Landscape Trades October 2019

October 2019 VOL. 41, NO. 8

landscapetrades.com

John Schroeder: Embrace change National movement promotes prompt contract payment Inspiring the public with nomenclature

New intros 2020

Annuals, perennials, woody plants, edibles and roses coming to Canada Trial picks show commercial ROI potential

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Contents

OCTOBER 2019 VOL. 41, NO. 8

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Lee Ann Knudsen CLM | lak@landscapeontario.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Scott Barber | sbarber@landscapeontario.com ART DIRECTOR Kim Burton | kburton@landscapeontario.com LANDSCAPE ONTARIO MAGAZINE EDITOR Robert Ellidge | rob@landscapeontario.com MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER Mike Wasilewski | mikew@landscapeontario.com ACCOUNTANT Joe Sabatino | joesabatino@landscapeontario.com ACCOUNT MANAGER Greg Sumsion | gsumsion@landscapeontario.com COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Angela Lindsay | alindsay@landscapeontario.com ADVISORY COMMITTEE Gerald Boot CLM, Laura Catalano, Jeremy Feenstra, Mark Fisher, Hank Gelderman CHT, Marty Lamers, Bob Tubby CLM, Nick Winkelmolen, Dave Wright Landscape Trades is published by Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Phone: (905)875-1805 Email: comments@landscapetrades.com Fax: (905)875-0183 Web site: www.landscapetrades.com LANDSCAPE ONTARIO STAFF Darryl Bond, Amy Buchanan, Tony DiGiovanni CHT, Denis Flanagan CLD, Cassandra Garrard, Meghan Greaves, Sally Harvey CLT CLM, Keri MacIvor, Heather MacRae, Kathy McLean, John Russell, Ian Service, David Turnbull, Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, Tom Somerville, Myscha Stafford, Martha Walsh

Potentilla fruticosa First Editions Marmalade

FEATURES 6 Four to explore

Plant expert picks new cultivars with landscape payback potential.

BY RODGER TSCHANZ

8 New plants for 2020

Exclusive look at cultivars hitting the Canadian market: Annuals, perennials, roses, edibles and woody plants.

COLUMNS

Landscape Trades is published nine times a year: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October and November.

30 Road to success

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When is comes to staffing and sales, million-dollar smiles are worth every penny.

BY ROD McDONALD

Copyright 2019. All rights are reserved. Material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Landscape Trades assumes no responsibility for, and does not endorse the contents of, any advertisements herein. All representations or warranties made are those of the advertiser and not the publication. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its members, but are those of the writer concerned.

32 Legal matters

Provinces are protecting contractors with prompt payment legislation.

BY ROBERT KENNALEY

34 Management solutions

How commitment to safety prevents problems, and promotes profitability.

BY MARK BRADLEY

42 Mentor moment

John Schroeder bought more computers than tractors, and shook up an industry.

INTERVIEW BY ROD McDONALD

DEPARTMENTS ISSN 0225-6398 PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES AGREEMENT 40013519 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT LANDSCAPE TRADES MAGAZINE 7856 FIFTH LINE SOUTH, MILTON, ON L9T 2X8 CANADA

GREEN PENCIL 4 NEW PRODUCTS 36 NEWSSCAPE 38 CNLA NEWS 39 COMING EVENTS 41 ADVERTISERS 41 OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

3

greenpencil Botanical nomenclature sparks interest in nature

What’s in a name?

S

hakespeare penned, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

We usually hear this phrase when people are claiming names do not really matter, that all you need to know is what something is, and not its name. However, the importance of a name and its value are universal. Everyone recognizes himself by a name, and the same is true of plants — and especially trees.

Hundreds of people walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery and its arboretum every day, taking in the beautiful, peaceful surroundings, and of course observing the trees. Over the last few years, we have noticed a growing public interest not only in the trees, but also in their names.

Many of our trees are affixed with identification labels. Quite often an individual will stop and ask me to explain what the different names are. I reply that the label shows the botanical and common names, the tree family, area of origin and an ID number.

They immediately talk about the

By Jeff McMann common name. Perhaps they know that tree by another name, and may ask why the botanical name is on the label, since no one reads Latin any more. We explain that common names vary according to the area where you live, and sometimes describe an aspect of the plant. Many regions and locales have their own colloquial names for certain plants, that mean nothing in another part of the country or province.

I often use the example of the red maple tree. I ask, “What is a red maple tree?” Some of the answers include Japanese maple, Crimson King maple and occasionally, Freeman’s maple.

But actually, even though one tree or plant can have many common names, it has only one scientific or botanical name.

Red maple is known as Acer rubrum. This accepted name reduces the confusion common names create around the world.

And that is why we list both names. If you know the botanical name or simply the first part, the genus, when you visit other gardens, whether in Canada or elsewhere, the name remains the same.

4 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

The person then realizes that it really does matter that we know the scientific names of trees.

They usually smile when they understand the basics of plant names. They often point out other “Acers” they have seen while hiking, and then diverge to discuss the Picea and Abies. Many of our regular guests seem to be increasing their knowledge of botanical names. One gentleman told me how, a week after our conversation, he was able to impress his family and friends when they toured the property, with his ability to explain the basics of plant naming and nomenclature.

The public’s fascination with learning about trees does not end there. We have visitors who are starting to use the many different apps on their phones to identify trees and plants on the property, using images of leaves. They can be heard discussing which app is best, and try to stump each other identifying the many species at Mount Pleasant. I may be called on to settle friendly disagreements between fellow IDers.

