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December 2017
CONTENTS
Excellence In Landscape Awards Project
FOCUS: 2017 Wrap Up 2017 ILCA Annual Meeting & Member Party A record crowd celebrates the year’s success Sustainability Conference Makes Big Impact Impact Conference finds enthusiastic audience
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iLandscape 2018 Preview 24 Highlights preview an educational bonanza
Old Timers Hold Annual Event Old timers find surge in attendance
Eleve la industria del paisajismo y su negocio iLandscape 2018 Preview
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EN ESPAÑOL
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Women’s Networking Group 36 WNG discusses customer retention
ILCA Basic Pruning Workshop Photos from this successful event
Overcoming Pruniphobia 42 A sharp view of proper pruning techniques
Committee Chair Profile Snow Committee 48 Committee Chairs Paul Washburn and Michael Clark
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Member Profile 50 ACA Lawn Care
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Sustainable Landscape Calendar 55 What does December have in store?
Native Intelligence Ilex verticillata Winterberry
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62 The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message New Members Classified Ads Advertisers Index
Calendar
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JANUARY/February
January 31 - February 2, 2018 iLandscape Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL
FEBRUARY
Photo Credits ILCA Awards Program 1, 8-9, Rick Reuland 5, 7, 10-16, 18-19, 23, 24, 30, 36, 38, 40-41 Alan Branhagen 62
February 1, 2018 Excellence in Landscape Awards Night Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL
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 58, Number 12. 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 CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630)637-8632
MARCH March 1 & 2, 2018 Foremanship Training Fox Run Golf Links Elk Grove Village, IL
PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products
ILCA Staff
Magazine Staff
Executive Director Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@ilca.net
Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net
Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net
Debbie Rauen Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com
Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net Office Manager Alycia O’Connor aoconnor@ilca.net Membership & Marketing Coordinator Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net
v ILCA 2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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From Where I Stand — There’s a war on Christmas!
Well, a war on Christmas trees, that is. Ok, more specifically, a war on live Christmas trees. Yet, the loss of live Christmas tree revenue is being balanced with poinsettia and evergreen revenue. But that doesn’t make for a very attention-grabbing introduction. So, let’s get back to the original premise; there’s a war on Christmas trees! Sound the alarm! According to the American Christmas Tree Association, (ACTA), 79% of Americans display a Christmas tree in their home every year. That’s a fairly incredible statistic considering not all Americans celebrate Christmas (92%). More people have a Christmas tree in their home than a dishwasher (75%). I would argue that a dishwasher is far more vital to holiday joy than a Christmas tree, but I digress. In fact, Christmas trees have just been edged out by computers in the past five years (83%), but that includes smart phones and tablets. Of those trees, 80% of homes use artificial trees and those numbers have been steadily rising over the past few decades. There are a number of reasons for the rise in popularity in artificial trees. Live trees shed needles, pose fire hazards, and involve the annual trip out to the Christmas tree lot. In addition, artificial trees, although growing more expensive, have gotten much more attractive and enduring. They are now pre-lit, are opened like an umbrella, and owners don’t have a panic attack at the mall because they left the C9’s on. The origins of what we know of as the Christmas tree date back to Germany in the 1500s. Prior to that, ancient societies used evergreens and live plant material to decorate their homes during winter to encourage a strong harvest. The Christmas tree was actually slow to catch on in the United States as it was deemed too pagan for the early puritans. I wonder what the puritans would’ve thought of inflatable snow globes that play “Jingle Bells”? Christmas trees burst into the mainstream in the 1890’s and have never looked back. Growing up, my family used to buy a live tree. We’d drive around to four different lots looking for a balsam. I’m not sure why my parents were so committed to live trees since both of my grandparents had artificial trees. It may have been too kind to even call my grandparents’ trees “fake.” Fake would imply they were copycats of something real. Their horrific trees represented nothing found in nature. My one set of grandparent’s tree looked like it was perpetually mounted upside down and was only decorated with white doves and creepy, naked, baby, praying angels. We’d passivelyaggressively give them ornaments every year as gifts in hopes of breaking the design aesthetic, but they never cracked the rotation. It was always just doves and naked babies. My other grandparent’s tree was made of green tinsel of the same quality that hangs above the mirror on New Year’s Eve in a dive bar. Also, as my grandparents shrank, the ornaments were hunger on lower and lower branches. As they got older, they couldn’t bend over so they had to hang them on higher and higher branches. In the end, they just had a ring of ornaments around the
center of the tree like Saturn. As so many children do, you attempt to fix the mistakes of the previous generation. The Grams family would have a real tree, dammit. My Dad and I would hop in the car on the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. We’d stomp through frigid Christmas tree lots looking for that jewel. At every lot, some guy named “Eddie” would stumble out of an Airstream with a little schnapps on his breath. My dad and him would circle around the tree, and each other, as if preparing for a knife fight. They’d haggle for 10 minutes, eventually my Dad would get $5 knocked off the price, and he’d walk away proudly ignoring that it cost us $18 in gas, donuts, and coffee to drive to four different locations. We’d get the tree home. He’d saw off the bottom with his bow saw (it’s only use). Then it was time to get it into the house. We’d force it through the front door like two obstetricians doing a breach birth. It would rain down pine needles and we’d drag it into the family room to be mounted. My dog would gingerly follow avoiding the thousands of green spears now aimed at her bare paws. She’d cock her head to the side as we’d raise it like the Marines at Iwo Jima. She’d then bark for 25 minutes in utter fear before peeing the floor and hiding underneath the dining room table. Ah, tradition. The only person in our house more terrified of the tree than the dog, was my mother. She was convinced a live tree was like having two 55-gallon drums of nitro and glycerin sitting side by side. She never let us light the tree for more than 15 minutes at a time. She also made hundreds of trips between the tree stand and the kitchen sink each advent season. She was like Molly Pitcher, rushing to the aid of injured patriots, constantly filling the tree stand with water poured from her trusty glass RC Cola bottle. Once again, the self-correction. My wife and I have an artificial tree. There, I’ve said it. I will turn in my notice of resignation now. The smell of pine needles was not worth the hassle. Also, I absolutely love Christmas trees and keep ours illuminated almost 24 hours a day. My wife does a fantastic job decorating the tree. The kids are now at the age where they don’t shatter ornaments or poke themselves with hooks. We don’t have a dog or a cat to wage guerilla warfare against the tree, either. I’d put the tree up the day after Halloween if my wife let me. She screams about the sanctity of Thanksgiving. I tell her I am intellectually evolved to celebrate two holidays at once. I always lose that argument, probably it’s the use of the term “intellectually evolved” that does me in. Now, we do make up for our artificial tree with real plant material. We have garlands, wreaths, boughs, and poinsettias. Over 34 million poinsettias are sold annually in the United States. Poinsettias, or as the public calls them POINT-settas, account for one quarter of all flowering potted plants sold. Is there a more mispronounced name than “poinsettia?” Maybe “cummerbund,” but we don’t sell 34 million of those every year even with the recent interest in pirates. Poinsettias absolutely crush Easter lilies and orchids in number of units sold who come in at #2 and #3, respectively. Personally, I doubt that live trees will ever be able to reclaim the interior throne. The war on live trees, inside, may be lost. As
O’ Tannenbaum
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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From Where I Stand —
You’ll be proud to have us on your clients’ properties. From canopy to roots, caring for your trees isn’t something we just do, it’s our specialization, our area of expertise, our passion.
847.440.5344 • Tree and Shrub Pruning • Deep-Root Fertilization • Certified Arborists • Insect and Disease Management
It’s Time to Join I L C A visit ilca.net
much as I wax nostalgic about the past, I appreciate the convenience of an artificial tree. I contend that professional landscaping companies haven’t even scratched the surface of the exterior holiday market. Now, I know many ILCA members do holiday lighting. The complaints from them is how compressed and taxing the schedule is. There is a 2-3 week window where everything needs to be installed amongst the cruelest of weather conditions. Containers are also popular whether part of a seasonal rotation or as a standalone selling point. Containers are less taxing on personnel and far safer to install than holiday lighting. Yet, they stay close to doors or rest on patios. They don’t burst out into the rest of the landscape where our industry makes it living. Seasonal decor is a $12 billion industry. Oddly, its market share shrank in the past few years, but not for reasons people expect. The market of consumers itself isn’t shrinking. Instead, cheaper alternatives and a flood of Pinterest DIY projects have taken over. Dollar General and The Dollar Store have become massive players in the holiday decor market. Social media and those addicting overhead videos have made crafting cool again. In fact, the current design trend of paint and palette wood is a direct byproduct of social media’s influence on home decor. The question is, can live or formerly live plant material become a billable service for winter landscapes? Can the winter aesthetic be altered so more ornamental greens and winter tolerant plants are utilized from November to February, en masse and not just for front porches or stoops. These would not be “Christmas decorations” but a more tasteful winter display with a longer, 3-4 month shelf life. They’d be more vertically inclined as they’d need to shoot from the snow. This would be more decoration than landscaping and more art than science, but a 4th season could exist for live plant material. I see three basic advantages: One, this would provide a potential source of winter revenue outside of snow operations. Two, it would allow a company to keep a few crews operating yearround versus losing them to the dreaded unemployment black hole. Three, clients wouldn’t have to take their winter decorations down for two more months! There is nothing worse than having to precariously balance a ladder over an ice patch as you scale your house on January 2nd. A tasteful winter display could be kept up until the weather starts to warm because the aesthetic would be divorced from the Christmas holiday. Christmas decorations left up for two months usually inspire a well-being check from the local authorities. Whether or not winter displays catch on, just remember that the green industry, even with landscapes resting quietly under the snow, still has a place around the holiday table. Trees, garlands, and poinsettias have been part of our traditions for hundreds of years. So, whether this winter means plowing snow, brightening the night with twinkling lights, selling a customer ten “winter décor” trees for his front yard, or just a long winter’s nap, the ILCA staff and Board of Directors wish you a very Merry Christmas and joyful holiday season.
