Boxwood Blight
Also Inside
The Big Box Battle Plan
Member Profile Volunteer Voices D.C. Update
THE WATER ISSUE A focus on this critical industry resource
Vol: 40 No: 7 July 2017 T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S O TA N U R S E R Y & L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N
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• Schedule C or Schedule F (Farmers Only)
Fleet Account Number (FAN) Municipality or Municipal Business License Business Tax Forms, Tax Form 1065, Tax Form 1120-S Schedule C or Schedule F (Farmers Only)
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Sales Tax License State Business License State or Federal Authorized Website Timber Registration Number
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CHANHASSEN 10008 Great Plains Blvd. Chaska, MN 55318 (952) 444-3531
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Volume 40 No. 7 July 2017
CONTENTS 20
59 29
IN THIS ISSUE 8
Events
10 From the President Thanks to members donating to the office landscape.
41
16 Water in the Headlines Cassie Larson explores MNLA’s role in the local and national conversation regarding water conservation.
20 How to Talk About Low Impact Development Nine talking points designers can use in explaining to owners and developers why LID can often be a better solution.
24 Irrigation Efficiency HRI research exploring the benefits of using a tip bucket system with ornamental plants to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce leaching.
29 Drought Tolerant Perennials As water concerns continue, gardeners and growers ask which perennials will survive and thrive in dry spells?
12 Member Profile Rainbow Treecare 34 D.C. Update How does policy affect water use? 46 Volunteer Voices A profile of Russ Jundt from Conserva Irrigation. 51 Research for the Real World The threat associated with Boxwood Blight. 59 The Battle Plan Strategies for beating the “box” stores. 64 Northern Green Featuring 2018 Master Classes. 70 Member Appreciation Day Join us August 23 to celebrate YOU!
38 Job or Career — Who’s Responsible for What? Tim Malooly explores the role of owners and employees in developing an industry career path.
41 Using Trees to Address Stormwater Runoff Faith Appelquist explores the important role trees can play in helping to manage stormwater.
Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design Garden Services & Landscape Management Garden Centers Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse Irrigation & Water Management Arborists & Tree Services All
The Scoop, July 2017, Issue 7, is issued monthly, 12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2017, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one year, which is included with member dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Editorial Contributions. You are invited to share your expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. When submitting an article, please contact the publisher at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987. MNLA reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.
july 17
MNLA .biz
5
AD LIST MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here!
1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org
A Top Notch Equipment ................................................................................... 27 Arborjet ............................................................................................................ 49 Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes .................................................. 11 BFG Supply ...................................................................................................... 44 Borgert Products, Inc. ....................................................................................... 33
MISSION: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.
Bullis Insurance Agency .................................................................................... 42
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 42
Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601 • hermanr@centrallandscape.com
County Materials Corporation .......................................................................... 30
herman roerick, president
scott frampton, vice-president
Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus ..................................................... 27
Cushman Motor Co. Inc ................................................................................... 32
Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com
Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 52
tim malooly, cid, clia, cic, secretary-treasurer
Frontier Ag & Turf ............................................................................................. 49
Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com
randy berg, mnla-cp
Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com
matt mallas
Hedberg Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@hedbergaggregates.com
mike mcnamara
Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com
john o'reilly
Fury Motors ...................................................................................................... 28 Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply .................................................. 2 GM Fleet and Commercial ................................................................................. 3 Gopher State One-Call ..................................................................................... 32 Haag Companies, Inc. ...................................................................................... 68 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies .......................................................... 4 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 36–37
Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com
Landscape Alternatives Inc. .............................................................................. 18
jeff pilla, mnla-cp
Maguire Agency ............................................................................................... 18
Bachman’s, Inc. 612-861-7600 • jpilla@bachmans.com
nick sargent
Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com
cassie larson, cae
Midwest Transmission Center / DBA Clutch & U-joint Proven Force ............... 42 Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 42 Plaisted Companies ............................................................................................ 7
MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz
RDO Equipment Co. .................................................................................. 18, 30
STAFF DIRECTORY
Rock Hard Landscape Supply ........................................................................... 62
Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz
SMSC Organics Recycling Facility .................................................................... 62
executive director:
membership director & trade show manager:
Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz communications dir.: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz education/cert. manager: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz Government Affairs Dir.: Alicia Munson • alicia@mnla.biz
Resultants for Business, Inc. (RFB) .................................................................... 52
Snowfighters Institute ....................................................................................... 27 The Tessman Company .................................................................................... 67 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ............................................................................ 14, 40, 58
regulatory affairs manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz administrative asst.: Gayle Anderson • gayle@mnla.biz accountant: Kris Peterson • kris@mnla.biz foundation program coordinator:
Truck Utilities, Inc. ............................................................................................. 62
advertising sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420
Wheeler Landscape Supply .............................................................................. 61
Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz
Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com legislative affairs consultant: Doug Carnival
6
Volume 40 No. 7 July 2017
➾ G OS C
MNLA .biz
july 17
Unilock ............................................................................................................. 22 Versa-Lok Midwest ........................................................................................... 50
Xcel Energy ...................................................................................................... 69 Ziegler CAT ......................................................................................... Back Cover
➾ C ALE N DAR
MNLA Event
➾
JUL18
JUL 15–18
➾
CULTIVATE 17 Columbus, OH Cultivate17.org
MNLA.biz
Cultivate is the premier national event for horticulture professionals.
New! Highlights will include a garden walk and talk from the UofM Bee Squad, followed by brews at Excelsior Brewing. Bring your colleagues, friends, and family! By attending, you show your support to the mission of the MNLA Foundation to improve the future of our industry.
TESSMAN COMPANY PRODUCT BUYING SHOW Envision Event Center Oakdale, MN Tessman is ready to help you with all your greenhouse, nursery, garden center and landscaping needs!
MNLA .biz
july 17
MNLA FOUNDATION BLOOMS AND BREWS Noerenberg Gardens and Excelsior Brewing
MNLA Event
AUG8
8
MNLA Event
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AUG9 LANDSCAPE DESIGN TOUR MNLA.biz Join us as we travel by coach bus and tour several amazing landscapes designed by our own MNLA members. It’s sure to inspire you!
JUL25 MNLA FOUNDATION WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT Phalen Golf Course, St. Paul MNLA.biz Join your fellow Hackers for Horticulture at the 27th Annual Widmer Golf Tournament. Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Research Fund.
AUG10 CARLIN BUYERFEST Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center Carlin BuyerFest is the annual trade show that brings everyone together under one roof: valued customers, vendor representatives and great Carlin/ProGreen staff.
2017 MNLA seminars generously supported by:
SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS • PARTS
JUL27 BAILEY NURSERIES SUMMER EXPO Bailey Nurseries Nord Farm Baileynurseries.com See the MN Greenhouse Production Facility, retail displays, and Collections Gardens; go on tours; hear talks; and eat a tasty lunch.
JUL27
MNLA Event
HORTICULTURE NIGHT AT THE WEST CENTRAL RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER Morris, MN wcroc.cfans.umn.edu The 47th Annual Horticulture Night features demonstrations, presentations, walking tours, and much more. Admission is free.
MNLA Event
MNLA.biz We want to celebrate our awesome members with a full day of fun. Stop by the MNLA office in the morning for donuts and in the afternoon for ice cream. Then, join us for an evening at CHS Field in St. Paul to watch the Saint Paul Saints take on the Wichita Wingnuts.
➾
BFG SUPPLY EXPO Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Park
MNLA Event
SEPT20
SAINTS GAME
➾
MNLA.biz
MNLA.biz
Sponsors:
All information on these and other industry events are online at MNLA.biz.
MNLA FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club, Prior Lake
3rd Annual MNLA Night at the Saints Game. We have reserved the Star Tribune Skybox for our group — Includes dinner and a ticket.
KEY:
Event Education
➾
GARDEN CENTER TOUR MNLA’s annual tour features a tour of several garden center locations. It’s great fun to network with peers and take away great ideas to implement at your own garden center location.
AUG23 ➾
AUG3 MNLA.biz
Don’t miss the BFG buying event of the year! Meet with a wide selection of top suppliers for the greenhouse, nursery and independent lawn and garden industries.
MNLA Event
AUG23 MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY
AUG1–2
Don’t miss this annual sporting clays charity event that raises money for scholarships! The course runs at a beginner’s level — the focus is on fun. Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Scholarship Fund.
july 17
MNLA .biz
9
➾ F R OM THE PRESIDEN T
Time for Hard Work Thank you to all those contributing to the exterior renovation at the MNLA office.
Herman Roerick
The Big Box Battle Plan Boxwood Blight
Also Inside
Central Landscape Supply
I hope everyone had a great spring and that you have all had the chance to enjoy the abundant rain we are getting. It seems to be that when this time of year comes around, there is always a huge rush to bring materials in and uncover nursery stock to prepare for the coming busy season. However, once the sprinklers are running and the planting complete the real work begins, and before we know it here comes summer and we are landscaping our hearts out. All this hard work leads to a successful year. In the coming months I am really looking forward to the MNLA events on the schedule for summer and fall. I hope to see many of you at some of these events and know that this is an excellent way to network with your fellow members and get involved in the organization.
The exterior task team has been working especially hard to keep everything on task for the landscaping around the MNLA office. I would like to personally thank all the members that have helped provide materials and funds for this project. We have seen some very generous donations to this project and this will create an amazing educational outdoor landscape for our organization. I wish you all a productive and successful busy season and let’s hope this rain gives us a beautiful summer!
HERMAN ROERICK can be reached at: hermanr@centrallandscape.com.
Member Profile Volunteer Voices D.C. Update
THE WATER ISSUE A focus on this critical industry resource
Vol: 40 No: 7 July 2017
T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S O TA N U R S E R Y & L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N
ON THE COVER
Water is essential to plant life and is therefore a critical input to the entire nursery and landscape industry. The demand for fresh, high-quality water is increasing across the U.S. and the world. Competition between human, industrial, and agricultural water use is becoming a major issue. Pages 16–48 of this issue explore many ways in which the green industry is part of the conversation, and highlights efforts to raise awareness about and develop solutions to, the issue of water scarcity. 10
MNLA .biz
july 17
âžž ME MBER PROFILE
MEMBER PROFILE RAIN B O W TR EEC AR E
Katie Mills Giorgio
Photos courtesy of Rainbow Treecare Ash protection with Rainbow equipment.
Back in 1976, a curious 16-year-old named Tom Prosser became interested in saving American elm trees from Dutch elm disease which was becoming a prevalent concern in the Twin Cities area and across the country. Basically working out of his garage, he began injecting trees in his neighborhood in an attempt to save them. And Rainbow Treecare was born. Since then, the company has grown from a Dutch elm disease injection company to a robust family of companies that provide services for trees, lawns, pests and more across the Twin Cities area, as well as the country as a whole. We talked with President Greg Krogstad to learn more about Rainbow Treecare, the other elements of their business and what drives their work to use science as a tool to care for the environment.
C OM PAN Y SN APSHO T
Company Name: Rainbow Treecare Key Employee: Greg Krogstad Date Company started: 1976 Location: Minnetonka Number of Employees in Peak Season: 225 Areas Served: Twin Cities; arborists across the country Member Category: Tree Care Services, Arborist Website: https://www.rainbowtreecare.com/
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july 17
Q. Greg, thank you for making time to talk with The Scoop. Please tell us about the different aspects of your business. A. After starting in 1976, Rainbow Treecare remained a Dutch elm disease injection company until the mid-1980s. It was then that Rainbow turned into a full tree disease and insect care company. Over time, we added pruning and organic based lawn care service, which became Rainbow Lawncare. In 1997, we started a company called Scientific Advancements which took the treatment of Dutch elm disease and Oak Wilt and taught arborists around the country how to get predictable results with the treatments. Today we have employees throughout the United States who work with arborists to help them save trees. In 2004, we started Rainbow Pest Experts which is a structural pest control company designed on the same framework of all of our businesses, which is to use science to develop protocols that get predictable results. And then in 2008, we started Rainbow Holiday Design, which provides cutting edge holiday lighting technology services.
Our motto is 100 percent satisfaction for our customers.
Proper pruning.
Q. That’s quite a variety. How has that growth happened over the years? A. All the business growth has been done organically, not through acquisitions. The business has grown through making big promises and keeping our word with those we work with, that’s the foundation. The other part of the growth has been continuing to find solutions to problems, like continuing to save trees and making lawns healthier. As an example, this spring, we are the first company that we are aware of that’s worked to commercialize the establishment of pollinator friendly lawns. We think that it’s an issue and that we can use science to develop a protocol to establish bee friendly lawns. Many companies might say that’s not going to sell or who is going to want weeds in their yard? But some people do want that. We will take on different things that we think can make a difference. Certainly, with tree care we are strongly focused on how we preserve the urban forests of the Twin Cities and throughout the US really, through the devastation of the Emerald Ash Borer. We work with municipalities to help them
Climbing arborist.
plan for EAB. We have protocols, tools, and products so we teach arborists around the country how to deal with that. The environment is important to us. We are in service to our community and to the environment. We consider ourselves in that way, stewards of the urban forest and stewards of the environment. Q. Tell us more about the values that form the foundation of all the work you do. A. While we have several brands under our company name, we are one company in which the same values are shared across the board. First and foremost, we are science based. In everything we do, we strive for predictable results. We use science to determine the best way to solve an issue. It’s not about how to set up a system to make money. It’s about how we create a solution to a problem and have that be science based. Honesty and integrity are another set of values. Accountability is a big one for us as well as direct, honest and complete communication. We believe strongly that
everything can be resolved with honest communication. We live by our promises. And then three other values are loyalty, teamwork and ongoing improvement. Ongoing improvement is a big part of our culture. We are never satisfied and are always working to improve in everything we do. We do speak our values daily. We have all company meetings where we focus on values. We have them posted but they aren’t just something on the wall. Our values are very strong and that is unique I think, especially because they were created by our employees. Q. What is your approach to customer service? A. Our motto is 100 percent satisfaction for our customers. We give our customers, at minimum, six different ways to tell us something is not right, from door hangers to follow-up emails. We also have a unique customer complaint tracking system that allows us to make sure every customer gets handled. Beyond that, we
july 17
MNLA .biz
13
CHIP IT. GRIND IT.
