Nursery & Landscape Notes Winter 2022

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

GREEN & GROWIN’

Wrap-Up WINTER 2022

2021 Industry Awards

Granular Incorporation for Red-Headed Flea Beetles

For more information visit www.triangleturf.net.

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Contents WINTER 2022

COMMENTARY

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Nursery & Landscape notes FEATURES

2021 President’s Message 5 2022 President’s Message 7 Executive Vice President’s Message 9

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2021 NCNLA Industry Awards

NCNLA MEMBER NEWS Member Spotlight: Wyatt-Quarles Seeds 10 2022 Board of Directors 12 In Memoriam 12 CPP Relaunch: What You Need to Know 18 Bland Landscaping Company Acquires Turf Service Inc. 19

AROUND OUR INDUSTRY Student Spotlight: Paul Young 20

INDUSTRY RESEARCH Incorporating Granular Imidacloprid to Reduce Red-Headed Flea Beetle Injury 34

EVERY ISSUE Calendar of Events 3 New Members 22 Advertisers’ Index 40

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Green & Growin’ 22 Wrap-Up

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Nursery & Landscape notes Published by

North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 968 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 NCNLA Staff Richard Lawhun Executive Vice President Katie Rodrigues Director of Meetings & Education Kathryn Stansbury Director of Business Development Wendi Doak Director of Marketing & Communications Nursery & Landscape Notes is published quarterly by the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. (NCNLA), covering news, research, education and business in the nursery and landscape industries. The publication is distributed to approximately 825 horticulture producers, landscape professionals and industry suppliers.

Nursery & Landscape Notes is provided as a member service.

2022 NCNLA Board of Directors Kevin Cagle President Greenthumb Nursery, LLC Ether, NC Tim Johnson, II Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer Tim Johnson Landscaping Statesville, NC Leslie Herndon Past President Greenscape, Inc. Holly Springs, NC Dana Massey Plantworks Nursery Rougemont, NC William ”Bill” Bynam Site One Landscape Supply High Point, NC John Clark Pro Green, Inc. Morganton, NC

Ariel Montanez Pender Nursery Garner, NC Ed Snyder Greenleaf Services Linville, NC Trey Warrick Scottree & Shelby Nursery, Inc. Shelby, NC Educational Advisors

NCNLA EVENTS Certified Plant Professional Exam

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Wilmington, NC

July 16 – 19, 2022

June 9, 2022

AmericanHort Cultivate

www.ncnla.com/CPP

Columbus, OH www.cultivateevent.org

GIC Technology Symposium

National Collegiate Landscape Competition

June 23, 2022

McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State Raleigh, NC List of topics coming soon!

March 16 – 19, 2022 NCSU, Raleigh, NC

www.ncnla.com

Robert Cagle Memorial Golf Tournament

www.landscapeprofessionals.org/ NCLC

JoCo Plants Show

June 24, 2022

August 17, 2022

www.ncnla.com

www.jocoplants.com/ announcements

Lochmere Golf Club Cary, NC

Justin Snyder Alamance Community College Graham, NC Anthony LeBude North Carolina State University Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center Mills River, NC

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NC State Fair Grounds, Raleigh, NC

ON THE COVER

Advertising

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For advertising inquiries and publication schedule, please contact Wendi Doak at wdoak@ncnla.com or 919-819-9119, ext. 1002.

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

Mission: To provide essential value to our members through education, marketing and advocacy.

Vision: To promote and protect the interests of North Carolina’s green industry.

Connect with NCNLA facebook.com/NCNurseryandLandscapeAssociation twitter.com/tweet_ncnla instagram.com/ncnla ncnla.com | BuyNCPlants.com | GreenandGrowin.com | NCGreenprints.com ©2022 NCNLA

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NCNLA 2021 PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Wow, what a year!

I can’t think of a better way to begin

Leslie Herndon Greenscape, Inc. Raleigh, NC

Leslie

my final letter than to say thank you to my fellow board members, the NCNLA staff and all of our members for their support and encouragement over the past 12 months.

Everyone did what we always do in this industry when facing a challenge: We buckled up and got to work!

We started 2021 with the biggest challenge of all, having to cancel our venerable Green & Growin’ show.

Since this event provides the majority of NCNLA’s annual operating income, it was quite a daunting way to begin the year. However, throughout 2021, our staff and board rallied together to put several initiatives in motion to drive additional income and cut expenses.

With that in mind, I would like to extend a very special thank-you to all of you who contributed to our fundraising drive last year.

Your donations played a big part in enabling NCNLA to keep cash flowing in leaner times of the year, while keeping the majority of our long-term reserves intact. I now know firsthand how extremely important it is to have this reserve fund in place, and I personally want to thank the previous board members who helped bolster the fund to its current level—what incredible foresight they had! We have watched other associations really struggle over the past year, and some others have even ceased to exist. Happily, NCNLA is still fiscally strong, although it will take a few years to get back to where we were prior to the pandemic. We aren’t out of the woods yet, but we can see the light!

Joining everyone at the Green & Growin’ show in January 2022 was a great ending for my year as NCNLA president.

Education classes were busy, our keynote speakers (Bryce Lane and Charlie Hall) were incredible, and robust activity in the Marketplace was a big win for us in a tough COVID environment. I enjoyed getting to

meet with new and old friends on the show floor, and I can’t wait until next year, when hopefully we’re back to full steam. We’re so thankful for all of you who participated in the show, either in Greensboro or remotely. This year’s Green & Growin’ was an important one for the association, and—as always—our industry showed up strong. I also want to send out a big thank-you to NCNLA staff members Rick, Kathryn, Victoria, Katie and Wendi for all the hard work they put into the event to make it a success!

Other notable achievements during the past year included adding a successful first-time virtual component to the Green & Growin’ education sessions, running the GIC Technology Symposium for a great crowd last summer, a strong turnout at the Cagle Memorial Golf Tournament supporting our scholarship initiatives, revamping the Certified Plant Professional program and increasing marketing circulation—just to name a few. Our goal for 2021 was to continue serving our mission, even in a challenging year, and I believe we were successful!

Finally, I would like to send out a special thank-you to all NCNLA past presidents.

Your work laid the path for this year’s efforts, and it is thanks to you that we have such a solid foundation on which to stand. I hope I was able to do my own part to help strengthen it further!

Today, I am excited to pass the gavel on to Kevin Cagle of Greenthumb Nursery & Landscape for 2022. A longtime member of the industry and NCNLA, Kevin is well positioned to build upon our strong foundation, and will provide the leadership we need in the coming year to help the association continue to grow and flourish.

Congratulations and best wishes, Kevin!

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NCNLA’s mission is to provide essential value to our members through education, marketing and advocacy

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NCNLA 2022 PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Welcoming 2022 I would like to start by saying thank

Kevin Cagle Greenthumb Nursery, LLC Ether, NC

Kevin

you to everyone for allowing me to serve on the NCNLA Board the past few years, and now what a tremendous honor it is to be your NCNLA president for 2022. Trust that I will do my very best to serve the association and its members throughout the coming year.

I am a third-generation nurseryman and co-owner of Greenthumb Nursery.

I have a beautiful wife, April, who helps me in the office, and we have three wonderful children: Lilly, Cole and Kanon.

Lilly works in the nursery full time. Cole has worked at the nursery the past two summers and plans to do the same this year. And Kanon is looking forward to starting his first job with us this summer. We are grateful that Greenthumb Nursery continues to be a family affair!

