The Growing Concern May 2023

ARE YOU ABOVE THE TEAM, OR PART OF IT?

When promoted to a management role, many people nd the new responsibilities more challenging than they had anticipated - and for good reason. Suddenly, they are the one calling the shots, making important decisions, delegating tasks, and guiding sta towards a common goal… much of the time while still “doing the work.” In the end, the truth of the matter is that there are many things that go into being an e ective manager, a few of which I’d like to bring to your attention… as a refresher, of course!

A recent survey conducted by Good Hire stated that 82% of American workers said they would potentially quit their job because of a bad manager. So, not only do managers need to worry about production schedules, directing sta , etc., but they also need to ne-tune their people skills to keep current sta happy. Yikes!

So, what makes a good manager a potentially great leader?

A great leader is thoughtful, open to communication and sets clear expectations with their sta . ey not only consider what is in the best interests of their organization, but also what is in the best interests of their employees, because leaders who neglect to listen to their teams will quickly disenfranchise their employees.

A great leader is also inspirational. ey get people excited about their work, encouraging people to follow them because

they want to, not because they have to. Much of this can be accomplished by encouraging individuals to think for themselves, while also buying into the team mentality. Taking the time to learn team members’ strengths and weaknesses and to help utilize those talents accordingly is key. Once people see that you are a thoughtful leader, it tends to lead to increased motivation, loyalty, and overall productivity.

Finally, a point I’d like to dive into a bit, is the idea of great leaders taking the time to get to know and listen to their team members. In an ever-changing landscape where diversity and inclusion are valued more than ever, 1-800-My-Way-Or- eHighway just doesn’t cut it anymore. Great leaders must now learn how to put themselves in other’s shoes rst, which will inevitably help them understand how to appropriately respond to each individual in almost any given situation.

To do this, I suggest incorporating a little bit of empathy in your approach, as being empathetic to your sta helps to create trust and can foster an environment of collaboration and a willingness to share new ideas amongst your team.

Am I saying you have to talk about your feelings and always be accommodating? No, that’s not what empathy is. Being empathetic entails seeing things from another’s point of view, in this case your employee’s. In practice, this will help you to better understand how and why they are thinking or feeling

continued on page 6

STEPHANIE GRAY BrightView Landscape

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 umb

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

e Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, sta and the editor of e 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 e 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.

2023 Landscape Ohio! entry in the category of Residential Installation, Landscapes By Terra.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

UPCOMING OLA MEETINGS, EDUCATION SEMINARS & EVENTS

JUNE

JUNE 15

26th ANNUAL AWARDS GALA

Join Ohio’s landscape community for an evening out as we reveal the 2022 Landscape Ohio! Award winners. is 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 7 for more information.

JULY

JULY 11

PLANT I.D. CLINIC (Central Ohio)

is 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 23 for more information.

JULY 13

PLANT I.D. CLINIC (N.E. Ohio)

is 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 23 for more information.

AUGUST

AUGUST 3

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, targeting quali ed students interested in a vocation within the green profession. Call the OLA at 440.717.0002 for available sponsorship opportunities.

AUGUST 23

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. More information concerning this year’s event , including presenters, to come! Vendors may call the OLA at 440.717.0002 for available booth/sponsorship opportunities in our mini-trade show exhibit.

continued from page 3

something at any given moment. It will also help you build and maintain relationships with them in both professional and personal settings. Putting yourself in your employees’ shoes will help you understand not only what they are seeing or feeling but will give you a better understanding of what motivates them.

People that are not empathetic tend to have trouble collaborating, have a strong dislike of change and cannot see further than their own point of view. So, what are a few ways you can be more empathetic? A few quick examples of practicing empathy are things that may seem so simple you might already be doing them.

For starters, think about how you would want to be treated as an employee and treat yours as such. Start by learning everyone’s name - simple enough!

Be present! Give your people your full, undivided attention when they are speaking. Fight the urge to check texts and emails while someone is sitting across from you. In fact, keep your eyes o your phone/computer all together.

Be curious! Ask questions not only related to work, but about things going on in the world and how they a ect your team members. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and possibly your normal environment.

Be supportive! While not everyone is comfortable dealing with their own emotions, much less those of their sta , employees bene t most from encouragement and mentorship. Perhaps start by focusing on people’s similarities rather than their di erences and always keep considering other perspectives.

In closing, bad decisions tend to be made when leader lack empathy and are not self-aware. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone and take a walk in someone else’s shoes. ere are plenty of TEDx talks on leadership and empathy and the number of podcasts available is staggering. ere are also several great books. So, however you consume information, there is a format available, you just needs to make the time.

Have a great spring!