RENT IT.
TREES, BRANCHES, LIMBS AND STUMPS ARE NO MATCH FOR A BANDIT! Rent the brush chippers and stump grinders that are the choice of tree care professionals for their performance and dependability! There are many types and sizes of machines to suit every job. Chippers have capacities from 6 inches all the way up to 21 inches and we have stump grinders small and nimble enough for yards or large and powerful enough for high production work.
Call or stop in to speak to a Rentals Specialist who will recommend the best equipment for your needs! 1200 Highway 13 East Hwy. 13 and 12th Ave Burnsville, MN 55337 952-894-0894
www.tristatebobcat.com
3101 Spruce Street Little Canada, MN 55117 651-407-3727
588 Outpost Circle I-94 and Hwy. 12 Hudson, WI 54016 715-531-0801
➾ ME MBER PROFILE
Our relationship with MNLA has allowed our employees to get exposed to other members for training, support and mentorship.
just want customers to have an amazing experience with us, an experience of excellence. For our tree care business we are probably 20 percent commercial and 80 percent residential. But on the scientific advancements side, it’s all business-to-business. We have utility customers, we have private arborist customers, we have government customers, and we have homeowner customers. It’s pretty complex. But no matter what element of our business you are dealing with, everyone gets tracked in our ticketing systems and for everyone we are 100 percent committed to their satisfaction. It’s all about keeping our promises. Q. Tell us more about some of the innovative ways that you do business. A. Innovation is important to us. We will be involved in more than 100 research trials this year. We have a research and development team, full-time, that works to create solutions for tree problems across the United States. Beyond that team, every other Rainbow team is engaged in thinking about what’s needed for solutions that would help the environment. There are a lot of invasive insects and diseases that are always creating a need for new solutions.
Consulting arborist with client.
We also like to think outside of the box. For example, a couple of years ago we made an internal promise to ourselves to create a civic project that would have national visibility and we gave ourselves three years to do it. We came up with a project in which we would organize arborists around the country to take care of trees at veteran cemeteries. We connected with United States Veterans Affairs and set a goal of involving 1,000 arborists. Well the first year we had more than 1,000 arborists participate at 26 cemeteries across the United States. It was such a huge success that we turned the initiative into a nonprofit because we wanted to see it survive and live on with arborists across the country. Last year was the second year, and we had more than 1,400 arborists working at 36 cemeteries. This year we could hit 2,000 arborists and our cemetery list is approaching 50. That was all created with a group of people at Rainbow giving their word and working to make it happen. It’s an example of the power of our company that we can align and give a promise to something that really no one has ever done or knows how to do. A lot of people think we are crazy because some ideas work but some don’t. We just have that kind of company culture. And it’s really inspiring stuff. You can find out more at www.salutingbranches.org. Q. How has being a part of MNLA benefited your business? A. Our relationship with MNLA has allowed our employees to get exposed to other members for training, support and mentorship. We’ve had about eight employees go through the leadership program that MNLA offers. And it’s an important role that the MNLA keeps the industry educated on key issues across the different specialties. Getting connected and networking with the MNLA is of value and the government affairs work they do in being a voice for our industry is absolutely critical. INTERESTED IN BEING PROFILED IN THE SCOOP? Our
writer is always looking for a good story. Email jon@mnla.biz and we’ll discuss the next steps.
Web knockdown service from Rainbow Pest Experts.
july 17
MNLA .biz
15
âž¾ WAT E R SECTION
WATER IN THE HEA
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MNLA .biz
july 17
Cassie Larson | MNLA Executive Director
ADLINES
I often get asked, “What are some of the top issues facing green industry businesses looking forward?” The two issues which continually rise to the top include the lack of quality employees and access to water. While the industry is currently and intimately struggling with a labor shortage — top of mind for every business owner — the water issue is playing out a bit more behind-the-scenes locally.
july 17
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NEW
SCOOP COMING In January, MNLA will be introducing a redesigned Scoop. Our goal is to provide even greater value to you, the member, through this vital communication service. To do that, we need to know what your current needs are! We would like to gather your feedback on how you read The Scoop, which content you value most, and what you wish we would include. Please take five minutes and give us your opinions via a quick 5-question survey found here: BRIAN FERGASON, CPCUIf http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScoopFeedback. 651.635.2781 612.247.7346 Cell you’d rather forward your comments via email, send bfergason@maguireagency.com www.maguireagency.com those to jon@mnla.biz. 1970 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 300
Roseville, MN 55113 WRITERS WANTED We’re also looking for members who love to write – members who want to share useful information, ideas, and innovations with their fellow members in the association’s monthly magazine. Write from the perspective of your industry segment (landscape install, garden center, grower, etc.); share knowledge on business management or human resources; or offer insights via our soon-to-premiere features “Ideas That Work” and “My Favorite Tool.” To offer your services and/or receive information on deadlines and other parameters, email susan@mnla.biz or call Sue Flynn or Jon Horsman at 651-633-4987.
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➾ WAT E R SECTION
W
hen reading national headlines from major news outlets throughout the past year, you would guess this issue would be everywhere: • California Today: Use Less Water, Pay Higher Bills — The New York Times • A National Water Crisis — U.S. News and World Report • U.S. water crisis is bigger than Flint, MI — CNBC • High Demand, Low Supply: Colorado River Water Crisis Hits Across the West — NPR • 2016: A Tap Water Crisis for Many Americans — Fox Business
But water hasn’t yet hit a crisis point in the Midwest as it did in California and other western states last year. While Minnesota is coined the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with Lake Superior on our Northern border, it’s hard for us to imagine a water crisis here. We often take access to an abundance of clean water for granted, while much of the green industry is dependent on it for economic survival. So, what if water was suddenly taken away? Or there was a dramatic price increase due to lack of supply, compounded by increasing demand? The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is working hard to be part of the conversation both within regulatory agencies and through legislative participation in hopes that we can prevent scarcity from becoming the reality. In addition, we partner with organizations which specialize in the topic of water such as the Irrigation Association, and others that understand water issues in-depth. The green industry offers many great products and services that can help be part of the solution; from rain gardens to permeable pavers, we need to boast about the water saving technologies available.
The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is working hard to be part of the conversation both within regulatory agencies and through legislative participation in hopes that we can prevent scarcity from becoming the reality. That’s why we’re highlighting some of the tools, regulatory and legislative work, products and services that relate to water in the green industry in this issue, and focusing on what members and the association are doing to play an important role in the conversation. We’d love to hear how your business is addressing water conservation, reclamation and reuse, and stormwater management, so reach out and help us tell a collective story. july 17
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âžž WAT E R SECTION
HOW TO TALK ABOUT
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT Historically, the work of stormwater engineers has involved capturing rainwater and conveying the flows offsite as quickly as possible. This approach led to the development of a vast system of large, centralized treatment facilities handling millions of gallons of stormwater annually — a very efficient, but not very environmentally-minded solution. After decades of development that prioritized efficiency over ecology and short-term convenience over long-term benefits, there has recently been a major shift in how we approach this design problem. Lolly Kunkler and Patty Buchanan | MIG | SvR Reprinted from the DeepRoot Green Infrastructure blog (www.deeproot.com/blog).
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Park rain garden with concrete trench.
G
reen Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is a subset of Low Impact Development (LID), an approach focused on stormwater management through techniques that mimic and/or restore the natural water cycle. GSI aims to decrease the amount of stormwater conveyed to these large municipal systems and to reduce the impacts of overflows and flooding events associated with their failures. This means that stormwater engineers are trading pipe flow rate equations for soil infiltration rates and designing systems that keep rainwater on the site, where it lands, thereby returning rainfall to the natural environment after cleaning it. A byproduct of this shift is that not all land developers and owners understand the advantages of adopting green stormwater infrastructure approaches. The success of these systems not only rests in their design, installation, and maintenance, but also in the successful education of those impacted by them. Site owners and developers must see and understand the value of these systems to support the architects and engineers who design them. Here are nine talking points for designers to explain to owners and developers what they can expect from LID and GSI strategies – and why they’re often the better solution to stormwater management: 1. Low Impact Development techniques have positive environmental impacts. Evidence shows that the techniques of low impact development have a beneficial impact on the environment according to EPA studies on green infrastructure. By promoting the reduction of hardscapes and the increase of on-site infiltration, GSI results in sites that produce less surface water runoff, less pollution, better air quality, less erosion, and have reduced flooding impacts. Infiltration also recharges the groundwater aquifer and reduces the damage that urban run-off has on fresh water bodies (lakes and streams) and salt water bodies (estuaries
and oceans), while also recharging base flows that are essential to fish and other wildlife. 2. Low Impact Development techniques include a greater diversity of drainage solutions. “Conventional” storm-
water control facilities include catch basins, storm drain pipes, conveyance channels, and vault-type facilities. These structures and pipe networks provide a “capture and convey” approach to stormwater management. The techniques of LID provide a greater suite of distributed and infiltrative flow management approaches such as rain gardens, cisterns, pervious pavements, and plantings (preservation of native areas/mature trees and restoration of landscapes and tree planting) techniques. 3. Low Impact Development techniques distribute stormwater management across the site. Through varied surface collection alternatives and widespread infiltration areas, LID techniques can provide a diversity of discharge locations — this supports maintenance of natural discharge locations and mimics the natural water cycle by promoting distributed stormwater management and infiltration. This also reduces the risk and impacts associated with failure of a single type of facility or single discharge point. 4. Green Stormwater Infrastructure techniques can be customized. The greater suite of GSI techniques can be customized to control the quantity and quality of stormwater run-off that more closely mimics native hydrology. The optimization of size, type, and location can reduce construction costs and increase the usable site area. These systems can also be designed to fit into both urban and non-urban environ-
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(Top): Valley Ridge Mall rain garden. (Left): Pascal.
Washington Park in Stillwater WCD.
ments, which reduces the visual impacts of storm drainage infrastructure and can improve the aesthetics of a site. 5. These systems can provide multiple functions. Unlike
conventional gray systems, green infrastructure systems are not limited to a single function. Permeable pavement facilities are a stormwater control and a travel pathway for site circulation. Bioretention facilities promote infiltration (flow control) and provide water quality while also increasing landscape area and providing habitat for native bird and insect species. 6. Low Impact Development facilities can improve the aesthetic of a site. Pipes and catch basins are not pretty. Even the most attractive, artist-rendered manhole castings are merely accepted as a requirement of site development. Well-integrated green infrastructure facilities, including landscaped raingardens and conveyance swales, provide green space that enhances site aesthetic. For an owner, this means increased marketability, increased property values, and healthier environments for their tenants. 7. Green Stormwater Infrastructure facilities can be more economical. Green infrastructure facilities can cost less to
construct and maintain because there is often less belowgrade infrastructure. Space that was given over to large detention facilities can now be employed for other uses and benefits. This means that owners have more usable land area to serve users and to increase the developable area of a site.
pollutants that surface water carries? The surface waters and treatment components of green infrastructure systems can provide an educational component to sites. 9. Low Impact Development is required by law. Decades of
polluted surface water reaching our streams and lakes has had an undeniable effect on our environment. Sediment, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and other toxic materials are contaminating beach and waterfronts and killing wildlife. Flooding events and erosion damage private properties and public rights of way. The Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act is working to reverse these impacts. Jurisdictions of all sizes are part of this process and each owner and developer must comply with the requirements of stormwater discharge permits in a manner compliant with the authority having jurisdiction. Conclusion
Low Impact Development has long term economic, ecological, and social benefits that improve the bottom line for developers and owners. The promotion of infiltration and the reduction of impervious surfaces reduces the stormwater volumes that inundate aging drainage systems, cause flooding failures, and send pollutants to our natural streams and lakes. Less surface run-off saves money associated with facility maintenance and water treatment. LID techniques promote the preservation of vegetation and infiltration and the reduction of impervious surfaces, increasing landscaped areas for people and wildlife. Finally, it promotes healthier environments, people, and community economics. Simply put, LID is good business.
8. Green Stormwater Infrastructure facilities can provide educational value. Where does rainwater go? How does surface
water impact our communities? How can we manage the
LOLLY KUNKLER AND PATTY BUCHANAN
are civil engineers at
MIG | SvR.
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IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
SIMPLE WATER MEASURING SYSTEM TAKES GUESSWORK OUT OF IRRIGATING GREENHOUSE, NURSERY CROPS Horticultural Research Institute is funding research to determine the benefits of using a tip bucket system with ornamental plants to improve irrigation efficiency and to reduce leaching. David Kuack
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(Facing and left): Researchers at the LSU AgCenter have developed a simple tip bucket system for measuring irrigation. When the growing substrate becomes saturated the tipping bucket tips over and irrigation stops. Photo courtesy of Katie Guitreau LSU AgCenter.
