The Growing Concern June 2023

TRANSITIONING FROM SPRING TO SUMMER

STEPHANIE GRAY BrightView Landscape

HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES DOING?

For most, spring is a great time of year because trees and shrubs are in bloom, as plants begin their year’s growth cycle. For those of us in the Green Industry though, it’s possibly the most chaotic time of year as we begin clean-ups, start our sales season, and tackle those weather-dependent construction projects.

This time of year, no matter what part of the Green Industry you are involved in, there is a serious uptick in hours worked and overall production that occurs. Time spent at work, or even just thinking about work greatly increases, as does the stress of performing everyday tasks. I’d venture to say that not one of us doesn’t feel the spring rush and panic over the increased volume, as we all know that there are only so many hours in the day. Couple that with varying weather patterns, fluctuating temperatures, etc., and it’s easy to see how our sense of urgency might get the best of us.

As business owners, when job activity increases it’s hard not to expect more hours out of both ourselves and our employees. It’s during this time though that we need to remain cognizant of everyone’s breaking point. While your business may be at the center of everything you do, it’s still important for all of those involved to maintain some sort of work-life balance, which only becomes harder as the need to get things done intensifies. Quite honestly – at this point – sometimes the best thing one can do is stop and take a break.

Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress that can hamper you and your employees’ productivity, feelings of self-worth, and sense of accomplishment. While not a medical diagnosis, experts think that – combined with other conditions – burnout can cause depression and other mental health problems.

Studies have found it takes an average of three months to a year to recover from burnout. Much of this depends on the level of emotional exhaustion and/or physical fatigue reached, including any sort of relapses. In a recent CNBC poll, burnout was cited as one of the top three reasons why young people (Gen Z and Millennials) leave their jobs.

Great! So, now what? If you’re thinking to yourself, “How am I going to get all of this work done if I can’t exponentially increase hours and/or responsibilities,” that’s not where this is going. Not at all! Just keep in mind that everyone needs a break at one point or another. Being burned out is not a choice. It is the result of being overworked. And, please do not confuse being burned out with laziness, as laziness is a choice people make. When one is too fatigued from burnout, even with proper rest, that feeling doesn’t subside.

So how can you catch someone before burnout sets in? Look for yourself, or an employee, having a general feeling of no

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Transitioning From Spring To Summer: How Are You & Your Employees Doing?

PERENNIAL FOCUS

The Longest Flowering Perennials

FISCAL FITNESS

Financial Jokes: 2023 Edition

FOR SAFETY SAKE

How To Appropriately Outfit Your Team For Summer Conditions

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Acer Griseum: Paperbark Maple

FEATURE ARTICLE

Offering Financing For Clients

FEATURE ARTICLE

Recruiting Women Is Your Next Power Move

MEMBERS

OHIO’S PROFESSIONAL GREEN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

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.

REGULAR WRITERS

Michael J. Donnellan, M3 Wealth Management

Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College

Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Stephanie Gray, LIC, BrightView Landscapes

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 magazine publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 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.

OFFICERS

President

Stephanie Gray, LIC

President – Elect

Cameron Maneri

Treasurer

Ryan Drake

Immediate Past President

Brian Maurer, LIC

DIRECTORS

Brandon Barker

Matt Malone

Tim McCaskey

Bob Ramser, LIC

Tom Rieder, LIC

Kate Stone, OCNT

OLA STAFF

Executive Director

Sandy Munley

Associate Director

Rick Doll, Jr.

COVER: 2023 Landscape Ohio! entry in the category of Water Features. Submitted by The Pattie Group.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

UPCOMING OLA MEETINGS, EDUCATION SEMINARS & EVENTS

JUNE

JUNE 15, 2023

26th ANNUAL AWARDS GALA

Join us for an evening out as we reveal the 2022 Landscape Ohio! Award winners. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have been contemplating entering, or for those who are just looking to spend an elegant night out.

JUNE 21, 2023

LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP

The OLA’s Green Industry Professional’s Group was created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry. All are welcome! See page 28 for more information.

JULY

JULY 11, 2023

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 Willoway Nurseries. See page 7 for more information.

JULY 13, 2023

PLANT I.D. CLINIC (N.E. 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 Davis Tree Farm & Nursery. See page 7 for more information.

JULY 19, 2023

WOMEN IN LANDSCAPE MEET-UP

OLA’s Women in Landscape 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.

See page 28 for more information.

AUGUST

AUGUST 3, 2023

OLA SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC

Join us at Mallard Creek Golf Club for the OLA Scholarship Golf Classic! Our golf outing was created to help generate funding for our scholarship program. Call the OLA at 440.717.0002 for available sponsorship opportunities.. See pages 20 & 21

AUGUST cont.

AUGUST 23, 2023

SNOW & ICE MANAGEMENT CLINIC

Whether you’re an owner, operations manager, dispatcher, or anyone in between, the OLA’s annual snow and ice management clinic is a can’t miss event for any company focused on improving how they handle the “white side” of their business. For more information concerning this year’s event, including vendor opportunities, see pages 22 & 23.

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

NE OHIO FACILITY TOUR (Turfscape)

Founded in 1988 by George Hohman, their dedication to detail and healthy client relationships quickly led to Turfscape’s first location opening in 1989. By 1999, the company began to thrive, building a headquarters in Twinsburg, a second location in Independence (2004) and a third in North Canton (2013). Join us as we tour Turfscape’s headquarters, located in Twinsburg, Ohio, to find out what has made them so successful for over 35 years. Registration opens July 2023.

continued from page 3

energy or just looking depleted. Another sign is checking out mentally or physically from job duties or tasks. This could lead to more incidents or damages at the office, or on jobsites. Negativity or cynical attitudes can also occur, in-turn spreading from one person to the entire team. And, the last thing to look for is a decrease in efficiency or efficacy. This could result in poor client interactions or deadlines not being met.

The term “quiet quitting” goes hand-in-hand with this phenomenon. When someone – out of nowhere – starts doing the bare minimum and there is no “above and beyond” anymore, this is quiet quitting. Combating this and stopping it before it starts is key. Simple things like having an honest conversation with oneself, or one’s employees, by asking, “How is it going?” or “How are you feeling?” can be a way to kick the door open towards garnering constructive feedback and getting people back on track to feeling better about their work. Perhaps think to yourself, “Do I really need to be answering emails at 8pm?” or “Should my crews really be working on a Sunday?”

