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The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

January / February 2016 Vol. 27, Issue 1


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CONTENTS

The Buckeye is published six times per year by The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081 p 614.899.1195 www.onla.org

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year info@onla.org OFFICERS Steve Maddox, Jr., President Michell’s Josh Posey, President-Elect Buckeye Resources, Inc. Michael Dues, Immediate Past President Dues Nursery & Landscaping, Ltd. DIRECTORS Hillary Henry The Pattie Group, Inc. Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Adam McClanahan Carlton Plants, LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College Ellen Gallucci Purcell Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd. Bill Weaver Herman Losely & Son, Inc. ONLA STAFF Amy Eldridge, CENTS Manager Karen Lykins, Accounting Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification MAGAZINE PRODUCTION Jennifer Gray, Lexicon Consulting, LLC jennifer@lexiconconsults.com THE FINE PRINT The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as members of the ONLA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

January / February 2016 Vol. 27, Issue 1

departments

4

President’s Perspective Re-introducing Ourselves

6

Branches of Government House and Senate Study Medical Marijuana

8

Why Trees Matter Nature’s Infinite Book of Secrecy

12

Safety First Eliminate Distractions to Ensure Workplace Safety Apply the Right First Aid to the Eyes Don’t Let Computer Screens Damage Your Eyesight

17

Member Moment The Benefits of Membership

20

By Design Designing for Sustainability

28

Educational Update Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

features

13

Accountability for Ohio’s Damage Prevention Laws Began January 1, 2016

18 27 34

Lessons From CENTS

2016 ONLA Leadership Team Community Green Space Fostering the Reduction of Aggression, Crime, and Violence front cover: Snowdrops

also in this issue

38 Calendar of Events • 38 Classified Ads • 38 Advertising Index


PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Re-introducing Ourselves

2016 ONLA President

Steve Maddox Steve Maddox was elected to serve as President of the Board at the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s annual business meeting in January 2016. For a full roster of your 2016 leaders, please see page 27.

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Our lives are busier than ever. If you are like me, you have already forgotten more then you can remember! Sometimes, we need to take a moment and re-examine our jobs, our businesses, and our lives to make sure we understand all the things we participate in, pay for, and affiliate with.

The Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) certification is another program to be proud of. Having OCNTs on staff provides you with an extra level of professionalism and credibility for your customers and clients. It also creates accountability and a feeling of engagement in the industry for your employees.

My goal this year is to re-introduce the ONLA to all of our members and help you understand the value of membership.

There is also the benefit of “community.” We are all in this together! One of the best opportunities for our community is attendance at CENTS every January. Whether you are involved in a committee, exhibit at CENTS, attend regional events, or support our advocacy efforts the Statehouse for Advocacy Day, there is a sense of togetherness.

During past ONLA committee meetings, board meetings and conversations with members and customers I have realized that most are not aware of all the great things ONLA does each and every day. ONLA provides some amazing member benefits through our business partners that are designed to save you money AND time. (Two things we could all use more of!) Here’s a list of some of ONLA’s member programs (for more info on these, call the ONLA Staff Team, visit our website, or turn to page 37): • • • • • • • • • • •

Credit Collection Credit & Debit Card Processing Energy Program Fuel/Fleet Program Health/Life/Income Insurance Legislative Advocacy Online Safety Training Property/Casualty Insurance Safety Services Soil & Plant Tissue Testing/Ag and Hort Consulting Services Workers’ Compensation

ONLA has a very active and engaged legislative committee who advocate for your business and represent your voice at the Statehouse. ONLA provides regional educational opportunities to train your staff and help them stay current with industry certifications. ONLA offers scholarships for college students and a career fair for recent graduates and those looking for a job in our industry.

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I have always felt that our industry is one of the most sharing and supportive groups for new people to get involved in. I have never run across anyone who was not willing to offer a helping hand when it comes to a problem or issue that may be troubling you in your business. Ever since I become involved in ONLA over 15 years ago I have enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow industry people. We all belong for different reasons. Whether it’s because your father’s father was a member, or you like the networking events (such as golfing, skeet shoots, wine or beer tastings), or you take advantage of discounts on educational programs at CENTS, or perhaps like me, you are just a HUGE fan of Ron Wilson. I personally thank each and every one of you for being members. In the year ahead, I’d like to hear the stories of why you became a member of ONLA. Send me an email or give me a call and share your experience! But here’s where we need YOUR help. An organization is only as strong as its members. And we need more members to support ONLA. I challenge all of you to look around and help cultivate memberships within your circle of friends, colleagues, and customers. To continue to stay strong, we need your help. Get involved, be active, and be a voice for the ONLA. B Steve Maddox ONLA President smaddox@michells.com January/February 2016  5


BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

HOUSE AND SENATE STUDY MEDICAL MARIJUANA As you know, in spite of millions of dollars raised and spent by proponents, voters gave a resounding “no” to the marijuana ballot initiative last fall. One could debate whether the defeat was based upon the fact that the initiative created a monopoly or whether voters are not ready for recreational marijuana (or both). Whatever the case, the effort forced law makers to look at the issue. Both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate have created task forces to study the subject. House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R; Clarksville) has asked Rep. Kirk Schuring (R; Canton), Rep. Steve Huffman (R; Tipp City) and Rep. Dan Ramos (R; Lorain) to head up a 15-member task force. In addition to the legislators, others serving on the task force include: law enforcement, industry groups, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and others. Also serving on the House panel are representatives from the group that pushed the ballot initiative, Responsible Ohio. Rep. Schuring has indicated that the Speaker decided that a study panel was warranted after hearing about medical marijuana from voters all over the state during the Issue 3 campaign. The House panel has scheduled six hearings (all in Columbus) and while the press conference seemed to focus on medical marijuana, members of the panel are indicating that they are open minded and willing to listen to different perspectives. Meanwhile, Senators Dave Burke (R; Marysville) and Kenny Yuko (D; Richmond Heights) are similarly heading up a Senate conversation on this subject. Sen. Burke, a pharmacist, has done a great deal of research on this subject. Burke and Sen. Yuko seem to 6  The Buckeye

be taking a more measured approach as they will be traveling on a three city listening tour with stops in Cleveland, Toledo, and Cincinnati.

HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR BILL GETTING ATTENTION HB 77 was introduced last year by Rep. Bill Patmon (D; Cleveland). The bill creates the Home Improvement Board within the Ohio Department of Commerce and gives responsibility to the Board for the registration of home improvement contractors. As has been written in previous articles, the concept of this bill has been introduced a number of times during the last 15 to 20 years. The impetus behind this bill was some publicity in Cleveland where homeowners had been cheated by shyster contractors. The stories shared in committee were compelling. And Rep. Patmon, a democrat, seems to have garnered favor from House Commerce and Labor Committee Chairman Ron Young (R; Painseville). In fact, Rep. Young recently called an “interested party meeting” to reveal a substitute version of the bill. While the “as introduced” version of the bill did not seemingly directly include all landscape services in the definition of “home improvement,” building of decks and gazebos were included. In the substitute version of the bill, the new definition of “home improvement” includes “any addition or improvement to land not currently covered by the law governing the registration of landscape architects. The bill applies to work projects over $500 in value but under $25,000. At the interested party meeting, it was clear that the new version of the bill is being viewed favorably by the onla.org


Ohio Home Builders Association (OHBA). Why would the home builders be in favor of another license? The apparent/alleged “carrot” in this bill is that political subdivisions would be prohibited from imposing additional requirements of persons engaged in home improvement. How that concept would be practically applied is unknown at this writing. The bill specifies that the bill does not limit the enforcement of any local law regulating building, zoning, health, safety it other similar codes or laws. While Rep. Young believes this would be a “one license fits all” approach, this author thinks the local governments will fiercely cling to their home rule ability to license how they wish. In addition to the OHBA, the various chapters of the National Association of Remodelers Industry (NARI) are weighing in on the issue. Additionally, the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants are following the impact that the bill may have on retailers. The ONLA Legislative Committee will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the pros and cons and make a recommendation to the ONLA Board. We will weigh in accordingly with the legislature. If this is a subject that is “near and dear” to your heart and/or if you have information to share that you have gained from some of your other professional associations, PLEASE contact me ASAP at bjones@capitol-consulting. net.

CAUV CHANGES SOUGHT If you are a grower, you no doubt have felt the need for change in Ohio’s Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV). The ONLA is joining forces with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) and other ag commodity groups to seek legislative changes in CAUV. You might recall at Green Industry Advocacy Day, Tax Commissioner Testa explained that the Ohio Department of Taxation was in the process of discussing administrative changes in CAUV with the OFBF and others. Since that time administrative changes have not happened, thus, OFBF, ONLA, and others are pursuing legislation. Sen. Cliff Hite (R; Findlay) and Rep. Brian Hill have introduced companion bills (SB 246 and HB 398) to correct and update Ohio’s CAUV law. Here are some of the issues under consideration: • Current CAUV formula assumes (acts as if) land is only held for five years (wherein reality, farmland is held for decades); • The formula inflates and assumes land appreciates and land owners build up equity at predetermined rates;

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Lands that are enrolled in a conservation practice or land retirement programs need to be valued at the lowest of the values based upon soil type; • Currently, farmers are discouraged from idling land because land is taxed as though it is producing crops. The capitalization method changes being proposed is directly tied to improving the accuracy of valuing land based upon agricultural use. We will keep you posted as these bills progress. If you have a story to share or an illustration of the need for CAUV changes, please let me know! We could use your help in our coalition’s efforts to update this important law. B Belinda Jones ONLA Legislative Consultant bjones@capitol-consulting.net

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WHY TREES MATTER

NATURE’S INFINITE BOOK OF SECRECY The past, the present, the future – these are constantly on the minds of plant lovers. Lessons learned, what to propagate before the day is out, what about those latest plant introductions highlighted in American Nurseryman, and so on. Let’s take a look.

8  The Buckeye

onla.org


The Past. For the past, how about a book review? It is Winter, so maybe you have some spare moments before the business of the new season makes repose impossible. My recommendation is a wondrous book by Andrea Wulf, titled The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt’s New World. How is this for reviews of his life? “One of the great ornaments of his age,” Thomas Jefferson. “Nothing ever stimulated my zeal so much as reading ‘Humboldt’s Personal Narrative,” Charles Darwin. According to Andrea Wulf, “…saying he [Darwin] would not have boarded the Beagle, nor conceived of the “Origin of Species” without Humboldt.” Quoting from Wulf, “William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge incorporated Humboldt’s concept of nature into their poetry,” “Henry David Thoreau found in Humboldt’s book an answer to his dilemma of how to be both a poet and a ‘naturalist,’” and “Simon Bolivar, the revolutionary that liberated South America from Spanish rule, called Humboldt the ‘discoverer of the New World.’” Goethe, both a botanist and a poet, noted that, “spending a day with Humboldt was like having lived several years.” The book paints wonderful scenes of Goethe and Schiller and von Humboldt and their mid-morning philosophizing in Schiller’s garden in Jena, Germany. This in the early 1800’s when natural philosophy included sciences such as geology and biology and zoology, and poetry and prose, and philosophical musings.

Von Humboldt soon departed for his life-changing and world-changing expeditions to South America where he recorded, described and collected plants, made geological observations, measured meteorological phenomena, and, like Darwin decades later, engendered the intellectual ferment that populated his developing theories of the animate and inanimate world. From this, Humboldt developed his theory of the interconnectedness of the natural world, elucidating early theories of ecology, influencing everyone from Darwin to John Muir. His opus “Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe” predates everyone’s sense of that interdependence. He almost called Cosmos Ga’a, an early presentiment of the Gaia hypothesis which emerged in the late 20th century, which takes such interdependence to the next level of scientific thought. Wulf posits that more places are named for Humboldt than any other person, from the Humboldt Current to Humboldt Redwoods Park in northern California to Mare Humboltiana on the Moon. There are over 300 plants and over 100 animals named for Humboldt, including the Humboldt Squid. And, I must say, the truly other-worldy flavor of Humboldt Fog goat cheese. To me, though, this is the real kicker, especially as it relates to “how soon we forget.” At the centennial of Humboldt’s birth in 1869 (he lived from 1769-1859) there were parties in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. In Russia, he was hailed as the “Shakespeare” of Science. please see page 10

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continued from page 9

There were public lectures from Adelaide to Buenos Aires, from San Francisco to Philadelphia. Those of you familiar with New York City may remember the Humboldt bust as you emerge from Central Park West. Twenty-five thousand celebrated in the Big Apple for the Centennial; 80,000 in Berlin. But get this: according to Wulf, 8,000 people poured into the streets of Cleveland, Ohio to celebrate Humboldt! And all of this from the short Prologue to the book. ‘Twas a different age when scientists were so feted. I encourage you to go to your local bookstore and to read this entertaining, readable, fascinating book about someone who loved the natural world, both living and unliving, and who still provides great insights into the interconnectedness of all things in this world of ours – and to the merging of arts and sciences, so much clearer to people of an earlier age. I take it back. I see this growing awareness and sensitivity to interconnectedness in my students at The Ohio State University, and despite all concerns to the contrary, much of the credit for this goes to the Internet, with its infinite kingdoms of knowledge and connections. At any rate, I am about to go order my second dozen copies of this book from the Wooster Book Company for students past, present, and future. 10  The Buckeye

The Present. (Or close enough.) Tomatoes were still blooming (fruitlessly) outside in late November. Just before Christmas, I wrote of forsythias and rhododendrons blooming out of season. Then, between Christmas and New Year’s, OSU entomologist Dan Herms reported an ornamental cherry blooming near Lexington, Kentucky and another OSU entomologist Curtis Young reported an ornamental cherry blooming in Pittsburgh. Then, on January 2, my wife Laura and I were heading to our 39th anniversary dinner. Laura called out that she saw magnolias in full bloom. I was busy heading to a parking space and expressed disbelief. As we approached the 7th and Penn Park near the Convention Center though, I had to agree, saucer magnolias in full bloom! Well, some of you know the rest of the story, of course. This is Tony Tasset’s award- winning “Magnolias in Pittsburgh” sculpture, 800 painted bronze magnolia petals amidst some real magnolia trees in the park. His goal is “to create a little magic, fairy-tale moment in the daily hustle and bustle of downtown Pittsburgh” Mission accomplished. Not City of Steel Magnolias, but delightful promises of springtime to come.