Scott Grams November 20, 2017 6
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
President’s Message — “Never forget where you’ve been. Never lose sight of where you’re going. And never take for granted the people who travel the journey with you.” — Lauren Destefano
President
Lisa Fiore Don Fiore Company, Inc. (847) 234-0020 lfiore@donfiore.com
Vice-President
Tom Lupfer Lupfer Landscaping (708) 352-2765 tom@lupferlandscaping.com
Our history
Secretary-Treasurer
Jose Garcia Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991 info@naturalcreationslandscaping.com
Immediate Past President
Mike Schmechtig Schmechtig Landscape Company (847) 566-1233 mschmechtig@schmechtiglandscapes.com
Directors
Mark Breier National Seed Co. (630) 963-8787 mark.breier@natseed.com Allan Jeziorski Hartman Landscape (708) 403-8433 allan@hartmanlandscape.net
Kevin Manning K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com Scott McAdam, Jr. McAdam Landscaping, Inc. (708) 771-2299 Scottjr@mcadamlandscape.com Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net Ashley Voss Vermeer Midwest (630)820-3030 ashley.voss@vermeermidwest.com
Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com Donna Vignocchi Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com
www.ilca.net
has so much to do with whom we are today and who we have yet to become. I am a very big believer in remembering where you came from and using past experiences to help guide you to a stronger future whether this is personally or professionally. I have received some great advice, made some long lasting friendships and learned so much from many people along my journey in the landscape profession and those relationships are priceless. If we don’t take a peek back and see how far we have come and how much we have endured and accomplished along the way, how could we ever learn and grow in order to move with the times. I wanted to take this moment and thank George Weyland, ILCA’s historian, for allowing me to be a part of the “Old Timers Gathering.” Although I don’t quite meet “old timer” qualifications it is nice for the ILCA board to be welcomed to spend some quality time with those who have spent so much time and made such great contributions to the green industry and who have paved the way for future landscape professionals. It meant a lot to me to hear stories from years ago related to board meetings, and how Summer Field Day came to be and to think about how our profession has grown. Hearing these stories and seeing the devotion to ILCA and to this industry made me appreciate more the “family” we are fortunate to have here at ILCA. The organization is very different from times of the past, and if it wasn’t, I would be worried. However, the overwhelming feeling of pride and devotion for ILCA doesn’t seem to have faltered, which makes me even more proud to be a part of such a great group of people. I hope that as we grow as an organization and our industry continues to evolve the younger generations will always have a chance to peek back and appreciate all those who came before. I hope that they will have the opportunity to hear about the great accomplishments that have been made and use those examples as a way to better their own lives and businesses. As we move toward the ending of 2017, it’s great to look back and see that we have accomplished so many things including a successful tradeshow, many educational events, including the inaugural Impact conference, and a series of networking opportunities just to name a few. Now we can enjoy the present and look forward to new things coming our way.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein Thank you, Lisa Fiore November 17, 2017
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Christy Webber Landscapes • University of Chicago, North Science Quadrangle Chicago
The University of Chicago North Science Quad project presented unique challenges many of which are unseen by the end users. Prior to installing the impressive outcropping stones & plantings there was extensive grading & drainage work, engineered soil systems & subgrade geofoam that needed to be installed to make this project possible. From the start special attention was paid to drainage on site. The grading plan called for several 10” diameter drains to be installed throughout the undulating landscape & connected to concrete water storage structures to be used in the irrigation system. Multiple soil profiles used throughout the site included several layers of carefully blended engineered soil, sand, & stone to insure that this heavily compacted site would drain properly. Part of the finished landscape is technically a green roof, the basement of the new William Eckhardt Research Center extends 50’ from the building under what is now the main lawn area. Protection & drainage layers were installed over the delicate waterproofing that covers the basement roof then the entire area was built up to within 12 inches of final grade with geofoam. The visible parts of the landscape scope offered their own challenges which are far more apparent, large outcropping stone features, ambitious tree & perennial plantings, & a range of different paver products & crushed granite walkways finished off the extraordinary site.
Being in the heart of the U of C campus, the streets are narrow & very busy with cars, bikes, & pedestrian traffic. All materials had to be brought into the site through a congested opening between two buildings. Access to all the buildings situated on the quad needed to remain open at all times during construction. The Biopsychological Research Building presented a new set of challenges for us, due to the sensitive nature of the research done in this building the site had tight restrictions on noise, vibrations, dust, & emissions. The building was equipped with sensors that were monitored constantly to ensure construction activity remained within their tolerances. The large stone outcropping walls were all set using mini-wheel loaders & large telehandler machines. Every stone was hand selected by the Landscape Architect, with special attention on the vertical features that are set on 42” deep concrete footings with detailed rebar structures. The plantings included such features as clump form honeylocusts trucked in from the East Coast, along with many other natives & ornamentals. A large nitrogen tank to supply the research facility also had to be screened using large evergreens & a vine wall. The pathways & patio areas were the final challenge, set on a combination of concrete, compacted gravel, & geofoam bases. Some interesting facts about the install, 1.3 acres of land, 2/3 of which are landscaped, and 1/3 of which is paved with brick/stabilized granite. 150+ Trees installed 12 different species, 30,000+ perennials & grasses, The Landscape Contractor 9 Shrubs, & 150 vines are also installed. December350+ 2017
ILCA Member Party 2017
2017 Annual Meeting & Membership Party
by Meta Levin
“Every member of the state
legislature heard from us,” Tom Lupfer told the more than 300 people who poured into the large banquet hall at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora for ILCA’s 2017 Annual Meeting. Lupfer was talking about ILCA efforts to remove landscape contractors from a list of service providers who would be subjected to a proposed 6.25% service tax. “That would have taken 6.25% of our gross,” Lupfer says. Led by the Regulatory and Legislative Committee, contractors contacted their state representatives and notified their clients, asking them to do the same. In the meantime, ILCA’s downstate lobbyist worked his end. Now their attention has turned to workman’s compensation and unemployment insurance. “When we work together, we can move mountains,” he says. That was just one of ILCA’s successes attendees celebrated. They also recognized its luminaries, longtime members and, of course, sampled the beer during the meeting. Four Honorary Lifetime Memberships were bestowed, including Julie Nicoll, who for the last 27 years shepherded ILCA’s education offerings – “our most sacred programs,” says Scott Grams, ILCA’s Executive Director. She also was recognized for her “personal warmth.” The late Bob Busch, past president and Man of the Year; Jim Fizzel, known as the “expert’s expert;” and Dick Price, also a past president and Man of the Year, were also given Honorary Lifetime Memberships. Grams noted that those honored were active in ILCA, found value in cooperating with other members and developed strong friendships. “We have hundreds of active volunteers,” Grams says. “This is a bottom up organization with 18 standing committees.” For the sixth year, ILCA has named a Committee of the Year. Of the three strong candidates: Technical Skills- Latino Relations (joint nominees), Regulatory and Legislative and Women’s Networking Group (WNG), the WNG came out on top. It spent 2016-2017 revamping, setting five-year goals and coming back strong. Michael Schmechtig’s mother told him to go to college and “get a real job,” as opposed to going into the family landscape business. So, the immediate past ILCA president, did, earning a computer science degree and working in the corporate world for five years, five long years. “I had a closet full of suits,” he says. He wasn’t happy. (continued on page 12)
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
Honorary Lifetime Members 2017
Bob Busch
Jim Fizzell
Julie Nicoll
Dick Price The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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ILCA Member Party 2017 (continued from page 10) Finally, he returned to the world he loved, going into the family business. “ILCA has been a big help to me,” he says. When he decided to give back by becoming active in ILCA, “I found that I always got back more than I gave.” As he turned the gavel over to ILCA President Lisa Fiore, he thanked a list of staff members, including Scott Grams, Terre Houte, Alycia O’Connor, Marissa Stubler, Julie Nicoll and AnneMarie Drufke. Seventeen members were recognized for being ILCA members for 25 years. They are: •
Competitive Lawn Service
•
Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery
•
Cypress Lawns, Inc./ Cypress Group,Inc.
•
GLI Services, Inc. / George’s Landscaping, Inc.
•
Grieder Sod and Landscaping
•
Groh Works Landscaping
•
Ground Pros, Inc.
•
J. Hassert Landscaping
•
Krugel Cobbles, Inc.
•
LafargeHolcim
•
Landscapes by Gary Weiss, Inc.
•
National Seed Co.
•
Nierman Landscape & Design, Inc.
•
O’Brien Landscape
•
Oly-Ola Edgings, Inc.
•
Reinhart Grounds Maintenance, Inc.
•
Ruff Landscaping, Inc. (continued on page14)
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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ILCA Member Party 2017 (continued from page 12) Before, during and after the dinner, members circulated selling raffle tickets for the PAC drawing. It was a fundraiser for ILCA’s PAC, a non-partisan organization meant to underwrite work toward lobbying elected representatives on issues that are of importance to the industry. Combined with some non-raffle ticket donations, the effort raised $11,460. The seven raffle prizes and their donors were: • Craft beer basket from Kaknes Landscape Supply • 2 Lafarge model Mack trucks provided by Lafarge Fox River Stone • Gift basket from Goodmark Nurseries • $100 Visa gift card provided by SiteOne Landscape Supply • Stihl SH 86 C-E 1 Shred n’ Vac provided by Martin Implement • 2 Chicago Bulls tickets and a parking pass provided by National Seed • 2 Chicago Bears tickets and a parking pass provided by Rental Max The ILCA Annual meeting could not happen without the generous support of its sponsors: Premier Sponsor – Rental Max “Sweetness” Dessert Table Sponsor – Xylem, Ltd. & Rocks, Etc. Party Sponsors: • Fiore Nursery & Landscape Supply • Goodmark Nurseries • JM Irrigation, LLC • Kaknes Landscape Supply, Inc. • KO Supply Company • Lafarge Fox River Stone • Martin Implement Sales • Midwest Groundcovers/Midwest Trading • National Seed • RCOP (Ron Clesen Ornamental Plants) • Russo Power • Scott Byron, Inc. • SiteOne Landscape Supply • SmithAmundsen • The Tree Connection (more pictures on page16) 14
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ILCA Member Party 2017
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
L O N G S H A D OW
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New THE Kenilworth 66 Bowl in the greenhouse at Longshadow Gardens
Building Sustainable Landscapes —
Sustainable Landscape Makes a Big IMPACT by Nina Koziol
By all measures,
ILCA’s “Impact Conference: Building Sustainable Landscapes” in October was a great success. Members packed the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Alsdorf Auditorium with standing room only and spilled into an overflow room to watch presentations on a big screen. All were anxious to hear from local and nationally acclaimed green industry speakers discuss everything from how to establish an ecological business focus and sell sustainable landscapes to understanding soil dynamics, new integrated pest management methods, water management innovations and habitat makeovers. The inaugural conference aimed to help ILCA members, which now include many Larry Weaner individuals and firms from the recently dissolved Midwest Ecological Landscape Alliance (MELA), understand and walk the talk about sustainable landscape practices. Arborist Loren Nagy with The Care of Trees, said, “Many firms want to be sustainable but lack the resources. Sustainability is important for many of our customers.” Sustainability is a buzzword used by many industries and businesses from agriculture and fishing to construction and manufacturing—it’s the idea that goods and services should be produced in ways Benjamin Vogt that do not over-use or abuse resources, and in doing so, protect the environment. So what is sustainable landscaping? There are countless definitions and opinions, but in a nutshell, sustainable landscape practices aim to conserve water and energy, reduce waste, decrease runoff, improve soils, support wildlife and save some dough. Designed and managed sustainable landscapes maintain soil integrity, create plant and animal diversity, and, hopefully, contribute to human wellness. 18
