TNLA Working for You November 13, 2020

Bi-Weekly E-Newsletter

TNLA January 2020 - Green Concept

November 13, 2020 Page 1

Working for You

TNLA Academics

TNLA Academics brings you EDUCATION ON-DEMAND to help you better train your team, and advance your knowledge in many sectors of the Nursery/Landscape Industry.

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November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

Pradia is a registered trademark of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.

PradiaÂŽ is a combination product developed to control a wide variety of sucking and chewing pests on ornamental and nursery crops. Pradia delivers a quick knockdown and excellent long-term control on aphids, thrips, whitefly and scale.

November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

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Table of Contents 10...Legislative & Regulatory Update

3...Table of Contents

Meeting & Events Calendar

Upcoming Deadlines

CEU Quiz

4....Embrace Your Space Capture Your Carbon How-To 5....Membership Value Added Offerings

11....Job Opportunities TNLA New Members October 2020 TNLA New Certified Professionals

Compensation Study Featured TNLA Endorsed Service Provider

October 2020

Featured Member Benefit Partner 6....TNLA 365 Mobile App 7....TNLA Education On-Demand 8....Tailgate Topics: Hazards of Being in a Hurry Green Vi$ion: Using Biochar as Container Substrates in Horticulture Production

Deadlines

TNLA Foundation Scholarship

Grow Texas Scholarship

Earn financial assistance for your future. Submit your application by November 15, 2020.

Apply Here

Supporting the future of the Green Industry. Submit your application by December 31, 2020.

Helping YOU do Business Better...

Apply Here

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January 2020 - Green Concept

Get Your Community to Start Planting with Embrace Your Space & Capture Your Carbon!

With your community starting to Embrace their Space, your business should be their Go-To place for their planting needs.

The Embrace Your Space campaign is revamped and we are encouraging consumers to CAPTURE YOUR CARBON, Plant a Tree this fall season. TNLA wants to provide you with the resources and inspiration to keep business booming with these campaigns. Make sure to check into the #EmbraceYourSpace media kit with new graphics for your business to share on social media and flyers to print, to keep those customers excited for planting!

TNLA wants to help spread the word of Embrace Your Space & Capture Your Carbon with everyone and we want to help YOUR BUSINESS EARN MORE IMPRESSIONS across social media platforms. Participate by using the hashtag #EmbraceYourSpace and #CaptureYourCarbon so we can share your posts!

How To: Get Involved and Get Your Company on the Map!

Let us Know!

Check it out and share!

Expand Your Reach

Contact Ashley@tnlaonline.org or fill out the form at tnlaonline.org and your business location(s) will be added to the map.

Go to Landscape.tnlonline.org to see your business on the map and listed for consumers to find you!

Spread the word to your community by utilizing the MEDIA KIT and using the hastags #EmbraceYourSpace & #CaptureYourCarbon

Keep an eye out for the Capture Your Carbon, Plant a Tree Banners Banners are located at the participating Retail stores for sonsumers to see and learn more about the campaign and importance of capturing your carbon. Inquiries please contact ashley@tnlaonline.org

November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

Membership Value Added Offerings

$

Compensation Study

Purchase the latest Compensation Study to gain valuable data and help your company do business better, CLICK HERE

TNLA Endorsed Service Provider: Merchant Owl

Merchant Owl helps you reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of processing credit card payments. Uncovering all of your potential savings and designing your own, custom merchant account that best fits your business needs.

Featured Member Benefit Partners At Office Depot & OfficeMax TNLA members save up to 75% off on office, home and school supplies! Enjoy exclusive pricing and discounts on office essentials, toner, paper, cleaning products, break room items, furniture and more. Save online and in-stores. To start saving visit: TNLA.SavingCenter.net TNLA members save on shipments of all sizes through the TNLA Shipping Program, managed by PartnerShip. You’ll benefit from exclusive discounts of up to 40% with FedEx, and competitive rates with UPS Freight, YRC Freight, XPO, and many other carriers. Whether you’re shipping a small package or a full truckload, the TNLA Shipping Program will help you ship smarter. Enroll today.

Greenius is on-demand training software for the green industry with a mission to provide the training tools which will turn your rookies into rockstars. Get a 5% discount on everything with code TNLA2020. Get started here!

