The Buckeye, September 2014 Volume 25, Issue 8 by OGIA

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

September 2014 Vol. 25, Issue 8

SUCCESS

THE ROAD TO

BEGINS HERE

The Buckeye is published 10 times per year by The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081 p 614.899.1195 f 614.899.9489 www.onla.org info@onla.org

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year amandadomsitz@onla.org, editor

September 2014 Vol. 25, Issue 8

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.

OFFICERS David Richards, President South Ridge Farm Mike Dues, President-Elect Dues Nursery & Landscaping, Ltd.

Renewal & Remembrance: A Simple

Choice

Container Substrates

Summer Round Up

Winter Damage or Is It? The

departments

Winter of 2013-2014 ONLA Landscape Awards:

Why Trees Matter

Call For Entries

What Exactly Do You See?

15 20 21

In Memoriam Convention Drives Business

CENTS 2015 Built Strong

ONLA Career Fair

Management Today / Marketing Today No Shortcuts Educational Update Playing (Planting) For the Long Game Young Leaders Next Gen: Is Our Future in Jeopardy? Membership Moment The Road to Success Begins Here Look to the Future Where Are They Now? Retail Roundtable Responding with You’re Welcome Greenhouse Grower’s Viewpoint Strobe Lights

Josh Posey, Board Member Buckeye Resources, Inc.

September 2014 August 2014 Vol. 25, Issue 8 Vol. 25, Issue 7

The Importance

of Coaching

ATHE CELEBRATION ROAD TO

OF OUR SUCCESS MEMBERSHIP BEGINS HERE

front cover: “Fall Fruits”

Mark Reiner, Board Member Oakland Nursery, Inc.

In the spirit of land stewardship, please consider recycling this publication.

A New Lime Material for

Dr. Hannah Mathers, Board Member The Ohio State University

ONLA Office Update

DIRECTORS Jason Bornhorst, Board Member Peabody Landscape Group

Bill Mainland, Board Member Klyn Nurseries, Inc.

President’s Perspective

David Listerman, Board Member Listerman & Associates, Inc.

32 33

Jim Searcy, Immediate Past President Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc.

Annette Howard, Board Member Gilson Gardens, Inc.

features

The Official Official Publication The Publication of of the the Ohio Ohio Nursery Nursery&&Landscape LandscapeAssociation Association

STAFF Kevin Thompson, Executive Director Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Amanda Domsitz, Communications Director Amy Eldridge, CENTS Manager Karen Lykins, Accountant Lisa Larson, Education Director

industry news

also in this issue

8 ONLA Connect • 44 Industry Calendar • 46 About The Buckeye • • 46 Classified Ads • 46 Ad Index

President’s Perspective

Renewal & Remembrance: A Simple Choice

In Late July I was honored along with four student leaders (and ONLA Student Members) from Auburn Career Center to attend and participate in PLANET’s Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery. Renewal & Remembrance is the largest single day of service for the nation’s lawn and landscape industry. Each summer, hundreds of PLANET members from across the country volunteer their time, materials, and services to help maintain and beautify the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery by planting, liming, and aerating more than 150 acres, cabling trees and providing them with lightning protection, and installing irrigation. The event was started in 1997 by the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA), a legacy organization of the nation’s largest lawn and landscape association, the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). An Ohioan, Phil Fogarty from Weed Man was instrumental in getting this event started. PLANET now organizes the event in conjunction with other green industry partners. ONLA has been well represented in the past and again this year. In 2014 approximately 100 Landscape industry companies were represented by more than 400 adults and 40 children. Participants applied 78 tons of lime to 180 acres, 22 tons of gypsum to 85 acres, and aerated 45 acres. Seven mature trees were pruned and had cabling installed. Lightning protection was installed on five mature trees, and the irrigation system for the Columbarium, Administrative Building, Receiving Vault, and the Rose Garden was updated. This project was organized by volunteer leaders who spend hundreds of hours planning and coordinating these activities. Multiple corporations and Companies donate materials and equipment. For them, I am sure it was a simple choice. In his address to the volunteers, PLANET President Jim McCutcheon reflected on simple choices. He described how for the fallen hero’s at Arlington it was a simple choice to serve their counonla.org

Dave Richards South Ridge Farms ONLA President sridgefarm@windstream.net

try and for him it was a simple choice to spend time in Washington D.C. to honor them. For us, it was indeed a simple choice. Of the group of students I took, two have relatives interned at Arlington, one relative made the ultimate sacrifice serving in Vietnam, and the other serving in Afghanistan. For the two students, their first visit to Arlington was particularly meaningful. We helped apply Gypsum to a portion of the cemetery that will be unfortunately used in the near future. Adjacent to the plot we worked in, heroes from our most recent conflicts Iraq & Afghanistan were and are being laid to rest. We witnessed 5 full military funerals that quiet and unusually cool morning in Arlington. Words cannot describe the range of emotions that were felt as we stopped work, and quietly, respectfully, and gratefully witnessed this final moment of the hero’s simple choice. I am so proud to represent an industry that consistently makes the simple choice and freely gives of its time, talents and treasures whenever needed. Arlington is a very special place. It calls us to remember those who have the simple choices and sacrificed so much so we are able to enjoy the best life has to offer. In closing I would encourage ONLA Members to participate next year in this event. It does put things in perspective. B

September 2014 5

ONLA Office Update

Summer Round Up

Kevin & Leslie Thompson attend the “Friends of Agriculture” event at the Governor’s residence in Bexley

6 The Buckeye

Kevin Thompson ONLA Executive Director kevinthompson@onla.org

As the summer winds down and my wife and I prepare our kids for a return to school and a more structured daily routine, I reflect back on the summer and as usual wonder: “Where did the summer go?” Especially this year when it seems like we’re still waiting for the dog days of summer. I think it’s reached 90 degrees about 3 days this year in Central Ohio, compared to more than 20 days last year. It was another busy summer for me and the ONLA. In late May I was invited to a meeting with the Ohio Department of Corrections to talk about horticulture education in our state’s prison system. Most ONLA members probably do not realize that many of the Ohio Correctional Facilities offer education in horticulture, and they utilize the Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) training manuals as their curriculum. This is another example of the ONLA’s far educational reach. June began with a visit to a Cincinnati Flower Growers Association meeting at West Hills Greenhouses, an impressive operation located on the west side of Cincinnati. I appreciated the welcome hospitality and chance to meet several of the areas greenhouse growers and suppliers (and the chance to dine on original Cincinnati chili at the famous Price Hill Chile). Upon my return to Columbus, I headed straight to the Ohio Statehouse where I had the honor of witnessing the governor’s signing of Senate bill 192 on Ohio Invasive Plant species into law. This bill grants the Director of the ODA exclusive authority to regulate invasive plant species in Ohio. This was the first ever bill sponsored by ONLA to make it into law. A proud moment indeed! Also in June we unveiled our new ONLA Exhibit Display with a booth at the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) show in Columbus. This was a big (not near as big as CENTS), national show that attracted onla.org

thousands of landscape contractors and municipalities from around the country. July brought the first iteration of Cultivate (formerly OFA Show). This is a big, international floral show with lots of color. ONLA had a booth at Cultivate too, where it was good to network with many of our friends. We’re lucky to have an important show like Cultivate here in Ohio. Later in July, I had the pleasure of attending the Ohio Society of Association Executive’s (OSAE) annual conference in Cincinnati. OSAE is the professional association for people that do what I do – manage associations. Hundreds of my peers and suppliers met to exchange ideas, learn best management practices, network, and stay current in our profession. Pretty much like CENTS – but again, not nearly as big. As always, the ONLA also participated in the Landscape Industry Certified testing at ATI in Wooster in July, as part of our partnership with PLANET, OSU-ATI and OLA. At the end of July, I had the honor of attending a “Friends of Agriculture” event at the Governor’s residence in Bexley. The governor doesn’t actually live there, but he was at this event, and it was nice to get a chance to learn his views on agriculture and talk to him about Ohio’s nursery and landscape industries.

Next up was the Nursery Growers of Lake County annual Field Day in August. This was another great event as always. The ONLA partners with the NGLCO to co-sponsor a nursery bus tour on the first day, which is followed by a Casino Night, then the field day the following day. The ONLA always has a booth at the field day, along with numerous CENTS exhibitors, which gives us a great chance to see many of our members and friends. In a break from tradition, we’re now preparing for the annual ONLA “spring” committee meetings which will be held in late August. I’ll report more on these meetings next month. Meanwhile, your staff has been working diligently behind the scenes converting to a new web-based database and website. This is a major undertaking but will be well worth the effort once launched. We think you’ll like the changes. If we didn’t see you at any of the aforementioned events we hope to see you at one of our upcoming PAC fundraiser events, Regional Education Workshops, or golf outing. And mark your calendar now for 2015 CENTS Marketplace and University, January 7-9 in Columbus. It’s right around the corner! B

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5/14/14 1:08 PM September 2014 7

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www.ONLA.org

W h y Tr e e s M a t t e r

What Exactly Do You See? Let us briefly set the stage. “What exactly do you see?” is the key 6th Question of the 20 Questions (now up to the 25 Questions of Plant Diagnostics) we use in our Plant Diagnostic Workshops. The first five questions are: What is the Plant? What is Normal for the Plant? What Are the Common Problems of the Plant? What Do You See that Looks Abnormal? What is the Overall Health of the Plant? The plant problem diagnostic process is not unlike our judicial process and the same dangers associated with “pre-judging” also apply. Starting with a diagnosis, then selectively gathering facts to support the diagnosis is likely to produce an incorrect diagnosis; to wrongly convict. Plant problem diagnostics should be guided by the axiom: don’t make the symptoms fit the diagnosis; do make the diagnosis fit the symptoms. “What exactly do you see?” is an important “reality check” in the diagnostic process. Are you on the right

track? After stepping back to consider the overall health of the plant, force yourself to step back again to reconsider in more detail Question 4: “what do you see that looks abnormal?” The key to diagnosis is often in such details, sometimes related to others who help with the diagnosis, such as a diagnostic lab technician or coworker in your company. It is very important to note the pattern of damage. Is the damage on older leaves, newer leaves or both? Is the damage only on the lower part of the plant, upper part of the plant, or throughout the plant? Do symptoms appear to be located on a particular part of the leaf? A good example of this is the difference in symptoms between anthracnose and physiological leaf scorch of many plants. To the casual observer, both problems involve blotchy, scorchy, brown discoloration of the leaves. However, the details are quite different. With anthracnose, caused by a fungus, the blotched areas are more of a reddish

please see page 10

Image 1: (top left) Guignardia leaf blotch fungal disease of horsechestnut-buckeye hybrid. Note lesions are scattered on the leaf blade and have a yellow halo. Image 2: (top right) Physiological leaf scorch from inadequate water on horsechestnut-hybrid. Note the marginal leaf discoloration. Image 3: (bottom left) Anthracnose on planetree. Note the blotchy lesions bounded by veins. Image 4: (bottom right) Physiological leaf scorch on oak. Note this discoloration is not associated with veins.

onla.org

September 2014 9

continued from page 9

brown than a tannish brown, but more importantly, are concentrated along the leaf veins. With physiological leaf scorch, caused by excess evaporation of water from leaves due to a variety of factors, the blotches are not concentrated along the leaf veins and are typically more to the outer margins of the foliage. Knowledge of this difference in symptoms is the sort of fine-tuning that diagnosticians develop as they improve their observational and reporting skills. As can be seen with this fungal leaf blotch disease vs. physiological leaf scorch example, noticing where symptoms are occurring is critical. Diplodia (Sphaeropsis) tip blight of pine is characterized by browning and stunting of new growth on young Austrian, red, Scots and mugo pine shoots, in addition to dieback of this new growth (the growth farthest out on the branch). This disease typically occurs on the bottom branches of the tree first and works its way upward over the years. Compare this to the normal seasonal loss of inner needles from previous years that occur on pines. Every fall, many people become worried about the yellowing, browning and falling needles on pine, even though loss of older needles is normal. Each evergreen species drops needles of different ages, so good plant identification and knowledge is essential. Careful observation of the details of whether the browning needles are on new or old growth is crucial for good diagnosis. Enough,. Let us now commence with “pictures tell a thousand stories” part of this article. B Jim Chatfield, Joe Boggs, Erik Draper, Amy Stone and Curtis Young The Ohio State University Extension Nursery Landscape and Turf Team chatfield.1@osu.edu

Captions Page 10 (top to bottom): Image 5: Diplodia fungal tip blight of pine. Note damage is on new growth; Image 6: Normal seasonal needle yellowing on white pine. Note damage is on older needles; Image 7a: Symptoms of three different crabapple diseases: frogeye leaf spot with defined spots, apple scab with diffuse lesions, and a leaf with both and additionally cedar apple rust; Image 7b: Apple scab on crabapple fruits can make fruit aesthetic appeal nil.

