Pro Grow New Winter 2020 Digital Edition

pro grow news WINTER 2020

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Some Things Never Change An Unfilled Need in the Landscape Industry

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pro grow news Winter 2020

contents Features

8

Some Things Never Change

12 An Unfulfilled Need in the

Landscape Industry

20 Boxwood Health Check-Up

Departments

5 President’s Message

6 Government Relations Director 23 Fun Facts 26 Workplace Solutions 30 Plant for Success On the cover — Massachusetts winter is for the dogs.

Winter|2020

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pro grow news Winter 2020

committees

board PRESIDENT Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE

VICE PRESIDENT Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM) Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc. Tel: (413) 536-7555

SECRETARY/TREASURER Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269

Kathy Bergmann, MCH — Chair Bergmann Construction Tel: (508) 596.6408

Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair Strictly Pruning Tel: (508) 429-7189 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE

PAST PRESIDENT Jim Stucchi, MCH Stucchi Landscape and Design, LLC Tel: (774) 233-2151

Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269

DIRECTORS

HISTORY COMMITTEE

Deborah Trickett, MCH The Captured Garden

Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. Steve Charette Farm Family Insurance Family

David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape, Inc Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Centers

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH) Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair John R. Elicone Consulting Tel: (617) 527-5706 PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Peter Mezitt, MCH — ­­ Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR Jason Wentworth Tel: (617) 417-4050 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630

Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731

Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208 MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Gaele McCully, MCH MCLP — Chair Mahoney’s Garden Center Tel: (781) 729-5900

pro grow news Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org

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ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731.

Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA.

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President’s Message

My Final President’s Message ByTim Hay, MCH

By Tim Hay, MCH

A

s I try to put my thoughts together for this final president’s message, I look back and ask, “Where did two years go?” I could not have done it without the MNLA Board of Directors and committees, Rena and Jason, my co-workers at Bigelow Nurseries, and a very understanding spouse. You have all made the task of MNLA President easy, so thank you! With only weeks left in my term as your president, it has been a pleasure to serve. I know that as I become past-president and join that honored group out in the pasture, MNLA is in good hands for years to come.

As Jim Stucchi said in his last president’s message, “It is all about relationships …..and the Patriots.” He was right.

The relationships made through MNLA — be it business or personal or both — are some of the most valuable benefits you receive when you give. I urge you to get involved, attend events, and network. The relationships you make will pay you back for years to come in ways you have never imagined.

And as for the Patriots, we can always say….”There is next year.” How lucky we are to live in New England. Ah, Mother Nature and Sports.

As for Mother Nature, we have gone from 30-plus inches of snow to 65-plus degrees in temperature in just a matter of a week. At my house, the dog loved the snow and the birds thought spring was here four months early. These extreme weather events are the new normal, so we might as well get used to them. It will be very interesting to see how the new plantings have fared come the real spring. I am hopeful the early snow gave enough protection to the new plantings. The plus has been that as the temps went up and the snow melted, there was water for them. There are always challenges when dealing with Mother Nature; it’s the silver lining we need to embrace.

When business challenges seem insurmountable, look to your professional organization to find the silver lining; it is the reason we exist. Let MNLA be your “Resource for Success.” This year, attend MNLA-sponsored events, participate, and get involved. The return is immeasurable.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any question, concern, or just to catch up.

Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. MNLA President

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Visit www.sylvannursery.com We apologize for our delay— Circumstances beyond our control contributed to the delay of our winter publication. Please Watch your mail for the spring issue to follow shortly.

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Government MNLA Committees Relations Director

By Jason Wentworth

F

ull speed into 2020 and another annual process begins anew at the State House: the development of the state budget. Soon, the governor will release his first draft of this year’s budget bill. Fun fact: As the Legislature’s session is two years long, the first budget bill of the session is titled H1 (House Bill 1) and the second H2. We should see H2 released very soon.

With some exceptions, the governor’s budget bills tend to mirror past appropriations. Of course, the Legislative branch gets to have a go at it as well. The House will first release their version, which will be very similar to the governor’s, and the Senate will follow suit. Within the two branches of the Legislature, members will have the opportunity to file amendments that, if adopted, can add, cancel, increase, or decrease the spending for a line item. Non-budgetary policy matters can be addressed in the budget bill as well, in both the Governor’s and Legislature’s versions. It’s key that I, and my fellow advocates, keep an eye on these “outside sections” to make sure nothing untoward gets through unnoticed.

