The Scoop Online – August 2012 by Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association

THE

Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 40 Government Affairs . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12, 28 Landscape Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Greenhouse & Herbaceous Growers . 14 Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Landscape Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 MNLA Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 40 Education/Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 MNLA Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 32, 42 From the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . 33 MNLA Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-39 MDA Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 46 State Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 MNLA Foundation Research . . . . . . . . . 48 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Plant of the Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Northern Green Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

ADVERTISER INDEX A Top Notch Equipment...........................14 Astleford International...........................15 Baker Lake Nursery ................................15 Belgard Hardscapes - Northfield ...............4 BFG Supply........................................26-27 Bridgewater Tree Farms..........................16 Bruce Company of Wisconsin, Inc.............21 Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ ProGreen Plus ...................................18 Casualty Assurance.................................19 Central Landscape Supply .......................23 Collyard Landscaping..............................24 Cushman Motor Co. Inc ...........................19 D. Hill Nursery Co....................................23 Dailey Data ............................................44 Evergreen Nursery Co., Inc. .....................40 Gardenworld Inc.....................................25 Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc. ...............................39 Haag Companies, Inc. ...............................5 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies ..10 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet ................................7

Johnson's Nursery, Inc.............................38 Klaus Nurseries ........................................8 Kubota Dealers ........................................9 Landscape Alternatives ............................8 Lano Equipment, Inc...............................20 Liberty Tire Recycling .............................28 Out Back Nursery....................................30 RDO Integrated Controls .........................36 Rock Hard Landscape Supply, division of Brian's Lawn & Landscaping, Inc.........25 Sterling Arbor LLC.....................................8 Synthetic Turf Solutions of MN ................47 The Mulch Store .....................................41 The Tessman Company............................29 Titan Machinery.......................................2 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc..........................11, 17 Truck Utilities & Mfg. Co. .........................37 University of Minnesota Continuing Education .........................................13 Wheeler Landscape Supply .....................31 Ziegler Cat ...............................................3

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event calendar AUGUST 9

MNLA Foundation: Girls Night Out

Minneapolis www.mnla.biz.

Clean Water Summit 2012 - Green Infrastructure for Clean Water: The Essential Role of Soil Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska www.arboretum.umn.edu

2012 Wisconsin Nursery Field Day

MNLA Sporting Clays Shootout

Wayside Nurseries, Mequon, Wisc. www.wgif.net

South St. Paul Rod and Gun Club www.mnla.biz

11-15

27 MNLA: Dig, Drive and Demo

International Society of Aboriculture (ISA) 2012 Conference and Trade Show

Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul www.mnla.biz

Portland, OR. www.isa-arbor.com

Carlin: 2012 Buyerfest

St. Paul 855-487-8108

Open House Days at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Grass Collection Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska www.arboretum.umn.edu

23 – Sept 3

MNLA Display Garden at the Minnesota State Fair Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul www.mnla.biz

28-29 BFG Minneapolis Hort Expo Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center www.bfgsupply.com/hortexpo

SEPTEMBER 6-7 Foster’s Spring Market 2013 River Centre, St. Paul ww.fostersinc.com

OCTOBER 3-5

WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition Las Vegas, NV. www.WaterSmartInnovations.com

ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Specialty and Municipal Specialist Exam Chanhassen www.isa-arbor.com | 217-355-9411

JANUARY 8 Super Tuesday Minneapolis Convention Center www.mnla.biz

9-11

Northern Green Expo

Minneapolis Convention Center Exhibit contracts available online at www.northerngreenexpo.org | 651-633-4987

Visit www.mnla.biz for registration and details for MNLA programs! Questions? Call 651.633.4987. Sponsorships are available for selected seminars. Call Betsy Pierre at 763-295-5420 or e-mail betsy@pierreproductions.com. 6

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

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Nominations Open for 2013 Friend of the Environment Award The MNLA Friend of the Environment Award honors an MNLA-affiliated company or individual for outstanding environmental efforts, a personal commitment to environmental protection and enhancement, or demonstrated leadership on a specific environmental issue in their field of work. The application is now available online at www.MNLA.biz. Nominations are due in the MNLA office no later than October 1 and must be accompanied by a signed letter of support from the nominator. Support documentation and/or an essay are also encouraged. The MNLA Awards & Nominating Committee, made up of past MNLA presidents, selects a winner from among the nominees. If you have questions, please contact the MNLA office at 651-633-4987 or visit us online at www.MNLA.biz.

the Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Together We Stand By Jeff Pilla, Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Center ow another spring has come and gone; ideally everyone experienced a profitable one. I continue to be amazed how much time and energy is invested in our industry for a single time of year. Yes, May is an important month; most of us frequently relate it as the month of harvest in our industry. I wonder how many Jeff Pilla of us invest even half as much energy when it comes to policies that impact our industry; I know I don’t.

In anticipation of the upcoming election this fall, I am optimistic that everyone in the industry will take an active role in the process. Regardless which side of the aisle each of us stand, I am confident most are concerned how the pending election will influence future policy that affect our businesses. If you are skeptical that your voice will not make a difference; I plead you to reconsider. Politicians do listen, particularly when members of an industry stand together for a specific cause. An example of this is a recent change in the DNR’s role producing tree seedlings; they are no longer permitted to sell seedlings to private land owners unless the land is protected by a conservation easement. This new policy will have a positive impact on MNLA members as the competition between private business and government agencies will be limited; MNLA member’s voices were heard. Currently many MNLA members are monitoring issues that will likely affect how we conduct business in the future. The outcome of important issues to our industry such as: invasive plant species, H2B, minimal impact design standards, stormwater management, landscape sales tax, pesticide regulations, and irrigation standards may likely be determined by the upcoming election. Together our voice can make a difference. Together we stand during this important time in the election process; you can start an active role by supporting the Minnesota Green Industry PAC (MGI-PAC) and the MNLA Government Affairs Committee (GAC). MGI-PAC needs your financial support to ensure the green industry interests are represented in the legislature next year and the GAC relies on you to share your thoughts on any legislative issue that may impact the green industry. Your MGI-PAC board members are Jennifer Wilson, Jeff Pilla, Tim Malooly, Patrick McGuiness and Mick McGuire; GAC members are Tim Malooly, Van Cooley, Scott Frampton, Terri McEnaney, Mick McGuire, John Mickman, Gail Nozal, Jeff Pilla, Bill Sayward, Nick Tamble, and Jennifer Wilson. We look forward to hearing from you. q _________________________________________________ Jeff Pilla can be reached at jpilla@bachmans.com 10

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

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the Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

MGI-PAC Invests in Lawmaker Relationships effectiveness of industry lobbying efforts. Following these contributions, now we need to re-build our war chest. Consider sending a personal check to the address included on the letter below. q ________________________________________________ Jennifer Wilson is chair of the MGI-PAC Board of Directors. She can be reached at wilsontrees@gmail.com.

By Jennifer Wilson, Wilson’s Nursery Inc. he Minnesota Green Industry Political Action Committee has made its first donations to key state legislators in time for the 2012 election cycle. Included on this page is a sample of the letter that each lawmaker received from the MGI-PAC. All recipients are members of either the Environment or Agriculture Committees in the House or Senate. They have all either been supporters of MNLA or will be in key leadership positions of influence in the future. Staying true to the promise of bipartisanship, six of the legislators are Republicans and four are Democrats.

A PAC is NOT about “buying votes.” It’s about gaining greater access to lawmakers to plead or defend our case. As legislators sort through the dozens of requests they receive every day, they are going to naturally gravitate to the organizations which have actively supported them in some fashion. A PAC operates like a “political mutual fund,” pooling dollars from small investors to enhance their influence. Supporting the PAC is a chance for members like you and me to clearly demonstrate our gratitude for MNLA’s past government affairs accomplishments, our support for current efforts, and our dedication to the future by helping increase MNLA’s access to lawmakers and the

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

Jennifer Wilson

LANDSCAPE DESIGN | the Scoop

Volunteers: The Heart of a Community By Stephen Volkenant, Visionary Landscape Design, Inc. his month I'd like to share with you my recent experience with the Historical Society of the community in which I live.

Stephen Volkenant In the past, our volunteers have done much to preserve the historical aspects of our communities. As I sat in the meeting with members of the Maple Grove Historical Society, I realized that the present volunteers were in their late 60s, 70s and 80s. Will our communities' history be lost if we are unable to recruit a younger generation of volunteers?

Most needs involved our industry; whether it is the landscape renovation of a historical building, home or site. We as landscape designers and contractors have the knowledge and creativity to capture the gardens and outdoor living spaces of past eras. It is time to follow in the footsteps of those that have defined the historical traditions of the communities in which we live. As professionals and members of the MNLA, we can make a positive impact in our communities by contributing our time and talents. Thank you for volunteering. q ________________________________ Stephen Volkenant can be reached at sav@visionarylandscapedesign.com.

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

the Scoop | GREENHOUSE & HERBACEOUS GROWERS

Got Network? By Andy Petersen, Spectrum Sales participated in the MNLA Shootout this past September and it was a blast (bad pun). I like to shoot clay birds and take every opportunity to do it. It was great to see people from virtually every aspect of the green industry out enjoying the day with friends and colleagues. It was fun watching teams try to figure out the different shots, Andy Petersen each team member building on the experience of other teammates. One of the biggest benefits from attending any industry event is the opportunity to start, expand and exercise your personal and professional Networks.