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The weather has become more frigid since those very early winter days, and though those cherry blossoms have since frozen, the bronze magnolias – and the cherry trees themselves still prevail. What does it all mean, though, for trees and shrubs? Well, concerns over weather and climate are timeless. As Mark Twain quipped, “Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.” Setting El Nino’s and climate aside for a later article, the weather that we got this fall and the first few weeks of winter was extremely unusual, setting a number of records. For example, in Akron, the average temperature for December was 44.5 degrees, roughly comparable to the average December temperature for Atlanta, Georgia. The Future. As to the future – well, we shall see. The possibility of whether we had damage to stem tissue from water moving out of cells during warm weather in late Fall and early Winter and then freezing as ice crystals and then damaging vascular tissue is an open question, but the somewhat gradual late December and early January lead-in to colder weather was probably helpful. We sort of had a normal Fall in early Winter. Of course, at this writing, there is a lot more Winter left. Sudden temperature swings, freezes that exceed a plant’s hardiness, frosts this Spring, all these are still possibilities leading into the 2016 growing season. Clearly we lost some blooms from those rhododendron and cherry and forsythia buds that bloomed out of season, but, as for the overall formula of flowering this Spring that is mediated by heat units, chilling units, photoperiod, and other factors, that is a matter for…the future.

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For now, pore over the American Nurserymen pictures and other catalogues and periodicals: from golden katsuratree to an upright parrotia, from a not-so-giant hybrid arborvitae to the ever-expanding variations of hydrangea taxa, from anemones to verbenas. Check out the everwidening world of horticulture.

To Close.

From the Jewish Arbor Day tradition, Tu Bishvat, the “New Year for Trees” celebration, comes this closing: “It is the New Year of Trees, but here the ground is frozen under the crust of snow. The trees snooze, there buds tight as nuts. Rhododendron leaves roll up their stiff scrolls.” Jim Chatfield Ohio State University Extension chatfield.1@osu.edu Photos courtesy Jim Chatfield. onla.org

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SAFETY FIRST

Eliminate Distractions to Ensure Workplace Safety The most common cause of on-the-job injuries is distractions. Employees who are busy, stressed, or thinking about anything other than the work at hand are more vulnerable to accidents and injuries than those who stay focused on safety. If you’re a manager, follow these tips to keep your employees’ minds where they ought to be: Set a visible example. Employees usually take their cues about safety from their supervisors. Don’t just talk about safety the way you talk about productivity and quality—follow all safety rules yourself and address every violation promptly. Monitor time pressures. Workers chasing tight deadlines sometimes take unsafe shortcuts. Require your employees to talk with you before sidestepping safety practices in order to get work done faster. Emphasize that safe practices save time in the long run by avoiding time lost to injuries. Build enough time and overtime into your budget so that workers can finish a job without rushing. Maintain safe equipment and facilities. Poorly designed, poorly maintained equipment is a distraction in itself. Buy only equipment that’s designed to protect the workers operating it, keep all equipment in good repair, and stick to the maintenance schedule. Empower workers to stop work and contact you if equipment seems unsafe to operate. Watch for distracted workers. Many distractions come from personal life—conflicts with co-workers, family problems, financial crises, and the like. Talk regularly with your workers and keep up with what’s going on in their lives. The clues you pick up—and mutual trust you build—will help you both.

Apply the Right First Aid to the Eyes The eyes can be the most vulnerable part of our bodies when we’re at work. Using the proper eye protection on the job is important, but accidents like chemical splashes or collisions can still happen. The first aid that you apply to your eyes can mean the difference between minor eye damage and permanent disability. Follow these first aid techniques in these specific situations:

12  The Buckeye

Foreign objects. Don’t rub your eyes. Instead, lift your upper eyelid outward and gently pull it over your lower lashes. This will cause your eye to tear, which can wash out the foreign object. However, if an object is embedded in your eye, don’t try to remove it and immediately seek medical attention. Chemicals. Immediately flush your eyes with cool water for at least 15 minutes. If possible, keep your head under a stream of water from the faucet, or slowly pour water from a cup to your eyes. If you wear contacts, remove them immediately and then flush your eyes. See a doctor right away. Black eyes. If you get a blow to the eyes, use cold compresses for about 15 minutes every hour. Have your doctor check your eyes for any internal damage. Cut or penetration. Gently cover your eye with a bandage or gauze and go to a nearby hospital. Don’t try to flush your eyes with water, remove the object, or apply medication.

Don’t Let Computer Screens Damage Your Eyesight Millions of workers suffer from symptoms related to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). It’s a temporary but unpleasant condition caused by sitting in front of a computer monitor for too long. Symptoms include dry, burning eyes, blurred vision, delayed focusing, altered color perception, and headaches. The cause? Studies suggest that CVS sufferers do not blink enough when sitting in front of the screen, which results in dry eyes. To alleviate CVS, use eye drops to lubricate your eyes. Other recommendations included stepping away from the computer for brief periods, using anti-reflective screen filters, readjusting monitors to soften display colors, and wearing tinted glasses. B This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice.

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FEATURE

Accountability for Ohio’s Damage Prevention Laws Began January 1, 2016 The long anticipated accountability/enforcement provisions for Ohio’s damage prevention laws began January 1, 2016. Senate Bill 378, signed into law by Governor John Kasich in December 2014, is designed to increase public safety by providing accountability of all stakeholders involved in the damage prevention process. Here, we will answer some of your most frequently asked questions. Disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes only. For further information, seek legal counsel. What is Senate Bill 378? SB 378 provides for the enforcement of Ohio’s underground damage prevention laws. Will all sections of the damage prevention law be enforced? The following sections of the Ohio Revised Code will be enforced: ORC 153.64, divisions (A) and (B) of 3781.26, sections 3781.27 and 3781.28 to 3781.32 and Chapter 4913. • 153.64 — The protection of underground facilities during public improvement projects. • 3781.26 (A) — Requires all utilities who own and operate underground facilities to register with a protection service. please see page 14

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January/February 2016  13


continued from page 13

• • • • • • •

3781.26 (B) — Requires protection services, utilities, excavators, equipment dealers, PUCO, etc. to publicize the importance of contacting a protection service prior to excavation. 3781.27 — Developer or designer notifying protection service of intended excavation. 3781.28 — Excavator notifying protection service 3781.29 — Marking location of facilities or give indication of no facilities at site. 3781.30 — Duties of excavator. 3781.31 — Notifying of commencement of excavation or of removal of markings. 3781.32 — Connections or tie-ins within right-ofway. 4913 — Rules surrounding enforcement process.

