The Landscape Contractor magazine September 2017 Digital Edition by Association Publishing Partners

Turf E ducation Day 2017

Program on page 35

p.o. box 748 • st. charles, il 60174 847.742.1790 • fax 847.742.2655 www.midwestgroundcovers.com

September 2017

CONTENTS

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Turf Education Day Program In the Field Design Tour 2017 10 A behind the scenes tour of five glorious landscapes Renewal & Remembrance and Day on the Hill 16 The annual trip and its importance Summer Field Day 2017 COD hosts for their first time

Impact: Building Sustainable Landscapes Preview ILCA’s new sustainable conference

Midwest Groundcovers Display Garden Makeover 30 Updated gardens designed to showcase plants Turf Education Day Program Speakers and timed program in a handy form

New Board Member Profile Scott McAdam Jr., McAdam Landscaping

Chalet Celebrates Centennial Milestone 100 years is a long time, read how they did it

Member Profile 60 Midwest Landscape Concepts, Inc. Sustainable Landscape Calendar 63 What does September have in store?

Native Intelligence

Geranium maculatum — Wild Geranium

EN ESPAÑOL

Impacto — Cómo diseñar jardines y parques sustentables 44 Impact: Building Sustainable Landscapes On the cover... The Brickman Group received a Gold award for Commercial Landscape Maintenance for this 2016 project. The Landscape Contractor September 2017

50 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message New Members Industry News Classified Ads Advertisers Index Photo Credits ILCA Awards Program Rick Reuland Nina Koziol McAdam Landscaping Jose Garcia Chalet

1, 8-9 10-15. 20-24, 58 30-33 48 17, 19 50-52

Calendar

4 5 7 41 58 67 69

SEPTEMBER September 14, 2017 Golf Outing The Village Links of Glen Ellyn

Dave Miga Jacob Burns CBG

60 70

September 21, 2017 Turf Education Day (TED) Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL

OCTOBER

The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. WWW.ilca.net Volume 58, Number 9. 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

October 5, 2017 Women’s Networking Group Fall Event Chandler’s Chophouse Schaumburg, IL October 17, 2017 Impact Conference: Building Sustainable Landscapes Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL

PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products

NOVEMBER ILCA Staff

Magazine Staff

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

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

Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

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

Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net Office Manager Alycia O’Connor aoconnor@ilca.net Membership & Marketing Coordinator Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net

November 16, 2017 Pruning Workshop

v Becke Davis Senior Writer

treethyme@aol.com

at dotynu rseries.co m to rece ive our

Patrice Peltier

Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

Meta Levin

email ne wsle t ter

Feature Writer

dotynurseries.com

Nina Koziol

Shade TreeS • OrnamenTalS • evergreenS • ShrubS

meta.levin@comcast.net

ILCA

Feature Writer

2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523

November 2, 2017 Annual Party Two Brothers Roundhouse Aurora, IL

n.koziol@att.net Heather Prince Feature Writer

princeht@sbcglobal.net Marilyn Witney

Ryan Doty sales@dotynurseries.com

P 630 365 9063 F 630 365 9081

45W121 Beith Road Maple Park, IL 60151

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The Landscape Contractor September 2017

@ILCAlandscape

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From Where I Stand — I come from a long line

of terrible interior designers. At one point, this statement would have been one of personal pride. I was a red-blooded male in my 20’s bouncing from apartment to apartment. I was lucky enough to see my carpet. My walls were decorated with reclaimed beer signs and drywall holes. I blame my parents for this. I came from a wonderful and loving family, but interior design was not our thing. For example, my childhood bedroom was nautical-themed. Mind you, we lived 2 hours from any significant body of water and two time zones away from the sea. Yet, my wallpaper was covered in ships. I had delicate ship models I was always breaking with my Nerf basketball. I had a ship’s wheel and a giant barometer. Shockingly, this never drew me to a life on the high seas. This was just a theme my mother picked for me because she was bad at interior decorating and following an arbitrary theme is still easier than winging it. Sadly, this affliction has carried into my adult life. My wife and I now own a home and our design style could be summed up as, “confused shrug.” We wander the aisles aimlessly at IKEA or Pier 1 or Bed, Bath, and Beyond like confused tourists. Thankfully, we avoid a lot of traditional houseware bickering because we are both self-aware and humble enough to admit we know nothing. We flip through catalogs and browse Pinterest stupefied by the evolved creatures that live among us. For my wife’s birthday this past year I wanted to help. I spoke to a friend of ours who was a corporate interior designer. She told me that hiring a professional interior designer, even with a good word from her, would cost us a few thousand dollars and this was before we bought a single can of paint or decorative lamp. So, I decided to do whatever a good husband does when he’s out of ideas, I Googled it. “Interior design on a budget.” That took me to a website called Havenly.com. It is actually one of many interior design websites that are putting the entire design process online. The process is simple and insanely affordable. For a few hundred dollars, a user can connect to an actual, live interior designer who will never leave his or her own house. Upon visiting Havenly, you take what could be best described as a design style quiz. It is almost childlike. We selected photos of interior spaces that appealed to us. We were able to select a handful of photos that matched our preferred aesthetic. After answering all the questions, we created a login and password, hit submit, and voila. Our design style was “contemporary” mixed with “classic.” This is slightly different from our current design style of “clutter” mixed with “children’s toys.” After that, we were presented with 10 designers and their portfolios that matched our newly discovered design styles. Then, we were one click away from beginning a relationship with an experienced interior designer. Now, research about these websites demonstrated that most are young, freelancers looking to build portfolios and make some side cash. Havenly lines them up with prospective clients and the

designers get to fan out across the country while making their own hours. It’s a win-win for those Googling “interior design on a budget” and those looking to sell their services on the open market. Now, any true design professional has to hate websites like Havenly. These websites impersonalize and commoditize professional talent. In the past, this informal approach to design inevitably failed. People think they want an arm’s length relationship, but quickly discover that photos, emails, and phone calls are never a substitute for the real thing. My attitude is starting to change for one simple reason; being there is becoming more and more overrated. Less than ten years ago, the best camera on a cell phone was 8 megapixels (MPs). Eight years before that, it was 0.11 MPs. Now, the iPhone has a 41 MP camera. Video can be compressed and sent via email or loaded onto a social media site. Drones are becoming more and more widespread and can finally substitute for what always seemed impossible - a bird’s eye view of a landscape or structure. Many snow and lawn care professionals have been using technology to estimate bids for years through Google Maps or proprietary programs like GoiLawn. When, if ever, does the design-build industry succumb to the unstoppable tug of technology? After doing online interior design, my wife sighed and said, “If only there was a site like this for our flowerbeds.” It seems less like wishful thinking and more like a viable prediction. The fundamental question is what is the value of expertise? Obviously, the business model for almost every landscape company is the firm will design and install what the client wants. If the client is interested in a maintenance package, the firm can also provide that. What if technology obliterates the hyphen between design and build? Is there a business model for landscape design-only firms, similar to landscape architecture firms? These firms would churn out designs with insanely low operational costs. I understand that there are many freelance landscape designers who perform these services, but often independently. The reach of a well-staffed techno-firm could be almost national. Currently, landscape companies are often bound by how far their trucks can economically travel. If design and build are broken in two, the firms reach becomes more widespread. Design firms engage in selling talent and not raw materials. This sounds like a foreign concept but, web designers, graphic artists, printers, and now interior designers are finding “being there” an unnecessary burden. I accept a few truths. Exterior spaces are not interior spaces. A lamp is a lamp is a lamp where a plant has to survive in certain zones and soil, climate, and site conditions. In addition, plant availability is not always guaranteed and the installer would need wide discretion when he or she encounters shortages or unanticipated site challenges. This approach seems almost better suited to garden centers than landscape firms. Garden centers could link potential plant buyers up with skilled designers (and many already do). The real difference with online interior design is the affordability and simplicity. All of a sudden, with a few clicks of a mouse, I have a design style! Me, the guy with the beer signs and Bears pennants! There is something empowering in that. If anything, it has

Exterior Design

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Why I Give A

nswering a pressing need to exert political influence with lawmakers in Springfield, ILCA has re-instituted its Political Action Committee (PAC). Donations for the PAC are desperately needed. To demonstrate this need and serve as a personal call to action, The Landscape Contractor will interview a PAC donor in each issue for the months ahead. This month we talked with Christa Orum-Keller and Craig Keller of the Midwest Companies.

TLC:Why is this cause important to you? CO-K:Any Political Action Committee which represents the greater green industry and its unique needs and causes is important to our business. Many needs of our industry are not apparent to most politicians and it is important to act as the largest unified group possible. TLC:Do you have a history of political donation? Are you Politically active? CO-K:Our companies have a long history of political involvement. We continue to be active through AmericanHort, have visited both Springfield and Washington representing our industry and are in regular contact with our local representatives. We will be traveling to Washington in September to participate in the AmericanHort legislative conference. We have involved multiple levels of employees in our efforts, in order to better educate our staff on the issues which influence our business. TLC:Do you ever contact your local Representative? CO-K:Yes, with regularity we do contact our representatives, and Midwest founder Peter Orum, is especially active. He visits with representatives to share our business needs and inform them about our industry. He is a tireless advocate for immigration reform as most of our industry is aware. We often invite local representatives to company events, in order that they get to know us and the nature of our business. TLC:Why should all contractors follow your lead? CO-K:We feel strongly it is an important part of our duty to our industry but also a vital part of our role as a part of our active democracy, for us to be active through Political Action Committees. Politicians pay attention to numbers – and we are more persuasive and influential when we work together in bigger groups. Everyone should be involved – even if only in a very small way.