Examples of sustainable practices include reusing landscape by-products (keeping and shredding leaves to use as mulch, and using recycled hardscape materials when appropriate) and sourcing local materials so you’re not buying products shipped from hundreds of miles away. (Sustainability advocates note that buying products that must be shipped long distances by truck or train, uses valuable fuel and contributes to carbon dioxide emissions.) A sustainable landscape philosophy embraces reducing dependence on resource-intensive features, such as manicured lawns, and hedges that must be frequently clipped with gas-powered equipment. All of these practices are thought to reduce chemical use, as well as save energy and time. Another component is removing vegetation that can harm ecosystems, such as recognized invasive species. And much more, as the presenters noted. “Our materials are all locally sourced—we’re not barging mulch up the river,” Nagy said. “That was part of what MELA was about—using locally sourced and sustainable means.” Keynote speaker Larry Weaner, author of “Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change,” set the stage by explaining the value of observing and understanding how natural landscapes work, especially in prairie, meadow and woodland settings. “A naturally recruited plant almost always outcompetes one that you planted. In other words, don’t plant what will already come in on its own. This is the reason to observe.” (continued on page 20)
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
Conference in Year One
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Building Sustainable Landscapes — (continued from page 18) Weaner talked about his high school job working with a landscaper. “I learned nothing back then because I didn’t ask any questions.” That soon changed. He pointed to the native woodland wildflower, columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), as an example. “Here’s a native plant that grows in dry places. It’s adapted to get away from the competition and I saw it colonizing in pea gravel. I wasn’t a botanist or anything, but I looked at the columbine that suddenly was growing in the gravel and wondered ‘what’s going on here?’ You have to understand how plants work and what they need.” And then learn how to use the plants to your advantage whether it’s a small garden installation or a sweeping commercial landscape. Weaner melds environmental science with the rich artistic traditions of landscape design. He has collaborated
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on numerous public and private gardens, including meadows and natural areas. “Particularly with meadow installations, you should communicate cost comparisons (and cost savings) to that of traditional landscapes,” he said. “You can create a very nice landscape with native plants.” If it was up to Nebraska native Benjamin Vogt, author of “A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future,” all of our landscapes would be composed primarily of native plants. He gave a rousing talk about “stoking embers of connectivity with plant and animal cultures” and the importance of creating landscape corridors that buzz with pollinators and support wildlife. “Plants are not art,” Vogt said. “What we do with them, how we honor them, that’s art. Native plants represent more than something beautiful. They are life-
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
giving above and below the soil. I want you guys to shift the paradigm. We have to rethink what pretty is and who it’s pretty for.” Vogt is on a mission to get more landscapers, designers and growers to understand and use native plants. “There are 4,000 species of native bees and some fly only three blocks before they need to refuel on nectar. And carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is affecting pollen production needed by pollinators. Native plants are a moral and ethical choice and we’re not doing enough.” He points to golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) as an attractive native plant that supports 150 types of pollinators. You can see his projects at https://www.monarchgard. com/benjamin-vogt.html. “I’ve been a MELA member and I came here to learn something new,” said Lynora Jensen of Jensen Design in Des (continued on page 22)
Building Sustainable Landscapes —
(continued from page 20) Plaines. “I’m glad MELA moved into ILCA. The sustainable movement needs to be going mainstream and it really needs to be with ILCA.” Speaker Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association (http:// bionutrient.org/site/) earns his living growing edible plants. “I grew up on an organic farm in Massachusetts. Twelve years ago, the plants on my farm were sick.” It wasn’t for lack of fertilizer. “It’s all about soil vitality. We’ve been too busy fighting nature. When you water, you’re watering soil life—the organisms, not the plants. When the soil life dies, the plant stops being fed.” Plants rely on sunlight and water, but it’s the ground below that contains lifegiving nutrients needed for their growth and overall health, Kittredge explained. There’s a lot going on in the soil, but we don’t often think about it until a plant fails to thrive. He notes that current landscaping and agriculture practices often manage soils for esthetics and not as a living ecosystem. “Leaves and litter are food for soil organisms. Any way you can keep organic matter in the system is good—it’s the key.” He, too, encouraged attendees to mimic nature and to source organic soil amendments locally. Sourcing local materials cuts down on the use of gas and reduces carbon emissions—something of interest to savvy landscaping clients. He also encouraged attendees to have their 22
clients’ soils tested to determine what’s living in it and what’s missing before they automatically turn to chemical fertilizers. “Many of the plants sold today are grown in sterile media. It’s like living on an I.V. drip,” Kittredge said. “These plants are like crack addicts and go cold turkey when you place them in the ground. There’s no silver bullet—you have to understand that soil is a living system.” He’d like to see more growers use inoculants in soilless planting mixes to encourage the presence of soil organisms that help plants thrive. “We all learned about soils in school, but this was a very interesting new look at soil life,” said Bob Hursthouse of Hursthouse Associates. “It’s a very different way of looking at how we treat the soil.” Lynora Jensen agreed. “I think how he helps explain how the whole plant ecosystem works in creating a healthy environment got me thinking—it’s a different way of looking at problems and sometimes it takes someone from outside of our area to open eyes.” Jensen, who is a University of Illinois Master Naturalist was also impressed with the habitat makeover presentation by Andy Stahr of the Pizzo Group. “Andy’s checklist is more intensive than the certificate program. It was an excellent presentation.” Ed Beaulieu, vice president of research at Aquascape, gave a broad The Landscape Contractor December 2017
overview of how water impacts our lives on a daily basis, including how we treat it and where we send it in designed landscapes. “Water is an asset, but one inch of rain on an acre produces 27 thousand gallons of water. Sustainable water practices need not be doom and gloom—it’s our job to educate people.” That education includes discussing the use of permeable surfaces, rain gardens, capturing water with rain barrels and with underground rain exchange systems. “Captured water can be recirculated in a number of ways—used in a pond, a fountain or a rain garden.” For the right customers—those who own hybrid vehicles and who are interested in protecting the environment, for example—Beaulieu sees an opportunity. “When you explain how much water can be contained on a property instead of sending it downstream, customers understand the importance.” For Scott Hursthouse, of Hursthouse Associates, the program was inspiring. “I loved the enthusiasm that the speakers brought to the subject and the people they work for. It might be a niche market now, but it’s growing. I see a lot of opportunity and growth.” Stay tuned. There will be much more about sustainable landscaping initiatives in future issues and conferences and at iLandscape 2018.
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Preview — iLandscape 2018
I t ’ s S h o w T i m e —
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Advance your employees, launch your creativity, upgrade your products & services, ramp up your industry connections, grow your knowledge, and Elevate your business at the 2018 iLandscape Show January 31st through February 2nd. by Meta Levin
The Education Committee
is following the 2018 iLandscape conference theme — ELEVATE. The Committee is working to ELEVATE its offerings and attendees’ knowledge by featuring some of the industry’s top stars. The committee tried to get as many of the best known and respected experts from previous wish lists. Boy, did they succeed. The event, which is scheduled for January 31 – February 2, 2018 at the Renaissance Schaumberg Convention Center, kicks off with Animal Planet’s “Treehouse Guy” Pete Nelson. He’ll not only keynote the conference, talking about one of the industry’s hottest new trends at 10 am, Wednesday, January 31, but he’ll also be back at 2:15 pm, Thursday, February 1, to get into the nitty gritty of going up in the trees with your offerings. For three days, attendees can go from expert to expert, each an industry star in his or her own right. “We kept upping the ante,” says Kim Hartmann, Education Committee chair.
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Committee members relied on their own relationships, as well as networking to snag the speakers they wanted. For instance, Scott Stewart, executive director of the Millennium Park Foundation, knew Piet Oudolf from his work on the Lurie Garden. And Committee Member Peter Gordon, director of land management and operations at Lake Forest Open Lands, knew Pete Nelson. Roy Diblik, is a perennial favorite (all puns intended) and he’s back by popular demand. At 2:30 pm on Wednesday, the well-known horticulturalist and landscape designer will share his passion for native plants and other perennials, particularly the no maintenance approach to landscape design. One of 10 of the speakers who is a published author, Diblik is working on a new book featuring the plant version of how to get along. Known also for his work planting the new Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium of Chicago and a garden for the Art Institute of Chicago’s modern wing. He
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ELEVATE 2018
served as the plantsman behind Piet Oudolf’s midwestern garden designs, especially the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago. Speaking of which, the man himself, Piet Oudolf, will explain his Garden Design Philosophy at 12:30 pm, Thursday. Responsible for gardens all over the world and the United States, Oudolf is a Dutch landscape designer, nurseryman and author. Oudolf is a leader in the “New Perennial” movement. He practices a naturalistic approach to gardening, focusing on seasonal life cycles, as well as structural characteristics. He is known particularly for designing gardens that look good throughout the year, in all weather. Well known, author, landscape designer, and international speaker, Tracy Disabato-Aust will speak twice: once on Thursday morning, when her topic will be “The WellDesigned Mixed Garden” and again Thursday afternoon, when she will talk about, “High Impact, Low Care Garden Plants.” (continued on page 26) The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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E L E V A T E 2 0 1 8
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(continued from page 25) She is known not only for her landscape design, books and passion for plants, but she’s a cancer survivor who was also a nine-time All-American triathlete for Team USA. As if that weren’t enough, she is an equestrian, who competes in dressage. For attendees interested in new takes on edible gardens, Brie Arthur will speak Friday morning on, “The Foodscape Revolution.” She is at the head of the national suburban foodscape movement, incorporating sustainable, local food production into private gardens. The author of The Foodscape Revolution, she also is a correspondent for the PBS Television show, “Growing a Greener World,” founded “Emergent: A Group for Growing Professionals,” sits on the International Plant Propagators, Southern Region, executive committee, as well as serving as marketing chair for the
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IPPS International Board.
“Perennial Diva” Stephanie Cohen will provide a “Perennial Design Primer.” At age 80, she is a dynamo that Hartmann says has been on many an attendee’s wish list. “She is spunky, energetic and witty,” says Hartmann. “We had a lot of requests for her.” Listed in Who’s Who in the perennial industry, she has been honored by the Perennial Plant Association. In 2005, her book, The Perennial Garden Design Primer,” was named the best overall book by the Garden Writers of America. She has several other books out. “Attendees are asking for broader perspectives and we are happy to give it to them,” says Hartmann. Plant breeder and director of horticulture at the Greater DesMoines Botanical Garden, Kelly Norris, will talk about “Plants with Style,” Wednesday afternoon.
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Preview — iLandscape 2018
Preview — iLandscape 2018
E L E V A T E 2 0 1 8 The youngest person to receive the Iowa State Horticultural Society’s Presidential Citation, Award of Merit and Honor, he also has been honored by a number of other organizations. In the business category, Bill Arman and Ed LaFlamme of Harvester Consulting Group, will lay it all on the line with “50 Shades of Green: Proven Ways to Make More Money with Less Guys, No Guys or the Wrong Guys!” Scheduled to be presented in two parts – one Thursday morning and another in the afternoon, Arman and LaFlamme will concentrate on how landscape contractors can make their operations more efficient. Attendees will learn ways to save time, reduce costs and optimize profits. Also in the business category, Steven Cesare will introduce attendees to “Employee Triage: An Integrated View of Recruitment, Retention and Removal.” The presentation is designed to show participants how to establish a cohesive people plan that encourages bad employees to leave, solicits the influx of new employees and develops mechanisms to retain talented employees. Karen Szyjka, operations support manager for The Chicago Park District’s Department of Cultural and Natural Resources, and a member of the North American Japanese Garden Association’s board of directors, will introduce attendees to Japanese Gardening during a Thursday morning session. There are many more educational offerings during the three-day iLandscape 2018 and “we’re excited about all of them,” says Hartmann.
