The Buckeye, July/August 2019 by OGIA

JULY/AUGUST 2019 Vol. 30, Issue 4

The Official Publication of Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

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July/August 2019 Vol. 30, Issue 4

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

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year alana@onla.org OFFICERS Tim Clark, President H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc Andy Doesburg, Immediate Past resident Ward + Thornton Landscape Emily Showalter, President-Elect Willoway Nurseries, Inc. DIRECTORS Brandon Druffel Dan Druffel, Inc. Tom Hilgeman White Oak Gardens Molly John M.J. Design Associates, Inc. Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Wendy Moore Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc. Steve Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal Columbus State Community College

STAFF Ken Fisher, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Alana Settle, Marketing & Communications Mary Ann Shrum, Education Tracie Zody, MGIX 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.

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CONTENTS 2

ONLA Diagnostic Walkabouts Schedule

Executive Director's Message

President's Perspective

Legislative Update

ONLA Member Summit / Credits and Coffee

ONLA Landscape Awards Call for Entries

Event Calendar

Ohio High School Landscape Olympics

Credits and Coffee: Call for Presenters

ONLA Golf Outing

FEATURE STORIES 11

Stay Calm and In Control All Season, by Marty Grunder

Retail Roundtable: Environmental Issues

The Artful Garden, by Bobbie Schwartz

How to Manage a Salty Situation, by Andy Fields

Wellness Program Considerations for Small Businesses,

by TAH Benefits

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 5

New Members

ONLA Preferred Service Providers

Classifieds

Calendar of Events, Advertising Index July/August 2019

2019 Diagnostic Walkabouts Walk, Talk, & Learn

2019 Line Up

Learn about the art and science of scouting, diagnosing and controlling of landscape pests. These interactive, hands-on, in-the-moment experiences provide a unique alternative to traditional classes or passive reading. Ask questions, take pictures and help guide the discussion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an informal and comfortable learning experience.

7:30 to 9:30 am at:

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Thursday, July 18

Discussions are tailored to the audience, weather and time of year, and characteristics of the locationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no two walkabouts are ever the same.

Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

To Attend:

Thursday, August 8

$45 for ONLA members $45.00 for ONLA members $65 $65 for for non-members non-members Pre-registration required

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Pre-registration is required.

www.onla.org/walkabouts Presented in Partnership with:

Credits Available: OCNT - 11 CEU ISA - 2 (Certified Arborist, BCMA and Municipal Specialist) Additional credits for LA CES, ISA LA CES 2 HSW and ODA certifications are pending ODA - 1 hour .5 for Category approval. CheckCORE, onla.org details 8, and .5 Category 6A

BGSU Firelands Thursday, September 5

Sunset Memorial Park Thursday, September 26

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director, ken@onla.org What we do together matters when it comes to growing and protecting the future of our industry in Ohio and beyond. THE CONUNDRUM We’re in the midst of another strong nursery and landscape season in Ohio, even as we find new ways to run an industry without adequate labor. Competition to find qualified workers continues to be the challenge I hear from across the industry and it has grown particularly acute this season. The Conundrum is that the economy is humming along so well anyone who is able and willing to work can be employed. Worker wages, which have been stagnant for too long, are raising giving consumers more discretionary income to buy our products and services. But in many cases our retail and landscape businesses are struggling to keep enough workers to fill consumer demand. If it’s any consolation (which I realize it’s not), just about every other industry is experiencing the same problem. Construction, the trades, restaurants, retail, and manufacturing are all facing the same problem of a shortage of qualified workers. I often hear the word “crisis” used by leaders in different industries to describe the current situation. There is no “silver bullet” to resolve this labor issue, but we are working in several different areas to develop solutions in Ohio and across our industry. You should be well aware of the ONLA Ohio High School Landscape Olympics, held this year on October 10-11 at OSU-ATI in Wooster. This program brings over 250 high school students together to compete in landscape, nursery, and business competitions simulating real-world industry situations. You can participate by sponsoring, volunteering, or simply attending to meet and support these students who want to be the future of our industry in Ohio.

transportation, and make the program overall more friendly to specialty agricultural companies relying on these seasonal workers. Our ONLA investment in the Horticultural Research Institute supports programs like Seed Your Future whose mission is to “promote horticulture and inspire people to pursue careers working with plants”. They have most recently been educating 6th-8th grade students, teachers, and parents on “greencollar” careers through a program developed with Scholastic education and are now starting a program to reach college students deciding on a field of study. And we are participating in an industry-wide workforce collation hosted by NALP Foundation with the goal of raising $2MM to promote, recruit, and train our future workforce. Impacted companies and state associations are pooling their ideas and resources to find new ways to for us to compete with other industries aggressively recruiting the talent of tomorrow. In addition to building interest in green-industry careers and recruiting qualified workers, it is critical that we train and develop our team. In December ONLA will host a Management Retreat with a focus on developing better managers and team. And in January a new event called Credits and Coffee will give your frontline teams the knowledge and skills they need to advance in their jobs. Watch our website for more details. Our team at ONLA is working hard to bring you programs to improve your business. Your membership and participation in ONLA events will encourage others to join. I appreciate your continued support of ONLA. Help us get the word out: the industry benefits from a growing ONLA membership. Because “what we do together matters”.B

Our alliance with AmericanHort allows us to participate in the labor and workforce coalitions they are leading on national industry issues including lobbying for “game changing” improvements to H-2A and H-2B seasonal work visa programs. The H-2B program was increased by an additional 30,000 workers this year – a good start but still more capacity needed for this important program benefiting landscapers. And work is being done to propose changes to the H-2A program, benefiting many of our nursery growers, to moderate wage impact, improve program regulations around housing and onla.org

July/August 2019

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Tim Clark, H. J. Benken Florist and Greenhouses, Inc.

