The Landscape Contractor magazine OCT.23 DIGITAL EDITION by Association Publishing Partners

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October 2023

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: The Impact Conference Pollinator Hotels 10 What’s the buzz? Meet the Transformers 18 Turning landscape waste into black gold

Babylon Chicago 26 A designer’s personal oasis The Impact Conference Program 31 Midwest Plant Talk 34 Growing native plants

EN ESPAÑOL

Conozca a los transformadores Meet the transformers

Growing Good 38 COD and DuPage County Correctional Facility Landscape Design Unplugged An evening with the pros

Diseases and Pests 54 Viburnum leaf beetle and Leave the leaves

Member Profile 56 Brick Paver Solutions and Pools Inspiration Alley 61 Made in the Shade Before You Go Big Bluestem for big impact

On the cover... A detail image from the Mariani Landscape Gold Award titled Classic Landscape.

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

48 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message Classified Ads Advertisers Index Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee Mark Dwyer Mike DiMucci Ali Hussain Midwest Groundcovers Connie Kollmeyer

OCTOBER 4 5 7 58 61

1, 8-9, 10-16, 62 18-24 26-30 34-36 38-43

Rick Reuland Nina Koziol Heather Prince Brick Paver Solutions Mark Dwyer

49-53 61 54 56-57 62

The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www.ilca.net Volume 64, Number 10. 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 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

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The Landscape Contractor October 2023

HUNTLEY 14029 Church Road Huntley, IL 60142

From Where I Stand — No one really knows how the parties get to “Yes” The pieces that are sacrificed in every game of chess We just assume that it happens But no else is in the room where it happens. “The Room Where it Happens,” from the Broadway musical Hamilton

ILCA

organized a Growers Tour of central Tennessee in September. This was the first out-of-state Growers Tour since we barnstormed Oregon in 2019. Tennessee mimics the climate of Oregon which allows it to be a fertile spot to grow liners, bare root, and pot-in-pot nursery stock. This material will be sold to other nurseries, garden centers, with a very limited amount being sold directly to landscapers. We loaded almost 50 nursery professionals into a caravan of sprinter vans and SUVs. Over the course of the 2-day event, we stopped at seven different nurseries of varying sizes. Nursery growing is so prevalent in Tennessee that even the counter girl at the rental van company knew about it. She was well-versed in how important ornamental nurseries are to Tennessee. Hopefully, this helps her understand why the vans were returned covered in more red dust than the Mars rover. Nurseries can blend together after seeing seven in a 48-hour period. The rows-and-rows of dogwood and sweet gum tend to blur. Yet, each nursery had its own history, legacy, look, and feel. Some were multigenerational and have served the landscape industry for 100 years. Others were run by upstart go-getters who finally decided to start a nursery as soon as land became available. The more time I spent at each nursery, I recognized the subtle differences that most motorists would never understand zipping past at 80mph on a country road. They all had slightly different practices regarding pots, water management, logistics, and weed and pest control. Home Nursery used a mechanized pruner to shape their boxwoods like how the Jetsons envisioned we’d be getting haircuts by now. Turner & Sons used the old ways and had a team of “budders” bud their thousands of orchard trees by hand. Yet, there was one cohesive element that stretched across six of the 7 nurseries we visited - the H-2A Agricultural Guest Worker Program. Almost every field worker we encountered was there on an H-2A visa. The two major differences between H-2A and H-2B are that ag workers do not have a cap on H-2A visa numbers and workers must be housed by the nursery. Not having a cap allows for growers to be less competitive with one another as there will always be visas available to the nurseries who want them. In H-2B, companies can win the lottery one year only to be frozen out the next causing a frantic search for labor. The housing provision was put in because so many H-2A guest workers are in extremely rural parts of the country. There are no cheap hotels or apartment buildings. Most nurseries have found it’s just easier building or repurposing housing at the nursery itself. This leads to a communal living environment that allows workers to have a sense of camaraderie and community so essential after a hard day’s work. The H-2A program is perfect for an area like middle Tennessee where every grower butts-up to one another and all have to pull

from an extremely shallow local labor pool. To say that the nursery industry in Tennessee depends on guest workers is like saying a creek depends on the rain. I am trying to be folksier after my visit to Tennessee - is it working? The surprising aspect is how non-political this is in some of the reddest parts of the country. The nursery owners talked about H-2A workers as if they were a brand of tractor. No one bemoaned the lack of domestic workers or high school kids from the area not applying for these jobs. I would guess most of these growers are not left-of Bernie Sanders liberals. Not one of these growers used any political spin when explaining that 100% of their field production jobs go to foreign workers. Our evening reception was at Youngblood & Associates in McMinnville, TN (population 13,800). Kara Youngblood runs a full-service immigration law firm in a historic storefront. Her father owned one of the nurseries we toured on the second day. I asked Kara about any blowback from the community due to her legal focus. She said it had never been a problem because the residents of central Tennessee understand the importance of nursery workers. As an industry, we can take a lesson from this. A few weeks prior, ILCA was asked to participate in a historic closed-door meeting about the migrant challenges being seen across the country, especially in Chicago. The meeting would include Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Senator Dick Durbin, and 6 other Illinois Congressmen. In my 15 years at ILCA, I have never sat in a higher-powered meeting of lawmakers. Only four trade associations were invited to speak: The Illinois Restaurant Association, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and us. ILCA was represented by President Ashley Marrin, Jennifer Jones of Mariani, and me. The purpose of the meeting was to determine if the powers that be could convince the Biden administration to expedite the permit process for asylum seekers and migrants. The normal, 150-day waiting period would be waived for migrants who the US Customs and Immigration Service determines are allowed to stay. When ILCA was asked to participate, we were honored. In the same breath, we know that everyone has an opinion on this matter. ILCA respects that the issue of work permits for migrant workers is a charged one. As representatives of ILCA, we did not support every solution and every sentiment that was discussed during the meeting and press conference. We wanted to stay in our lane and talked about how a legal work permit program could serve the business community and work for employers and employees. As we prepped for the meeting and live press conference to follow, Ashley and I made a commitment that we would not say anything in public that we did not also back in private. Was it ILCA’s job to discuss border security? No. Was it our job to speak to the humanitarian issues surrounding bussing migrants across the country? No. Was it our job to lay out the legal framework for how a work permit could be expedited by the Feds? No. Was it our job to improve the economic situation of Central America? No. Was it our job to determine how to find asylum seekers housing, food, and basic resources? No. Those are larger conversations being had by Congress, the Biden Administration, USCIS, Border Patrol, international governments, and humanitarian aid organizations.

The Room Where It Happens

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

From Where I Stand —

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Instead, we chose to focus on our long history of providing jobs to immigrants with a legal right to work. Whether the program was the Bracero Program of the 1940s, green cards, guest worker programs, DACA, or any other legal pathway, the landscape industry will employ those workers. How do I know? Because we always have, even in the rolling hillsides of central Tennessee. It is not ILCA’s job to open or close our borders; it is our job to recognize our history of putting legal immigrants, guest workers, asylum seekers, and migrants to work. ILCA has staked its political reputation on not being a bomb-throwing ideologue. We must stay focused on the issues that impact us. We are issue based, not party based. We shut out the noise, punditry, and opinions. We focus on the issues that matter to our members. We parry and we pounce. We win some and we lose some. We swallow hard, but we press on because it’s what our members expect and deserve. Our history of being responsible and honest is why President Ashley Marrin took the podium surrounded by every media outlet in Chicago for a live press conference. She didn’t sign up for this and could not have dreamed that three months after her term started she would share a stage with the Illinois Governor, Chicago Mayor, and Illinois’ senior senator. Ashley is a former NCAA athlete and jumps in national horse competitions. She is not timid, but in that moment I knew she’d rather be jumping gates on horseback than giving a speech to feisty reporters. I stole a glance at her script. At the top she wrote the words, “You got this.” Darn right she did. I have learned a lot about governmental affairs since I started at ILCA. I have sat in the office of the Chicago Mayor. I have sat knee to knee with lawmakers of every political stripe. I have drank bourbon with senators and governors. I have also been sent out to the hall to talk to 20-year-old staffers. I have been ignored, condescended-to, and argued with. I have been brushed-off, lectured-to, screamed-at, and called the wrong name. What I have realized, as Alexander Hamilton learned long ago, it is far better to be in the room where it happens. I rarely agree with every syllable spoke in these meetings. I rarely like everyone in the room. I rarely feel like the lawmaker has a deeper knowledge of the issues than we do. None of that matters. What matters is that we are invited into the room where it happens because outside of that room is lonely, isolating, and frustrating. The alternative is just the void of lobbing opinions on social media or muttering to your television or shouting through a Thanksgiving dinner. Inside that room is where thoughts become action and opinions become compromise. Between the meeting and the press conference, they ushered everyone else out of the room except for the invited speakers and those who sat at the meeting table. For a few minutes, it was just the lawmakers and business representatives. We all locked eyes and nodded to one another before the coms person led us out to speak to the media. ILCA was shoulder to shoulder with the lawmakers who directly influence our local and national labor situation. We were in the room where it happens, what happens next is up to them. As the doors opened and the camera lights blared, ILCA stepped to the podium. We got this. Sincerely,

Scott Grams, Executive Director September 18, 2023

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

President’s Message —

he ILCA recently participated in a closed-door meeting and a press conference with

President

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

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

Immediate Past President

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

Directors Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com Ryan Heitman The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com Michael Massat The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com Nikki Melin Midwest Groundcovers (847) 742-1790 nmelin@midwestgroundcovers.com Kevin McGowen Kaknes/SiteOne (630) 416-999 kevin@kaknes.com Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

www.ilca.net

Governor JB Pritzker, Senator Dick Durbin, Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson and many state representatives. The event—hosted by the Illinois Restaurant Association and organized by the American and Illinois Business Immigration Coalition— was intended to address labor challenges, the state’s growing migrant situation as well as potential opportunities. Participants also hoped to capture President Biden’s attention by showing that the business community can help address these problems under a legal and federally sanctioned work permit program. I’m pleased to say that state and local politicians understand that the ILCA is a valuable organization that represents thousands of employees across the state. Select professionals, groups, and non-profit organizations were invited to attend the closed meeting, but only three other major trade associations were invited to actively participate. They were the Illinois Restaurant Association, Illinois Manufacturers Association, and Illinois Chamber of Commerce. The ILCA was asked to speak during the Ashley Marrin closed group meeting as well as at the live press conference. It was a wonderful opportunity to stand in front of politicians and the public to let them know who we are as an industry. This was an honor for ILCA because not every association or group was invited to speak at either the meeting or press conference. As an association, we have worked towards building our professional reputation with the public, especially consumers. We want them to understand that we represent professional landscape service providers—not “Chuck in a Truck.” And, more important—we continue to work toward getting the public to value us for our knowledge, skill, expertise, and professionalism. To be recognized as a major player among the many trade associations throughout Illinois is an honor. These events provided an opportunity for ILCA to not only share what our industry has to offer but to highlight our members’ business needs—so that we can all safely, efficiently and legally hire new employees. ILCA has a strong reputation within the business community and among our political representatives. When you get a moment, head to the ILCA members’ Facebook page and watch the press conference video. Whether it’s behind the scenes or in the public eye, ILCA is always working for you. Sincererly, Ashley Marrin

