known as party central. Whether its stargazing for two, or a bustling event for their entire neighborhood they have space galore for gathering.

Patio

• Our clients wanted a modern concrete option for their patio.

• Our concrete is colored with a light broomed finish to the surface and custom tool cuts.

• Our patio addition kept hardcover below the allowed 25% property percentage.

Deck

• We knew the soils for this site were not good.

• A key detail we wanted to plan for was using helical piers for our footings.

• We planned for 20 total helical piers.

that provide tree care or tree trimming services and/or who remove trees, limbs, branches, brush, or shrubs for hire must apply. For more information visit mda. state.mn.us/tree-careregistry.

Euonymus alatus and All Named Cultivars Became Restricted

Noxious Weeds on January 1, 2023

Just a reminder that the 3-year phase-out period for winged euonymus/burning bush expired on December 31, 2022, and the species and all named cultivars

Four of the 20 were 14' deep and the rest were installed to a 12' depth. Our torque ratings for the piers were from 1K–6K.

• Our planning started with working with four doors that would exit onto the new deck. Each of the doors had a slight elevation difference, so we decided to step the deck down into multi levels.

• The stepped-down elevation of the dining deck helped with placing the dining table at a good elevation with the existing seethrough fireplace.

• By stepping the deck gradually, we also were able to keep the main dining deck open with no railings, meeting code requirements.

• We planned for the overall space to step down to the 5' + drop from the main doors to the backyard.

• Creating a bar space by taking advantage of the stepped deck area also helped create a wall to hide the grills from inside the home.

became Restricted Noxious Weeds on January 1, 2023 and may no longer be produced, transported, or sold in Minnesota. A risk assessment for winged euonymus/ burning bush was completed in 2019 and the species was listed as a Specially

Regulated Plant in 2020 to allow for the 3-year phase-out (2020–2022) for this popular landscape plant to give growers time to sell plants that were already in production. The listing of winged euonymus/ burning bush was supported by the MNLA. Interestingly,

Photos and plan courtesy of: Livit Site + Structure

• Our planning created many separate outdoor spaces.

• After our piers were in place and prior to deck framing, we brought in soils to create the new grade to manage water away from the home including rock below the deck.

Lighting

• Our lighting program is set to run from dusk to dawn.

• Step lighting was used for the different step areas at the top area near the home throughout the stairs to the lower patio.

Planting

• Our clients wanted to have a more modern landscape. Plantings include the following:

• Trees – Dakota Pinnacle® Birch and Clump Serviceberry Trees.

• Shrubs – Chicagoland Green® Boxwood and Little Quick Fire® Hydrangea.

• Perennials – ‘Karl Foerster’ Grasses and ‘Autumn Fire’ Sedum.

• 3⁄4" Gray Trap rock was used for under the deck and the landscape beds.

Irrigation

• The current irrigation system was removed in the building area and re-designed to fit the new outdoor space.

• Turf irrigation is now watered around the new space with smaller zones.

there have recently been several stories about winged euonymus/burning bush being listed as a noxious weed on KARE 11 News and others outlets. This is the first time a noxious weed listing has gotten this kind of media attention.

Who Needs a Nursery Stock Dealer License?

Minnesota landscape operations that install nursery stock are required to have a valid nursery stock dealer certification with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). This includes landscapers purchasing nursery

stock as needed for installation and tree spade operators purchasing and selling trees. Nursery wholesalers are responsible to assure persons purchasing stock for resale or installation have a valid nursery certificate. It is a violation to sell

• Drip irrigation was planned and built for each custom planter. Separate drip zones were added for the landscape planting beds.

Water Management

• New custom gutters were added to the U-shaped area of the home.

• Working with a local fabricator, we designed a custom gutter that would fit on the fascia and matched the paint color to the home.

• Our new gutters were directed away from the home and deck footings, and into our rock beds.

• By adding these gutters, our new decking will not have water lines from the dripping water at the roof edge.

Maintenance

• Our clients, avid gardeners, still ask for our help monthly to address their new landscape and planters.

Challenges

• Access to the backyard was very difficult. One side dropped off while the other side had a steep slope.

• We worked out a plan to use the back neighboring driveway to access our backyard. This allowed us to bring our decking materials to the backyard with equipment.

Now, these social butterflies have only to migrate to their backyard to fulfill their need to mingle. This backyard oasis can host it all!

nursery stock to an uncertified nursery stock dealer. To apply for a nursery stock dealer certificate, go to: mda.state.mn.us/ plants-insects/ nursery-certificationplant-regulation.

New Members: MidPoint Equipment Finance

3 GOOD REASONS TO RENEW MNLA MEMBERSHIP

1. Effective advocacy for your chosen industry

MNLA’s hundreds of member-businesses combine their unique voices to speak loudly in legislative and regulatory affairs. When ill-advised Covid-19 policy threatened your business in the spring of 2020, MNLA made sure policymakers knew you were essential. Your continued membership builds capacity for MNLA to remain deeply involved at various levels of government, representing your interests, and advocating for the green industry. Your renewal helps MNLA prepare for the next time your business is threatened by ill-advised policy.

