Cooperating on Common Challenges
Also Inside
The Green Roof Revolution
Out & About Northern Green Optimizing Phosphorus
5 LESSONS FOR THE SNOW BUSINESS Insights about processes, practices, and results
Vol: 41 No: 11 Nov 2018 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
EVERYTHING GREEN INDUSTRY. ALL AT
ONE TIME. ALL IN
ONE PLACE. JANUARY 15–17, 2019
G E N E R O U S LY S U P P O R T E D B Y:
MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER
WWW.NORTHERNGREEN.ORG | INFO@NORTHERNGREEN.ORG
WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
GET YOUR BEST PRICE NOW. Go to NorthernGreen.org and register today! A limited number of discounted room rates have been secured for Northern Green 2019 at the hotels below. Because there are a number of conventions in Minneapolis the week of Northern Green, we encourage you to book your rooms early to ensure you get the ideal room and rate for your circumstances. Space and discounted rates are limited at each hotel, so book early to get your first choice. Listed prices are single/double rate. HILTON MINNEAPOLIS - $109 1001 Marquette Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403 Reservation Line: 888-933-5363 or 612-376-1000 (reference group code: GRE) MILLENNIUM HOTEL MINNEAPOLIS - $109 1313 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 Reservation Line: 866-866-8086 or 612-332-6000 HYATT REGENCY MINNEAPOLIS - $115 1300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 Reservation Line: 888-421-1442 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES - $99.95 225 South 11th Street Minneapolis, MN 55403 Reservation Line: 612-341-3300
Volume 41 No. 11 Nov 2018
➾ S E CT I O N TITLE
CONTENTS 15
54 42 IN THIS ISSUE 8
Events
10 Cooperating on Common Challenges Scott Frampton’s recent meeting with board members from other states reminded him of the power of collaboration.
52
12 Out & About & 40
Photo courtesy of Craig Regelbrugge.
15 Top Ten NCROC Flower Picks Annual flower trial results from the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC).
34 5 Lessons from the Snow Industry Benchmark Report
The autumn season is a great time for MNLA members to see each other after a busy summer.
27 Northern Green Trade Show Explore new features like the Escape Room Challenge and the drone demo. 28 Northern Green Speaker Highlights Experience personal and professional growth as you learn from green industry experts. 50 MNLA Certification
The report delivers insights about snow industry businesses processes,
When are the spring 2019 exams, and why
practices, and results.
does certification benefit my career?
42 The Modern Green Roof Revolution Green roofs have clearly grown up from being a simple sod roof, but still have a ways to go.
46 Optimizing Phosphorus Use A 2018 report indicates that reducing phosphorus fertilization rates can increase efficiency without reducing growth.
52 Commercialization Approved for Intelligent Sprayer New tech can reduce pesticide needs from 47–70% while still maintaining efficacy.
Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design Garden Services & Landscape Management Garden Centers Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse Irrigation & Water Management Arborists & Tree Services All
54 MNLA Shootout Thanks to everyone who sponsored and participated! We raised over $9,000 for the Foundation Scholarship Fund. 60 Marketplace This new Scoop section introduces a new way to buy and sell at MNLA. The Scoop, November 2018, Issue 11, is issued monthly, 12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2018, 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.
november 18
MNLA .biz
5
MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here! 1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org
MISSION: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AD LIST Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes .................................................... 3
Bullis Insurance Agency .................................................................................... 31
Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 31
Cushman Motor Co. Inc ................................................................................... 38
scott frampton, president
Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 51
tim malooly, cid, clia, cic, VICE-PRESIDENT
Frost Inc ............................................................................................................ 31
randy berg, mnla-cp, SECRETARY-TREASURER
Fury Motors ...................................................................................................... 48
FAITH APPELQUIST
Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply .................................................. 2
matt mallas
Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 32–33
mike mcnamara
Marketplace ...................................................................................................... 60
john o'reilly
Northern Salt Inc .............................................................................................. 53
jeff pilla, mnla-cp
Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 31
nick sargent
Plaisted Companies ............................................................................................ 7
cassie larson, cae
Resultants for Business, Inc. (RFB) .................................................................... 38
Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com
Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com Tree Quality LLC 612-618-5244 • faith@treequality.com
Hedberg Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@hedbergaggregates.com Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com Bachman’s, Inc. 612-861-7600 • jpilla@bachmans.com Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz
Rock Hard Landscape Supply ........................................................................... 11
STAFF DIRECTORY
executive director:
Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz
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
regulatory affairs manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz administrative asst.: Gayle Anderson • gayle@mnla.biz accountant: Kris Peterson • kris@mnla.biz foundation program coordinator: Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz
SMSC Organics Recycling Facility .................................................................... 11
The Tessman Company .................................................................................... 61
Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ........................................................................................ 14
Truck Utilities, Inc. ............................................................................................. 11
advertising sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420
Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com legislative affairs consultant: Doug Carnival
Versa-Lok Midwest ........................................................................................... 58
Ziegler CAT ......................................................................................... Back Cover 6
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Volume 41 No. 11 Nov 2018
➾ S E CT I O N TITLE
Bringing Green to the Urban Landscape with Load-bearing Soil. Nicollet Commons, Burnsville
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Grow trees surrounded by pavement with CU-Structural Soil®. Designed by Cornell University, this patented blend of crushed stone, clay loam and Gelscape® Hydrogel Tackifier creates a soil porosity matrix that increases rooting volume under pavement and thus tree longevity—plus prevents sidewalk heaving!
➾ C ALE N DAR
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DEC3–7
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PARKING LOT AND SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE WITH REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Take some time at the end of your busy season to connect with MNLA colleagues and give back. Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children. As a group, we will turn hunger in to hope, and pack nutritious meals for hungry children around the world.
2018 IRRIGATION SHOW
MNLA.biz Learn state of the art maintenance strategies for parking lots and sidewalks that will save time, money and the environment. Opportunity to earn the MPCA Level 1 Certification in Winter Maintenance.
➾
NORTHERN GREEN – WHERE OUTDOOR PROS CONNECT AND GROW Minneapolis Convention Center Northerngreen.org Attend the premier event for green industry professionals in the northern region. Register in advance and save! Exhibit contracts are still available.
2018 MNLA seminars generously supported by:
NOV16
NOV14
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North Metro Event Center, Shoreview
MNLA.biz The MNLA Landscape Awards is a program for installed landscapes. Entries are due by midnight.
This Workshop Meets MDA’s Commercial Pesticide Applicator Requirements For: Category A (Core), E (Turf and Ornamentals), and J (Forestry, Rights-of-Way and Natural Areas).
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MNLA .biz
9
➾ F R OM THE PRESIDEN T
Cooperating on Common Challenges Fall is here! While listening to the forecast for the week the total rainfall since September 1st has been 8.5" and we are expected to have several more this week. It’s a reminder that even in the best of economic times our profession faces significant challenges beyond our control.
Scott Frampton MNLA President Landscape Renovations
With the seemingly endless rain, garden centers see less traffic, nurseries can’t get in the fields, irrigation and landscape professionals can’t complete jobs, and lawn/ garden and tree folks are getting soaked. The challenges we have faced this season with the late start, lack of available work force, and increasing regulation is enough to frustrate the most seasoned veterans. On a brighter note, I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual Great Lakes Conference hosted this year by PLNA, the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association. The meeting was attended by association leadership from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois,
With this awareness, I expect to see more collaboration between states to utilize talent and resources to attract more young people to the profession, and retain experienced folks with training and career paths. Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario. The purpose of this meeting is for our neighboring associations to collaborate on association best practices, to share and learn about the success and failures of our efforts. I learned that communication, education, networking, and regulatory issues are all top of the list of member interest. Workforce development, recruiting and retention were the leading topic at the event, dominating the focus of members in the region. While there isn’t any quick fix for increasing the available workforce for our profession, the conversations are more productive than ever before, and collectively we are increasing awareness 10
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throughout the membership. With this awareness, I expect to see more collaboration between states to utilize talent and resources to attract more young people to the profession, and retain experienced folks with training and career paths. At MNLA our career development committee is continuing to meet. We are currently working on organizational hierarchy and position descriptions for member industry segments. If you have an interest in this work and wish to join the committee please contact me or MNLA Executive Director Cassie Larson. And a quick side note, if you’re ever in the area, stop by the MNLA office to see the new landscape project taking shape. The design thoughtfully incorporates many of the latest techniques for stormwater retention, harvest, and re-use of water. Thank you to the many MNLA members who have generously donated time and materials to this exciting project. Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you have about the MNLA or nursery and landscape business generally.
SCOTT FRAMPTON can
renovations.com.
be reached at: sframpton@landscape
3600 W Hwy 13 Burnsville, MN 55337 phone: 952-895-7408
944 215th St. E Jordan, MN 55352 phone: 952-492-2890
www.rockhardmn.com
Bulk Salt Bagged Salt Salt Spreaders Treated Salt Salt Delivery Shovels We have Snow Event Hours. Call the Salt Hotline!
952-882-4997
The GO-TO source for all of your residential & commercial landscaping needs! Products Offered:
- 100% Compost and Compost Blends - Athletic Field and Golf Course Top Dressing Blends - Erosion Control Products - Formulation of Customized Product Blends - Natural and Colored Mulch
Services Provided:
- Municipal Wood Site Management - Wood Grinding - Material Screening - Free Drop-Off of Logs/Brush/Wood Chips
952.233.9191 | smscorf.com 1905 Mystic Lake Drive S, Shakopee, MN Owned and Operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
âžž OUT & ABOUT
&
MNLA STAFF likes to get out of the office in the autumn and visit with members at various gatherings. Thanks to all these member businesses for hosting and attending events that make building community easy and fun!
Jim Connelly and Bob Sonnenberg from Crysteel Truck with MNLA Membership Director Mary Dunn at the Fury Fall Open House.
Many trucks were on display for the visitors.
MNLA Sales Rep. Faith Jensen visiting with Keith and Craig from Fury RAM Truck Center.
Glad to see they already have Northern Green 2019 on their calendar!
Getting some advice from the MN State Patrol! — at Fury Ram Lake Elmo.
Jim Steffes from Stonebrooke Equipment, Inc., Pat Landis, and Judy from St. Paul Fury.
At Foster's Spring Market, we visited for a short time with Cheryl Wilke from Flying W Gardens.
These ladies from Bloomers Garden Center also stopped by to say hi!
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Eric and Brad Pederson from Bloomington Garden Center & Landscape Company.
Don Rosacker recently celebrated his 90th birthday with friends and colleagues from the floral and greenhouse industry.
Many companies in the history of plant growing in Minnesota were represented at the party.
The occasion brought together people who contributed greatly to establishing the commercial greenhouse business in our region.
Swapping stories from the history of the green industry in Minnesota.
The Professional Gardening Networking Group met on September 20th at Wild Mind Ales in Minneapolis.
This group continues to meet on a regular basis.
There’s so much value in connecting with colleagues to collaborate, share resources and knowledge, and have fun!
This group typically meets the 3rd Thursday of the month. Meeting date and locations are listed on the MNLA.biz Community Calendar.
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2018
TOP 10 NCROC FLOWER PICKS Dawn Ihle | North Central Research and Outreach Center
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➾ 2 0 1 8 TOP TEN FLOW ER PI C K S
Annual flower trials are hosted at the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC). These trials are an evaluation of specific flower varieties and how well they perform in a field environment, a hanging basket and/or a container. Companies such as All-America Selections, Proven Winners, Syngenta, Floranova, and many others host their annual trials here at the NCROC. We grade the flowers for such criteria as color, uniformity, uniqueness, drought tolerance, and insect/disease resistance. This information is made available in our annual report to the flower companies and is available on our website https://ncroc.cfans. umn.edu/. Here are the top plants from our past trial season. Celosia — First Flame™ Purple
This flower was selected for its unique flower development and vibrant purple color. The blooms contrast beautifully with the bright green foliage and grow uniformly throughout the plant. This plant will easily fill a container but can also add a distinctive look to your flower beds. Petunia — Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum®
For the second year in a row, this petunia has made our top 10 list. Known for both durability and dependability, this low maintenance petunia will give you a long lasting splash of pink in your flower beds, baskets, and containers. 16
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Verbena — EnduraScape™ Pink Bicolor
This variety was a top pick due to its resilience for being both heat and drought tolerant. The flower color varies slightly with a darker center to give a nice depth to the bloom. While the blooms appear stunning as ground cover in your beds, they can also add a nice cascade in a hanging basket.
