ProGrowNews Summer 2016 Digital Edition by Association Publishing Partners

pro grow news SUMMER 2016

www.mnla.com

Small Gardens â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Big Attitudes Mulch: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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pro grow news SUMMER 2016

contents Features

8 Bressingham Garden at Elm Bank 12 Small Gardens — Big Attitudes 20 Mulch: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Departments

5 President’s Message

6 Committee Reports 24 In Memoriam 26 Business Focus 28 MNLA News 29 Marketplace/Ad Index 30 My Favorite Plant On the cover — The blooms of Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb’ Summer|2016

pro grow news SUMMER 2016

committees

board PRESIDENT Jim Stucchi, MCH Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE

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

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

SECRETARY/TREASURER Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 PAST PRESIDENT Tim Lomasney One Source Horticulture Tel: (978) 470-1934 DIRECTORS Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc.

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

David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape, Inc. Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney Garden Centers

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR Henry Gillet Tel: (508) 567-6288 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731

Kathy Bergmann, MCH — Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

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

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH) Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair J.A. Crowdle Corporation Tel: (617) 527-5706 PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Mark Ahronian, MCH — Chair Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844 Peter Mezitt, MCH — Vice Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269 HISTORY COMMITTEE Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630 Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208 MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Gaele McCully, MCLP — Chair Mahoney’s Garden Center Tel: (781) 729-5900 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Tim Hay, MCH — Chair Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508)845-2143 David Ahronian, MCH — Vice Chair Ahronian Landscape & Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844

PRESIDENT Michelle Harvey, MCH Lakeview Nurseries Tel: (978) 342-3770 EDUCATION COMMITTEE Kathy Bergmann, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143 The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. is proud to be a founding partner of New England Grows.

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

ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731. Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA.

www.mnla.com

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President’s Message

Help Wanted By Jim Stucchi

“Hey, Jim. How are you?” is a typical outside-of-the-

industry conversation starter these days. My usual response is fairly vague, jovial, and altruistic all at once. “Oh, things are GREAT! How about you?” But inside my pressure cooker of a head, I am really thinking: Joe and Fred are sick today. Truck 11 is down again. Trailer 3 has a flat. Mower 1’s wheel bearing is blown. The college crew isn’t back yet. New employee number 1 didn’t show up, number 2 is allergic to manual labor, and number 3 went missing. My white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel is causing nerve damage in my neck. My eye is twitching. I can’t breathe. My chest is tight. My blood pressure is sky rocketing. I can’t sleep. My dog hasn’t been walked in weeks, and my kids cut out my picture and pasted it on the carton of milk in the fridge. No, I’m not having a heart attack (yet). These are just the signs of a roller-coaster spring merging into a very busy summer, because what I hear from most everyone is the same: an immensely positive increase in business. It seems like the work load is incredibly high, so much so that great projects are being turned away almost daily. “Please don’t send anyone my way. Without more help, I just cannot handle any more business,” was a response I recently received from an industry friend after trying to shed a few projects outside of our area. The operative challenge is the same across the board. The labor crunch is real. It is hurting our ability to grow and in some cases it’s hurting the ability to maintain the status quo. I know we could expand our business right now and we want to, but the lack of qualified help is holding us back — and it’s not even just qualified help. Labor in general is at an all-time record low. How are we combatting this challenge? Marketing is on hold for a while, and we shifted those dollars into the recruiting budget. We’ve implemented a successful internship program over the years, but it’s a long-term value investment that starts with the conversation at the high school guidance office. It runs three days a week in the winter and spring with one or two students. Each week, 10 new plants are learned with quizzes and tests and a herbarium project. Job-site visits to learn about basic design and installation procedures are integrated into the schedule. Some machine experience is provided in a controlled and safe environment at our shop. Field trips to local nurseries and vendors allow the full picture to come into focus.

This is working for us. Our lead construction supervisor completed this program and went through the Stockbridge School as well. Our employees come from this program at the high school level as well as Stockbridge, Norfolk Aggie, UMass, URI, and UNH. One of our very first intern candidates from Holliston High School was recently hired back fulltime. He went through the Stockbridge School and the UMass BSLA program, and is now designing, selling, and installing his own projects. It takes some time, but these are the leaders that we lean on to teach the new employees the why and how of our systems and processes. We are on the typical websites and job boards: MNLA, Stockbridge, UMass, UNH, Indeed, Hort Jobs, Craigslist, etc. We had magnets made up for the back of all the trucks, and we called past college help who have moved along on their career path and asked them to help on Saturdays. We ask all employees to ask their friends for word-of-mouth worker referrals and even asked the local on-call fire chief if he knew any candidates. All in all, it’s a good problem to have more work than you can handle, that is understood. We will all get through this pretty quickly, and then we’ll have to see what the presidential election brings us. Best luck to you all. I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming MNLA events. Jim Stucchi, MCH, Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc. MNLA President REGISTER BY JUNE 25 FOR THE BEST PRICE!

Down to Earth! JULY 28, 2016

2016 Annual Summer Conference & Trade Show WHERE: Join us at the Down to Earth

Summer is for vacations and all things fun. For green industry professionals it’s a great time to take stock and learn about new products, trends and business solutions.

Summer Conference and Trade show

• Find business knowledge about new plants and products, sales, operations and profitability.

on July WHY:28.

• Attend education sessions organized by your professional colleagues.

The 2016 Educational Program will be dynamic and innovative with expanded hands-on demonstrations.

See page 16 for details.

• Visit more than 60 exhibitors, and join attendees that include garden centers, retail and wholesale nurseries, greenhouse growers, landscape contractors, maintenance, designers, architects, and more! • Amazing speakers • Hands-on demos • Great lunch

Summer|2016

Our host for 2016 is Norfolk County Agricultural High School situated on 365 acres in Walpole, Massachusetts. Norfolk Aggie has played an invaluable role in the lives of many of our successful industry professionals. Join us for an inside look at this wonderful public school who is training our next generation of industry professionals.

