The Growing Concern April 2022 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

AP R I L 2 0 2 2

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E O H I O L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N

Spring Training Day

April 12, 2022 / Secrest Arboretum (Wooster, Ohio) / PAGE 7

Young Professionals Meet-Up

May 12, 2022 / Old River Tap & Social (Rocky River, Ohio) / PAGE 17

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

IT’S TIME TO “MAKE HAY”

BRIAN MAURER, LIC Brian-Kyles

The green industry has a narrow window within which to make money – and by now – that window is close to, if not wide open. With many of us having already begun the daunting task of working from sun-up to sun-down, the rest of us aren’t far behind. And, as we all know, spring weather coupled with a diminished labor pool isn’t going to make things any easier.

us had the mentality that we must “make hay while the sun shines.” It wasn’t uncommon to see crews out on Saturdays, or even an occasional Sunday, when the week’s unfavorable weather only allowed these days to be the ones where you could “make that hay.” As of late, those generations have become the minority within the industry, and thus, brings us to a time when something has to change, and people fear change.

Most of us who have worked in this industry, if even for a short period of time, have experienced the relentless hours necessary to stay afloat. For me, it goes back as far as my childhood. I grew up in a family-owned landscape business, where my father would get us going early in the morning and then leave us for what felt like most of the day. We would work tirelessly to keep the jobs moving, trying to keep production times low, because we knew that the faster we worked, the more the company made. Generally, around 4 o’clock, just when we thought our day was wrapping up and it was close to quitting time, our father would return – with more work. It took me becoming a business owner myself to see just how hard it must have been, but somehow, he found a way to motivate us to keep working well beyond what was considered “normal work hours,” moving said “quitting time” to 9pm, and sometimes later.

For me, I can see a bit from both perspectives. On one side, I’ve done what the older generations have done. I’ve put in the long hours and – at this point – I’m am accustomed to it. On the other hand, I’m young enough that I feel I can empathize with the new generation’s point of view and why they may feel the way they do. Let me explain…

So, where am I going with this story? For some of you, it may be very relatable. For others, it may be what you fear the most about our industry. Within this industry, generations before

Many people in my age range, or close to it, saw both of our parents work. We grew up “latchkey kids,” visiting with our grandparents, staying at our friends’ houses, or perhaps left alone to our own devices until either parent eventually returned home. With both parents working, family meals and time morphed into dinners at McDonald’s (remember those indoor playgrounds) and hours spent in front of the TV. As we grew older, many of us witnessed our parents, or friends of theirs, lose what they had been working so hard for… retirement. Steel mills closed, car-manufacturing plants retooled and sent jobs overseas, etc. Our parents, who had worked so hard in anticipation of their Golden Years, continued on page 6 The Growing Concern | April 2022 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS A P R I L 2 0 2 2 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON AL G REEN I N D UST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440.717.0002 Toll Free: 1.800.335.6521 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr.

Photos Courtesy of The Bremec Group. COVER: Judging for this year’s Landscape Ohio! Awards took place in March. Winners will be announced at our 25th Annual Gala on June 16th, 2022. Tickets to attend are available, but will be limited. See page 16. Photos Courtesy of The Bremec Group.

FEATURES

3 8 12 18 22 28 34 35 35

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

It’s Time to “Make Hay”

PERENNIAL FOCUS

The Versatility of Allium

FISCAL FITNESS

Portfolio Rebalancing

REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Brian Maurer, LIC, BrianKyles Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 1.800.335.6521, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org. DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.

FOR SAFETY SAKE

Tracking & Calculating Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR)

OFFICERS President Brian Maurer, LIC

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

PLANT OF THE MONTH

President – Elect Stephanie Gray, LIC

FEATURE ARTICLE

Treasurer Cameron Maneri

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Great Western Plant Explorers: The Sargents 8 Tips For Better Job Postings in the Landscape Industry

DIRECTIONS

The Rules Have Changed to Obtain a CDL License

NEW MEMBERS ADVERTISING INDEX

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Immediate Past President James Funai, PhD DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Ryan Drake Tina Graver Rob Morel Jeff Rupp, LIC Kate Stone, OCNT

C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS U P C O M I N G O L A M E E T I N G S , E D U C AT I O N S E M I N A R S & E V E N T S

APRIL

JUNE cont.

APRIL 7, 2022 OLA SPECIAL EVENT

JUNE 16, 2022 25th ANNUAL AWARDS GALA

Joshua Gámez, CEO of East Coast Facilities, Inc., leads one of the market’s most dynamic maintenance firms in the US, an organization that serves Fortune 500 clients in multiple states. Joshua will be speaking at our upcoming Central Ohio Special Event covering the topics of the Secrets to Operations Success and The Recruiting Game. Held at the Grange Audobon Center, Columbus, OH.

Join Ohio’s landscape community for an evening out as we reveal the 2021 Landscape Ohio! Award winners. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have been contemplating entering, or for those of you just looking to spend an elegant night out with industry leaders as we celebrate our industry! See page 16 for more details.

