UAC Magazine - Summer 2020

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

Keeping Georgia’s green industry informed

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UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

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SUMMER 2020

Advocate. Educate. Promote.1

WHEN UNMATCHED

PRODUCTIVITY

MEETS LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE.

96-INCH GAS-POWERED LAZER Z UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

®

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For 2020, Exmark raises the bar again with the introduction of the gas-powered 96-inch Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mower. Powered by a Kohler® Command PRO® EFI air-cooled engine and equipped with Exmark’s patented RED Technology, the new machine features a durable UltraCut™ Flex Wing cutting deck. With a 48-inch center deck and two 24-inch wing decks, the 96-inch Lazer Z X-Series is the right tool to make quick work of the largest, toughest jobs, while delivering Exmark’s signature cut quality. By cutting more grass, on more properties, with fewer operators, the 96-inch Lazer Z X-Series enables customers to reduce labor costs and increase revenue potential. It provides the performance, productivity and unique value today’s landscape maintenance operation needs.

ASK YOUR EXMARK DEALER ABOUT OUR FLEET PURCHASE DISCOUNT PROGRAM. ATTRACTIVE RETAIL FINANCING GOING ON NOW Find your dealer at exmark.com/find-a-dealer

GOAL: Happy Customers

SOLUTION: Use Super-Sod Grasses

TifTuf Bermuda, Drought Tolerance Just Got a New Standard

Zeon Zoysia

h The most drought tolerant turf. h TifTuf uses 38% less water than Tifway and will pay for itself in reduced water bills.

h Dark green and medium-fine textured; it’s easier to maintain than other fine-textured types.

h Maintains acceptable turf quality and aesthetics under drought stress.

h Shade tolerant; a turfgrass that’s widely adaptable to full sun or moderate shade.

h Super-Sod now grows Zeon Zoysia.

h Makes a lawn with a lush, dense growth habit.

We’ve Got You Covered h Full truck loads and small quantities delivered

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Ft. Valley / Perry 158 Sod Farm Rd. 478-825-7422

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

h Pick up sod from more locations than anyone

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UAC NEWS

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

The Turfgrass Group Chris Nelson

Chattahoochee Nature Center Bob Scott

Irrigation Consultant Services Ray Wiedman

Outdoor Expressions Ron White TurfPride

Ex Officio

Ellen Bauske

UGA Extension Public Service Assistant Bodie Pennisi

UGA Extension Horticulturist Clint Waltz

UGA Extension Turf Agronomist

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

SUMMER 2020

UAC NEWS

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Executive Director message

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Arbor-Nomics marks 40th year

REGULAR FEATURES

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Me & my mentor Feeding your growth, The Pruning Guru

10 Have you met Lori Bylsma, Cherokee Materials 12 Pest 411 Redheaded flea beetle 16 Save the date 18 Pro Project Gibbs Landscape Company 20 Safety works Georgia workers' comp update 21 GALA It's your time to shine 22 What the tech? Making distance work 58 Directory of advertisers

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Staff

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Mary Kay Woodworth

Executive Director Kathy Johnson

Marketing Director & Editor

BUSINESS

A member of:

30 Employee leave Understanding rights as you reopen during quarantine

Atlanta Botanical Garden Georgia Agribusiness Council Georgia Arborist Association Georgia Association of Water Professionals Georgia Green Industry Association Georgia Tree Council Georgia Water Alliance National Association of Landscape Professionals National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture Nursery & Landscape Association Executives Southern Nursery Association Tolar Capitol Partners

Georgia Urban Ag Council PO Box 3400 Duluth GA 30096 Phone: 706.750.0350 New Fax: 404.900.9194 numbers!

Email: office@georgiauac.com Web: urbanagcouncil.com All contents copyright 2020

24 Compassionate leadership Helping your team through times of change 26 Financial performance 12 steps to improving your landscape business 32 Adjust and republish Using your content for multiple purposes

INDUSTRY 33

Capitol Connection UAC member survey results

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Water use innovation UGA Extension helps Georgia improve efficiency

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UGA CAES appoints interim dean Joe West to lead the CAES

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National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture Social media campaign

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UGA researchers receive honor Special legislative recognition

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Sod producer checkoff program Webinars gauge interest

URBAN AG

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Synthetic turf for landscapes Innovations create upward trend

44 October Magic camellias Putting you in a gardening frame of mind 46 Picturesque anise Transforming the woodland garden 48 Surviving the summer Heat load impacts on trees

UAC NEWS

Dear UAC Members and Supporters, On March 2, I wrote the spring letter to our members for this magazine. At the

time, we were beginning to pay attention to the coronavirus in China and Italy, but it seemed a very remote possibility that it would have much impact on the United States.

Three months later, as I write this letter, our country has been turned upside down. First, by the disease, and then, by the terrible upheaval we are seeing in cities across the United States, where peaceful demonstrations to protest the murder of George Floyd were hijacked and became destructive and deadly riots. I pray that we, as citizens, will overcome the sadness and devastation that these disruptive events have on our families and colleagues, our businesses, our economy, and all citizens of the United States, and know that we will come out of this healthier, safer and united.

Sending thanks I would like to thank all our members for your support. Your membership investment enables UAC to advocate, educate, and promote our industry, day in and day out, and it is never more important than during a crisis.

Looking ahead Moving into summer and fall 2020, we are looking at new ways to connect with our members.

We will hold off on our usual August and September dinner meetings, and plan inperson events for later this year. We are also considering options for Landscape Pro University 2021, tentatively scheduled for January 29.

Mary Kay Woodworth Executive Director

Fortunately, we have our UAC Sporting Clays Tournament at Blalock Lakes already planned for October 28, and this is a great opportunity for safe social distancing and fellowship. Please register soon before it is sold out; sponsorships are also available! Look for the registration form on page 17 and on our website: urbanagcouncil.com/sportingclays-tournament UGA Turfgrass Research 2020 Field Day news: The UGA Turfgrass Team has modified this bi-annual event to be “virtual” (with the on-campus event and tradeshow, rescheduled for August 2021). We will have more information when the Turfgrass Team has their plan finalized, and we hope to have vendor/supplier sponsorship opportunities for the 2020 Virtual Field Day. Look for updates via emails from UAC and on our website: urbanagcouncil.com/events Looking to Spring 2021, the GALA Awards are back on March 23! Start taking those photos and getting entries ready; the deadline for entries is February 1, 2021. We are looking forward to seeing beautiful projects from our members. For more information, see page 21 or visit the GALA webpage: urbanagcouncil. com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards Take care and let me know how I can assist and support you.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we were there to contact city, county, and state policymakers to fight for your businesses and illustrate the essential role our members have as business owners, employers, and industry leaders. We were able to help guide you through the confusing web of programs and issues which you faced, so you could operate your businesses successfully. We provided (and continue to provide) this information to both members and non-members alike, as this is the right thing to do for our industry.

Member feedback via email polls shows that respondents would like to wade slowly into attending group events, waiting until fall at the earliest, and outdoor events would be preferable.

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UAC NEWS

Arbor-Nomics marks 40th year

by Josh Bare

plastic bags along with rocks and threw them onto people’s driveways. I learned the hard way that without weight in the bag, they’d blow all over the neighborhood. I’d end up getting nasty phone calls and have to go back the next day to clean them all up.

Josh and Dick Bare, 2020 (above) and 1979 (right)

This spring marked a significant anniversary. Forty years ago, on March 4,

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

1980, my dad, Richard Bare, started ArborNomics in our garage. He grew up working in his family’s nursery and landscape business and went on to earn a degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University. After working for a few landscaping and maintenance companies, he decided to go out on his own.

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It was a big leap of faith, but Dad felt confident in his ability to provide folks with great care for their ornamental trees and shrubs. (It would be a while before Arbor-Nomics also offered lawn care.) Given the anniversary, I thought I’d sit down with my father and ask him what those early days were like. What were some of the trials and triumphs? Here are the highlights.

Q: How did you drum up business in the beginning?

A. I walked, biked, motor-scootered, and drove all over hanging my fliers on people’s mailboxes and doors. I even put them in

I even loaded you and your brother up in the pickup truck one Saturday with thousands of fliers stuffed in bags with rocks. I drove through Buckhead all day with you kids flinging the bags onto driveways.

The following Monday, we had so many incoming calls for free estimates that we couldn’t even make any outgoing calls.

Q: Were there times you wondered if starting your own business was a good decision?

A. Not really. I had a lot of good feedback and was always getting referrals. One customer really wanted me to help his sister in Douglasville. At that time I was leasing the spray equipment and making payments on the truck. I calculated that driving to Douglasville would cost me around $125 and the service call brought in only $36. I wasn’t sure how that was going to work.

But I’ve always been able to network and make good connections. One of those connections owned a bunch of Holiday Inns and wanted me to service them. So I’d spend a day driving around servicing all the Holiday Inns, which brought me near my new referral in Douglasville.

Q: Did your customers know your business was brand-new?

A. Yeah, and they were happy to give me a chance. People were fabulous, always willing to give advice or respond to a blunder with a sense of humor. One day I was treating a yard in Dunwoody, and I was having a

UAC NEWS hard time navigating the spray hose into the backyard. To get some extra pulling power, I wrapped the hose around my waist. But at some point, instead of me pulling the hose, the hose pulled me, and straight I went into their swimming pool! Sopping wet and shivering – it was barely 40 degrees outside – there was nothing I could do but finish working on their yard. I left a note telling the customers what had happened. When they sent in their payment, they included a note saying, “Dick, you can use our pool anytime!”

There was always some sort of adventure, like being chased by dogs or getting stung by swarms of bees. Once when I was driving around delivering fliers, an angry homeowner came out to yell at me for hanging one on his mailbox. Of course, I wasn’t going to just keep driving away, and I backed up the truck so I could apologize.

Unfortunately, I backed right into his mailbox. You can bet I didn’t win a new customer in that exchange.

carry in her groceries – or even a Christmas tree. I always pulled in trash cans from the curb, and I expected my employees to do it too. Once, one tech must have been daydreaming, because he accidentally brought in a customer’s trash can before the garbage truck came.

I learned just the other day that a tech was out servicing a yard and noticed a woman across the street, struggling to get something heavy out of the trunk.

He went over to help her – it didn’t matter that she wasn’t our customer.

From the beginning, it was important to me to encourage a culture of service, of giving back. And when I hear a story like that, it tells me that employees are on board, that the culture took root and flourished.

I think that’s something we all can be proud of.

Q: What was it like when you first took on employees?

A. There were a lot of hard lessons learned, like setting clear expectations and not assuming folks could read my mind. I tried to train my employees to do everything the way I would do it – to do more than what was expected.

For example, I’d always help a customer

First issue of Buggette, Spring 1980

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

First spray rig

Running the business out of the garage

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ME & MY MENTOR

Feeding your growth

The resources you need to expand your business

by Rick Smith, The Pruning Guru Inc.

Q. "What resources helped you grow your business?"

Growing your business from scratch is always rewarding and challenging.

Upchurch, Nature Scapes 4Rick • Always very calm and leads by example.

Thomas, at the time owner of Scapes 4Ken Group Landscape

When I first started The Pruning Guru Inc. in 2002, I knew how to do the work - which is part of the reward - but learning how to run a business was where the challenge came into play.

The first resources I used were other professionals and business owners, people who had been in the industry for a long time and were successful. Before starting my own business, I worked with Post Properties for 15 years, so I knew exactly where I needed to start my quest. Post Properties was a member of MALTA (Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association). Where else could you find so many landscape professionals in one room?

• Ken is now the owner of Envisor Consulting, along with Ben Gandy.

• Later on, I hired Ken to consult with the Pruning Guru Inc. His advice really moved us in the right direction. The investment was worth every cent. If it were not for Envisor Consulting, we would not be where we are today.

Walters, at the time owner of Piedmont 4Phil Landscape

These are the professionals who gave me great advice:

• Being an owner of multiple businesses, he was a wealth of knowledge. He was always willing to share his successes and downfalls to help the one asking for advice.

From 1982 – 1997 Rick Smith worked in

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

specialized landscaping at Post Properties.

In 2002 he started The Pruning Guru Inc. and in 2004 became a Georgia and Alabama Certified Landscape Professional, administered through UGA. From 2006 – 2011 he sat on the board of directors for MALTA, serving as president from 2009 2010. In 2015 The Pruning Guru's pruning practices on ornamental trees and shrubs was filmed by UGA's Horticulture Department for their Super Crew video series.

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Rick Smith, owner of The Pruning Guru Inc.

Currently he does pruning presentations throughout the southeast for horticulture colleges, landscape associations, landscape companies and garden clubs. He also serves as Chairperson for the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional advisory board.

ME & MY MENTOR Caldwell, owner of Caldwell Tree Care 4Kevin • Kevin encouraged me to sit on the Board of MALTA.

Kay Woodworth, Executive Directive 4Mary for MALTA/ Georgia Urban Ag Council • Hands down the most inspirational person to be around and always willing to give you a helping hand.

Johnson, Marketing Director of 4Kathy MALTA/Georgia Urban Ag Council •

Kathy is always so cheerful to talk to and eager to help when needed.

Pennisi, Professor and UGA Extension 4Bodie Landscape Horticulturalist • Truly knowledgeable with plant science and has always been there for me when needed. late John Strickland, then Chairman of 4The the GCLP Task Force • Encouraged me and many others to become a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional (GCLP) He is a man that will always be missed but not forgotten. Thank you, John.

There are so many more people out there who are willing to help, but the one person that has been with me from the very beginning through thick and thin is my wife, Cheryl Smith.

