MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION . . . SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES GROW HERE!
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Insights and Information for Green Industry Professionals
VOLUME 34, 32, NUMBER 6 June 2009 2011
Also in this issue:
Sustaining Our Inner Spirit
A Backfill Alternative
California Spring Trials Report
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PAGES 26-27
PAGES 36-38
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Government Affairs. . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10, 28 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 15-17 Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 21, 34 Landscape Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Garden Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 MNLA Academy/Education . . . . . . . . . . 24 Hardscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Stormwater Management . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Plant of the Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Membership Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 MNLA Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-42, 46 Business Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Sustainable Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . 47
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ADVERTISER INDEX Anchor Block Company - 23 Ancom Communication & Technical Center - 17 Aspen Equipment - 20 Bailey Nurseries - 12 Beberg Landscape Supply - 26 Belgard Hardscapes-Northfield - 21 BFG Supply - 5, 15 Borgert Products, Inc. - 37 Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus - 13 Casualty Assurance - 22 Central Landscape Supply - 16 Central Wisconsin Evergreens, Inc. - 15 Cherokee Mfg. - 27 Cushman Motor Co., Inc. - 19 Farber Bag & Supply Co. - 18 Fireside Hearth & Home - 31 Fury Motors - 19 Gardenworld Inc. - 21 Golden Valley Hardscapes/Xylem Ltd. - 18 Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc. - 43 Haag Companies, Inc. - 7 Hal Tiffany Agency - 31
Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies - 11 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet - 9 Kubota Dealers - 25 Laborforce Specialists, Inc. - 41 MN Equipment Solutions, Inc. - 41 Out Back Nursery - 29 Rock Hard Landscape Supply - 4 S&S Tree Specialists - 2 TerraDek Lighting, Inc. - 15 The Mulch Store - 14 Titan Machinery (formerly Carlson Tractor and Equipment Co.) - 35 Wheeler Landscape Supply - 27, 29, 46 Ziegler Cat - 3
CLASSIFIED Ritchie Bros Auctioneers - Our next unreserved auction is Friday, June 17, 2011, Medford, MN. Ph: 507-774-5050 Fax: 507-774-5060 www.rbauction.com. We'll see you there!!
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Upcoming Events June 22-25 – 14th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium. Schaumburg, Illinois. For more information, see www.sima.org.
July 9-12 – Ohio Shortcourse. Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio. For more information, see www.ofa.org. 19-21 – Perennial Plant Symposium. Hyatt Regency Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, see www.perennialplant.org. 26 – 21st Annual Widmer Golf Tournament. University of Minnesota Golf Course, Roseville. For more information, see page 42 or www.MNLA.biz. 28 – Landscape Design Tour. St. Paul and Minneapolis. For more information, see page 24 or www.MNLA.biz. Sponsored by Anchor Block Company. 28 – Horticulture Night. University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota. For information, call 320-589-1711 or email spohrjm@morris.umn.edu.
August 4 – Garden Center Tour. Minneapolis, Minn. For more information, see page 24 or www.MNLA.biz. 17 – Low Voltage Irrigation: Two Wire Systems (PLT Relicensure). Roseville, Minn. For more information, see page 24 or www.MNLA.biz 18 – MNLA Woodland Hill Winery Event. Just for fun! Delano, Minn. For more information, see www.MNLA.biz 25-Sept. 5 – MNLA Garden at the Minnesota State Fair. For more information, visit www.MNLA.biz 30-31 – BFG Hort Expo. For more information, visit www.mnla.biz.
September 15 – MTGF Field Day. University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. For more information, see www.mtgf.org. 21 – MNLA Foundation Sporting Clays Tournament. For more information, see page 46 or www.MNLA.biz 22 – Green for Life – an MNLA Public Service Event. For more information, see page 48 or visit www.MNLA.biz.
October 5 – MNLA Snow Day. Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul. More information coming soon at www.MNLA.biz. 3-5 – TCI Expo Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT. To learn more, or register, please visit www.tcia.org.
January 3 – Super Tuesday. Minneapolis Convention Center. More information coming soon! 4-6 – Northern Green Expo. Minneapolis Convention Center. Exhibit contracts available online at www.northerngreenexpo.org or call 651-633-4987.
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If interested in sponsoring, please call Betsy Pierre, 763-295-5420 / betsy@pierreproductions.com
Reserve Booth Space Now!
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NorthernGreenExpo.org or call 651-633-4987
Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association 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 • GardenMinnesota.com
MNLA Mission The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help nursery and landscape related companies in Minnesota and the surrounding region operate their businesses more successfully.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bert Swanson, MNLA-CP, President Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. 218-732-3579 • btswanson@gmail.com Debbie Lonnee, MNLA-CP, Vice President Bailey Nurseries, Inc. 651-768-3375 debbie.lonnee@baileynursery.com Heidi Heiland, MNLA-CP, Secretary-Treasurer Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens 612-366-7766 • heidi@BloomOnMN.com Van Cooley, Past President Malmborg’s, Inc. 763-535-4695 van@geraniumsbygeorge.com Randy Berg, MNLA-CP Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 rberg@smig.net Scott Frampton Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 sframpton@landscaperenovations.com Tim Malooly, CID, CLIA, CIC Irrigation By Design Inc. 763-559-7771 • timm@ibdmn.com Bill Mielke Wilson’s Nursery, Inc. 952-445-3630 bill@wilsonsnurseryinc.com Herman Roerick Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601 hermanr@centrallandscape.com Bob Fitch MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • bob@mnla.biz Staff directory and member services directory near the back cover. The Scoop is published 12 times per year by the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113. Address corrections should be sent to the above address. News and advertising deadlines are the 5th of the month preceding publication.
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The Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Lawmakers Leave DNR Nurseries, MDA Programs in Limbo By Bob Fitch, MNLA Executive Director he stalemate at the close of the regular session of the Minnesota Legislature left a number of issues of importance to MNLA members in limbo. All bets are off as to what may occur during the expected special session. Some good news: Nursery growers and all proponents for private enterprise achieved a milestone by getting legislators to approve a bill that would rein in the operations of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Forest Nurseries, an entity that has been in competition with private growers for 80 years. The bad news: This provision was part of the Environment Omnibus Finance Bill which was expected to be vetoed by Gov. Dayton (action was pending at press time). “MNLA can be proud that we helped successfully move a bill that was vigorously opposed by the DNR and some forestry organizations,” said MNLA Executive Director Bob Fitch. The passage can be attributed to legislative leadership, grassroots efforts, professional lobbying, and the rightness of the cause. The bill approved by legislators included the following provisions: • Phase out operations of DNR’s General Andrews Nursery. • Rein in operations of DNR’s Badoura Nursery by limiting its production largely to conifers for state land. That could open up a market of approximately 1 million deciduous seedlings for private nursery growers. • The legislatively-mandated cap on the DNR’s annual production would be lowered from 10 million to 8 million seedlings. Whether or not these provisions can survive intact during the special session is not known.
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For the progress that’s been made so far, Fitch gave special credit to Commercial Seedling Growers Committee Chair Bill Sayward and MNLA President Bert Swanson, as well as all who took part in the Day on the Hill and others who made phone calls and sent emails following legislative alerts. MNLA lobbyist Doug Carnival did outstanding work behind the scenes throughout the entire session. “Obviously, the progress we’ve made doesn’t happen without MNLA Past President Denny McNamara chairing the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. In all his Rep. Denny McNamara years in the legislature, he has never backed off on his firm belief that the state shouldn’t be growing trees,” Fitch said. Another key was the election last fall of John Pederson, co-owner of MNLA member Amcon Block. MNLA was fortunate that Pederson landed a seat on the Senate Environment Sen. John Pederson Committee and chose to introduce the legislation that provided the basis for action. Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, chair of the Senate Environment & Natural Resources Committee, provided vigorous support and left no doubt that he was going to make sure Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen it passed his committee.
Scary Staff Cuts Coming? With the governor and legislators failing to reach a budget agreement by the close of the regular session, state agencies were left somewhat in limbo as to how hard they would be hit with staffing cuts. Agricultural interests thought they had endured their share of cuts when, relatively early in the session, the HouseSenate Agriculture Conference Committee and the governor passed into law a bill to fund operations at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. However, the sweeping language in the State Government Finance Bill could potentially further cut MDA programs related to the green industry. Here’s what’s at risk: • Exports of plant products could be halted or hampered, endangering the livelihood of nursery growers large and small. At the retail level, consumers could suffer because improperly labeled or dead/dying nursery stock would not be removed from sale. • Environmental damage could occur if the state's Gypsy moth and EAB programs are axed, including the loss of nearly $3.5 million from the federal government. • Minnesota specialty crop growers could be hurt because the Minnesota Grown marketing program would be gutted. “A doomsday scenario likely won’t play out, but the concerns are serious,” said Fitch. MNLA will be actively involved in protecting our industry’s interests in these matters before, during and after the special session. See additional legislative news on page 10 of this issue. q ________________________________ Bob Fitch is executive director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and can be reached at bob@mnla.biz.
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The Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Mostly Good News From the State Legislature By Bob Fitch, MNLA Executive Director uring the 2011 legislative session, MNLA worked publicly and behind the scenes to advance and defend the collective interests of MNLA members. MNLA’s succeeded on nearly every front. (As this page of The Scoop was going to press, the DNR State Forest Nurseries issue was not yet resolved. See the article on page 8 for the most current information.)
