UAC Magazine - January/February 2016

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

Keeping Georgia’s green industry informed

26

32

36

46

48

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

20

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Advocate. Educate. Promote.1

OUR MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE EVER.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

NEW AND INNOVATIVE SUSPENDED OPERATOR PLATFORM.

2

$500 REBATE ON SELECT UNITS! PLUS

0% FINANCING GOING ON NOW! For nearly two decades, Exmark’s Lazer Z® has been the standard of excellence for commercial zero-turn mowers.

Our 2015 Lazer Z E-Series and Lazer Z X-Series machines are now available with a suspended operator platform—an independent platform design which provides maximum comfort while maintaining Exmark’s signature quality of cut.

Visit one of our 1,500+ servicing dealers today to experience why Exmark mowers are purchased twoto-one over the next best-selling brand by landscape professionals.

exmark.com

UAC Magazine Official publication of the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council

Board of Directors

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

Dixie Speck, President

Solterra Landscape Todd Jarrett

Arbor Hill Nurseries Matt Lowe

Swift Straw Ken Morrow

Sod Atlanta Chris Nelson

Chattahoochee Nature Center Bob Scott

Irrigation Consultant Services Ray Wiedman

Outdoor Expressions Ron White TurfPride Tony Gibson, Past President

Gibson Landscape Services

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Ex Officio

BUSINESS

Ellen Bauske

UGA Extension Public Service Assistant Bodie Pennisi

UGA Extension Horticulturist Clint Waltz

UGA Extension Turf Agronomist

28 Marketing in the real world Practical tips for small businesses 32 Legal labor a looming nightmare? Using E-Verify to hire workers 35 Tips for proper fuel use Avoid damaging seasonal equipment

Staff

36 42 43 44

2016 Sod Producers’ Report Survey examines inventory and price Transportation bill passes House Anti-landscape amendment defeated It’s time for the 2016 Top 100! Submit your company today Annual industry outlook report A look back at 2015, ahead to 2016

URBAN AG

46 48 52 54

Wood-rotting organisms Tiny fungi can weaken roots and kill trees 2015 Classic City Awards This year’s best performers New, improved Chaste Tree New cultivars of an old favorite Pro project Landscape renovation by Classic Landscapes

IN EVERY ISSUE

18 20 22 24 26

Save the date Pest 411 Kissing bugs Me & my mentor Connect with your Hispanic workforce Safety works Ladder safety What the tech? Lights, camera, smartphone!

Mary Kay Woodworth

Executive Director Kathy Gatten Johnson

Marketing Director & Editor

A member of:

Georgia Urban Ag Council PO Box 817 Commerce GA 30529 P: 800.687.6949 F: 706.336.6898 E: info@georgiauac.com www.urbanagcouncil.com All contents copyright 2016

UAC NEWS

4 6 8 10 41

President/Executive Director message What did you miss? Clay tournament, Lunch + Learn, EDGE Expo Progressive Turf Equipment Recognized for excellence Access your member discount Log in for discounted event rates UAC welcomes new members

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

11 Thank you to the companies that support UAC events

INDUSTRY

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Atlanta Botanical Garden Georgia Agribusiness Council Georgia Arborist Association Georgia Association of Water Professionals Georgia Green Industry Association Georgia Urban Forest Council Georgia Water Alliance National Association of Landscape Professionals Southeastern Horticultural Society

3

UAC NEWS

Dear UAC Members and Supporters, Another new year to look forward to - and for those businesses that have made it through the challenges, you definitely deserve to hear “CONGRATULATIONS”! The main challenges we started with last year remain at the top of the list for this year. From everything I hear and read, finding and keeping good employees is the primary challenge in our industry, along with a demand for a rise in wages.

Dixie Speck President

This year, your UAC leadership will continue to keep alert and educated on these issues so we can provide the tools and benefits that our members need. UAC also needs its members to stay aware and educated through means such as this publication, dinner meetings, lunch and learns, safety training topics, and website resources.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

To rebuild our workforce, we have to follow what many other labor-heavy industries in the country are doing (such as construction and manufacturing). We must reach out to high

4

school students and other available unemployed people who need an accelerated training and screening program as a first step into our industry. Last year, we connected with CEFGA (www.CEFGA.org), which holds an annual Career Expo combined with Skilled Trades USA state competition. This year it will be held again at the GICC on March 16-17. We will exhibit a “World of Landscaping” for the second year to introduce careers in our industry to middle and high school students and teachers. We need volunteers to help with set-up and break-down, and to talk to attendees during the event. If you are a forward-looking employer who would like to have an impact on and meet motivated potential young employees, please contact the UAC office to sign up.

Happy New Year to you all! Help us make this year an exciting and growing one for our organization and for our industry!

Certiied Tifway bermudagrass available in pallets or mega rolls.

Call now!

Darren Emerick 770.530.5078

The contractor’s choice for quality bermudagrass Customer focused and customer oriented • Farm located minutes from I-75 in Calhoun, Georgia

Ready to deliver to your site Call for pricing and availability

UAC NEWS

As we begin a new year – 2016 – on behalf

of the UAC board, thank you for your continued membership and involvement in the Georgia Urban Ag Council.

Why belong?

According to a 2014 survey by Wild Apricot (a web-based association membership tool), there are six main reasons to belong to an industry association:

1.

Networking. In the great race to the top, who you know matters - and industry and trade associations are filled with potential contacts.

Associations give members a chance to connect and create relationships, making them fabulous networking opportunities for members who want to strengthen ties with clients or colleagues in their industry, hunt for jobs, or make long-term beneficial connections.

Professional development.

Continuing education and professional development is key if you want to succeed in your profession.

3.

Peer-to-peer learning and potential mentorship opportunities that associations provide allow members to pool their knowledge and take advantage of each other’s experiences.

Information/news. Becoming a member of an industry association gives you a fast pass to any noteworthy news or developments in your industry. Staying up-tothe-minute on industry news allows members to take advantage of changes or developments that might otherwise have passed them by.

5.

Mary Kay Woodworth Executive Director

And we hope that #6 is as important to you as it is to us:

6.

Support the organization’s mission.

Associations give voice to a group that might otherwise be ignored, supporting the development of industry professionals, and acting as a watchdog for the well-being of the industry as a whole.

Individuals may join an organization because they believe in and support the mission of the organization and the work the organization does, even if they don’t use or need the other opportunities it provides.

After all, members have often dedicated their professional lives to that field – they want it and others in it to succeed.

In 2016, we hope that you’ll remain committed to our association, and help us grow. Encourage your colleagues to join, your employees to participate and get involved. Thank you for your continued support!

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Events. Networking happy hours that give members a chance to form valuable connections, trade shows that help members stay up-to-date on industry developments, and seminars and workshops to provide continuing industry education.

2.

Learning best practices. If you’re new in the game and don’t have much experience, ignorance of best practices can pose a serious business and reputational risk. A forum for promulgating industry-wide best practices, and becoming a member of your industry association gives you a resource to learn what best practices govern your chosen field, and a head start on compliance if best practices are amended or change.

4.

5

UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? Third annual UAC Sporting Clays Tournament

GEORGIA

November 6, 2015 Blalock Lakes, Newnan, GA

Individual winner

Chatham Landscape: David Bitler URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

E D G E E������

D����������

G���

E����

December 9 - 10, 2015

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Infinite Energy Center (Gwinnett Center)

6

Duluth, GA

E X P O

EDGE Expo

Team winners

NG Turf: David Muse, Aaron McWhorter, Jutt Howard

UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? Business succession or sale?

Know your options!

Georgia State Tax Credits Money left on the table

Presented by: Gary P. Rayberg CBI, M&AMI, ROI Corporation

Presented by: Danny Dukes, Danny F. Dukes & Associates

Business transition: the options: • Close the doors; hold an auction • Management (key employee) buyout • Transition to family member • Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) • Sale to outside party • Death of owner forces issue First step: how much is it worth?

• Obtain a valuation • Needed for all forms of exit • A snapshot in time • Can provide a course to increase value Structuring the deal: how it’s done • Stock sale • Asset sale To-do list: 2 - 5 years out: • Get financial records in order • Obtain a valuation-build value • Speak to CPA about tax issues, deal structure • Evaluate financial retirement plan • Evaluate family and non-family employees • Pick a course for transition • Have a death contingency plan The team: • CPA • Business valuator • Attorney • Business broker/intermediary • Financial planner • Pick a quarterback Conclusion: • Start the exit process 2 to 5 years in advance • Evaluate the options • Assemble a team of advisors • Work to build value • Plan to work 30 days to 1 year after transition, at a minimum.

Why do many successful businesses walk away from this cash?

• Unaware of the true benefits and significance of state tax credits • Meeting the documentation requirements can be complex and cumbersome • Don’t know where to find the expertise necessary to obtain the credits

November 18, 2015

WS Pharr/Snellings Walters Office Atlanta, GA

What are Georgia State Tax Credits?

• Tax credits directly reduce your taxes owed • Currently, there are four basic types of tax credits available to Georgia businesses: • Job retraining • Job creation • Investment of capital • Other available tax credits • Quality jobs tax credit • Child care credits • Research and development • Corporate headquarters • Small business growth credit • Ports activity job and investment • Sales and use tax exemptions Summary: • State tax credits are available as part of the Georgia State Tax Code • There are many different opportunities to benefit from state tax credits • Benefits can be substantial and reduce your state tax liability by up to 100% • Danny F. Dukes and Associates, LLC has the knowledge and expertise to take the mystery out of state tax credits and turn it in to cash Danny F. Dukes & Associates (770) 406-1820 dannydukes.com

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

ROI Business Brokers (770) 876-8162 roibusinessbrokers.com

lunch + learn

7

UAC NEWS

UAC member company wins awards

Progressive Turf Equipment recognized for excellence In November 2015, the Huron County Manufacturing Association (HMA) held their annual Excellence Award ceremony, handing out twelve awards to various manufacturers located within Huron County, Ontario.

The HMA Manufacturer of the Year Award winner is the manufacturer most exemplifying the highest level of manufacturing excellence over the past year.

Progressive Turf Equipment is pleased to have been recognized with two awards:

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

of the Year  Employer  Manufacturer of the Year

8

The HMA Manufacturer of the Year Award winner is chosen from all of the award category nominees, as the manufacturer most exemplifying the highest level of manufacturing excellence over the past year.

In 2013, Progressive Turf Equipment was presented with the Innovative Product, and Corporate Citizenship awards.

‘We thank our employees for their hard work and their dedication which has resulted in this recognition. We also congratulate all of the nominees and winners and extend a thank you to our fellow HMA members’.

This marks the 10th anniversary of the HMA Manufacturing Excellence Awards. To learn more about the HMA and all of the past and present award winners, see www.huronmanufacturing.ca

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

9

UAC NEWS

Access your UAC member discount for events!

Log in when registering online to get this member benefit urbanagcouncil.com

Click on the membership tab, then on the “Log in as a member” link.

Your email address and the password from the old UAC website will still work. If you can’t remember your password, click “Forgot your password?” to reset. If you don’t know what email is attached to your membership, contact the UAC office.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Once you’re logged in, click on the “News” tab, then the “UAC dinners & events” link. Your member rate will show up when you register.

10

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Thank you

URBAN AG COUNCIL

It’s a 20 year pattern of success.

Learn more about our bold new look, innovative new products, and how partnering with Belgard® can help grow your business.

LE

BR

AT ING

Belgard.com/BOLD

CE

to the following companies for supporting our Fall 2015 UAC events and our industry, and to our SEED sponsors, who support all of us every day.

GEORGIA

SOD+TURF GEORGIA

PRODUCERS f i e l d

Belgard Launch AdRes_left2015.indd 1

d a y

10/15/15 10:54 AM

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD

GREAT THINGS GEORGIA

GEORGIA

E D G E E������

D����������

G���

E����

E X P O

Please show your appreciation by calling on them the next time you need their products or services.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

URBAN AG COUNCIL

11

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Serving metro Atlanta and Destin, FL

Tree Care Services Greenwaste Recycling

Cowart Mulch Products

Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Plant Health Care

185 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

Sugar Hill, GA 30518 (770) 932-6161 cowartmulch.com

5350 Tulane Dr. SW Atlanta, GA 30336 (404) 346-5340 jerrypate.com

Harrell’s

Pennington Seed

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Vegetation Management

P.O. Box 807 Lakeland, FL 33802 (863) 687-2774 harrells.com

Vermeer Southeast Sales & Service

More reasons to shop.