Without her, none of this would have been possible.

If you have not picked up on where I am going with all these names, then let me help. Every person I mentioned (except for my wife) has been or is still involved with MALTA/Georgia Urban Ag Council.

Now, my advice to you is the same as they all gave to me:

Get involved and stay involved in this professional organization because this will benefit you and the industry for years to come.

ugaurbanag.com/certification UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

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HAVE YOU MET

Have you met...

Lori Bylsma, Cherokee Materials My first job in the green industry was...starting

Cherokee Materials!

This is my first job in the green industry, and I am very excited to be a part of an environmentally conscious, sustainable company.

Lori Bylsma, owner of Cherokee Materials, with husband Wayne.

Lori Bylsma Phone: 770-946-3205 Email: lori@cherokeematerials.com Fax: 770-946-4552 Address: P.O. Box 459

Hampton GA 30228 Web: www.cherokeematerials.com

The biggest challenge in my career has been… doing a good job at work while being present in my children’s lives.

The people who have influenced my career are...my

parents who taught me to be responsible and to work hard, and my husband who encourages us to never give up when faced with adversity.

The thing I like most about my career is…..supplying materials to create beautiful spaces.

My least favorite part of my job is….. dealing with personnel issues.

One piece of advice I would give to someone entering the green industry today is…do what you love and are passionate about.

The one thing most responsible for my success is…my work ethic.

If I could change careers, just for a month, I would…be a tour guide in the Tuscany region of Italy.

One thing most people don’t know about me is…I love to visit historical places. We can learn so much from history; I find the struggles, ingenuity, and accomplishments of the people who came before us amazing and inspiring.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

My biggest career success so far has been…navigating a business through the Great

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Recession of 2009-2012 without laying off any of our workforce. As controller of a company within the hard-hit construction industry, it was a difficult and stressful time that I never want to go through again.

When I’m not working, I like to…work

in my garden, travel, and spend time with my husband Wayne, daughter Hayley, 24, and son Jackson, 20.

seed

SEED sponsorship opportunities support | energize | enable | develop

SEED sponsorships offer our members an additional opportunity to promote their businesses and support UAC at a level beyond the membership dues.

support | energize | enable | develop

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

Thank you to all of our SEED Sponsors!

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POWER UP YOUR SOIL.

Take your Lawns to the

Level

Concentrate

Slow Release Liquid Nitrogen plus Micronutrients

Directions For Use

Directions For Use

SHAKE WELL!

SHAKE WELL!

The mixed product should be agitated prior to and during application.

Derived from: Monoammonium Phosphate, Ammonium Nitrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ascophyllum Nodosum

Warm Season Turf: Apply at a rate of 15 ounces per 1,000 sq. ft.

Mix with water at a minimum 7:1 dilution.

Apply directly to foliage or to soil at seeding.

ALSO CONTAINS NON-PLANT FOOD INGREDIENT(S): 3.0% Humic Acids (Derived from Leonardite) 1.0% Kelp (Microbe food) Purpose Statement: May increase micronutrient uptake.

May increase microbe food.

Storage: Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.

Product will store for 2 years under warehouse conditions.

Cool Season Turf: Apply at a rate of 15 ounces per 1,000 sq. ft.

Mix with water at a minimum 7:1 dilution.

Apply directly to foliage or to soil at seeding.

Compatibility: These concentrated materials are compatible with most fertilizers and chemicals but should not be mixed directly with other chemicals. Conduct a jar test as needed to ensure compatibility before tank mixing. Mix in spray tanks GreenePOP™ is intended to be used as a starter fertilizer with water and proper agitation. Apply in accordance with best management for newly seeded or sodded turf. practices (BMP’s) established by your Cooperative Extension Service. Observe GreenePOP™ can also be used as a phosphorus amending any State or Local fertilizer application regulations. product. GreenePOP™ contains 2.31 lbs of phosphorus Caution: Apply only to turf and soil. per gallon. Soil test for phosphorus deficiency prior to use.

Keep out of reach of children. If product comes in contact with skin or eyes flush with water immediately.

Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet

at http://aapfco.org/metals.html

The mixed product should be agitated prior to and during application.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Total Nitrogen (N).....................26.0% 13.2% Urea Nitrogen* 6.4% Ammoniacal Nitrogen 6.4% Nitrate Nitrogen Boron (B)...................................0.02%

Derived from: Urea, Ammonium Nitrate, Ferrous Sulfate *9% urea nitrogen stabilized with N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the internet at http://aapfco.org/metals.html http://aapfco.o

Warm Season Turf: Apply at a rate of 16 ounces per 1,000 sq. ft.

Mix with water at a minimum 7:1 dilution. Apply directly to foliage.

Cool Season Turf: Apply at a rate of 20 ounces per 1,000 sq. ft.

Mix with water at a minimum 7:1 dilution. Apply directly to foliage.

Storage: Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.

Product will store for 2 years under warehouse conditions.

Compatibility: These concentrated materials are compatible with most fertilizers and chemicals but should not be mixed directly with other chemicals. Conduct a jar test as needed to ensure compatibility before tank mixing. Mix in spray tanks with water and proper agitation. Apply in accordance with best management practices (BMP’s) established by your Cooperative Extension Service. Observe any State or Local fertilizer application regulations.

Caution: This product contains the secondary micronutrient iron. Iron may stain concrete, wood and other pervious and impervious surfaces. Apply only to turf and soil.

Keep out of reach of children. If product comes in contact with skin or eyes flush with water immediately.

Manufactured and Guaranteed by Greene County Fertilizer Company, Inc. ▪ P.O. BOX 1346, Greensboro, GA 30642 ▪ 1-855-606-3378 ▪ GreeneCountyFert.com ▪ F2735

1.0 gal = 11.1 lbs at 68° F

□ net volume 2.5 gal (9.5 l)

□

net volume 5.0 gal (18.9 l)

□ net volume 275 gal (1,040.9 l)

Manufactured and Guaranteed by Greene County Fertilizer Company, Inc. ▪ P.O. BOX 1346, Greensboro, GA 30642 ▪ 1-855-606-3378 ▪ GreeneCountyFert.com ▪ F2735

1.0 gal = 10.7 lbs at 68° F CONDITIONS OF SALE Seller warrants that this product consists of the ingredients specified and is reasonably fit for the purpose stated on this label when used in accordance with directions under normal conditions of use. No one, other than the officer or Seller, is authorized to make any warranty, guarantee, or directions concerning this product. Because the time, place, rate of application and other conditions of use are beyond Seller’s control Seller’s liability from handling, storage and use of this product is limited to replacement of product or refund of purchase price. Buyer assumes all responsibility for safety and use not in accordance with label instructions. The product names are registered trademarks of Greene County Fertilizer Company, Inc.

□ net volume 2.5 gal (9.5 l)

□

net volume 5.0 gal (18.9 l)

□ net volume 275 gal (1041.0 l)

CONDITIONS OF SALE Seller warrants that this product consists of the ingredients specified and is reasonably fit for the purpose stated on this label when used in accordance with directions under normal conditions of use. No one, other than the officer or Seller, is authorized to make any warranty, guarantee, or directions concerning this product. Because the time, place, rate of application and other conditions of use are beyond Seller’s control Seller’s liability from handling, storage and use of this product is limited to replacement of product or refund of purchase price. Buyer assumes all responsibility for safety and use not in accordance with label instructions. The product names are registered trademarks of Greene County Fertilizer Company, Inc.

High Performance Plant Nutrients • Fertilizers • Biostimulants • Soil Amendments 1.855.606.3378 greenecountyfert.com Field/Tech Support Buy Direct/Ship Direct/Pick-up

Corporate HQ/MFR: Greene County Fertilizer Company • 1490 Airport Road • Greensboro, Georgia 30642 Our bio-based fertilizers & specialty fertility products are blended to feed plants, improve soil fertility and build topsoil.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Starter Fertilizer GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Total Nitrogen (N).....................16.0% 16.0% Ammoniacal Nitrogen Available Phosphate (P2O5).......21.0% Soluble Potash (K2O)..................2.0%

Concentrate

11

PEST 411

Ornamental nurseries beware

Watch out for the redheaded flea beetle

by Shimat V. Joseph, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia

species. Females are slightly larger than males. A pair of light-brown serrate antennae originates below the eyes, with dark-brown distal segments.

On the last pair of legs, the femur is wider and swollen, which enables RHFBs to jump.

Mature females lay pale-yellow eggs singly in the potting medium. Larvae are about 0.5 to 1 cm in length and are creamy-white in color (Fig. 2), with the head capsule and three pairs of legs pale-brown in color. The last segment on the rear end of the larva is oriented upward with prominent setae (hairs) (Fig. 2). They undergo three larval stages, which all feed on roots.

The adult RHFB causes serious feeding damage to the foliage of a variety of woody and herbaceous container plants in nurseries. As the name suggests, RHFB jumps when disturbed, similar to a dog flea.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

The redheaded flea beetle (RHFB), Systena

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frontalis (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (Fig. 1) is a serious insect pest in ornamental nurseries.

It is also referred to as cranberry flea beetle in cranberry and blueberry systems in the northern US. The adult RHFB causes serious feeding damage to the foliage of a variety of woody and herbaceous container plants in nurseries (Figs.

3 and 4). As the name suggests, RHFB jumps when disturbed, similar to a dog flea. RHFB is native to the US and is present in the central and eastern US.

Identification and biology RHFB adults are small, shiny, oval-shaped beetles, about 0.2 inches in length, with metallicblack colored bodies and the red-colored head, which is a unique identifying character that distinguishes these beetles from other similar

RHFB overwinters as eggs. In nurseries, adult beetles are first observed feeding on foliage typically during the last week of May in most of Georgia, although this could be subject to local weather conditions. After a distinct firstgeneration emergence in the spring, multiple overlapping generations occur in Georgia until late October. During summer, multiple stages (eggs, larvae, and adults) may be found on an individual containerized plant.

Host plants RHFB feed and cause damage to numerous plants grown in the nursery industry. In Georgia, high numbers of RHFB have been found on hydrangeas [panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) and roses (Rosa spp.). In addition, RHFB damage has been reported on Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia), anise-tree (Illicium spp.), azalea (Rhododendron spp.), crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.), dogwoods (Cornus spp.), Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), weigela (Weigela florida), loropetalum (Loropetalum sinense), fragrant osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans), viburnum

PEST 411 (Viburnum spp.), wax myrtle (Morelia cerifera).

They also attack Vacinium spp. (cranberry & blueberry) specifically, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) cranberry, (Vaccinium macrocarpon), and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) as well as alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in the northern states. In addition to woody plants, RHFB attacks herbaceous hosts such as aster (Aster spp.), chrysanthemum (Dendranthema spp.), tickseed (Coreopsis spp.), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), joe-pye weed (Eupatorium spp.), salvia (Salvia spp.), sedum (Sedum spp.), veronica (Veronica spp.), and zinnia (Zinnia spp.).

RHFB also attacks weeds such as jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), lambsquarter (Chenopodium album), pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), smartweed (Polygonum spp.), Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense), clover (Trifolium spp.) and common burdock (Arctium minus). The range of plants reported as damaged by RHFB suggests that the beetle can feed on virtually any broadleaved woody or herbaceous plant growing in or around the nursery.

Shimat V. Joseph, University of Georgia

Fig. 1. Adult redheaded flea beetle on leaves of rose (Rosa spp.). The black arrows show the fresh feeding injury, red arrows show the old feeding injury, and blue arrows show fecal matter.

Damage symptom RHFB adults feed on the leaves, causing numerous holes, or sometimes skeletonize by removing the surface layer of both upper and lower sides of mature leaves (Figs. 3 and 4).

They often deposit fecal matter near the feeding site (Fig. 1).

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UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

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PEST 411 As part of cultural control, removing weeds in and around the nursery could reduce food resources for adult RHFB and prevent population build-up in the general area.

If the container stock is already infested with RHFB, it is advised not to place newly propagated plant containers near infested stock plants.

Management

D.K.B. Cheung http://www.dkbdigitaldesigns.com/clm/content/systena-frontalis-12

Fig. 2. Larva of redheaded flea beetle on root of Weigela spp. with three pairs of legs (white arrow), head capsule (red arrow) and last segment on rear end of the larva is oriented upward (orange arrow).

As biorational options, microbial biological control agents such as the entomopathogenic nematode (Steinernema carpocapsae) as well as entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisophliae) are effective on larval stages of RHFB in containers.

Foliar applications of insecticides are essential to managing adult populations. Depending on the number of invading RHFB adults on plants, multiple applications might be warranted to bring the population under control. There is no threshold determined for this pest as the market is driven by zero damaged plants.

Adult RHFBs are highly mobile; thus, coverage is important especially when contact insecticides are used for control. For current insecticide recommendations, contact your local county Extension office.

Shimat V. Joseph, University of Georgia

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Fig.3. Feeding damage caused by the adult redheaded flea beetle on leaves of (A) rose (Rosa spp.) and (B) hydrangea. The holes on the leaves are the feeding damage making the plants unmarketable.

14

Damage to plants can be severe and rapid, depending on the number of invading RHFB adults. Affected plants are typically not marketable. Although RHFB larvae feed on the roots, they rarely cause noticeable damage.

Monitoring Nursery plants, especially those preferred hosts, should be aggressively scouted weekly for adult activity starting in mid-May, preferably during mid-day. Because RHFBs attack volunteer species, weeds also should be scouted.

