The Buckeye - March/April 2023

BUCKEYE the

INSIDE: Sustainability Practices

DIAGNOSTIC WALKABOUTS

These interactive, hands-on, in-the-moment events are unique alternatives to traditional classroom sessions or passive webinars. Attendees are invited to ask questions and take pictures along the way to customize their educational experience.

May 8 Cincinnati, OH

Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum

June 5 Cincinnati, OH

Mt. Airy Arboretum & Forest

July 10 Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

July 13 Elmore, OH

The Schedel Arboretum & Gardens / The Joseph J. & Marie P. Schedel Foundation

July 27 Columbus, OH

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

August 7 Cincinnati, OH Smale Riverfront Park

August 10 Akron, OH

Summit Metro Park

September 11 Union, KY Boon Co. Arboretum

September 21 Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Metro Zoo

THE BUCKEYE is the official publication of the Ohio Green Industry Association and is published six times a year.

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING

ISSN 1536-7940

Subscriptions: $75/year sara@ogia.org

OFFICERS

Genevieve Reiner-Mills President Oakland Nursery, Inc.

Molly John Immediate Past President M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

Joe Lewis President-Elect Yard Solutions

DIRECTORS

Michael Hall Harrell’s LLC

David Hupman T. R. Gear Landscaping, LLC

Peter Lowe

The Dawes Arboretum

Ron Schultz Premier Plant Solutions

Abby Thompson Acorn Farms

Matt Turner Turner Landscaping LLC

Lori Zatroch Cuyahoga Community College

STAFF

Roni

Sara

Jim Scott Professional Development

Natalie Mitchell Finance

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 OGIA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

FEATURED STORIES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

GENEVIEVE REINER MILLS Oakland Nursery, Inc. 2023 OGIA President geneviever@oaklandnursery.com

ello and I hope you are all getting a little rest during our Ohio winter! While every season brings its joys and challenges, I find that winter is my favorite time of year at the office. It is a chance to work on the “big picture” projects that frequently get ignored most of the year, develop and implement new processes, improve operations, and set our goals for the coming seasons. Business operations is a topic near and dear to my heart, and one key aspect of business operations is sustainability. This issue of The Buckeye focuses on sustainability and will explore how thinking and operating sustainably is vital to the long term success of our businesses and our profession. Sustainability seems to have become the buzzword of the last decade, but it is not a trend. It is the reoccurring topic of meetings, conferences, and books across industries. The question is, though, what does sustainability mean for us, in the green profession?

Sustainable means to perpetuate existence, as well as to provide sustenance and nourishment. As members of a profession that grows, sells, and installs life-affirming, oxygen-producing, and carbon-dioxide absorbing materials, we are ahead of many other industries in creating products that provide sustenance and nourishment. We should be incredibly proud of our contribution to the world, and keep our beneficial environmental impact in mind as we market ourselves and our businesses.

That being said, we still have work to do and need to continue finding ways to become even more sustainable. We can look at sustainability from a materials standpoint: how do we minimize our use of plastics? Can we cultivate in ourselves and our clients the value of addedcost compostable or biodegradable containers? What composting options are available for soils, mulches, and old plants? What about water and chemicals? What steps can we take in our nurseries, garden stores, and landscape companies to collect and reuse water or to minimize pesticide use? From an energy standpoint, are we looking at alternative ways to generate power? Can we utilize solar or wind to power our facilities and look toward minimizing our reliance on gas powered vehicles and equipment? Can we develop additional businesses and supply chain solutions to improve our industry from the inside? There are lots of questions to ask, but this is the perfect time to ask them (and find solutions)!

Sustainability is more than just finding better ways to use our resources. It is also about how we utilize and train our people, so that we’re building teams with a focus on the future. It is about putting the systems in place to make sure there is “bench strength” in our key business roles, and upward and lateral growth opportunities for entrylevel staff. It is about developing a plan to make sure that ownership and leadership is passed down to ensure the successful continuation of the business, when owners and leaders retire. If we are putting all of our time and effort into building these amazing companies, don’t we want them to outlive us? What processes can we implement to protect us through retirements, recessions, rising costs, pandemics, labor shortages, and supply chain crises?

Sustainable development is based on a principle called the Triple Bottom Line: environmental integrity (planet), social equity (people), and economic prosperity (profit). “Environmental integrity makes reference to the limited regeneration capacity of an ecosystem; social equity is linked to the right of all stakeholders to access resources, building transparent relationships that highlight the distribution of value creation; and economic prosperity pertains to the quality of life achieved through the productive capacity of a system.”