10 The Buckeye

onla.org

please see page 12

Captions Page 11: Image 7c: (top left) Frogeye leaf spot on crabapple with brown lesions and defined purple rims; Image 8 (middle left): The ash anthracnose fungus thrives in the cool, wet weather of early spring and infects soft, initial foliage. Subsequent foliage during warmer weather is not as affected; Image 9 (bottom left): The Volutella fungus on pachysandra causes target-like leaf lesions and blackened blight of stems; Image 10 (top right): Wild impatiens (jewelweed) temporarily wilts when exposed to the heat of the sun, a similar pattern on bedding impatiens; Image 11 (middle right): Stem-girdling roots (SGRs) often cause significant damage by disrupting a treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vascular system. Image 12 (bottom right): A symptom of girdling roots which is often obscured by soil and grass is a flattened stem on the girdled side of the tree.

onla.org

September 2014â&#x20AC;&#x192; 11

continued from page 11

Captions Image 13 (top left): Often what you see is confusing. Here is the damaging black knot disease on a cherry obscured by the growth of non-damaging lichens; Image 14 (middle left): Cedar apple rust fungus (one of three rust fungi) telial horns are about to erupt on juniper (Eastern red cedar) right next to juniper cones. Microscopic spores will spread to rosaceous hosts such as apple and hawthorn. Image 15 (bottom left): Cedar quince rust aecial pustules on hawthorn fruits. Note the splitting of the aecia with imminent release of masses of microscopic-sized bright orange spores within that will spread back to junipers. Image 16 (top right): With the cedar quince rust fungus stem infections also occur and cause galled areas on hawthorn stems. Image 17 (middle right): A key symptom of rose rosette virus disease is an abnormal proliferation of thorns on the rose cane. This helps with discriminating between rose rosette virus symptoms and other problems such as herbicide injury which might cause distortion of shoots and leaf reddening. Image 18 (bottom right): Leaf strapping symptoms of growth regulator herbicide injury on katsuratree.

12â&#x20AC;&#x192; The Buckeye

onla.org

Captions Image 19 (top left): Leaf strapping and parallel veination symptoms of growth regulator herbicide injury on katsuratree, helpfully illuminated by the photographer using backlighting from the angle of the sun. Image 20 (bottom right): A normal (and older) leaf of katsuratree compared to one damaged by growth regulator herbicide injury. Photography matters! Image 21 (top left): Distant mountains or a scene in rural northeast Ohio near Rittman? Photography can deceive. What exactly do you see?

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onla.org

September 2014 13

M a n a g e m e n t To d a y / M a r k e t i n g To d a y

No shortcuts

by mark mayberry

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a baseball fan, thanks to my Dad. As I grew up in Illinois, I was first a Braves’ fan, then changed to the Cubs in the early ’60’s. I moved to Atlanta in 1973, and became a Braves’ fan once again. Starting in 1991, I was treated to Braves’ teams that made the post-season 14 consecutive years. It was never done before, and I doubt that it will ever happen again. Why do I mention this? In 2014, the Braves had 3 members of those teams inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame – Pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, and manager Bobby Cox. What a thrill it was to listen to the three Hall Of Famers give their speeches. Then came Frank Thomas, who had a stellar career, mostly with the Chicago White Sox. What really touched me was the way that Thomas closed his speech: “To all you kids out there, just remember one thing from today. There are no shortcuts to success. Hard work, dedication, commitment…stay true to who you are.” I think that all you “kids” who are reading my article can relate to this advice. As nursery and landscape professionals, you know that there are no shortcuts. It does take: Hard Work – The nursery and landscape profession takes a lot of hard work, both physical and mental. To get to where you are today, you’ve had to put a lot of effort into both. When the season is right, you’ve had to get up and get going. And when the season is tough, like November through February, you have to be tough too. Dedication, Commitment – To me, these two things are very similar. You have to be dedicated to what you’re doing, committed to your business, your Team Members and your Customers. Your focus must always be clearcut, always setting goals and following a committed path to reach your organization’s goals. Stay true to who you are – Every great baseball player grew up watching other baseball superstars. They copied their favorite players’ swings, or the way they pitched. But there came a time in their careers where they had to be the best that they could be…in their own ways. Landscape and nursery pros have to do the same thing. Stay the course, believe in yourself, and stay true to who you are. When something “feels” right, do it. Conversely, when an idea seems a bit shaky, discard it. Look at the pros around you (ONLA and CENTS are a great way to do that!), and discover new ways to propel your business

14 The Buckeye

in a positive direction. But – don’t “copy” your peers. Take a bit of this and a bit of that, then make it work for you – and your company. Be true to yourself, your Team Members, and your Customers. Follow Frank Thomas’ advice – and someday you’ll be in the Hall Of Fame.

The Shazzam Challenge Hard work, dedication, commitment – be true to yourself. What can you do to improve on just one facet of Thomas’ challenge? B © Mark Mayberry Mark Mayberry is a Customer Service expert. He works with a wide variety of organizations around the world, helping organizations like yours deliver “Service With Shazzam” to your Customers. Call Mark today at (815) 209-1381

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Educational Update Playing (Planting) for the Long Game

This article is provided to you as a benefit of membership in the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. Content for this issue provided by: Tim Malinich OSU Extension Educator The Ohio State University Extension, Erie County 2900 Columbus Ave. Sandusky, OH 44870-5554 (419) 627-7631 malinich.1@osu.edu

In the constant battle to complete work on landscapes, plans and installations we sometimes lose perspective on what our work will look like one or two decades down the line. As an industry, our efforts can have a lasting effect and even have a potential for becoming a legacy to the business or persons that created or produced a particular landscape or nursery stock. So, it may pay to sit back and consider the long game—to not only look at the turf and trees today, but plan on how those aspects of the landscape will look in two, three and ten years from now. The life expectancy of individual plants is surprisingly short and critical problems seem to crop up in the landscape with surprising regularity.

Soil Test Everyone keeps reminding industry people to use soil tests to assess the nutrient load in the soil. With agricultural runoff and phosphorous taking the brunt of the blame for problems with aquatic ecosystems, growers that don’t monitor nutrient levels need to reconsider. Even maintenance work on individual properties would benefit from a snapshot of soil nutrients. A good job of sampling soil should only take about ten minutes for an individual property with another ten minutes to prepare and package the sample. Most labs will provide some type of feedback, but you can get some basic training on how to read the test results and make some recommen-

dations yourself. If you are a company that maintains their client list from year to year a regular soil test can help pinpoint trouble before it starts and help solve problems that have crept into the landscape. Soil testing is a low-hanging fruit for preventative and diagnostic work, but few people take advantage of it.

Drainage Install and Soil Remediation Heavy rain events seem more frequent and they are pinpointing drainage problems in many landscapes and production facilities. The easiest solution is to consider drainage prior to the installation/ construction and install tile to carry the water away. Don’t assume flooding is a rare event—we have seen that is not true. A properly installed drain tile will last over thirty yeas and pay for itself in the longevity of the plant material. Post construction, drain tile can still be installed between beds or in turf. It’s an expensive option as it requires regrading and replacement, but again it can pay for itself long term. Trenching, gravel and surface drains will also provide long-term solutions to wet areas. Modifying the soil itself for drainage is more tricky than it sounds. When thinking about drainage remember that everything is connected—water that drains through the first few inches needs to drain through the soil below it as well; surface runoff does not indicate what is happening in the soil; various soil textures pull in please see page 16

continued from page 15

EDUCATIONAL UPDATE

water at rates specific to their physical properties. Therefore, don’t assume that bringing in four inches of good topsoil will fix a terrible planting situation. Think about all of the interrelated characteristics before making a decision about a short-term solution. The soil will mature and come to a new balance over a period of decades but that is a timetable most people won’t consider.

Proper Use of Irrigation Drainage is intimately connected to irrigation. Without proper drainage, irrigation will only exacerbate the condition of poorly drained soil. The biggest problem with irrigation is the lack of monitoring. Homeowners and landscapers alike are often unaware of the volume of water needed by the landscape or applied by the system. As water becomes more important—lack of it during drought, and frequent excess at other times—smart use of irrigation will be necessary. Even more important is that the frequent practice of unintentional over watering significantly affects the health of the landscape often shortening the useful lifespan of many plants.

Selection and Placement Over the decades our selection and placement of plants has improved greatly. You rarely see a new installation of large stature trees under power lines. The fifty-foot blue spruce in front of the bay window is an endangered species. Success in these areas lets us drill down and fine tune our selection in other areas— increasing the potential for a landscape that literally will grow, and continually change for many decades. Trees near houses should be selected with the same caution that we use when planting near a septic field. How large of a tree can we install without increasing the potential for future damage to the structure? Large stature material—white and red oak, elm, etc.—need to remain well away from the structure, fifty or more feet. At this distance the tree has a greater chance of growing to maturity while not becoming a hazard to the house or property. Unfortunately, quite a number of storm damaged trees landing on houses seem to be replaced with equally large specimens.

Winter Plan Plan ahead and don’t plant salt sensitive material in areas prone to salt damage. We do a good job of thinking about salt spray from roads but don’t go far enough when we think about the rest of the hard surfaces around the landscape. Beds next to walkways where deicing compounds will be used frequently should be either planted with more tolerant plants or with an expectation that the area will need to be regularly replanted. 16

Right tree, wrong place. As good as this weeping cherry looks it is shortlived because it will grow too large for the location. Branches will clog gutters and the hang over the walkway. It would live much longer twenty foot further from the house. If in doubt, you can use an electro conductivity (EC) meter to measure the level of soluble salt in the soil. The readings will vary widely but it is easy to pinpoint the high salt areas in a failing landscape. Unplanted berms in parking areas or along driveways and walks could replace patches of crabgrass or sickly perennials that commonly grow in these areas.

Livestock Rodent and deer populations will affect the longevity of the plants in some areas. Meadows, retention basins, undeveloped properties and fencerows will all provide habitat that will support not only pollinators, but pests as well. If natural areas are kept as part of a larger landscape then protection from rodents should also be part of the long-term plan. Mice (voles) can girdle large specimens under the cover of winter snow. Rabbits are more direct and will chew any tasty trunk or branch above the snow line. Rabbit guards can be as simple as quarter-inch hardware cloth encircling the bottom foot to eighteen inches of trunk. Pear and apple are a couple of favorite chew toys, but viburnum, quince and even euonymus will also be girdled. Actually, in a bad winter,

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s The Buckeye, September 2014

please see page 17

(left) If deer control is not an option then the landscape plan needs to be drastically altered to tolerate their damage. (right) Poorly performing turf areas next to highly salted walks are often populated by crabgrass or other weeds. Yet, we keep trying to control the weeds rather than planning that grass will not grow in these locations.

continued from page 16

where the snow cover keeps rabbits from finding forage, almost any plant will be at risk. Guards can be placed before the ground freezes and removed when more favorable rabbit forage begins to grow. Mice can wipe out a large stand of young trees in a single winter. They feed below the snow line and like rabbits prefer apple and pear, but any plant can be at risk. They will also feed on bulbs, tubers and rhizomes in perennial gardens. Keep mouse habitat to a minimum. Remove thick mulch, piles of leaves, tall weeds and anything that might provide cover. Clear the area immediately surrounding the bases of trees. The trick here is to make sure the area is open so the mouse cannot feed without being exposed to predators. Fine hardware cloth can also be used on specimen plants, but mice tend to find their way under the screen. Live traps and glue boards are easy to use for trapping. But, baits and poisons need to be left to those licensed for rodent pest control. Like rabbit, deer will feed on almost anything in a hard winter. However, they do tend to stick with their favorites when forage is plentiful. Some communities are going ahead with plans for population reduction in suburban areas but others are stuck with high local deer populations. For long-term success in areas with high deer pressure the landscape should exclude the hostas, lilies, daylilies, pears, apples and other deercandy.

