The Landscape Contractor magazine AUG.23 DIGITAL EDITION

The Story of Fire + Ice

Snow Daze

Nina Koziol 48-50, 61 AEC Supply 5 4 Mark

The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www.ilca.net

Volume 64, Number 8. The Landscape Contractor (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net

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PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632

ILCA Staff

Executive Director Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@ilca.net

Statewide Director of Development Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@ilca.net

Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net

Office Manager Alycia Nagy anagy@ilca.net

& Marketing Manager

Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net

Magazine Staff

Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net

Debbie Rauen Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com

Meta Levin Feature Writer meta.levin@comcast.net

Nina Koziol Feature Writer n.koziol@att.net

Heather Prince Feature Writer princeht@sbcglobal.net

Patrice Peltier Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

Becke Davis EditorialAssistant

It’s 2005. You

stumble across an article about an upcoming Smartphone being developed for the masses known as an iPhone. Tech writers, doomsayers, and conspiracy theorists theorize we are not ready for a device of this power and magnitude in our pockets.

They couldn’t comprehend every Smartphone user having access to an entire library of truth and knowledge. We would be able to communicate across borders, cultures, and languages. Any argument could be easily solved by an instant internet search relying on a trove of well-vetted and researched information. No one could lie. No one could deceive. Politicians would become honest. The walls of misinformation and propaganda put up by authoritarian regimes would be washed away by a tidal wave of truth. The entire world was about to change the moment Smartphones flipped the switch.

Then the switch got flipped. Some of that happened, but most of it didn’t. Truth has become more hazy, relative, and malleable. We fight and argue more. We don’t use phones to read the collected works of Plato and Voltaire. We use it to watch Squid Games and read articles on whom Khloe Kardashian is dating. We still have to go to school and work. We still have politicians who lie and authoritarian regimes who crush the truth.

From Where I Stand — Artificial Sweetener

AI used supervised training. Meaning, a human fed the AI information gleaned from past engagements. The best example of this are customer service bots we have all interacted with on websites. Those bots use a limited dataset of common interactions. The AI is trained to engage based on how humans engaged in the past or how bots successfully troubleshoot problems in the present. The entire learning process fits neatly in a box and the AI eats the food placed in the box.

ChatGPT did something not many dreamed would be so successful and scalable so quickly. It used unsupervised training. Like Google, ChatGPT scours everything to spider and gather data. Then, because of its ability to understand context and nuance, it can keep refining that data so that it begins to leak into what you previously were tasked with doing - making sense of the information that was returned by the search. It nails the part that was previously done by Google, and now is doing some of the work that was previously done by you!

When a new technology arrives we meet it with equal parts curiosity and trepidation. We wonder if we can keep up with the speed in which our lives will invariably change. Then, the slow drip occurs as we embrace technology on a wider and wider scale. In the end, the technology has so infiltrated our daily lives that it seems like it’s been there forever. It is both vital and stale at the same time. We are bored by it, yet can’t imagine a single day without it.

It is 2023, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning this familiar cycle. Right now, AI is a Venn diagram between three prevailing thoughts: I’m curious about it, I’m scared of it, and to hell with it. It is fun watching the “End is Near” AI-prophets try to convince the “Who gives a crap” AI-skeptics. Equally, the AI-opportunists are trying to convince the AI-scaremongers to not snuff this little fire out with fear and excessive regulations. Round and round we will go.

This column is going to cover three things: What is AI, should we be scared of it, and will it improve the lives of landscape professionals in any way?

Everyone is familiar with Google. Years ago, it did seem like a little wizard lived in the internet. Enter the right search terms, and he would spellcast you information. We got better at using search engines and eventually we just called the act of searching, “Googling.” Google, and all search engines, use different algorithmic concepts than AI. For the purpose of this article, let’s use the most popular and well-known of AI tools - ChatGPT.

When you Google something, you enter your search terms into a search field. Google does not immediately try and answer your question. Google only spiders and gathers data on pages that may match your request. You then interact with these pages to gather data through your own look-ups and interaction. Google is a lighting fast librarian who gets you any book you want on a subject in milliseconds. You then pour into those resources and find your answers.

ChatGPT feels similar, but is very different. ChatGPT is programmed to understand context in a way that Google cannot. Early

The more I engage with ChatGPT, the more I realize the library analogy is sound, but only as a starting point. Imagine Google as the library for everyone. There are trillions of books and we all have access to them. However, the library has to be organized to be accessible for all, not just me. It would not make sense to rearrange the entire library to just have books and resources that Scott Grams cares about. It is Scott Grams’ job to obtain the resources from Google and then prioritize them for Scott Grams.

ChatGPT, on the other hand, is the most personal library you could have ever imagined. It’s like its entire function is to exist for Scott Grams to play with. I could first ask for a recipe for fudge brownies. I could then ask ChatGPT to have that recipe include Skittles. I could then have ChatGPT write a poem about my Skittle brownies. I could then have ChatGPT insert knock-knock jokes into my poem. If I were to type: “hilarious poem about fudge brownies that contain Skittles in iambic pentameter” Google would get a nosebleed. ChatGPT is just like, “Whatever floats your boat, bro.”

ChatGPT is getting so good at its job because its creators eventually had to take it out of the box and let it roam the earth. It let it eat what it wants to eat. It let it learn, not from a supervised regimen of what humans wanted it to learn, but from everything. This is where we naturally have to ask the question - should we be terrified by all this?

On an existential level, I would say no. If you have a job that is all about creating bland marketing copy, bland imagery, bland music, and bland videos — maybe. Computers have been taught to do human functions since the abacus. AI is really no different. It is just crossing over into hundreds of new skills that used to make up someone’s workday.

The biggest danger of AI is that it will morph from useful tool into an annoying nuisance that creates more junk society has to deal with. Deepfakes and misinformation are at the top of the list. Additionally, privacy concerns are massive. I am likely the last generation that can choose to not be on social media without harm. My kids and their kids have no prayer. Being off the social media grid won’t be cool or normal. When your entire life is online, and AI can easily find it and curate it, and even replicate it. There are massive risks in showing the world the totality of your online self.

The more and more I used ChatGPT for work functions, I began to see its limitations. Those limitations, outside of post-apocalyptic Terminator, scenarios revolve around job loss and workforce

ALL TOGETHER BETTER

instability. ChatGPT is very fast and writes oodles of accurate copy. In the past few months, I have seen it used — to help someone get out of a jury duty summons, write quiz questions, identify video tags, come up with a list of names for ILCA’s new content channel, among other assignments.

If I were giving ChatGPT grades on those tasks, they would range from A+ to F. It is a prolific writer and if you need to take up a lot of blank space with text, look no further. It writes like a college freshman in a business writing class. It is as funny as a 7th grader with a joke book. It is as creative as a room full of executives trying to be creative without being controversial. It writes and speaks with a voice, but no soul. With that said, some of its applications saved me and my staff hundreds of hours of busy work.

So, that brings us to the final question, will AI impact the landscape industry? Personally, the landscape industry would be fools not to become early-adopters for a few reasons. The primary reason is that the work it replaces is not the work that makes you money. Many in this industry do not enjoy writing. Many pursued landscaping as a way to burst out of offices, not sit in a cubicle banging out bland copy for client letters, invoices, emails, ads, and websites.

Second, this industry moves at breakneck speed. Imagine just having one hour of every day back because you had ChatGPT write a watering regimen for clients due to drought instead of your account manager.

Third, landscaping is about taking a basket of skills, techniques, materials, plants, etc. and customizing it to clients and conditions. Remember, AI is your own personal Google. It will drill down into any and every variable you toss at it using a base set of knowledge. Could it easily give you a plant list for 10 sets of conditions? Yes. Could it easily write a bulleted script for a salesperson based on a customized consumer profile? Yes. Could it give a client ten names for their new grill and pergola area that you could hang a wood sign above the bar? Yes. It can do all of this...in seconds.

If AI can eliminate 10% of your mundane tasks so you can take on 10% more work, just imagine the impact to your bottom line.

It is hard for me to remember if we used the word “...yet” when discussing Smartphones back in 2005. Did we say, “You can’t watch movies on it...yet.” “You can’t hail a taxi on it...yet.” “You can’t pay for coffee with it...yet.” AI is in the “...yet” stage. It can’t draft a full scale landscape design...yet. It can’t apply for a village permit...yet. It can’t create a project timeline and communicate deviations to clients...yet.

