The Buckeye Magazine, Sept/Oct 2016

September / October 2016

THE MANAGEMENT ISSUE Finding Good Team Members, Keeping the Ones You've Got.

Vol. 27, Issue 5

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

MGIX PREVIEW!

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September/October 2016 Vol. 27, Issue 5

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

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By Design The Garden as Magic

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. Tom Hilgeman White Oak Garden Center, 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. STAFF Frits Rizor, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Keith Manbeck, Sales Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Lydia Phillippi, Education Alana Settle, Marketing & Communications Tracie Zody, MGIX THE FINE PRINT The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as members of the ONLA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

departments

3 President’s Perspective 4 Executive Director’s Update 6 Branches of Government 10 Be Alert to BYGL 13 Membership Moment 15 Safety First 16 Retail Roundtable features

20 25

By Design: Color the World with Plants Plants of Merit

special section: employer's guide

32 33 35 36

Finding Good Team Members The Millennial Dilemma Retaining Employees Managing a Latino Workforce

FRONT COVER Ornamental Pepper

also in this issue 28 MGIX Preview • 39 ONLA New Members 40 OCNT Registration Form • 41 Calendar of Events, Classifieds, Advertising Index

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onla.org

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

You Have to Be There…

For many who work in the Green Industry, August is the time for a breather. It was a busy and long spring and with the heat upon us, business is at a dull roar. The word on the street is that the season was good. Not great, not terrible, but good.

Now is the most important time for your business. It’s the time to analyze where you stand. Look at your sales, profits, vendors, inventory, and marketing. It’s the time to ask: What will you do the rest of the year? How will you prepare for the next season? What have you learned that can be applied to future projects? What vendors or products are you missing?

The success of your business—and the decisions you are making right now—are very important to the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association. As you can probably guess, the ONLA staff is hard at work on our new tradeshow, MGIX. MGIX is designed to help you answer questions, provide solutions to your concerns, and guide your decision-making process, whether you choose to be an exhibitor or attendee.

2016 ONLA President

Steve Maddox smaddox@michells.com

For exhibitors, MGIX is not only a show for selling, but it is a show for networking. MGIX is the place to build relationships, solidify partnerships with existing customers and cultivate new relationships with prospects. Exhibiting at MGIX provides the opportunity to see many current customers and meet new customers, all in one place. It’s not only crucial to your business. It makes financial sense.

As an exhibitor, ask yourself a few questions to make the most of your time at MGIX: • What are my customers’ pains and how can I fix them?

• What do I have that is new and different that attendees will find interesting?

• What are my goals, not just sales, but new customer contacts as well, for the show?

• How can I encourage my customers to attend the show?

Play an active role.

• What is the cost or perception of not attending?

As an attendee, do you need new vendors, products or innovations in your business? You can find it at MGIX. Need to network with other professionals for insight on how to better run your business? You can find it at MGIX. Need to take some classes to understand how to better serve your customers? You guessed it—you can find it at MGIX. The tradeshow and our association strengthen and grow when you attend MGIX. Your business will, too. The questions you are asking about your business now, come to MGIX for the answers. From my perspective, you have to be there. onla.org

September/October 2016

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE

Executive Office Update

What the heck is MGIX? And why should I attend?

Midwest Green Industry Xperience… the new CENTS.

ONLA Executive Director

Frits Rizor frits@onla.org

Attending CENTS every January has been a longstanding tradition for many Green Industry professionals for years. It’s a show older than I am! I know I had personally attended CENTS for 30+ years, and many of you could say the same. So why change it now?

Quick Quiz: Do you know what CENTS means (without searching)? It stands for Central Ohio Environmental Nursery Tradeshow. One of the biggest motivators for changing the name of the show to MGIX (Midwest Green Industry Xperience) is that ONLA’s membership has changed. Members include many nursery growers, but also landscape contractors, architects and designers, lawn and turf managers, irrigation and lighting professionals, arborists, parks managers, garden centers, educators, and students. You could say the same for the diversity of tradeshow attendees and exhibitors.

The name Midwest Green Industry Xperience represents a show that welcomes every segment of ONLA’s membership, and all Green Industry professionals from the Midwest region and beyond.

Why should you attend?

Connect. I am always amazed at the comradery of

the Green Industry. During the workday, we bid against each other for jobs or sales. When we get together after work, we laugh and talk over a few beers and share. It truly is amazing and unique to our great Green Industry.

There is no better place to network, whether it is B2B, B2C or C2C (Competitor to competitor) than MGIX, a three-day experience that brings your customers, vendors, suppliers, affiliates, and students—your future workforce, all under one roof.

Let’s face it, the concept of a trade show has changed.

E-commerce, email, text and social media have radically altered the way we do business. I remember walking

4 The Buckeye

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through the aisles of CENTS and ordering just about everything I needed for the spring right there on the show floor. That’s not always how it works anymore. The primary focus for most attendees is to find new products and services, develop new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Then the orders follow, probably online or via email or text, as a result of the established relationship.

Learn.

MGIX education is best of class. There is something for everyone, with more than 90 CEU-eligible sessions in topics ranging from horticulture to business management and marketing. Climber’s Corner & the Garage add a whole new level of educational experiences. Arborists, landscape crews and even designers will benefit from Climber’s Corner sessions led by experts in the arboriculture field. The Garage focuses on your most significant business investment: equipment.

ONLA has collaborated with manufacturers and expert technicians to create a hands-on training venue focusing on operation, maintenance and troubleshooting procedures.

And if you think the learning stops with the education sessions, just stop by Tim Brotzman’s booth for a fiveminute chat about (insert any plant here)—I guarantee you will walk away a little more horticulturally astute.

The same would be true of just about any exhibitor on the floor. Take the time to learn from them and share your thoughts as well. Believe me, they are listening and want to know your needs and concerns.

That brings me to the last reason to attend MGIX.

Innovate. Here’s the thing. Businesses and orga-

nizations who strive for and value innovation will stay alive and successful. And you can’t do that when you’re stuck in a rut. Meeting new people, participating in engaging education programs, and searching out new products and services give us the inspiration to be innovative. Dedicate a few days in January to doing that, and I guarantee you’ll head back to work with a fresh perspective.

Along with the name change, there’s a new tradeshow floorplan and fun stuff on the floor. From 4–6pm on Monday, a blowout party on the show floor features the band Hat Trick, and should carry on afterward at any of our fine Columbus establishments. More fun is to be had on Tuesday night, with a hoedown in Franklin Park Conservatory’s Wells Barn. Check out MGIX17.com to find out more about what to expect at MGIX. Change is imperative for us all to continue to be successful in this industry, but it’s not always easy! Anyone who thinks they can run their business (or their life) the same way they did prior to 2007 is playing a fool’s game.

We need to reinvent ourselves to keep fresh and with the times. Change creates new opportunities.

So what hasn’t changed? A lot. All the things that made CENTS great will still be there. It’s still in downtown Columbus. It’s still in January. And it’s still the can’tmiss event of the year.

Can’t wait to see you there. B

ONLA Membership Primary Business, August 2016 Landscape Grower Retail Arborist Allied Other

onla.org

September/October 2016

5

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

CHANGES MADE TO THE BWC

ONLA Legislative Consultant

Belinda Jones Capitol Consulting Group, Inc. bjones@capitol-consulting.net

Before leaving on summer break the Ohio General Assembly passed HB 207 which makes a number of changes to the Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation (BWC).

When the bill was introduced, the title read " allow a state fund employer to have a workers' compensation claim that is likely to be subrogated by a third party paid from the surplus fund account in the state insurance fund rather than charged to the employer's experience." This in and of itself is a great improvement but as the bill went through the process, it was amended to include the following provision: Eliminates the minimum number of employees required for a private sector employer or board of county commissioners to obtain self-insuring status under the Workers' Compensation Law. Previously, a company had to have a minimum of 500 employees to be self-insured. HB 207 eliminates this threshold. The bill does set forth some minimum eligibility requirements. We are in the process of meeting with the BWC to gain a better understanding of the new law but in the meantime, we wanted you to be aware of this beneficial change.

To review a summary of HB 207, see: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=5541&format=pdf The Kasich Administration is in the process of discussing other significant improvements to the BWC. We will keep you posted on all fronts.

If you have trouble using the link above, or if you have any specific questions, please contact me.

BACK TO THE BASICS: STATE AND FEDERAL AND A RECAP OF THE FEDERAL OT RULE CHANGES Understandably, many, if not most, Americans confuse state and federal actions. Just as you have heard some folks awkwardly refer to a state legislator as "Congressman" (only federal members of Congress in DC should be referred to as "Congressman"), so too, do many of us confuse federal and state law and rule changes.