M
ost ornamental plant growers who use a time clock system to irrigate their crops don’t know how much water they are applying to their plants. This is especially true of growers who are using overhead sprinklers to irrigate outdoor crops. “When I ask nursery growers how much water they apply to their plants on a daily basis, not many know how much water they apply to each container,” said Louisiana State University associate horticulture professor Jeff Beasley. “During the summer the irrigation system comes on twice a day every day. The frequency of twice a day is based on the recommendation of the Louisiana State University Extension. The frequency is the same, but the volume of water that is applied is different. The irrigation system comes on regardless of the weather, but the time clock system stays on unless a grower shuts it off.” Beasley, along with horticulture professors Jeff Kuehny and Ed Bush and graduate students Katie Guitreau and Maureen Thiessen, are developing a patent-pending water measuring system that would allow growers to increase irrigation efficiency and reduce the amount of leachate. With funding from the Horticultural Research Institute the researchers are studying the effectiveness of the measuring system using various size containers and different growing media.
Keeping it simple
Beasley said the simple measuring system that is being developed consists of a tipping bucket and indicator plants. “When the substrate becomes saturated the tipping bucket will tip over and irrigation will stop,” Beasley said. “The system uses container capacity to control the amount of water applied and leaching.” Kuehny said the traditional standard for irrigating plants is to allow for 20 percent leachate from growing containers. “Previously the only way to look at container capacity has been to weigh the container, which doesn’t work well especially if you have a plant growing in it,” Kuehny said. “The other way of measuring the container capacity is to use some kind of sensor. There are some issues with using sensors, including where to place them in the containers.
“The tip bucket system being developed by Dr. Beasley is very easy to set up and not real high tech. It can be used with multiple types of crops and multiple types of irrigation set ups.” Beasley said minimizing the number of inputs allows the system to be used in all size operations with different production methods. “A grower doesn’t have to be concerned with humidity, temperature, solar radiation and all of those things that sensors would need to follow and then put it into an equation,” he said. “This system eliminates all of those variables. It’s very simple, but it works very efficiently.” “Container capacity is a very stable measurement compared to other measurements, such as targeted leaching. Container capacity does change over time, but not dramatically.” Beasley said having a plant in the container doesn’t have much effect on the accuracy of the water measurement of the tip bucket system. Measuring container capacity
Kuehny said most growers in Louisiana try to water every morning at around 10 a.m. He said that is the standard time for most greenhouse and nursery growers to water their plants. “Using the tip bucket system, if it rained the night before and the irrigation system comes on at 10 a.m., the growing medium may already be at container capacity. In this case, the tip bucket system would cause the irrigation system to shut off very quickly. “If it was sunny and hot the day before and the irrigation system turns on at 10 a.m., it would run for a while until the medium reaches container capacity. The tip bucket system keeps the medium at container capacity as much as possible. This also helps to prevent big deviations in the growing medium getting too dry or staying too wet.” Beasley said based on the research findings, the amount of water being applied with the tip bucket system is much less than in commercial operations. “In most cases, how much water to apply is something many growers have learned,” he said. “If a grower is a great guesser and extremely lucky, the best he could do is match the tip bucket system for the amount of water to apply. We haven’t had that happen yet in seven trials.” july 17
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The tip bucket system has been trialed in a greenhouse using drip irrigation on poinsettias, lantana and petunias. The tip bucket system keeps the growing medium at container capacity as much as possible, preventing the medium from becoming too dry or staying too wet. Photo courtesy of Jeff Beasley, LSU AgCenter.
After growing gardenias comparing the tip bucket system with timed irrigation, Louisiana State University researchers found the tip bucket system delivered a 40-50 percent water savings and produced equal caliber plants. Photo courtesy of Jeff Beasley, LSU AgCenter.
Greenhouse applications
along with fertilizer leaching. Overall we found that the plants grown with the tip bucket system were equal or better after the five month period than plants watered with a traditional timed irrigation system.” Guitreau said there was also a difference in growth depending on the type of growing medium the gardenias were grown in. “The fine medium has a Gardenias grown in a coarse pine bark higher water holding capacmedium using the tip bucket system ity,” she said. “Plants grown were larger and healthier than the plants grown in a fine bark medium. in the coarse medium were The plants in the coarse medium larger, healthier, greener, had larger root systems and reached more saleable plants than saleable size months before the plants in the fine medium. Photo courtesy of Jeff the plants grown in the fine medium. The plants grown in Beasley, LSU AgCenter. the coarse medium had larger root systems and reached saleable size months before the plants in the fine medium.”
The tip bucket system has been trialed in the greenhouse using drip irrigation on poinsettias in 3-gallon pots, lantana in 6-inch pots, and petunias in 4-inch pots. “We haven’t scaled the measuring system up yet to handle an entire greenhouse,” Kuehny said. “We have only tested the system using a hundred plants. A greenhouse grower is going to have to have a good irrigation system in order for this measuring system to work well. “Based on where the growing medium dries out, a tip bucket will probably be located in those areas of the greenhouse where it dries out the fastest. Even if some of the plants on the interior of the bench are watered more than the ones on the exterior, the amount of water that is going to be applied is less than the water that would be applied if irrigation was being done based on a time interval. The ultimate goal would be for a grower to reduce leaching down to zero water loss. The tip bucket system is going to control the leaching more than if the irrigation was controlled with a time clock.” Nursery applications
For the HRI-funded project, Guitreau is growing Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’ in 1-, 3-and 7-gallon containers filled with either a fine or coarse pine bark growing medium. She chose “August Beauty’ gardenia because it puts on a decent amount of growth over a relatively short production season. The variety is grown commercially in numerous southern nurseries. “All of the plants were compared using the tip bucket system vs. a nursery standard timed overhead irrigation system,” Guitreau said. “After about five months we found we had 40–50 percent water savings with equal caliber plants using the tip bucket system. The tip bucket system takes into account the humidity, the amount of rainfall, and dry spells. “For those plants that were watered overhead using a timed irrigation interval, some plants showed chlorosis and stunted root growth 26
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For more: Jeff Beasley, LSU AgCenter, School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences; (225) 578-1029; jbeasley@agcenter.lsu.edu. Jeff Kuehny, LSU AgCenter, Burden Center; (225) 763-3990; jkuehny@ agcenter.lsu.edu. Katie Guitreau, LSU AgCenter, Burden Center; kguitreau@ agcenter.lsu.edu. Horticultural Research Institute, (614) 884-1155; jenniferg@americanhort.org; http://www.hriresearch.org.
DAVID KUACK
gmail.com.
is a freelance technical writer in Fort Worth, Texas; dkuack@
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âž¾ WAT S E CTEI R ON SECTION TITLE
DROUGHTTOLERANT PERENNIALS As water use continues to be a concern across the industry, gardeners as well as growers are asking which perennials will survive and thrive in dry spells?
Paul Pilon This article originally appeared in the May 2017 issue of Greenhouse Product News. Copyright 2017 Great American Media Services.
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Sedum is used in landscapes across the country. In addition to its great landscape presence, sedum does well in locations with dry growing conditions.
T
he word drought can be somewhat subjective and have various meanings for different people. When I think of what the word drought means, a period of prolonged dryness that reduces plant growth and/or causes damage to crops comes to my mind. A drought can be very short term, lasting several weeks or months (even as little as a few days for containerized plants) or last over an extended period of time (even multiple years). No two drought events are the same, but they all have one thing in common — the absence of water. It’s not uncommon for various parts of the country to experience short- or longterm droughts with some regularity. With the potential for drought, its frequency at some locations as well as the possibility of water use restrictions, drought tolerance has certainly become an increasingly desirable characteristic of landscape plants. Keep in mind that some perennials are more drought tolerant than others.
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The architecture of the leaves influences a plant’s ability to withstand drought. Thick, waxy leaves have the ability to store moisture. Hairy or fuzzy leaves tend to keep the moisture trapped near the leaf surface. And fine, lacey foliage allow plants to lose less water due to the reduced surface area. The root structure also plays an important role in a plant’s ability to survive during dry spells. Some plants have deep root systems to find moisture well below the soil surface, while others have masses of fine roots near the surface which collect and send water to the main roots below.
There are certainly a number of perennials that can tolerate drier conditions and I’ll get to those soon, but first there are dramatic differences in how drought-tolerant plants need to be maintained in containers, in new landscape installations as well as in established plantings. For all drought-tolerant plants, the ability to withstand drier conditions is contingent on how well established they are. Perennials grown in containers, such as during production, should never be exposed to severe drought-like conditions. Certainly, there’s some wiggle room to grow these plants slightly drier in containers, but its best to avoid overly dry growing conditions for extended periods. I find it best to water them thoroughly and let them moderately dry out between irrigations. Containerized plants generally become stressed much easier than plants in the landscape. There are several reasons for these stresses. Growing mixes used in containers usually hold less water than landscape soils, plants tend to dry out faster and one of the most significant stresses is soil temperature. 100 DROUGHT-TOLERANT PERENNIALS* Achillea
Cortaderia
Hyssopus
Phlomis
Aegopodium
Cotula
Iberis
Phlox subulata
Agastache
Dasylirion
Incarvillea
Pterocephalus depressus
Ajuga
Delosperma
Iris
Ratibida
Alcea
Dianthus
Kniphofia
Rudbeckia
Alchemilla
Digitalis
Lavandula
Salvia
Amsonia
Echinacea
Liatris
Saponaria
Anthemis
Echinops
Linum
Schizachyrium
Arenaria
Erianthus
Liriope
Scutellaria
Armeria
Eryngium
Malva
Sedum
Artemisia
Euonymous
Marrubium
Sempervivum
Asclepias
Euphorbia
Melampodium
Solidago
Baptisia
Festuca
Miscanthus
Sporobolus
Belamcanda
Gaillardia
Monarda fistulosa
Stachys
Berlandiera
Gazania
Muhlenbergia
Stipa (Nassella)
Bouteloua
Geranium sanguineum
Nepeta
Stokesia
Buddleia
Gypsophila
Oenothera
Tanacetum
Calamagrostis
Hedera
Pachysandra
Teucrium
Calamintha
Hedeoma
Paeonia
Thymus
Callirhoe
Helianthemum
Panicum
Verbascum
Caryopteris
Helictotrichon
Papaver
Verbena
Centaurea
Helleborus
Pardancanda
Veronica
Centranthus
Hemerocallis
Pennisetum
Vinca
Cerastium
Heuchera
Penstemon pinifolius
Yucca
Coreopsis
Hosta
Perovskia
Zauschneria
* There are differences in drought tolerance between species or even between cultivars. Don’t forget about all of the great drought-tolerant cacti and succulents.
It generally takes two to five years for most plants to become established enough that they can withstand drought-like conditions. On sunny days, it’s not uncommon for the soil temperatures of containers in outside production sites to climb to over 120° F; some root death can occur at these temperatures. Did you know that root growth slows at temperatures above 86° F and stops completely at 102° F? Between elevated temperatures, less water surrounding the root system and wide swings with the moisture levels, containerized perennials just are not as drought tolerant as plants in the landscape. For these reasons, never consider and treat a containerized plant as if it truly is drought tolerant. Even drought-tolerant plants need water. New plantings do not perform or survive under drought as well as older, more established plantings. These plants should not be severely water stressed during the first couple of growing seasons to allow them plenty of time to establish and develop an adequate root system. During the first year or two, be sure to supply new plantings with an appropriate amount of irrigation. It’s better to provide less frequent, but deeper irrigations than it is to supply more frequent, light irrigations; this encourages the roots to go deeper into the soil. As time passes, the amount of irrigation provided can gradually be reduced. It generally takes two to five years for most plants to become established enough that they can withstand drought-like conditions. Keep in perspective that although drought tolerant implies that once a plant is established, it can survive with minimal or no supplemental irrigation, it does not guarantee its survival. These are living organisms and if the water stress is extreme enough, stress injury and plant mortality can still occur. Having said that, choosing drought tolerant plants and ensuring they become properly established can significantly increase the appearance and survivability of a landscape during periods of drought. Plants to Consider
For many people, the first plants that come to mind when considering drought-tolerant plants are the succulents and cacti. However, the plant palette of drought-tolerant plants is much broader than this and includes many colorful and beautiful options. That’s right, there are quite a few perennials that are perfect for low maintenance, water conserving landscapes. I’ve created a table containing 100 great drought-tolerant perennials for you to consider. As you’ll see, many of them are familiar household names such as echinacea or gaillardia, while others such as pterocephalus are a little more obscure. Many of these perennials have colorful flowers and can be used to brighten up a dry landscape. Not all of these perennials are suitable for all places. There may be hardiness restrictions or even plants that don’t perform well in soils with average to above average moisture levels during non-drought periods. So certainly, choosing which plants fit your location will july 17
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Remember to give them a little tender loving care after planting and avoid exposing them to drought conditions until they are well established. still take some thought and consideration. Look at each perennial’s cold and heat tolerance when deciding which plant would be best for your location. One consideration is to stick with perennials which are native to your geographic location or whose native environments are similar to your own. Remember to give them a little tender loving care after planting and avoid exposing them to drought conditions until they are well established. After drought tolerant perennials are established, they’ll hold their own during dry spells and provide years of beauty in times when other plants would struggle.
is a horticultural consultant, owner of Perennial Solutions Consulting (www.perennialsolutions.com), and author of Perennial Solutions: A Grower’s Guide to Perennial Production. He can be reached by phone at 616.366.8588 or paul@perennialsolutions.com.