In closing, stress is a fact of everyday life, and at one point or another everyone feels overwhelmed or stretched too thin. Taking time to keep doing things like prioritizing a good night’s sleep, hanging out with friends, eating properly, or just taking time to go out and have fun will go a long way in fighting that burnt out feeling. Getting a change of scenery may also rejuvenate the mind and creativity. Yet, while these activities will help, they will only go so far.

Additionally, you may want to take a deeper look at what changes can be made to help alleviate those stresses that regularly lead to recurring burnout. What aspects of these situations can be altered? Which tasks can be reassessed and delegated to someone else? Is there a way to reshape tasks or duties, or alter perspectives? Relationships also need to be looked at, and if there are ways to shield yourself from cynicism or tasks that are especially frustrating, this will also help.

• Screened Topsoil (Stored in a hoop house on site.)

• Granite & Sandstone Boulders

From 8” to 12’+ priced per ton and per piece on request. 1’-2’ granite and 2’-3’ granite available, presorted, for immediate pick up.

• Mixed Boulders (Available for immediate pick up.)

• Washed Gravel, Concrete & Mason Sand.

• Crushed Gravel & Limestone products available.

- Stephanie Gray LIC

COURSE INFO

JULY 11, 2023

WILLOWAY NURSERIES

6981 SCIOTO DARBY RD, HILLIARD, OH 43026

JULY 13, 2023

DAVIS TREE FARM & NURSERY

6126 NEFF RD. VALLEY CITY, OH 44280

AGENDA

8:30AM - 9:00AM

REGISTRATION / BREAKFAST

9:00AM - 3:00 PM

CLINIC

LUNCH INCLUDED

COST

OLA MEMBERS

PLANT I.D. CLINIC

This Plant ID Clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews that will cover the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Plants covered include perennials, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, as well as trees and shrubs - both evergreen and deciduous.

Those who should attend are plant installation staff, maintenance staff, garden center staff, foremen, and anyone studying to take the Landscape Industry Certified Technician’s Test.

GENERAL INFORMATION: This seminar is hands-on training with live plant material. Attendees will need their own notepad and pen, and will need to dress appropriately for outdoor practical training.

INSTRUCTORS

NON MEMBERS

O’Brien Lifestyle Landscaping, Inc.

McConnell Lake County Nursery

Veil Secrest Arboretum

Staff Willoway Nurseries, Inc.

THE LONGEST FLOWERING PERENNIALS

By Niki Jabbour / SavvyGardening.com

When planning a garden with long-blooming perennials, the same basic rules of design apply; choose a mixture of early, mid-season, and late-flowering plants. Of course, you can also affect both the bloom time and length of the flowering period with pruning practices; pinching, deadheading, and shearing. Read on to discover how to encourage months of blooms by combining clever pruning with the longest flowering perennials.

THE EARLY BLOOMERS

Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ (Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’, zones 3 to 9). With its relaxed, trouble-free growth habit, ‘Walker’s Low’ catmint is a perfect fit for a cottage garden or rock garden, or the front edge of a perennial border or rose garden. Plus, the plants bloom their heads off from late spring until midautumn with a heavy show of purple-blue flower spikes that are extremely attractive to pollinators and beneficial insects. It’s no wonder this drought-tolerant, hardy plant was chosen as the 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year. Once the initial flush of flowers begins to fade, give the plant a haircut, shearing it back by about one-half. Without a trim, the plant will continue to flower moderately, but a good shearing encourages tidy foliage and plenty of blooms that will persist until frost.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Geranium x ‘Rozanne’, zones 4 to 9). I don’t like to throw the term ‘low-maintenance’ around

irresponsibly, but with ‘Rozanne’, it’s the perfect description. This hardy plant forms 12 to 18 inch tall mounds of spreading foliage, which is topped from early summer until frost with two-inch wide, violet-blue flowers. After its initial bloom, the plants will continue to pump out a moderate amount of fresh flowers for months. However, if you shear the plants back by one-third after the first blossoms fade, you’ll encourage another heavy show of flowers.

Bleeding Heart ‘Luxuriant’ (Dicentra formosa ‘Luxuriant’, zones 2 to 9). Long-blooming perennials for shady spaces are hard to come by, but this is where ‘Luxuriant’ shines! Growing just knee-high, this hardy selection produces clusters of reddishpink, heart-shaped blooms throughout late spring and summer. The ferny foliage is also attractive, and makes a nice foil for the old-fashioned flowers. Plant this shade-tolerant perennial in a woodland garden, shady border, or...

Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

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...along a tree-lined pathway. Clipping out faded flowers will ensure months of bloom.

Pruning Tip – Don’t be afraid to grab those pruning shears once that initial bloom of spring flowers starts to wind down. Many perennials, like Geranium ‘Rozanne’ will continue to produce flowers all season, but in a lesser quantity. If you want a heavier bloom, shear the plants back by one-third to onehalf to push out fresh foliage and flowers.

THE MID-SEASON SUPERSTARS

Ornamental Onion ‘Millenium’ (Allium ‘Millenium’, zones 5 to 9). The 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year, ‘Millenium’ is a showy selection with grassy foliage and two-inch diameter, rounded flower clusters in a cheerful shade of lavender-purple. The flowers bloom for around six weeks each summer, attracting every bee, butterfly, and beneficial insect for miles around. The one-foot tall and wide clumps are perfect for the front of a perennial border or a rock garden where the ball-shaped blooms can be appreciated. Technically a bulb, this plant is usually sold as a potted perennial and can be planted in spring or fall. Unlike many perennials, pruning doesn’t produce more flowers.

Coneflower ‘White Swan’ and ‘Magnus’ (Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 9). Coneflowers are the cornerstone of a summer perennial garden, blooming for months, even in dry, hot conditions, and providing food for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. There are countless cultivars available to gardeners, but for months of flowers, it’s hard to beat old school selections like ‘Magnus’ and ‘White Swan’. ‘Magnus’ is a classic purple-flowering coneflower, while ’White Swan’

has large blooms with white petals and orange-copper cones. Both flower from early summer into mid-autumn, especially when deadheaded regularly.