- Stephanie Gray LIC

EVENT INFO

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023

WINDOWS ON THE RIVER

2000 SYCAMORE ST, CLEVELAND, OH 44113

AGENDA REGISTRATION / COCKTAIL HOUR

4:30PM - 5:30PM (CASH BAR)

INTRODUCTIONS/ NETWORKING

5:30PM - 6:30PM (CASH BAR)

DINNER

6:30PM - 7:15PM

PROGRAM

7:15PM - 9:30PM

COST

MEMBER: $89 PER PERSON

* Includes champagne toast, dinner and awards show. CASH BAR.

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY JUNE 1, 2023

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.

LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS GALA

Billing Address + Zipcode for Card

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 2023 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

ALL ROADS

THIS YEAR’S CATEGORY SPONSORS

Alvord’s Yard & Garden, Bedford Glens Garden Center, Belgard Hardscapes, Bigfoot Landscape Suppy, Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Earth ‘N Wood, Great Big Home & Garden Show, Klyn Nurseries Inc., Lake County Nursery, o e s Greenhouse M Eb Ober elds Sno & ce Management ssociation Stanle Black& Decker nilock Ohio Inc., Valley City Supply, Willoway Nurseries, Wolf Creek Company.

Due to the nature of this catered event, all sales shall be considered final. NO refunds, or credits will be issued forno shows, or cancellations. If, for any reason, the event is cancelled, enrollees will be notified, and fees refunded in full.

3 WAYS TO USE PERENNIAL GROUNDCOVERS

Have you been searching for unique ways to ll in your client’s garden bed, liven up their stone pathway, or naturally suppress weeds? e answer to all of these dilemmas is groundcovers! Perennial groundcovers are not only a solution to a variety of problems in the garden, but also o er up spectacular color and food for pollinators in your area. Whether you’re looking for a carpet of spring color to complement your client’s favorite Da odil bulbs, or want to ll in around the stepping-stones ont their property with pollinatorfriendly plants, there is sure to be a groundcover to t their landscape.

FILLING IN BETWEEN STONES

is is one of the most popular (and eye-catching) ways to use groundcovers in the landscape. Use perennial groundcovers to ll in gaps between stone walls, spread and spill in rock gardens, or most commonly, to plant in between stepping-stones. Over time, the groundcovers will ll in completely between the stones and create a soft, colorful touch to your walkway.

When deciding which varieties to use, make sure to take into account the sunlight, soil and water requirements for each plant. Most importantly, check to make sure the groundcover can tolerate some foot tra c. Creeping yme is one of best perennial groundcovers to use in between stepping-stones paths, as it’s extremely forgiving and tolerates both pet and human tra c well.

If you’re looking for plants to ll in rock gardens or stonewalls, sedum is a perfect choice. Sedum is a bit slow growing and takes several seasons to ll in. But it is extremely droughtfriendly and requires little supplemental water, making it great for rock gardens or stonewalls.

CREATING NO-MOW LAWNS

For tough to reach areas, perennial groundcover can be an excellent, low maintenance alternative lawn solution. Plant on slopes, in shaded areas where grass won’t grow well, or where you simply don’t want to mow anymore. Create a lowgrowing meadowscape or tapestry lawn, and revel in its ease and beauty.

continued on page 10

ATTENTION LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

We’ll help make your properties outstanding.

Organics are included for dense lawns without excess growth. Weeds carefully spot treated.

Direct client billing makes it simple for you.

Landscape referrals to you.

continued from page 8

Sedum doesn’t require much supplemental water, making it a great choice for hard-to-reach, or extremely sunny areas.

Ajuga is another colorful groundcover, but thrives in shady, moister areas. is quick-spreading groundcover will fast become the star of your client’s shade garden. If you don’t want it taking over your lawn, keep Ajuga contained in one area.

Lamium is another shade-loving groundcover that is happy when planted under deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. It thrives in places where grass or other plants may struggle with little sunlight.

Creeping Phlox is a fantastic spring owering-groundcover, often used to ll in between spring-blooming bulbs such as Tulips and Da odils. e best part about Phlox is it needs as little maintenance as the bulbs require.

A LIVING MULCH TO HELP FIGHT WEEDS

Although many of your client’s may be used to adding wood mulch or using good old-fashioned hand weeding to help ght weeds, what if instead you suggested the use of living plants as mulch to them?

e idea of living mulch is practiced and taught by many landscape designers, including Claudia West, who points out that in the wild you typically don’t see bare dirt. is is because plants ll in the ground level on their own. Perennial groundcovers are a great way to take this idea and put it to use in your client’s landscape. Varieties such as Lamium, Ajuga, and Lily of the Valley are fantastic weed blockers.

Simply add them in between your client’s owering perennials and they’ll work for you in two ways: by outcompeting weeds with their low growth, and by adding visual interest and color to their garden.