Maintenance When regular maintenance falls by the wayside the

plant material, soil, and turf will all tend to fall into decline after a few years. Maintenance plans should spell out how particular tasks make for a better landscape—too often we provide services and the clients don’t even know it. Even the local car repair shop lets you know that they do a free maintenance and safety check on the vehicle. Yet, how many of our invoices mention the pest and disease scouting that the crew should be doing each time they work on the property. The same can be said for regular additions of organic matter to improve soil, measures taken to reduce soil compaction, and scouting for particular insect of disease problems prevalent in the region. Each of these can, and should, be sold as part of long-term maintenance for most properties.

Client Education Working with clients to give them reasonable expectations of how the landscape will look and perform over time can be very difficult—perhaps impossible. However, a little education can go a long way to ameliorate misunderstandings about problems that will arise over time. There is no trouble free/maintenance free landscape. Clients need to know of potential insect and disease problems that may show up and the actions that can be done to prevent or solve them. As long as they understand that all plants have problems and you are helping them select the best plant for their location, the education can be more of a selling point than a detriment. please see page 18

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s The Buckeye, September 2014

EDUCATIONAL UPDATE

Captions

EDUCATIONAL UPDATE

continued from page 17

Though our current population tends to move from job to job, they should still be engaged in the long term planning of the landscape. How large trees and shrubs will get, which ones will need to be removed as others mature, how to watch for pests before they reach devastating proportions are all items that a client can participate in as the property matures. In time, a tree planted to last decades will either be a good selling point when the property is sold or give many years of enjoyment and pleasure to an owner that stays—that is the legacy our industry provides. B

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KLYN NURSERIES, Inc.

New Carlisle, OH 45344 www.scarffs.com

FAX: (440) 259-3338 Web Site: klynnurseries.com E-Mail: klyn@klynnurseries.com

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s The Buckeye, September 2014

ONLA Membership: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association leads, promotes, and facilitates the success and growth of green industry businesses.

Exclusive Member Benefits Credit Collection - Cash Flow Management (CFM) With CFM, a trained collection specialist is assigned to bring in your past-due accounts before they fade away as bad debts.

Credit/Debit Card Processing - Merchant Services

ONLA members can take advantage of credit and debit card merchant service processing program through Merchant Services. Merchant Services brings electronic processing programs specifically designed to fit the needs of your business.

Energy Program - Growers Energy Solutions (GES)

Grower Energy Solutions (GES) helps manage an energy program designed to help save on your natural gas and electric bill by utilizing the strength of group buying. Average savings between 8 and 15%.

Federation of Employers & Workers of America

FEWA is an internationally recognized non-profit association which provides members with educational and informational services related to cultural and non-immigrant and immigrant labor management issues.

Fuel/Fleet Program - SuperFleet®

Payroll/Human Resource Services - Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)

(ADP) offers a range of payroll, payroll tax, and human resources services to assist ONLA members with staffing, managing, paying, and retaining employees.

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% with the best coverage rates for your liability, fleet and equipment.

Safety Services - American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc./American Premier First Aid

Save up to $.05 per gallon on all fuel purchases at SuperFleet® (Speedway, Marathon and Rich Oil) locations with no minimum purchase required.

American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. (ASH) fills the growing need for professional safety and health management services for companies of all sizes. Meet requirements and reduce costs using first aid products from American Premier First Aid, Inc.

Green Industry Education

Shipping Solutions - PartnerShip

Attend ONLA educational events at a discounted rate and learn with fellow green industry professionals.

Health/Life/Income Insurance - TAH Benefits

The ONLA Group Benefit Programs has partnered with various health plans to offer a variety of plans with many optional benefits such as vision, dental, life, and disability.

Legislative Advocacy

Full-time lobbyist, Capitol Consulting Group, is employed by the ONLA to ensure green industry legislative involvement.

Long Distance/Local Telephone

First Communications provides full telecommunications services: long distance, data services, conference calling and toll free service.

Take control of your shipping costs and add profits to your bottom line. PartnerShip delivers effective discounted shipping services to small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide, save up to 20%.

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, soilless media, soil texture, fertilizer solution, plant tissue, irrigation water suitability and dry fertilizer analysis.

Workers’ Compensation - CareWorks Consultants, Inc.

The ONLA Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program has saved its members over $21.4 million in the last 12 years.

Office Supplies - Friends Business Source

Friends Business Source is a leader in providing office supplies and equipment with ONLA member discounts on over 35,000 products. Receive 30-55% off list price!

Online Safety Training- LS Training

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

September 2014 19

Yo u n g L e a d e r s

Next Gen: Is Our Future In Jeopardy? The green industry has encountered a recurring issue with attracting and retaining personnel, or as we call them, Next Gen. This issue continues to concern me, along with many colleagues, as the industry workforce continues to age. While the industry continues to grow, it seems that the labor pool continues to dry up. What will happen when the pool is empty? Owners, managers and the industry as a whole must take initiative in order to stem the problem and prevent an enormous labor shortage in the years to come. How can the industry create interest and appeal for the Next Gen? Since I became involved in the green industry 12 years ago, I have always noticed a sense of distaste for our work among my generation. Friends asked why I would ever sign up to work in such conditions – having to work long hours in the elements, working with heavy, dirty, bulky materials, and call it an enjoyable job. It seems their idea of enjoyable involves sitting in an office, or in front of a computer in a clean climate controlled environment, with normal hours, and of course premium compensation. From their point of view, the green industry is the last place they would think to look for a long term, rewarding and successful career. This needs to change – now! As part of the Next Gen committee, I have heard many thoughts and had many discussions investigating the ways in which our industry is viewed, and the reasons for it. The vast majority of the industry appears to have the same thought – the next generation doesn’t see our hands on, dirty, hot, wet work as a “rewarding” or sought after job. While this type of work most certainly doesn’t suit everyone, there is a well defined group of individuals that take great pleasure in the outdoors, enjoy the hot, cold, wet and dirty nature of our work. We need to connect with these people and educate them about the opportunities we have to offer! Finding the most effective channel to disperse information to them continues to be difficult, but the only way to move forward is to continue searching for better ways to reach them. During our Next Gen meeting, we discussed things like developing closer relationships with local educational institutions that offer agricultural related curriculum. Presenting a guest lecture on your specific industry, and talking about the opportunities is a great way to help pique the interest

20 The Buckeye

of young people, still unsure of the industry. Holding an open house for students at your office is another way to help expose them to the many options and career paths available, and helps give them a better idea of how our industry operates. Another major issue in the portrayal of our industry is technology, and it use (or lack thereof). Technology has evolved so quickly in other industries, we are often viewed as behind the times or old fashioned. While this is what many outside our industry believe, I don’t feel it is accurate. Technology surrounds us – crews with paperless capability (ipads), vehicles equipped with GPS and monitoring systems, barcode and other inventory controls, wireless irrigation technology, GIS mapping and measuring, the list goes on. While we cannot eliminate the fact that our work is hands on (at least for now), we can and do embrace technology in a growing number of ways. It increases production, reduces injuries and makes us profitable. It is important for us to communicate these facts and show prospective employees how things are always changing, and the ways in which these changes can have a positive effect on them. In order to change this perspective, we need to speak up and get the word out to accurately portray our industry. Is there a silver bullet to attracting and retaining the Next Gen, and keeping the labor pool filled? I don’t believe so. In order to turn the tide and increase interest in our industry, we must continue to innovate, embrace technology, and most importantly communicate the state of our industry to future generations. We must adapt to better identify the needs and wants of the next generation, and show them how the green industry can fulfill many aspects of life for them. This process will continue to change, and the Next Gen will continue the process for generations in the future to maintain the success of the green industry. B Shawn Rine ONLA Next Generation Committee Rine Landscape Group, Inc. shawn.rine@rinelandscapegroup.com

onla.org

Membership Moment

The Road to Success Begins Here The challenges of running your business are many. Hiring and keeping qualified employees, navigating the pitfalls of government regulations, keeping up with the many insects and diseases attacking our plants, mounting overhead expenses, need I go on? These and many other questions do not have simple answers. No one person can answer all these… You are not alone! Understand your peers are facing similar hurdles on a daily basis. I realize each of you feel your businesses is unique and it is, but I believe we all face similar challenges that many other members in ONLA may have faced before. Your ONLA organization is big and strong and has a wealth of experts and consultants. You may even be one and not know it! A good place to start is to contact the ONLA office. They may have answers or they can offer contact info where you may look for help. This is your organization and its mission is to lead, promote and facilitate the success and growth of your business. As one of the leading nursery & landscape associations in the nation, the ONLA prides itself in being Ohio’s only all-encompassing “Green Industry” association. Whether you like to phone, fax, write or e-mail, the staff of ONLA is there to answer your questions. Just ask! Government regulations and legislative activity relating to the “Green Industry” is another core competency of ONLA. It would be very difficult to know what our state government is doing on a regular basis on my own. I keep up with the latest “Legislative Hotline” a monthly article in The Buckeye. Saving money is always a good thing. All of the service providers are chosen for their expertise and value they provide to members. With the many programs offered with your membership in ONLA, it’s really pretty simple. Check the ONLA web site (ONLA.org) then go to member benefits page for a listing of the most relevant and useful benefit and service offerings. Even if you are using some programs, I encourage you to look again; you may find a savings program that you are not currently using. Keeping up with the latest pests and diseases is easy with the PEST Newsletter. Pest Evaluation and Suppression (PEST) updates subscribers on the biology and control of pests currently affecting Ohio landscapes is published bi-weekly from March to October. These and numerous other publications are available through your ONLA membership. All of the member benefits that go along with your membership are great, but my best experience through the years is simply meeting and talking with peers at ONLA onla.org

functions, such as CENTS, or the numerous seminars offered can provide countless ideas to many of our business and technical dilemmas. The friendships I have established over the years have been one of the best parts of being involved with ONLA. I’m suggesting you get to know more people within and other members of ONLA. Reach out to others in a different city, or different branch of the ONLA. It’s a big state with many successful operations big and small, from growers and sellers to installers and maintainers. You may be surprised of the ideas you can learn by just asking simple questions over a friendly conversation. Taking it a step further, I encourage you to get involved, volunteer for a committee. The best way to learn is by giving and sharing. Much of what ONLA accomplishes would not take place without the commitment of the committee members. Committee work provides excellent opportunities for professional development and networking! Are you getting all you can from your ONLA? B Jeff Webeler White Oak Gardens, Cincinnati, OH jeff@WhiteOakGardens.com

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

September 2014 21

Look to the Future

Where Are They Now? Kimberly Vasko, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College alumni, is a perfect example of the type of individual that makes the green industry in Ohio the best in the nation. Her accomplishments were all achieved through hard work and a sincere dedication to excellence. She continues to share these gifts and her vast knowledge of the landscape industry, with others both professionally and academically. Kim began working as a grounds technician maintaining the arboretum and grounds at Cincinnati State in 2004, and soon after enrolled in the Landscape Horticulture department as a student. Kim had four years prior experience working in the landscape and lawn industry. Though she continued to gain experience as a technician on campus, performing many horticultural and grounds maintenance duties on a daily basis, she decided to take advantage of the educational opportunities provided to her as an employee and immediately got to work expanding her knowledge base. That decision was the first step in an impressive career path, which continues to rise as each year passes by. While a student, Kim became highly involved in expanding her professional network. She joined the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA), the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF), the National Association of Women in Professional Landscape (NAWPL), the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa due to her academic merit. She also competed with the Cincinnati State team at the annual PLANET Student Career Days events across the country. Kim always gave 100% and was not only a role model and mentor to her fellow students, but did an outstanding job in her individual events, ensuring the team placed high in the years she participated. Kim graduated with honors in 2008 with dual degrees in Landscape Horticulture and Turfgrass Management. Never stopping for a moment to excel in her field, she began studying for the Professional Grounds Management Society certified technician exam