In short, as we build our businesses, we of course have to think about profit, but we also have to consider the longterm impacts of our day-to-day for both our products and our people. It is a lot to think about, but we can start with small, manageable steps. Just a few ideas: reduce paper use by setting up digital invoices and payments for vendors and customers (plus you’ll save on stamps & postage!), set up recycling at work and in our retail stores, (how many of our team members drink canned or bottled beverages whose containers end up in the trash?), find a way to compost construction/plant waste debris to keep it out of the landfill (plus, you can sell your compost back to your customers!), consider a rainwater recapturing system for irrigation, or invest in solar panels to power your garden store. For landscaping, put the right plant in the right place and use natives that thrive with minimal help, resources, or pest control. Yes, some of these ideas require money, time, and some extra work, but these little steps will begin to add up. Not only will you see direct benefits to your bottom line and the environment, but you’ll be able to market yourself as “working towards sustainability” to an increasingly environmentally-concerned and savvy customer base. While you’re at it, ask your clients and customers what sustainable improvements they would like to see. If you can get their buy-in and support, you can help educate them on the value (and cost) of sustainability initiatives.

If you are reading this, chances are you’re a leader or aspiring leader in our industry. I would encourage you to join or start a conversation about this topic with your Ohio Green Industry Associate board or team members. To make effective, sustainable change in our industry, we all need to share our thoughts, ideas, and energies to keep building on our successes. We should strive to set ourselves up as paradigms of sustainable business practices—we’re the “green industry,” let’s show the world what that really means. Want to chat? My door is always open--I love sharing ideas and discover ways that we can build something wonderful.

Here’s to a successful, healthy, and life-affirming season for all of us.

1Piwowar-Sulej, Katarzyna. “Core functions of Sustainable Human Resource Management. A hybrid literature review with the use of H-Classics methodology.” Sustainable Development. Volume 29, Issue 4 July/August 2021, Pages 671-693.

A CLEAR CHOICE

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SPRINTER® Buxus

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Ifind Spring to be such an energetic time of year. The weather (usually) starts to give way and focus shifts to being outside. Of course, this turns the spotlight on what OGIA members do best!

While you are busy with clients, projects, inventory, and sales so is your OGIA team as we make preparation for several exciting events. We have a full slate of ways for you and your team to engage, learn, and promote.

And while you are at it – why don’t you show off a bit? OGIA’s Annual Landscape Awards are accepting submissions and winners will be announced and celebrated at midwestGREEN. We have added over ten new categories to include not just projects but marketing and employee recognition to name a few. Not just for landscapers – something for all segments to enter.

TRACY SCHIEFFERLE OGIA Executive Director tracy@ogia.org

As you read this, OGIA has already hosted over 16 webinars on a variety of education and informative topics. We interacted with 132 members of the Ohio General Assembly at Ohio Green Industry Advocacy Day at the statehouse. We have much, much more in store to help you and your business.

March 3, OGIA is holding Spring Start-Up to get your crews ready to go. This training opportunity will provide basic safety and skills techniques to get your crew off to a good start and save you time.

OGIA is offering 9 Diagnostic Walkabouts throughout the state. These interactive, hands-on, in-the-moment events are unique alternatives to traditional classroom sessions or passive webinars. Attendees are invited to ask questions and take pictures along the way to customize their educational experience.

OGIA’s High School Landscape Olympics will be held October 11-12. This is an amazing event if you have not experienced it – you can just feel the excitement from over 200 Ohio high school students about their future in the profession.

The return of our annual conference midwestGREEN will be held November 6 - 7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. We are so excited to offer two days of education, networking, product showcase, and celebration. 40+ educational sessions, 50 exhibits, and more. This is the perfect opportunity for ALL industry professionals to engage and learn as there is something for everyone. It is a terrific way to encourage your employees to become more vested in your company because you invest in them.

In addition, OGIA will be “Out and About” traveling around the 88 counites in the state to host member networking events at spotlighted locations. If you are interested in having OGIA members to your business for an event or tour please let us know. We welcome the opportunity for you to show off a bit.

Aside from all these events, OGIA has provider services for our members to take advantage of to save you $. If you have HR questions or need assistance with an HR problem, policy manual, need labor law posters, etc., take advantage of OGIA’s FREE HR hotline and partnership with The Employers Association. OGIA also has a new partnership with masLabor for your H2A/B questions, Workers Comp program and more!

Much like Spring – OGIA is energized and ready to go. And it adds up to a great year ahead!

2” Crimson Sunset Maple

1.75” - 2” White Oaks

2” Armstrong Gold Maple

2” Pink Heartbreaker Redbud

2” Vanessa Persian Parrotia

2” - 3” Regal Prince Oak

2” - 3” Slender Silhouette Gum

24” - 30” Field Ground Green Mountain Boxwoods

3” Tulip Poplars

DELHI FLOWER AND GARDEN CENTER

BY ALANA SETTLE

The original Delhi Flower and Garden Center was founded in 1960 by Robert Maddux and his uncle, William Krueger, in Delhi Hills on the west side of Cincinnati. Over the years, the company launched several retail locations, offered landscaping services, and opened production facilities. Today, the thriving independent garden center is located in Liberty Township, and its mother company, the Indiana-based Kreuger-Maddux Greenhouse, is still owned and operated by the Maddux family.

The garden center’s greenhouse, atrium, nursery, and store, totaling 45,900 square feet, are open year-round with a staff of five full-time managers and team leads. Ten part-time year-round employees are joined by another 4¬–6 seasonal crew members in the spring.