ILCA participó recientemente en una reunión a puertas cerradas y en una conferencia de prensa con el Gobernador JB Pritzker, el Senador Dick Durbin, el Alcalde de Chicago Brandon Johnson y muchos representantes estatales. El evento—presentado por la Asociación de Restaurantes de Illinois y organizado por la Coalición de Inmigración Comercial Americana y de Illinois—tuvo el propósito de abordar desafíos laborales, la creciente situación migratoria en el estado, así como oportunidades potenciales. Los participantes también esperaban llamar la atención del presidente Biden mostrando que la comunidad empresarial puede ayudar a resolver estos problemas bajo un programa de permisos de trabajo legal y sancionado a nivel federal. Me complace informar que los políticos estatales y locales comprenden que ILCA es una valiosa organización que representa miles de empleados en todo el estado. Se invitó a profesionales selectos, grupos y organizaciones sin fines de lucro a asistir a la reunión cerrada, pero únicamente otras tres de las principales asociaciones comerciales fueron invitadas a participar activamente. Estas fueron la Asociación de Restaurantes de Illinois, la Asociación de Fabricantes de Illinois y la Cámara de Comercio de Illinois. Se pidió a ILCA que hablara durante la reunión de grupo cerrada, así como en la conferencia de prensa en vivo. Fue una oportunidad maravillosa de hablar ante políticos y el público para hacerles ver quiénes somos en la industria. Esto fue un honor para ILCA porque no todas las asociaciones o grupos fueron invitados a hablar sea en la reunión o en la conferencia de prensa. Como una asociación. Hemos trabajado para establecer nuestra reputación profesional ante el público, especialmente los consumidores. Deseamos que comprendan que representamos a proveedores de servicios de paisajismo profesionales—no “un tipo en su camioneta”. Y, más importante—continuamos trabajando para hacer que el público nos valore por nuestros conocimientos, habilidades, experiencia y profesionalismo. Es un honor ser reconocidos como un actor importante entre las muchas asociaciones comerciales en todo Illinois. Estos eventos proporcionaron una oportunidad para ILCA de no solo compartir lo que nuestra industria tiene que ofrecer sino también destacar las necesidades comerciales de nuestros miembros—para que todos podamos de forma segura, eficiente y legal contratar nuevos empleados. ILCA cuenta con una sólida reputación dentro de la comunidad empresarial y entre nuestros representantes políticos. Cuando tenga un momento, diríjase a la página de miembros de ILCA en Facebook para ver la conferencia de prensa en vídeo. Sea entre bastidores o ante el público, ILCA siempre trabaja para usted.

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Landscape Concepts Management • Chicago 900 North Michigan Shops

900 North Michigan Shops has been a staple ficked parkway beds in the city of Chicago. The entire property of the Magnificent Mile since its creation in 1989. The facility includes the first 7 stories of the 67-floor structure, and it encompasses an entire city block on the cusp of Streeterville and the Gold Coast. The buildings’ landscape footprint consists of a 15th floor green roof terrace, 9th floor sundeck, 4 concrete planting containers on Michigan Avenue, and 21 of the most highly traf-

is irrigated, and the award-winning Seasonal Color program includes 4 rotations, with its peak summer installation utilizing over 1801 flatted annuals. Located along the parade route, all holiday lights are hung in time to wrap up the season for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival!

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Focus — Everyday Sustainability

What’s the Buzz?

Pollinator Hotels by Mark Dwyer I was touring gardens in the Netherlands in the spring of 2012 and ran across an odd structure placed in a small community garden. Nearby interpretive signage (thankfully in English too) supported my initial theory that what I was viewing was a “pollinator hotel”. I had heard the term previously and was happy to stumble upon one to view in person. The goal of structures like this is primarily to support local native bee populations, particularly those solitary species that are “cavity dwellers.” Honeybees and bumble bees aren’t interested in these accommodations but many others will arrive if enticed with a proper “marketing” approach! Over the last decade, I’ve been observing and photographing dozens of these structures (also called bee hotels and nesting boxes) as I run across them in public settings. My first exposure to a pollinator hotel domestically (2015) was in the 4-H Children’s Garden at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) which had some great signage as well. I also continue to see an increasingly wide range of pre-fabricated versions of these pollinator structures at garden centers and nurseries. Structures such as these have a long history, particularly in research and specific conservation efforts, but have become more mainstream in residential settings as a tool to help support native, solitary pollinators. With the increasing concern regarding wild bee populations, it’s likely and essential that more focus and associated research with these pollinator hotels will occur in a significant manner as admittedly, there is a dearth of scientific literature 10

defining and quantifying the specific benefits of pollinator hotels. The big question in our landscape settings is are these structures effective in supporting populations of target pollinators? With declining populations of beneficial insects in humandominated environments, the question of whether the pollinator hotel is an effective urban solution becomes increasingly more important. In my experience and research, I’m finding the answer is not clear-cut and is directly dependent on a wide range of factors including an understanding of the best designs, proper planning, utilization and commitment of maintenance of these structures. WHY BOTHER? Native bee populations depend on finding suitable nesting sites as well as materials for nest construction. Materials such as leaves, resins and mud for remodeling efforts become imperative in close proximity to the chosen nesting site. Food resources will also have to be within foraging range. Our gardens and landscapes may become the perfect settings to help support these target populations. The intent of a pollinator hotel is to provide cozy nesting cavities for solitary bee species; essentially creating space for females to lay eggs where larvae can safely mature. These bee species are those that would ordinarily nest in hollow plant stems, dead wood or other natural nooks and crannies. It is important to note that these structures will also naturally attract (continued on page 12)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 10) non-native solitary bee species as well as a wide range of solitary wasp species. Pollinator hotels provide a significant amount of variable nesting sites well above the densities typically available for cavity-nesting bees. Population dynamics certainly come into play and it’s important to note that one pitfall of an “aggregate” situation like this is the potential for pathogens and parasites to inflict widespread damage and casualties in a denser population setting. SET-UP AND FEATURES That first pollinator hotel I mentioned above was of sturdy wood construction and facing south with various compartments that featured a wide variety of logs with drilled holes of variable diameters. Stacked materials, hollow bamboo tubes, paper tubes, roofing tiles and many other materials were arranged in these compartments within the narrow structure that also featured a slanted, overhanging roof to shed water and outer, protective metal mesh (to exclude birds and other predators). A hardware cloth with a ½” grid spacing is adequate for excluding predators but allowing hotel residents access and egress. In terms of lumber selection for creating a pollinator hotel, avoid using any treated lumber or materials treated with solvent-based products. I’ve since learned that the diameter of specific tunnel (whether drilled or provided as a tube or stem) determines (continued on page 14)

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Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 12) the nesting species with bees prudently selecting cavities that match their own body width. Most holes are between 5/64 and ½” in diameter with a depth of 3-8” with a 6” depth as a good average. The back of any nesting tunnel, regardless of material, should be solid. Drilled holes should be smooth and splinter-free along their entire length. I’m not an entomologist but understand that solitary female bees will construct brood cells in a linear series from the back of the tunnel to the front. Partitions are likely and a plug or cap at the nest entrance (later the exit!), typically made of leaves or mud, means someone is home. Hollow and pithy stems can be targeted from certain plants like elderberries, raspberries and blackberries and should be kept as dry as possible. Cardboard or paper tubes with appropriate dimensions and sealed on one end can be effective but need to be replaced annually. They also work well as replaceable liners for wider, drilled holes. All nesting materials should be situated, settled and secured well. Pollinator hotels should ideally face south or southeast for adequate sunlight and should not be obscured by vegetation. Elevating the structure at least three to five 14

feet above ground level is recommended along with proper securing so the hotel won’t sway in the wind. Small drainage holes in the bottom of the structure will help with drainage although a significant roof overhang will again be beneficial as well. The entrances to all cavity tunnels should be tucked away from inclement weather that might infiltrate the edges of the structure. PITFALLS TO AVOID The factors that most impact the effectiveness of these pollinator hotels include materials, dimensions of the nesting cavities, positioning and orien-

tation of the structure. A high loss of resident pollinators has been observed in badly-designed and/or poorly placed pollinator hotels so “doing it right” is paramount. Some materials being promoted for these structures have no value for pollinators. Research has shown that pine cones, loose bark and moss, all frequently included as compartment “fillers”, have no value as nesting sites. Other inadequacies include insufficient protection from wet weather, holes drilled too large, not smoothly or with no back wall. Glass and plastic tubes are not recommended either; only “breathable” materials. The frequent observation and maintenance (mentioned below) of these structures is mandatory. MAINTENANCE Nesting materials should be replaced every year or two although timing of this process is important. Keep in mind that inhabitants don’t return to old cavities to effectively reduce the chance of transmitting diseases or parasites to the next generation. Ease of cleaning in terms of access and the availability of replacement materials becomes integral in the management plan for proper maintenance. Cleaning and sanitation in later summer, after young bees have emerged, is recommended particularly when replacing drilled wood blocks/logs. (continued on page 16)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 14) Drilled wood sections and logs should minimally be replaced every two years. Cardboard and paper tubes should be replaced annually. Moisture should be excluded as much as possible with proper roofing and hotel siting so adjustments and improvements should be made to accomplish this goal. Wet winter conditions should be avoided and some nesting elements can even be brought into a cool, dry space to protect overwintering inhabitants from wind and rain.

investigation. Pollinator hotels are certainly useful for ecological and behavioral studies and have a long history with these projects. Outreach in citizen science and pollinator campaigns is also a potential benefit of promoting these structures. Research has shown that smaller pollinator hotels with 100 or less nesting sites tend to be more effective if used in multiple locations. The larger hotels with multiple compartments have experienced

CONCLUSIONS Much of the research in pollinator hotel design comes from just a few commercially managed species or short-term studies. The reality is that pollinator hotels only cater to a small fraction of the pollinator diversity in the area in which they are placed. Much more research is needed to determine the optimum size and features of the most effective structure. The potential pitfalls and benefits of using these structures in the conservation and population dynamics of applicable bee populations also needs further

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

more significant negative impacts from disease and parasites which can spread quickly, particularly in unmanaged settings. Unfortunately, many of the pre-fabricated pollinator hotels are designed more to appeal to human aesthetics and are less focused on being functional and actually beneficial for solitary bees. The single most important factor in pollinator hotel success is sanitation and replacement of materials. Most manufacturers don’t provide proper instructions about how to manage these structures. The premise that these structures may help resident populations is sound although any promotion of these structures as essential in “saving pollinators” has been proven to be exaggerated. Evidence-based studies and new applications will help increase and expand “best use” scenarios for pollinator hotels throughout our landscapes. North Carolina State Extension has a wonderful publication worth reading on this topic. See https://content.ces. ncsu.edu/how-to-manage-a-successfulbee-hotel.