22â&#x20AC;&#x192; The Buckeye

and earned the credential of becoming a Certified PGMS Grounds Technician in 2009. This was especially impressive as Kim was the 77th individual in the nation to earn this achievement, and also was the first staff member on the Cincinnati State grounds crew to succeed in earning the credential. It is no surprise that soon after, in 2010, Kim was promoted to a supervisory role as Crew Coordinator where she was responsible for coordinating work assignments, researching and implementing changing trends and techniques of her trade, training and educating staff and assisting the Grounds Supervisor with operational planning. In addition, she was charged with tracking inventory, ordering materials for staff and coordinating various events with Campus Police, Facilities and other departments. She also supervised current landscape horticulture students as cooperative education (co-op) employer, and has been teaching as adjunct faculty within the program since she graduated with her first two degrees in 2008. In 2010, Cincinnati State won a $1.5 million grant to install green infrastructure (rain gardens, bioswales, retention basins, pervious pavements, etc.) all over campus. The college sits on a steep, rocky knob, and it was determined to be an excellent site for evaluation and analysis of urban green infrastructure with many interesting, site specific challenges. The campus is surrounded on all sides by roads and hardscape, has mostly heavy clay as the soil texture and sits on severe slopes. Kim was instrumental in the successful implementation of the project, and seeing that storm water management was becoming a major issue both locally and nationally, enrolled in the Sustainable Landscape major at Cincinnati State, a horticulture degree that focuses on the unique challenges of green infrastructure design, implementation and management. In her constant drive to expand her gifts and knowledge in this industry, she had also enrolled in the B.A. Business Administration, Management Concentration, program at Wilmington College and completed her degree there in 2011. She graduated with honors with her onla.org

Sustainable Horticulture degree from Cincinnati State in 2013. In 2011, after completing her Bachelors in Management, she was promoted to Landscape and Grounds Supervisor. In addition to her prior duties, Kim interacts on a regular basis with top administration in the college to ensure completion of projects and oversees the grounds portion of the master plan, maintains a staff of 5-10 employees, performs at speaking engagements at seminars and conferences, and provides regular educational tours to organizations and classes, specializing in green infrastructure tours of the campus grounds. In late 2013, Kim was accepted at Marylhurst University and plans to complete a M.S. in Sustainable Business by the spring of 2017. She will also complete her SGM (School of Grounds Management) certificate this coming fall with PGMS, and is preparing to become both a CGM (Certified Grounds Manager) and earn her LEED, Green Associate credential in the near future. Kim continues to teach as landscape horticulture adjunct faculty at Cincinnati State (Landscape Management and Landscape Operations), has now become a coach for the PLANET Student Career Days team, and runs a side landscape and design business, Yardvark Services, LLC., that she started in 2000.

In gathering information about this article, Kim was asked to describe her experience at Cincinnati State. She replied that “her experience, both personally and professionally, has been an amazing journey, for which she is not finished. Her degrees from Cincinnati State have propelled her self-confidence and motivation to continue her education. It has encouraged her to “give back” which was instilled in her personally from her parents, but on a professional level, demands a lot of time. When she sees the impact that she has on her students as a mentor, role model and educator, it makes it all worth it.” Kim continues to make the Landscape Horticulture faculty at Cincinnati State proud with her many accomplishments. Her talents and knowledge are not only a benefit to the college as a whole, but to the community and landscaping industry at large. B Heather Wiggins ONLA Scholarship & Student Activities Committee Cincinnati State & Technical College heather.wiggins@cincinnatistate.edu

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September 2014 23

Retail Roundtable

Responding with

You’re Welcome

Yes, it’s time again to play, “LET’S ASK THE RETAILERS!” A fun game, where we throw our ONLA retailing extraordinaires a thought provoking question, and let each expert throw their mind boggling thoughts back to us. We have two categories today: ‘Branded Plants’, and ‘No Problem’. Are you ready? Then let’s play! Hey Retailing Extraordinaires:

2.) No Problem – When someone says “Thank you” a common response today is “No Problem”. Could it have been a problem? What happened to “You’re Welcome” or “Our / my Pleasure?” Does this bother you, or is it just the new acceptable answer and I need to deal with it?

are buying regardless of what type of pot it is in. Can branded pots and POP help? Of course, when displayed well and signed the branded pots can look great and sell quickly. First it must be the plant that makes the display more than the pot or the signage. One brand that I hope to do more with in the future is Hort Couture this is an independent only brand. They have great POP and other signage that can make a great display. Being an independent only brand will allow us to use the benefits of the branded pots, signage other POP to create displays of products that not be price shopped at the box stores. Our people, our product and the experience shopping at White Oak make White Oak the brand. This is why I believe that the branded plants just don’t matter much to our customers. They shop at our store because it is their garden center and they know that we are there help them be successful. After saying all that we carry some Hort couture plants, PW, Endless summer and Knockouts.”

Tom Hilgeman / White Oak Garden Center –

Tim Clark / Benken Florist & Greenhouses –

“Branded plants do not really matter much at White Oak. We carry some and at time feature a display of branded plants. We will continue to carry the highest quality and best performing plants for our customers but the branded pot will not be the main reason for plant being sold at White Oak. The brand is White Oak Gardens and to our customers that is what they

“In ‘Benkenland’, it is a big deal. With the big box stores getting better and better at their offerings we find it a way to still differentiate ourselves. Some places you walk into have branded everything. Different color pots here and there. We try really hard to only have our own brand in the store. We sell gallon and quart size annuals in our log Benken pot. Most of the shrubs we sell are in

1.) Branded plants – does it matter to you and your garden store? Does it matter to your customers? Why or why not? If you answered yes to either, then which branded plants do suggest / do you carry?

24 The Buckeye

onla.org

the traditional black pot with some notable exceptions of knock out roses and endless summer hydrangeas. We would prefer not to see a Proven Winner or Monrovia pot anywhere. We sell ourselves as the experts (but then again we are growing our own stuff).”

Mike Ennemoser / Greenleaf Landscapes – “Yes, branded plants are a big part of our store, like it or not. Branded plants are selected for variety, color, quality and performance. First and foremost, we stock and sell plants that our customers want or are seeking to purchase. We will then try to put these plants (not all branded plants) into our customer’s carts. Customers generally do not ask for branded plants- they ask for marketed plant varieties. For example: easy roses, carefree hydrangeas, etc. As a horticulturist, I want the customer to have success, so the branded plants sold really need to be the best of the best. Partnering with our vendors helps us out with this challenge. We then educate customers on certain plant selections that we know they will be successful with. Not all the brands are carried. What brands: Some of the few we carry are PW (Proven Winners), Star Roses (KNOCK OUT), and Plants that Work.”

Darlene Cooper / Sharon Nursery – “I wish I could tell you that branded plants were coloring our world in bright happy colors. I still have customers who ask for a “Monrovia” plant--that’s what it’s called, a Monrovia!! I would say that by and large Proven Winners and Hort Couture are the two that customers most frequently seem to recognize. I don’t believe for one second that people know what either is. The packaging on Hort Couture is definitely appealing to younger gardeners and offers some creative marketing opportunities. Endless Summer Hydrangeas and KNOCK OUT roses are still in high demand, partly because most of them died this winter and partly because folks think you can’t kill them.”

Jodi Dawson / Oakland Nursery – “I feel that branded plants are important to carry at our garden center. There is constant advertising on garden TV and in magazines. Word of mouth is also a great tool for our industry. KNOCK OUT roses, Endless Summer hydrangeas and Stella D’oro daylilies are great examples of branded plants. They have proven to be low maintenance and dependable for the consumer. We have the opportunity to choose from many growers that produce branded plants. It is up to us to find the quality product to provide for our customers. The request for branded plants in the annual and vegetable department suggested a different story. I had the impression that it onla.org

was more important to have the variety of plant rather than the seal of approval from a certain company. I also believe that price had an effect on the decision. Branded annuals were very nice although the price was much higher. Consumers purchased the plant that was most appealing to them, rather than what name was on the pot. I suspect that if you put a branded plant against a similar yet better looking plant, quality always wins.”

Steve Maddox / Michell’s – “I have to say that at one time I was not a fan of branded plants. Mainly because I saw the higher cost and that’s it. Once you look beyond that, you realize the amount of effort it takes to not only market them, but to research, test, trial and provide supportive POP material. I have a WHOLE new appreciation for branded plants and definitely see where they belong in the garden center. For example, Proven Winners spends a lot of money on marketing. I think it’s important for garden centers to capitalize on this and carry them to help connect the dots between a home garden magazine and the plant in your store. “Ride The Wave” and use the brand recognition to sell premium plants.”

Tony Sciambi / Buckeye Resources – “Branded mulches & soils? Because, of all the advertising dollars, people will initially ask for branded products, but once they try the product, if it does not perform as advertised customers will go back to what your garden center personnel recommend. The important thing is, if it is being promoted by the Big Box Stores, why would you not promote the products that are of equal or better quality that you can make money on, that maybe does not have the name recognition? We have several small garden chains who have promoted their own name brand with great success.”

And what about saying “No Problem”? Tim – “It drives me nuts when someone says “No problem”. Same for “No Worries”. Just say “Thank You” and be done with it.”

Mike – “As an independent Garden Center, I believe customers expect and even demand at times a certain level of service, expertise and quality. It is our job as managers to maintain these levels of service in our stores. This means all of us are in the plant business servicing our customer. Greeting and communication between us and our customers is constant and always flowing. “No problem” is commonly used in our store and even by please see page 26

September 2014 25

continued from page 25

me. This is an acceptable response that I use in addition to “Thank you” for stopping by; I appreciate your visiting with us today. Everyone has different language and a slightly different way of communication. If customers are greeted, serviced and treated with respect in a positive way (where they enjoy the experience and service), they will be back. And they’ll remember you and your store, not whether or not you replied, “No problem.”

Darlene – “As far as No Problem goes...it is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. When teenagers at the store do it, I try to catch them and break it down for them. Once again, as professional retail service providers we have an obligation to offer the highest, happiest and most enjoyable shopping experience possible. I firmly believe that our more mature shoppers (the biggest chunk of our demograph) are in agreement with us on this. It is NEVER a problem to receive the kindness of gratitude from someone who has helped your business stay alive! I think it speaks to a training issue with our employees and an etiquette issue with our children. Off topic, but it goes along the same path as identifying yourself when you answer the phone at your business. It’s a basic but underestimated courtesy and I believe customers really appreciate it. To end on a positive note, these courtesy issues are, once again, a training opportunity. We need to provide our employees with the highest level of education, information and consistency. At some point replying to a customer’s “Thank You!” with a heartfelt “It was my pleasure!” will be second nature! Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.”

Tony – “No problem.” And once again our retailing extraordinaire’s thoughts have our heads spinning like the Tilt-A-Whirl at the county fair. We leave you today with the words from Roni Petersen’s favorite country singer Kenny Chesney as he sings, “No shoes, no shirt, no problem.” Hey retailers, can we talk? B Ron Wilson ONLA Retail Committee Ghost Writer in the Sky / Personal Yardboy rwilson@natorp.com

Jodi – “I do not find myself using that phrase. My parents would not allow it. I grew up when spanking or slapping your child was still acceptable. My parents had “no problem” reminding me of my manners!! I do not want our customers feeling as if they are a nuisance. I am here to help and teach the customer. We all want our customers to succeed and that is how they should walk away. This question did remind me to be aware of employees that use this gesture. It will help me reenforce a more positive response.”

Steve – “A few years ago I made a conscious effort to stop saying, “No Problem” and instead say “My Pleasure”. It does bother me a little when after receiving substandard service that I get the “No Problem”. I feel at that point, it was a problem to serve me and they just assume I didn’t exist. When you train yourself to say, “My Pleasure” I think it changes your attitude and your level of service increases. It’s been “My Pleasure” writing this!”