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No New Competition for Growers A well-meaning bill was introduced this year to set up gardening programs at the state’s correctional facilities to promote inmates growing some of their own fruits and vegetables. However, the bill included a provision which would have allowed prisons to sell excess produce for a profit. MNLA and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture successfully lobbied to have the sales language stricken from the bill. No New Requirement for E-Verify MNLA is a member of the Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition which successfully lobbied to modify a proposed mandate to require the use of e-verify by employers for most state contracts. The language was modified to delay the requirement until the accuracy of e-verify was improved. While not opposed to an electronic employee screening process per se, MNLA and its allies believe the error rate in the e-verify program is still too high and that it is still too burdensome for most small employers. Unemployment Compensation Snafu Fixed A change to the state law last year slashed unemployment compensation insurance benefits this past winter for children of seasonal business owners. This year, both the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill to fix the mistake, and Gov. Dayton signed it into law. Provisions are retroactive to July 1, 2010, so reimbursement of benefits lost this winter should occur, although the timeline is uncertain. MNLA members lobbied for this fix during the Day on the Hill and via legislative alerts. Nurseries, Greenhouse Protected in Final Green Acres Bill Lawmakers rolled back many of the changes made to the Green Acres property tax program in 2008-2009. MNLA's priority was to ensure that special provisions in the law for nursery and greenhouse operations were protected during the course of all the maneuvering. Thanks to member lobbying during the Day on the Hill and behind-the-scenes discussions initiated by Lobbyist Doug Carnival and Regulatory Consultant Tim Power, sections of the law pertinent to woody 10
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and herbaceous plant production operations were untouched. The most significant change for MNLA members who are enrolled in the program is that the payback period for old and new enrollees to both the Green Acres and Rural Preserves programs will be three years. Additionally, enrollees in the Rural Preserves Program will no longer need to develop a conservation plan or sign a covenant agreement to participate. Finally, farmers who removed land from the Green Acres program as a result of 2008 or 2009 changes have an opportunity until August 1, 2011, to reapply for either program. The Green Acres program protects farms (especially those around the edges of municipal areas), including nurseries and greenhouses, from residential or commercial level property tax rates. Indemnification Law Revisions Stopped by ASA-MN The members of the American Subcontractors Association of Minnesota and other subcontractors have watched with growing distress as general contractors increasingly demand "broad form" indemnification provisions in contracts and are unyielding to attempts to negotiate on them. Passing the buck on liability is an unfortunate trend. ASA-MN successfully blocked an indemnification bill which would have made an already difficult situation even worse for subcontractors. MNLA is part of the Contractors Bill of Rights Coalition with ASA-MN and other organizations. Tree Bonding Money Stays Put Last year, MNLA was instrumental in getting legislation passed which provided for $3 million in state bonding money for a tree planting cost-share program with cities. There was a quiet effort by an agency to shift those dollars for other uses, but MNLA confirmed with legislative leaders that this would not occur. Sorting Things Out at the Agencies All state agencies got hit with cuts to personnel and other programs. All the impacts of these cuts are not yet known. MNLA obviously is concerned about direct cuts or indirect additions to overhead fees for the nursery inspection program, terrestrial and aquatic invasive species programs, forestry, Minnesota Grown, and other environmental and agricultural programs related to landscape and plant production interests. As this page went to press, it was also unclear if sales tax exemptions affecting our industry would be left untouched. Finally, MDA’s proposal to increase the penalty for companies found to be out of compliance with the state's nursery inspection certificate requirements was removed on a technicality. q ________________________________________________ Bob Fitch is executive director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and can be reached at bob@mnla.biz.
The Scoop | SAFETY
Hardy plants with local roots
Distracted Driving – It's Not Worth It
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By John Primozich, CSP, ARM – TBG Loss Control Manager
Distracted Driving is Dangerous The popularity of mobile devices has had some dangerous consequences. We now know that mobile communication is linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, resulting in injuries and deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2008 that driver distraction was the cause of 16 percent of all John Primozich fatal crashes -- 5,800 people killed -- and 21 percent of crashes resulting in an injury -- 515,000 people wounded. According to AAA, nearly 50 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. Distracted driving endangers life and property and something needs to be done about it.
State Laws Currently there is no national ban on texting or using a wireless phone while driving, but a number of states have passed laws banning texting; MN being one of them.
What You Can Do Educate Your Workforce – Give drivers a simple, clear message not to use their wireless devices while driving. Educate them on the dangers and statistics behind your message. Lead by Example – Employees will likely follow in your footsteps if you lead by example. Be an example for your employees and if you need to text or talk on the phone, pull over to a safe place. q ________________________________________________ The Builders Group (TBG) is a self-insured workers’ compensation insurance fund that has been protecting Minnesota’s construction industry for more than 10 years. For more information, go to: www.tbgmn.com.
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The Scoop | PUBLIC RELATIONS
Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner Honored with Tree Planting By Sue Flynn, MNLA Executive Assistant he sun made a rare appearance during the tree planting ceremony to honor the winner of the 2011 Minnesota Arbor Day Poster Contest sponsored by the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. Brenna Lindblad, a student in Paula Andrzejewski's fifth grade class, is the first place winner of the contest. In Brenna's honor, a Prairiefire Crab Tree was planted on the grounds of Rice Lake Elementary School in Lino Lakes on Friday, April 29th - Arbor Day. The tree was generously donated by John Mickman, Mickman Brothers, Inc. in Ham Lake. John and his daughter, Mariah Mickman, were on hand to plant the tree. They taught the excited group of fifth graders how to plant a tree and how to take care of it. John and Mariah also talked to the kids about how trees help our environment. John entertained the kids by
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playing a question and answer game, giving the students with the correct answer a seedling to take home. Mrs. Andrzejewski and Brenna were already putting together a watering schedule to take care of the tree during summer vacation! The winning posters are featured on www.GardenMinnesota.com. The top three winning posters will also be on
display at the MNLA garden at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair. Thank you to John Mickman and Mariah Mickman, Mickman Brothers, Inc., for making this special event possible. q
Thanks to our sponsors:
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The Scoop | PUBLIC RELATIONS
10 Reasons Why Your Company Should Volunteer at the MNLA Garden at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
It's fun! It's a great opportunity to represent MNLA and the industry you love! Team bonding with co-workers! Free entry ticket! MNLA recertification points! It's across from the mini donut stand! Where else can you interact with thousands of possible customers?! Free T-Shirt! You get to hand out "Flowers on a Stick." e more you get involved, the more you get from your MNLA membership!!
Visit the www.MNLA.biz Education & Events Section for more information and to sign up for a shift or call Sue at 651-633-4987. q
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The Scoop | PUBLIC RELATIONS
Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile By Paul Hugunin, Minnesota Grown Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
any of us are old enough to remember Oldsmobile’s late 1980’s “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile” ad campaign. Featuring stars like William Shatner and Ringo Starr driving with their college age children, the commercial proclaimed that Oldsmobile was producing cars ready for the next generation. Given the brand’s demise one could argue that the cars didn’t deliver what the ad promised but that’s a different article.
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Even though they weren’t able to adapt quickly enough, Oldsmobile recognized that the world was changing and that the coming generation would be demanding products and services that better fit their lifestyle. They had no idea just how quickly and dramatically our daily lives would change. Take a minute and reflect on how the advertising portion of your business has changed in the past 20 years since those commercials were made. Even if you don’t use any of the following tools, how amazing is it that websites, cell phones and e-mail either didn’t exist or were only available to a tiny
percentage of the population. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, text messaging, satellite radio and smart phones were still years away. iPhones, iPads, iPods, and other “i’s” we haven’t even heard of yet weren’t invented and their parent company (Apple) looked like it wouldn’t survive long enough to see the 21st century. The days of placing a radio or newspaper buy and forgetting about it are long gone because our customers have changed how, when and where they access information and entertainment. For example, nearly 40% of households use TIVO or other forms of digital video recording (DVR) instead of watching programs live. The beauty of a DVR is the ability to skip the commercials (not such a beautiful thing if you paid for the ad being skipped). On the flip side, because they can watch what they want to watch when they want to watch it, DVR owners see more prime time programming than nonDVR households. Likewise, millions of people listen to satellite radio in their vehicles and homes or listen to music via the internet and smart phones. And we all know how newspapers have struggled to retain circulation and ad revenue in a world where people can get the latest news online through their smart phone. Newspapers all over the country, including the STRIB, have gone through some form of bankruptcy, According to Scarborough Research, the percentage of US adults who read a daily newspaper has dropped from 45% in 2008 to 30% in 2010. For adults between the ages of 18-34 the totals dropped from 30% in 2008 to 25% in 2010. Just because things have changed doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for traditional advertising. Mass media is still the quickest way to reach the largest number of people. Look no further than the 111 million viewers who watched the 2011 Super Bowl for evidence that people still watch regular TV and listen to the radio. But today’s world calls upon businesses to complement conventional advertising with new strategies that take advantage of technology. When choosing strategies it’s important to think about how people spend their time and how they choose to get information. Watch people as they walk your store – how many are talking on their cell phones or texting while they shop? How do people keep in touch with friends and family? Facebook now has more than 500 million users who spend upwards of 700 BILLION minutes per month on the site. The advent of all this new technology has made it more complicated to reach your customers but it has also opened up tremendous opportunities. And to a certain extent it has leveled the playing field between companies with huge advertising budgets and those of us operating on a shoestring. Instead of relying solely on paid advertising, we can use electronic newsletters, Facebook pages and blogs to connect with customers in ways that are much more cost-effective, timely