The story of Greenthumb Nursery began in 1959, when my grandparents, Daniel James Cagle and Ruth Dunlap Cagle, started growing plants as a hobby—which quickly grew into a half-acre of azaleas and Japanese maples. For that reason, my Grandfather became known in the community as “Mr. Greenthumb,” and in 1960, he had the Greenthumb Nursery name licensed. At this point, growing plants was no longer just a hobby, but a thriving business! In 1980, my father, Robert Edward Cagle, and his business partner, John H. Ritchie, started developing the business into what it is today. They added multiple divisions, including landscape, lawn maintenance, field-grown material and turf. When my father passed away in 2004, it shook up the whole family. He was an awesome father—and business owner— and he is greatly missed. By the guidance of his teachings though, my brother Robby

and I stepped up to purchase the family business from John in 2010, and we continue to strive to provide what people have always expected from Greenthumb. We currently have 20 acres in container production and 110 acres in field-grown material, and we are looking to expand our wholesale business by 30 acres in the next couple of years. We are proud of what Greenthumb has become and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Focusing on current events, I hope you all were able to attend the in-person Green & Growin’ show in January. We had a great show, especially considering ALL the obstacles we faced, including COVID-19, as well as labor and material shortages, just to name a few. And the good news is: Spring is right around the corner! For myself, I know I’m ready to see life springing forward through the new growth of trees and plants, as it lets me see the results of months of hard work— potting, pruning, fertilizing, etc.—come to fruition. All in all, I feel like 2022 is off to a strong start!

I’m thrilled about the upcoming year and promise that we, at NCNLA, will build upon the momentum we’ve gained in years past. We had to make a lot of changes in 2021, due to not having Green & Growin’ in person, which challenged our board and staff members to be more creative in thinking of other ways to generate revenue and increase benefits for our members. Thinking outside the box allowed us to maintain the association’s financial stability, while continuing to grow our membership, build upon our annual Robert Cagle Memorial Golf Tournament (which is our primary source of scholarship funds), focus on advocacy and increase education opportunities. And, needless to say, all of this would not have been possible without the dedicated support of our members—so we’d like thank each and every one of you!

Again, I am deeply honored to be your NCNLA 2022 president, and I look forward to celebrating all of our industry’s successes with you in the year ahead!

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2022 robert cagle memorial

golf tournament Join NCNLA members and industry colleagues for an afternoon of golf followed by a casual dinner and awards ceremony. Proceeds benefit the NCNLA Scholarship Fund.

Friday, June 24, 2022 1 p.m. Shotgun Start

Lochmere Golf Club

23511 Kildaire Farm Road Cary, NC

Visit www.ncnla.com for details and sponsorship opportunities.

NCNLA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Haven’t We Been Here Before?

“It’s like déjà vu all over again!” This quote from Yogi Berra was the first

Richard “Rick” Lawhun NCNLA Executive Vice President

Rick

thing that popped into my head as I reviewed my winter 2021 column in preparing for this year’s column. Another 12 months have passed, and yet it feels as if little has changed since 2020. “Let’s do the time warp again!” I am thankful to work in an industry that has remained vibrant and positive during this period, even though the situation has made us all a little whacky at times. Currently things seem to be trending in the right direction, but as Yogi also said, “It ain’t over till it’s over” — so let’s work to make every day a little bit better than the day before. Note: Yogi Berra was a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher with the New York Yankees many years ago who was famous for his malapropisms. “Time warp” is a reference to the movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

On a positive note, it was great to see so many familiar faces in Greensboro at Green & Growin’ 22. Overall, attendance numbers at both the Education Program and Marketplace were down by about 20%, which was expected. The slight reduction in attendance did provide a good test run for implementing several changes, the most significant of which was a new registration system. The new system caused some consternation, as it required all attendees to develop profiles and enter their professional license numbers.

Going forward, however, attendee profiles will remain stored within our system, only requiring occasional updates. Next year, registration promises to be a breeze for everyone who went through the process this year. (Please do not quote me on this, or, as Yogi would say, “I never said most of the things I said.”)

It’s never easy to improve on something that is working well, but we continue to seek improvements that enhance the value proposition for Green & Growin’ attendees. In some cases — like with the registration system — change requires a bit of a learning curve, but the goal remains the same: to make Green & Growin’ a premier event for the nursery and landscape industry. You can expect a few more tweaks for Green & Growin’ 23, to be held Jan. 16-20, 2023, in Greensboro.

As always, stay well and stay passionate about the industry you love!

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NCNLA MEMBER NEWS

NCNLA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

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Wyatt-Quarles Seed Company Garner, N.C. Sales Manager Mark Smith In business Since 1881 NCNLA member Since 1981 Number of employees 40 Favorite NCNLA benefits

Business contacts/ networking, Green & Growin’ show

Five Minutes with Wyatt-Quarles Seed Company How did you get into the business?

I started working as a temporary loader at a local garden center right out of high school, and I was hooked.

I worked in many positions over a 10-year period and eventually became general manager before that store closed. I was looking to stay in the industry, and Wyatt-Quarles gave me an opportunity to join their inside sales/ customer service team. It was a perfect fit. I was very familiar with most of the product offerings, and the company was wonderful. I have been with WyattQuarles for more than 20 years now, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What’s a typical day like for you and your staff?

Most days start very early for our truck drivers and warehouse staff, who work hard unloading incoming freight and stocking shelves in the mornings, and then focus on pulling customer orders and loading trucks in the afternoons and evenings. Spring days can be very long and exhausting. Outside sales team members work around the clock and are on the road taking care of customer needs most weekdays, and then spend evenings responding to emails and processing orders. Our office team also helps keeps things rolling each and every day. Most days, order entry staff, customer service/inside sales associates, product buyers and management can be found on the phones, processing emails and handling paperwork.

It’s truly a team effort to make it all happen.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

I have been in a supervisor/management role most of my career, and I have always enjoyed interacting with my co-workers and customers—and watching them all succeed. People are the most important part of any business, and their value

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President, Vice President, and sales team Back Row: (left to right) Tony Evans, Amie Cavenaugh-Eakins, and Gerald Storms Middle Row: (left to right) Clint Erwin, Keith Haynes, and Joe Moore (Vice President) Front Row: (left to right) Anthony Koch, Dean Kiger, Mark Smith, Chuck Wyatt (President)

should never be taken lightly. I have been blessed to work with—and for—a lot of special people, and for that I am very grateful.

What is your company best known for?

The foundation of our business was built on quality and service. We take a lot of pride in providing exceptional service and realize how important it is to build long-term relationships.

We have always offered high-quality products to independently owned garden shops, hardware stores and professional wholesale growers. The success of our customers is vital for the success of our business, and if we have not exceeded their expectations, we have failed.

Warehouse Staff

What issues are you concerned about as a company in the green industry?

Currently, product availability and pricing are important issues. The past couple years have been challenging for multiple reasons, and now we’re dealing with a tremendous shortage in grower supplies. Of course, as with most every industry, prices are also up. We’re currently placing product orders way into 2023, and we’re already being told it’s not looking much better for the near future. The good news is that our industry has done very well the past few years—we just have to practice good business habits and plan a little further out than we have in the past.

What have you gained from your involvement in NCNLA? NCNLA has been an excellent resource for networking opportunities and communication within our industry. The Green & Growin’ show is a must-do event. We always enjoy visiting with our existing customers and meeting new potential business contacts.

What advice do you have for someone interested in or just starting out in the industry?

Do your due diligence and don’t be afraid to ask for help. This is a fantastic industry with a lot of wonderful, qualified people who are willing and able to help along the way. The future of our industry looks very strong and can only benefit from a new, fresh workforce.

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NCNLA MEMBER NEWS

2022 The 2022 board also includes: Officers

Past President Leslie Herndon Greenscape, Inc. Holly Springs, NC

Directors

William “Bill” Bynum SiteOne Landscape Supply Charlotte, NC John Clark Pro Green, Inc. Morganton, NC Ariel Montanez Pender Nursery Garner, NC Trey Warrick Scottree & Shelby Nursery, Inc. Shelby, NC

Educational Advisors Justin Snyder Alamance Community College Graham, NC Anthony LeBude NC State Mountain Horticulture Crops Research & Extension Center Mills River, NC

Board of Directors

NCNLA welcomed one new member and announced two new officers for the 2022 NCNLA Board of Directors during the annual meeting held Jan. 13, 2022.