Soil drench application of insecticides in the container can yield acceptable control of larvae if the uniform distribution of the insecticide throughout the root ball can be ensured. Soil drench could be applied as a preventative treatment in spring if the plants were exposed to adults in the previous season. RHFB larvae can develop within a small volume of non-treated soil medium in the container.

Even though high larval densities may be present in the soil, it is not certain that all of the adults feeding on the foliage originate from the same container.

Therefore, regular scouting and removal of weeds could help reduce the insect load on the desirable nursery stock.

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UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

be the 2021 Flowering Shrub of the Year, so

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SAVE THE DATE

Visit urbanagcouncil.com for updates and to register.

UGA Turfgrass Field Day This will be a VIRTUAL event this year!

AUG

5*

* Date is subject to change.

Details - including the date - are still being worked out at as this magazine goes to press, but check UAC's website for updates, including sponsorship opportunities and registration information: urbanagcouncil.com/turfgrass-research-field-day

UAC Sporting Clays Tournament

OCT

28

Blast your troubles away | Win prizes | Eat BBQ GEORGIA

DATE: Wednesday, October 28 TIME: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm PLACE: Blalock Lakes

4075 New Corinth Road Newnan GA 30263

Register as a team or an individual! Sponsorships available!

See registration form on next page >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

JAN

15

FEB

GALA

1

Georgia Landscape Awards

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

Plan ahead: photograph your entries this year!

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

Early Bird deadline: Friday, January 15, 2021 Final deadline: Monday, February 1, 2021 Awards ceremony: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 See page 21 for details and deadlines!

Upcoming UGA webinars UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

CEU-granting distance education for green industry professionals

16

Biology and Management of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale and Disease Management in Turfgrass July 16, 2020 | 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Weed Management in Turfgrass and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Urban Landscape September 17, 2020 | 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Insect Pest Management in Turfgrass and Common Disease Problems in Nursery Production November 12, 2020 | 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

For more info, contact Beth Horne at 770-228-7214 or bhorne@uga.edu.

To register for a webinar go to GTBOP.COM

ANNUAL

Sporting Clays Tournament

DATE:

Wednesday October 28, 2020

TIME:

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

PLACE: Blalock Lakes 4075 New Corinth Road Newnan GA 30263

Blast your troubles away | Win prizes | Eat BBQ Registration: 9:00 am | Safety talk: 9:45 am | On course: 10:00 am

Company _________________________________________________________________________________ UAC member? c Yes c No Contact _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________________________ State __________ Zip ___________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________

Scoring Points will be added to your final score, based on the gauge of gun used.

12 gauge: +0 points | 20 gauge: +3 points | 28 gauge: +5 points | 410 gauge: +10 points | Pump action or side-by-side: +5 points

Participants Please bring your own shotgun and eye protection - limited number of rental shotguns available onsite and must be reserved in advance.

Please contact us directly if anyone on your team needs to rent a shotgun: 706.750.0350.

Your shotgun’s gauge

Check if you don’t have gun

1. ____________________________________________________________

c 12

c 20

c 28

c 410

c

2. ____________________________________________________________

c 12

c 20

c 28

c 410

c

3. ____________________________________________________________

c 12

c 20

c 28

c 410

c

4. ____________________________________________________________

c 12

c 20

c 28

c 410

c

Registration fees Sponsorships are open to UAC business-level members only on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ball Cap Sponsor (1 available): $2500

$

• One 4-player sporting clay shooting team • company logo on welcome banner and ball cap

Shell Bag Sponsor: $2000 (1 more available)

Sod

• One 4-player sporting clay shooting team • company logo on welcome banner and shell bag

$ $

Station Sponsor (does not include a team): $100

$

Team registration (4 players): $800

$

Individual registration: $225/player

$

Lunch only: $35 each

$

Sorry, I can’t particpate but please accept this donation to benefit turfgrass and horticulture research through the Georgia Turfgrass Foundation Trust*!

$

• One individual sporting clay shooting registration • company logo on welcome banner and lunch sign • Company logo on one station sponsor sign • company name on welcome banner • Includes 200 rounds, event ball cap and shell bag for each player, and lunch • Includes 50 rounds, event ball cap, shell bag and lunch

Payment method

Total amount due $ _____________________

c A check payable to Georgia UAC is enclosed.

Please charge my

c Discover

c MasterCard

c Visa

c American Express

Name on card ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Billing address for card ____________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________State___________ Zip ________________________ Card # ________________________________________________________ Exp Date: __________ Security code: _________

Register online at urbanagcouncil.com Or send completed form to: Mail: Georgia Urban Ag Council PO Box 3400 Duluth GA 30096 Email: office@georgiauac.com

* GTFT is is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor for complete information.

Questions? 706.750.0350 | office@georgiauac.com

2/24/20

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Lunch Sponsor: $750 (4 more available)

17

SAVE THE DATE PRO PROJECT

Bold, bright flower beds

Project by Gibbs Landscape Company gibbslandscape.com

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Our client wants bright reds and yellows with varying textures. The beds are long but the depth is challenging for all the layers requested.

18

A beautiful display using reds and yellows of varying heights, colors and textures. The Aaron Caladium add nice texture and height to the back of the beds.

PRO PROJECT

GALA

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

AWARD WINNER: Grand

Vibrant flowers of duranta, yellow canna, red begonias and Cherry Sunpatiens greet our homeowner every afternoon.

These beds are full of color and texture with blooming rainbow euphorbia, Helleborus, Erysimum, pansies and tulips.

Our customer wants bright and vibrant and we far exceeded their expectations in both seasons.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Stunning red and yellow tulips in combination with mauve erysimum announce that spring has arrived.

19

SAVE THE DATE SAFETY WORKS

Georgia workers' comp update

Investigating coronavirus in the first two days

by Kenneth A. David, Atkins David LLC Generally, under GA workers’ comp law an employee has 30 days to report a work injury and the employer and its insurer/third party administrator (TPA) have 21 days to decide on whether to accept or deny the claim.

With an occupational disease like the coronavirus, the actual date of exposure may not be known as symptoms do not manifest immediately; it may be several days or even over a week before there are any indications like a cough or fever. There are actually many potential dates that can be used for the “date of accident” including 1) the date of exposure, 2) the date of a positive test, 3) the date of first symptoms, and 4) the date of the first medical evaluation.

However, keep in mind a few points:

technical matter the 21 days does not 4 Asrunauntil the employer has knowledge. exposure to a person who has 4 Ancoronavirus does not mean there will be transmission.

if there is transmission to the 4 Even employee in question, without symptoms there is no basis for benefits.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

with symptoms, unless they are severe, 4 Even the employee is likely to be instructed to

20

self-quarantine for 14 days with no outside treatment needed.

We still recommend that employers complete a WC-1, First Report, if an employee seeks treatment for the symptoms that can be associated with employment or if the employee gives notice that he or she is reporting a claim.

Remember that simply completing a WC-1 does not make the claim compensable but not completing a WC-1 when an employee makes the allegation can create exposure for the claim itself as well as attorney fees and penalties.

Since you do have 21 days to make a decision, in most situations with the coronavirus you are going to have much of the information you need to make a decision on whether to accept or deny the claim. You should know if the employee tested positive, if he or she has symptoms, and whether treatment will just be at home resting and recuperating versus hospitalization.

With more people returning to work and more testing being done, there are certainly going to be more cases of the coronavirus potentially associated with employment. However, people are not just going back to work but also going to other places as well where they could be exposed so the expression that “correlation is not causation” is important here.

Finally, there is the situation where someone is possibly exposed, has to self-quarantine for 14 days, but needs no treatment, and then comes back to work. Is the “lost time” (days 8-14, after the seven-day waiting period) compensable under workers’ comp? As a legal matter, the answer is no. There was no injury or actual condition that needed treatment. The lost time is precautionary, not due to a diagnosed, active condition. With that said, I know during this time that employers and their insurers/TPAs are having discussions about how to handle matters such as this one. For the majority of people who never develop symptoms, it is less about payment of benefits and more about how the employees feel their concerns were addressed.

Of course, each situation is different, and we are all still adapting as more information becomes available. Contact your insurer for clarification as we move forward.

About the author

Kenneth A. David Founder and Managing Partner Atkins David LLC Phone: 404.446.4482 Email: ken.david@atkinsdavid.com

GALA

GALA

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

Get ready! UAC's Georgia Landscape

Awards (GALA) are coming for 2021. That means this is the year to photograph all of your best projects while they're at their peak.

Entering has never been easier Details, worksheets, success tips, past winners, entry form - it’s all online: urbanagcouncil. com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards.

Reap the rewards Award winners will be honored by their peers at the annual awards banquet and ceremony on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at Piedmont Park’s Magnolia Hall.

PLUS:

>

We’ll help you promote your winning projects by posting them on our Houzz, Instagram, and Facebook pages and tagging your company.

Grand award winners will be featured on UAC’s home page for one year.

>

A photo gallery of distinction and grand projects will be added to UAC’s website.

>

GALA projects are featured in UAC Magazine (see the "Pro Project" on page 22), on our Georgia Landscape Pro consumer blog, and in our My Home Improvement magazine ads.

>

A “GALA WINNER” graphic badge will be placed on your company’s UAC web profile and you’ll get a “GALA WINNER” graphic badge to use on your website, correspondence, and business promotions.

>

We’ll provide a press release template to help you spread the word about your winning projects.

And it only rolls around every other year It's not too early to get started

Photos: Gather up to 12 photos to tell your project’s story, focusing on "before" and "after" shots.

Important dates and deadlines Early Bird deadline

5:00 pm | Friday, January 15, 2021 Final deadline for entries

5:00 pm | Monday, February 1, 2021 Judging of entries

Mid-February 2021 Worksheet: Our GALA worksheet Notification of awards walks you through Late February 2021 everything you need to do. Start it anytime Awards banquet & ceremony and save it on your March 23, 2021 computer so you can add info as you gather it, as time permits. When you’re done, use it to Don't fill in the blanks on the online form. Download miss your worksheet and get started today!

Online form: Once your worksheet is complete, use the information to complete the online GALA entry form: urbanagcouncil. com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards.

You can copy and paste information from the worksheet into the appropriate places on the form.

Be sure to save the worksheet as a record of your entry. Use what you’ve written about your project to promote your company in other ways!

Picture your team in the winners' circle.

>>>>>> Enter early and save $$ on your entry fee! <<<<<<

this chance to show off your work and reward your team!

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

>

Your time to shine

21

WHAT THE TECH?

Making distance work

The best tools to work remotely more efficiently

by Sara Crawford, Digital Content Strategist, WT Digital Agency

Sending hundreds of emails a day isn’t exactly the best option.

Here are a few of our favorite communication tools:

Slack is an app that allows your team 4 to chat with each other throughout the

day. You can create separate channels for different projects or departments, which can help to keep chats organized. You can also send direct messages back and forth.

It can essentially give your team a place to gather for professional and team-building conversations.

Photo by Allie on Unsplash

Whether you are focusing on the productivity and efficiency of your entire team or you as an individual, it’s helpful to know that there are so many tools and resources that can make remote working easier.

Across the globe, businesses have had to shift to working remotely. It can be a

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

demanding adjustment for both business owners and employees.

22

Zoom is one of the best tools for video 4 conferencing. With tools like screen

sharing and recording and the ability to communicate via HD video, Zoom is absolutely essential for virtual meetings. It’s very easy to use and accessible, making it a good option for your team.

Google Hangouts can be used both for 4 team chatting and for video conferencing. It can also be a good option if you use other G Suite apps like email and drive.

Task Management

Fortunately, there are many helpful tools that will make it easier for you work remotely— whether you need help being more productive or your team needs better tools and software to communicate and collaborate with each other.

Here is a list of recommended tools you may want to try.

How can you tell who’s doing what, who has time for that new project, who needs help, or generally organize what needs to get done when?

Communication

It can give a business owner or manager a nice overview of each team member’s workload as well as the status of projects.

One of the most important aspects of having a successful team working remotely is communication. You’re not all in the same place so you can’t just pop in someone’s office to ask a quick question.

Having a good project management tool to organize everyone’s tasks is crucial.

Here are some of the most popular project management tools.

WHAT THE TECH? Basecamp is easy to use, and it can 4 integrate with many apps you might already

4

be using. It has a reasonable flat, monthly price. The interface can lead to rabbitholing, however.

Asana can be a little confusing to set up and use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it can definitely help your team be more efficient. It includes a number of features and it’s very flexible.

It’s important to keep in mind that some productivity tools will work better for certain individuals than others.

However, here are some you may want to try:

Evernote allows you to organize 4 information across multiple devices. You

can use it to create to-do lists or add images or webpages to your notes. It also has a built-in searchable option.

Monday.com features an attractive Freedom can definitely help you get more 4 interface that is very user friendly. It’s also 4 done throughout the day. If you find you highly customizable, which makes it an ideal solution for many businesses.

Trello is perhaps the most visual project 4 management tool. It gives you a nice visual

representation of projects, assignments, and what each team member is working on. One downside, however, is that it has very limited integration with other apps and programs.

Sharing Files File sharing is a necessary part of having a team working remotely (or working in one place for that matter).

It’s never been easier to share files, but business owners have different options. All of these cloud storage options have versions for individuals as well as businesses.

Here are some of our favorites:

Dropbox gives you easy-to-use and easy-to4 organize cloud storage. It’s easy to sync the

are spending too much time on Facebook or Instagram, you can use an app like Freedom to block distracting apps and websites across multiple devices.

Any.do is an all-in-one productivity 4 solution that combines tasks, lists,

reminders, and a calendar. It can help you plan your schedule and increase your productivity.