We spoke with Delhi’s greenhouse manager, Allison Glatt, who oversees plant care, orders plants, creates events, and manages the garden center’s social media accounts.

OGIA: How has the garden center evolved over the past few years?

Allison: In 2020, we saw a drastic increase in horticulture and gardening interest, especially from younger generations. To meet the demand, we began exploring new avenues that we hadn’t tried before. We significantly increased our house plant supply and started to diversify the types of plants and products we carried in our store.

We have implemented more holistic care in our nursery and begun to educate our team and customers about the value of native plants and protecting pollinators. Over time, we continued the conversation with our customers and found that people, us included, were craving valuable experiences with one another. We listened and made the necessary changes to become a true community center for all things related to gardening.

OGIA: How do you set your company apart from your competition? Do you have a specialty?

Allison: We take great pride in providing high-quality plants that bring beauty and joy to any garden or landscape. Our team of creative experts is passionate about helping customers with their plant needs, creating inspiring displays, and coming up with innovative ways to engage our community. Whether it’s guiding them in creating a gorgeous garden or how to care for their houseplants, we love helping people make their corner of the world better.

Photos via Delhi Flower and Garden Center Insagram @delhiflowerandgardencenter

As for the competition, we believe there’s room for all of us, and we’re always open to collaborating. Krueger-Maddux Greenhouse may even be one of their plant suppliers! We value the relationships we have with other independent garden centers in our area, as there are not many left! We are proud to be a trusted and valuable resource for all of our customers, and we’re dedicated to providing the best possible experience for everyone who visits our garden center.

OGIA: Anything you’re proud of that you’d like to share with our readers?

Allison: Our marketing strategy focuses on the question, “How can we give more value to our customers?” We aim to go above and beyond plant care to create fun and memorable experiences for all. We proudly host two popular craft shows every year in September and February with over 40 local artisans and food trucks. In addition, we host greenhouse yoga, walk-in workshops, and educational speakers, and even started our monthly book club, The Delhi Book Worms. We’re re-creating the greenhouse and nursery atmosphere to be a peaceful and nurturing environment, thoughtfully designed and curated to inspire all who come through our doors. We have so much fun coming up with new, unique plant displays and love seeing that creativity and passion overflow to our customers.

Lastly, we are constantly listening to and learning from our customers with genuine curiosity, and their input has brought some new and interesting plant collections to the greenhouse. We have started to carry more collector items, exotic plants, native trees and new perennials, and other garden tools based on customer interest. We use our conversations as the framework for creating our classes, events, workshops, and displays.

OGIA: What’s your company culture like?

Allison: Delhi FGC is a company with a supportive culture that values the well-being of our employees. Each person on our team has an important role and we continuously show our gratitude for their hard work, dedication, skill, intelligence, and an optimistic attitude. We foster a positive work environment where creativity and fun are always encouraged, and firmly believe that positive energy has a ripple effect on our community in the Cincinnati area.

OGIA: Any lessons you’ve learned over the years?

Allison: We’ve pivoted a few times. For example, our integrated pest management and education have vastly improved. Rather than have one or two managers preventing and scouting pests, we trust our entire team with

those responsibilities. Through a new online pest identification test and reporting system, produced in-house, our team is well-equipped to identify and provide recorded information that management evaluates to implement an efficient and consistent IPM program.

We have an amazing and creative staff that we trust, and it took us a while to find ourselves in this position. Over the years, we learned that it was better to have a few people with a lot of passion, rather than a lot of people with little to no passion for horticulture at all. Once we did find people with that spark, we encouraged them to explore and gave them the tools to do so! We have gained so much from the wonderful people that have worked here and brought their spunky, smart, and unique ideas with them.

OGIA: The theme for this issue of The Buckeye is sustainability. Is that important to you?

Allison: Sustainability is at the core of our company. We feel an immense responsibility

to take care of the earth and to educate and encourage our customers to do the same. We aim to be sustainable in a variety of ways, such as using bio-controls and beneficial insects for pest management to ensure we are not harming pollinators. In our nursery, we have a space called “Native Alley,” where we display and sell our native shrubs and trees, with signage to educate customers on the benefits of gardening with native plants. In our greenhouse, we donate the remainder of our vegetables and herbs at the end of the season to Valley View Foundation, a local non-profit organization that grows produce for food pantries in the city. They also collect our plant waste for their compost pile. Every day, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint and give back to the planet that has and continues to give so much to us.

Learn more about Delhi Flower and Garden Center at delhigardecenters.com

ADVOCACY UPDATE

UPDATES FROM THE STATEHOUSE

New ODA Director Named

1803 Consulting, LLC

tony@1803consulting.com

Tony is the governmental affairs liaison for OhioPLANT, of which OGIA is a member. OhioPLANT is a coalition of pesticide, landscape, agriculture, nursery and turf professionals. For more information, visit OhioPLANT.com

Rep. Brian Baldridge has been named the new Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture by Governor DeWine. Director Baldridge served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he represented the 90th House District, which includes all of Adams and Scioto counties, as well as the eastern part of Brown County. During his tenure, Director Baldridge served on the House Agriculture Committee and advocated for programs supporting the agricultural industry. Director Baldrige is also a farmer, operating his family’s seventh generation livestock and crop farm, called Baldridge Farms.