Greetings! Depending upon the segment of the industry in which you work, your season is either starting to wind down a bit or you could still be in the throws of getting sold jobs in the ground. Either way, one thing for sure is that the weather probably affected you at some point so far. It’s never easy when your business is so prone to what Mother Nature dishes out. I have learned that I cannot control the weather. However, I can control how I respond to it. We watch our inventory much closer. We gauge any items we feel we are going to be long on and have a plan for seeing them out the door. We work hard to be ready for when the weather breaks and the sun shines on just the right day and the customers all come out. I have read many stories from garden centers and landscapers across the country about how the weather has affected their business. Snowing when it should be sunny and 70 degrees, torrential rains and flooding, excessive heat way too early. We’ve all undoubtedly faced some issues this year. Did you have a plan to work through it? Retailers would all like nice weather on the weekends, growers need to be able to get in and dig and line out new plants and landscapers don’t like being in a customers’ yard when it’s wet and sloppy. So far, none of us have really had our way but we still keep going.

on end. Why? Because it needs to be done. Snow? We still go to work. Torrential rain? Go to work. We do it because it is what we do. We do it because it is who we are. We do it because it is what we love. As we move more into the summer months some of us are starting to switch our focus to early fall. We are maintaining our inventory and perhaps doing some much needed projects or repairs. Others may still have projects that were sold months ago that haven’t started yet. Maybe you are dealing with a weather or labor issue. Maybe it’s both. One thing for certain is that the work always gets done. The client is always happy at the end of the day and really, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it? Remember, all the hours and hard work will pay off in the end. So, to all of you who are still in the middle of your busy season, we salute you. Thank you for working hard to make our industry successful. B

Tim can be contacted at tclark@benkens.com

That’s what I love about this industry and the people who work in it. The resiliency. People who get up and go to work every day. And the next day. And the next day after that for months

4 The Buckeye

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Welcome New Members! The following companies are applying for ACTIVE membership:

Carolina Tree Care Edward O’Brien 520 Webb Rd Concord, NC 28025

ECO Cleaning & Maintenance Jason Gunsorek 7833 Morse Rd New Albany, OH 43054

K & R Landscaping Ken Schwarz 611 Maple St Hamilton, OH 4501

These companies and individuals have been approved for membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants. Please submit comments within three weeks of receiving this issue to info@onla.org, or call 614.899.1195.

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5/21/19 12:28 PM July/August 2019

AVON - BROADVIEW HEIGHTS - HILLIARD

Come visit us at any of our three Ohio locations! www.premierplantsolutions.com

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Belinda Jones, Capitol Consulting Group.

SENATE ADOPTS SUBSTITUTE BUDGET BILL. MORE CHANGES AND VOTE COMING SOON The Ohio Senate unveiled a sweeping set of changes to House Bill 166 (State Operating Budget), setting up a contentious conference committee with the Ohio House of Representatives through the remainder of June. Given the June 30th deadline for Governor DeWine to sign the budget, this will leave roughly a week for differences between the two chambers to be resolved. Governor DeWine’s budget proposal included several new child health spending and largely avoided contentious tax changes or policy reforms in the education and healthcare spaces. The Ohio House preserved DeWine’s spending priorities including and adding to a new water quality program, H2OH, but added a significant tax reform package and also several Medicaid-related changes. The Senate substitute bill removes nearly all of the House-added healthcare provisions, many of which are high priorities for House leadership. The Senate also plans to incorporate several high-profile K–12 education changes including updates to Ohio’s graduation requirements and school report cards as well as a revamp of the Academic Distress Commission process for low-performing schools. The Senate also removed many of the House tax changes while expanding a proposed income tax rate reduction; the Senate was able to use updated revenue estimates to justify this tax cut. The Senate maintained House-added language related to online sales tax collections and added a new tax on e-cigarettes and vapor products. Thus far, the budget has generally received broad bipartisan support in each chamber and Governor DeWine’s top priorities remain intact; much of the disagreement exists between House and Senate GOP leaders. For links to more information, visit onla.org/legislativeupdates SB 2: STATEWIDE WATERSHED PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Perhaps, at least in part, in response to Governor Kasich's attempt last year via executive order to declare eight distressed watersheds, Senators Peterson and Dolan introduced SB 2. During Green Industry Advocacy Day this past February, SB 2 was a mere paragraph that had been introduced, thus spotlighting the issue of clean water in Ohio as high priority for the Ohio Senate (often indicated by the first 10 bills introduced). While the Kasich plan did not come to fruition, he also requested that the Soil and Water onla.org

Commission take another look at the rules regarding such distressed watersheds once declared, indicating that he was possibly requesting more encompassing and thorough rules. The rules governing distressed watersheds are extensive, and those in violation can face fines. All farmers within a designated watershed are or would be required to file and get the approval for their own Nutrient Management Plan, which must include not only number of animals on the property, but also the annual volume of manure produced, as well as field information including, but not limited to: location, spreadable acreage, crops grown, and actual and projected yields. These are only three of the twelve items that must be provided in the filed and approved plan. You may recall, that Governor Kasich's executive order caused a mighty uproar in the ag community. Hundreds, if not thousands, of farmers would have been affected, with only two years to get their plans approved or risk civil violations. It was widely speculated (emphasis on "speculation") that former ODA Director Dave Daniels resigned as a result of the ensuing disagreements. Senators Peterson and Dolan believe that by utilizing local soil and water conservation districts, watershed coordinators that focus on the needs and stressors of specific watersheds, and geographically specific studies, we can begin to better identify sources of nutrient run off. It is possible to increase Ohio's water quality standards without harming our number one industry. By collecting and studying better information, we can learn who and where we need to reduce without burdening wide swaths of Ohio farmers indiscriminately. Toward that end, on the data collection front, Sen. Peterson set in motion a few study groups, including the Ag Nutrient Alliance. The Alliance is comprised of representatives of the ag community as well as many non-governmental organizations, all of whom are working toward a methodical way of collecting and documenting data. Among other matters, SB 2: •