Two current board members were promoted to new positions. Kevin Cagle was elected as president, and Tim Johnson II was elected as vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Kevin has been owner/partner of Greenthumb Nursery for 12 years and represents the third generation in his family to operate the business. He holds a private pesticide license and a North Carolina Landscape Contractor license.

Tim is president of Tim Johnson Landscaping in Statesville. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental horticulture from North Carolina A&T State University, he has a passion for plants and landscaping. Tim contributes largely to the company’s specialty operations, such as turf management, hardscapes, irrigation, lighting, and landscape design and installation.

In addition to the newly elected officers, Edward Snyder also has joined the board in 2022. Owner and operator of Greenleaf Services in Linville and a registered North Carolina Landscape Contractor, Edward started Greenleaf in 2000 and has been recognized on the local, state and national levels for design, build and maintenance work.

Dana Massey, who completed a one-year board term in 2021 as a replacement for a promoted member, is beginning her own three-year term in 2022. Holding an associate’s degree from Louisburg College and a bachelor’s degree in horticulture science from North Carolina State University, Dana began her career at Plantworks Nursery in 2009 and has been president of the company since 2017.

She is also a 2016 graduate of the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Agriculture Leadership Development Program from NC State and a 2020 graduate of the Executive Academy for Growth & Leadership from Texas A&M University.

In Memoriam Ralph Lawrence Modlin Ralph Lawrence Modlin, 69, of Archdale, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. A graduate of Allen Jay High School and North Carolina State University, Ralph was owner and operator of Ralph Modlin Farm and Nursery, as well as a longtime NCNLA member and Green & Growin’ exhibitor. His full obituary can be found at https://bit.ly/3H00S0c.

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Wayne Thomas Stephenson Wayne Thomas Stephenson, 66, of Johnson County, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. An avid baseball player whose baseball records at South Johnston High School remain unbroken today, Wayne was inducted into the Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 for his outstanding contributions to the success of athletics in the area. He also owned and operated Stephenson’s Nursery in Willow Spring since 1978, and was a longtime NCNLA member and Green & Growin’ exhibitor. His full obituary can be found at https://bit.ly/3HIyfWl.

2021 Industry Awards Each year, the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association recognizes the contributions of outstanding individuals and businesses in North Carolina’s green industry. The recipients of the 2021 NCNLA Industry Awards were announced during the annual meeting held at Green & Growin’ on Jan. 13, 2022.

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NCNLA Awards Committee Thank you to the NCNLA Awards Committee for taking the time to review award nominations and select the 2021 recipients.

Nick Waddell Margaret “Phil” Campbell Kirk Davis Chad Gragg Jeremy Shaver Tony Evans

Jerry Ragland Young Landscape Professional Award Established in 1999, this award recognizes an outstanding young person in the landscape business. ★ Ben Roney spent many years working as construction manager at Color Landscapes before moving into his current role as owner of iScapes Inc. in 2016.

Why he was nominated Ben has grown from a young student into a very impressive small-business owner.

He spent many years working as construction manager at Color Landscapes before moving into his current role as owner of iScapes, where he currently employs a staff of 20. A national award winner as a student, he has taken that work ethic and drive into his own business.

Ben continually gives back to the community as the owner of iScapes. Through many donations of time, materials and experience to local schools and other groups in the Alamance County area, Ben is a shining example of a young landscape professional.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

Building relationships is the most rewarding part of my career. The opportunity to impact others’ lives in meaningful and practical ways, which persist long after a project is finished, is what keeps me going. Whether it’s employees and their families, customers, other contractors or anyone else, my work is all about people and relationships—both investing in them and learning from them.

I also love seeing a plan come to life by creating spaces that homeowners and clients never knew were possible. It’s extremely rewarding to create a vision and design that fully captures what my clients are looking for, see that work through to completion, and then hear how happy the customer is with their new space. That’s hard to beat.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

Be willing to put in the time it takes to do things the right way. There are no good shortcuts, so don’t take any. Treat your employees and the people you work with like the family they are. Say thank you often. Don’t be short-sighted or look for quick satisfaction. All the good stuff to be enjoyed

NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES

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2021 from owning a business comes when you realize how much character matters. Work just as hard when no one is looking as when they are, and never forget those who helped you along the way.

Oakland Award Established in 1978 by Oakland Plantation, this award is given to individuals for outstanding service to the nursery and/or landscape industry. ★ Kurt Bland’s landscaping career began at age 14 when he started working for Bland Landscaping during summers and school breaks. He earned degrees in agriculture business management and horticulture science from North Carolina State University, and then spent several years in Fremont, Calif., before returning to Bland Landscaping in 2002.

As president of the company today, Kurt is actively involved in the many disciplines of landscaping, gardening, urban ecology and operating a sustainable business.

Why he was nominated Kurt firmly believes that the green industry should lead the way with responsible environmental practices by reducing our carbon footprint and limiting the use of chemicals, water and fossil fuels whenever possible. He has also advocated for the industry at the state and federal government levels. Kurt is a good friend to our industry and works hard to ensure that it remains strong and continues to evolve.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

The most rewarding thing to me about my career thus far has been the opportunity to influence positive change in the landscaping industry through the development of future industry leaders. I have been extremely fortunate to have had so many opportunities in this industry, but none of it has been easy. I am thankful to all of the industry leaders who came before me, many of whom took an interest in mentoring me to develop my own professional skills.

Today I find myself highly motivated to create opportunities for those who wish to follow in my footsteps.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

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Anyone, regardless of education or background, can find success in the green industry if they work hard, apply themselves and take advantage of opportunities. The green industry isn’t like many others that require a specific education background to break into a career. Hard work does pay off, and although education can help further the pathway to success, it’s not a barrier to entry. The work is very difficult but also very rewarding, and those who commit themselves to a landscaping career have unlimited potential, as the future continues to show increasing demand and appreciation for the goods and services we provide.

Kim Powell Outstanding Contribution to the Horticulture Industry Award Established in 2004, this award recognizes an individual’s outstanding contribution to the association and industry—and more specifically, his or her involvement in program development and execution. ★ Debbie Hamrick started working in the green industry in college, with summer internships at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Mass., and Northrup King Seed Company in Indianapolis. She continued with Rake & Hoe Garden Center while in college, then moved on to Ball Publishing (Ball Horticultural Co.) in West Chicago, Ill. She joined the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation in 2004.

Why she was nominated Debbie has worked relentlessly, through her efforts with the Farm Bureau and AmericanHort, to keep specialty crop growers recognized and give them access to the same information as growers of larger agriculture commodities have.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

The most rewarding part for me has been the opportunity to see amazing horticultural production locations in more than 20 countries. Horticulture is a worldwide industry that shares a universal language: plants and flowers.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

Anyone looking to get into the industry should know that the people side of the business is as important as the plant

side of the business—so be sure to polish your interpersonal skills. The industry is also more complex than ever. Increasingly, external factors such as economic conditions, political climate and social media are drivers of what’s possible.

Bill Wilder Outstanding Young Nursery Professional Award Established in 1994 and named for the longtime Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of Nurserymen, this award recognizes qualified young men and women for outstanding service in the field of environmental horticulture and their inspiration to others starting out in the field. ★ A graduate of Radford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental biology, Lindsay Goad began working in sales support at Pender Nursery in 2019, and since has risen to the position of sales manager.

Why she was nominated Lindsay has an incredible ability to learn about plants— and our industry—very quickly, and her extraordinary plant knowledge has made her an invaluable resource of knowledge for her customers, employees and peers alike. She has established herself as a leader at Pender Nursery and is poised to do so within the broader scope of our industry as well. Her success story will provide great inspiration to young people looking to start careers in the horticulture industry.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

I love working in an industry where there is something new to learn every day! Being able to constantly grow and gain knowledge is incredibly rewarding, but not nearly as rewarding as the ability to pass on my learnings to my team. Watching them grow and succeed is priceless and easily the best part of my career.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

Go for it! Regardless of your background, you can find a path you’re passionate about. This industry is filled with people who want to help you learn and succeed. Absorb as much as possible from them, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Libby Wilder Award Established in 1999 and named for the longtime organizer extraordinaire for the North Carolina Association of Nurserymen, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to the nursery industry by a female. ★ Lisa Thomas worked for Greenwood Nursery in Conover, N.C., from January 1986 until June 2007, when she began as a sales crew leader at Hawksridge Farms.