Coreopsis ‘Full Moon’ (Coreopsis x ‘Full Moon’, zones 5 to 9). This eye-catching plant is among the longest flowering perennials with a season that stretches from early summer to early autumn. It’s also the first introduction in the new ‘Big Bang’ series of coreopsis, boasting large, soft yellow flowers that grow up to three-inches across. It also has excellent drought tolerance and is popular with the pollinators. ‘Moonbeam’ is another popular long-flowering coreopsis with pale yellow blooms that are smaller, but no less plentiful than those of ‘Full Moon’. With both cultivars, deadhead flowers as they fade to encourage new buds.

Astilbe (Astilbe species, zones 4 to 9). Astilbe stands out among the longest flowering perennials. Besides being super easy to grow, they thrive in both sunny and shaded gardens, and have feathery flowers that offers months of graceful color. And speaking of color, the blooms can be white, lavender, purple, bubblegum, deep pink, apricot, or red, often with bronze or purple foliage as well. The plants form tidy clumps with the flower plumes emerging in early to mid summer and persisting into winter. The plants do appreciate ample moisture and regular watering in dry summers can prolong the blooming period. Outstanding cultivars include ‘Bridal Veil’, ‘Pumila’, and ‘Fanal’.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium, zones 3 to 9). A butterfly favorite, yarrow is a robust summer bloomer with pretty, flat-

Ornamental Onion

Coneflower ‘White Swan’

Coreopsis ‘Full Moon’ Yarrow

Astilbe

Black Eyed Susan ‘Goldstrum”

Bulk

topped flowers that bloom for 6 to 8 weeks. The ferny foliage emerges in early spring and is followed by the two to four-foot tall flower stems in early summer. Yarrow is one of the longest flowering perennials that grows best in full sun with welldrained soil of average fertility; over-fertilizing can cause the stems to flop over. Flower colors can range from soft pastels to rich jewel shades. Deadhead spent flowers by clipping the flower stem back to the main foliage. Top varieties include ‘Moonshine’, which has pale, yellow flowers and ‘Cerise Queen’, a bright cherry-red bee magnet.

Pruning Tip – As summer flowers fade, deadhead often, cutting down to a fresh stem or set of leaves. This will push the plants to continue producing more blooms. Small flowered perennials, like ‘Moonbeam’ Coreopsis, can be quickly and easily deadheaded with hedge shears, rather than snipping individual blooms. In late summer, as flowering winds down, stop deadheading to allow some blooms to go to seed. Seedheads provide valuable food for birds and add interest to the winter garden.

FANTASTIC FALL FLOWERS

Black-eyed Susan ‘Goldsturm’ (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’, zones 3 to 9). Widely considered to be among the best perennials of all time, ’Goldstrum’ lights up the late summer garden with

weeks and weeks of bold color that persists into October. Each coneflower-shaped flower has a raised chocolate-brown center cone that is surrounded by golden petals. The drought-tolerant plants grow about two-feet tall and offer the best visual effect when planted en masse. Deadhead faded flowers to prolong the bloom period.

Purple Flame Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurascens’, zones 3 to 9). Maiden grasses add striking form and texture to the perennial border all summer long. By late summer, many cultivars produce soft, feathery plumes that emerge above the narrow foliage. Purple Flame Grass is a medium-sized maiden grass, growing three to four-feet tall with foliage that turns from bright green to fiery reddish-orange in early autumn. The attractive plumes are silvery-white and persist on the plants throughout winter. Plant it in a sunny site with well-drained soil. Pruning is only necessary in early spring when the dried foliage and flower stems from the previous season are cut back before the fresh growth emerges.

Pruning Tip – In late spring, pinch out the tips of late summer and fall blooming perennials like sneezeweed, Joe Pye weed, Russian sage, and Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. Pinching will slow flowering and produce bushier growth, which means more flower-bearing stems.

FINANCIAL JOKES

Let’s lighten things up a little this month, since Spring has arrived and your business is blooming along with the flowers. Here are some financial/investing jokes…

If you think no one cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.

My wife’s purse was stolen the other day. It had all her credit cards in it.

I was going to report it but the thief was spending less!

During the most recent stock market downturn, a stockbroker was asked how he slept at night. The broker responded, “I sleep like a baby. I wake up screaming and crying every two hours.”

A father is someone who carries pictures in his wallet where his money used to be.

Well, a lot of Wall Street experts are saying there are incredible bargains right now in the stock markets. This is a good time to buy. Oh, it’s a great time to buy, yeah. Like kind of after a huge car crash, there are auto parts laying all around. Same thing.

A preacher stands up at mass one Sunday and announced to his congregation:

“The good news is, we finally have enough money to pay for our brand new chapel!”

“The bad news is, it’s still in your pockets!”

What’s the best way to get in touch with your long-lost relatives? Win the Lottery.

It was graduation day and Mom was trying to take a picture of their son in a cap and gown, posed with his father. “Let’s try to make this look natural” she said. “Junior, put your arm around your dad’s shoulder.” The father answered, “If you want it to look natural, why not have him put his hand in my pocket?”

A study of economics usually reveals that the best time to buy anything was last year.

continued on page 14

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

Since 1986, VanCuren Tree Services has been Northeast Ohio’s complete tree care specialist. We provide comprehensive services for any residential, commercial, or utility tree care need.

The tree professionals at VanCuren Tree Services have helped home and business owners throughout Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio maintain the beauty, vitality, and safety of their trees.

We are proud to offer a full range of tree care services, from tree and stump removal to storm damage clean up to utility work and beyond.

To find out more about what VanCuren has to offer, visit our website at www.vancurentreecare.com, or call us

a free consultation.

• 178’ 50 Ton Crane

continued from page 12

Two farmers are watching the sunset on their tractor and having a chat between themselves.

The first says, “I keep hearing on the radio, TV, read in the papers about the stock market but I still have no idea what it is. Do you know?”

The second farmer replies, “How should I explain this to you… Let’s say you buy some eggs for your farm. These eggs hatch and now you have chicks. These chicks grow up to be hens that lay more eggs, out of which you get more chicks that grow up to be hens and so on and so forth. Eventually, your farm is full of them.

Then, one day a big flood ravages your land and takes all of them downstream. Then you sit and think to yourself: ducks… I should have gotten ducks. That’s what the stock market is like.”

I went to the ATM this morning and it said “insufficient funds.” I’m wondering is it them or me.

A woman rushes into her house and yells to her husband, “George, pack up your things! I just won big in the stock market!” George replies, “Should I pack for warm weather or cold?” The woman responds, “I don’t care. Just get out!”