RescueTime allows users to monitor and 4 track their time spent on particular sites,

because to better manage your time, you have to know where you are spending your time.

Working remotely can be a difficult adjustment.

Whether you are focusing on the productivity and efficiency of your entire team or you as an individual, it’s helpful to know that there are so many tools and resources that can make remote working easier.

Google Drive can be the best option for 4 teams who are already using other G Suite

Sara Crawford is an author and Digital Content Strategist for WT Digital Agency. In love with the written word, she strives to provide quality content for all of her clients.

apps like email and Google Hangouts.

OneDrive is Microsoft’s answer to cloud 4 storage, and it can be integrated with Office 365.

Productivity I wouldn’t recommend requiring everyone on your team to use the same productivity app or tool.

E: sara@wtmarketing.com P: 404.348.4921 ext. 103

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

About the author

app across multiple devices as well.

23

BUSINESS

Compassionate leadership

Helping your team through times of change

by Erin Saunders, Leica Geosystems

Recent research has shown that compassionate leadership fosters increased loyalty and engagement in normal business environments.

(Chowdhury, 2020) However, in a crisis it becomes a critical skill.

How can you develop compassionate leadership?

1.

Photo by johan van den berg from FreeImages

Compassionate leadership is about creating a culture where you inspire your employees and help them to grow through personal connection.

The Covid-19 pandemic dramatically changed the way we work and interact with

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

each other in a swift and immediate way.

Regardless of how you feel about the virus or its effects, there is no doubt that it has impacted each of us in ways we could not have predicted.

People have reacted differently to the crisis, both on a personal and professional level.

24

As we work towards business recovery, we’re going to need to evaluate how we support our teams as leaders. Now is the time to focus on compassionate leadership to guide our employees and our businesses into recovery.

Compassionate leadership is about creating a culture where you inspire your employees and help them to grow through personal connection.

In the literal sense, compassion means to “suffer with,” which requires listening and empathy.

First, it’s about self-awareness.

How are you feeling about the current state of your personal and professional life?

Self-awareness is a critical piece of empathy.

Being able to label, describe, and process your own feelings is a key part of understanding and empathizing with how others may be feeling.

(Newman, 2018) How we are feeling not only help us understand others, but it also impacts how we interact with them. Understanding how you feel will help you be on the lookout for when you are letting those feelings influence how you communicate.

Next, it’s about connecting with people on a personal and professional level. When you check in with people, check in with them personally first. Ask them how they are feeling. Listen, and then try to understand why they might be feeling that way. It’s important to be non-judgmental when you listen. Non-judgmental listening is about really trying to understand the other person’s feelings while putting our own temporarily to the side. By authentically connecting with your team, you will help them grow on a personal level, which ultimately helps them grow on a professional level.

2.

3.

Show your own vulnerability.

More traditional examples of leaders implied they needed to maintain an image of competence and authority. But true

BUSINESS

5.

connection requires authenticity, and part of being authentic is demonstrating emotional vulnerability. The Harvard Business Review gives these examples: "include calling an employee or colleague whose child is not well, reaching out to someone who has just had a loss in their family, asking someone for help, taking responsibility for something that went wrong at work, or sitting by the bedside of a colleague or employee with a terminal illness.” (Seppälä, 2014) By doing these things, you create a sense of trust and connection that allows you and your team to feel as if you are leading together.

Overcommunicate, using what you’ve learned from listening and evaluating your team and the business. This is where you put the people and the vision together.

Acknowledge how people on your team are feeling. Share stories of success and creativity.

Paint the vision of calm optimism and help people understand what the immediate future looks like and what you need from them. Then begin the process again. As things change, people want to know that they are heard, that there is a plan, and what their role in that plan should be.

Demonstrate calm optimism. When times are uncertain, people look to their leaders to help them gain clarity and understand the vision for what’s next. They want someone with a positive vision who is confident about how you will weather challenges together as a team. Start by understanding the evolving reality that’s impacting your business. Shift your thinking from seeing challenges as roadblocks, but instead problems to be solved and learned from. Leading in a crisis requires creativity.

When you feel stressed, hit pause. These are opportunities to reflect on different ways you can solve problems. Hitting pause also stops the body’s natural fight or flight reaction to stress.

(McKinsey, 2020) It allows you to stop in the moment, and then begin to think about creative and innovative ways you can respond to the crisis.

Compassionate leadership has always had a place in business. It not only feels good for both you as a leader and your team, but it’s also good for your business and your bottom line. Now, more than ever, we need to hone our compassionate leadership skills to meet our people where they are and to help the business succeed as a team.

4.

About the author Erin Saunders is Regional Human Resources Business Partner with Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon.

P: 770.326.9517 E: erin.saunders@leica-geosystems.com

Registration form on page 17!

Blast your troubles away | Win prizes | Eat BBQ DATE: TIME: PLACE:

Wednesday, October 28 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Blalock Lakes 4075 New Corinth Road, Newnan GA 30263

Ball cap sponsor:

Shell bag sponsor: Additional sponsorships available!

Information, sponsorships & registration: urbanagcouncil.com

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

ANNUAL

Sporting Clays Tournament

25

BUSINESS

Financial performance

12 steps to improving your landscape business

by Jeffrey Scott, MBA

Photo by Sahand Hoseini on Unsplash

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

The difference between running a good landscape business and owning a great landscape business comes down to your financial literacy and how well you manage by the numbers.

26

Many lawn and landscape entrepreneurs make money even

management practices. I first want to know what their level of financial management is.

Rate yourself; at which level do you operate?

though they don’t track their numbers closely (is that you?).

I then discuss with them the 37 specific financial habits and systems that will have biggest impact on their profitability and financial status.

Others are leaving too much money on the table because they are so busy chasing the day-today (sound familiar?).

For the sake of brevity, I have boiled down the most important to these 12 steps. Rate yourself and see how well you are doing, and where you need to improve.

The difference between running a good landscape business and owning a great landscape business comes down to your financial literacy and how well you manage by the numbers.

This is such an important issue, that before I take on a new coaching client or peer group member, I will survey their

Level 5. Review financial reports monthly, and operational reports weekly, and other operational numbers daily––and consistently make decisions by the numbers.

Level 4. Studying financial reports monthly, making many decisions monthly.

Level 3. Look briefly at reports monthly (or every other month), making a few decisions but not many.

Level 2. Look at reports quarterly at best, making some decisions.

Level 1. Wait till year end to see how I did.

Set a sales budget based on monthly numbers — by sales person and by division/service line. This allows you to set goals with sales people and marketing, and track monthly how well you are achieving your business plan for the year. You can’t be an effective sales manager without doing this.

1.

2.

Use accrual-based budgeting. This is much harder to do than budgeting by cash, but it tells you so much more about your operations when you do accrual budgets vs actuals monthly. This allows you to see problems quicker and to steer your budget more proactively. (FYI: Accrual is defined as following the principle of matching revenue and expenses each month.)

Build in a real owners salary to your budget. If you had to replace your role, what would you have to pay on the market?

That’s the number you should use in your overhead calculation. While I am at it, I would add that you should run “clean” numbers and don’t keep owners fluff in the budget; otherwise its harder to delegate authority to others and scale your business.

3.

4.

Use an industry-specific chart of accounts. Don’t just use the QB standards, or the one your accountant gave you.

There is a real opportunity to better understand

BUSINESS your numbers when you break your chart of accounts into four main segments: direct costs, all equipment-related costs, payroll-related overhead, and non-payroll-related overhead.

Don’t try to track 100s of line items, you will get lost in the detail.

5.

Aim for a positive weekly 'operating cash flow.' The key to financial success is to achieve a positive cash flow weekly (or monthly at worst); if you track it consistently and by department you will see that some divisions are upside (cash negative) and remain so for many months of the year. If you were an investor in your business, you would want these cash “dips" identified and removed.

6.

Set a plan and budget for achieving 20% net profit, don’t just “hope” you will get there by windfall or luck.

The industry average is 5%; my peer group clients average is close to double that, and my top performers are achieving 20% net profit and

more. Unfortunately, there is a self-sabotaging belief that the industry average is good enough.

How do you achieve better? By setting up a budget, marketing and sales plan to achieve that amount, and by not relying on a “wing and a prayer” to get there. Prayer helps, but must be fortified by a real strategy. The key is to benchmark yourself with the best in class on all aspects of your company; and never ever (ever!) be satisfied with industry averages.

7.

Set up your divisional profit centers managers with divisional financials.

You can’t expect to make a high or consistent company profit when each profit center or division leader is not accountable for their own monthly budget. At a minimum they need gross profit numbers on a monthly basis. When I first take on a client, the first place I look is the divisional numbers, because that is where I find so many low-hanging fruits that will improve a company's bottom line.

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UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

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27

BUSINESS Give crews daily feedback on their numbers, and show them weekly scores. This can be kept simple; for example, did the crews get their jobs done in the time allotted? And weekly you can do a forcedranking of which crews came in the best. Keep it simple and motivating. Money is made where the rubber meets the road, and that’s on each crew, each day, on each property.

Work with a CPA who knows business (and not just taxes.) Start by reviewing your numbers at least quarterly with him or her. Remember, your performance will rise to the level of the advisors you surround yourself with, including your CPA, business coach, lawyer, etc. So, let’s start with your CPA and get someone who has a larger view of business success in your corner.

Base your billable and non-billable budgeted hours on historical averages. It is best to look back 3-5 years by month and by crew type, to see what is realistic. It’s fine to aim for an improvement in billable hours, but it's best to budget for reality.

Otherwise, you will shoot yourself in the foot before the season even begins.

End the year strong

8.

9.

your numbers weekly with 10. Review your leadership team, and review your financial reports with them monthly.

Ultimately this is the most important action you can do with your team to improve their financial literacy and to improve financial accountability in your company. Set up a weekly dashboard to make this review process easier. Take the time to dive into it, even if you are not as strong a financial leader as wish you were. You don't learn if you don’t begin.

Review job costs at the end of each job. If you are in the 'estimating and install' business, then the only way you know how well you are doing is if you review the results as quickly as possible and make corrections to your estimating or your installation practices as you go. A weekly rhythm is a good place to start. There are many good systems you can set up these days to crunch these numbers on a timely basis. Don’t let the thrill of the game distract you from measuring your performance after every game.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

11.

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12.

As you head into the rest of the year, use these 12 steps to help you identify your biggest weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

End this year stronger, and set up next year to make it your best year ever.

Upcoming event and free offerings: The Landscape CEO

Jeffrey's podcast series where he interviews movers and shakers in the landscape industry and who share with you current practices around Covid-19 as well as all other day-to-day practices: https://jeffreyscott.biz/category/podcast-series-theultimate-ceo/

Summer Growth Summit Des Moines, IA - August 24 to 26, 2020 The Summer Growth Summit is an interactive conference and landscape facility tour for owners and their teams. This year's theme: Optimizing your service mix for increased market share and profitability.

About the author Jeffrey Scott, MBA, author, specializes in growth and profit maximization in the Green Industry. His expertise is rooted in his personal success, growing his own company into a $10 million enterprise.

Now, he facilitates the Leader’s Edge peer group for landscape business owners—members achieve a 27 percent profit increase in their first year.

To learn more visit www.GetTheLeadersEdge.com.

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UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

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29

BUSINESS

Employee leave

Understanding rights as you reopen during quarantine from Stanton Law, LLC but whichever path you choose will lead to dozens of possible decisions. We’ve outlined the following think-trees that could help you navigate several common contingencies and the questions you need to think through. With the more specific direction of a qualified employment lawyer, we hope you’ll quickly arrive at the decision that’s best for your company and the employee.

Photo by Tobias Rehbein on Unsplash

You’re pleased that most of your employees have heeded the call to come back in. But what about the employee who bristles at the idea of returning to work and, with one degree of diplomacy or another, tells you he is not quite ready?

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

So you’re ready to reopen your business, eh? You’ve cleaned the office, installed new

30

hand-wash and sanitizer stations, and ordered a pallet of disinfectant wipes. You’re prepared to screen employees, you’ve adjusted schedules to allow spacing, and you are all set to encourage social distancing. You’re pleased that most of your employees have heeded the call to come back in. But what about the employee who bristles at the idea of returning to work and, with one degree of diplomacy or another, tells you he is not quite ready?

Broadly speaking, you’re then faced with another choice: Will you take a more casual, appeasing approach and explore with the employee the options that may allow him to delay his return? Or will you be a bit firmer and insist that he get back to work unless he has a legally entitled right to remain out? Different situations may lead to different answers,

As a threshold matter, a company should assure its employees that it is complying with the applicable and relevant laws, which in this case are most likely to include the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which itself incorporates the Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Emergency Family and Medical Leave (EFML) Acts. Other relevant laws include the “Classic” Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and similar state laws and local mandates concerning COVID-19 and employee leave. In addition to mandatory posters and other notifications, your communications should advise employees (even if with broad strokes) that they may have rights under the laws and invite them to share with you their questions in this regard.

The employer should also clearly explain the measures the company has undertaken (and will undertake) to help ensure a safe workplace.

If appropriate, employers can note that the owners and supervisors are returning to and working in the same environment, so they have every interest in making sure folks are safe. Also, consider inviting employees with particular concerns to suggest improvements to and additional steps beyond what the company has already considered.

Legally protected Leave Recognize that, with just a little additional information from the employee, some nonprotected reasons for remaining on leave may

BUSINESS become protected reasons. For instance, an employee’s age alone does not entitle him or her to an accommodation, but the employee’s age and history of medical problems may entitle the employee to one type of protection or another.