Canna — Cannova® Bronze Scarlet
A great plant for a spectacular look in your landscape. The dark foliage make the blooms appear bright and vibrant, while directing the eye to the subtle striations within the petal. This canna will add both height and unique color to your flower bed or containers with minimal maintenance.
Salvia — Rockin’™ Fuchsia
This flower was chosen for its beautiful blooms and healthy foliage. The continuous bloom of flowers have a subtle, soothing color that attract many different pollinators. Not only will it look great in your landscape, it can also be an accent plant in a container. Sit back and enjoy the bustle of pollinators visiting all summer long!
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➾ 2 0 1 8 TOP TEN FLOW ER PI C K S
Petunia — Easy Wave® Violet Improved
A top performer for any landscape or hanging basket. This petunia has a bold, bright color with an abundance of flowers that bloom all season long. It maintains an excellent, uniform shape well into the season with minimal effort.
Zinnia — Swizzle™ Scarlet & Yellow
No plain color here! This flower was a top pick for its beautiful color development from start to finish. The large flowers are nicely distributed throughout the plant and contrast beautifully with the vibrant green foliage. Pollinators are attracted to the continuous bloom all season.
Calibrachoa — Superbells® Holy Smokes!™
This flower was selected for its abundance of blooms all season long. The flower has a fun design with a bright yellow pop of color to brighten any hanging basket or flower bed. And with no deadheading needed, you can relax and enjoy the blooms all summer long.
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A great choice for a bright look to your garden. The large, dark centered flowers bloom continuously throughout the season. Their medium height will draw attention to any flower bed but they will also fill a container nicely with an abundance of cheery blooms.
Cosmos bipinnatus — Apollo Carmine
This flower was a particular favorite of our evaluators this year. It produces large, dark pink flowers with a bright yellow center that attracts many different pollinators. This flower can be a great addition to a pollinator garden or excellent on its own. Rudbeckia — Denver Daisy
A great choice for a bright look to your garden. The large, dark centered flowers bloom continuously throughout the season. Their medium height will draw attention to any flower bed but they will also fill a container nicely with an abundance of cheery blooms.
DAWN IHLE
is Research Plot Technician, Horticulture at the North
Central Research and Outreach Center and can be reached at dcihle@umn.edu.
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WEDNESDAY At-A-Glance
COLOR KEY:
7:30 AM 8:20 AM
University of Minnesota Turf Research Update Brian Horgan, Eric Watkins
8:30 AM 9:45 AM
OPENING KEYNOTE: Open Roads Open Minds: An Exploration of Creative Problem Solving Steve Uzzell | Main Aud All attendees and exhibitors welcome!
10:00 AM 5:00 PM
Trade Show Open
10:00 AM 11:00 AM
Will You Be in Business Next Year? Bidding & Estimating for the Landscape Contractor | Rich Lahren Through the Eyes of a Plant Shopper | Bridget Behe The Color of the Native Plant Palette and Other Related Thoughts | Bob Lyons Pressure Regulation for Irrigation Efficiency Brent Mecham Safety: It’s All About the Z! | John Ball So, You Want to Be a Meteorologist? Weather and Your Golf Venue | Dr. Kevin Kloesel
10:00 AM 12:00 PM
CEO PREMIUM CONTENT: Employee Development: Creating a Career Path Model | Jim Huston
10:05 AM 10:35 AM
If You Seek Them, They Will Come Paul Zwaska, Theresa Bayrer | Innovation Theater Pruning Tools & Gear Nick Grebe | Lakeshore Campfire Managing Landscape Spaces for Wildlife Erica Hoaglund | Backyard Campfire
10:40 AM 11:10 AM
Top 10 Container Combinations Megan Nichols | Innovation Theater MNLA Certification Exam Study Tips Certification Task Team | Lakeshore Campfire Research for the Real World—The Year in Review Jim Calkins | Backyard Campfire TBG Safety Trailer Talk | The Sandbox
11:15 AM 11:45 AM
Climbing Demo | S&S Tree and Horticultural Specialists Climbers Corner
11:15 AM 12:15 AM
MN State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Inspection Demo The Sandbox
11:20 AM 11:50 AM
Tree Diseases & Pests to Watch for in 2019 Chad Giblin | Innovation Theater Intro to Liquid De-Icing | Dave Voigt | Lakeshore Campfire Professional Gardening Networking Group Backyard Campfire
12:15 PM 12:45 PM
Top 10 Grasses for Minnesota Mary Meyer | Innovation Theater Marketing for the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Retailer | Bridget Behe | Lakeshore Campfire Preparing for the PGA at TPC Twin Cities Mark Michalski | Backyard Campfire Deploying Drones in the Green Industry | The Sandbox
1:00 PM 1:30 PM
Top 10 Perennials for Minnesota Mike Heger | Innovation Theater Backflow for Irrigation Brent Mecham | Lakeshore Campfire How the New 20% Tax Write-Off Affects Pass-Through Businesses | Copeland Buhl | Backyard Campfire
Session in Seminar Room Session on Trade Show Floor Premium Content (paid upgrade required) Trade Show 1:15 PM 1:45 PM
Climbing Demo | S&S Tree and Horticultural Specialists Climbers Corner Deploying Drones in the Green Industry | The Sandbox
1:45 PM 2:15 PM
Top 10 Shrub Combinations for Minnesota Alan Branhagen | Innovation Theater Park & Sports Turf Manager’s Networking Lakeshore Campfire Landscape/Hardscape Contractor Networking Group Backyard Campfire TBG Safety Trailer Talk | The Sandbox 2:00 PM: MNRC Meeting | Room 203
2:00 PM 3:00 PM
Disasters in Hardscape Construction | Rich Lahren Prune Trees Less, Train Trees More | John Ball Outstanding Herbaceous Plants: Your Rx for Long Lasting Color in the Landscape | Bob Lyons Irrigation System Inspections and Commissioning Brent Mecham Artscaping in Dry Stone: Delightful Curiosities: A Visual Tour of Purpose–Built Enigmas | Dan Snow Hack Your Course! Creating Scoring TeesTM for More Fun, Revenue | Jan Bel Jan
2:00 PM 4:10 PM
CEO PREMIUM CONTENT: Employee Development: Creating a Career Path Model | Jim Huston
2:20 PM 2:50 PM
Walkabout: What’s New in Lighting? Gerry De LaVega | Innovation Theater Nursery Networking Group with special guest Leif Knecht | Lakeshore Campfire Drought-Resistant Turfgrasses and Management Andy Hollman | Backyard Campfire
3:00 PM 3:30 PM
Top 10 Roses for the Midwest David Zlesak | Innovation Theater U of M Survey Results: How Pollinator-Friendly Is Your Landscape? | Julie Weisenhorn | Lakeshore Campfire Vectorworks Product Demonstration Vectorworks | Backyard Campfire
3:10 PM 4:10 PM
BFD: Boring Fungicide Details | Janna Beckerman This Is a Good Sign | Bridget Behe Foodscaping for Sustainability | Brie Arthur Container Root Pruning | Leif Knecht Artscaping in Dry Stone: Examining the Process in the Creation of One-of-a-Kind Stoneworks | Dan Snow What’s Your Handicap? Golf Courses and the ADA Jan Bel Jan
3:15 PM 3:45 PM
Pruning Demo | S&S Tree and Horticultural Specialists Climbers Corner Deploying Drones in the Green Industry | The Sandbox
4:20 PM 4:50 PM
Garden Center Display Tips & Tricks Innovation Theater Managing Crews Using Technology Lakeshore Campfire Arborist Networking with special guest John Ball Backyard Campfire TBG Safety Trailer Talk | The Sandbox
THURSDAY At-A-Glance
COLOR KEY:
7:00 AM: MNLA Annual Meeting | 101 FG 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:50 AM
No-Mow Fine Fescues | Zach Reineking Perennial Garden Design with Affection and Planting Through Self Discovery, Part 1 | Roy Diblik Bandon Dunes: Managing Fine Fescue for Links Golf Ken Nice The Importance of Tree Diversity | Kris Bachtell The Foodscape Revolution | Brie Arthur Creating a Succession Mindset | Terri Wilcox Understanding the Difference Between Organic and Synthetic Fertilizers | Chip Osborne
8:00 AM 10:00 AM
INTERACTIVE TRACK—The Right Tools & Technology for Efficiency Onsite | Frank Bourque
9:00 AM 4:00 PM
Trade Show Open
9:05 AM 10:05 AM
Perennial Garden Design with Affection and Planting Through Self Discovery, Part 2 | Roy Diblik Stay One Step Ahead of Customers: 2019 Garden Center Trends | Katie Dubow Stormwater BMPs: Keys to Successful Installation & Maintenance | Bryan Pynn Trees and Shrubs for Northern Climates | Philip Ronald Natural Turf Management: Choices and Challenges Chip Osborne Fine Fescue Discussion Panel Zach Reineking, Ken Nice, Jake Schmitz, Mark Michalski, Jeff Johnson, Sam Bauer and Matt Cavanaugh
9:10 AM 9:40 AM
Top Performing Annuals for Minnesota Steve Poppe | Innovation Theater Vendor Product Demonstration Sponsored Session | Backyard Campfire Wanted Dead or Alive: Invasive Insects Posing a Threat to Minnesota | Marissa Strelfel | Backyard Campfire TBG Safety Trailer Talk | The Sandbox
9:45 AM 10:15 AM
Tree Planting Best Practices Gary Johnson | Innovation Theater Perennial Disappointment: Root Rot Janna Beckerman | Lakeshore Campfire Horticultural Therapy Heidi Heiland | Backyard Campfire Deploying Drones in the Green Industry | The Sandbox
10:40 AM 11:10 AM
Next Gen Leadership, Pt. 1 Steve Bench | Innovation Theater Should You Leverage Facebook Live? Katie Dubow | Lakeshore Campfire Golf Course Case Study Nick Folk | Backyard Campfire TBG Safety Trailer Talk | The Sandbox
Session in Seminar Room Session on Trade Show Floor Premium Content (paid upgrade required) Trade Show 11:20 AM 11:50 AM
12:00 PM: MAC Luncheon | Lounge A 12:15 PM 12:45 PM
Climbing Demo | S&S Tree and Horticultural Specialists Climbers Corner
11:15 AM 12:15 AM
MN State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Inspection Demo The Sandbox
Landscape Awards Presentations, Pt. 1 Innovation Theater Garden Center Networking with special guest Katie Dubow | Lakeshore Campfire Introduction to the OSHA Silica Regulations Tim Huinker | Backyard Campfire Deploying Drones in the Green Industry | The Sandbox Climbing Demo | S&S Tree and Horticultural Specialists Climbers Corner 12:30 PM: MGCSA Annual Meeting | 101FG
1:00 PM 1:30 PM
Landscape Awards Presentations, Pt. 2 Innovation Theater Smart Controllers for Irrigation Systems Russ Jundt | Lakeshore Campfire Flower Grower Networking Meeting with special guest Steve Poppe | Backyard Campfire TBG Safety Trailer Talk | The Sandbox
1:30 PM 3:20 PM
INTERACTIVE TRACK—The Right Tools & Technology for Setting Up Your Mobile Office | Frank Bourque
1:45 PM 2:15 PM
Landscape Awards Presentations, Pt. 3 Innovation Theater Invasive Species/Noxious Weed Status Update Jim Calkins | Lakeshore Campfire Rhododendrons for a Rigorous Climate Betty Ann Addison | Backyard Campfire
2:15 PM 2:45 PM
Pruning Demo | S&S Tree and Horticultural Specialists Climbers Corner Deploying Drones in the Green Industry | The Sandbox
2:30 PM 3:00 PM
Protocol in Converting Turf to a Fully Organic Maintenance Schedule Chip Osborne | Innovation Theater How to Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species Kelly Pennington | Lakeshore Campfire H-2 Works Visas: Trends and Immigration Compliance Loan Huynh | Backyard Campfire
2:30 PM 3:20 PM
Weather Decision Triggers – A Hands-On Primer Dr. Kevin Kloesel Managing Landscapes From a Pollinator Standpoint Elaine Evans Knowing your Customers: Results of the 2018 Retail Garden Center Customer Survey | Paul Hugunin Landscape/Hardscape Tools and Technology | Panel Irrigation Wire Locating and 2-Wire Troubleshooting Eric Dixon Using Trees and Shrubs to Conserve Energy Jennifer Teegarden
3:20 PM 4:00 PM
Closing Keynote: The Work We Do Ted Schick | Innovation Theater
10:45 AM: MPSTMA Annual Meeting | 101FG 11:15 AM 11:45 AM
Next Gen Leadership, Pt. 2 Steve Bench | Innovation Theater How Can We Get More New Trees into the Marketplace? Kris Bachtell | Lakeshore Campfire Landscape Design Networking with special guest Roy Diblik | Backyard Campfire
NORTHERN GREEN PREMIUM UPGRADES* *Requires Wednesday or Thursday Registration, plus paid upgrade.