Many are interested in figuring out what the tree is, but more importantly, how it contributes to the surrounding urban ecosystem. What type of insects and wildlife does it attract? Does it provide habitat? Where did the tree originally come from? How old is it and where can I get one like that?

We have school groups that collect fallen chestnuts and then go back to the classroom to identify the species that exist on the property, based on the fruit they find, not just on the leaves. University students who work at the arboretum for the summer also prioritize learning the botanical name over the common name, as they entertain many inquiries from the public.

It is inspiring to see so many people taking an interest in the trees, not only at Mount Pleasant, but also on their own properties. The importance of nomenclature cannot be understated, since so many people are taking initiative to learn as much as they can about the trees and plants around them. So ask yourself and your staff, “How many trees can you correctly name?”

LT What’s in a name? Everything!

Jeff McMann is Arbor Services Co-ordinator at Toronto’s historic Mount Pleasant Cemetery. He is slated to speak on award-winning maintenance and planting design in the Congress Conference series; register at LOcongress.com.

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FOUR to E New intro picks show commercial ROI potential

1

At the University of Guelph trials, I have the opportunity each year to evaluate a large selection of new annuals and perennials on the verge of introduction to the Canadian marketplace. Of those, a small portion may actually be suitable for use in the commercial landscape, where a high return on investment is valued. This ROI is realized in plants that will establish readily in beds or commercial planters, that have low or reasonable maintenance demands and that provide excellent ornamental value throughout the season.

BY RODGER TSCHANZ

This past March, I had the opportunity to see a selection of new plants with high ROI potential when attending the California Spring Trials (CAST). While visiting breeder displays between Los Angeles and San Francisco, I had a sneak peek at what the plants in the 2019 Guelph Trials in southern Ontario would ultimately look like, as well as a chance to see plants that weren’t entered in the Guelph Trials. From that group, I have selected four that I believe have potential in the commercial landscape.

Contractors need every advantage they can find in today’s competitive marketplace, and as a plant lover, it pleases me to see breeders put energy into new cultivars LT that promote landscape profitability.

Rodger Tschanz is manager of the University of Guelph Trial Garden.

4

Woodland salvia

is the common name given to Salvia nemorosa and its hybrids, and appears to be more frequently used in commercial landscapes. This plant is easy to grow and is typically hardy to Zones 3 or 4. Many breeders have introduced new selections of this plant species in recent years, and in 2019, it was named the National Garden Bureau’s plant of the year. One unique S. n. introduction from First Light Perennials is its new Swift Multiflora series. This series, available in violet and rose, has a day length-neutral bloom response, and will never go out of bloom during the growing season. It has a compact growing habit, has two or three times the branching of other S.n. cultivars, and won’t split apart or stretch as the season progresses. Expect a garden height of six to 10 inches.

6 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Sedums

are adaptable plants for the landscape, especially suited to urban areas with hot, dry and sunny growing environments. Prima Angelina is a new, low-growing Sedum rupestre from Darwin Perennials. As its name suggests,

EXPLORE 2

Foxglove

Zonal geranium

sometimes called Pelargonium hortorum is another standby in commercial plantings is the. Although not perennial in our climate, this plant has a reputation for show-stopping colour in mass plantings and containers. In recent years it seems as though geranium breeders have emphasized producing interspecific hybrids of zonal and ivy geraniums, with their unique colours and growth habits. In what almost appears to be a reversal in breeding direction, Ball has gone back to zonal geranium breeding and produced a new series of vigorous, highly-branched and free-blooming landscape zonal geraniums. The new zonal geranium Galaxy series is available in eight standard colours. In addition to seeing it at CAST, I have had the opportunity to trial this plant in ground beds and containers. At press time, each plant in the series was covered in a mass of blooms and is noticeably more floriferous than other geranium series in the trial. It can be expected to reach a height and spread of 50 cm. This plant needs deadheading like any other zonal geranium, but the payback will be worth the time spent.

or digitalis may not immediately jump to mind as a great choice for the landscape, but I believe the new Digitalis Pink Panther from Takii Seed has potential.

The display seen in California showed a freely branching foxglove with short flowering stems, and a great presentation in one-gallon or larger containers, as well as ground beds. This cultivar is not expected to self-seed in the landscape. With some moderate winter protection it should survive a Zone 5 winter. The breeder claims this plant will bloom the first year without vernalization, and once blooming, will continue for the rest of the growing season. As it turned out, I was able to trial Pink Panther in Guelph this season, and was impressed by the colour it produced in the landscape, as well as in containers. I started the seed in late March and saw first bloom in late July, without giving the plant a vernalization treatment. In August of 2019, Pink Panther was producing new flowering shoots. The older, spent flowering shoots will drop the senesced blooms and eventually become bare. Spent shoots could be removed, but in our trial plantings the new flowering shoots have so far essentially hidden the old shoots. There are plans to add more colours to create a series, but at the moment the panther is only pink.

it is related to the old sedum standby, Angelina, from which it arose as a compact mutation. Improvements over its parent include its improved ability to withstand handling on the retail bench and elsewhere as well as better, more vivid golden winter colouration. It is hardy to Zone 4.

OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

7

new annuals Calibrachoa Cabaret Good Night Kiss Million bells

Ball FloraPlant introduces several new varieties to its Cabaret series, including Good Night Kiss, which features a novel pattern with a star centre.

Plants are well-branched with full centres, well-suited for hanging baskets.