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January 2020 - Green Concept

November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

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TNLA Education On-Demand Guided Web Courses: Creating a Garden Sanctuary

Green Industry Essentials: Downloadable WhitePages From dangerous spiders to company culture, TNLA’s Green Industry Essentials are the FREE Downloadable PDFs to help add an education flare to your daily meetings. Just click and print! It’s that easy to get education for your employees.

Join author and professional landscape artist and contractor John Beaudry as he introduces the audience to the fundamentals of landscape design including the elements and principles of landscape design.

These videos are self-paced and set into 4 easy-to-follow modules. Topics include: Art and crafts style, elements of design, finding space, plant choices, and more!

Tangible and FREE! TNLA’s Green Industry WhitePages are easy to print and share to train your employees.

Free Webinars: Earn 1 TNLA CEU per Webinar

Self Paced Online Courses: Offering Basic Green Industry Training Use these courses as training for employees, a refresher for your professionals, or get started!

• Further develop your professional knowledge in your timeframe • Aid your studies for the Exam with these supplemental courses • Useful for those new to the Industry to quickly gain industry knowledge while on the go

Grow your professional knowledge and Earn 1 TNLA CEU by watching one of the many available TNLA webnars.

With topics including Business Management, Enviornment, COVID-19 Response, Pest & Disease Management, Economy, Legislative & Regulatory, Plants, & more!

Don’t miss this chance to gain FREE knowlege from the experts!

TNLA Green Magazine Archives: Take a CEU Quiz to Earn 1 TNLA

Nursery/Landscape EXPO Videos: Watch Interviews and Keynote Speakers The Nursery/Landscape EXPO is packed full of education including excellent keynote speakers including Jack Jostes, Thom Singer and more. Hear about productivity, trends, marketing, company culture, and more!

Enjoy interviews with other professionals in the Green Industry and hear about tips, tricks, and trends from them.

TNLA Green Magizine has been packed full of useful knowlege for Green Industry Professionals. TNLA Academics holds all of the TNLA CEU quizzes that you can take now and be eligible to earn 1 TNLA CEU. Read up on articles coming from AgriLife, SFA Gardens and more!

Don’t forget to take the CEU Quiz in this edition of TNLA Working for You

Ad Index 2....OHP Inc. 5....TNLA AD Opportunity

12....Hotchkiss Insurance, LLC

13....Office Depot/Office Max

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November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

The Hazards of Being in a Hurry Objective: Participants will be able to recognize if they hurry on the job and make changes to their behavior.

You must make a conscious decision to change your behavior if you feel you hurry too much. When changing your behavior consider the following:

APPLICATION: Let participants know that you believe it is important to work carefully and diligently so they don’t hurt themselves or others and do a thorough job. This tailgate can be used to identify areas in a job where individuals hurry.

Put Safety First Staying safe will keep you from rushing through projects and injury free.

Working with in a hurry or rushing through a job can lead to consequences that affect the quality of the job and/or your safety. If you know that you hurry while on a job you can take steps to change your behavior and slow down.

The consequences of being in a hurry includes the following: 1. Accidents to yourself of coworkers.

2. Disgruntled customers.

3. Starting jobs again when you thought it was already completed.

4. Loss or damage to products/ equipment.

5. Serious injuries.

6. Loss of income due to injuries.

Never Take Shortcuts Refrain from taking shortcuts that could put you in danger. This includes removing or bypassing safety features on equipment or machinery. Always follow manufacturer guidelines.

Dress Appropriately Always take the time to put on the appropriate personal protective equipment. Saving time by not using the proper PPE can be costly and cause serious injuries.

Use the Right Tools First Never try to use one tool in place of another, more appropriate tool. Using the wrong tool can force you to redo work once it has been completed.

Think Ahead Identify any situations that could be dangerous before they happen. Work carefully and always consider what will happen next so that you can be

Green Vi$ion: Using Biochar as Container Substrates in Horticulture Production Part 4: Effects of biochar on plant growth Ping Yu and Dr. Mengmeng Gu, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Biochar, with various properties (chemical, physical and biological) as we mentioned in the previous articles, may affect plant growth differently. Herein, we present research-based information on biochar’s effects on plant growth. This paper represents the fourth of a five-part series provided to the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association audience.

