FALL 2023 VOL. 11, NO. 4
A LANDSCAPE ALBERTA MEMBER PUBLICATION
NOVEMBER 15-16, 2023 WESTERNER PARK IN RED DEER
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GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 2
FALL 2023 VOL. 11, NO. 4
CONTENTS
Green Industry Show & Conference Pages 8 - 31
08 GISC Information ADVANCING THE PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY
09 Pricing 10 Schedule
MANAGING EDITOR Joel Beatson CONTENT & EDITING Kyla Hardon LAYOUT KWL Design
13 Exhibitor Booth Numbers
Landscape Alberta Green for Life is a professional publication for the landscape trade in Alberta.
14 Session Descriptions 24 Exhibitor Listings
Editorial and Advertising Landscape Alberta 18051 107 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1K3 P: 780-489-1991 admin@landscape-alberta.com Landscape Alberta does not assume responsibility for and does not endorse the contents of any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Landscape Alberta or its members. Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without the consent of Landscape Alberta. ISSN No: 1929-7114 (print) ISSN N0: 1929-7122 (online) Landscape Alberta Board of Directors Brian Gibson, Green Drop Lawns Ltd., Chair Ken Ruddock, ULS Maintenance & Landscaping Inc. Cody Brown, Tree to Tree Nurseries Ltd. Jeff Oudyk, CSLA, AALA, JLG, Land Tec Landscape Contractors Ltd., Vice Chair John van Roessel, CLM, CLT, JVR Landscape (2006) Inc., Treasurer Matthew Chausse, Seasonal Impact Laura Watson, Finning Canada Adam Jansen, The Jansen Group Landscape Alberta Staff
Green for Life Magazine Pages 4 - 7, 34 - 46
04 Industry and Association News 34 5 Marketing Mistakes Landscape Entrepreneurs Need to Fix for 2024 36 The Effect of Climate Change on Urban Trees 38 The City of Edmonton is Greener As We Grow 40 Quarterly PTRC Fall Update: July-Sept 2023 42 Why You Should Fire Yourself 44 ‘Eco-Optimism’ - Garden Media Group’s 2024 Garden Trends Report 46 Tactical Snow Planning
Joel Beatson, CAE, CLM, CEO joel.beatson@landscape-alberta.com Marnie Main, Member Services Director member.services@landscape-alberta.com Lisa Brick, Events Manager lisa.brick@landscape-alberta.com Kyla Hardon, Communications Coordinator kyla.hardon@landscape-alberta.com Cheryl Teo, Bookkeeper accounting@landscape-alberta.com
Follow Our Social Media Instagram: @landscapealberta
CALENDAR November 15 & 16, 2023 GISC 2023 Westerner, Park, Red Deer, AB http://greenindustryshow.com
January 9-11, 2024
2024 LANDSCAPE ONTARIO CONGRESS https://www.locongress.com/
November 14, 2023
LANDSCAPE ALBERTA NURSERY PRODUCERS AUCTION Red Deer Resort and Casino http://greenindustryshow.com
Facebook: @landscapealberta
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 3
Industry and Association News Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) 2023 National Awards of Excellence Winners: Caterpillar Award for Commercial Landscape Construction Winner: Trim Landscaping For: Peggy’s Cove Accessible Viewing Deck, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Commercial Landscape Maintenance
In early August 2023, the government of Canada announced the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) will help to reduce the administrative burden and simplify the hiring process for repeat Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) employers who demonstrate a history of complying with program requirements. The biggest issue we continued to hear regarding the TFWP is the amount of time it takes to process Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) each year. An LMIA confirms that there is a need for a temporary foreign worker, that no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job, ensures that the employer’s job offer is legitimate and that the employer has complied with Program requirements to protect workers.
Winner: Strathmore Landscape Contractors For: Consilium Place, LaSalle, Quebec
Caterpillar Award for Residential Landscape Construction Winner: Fossil Landscape Construction For: Modern Luxury, Vancouver, British Columbia
The new pilot will help to alleviate the administrative workload for some and simplify the repeat hiring process of Temporary Foreign Workers for employers who demonstrate a history of complying with the program requirements. Recognized Employers will have access to LMIA validity for up to 36 months, and potentially simplified LMIA applications to hire additional workers in the future.
Residential Landscape Maintenance Winner: It’s About Thyme Inc. For: Urban Oasis, Stratford, Ontario
Landscape Design Winner: Planta Landscape Inc For: Britannia Residence, Calgary, Alberta
Keep reading for information on the program...
Garden Centre of Distinction
2023 National Awards of Landscape Excellence
Winner: Alternative Choice Garden Centre Brandon, Manitoba, Sponsored by Greenhouse Canada Magazine
Winners of the 20th annual National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) were announced live on Aug. 9, 2023 during a special reception held in Winnipeg. The event was held in conjunction with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s (CNLA) summer meetings.
Grower of Distinction Winner: Jeffries Nurseries Ltd., Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Green for Life Community Award Green Cities Foundation For: St. Matthew’s House, Sponsored by Caterpillar CNLA
President’s Award Awarded to CNLA Past President Bruce McTavish
CNLA Service Recognition Awarded to Victor Santacruz, recognizing 25 years with the CNLA The National Awards of Landscape Excellence are sponsored by: Caterpillar, John Deere, Equinox Environmental Products, HortProtect, Fenchurch General Insurance Company, LMN, and Greenhouse Canada Magazine. Winners from this year and previous years are highlighted on the CNLA website at www.nale.ca Check out CNLA’s YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/cnla for videos on all of this year’s finalists, winning projects and past winners.
The National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) recognize Canadian companies that have actively participated in significantly raising the level of professionalism in the landscape industry. Each province nominates members from the provincial Awards of Excellence competition that are then entered into the national awards. Each province may enter up to three entries per category, for a total of fifteen entries per association for the following awards: landscape construction (commercial and residential), landscape maintenance (commercial and residential), and landscape design. Other awards include the Garden Centre of Distinction and the Grower of Distinction, as well as the Green for Life Award. This award recognizes the significant contributions made to the ornamental horticulture sector by an individual, corporation, or community. Congratulations to this year’s winners including Landscape Alberta member, Planta Landscape Inc in the Landscape Design Category! The recognition is well deserved for all their outstanding work, which significantly raises the level of professionalism in the landscape industry.
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 4
Industry and Association News Enter the 2023 Landscape Awards
ENTER THE 2023 LANDSCAPE AWARDS Showcase your creativity and be recognized for your expertise!
Showcase your expertise and creativity... The early bird entry deadline for this year’s Landscape Awards is October 21, 2023.
Entry forms and guides are available online at www.landscape-alberta.com. The Landscape Awards program is only open to active members of Landscape Alberta and Landscape Saskatchewan.
**New for 2023** All active members get their first entry free! If you have never entered before we hope this helps you take your first step into the awards program. Or if you have entered in a while, what a great time to get involved again. Download the Landscape Awards Entry Package with all the information you will need for this year’s awards below. If you have any questions or need extra time to put together your entry, please let us know! There are categories for all residential and commercial projects, including maintenance, construction, and design. We also have a landscape feature category for those stunning show pieces (e.g. fireplace) Now is the time to identify the projects that you would like to submit for awards. Ensure you take pictures before, during and after. You can always go back to previous projects from the last two seasons as they often look better after some maturation (construction). Avoid the rush at the end of season by ensuring you get client permissions and pictures throughout the season.
2021 Census of Agriculture Statistics Canada is pleased to share findings from the 2021 Census of Agriculture, combined with data from the 2021 Census of Population, available online at https://www. statcan.gc.ca/en/census-agriculture. These findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the evolving socioeconomic landscape of Canada’s farm population, shedding light on the dynamics, diversity, and contributions of various population groups within the agricultural sector.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT KYLA AT KYLA.HARDON@LANDSCAPE-ALBERTA.COM 1-800-378-3198
tables, three infographics and a data quality report. In the months ahead, a series of articles will be published in Canadian Agriculture at a Glance, offering supplementary socioeconomic insights into the country’s farming population.
Understanding Housing Tax for Small Businesses and Farms The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Act implements an annual 1% tax on the value of vacant and underused residential properties directly or indirectly owned by those who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens. It became effective Jan. 1, 2022, and the first tax return for year-end Dec. 31, 2022, is due at the end of April 2023.
Discover the key findings that provide valuable insights into what is shaping an evolving and sustainable future for Canadian agriculture. • • • • •
Canadian farm households are smaller in size and are increasingly diverse, reflecting the changing landscape of the agricultural community. Immigrants play a pivotal role in shaping Canadian agriculture, bringing diverse skills that can boost the potential for increased productivity. Individuals from racialized groups make significant contributions to the farm population, with South Asian and Chinese communities being the largest groups. The Indigenous farm population has seen a slight increase, with the majority identifying as Métis. A substantial portion of the farm population reported a religious affiliation, with Catholicism being the most frequently reported religion.
Statistics Canada is proud to share information from the 2021 Agriculture–Population Linkage, which includes 14 standard
In Memoriam, Hedy Dyck It is with great sadness that we share the news that Hedy Dyck, retired BCLNA Chief Operating Officer passed away on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. The family has set up a website https://hedydyck.ca/ where they have a form to submit messages and condolences, which will be displayed as they are entered. The site includes a little life story and some photos of Hedy. If you have specific submissions that you’d like added to the webpage, please send the information to info@bclna.com and we’ll compile it and direct it to the appropriate family member. In lieu of flowers, Hedy had requested that donations be made to the Green Cities Foundation. https://gcfoundation.ca/
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 5
Industry and Association News Alberta Annual Elm Pruning Ban in effect: April 1 to September 30 Dutch elm disease (DED) is a fatal fungus that can affect and kill all elm species that grow in Alberta. This includes Siberian elm. Even though Siberian elm are more tolerant to DED they are not resistant. Elm bark beetles that can carry the disease can also be attracted to freshly pruned Siberian elms to feed and breed as they can to all other species of elms. The DED Prevention and Control Measures are enforceable under the Agricultural Pests Act (APA). All municipalities, counties and MDs in the province of Alberta have the responsibility and authority to prevent and control DED under the APA. They all have the powers and responsibilities outlined under the Section 17 to enforce the DED Prevention/Control Measures to the landowner. For more information go to www.stopded.org
Alberta’s New ‘Move Over’ Rules to Protect Roadside Workers Start Sept. 1 Alberta’s new “move over” safety rules starting Sept. 1 will require drivers in the lane closest to any stopped roadside worker vehicle with lights flashing to slow down to 60 km/h or lower if posted as such.
Drivers will also be required to move over to the far lane, if safe to do so, and take reasonable steps to allow other drivers to move over as well, said a Tuesday morning Alberta government news release. Right now, only tow truck drivers and first responders are protected this way under the Traffic Safety Act, but all roadside workers, including highway maintenance workers and snowplow operators, stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights activated will be covered starting Sept. 1. Continue reading…
OHS Materials Updated in many languages As our workforce becomes more diverse many can struggle with making required information available in every language that employees are most comfortable reading. The Alberta government recently released updated resources of many materials in languages other than English. Including, French, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
CLS Landscape - South Location is now open! To serve you better, CLS now has a location in the South. You can visit their at our new space - Unit #A 4116 50 Ave SE, with easy access to Deerfoot, Barlow Trail and Stony Trail. Finally, the friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient service you love from CLS Landscape Supply is now available in South Calgary!
(CEBA) Canada Emergency Business Account: Government extends repayment and partial loan forgiveness deadlines On September 14, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that they would extend the CEBA loan repayment schedule. The loan forgiveness extension is not long, adding only a few GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 6
Industry and Association News weeks to retain the 33% (upto $20,000) forgivable amount, however, the full loan payback due date has changed from 2025 to 2026. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is extending the repayment deadline for its small business pandemic loan program by one year — but businesses will still lose the forgivable portion of the loan if they don’t repay in the coming months.”
purchase*. Members also receive a 10% discount off the purchase of any ECHO 58V battery-powered products. Also, members will be offered a 20% discount if you arrange a product demo with an ECHO representative and purchase a minimum of five ECHO and/or Shindaiwa gas-powered units in a single purchase. *$250 minimum purchase required, does not include parts and labour.
The loan forgiveness portion has been extended from Dec 31, 2023 to Jan. 18, 2024. Loans will start accruing five per cent interest if not repaid by January 19, 2024.
FCA Canada Inc. - Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM: Save on select new and unused Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles. Administration fees apply.
Continue Reading…https://www.landscape-alberta.com/ canada-emergency-business-account-ceba-government-extends-repayment-and-partial-loan-forgiveness-deadlines/
LHCP: Members receive discounted rates on training manuals and exam registration for landscape industry certified designations. Visit www.cnlagetcertified.ca for more information. Get Certified. Get Hired.
City of Calgary introduces new bylaw on Foxtail Barley At the beginning of July the Calgary City Council amended the Community Standards Bylaw to have property owners control the perennial grass Foxtail Barley. Mitigation prior to foxtail barley reaching 15 cm is crucial to prevent seeding and further spread. An amendment to the Community Standards Bylaw adds the requirement that nuisance property owners control foxtail barley over 8 cm, before it poses a hazard to local pets.
Are you a member of the Landscape Alberta? Are you taking advantage of your Member Benefits? We offer discounted pricing on vehicles & equipment, industry training, financial services & much more! Access the Member Benefits portal, here. If you don’t have a log-in please reach out to memberservices@cnla-acpp.ca to request one.
The specified penalty is $500 and peace officers may issue a remedial order to direct the manner in which the plant is to be controlled, where necessary. https://www.calgary.ca/parks/natural-areas/foxtail-barley.html This change had very little to no industry consultation and appears to be largely a reaction to injuries to dogs. This may present issues with ongoing maintenance given how pervasive this species is within the City. If developers, property managers or other clients demand increased service levels or properties you maintain are fined unreasonably please let us know at Landscape Alberta so we can re-address this issue with City of Calgary administration. Have a story to share please email admin@landscape-alberta.com
Take Advantage of these Member Perks! Merchant 1 Payments: Members benefit from preferred pricing, no setup fees, rates guaranteed never to increase and much more! Get a FREE terminal! Staples: Print and marketing in EVERY store in Canada – 20 % off most products or services in the Solution Shop. In stores, or online. Bell Mobility: Cellular plans starting from only $38/month. ECHO / Shindaiwa: Members receive a 15% manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP, plus applicable taxes) discount off ECHO or Shindaiwa gas powered units and accessories
Trees Against The Wind: The Birth Of Prairie Shelterbelts Curious about the origins of the government tree planting program he had worked for, retired research scientist William R. Schroeder was driven to learn more about the people who had the foresight and belief that tree planting could succeed on the Canadian prairies. More info and to purchase: http://naturesask.ca/store.
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 7
GISC 2023 Join us in Red Deer November 15-16, 2023. Our staff and volunteers have worked hard to bring you top industry speakers, informative sessions, timely information, exciting events, and the largest industry trade show on the Prairies. We have a great roster of speakers ready to share their insights and expertise - challenging you to sharpen focus on your business AND broaden your view to the future of our industry. We have a great roster of speakers ready to share their insights and expertise - challenging you to sharpen focus on your business AND broaden your view to the future of our industry. We have tips on growing your business, how to market to a new generation, how to find and retain staff and a panel on the future of electric machinery in our industry. If you are looking for ways to spark new ideas for drawing in clients, supporting and inspiring your team, expanding your view and impact in the industry, building the knowledge and skills that can make your business even more successful! We also have one pre-conference workshop on Tuesday, November 14 for more indepth, technical development. See the schedule for more information!