Focus — Everyday Sustainability

Meet the Transformers

Turning Landscape Waste into Black Gold by Nina A. Koziol

“There is no such thing as ‘away.’ When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.” – Annie Leonard, The Story of Stuff

nce upon a time, a landscaper could come back to the office/yard and dump the day’s work of twigs, tree limbs, leaves, grass and weeds into a pile where it might be burned or chipped. No permit was needed. But that was a long, long time ago — in another world. Now if you do that without a permit you could face a fine. But you can’t send that waste to a landfill either. “Landscape waste has been banned from landfills [in Illinois] since 1990,” says Mike DiMucci of Garden Prairie Organics in Garden Prairie, Illinois. “It’s frustrating because some landscapers throw it on their back 40 or send it to some-

one who’s not licensed to take it. It has to go to a licensed IEPA (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) yard waste compost facility or a transfer station.” DiMucci is passionate about getting the word out about sustainability — keeping that landscape waste out of landfills and turning it into compost that goes back into the earth. Garden Prairie Organics was founded in 2009. “We have always been a believer in the benefits of compost and have used it in our tree nursery. We decided to explore the idea of processing landscape waste into beneficial compost.” (continued on page 20)

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Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 18)

Uh Oh

Many landscapers are unaware of the regulations. So imagine you are Tim Terlecki of T and T Landscape Construction, Inc. in Huntley. The full-service landscape firm has a 24-acre property that’s zoned agricultural, unincorporated, and surrounded by farmland and a nearby high school. On site is a burn pit that’s 75 feet deep, 20 feet wide and has 15-foot walls to handle tree debris. “It’s a completely contained area,” Terlecki said. “We had the fire marshal here who inspected and approved it. We thought we were doing everything correct because we’re zoned for Ag.” Imagine Terlecki’s surprise this summer when an IEPA inspector showed up to investigate a complaint. “We do have a lot to burn since we have our own tree removal crews. We don’t burn that often, but we’ll do hot and heavy for six to seven hours. We were told to shut down the burn pit and that we can’t have it. We found out that you’re allowed to burn materials that you accumulate on a job site—at the job site, but not here.” His firm was threatened with legal action. “The IEPA told me I can’t stockpile or dump it, either. We were not even accumulating grass clippings. We have since shut down the burn pit area and closed it.” At the time of this article, he had not heard back but was told to expect another visit. The company is applying for an IEPA burn permit.

Waste Not, Want Not

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that yard waste and food scraps currently make up more than 30 percent of what gets thrown out. Some commercial composting sites work with restaurants and stores to transform the waste into compost and others are moving to add more landscape waste to their operations. This is a win-win for landscapers who want to offload waste from their projects, buy the finished compost, or both. But it’s finding a drop-off site that’s not too far from your workplace that’s a challenge. Benjamin Krumstok is the Executive Director of the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition, a not-for-profit organization that advances the idea of diverting and composting all organics in Illinois. “Midwest Organics Recycling [McHenry] was borne out of the necessity of managing manure on a dairy farm. They now have a solution and it’s an all-organic approach.” And the end result is the transformation of landscape and food waste into the company’s Organimix® compost that is used as a soil amendment, lawn dressing, potting soil component or mulch. “You can’t take landscape waste to a dump or a forest preserve, but you can take it to a permitted facility,” Krumstok said. He would like to see more transfer stations throughout the state—places where landscapers could drop the waste. A

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

transfer station serves as a holding point before the material is sent to a final destination. For example, the Glenview Transfer Station in Glenview, and Midwest Compost in Elgin and West Chicago, accept commercial landscape waste. Check with your local processor for drop off times and dates—waste is typically accepted early spring through early winter. A former radiologist, Krumstok is all-in when it comes to recycling organic material. “When I was practicing medicine, I didn’t know much about compost. But it’s a resource and a tool for landscapers. It improves the soil biology—the soil biome—with different microbes, insects and the like. Those natural systems have a nutrient exchange so you don’t have the need for that much chemical fertilizer. You can reduce chemical exposures to your employees and that’s good for human health.”

Challenges

There are obstacles for both landscapers and compost facilities. It took DiMucci almost two years to get the site ready and run through the application process. About 50 percent of his customers are landscapers that own small businesses, along with municipalities and larger landscape firms. “We service all the way to Rockford and east to Chicago.” The firm believes and promotes the motto, “If it grows, it goes”. DiMucci says that clay, rock and plastics are problematic to composting but they are not the only things. “If it’s not growing, we don’t take it,” said Kila Harwick of Green Soils Management, a 60-acre composting facility in East Dundee. “Mike DiMucci and I agree that education about what can be composted is the biggest piece.” Before you make a trip to drop off waste at a transfer station or compost site, call ahead to make sure what you’re bringing is acceptable. “We don’t accept stone or other hardscape material, plastic bags, twine, fencing, mesh, cans, bottles or hardwood mulch,” Harwick said. (continued on page 22) The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 21) The company takes in between 80 to 100 thousand cubic yards of landscape waste each year, transforming it into what looks like a fine, moist cake mix—rich, dark compost that is sought after for its water-retention and soil amendment capabilities. The site has 30 to 40 windrows—long berms filled with landscape waste—that are turned and watered per the state’s permit until the materials are fully decomposed. During the process, the windrows reach the required 140°F. Moisture levels are tested twice a month and samples are routinely sent to a lab for a comprehensive battery of tests that examine pH, nutrients, organic matter, particle size, pathogens, trace metals and more. “The near-finished product takes anywhere from three to six months depending on the weather and then it gets screened,” Harwick explained. Contamination throws a wrench into the composting process. “If a landscaper runs over a chip bag those fragments end up in the bagged grass that ends up at the compost facility,” Krumstok said. “If glass is raked up with leaves, the bottle shards can’t be screened at a commercial facility—it’s extraordinarily difficult. The smaller fragments are challenging and it compromises the end product.” Challenges aside, Krumstok sees the landscape-waste-into-compost as a winwin all around. “Incorporating compost creates a healthier soil, healthier plants, 22

responded by email to our questions, “composting waste onsite does not require a state permit. Additionally, pursuant to Section 21(q)(1.5) any person can compost off-site waste without a permit IF: they have less than 25 cubic yard total (landscape waste + compost + additives) at all times; and they are not engaging in a commercial activity. (Author’s note: So yes, you will need a permit if you have more than the 25 cubic yard total.)

healthier turf grasses, and water management—major flooding events are reduced because the soils are more porous and there’s more water retention.” And, considering the months-long drought we experienced this year, that’s a good thing.

• For Open Burning Permit Forms see the IEPA: https:// epa.illinois.gov/ topics/forms/ air-forms/openburning.html • The IEPA has a list of composting facilities across the state: https://epa. illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/ permitted-facilities/compost-facilities. html (Author’s note: We have notified the IEPA that this list needs updating.)

Know the Regulations Here’s what you should know: •

The IEPA defines landscape waste as “leaves, grass, tree limbs, shrubbery cuttings, and other materials accumulated as the result of the care of lawns, shrubbery, vines, and trees.”

•

The IEPA has a permit application process for managing waste, including landscape waste: https://epa.illinois. gov/topics/forms/land-forms/permitforms/pa16.html

•

According to the IEPA’s public information officer Kim Biggs, who The Landscape Contractor October 2023

•

IEPA’s Summary of Regulatory Requirements for Composting Facilities (includes landscape waste) https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/ Documents/iepa/waste-management/ composting/regulatoryrequirementsforcompostingfacilities.pdf (continued on page 24)

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The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 22)

Resources Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition https://illinoiscomposts.org/ https://illinoiscomposts.org/resources/ where-to-buy-finished-compost/ Explore IFSCC’s interactive compost facilities map to find a service provider: https://illinoiscomposts.org/haulersprocessors/ Garden Prairie Organics (Garden Prairie) http://gpocompost.com/ Green Soils Management (East Dundee) https://www.greensoilsmanagement. com/

Midwest Compost LLC (Elgin/West Chicago) https://midwestcompostllc.com/ Midwest Organics Recycling (McHenry) midwestorganicsrecycling.com Landscape Recycling Center (Urbana) https://www.landscaperecyclingcenter. org/ Whole Earth Compost (Chicago) Denise Macias (708-790-5379) Compost Supply (Sheridan) compostsupply.net St. Louis Composting (Belleville/southern Illinois) stlcompost.com Willow Ranch (Romeoville) Doug Tomczak – District Manager dtomczak@wm.com (847-825-5000)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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www.straughnfarm.com 25

Babylon Chicago

A Designer’s Personal Oasis by Heather Prince

mid the bustle and busyness of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, a rooftop oasis has been cleverly constructed. It provides a calm space for people and wildlife. Atop a four-story walkup condominium building is a respite with generous seating areas, asymmetrical decks and planting spaces packed with a dense tapestry blend of perennials, grasses, annuals, and bulbs gently shaded by four Dura Heat® river birch. Butterflies and pollinators bumble from flower to flower as hummingbirds dive in for a quick visit and goldfinches hunt for seeds. A small fountain burbles for a soothing soundscape. Welcome to the home gardens of Hayden Regina, planting designer for Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects.

The Brief

Regina started his love affair with plants as a child and explored it as a career in high school working for Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles, Michigan. That experience gave him a passion for the naturalistic New Perennial style with its focus on multi-season structure and well-woven floral displays. After a brief stint in San Francisco, Regina returned to the Midwest and Chicago with a two-year degree focused on environmental horticulture which led to a Bachelor of Architecture with a concentration in landscape architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Throughout school, Regina managed the garden at Jayson Home an eclectic retailer in Lincoln Park.

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Now at Hoerr Schaudt, Regina designs planting combinations for projects of all types and scales. Looking for more room for himself, his partner, and their dog that included some outdoor space led Regina to a 20-yearold condo, but sole access to the roof sealed the deal. “It was the middle of COVID and we decided to trade up,” remembered Regina. “Before I had a tiny five by five balcony and I was feeling desperate to get outside and have a larger outdoor space to garden. Being stuck inside just exacerbated that desire. Here, we have two balconies and the rooftop, which is a gem for a condo in Lincoln Park.”

Once they learned that the rooftop deck was rotting and needed to be completely redone, Regina got to work planning and plotting. After moving his collection of perennials, specimen conifers, and assorted houseplants outside, he noticed how much attention they received from pollinators. This led to a more ecological-centered planting palette and reduced the hardscape footprint. “I wanted to build it out myself, both for cost reasons and overall design intent,” commented Regina. “There are some DIY choices and materials that might not be what I would spec in a professional capacity, but they have been a good solution for a personal home garden.” (continued on page 28)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Babylon Chicago (continued from page 27) This deeply personal retreat is a little more than 600 square-feet. It is a serene space with neutral furnishings to set off the riotous flowers and foliage textures that form a rich mosaic beneath the pale white bark of the birch trees. This is a pleasure garden that feeds the human soul as well as provides for the myriad wildlife that discovers its colorful food and shelter.