Let your voice be heard— email ILCA to make a donation or request a donation form information@ilca.net 6

From Where I Stand — increased my interest and spending levels in interior design. In reality, this is already happening. A website called Homeoutside.com is one of the most prominent examples. The site bills itself as “landscape design for everyone.” It is really more than a simple gardening app where users can pay for services like a landscape idea board for $149 or full scale property design for $1500. The firm is based in Vermont. They avoid the planting zone issues by simply recommending types of plants (ex. groundcover) versus specifying certain plants. It is then left up to the homeowner to either convey that to the contractor or consult with a retail garden center or nursery. There is also a free app that lets people drag and drop, but there is no professional consultation component. I don’t want anyone to misunderstand that I am a cheerleader for this concept. I just caution that it may be inevitable. Love it or hate it, with each passing generation, the client base becomes more comfortable with the cocoon that technology provides. Younger professionals do not view disassociation as a burden or even a problem. Technology allows the world to revolve around their schedules. These are people who long to work from home, prefer to text, and whose lives move quickly. If contractors and design professionals can revolve around these clients’ hectic schedules, the better. It is not necessarily a culture who desires instant-gratification, it is more of a culture that desires gratification the instant they have time to seek it. There is a difference. Technology does not always have to be disruptive. Many professionals bristle about technology because it’s viewed as a threat to their vocation. Havenly and Homeoutside are different. These sites are not about replacing expertise. Instead, they are about focusing purely and exclusively on the expertise and phasing out all the cumbersome elements like scheduling, multiple site visits, follow-up phone calls, and jam-packed presentation schedules stretching late into the night. Even if the design-build process remains, these technologies can allow design pros or salespeople to be in five different places in the span of an hour without using a drop of gasoline. The pessimistic view is that sites like Homeoutside will devalue professional expertise and depersonalize the design process. The optimistic view is that sites like this will deepen the public’s interest in professionally designed landscapes and result in an influx of cash previously spent elsewhere. Ultimately, the truth will be found in the middle. In the end, the goal should be that all roads lead back to skilled professionals. Perhaps Homeoutside’s promise of a “landscape design for everyone” is closer than we think. Some consumers will wait 10 weeks for a consult, others will struggle to wait 10 minutes and three mouse clicks. Either way, these are clients begging for professional expertise and are willing to pay for it. If technology has proven one thing, no matter how hard gatekeepers attempt to slam the door, technology will only break it down. Sometimes it’s better to open that door wide, and let these new tools discover the landscape styles hiding inside all of us.

Scott Grams August 21, 2017 The Landscape Contractor September 2017

President’s Message — “All gave some, some gave all”

President

- Howard William Osterkamp

Lisa Fiore Don Fiore Company, Inc. (847) 234-0020 lfiore@donfiore.com

Vice-President

Tom Lupfer Lupfer Landscaping (708) 352-2765 tom@lupferlandscaping.com

Secretary-Treasurer

Jose Garcia Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991 info@naturalcreationslandscaping.com

Immediate Past President

Mike Schmechtig Schmechtig Landscape Company (847) 566-1233 mschmechtig@schmechtiglandscapes.com

Directors

Mark Breier National Seed Co. (630) 963-8787 mark.breier@natseed.com Allan Jeziorski Hartman Landscape (708) 403-8433 allan@hartmanlandscape.net

Kevin Manning K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com Scott McAdam, Jr. McAdam Landscaping, Inc. (708) 771-2299 Scottjr@mcadamlandscape.com Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net Ashley Rolffs Vermeer Midwest (630)820-3030 ashley.rolffs@vermeermidwest.com

Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com Donna Vignocchi Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com

www.ilca.net

Although you will be reading this note in September, I would be remiss if I did not talk about the experience I had back in July. I had the opportunity to join the ILCA delegation in Washington DC for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) 21st anniversary of Renewal and Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery. For those of you who are not familiar with this event, it is held annually to honor America’s veterans and leaders by assisting in enhancing some of our nation’s most sacred grounds with several hundred landscape professionals joining in to give back in the best way our industry can. The ILCA delegation was tasked with spreading lime for our assigned area. We worked as a great team to complete our task in a very efficient manner, showing that although we may compete with our colleagues during the season, we can come together as a team when it counts and help each other along the way. This is one of the greatest things I admire about the members of ILCA. During the time we were busily trying to complete our task we could hear in the distance the sounds of a marching band and knew that someone who had served our country was being brought home to their final resting place. As the caisson, marching band, and color guard along with family and friends passed in front of us we stopped all work and stood in silence to honor the fallen. If you have never witnessed this, it is a very moving and humbling sight to behold. Once the procession had fully passed, our group walked back to our site in complete silence all somewhat knowing what each other must be feeling at that moment. I would like to thank those who have served and who continue to serve our country, without you we would not be free to choose our career paths and professions allowing us to create beautiful spaces for people to live in and enjoy. The second part of our journey led us to a “Day on the Hill.” One of the freedoms we enjoy is the ability to bring our concerns directly to the offices of our legislators. Our visits were mainly focused on H2B reform and the push to approve funding for pesticide registration for the EPA. Everyone was very prepared with talking points and leave behind packets with detailed information for each office. It was my first time, so very much a learning experience in seeing how things move on the hill. After seeing how our association came together to stand against the SB-9 bill, I have such a great appreciation for a united voice and want to commend all of those who worked hard and took time away from their day to day issues and got the information out there. I also want to thank those who have contributed to our current PAC and encourage anyone else wanting to donate to contact the ILCA office. Fast forward to present day, August 11, 2017, and another group I want to send a big thank you to is the Summer Field Day Committee and ILCA staff for their hard work in putting on a successful event at College of DuPage. I enjoyed seeing many of the contractor members there and catching up on the season as well as having the chance to see and talk to our supplier members without who, we would have no finished products to admire. Whether it be lawn care products, plant material, sound systems, specialty brew, heavy equipment, soil mixes and much, much, more, we had it all at Summer Field Day 2017!

“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” - Alfred North Whitehead Thank you, Lisa Fiore August 11, 2017 The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Architectural Gardens, Inc. • Keeper of the Night Lake Forest

Soon after purchasing

convenient nook for firewood storage. On an adjacent wall, the this European-inspired owners’ Indonesian wall fountain is installed where it can be seen home, the owners made plans to renovate the landscape in keeping and heard from inside the house. with the spirit of old-world formality and craftsmanship. Former city The culinary garden serves up function with flair. Stacked limedwellers, they now wanted to embrace outdoor living in a big way stone walls elevate the beds to provide optimal drainage and make with gardens in which to display their collection of art and sculpture, harvesting effortless, while a drip irrigation system eliminates the a large patio and outdoor kitchen for entertaining, an outdoor fireneed for hoses. A pair of architectural columns from the homeownplace, and a culinary garden reminiscent of their travels to Europe. ers’ collection stand amid flowering shrubs, surrounded by boxwood The main outdoor living space is large bluestone patio that hedges. The garden floor is composed of crushed granite which confeatures an elegant custom-built stone fireplace as the focal trasts with the smooth bluestone patio. The granite is a permeable point. The fireplace is situated a required 10’ from the propmaterial and therefore isn’t calculated into the impervious surface erty line, providing an opportunity to create a layered border of limits for the property. This allows the homeowners to move ahead columnar, sentry-like trees and flowering shrubs along the fence with a planned addition to the house – a glass conservatory, which line. Wing walls and stone ledges provide additional seating and will be located at the other end of the property. display shelves. The weathered limestone exterior and customLandscape lighting brings out the beauty of the garden, inviting crafted copper flue impart a French flair. night time exploration of the plant collections, as well as revealing hidThe cook station, situated near the entry, was designed to den delights such as the glowing statue of the Japanese temple guard. accommodate appliances selected by the clients, and provide a The Landscape Contractor 9 September 2017

Landscape Design Tour 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Design Tour

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

by Nina Koziol

By July, it’s often good to have a

day away from the office, the plants, the equipment hassles, coworkers and sometimes, gasp, the clients. It’s a time to renew and recharge those creative juices. More than 100 members did just that at ILCA’s “In the Field Design Tour 2017” event on July 13th. “It’s really great,” said Tom Selinger, landscape architect at James Martin Associates. “It’s a chance to see some great projects and connect with friends.” The sell-out tour kicked off at Lurvey Garden Center in Des Plaines with refreshments, hobnobbing and tours of Lurvey’s new LEED-certified headquarters. Some of the sites on the tour had input from Lurvey’s Project Group. “We developed a unique service to support and manage projects that go beyond a normal day-to-day project,” said Dwayne Ulrichs, director of Lurvey’s Sales and Business Development. (See: https://youtu.be/-1PDLZrwIdg) “It’s always a challenge putting the tours together,” said Scott Grams, ILCA’s executive director. The ILCA Design Committee selects the projects, but “there are several considerations—the homeowners’ approval to have two busloads of visitors walking through their gardens and the proximity of sites—we want them to be close enough so that people have more time at each site.” Issues of design, engineering, construction and maintenance were covered at each site. (continued on page 12)

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Design Tour 2017 —

(continued from page 11) First stop was Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette where landscape architect Carol Yetken has worked on the site for 20 years. She led groups through the nine gardens that face the nine entryways to this spectacular landmark. “The goal is to achieve a harmonious ensemble of plants and that’s very challenging. No two gardens here are the same.” In spite of a 24-foot grade change, rabbits, deer, a complicated 25-zone irrigation system, 250,000 annual visitors strolling the lawns, and winter burn and phytoplasma damage on some of the evergreens, the landscape is stunning. “The gardens look a bit like a Persian carpet.” The next stop was an impressive 1923 Tudor-style house on Sheridan Road in Glencoe, which had a landscape overhaul in 2010. “It was a complicated property,” said Jennifer Hoxsie of Greenhaven Landscapes, Inc. “We worked with a civil engineer. The drainage swale helps when there’s an intense rain.” The utility pole was relocated and the brick wall opened and enhanced

with espaliered trees. A 16-foot-wide drive was re-centered on the front door and Longshadow limestone planters were used to accent the home and front entry. Outdoor rooms and seat walls surround the in-ground pool. An original garden ornament was integrated into the plantings. “It’s a very lovely setting,” said landscape architect Bob Hursthouse. Attendees enjoyed lunch at the Elawa Farm Foundation in Lake Forest where landscape architect Craig Bergmann explained the significance of the property. “When you come here, your heart rate drops. It’s ‘where am I?’ The scale here is 10 times anything most of us do.” The property was a “gentleman’s farm” built for the Armour family in 1917 and the build-

the property six years ago. “We’re next to a beautiful prairie path and oak savanna. See more at: http://www.elawafarm.org Mariani Landscape staff gave a tour of the 3-acre Green Bay Road estate in Lake Forest where allees of hawthorns, crab apples and lindens create beautiful clean lines. The client wanted to maintain a simple plant palette, explained Shari Precht of Mariani. A moonlight garden filled with white flowers and an original fountain add to the romance of this historic French Normandy-style property. “It’s absolutely elegant,” said one tour goer. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” An “Asian art gallery residence” in Mettawa was the last stop. The front property was intentionally understated with few

ings have been preserved and adaptively reused. A 2.2-acre garden features a seasonal garden market and some of the lunch was harvested on site. “Our biggest crop is cut flowers and we’re following organic practices,” said Bergmann, who moved to

shrubs, some shade trees and lawn. But the 2.25-acre gardens in back host large Buddha sculptures, oversize pots and two distinct areas that function as outdoor galleries. A climate-controlled museum gallery contains Chinese artifacts. Surrounding the (continued on page 14)

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

L O N G S H A D OW

. COM

O U R

M O T T O

I S

“ F A B R I C I A

I N

H O R T O

N O S T R O ”

The first ever Longshadow Dorset 46 Planter, LS 9781, and the artisans who hand cast it.