GET SOCIAL Use #GISC2023 to share and see pictures and posts about our event. Follow Landscape Alberta on social media for the latest updates. Facebook: @landscapealberta Instagram: @landscapealberta
DATES & TIMES NOVEMBER 15-16, 2023 Westerner Park, Red Deer, AB CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 15, 2023 7:55 AM – 12:25 PM NOVEMBER 16, 2023 7:55 AM – 12:25 PM TRADE SHOW WEDNESDAY 10:30 - 4:30PM THURSDAY 10:30 - 3:30PM
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 8
2023 GISC PRICES EARLY BIRD RATES (UNTIL NOV 1)
REGULAR AFTER NOV 1 ON SITE
MEMBER
NONMEMBER
MEMBER
NONMEMBER
Full Conference Pass
$275
$325
$325
$375
Regular Pricing
Thursday Only Conference Pass
$175
$200
$225
$250
Regular Pricing
Friday Only Conference Pass
$175
$200
$225
$250
Regular Pricing
Trade Show Pass
Free
$10
Free
$10
$20.00 (includes tax)
*free with any other purchase and for exhibitors
Add Ons Pre-Conference Workshop
$150
$200
$200
$250
N/A
Industry Bus Tour
$100
$150
$125
$175
N/A
AGGA Garden Party
$30
$30
$30
$30
$35
Growers Auction
$30
$30
$30
$30
$40
* 5% GST will be charged on all items unless stated
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.GREENINDUSTRYSHOW.COM
KATIE DUBOW GARDEN TRENDS
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 9
JACKI HART IS THE ELEPHANT WINNING?
GREENHOUSE TOUR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023 Trailblazer II TIME
EVENT
8:30 am - 8:45 am
Registration and Coffee
8:45 - 9:00 am
Industry Bus Tour - Meet for Departure Host: Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza
Room
Frontier Room Trailblazer 1
9:05 am - 11:25 pm
Bus Tour Doef’s Greenhouse & Gull Valley Greenhouses
11:25 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch Aspen Greenhouses
1:00 pm - 2:20 pm
Bus Tour Blue Grass Sod, Nursery, Garden Centre
2:40 pm - 4:15 pm
Tour Reception Parkland Nurseries Garden Centre
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Grower’s Auction / Dinner Red Deer Resort & Casino
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 10
Trailblazer 2
Lookout Room
GREEN INDUSTRY CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023 Frontier Room TIME
EVENT
7:30 - 7:55 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
7:55 am - 8:55 am
KEYNOTE: 2024 Garden Trends Katie Dubow
Room
Frontier Room Trailblazer 1
Trailblazer 2
Lookout Room
The “Big Truth” about Plants and Their Role in our World Bob Reeves
Optimizing Strawberry Production through Dynamic Lighting Protocols Rose Seguin
Becoming a Leader to Build Leaders Brad Parker
The Long Grass Movement Egan Davis
Developing Greenhouse Tomato Varieties Adapted to the Canadian Environment Travis Banks
Planting Prosperity - Rooted Strategies for the Growth or Exit of Your Business Don Montgomery
9:05 am - 10:05 am
Slip & Fall Readiness Grant Harrison
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Plant Characteristics that Support Beneficial Insects for Landscape Management Ken Fry
10:30 am - 4:30 pm
GREEN INDUSTRY SHOW - STOCKMENS PAVILION Branching Out: Creative Ways to Diversify Christyn Palazzo
Solving the Staffing Dilemma Jacki Hart
Building and Executing a $100 Million Municipal Tree Planting Initiative Erin Belva, Kortney Tompkins
11:25 am - 12:25 pm
Marketing to Millenials Katie Dubow
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Tailgate Party & Tastings Seating Area and Trade Show Floor
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Nursery Growers Meeting Lookout Room
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
AGGA AGM Trailblazer I
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
AGGA Garden Party Frontier Room
8:30 pm - 11:30 pm
After Party Garden Terrace Lounge - Red Deer Resort & Casino
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 11
GREEN INDUSTRY CONFERENCE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023 TIME
EVENT Frontier Room
7:30 - 7:55 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
7:55 am - 8:55 am
KEYNOTE: Is the Elephant Winning? Jacki Hart
Room
Frontier Room Trailblazer 1
Trailblazer 2
Lookout Room
9:05 am - 10:05 am
Marketing to Attract Your A-Client Vanessa McQuade & Rob Murray
Effect on Climate Change on Urban Trees Toso Bozic
An Overview of Thrips Affecting Greenhouse Crops Ken Fry
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Bringing Value and Professionalism Plant to the Sociability Landscape Egan Davis Industry Brad Parker
What You Need to Know About Alberta’s New Prompt Payment Act Jordan Crone and Tom Brookes
Shift Your Mindset, Grow Your Business Christyn Palazzo
10:30 am - 3:30 pm
GREEN INDUSTRY SHOW - STOCKMENS PAVILION
11:25 am - 12:25 pm
Grow Profits Using Job Costing to Identify and Eliminate Waste in Your Company Brandy Jones
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Sod Grower’s Meeting Lookout Room
Profit Works Grant Harrison
IPM & Research Update Jason Pick
Prairie Perennial Trials Owen Vanstone
The Future is Electric Panel
EARN CREDITS Many sessions qualify for educational credits for renewing industry designations and certifications including Landscape Industry Certified designations, Alberta Environment’s Pesticide applicator/dispenser license renewal, ISA Continuing Education Units, and others. Information highlighting which sessions will earn credits are listed in the session descriptions and updates will be posted on our website, www.greenindustryshow.com, as they are approved.
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 12
EXHIBITOR BOOTH NUMBERS
COMPANY NAME....................................... BOOTH # A.M.A. Horticulture Inc............................................................................. 1015 Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association (AFFPA)................938 ApprenticeSearch.com............................................................................ 1226 Aubin Nurseries Ltd.....................................................................................1118 Ball Seed.......................................................................................................... 1105 Berger..............................................................................................................1506 Blue Grass Greenhouses-Red Deer...................................................1034 Blue Grass Sod Farms & Nursery.......................................................1036 Bobcat of Red Deer – Calmont Equipment................................ .. 939 Bron & Sons Nursery Co............................................................................916 BW Global Structures Inc.......................................................................1204 Bylands Nurseries Ltd............................................................................. 1005 Canadian Nursery Landscape Association..................................... 906 Cheyenne Tree Farms (2018) Ltd....................................................... 1220 City of Edmonton, Compost...................................................................1128 City of Edmonton, Urban Forestry................................................... 1009 Coaldale Nurseries.....................................................................................1304 Communities in Bloom, AHA................................................................1306 De Vroomen Bulb Canada Inc.............................................................1330 DeCloet Greenhouse Manufacturing Ltd........................................1208 DLF Canada Inc........................................................................................... 1130 Dümmen Orange.........................................................................................1109 Dutchman Industries Inc......................................................................... 1224 Dynamo Electric Ltd.................................................................................. 1501 Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.........................................................................1231 Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply.................................. 1031 EarthApples Inc...........................................................................................1104 East Jordan Plastics, Inc.........................................................................1505 Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds Ltd...............................................1106 Eco Lighting Solutions (Growtronics)............................................ .. 924 EVL Nursery Inc..........................................................................................1209 Exemplar Horticulture.............................................................................. 1228 Express Seed Company, Inc./ThinkPlants..................................... 1004
FHN Inc. (Foothills Nurseries Ltd.)..................................................... 1210 Finning (Canada)........................................................................................ 909 Flowers Canada Growers Inc...................................................................1119 Green Harvest Ltd....................................................................................... 905 Ground Keepers Friend Basket Solutions Inc............................. . 1215 High Q Greenhouses (2021) Ltd........................................................... 1011 HJS Wholesale Ltd..................................................................................... 942 Hoogendoorn Growth Management................................................ 1207 Horta-Craft.....................................................................................................1108 HortProtect – People Corporation & Marsh Canada................... 910 Houweling Americas Distribution LTD...............................................1315 Huplaso....................................................................................................... .... 928 Inline Nurseries (2010) Inc......................................................................1019 Intrigue Media..............................................................................................1026 Jack Holt Tree Spade Manufacturing.................................................1331 Jeffries Nurseries Ltd.................................................................................925 Jim Peplinski...................................................................................................929 Jolly Farmer.....................................................................................................1117 Kato’s Nursery (2007) Ltd.....................................................................1230 Kehoe Equipment Ltd./Alggin Metal Industries............................935 Know More Hazard.......................................................................................917 Kubota Canada Ltd................................................................................... 1325 Lakeshore Tree Farms Ltd...................................................................... 1214 Landscape Alberta..................................................................................... 906 Landscape Horticulture Certification Pgm..................................... 906 LED Smart Inc..............................................................................................1320 Linnaea Nurseries Limited......................................................................1225 LMN ................................................................................................................1509 Manderley Turf Products Inc....................................................................1121 McKenzie Seeds.............................................................................................921 Neudorff North America........................................................................1504 Nextra Consulting......................................................................................1029 Nutrien Ag Solutions (Canada) Inc.-Evergo Div............................1115 Olds College...................................................................................................1125 Pachmama Patios.........................................................................................914 Paridon Horticultural Ltd...........................................................................912 Parkland Nursery & Landscape Services Ltd...............................1024 Performance Seed.....................................................................................1305 Plant Products - a member of Biobest Group............................. 1229 Polar Industrial Services Ltd...................................................................932 Professional Gardener Co. Ltd., The................................................... 1219 Purple Springs Nursery Inc................................................................... 1324 Root Rescue Environmental Products.............................................. 1216 Sester Farms Inc.......................................................................................... 1319 Simon Bos Nurseries Ltd........................................................................1020 Siteone Landscape Supply....................................................................1308 SMS Equipment Inc................................................................................... 1025 Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease............................................ 1328 Sollum Technologies.................................................................................. 1310 Solutions by CB.......................................................................................... 1507 Southern Irrigation..................................................................................... 1129 Stewart Brothers Nurseries....................................................................1014 Stokes Seeds Limited................................................................................ 907 TerraLink Horticulture Inc.......................................................................1503 TG Nursery and Sons Ltd.......................................................................1206 The HC Company..........................................................................................919 The Toro Company.................................................................................... 1307 Top Spray......................................................................................................... 1114 Total Equipment/Redi-Quip Ltd............................................................915 TreeTime.ca..................................................................................................... 1110 True North Mergers & Acquisitions................................................... 1502 UC Organic Products.............................................................................. 1006 Van Noort Bulb Company....................................................................... 1314 Vanstone Nurseries.....................................................................................937 Wajax...............................................................................................................1035 West Coast Seeds......................................................................................1028 Westcan Greenhouses Ltd.....................................................................1205 West Creek Farms........................................................................................1116
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 13
GISC 2023 SESSIONS
10:15 AM PLANT CHARACTERISTICS THAT SUPPORT BENEFICIAL INSECTS FOR LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT Ken Fry
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023
FRONTIER ROOM
This session will explore the various features of flowering plants (including trees) that recruit and support pollinators, predators and parasitoids. Which plants are good for pest management and which are bad? Find out if what you are planting or maintaining is helping you or hindering you in your pest management efforts.
Education Champion Sponsor
11:25 AM MARKETING TO MILLENIALS Katie Dubow Move over boomers – there’s a new consumer in town. In today’s society, it’s clear that millennials have a massive buying power. Garden Media Group and admitted millennial Katie Dubow will define what millennials value and the best ways brands can reach this demographic. Use the information provided to grow your business and stay relevant.
7:55 AM KEYNOTE: 2024 GARDEN TRENDS Katie Dubow
TRAILBLAZER I
Why should you care about trends? It’s simple. Trends drive consumers and consumers drive sales. The Green Industry Show & Conference is the place to learn about new trends, stay relevant and grow your business.
Education Champion Sponsor
Join Katie Dubow, global trendspotter, president of Garden Media Group and QVC guest host, in this informative session. Katie will outline the seven 2024 Garden Trends, including the color of the year, and offer tips on how to apply each trend to your own business.
Education Trailblazer Sponsor Garden trends are more important than ever. When you’re ahead of the curve, your company becomes a trendsetter and you become the go to place for what’s new.
9:05 AM 9:05 AM
SLIP FALL & READINESS Grant Harrison For snow contractors, the possibility of a slip and fall claim is always on your mind. Every precaution must be taken to ensure the safety of clients and those on their sites. But what documentation do you need to protect yourself against a slip and fall claim? Being prepared can make the process a lot smoother, less stressful, and less costly. Slip and fall readiness and the ability to defend yourself in the event of a claim starts and stops at good documentation. In this case, there’s no such thing as too much information and there’s no substitute for being prepared.
THE “BIG TRUTH” ABOUT PLANTS AND THEIR ROLE IN OUR WORLD Bob Reeves Plants at large (and forests and prairies in particular) are rarely appreciated for their value to Earth’s biosphere; if we think of them at all, we assign them little agency or purpose, when in fact these amazing ecosystems sustain all lifeforms on Earth. Photosynthecally-powered plants are not mere consumers of resources, but through a deeply integrated symbiosis with
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the soil microbiome – they provide, maintain, rehabilitate, and nurture every other living organism on our planet. We will explore this ‘big truth’; see how it came to be so, and what we (as landscape professionals) can do to assist the ecosystems in our trust to get back to full health and function. How and why should we integrate soil health into our day-to-day professional lives.
10:15 AM THE LONG GRASS MOVEMENT Egan Davis Conventional turf grass management practices are intensive and reliant on the heavy use of resources such as water, fertilizer, labour and equipment. While this type of program is necessary for the maintenance of sports fields, there are opportunities to reimagine the approach to maintaining passive turf grass areas in ways that reduce the use of resources while increasing the ecosystem services that parks provide.
11:25 AM BRANCHING OUT: CREATIVE WAYS TO DIVERSIFY AS LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS Christyn Palazzo Landscape designers possess a natural inclination for creativity; constantly pushing the boundaries of design. However, it’s important to recognize that creativity can be a powerful asset when it comes to expanding our businesses beyond traditional design services. From offering additional services and specializing in niche areas to embracing technology and forging strategic partnerships, this session will provide practical tips and actionable steps to help landscape designers diversify revenue streams and grow their business.
Egan will present approaches long grass management that are modelled after natural grassland plant communities. Ecological elements such as succession, diversity, competition, disturbance and nutrient cycling will be explored and related back to horticultural practice. Discuss balancing the ecological goals of long grass management with the function of passive turf grass areas while addressing community expectations.
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TRAILBLAZER II Education Champion Sponsor
9:05 AM OPTIMIZING STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION THROUGH DYNAMIC LIGHTING PROTOCOLS Rose Seguin Greenhouse strawberry production is relatively new and with new varieties being introduced every year, we are only at the beginning of understanding the climate nuances of this crop. In this presentation, we will focus on the various considerations for lighting everbearing strawberry varieties, such as stem elongation, flowering protocols and possibilities for pathogen control through lighting. We will consider the profiles of different strawberry varieties and how dynamic lighting allows you to meet their needs throughout the production cycle.
10:15 AM DEVELOPING GREENHOUSE TOMATO VARIETIES ADAPTED TO THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENT Travis Banks
en greenhouse tomato breeding project specifically to address the needs of Canadian producers. This presentation will highlight the progress we’ve made in developing tomato-on-the-vine varieties that are preferred by consumers, out-yield competing varieties, and have disease resistances absent in other offerings.
11:25 AM SOLVING THE STAFFING DILEMMA Jacki Hart Never before has it been so important to manage the ‘internal company brand’ experience. More now than ever, what employees experience every day at work is crucial to finding and keeping great people on a team. Being a part of an engaged team is where it’s at. If your company team struggles with getting high rates of retention and engagement, and if you want to learn what to do about it, then you need to come to this seminar.
