UAC Magazine - Winter 2024 by Georgia Urban Ag Council

JANUARY 31, 2024 Brochure inside!

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

Keeping Georgia’s green industry informed

56 WINTER 2024

Greener. Smarter. Stronger. WINTER 2024 | 1

THE STAND-ON DEFINING THE INDUSTRY

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2 | UAC MAGAZINE

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UAC Magazine Official publication of the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council

Board of Directors Pam Dooley Plants Creative Landscapes Jennifer Jorge King Green Matt Lowe Swift Straw Josh Morrow Athletic Fields, Inc. Ken Morrow The Turfgrass Group Bob Scott Irrigation Consultant Services Steve Ware Centennial Olympic Park/GWCC Ray Wiedman Outdoor Expressions Ron White TurfPride

Ex Officio

Bodie Pennisi UGA Extension Horticulturist Clint Waltz UGA Extension Turf Agronomist

Staff Mary Kay Woodworth Executive Director Kathy Johnson Marketing Director & Editor

A member of: American Hort Atlanta Botanical Garden Federation of Employers & Workers of America Georgia Arborist Association Georgia Association of Water Professionals Georgia Tree Council Georgia Water Alliance National Association of Landscape Professionals National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture Nursery & Landscape Association Executives RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) Seasonal Employment Alliance

Tolar Capitol Partners

4 | UAC MAGAZINE

URBAN AG COUNCIL MAGAZINE GEORGIA

WINTER 2024 UAC NEWS 5

Executive Director message

Landscape Pro University Attendee brochure

Caldwell created partnership Tree Guardians/Caldwell Tree Care

ABAC golf tournament UAC sponsors annual event

Shaping the future Power Hour Industry Issues Update

What did you miss? NG Turf’s Pro Day + UAC Networking Dinner

What did you miss? Georgia UAC Sporting Clays Tournament

What did you miss? Georgia Sod Producers Field Day

REGULAR FEATURES 20

Have you met... Rick Smith, The Pruning Guru

Pest 411 Asian longhorned beetle

Health & benefits Healthcare benefits

Save the date

What the tech? Short Messaging Service (AKA texting)

Safety works Staying safe on the roads

Directory of advertisers

BUSINESS 36

Leading through challenge Building resilience in the workplace

Tax planning Maximizing profitability, cash flow, enterprise value, growth

10 magic questions Uncovering your client’s real needs

INDUSTRY 44

Banta retires from PPC Longtime industry leader leaves legacy

2023 SkillsUSA Landscape/hort careers booth a big hit at national event

Hollifield recognized Georgia Crop Improvement’s executive director retires

URBAN AG 48

Putting texture to work Making products and services more enticing

Creative, beautiful and the perfect size Shrubs for small spaces

All Stars of the Drought Time to get tough with your beauty

UAC NEWS

Dear UAC Members and Supporters,

We entered 2023 after the 2022 Christmas Freeze, a “once in a lifetime” event, followed by another freeze in late March, that wreaked havoc in the landscape and had contractors and suppliers scrambling to ease their customers minds and wallets: “We’ll take care of you!”

Economy

After strong spring and summer seasons, murmurs of slowdowns started, and as usual, the economy was always at the forefront of my mind. Here are Kiplinger’s 2024 economic predictions (as of 12/10/2023):

> GDP – A slowdown in the first half of 2024, but no recession. 2024 growth should still be a moderate 1.7%.

> JOBS - Expect the jobless rate to pick up again as the economy slows in the coming months, but to peak at only 4.2% in 2024.

> INTEREST RATES - Long-term bond yields have

fallen below 5% as the Federal Reserve appears to be ending its rate hikes amid signs of a cooling labor market and economy. We think the Federal Reserve will leave its benchmark short-term rate alone at its next policy meeting, on December 13, and that it is likely finished raising rates for now.

> INFLATION - Core inflation slows to 4.0%, but larger declines won’t be seen until February.

> BUSINESS SPENDING - Annual wage growth

should ease from 4.1% to about 3% by the end of 2024, as the economic slowdown reduces hiring, and as lower inflation reduces cost-of-living raises. Wage growth will be highest in sectors with continuing labor shortages and in the Southern states, where large in-migration has increased demand for many services.

> ENERGY – Gasoline prices should continue easing;

however, prices could turn higher again in the longer run. Global oil markets appear tight, with smaller than normal oil and refined fuels in storage. If the world economy doesn’t stumble too badly, oil demand may stay high enough to strain supplies and push prices higher.

> HOUSING - Existing home sales are at lowest

level since 2010; high mortgage rates, tight credit conditions and a slowing economy will dampen any hopes soon of a major near-term recovery in residential construction. Availability is better in the

new-home market, but that may not last.

> RETAIL SALES

- Strong consumer spending will keep the economy out of recession, but slowdown expected. Goods spending is also due to slow as consumers switch to buying more services as their need for goods becomes satiated.

> TRADE DEFICIT - U.S. trade gap widened in 2023;

weakening global economy doesn’t bode well for U.S. exporters.

Source: https://www.kiplinger.com/economic-forecasts

Drought

Closer to home, we watched the fall drought closely. Early 2023 brought plenty of rain but fall and early winter was very dry through much of Georgia and the southeast. As I’m writing this on a rainy December morning, I hope that steady rainy days will continue through winter. We will keep you advised of any changes to drought conditions and outdoor water use rules.

Upcoming events

Please enjoy this issue of UAC Magazine, and we hope to see you at one of the many events planned – starting with Landscape Pro University 2024 on January 31.

Thank you

On a personal note, thank you for the overwhelming support that you gave me (and UAC) during the last few months, as I battled cancer. I’m well into recovery now and hope to get the good news of CURE in a few days! I am looking forward to an outstanding 2024 and I wish the best to all of you, too!

Mary Kay Woodworth | Executive Director

We have a new mailing address. Please make a note of it: Georgia Urban Ag Council 2566 Shallowford Road, Suite 104 - Box 117 Atlanta GA 30345 WINTER 2024 | 5

Select the track that works for you: Landscape Design Workshop 1 Sustainable Planting Design: Start to Profitable Finish

8:00 am - 3:25 pm

This full-day workshop focuses on the effective use of all types of plant material, especially natives. This full-day class takes an artistic approach to sustainable design centering on how to combine form, texture and color. Students learn how to use block design to create stunning combinations that are earth-friendly and eco-smart. The course also teaches how to draw in a realistic elevation view to help sell your ideas. Finally, the course provides various strategies to price your work including design, installation and management. Instructor: Dr. Richard Ludwig

Pesticide License Review for Exam 8:00 am - 3:25 pm 2 Georgia This full-day training is intended for turfgrass and ornamental landscape employees interested in attaining the Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s Category 24 License in Georgia. This license is required for anyone who does contract spraying of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in Georgia for residential, industrial, or business applications. This training also is open to licensed applicators who would like a refresher course.

Optional: Participants are encouraged to purchase both study guide manuals (National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core and Category 24 Ornamental and Turf Pest Control) and follow along during the training. Order these manuals at www.gapestexam. com/examInfo.cfm. Please allow 7-14 days for delivery. Upon completion of the review, participants may register to take the exam through a local technical college testing center in Georgia: www.gapestexam.com. Instructor: Tim Daly, ANR County Extension Agent, UGA Henry County CREDITS: AL: 10, OTPC, OTPS | GA: 5 hours Cat 24 | GCLP: 5 hours | NC: 5 L, N, D, and X | SC Recertification Credits: 5

Industry Conference 8:00 am - 3:25 pm 3 Green Mix or match topic areas hourly from the following or focus on one topic area all day! Please see the individual session descriptions on the following pages for approved credits and CEUs.

Green Industry Conference Schedule 7:00 am - 8:00 am

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Registration

8:00 am - 8:55 am LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 1: Angry Dogs and Irate Customers!

No matter what your job is in the landscape management world, you’ve dealt with all kinds of issues: angry dogs, irate customers and a whole lot more! Dr. Clint Waltz will use case studies from his clients - and even situations he and his colleagues have encountered - to help you deal with a wide range of circumstances out there in the real world. The importance of IPM, prevention, ID, control of disease and weeds in the landscape, along with herbicide use, will be discussed. Instructor: Dr. Clint Waltz, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | ISA: Management .5; Certified Arborist .5 | MS: 1 | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 2: Manage Wildlife Without Losing Your Sanity!

From armadillos to deer, geese and rabbits, nuisance wildlife is a problem! Join Ben Winkleman, Director, Rome-Floyd E.C.O. Center, and Keith Mickler, UGA CAES as they give sound advice as to how to control a variety of creatures that invade landscapes, golf courses, athletic fields and more. There also will be discussion about the use of chemicals (herbicides, fertilizer, etc.). Instructors: Keith Mickler, UGA CAES and Ben W. Winkelman, Director, Rome-Floyd E.C.O. Center CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

HARDSCAPES: Hardscape Estimating and Bidding

An overview of estimating a Belgard Concrete paver and retaining wall project utilizing real world experience and industry standards that new and experienced Hardscapes contractors can apply to their bidding and estimating procedure to better cover cost and ensure profits on these hardscapes projects. Instructor: Andrew Harris, Belgard

IRRIGATION: 2-Wire Decoder Systems: Theory of Operation

The differences between conventional systems and decoders system will be discussed, with an in-depth view of when and why a decoder system is beneficial to install. Instructor: Tim Johnson, SiteOne Landscape Supply CREDITS: NCICLB: 1 Irrigation

TAUGHT IN SPANISH: IPM and Recognizing Plant Disorders

This class will be taught in Spanish. Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to identify and control plant issues in the landscape will be discussed. Instructor: Rolando Orellana, UGA and UGA CAES Team CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1

BUSINESS: Where Do I Find My Next Great Employee?

Every company no matter what business they are in has trouble finding employees. Learn where to look and how to find the best available employees. To do so you must think differently and act differently. Remember insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Instructor: Rex Bishop, Tea Olive Productions CREDITS: NCLCLB: 1B | NCICLB: 1B

8:55 am - 10:15 am

Break | Time to explore the trade show

10:15 am - 11:10 am LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 1: Cold Damage on Shrubs: Lessons Learned

Many shrubs suffered damage in the 2022-2023 cool season. Symptoms varied by species and location. Which ones came through and which ones took the worst hit - where and why? And most importantly, what can we do to prevent the worst in the future. There will be discussion about fertilizer use on damaged plants, along with IPM, prevention, ID, control of disease and weeds in the landscape, along with herbicide use. Instructor: Dr. Bodie V. Pennisi, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 2: What’s Bugging You? Lookout for These Insect Pests!