APRIL 12, 2022 SPRING TRAINING CLINIC Safety is the key to a running a successful company. This clinic features sessions on proper equipment utilization & operation, basic first aid, safe hauling & loading procedures, and more. Take this opportunity to get your crews ready for the 2022 season! See page 7.

JULY JULY 12, 2022 PLANT I.D. CLINIC (Central Ohio) This clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews covering the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Sponsored by Premier Plant Solutions. See page 27 for more details.

MAY

JULY 14, 2022 PLANT I.D. CLINIC (N.E. Ohio)

MAY 12, 2022 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP

This clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews covering the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Sponsored by Davis Tree Farm & Nursery. See page 27 for more details.

The OLA’s Young Professionals in Landscape Group is being created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry. If you are under 40 years old, you are invited to join. See page 17 for more details.

JUNE JUNE 7, 2022 WOMEN IN LANDSCAPE MEET-UP OLA’s Women in Landscaping Group was created for the purposes of connecting, empowering, and advocating for women in the landscape industry, while amplifying the voices of our current & future women leaders. Location TBD

JULY 19, 2022 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP The OLA’s Young Professionals in Landscape Group was created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry. If you are under 40 years old, you are invited to join.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE LANDSCAPE COMPETITION RESULTS The NALP’s National Collegiate Landscape Competition is an annual 3-day powerhouse event which brings together the top landscape and horticulture students, top industry companies and dozens of the biggest industry manufacturers and suppliers. Each year more than 500 students from 2- and 4-year colleges demonstrate their skills in realworld, competitive events and network with top companies at the largest Career Fair in the industry. This year, of the 43 schools that entered the program, 8 of them were from the state of Ohio, including: Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, Columbus State Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Knox County Career Center, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, Ohio State University ATI, Owens Community College, and Upper Valley Career Center. We’re extremly pleased to announce that Team Tri-C finished 2nd overall and once again was the top finishing 2-year program in the nation, finishing only 50 points out of 1st place! Additionally, Peyton Musgrave (Tri-C Student and OLA Student Member) was the TOP finishing student overall out of 510 students! This team was lead by OLA Board members Dr. Jim Funai, Cameron Maneri and Stephanie Gray. Congratulations!

The Growing Concern | April 2022 | 5

PR E S IDENT ’ S C OL UMN HOURS OF OPERATION Monday – Friday 8am–5pm Saturday 8am–12pm

continued from page 3

not only feared that they wouldn’t be able to thrive during retirement, but that they may not be able to sustain what they had. In fact, many of them couldn’t, so they continued working well beyond retirement. Fast-forward to the current generations who have borne witness to all of this and there’s a much different vision of what they want their lives to look like. With the failed promises of retirement, and all of the “lost time,” why would they show up and work their ass off, only to be told at 4 o’clock that they have another five hours left? Why would they, for one second, believe that one day they will be able to retire and ride off into some mythical sunset? The truth is, very few people want to wait until 65 to MAYBE enjoy their lives. They want to enjoy their lives now. Every day. Every week. Every month. And, every year. The cool kids call it “Work-Life Balance,” but it’s not a new concept. It’s been around since the late 70s /early 80s, when baby boomers started to take some time to enjoy life in multiple locations, i.e. “Snowbirds.” The point of all of this is, as many of us look to find ways to accommodate the growing concept of Work–Life Balance, to keep in mind that it’s imperative that we know our audience (employees). As Denise Kestner asked us at our March evening meeting, “When was the last time that you, as a manager, asked your employees what they like, or what they want?” If you can’t answer that question, quit procrastinating. On the other hand, if you can answer it and you keep telling yourself that you need to allow your employees more time away from work… What are you waiting for? Give it to them. There’s way too much data out there for us to not accept that, as humans, we can do so much more if we get the rest and relaxation that we need to be successful. The same goes for any of you non-managerial employees reading this article. When, as an employee, was the last time you took it upon yourself to sit down with your manager and discuss what is most important to you? Understand that while the manager should be the responsible one for knowing their employees, the employee must also be open with their manager for an effective partnership to work. Have a safe and productive season, everyone!

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SPRING TRAINING DAY

Preparing Your Crews for 2022 As winter comes to a end, Mother Nature shifts her focus towards spring - and so must our crews! This year’s Spring Training Clinic will teach your employees industry best practices from start to finish, as well as how to be safe while performing them - all in effort to get them ready for the 2022 season! This year’s topics of discussion will include: • Stretching: Starting Your Day Off Right • Travel Safety: Pre-trip Inspections & Proper Loading/Hauling Practices • Equipment Utilization, Operation & Safety - Mower & Small Equipment - Tree & Shrub Work - Chemical Applications & Pesticides - Small Engine Equipment. • First Aid: ‘What to do in Emergency Situations’ & ‘How to Deal with Cuts, Lacerations & Heat Stroke’ • Post Trip Work: Dumping, Cleaning & Equipment Maintenance Best Practices Having a trained crew is the key to fostering a culture of safety within your company. Owners, Crew Leaders, Crew Members - anyone working in the Green Profession - is encouraged to attend!