A Network is one of the most valuable things a person can cultivate. Your Network is what you can rely on for all sorts of things. It is your Network that you can call on when you need a job, need information about competition, sales opportunities and how to close the deal, get an introduction to a new account you have no connection with, and problem solve for your business just to name a very few. The benefits of a well

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developed and exercised Network are virtually unlimited. You may not know it but you already have a Network and it always starts right at home with your family. Now you need to grow your Network. That is another thing entirely. To truly grow your Network you need to get out there and make connections. You want to connect with as many people as you can because every new person you meet has a network too and that personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Network may be part of yours one day. Everyone you meet has something of value to offer. Always keep that in mind. Your Network is similar to your body. It needs to be fed, it needs to be rested and most importantly, it needs to be exercised. Feed your Network with new quality connections all the time. When a contact turns out to be bad, cut it loose because it has little value and like the bad apple it can spoil your whole Network. Rest your Network. We have all gone to a certain well too many times to drink and soon it runs dry. You do not want to run a member of your Network dry. A worn Continued on page 15

Continued from page 14 out contact is a dead end on your Network. Exercising your Network is perhaps the most important things you can do. Exercising is not an easy thing to do for your body or your Network. First and foremost it requires a commitment. Exercising your Network takes time and that is very precious and should be well spent when exercising and growing your Network. I take time every chance I get to reconnect with people I have in my Network. It may be nothing more than a quick email or phone call to someone you have not heard from in a while. Network exercise requires give and take, most importantly providing value. It is fine to call upon a contact when you need a favor, but when it is your turn to do a good turn for someone you must come through if at all possible. All of this builds interdependence within your Network and makes you a person of greater value to others. Pretty soon your Network is like those teams at the MNLA Shootout, everybody working together building on the experience and value of other members of your Network to ultimate team and personal success. “Thanks, I owe you one. What can I do for you?” The proper response to that question is, “Nothing! I’d rather have you owe me.” Within your Network “IT” always comes back to you somehow and sometimes in ways you could never begin to imagine. Never keep a tally of favors done or markers you can call in. When you properly cultivate and tend your Network, you will not need to.

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Many MNLA members own their own businesses and find it hard to get away to attend trade shows or industry events. These formats are vital to growing and exercising your Network and making you a valuable person to know within your Network and the Networks of others. The next time you see an industry event, tour, seminar or trade show, consider the time and expense, certainly, then consider your Network. What kind of shape is it in? We tend our crops, now we should spend some time tending our Networks. Your personal and professional Networks are some of the most valuable things you have. When you do make the decision to attend an event, make an effort to meet as many people as possible and make sure you introduce the people you are with every time you can. All too often I see people at a show or event clinging to the people they came in the door with. You know who you are. Open up and branch out. That is a very difficult thing to do some times but it always pays dividends to your Network and increasingly makes you a person of value. My personal Networking mission statement can be summed up like this, “If you need it, I can get it. If I can’t get it, I know someone who can. If I do not have the answer, I know someone who does. Let me make a few calls to some people I know and see where it takes us.” “What can you do for me? Nothing! I’d rather have you owe me.” q _________________________________________________ Andy Petersen can be reached at apeat@comcast.net. AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

the Scoop | IRRIGATION

Working Harder – Some Alternatives for Success to see that the reverse of “working harder” is actually true. Working hard is certainly an attribute and an ethic of successful people. However, working harder is by no means key and strategic to your business success. In talking with a business coach recently, one of the first comments he touched upon was the question he often asks, "What will it take to achieve and run this business at double or triple its current revenue?" "What will it take to grow this business at 15% to 20% per year?" He mentioned he almost always gets a "I will work harder" strategy for the answer. It is obvious when faced with a question of incremental proportions we will give an incremental answer. "We'll just sell 20% more, and I'll just work 20% harder." If this is truly the strategy to achieve the growth and absent a different, better thought-out plan, the owner will be running his feet off working “in” the business. Even if the “work harder” strategy came to fruition, it is most likely not sustainable to keep up the growth pace for any length of time. People will run out of energy, will burn out and become

By Duggan Kelly, Kelly Green Irrigation t is not surprising that after a certain point, “working harder” does not work to a business owner’s expectations. We have all said that “if only there was more time in Duggan Kelly a day” or “if I could only have two of me” I could grow my business, double revenues and be more successful overall. Right? We all know, through our extensive networking and business contacts, we can identify those who seem to be making more progress with working less or the right way. The more we get to know those people, the more evident it is that people who are successful “work” less than the rest who are doing O.K. in their businesses. We have all been at the point where we work harder every day, don’t take time off and spend all of our time working “in” the business. Some believe the harder we work the more progress we will achieve and the more successful they will be. We owe it to the benefit of our success

complacent. The owner as well and this is the danger of striving to “work harder” to meet goals and attain your desired level of success. Now the alternative to “working harder”… working less. That is working less “in” your business and turn to working “on” your business. We all know the many facets to attend to and hats we have to wear on a daily basis to operate a successful business. As business owners, we are the obvious and default go-to person. The more we attend to and try to facilitate the daily business issues, the more that will come our way. It is certainly a bottomless pit of effort that will consume every minute if you let it and is absolutely an effort with little return other than to get you to the daily finish line. That finish line also comes with burn out and with burn out comes lack of growth and stagnant progress. In our current business climate, it is paramount that we out think our competition on many levels, not just the sale. Some people think "If I can work harder in my business, it will become Continued on page 17

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Continued from page 16 more successful and I can take more time away from it." They have the cause and effect backwards. Working harder is a sinkhole you can't get out of. If that's the whole plan, you'll NEVER get time away from your business, either to work ON it and actually make it better or to just enjoy the money you're making doing something pleasurable. Many people are in this mental trap, and they just can't remove themselves. There are limited days a year when you can go to the office, call on customers, and do the things you regularly do in your business. If you really want it to be better, here are alternatives to working harder "in" your business as prescribed from one of my business coach resources and has been very helpful. Try some time working "on" your business: Find a peer advisory group of business owners and CEOs. This is, by definition, time working "on" your business -- getting ideas, insights and

knowledge of how to do things differently, in order to get a different result. Be sure it's a group who will be honest and direct with you. (Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: Watch for news on an MNLAfacilitated peer advisory group coming in 2013!) Hire a business coach or outside advisor. Get someone who can help you visualize the business at 2x-3x its current size and can then help you surround yourself with the people you'll need to get there. Find out what's getting in the way of your further success. The time spent on these activities count as working "on" your business. Form an advisory council for your company -- A standing group of people who are resources, not friends, and who will be honest with you. Start building a management team. Imagine the business without yourself. You're totally disabled and still need the income but can't go to work. What kinds of people would it take to run it for you? Can't afford them? How can you afford not to have them?

Read, read, and read. There's a wealth of subscribable content on the web, not to mention those old-fashioned things like books and magazines. Attend seminars, workshops, shows and conferences. Take off your "exhibitor" hat and put on your "attendee" hat. It's rare that you can spend two to three days at a workshop, show or conference and not get several ideas, any of which are worth the price and time of attending. Keep Track -- If this is a brand-new behavior, keep track of the time you spend working "on" your business. Set a goal, and then set another. How will you know when you've "arrived" with this new or reminded strategy? When someone comes up with an unexpected opportunity, project or event you'd like to do, business or personal, and you say, "Sure, I can rearrange things for that." Now you own a business -- not a job that owns you. q ________________________________ Duggan Kelly can be reached at dkelly@kellygreenirrigation.com.

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

the Scoop | PUBLIC RELATIONS

Marketing Your Future By Karen Filloon, Southview Design he Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association is in the midst of strategic Karen Filloon adjustments....a refocus. Not everyone is going to agree with the changes. There will be "growing pains" but a periodic review of what's working and what's not will ultimately result in a stronger MNLA.

I have been the chairperson of the Public Relations Committee for the last few years. Our mission statement was "to implement cost efficient programs that continually encourage and educate consumers to purchase the products and services of MNLA members." I used to think our public relations efforts were all about making the public aware of the organization. However, if you re-read the mission statement, you will see we were basically just the "sales department" for the MNLA members. We were trying to be all things to all people. We did try to accomplish the mission in several ways through GardenMinnesota.

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

com, through several community programs such as Green for Life and Capitol Decorating, the State Fair garden, and school programs like the Arbor Day poster contest among others. Ultimately, the MNLA shouldn't be about the deeds we've done as an organization but what we have to offer to the companies (members) we work for and the public we serve. To say the public doesn't care about our hard-earned certifications or awards is wrong. After all, how can they have an opinion about something they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about? If people didn't care, companies like Angie's list and similar companies wouldn't stand a chance in this economy. People are looking for competency, ability, and reliability. You went the extra mile to earn the degree, certification and/or license. If you aren't promoting these qualities/abilities, then you are missing a prime opportunity to give the public what they are looking for. There's a reason people interview 3, 4 or even 5 companies before signing with just one. What sets you and your company apart from other companies? Certifications, awards, and testimonials help to generate trust in potential clients.

If you are looking to "get your foot in the door," to get their attention, then let the public know what you are doing and what you're about. This helps to instill confidence that you and your company know what you are doing... and trust that you will treat them fairly as a client. Once you do that, then go out and prove them right. If you are part of a company that maintains a membership with the MNLA, YOU should be promoting your involvement within the industry. Are you an award-winning designer? Have you won awards or earned certification with another trade industry outside MNLA? Are there other certifications or licenses held by you or your colleagues in the company? How are you involved in your community? What other qualities make your company unique? Once you figure this out, you are ready for the next step. Here are a few ways, without spending a lot time (which seems to be the main objection), to make the public aware of the Who-What-When-WhereContinued on page 19

Continued from page 18 and-Why of your company. A couple of these suggestions can be done easily enough. Others will take a bit more time. Start slowly ... adding one or two ideas at a time. Have a plan that stretches out over a couple of years, if necessary. Not all of these suggestions will work for you. This list just scratches the surface. So, here goes: • • • • • • • • •

Business cards (not just your title…how about your awards?) Letterhead with MNLA logo Email signatures (same as business cards) Newsletters (logos, featured projects, etc) Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter – promote! Website - logo, awards, certiﬁcations, recent recognitions Blog Magazines/newspaper articles Initial consultation discussions -

Why should people trust you? Because you said so? • Plaques- when people visit your oﬃce, do they see awards and recognitions on the walls? • Teach a class, give a talk (share the experience on Fb, LinkedIn, Twitter) Don't depend on an organization to tell others about what you do best. Only you can do that. The MNLA is working, during this time of "re-focus" to provide the members with tools to help you promote yourselves. Public Relations isn't going away, it's just part of the strategic focus of Information, Marketing, and Communications. You will be able to get information about industry trends, marketing expertise and tools, and have easier access to online resources. You + Your Company + MNLA Information, Marketing, and Communications = a stronger, more profitable YOU and MNLA. q ________________________________ Karen Filloon can be reached at KFilloon@southviewdesign.com

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the Scoop | LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT

Wheelbarrow vs. Wheel barrel By Jon Rabe, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board eadline approaching and temperatures rising, I was searching for something…anything to write about. While brainstorming and Jon Rabe narrowing down options I recalled a revolving debate with my wife. (She loves to debate, and she loves to be right.) I believe it started when she made fun of my southern-Minnesotan drawl and how I pronounce “wheelbarrow” and how she calls it a “wheel barrel.” Well, growing up on a dairy farm an hour from the Iowa border may have something to do with it, but that’s how

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

my mother always pronounced it too. My research took me into the depths of the internet and a few interesting tidbits were found. From a Facebook poll of “barrel” vs “barrow” to many blog postings of, “I always thought it was called/spelled this way.” Wikipedia promptly redirected my “wheel barrel” search to “wheelbarrow.” Even a Google search corrects my entry with a, “Did you mean: wheelbarrow.” I should be able to stop there, especially for my generation (if you can’t trust Wiki and Google, who can you trust?). Wikipedia says this: “A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle, usually with just one wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles to the rear or by a sail to push the ancient wheelbarrow by wind. The term "wheelbarrow" is made of two words: "wheel" and "barrow."