Stay ahead of issues in your landscape by using integrated pest management (IPM) to identify and control potential insect problems. Prevention, ID, control, etc. will be discussed in regards to chemical applications. Instructor: Dr. Shimat Joseph, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NC: 1 L, N, D, and X | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

Not a UAC member? Join today and register all your employees at the member rate! urbanagcouncil.com

For updates and to register online: www.SiteOne.com/2024LPUU WINTER 2024 | 7

HARDSCAPES: Belgard: What’s New and What’s Changed

Artforms™ is a revolutionary system that utilizes a large-format modular panel system to create infinite design possibilities with ease. From benches to planters to fire pits to outdoor kitchens to seating areas. They are all possible with this new innovative line. Let us walk you through how to put Artforms to work in your business. Instructor: Andrew Harris, Belgard

IRRIGATION: 2-Wire Decoder Systems: System Components and Installation Best Practices

What all is needed to successfully install a 2-wire system and the best way to do it. Covering all types of 2 -wire systems. Setting up decoders systems to last. Instructor: Tim Johnson, SiteOne Landscape Supply CREDITS: NCICLB: 1 Irrigation

TAUGHT IN SPANISH: Equipment Safety

This class will be taught in Spanish. Attendees will learn basic equipment safety to protect themselves from injury. Instructor: Rolando Orellana, UGA and UGA CAES Team CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1B

BUSINESS: Pricing and Cost Analysis

To be profitable you must understand your costs first and how to price next. Most landscapers have problems with understanding their true costs and they use the unrealistic WAG method to price. Lets take a look and analyze your costs and make sure you have covered everything to make the price right and you profitable. Instructor: Rex Bishop, Tea Olive Productions CREDITS: NCLCLB: 1B | NCICLB: 1B | ISA: Management 1; Certified Arborist 1

11:15 am - 12:10 pm LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 1: Preparing For 2024 Turfgrass Disease ID and Management: Latest Research

Dr. Alfredo Martinez will share the latest investigations on turfgrass pathology, main foliar, crown and root turfgrass diseases will be discussed in detail. Environmental and cultural factors that promote each disease will be examined. Turfgrass pathogen biology as well as the different methods of disease control will be highlighted. Additionally, a comprehensive discussion on the newest turfgrass fungicides will be emphasized. Instructor: Dr. Alfredo Martinez, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NC: 1 L, N, D, and X | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 2: What Should You Be Looking for in 2024? An Overview of Landscape Diseases

Every year brings new disease issues in the landscape. Dr. Williams-Woodward will give you a heads up of what the experts are seeing, how to 1st off prevent issues, and if the occur, how to identify, control and eradicate disease in the landscape! Instructor: Jean Williams-Woodward,, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | ISA: BCMA Science .5; Certified Arborist .5 | MS: 1 | NC: 1 L, N, D, and X | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

HARDSCAPES: Cleaning and Sealing: A Great Opportunity to Expand Your Hardscape Business

Sealing 101 is an informative course designed to teach contractors the basics of sealing concrete and natural stone pavers. The presentation will begin with an overview of the various types of types of sealers on the market and then move into deeper discussion on preparation and installation techniques. The final topic will be common issues with sealer and how to address them. Questions and answers will be mixed in throughout to keep the audience engaged. Instructor: Topher Grennan, Alliance

IRRIGATION: 2-Wire Decoder Systems: Diagnostics

How to troubleshoot and repair all types of 2-wire systems. Instructor: Tim Johnson, SiteOne Landscape Supply CREDITS: NCICLB: 1 Irrigation

TAUGHT IN SPANISH: Turfgrass Management

This class will be taught in Spanish. All areas of turfgrass management and maintenance will be covered. The importance of IPM, prevention, ID, control of disease and weeds in the landscape, along with herbicide use, will be discussed. Instructor: Rolando Orellana, UGA and UGA CAES Team CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NC: 1 L, N, D, and X | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

Not a UAC member? Join today and register all your employees at the member rate! urbanagcouncil.com

For updates and to register online: www.SiteOne.com/2024LPUU 8 | UAC MAGAZINE

BUSINESS: Benchmarking: Numbers You Should Track and Know

There is a benchmark for almost everything. Learn the critical benchmarks used in the landscape industry and see how you stack up against the others. If you aren’t measuring it you can’t know if it is working. Measurements are the key to success. If you are not benchmarking, you are probably losing money. Instructor: Rex Bishop, Tea Olive Productions CREDITS: NCLCLB: 1B | NCICLB: 1B | ISA: Management 1; Certified Arborist 1

12:10 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch | Time to explore the trade show

1:30 pm - 2:25 pm LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 1: Strategies for Controlling Problem Weeds in Turf

Dr. Patrick McCullough will guide you through prevention, identification and control of weeds in turfgrass. Once identified, he will provide information to select the most effective methods (whether cultural or with pesticides) to control and eradicate turfgrass weeds in the landscapes. Instructor: Dr. Patrick McCullough, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NC: 1 L, N, D, and X | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 2: Back to Basics: Building An Annual/Seasonal Color Garden With Real, Available Flowers That WORK

Shiny magazines. Pinterest boards. Annual trial gardens. Seed catalogs. A stroll through the garden center. Do any of these things make your heart race with anticipation about the season to come? I confess… I love every opportunity to immerse myself in beauty and dream of the next garden. Then reality hits. That amazingly unique plant from the Pinterest board only exists in Fantasyland. The coolest caladium ever won’t be commercially for 3-5 more years, if it makes it out of the trial phase. The seed catalog photos were enhanced. The combination from the magazine only works somewhere in Canada. Sometimes, we get so hyper-focused on that one special flower that a lack of availability completely derails our vision. This doesn’t have to happen. We can design winning flower gardens no matter what. It’s all about going Back to Basics. Artistry is just important as the plants we choose. In this class, Jenny Hardgrave, Simply Flowers, Inc, will teach you how to design a strong framework for your annual gardens that will fit with your favorite suppliers’ selections and dazzle your clients. And, the plants will thrive in your region. In the end, a garden isn’t special because of a fascinating new variety of flower. It’s special because the structure is solid, the colors are right, and the textures are palpable. Come and hear how to make your floral dreams come true! Of course, the importance of IPM, prevention, ID, control of disease and weeds in these seasonal flower beds will be discussed. Instructor: Jenny Hardgrave, Simply Flowers, Inc. CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L

HARDSCAPES: Properly Designing and Engineering Segmental Retaining Walls What to look for and consider when building a segmented retaining wall. Instructor: David Agee, SiteOne Landscape Supply

IRRIGATION: Introduction to Irrigation

We will cover the foundations of an irrigation system from start to finish including all the major components, operation, and installation. Instructor: Shawn Sandink, SiteOne Landscape Supply CREDITS: NCICLB: 1 Irrigation

TAUGHT IN SPANISH: Pruning: Basics and Appropriate Tools

This class will be taught in Spanish. Attendees will learn basic pruning techniques, including appropriate tools to use for specific situations. ID and control of insects, disease and proper chemical application will be discussed. Instructor: Rolando Orellana, UGA and UGA CAES Team CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | SA: Practice 1; Climber Specialist 1; Certified Arborist 1; Aerial Lift Specialist 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | ITN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

BUSINESS: Grow Your Company to the Next Level

Growing anything can be hard. We have all killed a few plants in our lifetime, we didn’t give them what they needed to grow well. Are you giving your company what it needs to grow well and prosper. Learn how to take you and your company to the next level. Instructor: Rex Bishop, Tea Olive Productions CREDITS: NCLCLB: 1B | NCICLB: 1B

Not a UAC member? Join today and register all your employees at the member rate! urbanagcouncil.com

For updates and to register online: www.SiteOne.com/2024LPUU WINTER 2024 | 9

2:30 pm - 3:25 pm LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 1: Newly Constructed Landscapes: Plant Health and Establishment Issues

New job, new client, new landscape. Greg Huber, UGA will discuss typical issues with managing and maintaining a newly installed/constructed landscape, and how to tackle them while meeting client expectations. The importance of IPM, prevention, ID, control of disease and weeds in the landscape, along with herbicide use, will be discussed. Instructor: Greg Huber, UGA CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT 2: Advanced Pruning for Landscape Pros

You know the basics. Here’s expert guidance on advanced pruning techniques for landscape professionals. Rick Smith will also guide you on the proper use of chemical treatments (if necessary) for tree pests and disease. Instructor: Rick Smith, The Pruning Guru CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | ISA: Practice 1; Climber Specialist 1; Certified Arborist 1; Aerial Lift Specialist 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1L | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

HARDSCAPES: Ride the Green Wave! Getting Started in Artificial Turf

The objective of this class will be to provide the basic information on artificial turf construction, bidding, and installation. Great for contractors looking to expand their business offerings and those that are currently installing. > How is turf made > Where can it be used > Design and bidding > Install overview > Care and Maintenance Instructor: Brian Emert, Synthetic Turf Resources

IRRIGATION: Introduction to Landscape Lighting

Come join us for a beginner/intermediate class for landscape lighting and design. In the first half of this session we will discuss the components of a lighting system, best practices, and basic installation. During the second half, we will dive deeper into more advanced techniques of lighting and lighting design and the application of these in your jobs. If you are new to landscape lighting or want to learn more this will be a great class for you to add some skills to your toolbelt and some margins to your business! Instructor: Jason Radake, Hunter Industries

TAUGHT IN SPANISH: Pesticide Safety

This class will be taught in Spanish. It’s important to know proper techniques for pesticide use. This will be emphasis of this class. Instructor: Rolando Orellana, UGA and UGA CAES Team CREDITS: GA: 1 Cat 24 | GCLP: 1 | MS: 1 | NCLCLB: 1B | SC Recertification Credits: 1; Cat 3:1 | TN: C03 - 1; C10 - 1; C12 - 1

BUSINESS: Leadership For Landscape Companies: Make a Difference

There is a big difference between a good manager and a good leader. Leaders take their organization forward. Managers typically take care of stuff. Learn how you can be a good manager and a great leader and make a difference in your life and the life of others. Leaders empowers others, defines reality and serves others. Leaders inspire. Learn how to be a leader. Instructor: Rex Bishop, Tea Olive Productions CREDITS: NCLCLB: 1 B | NCICLB: 1B

Instructors David Agee, the commercial design and engineering lead at SiteOne Landscape Supply, has a 20-year history in the hardscape industry focused on modular retaining wall design. His experience spans residential and commercial applications, encompassing various Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) systems. Rex Bishop, Tea Olive Productions, has taught landscaping, leadership, management and safety for over 40 years. He has written several textbooks and numerous training manuals as well as materials for the Georgia Green Industry Association and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

10 | UAC MAGAZINE

Tim Daly, UGA CAES Henry County, manages agricultural and natural resources programs in Henry County by providing educational programs in forestry, horticulture, landscape management, water conservation and in related areas. Additionally, he oversees Master Gardener Extension volunteers who provide assistance in the implementation Extension programs. Tim was previously with Gwinnett County CAES for over 17 years.