LOOKOUT ROOM Education Champion Sponsor
Canadian greenhouse producers predominantly grow tomato varieties bred for locations other than Canada, resulting in yield and performance disadvantages relative to other regions. In 2013 Vineland Research and Innovation Centre started a consumer-driv-
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Education Trailblazer Sponsor
ed and how much area to naturalize to reach 2 million trees planted and 20% canopy cover by 2031 and 2071, respectively. Edmonton recently received municipal and federal funding to build planting plans to reach these goals. In our presentation we will provide an overview of our asset management plan, how we prioritized planting targets and show the roadmap of how we plan to plant all of the trees to use the funding; including the benefits and impacts this project may provide to the private sector.
9:05 AM BECOMING A LEADER TO BUILD LEADERS Brad Parker
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023
FRONTIER ROOM
We all have an idea of who a leader is and what we think a leader does, but do we know how to become a leader. Hiring, training and retaining staff is one of the hardest aspects of any business. Learn some strategies on creating leaders within your business, leading up and down the chain of command and the value of teaching your staff to be proactive rather than reactive.
Education Sponsor
10:15 AM PLANTING PROSPERITY - ROOTED STRATEGIES FOR THE GROWTH OR EXIT OF YOUR BUSINESS Don Montgomery
7:55 AM
Whether you have 1, 5 or 10+ years before you consider an exit, you should always be thinking about ways to improve your businesses’ value.
KEYNOTE: IS THE ELEPHANT WINNING? Jacki Hart
In this session you will learn: • • • • •
How landscaping (and similar) businesses are valued Update on the current market dynamics (is now a good time to sell?) Primary drivers of business value and how to enhance these in your business Why size matters Typical succession / exit options
Being no stranger to tough conversations with both staff, and managers, join our Keynote Speaker Jacki Hart as she peels back the smoke screen and digs into that tough place - the gap between what employees want/need and what employers/ managers offer or can provide to them. It’s a no-brainer that all of us ‘don’t know what we don’t know’, and Jacki says it’s time for everyone to get dialed into the current reality from both sides of the office door. This interactive Keynote will dig into current reality - including listening to everyone with live-polling - to get the pulse of where both staff and employers are at across the province, with their expectations and experience of working together - AND THEN, how to narrow the expectation gaps, improve the experience and elevate company culture so that every team can banish the Elephants, and LOVE being at work.
11:25 AM BUILDING AND EXECUTING A $100 MILLION MUNICIPAL TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE Erin Belva Kortney Tompkins The City of Edmonton Urban Forest Asset Management Plan laid out the framework of how many trees need to be plant-
There’s a great path forward to grow awesome businesses, teams and life opportunities for everyone - the slow (old) way - or on the (new) fast-track. So, which do you want?
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9:05 AM
10:15 AM
MARKETING TO ATTRACT YOUR A-CLIENT Vanessa McQuade & Rob Murray
BRINGING VALUE AND PROFESSIONALISM TO THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY Brad Parker
Are you tired of not getting enough of the right leads? This session will walk you through the tools to attract more Awesome Clients - the ones you love working with, understand your value, and refer you to other A-Clients. Discover how to tailor your marketing to attract them, techniques to use to qualify them, and how to keep them as long-lasting clients that will help grow your business. You will walk away being able to: 1. Discover three simple ways to generate A-Leads. 2. Find out how to assess if your marketing is cohesive and if your dollars are being spent in the right areas to get you the best ROI. Learn marketing techniques to discourage tire kickers.
TRAILBLAZER I Education Champion Sponsor
In the residential landscape world, we all struggle with the notion of: “If I could only charge more”, or “I’m worth more than they are because…”. I’m going to walk you through some very simple and easy steps on how to set yourself apart from the competition and GET PAID LIKE A PROFESSIONAL!
11:25 AM GROW PROFITS USING JOB COSTING TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE WASTE IN YOUR COMPANY Brandy Jones This session will give an overview of the importance of job costing and how to keep it simple and automated as possible it will also give an overview of the biggest reasons landscape companies lose efficiency and profitability, and how to snuff those wastes out for good!
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LANDSCAPE ALBERTA LANDSCAPE A
(November 13-17, 2023) (November 13-17
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•
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Reservation Re Deadline: s e r vOctobe a t i orn 14 , D 2023 eadline: October 14, 202 Online: Online: https://reservations.travelclick.com/108483?groupID=3795539 https://reservations.travelclick.com/108483?group CasinoPhone: open Summer 2023! Casino open Summer 2023! 403-755-8830 Phone: 403-755-8830 GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 19
9:05 AM
11:25 AM
PROFIT WORKS Grant Harrison
IPM & RESEARCH UPDATE Jason Pick
An overview of the book Profit Works by Alex Freytag and Tom Bouwer. We unravel the complexity of incentive plans to increase employee productivity, cultivate an engaged workforce and maximize your company’s potential.
The seminar will provide the relevancy behind IPM in our management approaches for weed, insect and turf diseases, followed by the related latest advances and research from the Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation.
TRAILBLAZER II
10:15 AM
Education Champion Sponsor
PLANT SOCIABILITY Egan Davis In a natural environment, plants occur in complex and interconnected communities. Plant adaptation and competition strategies determine the composition of plants in any given community. Plant distribution and occurrence will literally express environmental niches. Through his presentation, Egan will interactively explore and interpret various wild plant communities with the audience and discuss how learnings can be applied to horticultural application. Participants will learn how to apply the principles of plant ecology to the many landscape challenges associated with climate change and limited resources.
9:05 AM EFFECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE ON URBAN TREES Toso Bozic Urban trees play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in cities, providing numerous environmental, social, and economic
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benefits. The effect of climate change on urban trees are numerous including rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased extreme weather events that are creating a hostile environment for many tree species. The urban foresters, arborists and decision makers faces challenging and difficult decisions, on tree care and maintenance of existing trees, choosing right tree species, to ensure tree survival and adaptation to climate change. This requires new strategies and approaches to manage urban trees and forest. The effect of climate change on urban forest can be addressed in following areas. The topic for presentation will cover why policymakers, urban planners and architects, tree nurseries, plant breeders, and communities should collaborate in developing climate-resilient tree species selection, innovative tree planting, care and maintenance systems, sustainable urban design, and increase green infrastructure.
10:15 AM WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ALBERTA’S NEW PROMPT PAYMENT ACT Jordan Crone and Tom Brookes Jordan and Tom will provide an overview of the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act, including its impacts upon invoicing, payment timing, and standard-form contracts. They will then conclude with recommendations for how to best adapt your organization to confirm to the requirements of this new legislation.
11:25 AM
Will it survive here? Will it thrive? This session will take a look at the cold hardiness trials conducted over the past eight years to see what lessons we can learn as we look at herbaceous perennial sales going forward. This is an exciting and dynamic plant category, and it is important to have confidence that the plants we grow and sell will be well suited to the challenging Prairie climate. Join us to gain valuable perspective as you think about the 2024 sales season.
Education Champion Sponsor
AN OVERVIEW OF THRIPS AFFECTING GREENHOUSE CROPS Ken Fry This session will review the different species of thrips that infest greenhouse crops in Alberta. We will also examine potential threats such as Thrips parvispinus or Pepper Thrips and Scirtothrips doralis, the Chilli Thrips. Damage, identification, monitoring, and management will be covered for each species.
10:15 AM SHIFT YOUR MINDSET, GROW YOUR BUSINESS Christyn Palazzo As a green industry professional, your experience, knowledge, and insights are invaluable; and it can be incredibly frustrating when clients don’t listen to your recommendations. However, there is a powerful solution that can transform your relationship with clients. By shifting your mindset from being perceived solely as a landscaper or designer to positioning yourself as a landscape consultant, you can significantly impact how clients perceive your expertise and improve their willingness to listen and implement your advice. Learn practical strategies on how to become a trusted partner and how this approach can positively impact your business’s bottom line.
11:25 AM
PRAIRIE PERENNIAL TRIALS Owen Vanstone
LOOKOUT ROOM
9:05 AM
THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC Panel Tesla is the in the top 10 most valuable companies in the world. Honda has announced end of production of its gasoline powered small engines. Electric is coming! There are many questions to answer for the green industry. Will electric vehicles have the range/power needed for commercial use? Will the new battery powered equipment be mandated or simply evolve to the new benchmark for maintenance? How will HR policy have to adapt with at home charging of work equipment? What will your insurance provider require to ensure your facility or fleet? Join a panel of experts from across the industry as they explore the numerous factors to consider as the electric revolution arrives. This is a panel discussion with confirmed speakers from Jim Peplinski Leasing, Toro Equipment, and Marsh Canada. Exact lineup is to be determined.
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CULTIVATING SUCCESS FOR ALBERTA'S LANDSCAPERS FOR OVER 50 YEARS MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE 24/7
BLUEGRASSNURSERY.COM
WHOLESALE SUPPLIES
OUR SERVICES Wholesale pricing
Caliper trees
Dedicated sales team
Rooted cuttings and finished plants
Custom soil screening services
Locally grown sod
Year-round container planting Custom quoting & product estimates
Bulk aggregates, soil, mulches and gravel
Tree planting & watering services
Landscape supplies
Calgary 403.226.0468
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Red Deer 403.347.7211
Edmonton 780.231.1152
EXHIBITOR LISTINGS 1015
1105
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A.M.A. Horticulture Inc.
Ball Seed
Bobcat of Red Deer Calmont Equipment
Connie Bradt-Monsma 2011 Spinks Drive Kingsville, ON, N9Y 2E5 Phone: (519) 322-1397 Fax: (519) 322-1358 TF: 1-800-338-1136 cbradt@amahort.com www.amahort.com A.M.A. Horticulture is a solutions-driven supplier helping growers discover custom, innovative solutions for their success for over 40 years. We specialize in: Ellepots by A.M.A.; growing containers; growing media; seeding equipment; hydroponic supplies; berry supplies; Al’s Flower Pouch; the Root Smart propagation tray; and more. 938
Alberta Farm Fresh Producers
Kirsty Leischner PO. Box 781 Station M Calgary, AB, T2P 2J6 Phone: (403) 964-3276 admin@albertafarmfresh.com https://albertafarmfresh.com/ The Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association works to connect local farmers and consumers. We are a member driven group that supports a profitable and sustainable farm direct marketing industry through advocacy, education, promotion and cooperation. 1226
ApprenticeSearch.com
Laura Wells 5230 S Service Rd Burlington, ON, L7L 5K2 Phone: 1-877-905-2748 admin@apprenticesearch.com www.apprenticesearch.com ApprenticeSearch.com is a free online job search and matching platform with an exclusive focus on apprenticeship and skilled trade positions in Canada. We’re more than just a technological solution to job searching – we’re also a passionate team of professionals who are available to offer support and guidance to both employers and apprentices. 1118
Aubin Nurseries Ltd.
Gerry Aubin PO Box 1089 Carman, MB, R0G 0J0 Phone: (204) 745-6703 Fax: (204) 745-6838 TF: 1-866-745-6703 gerry@aubinnurseries.ca www.aubinnurseries.ca Since 1927, we have offered garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and landscape professionals an essential range of cold hardy/container grown trees, shrubs, fruits, evergreens, perennials, and more! Our weekly delivery service is available from April to October.
Dustin Morton RR 3 LCD MAIN Wetaskiwin, AB, T9A 1X1 Phone: (780) 387-8071 Fax: (630) 520-9141 TF: 1-800-879-BALL dmorton@ballhort.com www.ballseed.com Ball Seed, North America’s leading wholesale horticultural distributor, combines extensive experience, innovative thinking and world-class customer service to ensure that professional growers have the best products, most efficient tools and dynamic growing solutions. 1506
Berger
Sean Chiki 121 1er Rang Saint Modeste, QC, G0L 3W0 Phone: (905) 407-0161 seanc@berger.ca www.berger.ca Berger is a worldwide leader in the production of first-quality growing media. Since 1963, Berger’s team of specialists uses a client-focused approach that meets the specific needs of its customers’ crops. For professional growers, it results in consistent growth, predictable results, reliable supply, and moreover, trustworthy technical support. 1034
Blue Grass Greenhouses-Red Deer (a division of Blue Grass Sod Ltd.)
Roxanne Martin Unit 102, 39026 Rge Rd 275 Red Deer County, AB, T4S 2A9 Phone: (403) 347-7211 marketing@bg-rd.com www.bluegrassnursery.com Central Alberta wholesale grower of rooted cuttings and retail ready annuals, planters, proven winners, tropicals, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets and more. Delivery on a temperature controlled truck to your door! 1036
Blue Grass Sod Farms & Nursery
Roxanne Martin Unit 102, 39026 Rge Rd 275 Red Deer County, AB, T4S 2A9 Phone: (403) 347-7211 marketing@bg-rd.com www.bluegrassnursery.com Blue Grass Sod Farms, Nursery & Garden Centre is one of central Alberta’s largest suppliers of prairie hardy caliper trees and sod. We are a third generation family business servicing the industry since 1970. With over 2500 acres of sod and 200 acres of trees, we are truly the “one stop shop” for all your landscape supplies.
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Carlos Melara 54 Belich Crescent Red Deer, AB, T4S 2K5 Phone: (587) 921-8877 carlos.melara@calmont.ca bobcatofreddeer.com Bobcat of Red Deer is the leading Bobcat Equipment provider for Red Deer and surrounding area. We supply compact equipment for global construction, rental, landscaping, agriculture, grounds maintenance, government, utility, and industrial markets. We provide sales, rentals, parts, service, and customized work solutions for all types of machines. 916
Bron & Sons Nursery Co.
Ed Bron, Shane Neufeld, Simon Eastwood, Cara Pagnucco 3315 Carson Road, Box 2643 Grand Forks, BC, V0H 1H0 Phone: (250) 442-2014 Fax: (877) 542-5936 TF: 1-800-831-9611 sales@bronandsons.com www.bronandsons.com Container grower of hardy & quality nursery stock. Specializing in shrubs, roses, evergreens, pot-in-pot trees, vines, perennials and grasses. Supplying garden centres, nurseries, landscapers and municipalities. Access On-line. Availability and ordering at www.bronandsons.com. 1204
BW Global Structures Inc.
Rajan Kumar 29020 Fraser Highway, Box 307 Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1G8 Phone: (604) 856-1303 Fax: (604) 856-1109 TF: 1-877-856-1303 rajan@bw-global.com www.bw-global.com; www.bwgreenhouse.com For over 43 years, BW GLOBAL has been Western Canada’s most-trusted & largest Greenhouse design, manufacture, and construction company - supplying top-quality, high yield, damage-resistant Greenhouses of every size and type, for every grower and budget. Best-in-class structure warranty. See us for structures, parts, coverings, and systems. 1005
Bylands Nurseries Ltd.
Kelvin Thomas 1600 Byland Road, Hwy 97S West Kelowna, BC, V1Z 1H6 Phone: (250) 769-4466 Fax: (250) 769-5566 TF: 1-800-769-4996 kelvint@bylands.com www.bylands.com
Bylands Nurseries offers one of the most complete mixes of prairie hardy container and bareroot material in North America. We grow quality trees, shrubs, evergreens, fruit trees, annuals, perennials, vines and roses. 2011 Canadian and International Grower of the Year. 906
Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
Nicole Xavier 7856 Fifth Line South Milton, ON, L9T 2X8 Phone: (905) 875-1399 TF: 1-888-446-3499 info@canadanursery.com www.cnla-accp.ca National Association providing advocacy, services and support to the landscape horticulture industry across Canada. All programs and benefits are accessed through membership in your provincial association. 1220
Cheyenne Tree Farms (2018) Ltd.