Who will be the enforcement agent in Ohio? The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) will have authority for enforcing Ohio’s damage prevention laws. They will do so in conjunction and cooperation with the Underground Technical Committee (UTC). Does the enforcement process determine liability for a damage? SB 378 does not address any liability for damages

or related incidents. The enforcement process will only determine whether or not a compliance failure of the Ohio Revised Code has occurred, regardless of whether or not there was a damage. Any liability related to a damage must be determined with.in a court of law. How will the enforcement process work? An aggrieved party of an alleged compliance failure of an enforceable section of the Ohio Revised Code may file a request for inquiry with the PUCO. The PUCO may notify the alleged responsible party and will gather information about the request for inquiry. The PUCO will then forward all information on to the UTC for review and recommendation of a fine, penalty or dismissal. The PUCO will then enforce the recommendation of the UTC. • • • •

One member of a statewide organization representing independent oil and gas producers, appointed by the President of the Senate One member of the telephone industry, appointed by the Governor One member of the cable service providers industry, appointed by the President of the Senate One member of the locators of underground utility facilities industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives

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• • • • •

One member of the municipal corporations industry, appointed by the Governor One member of the Department of Transportation, appointed by the Governor One member of the general public, appointed by the Governor One member of the hazardous liquids pipeline industry, appointed by the Governor One member of the designers, developers or surveyors industry, appointed by the Governor

The purpose of the UTC is to provide industry knowledge and insight during the review of reported violations. What are the fines/penalties that can be assessed for failing to comply with Ohio’s damage prevention law? For first time violations, the assessed penalties may range from a training or education requirement to another non-monetary penalty. The PUCO may also impose a fine not exceeding $2,500. Please note, assessed penalties may be a combination of all of these. For subsequent violations, the assessed penalties may range from a training or education requirement to another non-monetary penalty. The PUCO may also impose a fine not exceeding $5,000. Please note, assessed penalties may be a combination of all of these.

If the violator is found to be a persistent non-complier, the PUCO may impose a fine not exceeding $10,000, in addition to the penalty assessed by the UTC. How will the enforcement process be funded? All utilities, commercial excavators, developers and designers who participate in the one-call system will pay an annual fee not to exceed $50. This fee will be paid to the PUCO. Those entities who do not meet the definition of utility, commercial excavator or developer and designer under ORC 3781.25 are not subject to this fee. What happens to the monies collected as a result of fines? All fines collected as a result of failures to comply with Ohio’s damage prevention law will be deposited into the underground facilities protection fund. These monies will be used solely to fund grants for underground utility damage prevention education awareness programs. Visit www.oups.org to read Senate Bill 378 in its entirety and for more information on this process. B Reprinted with permission from Damage Prevention Journal, an Ohio Utilities Protection Service publication.

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January/February 2016  15


Increase Your Credibility: Get Certified! Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) WHY? • Improve the skill and knowledge of green industry employees • Have this improvement and professional qualifications recognized in the eyes of the public as well as within the landscape and nursery industry • Provide a means of professional development and increased worth to the employee OCNT SPECIALIZATIONS: Garden Center The retail garden center is the information center on which homeowners have come to rely for dependable horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice to customers, the garden center employee must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including proper plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, landscape design, proper planting and maintenance of nursery stock and more.

Grower The grower is the base of the green industry. In order to have healthy plants to sell, the nursery employee must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including plant identification, development and health; growing and harvesting techniques; plant nutrients; pest and disease elimination; plant maintenance and more. Landscape The public, architects and contractors have come to rely on landscape contractors and installers for dependable landscape construction techniques and horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice and proper installation, the landscape installer must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas including plant identification, plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, use of pesticides, construction techniques, design, sales and more.

Core Core is important to all aspects of the Green Industry. Plant ID, Professionalism, Safety & First Aid are examples of the Core chapters of which all nursery and landscape professionals should have knowledge. MONTHLY TESTING IN COLUMBUS, OH • March 17, 2016 • April 21, 2016 • May 19, 2016 • June 16, 2016 Visit onla.org to download your OCNT test application or to get more information on the OCNT program or contact roni@onla.org.

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Return to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association • 72 Dorchester Square • Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Ph: (614) 899-1195 • (800) 825-5062 • F: (614) 899-9489


MEMBER MOMENT

The Benefits of Membership There are many cost saving programs offered by ONLA that can help your company save money and make you more competitive. From fuel savings to health insurance, from soil and plant tissue testing to workers’ compensaion, ONLA offers a lot in return for membership dollars. (For full list of benefits, refer to page 37.) Many of these services on their own could save you enough money to offset your membership dues. However, the biggest benefit of membership besides the monetary aspect is the people you meet from being active in the organization. Being involved can mean joining a committee, of which there are many, and attending a few meetings. Getting to know the issues relating to what we do every day is priceless. Discussing these issues with people from around the state gives you the advantage of better understanding and, ultimately, solutions. The time commitment is minimal, depending on what you want to get out of it.

to join. Explain the benefits you. Wholesalers, display membership POS material so those non-member buyers can see the opportunity. Landscape, irrigation and lighting contractors, if you encounter a company that’s not a member, ask them to join. For those in the retail end of the industry, as you travel around looking at other garden centers, check for a display sticker. If none, encourage them to join. Our association is as strong as our membership. We all need to be on the look-out for potential members. Keep your eyes and ears open and help grow our membership. B Bob Hirth ONLA Member Committee Chair bhirth@natorp.com

The next level of involvement would be being asked to be a Board member. The commitment here is for longer time period and regular meetings. This, without a doubt, is the best and most satisfying part of being involved with ONLA. I enjoyed my years on the board and in leadership that I felt helped me personally and professionally during and since that time. As I write this article, I’ve just returned from CENTS’16. I visited with interesting people I know and was introduced to others I hadn’t met before. Once again it proved to be a great show and a wide range of topics in the education program. Getting to have the chance to hear Charlie Hall speak was great. His positive outlook, backed by science and trends, makes me glad to be in this industry. Many other topics were covered for every part of our industry, something very difficult to do. The trade show again was outstanding with the diversity of vendors. Many innovative techniques and thinkingoutside-the-box products were on display. Maintaining relationships with vendors you know and developing new ones is another benefit of being a member. These relationships can last for years and are beneficial to members by them having your name in front of their minds. In closing, I want to ask all members to look around or contact any firm not with the ONLA and encourage them onla.org

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FEATURE

Valuable Lessons from

I had the pleasure of attending CENTS this year, not as a teacher, as I have done in the past, but as a student, and I learned so much from two of the sessions, I wanted to share what I learned. The session that Steven Keating put on Monday was titled Finding, Building, and Retaining Successful People. This was one of the best sessions I have ever attended in 25 years of going to this event. Steven is the Senior Manager of Sales & Leadership Development of Toro and he really knows his stuff. A former Dale Carnegie instructor, Steve has been with Toro for close to 20 years, helping them with their Leadership Development and it’s safe to say he’s made quite an impact on that organization. Here are the five biggest take-a-ways I had from his lesson: Stop Managing Your People! Steve says your people don’t want to be managed; they want to be lead. And if you manage them, when you leave, “the compliance stops.” Leading your people shows your people you believe in them and you care. Be a Leader, not a manager. Develop Better Relationships with Your People. Steve says that onus is on the Leader, not the Team Member. He says everyone at your place of business needs one or two people they can have a relationship with; it’s good for them. He told us to build our people up, feed their ego. Ask them what motivates them and do that.

