UAC Magazine - Nov/Dec 2016

Focus on

Tree Care

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

Keeping Georgia’s green industry informed

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UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Advocate. Educate. Promote.1

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UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

UAC Magazine Official publication of the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council

Board of Directors Todd Jarrett, President

Arbor Hill Nurseries Matt Lowe

Swift Straw Josh Morrow

Athletic Fields, Inc. Ken Morrow

Sod Atlanta Chris Nelson

Chattahoochee Nature Center Bob Scott

Irrigation Consultant Services Ray Wiedman

Outdoor Expressions Ron White TurfPride Dixie Speck, Past President

Solterra Landscape

Ex Officio Ellen Bauske

UGA Extension Public Service Assistant Bodie Pennisi

UGA Extension Horticulturist Clint Waltz

UGA Extension Turf Agronomist

Staff Mary Kay Woodworth

Executive Director Kathy Gatten Johnson

Marketing Director & Editor 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 Southern Nursery Association

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

GEORGIA

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

UAC NEWS

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Executive Director message What did you miss? UAC September dinner meeting UAC Safety Zone Awards Revamped for 2016 2016 EDGE Expo Schedule and course descriptions Need employees? Members post jobs for free

REGULAR FEATURES

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Save the date Me & my mentor Getting the best tree care Have you met...Cliff Stewart, STEC Equipment Pest 411 Asian ambrosia beetle Pro project Downey Trees Safety works Leaf removal safety Health & benefits Antibiotics and your health What the tech? Looking for some online help?

BUSINESS 32 Ready, aim, hire! Keeping your sanity through multiple hires 34 Selling the sizzle, not the steak Marketing design services 36 Business credit cards How do they help your credit score?

37 Instagram How to use the new business features 38 4 Cores of Landscape Business Success Part one

INDUSTRY 42 43 44 45

Water conservation encouraged Level 1 Drought Response Equipment theft alert Report your losses ‘Water wars’ trial schedule announced Georgia UAC provides water data

URBAN AG

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Pruning basics Pruning woody plants in the landscape Diseases of Leyland cypress Symptoms, cycle, and control Getting off to a good start Care of young shade and street trees Fireblight Symptoms, causes, and treatment Everillo sedge Like golden lanterns in the landscape

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

A member of:

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE

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UAC NEWS

Dear UAC Members and Supporters, The long, hot summer has finally departed and beautiful fall weather is upon

us! I hope you joined us for the 4th annual UAC Sporting Clays Tournament. We had a great turnout on a beautiful fall autumn day! UAC is so fortunate to have member companies who sponsor our events year in and year out, and we thank all of them for their continued support.

Please remind your customers that fall and winter are the best times for planting, and that new installations can be watered daily for the first 30 days.

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Mary Kay Woodworth Executive Director

While the extremely hot weather is finally behind us, we entered September with a small rainfall deficit, which is stubbornly staying with us. After much discussion and consideration, the persistent dry conditions prompted the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (a division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources) to declare a Level 1 Drought Response in 53 Georgia counties (see page 42 for list of counties).

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

“A Level 1 Drought Response is a good opportunity to partner with our public water utilities to promote good stewardship and to remind Georgians of the importance of using water wisely,” said EPD Director Richard Dunn.

Drought Response Level 1 requires that water utilities provide a public information campaign to help citizens better understand drought, its impact on water supplies and the need for water conservation.

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Level 1 Drought Response

These outdoor water uses are allowed during Drought Response Level 1:

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Daily watering is allowed between 4 pm and 10 am to plant, grow, manage and maintain lawns and turf, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, trees and other plants, using these methods of application: • Automated irrigation systems • Hand watering (without a shut-off nozzle) • Lawn sprinklers

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During installation and for the first 30 days after installation, newly planted/installed lawns and turf, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, trees and other plants can be watered any day, at any time without restriction.

Daily water use is allowed any day, at any time, for these applications, without restriction: • Commercial pressure washing • Drip irrigation or soaker hose • Food gardens • Hand watering (with a shut-off nozzle) • Hydroseeding • Installation and maintenance of an irrigation system • Irrigation of public recreational turf areas • Irrigation of plants for sale • Irrigation of sports fields • Water from private wells and bodies of water on property • Water from an alternate source (grey water, rain water, air-conditioner condensate) UAC has created a website devoted to water conservation, both inside and outside.

Please reference and share this with your employees and clients. georgiawatersmart.com Reducing water use inside is equally as important as reducing water use outside.

It is essential that we use water as efficiently as possible so that current and future residences, businesses, schools, hospitals, industries, and farms in Georgia continue to prosper and have the high quality of life we now enjoy. All aspects of our economy and environment are dependent on water. Georgia’s water needs will be met through a multiplicity of solutions with water conservation as a primary answer.

Visit georgiawatersmart.com for current and updated information on water conservation!

Specifically selected by renowned turfgrass researchers for drought and wear tolerance from 27,700 other genotypes.

Strenuously tested for two decades under extreme stresses in both research and real world production environments.

A scientific breakthrough in performance and sustainability, tIftuf™ Certified Bermudagrass uses 38% less water

than tifway and is more drought tolerant than Celebration™, Latitude 36™ and all other tested bermudagrasses. fine textured and dense, tIftuf™ powers through cold, shrugs off traffic, spreads with incredible speed, greens up early and retains its color well into fall. Science has just delivered it all — tIftuf™.

Exclusive Licensing Agent: The Turfgrass Group, Inc. 1225 Savannah Lane • Monroe, Georgia 30655 (770) 207-1500 or (770) 710-8139 www.thEturfGrASSGroup.com

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

ForGed From ScIence

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UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? UAC Networking + Education Dinner September 27 Heritage Sandy Springs

UAC Network + Education dinner

Introducing TifTuf Bermudagrass

Drought Tolerance Just Got a New Standard

A look at the testing, data, and real-life applications demonstrating why TifTuf is superior.

Presented by Dr. Brian Schwartz, UGA Tifton

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Sponsored by

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Those who attended Brian Schwartz’s talk before the dinner earned one hour of Georgia Category 24 pesticide continuing education credits.

UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? UAC Network + Education dinner

Use C.A.S.H., not Ca$h to improve under-performing employees!

A 4-step coaching process: Capacity, Attitude, Skill & Habit Direct feedback on performance is every manager’s and leader’s least favorite part of dealing with others...this session outlines a simple process that works every time and delivers your intended results.

Barry Rinehart, Compass Leadership Training

Do you agree what is supposed to be happening with this task, objective or goal?

Discuss the task not the person, be factual and honest. Graph it out: list the attributes needed to complete the key objective to your expectations.

This takes the emotion out and focuses the attention on the deficiency, not the person.

Listen to their response. Are the issues related to process or performance?

Capacity: can they do the job?

Attitude: do they know why it’s important?

Skill: have they been trained?

Habit: doing it the way it’s always been done?

Work with them to design a plan with firm expectations and realistic goals for improvement.

If you don’t follow-up, your employee thinks that in the grand scheme it’s just not that important.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Communication issue? Training issue?

Motivation issue? Ability? Insubordination?

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UAC NEWS

UAC Safety Zone awards get a makeover

Your UAC Safety Committee has revamped the annual safety awards. Take a look:

Amped up • • •

Safety Zone has a new twist: now you’re competing against your fellow UAC members!

For the Safety First Awards, the winners will be those with the lowest number of accidents, injuries, illnesses and/or lost time when compared to the other entries.

Entries will be divided into categories based on fleet size and company size.

Streamlined • •

No calculations or volumes of paper needed.

Just submit the entry form and a form or two that you already have at your fingertips.

New categories, more chances to win • •

New award categories for photos and videos that demonstrate your safety measures.

Three chances to win a trophy in each category, plus your photos/videos could be featured on UAC’s website.

Judging, entrance criteria, and awards UAC’s Safety Committee will evaluate each entry. The judges may choose to not make an award in any category, based on the merits of the entries. All judges’ decisions are final.

Eligibility • •

Only current UAC business-level members may submit entries.

Members are encouraged to submit entries for any or all of the award categories.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Entry procedures

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Application materials must be completed and submitted properly according to entrance criteria and submission instructions to be considered for a UAC Safety Zone Award. Improper submission may result in disqualification.

• There is no entry fee but you must be a current UAC business-level member.

• These awards recognize safety performance from January 1 - December 31, 2016.

• Entries are due by Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

• Awards will be presented at the April 2017 UAC dinner meeting.

Awards Prizes will be as listed in the application materials for each award category. In addition, winning companies will have a Safety Zone Winner badge placed on their UAC website profile and also can include that badge on their company website. Safety Zone winners will be featured in an issue of UAC Magazine.

Entry deadline: March 1, 2017 Learn more: urbanagcouncil.com/uac-safety-zone

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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EDGE EXPO

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

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December 8, 2016 Infinite Energy Center Duluth, GA

> The CEUs that get it done > Pesticide applicator test prep training > GCLP written test, with plant ID PLUS:

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

BELGARD University

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Skills to take you from GOOD to GREAT

EDGE EXPO Dear Colleagues,

How do you compete for the best projects, best clients?

By being not just good, but GREAT! How do you achieve greatness?

By knowing more than the next guy, by solving issues before they come problems, by exceeding your clients’ expectations.

Get your start to greatness this December at EDGE Expo.

EDGE Expo provides just the training you and your employees need to make your

business great. And it’s right here, all in one place.

See you there!

Sincerely,

Todd Jarrett Todd Jarrett Arbor Hill Nurseries Georgia UAC President

2016

EDGE Expo Schedule at a Glance

Please visit our website for updates

9:00 am - 4:30 pm B1... BELGARD UNIVERSITY: Outdoor Living Design/Installation B2... BELGARD UNIVERSITY: Hardscape Basics/Product Knowledge 1..... Pesticide Applicator’s General Standards Training

9:00 am - 12:00 noon 2..... Good Skills: Solving Common (and not so common) Turfgrass Issues 3..... Good Skills: Solving Common (and not so common) Ornamental Issues 4..... Smart Plant and Turf Selections for Southern Landscapes 5. .... Sharpening your Irrigation and Water Management Skills

12:00 noon - 1:30 pm

Lunch | Table-top exhibits | Networking

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm 6..... A Rollercoaster Called SUCCESS: The Floriculture Thrill Ride 7..... Breakthrough Turfgrass Research has Discovered a New Star 8..... Cutting-Edge Solutions for Erosion and Drainage Issues

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm 9..... Turfgrass Today 10... Great Skills: Advanced Solutions for Turfgrass Issues 11... Great Skills: Advanced Solutions for Ornamental Issues 12... Using Pruning and Plant Health Care to Maximize Maintenance 13... Beneficial and Nuisance Insect ID Workshop

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

CEUs and pesticide credits have been applied for!

Thursday, December 8

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm GC.. Georgia Certified Landscape Professional testing

Register / CEUs / updates: urbanagcouncil.com/edge-expo

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EDGE EXPO

CEUs and pesticide credits have been applied for!

1 Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License Test Preparation Training

This training is intended for turfgrass and ornamental landscape employees interested in attaining the Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s Category 24 License in Georgia. This license is required for anyone who does contract spraying of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in Georgia for residential, industrial, or business applications. This session also is open to licensed applicators who would like a refresher course.

Participants are encouraged to purchase both study guide manuals and follow along during the training.

Order these manuals at www.gapestexam.com/ examInfo.cfm. Please allow 7-14 days for delivery.

When ready, participants may register to take the exam through a local technical college testing center in Georgia by logging on to www.gapestexam.com.

Paul Pugliese, UGA CAES and others

2 Good Skills: Solving Common (and not so common) Turfgrass Issues

9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Williams-Woodward: Diseases on landscape plants rely on prevention and early detection. Knowing the symptoms to look for is the first step in identifying and managing plant disease problems. This talk will cover the common plant diseases affecting herbaceous and woody ornamentals in the landscape.

Pennisi: Plant establishment and growth in the urban environment can be quite challenging, from intense sunlight, high winds, and extreme temperatures, to drought and flooding – how’s a plant to cope with all that? Add low or high pH, compacted soil, even air pollution, and it is truly amazing that plants actually survive! How could you tell if the plant is suffering and what are the causes and more importantly, what you could do to help – this talk will discuss all that and much more!

Wade Hutcheson, Dr. Jean Williams-Woodward & Dr. Bodie Pennisi, University of Georgia

4 Smart Plant and Turf Selections for Southern Landscapes 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

McCullough: Identification of turfgrass weeds. The distinguishing plant parts and key characteristics for weed identification will be presented. The conditions that favor growth and establishment for common turfgrass weeds will also be discussed along with practices for control.

Mottern: Duke Gardens is a 55-acre public botanic garden in the heart of the Duke University campus.

Mottern will take you through a tour of the garden sharing the work of his horticulturists and some the most exciting displays of horticulture you’ll find in the south. He will discuss appropriate plant selections for this region, cultural practices and disease/pest resistance and control.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Martinez: Basics on turfgrass pathology, diagnosis and control of main foliar, crown and root turfgrass diseases will be discussed.

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Jesperson: Overview of abiotic stresses and how they affect turf grasses with the aim to assist professionals with their problem-solving skills and enable them to identify the differences between biotic and abiotic stresses. Examples of common and less common abiotic stresses will be presented. Discussion will include how plants respond to abiotic stresses as well as potential ways to reduced stress-induced damages.

Waltz: One of the most important steps in turfgrass establishment is the selection of high quality turf that is adapted to the site conditions and intended use of the turf. Careful evaluation of the sun/shade requirements, drought tolerance and other factors must be considered; there are many choices available today and the selection and planning process cannot be underestimated. Waltz will discuss turf selection based on improved growth characteristics, turf quality, resistance to drought, insects and disease and other important benefits.