• Connect with colleagues and enjoy a relaxing day of networking

• Challenge yourself with the MCH sponsored Plant I.D. • What’s all the buzz? Learn the ins and outs of bee keeping. • Get dirty as you “try out” the latest and greatest equipment and tools. Have fun while learning about new products and plants offered by our exhibitors. New demonstration programs promise to be a lively plus to your conference experience.

We’ve put together a program packed with MCH and pesticide recertification credits! Visit mnla.com today for registration.

MNLA Committees Down to Earth at Norfolk Aggie

nce again, praise must go to the Education Committee for great venue selection for this year’s Down to Earth Summer Conference and Trade Show in July. The recent beautification and improvements to the campus and buildings at Norfolk County Agricultural High School will be a tremendous backdrop for our meeting. There will be a strong group of speakers delivering useful and relevant information along with vendors and our usual delicious noontime meal. This venue is a good choice. Within our industry and our association, we work with many Norfolk Aggie graduates. If you have any recollection of the school, come by to see the transformation. If you have never been there, look forward to being impressed with a comprehensive educational facility dedicated to educating young individuals potentially bound for our industry in the areas of plant and environmental science, arboriculture, and diesel/mechanical technology. Established in 1917 as a 9th - 12th grade public high school, it offered career courses in many facets of agriculture that in turn supported the workforce for a small but important statewide industry. Over the years, the courses of study have changed to meet the needs of a changing green industry, providing trained technicians to small and large animal businesses while addressing the mandated education reforms. From its inception as a county school just southwest of metropolitan Boston, it was assured of a student body from the rural and suburban areas with diverse interests and experiences. Today, with 500 students on campus, there is roughly a 10:1 student-teacher ratio that lends itself to the hands-on approach that enhances the educational process. This helps explain the high student retention and low dropout rate. The exposure to a mixture of academic and vocational studies gives students at NCAHS a valuable stepping stone to their future endeavors. The numerous practical skills acquired will help graduates become valued employees or perhaps, with time, business owners themselves. So on July 28th, come to Walpole, enjoy the day, and help ignite the very beginnings of the anticipated NCAHS Centennial celebration in 2017. Philip Boucher, MCH, Elysian Garden Design History Committee Chair

Keeping Those Plants Watered

s the weather turns warmer, many communities routinely post signs limiting outdoor irrigation or even banning outdoor water use altogether. This can make it difficult to convince customers that planting a landscape is worthwhile when they may not be able to get enough water on the new plants to keep the landscape viable. MNLA has worked with state regulators for the past two years to provide a way for consumers to efficiently irrigate their landscapes while protecting the state’s water supplies. More work remains to be done to get municipalities and water districts to adopt the new state irrigation guidelines. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which regulates water use in the Commonwealth, is working on a revised licensing framework to protect our generally abundant and high-quality water resources. Under old guidelines, virtually all outdoor uses of water including non-agricultural irrigation were considered non-essential. Such uses were prohibited whenever water supplies fell below fixed levels in a given watershed. Over time, some water managers at the local level did not wait for a drought determination; they simply put out the signs for the irrigation ban each spring regardless of supply conditions. As the new DEP framework was developed, MNLA and other green industry organizations met with DEP to discuss the irrigation problem. Industry representatives brought samples of drip irrigation devices and introduced data regarding their high efficiency. The collaboration resulted in DEP guidelines on the implementation of non-essential outdoor water use restrictions to allow the use of drip irrigation. But guidelines are recommendations, not binding regulations. Local water managers are just becoming aware of the drip irrigation rules — and they are not required to follow the advice. MNLA has prepared a slide presentation on the new DEP guidance for water managers as well as the general public to provide information about the efficacy of drip irrigation. MNLA President Jim Stucchi, Past President Ed Bemis, and DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg spoke on the subject at the winter meeting of the Mass Water Works Association to kick off the education effort. As you continue to see signs regarding general outdoor water use restrictions in some towns, there is reason to speak with local water managers about reasonable exceptions to the rule based on state guidelines that permit drip irrigation even during drought conditions. Review MNLA’s slide presentation at MNLA.com Chris O’Brien, MCH, Howard Garden Designs, Inc. Government Relations Committee Chair

www.mnla.com

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Dog Days of Summer

irst, it’s great to see Brian Scanlon back on the Education Committee. He was with us for too short a time, and we’re happy to have him back in the fold. Smart, talented, hardworking, and nice: Not too many people are all of the above. Welcome back, Brian, and best wishes as you venture out on your own. What a strange spring it was! First very, very warm; then very, very cold; then raw and rainy for so many days that I was reminded of the Ray Bradbury story, “All Summer in a Day,” about the planet that only gets sun one afternoon a year. Luckily, the dismal weather faded as spring finally remembered who she was supposed to be. Right now, I’m actually looking forward to coming home from work in the warmth, sitting with Milo the Wonder Dog at my feet, the buddleia and stewartia and roses blooming all around me as the sun sets behind my magnolia canopy. Did I mention the glass of wine? I also look forward to Summer Conference on July 28th at the Norfolk County Aggie. It’s a great place. My daughter was president of the 4-H Equestrian Club in high school, so I drove her there to watch her compete at horse shows with her wonderful horse Alex, the horse that would have lived in the house if we could have box-trained him. The Aggie is larger and lovelier than it was back then, but the people there are just as great as they were. I’m so glad they’ve invited us to enjoy their facilities. As usual, we’ll have great speakers, a fun lunch — remember last year’s, so good we had to do it again — and the wonderful plants and fresh industry ideas to check out. I also look forward to seeing what the beekeepers have to say. Every year, I love meeting up with old friends as we take a collective deep breath after the spring craziness. I think that’s the best part of Summer Conference, even better than the MCH points I’ll pick up. I hope to see lots of old and new faces there. If you can’t find me, check out the Aggie’s gorgeous turnout area. I might have to stop by to say hello to the horses.