Cash Card Rebate Program + Online Ordering Job Tracking + Will-Call Pickup + Expert Advice Education Services + Online Account Management Trained and Certified Service Professionals

EwingIrrigation.com/locations

12

P.O. Box 290 Madison, GA 30650 (800) 277-1412 penningtonseed.com

1320 Gresham Rd. Marietta, GA 30065 (770) 973-8811 vermeersoutheast.com

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

John Owens (Sales)

Phone: 1-888-341-5113 | Email: sales@kesmac.com 23324 Woodbine Ave. | Keswick, Ontario L4P 3E9

Manufacturer of Turf Equipment

get it@FIS 1-877-fis-1now EQUIPMENT

LIGHTING

Equipment, Netting, and Parts

fisoutdoor.com CHEMICALS

FERTILIZER

LSGOLF MENT UIP OO TEQ

EQUIPMENT

LIGHTING

CHEMICALS

FERTILIZER

TOOLS

PUMPS

IRRIGATION

MULCH

IRRIGATION

MULCH

S UIP OLNT EQGOLF TOME

PUMPS

TOOLS

• Your Complete Outdoor Products Supplier!

• Huge Inventory!

• Most Popular Products!

• 30+ Stores Near You! •Large Fleet of Delivery Trucks!

Bucyrus Equipment

Steven Dover 913-783-4600 info@magnumenp.com PO Box 156 | Hillsdale, KS 66036

GCIA-certified turfgrass ensures producers, turf professionals and homeowners will receive high-quality sod which is free of noxious weeds and is true to variety.

Terry Hollifield, Executive Director 2425 South Milledge Avenue | Athens GA 30605 (706) 542-2351 | www.georgiacrop.com

The Turfgrass Group, Inc. 1225 Savannah Lane • Monroe, Georgia 30655 (770) 207-1500 or (866) 967-2652 www.theturfGraSSGroup.com

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Georgia Crop Improvement Association, Inc.

13

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT "We've made personal service and outstanding working relationships the foundations of our company."

- R.M. Howard, President and CEO

Agriculture | Turf and Ornamental | Pest Control | Retail/Export WE MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER. MUCH EASIER.

TURF & ORNAMENTAL PRODUCTS

We offer a full range of quality turf and ornamental products, including

> Dry Fertilizer

our AccuBlend™ fertilizers and Howard ProFusion™, our proprietary

> Liquid Fertilizer & Nutritionals

heat-infused coating process that provides enhanced control with combination products. You can also count on our experienced sales representatives for helpful advice and assistance to make your turf look and perform its best.

Ron Hunnicutt 404-915-0758

> Chemicals > Seed > Organic Fertilizer

Keith Bishop 404-376-4515

howardfertilizer.com

Gulf Coast Organic, Inc. Royal Tyler, GM (251) 952-4769

10505A County Rd. 65 | Foley, AL 36535 rtyler@gcogrows.com | krissy@gcogrows.com

H & H FARM MACHINE CO., INC. 7916 Unionville-Brief Rd. | Monroe, NC 28110

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Brian Nance

14

Email: hhspray@vnet.net Phone: 704-753-4919 Building sprayers your way - since 1978!

Using tank sizes from 15 to 500 gallons, fitted with name-brand components, and supported by rugged tubular frames that give years of dependability.

Built with Pride in the USA

Jeff Fisher

National Sales Manager, Chrisman Manufacturing 7399 Beatline Road | Long Beach, MS 39560 Phone: (228) 864-6293 | Fax: (228) 864-1381 Email: jfisher@navigatorforklifts.com

Jay Fountain 404-597-6774

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Mike Bishop 850.545.7947 mike.bishop@sscoop.com

Gary Clayton 404.386.5658 gary.clayton@sscoop.com

Dean Crouch Crou 678.642.9267 dean.crouch@sscoop.com

We appreciate your business!

128 Old Mill Road Cartersville, GA 30120 Phone: 770.383.3199

www.startractor.net | rpicard@startractor.net Proud growers of:

Tifway 419 Bermudagrass

MEYER ZOYSIA

Call and order today!

770-271-9500 Pick up or delivery

350 Buford Hwy | Suite 103 Sugar Hill, GA 30518 Product Quality, Service and Experience since 1980

www.southernstates.com

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Fax: 770.383.3439

15

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

SHOES OPTIONAL Visit supersod.com and click the “Free Sod Quote” button or give us a call at 888-360-1125.

Same team. New home Please note our new permanent warehouse location, just off I-85 in Norcross. 5785 Brook Hollow Pkwy, Suite C, Norcross, GA 30071.

Same Residex Turfgrass team, providing Georgia’s T&O markets with industry-leading products and service. Please reach out to Bud, Ike or Gary for your turf & ornamental needs. We look forward to the road ahead, and welcome the opportunity to grow existing relationships and create new ones. Talk to you soon!

NORCROSS

N

140

wy

Pk llow

Ho Brook

rings

en Sp

a division of

k broo

Rd

Pkw

y

Oak

kD

r

Gosh

Oa

kb

roo

85

Bud Brown 678 274-8079 bbrown@residex.com (North of I-20 and East of GA 400)

Ike Faulkenberry 770 710-2843 ifaulkenberry@residex.com (North of I-20 and West of GA 400)

Gary Gibson 678 371-0130 ggibson@residex.com (South Side)

RESIDEX www.residex.com www.turffuel.com 5785 Brook Hollow Pkwy, Suite C, Norcross, GA 30071 770 409-8711

P

WS HARR &CO.

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

A member of Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Turfgrass Management Certificate

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Online • Start Anytime

16

“Earning my certification was an important achievement in my career. The course helped make me more knowledgeable and confident in my position.”

W.S. Pharr & Co. is one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the Southeast. We have specialized in the green industry since 1987 and serve over 600 green industry clients.

We offer a unique blend of insurance companies and broker experience assuring you get the most for your insurance dollar.

Contact: Will Pharr

404.354.2036 • wpharr@snellingswalters.com

Michael Parker

404.216.1108 • mparker@snellingswalters.com

770.396.9600

• • • • •

Monthly self-reporting payment plan Ability to earn up to a 15% dividend Competitive rates Aggressive claim management Underwritten by Builders Insurance

Insurance Plan • • • •

General liability, auto, equipment, umbrella 10% discount for Georgia UAC members Flexible payment plans Competitive rates

Employee Benefits • • • •

Employer-provided benefits Voluntary benefits Competitive rates Dedicated service team

Insurance • Risk Management • Employee Benefits

Mike Caprio, Landscape Industry Certified, Lawn Doctor Inc., Holmdel, New Jersey

landscape industry

UGAKeepLearning.com

CLIENT: UGA PPD JOB NO: 005399 PUB: Urban Ag Council LIVE: 7.5 x 5 TRIM: NA

Workers Compensation Plan

BLEED: non bleed INSERTION: Nov/Dec AGENCY: Freebairn & Co. CONTACT: Jean Cobb PHONE: 404.487.6113

770/233-6107 ugaurbanag.com/certification

Co

ct nta

us

bl

o-o

fo

n ra

n tio iga

ote

qu

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

SEED sponsorship opportunities support | energize | enable | develop SEED sponsorships offer our members an additional opportunity to promote their businesses and support UAC at a level beyond the membership dues.

seed support | energize | enable | develop

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

This is an annually renewable program, beginning on the contribution date.

Available to current UAC business-level members only.

Sponsorship levels and benefits

Contribution

DIAMOND $3000 Company name and logo will appear on UAC printed materials, the UAC website (with link to your website), and graphics at UAC-sponsored events; choice of three full-page color interior ads in UAC Magazine OR web banner ad for six months on UAC website (your choice of issues/months). Total maximum value of additional benefits: $1500.

TITANIUM $2000 Company name and logo will appear on UAC printed materials, the UAC website (with link to your website), and graphics at UAC-sponsored events; choice of two full-page color interior ad in UAC Magazine OR web banner ad for four months on UAC website (your choice of issues/months). Total maximum value of additional benefits: $1000.

PLATINUM $1000 Company name listed on UAC printed materials, the UAC website (with link to your website), and graphics at UAC-sponsored events; choice of one full-page color interior ad in UAC Magazine OR web banner ad for two months on UAC website (your choice of issue/months). Total maximum value of additional benefits: $500 GOLD $500 Company name listed on UAC printed materials, the UAC website (with link to your website), and graphics at UAC-sponsored events; one month web banner ad on UAC website (your choice of month). Total maximum value of additional benefits: $250. $250

BRONZE Company name listed on UAC printed materials and the UAC website (with link to your website).

$100

Thank you to all of our SEED Sponsors!

Diamond tree_logotypeUpdateGENERIC.pdf

Platinum C

M

Y

3/3/08

9:40:37 PM

Buck Jones Nursery

Gold

Envisor Consulting | MNI Direct | NatureScapes Solterra Landscapes | Topiary Courtyard

Plants • Sod • Landscape Supplies

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Grayson, GA Location 770-963-8227 Woodstock, GA Location 770-345-5506 Matthews, GA Farm 800-854-3646 – Wholesale only www.buckjones.com

Contact us today to see how you can become a SEED Sponsor!

800.687.6949 | SEED@georgiauac.com | www.urbanagcouncil.com

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

SILVER Company name listed on all UAC printed materials, the UAC website (with link to your website), and graphics at UAC-sponsored events.

17

SAVE THE DATE

FEB

Visit urbanagcouncil.com for updates and to register.

GALA

23

win the Who will hoice Judges’ C Awards?

Georgia Landscape Awards Banquet & Ceremony DATE: Tuesday, February 23 TIME: 5:30 networking/cash bar, 6:30 banquet & ceremony PLACE: Magnolia Hall, Piedmont Park

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

Atlanta, GA

Didn’t enter the awards this year?

Come to the banquet anyway!

  

Treat your team to a night out See the amazing work by your fellow members Get inspired to enter next year’s awards

Online registration begins February 1 at urbanagcouncil.com

MAR

17-18

CEFGA Career Expo DATE: Thursday, March 17 & Friday, March 18 PLACE: Georgia International Convention Center

MAR

College Park, GA

Safety Zone Awards

18

• • • •

•

Deadline for entries: Friday, March 18 There is no entry fee Only UAC member companies in good standing may submit entries These awards recognize safety performance from January 1 December 31, 2015 Enter any or all of the award categories

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Visit www.urbanagcouncil.com for details and entry form.

18

MAR

22

UAC Networking + Education Dinner:

Housing Market Data Trends John Hunt, ViaSearch and Smart Numbers

DATE: Tuesday, March 22 TIME: 5:30 networking/cash bar, 6:30 dinner & presentation PLACE: Chattahoochee Nature Center

9135 Willeo Road | Roswell GA 30075

Please visit www.urbanagcouncil.com for updates.

APR

26

70th Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference DATE: Tuesday, April 26 PLACE: Tifton, GA

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD

GREAT THINGS

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

19

PEST 411

Kissing bugs

Native to Georgia, bugs pose little risk

by Nancy C. Hinkle & Merritt Melancon, University of Georgia

Mistaken identity

Over the last several weeks,

Nancy C. Hinkle

Kissing bugs have been in the Southern United States for thousands of years and pose little risk to Georgians.

many Georgians have focused their attention on the media-hyped coverage of the kissing bug. Much of the sensationalism and worry surrounding this insect boogieman is unwarranted, according to UGA entomologists.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

While the bug is native to Georgia, it made headlines recently because it is known to carry the parasite that causes Chagas disease, which sickens millions of people in Mexico and South America every year, according to the World Health Organization. While the disease is devastating in the countries that it affects, it is extremely rare in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

20

“Kissing bugs have been in Georgia for millions of years,” said “Kissing bugs are not deadly and most of them are not infected with the parasite that causes Chagas disease… The Chagas disease parasite is transmitted only through the feces of specific kissing bugs.”