•

Creates the Statewide Watershed Planning and Management Program for the improvement and protection of Ohio’s watersheds to be administered by the Director of Agriculture. Requires the Director to employ and assign at least one watershed planning and management coordinator (hereJuly/August 2019

•

• •

after coordinator) in each watershed region categorized under the bill to coordinate watershed planning in the watershed. Requires a coordinator to perform certain duties in the watershed in which the coordinator is assigned, including assisting each soil and water conservation district to identify sources and areas of water quality impairment. Requires the Director, in conjunction with soil and water conservation districts, to collect and aggregate information on conservation practices utilized in Ohio that are funded by public money. Requires the Director to assist soil and water conservation districts in watershed planning and management. Requires a soil and water conservation district board to consult and work with the coordinator assigned to the watershed region in which the soil and water conservation district is located.

and the citizenship question on workers’ comp claims. If either of the changes are removed, they will certainly return as standalone measures. The Dayton Daily News recently covered this issue. Visit onla. org/legislativeupdates for a link to the story. B

Belinda Jones can be contacted at bjones@capitol-consulting.net or 614.224.3855

While previous focus has been on the Western Basin, this bill and others (e.g. H2OH, see below) will cause the lens to move to more of a statewide focus. Do you have a relationship with your local soil and water conservation district? If not, please set that in motion! At deadline for this article, SB 2 has been passed by the Ohio Senate. There is a possibility that it will be rolled into the budget but for now, the plan is for the Ohio House to consider the bill. BWC BUDGET TAKES CONTROVERSIAL TURN DURING HOUSE CONSIDERATION Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives favorably reported House Bill 80, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Budget. HB 80 received strong bipartisan support in committee last month and included language expanding BWC coverage to first responders suffering from PTSD. This is a long-sought expansion that was a priority for fire and EMS organizations and many Democratic legislators. The BWC budget appeared ready for swift consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives, however a last-minute floor amendment dramatically altered the bill’s support. State Representative Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) offered an amendment that would require workers’ comp claimants to attest to their citizenship status when making a claim. Seitz has long criticized BWC for covering claims submitted by undocumented immigrants. The amendment was favorably adopted, and HB 80 cleared the House on a largely party line vote of 56 – 38. The BWC budget is set to receive expedited hearings in the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee and must be signed by June 30th. The Ohio Senate Majority Caucus has rejected past attempts to add PTSD coverage to BWC. Given the short timeline and controversy surrounding the last-minute floor amendment, it seems likely that the Ohio Senate will remove both the PTSD coverage provision 8 The Buckeye

Restoring the native landscape

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onla.org

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10 The Buckeye

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STAY CALM AND IN CONTROL ALL SEASON THROUGH Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co. Raise your hand if you’re feeling overwhelmed right now. I may not be able to see you, but I can guarantee you that most landscape professionals reading this have one arm in the air right now. It’s high summer in Ohio, we’ve been hit by rainy day after rainy day, and the economy—and, consequently, client demand—remains strong. Eager to take advantage of every opportunity before us, many of us are scrambling to keep up and hoping like heck to come out ahead. It can be absolutely exhausting. As one of the attendees at our Super Sales Bootcamp last month in Cincinnati put it, “The more we grow, the more out of control we feel.” And this young, talented sales designer was echoed by nearly every other landscape pro in the room. To a one, they all said they felt as if there wasn’t enough time in the workday to get done all that they needed to do. They were running from one appointment to the next to chase leads and (hopefully) close sales, and their colleagues on the production team were running right behind them trying to deliver on the promises the salespeople had made. I can completely relate to this, but I can also tell you there’s a better way—and that way lies in developing good processes and systems, and then having the discipline to follow them. Or, as the late, great management expert Peter Drucker put it, “Most companies have good people. The companies that win over the long term have the best processes.”

and a training process. I cannot tell you how many times an area business owner has said to me they’ve seen our trucks on the road and asked how in the world we keep them so clean. My answer? We have a process for cleaning them, and we stick to it. Having intentional processes in place makes clear what each team member is responsible for, and it clearly delineates what you are going to do and what you aren’t going to do. You also benefit from the “wisdom of the crowd”—when everyone involved in a process has input in shaping it and refining it over time, you will invariably discover efficiencies that a single owner or manager is very unlikely to come up with on their own. And when you are at your most stressed out, there is nothing more helpful and reassuring than having your best next steps already mapped out. If you want to see our processes at Grunder Landscaping Co in action and learn how to adapt them to your company, join us for one of our Fall Field Trips. We’ll pull the curtains back on our operation and show you everything we know. Learn more at growgroupinc.com/glc-fall-field-trips. B

In its simplest terms, a process or a system is just an ordered set of steps for performing a task or accomplishing a goal. It’s how you get from point A to B, in the most efficient way, over and over again. But for your processes to help you gain control at your company and in your job, they need to be deliberate, they need to be in writing and understood by everyone involved, and they need to be religiously followed, even—especially— when you’re at your busiest. Now we’re by no means perfect at Grunder Landscaping, but we do have a process for pretty much everything we do. We have a process for how our crews load our trucks in the morning and for what they do when they return at the end of the day. We have a process for what they do when they arrive at a job site and another for how they leave it. We have a process for what we do from the time a prospect calls us to ask about our services to when they sign the contract and we complete the job, and another process for staying in touch with them to capture referrals and prime the pump for future work. We have a set hiring process, an onboarding and offboarding process,

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Contact Marty at marty.grunder@ grunderlandscaping.com