The Challenges

First, “we had the roof checked for structural integrity prior to purchasing,” said Regina. “Then we took the decking off and resealed the roof membrane. On top of that went the water barrier and drainage mat before we rebuilt the deck and added felt grow bags for the planting modules.” Regina chose to use modular grow bags because they were affordable and allowed him flexibility in the depth of the soil profile. “Three of the four birch trees are sitting in a four-by-four module where the soil is bermed up to close to 12 inches of depth and tapers back down to the six at the edges.” To get soil to the roof, “on my day off from Jayson Home, the delivery crew would drop off a pallet of soil and amendments in my parkway at six in the morning before the delivery shift started,” recalled Regina. “And then my partner and I

would carry it bag by bag, up five flights of stairs, throughout the day.” Any contractor who’s dealt with a walkup roof project can sympathize. Regina then created a custom lightweight well-draining soil mix for the modules. One of the challenges was creating an impression of screening in a small space without building a pergola or screening walls. “I used trees for strategic screening and shading, rather than trying to create panels and walls, and I placed them to block neighbors at key vantage points,” commented Regina. “Originally, the plan was to replace the trees every year if needed, but the birches are doing pretty well three years in. I used six-foot 25-gallon containerized material, and that is just tall enough to fit through the stairwell and block the neighbors once outside. They save me from dealing with umbrellas, and while I know I’m not giving them ideal conditions, they are growing and doing better than I expected.” The soft airiness of the birch leaves also provides a dappled shade effect. “The loose branching and multi-stemmed look really softens the space and echoes the lacy texture of the honey locust peeking over our roof from the parkway planting.” Regina deliberately chose pressure treated lumber for the decking material. Since it was built at the height of the lumber crisis during 2021, other materials were prohibitively costly. (continued on page 31)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Babylon Chicago (continued from page 28) “We let the decking cure and then I meticulously stained it with four or five different stains and watered-down coats to give it more of a whitewashed look,” recalled Regina. “It feels like you’re floating on a boardwalk within the plants.” He wanted a sophisticated decking that mirrored the geometry of the building “We’re in a weird spot where the city grid shifts at our city lot. The property has a slice out of the corner and our building was designed to follow suit. I wanted that directionality to inform the hardscape, from the catwalk compression between living spaces all the way down to the alignment of the screws.” Regina realizes that this rooftop is not forever. “I do not live in a building where putting on this roof deck is going to significantly change the resale value of the property. I chose a design that I knew I could get the aesthetic value that I was looking for, while being affordable for the duration that I planned on being here. It was the most practical choice. Sometimes the most practical choice is perfect.” Then there is the inevitable challenge of Chicago weather and what will survive from year to year. Because the planting beds sit below a parapet wall, they are more protected from winter and high winds. However, Regina has found that the soil composition stays fairly wet in the winter and so he surprisingly has lost some perennial sedums to root rot. In the summer months, the soil dries out quickly. “I wish I’d put in some zoned irrigation for the trees,” recalled Regina. “I have to hand water and on those 95-degree summer days, it’s almost daily.”

The Result

There’s something blooming in each season, but spring is for the charm of bulbs. More than 1,000 bulbs are scattered in the plantings and since the roof warms up sooner, there’s flowers in very early spring. “To go up there in February and have Eranthis hyemalis or winter aconite blooming with its little, teeny tiny yellow flowers is magical,” enthused Regina. “There

are already insects flying around pollinating it. It is my daily motivation to go up and see what’s happening. It is a great first taste of spring.” One of the best parts of including bulbs in the planting is the element of spring surprise. “Every year I mix a bunch of the bulb combinations together to scatter around. I give my partner Steve a combo and I tell him to plant them wherever he pleases. It’s nice to have things feel not as planned. The practice of giving up design control also creates great moments of spontaneity. Sometimes you get things planted right on top of each other that you didn’t necessarily want, but it’s spring and who cares? We are just excited to see life and color.” In a small slice of urban space, a beautiful garden has grown to engage its owners and provide habitat for myriad insects and birds. Regina has built a piece of loveliness in the heart of Chicago. He chose a matrix of Briza media and Sesleria autumnalis to weave together with Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta, Penstemon digitalis ‘Onyx and Pearls’, and Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’. Echinacea ‘Pretty Parasols’ and Echinacea pallida keep the goldfinches returning again and again. Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Prairie Moon’ buzzes with small pollinators and almost glows in the dark. Most of the perennials were installed as plugs and adding anything new means carving out space in the modules, sometimes literally. Moments of annual flowers are tucked in for extra color. Sedums and asters bring flowers in fall. The layered mix of perennials also brings dynamic fall color to the garden as foliage turns shades of burgundy and gold and grasses bloom. The stark white bark of the birch trees provides elegant winter textures. “It’s a balance between bringing my professional career home and having a personal garden as a playground for experimentation,” reflected Regina. “We all break the rules in our own spaces because we can.”

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

October 20, 2023 NIU Naperville Premier Sponsor

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Event program as of press time. ATTENDEE BADGE PICK UP — 7:15 AM 8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Introduction Brandon Losey, Alluvium Landscapes, ILCA Sustainable Committee Chair Auditorium Start the day with a warm welcome from the Sustainable & Ecological Landscaping Committee Chair!

8:15 AM - 9:15 AM

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Wildscaping: Explorations in Naturalistic Planting Design Tony Spencer, The New Perennialist Auditorium Wildscaping is about using plant-driven landscape design to create and sustain dynamic garden spaces, filled with beauty and wildlife, to rekindle our relationship to the natural world. Join writer and planting designer Tony Spencer for an encounter with some of the international designers, innovations, issues, and landscapes leading the way – along with a look at his own experimental design projects – to inspire garden-making with a sense of purpose on the wild side.

9:15 AM - 10:05 AM — Breakout Sessions

How and Why to Utilize Native Plants in the Landscape John Mariani RLA, LandServe LLC Room 111 John will begin with some personal background history, followed-up with science facts that have led us to where we are today with massive wildlife species decline-mostly due to plant habitat loss-and the critical need for native plant restoration. From there, he’ll explain how the landscape industry has the greatest opportunity over any other to make the most positive impact towards correcting this problem and saving our native wildlife heritage simply by substituting native plants in their landscape projects. Next, he will show examples of native plants and locally-sourced materials utilized in all manner of landscape design styles-other than the typical “weed-patch” effect that, unfortunately, has so many turned-off to this concept! He will also explain what he personally believes to be the definition of “true Sustainability”. At the end, he’ll summarize his experiences since 1970 and make a plea to the Designers, Growers and Contractors…Reminding them that they can leave a legacy, and be heroes-That they have the power to make this change and save our planet for our children and future generations.

10:05 AM – 10:20 AM BREAK and Visit with Exhibitors 10:20 AM – 11:05 AM SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

Balancing Act Between Client Ideals and Their Expectations

“Our Future With Water” the Why, What and How of Storm Water Management

Loriena Harrington, Beautiful Blooms LLC

Trevor Smith, Weston Nurseries

Learn how to strike a balance between the ideals that clients may have about how their property is managed and the realities or demands of their expectations. In this session, you will listen to the history of how with the support from its clients, Beautiful Blooms transitioned from conventional management techniques to fully embracing an organic approach to lawn care...to then strike a balance somewhere in between. Loriena will then facilitate an open discussion with the audience to share best experiences. Loriena Harrington, owner of Beautiful Blooms Landscape is an accredited organic land care professional, horticulturist, and turf grass expert with over 33 years of experience in the management of golf courses and high-end residential properties.

Auditorium Water simultaneously manages to be the stuff of mystery and our daily routine. We use it to cook with, wash our dishes, and brush our teeth but very few can stand on the beach and not lose themselves watching the breakers roll in. In the face of climate change, water is becoming much more of an issue, we either have too much too little and never when we really need it. Water bans, flooding and erosion are common now and it feels as if this lifegiving resource has turned against us. Get reacquainted with water and learn simple methods to capture and reuse storm water or slow stormwater runoff. We will discuss… • Rain harvesting • Permeable pavements • Green roofs • Bioswales and rain gardens • Tree Planting

Room 101A

Let’s Talk: Enhancing Collaboration Among Professionals in Natural Area Development & Improvements Elly Fleming, Eric Sebert, Bluestem Ecological Services Room 101B

Natural areas and native plantings in modern landscapes are on Trevor shares his nearly two decades of practical experience the rise and that means individuals who are involved with these working with and installing stormwater management systems. projects are growing as well. The Landscape Contractor 32 October 2023

Join us for a practical discussion on how native plant contractors can collaborate effectively with landscape architects, park districts, traditional landscapers, municipalities, and others. Bluestem brings insights from our experiences and encourages you to share your own challenges in achieving better partnerships within the industry. Let’s cultivate a more harmonious and eco-conscious landscape community together. Join us for an engaging discussion on how native plant contractors can forge beneficial relationships with other key players in the field.

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM

Balancing Ecology and Business Trevor Smith, Weston Nurseries John Mariani, Landserv LLC Lorraine Harrington, Beautiful Blooms LLC Kasey Eaves, Vivant Gardens Moderator: Angela Bowman, Bowman Gardens Auditorium

11:05 AM – 12:05 PM — LUNCH AFTERNOON SESSION 12:05 PM – 12:55 PM

Is good ecology good for business? We know there’s a growing market for native plants and ecologically-driven landscaping. How can we channel that demand into a successful business model? Four professionals talk about the opportunities and challenges of providing ecologically beneficial services to clients.

Austin Eischeid, Austin Eischeid Garden Design Kasey Eaves, Vivant Gardens

2:50 PM – 3:50 PM

Auditorium Please see addendum for description.

CLOSING KEYNOTE Jack Pizzo, The Pizzo Group

12:55 PM – 1:45 PM SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

Please see addendum for description.

Title TBD Austin Eischeid, Austin Eischeid Garden Design

Sponsors

Room 101A Please see addendum for description.

Lessons From the Field: Native Landscaping in a Conventional World

Premier Sponsor

Dave Neu, NatureSpace Room 101B Join the conversation about the challenges of creating a business model in an emerging field, how to leverage partnerships, and identify hurdles to success. Discuss and help pinpoint the gaps between traditional landscape practices and what is needed to design, install, and maintain landscapes that include natives. Consider solutions to help fill those gaps to bring more native plants to residential clients.

Title TBD

Session Sponsors

Tabletop Sponsor

Kasey Eaves, Vivant Gardens Room 101C Please see addendum for description.