YOUR CREATIVITY IS THE LIMIT

No matter what type of garden your client’s have, or what type of problem you’re trying to solve with groundcovers, your creativity is really the limit. We’ve seen groundcovers lling in old wheel barrows planted with dirt, Sedum used as living wreaths, and many perennial groundcovers used in container plantings. So get creative this season and ll in your clients’ gardens with hard-working groundcovers!

is article rst appeared on the Perennial Plant Association’s website,located at www..perennialplant.org. e Perennial Plant Association is a trade association composed of growers, retailers, landscape designers and contractors, educators, and others that are professionally involved in the herbaceous perennial industry.

SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

With company pensions going extinct, Social Security slowly running out of funds and in ation eating more of your savings, it’s up to you to save and invest enough for a comfortable retirement. But are you saving enough?

A number of studies have shown that less than 20% of adults have saved more than $100,000 for retirement. But what’s more concerning, according to a GOBankingRates survey, is the number of people who haven’t saved anything yet. Nearly 37% of respondents indicated they haven’t started saving for retirement at all.

Respondents aged 65 and older have the most saved (as expected); but, according to that survey, just 36% of that age group have $100,000 or more saved, and almost 24% haven’t saved anything at all.

SOCIAL SECURITY

With 64% of Americans over age 65 having under $100,000 saved for retirement, most retirees will depend on Social Security to live in retirement. In fact, nearly a quarter of new retirees may be depending on Social Security as their only source of income in retirement.

We have all heard the rumblings about Social Security expecting to cut bene ts in the next decade, but I’ve heard that for about twenty years now. e problem is real, though. is means that Americans who aren’t saving enough now may see their bene ts cut by the time they reach retirement, making it harder to retire.

While there are some budget-friendly places to live on just a Social Security check, it’s best to supplement your retirement with investments of your own.

HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD SAVE?

Every person is di erent and every situation can change. Saving for retirement is a marathon, not a sprint. Along the way, there are some milestones you can aim for. Everyone has di erent retirement needs, but there are some benchmarks to look at when saving.

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.

e 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 o er a full range of tree care services, from tree and stump removal to storm damage clean up to utility work and beyond.

To nd out more about what VanCuren has to o er, visit our website at www.vancurentreecare.com, or call

a free consultation.

continued from page 12

Maybe a 20-30 year-old should have a goal to save 10%15% of their pre-tax income toward retirement (including employer match). And a Roth IRA or 401k is an excellent starting point, as these assets grow over that longer time taxfree into retirement.

If you are starting later in life, you may need to save more. If starting at age 40, perhaps 15%-20% might be a recommended savings rate. In these prime income earning years, maybe the secondary goal is also paying o a mortgage and reducing debt.

Someone starting in their 50s would really need to increase their savings/investment rates to build the retirement basket. But many have their house paid o , kids out of college and/or the house, so more money can be allocated toward retirement.

Of course, how much you need is highly dependent on your life expectancy, retirement living expenses, risk tolerance and other factors. But these guidelines can help you get on track.

PLAN AND EXECUTE

Saving for retirement can feel daunting; but, if you have a plan in place, you can be con dent that retirement can be within reach by the time you are eligible.

e rst step is the most di cult. Make sure you take advantage of any employers’ plan. Many have matching bonuses. at’s free money!

Increase your contribution percentage, such as an automatic increase of 1% more at the beginning of the year. at’s an easy way to keep saving more as you grow older. is strategy can help you get in the habit of saving. We have started to see plans that have this feature built-in.

If you are self-employed, there are plenty of options to build up your retirement account. A SEP-IRA or Simple Plan allows for larger annual contributions than Traditional IRAs.

BOTTOM LINE

Saving for retirement is a must. Many Americans are simply behind, but that doesn’t mean they can’t catch up.

If you still have time to save, you can make a huge impact on your retirement savings by starting right now. Simply committing to setting aside a percentage of your income into retirement can give you an advantage by the time you reach retirement age, but you need to start right now.

As always, talk to your nancial professionals and tax advisors, to determine your speci c needs and goals.

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.

e M3 Wealth Management O ce does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your speci c situation. e 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 rm nor our nancial 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 O ce at 17601 W. 130th Street – Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio.

Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com

Securities and advisory services o ered through L.M. Kohn & Company

Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB

10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242

Phone:(800) 478-0788

• 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.

OHIO’S NEW DISTRACTED DRIVING LAW

Beginning April 4th, 2023 it’s a primary o ense for you - or your employees - to manipulate their phone while driving. is means law enforcement can pull drivers over for using their phone without any other pretext. e measure carries several exceptions, including allowances for hands-free operation, but Ohio Department of Transportation guidance warns, “in most cases, anything more than a single touch or swipe is against the law.”

WHAT’S IN AND WHAT’S OUT?

e new law comes with a six-month grace period in which law enforcement will pull over distracted drivers and give warnings to help educate the public, but the growing pains could be signi cant.

Browsing the internet, streaming video, and playing games, of course are all o the table. But after the most obvious violations, things get murky.