2. Up-to-date industry news, issues, and trends

Regular electronic newsletters and the monthly magazine, The Scoop, (available in print and online) provides you with the latest industry trends to give you an edge in a competitive market.

3. Vetted industry partnerships

Multiple organizations offer members discounts. Save money training your team with Greenius; save thousands on a new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep vehicle; save on fuel and more from Holiday/Circle K and Kwik Trip, save on legal services through Zlimen & McGuiness; save on garden center pop-up trays; and more. It all adds up!

known as party central. Originally thinking they would put in an in-ground pool, they switched their vision to one that made their backyard THE place to be whether its stargazing for two, or a bustling event for their entire neighborhood — they had space galore for gathering.

Our clients wanted a modern concrete patio. This also helped with the specific budget. Our concrete is colored with a darker modern look. The concrete has a light broomed finish to the surface with custom tool cuts for the separating joints. Our patio addition was designed to allow for comfortable lounge and fire living. This was also carefully planned to keep the hardcover below the allowed 25% property percentage.

We knew that the soils for this site were not good. A key detail we wanted to plan for was using helical piers for our footings. This would guarantee we meet quality for our footings. We planned for 20 total helical piers. Four of the 20 were 14ꞌ deep and the rest were installed to a 12ꞌ depth. Our torque ratings for the piers were from 1K-6K.

Back yard space, after.

By stepping the deck gradually, we kept the main dining deck open with railing free. By planning this height below 30” we were able to meet code requirements. Creating a bar space by taking advantage of the stepped deck area also helped create a wall to hide the grills from inside the home. Adding shiplap painted to match the home and granite made this space fit seamlessly in the new area.

We started working with four doors that exited onto the deck. Each of the doors had a slight elevation difference. We found a way to make this work, so we decided to step the deck down into multi levels. The stepped-down elevation of the dining deck helped with placing the dining table at a good elevation with the fireplace. This is a see-through fireplace from the main floor living room.

Our plan created many mini outdoor spaces. These smaller spaces allow guests from the one side of the home to have their own private areas. A black cable railing was used to tie in with the paint color of the home and also keep the modern theme. We selected a contrasting decking color to the home and new railing. This selection breaks up the darker colors.

Backyard during footing/deck work.

Back deck area, after.

Backyard, after.

Our lighting program is set to run from dusk to dawn. Our lighting fixtures were picked to time out with other finishes. We selected a modern path light that ties in with the clients’ front fixtures on their home. Step lighting was used for the different step areas at the top area near the home throughout the stairs to the lower patio.

This property is a larger piece of property in the western suburbs. Our clients wanted to have a more modern landscape to fit their modern home design. Plantings include the following: Trees – Dakota Pinnacle® Birch and Clump Serviceberry Trees. Shrubs – Chicagoland Green® Boxwood and Little Quick Fire® Hydrangea. Perennials – ꞌKarl Foersterꞌ Grasses and ꞌAutumn Fireꞌ Sedum. 3/4" Gray Trap rock was used for under the deck and the landscape beds.

The current irrigation system was removed in the building area and re-designed to fit the new outdoor space. Turf irrigation is now watered around the new space with smaller zones. Drip irrigation was planned and built for each custom planter. Separate drip zones were added for the landscape planting beds.

Custom gutters were added to the U-shaped area of the home. Working with a local fabricator, we designed a gutter that would fit on the fascia and matched the color to the home. Our gutters were directed away from the home and deck footings, directing it into our rock beds. By adding these gutters, our new decking will not have water lines from the dripping water at the roof edge.

Backyard, after.

Backyard, after.

Judge’s Comments

• The planting design is minimal yet effective in defining space, creating interest for site users, both humans and critters.

• Your first “after” picture? WOW! The space visually comes together beautifully!

• Elevations with the deck and planting areas combine together gracefully and add exciting movement to a previously boring site. Great craftsmanship on the deck and railings. Overall appearance is fantastic!

• The repetition of colors, hardscapes, and plant materials helps this landscape unify. There are many great sub-spaces that are independent, yet remain connected to the whole.

• This is an award winner because it looks like it was designed with the house instead of as a retrofit. There were many small things with big impact: the height of the deck (below 30”) to avoid a railing, the railing that creates a “half-wall” by the seating area, the step lighting, the cement color, hiding the grills from the house behind a wall painted the same as the house.

• The hardscaping elements are in scale with the rest of the site. The construction of these elements, especially the deck foundations will significantly extend the life of the

➽

ELEVATIONS WITH THE DECK AND PLANTING AREAS COMBINE TOGETHER GRACEFULLY AND ADD EXCITING MOVEMENT TO A PREVIOUSLY BORING SITE.