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We Don’t Compliment Our People Enough. He’s so right about this. Many of us are experts at catching our people doing things wrong and quick to let them have it for that; however, how many times do we catch them doing things right? Steve advised us to be specific with our compliments and to not make general comments like, “You did a good job.” He says a specific compliment is memorable. When he was at Dale Carnegie, they taught a three-hour course on how to give a compliment. Think about that, Ladies and Gentlemen! Clarify Expectations. Steve said, and I quote, “Every single person on your team needs to know why are employed; they need to know why the work they do matters.” Sadly, hardly any of us do that. It’s 2016. We are all having trouble recruiting and retaining people. This would be a good year to do what Steve told us to do, wouldn’t it? Ditch Exit Interviews. He said companies do Exit Interviews and he thinks those aren’t very helpful. He taught us the concept of doing “Stay Interviews.” I was fascinated by this concept and I want to start doing it right away. He said you meet one-on-one with your people and ask them, “What would keep you here and what could another company do to hire you away?” Now, it takes guts to ask that question. However, the answers will surely be golden. Steve was funny, an excellent presenter and I learned a lot from him. I hope he comes back. Toro is lucky to have him on their team, that’s for sure. The other session that I learned a lot from was Dr. Charlie Hall’s Value, Relevancy, and Authenticity. Now, full disclosure, Dr. Charlie, the Texas A&M University economics guru, is a long-time friend of mine. However, that didn’t keep me from learning. Dr. Charlie’s one-hour lesson was jammed full of great lessons and information to help us all grow our businesses. I couldn’t write fast enough to catch all of it. Here’s what I did capture: 1. The demand for landscaping, plants, and other green industry products is trending upward after years of decline. 2. A new kitchen gives a homeowner a return of .92 on every dollar they spend. A new bathroom is .87/ dollar spent; however, landscaping is $1.09 on every dollar spent! All of us should use this statistic! 3. If you spend $250 on flowers at your house to try and sell it, you’ll get a $1000 return on that. 4. Only 25% of Americans have bought landscaping, meaning that 75% is prime for a purchase! 5. Americans spend billions and billions on their pets because of how their pets make them feel. How onla.org

can we in the green industry leverage how plants make you feel? If you ever see Dr. Charlie scheduled to present at an event, go see him. We should all be taking his research and using it in our marketing. Our industry is NOT dead– it’s alive and well! I am excited about 2016. You should be, too. There’s a lot of good things going on. We’re about a month or so out from when things really get crazy. What are you going to do differently this year with your leadership efforts? And, what can you do with your marketing and communication efforts to get others excited about all the benefits landscaping brings to homes and businesses? Here’s to hoping CENTS brings Mr. Keating and Dr. Charlie back in the near future. They made a difference for me for sure! Think Spring! B Marty Grunder Grunder Landscaping Co. grunderlandscaping.com

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New Carlisle, OH 45344 www.scarffs.com

January/February 2016  19


BY DESIGN

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DESIGNING

for SUSTAINABILITY As we all know, landscape design is about creating usable space. With all of the emphasis on the environment, the hard question is how do we create and sell sustainable landscape design? We need to ask ourselves some important questions. Will the plants we are specifying still be alive in fifty years even if soil and climatic conditions are optimal? In other words, are we using plants that are known to be long lived? Are the materials we are using for our structures going to last? Are they high quality or cheap in order to keep the price down? please see page 22

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continued from page 21

Will the soil be nourishing? Will it be full of organic matter that is rife with microbes and bacteria, so necessary to the soil web and the life cycle in which they break down decaying matter and feed beneficial insects? Will the soil drain well? Consider adding enlarged aggregate to the soil in order increase the drainage. Wet roots in winter kill more plants than any other factor. Should we be using chemicals at all? Can we reduce the amount of chemicals we use? I ask these chemical questions because most chemicals kill everything, good and bad. In addition, they pollute water. The proliferation of algae in Lake Erie is directly attributable to chemical runoff. Eventually, chemicals will probably be banned. You get can ahead of the curve by choosing plants that are not susceptible to known pests. Ask yourself where the water is going. Can you design so that storm water stays on the property and eventually replenishes the aquifer below? The alternative is having that water flow into the sewer

system. Are you grading so that water always flows away from structures? You can help keep water on site as long as possible by aerating the lawn, adding rain gardens, adding bioswales (sometimes just by contouring the land appropriately), and selecting deep rooted plants for slopes to control erosion. When designing patios and walkways, can you use permeable paving materials or create a permeable space by mixing impermeable material with permeable, e.g. setting stone squares in gravel or using gravel in concrete joints? When you choose plants, are you thinking about plant communities? Are you selecting trees, perennials, grasses, groundcovers, etc. that all have the same cultural needs? Do you try to keep minimal space for lawn? Many properties have more lawn than is needed, but some is valuable from a design perspective for visual contrast to beds. What we need to do is change the mindset of our clients about what is beautiful. Why does turf have to be perfect? Why can’t it be full of attractive low please see page 25

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captions Page 20-21: Rain garden Page 22, l-r: Quercus bicolor, Indian Acre Nature Center Geranium c. ‘Biokovo’ selfcleaning Page 23: Winter deadheads This Page Top Left: Massed Pennisetum and Calamgrostis Top Right: Algae in Lake Erie Middle: Cement drive with gravel strips Bottom: Violets in lawn Photos courtesy Bobbie Schwartz.

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continued from page 22

weeds like violets, creeping Veronica, and Oxalis? I will probably be dead before dandelions in the lawn are acceptable. Can we substitute groundcover for lawn in some instances? Away from the house, can we substitute ornamental grasses or sedges that have a grass-like texture but need no mowing or infrequent mowing because they stay relatively low? Are you building low maintenance into your designs? There is no such thing as “no maintenance,” but careful plant selection can keep maintenance low. Choose shrubs that, when mature, will not grow above window sills or hide doorways and will, therefore, not need to be pruned. What you have to sell your clients on is patience. A landscape installed with this type of plant will look bare initially but within three to five years will be full. Some annuals could be used for the first few years to fill those bare spaces. Choose perennials that do not need to be deadheaded or educate your clients about the desirability of deadheads that provide food and shelter for insects and birds. Ornamental grasses are very low maintenance. They need only to be cut down in early spring before the new growth foliates.