Design Tour 2017 — (continued from page 12) museum is a serene, Zen-inspired garden that extends the exhibit space into a courtyard filled with architectural stone elements, plaques, stools and stone columns—most dating from 16th century China. Russell Buvala, of Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, is responsible for the maintenance of the property. “They used to have 40 to 50 more containers, but that’s been scaled down. There’s a lot of serenity here with repetition of plants.” The prairie was stylized for the homeowner and bamboo grows alongside the gallery space. “You’d never know these gardens existed by looking at the front of the house and that’s the way the clients wanted it.” It was a day well spent for attendees, many of whom said they’ll definitely attend the next “In the Field” tour. “We hope attendees were inspired by the work that some of the best landscapers and landscape architects have done on the North Shore,” Ulrichs said. Inspired indeed.

Read more about the Design Tour in make it better magazine— http://makeitbetter.net/home/5-chicagos-stunning-landscapes-plus-tips-perfecting/

MIDWEST TRADING HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES, INC.® a Midwest-Orum Company P.O. BOX 398 • MAPLE PARK, IL 60151 630-365-1990 • FAX 630-365-3818

W W W . M I D W E S T- T R A D I N G . C O M

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

www.ogaoni.com

Arthur Weiler, Inc. Clavey’s Nursery, Inc. Doty Nurseries LLC Fox Ridge Nursery Goodmark Nurseries, LLC GRO Horticultural Enterprises Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. Kaneville Tree Farms, Inc. Kankakee Nursery Co. Midwest Groundcovers Poul’s Nursery, Inc. Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. The Fields on Caton Farm, Inc.

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Visit our website for a complete inventory listing by nursery–quickly find the hard-to-get items you need! Visit our New mobile-friendly to access thousands of acres of website northe Illinois-grown nursery stock! rn www.ogaoni.com While there, check out our members’ profiles and request a copy of our Plant Locator, a print version of our online inventory listings. The Landscape Contractor September 2017

ILCA in Action â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Renewal & Remembrance 2017

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

by Scott Grams

This July,

the ILCA made its annual pilgrimage to Washington DC as part of NALP’s Renewal and Remembrance and Day on the Hill. Illinois traditionally has one of the largest delegations at the event and this year was no exception. The ILCA delegation included: • Lisa Fiore, Don Fiore Company, ILCA President • Jose Garcia, Natural Creations Landscaping, ILCA Secretary-Treasurer • Eric Garcia, Natural Creations Landscaping, ILCA member • Mark Utendorf, Emerald Lawn Care, ILCA Board member and Regulatory and Legislative Committee member • Dave Froede, Logan Tree Care, Regulatory and Legislative Committee • Harold Enger, Spring Green Lawn Care • Tom Warfel, Spring Green Lawn Care • Scott Grams, Executive Director, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) The trip was divided into three parts. The first is a day of service at Arlington National Cemetery. The second day consists of both Congressional visits and agency meetings. Over 500 green industry professionals commemorated the 21st anniversary of Renewal & Remembrance. R&R is the industry’s largest day of service in the country. Projects at Arlington National Cemetery included spreading thousands of pounds of lime over hundreds of hilly acres, installation of an irrigation system, bracing and cabling trees, and the completion of a full hardscape project. This was also the first year the scope of work was expanded to include the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. This is one of the oldest veteran’s cemeteries in the United States. (continued on page 19)

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

ILCA in Action â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Legislative Day on the Hill

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

(continued from page 17) Renewal and Remembrance isn’t about photo-ops. The day is a lot of work and even more sweat. Pushing a spreader filled with 150lbs of lime up rolling, rutted hills is not easy. Yet, the entire industry works together to get the job done quickly and safely. The green industry is honored to annually be invited back to Arlington to beautify some of the most sacred ground in the country. We refer to the day at Arlington as the “easy day.” The next morning, we don suits and ties and board busses for Capitol Hill for the “hard day.” Once there, we break into state delegations and spend the entire day engaged in meetings with our State’s senators, representatives, and their staffs. These meetings are critical to ensuring the voice of the landscape industry resonates during policy discussions. ILCA had appointments with (or simply barnstormed) all 20 Illinois elected officials. We met personally with a number of them and explained our positions on the H2B guest worker program, pesticide regulations and permitting, and other issues currently facing Congress and various federal agencies. The third dimension this year was a new wrinkle to our annual trip. For the first time, NALP arranged for federal agency meetings with members of the Trump administration and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, National Economic Council and Department of Homeland Security. Mark Utendorf attended the meeting with the EPA and Jose Garcia attended the meetings with the NEC and DHS. (After a Secret Service background check). The importance of agency meetings cannot be overstated. The gridlock in Washington over the past decade has meant that a number of decisions are being made directly by agency staff. In addition, agencies are the ones who deal with the day to day rules that are promulgated and enforced long after Congress has finished passing the laws. Agencies probably impact landscape professionals more than the President and Congress on a day by day basis. Mark and Jose were handpicked to be part of these small strike teams that discussed issues the industry has encountered in the past and how private companies and government agencies can be more constructive moving forward. The annual DC trip is not for sightseeing. It’s a whirlwind of sweat equity and relentless advocacy. The delegation returns to Illinois armed with contacts that will shape our advocacy through the next election cycle. DC is the beginning, not the end, of our reeducation efforts as ILCA staff and the Regulatory and Legislative committee engage with congressional staff members assigned to our issues. It is through persistence and telling our unique stories that government does the unthinkable – it listens.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Summer Field Day 2017

by Rick Reuland

A new year,

produced another first-time location for Summer Field Day. The College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, played host to this year’s edition of the ILCA summertime tradition. It was a toasty day, no doubt, but the heat was mitigated by a veritable ocean of free water, cold beer (courtesy of Jim Matusik at The Tree Connection), tasty ice cream treats (sponsored by SmithAmundsen) and delicious lemonade (sponsored by Arthur Clesen). Three speakers highlighted the Summer Field Day education component for 2017. They were: James Mullins, Butterfield Color, Inc. — Designing with Colored Concrete; Andy Stahr, ecology+vision— Native Grasses in the Landscape; Melissa Custic, Chicago Region Trees Initiative — Landscape Contractors and the Future of Our Trees.

Thanks to our 2017 Summer Field Day Sponsors Vermeer Midwest The Tree Connection SmithAmundsen Arthur Clesen

Premier Sponsor BierGarden Sponsor Ice Cream Sponsor Lemonade Sponsor

Green Sponsors Cast Lighting Davey Tree/The Care of Trees Doty Nurseries Harrell’s In-Kind Sponsors: John Deere Buck Bros. Kaneville Tree Farms Ditch Witch/1st Choice Equipment RCOP, Inc. Gravely Star Roses and Plants Martin Implement Sales Wilson Nurseries Patten Cat Xylem Ltd/.Rocks Etc Russo Power Equipment

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

The roaming gnomes were found! Three gnomes were hidden among the booths with a $150 bounty for each.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Summer Field Day 2017

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

VINTAGE PAVERS Reclaimed from the old streets of many Midwestern cities, clay street pavers and antique granite pavers have become a unique, preferred choice when design requires the elusive look of originality. Once an old street, now an exclusive driveway, reclaimed street pavers provide the look and appeal of natural design. No comparison can be made to these beautiful brick, the texture, the wear of years of weather and use from old carriages and vintage automobiles have created an exceptional patina that newly manufactured concrete pavers cannot match.

Stockyards Brick Clay Street Pavers & Antique Granite Pavers are utilized most commonly for driveways, paths, walkways and patios. Reclaimed pavers are also used in the construction of many exclusive homes as well as restaurants and country clubs. Some designers are also suggesting them for use in atrium flooring.

ALSO AVAILABLE ARE ANTIQUE COMMON BRICK FROM CHICAGO AND VARIOUS OTHER MIDWESTERN CITIES ALONG WITH RECLAIMED WOOD AND TIMBERS.

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The Landscape Contractor

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The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Preview — Impact: Building Sustainable Landscapes

by Marilyn Witney

Sustainable landscaping.

You’ve read about it and heard about it. Now, ILCA will show you how it’s done at the new Conference called Impact: Building Sustainable Landscapes, on October 17th at Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. Using the building blocks that nature provided — soil, water and plants — nationally known experts will serve up some of the newest ideas in sustainable landscape services while helping attendees learn how to talk the talk with members of this burgeoning market. The sessions will detail how to create vigorous, low maintenance landscapes that endure over time, whether developed by contractor, park district or municipality. In addition, these sustainable landscapes will be safer for people and the planet, while saving money for communities, landscape professionals and homeowners. The Conference was developed by the ILCA’s Sustainable and Ecological Landscaping Committee which now includes some knowledgeable and experienced sustainable landscaping professionals from the former Midwest Ecological Landscaping Larry Weaner Alliance that recently joined ILCA when MELA disbanded. “Our Impact conference includes an incredibly high level roster of speakers and I’m looking forward to hearing their comments,” said Committee Chair Jeff Swano of Dig Right In Landscaping. “As important, I’m excited about meeting a diverse group of attendees who want to learn what’s next in our business, 26

and are enthusiastic about making sustainable landscaping less of a novelty and more of the norm.” Impact opens at 8:45 a.m. with Larry Weaner who in 1982 founded his own firm, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, combining expertise in horticulture, environmental science and the traditions of garden design. “Demand for ecologically beneficial landscapes is increasing,” says Weaner. “And businesses with an ecological focus will realize an expanded client base.” In his keynote presentation entitled “Finding Your Niche: Establishing an Ecological Focus for Your Firm,” Weaner will detail some of the knowledge and skills required to add an ecological approach, and will guide landscape architects, designers, contractors and decision makers through what’s needed to establish a respected presence for their businesses or municipalities in this emerging field. Plant communities, regional ecosystems, practical design, restoration and management techniques will be covered. Weaner is an award-winning designer, with his design and restoration work spanning more than ten states in the eastern U.S. In addition, he is an active guest lecturer and instructor for horticultural and environmental organizations throughout the U.S. In 1990, he developed New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), an educational programming series with a national following. His book Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change (Timber Press, 2016) recently received an

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

American Horticultural Society Book Award. At 10:10 a.m., a choice of three breakout sessions follows the morning keynote: •

•

Building Resilient Communities with Green Infrastructure One Code at a Time, Julia Noordyk, Water Quality and Coastal Community Outreach Specialist, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Green Bay, WI. Hear how to remove barriers by using a new tool for communities that want to support green infrastructure. The New IPM: Integrated Plant Management Dan Dinelli, CGCS, Certified Golf Course Superintendent North Shore Country Club, Glenview, IL Learn how Dinelli transformed this North Shore golf course by successfully integrating plant genetics, soil and plant ecology and a sustainable framework. Selling to the Sustainable Landscaping Customer Pamela Todd, Co-Founder, Chicago Living Corridor, Oak Park, IL. Speak the language that this new customer wants to hear. Todd will tell you how.