Jon and his son, Jack "Barrow" is a derivation of the Old English "bearwe" which was a device used for carrying loads.” But to continue: A blog from a contributor to the Eggcorn Database, Arnold Zwicky, mentions several other misspellings or demi-eggcorns of wheelbarrow. Including: “wheelboro,” “wheel burrow,” my favorite: “wheel burro,” “wheel borough” and “wheelborrow,” also ear-spellings such as: “wheelbaro” and “wheelbarro.” Frankly, I don’t think I’ll lose any sleep if you call it a “wheelbarrel.” All in all it’s a great landscape tool: handy as a tarp, easier to move than a full plastic drum, doubles as a chair for lunch and as a dance partner (YouTube “Barrow Boys”.) You could even try James Dyson’s 1974 “ballborrow” if you’re tired of your own wheelbarrow although production has been discontinued. Lastly, I don’t know where I’d be today without my childhood wheelbarrow rides and in closing, “Honey, I think you’re right ;)” q ________________________________ Jon Rabe can be reached at jonrabe12@hotmail.com.

MEMBERSHIP | the Scoop

Attractive Landscape Supply

MNLA wants to know you better! MNLA staﬀ and volunteer leaders want to see you in action! We know that MNLA will meet your needs better as we increase our understanding of your operations, including the challenges you face every day. If you'd be interested in a short visit to your nursery, garden center, shop, or job site, please call Mary at 651-633-4987 or email mary@mnla.biz.

MNLA Membership Director, Mary Dunn, welcoming MNLA's new member Verulo Cortez of Attractive Landscape Supplies.

MNLA Welcomes New Members! Attractive Landscape Supplies of Richfield Beaudry Propane of Elk River Jake’s Lawn & Landscaping, LLC of Maplewood

Kraus-Anderson Insurance of Burnsville Networkfleet of Farmington ORIJIN STONE of St. Louis Park

Whispering Gardens

Left, Sandra Lankow of Whispering Gardens in Cottage Grove gave MNLA Membership Director, Mary Dunn, a tour of the garden center which includes a venue for wedding ceremonies.

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

September 27, 2012 | 10:00am—3:30pm | Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Join us for this FREE outdoor product showcase that puts you in the driver’s seat. • • • •

Move dirt with a skid steer Take a mower for a spin Test drive that vehicle you’ve had your eye on Try out a weed whip, chainsaw or blower

More details to come soon on vehicle audits, a power equipment rodeo, and more! For exhibit information, contact Betsy Pierre at betsy@pierreproductions.com or 763-295-5420.

November 16, 2012 | 9:00am—3:30pm | Continuing Education Center, University of MN, St. Paul

MNLA and the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation (MTGF) are excited to again present this Pesticide Recertification session. The session will be applicable to those seeking to gain recertification credit for category A (general) and E (turf and ornamentals). There will be two tracks available at this session, one for those interested in turf related topics and one for those interested in woody plant topics as they pertain to pesticides.

January 8, 2013 | Minneapolis Convention Center

Join us for a full day of education just prior to the Northern Green Expo. This year’s courses will include: • Landscape Irrigation Troubleshooting (PLT Relicensure) • Permeable Paver Certificate Course • MNLA CEO Symposium • and more! 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 763-295-5420 or e-mail betsy@pierreproductions.com. 22

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

CERTIFICATION | the Scoop

Magic from the Manual: Marketing, Merchandising and Sales Part II: Merchandising available without a search, there will be no impulse and no purchase. Impulse items should, therefore, be placed in he correct product must be in the correct place at the hotspots, areas of traffic and at the end of view or vista lines. correct time. In order to facilitate this, all sales people However, in some situations, the impulse to buy, for must be aware of all aspects of the garden example, a large patio plant, may need to include some center, nursery, or landscape situation; the products to time to browse while deciding which one to choose. In be sold, and the sales promotions in effect. such situations, a clear sight line will be needed to catch the impulse initially, as well as space for browsing. Impulse Products Consequently, some vista lines should end with browsing All green and dry goods can be classified as either impulse or purpose items. Impulse items are CERTIFIED areas for large items, although they must remain Professional attractive and inviting. Surveys show that over 60% of essentially those products purchased which were not all non-food merchandise bought in the USA is bought intended to be purchased that particular day. Customers may impulse. Impulse items are usually highly decorative or on have intended to replace a rose bush with a Mockorange, but appear to be a good value. It should be mentioned however, only when they saw and smelled the Mockorange in the that if customers are overwhelmed with walls of color and nursery did they decide to buy it. Other items such as colorful flowering plants provide an even stronger, "instant impulse" Continued on page 24 reaction. Obviously, if such items are not visible or are not By Ernie Hammero, Berg's Nursery

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

Continued from page 23 impulse items when they step into the nursery, there is danger of the higher priced items such as large shrubs, shade trees, and furniture being obscured. If this occurs, the customer will spend less, reducing the dollar sale per customer. Staple Products In the supermarket, the staple items are things such as bread, meat, dairy products, produce and breakfast cereals. In the garden center, staple items include chemicals, tools, bedding plants, and containers. These items are sought out by customers, but no one wants to shop where there is an obstacle course. To be easily seen and found, such items should be well marked with signs even though not located near the entrance or in a hot spot. By placing staple items at the ends, corners and sides of the sales areas, customer flow is encouraged around a greater portion of the nursery, provided these items are clearly marked and displayed in an attractive manner. Some basic items are very price sensitive, wherein the price becomes the main motive for buying. If promotions by the garden center are aimed at creating a price awareness of a certain product line, this line can be used to pull traffic into a quiet or dead spot, but only if the merchandise and its price are very obvious. Impulse items are not nearly as price sensitive. In this respect color, suggested use of the goods, and the attractiveness of the product, not price, should be the central message in displaying staple items.

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Browse Products These are products for which customers do not make quick decisions. Sometimes they need time to read instructions on packets and the supporting literature. These items can be as large as a $1000 set of patio furniture or as small as a 65 cent packet of seeds. Browse products require space, plus customers will require time in that space. Browse items should never be placed in areas of high traffic flow, narrow or busy areas, hot spots, or near the cash register. Such placement will deter customers from shopping and these items will not sell very well. For example, seeds placed near the cash register for security reasons will not sell as well as when placed in a browse area, which should still be "open" to deter shoplifting. Many garden centers increase browse sales by providing seating so that customers can sit and read through books or seed packets. Companion, Tie-In or Associated Products Tie-in products complement each other in the customers' minds, or these products are associated if the display suggests that they are associated. Frequently, a link is created between a hard good or non-plant item, and a plant. This necessitates a flexible approach rather than an approach which determines that hard goods are inside and plants are outside. Companion sales are common in other retail businesses and could be used more often by the nursery industry. It is simply a way of increasing the dollars spent per customer. Continued on page 25

Continued from page 24 Useful companion or tie-in sales include: • Trees: tree stakes, ties fertilizer, mulch. • Foliage Plants: leaf shine, fertilizer, containers. • Bird Feeders: bird food, bird books. • Bedding Plants: Fertilizer, labels. _______________________________________________ Ernie Hammero can be reached at ehammero@hotmail.com Study Questions: True or false 1. T F Impulse items are usually non decorative 2. T F Staples items should not be located near the entrance or hot spots 3. T F Promotions should not be used to draw customers into dead spots Multiple Choice 4. Browse items should be placed in a ? A. High traﬃc area B. Narrow area C. Hot spots D. Spacious area Answers:1. False 2. True 3. False 4. D

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

20 BFG Minneapolis Hort Expo 12 August 28 & 29, 2012 BFG is now in the Lawn & Garden business! Come to the Hort Expo and see these great Lawn & Garden vendors: Apollo Plastics Arcadia Bayer Advanced Dewitt Dramm Espoma Liquid Fence

Michigan Peat Monterey Myers Novelty Panacea Precision Sterling International/Rescue!

Plus MANY More!

Now You Have a Choice! LOW PRICE GUARANTEE

NEW! SEEDS FOR YOUR EVERY NEED

Buy at the Hort Expo to get the best price possible on all product lines. Find a better price somewhere else? to grass seeds, we’ll have what you’re looking for at the Bring it to us and we’ll match it OR you get a prices you want! $25 Target gift card!

Minneapolis, MN 800-798-2891

20 BFG Minneapolis Hort Expo 12 August 28 & 29, 2012 PLUS! Our Great Educational Seminars! Erik Runkle Michigan State University

Jon Sammons Sustane

• Managing Greenhouse Temperature to Control Crop Production Time and Energy Consumption • to Control Flowering of Crops

• Organic Fertilizers: They're Not Just for Breakfast Anymore!