Jeff Wotherspoon PO Box 3060 STN MAIN Beaumont, AB, T4X 1K8 Phone: (780) 929-8102 Fax: (780) 929-8107 TF: 1-866-490-2647 sales@cheyennetree.ca www.cheyennetree.ca Growing ‘Prairie Hardy’ caliper trees, potted trees and shrubs on 310 acres, along with 14,400 sq. ft. of greenhouse for perennials and grass production. Main nursery is located 5 minutes south of Edmonton: 24309 Twp. Rd. 510 (Beaumont). 1128
City of Edmonton Compost
Justin Weiher EWMC, 250 Aurum Road NE Edmonton, AB, T6S 1G9 Phone: 780-496-6371 compostsales@edmonton.ca edmonton.ca/compostsales The City of Edmonton produces premium quality compost that is rich in organic matter, and excellent for improving depleted soils, enriching planting mixes, and stimulating plant growth. It can be used in landscaping and gardening, turf, and top dressing, and tree & shrub planting. This premium compost meets CCME standards for unrestricted use. For details visit edmonton.ca/compostsales. 1009
City of Edmonton Urban Forestry
Melissa Campbell Westwood Central Yard 12304 107 Street, Edmonton AB T5G 2S7 Edmonton, AB, T5J 2R7 Phone: (780) 554-3317 melissa.campbell@edmonton.ca http://www.edmonton.ca/urbanforestry Edmonton’s trees provide many environmental, social, and economic benefits. The City of Edmonton understands the importance of these assets and works to maintain and grow the urban forest. Proper management
is crucial for continuous growth and improvement of the urban forest. 1304
Coaldale Nurseries
David & Cindy Kuperus PO Box 1267 Coaldale, AB, T1M 1N1 Phone: (403) 345-4633 Fax: (403) 345-2866 info@coaldalenurseries.ca www.coaldalenurseries.ca Caliper trees, Colorado spruce, Montgomery spruce and fruit trees. 1306
Communities in Bloom, Alberta / Alberta Horticulture Association
Karen Snethun 11759 Groat Road NW Edmonton, AB, T5M 3K6 Phone: (780-909-7730 ksnethun@arpaonline.ca www.cib.arpaonline.ca Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement, with focus on the promotion and value of green spaces in urban settings. 1330
De Vroomen Bulb Canada Inc.
Bruce Bradley 6934A Kinsmen Court Niagara Falls, ON, L2H 0Y5 Phone: Office: (905) 358-2852 Cell: (647)9232852 Fax: (905) 358-8282 TF: 1-833-358-2852 b.bradley@devroomen.com www.devroomen.ca Supplier of bare root perennials, fruits and vegetables. Spring flowering bulbs, perennial plugs, annual plugs, grass plugs to both garden centers and growers. 1208
DeCloet Greenhouse Manufacturing Ltd.
Patrick Gellineau 1805 Charlotteville West Qtr. Line Simcoe, ON, N3Y 4J9 Phone: (519) 582-3081 Fax: (519) 582-0851 TF: 1-888-786-4769 patrickg@decloetgreenhouse.com www.decloetgreenhouse.com DeCloet Greenhouse Manufacturing Ltd. is a leader in the design and manufacture of high quality greenhouses. DeCloet Greenhouses are used by production growers, nurseries, and retail centers across North America. We also provide installations, heating products, ventilation systems, benches and complete after sale service. 1130
DLF Canada Inc.
Kevin Dunse, Diana Holloway 11239 - 186 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T5S 2T7 Phone: (403) 463-8905 Fax: (780) 464-0305 TF: 1-800-265-3925 kdunse@pickseed.com,
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Dholloway@dlfpickseed.com www.pickseed.com We are pleased to be the Canadian partner in the “Alliance For Low Input Sustainable Turf”, offering sustainable varieties with reduced inputs, heat tolerance, and decreased water use. 1109
Dümmen Orange
Diane Surette 250 South High Street, Suite 650 Columbus, OH, 43215 Phone: (614) 850-9551 Fax: (614) 850-9552 D.Surette@DummenOrange.com www.dummenorange.com By uniting the world’s top breeders under one distinctive brand, Dümmen Orange blends traditional techniques and emerging technologies to provide the largest selection of superior flowers and plants on earth. Globally accessible and locally embedded, we continue to be at the forefront of our industry while bringing stability and opportunity to our partners and associates worldwide. 1224
Dutchman Industries Inc.
Leanne King /Kurt Dickhoff/ Marlin Tillaart 3725 Sideline 16 Pickering, ON, L1Y 0A7 Phone: (905) 683-8233 Fax: (905) 683-8213 TF: 1-800-293-0070 info@dutchmantreespade.com www.dutchmantreespade.com Manufacturer of the very best in nursery equipment including the Dutchman Tree Spade. Also specializing in tree planters, tree stakers, truck spades, stabilizers, rootball grapplers and tree tyers. 1501
Dynamo Electric Ltd.
Wendel Toews 107 - 27211 Hwy 12 Lacombe County, AB, T4L 0E3 Phone: (403)742-3511 office@dynamo-electric.com dynamo-electric.com Offering electrical installation and maintenance for acreages, farms and commercial operations. Specializing in greenhouse electrical and climate control. We are your Priva dealer and offer great solutions for greenhouses and garden centres. How can we help you achieve your goals? 1231
Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.
Anita Heuver PO Box 2340 Strathmore, AB, T1P 1K3 Phone: (403) 934-3670 Fax: (403) 934-3626 TF: 1-866-805-5007 anita@eaglelakenurseries.com www.eaglelakenurseries.com Local grower of caliper trees, potted trees, shrubs, evergreens, and perennials. Wholesale supplier to residential landscapers, landscape contractors, garden centres and municipalities. Since 1970....Quality and Service you can depend on.
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Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply
Brian Bolger / Nathan Gill Box 2130 Strathmore, AB, T1P 1K1 Phone: (403) 934-6808 Fax: (403) 934-6813 nathan@eaglelakelandscape.com; brian@ eaglelakelandscape.com www.eaglelakelandscape.com Providing Alberta’s landscape professionals and homeowners with progressive products, dependable delivery services and exceptional customer care. Eagle Lake Professional Landscape Supply leads the way in innovative solutions, offering LiveRoof, NaturesTurf, Sedum Turf, Freedom Fescue sod, engineered soils, Native and Adaptive Seed and Native Willow plants under the EcoLogical Horticulture banner. 1104
EarthApples Inc.
Phil Bakker 4 Legend Trail Stony Plain, AB, T7Z 0B1 Phone: (780) 996-0707 phil@earthapples.com www.earthapples.com EarthApples are easy to grow seed potatoes for balconies, patios and gardens. Locally grown in Alberta, these novel potato varieties provide a unique growing experience for urban and rural gardeners alike! 1505
East Jordan Plastics, Inc.
Tim Vaandering Box 575 East Jordan, MI, 49727 Phone: (519) 757-7742 tim.vaandering@ejplastics.com www.ejplastics.com Manufacturer and supplier of pots, trays, baskets for the horticultural industry. 1106
Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds Ltd.
Eileen Tannas Box 273 Cremona, AB, T0M 0R0 Phone: (403) 437-9052 eileen.tannas@esrseeds.com www.esrseeds.ca ESRS is a native plant nursery specializing in wholesale supply of native plants (including: plugs, live stakes, rooted stakes, potted plants and floating Islands) We carry over 250 species in our seed inventory, professional Agrologists and Biologists available for consultation on projects through our sister company Tannas Conservation Services. 924
GrowTronics (Eco Lighting Solutions)
Katelyn Horne /Tracy Grills 4-2015 32 Ave NE Calgary, AB, T2E 6Z3 Phone: (403) 208-0251 office@ecolighting.ca; tgrills@ecolighting.ca
www.growtronics.ca Eco Lighting Solutions is a local premium LED supplier and creators of GrowTronics™ LED. GrowTronics is a comprehensive line of premium quality LED grow lighting systems designed for both professional and hobby growers. At GrowTronics, we work with our clients individual horticultural LED lighting needs to create spectrums that maximize growth, flavour and nutrients. 1209
Edmonton, AB, T5P 4P6 Phone: (780) 930-4900 Fax: (780) 930-4801 TF: 1-888-finning (346-6464) csargent@finning.com www.finning.com Backed by Finning service, the next generation of Cat machines can handle all your residential and landscaping needs. A full line of skid steers, mini excavators and work tools built Cat tough, supported by Finning. Call 1-888-finning for details.
EVL Nursery Inc.
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Rachelle Pruss /Andrew Morse Unit 7, 45 Speedvale Avenue East Guelph, ON, N1H 1J2 Phone: (519) 836-5495 Fax: (519) 836-7529 TF: 1-800-730-1020 rachelle@fco.ca; andrew@fco.ca www.flowerscanadagrowers.com Flowers Canada Growers Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association representing floriculture greenhouse growers and industry partners across Canada.
Mike Scholtens 22274-64 Avenue Langley, BC, V2Y 2N8 Phone: (604) 514-5060 Fax: (604) 514-5068 sales@evlnursery.com www.evlnursery.com Grower of ornamental shrubs, grasses, ground cover and perennials in 1 gal & 4” pots. EVL can supply you with a complete selection of plants for every season.
Exemplar Horticulture
Paula Baxter 5947 Mt. Lehman Road Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1V5 Phone: (604) 607-0456 paula@exemplarhorticulture.com www.exemplarhorticulture.com Wholesale nursery specializing in premium quality ornamental grasses, perennials & vegetable starters. 1004
Express Seed Company, Inc.
Mike Chow 102 - 801 Belgrave Way Delta, BC, V2Y 0A4 Phone: (604) 308-6812 mchow@expressseed.com www.expressseed.com Express Seed Company provides the fastest connection to a worldwide network of breeders and suppliers of greenhouse inputs. ThinkPlants™ is a cooperative marketing platform which represents a dedicated team, including plant breeders and horticultural experts, seamlessly connected to a supply chain. 1210
FHN Inc. (Foothills Nurseries)
Josh Poffenroth 234129 RANGE ROAD 284 Rocky View County, AB, T1X 0J9 Phone: (403) 203-3338 sales@foothillsnurseries.com www.foothillsnurseries.com Specimen caliper deciduous and coniferous trees; pot-in-pot trees; container shrubs - deciduous and coniferous; perennials. Delivery service to site within AB, SK and BC. “Clean Plant” certified. We are located just east of Calgary on Range Road 284, 1/2 km north of Glenmore Trail. 909
Finning (Canada)
Cindy Sargent 16901 - 109 Avenue NW
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Flowers Canada Growers Inc.
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Green Harvest Ltd.
Russ Spence 107, 18 Highland Park Way NE Airdrie, AB, T4A 0R1 Phone: (403) 604-1140 Fax: (587) 775-6420 rspence@green-harvest.ca green-harvest.ca Green Harvest Ltd. is an Alberta based, family owned soil and fertilizer producer plus an importer of a select range of Home and Garden products including Ecograss artificial turf. We offer independent dealers exclusive brands of soil and fertilizers under our Green Harvest and Groundskeepers Pride brands. We can also package private label soils and fertilizers. 1215
Ground Keepers Friend Basket Solutions Inc.
David Poffenroth PO Box 10369 Airdrie, AB, T4A 0H6 Phone: (403) 948-9852 Fax: (403) 948-9853 TF: 1-866-948-9852 dw@groundkeepersfriend.com https://groundkeepersfriend.com/ We are your trusted supplier for premium quality wire baskets, burlap and other nursery supplies. We are committed to quality, efficiency and excellent service. 1011
High Q Greenhouses (2021) Ltd.
Justin Bidewell and Mindy Bidewell 55431 RGE RD 262 Sturgeon County, AB, T8R 0W7 Phone: (780) 939-7490 Fax: (780) 939-2010 contact@highqgreenhouses.com; partners@highqgreenhouses.com https://highqgreenhouses.com/ Full Selection of young plants and custom grown finished product. Root & Sell for Selecta First Class and Dummen Orange.
Western Canadian distributor for “Nature’s Source Plant food”, revolutionizing growth and plant performance. Providing Grower Oriented Solutions like prefilled trays with Ellepots in 25mm (102 Tray), 40mm (50 tray) and 70 mm (18 tray). Offering plant material in tray sizes and volumes that make sense! 942
HJS Wholesale Ltd.
Terry Folkers 330 Transport Road Sunnyside, MB, R5R 0J5 Phone: (204) 668-8360 Fax: (204) 667-1775 TF: 1-866-742-5457 (pick hjs) terry@hjswholesale.com www.hjswholesale.com HJS Wholesale Ltd provides your complete greenhouse, production, and nursery needs along with unique and timeless decorative products at competitive prices. Take advantage of our Premier and Sungro soilless mix programs and contact our sales team for complete product lists and receive your quote today. 1207
Hoogendoorn Growth Management
Stephen Murch 4890 Victoria Avenue N The Lodge Business Bldg Floor 1 Vineland Station, ON, L0R 2E0 Phone: (289) 968-2811 TF: (905) 562 0800 smu@hoogendoorn.ca https://hoogendoorn.com/en/ Hoogendoorn is a global leader in horticultural automation and environmental control solutions for greenhouses and CEA. The company’s products and services are trusted by growers in over 90 countries worldwide. Hoogendoorn is committed to creating a more sustainable future for agriculture and beyond. Ready, Set, Grow 1108
Horta-Craft
Paul Lofgren 4836 Egremont Drive, RR 1 Strathroy, ON, N7G 3H3 Phone: (519) 245-8441 paul@horta-craft.ca https://www.horta-craft.ca/ A third-generation family business, Horta-Craft has been serving the Canadian horticultural industry with Consistent. Humble. Excellence since 1973. Our tagline “The Label People” denotes our main product lines, which are geared towards helping growers and garden centres identify and market their products. 910
HortProtect – People Corporation & Marsh Canada
Amy McDermott 2255 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 202, Atria 1 Toronto, ON, M2J 4Y1 Phone: (647) 296-4529
TF: 1-888-446-3499 ext. 8670 hortprotect@canadanursery.com www.hortprotect.com HortProtect is a comprehensive insurance plan designed for the landscape horticulture industry, including unique coverage and pricing for Health & Life as well as Property & Liability insurance. HortProtect is the endorsed national insurance program of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and Landscape Alberta.
Passionate Marketing Meets Predictable Results for Landscape Entrepreneurs. Since 2006, Intrigue has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, like you, generate better quality leads, grow their businesses, and free up their time so they can do more of what they love. You could say we help landscape entrepreneurs grow faster, better, stronger.
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Mark Andrews 23013 Township Road 504 Leduc County, AB, T0B 3M1 Phone: (780) 446-0414 jackholttreespades@gmail.com Original Equipment Manufacturer of Jack Holt Tree Spades. Custom built for skid steers, loaders, and truck mounts. Alberta made “Legacy” series is a tribute after 60 years of growing an industry.
Houweling Americas Distribution LTD.