Despite enormous fluctuations in the stock market this week, billionaire investor Warren Buffett announced that he will continue to invest in the stock market during the current financial crisis. So remember, everyone, this is no time to panic, as long as you’re one of the richest people in the world.

A tour guide was showing a tourist around Washington, D.C. The guide pointed out the place where George Washington supposedly threw a dollar across the Potomac River. “That’s impossible,” said the tourist. “No one could throw a coin that far!” “You have to remember,” answered the guide. “A dollar went a lot farther in those days.”

A mathematician, an accountant and an economist all apply for the same job.

The interviewer calls in the mathematician and asks “What do two plus two equal?” The mathematician replies “Four.” The interviewer asks “Four, exactly?” The mathematician looks at the interviewer incredulously and says “Yes, four, exactly.” Then the interviewer calls in the accountant and asks the same question. The accountant says “On average, four - give or take ten percent, but on average, four.”

Then the interviewer calls in the economist and poses the same question The economist gets up, locks the door, closes the shade, sits down close to the interviewer and says “What would you like it to equal?”

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. Trust services are provided by third parties. Neither our firm nor our financial professionals can serve as trustee

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

HOW TO APPROPRIATELY OUTFIT YOUR TEAM FOR SUMMER CONDITIONS

While landscaping may have many advantages over a typical desk job, being required to brave the elements isn’t one of them. Often, landscapers must perform grueling work in extreme heat for hours on end. Although most landscape workers take precautions by wearing extreme weather gear and taking regular breaks, others have pushed themselves to dangerous points.

In one notable instance, a landscape mowing assistant died while working on residential lawns due to heatstroke. To protect your landscaping team from the elements and maximize their productivity, it’s essential that your employees have the proper gear for those days spent in the scorching hot sun. That being said, here is how to outfit your team properly for extremely hot weather.

EXTREME HEAT GEAR FOR LANDSCAPERS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of people die from heat-related illness each

year. Just because your workers are young and healthy doesn’t mean that they can’t succumb to heat illness as well. To protect workers from sunburn and heat illness, it’s important for your workers to wear gear that wicks away moisture and protects their skin from UV rays. Here are a few must-have clothing items that your landscaping team needs to stay safe in the heat and humidity.

Headwear - Even with a full head of hair, you can still get sunburned on the scalp. To block the sun’s UV rays, make sure that you outfit your employees with UV-blocking hats

continued on page 18

continued from page 16

to protect their scalp. Although many landscapers opt for a simple ball cap, the best landscaping hat for hot weather is a wide-brimmed hat that covers the back of the neck.

Neckwear - If you opt for a regular hat, offer your employees neck protection with a neck shade. A neck shade can be worn underneath regular hats and hardhats to keep the neck cool while protecting from sunburn. Note that hard hats are required by OSHA in instances where flying debris could potentially injure workers.

High-performance blend shirt - When temperatures soar into the 90s, no ordinary cotton t-shirt is going to do. Your landscaping team needs breathable clothing that works as hard as they do. Outfit them in moisture-wicking t-shirts made from high-performance synthetic blends to help them stay cool and dry while they work.

High-performance blend pants - Similar to performance blend t-shirts, high-performance pants are designed to repel moisture and heat without sacrificing durability. Don’t forget to look for stretchy, durable fabrics, such as a polyester blend, that are designed to move with your team.

Landscapers may be required to wear other gear such as vests or other forms of personal protective equipment (PPE). When shopping for these items, pay close attention to the fabrics. Some fabrics may add insulation that increases their risk of heat illness. You can purchase vests and other garments with icepack pockets. These garments help workers combat the heat by storing ice close to the body, lowering their body temperature.

STAYING SAFE & PRODUCTIVE WITH THE RIGHT GEAR

Outfitting your team members in the right gear is only a part of keeping them safe in extreme heat. In addition to wearing appropriate clothing, it’s essential they know their limitations. New employees are especially at risk of suffering from heat illness. Allow them to acclimate to the heat and make sure that all your employees know how to recognize the signs of heat illness. Even with the best landscaping gear in the world, your team still needs to take breaks and play it smart.

This article was written by Natalie Bucsko. Bucsko serves as the marketing communications specialist for RefrigiWear, a company dedicated to making gear tougher than the conditions you work in. Bucsko oversees all content, including the website, knowledge center, blog, catalog, email, and social media.

TO OUR MAJOR

Sponsorship Opportunities

We are excited to be holding our 23rd annual golf outing at Mallard Creek Golf Club on August 3, 2023. But, we need your help to make it a success! This event helps to generate funding for our scholarship program, targeting qualified students interested in a vocation within the green industry. Call us to find out more about sponsorship features and benefits.

Tee Sponsorships

(Your company name will appear on a sign at your designated tee)

Door Prize(s)

Please Specify:

Item(s) will be:  shipped to OLA  dropped off at OLA

Cash Donation $

Let us shop for you!

$125

EVENT

SPONSORSHIP

SPONSORSHIP

SPONSORSHIP/EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES

AG-PRO COMPANIES

INFORMATION

BAKER VEHICLE SYSTEMS

TO REGISTER CALL THE OLA OFFICE

It’s Back! The OLA is happy to announce the return of our Annual Snow & Ice Management Clinic! Our Snow & Ice Management Clinic is a can’t miss event for anyone in, or thinking about being in the snow and ice business. Designed for both business owners and employees, the clinic will include group discussions and great information from snow and ice industry experts.

BOTSON INSURANCE GROUP

440.717.0002

BURNS JCB OF OHIO

EVENT INFORMATION

CLASSIC AUTO GROUP

AUGUST 23, 2023

8:30AM - 2:00PM

KRYSTOWSKI TRACTOR

LOCATION

Sponsorship/Exhibit opportunities are available to ALL Green Industry suppliers, including non snow and ice related businesses. All Sponsorship/Exhibit opportunities include:

• Your choice of exhibit size. (Subject to availability. See below for more details.)

• Your company name displayed on signage at the event.

ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD

LEPPO RENTS/BOBCAT

• Your company logo, linked to your company’s website, on all email communications promoting the event.

• Your company logo, linked to your company’s website, on the Snow & Ice Clinic landing page of our industry website.