Dogs at Work

Recognize the unsung member of your team — the “person” who approaches every day and every job with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to stay by your side to the end of the day, no matter what.

Bailey is 10 years old and goes to work with owner Stephen Corrigan, MCH, every day. Just submit a photo of your favorite canine friend in a work-related activity. All entries will be posted online, and one lucky dog will be featured in each Pro Grow News issue in 2016. The quarterly winner will receive a bag of their favorite treats. At the end of the year, an esteemed panel of judges will select the MNLA Dog of The Year. Top dog will receive a cookie jar and a donation made in their name to their local animal shelter. Please submit your photo and a brief introduction to your faithful companion to www.mnla.com.

Kathy Bergmann, MCH, Weston Nurseries, Inc. Education Committee Chair

Summer|2016

Bressingham Garden at Elm Bank MNLA members and MCHs will find a unique educational opportunity at the Bressingham Garden. By John Forti

ack in 2007, fabled horticulturist and English garden designer Adrian Bloom had a vision: Create a new garden to act as a catalyst for promoting the horticultural industry and gardening throughout the New England area. He selected The Gardens at Elm Bank, the Dover/Wellesley home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, as the perfect site. For a single frenetic week in August 2007, a cadre of over 200 volunteers helped Bloom reshape and convert a full acre of the former estate’s deteriorating tennis court into an inspiring garden. Comprised of over 8,000 perennials, shrubs, and trees, the sweeping views and perspectives inspire visiting homeowners and professionals with effective design combinations for plants well suited to this region.

Now approaching its 10th year, the Bressingham Garden has matured and prospered. In designing the layout, Bloom designated different areas to represent various environmental conditions homeowners commonly encounter in this region. One planting bed demonstrates plantings suitable for dry soils, another for a hilly site, yet another for shade conditions, and one that features native plants. A remarkably unique component is the “longest river of Geranium Rozanne in the world” flowing through several planting areas and unifying the entire garden. Bloom recently visited to meet with a group of local nursery professionals. He’s asked for their participation in upgrading and adding plantings to show some of the new cultivars that have appeared on the market in recent years. This opportunity enables us to use this garden to demonstrate how (continued on page 10)

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(continued from page 8) to effectively maintain maturing plantings and integrate exciting new cultivars into the landscape. The garden also has value as a convenient site for training new employees. The next time you are in the area, stop by and see the impressive Bressingham Garden at The Gardens and Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Route 16, Wellesley. With thousands of our customers visiting each year, this is a perfect location for nursery and landscape professionals to demonstrate ways we can help make their yards, gardens, and landscapes more enjoyable. In upcoming communications, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be detailing further particulars on how MCHs and MNLA members can participate in this unique educational opportunity. John Forti is the director of horticulture and education at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. A nationally recognized lecturer, garden historian, ethnobotanist, and garden writer, Forti served as Curator of Historic Landscapes at Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH, and previously was Director of Horticulture at Plimoth Plantation Museum. Forti founded and serves as the board chair for Slow Food Seacoast, serves on the biodiversity committee for Slow Food USA, and chairs the board of the Herb Society of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New

|10

www.mnla.com

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Right-Sizing Gardens

Small gardens with big attitudes feature high-impact,

By Kerry Ann Mendez

ge happens! After years of planting a garden here and another there, many long-time garden enthusiasts have hit the garden wall, as mounting maintenance becomes exhausting, if not impossible. Let’s face it: Gardeners are perennial optimists, especially in the cold Northeast. They stalwartly believe that expanding garden edges would be manageable over the years with the old heave-ho, muster through attitude. Unfortunately, reality says otherwise. Many exasperated baby boomers simply throw in the garden trowel, believing all good things must come to an end. Nonsense! It’s simply time to right-size the landscape. By choosing the right plants and employing smart design practices, it is possible to have a garden that works harder for you than you do for it. Not only will it be more colorful and fascinating year-round, it will cost less to maintain and is ecologically responsible. To start, remove the rose-colored glasses and take a fresh look at existing plants. This is not the time to be emotional. If

a plant has never bloomed well, is prone to disease or insect damage, has a nasty habit of overrunning its neighbors, or is a prima-donna that constantly needs attention, it is time to dig the troublemaker out and give it to a friend or introduce it to the compost pile. Remember, the plant is not a child or a pet. Stop making excuses for it. There are many other choices that offer exceedingly more pleasure without the angst. Next, welcome in effortless multitaskers — plants that provide extraordinary, long-lasting color from flowers, foliage, berries, stem, or seed pods. Many of these beauties are natives, despite the sad misconception that these don’t offer the same splendor as cultivated varieties. In addition to having a pretty face, right-size plants should also be drought tolerant, require little or no fertilizer, and support pollinators and wildlife. Thankfully, there are fantastic perennials, flowering shrubs, trees, conifers, annuals, and bulbs that meet these expectations.

Perennials

Perennials continue to rise in popularity as gardeners rethink the time and cost of planting endless flats of annuals. But not all perennials are good choices for right-size gardens. For one, deadheading requirements must be carefully assessed. Only those contenders that require no (or very little) deadheading are viable, plus blooms should continue over a minimum of six weeks. Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Coreopsis ‘Mercury Rising’, Persicaria a. ‘Firetail’, and Callirhoe involucrata are some top performers that easily satisfy these prerequisites. Stunning foliage is as valuable, if not more so, than flowers. Many of the showiest perennials with this attribute enjoy shady locations. In addition to Hosta, consider Heucherella, Tiarella, Aralia ‘Sun King’, Symphytum ‘Axminster Gold’, and Hakonechloa. More marathon flowering and flashy foliage perennials are listed in the sidebar.