Brian Emert is a nine-year veteran of the turf industry. Initially a landscape contractor, Brian moved into sales with Synthetic Turf Resources. He specializes in training up-and-coming contractors and installers – giving them the tools they need to succeed in the world of artificial grass. Brian works closely with SiteOne providing product knowledge and install expertise for all types of turf installations. Topher Grennan is southeast sales manager for Alliance, where he has worked since 2013 and became the national contact for Alliance to SiteOne. During his time at Alliance, he has built a wealth of hardscape knowledge and regularly hosts educational seminars for contractors and dealers in his territory. Jenny Hardgrave, owner of Simply Flowers, Inc., has a reputation for unique designs, quality flowers and outstanding customer service. Not only are Jenny’s designs creative and colorful, she understands the importance of caring for the plants once they are in the ground. With her TLC, flowers thrive! Andrew Harris is Belgard’s north Georgia territory manager. His work as a hardscapes industry speaker/ICPI Course Contractor Instructor and Belgard rep combines for over 20 years of experience in the hardscapes market. Greg Huber, public service and outreach faculty member at UGA, leads the Georgia Certified Landscape and Plant Professional Programs through the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture. Huber is a Georgia registered landscape architect and served as the coordinator and lead instructor for the horticulture program at Southern Crescent Technical College, specializing in workforce training. His 32-year career in the green industry includes workforce training, site planning, landscape design, landscape contracting, landscape management, retail nursery, carpentry, and Christmas tree production. Tim Johnson, now the commercial services manager and regional irrigation training instructor for SiteOne Landscape Supply, spent the first 20 years of his 32-year career as a contractor installing and servicing residential, commercial and golf course irrigation systems. Dr. Shimat Joseph is an assistant professor and Extension specialist in the UGA Department of Entomology. Dr. Joseph’s research and extension program focuses on studying the ecology and management of existing and emerging arthropod pests of ornamental plants and turfgrass. Dr. Richard Ludwig, a college educator of 30+ years specializing in horticulture, landscape design, and landscape management, was horticulture program director and Georgia Green Industry Educator of the Year. His career includes hosting PBS TV’s GardenSmart, serving as a Southern Living magazine garden specialist, and as a national spokesperson for Miracle Gro potting soils.

Dr. Alfredo Martinez, with the University of Georgia Plant Pathology Department in Griffin, has worked as plant pathologist for over 30 years. Dr. Martinez is currently working on the development and transfer of information for the management of new or recurring turfgrass diseases. His research and extension programs are actively engaged in turfgrass disease surveillance and disease dynamics as well as cultural, biological and chemical disease control on cool and warm season grasses. Dr. Patrick McCullough, University of Georgia, is a professor at the Griffin campus where his responsibilities include extension, research, and teaching in weed science for turfgrass, pastures, and non-crop areas. Dr. McCullough helped develop new tools for turfgrass extension, including mobile applications that are used worldwide in the industry. His research efforts focus on problem weed control, growth regulators, resistance management, and herbicide physiology in turfgrass and weed species. Keith Mickler, UGA CAES, provides leadership for the efforts of the Floyd County Extension staff in developing an effective total county educational program. Keith is currently the President of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. Rolando Orellana, UGA and UGA CAES Team, serves as coordinator for the Urban Water Management/Irrigation program for the University of Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture, and is also the co-chair of the UGA Spanish Professional Extension Committee. Rolando has been part of the green industry in Georgia for almost two decades. Dr. Bodie V. Pennisi, professor and statewide Extension landscape specialist in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia. Dr. Pennisi is responsible for planning and coordinating a statewide Extension program to support the professional landscape industry, and conducting applied research with emphasis on sustainable landscape practices. Jason Radake, sales manager for Hunter Industries in Georgia, started his career in irrigation and lighting sales and has continued in the green industry for 25+ years working in both distribution and manufacturing. Jason enjoys sharing his knowledge of the industry and helping companies grow with new revenue generating opportunities. Shawn Sandink, with SiteOne Landscape Supply, has over 20 years of green industry leadership experience, Shawn has worked at many positions within the industry including as irrigation technician, landscape contractor, irrigation distribution customer service, sales, pump-station associate service provider and trainer. Rick Smith, owner of The Pruning Guru, is a certified Georgia Nurseryman and a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, both through the University of Georgia.

WINTER 2024 | 11

Dr. Clint Waltz, with the UGA Turfgrass Team, has state-wide responsibilities in all turfgrass management areas, including turfgrass water management. He serves as an ex-officio board member for the Georgia Urban Ag Council and serves the golf course industry through the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association. Dr. Jean Williams-Woodward, University of Georgia, has a Ph.D. in plant pathology. She developed and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in ornamental pest management, diagnosis and management of plant diseases, and clinical plant pathology.

Ben W. Winkelman, director of the Rome-Floyd E.C.O. Center, has a passion for wildlife that began when he volunteered for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, leading to a permanent position as State Conservation Officer/Game Warden. He is a Deputy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent and has worked with the Department of Defense within the Defense Intelligence Agency.

4Travel

Map, driving directions, and parking instructions can be found here: urbanagcouncil.com/landscape-pro-university NOTE: $10.00 per vehicle parking fee IS NOT included in registration. Payment is by debit or credit card only. NO CASH is accepted.

4Cancellations and additional expenses

Cancellations must be received 14 days prior to the event date for a full refund. No Shows will not be refunded. Transportation, lodging, parking and activities other than those listed on the agenda will be at your own expense.

4Registration

> The morning break, lunch and entry to the trade show are included in registration fee. > Registration and check-in will begin at 7:00 am; sessions begin at 8:00 am.

To register, complete the form on the following page then:

Scan/Email: office@georgiauac.com FAX: 404-900-9194 Mail: Georgia Urban Ag Council | 2566 Shallowford Road, Suite 104 - Box 117 | Atlanta GA 30345 (must be received by 1/15/24) Or register online here: www.SiteOne.com/2024LPUU

4Location Cobb Galleria Centre | Two Galleria Parkway | Atlanta GA 30339

Come grow with us. meet and learn from other professionals access resources to grow your business make a diﬀerence in your industry

urbanagcouncil.com | 706.750.0350 12 | UAC MAGAZINE

Registration form

To register online: www.SiteOne.com/2024LPUU

Attendee info First__________________________________________ Last ________________________________________________________________ Company___________________________________________ Job Title________________________________________________________

JANUARY 31, 2024

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________________________________ State_______________ Zip__________________________ Phone__________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________________ Pesticide License State & Number (if those credits are wanted) _______________________________________________________________

What is your primary business?

c Landscape design

c Turf care

c Athletic/parks/rec mgmt.

c Nursery/grower

c Irrigation

c Landscape construction

c Sod production

c Sports turf management

c Lighting

c Other:

c Landscape management

c Tree care

c Golf course management

c Educator

_________________________ _

Select your track and payment category: Landscape Design Workshop:

c UAC members.............................. $249 c Non-members.............................. $299 c 54,000 SiteOne Partner Points

GA Pesticide License Review:

c UAC members.............................. $119 c Non-members.............................. $139 c 25,000 SiteOne Partner Points

Green Industry Conference:

c UAC members.............................. $119 c Non-members.............................. $139 c 25,000 SiteOne Partner Points

To use SiteOne Partner Points, select SiteOne Landscape Supply Partners Program member at online registration, or contact your SiteOne branch.

If you selected “Green Industry Conference” please choose one session in each time slot: 8:00 am - 8:55 am c Angry Dogs and Irate Customers! c Manage Wildlife Without Losing Your Sanity! c Hardscape Estimating and Bidding c 2-Wire Decoder Systems: Theory of Operation c SPANISH: IPM and Recognizing Plant Disorders c Where Do I Find My Next Great Employee?

1:30 pm - 2:25 pm c Strategies for Controlling Problem Weeds in Turf c Back to Basics: Building An Annual/Seasonal Color Garden c Properly Designing/Engineering Segmental Retaining Walls c Introduction to Irrigation c SPANISH: Pruning: Basics and Appropriate Tools c Grow Your Company to the Next Level

10:15 am - 11:10 am c Cold Damage on Shrubs: Lessons Learned c What’s Bugging You? Lookout for These Insect Pests! c Belgard: What’s New and What’s Changed c 2-Wire Decoder Systems: Components/Best Practices c SPANISH: Equipment Safety c Pricing and Cost Analysis

2:30 pm - 3:25 pm c Newly Constructed Landscapes: Plant Health/Establishment c Advanced Pruning for Landscape Pros c Ride the Green Wave! Getting Started in Artificial Turf c Introduction to Landscape Lighting c SPANISH: Pesticide Safety c Leadership For Landscape Companies: Make a Difference

11:15 am - 12:10 pm c Preparing For 2024 Turfgrass Disease ID and Management c What Should You Be Looking for in 2024? Landscape Diseases c Cleaning and Sealing: Expand Your Hardscape Business c 2-Wire Decoder Systems: Diagnostics c SPANISH: Turfgrass Management c Benchmarking: Numbers You Should Track and Know

Payment method

Questions? Call 706.750.0350 or email office@georgiauac.com Please complete separate registration forms for each attendee. If registering more than one person per company and paying as a group, just complete payment info on one registration.

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:_______________

Must be received by 1/15/24

Mail: Georgia Urban Ag Council, 2566 Shallowford Road, Suite 104 - Box 117, Atlanta GA 30345 WINTER 2024 | 13 Email: office@georgiauac.com | FAX: 404-900-9194

UAC NEWS

Caldwell creates partnership

Tree Guardians partners with Caldwell Tree Care Tree Guardians, a multi-regional residential and

Member of Tree Guardians. “Kevin and I worked closely together at the Tree Care Industry Association to help develop quality protocols and educational programs for tree care businesses throughout the country. He has always been an industry thought leader and is passionate about taking care of his customers and employees. He is a fantastic ambassador to the industry, and I look forward to working with him as a member of the Tree Guardians team.”

Kevin Caldwell commented, “I am very proud of the business we have built over the past three decades, creating career opportunities for our employees and providing the highest level of service for our customers. In partnering with Tree Guardians, I found a group that embraces our culture and will support our growth. I am thrilled to work with Charlie and his team as we embark on the next chapter of our company’s growth.”

About Caldwell Tree Care

commercial-focused tree care platform founded by Halle Capital, announced in October 2023 that it has partnered with Caldwell Tree Care, a leading provider of tree and plant healthcare services to clients in the greater Atlanta metro area. Kevin Caldwell, founder and owner of Caldwell Tree Care will join Tree Guardians as President of the Southeast Region and will continue to operate the company.