Why she was nominated Lisa has done an outstanding job as sales manager at Hawksridge Farms. Her creative weekly communications to her customer base are well known in the industry. She has guided the sales crew and staff admirably, first through the Great Recession, and most recently through the COVID era. Prior to her employment at Hawksridge Farms, she was the longtime manager at Greenwood Gardens in Newton, N.C. Lisa has been a mentor and a friend to many younger people in our industry. She treats her occupation not just as a job, but rather as a passion.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

Watching customers have success is so rewarding. Whether I’m working in the garden center or in nursery sales, helping customers achieve success has always been fun.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

Never stop learning about new plants, new ideas and new programs. Don’t stagnate. And have FUN! Love what you do.

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2021 Grower of the Year Established in 1994, this award recognizes a high level of professionalism in the management or ownership of a field or container nursery, as well as leadership in the nursery industry through participation in local, regional, state and national organizations. ★ Lanny Thomas is president of Swift Creek Nursery.

D.S. Copeland Award Established in 1972 and named for the founder of Apex Nurseries, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to the nursery industry by a candidate working directly in the nursery industry. ★ Shanon Spivey is president and owner of Spivey’s Nursery, of Kernersville, N.C. He also served as NCNLA president in 2018.

Why she was nominated Shanon believes in using his industry talents to help out in any way he can, whether assisting at Green & Growin’, serving on the NCNLA Board of Directors or leading as president of the association during a tumultuous time.

Always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, he frequently volunteers his time to assist his fellow nurserymen in times of crisis—both professional and personal—and continues to grow his own business and expand his industry knowledge. Shanon is a leader of whom we can be proud.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

The most rewarding part of my career has been building my business from the ground up and seeing what it has become today.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

This industry is like a big family, full of great people you can learn from and grow with continually. It’s a very fulfilling career choice.

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Why he was nominated Lanny has been very active in NCNLA since 1978 (then known as NCAN). In fact, he participated in the first-ever NCAN trade show, which was held at the North Carolina State University student union. Since starting his nursery in 1978, propagating and growing Liriope in his backyard, he has grown the business into 28 thriving acres. An active member of the Johnston County Nurseryman’s Association, he also works closely with the Johnston County commissioners, giving planning and zoning advice. As the industry continues to evolve, Lanny is implementing automation in his operations to reduce labor needs, and is constantly seeking new varieties of plants to satisfy his customers’ ever-changing needs.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

The most rewarding part of my career has been the people I have met and the friendships I have made with others in the industry. I truly value our customers and my colleagues, all of whom have been such a big part of our success.

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

I would advise others starting out in the industry to learn as much as they can from the invaluable experience of others. I would also encourage them to follow market trends and stay abreast of new plant varieties being offered.

Lifetime Honorary Member This award recognizes lifetime contributions and achievements in the nursery and landscape industry.

programs. In 2010, Jim was presented with the Joe Love Grower of the Year Award.

★ Jim Mitchell is co-owner of Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse, which he and his wife, Judy, started on an extra lot beside their house.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

That question is almost impossible to answer. I still enjoy potting plants—whether trees, shrubs or greenhouse crops. I also really enjoy talking with customers and having the chance to recommend plants that fit the area they are working with. I love driving down the road to make deliveries, or to pick up plants we may be needing, in addition to those we grow. I guess if I had to choose a favorite part of my career, though, it would be the tours we give—especially those we give for students. When a class of first-graders comes in the spring, I give each student a couple of cucumber seeds to sow in a little pot— which hopefully they will see sprout and then produce in summertime. When I see their smiles, that’s all I need!

Why he was nominated Jim Mitchell began growing and rooting azaleas in his backyard as a teenager. He obtained his first nursery license in 1976 under the name Mitchell’s Plants, and he and Judy sold plants at the flea market at the Raleigh Fairgrounds. During summers, Jim worked on blueberry research at North Carolina State University. After graduating from NC State with a degree in horticulture, he moved to King and started working for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) as a plant and pesticide inspector.

Eventually, Jim began rooting and growing azaleas again. Alongside Judy, he started Mitchell’s Nursery, a small landscaping and mowing business with just a mower, a shovel and a trailer that Judy pulled with their pickup truck. As the business grew, they began looking for land, and in 1993 moved to their present location on Dalton Road. Beginning with a single greenhouse, Mitchell’s has since expanded to 15 greenhouse bays.

In 2002, after noticing Department of Transportation (DOT) signage posted for vineyards, Jim went to the North Carolina legislature to look into posting similar signage for nurseries. Researching a law permitting vineyards to erect DOT highway signs, he determined that nurseries were eligible as well, provided they gave tours and were open year round. After working with the NCDA and DOT, he obtained the first agritourism sign for the state’s nursery and greenhouse industry. These days, Jim often hosts tours of the nursery for students and senior groups.

In 2017, the business purchased additional land for expansion on Dalton Road. The nursery growing area was moved to the new parcel, leaving the retail operation at the previous location. New beds were graded in summer 2021 and are being readied for more growing room for trees.

Jim has been active in NCNLA since the time when the nursery and landscape associations were separate organizations. Over the years, he has exhibited at Green & Growin’ and helped with move-in at the event. In 2002, he approached a poinsettia breeder to explore the possibility of doing poinsettia trials. Since then, Mitchell’s Poinsettias have been featured in numerous publications and television

What advice would you give to someone interested in the industry?

My general advice is that the green industry isn’t a 9-to-5 job. If you truly enjoy the hands-on part of the work, then the number of hours spent daily—and throughout a lifetime—will be very rewarding.

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MEMBER NEWS

CPP Relaunch: What You Need to Know

By Katie Rodrigues NCNLA Director of Meetings and Education

Many of you may have heard recent rumblings about the relaunch of the North Carolina Certified Plant Professional (CPP) program via your peers, through an email from NCNLA or at the CPP booth at Green & Growin’ 22. And perhaps you’ve been wondering: What is the CPP program, how can I get certified, and what does the relaunch mean for me?

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the CPP Program?

NCNLA developed the CPP program to identify individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in this industry, and to encourage continuing education (CE) and training of all nursery-related industry employees—including owners and managers.

Recognized for their designation by industry leaders and the gardening public, CPPs must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of horticultural subjects, including plant identification, soils, fertilization, turfgrass management, proper planting techniques, landscape design and more.

What is the Purpose of the CPP Relaunch?

The CPP program has been under review by NCNLA over the past two years, with the goal of relaunching a more streamlined and beneficial program within the industry. This relaunch has introduced new standards for sitting for the exam, as well as updated renewal requirements.

What Are the Application Prerequisites?

Before sitting for the CPP exam, 18 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

applicants must complete a CPP application, submit two completed professional reference forms from industry individuals who can attest to the candidate’s professional experience and qualifications, and meet any of the following criteria: • An associate or bachelor’s degree, or current enrollment at a postsecondary education institution OR • Two years of experience in the green industry or with an industry-related supplier of products or services (which encompasses any individual, partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation engaged or employed in the sale, production, handling, storage, use design, planting or maintenance of horticultural or environmental plants or accessories, including educators and other nursery and landscape professionals) What’s on the CPP Exam?

To become a CPP, the applicant must pass both the written exam and plant identification exam, scoring at least 70% on each.

• Written Exam: This portion consists of 100 multiple-choice and true-false questions—there are no essay questions.

• Plant Identification Exam: This portion requires participants to identify 125 selected plants, diseases or insects from the designated list of 298

items. The test contains photos of the selected items to be identified— live plants will not be used. NCNLA is following in the direction of the NCLCLB with photo identification.

This allows us to offer a consistent exam throughout the year.

What Do the Renewal Requirements Mean for Me?