OHIO CAT

O’REILLY EQUIPMENT

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH 44147

SIMA

AGENDA

• Your company will be recognized at the event and will have the opportunity to pass out marketing materials to attendees.

• A complimentary copy of the event attendee list, including attendee’s company name, contact person, mailing address & phone number.

BOOTH/EXHIBIT SIZES

SOUTHEASTERN EQUIPMENT

8:30AM - 9:00AM

REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

VERMEER MIDATLANTIC WINTER EQUIPMENT

9:00AM - 9:45AM

INTRODUCTION / STATE OF SNOW & ICE LEGISLATION

9:45AM - 12:00PM

PRESENTATION & TRADE SHOW

12:00PM - 12:45PM

LUNCH & TRADE SHOW

12:45PM

VENDOR MOVE OUT

Booths will be sold on a first-come, first serve basis, once last year’s sponsors have had the opportunity to renew. Exhibitors may set up their booths beginning July 25 at 7:00am. and have until 8:15am to complete set-up. All exhibit spaces will be located outdoors on pavement and should be interactive for attendees. Booths will need to be vacated by 2:00pm.

OPTION #1 10 x 10 BOOTH

OLA Member - $400 Non Member - $600

Includes:

• 10 x 10 Exhibit Space

• 2 Exhibitor passes

• Breakfast and Lunch

OPTION #2 20 x 30 BOOTH

OLA Member - $500 Non Member - $700

Includes:

• 20 x 30 Exhibit Space

• 3 Exhibitor passes

• Breakfast and Lunch

OPTION #3

30x40 or 20x60 BOOTH

OLA Member - $600 Non Member - $800

Includes:

• 30 x 40 or 20 x 60 Exhibit Space

• 3 Exhibitor passes

• Breakfast and Lunch

PLEASE NOTE: 10 x 10 booths are for TABLETOP DISPLAYS ONLY. Absolutely no equipment will be permited in a 10 x 10 booth. 20 x 60 booths will be created by combining (2) 20 x 30 booths. The same can be done for extra 30 x 40 booths.

SNOW BUSINESS SUCCESS

Whether you’re an owner, operations manager, laborer, or anyone in between, the OLA’s Annual Snow and Ice Mangement Clinic is a can’t miss event for any company focused on improving how they handle the “white side” of their business. This year’s focus will be on Solving Winter Labor Issues, What a Weather Service Can Offer Your Business & The State of Snow & Ice Legislation.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Kevin Gilbride, Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA)

Kevin Gilbride started in the snow industry in 1996 as part of the team that launched what is today Snow Magazine. As Executive Director of the ASCA, Kevin is committed to helping drive our industry to new levels, and getting the outside world to recognize both the professionalism that exists in the industry and the unfairness that the outside world places on your business.

Brian Ivey, NEO Weather

As owner of NEO Weather, Brian is all about helping others by providing a unique and detailed look at the weather forecast, as Impact based weather consulting can help outdoor businesses save massive amounts of time and money.

MINI TRADE SHOW

Visit industry vendors to see what’s new with displayed snow & ice equipment and products.

NOTE: The OLA is currently working with SIMA to confirm our 3rd speaker for this event. Please visit our Snow & Ice Management Clinic page at www.ohiolandscapers.org/snow--ice-clinic for regular updates to our program.

8:30AM - 2:00PM

LOCATION

ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH 44147

AGENDA

8:30AM - 9:00AM

REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

9:00AM - 9:45AM

INTRODUCTION / STATE OF SNOW & ICE LEGISLATION

9:45AM - 12:00PM

PRESENTATION & TRADE SHOW

12:00PM - 12:45PM

LUNCH & TRADE SHOW

- $89 - $119 - $139 - $169 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.

BEFORE 08/02/23 AFTER 08/02/23 BEFORE 08/02/23 AFTER 08/02/23

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

ACER GRISEUM

PAPERBARK MAPLE

This month’s woody plant is a favorite for many gardeners for a myriad of reasons. Acer griseum, also known as the Paperbark Maple, is a small ornamental tree that should be added to more gardens across your client base.

Paperbark Maple is a smaller maple – in the 20-to-30-foot range – with a width slightly less than its height, creating an oval-shaped crown with upright branching. As the common name suggests, the bark is one of the ornamental features worth noting as it peels in thin, paper-like sheets each fall. The bark has a beautiful cinnamon red/brown color and brings incredible winter beauty to the landscape. This is a tree that demands an up light washing the crown to get the bark peels to really show off their beauty through the entire year.

People often don’t recognize this as a Maple at first because they are used to leaves like Sugar (Acer saccharinum) or Red (Acer rubrum). Paperbark Maple is one of the tri-foliate maples, meaning the leaves are compound (split) into three parts. Around 3 to 5 inches long, the leaflets are coarsely toothed

with the middle leaflet being held on a short petiole. Bright green above with some hairs, flip the leaf over and you’ll see many tiny hairs giving a blue-green hue to the leaf. In fact, the specific epithet “griseum” comes from the Latin word griseus, which means gray. This is in reference to the blue/green/gray color of the underside of the leaves.

Most authorities often state flowers of Maples as being insignificant as a reference to their ornamental quality. While the flowers aren’t going to stop the show like a magnolia, we’d argue that maples have beautiful flowers. They aren’t going to be a selling point with your clients, but for the plant nerds in the group, Maple flowers are well worth noting. On Paperbark, the flowers are a soft yellow, pendulous cluster, like a group of tiny, yellow bells. They emerge as the leaves are

continued on page 26

Paperbark Maple.

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Formerly known as Premier Plant Solutions, the wholesale distribution centers servicing landscape clients have now fully merged into WNI to serve you better. With three convenient locations across Ohio, getting the right plants for your project has never been easier!

continued from page 24

unfurling, usually in mid-May. Maples are also often described as being wind pollinated. While that may be true, they are also insect pollinated and provide a key source for pollinators. Don’t trust people who say this doesn’t support our pollinators because it isn’t a native tree – just go outside and look at the tree in bloom and you’ll have all the evidence you need that our pollinators are happy to visit.

Seeds are quite noticeable on some specimens of Paperbark Maple. Just like all Maples, the fruit is a samara (seed with wing) that we often call helicopters. The seed part of the helicopter is swollen, and the wing is long with the two being held between 90 and 60 degrees apart. They turn a nice deep brown and are often held well into the winter. You won’t have a mess of maples like our native reds and silvers, as most of the seeds on paperbark are void.