“Caldwell Tree Care is the market-leading tree care provider in Atlanta and presents a fantastic partnership from which to grow the Tree Guardians platform,” said Charlie Haines, CEO of Tree Guardians. “Kevin has built a business with best-in-class customer service, an emphasis on safety, and a focus on employee engagement, which are all attributes that we embody at Tree Guardians. I’m excited to partner with Kevin and his team on this next stage.” “I have known Kevin for many years and am thrilled to be partnering with him at Tree Guardians,” said Mark Garvin, Operating Partner at Halle Capital and Board

Caldwell’s experienced crews, led by accredited field supervisors with an average of 20 years in the industry, follow green industry standards and best practices for tree care as established by ANSI. Their services include tree care, plant health care, consulting and emergency work.

About Tree Guardians

Tree Guardians, founded by Halle Capital in 2023, is a tree and plant healthcare services platform focused on partnering with owners and operators to build a multi-regional, residential and commercial tree care business.

About Halle Capital

Halle Capital is a lower-middle market, growth-oriented private equity firm based in New York. The firm leverages the experience and network of its professionals to pursue investment opportunities in healthcare services and business/ consumer services industries. Halle possesses extensive experience in developing platforms. The firm partners with experienced management teams to build businesses in highly fragmented markets with durable secular tailwinds. For more information, please visit www.hallecapital.com.

“I am very proud of the business we have built over the past three decades, creating career opportunities for our employees and providing the highest level of service for our customers. In partnering with Tree Guardians, I found a group that embraces our culture and will support our growth.” ~ Kevin Caldwell

14 | UAC MAGAZINE

UAC NEWS

ABAC golf tournament UAC sponsors annual event

For the fifth year, UAC was proud to sponsor the

23rd annual SANR Classic Golf Tournament in Tifton, GA on September 29. Sumter Sod represented UAC, and had a terrific fall day on the links. The tournament is mainly student-run. ABAC students were on-site at the tournament assisting with check-in, distributing drinks and snacks, serving as hole hosts, hosting lunch, monitoring competitions, and calculating the scores. They also handle the ball drop. These students are indeed the heart and soul of the tournament! The various student groups who assisted were the SANR Leaders, Turf Club, Agripreneurs, Collegiate FFA, Ag Education, Wildlife Society, Young Farmers and Ranchers, MANRRS, Agronomy Club, Forestry Club, Cattlemen’s Association, and ACT. 2024 had the largest number of teams in the history of the SANR Classic. 25 teams competed for the honor of being the 2023 SANR Classic Winning Team, with each team on a mission to enjoy the day and win the tournament. The winning team of the 2023 SANR Classic Golf Tournament was Triangle Chemical Company. The WOW of the 23rd Annual SANR Classic Golf Tournament is that ABAC raised over $41,000 from sponsors, teams, ball drop, and silent auction. These

From left: Josh Block, Chip Block, Justin Walker, Earl Walker funds will be used for student academic and enrichment scholarships and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. The ultimate goal is to graduate the next generation of agriculture and natural resources leaders.

What do you need to be

Greener. Smarter. Stronger. Chances are you’ll find it here:

UAC NEWS

Shaping the future

Power Hour Industry Issues Update at NALP’s Elevate “Grassroots advocacy is critical to our success,” stated Provost. “It’s about individuals coming together to make their voices heard, and it’s proven time and again that when we work collectively, we achieve more than we could ever accomplish alone.” The event also featured distinguished speakers Chris Sherrington, Technical Director at Lawn Doctor, and Jennifer Jorge, Chief Operating Officer at King Green, both of whom serve in leadership roles within NALP.

Speakers during the 2023 RISE Industry Update at Elevate were from left Bob Mann, National Association of Landscape Professionals; Megan Provost, RISE; Chris Sherrington, Lawn Doctor; and Jennifer Jorge, King Green.

In September 2023 in Dallas, Texas, RISE

(Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)® hosted a special Power Hour Industry Issues Update during Elevate, presented by the National Association of Landscape Professionals( NALP). The session centered on the pivotal role of grassroots engagement in shaping the future of the landscape and the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industries. Megan Provost, President of RISE, discussed a range of priority issues that impact the industry, drawing attention to the critical importance of collective action and advocacy efforts.

Their presentations touched on the power of collaboration and coordination between RISE, NALP, and other stakeholders, and highlighted how such partnerships amplify the industry’s grassroots advocacy efforts. Provost concluded with, “Collaboration is the driving force behind our success at every level. By uniting our industry’s perspectives and talents, we create a powerful force for positive change. Let’s continue to work together, advocating for policies that support the creation of healthy and inspiring places to live, work and play.” About RISE

RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)® is the national trade association representing manufacturers, formulators, distributors and other industry leaders in the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry. Visit the RISE website at www.pestfacts.org for more information. Follow RISE on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/ RISEPestFacts or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @ PestFacts.

We’re heading to coastal Georgia in February! UAC networking dinner Date/Location TBA For updates:

urbanagcouncil.com 16 | UAC MAGAZINE

UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? NG Turf’s Pro Day + UAC Networking Dinner | Douglasville GA | October 5, 2023

WINTER 2024 | 17

UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? Georgia UAC Sporting Clays Tournament | Newnan GA | October 26, 2023

18 | UAC MAGAZINE

UAC NEWS

WHAT DID YOU MISS? Georgia Sod Producers Field Day | Fort Valley GA | November 6 & 7, 2023

WINTER 2024 | 19

HAVE YOU MET

Have you met... Rick Smith

The Pruning Guru, Inc.

My first job in the green industry was...in 1980, when I worked with Green Brother’s Landscaping, which is now known as Gibbs Landscaping. Don’t get this confused with Green Brother’s Nursery which is now known as Pike Nursery. My biggest challenge in my career has been…looking out for and taking care of my employees and customers through challenging economic times. The people who have most influenced my career are…..Ray Boyer, who taught me how to prune when I worked at Post Properties; John Strickland, who convinced me to take the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional exam; and Kevin Caldwell, who recommended me to be on the board of MALTA (Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association). My biggest career success so far has been….. creating The Pruning Guru, Inc. in 2002. If I had it to do over again, I would…..have educated myself more on accounting before starting The Pruning Guru, Inc. instead of depending on someone else. The thing I like most about my career is….. seeing an established garden when out in the field that is beautifully done, thinking that it is the best design I have ever seen, only to come across another garden that outdoes that one.

Contact info: Address:

PO Box 2341 Acworth, GA 30102

Phone:

678-445-1495

Email:

rsmith@pruningguru.com

Web:

pruningguru.com

My least favorite part of my job is…working in the office doing administrative work instead of working out in the field with the crews. One piece of advice I would give to someone entering the green industry today is…learn as much as you can about horticulture, and then when you think you know everything, continue studying. After that, become a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional.

The easiest 5% you'll ever save. Sign up for auto-renew now! UAC business-level members can select the auto-recurring payment option for their annual membership investment and get an immediate 5% discount. 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 > Choose the Membership menu, then Member Login.

NOTE: Only the primary contact for your company will be able to manage/renew the company's membership. Contact us via phone or email if you need help with logging in.

Even easier: Contact us and we'll do it for you! Call 706.750.0350 or email office@georgiauac.com 20 | UAC MAGAZINE

HAVE YOU MET Advanced Pruning for Landscape Pros

The one thing most responsible for my success is… working at Post Properties Landscaping from 1982 to 1997. If I could change careers, just for a month, I would…be a pilot. One thing that really annoys me is…when people are not receptive to learning proper pruning techniques and their benefits. When I’m not working, I like to…spend time with family and friends, and to travel.

January 31, 2024 | 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm

Learn from The Pruning Guru!!

urbanagcouncil.com/landscape-pro-university

One thing most people don’t know about me is… I’m a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Choi Kwang Do and will be testing for my 4th Degree Black Belt sometime in 2024.

From left, Rick’s wife Cheryl and son Forrest join Rick in his study of the martial arts. The entire family has 3rd Degree Black Belts in Choi Kwang Do. Cheryl and Rick will be testing for their 4th Degree Black Belt in 2024.

INTEGRITY EFFICIENCY EXPERIENCE Partner with Triangle for the best choices from the best companies in the world of golf course and landscape care. With nine distribution points strategically located to serve the Southeast, good company is just around the corner. Cody Hackett: 770.378.7941 Ryan Cox: 229.406.8177 www.trianglecc.com © 2024 Triangle Turf & Ornamental. Always read and follow label directions for use.

WINTER 2024 | 21

PEST 411

Asian longhorned beetle

A threat to hardwood trees in Georgia by Shimat V. Joseph, Associate Professor, University of Georgia Department of Entomology

The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) (Anoplophora

glabripennis, Fig. 1) is an invasive insect pest native to China and North and South Korea that threatens many hardwood trees in forests and landscapes in the USA. The pest is also referred to as the roundheaded borer because the segment below the head is round-shaped. The larval stages of ALB feed on the vascular bundles, and affected trees succumb to death over years of repeated infestations. In addition, larval feeding compromises the structure of tree trunks. With extensive boring activity, those infested trees are vulnerable to falling during storms, with the owner/county incurring tree removal expenses.

Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

ALB pest was accidentally introduced to the USA via global trade, possibly in packing materials, such as pallets and crates. It was first positively identified in 1996 in New York. This pest is now reported in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and South Carolina. It is not reported in Georgia to date; however, it poses a serious threat to hardwood trees in the state. Because ALB is challenging to manage, this pest using conventional approaches, it is important to identify, report, and develop plans to eradicate it upon detection.

Fig. 1. Adult Asian Longhorn beetle.

Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Larry R. Barber, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Fig. 2. Oviposition pit or depression in the bark.

Fig. 3. Rice-grain sized egg laid on the bar.

22 | UAC MAGAZINE

Thomas B. Denholm, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

Fig. 4. Larvae of Asian longhorn beetle.

PEST 411

Description

The adults of ALB are about 1-1.5 inches long, black, with small white spots on their body (Fig. 1). The antennae are distinctly long with black and white coloring. The females of ALB chew on the bark of young branches. This chewing activity causes depression (also referred to as “oviposition pits”) on tree bark (Fig. 2). This feeding, especially by newly emerged adults, is referred to as maturation feeding, as adults obtain much-needed nutrition through the sugar-rich tissue to mature their eggs. A female lays white, rice-grain-sized eggs singly on those depressions (Fig. 3). A female can lay up to 90 eggs. In about 14 days, the eggs hatch, and the emerging larvae bore into the bark. They feed on the tree’s cambium layer under the bark that transports water. Once the larvae increase in size, they move to hardwood areas. All the larval stages of the ALB feed on wood tissue and slowly develop inside the tree trunk (Fig. 4). They undergo 13 growth stages, and their feeding causes tunnels and galleries within the tree trunk (Fig. 5).

Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Fig. 7. Pupa of Asian longhorn beetle inside the gallery.

Along with feeding, they excrete the waste (frass), filling the infested tree bark galleries (Fig. 6). They pupate inside the tree for 13 to 24 days (Fig. 7). The eggs, larval stages, or pupae overwinter inside the tree, and ALB adults do not survive the freezing temperatures in the winter. Newly emerged adults inside the tree trunk chew on the wood to create a tunnel to exit the tree (Fig. 8). The exit holes on the bark are round and 3/8th of an inch in diameter (Fig. 9). After 2-3 days of emergence, adults mate and begin laying eggs. It is common to find various stages of ALB larvae overwintering inside the tree trunk. These larvae pupate and adults emerge at different times of the year – from Michael Bohne, USDA Forest Service

Fig. 8. Newly emerged adult Asian longhorn beetle chewing exit hole.

Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry

Fig. 5. Extensive tunneling from Asian longhorn beetle larval feeding.

Fig. 6. Frass accumulated from larvae of Asian longhorn beetle larval feeding.

Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org (left) and Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org (right)

Fig. 9. Newly emerged adult Asian longhorn beetle chewing exit hole. WINTER 2024 | 23

PEST 411 April to December. The peak emergences of adults are noticed in the summer and fall. The adults can fly about 12 feet from the emerging tree trunk. The newly emerged adults feed on leaves and bark for two weeks before mating and egg-laying.

Host range

Common reported hosts for ALB are ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betula), Elm (Ulmus), golden raintree (Koelreuteria), London planetree/sycamore (Platanus), maple (Acer), horsechestnut/buckeye (Aesculus), katsura (Cercidiphyllum), mimosa (Albizia), mountain ash (Sorbus), poplar (Populus), and willow (Salix).

Damage and symptoms Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Fig. 10. Die-back symptoms after Asian longhorn beetle infestation.

ALB larvae feed on the vascular bundles, especially the xylem tissue, which affects water transportation from the roots to the tree crown. The persistent feeding from larvae blocks the xylem vessels. The tree branches weaken and begin to show die-back symptoms (Fig. 10). Later, season-long feeding affects the entire tree, leading to death. The xylem-feeding habit of roundheaded borers reduces the tree’s structural stability as they are likely to break during storms (Fig. 11). The exit holes are deep because the larvae feed on the xylem tissue. The round exit holes are about the diameter of a dime. The presence of depressions or oviposition pits on bark and sawdust from chewing the galleries at the base of the tree indicates the roundheaded borer activity. Woodpeckers sometimes attack ALB-infested trees as they are looking for larvae. The feed damage appears within 3-4 years after infestations. The trees die within 10-15 years.

Stop the spread Michael T. Smith, Bugwood.org.

Fig. 11. Asian longhorn beetle infestation reduces the structural stability of trees.

What’s Bugging You? Lookout for These Insect Pests! January 31, 2024 | 10:15 am - 11:10 am

Learn from Dr. Joseph!!

urbanagcouncil.com/landscape-pro-university 24 | UAC MAGAZINE

Quarantine areas have been established to restrict the movement of ALS. If a tree has been identified positive for ALS, the tree should be removed. Live or dead wood, such as firewood or branches, should not be moved out of the quarantine areas. Because this pest threatens hardwood trees and affects the forest, residential, and recreational ecosystems by disrupting diversity, it is critical to report any new detections to stop the spread and save many trees in any region. About the author Shimat V. Joseph, PhD is Associate Professor in the UGA Department of Entomology. His research addresses existing, emerging, and invasive pest management issues of turfgrass and ornamentals, along with the principles of applied insect ecology.

SAVE THE&DATE HEALTH BENEFITS

Healthcare benefits

A top agenda item for leaders In the dynamic landscape of business leadership, our priorities can often change. However, one thing consistently resonates with both leaders and their employees: healthcare benefits. As leaders steer their organizations through the ebbs and flows of the current market, healthcare benefits play a pivotal role in nurturing a productive workforce. There are a few reasons why healthcare benefits should be a top agenda item for leaders in 2024.

Nurturing a flourishing workforce: The power of healthcare benefits

Healthcare benefits are an investment in the overall welfare of your most valuable asset – your people. By proactively prioritizing comprehensive healthcare options, leaders demonstrate a commitment to the physical and mental well-being of their team members. This fosters a strong culture of loyalty and gratitude.

The role of healthcare benefits in employee attraction and retention

Top-tier talent is the lifeblood of competitive advantage. Healthcare benefits can put you in a make or break when hiring. Prospective employees are looking for robust health benefits packages as a compelling incentive. Benefits also enhance employee retention rates and reduce turnover costs. Leaders who prioritize healthcare benefits inherently create an environment where employees feel valued and invested in the company’s success.

Unmasking leaders’ expectations: What a plan should deliver

Leaders, entrusted with the strategic direction of their organizations, possess distinct expectations when it comes to healthcare benefits. A comprehensive health

Image courtesy of Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

benefits plan must provide a seamless blend of choice, flexibility, and tailored options. You want to offer your employees multiple coverage possibilities, aligning with their diverse needs and lifestyles. Transparency is of the utmost importance here.

Elevate your health benefits strategy

Tailored solutions might be the answer for you. We collaborate with leaders to design comprehensive and customizable healthcare benefits plans. If it’s time to elevate your strategy, look no further. You can learn more about how we approach benefits here: snellingswalters.com/benefits About the author Tara Byrd, CIC, is an Employee Benefits Consultant with Snellings Walters. E: tbyrd@snellingswalters.com P: 770-268-3688 W: snellingswalters.com

Planning to renew your membership online? Did you know that only your company's primary contact can make this transaction? As a business-level member, your employees also are members of UAC. If you have employees who would like to be added to our system as additional contacts, just let us know. Those additional contacts will be able to log in as a member, edit their contact details, view member-only content and register for events at the member rate. However, they will not be able to edit or renew the company membership unless they use the email and password of the primary contact.

Need help with login? Call 706.750.0350 or email office@georgiauac.com. WINTER 2024 | 25

SAVE THE DATE

JAN

Visit urbanagcouncil.com for updates and to register.

GALA

GALA entry deadline

GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

DATE:

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

Friday, January 5, 5:00 pm

Complete and upload your online entry: urbanagcouncil.com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards

GALA late entry deadline

JAN

DATE:

Friday, January 2, 5:00 pm (late fee will apply)

Complete and upload your online entry: urbanagcouncil.com/gala-georgia-landscape-awards

Landscape Pro University & Expo

JAN

DATE: Wednesday, January 31 PLACE: Cobb Galleria | 2 Galleria Pkwy SE | Atlanta GA 30339 TIME: 8:00 am - 3:25 pm Complete brochure with schedule and descriptions on pages 6 - 13. Register online now! urbanagcouncil.com/landscape-pro-university

UAC on the road to coastal Georgia!

FEB

TBA

Date and location to be advised. Stay tuned for details or visit urbanagcouncil.com

Networking + Education Dinner

Student/industry networking dinner

MAR

Networking + Education Dinner

GALA

APR

DATE: Wednesday, March 6 PLACE: Gwinnett Technical College

5150 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30043

GALA awards celebration GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL

DATE: Tuesday, March 19 PLACE: Magnolia Hall, Piedmont Park

GEORGIA LANDSCAPE AWARDS

Springtime in the Courtyard Dinner Networking + Education Dinner

Sponsored by

UAC Networking Dinner Tuesday, April 16 Topiary Courtyard 3045 Jones Mill Road | Peachtree Corners GA 30071

With over a decade in development and research, Innovation® Zoysia’s cutting-edge qualities beat zoysias of the past. Deliver THE superior zoysiagrass to your clients.

WINTER 2024 | 35

BUSINESS

Leading through challenge

Building resilience in the workplace by Erin Saunders, Leica Geosystems

Problem-solving skills Effective problem-solving skills are essential for resilience. important skill is the ability to accept 4 One what’s beyond your control. This allows you to compartmentalize and focus your energy on what

4 4 Image by Wokandapix on Pixabay

Resilience may not be something we think of when we consider a successful workplace. All

workplaces have challenges, and resilience is a tool we can use to help us better navigate tough times. Resilience is the capacity to adapt successfully in the presence of risk and adversity, to bounce back from setbacks, and to thrive under high-stress situations. Resilience is not fixed. It can change depending on our life experiences. It’s helpful to keep a growth mindset as we explore five factors that can help individuals and teams become more resilient.

Taking care of yourself Most of us think of the usual diet, exercise and sleep when we consider self-care. These are important, but one we may not always consider is mental rest. Mental rest is the ability to give our minds time to pause. Meditation is an obvious form of mental rest, but there are others as well. Cooking, reading, listening to music, and taking walks outside are all forms of mental rest. It’s important that you demonstrate and share when you are taking care of yourself to your team. Let them know if you’re heading out right at five for an exercise class. This models that it’s okay for them to participate in those activities as well.

36 | UAC MAGAZINE

you can control and influence. Seeking help when needed is another problemsolving skill. Asking for help demonstrates your selfawareness that you might not have all the answers and shows faith in your team members. Root-cause analysis is also part of problem solving. This means you can work with your team to make sure you are proactively addressing the root cause of problems, rather than just the symptoms.

Positive outlook Having a brain means we have bias. One of our brains biases is that we look for negativity or danger more than we seek out reward. This can sometimes impact our ability to have an optimistic outlook. But there are some tools that can help us intentionally create a more positive outlook.

is one technique. Reframing could be as 4 Reframing simple as going from “This project is overwhelming

and stressful” to “This project presents an opportunity for growth and learning.” Another powerful tool in creating a positive outlook is being purposefully grateful. Thank your team members when they do something well. Actively look for the positives in both your personal and professional life.

Meaning and purpose Finding meaning and purpose in life, whether through family, friends, religion, passion, volunteering, or meaningful work, is crucial for resilience. Managers can demonstrate the importance of meaning and purpose by prioritizing family time, being open about their passions, supporting meaningful work, and discussing the significance of these factors with their teams. This can feel intangible but is an important part of building resilience.

BUSINESS

Saying no One of the most powerful - and for some of us, most challenging - problem-solving skills is the ability to say no. But the reality is that time is a limited resource, and we need to focus on what’s most important to achieve our goals. If you have to say no, consider these techniques.