Dr. Patrick McCullough, Dr. Alfredo Martinez & Dr. David Jespersen, University of Georgia

3 Good Skills: Solving Common (and not so common) Ornamental Issues 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Hutcheson: Identification of non-turf weeds in the landscape. The distinguishing plant parts and key characteristics for weed identification will be presented. The conditions that favor growth and establishment for common weeds will also be discussed, along with practices for control.

This three-hour session will focus on plant and turf selections appropriate for Southern gardens and landscapes.

Bobby Mottern, Director of Horticulture, Duke University, Sarah P. Duke Gardens; Dr. Clint Waltz, University of Georgia

5 Sharpening your Irrigation and Water Management Skills

9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Irrigation and water management skills are essential to every Urban Ag professional. In this workshop,

Register / CEUs / updates: urbanagcouncil.com/edge-expo

CEUs and pesticide credits have been applied for! participants will assemble the basic components of a system, review watering principles and proper scheduling, and discuss considerations in disease management and protecting water sources from pesticide and fertilizer contamination.

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Irrigation overview, purpose and methods Irrigation components and function: Backflow preventer, pressure regulator, valves, pipes, sprinklers, nozzles.

of this on a fast-paced thrill ride that will have you screaming for more. The journey will be so satisfying that you and your clients will queue up to ride again and again and again. Are you ready? All aboard!

7 Breakthrough Turfgrass Research has Discovered a New Star 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Chemigation and injection systems

Dr. Brian Schwartz, University of Georgia

Preventing pesticide and fertilizer backsiphonage

8 Cutting-Edge Solutions for Erosion and Drainage Issues 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Principles of water distribution and scheduling Principles of watering Plant water needs and watering requirements.

Water distribution (overhead and drip watering) Scheduling factors and timers

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Considerations in disease management and protecting water sources from pesticide and fertilizer contamination

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Reducing bacterial and fungal diseases through scheduling practices Calculating proper run time for pre-emergence activation waterings

Basic repairs: replacing heads and nozzles

Dr. Gary Hawkins & Greg R. Huber, University of Georgia

Confession: I specialize in plants that die every six months. And people wait in line to pay me for it!

What keeps these people coming back? Why are flowers such a thrill that it makes them worthy of a significant investment for a short period of time?

Without exception, seasonal color is a critical component in completing a landscape. It can be one of the most profitable items on the P&L statement.

It is arguably the most emotional aspect of the entire landscape. It is fast-paced, intense, and exhausting; yet, it is rewarding for the artist, the installers, the clients, and the casual observer. Learn how to select annuals that go the distance, successfully use them in design, maintain them, amaze clients…..and quite possibly make the neighbors jealous. We will do all

Introducing TifTuf bermudagrass. Drought tolerance just got a new standard. The newest University of Georgia turfgrass release from Wayne Hanna and Brian Schwartz, UGA Tifton Campus turfgrass breeding program plant scientists, is TifTuf™ bermudagrass. Now available to landscape professionals and homeowners, TifTuf ’s drought tolerance and shade tolerance make it one of the best choices for establishing a new lawn. This session will take a look at the testing, data, and real-life applications demonstrating why TifTuf is superior.

An overview of common erosion, drainage and grading issues, the problems they create and ways for the landscape professional to solve these problems for their clients.

Aaron Poulsen, Gwinnett Technical College

9 Turfgrass Today

1:30 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Little: Turfgrass Diseases: A Year in Review

Campbell: Cost of Pest Management

Waltz: Nematode Control for Turf

Waltz: Turfgrass Inventory and Pricing

Dr. Clint Waltz, Dr. Elizabeth Little & Dr. Ben Campbell, University of Georgia

10 Great Skills: Advanced Solutions for Turfgrass Issues

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

This session will be a more advanced discussion of specific turf issues.

McCullough: Emerging issues with weeds in turfgrass will be discussed. The presentation will cover problem weed control, herbicide resistance, and new herbicides.

Register / CEUs / updates: urbanagcouncil.com/edge-expo

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Activating pre-emergence pesticides using manual and automated systems

6 A Rollercoaster Called SUCCESS: The Floriculture Thrill Ride

Jenny Hardgrave, Simply Flowers

Hands-on irrigation assembly

EDGE EXPO

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EDGE EXPO

CEUs and pesticide credits have been applied for!

Martinez: Environmental and cultural factors that promote each disease will be reviewed. Turfgrass pathogen biology as well as the different methods of disease control will be emphasized. Also discussed: turfgrass fungicides (including mode of action, formulations, rates, new fungicides etc.) and fungicide selection for specific diseases.

BELGARD UNIVERSITY B1 Outdoor Living Design and Installation

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Dr. Patrick McCullough & Dr. Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia

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11 Great Skills: Advanced Solutions for Ornamental Issues

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

This session will dig deeper into specific, emerging issues of ornamentals.

Hutcheson: Tough new weeds in the landscape, prevention and control will be discussed.

Williams-Woodward: The two most damaging and important diseases currently affecting specific landscape plants are boxwood blight and rose rosette virus. These two diseases have the potential to remove roses and boxwoods from Georgia landscapes. This talk will give an update on current research on managing these two deadly diseases.

Wade Hutcheson, Dr. Jean Williams-Woodward, University of Georgia

9:00 am - 4:30 pm

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B2 Hardscape Basics and Product Knowledge

9:00 am - 4:30 pm

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UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

12 Using Pruning and Plant Health Care to Maximize Maintenance

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2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

This two-hour session will include a discussion about environmental issues and the tools and expected results from Tree & Plant Health Care, followed by a hands-on workshop demonstrating proper pruning techniques to maximize plant health and minimize attack from pests and diseases. Insect and pest ID, control and treatment will be included.

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Rick Barnes, Downey Trees & Rick Smith, The Pruning Guru

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13 Beneficial and Nuisance Insect ID Workshop

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

This two-hour hands-on workshop will include identification, biology, and management of common insect pests found in the landscape, including beneficial and nuisance insects.

Dr. Will Hudson, University of Georgia & Dr. J. C. Chong, Clemson University

Belgard Elements Installation Best Practices Watch and learn as we install a Belgard Elements Fireplace and Wood Boxes onsite.

Tandem Wall & Column Installation Learn about this new innovative wall and column system and work with it onsite to see for yourself.

Tandem Modular Grid Construction We will frame and construct an outdoor kitchen unit using Tandem Modular Grid. Work with the product yourself onsite to see how it can save you time and money.

Belgard Porcelain Installation Best Practices Learn the different installation methods used to install Belgard Porcelain Pavers.

Wrap up and Q&A Time for follow-up questions with instructors.

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Paver installation 101 Learn how to properly install pavers per the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute guidelines. Job layout through finish work will be covered.

Raw Material Estimating and Take-Offs Intro to making accurate cost approximations of labor hours, materials, and overhead assessment for a job.

Outdoor Living Trends This segment will go over what is trending in the outdoor living marketplace and what homeowners are looking for. Time-saving solutions also will be discussed.

Belgard Design Studio and Tandem Modular Grid Learn how Belgard Design Studio can help increase your close rate and increase the size of the project. The use of Tandem Modular Grid in outdoor living will be discussed as well.

Installation Techniques for Porcelain Pavers Learn about the different installation methods for Belgard Porcelain Pavers.

Wrap up and Q&A Time for follow-up questions with instructors.

Register / CEUs / updates: urbanagcouncil.com/edge-expo

UAC NEWS

Need employees?

UAC members can post jobs for free

Fill out the form and preview your posting, then submit.

First, log in as a member on our website: urbanagcouncil.com.

This feature is available to business-level members only.

Under the “MEMBERSHIP” tab, click on “Links for members”

The email used when your company joined UAC is what you need here. Forgot? Call us: 800.687.6949 Forgot your password?

Click here to reset. (We don’t retain password info.)

Once approved, your job posting will remain on the site for 30 days.

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 | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Everything you need to maintain the best turf possible.

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SAVE THE DATE

DEC

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Visit urbanagcouncil.com for updates and to register.

GALA

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

Georgia Landscape Awards Early Bird entry deadline - save $$!

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

DATE: Friday, December 2

Learn more, download forms, apply online: urbanagcouncil.com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards/submit-entry-uac-awards

DEC

EDGE Expo

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

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Quality education | CEUs | Vendor products & equipment Details start on page 10 DATE: Thursday, December 8 PLACE: Infinite Energy Center, Duluth GA

DEC

GALA

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GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

Georgia Landscape Awards Entry deadline

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

DATE: Friday, December 30

Learn more, download forms, apply online: urbanagcouncil.com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards/submit-entry-uac-awards

JAN

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Landscape Business Boot Camp See page 41 for more info

DATE: Thursday, January 19 PLACE: Heritage Sandy Springs

FEB

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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6110 Blue Stone Rd. NE, Atlanta GA 30328

Design seminar:

SEASONAL COLOR: Start to Profitable Finish Dr. Richard Ludwig and Bill Slack See page 33 for more info

DATE: Thursday, February 16 PLACE: Heritage Sandy Springs

FEB

TBA MAR

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6110 Blue Stone Rd. NE, Atlanta GA 30328

GALA

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

Georgia Landscape Awards Ceremony & Banquet

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

Watch for details!

Entry deadline DATE: Wednesday, March 1 See page 8 for more info Learn more and apply: urbanagcouncil.com/uac-safety-zone

Improved Turfgrass Varieties for Georgia ^Extreme Drought Tolerance ^More Shade Tolerance ^Reduced Fertilization ^Exceptional Wear Tolerance and

Divot Recovery

^ Dark Green Color and Finer Texture ^ Superior Shade Tolerance ^ Excellent Resistance to Cold and Frost ^ Exhibits Heat and Drought Tolerance

^ Blue-Green Color ^ More Durable ^ Drought Tough ^ Softer Texture

^ Good Shade Tolerance ^ Fine Leaf Texture With a Dark Green Color ^ Extremely Wear Tolerant ^ Minimal Thatch Problems

^ Top Rated in the NTEP Trials ^ Exceptional Cold Tolerance ^ Top Rated for Wear Tolerance ^ Excellent Resistance to Spring Dead Spot

SodSolutions.com

Buy Sod Soperton, GA Celebration, EMPIRE Legacy Turf Farms Cartersville, GA EMPIRE, Geo Manley Farms North Bainbridge, GA Celebration, EMPIRE, Palmetto McIntyre Turf Abbeville, GA EMPIRE, Geo Superior Turf Ashburn, GA EMPIRE, Geo, Latitude 36, NorthBridge Precision Turf Buford, GA Latitude 36, NorthBridge Pike Creek Turf Farms Adel, GA Celebration, EMPIRE, Geo Southeastern Sod Sugar Hill, GA EMPIRE, Geo The Sod Source Unadilla, GA Palmetto Tifton Turf Farms Tifton, GA EMPIRE, Geo

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

^ Exceptional Cold Tolerance ^ Excellent Traffic Recovery ^ Top Rated for Shear Strength Tolerance

Find A Producer Near You

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ME & MY MENTOR

Getting the best tree care

What to look for when hiring a tree care company

by Kevin Caldwell, Caldwell Tree Care Q: What qualities and qualifications are important when I need to hire a tree care company?

Hiring a tree care company is different from hiring a tree removal company. When a company is engaged in tree care, it implies the company and its employees understand how to maintain, preserve and perform tasks that enhance tree survivability and vitality. A company practicing sound tree care follows ANSI standards, which provide guidance for virtually all types of tree care and plant health care practices.

A company proposing work to its clients, or a potential client, will use verbiage from these standards in their description of services.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

A company may try to come across as professional by having clean trucks, nice uniforms, etc. but it should be a red flag if they do not use proper terminology as this could indicate ignorance to ANSI standards.

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For instance, using words such as “trim” or “raise canopy” are ambiguous and do not generally comply with these standards.

Standards should be consistent throughout the green industry, including tree care. Certain parts of the landscaping industry have excellent standards, such as nurseryman standards.

Licensing in certain areas of the country creates a requirement to follow standards both in landscaping and tree care. However, in the state of Georgia, there is no true licensing or regulations to govern tree care or landscape companies. The only licensing is for pesticide application which is through the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

To better aid consumers and municipalities in making an educated choice when choosing a tree company, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), has developed an accreditation program.

This program is voluntary and is administered and monitored by TCIA-qualified personnel. It is similar to an ISO certification for a factory.

Being an accredited tree company assures compliance with ANSI standards, safety, insurance, employee practices, client resolution policies and all other government-related practices.

You might be asking yourself, “Why hasn’t he mentioned certified arborists?” Certainly, hiring a company with certified arborists on staff is an important part of this equation but often times arborists are not involved in the execution of the prescribed work. To gain certification as an accredited tree company, you must have an arborist on staff as well as a Certified Tree Safety Professional (CTSP). In addition, there are many

Kevin Caldwell, president and owner of Caldwell Tree Care, has been an ISA certified arborist since 1992. He is the past chairman of the board of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and past president of the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association (now the Georgia Urban Ag Council). In keeping with his political science degree, he often represents the green industry on Capitol Hill and in local governments.

Kevin’s attention to customer service is known throughout the industry. He brings strong ethical and leadership skills to each Caldwell project.

You can reach Kevin at caldwellk@caldwelltreecare.com.

ME & MY MENTOR other qualifications a company may attain to become accredited.

This makes the company as a whole accredited - not just one individual - which means the company in its entirety has the proper training and credentials, not just one employee.

Proper tree care involves biology, science and realworld training. It is not just branding, marketing or nice equipment that should be the focus.