Annuals

Hakonakloa - Japenaese forest grass

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Annuals are prized for nonstop color and are valuable additions to the landscape and containers, but a few can go a long way, especially if right-size criteria are followed. Plants must be drought-tolerant and self-cleaning (no deadheading required). Dazzling beauty is a given. Sun-loving choices include Lantana, Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire’, Bacopa, and www.mnla.com

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for Changing Lifestyles low-maintenance superstars. Supertunia. Browallia, Torenia, Begonia benariensis, and Alternanthera shine in shade.

Flowering Shrubs

Flowering shrubs have become the new superstars for highimpact, low-maintenance landscapes. Shrubs typically require less water, fertilizer, and routine maintenance than other ornamentals. Nevertheless, flowering shrubs suitable for right-sized beds must also demand little or no pruning. No exceptions. Don’t start waffling and admitting needier plants through the garden gate. Once you give in to one, more will follow, and you’ll be back in the same overwhelming situation you were in at the start. Check out the sidebar for some spectacular choices.

Flowering Bulbs

Flowering bulbs add another layer of color to the right-sized garden, but they must meet some strict qualifications. They need to be long-lived, naturalized, and be resistant to gnawing critters. Those that fizzle out after a few years are disqualified, including the much adored tulip. Save yourself a lot of time, backache, and money by planting frontrunners like Allium, Camassia, Fritillaria, daffodil, and Hyacinthoides. If tulips are irresistible, then opt for those in the species categories (also called wild or botanical tulips) that demonstrate greater endurance and are less tasty to marauders. Some reliable

bulb resources are Brent and Becky’s Bulbs (www. brentandbeckysbulbs.com), John Scheepers (www.johnscheepers.com), Smart solutions and plant choices and Colorblends (www.colorblends.com). Being choosy about which plants are invited into the garden is not the only factor to slashing maintenance and elevating beauty. Design strategies also play a role. One practical approach can be paraphrased as “less, is more, is less.” Limit the number of plant varieties. Instead of using thirty different plants, for example, elect far fewer but make sure they are rightsize over-achievers. Consequently, more of each plant will be necessary to repeat throughout the design. The end result will be far less maintenance time, not only because right-size plants are used, but because the same garden tool and application can be used for numerous plants at the same time.

Incorporate architecturally interesting objects

Find a focal point and limit plant selection Spring|2016

Incorporating architecturally interesting objects is ideal for creating long-lasting, trouble-free beauty in the landscape. Choose an item that fits your style as well as that of the site. Not only will an intriguing piece draw the eye, providing a (continued on page 14)

Small Gardens — Big Attitudes (Continued from page 13) respite before moving on to enjoy more plants, it can also function as a striking feature in the winter vista. Stephen Procter’s four-season vessels are wonderful examples. The mental and emotional exercise of re-evaluating tiresome gardens may seem daunting at first, but the rewards far outweigh any temporary discomfort. For more helpful suggestions on downsizing gardens, check out The Right-Size Flower Garden (St. Lynn’s Press, February 2015), which offers exceptional plants as well as beautiful design solutions.

Kerry Ann Mendez is the owner of Perennially Yours gardening services, www.pyours.com. Don’t miss seeing Kerry at the Down to Earth Summer Conference on July 28. Register today at MNLA.com. Reprinted with permission from Coastal Home - Spring 2016, www.coastalhg.com.

Right Sizing Gardens Marathon-Blooming Perennials

Low-Prune Flowering Shrubs

Achillea (Yarrow) ‘Pomegranate’ and the Seduction series

Fothergilla (Bottlebrush) Daphne

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Deutzia ‘Yuki Snowflake’, ‘Yuki Cherry Blossom’, ‘Nikko’

Euphorbia (Spurge)

Weigela ‘My Monet’, ‘Midnight Wine’, ‘Fine Wine’

Ligularia

Lavandula (Lavender) ‘Phenomenal’ Hemerocallis (Daylily) Repeat-blooming cultivars like ‘EarlyBird Cardinal’ and ‘Going Bananas’ Echincea (Coneflower) ‘Fatal Attraction,’ ‘Milkshake,’ ‘Cheyenne Spirit’

Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea) Dwarf varieties such as ‘Bobo’ and ‘Little

Flashy Foliage Plants Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss) Sedum Ornamental grasses Carex (Sedge)

Agastache (Hyssop) ‘Blue Fortune’ and ‘Black Adder’ Stachys officinalis (Giant Betony) ‘Hummelo,’ ‘Pink Cotton Candy’

Stachys officinalis ‘Hummelo’

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Hydrangea ‘Bobo’

Brunnera Siberian Bugloss

Deutzia ‘Yuki Snowflake’

Heuchera Coral Bells www.mnla.com

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Equipment & Tools for the Landscape Professional

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8 Ashﬁeld Road/Rt. 116, P.O. Box 540, Conway, MA 01341

Down to Earth! JULY 28, 2016

2016 Annual Summer Conference & Trade Show

Summer is for vacations and all things fun. For green industry professionals it’s a great time to take stock and learn about new products, trends and business solutions.

WHERE: Our host for 2016 is Norfolk County

• Find business knowledge about new plants and products, sales, operations and profitability.

Agricultural High School situated on 365 acres in Walpole, Massachusetts. Norfolk Aggie has played an invaluable role in the lives of many of our successful industry professionals. Join us for an inside look at this wonderful public school who is training our next generation of industry professionals.