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Hartmann chairs the Education Committee and Dean MacMorris, Nightlight Landscape Illumination, serves as the ILCA board liaison with the committee. Other committee members include Mike Blackwell, Chalet Landscape Nursery; Kelly Bolger, Heels and Hardhats; Brian Clement, College of DuPage; Andrew Guetler, Midwest Stihl; Peter Gordon, Lake Forest Open
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Lands; Andrew Keppel, SavATree; Alison Hoffman, Every Green Plant; Kevin McGowen, Kaknes Landscape Supply, Inc.; Mandy Leifheit, Pizzo Native Plant Nursery; Steve Raczak, Twixwood Nursery; George Murphy, Murphy Landscape & Design; Lydia Scott, Morton Arboretum and Zach Robinson, Midwest Groundcovers.
Old Timers’ Group Holds Annual Event The 11th
Annual ILCA Old Timers’ Gathering was held at the La Villa Restaurant in Chicago, October 21, 2017. Long-time members, past and present, enjoyed the afternoon of ILCA fellowship and memories. Over the past 11 years, this event has donated more than $4,000 to the ILCECO scholarship fund. A check was presented to ILCA President Lisa Fiore at the Annual Membership Meeting on November 2, 2017. Additionally, a separate chech was presented to Tom Lupfer in support of the ILCA PAC Fund. The event is the idea of, and singlehandedly organized by ILCA historian George Weyland. George deserves a sincere round of thanks for keeping ILCA’s memory alive.
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
Preview — iLandscape 2018
Ha llegado la Feria —
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Fomente el avance de sus empleados, lance su creatividad, actualice sus productos y servicios, consolide sus conexiones industriales, incremente sus conocimientos y Eleve su negocio en la Feria de Paisajismo iLandscape 2018, del 31 de enero al 2 de febrero. por Meta Levin Eleve su experiencia educativa El comité de educación de iLandscape 2018 está siguiendo el tema de laconferencia y elevando sus ofertas y los conocimientos de los asistentes,mediante la presentación de algunas de las principales estrellas de laindustria. El comité se propuso conseguir la mayor cantidad posible de losexpertos más conocidos y respetados incluidos en las listas de deseos delos participantes en años anteriores y… ¡lo lograron! El evento, programado para celebrarse del 31 de enero al 2 de febrerode 2018 en el Renaissance Schaumberg Convention Center, se iniciarácon Pete Nelson, el “Hombre de las casas en los árboles” del AnimalPlanet. Además de tener a su cargo el discurso inaugural a las 10 a.m. delmiércoles, 31 de enero, que tratará sobre una de las nuevas tendenciasmás populares en la industria, regresará a las 2:15 p.m. del jueves, 1 de febrero, para tratar los pormenores de cómo subirse a los árboles con susofertas. Durante los tres días que durará el evento, los asistentes
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podrán pasar de un experto a otro, cada uno una estrella de la industria por sus propios méritos. “Continuamente nos esforzamos por mejorar”, asegura Kim Hartmann, presidente del comité de educación. Los miembros del comité hicieron uso de sus propias relaciones y redes de contacto para atraer a los oradores que deseaban. Por ejemplo, Scott Stewart, director ejecutivo de la Fundación del Parque del Milenio, conoció a Piet Oudlof a través de su trabajo en el Lurie Garden. Y el miembro del Comité, Peter Gordon, director de administración de tierras y operaciones en Lake Forest Open Lands, conocía a Pete Nelson. Roy Diblik, es un favorito perenne (el juego de palabras es intencional) y está de regreso por demanda popular. A las 2:15 p.m. del miércoles, el horticultor y diseñador paisajista de renombre compartirá su pasión por las plantas nativas y otras plantas perennes, especialmente la estrategia de no mantenimiento en el diseño paisajista.
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E L É V E S E
Uno de los 10 oradores que son escritores publicados, Diblik está trabajando en un nuevo libro sobre la versión vegetal de cómo llevarse bien. Conocido también por su trabajo de plantación en el nuevo oceanario del Acuario Shedd de Chicago y un jardín para el ala moderna del Instituto de Arte de Chicago. Fue el cultivador detrás de los diseños de jardines del medio oeste de Piet Oudlof, especialmente el Lurie Garden en el Parque del Milenio en Chicago. Hablando del cual, el propio Piet Oudlof, explicará su Filosofía del Diseño de Jardines a las 12:15 p.m. del jueves. Responsable de jardines en todo el mundo y en Estados Unidos, Oudlof es un diseñador paisajista, vivericultor y escritor neerlandés. Oudlof es líder del movimiento de “Nueva Ola de Perennes”. Practica una estrategia naturalista en la jardinería, enfocado en ciclos de vida estacionales, así como características estructurales. Es conocido especialmente por diseñar jardines que lucen bien durante todo el año, entodos los climas. De gran renombres internacional como escritora, diseñaThe Landscape Contractor December 2017
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Preview — iLandscape 2018
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dora paisajista y oradora, Tracy Disabato-Aust hablará dos veces: la mañana del jueves tratará el tema de “El Jardín de perennes bien atendido” y la mañana del viernes hablará sobre “Plantas de alto impacto, bajo mantenimiento”. No solo es conocida por sus diseños paisajistas, libros y pasión por las plantas, sino también por ser una atleta del triatlón nueve veces declarada “All American” para Team USA. Como si eso no fuera suficiente, también es jinete y compite en domas de exhibición. Ahora puede agregarsobreviviente de cáncer a su lista. Para los asistentes interesados en nuevos enfoques de los jardines comestibles, Brie Arthur hablará la mañana del viernes sobre “La Revolución del paisajismo comestible”. También va a la vanguardia del movimiento nacional de paisajismo comestible suburbano, que incorpora la producción de alimentos local, sustentable, en jardines privados. La autora de “La Revolución del paisajismo comestible”, también es corresponsal del programa de Televisión de PBS, “Cultivando un mundo más verde”, fundó “Emergente: Un Grupo para Cultivadores Profesionales”, es miembro del comité ejecutivo de la Región Sur de los Propagadores de Plantas Internacionales, así como presidenta de marketing de la Junta Internacional de IPPS. La “Diva Perenne”, Stephanie Cohen proveerá una “Introducción al Diseño de Perennes”. A los 80 años de edad, es un dínamo que Hartmann afirma ha estado en muchas listas de deseos de los asistentes. “Valiente, energética y con gran agudeza de ingenio”, así la describe Hartmann. “Hemos recibido muchas peticiones para incluirla”. Listada en el Quién es quién de la industria de las perennes, ha recibido reconocimiento de la Asociación de Plantas Perennes. En 2005, su libro, “Introducción al Diseño de jardines de plantas perennes” fue destacado como el mejorlibro global por Garden Writers of America. Ha publicado otros libros. “Los asistentes están pidiendo perspectivas más amplias y nos sentimos satisfechos de poder 34
complacerlos” afirma Hartmann. Kelly Norris, cultivador de plantas y director de horticultura en el Jardín Botánico del Gran DesMoines, hablará el miércoles por la tarde sobre “Plantas con estilo”. Siendo la persona más joven que ha recibido la Citación Presidencial de la Sociedad de Horticultura del Estado de Iowa, Premio al Mérito y Honor, también ha recibido reconocimiento de varias otras organizaciones. En la categoría comercial, Bill Arman y Ed LaFlamme de Harvester Consulting Group, pondrán las cartas sobre la mesa con “50 tonalidades de verde: ¡Cómo generar más ganancias con menos personal, sin personal o con el personal equivocado!” Programados para presentarse en dos partes – una el jueves por la mañana y otra por la tarde, Arman y LaFlamme se concentrarán en cómo los contratistas de paisajismo pueden hacer más eficientes sus operaciones. Los asistentes aprenderán maneras de ahorrar tiempo, reducir los cosos y optimizar las ganancias. También en la categoría comercial, Steven Cesare presentará ante los asistentes “Triaje de empleados: Una visión integral del reclutamiento, la retención y la remoción”. La presentación está diseñada para mostrar a los participantes cómo establecer un plan de personal coherente que anime a los malos empleados a irse, estimule el influjo de nuevos empleados y desarrolle mecanismos para retener a los empleados talentosos. Karen Szyjka, gerente de apoyo a las operaciones del Departamento de Recursos Culturales y Naturales del Distrito de Parques de Chicago, y miembro de la junta de directores de la Asociación de Jardines Japoneses Norteamericanos, presentará a los asistente la jardinería japonesa durante la sesión del jueves por la mañana. Habrá muchas más ofertas educativas durante los tres días de iLandscape 2018 y “estamos muy entusiasmados con todas ellas”, afirma Hartmann.
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Hartmann preside el comité de educación y Dean MacMorris, Nightlight Landscape Illumination, actúa como enlace entre la junta de ILCA y el comité. Otros miembros del comité incluyen Mike Blackwell, Chalet Landscape Nursery; Kelly Bolger, Heels and Hardhats; BrianClement, College of DuPage; Andrew Guetler, Midwest Stihl; Peter Gordon, Lake Forest Open Lands; Andrew Keppel, SavATree; Alison Hoffman, Every Green Plant; Kevin McGowen, Kaknes Landscape Supply, Inc.; Mandy Leifheit, Pizzo Native Plant Nursery; Steve Raczak, Twixwood Nursery; George Murphy, Murphy Landscape & Design; Lydia Scott, del Arboreto Morton y Zach Robinson, Midwest Groundcovers.
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Women’s Networking Group —
Customer Retention Practices — By Patrice Peltier It’s not easy getting customers, so once we have them, it’s important to keep them. At a recent Women’s Networking Group Roundtable Barbara Rosborough, principal and cofounder of Rosborough Partners, and Toni Callahan, office/ marketing manager of Schmechtig Landscapes, shared their thoughts and sparked a lively discussion on this crucial topic. “It sounds obvious, but it’s important to be likeable,” Rosborough said. “If no one likes you, you’ll never get a chance to give good service.” An important aspect of being likeable is listening, according to Rosborough. When you arrive at someone’s house and see how much work needs to be done, you might want to jump right in with a list of the services you could provide. Resist the urge to demonstrate your competence at this point, Rosborough says. Don’t start by telling them what you can do. “We need to listen to what they want,” she says. Other elements on Rosborough’s “likeability” list include being prompt, looking professional, complimenting sincerely and smiling. On the flip side, Rosborough says “don’t even look at your phone or answer another call.” Don’t interrupt, chew gum, talk about politics or anything controversial (even if you know the person agrees with you), drop names or comment on another client, she adds. “In a commercial setting, it’s okay to give
someone a list of your other clients,” she elaborated. “In a residential setting, people may wonder if you’re using their name in other places, too,” she said. One exception is when you know the prospective client is a friend of your client, and you know this client will speak very favorably of you, Rosborough adds. It’s also important to make clients feel important by giving them excellent service. That begins by knowing how customers prefer to be contacted— by phone, e-mail or text—and responding to them promptly.
