The Official Publication of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 78 • Issue 4
www.inla1.org
July/August 2018
Cover: INLA Award of Excellence 2017 Winner for Hardscape Residential Design/Build over $50,000 — Smalls Landscaping
The Hardscape Issue auction awards shooting
our summer t 2018 & Shoots 8–9 see pag
e
Keep More Profits by Avoiding Mistakes Best Practices Include Education for Segmental Retaining Wall Contractor How to Quote Stone Off the Top of Your Head A Paradigm Shift in Retaining Wall Installation and Design
Follow us!
OISC Clean Sweep 7
IDNR Spotlight 12
IAH Quiz 26
WIN!
Two Full Registrations to Indiana Green Expo 2019! (Indiana Green Expo January 9–11, 2019)
How to win
The company that brings in the most new members will win (2) two free Indiana Green Expo (IGE) full registrations for the January 2019 convention. Full registration to the 2019 IGE includes both days of educational seminars plus trade show entrance — a $350 value! In case of a tie, we will split the winnings — one 2019 IGE full registration to each company.
Ready, Get set, Go! The Challenge runs from July 1, 2018 – November 30, 2018
one new membeR
During this challenge the INLA membership committee challenges each INLA member to bring one new member into the association . We all win if we grow our membership. For as we grow our association, we build a stronger green industry.
questions? Please contact either Kim Glass, 317-639-5679 or Rick Haggard, 765-366-4994
www.inla1.org
For INLA membership information, online application, and a current list of members, visit www.inla1.og.
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 78 • Issue 4 July/August 2018
Contents The Hardscape Issue BUSINESS
15 Keep More Profits by Avoiding Mistakes Education Indiana Nursery & Landscape News is the official publication of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. (INLA) and is published bimonthly. Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Phone: 317-889-2382 Toll Free: 800-443-7336 www.inla1.org Publisher Rick Haggard, Executive Director, INLA 765-366-4994 • haggard.rick@att.net Editor and Ad Sales Mary Breidenbach, Cumulus Design 317-757-8634 • mary@ecumulus.com Advertising Rates: Media Kit available online at www.inla1.org
Copy Deadline: First of the month preceding the month of the issue. Reprint permission granted if source is indicated. Views expressed in articles or editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its directors, but are those of the writer. Trade names used in articles are for identification only. No discrimination is intended toward similar products and the INLA does not endorse the use of the products mentioned. Subscriptions: Included with membership to the INLA. Nonmembers: $36.00 per year (six issues per year). For questions regarding subscriptions, please call INLA at 317-889-2382.
18 Best Practices Include Education for the Segmental Retaining Wall Contractor Education
20 How to Quote Stone Off the Top of Your Head BUSINESS
22 A Paradigm Shift in Retaining Wall Installation and Design
20
Plus More! 2
President’s Message
4
Executive Director’s Message
6 Calendar New & Returning INLA Members 7
OISC Clean Sweep
8
INLA Summer Tour and Shoot
10
INLA News
10
Movers & Shakers NALP Launches National Workforce Campaign, “Why I Landscape”
12
IDNR Spotlight: Asian Longhorned Beetle
26
Certification & Education
26
IAH Quiz! Earn CEUs
26 New Certifications for Initial Indiana Accredited Horticulturists (IAH) Cover Photo: Private residence in Valparaiso, Indiana. Photo courtesy Smalls Landscaping.
18
27
George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide
28
Advertiser List Classifieds
22
auction awards shooting
summer tour & Shoot 2018 see pages 8–9
President’s Message What is hardscaping? By now most people have heard of the term and understand what it means. Ten to fifteen years ago it would have been a different story. You see, the definition of “hardscaping” is the man-made features used in landscape architecture (e.g., paths, patios, or walls, as contrasted with vegetation). The ever most popular “outdoor living space” is extending the indoor living spaces outdoors and constructed with hardscape materials. Most of our design appointments include some form of hardscape materials along with softening the area with plants and flowers. If you look at the process needed to construct Brian Franco an outdoor living space you would construct the hardscape areas first and then come in with plants to make it all pop. All of this construction improves the value and appeal of the home and the return on investment is as good as redoing the indoor kitchen. As you can probably tell, this issue is about the different aspects of hardscaping. We have few articles on the topic covering different product lines and ways to estimate it correctly. Jeff Behlmer (a mentor and personal friend of mine) has done a outstanding job of growing a successful landscape design/build company and has mastered the art of correctly estimating hardscape work. From materials to labor, he has a formula and a track record to prove it. Stoney Suski from Unilock has been a representative for eleven years now and goes above and beyond for his customers. If you have ever participated in either the Home Show or Indiana Flower and Patio Show then maybe you would have seen Stoney delivering the unilock catalogs in his pajamas!!! Yes, that’s right, he got up and delivered them in his PJ’s just to make sure everyone had theirs before the show started. Stoney was instrumental in providing the Unilock article which is about their new U-CaraTM multi-faced wall system that looks to be a game changer. Jill Fouts has been a rep for Reading Rock for nine years and stands out as a leader amongst her male competitors. Reading Rock is the leader in large retaining wall projects all over the country. They have small garden walls and large commercial walls with everything in between. Jill writes about how segmental retaining wall best practices needs to includes education. David LaFara, our current president-elect, is well know for his passion of natural boulders. Most of us grew up with toys to play with, but David had rocks and he can’t stop playing and building with them today. He has created some amazing rock formations and has a specialty in creating awesome water boulders. David’s article provide help for all of us and provides all the formulas to quote stone accurately. We are changing the location for the annual shooting clays event that benefits the INLA scholarship program. Dean Richie, the summer meeting chair, has put together an exciting event that includes tours of some awesome landscapes including some of the award-winning Nancy Small’s projects and a new venue in northern Indiana for the shooting clays. This year’s event will be held in Valparaiso starting on August 9 with tours of several landscape projects and ending with dinner and fun. On Friday, we then go to Back Forty Sporting Clays in Bourbon, Indiana, for the annual shooting clays event. If you have never participated in this, then I highly recommend it. It is a lot of fun and there are some great door prizes and live auction pieces that make it worth while. Everything happens for a reason, just make the best of it! Brian Franco, INLA President bfranco@francoland.com
2018 INLA Officers Brian Franco, President Franco Landscaping, Inc. PO Box 34156, Indianapolis, IN 46234 317-858-3858; Fax 317-858-8906 bfranco@francoland.com Dave LaFara, President-Elect Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply 4931 Robison Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268 317-228-4900; Fax 317-228-4910 david.lafara@tiffanylawn.com Dean Ricci, Vice President Ricci’s Landscape Management, Inc. 502 Norbeh Drive, Hebron, IN 46341 219-996-2682; Fax 219-996-2680 dean@rlminc.com Brian Julius, Past President Walnut Ridge Nursery & Garden Center 2108 Hamburg Pike Jeffersonville, IN 47130 812-288-6691; Fax 812-288-1580 bjulius@walnutridge.com Rick Haggard, Executive Director & Publisher 3596 Linkside Court, Carmel, IN 46032 Office: 800-443-7336 Cell: 765-366-4994; Fax: 317-889-3935 haggard.rick@att.net • www.inla1.org
Board of Directors Jim Calvin (2018) Calvin Landscape • 317-247-6316 jim@calvinlandscape.com Kyle Daniel (2018) Purdue University, Nursery & Landscape Extension 765-494-7621 • daniel38@purdue.edu Kim Glass (2018) M.J. Schuetz Agency • 317-639-5679 kglass@mjsis.com Gabriel Gluesenkamp (2019) Designscape Horticultural Services 812-988-8900 • gabrielg@designhort.com Mark O’Brien (2020) Cardno • 574-586-2412 mark.obrien@cardno.com