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Cancellations made 8 to 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds or credits will be issued for cancellations 7 days or less prior to the course, no shows, or cancellations on the day of the course. If, for any reason, the course is cancelled, enrollees will be notified, and fees refunded in full. Register early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly.

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The Growing Concern | February 2020 |AT 7 REGISTER ONLINE OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/EDUCATION

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Allium unifolium amid foliage of Geranium ‘Biokovo Karmina.’

THE VERSATILITY OF ALLIUM What bulb genus has species that bloom from spring through fall? Why, Allium, of course! I love to use smaller species of Allium, of which there happen to be many, in effort to extend bloom time in the garden. I do this by selecting ones that bloom before or after the perennials with which they are interspersed.

yellow flowers, and naturalizes rapidly. I’ve planted mine in between clumps of Stachys monieri that won’t bloom until July. The cultivar ‘Jeannine‘ sports two flower spikes per bulb, instead of the typical one, and flowers a few weeks earlier than the species, meaning early June rather than mid-June. Both grow in full sun to part shade in zones 3-8.

Allium unifolium (also known as A.roseum) has rounded heads, is pink, and grows up to 12 inches tall. I planted this one (see image above) in Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo Karmina.’ The Geranium is semi-evergreen and has bright pink flowers that bloom in May, while the Allium unifolium follows with its soft pink flowers in early June. Although most of the small-flowered and short Alliums are white, pink, or lavender, there are two small yellow ones that make quite a splash in the landscape. Allium moly (Golden Garlic) is only 10 inches tall, has dense umbels of bright-

The way Allium moly is planted between clumps of Stachys monieri makes it look as if it is the bloom of the Stachys.

continued on page 10

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS continued from page 8

The other yellow Allium is A.flavum (Small Yellow Onion). Similar in height and cultural needs, it will not bloom until mid-July or early August. This Allium has a more vertical umbel but is also a naturalizer and is hardy in zones 4-8.

While everyone exclaims over Giant Allium (Allium giganteum) – and they are spectacular – they have one big problem. The foliage begins to look like it’s dying at least two weeks before the bulbs bloom. I deal with this liability by interplanting it with Anemone hybrida (Japanese Anemone) which produces lots of foliage by May and June but doesn’t bloom until early fall. Therefore, the foliage of the Anemone hides that of the Allium while the large heads of the Allium bob above the Anemone foliage and make an otherwise very green space a colorful one.

Allium flavum.

Another combination that I have been extremely happy with is the planting of Allium christophii between Astrantia (Masterwort). This short, but large-balled Allium has palelavender flowers that appear in late May and early June, while the Astrantia does not bloom until mid to late June. The structure of this Allium is quite appealing, even after the petals have dropped off. I often find myself leaving them for quite a long time before deadheading. Quite interestingly enough, I have visited more than one garden where the owners have painted the deadheads bright colors to add color to the garden for a longer instance of time.

The chartreuse sprays of Alchemilla mollis create a colorful background for the purple heads of Allium christophii.

Another Allium that I can’t imagine living without is Allium giganteum, specifically for its shock value. Everyone, regardless of age, is amazed at its height and size, sporting 4- to 5-inch spheres on 4-foot stalks!

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Allium giganteum.

Although most gardeners and designers focus on the spring blooming Allium, many of the summer blooming ones are worthy of our attention. I have planted the wispy, Allium caeruleum, also known as Azureum (blue, usually 18 inches tall), between a Hydrangea and several other perennials. It doesn’t bloom until the middle of June.

The blue of Allium azureum.

One of my favorite Alliums is the late June/early July blooming A. sphaerocephalum (Drumstick Allium). Its unusual shape and maroon color add excitement to my border. I’ve planted it beside two different Stachys.

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In early July, the color of Allium sphaerocephalon reinforces the pink/magenta palette of Stachys monieri ‘Hummelo’ and ‘Cotton Candy’.

Blooming at approximately the same time is Allium atropurpureum, another maroon Allium that I frequently pair with white-flowered Allium nigrum. Both have mounded flower heads that are about 2 feet tall. I plant them between perennials such as Geranium psilostemon, which shows off its magenta flowers at the same time, and Kniphofia (Poker Plant), which will not make its splash until sometime midsummer.

Who says magenta is difficult to use in the garden? Just partner it with white and purple Alliums.

Allium carinatum var.pulchellum (Keeled Garlic) is lovely but is also an extremely prolific naturalizer. Although the catalogs say that it grows 20 to 24 inches high, in my garden, it has only only grown to the height of around 18 inches high. It blooms vigorously in full sun from mid-July to midAugust and is hardy in zones 5 thru 8. I planted mine near Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’ and ‘Jogasaki,’ but it has since spread across the bed, close in proximity to Picea glauca and acts as a color echo of Origanum ‘Herrenhausen’. Thus, during the mid-summer months, this specific bed tends to be full of serene pastels, while other parts of the garden are bright and bold.

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Photo10: Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’ and ‘Jogasaki’, Allium carinatum var.pulchellum, Origanum ‘Herrenhausen’ ; hardy bulb; 18405 east hill; 7/17/12 Caption10: Allium carinatum var.pulchellum will create a sea var.pulchellum will create a sea of lavender of lavender if Allium you letcarinatum if naturalize. if you let if naturalize.