26 The Buckeye

onla.org

Greenhouse Grower’s Viewpoint

Strobe Lights

Today the greenhouse industry is abuzz with the use of extra lighting to lengthen the day, produce a crop more rapidly, build a bigger, stronger plant and/or hasten the unproductive phase of plants. Many systems exist including HID, LED and induction. Another choice is now available to the industry, that of strobe lights. This system has the least start-up cost, is the least expensive to operate and has the correct growing light spectrum – 450-950 nanometers. The units operate on 1/10 amp, and over 100 units can be plugged into a single 110 volt outlet. The strobe releases light between 60 and 80 times per minute with each release putting out 175,000 candles of light. To date these strobes have been used as a light source for growing tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and cucumbers. Installation is rather easy since each unit weighs less than two pounds. The units are not synchronized so there is no voltage drop in long runs. Each unit is capable of

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covering 25 square feet and hangs five feet above the plant surface. The unit itself is three inches by six inches and provides no shading to the crop. The lights are being used at The Wooster Experiment Station, three greenhouses in Ohio and one greenhouse in Michigan. This year will be the fourth year of use with data on tomatoes and peppers. Research is also underway for use on ornamentals, especially plug trays, the goal being to shorten bench time. The system is called Firefly-One and is patent pending. For more information please contact Firefly-One at 18832 North Dixie Highway, Bowling Green, OH 43402, office phone 419-353-7858 or cell phone 419-409-0648. B Dick Bostorff ONLA Greenhouse Grower Committee Bostdorff Greehouse Acres, Ltd. bostdorffgreenhouse@midohio.twcbc.com

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September 2014 27

Feature

A New Lime Material for Container Substrates Scientists at the USDA-ARS in Wooster and Toledo, OH have been working with a new liming agent, called steel slag, to manage pH in soilless substrates. Steel slag causes a very potent pH reaction in container substrates. But is that a good thing? Before we begin, let’s review a little chemistry so we understand the nuances of pH.

What is pH? In scientific terms, pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. In plain English, pH is a measure of a solution’s acidity. Water pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, where 1 = very acidic, 7 = neutral, and 14 = very basic. The chemical notation for water is H2O, however, water does not exist solely as H2O. Rather, water fluctuates between H2O and its breakdown products of hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions (see Figure 1). Imagine a

glass of water. Within that glass of water there are H2O molecules, along with some H+ and OH- ions. In pure water, there is an equal balance between the amount of H+ and OH- ions, and the pH is 7 (neutral). If something is added to the water that increases H+ ion concentration, then the solution becomes acidic (pH drops below 7). The greater the H+ ion concentration, the more acidic the solution, and the lower the pH (< 7). Likewise, if something is added to the water that causes the solution to shift to a higher concentration of OH- ions and a lower concentration of H+ ions, then the solution becomes basic (pH greater than 7). Adding lime, fertilizers, and other amendments often causes a shift in the H+ ion concentration, and thus a change in pH.

How does lime affect soil pH? Farmers today, and for decades past, have added lime

Figure 1. The pH of water is a measure of the relative H+ and OH- concentration. Notice how the balance between H+ and OHmolecules change between neutral, acidic, and basic pH solutions.

28 The Buckeye

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to raise soil pH. Calcitic lime (often called agricultural lime) is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Dolomitic lime is a combination of calcium and magnesium carbonate (CaCO3 + MgCO3). Both materials react in a similar way to raise soil pH. As CaCO3 (or MgCO3) comes in contact with soil-water, it splits into Ca2+ + CO32-. The Ca2+ displaces H+ ions on soil colloids, and the H+ ions are subsequently absorbed by CO32- to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid is not stable in soil and is quickly broken down into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Thus, the net effect of adding lime to soil (or substrates) is that calcium, magnesium, or both (depending on lime source) are added to the soil and H+ ions are removed, and therefore pH is raised and the soil becomes more basic. Dolomitic lime is most often used to elevate pH in peatmoss and pine bark substrates. Plants require both Ca and Mg, but not in equal proportions. Ideally, the ratio between Ca and Mg is somewhere between 3:1 and 5:1. Coincidentally, the ratio of Ca to Mg in dolomitic lime is in roughly in that ratio of 3:1 and 5:1. Thus dolomitic lime is used preferentially over calcitic lime for most applications in greenhouse or nursery production.

Why is pH important? Substrate pH strongly influences nutrient availability in container substrates. Specifically, pH affects nitrogen form and micronutrient availability. Nitrogen is applied to container substrates in the form of urea, ammonium, or nitrate. Substrate pH affects how quickly urea and ammonium are converted to the nitrate form. Because the nitrate form is preferred by many species, and because the nitrate form leaches more rapidly than the ammonium form, substrate pH has a strong (albeit complex) influence on nitrogen uptake. Substrate pH also affects uptake of micronutrients, most notably boron, iron, and manganese. All this considered, the ideal pH for most containergrown crops is between 5.5 and 6.5.

What is steel slag, and how does it affect soil pH? Steel slag is a byproduct of the steel industry. As steel scraps and iron ore are melted in a furnace, calcium oxide (CaO) and dolomitic lime are introduced as fluxing agents to remove impurities from the molten steel. Mineral impurities removed by the fluxing agent, along with the calcium oxide and dolomitic lime, form a molten slag. The slag is poured off from the steel, cooled, and processed into various particle size fractions ranging from dust to gravel. Properties of steel slag vary by the type of furnace in which steel is produced, as well as by how the furnace is managed. Despite differences, most steel slags are similar in that they are composed primarily of calcium oxide, silicon oxide, and iron oxide (CaO, SiO, and FeO). Calcium oxide makes the largest component of most steel onla.org

slags, usually more than 35% by weight. For purposes of our discussion, the calcium oxide is the most relevant of the compounds found in steel slag. Calcium oxide, also known as quicklime or burnt lime, is commonly used in cement and road construction, but rarely used in its pure form in agriculture due to its ability to absorb moisture from air and burn skin (or any organic tissue). Steel slag contains CaO, but because it is in combination with other minerals, it is generally safe to handle. As with any agricultural chemical, proper safety precautions should be used when mixing or handling. Calcium oxide from the steel slag reacts with water and carbon dioxide in the soil to form bicarbonates, which as described above, quickly react with H+ ions to form carbon dioxide and water (thus removing H+ ions from solution). The effect of adding CaO to soil is similar to adding CaCO3, in that H+ ions are removed and soil pH increases. One of the other interesting properties of steel slag is its high SiO content. A portion of this silicon is available for plant uptake. Silicon has been shown to reduce pest damage and abiotic stress in many crops. The merits and uses of Si in horticultural crops will require a whole different article to fully discuss, nonetheless, Si in steel slag provides an additional benefit in using it to raise pH in greenhouse and nursery substrates. There are steel slag products marketed for agricultural applications. Because of the potential to raise pH and provide Si for plant uptake, we are interested in comparing a steel slag to dolomitic lime for adjusting pH of greenhouse and nursery substrates.

Greenhouse Experiment Steel slag and dolomitic lime were amended in a typical greenhouse substrate comprised of 85% peatmoss and 15% perlite. Both materials were amended at rates of 0, 4, 8, 16, or 24 lb/yd3. Substrate pH and EC were measured using the pour-through procedure at 1 and 8 weeks after potting (WAP). Both dolomitic lime and steel slag had a similar and minor effect on substrate EC. Across all treatments, EC levels were within the recommended range (1.0 to 4.6 mS/cm) for floriculture crops throughout the experiment. Figure 2 shows how pH in the greenhouse potting mix responded to dolomitic lime and steel slag rates. The top chart shows results at 1 week after potting, and the bottom chart at 8 weeks after potting. There is very little change from 1 to 8 weeks, showing that adjusted pH from both of these materials is stable over an 8 week production cycle. Peatmoss without any lime amendment has a pH of about 4.5. Observe how pH responds to increasing rates of dolomitic lime in Figure 2. This is a typical response for substrate pH in lime-amended container mixes. Substrate pH increases rapidly with low rates of dolomitic please see page 31

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8.0

1 Week after potting

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Figure 2. Change in pH for a peatmoss media amended with dolomitic lime or steel slag.

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Figure 3. Change in pH of a pine bark media amended with dolomitic lime or steel slag.

Butterfly bush (left) were grown in substrates with varying rates of steel slag and dolomitic lime at the USDA Nursery Research Site at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, OH.

30 The Buckeye

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lime, but then levels off and increases very little with high rates of lime. This is due to the manner in which pH is measured on a logarithmic scale. To raise pH 5 to 6, you have to reduce the H+ concentration 10-fold. To raise pH 5 to 7, you have decrease the H+ concentration by a factor of 100, and so on. This is why raising pH more than 1 or 2 points above the baseline is very difficult. Based on the plots in Figure 1, the maximum pH achievable with dolomitic lime is about 6.6. In contrast, the pH for steel slag is approaching 8 at the highest amendment rates with no sign of leveling off. Based on our mathematical models, we predict that the maximum attainable pH with steel slag is 8.4. The calcium carbonate equivalency (CCE) of dolomitic lime is 103%, whereas steel slag is only 73%. The CCE is a measure of how effectively a liming agent will raise pH compared to pure calcium carbonate. A larger CCE value means that product should raise soil pH higher than another product with a lower CCE value. So how is steel slag so much more ‘powerful’ in raising pH than dolomitic lime, considering the CCE of dolomitic lime is so much greater? Recall that the primary liming agent in steel slag is CaO, and in dolomitic lime it is CaCO3. Calcium oxide in steel slag is over 100 times more water-soluble than the CaCO3 in dolomitic lime (0.19 vs. 0.0013 g/100 mL). The greater solubility of CaO allows for quicker reaction in soilless substrates. Over a longer period of time, the higher CCE of dolomitic lime should ultimately result in a greater pH reaction. However, the short-term pH reaction is greater for CaO and more relevant to the eight week production cycle of most floriculture crops.

Nursery Experiment A similar experiment was conducted outdoors in 3-gal containers using a substrate composed of 80% pine bark and 20% sphagnum peat. Dolomitic lime and steel slag were amended at the same rates of 0, 4, 8, 16, or 24 lb/ yd3. The containers were also amended with 12 lb/yd3 of Osmocote 15-9-12 and planted with a single ‘Pink Delight’ butterfly bush. The results from this experiment are in Figure 3, with data collected 1 and 12 weeks after potting. At 1 week after potting, the dolomitic lime raises pH to a maximum of 6.5 while steel slag pH shows no sign of leveling off past pH 7.6. In fact, mathematical models predict that the maximum attainable pH with steel slag is 8.6. However, things start to change by week 12 (bottom chart of Figure 3). The maximum pH for dolomitic lime has increased to a pH of 7, while the maximum pH for steel slag is only 7.5. Recall that the reaction from CaO in steel slag is very rapid, while the reaction from CaCO3 in dolomitic lime is slower due to its lower water solubility. This appears to be playing out in the longer production times for nursery

crops. We’ll monitor pH change in these butterfly bush for at least 24 weeks to see how pH continues to change over time. Conclusions The ability to raise substrate pH in short-term crops is much greater for the steel slag amendment than the dolomitic lime. This might have some application for greenhouse or nursery producers where very high pH is desired or there is some need to counter a very acidic or pH-lowering amendment. Most crops are grown at pH between 5 and 6.5, levels that are attainable with dolomitic lime. Furthermore, over-application of steel slag could result in exceedingly high pH whereas even a gross over-application of dolomitic lime would, based on the results of these experiments, result in pH no higher than 7. While steel slag offers more immediate and effective liming power when high pH is desired, dolomitic offers ideal Ca : Mg ratio, more moderate pH increases, and less risk of high pH with accidental over-application. There is also an issue with stability of the pH response. Steel slag was very stable over the typical production cycle for greenhouse crops (6 to 8 weeks), however, stability over the production cycle of nursery crops (4 to 12 months) has not yet been determined and there are some early indications that steel slag may not be as stable over these longer production cycles. B By James Altland, USDA-ARS, Wooster, OH. Dr. James Altland is a Research Horticulturist with the USDA-ARS in Wooster, OH. He can be reached by email at james.altland@ars.usda.gov. Mention of any commercial product in this article is for educational purposes only, and should not be considered an endorsement by USDA-ARS.

please see page 31 onla.org

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In Memoriam, Stephen Rider Stephen Rider, age 60, of Hilliard, passed away Saturday, August 16, 2014. Hilliard High School Class of 1972, Graduate of The Ohio State University, Co-owner of Creative Spaces Landscape Company and past President and Board Member of Columbus Landscape Association. Preceded in death by father Paul V. Rider and brother-in-law Michael Simpson. Survived by loving wife of 37 years, Kara; mother, Lois Rider of Brown Twp., OH,; daughter, Laura (Mike) Aho of Hilliard; son, Sam (Lizzie) Rider of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA; brothers, Dr. David (Sasha) Rider of Monrovia, CA and Scott (Kelly) Rider of Liberty Twp., OH; granddaughters, Addyson and Abbygail Aho; mother-in-law, Jane Simpson of Weston, WV; brothers-in-law, Bob (Brenda) Simpson of Weston, WV and Marshall (Stephanie) Simpson of Morgantown, WV; sisters-in-law, Melissa (Paul) Falkenbach of Columbus, OH and Tina (Pat) Garska of Hurricane, WV; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hope Hollow, a non-profit close to Steveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart. Hope Hollow offers complimentary lodging to persons with cancer and their loved ones in a peaceful, supportive environment. There are two ways you can donate at www.hopehollow.org/donate or P.O. Box 141423, Columbus, OH, 43214. B