GREAT CRAFTSMANSHIP ON THE DECK AND RAILINGS. OVERALL APPEARANCE IS FANTASTIC!

SPECIAL THANKS TO the 2023 Landscape Awards Program Sponsors: Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes and Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply.

deck structure.

Some of the many plants and materials we brought to the site.

While our clients love to garden with their planters, they still ask for our help monthly to address their new landscape and planters.

Backyard steps, after.

Access to the backyard was very difficult with side yard grades. One side dropped off while the other side had a steep slope. With our client’s help, we worked out a plan to use the back neighboring driveway to access our backyard. This allowed us to bring our materials to the backyard with equipment via an entry point between trees that would be removed due to health reasons.

MNLA REGULATORY UPDATE

WATONWAN, CLAY, AND FARIBAULT COUNTIES QUARANTINED FOR EMERALD ASH BORER

James Calkins

MNLA Regulatory Affairs Manager

Put Our Green

Insurance Expertise to Work for Your

Insurance for lawn, landscape and irrigation companies is a unique niche that requires specialized skill and expertise.

With decades of insurance experience, CBIZ can assist with assessing, managing and protecting your business’ assets and liability exposures — all while delivering the best value for your insurance dollar.

Our dedicated team provides proactive services and “loss control” extras to decrease your premiums, increase safety and more:

■ Review Subcontractor Agreements & Risk Transfer Mechanisms

■ Payroll-Based Work Comp Plans, Virtually Eliminating Surprise Audits

■ AWAIR/Safety Programs

■ Toolbox Talks

■ OSHA Compliance Programs

As a part of CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ), we are one of the largest publicly owned Property and Casualty insurance brokers in the country. Additionally, we are a Top 30 Broker of U.S. Business.*

*as ranked by Business Insurance magazine – July 2022

THREE NEW MINNESOTA COUNTIES were quarantined so far this year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for confirmed findings of emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis).

EAB was first detected in Minnesota in 2009 and has now been documented in 40 of Minnesota’s 87 counties.

• On January 6, 2023, the MDA confirmed EAB in Watonwan County, located in southwestern Minnesota just southwest of where the Minnesota River turns north toward the Twin Cities, and an emergency quarantine was enacted for the entire county. The infestation was found by a University of Minnesota Extension employee who suspected a group of trees in the town of Butterfield was infested with EAB and reported the find to the MDA. MDA staff were able to collect samples of what appeared to be EAB larvae, and the tentative identification made by the MDA was subsequently confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The neighboring counties to the north (Brown County), east (Blue Earth County), south (Martin County), and west (Cottonwood County) have previously been quarantined for EAB. EAB has not yet been found in neighboring Jackson County to the southwest which shares a corner boundary with Watonwan County.

The Watonwan County infestation was the first find of EAB this year in a Minnesota county where EAB had not been previously found, and the eighth county to be quarantined in the past 13 months. The MDA hosted a virtual informational meeting for the public on January 18,

2023 and held an open comment on the quarantine for the public and nursery and landscape professionals through February 17, 2023. The quarantine became effective February 21, 2023. The MDA news release announcing the EAB find in Watonwan County is available at Emerald Ash Borer Found in Watonwan County | Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the language of the Watonwan County emergency quarantine can be accessed at Watonwan Emergency Quarantine EAB.docx_.pdf

• On March 2, 2023, the MDA confirmed the presence of EAB in Clay County, on the western Minnesota border. A Moorhead city forester found evidence of EAB while pruning trees. The tree had visible woodpecker damage and when the bark was peeled back galleries and insect larvae were present. MDA staff collected the suspected EAB larvae samples and Federal identification confirmed emerald ash borer.

A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals was held on March 16, 2023, and the public had an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add Clay County’s emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine through April 14, 2023. The quarantine was adopted on April 17, 2023.

• On March 22, 2023, the MDA confirmed that EAB has been found in Faribault County in southcentral Minnesota along the Iowa border. This third find was discovered by an MDA employee at a rest area along westbound I-90 near the city of Blue Earth while conducting a visual survey for EAB. Larvae were collected and the tentative identification made by the MDA was subsequently confirmed by the USDA’s APHIS. The neighboring counties to the north (Blue Earth County and Waseca County), and east (Freeborn

County), and the neighboring counties across the border in Iowa to the south (Kossuth County and Winnebago County) have previously been quarantined for EAB.

• The MDA hosted a virtual informational meeting for the public on April 13, 2023 and the public and nursery and landscape professionals had an opportunity to comment through May 5, 2023. The formal quarantine will become effective May 8, 2023. The MDA news release announcing the EAB find in Faribault County is available at Emerald Ash Borer Found in Faribault County | Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the language of the emergency quarantine for Faribault County is available at Faribault County Emergency Quarantine EAB.docx_.pdf.