There are plenty of options to consider when deciding where to plant a Paperbark Maple. Typical clay soils are OK for this tree, so long as it isn’t too wet for too long. It will also be at home in loams and sandier soils. Soil pH won’t have a big impact on their success, so long as you don’t stray too far from neutral to slight acid. Ideal exposure is full-sun to part-shade, benefiting from a little reprieve from hot afternoon sun in the middle of

summer. While we typically consider this as a specimen tree, perhaps a grouping of three or five would really up the impact of the bark features and fall color. Another great location for the tree is in the tree lawn and under powerlines. It should stay short enough to escape the dreaded utility hacking.

Acer griseum was discovered (to the western world) by famous plant explorer E.H. Wilson who brought trees back from China to England in 1899. Shortly after the introduction to the Royal Horticultural Society, the plant was shared with Arnold Arboretum and introduced into the United States.

While it is unlikely to find any cultivars on the market, there are some impressive hybrids. What is the difference, you ask? A cultivar is still the straight species with a unique feature (usually flower color, or size, or something observable). A hybrid is the result of two different species of plants cross breeding with their offspring being the hybrid. Many nurseries across the plant world have toyed with hybridizing Acer griseum with the best results coming from crosses with Sugar Maple and other, more commonly available, Acer maximowiczianum (Nikko Maple).

We often like hybrids due to a phenomenon known as “hybrid vigor,” referring to the often-improved growth of hybrids in

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Chunks

Step Treads

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Barnstone

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the plant world. The reason for this improved growth would be an entire lesson in genetics, so for now, let’s just go with the hybrid vigor phrase.

Girard’s nursery in Geneva (now closed) was a source of some of the first hybrids and is often honored by the name “Girard’s Hybrid Paperbark Maple.” This hybrid loses some of the papery flaking of the bark, being more of a tight curl held close to the stem, but still holds the beautiful cinnamon colors. It will grow faster than either of the parents even more brilliant fall color.

You may come across other cultivars of the same hybrid, but they will perform the exact same as the Girard forms and don’t need a unique name other than Girard. The only unique cultivar we have come across in our plant hunting is ‘Cinnamon Flake’ that has such tight curls in the bark that the ornamental appeal drops off.

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, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

(Sawn, Snapped, Irregular)

FOR SAFETY SAKE OLA NETWORKING EVENTS

EVENT INFORMATION GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP Professional Networking Event

DATE & LOCATION

JUNE 21, 2023

BLUE MONKEY BREWING CO. 5540 WALLINGS RD. NORTH ROYALTON, OH 44133

AGENDA NETWORKING

5:30PM TO 7:30PM

COST TO ATTEND

NONE

FOOD/BEVERAGE: ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FOOD & BEVERAGE PURCHASES.

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY JUNE 14, 2023

The OLA’s Green Industry Professional Group was created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry, within the state of Ohio. Everyone is invited to join this FREE networking group focused on connecting people who are on a similar career paths and want to share thier passion for our industry.

Our first meeting of 2023 is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21st, and will be a very informal event. Have a few beers and unwind after the hectic spring rush!

ABOUT BLUE MONKEY BREWING COMPANY

A family from North Royalton with a passion for beer and the community, came together with the hope of bringing the two together. Growing up in N.R. brothers Ryan and Rick Sacha felt their hometown needed a new spot to get away, spend time with friends and family and of course enjoy delicious beer. A place for the community to enjoy good music, play games, interact with each other or just unwind! Why not North Royalton’s first brewery!

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION

JULY 19, 2023

SUDS MAGUIRE’S BAR & GRILL 1270 W BAGLEY RD. BEREA, OH 44133

AGENDA NETWORKING

5:30PM TO 7:30PM

COST TO ATTEND

NONE

FOOD/BEVERAGE: ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FOOD & BEVERAGE PURCHASES.

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY JULY 12, 2023

WOMEN IN LANDSCAPE MEET-UP Professional Networking Event

The OLA’s Women in Landscape Group was created for the purposes of connecting, empowering, and advocating for women in the landscape industry. We want to help drive the change necessary to recruit and retain female professionals while amplifying the voices of current & future women leaders. If you are female, you are invited to join this FREE networking group. (Note: Based on group consensus, males may be invited to join from time to time.)

Our first meeting of 2023, scheduled for July 19th, will be a very informal event used to determine future topics of conversation for the group.

ABOUT SUDS MAGUIRE’S BAR & GRILL

Suds Maguire’s Bar & Grill has always been one of Berea’s favorite establishments. With cold beers on tap, a wide variety of bottled and canned beers, wines, and creative mixed concoctions, their patio is open seasonally with tables for dining, two TVs, and an outside bar that is connected to their inside bar. Suds has a pet friendly patio, as well as a variety of entertainment options.

Botson Insurance Group is an expert at insuring companies in the green industry. With over 25 years of experience in protecting landscape contractors, we understand your business and know what it takes to keep you up and running if and when something unfortunate happens. We offer over twenty-five (25) industry specific landscape insurance coverage policies.

ONE CALL DOES IT ALL.

• Group Health, Owner & Employee Life Protection

OFFERING FINANCING FOR CLIENTS

Oftentimes when a consumer is making a sizable purchase for a house, a car or other investment, they look for financing to help make the cost more manageable. Yet frequently, landscaping companies opt not to offer their customers any financing options, believing this is best left to the banks to handle. However, offering financing has benefits for both landscape company owners and clients.

FINANCING OPTIONS

Steven Salomon, president of Centerpoint Landscaping Services Inc., based in Henderson, Nevada, says they have been offering financing to clients for 10 years. Centerpoint Landscaping Services works with Green Sky, Wells Fargo and Lyon Financial.

Salomon says about 25 percent of their customer base takes advantage of the financing they offer. He says most go with a low APR eight- to 10-year loan that is four to nine percent depending on their credit score.

“The terms with the banks are reasonable but there is a little more delay than a client paying check or cash,” he says. “We are a healthy landscape company so we can float the delay a little bit with our financing clients.”

Alpine Gardens, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, partnered with a company called LightStream.