July/August 2019

4 7 TH A N N U A L L A N D S C A P E AWA R D S

CALL FOR ENTRIES TO APPLY Your hard work deserves recognition. ONLA’s Landscape Awards program honors skilled professionals who are going above and beyond with their outstanding workmanship. Eligible Projects Include: • Residential or Commercial, Design/Build or Maintenance • Seasonal Color, Container or Perennial Gardens • Theme Gardens or Retail Displays DEADLINE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 Learn more and submit your entry at onla.org/landscapeawards

TIPS FOR A WINNING ENTRY Invest in high quality photography. The only way judges can evaluate your project is through photos, so make sure to submit the highest quality images possible. Hire a professional if needed. Tell a captivating story. Write your description as a narrative. Describe the project, your inspiration, the design and installation process, or the quirks or conditions imposed by the client and your creative solutions to issues. Plant selection matters. Materials should be well adapted and properly used. For example, a plant requiring full sun used in shade is an obvious flaw.

RECOGNITION Award winners will be notified by ONLA in November, 2019. Awards will be presented at the winning company’s place of business. All award winners will be recognized through print and digital displays at the ONLA Member Summit and Credits and Coffee conferences, in the March/April 2020 Buckeye magazine, and promoted through ONLA’s social media and regional consumer and trade media outreach.

Consider past projects. Projects may be up to five years old at submission. In general, a more mature job will make a better display. Client driven designs. Client objectives are an important component in landscape design/build and judges take into account how you have incorporated your client’s wishes. Submit projects in multiple categories If you enter the same project in more than one category, tailor your photos and written description. You are encouraged to reuse your application to submit entries in other state and national competitions

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY!

Not a landscaper? Support the program that rewards your customers! Sponsors receive logo recognition on print and digital promotional materials and help present awards to winning companies. For more details, visit onla.org/landscapeawards

Pictured: 46th Annual Landscape Awards Project of the Year: Eton Color Gardens by Exterior Services, Ltd.

12 The Buckeye

onla.org

RETAIL ROUNDTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:

Policies and responding to customer concerns

ONLA's Retail Committee weighs in on a new topic each Buckeye. Have something you'd like to see the committee tackle in a future issue? Email alana@onla.org. What are the big issues? What are you doing? How do you respond to customers’ concerns? Are you promoting and educating your customers on “environmentally friendly” practices/products through workshops, marketing, social media, on-site signage/displays, etc.?

Tim Clark, H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc. At Benkens we most hear about the bees. We are occasionally asked about whether we spray/use neonicotinoids. We explain that we are a production greenhouse and yes, we use them in a very responsible way. We only use them when the situation calls for it. We then point out that we have one honey bee hive on the property as well a number of other nests for mason bees or leafcutter bees. We realize that some people are dead set against using the chemicals and we aren’t going to get into an argument over it. We just simply let them know what we are doing and they can decide for themselves if we fit their needs. We have actively joined the Cincinnati Zoo’s Pollinator Challenge program, we carry a healthy supply of pollinator-friendly plants, we have had a number of classes on backyard bee keeping and have hit it through social media as well. Generally, I think most people appreciate the effort that is given to call attention to the need for pollinators with a limited number of people being on the fringe edge that would boycott the store for selling something that would kill the bees off. The same goes for the Roundup controversy. We will occasionally get someone in the store that asks about it but most people are wanting a product that works and will use the product responsibly. Ron Wilson, Natorp’s Nursery Outlet Biggest "environmental" customer concerns or issues? I frist think about the questions we get regarding: • Using neonics in our growing operation on our pollinator onla.org

• • •

• •

plants. The public is now becoming concerned with neonic use on any plant—but what if the plant doesn’t flower or become a food source for beneficial insects? Using pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in general (actually it should be "misuse") Pollinator decline and what we can do The Roundup and cancer link scare. When asked for a Roundup substitute that works the same, I suggest Kleenup or Killzall—and get thanked! Okay, don’t worry, I explain they all have the same chemical and then take it from there. About planting more native plants (Can I mention ‘nativars’, too?) And even the old, “I hate GMOs so are any of your plants or seeds GMO?” Although most couldn’t tell you what GMO even stands for.

Interestingly enough, when asked this question, our Natorp’s Outlet team of Horticulturalists mentioned: • Emerald Ash Borer and all the ash trees being wiped out and the effect on the environment, and other non-native invasive insects and plants • Crazy weather patterns, zone changes, too wet/dry/hot/ cold and the plant problems associated with all of these • Boxwood issues • Asian Longhorned Beetles, Japanese Beetles, Brown Marmorated Stinkbugs • Lichens (we get more folks asking about lichens because they think it’s killing their plants!) • The reality that Colorado Blue Spruce has major issues and what are replacement options • And now the news flashes about Sudden Oak Death disease being found on plants in Indiana! And if all these things are going on, why even plant anything? Yep, some folks actually ask that. July/August 2019

Bottom line is this: things have changed. Facts and factoids, real and made-up stuff (is that fake news?) all fly thru the social media, regular media, unsocial media, irregular media, etc. faster than Paul Reiner can say “show me the money” when he’s standing at the checkout lines on Mother’s Day Weekend. And, there are many customer concerns or issues out there that we are all faced with trying to help answer, guide or direct folks, as we are the experts in this green industry. So I think it’s pretty important to keep doing our homework on a regular basis, subscribe to industry newsletters (such as the BYGL and ONLA Plant Health Care Newsletter), staying in touch with what’s going on, what’s being said, what research is being done, what’s truth and what’s not, its overall effects, and what we (your garden center and employees) need for a response or recommendation. Have up-to-date facts in hand, share information daily with the employees, have discussions, and in many cases, write down a company response so everyone is saying the same thing. Have it available for customers should they request it! Signage, handouts, verbal information – if asked or questioned, let your customers know that you’re on top of what’s happening, you have the up-to-date facts, and as a company, you can confidently address these issues and concerns based on scientific research and the facts. Have your responses and recommendations ready to go. All the while continuing to promote the many benefits of plants, gardening, growing your own food, Bee Friendly and Pollinator Polite gardening, natural/organic alternatives you have available, integration of native/nativar plants into the landscape, etc. Maybe have a bee hive on site, plenty of handouts and information for your customers. Promote all the great the positives and be ready to address questions about concerns and issues when needed.