“I miss the good old days when people called, and if you called them back the next day, they were okay with that,” she said ruefully. Rosborough categorizes clients as A, B or C. A clients receive a substantial amount of services, are repeat customers, provide referrals, are fair to work with and pay on time. In the crazy days of May, Rosborough’s goal is to return all calls from A customers before she leaves the office for the day. “It’s helpful if the whole company is on the same page about who the A, B and C customers are,” she notes. 36
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
Compost Available for Commercial Use
When misunderstandings arise or customers are unhappy with a project or service, don’t avoid them and hope they’ll go away, she cautions. “Resolve issues promptly and fairly,” Rosborough advises. “I’ve had good luck asking a client ‘What do you think is fair?’ Nine times out of ten, clients pick something less expensive tham what I was prepared to offer,” she says. If you receive a bad comment on social media, make that an opportunity, she advises. Providing a fair, reasoned offer, explanation or comment can cast your company in a positive light, she says. Gifts are another way to make clients feel appreciated. Rosborough quotes her first employer, Ralph Synnestvedt, Sr., as saying “Even the richest person likes something for free.” Rosborough Partners no longer gives gifts at Christmas. Instead, the company provides an extra service or an extra plant during the year. For clients who love plants, Rosborough may offer them a few plants that are brand new on the market. “They love having something no one else has, and it also gives me a reason to check back with them later in the season,” she explains. After a storm, company crews may stop by customer properties to pick up branches. Whether it’s plants (continued on page 38)
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Women’s Networking Group — (continued from page 37) or extra service, the company always notes the item as “complimentary” on the next invoice. “’Complimentary’ is better than “no charge’ because ‘no charge’ can occur for many reasons,” Rosborough points out. Jim Wollney, Landscape Account Manager at Balanced Environments, Inc., says, “I give away a lot of potted flowering plants unexpectedly to clients. This is one of the best things I get to do, to give flowers in person. The flowers always bring a moment of joy and a smile. This is horticulture, this is what we do. We help make the world a more beautiful place.” Wollney also provides extra services for customers. When he does, he sends before photos taken with the proposal and after photos to document the work that was done. While not a gift, personalized communications can also help clients feel special. Debbie Martin, accounting manager at Tallgrass Restoration, said she writes a note on the last invoice of the year saying “We look forward to working with you next year.” “That’s the kind of thing that can make a difference,” Rosborough agreed. Karen Cobban of Jack Gray Transport, Inc. turned the tables on participants. As a supplier, she asked participants what kinds of special gifts or services they would like to receive. “If a truck driver came in with a plate of food for the office, you’d blow me away,” Wollney said. Participants agreed food works well as a gift in business-tobusiness settings. Encountering clients in other venues can also be a way to cement relationships, Rosborough says. “Pick what you like so it’s sincere, but also research what organizations your clients are likely to be involved in,” she advises. For instance, Rosborough is a plant person, so she gets involved at Chicago Botanic Gardens and also in local garden 38
clubs. She often encounters clients in these places. She also recommends business organizations, including Crain’s Chicago Business Breakfasts. “We’ve had good success at these for business-to-business customers,” she reports. “It’s a great
networking session. If you can meet the person sitting next to someone you know, that’s ideal.” Vanessa Mueller, wholesale sales representative at Johnson’s Nursery, said she got involved in the Wild Ones, a native plant organization that’s a good fit with the nursery’s many native plant offerings. The nursery gave a special discount to Wild Ones members. This prompted many members to not only shop at the nursery but also spread the word. “It’s a tight knit community,” Mueller noted. Susan Sevcik, landscape architect at Scott Byron & Company, said her volunteer work in the community has helped increase her contacts with customers and other business people. In her discussions on customer retention practices, Callahan focused on communication. Callahan introduced participants to a concept Schmechtig Landscapes uses: a customer journey map. A customer journey map explores the way a customer or potential customer experiences the company from the first phone contact through receipt of services. “It’s important to take the time to look at your company through the eyes of your customers,” Callahan says. While the customer journey map is a formal framework for communication, The Landscape Contractor December 2017
Callahan also stressed the importance of informal communications. “It’s important to understand other people’s perspectives and their point of view,” she says. “You can learn a lot from your clients in conversations.” For instance, you might learn that a client enjoys peaceful surroundings or observing nature. Looking out the window, you might observe part of their landscape that is chaotic or see an opportunity to attract wildlife, she explains. That can steer your conversation in a productive direction. When talking to clients, be alert to early warning signs that the client is not happy with your service, she advises. “You can sit down, talk to them, and salvage the relationship,” she notes. As a company, Schmechtig Landscapes keeps in touch with clients through a monthly newsletter included in the billing. The newsletter tells customers what services the company will provide in the coming weeks and alerts them to other opportunities or issues they should consider, Callahan explains. In between, the company also sends e-mails to clients reminding them it’s time to order bulbs, pruning or other seasonal services, or to discuss special needs such as an upcoming party. The company also makes an effort to post compliments and good news about the company on its website, Facebook page and social media outlets. YELP and other sites often feature many negative reviews, Callahan notes. “We’ve become so accustomed to so much negativity. When you have positive news, post it,” Callahan says, adding more posts will increase the frequency of your company coming up in Google searches. “It all comes down to communication,” Callahan told the roundtable participants. “Even though we’re all running around so much, it’s important to find ways to keep in touch with clients.”
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ILCA Fall Events
Pruning Workshop November 16, 2017
The Basic Pruning Workshop
found a new location for 2017: the Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. This sprawling site offers acres of both landscaped and natural area to use for training. As usual the event was divided into a morning session taught exclusively in Spanish and an afternoon session taught only in English. There were 120 registered fro the program. Classes included safety and dormant pruning lectures and trainer supervised hands-on pruning. ILCA Past President Charlie Keppel is the Event Chairman.
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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Special Companion Feature —
Overcoming Pruniphobia by Heather Prince
George Brenn,
President of Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery, gave an informative look at the basics of pruning at the 2017 iLandscape show. George feels strongly that “when you understand how plants react to pruning you can overcome your ‘pruniphobia’ and be successful.” We’ll review the basics of pruning to help you overcome your pruniphobia and add important skills to your portfolio. Pruning is a decision making process and when you go to prune, there are a number of questions decisions based on what, why, when, where, and how
What
The first question to ask before you pick up a pair of pruners or take out the loppers is what kind of plant is it? The species of plant will dictate your next pruning decisions. For example, If you know it is an arrowwood viburnum shrub, that will inform you as to how the plant grows and what will happen if you prune the top or cut stems at the bottom. What is the natural shape of the plant? Knowing the natural shape and growth habit will allow you to make further pruning decisions. For example, if you know that a globe arborvitae will naturally grow in a round ball, you may not want to prune it into a square. If you have an arching forsythia or bridalwreath spirea, it may look odd pruned into a tight rectangle. What is the needed size of the plant? It is a rambunctious shrub that’s overgrown an area? Is it a hedge that needs to be sheared? Is it a tree that should be limbed up? It’s extremely difficult and time consuming to maintain a shrub smaller than its natural growth pattern. “Cute puppies often grow up into very big dogs,” commented George. “You won’t be able to force a large, fast-growing shrub into staying two to three feet.” What is the design intent? Is the plant a focal point? A large shade tree in a lawn? The intention of the designer influences how you shape the plant. A tall, narrow boxwood may need to be sheared twice annually to keep its skinny shape. A large oak tree planted for shade may need to be limbed up once every few years so that the lawn can easily be mowed.
Why
Now that we know what the plant is, its attributes, the size desired and the design intent, take a moment to ask yourself why you’re pruning it. There are some things to look for that should be pruned out for the health of the plant. 42
Where to Go When You Need to Know These handy resources offer free plant, pest, and disease advice from expert staff and volunteers. University of Illinois Extension http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/plant-clinic Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo
The first thing to look for when you approach a plant to be pruned is damaged twigs, branches, and trunks. You want to remove broken branches, twigs with wounds, crossing twigs, leftover stubs, and any stems with signs of significant animal browsing. Crossing twigs that are rubbing against each other will eventually create open wounds. Damaged stems should be removed so that open wounds do not infect the plant with diseases or invite insect pests to set up shop. Next, walk around the plant and look for errant growth. Is there a branch on a small weeping tree growing straight up? Are there suckers growing from the base of the trunk? A wild nosehair twig? Consider pruning branches that do not conform with the natural shape of the plant. Another reason why we prune is to increase stem and foliage density. For example, Christmas trees are regularly sheared to create a dense, cone-like appearance. The new growth stimulated by pruning fills in and gives that balsam fir a tight shape. Pruning at the right time can also stimulate increased flowers or fruit. Apple growers regularly prune trees so that light and air reach the inside of the plant, stimulating more flowers and more fruit. Pruning can be an art as well. Creating topiary shapes from evergreen plants is a centuries old tradition. Your clients may desire a spiral juniper as a distinctive element in the landscape. (continued on page 44)
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Special Companion Feature — (continued from page 42) Sometimes pruning is necessary to protect people and property. For trees, poor crotch angles and included bark can set them up for failure down the road. George’s favorite example is Bradford pear. “The tight branching pattern of this popular tree means it will often split in half later in life.” Take a look at the client’s trees and see if branch angles are narrow enough to create areas of included bark and opportunities for water to collect and rot the bark. If the tree is young, there may be time to correct it by pruning off a branch or two.
When
Now that you know what the plant is and why you want to prune it, next is ‘when’. For any woody plant, the easiest time to prune it is when it’s dormant and you can clearly see the architecture. However, for flowering plants, you may sacrifice a season of bloom. If you or
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your client is unwilling to go a year without flowers, then it’s important to know how the plant blooms in order to prune it at the right time. In general, plants that bloom on old wood, or the previous season’s growth, should be pruned right after flowering. These plants carry their flowers buds over the winter and will set new flower buds within a few weeks of blooming. They include species like magnolia, lilac, quince, forsythia, and redbud. If the plant blooms on new growth, or the twigs that sprout each year, they should be pruned when dormant. For these plants, you aren’t cutting off any flower buds if you tackle them in the winter when it’s easiest to assess their pruning needs. Plants in this category include roses, potentilla, rose of Sharon, and some hydrangeas. Hydrangeas – one of the biggest questions about pruning! The key is going back to the ‘what’ and knowing which kind of hydrangea you’re dealing with. Hydrangea arborescens like ‘Annabelle’
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
and ‘Incrediball’ as well as Hydrangea paniculata like ‘Limelight’, ‘Quickfire’, ‘Bobo’, and ‘Pinky Winky’ both bloom on new wood. These types of hydrangeas can be pruned in winter. You can cut them back quite severely and the more new growth they produce, the better the flower show. Hydrangea macrophylla such as ‘Nikko Blue’, Hydrangea quercifolia such as ‘Alice’ and Hydrangea anomala petiolaris or climbing hydrangea all bloom on old wood. The first year growth on these produces leaves and the second year growth produces flowers. It is best to wait in the spring until the buds break dormancy and you can see what has survived the winter. Then prune off only what is necessary. New varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla such as ‘Endless Summer’ and the ‘Let’s Dance’ series bloom on both old and new wood. However, for best results, treat them as you would a traditional H. macrophylla as they bloom best on old
wood. Evergreens can be their own particular challenge when it comes to pruning. The old school theory says prune whenever the wood is not frozen. However, use some common sense and think about whether the new growth generated by your pruning efforts will have time to mature. When do you NOT prune? From about mid-August to November 1, park your pruners. This is the wrong time to be initiating new vegetative growth on your plants because it won’t have time to mature before frost. When pruning evergreens, pines are the exception. Because pines grow from the tips, they should be pruned in mid-June when the new buds extend and form candles. New buds form on new growth, so by pinching back the candles, you can shape the plant. Another important aspect of ‘when’ can be pests, diseases or wound bleeding. For example, oak and elm
trees should be pruned when dormant because the insects that spread oak wilt and Dutch elm disease are not present in winter. A maple tree shouldn’t be pruned in early spring when sap is rising as the pruning cuts will bleed. It won’t harm the plant, but can cause great excitement with the client.