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and personal. Unlike mass media, social media strategies allow two-way communications so customers can tell you what they think of your business and products. And more powerfully, with the click of a mouse or smart phone key they can share their thoughts about you with their social network. The Minnesota Grown Program has embraced many of these new technologies. We launched our own Facebook page less than 6 months ago and already have over 1,250 followers who receive brief updates from us 5 days a week and we expect to more than triple the number of people who “like” us within the next 3 months. We publish a monthly e-newsletter for consumers received by more than 8,000 people who have opted-in. Our “Livin’ La Vida Local” blog showcases Minnesota Grown members with YouTube style videos and photos. We also use Twitter and YouTube. The cost
of these marketing tools can be summarized in one word: time. Although there isn’t a cash cost, doing it right requires more than just finding a 16 year-old with time on their hands. Consistency is key! The messages you communicate via social media must be consistent with the image you build for your company through your mass media advertising, store layout, pricing strategy, etc. A monthly e-newsletter needs to come out monthly, Facebook pages need to be updated at least three times a week – especially when you’re business is at its busiest! Mobile phone friendly sites, apps for smart phones and QR codes in print ads are all the rage. Minnesota Grown even printed a QR code on the first page of the new Minnesota Grown Directory and we recently partnered with a national organization called “Local Dirt”
to include our Minnesota Grown Directory listings in their national Locavore app for iPhones and other smart phones. The next big project for Minnesota Grown is to develop a mobile friendly version of our website. Recent projections say that more than half of all mobile phone users will use their smart phones to access the internet by 2013. How does your website look on a smart phone? Although all the changes and possibilities may seem a bit overwhelming, the good news is that you can pick and choose your strategies and add them to your marketing mix one at a time. How is your advertising and marketing strategy evolving? Or are you still using your father’s advertising plan? q ________________________________ Paul Hugunin, is a member of the MNLA Public Relations Committee and can be reached at Paul.hugunin@state.mn.us
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The Scoop | LANDSCAPE AWARDS
What Do Judges Want To See In Landscape Award Photos? very year, the judges for our Landscape Awards program take great care sifting through each project, determining whether it reaches high standards of excellence. The photos submitted with each entry packet help the judges see the scope of each project, the detail of the work performed, and the quality of the design, installation or management. As now is a great time to start taking photos while your landscape is in top form, here are some things to remember as you click away:
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• Show before/after shots from a couple angles. When setting these up, take the shots from as close to the same viewpoint as possible. Design entrants: while a few of these shots help to show dramatic transformation, be sure the vast majority of your photos
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show the completed landscape so judges can see the impact of the final design. • Judges like to see the projects in context and especially for design entries, want to see continuity in relation to the surroundings. Don’t spend much time on close-ups of plants, statuary, etc. • Whenever possible, take photos with people, cars, or table and chairs in them to give your project a human scale. Light fires in fireplaces or fire pits. Show patio areas, pools and other elements of the landscape in use. • Consider hiring a professional photographer to get maximum impact from your photos, and then using those images in your own marketing as well. • If possible, show how you treated special areas, like shorelines etc. • Finally, make sure your photographs match and show the written materials. If you include important writing about a specific area, show a photograph of that area as well. Download a Landscape Awards application on MNLA.biz and begin preparing your entry now! q
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The Scoop | LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Sustainability: A Different Focus By Jan Klaus, JK Garden Design, LLC
rends come and go and for now one of the Green Industry’s buzz words is Sustainability. It is a well chosen buzz word, and hopefully won’t be trendy but will become just a part Jan Klaus of our ‘green’ vocabulary. In recent Scoop articles, the sustainable word was used: ‘How Sustainable is Your Company?’, and ‘Designing for Sustainability: Shade Trees’, if you missed them, check them out.
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However, I want to focus on this same word but consider what it is that helps sustain us, i.e.our inner spirits. One could write volumes on this but being in the landscaping field, I will touch on the outdoors and what they mean to me, maybe to you as well as our clients. Recently I made a trip back to my home town and the farm. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and memories of driving the streets of the small town and the rolling hills of the farmland area so familiar from my growing up years, I realized how much it is at the core of my
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being. It is part of the emotional sustenance that moves my spirit and brings me joy. My ‘inner garden’ so to speak always needs space for a view, a vista. Sounds are also very important, especially the sounds of birds. In walking around the farm and while driving with the car window open, you could hear the western meadowlark, there is hardly a sweeter sound. Check out the U-tube video of the meadowlark uploaded by Roger Osborn on July 26, ’07. I also recently found a photo of my great grandmother and grandfather standing outside of their house surrounded by a white picket fence. Their daughter and my grandmother had a beautiful garden with an arbor and a white picket fence. My mother repeated this same kind of garden which I spent many hours helping to nurture. My garden is a bit different, but the love of flowers and the joy they bring is no less strong. A client of mine, says that when she is working on her garden, it is like deep play – she loses herself into the physical joy of being and working in the garden. In a conversation with my daughter who is looking for a new home, she
realized that one of her top priorities was the backyard as a place for her family to play and for a place for all of them to relax and enjoy the outdoors. These were sweet words to a landscaping mother’s ear. Her ancestors would be proud. We are all aware of the tough economic times and realize how much we depend on those things that sustain us. We are not alone in this and when we visit with clients we realize that they too are seeking places to relax, and areas that comfort and sustain their spirit. In Julie Moir Messervy’s book, ‘The Inward Garden, Creating a Place of Beauty and Meaning’, she states that gardens are “a beautiful place designed specifically to capture the most positive and refreshing landscape memories; a place that is both a sanctuary from the stress of everyday life and a place of rejuvenation; a place available to you at all times.” So as we design for our clients, let us not only think about the sustainability of the earth, but the sustainability of the inner self. Have a great landscape season. q ________________________________ Jan Klaus is a member of the MNLA Landscape Design Committee and can be reached at jklaus1147@aol.com.
AWARDS | The Scoop
2011 Teacher Outstanding Performance (TOP) Awards huck Levine was one of 14 teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District selected by their peers, community members and staff to receive the 2011 Teacher Outstanding Performance (TOP) Awards. A native of Duluth and graduate of Duluth East High School, Levine holds degrees from the University of Minnesota - Crookston (UMC), and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota - St. Paul. Levine is a past "UMC Outstanding Alumni." Prior to coming to the district, Levine taught for the Minneapolis Public Schools and Hennepin Technical College. In his third year with the Anoka-Hennepin School District as an agriculture teacher, Levine splits his time between Anoka and Blaine high schools. At Blaine, Levine teaches wildlife zoology, wildlife economy, floral design, and animal management. At Anoka, Levine teaches a horticulture course. Levine was nominated by a student who described why she thinks he is a great teacher. "Mr. Levine is a great teacher because he treats everyone fairly, and he makes class fun and enjoyable," the student said. "He emphasizes points with comedic remarks." q
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The Scoop | GARDEN CENTER
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Confessions of an Independent By Kris Ballou, Rum River Tree Farm ast summer while driving home from work I noticed ten new beautiful Arborvitaes, standing like soldiers, guarding the back side of someone’s yard. Huh. I was sure the homeowner was thinking, “This’ll make a great traffic screen.” I was thinking, “I hope they all turn brown – that’ll teach ‘em.” I know…sounds malicious and down-right mean. I confess. My mind was on automatic. You know that feeling when you see the impossibly priced plants from the mass merchant now taking place where ours should be…it gets harder to swallow time after time especially (here comes the trite part) in this economy.
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one lining our neighbor’s back yard. We’ll work harder today to make that happen. We are putting that passion into every sale, every day. We contribute even more to the camaraderie of the staff. We bring our stories home now and share them with our family. How have you changed? This is passion. This is the driving force of our business. Last I checked, you couldn’t buy passion in a box. If the customer who purchased the Arbs from the mass merchant came into my store today, looking for advice on their suffering plants, I would give them the same A+ service as any customer. I would even ask them to please call me if they had any other questions. I would want them to be assured that we can help.
"Last I checked, you couldn't buy passion in a box."
Five years ago that thought wouldn’t have even entered my mind. Today, my eyes are constantly scanning, searching for those who betrayed the independent garden center. With all due respect, though, there is some good in this. In the last few years store managers have had to really step up their game by watching prices on various products. Making careful choices on product selection has become an art form. And managing the spending has become down right scientific, if not ingenious. Even on our best behavior, though, we still find ourselves working harder than ever just to keep up. And, yet we must maintain our integrity as a model citizen of Garden Center Retail. The bigger picture here is what’s happening to each and every one of us who represents the Independent. The Arbs scenario, mentioned above, is not really about sabotage. Rather, it is about passion. We want our plants to be the
If you choose to inspire others with your passion, they will see your true colors. You will make the choice easier for them next time. They will pay it forward. One last little confession…in light of the potential of paying it forward, I am happy to say that I’ve since put away my camouflage uniform and am now bringing my pom poms to work. Go Independent! q ________________________________ Kris Ballou is a member of the MNLA Garden Center Committee and can be reached at kris@rumrivertreefarm.com.
2011 LANDSCAPE DESIGN TOUR July 28, 2011 | 8:00am—5:00pm | Southeast Twin Cities Metro Area
Looking for design inspiration? Join your colleagues to tour eight design sites in the southeast metro area. The stops are sure to inspire and the event will provide great networking opportunities. Bring back ideas to implement in your own designs and share your ideas with your peers! Tour stops will include (in no particular order): Olson Residence, Hudson, Wisconsin—Designed by Village Green Landscapes, Inc. Bailey’s Arbor, Woodbury—Designed by Savanna Designs, Inc. Simons Residence, South St. Paul—Designed by Simons Landscaping Bailey Display Gardens, Cottage Grove—Designed by Bailey Nurseries, Inc. Thomas Residence, St. Paul—Designed by Thomas Landscape of Minnesota Limited Berg Residence, Mendota Heights—Designed by Landscape Renovations Swanson Residence, Inver Grove Heights—Designed by Landscape Renovations Bohannon Residence, Inver Grove Heights—Designed by Landscape Design Studios More information and site descriptions will be available online at www.MNLA.biz soon!