Fang Wang 4114 184 Street Surrey, BC, V3Z 1B7 Phone: (604) 339-9115 lica.wang@houwelingamericas.com https://houwelingamericas.com/ Houweling Americas: Protecting and stimulating plant growth. Sustainably. Houweling Americas is part of Houweling Group, a family-owned company serving the horticulture and agriculture industries since 1925. We supply premium products and services to protect and stimulate plants, together with our partners and distributors around the world. 928
Huplaso
Marie-Michelle Chiasson 19 Duclos Street St-Isidore, NB, E8M 1N3 Phone: (506) 358-6345 Fax: (506) 358-2868 TF: 1-833-HUPLASO (1-833-487-5276) info@huplaso.ca www.huplaso.ca Huplaso manufactures and markets volcanic rock dust that comes from a quarry located in Bathurst, New Brunswick Canada. The composition of this rock dust is rare, even unique. We use it as a mineralizer in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. It respects the environment and contributes to humanitarian and planetary benefits. Two products available: All-Purpose mineralizer and Lawn Mineralizer. 1019
Inline Nurseries (2010) Inc.
Alyson Kee /Tom Berger 49944 Yale Road East Chilliwack, BC, V4Z 0B3 Phone: (604) 794-7096 Fax: (604) 794-7496 TF: 1-888-846-5463 sales@inlinenurseries.com www.inlinenurseries.com Wholesale grower and distributor offering a wide range of plant material from perennials, grasses and groundcovers to shrubs and ornamental trees. 1026
Intrigue Media
Vanessa McQuade 202, 412 Laird Road Guelph, ON, N1G 3X7 Phone: (519) 241-5885 vanessa@intrigueme.ca https://intrigueme.ca/
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Jack Holt Tree Spade Manufacturing
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Jeffries Nurseries Ltd.
Wilbert Ronald, Andrew Ronald PO Box 402 Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3B7 Phone: (204) 857-5288 Fax: (204) 857-2877 TF: 1-888-857-5288 info@jeffriesnurseries.com www.jeffriesnurseries.com Offering a broad selection of prairie-hardy field and container grown nursery stock; as well as a wide range of perennials, seedlings, and bare root tree liners. Discover our Northern Garden Collection and Northern Garden Introductions. 929
Jim Peplinski Leasing Inc.
Travis Hume 81 The East Mall, Suite 101 Toronto, ON, M8Z 5W3 Phone: (780) 641-1480 Fax: (403) 235-4888 TF: 1-800-465-1174 thume@jimpeplinski.ca jimpeplinski.ca Your first-choice leasing partner for small and medium sized vehicle fleets in Canada. Focus on your business while we handle all aspects of your vehicle fleet leasing. One call does it all. Work-ready vehicles delivered right to your door! 1117
Jolly Farmer Products Inc.
Brenda Lee 56 Crabbe Road Northampton, NB, E1N 1R6 Phone: (800) 695-8300 Fax: (800) 863-7814 brenda.leech@jollyfarmer.com www.jollyfarmer.com Jolly Farmer operates a 13-acre greenhouse, selling our plants directly, not through the broker network. Our vast selection of more than 3000 varieties of young plants ship nationwide, in the US and Canada. We grow annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and more. Low minimums and small ordering increments are ideal for small and medium growers.
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Kato’s Nursery (2007) Ltd.
Michael Kato 29435 Downes Road Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1S3 Phone: (604) 856-2470 Fax: (604) 856-9307 TF: 1-800-550-5286 (KATO) sales@katosnursery.com www.katosnursery.com Prairie hardy quality plants. Small fruits, deciduous shrubs, roses, vines, perennials, ground covers and conifers. Weekly delivery. 935
Kehoe Equipment Ltd./ Alggin Metal Industries
Dave Ross 5545 - 97 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T6E 3H8 Phone: (780) 420-0040 Fax: (780) 429-2571 TF: 1-877-420-0040 info@kel-hvac.com www.kel-hvac.com Modine Gas-Oil-Electric-hydronic unit heaters, high & low intensity infrared radiant heaters and high efficiency condensing gas unit heaters. 917
Know More Hazard
Trevor Hall 47010 RPO Creekside Calgary, AB, T3P 0B9 Phone: (403) 888-2137 info@knowmorehazard.com Knowmorehazard.com Field Level Hazard Assessment made easy. Know More Hazard was conceived and developed by contractors for contractors. This app enables you to easily and simply complete FLHAs and Vehicle inspections on the spot. We fully customize it to your company. Managers see these assessments in real time. No more paper, no more furstration, Know More Hazard. 1325
Kubota Canada Ltd.
Don McClughan 39 Coventry Lane Lacombe, AB, T4L 1T6 Phone: (403) 304-9023 TF: 1-800-405-6916 don.mcclughan@kubota.com www.kubota.ca Kubota Canada Ltd. is the Canadian marketer and distributor of Kubota-branded equipment, including a complete line of tractors up to 200 engine HP, performance-matched implements, compact and utility-class construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer locations, please visit: www.kubota.ca. 1214
Lakeshore Tree Farms Ltd. Aaron Krahn / Vic Krahn Box 92, RR 3 LCD MAIN
Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3J6 Phone: (306) 978-3333 TF: 1-866-417-5731 aaron@lshore.com www.lakeshoretreefarms.com Family owned business for 85+ years. Wholesale nursery supplying nursery products to the Canadian Prairies. 250 acres of caliper shade trees including spruce, pine, & larch; container trees & shrubs, rooted cuttings, and seedlings. We specialize in native plants grown from seed and cuttings collected in zones 1 & 2. Site location: 810 Valley Road, Saskatoon.
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LMN
Linnaea Nurseries Limited
John Folkerts 3666 - 224 Street Langley, BC, V2Z 2G7 Phone: (604) 533-8281 Fax: (604) 533-8246 TF: 1-888-327-7705 john@linnaeanurseries.com www.linnaeanurseries.com Growers of quality hardy nursery stock including trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, perennials and native plants. 1309
Landscape Alberta
Marnie Main 18051 - 107 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB, T5S 1K3 Phone: (780) 489-1991 TF: 1-800-378-3198 member.services@landscape-alberta.com www.landscape-alberta.com Member-driven Association supporting and promoting all sectors of the landscape horticulture industry in Alberta. Workshops and conferences, publications, government advocacy, member discount programs, industry Certification program, networking, support for industry research and much more; host of the Green Industry Show & Conference.
Brandy Jones Suite 204, 180 Enterprise Blvd. Markham, ON, L6G 0E6 Phone: 1-888-347-9864 TF: 1-888-347-9864 bjones@golmn.com https://golmn.com/ Manage Your Landscape Business in One Place. LMN helps you manage your business from end-to-end, with tools that make it easy to generate leads, create estimates, track time, and simplify the invoicing and payroll process. Know Your Numbers, Grow Profit, and Operate Efficiently with landscape management software designed by landscapers, for landscapers.
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Landscape Horticulture Certification Program
Teagan Giddings 7856 Fifth Line Milton, ON, L9T 2X8 Phone: (905) 875-1399 TF: 1-888-446-3499 info@cnla.ca www.cnlagetcertified.ca Industry certification program to promote and maintain standards in nursery and landscape horticulture operations. LHCP certified members have the skills and competence to practice across Canada, and online tests ensure certification is delivered more conveniently for candidates. Advance your landscape horticulture career - Get Certified Get Hired! 1320
LED Smart Inc.
Desiree Wartenbe/ Rod Bramley 18905 32 Avenue Surrey, BC, V3Z 1A7 Phone: (604) 385-1236 Fax: (780) 438-6624 TF: 1-800-457-0416 sales@grow3light.com www.grow3light.com A Canadian designer and manufacturer of GROW3 LED grow light systems and controls. GROW3 is an innovative system with complete spectrum control, color ratio adjustability, dimming, scheduling features, for all types and sizes of greenhouses and CEA. Wireless mesh network controls via the free SmarTune APP, come see them in person.
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Manderley Turf Products Inc.
Melanie Kruhlak 55403 Range Road 222 Sturgeon County, AB, T0A 1N1 Phone: (780) 998-1995 Fax: (780) 998-2783 TF: 1-888-225-3885 info@manderley.com www.manderley.com Manderley Turf Products has been helping landscape professionals green up their communities for over 60 years. With a focus on sustainability, we offer premium quality products and industry leading services for results that you can be proud of. 921
McKenzie Seeds
Darrell Wakewich 11933 - 90 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T5B 3Y8 Phone: (204) 571-7500 ext 538 Fax: TF: 1-800-665-6340 darrellw@mckenzieseeds.com, Customerservice@mckenzieseeds.com www.mckenzieseeds.com Product lines: Garden Seed – McKenzie, Organic, Sow Easy, Livingston Jiffy: order thru local distributor Onions, Potatoes, Fruit and Flower Bulbs 1504
Neudorff North America
Tim Tripp PO Box 178 Brentwood Bay, BC, V8M 1R3 Phone: (250) 652-5888 tim.tripp@neudorff.ca www.neudorffpro.org
Neudorff is the inventor and manufacturer of effective environmentally friendly plant protection products for landscapes, greenhouse and field production. Protect valuable ornamental, fruit, vegetable nursery crops and landscapes with peace of mind using Neudorff plants protection products 1029
Nextra Consulting
Grant Harrison 3 Kirwin Drive Ingersoll, ON, N5C 3M4 Phone: (519) 636-5777 grant@nextraconsulting.ca www.nextraconsulting.ca Nextra Consulting exists to help landscape business owners make their businesses stronger, leaner and more profitable. Most landscapers are excellent technicians but lack the business expertise needed to build a successful and sustainable company. At Nextra Consulting, we provide the framework and coaching you need to increase your profit and grow your business. 1115
Nutrien Ag Solutions (Canada) Inc. - Evergro Division
Emiel Vanderwel 5018 - 68 Avenue SE Calgary, AB, T2C 4N8 Phone: (403) 287-3988 Fax: (403) 243-7470 TF: 1-800-661-2991 Emiel.Vanderwel@nutrien.com www.nutrienagsolutions.ca Leading distributor of popular horticultural products, including ProHort water soluble & controlled release fertilizers, Natures Source liquid & Sustane organic fertilizers, Premier PRO-MIX & peat, pest controls, greenhouse and nursery pots, poly films and Hermadix shade coating as well as soil, water and tissue testing. 1125
Olds College
Tyler Grant 4500 - 50 Street Olds, AB, T4H 1R6 Phone: (403) 556-8288 Fax: (403) 556-4713 TF: 1-800-661-6537 tgrant@oldscollege.ca www.oldscollege.ca Olds College offers programs in Arboriculture, Horticulture and Turfgrass Management. Please contact us for more information about our programs. 914
Pachamama Patios
Elizabeth Bolanos 30 Vold Close Red Deer, AB, T4R 0G4 Phone: (403) 506-1035 pachamama.living@gmail.com https://www.pachamamadecor.com/ Revolutionize your garden décor offerings! We specialize in Garden Décor, produc-
ing clay and biodegradable plastic pots in Mexico. Elevate your inventory with unique, artisanal pieces from “Pachamama” (Mother Earth). Explore custom metal, resin, or clay creations. Wholesale garden decoration excellence awaits! 912
Paridon Horticultural Ltd.
Donna Ceulemans 5985-104 St Delta, BC, V4K 3N3 Phone: (604) 596 3422 TF: 1-800-586-5236 donna@paridon.com www.paridon.com Paridon offers an unsurpassed selection of the highest quality perennials, annuals and succulents for your business. Our offerings include Proven Winners, retail-ready succulents, tillandsia and water plants. We also have a popular retail ready Christmas program. 1024
Parkland Nursery & Landscape Services Ltd.
full-service supplier of fertilizer, pest control products, seeds, and other innovative consumable goods to the greenhouse, turf, nursery and specialty horticulture industries in Canada and the USA. Plant Products has locations in Langley, BC, Laval, QC, Ancaster, ON, Canton, MI, and Leamington, ON (head office). 932
Polar Industrial Services Ltd.
Matt Smith 2122 - 84 Avenue Edmonton, AB, T6P 1K2 Phone: (780) 499-2450 matt@polarind.ca https://polarind.ca/ Polar Industrial Services Ltd. is an Edmonton based, family owned and operated business that specializes in the sales and repair of heavy equipment. We offer a wide range of products from manufacturers such as Wacker Neuson, Kohler, Perkins, Caterpillar, Deutz, Generac, Doosan, Genie, JLG,Third Coast Equipment, Airman, Rotair, and More.
Dwayne/Devon Beck PO Box 25004, RPO Deer Park Red Deer, AB, T4R 2M2 Phone: (403) 340-8755 Fax: (403) 340-8759 TF: 1-888-340-8733 devonbeck@pnls.ca www.pnls.ca 500 acres of caliper trees; tree liners, shrubs, perennials and a large selection of pot and pot trees. Parkland Nursery has a specialized fleet of trucks and equipment as well as an installation crew. We are also one of the Canadian distributor for Treegator - the original watering bag.
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Joe Klassen 4516 Hullcar Road Armstrong, BC, V0E 1B4 Phone: (250) 546-8156 Fax: (250) 546-9155 TF: 1-877-289-3813 jk@psnursery.com; hm@psnursery.com www.psnursery.com Wholesale growers of cold hardy B&B and 15 gallon container grown trees on over 250 acres. Specializing is shade and ornamental trees, as well as spruce and pine.
Performance Seed
Vern Turchyn 858 Minders Blvd W Lethbridge, AB, T1J 5L9 Phone: (587) 257-2411 TF: 1-888-808-2898 vern@performanceseed.ca http://www.performanceseed.ca/ It is important for our forage and cattle industry to adapt and thrive in this fast paced and highly com- petitive marketspace. We believe that we can help supply the tools and more importantly create and develop even more opportunities to adapt and build a strong and sustainable ag industry. 1229
Plant Products – A member of Biobest Group
Linnea Wolfe 19292 60th Avenue, Unit 114 Surrey, BC, V3S 3M2 Phone: (778) 547-9700 Langley.Orders@PlantProducts.com PlantProducts.com For more than 80 years, Plant Products – A member of Biobest Group has been a
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Professional Gardener Co. Ltd., The
Brittany Pierson 915 - 23 Avenue SE Calgary, AB, T2G 1P1 Phone: (403) 263-4200 Fax: (403) 237-0029 progar@telusplanet.net, reception@progardener.ca Western Canada’s premier supplier to the landscape, nursery and greenhouse trade since 1927. Experienced industry professionals at your service. 1324
Purple Springs Nursery Inc.
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Root Rescue Environmental Products
Bob Reeves PO Box 864 Waterdown, ON, L0R 2H0 Phone: (416) 995-9050 bob@rootrescue.com www.rootrescue.com The natural advantage! Root Rescue puts life back into the soil; restoring and nurturing the natural beneficial soil organisms that plants rely on to find water and nutrients. The mycorrhizal soil fungi in Root Rescue go to work immediately helping your plants thrive in their natural environment for life.
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Sester Farms Inc.
Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED)
Stewart Brothers Nurseries Ltd.
Mike Ackerman 33205 SE Oxbow Drive Gresham, OR, 97080 Phone: (503) 663-4844 Fax: (503) 663-7659 TF: 1-800-832-4487 marketing@sesterfarms.com www.sesterfarms.com Wholesale grower of hardy container shade trees, shrubs, and evergreens — providing a well-rounded mix for retail garden centers. We also supply root-pruned, potted conifer liners and deciduous bareroot for container and field production, as well as a full selection of 1QT greenhouse liners and rooted cuttings. 1020
Simon Bos Nurseries Ltd.
Simon Bos PO Box 1078 Coaldale, AB, T1M 1M9 Phone: (403) 330-8010 Fax: (403) 345-4306 simon@bosnurseries.com www.bosnurseries.com Grower of field grown caliper trees, serving the prairies. Simon Bos Nurseries has been in business for over 25 years. We understand the industry and the challenges we face as well! Our goal is to provide quality product and service. 1308
SiteOne Landscape Supply
Nelson Dechant 9421 - 48th Street SE Calgary, AB, T2C 2R1 Phone: (403) 236-0102 ndechant@siteone.com https://www.siteone.ca/ With the largest wholesale selection of landscaping products and a team with unsurpassed expertise, SiteOne® Landscape Supply has everything residential and commercial professionals need to grow and succeed. We partner with the top brands in irrigation, lighting, pest management, hardscapes, turf maintenance, landscape supply, nursery, equipment and more. No matter what your business needs, SiteOne has solutions you can count on.