Even brief interactions like dialing a phone number or entering an address are o limits. But work-arounds like voice-to-text or digital assistants like Siri are ok. Although drivers can’t dial a phone number while driving, they can talk with the phone up to their ear.

In an indication of just how complicated the messaging will be, Ohio’s “phones down” website lists using a phone while stopped at a tra c light as one of the law’s exceptions. e website also says, “even if you can, that doesn’t mean you should.”

“Looking at your cell phone while stopped at a light can potentially endanger your family, friends, and neighbors,” it goes on to state. “Drivers have a responsibility to watch for people crossing the street or other drivers and bicyclists who haven’t yet cleared the intersection.”

But for all the confusion, Ohio Department of Public Safety chief Andy Wilson argued similar legislation in other states is “making a di erence.”

continued on page 18

continued from page 16

“For example,” he o ered, “Oregon and Washington saw signi cant drops in rear end crashes when they broadened their laws to prohibit holding a cell phone as compared to when they only had banned texting.”

GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE

At a press conference on April 3, 2023 Gov. Mike DeWine was unequivocal about the bene ts.

“ is law will clearly save lives,” DeWine insisted. “ ere’s absolutely no doubt about it. It will spare many families the grief and the sorrow that unfortunately many of our families have su ered in the last few years because of distracted driving.”

He handed the oor over to Leah Fullenkamp, whose husband John Fullenkamp was killed by a distracted driver in 2018. John was driving a tractor between two elds when a driver who was shopping online rear-ended him. Leah explained he died on the scene before rst responders could get him to a hospital.

“When you picture the driver of the SUV,” Fullenkamp said, “You’re likely picturing a young driver — maybe even a teenager. But that wasn’t the case. e driver was in her mid-50s.”

“Using a phone while you’re driving is something that a ects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds,” she said.

In addition to the six-month, grace period Department of Transportation director Jack Marchbanks explained teams are busy installing signage along freeways.

“You’ll see ODOT crews nishing up installation of 45 new signs,” Marchbanks said, “posted at the entrances to our beautiful state, on Interstate and US Highways and exits to our state’s largest airports.

NEW PENALTIES

Once police begin issuing citations in early October, successive violations will face escalating penalties. e rst o ense within two years carries two points on a driver’s license and a ne of up to $150. Completing a distracted driving course, however, can avoid the points and ne.

A second o ense in two years jumps to three points and a ne of up to $250. Any additional o enses would mean four points assessed to the license, up to a $500 ne and a potential 90-day license suspension. If a violation occurs in a work zone, any nes assessed will be doubled.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE NEW LAW

While drivers under the age of 18 will still be restricted from using their devices in any way, including hands-free features, drivers over 18 years old will be able to make or receive calls via hands-free devices, including:

• Speakerphone

• Earpiece

• Wireless headset

• Electronic watch

• Connecting phone to vehicle

In certain instances, there will be other exceptions made to the “hands free” mandate, which are to include:

• Drivers reporting an emergency to law enforcement, a hospital, health care provider, re department, or similar emergency entity.

• Drivers holding a phone to their ear only during phone conversations, if the call is started or stopped with a single touch or swipe.

• Drivers holding or using cell phones and other electronic devices while stopped at a tra c light or parked on a road or highway during an emergency or road closure.

• First responders (law enforcement, re, EMS), using electronic devices as part of their o cial duties.

• Utility workers operating utility vehicles in certain emergency or outage situations.

• Licensed operators using an amateur radio.

• Commercial truck drivers using a mobile data terminal.

Be sure to go over this with your team members and make sure everyone is aware of this new law!

Have a great spring season – and be safe out there!

is article was written by Nick Evans, NPR reporter for member stations in both Ohio and Florida, and rst appeared on the Ohio Capital Journal website, located at ohiocapitaljournal.com. e Ohio Capital Journal is an independent, nonpro t news organization dedicated to connecting Ohioans to their state government and its impact on their lives. e Capital Journal combines Ohio state government coverage with incisive investigative journalism, reporting on the consequences of policy, political insight and principled commentary. Additions to this article were submitted by Sandy Munley (Executive Director of OLA).

GOLF SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Thank You

TO OUR MAJOR AND CONTEST SPONSORS

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

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.

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 sta oreman and an one stud ing to take the andsca e ndustr Certi ed 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.

NON MEMBERS

Moore Davis Tree Farm

Funai, Ph.D. Cuyahoga Community College

Marie McConnell Lake County Nursery

Robin

Staff Premier Plant Solutions

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

ILEX OPACA

AMERICAN HOLLY

Most of us are familiar with shrub form Hollies, including Inkberry (Ilex glabra), Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), and the more traditional leaf forms in Blue Hollies (Ilex x meservea). But in Ohio we are much less familiar with the American Holly, Ilex opaca.

ere are around 20 Holly species native to North America, some with great cultural value to Native Americans and many with great horticultural value to everyone. Native range for this plant covers most of the southern states, traveling north along the Appalachians, to the east coast and north into New England. Traveling through Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, is a great way to see these native giants (up to 50 feet tall) with some great specimens on the campus of James Madison University.