Sponsored by:
2011 GARDEN CENTER TOUR August 4, 2011 | 9:00am—3:00pm | Minneapolis
Join your colleagues to tour several urban garden centers in Minneapolis including Bachman’s, Inc., Tangletown Gardens, Sunnyside Gardens, Mother Earth Gardens, and Wagner’s Greenhouses, Inc. The stops are sure to excite horticultural enthusiasts and the event will provide great networking opportunities. Bring back ideas to implement at your own garden center and share your ideas with your peers! New this year! National speaker, Judy Sharpton, will start the day off with a short seminar on “Inventory Control as it Impacts Store Design” at Bachman’s, Inc.
LOW VOLTAGE IRRIGATION: TWO-WIRE SYSTEMS (PLT RELICENSURE) August 17, 2011 | 8:00am—5:00pm | Roseville Skating Oval, Roseville
This class provides 8 hours of continuing education credits toward the Power Limited Technician (PLT) license, with material specifically oriented toward the irrigation specialist. The 8 hour class will contain 2 clock hours of specific National Electrical Code (NEC) training; and 6 hours of technical training. The 6 hours of technical training will include: Components of a Two– Wire System; Wire Connections and Grounding; Controllers and Operating Systems; System Troubleshooting; Component and Accessory Troubleshooting; and Locating Equipment. Visit www.mnla.biz for registration and details for these and other programs! Questions? Call 651.633.4987.
Sponsorships are available for these seminars. Call Betsy at 952-903-0505 or e-mail betsy@pierreproductions.com. 24
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Come See Our New Store!
The Scoop | HARDSCAPES
The “No-Fines” Solution By Dave Klein, Allan Block Sales, Amcon Block & Precast s the Allan Block sales representative for Amcon Block & Precast much of my daily activities involve job site visits with designers and contractors for preliminary engineering services. These many visits have left me asking myself “what has happened to all the simple projects?” It certainly appears that when your phone rings the customer on the other end has a very difficult site condition and they are looking to you for a solution!
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I would like to introduce to you the concept of using “No-Fines” Concrete as a back-fill alternative in your retaining wall applications. So many of the projects I look at have property line considerations, existing conditions that cannot be disturbed, or a failing existing wall structure that was not constructed following any engineered method. Add to this list, difficult access, limited staging area, and poor soil conditions. The variables and difficulties in some of these projects seem to be endless. “No-Fines” concrete backfill was exactly the solution we were looking for on several projects in the recent past. Simply put “No-Fines” concrete backfill is a mix design absent the sand. If you were to look at a sample core of this product it would resemble a concrete “rice crispy” bar. The concrete is permeable and replaces the drainage or “wall rock” that all modular retaining wall products use in their units or directly behind the units. Another benefit of this product is a reduction in the amount of excavation needed to “reinforce” the wall structure. The general rule to consider when using geogrid as the reinforcement method with modular systems is that the geogrid needs to extend back into the hillside a
minimum of 60% of the wall height. Many designs depending on soil conditions, the grid will extend back behind the wall face over 70% of the wall height. With the “No-Fines” backfill the design depths are 30%-40% of the wall height. This reduced depth required to reinforce the wall structure saves on excavation and the amount of material to be dealt with on the site. The engineering considerations on all reinforced wall structures are lengthy and needs to be seriously thought out before presenting a solution to the customer. I have found that the “No-Fines” solution has been the right solution in terms of constructability, economics and design.
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This concept has been presented to many contractors and design professionals this past winter. An opportunity to learn more about this product will be offered at the January 2012 Green Expo.
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“No-Fines” concrete backfill may be a new terminology to you. Hopefully this brief introduction will stick in the back of your mind the next time you are asked to come up with a solution at a difficult site. The term is very familiar to the local ready mix suppliers and block manufactures so feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. q ________________________________________________ Dave Klein is a member of the MNLA Landscape Education Committee and can be reached at dklein@amconblock.com.
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763-493-5150 Fax: 763-493-5016 4105 85th Ave. N. Brooklyn Park, MN 5544
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The Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Irrigation “Licensure” – An Idea Whose Time is Coming By Tim Power, MNLA Regulatory Consultant he current political climate nationally and in Minnesota is certainly not conducive to increased regulation of business. Businesses in general and the irrigation industry specifically are suffering from the long-term effects of our down economy and the continued doldrums in the housing market. Competition is fierce for the Tim Power limited amount of business that exists today in the industry. Why would MNLA’s Irrigation Industry Committee (IIC) be pushing for increased regulation of its own industry at a time like this?
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Todd Cradit (Irrigation By Design) outlined the arguments for irrigation licensure eloquently and urgently in his article in the September 2010 Scoop. MNLA’s IIC has been discussing this issue for years and has developed the following Committee Strategic Goal: Promote to the green industry and to the public high standards of professionalism by pursuing workable and enforceable professional irrigation licensure and design/installation codes; as well as supporting member adherence to all laws and licenses and encouraging participation in certification programs.
that law, contractors would be at a competitive disadvantage if they included a rain sensor in their bid, even though it was clearly the environmentally correct thing to do. A rain sensor bill eventually passed into law, but the conflict illustrates the difficult environment that still exists in the irrigation industry. As the irrigation licensure discussion continues, it may be helpful to review how other states have dealt with this issue. In 2008, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality instituted new rules on landscape irrigators, installers, irrigation technicians and irrigation inspectors. As of 2010, their “installers” category (licensed just for hook-ups) was phased out. All applicants must now pass a basic irrigator test and then train and test into becoming either an irrigation technician or an irrigation inspector, but not both. There are continuing education requirements for recertification, and enforcement revolves around license revocation or ineligibility for recertification. There are a number of exemptions from irrigation licensing, including for licensed plumbers. See Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 1, Subchapter 30, Rules 30.11130.129 for details.
"The ultimate goal is to achieve high standards of professionalism."
“Irrigation licensure” might take the form of an actual license or it might mean a system of irrigation permitting and inspection wherein every irrigation job would be inspected to ensure compliance with a set of basic standards set by the state. Either way, the ultimate goal is to achieve the “high standards of professionalism” cited in the IIC’s strategic goal above. However, irrigation contractors compete in a low-bid environment that is not immune from short-cuts in planning, implementation and maintenance of projects. The low-bid environment is unlikely to change, and better buyer specifications can help, but a clearer set of standards and a level playing field would make potential customers much more confident that jobs would be constructed professionally. Members may recall the discussions and legislation that resulted in Governor Jesse Ventura’s first veto. That rain sensor bill was mocked by Governor Ventura as government intrusion, yet it merely attempted to require all commercial irrigation bids to include a rain sensor in the plans and installations. Without 28
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In 2009, North Carolina instituted the irrigation licensure law that is most cited by MNLA IIC members as a model to follow. The North Carolina license bill was originally drafted by irrigation professionals with assistance from the Carolinas Irrigation Association and the Green Industry Council. The bill was drafted in response to a severe drought where municipalities were limiting irrigation due to water shortages. The idea was that if the Green Industry was installing quality water-conserving irrigation systems, that water purveyors might not impose more stringent water restrictions on irrigation systems.
Both individuals and corporations in the irrigation contracting business must be licensed in North Carolina, and licensure requires passing a test administered by the North Carolina Irrigation Contractor Licensing Board (NCICLB). The North Carolina irrigation licensure law is a “practice act” rather than a “title act”, meaning that unlicensed contractors can be prosecuted for practicing the trade, no matter what they call themselves. Licensed North Carolina irrigation contractors must undergo 10 hours per year of certified continuing education and they or their company must post a surety bond
or irrevocable letter of credit naming each individual licensee. NCICLB offers an online complaint form and NCICLB employees investigate complaints. Complaints include advertising, unlicensed installers and both unlicensed installers and licensed contractors installing irrigation systems that do not meet minimum standards. When a complaint is received a cease and desist Letter is mailed to the entity on whom the complaint is filed. If the investigation determines that a violation of the law has occurred, the Board attorney pursues the proper legal action to correct the violation. The North Carolina law lists a number of exemptions, including registered landscape architects, licensed engineers, government employees on public lands, golf course employees on the course, etc. Find the details of the North Carolina Irrigation Contracting licensure law at www.nciclb.org. The MNLA Irrigation Industry Committee has spent significant time and energy over the years trying to increase their industry’s level of professional competence and acceptance. They have made significant progress, but in order to take the next steps in professionalism, they have chosen to focus on licensure or something similar to it. Though now may not be the time, they will be ready to move forward when the political landscape is right. q ________________________________________________ Tim Power is the MNLA Regulatory Consultant and can be reached at timpower@powerconsults.com.
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The Scoop | STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
MIDS Focuses on Volume Control by Tim Power, MNLA Regulatory Consultant NLA’s Stormwater Task Team is active on multiple fronts. Nick Tamble reported last month on the progress being made on MNLA’s first stormwater educational brochure, describing the installation and maintenance of permeable paver systems (PPS), along with local case studies. PPS is just one example of Tim Power a stormwater best management practice (BMP) that can dramatically reduce runoff and pollution from developed sites.