PAUL PILON
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D.C. UPDATE J ULY 2 0 1 7
John Farner
Government & Public Affairs Director, Irrigation Association
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Water is the driver of Nature.” While this statement holds true even in the 21st Century, water is now the driver of a lot more, including policy. Water is all around us. But, a small percentage of it is available for us to use for drinking and other uses, including irrigation. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, residential outdoor water use across the United States accounts for nearly nine billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation. The average U.S. household uses more water outdoors than most American homes use for showering and washing clothes combined. Water has been in the news a lot lately. Issues such as the Clean Water Act Rule that was proposed by President Obama, the drought in the West, floods in Texas and now the President’s budget proposal significantly reducing and/or eliminating federal funding for environmental programs such as WaterSense are now front and center. With this in mind, the federal government, including many states, are creating legislation and regulations that will shape water policy for many years ahead. The irrigation, landscape and agricultural industries are at the forefront of our nation’s water debate and
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discussions. Water quantity and quality each affect how we run our businesses and policies addressing each do the same. We need to understand this, engage with our elected leaders, stand behind the benefits of our industry, and do what we can to efficiently use this precious resource: water. Thankfully, many sectors of our industry have already stepped up to the plate to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of what our companies have to offer. One way the irrigation industry is driving this discussion is through Smart Irrigation Month. Celebrated each July, Smart Irrigation Month is the irrigation industry’s showcase month to promote the benefits of efficient irrigation. 2017 is an exciting year for the Smart Irrigation Month initiative. Not only, does the industry have more efficient (and cool) technologies on the market than ever before, but we are also offering the irrigation, landscape and agricultural communities even more ways to connect with the media, public and policymakers with the Smart Irrigation Month message. Here are just some of the new initiatives introduced in 2017:
Technology Tuesday — On June 1, the Irrigation Association announced that the second Tuesday in July will now be referred to as Technology Tuesday. Celebrated in 2017 on July 11, Technology Tuesday will now serve
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
ting through the “noise” is a difficult task, but is one that we address head on with efforts such as reaching out to local media outlets and writing letters to the editor throughout the month of July.
announcements — The Irrigation Association will be announcing several new initiatives throughout the month of July. Using Smart Irrigation Month as a platform and driver, this is a perfect time to highlight new programs that highlight how our industry is a leading steward of our nation’s water resources.
as the “official kick-off” of Smart Irrigation Month. This is the day when all industries who rely on a sustainable water source for irrigation can join together and showcase the new and innovative technologies used to save water all year-round.
social media — In addition to the standard Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter posts, the Irrigation Association will be introducing new and innovative ways for the public and industries to engage in promoting the message of efficient irrigation. Examples of what is to come include new social media platforms, a new focus on photos and new tools to encourage engagement through these platforms. advocacy — Engagement with local, state and federal policymakers is a cornerstone of Smart Irrigation Month. Focusing on policies and programs that help consumers and end users become more efficient with their water use, the Irrigation Association introduced a new advocacy campaign for Congress and the Administration to implement. public outreach — Our industry fights an uphill battle when promoting the benefits of our plant material and water use. Cut-
The conflict between different water users over our water resources will continue to get more difficult, not easier over time. The demand for water for human consumption, environmental purposes, agriculture and landscape irrigation is getting greater as the years go on and our industry needs to be prepared for this. We need to engage not only in July, but all year round regarding all aspects of water use, including alternative water sources, water quality (storm water management), and the technologies and practices we use to not waste water through inefficient irrigation. Organizations such as the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, the Irrigation Association and others are great options to help lead and navigate our industry through these challenges we face.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on how you can become more involved in July’s Smart Irrigation Month activities, please visit www.smartirrigationmonth.org.
2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION OUTCOMES Alicia Munson MNLA Government Affairs Director The recurring theme of the final few weeks of Minnesota’s 2017 legislative session was “hurry up and wait,” which rang very true on Monday, May 29th — this year’s session “deadline.” By mid-evening, it became very clear that the legislature would not complete their work on time. In order for legislators to complete their work, Governor Dayton called the legislature into a “special session.” After another 75 hours, the legislature finally concluded on Friday, June 2nd. Ultimately, the Governor signed each of the major finance bills, but vetoed Uniform State Labor Standards (otherwise known as “preemption”) legislation — one of MNLA’s top policy priorities this year. Governor Dayton also exercised his veto authority to eliminate funding for the House and Senate, in an effort to bring legislative leaders back to the table for further discussion. However, Speaker Kurt Daudt and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka viewed this action as unconstitutional overreach. In response, they sought legal counsel and (at the time of this publication) have moved forward with a lawsuit against Governor Dayton. Doug Carnival, MNLA’s contract lobbyist, and I sat down a few weeks ago to discuss these end-of-session dynamics, and shared a video of our conversation via the online Legislative Action Center at mnla.biz. Once there, be sure to check out my full Legislative Session Outcomes report.
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➾ WAT S E CTEI R ON SECTION TITLE
JOB OR CAREER WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT?
Job — (jab) — a regular remunerative position* Career — (ka-rir) — a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling* *Merriam-Webster, 2017
Timothy Malooly | Water in Motion
Author’s note: This article is admittedly an editorial directed to the Minnesota Green Industry service practitioners who own the businesses they founded. To do true justice to the topic would take several chapters and lots of in-person banter. Alas, time and space are short. Below you will (hopefully) find commentary intended to stimulate constructive thought, talk and action. I look forward to your emails.
W
hen thinking about operating a successful Green Industry business, especially at the practitioner level, what is the one required resource above all others? Money? Tools? Office supplies? It’s people. Career people. People who are trained; are lifelong learners; who want to practice their training and who take pride in their practice. How is a career different from a job? In a nutshell, a job in business is something to do to get money. Often, the focus of a person holding a job is to get money to do other things that she is passionate about. A career is something to do and enjoy in life – money being a handy, necessary biproduct but, not necessarily the focus. Can a person with a job demonstrate pride of position? Sure. Can a person in a career position prioritize remuneration over pride of practice? Of course. So, when trading other people’s time for money in your enterprise, what should be the focus? That depends in part, how you define success. For some, success in their Green Industry practice is defined as top line totals, regardless of turnover, quality of delivery, employee or client satisfaction. “Top line” could mean gross income or total number of projects. Often, such companies treat the buyer of services as customers and employees as expendable; a transactional enterprise. Others may define a successful practice as being a “hero” to its clients; striving to deliver such high levels of quality that profit seems a secondary consideration. Buyers are clients in a relationship
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with their chosen vendor. Staff is often held to the standards set by the founder with expectation that they have the same passion as the founder and just “get it.” Somewhere in between is perhaps a more reasonable and practicalfor-the-long-term definition of success. It often comes later in a business-founder’s life; whether by revelation, realization that old ways don’t work, sheer exhaustion or a desire to leave behind an operation that outlives its founder. That is, a business enterprise that values those who hold a job and aspires to promote job-holders into career-holders. Such an enterprise delivers consistent quality to its clients at a profit and in a repeatable fashion without over-dependence on the founder. Where do Green Industry operations find employees? All too often, anywhere they can! Sadly, there is not a substantial “student body” from which to hire employees who have learned horticulture, arboriculture, hardscaping, design or the many skills necessary to practice specialties like landscape irrigation or stewardship. Why not? Who’s at fault for the lack of trained employees to fill the many available positions throughout the Green Industry? If there must be “fault” then, we are at fault. We are the industry, solely responsible for its care and feeding. The few schools remaining that offer horticultural degrees are starved for students for many reasons; including a lack of effective industry promotion above the din of competing industries, contemporary parental perceptions that our work is somehow beneath their children and our inability as an industry to see beyond the “here-and-now”, to envision jobs as careers and transform our companies into career-based enterprises. We must understand that our employees are not owners of our businesses, prepared to sacrifice exceptionally for “the cause” of our enterprise. It’s up to us to transfer our passion to others in a way they can process. Careers can exist in our industry if we choose to embrace the concept. What does not exist is a consistent career path borne of
years of tradition (and sometimes laws) curated and protected by the industry and on which, new practitioners can emulate and employees can rely. Also missing is necessary training opportunities from school-aged children to the adult learner. That is, until now… The MNLA Foundation was founded in part, to promote green industry careers to the next generation of Minnesota employees. Lately, the Foundation has redoubled its desire to be relevant in influencing school-aged children to consider the creation and care of the outdoor living environment and ultimately, choose career paths. A vital and missing link is support of the Foundation by the industry it serves, including definable career paths developed and supported en-masse. Your MNLA board of directors is working with staff to explore ways to improve the careers of adult workers including the Green Industry Leadership Institute (now entering its fourth year) and recently, consideration of an industry-supported enterprise where employees can obtain education in promotion of careers. Using proven, third-party educational tools, MNLA member company, Irrigation by Design (IBD) is assembling a permanent training program for its employees in support of its commitment to employees to think of themselves as holding careers in the irrigation industry. Training will be year-round, in-person and online. Its organization chart, position descriptions, pay and benefits supports IBD’s commitment to careers, not jobs. IBD’s goals include turning-over the training program to MNLA to enable competing companies to improve quality of outcome and raise the level of service quality — and careers — throughout the landscape irrigation industry in Minnesota. Relating this article to “water”, the theme of the July Scoop, the almost certain future of water in the planted landscape is non-potable. The future of the planted landscape includes less available water and use of the landscape to reduce and condition runoff to minimize the effects of our footprint on the waters of the United States. You and your employees face new rules, practices and expectations that did not exist 10 years ago. Think the old ways of managing the landscape will continue in the near term? Think again. Future
potential employees will have been recipients of training in environmental responsibility in ways that we have not. Young adults concerned for our environment are influencing policy that directly affects the design, installation and stewardship of the planted landscape and with more velocity and effectiveness than ever before. The good news is, it’s not too late to adjust the perception of our industry by future employees as a viable, rewarding and relevant career option. Our challenge is to walk the walk. Some green industry businesses owners may not believe it necessary to adjust in the face of changing times and attitudes. Perhaps. Consider these questions: • Do you worry how you’ll find and retain employees? • Do you wish for lower employee turnover than you experience? • Do you wish you could afford to embrace new technologies? • Are you trained in your chosen career? Are you certified in your specialty? • Are your employees trained as well or better than you? • Is your business set-up to survive, prosper after your departure? • Are you working on your business or in your business? • Are you able to save sufficiently for your retirement? Your answers to these questions might include mapping an approach to building career paths within your company and supporting more broadly available and respected green industry training such as nationally-accredited certifications. If you yourself want training — go get it! MNLA is a valuable resource, here to help you. Keep in mind that in an organization where roles are defined, your employees are the persons who should have and practice the practical skills while you hold skills to operate a stable, profitable business. Whether we’re young dogs or old dogs, we can always learn new tricks. The responsibility to transform jobs into careers lies with us; those who practice today. If we are to compete for employees over the next 20 years, we must change our approaches to the conduct of our businesses; beginning with hiring, training and retaining employees. july 17
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➾ WAT E R SECTION
USING TREES TO REDUCE
STORMWATER RUNOFF Have you ever been caught out in the rain and rushed to stand under a tree to stay dry? Unlike us, trees don’t complain about raging blizzards and torrential rains.
Faith Appelquist | Tree Quality
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A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins
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Call us first for all your native planting needs
➾ WAT E R SECTION
(Left): Trees function as a natural flood plain, slowing water flow. (Previous page): Studies have shown that a mature tree can intercept 500–700 gallons of water per year.
T
rees can hold vast amounts of water that would otherwise stream down hills and surge along rivers into towns. Stormwater is the rainfall that accumulates on the ground during and immediately after a rain storm. Stormwater pollution is created when rain and melting snow run off impervious surfaces like roof tops, yards, parking lots and streets. The water that runs off picks up heavy metals, fertilizers, bacteria, pesticides, and trash, and transports them to nearby lakes and rivers, causing big problems. That’s why trees are such an important part of stormwater management for many cities. How do they do this? Tree canopies intercept rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation. In so doing, they both decrease the impact velocity of a rain drop hitting the ground, and reduce the overall amount of precipitation that eventually reaches the ground. The faster the moving water, the larger the particles that can be carried away, and the more severe the erosion. Water that is stored in the tree canopy is returned to the air by evaporation or transmitted to the ground for root absorption. The tree uses some of the absorbed rainfall and eventually releases the unused portion back into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. In addition, leaf litter under the tree serves as a sponge for the water. The result of this moderating effect on precipitation is a reduction in runoff and soil erosion. Here are some examples of how trees pay us back: • Urban forest can reduce annual stormwater runoff by 2–7%. • Green streets, rain barrels, and tree planting are estimated to be 3–6 times more effective in managing stormwater per $1,000 invested than conventional methods. • Implementing green infrastructure practices in Detroit’s sewage and water department will reduce combined sewer overflow volumes by 10–20% and reduce annual costs by $159 million.