Ball Floraplant

Angelonia angustifolia Serena Rose Snapdragon

A new colour segment for the Serena series, this snapdragon’s dense spikes feature large florets with a deep rose bloom and a dark eye. Serena Rose maintains its intense, deep colour in high light and high heat environments.

PanAmerican Seed

Helianthus Suncredible Yellow

Sunflower

Blooming continuously from summer through fall on large, uniform, well-branched plants, this vigorous multiflora sunflower makes an outstanding focal point in containers and landscapes.

Proven Winners

8 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

new annuals Begonia x hiemalis Betulia begonia Regier begonia

Betulia begonias are self-cleaning, keeping their surroundings neat and tidy (no need to remove spent blooms). Its naturally strong and compact habit is perfect for colour bowls and small garden spaces.

Available in Bright Pink, Candy Pink (shown), Light Pink, and Red. Ball Ingenuity

Dahlia pinnata Venti Garden dahlia

Venti dahlia’s are uniform, vigorous doubleflower plants that include: Golden Yellow, Tequila Sunrise (shown), Lemon, Passion Fruit, Pink + White Eye, Royal Purple, White and Light Rose.

Selecta One

Nemesia x hybrida SunGlow Nemesia

The new SunGlow nemesia series feature fragrant, delicate flowers that bloom from early spring to summer, and offer great heat tolerance. Available in Red (shown), Dark Purple, and Purple Bicolor.

Ball Ingenuity

Impatiens walleriana Beacon Impatiens

The new Beacon series offers reliable season-long colour in the shade. Available in Bright Red, Violet Shades, Salmon, Coral (shown), Orange, White, Red White Mix and Select Mix. PanAmerican Seed OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

9

new annuals Petunia x hybrida Midnight Gold

Petunia hybrid

Midnight Gold is a basket-loving petunia with huge double flowers in a unique, first-of-its-kind novelty colour.

BallFlora Plant

Osteospermum ecklonis Akila Sunset Shades

African daisy

Great for mass plantings and containers, these full, well-branched African daisies show off beautiful flowers. This new multicolour segregating mix includes popular colours like yellow, magicians and rose-reds, plus salmon, apricot and orange shades.

PanAmerican Seed

Petunia Wave Carmine Velour Spreading petunia

Bidens Campfire Flame Beggarticks

Replacing Campfire Fireburst in the Proven Winners lineup, Flame is a vigorous, heat tolerant beggartick with fiery orange flowers with subtle yellow eyes.

Proven Winners

Carmine Velour is a vivid, hot carmine-cherry colour and its group is the lowest growing in the Wave family. These spreading petunias are suited for garden beds, baskets, planters and window boxes.

Wave

Begonia x tuberhybrida Scentiment Sunrise Tuberous begonia

The Begonia Scentiment series from Dummen Orange flaunts large, unique, fragrant flowers. The series includes Sunrise (pictured) and Just Peachy.

Dummen Orange 10 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

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new annuals Gaillardia Heat It Up Scarlet Blanket flower

Heat It Up Scarlet produces bouquets of orange-red flowers with slight yellow tips. It is extremely long blooming, lasting long into the fall, even in hot, humid climates. The Heat It series also includes the cultivar Yellow.

Proven Winners

Viola x wittrockiana Cool Wave Strawberry Swirl Spreading pansy

There are two new colours in the Cool Wave series for 2020: Raspberry Swirl and Strawberry Swirl (shown). Plant for at least six hours of full sun and feed regularly in spring to promote lush, vigorous growth and continued blooming.

Wave

Osteospermum ecklonis Zion Purple Sun African daisy

Selecta One added several new colours to its Zion African daisy series, including: Purple Sun, Morning Sun and Magic Yellow. The large, impressive flowers make it a great focus plant. Cut back in late summer to encourage re-blooming and improve habit.

Selecta One

Salvia guarantica Rockin’ Blue Suede Shoes Salvia

Large, crisp blue flowers held by black calyxes are produced above the foliage, attracting all sorts of pollinators from spring through fall.

Proven Winners

Begonia boliviensis Bossa Nova Night Fever Papaya Begonia

12 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

New to the Bossa Nova series, Night Fever Papaya excels in both sun or shade and has dark, grey-green foliage and burnt orange blooms.

Syngenta Flowers

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new annuals

Calibrachoa MiniFamous Neo Double OrangeTastic Mini petunia

Selecta introduces a wide range of new colours in single and double blooms in its MiniFamous Neo series. These calibrachoas are selfcleaning, so they stay neat and tidy all season. New colours include: Dark Blue, Deep Orange, Double Dark Blue, Double Deep Yellow, Double Orangetastic (shown), Violet Ice and more.

Selecta One

Dahlia x hybrida Dahlegria Dahlia

Syngenta adds two new cultivars to the Dahlegria line: Apricot Tricolor and Pink Flame (shown). Each new dahlia produces large, colourful single-flowers and dark, almost-black foliage.

Syngenta Flowers

Pelargonium x hortorum Galaxy Zonal geranium

Impatiens x hybrida SunPatiens New Guinea impatiens

Sakata introduces two new cultivars to the SunPatiens series: Compact Orchid Blush and Vigorous Lavender Splash (shown).

Sakata

Galaxy produces mounded plants that are vigorous enough to keep their large, semi-double blooms all season in large containers and landscapes. Available in Dark Red, Pink, Purple, Red,Salmon, Violet, Watermelon, and White (shown).