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Since stormwater BMP’s often add costs to a project, some sort of payback to the project owner helps to justify the additional expense. One of the best inducements to install stormwater BMP’s is to provide hardcover credits for properlydesigned, -installed and –maintained BMP’s. Some municipalities have started offering such credits, often at the suggestion of an enlightened watershed district. However, not all municipalities have endorsed the idea of hardcover credits for stormwater BMP’s. Typically, municipalities look to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Stormwater Manual for guidance, but it was published in 2005 and is already becoming out of date with respect to stormwater BMP’s. The Stormwater Manual discusses stormwater BMP’s in qualitative terms, but does not attempt to quantify benefits or suggest specific hardcover credits. The lack of consistent local ordinances addressing stormwater BMP’s was one of the major reasons that MNLA formed its Stormwater Task Team early in 2010. Two of the goals of the Stormwater Team are as follows: • To establish the use of properly designed, installed and maintained permeable interlocking pavement systems and other pervious systems as Minnesota Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) that qualify for various “green” credits. e team will promote to members, the public and government bodies the resources for understanding permeable interlocking systems, including their performance and applications. • To establish and promote the use of properly designed, installed and maintained trees, rain gardens, sediment ponds, green roofs, swales, irrigation and other landscape products and features as Minnesota Stormwater BMP’s that qualify for various “green” credits. One of MNLA’s strategies to achieve these goals has been to participate in the Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) workgroup, formed by MPCA under the auspices of the Stormwater Steering Committee. The MIDS workgroup includes representatives from 24 government, business and 30
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environmental organizations including MNLA, and was formed in response to legislation directed at MPCA and enacted in 2009: Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) Minnesota Statute 2009, section 115.03, subd. 5c. Regulation of storm water discharges… (c) The agency shall develop performance standards, design standards, or other tools to enable and promote the implementation of low-impact development and other stormwater management techniques. For the purposes of this section, “low-impact development” means an approach to storm water management that mimic’s a site’s natural hydrology as the landscape is developed. Using low-impact development approach, storm water is managed on-site and the rate and volume of predevelopment stormwater reaching receiving waters is unchanged. The calculation of predevelopment hydrology is based on native soils and vegetation. As conceived, final products of the MIDS workgroup will have three main elements: 1. A higher clean water performance goal for new development and redevelopment that will provide enhanced protection for Minnesota’s water resources. 2. New modeling methods and credit calculations that will standardize the use of a range of innovative structural and nonstructural stormwater techniques. 3. A credits system and ordinance package that will allow for increased flexibility and a streamlined approach to regulatory programs for developers and communities. One of the major challenges in the MIDS process to date has been to get all workgroup members up to speed and on the same page with respect to what others have been doing and what the options are in the LID field. MPCA contractors presented stormwater programs and data on LID activity in Seattle, southern California, southeastern Michigan, New Hampshire and Virginia. The Virginia model is particularly compelling because it shows what is being done to protect and clean up Chesapeake Bay, one of America’s most densely populated and highly polluted waterways. We reviewed stormwater regulations already in place in various Minnesota watershed districts and municipalities. We learned about the soil types, ecoregions, and annual rainfall patterns in Minnesota, seeing significant variation in each of those factors across the state. We discussed the problems presented by linear construction projects like roads and sites with restrictions like “D” soils or proximity to karst topography or stormwater hotspots. Finally, we heard of the specific problems encountered in redevelopment projects, as opposed to new construction.
It became apparent as we discussed the mechanics of stormwater that volume control should form the basis of mitigation efforts. We considered several options for a volume control standard to use as the basis for MIDS calculations: 1. Retain a runoff volume on site equal to “x” inches of runoff from proposed impervious surfaces. 2. Retain the post-construction runoff volume on site for the “x” percentile storm. 3. Limit post-construction runoff from a 1-, 2- and 5-year 24-hour design storm to a volume equal to or less than native soil and vegetation conditions. After months of inputs and discussion, the MIDS workgroup came to its first major consensus during the April 2011 meeting. Choosing a single standard statewide rather than gradations based on soils, ecoregions and/or annual rainfall, MIDS agreed to the following: For new, nonlinear developments that create more than one acre of new impervious surface on sites without restrictions, stormwater runoff volumes will be controlled and the postconstruction runoff shall be retained on site for 1.1 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces statewide. The MIDS workgroup added the caveats that 1) choosing the “x” inches off impervious standard will not predetermine the approach used for development of standards for redevelopment and linear projects, and 2) the workgroup will provide a recommendation to the PCA that includes definitions for all the terms used in the performance standard. It has taken the MIDS workgroup well over a year to come up with the simple statement above. Yet this consensus represents a real milestone. Having homebuilders, environmentalists, regulators and landscapers on the same page and agreeing to this principle is real progress. The obvious question is “Why 1.1 inches off of impervious?” It became apparent as we discussed the possible volume control standards that each of the three proposed volume control approaches
could provide acceptable stormwater mitigation to meet the federally-mandated standard of “anti-degradation.” However, the matching standard (#3 above) was based on “native soil and vegetation conditions,” and MIDS participants were concerned that many if not most construction sites have long-since ceased to have native conditions, and that developers and regulators might start a development review process with significantly different views on what constitute native conditions. With option #3 eliminated, the remaining choices were spreadsheeted against rainfall amounts SE/NW in the state and against soil types. The spreadsheet produced a statewide average for each of the two remaining volume control methods necessary to not exceed the Natural Average Annual Runoff Volume, namely 1.1” off impervious or the 93rd percentile storm. This new volume control performance standard is not the end of the MIDS process, but rather the beginning. We still have to deal with linear projects, sites with restrictions and redevelopment. We have not yet dealt with building a credits calculator or specific credits for individual BMP’s. But this first step of reaching consensus with an educated and engaged review board will lead to a completed process in the not too distant future. q ________________________________________________ Tim Power is the MNLA Regulatory Consultant and can be reached at timpower@powerconsults.com.
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CERTIFICATION | The Scoop
Magic from the Manual: Indoor Flowering And Foliage Plants By Ed Plaster ouseplants are among the most common plant items owned by our customers, and we can encounter questions about them at work or even when visiting friends. In recent years, I and many others have used them outdoors as seasonal displays in planters or even planted in the ground. They possess forms and textures difficult to duplicate with the usual plants hardy to Minnesota, from the huge bold leaves of a giant white bird of paradise to the finetextured fronds of a pygmy date palm. Every summer now a palm graces my front stoop. So here is a selection about houseplant care from the article by Don Rosacker and John Erwin. At the end you will find a few sample questions concerning the reading.
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Fertilization If a commercial greenhouse growing medium is used, most indoor plants will not need additional fertilizer for three to four months since most commercial media contain fertilizer. Check the label on soil-less media to determine if fertilizer has been added. A slow release fertilizer should be incorporated at the time of initial planting and upon transplanting. Well established plants may need fertilizer every five to six weeks when actively growing. Quiescent or dormant plants should not be fertilized. One way to apply fertilizer to indoor plants is to use a liquid form. To use this soluble fertilizer, follow the manufacturer's directions. When applying fertilizers in liquid form, use enough of the solution to wet the entire soil mass. The use of slow release dry fertilizers incorporated into the growing medium or applied to the medium surface is also an excellent means to provide a continuous supply of nutrients
to the plant. They provide a steady flow of nutrients for an extended time with a high degree of safety. Never apply fertilizer, in either a dry or liquid form, to a dry soil, as root injury may result. Many foliage plants are injured more from an excess of fertilizer than from a lack of it. Symptoms of over fertilization may include a slowdown of growth, stunted plants, burned or dried leaf margins, and wilted or even dead plants, depending on the degree of over fertilization. Symptoms of a lack of fertilizer may include chlorotic foliage, leaf loss, sporadic flowering, stunted plants, and stressed plants. When fertilizing regularly, it is beneficial to leach the media periodically. Every four months, run clear water through the media to leach out any excess fertilizer or salts that may have accumulated. Irrigation There is no time schedule to follow for watering plants, since the watering frequency varies with many factors such as weather, type and size of plant, type and size of container, and stage of plant growth. Most successful growers check the plants daily and water them only when necessary. A plant usually requires water when the soil surface appears dry. Generally, growing media look lighter when dry, but some dark or black media are deceptive. If in doubt, check the medium two to three inches deep with fingers to determine its moisture content. A person familiar with different kinds of plants can detect when a plant will need water by noticing its freshness, firmness, and general appearance. Do not let plants wilt. Irrigate growing medium thoroughly, but don't water more often than necessary; over watering causes rotting of
the roots. Rotting often is indicated by a change in foliage color from green to yellow, and in extreme cases, by foliage spotting or drying, lower leaf loss and even death of the plant. Lack of water can result in dwarfing, foliage spotting, leaf dropping, and eventual plant death. The finger test is important as over watering and under watering symptoms may appear similar. Some plants that should not be allowed to dry out such as most ferns; they should be watered when the growing medium starts to dry. Most foliage plants need to be kept uniformly moist, but not wet. No harm will be done to certain plants if they dry out entirely for brief periods; cacti and succulents grow best when they dry out completely between waterings. No matter how often the plants are watered, be sure each time that the whole root ball is thoroughly moistened; excess water must drain out of the container. A thorough watering followed by enough time to allow the soil to start drying, permits air to be drawn into the soil. Plant roots need oxygen for life and growth, and if they are constantly saturated by being watered too frequently, they will soon die. Generally, tap water can be used to water plants, however, this is dependent on the presence and type of water softener being utilized. Also, water from the cold tap may be too cold for the plants. It is best to use water at room temperature; or at 60 to 75oF. Either add a little warm water or let it stand overnight so that it warms to room temperature. Light Light conditions in the average home are poor; light may come from one side only and often in only small quantities. JuNE 2011 | www.MNLA.biz
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A plant growing in a sunny window or strong light can stand higher temperatures than the same kind of plant growing in poor light. Excessively high temperatures and low light intensity form a fatal combination. Some plants require more light than others. Flowering plants usually require sunlight or bright light most of the day. Although foliage plants will thrive in less light, their location should be in a spot bright enough to permit reading most of the day. Low light symptoms are usually accentuated under shorter day conditions during the winter. Symptoms of insufficient light include: small leaves, long thin stems, poor color, weak growth in general, and failure to flower. If plants are desired in relatively dark locations and artificial light cannot be used, increase their attractiveness and life span by rotating them with plants grown in lighter parts of the home. Reduce fertilization application rate when light levels are low. q ________________________________________________ Ed Plaster is a member of the MNLA Certification Committee and can be reached at Edward.Plaster@dctc.edu. Certification Training Magic from the Manual is a monthly article written by the MNLA Certification Committee as a study tool for the MNLA Certification Exam. Information from these articles is taken directly from the chapter in the MNLA Certification Manual. It is an outline and does not replace studying the entire chapter in the manual.