As many ‘new’ potting mixes materials, it is important to experiment on a small scale before largescale incorporation of biochar in potting mixes. There has been an increasing number of researches focusing on testing different biochar materials in potting mixes. Researchers have tested the effects of low incorporation rate of biochar with most of the results being positive. For instance, adding 10% (by vol.) of sewage sludge biochar with peat-based substrates can increase lettuce biomass by 184%270%. Also, mixing 20% or 35% (w/w) coir biochar with 0.5% or 0.7% humic acid in composted green waste medium showed increased biomass of rattlesnake plant when compared to those without biochar and humic acid amendments.

In recent years, researchers are testing higher biochar incorporation rates and have some promising results. For example, 50% and 75% (by vol.) of pruning waste biochar mixed with peat-based substrates increased lettuce biomass. Green waste biochar mixed with peat moss at 50% (by vol.) increased the total biomass and leaf surface of prayer’s plant (Maranta leuconeura). Also, mixed hardwood biochar (50%, vol.) and sugarcane bagasse biochar at 50% or 70% with bark-based substrate increased basil plant’s average root diameter. Mixed hardwood biochar at 20%-80% (vol.) increased photosynthesis, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of chocolate mint, peppermint, Kentucky Colonel mint, spearmint, and orange mint.

Also, pinewood biochar mixed with pine bark increased chrysanthemum shoot fresh and dry weight. Pinewood biochar (20%80%; vol.) mixed with peat moss-based substrate had no effects on Easter lily or poinsettia plant growth when compared to those in 100% peat moss-based substrate.

It may seem that ALL types of biochar used in research mentioned above have positive results on plant growth when incorporated in potting mixes. That can’t be further from the truth. Just like growers, researchers are less likely to go all in on biochar research before dipping their toe in the water.

Or should I say ‘poke their finger in the biochar’? Their research batch may seem very small to growers growing thousands or millions of plants, and very likely they would test their biochar in preliminary studies with even smaller batches, like five to ten 6” pots.

In my over 10 years of experience with biochar, quite a few types of biochar were not selected to be included in our research projects. One example was a type of cow manure biochar. The texture was so fine that it looked like what you normally see at the bottom of some peat product, fine dust.

Another type of rice hull ash was similar.

These two types of biochar were not included for further research due to their physical properties. Another type of biochar (feedstock source and pyrolysis procedures withheld due to proprietary nature of the information) was mixed up with a commercial potting mix for preliminary tests and all plants transplanted in 6” pots in the morning wilted within 30 min. They all died in a day or two. We didn’t have any funding to do ‘drug’ test, but for something

November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

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Is it economical feasible to use biochar as container substrate for horticulture production?

The answer is maybe. The price of commercial peat moss-based substrate and locally available biochar is $4.87/ft3, and $2.22/ft3 (the average), respectively. According to the biochar literature, 20% ~80% of peat moss can be replaced by biochar (taking 50% as the average) without any negative influence on plant growth or yield. If you switch peat moss to biochar, you may save money for media without sacrificing plant product quality.

The four figures included in this article give you a glimpse of the ton of biochar trials that we have done in the last 10 years. Normally we would include a control in the experiments that shows the industry normal, in this case, a type of commercial substrate. We did include a type of commercial substrate in our previous biochar trials when biochar was included at lower rates (e.g. 10% and 20%). The four figures shown here are from a later stage of the trials with high biochar rates as the lower rates of biochar have showed very positive results previously.

Keep in mind that not all hardwood or sugarcane bagasse biochar give you the same results, because of the reasons mentioned in previous articles.

For example, if a grower uses 1,000 ft3 peat moss-based substrate for container plant production each growing cycle, by using biochar mixes at 50%, (4.87-2.22) *1,000 *50%=$1,325 could be saved each growing cycle. Not to mention the potential reduced fertilizer or fungicide/pesticide costs. In reality, most growers use many times of 1,000 ft3 potting mix. The key is ‘locally available’. Most biochar has high bulk density than peat mossbased substrate, and long-distance shipping would quickly eat up the price advantage.

