Nursery & Landscape Notes Fall 2018 by North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association

FALL 2018 | Vol. 52, No.4

Publication of the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc.

January 14 -18, 2019 Greensboro, NC

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Nursery Landscape Notes &

Fall 2018 | Vol. 52 No. 4

GREEN & GROWIN’ 19 10

COMMENTARY President’s Message

NCNLA Executive Vice President’s Message

Year after year, thousands of horticulture and landscape professionals head to Greensboro, NC to take advantage of G&G’s world-class education program and explore the G&G Marketplace.

NCNLA NEWS NCNLA Premium Members

NCNLA’s Newest Certified Plant Professionals

AROUND OUR INDUSTRY Legislative Update

Best Practices: Drone Usage for Landscapers and Nurseries

Best Practices: Top Ten garden and Landscaping Trends for 2019

INDUSTRY TIPS

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Arborist advice: Preparing your client’s landscape for winter

New Members

Calendar of Events

Advertiser’s Index

Cultivating leadership in your organization

OUTRAGEOUS MARKETING

How to build your nursery and landscape business

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 3

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Published by North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 968 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC 27607

NCNLA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

NCNLA Staff Richard Lawhun Executive Vice President Kathryn Stansbury Director of Business Development Hannah Singleton Manager of Professional Development Nursery & Landscape Notes is published quarterly by the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. especially for nursery production, nursery research, interior and exterior maintenance and design build contractors in the landscape industry. The publication is distributed to approximately 1200 horticulture producers, landscape professionals and industry suppliers. NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES is provided as a member service.

2018 NCNLA Board of Directors Shanon Spivey President Spivey’s Nursery, Inc. Kernersville, NC Jamie Thomas Vice President/Secretary/ Treasurer Swift Creek Nursery Clayton, NC Chad Gragg Past President Buffalo Creek Nurseries, Inc. Lenoir, NC Hugh Crump Greenline Designs Charlotte, NC Educational Advisors Justin Snyder Alamance Community College Graham, NC

Chris Mitchell Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply Garner, NC William Bass Hawksridge Farms Hickory, NC Richard Gant Gant’s Nursery Marion, NC Leslie Herndon Greenscape Inc. Raleigh, NC Jeff Allegood Old Courthouse Nursery Warsaw, NC

Dr. Joe Neal North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC

Advertising

For Advertising rates and content submission, contact Stephanie Schaefer for a Marketing Opportunities Kit. 919-609-0803 or sschaefer@ncnla.com.

A Productive Year

early a year has passed since I was given the honor of serving as your president and what a year it has been! We faced some trying times as an industry in overcoming the effects of two hurricanes and as an association in dealing with the impact of a snowstorm during Green & Growin’ 18 and transitioning to new leadership this fall. As I reflect on the past year, I am proud to say that we met each challenge and came out stronger and more dedicated to serving our customers, our members and our industry. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and expertise in addressing these issues. It was a collective effort that would not have been possible without the participation of so many of you!

In addition to facing some challenges this past year, we also celebrated several successes:

We awarded scholarships to students seeking careers in horticulture or other industry-related fields;

We recognized nearly a dozen of our members for their efforts in representing our industry at the highest level;

We bestowed the title of Certified Plant Professional on more than 60 individuals who sought to validate their industry knowledge and experience;

We participated with the Green Industry Council in hosting another successful Legislative Day with the North Carolina General Assembly; and

We met with Commissioner Steve Troxler of the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to discuss hurricane relief for the nursery and landscape industry, which resulted in “nursery crops” being included in the 2018 Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Act.

The including of products or brand names in this publication is not an endorsement by the editor, or the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association.

Purpose Statement

NCNLA’s purpose is to be a flexible, knowledgeable, responsive, environmentally-conscious organization providing the nursery and landscape industries with leadership, technological and business advancement opportunities and information services.

Goal Statement

NCNLA’s ultimate goal is to benefit its members’ economic, professional and personal growth. Tax Deductible Dues Contributions or gifts to NCNLA are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary business expenses. A portion of your dues is not deductible as an ordinary business expense to the extent that NCNLA engages in lobbying. The estimated non-deductible portion of your dues assessment is 20%.

Connect to NCNLA  facebook.com/NCNurseryandLandscapeAssociation/  twitter.com/tweet_ncnla

Shanon Spivey Spivey’s Nursery, Inc. Kernersville, NC

All-in-all, it was a productive year, but there remains much work to be done as we seek to increase the value proposition for our members and better serve the industry. This coming year, the new board will look to:

Expand our advocacy efforts in Raleigh and on Capitol Hill to ensure a positive legislative and regulatory environment for our members;

ncnla.com | BuyNCPlants.com GreenandGrowin.com | NCGreenprints.com

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 5

Thank you to everyone who gave their

Enhance our quarterly newsletter Nursery & Landscape Notes to include more content, broader distribution and increased opportunities for advertisers;

Review our membership structure to identify areas for potential growth through new and/or expanded membership categories; and

Explore possibilities to provide additional programs and services to NCNLA members.

It’s an ambitious list, but I am confident in our ability to achieve these goals and implement positive change for NCNLA and our members.

time and expertise in addressing these issues. It was a collective effort that would not have been possible without the participation of so many of you!

As we approach the close of 2018, let me say that it has been an honor to serve as your president. Thank you for the opportunity and for your support. I will forever cherish the memories we made and the goals we accomplished. I am also pleased to say that the future of NCNLA is bright. We are financially strong; we have a dedicated group of members to guide the strategic direction of the association; and we have a talented staff to implement our programs and better serve our members. I expect great things in 2019 for our industry and the association!

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6 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

NCNLA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Thank you for the opportunity

tarting a new job can be nerve-racking, but it can also be invigorating. It’s like that first day of school when your pencils are sharp, your clothes are brand new and the possibilities are limitless. How can you not be excited?! And so it was in late

September when I began my tenure as the new executive vice president of the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association (NCNLA) – excited about the limitless possibilities offered by a dynamic organization and sportin’ some new duds! To say that my start was a bit hectic would be an understatement. I immediately joined the

Richard Lawhun NCNLA Executive Vice President

effort to address the destructive impacts of Hurricane Florence, which cut a swath through North Carolina a week earlier. While this certainly wasn’t the start I envisioned, it provided an unparalleled opportunity to work with NCNLA members, government officials and state legislators in seeking financial relief for the nursery and landscape industry. Incredibly, within my first three weeks on the job, North Carolina was rocked by a second hurricane (Michael), which brought less rain than Florence but more destructive winds. Throughout this time, I was impressed by the selfless contributions of so many members, who gave their time and expertise in helping others and serving as the voice of the industry. Their efforts were essential in educating key decision makers about the economic impact of the hurricanes. I have no doubt that without their efforts, the nursery and landscape industry would not have been included in the hurricane relief package passed by the NC general assembly.

After Hurricanes Florence and Michael... I was impressed by the selfless contributions of so many members, who gave their time and expertise in helping others and serving as the voice of the industry.