American Hollies are happiest in the forest though we always see them used in full sun in the landscape setting. Native stands are found growing in moist but somewhat drained soil (must be acidic), often in rich soils of bottom lands and on the outskirts of swamps/wetlands.

Like all other Hollies, these are dioecious - male and female owers on separate plants - which means if you want the classic “Christmas holly” look, you will need to plant at least one male to pollinate the females.

Leaves are evergreen, reaching about 3 inches in length and have the classic shiny and spiny look of what most people picture as a Holly leaf. ere can be two issues found on the leaves. One is simply the spines of the leaves poking holes into each other. is is easily identi ed by little pin pricks with a very small margin of necrosis (dead tissue) around them. is is harmless to the tree and there isn’t much to do other than keep them out of heavy wind. e second issue common to the leaves is a Holly Leaf Miner (Phytomyza ilicicola) which

continued on page 26

American Holly

continued from page 24

is a native member of the y family (Diptera). e juvenile form (maggot) tunnels through the leaves causing a yellowish to brown trail or blotch on the leaves. Adults emerge in midMay to late June and lay eggs within days by chewing a slit in the leaves. Not much needs to be done as the pest usually isn’t that bad in Ohio. In more extreme cases, a systemic insecticide should knock the population below any threshold established.

One other potential “disease” issue is yellowing of the leaves from planting in a neutral to alkaline soil. ough not in the Ericaceae (heath) family American Holly behaves the same, demanding an acidic soil to thrive. If the soil bu er pH isn’t testing between 3 and 6, don’t bother planting these trees or you’ll have a yellow sickly plant on the slow trail to death.

In the trade, there are more than 1,000 named cultivars to make your head spin! We’ve come across some beautiful collections in our travels and would highly recommend checking out Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, or hit up Bernheim Arboretum south of Louisville Kentucky when you head down to Equip Exposition formally known as GIE. While in Louisville, make a side trip to Cave Hill Cemetery to see more beautiful specimens and pay respects to the late Colonel Sanders, Muhammad Ali, and Patty Hill (wrote the Happy Birthday song) while you are there!

Secrest Arboretum (Wooster, Ohio) also has some nice specimens to help you learn to appreciate the American Holly. In fact, there is a cultivar named ‘Secrest’ which holds a slightly more upright pyramidal form. While plants in nature can become monsters, we wouldn’t want you to expect such a size in the landscape. ese are slower growing trees that may bring you a 15 to 20 foot tall (two-thirds in width) specimen, perhaps reaching into the 30 foot range with great time and great siting.

If you can get your hands on cultivars there are some beautiful options out there (perhaps for the collector more than the typical landscape setting).

‘Amy’ – Larger specimen, larger fruit, bright red and abundant. ‘Old Heavy Berry’ – On top of an awesome cultivar name, it is quite descriptive, lots of fruits on this one.

‘Merry Christmas’ – Fruits aren’t as big, but are plentiful. ‘Princeton Gold’ and ‘Canary’ – Yellow fruited versions which really pop to the eye on cloudy days.

‘Christmas Snow’ – A beautiful, variegated form with creamyyellow margins

As we said, with over 1,000 cultivars, we could ll this magazine with descriptions and still not cover them all.

WILDFLOWERSEEDMIXES

Interestingly, the name Ilex comes from the classical Latin name for oak trees! How is that you ask? In the Mediterranean region there is a native oak named the holm oak (Quercus ilex). is name is a nod to the Latin name for oaks while using the modern Quercus for the genus. Holm oak has leaves that look very similar to what we picture as a classic holly leaf with U shaped sinuses coming to sharp spiny points. e common name “holm” is from a Middle English word “holing” which meant something was prickly. Notice the similarity of “holing” to Holly and you’ll nd how we got the common name for our Hollies! Aren’t plant names neat!?

While our southern Ohio readers are likely to be much more familiar with American Holly options, we are hoping to see a little more incorporation in our northern landscapes. Be sure the soil is more like a forest soil, loose, organic, well drained. Keep it out of direct winter winds and give it afternoon shade and you may have a new favorite broadleaf evergreen!

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 o ers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certi ed in Ornamental Plant Care.

Member of the Ohio Landscape Association for over 25 years. Members of the GCSSA, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, and ONLA

SECRETs

It costs 16-20% of a landscaping crew member’s yearly salary to re ne, train, and deploy them onto a job site. Hiring from scratch from season to season is painful, slow, and expensive. Consider the hours spent drafting up job advertisements for crew members and foremen, vetting through CVs and resumes, and nally interviewing the nalists. As a landscape business owner, you spend too many hours of your time hiring, and your time has great value when you consider all the other tasks you need to complete before the rst shovels hit the ground between estimates, budgeting, and maintaining your landscape equipment. Keeping crew members in your landscape or lawn care business is essential to keeping pro table so you can hit the ground at a full sprint when the rst jobs of the season come around.