Today, you have three choices, embrace it, fear it, or ignore it. Here is my advice for the August doldrums. Create a ChatGPT account and just noodle around. Enter in a few queries and see where the day takes you. My guess is that you will be amazed and then terrified. That terror will give way to logical pragmatism. Finally, you will develop a practical understanding.

I mean, it can’t replace human intelligence... yet. Wait, did that cursor just wink at me?

And just for grins, an excerpt from my/ChatGTPs Skittles Brownies poem:

Knock, knock! Who’s there? Brownies! Brownies who? Brownies calling, oh, taste me through and through. So, venture forth, and bake these brownies grand, A poem and a recipe, hand in hand.

With fudgy goodness, Skittles’ playful glee, Enjoy the sweet symphony, a dessert decree.

Sincerely,

Scott Grams, Executive Director July 10, 2023

President

Ashley Marrin

Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-2225 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Vice-President

Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Secretary-Treasurer

Kim Hartmann

Rosborough Partners 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net

Immediate Past President

Jeff Kramer Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 293-5444 jwkramer@kramertree.com

Directors

Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com

Ryan Heitman The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com

Tom Klitzkie

Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com

Michael Massat The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com

Nikki Melin Midwest Groundcovers (847) 742-1790 nmelin@midwestgroundcovers.com

Kevin McGowen Kaknes/SiteOne (630) 416-999 kevin@kaknes.com

Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com

Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

President’s Message —

The spring rush is behind us, and we finally have a chance to get out from behind the desk or the skid steer and do something fun. August kicks off with Fire + Ice: The Landscape and Snow Expo and continues ILCA’s educational and networking opportunities of summer. These events are the work of many dedicated professionals from all areas of the landscape industry who make up our amazing committees — all 21 of them. Committee members brainstorm new ways to benefit members, connect professionals, and create unique educational content and events. They work together to solve problems, value each professional’s point of view, and have boots on the ground to keep everything organized. One of the reasons ILCA is so successful is this bottom up structure. ILCA’s dedicated committees are why our association can identify and accomplish so many important tasks that benefit our members.

Each committee has various levels of commitment and responsibility. Thanks to COVID, technology allows committees to host meetings that allow members to participate without physically attending. I can list a million ways that committee involvement can benefit a member, but I will share how it has benefited me. I admit that I was shy and nervous attending ILCA events.

I would look busy standing in the corner looking at my phone. When I did attend events, I stuck close to my coworkers (aka family) and rarely chatted with someone I didn’t know. That soon changed when I joined the Membership Committee. The group was incredibly friendly and welcomed me. That’s when the fun began.

Committee involvement made it more comfortable to network. Eventually, I was encouraged to give a presentation at the Annual Party and Member Meeting. For someone who despised speech class, I survived speaking in front of 350-plus members. My fear of public speaking soon disappeared. Before I knew it, I had more confidence and had grown and developed skills that would assist me professionally and personally. Committee involvement also allows a person to be involved in something that they may not get to do at work. For example, I was excited about marketing and social media. While on the Membership and the Experience Committees, I was able to explore these areas, even though my background and education is in landscape architecture. Meetings with the committee, whether it be four or 10 times per year, always left me energized, not overwhelmed. When you volunteer on a committee you are a part of a team and a voice of the membership.

I encourage every member to think about joining a committee. Whether you are new to the industry, just out of school, in the middle of raising a family, or nearing retirement, there is a place for you and benefits to be had. It’s important that we have landscape professionals from all areas of expertise and from all over Illinois. Make the most of your ILCA membership, get your foot in the door, and be a member with a voice. The list of committees along with additional information can be found at www.ilca.net.

Sincererly,

Ashley Marrin

La fiebre del verano ha quedado atrás y finalmente tenemos la oportunidad de salir del escritorio o del minicargador y hacer algo divertido. Agosto arranca con Fuego + Hielo: la Exposición de Paisajismo y Nieve continúa las oportunidades de educación y establecimiento de contactos de ILCA en el verano. Estos eventos son el resultado del trabajo esmerado de muchos profesionales de todas las áreas de la industria paisajista que forman parte de nuestros asombrosos comités — todos los 21. Los miembros de los comités intercambian ideas sobre nuevas formas de beneficiar a los miembros, conectar a profesionales y crear contenido y eventos educativos singulares. Trabajan juntos para resolver problemas, evaluar todos los puntos de vista de los profesionales y poner las botas en el terreno para mantener todo organizado. Una de las razones por las que ILCA tiene tanto éxito es la estructura de abajo hacia arriba. Los comités dedicados de ILCA son el motivo por el cual nuestra asociación puede identificar y lograr tantas tareas importantes que benefician a nuestros miembros.

Cada comité tiene diferentes niveles de compromisos y responsabilidades. Gracias al COVID, la tecnología permite a los comités realizar reuniones en las que los miembros pueden participar sin asistir físicamente. Puedo enumerar un millón de motivos por los que la participación en el Comité puede beneficiar a los miembros, pero compartiré cómo me ha beneficiado personalmente. Admito que asistir a los eventos de ILCA me ponía nervioso por mi timidez. Podía parecer ocupado refugiado en un rincón del salón mirando mi teléfono. Cuando asistía a los eventos, permanecía cerca de mis compañeros de trabajo (mi familia) y pocas veces hablaba con extraños. Eso cambió en poco tiempo cuando me incorporé al Comité de Membresía. El grupo resultó increíblemente amistoso y me dio la bienvenida. Fue ahí que comenzó la diversión.

La participación en el Comité hizo más cómodo entablar relaciones. Eventualmente, se me animó a hacer una presentación en la Fiesta Anual y Reunión de Miembros. Para alguien que despreciaba las clases de oratoria, sobreviví hablando ante más de 350 miembros. Mi miedo a hablar en público desapareció pronto. Antes de que me diera cuenta, tenía más confianza y había desarrollado habilidades que me ayudarían profesional y personalmente. La participación en el comité también permite a una persona involucrarse en algo que no tendrán la oportunidad de hacer en el trabajo. Por ejemplo, me entusiasmaba el marketing y los medios sociales. Mientras estuve en los Comités de Membrecía y Experiencia, pude explorar estas áreas, aunque mi experiencia y educación son en arquitectura paisajista. Reunirme con el comité, aunque sean cuatro o 10 veces al año, siempre me dejó energizado, no abrumado. Cuando participas voluntariamente en un comité eres parte de un equipo y una voz de la membresía.

Animo a cada miembro a pensar en incorporarse a un comité. Tanto si es nuevo en la industria o recién graduado de la escuela o está criando una familia o a punto de jubilarse, hay un lugar para usted y beneficios que recibirá. Es importante que tengamos profesionales paisajistas de todas las áreas de experiencia y de todo Illinois. Saque el mayor provecho de su membresía en ILCA, ponga el pie en la puerta y sea un miembro con voz. Se puede encontrar la lista de comités junto con información adicional en www.ilca.net.

Atentamente, Ashley Marrin

Ashley Marrin

Hinsdale Haven

With the use of clean lines and strategic material selection, the tired back yard was transformed into a versatile extension of the home with a modern touch. The conveniences of home cooking are extended to the outdoors with the help of an extensive kitchen complete with a wide range of appliances. The large roof structure provides ample protection from the elements for both the dining and outdoor kitchen areas.

Can lights within the structure and low voltage lighting throughout the outdoor space provide added functionality and ambiance. The outdoor season is extended with the addition of heaters mounted to the structure’s ceiling, along with the incorporation of a natural gas fire pit. Planting beds framing both sides of the patio provide seasonal color throughout the year.

King’s Landscape Design • Lemont

Focus — Fire + Ice

Th e Story of Fire & Ice

as told by... Swaine Nelson, Head Gnome

nce upon a time, in the history of this fine association, two rivals sparred for the members’ attention. They were: FIRE, representing the green side of the industry warmed by the sun and ICE the upstart profit center trying to feed contractors over the winter months.

FIRE and heat had traditionally owned the summer with its long-running Summer Field Day. But as time passed, ICE grew more and more important demanding greater attention before the flakes began to fall.

At first, Summer Field Day and Summer Snow Days existed independently from one another. It did not take long for ILCA to realize Fire and Ice should both be invited to the same party. At that moment, Fire & Ice was born to bring value to landscape and snow professionals, regardless of the season.

The Snow and Summer Field Day committees joined forces to bring us the new event. It is timed perfectly for the beauty of the landscape season, while remembering the necessary midsummer preparations for winter.