Figure 1: Petunia plants grown in different percentage of sugarcane bagasse biochar

We’ll discuss the potential of biochar on plant disease suppression in the next article.

mixed with commercial bark-based substrate. work that fast to kill plants, we thought it might be salinity issue, which is common in many types of biochar due to certain chemical procedures. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, potentially toxic substances, can form and are present on the surface of many types of biochar, and it is impossible to rule it out completely, it is less likely to act so quickly to kill plants.

Figure 2: Pepper plants grown in different percentage of mixed hardwood biochar (HB) mixed with commercial peat moss-based substrate (CS).

The effects of biochar on plant growth depends on plant species, the biochar’s physical and chemical properties (discussed in previous two parts of the biochar series), and the physical and chemical properties of the final potting mix. Of course, physical and chemical properties of the final mix are affected by the types of biochar, base mix and the mixing ratio.

Figure 3: Tomato plants grown in different percentage of sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) and 50% hardwood biochar (HB) mixed with commercial peat moss-based substrate (CS).

If the biochar has fine texture (likely holding lots of water), it may not be a good idea to add it to mixes with high water holding capacity. If the biochar has low pH, you may consider up the amount of lime when mixing it with acidic components like pine bark or peat. And for biochar with high pH, less lime. The highest percentage of biochar suitable for container plant growth that we have seen is 80% (vol.).

Figure 4: Basil plants grown in different percentage of sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) and 50% hardwood biochar (HB) mixed with commercial peat moss-based substrate (CS).

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November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

Legislative & Regulatory Update

Meeting & Events Calendar

USDA Announces Program the Simplify Importing Plant Material

November 18, 2020

The USDA announced this week their launch of the Offshore Greenhouse Certification program. In January, February, and March of 2021, the USDA will be visiting international or “offshore” greenhouse facilities to certify their sanitary production standards. Greenhouse which are certified will be accelerated through the APHIS inspection and review process at U.S. ports of entry. Texas growers which import cuttings and other plant material should explore the opportunity to conduct their importation without shipment seizure. Interested growing facilities will need to apply and cover the costs associated with USDA staff inspection of the facilities. To find out more about the USDA Offshore Greenhouse Certification program please visit HERE.

USDA Announces New H-2A Wage Rate Rule The USDA announced a final ru for H-2A which will freeze the wage rate for till 2023 and adjust how the wage rate is determined for years going forward. A common compliant with the AEWR, the current wage rate system, is that it is artificially inflated and increases exponentially faster than the actual wage rates for parts of Texas. The new rule is expected to align closer to the reality of prevailing wage amongst nursery employers and provide some stability for growers in these unpredictable times. You can find out more information in this FAQ issued by the USDA •

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TNLA continues to prepare for session by outlining the legislation of interest to the green industry. TNLA staff has met with our coalition partners to prepare legislation in response to the COVID crisis and our coalition will be meeting with Governor Abbott’s office this week to share these priorities.

The TNLA Leader List is back up and running post-election and gearing up for the weekly updates during the Legislative Session. The Leader List is only available to TNLA members and provides legislative, regulatory, and political updates on the matters most pressing for the green industry. You can subscribe to the Leader List HERE

CEU Quiz: Earn 1 TNLA CEU

WEBINAR: Immigration Avenues & Visa Reform with Amy Graham & Andrew Moriarty

Register Here!

November 26-27, 2020

State Office Closed

Email info@tnlaonline.org for holiday hour inquiries.

August 5-7, 2021

2021 Nursery/ Landscape EXPO San Antonio, TX More Info Here!

On Demand

Creating a Garden Sanctuary Guided Web Course More Info Here!

1. According to the Using biochar as container substrates in horticulture production Part 4 article, in recent years, researchers are testing ______ biochar incorporation rates and have some promising results.

Neutral Higher Lower No

5. According to the article THE HAZARDS OF BEING IN A HURRY, working with in a hurry or rushing through a job can lead to consequences that affect the quality of the job and/or your safety.

True False

2. According to the Using biochar as container substrates in horticulture production Part 4 article, Pinewood biochar (20%-80%; vol.) mixed with peat moss-based substrate had _____ effects on Easter lily or poinsettia plant growth when compared to those in 100% peat moss-based substrate.