Education: January 9–11 • Trade Show: January 10–11 Indiana’s largest, most comprehensive green industry event of the year! Offering educational workshops and seminars and a two-day trade show. Exhibit and show information at www.indianagreenexpo.com 2
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
Bob Wasson (2018) Wasson Nursery and Garden Center 765-759-9000 • bob@wassonnursery.com Shaun Yeary (2019) Greendell Landscape Solutions 317-996-2826 syeary@greendelllandscape.com
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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
3
Executive Director’s Message
7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box 189 Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com FairviewEvergreen.com
4
Greetings, fellow industry leaders; you are just in time to sit down, relax, take nourishment as Gordon Hobbs used to always say … for that matter I am sure he still does, having turned 91 on May 13, 2018. Sharing his birthday with Mother’s Day is even more reason to celebrate with his wife Norma. There are a few topics I would like to discuss and briefly touch on in this current edition. By the way, along with nourishment and Rick Haggard hopefully relaxing in a nice cool setting, you are free to indulge in a beverage of your choice. It might make this Executive Director’s letter either more enjoyable or palatable depending on the topic. I recently had a very pleasant, as always, conversation with Grant Schneider of Schneider Nursery in Seymour, the sight of our 2017 INLA Summer Tour, regarding landscape specs a customer was going through with the designation of the tree caliper as DBH after the size. Many landscapers in our local industry use general take-offs and if they are not careful in reading all the content, could be grossly underestimating the actual job. Coming from the nursery side of this industry, it immediately made me wonder why these were now being specified in this manner. DBH means diameter at breast height, or approximately 4 feet above the soil line. I first saw this used in a design done by a very reputable Chicago landscape firm. At first I assumed, yes, I did use that term and know full well what it means. I thought to myself this term was used due to a lack of sales and some nurseries having an overabundance of larger-caliper trees. My mind immediately envisioned design firms being wined and dined by these nurseries to develop a way of selling these larger trees in designs, thus the designation of DBH. I do not want to go into a long discussion on this letter regarding specifications on DBH, but just wanted landscapers to be sure their estimators are quoting the correct size. Another little note is that not all plans ask for DBH regarding tree calipers ,and this also causes other issues. Imagine a customer goes to their local garden center and accidentally orders fertilizer for a 2.5" DBH tree and the tree is actually just a regular 2.5" caliper at 6" above soil level and not roughly 4" which some 2.5" DBH could be? The outcome could be very detrimental and costly! The state of our industry is still struggling with getting adequate labor. As many of you are aware, several of our member firms utilize the H2B program. Toward the end of April, President Trump announced that he was going to let the H2B laborers in, and several breathed a sigh of optimistic relief. This still has not come to fruition, and jobs are being delayed not by Mother Nature but by the lack of a trained quality labor force. Many members mentioned at a recent meeting that they are on more jobsites doing the labor as well as doing the daily operations of the business as well. One thing that I have always admired about our association is the respect that companies have for one another. Preliminary numbers for our upcoming 2019 Indiana Green Expo are very promising as some have expanded their booth reservations. One company went from four 10 × 10 booths to eight for the upcoming year. While some states have decided to forego their trade shows, the Indiana show has grown over the past two years. This year we have no local shows over our dates of January 9–11, 2019. The IGE will be on Wednesday – Friday, and the educational committee is in the process of keeping this one of the most well-rounded educational events of the year…anywhere in the U.S. There are several topics for every facet of our industry, as well as special topics on having a peaceful balance between work life and home life. The next big event – THE INLA Summer Tour & Shoot will take place on August 9-10, 2018 in the northwest region of Indiana with tours taking place on August 9th in the Valparaiso area, and with our 12th annual Shooting for Scholarship fundraiser taking place on August 10th at Back Forty Sporting Clays in Bourbon, Indiana, just slightly east of Plymouth. A quick note: the August 9th programs will be Central Time (Chicago) and the August 10th event will be Eastern Time (Indianapolis). Be sure to look in this issue for the registration form on page 9. Some information could not be assembled before the deadline of this issue, so go online or call me with your questions! Keep It Green, Rick Haggard, INLA Executive Director Email: haggard.rick@att.net or rhaggard@inla1.org • Cell: 765-366-4994
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
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phone: (814) 452-3919 email: peggy@johnallin.com Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018 5
CALENDAR July 2018 10
Growing a diverse selection of native trees and shrubs
Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day West Lafayette, IN • Daniel Turf Center • This one-day event presents Purdue’s latest research and education. Available CCHs = 2(3), 3A(4), 3B(4), 5(1), 6(3), 7A(3), RT(4) www.mrtf.org
14–17 Cultivate 2018 Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH • Presented by AmerincanHort, it is one of the industry’s largest shows. CCHs available: 3A(8), RT(4) www.cultivate18.org
August 2018 9–10
INLA Summer Tour & Shoot Valparaiso, IN and surrounding area • Join INLA for the best fundraising and networking event of the year! Activities include a tour of many member projects in the area and Hamstra Gardens on Thursday, as well as an auction and benefit sport clay shoot for INLA’s scholarship program on Friday. See pages 8–9 for more information or visit www.inla1.org.
3–19
Indiana State Fair Indianapolis, IN • Indiana State Fairgrounds www.indianastatefair.com
14–16 Independent Garden Centers (IGC) Show Chicago, IL • Navy Pier • Widely recognized as the single best event for garden center owners, managers, and buyers. www.igcchicago.com
Specializing in Root Pruning
14–23 OISC Pesticide Clean Sweep Program Provides a safe and legal disposal of waste pesticides at various locations throughout the state. Planning form due July 31, 2018. See next page for details. www.oisc.purdue.edu/pesticide/clean_sweep.html 23
The 32nd Annual IPLLA and IICC Summer Field Day Danville, IN • Hendricks County Conference Center & Fairgrounds Available CCHs = 2(4), 3A(4), 3B(4), 5(2), 6(2), 7A(3), RT(4) www.iplla.com
30
Green Industry Alliance (GIA) Golf Outing / RESCHEDULED due to rain! Carmel, IN, Twin Lakes Golf Club • Fundraiser for the Green Industry Alliance, of which INLA is a member. Information/registration: See page inside back cover or on www.inla1.org
New & Returning INLA Members Phone: (317) 994-5487 Toll free: (866) 766-8367 Fax: (317) 994-5494
www.woodywarehouse.com sales@woodywarehouse.com 3339 W County Road 850 N PO Box 259, Lizton, IN 46149 6
Active Bayberry Landscaping (765) 482-6543 Steve Shepherd 420 East Chicago St. Lebanon, IN 46052 Associate Waldo & Associates, Inc. (419) 666-3662 Kim Bunge PO Box 990 Perrysburg, OH 43551
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
Affiliate David George 5068 Doe Circle Indianapolis, IN 46254 Brendonwood Common, Inc. (317) 547-8717 Mike Copeland 5925 Braewick Rd Indianapolis, IN 46226
calendar
OISC Clean Sweep Waste Pesticide Collection Days for 2018 Annouced — August 14–23, 2018 What: An Indiana Pesticide Clean Sweep Project designed to collect and dispose of suspended, canceled, banned, unusable, opened, unopened, or just unwanted pesticides (weed killers, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, miticides, etc.) is being sponsored by the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC). This disposal service is free of charge up to 250 pounds per participant. Over 250 pounds there will be a $2.00 per pound charge. This is a great opportunity for you to legally dispose of unwanted products at little or no cost.