Still, many Georgians are worried when they find a kissing bug, or its harmless cousin, the wheel bug, in or around their homes. UGA Extension agents and entomologists frequently receive specimens from Georgians who are worried about finding kissing bugs in their homes.

Most of the specimens have been the more common wheel bug, said Dan Suiter, UGA Extension entomologist and invasive insect expert.

Tannish-brown wheel bugs can be recognized by a ridge of horn-like spikes, looking like a cogwheel, down the centers of their backs. Some kissing bugs are also tannish-brown, but are generally flatter and have a black and tan striped border around their bodies.

The relatively unknown wheel bug is actually more likely to bite Georgians than its headlinemaking cousin. Still, these cases of mistaken identity and fears of Chagas disease have people worried, but they shouldn’t be, Hinkle said.

Just the facts

Here are some facts about kissing bugs and Chagas disease in Georgia: With freezing temperatures ahead, most kissing bugs will be going in hibernation soon.



Nancy Hinkle

UGA Extension veterinary and medical entomologist

There is no risk of catching Chagas disease from the bite of a kissing bug. The parasite that causes Chagas disease is carried in the bug’s feces. In other words, being bitten by the bug will not harm you, but rubbing the bug’s excrement in your eyes or into an open wound might make you sick.



There are at least 11 different species of kissing bugs in the South, and they vary in appearance, Hinkle said.

You are at more risk of contracting the disease if you clean up raccoon, opossum, skunk or armadillo nests; that’s where the bugs live and where kissing bug feces are most concentrated.

There’s not much risk if the nests of wild animals are avoided.

PEST 411



Georgians can keep kissing bugs out of their homes the same way they can deter other insects.

• Turn off porch lights at night to avoid attracting the bugs.

• Seal around doors and windows with weather-stripping and replace door sweeps; if cold air can’t get in, neither can kissing bugs.



In the U.S., we are more likely to die in an automobile accident than to ever, in our whole lives, get infected with Chagas disease.

For more information about Chagas disease and kissing bugs in the U.S., contact your local Extension office by visiting extension.uga.edu or calling 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

About the authors Nancy Hinkle is a Cooperative Extension entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Merritt Melancon is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Nancy C. Hinkle

Tannish-brown wheel bugs can be recognized by a ridge of horn-like spikes, looking like a cogwheel, down the centers of their backs. Some kissing bugs are also tannish-brown, but are generally flatter and have a black and tan striped border around their bodies.

HUNTER –

THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE

Hunter – dedicated to professional partnerships.

Built on Innovation® Learn more. Visit hunterindustries.com

PGP® ULTRA The upgraded PGP packed with professional features

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Hunter has developed time-tested products and reliable irrigation systems that professionals know and trust. We’re committed to helping you grow your business by providing the innovative, water-saving products that your customers demand. And, our local sales experts are always there for you in the field with the service and support you deserve.

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION |

21

ME & MY MENTOR

Connect with your Hispanic workforce Steps to strengthen employee relationships

by Juan Torres

Q: The percentage of my employees who are Hispanic is steadily rising. What can I do to improve communication and keep them motivated and happy with my company?

By 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Latinos will represent almost one-third of the population; that’s 119 million people. This poses a huge challenge, as well as an opportunity, for the landscape industry, which comprises over 35 percent Hispanic laborers.

The key to resolving this long-standing concern lies in a two-way effort to bridge linguistic and cultural barriers, both from the workforce and the managerial team.

Spanish-language materials

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

The strong work ethic and skill set of the Hispanic workforce can help to ensure a sustainable growth for the industry for years to come, but more often than not, landscape companies lack the tools needed to successfully promote their Hispanic employees to supervisors and managers.

22

Generally speaking, upper management is largely Anglo-Saxon and the labor force is Latino, predominantly Spanish-speaking. Upon arrival, many immigrants claim they understand the English language, however, in reality, many don’t. They have a great sense of pride and are willing and looking to be helpful, but their lack of language skills can cause a disconnect and can lead to unintentional errors due to miscommunication between employer and employee.

New hire training sessions should be offered in Spanish, adding visual aids and demonstrations to enhance learning and provide alternative components for employees to better gauge instructions and materials. Do not Google Translate your materials. The Hispanic community is heterogeneous in that it is comprised of many different nationalities and backgrounds that are diverse when it comes to traditions and linguistics.

Even vocabulary and accents differ depending on regional backgrounds. Invest in a translator who can accurately interpret the language so that it reflects its original meaning and resonates with culturally diverse Spanish-speakers. It’s also important to work with local banks that have bilingual staff.

Juan Torres is chief operating officer of Denison Landscaping and the president of the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance, a trade association.

The National Hispanic Landscape Alliance:

National

Hispanic Landscape Alliance

•

Seeks to inform, encourage, and support its members so that they can become highly successful professionals, better-engaged leaders, and more effective advocates.

•

Supports the advancement of Hispanic-Americans as landscape industry professionals and leaders

•

Provides Hispanic-American landscaping professionals a voice in the national dialogue on environmentally responsible landscape practices and a means through which to collectively advance the interests of their businesses, the livelihood of their employees and the quality of life in the communities in which they live and work

Learn more at www.masverde.us

ME & MY MENTOR

Creating a sense of team

We can all agree that pay isn’t everything.

Respect in the workplace is valued by all, especially by the Latino culture. Hispanic laborers are committed and hardworking, but more importantly, they are loyal. Creating company culture that is fair, promotes unity and encourages a sense of family will make the workforce feel like a fundamental part of the company.

accomplish tasks in certain ways and are hungry to learn more. Providing a bonus for those who complete an English as a Second Language (ESL) program or a special certification gives them the motivation to make the time and effort and move forward.

A little goes a long way

Treat your workers as equals and learn about their families and culture. Holding biannual company family picnics is one way that you can create a stronger-knit team and instill a sense of camaraderie.

Promote Hispanic workers

Keep your eye on those Hispanic workers who have made great strides and have shown leadership skills and promote them to managerial roles. By recognizing these committed employees and the results that they have driven, the company boosts workforce morale by encouraging upward mobility among their employees and sets an example of how hard work and learning results in growth.

Highlighting the opportunities that are available for development, management can fuel motivation to ensure better efficiency and quality of work.

Sometimes when we are caught up in the dayto-day, we don’t realize that stepping out of our comfort zone and taking up a new challenge can provide added benefits for our businesses.

Learning some basic Spanish vocabulary can make all the difference when communicating with a Hispanic workforce.

Taking Spanish lessons will not only help management to speak with their laborers, but it will also show employees that they are an integral part of the company and that management sees the value in strong communication.

Constant communication

English as a second language

Originally published by Lawn & Landscape.

Reprinted with permission. For more, visit lawnandlandscape.com

If you could sit down with an industry leader and ask them one question, what would it be?

This is your chance.

Send us your question and we’ll find someone with the answer, then print it here so others can share the wisdom.

Email questions to: kathy@georgiauac.com

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

One way we can promote learning is by offering resources and incentives for our workforce to continue their professional development. Employees were trained to

The simplest and most important take-away from all this information is that management needs to be in constant communication with its workforce. Don’t just talk to your workers when you need something done. Learn about them. Relate to them. Ask them if they have questions or need further clarification. If you want to better connect with your employees, remember two things: eye contact and the magic word – “gracias.”

23

SAFETY WORKS

Ladder safety

Follow these guidelines to avoid injuries

by Lee Lyner, Risk Management Partners, for W.S. Pharr & Co.

 

When we typically think about ladders, we think of

a simple tool to help us reach objects. What we do not usually keep in mind is that there are regulations for the use of ladders.

This article will make you aware of these regulations and why it is important that we stay on top of ladder safety throughout the year.

Ladder injuries OSHA believes 100% of all ladder accidents could be prevented if proper attention to equipment and climber training were provided.

When using any kind of ladder, remember that the user must retain three points of contact at all times.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Injury statistics

24

A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report on ladder safety included these statistics for the United States.

    

More than 90,000 people receive emergencyroom treatment from ladder-related injuries every year.

Elevated falls account for almost 700 occupational deaths annually.

These deaths account for 15% of all occupational deaths.

OSHA believes 100% of all ladder accidents could be prevented if proper attention to equipment and climber training were provided.

Over the last 10 years the number of ladderrelated injuries has increased 50%.

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50% of all ladder-related accidents were due to individuals carrying items as they climbed.

The most common type of ladder-related injury, with 32%, is fractures.

Types of accidents There are four main types of ladder accidents: 1. Selecting the wrong type of ladder 2. Using worn or damaged ladders 3. Incorrect use of ladders 4. Incorrect placement of ladders

Types of ladders

How many types of ladders do you have in your company? Let’s discuss a couple of common types and their usage: Stepladders are the most commonly used ladders because they are easy to move and selfsupportive.

•

•

One type of stepladder is the front stepladder, which has one side that is used for climbing a second side that is for support only.

The other type of stepladder is the double climbing side ladder, which can be climbed from either side.

When using a stepladder make sure that the ladder is fully opened and that the ladder is in good condition, which includes the locking hinge. If any of the ladder is damaged, the ladder must be replaced. A stepladder should not be leaned against an object or used in the closed position. The user must not stand on the top of these ladders or use the top rung, which is usually labeled as “not a step” by the manufacturer.

Another common type of ladder is the extension ladder. These ladders must lean against an object to be used. The extension ladder consists of two parts: one called the “base,” which should always be firmly placed

SAFETY WORKS on the ground, and the second called the “fly,” which is the part of the ladder that is movable and can extend above the bed to allow for higher extension. While using an extension ladder, make sure that it extends 3’ over the landing where you are using it (this is an OSHA standard that must be followed). Also make sure the ladder is secured.

One of the most important factors in using an extension ladder is using it with the correct pitch: a 4:1 ratio which means that the ladder is about 1 foot from the vertical support for every 4 feet of ladder height (between the foot and the top support). To make sure that you have this ratio, set up the ladder then stand with the end of your foot at the base of the ladder. While standing straight, reach out with your arms and the end of your fingers should be able to touch the rungs of the ladder.

Ladder type

Max length 30’

Extension ladder: two sections

48’

Extension ladder: greater than two sections Stepladder

60’

Platform ladder Trestle ladder/extensions

20’ 20’

20’

Did you know that OSHA has specific standards for ladders?

Portable metal ladders are under 29 CFR 1910.26, which states that ladders must be visually inspected prior to use and also requires that ladders are inspected annually, which must be documented.

Make sure that ladders are free of sharp edges and overall structurally sound. If any defects are found the ladder must be properly disposed of; if there is a delay in disposing it must be marked or tagged “Dangerous, do not use.”

Requirements for fiberglass ladders can be found in the ANSI standards, which OSHA references in their ladder safety standards.

Special requirements The minimum width between side rails of a straight ladder or any section of an extension ladder should be 12 inches.

The length of single ladders or individual sections of ladders should not exceed 30 feet.

Two-section ladders must not exceed 48 ft. in length, and ladders of more than two sections must not exceed 60 ft. in length.

Overlap stops required.

Insulating, nonslip pads at bottom of rails. Must have locking device to hold ladder sections open.

None None

The duty rating label attached to the ladder at all times:

Ladder type Type 1AA Type 1A Type 1 Type 2 Type 3

Duty rating 375 lb.

300 lb.

250 lb.

225 lb.

200 lb.

Description Extra-heavy-duty industrial ladder Heavy-duty industrial ladder Heavy-duty industrial ladder Medium-duty commercial ladder Light-duty household ladder

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Single-section ladder

OSHA standards

25

WHAT THE TECH?

Lights, camera, smartphone!

Try your hand at video marketing

By Karen Vujnovic, Manta Staff Writer

Video marketing is huge. As you scroll

Kathy G. Johnson

You don’t need a studio budget or expensive equipment to film your big debut for your website, YouTube channel or social platforms. Just use your smartphone.

through Facebook you’ll often see a fast and furious demo that teaches you how to do something before you even realize you’re being schooled.

Hair braiding, quiche-making, sink unclogging—you name it. If there’s something to be taught, there’s an instructional video in someone’s newsfeed.

or expensive equipment to film your big debut for your website, YouTube channel or social platforms. Just use your smartphone.