Great tree care is truly about knowledge and proof of that knowledge will show itself in the tree vernacular your provider uses.

standards. Membership and active participation in Georgia Urban Ag Council and other trade groups that focus on continued training and professional standards and accountability are indicative of a company’s desire to maintain professional and sustainable business practices.

770/233-6107

ugaurbanag.com/certification

Other options In the event that you are not able to locate any accredited tree companies in your area, active membership in TCIA might indicate the company has knowledge of industry

Are you ready to prove you’re the best?

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

Get certified and watch your business grow

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

All TCIA-accredited companies have been tested, monitored, and audited by an outside, qualified auditor. By choosing an accredited tree company, you are making a safe choice as all of the research has been done for you.

19

HAVE YOU MET

Cliff Stewart General Manager STEC Equipment

My first job in the green industry was... mowing greens at the local country club.

The biggest challenge in my career has been...managing employees.

The people who have influenced my career are...two previous superintendents I Cliff Stewart, right, with co-worker Chuck Engman

Cliff Stewart Address: 160 Old Denver Road

Anderson, SC 29625

Phone:

864.225.3666

Fax: 864.225.3640 Email:

cliff@stecequipment.com

Web:

stecequipment.com

worked under: Mark Wilson, CGCS, and Robert Farnsworth.

My biggest career success so far has been...when an employee tells me they “love” their job.

If I had to do it all over again I would... have listened to my peers more in my teens and twenties.

The thing I like most about my career....is traveling and meeting new people.

My least favorite part of my job is....the

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

winter months when no one returns calls...ha!

20

One piece of advice I would give to someone entering the green industry today is...education, education, education.

The thing most responsible for my success is...my parents, who taught me to show up early and be willing to stay late when duty calls.

If I could change careers, just for a month...I would be a national park ranger in Yellowstone.

One thing that really annoys me is...being late.

When I’m not working, I like to...spend time with my family, fish, and cook.

One thing most people don’t know about me is...my passion for fishing.

PEST 411

Asian ambrosia beetle

Destructive insect is difficult to control

by Steve Pettis, Rockdale County UGA Extension

If you own a cherry tree or a Japanese Maple, be vigilant! There is an insect pest

out there stalking your prized landscape tree.

It is very tiny but it can bring even large trees down. The insect is a beetle and it is an illegal immigrant known as the Asian ambrosia beetle.

The Asian ambrosia beetle was imported from China to the United States in some peach trees in 1974. Since then, this insect has spread all over the U.S. and has caused millions of dollars in plant loss. Every year, nursery owners spend money to prevent its damage in the southeast.

Behavior

The female Asian ambrosia beetle emerges in spring from her winter habitat inside an infested tree and travels to a suitable nearby shrub or tree.

She looks for a small plant or limb 1 to 2 inches thick, and begins to bore into it. She moves fast, eating her way through an inch of wood per day.

As the insect eats her way through the tree, she ejects sawdust out of the entrance hole. The sawdust exiting the hole forms toothpick-like protrusions.

This is the key diagnostic feature of Asian ambrosia beetle damage.

Diet

The insect doesn’t actually eat the wood but excavates tunnels that serve as habitat. She introduces a fungus, which is carried on her back, and feeds her newly hatched larvae. This fungus eventually kills the tree, clogging its vascular system and causing it to wilt and die.

Many species of trees and shrubs are susceptible to this beetle. I have observed them attacking tulip poplars, oaks, ornamental cherry, crape myrtle, redbud, hickory and Japanese maple.

Asian ambrosia beetle will attack almost any broadleaf tree or shrub, healthy or not.

Almost the entire life cycle of the insect is spent inside the plant, making the beetles Javier Mercado, Bark Beetle Genera of the U.S., hard to control with USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org insecticides. The Once in the tree, the beetle itself is only time it spends harmless. It is the fungus that actually out of the tree is when it emerges in kills the tree. Infested trees will most early spring to either likely die eventually. reinfect the same tree or to seek out a new one. There are traps that can be used to monitor the insect’s emergence in February.

Control

Asian ambrosia beetles must be controlled but how? There are no systemic insecticides that will kill the beetles in the trees. Once in the tree, the beetle itself is harmless.

The best way to control Asian ambrosia beetle damage is by prevention. Trunk sprays using pyrethroid insecticides applied in late February or when the first beetle is trapped offers protection. Products available to commercial pesticide applicators such as Pounce, Astro and Onyx all show great promise in controlling this pest. Homeowners should use outdoor tree and shrub insecticides containing imidacloprid or bifenthrin.

Homeowners should remove affected plants or plant parts and they should be burned. The trunks of remaining plants should be treated with an appropriate insecticide and monitored.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Scout for this sawdust in early spring on trees and shrubs.

Life Cycle

21

SAVE THE DATE PRO PROJECT

Pro project

Growing trees in “urban dish gardens�

by Rick Barnes, Downey Trees, Inc. Nothing provides more soothing respite in the urban canyons of our city than the appearance of beautiful, healthy, shady trees.

Add to that a floral display that spans the season with a riot of color and the result is a shop-dinelive environment to which people from all walks of life gravitate. While we may have conjured up an idyllic picture here, attaining the equilibrium in which all of the elements work together to create and maintain that environment poses considerable challenges. This is one story of plant life in an urban dish garden.

Facing challenges

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Downey Trees, Inc. began work on just such a property earlier this year, entering into partnership with no less than three other companies: the property owner and management company, the landscape service provider, and the quality oversight company. Communication and coordination of activities is critical and yet presents a unique set of challenges.

22

Initiating a tree and plant health care program two years after the initial installation of the trees on the property dictates a need to shorten the learning curve as much as possible. Yet opportunities to review the site conditions, particularly those beneath the soil surface, were severely limited to narrow windows of time, such

as when the plantings beneath the trees were being changed out and renovated. Other physical limitations to discovery include metal tree grates placed over the planters of many of the trees and unknowns about the planters themselves such as physical size, accommodation for drainage, etc.

Taking a broader view, various site conditions presented additional unique challenges. Fixed street patterns resulted in different light and wind exposures for the trees on the property.

Elements in the design of the complex, such as building layout and height, further contributed to the variety of microclimates represented.

Cursory investigation of the soil environment revealed other challenges. Three unique soil regimes were encountered: the original root balls of the trees (clay), the soil used to fill in the planters (engineered soil- silt and gravel), and a layer of rich soil on the surface in which the annual and perennial floral displays are planted.

Further, the top soil layer extended above the original grade and in many cases over the root flare and up the trunks of the trees.

Key to the condition of the trees when we began working was the dryness of the root balls and the lack of root growth into the surrounding soil.

Additionally, many of the trees in grated planters were mulched with a thick layer of lava rock that

Excavation of root flares. Epicormic shoot in the photo on the right shows stress in the tree.

PRO PROJECT impeded air exchange with the soil media. The hydrophobic condition of the root balls of some of the trees prevented penetration of water into the root zone. Consequently, water ran off the root balls, saturating the surrounding soil.

It takes a team

We have only begun meeting the challenges of providing the best chances for the trees in this urban development to grow and thrive. A team effort is required to provide any positive inputs on such a challenging property, and we have fortunately been the beneficiary of great cooperation and communication from the other companies charged with the various aspects of its care. The owners allowed the Downey Trees’ Tree & Plant Health Care staff to “dissect” one of the planting beds between change-outs of annual color to discover the soil regimes.

Once we exposed many of the root flares, the landscape service providers were careful to install new plantings away from the trunks of the trees and to keep the root flares exposed.

Throughout such activities, the quality oversight group had coordinated management strategies that might affect and require implementation from more than one of the team companies.

Six weeks after pruning and treatments

Before

Six weeks after pruning and treatments

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

One of the best examples of this team effort occurred over the summer when the management company’s engineering team pulled off grates from around four large trees in a high-traffic area. This allowed us to remove rock mulch and nursery handling material from the trees, as well as to facilitate decompaction of soil and application of nutrients. This work, done over a period of four nights, helped us determine that the growth of the trees had been predominantly static since they were installed.

This is critical information in treating the trees that we could not have determined without the help of the owners. Unfortunately, while providing the treatments, we accidentally severed one of the drip irrigation lines in one of the grated planters. Once this was discovered, the property management team sprang into action to remove the grates again, and the landscape service providers did likewise to repair the severed line- a quick response and a great team effort to correct the mishap!

Before

23

SAVE THE DATE PRO PROJECT

Heading in the right direction

Additional inputs have been proposed to supplement the current program we are providing. While visible differences in the appearance of trees are not typically evident after only a few months, we have seen them here, as Following removal of tree grates by property shown in the before/ management staff, removal of rock mulch after photographs took place, along with removal of nursery in this article. Many strapping. Treatments preceded replacement of these trees were of the grates. poised for growth, possessing an abundance of pent-up energy and just needing a catalyst for its release.

The long-term prognosis for positive growth for the trees on this property is undetermined at this

point, dependent upon subsequent installations of annual color displays, modifications of the soil regimes, sustenance of proper irrigation and drainage in the planting beds, and vigilance to the changes in microclimate and pest potential as the trees grow.

While attractive plantings can be the jewel in the crown of a mixed-use development, diversity and competition with respect to purpose and focus of such properties can create many obstacles to the potential beauty and sense of outdoor serenity provided by the urban dish garden.

About the author Rick Barnes is Business Developer of Plant Health Care for Downey Trees, Inc., and an ISAcertified arborist.

P: 678.878.0901 E: rbarnes@downeytreesinc.com

Your Source for Top Quality EMPIRE ZOYSIA

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

turf & construction

24

Excellent Drought Tolerance Soft Texture with Medium Width Blade Rich Green Color Installed at 2012 Southern Living Design Home Celebrating our 15th Year as Georgia’s Largest Empire Producer

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

25

SAFETY WORKS

Leaf removal safety

Be safe and courteous during leaf removal season Information provided by Risk Management Partners on behalf of Snellings Walters Insurance Fall is upon us and leaf blowers and vacuums are essential time and labor-saving tools on the job. Being safe and courteous while removing leaves for your clients will help the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your company.

Being safe and courteous while removing leaves for your clients will help the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your company.

  

Operating courtesy



Be aware when using leaf blowers or vacuums. Specifically try to avoid early morning and late evening hours.

Do not direct debris towards people, animals, automobiles or houses (especially windows/ glass).

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Use a lower throttle speed if possible to control noise and fuel consumption.

Stop throttle use and point the blower in a different direction or down when encountered by people or pets.

Safety glasses or goggles for eye protection.

•

Work boots with adequate tread.

•

Gloves to limit the vibration on the hands and to help avoid cuts/scrapes.

•

Ear plugs or muffs for noise control.

•

Respirator or facial cover (if necessary) to help prevent dust and debris inhalation.

When starting the blower, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid overpulling and twisting the back.

If using a backpack blower, ensure straps provided are used properly.

When lifting the equipment, use your legs and not your back.

Avoid twisting when operating.

Let the equipment cool down when refueling.

Loosen the gas cap slowly to relieve pressure.

If this is a plug-in device, avoid wet areas. Use an appropriate extension cord.

After use, do not place the exhaust near combustible materials.

When using vacuum devices: •

DO NOT ride on the trailer hitches.

•

DO NOT walk in the area between the truck and trailer. Stay in line of sight of the driver. Remember that if you cannot see the driver or their mirrors, they cannot see you.

•

Machine guarding must be in place per manufacturer setting covering moving parts (blades, PTO shafts, grinders, etc.)

•

Make sure the vacuum hose is at least 8 feet long.

•

Be aware of your height clearance around power lines, signs, etc.

•

Use back-up alarms when backing if equipped. A team should be in place to assist the driver when backing.

Safety



Examine the work area and equipment before working. Remove any object(s) that can be blown and cause injury or property damage.

Examine areas where there may be a potential for slip and fall incidents such as pine straw beds, wet driveways or lawns. Know the elevation differences in the working area.



Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the job: •

26

       

•

High visibility vest when working near roadways, parking lots, etc.

SAFETY WORKS



•

Properly mark the work zone with cones or flaggers.

•

Have a preventative maintenance program in place for the vacuum.

This topic is available in

SAFETY SCHOOL

A preventative maintenance program should be in place for all of your landscaping equipment to stay safe and keep them running. Regular inspections should be conducted looking for leaks (fuel, coolants, oils, etc.), cracks, missing parts, etc. and a maintenance request program should be available for employees to report any concerns.

UAC business-level members: download the trainer document (includes a quiz for the participants), slide presentation, and attendance sheet. Available in English and Spanish.

Leaf removal season is a busy time of the year.

It takes teamwork, coordination, courtesy and safety to do the job efficiently. Stay safe this fall season.

Click on the Membership tab > LInks for members > Visit UAC Safety School

First, log in as a member (instructions on page 15)

Employee Benefits | Insurance | Workers Comp 770.396.9600 | snellingswalters.com

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

27

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Antibiotics and your health Sorting fact from myth

Information provided by Snellings Walters Insurance Agency For more than 75 years, antibiotics have

been the first line of defense against bacterial infections. Sadly, some germs have learned to outsmart common antibiotics. This is called antibiotic resistance.

  

The improper use of antibiotics is the primary cause of the increase in drug-resistant bacteria.

The more antibiotics are used, the less effective they become.

Antibiotic resistance contributes to at least 23,000 deaths and two million illnesses in the United States each year.

Learning more about the proper use of antibiotics can help you and your loved ones make smart decisions when faced with an illness.

When you feel a cold coming on, talk to your healthcare provider about a prescription for antibiotics.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

MYTH #1

28

Colds are not caused by THE FACTS bacteria; they’re caused by viruses. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses.

If you have a cold, don’t plead with your doctor to give you an antibiotic. It won’t speed up your recovery. And it might contribute to the worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance.