CREW MEMBERS THRIVE ON FEEDBACK

Good landscaping leaders recognize teachable moments to provide crew members feedback on the tasks they’re doing. We’re not telling you to pat a crew member on the back each time they dig a hole with a shovel, but to step in and provide valuable feedback on a job well done or provide respectful instruction on how to do a job if there’s a more e cient way of doing it. Informal and on-the-job training and feedback has more value than scolding or lecturing a crew member at lunch or at the end of the day when they’ve moved on from the task. Also teach somehow how you’d like to be

taught, respectfully and with a positive tone and intentions. Screaming and yelling is a waste of time and energy.

BE CLEAR ABOUT EXPECTATION

If you or your crew leads didn’t breakdown the job and expectations in the morning huddle and something goes wrong, that’s on the leadership and not the crew. Proper delegation, instruction, and teamwork are the only ways to stay e cient and pro table. Finding the line between micromanaging and autonomy lands at setting expectations. Greener crew members will sit down on their phone if they’re

COACHING

that will get your crew to stay with you

not given a list of tasks to complete, and busy work can only be so productive until it gets to the point where nancially wasteful and unnecessary movement happens. Understand why you’re setting landscaping labor budgets where they are, learn how long it takes to complete certain tasks with tracking hours through job costing, and lead your team by walking them through what a job well done looks like through your eyes. Your landscaping business loses pro ts when the crews start tuning you out.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

Secrets of the trade are picked up through observation and teaching. If your secrets of the trade are bad habits, be sure to expect bad work from your crew. Practice good work habits on the job site and watch that in uence spread to positive results. Make sure that teaching moments are sincere and thorough, and emphasize building a culture of safety and e ciency, especially in that order. Employers that promote safe work and show that they care about their crew’s health stand a better chance of retaining crew members between seasons. In a way, crew members keep accountable and police safety amongst each other when that culture of safety exists, and that culture builder starts at the top through leadership.

e last thing you want is that goof of a crew member doing something stupid that can hurt others at a job site.

KNOW YOUR PEOPLE

A successful coach gets to know his or her crew members as individuals so that the work environment can be tailored to the crew’s needs as much as possible. Knowing your team members as individuals also allows a coach to o er feedback, whether it’s recognition or criticism, in the most e ective way possible. is also applies to career development. Knowing the career aspirations of your landscaping crew members is a win-win scenario as you can develop and promote from within, which will later lead to increased productivity within your crews and career progression for the individual. Stunting career growth can push crew members away to other landscape businesses which brings you back to the hiring stage to nd a replacement.

POSITIVE ATTITUDES BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

Embrace a positive attitude! Nobody wants to work for a grump. Landscaping is hard enough work, and negative attitudes only bring down those around you.

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Without hamming it up, embrace positivity and recognize the great work and achievements ahead. Leaders even take the negatives and spin those opportunities into positive lessons. Everyone wants to work for a leader that has their back. Create the landscaping business crew members want to work for, rather than the one that simply gives a paycheck.

GET FEEDBACK FROM YOUR CREW

Embrace the experience of others. Feedback from your crew is a valuable asset to help improve operations, whether it’s equipment that could be used to be more e cient, needing support for certain jobs, or simply learning what kind of work they enjoy. Acting on feedback shows crew members that they are heard and valued. Great leadership extends past telling people what and how to do stu , and can sometimes be as simple as listening and learning from others. It’s always better to ask your crew members questions and learn from their answers than to assume you know everything.

is article appeared on the GoGreenius blog,located at gogreenius.com/blog. e Greenius on-demand video training platform o ers landscape leadership training that business owners and crew leads need to manage a pro table landscaping business. To take advantage of the OLA’s recent partenership with Greenius, see the adjacentt page (page 27) for more details.

BUILD HIGH PERFORMING TEAMS

Using The #1 Training Software for Landscapers

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Deploy an automated training program that ensures your teams get the training they need, when they need. Eliminate jobsite bottlenecks and rework incidents.

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Pinpoint areas for growth and development while uncovering how you can build a team by using their immediate feedback.

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Avoid wasted time between job sites.

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you’re at the office or in the field.

KEYWORD RESEARCH FOR LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS

ITS INTEGRAL ROLE IN CREATING A POSITIVE SEO ROI

e ever-evolving world of SEO requires staying up-to-date on the latest practices. What may have worked for ranking on search engines a couple of years ago won’t work now, and what works now likely won’t work in a couple of years. But one thing remains constant in its e ectiveness despite the rapidly changing algorithms—keyword research.