As mentioned previously, adding these counties to the formal Minnesota EAB quarantine is being proposed to help slow the spread of this devastating insect that threatens the approximately one billion black, green, and white ash trees (Fraxinus nigra, pennsylvanica, and americana, respectively) growing in Minnesota’s woodlands and designed landscapes (roughly one of every five trees or 20 percent of all the trees growing in the state). As unfortunate as the continuing spread of EAB in Minnesota is, it is important to remember that the majority of Minnesota, including the majority of the area in most of the counties that have been quarantined for EAB, is not yet infested and efforts to prevent the spread of EAB in Minnesota remain valid and worthwhile including protective treatments for healthy trees which have proven to be very effective.

The state quarantine regulates the movement of all life stages of the emerald ash borer insect and the intra- and interstate movement of ash wood and wood products from quarantined areas including all hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock, and green lumber, wood waste, compost, and woodchips derived from

ash species (Fraxinus spp.). It is critical that these quarantine restrictions be followed if the continued, human-mediated, spread of EAB to new locations is to be prevented.

Neighboring States

New emerald ash borer infestations have also been found in several counties in Wisconsin where EAB had not previously been detected, including finds in five new counties since March of last year (2022) – Bayfield and Lincoln County in March, Ashland and Forest County in April, and Menominee County in August. EAB was first detected in Wisconsin in 2008 and has now been detected in 66 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The six counties where EAB has not yet been reported in Wisconsin are all in the norther part of the state and include Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn County. The new finds in Wisconsin have not resulted in any federal

or state regulatory changes since EAB was deregulated at the federal level on January 14, 2021, and Wisconsin instituted a statewide quarantine in 2018. A map of EAB detections in Wisconsin is available at EABDetectionsWisconsin.pdf and additional information about EAB in Wisconsin is available on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) website at DATCP Home Emerald Ash Borer.

EAB also continues to spread in Iowa (now documented in all but seven of Iowa’s 99 counties and a statewide quarantine is in place; EAB was first detected in Iowa in 2010) and in South Dakota (only detected in the Sioux Falls and Canton areas at this time – Lincoln County, Minnehaha County, and Turner County; EAB was first detected in South Dakota in 2018). EAB has not yet been detected in North Dakota. Additional information about EAB in Iowa, North Dakota, and

South Dakota is available at IowaTreePests. com | Emerald Ash Borer Information for Iowa, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) | North Dakota Department of Agriculture and Emerald Ash Borer in South Dakota, respectively.

Detection and Spread

Although EAB-infested ash trees can be identified at any time during the year, fall, winter, and early spring are often the best times to be on the lookout for signs of EAB. EAB infestations are most often detected as a result of the damage to ash trees caused by woodpeckers searching for EAB larvae under the bark of infested trees, and that tends to be easier to see when leaves are not present — bark flecking (also called “blonding”) and deeper pecking holes where EAB larvae have been extracted. Although more difficult to see in the upper crown when leaves are present, woodpecker damage is still detectable on the

Figure 1. Emerald ash borer (EAB) infested areas (circled in green) and quarantined areas (pink) in Minnesota as of March 26, 2023.

Figure 2. The emerald ash borer (EAB) flight season begins on May 1 and D-shaped exist holes created by emerging EAB adults can be found on infested ash trees.

James Calkins

ALTHOUGH EAB-INFESTED ASH TREES CAN BE IDENTIFIED AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR, FALL, WINTER, AND EARLY SPRING ARE OFTEN THE BEST TIMES TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SIGNS OF EAB.

lower branches and trunks of EAB-infested trees once the trees have leafed-out. This has been especially widespread and obvious in infested areas this year as are the numbers of dead and dying trees in infested areas.

Additional signs of an EAB infestation are: canopy thinning and dieback, typically beginning in the upper crown of the tree and moving downward, and often preceded by the yellowing, death, and abscission of leaves on dying branches; heavy seed production on female trees; D-shaped exit holes produced by emerging adults on larger branches and trunks of infested trees; bark splitting caused by the tunneling of EAB larvae that may expose the distinctive, S-shaped larval tunnels (galleries) under the bark; and the development of epicormic shoots on the trunk and in the lower crown (growth produced when

dormant buds under the bark are triggered to grow in response to stress).

A video developed by University of Minnesota Extension entitled How to Look for Emerald Ash Borer Now may also help property owners assess whether their ash trees are infested with emerald ash borer and learn how to protect and manage existing ash trees in their landscapes that are threatened by this devastating pest. The video can be accessed at NEW VIDEO: How to Look for Emerald Ash Borer Now and is a good University of Minnesota resource that arborists and garden center personnel can recommend to customers who are concerned about EAB and the health of their ash trees.