The tree uses some of the absorbed rainfall and eventually releases the unused portion back into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. • Portland, OR is saving 43% ($64 million) by integrating green infrastructure — including planting 4,000 trees — into a combined gray-green stormwater management solution rather than the standard man-made approach. • Street trees in Minneapolis saves the city $9.1 million in stormwater treatments annually. • Philadelphia’s $1.5 billion stormwater management plan focuses almost exclusively on eco-friendly solutions — bioswales, permeable pavement, street trees — as a way of reducing the city’s 15 billion gallons of annual water overflow. • The stormwater management value of Philadelphia’s parkland and trees is $5.9 million annually. • Trees on UC San Diego’s 1,200-acre campus trap and filter nearly 140 million gallons of storm water runoff each year at a value of $250,000. • Urban greening in Washington, DC, prevents over 1.2 billion gallons of stormwater from entering the sewer system, 10% of the total volume. This represents a savings of $4.74 billion in gray infrastructure costs per 30-year construction cycle. • Trees in Houston, TX, provide $1.3 billion in stormwater benefits (based on $0.66 /cubic foot of storage). • Each urban tree in Modesto, CA, reduces stormwater runoff by 845 gallons annually, with a benefit valued at $7 per tree. july 17
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➾ WAT E R SECTION
Trees can also absorb water in the soil by root uptake. Together, the roots and leaf litter stabilize soil and reduce erosion.
• Street trees in New York City intercept 890 million gallons of stormwater annually: 1,525 gallons per tree on average, with a total value of over $35 million each year. What can you do?
• Maximize the amount of growing space and understory vegetation around a tree. • Preserve established trees and minimize soil compaction, displacement, and erosion around a tree. • Minimize clearing of trees and vegetation to preserve their benefits and minimize soil compaction. • Do not over fertilize or over irrigate your trees or lawns. • Route excess stormwater to bioretention areas made of a vegetated buffer and a soil bed to filter pollutants, store water , and prevent erosion. • Include tree and vegetative strips in parking lots to collect, store, and treat the runoff. • Maintain and increase the amount and width of urban forest buffers around urban streams, lakes, and wetlands. is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an ISA Municipal Specialist MN, and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist®. Faith can be reached at faith@treequality.com.
FAITH APPELQUIST
A canopy of trees over a highway helps reduce stormwater runoff to nearby ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers.
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➾ WAT E R SECTION
VOLUNTEER VOICES RUSS J UN DT, C O N SER VA I R R I G ATI O N
Alicia Munson
MNLA Government Affairs Director
When speaking with Russ Jundt, it doesn’t take long to pick-up on his emphatic commitment to water conservation in the landscape irrigation industry. In fact, it’s such a core component of his personal and professional life that he “focused solely on the principles of water conservation” in founding Conserva Irrigation with his childhood friend, Tom, in 2010. VO L UN TEER SN APSH O T
Member company name: Conserva Irrigation Member company locations: 1 in Minnesota; 25 total nationwide Year member company was founded: 2010 Type of business & primary services provided: Landscape irrigation Commendations: National Sponsor, Wyland Foundation
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After working for many years in the financial sector, Russ felt compelled to start a business that would “address the lack of regard for one of our most precious resources — water,” seeing irrigation as an “opportunity to change the way water is utilized, ultimately forcing change by creating a need and desire within the market.” Russ and his partners have taken their passion for water conservation on the road, establishing Conserva Irrigation as the first franchised landscape irrigation company in the country, with fifteen independent franchise owners in eleven states nationwide. And, they didn’t stop there.
“ …when they hear your personal story, they pay attention and genuinely want to help create change.”
In elevating their efforts, the team at Conserva began a philanthropic partnership with the Wyland Foundation, which aims to “promote, preserve, and protect ocean waterways and marine life throughout the world.” Through his foundation, renowned painter and muralist Robert Wyland has “embraced irrigation professionals” like Russ “in partnership to work generally on advancing conservation efforts.” A key component of those efforts is raising awareness through information-sharing, education, and story-telling — skills which Russ now utilizes in volunteering as a member of MNLA’s Government Affairs Committee. During this year’s Green Industry Day on the Hill, Russ shared stories about Conserva Irrigation with Representatives and Senators of both parties to educate them about the ways in which our policy priorities affect his business. He cites this as his most meaningful experience in volunteering for the government affairs program to-date. Russ said, “I loved the lobbying element. It’s like speed-sales! You have fifteen minutes with a legislator to get your point across. And guess what? Our Reps and Senators actually listen! I was really surprised; I didn’t think they’d have the bandwidth to understand or even care because they’re so busy. But when they hear your personal story, they pay attention and genuinely want to help create change.”
F UN FACT
Russ loves water SO much, he spends three months of the year living in it! Five years ago, Russ and his longtime girlfriend, Christie, purchased a houseboat where they reside throughout the summer with their dogs Mia and Kylie. Stationed on the St. Croix River, their boat – “Father’s Legacy” – was named after Christie’s dad who sailed a skipper liner.
Russ’s ultimate goal — and the reason why he encourages other MNLA volunteers to participate in government affairs efforts — is to build relationships with elected officials. He sees this as an opportunity to “have a legislator’s ear when it comes to an issue that impacts you.” The same can be said for regulatory officials — members of state agencies and individuals holding state-appointed posts like members of the Minnesota Plumbing Board (MSPB). Russ recently volunteered his time to speak at an MSPB meeting in support of a Request for Action submitted by the MNLA. Once again, Russ shared personal stories about his experience in the industry and received positive feedback from the MSPB – known for being a tough audience — in doing so. Russ credits other active volunteers for representing Minnesota’s green industry in government and regulatory affairs for many years before he began, stating that he’s “been able to step in because of other people’s leadership, showing me the way. But now it’s my turn.”
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➾ WAT E R SECTION
INNOVATION IN ACTION: MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN COMMONS Did you know that MNLA member, Peterson Companies, was integral in the Downtown East Commons project in Minneapolis? The Peterson team calls the park “one of our most unique projects to date” — for which, they managed “landscape, irrigation, and site #SMART furnishings.” Smart irrigation was a huge priority on the WATERMONTH project, with the installation of a water re-use system as Is your business doing something well as permeable pavers to mitigate stormwater runoff innovative with water harvest and reuse? and improve water quality. Next time you’re visiting Maybe you installed a rain garden recently, U.S. Bank Stadium for a Vikings game or concert, SMART used permeable pavers to mitigate stormwater be sure to stop by the Commons and check runoff on a project, or updated a consumer’s IRRIGATION out Peterson’s great work! Source irrigation system with water efficient technology. — text, photos: http://bit. MONTH Share photos and videos with us using the hashtag ly/2rmYDNG Did you know that July is Smart Irrigation #SmartWaterMonth throughout July, and we’ll Month?! By founding Smart Irrigation Month post the content on our social media pages — in 2005, the Irrigation Association aimed to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! This a great “increase awareness of the value of water use and opportunity to demonstrate the many grow demand for water-saving products, practices, ways in which our green industry is and services” — goals they’re still working to leading the charge toward accomplish today by providing marketing and water conservation. communications tools for industry professionals as well as informational resources for the public at large. Visit http://bit.ly/2pTYV2F and check out the many Smart Irrigation Month resources they offer!
BRINGING WATER TO LIFE PODCAST
Looking for a unique way to discover news and information about the irrigation industry? Check 25 BY out the Irrigation Association’s podcast, “Bringing 25 WATER Water to Life”! Hosted by IA’s Government & Public QUALITY TOWN HALL Affairs Director, John Farner, “Bringing Water to Life” offers thirty-minute episodes on a variety of Earlier this year, Governor Mark Dayton announced topics — from water stewardship to workforce his “25 by 25” initiative — an effort to reduce pollution in development. Learn more and follow along Minnesota’s waters by the year 2025. In an interview with the at http://bwtlpodcast.weebly.com/ Star Tribune, Gov. Dayton “described [it] as a grass-roots ‘call to
WATER CONSERVATION IN THE NEWS We were thrilled to see MNLA member Conserva Irrigation in the news last month, providing information about efficient irrigation for viewers of WCCO Channel 4! Conserva co-founder and Vice President, Russ Jundt, highlighted new technologies in the industry such as timers, smart controllers, weather sensors, and precision-spray nozzles that not only save money, but conserve water as well. You can watch the interview with Russ at http://minnesota.cbslocal. com/2017/05/09/lawn-care-sprinklersavings/. Kudos to Conserva!
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action’ — as opposed to a regulation. He said local communities must assess their own particular water problems and consider solutions, adding that he plans to hold a series of public meetings around the state this year where staff will gather recommendations that he will present to the 2018 Legislature.”¹ We hope you’ll consider participating in a town hall near you, to share the green industry’s perspective on water issues with members of Dayton’s administration! Dates/Locations: 7/31 – Rochester • 8/16 – Marshall 8/17 – Mankato • 9/5 – Crookston • 9/6 – St. Cloud • 9/12 – Ely 9/13 – Bemidji • 9/26 – Minneapolis • 10/4 – Burnsville 10/5 – Maplewood. More information about the forums can be found at www.eqb.state.mn.us/25by25 ¹http://www.startribune.com/dayton-sets-a-goal-anda-challenge-to-minnesota-cut-water-pollutants25-percent-by-2025/412710863/
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➾ R E S E ARCH FOR THE R EAL WO R L D
Boxwood Blight a Serious Threat and Spreading Rapidly Research continues, good sanitation and avoiding inadvertent introductions remain best defense.