4 4

There will always be challenges at work. How we choose to view and lead through those challenges is up to us as leaders. An important part of keeping business moving forward while taking care of ourselves and our people is understanding how we can help learn and model resilient behavior. About the author

First, be respectful. Second, help whoever is asking for your time understand the barriers and why you need to say no.

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

Many times, it’s better if you do say no because that allows you to really have impact on the projects you are focusing on, rather than doing too many things without meeting your professional standards or burning out.

SEED sponsorship opportunities support | energize | enable | develop

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

Thank you to all of our SEED sponsors!

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

seed support | energize | enable | develop

URBAN AG COUNCIL GEORGIA

Diamond

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Beyond the Curb Landscaping | Southern States Turf Division

Contact us today to see how you can become a SEED Sponsor! 706.750.0350 | office@georgiauac.com | urbanagcouncil.com WINTER 2024 | 37

BUSINESS

Tax planning for landscaping companies

Maximizing profitability, cash flow, enterprise value, and growth by Peter Thelen Sr., CPA, FMC, President of Thelen Financial Certified Public Accountants

Image by Kris from Pixabay

For landscaping companies, effective tax planning is a crucial aspect of financial management

that can significantly impact profitability, cash flow, enterprise value, and growth. With the right tax strategies, landscaping businesses can minimize tax liabilities, optimize cash flow, increase profitability, and enhance their overall financial performance. In this article, we will explore key tax planning considerations and strategies tailored to the unique needs of landscaping companies, focusing on how they can boost profit margins, strengthen cash flow, increase enterprise value, and facilitate sustainable growth. Understanding the tax landscape for landscaping companies Before delving into tax planning strategies, it’s essential for landscaping company owners and operators to have a comprehensive understanding of the tax landscape they operate within. However, most of us ventured into this business because we were skilled in or passionate about it, not to become experts in tax codes and stay updated on

38 | UAC MAGAZINE

ever-changing tax laws. Working with a CPA proficient in the light construction and service industries is essential for staying up-to-date with tax regulations, deductions, credits, and incentives specific to the landscaping industry.

Entity structure: choosing the optimal tax structure The entity structure of a landscaping company significantly impacts its tax liabilities and overall financial performance. Business owners should carefully consider whether to operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or a Corporation. Each structure has distinct tax implications, affecting profitability, cash flow, and future partnership opportunities. Moreover, the decision to be taxed as an S-Corp versus a Partnership or S-Corp versus a C-Corp is pivotal and will influence not only your business but also your personal tax situation. Your CPA and attorneys should take a long-range holistic approach when helping you decide your entity structure and tax elections.

Tax credits and deductions: leveraging financial benefits Landscaping companies can take advantage of various tax credits and deductions to reduce taxable income and increase profitability. Some are specific to the industry, while others are common in any asset-heavy business. Most people are familiar with and use Section 179, but it is often used incorrectly. Proper planning of this credit is important to minimize surprises in subsequent years. Other credits include the off-road fuel tax credit, retraining tax credits, and employment-related tax credits.

4. Asset classification: accelerating depreciation benefits It is vitally important to select the correct classification of assets in order to not only maximize depreciation but also to ensure that depreciation expense holds up in the case of an IRS audit. In our practice, we often take on landscaping clients and review prior returns, financials, and fixed asset rolls, and find many costly errors in this area. Sometimes we are able to file amendments to correct and recover funds, but often the errors are discovered too late, and we are only able to correct moving forward.

Accounting methods: choosing the most beneficial approach The accounting method chosen by a landscaping company can impact its tax liabilities. Cash basis accounting and accrual basis accounting have different implications for revenue recognition and expense deductions. Selecting the most appropriate accounting method can optimize tax planning and cash flow management. This decision should be made in consultation with your CPA and should take a holistic and long-term planning approach.

Tax-efficient equipment purchases Investing in new equipment and machinery can enhance a landscaping company’s capabilities, but it also presents tax planning opportunities. Business owners should explore options such as Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation to deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment purchases in the year they are placed into service.

Payroll taxes and employee benefits Landscaping companies should review their payroll tax practices, ensuring compliance and minimizing tax liabilities. Additionally, offering tax-

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BUSINESS advantaged employee benefits, such as retirement plans and health savings accounts (HSAs), can attract and retain skilled employees while providing tax benefits to both the company and its workforce. Your CPA should regularly suggest strategies for improvement in this area, as there are many avenues to provide attractive benefits paid for via tax savings to the owners.

company becomes more attractive to potential buyers or investors, potentially increasing its enterprise value. Every dollar saved is multiplied by the potential exit multiple to see how much enterprise value it is adding to your business.

growth can employ specific tax planning strategies to support their expansion initiatives. These may include tax-advantaged acquisitions, tax-efficient restructurings, and leveraging tax incentives available in target markets.

State and Local Taxes (SALT) State and local taxes can significantly impact a landscaping company’s overall tax burden. Business owners should be aware of state-specific tax regulations, income tax rates, and any tax credits or incentives available in their operating jurisdictions. If your business is structured as a pass-through entity, such as a partnership or an S-Corp, you will be eligible to participate in the SALT tax work around, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

Capital investment and enterprise value Effective tax planning can also influence a landscaping company’s enterprise value. By implementing strategies that improve profitability and cash flow, the

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Conclusion

In conclusion, tax planning plays a pivotal role in shaping the financial success of landscaping companies. By understanding the tax landscape, choosing the optimal entity structure, leveraging tax credits and deductions, and implementing cost-effective strategies, landscaping businesses can boost profitability, optimize cash flow, increase enterprise value, and facilitate sustainable growth. Effective tax planning is an ongoing process that requires collaboration with experienced tax professionals who possess industry-specific knowledge and a keen understanding of the ever-evolving tax regulations. By adopting proactive and growth-oriented tax planning practices, landscaping companies can navigate the complexities of tax compliance while maximizing their financial potential. With careful consideration and implementation of the right tax strategies, landscaping companies can position themselves for long-term success and prosperity. About the author Peter Thelen is Founder of Thelen Financial Certified Public Accountants, A Georgia Urban Ag Council member. The former CFO of a landscape company, Thelen has spent the last decade either in a landscape company or other industry companies before moving into public practice. 3625 Brookside Parkway Suite 535 | Alpharetta GA 30022 678-526-6885 ext 13 | pthelen@thelenfinancial.com

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40 | UAC MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS

10 magic questions

Uncovering your client’s real needs by Jud Griggs What is your budget or resource allocation for this project? Understanding their financial constraints helps you propose feasible solutions. This question is extremely helpful on commercial projects. With office vacancies increasing as more employees are working remotely, landscape budgets are being reduced. If you become more of a partner than a vendor with your client and help them best allocate the budget dollars they do have available while still meeting the key goals, you will be a hero in their eyes.

Image by 4924546 from Pixabay

Over the years I have compiled a list of what I call “Magic Questions” that are most effective in

determining a client’s needs and desires. Asking the right questions to uncover your client’s real needs is crucial for providing effective solutions and building strong relationships. Clients typically aren’t trying to hide this information from you; they just don’t know how to express what they want. It’s up to you as the professional to dig deep and get to the real needs of a client. This is done by asking the right questions. My list of Magic Questions now totals 20. For the sake of brevity and space, I will give you my Top 10:

What challenges are you currently facing? Identifying pain points and obstacles helps you tailor your solutions to address their specific issues. The pain points may be a contractor that is not providing top-quality results in their quality or service. It may be an HOA board that is constantly complaining about the current provider. It may be a designer who does not listen. Knowing the client’s pain points will allow you to create a solution that eliminates the client’s frustrations.

2. Can you describe your ideal outcome or solution? This question helps you understand the client’s vision and desired results, allowing you to create a solution that aligns with your client’s vision for the project. If there is alignment here, the budget discussion gets a whole lot easier at contract time. 42 | UAC MAGAZINE

What previous solutions or approaches have you tried? Learning about past experiences gives you insights into what has worked or not worked for them. Finding out where a previous contractor failed will prevent you from going down that same path. Perhaps it was a designer who didn’t listen and provided solutions that didn’t meet the client’s vision for the project.

What timeframe are you looking to work within? Knowing their timeline helps you set realistic expectations and plan accordingly. Most of my clients have lead times extending out not just weeks but months. If a client is expecting their project to be completed in time for a fall wedding, but your schedule is full until the end of the year, you don’t have alignment. Instead of saying no to a great project, you can offer alternatives like a property clean-up and mulching to make the property look great for the wedding and start the major construction after the wedding.

How do you measure success? Understanding their criteria for success helps you align your efforts with their expectations. Measurements might be a quality score (QC) over 90, or no call backs. Another may be finishing on time and on budget. It may be something harder to measure like creating a “fun” process with minimal disruptions. You need to find out what success is in the eyes of the client.

Are there any specific preferences or musthaves? This question helps you uncover any non-negotiable elements to include in the proposal. It could be something as simple as including a favorite tree, or something more involved like a firepit or outdoor kitchen. Make sure it’s part of the solution you propose. I have lost projects by not including that favorite tree or group of perennials that the client asked for up front.

BUSINESS What factors are most important to you in making a decision? This question helps you understand their decision-making criteria which can guide your recommendations. Budget is the typical response to this question, but budget may just be a smokescreen. If you have captured the client’s vision in your proposal, the budget objection will disappear.

How would you like communication and progress updates to be handled? This question helps you establish clear communication channels and maintain transparency. This is critical in today’s world where there are many ways of communicating. Some clients prefer texting, while others like face-to-face meetings (or Zoom calls). Others want you to pick up the phone and talk with them. Don’t take the easy way out and send a bunch of emails that don’t get read. Communication gets much easier when you do it the way a client desires. do you value most in a partnership or 10. What collaboration? This is the most powerful Magic

Question. Understanding their values helps you build a strong working relationship. If you can get your client

to open up and tell you this, you just developed a strong relationship and have become true partners with your client. Remember, active listening is just as important as asking the right questions. Pay attention to their responses and ask follow-up questions to delve deeper into their needs and concerns. If you would like to receive the full list of “Magic Questions,” please contact me at judson@ harvestlandscapeconsulting.com. About the author

Jud Griggs is Design/ Build Consultant of The Harvest Group. He can be reached at: judson@ harvestlandscapeconsulting. com. Reprinted with permission from the October 2023 issue of Lawn & Landscape. Visit www. lawnandlandscape.com for more information.

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INDUSTRY

Banta retires from PPC

Longtime industry leader leaves legacy Longtime MALTA and UAC member, and

Banta is probably best known for being the general manager of Centennial Olympic Park from 1996 to 2012, where he oversaw a multitude of major events and festivals. He then left Atlanta to help in the building and opening of Klyde Warren Park in Dallas — serving as the president of a deck park that was built over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway.