• Attend education sessions organized by your professional colleagues.

WHY: The 2016 Educational Program will be

dynamic and innovative with expanded hands-on demonstrations. • Challenge yourself with the MCH sponsored Plant I.D. • What’s all the buzz? Learn the ins and outs of bee keeping. • Get dirty as you “try out” the latest and greatest equipment and tools. Have fun while learning about new products and plants offered by our exhibitors. New demonstration programs promise to be a lively plus to your conference experience.

We’ve put together a program packed with MCH and pesticide recertification credits! Visit mnla.com today for registration.

WHAT’S NEW: • Meet our speakers • Grab a bib for a lobster clambake • Enjoy local ice cream sundaes • Catch up with friends • Book signing

Join Kerry Mendez at our afternoon networking event for a special book signing from 2:30–4pm. Crescent Ridge Dairy will be serving ice cream sundaes of their homemade ice cream with 50% of the proceeds donated to the MNLA Foundation for Educational Excellence. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to connect with industry colleagues in a casual and fun setting. Spend the morning in educational sessions and the afternoon sharing common challenges and solutions.

2016 Summer Conference Attendee Registration Registration pricing $75 Member/MCH pricing • $95 Non-member $30 Children, Students & Educators (regardless of registration date)

Company

Street Address

Subtotal: $ _______ City/State/Zip

Register EARLY and save! Platinum Attendee Register on or before June 25 and save $20 per registration. Platinum attendees will receive first lunch seating.

Phone/Fax

Gold Attendee Register on or before July 9 and save $15 per registration. Silver Attendee Register on or before July 17 and save $5 per registration.

Total enclosed: $ _______ To pay by credit card, register online at www.mnla.com/downtoearth or fill in your information below. Checks made payable to MNLA.

NAME ON CARD

CREDIT CARD #

EXP. DATE

SECURITY CODE

SIGNATURE

Registration & cost, register early for the best price: Complete and return the registration form along with the proper fee to MNLA. Fees for members, non-members, and children are listed above. Families and employees of MNLA/MFGA qualify for the same registration fees as members. The fee covers all food, workshops, admission to the trade show, and all other activities. No refunds will be made unless written notice is received seven days prior to the event. Information: For attendee & exhibitor information visit www.mnla.com/downtoearth or call 413-369-4731.

Member rates are only available to members in good standing of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association and/or the Massachusetts Flowers Growers’ Association. Send registration to: MNLA Summer Meeting, PO Box 387, Conway, MA 01341.

Names of those attending: First Name / Last Name

Food allergies:

___________________________________

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Business type: Garden center Retail nursery Greenhouse grower Wholesale nursery

Garden design/maintenance Landscape construction/design Landscape maintenance Other

DISCLAIMER: Although every reasonable effort is made to provide the speakers, topics, and sessions listed, some changes or substitutions may occur. Speakers and sessions are subject to cancellation or change up to and including the day the session(s) are scheduled to be held. Changes or cancellations are made at the discretion of MNLA and may be done without notifying attendees. If sessions are changed or canceled no refunds should be expected. Submission of the registration form acknowledges acceptance of this provision.

Solution Central—Visit with landscape, nursery, greenhouse and industry service & supplier representatives. Last year more than 500 industry professionals attended the conference and trade show with over 60 booths filled with goods and services of all descriptions. Here’s where you will find the answers to your questions. 17|

Demos That Make a Difference! ALL DAY INTERACTIVE DEMOS 8:30am–3:30pm • What’s all the buzz? Learn the ins and outs of beekeeping. Get a glimpse of practical beekeeping with Susan Robinson of Buzz 10 Honey and the Norfolk County Beekeepers Association. Information will be provided on how to keep honeybees, bee biology, and how beekeepers manage bees through the seasons. Learn about honey and beeswax harvesting. Thinking of adding pollinator plants to your portfolio? This is a great way to get a “bee perspective”! • What Does the Consumer Want? Visit the Plant Something MA exhibit to learn how your business can benefit from this international consumer outreach movement. Meet Jessica Wozniak, Plant Something project coordinator who will share the many programs initiatives as well as the newly released member toolkit and resource.

• Plant I.D. Challenge Test your plant knowledge skills with the Plant I.D. Challenge and ask the experts about tips and tricks they use for plant identification. Thinking of becoming an MCH? This is a great preview of what you can expect at the upcoming MCH exam on August 3, 2016. Sponsored by the MCH Board.

Down to Earth! JULY 28, 2016

2016 Annual Summer Conference & Trade Show

8am Registration & trade show open Coffee, tea, juice, fresh fruit & pastries 8:30am–3:30pm Classroom sessions & outdoor demonstrations 11:30am–1pm Lobster clambake 2:30–4pm Networking, music, munchies & fun

Down to Earth Educational Sessions REGISTRATION 7:30am Courtyard Breakfast sponsored by Sylvan Nursery

SESSION A 8:30–9:30am 1. Important Landscape Tree and Shrub Diseases in 2016 • Nick Brazee, UMass Amherst • Outdoor Arena During this guided walk, we will discuss and view important tree and shrub diseases on the landscape. We will focus on identifying symptoms and signs of plant pathogens and the role of abiotic stress in facilitating disease development. Management strategies, when applicable, will be discussed. Pesticide credits: 36,40 & General Applicator 2. What’s New in “Solution Central” Chris Kennedy, MCH, Kennedy’s Country Gardens • Horse Arena Chris will take you through the trade show highlighting new ideas, plants & products useful in your business. Learn how to incorporate new plants into designs, key selling points for sales staff, and new products & ideas into your business. Get ideas and feedback on how these new plants and products work in a day-to-day industry setting. 3. Creating a Profit with Garden Center Workshops • Tina Bemis, MCH, Bemis Farms Nursery • Classroom Does the idea of 150 additional customers purchasing your leftover tulips and daffodils on a cold, rainy Sunday in November get your heart racing? How about always selling down the last 5% of annuals, where most of your profit is? If so, then maybe it’s time to offer workshops. The secret to success at Bemis Farms Nursery is not just profiting from the workshop itself. Learn their whole strategy that will provide your customers with not only a finished product but more importantly, a newfound feeling of creativity, a fierce loyalty to your business, and a passion for gardening. Learn secrets to creating an enticing list of workshops, exciting the audience, advertising, purchasing, and much more. You will leave with tons of ideas and inspiration.