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CENTS Update

CENTS 2015 BUILT STRONG CONVENTION DRIVES BUSINESS Exhibitor satisfaction puts Midwest’s largest green convention space reservations ahead of projections Ohio’s capital city will host CENTS Marketplace & University next January 7-9, 2015 at The Greater Columbus Convention Center. Built strong from the ground up, the CENTS’ experience is designed to engage, enlighten and excite industry professionals who travel from across the country to attend the Midwest’s largest green industry convention. “We are delighted to report that 2015 exhibitor space reservations are exceeding projections,” states Amy Eldridge, CENTS’ show manager. “We are committed to raising the bar each year in terms of experience, opportunity and resources, and hearing that the convention helps drive business is validation that the return on investment is significant.” Exhibitor Ben Hoffman, vice president of Pond Supplies of Ohio, explains, “CENTS is about building relationships with our customers, prospects and vendors who come to the show to discuss what’s new in the industry. If you don’t keep up, it’s hard to compete. CENTS is an efficient way to connect, rather than trying to meet with each person somewhere else.” Even among the country’s best shows CENTS stands out, according to Pat Canfora, sales representative for Massarelli’s Fountains and Statuary. ”We look at the popular shows where we’re getting a lot of traffic from many different areas and surrounding states. CENTS has a great, centralized location, and I don’t think even if I tried I could go and not find anything new. It’s important for us to look for new ideas to bring to our customer base, and CENTS is a convention that does exactly that.” Boosting business is the focus for many exhibitors, including Kathy Panzelaff, sales manager of Floral Plant Growers. “Since we’ve attended CENTS, we’ve been able to increase our business in this market quite a bit.

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It’s a good way to wrap up orders that aren’t finished and kick off the spring season. To me CENTS is one of the great shows.” About CENTS Marketplace & University Slated for January 7-9, 2015 at The Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, CENTS Marketplace & University is a dynamic regional convention with national presence and local flavor. CENTS provides tools, training and resources on mission-critical business trends and green industry opportunities. The event draws growers, independent garden centers, landscape contractors, arborists, and turf and pest management professionals, who seek a high-energy forum where industry professionals can meet, sell, buy and learn. For more information, call (800) 825-5062 or visit www.onla.org. Digital photos are available. B

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September 2014 33

Feature

WINTER DAMAGE OR IS IT? THE WINTER OF 2013-2014 The Winter of 2013-2014 As early as January 2014, I was hearing folks talk about how bad the winter was and how severe the impact would be in the spring. I decided then that I would have to do a Buckeye update on the damage as I had done several times following earlier severe winters. As I began to look into it, I found a number of facts that began to raise questions. In order to get a feel for other areas of the state I talked with a number of nurserymen and arboreta throughout the state. In one instance I talked with growers in northern Illinois. We also discussed winter damage which they felt were not caused by cold alone and what other factors were contributing to non-performance or death this year. A number of individuals at the short course were disputing climate change because of the colder temperatures while folks in Alaska were enjoying the second warmest winter on record. The average daily temperatures were often low but the coldest night in Columbus was only -7ºF (Yes other areas were lower). Colder temperatures were seen in the 70s 80s and 90s no matter where you were. Damage was showing on some plants not damaged earlier at lower temperatures. Temperatures were low for a considerable period of time with few breaks. Snow cover was present for longer than normal but we did not have unusually heavy individual storms. We seemed to have a higher than normal number of sunny days this past winter. Winds were judged to be higher on average. Evergreens (broadleaved and coniferous) appear to have been more at risk than deciduous plants. We must remember that plants do not respond to wind chill but rather to the absolute temperature. Wind chill refers more to the rate at which a warm body (your home or body) loses heat. In fact, rapid cooling can actually be an advantage to plants because ice crystals that are formed may be smaller and less likely to disrupt cell membranes. There were a variety of observations. Some observations include genera and some were limited to a specific species or even cultivar. How does one convey this type of information? I will list the information

34 The Buckeye

alphabetically by scientific name of the plant involved in the hopes that you can find the information more easily. However when we get to a concern I will give information on the overarching problem as well such as in the case of pin and Shumard oaks (from southern seed sources) below which had begun to show problems from micronutrient concerns before the winter of 2013-2014. 1. Acer platanoides – Norway maples were slow to leaf out this past spring. Sections of plants failed to leaf out at all. Patterns tended to be random within the larger plantings that I observed. I had questions regarding this. Some were initially attributing this to winter damage. In truth, Norway maple is hardy well north of Ohio. Damage was associated with plants that had been in the landscape for 10-20 years and which ranged from 6-8 inch DBH. A site visit disclosed stem girdling roots (SGR). The tree trunks looked like poles stuck in the ground and lacked the buttressing root flair that is typical of maples. On further inspection we discovered that the trees had been originally planted about 3-4 inches high as recommended but had four inches of excess soil on the rootball at the time it had been planted some 15 years ago as indicated by differing soil colors and textures of the site soil and the soil in the rootball. This alone was the initiating cause of the problem. The landscape maintenance crews had not helped as there was a two inch layer of composted mulch around the stem with a host of root fibers adding to the girdling. I would not call it “volcano mulching” but there was sufficient mulch excess to cause SGRs as well. What can you do to deal with this frustrating problem? If you catch it before damage gets too advanced you can remove the girdling roots using an air spade but the treatment is expensive ($125 per tree or more). Treatment will damage the tree and may kill it. The client was not happy but the least expensive or most easily budgeted tact, in my judgment, was to replace the trees as they die over the next decade using the properly sized rootballs, harvested properly (Z60.1) and planted properly (A300). Replacements should be from a different plant onla.org

family to avoid the replant problems associated with declining plants. I am particularly frustrated when the best alternative for the client is to give the entire green industry a black eye. From the landscape architect who failed to inspect at planting, to the nursery supplier who dug improperly to the landscape contractor who failed to plant according to standards and finally to the landscape maintenance contractor who placed excess much against the stem. Only the landowner is relatively blameless and he/she is the biggest loser. 2. Acer spp. – Most maples did well this past winter. However Trident maples were often killed as a result of what is called cupshakes. This is a curious phenomenon that was more common in the 60’s and 70’s. At that time it was normally associated with Prunus and Malus selections. We did see major losses in 2009 on Autumn Blaze Freeman maple and minor losses this year. Many central Ohio communities now restrict the use of Freeman maple. A series of conditions seem to be required to get cupshakes. 1. Smooth or thin bark seems to be required as I have not seen it on older plants where the bark is fissuring, thus younger plants. 2. The plant needs to be beginning to break dormancy (some say the bark is slipping) as winter is beginning to relax its hold. 3. We then need a cold snap with a clear night (no cloud cover). 4. The following morning must be clear and sunny also. 5. The stem must be exposed to the sun early in the morning. When conditions are right, the stem and bark contract during the cold night. The following morning the bark heats up and expands separating the expanded bark and from the still frozen xylem at the cambium. The cambium is then desiccated and killed. The bark can sometimes pull away from the xylem exposing the damage and the dead cambium. The plant can be totally or partially girdled. The percent cambium interruption can serve as a guideline for whether or not to try and salvage the tree. I do not recommend trying to salvage a plant with more than 50% or 12 inches cambium interruption. . Plants may leaf out weakly in the spring even if the plant is totally girdled. The plant will often collapse as spring rains give way to summer droughts. Early fall color can be another sign of damage if the plant survives through the summer. Shading the trunk or planting the tree where the trunk will be shaded in the morning helps. In a study I did in the 1980s trunk wrap was effective in the nursery. White plastic coil wrap worked best but all were effective. 3. Buxus spp. - A major concern this winter has been the damage to boxwoods which have become almost the onla.org

default standard for broadleaved evergreen plantings. Damage this winter to boxwoods was due in most instances to desiccation and not low temperatures. I have seen Vardar Valley boxwood survive well in a field subjected to -25°F temperatures. Desiccation occurs when the sun heats up dark foliage above the snowline while the water in the stems is frozen. The plant begins to function and transpire but the water lost cannot be replaced through the frozen stem. I observed that damage was less severe when the plants were partially shaded. The more recently popular Korean boxwood types seem to be uniformly and severely damaged even in overwintering structures. While desiccation was surely a factor, damage from low temperatures may have also been a factor. In any event there are too many cultivars that performed well to consider these for planting in the future for Ohio. Three rather recent cultivars that did best in Ohio’s winter of 2013-14 include Green Velvet, Green Mountain, and Green Gem. Your choice among these cultivars might be based on size as Green Gem is smaller and slower growing while Green Mountain is faster and larger growing. My favorite, Green Velvet is intermediate in size with a more attractive leaf. Wintergreen also suffered almost no damage. However, I feel that Wintergreen is less attractive and less densely foliaged. Leaf color is more yellow-green especially during the winter. An older cultivar which has done well in the past but was variable this time was Vardar Valley. I question that some of the plants that I saw labeled as Vardar Valley were in fact Vardar Valley boxwood. Several arboreta noted that they commonly got mislabeled plants. There is no nomenclatural protection for most boxwood (patent or trademark). The question remains what were the plants I reviewed? The foliage did not look to me to be Vardar Valley. I also checked Northern Charm® Boxwood (Buxus hybrida Wilson). This cultivar is out of northern Illinois and has not been grown in the field in Ohio. Northern Charm is trademarked or patent protected. .I had to go to the Chicago growers to find someone that had grown them in the field through last winter. I talked with two growers who felt that Northern Charm had done as well in their northern Illinois fields as Green Mountain and Green Velvet which they also grew. 4. Calocedrus decurrens – Incense cedar has been used more commonly in recent years. This tree is a west coast native with dark green foliage that generally retains its foliage color well in the winter. This year there was some foliar burning and even loss in some fields. Perhaps incense cedar might best be used in our urban heat islands and in areas protected from winter winds and or some shading from early morning sun. please see page 36

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5. Cedrus spp. – This true cedar has been getting a bit of use in recent years. There were reports of foliage burning and loss but plants are reported to be recovering well. Desiccation is a concern for these conifers which might best be used in sunny areas with some protection from the wind. The most cold hardy selections appear to be C. libanii var senocoma and C. atlantica glauca. There is also a weeping form of the blue Atlas cedar available in Ohio nurseries. 6. Cephalotaxus harringtonia – Most selection of Japanese plumyew had problems but they were known to be somewhat cold sensitive prior to this past winter. The fastigiate form seems to have been killed due to the cold. Other selections such as the prostrate form and Duke Gardens were defoliated but have begun to recover. They seemed to have been desiccated where they were exposed to high light on snow cover. Shade reduced damage for plumyew in landscapes. 7. Cercis canadensis – The story here is generally positive. Ruby Falls suffered some damage but other selections did well. The last time that I saw significant winter injury on this plant was in the 1980s when the nursery industry lost virtually the entire crop. The problem was that the nursery industry was using seedlings from southern seed sources. Lesson learned, the nursery industry turned to more northerly seed sources and the problem disappeared. No problems were reported with Lavender Twist, Appalachian Red, Forest Pansy, or Hearts of Gold. Just a word of caution, the selections are budded and must be budded on cold hardy seedlings to perform. A cold hardy scion on a dead rootstock does not work. We tried that in the 1980s with sweetgum. 8. Chamaecyparis obtusa – The Chamaecyparis including Hinoki Falsecypress have long been thought to be rock hardy (whatever that means). Thus it was surprising to me to hear that one of the most popular cultivars, C. o. Gracilis was showing winter injury in the fields. Sun on snow and wind appear to be of concern. Since this conifer is often used for its shade tolerance, this may be of less concern. Other species and selections of Chamaecyparis seemed to do well 9. Evodia daniellii – Korean evodia is a good example of the importance of seed source. Heavy losses were seen in some fields. A group pf plants from a specimen in Franklin Park in Columbus showed no damage at all in an open field. I am interested in this small to medium sized tree as we do not have many plants which can be used under powerlines and not require pruning for 20-30 years. This plant does reseed itself quite prolifically which is a