6  The Buckeye

onla.org

onla.org

September/October 2016 

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Image courtesy of Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Recently, you may have been made aware of federal rule changes from the US Department of Labor relative to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

While a review of the entire final rule is too voluminous for this article, a recap of a few key provisions is in order: 1. The rule changes the salary at or above which an employee must make to be "exempt" from the overtime requirements. In order to remain "exempt" from OT, the employee must make at least $913 per week.

2. Overtime will be required to be paid to any employee making less than $913 per week (whether hourly or salary).

Again, this is a FEDERAL RULE, so, our state elected officials have no jurisdiction nor authority to change it. The only way the rule can be repealed is if the US Department of Labor changes its mind, or, if Congress (federal level) passes a law overturning the rule.

At deadline for this article, a bill was introduced to make changes to the overtime law. H.R. 5813 was introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D; Oregon). If passed, the bill would soften and phase in the changes and would reign in the US Dept of Labor's rulemaking authority. While the bill has the support of many business groups including AmericanHort, the National Christmas Tree Association and others, the future of the bill is uncertain at best, given the few remaining voting days left before the rule takes effect December 1, 2016.

While this is a federal rule change that cannot be changed at the state level, you may contact your congressman to urge support for and prompt passage of H.R. 5813 (or a similar measure). Or, for more information but the rule as it stands, you may contact Steve Clegg at the Ohio Department of Commerce, Wage and Hour Administration, at 614.728.8686.

LAME DUCK PREDICTIONS If one bases their predictions upon the number of voting days left in the Ohio General Assembly, one could predict a rather "lame" Lame Duck period (the weeks following the General Election before the ending of the 131st General Assembly on December 31, 2016). While there are several weeks of committee hearings as of press time, there is only ONE week where both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate will be in session at the same time. In a meeting recently

8 The Buckeye

with chief staff members of the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus, I learned that only two main subjects are slated for movement: 1. SB 332 - makes changes to Ohio law to prevent infant mortality 2. Unemployment Compensation Reform. While this may not happen during Lame Duck, the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate have formed an Unemployment Compensation Reform Joint Committee to take a stab at bringing long-term solvency to the state's beleaguered unemployment compensation system 3. SB 333 - the Water Quality MBR. As introduced, this bill: • • • • • • • •

Revises the law governing the Lake Erie Commission to focus on protection and restoration.

Provides a regulatory framework for better use of dredge materials.

Addresses issues around privately owned water systems.

Strengthens Ohio's Certified Water Quality Professional program.

Clarifies Ohio EPS's authority to address 401 water quality certification.

Aligns state and federal laws regarding certain pretreatment permits.

Addresses asset management problems at some public water systems.

Addresses disposal of construction and demolition debris.

As you know, we have many, many bills we follow on your behalf, among them we have our eyes on: 1) HB 77 - home improvement contractor (ONLA POSITION: Neutral pending further information about potential pre-emption of local regulations) 2) HB 561 - prohibits labeling of nursery stock as being "pollinator friendly" if the plant has been treated with a pesticide (ONLA POSITION: OPPOSE) 3) SB 51 - creates "multiple chemical sensitivity" awareness month (ONLA POSITION: OPPOSE) B

onla.org

Presented By

November 3 & 4, 2016

OSU ATI, Wooster, Ohio

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association is excited to present the first annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO). The competition is open to any Ohio high school with a horticulture education component.

ONLA’s annual Career Exploration event will be held in conjunction with the Landscape Olympics on Thursday, November 3, 4:30–5:30pm at the OSU ATI Campus in Wooster, Ohio.

Ten competitive events created to test students’ abilities to interact in a hands-on environment include Compact Excavator Operation, Hardscape Installation, Construction Cost Estimating, Irrigation Assembly & Troubleshooting, Sales Presentation, Landscape Maintenance Operations, Skid Steer Operation, Landscape Plant Installation, Plant ID, and Truck & Trailer Operation.

Help make this inaugural event a success, and inspire the next generation of Green Industry pros!

BECOME A SPONSOR

ATTEND THE CAREER EXPLORATION EVENT

Sponsorship opportunities include recognition on promotional materials, event signage, display space, and a complimentary booth at the Career Exploration Event.

Booth spaces are open to garden centers, landscapers, growers, arborists, arboretums or public gardens, gold courses, lawn care professionals and other Green Industry businesses.

• • • • • • •

Gold Sponsor - $5,000 Silver Sponsor - $2,500 Bronze Sponsor - $1,500 Opening Student Party Sponsor - $4,000 Breakfast Sponsor - $1,000 Lunch Sponsor - $1,000 Refreshment/Hospitality area - $1,000

Thursday, November 3, 4:30–5:30pm • Promote your company and the industry • Connect with potential employees • Meet with college and high school advisors, key hiring resources • Mentor students and help them learn more about a career in the Green Industry

Sponsorship Deadline: September 16, 2016

Registration Deadline: September 23, 2016

Learn more and register at www.onla.org

Be Alert to BYGL Excerpts from Buckeye Yard and Garden Line - By Jim Chatfield, Joe Boggs, Amy Stone, and the ENLTT, Ohio State University Extension

Old dogs (Buckeye Yard and Garden Line = BYGL = beagles) can learn new tricks. Information written and photographed by the OSU Extension Nursery Landscape and Turf Team is distributed regularly via the website bygl.osu.edu, BYGL alerts, and weekly BYGL summaries.

I: Diagnosis: Broad Mites on Hydrangea I visited a nursery with unidentified damage on hydrangea liners. Severe leaf distortion and plant stunting resembled herbicide injury, but this hypothesis made no sense given grower expertise and practices and the spatial relationship of affected plants. I made the mistake of not taking out my hand lens, but provided samples to the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (PPDC). The diagnosis was broad mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus). As per OSU’s BugDoc, Dave Shetlar, the nursery was instructed to apply abamectin miticide (Avid).

This is an example of the OSU team working at its best, with the PPDC the key center of diagnosis and confirmation that is essential to helping Ohio’s green industry.

Broad mites are tiny mites about 1/150 an inch in size, about half the size of two-spotted spider mites, and thus needing a good hand lens or dissecting scope for viewing. They have a broad host range (polyphagous) that includes annual and perennial flowers as well Sour Gum many ‘Wildfire Secrest’ 10 The Buckeye

as shrub species such as hydrangeas, clethra and others. Mites can survive through the winter in protected greenhouse and nursery settings. Uncontrolled, these mites can make plants unsalable.

Broad mites find their way into dense foliage and buds and on undersides of leaves, so they require excellent coverage with miticides such as Avid that control this type of mite. Obviously, labels of the product actually used in each case should be carefully reviewed to determine safe and effective use and for any information relative to plant sensitivity.

The family of broad mites is Tarsonemidae (the threadfooted mites) and includes cyclamen mites. This is a different mite family from Tetranychidae, the spider mites.

Broad mites have a rapid turnover of generations, especially during hot weather, so once diagnosed use of labeled miticides post-haste is recommended.

Damage often includes a bronzing of the undersides of the foliage, along with stunting and downward and inward cupping of foliage.This type of damage is often mistaken for 2.4-D or other growth-regulator herbicides or some type of disease, so rapid and accurate diagnosis is important. Broad mite eggs are translucent, elliptical, and have white tufts or dots with wax-like domes, and are distinctive enough for identification. onla.org

II: Emerald Ash Borer Map from USDA Changes and/or additions to the EAB North America map since the July 1, 2016 map are as follows: The addition of initial county detections in: Vanderburgh County, IN; Harrison, Van Buren and Washington Counties, IA; Lincoln Parish, LA; Middlesex County, MA; Davidson, Forsyth, Swain and Yancey Counties, NC; Lehigh County, PA; and Unicoi and White Counties, TN. Added to the list of counties quarantined by their state: Union Parish, LA; White County, TN; and Harrison County, TX. Additions to the Federal EAB quarantine since the July 1 map: Union Parish, LA; Wabasha County, MN; Cass, Douglas, Dodge, Sarpy and Washington Counties, NE; Marion County, TN and Harrison County, TX.

There are plenty more, from flat lining Lindens (girdling roots), to a three-part series on coneflower calamities.

From unexpected rusts on callery pear and sambucus, to squirrels debarking trees. In fact, as of the deadline for this column, there were over 235 bygl-alerts this year.

