The Buckeye Magazine, March/April 2016

March / April 2016

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

Vol. 27, Issue 2

Meet ONLA’s

Executive Director

moments of

discoverY

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

CONTENTS

March / April 2016

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

OFFICERS Steve Maddox, Jr., President Michell’s Josh Posey, President-Elect Buckeye Resources, Inc. Michael Dues, Immediate Past President Dues Nursery & Landscaping, Ltd. DIRECTORS Hillary Henry The Pattie Group, Inc. Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Adam McClanahan Carlton Plants, LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College Ellen Gallucci Purcell Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd. Bill Weaver Herman Losely & Son, Inc.

Vol. 27, Issue 2

departments 4

President’s Perspective Get Involved, Be Active, and Be a Voice for the ONLA

5

Branches of Government Primary Recap

8

Executive Office Update Your ONLA

10

Why Trees Matter Discovery

features 17

Certification Corner Congratulations to Our New Ohio Certified Nursery Technicians!

18

Membership Moment Making History

19

PEST Newsletter Pest Evaluation & Suppression Techniques

20

By Design Designing for the Senses

24

Look to the Future Motivate Young Employees to Build Better Teams - Horticulture Style!

ONLA STAFF Frits Rizor, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification MAGAZINE PRODUCTION Jennifer Gray, Lexicon Consulting, LLC jennifer@lexiconconsults.com

36 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.

FRONT COVER April buds, Jennifer Gray

In Memoriam: Earl Merton West

CENTS’16 26 Where the Magic Happens 30 Best in Show 32 Landscapers’ Challenge 34 Thank You CENTS’16 Sponsors 34 ONLA Presents 17 Student Scholarships 38 ONLA Professional Awards

also in this issue

42 Calendar of Events • 42 Classified Ads • 42 Advertising Index

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

GET INVOLVED, BE ACTIVE, AND BE A VOICE FOR THE ONLA

2016 ONLA President

Steve Maddox

4 The Buckeye

As the weather continues to get warmer, and our businesses begin to consume almost all of our time, it’s important to remember not to breathe “stale air.” You might be curious what I mean by that since a lot of us spend a majority of our day outdoors. What I am referring to is spending all of your time “in your business.” It is easy for us to get trapped in our daily bubble.

What I challenge you to do is spend a little time every month getting outside your business. This could be attending an afterhours with the chamber of commerce, joining a professional networking group, or perhaps reaching out to a local middle or high school and talking about the green industry. Get out there – talk to people about who WE are as an industry and how we benefit the economy and the local community as well.

Next, and perhaps just as important, take someone from your business or industry WITH YOU. Introduce them to people in the community and get them engaged and involved. Explain to them why this is important. Employees enjoy being involved outside of work. It gives them purpose, creates loyalty to you, and helps with their professional growth.

If you are not sure why you need to do get out of your bubble, then let me explain it to you.

First of all, it is critical to explain to people what we do. You would be amazed how little is understood about all the facets of our industry. Whether you are a grower, retailer, landscape designer or architect, landscape installer – whatever you do – explain yourself and our industry to everyone that will listen.

Prepare an elevator speech about your business. This is a simple description that could be explained from the first floor to the 10th floor during an elevator. Practice and memorize it. You’ll need it.

Second, by being engaged and involved in your community, you are creating the perception that you are the expert. Before you know it, you will get calls from local papers, the chamber, non-profit groups and schools to provide advice and maybe give a talk or two.

You may be thinking to yourself that this could be a lot of work. That is why I encourage you to take others with you to these events. Spread it out amongst your staff or friends in the business.

Third, be the voice of the ONLA. Explain that you are a member of a large state association that takes on topics like the legalization of marijuana, invasive species, and proper use of fertilizers to prevent algae blooms and the protection of our waterways. Let them know that WE are engaged at the Statehouse. Let them know that WE are a great career option for students right out of high school or after receiving a degree. Let them know that WE are responsible for beautiful landscapes throughout the community.

All I am asking is for you to step out of the bubble, and BREATHE FRESH AIR once a month. I can guarantee you will be invigorated and inspired. Get involved, be active, and be the voice of ONLA. B Steve Maddox ONLA President smaddox@michells.com

onla.org

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Primary Recap By now you have to be exhausted from the Presidential Primary antics. In the coming weeks, assuming Governor Kasich stays in the race, we will send you an article about the “brokered convention” concept. In the meantime, we thought it prudent to highlight some of the other interesting primaries.

On the Federal Front Incumbent U.S. Senator Rob Portman and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland won their respective primaries and will face off in November. Strickland beat Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld in the Democratic continued on page 6 onla.org

March/April 2016 5

continued from page 5

Primary 65%-22%, a far wider margin than many insiders predicted. Two recent polls (PPP and Quinnipiac) both showed Strickland beating Portman by a narrow margin in November. This seat is a target for Senate Democrats and a priority for Republicans to keep their majority in the upper chamber.

With the exception of the open race for the 8th Congressional District, all incumbent members of the U.S. House of Representatives won their respective primaries.

Of the 15 Republican candidates in the race to succeed former Speaker John Boehner, Tea Party-backed Warren Davidson pulled off a surprise victory, beating State Representative Tim Derickson and State Senator Bill Beagle. Davidson was backed by the conservative Club for Growth and also Rep. Jim Jordan, founding member of the House Freedom Caucus.

Ohio General Assembly Key Primaries Overall, it was a good day for incumbents, though there were some surprises. Here is a snapshot of some of the close races that we were monitoring: • 12th Senate: Former State Representative Matt Huffman defeated former State Representative John Adams 64%-36%; Huffman should cruise through the General Election in this Republicanleaning district.

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6 The Buckeye

•

22nd Senate: State Senator Larry Obhof won comfortably over abortion-activist Janet Folger Porter (65%-35%). Obhof will likely succeed Senator Keith Faber as Senate President next year.

• 24th Senate: Former State Representative Matt Dolan easily defeated State Representatives Nan Baker and Mike Dovilla in the race to succeed Senator Tom Patton. Dolan will face Emily Hagan in the General Election.

• 51st House: Incumbent Wes Retherford defeated former State Representative Courtney Combs, despite Combs being endorsed by the Butler County GOP. Retherford should sail through the General Election.

• 82nd House: State Representative Tony Burkley was the only incumbent to lose a primary; Craig Riedel defeated the incumbent 53%-47%.

The next General Assembly will definitely prove to be interesting with several current big personality Ohio Senators “flipping” over to the Ohio House including Senate President Keith Faber, Senator Tom Patton, Senator Bill Seitz. Additionally, former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder won his primary and will likely return to the Ohio House giving Speaker Rosenberger many head chefs in the kitchen!

Medical Marijuana: Ballot or Bill?

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine recently approved language that would put a proposed medical marijuana constitutional amendment on the November General Election Ballot. The proposal was the second try by the national organization called the Marijuana Policy Project. The language now goes before the Ohio Ballot Board whose sole responsbilitiy is to determine whether it should be one question or multiple questions on the ballot. If given the “green light” by the Ballot Board, the Marijuana Policy Project, through its state affiliate Ohioans for Medical Marijuana will have to gather 305, 291 valid signatures to get the initiative on the ballot.

Meanwhile, the Ohio General Assembly is continuing to mull the question as to whether medical marijuana should be legislated in lieu of or in addition to a ballot initiative.

The Senate listening tour headed up by Senator David Burke (R; Marysville) and Senator Kenny Yuko (D; Richmond Heights) has concluded after stops in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. The senators heard from over 50 witnesses testifying and over 550 people in the audiences. Among other witnesses, the Senators heard from mothers of children who have seizures and veterans who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, all who credit relief with medical marijuana. The Senate has not yet released a “report” nor a timeline of “next steps.” We will keep you posted on the Senate’s intentions.

Similarly, the Ohio House Medical Marijuana Task onla.org

Force is wrapping up its hearings. As reported previously, Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R; Clarksville) appointed a 13 member task force which has had numerous meetings. By and large, the majority of task force witnesses have been sharing emotionally charged testimony about the monumental trials they have endured in caring for children with cancer, babies with multiple seizures on a daily basis, and horrific pain, etc. Witnesses from other states shared with the committee what their states have done to legislate medial marijuana.

Representing the lone business perspective at one of the recent hearings, ONLA’s own Dick Gooding, Gooding’s Nursery, testified. In his testimony, Mr. Gooding explained the difficulty the green industry has in finding a drug free work force; he shared his experiences with implementing a drug free work place; and, asked the committee to consider several other workforce/human resource issues before drafting legislation. After waiting nearly two hours before he was called to testify, Mr. Gooding indicated that he is not against true medical marijuana and relief for the witnesses who had preceded him.

After his testimony, he fielded a large number of questions. Overall, the night was exhausting! Mr. Gooding is to be applauded for “taking one for the team” and going beyond the call of duty giving unselfishly of his time and

representing our industry with dignity and honor.

Thank you, Dick Gooding!

Home Improvement Contractor Discussions Continue With the primary being the primary focus of legislators the last several weeks, there has been little to no legislative committee activity. Even so, at deadline for this article, we are navigating interested party meetings on HB 77, the Home Improvement Contractor Bill.