How: Complete the Pesticide Clean Sweep Planning Form available at www.oisc.purdue.edu/pesticide/clean_sweep.html. Fax or email the completed form to Garret Creason at 765-494-4331 (fax) or gcreaso@purdue.edu no later than Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Then bring your labeled, leak free, and safe to transport containers to the collection site. DO NOT mix materials. In case of an emergency, you should bring with you a list of products you are carrying and a contact phone number.
Who: All public and private schools, golf courses, nurseries, farmers, ag dealers, cities, towns, municipalities, and county units of government or others receiving this notice are eligible to participate.
NOTE: OISC reserves the right to cancel this Pesticide Clean Sweep Project if there is not adequate demand. Participants submitting the planning form by July 31, 2017, will be contacted immediately if cancellation is necessary.
When: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local Where: August 14, 2018: Steuben County Fairgrounds in Angola, IN August 15, 2018: Jasper County Fairgrounds in Rensselaer, IN August 16, 2018: Henry County Fairgrounds in New Castle, IN August 21, 2018: Gibson County Fairgrounds in Princeton, IN August 22, 2018: Washington County Fairgrounds in Salem, IN August 23, 2018: Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, IN
More information at www.oisc.purdue.edu If you have specific questions or wish to speak directly to the OISC Clean Sweep Coordinator, please contact Garret Creason at gcreaso@purdue.edu. Thank you for your interest in the safe and legal disposal of waste pesticides.
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
7
Auction Awards Shooting
SUMMER TOUR August 9 & 10, 2018
Valparaiso Plymouth
Unwind this summer in beautiful Northwest Indiana for our best fundraising and networking event of the year.
Day 1: Summer Tour Thursday, August 9 (CDT) - Morning includes: Landscape projects in Grand Prairie and a visit to gorgeous Hamstra Gardens in Wheatfield. - Lunch at Hamstra Gardens - Afternoon stops include member job sites in Valparaiso, Sand Creek, and Beverly Shores. - Evening dinner with DJ and drinks.
Day 2: Shooting for Scholarships/Auction Friday, August 10 (EDT) Our annual sporting clay shoot is back, benefiting INLA / INEF educational scholarships. Bring customers, employees and friends. Prizes available to the best individual or team. - Lunch provided with event registration. - Live auction follows shoot.
Landscape Tour
Dinner, Drinks and music
Auction
Clay Shoot
8
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
Registration Deadline: August 3, 2018 ATTENTION! PLEASE NOTE! VERY IMPORTANT! Thursday’s schedule is on Central Daylight Time (Chicago) Friday’s schedule is on Eastern Daylight Time (Indy)
INLA Summer Tour 2018
REGISTRATION and Sponsorship FORM Thursday, August 9, 2018 Thursday’s Program in Central Time • Meet at 8:00 a.m. (CDT) at Hampton Inn Valparaiso • Landscape projects in Grand Prairie and tour Hamstra Gardens • Private lunch at Hamstra Gardens in Wheatfield • Member job sites in Valparaiso, Sand Creek, and Beverly Shores • 6:00 p.m. (CDT) dinner, drinks, and DJ
Friday, August 10, 2018 Friday’s Program in Eastern Time • Breakfast and registration from 9:00–10:00 a.m. (EDT) at Back Forty Sporting Clays in Bourbon, IN • Sporting clay shoot begins at 10:30 a.m. (EDT) • Catered lunch • Live auction
Thursday Tour Pricing $85 per person for Thursday event, includes tour, lunch, dinner, and beer samples $30 per person for dinner only
Friday Shoot Pricing $600 per team of 5 includes shoot, breakfast, and lunch $125 per person includes shoot, breakfast, and lunch
Suggested Lodging: Hampton Inn, 1451 Silhavy Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Shoot Location: Back Forty Sporting Clays, 1010 9B Rd, Bourbon, IN 46504
Reserve rooms by calling hotel directly at 219-531-6424. INLA room block for Aug. 8 & 9. Use code: INLA. Room block pricing: Either one king bed or two queen beds for $119.00 per night plus tax. Complimentary breakfast, WiFi, and parking included. Offer is good until July 23, 2018.
Registration: Company:_____________________________________________ Name(s) of individuals or team of 5 attending: 1)____________________________________________________ 2)____________________________________________________ 3)____________________________________________________ 4)____________________________________________________ 5)____________________________________________________ Address:_ _____________________________________________
Shoot registration includes: Targets, shells, shotguns (upon request), safety instructions, limited shooting instructions, refreshments, dinner, & prize eligibility. Return by: August 3, 2018
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sponsors will be acknowledged verbally and on signage throughout the program, in addition to an upcoming issue of the INLA magazine. Sign up for sponsorships soon and realize the maximum benefit of pre-event publicity! Company: _________________________________________ Contact:___________________________________________ Cell: ______________________________________________ Email:_ ____________________________________________
City, St, Zip:_ __________________________________________
___ We will staff our station
Phone:______________________ Cell:____________________
Sign me up for the following sponsorships (we have more than one sponsor per category):
Fax: ________________________ Email:_ _______________________________________________ Select registration items: # of People
_____ Thursday Event @ $85/person..................................$__________ _____ Thursday Dinner only @ $30/person........................$__________ _____ Shoot: Team of 5 @ $600/team.................................$__________ _____ Shoot: Individual @ $125/person..............................$__________ _____ Friday Event Spectator Only $50/person...................$__________ _____ Sponsorship Contribution Total................................$__________ _____ Additional Scholarship Contribution.........................$__________ Total amount enclosed........................................... $__________
PAYMENT: ___ Check enclosed made payable to INLA ___ Credit card (circle one): MasterCard Visa Discover AMEX Name on card:_________________________________________ Card number:__________________________________________ Expiration date:______/______
Security code: ________
Billing address if different from above: (address, city, state, zip) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
_____ $250 Station Sponsors — your logo/name on individual station signage. PLEASE PROVIDE A LIVE AUCTION ITEM. (20 opportunities or 2 per station) _____ $250 Friday Breakfast at Sugar Creek (2 opportunities) _____ $500 Lunch at Schneider Nursery (2 opportunities) _____ $250 Tour Transportation Sponsors (4 needed) Includes signage and an opportunity to do a 5-minute talk about your company/product _____ $350 Dinner Beverage (2 opportunities, alcoholic beverages during dinner only and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day) _____ $700 Dinner Sponsor (2 opportunities) _____ $300 Prize (2 opportunities) will be awarded to firstplace individuals on each team ($50 Visa gift cards) _____ Door prize donations (please describe) _______________________________________________
(Suggestions are coolers, tools, bag chairs, electronic items, event tickets, gift cards, etc.)
_____ Live auction donations (please describe) _______________________________________________ (Suggestions are gift cards, landscape material, products, electronics, equipment, etc.)
Please fax, email, or mail to the INLA Office by August 3, 2018 Fax: 317.889.3935 • Email: info@inla1.org • Mail: INLA 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237 • Questions: 800-443-7336 or 317-889-2382
INLA News
Movers & Shakers Listed are INLA members, their employees, or their organizations who have achieved recognition, special acknowledgments, an award, or a new position.
David Gordon of Mark M. Holeman Elevated to ASLA Council of Fellows The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has elevated 31 members as Fellows for their exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large. Election to the ASLA Council of Fellows is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and is based on their works, leadership and management, knowledge, and service. The designation of Fellow is conferred on individuals in recognition of exceptional accomplishments over a sustained period of time. David Gorden, of Mark M. Holeman, Inc., received his nomination, in Service, from the Indiana Chapter. Typically engaged in several volunteer commitments at once, Gorden has left an enduring, broad legacy through his leadership and service.
David Gordon
Additional information about the 2018 Class of Fellows is available at https://www.asla.org/fellows.aspx.