Review Questions 1. T F Houseplants should be fertilized most when they are actively growing. 2. Which of the following statements about watering houseplants is true? a. They should be watered often enough to keep them continuously moist. b. Cold water should be avoided. c. To avoid damage to surfaces, never allow water to run out of drain holes. d. Water on a regular schedule to make sure you don’t forget. 3. T F Plants that you hope to flower will require higher light intensities than if flowers are not desired. 4. Under conditions of low light common indoors, you will need to keep the following in mind: a. You will need to reduce fertilization. b. The plant will be less tolerant of high temperatures. c. You will water less often (OK, not in the reading but you should know this) d. All of the above. 5. T F During the winter, you will probably fertilize and water less than during the summer. Answers: 1.T, 2.B, 3.T, 4.d, 5.T 34
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The Scoop | AWARDS
MNLA Efforts Recognized he Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association has recently been recognized with three different awards. MNLA received a Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. MSHS recognized the association for its donation of exhibit space for the Northern Gardener Bookstore at the Northern Green Expo. MSHS also expressed its appreciation for the wonderful support MNLA members provide to the Hort Society as commercial members and advertisers. MNLA is a member of the Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition which received the State Advocate of the Year Award from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. ILCM praised the coalition members for their advocacy of comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level as well as the coalition’s opposition to anti-business immigration enforcement language proposed at the state level. Finally, MNLA Executive Director Bob Fitch received an Outstanding Friend Award from the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Fitch was recognized for his efforts to facilitate the college’s presence in the trade show at the Northern Green Expo, for helping with the multi-college Higher Education Alumni Social also held at Expo, and for his leadership role in helping the University, MNLA, and the MNLA Foundation to create the Todd Bachman Award for Innovation in Horticultural Business. q
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Toro Recognizes Water in Motion ater in Motion, Inc., a Minneapolis-based water resource consulting firm specializing in irrigation and stormwater projects and offering water management services, received a WaterSmart Partner award from The Toro® Company, a leading worldwide provider of innovative turf and landscape maintenance equipment and precision irrigation equipment. Water in Motion is one of only 9 consulting firms to receive this prestigious award. Toro Company said Water in Motion has demonstrated a commitment to water-efficient practices and leads by example in its irrigation designs, specifications and project management. “We are honored to be recognized by The Toro Company as a resource and industry leader in the promotion of waterefficient landscape irrigation practices,” said Timothy Malooly, president of Water in Motion and the first-ever EPA WaterSense® Partner of the Year (2008). Water in Motion, Inc. is responsible for many industryleading projects including rainwater-harvest irrigation specification on the first-ever USGBC LEED Platinum Residential project and the Minnesota Twins Ballpark Plaza, which received a LEED award in 2010. q
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The Scoop | PLANT OF THE MONTH
2011 California Spring Trials Report - Part I
Plant of the Month
By Carolyn Jones, BFG Plant Connection elcome to the 2011 California Spring Trials Report! Another year has gone by and it’s time to look at new varieties for 2012. California Spring Trials (formerly Pack Trials) is the annual open house hosted by breeders and propagators to show off what they do best…create new varieties! In addition there are some great ideas for marketing and merchandising. This year did not disappoint, and while there may be fewer new introductions than some years, there are some plants and some ideas to get very excited about! We’ll run through the stops as I visited them, starting in Gilroy, near San Jose and finishing in Encinitas, near San Diego. Once again, this review will be in two parts, so please remember to check out the July Scoop as well. Here we go……..
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Coreopsis ‘Solanna™ Golden Ball’ • Euphorbia ‘Diwali™’ – we continue to add more Euphorbia choices to the market. ere are 2 in this series. ‘Diwali™ Shower’ is more compact (larger than Gloria, smaller than Hip Hop), while ‘Diwali™ Mystery’ is quite a bit more vigorous and has darker foliage. Oro Farms • Dahlia ‘Double Starsister Crimson Picotee’ – I find dahlias irresistible, and this one is no exception! A red and white bicolor, with longer flower life. Lobularia ‘Silver Stream™’
Dahlia ‘Double Starsister Crimson Picotee’ Danziger • Lobularia ‘Silver Stream™’ – a new lobularia that is more compact and ball shaped than ‘Snow Princess’ and very floriferous. is one might be easier to use in combinations. e plant in the photo has had no PGRs. • Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony®’ – a new line of vigorous impatiens that will perform in the sun (and compete with SunPatiens®). ere are 4 colors (salmon, orange, purple and magenta), and they will bloom a week later than SunPatiens®. 36
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• Coreopsis ‘Solanna™ Golden Ball’ – this fully double Coreopsis is so showy and unusual that your customers will have to try it! It will bloom all summer with large puffballs of gold.
Flowering Kale ‘Glamour™ Red’
• Petunia ‘Novela Tango Orange’ – orange is showing up more and more in different petunia series. is one has a white eye, which makes the color pop! Cohen (Agrexco) • Dahlia ‘Mystic® Dream Catcher’ – it seems everyone likes the Mystic® series with its dark foliage. ‘Dream Catcher’ is a red semi-double with “frilly” inner petals around a yellow center.
and a yellow picotee. e series will also include Purple Green Circle. • Regal Geranium ‘Aristo Darling’ - a lovely new addition to this series, a pink flower with dark purple top petals. e Aristo series all bloom at the same time, making them an easy choice for retail sales. American Takii • Flowering Kale ‘Glamour™ Red’ – the first “shiny” flowering kale, with glossy outer leaves that turn bronze as the temperatures get colder. is one is a 2012 AAS winner.
Plant Source International • Geranium ‘First Yellow’ – as the name indicates, it’s yellow! Not a bright yellow, but definitely a novelty that your geranium lovers will want to try.
• Salvia coccinea ‘Summer Jewel Red’ – another 2012 AAS winner, this salvia has amazing garden performance, with great branching and blooms all summer. It also blooms significantly earlier than other existing varieties.
• Petunia ‘Roundabout Purple Yellow Circle’ – this is a petunia that will rival Picasso, with bright purple flowers
Sakata • Supercal® ‘Pink Ice’ – a new color in this series that is a
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cross between petunia and calibrachoa. ‘Pink Ice’ is hot pink with a white eye. All the plants in this series are vigorous with great garden performance and no sticky foliage!
Mimulus aurantiacus ‘Buttercup’
Syngenta Flowers (includes Goldsmith Seeds) • Verbena ‘Lanai® Twister Pink’ – unique bicolor flowers (upper petals are pink, lower are white) creates rings of color on the flowers. Great powdery mildew tolerance. One of my top picks for the trials. • Euphorbia ‘Euphoric™’ – another addition to your Euphorbia choices, but I do like the looks of this
Dummen • Petunia ‘Surprise Black Jack’ – a new choice for black petunia with a spreading habit and early flowering. Try it in combination with Surprise Yellow Twist! • Petunia ‘Potunia® Popcorn’ – this flower is cream with a soft yellow throat, so it’s a pastel, but it has the Potunia® mounded habit and doesn’t have the vigor problems other yellows seem to have. Westhoff Petunia ‘Perfectunia Orange’ one. It’s a vigorous plant and in trials so far it looks like a top choice! • Petunia ‘Sanguna® Yellow’ – the yellow is bright, as yellow petunias go, and I think this will be a good addition to this series. • Marigold ‘Moonstruck®’ – a new intermediate series in 4 colors (Deep Orange, Orange, Yellow and Lemon Yellow) with strong branching and huge heads that shed water very well. Grolink • Mimulus aurantiacus ‘Buttercup’ – this could be a nice new hanging basket item in yellow. Large 1-2” flowers will show off nicely in a combination. Verbena ‘Lanai® Twister Pink’ 38
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• Scaevola ‘Suntastic’ – the yellow scaevola we talked about last year….it will be available for 2012 and I think it will be worth the wait. • Petunia ‘Perfectunia Orange’ – the Perfectunias as similar to Potunia, with an upright mounding habit that is good for tight spacing. ey bloom continuously all summer. is new orange is a hot color that will mix with blue for great combinations Indeed, it was a great trip this year! When you are passionate about plants, there is always so much to get excited about! Please remember to check back in your July issue for the second half of the 2011 Spring Trials Report. q ___________________ Carolyn Jones is a member of the MNLA Greenhouse & Herbaceous Growers Committee and can be reached at cjones@bfgsupply.com.
MNLA MEMBERSHIP | The Scoop
Great Incentives for Online MNLA Membership Renewal Here’s how...Renew your membership online by June 15th to take advantage of 3 great incentives: (1) receive a free 60 day job posting on GardenMinnesota.com ($35 value). (2) You will be entered into a drawing to win $100 gas card at Holiday Station Stores. (3) Request a workers’ compensation insurance quote from MNLA partner TBG to receive a 10% discount off your membership dues (email mary@mnla.biz for a quote form). Join your fellow MNLA members who are logging into their company profile and utilizing the tools now available to members via www.MNLA.biz, which includes renewing your membership. It is now easier than ever to renew your
Deadline Extended Act Now!
membership online! Go to www.MNLA.biz, click your login information in the upper right corner. Never signed on before? Simply hit ‘Forgot your password” and it will step you through the process. You will need to enter the email address you have provided MNLA. If you do not have an email address on file with MNLA, please contact us at 651-633-4987 and we will get you all signed up. New! Purchase a powerful enhanced directory listing when you renew and drive more traffic to your business from GardenMinnesota.com. Details below. q
New Opportunity for Marketing on GardenMinnesota.com! very MNLA member already receives a free listing in the MNLA online directory. It includes basic business information and shows which licenses and certifications your company has. All our public relation efforts and marketing points consumers to GardenMinnesota.com, where the directory is promoted on each and every page.