This information is general and is provided for educational purposes only. It reflects United Benefit Advisors’ understanding of the available guidance as of the date shown and is subject to change. It is not intended to provide legal advice. You should not act on this information without consulting legal counsel or other knowledgeable advisors.

When your mucus is yellow or green that’s a clear sign that you have a bacterial infection. Call your doctor for a prescription for antibiotics.

MYTH #2

If you’ve had a bad cold for a couple of days, the green color in the mucus is a sign that your immune system is working hard. The color comes from a protein in your infection-fighting white blood cells. Sip a cup of hot tea and get some rest.

THE FACTS

When shopping for soaps and body washes, it’s best to buy products labeled “antibacterial.” These products don’t just keep you clean, they’ll reduce your chances of getting sick from bacteria.

MYTH #3

Not necessarily. Every day, consumers use antibacterial soaps and body washes at home, work or school.

Because so many consumers use these products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that there should be clear benefits to balance any potential risks. In fact, there is no evidence that common antibacterial soaps are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water, say FDA experts. Antibacterial soap products contain chemical ingredients, such as triclosan and triclocarban, that may pose unknown health risks.

THE FACTS

When shopping for hand sanitizers, look for brands that claim to prevent MRSA infections.

MYTH #4

Some hand sanitizers and antiseptic products come with claims that they can prevent MRSA infections. Don’t believe them. These statements are unproven, says the FSA. MRSA (methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a nasty superbug that is resistant to several common antibiotics.

THE FACTS

As the older antibiotics become less effective, there are newer and better drugs in the pipeline.

MYTH #5

Research and development of new antibiotics has dwindled in recent years. On average, a drug

THE FACTS

company spends $5 billion to research and test a new drug. A successful company would rather invest in a new drug that a patient takes for months or years to treat a chronic illness, not a drug to treat a single infection. The FDA has approved only two new antibiotics in the past five years, an 88% drop since the mid-80s. In 2012, the U.S. Congress passed the GAIN Act (Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now) to spur the development of new antibiotics.

Feeding antibiotics to livestock does not affect antibiotic resistance and humans.

MYTH #6

Not true! More than half of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. are given to food animals for growth and disease prevention. These antibiotics are given to the animals in low doses in their feed and water.

This allows the bacteria around the animals to develop antibiotic resistance. These germs may still be present in the meat once it gets to the grocery store. Many stores now offer meats raised with “no antibiotics added.” Look for that label on the package. And remember: always wash your hands when handling any raw meat.

THE FACTS

MYTH #7

It’s a good idea to try to avoid all bacteria.

Most days, you probably don’t even think about insurance.

But when

all hell

breaks loose, Who do you want as your

WARRIOR? EMPLOYEE BENEFITS | PROPERTY | AUTO WORKERS COMPENSATION

O

THE FACTS

nc

ra

su

ep

Cost Containment | Flexibility

Let’s talk Steve Harmon Will Pharr

Employee Benefits | Insurance | Workers Comp 770.396.9600 | snellingswalters.com

770-396-9600 | snellingswalters.com

er

Our access to PPACA Advisor resources can help you clear up PPACA questions and better craft your company’s benefit strategy for the future.

tn

Association Strength | Industry Expertise

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

l in cia

ffi

When a battle takes place, we are stronger together

ar

We usually think of bacteria as the germs that cause illness. But not all bacteria are bad. Our bodies are full of both good and bad bacteria.

“Probiotics” are helpful bacteria that are found in your body and some foods. Many believe that probiotics help with digestive problems.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

29

WHAT THE TECH?

Looking for some online help?

Top 5 questions to ask when hiring an internet marketer

by Kevin Bossons, Director of Internet Marketing, WebTech Marketing Services With so many potential options and places to advertise , it’s

essential to hire an agency that will effectively market your business on the internet.

By asking these key questions, you can identify a marketing agency that is innovative, knowledgeable and committed to find success for the businesses they represent.

Internet marketing is both vast and constantly evolving, with new tools and avenues to constantly explore. By asking these key questions, you can identify a marketing agency that is innovative, knowledgeable and committed to find success for the businesses they represent.

What to ask

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

There are many questions you can ask to give you the answers you need. Here are five specific questions that will reveal crucial information quickly and succinctly.

30

How does your company combine organic, paid and social marketing into a synergistic strategy? Any company who claims to do internet marketing should have a good answer to this question. The company should come back with questions for you in an effort to establish your goals, timeline, requirements and budget. Once the company knows those minimum parameters they can speak intelligently about a basic plan of attack for you that ideally uses multiple channels, such as organic and paid search.

1.

What is your experience with content marketing? Online visibility is key in today’s consumer-driven world, and content is a large part of that. Consumers are

2.

looking for helpful content that is both enjoyable and informative. An internet marketing agency should be able to make your business’s content unique and engaging, while tying the content into lead generation and email marketing mechanisms.

A good response would be a few examples of content marketing campaigns they have developed, and how the effort lead to increased client revenue.

What tools do you use? Most successful agencies use tools to increase efficiency and productivity.

3.

Common tools include solutions to measure competition, identify consumer needs, track return on investment, measure analytics, monitor new/lost backlinks and more. A good company can give you the main tools they use, and how each adds value. (To read more about these tools, how they are used and why, visit backlinko.com/seo-tools.)

Understanding the sort of toolbox each agency uses gives you insight into how serious they are about a given area, plus it gives you as a consumer another way to compare potential agencies.

4.

What is your measurement of success? How does a potential marketing agency interpret success? If they’re making promises, back away slowly. There is no guarantee in SEO, or internet marketing for that matter. Instead of promising you an exact number of customers they are going to reach, the answer should be more about steady growth and hitting performance milestones at regular intervals. It’s about long-term strategy, and how it will work toward earning a profit from increasing traffic.

WHAT THE TECH? A good response would be high-level examples of milestones they set for other clients, results of the campaigns, and how the marketing company impacted the numbers.

How will you present your progress? Any good agency will have a clear way of showing you what they are doing, and how it is working. It shouldn’t just be the numbers, but a detailed look at what they’ve done.

5.

They should provide sample reports. Ask if they customize reports for you. You’ll want those reports to include overall traffic numbers and conversion numbers, such as email leads and phone calls, then observations about what your visitors are doing on the site and recommendations for next steps.

Reports are so much more than just numbers – they should explain in simple language what’s happening, what is expected next and recommendations that cover further improvement and/or reacting to the reporting.

Many agencies offer canned and unpersonalized reports, which really fall short on conveying what’s happening and fail to show the value the agency is delivering. Ask to see sample reports of both successful and unsuccessful campaigns to gauge how good the agency is at showing progress and correcting a lack of meeting goals.

Some agencies offer much more than just marketing, such as building a new website, redesigning your existing website, or simply making content changes to your existing sites.

Before you allow any company to make changes on your website, make sure the company is well-versed in responsive design and has a development environment ready to stage your site totally separate from your live site environment.

What this means is the company making changes to your site should understand how the existing site handles smaller screens such as iPads and Smartphones, should be able to update your site without breaking any of the mobile experience

The runners-up

Don’t limit yourself to just these five questions.

You need to see the full picture so you can make the right decision for your business.

Ask additional things, like how they’ll improve your search engine rankings, whether they guarantee those rankings (which should be a resounding “no”), and if they will provide you with an example of their link-building strategy.

While you’re at it, ask for a list of current and past clients.

It’s important to formulate what you’re looking for, and what you want to come from the experience—so prepare in advance by identifying the things you’d like to see happen.

Transparency, not promises

The more transparent an agency is, the better. It’s not about bold promises, but about their process, tools, skills, and how they’ll apply them to meet your needs. Hopefully they’ve done a review of your website and have broken it down to any issues it may have and already have ideas about how they’ll improve it. They should adhere to the Google Webmaster Guidelines. Remember, you can learn a lot by reviewing their website and content. If it’s lackluster, would you want them representing you?

About the author Kevin Bossons specializes in designing and building websites, and Search Engine Optimization, Link Building campaigns and Paid Search (PPC) campaigns.

E: kevin@wtmarketing.com P: 404.348.4921 W: www.wtmarketing.com If your business is ready to take Internet marketing to the next level, WebTech Marketing Services can help. Contact us for more information about marketing your company on the internet.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Need more?

and be in a position to show you site updates without impacting your live site. Most agencies will be able to make simple changes to your website, but it’s important the company you hire has the development chops to make your site updates without any negative impact to your existing users/user experience.

31

BUSINESS

Ready, aim, hire!

Keeping your sanity through multiple hires

by Erin Saunders Business demands can change throughout the year. There may

Kathy G. Johnson

How can you recruit, interview, hire, and onboard large groups without sacrificing quality or losing your sanity? Fear not! With a little planning, you can be prepared for ramping up your team.

be times when you need to hire several employees at the same time. How can you recruit, interview, hire, and onboard large groups without sacrificing quality or losing your sanity?

Fear not! With a little planning, you can be prepared for ramping up your team.

Determine your timing

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

First, determine when you will need your new team in place and work backwards from that timeline. Factor in any requirements like background checks or drug tests that will add to the hiring process timeline.

32

Plan for interviews

Next you’ll want to plan for the interview stage.

It can be cumbersome to fill multiple positions, so organization is key.

Make a spreadsheet or word document where you’ll keep notes on everyone you interview.

Consider bringing others into the interview process and scheduling multiple interviews back to back. If you bring others in to help with the interview and selection process, make sure everyone is aligned on the skills and fit needed for the role, as well as what interview questions you can ask (for more on interview techniques and safe interview questions, log in as a member to UAC’s website and see the related article in the May/June 2016 UAC Magazine.)

Onboarding boot camp

When you bring on several new people at a time, it’s critical to have an onboarding plan in place.

Consolidate efforts wherever possible. A boot camp approach can be helpful, as well as create a positive experience for your new hires.

Here are some things you could add to your boot camp:

     

Decide how and where you want to recruit.

If your ramp-up is seasonal or temporary, consider thinking outside the box with recruiting strategies. Local colleges are a great place to find temporary employees.

Reach out to your existing or prior staff for referrals. Consider offering them a small bonus or gift card for anyone they refer who stays on for the season.

Create a rating scale and criteria, so you can get a quick snapshot of your candidate pool.

New hire paperwork—send instructions on what they need to bring and have everyone fill it out at once.

Safety orientation Policies and procedures Scheduling Guidance on how to access any systems or tools they will need Welcome lunch or activity with other team members Once your team is up and running, conduct periodic check-ins with new and existing team members to provide feedback.

Off-boarding

Off-boarding is a great time to get feedback on your team, your managers, and your organization. Either conduct in person, or send out an exit interview to your employees.

BUSINESS Common interview questions ask about company culture, management feedback, feedback on the work itself, and feedback on the tools and equipment provided. If the exit interview asks whether someone would like to return next season, it can also be a tool for next year’s ramp up.

Ramping up your employee pool can be a daunting task. But with a little preparation and organization, you’ll have your new team ready to go in no time!

Plan and communicate for the last day. Make sure employees know where to return any equipment and have updated their address to collect their final check. An end-of-season celebration or recognition event can go a long way in leaving employees feeling good about their experience.

About the author Erin Saunders is Sr. HR Business Partner with JLL. P: 303-931-0923 E: erin.saunders@am.jll.com

One-Day Hands-On Workshop!

Dr. Richard Ludwig Bill Slack, ASLA Thursday February 16, 2017

Spend one day with us, spend the Spring making profits.

• The purpose and value of seasonal color • Selling seasonal color to your clients • Graphics to sell seasonal color • Understanding the basics of form, color and texture • Block design strategies • Efficient installation of seasonal color • Secrets of container, soil and plant selection • How create lush, gorgeous compositions • Pricing your work to be competitive and profitable • Management for performance • Putting it all together - final design project Drafting equipment & supplies included

Sponsored by

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

Discount for current UAC members!

For details and to register: urbanagcouncil.com

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Heritage Sandy Springs 6110 Blue Stone Rd. NE Atlanta GA 30328

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BUSINESS

Selling the sizzle, not the steak

The emotional side of marketing design services

by Dr. Richard Ludwig, Landscape Design & Graphics Workshops

and services. We don’t need to be sold on what we sell. We’re already very emotional, very passionate about it. We rarely understand why folks outside the industry just don’t get it.

Because of that, we talk to potential clients as if they are peers in our industry. It’s known as a “commodity approach.” We offer “flats of begonias,” “pallets of sod” and “bags of fertilizer.”

All are clear descriptions, but neglect the real reason folks buy from us.

Key point: Kathy G. Johnson; background photo courtesy of Artistic Landscapes

Because we’re so infatuated with what we do, we can fail spectacularly in marketing our products and services. We rarely understand why folks outside the industry just don’t get it.

Think back to when you decided to make a career in the Green Industry. Did you

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

say, “Not sure if I enjoy working with plants and being outside, but boy, I know I’m going to make a ton of money!” Probably not.

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Passion can work against you

Most of us got into this because we’re passionate about it! We’re fascinated with growing, selling, designing, installing and working with plants.

Rarely can you find anyone in our industry who doesn’t love what they do. That’s a blessing and a curse because it can easily get in the way of making money.

Passionate as we are, we’re not the best at the business side of things and sometimes even feel guilty charging a fair price for our wonderful products and services.

Because we’re so infatuated with what we do, we can fail spectacularly in marketing our products

You sell beauty! You sell things people WANT in their lives but DON’T HAVE TO HAVE in their lives. Purchasing a Green Industry product or service is more emotional than logical. Therefore, to make the money we deserve, we must develop an emotion-centered approach to marketing.

Emotion-centered marketing

Let’s take a look at selling a landscape design and installation, and see how we should go about marketing to impact the client emotionally.