My garden is an unending delight to me twelve months of the year. Creative use of a variety of Allium and smart planting strategies guarantee a long, gorgeous display. The effort involved in accomplishing this is well worth it. Let them put on a show in your clients’ gardens too! Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).

The Growing Concern | April 2022 | 11

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

PORTFOLIO REBALANCING Now is an important time to review your investment portfolio, whether it’s in stocks, bonds, mutual funds or a 401(k) or retirement plan. With the U.S. stock market starting off the first part of 2022 with negative returns, the Federal Reserve is starting to raise interest rates to stave off inflation and world conflicts, many portfolios will be over-concentrated or under-exposed in some industries or sectors. Diversification and balance will reduce the overall risk in a portfolio. Growth stocks made huge gains from the last couple years. Without rebalancing, the technology stocks would have consumed a large portion of the portfolio. We’ve seen in the past the negative effect of overweighting in technology stocks in 2000 and the recession of 2008-2009. In 2007, oil and natural resource companies had posted huge gains, outperforming all other sectors. Without rebalancing, this sector would have consumed a large percentage of the overall portfolio the next year. In the last six months of 2008, oil plummeted from $147 per barrel to around $40 per barrel, sending a wave of selling throughout the industry, and portfolios overweight in the oil sector took large hits. Now with the crisis

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, oil has yet again run back to over $100 per barrel from $40 in the last two years. Rising interest rates can pose a problem in bond funds. Individual bonds have maturity dates when an investor receives the face value back. Bond mutual funds, on the other hand, do not have a maturity date, so their price (Net Asset Value) changes every day and rises and falls primarily on interest rate moves. When rates go up, bond prices go down. And the longer the maturity, the more volatility will occur. Bond mutual funds may perform well in a climate of stable rates or especially when rates are falling. This is not that time. Be careful and understand what you own. continued on page 14

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continued from page 12 Rebalancing is important because any mix of investments will get out of whack over time. Your bond funds won’t grow at the same rate as your stock funds (and usually will not lose as much). Your domestic and foreign investments will post differing returns, and funds following different investment styles will behave differently from each other, too. That shifting mix matters. You had a reason for dedicating a certain portion of your portfolio to U.S. stocks, a certain portion to foreign, and so on. You built your portfolio to reflect your investment goals and the level of risk that you’re comfortable with. But if your portfolio has drifted far enough away from that original mix, it will no longer be the same fit for you. Rebalancing also makes sense from a point of diversification because a diversified portfolio will generally carry less risk. Investors heavy in a particular stock, sector or industry take inordinate amounts of risk compared to diversified portfolios. I’ve seen people with huge chunks of stock from large, stable companies lose tremendous amounts of money or miss excellent market opportunities, because they were not properly diversified. Even mutual funds can be concentrated in the same stocks or sectors. For example, you might have five mutual funds from five different mutual fund companies and think you are

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diversified extremely well. Chances are that the top holdings in those funds could be identical. Every investor has different goals and strategies. I believe it is important for the investor and their advisor to develop rules and strategies to help reduce risk. As always, consult with your financial advisor for information specific to your individual situation.

Scenarios illustrated are hypothetical in nature, results may vary. Investing is subject to risk which may involve loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management office at 17601 W. 130th Street – Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio. Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com Securities and advisory services offered through L.M. Kohn & Company Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (800) 478-0788

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The Growing Concern | September 2021 | 23 The Growing Concern | April 2022 | 15

LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS GALA

EVENT INFO THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 WINDOWS ON THE RIVER 2000 SYCAMORE ST, CLEVELAND, OH 44113 AGENDA REGISTRATION/COCKTAILS 5:30PM - 6:45PM DINNER 6:45PM - 7:30PM PROGRAM 7:45PM - 10:00PM COST MEMBER: $75 PER PERSON * Includes champagne toast, dinner and awards show. CASH BAR.

LANDSCAPE ENHANCEMENT AWARDS GALA

The Landscape Ohio! Awards Program is an annual Landscape competition, created by the Ohio Landscape Association, in effort to increase awareness of quality landscaping and how it improves our environment. In conjunction with this program, the OLA hosts a prestigious Awards Gala to recognize our designers, installers, and property owners. The 2022 Gala will be held in the breathtaking Bridge View Room, at Windows on the River, in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. It is a semi-formal event inclusive of a cocktail hour, dinner buffet and awards presentation. It is also an excellent chance for industry professionals to get dressed up and celebrate the work being done by their teams and their peers. This year, the OLA is happy to announce that we will be able to offer a limited amount of tickets to those who did not enter this year’s competition. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have been contemplating entering, but want to know more about the program, or for those of you just looking to spend an elegant night out with industry leaders and get inspired.

THIS YEAR’S MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

* Members in attendance may bring a non-member guest

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

* Opportunities to sponsor this year’s event are still available and we are always happy to accept the donation of door prizes. For more information, please contact the OLA office at 440.717.0002.