And, really, where else are you going to read anything like, “Two Fungi and an Alga walked into a bar...” B Pictured above, left to right: Hydrangea broad mite infestation; Hydrangea unaffected and affected by broad mite infestation; scab on crabapple; rust on sambucus

II. Scab on Crabapple Apple scab disease, caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis, is a common problem resulting in major aesthetic damage to many crabapple types (taxa). There is a tremendous range of susceptibility to scab, and this can make all the difference to a landscape designer, a nurseryman, a homeowner, a garden center professional or Master Gardener making recommendations for plant selection.

This is why the International Ornamental Crabapple Society has developed plots across the country to evaluate susceptibility of crabapples to apple scab disease, in different environments and over time. Want to check out apple scab evaluations in Ohio? Check out our latest findings, 2012–2015, in several papers from Curtis Young, Erik Draper, and Jim Chatfield at: http://agnr. osu.edu/Chatfield onla.org

Subscribe to BYGL alerts by emailing bygl-alert@ lists.osu.edu with the subject line as BYGL ALERTS, along with the message text “I want BYGL Alerts to be sent to [your preferred e-mail address]”.

September/October 2016

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FEATURE

ONLA

SCHOLARSHIP

PROGRAM CALL FOR ENTRIES 2017 Scholarships Awarded Each Year to Ohio Green Industry Students The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association is pleased to offer a number of $1000 scholarships for college students and $500 scholarships for FFA students under the ONLA/Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship Program.

Scholarships are based on merit and achievement and are available to college students majoring in landscape, nursery production, or related horticulture subject areas; and FFA students who have shown an interest in pursuing a major in landscape, nursery production, or related horticulture subject areas at a two- or four-year institution upon graduation from high school.

Visit ONLA.org for more information and to apply for ONLA Scholarships.

For More Information onla.org • roni@onla.org • 614-899-1195

Membership Moment

The National Parks. An Inspiration.

By Molly M. John, M. J. Design Associates Inc., mjohn@mjdesignassociates.com

I think we all would agree that being a part of the Green Industry, whether that be as a landscape architect, a grower, an installer, perform grounds maintenance, or even equipment sales, we have a special opportunity to impact the environment in which we live. We have a career that allows us to see the fruits of our labor and hard work. It is rewarding to see the transformation of someone’s backyard into a beautiful outdoor living space.

As stewards of the environment, we not only have the ability to design these outdoor spaces, but we need to also be conscientious of nature and the natural beauty that surrounds us. As a society, I don’t think we have always done a good job of paying attention to the existing landscape. We always seem to want to change what is there.

Do we really pay attention to the existing slope or trees? Is a retaining wall really needed? Is it necessary to add more pavement, when an open lawn can provide a similar space for entertaining?

onla.org

I took a family trip to the desert Southwest last month. I visited the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. The views were breathtaking. While the parks are relatively close together, each one has its own personality and uniqueness. When you think that the Grand Canyon was formed millions, if not billions, of years ago, the natural beauty is stunning.

During a tour we were talking to our guide about the number of visitors to the parks. It was crowded, but nothing like what we see in our metropolitan areas. Surprisingly, he said the number of visitors was down compared to their predictions. It is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and they anticipated the numbers to be higher than previous years. Our tour guide also noted that more than 80% of the total visitors to the park spend less than four hours visiting the park—only four hours to appreciate the 274 miles long canyon that is older than time. Less than 5% of visitors actually descend into the canyon, which after

September/October 2016

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a 12-mile round-trip hike down and up Bright Angel Trail and Indian Garden, I understand that it is not for everyone.

While hiking is not easy, there are several maintained and paved trails all along the south rim. In Bryce Canyon and Zion, there are newly installed bike trails that wind in and out of the canyons and plateaus.

We spent an average of two days at each park. We hiked, rafted, jet skied, and took a mule ride. We also made sure to stop, sit, and soak up our surroundings. The fresh air and scenery was so inspiring and relaxing.

It made me think about what we do each and every day in our designs. Obviously, we don’t have scenic mountains and canyons in Ohio, but we do have beautiful hardwood forests, rolling meadows and numerous streams and riverbeds. We do have wonderful State Parks and most communities have a Metro Park system as well, that offer various outdoor activities for families to enjoy. We may not have a natural wonder in our backyard, but we can be conscious of nature in our backyards.

The campaign these days is to get people to spend more time outside. Let’s encourage that in our designs, and let’s not forget about the natural beauty that already exists around us. Not everything has to be man-made. Much different from the landscapes of the Southwest, we have thousands of different evergreen, hardwood and flowering plants that will grow and thrive in our state. We can plant more trees to provide shade canopies. We can plant perennials that will give us color throughout the seasons.

The possibilities are endless.

We completed our trip in the craziest man-made place, Las Vegas. Talk about two worldly extremes. While the hotels and resorts are lavish and beautiful in the eyes of the beholder, nothing can compare to that which Mother Nature created. There are 58 National Parks in the U.S. I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit at least one of those parks in the near future. If you are stuck in a rut, maybe it will reinvigorate your mind and soul. For me, it brought back some passion for why I am fortunate to do what I do each and every day. B

The National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. While many natural spacces, including Yellowstone, were considered national parks years earlier, it was in 1916 that our nation established a government program to oversee the protection of America’s natural wonders. Today, the park system includes 412 areas in every state, covering more than 84 million acres. Learn more at www.nps.org.

Training Manual Order Form

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SAFETY FIRST

OSHA UPDATES

- Gary Hanson, President of American Safety

FINES INCREASED

DRUG TESTING & INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

On August 1, 2016 fines were increased for serious violations from $7,000 to $12,000 and from $70,000 to $120,000 for willful violations. This increase is part of a Federal spending bill that includes a measure to hike federal OSHA penalties.

REPORTING WORKPLACE INJURIES/ILLNESSES

OSHA issued a final rule on May 11, 2016 that will, according to OSHA, greatly enhance injury and illness data collection from employers. Establishments with over 250 employees that are currently required to keep the OSHA injury and illness records and establishments with over 20 employees that are classified in 67 specific industries that have historically high rates of occupational injuries and illness will be required to electronically submit their OSHA 300A Summary to OSHA for the 2016 calendar year by July 1, 2017. As of July 1, 2018, the above companies will be required to submit the 300A Summary, the OSHA 300 Log and each first report of injury form 301. Beginning in 2019, the submission deadline will be changed from July 1st to March 1st.

OSHA intends to post this information on its public website. OSHA believes the new reporting requirements will provide public health researchers the unprecedented opportunity to advance the field of injury and illness causation and prevention research.

ANTI-RETALIATION PROTECTION

& Health Management Consultants, Inc.

OSHA has determined that blanket application of post injury drug testing may not be legal because it may deter employees from reporting an injury. Employees will now be prohibited from using drug testing as a threat to employees who may want to report and be treated for an injury. OSHA noted that under the new rule, supervisors can’t advise employees that they will be required to take a drug test and if the employee fails the test he/she will be fired. According to OSHA that is a threat and is illegal.

Supervisors need to know that statements like this will expose your company to major fines.

Also under the new rule, the injury must be connected to an action that is directly related to alcohol or drug impairment. Testing should only be done when it can accurately identify impairment caused by drug use. The Department of Transportation regulations for drivers require post-accident testing and, in most cases, will meet the standard.

On August 10, 2016, the new rule governing Safety Incentive Programs goes into effect. The new rule specifically prohibits employers from using incentive programs that discourage injury reporting. OSHA is concerned that employees could be under increased peer pressure not to report an injury and that is unacceptable. OSHA has advised they are NOT banning all incentive programs. They provide the following examples:

Under the above rule, the agency outlined three new provisions to protect employees from retaliation for reporting workplace injuries.

•

Providing t-shirts to workers on a safety committee or to celebrate a goal being reached (the goal hasn’t been defined).

In the first provision, employers will be required to inform employees of their right to report work related injuries and illnesses free from retaliation.

•

Offering modest rewards for suggesting ways to strengthen safety and health programs.

•

Throwing a company or department wide recognition party after the successful completion of safety training

In the second provision, reporting procedures must be reasonable and must not deter or discourage employees from reporting.

In the third provision, OSHA can now cite employers for retaliation under the recordkeeping standard and employees may also file a no retaliation complaint.

Again, incentive programs are not being banned but you need to ensure they don’t discriminate against an individual employee and the program does discourage employees from reporting injuries.