Another contributing factor in creating low maintenance landscapes is massing. This applies to shrubs, perennials, and grasses. Massing shades the ground, thus minimizing germination of weeds. So does mulching but please, please, don’t specify more than two inches of a good, shredded, hardwood bark. Too much mulch creates anaerobic conditions and mats down so much that water cannot penetrate. You know that concept called “fall clean-up”? I hate it. It is not sustainable; in fact, it is the exact opposite. I can’t believe that people pay money to have leaves raked out of their beds when, in fact, those leaves should be part of the life cycle of renewal. Left in the beds, the leaves will decay and replenish the soil. Yes, they do need to be raked off of lawns and groundcovers but instead of disposing of them, they could be shredded and added to beds as mulch. I know this is a lot to think about, but if each of us can incorporate some of these concepts into our designs, the world we love will be a better place. B Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD ONLA Freelance Author bobbie@bgthumb.com

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FEATURE

2016 ONLA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Standing (l-r): Kolb, O’Neal, Purcell, Weaver, and McClanahan. Seated (l-r): Henry, Dues, Maddox, Posey, and Moore.

The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association elected new board members at its Annual Business Meeting in January 2016, held in conjunction with CENTS’16 in Columbus, OH. Mr. Stephen Maddox, Jr. of Michell’s was elected 2016 President and received the historic ONLA Presidential gavel from Mr. Michael Dues of Dues Nursery & Landscaping, Ltd., who will serve in 2016 as the Immediate Past President. Mr. Josh Posey of Buckeye Resources, Inc., a veteran ONLA board member, was elected to serve as President-Elect. Serving as members of the board are: Hillary Henry of The Pattie Group, Inc.; Ryan Kolb of Ryan Kolb Co. LLC; Adam McClanahan of Carlton Plants, LLC; Mindy Moore of Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care; Steve O’Neal of Columbus State Community College; Ellen Gallucci Purcell of Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd.; and Bill Weaver of Herman Losely & Son, Inc. B

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January/February 2016  27


EDUCATIONAL UPDATE

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

This article is provided to you as a benefit of membership in the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. Content for this issue provided by: Tom Macy Forest Health Program Administrator ODNR Division of Forestry Thomas.Macy@dnr.state.oh.us

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What is Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and what can you do about it? In the last few years, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae; pronounced uh-DEL-jid), or HWA for short, has slowly spread into southern Ohio from neighboring states and is a major threat to the viability of a rare type of forest ecosystem in our state. The hemlock woolly adelgid gets its name because it only feeds on hemlock (Tsuga spp.) trees, and in the winter, covers itself in a fluffy white, waxy or woolly covering. These insects are tiny (less than 1/8 inch in length) and are most readily observable on the undersides of the tips of hemlock twigs from October through May, when the woolly masses are present. This non-native insect has devastated hemlock forests from Georgia to New England, and it is advancing through the native range of eastern hemlock (T. canadensis). Where did HWA come from? Hemlock woolly adelgids are native to hemlock forests in Asia and the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Like any native insect feeding on native trees, hemlock species native to Asia and the PNW have evolved a tolerance to HWA, over millennia of adaptation and coevolution between the insect and its host trees. Hemlock species native to eastern North America, however (eastern hemlock and the much less common Carolina hemlock; T. caroliniana), have no defenses against HWA, and perfectly healthy trees can be killed as a result of infestation.

Why is HWA a concern? Feeding activity by HWA can kill hemlock trees in as little as four years, or more than 15 years, depending on various factors such as climate and initial tree health. Trees tend to die more quickly due to HWA infestation in the southern portion of the range of eastern hemlock and die slower in the more northern portions. It is likely that winter temperatures are the reason for this difference in tree decline progression. Many adelgids die off when temperatures get down to 5 or 10 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. There is some hope that this susceptibility to cold winter temperatures might slow or stop the spread of HWA into the most northern reaches of eastern hemlock’s range. While very cold winters can kill off lots of HWA, the insect reproduces asexually and experiences two generations per year. With each individual producing 100 eggs or more in each generation, populations of HWA can skyrocket, even when very few survive a winter. Hemlock forests provide critical wildlife habitat for a wide variety of organisms. Many birds and mammals rely on these evergreen forests for winter cover as well as breeding habitat. Fish and aquatic insects require the moderated stream temperatures as a result of the heavy please see page 30

The first discovery of HWA in eastern North America was in Richmond, Virginia, in the 1950s. Likely accidentally introduced on ornamental nursery stock from Asia, molecular testing of HWA has now confirmed that the insect was directly imported from Japan. Its discovery in Virginia was not initially thought to be of much concern (the species was only first described and named in 1924), and it wasn’t until decades later that its population built to a point where it was causing noticeable mortality of hemlock trees. This tiny insect is only mobile in its earliest nymph stage (known as the “crawler” stage) shortly after hatching. These crawlers will move to a nearby needle, insert their long, thread-like mouthparts and stay there for the remainder of their life as they develop into an adult. It is the crawlers that can be transported short distances by wind, or longer distances by wildlife, especially birds. Long-distance transport of HWA can also occur through inadvertent movement of infested nursery stock or other plant materials.

onla.org

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box 189 Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com FairviewEvergreen.com

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captions Page 28: Hemlocks killed by HWA in the southern Appalachian Mountains. (Credit: Jason Van Driesche, Bugwood.org)

Facing page: Treating infested hemlocks with insecticides in southern Ohio. (Credit: ODNR Division of Forestry

Above, left: Counties with confirmed infestations of HWA as of 2015. (Credit: ODNR Division of Forestry)

Page 32: HWA in southern Ohio. (Credit: ODNR Division of Forestry)

Above, right: Native range of eastern hemlock. (Credit: United States Geological Survey)

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Page 33: Predator beetles ready for release in southern Ohio. (Credit: ODNR Division of Forestry)

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shading from hemlock foliage and the slowly decomposing needles and wood. Additionally, many woody and herbaceous plants also depend on the shady, cool microclimate and the acidic soils created by hemlock leaf litter. Eastern hemlock is so important in driving the structure and function of these ecosystems that it is known as a “foundation species” (roughly the equivalent of a “keystone species” in wildlife ecology), like American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was before it was wiped out by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica), a non-native fungal pathogen. In Ohio, eastern hemlock forests are not common and are largely restricted to stream ravines in the eastern half of the state, with the largest concentrations occurring in the Hocking Hills, Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve, Mohican State Park and Mohican State Forest and scattered stands throughout northeastern Ohio. These forests are not only ecologically important, but they are economically important as well. The beautiful scenery created by eastern hemlock forests is a major draw for hikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts from within and outside Ohio’s borders. Millions of tourists flock to these places in Ohio every year and are vital to local economies. 32  The Buckeye