Dr. James Calkins
MNLA Foundation Research Information Director
The Korean littleleaf boxwood (Buxus sinca var. insularis; formerly Buxus microphylla var. koreana) growing in my yard is one of only a few species in my landscape that are never bothered by the large and ever-present, neighborhood white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population. They started to bloom last week, about two weeks earlier than normal. Each year, these plants are among the first plants to bloom in the springtime when they are visited and welcomed as an early spring food source for honeybees, ants, and other insects on warmer spring days. And although the apetalous (lacking petals), greenish-yellow flowers are not at all showy, and are easily overlooked by human beings, their fragrance is truly wonderful, unlike the distinctly unpleasant odor of the evergreen foliage (perhaps a characteristic that deer also perceive and do not appreciate). In both cases, however, and especially in the case of the inconspicuous, but highly and pleasantly fragrant flowers, curiosity often forces people to seek out the source of the scent that has stimulated their olfactory receptors and resulting sense of smell. The disagreeable smell of the foliage is most noticeable in damp enclosed spaces, but is not as malodorous and potentially offensive as the smell of common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens; also called American or English boxwood) which, unlike Korean littleleaf boxwood, is not reliably cold hardy in Minnesota. A number of the boxwood cultivars sold today are hybrids between common boxwood and Korean littleleaf boxwood, including several cultivars that are cold hardy in Minnesota, and boxwoods as a group have been planted in gardens for millennia including by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In Europe, and to a lesser extent in eastern North America, boxwoods are often the foundation of estate plantings and most notably in formal gardens. Based on the most recent data avail-
able (USDA Census of Horticultural Specialties, 2014), boxwood is the top selling evergreen nationwide and is also the most popular broadleaf evergreen based on sales value (over $126 million; wholesale and retail) and the number of plants grown nationwide. Although not as common in Minnesota landscapes, the popularity of boxwood is on the rise. Given the historical popularity of boxwood and their continued popularity today, it is clear the many positive characteristics of the genus – including shade tolerance, evergreen foliage, compact and symmetrical form, fine texture, landscape use versatility, soil adaptability, pest resistance (insects, diseases, rabbits and deer), shearing tolerance and popularity as a formal hedge plant – make up for the disagreeable smell of the foliage. Requiring well drained soils, they will grow just about anywhere so long as the soils are not poorly drained and excessively wet and the cold hardy selections of boxwood are also one of only a few broadleaf evergreens that can be grown in the warmer regions of Minnesota so long as they receive winter shade. Getting back to the boxwoods growing in my landscape, they were in full bloom yesterday (April 11), but were, for much of the day, covered by a 3-inch blanket of heavy, wet, April snow that had fallen the night before – a typical spring in Minnesota and moisture that was surely needed. These plants have been growing happily and admirably in competitive shadow of a large silver maple (Acer saccharinum) tree for over 25 years and will hopefully continue to perform well in this location for many years to come. This may not be the case, however, if boxwood blight, a relatively new and serious fungal pathogen continues to spread and ultimately reaches Minnesota. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. As previously reported in a Research for the Real World update in February, 2012, boxwood blight, Calonectria july 17
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pseudonaviculata (synonyms — Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum, Cylindrocladium buxicola), a serious and devastating threat to one of the most popular shrubs planted in European and North American landscapes, was officially confirmed in the United States just over five-and-a-half years ago and has been spreading rapidly ever since. First confirmed in Connecticut and North Carolina in October, 2011, the boxwood blight fungus attacks leaves and stems causing defoliation and significant dieback and can easily devastate susceptible boxwood plants in a single growing season. Although some variation exists among species and cultivars, all species of boxwood (Buxus spp.) appear to be susceptible including those grown in Minnesota. Most recently (2016) boxwood blight was confirmed in California, Illinois, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Washington, and West Virginia; of these, the finds in two counties in northeastern Illinois in December, 2016, is the most recent and the closest finds to Minnesota. Since The disease has subsequently spread quickly and has currently been confirmed in nursery, garden center, and landscape settings in 24 states — Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Not surprisingly, given the presence of boxwood blight in Maryland and Virginia, the disease has also been documented in the District of Columbia and has also been confirmed in three Canadian provinces – British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Although it is not believed that the disease originated there, boxwood blight was first documented in the United Kingdom in 1994 and had become widely distributed across the country by the year 2000. The disease has subsequently spread to other European countries (1998– present), New Zealand (1998), and North America (2011). Boxwood blight has also been found in the wild in native boxwood populations in Europe and the Republic of Georgia in western Asia and native populations in Europe have reportedly been very negatively affected. The origin of the disease
is unknown and remains a mystery. In areas where boxwood is commonly planted, boxwood blight is a serious and growing concern and now poses a serious threat to the boxwood industry in the United States and Canada. Fortunately, boxwood blight has not yet been documented in Minnesota and hopefully we can keep it that way. The primary symptoms of boxwood blight include brown leaf spots which may eventually coalesce to cover entire leaves and stem cankers that appear as blackish-brown streaks on affected stems resulting in significant defoliation and dieback within the crowns of infected plants resulting in a blighted appearance. Infected leaves typically turn light brown before defoliation occurs. Considered a shoot blight, the roots do not appear to be affected. Although new shoots may sometimes arise from the crown, plants are typically severely weakened and eventually killed. Although fungal growth can occur when temperatures are above 5º (41º F), warm (18–25º C (64.4–77º F). ) moist conditions are preferred with optimum growth occurring at 25º C (77º F). Growth has been observed to slow down at warmer temperatures and reportedly ceases at 30º (86º F). Extended exposure to 33º (91.4º F) appears to be lethal. Treating cuttings with hot water (47.5º C; 117.5º F) has been suggested as a therapy for killing the pathogen during commercial propagation. Asexual reproduction occurs in the form specialized branches of the fungal mycelium (conidiophores) that produce clusters of sticky conidia (asexual spores) which function in dispersal and reproduction when they germinate to produce new fungal colonies. The clusters of white conidia are visible to the naked eye and are produced on the undersides of infected leaves and from the stem lesions. Sexual reproduction has not been observed. Boxwood blight spores (conidia) are easily moved about by splashed water droplets from rain events and overhead irrigation which are the primary methods of localized dispersal in landscapes and production facilities. Wind may also move the spores short distances. Longer distance transport is accomplished when the sticky conidia adhere to just about any surface (e.g., contaminated clothing and equipment) and the contaminated articles are moved to new locations by people. Runoff from irrigation and rainfall, and the movement of contaminated soil and plant debris are also potential methods of long-distance dispersal. Given their stickiness, it may also be possible for the spores to be moved on animals and perhaps insects. Of course, infested plants and plant material (cuttings, etc.) are also means of introducing the disease to new areas and are the primary vector for long-distance spread. The pathogen is able to survive in infected plants and infected plant debris and can survive for five years or more in infected plant debris and contaminated soil. The disease does not require a wound for infection to occur, but high humidity or a film of water is required. When the conditions are suitable, the conidia can germinate within three hours and are able to penetrate the leaves through the stomata on the leaves or directly through the plant cuticle and epidermis within five hours. Under ideal conditions the pathogen can complete its life cycle within one week and plants become symptomatic quickly and are defoliated quickly. It is important to understand, however, that under less than ideal conditions, including when plants are treated with fungicides during production, the disease can remain dormant
and infected plants may, as a result, be symptomless; shipping or otherwise moving such asymptomatic plants can be a significant vector for spreading the disease to new areas and has been referred to as the “Trojan Horse” or “Typhoid Mary” syndrome. Although the most recent find in Illinois (December 2016) is the closest documented infestation to Minnesota, is certainly a concern, when it comes to long-distance spread, proximity doesn’t really matter. Don’t forget that long distance transport by human activities is the biggest threat. For example, the original infestation in Oregon (December 2011), the first detection in the western United States, was ultimately traced to a far-away source, a nursery in Connecticut, and a state where the disease had only been discovered just two months earlier (October 2011) and one of the first two states where boxwood blight had been confirmed almost simultaneously in the U.S. and the first documented occurrences of the disease in North America. Most new infestations have been traced back to the shipment of infested nursery stock and newly planted boxwood plants in landscapes. The recent finds in California (west central California, south of San Francisco; Kathleen Kosta, Primary State Plant Pathologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture; personal communication) and Washington (Seattle area; Gary Chastagner, Plant Pathologist & Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University; personal communication) are, however, interesting and perhaps a little bit different as the plants involved were older plants in existing landscapes. Thus far forensic investigation of these infestations have been limited and more work is needed to determine the source of these infestations. It is possible that new plants had recently been added to these landscapes and these areas have recently been experiencing wet weather. Introductions by landscape maintenance personnel could also be a possibility. Some additional findings related to boxwood blight include: • Boxwood blight is caused by two closely related, but different species of fungi — Calonectria pseudonaviculata and Calonectria henricotiae; at first it was believed Calonectria pseudonaviculata was the only pathogen involved, but Calonectria henricotiae was subsequently isolated from plants growing in Europe and named as a separate species; the hosts and symptoms are essentially the same, but C. henricotiae appears to tolerate warmer temperatures; it is also important to note that C. henricitiae has not been found in North America and is not believed to be present in North America at this time. • Thus far, boxwood blight has only been associated with three species within the genus Buxus including Buxus sempervirens, Buxus microphylla (littleleaf boxwood), and Buxus sinica var. insularis, but it has been determined that other species of boxwood (Buxus spp.) are susceptible and none of the species that have been tested appear to be immune; in general, Buxus sempervirens and its cultivars appear to be the most susceptible to boxwood blight and beyond this resistance is highly variable and often cultivar dependent. july 17
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Figure 1. Korean littleleaf boxwood (Buxus sinca var. insularis) in full bloom and covered with an early April snow; historically, boxwoods (Buxus spp.) have been a popular landscape plant and, although they are increasingly threatened by boxwood blight, a devastating disease caused by the fungal pathogen Calonectria pseudonaviculata, their popularity continues today (Photo Credit: Jim Calkins).
• In addition to boxwood (Buxus spp.), the organisms that cause boxwood blight can infect and cause disease in other members of the boxwood family (Buxaceae) including Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis), a herbaceous, evergreen groundcover used in shady locations in Minnesota landscapes; Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), a similar, but lesser known species native to the southeastern United States and sometimes planted in Minnesota, and sweet box (Sarcococca spp.), a woody shrub with very fragrant flowers that is not hardy in Minnesota. • The boxwood blight pathogen has been isolated from asymptomatic plants (plants showing no symptoms) and infected plants can remain symptomless for 3-4 weeks or more; this is a serious problem relative to detecting the presence of infected plants and complicates the ability to detect and prevent the spread when shipping and purchasing plants as these asymptomatic plants and plant material (cuttings and boxwood holiday greenery) can serve as vectors for spreading the disease to new locations. • DNA-based assays involving the artificial replication of DNA to increase DNA levels to detectable levels — PCR or qPCR assays (polymerase chain reaction or quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays) and LAMP assays (loopmediated isothermal amplification assays) — have been developed and show promise as quick and dirty method for detecting the presence of the boxwood blight pathogens using crude extracts collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants; these protocols also have the potential to successfully detect the presence of the pathogens in air and water samples.
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• The boxwood blight pathogens can survive in the soil and in plant debris and may have the capacity to survive in the soil for 10 years or more through the formation of microsclerotia (hardened mycelial masses); research indicates the asexual spores (conidia) can remain viable for up to three weeks; ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), phenolic compounds, and quaternary ammonium products can be effective for disinfecting pruners and other tools. • Research to determine the effectiveness of fungicides in controlling boxwood blight continues and has shown that several fungicides may be effective in controlling mycelial growth, sporulation, and spore germination in greenhouse and field studies; chlorothalonil is just one example; remember that fungicides are not cures, most are primarily preventative, but can help reduce spore production and spread; remember that the use of fungicides can mask the disease resulting in symptomless plants that may still harbor the disease and serve as vectors for introducing boxwood blight to new areas; in addition, the use of various sanitation and cultural practices, biocontrol agents, soil sterilants, and soil surface flaming have been and continue to be investigated as potential control measures with some success. • Whether regulatory actions designed to control the spread of boxwood blight will be implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture — Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) or by individual states remains unclear; Pennsylvania has, however, become the first state to enact a boxwood blight quarantine (June 25, 2016; http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-26/1071. html); the Pennsylvania quarantine allows for the quarantine of any property where boxwood blight is confirmed, restricts
the inter- and intrastate movement of any material that my carry or spread of the fungus, requires inspection of regulated articles entering Pennsylvania from another state, and requires compliance agreements with growers for production and handling; several other states have implemented voluntary boxwood blight cleanliness programs based on industry-sponsored best management practices and compliance agreements (see below). Employing good sanitation practices and other actions that can be used to reduce the spread of boxwood blight in nurseries, garden centers, and display gardens including: • Only sourcing boxwood plants, liners, cuttings, and holiday greenery from growers you know and trust and especially growers that are enrolled in state-sponsored boxwood cleanliness/compliance programs. • Inspecting plants for boxwood blight symptoms prior to purchase remembering that asymptomatic plants and plantderived materials can harbor the disease and be a source of infection. • Growing the most resistant boxwood varieties and growing them in full sunlight, with good air circulation, and without overhead irrigation. • Isolating new plant material for at least four weeks away from other plants and shipping areas to allow time for disease symptoms to develop and inspecting these plants weekly. • Avoiding large blocks of boxwood to reduce the potential for significant losses to boxwood blight if it is introduced. • Inspecting boxwood plants and other susceptible species on a weekly basis, and especially during warm, wet weather. • Wearing clean, disposable shoe/boot coverings (bag and destroy) or carefully removing all debris and soil from footwear between boxwood fields or landscapes and especially locations where boxwood blight is suspected or known to be present. • Wearing clean, disposable Tyveks coveralls (bag and destroy) or laundering clothes between different field and landscape locations and especially those where boxwood blight is suspected or known to be present. • Disinfecting pruning tools and other equipment frequently and between groups of plants or individual plants in landscape plantings. • Regularly removing and destroying fallen leaves and other plant debris. • Not reusing contaminated growing media or containers or sterilizing used containers; ideally, contaminated media should also be sterilized. • Reporting plants suspected of being infected with boxwood blight and having them tested.