C E O
INTERACTIVE
Requires Wednesday Registration, plus paid upgrade. Includes access to the CEO Lounge.
Requires Thursday Registration, plus paid upgrade.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019 | ROOM 101 AB
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 | ROOM 101 AB
CREATING A CAREER PATH FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES
THE RIGHT TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSFORM YOUR LANDSCAPE OR HARDSCAPE BUSINESS
TRACK
PART 1: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PART 2: 2:00 PM - 4:10 PM In this workshop for CEOs, business owners and managers, Jim Huston introduces attendees to the process of creating a career path for their employees using the green industry job descriptions contained in his book. Plus, he also explains: • Why creating a career path mentality for employees is so important. • The benefits of creating a career path for your employees. • How job descriptions are used as a foundation for creating a career path. • The eleven major components contained in a good job description. • The benchmarking concept of minimal supervision and why it is so important. • Finding, training and keeping good people. • Implementing simple incentive and bonus methods. • The FBI concept of profiling and how it applies to developing a career path. • Why attitudes determine your company’s altitude and how to incorporate high-performance attitudes into your employees. • How to measure performance both analytically and intuitively. Attendees will be provided with numerous handouts and visual aids. Huston’s book, audio book, and MS Word CD will be available for purchase. James R. Huston, MBA, CPE, has over thirty-five years of diverse business management experience and holds an MBA degree in finance. He is also a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators. He is a Certified Professional Landscape Estimator and he is one of only two such CPLE’s in the world. As a Jim Huston Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, he held positions in finance, aviation supply inventory management and procurement. After his tour of duty, he became a senior production control analyst for the Electronics Division of General Dynamics. Since 1987, he has been a management consultant to the green industry. Early in his career, he was in charge of the consulting division for Charles Vander Kooi and Associates, Inc.; and in 1989 he formed J. R. Huston Consulting, Inc. Huston has written seven books and developed five software programs for the green industry.
CEO Track & CEO Lounge generously supported by:
TRACK
Technology is changing the way the green industry does business. Learn about the tools and technology that will increase your efficiency and business profits, no matter if you are a beginner or if you are already running a multimillion-dollar company.
PART 1: THE RIGHT TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY FOR EFFICIENCY ONSITE | 8:00 – 10:00 AM In this high impact morning session, you will learn the habits, tools, and technologies that are used by highly effective teams, field leaders, and crews. Get the latest information regarding the best industry habits and tools that can increase your efficiency, productivity, and profits as a landscape and hardscape company. This session focuses on several industry leaders/company case studies and how they created award-winning companies.
PART 2: THE RIGHT TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY TO SET UP YOUR MOBILE OFFICE | 1:30 – 3:20 PM You will spend the afternoon learning how to integrate technology and mobile applications into your business to set up your mobile office and increase productivity, efficiency, and profits with your teams. You will learn about available options to design, track, monitor, communicate, advertise, share and access information more easily at anytime from anywhere. Frank Bourque is an awardwinning hardscape professional, speaker, writer, consultant, and entrepreneur with an extensive background in business, landscaping and hardscape construction. His knowledge and experience have allowed him to coach various types Frank of organizations in sales, customer Bourque service, installation practices, peak performance and efficiency strategies. He has been a part of the green industry for more than 20 years as a business owner, working in various sectors including retail, landscape management and landscape design/construction. Frank offers coaching and conferences at some of the largest contractor events throughout the U.S. and Canada such as Hardscape North America, GIE Expo, and Landscape Ontario Congress. He is the host of Hardscape Live in Toronto and a certified ICPI & NCMA instructor.
NORTHERN GREEN 2019 KEYNOTES Opening Keynote Open Roads Open Minds An Exploration of Creative Problem Solving Steve Uzzell
Closing Keynote The Work We Do Ted Schick, Schick Corporate Learning
WEDNESDAY 8:30 AM–9:45 AM | MAIN AUDITORIUM
THURSDAY, 3:20–4:00 PM | INNOVATION THEATER
Anyone who has had the good fortune to drive for any length of time on a true open road has experienced the remarkable mind-opening phenomenon that results: our imagination is released, and problems resolve quickly in solution. Why? Why does this ALWAYS work? Steve calls this effect the Spirit of the Open Road. As adults, the continuum of every day is spent solving problems, so… how DO we access the Spirit of the Open Road and turn it into an attitude for everyday problem solving? A 58-minute presentation with over 250 photographs from 44 of the United States and 11 other countries covers 10 key points of the process and much more.
We spend nearly 40% of our lives working. And let’s face it – our work, to some degree, defines who we are. In this fun and engaging closing keynote, we will look at our work, our motivation and what we need to flourish every day. We’ll examine the roots of our professionalism, as well as how to cultivate our teams, so they can grow and blossom. We will close with how to till our own soil, taking care of us as we tend to our health and well-being. A perfect way to close our conference as we anxiously wait for spring (and we will be waiting for a while more).
Steve Uzzell is an internationally renowned photographer and inspirational speaker. His photographic assignments have taken him to all 50 United States and 30 countries: from corporations, such as Boeing and IBM to more than 100 publications Steve Uzzell including National Geographic, Smithsonian and Time. As a speaker, he has taken his message of creativity and the power of ideas to over 490 organizations, associations, corporations and colleges (in all 50 states and 6 countries, India and China among them) including the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Chase, Northrop Grumman, HSBC, Marriott, BNY Mellon and Adobe. Steve began his photography career as the assistant to the editor of National Geographic and a member of its photographic staff. He struck out on his own in 1975 and today spends six months of the year traveling the world for his KEYNOTES photographic clients and the rest as a teacher and inspirational speaker. WITH ALL Along the way, Steve has published PASSES 3 books of his photography, and received 10 prestigious Communication Arts awards.
FREE
Ted Schick
With over 20 years in teaching, Ted holds a BA Business from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a teaching certificate from Bemidji State University, and Master of Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Ted is a member and past president of the Lake Superior Chapter of the American Society of Training and Development located in Duluth, MN. Ted is active in his community with 13 years on the Spirit Mountain Ski Patrol and volunteering with local animal humane societies such as Animal Allies in Duluth and Friends of Animals in Cloquet. Ted is also part of the Cloquet Rotary and Mentor Duluth. In his “spare” time, he has been a stand-up comedian, teaches Boot Camp fitness classes in the Twin Ports and is an accomplished triathlete. KEYNOTES
FREE WITH ALL PASSES
Keynotes Supported by: WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
Residing in Duluth, MN, Ted is a corporate trainer, professional speaker and consultant with his own business, Schick Corporate Learning. A retired naval officer who rose up from the enlisted ranks, Ted has over 30-years’ experience leading people.
Keynotes Supported by: WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
MASTER
CLASSES
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Grow your skills as a green industry professional by attending one of the Master Classes on Tuesday of Northern Green week. Available with 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day Registration options. Sign up at www.NorthernGreen.org! Generously supported by:
PLT Relicensure
1
Instructed by Dave Ledo, Power Limited Training Services and John Eggleston, Federal Supply and Service First Irrigation This class has been approved by the Minnesota Dept. of Labor & Industry (Course #20180466), and provides 8 hours of continuing education requirements for the Power Limited Training Licensure, including 2 hours of NEC Code and 6 hours of technical training, orientated specifically towards the landscape industry.
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pesticide Recertification Workshop
2
This workshop meets the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Commercial Pesticide Applicator Requirements for Category A (Core) and Category E (Turf and Ornamentals). Recertification for optional Categories F (Aquatics) and P (Vertebrate Pest) will also be offered concurrently as part of this workshop. Licensed applicators with Categories A and E who last attended a recertification workshop in 2017, and newly-licensed pesticide applicators in 2018, must attend an MDA-approved workshop by 12/31/2019. By attending the Pesticide Recertification track and completing the on-site attendance documentation, applicators will obtain recertification credit. For applicators to receive credit for Category F or Category P, they must attend the entire Pesticide Recertification track (Category A, E, and F or P) and complete on-site attendance documentation.
NCMA Certification: Segmental Retaining Walls Installer Course – Level I/Basic
Category F or P: 7:30–9:00 a.m. Categories A and E: 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
3
Instructed by Dale Buker, County Materials, an NCMA Certified Instructor This one-day Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) Installer Course teaches installers fundamental SRW installation guidelines, material and system component properties, soils and compaction, the effect of water, and site practices. Those who successfully complete the classroom training and pass a written examination become certified as a Certified SRW Installer (CSRWI). This credential is highly valued by consumers and the program includes a wealth of valuable course information and reference material that attendees take back to work for implementation as money-saving and profit-making ideas. 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
4
Weather and the Urban Landscape Presented by Lee Frelich, University of Minnesota; Dominic Petrella, University of Minnesota; John Ball, South Dakota State University; and Sven Sundgaard, KARE 11 Meteorologist As landscape managers, we have very little control over the impact weather has on the landscapes we manage. The weather seems to get more severe with each passing year, anything from increased rainfall rates in the summer, to extreme dryness in the fall, to the much-maligned polar vortex. The only real tool we have is to better educate ourselves on how such events impact the plants we manage. This class will discuss how turfgrass and trees react to drought, heat, and winter-related stresses. Presenters will provide ways to help manage our plants during strange and stressful weather patterns.
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
5
SketchUp: A Workshop with Daniel Tal Presented by Daniel Tal, PlaceMaker This one-day technology training class is focused on SketchUp - a 3D modeling computer program. Daniel Tal is a registered landscape architect with over 18 years of experience and a 3D modeling and visualization expert. The class will include the following: • SketchUp and 3D modeling – Basic to Advanced • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; a.k.a. Drones and Landscape Architecture • General Technology Trends and Landscape Architecture
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
6
This training is part lecture, part hands-on. It is recommended that participants have a working knowledge of SketchUp. To participate in the SketchUp hands-on tutorials, attendees must bring their own laptop computer, a 3-button mouse, and have a current version of SketchUp installed and ready to go.
Women in Leadership: Grow, Inspire, Lead Women are taking the lead in many industries, including the green industry. Join us for a day devoted exclusively to green industry women. Jill Blashack Strahan, speaker, author and one of the nation’s leading female entrepreneurs, will kick off the day with a motivational message about overcoming obstacles and using fear as a motivator. Teresa Thomas, speaker and networking expert, will discuss why and how to create meaningful professional connections and guide attendees through a speed networking activity, and Terri McEnaney, Bailey Nurseries, will share her global perspective on women in the green industry and discuss work/life balance. There will also be a panel discussion with women business owners, and an opportunity to receive advice on everyday challenges from industry peers.
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Whether you are a veteran or new to the industry, you will leave energized and connected.
CAMPFIRES: CONNECT + GROW ON THE GO
Campfires on the trade show floor are hubs for gathering and learning, but they’re not your typical general session. These unique learning spaces include hosted discussions, trade show floor walkabouts, demonstrations, and more…
Backyard Campfire
Lakeshore Campfire INNOVATION + INSPIRATION THEATER
Innovation & Inspiration Theater
This theater, with a huge screen in the center of the action, hosts a variety of live events, including sessions focusing on next generation leadership, garden center merchandising, tree planting BMPs, presentations from Landscape Award recipients, and several “Top 10” plant lists! Plus, featured interviews, video highlights, and educational content all tailored specifically for green industry professionals.