Fire & Ice are competitors no longer. They are friends, partners, buddies, and comrades. Their alliance provides the blue flame that keeps this industry burning the entire year round.

And so it is...

by Meta L. Levin

Fire & Ice meet again, on August 3, 2023.

On that day, ILCA members will descend on Ball Horticultural Co. in West Chicago, IL for the Fire & Ice Landscape and Snow Expo, an outdoor trade show for the green industry and snow professionals, where you will find Fire embracing Ice.

(continued on page 12)

Focus — Fire + Ice

(continued from page 11)

Stop and smell the roses, talk with the growers, test the equipment. It’s all there, or it will be from 8:30 am to 3 pm on Thursday, August 3rd.

“Meet your rep, learn about new products, think about next year, have fun and catch up with people you haven’t seen in months,” says Jessica Riedell, chair of the Fire subcommittee.

Enjoy a hot summer day

Fire & Ice will be on full display, coexisting in peace, no meltdowns involved. Fire (Wes Arnold) and Ice (Scott Grams) will walk the show, greeting participants, assuring them that harmony between the two will reign supreme.

On the fire side, Ball Seed will open its display gardens to selfguided tours, with docents on site. A representative from Hoerr Schaudt, who designed the Helix Plaza, will be there to answer questions.

“It’s a beautiful site,” says Riedell. “The display gardens are huge, representing different styles. You can meander through them and get some inspiration.”

And if some of the gardens you service are, well, a bit smaller and contained, that’s covered, too. Joan Mazat will give attendees Container Solutions during two “potting parties,” one in the morning and one in the afternoon, under a tent, showing you the secrets of incorporating some of the flowers and foliage into beautiful container designs.

(continued on page 14)

Focus — Fire + Ice

(continued from page 12)

Should the day become too hot, Ice will take over, in the form of the Kona Ice truck, which will be on hand to provide some cooling shaved ice, thanks to sponsorship by Midwest Salt. Or you can sip a cool beer compliments of The Tree Connection, while listening to music of the steel drums. Rental Max will provide the lanyards to hold your IDs. Mariani Plants will sponsor sunglasses and Alta Equipment is sponsoring the raffle. Oh, yes, there will be a raffle.

Feeling competitive?

The axe throwing will be back. “Everybody loves the axes,” says Riedell.

All refreshed? Test drive some new equipment, both the fire and the ice kind. Or perhaps you would like a guided walkabout of the vendors, asking questions and inspecting

the latest and greatest products you’ll want to incorporate in next season’s designs.

Hungry for food and information? The committee has thought of that, too. Fire and Ice will get together with three “Lunch and Learn” panel discussions, covering a variety of snow and ice, as well as landscape topics. “It will be a casual question and answer format,” says Bob Bertog, chair of the Ice portion of the event.

Tasty Catering, which was a hit during the 2016 Summer Field Day, will be back to provide the food.

There’s something for the families, too, says Riedell. An area equipped with games and other things for children to do is in the plans.

It’s all there with Fire & Ice. “We learned last year that we have become a single, cohesive group,” says Bertog. “It’s going to be a great show.”

Focus — Fire & Ice

Exhibitors at press time

A. Block Marketing

Advanced Turf

Alta Equipment Company

Aspire Software

Assured Partners

Atlas Bobcat

Bartlett Tree Experts

Blu Petroleum

Burris Equipment

Cedar Path Nurseries

Central Tree

Central Turf & Irrigation

Clesen Wholesale

Conserv FS

Dayton Bag & Burlap Company

Environmental Design

Goodmark Nurseries

Green Glen Nursery

Halloran Power Equipment

Harrell’s

Hoffie Nursery

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

J. Frank Schmidt & Son

Kankakee Nursery

KO Supply Company

Kramer Tree Specialists

McCann Industries

McGinty Bros.

Mchigan West Shore Nursery

Midwest Groundcovers

Midwest Salt

Midwest Stihl

Midwest Trading

Monroe Truck Equipment

Northwest Lawn & Power Equipment

Perfect Turf

Power Planter

Pizzo Native Plant Nursery

Precise Fleet Tracking

Rainbow Ecoscience

Reinders

Rental Max

Russo Power Equipment

Shorewood Home & Auto

SiteOne Landscape Supply

Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA)

Stanley Outdoor Group

The Tree Connection

Twixwood Nursery

Vermeer Midwest

WellBuilt Equipment

Wilson Nurseries & Landscape Supply

Snow Daze

Are you prepared?

by Nina A. Koziol

Welcome to the year

of El Niño. We haven’t had an El Niño since 2020. We’re heading into a periodic warming of water that straddles the equator in the Pacific Ocean. When sea-surface temperatures in that region reach 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit above average for at least a month and are accompanied by changes in the atmosphere it could impact snow fall this winter. And that can mean extra jobs for your firm.

El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific. The pattern can shift back and forth irregularly every two to seven years, and each phase triggers predictable disruptions of temperature, precipitation, and winds. These changes disrupt the large-scale air movements in the tropics, triggering a cascade of global weather-related side effects.

If only we had a crystal ball.

Will this be the year of The Big Snow? Will we be fooled by our favorite meteorologist again? Time will tell, but you’d better be prepared.

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape in Wheeling, has been preparing for snow seasons for the past 45 years. Despite the heat, humidity and summer storms, he starts prepping for Snow Ops on July 1. “Don’t wait too long to get started,” Bertog cautions. “We’re already preparing the contracts for renewal and the crews are working on the snow

equipment now in addition to the daily maintenance of the landscape equipment.”

Snow Ops 101

Bertog shared his thoughts about the basics of snow operations for those looking to start out or expand their business.

Q: What’s something first-time contractors miss?

I’m a big believer that if you’re going to do snow, do it to make money and do it well — not just to keep your guys busy in the winter. Most important — know your costs. Too many people charge $75 an hour for a pick up truck and they have no idea what it is costing them to operate it. It’s not just buying a pickup and a plow. You have to know your costs—the cost and the wear and tear on the truck. If you only have one truck and you think you’re going to make tons of money, you’d better think again. What if it breaks down—do you have a back up plan? If you have a friend who has a truck ask if they can be a back up — it’s like insurance.

If you’re already in the snow business and you want to go to the next level, you don’t have to be high end to make money, but you do have to know your costs. And there’s the (continued on page 20)

Snow & Ice Removal 2023

(continued from page 18) cost of insurance. If you only use your trucks in the summer, you need insurance for winter. I’d highly recommend an umbrella policy. What if, God forbid, you hit a gas meter on the side of the building and it starts a fire? If you don’t have a $5 million umbrella, you could lose everything. Know your insurance coverages and make sure you are protected.

Q: What’s a common mistake?

Not being prepared for performing service at the site. Know the property. Make sure you mark the property and put stakes up. When it’s a blanket of white out there, you can make a lot of mistakes and cause damage. For our clients, every property has a book with a color-coded site map (where to pile snow, where no to pile snow, fire hydrant markings, etc.). We stake all our sites and we still stake them every year even though we’ve been doing them for 20 years.

Q: Is a hand-shake good enough for an existing client?

I would have a written contract. I would never enter into a verbal contract for snow because that’s a great way not to get paid. If you don’t have a signed document—especially when we have two inches of snow and the next day it’s 40 degrees and melting. You did your job, but the response may be, “you weren’t here.” Be sure that the wording of the contract is very clear about service and payment.

Q: How about payment?

Have terms for your clients. Our terms in the winter are 15 days. We’re pretty firm about it. The pay for employees is usually double in the winter. Shovelers get $30 in winter, $18 for work in summer. Your workers will not want to wait for you to get paid so you need to get your clients to pay you promptly. You don’t want cash flow to become an issue. You also don’t want your accounts to age and the client can deny you payment. You have the leverage to collect payment with 15 day terms, especially when there is more snow in the forecast.

Q: Do you prefer commercial or residential snow ops?

We used to only do residential many years ago and then we learned sooner than later you need to do commercial. We do very little residential now—some clients demand that we do their snow because we do their landscape in the summer. I tell them I don’t want to do their snow—I’m doing it as a convenience. They know we’re going to show up. The biggest complaint from any client is when a firm doesn’t show up.

I consider HOA’s to be commercial—they’re the bread and butter in the summer and service in the winter. They often like to have the same company because if someone else does the snow, the summer firm might blame the snow company for damage to the grass. It is too easy for “finger pointing.”