If you have any question or need assistance with your Safety Program, contact Gary Hanson, President of American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. at 1.330.854.4577 (Office) or 1.330.495.3437 (Cell Phone).

RETAIL ROUNDTABLE Guarantee Policies

16  The Buckeye

onla.org Sycamore

It’s time for another round of “Let’s Ask the Retailers!” You know the rules; we ask the questions and our retailing aficionados provide their thought provoking, brain stimulating answers, sure to be changing your retailing ways. - By Ron Wilson, N.A. Natorp Corp., rwilson@natorp.com

Q.

What is your garden center’s guarantee policy? How long do you guarantee the survival of nursery stock, perennials, roses, annuals, and tropicals? What do you do if a customer has a dead plant that they purchased from your store?

Bonus question: What are your best sources for inspiration or new ideas for retailing?

Tom Hilgeman, White Oak Garden Center, Inc. “We guarantee our nursery stock and roses for one year from purchase date. This is not set in stone and have we extended the warranty and replaced out of date plants.

Perennials are guaranteed until first frost, e.g. if the plant was purchased in May it is guaranteed until October or so.

Annuals and tropicals have no written guarantee, but if a customer comes in with a dead or dying plant the policy is to first offer a discount on replacement with the ability to offer a replacement plant.

Inspiration: I really enjoy checking out the Facebook group IGC Talk. It is a group of independent garden center employees with a ton of sharing and ideas. Questions are asked and quickly answered. A day doesn’t go by without seeing a great post worth checking out or sharing. I also think industry events that include time to meet others are incredibly worthwhile.”

Andy Bartram, Oakland Nurseries, Inc. “We guarantee our nursery stock for one year, perennials and tropicals for 30 days, and roses for six months or until Dec 1, whichever comes first. Annuals have no warranty.

Our warranty process is pretty simple. The customer must bring back the dead plant material along with the original register receipt. The only stipulation on the warranty is if insufficient watering was the cause. If the plant, receipt, and water are all in order we issue store credit for the purchase price that is good for one year. Anything purchased with a credit will not carry a warranty.

Inspiration: I really enjoy trade shows and visiting other successful establishments. It is interesting to see different approaches to selling the same material in different markets. This helps to add variety to display options as well as incorporating new ways to cross merchandise.”

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Tim Clark, H.J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc. “Our nursery stock and perennials are guaranteed for one year, roses for six and tropicals for 30 days. Annuals do not have a guarantee. We would like customers to bring in the plant so we can identify what happened to it and perhaps educate them on proper care. We need proof of purchase as well. Seldom do we turn away a return even if it was severely neglected.

Inspiration: Of course we go to other garden centers to see how they do things but we always get such good display ideas from the Mart in Atlanta. I also go to the mall and walk through department stores to see how they set things up and think about how I can bring some of their ideas back to the garden center.”

Mike Ennemosser, Greenleaf Landscapes & Garden Center, Inc. “Trees and shrubs have a one year guarantee at 50%, while perennials and roses are not guaranteed. Guarantees are handled plant by plant, customer by customer. If we planted the plant, it is 100% guaranteed, no questions asked, and we will plant again at no charge. If the plant has died during the establishment period (approximately three months), I always exchange the plant, if desired, or give the customer a credit voucher toward another plant purchase. We ask that the customer bring in the dead or declining plant with their original receipt.

Managers handle all warrantees. We take note of where the plant came from and if we can get a vendor credit, if there were repeat problems with the plant or crop or if we should consider not utilizing the plant in the future due to cold hardiness, bug/disease issues, etc.

We also want to make sure we take care of the customer!

This is a perfect opportunity to save a customer for life, and make it right. During the process, we try to find out what went wrong. We inquire about their care in choosing a location, planting, watering and subsequent care during the establishment period. This is not handled as a "We told you so..."

We recognize that this could be a second positive customer shopping experience in our store. If you treat people fairly, they will remember their experiences and return to your store.

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Inspiration: I look to trade shows, trade magazines, and other garden centers. These are usually the "big ideas". I take pictures and notes and then talk about it with my staff. I also look for retail inspiration from my staff themselves and get their buy-in. Many have great ideas, but sometimes need a push in the right direction.

I keep a file of great displays that we have done in the past or ideas I have seen. Displays need to be quick, easy and ever changing. The whole goal is to sell items, right? A great display that is eye appealing and signed well sells more merchandise.”

Jodi Dawson, Oakland Nurseries, Inc. “At the time of purchase, the customer leaves with detailed watering and planting instructions. Every receipt is stapled to this instructional guide. When a customer brings back dead plant material, they are escorted to our Service Desk and a nursery sales associate will try to pinpoint the problem to further educate our customer. Dead plants are eligible for a plant credit for the purchase price of the plants, less any coupons or discounts. Plant credits may be used to purchase plants or merchandise in the garden store. Replacement plants are not guaranteed.

Inspiration: When it comes to inspiring me, I look to the internet for ideas of what other retail businesses are doing. You can find so many interesting ideas from other fields! I also find it most helpful visiting other garden centers. I love going out of state to see what others have concocted. My husband gets so mad at me when we are on vacation, because I try to scope out nurseries on the way.”

Darlene Cooper, Sharon Nursery “Our nursery stock is guaranteed for one year and roses for 90 days. Perennials, annuals and tropicals are not guaranteed. We use a warranty check form. We will either go out and check larger items like trees or shrubs or ask for photos to resolve problems. We do ask lots of questions about how the plant was cared for, not to be accusatory but to help the customer succeed with replacement.

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18 The Buckeye

Inspiration: I love to visit places like Anthropologie as their displays are always engaging. I’d be silly not to mention Pinterest as it’s a goldmine of ideas and creative thinking. As far as actual selling, I find my customers to be the ultimate source; the more I listen the more I know. The more I know the more I sell. It’s an exciting time to be in retail as we try to maintain our aging baby boomer customer base (like me) while trying to lure the millennials in as well. Probably more Pokestops would help!”

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Ron Wilson, W. A. Natorp Corp.

“We have the usual guarantee for our hardy plants of one full year, and the exclusion that we can’t be responsible for the death of non-hardy plants such as annuals and tropicals. But, we also promise our customers that we will do our best to help guarantee their gardening success. So even though one year may have passed, or an annual or tropical didn’t make it that season, we will still take care of the customer, try to help determine what may have happened, and get them a new plant to try again.

We encourage our customers to ask questions and let us know when a Natorp plant is not doing well. We can look at pictures taken of the plant, and will even visit the site if needed. Even if we darn well know the plant issues were due to lack of care, it’s our goal to do what we can to make everything right.

Successful customers keep coming back. We have found that the average sales of our customers who returned a dead plant is actually higher than the average customer sale! So

when they come back in to take care of a dead plant, they wind up spending more than normal! And yes, we do ask for receipts, but also have their information in our systems so we can look back at what was purchased. Our written guarantees cover us in case someone wanted to really take us to the cleaners. But, come on, has that really ever happened? Let it go…replace the dead plant.

Inspiration: I do find some inspiration visiting other garden stores, but mine really comes from trade show displays, grocery stores, farmers’ markets, retailers not related to gardening, industry magazines, and yes, Pinterest has caught my eye. I have picked up on many ideas from restaurants and cool bars…and the Gentleman Jack and soda helps to inspire me as well.

Everywhere I go, I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to provide better customer service, improve checkouts, create new displays, and to make retailing more enjoyable and have fun doing it. And that’s for both internal and external customers. B

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19

BY DESIGN

COLOR THE WOR

RLD WITH PLANTS

By Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD

During the middle of July, my husband and I left Cleveland to venture to the heartland for a week: Kansas City, Des Moines, and Chicago. It was scorching hot but what always caught our eye were the displays that featured hot colored combinations.

The most outstanding display was at the Chicago Botanic Garden. As you probably know, the place is huge with many themed gardens, but the one we will remember the longest was a vast hillside of orange, yellow, and blue annuals with tidbits of red and magenta. Whenever I interview clients, I always ask about their color preferences and the majority of them make a point of their dislike of orange. I suspect that if they could see the Chicago display, they might change their minds. It was so vibrant— definitely a “wow” garden. On the other hand, if you want serenity, this is not the color scheme for you.

As a landscape designer, I often pick a color scheme that relates to the color of my client’s house. If the house is brick, a hot color scheme of yellow, orange and red would create a unity between the house and the landscape. So too could the use of yellow and purple. The first scheme is analogous while the second is complementary.