Supported by:
THE SANDBOX
The Sandbox
Safety should be your number one priority both as a company and individual. Join us at the portable TBG safety trailer to learn about everything from silica safety and PPE to utility locates and sun/weather protection! In addition, Minnesota State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Inspection Demo will also be featured in this area. We'll have a truck and trailer set up for the demo and a Minnesota State Patrol officer will be on hand to discuss the most frequent types of commercial vehicle citations and how to satisfy state and federal requirements. Bring your questions!
TECH LAB (NEW LOCATION IN THE SANDBOX!)
Tech Lab
Have you explored utilizing drones in your business? Current applications include evaluating tree structure, measuring turf health on golf courses and sports fields, surveying sites prior to landscape design, and taking photos and videos to use in sales efforts. Come hear from green industry companies using this technology, and experience the challenge of flying a drone for yourself through our fun obstacle course!
CLIMBER'S CORNER
Stop by the Climber's Corner where Certified Arborists from S&S Tree & Horticultural Specialists will provide tree climbing and pruning demos.
DRONES
CLIMBER'S CORNER
Climber’s Corner ESCAPE ROOM CHALLENGE
Escape Room Challenge
ESCAPE ROOM CHALLENGE
Looking for a fun team building event that will challenge your industry knowledge during Northern Green? Visit the NEW mini-escape room on the trade show floor! Go online to www.NorthernGreen.org/EscapeRoom to sign up your team of up to 5 people for a 10-minute time slot and see if you can beat our landscape/golf/plant-themed puzzles. Will your crew have what it takes to escape? Come and find out!
A Trade Show Floor That’s More Dynamic Than Ever! PREVIEW
TRADE SHOW
PARTY
Tuesday, Jan. 15, 4:00–6:30pm
PREVIEW PARTY
CRAWL RUN Supported by:
FREE LUNCH ON
W E D N E S D AY
CONNECT OVER LUNCH*
WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
Supported by:
“X” MARKS THE SPOTS
While you’re visiting with Northern Green exhibitors, you also have a chance to find treasure. A number of them have donated prizes for the Treasure Hunt. Simply follow the treasure map on the card available outside the trade show entrance and dig up booth personnel at each participating booth to sign your card. Then, drop off the completed card in the big drum in Lobby C to be entered into a drawing to win fabulous prizes!
POKER
KEG
Do you like to be first? The Northern Green Trade Show Preview Party is a chance for attendees of Tuesday Master Classes, anyone holding a Northern Green name badge, or customers with a special invitation directly from their supplier to get a sneak peek into the trade show before it officially opens! Yes, you can be first! There will be free appetizers, cash bars, a poker run and a keg crawl throughout the show floor during this happy hour affair.
WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
Supported by:
There’s so much to do at Northern Green that you won’t want to miss a beat. Grab a FREE lunch gift card to use at the trade show concessions or café on Wednesday and keep right on conducting business with vendors or learning something new.
WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
*Available to the first 1,800 attendees.
CONNECT WITH INDUSTRY VENDORS IN PERSON...
...AND VISIT THEM ONLINE. Connect with these exhibitors all year long by visiting the Vendor Directory online at www.NorthernGreen.org.
Visit hundreds of exhibitors in the 198,000 square-foot exhibit hall onsite at Northern Green 2019. For the latest listings, please check www.NorthernGreen.org or the Northern Green app.
SCHEDULE FOR 2019 Tuesday, January 15: PREVIEW PARTY 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 16 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Thursday, January 17 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS Dan Snow
DAN SNOW is an art maker in the outdoors. Dry stone construction is the mode of making that he employs to devise site-specific works of environmental art. He combines master craftsman skills with sculptural artistry to bring new geologic forms into the natural world. The works stand alone as sculptures, and come alive when engaged by visitors to their environs. Many pieces are large enough to be walked through and climbed upon, inviting the same participation as do their greater surroundings. Snow’s fortyyear career of creating in dry stone has taken him across the USA, Canada, the UK and Scandinavia. When not traveling for public and private art commissions, he resides in Vermont where he was born and raised. After attending Pratt Institute and assisting sculptors in New York for four years he returned home to begin making both practical and purposeless dry stone constructions. His permanent installations number in the hundreds, and counting. Author of ‘In the Company of Stone,’ ‘Listening to Stone,’ and his most recent book, ‘The Solitary Stoneworker,’ Snow presents a life of labor and its simple truths. His creative process is the subject of the documentary film Stone Rising.
ARTSCAPING IN DRY STONE: Delightful Curiosities: A Visual Tour of Purpose-Built Enigmas
Ancient ruins, solid geometry, and geologic formations have inspired and informed the creation of Snow’s contemporary stoneworks. His handcrafted sculptures partner with garden and nature to express new ideas in the open-air. A select number of projects from the USA, Canada and Northern Europe will be displayed and discussed, highlighting their relationship to art, craft, and environment.
Bob Lyons
ARTSCAPING IN DRY STONE: Examining Process in the Creation of One-of-a-Kind Stoneworks
Reverse engineering the process of completing a work in dry stone reveals the steps that made it unique. Snow will break down recent projects into the elements that shaped them. Site potential, material availability, guide fabrication, craft standards and personal motivation are blended into, and balanced for, each distinct work.
DR. ROBERT LYONS is the former Director of the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture and currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Delaware. He received a B.A. in Biology from Rutgers University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from the University of Minnesota. Previous positions include the J.C. Raulston Distinguished Faculty Chair and Directorship of the J.C. Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, and Professor of Horticulture and Co-Founder/Director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech. He is a Fellow in the American Society for Horticultural Science and Pi Alpha Xi; and he has received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Minnesota and the national Award of Merit from the American Public Gardens Association. He currently sits on the Boards of Advisors for the University of Delaware Botanic Garden and The Delaware Center for Horticulture, and formerly on Rutgers University Gardens Board. Dr. Lyons taught herbaceous plant materials for over 30 years, and has been a photographer for over 35 years, publishing widely in homeowner, commercial, and educational publications, and he is a primary photographer for Horticopia (Horticopia.com) plant selection software.
The Color of the Native Plant Palette (and Other Related Thoughts) Herbaceous plants have a prominent position within plant selection strategies for creating cultivated, sustainable landscapes. Whether annual, perennial, or somewhere in between, these plants have continued to attract widespread attention by gardeners and commercial landscapers alike for their flowering and/or foliage features. Perhaps no other time in the history of herbaceous plant cultivation have we witnessed such a plethora of new and different plant choices in the marketplace, providing pleasant challenges for any gardener planning a new garden or enhancing those already existing. Color, site suitability, cost, and life cycle have frequently dominated most anyone’s decision process, and now species nativity has experienced a heightened value in making one’s selection. A wide array of suitable native species and derived cultivars will be discussed in this presentation, highlighting those plants with qualities that are frequently considered colorful and visually appealing by landscapers and gardeners alike. Attention will also be given to highlighting and discussing aggressive natives and the sensible inclusion of non-native, non-invasive plants that contribute to successful landscape performance, visual interest, and function within a low maintenance philosophy.
Outstanding Herbaceous Plants: Your RX for Long Lasting Color in the Landscape
Color, color, color has been the guiding mantra for gardeners and commercial landscapers alike for over a decade. Subscribing to this mindset has led to an enthusiastic use of colorful plant materials in garden/landscape design and an expectation that brilliant color be present continuously. Designing to meet the demands of this style may sound challenging, but not if you know the wide array of ornamental plants that will help you realize your goals. This talk will expose and highlight herbaceous plants, both brand new and tried and true, that have long-lasting flowers, eye-catching foliage, unique ornamental features, and a great potential for striking impact in the garden with an emphasis on maximizing color for as long as your hardiness zone will permit.
Bridget Behe
DR. BRIDGET BEHE is currently a Professor of Horticultural Marketing at Michigan State University. Dr. Behe has conducted over 100 consumer and market research projects on horticultural products, both edible and ornamental. She has written more than 500 publications in the trade press and peer-reviewed journals and earned degrees from Penn State University (Ph.D. Horticulture, B.S. Horticulture, and B.S. Agricultural Education) and The Ohio State University (M.S. Horticulture). Dr. Behe has served as chair of a USDA regional project committee where horticulturists and agricultural economists work collaboratively on consumer and economic challenges facing the ornamental horticulture industry. In 2016, she was awarded the Outstanding Extension Specialist in Michigan, and in 2018, she was awarded the American Society for Horticultural Science Undergraduate Educator of the Year.
This is a Good Sign
Signage for garden retailers is essential to successful marketing and merchandising. Dr. Behe will share research findings to help you reconsider how you make signs, what you include on signs, and how to more effectively relate to consumers.
Brie Arthur
Through the Eyes of a Plant Shopper
Ever wonder what some of your customers are thinking? Ever wish you could get inside their head for a few minutes? Dr. Behe’s consumer research has focused on understanding what shoppers are looking at which tells us about what they are thinking. In this session, she will share some findings about plant shoppers and how to apply these results to your retail operation to better connect to consumers.
Marketing for the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Retailer
Depending on where your retail operation is in its development, marketing needs can vary. Dr. Behe has tailored this informal campfire session to help beginner, intermediate, and advanced retailers up their game, improve their profits, and better connect to consumers.
Originally from southeastern Michigan, BRIE ARTHUR studied Landscape Design and Horticulture at Purdue University. With more than a decade of experience as a grower and propagator at leading nurseries, she now communicates the value of gardening across the U.S. She appears as correspondent on the PBS Television show “Growing a Greener World” and her debut book, ‘The Foodscape Revolution’ has become a best seller on Amazon. In 2017, Arthur was honored as the first recipient of the The American Horticultural Society's Emerging Horticultural Professional Award. As Vice President of Horticulture at Gardenuity, she uses use her plant knowledge and extensive grower network to reach consumers nationally. Her second book, ‘Gardening with Grains’ published by St. Lynn’s Press, will be available in 2019.
Foodscaping for Sustainability
Managing landscapes in a sustainable manner is an important aspect for the future of green industry products and services. Soil science is at the heart of this discussion, as Arthur explains how microbial activity is the catalyst for healthy plants, thus reducing insect and disease pressure. The best bio control and organic products are featured to arm attendees with sustainable land management strategies. Learn about a wide range of pollinators and the plants you need to sustain their life cycles while creating a purposeful landscape that meets the needs of our ever-changing environment.
The Foodscape Revolution
Brie Arthur has fine-tuned her signature design technique of Foodscaping, a sustainable landscape practice that embraces beauty and utility. Working with public school systems and suburban developments, Arthur is changing the way green spaces are designed and utilized. Encouraging everyone to “think outside of the box,” learn how pairing edibles in a traditional ornamental landscape increases bio-diversity and adds purpose to everyday spaces. The best edible and ornamental plant combinations are featured to inspire attendees to create purposeful landscapes that engage people of all ages! Easy strategies are explained, including how to plant a bed edge to deter browsing mammals. This is a fast faced, informative presentation that leaves attendees inspired and ready to foodscape!
ROY DIBLIK is co-owner of Northwind Perennial Farm located in Burlington, WI. He has been growing traditional and native perennials since 1978. His garden designs emphasize plant relationships to stewardship strategies and costs. Diblik’s design and planting projects include the Louis Sullivan Arch Garden for the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago and the lakeside plantings for the new Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium. His book ‘The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden’ highlights his perennial gardening practice.
Roy Diblik
Perennial Garden Design with Affection and Planting through Self Discovery, Part 1 and 2
Simply choosing plants from character reference lists, plant catalogs and books then basing their relationships on flower color, bloom time and the awareness of simple site conditions can only produce plantings that favor the moment, the ribbon cutting. Their future becomes cloudy, their care and nurturing is business-based, and their decline inevitable. Diblik will share the importance of affection and the beauty of self-discovery in coming to know plants, creating intimate plant communities, and the joy of caring for perennial plantings. How do plants’ growth rate and growth habits contribute to their placement together and relate to their seasonal and yearly developmental associations with each other? Diblik will look at gardening practices over landscaping practices, and the possibilities of health and beauty over neat and tidy. He will talk about the transformational time we are in within the horticultural industry, having the opportunity to become a plant-driven culture, raising the level of beauty, the health of soil, the thoughtful use of water, food and home for small creatures, and managing time and money.