Printed out, the governor’s annual budget bill would give any coffee table book a run for its money. As a rookie legislative aide back in 2011, I marveled at its size and was more than

a little intimidated when asked to search for a few items. My reverence was tempered as I saw old veterans of the State House dropping them respectfully in recycling bins. I quickly learned that, while the Commonwealth is steeped in tradition and the transmission of the budget via print is no doubt required, the best way to search, make notations on, and work on the budget is by utilizing the online copy.

Much less labyrinthine than the printed version, a simple search on Mass.gov of the key words “budget appropriations recommendation” will not only bring up the latest year’s information, but also allow you to review historical budgets and historical spending. If you’re like me and enjoy discovering behavioral trends, that opportunity to glance at historical activity is fascinating. Additionally, the site allows the user to drill down into individual departments and the individual line items that fund them, again allowing for comparison to past years’ allocation and actual spending.

Even with the benefit of online keyword searching, it is still a very lengthy and involved process to fully review, but it’s essential in ensuring that bad policy doesn’t slip through the cracks. In addition to my own pair of eyes, we are fortunate to have astute MNLA members and friendly legislators keeping an eye out. If you’ve never checked it out for yourself, give it a try. When someone asks you where their tax dollars go, you can tell them! Just make sure you refer them to the website and not the printed tome.

Jason Wentworth, Peacefield Strategies MNLA Government Relations Director

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Some Things Never Change

By Bobbie Schwartz

W

e all know that the most beautifully designed and installed garden can become the garden from hell if not properly maintained.

Gone are the days of plentiful and inexpensive gardeners for hire.

Thus, many of our clients ask for low-maintenance perennial gardens.

Amazingly, this request is not an oxymoron. Perennial gardens, if well-designed, can be low maintenance.

One of the first considerations is the nature of the perennial you wish to use. Is it a clumper, a runner, or a seeder? If it’s a runner, how fast does it run? Epimedium, for instance, is a lovely, drought tolerant groundcover for shady areas.

Although rhizomatous, it spreads very slowly. On the other hand, Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’, a tall, stately perennial for the back of the border, will quickly overtake everything in its path.

Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ is a great sun perennial for an area where quick coverage is desired. a garden. Aquilegia, however, is a moderate seeder, and the seedlings are most welcome because the parent plant is often besieged with leaf miner, leaving behind unsightly plants.

In order to space plants appropriately, one must also know the habit of the perennial. Is it an upright plant that will not need staking or is it a flopper that will take up more space than you had imagined? Digitalis has strong stems, but Centranthus, if grown in part shade instead of sun, will flop as it leans toward the sun and will also be only twelve inches high instead of twenty-four.

Over time, Epimedium becomes quite dense. Its spring foliage has a bronzy tinge that highlights its texture.

I love many seeders, but the most important question is whether the seedlings are easy to pull. This is known as editing. Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ is widely grown because it will grow almost anywhere, but the seedlings will inundate

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Aquilegia vulgaris double purple has seeded itself in between my Nectarascordum bulgaricum and thus created a lovely vignette.

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Clients are not known for their patience, so newly installed gardens often look sparse. Take advantage of annuals to fill the empty spaces. If you use seeding annuals, the garden will benefit from additional color and structure

The flowers of Geranium ‘Rozanne’ are self-cleaning, a boon to gardeners who have many other chores that consume their time.

Digitalis ferruginea or Liatris pcynostachaya ‘Alba’.

Although Tracy DiSabato-Aust’s book, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, was written over twenty years ago, it is still the best guide on this subject. In addition to the specifics for each perennial, the appendices are extremely helpful.

They include lists, among others, of Lower Maintenance Perennials, Perennials That May Require Division Every 6-10 Years, and Perennials with Self-Cleaning Flowers.

Perennials such as Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye), Aster novae-angliae, and Cimicifuga (Actaea) make an impact but need virtually no attention. At most, they need to be cut to the ground in early spring if the stalks have not

This late summer/early fall combination of Eupatorium purpureum, Aster novae-angliae ‘September Ruby’, and Cimicifuga (Actaea) racemosa needs virtually no maintenance.

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already fallen to the ground. One of my favorite perennials is Baptisia. I love the leguminous foliage, its June bloom, and its green, then black pods that last through the winter. Because it has a deep tap root, it does not take kindly to division or transplanting. Just cut the stalks down in spring.