Make your designs client-centered, not designer-centered. A great start in this direction is to forget the botanical names and scientific jargon. Instead, talk in terms of how the new plants and the landscape will enhance the value of their property and improve the quality of their lives.

1.

Make sure every choice is not only beautiful but serves a customer-centered function. Clients really don’t care if it’s Indian Hawthorne or Holly or Daphne (as long as they thrive and are easy to take care of). Rather, they want plants to do something for them personally. Never impose your favorites on your client or the site just because you like them. Your idea of “pretty” is probably very different than your client’s.

BUSINESS Understand that if they don’t like you, they probably won’t like your ideas. Talk in terms of their interests. Listen carefully and write down everything they say.

Their wants should become the foundation of your design. It’s very hard for a client not to like you and your design ideas when every component meets their specific needs and solves their unique problems.

2.

Make your presentation emotionally stimulating! When you unroll the drawing, they have no idea what to expect. Thrill them! One of the best ways to do this is with a design drawn by hand. In an age of computers and high technology, there’s nothing more emotionally appealing than a handrendered master plan.

3.

It’s extremely personal and satisfying. It’s a lost art but if you can do it well, it will set you apart from other designers. The message it sends is that you’ve put your heart and soul into their design. Not an exact replica of what will be

installed, but rather a chance to show off your artistic talent and convey the spirit of the design. Understand that customers are rarely drawn to the plant material or the hardscape. They’re drawn to your enthusiasm and how the first look at the drawing makes them feel.

Don’t neglect the importance of emotion in your sales and marketing strategy. It will help you to make lots of $green$ in the Green Industry!

In an age of computers and high technology, there’s nothing more emotionally appealing than a handrendered master plan.

About the author Dr. Richard Ludwig is a 25-year career educator and retired director of the horticulture program at Gwinnett Technical College. Together with landscape architect Bill Slack, he conducts Landscape Design & Graphics Workshops. For more info, visit lscapeworkshops.com.

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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 MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Certiied Tifway bermudagrass available in pallets or mega rolls.

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BUSINESS

Business credit cards

How do they help your credit score?

by Gerri Detweiler, Head of Market Education, Nav Business credit cards can be much more than a

So before you apply for a business credit card, or if you already have one, you’ll want to understand how to leverage it to build and keep strong credit.

convenient way to pay for purchases. They’re safer than other payment methods, thanks to federal regulations that protect cardholders from paying for fraudulent purchases, they can offer a line of credit for short term emergencies or working capital, and some cards can be very rewarding as well.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

But there’s another benefit many business owners overlook: Business credit cards can help you build business credit. But they can also hurt your credit scores if you don’t understand how the process works.

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So before you apply for a business credit card, or if you already have one, you’ll want to understand how to leverage it to build and keep strong credit.

behind. Only one of the major credit card issuers reports all business credit card activity to the cardholder’s personal credit reports.

Most card issuers, however, report information to the commercial credit reporting agencies and/or the Small Business Financial Exchange, a data exchange used by most of the major commercial lenders to share information about how borrowers handle their accounts. (The SBFE is not a credit reporting agency, though.

Instead, credit reporting agencies like D&B or Equifax will access the data the SBFE collects to include in some versions of credit reports, and to calculate certain credit scores.)

What it means to you

In other words, a business credit card, paid on time over time, is likely to help you build credit with at least one or more of the business credit agencies. It’s not likely to help build your personal credit scores, though, unless your card issuer reports all activity to personal credit reports. (This article describes which business credit cards report to personal credit reports.)

Give yourself an advantage

Payment history is the most important factor that makes up both business and personal credit scores, but with business credit, it often carries even more weight than with personal.

How business credit cards report

Business credit cards are those that are specifically marketed to small business owners.

Most creditors who issue these cards will run a credit check on the owner’s personal credit history. The decision to issue a card will hinge on that information, as well as other factors, such as income, but personal credit scores will play a key role.

Once you get a card in the name of your business, it probably won’t show up on your personal credit reports unless you fall seriously

And since many business owners have limited credit histories, a few missed payments can really hurt their scores. For that reason, you want to be scrupulous about making your payments on time.

As a busy business owner, though, it’s easy for something like a due date to slip your mind. So set up text message or email alerts to remind you when payments are due. And consider at least putting your minimum payment on autopay, so

BUSINESS you know that will always be paid on time. (As long as you make the minimum payment on your credit card on time, your payment history won’t be dinged.)

What if you’re nervous about using credit cards, but you want to build a credit history?

Consider getting a business charge card. You’ll be protected against fraudulent use, but the bill will be due in full, so you won’t be tempted to run up debt you can’t pay. Plus a charge card will help

you build your credit history, unlike a debit card that won’t.

Business credit and charge cards, if used correctly, are a great way to build your business’ reputation as a reliable borrower. Consider using business credit cards to protect your personal credit, build your business credit, and take advantage of the expense management tools and benefits, like cash back, airline miles and sign-up bonuses.

Instagram

How to use the new business features

by Brooke Preston, Manta Contributor Instagram has introduced new and valuable features for businesses, aimed in

particular at small- to medium-sized companies that don’t yet advertise on the social media platform.

Here’s more info on these features, and tips on how to use them to better engage with your customers on Instagram.

Business profiles

Instagram Business Profiles allow you to provide directions to your business, choose a way followers can contact you with one click, and more.

Business profiles also unlock access to Instagram’s new Insights analytics feature and give you the ability to promote your posts, similar to Facebook.

While free to obtain, only those who have a business page on Facebook (Instagram’s parent company) can set up an Instagram Business Profile and these new features.

Until now, the only quantifiable ways to measure the success of an Instagram post were the number of likes, comments and video views.

Instagram’s new inapp Insights feature provides businesses with a dashboard of info on post engagement.

Using the Insights feature, you can see what time of day the post did best, the kinds of people who engaged with the post, and more.

There is no charge for this service, and it’s open to non-advertising businesses.

Promote Businesses can now turn well-performing posts into ads, right from the Instagram app. Add a call-to-action button and pay to promote the post.

While more robust Instagram advertising options are available through your Facebook Business account, this feature is built for speed and convenience.

Manta is one of the largest online resources dedicated to small business. Create your free company profile at manta.com.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Much like Facebook profiles are different from business Facebook Pages, Instagram’s Business Profiles now offer you the chance to distinguish your company from all the individual users on the site.

Insights

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BUSINESS

4 Cores of Landscape Business Success

Landscape Business Boot Camp primer, part one

by Steven Cohen, Consultant, GreenMark Consulting Group

In my 30 years of working in the landscape business, I’ve

As landscapers we are often great at fixing the problems, but sometimes not as good at preventing them from recurring.

written two books about the industry... in my mind. Great books, international best sellers, worldwide acclaim. Inspired by my imaginary success, I began documenting my daily trials and tribulations - along with their resolutions - and eventually created a guide that I shared with my team members. Now I share these lessons learned with people outside my team.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a popular and often-used technique that helps people determine why the problem occurred in the first place. It seeks to identify the origin of a problem using a specific set of steps, with associated tools, to find the primary cause of the problem, so that you can:

  

Kathy G. Johnson

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

But then came the realization that I needed to understand the fundamental “root cause” of the problem before I could solve it.

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Who will benefit from learning about these preventive measures?

I imagine anyone currently in the industry or those thinking about starting their own company will find these insights essential; either learn from my experience or from the school of hard knocks.

Sure, I struggled many days, just putting bandaids on problems, but then came the realization that I needed to understand the fundamental “root cause” of the problem before I could solve it. That brought me to my next revelation: my team and I were great at fixing problems, but we were lousy at solving them.

Getting down to the root

What do you do when you have a problem at work? If you only fix the symptoms —what you see on the surface —the problem will almost certainly return.

Determine what happened.

Determine why it happened.

Figure out what to do to reduce the likelihood that it will happen again.

RCA assumes that systems and events are interrelated. An action in one area triggers an action in another, and another, and so on. By tracing back these actions, you can discover where the problem started and how it grew into the symptom you’re now facing. At GreenMark, we believe that shaping your organizational mindset with these beliefs are the foundation of building a great landscape company.

The 4 Cores

We believe that running a landscape business is broken down into four segments and that each segment must have defined systems and processes to effectively manage, measure and deliver results - both internally and externally.

Here is a brief overview of each core: is Guiding the Business and is the most strategic, longest view of your business possible. The right leadership mindset is one of the most critical enablers of strategic innovation in a company. The right leadership mindset drives an organizational culture that nurtures, guides and supports innovative thinking and practices.

CORE #1

BUSINESS Most landscape business owners wake up one day to find themselves doing a whole bunch of activities for which they feel unprepared. Managing and motivating their team is often one of those activities.

Without a well-coordinated coaching and mentoring effort, a business cannot grow successfully long-term. One top challenge for any business owner/executives is mastering leadership by coaching and leading others. is Running the Business and is very tactical. It focuses on all of the support functions necessary to keep the business running – administration, finance, human resources, and your IT backbone.

CORE #2

As the saying goes, many business owners are too busy working IN their business vs. working ON their business. The result? They spend every waking hour just trying to “get things done.”

They don’t have time to plan where they want

their business to go, much less implement the steps needed to get there.

The value of your business grows as you make systems and processes transferable to others both within and outside the organization.

In this core we talk about the importance of systems and processes and how they translate into increased operational efficiencies, service delivery and profitability. While many landscape business owners are hands-on-leaders, business systemization is not about losing control over your business; it is about gaining control over your life by using more sophisticated methods of control!

Ready to learn more about the 4 Cores and how to put them to work for your business?

Georgia UAC is bringing

Landscape Business Boot Camp to Atlanta!

See page 41.

is Getting the Business and is both short and long-term. It focuses on the entire marketing and sales processes like branding, strategy, budgeting, marketing, and sales.

CORE #3

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UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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BUSINESS Creating a brand identity for your landscape business is critical. The goal of branding is to create in the mind of your audience the belief, or curiosity, that something special exists beyond what is offered by other competing firms.

The brand connection happens when you describe what you do in terms that builds a partnership with your potential client - either based on what they tell you they want, or things you see happening that they haven’t yet identified. While brand equity is largely intangible, its advantages are anything but. The value that a strong brand identity can bring to your company translates to very real and measurable business benefits.

    

is Doing the Business and like CORE 2, it is very tactical. It focuses is on effective project management and customer service – delivering what was promised and creating a superior experience. While many companies describe their employees as their most valuable asset, for many this rings hollow as their deeds do not match their words.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

CORE #4

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It has been proven time and again that the interactions your employees have with your customers are key to customer satisfaction. Not only that, but how employees view their own treatment has a huge impact on the end result of what is delivered to your client.

Never forget: how you treat employees is how they will treat your customers.

Great companies are proactive.

They are in touch with their clients and know their pain points.

They offer ideas and solutions without being prompted.

They pick up the phone and reach out regularly.

They provide solutions before problems arise.

The key to this success is easy to speak and harder to deliver. It’s about providing an outstanding and positive customer experience.

Building a customer-centric service delivery model is about linking people to people and an end-result through a series of measurements.

Taking your measurements

Using the body as an example, if purpose is the company’s soul, measurement is its brain.

You will find measurement in every system, processes, and function of your landscape business. Our objective is to provide you with the understanding of how to build it from scratch or improve what you currently have in place.

To get there, you must first understand that business gurus have spent over three decades looking at the characteristics of fast-growth companies and the competencies of their owners.

One theme consistently appeared in these businesses: an effective measurement system.

All of these organizations successfully tackled measuring performance because the CEO or owner was ultimately responsible for the future and the irreversibility of all their decisions.

Being successful is hard enough with good information; poor information or decisions based on assumptions are a disaster.

There are a lot of good companies out there.

They get work done when they say they will.

They answer the phone when a client calls. They offer solutions when problems come up. They check off all the boxes. But good companies will always be a step or two behind great companies.

“Why,” you ask? Because we must remove as much emotion from the problem-solving and decision-making process as possible. People must own and expose their mistakes, not hide them - a rather difficult outcome to achieve.

Eventually the “good” won’t seem so good anymore, and those organizations won’t achieve high growth the way a great company does.

So we turn to numbers, the language of business.

Instead of telling employees about their performance, we need to create an environment

BUSINESS where employees can evaluate themselves and understand their impact on the organization.

When we discuss measurement with our clients we encourage them to read two books: “The Balanced Scorecard,” by Robert Kaplan and David Norton, and “The Great Game of Business,” by Jack Stack. We appreciate Kaplan and Norton for their groundbreaking work on the design of business metrics. Jack Stack looked at business metrics from the employee perspective and built an elite organization around making people own their own stuff. Both are great resources to help landscape business owners understand how measurement can be used to create a great organization.

Up next

In part two of our Landscape Business Boot Camp Primer in the Jan/Feb 2017 UAC Magazine, we will dig in a bit on measurement and business metrics and how they apply to each of the 4 Cores for Landscape Business Success.

About the author Steven Cohen, Principal of GreenMark Consulting Group, is a business management and operations consultant with more than 25 years of landscape/snow industry experience. Steven has an extensive background in managing cross-functional business operations, business strategy and market growth projects. He prides himself as being both an analytical and a conceptual thinker who effectively partners with business owners to assess opportunities, facilitate strategic decisions, and drive successful implementations. GreenMark Consulting Group specializes in helping growth-oriented companies see through challenges and map out operational and growth strategies.

www.greenmarkgroup.com www.greenmarkbootcamp.com www.greenmarkgroupcoaching.com

Landscape Business Boot Camp

The curriculum is based on GreenMark’s 4 Cores of Landscape Business Success: 1. Guiding the Business 2. Running the Business 3. Getting the Business 4. Doing the Business

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The program is tailored to business owners, managers, employees, and all those seeking to improve their expertise in the landscape industry.