The morning closes with a pre-lunch plenary at 11:20 a.m., featuring an inspirational presentation from Benjamin Vogt entitled “A New Garden Ethic.” A prominent author and speaker, Vogt refers to his philosophy as “cultivating a defiant passion for an uncertain future.” Through inspiring quotes, new research, evocative photos and model urban landscapes of all sizes, he will take listeners on an empowering journey into designing on a deeper level. He explores ecology, science, psychology, philoso-

Benjamin Vogt

phy and landscape design to create change benefiting all species. In Vogt’s view, gardening with native plants is an ethical and even moral imperative. Ultimately, he’ll answer how our urban and suburban landscapes can save wildlife, why this is important right now and what needs to happen from homes to churches to medi-

ans and parks. With a PhD in creative writing, Benjamin Vogt is from Lincoln, Nebraska, but grew up in Oklahoma and Minnesota. He owns Monarch Gardens LLC, a prairie garden design firm that works with local and regional clients. For nearly five years Vogt has written a native plant and sustainable design column for Houzz.com, for which he’s received a Garden Writer’s Association award, and contributed to dozens of other publications. His book A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future has just been published this fall.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Preview — Impact: Building Sustainable Landscapes The first round of afternoon breakout sessions begins after lunch at 2 p.m. and includes two options: • Principles of Biological Systems and Implications Dan Kittredge, Founder/Executive Director Bionutrient Food Association, North Brookfield, MA This champion of vital soils, nourishing food and healthy people will present the most successful sustainable practices for growing vegetables. • Landscape Gardening: A Weed Assassin’s Guide to the Profitable Maintenance of Revolutionary Landscapes Ken Williams, Horticulturist, Ringers Landscaping, Fox River Grove, IL Williams demonstrates native plant maintenance techniques that are more profitable and efficient for the contractor, and less work for the homeowner.

Education sessions are followed by a networking and social hour. Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director said about this Conference, “Sustainable technology and green infrastructure practice have now demonstrated their effectiveness. I hope, most of all, that attendance at Impact will help allay the fears our industry has had about approaching landscape challenges by using these methods that are more efficient for both increasing long-term function and lowering maintenance costs.”

Two final afternoon breakout sessions at 3:10 p.m. consist of: • Sustainable Water Management Practices Ed Beaulieu, Vice President of Field Research, Aquascape, St. Charles, IL Green infrastructure strategies will be covered for managing stormwater and providing landscape watering solutions. •

Habitat Makeover – Improving the Bird and Butterfly Habitat of Your Projects Andy Stahr, PLA, LEED AP, Principal ecology + vision, llc – a Pizzo Group Company, Leland, IL Learn what’s necessary to create and then sell butterfly and bird habitats with rain gardens, bioswales and shoreline makeovers.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

To Register for IMPACT visit: www.ilca.net/impact-conference

Who Should Attend? • • • • • • • •

On October 17th, join a diverse community of professionals who want to learn more about sustainable landscaping in both practical and inspirational sustainable landscaping sessions. The day also includes lunch, vendor displays featuring the latest in sustainable products and practices and networking opportunities with those new to sustainable practice and old pros who know the ropes.

• • • • • • • • •

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 8:00am – 4:30pm

Arborists Architects Civil Engineers Corporate Sustainability Officers Ecological Restoration Experts Educators, Public Gardens and Non-Profit Groups Growers, Nurseries and Garden Centers Landscape Architects and Designers Landscape Contractors Master Gardeners Municipal Leaders Park District Leaders Policy Makers Product Suppliers and Manufacturers HOA members NGO’s Students

ILCA and CBG members: $125 / Non-members: $165 Sponsor & Exhibitor opportunities available at www.ilca.net ILCA has applied to LA CES for 5.25 CEs for Landscape Architects.

Sponsors Premier Sponsor

Session Sponsor

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Special Feature —

Midwest Groundcover’s Display Garden Gets an Extreme Makeover

by Nina Koziol

If you’re looking

for an island getaway, head to Midwest Groundcovers in St. Charles for a scenic stroll through the new Perennial Island Display Garden, which opened this summer. It’s a meandering river of eye-popping colors and textures for sun and shade. A ribbon cutting in late July featured guided tours of the redesigned garden as well as the renovated Piet Oudolf Garden surrounding MWG’s headquarters. A special treat was a tour to the South Propagation Nursery with MWG’s founder and owner, Peter Orum, who was smoking one of his favorite stogies and entertaining tour goers with tales of how he began the business. He and two plant propagators led tour goers through greenhouses where thousands of woody cuttings were developing roots. The process from taking a cutting to a 3-gallon container that’s ready for sale takes three years. The new perennial display is intended to be a living classroom where you can make notes as you compare plant color, height and habit. The concept allows customers to identify and select the best plants for their projects. There’s Allium ‘Summer Peek-a-boo,” a MWG introduction that holds its flowers just above the leaves, numerous Echinacea and Heuchera cultivars, grasses, sedges and much more. The perennials received little to no deadheading, pruning or staking, and they are left in their natural form to allow a true comparison of habits and to show how different cultivars perform. So, what’s Orum’s favorite perennial? “The ones that get ready the quickest and get out of the nursery,” he said with a chuckle. But later he admitted, “Maybe I’m biased toward hostas.” With more than 500 perennials in the display garden it would be hard to pick just one. “Perennial gardens require tweaking,” explained Karla Patterson Lynch, the landscape architect who helped revamp the (continued on page 32)

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Special Feature — (continued from page 30) sprawling display beds. In an unusual approach, she grouped the plants alphabetically by botanical name. “Our goal is to display everything that’s in the Midwest catalog and to showcase the colors and cultivars next to each other.” Most of the plants were installed last fall while others went in this summer. “I thought the A to Z idea was absolutely brilliant,” said Jill Bondi, MWG’s marketing manager. “She took a gorgeous design and made it function for our customers. You’re able to navigate through the display and highlight the plants in our catalog.” Some of Bondi’s favorite perennials are the bleeding hearts (Dicentra ‘Gold Heart’ and D. ‘Valentine.’) The display garden was developed in 1993. The redesign began in 2015 and hardscape and trees were installed in 2016. A two-person crew weeds and hand waters the plants, which takes about 30 hours per week. Sprinklers are avoided to prevent overwatering. To reduce weeds, the rich soil was not cultivated before planting. A no-till method of direct planting was used followed by an application of leaf mulch. “To be considered a perennial, the plant must live for three years,” Lynch said. She maintains a master list and makes monthly notations to see what does well in what spot. “When I’m designing, I want to look at all the pinks together and the cultivars side by side,” Lynch said. The shade and sun pattern has been a learning experience. I like to check the sun patterns as we come up to the summer solstice.” Some of the green-leaved Heuchera, for example, need a little less sun. And then there are the critters—rabbits and bambi. The deer sampled some of the day lily buds so plans are underway for deer-proofing the garden next year. So far, insect pests haven’t bothered the plants. Scott Stewart, executive director of Millennium Park Foundation, gave a tour of the revamped Piet Oudolf garden. Installed in 2003, the garden has been revised at least 3 times under the direction of Piet Oudolf and plantsman Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennial Farm. “So much of these gardens is having plants that aren’t easily recognizable,” Stewart said. One of Stewart’s favorite plants (and he had many), is Sporobolus ‘Tara.’ “It tends to be in flower from July on and it (continued on page 34)

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Special Feature — (continued from page 32) has a wonderful tan color—it adds a preview of fall.” Another one, Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ has plenty of ecological benefits for pollinators. He’s not big on massing that plant, however. “Everyone’s massing them now and that’s kind of boring. But here they’re mixed in with native plants and cultivars. This type of interplanting and interlacing works well and breaks up the monotony.” Stewart looks at the Oudolf Garden as one where a block of plants may hold up to 12 species. “The goal is to reach a level that’s complex but has a sense of wildness. It appears wild to the uninformed person, but it’s still a highly designed and highly managed garden.” Some favorite plants on the tour included Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’ for its white flower heads that look like little flags, Pcynanthemum (mountain mint) and Sesleria autumnalis (Autumn Moor Grass). “This design and planting plan was the most fun I’ve had,” Lynch said. “I wanted to be able to come here and find something quickly and the A to Z layout seemed the fasted way.” Be sure to visit the island planting again next spring. “There will be new things and som older varieties may be deleted—it will always be changing. And, there’s something happening from April on,” Lynch said. We’ll certainly look forward to that. Looking for a certain plant? See MWG’s site: http://www. midwestgroundcovers.com/Plant-Search

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For immediate attention CALL Debbie at 817-501-2403 or email — debbie.landscapecontractor@yahoo.com 34

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Turf Education Day 2017 +

September 21, 2017

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Registration 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM

9:20 AM - 10:15 AM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Chicago Botanic Garden Joseph Regenstein School

Alsdorf Auditorium

Magic Mushrooms and Mischievous Molds: Managing Tough Fungal Diseases of Turf

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Dr. Frank Wong, Bayer Crop Science

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Alsdorf Auditorium

Scott Roberts, Turf Committee Chair Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director Lisa Fiore, ILCA President

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM Alsdorf Auditorium

Protecting Pollinators in Turf and Landscape

Sponsored by—

Pollinator health is a wide-reaching public concern affecting agricultural and urban communities. The situation is complicated and often clouded by conflicting reports and misinformation. This seminar will provide information on best management practices for protecting pollinators in lawns, landscapes and other urban settings. Other topics to be discussed include: factors identified as stressors to bees and pollinators, the role of applicators and pesticide stewardship, the need for pollinator habitat, and recent regulatory and legislative trends affecting pollinators. Attendees will leave this seminar with an understanding of pollinator health issues, a better understanding of the impacts and risks of management practices, including information on the neonicotinoid insecticides, and actions that can be taken to improve pollinator populations in lawn, landscape and other urban settings.

TED PREMIER SPONSOR—

Fungal diseases of turf are common; many are easy to diagnose and treat while others seem to be a recurring problem. This seminar will address management basics for some of the most persistent foliar and soil borne diseases of turf grasses and what can be done from an integrated pest management strategy. The effect of site selection, nutrition, environmental conditions, cultural practices and turfgrass species on integrated pest management strategies will be discussed. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of which factors contribute to fungal disease development; key strategies for controlling recurrent diseases of turf grasses; and how to develop strategies that result in healthier turf and less disease.

Design Studio

Dr. Frank Wong, Bayer Crop Science

9:15 AM - 9:20 AM — Break

Cultural Practices

Sponsored by—

Harold Enger, Spring-Green Lawn Care This presentation will focus on mowing, watering, thatch control and fertilizing. It will discuss the basic principles that explain the need to follow these practices.