When an EAB infestation is suspected, homeowners are encouraged to contact a tree care professional or their city forester. In

addition, nursery and landscape professionals are also encouraged to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of EAB. Suspected infestations that are not within the quarantined areas of the state should be reported to the MDA using the Report a Pest reporting system at 1-888-545-6684 or Report a Plant, Pest, Disease Report a Pest | Minnesota Department of Agriculture. A map showing the EAB infested and quarantined areas in Minnesota is available at Emerald Ash Borer Status (arcgis.com).

Firewood Risk

Finally, it has been well-documented that the movement of infested ash firewood is a primary pathway for the spread of EAB (and other pests) to new areas. As a result, hardwood firewood may not be moved from quarantined

AUCTIONS

MAY 9TH – ONLINE ONLY

Tools & Business Equipment

Glencoe, Minnesota

MAY 9TH – ONLINE ONLY

Willems Farm Retirement Auction

Norwood Young America, Minnesota

MAY 18 – ONLINE ONLY

Kahnke’s Tree Farm

Inventory Reduction Auction

Plato, Minnesota

JUNE 1ST

Hoffman Construction Retirement Auction

New Ulm, Minnesota

JUNE 6TH

Upper Midwest Summer Construction Equip & Truck Public Auction

Glencoe, Minnesota

JULY 14TH

Upper Midwest Classic Car Auction

Glencoe, Minnesota

CONSIGN

FINALLY, IT HAS BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED THAT THE MOVEMENT OF INFESTED ASH FIREWOOD IS A PRIMARY PATHWAY FOR THE SPREAD OF EAB (AND OTHER PESTS) TO NEW AREAS.

As one of the fastest growing auctioneers in the country, Jeff Martin Auctioneers is idealy positioned to help businesses continue operating with the bottom line in mind. Our mission is to deliver practical auction solutions in a professional manner with a personal touch. Experience the difference at Jeff Martin Auctioneers.

EARLY AND IMPROVE YOUR EXPOSURE!

TOOLS FOR SUCCESS

The right tools for a job can mean the difference between fast, efficient work and costly mistakes. At SiteOne® , we stock the highest-quality natural stone and manufactured hardscape products, along with the tools and accessories needed to produce exceptional spaces. Plus, our knowledgeable hardscape experts can help guide you with advice on selecting and using the right products and tools you need for success.

Pro-Trade® Outdoor Lighting

Pro-Trade® Tools

USI Castle Grey

The one-stop-shop for ALL your landscaping needs

Contractors & Homeowners h aa g compa n ies6025@gmail.co m

KliersNurse r y.co m

• Firewood & Accessories

• County Retaining Walls

• Concrete Steppers

• Sod

• Topsoil

• Mulches

• Decorative Rock, Boulders, Natural Stone

• Garden Chemicals

• Mowers

• Trimmers

• Other Power Equipment

• Flowers & perennials

We Sell New, Used and Repair:

• Toro • Lawn Boy • Echo PICK UP OR SAME DAY DELIVERY SERVICE

5901 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls

P: (612) 866-8771

F: (612) 866-2156

Nicollet5901@yahoo.com

We accept:

M

• Fresh Sod cut daily

• Rock

• Black dir t

•

landscapeconcretecenter.com

• Keystone Retaining

Wall Systems

• Borger t Pavers

• Cement Block

• Decorative Rock

• Concrete Tools

• Landscaping Tools

• Natural Stone

• Jackson Wheelbarrows

• Stihl Power Equipment

• Wacker Power Equipment

• MK Diamond Products

• Stucco Products

• Boulder Creek Products

• London Stone

313 West 61st St., Mpls

P: (612) 866-0430

F: (612) 866-8642

landscapeandconcretecenter@yahoo.com

Jerrysgardenplace.com

Provides plants, Shrubs, Landscaping Hardware and Supplies, Yard Decor, Seeds, Garden Chemicals, Flowers & Perennials, Firewood & Accessories, Fresh Cut Sod Daily, Top Soil, Mulches, Decorative Rocks & Boulders. PICK

Jerrysgardeneagan@yahoo.com

EXTENSIVE LINE OF PRODUCTS FOR COLORED, STAMPED CONCRETE.

Serving the metro area for generations.

areas to non-quarantined areas unless it is certified by the MDA. Better yet, firewood should not be moved around the state or even within an infested county. In Minnesota, firewood may only be moved outside areas quarantined for EAB if it has been heat-treated to state standards and certified by the MDA under a compliance agreement. With the entire state of Wisconsin under quarantine, firewood can legally be moved freely between counties within the state, but the movement of firewood is still discouraged unless it has been properly treated. It is important to remember that, in addition to EAB, firewood can harbor a variety of damaging insect pests and diseases and movement of firewood can introduce these pests to areas that are not yet infested.

Given the importance of firewood as a potential pathway for spreading EAB to new areas, moving uncertified hardwood firewood out of EAB-quarantined areas is illegal and punishable by a fine up to a $7,500 per violation per day. Only firewood that has been certified by the MDA may be moved outside quarantined areas and must bear the MDA certificate on the label. Additional information about moving firewood in Minnesota is available at Firewood Information | Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Information about firewood restrictions is also available from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at Firewood information | Minnesota DNR. Information on moving firewood in Wisconsin is available at DATCP Home Moving Firewood in Wisconsin and from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at Firewood rules and resources.