My compliments to everyone who was involved in this effort. Your input and participation made the difference! Now, after little more than two months on the job, I feel like an old hand. I’ve organized my first NCNLA board of directors meeting; participated in a meeting of the NC Green Industry Council; visited with Commissioner Steve Troxler of the NC Department of Agriculture; attended a meeting of the JC Raulston Arboretum board of advisors; had lunch with Tim Moore, speaker of the NC House of Representatives; met with several NCNLA members throughout the state; and worked with Hannah and Kathryn in coordinating the installation of new carpet for the office – wow! And to top it all off, I still have my first Green & Growin’ show to look forward to next month. It promises to be a fantastic event – with no forecast for snow – and I hope to see you there! Finally, I would like to thank the NCNLA board of directors and search committee members for allowing me this opportunity to serve your industry. I am excited about the future of the organization and look forward to working with you as we look to enhance our current benefits structure and provide even greater value to NCNLA members this coming year.

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 7

MEMBER NEWS Thank you to our NCNLA Premium Members! NCNLA would like to express our gratitude to our premium members for setting the example and making their dues dollars go further in support of the green industry. Their support allows us to invest in research and to promote advocacy efforts at every level that positively impact the bottom line for green industry businesses. If you would like more information on becoming a Premium Member, contact Kathryn Stansbury at kstansbury@ncnla.com.

Platinum Member

$375 - Annual Base membership plus a $100 donation towards the NCNLA Horticulture Research Fund and $100 towards the NCNLA Beacon Fund (Advocacy).

Alvarez Landscape & Lawn Maintenance LLC

Ambiance Garden Design

B.B. Barns, Inc.

Barefoot & Associates, Inc.

BASF

Consolidated Landscaping, Inc

Cox Landscape Management Inc.

Ditch Witch of North Carolina

First Rate Lawn Service

Grants Creek Nursery, Inc.

Green Resource

Greenleaf Services, Inc.

Greensboro Shrub Nursery

Greenscape Inc.

Greenstate Landscape & Nursery

Hawksridge Farms

Johnson Nursery Corp.

Silver Member

Old Mill Stream Nursery & Landscape

Gibson's Landscape Management, LLC

Oldcastle Lawn & Garden

Hefner's Nursery

Parker's Landscape Services, Inc.

Hermann's Nursery & Landscaping, Inc

Pete Landscaping

L.R. Griffin & Assoc., Inc.

Piedmont Carolina Nursery

LanArc, Inc.

South Creek Construction

Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc.

A & A Plants, Inc.

Agri Supply

All Seasons Landscape Solutions, LLC

$225 - Annual Base membership plus a $25 donation towards the NCNLA Horticulture Research Fund and $25 towards the NCNLA Beacon Fund (Advocacy).

Star Roses/The Conard Pyle Co.

North 40 Nursery, Inc.

STI Turf Care Equipment

Old Courthouse Nursery

Taylor's Nursery, Inc.

Panther Creek Nursery

Angel Creek Nursery

Pender Nursery, Inc.

Back Road Farms

Pinnacle Landscapes

Powell's Nursery, LLC

Barr Evergreens of North Carolina, LLC

Rountree Plantation Greenhouses

Bloomsbury Landscapes

Blue Ridge Waterscapes, Inc.

S Squared Green Goods

C and J Nursery

Sampson Nursery, Inc.

Capitol Broadcasting Co., Inc.

Sands Landscape Management, Inc.

Carolina Curb Appeal, Inc.

Christy's Nursery, Inc. Classic Landscapes

Gold Member

$275 - Annual Base membership plus a $50 donation towards the NCNLA Horticulture Research Fund and $50 towards the NCNLA Beacon Fund (Advocacy).

ACT Construction Equipment

Brookscapes, LLC

Carolina Creations Landscapes, Inc.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Scottree

Cline Church Nursery

Clayton Constructors Inc dba Post Nursery

SiteLight LD, Inc.

Coats Lawn Service, Inc.

Southern Garden, Inc.

Commercial Pine Straw

Stone Image Works Inc.

DalaCasa Landscaping & Designs

Creative Carolina Landscapes, Inc.

Stowe's Nursery

Kirk Davis Nursery

DJS Lawn & Landscape, LLC.

Swift Creek Nursery

Dogwood Landscaping & Design Doug Thompson & Associates

Lancaster Farms, Inc.

Evergreen Partners of Raleigh

University of Mount Olive

Mountain Advantage

Fair View Nursery, Inc.

Upton Valley Nursery, Inc

Myatt Landscaping Concepts, Inc.

Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Ctr

Van Belle Nursery Inc.

Dunn's Nursery and Garden Shop

Wake Premier Landscape, LLC

Dykes & Son Nursery

Natives, Inc.

Fitzgerald Nursery, Inc.

Eason Horticultural Resources, Inc.

NurserySouth, LLC

Five Oaks Nursery

Freeman Landscape, Inc.

Franco's Nursery

Godley's Garden Center & Nursery

Grandfather Mtn. Nursery Garden Center & Landscaping

8 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

Greenscape Tools, Inc.

Rough Brothers, Inc.

Greenscapes

Hamner Tree Farm

Samson Grounds Management, LLC

Homewood Nursery and Garden Center

Sharon K. Hopper Fine Gardening

Huffman Landscape and Lawn Pros.

Inside-Outside

JCB INC

Joe's Landscaping & Nursery Co. Johnston County Schools

o li

Greenline Design, Inc.

N urs

er y and Landsc

Alisha Conde – Carroll Gardens

Shoemaker Landscape Design & Care, LLC

Brittany Nelson – Red Mountain Landscapes

Cameron Rademacher – Biltmore Estate

Southern Images Lawn Service, Inc.

Charles Schenk- City of Charlotte

Chris Johnson – Chris Johnson Landscapes

Southern Moore Lawn Services, LLC

Edward Gibson – B.B. Barns

Grant Houlihan – Houlihan Planting

Hali Macko – North Carolina Arboretum

Haylee Madfis – The Brids and The Bee Garden Co.

Heather Kradel – Central Piedmont Community College

Johnathan McCullar – Gardens by Mardi

Joy Lew – Reems Creek Nursery & Critter Cove Farm

Kate Schiappa – Biltmore Estate

The Southern Landscape Group

Kenneth Hunt – Plantsman

Kristin States – Biltmore Estate

Southern Stone Supply

Stony Point Nursery and Farms

K and M Nursery

Kiefer Landscape Nursery

Landmasters, Inc

Lilley Farms & Nursery, Inc.

Long Pond Nursery

Lynch Landscape & Design Inc

M&M Contracting

The Terra Ceia Farms, LLC

Mark Garren – Gap Creek Landscape Construciton

Macon Gardens

Tim Johnson Landscaping

Matthew Metcalf – B.H. Graning Landscapes

Mountain Ridge Land Maintenance

Tinga Nursery, Inc.

Michael Poole – K2 Services

Tributary Land Design + Build

Nicholas Cardillo – The Yard Fathers, LLC.

Superior Seeding, Inc

Terra Green Landscapes

The Country Club of North Carolina

New Earth Designs, Inc.