Pullman Room

The 2017 Lawn Care Season in Review and What it Means for 2018

Sponsored by—

Jesse Benelli, Chicago District Golf Association The year in review: weather, weeds, disease, and insects. And what we can look forward to in the coming year.

Linneaus Room

Beyond NPK: Metabolic Tools for Plants

Sponsored by—

George Murphy, EnPTurf When thinking in terms of plant health, growers typically focus on 3 letters: N, P, and K. While these nutrients are necessary, the difference between a healthy plant, and an unhealthy plant often comes down to molecules that extend beyond standard nutrition. With university-backed research, George C. Murray will discuss metabolic tools that landscape managers can use in conjunction with their standard fertility program–enabling the plants to use the nutrition more efficiently, while building a plant that can better withstand environmental and biological stressors.

10:15 AM - 10:20 AM — Break 36

Sponsored by—

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

10:20 AM - 11:10 AM

11:10 AM - 11:15AM — Break

BREAKOUT SESSIONS Alsdorf Auditorium

Irrigation Know How — Knowing How Not to Use an Irrigation System

Sponsored by—

Larry Cammarata, Certified Consultants This session will discuss recent advancements in irrigation system technology necessary for an increased interaction with the plant-soilwater continuum within the landscape. This will include how NOT to use an irrigation system, determine if irrigation system is set up properly, ensure proper operations, water application rates and other practices that need to be utilized more readily. Finally, we’ll hit hard on the true understanding needed within the industry related to soils, plants requirements and what irrigation systems can do to enhance the health of soils or actually cause much damage (sand-silt-loam-clay).

Pullman Room It Takes a Village — The Importance of Aligning the Different Components of Turf Care

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 11:15 AM-12:10 PM Alsdorf Auditorium How to Read a Landscape So You and Your Customer Are on the Same Turf!

Sponsored by—

Dr. Hank Wilkinson, University of Illinois The conditions of heat, light, and water, affect all landscapes. These environmental factors are conditioned by buildings, soil, use, and management. If you understand these concepts, then the landscape you design, build, and manage should please both you and your customer. Let’s develop a method for YOU to predict with confidence, what is possible!

Sponsored by—

12:10 PM - 12:55 PM — Lunch

Matt Linder, SavALawn Focus on how the lawn care provider, the irrigation company and the landscaper need to work together to enhance the results on a property. When the irrigation is properly timed, the lawn properly mowed, and the technical materials properly applied, the overall results will be a healthier lawn and everyone looks better.

Served in McGinley Pavilion

LUNCH SPONSOR —

Design Studio Pesticide Regulatory Program Update Warren Goetsch, Dept. of Agriculture No filter! Hear the news straight from the Department of Agriculture. This presentation will help you familiarize yourself with the regulatory landscape of Illinois. It will also discuss focus areas of the department moving forward and how compliance can shield you from unnecessary regulatory burdens, fines, and penalties.

Linneaus Room Optimizing Your Weed Control Program

Sponsored by—

Jamie Heydinger, NuFarm We will cover hard to control weed identification and control options. Matching characteristics of herbicides to target weeds for better control in fewer applications. Will review different herbicide active ingredients and formulations and what that means in the real world. The importance of reading the label and tips for proper use will reduce risk to humans, pets, and non-target plants. Ultimately saving time, money, unnecessary product use and insure good environmental stewardship. The Landscape Contractor September 2017

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

KEYNOTE SESSION

Alsdorf Auditorium

2:00 PM-3:00 PM Alsdorf Auditorium

BREAKOUT SESSIONS Turf in the Landscape: When, Why, How?

Sponsored by—

Dr. Hank Wilkinson, University of Illinois Turf is a component in many landscapes, but what is the best type, how should it be established, and is it always appropriate? We will explore the limits and expectations of turf in a landscape and how to ensure your turf performs as expected.

Sponsored by—

Dr. Paul Koch, University of Wisconsin Proper timing of herbicide and insecticide applications is critical for their proper efficacy, but spraying just because that’s when you sprayed last year can result in poor pest control due to the variable Midwest environment. In this presentation we will focus on calculating and using growing degree day models to more accurately time pest applications when they will be most effective based on the recent weather.

Pullman Room

Is It Insect or Disease Damage

There is increasing pressure from regulatory groups and the general public to maintain turf grass landscapes using reduced-toxicity products. In this presentation we will focus on what measures you can use to select reducedtoxicity products and how products currently on the market can be implemented into your program.

3:00 PM — End of Program

See You Next Year!

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS Premier Sponsor

Sponsored by—

Matt Linder, SavALawn Proper diagnosis of lawn damage can be challenging. An overview of signs and symptoms can properly determine if you brown spots on a lawn are either insects or disease. Properly timing and scouting can determine damage potential of Billbugs, Chinch Bugs, Sod Webworms or Grubs and not diseases. Once damage is done, the repairs can be costly…. prevent the damage from happening.

Lunch Sponsor

Session Sponsors

Design Studio

The Benefits of Calcium and Sulfur Fertilization in Midwestern Soils and How They Can Also Help with Sodium Remediation

Sponsored by—

Brian Milam, Calcium Products How can the use of calcium and sulfur improve the soil and plant health in turf here in the Midwest? Also, did you know that gypsum is the secret weapon in combating reclaimed irrigation water?

Sponsored by—

Dr. Paul Koch, University of Wisconsin

Linneaus Room

Timing is Everything: Using Growing Degree Days to Time Landscape Applications

Selecting Reduced-Toxicity Herbicides for Effective Weed Control

Tabletop Sponsors

Bayer Environmental Science Dow Agro Science EC Grow National Seed PBI-Gordon

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Call Debbie to get on the bandwagon! 817-501-2403 or email: debbie.landscapecontractor@yahoo.com

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

New Members — CONTRACTOR MEMBERS RB Enterprises Eliza Hamilton 1771 Mallette Road Aurora, IL 60505 Phone: 630-236-3222 Fax: 630-495-8151 Email: ehamilton@rbenterprisesweb. com Sound Living Jarmila Singer 1550 Berkeley Road Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone: 847-926-7034 Fax: 847-926-7036 Email: gsinger@soundliving.com Website: www.soundliving.com Sound Living is a home automation consultancy with unique expertise in landscape audio and outdoor entertainment.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Uncle Duff and Dave’s Lawn Service Jackie Ellison Elburn, IL 60119 Phone: 630-844-6984 Email: uncleduffanddavesls@gmail.com Website: www.uncleduffanddavesls.com We provide weekly lawn maintenance, landscape bed maintenance, light landscape design, hardscape repair, mulch installation, bush trimming, weeding, and snow removal.

Angie Moreland 505 Saratoga Ct. Oswego IL 60543 Phone: 630-479-0546 Email: angiemoreland@comcast.net Landscape designer in Oswego. Performs site surveys, estimates, design and sales.

SUPPLIER MEMBERS PBI-Gordon Bret Rush 411 Haldale Dr. Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: 317-432-6195 Email: brush@pbigordon.com Website: www.pbigordon.com

Terra Viva LLC Rene Silinis La Grange, IL 60525 Phone: 708-860-8352 Email: terraviva17@gmail.com Website: www.terravivagardens.com Terra Viva is a unique design/build landscaping firm serving the Chicago area. Our highly qualified team of designers, gardeners, craftsmen, artists, and urban farmers are ready to transform your landscape into a unique outdoor living space to reflect your lifestyle.

Looking for Quality Compost? We Have It! • • • • •

STA Compost Increased Water Holding Capacity Increase organic matter Improve the soil OMRI listed

630-858-8070

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

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Por Marilyn Witney

Paisajismo sustentable.

asistentes que desean aprender los próximos avances de nuestro Usted ha leído y negocio y hacer del paisajismo sustentable menos una novedad y escuchado hablar sobre el tema. Ahora, ILCA le mostrará cómo se más la norma”. hace realidad, en la nueva Conferencia llamada Impacto — Cómo Impacto abre a las 8:45 a.m. con Larry Weaner, quien en 1982 diseñar jardines y parques sustentables, el 17 de octubre en el fundó su propia firma, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, que Jardín Botánico de Chicago en Glencoe. combina experiencia y conocimientos en horticultura, ciencias Utilizando los componentes básicos provistos por la naturaleza ambientales y las tradiciones del diseño de — tierra, agua y plantas — expertos conojardines. “La demanda de zonas ajardinacidos a nivel nacional expondrán algunas de das ecológicamente beneficiosas está en las ideas más novedosas en servicios de paisaumento”, afirma Weaner. “Y los negocios ajismo sustentable y ayudarán a los asistentes con un enfoque ecológico tendrán una mayor a aprender a hablar sobre el tema, con más clientela”. En su presentación inicial titulada conocimientos, con miembros de este floreci“Encontrando su nicho: Cómo establecer ente mercado. Las sesiones detallarán cómo un enfoque ecológico en su firma”, Weaner crear jardines y parques vigorosos, de bajo detallará algunos de los conocimientos mantenimiento, que perduren con el tiempo, y habilidades necesarios para añadir un ya sea desarrollados por contratistas, distritos enfoque ecológico y guiará a arquitectos, disde parque o municipalidades. Además, estos eñadores y contratistas paisajistas y a persoterrenos ajardinados sustentables serán más nas encargadas de tomar decisiones sobre lo seguros para personas y el planeta, ahorrando que se necesita para establecer una presencia dinero a las comunidades, profesionales del respetable para sus negocios o municipalipaisajismo y dueños de casa. dades en este campo emergente. Se tratará La Conferencia fue desarrollada por sobre comunidades de plantas, ecosistemas el Comité de Paisajismo Sustentable y regionales, diseño práctico y técnicas de resEcológico de ILCA que incluye actualmente tauración y gestión. algunos profesionales de paisajismo sustentLarry Weaner Weaner es un diseñador galardonado. Sus able con conocimientos y experiencia de trabajos de diseño y restauración abarcan más de diez estados en la Alianza de Paisajismo Ecológico del Medio-Oeste que recila región este de Estados Unidos. Además, es orador invitado actientemente se incorporó a ILCA. “Nuestra conferencia Impacto vo e instructor en organizaciones de horticultura y ambientalistas incluye una lista de expositores de increíble alto nivel y espero con por todo Estados Unidos. En 1990 diseñó New Directions in the ansias escuchar sus comentarios”, dijo el Presidente del Comité, American Landscape (NDAL), una serie de programas educativos Jeff Swano de Dig Right in Landscaping. “De la misma forma con seguimiento nacional. Su libro Garden Revolution: How Our me entusiasma la perspectiva de conocer a un grupo diverso de 44 The Landscape Contractor September 2017