Ball FloraPlant

Pentas lanceolata Sunstar

Egyptian starflower

Sunstar pentas produce extra large flower clusters, nearly the size of hydrangea blooms, on top of well-branched plants. Cultivars include Rose, Pink (shown), Lavender and Red. Proven Winners 14 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Home of Proven Winners® Perennials

‘Cat’s Pajamas’ Nepeta PPAF CPBRAF

This petite Nepeta improves over traditional varieties with early flowering, unmatched rebloom, and color saturation from the top of the plant all the way to the soil. Zones 3-8.

Proven Purrfect.

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Premium Perennials. Rewarding Results.

new perennials Leucanthemum maximum Western Star Shasta daisy

Libra and Gemini join the Western Star series of Shasta daisy, which are notable for their uniformity and long flowering windows.

Syngenta Flowers; Think Plants

Nepeta hybrida Blue Prelude Japanese cat mint

A new Japanese cat mint that will flower for months in the spring and summer. Attracts pollinators with its fragrant leaves. Blue Prelude features large blue flowers on a compact habit first year; second year, it will scale to three feet in the landscape. Hardiness zone 5a-9a Darwin Perennials

Iberis sempervirens Snowdrift Evergreen candytuft

Snowdrift is a true late-flowering evergreen candytuft with a compact habit.

Syngenta Flowers; Think Plants

Salvia nemorosa Salvatore Blue Sage

This high-contrast salvia has black flower stems and deep purple calyx with deep blue flowers on long spikes. Cut back flower stems after flowering to encourage repeat blooming.

Blooms Late Spring. Hardiness zones 4a-8b Kieft Seed 16 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

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new perennials Digitalis hybrida Arctic Fox Rose

Foxglove

This long-flowering hybrid foxglove is hardy in northern gardens. Plant in a sunny garden location or place on a sunny patio. Remove old flowers as they become unsightly to encourage fresh, new flowering shoots.

Hardiness zones 5a-9a Darwin Perennials

Erysimum linifolium Erysistible Wallflower

The first ever zone five hardy wallflower, the Erysistible series includes: Yellow, Forte Magenta, Tricolor (shown), and Sunset.

Hardiness zone 5 Syngenta Flowers; Think Plants

Dianthus x barbatus interspecific Rockin’ Pink Magic Dianthus

Kieft Seed adds several new colours to its Rockin’ series of dianthus, including: Pink Magic (shown), Purple and Rose.

Pink Magic opens white and matures to light pink, then deep pink. Hardiness zones 5a-8b Kieft Seed

Heuchera Black Sea Coral bells

This shade and sun tolerant heuchera has attractive, shiny black foliage. Hardiness zone 4 Valleybrook (Ontario)

Primula veris Cabrillo Compact Yellow Cowslip

New to the Cabrillo series, Compact Yellow is tidy, more compact, and earlier to flower. Hardiness zones 5-8 Syngenta Flowers; Think Plants 18 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

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new perennials Lupinus Staircase Lupine

The Staircase series is the first lupine to not only have no requirements on the number of hours of daylight to bloom, but they also rebloom all season until the night temperatures reach above 22 celcius. The series comes in red, yellow, blue, orange and pink.

Hardiness zone 4 Green Fuse Botanicals; Willowbrook Nurseries

Allium x Serendipity

Ornamental onion

This sport of Millenium shares all of the qualities that made Millenium popular with the addition of glaucous blue foliage.

Hardiness zones 4-8 Proven Winners; Walters Gardens

Andropogon gerardii Blackhawks Big bluestem

The foliage emerges deep green to dark purple in spring and deepens to near black by fall. Blackhawks provides height and colour to the garden. Hardiness zone 3 Hillen Nursery

Penstemon digitalis Dakota Burgundy Foxglove beardtongue

Dakota Burgundy has glossy, purple-black leaves with lavender to violet flowers in June, which are attractive to hummingbirds. More compact than Dark Towers.

Hardiness zone 3.

Terra Nova Nurseries; Valleybrook (Ontario)

Erysimum linifolium Super Bowl Compact Purple XL Wallflower

A compact version of the Super Bowl series, Compact Purple XL holds its shape in the landscape and is covered with loads of blooms. Hardiness zones 6-9 Syngenta Flowers; Think Plants

20 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

LANDSCAPE

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new perennials Hemerocallis EveryDaylily Punch Yellow Daylily

This new daylily produces up to 400 two-toned pink and yellow blooms per season. Hardiness zone 3 Valleybrook (Ontario)

Sedum takesimense Atlantis Stonecrop

This new stonecrop’s leaves are dark green with very wide creamy yellow margins.

Hardiness zone 4 Walters Gardens; Valleybrook (Ontario)

Echinacea purpurea Prairie Splendor Compact Dark Rose Coneflower

This new addition to the Prairie Splendor series brings first-year flowering that begins up to three weeks earlier than traditional varieties. Hardiness zones 3-9 Syngenta Flowers

Aquilegia caerulea Kirigami Columbine

Willowbrook Nurseries is now growing the popular Kirigami series of columbine, introduced by Syngenta Flowers.

Available in four different colour combinations. Hardiness zone 4 Syngenta Flowers; Willowbrook Nurseries

Hibiscus x Summerific Evening Rose Rose mallow

Evening Rose is a combination of hot pink flowers and near black foliage. Eight-inch puckered flowers cover the round, dense habit top to bottom. Hardiness zones 4-9 Proven Winners; Walters Gardens 22 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

ACRES OF UNRULY GRASS? NOT FOR LONG.