Additional information about the discovery of EAB in Faribault County, as well as general information about the status of EAB in Minnesota and North America and EAB quarantines, is available through the following links: MDA Newsroom Article — Emerald Ash Borer Found in Faribault County; Emerald Ash Borer Found in Faribault County | Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Additional information about EAB in the United States and Canada can be found at EAB Network — Home (http://www.emeraldashborer.info/).

➽ IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS regarding this MNLA Regulatory Update or the status of EAB in Minnesota and neighboring states, or other places in North America, contact Jim Calkins, MNLA Regulatory Affairs Manager, at jim@mnla.biz; 612-258-7744.

MNLA.biz Career Center Job Board

Browse CAREERS in the menu, or go directly to MNLA.biz/careers.

E MPLOYE RS: Find Your Next Great Hire

• PLACE your job in front of our highly qualified members

• SEARCH our resume database of qualified candidates

• MANAGE jobs and applicant activity right on our site

• LIMIT applicants only to those who are qualified

• FILL your jobs more quickly with great talent

PROFESSIONALS:

Keep Your Career on the Move

• POST a resume or anonymous career profile that leads employers to you

• SEARCH and apply to hundreds of new jobs on the spot by using robust filters

• SET UP efficient job alerts to deliver the latest jobs right to your inbox

• ACCESS career resources, job searching tips and tools

WWW.MNLA.BIZ/CAREERS

Contractor Sales Yards

Metro Yards: Summer Hours

Mon - Fri: 7a to 5p & Sat: 8a to 12p

Your locally owned headquarters for landscaping supplies and materials!

• VERSA-LOK retaining wall systems

• Willow Creek pavers and kits

• Unilock pavers

• Rosetta hardscapes

• Porcelain landscape tiles

• Decorative rock, mulch, natural stone, steps, wallstone, flagstone and more

• Accessories, including lights, sealers, polymeric sand, edging and geogrid

• Easy in/out yards with knowledgeable staff and convenient hours

Felipe Illescas MNLA Government Affairs Director

End of Session – What Can I Do to Continue My Involvement?

This year we have had an extremely active legislative session. It was also the first time in a while that we did not have a split legislature, meaning having the House and Senate controlled by different parties. Having the legislature and the Governor’s Office under single party control most definitely came with its opportunities and challenges.

One thing that was very clear, however, was the impact that our PAC had on new and existing relationships. Most legislators endorsed by the Green Industry PAC came through for us when we called on them during key moments of this Session. Even though some were in the minority, they were always available to meet with us to provide their insights and guidance, as well as help us make new relationships and support our initiatives as co-authors of our bills. Being active during election cycles has the benefit of creating or cementing relationships at the legislature that can be very helpful when all seems lost. It also offers the opportunity to show our opposition for folks who work against our interests.

As the legislative session comes to an end, we are already thinking about the upcoming endorsing cycle in 2024. We have learned a great deal about who is really with us and who really isn’t. This is why I want to reiterate that just because this session is ending, your involvement in Government Affairs does not have to end with it. You can continue to be part of this effort through your involvement with the Government Affairs Committee and through our PAC, the Green Industry PAC. Our PAC endorsed a cohort of candidates in the 2022 cycle that

were elected into office. Out of our endorsements, there were only a couple that did not get elected or re-elected. This shows that we made very calculated decisions with whom we would endorse and for what reasons.

Your contributions to the PAC, big or small, go a long way. They not only transfer into political outcomes, but they also transfer into policy items that we get through the finish line and others that we prevent from becoming a reality, if they affect our members in a negative way. This session alone, I can provide at least two examples of policies that we were able to stop that would have had a very negative result for our industry.

As this legislative session comes to a close, I urge you to please start planning on giving to the PAC on a regular basis, this is one of the ways in which we will become even more effective at the legislature. If you are interested in contributing to the Green Industry PAC, please send me an email to felipe@mnla.biz or call me at 612-4185382 and I can walk you through the process. Your contributions will make a huge difference.

As always, I am grateful to all members for sharing their perspectives, their expertise, and for always jumping in when called on. Thank you all for your hard work.

TRIALED. TESTED. PROVEN .

PURPLE PILLAR®

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Gandini Santiago’ PP#25,568; CBR#6178

Narrow | Heat Tolerant | Durable

Purple Pillar® hibiscus brings the durable easy growth of rose of Sharon to narrow spaces. Large, semi-doubled flowers adorn a fastigiate habit, creating unlimited landscape potential: narrow hedges, screens, formal gardens, entryways, and even decorative containers.