own call. We carry a ton of pollinator plants (remember when they were just called "perennials for sun"’?) and use pollinator messaging in our marketing. This year, a few customers have reacted negatively to glyphosate suggestions after hearing or reading about the recent legal battles. We have alternatives but try to discuss altering expectations of effectiveness for different solutions. There is a growing awareness of environmental impact that we are seeing through customer engagement. Having said that, the vast majority of our customers seem to pick an effective solution to their particular horticultural problem over concerns of ecological impact. We sell a good amount of Fertilome’s Systemic Insect Drench (Imidacloprid). I will have a balanced discussion about the impact of this chemical on pollinators, neither trying to persuade or dissuade the purchase and use of the product. Nine times out of ten, the consumer will choose to use the product. Again, we rely on a network of experts to help keep us aware of research and industry changes. We have all been doing this long enough to have seen drastic shifts in availability of control products. If (when) glyphosate and imidacloprid are no longer available we will be ready to roll with the changes. B

Jeremy Newell, White Oak Gardens Customers want to be ecologically responsible and friendly but are unsure how to proceed. There is so much information being published and shared online it is often overwhelming to try to process and understand it all. It doesn’t help when much of that information seems contradictory when comparing multiple sources. We really try to stay up to date with research on control products, constantly changing local growing conditions, and broader horticultural trends that we can pass on to our customers. We rely on a network of growers, other retailers, vendors, academic/research partners, and other industry leaders to help in this pursuit. Most customer concerns tend to be about pollinators, insecticiden, and the use of native plants. These three items are usually interrelated. There are more customers asking about the impact of insecticides on bee and other pollinator health. There is also an increased interest in landscaping with native plants. Many folks seem to have an "all in or nothing at all" approach to these issues. This can sometimes make it difficult but we simply try to offer the most effective solutions within their zone of tolerance. We also try to educate our customers to the effects of products on pollinators and let them make their 14 The Buckeye

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

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ONLA EVENT CALENDAR O OCNT Credit Available

2019 JULY 18 18

Diagnostic Walkabout – Cleveland Metroparks Zoo OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH

AUGUST 8 Landscape Industry Certified, Full Test, Wooster, OH 8 Diagnostic Walkabout – Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Columbus, OH O 15 OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH 22 Diagnostic Walkaboutt – Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, OH O 30 Ohio High School Landscape Olympics Sponsorship Deadline

SEPTEMBER 5 19 26 27

Diagnostic Walkabout - BGSU Firelands, Huron, OH O OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH Diagnostic Walkabout - Sunset Memorial Park, North Olmsted, OH O Golf Outing, Sunbury, OH

OCTOBER 10–11 Ohio High School Landscape Olympics, Wooster, OH 17 OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH

NOVEMBER 21

OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH

DECEMBER 11–12 Member Summit: Management Retreat, Lewis Center, OH O 31 Membership Renewal Deadline

2020 JANUARY 13–14 Credits and Coffee, Worthington, OH O For details, visit onla.org onla.org

July/August 2019

INSPIRING AND EDUCATING FUTURE GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE EVENT

OHLO 2019

The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics tests students’ skills through hands-on, competitive events designed by industry professionals. OHLO broadens the high school education experience and introduces students to the many opportunities offered by a career in the green industry.

YOUR INVOLVEMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Retaining quality employees is a priority for any business, and the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association is dedicated to building a strong workforce for our industry. Through the OHLO sponsorship program, businesses can have a direct impact when it matters—when young adults are exploring their career options. More so, your involvement guarantees that your business’ name and brand are top of mind with this future workforce. In 2018, the event welcomed more than 200 students from 20 schools. Excitement is already building for the fourth annual event. Your support will make OHLO 2019 bigger and better.

Thursday, October 10 & Friday, October 11, 2019 OSU ATI Campus, Wooster, OH Thursday Night Kick-Off Party Students and sponsors enjoy pizza and games Competition briefings and introductions Career Exploration Fair Connecting companies and students Broadening perceptions of the industry and its careers Fun Zone Activities and education for students when they are not competing in Friday’s events Awards Ceremony Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for individuals Team trophies Competitive Events: Hardscape Installation • Compact Excavator Operation Landscape Maintenance • Landscape Plant Installation Turfgrass • Arboriculture • Low Voltage Lighting Sales Presentation • Skid Steer Operation Irrigation • Truck and Trailer Operation Plant Identification • Cost Estimation

SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE IS AUGUST 30, 2019 16 The Buckeye

To secure a sponsorship, visit onla.org/ohlo

onla.org

NO ONE HAS FOND MEMORIES OF PLAYING IN THE SHADE OF A TV ANTENNA. From trees to plugs and everything in between, there’s no replacing the products you supply. That’s why you should turn to Hortica for help. We’re solely dedicated to insuring the horticulture industry. #NoSubstitute