Janet Feddes-Calpas PO Box 5832 Lacombe, AB, T4L 1X4 Phone: (403) 782-8613 Fax: (403) 782-5514 TF: STOPDED Hotline: 1-877-837-ELMS (3567) stopdedab@gmail.com www.stopded.org STOPDED administers and delivers the Provincial DED Prevention Program in Alberta and supports CFIA’s efforts to prevent the emerald ash borer (EAB). Funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta through the “Canadian Agricultural Partnership”, Landscape Alberta and Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers. Alberta is DED and EAB free. 1310
Sollum Technologies
Jenny Zammit 740 Notre-Dame West - Suite 601 Montreal, QC, H3C 3X6 Phone: (514) 975-7308 TF: 1-866-220-5455 j.zammit@sollum.tech https://sollumtechnologies.com/ Sollum’s dynamic LED grow light solution redefines the horticultural lighting industry. By recreating any spectra of the Sun’s natural light cycles from any region of the world with unparalleled precision, it enables yearround cultivation regardless of the location of the greenhouse. Sollum’s technology is designed and manufactured in Canada. 1507
Solutions by CB
Carla Bailey 988 Oxford St W London, ON, N6H 1V4 Phone: (519) 872-0263 solutionsbycb@gmail.com Specializes in solving small to mid-sized company pain by leveraging government programs, particularly Supplemental Unemployment Benefits and grants, to attract and retain staff. Through our expertise in government program acquisition, we assist companies in accessing programs that can be used for recruitment, training, and retention initiatives.
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SMS Equipment Inc.
Southern Irrigation
Chris Gauthier 11285 - 274 Street Acheson, AB, T7X 6P9 Phone: (587) 599-2276 chgauthier@smsequip.com www.smsequipment.com SMS Equipment is a solutions leader, selling, renting, and providing full-service support from coast-to-coast. We partner with Komatsu, Takeuchi, NPK and other manufacturers to deliver premier equipment, advanced digital technologies, and product support solutions, making SMS Equipment your one-stop shop equipment solution provider.
Jeremy Smith 511 - 41 Street N Lethbridge, AB, T1H 7B6 Phone: (403) 394-0042, (604) 792-0041 Fax: (403) 394-9515 TF: 1-877-663-2615 Jeremy.smith@southernirrigation.com www.southernirrigation.com Southern Irrigation offers a comprehensive line of products for agriculture, landscape & turf, greenhouse, nursery, mining, municipal and wastewater applications. We also supply small agriculture implements for planting, transplanting and harvesting. We are located in Lethbridge (403-394-0042) and Red Deer (403-346-0043).
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Kal Jhaj 4129 Spiers Road Kelowna, BC, V1W 4B5 Phone: (250) 764-2121 Fax: (250) 764-4421 TF: 1-800-313-2101 kal.jhaj@stewartnurseries.com www.stewartnurseries.com Stewart Brothers Nurseries is a family owned and operated business celebrating 111 years of service. We provide and deliver a wide variety of prairie-hardy deciduous and coniferous trees at various stages of growth and development from which to choose. We are committed to you and to the deep roots of your community. 907
Stokes Seeds Limited
Darcy Leiter PO Box 10 Thorold, ON, L2V 5E9 Phone: (306) 491-6485 Fax: (800) 272-5560 TF: 1-800-272-5544 dleiter@stokeseeds.com www.stokeseeds.com Pleased to be your source for commercial flower seed, vegetable seed as well as vegetative liners, plugs and cuttings. Proudly 100% Canadian owned since 1934. 1503
TerraLink Horticulture Inc.
Simon Loewen 464 Riverside Road Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M1 Phone: (604) 316-4859 Fax: (604) 864-8418 TF: 1-800-661-4559 marketing@tlhort.com www.tlhort.com TerraLink Horticulture is a 100% Canadian-owned private company that for 40+ years has supplied professional greenhouse vegetable, floral, nursery, landscape, garden centre, municipalities and parks in Western Canada with organic or conventional nutrients, crop protection products, media, seeds and more. 1206
TG Nursery and Sons Ltd.
Keith Wildeboer 24483 - 36 Avenue Langley Township, BC, V2Z 1J2 Phone: (603) 856-2140 Fax: (604) 856-1706 keith@tgnurseryandsons.com https://www.tgnurseryandsons.com/ Wholesale nursery specializing in retail ready Garden Centre quality ornamental plants. Growing for over 40 years in the lush Fraser Valley allows us to offer a broad selection of plants to clients all over Western Canada. 919
The HC Companies
Alecia Latini 2450 Edison Blvd, Suite 3 Twinsburg, OH, 44087 Phone: (800) 225-7712 ALatini@hc-companies.com www.hc-companies.com
The HC Companies is a proud culmination of many legacy brands and continues to transform the horticultural industry through bold leadership, innovative manufacturing, and a comprehensive portfolio of products ideal for greenhouse, nursery, cannabis, retail, and commercial markets.
TreeTime.ca specializes in selling 1 and 2 year old hardy tree and shrub seedlings. We provide both native and landscape species that are packaged and shipped out of our cold storage warehouse every spring with competitive prices.
finished plants to retail garden centres and other related companies in a territory spanning from Northern Ontario to the Rocky Mountains.
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True North Mergers & Acquisitions
Richard Hoffart 17604 105 Ave Edmonton, AB, T5S 1G4 Phone: (780) 483-6641 rhoffart@wajax.com www.wajax.com Wajax (TSX: WJX) is one of Canada’s largest end-to-end services and solutions provider. Whether you’re lifting, loading, digging or delivering, conquer all your projects with an all-star lineup of equipment from your favourite brands. Rest assured, Wajax has you covered.
The Toro Company
Robert Harris 8 Oak Drive Red Deer, AB, T4P 3T3 Phone: (403) 872-7921 robert.harris@toro.com www.toro.com The Toro Company is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. 1114
Top Spray
Keri Lutz 305 Griffin Road West Cochrane, AB, T4C 2C4 Phone: (403) 932-1464 Fax: (403) 932-5733 TF: 1-888-516-8524 info@topspray.com www.topspray.com Top Spray manufactures a variety of premium organic mulches such as Foothills Premium Mulch and Montane Garden Mulch, both of which are ORMI certified. We are also Alberta’s largest supplier of colored mulch derived from non-recycled fibre. Our services include blower truck mulch applications and bulk deliveries, erosion control, hydroseeding, ecoblanket applications and grinding services. 915
Total Equipment/Redi-Quip Ltd.
Natasha Roach 1108 Windhaven Close SW Airdrie, AB, T4B 0T9 Phone: (403) 391-6565 Fax: (403) 998-0188 TF: 1-888-433-8115 natasharoach@redi-quip.ca www.redi-quip.ca Redi-Quip/Total Equipment connects great brands with great people. The landscape products we represent are, Geo Ripper Mini Trencher, Tital Post Drivers, NW Quik Pull Post/ Stump Pullers, Chicago Pneumatic Air Compressors to name a few. Come visit us at booth 915 where we will connect your company with the right equipment for your business needs. 1110
TreeTime.ca
Kaylyn Doerksen-Schrvyer / Drew Patterson 3464 78 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB, T6B 2X9 Phone: (780) 472-8878 Fax: (780) 472-0460 TF: 1-866-873-3846 Kaylyn@treetime.ca, drew@treetime.ca www.treetime.ca
Don Montgomery Alberta and BC Phone: (403) 971-4341 Info@truenorthma.ca TrueNorthma.ca True North is the only Canadian M&A firm dedicated to helping owners exit their small and medium sized businesses. We are passionate about educating, preparing and protecting our clients’ interests. If your business has an annualized EBITDA between $500k and $5M, our trusted and professional team will deliver maximum value and optimal terms. 1006
U C Organic Products
David Smorenburg Unit 15, 27 Coronet Road Etobicoke, ON, M8Z 2L8 Phone: (647) 229-6237 info@ucorganicproducts.com https://www.ucorganicproducts.com/ U C Organic Products, since 2002 creates and distributes safe, effective pest control products across Canada. Our lines include: Mosquito Barrier, an area mosquito & tick repellent made from 100% garlic juice. Orange Guard kills roaches, ants, fleas & flies made from orange peel extract. The Bed Moat, #1 bed bug monitor in Canada. Rescue! Traps 1314
Van Noort Bulb Company
Sam Van Noort 22264 No Hwy 10 Langley, BC, V2Y 2K6 Phone: (604) 888-6555 Fax: (604) 888-7640 TF: 1-888-826-6667 sam@vannoortbulb.com www.vannoortbulb.com Family owned Canadian company supplying horticulture products since 1928. Specializing in wholesale and retail packaged perennials, shrubs, vines, small fruits, roses and bulbs for spring and fall to growers, garden centers, landscapers and cities. 937
Vanstone Nurseries
Owen Vanstone Box 670 Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3C2 Phone: (204) 857-8435 owen@vanstonenurseries.com https://vanstonenurseries.com/ Vanstone Nurseries is a family owned and operated business located in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. We grow and supply
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 31
1035
Wajax
1028
West Coast Seeds
Bobbi Rayton 8111 Lyndale Ave South Bloomington, MN, 55420 Phone: (403) 808-1457 Fax: (604) 952-8828 bobbi@westcoastseeds.com www.westcoastseeds.com West Coast Seeds carries over 1,100 varieties of vegetable, fruit, herb, flower as well as sprouting seeds, microgreens and wildflower seeds. West Coast Seeds specializes in short season, cool weather varieties. We believe in supplying our customers with the freshest, fattest seed available, with the highest germination rate possible. 1116
West Creek Farms
Lynda Krabbendam PO Box 1138 Fort Langley, BC, V1M 2S5 Phone: (640) 308-4476 lynda@westcreekfarms.com http://westcreekfarms.com/ West Creek Farms is a custom soil blender located in Fort Langley BC. We supply custom and landscape soils to the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Washington. We are also a proud distributor of Osmocote Products in both BC and Alberta. 1205
Westcan Greenhouses Ltd.
Mike Scholtens 2527 - 210 Street Langley, BC, V2Z 2A9 Phone: (604) 530-9298 Fax: (604) 530-9966 office@westcangrhs.com www.westcangrhs.com Westcan Greenhouses is a propagation facility with access to multiple sources of propagation material worldwide. We are able to customize propagation orders year around, in large or small scale, based on customer needs. Our facilities are fully automated and designed to control individual areas of growth for optimal results.
Browse our updated website for improved features
www.bronandsons.com
Flowering, Ornamental & Fruit Shrubs Roses ~ Evergreens Shade, Ornamental & Fruit Trees Native Plants ~ Perennials Vines ~ Grasses ~ Aquatics GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 32
Planning for Spring? Order now for best availability!
1-800-831-9611 Grand Forks, BC
Proud supporters of Landscape Alberta for more than 36 years. Visit us at GISC booth 916. GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 33
5 Marketing Mistakes Landscape Entrepreneurs Need to Fix for 2024 BY ROBERT MURRAY
Marketing. Everyone has an opinion. Some are good, most are not, and few are backed by data and facts. So, how do you figure out who to trust and what to do? The last 3 years, the wind has been at our back and business has been booming in the Green Industry! We are now facing headwinds and need to sharpen our approach to maintain healthy growth in a more difficult marketplace. At Intrigue, our purpose is Empowering Leaders to Strengthen Communities, and that’s exactly why we’re writing this article. According to IBISWorld iExpert, in Home Improvement renovations, the industry revenues are set to decrease by a 6.6% in 2023 alone. The last time the industry shrank was during the recession between 2007-2009. I’m not saying that’s going to happen again, but I think it is prudent to get our ducks in a row where we can to make our businesses bullet proof and ready to for whatever is coming our way. In the wise words of Zig Ziglar, “expect the best, and prepare for the worst.” This article will give you a summary of which marketing strategyworks best in the green industry, and help you align what you’re doing so it can be more effective in 2024 as the market continues to become more competitive. Mistake #1 - Marketing to the wrong part of your customer’s brain. People make decisions emotionally, and then rationalise those decisions intellectually. We need to engage the brain that is responsible for emotions and decision making–the limbic brain. The issue is that the vast majority of marketing and sales communication is targeting the neocortex. This makes sense, as this part of the brain is responsible for language, arithmetic, and can absorb a lot of information, but this part of the brain won’t help your clients make decisions. Simon Sinek’s research dove into how the best leaders communicated differently than the rest and what made their communication so successful. Long story short, they communicated to the limbic brain through purpose, and emotional engagement. Famous examples of this are Martin Luther King saying “I have a dream!”, not “I have a plan”, and Apple’s marketing surrounding “Think Different” and then doing everything to challenge the status quo. We have to speak with purpose and let the world know what we believe. Father Nature Landscapes out of Alabama and Tacoma, have done a great job. They connect life & land. They want to help build stronger families by getting children off screens and experiencing the outdoors with all five senses. What is your belief? Why does your organization exist, and why should anyone care? This answer can help you build a unique position in your marketplace. “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” - Simon Sinek
Mistake #2 - Revenue is primarily a function of new business. When speaking and working with landscape entrepreneurs, the sales forecast is primarily driven by projects that are pre-booked into the future. And there is nothing wrong with that. It’s just there are a number of other ways to drive revenue growth. Every business basically runs on top of the same revenue model:
Leads x Conversion Rate = Customers x Avg Sale $ x Avg Gross Margin % = Avg Gross Margin $ x Frequency of Purchase per year x Number of Years as a Customer This means we can optimize our revenue model anywhere along this formula. Here are 6 ways to optimize your revenue model: 1)
We can invest in marketing to drive more qualified leads.
2)
We can invest in sales training to close more deals.
3)
We can raise our price or raise the minimum project size we’re willing to take on.
4)
We can invest in equipment that makes us faster.
5)
We offer maintenance on our design build projects, or at least annual check-ins.
6)
We can engage our past customers with an email campaign and reach out to them via phone once a year to see how everything is going.
Mistake #3 - Talking about yourself, not your customer. “We are a full service, design-build, & maintenance landscape company.” Great, what’s the difference between you and the next one that says the same thing? That’s right, it’s price. No one wants to compete on price, except for Walmart, so we need to establish a position in the marketplace so we become THE choice, not just A choice. What’s your specialty? Are you experts in tight urban environments? Do you know the makeup of the ground in your local community better than anyone else? Are you best at estates or cottages? Are large industrial spaces your thing? Whatever it is, you need to double down. The examples above are niches we’ve helped clients establish. And when someone is looking for that expertise, the search is over. It seems counterintuitive, focus on a smaller segment of customers to accelerate growth, but it works. It is time tested, and battle proven. It not only helps you attract the right type of customer, but it makes your team more efficient
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 34
5 Marketing Mistakes Landscape Entrepreneurs Need to Fix for 2024 by doing similar jobs over and over, it develops expertise. You get faster at doing the jobs, more accurate with your quoting and costs. You become more profitable and the organization is less dependent on a few, very talented people because you have processes and training in place to help the next person ramp up quickly.