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM — Last Chance to Visit Exhibitors

Please see addendum for additional sponsors. The Landscape Contractor 33 October 2023

Special Feature —Midwest Plant Talk

One Year Later — Evaluating a Native Pond Pla By Jamie Heflin

In the summer of 2022, Midwest

Enrique has observed many varieties performed beautifully, bringing bright Groundcovers’ Chairman, Christa Orum- flourishing. The Symphyotrichum bursts of gold to the design. Acorus Keller, asked Enrique Rodriguez to oblongifolium, or Aromatic aster, stand americanus, or Sweet Flag, and Carex take on the challenge of designing and poised to introduce vibrant colors with frankii, or Bristly Cattail Sedge, have installing a native planting around the their purple blooms in the coming both established quickly with their dense retention pond adjacent to the company’s months. Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa, root systems helping to stabilize the soil. main office in St. Charles, Illinois. As or Showy Black-eyed Susan, has While the planting around the Production Foreman at the Midwest Natural Garden, Enrique is intimately familiar with native plants and how they perform, but designing this type of planting was a new type of undertaking which he viewed as both a challenge and an experiment. While this planting is still considered to be in its infancy, eleven months postplanting, Enrique reviewed what worked, what didn’t, and where improvements could be made. There are many layers to the purpose and intention of this design. At its most basic level, it is an endeavor to not only enhance the aesthetics of the location but also to harness the power of native plants to manage water runoff. The design aimed to strike a balance between functionality and beauty, all while maintaining an unobstructed view of the pond by utilizing plants with a low profile. In September 2022, the transformation of the area surrounding the pond began with the installation of a significant number of plugs from Natural Garden Natives®. The design’s radius extends 3 to 5 feet from the shoreline with more watertolerant varieties planted closer to the water’s edge, while those that are more drought-tolerant are on the outer edges. Clump forming plants were used to maintain an organized and intentional appearance which blend harmoniously with the surrounding perennial display gardens. Initially, clump-forming plants means more room for weeds to grow. The pond planting has been weeded regularly as it becomes established to Pond planting installation in September 2022. ensure weeds do not get out of hand while the plants continue to fill in. 34

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

anting pond has overall proven successful, some plants, like Schizachyrium scoparium, or Little Bluestem, faced difficulties in some parts of the garden while thriving in others. Enrique speculated some of the plugs may not have had enough time to

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Midwest Groundcovers’ Chairman, Christa Orum-Keller, and Production Foreman Enrique Rodriguez discuss edits to the pond planting.

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The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Special Feature —Midwest Plant Talk recognized as one of the few plants that establish their roots before the cooler can handle wet clay soils. Iris virginica temperatures set in. The Lythrum var. shrevei, or Blueflag Iris has nutrient alatum, or Winged Loosestrife, also filtering abilities that make it particularly struggled, likely due to the excessively useful in retention basins and bioswales dry summer we have had. Enrique because of its ability to decontaminate intends to replant the Schizachyrium the soil by absorbing and storing harmful scoparium and Lythrum alatum in pollutants. While poor water quality and the same areas and monitor how they wet clay soils are not an issue with this perform in the coming year. particular planting, it’s a good reminder Other winners include varieties that native plants serve a purpose that well-regarded for planting in wet goes far beyond looking pretty. areas. Sagittaria latifolia, or Broadleaf The strategic plantings work as Arrowhead, is an emergent aquatic plant natural stabilizers along the shoreline, doing exceptionally well. Tolerant of preventing erosion and sediment fluctuating water levels and a variety accumulation. This organic solution of soils, it has filled in a large area showcases the symbiotic relationship on the east side of the pond, creating between design and nature. While still in a sanctuary for marine life. Lobelia its infancy, the pond garden experiment siphilitica, or Great Blue Lobelia, is well on its way to being viewed as and Mimulus ringens, or Monkey a success. As the plants mature, and Flower, are both thriving along the with Enrique and Christa’s continued pond’s edge. Mimulus ringens is known collaboration, this planting is sure to for tolerating fluctuating water levels Sagittaria latifolia, or Broadleaf Arrowhead, not only succeed in its aesthetic and and is often used in urban retention functional goals but also as a beacon of a ponds that may be associated with poor is an emergent aquatic plant tolerant of fluctuating water levels and a variety of soils. balanced ecosystem. water quality. Lobelia siphilitica is

Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa and Mimulus ringens complement each other well. 36

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Focus — Everyday Sustainability

Growing Good:

DuPage County Correctional Facility by Heather Prince

ope is growing on the quiet north side of the DuPage County Correctional Facility in Wheaton, Illinois. Located in a former exercise yard for the canine unit, a combination of raised beds and in-ground plantings offers bushels of vegetables, fruits, and herbs for local food pantries while training detainees on urban farming practices. On a sunny morning, bees are buzzing in the tomatoes and peppers as light dances through colorful annual flowers and dewy basil plants. The College of DuPage (COD) has been working with detainees since 2021 to train them in urban farming. Initially begun as an eight-week course, COD has expanded its offerings this year into a mini four-course certificate. Connie Kollmeyer, Adjunct Instructor for the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Program, talked with us about the program. Initially, a garden space named Hope’s Garden was installed in 2020 with donations. “Then they very quickly realized, okay, this is great — now we have a garden,” commented Kollmeyer. “We’ve got a couple of flowers, a couple of hoses, and we’ve got 66 grow bags. But what do we do now? Because we don’t really know how to take care of it.” JUST of DuPage approached COD about stepping in and the program took off. JUST is a faith-based nonprofit organization that is committed to helping the incarcerated make positive and lasting lifestyle changes through an innovative and holistic combination of spiritual, educational, vocational and addiction services inside DuPage County Correctional Facility and within the community. In the beginning, COD offered an eight-week course for three hours of college credit which now has grown to a mini certificate. “The urban farming course started in the middle of the pandemic,” commented Kollmeyer. “At that time, all of our classes were virtual, but now we do hybrid classes, depending on the subject. Students learn vegetable and herb production, composting, hydroponics and aquaponic systems, plus an internship.” The mini certificate is folded into COD’s Sustainable Urban Agriculture program which includes an associate degree and a 28-credit certificate. “With the new mini certificate of four courses and an internship, they’ll receive 10 to 12 college credit hours.” The detainees can then put those credits towards further education. Kollmeyer is uniquely suited to overseeing the program. “I grew up with grandparents who were huge gardeners, and (continued on page 40) 38

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 38) I had a grandmother whose entire backyard was food production. It was basically an urban farm.” After starting her own gardens when home with her infant daughter, the urge to do larger-scale production kept calling. “I kept dreaming one day I’d have a farm. I decided to just start where I am with what I have, and I started a backyard farm. After that, I wanted to learn, well, everything and went back to school for agriculture, horticulture, and cannabis and hemp production. I’m like a lot of my students who are midlife career changers. I love it! I absolutely love it.” Kollmeyer is working on a master’s degree in regenerative organic agriculture while holding certificates in bioregional herbalism, edible wild plants as well as being a Master Naturalist, Master Urban Farmer, and agroecology educator at The Conservation Foundation.

A logical Step

The urban farming program at the DuPage County Correctional Facility has sparked a passion with detainees, several of whom have not been outside regularly for up to two years. In some ways, it is horticulture therapy, but it is also giving opportunities to inmates to continue to develop new skills and a new career. Students must meet specific qualifications to participate. “Detainees must have low enough restrictions to go outside, and they need to be there long enough to complete the coursework,” said Kollmeyer. “A few times we have actually had students in the class who’ve gotten really close to finishing. Then if they had a court date, they requested to stay longer to finish up their class and get their credit before they get transferred or released.” So far, the students have all been men. “That’s mainly because the detainee population is mostly men,” commented Kollmeyer. “We just haven’t had enough women at any

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

given time to qualify to be able to run a class. They do come out to the garden, and they harvest flowers or just spend some therapeutic time outside enjoying the space and the plants. They’ve done some floral arrangements then donated the flower bouquets to women and children’s shelters, trafficking victims, and domestic abuse victims. And so they participate in the garden as well.”

Getting results

The program is growing farmers excited to produce quality products. Students are growing organically, and the produce is donated to local food pantries. “I have the guys do regular sampling,” reported Kollmeyer. “I do want them to taste what they’re growing. I want them to know the flavors of homegrown or locally grown produce, plus different varieties including heirlooms. They should know what quality is supposed to look and taste like. They’re (continued on page 42)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Focus — Everyday Sustainability (continued from page 40) learning to recognize peak freshness and ripeness, including when to harvest for best results.” Last year the farm was able to donate about 4,000 pounds of produce. “The guys are really proud of themselves and they’re happy to contribute. They like to know that what they’re growing is feeding families.” The farm has grown from dozens of grow bags to include raised beds and in-ground areas filled with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. COD has been able to add hands-on hydroponics to the mix with a new indoor space dedicated to the farm classes. While hands-on aquaponics is still in the works, Kollmeyer is hopeful that they’ll get permission to have fish next year. In the meantime, the hydroponics instruction gives detainees growing space indoors in winter and inclement weather and sets them up with work experience suited to greenhouse growing. “It gives us a way to grow year-round,” observed Kollmeyer. “We have a few hydroponic towers that were donated. I have an Aero garden to demonstrate how an automated unit works. Now we have some actual tables and equipment coming in that are either being donated or purchased through grants.” Plant starts have come from

Risk reward

While there are restrictions, working with the DuPage County Correctional Facility and JUST has been safe. “This is not scary,” said Kollmeyer. “That’s one of the most common questions I got at the beginning was people asking if I was scared to go in there and absolutely not!” Working with the detainees and teaching them how to grow plants has been incredibly rewarding. “These guys are fantastic! A lot of these people haven’t had a good situation leading up to this point, but we can change their direction and they get really excited about the program. They start having never grown anything in January and by the summer they are basically running an urban farm. It’s amazing to me to see how many have never done something like this before. And once they get into it, they love it. They just enjoy it so much! And they’re really good at it!” COD, Cantigny, Prosek’s Greenhouses, and Green Earth Harvest. Seeds have been donated from Ball Horticultural. “Now that we have indoor space, we can do some more fun crops like watermelon and cantaloupe that need a longer season.”

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

It’s a tough road

Kollmeyer is seeking donations and volunteers to keep the project growing. “We’ve had volunteer days to do big projects like installing the raised beds with OLI Gardens and Home Depot. When we’re able to

have a lot of help with a big project like that, it’s actually fantastic for the students to get that interaction and for the public to meet them.” Kollmeyer’s donation list includes soil, compost, and greenhouse materials like plastic trays, flats, and pots, plus seeds, tools, and gloves. The program is also interested in hosting guest speakers willing to share their experiences in horticulture to inspire and engage the students. The urban farming program is designed to teach skills and ready students for employment. “These are fresh eyes into this industry,” enthused Kollmeyer. “They’re coming in like brand new, everything is really cool,

really interesting, and they are just diving in. It’s like a holiday or a birthday every time they get to learn something new. They get excited all over again. You are never going to find a more willing learner.” Job placement post-detainment is key for moving detainees back to regular life. JUST is actively seeking to place the students. “If they have a job, if they

have steady income and fair wages, they’re much less likely to return to any of the things they were doing that got them here to begin with. The students are excited to continue, knowing that people will be open to speaking to them, and potentially hiring them. They are hard workers, they’re intelligent, and they learn quickly.” If you’re looking for more information, how to help, or are interested in employing a former detainee, please contact Kollmeyer at kollmeyerc@ cod.edu or Michael Beary, Executive Director of JUST, at michaelbeary@ justofdupage.org.