On The Job Lawn Care LLC.

Sean Hennessy – Gnarling Tree, LLC.

Turf Mountain Sod, Inc.

Painters Greenhouse, LLC

Tyler Kulikowski – Mantis Gardens

Turf Service, Inc.

Paradise Landscaping

Zachary Beyersdorfer – B.B. Barns

Turtle Creek Nursery, Inc.

Piedmont Mowing, LLC

Twin Oaks Nursery, Inc.

Pine Knot Farms

Piney Creek Nursery

Wakefield Nursery & Landscaping, Inc.

Piney Mountain Tree Farm

Williams PlantWorks

Precision Turfscape, Inc.

YM Landscape LLC

ProGreen

Quality Landscapes

Rhodes Nursery

N or t

PLANT PRO

io n

Robert M. Gragg & Sons Nursery

I ED

ciat

Congratulations to NCNLA’s newest Certified Plant Professionals!

Robbins Nursery

SI O N

Greco Landscaping & Lawn Service

sso

N C CER TIF

MEMBER NCNLA NEWS NEWS

ape

For more information on CPP & CYPP, please visit ncnla.com

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 9

Piece It Together Early Bird Register by Dec. 21 & Save!

Education: January 14-16 Marketplace: January 17-18

ou'll fit right in this January 14 – 18 at Green & Growin’ 19. Year after year, thousands of horticulture and landscape professionals head

G&G ’18 By the Numbers

to Greensboro, NC to take advantage of G&G’s world-class educa-

tion program and explore the G&G Marketplace — a tradeshow as large and diverse as the industry itself. Everybody wins at the Southeast’s premier industry event. It’s a one-stopshop for green industry professionals looking to expand expertise, earn or maintain licensing credentials, find top products and build solid business connections. G&G 19 kicks off on Monday, January 14 with three days of timely, targeted

4,500 Total Attendees

400 Exhibiting Companies

education. This year’s program is packed with CEU-infused seminars, interactive workshops, specialty classes – plus two dynamic Keynote presentations.

Thursday and Friday are all about the Marketplace. It’s a prime opportunity to see products from a wide array of producers and suppliers. There were 412

States Represented plus Canada and Australia

exhibiting companies on the tradeshow floor last year. G&G is your chance to find fresh thinking, innovative solutions and expand your network of peers. Read on for a preview of what we have in store for 2019, and make it a point to check our website, GreenandGrowin.com regularly for the latest updates.

10 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

*Statistics based on G&G ’18

NETWORKING

EDUCATION

More than 100 hours of top quality training, specialty seminars and interactive workshops fill the G&G’ 19 education line-up. Ten Education Tracks — including the new Outdoor Living Series — feature almost 50 expert sessions. Attendees can choose to attend all the sessions in a single track, or mix-and-match to meet their needs.

Connecting with peers is an essential part of G&G. Be sure to take advantage of these “meet-and-greet” opportunities.

Networking Lunches

Green & Gather

Catch up with your industry peers over lunch.

Tuesday, January 15 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Wednesday, January 16 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Keynote Breakfast

Wednesday, January 16 8:00 – 9:15 AM

Women in the Green Industry Gathering

Friday, January 18 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

FREE DRINK ticket on your Registration Badge — attend a Networking event and receive a complimentary beverage of your choice (up to $5).

Wednesday, January 16 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Wrap up the evening in the Sheraton North Lobby with drinks and pleasant conversation amongst peers.

CASH RAFFLE — buy a $20 RAFFLE ticket to support The NCSU Research & Extension Support Fund and get a chance to win up to 10% of total money raised.

After Hours

ATTENDEE PERKS

Thursday, January 17 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Grab a bite then head back to the Sheraton to enjoy music and mingling with other industry professionals.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE January 14 – 16

EDUCATION

Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons

MARKETPLACE January 17 – 18

MONDAY, JANUARY 14 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

SPECIALTY CLASSES & CERTIFICATIONS

Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

SPECIALTY CLASSES & CERTIFICATIONS

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS Bryce Lane

9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

EDUCATION TRACKS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

NCNLA Membership Breakfast & Annual Meeting

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

GREEN & GROWIN’ MARKETPLACE

(Registration hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM)

(See page 13 for topics) 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Networking Lunch

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

KEYNOTE BREAKFAST & ADDRESS Ron Rosenberg

8:30 AM - 7:30 PM

NC Sod Producers Association Annual Meeting

9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

EDUCATION TRACKS

(See page 15 for topics) 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Networking Lunch 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

NC Green Industry Council Annual Meeting

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

GREEN AND GATHER NETWORKING EVENT

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

NCSU Alumni Reception*

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

GREEN & GROWIN’ AFTER HOURS* FRIDAY, JANUARY 18

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

● ● Breakfast with Proven Winners® & Johnson Nursery Corp.

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

GREEN & GROWIN’ MARKETPLACE

(Registration hours: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM) 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Women in the Green Industry Gathering Sponsored by Arbor Enterprises/Campbell Road Nursery/Mellow Marsh Farm * Events will be held at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons

GreenandGrowin.com FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 11

2017

FALL COLOR

Yuki

YUKI SNOWFLAKE ®

Deutzia

Our new Deutzia varieties are like ‘Nikko’…only better. Yuki Snowflake® is a heavier blooming selection that is covered with white flowers in spring. Yuki Cherry Blossom® is a pink version of the classic Deutzia ‘Nikko’; it has soft pink flowers in spring and outstanding fall color, too. Both are tidy, low-growing mounds that fit easily into landscapes and have excellent resistance to deer browsing. Both varieties were developed at North Carolina State University. 5’

YUKI CHERRY BLOSSOM® ‘NCDX2’ PPAF; CBR 5079 YUKI SNOWFLAKE® ‘NCDX1’ USPP 25,916; CBR 5078 FULL TO PART SUN • USDA ZONE 5 • AHS 8 • 1 - 2' TALL

www.provenwinners-shrubs.com

NCNLA_Yuki Chery Blossom.indd 1 12 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

Available from these suppliers Bud & Blooms Nursery Browns Summit NC • 800-772-2837 Gossett’s Landscape Nursery High Point, NC • 336-454-2548 Henn’s Plant Farm Fletcher, NC • 828-684-2321 Johnson Nursery Company Willard NC • 910-285-7861 Latham’s Nursery Monroe, NC • 704-283-5696 Piedmont Carolina Nursery Colfax NC • 336-993-4114 Turtle Creek Nursery Davidson, NC • 704-663-5044

8/9/18 9:29 AM

All programs take place at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons

EDUCATION SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

■ ■ ● ● KEYNOTE

ADDRESS Bryce Lane

In Pursuit of Excellence: Cultivating Leadership in Your Organization Good leadership is crucial to the success of any organization. Building leadership skills in owners, managers, and all employees is well worth the investment. Bryce will talk about specific leadership skills, such as communication, initiative, and hard work, and provide suggestions for how we can improve these skills in ourselves, and in those we work with.