ALL ROADS

THIS YEAR’S CATEGORY SPONSORS

Alvord’s Yard & Garden, Bedford Glens Garden Center, Belgard, Bigfoot Landscape Supply, Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Great Big Home & Garden Show, Klyn Nurseries Inc., Kurtz Bros., Inc., Lake County Nursery, Premier Plant Solutions, Snow & Ice Management Association, Unilock Ohio Inc., Valley City Supply, Wolf Creek Company

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EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION MAY 12, 2022 OLD RIVER TAP AND SOCIAL 19245 DETROIT RD, ROCKY RIVER, OH 44116 AGENDA NETWORKING & DISCUSSION 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: NO CHARGE FOOD/BEVERAGE: ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FOOD AN BEVERAGE PURCHASES. NOTE: NON-MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THEIR FIRST MEETING FREE OF CHARGE. THEREAFTER, THEY WILL NEED TO HOLD A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IN ORDER TO ATTEND.

AR T IC L E

FOR SAFETY SAK E NETWORKING EVENT

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN LANDSCAPE Professional Networking Event

Interestingly enough - and to many people’s surprise - the average age of a landscape contractor is over 40 years old, representing over half of the population. With demand for our industry’s services at an all-time high, and because Father Time is still undefeated, we must turn our focus toward the next generation of rising talent. The OLA’s Young Professionals in Landscape Group is being created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry, within the state of Ohio. If you are under 40 years old, you are invited to join this FREE Young Professionals Network and connect with people who are on a similar career path and share your passion for our industry. Our first meeting, scheduled for May 12th, 2022, will be a very informal event used to determine future topics of conversation for the group.

INAUGURAL GUEST MODERATOR RYAN DRAKE / J.F.D. LANDSCAPES, INC.

As a graduate of John Carrol University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Ryan Drake works for J.F.D. Landscapes, Inc., a family-owned, full-service landscape company servicing Northeast Ohio. Ryan has worked within his family’s business for nearly 15 years, having run crews in his earlier years, and now as an Account Manager. In addition to his work at J.F.D., Ryan spent time working for Davey Tree Ohio’s largest employee-owned company and the eighth-largest in the nation - in their Grounds Management Division. Currently, Ryan serves on the OLA’s Board of Directors, is Chair of the Programs Committee - the committee responsible for determining our evening meeting schedule - and is an active participant on our Education Committee. In his spare time, he has coached both soccer and lacrosse at Gilmour Academy, trains retrievers, and enjoys waterfowl hunting along with spending time with his family.

ABOUT OLD RIVER TAP & SOCIAL

Old River Tap and Social transformed a former long-time bar/restaurant into a cool industrial modern spot with two distinct spaces. The Tap Room, up-front, is perfect for your lunch or night out with comfortable seating spread across our bar, tables and open drink rails. And our Social Room in back provides just the right amount of fun to enjoy a game of cornhole, some table games or grab a seat at our open air bar to watch the games on TV.

F OR SAFETY SAK E

TRACKING & CALCULATING LOST TIME INCIDENT RATE (LTIR) There’s no shortage of metrics to capture in your environmental, health and safety strategy. Figuring out which ones can make the biggest impact can seem daunting, but many of them are critical to your organization’s success. When creating your EHS strategy, recording your Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) should be a priority.

WHAT IS LOST TIME INCIDENT RATE (LTIR)?

HOW TO CALCULATE LTIR

Lost time incident rate is a standard OSHA and PERRP metric that calculates the number of incidents that result in time away from work. Not all recordable incidents result in lost time, which is why there is a separate calculation for these more severe incidents. For example, a workplace injury where an employee breaks his or her arm on the job and misses work the next day would be included in an LTIR report. A similar situation where an injured employee can work the next day would not be included in this metric.

The formula to use when calculating LTIR is: (Number of lost time cases x 200,000)/total number of hours worked by employees. The figure 200,000 is a standard number to measure incident rates so that companies of varying sizes can be compared fairly. This figure was determined by multiplying 100 employees by 40 hours (a standard work week) by 50 weeks (assuming each employee takes two weeks of vacation). The resulting figure indicates the number of employees who lost time due to an incident. continued on page 20

18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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FOR SAFETY SAKE

continued from page 18 For example, if you have 40 full-time employees and 3 incidents that resulted in lost time, your calculation will look like this: (3 x 200,000) / 80,000 (40 employees x 40 hours per week x 50 weeks per year). Your lost time incident rate would be 7.5, which means that for every 100 employees, 7.5 have experienced lost time due to an incident.

MAKING THE MOST OF LTIR REPORTING LTIR is a lagging indicator, meaning it uses data from incidents that have already happened. This figure on its own can’t help you forecast future incidents, but it can prove useful over time.

It might sound like just another metric, especially if you’re already obligated by OSHA/PERRP to record it. But, even if no one is forcing your hand, this piece of data can prove beneficial to your company.

Many medium- and large-sized organizations calculate this rate monthly and track the trends from month to month. You can compare this rate to activities in your safety program to help gauge their effectiveness. For example, if you implement a new form of training at the beginning of the year and notice your LTIR decreases from the previous year, you might be inclined to believe your safety training had something to do with it.