Before serving in the House, he served as an Adams County Commissioner for four terms and a Wayne Township Trustee for two terms. He started serving his community in high school as both a firefighter and paramedic volunteering for the Wayne Township Fire Department. Director Baldridge later became a career member for the Anderson Township Fire Department retiring from Anderson Township after 25 years of service in 2020. He is still a volunteer of the Wayne Township Fire Department in Adams County.

“Brian knows the industry and is passionate about promoting Ohio agriculture,” Gov. DeWine said in a statement. “He also shares my vision for making needed improvements to the Ohio State Fairgrounds.”

He replaces Dorothy Pelanda who resigned at the end of last year.

Contentious Battle for House Speaker

The beginning of a new General Assembly brought with it a vacancy in the House Speaker’s chair to be filled as Speaker Robert Cupp left office at the end of last year because of term limits. With Republicans owning a supermajority in the House, the only question was who would be chosen by the caucus to be the chamber’s new leader.

The candidates in the House for Speaker whittled down to three, Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton), Rep. Jason Stephens

(R-Kitts Hill), and Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Twp.). The members of the Republican caucus met in December to informally vote for who would control the Speaker’s gavel and after a lengthy meeting, Rep. Merrin was elected. The formal vote would take place on January 3 after the members of the 135th General Assembly were sworn in. However, between those two dates, Rep. Stephens and his supporters made a push to be elected Speaker when the official vote was held.

On January 3, after the House members were sworn in, Rep. Stephens and Rep. Merrin were nominated to be Speaker. Rep. Stephens was elected with 54 votes, 22 Republicans from his caucus and the 32 Democrat Representatives. The remaining 43 Republicans voted with Rep. Merrin. This has split the Republican caucus into two factions, one siding with Speaker Stephens and the other supporting Rep. Merrin. There have been efforts to overcome differences between the two and move forward but time will tell how they will work together.

TONY SEEGERS

Sustainability PRACTICES

BY ALANA SETTLE

Photo: OGIA LAP 2022 Merit Award Winner

Lifestyle Landscaping, Inc.

Project: The O’Brien Residence

Consumers are becoming more cognizant of how their landscaping habits affect the environment. When I bought my first home in the suburbs, my neighbors, who were longtime homeowners, gave me plenty of not-so-eco-friendly advice on landscaping (such as dousing everything, even flowering plants, in Seven!). Today, as new neighbors move in, I’m seeing more and more of them using electric or reel mowers, planting fruit trees and vegetable beds, and setting up compost bins on the side of the house.

And when these new homeowners need a professional landscaper’s help, they’ll look for a company that aligns with their sustainability efforts. A Neilsen survey reports that 75% of Millennials (who are turning 27–42 years old this year) prefer to spend their money on environmentally-friendly services and products. Additionally, in a recent SurveyMonkey poll, 35% of respondents said they would even spend more on a product that’s better for the environment.

If you’ve been procrastinating on building sustainability efforts into your business plan, these statistics might have you thinking about how to get the ball rolling.

Before embarking on a new sustainability plan, why not review the environmental benefits of your current products or services and evaluate how you may improve or add to these offerings? You may be able to make a few simple changes to better align your services, or even just adjust your marketing messaging, to appeal to the growing desire for sustainable landscapes while maintaining traditional services that are still popular with your client base.

Showcase Your Expertise

Hiring a green industry professional creates healthier landscapes that should require less maintenance in the long run.

• Remind your clients that a sustainable landscape is a low-maintenance landscape. When a professional utilizes proper planting techniques and takes the time to choose the right plant for the right location, plants are less susceptible to pests and disease and will be able to grow to maturity.

• Tout the benefits of native plants, many of which you are probably already using. Have you listed your favorite native plants in an upcoming email newsletter, blog post, or social post recently, or shared imagery of natives flourishing in your clients’ landscapes? April is Ohio Native Plant Month and can be the perfect time to launch a mini-campaign promoting these plants.

• Highlight your eco-conscious projects. Potential customers may not know a rain garden might solve their drainage issues, or the benefits of permeable pavers, or that you can design for them a beautiful backyard vegetable garden with eye-catching raised beds and trellises. Perhaps you’ve installed a moss lawn or other grass alternative lately. Are you maximizing the potential for future projects with professional imagery and promotion, or do you need to invest in more training so you can confidently sell and install these projects?

• Everyone knows the curb appeal that mulch provides, but do your clients also know why using mulch is an important component of a sustainable landscape? Make sure you are educated on the products you are using, whether they are safe, and if more environmentally friendly options are suitable.

Tackle Pesticide Perceptions

The beautiful green spaces, trees, and plants the green industry provides its communities can only benefit the environment if they are healthy and well-maintained. Consumers often don’t adhere to the instructions on pesticide labels (if they read them at all), while you have licensed professionals who are trained in the proper application of pesticides to minimize the risk to the environment, human health, and wildlife. Perhaps you’ve decided to integrate organic products into your operations, or even offer 100% organic services. Are you educating your clients on why Integrated Pest Management services are superior, or do you need to invest in training your staff on IPM practices?