EDUCATION UP AT NIGHT TRACKS

OUTDOOR LIVING: HARDSCAPE DESIGN

9:30 AM – 10:20 AM

■ ■ Worker's

● ● ● Cistern Irrgation: ● ● Alternatives to

10:30 AM – 11:20 AM

■ ■ Keeping the FUNds ● ● Patio & Retaining

RETAIL REIMAGINED

IN THE DIRT

Provided in Partnership with Ewing Irrigation

Compensation: A Business Owner's Guide

in your Business

How to Irrigate Patio Lawns, Shrubs, and Pots from Cisterns Below and Above Grade

Wall Essentials: From the Ground Up

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Glyphosate for Landscape Weed Control

● ● New Pests on the

Horizon: Recent Invaders and Native Pests Gone Wild

● ● Container

● ● Nursery Insect Gardening: The Trend Trapping That Keeps on Trendingh

● ● Gardening Under

Lights: Indoor Growing & Plantscaping Trends, Tech & Tipsg

● ● Source water

quality considerations for nursery production

NETWORKING LUNCHEON

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM

■ ■ Developing Your

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM

■ ■ Dealing with

● ● Outdoor Living

Brand Mantra

Kits: Fast, Affordable & Appealing to Customers

Disagreements – A Process Worth Learning

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM

LANDSCAPE INVADERS

● ● ● Pruning Woody

● Hot and NOT - The Top ● ● ● Drones for

● ● Unravelling Rose

● Profiting from On and ● ● Common diseases

Plants to Prevent Unwanted Stress- From Your Customer, From Insects, From Diseases

Rosette Disease: Research Advances

Sales Trends in Garden Retail g

Off-Site Workshops

Landscapers and Nurseries

of industrial hemp in North Carolina

● ● Hardscape Lighting ● ● News from the Field: ● The 5 Numbers

● Improving Nursery Beetles, Thrips, and Scales Winning Garden Centers Fertility for Containerized Use (and Still Have a Life) Crops

■ ■ Tax Strategies

for the Small Business Owner

● ● ● Art and

Horticulture Collide: The World of Living Walls

● Pretty is as pretty does: ■ ■ ● Green Industry Invasive plants and the landscape

Recruitng: Attract, Grow, & Keep the Right Employees

● ● Noxious Weeds

in NC – How to Avoid Promoting the Next “Kudzu” of the Southeast

Professional Credits (CEU) Key Attend the sessions of your choice to earn continuing education credits toward state or national accreditations. Look for the icons below. 1 credit per hour.

● LC Landscape Contractor License

● IC Irrigation Contractor License

● ISA International Society of

■ LCB Landscape Contractor

■ ICB Irrigation Contractor License

● NALP National Association

● LA Landscape Architect License

● PA Pesticide Applicator License

(NC) - Technical CEU

License (NC) – Business CEU

(NC)

(NC) – Technical Irrigation CEU (NC) – Business CEU

Arboriculture – Certified Arborist

of Landscape Professionals – Landscape Industry Certified

Earn CEUs when you walk the Marketplace floor: ● (1) ● (2) ● (4)

(FL, NC, SC, TN, VA)

*1 CEU per hour. All classes have been approved for NALP credits, other CEUs are pending approval. Check GreenandGrowin.com for latest updates.

GreenandGrowin.com FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 13

14 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

All programs take place at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons

EDUCATION SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

■ ■ ● ● KEYNOTE

ADDRESS Ron Rosenberg

Outrageous Marketing: How to Dominate Your Market Niche! Tired of wasting time, money, and effort on marketing campaigns that just don’t work anymore? Isn’t it time for a change...with a wildly effective approach to marketing that will help you double or even triple the return on each marketing dollar you spend? In this highly interactive and entertaining program, marketing and customer service expert Ron Rosenberg will share his proven strategies for unprecedented business growth, and he’ll show you how to get more customers, increase revenue, and cut expenses in the process! In this unique session, you’ll discover: n n

The “secret question” that will completely change your marketing

Three things you don’t know about your customers that are costing you money

The long-term value of a customer and its importance to your bottom line

Why people say, “So What?” when they see your marketing materials

5 critical marketing metrics to let you know what’s working...and what’s not!

EDUCATION BACK AT THE OFFICE TRACKS

LANDSCAPE DESIGN UNIVERSITY

ON THE LAWN

AROUND THE CANOPY THROUGH THE PIPES Provided by NC Urban Forestry Council

Provided by the Carolina's Irrigation Association

9:30 AM – 10:20 AM

■ ■ Managing a Multi-

● ● ● Flowers are

● ● ● Developing an

● ● ● Trees and

● ● Hybridizing Your

10:30 AM – 11:20 AM

■ ■ Web SOS: 7 Online

● ● Coastal Landscapes ● ● ● Advanced

● ● ● The ROI of

● ● Creating the Lighting

Generational Workforce

Strategies to Help You Grow Your Business

Bee-Loved: Planting for Pollinators & Our Own Well-Being

Initiative

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Provided by NC SOD Producers Association

IPM Program for Insect Pests in Warm and Cool Season Turf

Weed Management for Landscape Turf

Sidewalks- Making the Most of a Hard Life

Healthy Urban Trees

Irrigation Controllers

Portrait with Proper Design

NETWORKING LUNCHEON

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM

■ ■ Review and

● ● The Amazing World ● ● ● What’s New in of Ferns

Warm and Cool Season Turf Varieties

● ● ● ● Biological

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM

■ ■ Cost-based

● ● Stretching the

● ● Effective Disease

● ● ● ● Select Planting ● ● Introduction to

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM

■ ■ Controlling

● ● Pollinator

● ● Developing

● ● ● Managing and

4:00 PM – 4:50 PM

■ ■ Embrace Your Inner ● ● The What, Why, &

Update on Background Checking Related Issues

Estimating

Landscape Canvas

Employee Benefit Costs: Short and Long Term Solutions Geek

Habitat and Ecological Landscaping

Management Strategies for Cool and Warm Season Turf Preventative Pesticide Strategies for Cool and Warm Season Turf Pests

How of Creating HighPerformance Urban Trees

Control in Forestry

● ● Water and Plant

Relations- Secrets to Understanding what Plants Need and How to Give it To Them

Sites to Reduce Tree Stress Irrigation Design and Pest Infestations

● ● Irrigation Design Preparing for Storms and Process Responding After a Storm Event

● ● ● ● There is

● ● Irrigation System Something Rotten Around Efficiencies Here!

Professional Credits (CEU) Key Attend the sessions of your choice to earn continuing education credits toward state or national accreditations. Look for the icons below. 1 credit per hour.

● LC Landscape Contractor License

● IC Irrigation Contractor License

● ISA International Society of

■ LCB Landscape Contractor

■ ICB Irrigation Contractor License

● NALP National Association

● LA Landscape Architect License

● PA Pesticide Applicator License

(NC) - Technical CEU

License (NC) – Business CEU

(NC)

(NC) – Technical Irrigation CEU (NC) – Business CEU

Arboriculture – Certified Arborist

of Landscape Professionals – Landscape Industry Certified

Earn CEUs when you walk the Marketplace floor: ● (1) ● (2) ● (4)

(FL, NC, SC, TN, VA)

*1 CEU per hour. All classes have been approved for NALP credits, other CEUs are pending approval. Check GreenandGrowin.com for latest updates.