For starters, calculating your LTIR lets you know how much impact those incidents have on your organization and if the trend is improving or worsening over time.

If you notice your rate starts to climb, you’ll know to investigate it sooner than later. If they decline, you’ll know something in your safety program is working.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRACKING LTIR

Your lost time incident rate may also affect your business insurance rates. An increase in this figure may trigger a series of other events, including a hike on your premiums. Another benefit is that this statistic is impossible to over-report, unlike recordable incidents. Some companies record incidents that shouldn’t be recorded for fear of becoming non-compliant with OSHA. Reporting unnecessary incidents exaggerate your figures, since LTIR focuses only on incidents resulting in time away from work, there’s no way for you to skew the results so you get a more accurate idea of your safety status.

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

The Division of Safety & Hygiene’s safety, industrial hygiene and ergonomics specialists can help you develop effective strategies to make your workplace safer and healthier. They can visit your workplace or consult with you by telephone or email. These services are available for any private or public employer. BWC also offers specialized options for certain employers. You can request these services online at: info.bwc.ohio.gov or 1.800.644.6292 For more information, please contact Craig Lanken at 330.472.1656 or craig.lanken@sedgwick.com

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PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College Weeping Hemlock.

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

GREAT WESTERN PLANT EXPLORERS THE SARGENTS This month’s article took some serious research as we tried to figure out why we see the name “Sargent” show up in several of the common landscape plants that we use today. We thought we’d quickly discover who this person (singular) named Sargent was. Yet, after combing our typical historical resources, we discovered there were actually two (related) people being honored in this frequently used specific epithet. Our story begins with Henry Winthrop Sargent (18101882), a New York banker who had retired about 60 miles north of Manhattan, on a 20-acre estate which he named “Wodenethe.” Wodenethe is Saxon for “sylvan promontory,” which we further translated to mean, “hill with nice views and trees.” This begged us to wonder, “Why didn’t he just call it that in the first place?” Anyway, H.W. Sargent was a plant nerd at heart and was also a good friend of one of the most famous landscape architects of the time, Andrew Jackson Downing.

In a very extensive article titled, “Closing the Book on Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock,” which we found in the Arnoldia (a publication of the Arnold Arboretum located at Harvard University - Volume 78 / Issue 2), the author outlines the long history of Sargent’s beautiful Weeping Hemlock. In reviewing this article, one of the more intriguing things we found was the messy history behind the botanical name for Canadian Hemlock. Known today as Tsuga canadensis, through the 1800s this plant was called Abies canadensis (Abies being the name for Fir). Even stranger, the common name was the continued on page 24

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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continued from page 22 “Spruce Hemlock.” It seems, there was a period in time where no-one could agree what common names should go with very distinct Evergreen genera. How do you confuse Firs, Spruce, and Hemlocks? (Too nerdy? Probably.) Back to Sargent. Records are clear that a man named Jefferson Horton discovered a wild Weeping Hemlock on his farm in Hopewell Junction, NY in the 1850s. H.W. Sargent learned of this tree and received a few cuttings for his estate in the 1860s. Then, some other famous plant nerds who owned a few prominent nurseries came along and obtained cuttings, which sparked the commercial propagation of Abies canadensis ‘Inverta,’ today known as Tsuga canadensis ‘Sargentii.’ A beautiful trait of Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock is the variability in height and width, essentially users’ choice. The tree wants to weep and won’t form a strong leader, so it must be staked if we want to see good height over any reasonable period of time. Eventually, a mature specimen can grow into the 20-foot-tall range, and up to twice as wide. It’s a magical experience, crawling inside the canopy of a giant Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock. Massive branches twist and turn upward then back down to create an umbrella of foliage blocking out the sun and building a green igloo of awesomeness. Be

24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Viburnum sargentii, ‘Onodaga.’

careful though, many public gardens have signs asking you to not take part in this practice, as to preserve the plant, which is not a fan of compacted soil. After this discovery we assumed all the other plants with the “sargentii” specific epithet must also be attributed to this guy, but we quickly found that this was incorrect. A younger cousin, named Charles Sprague Sargent (18411927), rose to horticulture fame, as he was the very first director of the Arnold Arboretum (Yes, the same one mentioned above). In this position, C.S. Sargent was able to explore plants from around the world and test them at the growing arboretum in Jamaica Plain, MA, which is just outside Boston. He focused on testing many plants from the Northern parts of China, Japan, the Korean peninsula, and others from the Amur River valley. Several plant nerds through the years have named plants in honor of C.S. Sargent. Here are a few of the most common: Viburnum sargentii – Native to NE Asia, this Viburnum is similar to our native Cranberrybush Viburnum, with 3 lobed leaves. If you need a compact flowering shrub, this 4-foot