Nearly 91% of web content gets no organic tra c from Google. ere are several reasons for this, but one of the top factors is that those landing pages and blog posts are not targeting the keywords people are searching for. Some contractors are tempted to skip over keyword research, hoping to nd a fast track to increased ROI and revenue—but ignoring such an integral component of SEO will leave them running in circles.

Professionals in the industry who excel at SEO recognize that the keywords they might search for are likely not the keywords their target customers are searching for. ey see the importance of keyword research to ensure their content

creation e orts land their web pages on page one of the search engine results pages (SERPs).

WHAT IS KEYWORD RESEARCH?

Keyword research is a process that involves nding top search words or phrases that your target customers type into a search engine, such as Google, when they need your services. is process uses concrete data to determine what keywords or keyphrases you should use on your website and within your content to reach your target customer. It should be one of the rst steps when creating a website or producing digital content.

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ere are several factors to consider in the keyword research process, including how di cult it will be to rank based on competitiveness (keyword di culty) and how many times a keyword is searched for in a speci c location (keyword search volume). With driving revenue being the ultimate goal, this should guide your keyword research e orts.

WHY IS KEYWORD RESEARCH IMPORTANT?

Keyword research helps you understand what people are searching for, which is integral to inbound marketing. Discovering the words that people are searching for uncovers problems your landscape construction rm may have a solution for and can help you connect with these people at various stages of the customer journey. Implementing the right keywords will help bring in tra c, leads, customers, and revenue, increasing your ROI. But rst, you need to clearly de ne who your target customer is.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TARGET MARKET

Many top landscape rms have a clearly de ned customer persona or target audience as part of their overall marketing strategy. is persona includes demographics such as age, location, a uence, motivations, interests, and pain points. Knowing this information is critical post Apple iOS 14 update, which restricts the ability to track users and populate customer persona information automatically.

You can start by analyzing your existing customer base and using this data to create your customer persona. Knowing who you are speaking to will help you know what to say, how to say it, and what media mode to use so that you reach and connect with the right people. It’s essential to know your goals to measure your success in connecting with your target market.

UNDERSTANDING THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY AND ITS IMPACT ON SEO

A common mistake that professionals in the green industry make is creating content that is full of self-promotion. Rather than connecting with the reader, they share their services and why they’re the best. E ective blogging meets the reader at every stage of the customer journey, from awareness to decision.

For example, in the awareness stage, you could have a blog post about entertaining in small outdoor spaces that touches upon the di culty of such an endeavor. In the consideration stage, a blog post could provide an overview of which outdoor spaces to invest in to improve the outdoor entertaining space experience. For the decision stage, the blog post could cover

creating a cohesive outdoor living environment that includes the various de ned spaces to make a small outdoor space feel more spacious.

e possibilities for content creation are endless when considering the landscape construction projects you take on, such as paver patios, outdoor kitchens, custom inground pools, and planting beds. When combined with keyword research, creating blog posts that provide valuable information at each stage of the customer journey in various scenarios will help you reach your target customer.

DETERMINING GOALS & TRACKING PROGRESS

An e ective content marketing campaign identi es key objectives and determines what success looks like. Focusing on the business potential will help you see the value of your SEO e orts. Consider anticipated ROI and identify SEO KPIs that will drive your e orts.

Some basic metrics to track are organic tra c, bounce rate, search rankings, click-through rate (CTR), and lead generation. e speci c metrics you track will depend on your goals. is practice provides a goal to work toward and allows you to benchmark and track your progress so you can see what’s working and what isn’t by calculating your SEO ROI and adjusting your goals accordingly.

KEYWORD RESEARCH TOOLS

ere are a variety of keyword research tools on the market. ese tools will direct your content strategy and SEO e orts by providing valuable insight into the search queries that your target audience makes. At HALSTEAD, we nd Google Ads Keyword Planner and SEMrush to be the most e ective. Whatever you choose, it’s a good practice to stick primarily with one tool and supplement with another, when needed.

Your rst step will be making a list of relevant topics related to your business and your services. For example, some broad topics may include landscape maintenance, landscape construction, lawn care, patios, etc. Once you have these general topics, you can search for speci c keywords, such as lawn mowing, lawn aeration, lawn fertilization, and paver patios.

With a keyword research tool, you can quickly generate data about keyword search volume and keyword di culty, all related to speci c regional areas such as towns, counties, or states. is ability helps you discover new keywords and get extra recommendations based on your keywords.

continued on page 36

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You can view how competitive a keyword will be based on search volume (among other factors), often receiving a low, medium, or high rating. e higher the search volume, the harder it will be to achieve higher ranks. Many successful landscape professionals target terms with lower search volumes because these keywords are less competitive, making it easier to rank on SERPs.

Long-tail keywords tend to have a lower search volume, making them convert better because the searchers tend to have a speci c intent. Questions can be a goldmine for SEO because people often search for answers to a particular question. You can use this to create FAQ sections that will help drive organic tra c to your website; just make sure it is well-organized and provides valuable information.