GreenandGrowin.com

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 15

16 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

MARKETPLACE January 17 – 18 | Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum

 QUALITY PRODUCTS AND A BIG MARKET BASE FIND YOUR FIT on Thursday and Friday when thousands of horticulture professionals will gather at G&G’ 19 Marketplace ready to do business, network and learn the latest about green industry trends for the year ahead. It's a prime opportunity to see products from a wide array of producers and suppliers.

SEE WHO IS EXHIBITING... GreenandGrowin.com

Be sure to see our NEW PLANT PAVILION sponsored by Star Roses & Plants!

“The variety and scope of the education available, the professionalism and enthusiasm of the speakers, and the venues for both the educational programs and the tradeshow...”

Over 400 exhibiting companies spread across the 167,000 square feet Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum means maximum exposure to the Southeast's biggest pieces in the green industry puzzle. Find your missing pieces at Green & Growin’ 19.

GG’ 18 Attendee Survey

Attendee Perks FREE Drink ticket on your Registration Badge - attend a Networking event and receive a complimentary beverage of your choice (up to $5). CASH RAFFLE - Buy a $20 RAFFLE ticket to support The NCSU Research & Extension Support Fund and get a chance to win up to 10% of total money raised.

Marketplace Exhibitor Breakdown (as of Nov. 1)

VISIBILITY OPTIONS FOR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS n

Exciting new ways to maximize your visibility at G&G’19. Contact Stephanie Schaefer at 919-609-0803, or email sschaefer@ncnla.com.

n Visit GreenandGrowin.com

Earn CEUs when you walk the Marketplace floor: ● LC(1) ● IC(2) ● LA(4) * All CEUs are pending approval. Check GreenandGrowin.com for latest updates. FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 17

In Pursuit of Excellence: Cultivating Leadership in Your Organization SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

’ll be giving the keynote presentation on Tuesday morning, January 15, 2019 at Green and Growin’. I have chosen to talk about pursuit of excellence, and how we can contribute to cultivating an environment of leadership, and teamwork in our respective organizations. The following narrative touches on many of the points I’ll be discussing with you that morning. I encourage you to come and hear an informative, inspiring, and inviting talk about leadership. We all know that one of the most important factors that contribute to the success of a company or organization is excellent leadership, not only with the owner, or CEO, but throughout the staff. Does great leadership just happen, or can it be cultivated within the organization? It takes motivation and determination to build a climate of leadership. The first step is to identify qualities of great leaders, and then create an atmosphere where all staff members are encouraged, and given opportunity to develop these skills. Great leaders are hard-working individuals who let their actions inspire and motivate others to do the same (lead by example).

18 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

Does your work ethic demonstrate the kind of hard-working leaders you want in your organization? Does it really matter? How might we create an organizational structure where all workers find their hard work fulfilling, and worth the effort. Is your hard work being recognized and rewarded? Does it matter? A climate of hard work sets the tone and is contagious. Recognition of hard work builds self motivation. We also know that great leaders exude confidence. That confidence encourages us to buy into the mission of the organization and to take pride in the work we do. Confidence breeds confidence in others. But… where does confidence come from? Research shows that confidence grows out of knowledge, experience, success, failure, and a chosen positive attitude. Do we own, manage, or work in an organization that creates opportunities for all to build a deeper knowledge base? Are we given, or do we take the opportunity to gain experience outside of our given job description? Are our successes and failures applauded, and seen as part of our journey to excellence? Are we taught that

attitude is a choice, and not something we wake up with? There is no place for poor communication skills anywhere in a company or organization. Most disfunction in relationship, whether personal or professional, is caused by poor communication. Disfunction in an organization leads to gross failure and mis-management. Some of the greatest recognized leaders of our time are/were “master” communicators, people who had the gift of clarity, connected with their “audience”, and created an atmosphere of positivity and self -motivation by the way they communicated. They are/were able to inspire a shared vision, creating environments for successful action. Are we committed to improving the communication skills of all members of our organization? What does that look like? The Holden Leadership Center at the University of Oregon provides a wealth of knowledge about leadership qualities in individuals. They have indicated that great leaders take initiative and are proactive, not reactive. They are flexible and adaptable, open to change, even at the last minute.

Great leaders are open minded, have excellent listening skills, and are equal opportunity people who consider everyone’s input. The best leaders are genuinely enthusiastic, positive, and encouraging, and they are not afraid to seriously evaluate programs and ideas (even their own). Lastly, great leadership fosters an atmosphere of teamwork. Teamwork has been described as the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational goals. Sounds a bit like the Three Musketeers mission statement doesn’t it? “All for one, and one for all”. What does that look like? An atmosphere of teamwork includes cooperation, effective and open communication, constructive feedback, and last but not least, conflict resolution! An attitude that embraces the idea that every member of the team has each other’s best interest at hand. There are specific skills, well worth discussing, that are involved with fostering a climate of teamwork. Great leadership facilitates and embraces an environment devoted to teamwork. The more leaders in our organization, from the top all the way down, and from the left all the way to the right, the more successful we will be!

Bryce Lane Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus, NC State University

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 19

By Ron & Lorie Rosenberg

Outrageous Marketing: How to Build Your Nursery and Landscape Business

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

unning a nursery business is a challenge, to say the least. You need to understand the needs of your customers, how to market to them effectively so you’re their first choice, and do all of this while running a highly demanding, and labor-intensive business.

So how do you do this? First, you need to know who your customers are. What are they looking for in a nursery and landscape business? And what’s unique about the products and services you offer that sets you apart from other nurseries and big box stores? The good news is you can do all of this, and have a life in the process! At the NCNLA 2019 Green & Growin’ Conference in Greensboro, NC, Ron and Lorie Rosenberg will share proven strategies to help you create a comprehensive

20 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

marketing plan to bring in more customers, ensure that your website and online strategies are working together to bring a steady stream of customers to your door, and actually have a life in the process! And, as an added bonus, most of the strategies you’ll learn are straightforward, effective, and, best of all, relatively inexpensive to implement!

So how do you change your approach to start getting better results? Quite simply, you have to focus on strategies that will bring you tangible, measurable results. And to do that, you need to remember the “4 M’s of Marketing”:

Message

Market

Media

Moment

You see, the secret to successfully marketing any product or service is to get the right message to the right market using the right media at the right moment. Get this right and new business will appear – almost as if by magic. Miss connecting on even one of these, and you’ll be scratching your head wondering why you’re getting beaten up by your competition.

Message: What Do You Want Them to Do? When you construct a marketing piece – whether it’s an ad, a website, an email, or even your business signage – you have to be very clear on what you’re trying to communicate, and precisely what action you want your customers to take.