Educational Workshops Choose to attend several workshops over the course of the day. Pesticide credits are offered for attendance at some sessions. Two credits will be awarded for MCH; and one credit will be awarded for MCLP, MCA and ISA for full day attendance.

SESSION B 10–11am

SESSION C 11:30am–12:30pm

1. Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Training • Laurie Rocco, MA Department of Agricultural Resources • Classroom WPS was introduced in the 90’s. Up until recently, the rule has not changed. However in August of 2015, WPS has changed regarding items such as training, sign posting, decontamination, ppe and other items. Most of these items do not change until 2017 and/or 2018. For 50 minutes, a pesticide inspector will review all these changes along with answering questions in order to ensure that you will be in full compliance. For the remaining 10 minutes, the inspector will review the Plant Nutrient regulations and how that will affect your garden center. 1 pesticide recertification credit available for categories 26 and 29

1. Landscaping for Home Fruit Production Sonia Schloemann, UMass Amherst • AKC Ring Learn the key aspects of integrating edible berries into the home landscape (strawberries, brambles, blueberries, grapes and other specialty fruits). Also covered will be site and soil requirements, planting systems, fertilization, pruning, and pest management.

2. EXTREMELY Low Maintenance, Gorgeous Perennials by Season Kerry Ann Mendez, Perennially Yours • AKC Ring You will be thrilled to discover beautiful perennials, including many new introductions that enjoy little hand holding on your part. These beauties, many of which are native, enjoy lean soil, little or no fertilizer, less water, little or no deadheading and many are deer resistant. They will save you time and money! Presentation includes design tips. 3. Norfolk Aggie tour • Outdoor Arena

LUNCH SERVED 11:30am–1pm Courtyard No lines, no waiting—1 1/2 hours for lunch

2. Trial Gardens—MHS New for 2017 David Fiske, Massachusetts Horticultural Society • Outdoor Arena For over ten years, Elm Bank in Wellesley has grown one of two official trial gardens in the Northeast consisting of plants grown from seed from All-America Selections (AAS), trialed and judged by AAS guidelines. David will talk about AAS and show plant samples from one of many gardens sponsored by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Performance trials show home owners, consumers, & professionals how plants grow and look in garden beds or containers. 3. What You Need To Know About Digital Marketing for 2016 • Constant Contact • Classroom Discover the latest changes taking place within the top social media platforms and understand how they will affect social media marketing in 2016. Uncover Facebook’s latest algorithm switch and how it will impact a Business Page’s organic views, and communication style. Discover the newest features LinkedIn is rolling out and how to make them work for you and your business. This presentation will also include the top 5 social media trends predicted for 2017 and techniques to incorporate them into your business.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION 1:30pm Economic Impact of the MA Green Industry by Dr. Nora Barnes, UMass Dartmouth • AKC Ring “The Massachusetts Green industry continues to grow with an economic impact of more than $5 billion.” Learn more about the results of the recent MNLA sponsored survey and how these numbers will impact your business today! Landscape Plants That Save Time, Manpower & Money • Kerry Ann Mendez, Perennially Yours • AKC Ring Discover ‘superhero’ plants that provide year-round color and enjoyment for the homeowner BUT less work for landscapers. These high-performing plants require less pruning, deadheading, water and fertilizer plus are more deer resistant.

Mulch: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly By Mandy Bayer, Ph.D.

ulching is a common landscape practice for a reason: It can benefit the landscape in terms of both plant and soil health and can provide aesthetic appeal. Mulch should be applied 1-3 inches thick in a ring up to the dripline of the tree, keeping it away from the base of plants. The Good Applying wood-product mulch has many benefits: • Reduces evaporation from the soil surface (increasing soil moisture) • Increases soil organic matter as decomposition occurs, thus improving soil structure and drainage as well as encouraging mycorrhizal activity • Encourages beneficial soil organisms • Suppresses weed growth (although weed seeds can blow in and germinate on the mulch surface) • Reduces erosion • Acts as an insulator, helping to moderate soil temperature and protecting plant roots • Helps prevents mechanical damage from mowers and string trimmers that can occur when grass grows next to plants • The Bad When it comes to mulch, there is such a thing as too much Proper mulching

Example of proper mulching practices for a newly planted tree. A thin layer of mulch is applied over the root ball and is not resting on the trunk.