Community Involvement

Perhaps you’re already doing as much as you can, or you’ve decided it’s just not feasible to implement a sustainability plan at this time. Consider efforts that extend beyond your day-to-day business operations. Most public horticulture organizations have a strong sustainability focus. Donating products to community gardening initiatives, providing volunteers for public projects, or simply financially supporting community programs can show your commitment to sustainability and increase your brand awareness.

Watch Out for Greenwashing

While your sustainability efforts deserve to be a part of your brand story, making false claims or overselling your company as eco-friendly will be obvious to savvy consumers. Be wary of website copy that has too much jargon or generic cliches. Simply saying that you’re committed to sustainable business practices is not enough for knowledgeable consumers. Show the facts and share the numbers. How many pots did you recycle this year? What percentage of your equipment is electric or propane-fueled? What goals are you setting for next year?

Whether your vision is to become a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship, or you simply want to incorporate a few ideas to see how it goes, integrating small steps and best practices into current operations is a smart way to start.

Consumers know that working toward sustainability is not an “all or nothing” approach. As much as possible, be transparent, and perhaps a little bit humble, when sharing your sustainability efforts to set yourself up for success.

OGIA SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT

BY SARA CANTEES

Seth Glazer is a 2022 Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship recipient. He is attending Columbus State Community College and working towards a degree in Landscape Design & Management.

Growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, Seth had a love for the outdoors that has stayed with him ever since. From hiking in the woods to playing games and riding bikes, his childhood memories are filled with adventure and fun. However, it was his passion for building an outdoor landscaping oasis at the edge of their woods that truly sparked his interest in pursuing a career in the green industry.

At the age of nine, he visited a home and garden show with his grandpa and picked up a brochure from a landscape company. The brochure featured stunning outdoor spaces with gazebos, ponds, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens that left him amazed. It was then that he realized he could pursue a career creating these types of outdoor spaces. Since then, he has been drawn to the design-build area of the green industry, where he can be involved in every facet of the project.

Throughout his journey, he has had the support of mentors who have taught him about landscape design and the business side of design build. He has also expressed himself creatively through music, playing the trumpet in high school and still playing for fun whenever he can.

In his free time, he enjoys swimming, hiking, bike riding, and spending time with friends and family. In 10 years, he sees himself running a successful design-build company specializing in anything outdoors.

When asked what he would say to someone considering a career in the green industry, he encourages them to pursue it if they love being creative and want a career that is unique. “The industry has a place for many people, and there are so many directions to go in and enjoy what you do,” said Seth.

More importantly, he hopes to be remembered as someone who had a passion for the industry and made the world a more beautiful place. He also hopes to inspire others to treat everyone with kindness, no matter what industry they find themselves in.

Seth’s passion for the outdoors and love for creating beautiful outdoor spaces has driven him to pursue a career in the green industry. With the support of mentors and the desire to inspire kindness, he hopes to leave his mark on the world by making it a more beautiful and compassionate place.

COMMUNICATIONS CORNER

TIKTOK TIPS

TikTok has taken the world by storm, with over 1 billion active users who spend an average of 52 minutes per day on the app. It’s a powerful marketing tool that offers businesses the opportunity to reach a younger audience in creative and engaging ways. Green industry companies can use TikTok to showcase their work, share helpful tips, collaborate with influencers, and run ads.

1. Showcase Your Work

SARA CANTEES OGIA Communications Manager sara@ogia.org

TikTok is a highly visual platform, making it the perfect place for companies to showcase their work. You can create short videos of your team working on a project or before-and-after shots of a recent landscaping job. Make sure to use popular hashtags like #landscaping, #gardening, and #outdoorliving to help your content reach a wider audience.

TikTok users have short attention spans, so it’s important to get your message across quickly and effectively. Use engaging visuals, music, and captions to make your content stand out. You can also use TikTok’s editing tools to add special effects and filters to your videos.

2.

Share Helpful Tips and Educational Content

TikTok users love to learn new things, so sharing helpful tips are a great way to establish your company as an authority in the industry. You can create short videos demonstrating how to plant a garden, how to care for a lawn, or how to install a new outdoor feature.

When creating tips, keep in mind that TikTok users value authenticity, so it’s important to create content that feels genuine and not overly promotional. You can also collaborate with other experts in the industry to create more in-depth content that provides even more value to your audience.

You can even brand yourself as an industry leader with educational content. For example, you could share videos that educate people about tree care, such as how to identify tree diseases, how to prune trees, or how to plant trees. You can also share safety tips for tree work and demonstrate proper techniques for climbing or using equipment.

3. Run Ads

Running ads on TikTok is another effective way to reach a wider audience. You can create short, eye-catching ads that showcase your services and target them towards users who have shown an interest. You can also target users based on their location to ensure that your ads are seen by people in your local area.