Market: Hey, This Is Just for Me! During their programs, Ron and Lorie will ask participants, “Who are your customers?” And the response they usually get is “Everyone!” That may be okay, but

it’s very expensive to market to “everyone.” When asked to clarify this, participants can usually identify four or five very specific niche markets that use their products or services. One nursery business that was asked this question said that they market to local college students, new home buyers, and senior citizens.

Ron Rosenberg

Of these target markets, it’s virtually guaranteed that these customers will have very different needs, expectations, and uses in mind for your products or services. You wouldn’t dream of sending an offer for a steakhouse to a list of vegetarians. That’s why it’s absolutely essential to customize and personalize your communications as much as possible so your customers all think, “Hey, this company gets us! They understand what we want and they’ll definitely meet our needs!”

Media: Okay, You Know Who I Am…Now What? In your marketing strategy, you need to know what types of media your customers use to find you. FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 21

Do they do online searches? If so, then it’s important that your website adequately conveys what you do and how you do it. Do they search social media? If so, you need to be promoting your business through the various social media outlets. Do they read the newspaper? If so, you need to create effective ads that target your particular markets.

Do they listen to radio or television? If so, then you need to do radio or TV spots that get your prospects and customers to your website and ultimately to your particular location. When selecting marketing strategies in general – and individual media in particular – it’s far more important to focus on measureable return on investment. Decide which media options are going to be most effective for you because in reality you can’t do everything. Remember, when it’s done right, marketing is an investment with an obscenely high rate of return.

Moment: Timing Is Everything While it’s important to match the message to market, and get that message in front of your prospects in the most effective way, none of this matters if your prospects aren’t paying attention. And is sad - but true - that your offer is probably not the most important thing in their lives right now. And that’s why the fourth “M” is just as important as the first three - Moment. Finding “The Right Moment” is the final piece of the puzzle that can make your marketing efforts incredibly effective. Creating various types of events in your nursery can bring customers into your store. Promoting new plant material through your blog or social media can create excitement with your gardeners. Offering promotions on landscape design or installation can boost revenue during slow periods. The important point to remember is that you have to get your message to your market when they’re listening and attentive. This helps cut through the clutter and get your prospects to take the action you want them to!

What Are You Waiting For? They are many reasons why businesses don’t market effectively to their customers. Here are a few: Call Brandon Berry, Ag Banker at 252-266-3559 or brandon.berry@pnc.com or go to pnc.com/agriculture

Cash Flow Optimized is a service mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”). All loans and lines of credit are subject to credit approval and require automatic payment deduction from a PNC Bank business checking account. Origination and annual fees may apply. ©2018 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC BB PDF 1015-091-198608

22 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

Not sure who they’re marketing to

Not sure what to say to them

Not sure how to reach them

Not sure when to market to them

Not enough time!!!!!

By far the major reason for lack of marketing is time! As a small business owner, you manage everything from ordering products, to hiring and overseeing staff, to routine maintenance. And marketing never seems to

business and who can help you market it most effectively. It’s a win-win scenario. Ron Rosenberg will be presenting “Outrageous Marketing: How to Dominate Your Market Niche” on Wednesday, January 16, from 8:00 - 9:15 am, and Ron and Lorie Rosenberg will be presenting “Web SOS: 7 Online Strategies to Help You Grow Your Business!” on Wednesday, January 16, from 10:30 - 11:45 am at the NCNLA 2019 Green & Growin’ Conference in Greensboro, NC. Ron Rosenberg is an award-winning speaker, author, and coach. Since 1994, Ron has presented thousands of presentations to businesses and associations, has authored several books and learning systems, and leads high-level marketing and business development coaching programs. You can learn more about Ron at www.RonRosenbergSpeaker.com.

happen though it’s probably one of the most important things you need to do! That’s why it’s important to understand your core competencies - and if it’s not a core competency, you need to eliminate, automate, or outsource. If you don’t ever seem to get around to marketing your business, then you need to find resources who understand your

The important point to remember is that you have to get your message to your market when they’re listening and attentive. This helps cut through the clutter and get your prospects to take the action you want them to!

Lorie Rosenberg, speaker, copywriter, and graphic designer, has been involved with marketing, communications, and informational learning for over 30 years. You can learn more about Lorie at www.LorieRosenberg.com. For more information about our speaking and coaching programs, contact us at 800-260-0662 or email us at info@qualitytalk.com.

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 23

IF YOU THINK DEALING WITH THE ELEMENTS WITHOUT A GREENHOUSE IS HARD, IMAGINE BEING A FLOWER. Wind, hail, sleet, or snow may not stop the post office. But if you grow plants, flowers, or greenhouse crops, those elements can be a problem. Which is why you should turn to the only insurance company dedicated to protecting you, your business, and your future. #NoSubstitute

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14001886

5/19/17

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

H-2B Visa Program Update from AmericanHort

Though the House Homeland Security appropriations bill includes a version of the H-2B “returning worker exemption,” the Senate has made it clear that the House approach is a non-starter. Over the weekend,a tentative agreement on an H-2B relief and enforcement package was reached by several Republican Senate and House members (including Judiciary chairman Chuck Grassley, Sen. Thom Tillis, and Reps. Andy Harris and Jack Bergman), with the H-2B Workforce Coalition. It would provide for a permanent doubling of the H-2B statutory cap, exempt certain occupations involved in disaster recovery from counting against the cap through 2022, and (importantly for us) allow certain industries closely tied to Agriculture, including some aspects of Horticulture, to have the option to use the uncapped H-2A program. These improvements come at a cost, in terms of added enforcement burdens – most notably, a requirement for H-2B users to use the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification system, and certain reverification requirements for those choosing to use the H-2B program. Difficult trade-offs, to be sure, but the general sense is that if we do not see cap relief before the end of this Congress, we will not likely see relief before 2021 at the earliest. H-2B Workforce Coalition leaders, including AmericanHort, have decided to support the negotiated package in principle, pursuant

to review of actual legislative language. We and NALP coordinated our respective organizations’ positions on the package, and are in alignment

Hurricane Recovery Assistance Update

Two hurricanes (Florence and Michael) caused extensive damage across a wide swath of North Carolina. If your home or business was adversely impacted, the NCNLA board of directors and staff send their best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Thankfully, there appears to be some muchneeded financial relief for your business on the horizon. On October 15, the North Carolina general assembly approved the2018 Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Act (Senate Bill 3, Third Extra Session 2018). The bill provides more than $800M in relief funds and establishes theHurricane Florence Agricultural Disaster Program of 2018(Section 5.11), which includes “nursery crops.” As currently envisioned, the relief fund is expected to provide $250M to the agricultural community through an unappropriated balance of $394.5M as outlined in the bill. However, the final amount of available funds is dependent on the action of the general assembly. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) set up a web page to provide additional information regarding the disaster relief program. You can visit their page https://www.ncagr.gov/ agriculturaldisasterprogram/. The web

page outlines the process for requesting assistance, which is expected to begin November 7, 2018 and end December 10, 2018. Submission extensions will be available if you are unable to comply with this time frame. The NCDA&CS web page also includes access to a map where you can determine if your county is designated as a “Presidential Disaster Declaration County.” You can access the map https://www.ncagr. gov/agriculturaldisasterprogram/FAQ. htm. Your business must be located within a disaster declaration county to be eligible for relief funds. If your business suffered hurricane damage and your county is not identified as a disaster declaration county, you are encouraged to contact your state legislators. Also, please contact the NCNLA office, so we can provide additional assistance. Currently, Hurricane Michael is not included in the2018 Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Act; however, the general assembly is expected to discuss its inclusion when they reconvene later this month. If Hurricane Michael is included, several more counties will be designated as disaster declaration counties making the agricultural businesses within those counties eligible for relief funds. If your business suffered damage from Hurricane Michael, you are encouraged to contact your state legislators. Also, please contact the NCNLA office, so we can provide additional assistance.