Where
As you reach for the pruners, there’s one key aspect of plant biology that you should understand. What happens within the twig on a cellular level when you cut off the tip? What is the cause of new branch growth? Plants have apical dominance. Directly behind the bud at the tip of the shoot (apical bud) is the apical meristem cells that cause the tip of the plant shoot or root to increase in length. That means that the bud at the tip of the branch secretes hormones that inhibit the growth of the lateral buds further down the stem. Plants rely on (continued on page 46)
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Special Companion Feature — (continued from page 45) apical dominance to increase in size. Once you remove the apical bud, the lateral buds are programmed to sprout and grow. New growth is initiated from buds just behind the pruning cuts. The more cuts you make, the more new growth occurs. Experienced horticulturists make fewer cuts. Apical dominance is the reason why topping a tree is extremely damaging to the plant. By removing the apical buds, weak side shoots sprout quickly. These twigs easily break and crack, allowing pests and diseases to enter. Plus, once the tree has lost all that energy-generating foliage, it works hard to replace it, stressing the plant even more. “And topping a tree makes it so incredibly ugly,” comments George.
How
Now that you have a basic understanding of how woody plants grow, respond to pruning, and when to prune them, let’s discuss techniques. One common question is where do you make a cut for the best effect and health of the plant? The general rule of thumb is twigs should be cut at roughly a 45 degree angle just above a bud. Too high above the bud, you create a stub and the twig can’t seal the wound, becoming an entry point for pests and diseases. Too sharp an angle and the twig ILCA:also will not heal.
Too close to the bud and you may slice into it. Practice makes perfect! You may also want to be conscious of the direction the bud is facing as that is the direction the branch will grow. Depending on your pruning goals, you may want outward, downward or upward facing buds on the remaining twigs. Also, think about where the blade of your pruners is on the branch. George’s general rule is, “the blade of your pruners should be closest to the trunk or branch that remains on the plant. The hook portion of your pruners should be on the branch being removed.” This technique creates a nice clean cut. There are five essential pruning techniques: thinning, heading back, renewal, rejuvenation, and branch removal. “Thinning involves the removal of branches from main trunks or at ground level to provide improved spacing and reduce congestion,” instructs George. “Thinning is often done in fruit orchards to ‘open up’ the centers of trees to allow improved light penetration for better fruit color.” Heading back shortens, rather than removes twigs, to reduce the size of a plant and encourage denser branching or fullness. This is the primary method used by most people when they are pruning. Shearing a hedge “is the ultimate form of heading back,” says George. “It’s going to create the maximum
amount of new growth because you are uniformly cutting away twigs.” George’s tip for pruning hedges is “prune wider at the bottom than the top so sunlight reaches all the way to the base and the maximum amount of leaf buds are activated.” This gives you a full, tight hedge look to the ground. Renewal pruning often gives a new lease on life to an older shrub. It involves removing about one third of the oldest stems each year at the soil level. “This allows new basal growth to occur and by the time the final third is being removed, the first third is producing new flowers,” reports George. This technique can be particularly effective on old lilacs, viburnums, forsythia, shrub dogwoods, weigelas, and clethra. Rejuvenation pruning involves cutting the entire plant off about two inches from the soil level. This forces the plant to produce twigs from the ground up and is particularly useful for suckering shrubs that grow vigorously from the base. Timing for this type of pruning depends on the plant’s flowering and fruiting habit. You may have to sacrifice a season’s flowers or fruit. Rejuvenation pruning is best for Spiraea bumalda and S. japonica, butterfly bush, Hydrangea arborescens, and forsythia post bloom. Tree branch removal is the last type of common pruning practices. “Try to eliminate narrow crotch angles while
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the plant is young,” commented George. “This trains a young tree properly and you’ll have fewer problems down the road.” You want to use the double cut method of pruning. Make the smallest diameter wound that does not leave a stub so the tree can easily seal it. Cut at the outer edge of the branch collar to stimulate the cells that will form a callous. The double cut method eliminates ripped bark, flush cuts that do not heal, and stubs that may be entry points for insects or diseases or sprout unwanted twigs. “Much of horticulture is not an exact science. It is a science of opinions, most of which, hopefully, have been formed by close observation,” said George. “I hope now that you have a new understanding of how plants respond to being pruned, that I’ve cured your pruniphobia.” George’s closing thoughts are “Pruning is a decision making process. It is not a substitute for proper plant selection. Timing is determined by when the plant blooms. You can do it!”
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Committee Chair Profile —
ILCA Snow Committee Co-Chairs Paul Washburn and Michael Clark by Meta L. Levin
In late July
or early August 2018, on a day traditionally reserved for all things warm and green, ILCA members will be invited to contemplate those things white, cold and slick at the first Snow Conference. Snow Committee co-chairs Paul Washburn and Michael Clark and their 13-person committee are hard at work planning the conference, which is designed to alternate years with the traditional Summer Field Day and to be scheduled during the time that contractors are preparing for the winter months ahead. “This compliments the time normally set aside for Summer Field Day,” says Washburn, vice president of finance for Acres Group. Washburn, who with his boss, Jim Schwanz, CEO of Acres Group, taught an iLandscape education session about two years ago that focused on estimating, bidding and other business aspects of snow removal and control, was tapped, along with his co-worker, Clark, by Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director. They were asked to work with a committee to set up the inaugural event. Clark, who is known by co-workers and clients alike as, “Frosty,” is Acres’ director of snow operations. Washburn typically concentrates on the financial and business aspects of the work and Clark is, “more of a production guy,” says Washburn. While seeking a venue and working on other details, the committee is putting the final touches on a survey that will go out to members and vendors alike, soliciting opinions on the kind of show and what topics should be covered in educational sessions. Vendors also will be asked how much space they anticipate needing for this kind of an event, as well as questioned about other, related 48
subjects. Both Washburn and Clark have been in the industry for many years. Washburn started about 22 years ago, after working as a commercial loan officer for a bank. He holds a finance degree from Northern Illinois University. His first job out of college was with a bank. By the time he had risen to commercial loan officer, he knew that this was not for him. That’s where and how he met the green industry. “I had a relationship with Acres through the bank and Acres needed an account manager,” he says. “I was looking for a change. It worked out well.” At the time Acres was not large enough to even contemplate the need for a vice president of finance, but as it grew, Washburn grew with it. A native of Lake County, IL, Washburn grew up in Mundelein and now lives with his family in Lake Zurich. He is an avid runner, competing in marathons (10 so far). He also swims and bikes, contending in triathlons. His two children, a freshman in college and an eighth grader, as well as his wife, Rita, a fifth-grade teacher at Mechanics Grove Elementary School in Mundelein, cheer him on. Clark has worked for Acres for nearly 26 years. Starting as a laborer, he worked his way up through foreman, supervisor and finally director of snow operations, a position he has held for the last six years. Born and raised in Wauconda, IL, he lives about two miles from Acres headquarters. He loves to bowl, averaging 220-225 a game. He also rides snow mobiles, works in his yard and plays with his two Black Labrador Retriever dogs – one grown and one a new puppy. Clark has two grown daughters, one a social worker and one who works for The Landscape Contractor December 2017
K International, Inc. in Waukegan. His wife, Katie, is an executive assistant to a neurologist at AbbVie. Both Washburn and Clark are following in the footsteps of other Acres people, including Schwantz, named ILCA’s 2011 “Man of the Year,” and Maureen Scheitz, Acres’ vice president of human resources, who served on the ILCA board of directors. Now Washburn and Clark are heading a committee planning a brand-new event. Other committee members include: Kelly Knudson, Reinders; Brad Beaulieu, Martin Implement Sales, Inc.; Tom Crawford, Mariani Landscape; Patti Howe, Lafarge; John Downing, Casey Equipment; Adam Dudek, West Side Tractor Sales; Robert Bertog, Bertog Landscape; Kevin Ridens, 1st Choice Equipment; Peter Liakouras, Russo Power; Jon (JR) Warner, Ariens Company; Alex Straughn, Beverly Environmental and Jim (“Turk”) Turcan, Cornerstone Partners. Grams and AnneMarie Drufke, ILCA education manager, also participate. The Snow Committee co-chairs are excited about the Snow Conference. “It will be a great benefit for anyone in the industry,” says Clark. “We can all learn together, become experts and make the industry better.”