por un recorrido empoderdante por el diseño a un nivel más profundo. Explora ecología, ciencia, psicología, filosofía y dis• Construyendo comunidades perseverantes con infraeeño paisajista para structura verde Un código a la vez crear cambios que Julia Noordyk, especialista en Calidad del agua y Alcance beneficien a todas comunitario costero, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Green Bay, WI las especies. Desde Aprenda cómo eliminar barreras utilizando la perspectiva de un nuevo instrumento de comunicación que desea apoyar la Vogt, la jardininfraestructura verde. ería con plantas • El nuevo IPM: Gestión Integrada de Plantas nativas es un Dan Dinelli, CGCS, Superintendente Certificado de Campos imperativo ético e de Golf North Shore Country Club, Glenview, IL incluso moral. En Aprenda cómo Dinelli transformó este campo de golf última instancia, de North Shore integrando exitosamente genética de plantas, Benjamin Vogt contestará cómo ecología del suelo y las plantas y un marco para el desarrollo nuestros paisajes urbanos y suburbanos pueden salvar la vida silsustentable. vestre, por qué esto es importante ahora y qué deberá ocurrir desde • Cómo venderle al cliente de paisajismo sustentable en los hogares hasta en las iglesias, las medianas y los parques. • Pamela Todd, Co-fundadora de Chicago Living Corridor, Con un Doctorado en escritura creativa, Benjamin Vogt nació Oak Park, IL Hable el lenguaje que este nuevo tipo de cliente en Lincoln, Nebraska, pero creció en Oklahoma y Minnesota. Es quiere oír. Todd le dirá cómo hacerlo. dueño de Monarch Gardens LLC, una firma de diseño de jardines con flores de la pradera que trabaja con clientes locales y regioLa mañana cierra con un plenario antes del almuerzo a las nales. Por casi cinco años, Vogt ha escrito una columna sobre 11:20 a.m., con una presentación inspiracional de Benjamin Vogt, plantas nativas y diseño sustentable para Houzz.com, por la que titulada “Una nueva ética de jardines”. Escritor y conferencista recibió un premio de la Asociación de Escritores sobre Jardines prominente, Vogt se refiere a su filosofía como “cultivar una y ha contribuido con docenas de otras publicaciones. Su libro pasión desafiante ante un futuro incierto”. A través de citas que A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an inspiran, nuevas investigaciones, fotos evocadoras y paisajes Uncertain Future fue publicado este otoño. urbanos modelos de todos los tamaños, llevará a los asistentes The Landscape Contractor 45 September 2017 Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change (Timber Press, 2016), recibió recientemente un Premio de la American Horticultural Society (Sociedad Hortícola Estadounidense). A las 10:10 a.m., una opción de tres sesiones individuales sigue a la presentación inicial:

Enfoque: Sección en Español La primera ronda de sesiones divididas por la tarde comienza a las 2 p.m., después del almuerzo, e incluye dos opciones: • Principios de sistemas biológicos y sus implicaciones Dan Kittredge, Fundador/Director Ejecutivo Bionutrient Food Association, North Brookfield, MA Este campeón de suelos vitales, alimentos nutritivos y gente saludable presentará las prácticas sustentables de más éxito para cultivar vegetales. • Jardinería paisajista: Una guía para asesinos de malas hierbas al mantenimiento rentable de paisajes revolucionarios Ken Williams, Horticultor, Ringers Landscaping, Fox River Grove, IL Williams demuestra técnicas de mantenimiento de plantas nativas que son más rentables y eficientes para los contratistas y representan menos trabajo para los dueños de casa.

Education sessions are followed by a networking and social hour. Scott Grams, Director Ejecutivo de ILCA, dijo de esta Conferencia: “La tecnología sustentable y las prácticas de la infraestructura verde han demostrado su eficacia. Espero sobre todo que la asistencia a Impacto ayudará a disipar los miedos que nuestra industria ha tenido sobre cómo enfrentar los desafíos del paisajismo utilizando estos métodos que son más eficaces tanto para aumentar la funcionalidad a largo plazo como para reducir los costos de mantenimiento”.

Dos sesiones divididas finales por la tarde, a las 3:10 p.m., consisten en: • Prácticas sustentables de control de aguas Ed Beaulieu, Vicepresidente de Field Research, Aquascape, St.Charles, IL Tratará sobre estrategias de infraestructura verde para controlar aguas pluviales y ofrecer soluciones de riego en zonas ajardinadas. • Remodelación de hábitats -Cómo mejorar los hábitats de aves y mariposas de sus proyectos Andy Stahr, PLA, LEED AP, Principal Ecology + vision, llc – a Pizzo Group Company, Leland, IL Aprenda lo necesario para crear y luego vender hábitats de aves y mariposas con jardines pluviales, sistemas de biofiltración y renovaciones costeras. Las sesiones educativas son seguidas de una hora para establecer contactos y socializar.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Para inscribirse en Impacto visite:

www.ilca.net/impact-conference

¿Quiénes deben asistir? • • • • • • •

El 17 de octubre, incorpórese a una comunidad de profesionales con intereses comunes que desean aprender más sobre paisajismo sustentable en sesiones tanto prácticas como inspiracionales. El día también incluye almuerzo, exhibiciones de proveedores con lo último en productos y prácticas sustentables y oportunidades de establecer contactos con personas que se inician en las prácticas sustentables y los viejos profesionales que conocen bien el asunto.

8:00am – 4:30pm Martes, 17 de octubre de 2017

• • • • • • • • • •

Arboricultores Arquitectos Ingenieros civiles Funcionarios de sustentabilidad corporativa Expertos en restauraciones ecológicas Educadores, Jardines Públicos y grupos sin fines de lucro Cultivadores, Viveros y Centros de Jardinería Arquitectos y diseñadores paisajistas Contratistas de paisajismo Maestros Jardineros Líderes municipales Líderes de Distritos de Parques Formuladores de políticas Proveedores y fabricantes de productos Miembros de HOA NGO Estudiantes

Miembros de ILCA y CBG: $125 / No miembros $165 Tarifa para estudiantes disponible. Contacte con ILCA en www.ilca.net Oportunidades de patrocinio y para exhibir disponibles en www.ilca.net 5.25 LACES CE para arquitectos paisajistas solicitada.

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New Board Member Profile —

New ILCA Board Member— Scott McAdam Jr. by Meta Levin

When Mike Schmechtig called

Scott McAdam Jr. with a proposal to join the ILCA Board, McAdam was ready. “I wanted to increase my involvement and I saw the Board as the next step,” says McAdam, who had spent nearly two years as chair of the ILCA Golf Committee. “I assume my name was brought up, because of my golf committee work.” McAdam’s ILCA involvement is somewhat of a family legacy. The son of two-time ILCA president, Scott McAdam Sr., he works for McAdam Landscaping, the company his father founded, serving as vice president of snow and ice management. He also is a commercial account manager and does sales for residential design/build. With his father’s assumption of the district governorship for Rotary Club International, McAdam Jr. anticipates taking on more of the business load. He does not, however, want to be known only as his father’s son. “I want to carve my own niche and help contribute to the organization (ILCA),” he says. McAdam Jr. began attending ILCA events when he was quite young. By the time he was 13 years old, he had a summer job in the family business. As a student at the University of Illinois,

however, he first intended to major in political science or business. Neither was a good fit. He gave environmental science a try and fell in love. “I realized that I wanted to become a part of the industry,” he says. “Landscaping felt like home.” His father welcomed him into the business after college and he set about learning even more. Eventually he hopes to head the company. In the meantime, he is focusing on his new ILCA Board position. Although he has interests, he intends to spend the first year listening. “Everyone is born with two ears and one mouth,” he says. “I think that I would like to see what is

actually occurring first.” That said, the current labor shortage and labor struggles are among his big concerns. “The horticulture program at the University of Illinois is no more and in terms of education, staffing, the pool is small,” he says. He also would like to see better engagement between ILCA and educational institutions, especially opening opportunities to young people who may not realize that there are career opportunities in the green industry. “We are one of the larger voices and we can have a big impact,” he says. Life has changed in other ways for McAdam Jr. In October of 2016 he got married. He and his wife share a love of an exercise program called Cross Fit. “It’s something that we can do with each other,” he says. He continues his love of golf, running and obstacle racing, although he does not have as much time for the latter as he formerly did. If he has any spare time, he still does some painting and drawing. McAdam Jr. will continue to be active in the ILCA Golf Committee as past chair and look for opportunities to help ILCA.

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Special Feature —

These roots run deep:

Chalet Celebrates a Centennial by Nina Koziol

When you own a family business and have children,

you might expect them to automatically follow your dream. But Larry Thalmann III had other ideas. “I was going to become a dentist,” said Thalmann, president of Chalet in Wilmette, one of the country’s most successful and longest-running family owned garden and landscape businesses. “My story is a little different than that of a lot of family businesses,” he said. His parents divorced when he was young and he grew up in Connecticut. His interest in pursuing dentistry eventually led him to the pharmaceutical industry. But one day, his father told him, “you owe it to yourself to check out the family business.” That was more than 25 years ago. “I fell in love with the connection to the earth—and, pardon the pun—how organic and beautiful it is. Who in our industry doesn’t love creating beautiful things?” This year, Chalet celebrated a century of creating elegant residential landscapes with Thalmann at the helm.

Humble Beginnings

His grandfather started L. J. Thalmann’s Architectural Landscaping company in 1917 providing yard care services. Following his high school graduation, he travelled to clients’ homes on a bicycle pulling a red wagon filled with tools. He soon acquired a handcranked dump truck, attended Northwestern University night classes and received a diploma from the American Landscape School. When the Edens Expressway was under construction in Glencoe in the 1940’s, a Swiss Chalet-style restaurant was in its path and put 50

up for auction. L.J. bought the building for $751 with the belief that a bid should always be an odd amount. The iconic building was cut into three parts and moved to its current location in Wilmette where it became the home and offices for L.J. and his wife Elaine. (Today, the building houses Chalet’s business offices and landscape design studio.) Because of zoning restrictions back then, business signs were not allowed. The company’s ads featured the house and soon customers were writing checks to “Chalet” and thus the new business name was launched. Garden centers were a fairly new concept in the 1950’s when Chalet built a 9,500-square-foot building for its retail operation. Elaine and their children, Larry Jr. and Diane, managed the garden center, adding a pet and gift department and increasing the landscape services. The expansion continued when Larry Thalmann, Jr. and Diane took over. As the landscape division mushroomed, it moved twice to larger facilities. It’s currently located in North Chicago in an award-winning 28,000-square-foot facility that accommodates the 160-plus green fleet vehicles and acres of plants and supplies. The five-story Chalet Office Plaza was built and computers, staff and new product lines were added. For many years, the Marine Division, which was twice awarded “Dealer of the Year” by Catalina Yachts, provided service to many of the local boaters.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Milestone A New Generation

As the third generation owner, Thalmann’s business background gave him a fresh perspective. “I wasn’t really burdened by doing things the way they always were done.” He was 30 in 1992 when he took over as president. “I don’t have a degree in horticulture, so building the staff was of key importance to me.” Although he muses that he took the helm when he was too young, partly because his father had health problems, “I surrounded myself with good people. I took business classes and hired someone who did organizational development. And, I brought in someone to mentor me.” Thalmann has a Zen-like attitude toward the business. He’s a laid-back guy who doesn’t have an office at the headquarters. “He enables a partnership with the employees,” said landscape architect Kevin Marko who has been with Chalet for 40 years. “We want employees to broaden their horizons beyond their day-to-day jobs so there are many areas of enrichment and training. To me it’s a win-win. It builds a better employee and a better company.” Marko is just one of several long-time employees. The secret? “I’m a firm believer in creating the right culture and environment to be able to propagate that type of longevity. Hire good people and build a good team,” Thalmann said. “Every year we celebrate employee anniversaries and milestones and we have some 25- and 30-year employees and that says a lot,” Marko said. “It’s atypical in this industry.” That also poses challenges. “You need to bring in fresh ideas and the balancing act is important. We try to promote younger people quickly because we want a balanced look at efficiencies and technology.”