For the best video clips:

   

Small-business owners can create short videos to engage current customers and entice potential ones. You don’t need a studio budget

Keep your phone still and stable. Save the shaky camera work for horror flicks.

Film in a quiet area. You don’t want a soundtrack full of distracting background noise.

Use lots of light. You need more than you think—and make sure it shines directly on your subject, not from behind them.

Make a plan before you hit “record,” and practice what you want to say. You don’t need an Oscar-winning script, but you should have a good idea of what you want to film.

Aside from filming “how-to” videos, you can capture company events and employee testimonials. Ask customers to review your business on camera so you can post it on your website and share on social.

P

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

WS HARR &CO.

26

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

A member of Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Workers Compensation Plan • • • • •

W.S. Pharr & Co. is one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the Southeast. We have specialized in the green industry since 1987 and serve over 600 green industry clients.

Insurance Plan

We offer a unique blend of insurance companies and broker experience assuring you get the most for your insurance dollar.

• • • •

Contact: Will Pharr

404.354.2036 • wpharr@snellingswalters.com

Michael Parker

404.216.1108 • mparker@snellingswalters.com

Monthly self-reporting payment plan Ability to earn up to a 15% dividend Competitive rates Aggressive claim management Underwritten by Builders Insurance General liability, auto, equipment, umbrella 10% discount for Georgia UAC members Flexible payment plans Competitive rates

Employee Benefits

770.396.9600

• • • •

Employer-provided benefits Voluntary benefits Competitive rates Dedicated service team

Insurance • Risk Management • Employee Benefits

Con

tac

s tu

o ati g i bl

o-o

fo

n ra

ote

u nq

The secret of our strength is YOU! As a member of Georgia’s premier association for green industry professionals, you have the power to make your industry stronger.

Networking & marketing

Diverse educational opportunities, from monthly dinner meetings to workshops that help you meet licensing requirements

Meet industry leaders and get your product or service in front of our growing membership

UAC Magazine

Trade show & field days

Six issues/year packed with the information you need on business, industry, and urban ag topics

PLUS:

Legislative support

Education

State and national governmental affairs/legislative monitoring

Judges Choice

The latest trends, newest equipment, and cutting edge research, all brought together for you

Awards From design/build to maintenance to community service to green innovations to safety, UAC awards programs give you a chance to shine and be recognized

Reduce your costs

Advocate.Educate.Promote.

PO Box 817 Commerce GA 30529 | P: 800.687.6949 | E: info@urbanagcouncil.com | urbanagcouncil.com

Tell a colleague about Georgia UAC today!

Your continued support of the Georgia Urban Ag Council shows your commitment to a strong industry.

With your help, we can grow even stronger.

Your industry. Your passion. Pass it on.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

UAC Workers Compensation and Health Benefits programs through WS Pharr/Snellings Walters offer competitive rates and outstanding customer service.

27

BUSINESS

Marketing in the real world

Practical tips for small businesses from Manta Marketing patience is a virtue

Keeping brand promises

by Karen Vujnovic

by Karen Vujnovic

Small-business owners, who are not necessarily professional marketers, often

When people think about branding, they

believe that throwing money at something will do two things: Increase sales and work immediately. Neither of these is true.

Marketing is like fishing—it takes knowledge, time, and a little luck doesn’t hurt either.

No matter if you’re looking at SEM, social media marketing, direct mail marketing or any of the many other types of marketing—none of them work overnight. And if someone promises you they will, run. Don’t waste money paying someone who tells you they’ll give you the world, when, in fact, they cannot.

1.

Marketing is not a fly-by-night, one-time event. Your strategy should be ongoing and consistent, not launched in a panicked fury when things aren’t looking good.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

2.

28

It should be targeted. Who is your audience? If you don’t know, find out and gear your marketing toward them.

Otherwise, you’re throwing good marketing money down the drain. Not everyone is your type of customer.

Regardless of what marketing route you take, do your market research, find out who your audience is and make a plan. Once you have those things in order—along with the understanding that marketing is a slow build— you’ll be in good shape.

often visualize the Nike swoosh or the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s. But, when you get to the heart of the matter, while an amazing logo certainly helps, in the end, your brand is all about the relationship you have with your customers. It’s your brand promise.

Remember when Comcast had a bad (a very, very bad) customer service experience go viral?

Unfortunately, customer service is a new form of marketing, and that huge mistake is now what many people equate with the broadcasting giant. It’s become part of its brand.

Like it or not.

Branding goes beyond a swanky logo, topnotch color-scheme and ideal imagery—it’s a commitment you make to your customers, and it’s your customers who help spread your brand’s word. The good and the bad.

Marketing under the influence

by The Manta Team Ads come at us from every angle, every day— buses, billboards, email, newspapers, flyers—and let’s not forget the over-saturated Internet. That’s a lot of money being spent on advertising, yet many people feel advertising is deceptive. So, how should a small business owner strike the perfect balance of promotion and sales pitch, all while trying to achieve the often-elusive attribute of trust? Influencer marketing offers hope. And it has small business written all over it—huge benefit without the price.

Manta is one of the largest online resources dedicated to small business. We deliver products, services and educational opportunities that are effective, easy to understand and geared to help business owners become more competitive in their respective industries. Are you a small business? Create your free company profile at manta.com.

BUSINESS

What is influencer marketing?

According to Suzanne Fanning, president of Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA), influencer marketing is the practice of reaching out to a small group of individuals to influence the rest of your audience.

mouth, everybody believes what they hear from other individuals more than what they hear from your company.”

Don’t order top-shelf

Be smart about marketing, be clever about marketing, but don’t assume that spending big returns results. According to Fanning, creativity beats an oversized budget every time.

Essentially, if you effectively reach ten percent, they will spread the word to the other 90 percent on your behalf. Fanning believes it’s vital for small business owners to get on board with this not-so-new, but often-overlooked, form of marketing.

So, don’t break the bank on an agency with scads of B-list celebrities to tout your company, you already have exactly who you need to sing, hum and tweet your praises.

Simply put, word-of-mouth wins out over the loud screech of advertising, said Fanning, it’s basic human nature. “No matter what [small business owners] do, it’s important to connect with their influencers. It’s everywhere. Honestly, it’s not a choice anymore. Because word-of-

The trick is activating engagement. Every person who walks in the door is a potential influencer, therefore it’s imperative to take part in meaningful conversations, offer incredible customer service and not to overlook anyone.

Your Source for Top Quality EMPIRE ZOYSIA turf & construction

Installed at 2012 Southern Living Design Home Celebrating our 15th Year as Georgia’s Largest Empire Producer

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Excellent Drought Tolerance Soft Texture with Medium Width Blade Rich Green Color

29

BUSINESS “It starts with customers and really getting to know them, really getting to understand how they’re using your product. It starts with those conversations.

“People might get a little bit too hung up on worrying about having somebody who has 5000 Twitter followers. It’s really just about contacting those people who like to influence others, and who like to share. A happy, satisfied customer, in my opinion, is the best influencer that there is.”

Give away tools (such as coupons, samples and content) to encourage the organic spread of your brand. Use humor, make things sharable, deliver an authentic experience and create a value exchange. By offering something positive and useful to engage your ideal people, they will, in turn, put it exactly where it needs to be.

“I absolutely, one-hundred percent believe that it works for every single business across the board,” added Fanning. “And it’s something that just absolutely cannot be ignored.”

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Drink up the benefits

30

Influencer marketing is the most effective, and least expensive, form of marketing, raking in $6 million annually, according to a 2014 WOMMA study, and amplifying paid advertising by fifteen percent. Fanning maintains that it’s the best way to grow a business. “According to Nielsen, 92 percent of people believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising … all [small business owners] have to do is reach happy customers and get them to influence. Why would you even waste your money anywhere else? If they’re not doing it, they should.”

Make your content stand out

by Carie Ferg When it comes to marketing tactics, content still reigns supreme. But how does a small business stand out from a crowded landscape?

Big companies like Marriott are investing in

full-blown media teams, and titles like “chief storytelling officer” are even coming into play.

According to Nicole Kroese, vice president of marketing and partnerships at Likeable Local, the best way to cut through the noise is to create content that adds value and is not overly promotional. “In the past few years, smallbusiness owners have had to be more strategic and consistent in their content marketing efforts to stand out and see results,” Kroese said.

And since content creation tends to be time intensive, a premium commodity for many small-business owners, Kroese recommends curation as one tactic that provides value but doesn’t take a lot of time. “Today, with the mass amount of content, trying to reinvent the wheel with always-original content is hard to sustain,” she said. “Becoming a great curator of valuable articles, resources, and even engaging shortform social posts is something readers can really appreciate, and something you can scale.”

Finding content ideas

by Jared Carrizales, Heroic Search

Don’t know what to write?

When your hands are full running a small business the last thing you’re probably asking yourself is, “What am I going to blog about this week?” But as the due date inches closer and ideas are running on empty, panic sets in.

Does this scenario sound all too familiar? No worries, this tip can help. Below are three ways to come up with great content ideas quickly.

Quora: This is an exceptional outlet when it comes to intellect. I’m constantly amazed by the smarts displayed by the participants. Simply sign up for an account, then follow accounts (or categories) that are of interest. Within a few minutes of browsing, content ideas will start flowing like a river.

1.

Pinterest: You don’t need to be in a visually oriented niche to utilize this site. There are Pinterest boards about plumbing, fishing, taxis, and even roofers that are full of writing inspiration.

2.

BUSINESS Twitter Search: This tactic is probably my favorite. Since these are content ideas, you’re going to have to think outside the box a bit. For instance, since Heroic Search focuses on search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing, searches like this would be perfect:

3.

• • •

Content ideas “marketing” Content ideas “SEO” Brainstorm content “advertising”

Using a marketing calendar

by Sara Oberst Executing a marketing strategy for your small business without a marketing calendar is like traveling without a map. To keep from getting lost, you should know where you’re going and how you’ll get there.

Start by plotting the dates of events like Small Business Saturday, your company’s anniversary, sales promotions and holiday open houses that provide an opportunity to interact with your customers. After these dates are scheduled, add the estimated costs for each event.

Once your annual calendar is in place, focus on each quarter.

•

Add publishing dates for blog posts, social media contests and print advertising leading up to your events.

•

Assign tasks and deadlines to employees, outside vendors or your small-business partners to keep things on track.

At the end of each week, go back to the calendar and note how long each piece took to complete and how much you spent versus your estimated cost. Not only will you know where your marketing is headed, but tracking your budget will help with future campaigns.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

31

BUSINESS

Legal labor a looming nightmare?

Using E-Verify to hire legal workers

by Gregg Wartgow, Green Industry Pros

Another election cycle is in full swing, which

means topics like immigration reform and job creation are front and center once again. Those two topics are generally viewed as interrelated, as well. In other words, NALP/Philippe Nobile Photography illegal immigrants take jobs away from According to BLS data, more than U.S.-born workers.

40% of the people employed as Now, whether or not grounds maintenance workers in this all of those jobs are country are Hispanic. jobs that U.S.-born workers are willing to take is open for another debate. But here are some facts:



landscape company owners—at least those Most who employ more than a couple of people—say that finding good, reliable help is their biggest challenge.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

H-2B guest worker visa program, in its The current state, is not sufficient for industries

32

that rely on seasonal employees, including landscaping.

end up hiring illegal workers, either knowingly or otherwise (that’s a separate discussion too).

Regardless, the reality for landscape companies is that there is an intensified spotlight on this issue for 2016.

Protecting yourself with E-Verify

Some landscape companies are taking extra measures to ensure that they are hiring legal workers. They are using E-Verify, and internetbased system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

A voluntary program in most states, E-Verify has been getting considerably more media attention as of late. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, as part of his controversial immigration plan, calls for the mandatory use of E-Verify in all 50 states. At this point, 19 states have enacted legislation mandating the use of E-Verify: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.

country are legal immigrants, and another 21% are unauthorized immigrants, which is politically correct language for illegals.

The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) says that around half a million businesses use the program. Some, naturally, are landscaping companies. For instance, the industry’s largest landscaping company, Brickman Group (now called BrightView), states on its website: “We are proud to be voluntarily enrolled in E-Verify in all states in which we operate.”