Whatever your mowing job, our ZD Series were designed to mow. Engineered with a lower center of gravity means slopes and uneven grounds are no problem. Best of all, our zero-turn mowers are also incredibly fuel efficient so you can expect to see more green—in the field and in your pocket.

ACS KUBOTA PRO DECK The airflow inside the ACS Kubota Pro Deck has been optimized for faster, more efficient cutting and discharge resulting in reduced power consumption, and increased fuel efficiency, which means you’ll get better work performance—up to 27% better.*** ***Kubota in-house test results

*Dealer may sell for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Prices, payments and models featured throughout may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply. See your dealer for complete details. Offers valid only at participating dealers in Canada and are subject to change, cancellation or extension at any time without notice or obligation. For all offers: taxes, applicable fees (including, but not limited to, governmental environmental fees, administration fees, set-up fees, dealer fees, and delivery fees), insurance and registration are extra. Freight is included.

Dealer order/trade may be necessary. The minimum down payment of 10% required for financing offers on mowers. Specifications and features shown in this ad are based on the latest available information at the time of publication. Although descriptions are believed to be correct, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. We reserve the right to make changes at any time, without notice or obligation, specifications, accessories, materials, models, prices, payments and other information. Financing offer or cash discount available. ZD1211-60 with an MSRP of $19,660.37 financed at 0% APR equals $355.00 per month for 48 Months $2,620.37 down payment required. Cost of borrowing is $1,894.44 for a total obligation of $19,660.37. The cash discount will be deducted from the price before taxes; and (ii) may not be combined with special lease and finance rates offered by Kubota as part of a low rate interest program. All advertised finance rates are special rates. Cash Discount offers to take place at the time of purchase and are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Offer valid until November 30, 2019. See your participating Kubota dealer or visit www.kubota.ca for details.

kubota.ca |

kubota.ca |

new roses Rosa multiflora Pretty Polly Polyantha rose

Pretty Polly roses maintain a compact habit in the landscape and produces cuplike, double flowers. This new series includes: Lavender (shown), Pink, and White.

Star Roses

Rosa floribunda Our Anniversary Floribunda rose

A one-of-a-kind velvety red bloomer that changes to plum purple. The high-centre flowers grow in large clusters and bloom freely throughout the growing season. This floribunda rose celebrates J.C. Bakker and Sons’ 70th anniversary.

J.C. Bakker and Sons

Rosa x Ringo Rose hybrid

Ringo has a dazzling, visual effect in the landscape or garden with its yellow blooms, each graced with a bold red ring in the centre. As the blooms age they fade to white with a pink ring.

Ringo can be grown on its own, as a hedge or in a garden. Hardiness zone 4 Spring Meadow Nursery; Hillen Nursery

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edibles Fragaria x ananassa Cherry Berry Strawberry

The darker the fruit, the sweeter the flavour gets with these strawberries. From a deep red to verging on purple, this variety is hardy and high yielding.

Sheridan Nurseries

Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Redarling Brussels sprouts

Redarling are distinctive, vivid, red-purple, one-inch Brussels sprouts, which have a slightly sweeter flavour than most green varieties, and they are a rich source of Vitamin C and folic acid. The high-yielding plants stand up to cool nights and frost.

Burpee

Solanum lycopersicum Artemis tomato Cherry tomato

Artemis cherry-red tomatoes are super-sweet and rich with a unique, crisp texture. Grows best in the ground in a sunny area with regular watering.

PanAmerican Seed

Lycopersicon esculentum Tempting Tomatoes Good Hearted Tomato

Good Hearted are compact cocktail tomatoes with a low mounding habit, making them ideal for growing in hanging baskets and upright containers. Heart to pear-shaped fruits a little bigger than a cherry tomato contain a blend of sweet and acidic flavours.

Proven Winners 26 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Capsicum annuum Fire Away Hot and Heavy Hot pepper

This compact snack pepper for containers and landscapes packs a powerful sweet and spicy punch.

They start out green, then mature through yellow, orange and red shades, often showing all three colours on the plant at once. Compared to a jalapeno, this pepper runs a bit hotter.

Proven Winners

Vaccinium x Bushel and Berry Perpetua Blueberry

Perpetua will yield two crops of sweet and delicious blueberries.

The first fruit appears in mid-summer, then the plant will flower and set fruit a second time in the fall. The leaves are dark green and will turn to deep reds and greens in the winter.

Hardiness zone 4 Bushel and Berry; Willowbrook Nurseries OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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new woody plant Physocarpus opulifolius First Editions Fireside Ninebark

Fireside ninebark’s reddish new growth matures to a deep red-purple foliage that holds its colour reliably through the summer. Hardiness zones 2-7 Bailey Nurseries

Hydrangea arborescens Pinkerella

Smooth hydrangea

Strong stems hold bright pink blooms tall and really show them off. Great as an accent plant and be sure to cut a few blooms for fresh bouquets or dry them out for dried flower arrangements. Hardiness zone 3 Van Belle Nursery; Hillen Nursery

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Weigela florida My Monet Purple Effect Weigela

My Monet Purple Effect has multi-coloured, variegated foliage, and is faster growing and more heat tolerant than My Monet weigela.

Hardiness zones 4-6 Proven Winners; Canadale Nurseries

Salix candida First Editions Iceberg Alley Sageleaf willow

Iceberg Alley is a native plant discovered by the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador Botanical Garden.