Mistake #4 - No specific business outcome defined as a goal up front. The days of not being able to measure marketing are over, and if someone says something like, “If I had a crystal ball, I can tell you what to expect.” RUN!! Any marketer worth their salt knows that there are tools and benchmarks that help us predict outcomes. If you work with a seasoned group of professionals that are familiar with your industry, then they will be able to provide some clear direction on what you should be able to expect, but also clearly measure against that goal all the way through your marketing efforts, so that you know exactly what’s working, what’s not, and what to do about it.
SERVICE
COST PER LEAD
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
$175
FENCING
$65
DECKING
$285
RETAINING WALLS
$156
DESIGN BUILD <$100K
$162
Working with a partner that can help you benchmark your business based on others in your industry is a game changer. It signals whether or not it is better or worse than the average, it lets you know how efficient and effective your marketing dollars are, and, most importantly, it keeps your marketing partner honest! Because everyone is working off of the same information. Clean up these 5 mistakes, and you’ll be dominating the industry in 2024 and leaving the amateurs in your dust.
55431 Range Road 262 Sturgeon County Alberta T8R 0W7 Tel.(780)939-7490 Fax.(780)939-2010 contact@highqgreenhouses.com
High
Order yOur 2024 yOung Plants & nature’s sOurce Fertilizer
Goals can be:
• •
Number of Desired Qualified Leads in a Year Cost per Qualified Lead in Dollars Customer Acquisition Cost
These goals drive revenue. Revenue is a business outcome that helps you grow. Impressions, clicks, brand awareness, and community visibility do not clearly drive business outcomes.
Mistake #5 - No Industry Benchmarks. Here’s the kicker… What should a Qualified Lead cost for a $100k plus Landscape Construction Project? How could we possibly know that? Well, some do. At Intrigue, we have over 30 Landscape Clients and counting. In 2023, we saw these leads fluctuate between $375 $550 and would typically convert into clients around 20%. That means you’re paying between $1875 and $2750 to buy a new customer worth $100,000. From where we stand, that is a solid Return on Investment. Here are some other benchmarks we’ve seen in 2023 for different types of landscaping work:
Dianthus Capitan Purple Frost - Readers Choice Medal Of Excellence Winner
•
Greenhouses TODAY!
To request a printed catalogue or to download a catalogue visit www.highqgreenhouses.com GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 35
The Effect of Climate Change on Urban Trees BY TOSO BOZIC
Urban trees play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in cities, providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. However, rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased extreme weather events are creating a hostile environment for many tree species. The effect of climate change on urban trees are numerous. The urban foresters, arborists and decision makers faces challenging and difficult decisions, on tree care and maintenance of existing trees, choosing right tree species, to ensure tree survival and adaptation to climate change. This requires new strategies and approaches to manage urban trees and forest. The effect of climate change on urban forest can be addressed in following areas. 1. Rising temperatures and Heat Stress “Urban Heat Island Effect” Urban areas, known for their extensive concrete and asphalt surfaces, are particularly vulnerable to the urban heat island effect. Climate change exacerbates this phenomenon, leading to even higher temperatures in cities. Urban trees face increased heat stress, as they absorb and retain heat from the built environment. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to pests, diseases, and overall decline. Moreover, higher temperatures can disrupt the phenological cycles of urban trees, affecting flowering, leaf emergence, and fruiting. Heat stress can lead to reduced growth, increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, and tree mortality. 2. Altered precipitation patterns and water stress Climate change is altering precipitation patterns, leading to more frequent and intense droughts and rainfalls in urban areas. Urban trees, often surrounded by impervious surfaces, struggle to absorb and retain water during heavy rainfall, leading to soil compaction and increased runoff. Conversely, during droughts, trees experience water stress, which can lead to leaf drop, reduced growth, and even mortality. Water-stressed trees are more susceptible to pest infestations, diseases, and physiological disorders.
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 36
The Effect of Climate Change on Urban Trees Additionally, in urban areas that experiencing heavy rainfall events, urban trees may suffer from soil erosion and waterlogging, further compromising their health.
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Diverse Species Selection: Urban planners and arborists should prioritize planting a diverse range of tree species. By incorporating a variety of native and non-native species that are well-adapted to changing climate conditions, cities can reduce the risk of widespread tree loss due to pests or extreme weather events.
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Assisted Migration: As climate zones shift, some tree species may struggle to adapt in their current locations. Assisted migration involves the intentional movement of tree populations to areas with suitable climatic conditions. This approach can help tree species transition to more favorable environments and maintain healthy populations.
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Green Infrastructure and Urban Planning: Integrating green infrastructure and urban planning is crucial for supporting urban tree health. Effective urban planning and the integration of green infrastructure are essential for mitigating the impact of climate change on urban trees. Implementing green roofs, green walls, and urban forests can reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and increase urban biodiversity. Moreover, urban trees can be strategically placed to provide shade to streets, sidewalks, and buildings, reducing energy consumption for cooling and enhancing the overall livability of cities.
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Monitoring and Management: Regular monitoring of urban trees’ health is essential to detect early signs of stress or disease outbreaks. Timely management measures, such as watering, mulching, and pest control, can help mitigate the impacts of climate-related challenges.
3. Soil Quality and Nutrient Depletion Urban soils are often degraded due to human activities, such as construction, pollution, and compaction. Climate change further impacts soil quality by altering microbial communities and nutrient availability. Healthy soils are essential for the proper growth and development of urban trees, but degraded soils hinder their ability to cope with climate-related stressors. Trees may exhibit nutrient deficiencies, reduced root development, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. 4. Altered Growing Seasons With changing climate conditions, the timing of growing seasons for trees is being disrupted. Warmer temperatures can cause trees to bud and flower earlier in the year, exposing them to potential late frosts that can damage tender new growth. Similarly, some tree species might struggle to enter dormancy during milder winters, leading to reduced winter hardiness and increased vulnerability to cold-related stress. 5. Pest and Disease Outbreaks Climate change is favoring the expansion of pests and diseases that target urban trees. Warmer winters and longer growing seasons allow certain pests, such as the emerald ash borer, to thrive and spread to new regions. The loss of tree species diversity in urban areas due to monoculture plantings can exacerbate the impact of pest and disease outbreaks, making entire urban tree populations more susceptible to devastation. Approach for tree species climate change adaptation and resilience To enhance the resilience of urban trees in the face of climate change, tree species adaptation is crucial. Climate change prompts tree species to adapt to new conditions to survive. Some urban trees are already showing signs of adaptation, including altered phenological patterns and shifting distributions. Tree species that once thrived in warmer southern regions are now successfully growing in more northern cities. As temperatures continue to rise, urban trees may adapt through natural selection or through assisted migration - a deliberate human intervention to introduce tree species that are better suited to future climatic conditions. Here are some strategies that can be employed:
To secure the future of urban trees and forest in the face of climate change, it is essential for policymakers, urban planners, and communities to collaborate in developing climate-resilient tree species selection, sustainable urban design, and green infrastructure. By prioritizing diverse tree species selection, implementing assisted migration strategies, and investing in green infrastructure could be some key strategies and approach. The innovative and climate change adaptable sustainable management and care of urban trees are vital to ensure that urban trees and forestry provide all environmental, economic and social ecosystem services. ATTS Group Inc already provides range of tree and forestry consulting service to urban and rural municipalities, businesses, developers, and individuals to create and maintain thriving urban forests. See Toso at GISC 2023 is Red Deer as he presents on this topic – http://greenindustryshow.com to register.
GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 37
The City of Edmonton is Greener As We Grow
M
any municipalities have ambitious canopy cover targets, but how do we achieve them? The City of Edmonton’s Urban Forest Asset Management Plan (2021) establishes service levels for growing and maintaining an urban forest that will support a healthy, climate resilient city of two million people. Two key growth targets included in the plan are planting two million trees by 2050 and increasing canopy cover by 7% to attain 20% canopy coverage by 2071. To reach 20% canopy coverage, the City will need to plant an additional 356,000 trees per year on average over the next 50 years. Assuming developer planted trees and trees from Capital projects continue to be planted at the same rate, the City will need to plant net new trees through naturalization (planting of native seedlings in previous maintained areas), plant net new open space and boulevard trees and increase the number of trees that are replaced annually. In addition to planting trees, the City will need to acquire approximately 1,400 hectares of naturally wooded areas and work with other landowners to encourage the
retention and planting of trees on nonCity owned land. The City of Edmonton is excited to announce the Greener As We Grow capital profile, which will help make these targets a reality. The approved capital profile is focused on tree planting work from 2023 to 2030 and benefitted from funding through the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program. Through the 2BT Program, the City will be receiving matching funds of $48 million for tree planting over the next 8 years. Through the Greener As We Grow capital profile, the City aims to plant 55,200 caliper trees and over two million naturalization trees and shrubs. On an annual basis, this includes: • •
900 net new Boulevard and Open Space Trees (caliper trees). An additional 3,000 replacement Boulevard and Open Space Trees (caliper trees) to help the City catch
GREEN GREENFOR FORLIFE LIFEFALL FALL2023 2023 • 38 38
•
•
up on the backlog of over 22,000 replacement plantings. Note: The City currently replaces 3,000 trees per year through the regular replacement planting program. 30,000 - 45,000 trees and shrubs planted through the Root for Trees volunteer program (naturalization plantings). 70,000 naturalized plug plantings
Through these plantings, the City of Edmonton should reach the target of two million trees by 2032 (two decades early). Moreover, by planting over two million trees within the next eight years, the canopy coverage target of 20% will be achievable by the 2071 target date. The City of Edmonton looks forward to working with the Government of Canada, our contractors, local nurseries, and Edmontonians to expand our canopy over the next 8 years. As our population grows, so too will our urban forest and the essential benefits it provides. At this year’s GISC the City will be presenting on how we built this profile and provide insight on how we intend to execute this project.
Greenhouse
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Serving The Growing Community Since 1927 Calgary Office: 403-263-4200 David Schramm
Rob Veno
Tom Wright
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(Saskatchewan)
403-934-1276
780-910-8402
306-921-7615
dtshramm63@gmail.com
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GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 39
Quarterly Ptrc Fall Update: July-Sept 2023
As the students return to classes, we are thankful for an excellent growing season in Alberta this year. September has brought our first single digit evening temperatures since June, so we’re preparing once again. Our directors continue to motivate inclusivity among our Western Partners, welcoming a new Saskatchewan superintendent to the research board. Olds Turf alumni, and representative of the Sask Turf Association, we are pleased to announce Lance Wakefield superintendent of Royal Regina Golf & Country Club as your newest ATRF board member. We are grateful to have professional representation throughout the prairies! Fall Trials: Wrapping up our spring and summer projects this month, we’ll shift gears again to begin prepping winter snow mold trials. The PTRC usually performs at least one product test or snow mold formulations each winter, our AB location and often deep cold winters is an ideal testing center for Canada’s product registration pipeline. We were thankful for those distributors who continue to value our site, and see value in our process and protocol. This fall we will welcome Syngenta and BASF back on site. Minimum Recovery Threshold research observations. It can be a challenging time of year when our owners are pushing to stay open, losing our summer staff, it’s arguably the busiest time of year to prep the course for closure. Aerations, blow-out, fall fert.,spray snow mold protection, etc., all necessary to overwinter successfully. We rarely have time to fight that “closure time” battle, perhaps because that conversation is clouded by subjectivity. Among the various consulting locations in the province, I’d like to offer some observations.
We don’t need crop science to tell us no turf will grow or germinate below 10’C. This is the basis for the course closure discussion I’d like to share. When we stay open for play and traffic during colder fall temperatures, the turfgrass has lesser opportunity to recover and heal from the stress of play (and maintenance). Below images, Edmonton AB, Oct 14. Average weekly daytime temperatures 13’C, nightime temperatures 3’C. Two pictures taken the same day: On the left, roped off bentgrass nursery, on the right, in-play golf green still running roughly 120 rounds per day. Close inspection with a macro lens identifies the turf on the right as injured, damaged from foot traffic and maintenance rolling and occasional cut. The left, a perfectly healthy green with all the same maintenance performed minus the golfer traffic. I feel this was a good example why we propose a “10 degree” rule for daily average temp. The simple math your GM can do as well, take daytime high plus daytime low, divided by 2. 13’C+3’C / 2 = 8’C. In this example, we see falls below the minimum recovery threshold of 10’C, thereby meeting our quantifiable measure for course closure. Closure for fungicide efficacy: To also consider, a damaged or injured leaf blade is not functioning well. All available energy, all you have applied in fall fertility, is going towards repair - not photosynthesizing and storing that carbohydrate in preparation for winter. Look again at the images - which surface would you feel is more likely to accept a systemic fungicide application expected to last 160days? The plants ability to translocate is at risk. Spring vs Fall play: Also consider the revenue generated for a 100 round fall day @ $60/round might hit $7K, so sure - we’re here to make money. However, consider late season golfers are less motivated than those in the spring. The Pellucid Corp reports golfers greater surge in spring play as golfers emerge from winter hibernation, flocking to our clubs. The surge can produce almost double the busiest days of fall, well above average utilization. Therefore, staying open later in the season is counter productive to the revenue model which risks our spring opening and highest revenue potential. All efforts to ensure maximum turf health and optimum fungicide translocation in the fall should be a shared message to owners or GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 40
your board - at this time of year start thinking about spring revenues. Prepping for Alberta Winter: Alberta sees a wide range of winter conditions we prepare for; warming chinook winds in February have been known to bare off the greens, followed by -48’C temperatures, it could be 15’C on Monday and -50’C on Tuesday. Among the four main reasons we lose turf over winter; A) crown hydration (chinook warming & freezing), or consider B) desiccation, C) anoxia, and d) direct low temperature kill. Crown hydration is a difficult one - keeping melt off the surface which fools the plant into thinking its spring. A quick freeze simply ruptures the plant cells. Those who can keep a good snow cover or layered tarp system will keep the cold in - and offers the best chance to keep your turf from absorbing any moisture too early. Desiccation is common in open winters without sufficient snowfall to block drying winds. (image right). Evergreen tarps can be used all winter through the the spring, which also also helps warm the soil for an early season greenhouse effect. Other tried and true “Old school” techniques to avoid desiccation include heavy fall topdressing, and at the PTRC we also use snow fence. Where you have it, deep snow is the perfect insulator, and best protection from desiccation as it also breathes (porous). Anoxia and Temperature: Be reminded your turf under the cover of darkness cannot photosynthesize - therefore must use carb/energy reserves to respire. Burning its energy and producing C02 vs 02, if this gas exchange is blocked by ice or impermeable tarps, the gas builds. As proven by past PTRC research, Jim Ross concluded in excess of 5% C02 was detrimental to turf survivability over winter. Another important reflection, annual bluegrass is less adapted to survive anoxic conditions beyond 60-75 days where bentgrasses are can survive 120days. Ross In addition to these proven realities, most recent studies out of the PTRC have re-iterated the lethal temperature LT50 of poa annua and poa reptans at -15’C. As you can see in the image (right), the trays illustrate a temperature threshold, the bare/empty pods were subject to -15’C, nearly 100% mortality. This continues to drive poa annua control topic, especially for Alberta, where -15’C is a certainty, and liability.