Q: How have your operations changed over the years?

In 1979, when we had the big snow (21” and a record 89.7” for the season) it was basically pick up trucks doing the work. Since then, equipment has gotten much more powerful and sophisticated. Even the county plows are now massive and they can keep the roads clear. It seems that there were not a lot of snow events last winter—it was below normal but not by much. And, it doesn’t seem as bad because the equipment is so much better. We use front-end loaders and back plows, much bigger and more powerful than the equipment in ’79. They are more versatile, stronger, however, more expensive.

Q: What type of equipment do you recommend?

It depends on what type of service you do. Tailor your equipment to your contracts. It depends on what type of plowing you’re doing. I’m a huge fan of the back plow.

It’s essentially a box on the back of a truck that drags the snow out. It’s great for residential work. You wouldn’t need it for a parking lot, but it’s good for moving snow away from garages and loading docks. It’s amazing the efficiency — a guy can do double the work with a back plow. There are different manufacturers that make them.

If you are a smaller operation and the driver is also doing the shoveling, I’d recommend having at least one snow blower — one that someone could lift in and out of the truck (continued on page 16)

Snow & Ice Removal 2023

(continued from page 15) by themself. And have all the standard essentials—extra gloves, hats, boots, in case you get wet. People forget to bring food and water. When you’re doing snow, it’s usually night time, when stores are closed — remember to pack food! Even gas stations in 2011 were closed. When there’s snow in the forecast make sure the trucks are fueled and ready to go.

Q: How can small firms get to the next level?

Look at the type of software you’re using. We just switched over to Aspire. It does go into the geogrid field. We just started using it this summer and it sure looks like it’s going to make our snow program more efficient. Asset (our old software) also has a GPS system and I am sure there are other software providers with similar programs. I’d start by looking into your software, which will help with your efficiencies.

Q: What’s been a big challenge?

The last few seasons it has been labor. I will say toward the end of the last season, the laborers were hungry—they were broke because of the lack of events. We didn’t have much of a problem getting laborers when there was snow in the forecast. For the first time in several years, we had to turn people away when an event was predicted. The last two winter storms we had to turn at least 10 people away—it goes back to knowing your costs. They don’t want to come in for

four hours and go home. Our regular labor force appreciated the extra hours by us not using the additional labor that showed up.

Q: What’s with those meteorologists and their scare tactics?

We use those weather reports to our advantage. They sometimes give too much info like when they predicted 16 to 18 inches of snow and we only had two inches. The storms get a lot of hype and all our clients hear that. We use two different private services and we compare their forecasts to the local meteorologists and it is amazing sometimes how far apart the forecasts are.

You can read more about Bob Bertog’s snow operations and contracts in this back issue of The Landscape Contractor magazine: https://issuu.com/ rick_r/docs/oct.20_tlc_digital_edition

Focus — Trees

10 Bad Ass Trees for Tough Situations

by Heather Prince

Scott Beuerlein treated audiences to a popular and highly opinionated talk at iLandscape 2023 celebrating tough trees that have what it takes to survive in all kinds of tricky places. If you’re looking for a tree to thrive in the parking lot of a grocery store or a strip mall, keep this list handy!

Beuerlein is the Manager of Botanical Garden Outreach at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in Ohio. He is involved in running the zoo’s botanical garden educational programs as well as overseeing their plant trialing programs. We narrowed down his initial list to 10 species that will grow in USDA Zone 5 and shake off Midwest winters, droughty summers, and everything in between.

The Trees

Acer griseum

Paperbark maple

Zone: 4 to 8

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water: average to moist, well-drained

Size: 20-30 feet high; 15-20 feet wide; cultivars may be larger

Bark: Rich cinnamon brown exfoliating bark with hints of caramel and nutmeg. Fall Color: Paperbark maples turn color late in the season and reward us with red-purple tones. Cultivars may vary and be more red.

Why We Love It: This slow-growing specimen tree will quietly fill a space before surprising you with its spectacular bark on a winter’s day. “My

city planted it in a sort of working-class neighborhood in the parkway hellstrip,” recalled Beuerlein. “They survived and had a sort of clubby look to them due to the crappy soil conditions. But they hung in there. I find that the hybrid crosses like Girard’s Hybrid, Cinnamon Girl, and Gingerbread grow faster and have more vigor with a similarly attractive bark.”

Acer miyabei ‘Morton’

State Street maple

Zone: 4 to 8

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water: average; tolerates brief periods of drought

Size: 30 to 40 feet high and wide Bark: Rough corky gray bark eventually develops orangey fissures with age. Fruit: Two-winged samaras are abundant, but re-seeding is usually not a problem.

Fall Color: Rich clear golden yellow. Why We Love It: A selection from The Morton Arboretum, where you can still find the parent tree planted in 1929, State Street maple is a charmer for its oval to pyramidal shape, rich gold fall color, and easy-going nature. “I see it a lot as a street tree,” commented Beuerlein. “It’s a beautiful tree and it grows really fast. I have one right outside my window here at home. It was one of the earlier ones put in and now it’s probably 50 feet. The fall color comes late, but it always turns a nice, rich gold.”

griseum

Acer miyabei ‘Morton’

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Focus — Trees

Catalpa speciosa

Zone: 4 to 8

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water: any, including wet and periodic flooding

Size: 40 to 70 feet high; 20 to 50 feet wide

Bark: Deeply ridged, fissured, and sculpted bark with age.

Flower: Huge pyramidal panicles of fragrant orchid-like white flowers with delicate purple stripes at the throat bloom in late May into June.

Fruit: Flowers become long thin green pods that eventually turn brown as they dry providing much entertainment to children as frustration to gardeners who prefer their yards tidy.

Fall Color: A slight yellowish green.

Native: Native a broad swathe of

the Midwest, particularly in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Ohio.

Why We Love It: You can find catalpa growing nearly anywhere from cracks in urban sidewalks to the wide turf lawns of golf courses and parks. “It’s tempting to say I love it for the flowers,” admitted Beuerlein, “because they are so showy and nicely fragrant. However, I think what I really like about them is their weathered form. They never are that perfect symmetrical tree. They’re always contorted or twisted and bent. I just think that gives them so much more character than a lot of other trees.” Almost all catalpas have a distinct character. “However old a catalpa is, and they live to be very, very old, they usually look older. They have that ridged bark that twists. They might have a section that got hit by lightning or removed. You can tell they’ve seen some street battles.

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry

Zone: 2 to 9

Sun: full sun to part shade

Water: any

Size: 40 to 60 feet high and wide Bark: Deeply ridged and warty bark even at a young age.

Fruit: Small dark purple drupe that while edible, contains a large seed.

Fall Color: A slight greenish yellow.

Native: Native to all of the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the South.

Why We Love It: Hackberry is tolerant of compacted soils, salt, and urban pollution. “They’re absolutely great for wildlife,” commented Beuerlein. They aren’t the loveliest of ornamental trees, but they make up for it in durability and wildlife value, supporting a number of butterflies and moths. Mature trees also have an elegant cragginess about them. “You can justify that sacrifice of a little bit of beauty for the sheer functionality of it and the importance of supporting the landscape. That’s a good thing. I think Chicago, because you’re on the prairie and you have all these prairie plantings and restorations, you’ve been doing naturalistic landscaping for decades and consequently it makes you a little ahead of the curve.”

We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock . Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.

Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.

Growers & Distributors of Quality Nursery Stock

Focus — Trees

Maidenhair tree

Zone: 3 to 8

Sun: full sun

Water: average to dry

Size: 50 to 80 feet high; 30 to 40 feet wide; cultivars tend to be smaller

Fall Color: Rich golden fall color that lasts until the first hard frost when trees will drop all their leaves at once.

Why We Love It: Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, ginkgoes also thrive in salt, air pollution, and heat.

“Ginkgoes are one of those trees that makes an impressive allée. It’s an archaic or anachronistic way of planting, but when you see it, it gets your attention and it’s just cool,” observed Beuerlein.

“It’s been on the planet somewhere between 150 to 200 million years. That’s

always a good sign. A ginkgo survived an atom bomb in Hiroshima, less than a mile away from ground zero and lived. You can plant it anywhere from an industrial wasteland to a downtown to a backyard.”

Gymnocladus dioicus

Kentucky coffeetree

Zone: 3 to 8

Sun: full sun

Water: average, yet drought tolerant Size: 60 to 80 feet high; 40 to 55 feet wide

Bark: Richly rough gray-brown bark even at a young age.