22 The Buckeye

I also try to relate the color scheme to the emotional atmosphere that the client wants and needs. How is that person going to spend time in the garden: entertaining, playing with children, relaxing? Most colors have emotional connotations; so ask your clients what their favorite colors are and which emotions they evoke. Armed with that knowledge, you can then discuss the virtues of monochromatic, analogous and complementary color schemes.

Monochromatic schemes are based on shades, tints and tones of one hue. Contrary to common belief, monochromatic color schemes are not, and should not be, boring. Flower color is usually short-lived, therefore, it behooves us to include colored foliage as well. When working within this type of color scheme, be aware of the undertones. Nothing will destroy the scene more quickly than clashing undertones.

Using yellow as a monochromatic example, we could create a golden landscape. Start with the largest material, i.e. trees. There are many with yellow fall foliage such as Cercis canadensis (Redbud) and Ginkgo biloba. Few actually are yellow from the time they foliate, like Robinia pseu-

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Images courtsey of Bobbie Schwartz

doacacia ‘Frisia’ (Frisia Black Locust). Unfortunately, it is probably not hardy in northern Ohio.

Then, work down to the next layer. There are innumerable choices of yellow-foliaged shrubs: large ones such as Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’ and Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’, medium-sized ones like Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera ‘Aurea’, and small ones like Spiraea ‘Gold Mound’. There is also the relatively new Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ that does best in morning sun and is only three feet in height and diameter.

Finally, it is time to choose the perennials and grasses.

Most of the yellow ornamental grasses do best in shade, although I have had great luck with Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ in the sun. I am also quite fond of Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ and Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’. The list of yellow-flowering perennials is quite lengthy, from rudbeckia (some short and some very tall), helianthus, and heliopsis, to coreopsis, gaillardia, and digitalis. Strong yellow tones are best used as punctuation. An all-yellow color scheme would require strong sunglasses.

A counterpoint would be a purple scheme. There are several purple-foliaged trees, shrubs and perennials as well as

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many purple-flowering shrubs and perennials. If purple were combined with pink, we would have an analogous color scheme which is basically an expansion of a monochromatic scheme. If it were combined with yellow, we would have a complementary color scheme.

In my younger and wimpier days, I tended to favor analogous color schemes but lately I’ve become entranced with complementary schemes. (Colors that are across the color wheel from each other are complementary.) Many stunning gardens are based on purple and yellow but the ones that have really caught my imagination are based on purple and orange even though technically, they are not directly across from each other on the color wheel. For the last few years, I’ve been experimenting with purple and orange. So far, I’m easing into it by planting perennials that are apricot, peach, soft oranges instead of bold ones that knock your socks off.

Other powerful complementary schemes are red and green, magenta and chartreuse, and blue and orange.

These gardens have punch, a wow factor, and are not for the timid gardener. Planting in containers is a low risk way of testing your ideas and experimenting with color.

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Ever since I started gardening and designing, I’ve heard the mantra that “magenta is so-o-o difficult to work with”.

Well, I say, baloney! It’s a bright, cheerful color that can’t help but make you feel good.

to have a presence in the garden even through the winter, could be planted behind the geranium. With a minimum of plant species, we now have a landscape that has great textural and color contrasts.

One of my favorite magenta-hued flowers is Geranium psilostemon (Armenian cranesbill) which has a large black center. The blossoms are held well above the large lobed foliage and the lax stems twine into my deciduous azaleas, a very effective but hands-off method of staking. The only downside is that it seeds prolifically so some editing is necessary.

It is very easy to forget that green is a color. Green flowers are subtle and blend well with every color. Shades of green foliage abound and will always intensify other colors. A green and yellow color scheme is joyful and exciting yet serene, while a green and orange color scheme would have a bit more punch.

It would look great combined with Deutzia gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ which has yellow foliage in the sun and chartreuse foliage in partial shade. As a bonus, the white flowers of the deutzia would appear in May and early June just before the Geranium psilostemon begins its long period of bloom. Another possible neighbor is Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’ which does not become as outrageously large as ‘Limelight’. The large lime, almost triangular heads which begin blooming in July and continue

Restoring the native landscape

Don’t limit yourself to perennials and ornamental grasses.

Use some shrubs and trees, so many of which now have very colorful foliage, and are probably lower maintenance.

After all, foliage lasts much longer than flowers.

How are you coloring your world? B - Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, ONLA Freelance Author, bobbie@bgthumb.com

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Plants of Merit Tom Fryman, W. A. Natorp Corp., TFryman@natorp.com I make my living with plants and have for 30+ years. I am pleased and overwhelmed at the same time with the numbers of ornamental plants on the market. Michael Dirr calls this the “clutter”. The trouble is weeding through the clutter to find the great plants that really perform in our respective areas. Let me share some of the preferred plants currently on my list.

Shrubs These are all marginally hardy in zone 5, which is what SW Ohio really is, not zone 6 which is what the hardiness map now says. I haven’t given up on the green series of boxwood (green velvet, green gem and green mountain), in fact I plant them heavily, but they are not enough.

Goshiki Osmanthus What’s good about Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’? It has great, variegated evergreen foliage and is deer resistant.

My 5–6-year-old plants are low at 2’ with about a 4’ spread, making them a good foundation plant. The yellow variegation shows well in the shade and contrasts nicely with dark green foliage. Try to plant these in the spring. Keep them moist into the winter and protect them from winter winds.

Mine were show stoppers on a local garden tour this past June.

Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken' is another broad leaf evergreen plant that suffered in 2014 and 2015. Dave Couch of Natorp’s retail branch says he sprayed his plants with Wilt Proof and his plants did not die back. I think the plant can take below-freezing temperatures for a short time, but the extended cold of 2014 and 2015 desiccated the leaves and killed them back. Previous to 2014, I had about 15 years of good luck in growing 'Otto Luyken' so I refuse to onla.org

give up on them. Plants can be pruned to about 3’ in height and will spread 6–8’ in width. They don’t like to sit wet and will do best when they’re kept out of the hot afternoon sun.

They have a white spiky flower in early May that produces a black fruit later in the summer. They make an excellent foundation plant in the correct exposure. Plant sparingly.

Graham Blandy Boxwood Everyone loves narrow upright shrubs now, I’m not sure why but I have jumped on the bandwagon with Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’. It is listed as cold hardy to zone 5, which seems optimistic to me. I have a neighbor who has 8’ plants on the east side of her home that she planted in 1999 which have survived well through the harsh winters of 2014 and 2015. It looks to me like this narrow, columnar plant, at 9–18” wide, would grow in height indefinitely.

Snow and ice could ruin the plant, so I suggest keeping it at 8–10’ tall. I have some smaller rooted cuttings at 3’ in height that I prune as needed to keep it narrow, allowing 3–9” of new growth a year. 'Graham Blandy' is hardier than, say, 'Sky Pencil' holly, which is an Ilex crenata (Mike Epp from Acorn Farms calls these “death on a stick”, take his word for it). Still, don’t plant hundreds of these in a parking lot to screen a view. Provide them with some protection, and use them to contrast spreading plants.

Japanese Laurel What’s the matter with me? Aucuba japonica can’t be hardy, it looks like a croton. This is another broad leaf evergreen with variegated foliage. 'Gold Dust' is the common form introduced in 1783. There are other more heavily variegated forms like 'Picturata'. In Cincinnati, I expect they will to get 4–5’ tall by 4–5’ wide, and will get frozen down every 10–15 years. But they are fun for a while.

September/October 2016

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Clockwise from top left: Goshiki osmanthus; Bobo panicle hydrangea; Conoy, Carlesi & American Spice vibernum; Hedgehog Japanese plum yew

26  The Buckeye

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I am in search of replacement plants for ‘Everlow’ taxus, which the deer love. 'Everlow' is an evergreen shrub to about 3’ in height that spreads forever. Michael Dirr suggested the Japanese plum yews, noting to keep them somewhat dry and out of the afternoon sun. I found a nice cultivar, and Isely introduction, Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Hedgehog’. Deer won’t eat it and it tolerates heavy shade.

In my opinion, it is not as pretty as a nice taxus, but the shape is excellent.

Hydrangea What a mess. With all of thes recent cultivar introductions and all of the great marketing, how do we weed through the clutter? I have grown many hydrangeas over the years.

My new one of interest is Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bobo’. Paniculatas are deer magnets.

season. It looks like it could grow 2’ a year, which would make it a great evergreen screen like 'Pragense'. I can see utile and its various offspring used as large boxwood or holly substitutes. All the viburnums tolerate clay soils of relatively high pH which make them idea for the soils in SW Ohio. If they get too large cut them to the ground and let them re-grow.