In other words, the landscaping industry seems to be a magnet for both Hispanic and illegal immigrant workers. And for a variety of reasons—including being so hard up for employees—many landscape company owners

E-Verify is also being used by the more typical landscaping company—one with 50 or fewer employees—to varying degrees of success and satisfaction. As one contractor in Arizona, who spoke to us anonymously, said, “I can’t really say

to BLS data, more than 40% of the According people employed as grounds maintenance workers in this country are Hispanic.

to Pew Research Center data, roughly According 14% of grounds maintenance workers in this

BUSINESS I am a fan, and part of that is because it is forced on us by Arizona law. But also, it is unreliable.

I have had employees who are accepted, but I didn’t feel good about hiring them because everything seemed suspect. On the other hand, I have had natural-born citizens get rejected, and have to go through a process before acceptance.

If state ID’s were given along with a designation on a driver’s license, I would feel that the government was doing its job and I didn’t have to do it for them.”

In Kentucky, where E-Verify is still voluntary, contractor Roscoe Klausing has been using the program for the past year or so. “We see it coming down the pike, and it’s not coming down in such a way that it’s just going to be landscapers fighting for landscape laborers,” says Klausing, who is the president and CEO of Klausing Group, a landscape, irrigation and snow management services company with offices in Lexington and Louisville. “The entire service and retail industries will eventually be fighting

for the same legally documented workforce. So we thought it was best to get out in front of it.”

To that end, Klausing does not regret his proactive utilization of E-Verify. In fact, it’s giving him one more unique selling point when talking to clients. Still, it’s been a bit of a hardship. “In the short-term, it stinks,” Klausing relates. “It’s slowing us down and putting us at a competitive disadvantage. We went from a 50% Hispanic workforce to about 5%, and our turnover has been much, much worse. But it’s the best way for us to be compliant. And hopefully, the competitive disadvantage is just temporary.”

That would definitely be the case if and when E-Verify becomes mandatory in the state of Kentucky. In the meantime, Klausing and his team are making the most of it. They’ve put processes in place so that, on average, they know if a new hire is E-Verified in roughly five minutes. That’s important because companies are required to hire and begin paying a new

Same Team, New Home We would like to introduce the TURFGRASS team, a division of Residex serving Georgia’s T&O markets. Bud, Ike and Gary will continue to provide the same outstanding level of service and product offerings as always. We look forward to the road ahead, and welcome the opportunity to grow.

Bud Brown 678-274-8079 bbrown@residex.com

Ike Faulkenberry 770-710-2843 ifaulkenberry@residex.com

Georgia’s exclusive distributor of Turf Fuel Premium Plant Nutrition.

Gary Gibson 678-371-0130 ggibson@residex.com

Manage your account online at www.residex.com.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Everything you need to maintain the best turf possible.

33

BUSINESS employee before running the new hire’s information through E-Verify. That’s designed to protect employees and guard against discrimination. “We offer the applicant a job, they accept, we clock them in and start filling in their I-9 Form,” Klausing explains. “Then we run the I-9 through E-Verify to see if the employee is authorized.”

Klausing echoes what the contractor in Arizona had said. Sometimes, often due to clerical errors like name misspellings, an authorized employee actually gets rejected. In those instances, you have eight “federal government workdays” to try and get the clerical error straightened out.

But again, much of the onus is on the employer.

That hardly seems right, many would argue.

After all, if the federal government has failed to properly secure our borders and overall deal with the issue of illegal immigration, why should employers be responsible for determining who is and isn’t authorized to work for them?

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

“Overall I think E-Verify is a good tool, but I don’t like the responsibility being shoved onto the employer,” Klausing says. “I can also see how some employers can abuse it, using it as a way to make sure immigrants are legal to work for them before they actually hire them. But that’s discrimination. So we’re trying to do the right thing and use E-Verify the right way, even though it’s slowing us down and making things harder for us.”

34

How E-Verify works

1.

Complete I-9 form with employee

2.

Punch that same info into E-Verify

3.

E-Verify compares the information to records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including: • • • •

U.S. passport and visa information Immigration and naturalization records State-issued driver’s licenses and identity document information Social Security Administration records.

E-Verify sometimes displays a photo for the employer to compare to the photo on the employee’s document to ensure the document photo has not been altered.

If the information matches, the case will receive an Employment Authorized result almost immediately.

If the information does not match, the case will receive a Tentative Non-confirmation result.

How companies/employers can enroll When you enroll your company in E-Verify, you need to provide some basic information about your company and agree to the rules of the program. During the enrollment process, you will:

four yes/no questions to determine your Answer access method your organization designation if your Select company is a federal contractor or other special category

acknowledge, and agree to the Review, memorandum of understanding (MOU) your company details Enter your North American Industry Enter Classification System (NAICS) Code Provide hiring site information E-Verify program administrator(s) Register and certify the information you entered Review Print your electronically signed MOU Visit the E-Verify web page for more information: www.uscis.gov/e-verify/gettingstarted/enrollment-process Originally published by Green Industry Pros.

Reprinted with permission. For more info, visit greenindustrypros.com

About the author

Gregg Wartgow is editor in chief of Green Industry Pros magazine, SnowPRO, Dealer Success Guide, greenindustrypros.com, and related print and digital products.

BUSINESS

Tips for proper fuel use

Avoid damaging seasonal equipment by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

Across the United States this fall and winter, lawn mowers and other seasonal

outdoor power equipment should have their remaining fuel removed before a long winter nap. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) offers fuel use and storage tips to help consumers who are winterizing their equipment investments.

“Proper fuel use of outdoor power equipment is easy to accomplish and important to be mindful of as we change seasons. Whether we’re filling our jerry cans at the pump, or putting equipment away for the season, there are some important things to remember in order to protect equipment and avoid costly misuse.”

Kris Kiser

President and CEO Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

Tip #1

Tip #2

Properly Dispose of Leftover Fuel. Whether left in the tank of your equipment or in a gas can on the shelf, it’s easy to forget how old your fuel is.

Take note of when you purchased the fuel and properly dispose of it after a month.

Run the tank dry or drain unused fuel out of the NALP/Philippe Nobile Photography equipment you are storing. A safe Lawn mowers and other seasonal and easy way to outdoor power equipment should dispose of fuel is to have their remaining fuel removed run the engine until before a long winter nap. the tank is empty.

You can also add fuel stabilizer to the gas, run the engine so it circulates throughout the system, and then safely drain the tank. This step ensures that any residual fuel remaining in the equipment after the tank has drained is treated.

About OPEI The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards.

OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Look Before You Pump.

Most gasoline contains 10 percent ethanol (E10) which is safe for your equipment. But many gas pumps now offer higher ethanol blended gas – such as 15, 30, 50 or 85 percent ethanol gas. These higher blends are not designed for use in outdoor power equipment and may cause damage or failure.

And remember, fuels containing ethanol can potentially stale over time. To be safe, try to avoid purchasing more than what you’ll need for thirty days.

Tip #3

35

INDUSTRY

2016 Sod Producers’ Report

Annual survey examines inventory and price

by Dr. Clint Waltz, University of Georgia

In November, the Georgia Urban Ag Council conducted their 22nd consecutive

survey of sod producers. The purpose of the survey was to determine the status of inventory levels and projected price changes for spring 2016.

Survey details

Seventeen producers participated by online and telephone survey, representing farm sizes which were: • less than 300 acres (8 participants) • 300 to 600 acres (3 participants) • 601 to 900 acres (3 participants) • more than 900 acres (3 participants)

Figure 2.

Percentage of zoysiagrass producers projecting adequate to excellent supply for the past five years.

* Projected supply for the first five months of the calendar year.

36

The survey obtained estimates of the inventory for bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and tall fescue based on estimated sales for the first five months of 2016 as excellent (more than 10% of demand), adequate (equal to demand), and poor (more than 10% shortage). Pricing information included farm price and price for truckload orders to the Atlanta area or within 100 miles of the farm, all costs were reported as price per square foot of sod.

Bermudagrass is being grown by 100% of the surveyed producers. Just four years ago inventory levels were relatively high, but multiple factors (e.g. drought, limited light, prolonged spring, loss of acreage, etc.) contributed to a shortage of inventory. Fifty-nine percent of the producers rated their inventory as adequate to excellent this year, reversing a two-year decline (Figure 1). For 2016, 41% of all bermudagrass producers projected having less than adequate supplies, compared with 58% last year and 48% in 2014. Half the growers with greater than 600 acres expect an adequate bermudagrass supply, while 64% of producers with 600 acres or less project having sufficient inventories.

* Projected supply for the first five months of the calendar year.

% Producers

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

% Producers

Figure 1.

Percentage of bermudagrass producers projecting adequate to excellent supply for the past five years.

Inventories

For 2016, bermudagrass supply will be marginal. Environmental and economic pressures during the early spring could quickly change inventories, leaving less grass available than anticipated.

According to this year’s survey, the number of producers growing zoysiagrass (82%) was an increase over the last four years. This is a species that continues to grow in popularity and number of cultivars available to the consumer. There are at least sixteen zoysiagrass cultivars being grown in Georgia. Of the producers responding, 64% estimate an adequate to excellent inventory,

INDUSTRY which is up from last year’s estimate (Figure 2).

For early spring 2016, 36% of the zoysiagrass producers project a shortage of grass.

Of the 17 producers surveyed 8 (47%) were growers of centipedegrass. Fifty percent of the growers had adequate inventory compared to 33% in 2015, and 65% in 2014. No producer has an excellent supply of centipedegrass in 2016. Of the larger growers, 2 of 3 growers with greater than 900 acres expect an adequate centipedegrass supply.

Table 1.

Change in prices from Spring 2015 to 2016

On-the-farm Delivered*

Turfgrasses 2015 2016 % change --- cents / ft2 ---

Bermudagrass 22.6 25.5 12.8 Zoysiagrass 38.5 42.6 10.7 Centipedegrass 23.4 26.9 15.0 Tall Fescue 28.0 29.3 4.6 St. Augustinegrass 37.6 39.3 4.5

2015 2016 % change --- cents / ft2 ---

27.8 31.7 14.0 44.1 49.4 12.0 30.1 33.9 12.6 31.9 34.9 9.4 43.6 45.3 3.9

St. Augustinegrass is being grown by 5 of the 17 producers surveyed. Eighty percent reported an insufficient supply, including the three growers with greater than 600 acres in total turfgrass production.

* Delivered price includes freight and pallets. The delivered price included the Atlanta area or within 100 miles of the farm.

Higher than previous years, tall fescue was grown by 47% of producers. Eighty-eight percent of tall fescue producers reported excellent to adequate inventory, which continues a twelveyear trend of sufficient tall fescue supply. The amount of tall fescue sod grown in Georgia meets demand.

Comparison: Farm to delivered prices, 2016

Pricing

For 2016, the on-the-farm and delivered prices for all five grass species were greater than 2015.

The average price per square foot for a truckload of bermudagrass delivered to the Atlanta area, or within 100 miles of the farm, is expected to rise 14% (Table 1). The 2016 survey indicated prices varied from 25.0 cents to 41.0 cents, with an average price of 31.7 cents (Table 2). The average price in 2015 was 27.8 cents per square foot and ranged from 19.0 cents to 44.0 cents.

The 2016 average price for a delivered truckload of zoysiagrass increased from 2015 levels. The average price of delivered zoysiagrass in 2016 was 49.4 cents and ranged from 35.0 to 57.0

On-the-farm Delivered*

Turfgrasses Price (avg.) Range Price (avg.)

Range -------------------------------------- cents / ft2 -------------------------------------------

Bermudagrass Zoysiagrass Centipedegrass Tall Fescue St. Augustinegrass

25.5 42.6 26.9 29.3 39.3

18.0 - 38.0 30.0 - 56.0 18.0 - 34.0 22.0 - 35.0 30.0 - 47.0

31.7 49.4 33.9 34.9 45.3

25.0 - 41.0 35.0 - 57.0 30.0 - 38.0 27.0 - 41.0 38.0 - 55.0

* Delivered price includes freight and pallets. The delivered price included the Atlanta area or within 100 miles of the farm.

Figure 3.