Harvery Lang Syngenta • The Nuts and Bolts of High-Quality Geranium Production • Fun in the Sun – New Vegetative Varieties from Syngenta Flowers

John Erwin University of Minnesota • How to Manage Your pH – Common Problems and How to Solve Them •

Lance Osborne University of Florida • Insect Pathogenic Fungi • Biological Insect Control

Paul Pilon Perennial Solutions Consulting • Success with Herbicides • Several Misconceptions Growers Have with Controlled Release Fertilizers

Ron Newble EuroAmerican

Carolyn Jones BFG

Scott Swift Swift Greenhouse

• Great New Varieties for 2013

• What's New with Proven Winners?

• Producing Blooming Perennials

Diane Nolte BFG

Dave Quarles Abrahamson Nursery

• Mix Up Your Containers

• Make Life Easier in May – Production Tips

Dave Barcel OHP • PGR's for Small Growers or PGR's for Those Who Are Afraid of PGR's.

Register Today! Don’t miss the BFG buying event of the year! Phone: 800-883-0234 • Web: www.bfgsupply.com/hortexpo • E-mail: info@bfgsupply.com

Minneapolis, MN 800-798-2891

the Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) Update By Tim Power, MNLA Government Affairs Consultant NLA has been involved in MIDS for more than two years, and significant progress is being made by the Tim Powers MIDS work group. But first, some background from the MIDS webpage: Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) represents the next generation of stormwater management and contains three main elements that address current challenges: A higher clean water performance goal

for new development and redevelopment that will provide enhanced protection for Minnesota’s water resources. New modeling methods and credit calculations that will standardize the use of a range of “innovative” structural and nonstructural stormwater techniques. A credits system and ordinance package that will allow for increased flexibility and a streamlined approach to regulatory programs for developers and communities. The development of Minimal Impact Design Standards is based on low impact development (LID) — an approach to storm water management that mimics a site’s natural hydrology as the landscape is developed. Using the low impact development approach, storm water is

managed on site and the rate and volume of predevelopment storm water reaching receiving waters is unchanged. The calculation of predevelopment hydrology is based on native soil and vegetation. (Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 115.03, subdivision 5c). The LID language above is from the enabling legislation that directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to produce a MIDS package. MPCA convened the MIDS work group in 2010. In April 2011, the MIDS work group agreed on a performance goal for new development, in their first major decision: For new, nonlinear developments that create more than one acre of new Continued on page 29

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www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

Continued from page 28 impervious surface on sites without restrictions, stormwater runoff volumes will be controlled and the postconstruction runoff volume shall be retained on site for 1.1 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces statewide. MIDS Phase II discussions in the last year have involved sites that have restrictions caused by tight soils, shallow depth to bedrock or groundwater, karst topography or stormwater hotspots involving past pollutant spills, etc. The MIDS work group is nearing a decision on standards for restricted sites, probably revolving around 1) maximizing volume control first, as per the non-restricted site standard, and then 2) meeting a total phosphorus (TP) removal of 75%, using other stormwater BMP’s not involving volume control, such as enhanced filtration. Use of off-site compliance and credits banking are being considered, but any MIDS standards must meet EPA requirements for anti-degradation, which are tied to individual waters.

The final areas of discussion for the MIDS work group will address linear and redevelopment projects. Those discussions will take place later this year. One of the major MIDS products will be “New modeling methods and credit calculations that will standardize the use of a range of innovative structural and nonstructural stormwater techniques”. Bob Race serves as MNLA’s primary representative on the MIDS Board and also has served on the MIDS technical team on pervious pavements. According to Bob, work is proceeding on several of the technical teams, who are designing standards and credits for individual BMP’s: • Pervious pavements – e technical team has produced a draft standard, based on the Virginia model (see https://sites.google.com/a/midstecht eams.com/mids/assignments for details). MPCA has issued a work order to contractor Wenck to pull together additional information and produce a standard and allocate credits. Credits will certainly vary

•

based on use of a full-, partial- or no-infiltration system. Partial- and no-infiltration systems will need to be followed in the treatment train by further filtration to reduce TP levels. A major consideration will be sizing of reservoir systems, given the increased intensity and stormwater quantity of recent storms as compared to modeled storm events. Turf – Contractor Wenck is working on details of a turf standard for MIDS stormwater mitigation. Use of amended soils and deep ripping may be required to be granted stormwater credits. ere is continuing discussion between developers, who need a sloped turf surface to move water away from buildings, and Wenck, who modeled nearly flat turf to enhance pooling and infiltration into underlying soils. Bob Race likened the current turf approach to a “sports field” approach. MNLA’s Mike Kelly and Continued on page 30

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•

MGCSA’s Jack MacKenzie have served on the Turf Tech Team. Dry Swales – Contractor Barr Engineering has been modeling dry swales in order to come up with recommendations. Unfortunately, their data has been inconsistent, showing phosphorus removal from 0 – 98%. At present, the Dry Swales tech team is trying to adapt a University of Minnesota modeling project, but the University project will not be complete by the time the ﬁrst MIDS standards are developed. Barr is likely to recommend using Virginia’s standards as a placeholder until the Uof M study is complete. Water re-use – MNLA’s Tim Malooly has been a major player on this team, in addition to serving as MIDS alternate for MNLA. is tech team has not yet ﬁnished its work, but re-use technology will be an important BMP in order to

Clean Water Minnesota

Continued from page 29

did not receive that USFS grant. I have been serving on this tech team. e team has adopted a tree quality standard and may recommend tree planting and soil volume/quality specs as well. MIDS acceptance will be followed by inclusion in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual, which will lend credibility and incentive for MS4 communities to adopt the package. MIDS will likely Valley Ridge Mall uses several stormwater BMPs provide exciting new business to manage runoﬀ. opportunities for MNLA members. Our MIDS achieve the likely new 75% TP representatives will provide additional reduction requirement on restricted updates as the MIDS Phase II process sites. moves toward conclusion at the end of • Tree trench – Work has been on this year. MIDS will be rolled out to the hold awaiting word on a U.S. Forest public in 2013, starting with a Service grant that would have presentation at the Northern Green Expo connected the hydrologic modeling in January. Stay tuned. q capabilities of the i-Tree software _______________________________ suite with our MIDS credits Tim Power can be reached at calculator. Unfortunately, MPCA timpower@powerconsults.com.

A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins

Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous (651) 438-2771 • Fax (651) 438-3816

www.outbacknursery.com

Call us first for all your native planting needs 30

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11151 Chaparrel Ave. 4105 85th Ave. North Shakopee, MN 55379 Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 (800) 831-4891 (763) 493-5150 (952) 496-1043 ext. 214 AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

MNLA SHOOTOUT SPORTING CLAYS FUNDRAISING EVENT ***SOUTH ST. PAUL ROD & GUN CLUB • 600 GUN CLUB ROAD • SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN*** WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 • 11:00 A.M. • • • • • •

10:15am - 11:00am - Shooting Games Open 11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Registration & lunch served. Optional shooting games for prizes. 12:30 pm - Safety talk & course/station assignments 12:45 pm - Sporting clays shooting begins 4:00 pm - Social hour (& Shooting Games) 4:30-5:30 pm - Dinner

$80 per shooter includes: •

• • •

50 TARGET sporting clay course. Shooters furnish their own guns and shells. Minimum 75 shells. There will also be various games for which you should have approximately 25 shells per game. Shells are available for purchase on-site for $6 per box of 25. PRIZES…Scoring will be on a per team basis with one score for the entire team. BEVERAGES, LUNCH and STEAK/CHICKEN DINNER. DOOR PRIZES plus a raffle for a $500 Joe’s Gift Card.

This course will be run at the beginner level for sporting clays. Difficulty level = FUN. Bring a hunting vest or wearable shell container to hold your unused and used shells. Eye and ear protection is highly recommended; ear plugs are available at the club for a small fee. Proceeds support MNLA Foundation scholarships. REGISTRATION increases to $95 after SEPTEMBER 10th CONFIRMATION WILL BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING COMPANY: Company Name__________________________________________________________ Contact Name____________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip____________________________________________________________ Phone:________________________________ Fax:______________________________ E-mail:__________________________________________________________________ Check Enclosed

Visa

Mastercard

American Express

Card No. ________-________-________-________

Shooters Names: (please print clearly) 1. ___________________________________ 2. ___________________________________ 3. ___________________________________ 4. ___________________________________ 5. ___________________________________ 6. ___________________________________ 32

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Discover

Expiration: _____/_____

MAIL OR FAX TO: MNLA Foundation 1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 Phone: 651-633-4987 FAX: 651-633-4986 Toll Free: 888-886-MNLA Toll Free FAX: 888-266-4986 Email: Jodi@MNLA.biz

Enclosed are funds for ____ shooters at $80 each: $_______ We will donate cash for the prize fund ($50 minimum): $_______ Total: $_______ We will donate a door prize* ($50 value minimum) of __________ ______________________________________________________ *Sponsor supplies the item. If attending the event, please bring the prize with you. Otherwise, donations can be mailed to the MNLA Foundation Shootout

the Scoop | FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Road from Today to Tomorrow By Bob Fitch, MNLA Executive Director and Jon Horsman, MNLA Communications Director ver the past several months, you’ve read articles by President Debbie Lonnee and others about the new MNLA Strategic Plan. Last month’s Scoop included the plan’s executive summary, and now this month includes more details on each of the seven strategic focus areas (pages 33-39). For those of you who may react with a “what the hell!” comment about one or more of the decisions, it’s important for you to know that no decision was reached lightly nor done in haste. The association’s Strategic Plan was several years in the making, with a very intense period of activity this past winter. With respect for MNLA’s traditions and successes, the “Team Tomorrow” planning group ultimately looked forward to what will be the needs of members in the future and in what areas can the association effectively deliver on those needs – not necessarily what was in the comfort zone of the most active participants today. Following is a timeline of the most significant steps in the process. 2008-2010 – The Board of Directors and various committees had multiple discussions about the association’s focus, structure and revenue development potential for the future. 2011 – The Board of Directors appointed an “assessment team” to review what type of planning process we should pursue and what type of professional assistance, if any, we should hire. A number of alternatives were considered, including a traditional twoday strategic planning conference; a staff-written plan; traditional member surveys; and bringing in an association “futurist.” The group strongly considered a low-cost, less time-consuming “shortcut” planning exercise, but ultimately decided to recommend a more in-depth process; albeit on an accelerated schedule.