Likewise, even though an employee’s general or unspecified fear of contracting CV19 is not sufficient to confer an entitlement, an employee who suffers from clinical anxiety may qualify for an ADA accommodation. Simply living with someone who may be more at risk for CV19 is insufficient, but serving as a caregiver for someone in his or her household who is under a quarantine/isolation order likely entitles an employee to protection.

Paid Sick Leave Act. In companies 4Employee with fewer than 500 employees, an employee who is under quarantine/isolation orders, is symptomatic and seeking a medical diagnosis, is giving care to someone under a quarantine, or whose minor child’s usual caregiver is unavailable may be entitled to up to two weeks of paid leave; the leave may, depending on the reason for the leave, be taken intermittently.

Family & Medical Leave Act. 4Emergency In companies with fewer than 500 employees,

an employee who has been with company more than 30 days, and whose minor child’s usual caregiver is unavailable, may be entitled to up to ten weeks of paid leave; the leave may, depending on the circumstances, be taken intermittently.

4

with Disabilities Act. Companies 4Americans with 15 or more employees have to provide

reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Lots of jibberjabber in there, but in the CV19 context, this means that you may have to make accommodations for someone who, for instance, has asthma or a heart condition or severe

anxiety. That may be an unpaid leave, a workfrom-home plan, or other mechanism to let them perform their job (now or later).

Stanton Law Attorneys Are Here to Help We will continue to monitor COVID-19related return-to-work requirements as they develop and provide updates regarding their impact on your business. If you have questions about making the decision that’s best for your company and employees, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can help you understand your risk and responsibilities as the situation evolves. If you need a business law expert, the experienced Atlanta business attorneys at Stanton Law are available by phone at 404-8811288 or online.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

“Classic” Family & Medical Leave Act. If your company is covered by the FMLA, the employee is subject to FMLA, and if the employee has a qualifying “Serious Health Condition” preventing them from working, he or she is likely entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave (that may be available intermittently).

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BUSINESS

Adjust and republish

Using your content for multiple purposes

by Kristine Pratt for Manta Creating new and engaging content is a crucial aspect of small business content marketing. However, you may think that once a piece of content is created and published, it can’t be used again. But not so fast!

Just because you’ve created content in the past doesn’t mean it can’t be useful down the road.

Minimal effort to adjust content and publish it in new ways will help you get the most value out of it. You can re-use your content to reach new customers and make the most out of your efforts. Here’s a guide to effectively repurposing content for your small business.

Use existing information to create an infographic. Visually appealing content is highly likely to generate attention for your business. Chances are you have some helpful tips, professional insights, or intriguing bits of data that your followers and potential customers may enjoy. You can develop an infographic to post on your website, blog, and social media accounts.

1.

Post statistics to Twitter. Let’s say you have some interesting statistics, data points, or facts about your industry.

One easy method for getting leverage from these pieces of information is by turning them into tweets. Putting compelling facts in a bitesized tweet makes them more shareable and more likely to reach a wider base of potential customers. Consider putting the stats into a Twitter-friendly image for the best performance.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

2.

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Originally published by Manta at manta.com.

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

Use visual content for a Pinterest board. If you don’t have Pinterest for your business already, it’s time to get started. It’s just one useful platform to engage with loyal followers and prospective customers alike. You likely have social media content or blog posts full of images. Why not make the most out of these photos by republishing them

3.

on Pinterest? These pins can easily increase traffic to your website.

Combine your best blogs into a roundup post. Readers love listicles.

Creating a “best of ” list of blogs will help new and busy readers to get a look at your content.

You can create roundups to highlight the most popular pieces or your own favorites.

4.

Republish content on different platforms.

A super simple way to give your social media platforms a boost is simply re-using posts that perform well. This is similar to cross-posting one link across multiple networks. Not everyone who follows you on Instagram will also follow your Facebook. When republishing content, try to adjust the title, wording, or tone depending on the different audience.

5.

6.

Turn your blog posts into a newsletter.

When you work hard on new content for your blog, you want to maximize what you get for your effort. You can write a series of blog posts about particular tips, instructions, or themes.

This gives people a good reason to subscribe to your email campaign.

7.

Cut your videos into shorter videos or GIFs. Longer videos are generally great for your YouTube channel and website. But many other sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, favor shorter videos and GIFs. You can trim down your videos to have an attention-grabbing appeal on other platforms.

About the author

Kristine is the Content Marketing Manager with Manta. She brings a decade's worth of communications strategy work to the company. In addition to being a part of the marketing team, Kristine enjoys traveling, sports, and all things nerdy.

INDUSTRY

UAC works closely with Tolar Capitol Partners, monitoring and reporting weekly during each legislative session through Capitol Connection updates. These e-newsletters also include short surveys to "take the pulse" of

our UAC members on important issues. If you work for a UAC member company and would like to be added to this email list, please contact us at office@georgiauac.com.

the coming days, Georgia legislators will decide whether to run for reQ In election and continue giving their time for public service. How would you grade their effectiveness at delivering meaningful policies and budget resources to make our state better?

Here are some recent survey results from UAC members

RESULTS: They only get a C. Decent overall, but much room for improvement.......................40% They earned a B. I think they do a good job................................................................27% I give them an F. They continually miss the mark......................................................26% I am very satisfied, so I give them an A....................................................................... 7%

Legislation about fixing the process of litigation to reduce costs for Georgia's industries, small businesses, and citizens are a big topic at the State Capitol. How would rank the impact of frivolous lawsuits on your business and budget?

Q

RESULTS: Huge issue! People file lawsuits hoping for payout....................................................52% Not a big deal...............................................................................................................10%

Q

We are sorry that everyone is having to deal with changes due to COVID-19.

How would you describe the overall impact to your business?

RESULTS: We have adjusted well but have some loss in business..............................................47% Thankfully we have seen an uptick in sales...business is good..................................34% Big challenges for our business, but we are doing our best.......................................16% Awful situation...lost sales have devastated our business.......................................... 3%

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

I'm concerned. Seems there are more ads on TV.......................................................38%

33

INDUSTRY

Water use innovation

UGA Extension helps Georgia improve efficiency

by Sharon Dowdy, News Editor, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Tools, techniques, technologies “UGA is a leader in the development of innovative irrigation efficiency tools, techniques and technologies and UGA Extension works diligently with Georgia’s ag community to deploy these innovations across the state, particularly in southwest Georgia, which has become the focal point of the court case,” Johnson said.

To help improve Georgia’s agricultural water use efficiency, UGA Extension created the Agricultural Water Efficiency Team (AgWET), which includes 16 UGA faculty from various disciplines in partnership with Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District experts, 14 UGA Extension agents, four crop consultants and 53 farmers.

To help improve Georgia’s agricultural water use efficiency, UGA Extension created the AgWET Project, which includes UGA faculty from various disciplines in partnership with Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District experts, UGA Extension agents, crop consultants and farmers.

This program helps farmers better schedule irrigation, gives them a better understanding of why they may need to use these tools to help schedule their irrigation and increases their water-use efficiency through the use of soilmoisture sensors and smartphone apps.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

For the past three decades, Alabama,

34

Florida and Georgia have been battling over control of water resources in what has become known as the “tri-state water wars.” Judge Paul Kelly of New Mexico, a Supreme Courtappointed expert known as a “special master,” recently ruled in favor of Georgia in the ongoing Florida vs. Georgia court case.

AgWET has increased the adoption of innovative and efficient irrigation practices and technologies like soil moisture sensor systems across south Georgia, said Calvin Perry, superintendent of UGA’s Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla, Georgia.

“Two years ago, the original Special Master on the case chided Georgia, saying the state doesn’t monitor its water usage very well,” said Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “This year, that note was removed as the state now does an amazing job of tracking water usage.”

“While the AgWET project cannot claim all the credit, soil moisture sensor vendors operating in Georgia report a substantial uptick in system sales following the start of the AgWET project,” he said. “One vendor had a 536% increase in sales and another saw a 370% increase.”

Johnson said UGA Extension has strengthened its water resource education program by adding new personnel and new programs.

“Ag water conservation and water use efficiency are what we’re all about and why Stripling Park was created.”

INDUSTRY At Stripling Irrigation Research Park, more than 10 scientists conduct water-related research on crops like cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, sweet corn and vegetables, including collaborative projects with manufacturers of pivots, sprinklers and sensors.

Technology created at UGA has also helped improve water use efficiency in Georgia. With funding from the Georgia Cotton Commission and the Georgia Peanut Commission, UGA researchers developed a low-cost, wireless soilmoisture sensing system. UGA Smart Sensor Array uses a dense network of smart sensor nodes to accurately determine soil moisture variability.

“This system provides real-time soil-moisture data at multiple depths using inexpensive sensors and wireless telemetry. Several vendors have modeled their sensor systems on of the UGA system,” Perry said. “This type of information is necessary to make good irrigation scheduling decisions — especially if a variablerate irrigation system is used.”

UGA Extension specialists have also reported a notable increase in the use of mobile apps for soil moisture sensor and scheduling. UGA CAES researcher George Vellidis developed apps for advanced irrigation scheduling for use by farmers, agents and others in the industry.

To help traditional center-pivot irrigation systems work more efficiently, UGA scientists engineered Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) technology, which allows control of both where and how much irrigation is applied.

Helping farmers use water wisely has long been a part of Extension’s mission, but UGA Extension helps urban Georgians use water wisely, too.

Just over a year ago, Rolando Orellana was named the urban water management agent in the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture. He works with green industry leaders and teaches urban Extension agents how to help their clients to manage water wisely in the landscape, especially through irrigation systems.

With a $9,800 internal UGA Rolando Orellana is the urban water Extension Innovation management agent in the UGA Center for Grant and industry Urban Agriculture. Using the train-the-trainer support, Orellana model, Orellana's goal is to “build capacity with the agents so they can help green industry developed an clients and consumers in their counties.” irrigation training specifically designed to educate UGA Extension agents in 18 urban counties. Using the train-the-trainer model, Orellana's goal is to “build capacity with the agents so they can help green industry clients and consumers in their counties.”

With advice from irrigation professionals across Georgia, Orellana and his Center for Urban Agriculture colleague Greg Huber compiled irrigation tool kits for county agents to use when teaching about irrigation usage, management and maintenance. The agents review basic watering principles for use in urban landscapes and learn about irrigation systems, as well as reviewing Georgia’s Water Stewardship Act and the state’s rules and regulations surrounding water usage.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

UGA’s SmartIrrigation App can be used in corn, cotton and soybean fields. A version of the app will soon be available for pecan growers. To date, the app has been downloaded nearly 3,000 times. UGA scientists also cooperated on the creation of USDA’s IrrigatorPro app.

Urban water management

35

INDUSTRY The agents offer workshops to golf course managers, sports field managers, landscape installers, landscape managers, groundskeepers, garden curators and others. They are also training UGA’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer force to lead irrigation usage workshops.

Orellana hopes to install an irrigation system demonstration and research site on the UGA Griffin campus.

“It is only natural to start building the skills our county agents need to help our clients in the best way we can,” said Orellana.

In 2017, UGA Extension welcomed eight water educators who were formerly part of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation

Commission. Their positions were transferred to UGA Extension by then Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.

These educators support farmers, green industry representatives and homeowners by performing water audits and providing a mobile irrigation lab that makes on-farm visits to check the performance of center-pivot irrigation systems.

In north Georgia, the Extension water educators help farmers implement natural resource conservation best management practices, teach clients how to maintain drip irrigation, and share information about homeowner irrigation systems.

For more information on water wise programs from UGA Extension, go to site.extension.uga.edu/water.

UGA CAES appoints interim dean Joe West to lead the CAES

by Sam Fahmy for CAES News

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Joe West, who most

36

recently served as assistant dean of the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, has been named interim dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, effective July 1.

Joe West has been named interim dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, effective July 1. West is a professor in UGA's Department of Animal and Dairy Science, and his career with CAES has spanned nearly 35 years.

West is a professor in the UGA Department of Animal and Dairy Science, and his career with CAES has spanned nearly 35 years. In his 12 years as assistant dean, he oversaw enhancements to the learning environment

for students, as well as growth in research activity and Extension programming on the Tifton Campus. From 2002 to 2004, he served as interim head of the Department of Animal and Dairy Science.

As previously announced, Samuel Pardue, who has led the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences since 2016, intends to step down on June 30. A national search is currently underway for the next dean and director of the college.

“I am grateful to Dr. West for taking on this important role,” said S. Jack Hu, UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

“His demonstrated record of leadership will serve the college and the university well during this transition period.”

About the author Sam Fahmy is director of public relations for the University of Georgia's Office of the Senior Vicepresident for Academic Affairs and Provost.

INDUSTRY

National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture NICH launches social media campaign and first webinar

by Ellen Bauske In February the NICH Community and Health Benefits Committee social media campaign began promoting the health benefits

of plants on their Twitter (@consumerhort), Facebook (@consumerhort), and Instagram (@consumerhort) platforms. NICH launched its social media campaign with the goal of promoting the science and business of plants, gardens and landscapes. Follow/like NICH on these platforms and share the posts that come across your social media sites. Also, search for the #plantsdothat hashtag.

We are creating memes that promote plants, gardens and landscapes to help you spread the word about the value of plants.

You can access these resources here: consumerhort.org/plantsdothat We had just finished creating our April memes that celebrated both Earth Day and Arbor Day when COVID-19 modified our plans.

Maintaining social distance is pretty easy for a group like NICH; we meet electronically and are scattered across the country. Yet, many of us were faced with the new challenges of suddenly finding ourselves unemployed, working from home, kids out of school, and uncertainty and worry.