Flower: Female flowers are fragrant and greenish white and up to 12 inches long, blooming in May, usually at the top of the tree.

Fruit: Large leathery pods contain flat seeds which Native Americans and pioneers traditionally roasted and ground to create a coffee-like drink.

Fall Color: Yellow

Native: Native to a large section of the Midwest.

Why We Love It: A fast-growing large shade tree, Kentucky coffeetrees always have character. “In spring, it transforms from basically a dormant hat rack into this stunning tropical tree,” enthused Beuerlein. “The double pinnate leaves are huge, loose, and sort of frilly. Incredibly tough, they just live and live and live with nobody watering them in

medians, parking lots, etc. The females do produce a lot of fruit, so perhaps not the best for by the swimming pool.

Osage orange

Zone: 4 to 9

Sun: full sun to light shade

Water: any

Size: 35 to 50 feet high and wide Bark: Deeply ridged orange-brown bark that often twists around the tree.

Fruit: Abundant softball-sized lime green textured fruit that has a light citrusy fragrance. Often used for fall decorations, the fruit can bring joy to children and consternation to adults.

Fall Color: Yellowish-green

Native: It has naturalized throughout the U.S., likely after it was inhibited from

Ginkgo biloba

Maclura pomifera

Focus — Trees

spreading northward and eastward by the megafauna extinction at the end of the last ice age. It is thought that mastodons, mammoths, giant ground sloths and others dined on the fruit.

Why We Love It: “I really love the bark,” commented Beuerlein. “It has character. ‘White Shield’ is a fruitless cultivar with shiny leaves. It’s a fast grower and you can have a tree with history without the fruit if you find it a nuisance.” Historically, Osage oranges were planted by pioneers as they moved west. It forms a fast-growing thicket, and the young branches are thorny, creating an instant fence. The wood is dense and tough, often used for bows, tool handles, and fence posts.

thing you could possibly do to kill it would be to put it in a perpetually wet place. We’ve got it in dry shade and full sun. Plus, it’s got a cool little weird flower that you might have to hunt for, but they’re there very early when not much else is blooming.”

Parrotia persica Persian ironwood

Zone: 4 to 8

Sun: full sun to light shade

Water: average; tolerates moist and dry soils and is pollution tolerant

Size: 20 to 30 feet high and wide

Bark: Bark exfoliates to show patches of green, white, and tan.

Flower: Interesting small deep maroon strappy flowers bloom in early spring.

Fall Color: Fall color is shades of yellow, orange, and red and usually quite beautiful.

Why We Love It: A slow-growing tree, Persian ironwood makes an interesting specimen. “We’ve planted it everywhere at the zoo,” enthused Beuerlein. “For some reason I thought it’d be hard to grow, but it’s ironclad. I think the only

Quercus bicolor

swamp white oak

Zone: 3 to 8

Sun: full sun

Water: average to wet

Size: 50 to 60 feet high and wide Bark: Gray bark is flaky and fissured on young trees and young branches. Foliage: Leaves are dark shiny green on the upper side and whitish on the underside, making them attractive in any breeze.

Fall Color: Russet and leaves will dry and hold on the tree until bud break in the spring.

Native: Swamp white oak can be found mostly east of the Mississippi throughout the Midwest and East.

Why We Love It: Swamp white oak has tremendous versatility in nearly any soil and is fast-growing. Plus, as a native oak, it feeds an incredible amount of wildlife while looking stately. “It has that classic tree shape,” commented Beuerlein. “They do get big, but it doesn’t take the biggest oak to sort of knock you down with a sensation that it’s awe-inspiring. It just gives a feeling of size. There’s a presence to oaks, a stateliness. The fall color is sort of reserved, classy russet, or dusty yellows, and browns. Swamp white oak is marcescent, so they hold their leaves all win-

ter. I love the rustle of the leaves. Plus, it can be a handy screen in a wet spot where a conifer won’t live.”

Ulmus parvifolia

Lacebark elm

Zone: 4 to 9

Sun: full sun

Water: average; adaptable to any Size: 40 to 50 feet high; 25 to 40 feet wide; cultivars may be smaller Bark: Spectacular mottled bark in shades of cream, brown, green, and orange. Fruit: Seeds are formed in late fall, and it can spread by seed.

Fall Color: Yellow to a reddish-orange. Why We Love It: Dutch elm resistant, lacebark elm also features tiny leaves that provide dappled shade. “For me, it’s the bark,” said Beuerlein. “It has really beautiful bark on an incredibly tough tree. It’ll handle the most miserable postconstruction soil and be fine.” A smaller elm, the cultivars tend to have the showiest bark and most organized shape.

experiencesomething more

Summer Showcase

by Nina A. Koziol

(Editor’s Note: Last December, we showcased an inspirational collection of winter containers from some ILCA members. We had great feedback so here’s a look at some summer designs.)

Containers, window boxes and hanging baskets are the icing on the cake for many residential and commercial projects. For those fortunate to have clients who desire seasonal rotations, it’s a tool for flexing your creativity.

“I’ve had repeat customers for several years and I always like to create something that’s a bit different from the previous year,” said Dana Voyles, president of Gardens Done Right in Algonquin. “It’s so much fun because you get to see the design put together and it looks amazing. It’s the creativity that I like—creating

something every season, every year.”

Asking clients about their color preferences is key to making them happy. “That’s our first conversation,” says David Hoxie, owner and president of Greenhaven Landscapes in Lake Bluff. “If you don’t hit that right it can turn off a client. We ask if they prefer a more formal and structured look or if they are ok with something informal and asymmetrical for their containers.”

Other clients leave it up to the designer. “My clients almost always defer to us for color choices,” said Anne Roberts, of Anne Roberts Gardens, Inc.

in Chicago. “We take into account the color of the building and patio.”

Rotations

Hoxie’s spring container planting generally begins at the end of March—weather permitting. “Summer rotation is after Memorial Day. In most of our pots we’re doing four-season rotation,” he said. “Ninety percent of our clients at least do summer and winter with fall as the third piece. Spring is the least amount of pots because it’s such a short window and we have to tent the containers—bamboo (continued on page 36)

Designs by: Marya Padour

Design by: Dana Voyles

Trialed and tested to ensure disease resistance, durability, and long bloom times, the Ring o ® series of roses are ideal for landscape planting. The melon-orange blooms of Ringo All-Star ™ rose transition to lavender-violet as they age, for a stunning, multi-colored effect. LEARN MORE

Summer Showcase — Pots that Sizzle

(continued from page 34)

stakes with garbage bags tied around the base and stapled and we’re taking them off and on. The client can do that or we can do that.”

Roberts’ team also does many seasonal change outs. “Our clients include restaurants, and commercial spaces like retail and larger apartment buildings with amenity decks.” She creates vertical planters, window boxes, pots and large hanging baskets that adorn popular eateries in Chicago. “None of our hanging baskets are irrigated. We train our staff and the site specific staff to water them well, especially the edges.”

Soil Mix

Voyles uses Midwest Trading’s potting mix. “It’s an all-purpose potting soil and I find it’s a better quality because of what they use—peat moss, pine bark fines—the plants love it.” Hoxie uses a Miracle-Gro mix. “The potting soil has fertilizer in it and the plants take off.” When switching out the pots, both Hoxie and Voyles take out only the top few inches of potting mix and add fresh

product when planting.

We Like Big Blooms

“When we first install — and we do spring, summer and fall—we put in a slow release fertilizer even though the Midwest Trading’s potting mix has fertilizer,” Voyles said “To get those really big huge arrangements they’re on our planter maintenance program. We’ll fertilize their hanging baskets or planters on a weekly or biweekly basis. We use a water soluble fertilizer because the roots take it up faster. You have this awesome explosion in two to three weeks time.”

Hoxie works with a palette of plants he likes to use. “But we always try to incorporate what the client’s looking for. One has several window boxes that are all in the shade. She wanted pink flowers and no chartreuse leaves. The boxes are a dark walnut so the pink really pops off of them.”

Looking Ahead

With Labor Day around the corner, some container plantings can hang on until the

first frost. “We don’t change our pots because they still look fine going into fall,” says head gardener Marya Padour at the Camp Rosemary estate in Lake Forest. She’s responsible for several dozen elegant containers. “The pots filled with agapanthus still look great.”