A sweetly fragrant viburnum you may not know is ‘American Spice’. It is a Bailey Nursery introduction and very cold tolerant according to their info. I liken ‘American Spice’ to a darker leafed compact 'Carlesi', which is a compliment.

I prefer compact 'Carlesi' to 'Juddi' since it will require less pruning to keep small. 'American Spice' grows fairly slowly to 4’ by 4’(expect larger). B

I have had great success with 'Limelight' hydrangea which is a LARGE paniculata probably 10–12’ tall by 10–12’ wide.

'Bobo' looks like a mini version of it. It is a showstopper in bloom. The entire plant is covered in flowers. It might grow to 3–4’ tall and wide. Hydrangeas are a beautiful and diverse group of shrubs but they are not the whole garden.

Viburnum Now for the main event! Plants you should try include: 'Conoy' is a spreading, small-leaved evergreen shrub with beautiful pink to white flowers. Expect the plant to grow 6–8’ in height with an 8–12’ spread over a long period. My plants have survived well since 1999 with minimal winter burn.

‘Susy Dirr’ is an open released 'Eskimo' seedling from about 2006. It has excellent dark green foliage and flowers profusely, as does its parent. This plant is upright rounded, growing to 6’ by 6’ or larger if not pruned. Open released plants are not restricted so if you can get one you can propagate it freely, contact Gary Ladman of classic viburnums for plants.

Vibernum utile has been crossed extensively to create 'Conoy', 'Eskimo', 'Burkwood', 'Pragense' and others. I have utile seedlings with excellent dark green glossy foliage, some upright, some spreading. For me, utile has grown quickly from seed, getting 18” tall and wide in one

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Formerly known as CENTS! Presented by the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, MGIX combines industry-leading educational sessions, an innovative & dynamic tradeshow offering, and networking opportunities with industry leaders for a dynamic, Green Industry experience.

Trade Show

Education

Step out of your comfort zone. A redesigned show floor maximizes your experience, whether you’re an exhibitor or an attendee. The show floor is open during breaks in education sessions, so you'll have time to see every exhibitor on your list.

Customize your education experience and explore topics curated with your needs in mind, from business and marketing tips to in-depth discussions on industry trends.

NEW THIS YEAR: • Challenge your peers to a round of “Are You Smarter than a Green Industry Pro?” trivia in the Garden Lounge.

• Check out the latest innovations in the New Product Showcase at the front of the hall.

• Receive hands-on training with the tools and equipment you need to do your job well in the ONLA Garage.

• Learn from expert arboriculture educators, and collect CEUs, during demonstrations in Climbers’ Corner.

January 16–18, 2017

With more than 90 sessions offered in three days, MGIX provides a convenient and affordable way to earn Continuing Education Credits.

Learn from the best. Classes are led by national experts handpicked by ONLA. Of the 90+ courses available, educators from The Ohio State University will present 24 sessions in a special academic block focused on industry research.

OHIO CERTIFIED NURSERY TECHNICIAN EXAMS January 16, 17 & 18, 9am–11:45am Increase your professional power by becoming an OCNT! Exams are given daily during MGIX and pre-registration is required. See detailed schedule at mgix17.com

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Special Events

Registration

ONLA AWARDS CELEBRATION & DESSERT RECEPTION Sunday, January 15, 7–8:30pm Greater Columbus Convention Center Be inspired by industry leaders and meet the next generation.

Presentation includes the 44th annual Landscape Awards Program, ONLA Professional Awards and ONLA Scholarship recipients. Enjoy desserts and coffee.

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 1.

Register by December 23, 2016 and save!

ONLA ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING Greater Columbus Convention Center See what ONLA has been up to with organizational updates and board elections. Free admission with badge.

OPENING NIGHT PARTY Monday, January 16, 4–6pm Greater Columbus Convention Center Kick off your after-hours experience and join attendees and exhibitors on the trade show floor! Enjoy a free concert by Hat Trick in the Garden Lounge. Admission is included with all MGIX badge holders. Cash bar.

TUESDAY NIGHT HOEDOWN Tuesday, January 17, 6:30–8:30pm Franklin Park Conservatory – The Wells Barn Hop on the complimentary shuttle and head over to the The Wells Barn for fun and networking with MGIX attendees and exhibitors. Live bluegrass music, great food, poker, a cash bar and a few more surprises await! Pre-registration required.

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Before 12/23/16

ONLA Member/Non-Member 3 day $189 / $259

3 day (group) $169 / $239

1 day $159 / $229

Educator (3 day) $85 / $105

Student (3 day) $35 / $55

Trade Show Only $15 / $20

Hoedown $15 / $15

After 12/23/16 Member/Non-Member $259 / $329 $239 / $309 $229 / $299 $105 / $125 $55 / $75 $25 / $30 $20 / $20

Register online at MGIX17.com or call 847.957.4258

MGIX takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 EXHIBITOR BOOTHS ARE STILL AVAILABLE! Contact Keith Manbeck at keith@onla.org or 614.899.1195.

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SPECIAL SECTION

EMPLOYERS’ GUIDE Four writers in this issue of The Buckeye tackle common issues faced by Green Industry employers and managers.

How to Find Good Team Members | The Millennial Dilemma | Retaining Employees | Managing a Latino Workforce

HOW TO FIND GOOD TEAM MEMBERS I hear it everywhere I go. For Green Industry business owners, it is hard to comprehend how there can be anything but 0% unemployment, given the challenges we have finding good employees. We can find people, I'm sure you can too. Finding good people is the challenge. If you have a drug-free workplace and if your hiring process prohibits that you hire anyone with a felony conviction, the pool can be very small. There are people out there, you just have to keep looking. Here are three ideas to help you improve your hiring efforts.

1. MAKE YOUR WORKPLACE BETTER. The best way to find more good people is to make sure you have a great workplace. You can do this by paying a competitive wage, offering benefits, and having a nice facility and new equipment. However, the best way to make your place a great place to work is by engaging your team by sharing information with them, showing them a career path, and keeping the communication lines open.

Information you can share with your staff could include your sales totals, your sales goals, issues that you are dealing with that affect them, and, by all means, future plans for the company.

A career path can be shown by laying out goals for your team members and what the future may entail for them if their skills continue to improve. One of the best things that can come out of a growing company are all the new opportunities created; make sure your team knows what's possible and then coach them accordingly. Too many companies promote based on tenure, rather than results. It is the results that matter and future potential warrants a promotion.

Keep the communication lines open by listening to your team and giving them opportunities to talk.

Weekly, monthly, and quarterly meetings all provide an environment for that. Do cookouts at the shop or pizza parties. Just make sure you are talking with your teams and no one feels like they can't share what's on their 32 The Buckeye

mind. I tell my team, “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”. Truth be known, I admire people who speak their mind, as it is through those conversations that a business owner can get ideas to make things better!

2. ASK YOUR TEAM TO HELP RECRUIT. Pay a referral fee for new hires. We have a tiered system that we learned from a Texas-based landscape professional. You pay $100 after the new hire has been employed for one month, $200 after they have been there for six months and $300 after they have been there for 12 months. We have had some success with this idea and we try to promote it. Is it the perfect plan? No. However, it is helping some and you have to try a lot of things to improve!

Everyone should be helping with recruiting (Grunder Landscaping Co needs to work on this part as well!). It is one of my initiatives for the remainder of the year.

I want to engage my team in the biggest challenge we have, as I know that's the only way we can beat this issue.

And that leads me to my last suggestion.

3. HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. I know, you hear that cliché all the time. However, the reason you hear it so often is that it works. No one wants to work for a leader who doesn't have hope.

Hope is not a strategy, but it gets us through today and motivates us to keep on pushing and to keep on trying tomorrow. A positive, can-do attitude gets things done and creates the exact type of environment that people want to work in. So, what are you waiting for?

Talk to you in a couple months… B - Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co., Marty.Grunder@grunderlandscaping.com

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EMPLOYERS’ GUIDE

THE MILLENNIAL DILEMMA ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE GREEN INDUSTRY

We are all aware that the average age of professionals in the Green Industry is steadily rising. It is critical for the future of nursery and landscape industries to attract the next generation to pick up the careers of our retiring leaders. However, there seems to be a recurring dilemma regarding that next generation in the Green Industry, and a troubled outlook regarding their involvement.