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New Member Profile Snapshot In the early 1990s, Locke realized that the skills he learned, primarily aerating the turf, could be transferred to residential lawns. With that, he started a part time business, posting flyers in the golf course club house to garner his first customers. 2S839 Red Oak Drive “It was just me, but when things got busy, I hired someone Elburn, IL 60119 who worked with me at the golf course,” he says of the early (630) 319-2673 days. As his three sons grew, he brought them on when he needed help. www.aircoreaeration.com In 2011 Locke retired from his park district job and went jim@aircoreaeration.com to work at ACA Lawn Care full time. That’s when he added fertilizing and mosquito control to his list of services, which has grown since then. Now he offers lawn aeration, mosquito spraying, lawn, tree and shrub fertilization, irrigation repair and service, small engine repair and snow removal. He does snow removal for both residential and commerby Meta Levin cial clients. Usually, only the commercial customers request that their property be salted. All, however, “Want the snow inadvertently lead Jim Locke removed in a timely manner,” he says. to a career and a business. The owner of ACA Lawn Care Locke, who remains a lone proprietor, enjoys the onein Elburn, IL, went to work for the City of Aurora Parks on-one contact with his customers. “It’s the nice thing about Department, which has two golf courses. “I love golf and seedoing it myself,” he says. “My customers get personal service ing a well-maintained golf course,” he says. He gravitated and they like that.” towards those, caring for the turf, as well as serving as a He enjoys educating his clients and giving them advice mechanic and doing other work. about their property. Right now, he is taking the Master Gardener Training through the University of Illinois Extension office near his home. “It’s a way to get more knowledge, so that I can advise my clients on trees, ornamentals and anything else that they may want to plant,” he says. That’s why he likes ILCA and “The FOR 100 YEARS Landscape Contractor” magazine, which he reads regularly for the information contained in it. “It’s a resource,” he says. “I’m learning from it.” To Auto-Owners Insurance and • • This year he participated in the bag adj. your local independent agent, being 1 tournament at Summer Field Day, sometrustworthy means that we will be able to be relied on there when you need us most - just thing he enjoyed. He also hopes to be as honest or truthful. like we have been for 100 years. able to take advantage of the annual Turf Education Day conference in the near future. REED INSURANCE AGENCY
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New Members — CONTRACTOR MEMBERS A Gonzalez INC Viviana Marquez 35040 N Wilson Rd Ingleside, IL 60041 Phone: 847-431-0490 Email: aglandscaper@gmail.com CGM of ILLINOIS, INC. Andrea Kollar 2211 W Pioneer Pkwy Peoria, IL 61615 Phone: 309-713-2259 Fax: 309-713-1890 Email: admin@cgmlawn.com Website: cgmlawn.com Emerald Landscape Contractor Inc Chris Stinnett PO Box 654 Park Ridge, IL 60068 Phone: 847-685-5222 Fax: 847-685-1322 Email: emeraldlandscape@comcast.net Emerald Landscape Contractor Inc has been serving the Park Ridge area for 33 years including Brick Paving, Concrete & Landscape Installation. We are an Authorized Unilock Contractor for 30 years. Kouski Landscape Co. Joel Kouski 4400 W Springfield Ave Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: 217-954-0307 Email: joel@kouski.com Website: www.kouski.com Kouski Landscape Co. is a full service design/build/maintenance landscape firm in east central Illinois. Infinity Lawn and Landscape Tina Turner PO Box 1353 Frankfort, IL 60423 Phone: 815-592-0262 Email: tina@infinitylawnandlandscape. com
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Red Stem Native Landscapes, Inc. Monica Buckley 1255 W. Winona Chicago, IL 60640 Phone: 773-454-4800 Email: monica@redstemlandscapes.com Website: redstemlandscapes.com Red Stem Native Landscapes designs, builds, and maintains landscapes created using native plants in Chicago’s near north suburbs, Oak Park, and the north side. SUPPLIER MEMBERS Heil & Kay Insurance Agency, Inc. Mark Kay 1699 Wall Street - Ste 506 Mount Prospect, IL 60056 Phone: 847-258-5310 Fax: 847-378-8353 Email: mkay@heilandkay.com Website: www.heilandkay.com Heil & Kay Insurance Agency, Inc. is a full service independent insurance agency. We provide all types of Commercial and Personal Lines Insurance, as well as Life & Health Polices and Bonds. We work with dozens of insurance companies, and therefore we can provide the most comprehensive coverage and competitive pricing in the marketplace. We have insured landscape contractors for over two decades and are fortunate enough to have loyal clients that have trusted us with their insurance needs throughout this time. We provide Risk Management Services to help you determine what exposures you may have such as snow plow coverage, pesticide applicator coverage, and replacement cost for equipment. With no obligation on your part, our knowledgeable team can provide a customized proposal to fit your specific needs. Kalb Corporation Mike Kalb 110 West Depot Street Oneida, IL 61467 Phone: 309-483-7021 Fax: 309-483-6159 Email: mkalb@kalbcorp.com Website: www.kalbcorp.com Kalb Corporation distributes Heatizon electric snow and ice melting components. Our The Landscape Contractor December 2017
products can be installed under pavers, concrete and asphalt to melt snow and ice. Landscape Hub, Inc. Emily Stuart 100 S. State Street, STE 3-123 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: 847-514-2458 Email: emily@landscapehub.com Website: www.landscapehub.com LandscapeHub is an online marketplace dedicated to streamlining the B2B procurement process in the Landscaping Industry. Buyers and suppliers increase efficiency, expand their networks and gain valuable market knowledge and insights by using LandscapeHub. Old Dutch Sand & Salt, a Division of Jack Gray, Transport, Inc. Danette Garza 4600 East 15th Avenue Gary, IN 46403 Phone: 219-938-7020 Fax: 219-938-6866 Email: sales@jackgray.com Website: www.jackgray.com Old Dutch Sand & Salt provides quality certified aggregate, organic soils, and bulk de-icing road salt and delivers to you when you need them with our dedicated reliable fleet of Dumper Haulers. With over 20 locations throughout the Midwest, we keep your delivered prices low and have the customer support you deserve since 1951. Our dedicated fleet helps ensure on time delivery and reliability for your project. Old Dutch is a certified woman and minority owned business in IL and IN. Contact us today for your material and/or transportation needs. Peerless Fence Group Sheryl Weddle 33W401 Roosevelt Rd West Chicago, IL 60185 Phone: 630-584-7710 Fax: 630-584-7746 Email: sherylw@peerlessfence.com Website: peerlessfence.com Peerless Fence Group is one of the largest fence companies in the Midwest and has been for more than 50 years. We provide quality products and services to both residential and commercial customers.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Garden Botany Ana Vitek P. O. Box 377 Glen Ellyn, IL 60138 Phone: 630-352-7093 Email: ana@gardenbotany.com Website: www.gardenbotany.com Garden Gems Kristin Gembara Brookfield, IL 60513 Phone: 708-705-7477 Email: kgbg@comcast.net Garden Gems provides an excellent personalized sustainable garden service with experience and knowledge in horticulture and landscapes, a cleaning service for backyards and landscapes. We can help you with a number of tasks in your back yard or landscape: Spring and fall cleanups, Maintenance weeding, weekly or monthly, Pruning small tree and shrubs,
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New Members Scott Mehaffey, landscape architect Scott Mehaffey 1330 Western Avenue Flossmoor, IL 60422 Phone: 312-401-4296 Email: scott@scottmehaffeyinc.com Website: www.scottmehaffeyinc.com Scott provides project planning, design, construction documents, bidding, permitting and construction management services. He consults with architects, engineers, developers and investors, to complete front-end feasibility studies, programming, conceptual planning, schematic design, cost estimates and phasing - as well as tree surveys, site analyses and cultural landscape reports. A registered landscape architect and fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Scott speaks and writes frequently about the landscape industry, consumer preferences, history and trends. With three decades of experience in public, institutional, commercial and
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
residential landscape architecture, Scott assembles each project team to meet the unique demands of each client, program and site. He is an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology where he emphasizes interdisciplinary, contextual and regionally-influenced design.
June 1, 2016
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Annual Calendar
Sustainable Maintenance Guide and Calendar
For the next 15 months, ILCA will be releasing a monthly excerpt from the most current version (v3.0) of its Sustainable Maintenance Guide and Calendar in The Landscape Contractor magazine. The entire 12 month calendar is available to download at no cost to ILCA members, non-profits, public agencies, and units of government. Please email information@ilca.net to request a download of the entire guide and calendar. This guide is not available to private landscape companies who are not members of the ILCA. This guide is intended to equip Illinois Landscape Contractors Association members with all the tools necessary to implement a sustainable maintenance program. It takes into account the constraints of a landscape company in regards to costs, time, equipment, personnel, and horticultural knowledge. The guide is written so any landscape company can apply these maintenance principles to almost any commercial or residential landscape and improve the positive impact on the environment without sacrificing aesthetic quality.
June 1, 2016
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Annual Calendar
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Complete Expo schedule, online registration, and exhibitor information. The Landscape Contractor
© ILLINOIS LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION December 2017
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
Classified Ads HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER/ESTIMATOR FULL-TIME POSITION
Landscape Design/ Sales
Estate Maintenance Manager
Award winning landscape firm for over 45 years in the Bloomington/ Normal area is seeking an experienced professional to join our team. We are looking for an outgoing, aggressive sales person with project management experience, landscape design knowledge and outstanding customer service skills. Must have a degree in Landscape Architecture/ Horticulture or similar and a minimum of 3 years experience in a landscape design/ sales environment. Salary plus commission and benefits. Send resume and salary requirements to redwards@grieders.com All applicants will remain confidential.
Ideal candidate will have excellent communication, strong organizational skills and the ability to do problem solving on a day to day basis. Responsibilities will include day to day supervising and scheduling of crews, tracking job sheets and meeting with clients. A background of sound horticultural procedures and practices is needed including a general knowledge of plants and characteristics in the Chicagoland area. Regular customer appointments will ensure good relations, meet client needs and also generate additional sales. Must have a team player attitude and be able to communicate well. Send resume to: raquelmartinez@grantandpower.com
Grant & Power Landscaping, a premier contractor in the western suburbs, is looking for an experienced, creative, and efficient landscape designer to add to our talented team. Grant & Power Landscaping has been providing outstanding service to our clients for nearly 40 years. We pride ourselves in providing a high quality, full service landscaping experience. The ideal candidate has a strong knowledge of planting and hardscape design, experience using Dynascape Design and Management, Google Sketchup and Adobe Photoshop. Prior estimating experience a plus. Prefer someone with a degree in landscape design, horticulture or equivalent industry experience. Candidate will work closely with sales staff to create a custom design for their clients; render 2D and 3D, and produce accurate estimates for proposed work from working drawings. Competitive salary and benefits offered. Please visit our website at www.grantandpower. com to get to know us and see some of our award winning jobs. Contact Sarah Grabowski at 630-231-0069, or email at: sarahgrabowski@grantandpower.com Landscape Designer/Salesperson Bruss Landscaping of Wheaton is looking to add another talented Architect/Designer to our team. 2017 marks our 65th year of providing high quality residential landscape design and installation services to DuPage and eastern Kane counties. If you have a passion for residential design and sales, are self-motivated and focused on superior customer service we would like to meet you. Candidates must have earned a degree in Landscape Design/ Architecture/Horticulture. At least 3 years professional experience is preferred however we are open to recent graduates as well. Bruss is a relaxed work environment, although seasonally hectic, with a strong benefit package. Eric Bruss, ebruss@brusslandscaping.com, (630) 665-1600.
Landscape Designer/Sales Person Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc., a leader in the nursery and design/build industry, is seeking a landscape designer or sales person with a minimum of 3-5 years of experience to help expand our sales force. We are seeking a highly motivated, organized professional who will demonstrate outstanding skills in all aspects of the design/build process including initial client meetings, site analysis, presenting plans and proposals to clients, and managing installation of projects. The ideal candidate should possess a degree in landscape architecture or landscape design, must be willing to collaborate in a team environment, and retain a basic knowledge of estimating. Industry based plant knowledge is also required. Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Microsoft office is a plus. Hinsdale Nurseries offers a competitive salary and health benefits. Please email resume and portfolio to: mdicristina@hinsdalenurseries.com HELP WANTED • CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING also available on ILCA’s WEB SITE www.ilca.net Call for information (630) 472-2851
Sales - Landscape Design/ Build Candidates must possess a strong landscape/ horticulture background, excellent communication/ listening skills and be proficient with computers. Job duties include meeting with clients at their homes during regular business hours and also during the evenings and Saturdays (depending on the time of year), on site project management during the construction process and follow up after work has been completed. A strong understanding of construction best practices is very helpful. Send resume to: raquelmartinez@grantandpower.com INTERN - PART-TIME POSITION Highly motivated, energetic candidates that are ready to learn for our summer internship program. The 12 week internship will provide an opportunity to participate in all departments of our design build firm. By spending time with the design department, sales staff, production and in the office, the intern will experience all aspects of a landscape contractor operation. Please visit our website at www.grantandpower. com to get to know us and see some of our award winning jobs. Email resume/inquiries to Raquel Martinez at: raquelmartinez@grantandpower.com
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES JAMES MARTIN ASSOCIATES, INC. Vernon Hills, IL & Boulder, CO
James Martin Associates, Inc. is a leader in the Landscape and Snow Management industry and has been providing services to our customers for over 40 years. We are seeking candidates for the following positions:
Landscape and Snow Operations Associates
Design Build Sales
Irrigation Technicians
Design Assistant
To be considered for any of these opportunities, please forward your resume and salary history to b.mcelroy@jamesmartinassociates.com or call Beth at 847-876-8052.
Landscape Architecture • Construction • Maintenance • Snow Management
www.jamesmartinassociates.com
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
The Acres Group has several current fulltime career opportunities:
SALES - DESIGN/BUILD FULL-TIME POSITION
Bilingual/Conversational Spanish Landscape Maintenance Production Manager. Duties include managing field supervisors and crews to attain service, quality & profit goals.