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This year you’ll have a new opportunity to bolster your online presence and take advantage of the power of the GardenMinnesota brand. The new enhanced listing will be Free listing comes with membership available at an introductory offer of $40, and includes these upgrades: • • • • • •
Enhanced listing available when you renew membership
Colored background Full company description Listing floats to the top of searches Larger type for company name Logo or photo upload (maximum size: 180 x 150 pixels) Graphics for map, contact, and website
Your first opportunity to purchase the enhanced listing will be when you renew your membership online. Just login to MNLA.biz, click “Membership Renewal” in the left column, then look for “Enhanced Directory Option” during your renewal process. q JuNE 2011 | www.MNLA.biz
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The Scoop | MNLA FOUNDATION ACADEMIC AWARDS
2010-2011 Scholarship Winner Profiles Tony Manarin School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Landscape Design/Construction Expected Date of Graduation: Fall 2011 MNLA Member Scholarship CoSponsor: Otten Bros. Nursery and Landscaping, Inc. Please explain how you got interested in a green industry area of study? I started in the industry by mowing the neighborhood yards around the house that I grew up at. is then proceeded to turn into doing hardscapes such as retaining walls and patios. After doing things on my own for neighbors, I then began working for a company my junior year in high school and still employed in the field as of today. What are your future plans in the green industry after graduation? My future plans are to stay in the field and to keep learning things everyday which will better me in the field making me more efficent and faster to better my company that I am working for. One day I hope to start my own landscape company and employ more people into a growing industry.
Nick Dornfeld School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Urban Forestry Expected Date of Graduation: Spring 2012 MNLA Member Scholarship CoSponsor: MNLA Commercial Arborist Committee Please explain how you got interested in a green industry area of study? I have always loved being outside around trees. So after high school I started to work for a landscaping company where we did mostly retaining walls and things of that nature, but i would rather be working around and with trees. at is when I looked at the course guide for Hennepin Tech and found the urban forestry program. What are your future plans in the green industry after graduation? After graduation I would like to work for a tree care company performing pruning tasks and other plant health care tasks.
Theodore Lenneman School: University of Minnesota Crookston Major: Horticulture & Golf and Turf Management Expected Date of Graduation: December 2011 MNLA Member Scholarship CoSponsor: Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape Please explain how you got interested in a green industry area of study? My first few jobs in high school were working on a golf course maintenance crew and working with a small 40
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landscape company. I enjoyed what I was doing, and I love to work outside. e green industry seemed to be a good fit. What are your future plans in the green industry after graduation? After graduation I would like to join a company in the green industry that values what they are doing. I wish to help a company grow and continue to value their work.
Nathanael Pilla School: Century College Major: Horticulture - Science Expected Date of Graduation: December - 2011 MNLA Member Scholarship CoSponsor: Robin D. Linder Memorial Scholarship Please explain how you got interested in a green industry area of study? Two years ago, I moved to Minnesota and began working at Midwest Landscapes in Otsego as a laborer. With the help of my fellow employees, I began to learn quickly about plants. For twenty-five years, this world was almost invisible to me; although, it did not take long to fall in love with it. I was quickly moved to the Nursery Yard Assistant position where the knowledge and passion for plants only grew. I had the opportunity this fall to start school which was the beginning to a beautiful journey in the green industry. What are your future plans in the green industry after graduation? My future plans are to continue on toward higher education. Idealistically, I would like to continue on to graduate school for botany. But through all the doors walk through, my primary objective is to attempt to mend this dysfunctional relationship that we (humans) have with plants in whatever way possible.
Deborah Flanders School: Dakota County Technical College Major: Landscape Horticulture - A.A.S. Expected Date of Graduation: 2011 MNLA Member Scholarship CoSponsor: Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape Please explain how you got interested in a green industry area of study? Coming from a rural Minnesota background, I've grown up around farming and gardening. I've always loved the outdoors, and have always had plants in my home and have enjoyed raising a garden for my family's use. When my children were older, I began to explore my options for education and a fulfilling career once my children left the nest. I took a Career Planning and Development test that indicated I should become a farmer or a forest ranger. I decided that was not a practical option at this stage in my life and got a diploma in Retail Floristry. After working in that arena for a number of years, I ended up at Bachman's providing administrative support for the Plant
Leasing Department, and ultimately the Landscape Department. I found that I really loved the horticultural business and then decided to enroll at DCTC to further my education and skills in the horticultural field. I am loving my classes and look forward to a future in the green industry. What are your future plans in the green industry after graduation? My initial goal was to simply become a landscape designer, but I have found that I have a strong interest in the enviromental issues and challenges that our country faces today. e green industry is about so much more than just making things look pretty. I will be seeking employment that will allow me to have a positive impact on the environment through educating and guiding others in environmentally friendly choices.
Cathy Hildebrandt School: Dakota County Technical College Major: Landscape Horticulture Expected Date of Graduation: Spring 2011 MNLA Member Scholarship CoSponsor: Bachman's, Inc. Please explain how you got interested in a green industry area of study? I grew up in a rural west metro area surrounded by lakes and appreciate how water quality affects our lives. I've always been interested in gardening, and composting was practiced without question, I still feel uneasy discarding a banana peel in the trash, knowing how it benefits the compost pile. When I moved to the city, I made changes to my yard and the adjacent wetland area to reduce and minimize yard waste that contributed to algae growth in the wetland which eventually drains off to a local lake. ough my efforts were positive, they were individual and changes need to be collective to make a difference for my small metro lake. en, the economy changed my career path, which offered me the opportunity to pursue my passion to improve our environment through better water quality. e journey of learning about landscape horticulture has been interesting, fun and exciting, and the support of everyone in the green industry is admirable. I look forward to working in this field of interest and to kayaking on clean waters for years to come. What are your future plans in the green industry after graduation? I'd like the opportunity to work toward revitalizing our residential landscapes to more effectively control water runoff, such as working with watershed districts or by influencing social responsibility of land ownership just one landscape design at a time. I believe homeowners want to make a positive impact on the environment and improve water quality, but often they just don't have the time to invest to make informed decisions on how and where to make changes to their home landscapes. Requests from family and friends to help them with drainage and runoff issues indicate that this may be just the tip of the iceberg of homeowner issues just waiting to be addressed. I'd like to interview some local experts on changes that they've made to landscapes and edit them into short video formats that could inspire homeowners to make similar changes. I'd like to combine my interests in drafting, photography and the green industry to positively impact our environment. q
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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | The Scoop
5 Biggest Employee Handbook Mistakes By Patrick McGuiness, Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC
accountable. These seem like two sides to the same coin, and in a way they are.
mployee handbooks are a great way of explaining company policies and procedures. They can provide employees with an overview of the Patrick McGuiness company, the working practices & environment. A good handbook can also provide a business with a layer of legal protection by setting clear standards and expectations which employees must comply with. In short, a good handbook is essential to running a good business.
How do you strike the perfect balance when writing an employee handbook? A good way to start is by knowing the possible pitfalls surrounding employee handbooks. Below are five common mistakes companies make in relation to employee handbooks.
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On the other hand, a poorly done employee handbook can cause a lot of harm. Business managers and owners tend to want very rigid policies in place that address almost every fathomable situation. Having policies in place that are too specific can make it hard for employers to be flexible in dealing with real situations. Policies that are too broad can have the opposite effect and make it hard for businesses to hold employees
5. An Overly Detailed Discipline Policy It is important to have some form of discipline policy in place for employees. Identify what types of actions are subject to discipline and what the general consequences will be for those actions. Do NOT have an extremely detailed list of what the consequences are for each specific infraction or number of infractions. Doing this removes the employers’ ability to be flexible in a given situation and take into account other factors which aren’t addressed or weren’t contemplated by the handbook. For example, some handbooks have policies which specify that a verbal warning will be the initial disciplinary step for a policy violation. However, this
policy does not make sense if the first violation is a serious one such as an act of violence. Employers should have the flexibility to address each situation in a manner which is fitting. To create the most flexibility, an employer should specify at the beginning of the handbook that ANY violation a company policy, whether or not stated in the handbook, has the potential to lead to discipline, up to and including termination. 4. Not Controlling Overtime I cannot stress enough how important it is for a business to monitor and control overtime hours of employees. Not only for business reasons such as keeping control of labor costs, but also for legal reasons. Overtime policies should be written so that they limit unauthorized overtime. First, the handbook should define when the company’s “workweek” is. It does not need to be Sunday through Saturday and can be any seven day period such as 12:00 midnight Wednesday through 11:59pm on Tuesday. The “workweek” can be changed periodically, but not as a
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mechanism to avoid the accrual of overtime hours. Second, the overtime policy should require that employees receive permission to work overtime hours. If an employee then fails to obtain permission for overtime, the company will still be required to pay the overtime, but they will then have a documented violation of the policy and can discipline the employee accordingly. 3. Not Following the Policies in the Handbook Often, a business owner will come to my law firm seeking a “standard employee handbook” that they can use. Somehow, there is the notion that such a standard document exists and should be readily available to business owners at a low cost. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Employee handbooks should be carefully and uniquely drafted to reflect the policies and procedures used by a particular business. Simply having an employee handbook that doesn’t reflect a company’s policies is almost worse than having no handbook at all. If the company does not follow the policies they have laid out, then they can lose their ability to enforce them at a later date. Specifically, this often comes up when an employee is terminated. If the employee was terminated according to the policies or procedures in the handbook, but up to that point, the employee had never been disciplined according to the handbook, the employee could use that as a part of their argument should they decide to sue the company. This is just one example of why it can be harmful to a company to not follow their own policies. 2. Not Reviewing the Handbook on a Regular Basis. Like many areas of law, employment law changes often. It would be impossible and unnecessary to make an updated employee handbook each time there is a law change. However, handbooks should be reviewed regularly so that important changes to the law can be incorporated. Just because a policy is listed in the employee handbook does 44
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not mean that the policy is legal. Regular review can ensure that the handbook is compliant and serves the company’s interests. It is also important to review the employee handbook on a regular basis so that it conforms to any policy changes the company has made. As always, having the handbook correctly represent the policies and procedures of the company is important so if a company finds that they are not using a certain section of their existing handbook, perhaps it would be a good time to figure out a way that the policies in that section can be changed so that they are used. 1. Not Having an Employee Handbook. Despite the entire employee handbook issues and problems discussed so far, having an employee handbook is still a very good idea. Without a handbook, there is nothing which a business can point to and say “here is what our policy is.” In the event of a dispute between a company and an employee, it becomes a battle of words and accusations with judges often finding on the side of an employee who appears sympathetic. Putting employee policies in writing is a great way to protect the company’s interests. Another great thing about employee handbooks is that they can be a great resource. It can summarize information for employees and can also be a guide for people in charge of implementing the policies found in the handbook. It should also give direction about where to go with any concerns an employee may have about the workplace.