Historical perspective of sod prices in Georgia, 2012 to 2016

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Grass prices are forecast to increase 4% to 15% over last year’s prices (Table 1).

Figure 3 provides a five-year perspective of sod prices, all grass species are at historic levels.

Table 2.

37

INDUSTRY Table 3.

Percentage of survey respondents that grow certified grass and the additional charge for certified grass

Growers with certified grass Growers that charge a premium

Year

%

n*

2016 88 15 2015 76 19 2014 54 19 2013 57 24 2012 60 24

%

n*

87 55 47 54 58

13 11 9 13 14

Average Range -------------- cents ---------------

4.0 3.0 2.0 3.0 1.8

1.0 - 7.0 1.0 - 6.0 2.0 - 3.0 1.0 - 10.0 1.0 - 4.5

* Total number of respondents 17, 26, 35, 42 and 40 for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012 respectively

Table 4.

Historical freight rate for sod deliveries Year

Range

Average

--------------------- $ / mile --------------------

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

3.00 – 4.50 2.00 - 5.86 1.00 – 5.50 1.00 – 6.00 0.50 – 5.38

-1.1 16.9 0.3 7.8 13.9

* Delivered price includes freight and pallets. The delivered price included the Atlanta area or within 100 miles of the farm.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

cents. In 2015 zoysiagrass prices ranged from 35.0 to 56.0 cents and averaged 44.1 cents.

38

Projected increases

Regarding grower price expectations, most growers (88%) are not forecasting a price decrease in 2016.

•

Fifty-three percent of bermudagrass producers expect stable prices during the first five months of 2016. This is a decrease from 2015 and 2014 where 81% and 72%, respectively, expected rising prices.

•

For zoysiagrass, 64% of producers anticipate stable prices during the first five months of 2016; 36% of producers forecast higher prices.

•

For centipedegrass and tall fescue, all producers expect prices to remain constant in 2016.

•

Eighty-three percent of St. Augustinegrass producers expect constant prices.

% Change

3.70 3.74 3.20 3.19 2.96

Augustinegrass prices ranged from 38.0 to 45.0 cents and averaged 43.6 cents.

Centipedegrass prices rose too. Prices in 2016 ranged from 30.0 cents to 38.0 cents and averaged 33.9 cents, compared to 2015 when the average delivered price was 30.1 cents and ranged from 22.0 to 45.0 cents.

The 2016 delivered price of tall fescue increased. This year, prices ranged from 27.0 cents to 41.0 cents, with an average of 34.9 cents.

Both the low- and high-end prices were greater than 2015.

The price of delivered St. Augustinegrass increased in 2016. The average price of delivered St. Augustinegrass in 2016 was 45.3 cents and ranged from 38.0 to 55.0 cents. In 2015, St.

Certification

2016 had 15 producers representing 88% of the respondents with some certified grass on their farm (Table 3). Eighty-seven percent of these growers charge a premium for certified grass.

The remaining growers either do not place an added value on certified sod or do not participate in the certification program.

This survey indicates a nine-year trend of increasing average prices for certified grass (Table 3).

In 2016, the typical extra cost ranged from 1.0 to 7.0 cents per square foot and averaged 4.0 cents.

This translates to between $5.00 and $35.00 on a 500 square foot pallet. Disregarding 2013 which had an anomaly in value of certified grass, for 2016 the high end of the range was up relative to the past five years. The lower end has remained constant at 1.0 cent per square foot. The average price rising indicates more certified producers are increasing the value of their grass. The consumer should consider this an accepted cost to ensure varietal purity of a perennial species.

INDUSTRY

Freight and unloading fees

Freight rates per mile shipped to Atlanta, or within 100 miles of the farm, stabilized in 2016 (Table 4). Costs ranged from $3.00 to $4.50 and averaged $3.70, equivalent to last year’s average fee. A separate freight rate is charged by 41% of the respondents.

Seven respondents (41%) reported charging an unloading fee in 2016, similar to 2015. The minimum unloading fee ($40) did not change from 2015 but most producers are now charging between $75 and $150. Many producers (59%) will make additional drops on a load. The lowend charge was up to $35 in 2016, compared to $20 in 2015. The high-end charge declined from $125 in 2015 to $75 in 2016. The average cost for additional drops in 2016 was $63.50, similar to last year’s cost.

Fuel surcharge

In a dramatic change, only one respondent reported adding a fuel surcharge to a load in 2016. In 2015, 26% of producers, which doubled from 2014, were adding this charge. Figure 4 compares the average sod price for all species grown with the average annual retail price for gasoline and diesel fuel. Over the past 10 years, this is the first time sod prices are outpacing fuel prices. This will likely continue among reports of continued falling fuel prices during the first-half of 2016.

The 17 producers that participated in this survey estimated that the highest amount of sod was sold to landscape contractors (Table 5). This has not changed over the ten years this question has been included in the survey. In 2015, sports/ athletic fields were the fifth largest industry segment for sale of turfgrass but moved into the second position this year. The groups with the greatest gain over last year were sales to the sports and athletic fields and golf courses, moving from the 5th rank to the 2nd and 7th to 4th respectively. The group with the greatest decline was last year’s greatest gainer. Sales to landscape designers sank from the 3nd rank to the 8th.

Ten-year comparison of average sod price with fuel cost

*

Average grass price was calculated for the five turfgrass species commonly grown in Georgia. ** Average annual retail fuel cost for the Lower Atlantic region was found at

www.eia.doe.gov. For 2015, the average retail fuel cost was calculated through December 1.

Table 5.

Ranking of industry segments for sale of turfgrass

Industry segments

2016 2015 Rank

Landscape contractors Sports/athletic fields Brokers Golf courses Existing developers Garden centers Homeowners Landscape designers

Average*

Rank

Average*

1 43.1 1 48.5 2 18.9 5 16.8 3 15.5 2 26.7 4 14.7 7 13.3 5 12.7 4 17.9 6 12.2 8 8.3 7 11.4 6 16.6 8 10.5 3 23.7

* Average percentage of total sales.

Acreage in production

For the first time in six years sod producers were not asked if they had removed land from production during the previous year. This was because over the past two years no producer had indicated there was an intention of removing land from sod production.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Markets

Figure 4.

39

INDUSTRY Instead, 57% of the growers indicated they plan to add acres in 2016. The volume of new grass potentially being added to production fields ranged from 25 acres to 300 acres with a total of 725 acres being added this coming growing season. However, this addition would not affect the market until 2017 or 2018.

Summary

From this survey it appears that prices for all species will continue a three-year increase.

However, inventory for all warm-season species is expected to improve over the previous two years.

Observations and trends over the past fifteen years are that growers with the greatest volume (i.e. >600 acres) of grass tend to have the greatest impact on inventory and are a barometer as to where the market is heading on prices.

There have been years where the forecast between smaller and larger growers was inconsistent, but that has not been the case for the last three years, 2016 included.

Although total acres in turfgrass production are rebounding, relative to pre-recession levels there are still between 45% and 52% fewer acres in turfgrass production.

It will simply take time for inventory to recover even with a continued effort of growers to increase acreage. In the meantime, prices will remain high and potentially rise further.

Don’t let sticker shock curtail projects, plan ahead. If projects are planned for 2016 where sod will be needed, it would be prudent to get price quotes regularly. Not all producers will “book” or presale grass at a locked price, but if they will, contacting them early may help ensure availability and the best price.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

2016 Sod Producers’ Report overview

40

> Supply of warm-season turfgrasses looks to have a marginal improvement. > For bermudagrass, half the larger growers predict a poor supply for early 2016. > The delivered price for all grasses is expected to increase. > Grass prices continue at historic levels. > Growers anticipate stabilizing prices through 2016. > 2016 continues a nine-year trend of increasing average prices for certified grass. > Paying more for certified grass provides the end-consumer assurance they are receiving varietal purity.

> Freight rates per mile shipped to Atlanta, or within 100 miles of the farm, will remain constant.

> More turfgrass acreage will come into production in 2016. > The primary markets for Georgia sod are landscape contractors and sports fields. > Get price quotes regularly. > If possible “book” or lock prices to ensure availability and price.

UAC NEWS

UAC welcomes new members Alex Smith Garden Design

Donna Park

Summit Outdoors LLC

Buy Sod, Inc.

Rivermoore Landscape Group 7433

The Garden Specialist Plant Doctor

5642 Peachtree Road Chamblee GA 30341 (770) 455-8878 Alex Smith leeanne@alexsmithgardendesign.com

2455 Ashton Dr. Roswell GA 30076 770-337-3383 Donna Park parkplaces@bellsouth.net

PO Box 4089 Pinehurst, NC 28374 910-420-1508 Carrie Key ckey@buysod.com

Spout Springs Rd. Flowery Branch GA 30542 (678) 889-2175 Eric Raymond ericr@rivermoorelandscapegroup.com

City of Roswell

Forrest Stegelin

38 Hill Street, Suite 100 Roswell GA 30075 (770) 641-3973 Lew Rummell

UGA, 312 Conner Hall Athens GA 30602 (706) 542-0850 stegelin@uga.edu

501 Hillcrest Ind. Blvd.

Macon GA 31204 (478) 747-1797 Joy Dyer joy@fourseasonsgeorgia.com

4963 Sydney Ln MariettaGA 30066 (770) 876-8162 Lara Van Pletzen lvanpletzen@roibusinessbrokers.com

Greg Horton Landscape

Soil Sense Landscape Group

Four Seasons of GA, LLC

429 Dock Lathem Tr. Ball Ground GA 30107 Greg Horton greg@landscapeinstalled.com P.O. Box 53 Grayson GA 30017 (678) 414-7590 Jon Diponziano jddlawnm@aol.com

Jack Kidd

1070 Foxcroft Rd. Atlanta GA 30327 (404) 842-4246 jack.kid@jpmorgan.com

Olde Savannah Gardens

8411 Marcus Place Savannah GA 31406 (912) 355-1986 Ross Harrison Sales.oldesavannah@gmail.com

4204 Woodfare LN NW Kennesaw GA 30152 (678) 483-5185 Donald Clements don@soilsenselandscape.com

Stone Forest Materials 2501 South Main Street Kennesaw GA 30144 (770) 590-1700 Bianca Rivera bianca@stoneforest.net

Surfaces Group LLC

1240 Johnson Ferry Lane E-1 Marietta GA 30068 (404) 381-1248 Shawn Case shawn@surfacesgroupllc.com

121 Robin Dr. Roswell GA 30075 (404) 775-1928 Wayne Juers Wayne@asktheplantdoc.com

The Grass is Greener Lawn Service

P.O. Box 2617 Chattanooga TN 37409 (423) 763-8734 Samuel Manning sammanning@comcast.net

The Grounds Guys of Athens 196 Alps Rd Suite 2-145 Athens GA 30606 (706) 403-5731 Dan Perrin Dan.Perrin@GroundsGuys.biz

The Inspired Garden, Inc. 870 Club Chase Ct. Roswell GA 30076 (770) 573-9458 Karen Faulkner

The Sod Farm

11825 Hwy 136 E LaFayette GA 30728 (706) 397-8358 Rodney Edwards edwardsturf@icloud.com

Casey Wilkins

2835 Hog Mtn. Rd. Jefferson GA 30549 clwilkins66@gmail.com

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

JDD Lawn Maintenance

ROI Business Brokers

121 Mountain Deer Ct. Clarkesville GA 30523 (706) 716-0700 Christian Delugach cld121@gmail.com

41

INDUSTRY

Transportation bill passes House Anti-landscapes amendment defeated

by Craig Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President - Industry Advocacy & Research, AmericanHort So there’s good news out of Washington. Yes,

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

really! The House of Representatives just approved a multi-year transportation bill, and the House and Senate are proceeding with a process to iron out their differences.

(This is called “going to conference,” something we have not seen too often in recent years!).

42

And there is good news within the good news. During the debate, Reps. Vicky Think politics don’t matter and that Hartzler (R-MO) individuals can’t influence them? and Richard Hudson (R-NC) offered an With short notice, AmericanHort and amendment that the Lighthouse Program grassroots would have broadly network generated 500 individual prohibited federal messages to Congress to tell our story. transportation funds from being used for vegetative enhancements, also and often known as landscaping. AmericanHort, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and others mobilized to successfully defeat this amendment, on a vote of 255 nays to 172 yeas.