Some argue that young people lack initiative to get involved in our work due negative view of Green Industry jobs. Including:

THE GREEN INDUSTRY IS SHRINKING & NON-VIABLE

In order to capture the attention of millennials, it is necessary to understand their values, characteristics, and career expectations.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ARE OPTIMISTIC, AND BELIEVE THAT LIFE AND WORK SHOULD HAVE MEANING.

THERE IS ONLY SEASONAL WORK AVAILABLE

They want to work for purposeful, value-oriented organizations. They look for work that fuels their sense of purpose and makes them feel important. If you want to attract the next generation, let them know that this line of work is important and has meaning. Whether you’re working the soil, researching/ developing new products, or in management, you are progressing an industry that moves civilization.

Think about why you do the job that you do. What makes it meaningful to you? The next time you meet a talented prospective employee consider making that the focus of your conversation.

GREEN INDUSTRY JOBS WASTE A COLLEGE EDUCATION

THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, AND UNIQUE PROJECTS.

THE INDUSTRY IS NOT PRESTIGIOUS PAY OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT ARE LOW

While we know these couldn’t be further from the truth, all of these persistent myths make it is easier to understand why millennials are not considering careers in our industry, let alone applying to join our summer mow crews. As industry leaders, it is important to be aware of these misconceptions and recognize our responsibility to correct them.

We need to demonstrate that the Green Industry is onla.org

actually a huge, thriving industry full of opportunities for ambitious and talented young professionals to begin long, stable careers—not only a source for summer jobs.

Show how our work is interesting. It is important for young people to feel involved with new and exciting things. Our industry has a long list of components that fulfill this job requirement. For example, landscape design is reaching new heights and is full of new elements, amenities, and technology in both commercial and residential projects. Clients continSeptember/October 2016

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ue to ask for complex designs and crave unique spaces for work and play—perfect spaces for imaginative, millennial minds to capture and construct.

Millennials are idealistic and fresh. They expect to change the world and have fun doing it. What better industry to do that than in landscaping? Our industry is all about growth and beautifying the world—one property or product at a time. Few things are more intrinsically gratifying than envisioning a new landscape, mapping out the plan, and watching it come to fruition.

87% OF MILLENNIALS SAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER GROWTH ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM IN A JOB, ACCORDING TO A 2016 GALLUP POLL.

They want to know that employers are committed to their success just as they are expected to be committed to thecompany. We must build personal development and opportunities for advancement into our job descriptions and outline clear career paths through our businesses for these young employees.

During the hiring process, discuss possible certifications or training programs that are recognized in the industry and would lead to an increase in pay.

Know what is required to advance in your organization. For example, you should be able to easily explain requirements for advancing to a driver or assistant team leader position, or the average number of years of labor before becoming a team leader or supervisor.

Take young, talented millennials under your wing and begin discussing what a career at the company would look like.Plan ahead for exemplary employees to attend competitions or conferences. Discuss events early and get employees excited about the opportunity to learn from other professionals.

It is often stated that young people desire instant gratification. The truth is, they do not need positive feedback as much as just feedback in general. Millennials are used to instant information due to growing up in the digital age. Keeping a feedback loop open and fre-

34 The Buckeye

quently communicating with young employees is crucial to them feeling secure in their jobs. Check in with employees from time to time and share if your expectations are being met. All types of feedback engage employees and create a better environment for success and long-term employment.

There is no doubting that young people are the future, that is more true than ever within our industry. Perspectives need to change on both sides. Advanced industry leaders, experienced workers, and laborers need to all be aware of how they present themselves, their careers and the industry in general. If we learn to think more like the next generation or at least attempt to understand them, we will begin to appeal to them and hopefully get them to lend an ear. Eager young professionals are sure to meet us half way. Once we are on the same page, they will be receptive to what we have to say and start to take a more serious look at what our industry has to offer. B

- Shawn Rine, OCNT, Rine Landscaping Group shawn.rine@rinelandscapinggroup.com

ONLINE CAREER CENTER WWW.ONLA.ORG/CAREERS

Looking for Opportunities?

Search current job postings in the Green Industry, learn about scholarship opportunities, and research Ohio Horticulture programs.

Hiring?

Post your open positions on onla.org. Listings are posted for 60 days and may be included in The Buckeye (if current as of press deadlines). $50 ONLA members, $100 non-members.

onla.org

EMPLOYERS’ GUIDE

RETAINING EMPLOYEES WITH INCENTIVE-BASED STRATEGIES

One of the biggest challenges for business owners in the green industries is to retain quality employees. During the busy time of the year, owners look to make sure employees are at work each day and often are so busy attracting business and then scheduling the service, that time is not taken to make certain employees are well trained, recognized for superior effort and quality work, and guided into performing tasks efficiently and effectively.

In other industries, employees are compensated based on sales, work performed, or customer retention. In the green industries, most employees are being compensated based on the hours that they work. How can these employees feel as though there is a future for them working at your green industry company?

The solution for many employers has been to develop incentive and deferred compensation for those individuals who demonstrate an understanding of what being an employee means.

What you do for your employees to keep them motivated this fall will be valuable to keeping and retaining their enthusiasm heading to the end of the year. With the weather in Ohio this year, I believe that we will be working late into the year and you will need to keep morale up. What a better way than to offer incentives to your employees for preserving and completing quality work.B - Edward T. Wandtke, CPA, CVA, CEPA, MBA Wandtke & Associates, ed.wandtke@wandtke.com

Here are four plans that can be implemented this fall that will assist in keeping your employees motivated and delivering the quality of service that you promise customers.

ONE

THREE

Attendance is often an issue as the busy season comes to an end. Reward employees for being on time for a week or for a short period of time. These rewards should be in the form of gift cards or coupons for events that will be usable by the employee and their family.

Reward administrative workers who deal with collections with a monthly bonus based on the percent or total dollars collected that were outstanding as of the prior month.

TWO A fall bonus based on the performance of the company for the year is often a surprise. This reward could be a turkey or ham at Thanksgiving. This does not discriminate against any employee irrespective of their position in the company.

onla.org

FOUR For installation workers, reward them for both installations under budget and for helping to upsell additional work.

These rewards should be in the form of cash. It is best if this reward is based on two weeks of production or jobs completed during a month. Remember that this reward is a “NET” payout and overtime projects are subtracted from work performed under budget.

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Managing a Latino Workforce

LEARNING SPANISH - Claudio Carlos Pasian, Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, he Ohio State University, pasian.1@osu.edu A greenhouse grower from the South once told me: “If I couldn’t hire Spanish speaking workers, I’d be out of business very fast. In my area that’s the only help I can get”. It seems that immigrant workers are willing to do many jobs that Americans will not do.

Most of the comments I have heard regarding Spanish-speaking workers have been very good. However, poor communication skills have frustrated growers with limited Spanish speaking capabilities.

Lack of good communication between workers and their supervisors not only creates inefficiencies but also can be dangerous. Please, keep in mind that language is only part of good communication. Symbols, signs, expectations or behavior—which are all influenced by culture—are integral parts of the communication process.

In this article, I will discuss aspects that deal with the learning of Spanish as well as communication in general, of which language is only one aspect.

SHOULD I LEARN SPANISH? Not necessarily. However, if you have a Spanish speaking workforce, knowing even some rudimentary Spanish can save you many headaches and earn good will.

36 The Buckeye

IS IT DIFFICULT TO LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE? That depends. Urgency, cultural interest, and talent all play a role. For some people, learning languages is relatively easy. If you are like me, you will have to work a little harder than average.

Regardless, if you want to, you will learn enough to communicate with your workers. To avoid frustrations, set realistic goals. Start by learning a certain number of words and after that try a few verbs, etc. As much as you can, try to make it a fun project.

IS SPANISH DIFFICULT? Yes and no. If you are a person who likes structured things with clear rules, you will like Spanish. A one letter-one sound system makes reading much easier. Verbs are more difficult than in English. Pronunciation will be a killer at the beginning. For most English speaking people, it’s just as difficult to pronounce the open vowels of Spanish as it is for us nonnatives of English speaking countries to pronounce the English language vowels. Do not despair! Time and effort will take care of the bumps at the beginning of the road.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPANISH? Yes, just like New York English and Mississippi English are different from Australian English. These national and

regional differences should not be a problem if you learn basic, standard Spanish. Standard Spanish is identical from country to country so everyone can communicate using this form of the language. It is estimated that less than 10% of Spanish may be different from country to country. The only problems encountered may be if slang is used or when people have a heavy accent. Do you have problems understanding someone from New Zealand or England? In my opinion, most of the differences between the Spanish from different regions are at the same level as those from different English speaking countries.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN? Different people learn in different ways. Find what works for you. Two effortless first steps: if your office is connected to the internet, you can pick a Spanish language radio station and play talk shows (no music) as background throughout the day; you can do the same with Latin music. This will allow you to develop the ability to distinguish words.