What is being done about HWA? A federally-funded “HWA Initiative” involving four federal agencies, 20 state agencies, 24 universities, seven institutions in China and Japan and nine private industries has been in place since 2003 for the purpose of advancing our understanding of HWA and methods to manage and minimize its effects. Protecting an individual hemlock tree from HWA is relatively easy and inexpensive. There are several insecticides labeled for control of HWA, and with some systemic options, multiple years of protection can be achieved with a single application. It is important that landowners not pre-emptively treat their hemlock trees before confirming HWA infestation. This will result in wasted funds and energy and has the potential to harm non-target organisms. Hemlock trees should be monitored at least annually between October and May, and if a suspected infestation is identified, landowners should contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry or the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Systemic inseconla.org


ticides are being used to protect forest trees throughout the HWA infested area. These methods are used to save trees in high-use areas, or areas of special concern, as it is impossible and impractical to treat hundreds or thousands of acres of hemlock forests. The hope for a long-term, sustainable control of HWA lies in biological control options. Biological controls have historically been used successfully for many introduced insect pests. One reason for the explosion of the population of HWA in eastern North America, in addition to lack of resistance in eastern hemlock, is that no natural predators of HWA are present in eastern North America to help suppress its population. Several insect predators of HWA have been identified from both the PNW and Asia and have been studied in quarantine to determine how and what they feed upon in addition to HWA. Several of those insect predators that specialize on HWA have been released as biological controls. Luckily for Ohio, we can draw upon the experiences of many other states which have had to deal with managing HWA for decades. Chemical and biological methods are being used to protect hemlocks in Ohio where HWA inonla.org

festations are found. Since 2012, HWA infestations have been identified in seven southern Ohio counties. ODNR is developing a statewide management plan for HWA, which will help to target survey and treatments for the pest, in order to protect high-value hemlock forests. The Hocking Hills Conservation Association is a collaborative effort to raise awareness of HWA in the Hocking Hills region. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has placed a quarantine on all infested Ohio counties, preventing the movement of hemlock materials out of those counties. Similarly, there is an exterior quarantine in place, preventing the import of hemlock material from any infested county outside the state. There is no doubt that we will lose hemlock trees in Ohio to hemlock woolly adelgid, but with your help in identifying infestations early on, we can save much of our highly-prized hemlock resource. If you think you have found HWA, please report it to the ODNR Division of Forestry (877-247-8733) or the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Plant Pest Control Section (614-728-6400). For more information, visit ohiodnr.gov/HWA. B

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LANDSCAPER’S VIEWPOINT

Community Green Space Fostering the Reduction of Aggression, Crime, and Violence Having invested the last 37 years in the Landscape Nursery Industry as a career lifestyle, I have come to deeply appreciate the symbiotic relationship of human beings and our built environments. My perspective has grown beyond the aesthetic benefits of our landscape projects and services to recognizing the greater impact on our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. In 2009, I began to build upon my horticultural education and design experience and embarked upon researching the numerous empirical, philosophical, mythological, and spiritual perspectives that link the human need to connect with Nature. A Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Engagement from Antioch University Midwest provided the opportunity to explore how green spaces can act as a vehicle to reduce aggression, crime, and even violence. Moreover, it reinforced a desire to serve a more purposeful role in supporting equitable and sustainable environments for all. In this article (edited excerpts from a research project/paper), I’m pleased to provide empirical evidence and a social scientist’s view suggesting we have an immense opportunity to expand our horizons within the industry to serve our greater humanity. Today, I find myself passionate about creating green spaces that holistically enhance our quality of life while respecting our natural environment. I hypothesize that more benefit can be gained by residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in urban (and other) settings if we look at built, green environments as a way to transform community rather than simply transforming space. Creating mixed-use, well maintained, sustainable green space can provide the infrastructure to give rise to a sense of place—well-defined by Wikipedia as “foster[ing] a sense of authentic human attachment and belonging.” My research, focused on the benefits of community green space, provided evidence that our human-earth relationship is integral to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. I found multiple authors and researchers who have provided meaningful data that correlates both the quantitative and qualitative value of reestablishing our relationship with our natural world. Numerous journals, articles, and several books provided relevant foundational information for this small study, leaving way to test and expand this research through practical application. The

following is a brief review of empirical resources. Stephen Kaplan, in 1995, worked to synthesize and integrate the relationships “between directed attention and stress in the larger context of human-environment relationships.” Importantly, Kaplan identified the casual links between stress, attentional fatigue, mental fatigue, and coping. Significant is the link he establishes recognizing that our natural environment provides an essential resource to mitigating stress. Researchers Kuo and Sullivan, in 1996, build on Kaplan’s understanding that green environments contribute to greater inhibitory control. Kuo and Sullivan, over a two year period, used observation and interview data, as well crime analyses, to support their findings that social behavior of people living in crowded, noisy places, can be positively affected by open spaces where there are trees. Moreover, in 1998, authors Kuo, Sullivan, Coley and Brunson found that the formation of ‘neighborhood social ties’ may substantially depend on the informal social contact which occurs in neighborhood common spaces. In addition, vegetation and neighborhood social ties were significantly related to residents’ senses of safety and adjustment. Kuo and Sullivan, in 2001, add to this data in a study of 98 apartment buildings where they found that greener surroundings instilled “territorial personalization,” provided greater “cues to care,” increased informal surveillance, and inhibited aggressive and violent behavior. Using actual police crime reports, the researchers linked green surroundings to the reduction of both property and violent crimes. Kuo and Sullivan further expand on this subject in a study focused on 145 residents in an urban public housing setting. This study researched the impact of what varying degrees of trees and grass have on fatigue related aggression. Kuo and Sullivan conclusively found that “greener” buildings diminished aggression and violence. Kuo, Sullivan, Coley, and Brunson expand on this premise in another study suggesting neighborhood green please see page 36

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“Our industry has a larger opportunity to embrace a constructive role in building more sustainable, eco-friendly green space where children and adults can integrate ‘human well-being’ and good stewardship.”

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spaces attract people outdoors and thus support more social encounters. They concluded that “strong social relations are more effective at instituting social control over negative or unwanted behaviors, thus discouraging criminal activities;” findings they reported as consistent with Greenberg, Rohe, and Williams (1982), Newman (1972), and Newman and Frank (1980). In a final study, Kuo, Bacaicoa, and Sullivan investigate the role trees play in inner-city neighborhoods. Significant to this study was determining the role trees and maintained grass had on the residents’ sense of safety. The results, contrary to some law enforcement views that trees and other forms of vegetation increase fear; both tree density and grass maintenance had strong effects on preference and a sense of safety for urban individuals and families. These empirical studies set the stage for exploring intentionally designed green spaces that purposefully

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support the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of those living in less inviting urban (and other) environments. The value of acknowledging these perspectives is that they may very well be fundamental to our current deficits in recognizing the beneficial impact of Nature in our contemporary, built environments. More conclusive however, will be to refine the inquiry and build on the data. However, this evidence alone suggests our industry has a larger opportunity to embrace a constructive role in building more sustainable, eco-friendly green space where children and adults can integrate ‘human well-being’ and good stewardship. When additionally integrated with other philosophical, mythological, and spiritual views, we may find even greater positive implications of green spaces in our communities. B Treva L. Jenkins ONLA Landscape Committee Member trevalj@aol.com

onla.org


ONLA Membership Exclusive Member Benefits The ONLA strives to bring the most relevant and useful benefits and services to its members. In these economic times, please consider the following list of benefits in your efforts to save money. As ONLA members you are entitled to these benefits, which are chosen to answer green industry business needs and reduce company expenses.