• After testing, destroying diseased plants by burial or burning (if allowed) on site, and not composting, to avoid spread of the pathogen. • Following the latest developments in boxwood blight prevention and management and incorporating them into your program. The boxwood blight pathogen is not going away and will likely continue to spread; breeding for resistance is needed; the National Arboretum has a significant boxwood collection and continues to obtain new germplasm from native boxwood populations with the hope that this extensive collection (and others) may be an important resource for breeding and selection activities focused on boxwood blight resistance. Shortly after the disease was confirmed in North America, the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA; now AmericanHort) created a Boxwood Blight Working Group (BBWG) and, together with the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI; the research affiliate of AmericanHort) and the National Plant Board (NPB), developed guidelines for a Boxwood Cleanliness Program based on a set of voluntary best management practices (BMPs) and a compliance agreement that relies on a systematic approach to clean plant sourcing, early detection, and prevention of spreadfor managing and preventing the spread of boxwood blight. The Boxwood Cleanliness Program includes six primary components including pathogen exclusion, water management, sanitation, inspection, training and continuing education, and recordkeeping. The “Nursery Industry Voluntary Best Management Practices for Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum (Boxwood Blight)” are available through the AmericanHort Knowledge Center at http://americanhort.theknowledgecenter.com/Library/Americanhort/docs/government%20 relations/Boxwood%20blight/BBWG-BMPs-Version1.pdf and the “Boxwood Blight Compliance Agreement Template” is available at http://sanc.nationalplantboard.org/state-tools/. Boxwood cleanliness programs designed to prevent the introduction and minimize the risk of spreading boxwood blight have subsequently been developed by several states including Connecticut (http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/ caes/documents/special_features/boxwood_blight/guidelines_for_reporting_and_managing_boxwood_blight_in_connecticut_landscapes_version_3_01-27-14.pdf, http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/ documents/special_features/boxwood_blight/connecticut_best_ management_practices_for_boxwood_blight-nurseries_garden_centers_or_dealers_version_2.0_01-27-14.pdf, http://www.ct.gov/caes/ lib/caes/documents/special_features/boxwood_blight/connecticut_ best_management_practices_for_boxwood_blight-for_landscapers_ and_residential_and_commercial_plantings_version_2.0_01-27-14. pdf, http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/special_features/ boxwood_blight/connecticut_best_management_practices_for_boxwood_blight-positive_production_nurseries_version_2.0_01-27-14. pdf ), Virginia (http://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/commercial-horticulture/boxwood-blight.html, http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plantindustry-services-boxwood-blight.shtml), and others. AmericanHort, a professional entity representing the American horticultural industry and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) have been leaders in the response to the advent of boxwood july 17
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blight in the United States. Various boxwood blight research updates and webinars intended to provide nursery and landscape professionals with the most up-to-date scientific information on boxwood blight are available through the AmericanHort and HRI websites (www.americanhort.org and http://hriresearch.org, respectively). Recognizing boxwood blight as an important research priority, the Horticultural Research Institute has also created the Box Blight Fund (BBF) and is working to leverage industry and other sources of research funding to address the boxwood blight threat and promote funding and research in a way that maximizes the value of research funding by avoiding fragmented and duplicative research efforts. Several projects have been funded through these efforts including through the U.S. Farm Bill since 2012. Boxwood blight remains a significant growing threat to boxwood production and use as a landscape plant and should be of concern to all segments of the nursery and landscape industry including nursery, garden center, landscape design, and landscape maintenance professionals and the landscaping public. Keeping this devastating disease out of Minnesota should be a high priority for all concerned. The movement of infected plant material is the number one vector for the spread of boxwood blight and avoiding the importation of infected boxwood plants will be the key to keeping this disease out of Minnesota. Given their nation-wide, and in some cases even larger distribution systems, big box stores may be a special concern in this regard. Be on the lookout for this disease (preventing new introductions is the first line of defense, but early detection and eradication are also critical if inadvertent introductions occur), propagate existing selections of boxwood only from healthy in-house or in-state source plants and carefully consider the consequences and insure stock is disease free when sourcing new selections of boxwood from out-of-state suppliers. Once again, it would be a shame if boxwood blight finds its way to Minnesota. The reality is that the primary vector of boxwood blight is nursery commerce and the human-mediated movement of infected plant material and other contaminated materials. As a result, this devastating disease will continue to spread unless growers, retailers, landscape service providers, and consumers are aware of the threat and become vigilant and proactive in preventing its spread. The development of resistant varieties is the ultimate goal and will hopefully be the answer, but until that happens it is our professional responsibility to be mindful and do all we can to prevent the introduction of spread of this devastating disease. A final note: As if the threat of boxwood blight isn’t enough, a new boxwood pest — the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) – has made its way to Europe from its native range in eastern Asia (China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula). First discovered in Germany and the Netherlands in 2007, this insect pest can completely defoliate boxwood plants and has since become widely distributed in Europe where it threatens native boxwood populations and boxwood plants in landscapes. Although the box tree moth has not yet been found in North America, it is easily transported on boxwood plants. Once again vigilance is needed to prevent its introduction. Should this insect pest reach the United States, preliminary research suggests it would not be able to survive in the more northerly regions of the 56
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country including most of Minnesota, and perhaps the entire state, as a result of limited cold hardiness. For additional information about boxwood blight, including descriptions and pictures of the symptoms and best management practices for preventing the introduction and managing the spread of boxwood blight and the boxwood tree moth, consult the following selected resources: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Pest Alert: http://www.dem.ri.gov/ programs/bnatres/agricult/pdf/boxwoodblightpa.pdf Milius, S. 2012. Boxwood Blight Invades North America. Science News January 20, 2012. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/ id/337795/title/Boxwood_blight_invades_North_America Gillman, D. 2012. Boxwood Blight Found in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Extension Nursery & Urban Forestry Program. http:// extension.umass.edu/landscape/news/boxwood-blight-found-connecticut Douglas, S.M. 2011. Boxwood Blight – A New Disease for Connecticut and the U.S. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Fact Sheet. http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/sites/landscape/files/fact-sheets/ pdf/boxwood_blight_CAES.pdf Henricot, B., C. Gorton, G. Denton, and J. Denton. 2008. Studies on the Control of Cylindrocladium buxicola Using Fungicides and Host Resistance. Plant Disease 92(9):1273-1279. http://apsjournals.apsnet. org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-92-9-1273 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service). 2015. 2012 Census of Agriculture: Census of Horticultural Specialties (2014). Volume 3, Special Studies, Part 3; December 2015. https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Census_of_Horticulture_Specialties/ Ganci, M., D.M. Benson, and K.L. Ivors. 2012. Susceptibility of Commercial Boxwood Varieties to Cylindrocladium buxicola. Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University. http://americanhort. theknowledgecenter.com/library/Americanhort/docs/government%20 relations/boxwood%20blight/NCSU_boxblight_tolerance.pdf Kelly Ivors, K. and M. Ganci. 2013. The Most Effective Products for Preventing Boxwood Blight, Caused by Cylindrocladium buxicola (= Calonectria pseudonaviculata). Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University. http:// americanhort.theknowledgecenter.com/Library/Americanhort/docs/ government%20relations/boxwood%20blight/7.22.13-BB.pdf Emerging Issues & Technology Projects: Boxwood Blight; Horticultural Research Institute http://hriresearch.org/index.cfm?page=Content&categoryID=163 or www.boxwoodblight.org Boxwood Blight Webinar (47 minute recording with slides; hosted by the ANLA and the HRI) http://www.anla.org/knowledgecenter/premium/index.cfm?view=playe r&colid=112&cid=324&mfid=5311&StartNum=1; the webinar can also be accessed at http://www.hriresearch.org. Odom, J. 2016. Pennsylvania Issues Quarantine Order to Stop Boxwood Blight. Total Landscape Care, June 30, 2016. http://www.totallandscapecare.com/landscaping/pennsylvania-quarantine-boxwoodblight/#sthash.bTVZ97cE.dpufhttp://www.totallandscapecare.com/ landscaping/pennsylvania-quarantine-boxwood-blight/ Horticultural Research Institute (HRI). 2017. Boxwood Blight: Researchers Looking Outside the Box for Solutions. http://hriresearch.org/HRI/ Research_Results/Outside_The_Boxwood.aspx
Yonghao Li, Y. 2015. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Boxwood Blight Identification Guide. http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/ documents/special_features/boxwood_blight/boxwood_blight_identification_guide_11_x_17__final_300_dpi.jpg The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), The Plant Disease Information Office. Boxwood Blight: Information and News. http:// www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=3756&q=500388 Larson, D.L. 2017. Boxwood Blight Confirmed in Illinois. University of Illinois, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, College News; January 23, 2017. http://news.aces.illinois.edu/news/ boxwood-blight-confirmed-illinois Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Boxwood Blight Cleanliness Program. http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-boxwood-blight.shtml Niemiera, A.X. Selecting Landscape Plants: Boxwoods. Virginia Cooperative Extension. http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_ vt_edu/426/426-603/426-603_pdf.pdf Gehesquière, B., D’Haeyer, S., Pham, K. T. K., Van Kuik, A. J., Maes, M., Höfte, M., and Heungens, K. 2013. qPCR Assays for the Detection of Cylindrocladium buxicola in Plant, Water, and Air Samples. Plant Disease 97(8):1082-1090. http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1094/PDIS-10-12-0964-RE Wilson, B. and M. Taylor. 2015. The Wild Side: How Expeditions to Collect Wild Boxwood Inform the Future of Our Collection. Longwood Chimes 290:6-7. Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; January 18, 2015. https://issuu.com/longwoodgardens/docs/chimes_290_issuu/8 Chitambar, J. 2016. California Pest Rating for Calonectria pseudonaviculata (Crous, J. Z. Groenew. & C. F. Hill) L. Lombard, M. J. Wingf. & Crous, 2010. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division; December 16, 2016. http://blogs.cdfa.ca.gov/Section3162/?p=3091
Munster, M. 2014 (updated 2016). Pest Alert: Boxwood Blight on Holiday Greenery. North Carolina State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic (blog post); December 17, 2014 (updated November, 2016). http://ncsupdicblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/pest-alert-boxwood-blighton-holiday.html Horticultural Research Institute. 2017. Boxwood Blight: Researchers Looking Outside the Box for Solutions. http://www.hriresearch.org/HRI/ Research_Results/Outside_The_Boxwood.aspx AmericanHort. 2013 (Version 1.1). Nursery Industry Voluntary Best Management Practices for Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum (BoxwoodBlight) (Version 1.1). http://americanhort.theknowledgecenter.com/ Library/Americanhort/docs/government%20relations/Boxwood%20 blight/BBWG-BMPs-Version1.pdf Royal horticulture Society. Box Tree Caterpillar. https://www.rhs.org.uk/ advice/profile?pid=760 Nacambo, S., F.L.G.Leuthardt, H. Wan, H. Li, T. Haye, B. Baur, R.M. Weiss, and M. Kenis. 2014. Development Characteristics of the BoxTree Moth Cydalima perspectalis and its Potential Distribution in Europe. Journal of Applied Entomology 138(1-2):14-26. https://www. researchgate.net/publication/258327407_Development_characteristics_of_the_box-tree_moth_Cydalima_perspectalis_and_its_potential_ distribution_in_Europe
TO COMMENT ON THIS RESEARCH UPDATE,
suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@ MNLA.biz.
Gehesquière, B., J.A. Crouch, R.E. Marra, K. Van Poucke, F. Rys, M. Maes, B. Gobin, M. Höfte and K. Heungens. 2016. Characterization and Taxonomic Re-Assessment of the Box Blight Pathogen Calonectria pseudonaviculata, Introducing Calonectria henricotiae sp. nov. Plant Pathology 65(1):37-52. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ ppa.12401/full (abstract only) Shishkoff, N. 2016. Survival of Microsclerotia of Calonectria pseudonaviculata and C. henricotiae Exposed to Sanitizers. Plant Health Progress 17(January):13-17. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292336549_Survival_of_Microsclerotia_of_Calonectria_pseudonaviculata_and_C_henricotiae_Exposed_to_Sanitizers (abstract only) Kong, P. and C. Hong. 2017. Biocontrol of Boxwood Blight by Trichoderma koningiopsis Mb2. Crop Protection 98 (2017):124-127. https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/315909028_Biocontrol_of_boxwood_blight_by_Trichoderma_koningiopsis_Mb2 Kong, P, T.M. Likins, and C Hong. 2017. First Report of Pachysandra terminalis Leaf Spots by Calonectria pseudonaviculata in Virginia. Plant Disease 101(3):509. http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS10-16-1513-PDN (abstract only) Ivors, K. L., L.W. Lacey, D.C. Milks, S.M. Douglas, M.K. Inman, R.E. Marra, and J.A. LaMondia. 2012. First report of boxwood blight caused by Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum in the United States. Plant Dis. 96(7):1070. http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS-03-120247-PDN (abstract only) Palmer, C.L 2014. Boxwood Blight: A New Scourge, a New Paradigm for Collaborative Research. Outlooks on Pest Management 25(3):230-236. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/resinf/ opm/2014/00000025/00000003/art00010 (abstract only)
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THE BATTLE PLAN: STRATEGIES FOR BEATING THE BOX STORES! We all hear it and see it in the news. Another locally owned mom-and-pop retailer is closing its doors. It is a headline that has become all too common.
Bob Wasson | Wasson Nursery, Inc. Reprinted with permission of the author. Article first appeared in the Indiana Nursery & Landscape News, March/April 2017 issue.