Specializing in Bonding & Insurance Programs For the Construction Industry
55 Monument Circle, Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.MJSIS.com
Phone: 317-639-5679 10
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
NALP Launches National Workforce Campaign, “Why I Landscape” The National Association of Landscape Professionals announced today the launch of “Why I Landscape,” a national workforce campaign to promote the landscape profession and encourage students and career seekers to consider opportunities within the industry. Introduced by NALP’s Industry Growth Initiative, “Why I Landscape” builds off the success of NALP’s careers website, LandscapeIndustryCareers.org. The website showcases various career paths that professionals can take within the industry and connects job seekers with potential employers through its national job board, which has been visited by more than 100,000 candidates over the past few months. The national campaign includes digital advertising, media outreach, and social media content promoted through its new @WhyILandscape Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels. “Social media is a critical component in communicating with the public as it helps shape perceptions and understanding,” noted Missy Henriksen, NALP vice president of public affairs. “We urge industry companies to follow and share our posts to amplify the strength of our voice and messaging.” The new social channels will offer followers a greater understanding of the breadth of the profession, advancement opportunities, compensation potential, and insight into why current professionals value their careers. This messaging will come through testimonials, video content, industry statistics, news articles, and more. “Why I Landscape”, LandscapeIndustryCareers.org, and other programs to promote the profession have been developed by NALP’s Industry Growth Initiative, which works to promote the industry and grow the workforce. For more information or to support IGI, visit https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/foundation/foundation/ industry-growth-initiatve.aspx.
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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
11
IDNR Spotlight
Asian Longhorned Beetle Eric Bitner, Indiana DNR, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology Introduction The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB; Anoplophora glabripennis) was discovered in 1996 in New York City and has subsequently infested and killed hundreds of thousands of trees in New York City, northern New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Toronto. The currently infested areas are in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Ontario. To date, ALB has not been found in Indiana. With no current control methods, early identification and eradication are critical to its control. Tunneling by the beetle larvae weakens trees by girdling tree stems and branches. The ultimate end of a tree attacked by ALB is death. The beetle has been intercepted at ports in wood packaging material and other raw goods and found in warehouses throughout the United States. This pest threatens recreation and forest resources valued at billions of dollars. The ramifications of an infestation by this pest within Indiana would affect several industries, from maple syrup production to the whole of the timber industry from loggers to finished products due to destruction of the natural resources. ALB has a wide host range that has been documented to include species from 12 different genera. The most ecologically and economically important are maple species (Acer spp.), including boxelder, Norway, red, silver, and sugar maples. Other preferred hosts are birches, Ohio buckeye, elms, horsechestnut, and willows. Occasional to rare hosts include ashes, European mountain ash, London planetree, mimosa, and poplars. Life History The ALB has one generation per year. Adult beetles are usually present from July to October, but can be found later in the fall if temperatures are warm. Adults usually stay on the trees from which they emerged or they may disperse short distances to a new host to feed and reproduce. Each female chews a pit in the branch and usually lays 35-90 eggs during her lifetime. 12
Asian longhorned beetle.
ALB larva.
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Emergence hole created by adult beetles.
Sawdust present on the trunk, branches or base of the tree is a sign of adult or larval activity.
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Larval tunnels or galleries can be found in broken branches of infested trees.
Oviposition pits in the bark where female beetles deposit an egg.
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Some are capable of laying more than that. The eggs hatch in 10–15 days. The larvae feed under the bark in the living tissue of the tree for a period of time and then bore deep into the wood where they pupate. The adults emerge from pupation sites by boring a tunnel in the wood and creating
a round exit hole in the tree (about the size of a dime). Unlike the emerald ash borer, ALB larvae burrows through the center of the tree weakening the tree ,and making it easier to blow over or break in high winds or storms.
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
(Asian Longhorned Beetle continues on page 14.)
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
13
IDNR Spotlight
Asian Longhorned Beetle (continued from page 12) Diagnostic Signs and Symptoms The adult ALB is a distinctive-looking insect with the following unique characteristics: • Shiny, jet black body with distinctive white spots • Body is 1 to 1½ inches in length • Long antennae with black and white stripes • Six long legs • May have metallic-looking blue feet Damage from the ALB might include: • Dime-sized holes in trees where beetles emerge from the wood • Shallow scraped pits in the wood from where the beetle lays eggs • Oozing sap or small piles of sawdust at the base of infested trees and branches ALB Look-alikes There are several other insect species within Indiana that can be easily misidentified as ALB. The Eastern eyed click beetle, cottonwood borer, and white spotted pine sawyer are a few. The click beetle has two large black “eyespots” on its pronotum (the part of the insect that covers the thorax). A thick, white ring, making the pair very conspicuous, covers each eyespot. The long, slender, black eyltra (wing coverings) are covered in white speckles. The cottonwood borer is similar in size to ALB, but can be distinguished by solid black antennae (not banded) and different markings on the wings. This borer is reported to infest poplar and cottonwood trees. Pine sawyer beetles are mainly reported on white and scotch pine. Adult beetles are cylindrical, hard-shelled, and sometimes colored in contrasting bands, spots, or stripes. Management and Prevention Currently, the only effective means to eliminate ALB is to remove infested trees and destroy them by chipping or burning. 147,000 trees have been lost in Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. ALB has the potential to become a catastrophic pest of hardwood trees in North America due to a wide range of suitable hosts and difficulties in detection
14
Asian longhorned beetle
Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Adult white spotted pine sawyer beetle
Eastern eyed click beetle
Photo credit: Joe Boggs, The Ohio State University.
Cottonwood borer
Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
Photo credit: Copyright © 2012 Sandra McKennon-Volk
and monitoring. Economic impacts would affect the forest products and nursery industry in Indiana. Ecological impacts of biodiversity and ecological services would result with tree mortality caused by ALB. Upon discovering an infestation the United States Department of Agriculture sends in workers to partner with each state with the goal of eradication. Eradication efforts in some areas of North America have been successful. To prevent the spread of ALB, the federal and state governments establish quarantines in areas where the beetle has been detected. Removing infested trees or high-risk host trees in the surrounding area is essential to stop the spread of ALB and save millions of trees. Larvae often go unnoticed because feeding occurs under the bark, and this is why transporting wood is a major problem. It is particularly important to purchase firewood where you plan to burn it to avoid spreading ALB or other pests, such as emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, and walnut twig beetle.
Early detection of any invasive pest such as ALB is critical to the success of eradication efforts in terms of time and money. Most infestations have been identified by alert citizens that find the beetle, but careful monitoring for tree damage will also help catch an infestation early. At this time ALB has not been found in Indiana. If signs or symptoms of ALB are found, report the infestation to the Indiana DNR by phone at 1(866) NO-EXOTIC or (866) 663-9684, or by emailing DEPP@dnr.IN.gov.
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
About the Author
Eric B. Bitner is the Indiana DNR Nursery Inspector for southwestern Indiana working out of Jeffersonville. He has worked with the Division since 2006 and has prior experience in the nursery industry in Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Taylor University with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. He is also an ISA Certified arborist and a INLA Accredited Horticulturist.
July/August 2018
The Hardscape Issue BUSINESS
15 Keep More Profits by Avoiding Mistakes Education
18 Best Practices Include Education for the Segmental Retaining Wall Contractor Education
20 How to Quote Stone Off the Top of Your Head
BUSINESS
Keep More Profits by Avoiding Mistakes Jeff Behlmer, Aspen Outdoor Designs, Inc. The Green Industry has seen many changes since the early 2000’s. One of the biggest changes has been the shifting of focus from front yard plantings for curb appeal to the creation of elegant, creative outdoor living spaces in backyards. The evolution from rectangular decks or concrete patios with modest furnishings to elaborate outdoor living spaces has pushed creativity to never-seen-before levels. Clients are more willing than ever to pay a premium for creative, high-quality projects.