Neutral Higher Lower No

6. According to the article THE HAZARDS OF BEING IN A HURRY, when changing your behavior, you must make ______________ if you feel you hurry too much.

A detailed workplan A conscious decision A social or peer to peer agreement Time

3. According to the Using biochar as container substrates in horticulture production Part 4 article, is it economical feasible to use biochar as container substrate for horticulture production?

Yes Maybe No 4. According to the Using biochar as container substrates in horticulture production Part 4 article, most biochar has lower bulk density than peat moss-based substrate, and long-distance shipping would quickly eat up the price advantage.

True False

7. According to the article THE HAZARDS OF BEING IN A HURRY, what should you refrain from that could put you in danger?

Micromanaging Taking breaks Use the phone while you work Taking shortcuts 8. According to the article THE HAZARDS OF BEING IN A HURRY, using _____________ can force you to redo work once it has been completed.

The wrong tool Jerry rigging Technology Other people Submit your completed quiz to education@tnlaonline.org for 1 TNLA CEU

November 2020 - TNLA Working for You

Job Opportunities NEW Garden Center Assistant Manager Fossil Creek Tree Farm & Nursery Fort Worth, TX VISIT POSTING Propogation Manager Magnolia Gardens Nursery Waller, TX VISIT POSTING

Customer Service Representative Confedintial Georgetown, TX VISIT POSTING Crew Lead Supervisor MBL, Inc. Fort Worth, TX VISIT POSTING Landscape Sales and Design Roundtree Landscaping, Inc. Dallas, TX VISIT POSTING Nursery/Grower Development Consultant GoMaterials Austin/Dallas/Houston, TX VISIT POSTING Landscape Design/Sales Position James Landscaping, Inc. Keller TX VISIT POSTING

New Certified Professionals October 2020 TEXAS CERTIFIED LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL Kess Parmelly, TCLP Earthtones Greenery, Inc. Monica Frady, TCLP Southern Landscapes Linda Javor, TCLP Calloway’s Nursery

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New Members October 2020 REGION I

REGION IV

REGION VIII

Student Michael Gonzales Texas A&M Kingsville San Antonio, TX

Landscape Business Bruce Landscaping & Maintenance, Inc. William Bruce Plano, TX 972 516 1122 dallasbestlandscaping. com

Landscape Business Vincent Landscapes, Inc. Kellan Vincent Austin, TX 512 263 5088 vincentlandscapesinc.com

REGION II Educator Scooter Langley Lee College Huntsville, TX 77320 (936) 581 1525 Educator Sierra Buffaloe Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX (979) 476 4450 Landscape Individual Carlos DeLoera Olympus Landscapers Houston, TX (832) 665 6265 Retail Business Mid County Farm & Feed Supply LLC David Pool Nederland, TX 409 722 4933 midcountyfeedstore. com REGION III Landscape Business Integrity Lawnscapes, LLC Brandon Nix Kilgore, TX (903) 746 5882 etxlawns.com REGION IV Educator James Bell Hill College Waxahachie, TX (214) 228 4280 Educator Sydney Wallace Lewisville ISD, TECC-W Krum, TX (940) 368 3596

Landscape Individual Hugo Dominguez Lawns of Dallas Alvarado, TX 76009 (469) 601 4972 Landscape Business Turnbull Landscaping Company Mark Turnbull Flower Mound, TX (214) 435 4821

REGION V Landscape Business Premier Oaks Landscape Management, LLC Anthony Harris Keller, TX 817 422 3299 premieroakslandscape. com REGION VI Government Christina Reid Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Lubbock County Lubbock, TX (806) 775 1740 Educator Jeff Floyd Midland College Midland, TX 432 889 9537

Landscape Business Utz Environmental Services Chris Utz Leander, TX 512 528 9696 utzenvironmentalservices. com Landscape Business Ecosystem Regeneration Artisans Shannon Brown San Marcos, TX (281) 229 3803 eranativeland.com Student Norma Catano Austin Community College Spicewood, TX Student Caitlyn Reeves Austin Community College Round Rock, TX Student Melissa Briggs Austin Community College Round Rock, TX Student Karina Rosas University of Texas Hutto, TX

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January 2020 - Green Concept

January 2020 - Green Concept

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