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Conozca a los transformadores Convirtiendo los residuos de jardinería en Oro Negro En otros tiempos, un paisajista podía regresar

a la oficina/patio y desechar los residuos de un día de trabajo de ramitas, ramas de árboles, hojas, hierbas y malas hierbas en una pila donde podrían ser quemados o triturados. No se necesitaba de ningún permiso. Pero eso fue hace mucho, mucho tiempo — en otro mundo. En la actualidad si haces eso sin permiso podrías tener que enfrentar una multa. Pero tampoco puedes mandar los residuos a un vertedero. “Los residuos de jardinería han sido prohibidos en los vertederos [en Illinois] desde 1990”, afirma Mike DiMucci de Garden Prairie Organics en Garden Prairie, Illinois. “Es frustrante porque algunos paisajistas tiran sus desechos en la parte más alejada de la propiedad o los envían a alguien que no tiene licencia para acogerlos. Tienen que destinarse a una instalación de compostaje de residuos de jardinería con licencia de la IEPA (Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Illinois) o a una estación de transferencia”. DiMucci siente pasión por difundir el mensaje sobre la sostenibilidad — mantener los residuos de jardinería fuera de los vertederos y convertirlos en compost que vuelve a la tierra. Garden Prairie Organics fue fundada en 2009. “Siempre hemos creído en los beneficios del compost y lo hemos usado en nuestro vivero de árboles. Decidimos explorar la idea de procesar los residuos de jardinería convirtiéndolos en compost beneficioso”.

Uh Oh

Muchos paisajistas desconocen las regulaciones. Imagine que usted es Tim Terlecki de T and T Landscape Construction, Inc. en Huntley. La firma de paisajismo de servicio completo tiene una proiedad de 24 acres que ha sido zonificada para la agricultura, no incorporada y rodeada de tierras de cultivo y hay un colegio de secundaria cerca. En el sitio hay un pozo de quema de 75 pies de profundidad, 20 pies de ancho, con paredes de 15 pies para manejar los escombros de árboles. “Es un área completamente contenida”, afirma Terlecki. “Teníamos un oficial de incendios que lo inspeccionaba y aprobaba. Pensamos que estábamos hacienda todo correctamente porque estábamos zonificados para agricultura (Ag)”. Imaginemos la sorpresa de Terlecki este verano cuando se apareció un inspector de IEPA para investigar una queja. “Tenemos mucho material para quemar porque contamos con nuestros propios equipos de remoción de árboles. No quemamos con mucha frecuencia, pero lo hacemos intensamente durante seis o siete horas. Nos dijeron que elimináramos el pozo de quema y que no podíamos tenerlo. Averiguamos que se permite quemar materiales acumulados en un sitio de trabajo—en el sitio de trabajo, pero no aquí”. Su firma fue amenazada con

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección. acciones legales. “La IEPA me dijo que tampoco podíamos acumularlos o tirarlos. Ni siquiera estábamos acumulando pasto cortado. Desde entonces hemos clausurado el área del pozo de quema y lo hemos cerramos”. Al final de este artículo, Terlecki no había oído más de la IEPA, pero se le dijo que esperara otra visita. La compañía está solicitando un permiso de quema de la IEPA.

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No desperdiciar, no querer

La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE. UU. dice que actualmente los desechos de jardín y restos de alimentos conforman más del 30 por ciento de lo que se desecha. Algunas instalaciones de compostaje comercial trabajan con restaurantes y tiendas para transformar los residuos en abono y otras empresas están añadiendo más residuos de jardinería a sus operaciones. Esta es una situación en las que todos salen ganando para paisajistas que desean descargar residuos de sus proyectos, comprar el abono terminado o ambas cosas. Pero es encontrar un sitio de entrega que no esté muy lejos de su sitio de trabajo lo que representa un desafío. Benjamin Krumstok es el Director Ejecutivo de la Coalición de Restos de Alimentos y Compostaje de Illinois, una organización sin fines de lucro que promueve la idea de separar y compostar todas las materias orgánicas en Illinois. “Midwest Organics Recycling [McHenry] nació de la necesidad de manejar estiércol en una granja lechera. Ahora tienen una solución y es un enfoque totalmente orgánico”. Y el resultado final es la transformación de residuos de jardinería y alimentos en el compost Organimix® de la compañía que se usa para mejora de suelos, acondicionamiento de césped y componentes de mezcla para macetas o mantillo. “No se puede llevar residuos de jardinería a un vertedero o reserva forestal, pero se pueden llevar a una instalación con permiso”, dijo Krumstok. Le gustaría ver más estaciones de transferencia en todo el estado—lugares donde los paisajistas

puedan tirar los residuos. Una estación de transferencia sirve como punto de espera antes de que el material sea enviado a su destino final. Por ejemplo, la Glenview Transfer Station en Glenview y la Midwest Compost en Elgin y West Chicago, aceptan residuos de jardinería comerciales. Averigüe con su procesador local los horarios y fechas de entrega—los residuos usualmente se aceptan desde principios de la primavera hasta principios del invierno. Ex radiólogo, Krumstok está a favor de reciclar materiales orgánicos. “Cuando ejercía la medicina, no sabía mucho de compostaje. Pero es un recurso y una herramienta para los paisajistas. Mejora la biología del suelo—los biomas del suelo—con diferentes microbios, insectos y similares. Esos sistemas naturales tienen un intercambio de nutrientes por lo que no se necesitan tantos fertilizantes químicos. Usted puede reducir las exposiciones a sustancias químicas de sus empleados y eso es bueno para la salud humana”. Desafíos Hay obstáculos tanto para los paisajistas como para las instalaciones de compostaje. Tomó a DiMucci casi dos años tener el sitio listo y corriendo durante el proceso de aplicación. Cerca del 50 por ciento de sus clientes son paisajistas dueños de pequeñas empresas, junto con municipalidades y firmas paisajistas más grandes. “Servimos toda el área de Rockford y la región este de Chicago”. La firma cree en y promueve el

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

lema, “Si crece, va”. DiMucci afirma que la arcilla, la roca y los plásticos son problemáticos para el compostaje, pero no son las únicas cosas. “Si no está creciendo, no lo tomamos”, dijo Kila Harwick de Green Soils Management, una instalación de compostaje de 60 acres en East Dundee. “Mike DiMucci y yo estamos de acuerdo en que la educación sobre lo que puede ser compostado es la pieza más grande”. Antes de hacer un viaje para tirar residuos en una estación de transferencia o instalación de compostaje, llame antes para asegurarse de que lo que llevará es aceptable. “No aceptamos piedras ni otros materiales para elementos sólidos de paisajismo, bolsas de plástico, bramante, alambrado, malla, latas, botellas ni mantilla de madera dura”, dice Harwick. La compañía toma entre 60 y 100 mil yardas cúbicas de residuos de jardinería cada año, los que transforma en lo que parece una mezcla fina y húmeda para pasteles—compost rico y oscuro que es apreciado por sus capacidades de retención de agua y mejora del suelo. El sitio tiene de 30 a 40 hileras— largas bermas llenas de residuos de jardinería—que se voltean y riegan según el permiso estatal hasta que el material está totalmente descompuesto. Durante el proceso, las hileras alcanzan los 140°F requeridos. Dos veces al mes se someten a prueba los niveles de humedad y rutinariamente se envían muestras a un laboratorio para someterlas a una serie de pruebas completas que examinan pH, nutrientes, materia orgánica, el tamaño de las partículas, patógenos, metales traza y más. “El producto casi terminado toma entre tres y seis meses, dependiendo del clima, y luego es cribado” explica Harwick. La contaminación pone trabas en el proceso de compostaje. “Si un paisajista pasa sobre una bolsa de astillas, los fragmentos terminan en la bolsa con hierba que llega a la instalación de compostaje”, dijo Krumstok. “Si el vidrio se rastrilla con hojas, los fragmentos de las botellas no se pueden cribar en la instalación comercial—es sumamente difícil. Los fragmentos más pequeños son un desafío y comprometen el producto final”. Apartes de los desafíos, Krumstok percibe la transformación de los residuos de jardinería en abono como una situación en la que todos salen ganando. “Incorporar composta crea un suelo más saludable, plantas más saludables, césped más saludable y control del agua—se reducen las grandes inundaciones porque los suelos son más porosos y hay más retención de agua”. Y, considerando la prolongada sequía que tuvimos este año, eso es bueno. Conozca las regulaciones

Esto es lo que debe saber: La IEPA define los residuos de jardinería como “hojas, hierba, ramas de árboles, cortes de arbustos y otros materiales acumulados como resultado del cuidado del césped, arbustos, enredaderas y árboles”. La IEPA tiene un procedimiento de solicitud de permisos para gestionar los residuos, incluyendo residuos de jardinería: https://epa. illinois.gov/topics/forms/land-forms/permit-forms/pa16.html Según el oficial de información pública de la IEPA, Kim Biggs, quien respondió por correo electrónico a nuestras preguntas, “no se necesita permiso estatal para convertir los residuos en abono en el sitio. Adicionalmente, de acuerdo con la Sección 21(q)(1.5) cualquier persona puede convertir los residuos en abono fuera del sitio sin permiso SI: tiene menos de un total de 25 yardas cúbicas (residuos de jardinería + compost + aditivos) en todo momento; y no está involucrada en una actividad comercial. (Nota del autor: Sí, necesitará permiso si tiene más de 25 yardas cúbicas en total). Para los formularios de permiso de quema al aire libre consulte la IEPA

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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Something New —

Landscape Design

UNPLUGGED An Evening with the Pros

by Nina A. Koziol

ometimes it’s good to kick back and recharge. That’s what 110 ILCA members signed up for in September when they headed to the Wild Onion Brewery in Lake Barrington for Landscape Design Unplugged, where a panel of pros talked about the challenges of design work today. Panelists included Tony LoBello, Mariani; Scott Byron, Scott Byron & Co., and Pam Self, Pamela Self Landscape Architecture. New and experienced designers, company owners, installers and suppliers networked before and after the discussion. “Why ‘Unplugged’ for the title?” asked Scott Grams, ILCA’s executive director. “It’s like a relaxed vibe—that’s what we were looking for—a chill, dialed-down conversation.” And chill it was with beer, wine, laughs and catching up with old friends and business partners. Larry Carnes, owner of Reflections Water Gardens and ILCA design committee member, said, “I design my own things and it just blossomed and grew, but I came to learn from the panelists and to talk with others.” Here’s an abridged peek at topics covered during the hour-long discussion.

Q. What kinds of landscape design trends are you seeing? Tony: Pickle ball—it’s a strange one, but so popular and the most interesting one to come up. Fire features, outdoor kitchens with all the components, and water features are big. Pam: Pickle ball! I’m also ripping out a $100,000 outdoor kitchen because the owner is alone now and he felt like he 48

was walking into a space where he should be entertaining 100 people. Scott: Trends bother me. We’re not in the trendy business, we’re in the beautification business. Talking about sustainability should be a trend. How do we blend what we do with the type of equipment we’re using?