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 25

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BEST PRACTICE

Drone Usage for Landscapers and Nurseries

rones (officially called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAV’s by the FAA) are becoming more popular and prevalent. While most people were using them as toys to capture aerial pictures, engineers have been looking at using sensors mounted on the drones and software to provide efficiencies across a multitude of industries. The use of drones for landscapers and nurseries are no exception. Drones are being used to help farmers determine the health of their crops, forecast yield predictions and perform variable rate applications. Landscapers and Nurseries have been using drones to capture aerial photography for their advertising and marketing publications. Some Nurseries are adopting drones for plant inventory and plant health analysis, while some Landscapers are using drones to provide contour line maps for elevation measurements and to determine cut-and-fill volumes. A handful of companies are researching and developing drone software to aid Landscapers and Nurseries in other ways. Companies are developing prototypes to aid with protected crops inside of

By Roger Armstrong, BIRDSiVIDEO of the Triad, LLC.

greenhouses. The plan is to make these drones fly autonomously with obstacle avoidance to monitor plant growth and greenhouse factors like humidity and temperature, all while being self-charged using solar energy. A company in North Carolina is currently developing a pollination drone called the Poli-X1. The model is equipped with a proboscis in the front that touches flowers and transfers pollen. It also designed the technology to prevent “prop wash” — air current from the drone’s propellers — from blowing the pollen away. One consideration for Landscapers and Nurseries is whether to hire out a drone service or purchase a drone. FAA regulations requires an FAA Part 107 drone pilots license to fly a drone for any commercial work, which includes anything from using aerial photos in an advertisement to using analysis of aerial images to make a decision for the business. This presentation will share information on the benefits of drones for Landscapers and Nurseries, potential applications and discuss FAA requirements to use drones in a business.

Roger Armstrong Birdsivideo of the Triad, LLC

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 27

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Visit us at www.ncnla.com for the latest information.

BEST PRACTICE

Top Ten Garden and Landscaping Trends for 2019

ime to look forward into 2019 and what our clients are looking for from their Green Industry Provider. Here are a couple of trends for both commercial and residential spaces that I think will be at the forefront in 2019 1. Life after “Old School” – Clients are looking to replace plants that were hot about 20 years ago, but have not stood the test of time. Think older cultivars of cherries, boxwoods, juniper, wax myrtles, and Ligustrum. While the economy is humming, clients are using some of that wealth to replace items in the landscape that are no longer serving the purpose or have outgrown their space! Time to attract these people with smaller varieties of shrubs and trees for compact spaces. Think dwarf crape myrtles, new cultivars of loropetalum and privet, and fun groundcovers! 2. Mass plantings – NCNLA Board Member Hugh Crump reports that residential clients are looking for more sweeping plantings with less varieties. Think in terms of an abstract painting with big swathes of color and texture. Less is more!

By Leslie Herndon, Greenscapes, Inc.

3. Succulents – These are especially hot for container plantings and indoor options. Garden Design Magazine, Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame, and Amazon.com all love these desert natives for their cool colors, textures and shapes. Look up #gardening on Instagram and you will be amazed how many times photos of succulents appear. Pintrest searches for “indoor plants” (including succulents leading the way with tropicals) are up 90%.

Leslie Herndon

4. Technology – from “Mowbots” to smart controllers, to temperature sensors and growth regulators, our industry is moving forward into new options for consumers to manage their landscape. All from their phone! Drones are also actively being used in design and planning of gardens and conventional lighting is fast giving way to LED. Electric mowers and power tools are hitting the market every month for use in the industry and by consumers. 5. Restoring Wildlife Habitat – A critical topic in the world of bees, but why stop there? Think birds, bugs, and frogs. How can you provide plantings FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 29

million for #landscaping. That is a lot of attention headed to what we produce every day. We just have to listen, engage, and be part of the online conversation! Jump into social media with your business and create hashtag opportunities to spread the world of gardening! Your clients and employees are all online and participating. 8. Sustainability is still key – This is a trend that is sticking around. According to Garden Media Group, 83% of landscape architects say that the hottest trend is sustainable design with native plants. Native plants, adapted plants, drought tolerant, pest resistant plants, etc. are all part of this conversation with clients.

and plants that restore more “natural space” in our landscapes and protect these critical parts of the ecosystem? 6. Placemaking – creating a sense of place for people is currently a big trend in both the commercial and residential architecture and landscape architecture worlds. The creation of experience driven spaces is key. Plants and garden creation play a big part in creating spaces where people want to gather and use. I would include the “Tiny Garden” trend here also. Creating garden spaces where you traditionally would not have done so. 7. Social media gardening – 40.2 million posts on Instagram are tagged with #garden. And that is just one hashtag. 10.2 million for #gardening, 1 million for #gardendesign, 188,000 for #gardeners and 1.8

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9. Upcycling, conscious consumption, zero waste – these are all terms that are driving many consumer buying decisions. Green industry companies that participate in these ideals will attract a new level of consumer to their door. Reducing industry plastic usage will most likely continue to rise to the forefront in the coming years. 10. Education – Continuing to provide approachable education to clients and being source of knowledge will continue to be a bigger trend as less and less consumers have garden experience in childhood and are looking for help in understanding plants and getting rid of their “black thumb” as they reengage with nature.

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INDUSTRY TIPS

Arborist advice: Preparing your client’s landscape for winter

ne of the best things you can do to ensure a beautiful, healthy and thriving spring landscape is to properly put your client’s yard and plants to bed now, before the harsh weather arrives. Whether you’re mourning summer’s end or unpacking your winter boots in anticipation of cooler days, these tips will help you prioritize what needs to be done before the snow flies.

Wrapping trees from top to bottom can help prevent sunscald and damage from deer and other animals throughout the winter.

Fall is the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs. Young trees have a chance to become established before the heat of summer, and the cooler temperatures help promote new root growth.

Remove all diseased or dead branches and trees from the yard before they become a problem next year. If they’re too large or hard to reach, hire a certified tree removal company to do it for you.

Don’t forget to water the lawn, trees and perennials during dry spells. Even while dormant, plants need water to survive.

Rake up leaves and dead grass periodically throughout the fall and winter. A buildup of debris on a lawn can harbor pests and fungal disease, prevent proper drainage and suffocate the grass below.