CPPs are subject to renewal at twoyear intervals. At time of renewal, the individual will need to submit a renewal application indicating completion of the required CE requirements, plus a $100 renewal fee.

First Renewal: For your first CPP designation renewal, CE requirements are waived.

For approval of all future renewals, proof of completion of CE units will be required.

CE Requirements: Since the green industry is an ever-evolving field with frequent technological and other innovations, keeping up to date with CE is essential.

Ten hours of CE within a given two-year renewal period are required.

Any course provided by NCNLA, as well as all courses accredited by any of the North Carolina horticulture industry boards, will qualify to meet CPP CE requirements. For example, if the North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board has approved an

MEMBER NEWS local recognition. The program’s logo can be used on your business card, email signature, company website and more!

Congratulations to the new CPP recipients who earned their designations at Green & Growin’ 22:

“Introduction to the Green Industry” session offered by an outside education provider, that class will automatically be approved as an eligible CPP credit.

CPP recipients are responsible for tracking and maintaining records for the CE units they earn throughout the two-year renewal timeframe. During the renewal process, CPP recipients may be audited to provide proof of their earned CE units. If audited, a recipient will have 60 days to provide proof of attendance at CE activities, or forfeit their CPP designation.

Why is Having a CPP Certification Important?

Since this industry is extremely competitive, it’s very easy for unqualified individuals to represent themselves as qualified professionals. The CPP certification is one way to identify, elevate and promote yourself as a reputable professional, while weeding out others with lesser qualifications. In this way, consumers will more easily be able to recognize individuals equipped with the highest levels of industry knowledge and skills.

Simply put, the CPP exam is a way to further educate and invest in yourself and your employees’ future by providing the tools and knowledge needed to serve your clients better.

Ultimately, elevating the professional status of your certified employees is a small investment for a large return, and also can help boost confidence and morale among your staff.

In recognition of the dedication it takes to become a North Carolina Certified Plant Professional, those earning the CPP designation will be provided with a certificate to show off their accomplishment, as well as a digital logo and other branded materials to assist CPPs and their employers in gaining

Lindsay Adams Katie Bradley Brodie Butler Shelley Cook Claire Craven Sarina Dellinger Marie Elliott Amanda Gillahan Ann Goswick Maureen Hammond Kristen Hillegass

Hays Johnson Sergio Lopez Carley McCready Bingham Jodi Riedel Freda Z. Rosen Jen Schilkowski Morgan Swaringen Sean Tonkin Mike Westendorf

Thank you to the CPPs who have recently renewed their certifications: Victoria Aguilar Max Alff Steven Ayres Adam Banks Samuel Clinton Bean Bonnie Bloom Timothy Boone Lois Budlong Jordana Chalnick Caitlin Clineff Katie Coleman Jason Davis James Deese II Brooke Doty Lee Dugger Bret Duncan Glenn (Martin) Edwards Jr. Stephen Edwards Erika Emory John Fields Donna Fodrie Thomas Charles Fowler II Glenn Garris Tim Genske Colby Griffin Dustin Hafer Cody Handley Kevin Heifferon Ryan Houston Alexander Howe

Robert Kuetemeyer Matthew Landers Cyndi Lauderdale Danny Lauderdale Sam Marshall Jason Mull Scott Myatt Thomas Pruett Bill Quade Jeff Ries Brad Rollins Susan Rollins Tom Ross Clifford D. Ruth Ben Saconn Richard Saunders Ryan Saunders James Sledge Jr. John S. Smith Justin Snyder Suzanne Stallings Kristin States Jessica Strickland Natasha Warren Timothy Warren Stacy Weir Mark Wise As of 2/24/2022

»

To find out more about obtaining your CPP certification or renewing your current CPP certification, visit www.ncnla.com/cpp, email education@ncnla.com, or call 919-816-9119.

»

Next CPP exam will be held on June 9, 2022, in Wilmington, NC.

Bland Landscaping Company Acquires Turf Service Inc. Bland Landscaping, based in Apex, N.C., is one of the state’s leading full-service providers of landscape design, installation, enhancement and maintenance service.

On Jan. 6, Bland Landscaping announced its acquisition of Turf Service Inc. (TSI), of Greensboro, N.C. “We are very excited to partner with TSI,” said Kurt Bland, president and CEO of Bland Landscaping. “Since 1976, Bland Landscaping has been committed to excellence in everything we do. TSI has built a strong reputation for quality and excellent customer service, which fits in perfectly with what we are looking for in acquisition partners. As Bland Landscaping continues to grow, TSI provides a leading branch location in the Greensboro area and complements our existing base in the Triangle region.”

Founded in 1979 and currently led by Ray Comer and Greg Blaser, TSI provides full-service landscaping, maintenance and enhancement services to commercial customers, primarily in the Greensboro and Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill areas.

“I’m very proud of the TSI organization,” Comer said. “Bland Landscaping was the natural partner for TSI, offering the systems to support continued growth, as well as opportunities for TSI employees to further their careers. Our clients in both the Greensboro and Cary markets will benefit from this partnership, and I am confident that the future is bright for our customers and employees.”

Bland Landscaping continues to seek acquisitions of other maintenancefocused commercial landscape management providers, with a focus on companies based in North Carolina and South Carolina.

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AROUND THE INDUSTRY

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

»

Nursery & Landscape Notes is introducing you to the next generation of green industry professionals by featuring current and recent college students with plans to pursue careers in the field.

Paul Young Jr. Student Profile Name: Paul Young Jr. Hometown: Bolton (Columbus), NC College: University of Mount Olive

(bachelor’s degree, 2018) and North Carolina A&T State University (master’s degree, 2021) Major/Area of Study: Agricultural education Horticulture-Related Places You Have Worked/ Interned: Cape Fear High School

(horticulture instructor)

Awards/Recognitions Received:

Agricultural Student Teacher of the Year How did you discover horticulture?

I discovered horticulture from my grandmother and great-grandmother—really from my whole family. My family loves flowers, and they love to keep their yards beautiful year-round. As a kid I helped out a lot of my family members, so working in the yard became a favorite of mine.

What were your most valuable experiences, either in school or from other exposure to the industry, and why?

The experiences I found most valuable during and after school involved learning plant names and how to identify their species in various ways. Many plants have a lot of different varieties. For example, canna can be solid green, but there are also purple and variegated types.

I also learned how to manage plant sales with my students at three different yearly events: a spring plant sale, a fall mum sale and a Christmas poinsettia sale. During preparations for these events, I teach my students how to do everything from starting the plants to finishing them for sale to our customers. I strive to create a hands-on learning environment in my classroom and in the school’s greenhouses.

What were your favorite college classes, and why?

My favorite college class was Plant Management: Identification and Utilization, during which we learned about the hundreds of plants and pests on the Certified Plant Professional (CPP) list.

Learning the differences among plants eventually became second nature to me and helped me find my passion for horticulture.

I even helped some of my classmates learn the plants for their CPP certification exams.

To my knowledge, I received one of the highest scores to date on the CPP exam for a University of Mount Olive student.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to continue teaching horticulture and exposing students to the industry, to help ensure that we have plenty of well-qualified horticulture professionals for the future.

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What advice would you give to a student interested in the field?

My advice is to find an area of horticulture you’re interested in and then devote a lot of time and energy to it. Dedication to and mastery of a specific area will give you so many future opportunities. Also, students

should learn as much about the plants in that area as they can, to the point where their skills become second nature.

What is your favorite plant, and why?

My favorite plants are Prunus laurocerasus (Common Cherry Laurel) and

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ (Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel). As I was spending time learning the differences among plants before the CPP exam, I realized there’s really only one difference between these two: The Common Cherry Laurel is serrated, while the Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel isn’t.

JOHNSTON COUNTY NURSERY MARKETING ASSOCIATION

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Thousands of plants.

1 website.

JOCctlPLANTS Browse the complete inventories of 22 nurseries on one website.

Meet the growers in person at the annual JoCoPlants Show in Raleigh, NC. For more information, visit our website.