Northern Green 2019 will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center January 15−17, 2019.
Register now at www.NorthernGreen.org!
REGISTRATION OPTIONS FEATURES PRE-REGISTER MEMBER
3-Day
(Tue–Th)
2-Day
2-Day
2-Day
(Tue/Wed) (Wed/Thur) (Tue/Thur)
1-Day (Tue)
1-Day
1-Day
(Wed)
(Thur)
Tues. + Trade Trade Show Show Only Student (Wed/Thur) (Wed/Thur)
(Wed/Thur)
3-Day Student (Tue–Th)
$327
$228
$168
$228
$159
$99
$99
$194
$35
$40
$199
$347
$248
$188
$248
$179
$119
$119
$214
$40
$40
$199
REGISTER ONSITE MEMBER $427 (JAN. 15-17, 2019)
$328
$268
$328
$259
$199
$199
$294
$45
$50
$209
REG. ONSITE NON-MEMBER
$447
$348
$288
$348
$279
$219
$219
$314
$45
$50
$209
Wednesday Concurrent Educational Sessions
Thursday Concurrent Educational Sessions
Tuesday’s Trade Show Preview Party
All exhibits/trade show pass
(ON OR BEFORE JAN. 4, 2019 1) PRE-REG. NON-MEMBER
Choice of 1 Tuesday Master Class
Access to Wednesday's Free Lunch on the Trade Show floor 2
Access to Campfire mini sessions on the trade show floor
Access to The Sandbox, Tech Lab, and Escape Room Challenge
Access to sessions in Innovation & Inspiration Theater
PREMIUM WEDNESDAY UPGRADE: CEO TRACK - Creating a Career Path
PREMIUM THURSDAY UPGRADE: INTERACTIVE TRACK - Tools & Tech for Efficiency - Requires Thurs. Registration Above
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICE
ONSITE PRICE
$40
$40*
GREEN INDUSTRY AWARDS CELEBRATION TICKET (Tuesday) Requires Wed. Registration Above - Includes exclusive access to CEO Lounge!
UPGRADES & EXTRAS
Member: $79 Non-Member: $99 Member: $99 Non-Member: $109 Member: $79 Non-Member: $99 Member: $99 Non-Member: $109
EVERYTHING GREEN ALL IN AT INDUSTRY. ALL ONE TIME. ONE PLACE. Go to NorthernGreen.org and register today!
January 15–17, 2019
Minneapolis Convention Center info@NorthernGreen.org | 651.633.4987
1 Name badges will be mailed to those who register by December 20th...no waiting in line! Those who register between December 21st and January 4th will receive an email with their badge information. Bring the emailed badge information with you to the show and visit one of our Self Check-In kiosks in Lobby B or C to print your badge. 2 Available to the first 1,800 attendees on Wednesday. *A limited number of tickets are available on-site.
More information about Northern Green at WWW.NORTHERNGREEN.ORG.
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY: WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins
TM
Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous (651) 438-2771 • Fax (651) 438-3816
www.outbacknursery.com
Call us first for all your native planting needs
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plus RETAIL OFFER
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To qualify, vehicles must be used in day-to-day operations of your business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. To qualify, vehicles must be used in day-to-day operations of your business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details. Take delivery by 9/30/12. Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details. Take delivery by 9/30/12. To qualify, vehicles must be used in day-to-day operations of your business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. ©2012 General Motors Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details. Take delivery by 9/30/12. ©2012 General Motors ©2012 General Motors
Business Choice is designed for business owners who rely on their vehicles for their day-to-day operations. It’s available with eligible Chevrolet vehicles and offers great incentives such as valuable upfit equipment. Visit gmbusinesschoice.com today to see if you qualify. 302 302 302
www.jeffbelzerchevy.com Version # 4 Version # 4 Version # 4
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CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT
Job Description 8.75” Chevy Retail Planning Flyer 11.25” Bleed Trim 8.5” x x11” 8.75” x 11.25” Chevrolet, 50Bleed & Cedar, Box 965, Trim Live 8.5” 8.25”x x11” 10.75”
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âž¾ S NOW IN DUSTRY REPO RT
5 LESSONS FROM THE 2018 SNOW INDUSTR
BENCHMARK REPO
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RY
Chad Reinholz | HindSite Software
ORT
We recently released our 2018 Snow Industry Benchmark Report based on a survey of more than 150 snow removal professionals. The report delivers insights about typical snow removal businesses processes, practices and results, helping snow business owners compare their business to that of their peers.
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➾ S NOW IN DUSTRY REPO RT
t’s an informative read at 40+ pages, which you can download at http://info. hindsitesoftware.com/2018-snow-industry-benchmark-report. Don’t want to read the whole thing? Here are five key takeaways designed to help you grow and improve your snow removal business.
#1
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Invest in a website.
Perhaps the most surprising response from the 2018 Snow Industry Benchmark Report was how few respondents say they use their website to generate leads. While just under 40% of respondents use their website to generate leads, 10% — second only to word of mouth — said their website generated the most new business.
It seems many contractors are actually turning to social media instead of a website to promote their business, with about 40% of respondents indicating they use social media to generate new business. There’s no doubt you need to leverage social media to grow your business, but relying on social media is a bit like relying on the Yellow Pages.
Unlike a Facebook page, a webpage is like your virtual home on the Internet that you own and control. Most shoppers perform some kind of search when trying to find contractors, so having a website creates a lot more sales opportunities for your business.
My guess is that most snow contractors, especially small ones, don’t leverage websites because they don’t have the time or knowledge. But there are a number of services — like Squarespace and Wix — that make it easy to create your own website. If that’s not for you, hire someone using services like Fiverr or 99Designs. For $500 to $1000, you can get going with a professional website.
Given that only 40% of your competitors indicate they’re using their website to generate leads, think
about how to get found by local shoppers. Remember, you don’t want to rank for Snow Removal, you want to rank for Snow Removal in <Your Town>.
#2
For most snow contractors, the 2017–18 snow season was good for business. 18% of contractors saw 20+% more snow events this season, and 60% saw more snow events that the previous snow season. As a result, only about 10% of respondents saw their snow revenue decline, a considerable win in a business that relies so heavily on the weather. As a result of the increased snowfall, businesses that had a larger mix of per event and/or time and material contracts were more profitable. Owning a snow business is a bit like gambling. If you get a lot of snow and have monthly or seasonal contracts, you’ll likely be less profitable. If you have more event-based contracts where you’re getting paid for the amount of work you do, you’ll obviously be more profitable.
Your location also probably plays a role. If you’re in a fringe snow region in the south, you may want to just take all the revenue you can get and use seasonal and monthly contracts as much as possible. If you’re in traditionally high snowfall regions, you’ll likely want to push your customers for more event-based billing. Whatever you do it’s good to analyze your contracts at the end of the season and try to calibrate them into whatever mix you think will make you the most money the following year.
Pay your subcontractors quickly.
The typical snow business with more than five employees is using subcontractors to manage their snow removal routes. In fact, nearly 80% of those with more than 20 employees said they rely on subcontractors to some degree. Usage of subcontractors is especially pronounced among businesses that focus on commercial properties, with 65% of those businesses, regardless of size, leveraging subcontractors. As a result, good subcontractors are in demand, which is why 54% of respondents who use subcontractors cited Finding Good Subcontractors as the #1 issue they have with their subcontractors.
Want to find better subcontractors? Pay fast. Subcontractors don’t want to wait weeks or months to get paid. They’re in demand, so they’re going to choose the snow businesses that pay them fastest. In fact, those that pay their subcontractors within a week of an event are 20% less likely to indicate they have an issue finding good subcontractors than their slowerpaying peers. So the faster you pay your subcontractors, the more likely you are to be able to attract and retain great subcontractors.
More on how to do that in a minute...
Examine your contract diversity.
#3
#4
Join a trade association
Snow removal is a relatively niche job. It typically only happens in northern climates and is generally done by businesses that do other work in the summer, which generates more money than snow removal. As a result, there november 18
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➾ S N O W I N D U S T RY RE P O RT
The Snow Industry Benchmark Report also found that those who attended educational events — about half of the respondents —
YOUR ONE TRACTOR SOLUTION
were slightly more likely to experience profits in excess of 25% than their peers who
Mow Slopes
Aeration & Overseed
Fall Cleanup
didn’t attend events.
Schedule a Ventrac DEMO with:
Cushman Motor Company, Inc.
aren’t a lot of local or statewide organizations for the typical snow removal business to join to learn how to improve their business.
2909 E Franklin Ave • Minneapolis, MN (612) 333-3487 • 1-800-759-5343 www.cushmanmotorco.com
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But that doesn’t mean as a snow removal provider you should give up on educational opportunities. The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is a top state-level association in the U.S. and provides a trade show at Northern Green with plenty of equipment that snow removal companies use. SIMA is a great national snow trade organization, with 25% of our respondents belonging to the group and many citing their Snow Symposium as the best trade show they attend annually.
The Snow Industry Benchmark Report also found that those who attended educational events — about half of the respondents — were slightly more likely to experience profits in excess of 25% than their peers who didn’t attend events.
Though local opportunities for education through the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association are offered, joining a nationwide trade association has its benefits,
namely the ability to connect, learn and improve based on the experiences of non-competitive peers.
#5
Invest in software.
We exhibited at the SIMA Snow and Ice Symposium in 2014 and the buzzword at that show was GPS. The majority of people we talked with were looking for a GPS tracking solution for their business. Fast forward four years and it looks like many of those people invested in GPS tracking devices, especially if they employ more than 20 employees. About 70% of businesses with more than 20 employees use GPS tracking software, and about 35% of those with between 6 and 20 employees do. So, GPS tracking has taken off in the snow industry. But field service software — essentially software that simplifies tracking and billing customers and paying subcontractors, is not as frequently used by snow businesses, with about 10% fewer snow contractors using field service software at each employee count tier when compared to GPS usage. But that shouldn’t be the case. In addition to enabling you to deploy your team faster, manage your team better during an event, capture detailed work history and invoice immediately, snow removal software can also help you manage your subcontractors and pay them quickly, which, as we discussed earlier, helps you attract and retain better subs. Not only that, but it can help you capture work information in real-time, information that not only makes it easier to bill immediately when the snow event ends, but also information that ensures you’re capturing every dollar you’re owed.
So, GPS tracking has taken off in the snow industry. But field service software — essentially software that simplifies tracking and billing customers and paying subcontractors, is not as frequently used by snow businesses, with about 10% fewer snow contractors using field service software at each employee count tier when compared to GPS usage.
We discussed contract mixes earlier — one way to maximize your revenue is to have a heavier mix of event-based contracts. Software ensures that you’re billing accurately for those contracts every single time so you get paid every penny you’re owed. That’s important if you have a riskier contract mix.
is Director of Sales and Marketing at HindSite Software and can be reached at chad@hindsitesoftware.com
CHAD REINHOLZ
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â&#x17E;ž OUT & ABOUT
&
THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN LIGHTING TALK AND TOUR on September 27th was fantastic and informative. Steve Schafer, with Milow Outdoors, was a great teacher and took the time to talk design as well as provide attendees with some practical knowledge. The group ended the evening at LynLake Brewery to network and warm up from the chilly evening. Many thanks to Steve Modrow, Biota LLC, for planning this great networking event.
Attendees learned practical knowledge as well as elements of lighting design.
Steve Schaefer demonstrating some outdoor lighting technology.
Using landscape lighting adds beauty and character to an outdoor space.
Lighting being used to enhance plantings and the unique style of the home.
Path lights and accent lights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; examples of a well-lit outdoor space.
A well-lit outdoor space adds beauty, safety, and peace of mind!
Well designed lighting enhances the beauty of this outdoor fireplace.