Yes, this was a critical victory for horticulture.

But let’s unpack it and think about what it means. At its core, the fact that two Republicans (who are friendly to our industry on many other issues) even offered this amendment means that we’ve got a lot of work to do. And, roughly two-thirds of their Republican colleagues voted with them. The amendment failed because 71 Republicans joined every single Democrat to vote it down. How did your Representative vote?

Clearly, the vote underscores that many still see landscape enhancements as pretty but non-essential.

Yet we know that functioning landscapes stabilize and protect the soil. They filter air and water pollution. They contribute to property values and create a sense of well-being. They sustain pollinators and wildlife. We made these points to Rep. Hartzler and her staff, but she was unmoved.

Think politics don’t matter and that individuals can’t influence them? With short notice, AmericanHort and the Lighthouse Program grassroots network generated 500 individual messages to Congress to tell our story. That’s the best grassroots response in a while. Sure, our industry can do even better, but this time, individual messages coupled with an organizational sign-on letter that ASLA and AmericanHort led were enough to prevail.

Thanks to everyone who helped.

If you need just a bit more positive encouragement, here is what Dustyn Nelson of The Garden Barn Nursery in Vernon, Connecticut, said: “I just wanted to thank you for making it so easy for me to be an advocate for our industry. The website made it so easy to contact my congressman about the Green Infrastructure Project bill that I almost thought I had done nothing at all. It was great that it took less than 1 minute out of my busy schedule.”

Dustyn is right. We all have a minute to spare for the industry’s future.

Originally published by AmericanHort. Reprinted with permission.

For more, visit www.americanhort.org

INDUSTRY

It’s time for the 2016 Top 100!

Submit your company today for the annual Lawn & Landscape list

Lawn & Landscape is now accepting applications for the 2016 Top 100 list.

Published in the May issue and sponsored by Toro, the Top 100 list is the most comprehensive list of the largest landscape companies in North America.

But we can’t put it together without your help.

Please submit your revenue data to Lawn & Landscape to see if you make the cut for this year’s list. You can find the online form at www.lawnandlandscape.com/top-100.aspx.

Companies on the 2015 Top 100 list earned total revenue of $8,026,808,707, and reported total employment (seasonal plus year-round employees) of 86,255 people. The list comprises 97 companies in 31 states and three firms in Canada.

If you have any questions, contact Editor Chuck Bowen at cbowen@gie.net.

The application deadline is February 12.

atlanta home

®

MPROVEMENT S M A R T H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T S TA R T S H E R E

AtlantaHomeImprovement.com Join our community of over 100,000 home improvement enthusiasts!

(404) 303-9333 Like us at AtlantaHomeImprovement Follow us @ATLHomeImprove

Plant or wf o n s d e se Year! w e N e th nd Call to fiw. out ho

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Every month, we showcase great local projects, ideas and resources in our magazine and on our website at

43

INDUSTRY

Annual industry outlook report A look back at 2015 and ahead to 2016

by Gregg Wartgow, Green Industry Pros

Results from Green Industry Pros’ annual fall survey of landscape contractors suggest

A little over half of contractors say sales have been up across the board this year—in both installation, maintenance, lawn care and irrigation.

to IBISWorld, a worldwide research According firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles,

that 2015 was a good year for the landscaping services industry, and there’s reason to be equally optimistic about 2016.

A little over half of contractors say sales have been up across the board this year—in both installation, maintenance, lawn care and irrigation. Few (67% for maintenance and lawn care, and 13% for both installation and irrigation) say sales have decreased.

Landscapers are even more bullish about 2016.

capita disposable income, and an aging population that’s in need of a variety of home services, including lawn care and landscaping.

Pricing, people and profits

Contractors continue to make progress on the pricing front.

little over half feel comfortable about Araising prices on at least half of their clients next year.

it one step further, many contractors Taking plan to raise prices on the majority of their

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

44

Hardscaping – 54% Lighting – 39% Tree Care – 46% Lawn Renovation – 47% Pest Control – 51% Organic/Natural Lawn Care – 47% Snow Removal – 62%

accounts: 37% in residential maintenance, 46% in residential installation, 39% in commercial maintenance and 42% in commercial installation.

number of contractors (7-15%) plan to Akeepsmallprices the same for all clients next year.

There has also been widespread growth in a variety of specialty services. Of those contractors who perform the following services, a significant percentage say business has been growing: • • • • • • •

significant improvements in housing starts and commercial construction have helped propel the industry for the past several years— and will continue to through 2020.

helping the industry to grow for the next Also five years will be a steady increase in per

Roughly two-thirds expect to grow sales in their installation, maintenance and lawn care divisions next year.

Nearly half expect to grow irrigation sales. Very few (3% or less) expect to see a sales decrease in any of their four major service areas.

Several key economic drivers have been playing in the landscaping industry’s favor.

This steadily improving business climate is helping to create a steadily increasing need for employees, particularly laborers. According to the survey results: •

43% added installation laborers this year, 11% cut back ... 49% plan to add more next year, 1% plan to cut back

•

52% added maintenance laborers this year, 9% cut back ... 63% plan to add more next year, 1% plan to cut back

INDUSTRY •

27% added installation foremen this year, 5% cut back ... 37% plan to add more next year, 3% plan to cut back

•

26% added maintenance foremen this year, 7% cut back ... 45% plan to add more next year, none plan to cut back

Many contractors also have a growing need for non-field personnel.

•

Roughly 20% added managers, sales and administrative personnel this year.

•

Roughly 20-25% plan to do so next year.

•

Few (1-3%) plan to cut back on this type of staff next year.

Increased business and pricing typically lead to an increase in profitability, provided that those increases outpace any rise in the cost of doing business. But landscape contractors seem to be staying ahead of the game.

According to the survey results, nearly two-thirds say they are more profitable than they were five years ago. Just 12% say they are less profitable.

If you’re happy and you know it

According to the Green Industry Pros survey results: • 31% of contractors say they love this business and wouldn’t do anything else • 53% say they are pretty happy • 14% say being a contractor is simply a way to pay the bills • 2% say they are miserable

This industry remains one that is fairly easy to break into, but not so easy to persevere in. Without a dual passion for both landscaping and business, perseverance is only becoming more difficult.

Here’s one bright spot to think about if you’re an established, passionate landscape contractor.

According to IBISWorld, the number of landscaping companies is expected to grow just 2% or so per year for the next five years. Compare this to 2007 when the growth rate was around 16%, or even 2010 when it was around 4.5%.

In other words, the competition you face today, generally speaking, is the competition you’ll face for the next several years—give or take those who succumb to the pressures of this business and bow out. Hopefully your company doesn’t end up being one of those that do.

Originally published by Green Industry Pros.

Reprinted with permission. For more info, visit greenindustrypros.com

About the author

Gregg Wartgow is editor in chief of Green Industry Pros magazine, SnowPRO, Dealer Success Guide, greenindustrypros.com, and related print and digital products.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

As you can see, there are quite a few indications that the landscaping services industry is sound and that it’s a good time to be a landscape contractor. That said, this business is not without its challenges. An increasingly costly and unreliable labor pool, rising materials and overhead costs, erratic weather patterns, cutthroat competition, and the perpetual threat of additional regulatory burdens all help to keep contractors on their toes.

As the landscaping industry continues to evolve, consolidate and grow at a controlled pace over the next several years, it will be interesting to see where that bottom 16% ends up.

45

URBAN AG

Wood-rotting organisms

Tiny fungi can weaken roots and kill trees

By Steve Pettis, UGA Cooperative Extension

Urban trees tend to have shortened lives, some living no

April Sorrow

more than 50 to 80 years. Urban forests in many metro areas have started to mature and decline, and are very susceptible to trunk-rotting and buttress root-rotting organisms.

Wood-rotting organisms like these conks often appear on trees after a long period of cool, wet weather.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Wood-rotting organisms can slowly nibble away at trunks and buttress roots. Trees often regenerate new, nonstructurally supportive feeder roots that mask the signs of structural root loss.

Many trees that topple look perfectly healthy before they fall. Afterward, it becomes clear that there were absolutely no structural roots remaining for support.

46

As a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Rockdale County, I have seen many trees in Conyers, Georgia, with fungal conks (a sign of fungal infection) growing at their bases.

distribution as skyscrapers. Stress from wind on the aerial portion of the structure is transferred down to the foundation.

Just as buttresses on medieval churches are an architectural feature designed to support the walls, the buttress roots of the root collar are designed to support the tree. The decay of root collar wood reduces the structural integrity of the tree.

Adventitious roots are roots that arise from latent buds in wood in response to stress. As a tree slowly loses its main roots, it makes new feeder roots. Over the course of years, a tree can supplement root loss due to rot by creating these new, nonsupportive roots.

Common diseases

Many fungi rot trees at the soil line. The following diseases are the most common and virulent in Southern hardwoods, especially oaks.

Inonotus buttress rot The most common buttress and root collarrotting fungus of water oaks is Inonotus, Inonouis dryadeus or “the weeping conk.” It mostly affects oaks, but can affect conifers, too.

The best time to scout for these symptoms is just after a long period of cool, wet weather.

Buttress roots

The “root collar” is where the roots meet the tree trunk. This area is critical in its function as the main link between the upright trunk and lateral roots.

Trees are load-bearing structures and are designed to support great stress. Trees operate under the same physical principles of weight

Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Ganoderma lucidum is active, aggressive and can seriously undermine tree integrity.

URBAN AG Inonotus enters trees when a lack of tree vigor weakens the tree. In oaks, rot doesn’t occur much above ground level. Massive fruiting bodies start out as large, white, softball- to bowling-ball-sized “marshmallows” that ooze clear, yellow liquid containing spores. Wind and rain spread the spores in November and February.

Scouting for Inonotus requires a sharp eye. After the “marshmallows” dry, they turn into woody structures that are difficult to discern from tree bark. The fruiting bodies can be seen when they are fresh, but once they dry, they become camouflaged. The fruiting bodies are perennial and grow to astonishing sizes.

Ganoderma root rot One of the most common buttress rots of Southern hardwoods is also one of the most beautiful native fungi of Eastern forests.

Ganoderma lucidum is a fungus with fruiting bodies found on buttresses or exposed roots. It is active, aggressive and can seriously undermine tree integrity.

Affected trees usually show rapid decline. The symptoms include shortened twig growth, offcolor foliage and branch dieback. Signs of the disease first appear as reddish-colored varnished stalks emerging from the soil around infested trees. These fruiting bodies eventually flatten out on the top into a half moon-shaped bracket.

spreads through the root collar and into roots, and it can spread through root grafts.

Armillaria root rot Armillaria mellea, or the “shoestring root rot” or “oak root fungus,” is an aggressive tree pathogen.

It causes 35 percent of tree deaths in North America. It is easily recognizable when it is fruiting by big bunches of 12-inch-tall, honeycolored mushrooms that grow from shallow roots or the root collar.

Armillaria causes reduced tree growth, undersized chlorotic leaves and death. The fungus attacks in conjunction with other pests, like wood-rotting fungi in the main trunk and wood-boring insects. It kills trees and makes them more susceptible to invasion by buttressrotting fungi.

Treatment

Inonotus, Ganoderma and Armillaria are preventable but not curable. Stressed, damaged and weakened trees are more susceptible, so prevention is key.

planting trees in undersized spaces. Avoid Consider the ultimate size and choose trees that

care to prevent trees from suffering Use wounds, which become the entryways for fungi. care for mature trees properly and Finally, try to avoid poor tree vigor. Symptoms of decline include leaf drop, bark shedding, limb falls, poor leaf production, and size and cavities in the trunk.

Proper fertility and water management will do more for tree health than any pesticide.

About the author

Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired), Bugwood.org

Armillaria mellea causes 35 percent of tree deaths in North America.

Steve Pettis is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agricultural and natural resources agent in Rockdale County.