Send plant quote requests to plantfax@gmail.com.

www.jocoplants.com WINTER 2022 || NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES

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WELCOME, NEW NCNLA MEMBERS! Dwayne C. Jones City of Waynesboro Waynesboro VA Henry Daniel III City of Graham Roxboro NC Jessica Strickland NC Cooperative ExtensionWayne County Center Goldsboro NC Jodi Riedel NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Raleigh NC Matt Lenhardt NC Cooperative Extension Mike Helms Town of Matthews Matthews NC Nathan P. Lynch North Carolina State University Mills River NC Robert Duffie III Durham County General Services Durham NC Shlain Rivers Town of Matthews Matthews NC Tim Covington City of Graham Roxboro NC

22 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

iScapes inc.

Burlington NC

Bell Group Irrigation and Lighting Indian Trail NC

Mulch Solutions Indian Trail NC

5 Alarm Lawn Service McLeansville NC

Murray's Landscape Maintenance and Horticultural Services Durham NC

New Living Landscapes Hendersonville NC

Mathis Landscapes WNC Glenville NC North American Lawn & Landscape Charlotte NC GoMaterials Montreal QC Canada Rain or Shine Landscapes Wilson NC

Howard Fertilizer and Chemical Orlando FL American Property Experts Wilmington NC Crowfields Condominium Association Asheville NC All-Pro Landscaping of Tallahassee Tallahassee FL

TreeDiaper Ashland VA

Franklin Brothers Nursery and Greenhouses Henderson NC

Durham Garden Center Durham NC

Spivey's Land Management Kernersville NC

County Line Tree Farm Angier NC

Ideal Farms Siler City NC

Home and Garden Landscapes Hillsborough NC

Shennings Lawn Care Asheboro NC

A Plus Landscaping NC

As of Jan. 25, 2022

Sowthe seeds Success

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EDUCATION: JAN. 10-12 MARKETPLACE: JAN. 13-14

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Education This year during the three-day education conference at Green & Growin’, more than 1,200 industry professionals earned credits toward state or national accreditations and gained career-enhancing skills through 68 sessions totaling 109 hours. The most popular general session topics included: •

Biological Control: Is it Right for You?

•

Build Your Brand …

Build Your Value

•

Common Arthropod Pests Affecting the Landscape

•

Electric, Connected, Autonomous: Landscaping’s Technological Transformation

•

Mycorrhizae, an Easy-to-Use Tool for Success in the Landscape Industry

24 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

•

Perennial Favorites Get an Upgrade

•

Smart Solutions with Grasses and Sedges

•

Social Media Best Practices

•

What’s New in the Turf World

In addition to the general sessions, several extremely popular specialty courses were offered as well this year. The most popular such course was the Essential Pruning Techniques workshop, conducted by Dr. Larry Mellichamp. An impressive 90 individuals registered for this session, surpassing our expectations and becoming our highest-attended Green & Growin’ specialty course over the past several years.

This year at the education conference, NCNLA had the pleasure of hosting two esteemed keynote speakers. Our Tuesday keynote

Keynote speaker Dr. Charlie Hall

speaker, Dr. Charlie Hall, updated attendees with his latest forecast for projected economic performance over the next several years. As part of his talk, he explored how economic pressures relate to the green industry supply chain and the challenges faced by industry companies, both upstream and downstream. Lastly, Dr. Hall touched on how current fiscal and other funding measures will directly impact green industry business planning and accounting practices.

Wednesday’s keynote speaker, Bryce Lane, addressed what our “new normal” looks like after months of separation and anxiety due to the

COVID-19 pandemic, explaining that in times of uncertainty, effective communication tops the list of essential leadership qualities.

Lane discussed how building your leadership skills—as well as those of your colleagues— can help achieve success, no matter how much your policies and procedures may have changed due to COVID. He emphasized how effective leadership ultimately can result in increased employee productivity and morale, while fostering innovation and creating a sense of company direction.

Another highlight of Green & Growin’ 22 centered on the Certified Plant Professional (CPP) program, which NCNLA relaunched in 2021. As part of this relaunch, the CPP exam returned to Green & Growin’ 22, where 43 individuals sat for the exam.

If you have any questions regarding the CPP program, see page 18 or visit ncnla.com/cpp.

You also may have noticed that NCNLA introduced a new registration program for Green & Growin’. While it was a bit of an adjustment, the updated system will allow future event registration and continuing education unit (CEU) tracking Keynote speaker Bryce Lane to run much more smoothly.

We appreciate everyone’s patience during this much-needed transition.

Of course, the conference would not have been a success without our attendees, as well as the speakers and volunteers who gave so generously of their time and expertise.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who responded to the education survey, the results of which will guide future conference planning. We truly value everyone’s feedback! If you have any session suggestions, or would like to refer a speaker or become a speaker, please email education@ncnla.com.

We look forward to seeing you in 2023!

Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons

100+ hours

of business education

250+ CEUs

8

specialty and certification classes

68

seminars/workshops

8

education tracks

1,200+

attendees

WINTER 2022 || NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES 25

Marketplace Green industry professionals from across the Southeast convened for the Green & Growin’ 22 Marketplace Jan. 13-14 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Nearly 300 new and returning exhibitors came from across the United States and Canada to showcase their products, equipment, plant materials and services.

NCNLA was excited to bring back several popular amenities and attractions to this year’s event. On Thursday and Friday, exhibitors and attendees were able to take advantage of complimentary lunch and afternoon breaks, allowing everyone to maximize time spent on the show floor.

Additionally, SiteOne Landscape Supply hosted three hands-on progressive sessions demonstrating the process of building an outdoor living space, including building a retaining wall, constructing a patio, and completing the space with outdoor living features and finishing touches.

26 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

SiteOne Landscape Supply Demonstration

In addition to lunch and afternoon breaks, Green & Growin’ 22 offered some other opportunities for networking, including the Wednesday Kick-off Reception and the Thursday Marketplace Mixer, both of which were held on the trade show floor. On Thursday night, Caterpillar sponsored an After-hours Networking Event featuring hors d’oeuvres, desserts, cocktails and friendly faces.

We would like to thank all attendees, exhibitors, volunteers and sponsors for making Green & Growin’ 22 possible, and we look forward to seeing everyone again in 2023!

Greensboro Coliseum

WINTER 2022 || NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES 27

Special Recognition A special thank-you goes out to all the volunteers who helped make Green & Growin’ 22 a success!

NCNLA members also volunteered their time at the Marketplace, assisting with setup and breakdown of the trade show floor. They worked tirelessly, and their diligent efforts are appreciated beyond measure.

Student volunteers and faculty members from the University of Mount Olive were at Green & Growin’ 22 all week helping to make sure the show went off without a hitch. Manning Education and Marketplace registration, helping out on the trade show floor, checking in attendees at each Education session, and serving as Education session moderators, they made a significant impact on the success of this year’s event.

Students Lauren Brown Brooke Davis Sid Gray Qudre Joyner Joshualynn Miller Callie Roseman Sarah Spicer Faculty Jason Davis, Assistant Dean, School of Agriculture & Biological Sciences Timothy Warren, Director of Ag Facility Operations

Bill Bynum Kevin Cagle Robby Cagle Salvador Callejas Hunter Casey Vicente Cisneros John Clark Richard Currin Andy Franklin Carson Gantt Mark Gantt Richard Gant Caleb Gragg Chad Gragg Doug Gragg Wendy Gragg Landis Hall Gerardo Hernandez Ruth Currin Holcomb Alan Irwin Amanda Jurisich Josh Kennedy

Mike Marshall Alberto Torres Martinez Will Massengil

Florencio Mejia Pascual Mendoza Jerry Merrill Larry Merrill Oscar Michel Jim Mitchell Ariel Montanez Robbie Potts Julian Ramirez Danny Rhodes James Riek Shanon Spivey Taylor Spivey James Taylor Jamie Thomas Allen Tolbert Katheryn Tolbert Guadalupe Lopez Tovar Abelardo Urbina Danny Van Devender Peggy Van Devender Tod Williams Vaughn Willoughby Joe Wittington

We may have missed a few names, but we appreciate the hard work of everyone who contributed their time!