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MNLA STAFF ATTENDED the customer appreciation event at Hedberg Supply in Stillwater in September. All the photos below were posted on MNLA's Facebook page the same day of event. If you're not following MNLA on Facebook, check us out and see what your association staff is up to!
Hedberg is #MNLAProud! Thanks for displaying your sign!
Jay Huisken from Amcon greeted Hedberg customers.
Contractors from LCI Landscapes & Selfscapes stopped for lunch.
Steve Hedberg chatting with guys from Willow River Company.
Steve Hedberg and Lacee Hartley are greeting customers.
A nice display from MNLA member, Rochester Concrete Products.
Another MNLA member display from Outdoor Living by Belgard.
Cooking for the customers!
Landscapes Unlimited stopped by with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;littleâ&#x20AC;? truck!
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â&#x17E;¾ S E CT I O N TITLE
THE MODERN GREEN ROOF
REVOLUTION How do you define a green roof? The first image that comes to my mind is a little, hobbit-like house somewhere in Scandinavia with a goat eating grass on the roof. That may be a bit simplistic; the green roofs of yore have come a long way.
Jill M. Calabro, Ph.D. | AmericanHort
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Picture 4. Picture courtesy of Jill Calabro. Skyline view of several green roofs.
Picture 1. Picture courtesy of Jill Calabro. Extensive green roofs support populations of sedum or other succulents with their shallow, engineered substrates. Maintenance needs are generally less, while still providing environmental benefits.
Picture 2. Picture courtesy of Jill Calabro. Intensive green roofs support a greater variety of plants with their thicker layer of soil. Maintenance needs are greater, and they have greater potential for ecosystem services.
he ‘urban renaissance,’ a term used to describe the comeback of many city centers in the US, coincides with the revival of green roofs, or maybe the two are intertwined. Either way, the demand for increased green infrastructure and green space continues to grow. And why not — many, many studies have shown the benefits of plants, from human health benefits such as stimulating a relaxation response in humans, to environmental benefits, such as providing ecosystem services, and more. Germany leads the charge of the modern green roof revolution, with one estimate stating that 14% of flat roofs there are in fact green. But how is that defined? As it turns out, it’s more than just a layer of moss, or a collection of weeds growing in patches. A green roof, or living roof, involves the creation and management of vegetation on top of a man-made structure, separate from the ground. For example, a planted area that is part of a USDA building in DC qualifies as a green roof, despite being only a few feet off the ground (Picture 1, Picture 2). This contrasts with petroleum-based products that cover the typical conventional roof, also called a ‘black roof.’ A third type exists, known as a ‘white roof,’ composed of lighter-colored materials to better reflect sunlight. As one might imagine, green roofs vary greatly in construction and composition, and they are more complex than they appear. Green roof environments tend to be more susceptible to extreme temperatures and droughts that lead to high evaporative demands; so, a great deal of resources has been dedicated to optimizing substrate composition and depth. In fact, the selected substrate guides the plant material to be used, maintenance needs, and the ultimate success of the planting. Various sedums dominate the plant palette for green roofs; they’re drought-tolerant and can thrive in shallow substrates. A recent study looking at just how shallow a planting of succulents can tolerate was published in the Horticultural Research Institute’s (HRI) publication, the Journal of Environmental Horticulture (JEH). The study, led by Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire at New Mexico State University, evaluated three depths (3.9, 5.9, and 7.9 inches) to support a planting of hens and chicks, Sempervivum calcareum, in arid-type climates common
to New Mexico. Environments on green roofs are extreme in any climate and especially so in arid climates. The New Mexico State group concluded that shallow depths are acceptable for green roofs established in arid climates, especially with the inclusion of subsurface irrigation. This enables plant success due to the reduction of evaporative losses, when compared with surface irrigation. To read the full study, visit the Journal of Environmental Horticulture. In 2017, HRI funded a study at Michigan State University, led by Dr. Bradley Rowe, evaluating different substrate depths and changes to organic matter content over a period of several years. This study is ongoing and plans to conclude later this year. Dr. Rowe explained a bit about his project, “In our HRI funded study at MSU, 17 different herbaceous perennials and grasses were planted on a campus green roof in substrate depths of either 4 or 8 inches and were irrigated when needed during the first two years but had to rely on natural rainfall thereafter. Plant diversity decreased over time at both depths. Only seven species were still present after seven years when grown in 8 inches of media, and only three survived at a media depth of 4 inches.” “This study emphasizes the need for long-term studies to avoid making premature conclusions, the importance of substrate depth on soil moisture and plant survival, and that irrigation during drought periods may be necessary if herbaceous perennials and grasses are to be successful on green roofs.” While care must be taken in the design and construction phases, maintenance is key to longevity and presents some unique challenges to landscape managers. “Visibility of some sites is very high; so, the maintenance needs can be intense. Many of our green roof contracts require weekly site visits. These are mostly integrated with mixed use buildings of residential, office, and retail spaces; so, expectations are high for beautiful, manicured green areas,” explained Chris Bixler, Branch Manager at Ruppert Landscape. Ruppert Landscape specializes in high-quality and large-scale commercial landscape construction and provides landscape management services to property owners and november 18
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➾ G RE E N ROOFS
Picture 3. Picture courtesy of Ruppert Landscape. Who says there’s no excitement in landscape management? Safety is top of mind for this crew prepping for a maintenance job on a green roof.
managers throughout the eastern US. They have a sister company, Ruppert Nurseries, a wholesale nursery production facility. For one, weed control can be difficult, since most herbicides do not list green roofs as an approved site on labels. Plus, very few herbicides are safe to use as over-the-top, broad-spectrum applications on sedum. Finally, many green roofs collect at least some runoff in cisterns and recycle it as irrigation water. This further restricts herbicide use, as residues in irrigation water could potentially injure the plants. But the urban environment itself presents the biggest challenge to maintenance. “Accessibility of the sites is the major problem. Getting equipment in and out of the areas where we work is half the battle. We build in time to navigate elevators and transfer equipment using special carts that won’t scuff the floor, for example. Sometimes we even have to go through a resident’s window to do the job, and some roofs require tethering of the crew for safety,” Bixler added (Picture 3). Why all the fuss? Their installation is more expensive than a conventional roof and they may need to be intensively managed; so, why bother? Turns out green roofs can help building managers save some green. One estimate suggests a savings of around $200,000 over a forty-year lifespan of a 2,000 square meter roof, mostly in the form of reduced energy costs. Such policy drivers as reducing the urban heat island effect and stormwater impacts are leading cities such as Portland, District of Columbia, and New York City to employ incentive programs encouraging their installation. In the summer, cities commonly report daily temperatures above surrounding suburban or rural areas, called the urban heat island 44
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effect. More paved surfaces associated with cities translate to increased absorption of solar radiation that is then re-radiated as heat. Conventional black roofs are part of this problem, as they notoriously absorb significant amounts of energy from sunlight. Green roofs, in comparison, also absorb solar radiation but use it to evaporate water from the substrate by way of the plants (through roots to the leaves), lowering temperatures in the process. One study at Penn State found that on a day where the air temperature was 90°F, an exposed black plastic surface reached 145°F, while the surface of a sedum planting was only 82°F. All those paved surfaces in urban areas also create problems for stormwater management. Too much runoff can overwhelm a city’s water treatment facility or sewage system, leading not only to increased costs but pollution as well. Green roofs can help. They capture significantly more rainfall during a storm than a conventional roof, 80% vs. 24%, according to a study by Penn State. Other documented benefits include increased energy savings as the vegetation and media act as an additional insulation layer, extended lifespans of roof membranes, neutralization of acid rain, a reduction in air pollution as they trap dust and airborne particulate matter, habitat for wildlife, and provision of space for local production of fruits and vegetables. Green roofs have clearly grown up from being a simple sod roof but still have a ways to go. Luckily, researchers continue to find ways to improve them not only for the public’s enjoyment but also in terms of environmental services provided and ease of maintenance. Who knows — maybe goats will be incorporated into them again, too! Citations: Clark, C,; P. Adriaens, and F.B. Talbot; 2008. Green Roof Valuation: A Probabilistic Economic Analysis of Environmental Benefits. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42(6):2155-2161. Forrest, L.; R. Gioannini; D.M. VanLeeuwen; and R. St. Hilaire. 2017. Shallow Substrates Support the Growth of Contrasting Plant Types Installed in Irrigated, Arid-Climate Green Roofs. J. Environ. Hort. 35(4):146-155. Penn State Center for Green Roof Research. Air Conditioning. https:// plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/green-roof/research/otherresearch/air-conditioning Penn State Center for Green Roof Research. Stormwater Quantity. https://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/green-roof/research/ stormwater/stormwater-quantity
JILL M. CALABRO, PH.D. is
science and research programs director
at the Horticultural Research Institute, the AmericanHort research and scholarship foundation. The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) has provided more than $7.5 million in funds to research projects covering a broad range of production, environmental, and business issues important to the green industry since 1962. Nearly $11 million is committed to the endowment by individuals, corporations, and associations. For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or call 614-884-1155.
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For more information, visit www.MNLA.biz or contact Mary at 651-633-4987 or mary@mnla.biz.
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➾ R E S E ARCH FOR THE R EAL WO R L D
Optimizing Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Effects on Plant Growth
Dr. James Calkins Research Information Director MNLA Foundation
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As for the production and management of nursery and landscape plants in general, the proper fertilization of container-grown nursery stock based on science-based, best management practices (BMPs) is an important production practice from a variety of important perspectives including cost, environmental impacts, and plant growth and performance. From an economical perspective, fertilizer is an expensive production input that has experienced substantial price increases in recent years. This is a trend that is expected to continue, making it increasingly important to control costs by maximizing fertilizer use efficiency. Similarly, from an environmental and plant growth and quality perspective, it is important to supply nutrients at the lowest rate possible to reduce leaching losses to the environment while optimizing plant growth, quality, and performance. In response to these needs and potential concerns, fertilizer formulations and BMPs have seen significant improvements as a result of ongoing research focused on enhanced fertilizer technologies and practices and these research efforts continue to benefit growers, landscape managers, the public, and the environment. As most nursery and landscape professionals are well aware, phosphorus and nitrogen are important nutrients for plant growth, but can also be harmful to the environment in excess amounts. From an environmental perspective, most nursery and landscape professionals also know that when phosphorus and nitrogen are applied as fertilizers in amounts greater than can be used or is needed by plants, they are lost to the environment through leaching and runoff, resulting in degraded water quality and the enhanced eutrophication of surface waterbodies (phosphorus and nitrogen) and groundwater contamination (nitrates). Eutrophication is the enrichment of an ecosystem with nutrients (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen) and their subsequent effects on
november 18
that ecosystem (e.g., elevated nutrient levels in surface waterbodies that results in a proliferation of algae and aquatic plants that upon their death and decomposition can result in reduced levels of dissolved oxygen that can sometimes lead to the death of fish and other organisms and ultimately results in the filling in of waterbody basins with accumulated sediment and organic material). Historically thought of in terms of aquatic systems, it is increasingly accepted that eutrophication can also apply to terrestrial ecosystems. Of course, excess nutrients applied as fertilizers are a wasteful expense that might be mitigated through improved fertilization practices that result in enhanced fertilizer use efficiency. With these concerns in mind, and the objective of determining the minimum phosphorus fertilizer concentration needed to maintain maximum plant growth, the results of a study published earlier this year in the journal HortScience (May 2018) indicate that reducing phosphorus fertilization rates below currentlyrecommended levels for container grown nursery stock can increase phosphorus use efficiency without reducing growth. Based on their findings, the authors also suggest that lower phosphorus fertilization rates and increased phosphorus use efficiency may reduce phosphorus losses to the environment through leaching and has the potential to reduce fertilizer costs. The species tested were ‘Karen’ azalea (Rhododendron × ‘Karen’). ‘Helleri’ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’), and ‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’). The plants were established from bare-root stem cutting liners planted in #1 black plastic nursery containers (3.8 liter) filled with an aged pine bark substrate amended with dolomitic limestone and micronutrients. The study was performed in a greenhouse located at the Hampton Roads Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach, VA, covered with
Figure 1. For both field and container production systems, including the container grown Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’ (Upright Japanese Yew) shown here, proper fertilization that minimizes nutrient inputs, optimizes nutrient use efficiency, and maximizes plant growth and performance without compromising the environment is a complicated and important consideration (Photo Credit: Jim Calkins).