Q. How do you deal with clients who don’t understand

the budget or won’t tell you? Pam: We only do design and I put together a proposal for services. The worst thing you can do is over-design and give them a $100k design when they only have $25k. Given what

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

a client tells me, I’ll say, ‘based on the information you gave me, you’ll be anywhere from here to here.’ We do a low-tohigh range for designs. In my earlier years, I didn’t do that and I was very uncomfortable. Tony: We’ll do a schematic or design and establish the budget then. Scott: I graduated in 1976—back then we were doing elaborate projects on spec and that was terrible.

Q. How have clients changed?

Scott: The clients haven’t changed at all. They are at the

mercy of their peer group. What will the neighborhood think if we do this or that? I had a client who built a 25-acre adult camp for his friends—built a game room, a pond—all we did was sit around and say ‘what about this’ half the time. Ask the right questions and really listen and you’ll understand what they want. Tony: We’d do a phenomenal design—all color—and they’d say, ‘we didn’t want that’. We designed for so many hours and we got nowhere. Get the client involved in the process— and that’s through images. (continued on page 50)

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Something New — (continued from page 49) Pam: You sometimes feel like a marriage counselor. You have to figure out who makes the decisions. I don’t do many residential clients but I do a few. I sometimes feel I’m working for two spoiled 13-year-olds. In one case, the wife was adding things and then the husband didn’t approve our extra fees. When clients are upset—you listen and write everything down while they’re talking. My business coach advised saying, “I understand.” I was always trying to defend myself. We’re nice people and we were apologizing too much.

Q. Boundaries—everyone texts—any time, any day. How

do you set boundaries and still keep a client? Tony: No Sundays. I’m fine with evenings but that’s it. Every time they’ve requested that, it’s gone sideways. Scott: That’s such a hard question. if someone called me at 10 p.m. I’d call them at 5 a.m. I did that six times. I’ll respond to a text or call them. If it’s really important — well, I agree, Sunday meetings suck. I’ll say to them ‘it’s my time, too,’ and no more than an hour on a Sunday.

low maintenance? What’s that? Your kids, your spouse, your car, you? Everything needs maintenance. It’s just researching the plants. If a client wants a native garden, I tell them it’s maintenance for life. Perennial gardens require editing, too. Make sure you understand what the client wants when it comes to maintenance. Tony: A lot of information online is crap. You have to see the plants growing. Clients who want natives—show them sedges versus pachysandra, for example. I don’t think it can be an either/or — you get the best of both worlds using both. I look at the size, moisture and light conditions available and give them three plant choices.

Q. How do you keep the design battery charged?

Scott: That’s a great question. Personally, that’s what drives me. I drive around, I do a lot of reading. I’ve been doing things a long time — learning and answering client questions. To keep your juices flowing, challenge yourself. Tony: Ask the question, ‘What’s good about this design?’ and ‘How is it different?’ Visit places for ideas. The Chicago Botanic Garden is a great one to go to for design ideas. Get out and see things and ask yourself, ‘what makes this a good design?’

Pam: I was really bad at this when I started out. I was a parent with a sick child and would work on the weekends and evenings. I have a hard time when people text. I ask them to email it so it can go into the project folders. I tell myself that every email needs to be answered by the end of the day.

Pam: I hand draw all of my designs and I throw a lot away, but I keep working and it’s a design process. You do it innately, but it’s important to just keep working it and then walk away from it for a while. Even on vacation, I’ll notice things and wonder ‘why did they plant it that way or why is that hardscape like that?’

Q. Using natives versus non-natives?

Q. When you’re doing a design that’s 2 to 3 years out

Pam: Maintenance has been a frustrating issue. I use natives in groupings, but I don’t tell the clients. If they’re interested, I’ll tell them. I’m a big one for right plant, right place. And

from installation, how do you deal with shortages? Scott: We try to use what’s available and we switch gears if needed. We have a number of clients and tend to use the same

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

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Something New — things, which puts a terrible pressure on suppliers. Maybe they could suggest alternatives.

erty to look like it was done in the 80s or 90s.

Pam: It’s so abstract when you’re just working in the office. You need to be in the nursery looking at plants. I’m out at Ball every year because we still do Michigan Avenue’s annuals. We all get into this because we love plants.

Scott: It’s the culture—taking your eye off of what you believe is a critical mistake. We lost our share of really great people and we have great people working for us. Maybe a little humble pie is good in life.

Tony: I’ve been blown away by the things we can’t get anymore—even some perennials—and it’s frustrating. So, expand your horizons and see what plants are out there. At times in the design process we may keep it fairly generic and just indicate ‘shade tree.’

Q. What about the value perception of landscape design?

Pam: When I started, people were doing designs for free. It’s a blessing and a curse. Now everyone pretty much charges for design. Tony: The landscape is a big deal—it’s an investment.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to design?

Tony: Perennials—the texture, colors, flowers, hummingbirds that visit—they make people happy. Scott: Favorite thing? When I get on a site and what they want is totally impossible, but we get it to work. It’s the challenge of something new.

Q. How do you retain your best talent?

Tony: We found that it’s not about money. It’s about challenging and engaging people and showing them there’s room for growth and development. Pam: When people do leave, I realize it doesn’t have a lot to do with me. They may want to work in another city. What’s hard is when people don’t tell you why they’re happy or not. When people get out of school in design-build and they don’t refine their skill set—for example, how to take a design and turn it into a permit process—that’s hard. Get those skills down and the opportunities are there for the rest of your career. Roberto Acuna and his son Rafael Acuna from Acuna Landscaping in Des Plaines were all ears and smiles during the presentation. Roberto told the panel, “Thank you for sharing your expertise. It’s great to hear from those of you who have been in the business for so long.” His son agreed, saying, “My dad has been doing this for years. Now I have to step up and what better people to hear from than these?”

Pam: I do everything from city lots to multi-acre sites. My favorite is grade change, hardscape, the structure. I worked with Joe Carr and we’d ask, ‘what can we edit and how can we enhance the existing design?’ You don’t ever want a prop-

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The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Diseases + Pests —

Pest of the Month: Viburnum Leaf Beetle Maintenance for the Month: Leave the Leaves by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Viburnum Leaf Beetle

Viburnum leaf beetle has made itself comfortable and is spreading throughout Illinois and the Midwest. Its favorite host is arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and cultivars. This is a serious insect pest and should be treated if found. It can skeletonize a shrub in a few weeks and then adults return for a second feeding in the summer. Since viburnum is an important landscape shrub, keeping on top of scouting is key. Caterpillars hatch in May from overwintered eggs and begin to skeletonize leaves. In July, adults emerge from the ground and do another round of feeding on leaves until the first frost. Females will lay eggs in late summer and fall, depositing them in chewed holes in the twigs at the top of the plants. The University of Illinois’s Home, Yard, and Garden Pest newsletter and The Morton Arboretum offer a list of resistant viburnum species.

Treatment:

Fall is the time to do some preventative maintenance to keep this pesky critter at bay. The most effective treatment is to prune the eggs off the plants once they have gone dormant. If you are treating during the growing season, timing is key. The caterpillars are easiest to kill on contact, rather than the adults, and you can use carbaryl or permethrin for a contact insecticide, as well as spinosad or insecticidal soap. For adults, a systemic insecticide of imidacloprid can be effective. Since viburnum flowers are a favorite of bees and pollinators, timing is critical for application.

Viburnum leaf beetle

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The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Maintenance for the Month: Leave the Leaves

While some clients prefer a manicured landscape, others may request you to ‘leave the leaves’ as the popular social posts request. What does this mean for the landscape contractor?

711 S Material Road Romeoville, IL 815-836-0086 sales@rocksetc.com

Why: The phrase is an attractive one as it makes clients

feel like they are doing something for the environment and wildlife and it’s easy to remember. Research has shown there are benefits to leaving leaf litter in place and allowing perennials to stand through the winter. Many insects hibernate or pupate in leaf debris, hollow stems, or in a shallow layer of soil. Leaf mulch can be an effective mulch for woody plants.

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When You Should: Native plants should be

left in place, when possible, both for winter interest and insect habitat. Prescribed burns should leave a portion of plant material standing to serve as a refuge for wildlife. Most perennials can be left in place, and many provide attractive seedheads and dried foliage for winter interest. For clients who want to participate and yet desire a more manicured appearance, perennial beds may be tidied, and tall stems and leaves placed in a brush pile behind the scenes. This still provides habitat, but also offers a neater appearance to the planting areas.

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When You Shouldn’t: Thick mats of leaves

on lawns will impact turf health negatively from shading out grass to encouraging fungal problems. Perennial plants with fungal infections, such as powdery mildew, should be cut down and disposed of. Leaves from trees and shrubs with fungal issues such as tar spot, black spot, apple scab, etc. should be raked and removed as well.

Additional resources: University of Illinois Extension Service Plant Clinic: https://web.extension. illinois.edu/plantclinic/ 217-333-0519 The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/plant-clinic 630-719-2424 Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information Service: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ plantinfoservice 847-835-0972

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Bagged or bulk—we’ve got you covered! The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Member Profile Snapshot

Brick Paver Solutions & Pools 849 Rock Island Avenue Rockdale, IL 60436 (815) 922-6520 Jayzumbahlen81@gmail.com

by Meta L. Levin ay Zumbahlen owes his career to former The Landscape Contractor magazine contributor Greg Pierceall. Zumbahlen was playing football and studying forestry at Southern Illinois University (SIU) when he took a design class taught by Pierceall, who saw talent in his young student. “He told me he thought I should change majors,” says Zumbahlen. “That day changed my career.” Zumbahlen finished up at SIU and headed to Ohio State University, where he spent two years learning residential landscape design. Now, as a cap to a nearly 40-year career in the landscape industry, Zumbahlen and business partner Mike Egly own and operate Brick Paver Solutions & Pools out of the Morris/Rock Dale, Illinois area. Zumbahlen and Pierceall continue to stay in touch. Brick Paver Solutions & Pools began in 2013 as a part time venture while Zumbahlen and Egly both were working for Wingren Landscape where Zumbahlen was senior design and business development manager and Egly was general manager. Both had long careers in the landscape industry.