28 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

Booth AWARDS

Sowthe seeds Success

OF

This year at the Green & Growin’ Marketplace, four exhibitor booths were chosen for awards— based on quality, appearance, creativity and overall “wow” factor—in the Allied, Floral, Woody Ornamental and Best in Show categories.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Best Allied Booth Preferred Lawn and Garden

Best Woody Ornamental Booth Jericho Farms

Best Floral Booth A&A Plants

Best in Show Hawkins Nursery

Kernersville, NC

Brown Summit, NC

Pikeville, NC

Travelers Rest, NC

WINTER 2022 || NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES 29

Long Pond Nursery Low Falls Wholesale Nursery Lumien Lighting Mack Bros. Landscape Nursery Marlboro Bulb Company May Nursery, Inc. McCorkle Nursery, Inc. McHutchison McLamb Nursery, Inc.

2022 Exhibitors A & A Plants, Inc. A.D.R Bulbs, Inc. Adcock's Nursery After Hours Nursery, LLC Air-Pot USA Alamance Community College-Horticulture All American Gutter Protection American Property Experts AMKOR Trading Inc. Amplex Apex Nurseries, Inc. Arbor Fields Arborbrace Back Road Farms Bailey Nurseries Baker Environmental Nursery, Inc. Bamboo Supply Company BASF Baucom's Nursery Benchmark Tool & Supply, Inc.

Brunson Wholesale Nursery

Daddy Pete's Plant Pleaser

Bryan Wagoner Tree Farm

Davis Insurance Agency

Buck Jones Nursery

Day Lily Nursery, Inc.

Buds & Blooms Nursery

Dayton Bag & Burlap

Buffalo Horticulture Sales

Devroomen Garden Products

Buy Sod, Inc. BWI Companies C & J Nursery Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc. Carolina Crepe Myrtle & Shade Tree, LLC. Carolina Landscape Supplies, Inc. Carolina Native Nursery Carolina Stalite (Environmental) Carroll's Plant Center, Inc. Carver Brothers Turf Casey Nursery, Inc. Certified Plant Professional Charleston Aquatic & Environmental, Inc.

Bennett's Creek Nursery

Charlie's Creek Nursery, Inc.

BFG Supply Co.

Cherokee Manufacturing

Big Frog Nursery

Clarity Connect, Inc.

Biosafe Systems

Classic Groundcovers, Inc.

Bland Landscaping Company

Commercial Pine Straw

Blankenship Farms & Nursery Bluefields Nursery Co. LLC Bob Young's Nursery Bottoms Nursery, LLC. Bouldin Nursery & Greenhouse

Construction Attachments Country Ridge Nursery County Line Tree Farm

Diebel Nursery Ditch Witch of North Carolina Dolce Vita Farms Doug Clark Nursery, Inc. dba C & G Nursery Dutchman Industries Inc. Eason Horticultural Resources, Inc.

McMakin Farms Inc. Meridian Young Plants MHC Kenworth Michells Gra-Mac Irrigation

Iseli Nursery

Grants Creek Nursery, Inc.

J & B Herb and Plant Farm

Gravely

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

Great Lakes Fastening

J. Parlier & Associates

Green Biz Nursery

Jack Rabbit Nursery

Green Resource

Jackson Nursery

Monrovia Nursery

Greenleaf Nursery Company

Jake A Parrott Insurance Agency Inc

Moon's Tree Farm, Inc. Mountain Nursery

Greensboro Shrub Nursery

James River Equipment Company

Mycorrhizal Applications

Greenscape Tools, Inc.

JC Raulston Arboretum

Greenthumb Nursery, LLC.

Jericho Farms

Griffith Propagation Nursery, Inc.

John Holmlund Nursery

GROWinBAG

Native Forest Nursery

Jones Insurance Agency

Hamner Tree Farm

Jon's Nursery Inc.

NC Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board

Everde Growers

Harrell's Nursery Inc.

Fair View Nursery, Inc.

Harrell's, LLC

Kenneth Myers and Sons Nursery

NC Pine Needle Producers Assn.

Fertileeze

Harvest RFID

King's Greenhouse, Inc.

NCDA & CS

Fieldworks Nursery Equipment (formerly Prichards)

Haviland Plastic Products

King's Sunset Nursery, Inc.

NCNLA

Kirk Davis Nursery and Landscaping, Inc.

Nelson Nursery

Hawkins Nursery, Inc.

Fitzgerald Nursery, Inc

Hawksridge Farms

Five Oaks Nursery & Tree Farm

Hefners Nursery Heritage Farms

Fleming Ridge Nursery

Heritage Oak Farms, LLC

Flowerwood Nursery, Inc.

Hibernia Nursery

Fowler's Nursery

Hickory Hill Nursery

Fraser Knoll, LLC

Highway Equipment Company, Inc.

GardenCenterMarketing. com

Hildreth Brothers Nursery

Cub Cadet

GoMaterials

Hoffman Nursery, Inc.

Currins Nursery, Inc.

Goodson and Associates, LLC

Hortica

30 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

N.C. State University Horticultural Science

Hackney Nursery

Crumpler Plastic Pipe, Inc

Cyn-Mar

N.C. Irrigation Contractors’ Licensing Board

Encore Landscape Lighting

Hillside Nursery Wholesale Co., LLC.

Brooksville Palms

MNI Direct

H & H Farm Machine Co.

Gilmore Plant & Bulb Co., Inc.

Curtis Lane Equipment

ML Irrigation

Elliott's Nursery

Hills Creek Native Plants

Breezy Acres Nursery

Mize Farm and Garden

Johnston County Nursery Marketing Association

Gardenscape

Creekside Farms Nursery

Johnson Nursery Corp.

Mitchell's Nursery & Greenhouse

Gossett's Landscape Nursery, Inc.

Howard Fertilizer & Chemical I Must Garden

NC Composting Council

L & H Enterprises

Netherland Bulb Company, Inc.

Lake Oconee Tree Farm

Nicholson Farms

Lake Tree Growers

North 40 Nursery, Inc.

LandscapeHub

North Carolina Farms, Inc.

Lanes Creek Trees

North Carolina Native Plant Society

Lathams Nursery, Inc. LeafFilter North of North Carolina, LLC Lemon Hole Nursery Lewis Nursery, Inc. Lilley Farms & Nursery, Inc.

North Creek Nurseries, Inc. Nufarm Americas, Inc. Nursery Supplies, Inc. NurserySouth, LLC NYP Corporation

Liner Farm Nursery

OHP

Liner Source, Inc.

Old Courthouse Nursery

Little River Nursery

Oldcastle Lawn & Garden

Long Branch Farm

Pack Manufacturing

Panoramic Farm, Inc.

R. Plants, Inc.

Saunders Genetics, LLC

Star Ridge Aquatics, LLC

Tim Johnson Landscaping

Warren County Nursery

Panther Creek Nursery

R.A. Dudley Nurseries, Inc.

SCAG Power Equipment

Star Roses and Plants

Tinga Nursery, Inc.

Parker Bark Company, Inc.

R.M. Gragg & Sons Nursery LLC

Scottree

Starling Nursery

T-Mobile

Waynesboro Nurseries, Inc.

SePRO Corporation

STI Turf Care Equipment

Todco Inc.

Sester Farms, Inc.

STIHL

Tom Dodd Nurseries, Inc.

Shady Grove Plantation & Nursery, Inc.

Stockhaven Nursery, LLC

Transplant Nursery

Stone Center

TreeDiaper

Stony Point Nursery and Farms

Triad Irrigation & Landscape Supply

Stuppy Inc.

Triangle Risk Advisors, Inc.