Credit Collection - Cash Flow Management (CFM)

CFM’s collection system is geared to your individual operation, serving your specific business needs. With CFM, a trained collection specialist is assigned to bring in your past-due accounts before they fade away as bad debts. Bill Bosch bbosch@cfmcollect.com

Credit & Debit Card Processing - Merchant Services

Merchant Services will provide the ONLA membership with merchant accounts and credit and debit card processing. Other services include online reporting, check guarantee service and working capitol funding. Scott Norris scott.norris@merchantsvcs.com

Energy Program - Growers Energy Solutions (GES)

Grower Energy Solutions (GES) programs help manage your energy costs by bringing ONLA members together as one buying group. GES is an energy program that provides the opportunity to manage your energy needs and save on your natural gas & electric costs. Our programs can offer pricing to members located in all Ohio gas and electric utilities that allow third party supply. Joe Perlaky perlaky@bex. net

Fuel/Fleet Program - SuperFleet

Save $.05 cents per gallon after on all fuel purchases at Speedway, Marathon and Rich Oil locations with no minimum purchase required. This card can be used for shops and services or can be restricted to fuel use only. Also receive discounts on oil changes and car washes. John Kennedy jmkennedy@speedway.com

Health/Life/Income Insurance - TAH Benefits

The ONLA Insurance & Employee Benefits Programs has partnered with various insurance plans to offer a wide variety of benefit options for members including medical, vision, dental, life, and disability. Our insurance representatives will help tailor-make a program specifically to fit your needs, including advanced plan designs, management techniques, and improved benefits administration that can result in substantial cost savings and reduction of employee benefits liability exposure. Jay Hazelbaker onla@tahins.com

Legislative Advocacy

The ONLA provides legislative updates, information and plans advocacy events. Click on the link above to visit the ONLA CapWiz home page that features current elected officials issues and legislation, candidates and upcoming elections, as well as links to media sources in your area.

Online Training - LS Training

LS Training, the training experts! LS Training was developed with the landscaper in mind. We have 23 high-quality online videos; complete with online exams and field checklists. The employee watches the video, does the exam. Each video with exam takes 30 minutes to complete; then the hands-on portion, reviewing each piece of equipment with one of your experts, using a customized checklist. Arden Urbano arden@landscapesafety.com

Property/Casualty Insurance - Best Hoovler McTeague Save on your property and casualty insurance with BHM. BHM’s group program is designed for ONLA members to save at least 15 percent with the best coverage rates for your liability, fleet and equipment. Marc McTeague mmcteague@bhmins.com

Safety Services - American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc.

American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc (ASH) fills the growing need for professional safety and health management services for companies of all sizes. ASH has the capabilities to provide Total Safety Management, from working on a single problem area to evaluating, developing and administering an entire comprehensive safety and health problem. Gary Hanson ashmci@aol.com

Soil & Plant Tissue Testing/Ag Hort. Consulting Services - CLC LABS

Through CLC LABS, ONLA members receive various laboratory services at a 10% discount off list prices including testing of soil nutrients, soil texture, soilless media nutrients, plant tissue nutrients and irrigation water suitability testing, plus consulting services on all aspects of testing. Chuck Darrah clclabs@aol.com

Workers’ Compensation - CareWorksComp

The ONLA Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program has saved its members over $21.4 million in the last 11 years. Through CareWorksComp, members are offered multiple savings levels, ranging from the BWC maximum to a lesser percentage, for companies with claims. Free, no obligation analysis of potential workers’ comp premium savings. Shawn Combs shawn.combs@ccitpa.com If you have any questions regarding details on a benefit, don’t hesitate to call our office at (614) 899-1195 and we will personally assist you. From now on, the ONLA will be sending more information via email. Please ensure that your correct email is on file so that you receive important member announcements and updates

For more information on ONLA member savings visit onla.org or call 614.899.1195


Calendar of Events View www.onla.org for seminars, events, trade shows and more! O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events O March 2, 2016, 3rd Annual Green Conference Sustainability from the Ground Up Mind, Body & Soul, The Holden Arboretum, Kirkland, Ohio, holdenarb.org O March 3, 2016, Sustainable Urban Landscapes Symposium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio, cincinnatizoo.org O March 5, 2016, Conifer Propagation Seminar, Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan, HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu March 17, 2016, Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) Testing, Westerville, Ohio, onla.org April 21, 2016, Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) Testing, Westerville, Ohio, onla.org May 19, 2016, Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) Testing, Westerville, Ohio, onla.org June 16, 2016, Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) Testing, Westerville, Ohio, onla.org

July 21, 2016, Landscape Industry Certified Testing, Wooster, Ohio, landscapecertifiedohio. org

Classified Ads The online classified service can be found on onla. org along with the complete postings. New ads will be added as soon as they are submitted to the ONLA. For more information, please contact the ONLA office at (614) 899-1195. The ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. As we go to press, here are the ads posted on onla.org’s online Classified Section:

38  The Buckeye

Advertisers’ Index Big Trees, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 bigtreegroup.com Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 buckeyeresources.com Evergreen Seed Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 GrassSeedSupply.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries . . . . . . . . . 29 fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 greenvelvet.com Klyn Nurseries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 klynnurseries.com Oberfield’s LLC .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 oberfields.com Scarff’s Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 scarffs.com Smith’s Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 smithsgardensinc.com Spring Meadow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC unilock.com Walters Gardens Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC waltersgardens.com

Ad Rates & Info Contact Roni Petersen 614.899.1195 roni@onla.org

Help Wanted • Nursery Sales, Scarff’s Nursery, New Carlisle, OH

• Nursery Container Grower, Wm. A. Natorp Co., Mason, OH

• Landscape Foreman, Graf’s Landscape & Design, Akron, OH

• Yard Sales Specialist, Acorn Farms, Galena, OH

• Landscape Design/Sales Position, Graf’s Landscape & Design (division of Graf Growers), Akron, OH • Landscape Coordinator/Sales Position, Dan Druffel Inc. Landscaping, Cincinnati, OH

• Customer Care Specialist, Hemlock Landscapes, Inc., Chagrin Falls, OH • Production Superintendent, Hemlock Landscapes, Inc., Chagrin Falls, OH

onla.org


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The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Address Service Requested

r o f y a d o T r e d r O ! s e l a S g n i r p S • • • • • •

Retail Garden Center Sales Item Landscaper Leave-Behind Employee Resource Home & Garden Show Sales Item Landscape Design/Build Sales Tool Pricing as low as $3.75/book

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FROM ONLA Call or visit our website today to order! (800) 825-5062 or (614) 899-1195 www.onla.org

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1560 COLUMBUS OHIO


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