The powdery, silver foliage of this small sageleaf willow adds texture and contrast to the landscape when combined with other colourful shrubs. Hardiness zones 2-6 Bailey Nurseries; Jeffries Nurseries; Willowbrook Nurseries

Potentilla fruticosa First Editions Marmalade

Potentilla

Marmalade is a double flowered potentilla with bloom colour ranging from deep yellow in high temperatures to orange-red under cooler temperatures. Hardiness zone 2 Bailey Nurseries; Jeffries Nurseries

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29

roadtosuccess

The million-dollar smile

BY ROD McDONALD

I was at my local deli,

and the young woman behind the counter had one of those million-dollar smiles. The shaved ham was on special and I ordered 200 grams. She said, “The pastrami and turkey breast are also on sale at the same price.” There it was again, that smile, along with the sales pitch.

I said, “Has anyone told you that you have an incredible smile?” She laughed and replied, “All of the time.”

It doesn’t matter who or where we are, a staff member who greets us with friendliness is always endearing. A big smile turns us into better customers, and better customers not only spend more, they are loyal as well.

A woman who worked for me as a sales person for years, had the big smile and gentle introduction that put you at ease. I heard her say to a female customer, “You must be coming from somewhere special, wearing a beautiful dress like that,” and the customer beamed. Customers enjoyed her approach and they sought her out. I get that. Except for the grouches, we enjoy being around positive people who treat us with respect, and a bit of happiness tossed into the mix.

There was much more to her sales ability than a smile and a compliment. She could ascertain what you were looking for and guide you to that product. She offered up her opinions, in a nice way, and they were always well received by customers. She would say, “We have poinsettias in several colours, and while red is still the most popular, I prefer pink myself.” Now, not everyone wanted a pink one, but her recommendation was the opening remark for their consideration.

It was her way of getting the ball rolling.

Staff members who know how to treat the public are worth their weight in gold.

They create sales, they defuse problems and they encourage loyalty. What garden centre owner would not want staff members with big smiles by the dozen?

A family doctor lives down the street from our house. We have been going to him for many years. When we first attended his clinic, he had a receptionist who was good, as long as there were no complications.

She did not like complications and did not handle them well. Patients calling in with concerns or emergencies were not treated with empathy, as she had no idea what to say. As a consequence, there was grumbling and discontent.

She left the clinic and another woman named Alida took on the job. She runs the office with great efficiency. She has empathy along with organizational skills. I listen to her on the phone, as she calms people down, and assures them they will be okay. Then she starts the ball rolling as to what will happen next, whether it is a visit to the ER, the pharmacy or the doctor’s office. She is part nurse, part mother, part social worker and part enforcer for those who do not want to behave.

Patients adore her, and I would hire her in a heartbeat.

A big smile builds better customers.

30 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Finding those special people is an important part of our job. Many years ago, I attended a seminar where the instructor told us, whenever he meets someone who has excellent people skills, he gives them his card. He follows the card with an invitation to call if they would like to work at his garden centre.

He hired a hostess from a local restaurant to manage his front end. He had seen her skill set in action, and she had an ability to resolve almost every complaint or problem that walked through the front gate. She was that special type of person with the milliondollar smile. Who would not want her working in their store?

I engaged in a bit of poaching myself. Our local coffee shop had two very hard-working staff members and five who didn’t care about customer service. Those two staff members were hard working at my place, as well.

We need to be able to hire those special people who apply to work at our shops. My favourite question to ask applicants was, “Tell me a bit about yourself,” and that got things started. By asking that one question, I found that both the good and the bad rose to the top. I watched as people impressed me with their social skills or fell short. Either way, it made the hiring decision easier.

All of us need training programs in place, even if we have small operations. Not everyone knows what is expected, including: what to wear, how to address the public and how to deal with difficult people. Not that any of us ever have difficult customers, right?

With our high school students, we had Saturday morning seminars in early April, followed by a pizza lunch. Students were instructed on the basics, including all shoes must be tied, ball caps pointed towards the front, no walking around with slurpees and most importantly, to respond with a, “pardon me?” not “huh?” when needing clarification. I had great kids working for me, and

I was always proud of how diligently they worked to be good employees. We received many compliments from customers over the years. Training programs are important for all of your staff.

Along with training seminars, I firmly believe in a staff manual written in everyday language, explaining policies and expectations. Some people believe that if they arrive five minutes after their shift begins, they are still on time. I am not one of those people, and I have a strong suspicion neither are you.

One of the benefits of hiring people in their 50s and 60s was that they knew how to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before their shift. They wanted to get settled into their routine, ask a few questions and grab a coffee. Older staff members are really good about hitting the floor running, ready to give it their all. I have never had any reluctance about hiring older

employees, and neither should you. One woman began working for me at 63, and she stayed eight years. She was a great employee, and customers loved her.

You cannot teach staff to smile, but with a little effort, you can hire people who already know how to do it. That smile is worth a lot.

Some would even say it is worth a million dollars.

One last anecdotal story about the big smile, and the positivity it generates, occurred at my local grocery store. There was a young man, about 20 or so, working in the produce department. I got to know him after a few visits. Usually he was upbeat, but one time he appeared down in the dumps.

I asked what the problem was, and he told me he was not certain what he wanted to do in life, and being a produce clerk was just a filler job.

I thought about that for a moment, and I

told him while he was figuring out what he wanted for a career, he should work on being the best produce clerk anyone had ever seen, with a winning personality. “Who knows?