October 2011 – The Board of Directors accepted the assessment team’s recommendations and allocated the necessary financial resources to hire a professional market research firm to conduct “Ideation” sessions with members and non-members; and who would also serve as the strategic plan facilitator. An additional consultant was hired to conduct a session on helping leaders “learn the language of change.” December 2011 – “Team Tomorrow” was appointed and empowered to study and act on the strategic needs of MNLA. Team Tomorrow consisted of all nine board members, four full-time staff, and three additional key committee leaders. All of MNLA’s committees and industry segments were represented via this group. A two-day “learning the language of change” session was held in December 2011. To gain a global perspective on the challenges facing associations within our rapidly changing society, Team Tomorrow was charged with reading three books prior to February: Race for Relevance – 5 Radical Changes for Associations; 101 Things About Associations We Must Change; and Good to Great for the Social Sectors. January 2012 – MNLA engaged the The StandPoint Group of Atlanta, Georgia, led by owner Kip Creel. Kip and his crew work with clients ranging from multi-national Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses, delivering carefully designed, insightful research with actionable recommendations. They offer a full range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, carefully chosen to provide decision support for the client’s key business objectives. StandPoint’s green industry clients have included the American Nursery & Landscape Association, the Texas

Nursery & Landscape Association, and Bailey Nurseries. StandPoint facilitated a two-day “Ideation” focus group exercise with 12 members and 4 non-members. None of these participants were current members of MNLA’s committee system – we purposely wanted people from outside the association’s inner circle to provide input on how the association could help them make their businesses more successful. Those taking part were primarily owners, although some were non-owners, but still senior management, representing a crosssection of MNLA members. There was a bias towards ensuring a generally younger group of members, although veterans were also represented. The executive director was the only member of Team Tomorrow in attendance, and he was in a listening mode, speaking only when asked for program or financial clarification. This Ideation group was very frank in its criticisms and generous in its praise for various MNLA program areas. The most vital ideas from the group that ultimately were included in the final plan included: • •

• •

Readily-accessible online training Improvement of communication and interaction on association government affairs activities Association organization of small group networking opportunities Improved delivery of business knowledge information and greater ease of finding segment-specific information Identification of MNLA membership as being prestigious Focus on doing fewer programs at a higher quality level. Continued on page 34 AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

February 2012 – Team Tomorrow met for two days of discussions. The sessions started with a presentation of the information gathered from the member/non-member focus groups; and a subsequent analysis by The Standpoint Group. There was substantial discussion and need for information digestion about the focus group information. The group then moved into full-on discussion, with the focus group input used as an everpresent compass. By the end of the two days, consensus was reached on major strategic focus areas. Team Tomorrow empowered staff to flesh out the consensus agreements into a more detailed document for further consideration. April 2012 – Team Tomorrow met for another two-day session. As a reminder of the needs of members, the focus group results were re-presented to an extent; and the group revisited how consensus was reached in February on certain controversial topics. Details were debated. By noon on the second day, Team Tomorrow adopted six of the seven focus areas, with final word-smithing left to the staff. The Board of Directors officially approved the concepts of the plan that same afternoon. (At its June meeting, the Board approved the plan’s outline for the final focus area – mission and Board governance.) May 2012 – MNLA President Debbie Lonnee called nearly all committee chairs and past presidents to explain the major decisions contained in the plan. June 2012 – A meeting attended by approximately 100 volunteer committee leaders was held to introduce the new strategic plan. Follow-up communication was done by Executive Director Bob Fitch to all committee members. July 2012 – The plan was introduced to members-at-large with the publication of an executive summary in The Scoop. In three areas, the plan steps out of the comfort zone for long-time active MNLA members: • •

Changes to the committee system Changes to the MNLA Certiﬁed Professional program

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

•

Change from the association marketing to the public to instead having the association help members market themselves to their prospective customers. Strategic Focus Area: Narrow e Scope The final bullet point in the previous section represents the biggest divergence from the guidance of the member/non-member focus group. The focus group rated industry marketing/public relations by the association as their greatest need and area for greatest improvement by the association. However, the focus group also said “if you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all.” An honest assessment and a reality check by consumer market expert Kip Creel revealed that the association “can’t do it right” – MNLA has nowhere near adequate resources to conduct an effective and comprehensive marketing campaign to the public. So MNLA is phasing out its direct marketing to the public. Included in this is GardenMinnesota.com, Garden Minnesota Yearbook, the Landscape Awards program, Capitol decorating, association management of the “Green for Life” event, and our current cooperative program with Midwest Home magazine. All of these programs have provided value to many of our members over the years, and some still could. However, to meet the needs our members have for education, business connections through networking, government affairs, and critical business information, we had to leave some things behind. Instead of trying to do a wide variety of programs at an ‘okay’ level, MNLA will plan to deliver a higher level of excellence on our core competencies. In the marketing realm, MNLA will instead expend resources helping members access marketing expertise, tools and techniques to market their own

companies. Resources may include education, consumer market research, and media consulting. Pursuing High-Level, Worthy Outcomes While MNLA has been one of the nation’s most successful state green industry associations, resting on its laurels would be a sure recipe for future failure. To quote nationallyrecognized association consultant Glenn H. Tecker: “Today’s associations operate in an environment of explosive change, increasing competition and higher expectations from more diverse constituencies . . . In such a competitive environment, effective organizations will take the fullest possible advantage of distinguishing attributes that are of particular value to those they service. For associations, one of these distinguishing attributes is a special ability to pursue high-level, worthy outcomes that can only be accomplished through consistent and organized attention over time.” You are encouraged to gain a greater understanding of the Strategic Plan by reading more on pages 35-39. Thanks for taking a leap of faith forward with MNLA as we continue the mission of helping you the members operate your businesses more successfully. q ________________________________ Bob Fitch is executive director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, and can be reached at bob@mnla.biz. Jon Horsman is the communications director for MNLA and can be reached at jon@mnla.biz.

STRATEGIC PLAN | the Scoop

MNLA Membership Means Professionalism and Prestige n the new MNLA Strategic Plan, the “membership” focus area zeros in on member recruitment and retention – and also on professionalism and prestige.

The Strategic Plan states that not only do we want companies to join because MNLA provides a competitive business edge through education, government affairs, networking, and access to information; but also because it is an organization that companies aspire to join because it represents professionalism and prestige. With insights from a member/nonmember focus group, Team Tomorrow recognized that members want MNLA to not just talk the talk, but also to walk the walk. While the association wants to retain its open door policy to quality green industry companies, it also wants to set

some minimum standards and expectations for being a member, such as: •

Applicants for membership may need to provide recommendations from two current MNLA members. • Members may need to identify on their application and renewal forms that they comply with required licenses and other applicable legal standards. • Membership application and renewal may include a pre-requisite for corporate acceptance of MNLAprescribed professional and environmental best practices. A “Membership Best Practices Task

Team” will be formed in the near future to develop the exact standards and expectations. To improve member retention and enhance new member recruitment, MNLA will increase its personal touch with new, veteran, and prospective members, plus devise new methods of demonstrating and promoting its value to members. This personal touch will include proactive staff and volunteer connections through in-person visits and intentional phone calling. In addition, MNLA hopes to create new ways to work with member suppliers to enhance connections with prospective members. q

Networking Rises in Importance ne strategic focus area that emerged crystal-clear from the member/non-member focus group was the desire for more opportunities to meet with like-minded individuals. In other words, “networking” is essential to the future value proposition of the association.

MNLA has long provided networking and business connection opportunities, especially via Expo, education days and committee meetings. But members asked for new kinds of business connection groupings: regional, segment, business owners, women, and more. Furthermore, not only is face-to-face networking important, but MNLA should improve its online networking to keep up with new ways to interact.

The Strategic Plan directs MNLA to become the catalyst to help members and related professionals build business opportunities, foster industry camaraderie, and provide a fun atmosphere. In addition, these groups will serve as an incubator of ideas for educational programs, government affairs direction, and other innovations in association member services. To achieve these goals, MNLA will: •

•

Make small groups a cornerstone of networking and business connections. is includes many of MNLA’s former committees being re-purposed into networking groups and association program idea incubators. Increase the business intelligence of MNLA’s online member directory; i.e. provide professional referrals and

• •

•

detailed information about specialty areas. Increase emphasis on CEO-level networking. Increase the use, visibility and availability of subject matter experts as a resource for members. Create more personal connections between members and staﬀ/volunteer leaders. Enhance cross-industry business connections with groups such as landscape architects, engineers, golf course superintendants and others. Maintain support of large industry networking events such as the Northern Green Expo and the Golf Tournament, Shootout and Garden Party. q

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

the Scoop | STRATEGIC PLAN

New Committee, Task Team Line-Up at MNLA hy is MNLA making changes to its committee system as part of the new association Strategic Plan? It’s a fact that MNLA’s committee system has been a cornerstone of its success for many years, ensuring a broad level of participatory opportunities and grassroots control of the association’s activities.

However, it’s also a fact that times change. There were two driving forces behind the changes to MNLA’s committee system. First, people’s willingness to commit large chunks of personal time to civic causes is on a sharp decline. Today, people want to spend more time with their family and need to spend more time in their business operations. MNLA’s move to a more task

team-driven system addresses these concerns. The nature of task teams is to be flexible, project-specific, and time-limited. For folks who want to avoid longterm commitments, yet continue to make a difference in their chosen profession, the task team format is an excellent opportunity and potentially provides for even greater member input and involvement than MNLA’s previous system. The second driving force behind the change to MNLA’s committee system is

the need to have a more agile and responsive decision-making process. Society, the economy and technology are demanding that decisions be made more rapidly and more often than ever before. The nature of committees often slows down decision-making and, when you combine this tendency with the need at MNLA to often involve several committees in a single decision, the process was proving itself as out of step with being ultra-responsive. Looking ahead, MNLA is moving from 16 standing committees to six. Those half-dozen permanent committees are: • • • • • •

Education & Certiﬁcation Government Aﬀairs Membership Communications & Technology Networking Expo Trade Show Task teams will be added and subtracted as needs arise. In the near term, the following task teams are expected to be appointed: • • •

Irrigation Licensure Permeable Paver System Outreach Green Industry Career Promotion & Development • State Fair Landscape Garden • Membership Professional & Environmental Best Practices • Leadership Development Program q ________________________________ If you are interested in learning more or serving on a committee or task team, email bob@mnla.biz or call 651-633-4987.