polyolefin reflective shade film (49% photosynthetically active radiation transmission) using a randomized complete block, factorial design with six fertilizer treatments (5 phosphorus treatments applied through fertigation and a controlled release fertilizer (CRF) control representing standard nursery practice in the southeastern United States) and three replications with three plants of each species per replication. The greenhouse covering was rolled up about one meter above the ground along the side walls to facilitate cooling and prevent excessive heat build-up. The phosphorus fertilizer treatments were formulated from concentrated nutrient solutions using a fertilizer injection system and applied via pressure-compensating spray stakes every three days or as needed. Each of the five liquid fertilizer treatments contained the same amount of nitrogen (N; 80 milligrams/liter) and potassium (K; 50 milligrams/liter) and one of five phosphorus (P) concentrations including 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 mg/liter. The containers/plants that received the CRF control treatment were top-dressed with 17 grams of a 18-2.6-10 (N-P-K) polymer-coated, 8-9 month CRF which was subsequently incorporated into the top 2-3 inches of the growing medium to help insure consistent fertilizer release. Growing medium fertility and pH were followed based on pore-water extracts collected using the pour-through nutrient extraction method initially and at approximately 3-week intervals (0, 21, 41, 61, and 81 days after the experiment was initiated) and specific N, P, and K levels were determined approximately six and twelve weeks (41 and 81 days, respectively) after the experiment was started. Growth index (greatest width + perpendicular width + height ÷ 3) data was collected at approximately 3-week intervals and foliar tissue samples were collected for nutrient content analysis at the termination of the experiment (approximately 12 weeks; 82 days). Upon termination of the experiment, plant carbon allocations (plant top and root system dry weights) were also determined.
In general, and not surprisingly, it was determined that the phosphorus requirements of the three species studied were species- and growth stage-specific as were the minimum phosphorus requirements needed to support adequate plant growth. Among other findings, the lowest fertigation phosphorus fertilizer concentration that supported maximum shoot dry weight accumulation was 4.7 mg/l for hydrangea and 2.9 mg/l for azalea while there was no difference in shoot dry weight for holly for any of the five liquid phosphorus fertility treatments and no increase in holly shoot dry weight when fertilized with phosphorus at a concentration greater than 0.5 mg/l. From a pore-water phosphorus concentration perspective, it was found that maximum shoot dry weight accumulation can be achieved at phosphorus concentrations as low as 0.6 mg/l for hydrangea and 2.2 mg/l for azalea For all three species, shoot dry weight for the CRF treatment was less than 50% of the maximum shoot dry weights observed for the fertigated plants. Most importantly relative to the goal of minimizing phosphorus fertilizer applications, it was found that quality, container grown hydrangea, azalea, and holly plants can be produced with a pore-water phosphorus concentration that is less than 5 mg/l — and more specifically as low as 0.6, 2.2, and 0.08 mg/l, respectively — which is the minimum pore-water phosphorus concentration recommended as a fertility BMP. For context, current BMPs recommended that a porewater phosphorus concentration of 5–15 mg/l be maintained in the substrate solution based on pour-through extracts. It was also found that applied phosphorus levels are a better predictor of plant growth than pour-water levels when container grown plants are maintained under fertigation. In other related, but separate studies (Shreckhise, Doctoral Thesis) it was also determined that shoot growth of container-grown bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ’P11HM-11) remained at maxinovember 18
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mum levels when fertilized with as little as 0.3 grams of controlled release fertilizer (CRF) phosphorus per 3.8-liter container which is 50% less than the current industry standard. In addition, ‘Helleri’ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘Helleri) only required 0.2 to 0.4 grams of phosphorus per 3.8-liter container depending on production location and the pore-water phosphorus concentrations that resulted in the greatest shoot growth were 0.8 and 1.2 mg/l for hydrangea and holly, respectively. Based on laboratory investigation, it was also determined that amending pine bark media with dolomitic limestone reduced phosphorus (orthophosphate) levels in leachates by about 70% when CRF was incorporated in a pine bark medium. Building on this laboratory study, ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’) plants were grown in containers filled with pine bark medium containing CRF and the same medium amended with dolomitic limestone alone or in combination with micronutrients in an effort to determine the effect of these amendments on total P (TP), total dissolved P (TDP) and orthophosphate-P (OP-P) concentrations in pour-through extracts and their influence on phosphorus uptake efficiency (PUE). The pore-water concentrations of OP-P and TP based on pour-through leachates were reduced by 64% and 58%, respectively, and the dry weights of plants were 40% higher than plants grown in media lacking these amendments. The phosphorus levels in plant tissues and phosphorus uptake efficiency were, however, the same for all three treatments indicating that sorption of OP-P by the limestone and micronutrients reduced phosphorus leaching without limiting phosphorus uptake by plants and amending pine bark-based substrates with DL and MF should be considered a best management practice for reducing P runoff from container production nurseries. Another interesting study also published earlier this year in the journal HortTechnology, also focused on reduced phosphorus fertility levels, but with a different objective — using phosphorus restriction as an alternative to plant growth regulators, and specifically plant growth retardants, for reducing stem elongation to produce more compact bedding plants. The primary impetus for the study is based on the limited availability of products that are labeled for use on specific bedding plant species and concerns about potential for various types of phytotoxicity on sensitive species that could reduce plant quality and salability. Several previous studies have investigated phosphorus restriction as a means to control plant height and have documented success for a number of bedding plant species when phosphorus fertilization is limited to 5–15 ppm or less. For this study, the species used were angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia ‘Sungelonia Blue’ and ‘Sungelonia White’) and New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri ‘Pure Beauty Red on Pink’ and ‘Tamarinda Dark Red’) and represented species having a low and high sensitivity to plant growth regulators, respectively. The plants were started as rooted cuttings and were transplanted into 5-inch (800 ml) azalea pots filled with an 80:20 (v:v) mix of sphagnum peat moss and coarse perlite amended with dolomitic limestone and a wetting agent. The treatments included five custom-blended fertilizers containing nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and potassium at 150 ppm, a standardized blend of micronutrients, and one of five phosphorus concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ppm). The treat-
ments were completely randomized by cultivar with 16 plants of each cultivar assigned to each of the five fertilizer treatments. At the halfway point in the study, half of the angelonia plants were treated with a substrate drench of paclobutrazol (Piccolo 10 XC; a plant growth regulator/growth retardant) using the recommended label rate (4 mg in a volume of 4 fluid ounces/pot) and half of the new guinea impatiens received a foliar spray of paclobutazol using the recommended label rate (7.5 ppm applied using a volume of 200 milliliters/meter2). Plant growth data including plant height, average crown diameter, number of axillary branches, and top dry weight were collected at the end of the study (8 weeks for angelonia and 10 weeks for New Guinea impatiens). Plant height, crown diameter, and top dry weight were used to calculate a growth index and regression modeling was used to determine the phosphorus concentration that resulted in the maximum amount of growth based on each of the growth parameters. Based on the modeling results, ‘Sungelonia Blue angelonia plants that were not treated with paclobutrazol reached a maximum height of 48 centimeters (cm) at 5 ppm phosphorus compared to paclobutrazol-treated plants where the a maximum height of 44 cm at 4 ppm phosphorus and it was determined that a similar height could be achieved with 3 ppm phosphorus and no paclobutrazol. In general, higher levels of phosphorus were required to maximize the other growth parameters and the level of phosphorus fertilization used by a grower would ultimately be determined by an analysis of the importance of the various growth factors. Growth index values were maximized with phosphorus fertilization at 7–9 ppm for angelonia and at 8–11 ppm for New Guinea impatiens and restricting phosphorus fertilization to 3-5 ppm resulted in the same amount of height control as that provided by treatment with paclobutrazol on plants that were not limited for phosphorus. Based on overall growth as measured by the growth index, a slightly higher phosphorus concentration of 6–7 ppm would be expected to result in overall growth that would be similar to that provided by a single application of paclobutrazol. Although it was suggested that phosphorus fertilization rates as low as 3 ppm could be used to control plant height, they are not recommended because phosphorus concentrations less than 2.5 ppm resulted in deficiency symptoms and the potential for errors in fertilizer calculations and injector calibrations could result in plants that are not salable. Instead, a phosphorus concentration of 5–10 ppm is recommended to avoid deficiency symptoms and prevent excessive stem elongation and produce a more compact growth habit. These studies are just a few examples of research designed to improve our understanding of fertilization practices and aid growers in making educated fertilization decisions that result in the efficient and cost effective production of quality plants. Improved nutrient use efficiency saves money by reducing the amount of fertilizer used while also minimizing nutrient losses to the environment and maintaining quality plant growth and performance. In addition, regulating fertility levels, including phosphorus levels, can sometimes be used to manipulate plant growth and performance in specific ways. Nursery and landscape professionals should be aware of these relationships and the latest research findings related to fernovember 18
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Prove what you know. Become a Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association Certified Professional.
MNLA CERTIFICATION
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW When and where are the spring 2019 exams? When: February 8, 15, 22 and March 8, 15, 22 Where: At the MNLA office in Roseville (1813 Lexington Ave. N, Roseville, MN 55113) Please note, only seven seats are available for each test date. Please apply early!
Why does it benefit me in my career? Who is eligible?
Who?
To register for the exam you must meet the following requirements: • Have either two years of study in an accredited post-secondary nursery and/ or landscape program that includes a structured internship, OR • A minimum of 2,000 hours in nursery or landscape-related employment. A signature of an educational advisor or work supervisor is required on the exam registration form to verify completion of the prerequisite.
Did You Know?
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Why?
• Identifies you as a professional. • Gives you credentials and proves your qualifications. • Provides you instant credibility with your clients and employers. • Contributes to increased opportunities for advancement with many employers. • Demonstrates your commitment to your profession. • Distinguishes you from the competition. • Qualifies you to do expert work and give advice.
Why does it benefit MNLA member companies?
MNLA member businesses that employ certified professionals enhance their professional image, increase customer recognition and respect, provide a consumer marketing tool, and offer an additional tool for employee motivation, evaluation, and advancement.
The exam is given in an electronic format with immediate results and integrated photos and videos. It is a two-part exam: you must pass a Basic Knowledge Exam and a specialty of your choosing (Landscape, Garden Center or Grower) to become MNLA Certified. To maintain certification status, all individuals must compile at least 18 continuing education points every three years. ER
When & Where?
Did You Know?
HOW TO PREPARE: USE THESE RESOURCES TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAM: ONLINE STUDY CHAPTERS | PRAC TICE TEST | PL ANT I.D. WEBINAR
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tilizer technologies and application practices and should carefully consider the options available when choosing fertilization BMPs specific to the production systems used and the plants they grow.
DON’T LEAVE A LEAF. PowerVac™ Collection Systems deliver a clean sweep every time.