Grant & Power Landscaping, a premier contractor in the western suburbs, is looking for an experienced, organized and personable residential design/build outside sales representative to add to our talented team. Grant & Power Landscaping has been providing outstanding service to our clients for nearly 40 years. We pride ourselves in providing a high quality, full service landscaping experience. Candidates should possess a strong landscape/ horticulture background, excellent communication/listening skills and proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office. A strong understanding of construction best practices a plus. Job duties include meeting with clients for initial site analysis and final presentations to sell projects. These meetings typically occur during regular business hours, as well as some nights and Saturdays. On site project management during the construction process and walk-through meetings upon completion. Salesperson will work closely with design department to transform client wishes into drawings and estimates, and work with production department to ensure efficient project completion. Competitive salary and benefits offered. Please visit our website at www.grantandpower. com to get to know us and see some of our award winning jobs. Email resume/inquiries to Raquel Martinez at: raquelmartinez@grantandpower.com
City Escape - Account Manager for Landscape Services This position is responsible for the business development and management of client relationships for CityEscape. The major duties of this position include selling new accounts, upgrading/crossselling existing accounts, renewing accounts and providing superior customer service and support. The position reports to the President/Owner. The individual selected for this position should be self motivated, organized and have good communication skills. Candidates must have the ability to adapt to a fast paced environment. Strong sales skills as well as the ability to effectively manage people as well as several projects simultaneously are required. The candidate should embrace the core values of CityEscape as outlined in ‘What It Means to Be Part of the CityEscape Team’. Work related experience or a degree in management, landscape architecture, horticulture, or related field is desired. The individual selected for this position should be able to operate independently and work closely with all landscape personnel, subcontractors, management and clients. The individual selected for this position should be comfortable representing the company and owner with high profile clients.
Landscape Maintenance Account Manager will service a portfolio of commercial landscape and snow accounts. Educate & provide horticultural recommendations to clients resulting in property enhancement sales. Network to sell new contracted work. This dynamic position has on outstanding compensation package. Maintenance Customer Service Specialist is a developmental position that partners with Account Managers to meet or exceed customer expectations. Use your marketing and sales skills-learn the ropes & support the team while positioning yourself for a career in Account Management. Please email resumes to Julie.ellinger@acresgroup.com for consideration. Residential Maintenance Account ManagerFull Time Responsibilities include managing portfolio of residential maintenance clients; identifying and selling new sales leads, preparing proposals for new leads, contract renewals and enhancement jobs. Working with crews to ensure quality control is followed on client sites. Establishing, building and maintaining client relationships and communicating with team members are key to success in this position. Landscape industry experience and/ or a horti-cultural degree are required. English & Spanish fluency is a plus. We offer competitive wages and benefits. Email resumes to: resumes@rosboroughpartners.com Commercial Account Manager/Sales Full Time (2 positions) Rosborough Partners seeks an Account Manager/ Sales in our Libertyville and West Chicago locations. Responsibilities include generating new sales leads, contract proposals for renewals and enhancement work. Building and maintaining client relationships to provide ongoing education on the needs of their property and supplemental project management. Communicating and interacting well with clients and team members is key to success in this role. English/Spanish fluency is beneficial. A Class D Driver’s license with a good driving record is required. We offer competitive salary and benefits. email resumes to: resumes@rosboroughpartners.com City Escape - Project Manager The Project Manager is responsible for all landscape maintenance, including administration of landscape maintenance contract, as well as upkeep of plant health and irrigation systems. The position involves regular meetings with clients, creating work schedules, coordinating subcontractors, contract compliance, direct supervision of work crews, reviewing time cards for accuracy, training of crews to assure work performance meets company and client standards, and oversee the work is executed efficiently, safely and within budget. Daily activities include following and fulfilling the schedule of tasks to be completed, assisting in the care of turf and plant material, pesticide spraying, meeting safety standards, and communicating with clients. Please send resumes to: connie@cityescape.biz
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ESTATE MAINTENANCE MANAGER FULL-TIME POSITION Grant & Power Landscaping, a premier contractor in the western suburbs, is looking for enthusiastic, organized, and experienced Estate Maintenance Manager to add to our talented team. Grant & Power Landscaping has been providing outstanding service to our clients for nearly 40 years. We pride ourselves in providing a high quality, full service landscaping experience. The ideal candidate possesses excellent communication, problem solving and organizational skills. As well as a proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office. A background in horticulture, including best practices and procedures for plants, material and equipment needed to properly maintain a property a must. The Estate Maintenance manager will work closely with sales and production departments to exceed customer’s expectations. Responsibilities include supervising and scheduling of crews, tracking job sheets and meeting with customers. Competitive salary and benefits offered. Please visit our website at www.grantandpower. com to get to know us and see some of our award winning jobs. Email resume/inquiries to Raquel Martinez at: raquelmartinez@grantandpower.com
Specific responsibilities include: • Build and maintain client relationships to meet and exceed revenue goals.(60% current client base; 40% business development) • Proactively communicate with all customers to identify new sales opportunities, provide customer service and ensure account renewals. • Work with customers to identify challenges that our products and services can solve. • Review all major deliverables and ensure quality standards and client expectations are met. • Address client concerns and ensure the resolution of issues in a timely manner and follow up when appropriate. Inform President/Owner of any problems that may arise. • Retain up to date records and files for all accounts. • Assisting in invoicing. • Respond to Requests for Proposals (RFP) in a timely and accurate fashion. • Inspecting site of proposed work, review customer ideas and design alternatives, discuss budget considerations and define objectives. • Create and maintain a database of clients and leads • Seeks out purchasing decision makers and develops relationships with them • Visit potential clients and explain CityEscape’s services. • Close sales. • Gather competitive intelligence regarding pricing and other information. • Preparation and/or review of estimates and bids and negotiating contract terms with clients. • Developing relationships with landscape architects, developers and other entities to provide bid opportunities. • Supervision of landscape personnel and subcontractors. • Attending and participating in management meetings. • Establishing and maintaining reporting procedures. • Scheduling of work and maintaining weekly/ monthly calendar. • Assisting in the preparation of budgets Please send resumes to: connie@cityescape.biz
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
HELP WANTED Project/Sales Manager
Advertisers
SigNature, Inc. is a mid-sized sized landscape design/build firm looking to hire an energetic, goal-oriented new team member who can develop into a successful Project Manager. We offer a professional atmosphere, experienced staff, and the potential for growth. This is a full-time position with flexible hours for the right candidate. Project Manager should have experience with Dynascapes, solid design skills, 3-5 years as project manager or designer, and a strong knowledge of plant materials. Must be organized, have strong communication skills, and be able to handle heavy work load. Leads are provided. Competitive salary and commission plan. Laptop provided. Car/phone allowance. Company car, paid personal days, and paid vacations are all part of incentive program. SigNature, Inc. is in the Elgin/St. Charles area and has been providing high-end residential design/build construction and maintenance services for over 18 years. We have numerous construction and design awards and are recognized throughout our area as one of the leaders in landscape design and construction. Please visit www.siglandscaping.com to learn more about our team. Send resume and salary requirements to Jeff Kerber at (847) 289-0590 or email jeff@siglandscaping.com
Bartlett Tree Experts .............................................47
Indiana Green Expo ..............................................55
Beaver Creek Nursery ..........................................53
James Martin Associates .........................................59
Carlin Sales.............................................................6
Longshadow Planters ........................................17
Cassidy Tire ............................................................45
McGinty Bros. .......................................................54
Chicagoland Gardening .........................................61
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District .............37
Darling Ingredients ................................................46
Midwest Groundcovers ..........................................45
Doty Nurseries LLC ................................................4
Midwest Trading ....................................................2
Fairview Evergreen Nurseries ................................45
North Shore Truck .................................................46
Fox River Decorative Stone ......................................44
ProGreen Plus .......................................................44
Goodmark Nurseries ...............................................43
RWC Insurance ....................................................50
Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63
Spring Meadow Nursery ........................................49
GRO Hort ...............................................................39
Stockyards Brick Co. ..............................................21
B. Haney & Sons, Inc. ...............................................54
The Care of Trees ..................................................6
Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ......................................47
The Mulch Center ..................................................53
Landscape Project Manager Join Chalet into our 101st Year!
Homer Industries ...................................................31
Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64
Work for a prestigious firm that celebrates quality work and passionate people. Be a Landscape Project Manager at Chalet, serving Chicago’s North Shore for a century. If you have the right experience and qualities, you’ll oversee construction projects and manage teams, materials, budgets and deadlines; liaison at the highest level of communication with customers and colleagues; supervise, train and develop crews; and be a key team member in a fast-paced and vibrant environment. We seek a pro-active, can-do problem solver who will balance the big picture with the minute details, who listens attentively and responds positively, who is accurate and flexible, trustworthy and ethical. A degree in LA/ Construction/Design or the equivalent experience is required. For a full job description and qualifications, go to www.ChaletNursery.com or email us at jobs@ChaletNursery.com.
iLandscape Show ...............................................29, 58
Open positions available, apply today! We are in a growth mode for 2018 and adding new teammates for next spring.. At K&D Landscape when we talk about advancing your career and professional development we actually mean it! Do you have a resume that matches one of the positions listed below? Send it along and we’ll sit down and chat about how your commitment to excellence can work with ours. Licensed Spray Technician Maintenance Supervisor Maintenance Foreman Construction Foreman Landscape Designer Registered Landscape Architect Have a different set of skills? We’ll entertain all possibilities for the right candidates. Send resumes in confidence to: Careers@KDlandscapeinc.com
The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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Knowing Native Plants
Native Intelligence A Guide through the Labyrinth of Native Plants and Cultivars
by Nina Koziol The marketplace abounds with woody plants, but it’s not always easy to find smaller native shrubs. Winterberry holly is a favorite of Alan Branhagen, author of Native Plants of the Midwest: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 500 Species for the Garden, (Timber Press, 440 pages, $39.95). “Winterberry is phenomenal late in the season and people often forget that the flowers are very nectar-rich.” A profusion of bright red berries brightens the winter landscape and provides food for birds. “When I lived in Illinois, in November—the grayest of months—the plants were just screaming red,” he said. Unlike other hollies, the leaves on winterberry are not evergreen. Winterberry can vary greatly in size in its native habitats, which include acidic, moist soils. Branhagen has paced off wild shrubs with a spread of 27 feet, but said, “it usually grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. And, there are many smaller selections like ‘Red Sprite’ and ‘Berry Poppins,’ which generally produce showier flowers and larger, more abundant fruit.” Winterberry requires male and female plants for fruit set. “I don’t know why they aren’t used in more landscapes because they should be,” Branhagen said. Come fall, “It’s an antidote for seasonal affective disorder. It’s nice and vibrant.”
Ilex verticillata Winterberry
Cultivate: • • • • • •
Site: Full sun to part sun/shade (4-6 hours daily), good garden soil and plenty of moisture; prefers acidic soil with a pH of 6-6.5 Size Range: 8-12’ tall and wide but many smaller cultivars are in the 3-5’ range Blooms: Flowers are inconspicuous but attract pollinators Hardiness: Zones 3-9 Landscape Uses: Mass or group in shrub borders, foundations, native plant areas or bird gardens, hedge Maintenance: Low
Bonus: Tolerant of aerial salt spray
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The Landscape Contractor December 2017
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