Sugar Mountain Nursery

Triangle Turf & Ornamental

Parsons Nursery, Inc. Pattillo Tree Farm, LLC Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden PBI Gordon Pender Nursery Performance Outdoor Products, Inc. Piedmont Carolina Nursery

Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements Ralph Modlin Farm Ray Bracken Nursery, Inc. Reddick Equipment Company of NC LLC

Shady Rest Nursery Shiloh Nursery Simplot Turf & Horticulture

Reimer's Nurseries Ltd. Rhodes Nursery

Simpson Nurseries

Riverbend Nursery, LLC

SiteLight LD, Inc.

Sumter Gardens Superior Trees Inc.

Piney Mountain Trees

River's Edge Nursery

Plant & Supply Locator

Riverside Plastics, Inc.

SiteOne Landscape Supply

Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

Rocky Creek Nursery

Smith's Nursery, Inc.

RootMaker Products Co, LLC

Sonco Pipe and Tube

Swift Creek Nursery

Southeastern Growers, Inc.

T.H. Blue, Inc. Taylors Nursery

Southern Ag

Tennessee Valley Nursery

Southern Pine Needles of NC, LLC

The Greenhouse Company of South Carolina, LLC.

Southern Specialty Equipment, Inc.

The Holly Factory

PlantANT Plantworks Nursery Poplar Ridge Nursery, Inc. Powell's Nursery, LLC Preferred Lawn and Garden LLC Premier Growers of America, LLC Premier Growers, Inc. Pritchett Farms Nurseries Progreen Inc.

Rose Creek Nursery and Landscaping Roundstone Native Seed, LLC. Rusty Mangrum Nursery Sampson Nursery, Inc. Sandhills Community College Sandy's Plants, Inc. Saunders Brothers, Inc.

Specialty Tag & Label, Inc. Spivey's Nursery, Inc. Spring Creek Nursery Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.

Super-Sod Surface Nursery, Inc.

Thomas Nursery, Inc. Three Volcanoes Farm Thumbs Up Nursery Tidwell Nurseries, Inc.

Trident Fence TriEst Ag Group Turf Connections Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. Turner & Sons Nursery

Wetland Plants Inc. White House Gardens White's International Trucks Williams PlantWorks LLC Willow Oak Nursery Willowbend & Ridge Manor Nurseries Wind River Growers LLC Worthington Farms, Inc. Wyatt Quarles Seed Company

As of Jan. 7, 2022

Turtle Creek Nursery United Fertilizer Technologies Van Belle Nursery Vandemark Farms L.L.C. Vans Pines Nursery, Inc. Vermeer Mid Atlantic Vole King Walnut Hill Farms Walters Gardens

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INDUSTRY RESEARCH

A

pest of container nursery ornamentals since approximately 2007, the redheaded flea beetle (RHFB) (Systena frontalis) eats holes in the foliage of broadleaf container ornamental plants, reducing their marketability.

In 2021, I conducted a nursery research trial comparing three rates of Mallet 0.5G insecticide containing imidacloprid, a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide, to test its effectiveness in reducing damage from this insect.

Incorporating Granular Imidacloprid to Reduce Red-Headed Flea Beetle Injury

By Danny Lauderdale

Area Specialized Agent, Nursery and Greenhouse North Carolina State University Extension danny_lauderdale@ncsu.edu

34 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES || WINTER 2022

Materials and Methods

On April 1, 2021, 960 three-gallon pots were planted with Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ plants rooted in six-cell packs, and three liners were potted into each three-gallon container. The four different substrate treatments tested included: 1. An untreated control (UTC) using the nursery cooperator’s standard potting mix 2. Addition of a low incorporated rate of Mallet 0.5G (3.4 pounds per cubic yard) 3. Addition of a medium incorporated rate of Mallet 0.5G (5 pounds per cubic yard) 4. Addition of a high incorporated rate of Mallet 0.5G (6.6 pounds per cubic yard) Pots were arranged in a 16-block randomized complete block design with four replicated blocks of 60 pots

per treatment. Pots were watered with overhead irrigation throughout the project, and no foliar insecticides were applied. Pots were spaced on July 9, 2021, and plants were pruned on July 15, 2021. Plants were monitored for RHFB damage every other week beginning in mid-May. Ratings of foliar injury and percentages of plants with damage were recorded once damage became easily noticeable.

Results and Discussion

Ratings began on Aug. 6, 2021, at 18 weeks after treatment (WAT). At 18 WAT and 20 WAT, all rates of Mallet 0.5G were providing statistically similar levels of control, with reduced percentages of plants with damage compared to the UTC. At 22 WAT, the medium and high rates of Mallet 0.5G resulted in lower percentages of plants damaged (17.75% and 15.25%,

respectively) by RHFB, compared to the low rate of Mallet 0.5G (39.75%) and UTC (77.75%).

At 18 WAT, 20 WAT and 22 WAT, plants treated with all rates of Mallet 0.5G had lower foliar damage ratings compared to the UTC. The study concluded on Sept. 2, 2021, since plants were pruned again on Sept. 8, 2021.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Although overall RHFB pressure was low in the study, differences among the treated and UTC plants were obvious during the foliar damage rating period. By the end of the study, a significantly higher percentage of plants were damaged by RHFB when treated with the low rate of Mallet 0.5G, compared to plants treated with the medium and high rates. All Mallet 0.5G treatments resulted in lower foliar damage ratings compared to the UTC.

RHFB Foliar* Damage Rating** with incorporation of Mallet 0.5G (potted on 4/1/2021)

Foliar damage rating means with the same letter within columns are not statistically different.

Duncan’s Multiple Range Test, .05 level. (*Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’) **Foliar Damage Rating: 0=0%, 1=1-10%, 2=11-20%, 3=21-30%, 4=31-40%, 5=41-50%, 6=51-60%, 7=61-70%, 8=71-80%, 9=81-90%, 10=91-100%.

Percent of plants* damaged by RHFB with incorporation of Mallet 0.5G (potted on 4/1/2021)

Percent means with the same letter within columns are not statistically different.

Duncan’s Multiple Range Test, .05 level. (*Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’)

WINTER 2022 || NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES 35

INDUSTRY RESEARCH This study showed that Mallet 0.5G was effective when incorporated at potting and provided long-term reduction of damage. Based on the results of this study and other research and demonstrations I have conducted, granular imidacloprid insecticides are effective at reducing foliar damage from RHFB. You can expect to see very low levels of damage, even at medium and high rates, since RHFB has to feed on foliage to ingest the insecticide. I hypothesize that the pressure was low in this study due to the use of small sixpack rooted liners that were free of RHFB injury and population when rooted in 2020. The RHFB population in the study area slowly moved in from surrounding container production areas and remained low, since, due to sales demand, many of the surrounding susceptible plants were moved to other finishing areas. My

A greater percentage of UTC and low-rate treated plants had feeding injury by the end of the study, at 22 WAT, compared to plants treated with medium and high rates of Mallet 0.5G.

Plants treated with medium or high rates of Mallet 0.5G had beautiful foliage with very limited RHFB feeding injury.

recommendation is to use medium or high rates of Mallet 0.5G when incorporating it at potting to provide the highest and longest-lasting levels of RHFB foliar damage prevention.

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In eastern North Carolina, treatments with imidacloprid targeting larvae are best prior to 250 growing degree days, based on 50 degrees Fahrenheit (GDD50), and I try for 200 GDD50 in established plants with known RHFB population or at potting for clean liners. Drench-applied imidacloprid is also effective with one drench application at spring potting (April 15) and has resulted in as little as no foliar damage for at least two months (June and July). Topdress applications of the other granular imidacloprid product labeled for nursery use (Marathon 1% Granular) have provided foliar damage reduction lasting more than three months. In a demonstration done with drench (Imidacloprid 2F) and granular (Marathon 1% Granular high rate) imidacloprid, plants treated at potting (June 2019) had no larvae in container substrate in April 2020 and had no foliar injury in June 2020.

This was also true for imidacloprid (Imidacloprid 2F) liner drenches applied prior to potting.

Imidacloprid drench and granular insecticides are effective tools in reducing damage caused by RHFB. As with all pest-management tools, read and follow label instructions related to application rates; maximum allowable per acre per year; and all other crop, environmental and applicator safety precautions.

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