NICH webinar We also launched the first NICH webinar.

Mason Day, Head of Community and Support, JR Peters, Inc. provided resources for businesses looking for help with holding crops, managing plant diseases, selling online, social media marketing, or a combination of all of those things. You can watch this webinar here: https://youtu.be/YyW6YPCEjdI.

Stay informed Get on our newsletter list for and get our memes, infographics, latest news and webinar info: https://youtu.be/YyW6YPCEjdI.

UAC has new numbers

Please make a note of them.

Getting the message out With that in mind, our Social Media Committee and Health and Community Committee created a series of engaging memes to get this message out. They also created a virtual “Horticulture

Phone: 706.750.0350 Fax: 404.900.9194

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

It was a good time to inspire new consumers of horticulture. After all, we can always enjoy our house plants and garden in the yard. We can even take advantage of horticulture service industries, such as lawn and tree care and landscape designers, while maintaining a safe social distance.

Hunt.” This provided suggestions for consumers, including parents working at home with children, to get outside and immerse themselves in the world of horticulture. There are easy activities involving plants that can be done in homes, backyards, or on a walk around the neighborhood or park.

37

INDUSTRY

UGA researchers receive honor

Georgia House and Senate special legislative recognition represents. Gaines stated, “it was an honor to introduce a resolution commending the work that you’ve done with TifTuf. It’s amazing, the work you are doing, and the water conservation is really important, obviously.”

Practicing social distancing during the presentation, from left: Representative Houston Gaines, Dr. Wayne Hanna, Dr. Brian Schwartz, and Senator John Wilkinson.

Senator John Wilkinson and Representative Houston Gaines joined

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

UAC Executive Director Mary Kay Woodworth on May 21, 2020 in Athens at the University of Georgia, to honor and present Dr. Wayne Hanna and Dr. Brian Schwartz with Senate Resolution 895 and House Resolution 1219, commending them on their work at UGA to create TifTuf turfgrass. The presentation was originally scheduled for late March in front of the entire General Assembly at the Georgia state capitol, when Covid-19 shutdown delayed the bestowing of these honors.

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Senator Wilkinson, who chairs the Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs committee and is an Appropriations subcommittee chair, said, “I’ve followed the money spent over the years, and I really think that some of the best investments we’ve made have been here at the University of Georgia, the Extension service and with the turfgrasses that have been developed. I know that the money we have invested has really been returned many times over to the state of Georgia.”

Representative Gaines congratulated Hanna and Schwartz, and expressed appreciation for them travelling to Athens, the area he

Hanna and Schwartz’s research are located on the UGA Tifton Campus. In his 49th year at UGA, Hanna was gracious and humbled to receive the honors. He commented, “As I was driving up here this morning, I was thinking how we’ve made the full circle. Brian and I feel like we are working for the taxpayer. They are the ones who support this whole thing. Then you have the legislators, they appropriate the money through the university, which gives us the freedom to be creative, to develop these grasses and other inventions.”

“Brian and I put a lot of work in. For TifTuf, we’ve put in 20 years before it went to the public. Then it’s the sod growers, they are the ones who are putting it out there – and guess what? It gets back to the taxpayers; it’s made the whole circle! My heart has always been serving the taxpayers.” ~ Dr. Wayne Hanna

Dr. Schwartz joined Hanna and UGA’s turfgrass team in 2009. “It’s a good opportunity to be at the University of Georgia, work for the state, and to be with people who have been at the university and the industry for so long.”

“To be handed a project and a program that’s running for 40-50 years, it’s just a dream come true to me. When I got here in 2009, Dr. Hanna had a set of grasses and he said ‘you really need to study these, and drought (tolerance) is probably going to the be the most important trait you need to look to for the future’.” ~ Dr. Brian Schwartz

INDUSTRY UAC congratulates Drs. Hanna and Schwartz on this outstanding achievement, and the entire UGA turfgrass team for the research that they do. Hanna spoke to that, saying, “Georgia has a unique situation, we’ve got a team effort. It’s not just one person or one organization. I’ve traveled around the world, and most places envy the system that we have here.” Schwartz complimented his mentor and is proud to have the honor of “continuing the hard work that Dr. Hanna started from the 1970s onward, there’s been many important grasses from Tifton.”

Watch the video Be sure to watch the video of the presentation, and don’t miss the ending, where Hanna laughs and questions, “Why are they honoring us before the Senate and the House? I mean, we just did our jobs!”

The resolutions recognize the development of TIFTUF™, a drought-tolerant turf of exceptional quality.

View the video UAC - SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE RECOGNITION here: https://youtu.be/3D68THKGaXM

Many thanks to Bryan Tolar, Tolar Capitol Partners, for assistance with the resolutions, presentation, and videography.

The easiest 5% you'll ever save!

UAC business-level members now can select the auto-recurring payment option for their annual membership investment and get an immediate 5% discount. NOTE: The auto-recurring payment option is available for credit card payments only.

Your credit card automatically will be charged on your annual renewal date

It's easy: First, go to urbanagcouncil.com > Membership > Manage and click on "Log in as a member."

You will need to know the email address that is connected to your UAC membership. Not sure? Contact us and we'll look it up for you: 706.750.0350 or office@urbanagcouncil.com Don't know your password? Just click the "Request Password" button and a new password will be emailed to you.

Select the "Credit Card - Auto Recurring (5% discount)" payment option and enter your credit card information.

Note that this example has the investment amounts for a Contractor I membership.

The amounts you see will depend on your membership level.

Even easier: call us and we'll make the change for you! 706.750.0350

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Under the "About" tab, scroll down until you see the "Renew, Upgrade or Update Billing" button. Click on that button.

39

INDUSTRY

Sod producer checkoff program Webinars gauge interest

Content provided by Turfgrass Producers International Members of the U.S sod production industry have asked Turfgrass Producers

International (TPI) to investigate the potential interest among sod producers in a sod checkoff program as well as its impacts. Over the next 12-18 months, TPI will host online webinars to seek input from producers and to share information on what a potential checkoff could look like for the sod industry.

The webinar ended with several insightful questions from our participants. If you missed it, you can watch the entire un-edited webinar here and ask questions on SodCheckoff.org.

Key takeaways from Webinar #1

4Background > USDA Research and Promotion programs

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Any sod industry checkoff would be designed, implemented and governed by sod producers, for sod producers. All U.S. sod producers will have a chance to provide input on establishing an industrywide checkoff and ultimately be asked to vote on it in a nationwide referendum for it to become law.

40

Over 110 attendees registered for the first webinar on May 19, 2020, with the following agenda: > Sod Checkoff Introduction, Hank Kerfoot, President of Modern Turf > USDA Research and Promotions Program History and Overview, Dr. Casey Reynolds, TPI > Sod Industry Checkoff, Building the Case, Dr. Casey Reynolds, TPI > Dairy Industry Checkoff, Background, and Successes, Marilyn Hershey, AR-JOY Farms LLC > Sod Checkoff Development, Process, Referendum, and Compliance, Wayne Watkinson, Watkinson-Miller LLC Dr. Casey Reynolds and Wayne Watkinson did a wonderful job explaining what a USDA Research and Promotion Program (also known as a checkoff) is and could look like for the sod production industry. We heard first-hand experience from Marilyn Hershey on the success of the Dairy Industry Checkoff. Marilyn is a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and the chairperson of Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI), which is a key dairy industry checkoff program.

commonly referred to as “checkoffs” began in 1966 when Congress authorized them at the federal level. The term checkoff originated from producers having to check a box if they were interested in participating.

Today, all USDA programs are mandatory, but the term remains. > Research and Promotion programs establish a legal framework for producers to pool resources and promote the industry as a whole. These programs help to: • Strengthen Existing Markets • Develop New Markets • Conduct Important Market and Scientific Research • Drive Demand for the Covered Commodity • Engage other industries to leverage promotional funds > Checkoffs are Industry programs, NOT federal government or USDA programs.

They are created and governed by industry members (producers, farmers, etc.) > There has not been a checkoff program established yet for turfgrass sod producers.

Everything to this point has been exploratory and this webinar was the first of its kind seeking industry input.

the turfgrass industry could benefit 4Why from a checkoff

> Lack of public understanding of our product and its value > Generational opinions on the value of lawns are changing > Regulatory threats to our market > Competitive threats to our market

INDUSTRY • We have a good story that needs to be told is a checkoff program?

4What > Congress authorizes the Secretary of

Agriculture to implement programs for agricultural products > Checkoffs use federal authority to ensure fairness and compliance. > Checkoffs are Industry Programs with an active “Board of Producers.” The Board has the following responsibilities: • Sets the budget • Creates the programs • Oversees the programs > If approved, compliance is mandatory

for developing a checkoff 4Process > The industry drafts rules for a Checkoff

program > The industry works with the U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA) to finalize the proposal > The final proposal is published for public comment

> A referendum is held within the industry to approve the program

steps for creating a program 4Next > The industry appoints a program

development committee that drafts the rules of the program. > The Development Committee will be comprised of large and small producers, a wide geographic representation of producers, TPI, and non-TPI members, etc. > The industry then shares the draft program with the USDA and works with them to develop a final rule and publish a referendum for voting.

While TPI is leading the beginning stages of this effort, this will be an industry program, not a TPI program. We are here to help facilitate conversations between producers and the USDA. If you have any questions or would like to be included in the next steps, please email TPI at Info@TurfgrassSod.org.

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Synthetic turf for landscapes Innovations create upward trend

by Mike Dahl, managing editor, Landscape Architect and Specifiers News Synthetic turf installations are on an upward trend for landscape projects, according to Laith Ross, PE, LEED AP, the new chairman of the Synthetic Turf Council (STC).

“Overall, for designers and installers across the nation, you are seeing a pretty significant growth in landscape installations,” he states. “This is primarily in water restricted areas and areas that have trouble maintaining natural grass.”

Chad Vander Veen, Purchase Green

For landscape contractors who want to take better advantage of the growing use of synthetic turf in landscape installations, the Synthetic Turf Council is now offering a certification program. Known as CTI-L, it provides education to help learn best practices and become a more qualified installer. The STC says that they are now seeing bids that specify CTI-L certification.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

California, Arizona and Nevada are high on that list.

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Ross is senior principal with RossTarrant Architects in Lexington, Kentucky. With 29 years of personal experience designing landscapes with both natural grass and synthetic turfs, he can confidently say, “They both have their place.”

Based in Forest Hill, Maryland, the STC has 265 members from across the supply chain in the synthetic turf industry including installers.

New installer certification program Recently launched, the CTI-L program requires an education component, an experience requirement regarding the square footage of landscape turf installed and an exam to become certified as a landscape installer. Then there

are a certain number of hours of continuing education to recertify every two years.

“We provide an opportunity to recognize best practices in the industry,” relates Dan Bond, the president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council “And we are now seeing bids that specify CTI-L certification.”

Ross agrees. “Because of performance concerns and issues with installations we have seen in the past, more and more designers are starting to see the benefit in the actual certification process to ensure that they are getting a good installation. A poor installation can ruin a synthetic turf project faster than anything else can.”

New innovations According to Ross, technology for synthetic turf is constantly evolving with better fiber and infill materials to make "synthetic turf perform as well as the best grown natural grass under the best conditions.”

And as far as infill material is concerned, the introduction of new products has compelled his firm to update infill designing guidelines to incorporate those changes. The spectrum of available choices includes organic-based materials such as coconut, cork, wood fiber, walnut shells and hemp-based products.

“We even have a member that is looking into using old coffee beans and grinding them down as infill,” Bond states.

And Ross says that based on what he is seeing in the design market, the use of organics is growing. The STC is soon coming out with an industry survey that will better quantify the types of infill that are being installed.

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The elephant in the room

Most of the synthetic turf manufacturers have a standard system that they market, which often will consist of a certain turf type and specific height, with an infill that is a certain blend of materials. Some manufacturers will use two or three different systems with two or three different infill materials in them.

What about the highly publicized cancer danger of using recycled rubber?

“We’ve compiled a list of 110 third party, peerreviewed studies and reports that show that there is no increased risk for children of any age, or adults that play on synthetic turf with recycled rubber infill,” retorts Bond. “The EPA has taken a multi-year study that looks at rubber as infill for synthetic turf athletic fields and their first report says that there is no cause for alarm when it comes to crum rubber infill turf fields.”

Alli Rael, LASN

And he reminds that, “The end user can choose whatever infill they want.”

All interested parties can go to SyntheticTurfCouncil.org and download an Excel spreadsheet with all of the studies.

Closing thoughts Ross says that the goal of the STC is to make synthetic turf perform better and alleviate safety fears by testing and showing those test results, “putting it all out there on the table so that everyone can see it.”

And if dangers and concerns arise from their testing, “you would see an immediate change of course on how we approach these things.”

Chad Vander Veen, Purchase Green

There have been many technological advancements when it comes to infill materials and contractors have a wide range of choices, including organic material, that can be provided as part of a synthetic turf system according to Dan Bond, the president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council.

Ross reminds that with natural grass and synthetic turf, “They each have their uses.

They each have a place that is best for them individually.”

This article first appeared in Landscape Contractor Magazine in the April 2020 issue. For more, visit landscapearchitect.com

Chad Vander Veen, Purchase Green

As far as choosing a proper infill material, Laith Ross, PE, LEED AP, a senior principal with RossTarrant Architects and the chairman of the STC advises that some infills have to have moisture content in them to perform their best and in some areas of the country, that may not be realistic. In other areas freeze/thaw may cause a breakdown or degradation of the infill material because if it needs moisture, when it freezes, the moisture can expand and break down the material. Another consideration is what’s available in your area.