In 2004, Thalmann purchased property in Salem, Wisconsin, where Chalet Farm, a 183acre nursery nurtures unusual trees, shrubs and perennials for the company’s discerning customers. The goal behind the nursery is to produce plants that are fuller and more vigorous. They’re spaced further apart than those found in traditional nursery settings. It’s less about the quantity of plants produced each season and more about the quality they provide. The landscape division has produced award-winning designs featuring superior quality construction, which is critical for the numerous North Shore clients it serves. “The store is really the face of our business and retail customers might have no idea of the types of work we do,” Marko said. “One of our competitive edges is that we have a high-end landscape design company and a highend retail reputation. The store is really the face of our business so we created an outdoor (designed) space and offices to have a few landscape architects on staff here all the time to help clients who need direction.” “Kevin’s predecessor and my father did everything hands-on and that was limited by what one person could do,” Thalmann explained. Since then, Chalet has transitioned from a small momand-pop firm to a 400-plus employee company with 55 crews that attend to residential landscapes along the North Shore and into Chicago. “We run a fleet that’s probably second to none,” Thalmann said. “We have a top-notch design staff and lawn maintenance staff. It all functions very well.” (continued on page 52)

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Special Feature — (continued from page 51)

Educational Efforts

A key to Chalet’s success is ongoing monthly training. “We’re very strong on education. Tony Fulmer is our chief horticultural officer, our tongue-in-cheek ‘CHO’. He was our retail store manager and is this wealth of knowledge when it comes to horticulture,” Thalman said. “Not everyone who walks in the door here will have an incredible background, but they do have a desire to learn. That’s Tony’s job. He trains everyone across the company and makes sure we’re singing from the same song book when it comes to horticultural practices.” The goal is to have one voice for Chalet’s recommendations, advice and positions on good horticultural practices. “Tony helps distill that and preaches it to all of the staff.” Thalmann became president of the Illinois Nursery Association and the Mid-American Horticultural Trade show, making a sig-

nificant commitment to promoting the green industry. More of his staff have become Illinois Certified Nursery Professionals than any other business in the State. Other staff are involved in ILCA and ASLA committees.

Challenges

Like most other firms in the green industry, Chalet has faced challenges. The years from 2005-2008 were off the chart with Chalet experiencing double-digit growth every year. “But, like everybody else on Sept 15, 2008 when Lehman brothers and the market crashed, things changed. We’ve been building our way out of it ever since,” Thalmann said. A different customer emerged, replacing baby boomers who were aging out of gardening. “People are more value-minded and conscious of how they are spending money. They do more online research and they’re more involved.”

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

The rise of social media like Houzz and Pinterest has shaped the customer’s design sense. “Their expectations are higher, they come to the table much more informed and I think it’s a more competitive environment,” Thalmann explained. Several sales teams focus on new calls while others maintain the relationships with long-term customers. “Larry continually says we’re celebrating our past and our employees are what created this accomplishment, but we can’t rest on our laurels,” Marko said. “We need to commit to evolving and becoming more cutting edge for the future.” So, Chalet’s design technology has evolved, too. “Initially CAD-CAM drawings were thought of as cookie-cutter and the easy way out,” Thalmann said. “Now they almost look hand-drawn.”

Celebrations

Chalet marked its centennial with a year-long series of free educational programs and events for its customers and

the community. The anniversary kicked off with a “Legacy Tree” program that provides information on tree care and plant health recommendations. A special line of commemorative trees was introduced for families that wanted to celebrate the birth of a baby this year. Other events included Earth Day, Arbor Day, a community ice cream social and a bulb festival planned for fall. On a day in mid-September, they’ll close the entire operation to celebrate with the employees at the Salem site. “The beauty of the 100-year milestone is recognizing that our employees are what makes this work,” Marko said. “We’ll have all sorts of organized fun activities. It’s one of the reasons I’ve worked here so long. It’s been that way since the day I started and I felt the same way then.” The retail store is always evolving under the oversight of Thalmann’s wife, Amy. A cross-division style resource group provides forward thinking, design-minded ideas. “They have the pulse on what’s current (continued on page 54)

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(continued from page 53) in the design world on all design fronts,” Thalmann said.

to everything they’d possibly need to know and we rotate them to all the different areas. We look at it as a way of giving back.”

Community Involvement

Innovation Meets Creativity

Throughout the year, Chalet has been giving back to the community by supporting local charities as part of its company wide volunteer day along with pet adoption events and partnerships with non-profit organizations. “For a century, we’ve been part of the Chicago-area North Shore community, but even more important, this community has sustained us,” Thalmann said. “They welcome us into their yards, gardens and homes every day through our services and products. Like the trees and landscapes my grandfather first planted for families here, true growth comes with strong roots and careful tending. We think 100 years is a good start.” A one-of-a-kind internship program allows two paid interns to learn the business each year. “They don’t do grunt work and we don’t bill for their time,” Marko explained. “We expose them

The company’s business culture continues to evolve. Thalmann wrote Chalet’s current Vision Statement with the future in mind: “We will be aggressive in determining our future direction. We will celebrate, but not be held prisoner to the past. We will be aware that no matter how distinguished our history and reputation have been, the past cannot be the future. Issues such as: expanding market share, upgrading and creating new facilities, new products, new services and lines of business will be considered with due diligence and openness. These decisions will be approached with the appropriate degree of speed and caution to insure that we are able to preserve excellence in our current operations while we reshape the future.”

The Next Generation

So what does Thalmann like best about his role? “It’s very different. I’m a steward—I don’t work in the business, I work on the business.” It’s the continual improvement, he explains. “Our objective is not to be bigger, but better,” Thalmann said. “If we become bigger as a result, that’s great, but that’s not the goal. Thalmann and Amy have two sons and a daughter. “All have expressed interest in the business, but my criteria for them has been to work for five years elsewhere out in the world. My son just joined us and I’m really proud of him and thrilled. He’ll bring new ideas and a fresh perspective.” When he’s not dealing with the business, Thalmann flies his own plane, sometimes over the Chalet Farm in Wisconsin. “I joke that my work is on the earth but my head is in the clouds. It’s the most relaxing thing and it’s my escape.”

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Industry News —

5th Annual Plants & Pinot Event Held at Hinsdale Nurseries The Ornamental Growers

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favorite locations and you have a bona fide success. The speakers included Kris Bachtell and Kim Sherer-Lattier of The Morton Arboretum and Roger Purcell of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

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New Member Profile Snapshot

Midwest Landscape Concepts, Inc.

2106 Babst Court Lisle, IL 60532 (630) 258-2135 www.midwestlandscapeconcepts.com

by Meta Levin

David Miga

probably owes his career and his business to an ILCA sponsored contest. While in high school he heard an announcement of a student landscape design contest sponsored by the association and vowed that by the time he was a senior he would win it. He did. In fact, he took first in the state. That led him to the College of DuPage, where he studied landscape design. He had been mowing lawns and doing other yard work for neighbors since he was in middle school and was trying to keep that up while going to school. Eventually it got to be too much and he dropped his classes, but wants to return to complete his degree one day. That doesn’t mean that he has given up his education. In fact, he attends continuing education classes at every opportunity and loves to teach his customers at Midwest Landscape Concepts, Inc., a company he began in 2006. In 2013, anxious for Miga to bring home a steady income, his wife, Lauren, convinced him to apply to work at the Morton Arboretum. He did. They hired him. He stayed there for three years, all the while working on his own business on the side. By 2016, he decided it was now or never. He left the arboretum, revamped Midwest Landscape Concepts and dug in. His time at the College of DuPage was valuable to his work now. “Once I got there a whole world of landscaping opened up,” he says. Midwest Landscape Concepts, Inc. now offers landscape management, tree care, snow and ice management, landscape design and installation and irrigation. His time at Morton Arboretum, however, opened another world. “At the end of it, our work leaves a legacy that will be good for generations,” he says of the tree end of his business. He has been a certified arborist for more than 10 years and is working on becoming board Master Certified. Miga also holds a certification in application, as well as other certifications, including NCMA SRW (National Concrete Masonry Association Segmental Retaining Walls) installation, ICPI (the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) installation and 60

irrigation. In addition, he loves working with his hands, which plays into the landscape construction arena. He maintains a relatively small staff, but he is intent on hiring those who, like him, are vested and enthusiastic about working outdoors. His foreman, Juan Nunez, for instance, has been with the company since the beginning. Miga values his attention to detail and thorough thought processes. “He is responsible and reliable and we have a wonderful collaboration between the two of us,” says Miga. Miga has noticed that his customers want to spend more time in the outdoors. They want spaces in which they can dine, entertain and play with their children. Thus, they are looking for fire pits, fireplaces, shade structures, and water features. They’re also big on low maintenance landscape designs, which brings them to native plants, not to mention sustainable projects. “We are using IPM (integrative pest management), which has been around a long time,” he says. “We are pushing for sustainability.” With his emphasis on educating his clients, Miga advocates proper pruning for trees and shrubs. And when he installs irrigation, he focuses on water conservation. He also prides himself and his staff in their emphasis on ethics. “We do what’s right,” he says. That includes a focus on safety. At the end of the day he wants his staff to leave work without any injuries. So he spends time reinforcing and training on safety protocols. He hasn’t forgotten about ILCA. Prior to his stint at the Morton Arboretum, the company was a member, and recently has returned. “It promotes professionalism in the industry,” says Miga. “ILCA provides opportunities to network and education and training for me and my staff.” He likes that the association has become more proactive about legislation in Springfield. “This industry is in my blood,” says Miga. “When I left Morton Arboretum, I told my wife that I was not going to give up unless I failed.” And he is making sure that he succeeds.