TikTok offers landscaping companies a unique opportunity to showcase their services in creative and engaging ways. By showcasing your work, sharing helpful tips, collaborating with influencers, and running ads, you can reach a wider audience and increase your brand awareness on TikTok. Make sure to use relevant hashtags and target your content towards users who are interested in outdoor living and gardening to get the most out of your TikTok marketing strategy. With a little creativity and effort, you can leverage TikTok to grow your business and reach new customers.

OGIA recently held a webinar hosted by Barb Burgie of Burgie MediaFusion, an Ohio based marketing agency focused on all things TikTok. In the webinar, Barb went over ways that your business can utilize TikTok and how to get started mastering the app. You can view that webinar and other educational webinars on-demand on our website at ogia.org/professionaldevelopment.

Commited

WHY NATIVE PLANTs?

BY SARA CANTEES

After receiving an email that inquired about whether Ohio should have a dedicated week or month to celebrate native plants like a few other states, Nancy Linz, a member of The Garden Club of Cincinnati, was intrigued. The inquiry came from former First Lady of Ohio, Hope Taft. As someone with a passion for horticulture and education, Nancy was excited about the possibility of educating others about the benefits of native plants, so she got to work.

One year later after that initial email on July 18, 2019, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 59 of the 133 General Assembly into law designating the month of April as Ohio Native Plant Month. This legislation made Ohio the first state in the country to have an entire month dedicated to our native plants.

Ohio House Bill 59 States:

“The month of April is designated as ‘Ohio Native Plant Month’ to increase public awareness of Ohio’s native plants and the many benefits they provide to pollinators, Ohio’s economy, and the health of Ohio’s environment.”

Ohio Representative Scott Wiggam (District 1) was the Lead Sponsor of HB 59.

Ohio Native Plant Month is an annual celebration that raises awareness about Ohio’s diverse native plant species and their importance in supporting local ecosystems. By promoting education and conservation efforts, this event encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to appreciate the beauty and significance of Ohio’s native plants. Native plants play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting biodiversity. They provide food, shelter, and habitat for native wildlife, help prevent soil erosion, and filter pollutants. Incorporating native plants in landscaping can reduce water usage and the need for harmful fertilizers and pesticides. By celebrating Ohio Native Plant Month and supporting the use of native plants, we can help to promote sustainable landscaping practices and protect Ohio’s natural environment for future generations.

Linz maintains the Ohio Native Plant Month website and updates it regularly. “On that website there is a lot of information such as where to go to buy native plants,” says Linz. “That list includes everything from mom-andpop growers to large scale businesses that sell these plants.” If you are a native plant supplier, you can visit ohionativeplants.com and submit a form to be listed.

Ohio has close to 2,000 native plants. Many of those are not grown in the nursery trade and are just not taken advantage of. However, she is seeing a boom with local growers and native plants. There seems to be an increasing interest for learning about these plants and installing them in residential landscapes. “Even though we have almost 2,000 native plants in Ohio, not all of them would be good landscape plants,” says Linz. “Some require very specific growing conditions to survive and are quite difficult to grow and maintain.” Taking such a large list and narrowing it down to a subset of plants that will be easy for the nursery industry to grow as well as home gardeners to plant is the key to. “When we tell homeowners to put in a pollinator garden or to install a native plant habitat, we need to ensure that we are giving them plants that they will be successful with.”

Over time the definition of normal has evolved into “yard perfection”. Landscapes with perfectly manicured lawns and mulched beds, no leaves out of place, and no weeds in sight. Relaxing this urge to have lawns look flawless is okay. Working to establish a new normal of having pollinator-friendly habitats in suburbs filled with native plants is important for saving water, reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and improving the health and sustainability of our planet. Even some non-native plants in your landscapes are perfectly fine. “As far as nonnative plants, the only line of distinction I would draw is if they are invasive,” says Linz. Nonnative invasive plants are harmful to not only the environment, but to the wildlife as well.

In 2020 before the COVID-19 shutdown, Linz contacted Senator Rob Portman’s office to ask his staff if there would be anything that could be done on a national level for Native Plant Month. In 2021, Portman’s office reached back out to say that he loved the idea.

Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) are the founding cosponsors of a bipartisan Senate Resolution to designate April 2021 and April 2022 as National Native Plant Month.

With the retirement of Senator Portman, Senator Mike Braun (R-Indiana) and Senator Mazie Hirono have agreed to co-sponsor the renewal of the Senate Resolution to make April 2023, National Native Plant Month.

Linz is currently working with thousands of garden club members across the country in an effort to make the month of April Native Plant Month in every state in 2023. As of late February, there are about a dozen proclamations from states to make April their Native Plant Month. The goal is to get a proclamation from every state in the country, except for the handful of states that already have native plant proclamations in place.

So why are native plants important?

Native plants are needed because they provide food for native wildlife and help the environment. Incorporating so many non-native plants into our landscapes has caused a sharp decline in pollinators and wildlife species, because of destruction of habitat, and the lack of food. To help reverse this trend, many more native plants need to be planted across the country, including a wide variety of native plants with flowers that have different blooming times, flower colors, and flower shapes.