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

STRATEGIC PLAN | the Scoop

Information, Marketing and Communication Vital he World Wide Web has in many ways displaced the association community as a ready source of new information. However, in the development of the new Strategic Plan, the working group “Team Tomorrow” and the member/non-member focus group made it clear that the web’s help is incomplete and that the local green industry wants MNLA to serve as an information clearinghouse and to be a critical hub for members to access vital and unique knowledge.

For example, members will be able to rely on MNLA to provide ready access to vital information in areas such as: • Business trends • Industry analytics • Research results • Regulatory compliance To fulfill the business trend information need, MNLA will form a member “Trends Team” made up of nationallyconnected leaders who will scout and share macro-trend information with members. Greater attention will be paid to gathering and sharing important industry statistics and analytics. The “Research for the Real World” initiative by the MNLA Foundation will be the basis for disseminating new research-based information. Finally, the amount of information which members need to comply with regulations will be beefed up on MNLA.biz.

chance to elect what they want to see. For example, MNLA.biz and MNLA eNews should be organized by industry segment, thus helping members easily “find themselves” and locate the information they need. To begin addressing these needs, MNLA is planning to: • Revamp online resources to ensure members ﬁnd them clear and easy to navigate. • Increase the value of the members-only section of MNLA.biz. • Create mobile versions of online resources. • Revamp printed communications to modernize the look and content. • Phase-out of all brands except MNLA and Northern Green Expo. • Create and enhance MNLA’s social media presence. q

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Furthermore, MNLA will be a critical information hub for members to access marketing expertise, tools and techniques. In other words, MNLA will help members market themselves. Examples of such marketing tools could include: • Cooperative arrangements with marketing and merchandising experts, including expert on-site “rapid assessments” of retail operations in both metro and outstate locations. • Organizing cooperative marketing/advertising buys for members, especially for retailers in outstate markets. • Provide media consulting services. • Compilation of research on consumer trends and other key market sectors, perhaps through a partnership with the Minnesota Grown program. • Training on development of sales and marketing plans. The member/non-member focus group was not shy about expressing its criticism of MNLA communications efforts. The group cited information overload and said MNLA communication should be better targeted, giving members the

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the Scoop | STRATEGIC PLAN

A Learning-Focused Organization ne of the cornerstones of MNLA has always been its ability to deliver high quality educational programs to members at a reasonable price. The focus group employed by the strategic planning process indicated that this continues to be a high priority for company owners as well as their employees. As part of the new strategic plan, we will continue to offer members inperson educational opportunities as we have always done. Moving forward as a learning-focused organization, we hope to lay out a clear year-long strategy and objectives for these programs. In order to accomplish this, we will create a new centralized education decision-making committee, the Education & Certification Committee, comprised of individuals who are connected at a national level, and have familiarity with current educational and industry trends. In addition to face-to-face learning opportunities, we will be

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. . . everything from self-paced learning modules to live webinars.” adding a robust set of on-demand education resources that members can access at their convenience. We will be doing this through the implementation of a new online Learning Management System. Through this system, members will be able to log-in and register for everything from self-paced learning modules to live webinars. There will be tracks for entry level employees as well as managers and CEO-level personnel. The online modules/webinars will be designed to verify educational achievement levels or competencies with built-in quizzing capability. Individuals will be able to log on and print off a copy of their completed courses (e.g. a transcript) at any time. The MNLA Certification Program will be remodeled and be included as a component of this ondemand education as well. In a world where time and resources are in constant demand, it is our hope that these online tools will: • Allow greater access to educational opportunities for outstate members without the need to incur travel expenses. • Help make education accessible at a reasonable cost. • Create palatable modules and learning paths for those who wish to pursue an educational track/certiﬁcation. • Save time for those who want to use these modules as training for new employees. • Be easily accessible and usable by anyone with an internet connection. • Be available day or night – whenever you need answers! We hope you’ll look to MNLA to fulfill your educational needs, in person or online, moving forward. q

STRATEGIC PLAN | the Scoop

Excellence in Government Affairs on Target nly one area of association programming is not undergoing a major modification as a result of the new MNLA Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan working group (“Team Tomorrow”), with the input and insight gathered from a member/non-member focus group, concluded that MNLA legislative and regulatory activities were hitting a target level of excellence. MNLA plans to continue to be a prominent resource for lawmakers on environmental, agricultural, construction, and small business issues.

The most important augmentation of the program is to create venues for members to interact with association leaders on government affairs issues. Better communication to and from members on public policy matters was deemed as vital. This improved communication may take the form of open forums, either in-person or online. If you have suggestions for improving communication, email Government Affairs Committee Chair Tim Malooly at timm@ibdmn.com.

MNLA plans to continue to foster partnerships to help represent members in local, state and national government affairs; to grow the capacity to influence regulations affecting members; and to enhance MNLA’s government affairs program by working with the Minnesota Green Industry Political Action Committee. q

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

TIME to RENEW your MEMBERSHIP

Nominations Open for Todd Bachman Award Nominations are now being accepted for the annual Todd Bachman Award for Innovation in Horticultural Business. Created by the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and the MNLA Foundation to honor the legacy of the late Todd Bachman, the award annually recognizes a young individual whose innovation in private enterprise has positively influenced one or more horticulture and/or green industry businesses in the region. The award recipient will receive a plaque and will be recognized in trade and consumer publications. In addition, the MNLA Foundation will make a $1,000 cash award in the recipient’s name to his or her alma mater. Qualifications for Todd Bachman Award • Owner or employee of a horticultural business in the north central region (MN, WI, IA, ND, SD). • Recipient of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or greater in horticulture, business or related ﬁeld from an accredited institution of higher learning. • Demonstrated innovation in business, marketing, horticultural production, ﬂoral, or landscape practices For all details and nomination instructions, visit MNLA.biz.

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Education • • • • •

Northern Green Expo technical training Business Management CEO Symposium Pesticide Recertiﬁcation Government Affairs

• •

Your voice at the State Capitol Regulatory watchdog and advocate

Networking and Fun • • • • • • •

Business Services •

Information • • • •

the Scoop MNLA eNews MNLA.biz Membership Directory

New Networking Groups Landscape Design tour Rolling Retail Experience Widmer Golf tournament Girls Night Out Shootout Sporting Clays tournament Garden Party

• • • • •

tBG Workers Compensation Insurance the Credit Card Dr. Zlimen & McGuiness Attorneys Outdoor Living Catalogs Holiday & SA Fuel Savings Garden Center Carryout trays

For more information on any of these member benefits, to renew your membership, or for other help, contact MNLA at 651-633-4987 or mary@mnla.biz.

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he M he MNLA NLA Foundation F oundati t on Garden Party truly turned out to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the social event of the season.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Thanks to each of you that attended, sponsored or donated to help make this event not only a great networking event, but also a fabulous fundraiser. More than $20,000 was raised for the MNLA Foundation as it works to improve the environment by investing in research and education. The Garden Party was specifically focused on raising money to support long-term efforts to promote green industry careers. Your support is critical to this important work! THANK YOU!

www.MNLA.biz | AUGUSt 2012

MDA UPDATE | the Scoop

Update on Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnuts: Detections, Regulations & Surveys By Kathryn Kromroy, Ph.D., Research Scientist at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture ince our last Scoop article about thousand cankers disease (TCD) of walnut, there have been a few developments of interest and concern. In August 2011, TCD was detected in eastern black walnut trees located on the property of a resident of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was determined that the source of the disease was walnut wood that originated in California and was acquired by the homeowner for woodworking. Pennsylvania is the third state within the native range of eastern black walnut to have TCD.

Shortly after the detection, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture placed a quarantine on Bucks County to restrict movement of walnut out of the county. A state exterior quarantine to restrict the movement of walnut into the state was enacted during the same time as the interior county quarantine. There are now 13 states with exterior quarantines

for TCD (see Figure 1). To our knowledge, Minnesota remains free of the disease. Two visual assessment surveys of walnut trees were completed in 2011. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture conducted visual assessments of 1,490 black walnut trees in 49 Minnesota communities. The US Forest Service did visual assessments of 1,058 trees in 60 urban, rural and industrial sites in southern Minnesota. Across both surveys, a total of five samples were collected from suspect trees. All tested negative for TCD. See Figure 2 for survey locations. Surveys will again be conducted in 2012 and 2013. Beginning in mid-July, MDA will visually assess walnut trees growing on or near mill sites in southern Minnesota and will also check on a few sites identified in 2011 as having black walnut trees in decline. New this year will be the addition of a trapping survey. A lure that specifically attracts the walnut twig Continued on page 44

AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

Continued from page 43

beetle, the insect that carries the TCD fungus, has been developed and tested. We will be using this lure in Lindgren funnel traps hung at high-risk urban and industrial sites in 2012 and 2013 using funds from the Farm Bill. We will be collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources who will be doing similar surveys but focusing on forested areas. Please remember that now is the time to pay close attention to your walnut trees for signs and symptoms of TCD. If you observe flagging or active wilting in any part of the crown and you are not aware of other causes (e.g., storm damage, squirrel girdling, drought), consider the possibility of TCD. You can find more information about the disease at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/plantdiseases/1000cankers. aspx. If you think your tree may have TCD, please do the following: • •

Note the exact location Take a digital photo if possible and Contact MDA at either Arrest.e.Pest@state.mn.us or 888-545-6684 (voicemail)

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AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

the Scoop | MDA UPDATE

Developing Issues and Alerts from the Minnesota Nursery Inspection and Certification Program By Steven Shimek, Minnesota Department of Agriculture oxwood Blight. In late October 2011, a new plant disease, Cylinrorcladium buxicola was confirmed on boxwood, Buxus sp. nursery plants in North Carolina. e disease has also been confirmed in Connecticut and Virginia. Before these finds, the disease was known to occur throughout Europe and in New Zealand. is is the first known incidence of the disease in the US. e symptoms of boxwood blight or box blight begin with brown leaf spots often with dark borders and move quickly to black cankers on the stems. Infected plants have been defoliated quickly after foliar symptoms first develop. Plants have been killed within two weeks after symptom expression.