If a perennial has self-cleaning flowers, no deadheading will be required, a chore that entails time and repetitive motion that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The hardy geraniums have self-cleaning flowers, a boon to all gardeners. Most are relatively short so this also means we don’t have to bend over.

There is no such thing as no maintenance. As designers, we know we can lower maintenance for our clients while still creating beautiful gardens for them using careful selection.

Bobbie Schwartz, a certified landscape designer in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is the owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb, a fulltime business focusing on landscape design, consultation, installation and maintenance, lecturing, and writing. Most of Bobbie’s designs are for residential properties. Her landscape signature is the use of perennials, flowering shrubs, and ornamental grasses to facilitate color and interest throughout the year. An obsessed gardener for fifty years and a landscape designer for forty-two years, her extensive travels to gardens and nurseries have contributed greatly to her knowledge of design and new plants. Bobbie has received several design awards for residential, commercial, and institutional designs.

She lectures locally and nationally for master gardeners, botanical gardens, and landscape associations on various aspects of design and perennial and ornamental grass gardening. She also writes extensively for various associations and magazines.

Her book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was released by Timber Press in 2017.

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The Garden Ecologist:

An Unfulfilled Need in the Landscape Industry

By Larry Weaner

When

New Directions in the American Landscape put on its first educational program in 1990, native plants and ecological gardening were far from the minds of the vast majority of our clients. Since then, a sea change has occurred. Practitioners searching for interested clients have been replaced by clients searching for experienced Photo courtesy Kim Sokoloff contractors.

Designers are including native

meadows as a more ecological alternative to mowed turf, not to mention the aesthetic effects of seasonal blooms and grasses swaying in the breeze. But the protocols needed to successfully establish these meadows differ dramatically from traditional turf establishment.

Winds of change

Clients are also increasingly interested in controlling the invasive species that have run amok on large portions of their properties. But the most effective protocols for their control are far more species-specific and pre-planned than what occurs in a typical garden weeding session.

Photo courtesy of Mark Weaner

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Both of these efforts require landscape practitioners to break out of the garden bed and become actively involved in a much larger portion of their client’s property. While this offers significant opportunity for an expansion of services contractors can provide, it requires a significant addition to the traditional landscape planting and maintenance toolbox.

Natural interest

In addition, clients have become increasingly interested in wildlife habitat, pollinator-friendly plantings, and the reduction or elimination of pesticide use. Each of these efforts and approaches require new techniques that recognize the altered benefits that ecologically oriented landscape plantings are expected to provide.

Those contractors who have obtained a mastery of the techniques required to consistently guide these new landscape types into fruition will have the ability to not only expand their client base, but also to distinguish themselves as competent practitioners of the fastest growing landscape approach.

While planting and managing landscapes that achieve the ecological benefits and aesthetic character clients want is paramount, the maintenance required to get there is also a major consideration. In over thirty years of working with clients, I have never entertained a request for a highmaintenance landscape, and I expect I never will.

Maintenance?

The level of maintenance any given landscape will require depends not only on the maintenance techniques that are employed, but also on the planting protocols that preceded it.

Understanding ecological characteristics and processes like exhausting the weed-seed bank prior to planting and managing soil disturbance during the planting process can have a significant Photo courtesy Larry Weaner Landscape Associates

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effect on the level of weed pressure that will follow.

Understanding the life cycles, environmental needs, and vulnerability of specific weed species can allow for a brains-over brawn-approach to maintenance that can significantly reduce maintenance requirements and further elevate ecologically oriented practitioners in the eyes of their clients.

Learn more

These principles and practices will be covered in depth at an upcoming full-day workshop entitled Garden Ecology for Landscape Contractors: A Workshop Instructed by Larry Weaner on November 5, 2020, at Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts. This program is sponsored and coordinated by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and developed by Larry Weaner and New Directions in the American Landscape.

Photo courtesy of Larry Weaner Landscaoe Associates

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Landscape contractors who embrace an ecological approach to planting and managing landscapes — and make the effort to familiarize themselves with the unique techniques that are associated with this approach — can expect to enhance their position in the field.

Larry Weaner is the founder of New Directions in the American Landscape and principal of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates. His firm’s design and restoration work spans more than ten states and has been profiled in many national publications.