Business
22 A Paradigm Shift in Retaining Wall Installation and Design
Before . . .
and after!
Residential project in Indianapolis, Indiana, before (left) and after (above).
With the ever-increasing complexity and scope of outdoor living projects, there are many opportunities for increased profits. Elements like paver inlays, wall accent bands, lighting, sound systems, shade structures, etc. are all ways one can set themselves apart and command higher dollars for their projects. However, with the increased complexity, there is also an increased risk in making a mistake somewhere along the line … and we all know mistakes lead to delays, costly expenses, and diminished credibility. Following are tips to help avoid mistakes which, in turn, will help keep and increase your profit. (Keep More Profits by Avoiding Mistakes continues on page 16.)
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
15
Keep More Profits by Avoiding Mistakes (continued from page 15) 1 Start with a Detailed Design As clients demand more complex outdoor living spaces, the need for detailed designs has increased. Designs drawn to scale are imperative for estimating, construction, and setting expectations with the client. For example, a client requests an area to place a six-person dining table. A scaled design showing the table on the plan can help assure the client the space is the right size. What happens if the space is built using a rough sketch not drawn to scale and the table doesn’t fit? ... Perhaps you are not equipped to provide scaled, detailed designs in-house … there are many individuals and firms who offer design services. The designs cost money, but it’s a professional service one really can’t afford not to provide their client. Besides, charging the client for a design not only puts the contractor in a more professional position, but it makes the client have some skin in the game which, in turn, helps gauge their commitment to the project. Clients will pay for a design if they feel the design is a value to the process. Sell them on the value! 2 Know Your Costs Once a detailed design has been created, a detailed estimate needs to be prepared. Seems logical, right? Slow down!!! Before you can put together detailed, accurate estimates, YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR COSTS! Knowing your Indirect Costs (also called overhead) is very important to your overall success.
There are many tools to help calculate Indirect Costs, but a great starting point is to add up all your yearly projected costs not directly associated with projects (i.e., office staff salary, insurance, utilities, etc.) and divide it by the total projected hours worked in the field. This will give you an hourly rate you MUST charge your clients to recover those costs. Each project sold recovers a portion of the total costs for the year. Though this method is not always perfect, it is a great starting point and can be perfected over time. Not recovering all Indirect Costs will reduce your profit at the end of the year and will create cashflow problems. Once Indirect Costs have been determined, Direct Costs are calculated. Direct Costs are costs incurred only if you do the project. Direct Costs include materials, equipment, rental fees, permits, taxes, labor, etc. Having a detailed process to accurately calculate direct costs is of the utmost importance. Cost overruns take away from profit on the job … money out of your pocket. It’s like getting pickpocketed, but you’re the one doing it to yourself! Sounds insane, right? It is if it continually happens… Estimating tools are available online, and Excel spreadsheets are also easy to set up. Create a process that works for you and stick to it.
3 Create a Detailed Estimate After calculating Direct and Indirect Costs, a detailed estimate can be created. However, contractors are notorious for being enamored only with the revenue generated by a project. Revenue is not just a number Quality Michigan Grown Nursery Stock pulled out of the Balled & Burlapped 3’-16’ sky or based on Colorado Spruce Norway Spruce fixed unit prices. White Spruce If you are taking Serbian Spruce a best-guess or Black Hills Spruce fixed unit price White Pine approach to your Balsam Fir estimating process, Canaan Fir “Where Quality & Value Prevail!” you are probably Gobles, MI Concolor Fir falling short more Douglas Fir 1-888-MI-TREES Fraser Fir 269-628-4308 Korean Fir
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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
times than not and struggling in your business. Revenue is nothing more than the sum of Direct Costs + Indirect Costs + Desired Profit. Every project will have different direct costs. Indirect costs might be recovered at a constant rate, but each project will recover a different amount. Profit should change from job to job and can be based on factors like job complexity and accessibility. As you can see, revenue is easy to calculate once you have all the costs figured out! However, it takes time to calculate the costs. Do the necessary work and don’t take any shortcuts.
4 Track Your Results A detailed plan has been designed and installed. Yearly indirect costs have been calculated and a process has been established for calculating direct costs on each job. While it’s easy to simply move on to the next job, take some time to compare your actual costs to your estimated costs at the completion of each job. Comparing actual labor hours to estimated hours and building a database can help you estimate more accurately in the future as well as help you identify areas where efficiency can improve, or equipment might help. Are you new to the industry and you don’t have a database of historical data yet? Start one immediately and find a mentor! Organizations like the INLA have many seasoned veterans as members who are usually very willing to offer advice and help young, up-and-coming contractors succeed. Get involved, attend events, and network. Operating a business within the green industry can be very rewarding. By creating detailed designs, knowing your costs to operate the business/install projects, creating a detailed estimating process, and tracking results you will keep your profits and minimize costly mistakes.
About the Author
Jeff Behlmer is the owner of Aspen Outdoor Designs, Inc. Founded in 1997 and located in Noblesville, IN, Aspen Outdoor Designs is a member of the INLA. If you have any questions for Jeff, he can be reached via email at Jeff@AspenOutdoorDesigns.com.
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
17
Education
Best Practices Include Education for the Segmental Retaining Wall Contractor Jill Fouts, Reading Rock, Inc. As it becomes more and more important to create usable land and buildable space, the hardscape industry has a tried and true solution … Segmental Retaining Walls (SRW). SRWs cover a wide range of applications from creating a raised patio, to supporting a pool and outdoor room, to holding up roads and bridges. In the last couple years, the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), working with wall licensors, manufacturers, installers, and other industry experts, published a document outlining best practices for specification, design, construction, and inspection for segmental retaining walls titled, Segmental Retaining Walls Best Practices Guide Why? As a part of the NCMA’s Zero Failures Initiative, this document was created to educate owners, designers, and installers of SRW systems on the recommended industry practices for building walls that last. Most of you have installed segmental retaining walls. The SRW Best Practices Guide pulls together industry experience from projects (successes and failures) over the last 25 years to offer guidance for proper wall design and construction. Part of the intent is to eliminate wall failures and increase acceptance and use of segmental retaining walls.
SRW Installer Certification Programs That said, the SRW Best Practices Guide spends a lot of time talking about SRW installer certification programs. NCMA, most wall licensors, and wall manufacturers along with their distributors, offer SRW Installer Certification Programs. These classes typically have both a classroom and a hands-on segment, and may require the student’s successful completion of at least three projects. Most in the industry have been to a class or two over the years; however, there is always something new 18
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
to learn. Attending a class as a refresher course is recommended, and sending new associates is always encouraged!
The Segmental Retaining Walls Best Practices Guide also covers: • Design guidelines • Preconstruction considerations • Water management • Water applications • Soils • Geogrid reinforcement • Tall walls and many other items As a side note, and to debunk an urban legend, a good-quality SRW system does not require an accessory like a pin or clip to be structurally sound. This document covers best practices for design and installation whether the system uses a pin, clip, or built-in lip. Every one of these systems works if the product is made to industry standards and is properly installed. Download a free copy of NCMAs Segmental Retaining Walls Best Practices Guide through this link: http://ncma-br.org/ pdfs/masterlibrary/NCMA%20SRW%20 Best%20Practices%20E1P2.pdf.