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

N O I T C U FALL A

The Impact Conference: Building Sustainable Landscapes Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School at the Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022

For full event details and to register, visit: www.ilca.net/impact-conference Sessions Include: •

KEYNOTE: Finding Your Niche: Establishing an Ecological Focus for Your Firm

•

Building Resilient Communities with Green Infrastructure One Code at a Time

•

The New IPM: Integrated Plant Management

•

Selling to the Sustainable Landscaping Customer

•

PRE-LUNCH PLENARY: A New Garden Ethic

•

Principles of Biological Systems and Implications

•

Landscape Gardening: A Weed Assassin’s Guide to the Profitable Maintenance of Revolutionary Landscapes

•

Sustainable Water Management Practices

•

Habitat Makeover – Improving the Bird and Butterfly Habitat of Your Projects

The Landscape Contractor August 2017

Sustainable Maintenance Guide and Calendar For the next 15 months, ILCA will be releasing a monthly excerpt from the most current version (v3.0) of its Sustainable Maintenance Guide and Calendar in The Landscape Contractor magazine. The entire 12 month calendar is available to download at no cost to ILCA members, non-profits, public agencies, and units of government. Please email information@ilca.net to request a download of the entire guide and calendar. This guide is not available to private landscape companies who are not members of the ILCA. This guide is intended to equip Illinois Landscape Contractors Association members with all the tools necessary to implement a sustainable maintenance program. It takes into account the constraints of a landscape company in regards to costs, time, equipment, personnel, and horticultural knowledge. The guide is written so any landscape company can apply these maintenance principles to almost any commercial or residential landscape and improve the positive impact on the environment without sacrificing aesthetic quality.

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For sale updates and availabilities sign up for our email newsletter! The Landscape Contractor September 2017

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

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The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Account Manager Grow with us!

Landscape Project Manager minimum 5 years experience

Balanced Environments is looking for a full-time addition to our sales team. As an Account Manager you will manage a portfolio of commercial landscape and snow accounts, prepare and present site recommendations, maintain client relationships and develop new clients through sales of new services. Our organization offers a compensation plan that includes a competitive salary/commission structure, health/dental/disability insurance and 401k plan. For a confidential considerationplease send your inquiry and resume today to hdill@balancedenvironmentsinc.com or call Ed Reier at 847-833-3594.

We’re looking for an experienced individual with expertise in landscape construction observation and project management. We are a dynamic and growing firm with a commitment to innovative design and the highest quality in our built projects. A successful candidate will be very organized, have a knack for record keeping, communicates effectively and thrives in a team setting. As a project manager on the construction team you will do extensive research on construction guidelines and zoning codes. Experience in project budgeting is required and tasks will include materials specifications, redline drawing sets, and plant tagging. The ability to communicate well both with clients, other types of workers (contractors, supervisors, etc.) and project teams is crucial as well as having a high level of proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Site, Sketch-up and Microsoft Office A bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape design or landscape architecture is required Submit resumes to - resumes@hoerrschaudt.com

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER Seeking a motivated individual with strong leadership skills and personal values to work within our Landscape Construction Division. FT w/ health ins., cell phone, vehicle, vacation & matching 401K. JOB DESCRIPTION: job site mgmt; report directly to Landscape Construction & Maintenance Mgr; ordering of greens & hard goods; quality control/safety compliance; scheduling inspections; client relations. REQUIRED SKILLS: strong organizational & communication; knowledge of plant material/hardscape; 3-5 yrs industry exp.; snow operations exp. a plus. TO APPLY: email resume to Bob Kinnucan @ rkinnuan@aol.com

HELP WANTED CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES October 2017 issue ads: September 15, 2017 November 2017 issue ads: October 15, 2017 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 O’Connor (630) 472-2851

Spray Technician -Plant Health Care Irrigation Technician Hanson Landscape is currently seeking an experienced Irrigation Technician. This position will over see the servicing of all irrigation systems as well as ensuring their functionality, and relaying information to our account representatives for additional work recommend or required. Must have valid drivers license, capable of trouble shooting wires, leaks,broken heads, misc repairs. Knowledge of startup and shut down, sprinkler head, timer box and zone adjustments, rain sensor testing/repairs. If you are interested in this position please email your resume to Rachel@hansonlandscape.com or if you have questions contact the office at 630-556-4120.

Rosborough Partners, Inc. West Chicago Office is seeking an experienced Spray Technician. Responsibilities include handling & applying pesticides according to label specifications, loading materials and scheduling routes to achieve efficient use of time. Position requirements are: Operator/Applicator license in turf, ornamental & mosquito. Class C Driver License with a good record. Horticultural knowledge & landscape industry experience. English & Spanish fluency is a plus. Prefer 3 years experience. Please email resume to: resumes@rosboroughpartners.com

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES JAMES MARTIN ASSOCIATES, INC. Vernon Hills, IL

James Martin Associates, Inc. is a leader in the Landscape and Snow Management industry. We have been providing services to our customers for 40 years. We are seeking candidates for the following positions:

Landscape and Snow Operations Associates

Design Build Sales

IT Desktop/ Support Technician

To be considered for any of these opportunities, please forward your resume and salary history to b.mcelroy@jamesmartinassociates.com or call Beth at 847-876-8052.

Landscape Architecture • Construction • Maintenance • Snow Management

www.jamesmartinassociates.com

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Landscape Maintenance Supervisor

Account Manger

Beverly Environmental LLC is looking for a Supervisor for our Landscape Maintenance division. The landscape maintenance supervisor must be dependable, detail-minded and a hands-on leader who gets the job done while meeting high standards. Come join our exciting, hard-working team!

The Account Manger is responsible for managing several crews, and for regular communication with clients through site visits, quality field reports and one-on-one meetings. Good relationship management skills will help with providing enhancement proposals and retaining existing accounts and in developing new prospects to meet Seberts growth goals. The Account Manager is responsible for a full range of activities including:

Horticultural Technician/Gardener for Commercial Landscape Maintenance Contractor

JOB SKILLS • Ability to guide multiple maintenance crews by assigning dedicated tasks and helping in the field. • Ability to operate landscape equipment and machinery and fulfill job tasks. • Ability to execute work from a route sheet and read plans. • Ability to communicate effectively. • Basic plant knowledge • Three or more years of experience preferred. • English fluency a must; Spanish fluency highly preferred. RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensure all assigned equipment, tools and safety items, vehicles and trailers or other items are maintained and returned to the shop in proper working order. • Oversee crews and check job sites to ensure work is performed properly. • Communicate with office staff and hand in daily routes for billing and time entry. • Maintain a clean, neat and professional image. • Ability to use hand-held electronic devices and a laptop. • Proficient with Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Outlook. • Snow Removal responsibilities during the winter months. Required experience: — Landscaping: 2 years — Valid Driver’s License and clean motor vehicle record for 3+ years — U.S. Citizen or Work Visa. Please send resume to astraughn@beverlyenvironmental.com

•

Provide quality customer service to all existing / prospective clients • Resolve customer issues/complaints in accordance with company guidelines. • Provide enhancement proposals both on Lawn Maintenance Contracts as well as special landscaping needs to existing and prospective clients. • Manage daily landscape projects and maintenance to ensure they are performed within proposed budget and hours. • Ensure communication between Supervisor & Crew Foreman is clear regarding client expectations. • Ensure crews are properly maintaining/ operating equipment to prevent onsite issues. • Inspect trucks/trailers/equipment for cleanliness as well as crew members are in proper uniform to maintain Seberts professional image. • Prepare “take-offs” to determine contract pricing for prospective clients. • Canvass for potential clients to assist in increasing sales volume and company revenue. • Manage employee’s adherence to company policy and safety procedures. • Personal development through acquiring/ maintaining State licenses/certifications. • Manage/participate in Snow Operations in the winter months. • Participate / contribute in the company’s “lean management” principals / strategies Please send resumes to: lorena@sebert.com

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Lakeshore Seasonal Services is located in beautiful and vibrant Valparaiso Indiana. We are seeking one or two horticultural technicians to service our accounts – to take ownership and pride in their accounts as much as our current technicians do (but we’re growing and need more)! Typical duties include annual flower/planter care from spring through December, proper shrub pruning, bed weed & litter control, etc. These are fulltime positions for qualified individuals who can also perform snow work in the winter. Two or three years’ experience in commercial landscape gardening is desired, as are individuals who are Certified Pesticide Applicators (or have the ability to pass the Indiana test). A valid driver’s license and good driving record is a must. Your driving skills in a pickup truck will be tested by our safety manager. We’re a Drug Free workplace, we E-Verify, and we require a pre-placement physical. Pay is commensurate with experience and perceived potential. Please send a resume with contact information to hfs@lakeseasonal.com. CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES October 2017 issue ads: September 15, 2017 November 2017 issue ads: October 15, 2017 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 O’Connor (630) 472-2851

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The Landscape Contractor September 2017

Knowing Native Plants

Native Intelligence A Guide through the Labyrinth of Native Plants and Cultivars

by Nina Koziol

In the Midwest,

where winter temperatures can dip to -20 F and summers can produce endless heat and periods of drought, plants must be well-adapted to survive let alone thrive. Native plants — the flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees that grew in geographical regions prior to European settlement — do just that. Jacob Burns, curator of herbaceous perennials at the Chicago Botanic Garden will anchor the Native Intelligence series for the next four months.

Geranium maculatum — Wild Geranium

There are more than 400 species of geraniums growing in cool temperate areas of the world. There are annuals and biennials, but this is the only perennial one that’s native to the Midwest. It’s found in every county of Illinois, typically growing in open woods, clearings, woodland edges and roadsides. It’s beak-like seeds give it another common name--cranesbill.

Cultivate: • Site: Not fussy. Grows in moist to slightly dry soil as well as rich, loamy soil with abundant organic matter. (Think of the forest floor with all those decomposing leaves.) Prefers light shade to part sun. • Size: 1-2 ft x 1 ft. wide. Clump-forming with upward-facing flowers, wild geranium is a good weaver around other plants • Hardiness: Zones 3-8 • Bloom time: Spring (May-June) • Flower Color: Lavender to pink • Foliage: Deeply lobed leaves turn red to burgundy in fall • Plant Partners: Carex (sedges), hosta, hydrangea, heuchera, astilbe, epimedium, hellebore, thalictrum, hakonechloa • Native Cultivar: ‘Espresso’ “Excellent as a ground cover and has dark reddish-brown foliage. I love the colorful leaves on that one,” Burns says.

Bonus: Long-lived and one of the easiest plants to grow and maintain. Rabbits and deer seldom bother them. 70

The Landscape Contractor September 2017

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