At issue is whether the bill will guarantee a “one license fits all” (eliminating and/or pre-empting local licenses) and how would that be enforced.

Absent a guarantee that the new law will be enforced, ONLA’s support is tentative at best. The last thing we need is a new license, an additional burden on the “good guys” while the others continue to slide under the radar.

Members of the ONLA Legislative Committee will be meeting with the sponsor and the chairman of the committee in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. B Belinda Jones ONLA Legislative Consultant bjones@capitol-consulting.net Image courtesy of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.

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March/April 2016 7 2/1/16 2:32 PM

EXECUTIVE OFFICE UPDATE

YOUR ONLA

ONLA Executive Director

Frits Rizor

8 The Buckeye

It’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago I was pushing a 21-inch Lawn-boy around a golf course community in Columbus for a little summer cash. As miserable as that first day was, it was the beginning of my love affair with everything outdoors. It was truly a life changing event for me. I changed my major, my profession and spent the next 30 years involved in the Green Industry. I am truly honored to be selected as the new Executive Director of the ONLA. As I write this article, I have been in my new position for all of six days. It has been a whirlwind of a week and I really don’t have anything to report or to reflect upon from this short period of time. I do, however, have a few, seemingly simple, yet crucially important things that I have learned over the course of my career.

Education is important. While we traditionally think of education as a classroom event, it can take on so many more forms. Technical hands-on “classrooms,” diagnostic workshops, skills challenges, and certifications are all important vehicles to keep us at the top of our game. The knowledge gained can provide the confidence to add other services to your current offerings for additional revenues streams, but don’t forget to include education in your marketing plan. Promoting the skills and certifications that you and your team have is a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Community and local newspapers are usually more than willing to include a press release about an educational event or recent certification that a team member earned.

The early bird does get the worm.

Being on time is a critical component of success. I’d like to think all of the jobs I’ve sold were due to brilliant design skills and amazing plant knowledge, but I know that’s not the case. There

have been contracts signed only for the fact that I was the only contractor that provided an estimate in a timely fashion (or at all). We all get busy, especially this time of year, but good time management skills are critical to providing our customer base with the service they expect and deserve.

Books are judged by their covers. We are a professional industry and our clients expect a professional image. It’s simple and we all know this, but sometimes production and the hustle and bustle of the season get in the way. Whether the job is $400, $4,000 or $40,000; your customers are forming an opinion of your company the moment your vehicle pulls in their drive or as they pass your crew working down the street. Dirty or damaged trucks, crews without uniforms or a lax smoking policy can allow a potential client to form a negative image of your business before you even get the chance to show what you can do.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

My kids often tell me, “It’s only a dollar, Dad.” Well, I don’t care if I save a single dollar 100 times or $100 one time; I still have an extra $100 on the bottom line (pre-tax, of course) at the end of the day. A discount program that saves a few cents/gallon of fuel can have the exact same effect on profitability as a large lump savings on BWC premiums at year-end.

Government involvement isn’t always bad. This might be a hard one to swallow, especially this year as we brace to endure the non-stop barrage of negative campaigning that won’t end until November. Government does provide a wide variety of services and protection that we utilize on a daily basis as individuals and business professionals.

Most won’t argue that we need these services; it’s how we pay for them that usually causes the debate. It’s important onla.org

to keep involved and know what’s going with local and state government and make sure your voice is heard on issues regarding your business and industry.

You’ve got to spend money to make money. It’s easy to think of investments in terms of trucks, equipment or greenhouses. A little more of a stretch (but still reasonable) for technology, staff development, and marketing. What we don’t always realize is the value of our organizations, networking events, or team building activities. The holiday party at the end of the year is always a good time, but it’s also important to take some time along the way to make sure we’re all energized and on the same page.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I’m not contradicting my earlier point about education, but there have been so many events in my life that only occurred because of someone that I knew. Networking is critical, both within and outside of the industry. If you’re not doing it already, I would challenge each of you to attend some type of industry networking event. I guarantee that if you put yourself out there, you will make a contact that will help you sometime throughout your career. For those who have been successful in the industry, it’s also a great way to keep the industry strong. We all had that certain individual that helped us turn our job into our passion. As employers, we are able to do the same with our employees; as association members we are able to be that

person for students, volunteers, and the next generation of the Green Industry.

While I believe that we all make an individual choice to pursue education, get out of bed at 6:00 a.m. to begin our day, or give up an evening to share knowledge & experiences, making sure these opportunities for success are available is a key role of the ONLA. Providing education for members eager to expand their knowledge, scholarships for students pursuing a career in this great industry, discount programs to reduce operating costs, keeping tabs on the government, and facilitating networking opportunities are just some of the services we provide.

As you pay your membership dues each year, our goal here at the ONLA is make sure you see the value of your membership. We want to know that our efforts are paying dividends for each and every one of you. Over the course of the next few months, I look forward to getting out on the road and meeting with as many of you as I can.

We’ll chat about what we’re doing, what you’re doing, and what we can all do together in both the short and long term future to make our companies, institutions, and the entire industry as successful as it can possibly be. Have a great spring and hope to see you soon! B Frits Rizor ONLA Executive Director frits@onla.org

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March/April 2016 9

WHY TREES MATTER

Discovery

10 The Buckeye

onla.org

Discovery. That is the theme that Ken and Joe Cochran came up with at Secrest Arboretum years ago to describe what the arboretum, a special part of Ohio State University is all about. The joy of seeing sweetgum fruits with little snowcaps in the winter, of corneliancherry dogwoods and then magnolias blooming in March, the oncoming riot of Spring flowers governed in their arrival by a combination of chill factors and heat units. The wonder of discovery is what I was channeling when I wrote of Alexander von Humboldt last month and Andrea Wulf’s book The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt and the Discovery of the New World.

So, I have embarked on asking plant loving scientists about their moments when discovery literally rocked their worlds of curiosity. Our first tale relates to Isaac Asimov’s observation that, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not ‘Eureka’ (I found it) but ‘That’s funny.’”

It’s a Small Small World That We’re Living In. I was talking of such discovery the other day with a friend, Bill Ravlin, the chairman of the Entomology Department at Michigan State University. He returned there (it was where he earned his doctorate) two years ago following a 17 year administrative career as an Associate Director at Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster. Before that

he was a research entomologist at Virginia Tech University. At MSU he is back to directly working with a graduate student, something he missed during his administrative period at OSU. So, not long ago, his student excitedly called Bill over to look at some tiny creatures arrayed under the microscope.

The insects were parasites of emerald ash borer (Agrilus plannipennis) eggs. Emerald ash borers, as we keep being reminded of, are a devastating invasive Asian species of our North American ash (Fraxinus) species, killing hundreds of millions of trees, including large populations in northeast Ohio, with very important ecological consequences. So, Bill and his students are studying one of three parasites of the tiny eggs of this insect borer. Tiny eggs, as in smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. So, this parasite of the EAB egg, known as Oobius agrili, is also quite small, and the mandibles (mouthparts) of this Oobius are smaller yet.

The student wanted Bill to take a look at this incredibly tiny mandibular detail, and Bill, resisting probably a thousand other things on his mind, was drawn in, and drawn in some more. And suddenly realized, “Hey! I missed this!” during the years without graduate students.

There is a lesson here about what drives scientists today, and Humboldt and those he inspired in the 19th century.

Sure, studying emerald ash borer parasites is obviously continued on page 12

Page 10, clockwise from top.

Elm leaves emerging from fat buds in New York City.

Leonard Messel opens its sweet-smelling flower.

Strawberries are a wonderfully edible member of the rose family. Coming soon!

onla.org

This page (Left) Note how a strawberry flower resembles a rose flower. Both Fragaria and Rosa are in the Rosaceae.

(Right): Cornelian cherry dogwoods flowering at OSU’s Chadwick Arboretum.

March/April 2016 11

continued from page 11

of practical significance. But the pure joy of discovery, the particular morphology of those mandibles, potentially of no direct practical significance and possibly observed by no more than five people on Earth, is also what drives scientists and all that they contribute as scientists, just like Darwin looking under rocks for beetles. The “that’s so cool” moment.

Ad Infinitum. For our second example, let’s go to Kenny Cochran, retired director of Secrest Arboretum.

We were standing late this winter outside the beautiful Schiede Music building on the College of Wooster campus as huge wet snowflakes drifted to the ground. It was a wonderful morning, with Ken and I marveling at the patterns of snow on trees, the globose buds of elm trees, the finery of river birch twigs against the sky, the drooping of white pines laden with snow. I also discovered from Ken that the site of the Music Building was once the area for the home and landscape of Edmund Secrest, the first State Forester for Ohio, a director of the Ohio Agricultural Experiments Station, now OARDC, and the man for whom Secrest Arboretum was eventually named, following his impacts starting in 1908 with his observations of arborless fields now covered with thousands of trees.

But back to Ken’s Discovery. Ken’s moment that he mentioned was again about something tiny and, though not parasitic, it was in this case predatory. Another example presaged by the 17th century wit of the Seinfeld of his day, Jonathan Swift: So, naturalists observe, a flea Hath smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller still to bite ‘em; And so proceed ad infinitum Thus every poet, in his kind Is bit by him that comes behind.