Whatever method you choose, be sure to make it fun. Some suggestions: take a conversational class; travel to a Spanish speaking country; use tapes (bookstore or library); find a tutor (Can it be one of your employees?); watch TV; make your own tape; get to know your Spanish-speaking employees.

onla.org

In addition to the traditional Spanish teaching tools available in bookstores or libraries I suggest you reference some of the following: Thomson’s English/Spanish Illustrated Agricultural Dictionary. Robert P. Rice, Jr. 1993.

Spanish in the Field. Practical Spanish for Ranchers, Farmers, or Vintners. C. P. Clough, J.C. Comegys, and J.K.M. Saddler. agAccess Davis, CA. 1990.

Ball Floriculture Dictionary. y V. Hoyosde Martens and M.L. Nydia-

Palma de Villareal Ball Publishing, Batavia Illinois, 1995 WPS video in Spanish. EPA approved and prepared by MSU.

EMPLOYERS’ GUIDE

RESOURCES

operators. This service is frequently used by hospitals and other public agencies that provide emergency response. The cost varies according to the company.

Electronic Dictionaries and Technology. This “artificial intelligence” translation, whether by electronic device or internet, cannot convey subtleties of language and only occasionally work by translating word for word (literal). Beware! It is commonly said, “The translator is a traitor”...

COMMUNICATION

Emergency Translations. Some companies offer on-the-phone translation services through bilingual English-Spanish speaking telephone

In other words, how we say something may be as important as the words we use to say it, and this is influenced by culture. B

Finally, keep in mind that communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.

A Wholesale Distribution & Supply House

www.GrassSeedSupply.com

onla.org

866-530-SEED (7333)

September/October 2016

37

Exclusive Membership Benefits ONLA members are entitled to the following benefits and services, designed to reduce company expenses while addressing the specific needs of Green Industry businesses. ONLA strives to bring the most relevant and useful benefits and services to its members. To receive important member updates, please make sure your correct email is on file with ONLA. For more information about ONLA member savings, visit www.onla.org or call 614.899.1195.

Credit Collection - Cash Flow Management (CFM)

Online Training - LS Training

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

LS Training, the training experts! LS Training was developed with the landscaper in mind. They 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

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 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 ONLA provides legislative information and plans advocacy events.

Visit onla.org to learn about current elected officials, issues and legislation, candidates and upcoming elections, as well as links to media sources in your area.

38 The Buckeye

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 percent 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

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

onla.org

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

Companies applying for ACTIVE membership: All Ways Green Isaac Kershaw P.O. Box 8, West Jefferson, OH 43162

Gardens Alive Felix Cooper 110 West Elm Street, Tipp City, OH 45371

Avon Landscaping Inc. Matt Brunner 3910 Long Rd, Avon, OH 44011

High Definition Lawns Sarah Harrington 7903 Dellinger Rd, Galloway, OH 43119-7534

Blades to Petals Anna Smith PO Box 683, Maineville, OH 45039

Hirzel Farms Bridget Burgess 20790 Bradner Road, Luckey, OH 43443

C & M Landscape Inc Ben McKnight P.O. Box 1376, Dublin, OH 43017 Cloud Landscape Design LLC Jennifer Markel 7323 Richmond Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45236

HRH Landscape Ltd Laura Burchfield 18581 Florence Chapel Pike, Circleville, OH 43113 John Klauder Associates Kenneth Rittenhouse 950 Old River Road, Granville, OH 43023

Detillion Landscaping Co., Inc. Randy Detillion 20337 State Route 104 Chillicothe, OH 45601

Landform Svc, Inc. Bryan Sizelove 1485 Symmes Road, Fairfield, OH 45014

Eagle Ridge Nursery Michael Clifton 20739 Lee Wolfe Rd, Gambier, OH 43022

Luck Landscaping Josh Luck 4731 South Ave unit 13, Toledo, OH 43615

Enterprise Landscape & Tree Management, LLC Heidi Wethington 5964 Roan Rd, Milford, OH 45150-2151

Marion Landscape Service, LLC Shawn Cress 132 Union St, Marion, OH 43302

Garden Design Joe Daubel 1974 Village Court, Columbus, OH 43212

Mateva Gardens Michael Antenucci 8861 Apple Knoll Ln, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Gardening with Nature, LLC Jenny Gast 5815 Timber Rail Lane, Mason, OH 45040

Old Country Stone Bill Karr 49365 TR 200, Coshocton, OH 43812

onla.org

Outside Image LLC Matt Sirisakyot 1026 Alton Darby Creek Rd, Galloway, OH 43119 Rapp Equipment Cecil Rapp 7258 Lockbourne Rd., Lockbourne, OH 43137 Smith's Lawn and Landscaping Michael Smith 7623 Smoketree Ct, Columbus, OH 43235 Statements Lawn and Landscape Justin Sylvester P.O. Box 281, Avon Lake, OH 44012 Stone Ledge Designs Inc Mike Connair 10780 Hopkins Road, Garrettsville, OH 44231 TheDon Landscaping Donald Bischof 4400 Cloverhill Terr, Cincinnati, OH 45238 TM Garden Design, LLC Thomas Miller 990 Pine View Rd., Westerville, OH 43081 Urban Growers Greenhouse LLC John Urbanowicz 16130 Claridon Troy Rd, Burton, OH 44021

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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 Visit onla.org to find upcoming test dates and download your OCNT test application.

For more information on the OCNT program, email roni@onla.org or call 614.899.1195

Brought to you by:

Training Manual Order Form NAME: COMPANY: ADDRESS:

CITY:

STATE:

PHONE #:

E-MAIL:

Check enclosed Check #:

Card Number: Exp. Date: Card Holder:

3-digit:

VISA

MasterCard

ZIP:

MEMBER RATES (Call for non-member pricing) * Landscape + Core ______ x $125.00 = $_______ Garden Center ______ x $75.00 = $_______ Grower ______ x $75.00 = $_______ All Manuals ______ x $250.00 = $_______ Replacement CD Rom ______ x $25.00 = $_______ Total = $_______ * Written Manual and Computer Based Training CD Rom for each

Signature:

Return to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association • 72 Dorchester Square • Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Ph: 614.899.1195 • 800.825.5062 • F: 614.899.9489

40 The Buckeye

onla.org

Calendar of Events View www.onla.org for more information.

O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.

Advertiser Index Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 buckeyeresources.com

ONLA Golf Outing September 23, Sunbury, OH

Burns JCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 burnsjcb.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Landscape Awards Program Application Deadline September 23

ernstseed.com Evergreen Seed Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 GrassSeedSupply.com

Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO) November 3 & 4, Wooster, OH

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries . . . . . . . . . 18 fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

O Diagnostic Walkabouts September 22, Sunset Memorial Park, North Olmstead, OH

greenvelvet.com Medina Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 medinasodfarms.com

OCNT Testing September 15, Westerville, OH October 20, Westerville, OH November 17, Westerville, OH January 16, 2017 (Garden Center) Columbus, OH January 17, 2017 (Grower) Columbus, OH January 18, 2017 (Landscape & Core) Columbus, OH

Millcreek Gardens LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 millcreekplants.com Old Country Stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 oldcountrystone.com Spring Meadow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com

MGIX, the Midwest Green Industry Xperience, January 16–18, 2017, Columbus, Ohio

Ad Rates & Info O Green Industry Advocacy Day February 22, 2017

Contact Alana Settle alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195

Classified Ads Maintenance Team Leader, Grunder Landscaping Co., Miamisburg, Ohio The online classified service can be found on onla.org along with the complete postings. New ads will be added to the website as soon as they are submitted to ONLA. Ads listed here were current as of press time. For more information, please contact the ONLA office at 614.899.1195. ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads.

onla.org

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

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1560 COLUMBUS OHIO

Address Service Requested

REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 1 January 16–18, 2017

Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association is proud to announce the launch of MGIX, formerly known as CENTS. MGIX is redesigned to provide greater value for nursery & greenhouse growers, retail garden centers, landscape architects, designers and contractors, turf and pest management professionals and arborists.

Connect, Learn, Innovate • Industry-leading educational sessions • An innovative & dynamic tradeshow offering • Networking opportunities and special events

CALL 614.899.1195 OR LEARN MORE AT MGIX17.COM