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meatball will provide beautiful flat-top flowers in spring, with deep-red fruits in late summer, and beautiful, orange fall color. Need a little more size? Try ‘Onodaga’ which comes in at the 6 to 8-foot range. This specimen features red-tinged new leaves, pink-edged flat-top flowers, bright-red fruits, and orange fall color. This past fall, ours – located at the Professors Funai Arboretum – were an intense orange for nearly 4 weeks! We had an outbreak year of Viburnum Leaf Beetle on our collection this summer, but the Sargent Viburnums faired quite well. Malus sargentii – This Asian Crabapple is smaller in size – around the 12-foot range - but the best uses are found in the cultivars available. Most popular is ‘Tina,’ with a height of 4 to 5-feet by 8-feet wide (max). It features bright-white single flowers. In the fall, bright-red fruits make this specimen popular for tight urban plantings. The ‘Tina’ legacy has been expanded by Klyn nursery to include ‘Tina’s Charm,’ which is a bit smaller than ‘Tina,’ with clean foliage, white flowers, and a more orange-red fruit. ‘Tina’s Ruby’ is similar in size to the original, has maroon/red foliage in spring, dark-pink flowers, and orange-red fruits. Finally, ‘Tina’s Weeper’ is a true weeper (unable to make a leader) and can grow to a height at which you would want to stake it.

Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii – Discovered by C.S. Sargent on the coast of Hokkaido in 1892, many argue this is a separate species (perhaps, after all, it wasn’t in China!). A longtime staple in American gardens, this Juniper will stay under the 2-foot mark and spread at least 6-feet wide, making for a beautiful, green ground cover in full blasting sun. The plant is happy at home in Northern Japan, near beaches and on cliffs, indicating good salt resistance and dry (well drained) soils. We’re going to run out of room, but a quick mention of a few others includes Hydrangea sargentiana, Crataegus sargentii, Sorbus sargentiana, Prunus sargentii and Camellia japonica ‘Professor Charles Sargent’. This guy had a lot of plants named after him. Please check some of these out, we just highlighted four garden stars for you to use and fall in love with! Jim Funai, PhD is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio and is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care. The Growing Concern | April 2022 | 25

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F EATURE ARTI CLE

tips for better job postings in the landscape industry

Photo courtesy of H&M Landscaping.

As a landscaping company, you know you can count on three things: death, taxes, and labor shortages. To keep up with the workload, you should be hiring year-round, but we know recruiting high-quality workers is a challenge any time of the year.

WHERE TO START? When it comes to hiring great workers, it all starts with the job description. Ideally, you put together a list of everything you want from a candidate, then send it out into the universe and it returns to you with a pool of qualified applicants. But in reality, no hiring process goes this smoothly—and the job market is more competitive than ever. If you want to stand out, you have to improve your postings. Fortunately, you can do so easily by following a few of the best hiring practices. Here’s a list of quick tips to instantly improve your landscape employee job postings and start bringing in more candidates.

28 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

• • • • • • • •

Keep it short Sell yourself Create a careers page Optimize for SEO Include the right details Clarify next steps Make it easy to read Ditch formality

KEEP IT SHORT Job seekers interested in a landscaping career typically skim lots of postings during their search. If yours is too long, you risk having prospects click away because they don’t want to continued on page 30 spend the time reading it.

F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 28 Postings that are around 300–600 words tend to perform well, so try to keep yours as concise as possible. In addition to making it easier to read, cutting words can also help you focus on your core message.

SELL YOURSELF Many landscape business owners feel prospective employees should just be grateful for the chance to have a paycheck. In 2022, though, workers will expect more. They want to work for a company that will respect their contributions, prioritize wellness and advancement, and operate with integrity. This shift has led businesses to reframe their approach to hiring, both to stay competitive in a challenging job market and to reflect true care for their employees. The job application and interview process isn’t just about candidates “selling” themselves to you anymore—it’s also about you selling yourself to candidates. To start, show how landscape professionals at your company are able to pursue the career path of their choice. Highlight opportunities for growth and training. Explain how your organization values diversity. Talk about your benefits package, work-life balance, paid time off policies, and workplace culture.

30 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Include a condensed version of this information in your job posting to help you stand out to future applicants.

CREATE A CAREERS PAGE If you don’t already have a careers section on your business’s website, now would be the appropriate time to add one! It can be as simple as a single page, or as complex as a whole subsite devoted to the experience of working at your company. This should be at the top of the “high-priorities” list when it comes to building out your digital footprint. When thinking about content, of course you’ll want to list open positions and career opportunities for green industry employees, but don’t stop there. Add photos, videos, and testimonials from current employees. Share highlights from your benefits package, talk about your culture and values, and explain why your company is a great place to work. For some excellent examples of great landscape industry career pages, check out the following companies: • • •

Grassperson Lawn Care and Landscape Ruppert Landscape Kingstowne Lawn and Landscape

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OPTIMIZE FOR SEO

A great job posting won’t help if no one reads it. That’s where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. You can optimize your online job listings by using the right keywords, including your location, and sharing across multiple job posting sites. This will help your post to show up when people search for jobs in your area on Google, LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, SimplyHired, or any other job boards. Finally, have your web developer add structured data to job openings to ensure your landscaping jobs appear in a special “jobs” list when someone searches on Google.