Roberts typically changes out her clients’ containers in early to mid September. “I like it to cool off before we plant mums, cabbage and other fall plants. If they aren’t watered regularly the heat will dry them out quickly.”

“When switching out for fall I want to see autumnal colors and I want them to persist,” Roberts explained. “Foliage is important, more so than blooms since they come and go. For example purple cabbages, heuchera, pumpkins, acorus, red, orange, yellow and purple peppers, dusty miller and textural branches. Of course I love mums, but I just try to think beyond them to extend the show.”

Trends

“The hottest thing right now is self(continued on page 40)

Designs by: David Hoxie

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Designs by: Dana Voyles

Summer Showcase — Pots that Sizzle

(continued from page 36) watering containers, especially for people that don’t have irrigation systems and with the temperatures the way they’ve been this year and it’s been so dry—the push for selfwatering containers is great,” Voyles said. “The homeowner can look at the planter and determine whether it needs watering.”

“Some clients want all white so we do some monochromatic in white, pink, blue, or purple,” Hoxie said. “That has been more trendy lately. We’re using the same color but different flower textures, different shades of the color, light to dark blue for example, and they play well.”

Sometimes it’s simply the old standbys that are trendy. Jennifer Brennan of Chalet in Wilmette sees plenty of high-end planters and unusual plants in her work. But she recently spotted window boxes at the local Brown’s Chicken’s patio that were filled with red geraniums, and violet-blue and white petunias. “They were surprisingly nice — you can’t beat the basics.”

The Landscape Contractor August 2023

Design by: Anne Roberts

The Story of

La historia de Fuego y Hielo

por Meta L. Levin

Fuego y Hielo se vuelven a encontrar el 3 de agosto de 2023.

Ese día, los miembros de ILCA descenderán a Ball Horticultural Co. en West Chicago, IL, para la Exposición de Paisajismo y Nieve Fuego y Hielo (Fire & Ice Landscape and Snow Expo), una feria al aire libre de la industria verde y profesionales de la nieve, donde encontrará Fuego abrazando Hielo.

Deténgase y aspire el aroma de las rosas, hable con los cultivadores, pruebe los equipos. Todo está ahí o estará de 8:30 a.m. a 3 p.m. el viernes 3 de agosto.

Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

Mariani Plants se enorgullese en su attencion al cliente. Tenemos expertos ajentes de ventas de habla hispana en nuestras dos localidades, Kenosha Wisconsin y Garden Prairie Illinois. Mariani Plants esta aquí para proveerle mejores plantas, mejor servicio y mejor selección.

Llámenos a Mariani Plants: 866-627-4264 / marianiplants.com

TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR.

“Conozca a su representante, aprenda sobre nuevos productos, piense acerca del año próximo, diviértase y reencuéntrese con gente que no ha visto en meses”, dice Jessica Riedel, presidente del subcomité de Fuego.

Disfrute de un cálido día de verano

Fuego y Hielo estarán visibles coexistiendo en paz, sin derretimientos. Fuego (Wes Arnold) y Hielo (Scott Grams) caminarán por la exposición, saludando a los participantes, asegurándoles que la armonía tendrá supremacía.

Con respecto al fuego, Ball Seed abrirá sus jardines de exhibición para recorridos autoguiados con docentes en las instalaciones. Estará disponible para contestar preguntas un representante de Hoerr Schaudt, quien diseñó la Helix Plazas. “Es un sitio muy hermoso”, asegura Riedel. “Los jardines de exhibición son inmensos y representan diferentes estilos. Usted puede deambular por ellos e inspirarse”.

Y si algunos de los jardines que atiende son, digamos, un poco pequeños y circunscritos, están cubiertos también. Joan Mazat dará a los asistentes Soluciones de recipientes durante dos “fies-

tas de macetas”, una por la mañana y otra por la tarde, bajo una carpa, para mostrarles los secretos de cómo incorporar algunas de las flores y follajes en hermosos diseños de macetas.

Si el día se pusiera muy caliente, Hielo se hará cargo, en forma del camión de Kona Ice, que estará disponible para ofrecer refrescante hielo picado, gracias al patrocinio de Midwest Salt. O puede tomar una cerveza fría cortesía de The Tree Connection, escuchando música de los tambores de acero. Rental Max proporcionará los cordones para sostener los carnets de identidad. Mariani Plants patrocinará regalos de gafas de sol y Alta Equipment está patrocinando el sorteo. Oh sí, habrá un sorteo.

¿Se siente competitivo?

Volverá el lanzamiento de hacha. “A todos les encantan las hachas”, asegura Riedel. ¿Todos refrescados? Haga pruebas de conducción sobre algunos equipos nuevos, tipo tanto de fuego como de hielo. O quizá querrá un recorrido guiado de los proveedores, haciendo preguntas e inspeccionando los últimos y mejores productos que deseará incorporar en los diseños de la próxima temporada.

Mejores

Satisfaga su hambre y su cerebro ¿Hambriento de comida e información? El comité ha pensado en eso también. Fuego y Hielo se unirá a tres paneles de discusión “Almuerza y aprenda”, que abarcarán una variedad de temas de nieve y hielo, así como de paisajismo. “Tendrán un formato informal de preguntas y respuestas”, afirma Bob Bertog, presidente de la porción de Hielo del evento.

Tasty Catering, que fue un éxito durante el Día de Campo de Verano en 2016, regresará para proporcionar comida.

Habrá algo para las familias, también, asegura Riedel. Está en el plan un área equipada con juegos y otras cosas para que los niños hagan.

Todo estará ahí con Fuego y Hielo. “Aprendimos el año pasado que somos un grupo singular y cohesionado”, dice Bertog. “Será una gran feria”.

Women’s Networking News — Coffee Talk The Art of Career Development…and more

by Nina A. Koziol

Put yourself out there and network. It’s great for career-building, instills confidence and helps polish your communication skills. Because it’s not just who you know but who knows you.

Networking comes easy for some, but not everyone. “When I started in the industry I thought that by networking you go to an event and you talk about what you can offer and what others can offer you,” said Tina Shaw of The Integra Group, Inc. She didn’t feel confident at those events, but that changed a decade ago when she became active with ILCA’s Women’s Networking Group (WNG).

In June, Shaw led the monthly WNG “Coffee Talk” at Lurvey’s Greenhouse in Des Plaines. These monthly informal meetings provide a chance for attendees to share ideas and solutions and expand

their connections. “All these years of networking has made it easier when I need something to reach out and make a call.” When she lost her job, her network became an essential tool.

The group discussed effective ways to deal with co-workers who simply don’t get along and are disruptive to their teams as well as how to handle problematic clients who may not be a good fit. After the meeting, Cheryl Coyne of Lurvey’s gave a guided tour of the retail center and nursery. And who doesn’t enjoy looking at handsome plants?

Expanding Statewide Opportunities

The first Coffee Talk in downstate Illinois was held in Belleville in June. (For the geographically challenged like me, Belleville is 290 miles south of Chicago and near St. Louis.)

“Our main objective was to learn more about the attendees and what made them accept our invitation for this type of gathering,” said Kellie Schmidt, ILCA’s statewide director of development. “We had attendees from Illinois and Missouri—the St. Louis side with one supplier even traveling from Hannibal, Missouri, to join us. It was a nice mix of women from landscape contractors and suppliers.” Over half (continued on page 50)

Women’s Networking News — Coffee Talk

(continued from page 48)

the attendees were ILCA members. “It was a great way to help non-member companies learn more about the value of belonging to ILCA.”

Attendees told Schmidt they were pleased to hear about ILCA’s commitment to the southern part of the state and excited to see what programs develop in the future. “A couple mentioned that they were very interested in the Women’s Networking effort because it can be difficult to connect with others in the industry. They want to be sure they have a network of resources they can feel confident about recommending to their customers.”

“They had a great turn out—more than 20 people and all of them were so excited,” said Shaw, who attended the Belleville meeting with horticulturist Carie Hancock of JMR Landscaping. It was a surprise visit. “When they introduced us as from Chicago it rang true that we are serious and that ILCA was reaching out.”