With Ken it was over 20 years ago today when our colleague Dave Shetlar, an OSU entomologist extraordi-

12 The Buckeye

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naire, was showing Ken some of the pests he had found on some junipers we were studying. I was excited about two separate fungal diseases, but Dave was regaling Ken with some spruce spider mites he had knocked with a stick to the juniper twigs onto a piece of white paper.

And there, happy as could be were some Stethorus lady beetle larvae, snarfing up the mites like miniature vacuum cleaners. Though in reality, I suppose this is really an example of Nature – not in a vacuum. What a deal.

As Arthur Blickle, the paleobotanist at Ohio University that turned me from a history major to a botany enthusiast in my junior year of college used to say, “Jim, all these wonders are at your fingertips and feasts for your eyes, every moment of every day, free of charge.” continued on page 14

Page 12: (Top) Magnolia buds ready to shoot the moon. (Bottom, left) Excessive thorn symptom on rose due to rose rosette virus (Joe Boggs, OSU). (Bottom, right) Rose rosette foliar symptoms (Joe Boggs, OSU).

Page 13: (Top) Egg laying of Oobius agrili in an emerald ash borer egg (Bill Ravlin, MSU). (Center, left) A wild rose flower with a rose chafer insect visitor. (Center, right) Normal seasonal needle yellowing on white pine. (Bottom) River birch finery in winter.

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March/April 2016 13

continued from page 13

Stay tuned in coming months for more snapshots of discovery, from OSU’s Dan Herms and how and where he learned of bark beetle feeding preferences to Greg Ina of Davey Tree and the KSU class on remote sensing he took in the 1990 when he realized the potential of the simple remote sensing graphs he was doing and their application potential, a potential that geographers and technologists have transformed today into what we live with constantly with our GPS-driven personal appliances.

From OSU’s Compost Extension specialist Fred Michel’s learning of new techniques that show us how microbial communities that once we did not even imagine are revolutionizing our understanding of the real worlds around and within us, to former OARDC director Tom Payne’s reason for winning – the Humboldt Prize!

“Where do we [scientists] get our ideas, our inspiration for solving problems? It’s the same place a composer gets an idea for a piece of music, or a painter gets an idea for a painting.

It comes out of somewhere you don’t know. It’s the same flash of inspiration, and, it’s associated with the same colour – and the same glory, for want of a better word.” —Gerard Evan

And Now for Something Entirely Different In the Sustainable Landscape Maintenance class I teach in the Horticulture and Crop Science Department each winter and spring we explore the many facets of sustainability, totaling “36 Views of Sustainability.” Let’s focus on one to close out this month’s column.

Monocultures Are Risky. This is certainly nothing new. We know from hard experience that lining streets with American elms and nothing but American elms ended badly for the vast majority of towns and cities in Ohio and elsewhere. Worlds collided. An invasive plant parasitic fungus from Asia transported in infested wood from American elm to American elm by the European elm bark beetle found a genetic training table of vascular conducting tissue in these elms never challenged by this fungus before. Thus these native elms had no natural defenses. Enzymatic ecstasy ensued for the Dutch elm disease fungus (Dutch scientists first identified the disease).

Plant cells conducting food produced in leaves downward and water transported upward from roots were killed, changed, and plugged up. Wilting resulted and millions of trees died.

There is quite an Ohio connection to this Dutch elm disease story. This disease was first identified for North America in 1929 here in northeast Ohio. Elm logs from

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Europe were being transported by rail cars from Cleveland to Cincinnati. A rail official in Creston in Wayne County contacted Dr. Paul Tilford at OSU’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, saying elms were mysteriously dying in the railyards in Creston. He came to Creston, checked out the trees, isolated a fungus from the dying trees, and sent it off to the United States Department of Agriculture where it was verified that this was the Dutch elm disease fungus, and the rest is history.

We repeated the lack of diversity mistake in some communities by planting something close to monocultures of ashes and nothing but ashes. And we know how that is going. This time our native ashes are being devastated by an invasive native insect, the emerald ash borer.

In case you are wondering why we are such victims of these invasions, rest assured that the reverse also happens.

Europeans are very concerned about birch wood chips being brought into Europe from the U.S. for use as biofuels.

Their concern is that our native bronze birch borer will hitch a ride and threaten their birch forests since European species of birch have never faced this pest before. Their birches have not evolved defenses through eons of natural selection pressure favoring each generation of birches with mutations providing slight defensive advantages (for example, chemicals offensive to this insect pest).

So, diversity is the ticket. While teaching the other day about a fairly new rose problem, rose rosette virus, I suddenly realized that this too presents a monoculture issue. We have no viricides, the mite that transmits the rose rosette virus is very tough to control, and the virus spreads systemically throughout the plant. Rose gardens are becoming sinks for this problem. I am not saying, no rose gardens. Nor am I saying do not plant roses. Rose growers and rosarians among the most passionate of plant lovers, and certainly rose rosette does not mean that the day of the rose garden should be over. After all, as Peter Smithers said of another issue, “I consider every plant hardy until I kill it myself.” We have the right to plant monocultures, and after all amber waves of grain and corn and soybean fields feed us well and are grown in huge monocultures successfully all the time. Ohio’s fine agricultural heritage and ongoing number one industry is testimony to that, but monocultures do require more intensive management.

That comes at a cost. So, when and where we can, the touchstone is diversity. For street trees, mix it up: do not give a potential pest a clear field. For rose gardens, consider interplanting with other types of plants. Maybe do a rose family (Rosaceae) garden. Mix in strawberries, and crabapples, and serviceberries, and raspberries, and ninebark, and spiraea, and lady’s mantle, and peach trees – all in the Rosaceae. What a garden it would be, with edibles, shrubs, trees, herbaceous plants – and it would be educational and a good marketing tool for your landscape onla.org

company. All of these members of the rose family have their own set of diseases and pests, but for the most part, not the same ones.

Let’s look at one last point about diversity. This comes from the world of insects. In a review article from University of Maryland entomologists Mike Raupp and Paula Shrewsbury and OSU’s own Dan Herms, they detail a study that looks at the azalea lace bug. This pest occurs in much lower numbers and causes much lesser damage in complex ecosystems with a diversity of woody and herbaceous plant species vs. simple landscapes with a few woody plants and some lawn. The diverse species mix leads to the sustenance of multiple niches for predatory insects such as spiders that feed on lace bugs. Diversity creates balance. Spidermania!

To close Now for a final “something entirely different.” Not only are the Ides of March, April Fool’s Day, and the coming of Spring past us, but the political season will soon become ever more consuming as we approach the summer conventions and the fall elections. So, let us close this Almanac edition with some words that positively channels politics. It is from the great mid-20th century conservationist Aldo Leopold. He penned many sustainability classics in his “Sand County Almanac” but he also, when explaining the only semi-“evergreen” status of pine trees, wrote this gem: Pines have earned the reputation of being ‘evergreen’ by the same device that governments use to achieve the appearance of perpetuity: overlapping terms of office. By taking on new needles on the new growth of each year, and discarding old needles at longer intervals, they have led the casual onlooker to believe that needles remain forever green. Each species of pine has its own constitution, which prescribes a term of office for needles appropriate for its way of life. Thus the white pine retains its needles for a year and a half; the red and the jack pines for two years and a half. Incoming needles take office each June and outgoing needles write their farewell addresses in October. All write the same thing, in the same tawny yellow ink, which

by November turns brown. Then the needles fall, and are filed in the duff to enrich the wisdom of the stand. It is this accumulated wisdom that hushes the footsteps of whoever walks under pines. B Jim Chatfield Ohio State University Extension chatfield.1@osu.edu Photos courtesy Jim Chatfield, unless otherwise noted.

March/April 2016 15

Increase Your Credibility: Get Certified!

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

Grower The grower is the base of the green industry. In order to have healthy plants to sell, the nursery employee must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including plant identification, development and health; growing and harvesting techniques; plant nutrients; pest and disease elimination; plant maintenance and more.

Landscape The public, architects and contractors have come to rely on landscape contractors and installers for dependable landscape construction techniques and horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice and proper installation, the landscape installer must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas including plant identification, plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, use of pesticides, construction techniques, design, sales and more.

Core Core is important to all aspects of the Green Industry. Plant ID, Professionalism, Safety & First Aid are examples of the Core chapters of which all nursery and landscape professionals should have knowledge.

MONTHLY TESTING IN COLUMBUS, OH • April 21, 2016 • May 19, 2016 • June 16, 2016 Visit onla.org to download your OCNT test application or to get more information on the OCNT program or contact roni@onla.org.

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

16 The Buckeye

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CERTFICATION CORNER

Congratulations to Our Newest Ohio Certified Nursery Technicians!