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

To better inform contractors, the STC has technical guidelines on their website, which can be downloaded as PDFs. Also, they are in the process of updating the majority of those and will continue to do so about every two years, according to Bond, and they plan to present more webinars.

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October Magic camellias

Putting you in a gardening frame of mind for fall

by Norman Winter, The Garden Guy You will most likely find the color of camellia you are looking for in this group. They all excel in providing the welcoming blooms as well as the bones or evergreen structure needed in the home landscape.

You’ll relish the fact that each of these October Magic camellias have a wide range of cold-hardiness, recommended for zones 7-9. They are ideally suited for the high shade or filtered light garden, though sasanquas can tolerate more sun than most imagine.

October Magic camellias come in eleven varieties each with an exquisite shape and form.

October Magic camellias have really

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captured The Garden Guy’s heart in recent years with blooms that are nothing short of exquisite but a size and vigor of plant that seems perfect for the landscape. That was a little tongue-in-cheek as I have had camellia sasanquas that reached the second story and took a pretty tall ladder to do a little trimming.

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October is usually a time when you realize you have survived an oppressive end to summer.

It’s hard to even believe that there are shrubs that start their blooms in October. By all means you’ve got to have them.

October Magic is a series within the Southern Living Plant Collection that features eleven varieties. There are a variety of colors and textures with blooms that will leave you mesmerized. You’ll find blooms that are ruffled like October Magic Carpet as well as those like October Magic Dawn and October Magic Inspiration that look like they were hand painted by an artist brush.

Planting tips Fall is a great time to plant and inventories of camellias are normally at their highest. Roots increase dramatically during the cool season allowing the plant to really get acclimated and take off once growth resumes in the spring.

Camellias require organic rich, well-drained acidic soil. In the landscape, put them in a bed versus surrounded by turf. Prepare the area for by incorporating 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, tilling deeply. Remember you want to avoid wet feet as much as possible. Dig the planting hole three times as wide as the rootball but no deeper.

The wide holes allow for the quickest rootexpansion and thus acclimation to the landscape. Place the camellia in the hole, planting 1 to 2 inches above the soil surface.

Backfill with soil, tamp and water to settle. If needed add more soil and finish the project by applying a good layer of mulch.

Maintenance Camellias typically don’t require a lot of pruning. Shape your camellias in the early spring as needed, just prior to the flush of growth. Dead or weak wood can be removed anytime.

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October Magic Ruby is small and compact, with an uncountable number of flowers.

October Magic Orchid resembles a fine piece of China.

Feed your camellias with an azalea camellia fertilizer in the spring coinciding with the return of growth. Follow label recommendations and err on the side of caution, knowing that two light applications are better than one big one.

needled conifer adjacent to ruby red flowers is nothing short of dazzling. It’s kind of like fine jewelry growing in the landscape.

Favorites

At, The Garden Guy’s house I have them partnered in one area with Yewtopia Plum Yew. There is just something to love about this combination of conifer-like needles and ruby red flowers.

In another area I have them partnered with Paul’s Gold chamaecyparis. This bright gold-

I combined these with Autumn Ivory Encore Azalea and Purple Daydream loropetalum.

About the author Norman Winter is an author and speaker on horticultural topics.

Follow him on Facebook: Norman Winter The Garden Guy

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

October Magic Ruby is one of my all-time favorites. I feel the bulk of the garden world simply doesn’t know about this small compact grower that has about the same habit has Shishi Gashira. It loads up with an uncountable number of buds that proceed to open up throughout the fall. The flowers are fully double and perfect to get you into the holiday spirit.

I also love October Magic Orchid. Wow, you are talking camellias blossoms resembling rare china. These blooms are semi-double, white to blush with orchid pink highlights. These plants reach about 5 feet tall and 3 to 4-feet wide.

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Picturesque anise

Transforming the woodland garden

by Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author and Speaker Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs from the standpoint acclimatization in the landscape. That being said, I would like to give a shout out for some underused Illicium or anise.

Florida Sunshine will electrify the woodland garden with its gold to chartreuse foliage.

Throughout the South or Pacific Northwest in zones 7 and warmer the Illicium is a muchused shrub for the evergreen structure or bones of the landscape. But those with contrasting foliage are still lagging way behind.

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What do I mean by contrasting foliage? I am talking about 24-karat gold foliage as in the variety Florida Sunshine and the Grey Ghost with leaves that have pewter gray and white margins.

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Florida Sunshine is a selection of Illicium parviflorum native to Florida and Georgia and was introduced by Plant Delights Nursery in North Carolina. Grey Ghost a selection of Illicium floridanum native from Florida to Louisiana made by Tommy Dodd in Semmes, Alabama. Both stand out against the typical dark green of other shrubs.

Florida Sunshine will reach 7 feet tall and 8 feet wide and literally brings sunshine and happiness to the woodlands garden. Actually, the species has been known to reach close to 12 feet. Florida Sunshine has inconsequential blooms but foliage so colorful it was like brightly

lit lanterns in the Shade Garden at the Costal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah and just as dazzling when I lived in Hamilton, GA. Grey Ghost has a little more cold-hardiness, stretching to zone 6. It would be hard to imagine a better companion plant to camellias of all species. The grey foliage would contrast to the dark green of camellia foliage while serving as foil to their pink, white, or red blossoms. It too will reach 6 t0 8-feet tall and produces pale pink flowers.

Lastly you may want to look for Henry’s anise, Illicium henryi, native to China. I love the structure, habit and bloom of this large shrub, perhaps most exquisite as a small tree. This one is cold hardy in zones 7 and warmer. It was picturesque at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah, especially when draped with Spanish Moss and when the deep coral pink blooms dangled like ornaments.

All of these anises thrive in partial shade, in other words a woodland garden. They are also deer resistant. Prepare the soil by incorporating 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, and two pounds of a 5-10-5 fertilizer per 100 square feet of planting area, tilling deeply.

Dig the planting hole two to three times as wide as the rootball but no deeper. When you dig these large holes, you are opening the door to the fastest root expansion and establishment in your bed. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil to two-thirds the depth. Tamp the soil and water to settle, add the remaining backfill, repeat the process and apply mulch.

Keep in mind they have the potential of reaching 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.

Prune lightly anytime to shape and keep bushy.

With Henry’s anise be bold and train into a small tree. During the first year use a regular water regimen and water deeply training the roots to go deep.

URBAN AG About the author Norman Winter is an author and speaker on horticultural topics.

Follow him on Facebook: Norman Winter The Garden Guy

Grey Ghost will reach 6 to 8-feet tall with pewter grey foliage with white margins.

Flowers will be a cheerful pale pink.

Henry's Anise makes an exquisite small tree with deep coral blooms that dangle like ornaments.

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Surviving the summer Heat load impacts on trees

by Dr.. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care, University Hill Fellow, Warnell School, UGA Summer provides many hot days for people and trees. Figure 1 shows the historic

number of days per year with temperatures above 90o F for Georgia. Much of tree growth is impacted by the interaction of water availability and heat load. Many old, young, and soillimited trees can be damaged by elevated heat loads. The combination of drought and harsh site conditions provided by parking lots, along streets, on open squares, and associated with surrounding pavement can lead to a number of tree problems. An old term “heat stroke” can be used with trees where heat loads are extreme and have led to growth and survival problems.

4

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Temperature Trees find optimum growing conditions across a range of temperatures from 70o F to 85o F. Hot temperatures can injure and kill living tree tissues. A thermal death threshold is reached at approximately 115o F. The thermal death threshold varies depending upon duration of hot temperatures, absolute highest temperature

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reached, tissue age, thermal mass, water content of tissue, and ability of a tree to make adjustments with temperature changes.

Tree temperature usually runs just at or slightly above air temperature in sunlight.

Trees dissipate heat by long-wave radiation, convection of heat into surrounding air, and transpiration (water loss from leaves).

Transpiration is a major mechanism for dissipation of tree heat loads. Without transpirational cooling, more ineffective means are used to dissipate heat like radiation to surroundings, and wind cooling.

control 4Water Trees can dissipate tremendous heat loads if

allowed to function normally, and with adequate soil moisture. Unfortunately, hot temperatures greatly increase water vapor pressure deficient (dryness of the air) which cause leaf stomates to close because of rapid water loss, and so limit transpirational cooling. When transpiration is limited by hot temperatures, and a tree is surrounded by non-evaporative surfaces (hard surfaces), leaf temperatures may rise above the thermal death threshold.

Normal range of water tension (content) over which tree growth occurs is -0.2 to -12 bars.

Drought damage occurs in a leaf as -15 to -20 bars is approached. The gradient between the inside of a leaf at 100% relative humidity (0 bars) and the surrounding atmosphere can be great. Figure 2. For example, fog can be 100% relative humidity while rain downpours range from 90% to 98% relative humidity. Trees lose water even during rain storms because at 98% relative humidity, the air is 100 times drier than the inside of a leaf.

Figure 1: Long-term average number of days above 90o F. (30 year annual Georgia average rounded to next highest class.)

up 4Keeping Associated with rapid water loss and

temperature increases in leaves is a delay or time lag in water absorption by roots. Leaves can lose

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Figure 2: Estimated water potential (bars) of air for various relative humidity values (in percent) and air temperatures (F0). water much faster than roots can absorb water.

The difference between water loss from a tree and water gain through root absorption can generate many problems. Figure 3 provides a generalized view of tree water movement with leaf transpiration and root absorption. Note that a noon-time slow-down in transpiration is caused in-part by water shortages in leaves, which cause stomates to close.

Figure 3: Relative difference between leaf transpiration and root absorption of water in a tree during a warm sunny day with adequate soil moisture.

water 4Hot Heat injury is difficult to separate from water

problems because water and temperature in trees are closely bound together in biological and physical processes. Water shortages and heat buildup are especially critical in leaves, and secondarily, in cambial and phloem area of twigs and branches. On an average site, a difference of 22o F and 60% relative humidity can occur over a single day. Figure 4. Increased temperatures increase vapor pressure deficit

Figure 4: Relative change over a summer day between air temperature and relative humidity. between leaves and atmosphere, as well as increasing diffusion and mass flow rates of water through tree tissues. Figure 5.

In tree leaves, wilting is the first major symptom of water loss excesses and heat loading. Leaves under heavy heat loads may progress through senescence (if time is available), brown-out and

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Water shortages developed in the day are corrected as completely as soil resources allow by water uptake in roots at night. The force or energy for this nighttime water absorption (when stomates are closed) is through tension (negative pressure) in water columns which remains from the previous day. This tension force pulls water into a tree. Night uptake by roots can amount to 20-40% of total tree water needs.

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URBAN AG air 4Hot Long distance movement of energy across a

landscape is by advected heat. Advected heat is generated when hard dense surfaces heat the air above them. This advected heat is carried on the wind, heating and drying tree tissues as it passes.

Advected heat from neighboring hardscapes can heat and dry landscapes and trees, powering excessive water evaporation to dissipate heat generated somewhere else. Wind also decreases the protective tree surface boundary layer resistance to water movement around tree tissues and can lead to quick dehydration.

Structures and topographic features can modify or block advected heat flows across a site.

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Figure 5: Effects of temperature changes on water vapor pressure deficity (- vpd = shaded area), or dryness of the air.

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Figure 6: Water use doubling sequence for trees exposed to increasing heat loads. For each 180 F (100 C) site temperature increase above 400 F, water use by tree and site double from physical impacts of heat loading.

finally abscise. Leaves quickly killed by heat are usually held on a tree by tough xylem tissue and lack of abscission zone preparation. Rewatering after heat damage and drought may initiate quick leaf abscission.

trouble 4Double Daytime energy exchanges and associated

temperature increases provide for the greatest heat load, but night temperatures are also critical for many tree growth mechanisms, especially new leaves and reproductive structures. Night temperatures are critical for controlling respiration rates in the whole tree and soil environment. The warmer the temperature, the geometrically faster respiration precedes.

As a general rule, each temperature step, beginning at 40o F and continuing through 58o F, 76o F, 94o F, 112o F, and 130o F, allow physical doubling of tree respiration and water loss. Figure 6. Gross photosynthesis generally doubles up to 94o F and then rapidly falls off.

Respiration in all living tree tissues continues to rapidly climb until thermal death levels are reached. Heat stroke in trees is a series of metabolic dysfunctions and physical constraints which pile up inside trees and become impossible to adjust, avoid, or correct. Figure 7.

stress 4Additional Since processing nitrogen is physiologically

demanding, moderate concentrations of nitrogen fertilizers can lead to tissue and system damage under large heat loads. The internal processing of nitrogen fertilizer inputs require stored food (CHO) in roots to be used. When no food is being produced in a tree, transport systems are only marginally functional, and respiration is accelerating, nitrogen applications

URBAN AG should be withheld. Excessive heat loads and supplemental nitrogen lead to excessive root food use. Fertilizer salt contents or activity in a soil can also be damaging when soil moisture is limiting.

base area). Heat lesions are usually first seen on the south/southwest side of stems.

Heat stress problems make trees more susceptible to pests and other environmental problems. A number of pathogens are more effective attacking trees under water or heat stress. Heat injury includes scorching of leaves and twigs, sunburn on branches and stems, leaf senescence and abscission, acute leaf death, and shoot and root growth inhibition. These damage symptoms can facilitate pest entrance into a tree.

Loss of defensive capabilities and food supplies allow some otherwise uncommon or minor pests to effectively attack trees.