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16003141

4/10/19

July/August 2019

L A NDS C A P E D E S I G N

The Artful Garden By Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD

18â&#x20AC;&#x192; The Buckeye

onla.org

What is a garden? A collection of plants in a piece of the earth. What is an artful garden? First, it is an endeavor of heart and soul, of love and passion. Second, it is a living, evolving painting. Third, it is a product of imagination. And fourth, it is the use of ornament in the garden to enrich it. Who is the artful gardener? You are; landscape designers are landscape artists. Your canvas is the land. Your palette is plants, hardscapes, and ornaments. Many clients who come to us for design merely want a lovely setting for relaxing and entertaining and they have no interest in maintaining the design. They wish to hire someone (preferably your company) to do that for them. Sadly, all too few have a passion for gardening. Therefore, you need to infuse some of your heart and soul into the design so that it is more than nice. If you do this, it will be extremely satisfying for both you and the client. Starting with that premise, you need to decide what mood you wish to express in your living, evolving painting. Determining the mood will be the result of conversations with your client. It could be serene like the scene in The Peaceable Kingdom by Linda Mears. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be filled with people and animals but could be a simple curving brick walk that entices and leads to a serene spot where one can sit on a bench and contemplate the pink and white caladiums on the other side of the walk.

onla.org

July/August 2019â&#x20AC;&#x192;

Photo by Jim Ault 20â&#x20AC;&#x192; The Buckeye

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It could be dramatic like the Frida Kahlo self-portrait called The Frame, using vivid colors such as a combination of red and purple plants or in an unexpected way, such as a bright orange wall that serves as a foil for green plants. Perhaps the client would like a playful mood as suggested by Edward Lear's poem The Owl and the Pussycat. This mood could be interpreted by playful sculptural elements in the landscape or by adding a railroad garden like one I saw at an enthusiast’s garden in Buffalo. Creating a living, evolving painting rather than a static one will call on your knowledge of plants. Having some unchanging “bones” epitomized by many conifers is fine but then you need to add plants that will change with the seasons. Many deciduous trees and shrubs change leaf color from season to season and, at some point, also have a flowering time and perhaps a fruiting time. For instance, Heptacodium miconioides (Seven-Son Flower) does not change leaf color but has several other attributes: exfoliating bark (of particular interest during the winter), late summer bloom instead of spring bloom like most other trees, and an extended month and a half of color with rosy calyces after the petals fall. An old-fashioned but valuable shrub is Viburnum plicatum tomentosum which has white flowers in the spring, strawberry-like fruits in late summer and fall, an unusual horizontal branching structure, and burgundy fall foliage. Perennials that have good form, foliage, and flower but also interesting deadheads are another addition to the evolving garden. Baptisia is an excellent example. There are an incredible number of cultivars now so one can choose yellow, white, purple, or bicolor as well as blue. The pea-like foliage is unusual in the landscape, the stems are strong, and, during the summer, the flowers evolve into large green pods that turn black in the fall and last through most of the winter. After the pods have blackened, they sway and rattle in the wind so the element of sound is added. There is, of course, much more to say about the artful garden but the rest will have to wait until next time. B Bobbie Schwartz can be contacted at bobbie@bgthumb.com Photos Courtesy of Bobbie Schwartz: Page 17: A curving brick walk entices and leads to a serene spot of pink and white; The Peaceable Kingdom by Linda Mears Opposite Page, Clockwise: Frida Kahlo's The Frame; Red and purple foliage annuals and tropicals: Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', Coleus, Alternanthera, Canna; Baptisia 'Midnight'; Fruits of Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Shasta’; Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Shasta’ in bloom; A small railroad garden; The Owl and the Pussycat, illustrator LoneAnimator; Planted pots on an orange wall This page: Baptisia pods in summer and winter; Heptacodium miconioides in bloom in September; Rosy calyces of Heptacodium miconioides onla.org

July/August 2019

Landscape Plants for Ohio

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How to Manage a Salty Situation Andy Fields, Willoway Nurseries, Inc., afields@wwninc.com

If you are a grower at a container nursery like myself, or if you have nursery stock at a retail center for an extended period, you will face many issues that are going to test your patience. Don't give up! Plants grown in containers have many benefits compared to plants grown in the ground in field soil, but there are also many difficulties when growing young plants this way. Keeping your plants from drying out, stopping them from blowing over in the wind, and preventing nutrient imbalances are always going to be ongoing battles. One major issue on which I focus—that can sometimes easily slip through the cracks—is the buildup of soil salts.

fertilizers or any chemicals in your irrigation water (whether they are intentional or surprises). As more of these chemicals are added, your EC will climb until your plants begin to show symptoms. High soil EC affects your plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and water. Sodium reduces uptake of micronutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, by blocking them due to their similar ionic charge. Even though the soil may seem wet, the increased osmotic tension in the soil pulls the water away from the roots.

This invisible plant killer can cause a variety of symptoms: • Yellowing of your plant’s leaves • A burnt or dried out appearance even though the pot seems moist • Total plant collapse if allowed to go unchecked. You may be asking yourself, how do my plants have salt in the soil if they are in a pot? How did salt get in there? The answer is hiding in plain sight, and you may have caused it yourself by trying to give your plant what it needs—too much fertilizer. That's right, you're killing your plant with love. Dissolved soil salts are measured by soil electrical conductivity (EC). This is a measure of the total dissolved salt concentration contained in the media in which your plant is growing. These salts can come from fertilizer inside the mix itself, top dress

Above: One of the first signs of salt damage on new canning Cornus Kousa Radiant Rose. On the right is a healthy plant. The left plant’s yellowing and chlorosis of the leaf is caused by high salt in the growing media. Left: Young Prunus Snofozams with EC issues. From left to right: Total plant collapse and death; beginning of plant collapse from moderate salt damage; healthy young plant.