REAL-WORD SOLUTIONS

• Obtain a better understanding of what it really takes to build, manage and sustain success • Improve team performance, attitude and loyalty • Increase your customer loyalty • Expand your market or service offerings • Increase your revenue growth profitability • Learn how to develop a competitive dominance within your market

BUILT-IN SUCCESS

Each Core includes Landscape Business Courseware and our Landscape Business Success Toolkits™ which serve as a blueprint to help attendees: • Create a vision, mission and values statement • Create processes for business standardization • Define a branding strategy, market position and sales pipeline • Manage the internal and external customer delivery experience

for more info and to registeR: urbanagcouncil.com

DATE: January 19, 2017 PLACE: Heritage Sandy Springs 6110 Blue Stone Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30328 Sponsored by

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

Discounts for UAC members!

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

GreenMark Consulting Group has developed a proprietary Landscape Business BootCamp Platform which offers a combination of business and industry expertise and accelerated knowledge of in-depth strategies.

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INDUSTRY

Water conservation encouraged Georgia EPD declares Level 1 Drought Response September 9, 2016 Persistent dry conditions prompted the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to declare a Level 1 Drought Response in 53 counties. A Level 1 Drought Response declaration means local water utilities in the affected counties will be required to begin a public information campaign to help citizens better understand drought, its impact on water supplies and the need for water conservation.

“A Level 1 Drought Response is a good opportunity to partner with our public water utilities to promote good stewardship and to remind Georgians of the importance of using water wisely,” said EPD Director Richard Dunn.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

According to the federal government’s U.S. Drought Monitor (http://droughtmonitor. unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor. aspx?GA), varying degrees of drought impact about two-thirds of the state. Nearly all of the counties affected by the Level 1 Drought Response declaration are experiencing severe and extreme drought conditions.

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“Water utilities have already taken action to insure that water supplies are generally good and practicing effective water conservation will help provide sufficient supplies through the coming months if dry conditions persist.” ~ Richard Dunn, EPD Director The public information campaign under a Level 1 Drought Response requires both groundwater and surface water utilities to circulate drought and water conservation information in one or more of the following: newspaper advertisements, water bill inserts, website homepages, social media and notices posted in public libraries.

The public information campaign is required in the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Morgan, Murray, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Union, Walker, Walton, White, Whitfield and Wilkinson.

In addition, the outdoor water use schedule required under the Water Stewardship Act of 2010 remains in place statewide. This schedule allows outdoor water use year-round between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. There are several exceptions, such as new plantings, listed at http://epd. georgia.gov/waterconservation.

“North Georgia has had a hot, dry summer and the fall season is historically a dry time of the year,” said State Climatologist Bill Murphey.

“Current drought conditions are likely to continue through the fall season, although tropical activity and rain-producing systems can provide beneficial rainfall.”

Public water systems may not impose restrictions on outdoor watering that are different from the state requirements unless they obtain a variance from the EPD. Public water systems needing to impose outdoor water use restrictions more e or less stringent than the state requirements may apply for a variance from the state’s current drought response and EPD is required to act upon that request within 5 business days. If conditions warrant in the future, EPD can declare additional drought responses to further manage water use.

The state’s rules for drought management and outdoor water use have changed since the last major drought. More information, including tips for water conservation, is available at http://epd.georgia.gov/water-conservation.

INDUSTRY

Equipment theft alert Dear UAC Members, Many UAC member companies have reported an increase in equipment theft, both at worksites and at their offices/ storage facilities. The thieves are becoming bolder, and there is growing concern about the safety of employees.

We need your help. It is extremely important to quantify the equipment losses. You can help with this effort by providing Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2014 Theft Report UAC with a list of losses you have incurred. Please be as specific as possible and provide as much information as you are comfortable sharing. This information will be kept completely confidential.

An Excel spreadsheet has been developed to make it easier to record your losses. You can download it here: urbanagcouncil.com/call-to-action-equipment-theft-crisis-help-needed

Here is a sample of the spreadsheet, with the kinds of data needed:

If additional losses occur after you submit your spreadsheet, please update this information with UAC.

Please email your completed worksheet to mkw@georgiauac.com. Thank you in advance for your help.

Warm regards,

Mary Kay Woodworth Executive Director

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

Georgia Urban Ag Council PO Box 817 | Commerce GA 30529 P: 800.687.6949 | F: 706.336.6898 www.urbanagcouncil.com

Advocate. Educate. Promote.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Armed with this information, we plan to meet with law enforcement agencies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to determine a course of action to reduce these losses. Led by Todd Guilmette, Unique Environmental Landscapes, a group of business owners will work with UAC to compile this information and discuss strategies to fight this growing crisis.

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INDUSTRY

‘Water wars’ trial schedule announced

by Jane Harrison After a scalding summer heated with

A chilly outcome may await both states after a trial that will likely influence a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a legal battle waged in a 2013 Florida lawsuit over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System.

testimonies from hydrology experts, water use records and secret settlement talks, attorneys from Georgia and Florida appear headed to a cooler climate at the end of October.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

A chilly outcome may await both states after a trial that will likely influence a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a legal battle waged in a 2013 Florida lawsuit over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System. Although both states reported settlement talks with a mediator were ongoing, by late September no solution had been made public and legal maneuvering continued to fill the Special Master’s docket.

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Florida filed the suit seeking a cap on Georgia’s water consumption and reparation for alleged economic and environmental harm. The Sunshine State claims that the Peach State hogs water on the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers and thus decreases flow on the Apalachicola, which nourishes oyster beds in the Florida panhandle.

The Supreme Court appointed prominent Maine attorney Ralph Lancaster, whose firm Pierce-Atwood has overseen numerous pre-trial proceedings for the high court, to take evidence and submit findings and recommendations.

The burden of proof is on Florida, which must prove that cutting Georgia’s water consumption will alleviate problems downstream and that it has suffered harm from Georgia’s alleged water-hoarding.

Lancaster will preside in the trial set to convene at 8 a.m. Oct. 31 in Portland, Maine, the home base of the veteran Supreme Court appointee who has repeatedly warned the Southeastern water warriors to settle their differences or face costly consequences that will please neither.

Eighty-six year old Lancaster, who reported inquiries about holding court in Washington, D.C. were turned down due to lack of space, found what he facetiously deemed a fit setting for the trial that has already sapped more than $40 million from states’ legal coffers: a U.S. Bankruptcy Courtroom in Portland. He did not allude to a potentially scary resolution of the trial set to begin on Halloween.

Reputed for strict adherence to schedule and fairness in allowing both sides to present their cases, Lancaster sent attorneys the session’s agenda. Unless he deems necessary, court will be in session from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, with breaks for lunch.

The itinerary resembles that of a federal district court trial, proceeding as follows: A. Introduction of Florida’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits B. Cross-examination of Florida’s witnesses C. Redirect examination of Florida’s witnesses D. Introduction of Georgia’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits E. Cross-examination of Georgia’s witnesses F. Redirect examination of Georgia’s witnesses G. Florida’s rebuttal testimony and exhibits, cross-examination and redirect. Rebuttal testimony will be strictly limited to situations where the need for testimony could not have been anticipated at the time direct testimony was prepared.

The parties will be permitted to make opening and closing statements of no more than 75 minutes each. Lancaster’s favor of brevity came across as he warned counsel that if they need

INDUSTRY more than two and a half hours to begin and end their arguments, he will conclude they did not prepare or present properly. “I’m just warning you there may be a time when my eyes are glazed over,” he said.

After trial, it is not known how long states will wait for Lancaster’s recommendations or when federal justices would consider the case.

Each state may file exceptions to his report and then file exceptions to the other’s exceptions, according to a 2013 copyright of Supreme Court Practice 10th edition. The plaintiff, Florida, may file to dismiss at any time.

The court considers special masters’ recommendations as advisory, but often will make decisions in accordance with the Master’s ruling. In some cases, justices invoke modifications to the Master’s presentations, as it has in one of Lancaster’s previous cases.

In Virginia V. Maryland, the court in 2003 threw out Maryland’s exceptions to Lancaster’s recommendations and agreed 7-2 with the Special Master that a centuries old treaty allowed Virginia to withdraw water from the Potomac River without Maryland’s consent, even though the river belongs to Maryland under a 1632 land grant.

But later, in 2009, the court offered some modifications to Lancaster’s decree in New Jersey V. Delaware, a case that hinged on a 100-yearold compact, as well as a 1934 federal decision.

The court drew upon Lancaster’s findings to rule that Delaware could prevent New Jersey from permitting a natural gas pipeline and terminal in a case that focused on state boundaries on the Delaware River.

As this summer ended, both Georgia and Florida had exchanged exhibit and witness lists and filed pre-trial motions requesting redactions and sealed evidence. Additionally, a slew of environmental, agricultural, and commercial entities had entered requests to file amicus curiae briefs. Those that meet Lancaster’s approval must file friend of the court briefs by October 21.

Amicus briefs are filed by individuals or groups not a party to a lawsuit, but who are interested in the matter and often intend to influence the court’s decision.

Posted online 10/3/16 by Lakeside on Lanier news, Gainesville, GA. Reprinted with permission.

by Mary Kay Woodworth Georgia UAC has partnered with the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the Georgia Green Industry Association to offer an amicus brief (friend of the court document) to inject our perspective of the respective battle over water use. We have engaged the Alston & Bird law firm to assist in the preparation of this document.

We will continue working together to provide data and anecdotal evidence of the water use and conservation practices in our industry, both in production agriculture and landscape management.

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

Advocate. Educate. Promote.

“Amicus briefs are legal documents filed in appellate court cases by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter. The briefs advise the court of relevant, additional information or arguments that the court might wish to consider. Briefs can also focus the court’s attention on the implications of a potential holding on an industry, group, or jurisdiction not represented by the parties. The court has discretion to grant or deny permission of parties to file briefs as amici curiae. A well-written amicus brief can have a significant impact on judicial decision-making.” ~ Public Health Law Center

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Georgia UAC provides water data

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URBAN AG

Pruning basics

Pruning woody plants in the landscape Prepared by Gary L. Wade and Robert R. Westerfield, Extension Horticulturists Pruning is one of the most important cultural practices for

Joseph OBrien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Proper pruning requires a basic understanding of how plants respond to various pruning cuts.

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maintaining woody plants, including ornamental trees and shrubs, fruits and nuts. It involves both art and science: art in making the pruning cuts properly, and science in knowing how and when to prune for maximum benefits.

There are numerous reasons for pruning.

Sometimes you want to train or direct the growth of plants into a particular form or a specified space, like a formal hedge. Or you may want to prune mature plants to control their size and shape, as in the case of fruit trees that are pruned low to the ground to aid picking or hedge plants pruned at a particular height. For fruiting plants, pruning plays an important role in improving overall fruit quality, primarily by increasing light penetration into the tree.

Unfortunately, many people approach pruning with a great deal of apprehension. Others view pruning as a chore and give little forethought to technique as they hastily do the job. Proper pruning requires a basic understanding of how plants respond to various pruning cuts. The principles and guidelines in this publication will help you master common pruning techniques.

Shoot growth and apical dominance

You can partly determine the characteristic shape and size of a woody plant and its response to pruning by the plant’s natural pattern of shoot growth. When a seed germinates and grows, only one growing point exists, the apex or terminal

bud (Fig. 1). When a terminal bud begins growing after being dormant, it leaves a bud scale scar on the branch. You can use the scars to determine the age of a limb or tree by counting the scars. As the new shoot elongates, structures called nodes are formed. A node is the area on the shoot where a leaf is attached (Fig. 1a). One to three lateral buds are produced at each of these nodes.

Growth of lateral buds is directed by the terminal bud, which produces a hormone called auxin. Auxin moves downward in the shoot (toward the Earth’s center) from the shoot apex and inhibits the growth and development of lateral buds (Fig. 2). This phenomenon is called apical dominance.

The intensity of apical dominance varies from one plant species to another. Some plants suppress the growth of their lateral buds until the second growing season; others develop both lateral shoots and terminal buds during the first growing season.

Apical dominance influences not only the number of shoot-forming lateral buds and the lengths of lateral shoots formed but also the angle at which the shoots emerge from the main limb.

The orientation of a limb or shoot along the main branch has a major influence on growth by its effect on apical dominance (Fig. 3).

Because auxin moves downward in the shoot toward the Earth’s center, apical dominance is strongest in vertical or upright shoots or limbs. In vertical limbs, vigorous shoot growth occurs near the terminal bud with lateral shoots becoming more sparse with increasing distance from the apex. On the other hand, orientation

URBAN AG of lateral branches at 45° to 60° angles from the vertical or main shoot reduces the vigor of shoot growth near the apex and increases the number and length of laterals along the limb further from the apex.

On horizontal limbs, apical dominance is totally lost. Without apical dominance to control their growth, lateral buds on the upper side of horizontal limbs develop into vigorous, upright shoots, called water sprouts.

As they develop, water sprouts show very strong apical dominance. Water sprouts are a common

problem on the upper surface of flat limbs in fruit trees and are removed by pruning.

General responses to pruning

Pruning is an invigorating process (Fig. 4). By removing the apex, pruning temporarily destroys apical dominance and stimulates the growth of lateral buds into shoots.

Pruning also reduces the size of the aboveground portion of the plant in relation to the root system (Fig. 5). As a result, the undisturbed root system services a smaller number of shoots and buds. The relative uptake of water and nutrients by the remaining shoots and buds increases, and a flush of growth (regrowth) occurs.

Generally, the more severe the pruning (greater size or number of limbs removed), the greater the resulting regrowth. In essence, the plant is regrowing in an attempt to restore a balance between the top and the root system.