Special thanks to Nancy Linz

OhioNativePlantMonth.org

NationalNativePlantMonth.org

Seated: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine; Standing from left to right: Ben James- Legislative Aide for Representative Scott Wiggam, Representative Scott Wiggam- Lead Sponsor of the Legislation, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, Senator Bob Hackett, Former First Lady of Ohio, Hope Taft, and Horticulture Conservationist, Nancy Linz. Photograph provided courtesy of the office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Photo: Nancy Linz

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Photo: Nancy Linz

Blue-Eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) Photo: Nancy Linz

midwestGREEN presented by the Ohio Green Industry Association is now accepting proposals for speaker presentations and exhibitor inquiries. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2023.

If you are interested in sharing your knowledge or exhibiting at midwestGREEN to be held November 6 & 7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, visit ogia.org/midwestGREENProposals.

PLANT HEALTH CARE NEWSLETTER

The Plant Health Care Newsletter provides timely, seasonal information on the identification and treatment options available for the pests, diseases, and abiotic disorders seen in Ohio's landscapes and nurseries.

Contributor Ronald E. Rothhaas Jr. is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and is the Principal Owner and Manager of Arbor Doctor, LLC, specializing in sustainable plant health care, tree preservation, and landscaping. He got his start in horticulture by joining his community tree board while in high school.

The first issue goes out on March 14, 2023. Don’t wait! Subscribe at ogia.org/PHCNewsletter

In Memoriam

David E. Sheidler, 51, of Fremont passed away on January 25, 2023. He was born on June 13, 1971 to Richard and Ginny (Turner) Sheidler.

Dave was a 1989 graduate of Fremont Ross High School, and went on to graduate from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor Degree in Secondary Education. On July 22, 1995, he married the love of his life, Hope Schumacher.

Dave was a man of strong faith and had a true love for people. He poured himself and his time into his wife and children as a thoughtful husband, father, 4-H leader, as well as a Deacon and worship leader at Fremont First Brethren Church. His family and friends will miss his easy smile, loud laughter, and heartfelt singing voice.

He was proud of his co-ownership and work as landscape manager at North Branch Nursery over the past 26 years. He was the happiest when he was outside in the dirt. He also enjoyed camping trips and fishing at the family cottage.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Hope; parents, Richard and Ginny; children, Eden, Keaton, Parker, Abrielle, and Izabella; brother, Mark (Brandi) Sheidler and their children, Hannah and Miley; siblings-in-law, Cyndi (Wally) Clink, Don (Liz) Schumacher, Micah (Kelly) Schumacher, Becky (Bob) Watson, and Faith (Jacob) Stiltner; as well as many other loving family members; and the family dog, Kendall.

Jud was a life-long islander, loving Grosse Ile and living on the water. Jud and Judy moved to Hickory Island in 1968 where they raised their family. Summers were filled with boating, one of his life-long passions. The family carries on that love of boating.

The family owns and operates Landscape Supply, Inc., a wholesale nursery distributor located in Taylor. He worked closely with his dad until his passing in 1963. Jud then ran the business with his mom. He took the business to the next level, beginning the transport of plant material from coast to coast. He brought rare and unique species to Michigan, which can now be seen throughout the southeastern portion of the state. He was active in the industry at-large, serving as President of the Michigan Association of Nurserymen in 1977. He continued to advise others in the industry long after his retirement in 1995. Today, son Steve is the third generation running the business.

Jud survived a 6-month hospitalization in 1995. These last 27 years have been filled with travel all over the world with Judy, settling for numerous winters in Taupo, New Zealand. He was a snappy dresser, never afraid of patterns, and found many additions to his vast wardrobe down under. He loved spending time with his friends and family, and the door was always open for a quick visit or a lengthy stay. No one was a stranger to him for long. He loved to putz around his yard and in his workshop, always finding projects that needed his particular attention.

Jud was very active in the Rotary Club, both on Grosse Ile and in Taupo. He was instrumental in fund-raising efforts and truly embodied ‘Service Above Self’.

Helen Crawford passed away peacefully in her home on January 17, 2023.She was born on June 22, 1934, in Painesville, Ohio. She attended Perry High School, where she was a cheerleader and met the love of her life, Donald Crawford, on the football field. She and Don raised five children together while running a well-known tree nursery in Madison. They owned Crawford’s Nursery on Middle Ridge Road for over 50 years before selling their property in 2007 and moving to Greer, South Carolina to be near their family.Regarded as a very present mother and wife by her family,

Helen was also known for being an excellent hostess. One of her greatest joys in life was sharing a meal with family and friends around her kitchen table. Her musical talents were also notable, as she faithfully and steadily played the piano at church in her younger years. She and Don attended Tri-County Bible Church in Madison, Ohio and Trinity Bible Church in Greer, South Carolina. She was a fervent prayer warrior, and her love for the Lord was evident in her interactions with all who knew her. Though she will be so greatly missed, we are comforted to know that she is finally home with her Savior and her loved ones who have gone before her.