onla.org

July/August 2019

Water does not move into the plant and could even be pulled out of the roots if the EC is high enough. This can desiccate leaf cells, causing a brown, burnt appearance or even full plant collapse. Some plants are highly susceptible to salt damages from over fertilization, including trees in Cornus genus. Dogwoods are very efficient users of fertilizer due to their very fiberous roots, so too much fertilizer can quickly cause salt damage. I monitor my Cornus Kousa and Cornus Florida varieties weekly. How can you monitor and solve your salt issues? Luckily, if you do a good job scouting your crops and catch any issues early, the salts can easily be flushed out! A thorough watering to flush out any excess nutrients in the soil should do the trick. Typically, I set my irrigation to run for multiple hours to ensure the flush does its job. After this flush, let your plants dry down a bit before watering again. A great way to test your soil EC is to do a pour through. Below is a picture of what my pour through kit looks like. This test involves pouring deionized water into the pot and collecting the leachate in a bucket. This water can be put into a sample cup, and you can run any tests you desire. For a good sample, I typically test at least three different plants from a block that looks like they may have salt damage forming. This will give you a good average and prevent outliers. A healthy growing plant should have ECs in the 0.75-2.0 range in most cases. As your probe’s reading gets up over 2.0-2.5, you should start to consider a flush even if you aren't seeing physical signs of stress on the plant.

This is a basic pour through kit consisting of deionized water, sample cups, a bucket and metal grate, a Bluelab pH & EC meter, and a Horiba nitrate probe.

Pour throughs are a fantastic tool for growers out in the nursery to get quick results with basic probes, but they can also be used to collect samples for more specific micronutrient deficiencies in a lab setting. I’d recommend always watching EC of young plants or new canning because the root systems are undeveloped and more susceptible to damage. Andy Fields attended University of Mount Union and graduated with degrees in Environmental Science and Geology in 2017. He started working at Willoway Nurseries, Inc. as a grower shortly after graduation, where he caring for flowering/fruiting shrubs and perennials. This past winter, Andy made the transition to Willoway's pot-in-pot nursery where he manage approximately 75 acres of both flowering and shade trees/shrubs. Andy can be reached at afields@wwninc.com.

24 The Buckeye

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July/August 2019

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26â&#x20AC;&#x192; The Buckeye

onla.org

ONLA GOLF OUTING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 • BENT TREE GOLF CLUB • SUNBURY, OH Benefits the Ohio High School Landscape Olympics

$110 per player 10 am: Shotgun start 3 pm: Cookout & awards

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Purchase a sponsorship online at onla.org/golfouting or email karen@onla.org All event sponsors receive: One golf foursome and meals at event ($440 Value) Recognition on event t-shirt and event signage, ONLA’s website, social media, and in The Buckeye PRESENTING SPONSOR Welcome golfers & distribute awards during cookout $2,000 HOLE SPONSOR Company name on tee sign at hole. $650 GAME SPONSOR Conduct corn-hole game $750 BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR Ride in beverage cart with company signage displayed $750

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CONTEST SPONSOR Hole in One Longest putt Longest drive Closest to the pin $750 COOKOUT SPONSOR Company advertisement on signage during cookout $850 DOOR PRIZE SPONSOR Donate an item of your choice! July/August 2019

Wellness Program Considerations for Small Businesses Summer is the perfect time to consider implementing a wellness program to encourage employees to be more active and adopt healthier habits. Sunshine and warm temperatures mean greater access to walking trails and fresh produce, but it also means businesses need to consider everything involved in creating a wellness program for employees. Jay Hazelbaker, CEO of TAH Benefits, noted some of the concerns small businesses may face when offering such programs. “Wellness is one of those things where there’s a benefit, but there’s also a cost,” he said. “If they’re doing a business program for camaraderie or team building or to make the work place more active, it can be done easily. They run into problems when an employer wants to offer financial incentives.” The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in 2016 that companies could incentivize employees with up to a 30 percent reduction in health care costs for participating in wellness programs; however, the EEOC’s rules are set to change in the near future. Until the new laws are enacted, employers are left to make their own decisions.

For employers considering creating a wellness program, Hazelbaker encourages them to consider all the hidden costs of starting and maintaining one. The collection of voluntary health surveys and designin an inclusive and appealing program can be cost prohibitive because of the time and energy required. He added that they might find more success with wellness efforts through incentives of paid time off or gift cards to local stores, rather than decreases in health insurance costs to employees. “Wellness programs should be more about rewarding people for participating, not tying it to premiums or [gym] memberships,” Hazelbaker said. For more information about wellness programs and other benefits-related matters, contact TAH Benefits at info@tahbenefits.com or call 800.237.2333. Submitted by Baker Creative on behalf of TAH Benefits.

Hazelbaker explained that the Affordable Care Act allowed health insurers to charge smokers more for insurance, but legal issues around discrimination caused many carriers to opt out of the provision. The federal laws surrounding work place wellness programs changed Jan. 1 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. For years, wellness programs adhered to guidelines set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that included nondiscrimination standards and financial incentives. However, a judge ended those standards late last year and moved to ensure wellness programs protect employees’ medical history and are aligned with ADA regulations. Because of this change, companies of all sizes are left wondering whether they can successfully implement wellness programs and comply with new regulations. Some legal experts advise a conservative approach with the removal of all financial incentives to avoid issues with federal laws. A small family-owned business in central Ohio with about 45 full-time and part-time employees considered creating a wellness program as a preventative measure. However, confusion over the changing rules and concerns about reaching 50 employees with additional regulations from the ACA caused the company to opt out of starting a wellness program. onla.org

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July/August 2019

IN YOUR WORLD,

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onla.org

PREFERRED SERVICE PROVIDERS An exclusive member benefit! ONLA members are entitled to the following services designed to reduce company expenses while addressing the specific needs of green industry businesses. The providers below were chosen by ONLA, and many offer discounts to ONLA members.