Larry has received numerous awards, including the Landscape Design Award from the New England Wildflower Society for use of native plants in “exceptional and distinctive

landscape compositions” and the Lady Bird Johnson Environmental Award from The Native Plant Center. The Garden Club of America awarded him an honorary membership in 2015. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at regional and national conferences and venues, is a founding member of Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), a former member of the APLD’s Environmental Committee, and an affiliate member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Larry co-authored Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change with Tom Christopher (Timber Press, 2016). Their book received a 2017 Book Award from the American Horticultural Society.

Meet Larry Weaner at MNLA’s Down to Earth Summer Conference and Trade Show on July 23, 2020, at Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

We also invite you to save the date for MNLA’s one-day Garden Ecology for Landscape Contractors on November 5, 2020, at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts.

For more information go to www.mnla.com.

Photo courtesy Larry Weaner Landscape Associates

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Two convenient locations:

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Boxwood Health Check-Up Plus the Latest on Boxwood Blight and New APHIS Box Tree Moth Action

T

he Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) is invested in helping the industry understand the complex nature of boxwood health. New boxwood blight best management practices for landscape management were released last month in tandem with updated best management practices for production. HRI continues to guide research, monitor results, and provide an expanding toolbox of resources on boxwood health directly to the industry.

Boxwood blight continues to cause headaches for producers and landscape managers. Reports of the disease continue to rise as scouting prowess increases in our industries and weather conditions (warm, wet/humid conditions, 60-82° F) continue to favor disease development.

Researchers are making headway at unraveling boxwood blight’s secrets.

Some of the latest areas of research currently underway includes: • Longevity of chlorothalonil fungicide applications, modeling fungicide resistance, and looking at fungicides that induce boxwood’s natural resistance, such as acibenzolar. Dr. Sara Villani, North Carolina State University • Possible biocontrol agents, such as Trichoderma koningiopsis, Pseudomonas sp., and Burkholderia sp. Dr. JoAnne Crouch, USDA ARS, and Dr. Ping Kong, Virginia Tech • Development of a rapid, equipment-free diagnostic assay. Dr. Xiao Yang and Dr. Doug Luster, USDA ARS • Population changes in term of genetics, Dr. JoAnne Crouch, USDA ARS • Continuing evaluation of cultivar tolerance and susceptibility. Dr. Jim LaMondia, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. Marc Cubeta, North Carolina State University, Dr. JoAnne Crouch, USDA ARS, and Dr. Nina Shishkoff, USDA ARS • Surveys of boxwood production in Oregon, Dr. Jerry Weiland, USDA ARS It is important to remember, though, that the risk to boxwood does not rest solely in boxwood blight.

New Action by APHIS

USDA APHIS has issued a federal order amending entry requirements for Buxus, Euonymus, and Ilex entering the US from Canada due to the emerging risk of box tree moth. These plants, including propagative material, must now be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate

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with an additional declaration certifying that the plants have been produced in an area recognized by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as free of box tree moth or that the shipment has been inspected and declared free of this pest. APHIS has also made pheromone traps available to state departments of agriculture wishing to monitor for box tree moth in 2020.

Box Tree Moth

Box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is the latest insect pest to trouble boxwood production. It is native to eastern Asia and has made its way to North America. In August 2018, a photo enthusiast in the Toronto, Ontario, area first noticed what she thought was a melonworm moth in a pollinator garden. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was not a melonworm moth, and her entomologist friend (who happens to be the author of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern America) identified it as box tree moth.

This was the first detection in North America. CFIA eventually confirmed the new invasive pest find and deployed traps and a management plan for 2019. Traps were placed throughout southern Ontario targeting residential areas with boxwood. According to Jennifer Llewellyn with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, traps tested positive for box tree moth in over 300 residences in the Toronto metropolitan area, mostly in the Etobicoke.

Folks in Ontario remain optimistic. Llewellyn commented, “In all of my 21 years as the provincial nursery and landscape specialist in Ontario, I have experienced the threat of various invasive pests. This is the first time we have discovered an invasive pest where there was already an effective pheromone lure in place, effective biological insecticides, and known life-cycle and behavior information thanks to the amazing research efforts in Europe. For all these reasons, I am hopeful that through awareness, monitoring, and education, we have a good chance to manage box tree moth while supporting a thriving boxwood industry.”