Judson B. Alford III September 11, 1941 - December 28, 2022

Helen Crawford June 22, 1934 - January 17, 2023

David E. Sheilder

June 13, 1971 - January 25, 2023

HUMAN RESOURCES FEATURE

What Do HR and Sustainability Have to Do with One Another?

via matchr.com

BOB BETHEL VP of HR & Learning Services

The Employers Association is an OGIA service provider offering FREE HR assistance and more. Check it out and learn more about this benefit of your OGIA membership at ogia.org/serviceproviders.

Here are a few ways that HR and sustainability are connected that may be helpful to remember when trying to reshape policies.

Sustainability Affects Morale

Companies that focus on sustainability are often viewed more favorably by the public, which can affect the way that employees feel about working for your company and even the way that customers or clients feel about interacting with your company. Making an effort to mitigate the negative effects that your company has on the environment in turn makes customers and employees feel like they are making a difference.

Touting sustainability as a core value may also help to attract top talent. Many of the best and brightest across every industry are interested in working for companies that put ethics over profit and work to create a better world. This may enrich the talent pool, helping to raise recruiting standards and build better teams.

HR Is Poised to Integrate Sustainability

HR can set the momentum for the adoption of more sustainable practices. Since recruitment, onboarding, and training are integral functions of HR, HR professionals can make sure that sustainability is ingrained into new employees’ view of the company from the start. Talking about reducing waste throughout onboarding and training can help to set the foundations for more sustainable practices.

HR can also encourage sustainable practices throughout employee lifecycles and daily tasks. By helping to set up software that takes care of things like time and attendance tracking, scheduling, succession planning, and goal setting, HR professionals can help to save paper while improving efficiency within the organization.

Besides preaching about sustainability and implementing more sustainable systems, HR can also help to engage employees with sustainability by introducing programs or asking for employee feedback and ideas. When employees are really living sustainability, you can feel comfortable knowing that they are doing their part to minimize waste within your company, as well.

HR Practices Have an Impact

HR practices can have a big impact on the sustainability of a company. By recording employee information electronically into an HRIS database, paper, supplies, and space can be saved. Depending on the structure of the company, it may be possible to use a smaller space and in turn use less energy as a result of the space savings, further progressing sustainability goals.

By working to continuously decrease the amount of resources used in every aspect of HR, HR professionals can reduce a company’s carbon footprint substantially.

Why Integrate Sustainability?

Developing more sustainable practices is important to ensure a clean future Earth, healthy and happy employees, and many other touchy-feely issues that some business leaders brush off. However, sustainability is good business. When your employees truly care about mitigating waste and improving the efficiency of your business, it can pay off in dollars.

Sustainability is something that every forward-thinking company should be at least considering when it comes to developing strategies for improvement and growth. Sustainability is truly the future.

Source: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/behavioral-competencies/ ethical-practice/pages/sustainabilitystrategy.aspx

OGIA EVENT CALENDAR

Subject to change. Visit ogia.org/events for more information.

April 1

OCNT Testing

Online

May 8

Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum Diagnostic Walkabout

Cincinnati, Ohio

June 1

July 10

July 13

July 27

August 7

August 10

September 11

September 13

September 21

October 11 - 12

November 6 - 7

OCNT Testing Online

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Diagnostic Walkabout Cincinnati, Ohio

The Schedel Arboretum & Gardens Diagnostic Walkabout Elmore, Ohio

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Diagnostic Walkabout Powell, Ohio

Smale Riverfront Park Diagnostic Walkabout

Cincinnati, Ohio

Summit Metro Parks Diagnostic Walkabout Akron, Ohio

Boone Co. Arboretum Diagnostic Walkabout Union, Kentucky

OGIA Connect - Networking Event

The Dawes Arboretum | Newark, Ohio

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Diagnostic Walkabout Cleveland, Ohio

Ohio High School Landscape Olympics

OSU ATI | Woooster, Ohio

midwestGREEN Conference

Greater Columbus Convention Center | Columbus, Ohio

NEW MEMBERS

The following companies have been approved for OGIA membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current OGIA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants within three weeks following receipt of this issue of The Buckeye.

The following companies are applying for ACTIVE membership:

Tim Back

Back Tree & Landscape Inc

2300 E Kemper Rd Unit B-6 Cincinnati, OH 45241

Kate Wilson

Kate Wilson Design

267 Crandall Dr. Worthington, OH 43085

Russ Nelson Nelsons Seasonal Decor

4286 Barkers Run Rd Zanesville, OH 43701

Ramon Hernandez

R&R Lawncare & Landscaping, LLC

5735 Avery Rd Dublin, OH 43016

David Shaw Shaw Tree Surgeons

401 Hillcrest Drive Cincinnati, OH 45215

BECOME AN OCNT

The OGIA is proud to offer the Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) program for Green Industry Professionals. Certification is the key ingredient for increasing your knowledge, credibility, and professionalism.

WHY?

• Improve your skills and increase your worth as an employee

• Gain recognition from the public, colleagues and competitors

• Provide professional development for your employees

For more information, visit ogia.com/Certification