Citations: Shreckhise, J.H., J.S. Owen, and A.X. Niemiera. 2018. Growth Response of Three Containerized Woody Plant Taxa to Varying Low Phosphorus Fertilizer Concentrations. HortScience 53(5):628-637. http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/53/5/628.abstract (abstract only) Shreckhise, J.H. 2018. Phosphorus Requirement and Chemical Fate in Containerized Nursery Crop Production. Doctoral Thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/ handle/10919/83893 (Accessed August 16, 2018; abstract and link to full dissertation) Henry, J.B., I. McCall, and B.E. Whipker. 2018. Phosphorus Restriction as an Alternative to Chemical Plant Growth Retardants in Angelonia and New Guinea Impatiens. HortTechnology 28(2):136-142. http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/28/2/136 https://doi.org/ 10.21273/HORTTECH03939-17 (abstract only)
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The following, selected resources may also be of interest: Wright, R.D. 1986. The Pour-Through Nutrient Extraction Procedure. HortScience 21:227229. (not available online) LeBude, A. and T. Bilderback. 2009. The PourThrough Extraction Procedure: A Nutrient Management Tool for Nursery Crops. North Carolina Cooperative Extension. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/the-pour-through-extraction-procedure-a-nutrient-management-toolfor-nursery-crops Bilderback, T., C. Boyer, M. Chappell, G. Fain, D. Fare, C. Gilliam, B.E, Jackson, J. Lea-Cox, A.V. LeBude, A. Niemiera, J. Owen, J. Ruter, K. Tilt, S. Warren, S. White, T. Whitwell, R. Wright, and T. Yeager. 2013. Best Management Practices: Guide for Producing Nursery Crops (Third Edition). Southern Nursery Association, Acworth, GA. www.sna.org
TO COMMENT ON THIS RESEARCH UPDATE,
suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information
Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC have 25 years combined experience as small business owners in construction and landscaping. They understand what green industry business owners face on a regular basis: Contracts, Construction Law, Mechanics Liens, Business Formation, Collections, and Employment Law. MNLA members receive a discounted rate. Contact Bryan Zlimen or Patrick McGuiness: 651-331-6500 | info@zmattorneys.com | www.zmattorneys.com
that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@ MNLA.biz. Zlimen & McGuiness third-square_4c.indd 1
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➾ T E CH NOLOGY
MNLA NEWS IN TEL L I G EN T SPR AY ER : C O M M ER CI A L I Z AT I O N A P P RO V E D !
From AmericanHort
Touch Screen. Photo courtesy of Heping Zhu, USDA.
At long last, commercialization of smart sprayer tech-
on the ground. The Intelligent Sprayer gives growers a
Systems, Inc. announced finalization of a licensing agree-
targeted application with improved spray coverage,”
ment in late August.
added Dr. Zhu.
Dr. Heping Zhu, USDA ARS Wooster, designed the
It has been a long journey to this point. The Horti-
Intelligent Spray Control System to help bring precision
cultural Research Institute (HRI) provided some of the
agriculture to environmental horticulture. A laser on the
initial funding to get the project started, which was then
sprayer detects the plant canopy; that information trig-
used to garner additional funds through the USDA ARS
gers spray nozzles to activate only where plant material is
Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative and USDA
present. The result is that much less spray is required. Dr.
NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative programs, both
Zhu and his cohorts estimate anywhere from a 47–70%
supported by HRI. Steve Booher, CEO Smart Guided Systems com-
ficacy); this translates to a $140–280 annual cost savings
mented, “We are honored and excited to commercial-
per acre in nursery production. Beneficial insects also
ize this remarkable technology. The USDA and a team
benefit through the significant reduction in pesticide drift
of researchers have focused on optimizing application
— up to 87% reduction in general airborne drift and up
efficiency for sprayers. We want to bring to growers a
to 93% reduction in drift on the ground. Dr. Zhu is cur-
system that can be added to their existing sprayer.”
rently working to adapt this technology to greenhouse operations. “Concerns about application efficiency motivated our research. Our studies have shown that only 30% of spray volume in conventional nursery applications is deposited
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on target trees, and 34% of total spray volume is lost
nology is moving forward. USDA ARS and Smart Guided
reduction in pesticide needs (while still maintaining ef-
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Willoway Nurseries. Photo courtesy of Heping Zhu, USDA.
november august 18 17 18 december
Smart Guided Systems, Inc., is now accepting preorders with expected delivery in spring 2019. An add-on kit option that enables growers to retrofit existing spray equipment is available.
Smart Guided Systems, Inc., is now accepting pre-orders with expected delivery in spring 2019.
Photo courtesy of Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort.
Smart Sprayer. Photo courtesy of Craig Regelbrugge.
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â&#x17E;ž MNLA FOUN DATION
2018 SHOOTOUT It was a cool and slightly rainy day for the 9th annual MNLA Foundation sporting clays event held at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club on September 19. Over 90 shooters came together to play games, compete in clay pigeon shooting and take a chance at raffle items. This annual fundraiser event raises over $9,000 for the MNLA Foundation Scholarship Fund. Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported this event.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST PLACE TEAM!
Champion Team: Winning team left to right: Sean Martin, Aaron Masloski, (middle is sponsor from Hiway, Scott Ekholm) Jeremy Evans, Jordan McTague, all from Precision Landscaping & Construction, Inc. Prize sponsored by Hiway Federal Credit Union.
MNLA Executive Director, Cassie Larson, with Top Individual Scorer: Aaron Masloski, Precision Landscaping & Construction, Inc. Prize sponsored by Bachman's Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes.
Bert Swanson (r) of Swanson's Nursery Consulting, Inc. presents prize for Grouse/Skeet Walk to Jacob Larsen of Hiway Federal Credit Union.
This team stopped by the Horse & Hunt Club rules sign to make sure they're thinking safety first!
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november august 18 17 18 december
Super Ticket Winner of $500 CASH! Sean Martin, Precision Landscaping & Construction, Inc.
All smiles as they begin their day of competition.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OTHER GAME WINNERS (NOT PICTURED): Aaron Masloski and Jeremy Evans, Precision Landscaping & Construction, Inc., won the Two Trap and Duck Flurry games. Tom Malinski, Final Grade, Inc., won the Long Shot game.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS FOR HELPING MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE! Featured Raffle Prize Sponsor:
Prize for Champion Team:
The Builders Group
Hiway Federal Credit Union
Game Sponsors:
Raffle Prize Sponsor:
Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc.
Belgard Hardscapes
Copeland Buhl & Co. BFG Supply Company
Social Sponsor: SageMark Consulting, Inc.
General Sponsorship: First Minnetonka City Bank
Station Sponsors:
Gardeneer, Inc.
Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery and Hardscapes
SCP Distributors
Plaisted Companies
Hiway Federal Credit Union
Waconia Tree Farms LLC
Tangletown Gardens LLC
Wheeler Landscape Supply
Sun Gro
Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape
Malmborg’s Garden Center & Greenhouse
Cherokee Manufacturing LLC
Grove Nursery, Inc.
Carlin Sales/ProGreen Plus
Belgard Hardscapes
Tessman Company
Walser Polar Chevrolet
Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC Alta Falls & Pond Supplies
Lunch Sponsor:
Klaus Nurseries
Bailey Nurseries
Happy Land Tree Farm, Inc. Rock Hard Landscape Supply
Prize for Champion Individual:
Wagner Greenhouses
Bachman’s, Inc.
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The App Is Back! It’s easy, it’s free, and it will help you make the most efficient use of your time! • Organize your schedule. • Access session handouts. • Bookmark exhibitors and sessions you’re planning to visit. • Use the Activity Stream to follow the action. • Lighten your load – no need to carry around anything more than your mobile device. Plus, follow us on Twitter with the hashtag #NorthernGreen
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GREEN INDUSTRY AWARDS
CELEBRATI0N
REC O GNIZING E XCELLENCE IN MINNESOTA’S GREEN INDUSTRY
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019, 6:00 P.M. | Ticket price: $40 A joint effort by MNLA and MTGF, this event utilizes the Innovation & Inspiration Theater on the trade show floor, which includes a giant rear-projected screen allowing for an outstanding visual display. There will be fantastic food, cash bars, a master of ceremonies to act as a host for the evening’s festivities, and lots to celebrate! We’ll recognize a number of deserving individuals and companies for their service to the green industry, their research, their excellence in landscape and sports field work, for receiving and sponsoring scholarships, and for completion of the Green Industry Leadership Institute. BUY YOUR TICKET WHEN REGISTERING FOR NORTHERN GREEN AT WWW.NORTHERNGREEN.ORG!
Special thanks to our sponsors:
WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES
YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER
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Develop the Next Leader in Your Business in 2019 Managing Conflict
This learning experience designed by MNLA and Resultants for Business cultivates leadership skills in your key staff, helping to create the next generation of leaders within your company. The program incorporates highly interactive Managing Change exercises, discussions, and project-based activities. Using these multiple learning methods increases takeaways for each person and creates a rich adult learning environment. Plus, irreplaceable “from the trenches” Knowing Your Staying on Top experience will come from green Own Strengths of the Work industry personnel and other subject matter experts. More information and an application form is at www.MNLA.biz/leadership. Understanding How Your Decisions Affect the Bottom Line
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APPLY NOW! DEADLINE: JANUARY 24
O& F N N E I ATIO R MO PLIC AT: AP ORM HIP F True Leadership S R DE A E Z/L I B . LA N M W. W QUESTIONS? W Contact Jon Horsman, MNLA Communications Director: 651-633-4987 • jon@MNLA.biz
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ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE OFFICIAL NOTICE: ANNUAL MEETING ON JANUARY 17, 2019 AT THE MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER Notice is hereby given that the annual membership meeting of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association will be held at 7:00 am on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. During the annual meeting, the results of the Board of Directors election will be announced. An electronic ballot will be sent the first week in December to the primary contact provided to MNLA by each business member.
WELCOME NEW MNLA MEMBERS! ATK Enterprises, Inc.
Lifestyle Landscapes LLC
Andler Klatzky
Dainen Herman
Duluth, MN, 218-481-1999
Spring Lake Park, MN 763-760-4505
Beadle Floral & Landscaping Jennifer Fleming
Nice Yard LLC
Aberdeen, SD, 605-229-5256
Madi Margl Cologne, MN, 952-693-3680
Cold Spring Co-op Rick Fischbach
Skay Contracting
Cold Spring, MN
Thomas Skay
320-685-8651
Outing, MN, 612-709-3747
Comfort and Shelter
Upnorth Landscaping of
Roger Thomas
Duluth
Ankeny, IA, 514-963-8833
Barry Loftis Cloquet, MN, 218-499-3100
Knutson Custom Construction Andrew Knutson Duluth, MN, 218-728-1726
november 18
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Looking For Grower – Fulltime Malmborg’s Greenhouse & Garden Center – Rogers, MN Requirements: • 2 or 4 year Floriculture Degree • 2 years industry experience preferred Contact: Van Cooley (763) 242-4343 Resumes/Applications: 20045 County Road 81 Rogers, MN 55311
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Faith Jensen
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LE A D ER S H I P P EER G R O U P S A R E P R O D U C ED I N P A RTN ER S H I P W ITH B ATC - H O U S I N G FI R ST M I N N ES OTA
If you’re looking for a highly effective and affordable professional development tool, MNLA’s Leadership Peer Groups is your solution. Utilizing Rod Johnson’s Peer InsightTM method, this session helps to connect the content in an informal program with the context of how to use it in your career. A group of similar leader-managers will convene on a routine basis to discuss certain topics, issues, or challenges found within the industry. The group will offer advice and support each other while collecting input on a topic. The peer group helps individuals break down complex issues, exchange ideas, and adapt to different perspectives, all through a continuous learning forum. The team approach helps individuals with their accountability, while the coaching structure provided by the professional facilitator keeps discussions and idea exchanges focused and efficient. The informal, confidential nature of peer groups helps participants get to know each other on a more personal level within a safe environment. The relationships developed with peers allows for faster issue solving, personal improvement, and professional growth. • Each program includes six Tuesday sessions over three months. • Applications are being accepted for the spring peer group program. The deadline for applying is Tuesday, January 8. • Each applicant will need to complete the application form at www.MNLA.biz/leadership.
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n g Desig Development Selling Low Impact Plantin
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How GDayroon the Hill Nip It, Nip wers View Hydro It in the B ponics ud!
Also Inside
About Out & The American Elm’s Comeback d Water Award Recycle Also Inside
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email Gayle Anderson, gayle@mnla.biz.
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THE VA EXCITING 018 PLANTS 2 LUE OF S Varieties from the New Plant Forum L A I R O T U G R PROFE A landsca RIeN t trends SFinP pe design west plan S er asks so ding the n gh California me challe SION nging que throu k e tr a n stions o
Vol: 41 No: 04 Apr 2018
Vol: 41 No: 06
Jun
e 2018 N AT I O SOCI E AS CA HH T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O FT T N PE S O T A N U R S E R Y & L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I A T I O N EAEN D OM F SFI N ICIA Y & L L PU RSER BLIC U N AT I O S O TA N OF INNE THE 8 HE M MINN 08 Aug 201 OF T ESOT Vol: 41 No: ION A NU I C AT RSER PUBL Y & L CIAL I F AND F O SCAP THE E
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