New Master OCNTs Jessica Bell, Thomson’s Landscaping Brooke Frusher, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District Matthew C. Halonen, Dan Druffel, Inc. Rockett Morgan, Wilson’s Garden Center Andrew Charles Stamp, Petitti Garden Center Boardman Frank M. VanSkoyck Jr., Grunder Landscaping Co. Luke Varvarosky, Franklin Park Conservatory Adam Williams, City of Westerville New Landscape OCNTs Ryan Allen, Franklin Park Conservatory Brian Behler, Spring Grove Cemetery Timothy J. Bihlman, Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. Larry Brewer, Groundskeeper of Ohio Inc. Lynn E. Cady, Thomson’s Landscaping Mark J. Depenbrock, Spring Grove Cemetery Brooke Frusher, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District Joshua Gilbert, Five Seasons Landscape Management, Inc. Christopher Allen Goldbach, Franklin Park Conservatory Josiah Grimm, Knox County Career Center Matthew C. Halonen, Dan Druffel, Inc. Ruth Marie Helderlein, Ruth Marie Helderlein Mathew George Jones, Kleinhenz Landscape Steven Kelley, Dan Druffel, Inc. Alex Kraeutle, Dan Druffel, Inc. Cameron Lewis, Darwin Designs Jason Lipot, Washington County Career Center Nicholas A Luken, Spring Grove Cemetery onla.org

Emily Marshall, Spring Grove Cemetery Luke McCoy, McCoy Landscape Services, Inc. Jesse McNamara, Kleinhenz Landscape Donald Cameron Merten, Sharp Edge Landscaping LLC Robert Molina, R & R Landscaping Kenneth Noble, A-Tech, Ashtubula County Tech & Car Larry Ohrn, Thomson’s Landscaping David M. Peppard, McCoy Landscape Services, Inc. Adam Randall, Wood Landscape Services, Ltd. David Schenck, Berns’ Greenhouse & Garden Center, Inc. Zoe Shreve, A-Tech, Ashtubula County Tech & Car Michael Shumrick, Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. Brian Skinner, Xtreme Landscaping Nick Steinker, Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. Craig Vargo, Richland Correctional Inst Andrew Webeler, White Oak Garden Center, Inc. Patrick Wheatley, Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. Myron Wheeler, Groundskeeper of Ohio Inc. Drew Wheeler, Groundskeeper of Ohio Inc. Adam Wilcox, Wood Landscape Services, Ltd. Adam Williams, City of Westerville New Grower OCNTs Jessica Bell, Thomson’s Landscaping Brooke Frusher, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District Matthew C. Halonen, Dan Druffel, Inc. Steven Kelley, Dan Druffel, Inc. Alex Kraeutle, Dan Druffel, Inc.

Rockett Morgan, Wilson’s Garden Center Brian Skinner, Xtreme Landscaping Andrew Charles Stamp, Petitti Garden Center Boardman Frank M. VanSkoyck Jr., Grunder Landscaping Co. Luke Varvarosky, Franklin Park Conservatory Adam Williams, City of Westerville New Garden Center OCNTs Amy Day, White Oak Garden Center, Inc. Brooke Frusher, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District Ryan Gray, Grunder Landscaping Co. John H. Grimes, Thomson’s Landscaping Matthew C. Halonen, Dan Druffel, Inc. Jenell Martin, Catalpa Grove Farm Alexander Meyer, Oakland Nursery, Inc. - New Albany Julie Ann Miller, The Andersons, Inc. Rachel Przymierski, North Branch Nursery, Inc. Miranda Rife, North Branch Nursery, Inc. Edward R. Simon, Petitti Garden Centers Brian Skinner, Xtreme Landscaping Andrew Charles Stamp, Petitti Garden Center Boardman Christine Suchy, Petitti Garden Center - Strongsville John Walsh-McDade, Andy’s Garden, Inc. Dalton Westerbeck, Spring Grove Cemetery Adam Williams, City of Westerville B

March/April 2016 17

MEMBERSHIP MOMENT

Making History Gearing up for spring is always exciting and challenging. Even after going through this ritual for 37 years, it never gets old or boring. One might think after that many years of experience I would have mastered the task.

Ha! While it is predictable that the sun will rise, spring follows winter and spring showers bring May flowers; managing a “growing” business is anything but automatic. Yes as time marches on, years come and go, good decisions, bad decisions, mistakes and successes all pile up and our history is made.

Thinking back to my early years, fresh out of college with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture, taking ownership of White Oak Nursery, a small retail nursery operation in suburb of northwest Cincinnati – Life was Good, simple and fun! However, at that time and in that moment it was a struggle. Not knowing how business worked or what to do next, decision making was a lot of guess work. When things got tough it seemed the only thing I knew how to do was work harder. That worked for the most part, as poor decisions were not that expensive back then and could be made up quickly. About this same time, I joined the Ohio Nurseryman’s Association (now ONLA). I didn’t realize at that time just how valuable this organization would be to the success of my business.

Going to CENTS every winter, besides the adventures of winter weather, always provide excitement. Meeting and talking with nurseries, landscapers, retailers, along with vendors and manufactures who have like interests from all parts of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, all in one place is invaluable. The educational seminars provide cutting edge ideas and proven theory on plants and business management topics. The social aspect of CENTS is a big a part of my ONLA experience. Getting to know other industry people that many times struggled with the same problems I was dealing with might have been the best education I have ever received. Attending CENTS, even after 36 years, still proves to be a learning experience not only for me but also the entire Team at White Oak Gardens.

Some of the things I remember from those early years and the many people I have met through my involvement with ONLA have stuck with me. Laughing and learning about insects while reading OSU Extension Entomologist, Dr. Richard Miller’s “Bug Dope” newsletter, was a crack up. Now only to be out-done by our current “Bug Doc,” Dr. Dave Shetlar and his PEST Newsletter. If you don’t subscribe to this you’re missing out on a valuable resource.

18 The Buckeye

Extension Specialist Landscape Horticulture, Elton Smith’s “Nursery Notes” newsletter kept me up to date with new developing techniques and industry happenings.

His leadership of the Nursery Short Course at CENTS for so many years helped to develop it into one of the best in the country.

I always enjoyed discussions with Hamilton County Extension Agent Bob Davis. A wealth of knowledge of our industry was delivered by this kind gentleman.

Bob’s retirement opened the door for none other than our now most famous “Buggy” Joe Boggs! He continues to bring factual science to our profession delivered with an entertainment value at no extra charge. His “Diagnostic Walkabouts for the Green Industry” are always a walking and talking, live classroom learning experience. I learn so much more by seeing and touching than any textbook can offer. You will often find Joe at most industry educational talks.

I never have taken the time to thank Denny McKoewn for his patience in listening to all my stupid questions in my early years. From his humble beginnings at Natorp’s, his radio shows, books, and his own Bloomin’ Garden Centre and Landscape operation, his contributions to our industry are legendary. Thanks, Denny!

Bill Thornton’s leadership and steady positive influence of doing things right with such enthusiasm is inspiring. I remember being on a tour of Oregon nurseries with Bill as our guide. Talk about passion! It was interesting and fascinating seeing so many nurseries, but at an exhausting pace. The man never stops! Great job, Bill!

Thanks for showing and sharing your passion for plants.

Looking back on all the people I was lucky enough to get to know through the ONLA has helped shape my business and me. Our business would not be what it is today without our ONLA membership. My first meeting as a Retail Committee member, I remember hearing that ONLA is a “grass roots organization.” While that sounds a little cliché, it proved to be true by accepting a young college graduate and giving him a chance to become involved. You can learn much, but you have to give before you get. A small price to pay for such great rewards. If you or someone you know could benefit from any of these experiences, I encourage them to get involved and find out what ONLA can do for them. B Jeff Webeler ONLA Membership Committee Jeff@WhiteOakGardens.com

onla.org

PEST NEWSLETTER

Pest Evaluation & Suppression Techniques Welcome to the 2016 P.E.S.T. Newsletter! Did you notice that this is the 25th year of my newsletter! Little did I believe that this effort would be so sustainable for such a long time! However, I have to correct myself in my statement of “my” newsletter when this has been a collaborative effort between Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, you, the readers, and the BugDoc! Many of you have provided comments, alerts and asked questions so that I’ve been able to put “pen to paper” all these years. OK, keyboard to word processor! LOL! I’m always amazed at the year-to-year differences in our weather and seasons. Last year, I had to delay the P.E.S.T. a week because of the prolonged winter conditions! This year, things are popping across the state after having a relatively mild winter. It looks like we will continue to have moderate but rainy weather for the next two to three weeks, so I need to get started on time this season.

During the warm Wednesday of last week, I was able to walk around our Chadwick Arboretum where I noticed that the yellow Corneliancherry Dogwood had started to bloom as were the red maples. There were several witchhazels that were in full bloom while others were past this stage. I also noted that some of the Forsythia plants were sporting some yellow flowers.

Little Gray Moths at Night Lights!?

As I walked out of one of the campus buildings last week, I noticed a couple of small gray moths, about ½-inch long. I immediately recognized them as being spring cankerworm males. Upon looking further, I found two more under some of the night lights. That set me off to see if I could find some females. Females of these little moths are really strange in that they have lost their wings and they look like little fuzzy lumps. If you disturb one, they may run a short distance away on very long legs!

We have both fall and spring cankerworms here in Ohio, but it has been years since I heard of anyone complaining about inchworm larvae defoliating trees!