Pruning generally stimulates regrowth near the cut (Fig. 6). Vigorous shoot growth will usually occur within 6 to 8 inches of the pruning cut.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

47

URBAN AG This is particularly true for vertical limbs that have been pruned (Fig. 6a).

However, regrowth on limbs having a 45° to 60° angle from the vertical will develop farther away from the cut (Fig. 6b).

Pruning also may indirectly stimulate growth of lateral shoots by allowing more light to penetrate the canopy of the plant.

dominance, heading stimulates regrowth near the cut.

It also is the most invigorating type of pruning cut, resulting in thick compact growth and a loss of natural form, as in the case of a formally pruned hedge.

Sometimes ornamental shrubs along a foundation overgrow their planting space and are rejuvenated by heading to within 12 inches of ground level. Many broadleaf shrubs such as burford holly, ligustrum, abelia and crape myrtle tolerate this type of pruning. Other types of heading are topping, dehorning, hedging and clipping.

Thinning

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Pruning a young plant will stimulate vigorous shoot growth and will delay the development of flowers and fruit.

The length of the delay, of course, will depend on the species pruned and the severity of the pruning.

48

Types of pruning cuts

There are two basic types of pruning cuts: heading and thinning. Each results in a different growth response and has specific uses.

Heading Heading removes the terminal portion of shoots or limbs (Fig. 7). By removing apical

Thinning, on the other hand, removes an entire shoot or limb to its point of origin from the main branch or lateral (Fig. 7a). Some shoot tips are left undistributed, so apical dominance is maintained. As a result, new growth occurs at the undisturbed shoot tips while lateral bud development and regrowth is suppressed.

Thinning is generally the least invigorating type of pruning cut and provides a more natural growth form of plants.

Important in maintenance pruning, thinning cuts are used to shorten limbs, to improve light penetration into plants and to direct the growth of shoots or limbs.

URBAN AG Drop-crotching, a form of thinning used to reduce the size of large trees, involves the removal of a main branch (or leader) by cutting it back to a large, lateral branch (Fig. 8a). The cut through the main branch is made parallel to the angle of the remaining lateral. When removing large tree limbs, a series of three cuts are recommended to avoid tearing the bark along the main truck and severely wounding the tree (Fig. 8b).

One undesirable form of thinning is the bench cut, where a vigorous upright limb is thinned to horizontal limb (Fig. 9).

Vigorous, upright shoot growth, called water sprouts, often result from the “bench” area because of the absence of apical dominance in the horizontal limb. Such regrowth is weak and often results in an undesirable umbrellashaped plant. The correct method is to make the thinning cuts to limbs that are similar in angle to the limb being removed but not greater than 45° to 60° from vertical.

Shoots or limbs having narrow-angled crotches are weaker than those having wide crotch angles (Fig. 10). The bark of the adjoining branches becomes tightly compressed or “included,” preventing normal wood development. Winter ice, trapped down in crotches, often causes narrow-angled branches to split.

Healing response to pruning

For fastest healing, prune close to the main branch without injuring the bark ridge or branch collar areas (Fig. 11).

Leaving a stub will slow healing and invite decay.

Wound dressings or pruning paint are cosmetic and do little to promote healing of the pruned area.

Time for pruning

Time of pruning varies with plant species. Prune at times that best complement the growth characteristics, flowering, and other objectives you desire.

Many woody ornamentals are pruned according to their date of flowering. For example, springflowering plants, such as dogwood or

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Healing naturally follows pruning or wounding.

It starts in the cambium, a thin layer of cells between the wood and bark. Two areas of the

cambium, the bark ridge at the junction of two limbs, and the branch collar, a ring of slightly raised tissue where the lateral branch joins the main limb, function to close off the wound between the plant and the pruning cut.

49

URBAN AG forsythia, normally are pruned after they bloom.

Pruning spring-flowering shrubs during the dormant season will remove flower buds formed the previous fall. Summer-flowering plants generally are pruned during the dormant winter season. If plants are not grown for their flowers,

Prune after flowering Azalea Beautybush Bigleaf Hydrangea Bradford Pear Bridalwreath Spirea Clematis Climbing Roses Crabapple Deutzia Dogwood Doublefile Vibernum Flowering Almond Flowering Cherry Flowering Quince

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Avoid heavy pruning during the late summer and fall because regrowth may occur and make the plants more susceptible to cold injury.

Peach trees, for example, should not be pruned from October through January.

Some plants bleed heavily after pruning.

Bleeding is unsightly but not usually harmful.

Trees subject to bleeding should be pruned in the late spring or early summer when leaves are on the tree.

Actively growing leaves tend to reduce the amount of bleeding from pruning cuts and allow the cuts to heal more quickly.

Plants that bleed readily include willows, birches, maples, beeches and dogwoods.

Prune before spring growth begins

Japanese Kerria

Beautyberry Camelia

Japanese Pieris

Chaste Tree (Vitex)

Lilac

Cranberrybush Viburnum

Mockorange

Crape Myrtle

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Floribunda Roses

Pearlbush

Fragrant Tea Olive

Pyracantha

Glossy Abelia

Redbud

Goldenrain Tree

Saucer Magnolia

Grandiflora Roses

Star Magnolia

Japanese Barberry

Shrub Honeysuckle

Japanese Spirea

Thunberg Spirea

Mimosa

Vanhoutte Spirea

Nandina

Weigelia

Rose of Sharon (Althea)

Winter Daphne

Sourwood

Wisteria

Anthony Waterer Spirea

Witchhazel

Sweetshrub

Forsythia

50

the best time for pruning is during the dormant winter season before new growth begins in the spring.

URBAN AG

Summary

Pruning is an invaluable tool for developing and maintaining woody plants. Developing clear pruning objectives is important. By combining these objectives with a basic understanding of pruning and how plants respond, you can derive maximum benefit from the effort.

Several key points concerning the use of pruning in woody plants are summarized below.



Pruning is an invigorating process, stimulating regrowth in proportion to pruning severity. Light annual pruning is better than periodical severe pruning.



The two basic types of pruning cuts are heading and thinning. Thinning cuts are the least invigorating type of cut and are the most effective pruning cut for maintaining woody plants in their natural form.



Pruning, particularly heading cuts, stimulates regrowth very close to the pruning cut. Heading cuts, such as topping, dehorning and hedging, often are misused

and destroy the natural shape of plants because they stimulate regrowth near pruning cuts.



Bench cuts, pruning upright limbs back to flat limbs, result in vigorous regrowth and weak limbs. Instead, thin out limbs leaving those oriented at a 45° to 60° angle from vertical.

Acknowledgment is made to Dr. Stephen C. Myers for developing the original manuscript for this publication.



Pruning time should be dictated by specific requirements or characteristics of the plant such as flowering date, susceptibility to cold weather, etc.



Wounds heal fastest when pruning does not disturb important areas of cambium such as the bark ridge and branch collar. Wound dressing is cosmetic and does not promote healing.



All too often, improper pruning techniques seriously damage or kill woody plants. If you wish to have woody plants properly maintained, personally supervise or conduct the pruning operation.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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URBAN AG

Diseases of Leyland cypress Symptoms, cycle, and control

by Alfredo Martinez, Jean Williams-Woodward, and Mila Pearce, University of Georgia Leyland cypress has become one of the most widely used plants in

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

commercial and residential landscapes across Georgia as a formal hedge, screen, buffer strip, or wind barrier.

52

Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a graceful, rapidly growing evergreen tree that is adapted for growth within the 6-10a USDA hardiness zones. The tree is best suited for fertile, well-drained soils.

John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org However, when young, the tree Leyland cypress forms a dense, oval or will grow up to 3-4 pyramidal outline when left unpruned, feet per year, even but the refined, slightly pendulous in poor soils. The branches will tolerate severe trimming tree will ultimately to create a formal hedge, screen or attain a majestic height of up to 40 windbreak. feet. Leyland cypress forms a dense, oval or pyramidal outline when left unpruned, but the refined, slightly pendulous branches will tolerate severe trimming to create a formal hedge, screen or windbreak. The fine, feathery foliage is composed of soft, pointed leaves on flattened branchlets, dark blue-green when mature but soft and bright green when young.

Leyland cypress is considered relatively pestfree. However, because of its relatively shallow root system, and because they are often planted too close together and in poorly drained soils, Leyland cypress is prone to root rot and

several damaging canker diseases, especially during periods of prolonged drought. Disease management is, therefore, a consideration for Leyland cypress.

Seiridium canker and twig dieback

In Georgia, Seiridium canker is probably the most important and destructive disease on Leyland cypress in the landscape. Although the fungi Seiridium cardinale, Seiridium unicorne, and Seiridium cupressi have been reported to cause disease on Leyland cypress and other needled evergreens, only Seiridium unicorne is most commonly associated with cankers and twig dieback on Leyland cypress in Georgia. In the landscape, plants of all sizes and ages can be affected by the disease.

Symptoms One of the most noticeable symptoms of Seiridium canker is yellowing or browning of the foliage on one or more top or lateral branches.

The discoloration is most likely to appear in early spring; however, it can be seen at any time of the year. The disease expansion often continues until a significant portion of the tree is destroyed.

Upon closer examination, formation of numerous thin, elongated cankers is observed on stems, branches and branch axils. These cankers cause twig and branch dieback. Most of the cankers are slightly sunken, with raised margins, and they may be discolored dark brown to purple. Cracked bark in infected areas is often accompanied by extensive resin exudates that flow down the diseased branches. The cambial tissue beneath oozing sites is discolored with a reddish to brown color.

URBAN AG Disease cycle and epidemiology In the landscape, the causal agent, Seiridium unicorne, over-seasons in cankers on diseased trees.



Sanitation, such as removal of cankered twigs and branches, helps prevent disease spread.



Environmental stress, predominantly drought stress, favors infection and canker development.

Seiridium cankers enlarge up to three times faster on drought-stressed trees than on adequately irrigated trees. Spring freeze and ice injury often predisposes trees to infection.

Fruiting bodies of the pathogen, called acervuli, appear on the canker as small black dots that are barely visible to the naked eye. Fungal spores are spread to other parts of an infected tree or to other trees by splashing water either from rain or irrigation. The fungus also can be spread on pruning tools. Long distance spread occurs through the transport of infected cuttings or plants, or possibly by insects. New infections occur when spores lodge in bark cracks and wounds. Infection through lenticels may occur following hot, dry weather.

Control Proper establishment and care are the best defenses against Seiridium canker in residential and commercial landscapes.

Due to its relatively shallow root system, plant Leyland cypress in tilled and amended soils to encourage plant vigor.

Avoiding excessive watering and heat stress is vital to establishment of a healthy Leyland cypress.

No cultivars or selections are known to be resistant to Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia the disease. In Branch and twig dieback symptoms of the landscape, Seiridium canker. fungicides are seldom used and they provide no control once an infection has taken place.

Botryosphaeria (Bot) Canker

Another damaging disease on Leyland cypress in Georgia landscapes is a canker and dieback named Botryosphaeria (Bot) canker, caused by the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea.

This aggressive disease affects a number of woody shrubs and trees worldwide, and it has been reported on azaleas, rhododendrons, flowering dogwoods and redbuds, among others.

To minimize water loss and water competition with other plant species such as turf, mulch an area several feet beyond the lowest limbs.

During hot, dry summer days, irrigate trees thoroughly around the base of the tree every 7-14 days, depending on soil composition.

Take special care for trees located near driveways, paved areas or heat-reflecting buildings.

Providing adequate irrigation during periods of drought is the best defense against Seiridium canker disease.

J. Williams-Woodward, University of Georgia

Oozing at the site of Seiridium cankers.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

     

Destroy pruned materials, and disinfect pruning tools by rinsing in rubbing alcohol or a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Remove extensively damaged trees or trees that are damaged in the main trunk.

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URBAN AG

       

Plants suffering from environmental stresses (freezing, drought, or heat) or wounds are particularly susceptible to B. dothidea infection in landscape plantings.

G. Moody

Symptoms

In the landscape, Bot Dark, rust-colored dieback symptoms of canker symptoms Botryosphaeria (Bot) canker. resemble those caused

by Seiridium canker.

Bright, rust-colored branches and yellowing or browning of shoots or branches are the first observed symptoms. Closer inspection reveals the presence of sunken, girdling cankers at the base of the dead shoot or branch. Sometimes, the main trunk shows cankers that might extend for a foot or more in length. These cankers rarely girdle the trunk, but they will kill branches that may be encompassed by the canker as it grows.

Canker surfaces may be cracked and have a darker color than the surrounding healthy bark.

The discoloration often extends several inches below the canker periphery. Little or no resin “oozing” is produced on the infected areas.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Disease cycle and epidemiology

54

The Bot canker fungus survives in the bark and in other dead tissues of Leyland cypress, but it might also survive on host shrubs and trees.

Fruiting bodies of the fungus are embedded beneath the bark, but their presence can be discerned as small, raised pimples scattered over the surface of the canker.

As in Seiridium canker, the spores of the fungus are spread by splashing water from rain or irrigation and by infested pruning tools. Longdistance spread is through the transport of infected cuttings or plants, or possibly by insects.

Spores of B. dothidea may also be spread by wind.

Control



Due to the composition of many of Georgia’s soils, establish new plantings of Leyland cypress in tilled and well-drained areas.

Till areas 3-4 times the diameter of the root ball, and amend soils as needed.

Perform a soil fertility test, and adjust soils with lime and fertilizer as recommended.

Set the tree at or just above the soil level.

Avoid environmental and cultural stresses that predispose the plants to infection, as suggested for Seiridium canker.

To minimize water loss and water competition, mulch an area several feet beyond the lowest limbs.