“We essentially work to simply refer our client to LightStream, who then handles all the details,” Nate Fetig, general manager and vice president of Alpine Gardens. “We understand that landscaping projects do not fit neatly into categories that many lenders use and can make it tough to get approval. LightStream seems to understand that segment and offers what seems to be competitive rates and terms for our clients.” They offer an assortment of terms and rates from as little as 36 months to 20 years depending on the needs of the client. Fetig says their cash flow isn’t impacted in any way as the loan is funded directly to the client and they pay Alpine Gardens like with any other project.

Fetig says they’ve offered financing to clients for five years but so far only a few customers have taken advantage of the program. Despite this, he says there’s little incentive for them to not offer financing.

“Once we signed up as a partner with the consumer financing company we essentially have nothing to do with it aside from an occasional update of terms on our website,” Fetig says. “It is something that costs our company nothing and can serve to eliminate one barrier to purchase for our clients.”

BENEFITS FOR CONTRACTORS

Some of the main benefits of offering financing are the ability to increase your potential customer base and to get an edge on the competition. You might have far more potential clients you can reach once they realize they have a choice in the payment options.

Also, because such a small percentage of landscape companies currently offer third-party financing, this could be another factor that helps set your business apart from others in the area who are charging a similar price. Fetig says that for the few customers

who have taken advantage of the financing they offer, it helped them close deals that might not have otherwise.

According to Enerbank.com, not only does offering financing help with your close rate, but homeowners who choose to finance spend 43.8 percent more on their home improvement projects.

“We offer financing to help clients achieve their dream landscape all in one sitting instead of phases,” Salomon says. “This way they get to enjoy the space right away while paying for it in smaller payments over time.”

BENEFITS FOR CLIENTS

By offering clients the flexibility of financing they are able to purchase the landscape project when they want rather than having to downsize the scope of the project or span it out over a number of years in affordable chunks.

“Our service is one that comes at a significant cost, that not all our clients can pay for out of pocket,” Fetig says. “We had heard from many of our clients that they were working on getting

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financing and so we wanted to be able to help direct them to a source for funding their project and remove that barrier.”

Many third-party financing companies can approve a client relatively quickly. LightStream can get funds to customers the same day an individual who applies gets all of their loan information submitted by 2:30 p.m. EST on a business banking day. There are also a number of different payment options clients can choose from such as a 12-month sameas-cash loan or a five-year loan with 6.99 percent APR, depending on the company.

ADVICE FOR OTHERS

While offering financing for your clients can be a win-win, make sure your clients clearly understand what they’re signing up for from the start. Also, take care not to assume who will or won’t be interested in the financing option. You don’t want to push individuals into that route, but bringing it up in the first meeting will let each customer know it’s available.

Salomon advises looking for finance companies that will accommodate the average sale of a project, depending on the size of the project.

“There is not a one size fits all approach to financing and clients’ financial needs,” Salomon says.

Fetig adds that many financing companies that work with landscaping projects have constraints on what must be included in the projects like a certain brand or amount of pavers.

“I would recommend that any landscaping companies thinking of offering financing take a long look at whatever companies they are looking to partner with to think about things such as what level of involvement will be required from your employees,” Fetig says.

This is because you don’t want your salespeople to become de facto loan officers. Also, determine how quickly the funding of the loan happens and who will be paying you – the financing company or the customer directly.

Also, be aware of the fees associated with providing the loans. Just like how there are credit card merchant fees, the various financing options will have different costs for your company.

“Ultimately, remember by offering financing, even if it is simply a recommendation by your company of a lender to work with, remember that your customer’s experience with the lender is now a part of how the customer perceives your process; make sure the experience is in line with what you want for your customer,” Fetig says.

This article was posted to the the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) webblog, located at https://blog.landscapeprofessionals.org, by content manager Jill Odom. The National Association of Landscape Professionals offers you access to the best professionals and experts in the business along with education and programs to help grow and increase profits, improve operations and safety, and set your company apart from the competition.

RECRUITING WOMEN IS YOUR NEXT POWER MOVE

The recent rally cry for labor has been unprecedented. Intensified need has owners venting their struggles to find and keep good help. But in our industry, it isn’t a new complaint. The revolving door of staffing has plagued the industry for decades. And while landscape business owners have become savvier employers, this post-pandemic climate has introduced new challenges; ones that are difficult to understand, and hard to overcome.

RECRUITING WOMEN

When it comes to women, roughly half of those I spoke to got their start in a way similar to my own experience; they fell into the work by chance introduction. The other half were pursuing adjacent fields of study – such as environmental science, horticulture, agriculture, and animal science – and eventually found their way into landscape production, which offered immediate impact and better pay. The women I interviewed are strong and resilient. They are ready to “dig in” with vigor and commitment for landscape companies that see them as able individuals worth training and investment.

It’s true that women are an untapped resource in our industry. Currently, 35% of our production labor force is women. Jane Ellis, horticulture manager of Joyce Landscaping in Barnstable,

MA comments on an advantage she’s seen in having female work crews: “There’s nothing better than a high-powered female client seeing a ‘girl-crew’ and saying how pumped she is to see working women on her landscape.” (Ellis’ use of “girl” is a term of endearment and pride when she refers to what she calls a “kick-a** crew of able and committed women.)

So how do you attract more women? Here are some considerations for your next recruiting campaign. (And a bonus: some strategies may attract more men too!)

Women were hit hard by the pandemic. In an article by CNBC, Oxfam International’s Executive Director Gabriela Bucher was quoted as saying, “Economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic is having a harsher impact on women, who

continued on page 36

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continued from page 34

are disproportionately represented in sectors offering low wages, few benefits, and the least secure jobs.” Women were effectively ousted from this “informal economy.” By offering on-the-job training, and skill-building through internship programs, a custom workforce might be available to the landscape industry if we can articulate the benefits to these job seekers.

Bathroom breaks need to be policy. Miriam Hellweg, director of maintenance at Sudbury, MA-based a Blade of Grass put it succinctly when she commented, “Hygiene isn’t a woman’s issue, it’s a human issue.” Gone are the days when relieving oneself outside was acceptable – especially in a hyper-hygienic, pandemic world. Hellweg feels that, as professionals, the industry needs to address this head-on by having a strategic plan around everyone’s need to use a bathroom regularly. To be frank, it can be an especially keen issue for women.