INCLUDE THE RIGHT DETAILS Most job posts follow a typical format: introduction to the company, description of the role, list of responsibilities, list of qualifications, and final details. But what information should you really include? Start with a “hook” (using the first couple of sentences to grab a reader’s attention), then move to a brief description of your company’s culture and what the job entails to establish an immediate connection with the candidate. Next, include any relevant details about the position.

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If you’re looking for team members with specific types of experience — setting up sprinklers or irrigation systems, using fertilizers or pesticides, mowing, or mulching, for example — include that in your posting. Also include any educational requirements, such as a high school or college degree. Some tips to keep in mind: • • •

Include the pay rate or salary to attract more applicants. Be realistic with the requirements you include. Keep lists of responsibilities short enough to skim (you can expand on them during the interview).

You may also want to define job titles like crew leader, crew member, groundskeeper, mower, or landscape designer. Someone interested in an entry-level job opportunity might not be familiar with terms typically used in landscape management.

CLARIFY NEXT STEPS If someone’s interested in applying for your job, make it as easy as possible for them to do so. At the end of your post, include specific, clear instructions for what to do next, whether its calling the office, filling out an online application, continued on page 32 or submitting a resume. The Growing Concern | April 2022 | 31

FEATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 31 Whatever the next steps are, make sure they’re crystal clear for readers with little-to-no room for misunderstanding.

MAKE IT EASY TO READ As we’ve mentioned, the job search process involves lots of skimming. Optimize the format of your listings so they’re easily digestible to give you a leg up with prospects. To improve the reader’s experience: • • •

Use bullet points to break down details about a job (but don’t overdo it). Write in short sentences. Break large chunks of text into shorter paragraphs.

You also want to make sure the elements in your post flow together naturally. People expect to see the contents laid out in a certain order, and while you can shake things up, throwing expectations out entirely can be disorienting and uncomfortable for searchers.

DITCH FORMALITY Finally, you’ll have a better chance of connecting with candidates if you talk to them like real people.

32 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

You don’t have to use formal language in your postings to be taken seriously. Adopt a more conversational tone to help prospects feel more comfortable with your company. Not sure how to do that? A great first step is to get rid of impersonal third-person language (e.g., “The candidate will demonstrate skills in…”), replacing it with “we” and “you” language (e.g., “You’ll work closely with our sales team to find opportunities for…”). Have people around the office take a look at your postings, and ask if they sound stiff. If the answer is yes, consider rewriting the same content—instead of sending it to an unknown mass of people, though, picture your ideal candidate sitting across the desk from you and write directly to them. Now that you’ve got some ideas for how to improve your job postings, you’re off to a great start.

This article appeared on the Aspire Software blog, located at www.youraspire.com/ blog. It was written by Kim Oswalt, who joined Aspire Software’s marketing team in 2021. As associate content manager, Kim creates educational blog posts, white papers, infographics, and more to support members of the Aspire community.

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D I RECTI ON S

THE RULES HAVE CHANGED TO OBTAIN A CDL LICENSE

SANDY MUNLEY

Executive Director / OLA

Back in April of 2017, I wrote my article about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announcement to change the requirements for training to obtain a new commercial driver’s license (CDL) that would take effect in February of 2020.

Prior to February 7, 2022, there were no required minimum number of hours for the training or behind-the-wheel portions. Now, you will be required to have 40 hours of classroom theory and 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training to become eligible to test for your CDL License.

That change was postponed, but the new requirements took effect February 7 of this year. Our good friend and long-time CDL Trainer, Daryl Lengyel called me last week to make sure I was aware of the changes. He also put me in touch with a consultant to the State of Ohio so that I could discuss the new requirements with him, as well. Gone are the days of obtaining a CDL Temporary License (Learner’s Permit), a few hours behind the wheel with a CDL holder or trainer, such as Daryl, then taking your CDL road test.

The only exception to these new rules is for those that currently hold a CDL Learner’s Permit/Temporary License. That temp is good for 6 months from the date of issue, and if you currently hold a temp that you got prior to February 7, 2022, you CAN take the test without going through the new requirements. You may or may not be able to renew that temp. Apparently, that is a gray area right now. If you have a temp, take the time now to prepare for and take the CDL test or it will cost you more time and more money!

The new requirements will take more time and will cost more.

If you currently have a CDL License, you are grandfathered in and you do not need to do any additional training. I highly recommend that you keep that license current and intact.

With the new rules, to either obtain a Class B or A, or upgrade from a Class B to a Class A: •

•

Drivers will be required to obtain training (theory and behind-the wheel) PRIOR to taking the CDL knowledge test for a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) Training must be provided by an entity or individual listed on the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry (You can find a list of authorized truck schools at drivertraining.ohio.gov) The State Driver Licensing Agency will be required to verify training has been completed before allowing the driver to proceed to the next step (this is done via electronic records uploaded by the trainer)

34 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Please remember that you need a CDL to operate any of the following vehicles: A single vehicle with a GVWR over 26,000 lbs. A combination vehicle with a GVWR over 26,000 lbs, or towing a unit over 10,000 lbs GVWR. A passenger vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver. It does not matter if your truck and/or trailer are empty - what matters is what your truck and trailer are rated for. Have a great spring and above all – be safe!

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