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Erosion

Erosion due to lack of mulch in a landscape bed. of a good thing. Too frequently, mulch is applied in excessive amounts, either directly around the base of plants or around landscape beds in general. Mulch volcanoes mounded around the base of plants can have many negative impacts on plant health. It can result in excessive moisture leading to decay, insect, and disease problems. Secondary root formation can also occur; this is the formation of roots above the trunk flare in the mulch areas. These roots often circle the trunk, gradually girdling the tree if not carefully removed. When mulch is applied too thickly throughout the landscape bed, it can have contrasting negative impacts on water movement through the mulch and into the soil. In some cases, the thick mulch absorbs and holds the water, preventing it from infiltrating to the soil and leaving it unavailable for plant uptake. Other times, the water does infiltrate to the soil, but the thick mulch layer prevents evaporation, causing the soil to stay too wet and leading to rot problems and reduced oxygen in the soil. The Ugly Sour mulch and fungi can be unpleasant problems resulting from wood-product mulch applications. Sour mulch is the result of mulch being piled too high during production. In very large piles, compaction and heating can occur at the base of the pile, resulting in anaerobic conditions and the buildup of organic acids, which can lower the pH of the mulch. (continued on page 22) www.mnla.com

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(continued from page 20) When sour mulch is applied in the landscape, it can lead to the rapid decline of plant material and a foul smell. If sour mulch is unknowingly applied to the landscape, spreading the mulch thin and watering heavily can leach the toxins. It is important when developing mulch or wood chip piles to make sure they are not piled higher than 10 inches. Plant protection

Mulching can help suppress weed growth and prevent injury to plants from mowers or string trimmers. Fungi such as slime molds, bird nest fungi, artillery fungus, stinkhorns, and mushrooms are often found in mulches. Fungi such as slime molds, bird-next fungi, artillery fungus, stinkhorns, and mushrooms are often associated with mulch because of decomposition. In general, these fungi are just visual nuisances, are not harmful to plants, and not a health hazard unless consumed. Artillery fungus, however, can be a problem as expelled spore masses can stick to homes and vehicles and are difficult to remove. When removed, they can leave a stain. These fungi are most prevalent with moist, rotting mulch especially in cool northern-facing locations. Disturbing the mulch in areas that are conducive to artillery fungus can help dry out the area and make it less ideal for the fungus. Replacing mulch and freshening mulch can also help. Poor mulching

Mulch should not be piled on the base of the tree.

Sources

Kujawski, R. and D. Swanson “Sour Mulch 2011” UMass Extension Pettinelli, D. “Mulch Basics” University of Connecticut Smith, T. “Fungi in Mulches and Composts 2011” UMass Extension The Morton Arboretum “Mulching Trees and Shrubs”

Mandy Bayer, Ph.D. is Extension Assistant Professor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.

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Steve Charette General Agent North Andover (978) 686-0170

Dominic Sinopoli Great Barrington (413) 207-5044

Kevin Sullivan Northborough (508) 393-9327

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Martin West Marlborough (508) 485-3800

Francis Bingham Norwood (781) 255-2002

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Kay Spencer Middleboro (508) 747-8181

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All coverages are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy in the year of its issue. Products may vary by state. Certain products 23United Farm may not be available in all states. Property/casualty products offered by Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and Family Insurance Company. Life products offered by Farm Family Life Insurance Company. Home Offices: Glenmont, New York.

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In Memoriam Charles A. Laughton

Dennis Dowd

Charles Alan Laughton, 73, of Ipswich, died April 4, 2016 following a sudden illness. Born in Lowell on June 29, 1942, son and second child of the late Courtland “Cal” A. and Frances H. (Hoelzel) Laughton, he was raised in Lowell. A 1960 graduate of Chelmsford High School, he graduated from Cornell University in 1964. Following graduation, he served as a Lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Newport News. Until his retirement, he was the owner and operator of Laughton Garden Center and Nursery in Chelmsford and a long-time member of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association. He was a member and currently the Commander of the V.F.W. Ipswich Post #1093, and a member the American Legion Ipswich Post #80, the Navy League, and the U.S. Navy Cruiser Sailors Association. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, devoted brother, and true-blue friend. In addition to his wife, Ellen, of 47 years, he is survived by a son, Christopher A. Laughton and his wife, Chendan of Enfield, Conn; two daughters, Carrie Stackhouse and her husband, Scott of Glenside, PA; Cindy Laughton Quimby of Ipswich; three grandchildren, Charles and John Quimby, both of Ipswich, and Ella Stackhouse of PA; and a sister, Judith Geisler of Westport.

Dennis M. Dowd died suddenly on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the age of 76. Currently of Norfolk, Dennis was a life-long resident of Dover. He was a graduate of Stockbridge/ Alpha Tau Gamma, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Urban Forestry as well as a Master’s in Instructional Design from UMASS Amherst. He was a certified arborist and horticulturist; a HAZMAT technician; course developer and instructor for the Mass Firefighting Academy and Middlesex Community College; a 45-year member of the Dover Fire Department; fire chief, Winchendon; past president Mass Nurseryman’s Association; past president Stone Street Strummers Banjo Band; member of the Dover Foundation; Dover tree warden for 34 years; former owner of Dowd’s Nursery and Landscape Development Inc.; treasurer of Deerfield Tree Farm Inc.; Staff Sgt. Massachusetts Army National Guard Retired. Dennis will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Nancy, of 48 years and son Gregory; his daughter-in-law Julie, and his two grandchildren, J.T. and Ryan; his sister Carole Slaman; his brother Mike and wife Peg; his brother Henry and wife Cindy; his wife’s brother and sister-in-law, David and Mary Critchlow; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues. Dennis is preceded in death by his parents Henry and Margaret, his sister Margaret, and his son Matthew.