Allan Block also provides a similar best practices document online at http://www.allanblock.com/engineers/ retaining-wall-design-guidelines.aspx
Other Useful Tools In addition to the best practices guide and ongoing education, there are many useful tools available for estimating retaining walls. Utilizing online estimating tools and software programs is by far the most efficient. Once you know the details such as wall layout and site and construction considerations, most SRW block licensors offer estimating tools for the contractors to use. Also available are 3D modeling sketchup tools. Most manufacturers provide assistance tools either on their website or as part of their certification classes. In closing, the emphasis on best practices, including the importance of training for SRW design and construction, is timely. We know land is becoming more valuable. As this market segment continues to grow, using the best information the industry can offer and gaining knowledge
through education will produce the bestquality wall installation.
About the Author
Jill Fouts, LEED GA, is Market Manager for Reading Rock, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer and supplier of building materials in Cincinnati. For over 70 years, Reading Rock has focused on innovative and high-quality products to offer more product solutions for your projects. We partnered with innovative industry leading companies like Allan Block Retaining Walls and ReCon Retaining Wall Systems to offer robust solutions. Reading Rock conducts their retaining wall certification classes annually in December. Estimating tools, certification, class registration, and more can be found at www.readingrock.com.
Arborjet provides cutting edge solutions to the green industry’s insect and disease problems. From high tech equipment to formulations that change the way we think about plant health care, Arborjet offers the tools you need to save America’s landscapes. Visit us online to learn more!
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Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
19
Education
How to Quote Stone Off the Top of Your Head David LaFara (AKA Sir Rocks A Lot), Tiffany Lawn and Garden Supply Hello All What a strange year this has been so far. It all started out perfectly normal: a super Indiana Green Expo, a wonderful Suburban Indy Home Show, and a promising Indiana Flower and Patio Show. Then Mother Nature went on vacation and forgot to change the winter to spring button. Everybody had more than enough work but, well you know, you were there. Anyway, these three shows usually give me an outlook on what the season has in store. This year at the shows and once everyone finally thawed out, they have flooded me with questions about fire pits, patios, water features, cooking stations, pools, Zen gardens, local nudist colonies (hah, I just wanted to see if you were reading this). If it can fit in your backyard; they want it. As always, most people are using the fancy highly engineered concrete material with its awesome designs, colors, and ease of installation. But more and more people are saying to me “Dave, I think I want to get stoned, I mean use stone.” This is great but most don’t have any idea on how to quote said stone. Let’s see if these formulas will help. Flagstone This product is fairly simple. You need your square foot dimensions. Square foot coverage of many flagstones depends on the stones thickness. Thickness Average Sq. Ft./Ton 2–3 inches 80 sq. ft./ton 1–2 inches 95–100 sq. ft./ton This makes your stone needs for a 400 sq. ft. patio project with 3" stone material at 5 ton, or with 1" material 4 ton.
8" Snapped Drywall Coverage on this product would be in a range of 18–20 sq. ft./ton. Meaning a wall 1' high × 20' long is 1 ton, or 2' high × 10' long. See where I’m going with that.
20
Random Drywall This product is a little tougher to get an exact weigh on. The depth of the stone used will determine the quantity. Random drywall is usually a smaller version of outcropping. Most is 1–5" thick and has a depth of 12–18" with random lengths. When I figure this material I go with a 12–14 sq. ft./ ton (i.e., 1' tall × 12' long) — somewhat like 8" drywall. Outcropping There are three things you need to know here to figure your wall: length, average height, and current available depths. The last is the most important. If you bid at a depth of 18" because that sounds really cool, but in reality there is only 3' deep material available in a 35-state area, that can make your quote difficult to explain to the homeowner or your accountant. The person that does understand works at the unemployment department, and I’m sure they have heard that explanation more than once. If you have a project needing larger material, do your homework and contact a highlyregarded, quality-driven, finger on the pulse of the industry supplier. They can give you what’s available and which yard it’s in. Okay, let’s go ahead to the formula that I use. First you need to understand that stones types differ in weight. • Sandstone: 140 – 150 lbs./cu. ft. • Limestone: 155 – 170 lbs./cu. ft. • Granite: 160 – 195 lbs./cu. ft. Now time to bid your limestone wall that’s 50' long, 3' tall, and found stone measures 2' in depth. So 50' × 3' × 2'= 300 cubic ft. This Dolomite limestone weighs 160 lbs./cu. ft. That’s 300 × 160 lbs. = 48,000 lbs. This will be divided by 2,000 lbs. (weight of a ton) which means I will need 24 tons for this job. Note: When bidding a job with quantities, ask for direct ship to site pricing. You can save a bit of money. Also, word on the street is you can give me a call and I will even help you figure your quote. There you go. You’re welcome.
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
I hope this helps you when your client says, “so off the top of your head what is my exact price?” Caution, for some reason you can give them tomorrow’s Power Ball numbers but they will only remember your “now don’t hold me to these numbers” quote. Just saying. That’s it for now. I look forward to seeing everyone at all the summer meeting. I am doing a seminar on stone from Indiana and other parts of the country and even the world at the IPLLA Field Day on August 23. Should be interesting. I can’t wait to hear it. Always between a rock and a hard place, with a smile! – David LaFara/Sir Rocks A Lot
About the Author
David LaFara (Sir Rocks A Lot) developed his love for rocks while growing up in Indianapolis. Leaving Indiana for 20 years, David lived in the Chicago region applying his trade in large outcropping walls, patios, and water features on maily residential properties. He now works as the Hardscape Specialist for Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply (Ph: 317-654-5105). Come visit their acres of quality stone products that David personally tags from various quarries.
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Business
A Paradigm Shift in Retaining Wall Installation and Design Ray Rodenburgh, Director of Trade Strategy, Unilock Group of Companies One only has to spend some time on social media feeds and websites to realize the incredible creativity that is taking place in our industry compared to even 10 years ago. Consumers are more informed and educated than ever about the design options available for their home décor and landscaping. As a result, contractors are reaching for more and more creative product solutions for their projects, which often means they are combining both man-made and natural products to achieve a differentiating look. Retaining wall products that are flexible enough to accommodate current installation methods and design trends are pivotal to the creation of key vertical elements in today’s landscape. Consumers want grill islands, bars, water features, seat walls, pillars, and multi-level planters. One of the most common concrete products that has been used over the last 10 years to create these vertical elements has been Unilock’s Brussels Dimensional Stone, the 4" x× 8" × 12" tumbled concrete block. This solid block of concrete has been the dietary staple of the landscape industry for the last 15–20 years because of ease and flexibility. But the demand for this look is waning, especially when a more modern approach is trending, especially for newer homes. Most of the industry’s retaining wall products have one of three “looks”: “smooth,” “tumbled,” or “split-face.” Over time the industry has cycled through these “looks” in one permeation or another. The advancement of wall design has definitely lagged when compared to pavers. Paver design has kept pace with changing consumer tastes, but retaining walls not so much. So we asked our contractors if they could design a wall system, what attributes would it have?
1. The walls had to match or complement the pavers being used 2. The wall had to be easy to build 3. Versatile — build any landscape feature 4. Can be easily accented 5. Easy to physically handle — not too heavy 6. Allow for single- or two-sided walls 7. Straight or curved walls 8. Ability to build higher walls when necessary The inventive spirit of several Unilock employees has brought about a new wall product that encompasses all these attributes (and more) which has set the stage for a paradigm shift for the landscape industry.
It is a simple two-block system that allows for interchangeable faces. This product is called U-Cara™. “Cara” means “face” in Spanish. The design of this system is so revolutionary that it has already received North American patents with world-wide patents pending. U-Cara is not only a new wall, (A Paradigm Shift continues on page 24.)