With a big smile and a strong presence, someone might even steal you away to work at your dream job. We never know when we are being auditioned for the starring role.�

Positive attitudes with big smiles keep all LT of us on the road to success.

Rod McDonald owned and operated Lakeview Gardens, a successful garden centre/ landscape firm in Regina, Sask., for 28 years. He now works full-time in the world of fine arts, writing, acting and producing in film, television and stage.

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OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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legalmatters

Prompt payment and adjudication:

A national movement

BY ROB KENNALEY

We have previously written about the prompt payment and adjudication regimes that are scheduled to come into force in Ontario on Oct. 1, 2019 under the new Construction Act. These will apply in relation to services or materials supplied under construction contracts procured or entered into after that date. As will be discussed below, the Ontario provisions are being treated as a test case throughout much of the country, since many other jurisdictions are considering their own form of such legislation.

The Ontario prompt payment provisions provide that once a “proper invoice” is given to a business owner, the owner must either give a “notice of non-payment” to dispute the invoice within 14 days, or pay the invoice within 28 days. Thereafter, each payer in the construction pyramid will also have to either pay, or give notice of nonpayment, to those immediately beneath them. Where an unpaid party receives a notice that it is not going to be paid, it can (and sometimes must) send a dispute over the unpaid amount to “adjudication.”

It is anticipated the prompt payment and notice requirements under the legislation will be strictly enforced. Also, the new statutory payment requirements are inconsistent with every standard form Canadian Construction Documents Committee and Canadian Construction Association contract in Canada. They will almost certainly be different from whatever other form of agreement parties to construction contracts in Ontario may now be using. It is vitally important that anyone who supplies or pays for construction services or materials in Ontario understand the new obligations. In addition, if there was ever a time to review and revise the forms of contract or subcontract such participants use, now is that time. Bringing your

Our Anniversary On behalf of all of us here at Bakker’s Nursery, we would like to thank you, the growing industry, for our many years of business. We look forward to continually growing quality plants and relationships in the years to come.

Bakker & Sons Ltd .

J.C. 100% dian Canraown G

Bakker since 1949

W ho

s le s ale N u rs e r i e

32 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

70 years Integrity of

form of contract or subcontract in line with the new provisions will ensure everyone understands the payment requirements, and will help ensure that confusion or disputes do not arise going forward.

The adjudication provisions will also bring substantial and farreaching changes to dispute resolution in both Ontario and jurisdictions that adopt the regime going forward. In Ontario, virtually any construction dispute can be submitted to adjudication. Thereafter, a binding decision will be made as quickly as 46 days or less. If a party loses at adjudication, there are only small rights of appeal. Generally, if you lose, you must abide by the decision. Your only recourse will be to commence litigation proceedings in the usual and ordinary course. If you are able to convince a court that you were right at first instance, the court will be able to issue an order which ‘undoes’ (for lack of a better term) what happened at the adjudication. Obtaining such an order, however, might take several years and tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars. In the meantime, you will have to live with the decision made.

Timelines applicable to the adjudication process are short, and we anticipate they will be strictly enforced. Everyone who participates in construction in Ontario should understand their obligations. They will also have to alter the way they do things on a day-to-day basis, both in the office and in the field. Managing paper and issues on a real-time basis, to have a file prepared in the event a potential dispute becomes real, will be important. Parties will have to put themselves in the best possible position to present their side of a dispute, with persuasive evidence sufficient to support their arguments, in a very short period of time.

Significantly in Ontario, the Construction Act allows parties to a

construction contract or subcontract to agree on certain procedural aspects of the adjudication process. Accordingly, parties to contracts and subcontracts should consider including terms and conditions in this regard in contractual agreements. In this way, they can better control the process, in the event it is required. This, again, leads us to say now is the time, if ever, to revisit the contracts and subcontracts you have been using in Ontario.

As above, prompt payment and adjudication regimes are in various stages of implementation and consideration in other jurisdictions in Canada. In Nova Scotia, the Builders’ Lien Act has been renamed the Builders’ Lien and Prompt Payment Act, and in Saskatchewan, new legislation containing a prompt payment and adjudication regime received royal assent in May, 2019. In both New Brunswick and Manitoba, new legislation similar to Ontario’s has been proposed, while such procedures are under review in British Columbia. In Alberta, the provincial government has begun inserting prompt payment requirements into its own various infrastructure contracts. At the federal level, the Federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act received royal assent in June, 2019, but has yet to come into force.

In Quebec, pilot projects will explore construction law reforms for public contracts and subcontracts, of which the exploration of prompt payment and adjudication regimes will form a part.

Wherever you may be in Canada, prompt payment and

adjudication (in some form) is either on the way or under consideration. Participants in construction need to be aware that these changes will mark a fundamental shift in both how payments are to be made and processed, and how construction disputes are to be addressed. If participants prepare themselves (and their contractual relationships) to manage and take advantage of the changes, the potential benefits and savings may be great in both the short and long run. On the other hand, if participants are not so prepared, they run the risk of missing payment deadlines, missing notice periods and being ill-prepared for adjudication — such that the impact of the new regimes will be harsh, if not severe. In the end, the changes are coming. Ignoring them should not be an option. Preparing for them LT is the best possible strategy.

Robert Kennaley practices construction law in Toronto and Simcoe, Ont. He speaks and writes on construction law issues and can be reached for comment at 416-700-4142 or at rjk@kennaley.ca. This material is for information purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers who have concerns about any particular circumstance are encouraged to seek independent legal advice in that regard.