The fungus produces light colored fuzzy spore-producing structures called sporodchia on the undersides of leaves and on black stem cankers. An important potential means of introduction and spread of this disease is movement of boxwood plants that appear healthy but harbor the pathogen as a latent infection. Fungicide applications could suppress disease symptoms without killing the pathogen. Once fungicide applications cease, the disease returns, killing the plant. Inspectors will be giving special attention to boxwood plants during inspections. Currently there are no state or federal quarantines established for boxwood blight. Most states favor a quality management approach with Best Management Practices (BMP’s) and Compliance Agreements (CA) where necessary to provide regulatory assurance. Minnesota nurseries should carefully examine all boxwood plants for symptoms of this disease and notify MDA nursery inspection staff if you suspect plants to be infected. Nursery Certiﬁcate Fee Audits The Nursery Inspection Program operates solely on revenue received from nursery certificate fees based on gross sales of nursery stock for dealer certificates and nursery stock production acreage for grower certificates. To assure adequate funding levels are maintained, a letter was sent along with nursery certificate renewals last December to request nursery stock certificate renewal applicants conduct a “voluntary audit” to assess the accuracy of their nursery certificate application as part of your 2012 certificate renewal process. 46

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To follow up on this request, inspectors will be confirming growing acreage submitted using GPS and mapping data. Random audits of dealer gross sales information will also be conducted to verify appropriate fee levels. This audit process will ensure that the nursery program operates consistently with other fee-based programs within the agency that are already routinely audited. Gypsy Moth Moves West Three more counties were added to Wisconsin's gypsy moth quarantine. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced that Ashland, Bayfield and Clark counties will be placed under federal and state gypsy moth quarantine effective April 1. Officials say trapping data and field surveys indicate the gypsy moth is reproducing and taking hold in the three counties. Those counties join most of eastern and central Wisconsin on the quarantine. Because of inspection requirements, the quarantine will have the biggest impact on plant nurseries, Christmas tree growers and lumber mills. The quarantine requires that Christmas trees, logs and nursery stock be inspected and certified gypsy moth-free before they can be transported into non-quarantine counties or non-quarantine states. Any nursery stock from quarantined areas must be accompanied by federal certification documenting stock is free from gypsy moth. Gypsy moth trapping in Minnesota resulted in 5,659 moths caught in 2011. This number is down significantly from 27,870 caught in 2010. No counties in Minnesota have been quarantined. Suppression treatments are proposed for three locations north and west of Duluth in 2012. e Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Regulatory Advisory Committee (MNLRAC) Meets The MNLRAC is a committee established by statute that meets twice per year to advise the MDA regarding nursery inspection and plant pest issues. The committee members are appointed to represent all segments of Minnesota’s green industry. Policy and budget reports are presented for committee recommendations to assure effective and efficient management of plant protection programs. Continued on page 47

Continued from page 46 During the most recent meeting held March 19th, members discussed boxwood blight, a review of plant protection programs, inspection program budget and staffing, a report from the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee and an update on the 2012 legislative session. Hardiness Labeling Requirement Passes in the State Legislature In an effort to better inform nursery stock purchasers regarding the cold hardiness of plants being offered for sale, the nursery inspection staff has been reviewing plant labels and requiring relabeling of plants with incorrect cold hardiness information. Fruit trees and plants in particular have been the focus of this effort. For many years, nursery stock that is not cold hardy in the area in which it is being offered for sale has been sold to unsuspecting buyers. Store managers, buyers and suppliers have all been contacted to encourage selecting cold hardy plants and provide clear accurate cold hardy information on plants that may require extra protection, or should be considered for trial in the area. According to Minnesota Statute 18H.14, “Plants, plant materials, or nursery stock must not be labeled or advertised with false or misleading information including, but not limited to, scientific name, variety, place of origin, hardiness zone as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, and growth habit.” However, there is no requirement to include any of the information above on the plant label. To avoid proper labeling for cold hardiness, some sellers have removed hardiness information from their labels. This is why the most recent change to Minnesota Chapter 18H has been proposed and was recently approved. Under this new requirement, any plant offered for sale that is not cold hardy in the area in which it is sold and is not accurately labeled must include a label that identifies it as “nonhardy.”

The focus of this change is to inform buyers. There is no intention to restrict nonhardy plants from the marketplace, only to warn buyers that nonhardy stock may not survive winter low temperatures. Some gardeners may select plants to challenge the established hardiness ratings and may go to great lengths to protect tender plants. Many factors may influence success or failure of these trials. However novice gardeners may expect that plants sold in their area must be good choices for their backyard. With accurate cold hardiness information all buyers can make more informed decisions when selecting plants. To establish accurate hardiness information the MDA has developed a list of plants found in Minnesota retail sites that, based upon documented independent trials and grower information are considered to be zone 5 or higher for sale in zone 4 and zone 4 and higher in zone 3. This list has been regularly reviewed by the University of Minnesota, the Fruit Research and Arboretum staff. This list has also incorporated the USDA Nursery Crop Insurance hardiness database. The MDA list is intended to be a work in progress to incorporate documentable hardiness information. Along with the hardiness labeling issue two other mislabeling issues were communicated to inspection staff. One person noticed that a retailer described the size of Techny Arborvitae as 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide and suggested spacing plants 4 to 5 feet apart. This could be accurate if plants were trimmed to maintain this size but would be inaccurate as a mature height. Another alert noted that Foxglove plants, Digitalis grandiflora were labeled as perennials when they are more accurately considered biennials. As biennials, these plants typically do not flower the first year in what is referred to as the rosette stage. The second year the plants produce flowers and typically do not continue to grow. These plants were required to be relabeled to reflect this. q

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AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

the Scoop | RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD

Trees Have Value By Dr. James Calkins, Research Information Director MNLA Foundation hile the title of this research update may seem obvious, it is important to note that many of the benefits of trees in designed and native landscapes are often overlooked or simply taken for granted. And while intuition may sometimes ascribe certain benefits to trees, the validation of a benefit can often be complicated and elusive. Jim Calkins At the same time, and for various reasons, some people may view certain trees as being more harmful than beneficial relative to some particular characteristic (e.g., messiness and maintenance requirements associated with plant debris, pollen production and allergies, and certain insect/plant associations like boxelder and boxelder bugs). The reality is that the value assigned to trees can vary considerably based on the methods and assumptions used. And because the benefits of trees can sometimes be difficult to quantify or may be offset by negative characteristics or perceptions, caution is advised when attempting to assign a value to trees. It is equally important to note that trees, depending on species and management requirements, can also be associated with significant monetary, social, and environmental costs which must also be considered when assessing the value of trees in urban landscapes. Although a growing body of research has evaluated and begun to quantify the value of trees, additional research is needed to understand the relationships between these values and the costs associated with the maintenance of existing trees and the planting of new and replacement trees in residential, commercial, and public landscapes. Solid quantification of the value of trees is also needed to justify an enhanced commitment to the establishment and long-term needs of trees in designed landscapes so that the potential, longer-term benefits of trees that accrue with age may be realized. Examples of some of these potential benefits include abstraction of precipitation and reduced stormwater runoff, reduced flooding, and improved water quality, air pollutant removal and improved air quality, and carbon sequestration and reduced levels of atmospheric CO2). To underscore some of the benefits of trees and research that supports the value of trees, I have chosen to highlight research focused on the value of trees in this month’s update. In addition to several other studies, the primary resource used is a review by Dr. David Nowak (USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Syracuse, New York) and Dr. John Dwyer (The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois) that does a nice job of summarizing some of the research that quantifies the benefits of trees.

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Significant points/findings: • Trees can provide shade and transpirational cooling and reduce air temperatures and urban heating during the growing season; shading has also been shown to slow the degradation of asphalt pavements; these benefits typically increase with age. • In addition to human comfort, shading, transpirational cooling, and wind mitigation can also reduce energy use and pollutant and CO2 emissions associated with building heating and cooling; obviously proper tree placement plays a role in the energy conserving benefits of trees – trees should be sited to shade the east and west-facing walls and roofs of buildings, allow solar radiation to enter south-facing windows, shade air conditioning units, and block prevailing winter winds; on average, the presence of trees and careful tree placement can reduce energy use by as much as 2025%. • Trees can remove a variety of pollutants from the air including particulate matter, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO); the estimated monetary value associated with pollutant removal can be significant (e.g., over $8 million/year in New York City); this benefit increases with age. • Trees remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and accumulate and store atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis and growth; this benefit increases with age until trees die and CO2 is released back into the atmosphere as the tree decomposes or is used for fuel; carbon sequestration can be preserved when wood is used for lumber or is incorporated into the soil or landfilled; although small relative to the carbon sequestered in forests, it is estimated that urban trees in the United States currently store between 350-900 million metric tones of carbon. • Trees can play an important role in stormwater management by intercepting precipitation and slowing the flow of runoff; the hydrologic benefits of trees can also reduce the public costs associated with treating stormwater runoff and preventing and mitigating damage caused by flooding; these benefits increase with age as tree canopies expand. • Trees provide valuable wildlife habitat and can enhance biodiversity; wildlife and biodiversity benefits are dependent on the species and diversity of the trees planted and their