As Llewellyn indicated, foundational research from Asia and the EU already exists to help us in North America get a jump on box tree moth so we are prepared and ready for when it makes its way here. The EU first reported box tree moth in 2007 in Germany. It spread quickly from there — throughout all of the EU within ten years — primarily through the plant trade. Box tree moth can fly an estimated six to twelve miles per generation, with anywhere from two to five generations per year expected in the US. Only about

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two generations per year are observed in Ontario. Movement of infested plant material by humans is the main form of spread.

Box tree moth overwinters as larvae that emerge when temperatures warm in the spring. A female lays about 400–800 eggs over her lifetime on leaf undersides, and the lifecycle from an egg to an adult takes about 45 days. Human-mediated movement is the likeliest way this pest is spread long distances. Host material includes Buxus — live or dead plants and greenery. Asian researchers have implicated Euonymus and Ilex as two other hosts; however, researchers in the EU have not confirmed this.

As in Ontario, many researchers from the EU are confident that box tree moth can be easily managed, but scouting and identification will be key. Once infested, gardens have shown signs of remediation. We are fortunate in North America that native boxwood forests (which can harbor the insect) are nonexistent, and many commercial pesticides available here are likely effective at control. Bacillus thuringiensis, in particular, has shown strong efficacy, in addition to pyrethroids. Some systemic insecticides look to be good candidates as well, such as chlorantraniliprole; however, efficacy data may not be available yet. For more information on box tree moth, view an informative webinar from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs featuring Jennifer Llewellyn.

HRI supports research directly related to boxwood health and leverages these funds to help protect the industry. We further support research funded through the USDA ARS’s Floriculture and Nursery research Initiative and USDA APHIS’s PPA7721

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Holyoke, MA (800) 862-0089

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(formerly Section 10007). Directing needed research like the kind being conducted on boxwood health is a prime example of how HRI fulfills its mission to improve the productivity and profitability of the horticultural industry. To learn more about boxwood research results and to access to resources on boxwood health, visit HRIresearch.org.

Article provided by the Horticultural Research Institute, www. HRIResearch. org. Article available online at: https://www.hriresearch.org/article/ boxwood-health-check. Contact Jennifer Gray, research programs administrator, at jenniferg@ americanhort.org or 614-884-1155.

The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), founded in 1962, has provided more than $8 million in funds to research projects covering a broad range of production, environmental, and business issues important to the green industry. Nearly $14 million is committed to the endowment by individuals, corporations, and associations. For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or contact Jennifer Gray at 614-884-1155.

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Fun Facts Everyday Mysteries Who developed the first greenhouse?

The first recorded use of greenhouses was during the reign of Emperor Tiberius of Rome (ruled 14AD to 37AD). Raised beds on wheels were moved outside on warm days and moved inside on wintery days, under frames with panes of transparent stone (such as mica or lapis specularis) to provide the Emperor with his favorite muskmelons and cucumbers every day throughout the year.

— https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/2_13_Janick.pdf

What is the largest flower in the world?

The Rafflesia arnoldii is the flower with the largest bloom. It can grow to be three feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds.

— Kewscience, Plants of the World Online: http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni org:names:316069-1 Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/ Photo courtesy Henrik Hansson

Is a coconut a fruit, nut or seed?

Botanically speaking, a coconut is a fibrous one-seeded drupe, also known as a dry drupe. However, when using loose definitions, the coconut can be all three: a fruit, a nut, and a seed. ­— Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/

How much water does a camel’s hump hold?

None…it actually stores fat. The camel uses it as nourishment when food is scarce.

— Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/ Rafflesia arnoldii (corpse flower) grows east of Lake Maninjau, Sumatra, Indonesia

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WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS From the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Backing Construction Vehicles and Equipment at Roadway Construction Worksites Summary Workers on roadway construction worksites are exposed to possible injury and death from moving construction vehicles and equipment [NIOSH 2001].

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that specific procedures and controls be in place at roadway construction worksites to help prevent injuries and deaths from backing construction vehicles and equipment.

Description of Exposure According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics review of the 962 fatal workplace injuries at road construction sites from 2003 to 2010, 443 were due to a worker being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment [BLS 2013]. Workers were fatally struck 143 times by a vehicle or mobile equipment that was backing up. In 84 of these cases, the worker was fatally struck by a dump truck that was backing up.