E: pettis1@uga.edu

If you find buttressrotting fungal conks on your trees, call an International Society of Arboriculturecertified arborist and ask to have the tree evaluated for safety.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Ganoderma invades physically damaged trees. Soil compaction, lawnmowers, vehicles, herbicides and other damage can expose trees to infection. Spores infect wounds and fungus

will not overgrow their space. Do not plant trees so close to structures that the roots will become restricted.

47

URBAN AG

2015 Classic City Awards

UGA Trial Gardens recognize this year’s best performers

by Merritt Melancon and John M. Ruter, University of Georgia Every summer, the staff of the Trial Gardens

at the University of Georgia raises hundreds of varieties of new ornamentals, and the best of the best of those plants become Classic City Award winners.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

The awards are given to plants that are tough enough to thrive through the extreme heat conditions of a Georgia summer.

48

humidity of a Georgia summer … These plants did the best in that heat and humidity this year.”

Since 1982, the Trial Gardens on UGA’s Athens Campus have been used as a literal testing ground for plants from around the world.

By evaluating new selections of annuals and perennials, the Trial Gardens’ staff helps to introduce new plants to the Southeast’s green industry and the general public.

“We pick Classic City Award winners every year to recognize the 10 or 12 best plants in the garden,” said John Ruter, professor of horticulture at UGA and director of the Trial Gardens. “Breeders send us their plants because they want to see if they can grow in the heat and

The Trial Gardens’ plant evaluations are respected across the globe. Commercial nurseries across the country depend on the staff’s recommendations to determine what they will grow for sale the following season, which means many of this year’s hardiest plants will be available in garden centers next spring. Plants labeled “Classic

Begonia Baby Wing® ‘Bicolor’

Caladium ‘Debutante’

Many of the Trial Gardens’ begonias performed well this summer, however Baby Wing® ‘Bicolor’ stood out as being brighter than the others. Its dark green foliage provides pleasant contrast to the unique flowers, which are rose with white centers.

All of Robert Hartman’s caladiums excel in the least desirable, shadiest spots of our garden. ‘Debutante,’ with its tough, white leaves with undulating edges and deep green veins, was exceptionally stellar this year. The leaves reddened as the weather cools.

‘Debutante’ makes a stellar public outing and should be used to fill gardens with its beauty.

PanAmerican Seed

Classic Caladiums

URBAN AG For more info, visit ugatrial.hort.uga.edu

Capsicum ‘Basket of Fire’

Impatiens Sun Harmony™ ‘Pink’

Even though ‘Basket of Fire’ has been around for some time, it is still among the best of the ornamental peppers trialed at UGA. The plants are less than 12 inches tall and covered in 2-inch slender fruits that transform from yellow to orange to red. The plants produce countless, colorful peppers that withstand all of the summer’s weather conditions.

Like other New Guinea impatiens (NGI) meant for the sun, Sun Harmony™ ‘Pink’ performed exceptionally well in our blazing hot Georgia sunshine. The plants, which grew to 20 to 26 inches and were covered with large, bright pink blooms, withstood heavy rains, wind and other impediments and outperformed all other varieties.

Catharanthus Cora® Cascade™ ‘Strawberry’

Lobularia ‘Lavender Stream’

This summer was not the best for annual vinca in the Trial Garden, but many did well. Cora® Cascade™ ‘Strawberry’ performed as well as its competitors, was far more rugged and thrived until the end. This spreading vinca fills in rapidly, with large, dark pink flowers with a rose center over the entire plant.

Like others in the Stream series of Lobularia from Danziger have before, this year’s ‘Lavender Stream’ proved to be one of the absolute best plants in the garden. Despite the weather, this variety continued to flourish, growing into a blanket of zillions of fragrant, tiny, lavender blooms. If history is any indication, ‘Lavender Stream’ and its siblings will thrive well into our winter.

Vegetalis

Danziger Flower Farm

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Syngenta/Goldsmith Seeds

Danziger Flower Farm

49

URBAN AG

Petunia Tidal Wave® ‘Silver’

Salvia ‘Mojave Red Improved’

The fact that any petunia survived our wet early summer followed by the extreme heat and drought of late summer is a miracle. Tidal Wave® ‘Silver’ not only survived, but it flourished for months. The plants grew into a nice mound, covered in flowers that were white-purple with a purple center.

Several Salvia splendens varieties have been trialed in recent years, so it was good to see one as splendid as ‘Mojave Red Improved.’ The plants grew to a height of 18 to 20 inches and produced red, flowering stalks.

It flourished regardless of miserably hot growing conditions. ‘Mojave Red Improved’ is an excellent reminder of salvia’s great qualities.

Petunia Supertunia® ‘Violet Star Charm’

Trixi® Combos Fairy

For years, Proven Winners has produced many fabulous petunia varieties that have done well in trials. Supertunia® ‘Violet Charm’ quickly grew into a compact mound of small, white-with-violet-stripes flowers that blanketed the plants. It was in full bloom for months and it withstood our weather effortlessly.

Scaevola breeders have made huge leaps in developing cultivars that can withstand too much rain as well as tremendous heat. Trixi® Combos Fairy is a combination pot of blue, pink, bicolor and white scaevola. It was perfect all summer. Too often one variety completely overwhelms the others in its mix.

This was not the case with Fairy. Everyone behaved themselves and did not have to bully for space.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

PanAmerican Seed

50

Proven Winners

Floranova

Selecta

URBAN AG City Award winner” have a better-than-average chance of surviving the typical Georgia garden and gardener.

“If you do a little soil prep, plant them properly and keep them watered, these plants should do well,” said Ruter who is also a researcher with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “The Classic City Award winners are low-maintenance plants that have a good chance of thriving in your garden.”

Those who want to hear Ruter describe the 2015 growing season at the Trial Gardens and see pictures of this year’s award winners can watch an archived webinar at tinyurl.com/ClassicCityAwards2015.

Scaevola ‘Scalora Jewel’ WestFlowers

‘Scalora Jewel’ grew quickly into a compact mass of light violet, fan-like blossoms. Despite the early rains and later drought, ‘Scalora Jewel’ succeeded in wowing all summer. As with its sibling ‘Scalora Amethyst’ that won this high award last year, ‘Scalora Jewel’ is to die for.

About the authors

Merritt Melancon is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. John Ruter is director of The Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia and professor of horticulture at UGA.

770/233-6107

ugaurbanag.com/certification

Ball FloraPlant

It was evident in early summer that this coleus would be incredible, but it continued to awe the staff throughout the summer. Campfire was maintenance free in that it seldom flowered. It grew to 3 to 3.5 inches tall and remained erect all summer. Its warm orange-red leaves shone quite brightly and it withstood long, hot days better than many other coleuses.

Are you ready to prove you’re the best?

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Solenostemon ‘UF12823’ Campfire

Test your knowledge > Gain professional credibility > Join the industry elite

Get certified and watch your business grow

51

URBAN AG

The new and improved Chaste Tree New cultivars of an old favorite

by Bodie Pennisi, Carol Robacker, David Knauft, and Maria Putzke, University of Georgia

Chaste Tree (scientific name Vitex) is an ornamental with many desirable qualities for the urban landscape. It is a deciduous shrub to small tree proffering violet flowers (which are a magnet for pollinators), fragrant foliage, and excellent drought and deer tolerance. Small wonder it has been touted as one of the best plants for Georgia landscapes.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

It is cold hardy throughout Georgia, although in the North Georgia mountains it may suffer minor to moderate damage in particularly cold winters.

52

For the fans of the racing world and in tribute to the plants’ heatand droughttolerance, come the Daytona HeatTM series of Vitex cultivars, which includes: Daytona HeatTM Danica Pink, Daytona HeatTM Dale White, and Daytona HeatTM Petty Blue.

The breeding team at the UGA’s Department of Horticulture has spent years working to improve this valuable ornamental and they are ready to offer several great new plants to the landscape industry and the public. All of these plants are in the process of being patented.

Danica Pink grows to 9 feet tall and sports compact,

Dale White attracts attention with its profusion of

Petty Blue catches the eye with violet-blue flower

upright white flower clusters from spring to fall. From emergence to full bloom to fading, the flower petals remain white. Leaves begin yellow-green, then turn a deep green in the summer and a yellow-green in the fall, with the underside remaining greyed-green throughout the season. It grows to an impressive height of 12 feet. Compared to other Vitex, this cultivar is a larger plant with fuller flower spikes.

dense dark pink flowers. Green leaves appear in the spring, turning deeper green in the summer and becoming a delicate yellow-green in the fall. The underside of the leaves remains greyed-green. Its form is more compact than other Vitex on the market, making it appear fuller and more dense. Blooms appear consistently from summer through fall.

clusters, which are fuller and more branched than the rest of the series. The tallest of the bunch, Petty Blue can reach a height of 13 feet. At full bloom the flowers range from pale to dark lavender. As with many of the other cultivars, the leaves start off yellow-green in the spring, turn darker in the summer, and yellow-green again in the fall. Petty Blue ‘zooms’ consistently from June through October.

URBAN AG

Vitex ‘Pink PinnaclesTM’ stands out with a height of 11 feet to showcase its full, dark pink flower clusters.

In the spring, yellow-green leaves unfurl, becoming deeper green in the summer and yellow-green again in the fall. This cultivar blooms from June through September, and when the mood strikes - even into October.

Vitex ‘Little Madame’ is a smaller, denser Chaste

Tree with an overall fine texture. It grows to a height of 7 feet, with yellow-green leaves emerging in the spring, changing to a deeper yellow-green during the summer, and finally lighter yellow-green, with streaks of greyed-orange in the fall. The darker purple blooms, reminiscent of the lavender plant, contribute to the fine texture. ‘Little Madame’ is a dependent bloomer from June through August, with flowers in September most years as well.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

53

URBAN AG

Pro project Classic Landscapes classiclandscapesga.com

After purchasing this hidden gem in a prominent Atlanta community, the owners wanted to remodel the outside of the home in phases. This allowed for stretching the budget and keeping some of the plants that wouldn’t get overgrown again for many years.

Since the property hadn’t been lived in for several years, the landscape needed attention.

Corrective pruning to some of the plants was initially performed.

The front yard saw the most changes with thinning of unhealthy and overgrown trees along with the addition of extensive ground layer plant material. Raising the canopy and thinning older trees also opened the front and allowed the addition of more colorful shrubs and perennial plantings. The “row” of plants that touch the front of the home were pruned hard the first year which allowed us to gain the trust of the homeowner.

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Dwarf Mondo Grass replaced thin turf in the pool deck strips.

54

Additional Boxwood plantings helped define the pool space, giving separation from the natural wooded area behind the pavilion and pool deck while also softening the brick wall behind the spa.

Container gardens were designed and installed to soften the hard surfaces, accentuate the outdoor spaces in front and back, and draw the eye to key spots.

Timeless GRASSES

Fantastic PRODUCTS Soil3 sold in a BigYellowBag hh Bulkhorganichcomposthforhamendingh soilshwhenhcreatinghbedsh&hlawns. hh Soil3himproveshsoilhstructurehandh addshnutrientsh&hbeneficialhbacteria.

Drivable Grass hh Ahpermeablehandhplantablehh concretehpavementhsystem.

TM

hh It’shdesignedhtohflexhandhconformh -hithdoesn’thcrackhandhbreakhlikeh rigidhpavershorhpophuphandhwearh likehplastichpaving.

Z O Y SI A

Allett Reel Mowers hh Professionalhreelhmowershwithh interchangeablehmowinghandh lawn-carehcartridges.

Unparalleled SUPPORT hh Morehlocationshthanhanyone.

1-888-360-1125 Cartersville 54 Brown Farm Rd. SW 770-382-7284

Marietta 5058 Canton Rd. NE 770-516-3255

hh Fullhtruckhloadshandhsmallhquantitieshdelivered.h

hh RequesthahFreehQuotehonhsupersod.com

Gwinnett / Lawrenceville 609 Airport Rd. 770-277-7745

Ft. Valley / Perry 287 Sod Farm Rd. 478-987-0776

Valdosta 3983 Inner Perimeter Rd. 229-247-6242

Forest Park Atlanta Farmers Market 16 Forest Parkway, Shed 39 404-363-1932

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

hh Cutshlikehscissorshforhahcleaner,h betterhcuthandhreduceshh waterhloss.

55

56

UAC MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016