Quarterly Ptrc Fall Update: July-Sept 2023 Fall Fertility and Overwintering? Pack carbs. If your grass can’t see the sun, its burning reserves. Make sure you’ve applied sufficient fall fertility and ensure it has the energy to “hibernate”. Latest research from PTRC recommends 1#N/,5#K, anytime in September. Myth: “We don’t want to enter the winter too lush” As ambient temperatures drop, the 7 day mowing program shifts to 3-4days/wk. While a deep green turf might be viewed as “lush”, its only the chlorophyll expression proving the plant is photosynthesizing - and packing carbohydrate this time of year as needed for winter hibernation. This physiological change is unmistakable, top growth slows and we reduce mowing frequency. The energy applied is not gone, but redirected - top growth has shifted towards storage. Latest testing at PTRC applied fall rates over 4lbs/N/1000ft² in the month of September, illustrating no significant difference than that of 1lb/N/. This defeats the “Too Lush” myth. Notably, foliarly applied N can accumulate as fast as granular up to 4.5% tissue content. Conversely, potassium applications are best applied granularly.
https://www.pellucidcorp.com/reports/golf-market-research-center
ATRF Capital acquisitions: Strong growth since 2021 has allowed the ATRF to acquire a new sprayer, thanks to help from Zack Bishop and the team at Oakcreek. Our refurbished MP1750 unit will ensure testing aligns with industry standards, and will also act as a training tool for our diploma students. We now have the ability to assist our partners with not only diagnostics, but also emergency spray services if necessary. 2023 Projects Completed: We continued several herbicide trials this summer as well as a thatch reduction product trial for Premier Tech. Long awaited Poacure project with Brett Young is also nearly complete. With Eastern and Western testing locations testing Poacure on Bentgrass at greens height and bluegrass on fairways, all the data is rolling in for the next steps and hopefully registration. A solution for poa annua control could be a potential game changer for the turf industry across North America. Another trial exploring the widely misunderstood biostimulant market, evaluates how to enhance & maximize thatch degradation with focus on microbial activity. For Ontario and BC where organic matter accumulation is a major issue, we hope to produce some applied solutions in the new year. This summer was our “establishment” year for the Drought tolerance trial with the City of Calgary and Sod Growers Commodity Group. As many saw during our field day, the largest project next year is prepped and ready to roll. (images: Left Sod
Highlighted project in drought avoidance, a partnership between the Sod Growers. Commodity Group and City of Calgary.
component, Right Perennial Yard-Smart replication gardens. Watch for more quarterly updates on this unique study. Accepting 2024: Call to proposals Each November various granting bodies open their research bids. Leveraging moneys generated, the national association is an excellent resource for the ATRF. We/ATRF continue to be corporate members of the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation, hoping our contribution is leveraged to more Canadian turfgrass advances. Membership update: Trends in membership at the ATRF are positive - reflective of the gradual change from individual membership to corporate and association support. Although we will continue to send voluntary invoices to our past and current members, the trend is corporate growth. Thank you to all who have GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 41
Matt Legg of Syngenta Presenting “The art of application” and demonstration in product compatibility.
renewed their membership, individual clubs and associations, we have begin preparing for the CEU conference circuit. The first of the season, most recently to the BCGSA at their annual exchange tournament in Whistler BC. Next week to the Western Canada Cemetery Association in Leduc AB, and October to the Alberta Superintendents Association in Beautiful Canmore. Thanks to all for your individual, corporate, and association support. Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation Field Day 2023 Despite some less than ideal weather, ATRF members and guests enjoyed a day of learning, taking in two pesticide continuing education credits, first from Matt Legg of Syngenta, and yours truly. Field project presentations included herbicide trials, thatch reduction (biostimulant), a drought avoidance experiment and an awesome Maredo demonstration including aeration, vertical mower, and fraze mowers.
Why You Should Fire Yourself If you find yourself in a position where your customers always insist on speaking with you directly instead of your employees, then you might want to consider shifting your structure so you can improve the value of your business. Here’s why: a business that can thrive without the owner at the center of all its operations is more valuable because processes can run smoothly with or without you. If you’re too stuck in the weeds, you’ll have a difficult time improving or evolving – and your employees won’t have the opportunity to grow and become advocates for your brand. To maximize the value of your business, you should set a goal to quietly slip into the background and let your staff take center stage. Here are five ways to make customers less inclined to call you:
1. Re-rank If you display the bio of key staff members on your website, re-order the list so that it is alphabetical rather than hierarchical. 2. Re-brand If your surname is in your company name, consider a re-brand. There’s nothing that makes a customer want to deal with the owner more than having the owner’s surname featured in the company name. 3. Hire a President Giving someone the title of president conveys the message that they have real authority to solve customer problems.
4. Use an email auto-responder
Tim Ferriss, the author of The 4 Hour Work Week among other books, made the email auto-responder famous, and it can serve you well.
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Why You Should Fire Yourself 5. Play hookey
If you have the kind of business that customers visit in person, set up a home office so you can spend more time away from your location. For a hard-charging A-type entrepreneur, the steps above can be complicated and feel counterintuitive. They may even have a short-term negative impact on your company’s sales, but once you get your customers trained to go to your team, you’ll be able to scale up further and ultimately maximize the value of your business.
The Value of Professional Assistance
Our team of experienced professionals are committed to helping business owners like you understand your business value, enhance your value pre-market, and navigate the complexities of the sales process when the time comes for an exit. True North M&A is here to support you every step of the way, offering personalized and strategic advice tailored to your unique circumstances. Don Montgomery President or True North Mergers & Acquisitions Don@truenorthma.ca 403.971.4341
Set up an automatic response to anyone sending you an email explaining that you are traveling or attending to a strategic project and unable to answer their questions immediately. Instead, train customers to direct questions to the person best suited to answer them quickly. A word of caution using this strategy: if you continue to answer customer emails after setting up an auto-responder, it’s going to become transparent that you’re just trying to hide behind your autoresponder, which could diminish your credibility. If you set one up, you need to be ready to let others step in. GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 43
‘Eco-Optimism’ Garden Media Group’s 2024 Garden Trends Report
The 2024 report showcases seven trends for retailers to pay attention to in the coming year
T
he trendspotting firm accurately predicted the growth of container gardening in 2003, interest in native plants in 2007, plants for well-being in 2018, and the rise of tech and AI in the garden in 2021. The 2024 Garden Trends Report, Eco-Optimism, underscores the green industry’s potential to alleviate eco-anxiety among the 1.2 billion young people striving to contribute positively to the climate. “As scientists, horticulturists, gardeners, and communicators, it is our job to understand environmental issues and translate these concepts into solutions our customers can understand,” says second-generation president of Garden Media, Katie Dubow. “One responsibility, is to communicate solutions that don’t create hopelessness.” In addition to her role as president of GMG, Dubow is past president of the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association, the inaugural recipient of the Emergent Communicator Award from GardenComm, a guest host on QVC for Cottage Farms, and a regular judge at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. Dubow has presented trends to audiences for the past decade from Ohio to Italy. Dubow will present the 2024 GTR at the Green Industry Show and Conference on November 15, 2023. Her keynote will detail seven trends to use in your marketing that will attract trend-loving customers. Here is a glimpse at the trends that will influence the future of the garden industry in 2024:
Zoom Out Generation Z, or Zoomers, now have an estimated spending power of over $300 billion—and growing each year. Zoomers are influential, digital, and humble. They are ahead of Millennials and Gen X when it comes to homeownership and see their home as a long-term investment. This younger generation chooses to fill their homes with quality, sustainable items. They shop online more and purchase directly from social media platforms, influencers, and multivendor marketplaces such as Ship My Plants. Their idea of
For 23 years, Garden Media Group has been dedicated to spotlighting fresh trends within the green industry, empowering garden centers to make data-driven marketing and purchasing decisions. Staying ahead of the curve by identifying and analyzing emerging trends is essential for businesses to shape their future strategies effectively. By delving into consumer purchasing patterns, desires, and requirements, companies can increase sales, engagement, and foot traffic into physical stores.
retail of the future looks a lot less like rows and rows of plants and more like curated rooms. Garden centers are urged to curate inventory and choose sustainable products with a story.
Hortifuturism
This forward, bright, and bold trend represents the rise of science fiction in mainstream culture. From the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show’s The Garden Electric to TeamLab’s mind-bending international horticulture exhibitions, a “horti-futurist” movement is happening under our noses. Garden shows, exhibits, and store displays will begin to lean into the neons and vibrant accents. Offer evening hours in the warm season? Illuminate your garden center with neon lights or glowing orbs. Got patio space? Offer a cosmic cocktail hour! Stock alien-looking, star-flecked, or silver-hued plants such as the ‘Sterling Moon’ Lunar Lights™ Begonia from Southern Living Plant Collection or the classic Starry Night Petunia.
Delight in the Dark
Consumers are fascinated by the underground, as shown in hits such as The Last of Us and Wednesday. And with 430k posts on social media, #Gothgarden(ing) #VictorianGardens, #Halloweengardens #Steampunk, and #Tombstonetourism make up this third persona of enchanting, viral and goth. People are using cemeteries as a Third Space and flocking to plants with dark foliage, blood-red flowers, and peeling bark. Look for examples such as ‘Black Prince’ Snapdragon and Black Peony Poppy from Park Seed and Blood Red Sunflower, Black Cherry Floribunda Rose, Hellebores ‘Pine Knots Select Strain’ and Black Parrot tulip.
Bugging Out
Insects are all the buzz for this eclectic, natural, and beneficial group. From home décor to fashion and jewelry, consumers are obsessed with realistic bug décor. And it’s not just taxidermy; designers are creating cushions, lamp shades, necklaces, and rugs to showcase their love of insects. This trend is flying partly because of interest in bugs in indoor décor, which sparks an interest in creating pollinator gardens outdoors. Garden for Wildlife is working hard to educate gardeners and make it easy for them to plant for pollinators.
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‘Eco-Optimism’ - Garden Media Group’s 2024 Garden Trends Report their landscape in flowers, such as Bloomables ® Wedding Gown Hydrangea, foliage, such as ‘Lemon-Lime’ Nandina from Sunset Plant Collection and Sunshine Ligustrum from Southern Living Plant Collection, and in houseplants with ‘Chameleon’ ZZ, ‘Painted Lady’ Philodendron, ‘Lemon Meringue’ Pothos and ‘Golden Violin’ Philodendron from Costa Farms.
Methodology
Garden Media has published its highly anticipated Garden Trends Report annually since 2001. Garden trends have helped countless businesses stay ahead of changing consumer preferences. The firm takes a year to compile each report. The team interviews industry leaders, growers, landscapers, retailers, and media. They look outside of the industry to fashion, home, technology, and food industries to see what is trending in North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. By understanding current trends, businesses in the green industry can cater to their customer’s evolving needs and desires, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction. Keeping up with the trends can assist in long-term planning and drive inspiration and education. Read Garden Media’s GROW! blog for trend updates and industry news.
Hanging in There
Container gardening isn’t going anywhere, but consumers are running out of places to put their plants. It is estimated that by 2050, 89% of people will be living in urban areas so maximizing vertical space is what this trend is all about. So, in comes the lush, elevated, and defined hanging plant gardeners. Hanging, trailing, and draping plants require less maintenance, draw your eyes up, and don’t take away from your ground-level planting. Showcasing flowers like the Nonstop® Joy Begonias from Park Seed and edibles like Midnight and Sapphire Cascade blueberries from Bushel and Berry® add new heights to your garden and allow for more paces to plant.
Garden Media Group ignites buzz for clients, offers innovative public relations campaigns, and secures top media placements and partnerships. The boutique PR and marketing firm is known as the best in the home and garden, horticulture, outdoor living, and lawn and landscape industries. The annual Garden Trends Report is among the most published trade and consumer news garden studies.
See Katie Dubow at GISC 2023 in Red Deer – more info at www.greenindustryshow.com.
Nature Calls
This trend is about how hopeful, inspired, and vital individuals have a passion for the health and prosperity of their community. While Gen X, Y, and Z are hyper-focused on sustainability, they also want to stay eco-positive, offset carbon usage, and invest in planting native trees and grasses. Plus, cities are learning about how their trees can help fight climate change from companies such as The Davey Tree Expert Company. Color of the Year The most anticipated trend year after year is vivid, punchy, and powerful. This near-neon, hyper-bright green signifies the powerful connection between nature and technology. It is Cyber Lime! This color will boldly impact interior design, fashion, and landscaping. Consumers can use this in GREEN FOR LIFE FALL 2023 • 45
Tactical Snow Planning BY GRANT HARRISON, NEXTRA CONSULTING
B
eing a snow contractor is hard. There are a million things vying for your attention, and it’s usually the most urgent that gets it. Meanwhile, your business keeps going – but is it growing? Has it increased in value over the last year? The truth is that most snow contractors have no idea what their business is worth or how it’s actually doing. They’re usually fantastic technicians, happy to be working IN the business, but rarely ON the business. But knowing the value of your business, and understanding the steps needed to increase its value are critical for the growth and health of the business. It will increase profitability now and also make your business more attractive to potential buyers – whether you’re looking at selling now or in the future. Let’s take a look at six pillars of a snow business and identify some best practices you can implement fairly easily to increase efficiency, productivity and profit. SAFETY The health and safety of your staff is your greatest priority. A Health and Safety Committee should be actively engaged in your business and their recommendations should be taken seriously. Ensuring your staff are trained in the areas of health and safety is an easy way to eliminate potential hazards. STAFF Hiring well is critical to business success. It’s important to hire based on your company’s core values, not based solely on a need for a spot to be filled. Providing employee orientation and an onboarding plan is extremely helpful to the employee and to the organization. It ensures that everyone is aware of the job duties, expectations, company culture, training schedule and organizational structure. It sets an employee up for success right from the start. Additionally, providing regular communication to your employees keeps everyone on the same page, creates confidence in your employees, and gives you control over your company’s messaging. Consider a monthly townhall meeting, a quarterly newsletter, a one-day kick-off each spring and fall to help build company culture and show your appreciation to your staff. Happy staff are integral to company success. CUSTOMERS Just as you use an onboarding program for employees, consider using an onboarding program for clients. In the same way that it provides clarity for your employees, it will do the same for your clients. You can communicate how the job process works, the payment schedule, how any delays are handled, who to contact if there’s an issue, etc. It puts clients at ease because they know what to expect and this builds their confidence in your company.
Communication with clients is key. If there’s one complaint we hear regularly about contractors, it’s that they don’t communicate well with customers. Set your business apart by providing proactive communication to your clients. For example, send an email to your clients to let them know when snow or ice are expected in the forecast and when you expect to start clearing snow. Send them a weekly report that indicates when you were on site and what service(s) you performed. There really is no such thing as overcommunication when it comes to customers. FINANCIALS A lot of snow contractors will stop reading here, simply because they saw the word “financials”. This is generally because they feel they don’t have a strong understanding of their financials nor the time to put into understanding. But learning how to create a budget, review that budget to actuals and read financial reports is imperative to understanding your business and where changes can be made to increase profit and efficiency. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you know and trust and let them know you need some help understanding the numbers. Trust me - once you know your numbers you will feel so much more in control of the business. OPERATIONS Determining some best practices for operations is one of the quickest ways to affect the efficiency and profitability for your business. Consider standardizing processes and equipment throughout the company and creating an operational manual. There are plenty of programs and apps that can assist with this area of business. In order to track your progress, it’s important to have key performance indicators identified for each division. Measurements like hours vs. budget, fleet costs, measurement of quality of work being completed and gross margin on each job are key. LEADERSHIP Creating a regular meeting rhythm is an easy way to start building cohesion in your leadership team. Scheduling regular SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) meetings and strategic plans will keep everyone informed and create consensus and accountability. Sharing your leadership’s vision and core values with your staff will help to create “ownership thinking” from the staff. If you want to lean more about building your snow business, I’d love to have you attend one or both of my workshops at GISC: Slip & Fall Readiness: Wednesday, November 15 at 9:05 Profit Works: Thursday, November 16 at 9:05 You can also find us at Booth 1029 during the show. We’d love to talk to you.
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Facility: Parkland Nursery & Landscape Services Ltd. Certification Number: AB-013-2023 Valid until December 31, 2023