Available from Proven Winners ® ColorChoice ® growers www.provenwinners-shrubs.com

10-16’ TALL + 4-5’ WIDE

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

SUMMER BLOOMS USDA 5-9

5 TIPS FOR HIRING & RETAINING LANDSCAPING PROFESSIONALS

Mark Bradley Landscape Management Network

IT’S TOUGH TO FIND good people. It always has been, and it’s even harder in the landscape industry. For 20+ years, I was fortunate to grow a business to more than 500 landscaping professionals at our peak, and how to keep people was among my top concerns.

It turns out I’m not alone with labor concerns. We recently polled 450 landscape business professionals, and 84 percent say finding and keeping qualified labor is their biggest challenge. This is a troubling landscaping industry trend.

For business owners, you’re only as good as your people. Keeping high business standards means needing quality teams to deliver. It’s especially challenging to grow if your business struggles finding, training, and retaining great people.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen this way too often with business owners across North America. Way too often owners are so caught up in the next job or growth that they forget critical components when hiring and retaining employees.

So, what are the common trends I’ve seen that you can relate to and learn from? Consider these five tips.

Tip 1: Sell a Career, Not a Job

It’s easy to just place a job ad for a landscape crew member or to find a team leader. But to

be successful, you must showcase not just a job, but a long-term vision for the work you do. It’s not just about cutting grass. It’s about making the lawns of customers better, being outdoors, and doing great work. If you can position open roles as careers and have examples of employees who have experienced this firsthand, you’ll see your financial earnings grow exponentially each year through better employee retention.

Tip 2: Keep Investing In Training

Make training part of your employee onboarding and annual staff development process. Yes, it’s time-consuming, but in doing so, you demonstrate a commitment to your employees’ careers and professional development, and you can be much more certain that your teams know exactly what to do on a job site and how to do it well. Companies that fail, or may not be as successful as others, hire people and expect them to know what to do. That’s a recipe for failure. Invest in training. You won’t regret it.

Tip 3: Set The Standard With Pay and Benefits — It Pays For Itself

Do you pay the market rate? Or could you pay $2–3 more per hour and still be profitable? Plus, offer a retirement plan, health insurance, and time off? Pay is what most companies promote, but the more diverse your “all-in” benefits package is, the more you’ll be likely to find and retain employees.

When I had my business, my team leaders made well above what any of our local competitors made. We paid well, took care of them with great benefits and strong bonuses each

year, as we did with our crews. The result? Our average crew lead or foreman was with us for more than 10 years, and our crew members stayed on average more than five years. This allowed us to continue to deliver for our customers through happy team members. It’s a simple formula, but it works.

Is it hard? Sure. You must understand the budget for your business and what you need to pay to be competitive and in terms of what this means to your pricing structure and mark-ups. But if you’re consistent and rigid in your pricing structure, you can be successful in offering leading benefits packages to your employees which will drive retention. You can pay THE competitive wage and stay profitable.

Tip 4: Offer a Clear Career Path

I can’t tell you how important a career path or ladder is, no matter how big or small your company is. Incoming landscape professionals want to know how their career will grow within your business. And with this growth, what will come? More money? Bigger titles? When can they expect promotions or raises?

To do this, you must have consistency in processes. Job descriptions, career trees, job pay bands and more. If you can paint the picture to prospective employees of where they will be in three years – and then deliver on it – you’ll be in a great spot.

Tip 5: Build a Family

Lastly, and this may sound cliche, but remember, your crews and teams are like family. The closer you get, the harder you work, and the more you achieve. Landscaping (and snow

removal in winter) is tough. It’s not a 9–5 job. It requires early mornings, late nights, and sometimes, weekends without end. It requires a  strong landscaping leader to create a space to build team chemistry and keep morale high.

Successful businesses learn this quickly and work to create a family environment where you support each other, know each other, laugh, celebrate and even cry together, because you can only be as good as the collective team. As you get bigger this is hard, but having this family-type environment is so important.

And it doesn’t take much. Host a holiday party. Give birthdays off. Offer free lunch on Fridays. These little yet important gestures matter, and it will go a long way towards your future success.

Talk to any consultant — in the landscape business or other industries — and they’ll tell you there are more tips to finding and retaining top talent. And all are applicable without a doubt.

Positive Results Take Time

Pay attention to the details and focus on your people. Taking care of your people comes naturally to all, but occasionally takes a gentle reminder to appreciate those who work hard for you. There isn’t an overnight solution to building a business that can effortlessly hire and retain landscaping professionals, but the process can be significantly easier if you take care of those already around you.

Use these five tips as a starting point to create a better working culture. Leadership is a skill that needs to be developed and there are many more creative ways to show positive leadership. These results will show as your business continues to grow and you can see the impact you’re making when you look back on all the happy customers that continue to refer to others or even call you back for future work.

➽ If you want to take it a step further, learn how to attract the people you want working in your business by signing up for the free LMN Masterclass: Find and Attract The Right Talent.