36 The Buckeye

sign that it adapts to open and urban sites. Because of its size and shade intolerance it seems unlikely to escape into our woodlands. If you wish to try it, be sure to seek out a cold hardy seed source. 10. Ilex spp. – The broadleaved evergreen blue hollies suffered variably from desiccation to death as did China Boy and China Girl. Some plants were defoliated with tip kill especially when exposed to several hours of sunshine on the snow. Blue Girl did very well at my home but is in a northwestern alcove and gets no sun at all. American hollies seemed to be generally fine even when exposed to several hours of sunshine. Most of the selections grown in Ohio were selected for cold tolerance during the earlier bad winters and did well. Inkberry hollies did well although this holly does not hold foliage to the ground very well. Some folks felt that the lower foliage had been damaged when they were looking at an example of natural pruning rather than winter injury. 11. Juniperus spp. – The ground cover junipers had a great deal of dead wood following this winter. At first it appeared to be winter damage but on closer inspection the bark had been chewed off by mice and voles. Usually the lower sides of branches are denuded first. Mice and voles are protected from predation beneath the juniper foliage. Further the bark appears to be a favorite of the little critters during a snowy winter. The larger plants such as the Pfizer juniper types do not seem to be a concern. I suspect predators can get under the foliage of the larger plants to get at the rodents. I am reluctant to use beds of groundcover junipers in a commercial setting because they are difficult to keep clear of weeds and secondly rodents are often a serious concern. Most folks find rodents to be unwelcome houseguests. 12. Koelreuteria paniculata – Golden Raintree is another success story. Growers and arboreta that I contacted reported no damage to this plant. This is quite different than the situation in the 80s and 90s when whole fields of this plant were destroyed by the cold. Cold hardy seed sources are critical. Individuals specifying this plant in landscapes should specify cold hardy seed sources to protect their clients. We do not have many summer flowering trees. 13. Magnolia spp. – The deciduous forms did well with little damage reported. The Cleveland area reported some bark splitting on sandier soils. A number of arboreta have Magnolia grandiflora, southern magnolia on display. Some southern Ohio communities are using it in landscapes. The two cultivars that have been found to be most cold hardy include onla.org

Brackens Brown Beauty and Edith Bogue. The majority of damage included desiccation and defoliation but little damage to foliar buds. Plants appear to be recovering well. On campus little or no damage was seen on Brackens Brown Beauty or some seedlings that have been on campus for decades. 14. Prunus spp. – One surprise for me was the losses in the more recently introduced weeping cherries where plant losses seem concentrated. Flower buds were lost on many cherries such as Okame, Yoshino, and Akebono. Sergeant’s cherry did the best in the arboreta that I contacted and rarely lost even flower buds. Unfortunately Sergeant’s cherry is less commonly grown in Ohio. 15. Quercus palustris and Quercus Shumardii – I first began to work with these plants following the 19921993 winter. They had been planted a year earlier. I was told that the trees came from a southern nursery but that the contractor had specified that the plants be from a northern seed source. Obviously this was not true. One-third was dead, one-third was damaged but likely to survive, and one-third had done quite well and had leafed out normally. The contractor tried to recover new plants because the nursery had not delivered plants true to name (from a northern seed source). I do not know the outcome but the landscape contractor was the big loser because planting (replanting) costs are generally twice as high as plant acquisition costs. Fast forward seventeen years and the plants are beginning to show highly variable signs of micronutrient concerns. Again symptoms are 1/3rd more severe symptoms 1/3rd less severe and 1/3rd looking good. This is typical of an ill adapted seed source as was the earlier winter damage that I saw in 1993. The difference is that the costs are now the homeowner’s unless the homeowner wishes to go back on the implied warranty to the original the landscape contractor or nursery grower if they exist. Micronutrient deficiencies are among the most difficult and frustrating maintenance procedure to deal with. They can take years or even a decade or more to resolve. The costs of dealing with a micronutrient deficiency are high. • Soil pH above desired levels (< 6.5) significantly reduce manganese and iron uptake. Ohio soils are heavily buffered, making it hard to lower the soil pH. In order to address the soil pH problem, I would recommend 10 lbs. of granulated sulfur per 1000 sq. ft. applied twice a year. • Soil and foliar samples should be taken. Pay particular attention to iron and manganese levels on the micronutrient side and phosphorus on the macro-nutrient side. High phosphorus levels can interfere with micronutrient uptake. • Soil applications of manganese and iron should be timed for fall or early to late spring. Material can onla.org

•

be broadcast following to label directions. A foliar micronutrient treatment is recommended for difficult or advanced situations. The foliar application would be made when the new foliage is half expanded. The next thing which one can do is increase micronutrient uptake is to increase soil organic matter. If we can get 5% organic matter, the organic matter will act as natural chelates and make micronutrients more available. Top dress the turf beneath the trees each spring and fall with 1-inch of composted organic matter. Mulch grass clippings into the lawn panels when mowing as this will also add organic matter for the soil and earthworms. Earthworms can be added if needed.

16. Rhododendron spp. - Evergreen azaleas as a group were severely damaged. Sun on snow and wind were concerns for this group of plants when I was in the nursery business in Virginia. We used this plant in urban areas and avoided high reflected light situations which also caused problems with flowering. Of course Ohio is 5-10 degrees warmer so that we did not have to deal with cold injuries as we do in Ohio. Still we can improve please see page 38

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September 2014 37

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our chances of being successful with evergreen azaleas by using them in protected locations with a bit of shade. We can also use deciduous azaleas which are a bit cold hardier as well. 17. Rosa spp. - There has been significant damage suffered throughout Ohio on garden roses. There was a good bit of variation in damage severity on floribunda, hybrid tea, and grandiflora selections which I will not try to detail because of the number of selections and the rapid rate of turnover. I will single out the Knock-out® series of roses which had become wildly popular as an everblooming landscape shrub. This group seems to be particularly hard hit. Plants are recovering very slowly in most situations with death in perhaps 60% or more of a bed. Again desiccation seems to be the primary concern as less damage was seen where some shading and protection from wind was present. 18. Taxus spp. – Generally our old evergreen shrub standby did well although many selections were slow to leaf out this spring. A cool and moist spring gave the plants a boost and most of the intermediate yews look great with good twig extension growth covering the earlier growth. The English yew is less commonly grown and has showed damage in our earlier cold winters. This year was no different. Wind and sun on snow damaged English yews such as rependns this winter. Consider shady situations for this selection. 19. Thuja plicata – Green Giant and seedlings seem to do the best and often escaped injury. Sun on snow and winter winds seemed to be the primary concern. This west coast native is hardy to areas that are colder than Ohio such as Glacier National Park in Montana. Most selections were damaged. Golden foliaged forms were injured or killed as was Steeplechase. We might want keep working with this plant as it is reputed to be resistant to deer browse depending on population pressure. This is an increasing concern even in some our inner suburbs. 20. Ulmus spp.—The only elm that I saw any winter injury on was Ulmus parvifolia the lacebark elm. A few older plants were slow leafing out with some dieback. In the south this species is sold as evergreen elm and the southern selections selected for winter foliage retention are not cold hardy in Ohio. In recent years Ohio growers have been selling cold hardy plants so that damage in Ohio was limited. Dynasty lacebark elm showed no damage and has done well in the Shade Tree Evaluation Plot. Allèe is reported to be cold hardy but has not performed well here.

38 The Buckeye

The large number of American and hybrid elms recently introduced seemed to get through the winter without a concern. Some American elm selections to try include Valley Forge, New Harmony, Jefferson, and Princeton. Some hybrid elms which I find are doing well in Ohio include Accolade, Commendation, Frontier, Patriot, Prospector, and Triumph. These selections are resistant to elm leaf beetle (ELB) while earlier selections including Homestead, Pioneer and Urban are quite sensitive to ELB. Frontier Hybrid elm is a lacebark elm hybrid and may deserve a special call out. It is very similar to lacebark elm of course but it has burgundy fall color from the lacebark elm parent. It is the only elm selection with reliable, showy fall color as most elms’ fall colors range from yellow to brown and vary greatly from year to year. B

T. Davis Sydnor, Ph. D. Professor Emeritus, Urban Forestry, School of Environment & Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus OH 43210 (614) 738-0667 cell

Mineral and Peat Grown Sod for Sun and/or Shade, Blue Grass Blend, Improved Tall Fescue, Fine Leaf Fescue & Blue Grass Mix Contract Grown to Specifications. Shredded Topsoil, Peat, and Custom Blending (Delivered or On-Site) Bark Mulch, Ties Custom Hauling

"Ohio Grown PROUDLY for over 50 years!” onla.org

LandscapeAwards celebrate excellence

2014Applications CALLdueFOR ENTRIES September 22, 2014 Registration form at onla.org

Thank you to our Program Sponsors!

R E S O U R C E S

Ohio’s Most Prestigious Landscape Awards Competition

I N C .

Picture - Landscape Awards Program winning company Fullmer’s Landscaping, Inc.

Increase Your Credibility By Getting Certified! The ONLA is proud to offer the Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) Program.

pertise. 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. PurPose The purpose of the OCNT Program is threefold: to improve the skill and knowledge of green industry employees; to have this improvement and professional qualifications recognized in the eyes of the public as well as within the landscape and nursery industry; and to provide a means of self-improvement and increased worth to the employee. DescriPtion of sPecializations Garden Center The retail nursery is the information center on which homeowners have come to rely for dependable horticultural ex-

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. Upcoming OCNT Test Dates & Locations: August 5, 2014 Columbus, OH August 7, 2014 Hamilton, OH August 12, 2014 Madison, OH Visit onla.org to download your OCNT test application or to get more information on the OCNT program or contact ronipetersen@onla.org.

Training Manual Order FOrM NAME: COMPANY: ADDRESS: CITY:

STATE:

PHONE #:

E-MAIL:

ZIP:

Payment method: Check enclosed Check #: Card Number: Exp. Date: Card Holder:

VISA

MasterCard

MEMBER RATES (Call for non-member pricing) * Landscape + Core ______ x $125.00 Garden Center ______ x $75.00 Grower ______ x $75.00 All Manuals ______ x $250.00 Replacement CD Rom ______ x $25.00 Total

= $_______ = $_______ = $_______ = $_______ = $_______ = $_______

* Written Manual and Computer Based Training CD Rom for each

Signature: 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

ONLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green Industry

Career Fair Promote Your Company

Mentor Students

(help them learn valuable career skills such as approaching potential employers)

Friday, January 9, 2015 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Hort Student Walkthrough 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Career Fair ONLA hosts the ONLY professional, all-encompassing green industry job fair in the state. Held in conjunction with CENTS, the third largest show of its kind in the nation. Call the ONLA by December 12th to reserve your booth! 800.825.5062 or amandadomsitz@onla.org

(your presence indicates a growing company, invested in the industry)

Recruit Qualified Employees (attendees of all skill levels attend)

Gather Resumes

Meet and network with college and high school advisors

Connect with Potential Employees

(even if you’re not currently hiring)

(they are a critical hiring resource)

(for those unexpected openings down the road)

Promote Specific Job Openings

Promote Green Industry Careers

(recruit and schedule follow-up interviews with selected candidates)

(They are a successful, viable career option)

ONLA Career Fair Official Rules & Regulations When & Where: The ONLA Career Fair will be held in conjunction with CENTS Marketplace on Friday, January 9, 2015, from 1:002:00 p.m. for Student Walkthrough and 2:00- 3:30 p.m. for Career Fair (set-up is 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.). The Career Fair will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Exhibitors are encouraged to bring display boards, brochures, job descriptions, business cards, etc. Booth spaces are limited: return this form by December 12, 2014 to ensure your spot. Who Attends? In 2014, over 200 job seekers attended the ONLA Career Fair! Attendees are encouraged to bring resumes and dress in appropriate business attire. Attendees include students, recent graduates and industry professionals. Official Rules & Regulations: 1. The ONLA Career Fair is open to all companies who deal with any aspect of the horticulture industry. Registration for space is $50 for ONLA members and $100 for non-members. This fee MUST accompany the registration form. Any registrations received after the deadline are

3. 4. 5.

charged an additional $40. Each purchased space includes one 8’ x 30” unskirted table with one chair provided. A small number of tables with electricity may be available on a first-come, first-served basis (bring your own extension cords. Call the ONLA office for details. Pre-fabricated displays are permissible only if they do not encroach on neighboring displays. Job descriptions and company literature are recommended. The booth should be manned at all times. One of the purposes of this fair is to improve communication and understanding between students and the industry. Attendees are provided colored dots to wear on their name badges, identifying their interest in an internship, part-time, full-time, or seasonal employment. Attendees also receive a list of participating firms and contact persons, listing ONLY those firms who were registered prior to the December 12, 2014 deadline. Industry participants receive the following: a directory; company identification at their exhibit space; and access to over 200 attendees.