There are networking and educational opportunities galore just waiting for you. Check out ILCA’s upcoming events: https://ilca.net/ilca-events/

Diseases + Pests —

Pest of the Month: Aphids

Disease of the Month: Cercospora Leaf Spot of Hydrangea

by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Aphids

This year it seems aphids are everywhere on everything, much to the joy of the ants farming their honeydew. There are about 50,000 different species of aphids worldwide, and most tend to be host plant specific. They feed by sucking the fluids from leaves and stems while they are expanding, often distorting their host plants. Aphids also produce sugary frass called honeydew that ants find delicious. The honeydew coats the leaves giving them a shiny, sticky appearance and often supports a secondary attack of sooty mold growth. Aphids are small and pear-shaped and can be many colors, including green, brown and yellow. They can be identified by small structures called cornicles, which look like two tailpipes on their rear ends. They usually have many generations per season, so it’s always a good idea to scout for them regularly.

Treatment:

There are many aphid natural predators including lady beetles, hover flies, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. Aphid infestations are cause for concern

Disease of the Month: Cercospora Leaf Spot of Hydrangea

Summer is for hydrangeas and as clients enjoy their plants and you maintain them, you may come across black leaf spots on the foliage of Hydrangea macrophylla, H. arborescens, and H. quercifolia. This is likely cercospora leaf spot which won’t kill the plant but may impact vigor and flowering.

when they completely cover stems and leaves, dramatically affecting plant growth. A handful here and there will be easily controlled by their predators. Small populations can be blasted with a hard stream from the hose or pruned off and disposed of. When populations are significant, use insecticidal soaps or oil products for organic control. Contact insecticides are also effective and include pyrethroids, chlorantraniliprole, acephate, and abamectin as well as a systemic treatment of imidacloprid. Make sure to apply insecticides after plants have flowered in order to avoid killing off beneficial pollinators.

Aphids

gressively spread upward. Initially, spots are purple and small with a circular shape. As spots enlarge, they often become irregular or angular in shape and develop a tan or gray center surrounded by a purple or brown border. Leaves that are severely spotted often become a yellow-green color.

Treatment:

If you have this pathogen present, sanitation is essential. Remove and destroy fallen leaves to reduce overwintering spores, avoid overhead watering of plants, and space plants to allow air movement. Clean tools between any pruning cut. Chemical control is most effective at the onset of the disease. Fungicides containing chlorothalonil or myclobutanil work best.

This pathogen overwinters on leaf debris and then spores are spread to foliage via splashing rain or overhead irrigation. You’ll find the first leafspots appear on older leaves near the plant’s base, then pro-

Additional resources:

University of Illinois Extension Service

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php

217-333-0519

The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/

The Landscape Contractor August 2023

Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information Service: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ plantinfoservice

847-835-0972

AEC Supply, Inc.

4909 E. Sherrill Road

Minooka, IL 60447

(630) 743-9397

www.aecsproducts.com

by Meta L. Levin

In 2009 Donna Kuda was working for AAA

Silt Fencing in Minooka, IL, managing take-offs, estimating and customer requests. She did not know that her world was about to change – in a good way.

Her boss — then her boyfriend and now her husband, Al Kuda — was running the erosion control installation company and started American Erosion Control Solutions, Inc., because many of his customers wanted to purchase products, but didn’t need them installed.

After six months of trying to run both companies concurrently, he realized he needed help and looked no further than Donna Kuda. “He asked me if I wanted to take over,” she says.

Now known as AEC Supply, Inc., the original American Erosion Control Solutions has grown exponentially. To get there, however, Kuda had to clear some hurdles. She is a woman in a male dominated field and some vendors did not believe she would be able to sell their products.

In the early days, she worked to learn about the market and products that interested her potential customers. Eventually, she hired an office manager to help find the products at good prices and she found ways to obtain them at fair market value.

At first she carried silt fencing, straw blankets and hardwood stakes. Now AEC offers hundreds of products in four categories: geosynthetic products, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control and landscape supplies. In addition, the company recently started manufacturing their own filter socks, filled with Giant Freedom Miscanthus, which they grow on 95 acres of their own farmland. “It is eco-friendly and can be cut open and left on the job site,” she says.

She found other ways to separate herself from others in the same field, offering 24/7 customer service, same day delivery and access to pick up any one of several products they have in inventory. “I have my cell phone with me all the time,” she says. “Even my husband said I was kind of crazy.”

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HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

Senior Landscape Architect / Designer / Sales

Hursthouse is offering a unique opportunity to be part of a highly respected team with an outstanding culture who designs, builds, and maintains Award-winning outdoor living spaces. The position of Senior Landscape Architect/Design/Sales will require experience and education in residential Landscape Architecture or Design.

Responsibilities will include:

Exemplify the Hursthouse company culture with clients as well as all gatherings with team members. Prepare professional conceptual and final designs. Generate proposals and project estimates.

Communicate professionally with clients and manage client expectations per Hursthouse processes. Coordinate with vendors, sub-contractors, utilities, and municipalities

Create aesthetic and functional design concepts and final solutions.

Draft and prepare final presentation packages using either hand graphics, CAD, Sketchup or Photoshop as appropriate.

Hursthouse has a terrific wage, bonus, and benefit package. People join our company because of our highly regarded reputation and pay package, we all stay due to our Core Values which are “Do the right thing, today. Value reputation, for tomorrow and Have fun, every day!” The Hursthouse Core Values are the center of our culture.

Learn more at www.hursthouse.com and Contact us at info@hursthouse.com

Career Landscape Professionals

Needed Immediately

Position Openings:

• Operations Manager (1)

• Crew Leader-Construction Crew (2)

• Construction Crew Member (4)

• Crew Leader-Maintenance Crew (2)

• Maintenance Crew Member (4)

• Licensed Spray Technician (1)

• Machine & Equipment Mechanic (1)

All commercial work (no residential) Competitive Salary + 401 (k) How to apply: rgoldstein@theperennialcompanies.com

Now Accepting Applications: Maintenance Assistant - Landscape Division (Engineering & Public Works) part-time

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF:

Maintenance Assistant - Landscape Division (Engineering & Public Works) part-time

STARTING SALARY RANGE: $19.29 - $21.46 per hour working up to 19 hours per week. Salary is dependent on qualifications. The salary range for this position is $19.29 - $27.98.

This position usually performs manual work of an unskilled nature. Work consists of assisting staff in the maintenance and repair of Village infrastructure, buildings, grounds, and facilities. This position may also perform semi-skilled mechanical labor, custodial work, and operating a vehicle. Tree maintenance activities such as tree trimming, and care for public and private trees.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Education equivalent to a high school diploma.

2. A minimum of six months of general maintenance or related experience.

3. Possession of a valid State of Illinois Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or ability to obtain within twelve months from date of hire.

4. Proficiency with current computer technology, job-specific software, and customer service systems. Please apply online at http://www.schaumburg.com/hiring

Seasonal Color Designer

Woodlawns Landscape Company is seeking a confident, motivated individual to be part of our growing seasonal color team. For more than 25 years WLC has been providing high end commercial landscaping services to premier Chicago clientele consisting of weekly maintenance, enhancements, seasonal color, and holiday décor. Our team is seeking an individual who wants to be part of a growing company. We value the team atmosphere and enjoy collaboration.

Job Description:

• Communicate with account managers and review their color needs

• Create designs for each season (spring, summer, fall, bulbs, winter, and holiday décor) for corporate, commercial, and HOA properties using appropriate plant material for site conditions.

• Perform calculations to determine appropriate amounts of materials needed for the job, working within client budgets

REPLACE THE BODY, NOT THE TRUCK

OUR HEAVY DUTY REPLACEMENT BODIES USE YOUR TRUCK’S EXISTING HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO SAVE YOU MONEY.

INSTALLATION INCLUDES:

 REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF OLD BODY

 COMPLETE INSTALLATION OF NEW BODY

 PAINT IN ONE COLOR

 UNDERCOATING NEW BODY AND TRUCK FRAME

 PAINT EXISTING HITCH

 ALL DOT BODY LIGHTS AND MUDFLAPS

WE ALSO BUILD BODIES FOR NEW TRUCKS

WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOU OR YOUR TRUCK DEALER

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HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

• Prepare each season’s design maps for installation

• Create sell or cut sheets if needed for clients

• Site visits to evaluate plant performance to assist in determining future orders

• Maintain a database for customers and a photo library of each season’s installs

Skills/Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of plant material – specifically annuals

• Designer eye for pleasing aesthetic

• Passion for horticulture

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel, and Word

• Detail-oriented, strong organizational skills, efficient use of time management, strong work ethic

• Aspire, BOSS, or landscape software experience a plus

• Problem-solving and the ability to “pivot”

Email KKindle@woodlawnslandscape.com

Commercial Landscape Account Manager

For more than 25 years WLC has been providing high-end commercial landscaping services to premier Chicago clientele consisting of weekly maintenance, enhancements, seasonal color, and holiday décor.