Historically, cankerworm outbreaks often last for several seasons, then they become rare for a decade or more. I’m thinking that we may be due for an outbreak! The larvae prefer to feed on oak, elm, linden and maple. They first skeletonize leaves, then eat entire leaves before dropping to the soil to pupate and rest until the fall (for fall cankerworms) or the early spring (for spring cankerworms). onla.org

Being early-season defoliators, most entomologists recommend that cankerworms should be tolerated. This will also hasten the return of the natural predators and parasites that will take their eventual toll on the populations. However, the typical homeowner may not like seeing their trees being defoliated, then be annoyed by the caterpillars that descend on silk strands. To read more, subscribe today! B Get “real-time” advice, techniques, and insights into the pest occurrences you face every day in your business. Subscribe to the PEST Newsletter today and get biweekly issues delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe online at www.onla.org or call Roni at 614-899-1195.

PEST EVALUA TION AND SU PPRESSION TE

P.E.S.T

CHNIQUES

. Newsle

By: David Shet lar (THE BUGDOC Urban Landscap ) e Entomologist, The Ohio State

University Exte nsion

tter

14 March 2016 Vol. 25, No. 1

Comments email (from thei Welcome to the r web site 2016 P.E.S.T. New When communicat ) or by phone (at 800-825-5062). notice that this is sletter! Did you ing with me, pict the 25th year of my helpful. When ures are always I believe that this newsletter! Litt we do diagnostics le did effort would be , we alw a gen eral picture of so sustainable for long time! How the problem, then ays like to have such eve Frankly, I prefer some close-ups. statement of “my r, I have to correct myself in a to hav e a clear image ” my may appear sma of something collaborative effo newsletter when this has bee ll in the image n a rt than a fuzzy clos that When using you Landscape Associa between the Ohio Nursery e shot! r smart phone, tabl and tion, you, the read et or digital cam the camera do the Many of you hav ers, and the Bug era, let wor k when you try Doc! e provided com Just get four to to get a close sho ments, alerts and questions so that six inches away, t. asked I’ve been able to wai focu t until the camera ses and don’t use these years. OK, put “pin to paper” the zoom! keyboard to wor all Oh, and thanks d processor! LOL I’m always ama to all who have ! zed at the year-to and take say n the “he our weather and time llo” at our many to stop seasons. Last yea -year differences in winter meetings! remarks always P.E.S.T. a wee r, I had to dela Your kind make my day!! y the k because of the prolonged conditions! This winter yea The BugDoc (Da ve Shetlar) after having a rela r, things are popping across the state tively mild winter. continue to have It looks like we What Was Tha moderate but rain will t? y weather for the two to three wee ks, so I need to next Little Gray Mo get started on time season. ths at Night Lig this hts!?

As I walked out During the warm of one of the campus buil Wednesday of week, I noticed a to walk around dings last cou our Chadwick Arb last week, I was able long. I immedia ple of small gray moths, about ½-in oretum where I that the yellow tely recognized ch noti Corneliancherry them as being cankerworm mal Dogwood had star ced bloom as wer spring es. Upon look ted to e the red ing further, I foun maples. There d two were several more under som e of the night witch-hazels that lights. That set were in full me off to see if bloom while othe rs were past I could find some females. this stage. I also Females of these noted that little moths are some of the For sythia plants really strange in that they have were sporting som lost their wings e yellow and they look flowers. like little fuzzy lumps. If you Spring cankerwo disturb one, they rm male.

The P.E.S.T. New short distance awa may run a sletter “rules” y on very long legs!

We have both Remember that fall and spring this new Ohio, but it has cankerworms here sletter is a coopera and there are som bee in tive n yea effo rs since e important deta rt complaining abo understand. Firs ils that we nee ut inchworm larv I heard of anyone t, the content of d to Historically, can ae defoliating this new my responsibility, kerworm outbreak trees! so if you have com sletter is entirely s often last for seasons, then they or even complai several become rare for nts (yes, I sometim ments, suggestions, a decade or mor thinking that we es step on some they need to com e. may be due for toes!), e to me. The best an outbreak! The I’m prefer to feed on with me is by ema way to commun larvae oak, elm, linden icate il at: shetlar.1@o and skeletonize leaves, su.edu.

Second, if you are then eat entire leav maple. They first having issues with the soil to pup es (receiving notices your subscriptio ate and rest unti before dropping to of the newsletter, n can l the kerw fall (for fall orms) or the earl getting into the ON website to view past newsletters LA Being early-season y spring (for spring cankerworm , etc.), please con good folks at the s). tact the defoliators, ONLA office. recommend that I’ve found that very understand cankerworms sho most entomologists they are ing and quickly uld will be also tole respond to corr problems you may rated. This hasten the return ect any of be having! The the parasites that natural predator y can be reached will s and by populations. How take their eventual toll on the ever, the typical homeowner may not

March/April 2016 19

BY DESIGN

DESIGNING

for the SENSES Unconsciously, I always hope that entering a garden will be a joy for all my senses.

Frequently, however, the only sense experienced is that of sight. Whatever happened to also designing for smell, taste, sound, and touch?

Smell If we have been enticed by fragrance, we inevitably try to find its source and then some of us also try to define it.

The garden scent with which most people are familiar is that of Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). For many of us, it’s a scent that reminds us of childhood, having been in the gardens of our parents or grandparents. Old lilacs are frequently tall and dense, left unpruned for years, and thus all of the blooms are ten to fifteen feet high. Properly pruning lilacs is a lot of work – cutting out one third of the old trunks each year and thinning out the suckers – but it does result in large trusses that we are close to our noses.

I used to have a Syringa meyeri, a dwarf that, supposedly, would only grow five feet tall and wide. However, it forgot to read the catalog and I found myself pruning it annually to keep it at five feet. Eventually I decided that it was too time consuming to keep it at the desired size. I do wish it had stayed small because I miss the fragrance.

I also used to have a Viburnum carlesii ‘Compactum’ with its pink buds and

its globes of white florets that emitted a heavenly scent. Unfortunately, it was either mislabeled or forgot to read the catalog.

Located in a space only five feet wide and deep, it insisted on trying to grow much larger and would rub against the house walls. Alas, it, too, has been ejected from the garden. If you have space, I urge you to plant one.

For a long time, I was blessed with a Daphne ‘Carol Mackie’. Happily sited in full sun and irrigated on a regular basis, she grew much larger than I ever dreamed she could. Her beautifully variegated foliage pleased me every day even though the dainty fragrance only lasted for a few weeks in the spring. Sad to say, five years ago, the heavy snows of winter broke her branches so badly that she never recovered.

Touch/Texture As avid gardeners work in the garden, they naturally touch the plants and are aware of the wide variety of textures. Symphytum grandiflorum (Comfrey), a weedsmothering groundcover for shady areas, has large, rough foliage and creamy white bells in May. In the sun, many of the herbal sages would also fill the rough category.

In contrast, Asarum europaeum (European Ginger), a slow-spreading evergreen groundcover for shady areas, has smooth, shiny, round foliage. continued on page 22

20 The Buckeye

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Alchemilla mollis: I love to go outside after it rains to enjoy the sight of drops of water glistening on top of the pleated leaves of Lady’s Mantle. onla.org

March/April 2016  21

continued from page 20

1. Syringa meyeri: This fragrant dwarf lilac blooms in June while the Russian sage in front of it will not bloom until August.

2. Viburnum carlesii: Imagine following your nose and finding the pink buds of Viburnum carlesii that open to softball-sized globes of white florets.

3. Chard ‘Bright Lights’: The bubbled foliage and bright stems of chard are still vibrant in the middle of winter in my garden.

4. Daphne ‘Carol Mackie’: Although the scent of Daphne ‘Carol Mackie’ is fleeting, the variegated foliage lends interest to the landscape for several months.

5. Crocus speciosus, parsley: The crinkly texture of common parsley is very unusual. Surprise your friends with the purple blooms of Crocus speciosus peeking out of it.

6. Asarum europaeum: The shiny foliage of European ginger catches errant rays of light and brightens shady corners.

22 The Buckeye

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose) has very large divided leaves that are leathery, stay relatively evergreen in the North, and bear a wide color range of flowers that last at least two months. Hellebores love partial shade as does Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle) but the foliage of Alchemilla is pleated and probably most stunning after a rain when the water droplets glisten on the surface of the leaves. Happily, Alchemilla also thrives in the sun if supplied with moisture. Quilted textures are most often found among the heavily substanced hostas with a choice of green, blue, or yellow foliage.

Lacey foliage is found easily in shady sites with any of numerous ferns but in the sun, try Filipendula hexapetala ‘Florepleno’ (Dropwort). Its delicate foliage and dainty white flowers belie its toughness in dry sites. Sedum foliage (Stonecrop), especially that of the upright types, is the essence of succulence – thick and fleshy.

Fuzzy foliage is beloved by children.

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) is the best known of the fuzzies but Arabis caucasica (Rock Cress) is also furry and one of the cultivars is variegated. Crinkly foliage is my favorite texture but also the rarest and, to my knowledge, found only in curly parsley. It makes a beautiful edging in vegetable gardens and also sets off the flowers of Autumn Crocus.

Taste Until recently, there was little interest in gardening for taste but the movement toward edible gardening is now quite strong. No longer are fruits and vegetables relegated to their own beds. They are being integrated into the landscape and, with a few exceptions, are admirable partners to other shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, vines, annuals and tropicals.

I love the colorful beauty of the stems of Chard ‘Bright Lights’ and grew it last year behind some Euphorbia and in front of mums that wouldn’t bloom until fall.