“The Piedmont Park Conservancy continues to be very grateful for Mark’s leadership,” Ellen Sacchi, the Conservancy’s Board Chair said. “Mark has made a notable impact during his time of service, and I know we will all continue to see the significance of his work at Piedmont Park for years to come.”

“Mark Banta showed what a leader he is in all of his efforts,” said Mary Kay Woodworth, Executive Director of the Georgia UAC. “Before I joined MALTA (the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association) as Executive Director in 2005, he was a trusted advisor to the Board, which continued when MALTA joined with the Georgia Turfgrass Association and Georgia Sod Producers Association in 2011 to create Georgia UAC. Personally, he has been a great friend and mentor, and always a good sounding board. Mark will be missed greatly by our UAC members and all in the industry who worked with him – whether through extension, while at Centennial Olympic Park or at Piedmont Park. He’s one of a kind, and we are grateful for all his years in the industry!”

“Leading the Piedmont Park Conservancy has truly been the highlight of my professional career. I’m honored to have led the amazing team here at PPC who are ready to take on the next opportunities and challenges and I look forward to helping the board position the next CEO for success,” said Mark Banta. Mark joined the Conservancy staff as Chief Operating Officer in 2014 and was promoted shortly thereafter to CEO. Under his leadership, the Conservancy’s annual budget increased to over $4.5 million, an operating reserve was established that enabled the organization to weather the pandemic successfully and the Park’s visitation grew to about six million annual visitors. “I’ve had four amazing careers,” said Banta, referring to his first job at UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, where he worked for 12 years.

44 | UAC MAGAZINE

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most recently, Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Banta, retired in November 2023. Mark served as CEO for eight years after a long career in operations at nationally recognized parks and greenspaces, including 16 years as the general manager of Centennial Olympic Park from 1996 to 2012.

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INDUSTRY

2023 SkillsUSA

Landscape/hort careers booth a big hit at national event

For the second year, the SkillsUSA National

Leadership and Skills Competition was held in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. This June 20 - 24 event connected over 15,000 students, educators, parents and industry leaders.

Irrigation and Landscape Supply, HighGrove Partners, LandCare, Landscape Workshop, Russell Landscape Group, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Stihl, Masonry & Hardscapes Association and the Georgia UAC.

Partnering with the NALP Foundation, Georgia UAC was again involved in creating an interactive and multifaceted careers booth targeted at students. With a design created by Ed Castro Landscape, we installed a 20 x 40 “booth” that showcased everything from hardscape, plant material, technology, equipment and industry opportunities. The students loved the photo-booth feature, where they took selfies throughout the event.

We will be repeating this effort June 24-27, 2024, with a larger space (40’ x 30’), and an increased effort in demonstrating how students can translate SkillsUSA competition skills to landscape/horticulture careers and pathways. We hope to add landscape lighting, irrigation, manufacturing and office/behind the scenes demonstrations to the booth for 2024. We will also incorporate NALP-created infographics to the displays to generate additional information and conversation.

Many local and national companies and organizations were represented (in-kind donations, volunteering at the booth, etc.) in 2023, including Plants Creative Landscapes (who also were the lead on the hardscape installation), Davey Tree, Ed Castro Landscape, Ewing

Our efforts to introduce a national landscape/horticulture competition continue. Currently, 12 states agree to support our efforts; 15 states are required to make it an official national competition. We are confident that 2024 will be the year we can make this happen!

46 | UAC MAGAZINE

INDUSTRY

Hollifield recognized

Georgia Crop Improvement’s executive director retires Terry Hollifield, Executive Director of the Georgia Crop Improvement Association since 1992, retired December 31, 2023.

Hollifield started his career in 1970 as a seed certification specialist and remarkably has been with the same organization his entire career. During his 53-year career, he developed a reputation as an innovator, starting multiple programs and initiatives at Georgia Crop. These programs include the International Turfgrass Genetic Assurance Program, the organic certification program, food safety services, turfgrass certification, Quality Assurance and Identity Preserved programs. As a result of his efforts, he’s had the opportunity to serve the larger agriculture industry in areas outside of the seed arena. He’s served on the boards of the Georgia Sod Producers Association, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association, and as president of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA).

Well respected in his local community, Hollifield has a history of service to those around him. He’s served on the Barrow County Planning Commission, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners, the Barrow County Water Authority and Barrow County Farm Bureau. He resides in Winder, Georgia today with his wife Kay and their dogs Pete and Gracie. For all his accolades and success, what he enjoys most is people. He’s a people person and is constantly seeking ways to encourage and help those around him. He’s not only well known here in Georgia, but is known and respected by his peers across the country. Upon recognition for his service at the 2023 Georgia Sod Producer’s Field Day on November 7, 2023, Hollifield sent this letter to be shared with Georgia sod producers and turfgrass professionals:

Just wanted to thank you for recognizing my upcoming retirement. Bill did a great job at making me look better than I really am. But I will say, that of all the crops and people we work with, turfgrass growers and others in the industry, have always been special to me. There is no doubt that Georgia Crop Improvement and Georgia Seed Development are the best certification and foundation seed association in the U.S. A big reason for us obtaining this status is leadership provided by turfgrass clients. For the first 20 years of my employment at GCIA we were a traditional agricultural association led by row crop farmers who were seeking that value-added dollar by taking a commodity (soybeans, peanut, wheat, etc.), conditioning and marketing as certified seed. Farming was their passion, not seed production. They saw no need for promoting their product, no need for GCIA to grow, and frankly they simply did not have the business savvy needed to promote certified seed. When turfgrass growers began to appear on our board, they looked upon certification as a means to promote their product, differentiate themselves from green grass producers, and they recognized the importance in having the resources, both staff and money, to move ahead. So whatever GCIA is or is not, any success I may have had I lay at the feet of those turfgrass professionals who have guided us along the journey for the last 30 plus years. Thanks, Terry H. WINTER 2024 | 47

URBAN AG

Putting texture to work

Making earth-friendly products and services more enticing by Dr. Richard Ludwig

Sustainability is no longer a fad or passing craze.

The exploding interest in pollinator gardens, native plants, eco-smart products and services is here, and here to stay! Regardless, many customers have not jumped on the what’s-good-for-the-planet bandwagon and are slow to make the commitment to purchase these products and services. How do we motivate folks to buy in a more earth-friendly manner?

1. First, take a “starfish story” approach. That’s

the wonderful tale about a young lady picking up starfish on the beach after a storm and throwing them back into the ocean. An older fellow comes by and tells her that she’s wasting her time and won’t make a difference. Her reply as she throws one back into the ocean is, “Well, it makes a difference to this one!” Work with customers based on where they are with their environmental awareness and commitment. Allow them to take baby steps toward more sustainable strategies. A small pollinator garden in the backyard could be the first step and a great start to many more sustainable element purchases.

Coarse texture means the leaves are large, glossy and far apart.

48 | UAC MAGAZINE

2. Second, make it attractive. Butterflies don’t care

if the planting looks like an unkempt roadside meadow but humans do. If it’s drop-dead-gorgeous, most of us will appreciate (and pay for) it. To do this, one must analyze the plant based on its artistic qualities. This is much more than procuring a bunch of pollinatorfriendly plants and finding good places to put them. It requires artistic vs. horticultural skills which most plant aficionados do not possess. Author Nan Fairbrother in her iconic text, The Nature of Landscape Design, puts it this way: “A collection of choice plants is not a landscape, any more than a list of choice words is a poem.” Buying more stuff and finding a place to put it creates a busy, chaotic jumble. A dropdead gorgeous landscape is rarely achieved just by adding more plants! As a green industry professional, your role is to base your plant choices on their artistic qualities of form, texture and color. For this article, let’s take a close look at texture. Too often it’s the least considered of the three.

Fine-textured plants have leaves that are small or thin, dull finished and close together.

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The magic of texture

Sustainable Planting Design: Start to Profitable Finish

Texture ranges from extra coarse to extra fine. What exactly does that mean? Essentially, texture refers to size, spacing and luster of leaves or other plant parts.

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You’ll learn how to: > combine form, texture and color; > use block design to create stunning combinations that are earth-friendly and eco-smart; > draw in a realistic elevation view to help sell ideas; and > use various pricing strategies including design, installation and management.

Coarse texture means the leaves are large, glossy and far apart. Conversely, fine-textured plants have leaves that are small or thin, dull finished and close together.

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Which would you guess is the most eye-catching or (another way to say it) has the most visual energy?

urbanagcouncil.com/landscape-pro-university

Coarse texture, for sure! This has to do with how light hits the plant. If the leaves are shiny, some of the sunlight hits the leaf and reflects directly into our eyes with pure, white light. Because the leaf is not flat, some of the light is reflected and refracted in different ways and we see tints and shades of green. And, because the leaves are far apart, some of the light misses the leaf and gets absorbed in the ground. So, we see shadows or something dark. Pure white light, tints and shades of green and black. And if the leaves have a long petiole or leaf stalk, they flutter in the wind and the whole plant shimmers! Alternately, fine-textured leaves have low visual energy as they are dull and close together. All the leaves absorb light in a similar manner and it’s not nearly as fascinating to the eye.

So…why pay so much attention to texture? Because you can direct the eye with the correct use of texture. You can set a specific mood with the correct use of texture. You can manipulate space with the correct use of texture! Coarse-textured plants have the most visual energy, so use them judiciously in the landscape. They arrest the eye and are fascinating to gaze upon, so place them only where you want to draw attention or encourage further interest. You can get away with one or just a few of them strategically placed. Coarse-textured plants also advance. In other words, they look closer than they actually are. Placing them around the perimeter of a space makes the space more intimate and cozy. If the walk to the front door is a bit long and dreary, place coarse textures near the door and it will feel a bit shorter and more interesting. One of my favorite design ideas is putting coarse-textured plants in the front of a bed and fine textured in the back, making the bed appear deeper and more substantial. Coarse textures partner best with rustic or coarsetextured hardscape elements. They’re perfect in front of a dry stacked stone wall or split rail fence. Fine textured plants often get overwhelmed when used with those types of elements. However, they evoke a much more relaxed and restful feeling. Best to use them in mass. One or two of them don’t make much of a statement. Finer textures serve as a foil and “play nice” with just about everything.

Textural contrast - when done right - can make magical combinations.

In good design, it’s critical to have foils or places for the eye to rest and fine-textured elements offer that respite. As you can imagine, most grasses are fine textured and combine easily into many combinations and situations. Extra fine-textured grasses such as Muhly grass recede. They look farther away than they are and can make WINTER 2024 | 49

URBAN AG a space appear larger by their placement around the perimeter. Finally, creating textural contrast can truly make or break a design. Big leaves next to small ones, glossy next to dull, leaves that are far apart against those that are close together make magical combinations.

textured elements or little contrast as there’s much less visual punch. Too many focal point areas make the landscape busy and chaotic.