Our team is seeking an individual who wants to be part of a growing company. We value the team atmosphere and enjoy collaboration.

Responsibilities: The primary function of this role is to communicate with the client, prioritize their landscaping needs and develop long-term lasting partnerships. Through site visits, emails, and meetings, create solutions for their landscaping needs and to ensure the renewal/retention process. Work with operations teams and monitor that approved work is completed within budget and delivered to exceed client expectations.

Qualifications:

• Sense of humor and the ability to establish relationships quickly

• A love for all things landscaping and people

• Horticulture and high-touch sales experience

• Landscape degree or coursework in the horticultural field or similar

• Effective communicator, responsible and trustworthy

• Aspire, BOSS, or landscape software experience a plus

• Willingness to learn, problem solves, decisive and the ability to “pivot”

Email Katrina at KKindle@woodlawnslandscape.com

Landscape Account Advisor

Become a member of the Bertog Family. Tracy Bertog founded Bertog Landscape Co. in 1974, while he was attending Glenbrook South High School. The company has grown from a young man with a dream into an award-winning landscape design, construction, and maintenance firm. Bertog Landscape (Wheeling) is seeking an individual for an account advisor position to focus on our residential and select commercial clients for landscape maintenance services.

Responsibilities include:

Manage the client’s property to maintain the property at an excellence expected by Bertog Landscape. Maintain a bridge of communication between production operations and the customer. Develop trusting relationships with coworkers and customers.

Communicate and coordinate with supervisors and crews to ensure client’s priorities are understood and consistently executed upon by the entire team. Snow responsibilities include account management/supervision of plowing operations at various accounts throughout the area.

Please submit application to:

customerservice@bertoglandscape.com

Territory Sales Manager

We are looking for a creative, outgoing, self-motivated person to join our Fox River Decorative Stone sales team. If you love hardscape and are looking for a place to make a significant impact, consider applying! For consideration, please use the link.

Landscape Architect/Designer (Entry Level or Experienced)

COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

Brookside is seeking motivated individuals who have a passion for the outdoors and the Green Industry. This position would collaborate with sales and construction teams to see high-end outdoor living and landscape projects through from concept to completion. We have the opportunity to work on some of the most prominent properties in our market.

At Brookside our mission is ENHANCING LIVES. Those of our team and clients alike.

See what rural living has to offer closer to the native prairies and woodlands that make our state unique! We are located in the small town of Eureka, just a short drive to the Peoria and Bloomington/Normal metro areas, and serve a broad swath of central Illinois.

- Bachelors in Landscape Architecture or Horticulture is preferred. Any level of work experience will be considered.

- Passion for creating outdoor spaces and willingness to learn and adapt to working as a team is REQUIRED!

Email kurt@brooksidelandscapes.com (309) 573-9837

Landscape Construction Project Manager

Landscape Construction Project Manager will help the Vice President oversee various construction projects by meeting with clients/engineers, assessing/ measuring job sites, assisting with bids, setting crews up on job sites, coordinating materials for jobs, and other duties as assigned.

Email your resume to tylor@mcgintybros.com

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES

September 2023 issue ads: Aug 10, 2023

October 2023 issue ads: Sept 10, 2023

Landscape Designer

Full time design position available

Drivers license a must/ Speaking Spanish a plus Will be in office and on job site Pay is negotiable to experience.

Must have at least 2 year Landscape Design degree, or be in the process of completing the degree. Email michelle4seasons@yahoo.com to apply.

PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES

Magazine Cost is $5 per line

Minimum charge $50

Website Cost is $12 per line

Minimum charge $120

(About 6 words/line)

Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

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Inspiration Alley

Editor’s Note: Over time, we run across a mountain of fun, innovative, and generally creative ideas. They don’t always fit with the magazine content, but we do collect them for some future use. This brings us to Inspiration Alley, a place where we display pure creativity. It’s up to you to judge the merit of each offering. So use it, lose it or be inspired to try something different.

Perennial Palooza

By Nina A. Koziol

They’re workhorses in the garden, returning each year. And several wowed us at Ball Horticultural’s Darwin Perennial Day this summer. Decked out in display gardens, trial beds and containers, they joined a New Variety Showcase featuring the best breeders in the world. Here’s a sampling.

McGinty Bros. .......................................................42 Midwest Groundcovers .............................................2 Midwest Salt ...........................................................23

Midwest Trading .....................................................13 Monroe Truck Equipment ........................................25 North Shore Truck ...................................................57 Russo ..................................................................19, 47

Spring Meadow Nursery .........................................35

Straughn Farm ........................................................31

The Mulch Center ....................................................53

The Tree Connection ...............................................29

Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

Vermeer Midwest ..................................................51 The Landscape Contractor August 2023

full sun)

Nepeta subsessilis Prelude™ Purple catmint (28-36” tall and 24-30” wide;) full sun)

Heuchera Carnival Watermelon (10-12” tall and 12-14” wide; shade/part sun)

Achillea millefolium Milly Rock™ Yellow Terracotta (10-12” tall and wide;

Coreopsis UpTick™ Gold & Bronze ( 12-14” tall and wide; full sun)

Compact Goldenrods for Impact

by Mark Dwyer

American

poet, Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885), nailed it with the line “I know the lands are lit, with all the autumn blaze of Goldenrod.” Goldenrods (77 native species in the U.S. and Canada) continue to get short shrift in our landscapes as there is valid concern over the size and vigorous nature of some species. With inherent deer resistance, durability, adaptability in a wide range of soils and drought tolerance, what’s not to love about choice goldenrods in the more refined landscape and mixed border?

With such a wide range of goldenrods filling the color void in late summer and early fall, it’s a shame that the best varietal selections continue to be overlooked as many offer vivid, impactful and lengthy floral displays that are also of immense value for pollinators. Granted, some of the larger goldenrods can be a bit unwieldy in the smaller landscape. However, the diverse palette of “waist-high” or shorter options is worthy of exploration.

Once relegated to the back of the border or native applications, select goldenrods can be focal points, role players and compositional rockstars in the mid and front of the border as well with the durable and convenient height ranges between 15” and 36”. Explore the wide selection of amazingly compact goldenrods and incorporate them into your palette of low-maintenance and reliable performers.

At waist height of 36”, the variety ‘Peter Pan’ (aka ‘Goldstrahl’) offers bright yellow flowers borne in dense, plume-like panicles for many weeks. At that same height but with an arching form, Solidago shortii ‘Solar Cascade’ has become a personal

favorite. Selected by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanic Garden, this goldenrod mingles well with neighboring plants due to the showy, cascading stems and long bloom period in late summer until early fall. For another interesting form, I’ve become a fan of Solidago ‘Wichita Mountains’ which has very erect, upright flowering stems with dense flowering on a clump forming plant. I love these colorful, vertical “wands” hovering in the late season garden!

Mid-height goldenrod selections in the 18”-24” range include ‘Golden Baby’ (aka ‘Goldkind’) which is a clumpforming hybrid with dense, horizontal, plume-like flower panicles that seem to bloom forever. The variety ‘Golden Fleece’ (Solidago sphacelata) was selected at Mt. Cuba Center (DE) and introduced in 1989. This amazing plant is a slow spreader and features small, rounded leaves and colorful golden flower sprays well into the fall.

Knee high goldenrods do exist and are fabulous in the late season landscape that benefits from a splash of golden yellow excitement! The variety ‘Little Lemon’ (aka ‘Dansolitlem’) features very dense, light yellow flowers which are quite noteworthy. Blooming at 15”-18” in height, this clump forming perennial is excellent as a repeated accent or in mass plantings. I believe Solidago Sweety (‘Barseven’) is the shortest blooming goldenrod at an amazing 15” in height! With a compact, mounding habit the sprays of lemon-yellow blooms offer many weeks of pizzaz!

As potential ingredients in your late season compositions, these compact goldenrods will not only brighten the landscape but will offer happy and colorful returns for your clients and pollinators alike!

THE ONE PARTNER FOR HANDS-ON SUPPORT

In the hardscaping industry, Unilock is the ONE.

Our dedicated team of local Territory Managers are only a phone call away, providing contractors with expert support to make their projects a success.

From on-site assistance, to joint sales calls with clients, and even product samples delivered directly to you, no ask is too big or too small.