Wonderfully, the chard has remained colorful throughout the winter. Most of my herbs are planted in mixed containers for their foliage textures and colors.

Sound Next to last, but not least, is the fourth sense, that of hearing. A necessary element of this sense is the wind. In June, Baptisia (Indigo) blooms for about three weeks.

After that, pods develop, green at first, and eventually turning black. By that time, the seeds inside the pods are quite dry. If you stand close by and listen when the wind blows, you can hear the seeds rattling inside the pods.

In the shady garden, if you plant Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats), the inflorescence develops in July at which time the oats are green. In the fall, they become bronze and then beige. At that point, they are quite dry and rattle when the breezes blow.

The other element of sound is water.

There are an infinite variety of water features that can produce any sound, from a very subtle slow drip to a loud roar. The decision is merely a matter of taste and budget.

Sight A very important aspect of gardening for sight involves color. Human beings notice strong colors first so we are immediately attracted to red, yellow, orange, and white. When designing, always remember that white is the strongest color of all.

Strong colors can be seen from a distance while pastels quickly fade away and should, thus, be planted in the foreground.

Another aspect of gardening for sight is composition. Blending different forms, heights, textures, colors of both foliage and flower, and bloom times requires both artistry and horticultural knowledge. It’s a bit like putting a jigsaw puzzle together.

The beauty of gardening, particularly with herbaceous plants, is that if it doesn’t seem right, you can always dig and transplant.

How many of the senses can be experienced in your garden? B Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD ONLA Freelance Author bobbie@bgthumb.com Images courtesy of Bobbie Schwartz.

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LOOK TO THE FUTURE

Motivate Young Employees to Build Better Teams - Horticulture Style!

As a teacher, I’m always thinking about how my students will fare when they get out into the real world – especially the students in their 20’s, known as the millennials.

These young graduates are eager, energetic and ready to take on new challenges. They adapt well to change.

Most have ambition and drive. But while they thrive in a supportive environment, they can easily become dissatisfied and restless, and they don’t take well to criticism.

They are not afraid to express their views or opinions – good or bad. And of course they must always have access to the latest and greatest technology!

In order to keep this new generation of workers on board as enthusiastic and effective team players, companies need to provide the right environment. Young employees need to be motivated, to be rewarded, and to have fun at work.

Have Fun The work environment needs to be fun to retain young employees. Friendly relations foster good team work.

People working on cohesive teams have no desire to leave. They are engaged, committed, and focused.

I asked my students and fellow faculty members what activities they would recommend for team building on the job. The answers were varied, but most involved food, games, and social events. Here is a sampling of their suggestions.

• Food: Improve your team’s effectiveness by cooking, laughing, and eating together.

• The boss takes employees out to lunch.

• The company hosts a picnic during a workday.

• A friendly food wager. The first to complete a job might earn a soda, Starbucks, or ice cream.

Motivate Spend time coaching young workers to keep them enthusiastic about their work. Show that the company is invested in their career. Explain why certain skills are essential for their future. They are more likely to stay longer at a company that takes the time to guide them in this way.

In a video game, every screen has a goal, a score, and a way to advance or level up. Set up company goals and expectations this way. Give them a task, explain how to do it and why. Later in the day, review the goals. Are we on track? At the end of each day and the end of each job, give them their score. Tell them how they can advance or level up in your company.

Give them interesting projects. Have frequent hands-on workshops and demonstrations. Instruct them in proper techniques, then let them teach the class. Ask for their feedback. And give constructive criticism by delivering a positive comment along with a negative one.

Reward Young workers want to know their efforts are appreciated. Reward good employees with praise and positive feedback. Occasional tangible rewards, such as edible treats, early dismissal, or game tickets are always appreciated. Implement a pay system or bonus system that rewards “superstar” employees.

24 The Buckeye

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•

•

• • •

• •

• •

A cook-off. Teams compete with each other to make the best barbequed ribs, chili, jambalaya, smoothies, vegan burgers, or whatever excites them.

After a super busy spring day at the nursery, the boss brought in a huge cooler of steaks and had the employees take some home for themselves and their families.

Games: Sprinkle some good old-fashioned competition into the mix.

Teams are challenged to beat a certain time, another crew or even the boss – if the boss can handle it.

Teams compete in sporting events using the equipment on hand: soccer using leaf blowers, ballhover with a leaf blower, wheelbarrow race, and soil-knife mumbley-peg.

Exercises using plants. Cotoneaster curls? (I’m not so sure about this one!)

Frozen T’s on a hot day: Submerge t-shirts in a tray of water and freeze overnight. Give one (or more) to each team. The first team to have someone (or everyone) wearing the t-shirt wins.

Socialization: Different venues for relaxing and getting to know each other.

A party or picnic with families.

• • • • •

A group trip to a class, flower trials, botanical garden, homearama, or other work-related destination.

An obstacle course, ropes course, canoe trip, indoor speedway, or go-cart racing.

Boss for a day. An underling takes the role of boss, and hilarious things might happen.

A neighbor who owns a landscaping company hosts a weekend at a lake for his crew as a reward in late summer.

Newlywed Game knockoff. Pairs of co-workers are separately asked various questions to check if they really know each other - or maybe not so much. More potential hilarity.

Activities like these make work fun and make satisfied employees. It’s no secret that happy employees are more motivated and more effective team players. Having your employees participate in team building activities boosts morale and strengthens interpersonal relationships, two key aspects of having a productive, effective team – and retaining young employees. B Sue Trusty, Assistant Professor Educator University of Cincinnati Horticulture Program ONLA Scholarship & Student Activities Committee susan.trusty@uc.edu

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March/April 2016 25

FEATURE

Where the Magic Happens

When you get over 5,000 like-minded people in one venue, it is hard not to see magic happen right before your eyes! Suddenly, who you think is your competitor is now your best friend giving you tips. The person you sit next to in a workshop faces the same challenges you do. An exhibitor introduces you to a new product or service that will make you better at your job. You teach an old dog a new trick or two.

26  The Buckeye

Sometimes we get caught up in our silos and think we are in this alone, but when you attend CENTS, you find out that there many others just like you and they are here to help you!

The green industry joined together, January 11-13, 2016 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio with over 5,000 attendees, 700+ exhibit booths, 130+ educational sessions, three keynote speakers, special-

ized training on the trade show floor in the new ONLA Garage and the Climbers Corner, the Landscape Awards Program, the ONLA Scholarship Program, and the 2016 Professional Awards. We added in some fun with the Monday Night Welcome Party and Tuesday After Hours Party.

See the magic yourself! B

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March/April 2016  27

We always make time for CENTS (and bring our team) because the educational programs help motivate us and keep us current with our industry. It’s invaluable to hear industry experts summarize their expertise in short bites.

I had very in depth conversation with Michigan Peat Company – BACTO about the organic properties of peat and how it is mined and produced. It’s nice that CENTS exhibitors put their most knowledgeable representatives on the floor to chat with and enlighten attendees.

Zachary Huff

Steve Boehme, Owner GoodSeed Nursery & Landscape I learned things in these classes that will make me a better, well-rounded designer and help me feel more confident in my job.

Cary Brodie Architectural Landscape Design, Inc.

28 The Buckeye

Patrick Widmayer First Impressions Lawn & Landscape The amount of time you can spend searching for quality information from reliable sources on the internet can be astronomical. I reference the information and handouts I obtain from the educational classes to save me hours of time.

CENTS is a great show to attend whether you are new in the field or have been at it for many years. Education is always a good thing.

Sometimes you can teach an old dog new trick--you just have to give them the right treat!

Carolyn Brill Angles Nursery

onla.org

onla.org

March/April 2016  29

FEATURE

BEST in Show!

Every year at CENTS, exhibitors have the opportunity to compete in a friendly competition with fellow exhbitors for the annual CENTS Booth awards. It is unbeliveble to watch how quickly a piece of concrete turns into a work of art. For a few days in January it feels like spring at CENTS. Many of our exhibitors take months planning their booths for CENTS so that they can showcase their products and services in unique ways for our attendees.

The judges selected are not in the green industry and evaluate booths on on booth presentation, product presentation, and exhibit personnel.

The ONLA Board of Directors and Staff want to thank all of our exhibitors who particiated this year with special congratulations going out to our 2016 award recipeints. B

Demo

Val 6 Val 6 located in West Jefferson, Ohio offers Val 6 heaters, infrared heaters, and evaporative coolers. Val 6 has been has been a proud supporter of CENTS since 2014.

30 The Buckeye

Small Exhibit

Scarff’s Nursery, Inc. Scarff’s Nursery, Inc. located in New Carlisle, Ohio is a quality grower of shrubs, trees, evergreens, grasses, ground covers, and perennials. Scarff’s has been a proud supporter of CENTS since 1978. onla.org

Attention Grabbing

Rusty Oak Nursery, Ltd. Rusty Oak Nursery, Ltd. located in Valley City, Ohio is a wholesale grower of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and ground covers, specializing in larger plant material. Rusty Oak, Ltd. has been a proud supporter of CENTS since 1990.

Large Exhibit

Creative Use of Space

Herman Losely & Son, Inc.

Acorn Farms, Inc.