➽ MARK BRADLEY is the CEO of LMN (Landscape Management Network), the leading software system in the green industry. He launched LMN in 2009 following successfully growing his Ontario-based landscaping business to a $50M annual revenue business. His team built LMN to service his growing client needs, and encourages landscape business owners throughout the U.S. and Canada to know their numbers and constantly invest in systems and people to watch their business grow.

Since 2002, Davey Twin Cities Wood Products has been a premium mulch manufacturing source for the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

With our professional and knowledgeable staff, we strive to make each product & service provided an unmatched & outstanding experience for our clients!

TWIN CITIES WOOD PRODUCTS GRINDING

WOOD services products

Our premium mulch is made locally. Our color process only uses natural additives, making it a safe product for the environment.

Grinding is intended for large jobs. Our solution will help you recycle wood and organic material into a valuable product.

Our locally & naturally made mulch products are perfect for any environment and will beautifully enhance any landscape!

We offer next day product delivery as well commercial tree & brush disposal. Contact us for more information.

Our location for mulch pick-ups, manufacturing, shipping & brush disposal is: 405 Hardman Avenue S., South St. Paul, MN 55075

MNLA Foundation High School Grant Awarded to AFSA

The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded the AFSA High School Agriculture Department a grant of $1,650 for modernizing their greenhouse and plant sales.

AFSA High School Agriculture Teacher, Haely Leiding, said she was appreciative and honored by MNLA Foundation’s wonderful financial support and the landscape industry’s support to bring more hands-on skills to their students. “If we don’t have direct contact with the industry, we won’t be as successful. It’s a good partnership.”

According to the Minnesota Association of Agriculture Educators (MAAE), approximately one-third of Minnesota’s students are in an agricultural education program learning real-world skills that prepare them for jobs and everyday life. In Minnesota, the number of agriculture, food, and natural resource programs has grown in the last decade from 180 in 2005 to 215 in 2022. Enrollment jumped by nearly 10,000 students, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Students in Leiding’s greenhouse management class are outside operating equipment, growing plants from seed, plugs, and propagation, and managing the production of a

community plant sale. This grant will assist the students in their project goals and objectives by funding the following: greenhouse shelving, drip irrigation, plumbing updates, growing materials, and point of sale system (Square software) for use during the plant sales.

Leiding gets students as involved as possible in the greenhouse. They assist in designing hanging baskets, monitoring the quality of the plants, transplanting plugs, and actively managing the annual spring plant sale. In preparation for the plant sale, students inventory materials, set plant sale prices, calculate costs, and track sales and revenue.

A sincere thank you to our funding sponsors: biota Landscapes, Gertens, Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape, and Landscape Renovations, Inc.

The next High School Grant period will open in early October and close in February 2024. Consider a sponsorship to this program, and our college scholarship program, to grow the next generation of our workforce.

➽ For more information, go to www.mnla.biz/page/HighSchoolGrants.

Paulette Sorenson MNLA Foundation Program Manager

Brianna Burns and Paulette Sorenson presented the MNLA Foundation check to Haley Leiding, AFSA agriculture instructor on April 14, 2023.

SHARE THE SCOOP!

Each month, the Scoop is mailed to every member company of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. A portion of your annual dues covers your yearly subscription to our official publication, which is one of the most-loved benefits of MNLA membership. Because each company only receives one copy of the Scoop, it’s important to share the wealth! Make sure your employees are able to take advantage of the insights and information in this magazine by putting it in your company break-room, or directly into the hands of that employee you’d like to develop into a leader in your company.

Want to make the Scoop accessible to everyone in your company? Every month, we publish an online issue of the Scoop, using a leading web platform for magazines. This digital issue is available to all personnel of MNLA member companies. To utilize this member-only benefit, simply send us the email addresses for whomever in your company you would like to receive the Scoop. We then email the link directly to your employees’ inbox each month. In fact, our online issue is available a week before the hard copy of the magazine arrives. Your employees will be privy to the latest and greatest information!

➽ TO RECEIVE THE ONLINE SCOOP, email Louise Nemmers at louise@mnla.biz

Photo credits: Left: iStock.com/Vladimir Kononok. Middle: iStock.com/Kostikova. Right: iStock.com/bgfoto.

MNLA FOUNDATION

Improving the Environment by Investing in Research and Education

PARTNERS FUND

You are encouraged to participate in the MNLA Foundation Workforce Development Partners Fund at one of the participating suppliers recognized below.

Your voluntary donation of ½ of 1% (0.5%) on purchases of plants and other nursery, greenhouse and landscape products at these suppliers is used by the MNLA Foundation to grow a brighter future for the industry. On an invoice totaling $1,000 at one of these suppliers, your contribution will be only $5.00. Small, individual contributions add up quickly to make a real difference!

Partner Suppliers:

Research for the Real World

Career Development & Promotion

Scholarships