The absolute temperature reached above optimal function partially determines the recovery time needed. Figure 8. The duration of hot temperatures cannot exceed a tree’s ability to adjust, avoid, or repair problems, or death results. Less absolute amounts of sensible heat are needed to damage trees as the duration of hot temperature periods lengthen. In other words, the more dysfunctional and disrupted growth functions become due to heat loading, the easier it is to develop further stress problems.

membranes 4Melting Living tree cell membranes are made of a

soil 4Hot The soil surface can be both a heat reflecting

and absorbing layer. In full sunlight, dry dense soils can reach 150o F. This heat can be radiated and reflected into a landscape and onto trees causing tremendous heat loading. Excessive heat loading causes large amounts of water to be transpired, initiates major metabolic problems, and can generate heat lesions just above the ground/tree contact juncture (root collar -- stem

Figure 8: Photosynthesis impact from high temperature exposure (solid line) and associated tree recovery time in weeks.

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Figure 7: The relative rates of photosynthesis (Ps) and respiration (Rs) in a tree under increasing temperatures.

double layer of lipids (fats/oils) which enclose the living portions of a cell. As temperature increases, membranes become more liquid (similar to heating butter and watching it melt). As temperatures increase, cells use two strategies to maintain life; one is to increase the saturated fat proportion in membranes, and the second is to increase structural proteins holding membranes together. As temperatures continue to climb, enzymes and structural proteins are inactivated or denatured. Respiration deadends and by-products produce toxic materials which are difficult to transport away or destroy, compartmentalize, or excrete. Tree cell death is the end result.

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URBAN AG Heat load 4Tolerance 4 To accurately determine tree health associated The differences among trees to tolerating heat

with food use and water evapotranspiration, an estimate of infrared (long wave) energy impact to a tree is needed. Because sunlight energy input is the same per unit area, various surfaces and structures on a site change the total amount of heat with which a tree must deal. This heat load comes primarily from reflected energy from surfaces, radiated energy from local materials, and energy moved onto a site in the form of heated air (advection). Figure 9 shows heat loading on a tree surrounded by dense, nonevaporative surfaces.

loads revolve around enzyme effectiveness and membrane health. The better enzymes and membranes can be protected from heat effects, the more effective a tree will be in dealing with large heat loads. Protection or deactivation of enzyme systems in trees are influenced by cellular pH, solute levels in cells, protein concentrations, and active protection mechanisms. The ability of a tree to continue functioning under significant heat loads demonstrates tolerance. Tolerance mechanisms are primarily genetically controlled, although each individual usually has a wide range of responses to heat stress based upon current and past stress levels.

heat loads 4Estimating A major part of tree health is associated with

complex site interactions among temperature, light, water, soils, and other living things. One of the most important of tree/site interactions is avoiding and dissipation of sensible heat. The amount of energy delivered to a site (and how it is reflected, absorbed, radiated, conducted, convected, and advected) determines many aspects of physical and biological food and water use in trees.

As all the different sources of energy impact a tree, tissue temperature climbs, relative humidity falls, and the air and surfaces surrounding a tree increase in temperature. Some portion of heat load accumulated within a tree, and on the soil surface, can be dissipated by evaporation of water. The concept of heat load is needed to allow for appreciating and correcting excessive tree water loss and accelerating food use on sites with elevated temperatures, when compared with normal sites. Nonevaporative, dense surfaces absorb energy, quickly increase in temperature, heat surrounding air, and radiate heat (long-wave radiation). Heat load estimates try to quantify the amount of non-evaporative, dense surfaces surrounding a tree or planting site.

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process 4Shade Figure 10 shows energy distribution on three

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Figure 9: Diagrammatic view of a tree growth area impacted by heat loading from surrounding hard, dense, non-evaporative surfaces. The heat load view factor on the tree in this diagram is 70%.

sites: 1) a hard, dense-surfaced parking lot; 2) a tree (or awning) standing over dry soil -- which demonstrates a passive shade process; and, 3) a tree in moist soil -- representing an active shade process. All sites receive the same amount of sunlight energy. Each site uses or modifies this energy in different ways because of the surfaces which energy impacts, and because of the presence of water available for evaporation from both tree and soil. In example one (1), the parking lot receives and reflects back a total of 2000 heat units on a summer day. These are generic heat units used to show relative proportions between sites. Anything on this parking lot site is baked. The air immediately

URBAN AG above is heated and wind pushes this hot air over surrounding landscapes as advected heat.

The second example shown in Figure 10 is a dry site with a standing tree. The tree physically blocks energy from impacting the soil surface and creates a passively shaded zone. Instead of a tree, which can not survive without water, an awning, umbrella, or a roof on a structure would perform the same passive shading service.

In this case, 400 heat units are blocked from the site. Roughly 600 heat units enter the site and 600 heat units are reflected back for a total of 1200 heat units on-site.

The third example shown in Figure 10 is a tree growing and actively transpiring on a moist soil. As before, 400 heat units are physically blocked passively by tree structure. Of the remaining 600 heat units, about 350 heat units are dissipated through water evaporation from leaves (transpiration), and 50 heat units are dissipated from soil through surface evaporation.

With the addition of moisture to a site for tree transpiration, an active shade process is present which greatly reduces site heat load to 450 heat units. The presence of adequate soil moisture and a healthy tree can lead to large amounts of active heat dissipation. Evaporative surfaces and water availability allow for effective heat management on a site. view factor 4Site Figure 11 shows how heat load (i.e. Coder

segment is considered to be dominated by one or the other of these surface types.

The first estimate is made along a North/South plane, and a second estimate is made along an East/West plane. The horizontal distances given in Figure 11 are based upon an observation height of 5.5 feet. The final view-factor percentage is an average between one complete circle observed in a North/South plane and a second complete circle observed in an East/ West plane. The possible ranges of view-factors for non-evaporative dense surfaces facing a site are 0% (100% sky and vegetation) to 100% (100% non-evaporative dense hardscape surfaces). Remember urban canyons and dense shading from hardscapes do not necessarily eliminate increased heat load values. Each site must be examined for heat loading.

much heat?

4How The Coder Heat Load Multiplier values for

various non-evaporative dense surface viewfactors (nearest 10% class) for a site or tree are given in Figure 12. For example, if the heat load view-factor average for a tree planting site was determined to be 60%, the heat load multiplier factor is 1.9. This value means tree water loss

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Heat Load Estimator) can be estimated on a site by using a view-factor containing 10 equal (36o ) observation angles. In each of 10 angle segments, the dominant surface facing a tree or planting site is recorded. Viewfactor components can include either sky and vegetation, or non-evaporative dense surfaces (hardscape). The procedure for estimating heat loading uses these ten equal angles of observation distributed around a measurement point. Every 10% or 36o of angle around this point, starting on the ground directly below, and observing along a circle which passes through zenith, is determined to have either open sky/ vegetation or non-evaporative dense surfaces facing the measurement point. Each angle

Figure 10: Relative total heating unit accumulation and components under various surface and soil conditions.

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URBAN AG and carbohydrate use would be ~1.9X greater than for a tree standing on a site without any hardscape (which would have a heat load multiplier factor of 1.0).

Heat impacts

Figure 11: Diagram showing how heat load can be estimated on a site using an average dominant surface view-factor from 10 equal (360) observations angles (Coder Heat Load Estimator). (distances given above are based upon an

UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

observation height of 5.5 feet)

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Figure 12: Coder Heat Load Multiplier values for various non-evaporative dense surface view-factors (nearest 10% class) for a site or tree. Use heat load multiplier to estimate increased water use and carbohydrate use in trees under various heat loads.

There are many internal changes within a living tree as heat loading increases. At first, photosynthesis (Ps) decreases and respiration (Rs) increases. Maintenance requirements of chlorophyll molecules greatly increase. As heat loading continues, net photosynthesis closes down altogether. The turnover point between net photosynthesis and accelerating respiration is around 95o F. Although no net photosynthesis is occurring, chlorophyll molecules in sunlight continue to activate and generate cell and chloroplast damaging by-products. ...

4Going As heat loads increase, transpiration greatly

increases simply from physical water evaporation. Stomates close. With closed stomates no carbon dioxide (CO2) can be captured and no food (CHO) can be made.

Closed stomates do not prevent evaporation of water from tissues, just transpiration through stomates. As transpiration is almost stopped, heat dissipation is prevented and internal tissue temperature increase. As tissue temperature increases, more evaporation through the periderm and leaf/bud surfaces occur. Without transpiration-generated forces (water column tension), hydration, material transport, and absorption problems occur.

Heat increases initiate cell membrane leakage and tissue dehydration, starting with the most tender and succulent tissues, like new leaves and shoots. Within meristems (growing points or areas), cell division and expansion are inhibited, and growth regulation is disrupted. Trees rapidly use food reserves, while food transport and processing become more inefficient. In leaves, photorespiration accelerates making any photosynthesis more inefficient. Lack of effective transport mechanisms and control systems interfere with shipment and use of food reserves.

URBAN AG

4...Going....

As damaging heat load duration or

Therapeutics

temperatures continue to increase, tree cells start to self destruct. Within living cells, highly reactive and toxic materials are generated. Cell membranes begin to fail causing intermixing of materials within a cell and just outside in cell wall spaces. With continued heat loading, the respiration system begins to fall apart. Growing spot deficiencies of essential elements, coupled with empty or overflowing pools of sequential metabolites occur. Cells cannot work fast enough to keep everything from failing.

4Gone!

Finally, excessive heat load leads to a complete

loss of membrane integrity. The boundary between symplast and apoplast is lost. Proteins begin to functionally collapse and breakdown.

The final result is dead cells and tissue death.

These islands (lesions) of cell death expand, leading to massive damage which surrounding cells can not hinder or compartmentalize. Tree death can be a final result.

There are a number of appropriate responses to increasing heat load, and associated tree stress and strain. Many treatments are simply treeliterate common sense. Other treatments can be used to minimize damage and hasten recover.

4Water!!!!!

Clearly the best treatment for an increasing

heat load is watering, sprinkling, and misting tree tissues to improve water availability, reduce tissue temperature, and lessen water vapor pressure deficit around tree tissues. Along with increased water supplies come increased drainage demands for assuring proper soil aeration. Do not compound heat load problems with generation of suffocating anaerobic soil conditions.

heat load process!

4Disrupt To reduce heat loads on trees, partial shading

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URBAN AG impact a tree and site) can reduce heat load and increase efficiency of food and water use.

Reflection of sunlight and muting of radiative heat using site colorants (light colors and white) and surface treatments (low density, evaporative surfaces) on hardscapes around landscapes can reduce heat loads. Block or channel advected heat away from trees and soils with low density (i.e. wood) walls and fences, and soil berms.

Hardscape watering is a water intensive/ expensive procedure to quickly alter heat loads.

Pervious evaporative pavements and low density non-heat absorbing surfaces can help minimize or dissipate heat loads.

Prevent or minimize any soil active/osmotically active soil additions which might increase salt index or utilize water for dilution or activation.

Be cautious of pesticide applications, carefully noting tree and soil activity of active ingredients, carriers, wetting agents, and surface adherence products. A number of pesticides require an active healthy tree and site for best response.

Pesticide performance under hot temperatures, and with damaged trees, may be compromised generating unexpected results.

other stresses!

4No For trees under significant heat loads, green-

In moderation!

4Mulch A key landscape treatment is the use of mulch

which protect soil surfaces from direct sunlight impact and minimize indirect heat load impact.

The best mulches to use for this purpose are low density, coarse textured, natural organic materials derived from tree tissues (not grass or garden clippings). The purpose and function of this type of mulch is to minimize soil evaporative water loss while not disrupting soil gas exchange processes (i.e. oxygen (O2) into soil and carbon-dioxide (CO2) out of soil).

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Many blanket, film, and synthetic mat mulches tend to increase heat loading on a site and damage soil and trees. Size-sorted wood chips, tree bark, pine straw, and course leaf mulch work well if applied in thin layers, maintained, and shown to not mat or settle into a water and gas impervious layer. Thin mulch layers are best -- reapplied often.

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4

Save additions For later!

During extreme heat load periods, some tree and site treatments can be damaging and should be delayed. Any and all forms of nitrogen fertilizer applications in or around a tree should cease. Resume minimal and then normal nitrogen enrichment only after full leaf expansion in the next growing season, or after soil and climate have returned to ecological normal growing conditions.

wood pruning should be minimized or delayed.

Heat loads conspire to disrupt effective wound response, xylem transpiration pathways, and food reserve availability. Pruning should be avoided under high temperatures. Pruning will not improve tree heat stress levels significantly, and can greatly deepen problems.

One technique used in old landscapes (and seemingly forgotten in modern landscapes) was shade structures and wind screens. Utilization of well-designed and constructed active shade structures in a landscape like arbors and trellises overgrown with live leaf surfaces can dissipate a great amount of heat if water is available.

A low-density hardscape framework covered with live plant tissue transpires water and dissipates heat. Dissipating heat structures both disrupts advected heat flow into a landscape and conditions air flow. Evaporative surfaces are critical within (and surrounding) a landscape to manage heat loads on trees.

dissipating design!

4Heat Building a heat dissipating landscape with

trees is challenging. Heat sources and water availability must be identified and used to manage heat generation. Great tree-literate designs and maintenance practices must be installed which deal with heat problems while monitoring other stress concerns. As in all tree management, a stress like heat loading must be recognized and treated. Do not obsess about visual symptoms, but find solutions for causes of tree stress.

More tree health publications are available at Warnell Outreach Publications website: warnell.uga.edu/outreach/publications

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