The U-CaraTM wall system up-close. 22
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
SNOWFIGHTERS INSTITUTE
EVENT DATES SALES STRATEGIES July 16 –19, 2018
How to successfully bridge the gap of turning “suspects” into prospects is one of the focal points of this event. Attendees will learn how to successfully navigate all the excuses various prospects have to avoid making a decision. The role play exercises are designed to force you to “think on your feet” in order to achieve a successful conclusion to your quest to bring more business to your company.
INTERNAL OPERATIONS
FORUM FOR SALES
Poor office management can lead a company to poor cash management, poor record keeping and unacceptable management practices. Attendees of the Internal Ops Event will discuss HR issues as well as concerns surrounding service providers. They will be introduced to best practices for keeping the company positioned for efficient and effective management of “back office” operations.
In this event, all attendees are put on the spot to get up and “strut-their-stuff.” The sales presentation role play is paramount in the success or failure of the sales staff. The exercises are done individually and in conjunction with a partner from another company, forcing each to work together to a successful conclusion. Negotiation strategies and answering objectives put forth by “customers” is a key component to the learning process.
August 13 - 16, 2018
August 27 - 30, 2018
For more information call us, visit our website, or email us at: www.snowfightersinstitute.com (814) 455-1991 info@snowfightersinstitute.com *All INLA members receive $500 off our in house events. Put in code: INLA when registering online or call (814) 455-1991. *Cannot be combined with any other offers. Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018 *Please call (814) 455-1991 when registering multiple attendees.
23
A Paradigm Shift in Retaining Wall Installation and Design (continued from page 22) but it’s a platform that will allow incredible wall designs with variable face textures, sizes, colors, and fascia panel placement. The system is comprised of a backer block with Sure Track™ rails upon which the U-Cara™ fascia panels are easily mounted. Not only can they be mounted, they can be positioned anywhere along the track horizontally or vertically which offers up a host of design options. The brilliantly designed backer blocks are the structural backbone of the wall and are extremely easy to install. Immediately after installing the backer blocks you can add U-Cara™ fascia panels in a whole host of combinations and positions. For Unilock this now means that any paver surface texture, color, or design they manufacture can ultimately be made into a wall panel. In other words, it means limitless design possibilities. Consumers and contractors will no longer become bored of the wall appearance because it can change according to whatever is trending at the time.
U-CaraTM offers up a whole host of other benefits as well. For example, depending on your project there are Standard Sure Track™ Backers and Large Sure Track™ Backers that can be used where additional strength is required. When combined with geo-grid reinforcement, U-Cara™ can be taken to industrial heights. In most cases, Unilock provides the preliminary engineering for this for free. The U-Cara™ system components are all lightweight and easy to handle, which means that both your employees’ backs and morale will stay intact. You can easily work
day after day with U-Cara™ and not get completely exhausted. Another benefit of the system is that you only need to use the U-Cara™ fascia panels where they will be seen. Planters, walls, and grill islands only need panels on the outside which keeps the cost down because you don’t have to bury any valuable fascia panels. U-Cara™ fascia panels are also not required below grade, which can also save you additional money. The Sure Track™ Backer Blocks also come with a variable set-back channel so you can construct the wall vertically or with a setback for additional strength. This feature alone increases the versatility of this wall system. A surprise benefit that Unilock learned after the product launch was that with some careful planning you can often eliminate cutting, and if you do have to cut, you only need to cut the thickness of a fascia panel and not the whole backer block. In fact, Unilock estimates that actual “saw-inconcrete” time can be reduced anywhere from 30% – 50%. Considering current labor issues and recent OSHA regulations, this is a huge benefit! And finally, U-Cara™ panels can be positioned on the Sure Track™ rails in such a way that it provides a utility channel for lighting wires or irrigation tubing. This too can save hours of notching a groove in the backer blocks. For more information about U-Cara™, visit unilock.com where you can find U-Cara™ installation videos and manuals in both English and Spanish.
About the Author
Ray Rodenburgh has been part of the Unilock Group of Companies for the past 31 years with a focus on marketing and product development. Prior to Unilock, Ray was a landscape contractor in Ontario, Canada. In the past several years, Ray has been focused on products and tools that improve workmanship as well as installation speed and performance. Some notable product or technology introductions that Ray has been involved with over the years has been Uvision 3D Landscape Creator Software, UniLyft paver lift machine, DriveGrid base stabilization, and most recently the new U-CaraTM retaining wall system.
Raised patio 3D section.
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Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
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Certification & Education
IAH Quiz
Each quiz will be worth a .5 (one-half) CEU! The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee is pleased to provide you an opportunity to earn CEUs (continuing education units) in each issue of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape News. The IAH quiz offered in each issue can be completed by anyone who is an “Active” (current) IAH (initial or masters). Each quiz will be worth a .5 (onehalf) CEU (continuing education unit) for the completion of the bi-monthly quiz with a pass rate of 80%. Over a 2-year period, you could earn up to 6 CEUs if you take and pass every quiz! The INLA office will grade the quiz. Questions and answers have been provided by the IAH committee. Thank you and good luck studying! The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee Chair - George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery Committee Members - Brian Bunge, LaPorte County Nursery - Gabriel Gluesenkamp, Designscape Hort Services - Wayne Gruber, Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply - Jim Messmer - Melissa Mravec, Allen Landscape - Jodie Overmyer, Price Nurseries
IAH Quiz: July/August 2018
Due: August 30, 2018
Complete the quiz and mail or fax to INLA by the deadline above. Be sure to write your name, IAH number, and contact information on the bottom of the quiz when submitting. If additional space is needed, please attach the extra paper to this form and submit together. Mark your answers. 1. Pruning should be done for specific purposes such as maintaining or reducing plant size, removal of undesirable growth, removal of dead or broken branches, to stimulate ______________ and ____________ production, and to prevent damage to _________ and ___________. 2. The ___________ effect occurs when lightweight or organic amendments are used in backfilling the planting hole in heavy clay soils. 3. Some trees, such as Maples and Birch should not be pruned in early spring because they have exceptionally heavy sap flow. These trees are referred to as ___________________. 4. ___________ is a pruning technique that involves removing an entire branch. 5. A root from a container grown tree that circles over other roots and eventually causes strangulation is called a ______________ ________. 6. Fall digging of trees and shrubs usually begins after the ____________ layer forms and leaves begin coloring or dropping, which is an indication that ____________ has ceased. 7. Planting during summer months when it is hot and dry can cause plants to _____________ excessively. Misting the foliage cools the plant and can reduce the _______________ ______________. 8. Pruning at the wrong time may cause a plant to die. T or F 9. Hedges should be pruned with a ____________ base and _____________ top. 10. “Plant in the Spring or Plant in the Fall” is a familiar saying, but the important consideration is when a plant is being dug up for transplanting, and this is best done when the plant is _______________.
Name:_____________________________________________________________________________ IAH No.:_ __________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_ ___________________________________________________________________________
New Initial Indiana Accredited Horticulturists Craig Gray, Lafayette, IN 26
Email:_ ____________________________________________________________________________ Fax: 317-889-3935 or Mail: INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237 Answers: Please contact the INLA office if you would like to receive the answers or find out your results to any previous IAH quiz.
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
Certification & Education
George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery, created this study guide to help teach the material covered in the IAH Manual. His intention was to assist Text: those©trying GeorgetoBrenn master the subjects within the manual.