•

• In an attempt to quantify the value of trees, a variety of associations with wildlife; the introduction of invasive, methods have been used to calculate a monetary value for exotic species can, however, result in the displacement of individual trees and urban forests based on the specific native species and reduce species diversity and require (aesthetics, stormwater runoff abatement, energy savings, significant and ongoing expenditures associated with their etc.) and accumulated benefits of trees and cost/benefit control. analyses; although there are also costs associated with trees, Trees have potential to remediate brownfields, landfills, and including planting and maintenance costs, cost/benefit other contaminated sites through the uptake of a variety of analyses of trees are typically positive with benefit to cost pollutants from contaminated soils through phytoremediation. ratios of 1.37-3.78:1; the actual and potential compensatory Trees can play a role in urban noise abatement; to achieve value of trees can also be calculated to quantify losses caused this benefit, it is generally best to establish vegetation close by catastrophic events like storm events, fires, or insects – to the source rather than where the sound is perceived; trees e.g., losses of urban trees to Asian longhorned beetles can also reduce the impacts of sound by screening views of (Anophlophora glabripennis), should this introduced species the source and by masking undesirable sounds through the spread across the United States, have been estimated at rustling of leaves; depending on the effects of a combination nearly $670 billion). of factors including tree placement, noise reductions of 3-10 • ese are just a few of the benefits provided by trees; as our decibels appear realistic. understanding of the benefits of trees expands and as we e benefits of trees are focus more closely on the often associated with relationships between improved human health and trees and the services a sense of safety and wellthey provide, urban planers and landscape being; hospital patients with designers should be views of trees have been better equipped to ensure shown to heal faster and the full value of trees is with fewer complications realized in designed than those deprived of such landscapes. exposure; therapeutic and physical benefits can also be To varying degrees, associated with tree planting many of the values and care; shading and connected with trees can, reduced exposure to ultra of course, be associated violet radiation can also with other types of reduce the potential for vegetation. Think about cataracts, sunburn, and skin it a little, and you can cancer. probably come up with a Figure 1. A growing body of research supports the value of trees in urban Trees can increase property number of reasonable, landscapes; even the often maligned eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoids), and real estate values and the and likely valid, and especially the female trees of this native, dioecious species that produce actual sales price of homes; comparisons. For large amounts of cotton-like seeds like the one pictured here, have value and although the influence of example, although trees provide important physical, ecological, and socio-economic services (photo trees on property values is credit: Jim Calkins). and turf are very different complex, research supports a on many levels, both have boost in value of 3-5% as a conservative estimate of the benefits relative to air temperature and urban heating, increase in value associated with trees. stormwater runoff and water quality, and carbon sequestration Increased property values related to tree cover can also and potential greenhouse effects that may be related to climate benefit communities through increased property tax change. In all cases, understanding the benefits of trees and revenues; from a property owner’s perspective, an increase in other landscape plants is important and can be used to promote property taxes associated with trees may, however, not always the green industry’s role in the provision, establishment, and be perceived as a benefit. stewardship of trees and other landscape plants in urban and Trees have been correlated with decreased crime rates; a 10% rural landscapes. increase in tree canopy has been associated with a 12-20% Yes, few would ultimately argue with the idea that trees have decrease in crime; while studies have also indicated a value and this is especially true for members of the green relationship between perceived and actual crime rates and industry. It is also true that the nursery and landscape industry increased vegetation, the relationship may be related to the has a clear interest in the value of trees and could benefit from presence of low growing, dense vegetation rather than tree cover. Research continued on page 50 AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

Research continued from page 49 an increased appreciation for these values on the part of consumers. To this end, understanding and promoting the value of trees and other landscape plants should be a constant goal for green industry professionals and has significant potential as a marketing tool for increasing the sales of landscape plants, products, and services. Quality research focused on the value of trees and other landscape plants can be helpful in this regard. For additional detail and information on the value of trees and the research that quantifies these benefits, see the following selected references: Nowak, D.J., and J.F. Dwyer. 2007. Understanding the Benefits and Costs of Urban Forest Ecosystems, pp. 25–46. In: Urban and Community Forestry in the Northeast. Kuser, J., Ed. Springer Science and Business Media, New York, NY. http://crs.itb.ac.id/media/Jurnal/Refs/Draft/Habitat/Understan ding%20the%20Benefits%20and%20Costs%20of%20Urban %20Forest%20Ecosystems.pdf Benefits of Green Space – Recent Research. Environmental Health Research Foundation. April 25, 2011. http://www.ehrf.info/wpcontent/uploads/2011/09/BenefitsofGreenSpace.pdf Troy, A., J.M. Grove, and J. O’Neill-Bunne. 2012. e Relationship Between Tree Canopy and Crime Rates Across an Urban-Rural Gradient in the Greater Baltimore Region. Landscape and Urban Planning. 106(3):262-270. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2012/nrs_2012_troy_001.p df Sander, H., S. Polasky, and R. Haight. 2010. e Value of Urban tree Cover: A Hedonic Property Price Model in Ramsey and Dakota Counties, Minnesota, USA. Ecological Economics 69(8):1646-1656. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2010/nrs_2010_sander_001 .pdf Remember, the MNLA Foundation’s new research focus and these research updates are intended to serve you and we want your input. To comment on this month’s update, suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of researchbased information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@MNLA.biz. q

CLASSIFIED FOR SALE Nursery Retirement Sale – All in field Arbs, Juniper and Spruce. All container shrubs and arbs. Two hoop houses, miscellaneous equipment and used containers. Perennials. Some shade fabric. Bill at Crow River Greenhouse & Nursery – 952-607-9241.

the Scoop | PLANT OF THE MONTH

A NATIVE RETURNS HOME FROM FINISHING SCHOOL

Plant of the Month

By Steve Kelley, Kelley & Kelley Nursery and Jayne Roberts, Jayne Roberts Horticultural Sales & Service, Inc. oesn’t it often take a pair or two of foreign eyes to look at a North American native plant, see its potential as a landscape subject, and work to make that plant gardenworthy? Such has been the case with our native Eupatorium (yew-pa-tor′-ium), commonly known as Joe-Pye weed, named after a North American medicine man who lived in and traveled around New England at the time of the American Revolution. He sold herbal remedies to the colonists and apparently concocted a treatment for typhoid fever from the plant that to this day bears his name. Many cultivars of Eupatorium are on the market and more are being introduced yearly. Let’s concentrate here on a few of the more commonly used and readily available selections. With the broad variety of native plants at our disposal, you might rightly ask what makes Eupatorium worthy of an article in the Scoop. It is found from the east coast to the Midwest along stream banks, at the edge of thickets and, most commonly, in prairie settings, Eupatorium purpureum has proven itself one tough cookie. Happily, this reliability translates to garden situations, where Joe-Pye can thrive for many years on marginal maintenance, undisturbed. Eupatoriums are a major food source and habitat for butterflies, bees and birds but, luckily for us, not deer. Big and bold, Eupatorium purpureum, which under ideal conditions can find it self to be ten feet tall, spreads gently to form dense colonies. Quite a show-stopper, immensely decorative, and invaluable for the back of the border, superb vibrant, late summer to fall floral color marks all Eupatoriums and, if left though winter, lacy seed heads persist and stand tall as snow drifts accumulate. Further, Joe-Pye makes superb cut flowers subjects, though I prefer to enjoy my joe in the garden. As you can see, Eupatorium are all-around great garden plants. Hmmm, think a ten foot tall perennial might overpower the garden? Then consider the following notable cultivars, “improved” on the species to make them even more gardenworthy. Eupatorium purpureum subspecies maculatum ‘Gateway’ is one of the most popular cultivars. This beauty is more compact than the species, growing to only 4-5 feet tall, and speading to an impressive yet manageable 3-4 feet. Globe-shaped 12”-18” mauve pink flowers top sturdy wine–red stems in late summer into fall. Lance shaped serrated, olive green leaves are arranged

continued on page 51 50

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Plant of the Month, continued from page 50

Eupatorium Chocolate

Photos courtesy of North Creek Nurseries

in dense whorls from top to bottom along those stems. This is a bold plant that can be easily identified at 60 miles per hour. A white-blooming form, Eupatorium m. ‘Bartered Bride’ is a tad tall at 6-8 feet, spreading to 3’-4’ tall and, overall, very striking. The new short kids on the block making a name for themselves are Eupatorium dubium ‘Little Joe’ (PP16122) at 4-5 feet tall by 2-3 feet wide and Eupatorium dubium ‘Baby Joe’ (PP20320) at 2-3 feet tall by 18”-2 feet wide, both are just the right size for small gardens or landscapes, and both are noted for sturdy upright, compact growth, dark purple-red stems and that same dusky

flower color as Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’. Yet another compact Joe-Pye is Eupatorium ‘Phantom’ (PP18354) at 30”-36” inches tall, just the right size for a small cottage garden. Airy lavender flowers top this one. Yet another of the half dozen or so native Eupatorium species, Eupatorium rugosum has been gaining popularity lately. In particular Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ with deep chocolate maroon colored leaves and stems makes a wonderful contrast to the explosion of white ageratum-like flowers that appear late summer to early fall, at only 3 feet tall by a couple feet or so wide. Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ can easily be tucked into a modest spot in a semiEupatorium Gateway with Monarch shady location, where it will thrive given adequate Eupatorium may be naturalized in moisture. Even so, it can be short-lived in meadow or prairie schemes and can be Minnesota gardens, but well-worth used to good effect in massed plantings, replanting never the less. in rain gardens and along shorelines, and The brightly-variegated Eupatorium as specimen plants in the garden. They fortunei ‘Pink Frost’(PPAF) is a striking combine well with ornamental grasses, presence at three feet tall. Its deeply Veronicastrum, Nepeta sibirica and serrated, dark green leaves are edged in Baptisia. creamy white. In late summer the plant is Cultural requirements of Eupatorium topped with small heads of couldn’t be more straight forward, except rich pink flowers. as noted, their needs are moisture A Eupatorium that’s a bit retentive, average soils (though they can more obscure and therefore put up with slight periods of drought underutilized, Eupatorium once established) and full sun to light hyssopifolium is still well shade. They can be readily divided in worth looking for. It’s native spring or propagated by seed or cuttings. to dry, sandy soils and is Cut back the previous year’s growth in graced with clouds of white, spring and apply a light dressing of flat-topped clusters of flowers fertilizer to promote bushy growth. in late summer. Needle-like I hope this brief outline has set you to leaves are arranged in whorls thinking about Eupatorium and that you along the stem, giving an airy will give them a try when your next appearance, at two to three project calls for something bold and feet tall, a most gardenmemorable. q worthy subject.

Eupatorium Bartered Bride AUGUSt 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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