INTERPRETING KEYWORD SEARCH INTENT

Combine keyword data with intent, and you can begin creating a content plan— lter and group keywords by search intent to determine the content of the blog posts or landing pages. e speci c word choice provides insight into where the potential customer is at in their journey.

Informational keywords tend to be used in the awareness stage. With 81% of buyers willing to pay a premium for companies with industry experience and industry-speci c solutions, informational keywords are paramount for landscape contractors. is type of content helps establish authority and build trust. With premium outdoor living spaces, you want to attract audiences willing to pay a premium price for your unique skill set and high-quality work.

Navigational keywords are relevant to supply stores or businesses with a brick-and-mortar location and are often found during the consideration stage. Commercial investigation shows an intent to buy in the near future and is usually done in the decision stage as the potential customer compares landscape contractors. Transactional intent occurs in the decision stage also, which means they’re at the stage where they’re ready to move forward with their outdoor living project and will likely ll out a contact form or book a consultation.

CREATING CONTENT BASED ON KEYWORD RESEARCH

Once your keyword research is complete and you have a comprehensive list of keywords, you can begin creating a content plan. Prioritize the keywords with the best opportunity to rank higher on SERPs.

While keyword stu ng may have worked in the past, it will be detrimental to your rankings today. Focus on creating helpful content that will bene t the reader. Write for the reader rst and SEO second. Use a good balance of both exact keyword matches and similar keywords to appeal to Google’s algorithm.

Once you’ve created your content, you can go back to analyze data to see how well the content is performing. Keyword research isn’t a one-and-done process but needs to occur consistently over time. Search habits change with the seasons, and sometimes for no apparent reason. Top rms analyze the data, perform keyword research, re-visit their business goals, and make changes to achieve higher SEO ROI.

at www.halsteadmedia.com

is article was supplied to us by the Content team at Halstead Media Group. As one of the OLA’s newest member bene t providers, Halstead Media is a leading all-in-one digital marketing and recruiting solution for commercial and residential landscape, lawn care, and outdoor living businesses. Find out more

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Did you know that our Landscape Ohio! Awards Gala isn’t just for those that have entered the award’s program? It is a really fun, uplifting event and you should join us!

e Award’s Gala is a celebration of all the amazing work our industry does EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! is year, the Gala is being held at Windows on the River in the Flats of Cleveland on June 15th.

It is a great time to network with others. And, speaking of networking, we heard you loud and clear! One hour is not enough time to mingle, so we have created a cocktail hour from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in a separate room to kick start the evening for those that want to come out a little earlier! is room will be sponsored by SiteOne Landscape Supply. ey will even buy you your rst drink!

At 5:30, we will migrate the party into the main room for another 45 minute of networking, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres that are sponsored by Schill Grounds Management and Green Vision Materials. Commemorative photos will be taken by a professional photographer that is sponsored by Rusty Oak Nursery. Plus, we will glam it up with the Red Carpet Entrance and Champagne Toast compliments of Cascade Lighting!

is will be followed by a delicious dinner thanks to Botson Insurance Group and Chagrin Valley Nurseries. e tables will

be adorned with centerpieces provided by Vermeer All Roads.

And this all takes place before the program starts! Wow! After dinner, we will reveal the recipient of our Lifetime Contributions to the Landscape Industry Award, as well as our Scholarship Recipients.

Next, awards will be provided for winning projects in the Landscape Ohio! Awards Program. ere are 18 di erent categories to enter projects in. Suspense lls the room because we do not announce the winning projects in advance. It is fun to see the projects and get ideas to use in the future from the slide show that accompanies the presentation. If you have not entered this competition before, but have been considering it – you must attend this year!

e categories are sponsored by Alvord’s Yard & Garden, Bedford Glens Garden Center, Belgard Hardscapes, Bigfoot Landscape Supply, Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Earth ‘N Wood, Great Big Home & Garden Show, Klyn Nurseries Inc., Lake County Nursery, Lowe’s Greenhouse, M.H. Eby, Ober elds, Snow & Ice Management Association, Stanley Black & Decker, Unilock Ohio Inc., Valley City Supply, Willoway Nurseries, and Wolf Creek Company.

Please join us for this fun event. Details are on page 7. I am looking forward to seeing you there!

SANDY MUNLEY Executive Director / OLA

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

e OLA would like to welcome it’s newest members!

REGULAR MEMBERS

Good Nature Organic

Lawn Care

7621 Old Rockside Road

Cleveland, OH 44131

(888) 529-6723

Alec McClennan

JLM Landscapes

594 Hudson Road

Barberton, OH 44203

(330) 957-5248 ext 103

Justin McCroskey

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

PC Services LLC

PO Box 170

Amherst, OH 44001

(440) 581-0035

Brian Maurer

Wellington Implement

625 South Main Street

Wellington, OH 44090

(330) 635-7685

Jon McDonald