Herman Losely & Son, Inc. located in Perry, Ohio are growers of unique and specimen plant material that will please landscapers and garden centers. Herman Losely & Son, Inc. has been an exhibitor at CENTS since 1981. onla.org

Acorn Farms, Inc. located in Galena, Ohio is a wholesale nursery and grower. Acorn Farms, Inc. has been a proud supporter of CENTS since 1984.

March/April 2016  31

FEATURE

Landscapers’ Challenge

Seven Hours & One Plan

The Landscapers’ Challenge is held during the first day of CENTS. The idea of the challenge is to build a landscape garden bed following the assigned landscape plan as closely as possible. Each team has seven hours to complete their project and present the finished product to a panel of judges.

Each team is given an identical set of donated materials to use for their garden. This way each team has the exact same materials to build their landscape beds and it makes the competition based solely on the execution of the installation. Prior to the contest, each school was provided the same landscape plan and they were told to organize themselves accordingly. B 2014 Copyright Note: This drawing and all other prior design related work for this project and the artistic content as shown is the sole property of Peabody Landscape Group. It shall not be used for construction, and or estimating purposes by another contractor.

It shall not be reproduced, transferred or assigned by the client named to any third party or contractor without first providing full design compensation to Peabody Landscape Group and prior written consent from Peabody Landscape Group.

Date:

Job:

2253 Dublin Road | Columbus, OH 43228

Scale:

CENT SHOW 2016

1/4" = 1'

Sheet:

LANDSCAPE CHALLENGE (614) 488-2877 | Fax (614) 488-3543 | www.peabodylandscape.com

32 The Buckeye

onla.org

Six Career Center Teams

1st Place - Knox County Career Center

Upper Valley Career Center

2nd Place – Auburn Career Center 3rd Place – Ohio Hi-Point Career Center

Medina County Career Center

Delaware Area Career Center

36 Student Competitors

21 Sponsors A.M. Leonard Advanced Industry Supplies Ahlum & Arbor Columbus State Landscape Alumni Association Brickman Buckeye Resources, Inc. Century Equipment Gilson Gardens onla.org

Herman Losely & Son, Inc. Klyn Nurseries Millcreek Gardens Oakland Nursery Oberfields Ohio Mulch Supply Peabody Landscape Group Reading Rock Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd.

Scarff’s Nursery Smith Gardens Split Rail Nursery The Davey Nursery Unilock Wengerlawn Willoway Nurseries Wolf Creek March/April 2016 33

Thank You

Sponsors!

A.M. Leonard, Inc. Acorn Farms, Inc. Advanced Industry Supplies, LLC Ahlum & Arbor Tree Preservation Belgard Brickman Buckeye Resources, Inc. Builderscape INC, Cash Flow Management Century Equipment Columbus State Landscape Alumni Association Denison Landscaping, Inc. Evergreen Seed Supply, LLC Fairview Evergreen Nurseries Gilson Gardens, Inc. Gravely Grunder Landscaping Co. Harrell’s Herman Losely & Son, Inc. Klyn Nurseries, Inc. Lucas Oil Products Millcreek Gardens LLC Millers Ground Cover Oberfields LLC Ohio Irrigation Association Ohio Mulch Supply, Inc. Ohio State Highway Patrol Peabody Landscape Group Reading Rock, Inc. Rine Landscape Group, Inc. Smith’s Gardens, Inc. Split Rail Nursey Stihl Syngenta TAH Benefits The Davey Nursery Tri-State Sone Unilock Ohio, Inc. Wengerlawn Nursery Inc. Willoway Nurseries, Inc. Wolf Creek Company, Inc. 34 The Buckeye

FEATURE

ONLA Presents 17 Student Scholarships at CENTS’16 Three Ohio high school students were selected

by ONLA’s Scholarship & Student Activities Committee to receive ONLA Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarships. These recipients are FFA students who have shown promise in the Green Industry: • Joshua Friedler, Gates Mills Gates Mills Environmental Education Center • Dakota Gray, Gates Mills Environmental Education Center • Nicole Conrad, Lorain County JVS Each year, the ONLA honors the scholarship applicant who scores the highest among the ONLA scholarships judges with the ONLA Presidents’ Scholarship.

• Nall Moonilall, The Ohio State University Kent Fullmer from Fullmer’s Landscaping became an Ambassador with the National Association for Landscape Professionals Foundation (previously PLANET) in 2013 with a generous donation to endow the “The Artist in Landscape Design Scholarship” fund.

• John Calendine, Owens Community College Numerous Ohio college students were selected

by ONLA’s Scholarship & Student Activities Committee to receive ONLA scholarships.

• Krystal Blevins, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College • Zachary Huff, Gideon Jackson, and Daniel Williams, Clark State Community College • Elena Andrews and Traci Parks, Columbus State Community College • Jamie Penkava, The Ohio State University – ATI • Anthony Carelly, Rebecca Wicker and Christian Young, The Ohio State University • Melissa Matz, University of Cincinnati

onla.org

The Southwest Ohio Environmental Horticulture Association (SOEHA) made a scholarship available by donating to ONLA all organizational monies that remained after the group disbanded. The scholarship is awarded annually in honor of Lloyd W. Kennedy. The 2016 SOEHA Scholarship recipient is: • David Schenck, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

The Bryan Champion Memorial Scholarship fund was established and endowed by the friends and family of Bryan Champion through the Horticultural Research Institute Endowment Fund. Each year, an Ohio college student is selected by ONLA to receive this award.

• Christian Young, The Ohio State University B

Jamie Penkava

Krystal Blevins and David Schenck

Daniel Williams, Zachary Huff, and Gideon Jackson

Traci Parks and Elena Andrews

Joshua Friedler and Dakota Gray

Nicole Conrad

John Calendine

onla.org

Anthony Carelly, Rebecca Wicker, Christian Young, and Nall Moonilall

Melissa Matz

March/April 2016 35

IN MEMORIAM Earl Merton West, March 13, 1954 – February 18, 2016 Earl passed away after a short battle with cancer at the age of 61 and will be greatly missed by so many.

Earl was born in Flint, MI to John and Dorothy West in 1954. He was very proud to have grown up on the family farm in Lennon, MI. Earl graduated from Flushing High School in 1972 and then from Michigan State University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture.

Earl married the love of his life, Rebecca “Becky” (Munsey) on March 15th, 1980 in Lennon, Michigan and became a father to his only child, Joely Melissa in 1981. Earl worked as a sales representative for National Nursery Products since 1988 and was very well respected and loved among the nursery community. Earl moved from Michigan to Crystal Lake, IL in 1988 where he and his family lived until their move to Kingston, IL in 2002.

Earl loved the outdoors and nature and could be found camping any chance he got. He looked forward to his annual ice fishing camp in Copper Harbor, MI. He also loved his music and could tell you anything you needed to know about classic country and rock. Earl was a die-hard Michigan State fan and often could be found wearing green and white.

He loved watching MSU football and basketball games, shouting “Go Green!”

Earl will be greatly missed by his loving wife Rebecca “Becky” West, daughter Joely and son-in-law Jason O’Neal, his three grandchildren: Fetinet, Jalen and Hayat; his father John F. West; four sisters and brothers in law: Marcia (Mike) Morris, Patty (Mike) Rutenbar, Judy (Dan) West-Wing and Jacklyn (Jeff) Brazo; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and friends. Earl was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy West and nephew Richy Wierzbicki.

Donations can be made to Farm Aid, www.farmaid.org, an organization that was very close to his heart. B

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onla.org

March/April 2016 37

FEATURE

Steve Foltz of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens was recognized for his many years of service to the horticulture industry both within and outside of Ohio. Mr. Foltz received the ONLA’s Distinguished Contribution Award.

ONLA PROFESSIONAL AWARDS Every year, the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association is honored to present a number of awards to members of the horticultural profession. These awards are given during the annual business meeting, held in conjunction with CENTS. This year, six deserving individuals were recognized: • ONLA Service Award: Keith Manbeck • Young Professional Award: Ryan Kolb • Legislator of the Year: Representative Brian D. Hill • Legislative Advocate of the Year: Josh Posey • Educator & Public Service Award: Mary Maloney • Distinguished Contribution Award: Steve Foltz What follows are images and excerpts from the January 2016 presentations. Editor’s note: Unfortunately, 38 The Buckeye

scripts for the Distinguished Contribution Award and Legislative Advocate of the Year presentations were not available for inclusion in this issue of The Buckeye.

ONLA Service Award It is with great pleasure that The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) presents the ONLA Service Award to Keith Manbeck.

Unfortunately Mr. Manbeck could not be with us to because of the recent loss of his father, Alfred Manbeck.

Mr. Manbeck began his career in the Green Industry with the family nursery at the age of nine, working summers until his graduation from The Ohio State University in 1983. After graduation, he worked as an intern for 18 months at A. McGill & Son Nursery in Gresham, Oregon, onla.org

Ryan Kolb received the Young Professional Award in recognition of his contributions to the green industry.

after which, he returned to the family nursery where he worked until 2002 until accepting a position with Decker’s Nursery, Inc., in Groveport, Ohio.