Registration ends December 12, 2014. ONLA members will be given priority on booth space. If any space remains after this date, on-site registration will be accepted at the Career Fair Information Booth at CENTS and at the door prior to the event.

Can’t Attend? If you cannot attend the Career Fair, but would like to reach potential employees, mark the “NO” box on the registration form and complete the form as required (return to ONLA office by December 12, 2014). The information provided on the registration form is included in a directory of employers distributed to interested job seekers. Copies are also sent to the horticulture departments of The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, Clark State Community College, Owens Technical College, Columbus State Community College, Hocking College, Kent State University, Cincinnati Technical College, Cuyahoga Community College, and the University of Cincinnati. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association at (614) 899-1195.

ONLA Career Fair Registration Form Sponsorships Available!

YES, I wish to participate in the ONLA Career Fair on Friday, January 9, 2015, from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. (setup from 11:00 - 1:00 p.m.) Registration is $50 (ONLA member) or $100 (non-member) for each 8’ x 30” table/space. I need ________ spaces. Registrations received after the deadline (December 12, 2014) must be accompanied by an additional $40 fee.

Yes! I would like to help sponsor the 2014 ONLA Career Fair & ONLA/FFA Testing! In return for my $100 contribution, I understand that my company’s name will appear on a sign at the events entrance. My company will also be highlighted in the Career Fair Directory as well as in The Buckeye magazine.

YES, I wish to have access to electric (limited availability, must be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis). NO, I cannot participate in the ONLA Career Fair, but would like the following information distributed to Ohio’s two- and four-year horticulture programs. Return fee ($20 ONLA members / $40 fee non-members) and form by December 12, 2014 for this option.

Please neatly print or type the following information Firm Name _________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Name ______________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address _____________________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________ State ______ Zip ______________ County___________________________ Phone (_____)___________________________________Fax (_____)__________________________________________ Contact Email: ____________________________________Website____________________________________________ Is your company a member of The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association?

Internships Available Part-Time Positions Available Full-Time Positions Available

Return form with payment to:

Work Categories: Check all that apply:

Employment Type: Check all that apply:

Registration Deadline: December 12, 2014

YES

Garden Center / Retail Landscape: Design/Sales Installation Construction Maintenance/Irrigation Wholesale Nursery: Field/Container Sales Propagation Arborists

Lawn Care Golf Course, Turf Interior Plantscaping Arboretum, Public Gardens Horticultural Supplies, Horticulture Broker Sales Other (please specify): ______________________________

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, Ohio 43081-3350 P: (614) 899-1195 / Fax: (614) 899-9489

CHECK (enclosed, made payable to The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association) VISA Card Number: _________________________________________ Exp. Date: ________________ MasterCard Print Name:_________________________________ Signature: __________________________

Industry Calendar

View www.onla.org for seminars, events, trade shows and more! O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events

O September 2, 2014 Pond Clinic, Akron, Ohio, Do you have questions about how to install and maintain ponds? If you do, this clinic is for you! This class will cover the tools, tips, and the science behind making every pond project a success. This clinic is designed for company owners, landscape salespersons, designers, and field technicians. Lunch will be provided. Topics covered will include: Correct sizing of pumps and hose; Green water and algae solutions; Creating a balanced ecosystem; Selecting the site/location; Types and sizing of filtration; Plants and fish care; Water additives; Pondless water features; New techniques, products and more! September 6, 2014 ONLPAC Garden Party at Willoway Nurseries, Avon, Ohio, The Garden Party will be a unique combination of wine and beer tasting amidst a spectacular horticultural backdrop. We will be serving North American wines selected by our wine expert and beers chosen from Great Lakes microbrew. Each course will be complemented by hors d’oeuvres prepared by a local chef. Come support the Ohio Nursery and Landscape PAC while visiting with friends and enjoy this exclusive horticultural experience under the late summers skies! O September 11, 2014 Diagnostic Walkabouts for the Green Industry, Westerville, Ohio, Join ONLA, OSU & AGI for a critical look at landscape and turf during early morning landscape walks throughout Ohio. Tim Malinich, Horticulture Educator with Ohio State University Extension, and other horticulturalists will lead indepth discussions of the art and science of scouting, diagnostics and control of landscape pests. O September 17, 2014 Greenhouse Growers Driving Tour, Bowling Green/ Toledo, Ohio, The Greenhouse Grower Driving Tour will take place September 17, 2014 in the Bowling Green/Toledo area. Company stops include: Hoenes Greenhouse, Bottsdorffs, and North Branch Nursery. More Details Coming Soon!

44 The Buckeye

September 19, 2014 ONLA Golf Outing, Sunbury, Ohio, ONLA will be hosting a golf outing to raise money for scholarship. Cost is $99.00 per golfer. 100% of the proceeds go to the ONLA Scholarship Fund. September 22, 2014 ONLA Landscape Awards Program Entry Deadline, Take charge of your company publicity by entering your best landscape designs into the ONLA Landscape Awards Program (LAP). This prestigious awards program can bring your company to the forefront. Entries are judged based on a series of criteria and, if awarded, will receive yearlong promotion through the ONLA website, The Buckeye magazine, the ONLA Awards Ceremony, CENTS, and event promotional materials! To enter your landscape design into the 42nd Annual LAP, you must: complete the entry form (download from below); take quality and high resolution images of the design; write a despcription of the project in relation to the category in which it’s being entered; include a landscape plan and/or plant list when required; and follow the submission instructions in the entry brochure. O September 24, 2014, A Gathering of Plantsmen, Kirtland, Ohio, Spend the day with these plantsmen who are all members of IPPS and world travelers as they take you for a journey through new and under used plants useful in today’s landscapes. There will be something for everyone whether designer, installer, grower or retailer. Speakers : Tim Brotzman (Brotzman Nursery), Paul Cappiello (Yewdell Gardens), Steve Foltz (Cincinnati Zoo), Mike Hayman (Horticulturist Louisville, KY), Bill Hendricks (Klyn Nurseries), Richard Hesselein (Pleasant Run Nursery, Allentown, NJ.), Charles Tubesing (Horticulturist Holden Arboretum)

O September 25, 2014 Diagnostic Walkabouts for the Green Industry, North Olmstead, Ohio, Join ONLA, OSU & AGI for a critical look at landscape and turf during early morning landscape walks throughout Ohio. Tim Malinich, Horticulture Educator with Ohio State University Extension, and other horticulturalists will lead indepth discussions of the art and science of scouting, diagnostics and control of landscape pests. September 25, 2014 ONLPAC Wine Tasting, Mason, Ohio, You’re invited to join us for an exciting evening of amateur competitive wine tasting where even the loser gets to take something home. Put together your team of 1 to 3 people and bring 2 bottles of the exact same Pinot Grigio Wine per team to the event (ex. 2 bottles of Ecco Domani 2011 Pinot Grigio). At the event, 1 of each team’s bottles will be bagged, tagged and ranked by each participant. The second bottle will be set aside and left unopened. The teams that brought the two highest ranked wines divvy up each of the remaining unopened bottles, except for the lowest ranked wine which will be returned to the team that brought it. If 2 or more teams bring the same wine, rankings can still differ depending upon the temperature of the wine, how it has been stored, etc. Tasting starts promptly at 6:00 p.m. September 27, 2014, ONLPAC Tailgate Party, Mentor, Ohio, This year the NE Ohio Political Action Committee Fundraiser for Ohio Nursery & Landscape PAC will have a new format: OSU vs Cincinnati Tailgate Party! Join us for drinks and comfort food, a big-screen TV and Big-Ten Action! The goal of the ONLPAC, including the Ohio Landscape Association and other groups, is to provide $30,000 or more every other year to Ohio candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who are steadfast in their support of our Green Industries.

onla.org

O October 7, 2014 Irrigation Electrical Service, Sharonville, Ohio, This hands-on training is designed for managers and crew members who service landscape irrigation systems. The course focuses on the diagnostics and repair of system electrical components (controller, wiring, and solenoids). Come practice using a volt/ohm meter and learn servicing and troubleshooting techniques from an expert.

O October 8, 2014 Architectural, Landscape & Hardscape Lighting Design, Oakwood Village, Ohio, This interactive class covers the fundamentals of the planning and design process. Expert trainers provide process guidance on how to capture site/owner requirements and identify focal points and specify equipment to ensure proper costing and effective design of the lighting system.

O October 15, 2014 Architectural, Landscape & Hardscape Lighting Design, Sharonville, Ohio, This interactive class covers the fundamentals of the planning and design process. Expert trainers provide process guidance on how to capture site/ owner requirements and identify focal points and specify equipment to ensure proper costing and effective design of the lighting system.

O October 8, 2014 Tree Climbing 101, Hilliard, Ohio, This training opens with an overview of the equipment and steps participants need to follow for safe tree climbing in a variety of situations. Come learn and practice climbing a tree the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;right wayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from a TCIA Certified Tree Care Safety Professional.

O January 7-9, 2015 CENTS Marketplace & CENTS University, Attend CENTS Marketplace & CENTS University, with over 225,000 square feet of exhibition space and world class education. B

CENTSMARKETPLACE.COM

Advertisers’ Index Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 buckeyeresources.com CENTS Marketplace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

centsmarketplace.com CENTS University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

The Buckeye is the nursery and landscape industry’s authoritative voice in Ohio. Second to none in editorial and graphic quality, The Buckeye publishes a wide range of editorial features on the green industry’s key issues. The Buckeye is another example of how the ONLA leads, promotes, and facilitates the success and growth of green industry businesses.

The Buckeye is published 10 times each year with a circulation of over 5,000 each issue and an

estimated readership of over 10,000. Advertisers benefit from an industry-specific audience, with distribution to professional nursery, landscape and independent garden center businesses and individuals, certified green industry professionals, educators/researchers, and subscribers. Access Ohio’s $4.9 billion industry. Contact Amanda to learn how your business can benefit from becoming an advertiser in The Buckeye.

800.825.5062 amandadomsitz@onla.org

centsmarketplace.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 ernstseed.com Evergreen Nursery Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 evergreennurseryco.com Everris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 everris.us.com Fairview Evergreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 fairviewevergreen.com Hobby Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 hobbynursery.com JCB od Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 jcbohio.com Klyn Nurseries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 klynnurseries.com Medina Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 medinasodfarms.com Millcreek Gardens, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 mgohio.com

ONLA Classified Advertising: onla.org

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:

ONLA Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 onla.org ONLA Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 onla.org Plant Something. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

•

• •

•

Field Service Manager, Environmental Management Services, Inc., Dublin, Ohio Great Lakes Regional Sales Manager- OH, IL, IN, MI, WI

State University ATI, Wooster, Ohio •

Sales Representative, Gardenscape, Northeast Ohio and West Pennsylvania

•

Residential/Commercial Irrigation Technician, Environmental Management Services, Inc., Dublin, Ohio

Grounds Maintenance Manager, Easton Town Center, Columbus, Ohio Nursery Worker/Manager, Environmental Management Services, Dublin, Ohio

•

Operations Manager, Environmental Management Services, Dublin, Ohio

•

Plant Materials Specialist, The Ohio

Turf & Plant Health Care Applicator, Hemlock Landscapes, Chagrin Falls, Ohio FOR SALE: 400 Gallon Rears Air Blast Tower Orchard Sprayer, Sunleaf Nursery, LLP, Madison, Ohio

buckeyegardening.com/plant-something Scarff’s Nursery, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 scarffs.com Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com

Ad Rates & Info Contact Amanda Domsitz 614.899.1195 amandadomsitz@onla.org

46 The Buckeye

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T JUST

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CENTS University provides worldclass education and business training to green industry professionals. At the 2015 convention, CENTS University will launch its inaugural educational platform featuring renowned speakers and expert educators. Come learn from the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top thinkers from across the nation.