So, as you sell sustainable products and services, allow your customers to embrace things little by little. Work with them where they are. And, most importantly, choose those or pollinator-friendly plants based on their We reviewed andnatives interviewed and surveyed UAC How can you tell if you’ve got a lot of textural contrast? artistic qualities too. You’ll be on your members and other awards programs from coastway to creating an A simple and very effective way is to take a black and landscape to coast to environmentally-friendly see what worked and what didn’t. that is also beautiful, white picture of the combinations. This allows the eye functional and emotion evoking! to concentrate on shapes and sizes vs. hues. Color can overwhelm our minds and make it tough to evaluate About the author Then we took the best features from the best anything else.

RESEARCHED REVAMPED

awards programs and wove them together with Dr. Richard Ludwig, a college

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Get ready for the big reveal in mid-April!

However, be judicious where you attempt lots of textural the GALA features our members love. educator of 30+ years specializing contrast. Try to be very deliberate and decide where you in horticulture, landscape design, want to draw attention and arrest the eye. Perfect places and landscape management, was include near the front door of your home, in a container horticulture program director and or at a portal to an outdoor room. Too often you see this Georgia Green Industry Educator in front of the compost pile or next to the storage shed of the Year. His career includes in hopes of “dressing up” that area. That’s the perfectly hosting PBS TV’s GardenSmart, serving as a Southern Living magazine garden specialist, and as a national spokesperson for incorrect way to do it. It draws attention to those areas Miracle Gro potting soils. vs. encouraging the eye to go elsewhere. Choose fine-

Start picturing your team in the winners’ circle.

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Entry deadline: 5:00 pm, Friday, January 5, 2024 Late entry deadline: 5:00 pm, Friday, January 12, 2024 (late fee will apply)

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50 | UAC MAGAZINE

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Creative, beautiful and the perfect size Top 10 shrubs for containers and small spaces by Proven Winners Some of the most creative and beautiful gardens are made in small spaces, where choices are deliberate

and plants offer more than just one thing. Others are made with only containers, which can be moved around and regrouped to make the display more dynamic. Here are 10 shrubs that are beautiful or native or tough or have threeseason interest, and they’re all sized for containers or small gardens!

Pollypetite® Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus sp. Pollypetite® has the same lovely flowers you expect from a hibiscus, but on a much smaller frame. Growing just 3-4’ tall and wide with a naturally rounded habit, it is ideal for planting in container groupings and gardens where space is at a premium. Its light lavender flowers have a very low seed set. Full sun. Zone 5-9.

Lil’ Ditty® Witherod Viburnum

Viburnum cassinoides This puffball is called Lil’ Ditty® and you can easily tell why in spring: creamy flowers elegantly arranged on such a small frame. This space-saving, fragrant native draws in pollinators, but will not entice deer or rabbits in the least. Its mature size is a maximum of 2’ tall by 2’ wide. Full to part sun. Zone 3-8.

Show Off® Sugar Baby® Forsythia

Forsythia x This compact variety grows to a maximum of 2.5’ tall and 3’ wide, with stems that are stuffed with beautiful bright yellow blooms. After flowers are spent its green foliage provides a handsome backdrop to other plants for the rest of the season. Compact habit, adaptability to a wide range of soils, and shade tolerance give this forsythia an edge. Full to part sun. Zone 5-8.

52 | UAC MAGAZINE

Pugster Pinker® Butterfly Bush

Buddleia x Growing just 2.5’ tall and wide, it’s easy to tuck this prolific bloomer into a garden. From summer through fall, they’re loaded with fragrant candy pink flowers so plant this little beauty near a window or pathway. This is one of the most drought-tolerant shrubs you’ll find, so plant in a spot that gets extremely good drainage. Prune it down in the spring and it’ll be ready to wow all summer long. Full sun. Zone 5-9.

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Sunjoy Mini Maroon® Barberry

Berberis thunbergii A lovely example of what good breeding can do. Developed by Dr. Tom Ranney, Sunjoy Mini Maroon® is non-invasive, so you can gladly include this barberry. Its rich color and versatile habit, 2-3’ tall and wide, make it a desirable choice for planting in mixed borders, garden edging, or as the thriller in a container display. Once planted it stays attractive due to drought tolerance, deer resistance, and a naturally mounded habit. Full sun. Zone 4-8.

Low Scape Mound®

Aronia melanocarpa Low Scape Mound® aronia offers three-season appeal with masses of white spring flowers, handsome black summer fruit, and fabulous red fall color. Under half the size of the native species, it grows to a maximum of 2’ tall by 2’ wide. It adapts to a range of soils and moisture conditions, so it easily remains handsome in containers and landscapes throughout the season. Full to part sun. Zone 3-9.

Invincibelle Wee White® Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens Love the look of Annabelle hydrangeas, but don’t quite have the space? Invincibelle Wee White® is your answer! It has a sturdy, compact frame that grows to a maximum of 2.5’ tall by 2.5’ wide and supports masses of classic mophead flowers without flopping. It has pure white blooms in summer and throughout fall due to its ability to rebloom. Hydrangea arborescens like this one are native to the United States and would be a fantastic addition to a pollinator garden. Full to part sun. Zone 3-8.

Bobo® Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata The number of large flowers that can fit on this petite package is almost unbelievable! Its lacy blooms emerge white, mature beautifully to dusty pink or red, and provide interest throughout fall and winter if left on the stems. Using this showy 3’ x 3’ pollinator attractor is a bit easier than other hydrangeas, as it is more sun tolerant and adapts to most soils. It also makes a great cut or dried flower. Full to part sun. Zone 3-8.

Visit the Proven Winners website to learn more: provenwinners.com/learn_articles WINTER 2024 | 53

URBAN AG

10.

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea

Tater Tot® Arborvitae

Spiraea japonica Double Play® Candy Corn® brings spectacular appeal to the garden from spring to fall. Spring new growth emerges deep red, contrasting with candy apple green foliage. In summer and fall, the foliage matures to pretty pineapple yellow and new growth is orange. However, its dark purple spring blooms are the biggest contribution to the color display, and they make great cut flowers! It grows 1.5-2.5’ tall and wide and fits easily into flower beds, mass plantings, and colorful potted arrangements. Full to part sun. Zone 4-7.

Thuja occidentalis Tater Tot® arborvitae is the perfect fit for walkways, grouping in borders, or containers framing entryways or windows. Its foliage has a lovely scent when rubbed and even works as table décor or filler for a wintry arrangement. It naturally grows in a dense little ball, ultimately reaching 2-3’ tall and 3-4’ wide, with no need for pruning but it can be shaped in the springtime after new growth has started to push out. Full to part sun. Zone 3-9. All photos courtesy of Proven Winners

Proud to be an Urban Ag Council member For more than 20 years our Atlanta Home Improvement Community has served 5000+ businesses connecting contractors and service providers with thousands of homeowners. 11/21/22, 2:29 PM

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WINTER 2024 | 55

URBAN AG

All Stars of the Drought

Time to get tough with your beauty by Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author and Speaker An example is the new Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine and Royal Raspberry agastache. They relished this past summer so much that they formed tight clumps, forecasting great things come spring. The same holds true for Upscale Red Velvet and Pink Chenille bee balm as well as the Color Coded echinacea, all of which have native DNA throughout. One plant that has continually outperformed all expectations is Augusta Lavender heliotrope. I have it planted in a horrid location on the side of a slope that is impossible to water. But it thrived and was even blooming in December. Augusta Lavender heliotrope is simply amazing and perennial in zone 8 and warmer.

This drought monitor map of the United States shows many areas of the country are in the midst of an epic climate event.

The Luscious lantanas may be the toughest flowers on the planet and the Captains of our All Stars of the Drought team. I am in year four with Luscious Royale Cosmo, Marmalade, Golden Gate, Citron and Citrus Blend. I have never seen one wilt. They seemed to celebrate the heat and drought of 2023 with their gorgeous blooms.

The first weekend in December 2023 my area was

fluctuating with 78 - 90+ percentages of chances of rain. Indeed, it was overcast and dreary with mist over the Friday - Sunday period; however, there were no droughtrelieving downpours here. The late November drought monitor map didn’t bring any major changes.

Rockin Playin’ the Blues salvia was a champion in every location I planted it, still blooming in early December. The blue is simply the most riveting color in the landscape. It stands to reason that this is a rugged perennial in zones 7 and warmer, as both of its parents are native to Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico.

With rains being almost non-existent for much of the southeast this past summer, many of us have gone back to thinking about tough plants as well as water conservation. I was perusing my photos from last summer and was astounded at the beautiful flowers, even though it was miserably hot and dry.

Lastly you have to give a salute to Truffula Pink gomphrena. These too are forming a tight clump, making me think they just might return in the spring even though it is considered an annual here. I’ve been guilty of pampering this award winner too, but will reel in the water supply on all of these next year.

While azaleas were flagging or dying over here and hydrangeas wilting over there, some darn tough perennials and annuals were strutting their stuff as All Stars of the Drought! I have written about many of these over the past couple of years but never from the standpoint of simply being a tough summer survivor.

While these All Stars of the Drought taught me something, a frightening thought occurred to me: what if it is like this next year? What if we are in a period like Colorado found themselves in the late 1970s, which led the Denver Water Department to develop the term “xeriscape” in 1981?

I’m in the hot humid southeast so I have always picked flowers that could take the heat, that were beautiful and brought in pollinators. Never did I consider drought tolerance. I am usually way more concerned if I have good enough drainage so the plants don’t drown.

Unfortunately, no one knows when this will subside. So, should we reconsider our landscape design, plant selection and irrigation methods for 2024? You bet!

The All Stars of the Drought did so well they taught me a lesson: I have been pampering them too much.

56 | UAC MAGAZINE

About the author Norman Winter is an author and speaker on horticultural topics. Follow him on Facebook for more photos and garden inspiration: Norman Winter The Garden Guy

URBAN AG

Upscale Red Velvet monarda and Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine agastache are partners in perseverance.

Luscious Marmalade lantana, Color Coded, Orange You Awesome coneflower and August Lavender heliotrope are All Stars of the Drought.

Choosing tough plants like Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine and Royal Raspberry agastaches, Rockin Playin’ the Blues salvia, Pyromania Blaze kniphofia and Truffula Pink gomphrena mean you have beauty and drought tolerance.

This bed is geared toward pollinators and is also drought tolerant. Augusta Lavender heliotrope, Heat it Up Yellow gaillardia, Rockin Blue Suede Shoes salvia, Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine and Meant to Bee Royal Raspberry agastaches create quite the combo. WINTER 2024 | 57

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