To be effective, handbooks cannot be “one size fits all.” When a customer is considering a new patio, there is not a standard solution for everyone, there are many considerations such as how the space will be used, what type of material the customer would like, what style house do they have and so on. The same applies for employee handbooks. The handbook should be a document which accurately reflects a company’s culture, policies and procedures and each handbook should be unique. If you do not have an employee handbook, now may be a good time to create one. If you have a handbook but have not reviewed it regularly, consider updating it. Either way, the issues discussed above should assist you in avoiding some common handbook mistakes so that your company’s handbook can be most effective. q ________________________________ This article provides general information on business matters and should not be relied upon as legal advice. A qualified attorney must analyze all relevant facts and apply the applicable law to any matter before legal advice can be given. If you would like more information regarding employee handbooks or other legal matters, please contact Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC at 651-206-3203 or pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com Patrick McGuiness is one of the founding partners of Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC. His law practice focuses on assisting contractors & other small business owners. He is also part owner of One Call Property Care, LLC a Minneapolis landscaping & property management company.
landscapers, contractors, garden centers Need information on environmental topics? Check out the Sustainable Environment Resources on MNLA.biz! Titles include Rain Barrels, Permaculture, Business Energy Efficiency, Low Input Lawns, Native Plants, and more resources are coming soon! Content reviewed by MNLA Sustainable Environment Committee
IRRIGATION | The Scoop
Save Water by Better Understanding Plant Water Requirements By Jeff Sutter, Mickman Brothers, Inc. rrigating efficiently and saving water has been, and will continue to be the focus of our industry. Our efforts to promote conservation and increase professionalism have been the topic of many discussions, articles and educational programs.
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I thought I would provide some information that has worked well for me on another very important aspect of responsible irrigation; educating our customers, specifically, on plant water requirements and ways to save water by understanding how the irrigation water we apply is used by the plant. Even the best irrigation designs and the most efficient irrigation products can waste water if the end user is not educated on the system’s use and given some care instructions for their plant material. This subject can get very detailed and complicated, but when key points are presented in easy to understand terms to our customers, I have found that people are willing to change their watering habits. Before any care instructions are given, most people believe that the more water you apply the greener and healthier the landscape will be and if something appears to be wrong with the way the turf looks, it must need more water. Here are some water saving points to go over with your customer when you train: • Building a good root system is something that will not happen if you water too often, even if you don’t see evidence of overwatering, such as soggy soil. Explain to your customer what plant stress looks
like with cool season turf. e beginning stages of plant stress are ok and should be an indicator of when to start an irrigation cycle. is forces the plant to ‘go looking’ for water and to grow in deeper. A root system that is growing in soil that is constantly moist is ‘comfortable’ and has no need to grow deeper. Turf with a shallow root system will suffer during hot and dry periods of the summer and will need more water at the surface where evaporation is highest. Shallow roots, also, will allow room in the soil profile for weeds to dominate. • Understand the life cycle of the turf. Spring and fall are the rapid growth phases of your lawn. ese are the times of the year that you will want to build deep roots. e application of fertilizer during these times will also help speed the growth. During the spring and up until grass begins to seed, grass plants ‘learn’ a transpiration rate. If the root zone is continuously wet the grass plants will transpire more water and continue at that rate into the drier, hotter part of the summer. We want to teach the turf to transpire less and save water. • Fertilizing regularly saves water. is problem is two fold. First, when the turf lacks nutrients, it tends to turn from its dark green to yellowish color. Most people think that this yellowing is the turf drying out and then proceed to crank up the water with no results. A good test for this is to take your soil coring tool and sample a few
spots within a yellowing area with your customer. If the root zone has moisture in it, the problem is a lack of nutrients, not water. If you don’t have a soil coring tool, you should get one! ese are very handy to have and a core sample can answer a lot of questions when dealing with some common issues. Secondly, well fertilized and healthy turf will be thicker and denser and will lower the evaporation rate from the soil surface. • Adjust your mowing height to at least 3”, I like 3 ½-3 ¾”. Unless you manage a golf course, this saves a lot of water, especially in sandy soils, by shading the soil surface and greatly reducing evaporation during dry weather periods. Keeping a taller grass blade also promotes tiller formation (new branch shoots) to thicken the turf even further. • Save water in planting beds by using wood mulch and refreshing compacted areas yearly. Mulch covers the soil surface to hold in moisture. Wood mulch stays cooler in the sun than rock and doesn’t transfer as much heat to the soil surface. Keeping the mulch fresh and fluffy acts as an insulation layer and the root systems can get plenty of oxygen. I have found that most people like to learn about and understand how to better manage their watering schedules. If they don’t, it’s probably a good opportunity to increase the number of service calls you provide for them.q ________________________________ Jeff Sutter is a member of the MNLA Irrigation Committee and can be reached at jeff.sutter@mickman.com. JuNE 2011 | www.MNLA.biz
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SHOOTOUT
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scholarship program.
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The Scoop | SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
Zero Runoff Landscaping By Jim Hagstrom, Savanna Designs, Inc. ould you design a landscape in such a way that during a three inch downpour, there would be no water running off the site? Another way to think of this is to create high infiltration landscapes that function like a sponge - storing rainwater and allowing it to percolate into the soil. This water then recharges the root zone of trees and shrubs - and replenishes our groundwater. You are probably well aware of the many reasons WHY water quality issues are important to us in the Green Industry- and to all of us in Minnesota. So I won’t go into making that case, but rather look at WHAT we can do with the landscapes we design and build- to make them part of the solution, rather than adding to the problem, of surface water quality in our communities. As a starting point, I thought it might be helpful to review the LEED guidelines (prepared by architects) for LEED certification. Perhaps some of you have, or will, work on projects that are going for LEED certification. I went through the Site Stewardship document and pulled out and abbreviated the requirements relating to stormwater and infiltration for the purposes of this article. So, here is a list of things to do, requirements if you will, for being stormwater responsible with our land: 1. Plan erosion control measures prior to and during construction. 2. Stockpile and protect topsoil for reuse. 3. Leave 40% of the buildable lot area undisturbed. Develop a tree preservation plan and “nodisturbance” zones for the property. 4. Do not use turf in densely shaded areas. 5. Do not use turf in areas with a slope of 25% (4:1) or greater. 6. Use mulch and soil amendments (compost) 7. All compacted soil must be tilled to
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at least 6” deep. 8. Limit turf to less than 60% of lot (1pt, good) 40% (2pts, better) 20% of lot (3pts, best) 9. Design the lot such that at least 70% of the built area (not including the roof ) is permeable or designed to capture runoff for infiltration on site. 10. Manage runoff from the roof;
swales, raingarden or cistern - or install a vegetated roof. So, what do you think? Can we do this? Is this direction good for your business and our industry? I have found that adapting environmentally friendly principles into projects changes our work. The resulting landscapes look different, function different - and the maintenance is different. For landscape professionals, the technical part of creating water responsible landscapes is not very complicated. It’s the different look and the maintenance (issues with perception, neatness, prestige and control) that really need to be addressed when planning this type of landscape. Anything that is “outside the box” of the suburban norm brings with it issues that will need thoughtful, creative resolution in order to gain wide acceptance. Take #8 from the list above. If we don’t do lawn on 40% of the lot, what do we do with it? Plant perennial beds, prairie, evergreens, start a forest, “let it go”? (For many of us “plant people” this
situation presents tremendous opportunity for plants, butterflies, restoration, habitat, flowers, etc.) However, for more typical, busy homeowners, the result is often a maintenance nightmare; an unintentional launch into plant identification 101, invasive species, ecological succession and yes, weeding! Many would just rather mow the lawn, thank you. Education, and a new maintenance paradigm, is an important part of making something different “look good” and work. These are exciting times for the Green Industry. There is a lot of change, demand and opportunity before us. It’s a great time to deliver on what it means to be green. We can demonstrate what is sustainable (at least as to our relationship with the land) - and what is not. The LEED movement provides a base of
measurable outcomes and goals for us to consider. The document also addresses other landscape issues such as irrigation, native and invasive plants, etc. If you are interested in more information, check out www.usgbc.org and learn more about the program. ASLA has also been working with the USGC to develop an evaluation tool for documenting levels of sustainability in landscapes. You can look into it at www.sustainablesites.com. q ________________________________ Jim Hagstrom is a member of the MNLA Sustainable Environment Committee and can be reached at j.hagstrom@savannadesigns.com.
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