Between 1992 and 2009, NIOSH and State partners investigated 36 deaths of

workers killed by backing construction vehicles or equipment on roadway construction worksites through the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program.

Case Study In October 2006, a 28-year-old laborer was backed over by a tack truck (Figure 1) while working as a flagger on an asphalt resurfacing job in a residential roadway work zone. The victim was standing with his back to the reversing tack truck when a dump truck driver attempted to warn him by waving his arms. The tack truck struck the victim; the driver thought he had passed over a manhole cover and continued backing. The tack truck driver stopped when he saw the dump truck driver running and waving his arms in his mirror. Both drivers found the victim at the front of the tack truck lying face down on a man-hole cover on the ground [NIOSH 2007].

Controls NIOSH and State FACE investigations identified the following controls that employers, contractors, workers, and construction vehicle and equipment manufacturers should take to protect

Figure 1. FACE Case Study. Photograph courtesy of the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration [NIOSH 2007] workers from injury while working around backing construction vehicles and equipment on roadway construction worksites.

Employers, including Contractors, and SubContractors Standard Operating Procedures „

Develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures that address worker safety and minimize work to be performed near vehicles and equipment.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Winter|2020

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Take advantage of your member profile at MNLA.com!

Did you know that your MNLA membership includes a member directory listing on our website? Log in today and check your profile to be certain everything is up to date. Once you are logged in, click on Manage Profile to edit your bio, view/download past invoices from online purchases, create a photo gallery to show off your hard work and creativity, and more!

Post job openings at MNLA.com for FREE! Log in to the website and post your job openings for free — it's another benefit of your MNLA membership! Once logged in and on the Career Center page, click "Submit an Opening" to list your job posting.

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Advertising Opportunities The 2020 Four Seasons Guide is Coming...

Plans are underway for the 2020 MNLA Four Seasons Guide!

This ever-green publication is distributed to garden consumers, retailers, and other interested business groups.

The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc.

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Estimated circulation is 10,000 throughout 2020. It’s a must-advertise moment for all serious marketers in the green industry.

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Advertiser Index

MARKETPLACE

A&B Insurance Group ...................................19 Acorn Tree and Landscape .......................... 31 American National .........................................11 Amherst Nurseries .........................................29 Arborjet ...........................................................21 Ballard Truck Center ......................................23 Bigelow Nursery ............................................22 Cavicchio Landscape Supplies, Inc. ..............9 Connecticut Mulch ........................................23 Fairview Evergreen Nurseries .......................7 Farm Credit East ............................................17 ForEverGreen Farms.......................................21 Griffin Greenhouse ........................................27 Horticultural Associates .................................6 Ideal Concrete Block ........................................2 Medford Nursery ...........................................16 Milton Cat ......................................................15 Northeast Nursery ........................................32 Northern Nurseries .......................................16 OESCO..............................................................29 Pierson Nurseries, Inc. ..................................26 Prides Corner Farm ........................................17 Sylvan Nursery ..................................................5 Valley Green ...................................................22 Vermont Much ................................................24 Weston Nurseries ..........................................13

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Plant for Success

Iris cristata (Dwarf crested iris)

Iris

cristata is one of my favorite perennials because of its early blooming time in April and its beautiful blue color. Many years ago, I planted four one-gallon plants under an oak tree and was delighted by how quickly it spread.

Native from Maryland to Oklahoma and south to Georgia and Mississippi, this groundcover is wonderful in a garden bed, on a rocky outcrop, or under trees where little else will grow.

From late winter into early spring, the branching rhizomes create a unique textured mat. As the 6-inch, yellow-green, sword-shaped leaves emerge, a thick mat of green appears topped shortly thereafter with blindingly blue flowers. I often joke that I need to wear my sunglasses some days just to look at them.

Although the flowers don’t last long, the thick mat of green offers continuous coverage throughout the season keeping out weeds. Nice companions for Iris cristata include ferns and hostas.

I happily share these little gems with other gardening friends as they are easy to divide and take well to transplanting. Finally, Iris cristata is deer- and drought-resistant.

Botanical Name: Iris cristata Common Name: Dwarf Crested Iris Type: Perennial deciduous groundcover Exposure: Full sun/Part shade Size: 3–6” x 6–12” Zone: 3 to 9 Soil: Average to Dry Fall color: Yellow leaves Growth rate: Fast

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