In July 2021 Egly started working full time at the fledgling venture. A pool contractor he knew asked the two to install a pool he had sold. They did and never looked back. “We haven’t slowed down since,” says Zumbahlen. Now they act as installers for the pool contractor, as well as sell their own projects. Egly runs their pool division and Zumbahlen, who retired from Wingren in June 2022, heads the landscape division. In addition to the pool installation, they offer complete landscape design/build, brick pavers, custom in-house lighting and installation, as well as building pergolas and other structures. In 2013 the two did most of the work themselves, with three laborers who worked on the weekends. Now the pool division has three employees and the landscape division has seven employees. They are also negotiating to hire two other crews, with whom they had worked at Wingren. The Wingren owners have since retired. Most of their work comes through referrals. “We stress integrity,” says Zumbahlen. “That is the foundation of our firm.” That

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

has resonated with their clients. Although they have been in the industry for nearly four decades, they both retain a passion for their work. Zumbahlen prides himself on working directly with every client. “I see every project through from start to finish and I won’t settle for anything less than perfection,” he says. Brick Paver Solutions & Pools joined ILCA in 2023, but Zumbahlen has a long association with it. “I’ve been a member since 1978, when I graduated from SIU and started my own company,” he says. He ran that company for 25 years. “ILCA has been an integral part of my learning and growth.” He has been attending first Mid-Am and now iLandscape for years, noting that he learns something new every year from the educational offerings, as well as networking. “It’s been a vital part of my professional growth,” he says. A native of Morris, IL, Zumbahlen still lives there with his wife. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. He is an avid golfer and a serious practitioner of CrossFit. “It’s my passion,” he says. Not surprising for someone who owns a company that installs swimming pools, he has one himself, which he says he enjoys regularly. Egly is from Joliet, IL and now lives with his wife in Plainfield. He is a devoted bicycle rider and motocross enthusiast, who loves the out-of-doors. Zumbahlen hopes never to lose his love for the landscape industry. “I’m still passionate about what I do.”

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Job Opportunity

Now Accepting Applications: Maintenance Assistant - Landscape Division (Engineering & Public Works) part-time NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF: Maintenance Assistant - Landscape Division (Engineering &amp; Public Works) part-time STARTING SALARY RANGE: $19.29 - $21.46 per hour working up to 19 hours per week. Salary is dependent on qualifications. The salary range for this position is $19.29 - $27.98. This position usually performs manual work of an unskilled nature. Work consists of assisting staff in the maintenance and repair of Village infrastructure, buildings, grounds, and facilities. This position may also perform semi-skilled mechanical labor, custodial work, and operating a vehicle. Tree maintenance activities such as tree trimming, and care for public and private trees.

Irrigation and Sales Yard Management Looking for an individual willing to multitask between irrigation management, sales yard loading, and mechanical work for an established sod farm in western suburbs. Please email your resume to bob@duntemanturf.com or call 630-557-2900.

Frankfort Square Park District i s looking for a Full Time Parks Buildings and Grounds Maintenance person for the overall upkeep of buildings, grounds, and park maintenance activities to provide safe, high-quality parks and facilities. Responsibilities include safely operating various equipment; the labor needed working in and around that equipment, general maintenance, and some supervision of the day-today seasonal employees, as well as on-call needs. The schedule is generally Monday through Friday with evening and weekend hours as necessary to produce exceptional results. The successful candidate will have a: high school diploma, a valid Illinois driver’s license, at least 3 years experience in the field of park maintenance, landscaping, turf, forestry, horticulture, and/or related field or equivalent, and strong mechanical ability to perform maintenance and repairs. Certified Playground Safety Inspector and Operator’s Pesticide License certifications within the first year of employment. $21 p/hr to start plus an excellent benefits package. Visit website www.FSPD.org “About Us”, “Employment”, job “Application” to ereidy@fspd.org or 7540 W Braemar Lane Frankfort IL 60423.

QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Education equivalent to a high school diploma. 2. A minimum of six months of general maintenance or related experience. 3. Possession of a valid State of Illinois Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or ability to obtain within twelve months from date of hire. 4. Proficiency with current computer technology, job-specific software, and customer service systems. How to apply: Please apply online at http:// www.schaumburg.com/hiring

Financial Officer - Green Industry Compeer Financial is hiring at our Sycamore, IL location for a Financial Officer - Green Industry. This position will grow the loan and lease portfolio in the green industry through counseling and servicing existing clients while pursuing new loan sales development opportunities with prospective clients. Knowledge of the green industry business management and finance is required. How to apply:

PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851 ext. 1

Residential Maintenance Account Manager Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Landscape Designer/Project Director Management Associate Call Abbey for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers 58

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

Classified Ads HELP WANTED Full Time Maintenance Position Frankfort Square Park District is looking for a Full-Time Parks Buildings and Grounds Maintenance person for safe, high-quality parks and facilities. Safe operation of a variety of equipment, the labor needed working in and around that equipment, general maintenance, and some supervision of day-to-day seasonal employees, as well as on-call times is needed. Monday through Friday is typical, but some evening and weekend hours as necessary for exceptional results. High School diploma, valid IL driver’s license, at least three years’ experience in park maintenance, landscaping, or related field or equivalent. A strong mechanical ability to perform maintenance and repairs is needed. Playground inspector and pesticide license certifications within the first year of employment. $22 per hour plus an excellent benefits package! How to apply: www.FSPD.org ... About Us ... Employment Opportunities ESTATE MANAGER A large west suburban estate/garden seeks a full-time salaried estate manager. The position is year-round with excellent health and associated benefits package and liberal PTO during winter months. The applicant will work in the gardens with small seasonal staff, coordinate subcontractors and vendors, and generally oversee the estate property. Proof of good character and a strong work ethic is more important than prior experience. How to apply: Please apply by email or by mailing a resume to 929 West Adams, Chicago IL 60607. Please provide a full resume, background, and references. Assistant Project Manager Work for a fun landscape, green roof, and green wall construction company! This is an in-office position in Glenview, IL. The Assistant Project Manager at Intrinsic Landscaping is an integral part of our overall operations. We are looking for a self-motivated, organized individual who can assist our team on implementing active construction jobs. This position will directly support our superintendent and project managers during the awarded construction phases of multiple projects. This is a great opportunity to work on some of the most unique and exciting landscape construction projects in the country.

HELP WANTED Previous Experience

HELP WANTED

-3-5 years in a related field preferred

-50% of Personal Health Insurance up to $500 per month

-Degree/Certification in Horticulture, Plant Biology, Conservation, Botany, Construction Management, Engineering, or Environmental studies, preferred

How to apply: Please submit your resume by email to kevin@intrinsiclandscaping.com

-2 weeks paid vacation (additional time for sick/personal days can be discussed

Necessary Skills -Plant identification knowledge -Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, and Excel) -Plan swift Take Off Software (training will be provided) -Google Docs /Sheets -Interface with construction management software such as Procore, Build Connect -Comfortable with Phone and Email Correspondence, politeness is very important to Intrinsic! -Quality-oriented and a great attention to detail -Able to seamlessly and politely coordinate with materials vendors, plant nurseries, general contractors, designers, etc. -Understanding of the commercial construction process is preferred -Understanding of the commercial landscape industry is preferred

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES November 2023 issue ads: Oct. 10, 2023 December 2023 issue ads: Nov. 10, 2023 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

-CAD knowledge is preferred. (Vectorworks or similar) Tasks -Submittals- Prepare product data, shop drawings, and subcontractor info for submission to clients for all active commercial jobs. Follow these through to 100% approval. Maintain company-wide submittal logs. -Materials procurement: working with nurseries to manage lead times, purchasing, and staging. -Plant procurement: working with nurseries to manage availability, tagging, photo submittals, purchasing, and staging. -Assist superintendent and project managers during various stages of the construction process -Review drawings and perform material take offs as needed -Organize project information within our internal data storage infrastructure -Payroll Review and weekly job cost review Compensation -Competitive salary, bonus available for exceptional performance

The Landscape Contractor October 2023

JOIN NOW for 2023! Visit ilca.net

for membership information.

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

Made in the Shade

By Nina A. Koziol

“I want color,” says the client whose property is surrounded by mature shade trees. What’s a landscape designer to do? You could add small daffodils for spring and some drifts of Impatiens or begonias for summer color. But these workhorse perennials add interest from May through the fall frost. Give them a go.

DeVroomen Garden Products ...................................51 Ditchwitch Midwest ...............................................60

Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’)

Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4 Fairview Evergreen Nursery ....................................35 Goodmark Nurseries ................................................57 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63

Merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora) with Hellebores

Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................12 Homer Industries ...................................................17 James Martin Associates .......................................58 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................37 Longshadow Planters ............................................15 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants .........................................................45

Hosta ‘First Frost’

McGinty Bros. .......................................................53 Midwest Groundcovers .............................................2 Midwest Trading .....................................................13 Rocks Etc. ................................................................55 Spring Meadow Nursery .........................................19 Straughn Farm ........................................................25 The Mulch Center ....................................................23 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64 Xylem, Ltd. ..............................................................55

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) The Landscape Contractor October 2023

Before You Go —

Big Bluestem for Big Impact by Mark Dwyer

’ve been using ornamental grasses in my landscape designs for over 30 years for their obvious design value and durability in a wide range of situations. It’s been refreshing to see the continued work on new introductions and robust incorporation of these marvels throughout our residential and corporate landscapes. However, “back in the day”, the idea of using a grass such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) in any situation other than a naturalistic planting, prairie restoration or larger setting in general was not on my radar. That has certainly changed over the last decade with an amazing assortment of big bluestem varieties that have become available and have value as specimens, focal points and contributors in a wider range of landscapes including those with a residential scale. Big bluestem is a tough native grass that is not only adapted to a wide range of soil conditions but is tolerant of deer, drought, erosion, black walnut toxicity and air pollution. With expansive root systems, this grass can also thrive in more infertile soils and is less apt to topple in these tougher situations. With good architectural height (5-7’ when in bloom) and significant texture, this tough grass contributes a range of coloration with blue-green spring foliage followed by variable tinting into the fall season with hints of bronze. The wide range of varietal selections available were selected for a more intense range of blue coloration in the earlier season and/or amazing late season tinting into the reddish tones and now maroon. These selections have generated a much broader application in compositions, mass plantings and as accents in myriad landscapes. Much of the amazing breed-

A. gerardii ‘Lone Ranger’ 62

ing work on this grass is being done by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials (Hebron, IL). My “breakthrough” big bluestem was the variety ‘Red Bull’ over 10 years ago which transitioned to an amazing, very pronounced, red tone in late summer into fall. I was using this grass as an accent along a narrow border. ‘Red October’ was equally impressive as is the newer variety ‘Rain Dance.’ My current favorite for intense red, late season coloration is ‘Dancing Wind’ which “reads” nicely from a distance. For hints of a smoky purple in fall, ‘Indian Warrior’ never falls to impress and the new ‘Holy Smoke’ which is also a pronounced metallic, silvery blue with purple highlights earlier in the season has a promising future. Varieties with a more pronounced blue spring/summer foliage color include Windwalker®, ‘Mega Blue’ and new ‘Lord Snowden’. Karl’s Cousin® has a rigid, very narrow, upright columnar form with plum highlights in the fall. ‘Blackhawks’ has raised the bar for the deepest maroon coloration that starts in mid-summer and peaks by the first hard frost. Keep in mind that researching the mature dimensions of these varieties is important as there is some variability in both height and width (form). Availability will fluctuate but hopefully you’ll be able to source many of these exciting selections which again, will thrive with some benign neglect. Hopefully we’ll continue to explore the amazing role that taller, native grasses can provide in our landscapes and be sure to consider and include big bluestem cultivars in your recipes for design success!

A. gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ The Landscape Contractor October 2023

A. gerardii ‘Windwalker’

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