Companies owned by women and divisions managed by women had clear directives around hygiene. “Every truck had a list of public facilities, clients’ sites with available bathrooms, and we had a non-shaming environment about the need to be human on a daily basis,” says Tracy van Schouwen, owner of Northridge, MA-based Bees and Blooms Garden and former project manager of Merrifield Garden & Design in Wayland, MA for nearly a decade. Owners who make bathroom breaks a part of company policy destigmatize the issue.

Men and women both participate in parenting. Both men and women want to be present for their partners and children. Yet a lawn and landscaping labor force is expected to start early, work late, and take on weekend work. Incorporating a “second-shift” policy may help parents who are caring for children manage morning drop-off schedules. At The Garden Continuum, we’ve implemented a 10 AM shift start that allows women – and men – to manage their morning family obligations before starting their workday.

Today, many landscaping companies don’t provide for, or offer, childcare support. It may be an opportunity for owners to revolutionize the industry by adding this into our benefits portfolio.

Everyone needs a mentor. Lauren Holt, currently Boston branch manager at BrightView, remembers being told early in her career, “Just hop on into that Bobcat and take it for a spin.

We’ll get you trained up,” by one of the male owners of the landscaping company she was working for at the time. That company believed in her from day one, she said, and never treated her any differently than any of the young men hired.

That trust – and lack of special treatment for being female –gave her the courage to keep learning. Now, at BrightView, she’s in a management role because of her can-do, will-do, and willtry attitude, but she can also still drive and operate any piece of machinery you put in front of her.

Diversity creates uniquely skilled teams. Some believe women are generally detail-oriented and more ready to engage in deep conversation with clients and coworkers. From my experience, I can see some validity to this. If men and women actually do bring different skill sets to the table, there may be a beautiful team synergy in the making. Integration on work teams can disperse workload responsibilities by natural talent. Not everyone needs to do everything in the same way. Our teams are stronger when we allow people to work to their strengths and celebrate the differences.

Your current team is your best recruiting resource. Developing a paid recruiting program within your organization is an ideal way to build strong and resilient teams. If my college friend hadn’t recruited me that day so long ago, their crew would have been short-handed and I would have missed out on a career that was, until then, completely unknown to me.

It’s well documented that when we have friends at work, love what we do, feel appreciated, and are encouraged (and paid) to learn and build skills – we do better and stay longer in our jobs. Owners must lean into the amazing recruiting force they have in current employees. Tell them you want to see more women in your work force and they will deliver for you. It’s time to expend energy into finding people to train and mentor in our field.

Whether you specialize in lawn care or any type of landscaping, you have nothing to lose by expanding your workforce to include women. Everyone I spoke to believes if we could get the word out that we are running reputable, safe, and lucrative businesses with real career opportunities we’d attract more women – and men – to our companies. We’d also start attracting parents who could encourage their kids to consider the industry for gainful employment.

This article was written by Monique Allen and appeared at turfmgazine.com Allen is the CEO of TheGardenContinuum.com, an award-winning, multiple seven-figure landscape company in Medfield, MA. She’s the founder of the Life-Scape Method and author of the book STOP Landscaping, START Life-Scaping. She has dedicated her career to spreading awareness about sustainable landcare while working tirelessly as an educator, landscape business coach, and industry advocate.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

OLA has been looking for ways to engage our youth and expose young people to the landscape industry. We know that many students don’t know what great career opportunities are available in our industry and how many different types of jobs are available in landscape companies.

Last summer, the OLA PR and Marketing Committee (the committee that is charged with workforce development) struck gold. Committee member Traci Ward of Kurtz Bros. reached out to Randi Borosh, the Career Specialist at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center for the BrecksvilleBroadview Hts. School District. Randi was excited to meet with our committee and learn about the many opportunities available in our industry.

Randi set up a meeting for us with the principal of the Brecksville-Broadview Hts. High School (BBHHS), Kevin Jakub. At the meeting he gave us a tour of the school and was very receptive to the types of careers we have to offer.

Mr. Jakub invited his Environmental Sciences and CAD teachers to meet with us. We were given the opportunity to get inside the classroom and teach students. Bob Ramser of Turfscape taught the students why the landscape at the main entrance to their school failed. He taught them about how you select plants –right plant, right location, and a bit about design.

As it turns out, Bob is a natural instructor. He let the students brainstorm and never made them feel they made a bad

SANDY MUNLEY Executive Director / OLA

suggestion. Although, he did tease the student who insisted a hot tub should be installed. That student’s nickname is now “Hot Tub” throughout the school!

Bob then was able to meet with the CAD class students along with Brian Knauer of the Pattie Group to show them how you can draw landscape plans with CAD – not just floor plans, buildings, etc.

The Pattie Group pulled together a design for the front entrance area of the school using many of the decisions the students made.

On Sunday, May 7, a group of industry professionals removed the existing landscape at the school. We felt it was safer to use equipment when the students were not around.

The following weekend, the students and professionals worked hand in hand to install the new landscape – just in time for Prom and Graduation, and before the school year ended!

A different group of students came out every class period on Friday and Randi Borosh estimates that we had close to 300 students involved! Some of those students had never dug a hole, let alone planted a tree or shrub.

I cannot say enough about those that volunteered on Sunday, and the following Friday and Saturday, during the busiest time of year! And those that spent many hours in the classroom

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

The OLA would like to welcome its newest members!

REGULAR MEMBERS

B&B Landscaping & Tree Service LLC

5334 Darrow Road

Hudson, OH 44236

(330) 618-4671

Brent Townsend

Going Yard Lawn & Landscape

4043 Beck Ave.

Louisville, OH 44641

(330) 428-0587

Timothy Butera

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

714 N. Portage Path

Akron, OH 44303

(330) 836-5533

Tom Hrivnak

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Pace, Inc.

739 S. Mill Street

Plymouth, MI 48170

800-686-3128

Katie Gorham

helping to teach the students. And thank you to our committee. Special thanks to our partners who provided guidance, labor, plants, and materials:

• Brecksville Broadview Hts.High School

• Brian-Kyles

• Cuyahoga Valley Career Center

• Davis Tree Farm and Nursery

• J.F.D. Landscapes

• Kurtz Bros., Inc.

• Lake County Nurseries

• McCaskey Landscape and Design

• The Pattie Group, Inc.

• Turfscape, Inc.

• Willoway Nurseries, Inc.

• Wolf Creek Company

A great job by all! If you are interested in doing a project like this with a school in your area, please let me know. We are hoping this is a pilot program that we will be able to duplicate with other schools.