Chapter 1 – Plant Structure, Growth, and Development How plants work: Parts of a plant Shoot system = vegetative and reproductive parts Root system = all vegetative (growing) parts Balance between shoot and root system is essential for plant health Root / Shoot Ratio Internal parts of the plant CELLS = building blocks: many different specialized cells with specific functions. Growth processes occur inside cells. TISSUES = organized groups of cells Epidermal Tissue = plant “skin” Meristematic Tissue = growing areas Vascular Tissues = plumbing ORGANS = groups of multiple tissues Vegetative Organs = leaves, stems, buds, roots Leaves = factories: manufacture food, etc. Comprised of blade and petiole Epidermal layer = bread (Stomata are in epidermal layer) Palisade parenchyma cells = peanut butter (diagram on 3rd page) Mesophyl cells = jelly (most photosynthesis occurs here) Leaves are attached to stems by the petiole at a node. Stems = support for leaf and distribute food & H2O in & out of leaf. 1st year stems are called shoots. Leaves are attached to the stem in alternate or opposite positions. Stems contain the vascular system, comprised of Xylem and Phloem. Xylem = vessels carrying H2O, nutrients & O2 from roots to leaves Phloem = vessels carrying products of photosynthesis within the plant Xylem & Phloem placement is very different in Monocots and Dicots. Dispersed throughout monocot stems (diagram on 3rd page) Arranged in continuous ring around pith in dicots Stolons and rhizomes are modified stems.
Growing High Quality Plants, People, and Relationships
SERVING GARDEN CENTERS AND LANDSCAPERS SINCE 1978
Buds = the growing points of the plant; contain immature plant parts. Vegetative buds = immature stems & leaves Floral buds = immature flowers Different buds occurs in different locations: Terminal (Apical) buds @ end of a shoot Axillary (lateral) buds @ node in leaf axil Adventitious buds form in other locations (when a tree is topped) Roots = “anchor” for plant stability + entry point for minerals & H2O, and storage. Taproot = thick, unbranched downward primary root, (some dicots) Fibrous Root = net-like mass of secondary roots (dicots & monocots) Fleshy Root = like taproot, but branched (perennials) Root Hairs grow from meristem (behind root cap): absorb H2O & nutrients. Michorrhizae = root fungus (good) living amongst root hairs in symbiotic relationship with root system: each benefits the other Adventitious Roots form on leaves & stems (rooted cuttings, layering). George Brenn’s Study Guide — Chapter 1 continues next issue.
Annuals Peonies Combo Planters Perennials Grasses Proven Winners® Hardy Ferns Succulents Herbs Vines Now growing Proven Winners® shrubs
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p. 800-948-1234 • f. 877-964-6446 www.millcreekplants.com sales@millcreekplants.com 15088 Smart Cole Road, Ostrander, OH 43061
Indiana Nursery & Landscape News • July/August 2018
27
Toolbox Talks
Importance of Hydration www.safetytoolboxtopics.com We’ve all experienced it at some point when working or playing hard – fatigue sets in, your mouth feels dry and your legs are heavy and maybe you even get a headache. These are all common signs of dehydration. When you are working hard, body fluid is lost through sweat. If the fluid lost through sweat is not replaced, dehydration and early fatigue are unavoidable. Losing even 2% of body fluids (less than 3.5 pounds in a 180-pound person) can impair performance by increasing fatigue and affecting cognitive skills. During the summer heat it’s easy to become dehydrated if you don’t drink enough fluids to replace what is lost in sweat. However, dehydration can easily be prevented. • When to drink: Ensure you drink before you start working, trying to catch-up for lost fluids after a period of time is very difficult. Also, drink before you get thirsty. By the time you’re thirsty you are already dehydrated, so it’s important to drink at regular intervals – especially when it is hot outside. • What to drink: Water is truly one of the best things to drink. Research also shows that a lightly flavored beverage with a small amount of sodium encourages people to drink enough to stay hydrated. The combination of flavor and electrolytes in a sports drink like Gatorade provides one of the best choices to help you stay properly hydrated. • What not to drink: During activity, avoid drinks with high sugar content such as soda and even fruit juices. These are slow to absorb into the body. Also alcohol and caffeinated beverages should be avoided. Many people ask how much to drink, and that truly depends on your activity level and how much your body is losing fluids. In general, when you are working and sweating, you should drink at least every half-hour. Ensure you are drinking enough to replace your lost fluids. A good rule of thumb from a wise man says: “if you aren’t urinating, you’re not drinking enough.”
Advertisers Arborjet...............................................................................19 www.arborjet.com Blue Grass Farms of Indiana...................................................7 www.bluegrassfarms.net Bobcat of Indy.................................................................3, 25 www.bobcatofindy.com Brehob Nurseries, LLC.................................outside back cover www.brehobnursery.com Calvin Landscape................................................................28 www.calvinlandscape.com Fairview Evergreen Nursery...................................................4 www.fairviewevergreen.com Indiana Irrigation Co...........................................................27 www.indianairrigation.com INLA Membership Challenge........................inside front cover M.J. Schuetz Insurance Services, Inc....................................10 MacAllister Machinery Co., Inc............................................17 www.macallister.com Millcreek Gardens................................................................27 www.millcreekplants.com Purdue Turf & Landscape Field Day.............. inside back cover www.mrtf.org Reynolds Farm Equipment...................................................21 www.reynoldsfarmequipment.com Shade Trees Unlimited...........................................................4 www.shadetreesunlimited.com Snowfighters Institute.....................................................5, 23 www.snowfightersinstitute.com Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply...............................front cover www.tiffanylawn.com Unilock................................................................................11 www.unilock.com Wahmhoff Farms Nursery....................................................16 www.mitrees.com West Side Tractor Sales........................................................13 www.westsidetractorsales.com Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc.............................................6 www.woodywarehouse.com
Looking to purchase existing business Landscape, Lawncare, Tree and Shrub Care, or Irrigation Business in Indianapolis or surrounding counties. Call Jim Calvin, Calvin Landscape 317-247-6316 28
Indiana nursery & Landscape association • www.inla1.org
Advertise in the Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Contact: Mary Breidenbach, 317-757-8634 or mary@ecumulus.com
Green Industry AllIAnce
Golf outInG Event rescheduled due to rain
August 30, 2018
Twin Lakes Golf Club, Carmel, IN Date: August 30, 2018
Registration:
Location: Twin Lakes Golf Club 3200 W. 96th Street, Carmel, IN 46032
Entry Fee: $125.00 per person/ $500.00 per foursome Fee Includes: - 18 holes of golf and cart - Range balls & putting greens - Lunch with drink (all types) - Prizes - Light dinner and cocktails at Rick & Cathy Haggard's Event Times: Registration: 10 am Lunch before event at the clubhouse Shotgun Start / Florida Scramble: 11 am Scoring/Prizes immediately following
$150.00 HoLE SponSor • Logo and information at selected hole • Logo and information in outing booklet given to each participant $250.00 GoLD & GIvEaway SponSor • Logo and information at selected hole • Logo and information in outing booklet given to each participant • Information about company/person and product line in outing booklet
$350.00 BEvEraGE CarT SponSor • Logo and information in each golf cart at selected hole • Logo and information in outing booklet given to each participant • Information about company/person and product line in outing booklet
• 14
Telephone with area code
Name of individual registering (Please place me on a team)
names of Team players (please lest all) Player 1 Player 2
Sponsorships Available:
• • •
Name of Organization or Individual
$600.00 LunCH SponSor Logo and information in each golf cart at selected hole Logo and information in outing booklet given to each participant Information about company/person and product line in outing booklet Logo on box lunch
Player 3 Player 4
Number of players x $125 = __________________________ Make checks payable to: Green Industry alliance 3596 Linkside Court Carmel, In 46032 or complete charge card information MC
VISA
AMEX
Pay at Registration
Card #: __________________________________________________________________ Expires: _________________________________________________________________ Security Code: __________________________________________________________ Billing Address: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Authorized Signature: _________________________________________________
Questions? Call rick Haggard, 765-366-4994
IndIana nursery & Landscape assocIatIon • www.inla1.org
DISCOVER
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