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Business Focus

Stop Draining Your Attention! Practical Tips to Manage Distractions By Shelly Row

hances are you are losing time and productivity due to distractions, and there’s neither time nor energy in the day to waste. We choose to allow distractions to get in our way, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s as though the brain contains an attention bucket. Each person has a limited amount of attention available in their bucket. Each activity of the day slowly drains the bucket until we no longer work at our best. It makes sense to be thoughtful about where we spend that precious attention. With a few simple tweaks, we can become skilled in managing distractions so

that they don’t punch holes in our attention bucket. Here are three distractions that exhaust the brain and reduce the energy available for focused, high-quality work. Cell Phones and Email Beckon Us The brain pauses from its thought to attend, even briefly, to every ring, buzz, or beep of the cell phone. How many times do you stop to pick up the phone just to check the text, tweet, or email that just arrived? The email flags that pop up on your laptop are equally distracting. Every glance away from your work to assess the email pokes a hole in your brain bucket and a bit of attention drains away. Instead…When you need all of your attention, turn off the phone ringer and put it away where you can’t hear the buzzing. It’s not forever — just for the time you need to have undi-

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vided attention. For email, consider changing the settings so that email no longer pops up on the screen. I know — but what if it’s something urgent? If you are in a profession where that is a legitimate possibility, keep the pop-ups. However, my experience is that most of us assume the boss wants something now, when in fact the boss’ expectation for promptness doesn’t mean drop everything and respond this instant. We tend to imagine a higher degree of urgency than is necessary. Have a conversation about email expectations in order not to dribble away your attention on mundane issues. Noise and Constant Interaction While I understand that open-plan offices are popular, they aren’t the best option for work that requires focused attention. This is particularly true for those of us who need quiet for thoughtful work. The brain is bombarded with snippets of conversations, ringing-pinging phones, and the sound of copy machines. Each sound punches another tiny hole in your attention bucket. After a time, there is little attention left for key work. Instead…If it’s not possible to have a quiet office space, try noise-cancelling headphones to provide some distractionfree time. You can develop a visual sign for your space that tactfully tells others that you are working on an important project and not to interrupt for the next hour unless it’s truly urgent. We frequently assume that others require a response now when an hour from now is just fine. Negotiate with coworkers to honor your need for uninterrupted quiet time. Your attention bucket will thank you and the high-quality work you produce as a result will make others want to try the same approach. Clutter Think about the vast amount of information your brain assimilates from visual inputs. A visually pleasing environment like a view of nature can calm the brain. Visual clutter, on the other hand, taxes the brain as it constantly sifts through what is important — or not. Every stack of paper, pile of sticky notes, and remnant from lunch distracts your brain and drains attention. Instead…Keep your work space as tidy and attractive as possible. Clear out the clutter before you start working on a big project so that your brain has undivided attention. You may notice that you feel calmer and settled in a clean, organized space. It allows your brain to attend to what you want it to rather than whatever catches its eye. With a few tweaks in your work processes, you can stop punching holes in your brain’s attention bucket. Instead, direct your attention where you want it. Your brain and career will thank you. Shelley Row is an engineer, speaker and consultant who works with managers to make insightful decisions by balancing business pragmatics and gut feel. Her work combines neuroscience and 77 interviews with executives on intuition and leadership. The author of numerous articles and four books, her work appears in Forbes, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and more. She trained with the NeuroLeadership Institute and holds an MBA. Learn more at www.shelleyrow.com. a hands-on course, based on the use of storytelling as a persuasive weapon. For more information, please visit www.TheMindShark.com. Summer|2016

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MNLA News Angelo Butera Named Future Leader of the Year Angelo Butera, a horticulture student at Minuteman High School in Lexington, Mass., was named the GROWS Future Leader of the Year based on an essay he wrote about his experiences at New England GROWS’ Future Leaders Program in December 2015. The GROWS Future Leaders program provides high school students with an opportunity to gain cutting-edge horticultural knowledge, engage with industry leaders, explore the latest equipment and services, and become familiar with career options. In his winning essay, Butera wrote, “I definitely plan on using all the advice and technology I learned from vendors and business leaders [at GROWS] to help increase profit margins and productivity for my family [landscape] business.” The next New England GROWS will be held November 30 - December 2, 2016 at the Boston Conference and Exhibition Center. To learn more, visit NewEnglandGROWS.org.

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Advertiser Index

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My Favorite Plant

Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb™’ Dogwood by Jim Matusik

eople don’t plant enough dogwoods, but this is one you should try. It not only survives, it thrives. Introduced by the late Jim Schmidt of Don Schmidt Nursery, Boring, Oregon, ‘Heart Throb’TM is a true red-flowering kousa dogwood and compares favorably with all other kousa varieties. Bract color is pink to deep red, at least as dark as C. florida ‘Cherokee Chief.’ Flowers are larger than the species, around four inches in diameter. Kousa dogwoods flower later than the native Florida dogwood. In Michigan, it starts flowering in June and lasts through July. It’s nice to have a tree that’s flowering when others are not. ‘Heart Throb’ blooms at an early age, generally at three years from graft, and is a heavy bloomer. In addition to the striking flowers, ‘Heart Throb’ offers so much more interest than the species. There’s something to draw your attention in every season. The fruit is an attractive, edible red drupe similar in appearance to a strawberry. Leaves are shorter and broader than the species, a glossy green with a touch of red on the tips. It has great fall color, a deep orangered. In winter, you can enjoy the mosaic pattern formed by the tree’s exfoliating bark, which starts occurring at an early age. The tree will form a widely rounded head about 20 to 30 feet at maturity, with an equal spread. ‘Heart Throb’ prefers full sun, but can be grown in partial shade. The tree is resistant to dogwood anthracnose and other diseases. It has few insect pests and can therefore be grown with little chemical dependence. ‘Heart Throb’ is heat and drought tolerant and can be grown with little additional water

|30

to retain plant vigor. Cold hardiness is similar to the species. It can be widely used in the landscape and makes a good companion plant with Japanese maple and dwarf conifers. Use it as a focal point to draw people into the landscape. It’s just a neat plant, to be sure. It’s one of those plants you look at and say, ‘I need one of those.’ Jim Matusik, The Tree Connection Jim Matusik is president of The Tree Connection, a wholesale nursery stock distribution company that works with growers from both coasts.

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