Energy Program: Growers Energy Solutions (GES) Grower Energy Solutions (GES) programs help manage your energy costs by bringing ONLA members together as one buying group. GES is an energy program that provides the opportunity to manage your energy needs and save on your natural gas & electric costs. Our programs can offer pricing to members located in all Ohio gas and electric utilities that allow third party supply. Joe Perlaky perlaky@bex.net Fuel/Fleet Program: SuperFleet Whether you have one company car or a fleet of over 100, your business can save an ongoing 5¢ per gallon on fuel with the SuperFleet MasterCard Program®. SuperFleet is offering new accounts .15 cents off per gallon at all Speedway locations (2,878) nationwide for the first three months using the SuperFleet cards. See page 6 for more information or call 1.844.821.0649 Health/Life/Income Insurance: TAH Benefits The ONLA Insurance & Employee Benefits Programs has partnered with various insurance plans to offer a wide variety of benefit options for members including medical, vision, dental, life, and disability. Our insurance representatives will help tailor-make a program specifically to fit your needs, including advanced plan designs, management techniques, and improved benefits administration that can result in substantial cost savings and reduction of employee benefits liability exposure. Jay Hazelbaker info@tahbenefits.com IT: Streamliner Solutions Group Streamliner Solutions Group, LLC is proud to offer ONLA members discounts on all of our services. These include VoIP, Backup and Data Recovery, Networking, Web Design and more. We're dedicated to putting you on track for tomorrow. Lora Gray lora.gray@ssghris.com

Property/Casualty Insurance: SeibertKeck Save on your property and casualty insurance with SeibertKeck. SeibertKeck’s group program is designed for ONLA members to save at least 15 percent with the best coverage rates for your liability, fleet and equipment. Marc McTeague mmcteague@ seibertkeck.com Safety Services: American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc (ASH) fills the growing need for professional safety and health management services for companies of all sizes. ASH has the capabilities to provide Total Safety Management, from working on a single problem area to evaluating, developing and administering an entire comprehensive safety and health problem. Gary Hanson ashmci@aol.com Soil & Plant Tissue Testing/ Ag Hort. Consulting Services: Spectrum Analytic (formerly CLC LABS) ONLA members receive a 10% discount off list prices, including testing of soil nutrients, soil texture, soilless media nutrients, plant tissue nutrients and irrigation water suitability testing, plus consulting services on all aspects of testing. Mike Hall, Mike@spectrumanalytic.com, 800-321-1562, spectrumanalytic.com Workers' Compensation: CareWorksComp The ONLA Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program has saved its members over $21.4 million in the last 11 years. Through CareWorksComp, members are offered multiple savings levels, ranging from the BWC maximum to a lesser percentage, for companies with claims. Free, no obligation analysis of potential workers’ comp premium savings. Cordell Walton cordell.walton@careworkscomp.com

Legislative Advocacy: Belinda Jones ONLA works with Capitol Consulting Group, provides legislative updates to its members, and plans advocacy events. Belinda Jones, bjones@capitol-consulting.net, 614.224.3855

onla.org

July/August 2019

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Ads listed here were current as of press time. For details, or to place a classified ad, visit onla.org/careers Crew Member Enviroscapes Columbus, Ohio

Your success brightens our day... and night.

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Share Your Event!

Are you hosting an open house, an educational seminar or workshop, or a networking event?

At Cascade Lighting, your success is our top priority and it’s been that way since we set up shop over 20 years ago. We’ll partner with you to provide expert advice on the best lighting solution to fit your project and budget. Our team also offers design and technical support at no additional cost. And to ensure the job gets done on time, our warehouse stocks a huge inventory of products ready for same day shipment.

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32 The Buckeye

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onla.org

11/16/18 9:32 AM

UPCOMING EVENTS

ADVERTISER INDEX

View www.onla.org/events for more information. designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.

Bayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

OCNT Exam July 18, August 15 Westerville, Ohio onla.org/ocnt Diagnostic Walkabout: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo O July 18 Cleveland, Ohio onla.org/walkabouts NGLCO Golf Outing July 19 Madison, Ohio nglco.com Landscape Industry Certified Hands-On Test August 8 Wooster, Ohio onla.org

EnvironmentalScience.Bayer.US Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 buckeyeresources.com Cascade Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 cascadelighting.com Davis Tree Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 davistreefarm.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ernstseed.com Evergreen Seed Supply.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 evergreenseedsupply.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . . . 14 fairviewevergreen.com

Diagnostic Walkabout: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens O August 8 Columbus, Ohio onla.org/walkabouts

Green Velvet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

NGLCO Summer Field Day August 12 & 13 Madison, Ohio nglco.com

Millcreek Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Diagnostic Walkabout: Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens O August 22 Akron, Ohio onla.org/walkabouts Plant Trials Day Symposium O August 29 Cincinnati, Ohio cincinnatizoo.org Diagnostic Walkabout: BGSU Firelands O September 5 Huron, Ohio onla.org/walkabouts Diagnostic Walkabout: Sunset Memorial Park O September 26 North Olmsted, Ohio onla.org/walkabouts

greenvelvet.com Hortica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 hortica.com millcreekplants.com Murphy Tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 murphytractor.com Navy Financial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 navyfinancial.com Premier Plant Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 premierplantsolutions.com Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com

Ad Rates & Info Contact Alana Settle, alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195

ONLA Golf Outing September 27 Sunbury, Ohio onla.org/golfouting

onla.org

July/August 2019â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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

DIAGNOSTIC WALKABOUTS Discuss how to find, diagnose, and control landscape pests during early mornings walks in a variety of public parks and green spaces. These interactive, hands-on, in-themoment experiences provide a unique alternative to traditional classes or passive reading. Attendees are invited to ask questions and take pictures for future reference. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an informal and comfortable learning experience. Discussions are tailored to the audience, weather and time of year, and characteristics of the locationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no two walkabouts are ever the same. Learn more on page 2 or visit www.onla.org/walkabouts

Tour Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on July 18!