Mr. Manbeck has been an active participant in both the ANLA’s legislative conferences and the ONLA Advocacy Days. He has participated with the OSU Extension Advisory council in their lobbying efforts and testified before the State House and Senate on behalf of ODA, Extension, and OARDC. He participated in an immigration lobbying effort in Washington, D.C. in March 2006. He has worked with the Director and staff at ODA to continue developing relationships and serves on the ONLAODA Advisory Council.

Mr. Manbeck has served on the ONLA Board of Directors and served as Board President in 2007. In 2008 he received the ONLA Grass Roots Volunteer of the Year (now known as the Legislative Advocate of the Year Award).

He has been an OCNT since 1993 and became a Master OCNT in 1999.

Mr. Manbeck is very involved in the Free Mason and recently has become the District Deputy Grand Master of the 10th Masonic. onla.org

ONLA Legislative Committee Chair Tom Demaline (left) of Willoway Nurseries, Avon, OH presents the ONLA Legislative Advocate of the Year Award to Josh Posey (right) of Buckeye Resources, Springfield, Ohio. During the ONLA annual business meeting, Josh was also installed as 2016 ONLA President-Elect

He is currently living in New Knoxville with his wife Carrie and works at Kah Nursery.

Congratulations, Keith!

ONLA Young Professional Award Our recipient this year was born in 1978 in Wheeling, West Virginia, and was the middle child of three brothers. He attended St. Clairsville High School. Our recipient received a Bachelor’s of Urban Planning in 2002 from the University of Cincinnati.

While attending the university he was involved in coordinating “The Mayors Institute on City Design, Midwest” and presented his thesis on “A New Urban Bikeway Plaza: Dayton” at DAAPWorks. While attending college, he meet his future wife, Jill and married her in 2004. Today they enjoy their three children: Isaac, 7; Elyse, 6; and Ian, 4. The family lives on a six-acre farm near Hilliard, Ohio.

Our recipient has put his education to good use. He started his continued on page 40 March/April 2016 39

career in Columbus working for Wood Landscape Services as a Design/Sales Associate and today owns Ryan Kolb Co. as well as being a Member with KolbKrenzel. On top of all of this, he serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Columbus State Community College in the Landscape Design and Management Program and volunteers as the Chair for the ONLA Landscape Awards Committee. Mr. Kolb is also a newly inducted ONLA Board Member.

He has been recognized in print in several publications including HouseTrends and the Columbus Dispatch.

His affiliations and awards are many.

• Lead Designer/Project Manager for the Oman Residence, awarded Environmental Improvement award of Distinction by the National Association of Landscape Professional (formerly PLANET) in 2008.

• Judge for the National Association of Landscape Professionals Awards of Excellence Program.

• Knox County Career Center; Landscape Design and Management – member Professional Advisory Committee.

• Honorary Member FAA; National and State Level.

• Today he is active with others in developing a state-wide high school landscape competition similar to the National Collegiate Student Career days sponsored by NALP. Congratulations, Mr. Ryan Kolb!

ONLA’s Educator & Public Service Award It is with great pleasure that The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) presents the ONLA Educator & Public Service Award to Mary Maloney.

Mary is honored and wishes she could be here, but is out on medical leave. We would like to say a few words about Mary on her behalf.

Mary Maloney is the Executive Director of The Ohio State University Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens. To say that Mary Maloney is dedicated to making this world a greener place is an understatement. Mary is known for her advocacy and life-long passion for horticulture, Chadwick Arboretum at The Ohio State University, Trees, Urban Forests, Public Gardens, Sustainability, and ensuring Tree Campus USA certification for Ohio State University. Her favorite event is still the celebration of Arbor Day at Chadwick Arboretum. Mary and her colleagues are also proud of the Tree Campus USA status earned for OSU. I guess you could say that Mary is a true “Tree Hugger” in the best sense of the title!

Mary is an OSU alumna, with a B.S. in Agriculture, Landscape Horticulture and is currently the Executive Director of Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens at The Ohio State University. Mary has a long, tenured career within our community, the nation, and you might even go so far as to say the world. She began her career at Chadwick Arboretum as the Volunteer coordinator 40 The Buckeye

and was named Executive Director in 2006.

Mary is committed to furthering the development of our industry through partnerships. While Director at Chadwick Arboretum, she has hosted many industry events including events for American Public Gardens Association, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, American Horticultural Society, Central Ohio Hosta Society, Ohio Floriculture Association, Perennial Plant Association, Columbus Landscape Association, and of course the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. In 2008, she worked with ONLA to have a garden installed in front of Howlett Hall at Ohio State to celebrate their 100-year anniversary.

Mary Maloney’s positive outlook and tenacity are contagious. Mary brings with her an immense system of roots, made of volunteers, community leaders, professionals, and friends, that add a solid ground of resources to any project. Mary is an inspiring leader. She is loved, admired, and respected by our community and The Ohio State University. Thank you ONLA for this distinguished award and acknowledgement of her service to our industry.

ONLA Legislator of the Year Award State Representative Brian D. Hill is currently serving his second term as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, after being appointed to serve for the duration of the 129th General Assembly. He represents the 97th House District, which includes Guernsey County and most of Muskingum County.

Prior to joining the Ohio House, Representative Hill served as a Muskingum County commissioner for more than six years. His service to the public also includes work as a board member for the Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative, where he not only interacts with legislators at various levels of government, but meets with community members to discuss electric service and deregulation.

Before his work as county commissioner, Representative Hill worked at ADM Alliance Nutrition in Zanesville, where he assisted farmers in a six-county region on the production and nutrition of livestock. A two-time graduate of The Ohio State University, he has his associate degree in applied science and his bachelor’s degree in animal science. Additionally, he is a member of the Muskingum County Farm Bureau and Muskingum County Cattleman’s Association.

Representative Hill raises beef cattle and grows crops at the family farm he co-owns and has helped to manage with his father since 1980. He lives with his wife and three children outside of Zanesville. B

onla.org

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

Credit Collection - Cash Flow Management (CFM)

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

Credit & Debit Card Processing - Merchant Services

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

Energy Program - Growers Energy Solutions (GES)

Grower Energy Solutions (GES) programs help manage your energy costs by bringing ONLA members together as one buying group.

GES is an energy program that provides the opportunity to manage your energy needs and save on your natural gas & electric costs. Our programs can offer pricing to members located in all Ohio gas and electric utilities that allow third party supply. Joe Perlaky perlaky@bex. net

Fuel/Fleet Program - SuperFleet

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

Health/Life/Income Insurance - TAH Benefits

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

Legislative Advocacy

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

Online Training - LS Training

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

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

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

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

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

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

Workers’ Compensation - CareWorksComp

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

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

Advertisers’ Index

Calendar of Events View www.onla.org for seminars, events, trade shows and more! O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events O April 20, 2016 Safety

Seminar, Butler County Extension, Hamilton, Ohio, onla.org April 21, 2016 Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT Testing), Westerville, Ohio, onla.org

July 21, 2016 Landscape Industry Certified Testing, Wooster, Ohio, landscapecertifiedohio.org O August 11, 2016

Diagnostic Walkabout, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, Ohio, onla.org

O April 27, 2016 Safety

Seminar, Holiday Inn, Akron/Fairlawn, Ohio, onla.org May 19, 2016 Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT Testing), Westerville, Ohio, onla.org June 16, 2016 Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT Testing), Westerville, Ohio, onla.org O June 23,

2016 Diagnostic Walkabout, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio, onla. org O July 7, 2016

O August 25, 2016

Diagnostic Walkabout, Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, Toledo, Ohio, onla.org O September 8, 2016

Diagnostic Walkabout, BGSU Firelands, Huron, Ohio, onla.org O September 22, 2016

Diagnostic Walkabout, Sunset Memorial Gardens, North Olmsted, Ohio, onla. org O January 16-18,

2016 CENTS, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, onla.org

Diagnostic Walkabout, Progressive Insurance, Mayfield Village, Ohio, onla.org

Help Wanted • Yard Sales Specialist, Acorn Farms, Galena, OH • Landscape Design/Sales Position, Graf’s Landscape & Design, Akron, OH • Landscape Foreman, Graf’s Landscape & Design, Akron, OH 42 The Buckeye

The Andersons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 andersonspro.com Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 buckeyeresources.com Burns JCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 burnsjcb.com Evergreen Seed Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 GrassSeedSupply.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . 6 fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 greenvelvet.com Medina Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 medinasodfarms.com Oberfield’s LLC .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC oberfields.com Ohio Certified Nursery Technician . . . . . 16 onla.org ONLA Member Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 onla.org ONLA Publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC onla.org Spring Meadow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 colorchoiceplants.com Studebaker Nurseries, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . 24 studebakernurseries.com Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC unilock.com

Ad Rates & Info

Contact Roni Petersen 614.899.1195 roni@onla.org

Classified Ads The online classified service can be found on onla.org along with the complete postings. \As we go to press, here are the ads posted on onla.org’s online Classified Section: • Production Superintendent, Hemlock Landscapes, Inc., Chagrin Falls, OH • Customer Care Specialist, Hemlock Landscapes, Inc., Chagrin Falls, OH • Landscape Designer, Reichle Brothers, Westerville, OH • Nursery Container Grower, Wm.

A. Natorp Co., Mason, OH • Landscape Foreman & Crew Members, John Klauder Associates Landscape & Design, Granville, OH

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