Removal of diseased twigs and branches helps prevent disease spread.

Remove and destroy pruned material and disinfect pruning tools.

Remove extensively damaged trees.

In the landscape, no fungicides are recommended to control Bot canker.

Root rot diseases

Albeit infrequent, root rot diseases on Leyland Cypress can be important. Two root diseases can affect Leyland cypress: Phytophthora root rot, caused by the water mold Phytophthora cinnamomi, and Annosum root rot, caused by the basidiomycete fungus Heterobasidion annosum.

Phytophthora root rot In the landscape, Phytophthora root rot primarily affects root systems of smaller plants; large, established trees are rarely affected by the disease. The pathogen is more damaging in situations where soil drainage is poor.

Plants with severe root damage exhibit stunted growth, general yellowing of the foliage, smaller branches and needles, and tip dieback. In severe cases, plants will die.

Decayed, darkened roots are a symptom of the disease; however, Phytophthora root rot can only be diagnosed with certainty by laboratory analysis of affected roots. To avoid Phytophthora root rot, establish Leyland cypress in tilled and well-drained soils. Avoid over-irrigating trees, especially during establishment, and follow all cultural practices as described for the control

URBAN AG of the canker diseases. Chemical control is not recommended for landscape trees.

Annosum root rot Annosum root rot is uncommon on Leyland cypress in Georgia landscapes. Trees at new construction sites, especially those located on urban-wild land interfaces and where pine clearing has taken place, are more susceptible to the development of this disease.

Disease develops through fungal spore infection of freshly cut pine stumps. The fungus then grows through the stump and its root system, infecting adjacent Leyland cypress trees through root contact.

Symptoms of Annosum root rot include the decay and death of larger roots on newly infected plants. Foliage symptoms include yellowing and slow decline, followed by death of the tree. In some cases, however, the foliage on the entire tree suddenly turns reddish-brown. Some trees may fall over before any crown symptoms are

present. Basidiocarps (large mushroomlike structures) are obvious at the base of an infected tree, usually beneath the mulch or leaf litter.

These structures are usually small, irregular in shape, brown on the upper surface and white on the lower surface.

There is no effective control once the tree is infected. As a preventive measure, remove the stumps of felled conifers completely or treat the stump surface with borax immediately after the tree is felled.

Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia

Tree killed by Phytophthora root rot.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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URBAN AG

Getting off to a good start

Care of young shade and street trees

by Kim D. Coder Young trees in the landscape, less than

Select the main leader early and maintain strong side branches. These side branches become the major limbs supporting the weight of the tree later in life. Remove dead, diseased and broken branches. Prune out deformed and crossing branches.

Proper early care helps young trees develop an adequate root system and a strong supportive branch structure.

The time and expense invested to train a young tree is much less than treating problems as the tree matures.

Many side branches should occur singly (alternately) on shade and street trees. However, trees such as ash and maple frequently have major branches occurring in pairs across the main stem. They can be pruned alternately up to 12 to 18 feet. Select and maintain major side branches spaced 24 to 36 inches apart on alternating sides of the stem. Also, select branches with wide angles of attachment, 60 to 90 degrees between the trunk and the branch.

Remove all waterspouts and basal sprouts.

three to five years old, require special care to insure establishment and rapid growth.

Young trees may require staking, wrapping and Proper early care helps young trees corrective pruning. develop an adequate root system and Proper mulching a strong supportive branch structure. and control of The time and expense invested to competition can speed growth. In train a young tree is much less than addition, trees require treating problems as the tree matures. plenty of available water and essential elements for good growth.

Young trees need protection from construction activities, lawn mowers and weed eaters, vandals, and pests.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Kate Leifheit, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

56

Pruning

Young street and shade trees require proper pruning. Early pruning improves overall structure, corrects branch defects, and eliminates problems which become severe later.

Pruning shade and street trees develops and maintains a central dominant leader.

Double or co-dominant leaders (forks) should be removed.

Staking

Most established young trees can stand alone against wind and not be staked. Young trees with excessively long new shoots or those exposed to windy sites may require staking to remain upright. Stake young trees that are susceptible to blowing over. Anchorage staking holds the roots or root ball stationary until roots become anchored. Use two or three short stakes for anchorage. Extend stakes 12 to 18 inches above the ground. Loop one tie strap loosely around each stake and around the tree trunk.

Low attachment prevents root ball dislodgement yet allows the top to move.

Staking is temporary. Be sure to check ties frequently.

Support staking aids trees whose trunks are not strong enough to stand upright or fail to return upright. Support the top about six inches above the lowest level at which the trunk can be held and remain upright. This allows top flexibility while providing support.

URBAN AG Support the trunk so it can flex without rubbing against the stakes or ties. This must not damage tender bark or girdle the expanding trunk.

Support staking holds the tree upright until it can stand alone.

Wrapping

Newly planted thin-bark trees such as red maple or cherries may benefit from wrapping the trunks at planting. Thin-barked trees planted on hot sites are very susceptible to sunscald.

Commercial tree wraps or plastic tree guards will protect young trees. Spring-planted trees can be susceptible to sunburn. The high temperatures from the summer sun may kill the cambium.

Tree wraps insulate the cambium.

Young trees may require protection from sunscald. Sunscald occurs when the cambium of thin-barked trees heats up during sunny fall or

winter days. Colder temperatures that follow warm periods kill cambium cells in the trunk.

Long vertical scars run down the trunk from near the lower most branches to the soil line. Injury usually occurs on the southwest side of the trunk.

Thin-bark maples and cherries, 4 to 5 inches in diameter, may require wrapping in fall to prevent sunscald.

Different ways to stake a tree.

Different stakes or anchors used with trees.

International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

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 

Tree wraps also protect young trees from girdling by rodents.

Andrew Koeser, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org

Appropriate mulches include pine bark, pine straw and wood chips.

Organic mulches more effectively insulate the soil than inorganic or rock mulches.

Start at the base of the trunk and wrap up to the lowermost limbs. Overlap each layer one-half inch.

Wrap in the fall and leave the tree wrap on throughout the winter and early spring.

Tree wrap is temporary and no longer needed once the tree develops corky bark.

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Young trees growing in turf areas that are regularly fertilized do not usually require additional fertilization.

Trees showing poor growth require a soil test to determine if essential elements are in short supply. When nitrogen is required, fertilize trees by applying 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of area per year. Make two or three applications, one each in April, June and October (optional) at 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Water each site after applying the fertilizer.

Mulches aid in the establishment and growth of young trees by:

  

reducing erosion and water run-off; reducing competition and compaction;

58

Do not mulch wet sites, as mulches keep soils overly moist by retaining too much soil water.

To improve growth, mulch young trees out beyond the edge of the canopy. Use three to four inches of an organic mulch. Mulches eliminate the need for groundcovers and turfgrasses beneath young trees, thereby reducing competition for essential elements and moisture.

Mulching prevents serious injuries to young tree trunks because there is no need to mow or use string-trimmers beneath trees.

Pull all mulches back from the trunk four to six inches to prevent diseases from invading the trunk. Rodents may live and burrow in loose mulches, so be alert for these pests.

Improving Growth

You can improve young tree growth by following these basic cultural practices:

    

Fertilizing trees with a turfgrass or groundcover understory requires multiple applications at light rates to avoid injury to the turfgrass or groundcover plants.

conserving moisture by reducing evaporation from the soil surface;

organic mulches break down and add essential elements to the soil.

Appropriate mulches include pine bark, pine straw and wood chips. Organic mulches more effectively insulate the soil than inorganic or rock mulches.

Fertilization

Mulching

effectively reducing summer soil temperatures to create a more favorable root environment; and

First, eliminate competition from turfgrasses and groundcovers underneath young trees.

Second, mulch beneath the canopy and out beyond the edge of the foliage to improve the root zone environment.

Third, surface apply fertilizers directly to the mulched area.

Fourth, water during periods of drought.

Fifth, keep lawn mowers and stringtrimmers away from tree trunks.

These steps will improve growth, even on slowgrowing trees.

About the author

Kim Coder is Professor of Community Forestry at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

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Fireblight

Symptoms, causes, and treatment

by Alfredo Martinez, UGA Extension Plant Pathologist and Mila Pearce, Former IPM Homeowner Specialist Fireblight is a destructive, highly infectious and widespread disease caused

by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora.

The disease can be a problem in Georgia and is particularly prevalent in some counties, attacking blossoms, leaves, shoots, branches, fruits, and roots.

R. Grimm, Bugwood.org

Hosts

The disease affects plants in the Rosaceae family, which includes trees and shrubs in orchards, nurseries and landscape plantings. The plants affected include Amelanchier (serviceberry), Chaenomeles (flowering quince), Cotoneaster (cotoneaster), Crataegus (hawthorn), Eriobotrya (loquat), Malus (apple and crabapple), Photinia (photinia), Prunus (flowering almond, plum and cherry), Pyracantha (pyracantha), Pyrus (pear), Rosa (rose), and Spirea (spirea).

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Branches may be bent, resembling what is commonly referred to as a “shepherd’s crook.”

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Disease symptoms

The bark at the base of blighted twigs becomes water soaked, then dark, sunken and dry; cracks may develop at the edge of the sunken area. Young twigs and branches die from the terminal end and appear burned or deep rust colored. Branches may be bent, resembling what is commonly referred to as a “shepherd’s crook.”

Dead leaves and fruit remain on the branches.

Disease Cycle

Initially the disease often enters the tree through natural openings, especially flowers and wounds

in the spring. Once established in the tree, fireblight quickly invades through the current season’s growth into older growth.

Fireblight can be spread from diseased to healthy plants by rain, wind, and pruning tools. The bacterium can survive the winter in sunken cankers on infected branches. In spring, the bacteria ooze out of the cankers and attract bees and other insects, which help spread the disease.

The bacteria spread rapidly through the plant in warm temperatures and humid weather.

Disease management

During spring and summer, prune out infected branches 8” below the damage. Avoid pruning when plants are wet. Dip pruning tools in 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or 10% bleach solution between each cut. Wash and oil shears when you are finished.

Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilization, especially in summer, when succulent growth is most susceptible to fireblight infection. Avoid splashing water. Chemical control is not always effective and needs to be applied preventively.

Therefore, in years when warm, humid, wet weather coincides with flowering and leaf emergence, spray plants with a fungicide containing basic copper sulfate (Kocide) or an antibiotic (Agrimycin) to reduce infection.

Applications of Agrimycin need to begin at the start of blooming and continue every 3-4 days during the bloom period. Application of Kocide should begin at bloom and continue every seven days during bloom. Re-application following rain may be needed.

Some resistant or tolerant plants Pyracantha — Laland’s firethorn Hawthorn — Washington hawthorn Pear — Kieffer, Moonglow, Orient, Seckel Apple — Enterprise, Freedom, Liberty, Prima, Priscilla, etc.

Crabapple — Adams, Dolgo, Jewelberry, Liset, etc.

URBAN AG

Everillo sedge

Like golden lanterns in the landscape

by Norman Winter, UGA Extension

Over the last couple of years, there have

been few plants that totally overwhelmed me with their beauty in the garden like ‘Everillo.’

After watching it for a second year and seeing it through a brutal summer, I know this is a musthave plant.

I have always lamented that golden Hakone grass would not work for my climate, but now I have ‘Everillo.’ Botanically speaking, ‘Everillo’ is Carex oshimensis and has the common name “Japanese sedge.” There seems to be no plant combination that is not made better by partnering with ‘Everillo.’ The nursery trade suggests it as an incredible companion with hostas and ferns.

That would be a garden of staggering beauty without a doubt.

I have watched it in the cool season with pansies, red kale and iridescent pink tulips.

While I thought this was the ultimate, I then saw it in late spring with compact ‘Electric Orange’ SunPatiens and in summer with tropical elephant ears and others with rusty orange coleus, sporting margins that echoed ‘Everillo’s’ brilliance. All of these landscape situations were mesmerizing.

This grass has year-round effectiveness. This means you can have the year-round golden or chartreuse lantern effect throughout the landscape. Remember though, it is the protection from the midday and afternoon sun that gives ‘Everillo’ this incredible color. This is a plant for a wide region of the country, as it is cold hardy from zones 5 through 9.

But don’t stop with the landscape.

Incorporate ‘Everillo’ into containers for Norman Winter the porch, patio or deck. The ‘Everillo’ Everillo’s grassy texture combines well with flowers like SunPatiens. will form about an 18-inch-tall mound with a dramatic weeping effect. At this size, it has the ability to be stunning as a monoculture, or stand-alone, plant. I like them in rectangular containers where, placed in the front of the pot, they weep over the edge. Taller foliage or flowers should be added to the rear. This look is exceptional for window box plantings.

‘Everillo’ will work in rock gardens, near water gardens and as the obvious, special, “look-at-me” textural plants for the flower border. I hope you will give it a try.

About the author Norman Winter is director of the University of Georgia’s Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm in Savannah, Georgia.

Follow him on Twitter @CGBGgardenguru.

For more on the Coastal Georgia Botanical Garden, please visit the website:coastalgeorgiabg.org

UAC MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

For years I have told gardeners to never underestimate the power of adding fine-leafed texture grasses to the flower border. Sedges like ‘Everillo’ give even more testimony to this concept. Thankfully, ‘Everillo’ has hit big in the market, making it easier to find. It is included in the Southern Living Plant Collection and EverColor group created by Pat Fitzgerald, the originator of the plant.

If you think about the companion plants I’ve touted, from hostas and ferns, to SunPatiens and elephant ears, you realize the importance of soil preparation. Good, fertile, organic, rich soil will not only give you the green thumb, but the most dazzling ‘Everillos’ in the neighborhood.

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