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T
he only logical reason is the merciless competition from big box retailers. They are too big, their pockets are too deep, they’ve got buying power and inventory strategies and … blah, blah, blah. As I first started writing this article, my sights were focused on an opening paragraph similar to the one above. A prophetic missive speaking to the ultimate demise of the sweet, friendly, innocent Independent Garden Centers (IGCs). It was my misguided thought that as independent garden center owners, we needed a game plan to fend off the competition from the big box stores. (Just for clarification, the “box stores” are the massive, bloated, evil retailers such as Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, and the like.) But after digging deeper and talking to other IGC owners and managers, I decided upon a different direction for this article. I think we’re already winning the battle. We just need to be reminded of what to do and keep doing it! You see, the threat of the big box is in no way a new idea. For decades, these mass merchants have been populating the cities and suburbs of America; chomping away at successful local merchants and small businesses. This of course has led to closings and consolidations of many businesses in our industry as well as many other industries. But, let’s face it. The box store changed the game; but that doesn’t mean the game is unwinnable. It is my opinion that although box stores create a threat that is dominating, ever-present, and definitely real, I believe that the garden centers who’ve made
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it this far already know the answer. They already possess the magic bullet. So, you may be wondering: “If we’ve already got it all figured out, what is it?” Well, I first want to define what “winning” means with respect to this article. To me, winning is growing your revenue and your customer base while responsibly maintaining your commitments to profits, employees, customers, and your community. And now I present to you … The “Not-so-secret-list-of-ideasthat-you-probably-already-know-but-never-hurts-to-freshen-up-on” Battle Plan. THE BATTLE PLAN Product
We’ll never be able to compete on the box store playing field of huge product offerings and low prices. If you’re trying to beat the box store here, then you’re playing the wrong game. It’s important that we continue to offer plants that are a little bigger, a little nicer, and that come with a little more old-fashioned, friendly advice. But we already know this. The more important decision when it comes to product is determining the selling price. According to industry consultant Sid Raisch, you may just want to stay away from the calculator. In one recent article Sid recommends a Market Value pricing strategy. “This model forces the retailer to focus on quality. Is the plant branded and supported by an advertising campaign? Is it better quality or larger than other similar plants? Then customers will
pay more.” Using this strategy allows you to earn more profit from superior products and forces you to get rid of products that don’t allow for a minimum profit margin. Don’t just blindly assign a price based on a calculator and a markup percentage. Look at the product to see what price makes sense. You may be leaving dollars on the table. Action Item: Investigate industry articles by well-known consultants including Sid Raisch & Steve Bailey. They are usually visible each month in at least one industry publication such as Lawn & Garden Retailer, Greenhouse Grower Retailing, and Green Profit to name a few. Customer Experience
I seriously don’t think I’ve ever had a “wow” experience inside a box store. For me, every trip is exactly the same; go in and get out as fast as humanly possible! To continue to gain ground against the box stores we must give our current and future customers a reason to come to our stores. This could be the “wow” display that stops customers dead in their tracks and literally forces them to post a photo to their Instagram account. On the other hand, a “wow” customer experience could be as simple as a return policy that doesn’t worry about receipts and refunds but instead offers a free replacement and a good education on what may have gone wrong with the first plant. An even simpler example would be to always keep a clean shopping area and remove dead, ugly plants from the sales floor. It july 17
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The GO-TO source for all of your residential & commercial landscaping needs! Products Offered:
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➾ B AT T LE PLAN
thriving in most areas, and even more vibrant than the state of the industry is the state of the IGC community. I’ve never seen a group of business owners and managers so willing to open their doors and share their ideas, successes, and failures. When building our newest garden center in Fishers, Indiana, we consulted with a garden center owner in Ohio who allowed us to take pictures and measurements, and ask countless questions. I’ve been on a handful of garden center tours. Most recently in Portland, Oregon, dozens of garden centers opened their doors to over one hundred “competing” owners and managers from all over the country. No doors were left unopened, no question was off limits, and cameras were encouraged. Statewide groups like the INLA also provide networking opportunities to meet and talk with industry leaders. If you haven’t taken the next step to join an industry association or peer group, don’t delay! The sharing of information is our biggest asset. Action Item: Join industry organizations such as Garden Centers of America. Get involved in local organizations including the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association. Attend trade shows such as The IGC Show in Chicago. There are Facebook groups such as “IGC Talk!” and “Retail Independent Garden Center Business.” These are all examples of places or forums that allow you to share ideas and learn from others. sounds obvious, but many stores still allow this to happen. Whether it’s a big thing or a bunch of little things, your store needs to provide some sort of “wow” reaction. What is your wow? Action Item: There are so many ways to win when it comes to customer experience. Live acoustic music during a busy shopping day, free food and snacks from a hot grill, classes & workshops, special events featuring local breweries and wineries, Easter egg hunts, host community events and groups, I could go on and on. Employees
This section could have very well been included as part of the customer experience, but I feel that employees deserve a category of their own. You’ll never find a more passionate staff than the employees at an IGC. They are usually people who have a passion for plants and people and love to share their passions with others. They welcome, they educate, they get to know the customers. A garden center staff is the biggest equalizer in the battle against the box stores. We need to constantly be on the lookout for good employees. A good business is always hiring. In this industry, that has never been so true. Suppose you have two excellent candidates vying for one open position. How do you choose? What do you do? Smart garden centers do the smart thing — they hire them both! Action Item: One idea that my business has recently enacted was to invest in more training and education for our staff. We teamed up with the INLA and registered almost 20 garden center staff members to take the Indiana Accredited Horticulturalist exam. Everyone who passed the exam was rewarded with a cash bonus and even those who didn’t pass at least learned some useful information and know they represent a company who cares about them. Your Competition
This may sound crazy, but I believe our biggest ally in the continued fight against box stores is our competition. The green industry is
Self-Awareness
Finally, we come to the most important of all the little “bullets” in this battle plan. I think we all know or can figure out what selfawareness means when it comes to you as a person. But what does it mean in terms of a garden center? To me, this type of self-awareness requires a decision to pinpoint your strengths and focus only on them. Don’t worry about all the areas where you can’t compete, or the product lines you can’t display, or the drive-by traffic that you just can’t change. Choose to focus on what you’re great at and then do it really, really well. For example, suppose you decide that your strength is that your garden center has a great area to display and sell trees and you also have a great relationship with a local tree vendor. A self-aware garden center would dive deep into trees and become ever-so-passionate in the marketing, signage, and displaying of the trees. Other product categories would be reduced or eliminated to allow for proper focus. Customers would be engaged in pruning and planting seminars. The garden center would pair its passion for trees with the new “edibles” trend, creating a Fruit Tree Festival and drawing in hundreds or potentially thousands of new customers. By simply becoming self-aware, we define our competitive advantage. Then we exploit it. Action Item: Exploit your strengths. Forget about your weaknesses. Don’t fall victim to the box store mentality and think you must try to cater to every potential customer. Instead, tell your story in the best way possible. That is truly the best weapon to battle the box store. In fact, it’s the one advantage they’ll never be able to attain.
is an owner of Wasson Nursery, Inc. Wasson Nursery is a family-based landscaping, lawn care, and garden center business with locations in Union City, Muncie, and Fishers, Indiana. Bob is a member of the INLA Board of Directors. BOB WASSON
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MASTER
CLASSES
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Grow your skills as a green industry professional and attend one of the excellent full-day Northern Green Master Classes on Tuesday. NEW FOR 2018: ONE, TWO & THREE DAY REGISTRATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE! See www.NorthernGreen.org for details.
1 Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Design and Irrigation Technology – PLT Relicensure Instructed by Dick Johnson, PLT Services, Inc., and Gerry De La Vega, TerraDek Lighting, Inc. Pending DOLI approval, this class satisfies eight hours of continuing education requirements for the Power Limited Training Licensure, including 2 hours of code and 6 hours of technical training. The information provided during this class is orientated specifically towards the landscape industry, and will focus on principles of landscape lighting design and irrigation technology. Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2 Pesticide Recertification (Categories A, E, F or P) This workshop meets MDA’s Commercial Pesticide Applicator requirements for category A (Core) and E (Turf and Ornamentals). Recertification for optional Categories F (Aquatics) and P (Vertebrate Pest) will also be offered as part of this workshop. This workshop has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Licensed applicators with Categories A and E who last attended a recertification workshop in 2016, and new-licensed pesticide applicators in 2017, must attend an MDAapproved workshop by 12/31/2018. By attending the Pesticide Recertification track and completing the on-site attendance documentation, applicators will obtain recertification credit. For licensed applicators to receive credit for Category F – Aquatics or Category P – Vertebrate Pest, they must attend the entire Pesticide Recertification track (Category A and E, and F or P) and complete on-site attendance documentation. Category F and P (Choose One): 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Categories A and E: 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
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3 Sustainable Design: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Presented by Thomas Rainer, Grounded Design and Larry Weaner, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates Spend a day learning from two nationally known landscape design professionals: Thomas Rainer and Larry Weaner. Rainer is a specialist in applying innovative planting concepts to create ecologically-functional designed landscapes. His recent work focuses on the artful interpretation of wild plant communities into designed plantings that thrive in the context of towns and cities. Weaner is nationally recognized for combining environmental science with the rich artistic traditions of landscape design. His firm assesses a site’s ecology to determine a plant palette that provides visually compelling compositions and meets their client’s functional needs. His designs are patterned after naturally occurring plant communities, with species selected for their functions as well as their ornamental qualities, resulting in dynamic, resilient landscapes that thrive with a minimum of care. Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
4 Addressing Environmental Concerns While Maintaining Sustainable Turf Presented by Speakers from the University of Minnesota The MTGF Master Class will be a Turfgrass Short Course with possible certification. Those taking care of parks, playfields, golf courses and school grounds will benefit from the training provided by this Turfgrass Short Course. Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
5 The Great Game of Business & The Great Game of Landscaping Presented by Dave Scholten, The Great Game of Business, and Jason Rathe, Field Outdoor Spaces. Learn about the theory of The Great Game of Business: The best, most efficient, most profitable way to operate a business is to give everybody in the company a voice in saying how the company is run and a stake in the financial outcome, good or bad. Workshop attendees will spend the morning gaining a basic understanding of the origins and application of open-book management and learn how to create a custom, ready-to-implement incentive program that can be implemented in any type of organization. In the afternoon, the Great Game of Landscaping will be presented by Jason Rathe. Rathe will share his company’s 5-year effort to utilize open-book management. He will describe their use of project “Scorecards” and a cumulative “Scoreboard” to help them know how they are doing at any given time, motivate and create competition between crews, and provide incentives. Rathe will share lessons learned and difficulties encountered when taking on this project. Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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➾ T I ME TO REN EW
TIME TO RENEW!
RENEW TODAY! It’s that time of year — keep an eye out for your 2017–2018 membership dues renewal email notices. In order to save the association printing and mailing costs, please return your renewal promptly.
NEW THIS YEAR!
MNLA now offers a “Delayed Payment Option.” Provide your credit card information today and you won't be charged before August 15th (you must select option on renewal form). With summer approaching, we encourage you to take a minute to reassess your business needs. Don’t pay more than you have to! Please take a moment to review the MNLA Member-Only Exclusive Benefits at www.mnla.biz. Sign in, and take a look under the “MEMBERS ONLY” menu. Let us help you save on your bottom line! Feel free to contact the MNLA office if we can be of any assistance to you during the renewal process or for any of our products and services offered. We are available at 651-6334987 or mnla@mnla.biz. Your continued support and involvement as a member of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is greatly appreciated. Providing you with education, legislative representation, networking, and other member services is why MNLA exists.
HELPING YOU GROW YOUR: PROFIT PLANTS PRODUCTS PEOPLE
January 2–4, 2018* Minneapolis Convention Center www.NorthernGreen.org *Note: This is a one year date change due to the “Big Game” being hosted in Minneapolis in 2018.
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➾ ME MBER N EWS
WELCOME NEW MNLA MEMBERS! ACI Plumbing Jeff Buchman Minneapolis, MN, 612-269-3736
O’Malley Concrete, Inc. Kelly O’Malley Le Center, MN, 612-756-3060
Affordable Egress Windows & Basement Waterproofing LLC Joe Molde Medina, MN, 763-267-3891
R and R Gardens Christina Jerkins Fridley, MN, 612-730-0365
Alpha Concrete LLC Jesse Plocher St. Francis, MN, 612-867-0401 B&J Evergreen Kathy Jones Clear Lake, MN, 320-743-2255
Stonewood Hardscapes and Design LLC Michael Funk-Anderson Prior Lake, MN, 952-451-9060 Tree Protection Services Jerry Flicek New Prague, MN, 612-598-5942
Babinski Properties John Babinski Nisswa, MN, 218-820-1760
Welcome Home Maintenance and Landscaping of MN, LLC Tom Wright Crystal, MN, 612-408-6283
Central Valley Dairy Supply Dustin Boerger Brandon, SD, 605-467-0813
Whitefish Professional Services, Inc. Paul Nelson Cross Lake, MN, 612-849-5200
Crookston Building Center Wes Cameron Crookston, MN, 218-281-1170
World Wide ERA (Expense Reduction Advisors) Dan Bauman Minneapolis, MN, 612-584-0364
Jims Custom Carpentry James Baker Woodbury, MN, 612-759-9221 Keenan Construction Justus Keenan Hayward, WI, 715-790-4405 Master Trade Services, Inc. Michael Stoebe Sauk Rapids, MN, 320-240-0000 Merit Insulation, Inc. Wayne Dearing Clearwater, MN, 763-878-2795 Midstate Reclamation, Inc. Tom Johnson Lakeville, MN, 952-985-5555 Neighborhood Landscaping Development LLC Scott Nelson Lake Shore, MN, 218-831-7289
BOOST SUMMER SAVINGS WITH REBATES.
Adding Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to water well pumping systems can increase efficiency and lower operating costs. Plus, we offer rebates from $400–$8,000 per VFD for the following well pumping applications— municipal water supply, golf course, agricultural and landscape irrigation. Other systems may also qualify. For more information contact an energy efficiency specialist at 855.839.8862 or visit xcelenergy.com/ MotorEfficiency.
Neighborhood Tree Care LLC Caleb Petersen Fridley, MN, 763-614-0635 Northstar Insulation, Inc. Jesse Moxness Forest Lake, MN, 651-272-5140
© 2017 Xcel Energy Inc.
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2/21/17 2:46 PM
âž¾ LA S T WORD
LAST WORD Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Member Appreciation Day Mem ber
Donuts in the morning! (FREE) Ice cream in the afternoon! (FREE) A summer buffet and baseball in the evening! ($25)
Day At MNLA Headquarters 1813 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113
7:00-10:00 am
12:30-3:00 pm
(FREE, NO RSVP REQUIRED!)
(FREE, NO RSVP REQUIRED!)
Stop by for soft-serve!
Drive-in for donuts & coffee!
At CHS Field
360 N Broadway St, St Paul, MN 55101
5:30 pm
Kick back with a cold brew and a baseball game! $25 gets you a summer buffet and a great spot to watch the Saints game with MNLA friends! Bring your co-workers, friends, and family for this fun outing! Seats are limited and registration is required. Visit www.MNLA.biz or call Sue Flynn at 651-633-4987 to secure your spots now! Thank you to our sponsors:
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MNLA FOUNDATION Improving the Environment by Investing in Research and Education
1813 LEXINGTON AVE. N | ROSEVILLE, MN 55113 | 651-633-4987 | FAX 651-633-4986 | MNLA@MNLA.BIZ | WWW.MNLAFOUNDATION.COM
PARTNERS FUND You are encouraged to participate in the Research & Education Partners Fund at one of the participating suppliers recognized below. Your voluntary donation of ¼ of 1% (0.25%) on purchases of plants and other nursery, greenhouse and landscape products at these suppliers is used by the MNLA Foundation to grow a brighter future for the industry. On an invoice totaling $1,000 at one of these suppliers, your contribution will be only $2.50. Your individual contribution is small, but collectively these small contributions will add up to make a real difference!
WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
Research for the Real World
Career Development & Promotion
TM
L A N D S C A P E + M A S O N RY
Scholarships
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