Aerating and fertilizing lawns before winter sets in is a good way to stimulate root growth and encourage a healthy yard next spring.

In the yard

Prune back shrubs in late fall (after a couple of frosts) to keep them protected from winds and heavy snow and encourage healthy spring growth. Wait to prune and shape trees until after they have gone dormant.

Harvest all fruit from trees and the ground to prevent it from rotting over the winter, attracting pests and diseases.

Mulch around trees to help moderate the soil temperature and prevent the loss of moisture. Adding a good fertilizer will help promote root growth for robust new growth in the spring.

By John Lang

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written by John Lang, a Certified Arborist and a member of the Friendly Tree team, a family-owned New Jersey tree care service dedicated to the thoughtful and careful maintenance of trees and shrubs. Friendly Tree Service has been in business for 26 years and remains passionate about trees and nature. With a highly trained staff that treats every property as their own and state of the art equipment, Friendly Tree is on the cutting edge of the art and science of Arboriculture. FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 31

In the garden

Pull up vegetables and annuals that are done for the season and discard or compost them. Leaving them in the ground during the winter encourages pests and disease.

Remove any lingering weeds now; some weeds can overwinter and go to seed early the next spring.

Layer mulch on garden beds and ornamental shrubs. Leaves or straw work well as a winter cover, or you can use burlap sacks, which should be removed in early spring. This helps the soil to hold in heat and moisture, while suppressing weed germination the following season.

Cut back on the amount of work next spring and prepare garden beds now. Adding compost and manure in the fall allows the freezing and thawing cycle to work it into the soil for you.

Tilling garden soil before the ground freezes helps to prevent dormant insects from taking residence in your garden during the winter (and at the same time, provides a nice snack for the birds).

In the tool shed

Now’s the time to clean and disinfect garden tools and pots by removing caked on soil, rinsing them with bleach (to prevent the spread of disease) and storing them in a sheltered place.

Take note of which garden supplies need to be replenished and purchase them now at a discount.

When it comes to your customers’ yards, a little work now will make for a beautiful spring. When their landscapes are properly “put to bed” for the winter, it will be healthier and require less maintenance next year. *From Total Landscape Care

NCNLA Membership Application CONTACT INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP TYPE

Company_______________________________________________________________________

 Regular $175

Contact Name ___________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________ State_______________ Zip _______________ Phone ______________________________________ Fax_________________________________

Regular membership includes ALL employees at the location

 Student $30  Gov’t/Education

$50

Individual membership

Email (required)__________________________________________________________________ Website_________________________________________________________________________

BUSINESS TYPE  Allied Supplier  Grass/Sod/turf

PAYMENT  Cash  Credit Card  Visa

 MC

 Check #_____________________  AMEX

Name on Credit Card______________________________________________________________ Credit Card #_____________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date___________________________________________ _CVV Code_____________________ Authorized Signature______________________________________________________________

 Irrigation  Landscape Architect  Landscape Install/Maintenance  Retail Garden Center  Wholesale Nursery  Educator/Gov’t  Student  Other___________________________

Please complete and return with payment to: NCNLA 968 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 Phone: (919) 816-9119 | Fax: (919) 816-9118 www.ncnla.com | Email: info@ncnla.com

32 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

Welcome New Members!

As of November 20, 2018

Member Company

City

State

Member Type

A Ruby's Song Landscapes

Leicester

Regular

All Tropical Plants, Inc.

Homestead

Regular

Brantley Farms

Dawson

Regular

Cicada Design LLC

Durham

Regular

DM Thompson Enterprise INC

Mebane

Platinum member

Hildreth Brothers Nursery

Smithville

Regular

JRT Nurseries (US) Inc dba Meridian Young Plants

Lynden

Regular

K M Greenhouses

Kings Mountain

Regular

MHC Kenworth

Raleigh

Regular

Michigan Peat/BACCTO

Dacula

Regular

North Carolina Farms Inc.

Indian Trail

Regular

Piedmont Bobcat

Kernersville

Regular

PNC Bank

Fuquay Varina

Regular

Schaefer Nursery

Winchester

Regular

Sides Spreader & Equipment Company

Lexington

Regular

Triangle Risk Advisors, Inc.

Louisburg

Regular

Vole King

New Hill

Regular

Williams Plant Nursery

Jacksonville

Regular

Member

Company

City

State

Member Type

Tana Bullard

Horticulturist

Green Sea

Regular

Marshall

Regular

Ken Hunt Duane Johnston

Unity Lawn & Landscape

Indian Trail

Regular

Adam Rust

WiseWage

Durham

Regular

Jacquelin Scheib

FIowers Nursery LLC

Salisbury

Regular

Nathan Smith

Cortland Partners

York

Regular

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 33

January 27 - 31, 2020 Greensboro, NC

The Future is GreenÂ

34 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018

NLN CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

NCNLA Events

National Events

Agri Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

NC Greenprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

2018 CPP Test Dates:

December 3 – 7, 2018 Irrigation Show & Education Conference

Buy NC Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

OHP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Cam Too . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Old Courthouse Nursery . . . . . 24

Carolina Bark Products . . . . . . . 42

Parker Bark Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Ewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Pender Nursery . . . . . . Back Cover

Fair View Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

PNC Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Gra-Mac Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Proven Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Green & Growin’ 20 . . . . . . . . . . 46

Sampson Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Hawksridge Farms . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Signature Horticultural

December 5 – University of Mount Olive, Mt. Olive, NC

2018 CYPP Test Dates

December 5 – University of Mount Olive, Mt. Olive, NC

January 14 – 18, 2019 Green & Growin’ Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel – Education Greensboro Coliseum – Marketplace Greensboro, NC (919) 816-9119

Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center 300 East Ocean Boulevard Long Beach, CA 90802 irrigation.org

February 13 – 16, 2019 PROGreen EXPO Colorado Convention Center 700 14th St. Denver, Colorado 80202 progreenexpo.com/

Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

hortica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Jake A Parrot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 JOCO Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Triangle CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Turtle Creek Nursery . . . . . . . . . 22

Kirk Davis Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

For the latest events, please visit ncnla.com

www.hawksridgefarms.com Growers and marketers of unique plants and new cultivars. Flowering Shrubs Flowering Trees Conifers Vines Perennials Ornamental Grasses West Coast Specimens

4243 S. NC 127 Hwy Hickory, NC 28603 (800)874-4216 Fax (828)294-4299

Delivering from Connecticut to Georgia and everywhere in between!

FALL 2018 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 35

North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 968 Trinity Road Raleigh, NC 27607

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PA I D Raleigh, NC Permit # 2255

Rediscover PENDER NURSERY

Meet Your Pender Nursery Sales Team!

Doug Wright NC dwright@pendernursery.com

Nick Wright Central NC and In-house Sales nwright@pendernursery.com

Craig Banton VA, WV, MD, DC, DE cbanton@pendernursery.com

Joseph Reynolds SC, TN, GA jreynolds@pendernursery.com

PHONE: 800-942-1648 • FAX: 919-773-0904 • ONLINE: www.PenderNursery.com 36 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | FALL 2018