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OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

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managementsolutions

The real value of workplace safety The landscape industry remains one of the few trades without a Red Seal Occupational Standard. With no industry standard policies and procedures or oversight in place, it really is the ‘Wild West’ when it comes to safety — so buyer (and worker!) beware. If you’re a business owner looking to attract, and keep, a great crew, avoid unnecessary business costs and grow a sustainable business, you need to prioritize workplace safety. And you can start by looking at safety as an investment, not a cost.

The most recent statistics from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada tell us that in 2017, 951 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada. Furthermore, 251,508 claims were accepted for lost time due to work-related injury or disease. As these claims only include what has been reported and accepted by the compensation boards, it’s obvious the impact is even greater. In an unregulated industry like landscaping, accidents are bound to happen. However, they can be reduced if you are proactive about safety.

Create and promote a safety culture The value of safety extends beyond accident prevention. When it comes to your crews, it should become a key part of your culture. Safety isn’t as simple as instructing workers to wear pants instead of shorts, or insisting on goggles while trimming hedges. It’s about fostering an environment where workers feel secure, protected and valued.

“We’ve always looked at safety as a byproduct of proper training and education,” said Arden Urbano, President at Greenius, an online training provider for the green industry. “When you give an

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SNOW VEHICLE 34 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

BY MARK BRADLEY

employee a piece of equipment they’re not trained on, or you neglect to explain why it’s important to wear ear protection, you’re failing them and your business. With proper education, they’ll perform in a safer manner, treat your equipment better and be more productive.”

No matter how small your business is, get a training plan in place early on: l Identify general and specialized training needs for each job role. l Develop a training program in-house or select one from a provider and make it mandatory for new hires. l Provide regularly scheduled training updates for workers, e.g. new equipment instruction, plowing techniques, etc. l Solicit feedback from foremen and crews on safety, e.g. hazard identification, new training opportunities. l Implement a monthly or quarterly safety award. l Promote your commitment to safety on your website, social media and in your job listings. l When your crews understand the value your business places on their safety and feel empowered with proper education, they are more likely to stay. l Avoid the costs of an unsafe workplace.

Have you ever thought about how much money you waste on equipment repairs that are the direct result of unsafe handling and improper use? Arden recalled a client whose bill for window replacements one year was $50,000. Why? His workers didn’t have trimmer guards up, which resulted in broken windows on 22 homes and five vehicles. This

business owner, along with many others, pads equipment budgets to account for preventable repairs like these. If they diverted that money to training, however, the investment will pay for itself.

Your worker forgot his steel-toed boots at home, but you have a tight schedule. In this case, it’s safety versus productivity, and a contractor focused on long-term success versus a short-term fix will make the right decision. When you make safety mandatory and ensure those values are passed on to your foremen, you won’t have to worry about what-ifs or deal with preventable accidents.

When it comes to costs associated with workplace safety, we tend to focus on big ones like lost hours and potential litigation. In the event workers are off due to injuries, you are not only losing labour, but crew morale takes a hit from both the event, and increased workloads until a replacement is found.

Sit down with your foremen and document all the ways in which failure to adhere to safety protocols could cost your business. Think about costs like rework, for example. Be sure your safety policies and procedures are updated and relevant training is scheduled.

A 2017 study shows that 77 per cent of landscape contractors believe a shortage of quality employees hinders their company’s growth. Demand for good workers is high and you need to compete with more than just a salary, so dedicate a part of your marketing plan to the following tactics: l Get customer and employee reviews on social media. l Nominate your business for safety awards. l Feature employee testimonials in marketing material.

The reality is, an employee-first approach has bottom line benefits to every aspect of your business. You certainly can (and should!) put a price on workplace safety. By investing in a culture of safety, you set your business up for long-term success. But most importantly, you are doing everything you can to protect your most valuable LT asset: your people.

Mark Bradley is CEO of LMN Software, and former CEO of TBG Environmental, both based in Ontario.

Track safety for sustainability Safety sells. Whether you are going for large commercial snow contracts or small residential design/build projects, the more documentation you can provide to prove you’re a “Safety First” company, the better. Ensure employees are up-to-date on the latest safety training, with the certificates to prove it.

Once you have landed a snow removal job, for example, you need to ‘walk the talk’ with proper documentation that can answer questions like: l What time did your crew arrive at the property? l How much salt was used? l What were the weather conditions? l Using business management software with features like time tracking and GPS verification encourages crews to follow safety practices.

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OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

35

newproducts Skid steer and compact track loaders Caterpillar announces the release of 16 new Cat D3 Series skid steer loader and compact track loader models. These new machines advance the D and D2 Series, and deliver improvements in operator experience and track loader stability. An industry first, the D3 Series models also support a line of new Smart Attachments. This machine technology recognizes certain attachments and tailors the controls and operator information to match the tool and the task.

Cat www.cat.com

Battery powered chainsaw The new Stihl MSA 161 T special cordless chainsaw starts with the press of a button and weighs 2.1 kg (4.6 lb). It is ideal for use in noise-sensitive areas and ear protection is not required.

Stihl www.stihl.ca

Compact track loader ASV Holdings announces the new mid-frame, vertical lift VT-70 High Output Posi-Track loader. The new loader features 207 foot-pounds of torque with a turbocharged 74.3-hp Deutz 2.2-litre diesel engine.

The compact track loader’s hydraulic system includes 3,300 psi of auxiliary pressure and a 22.2-gpm standard flow. An optional 27.4-gpm high-flow system is also available.

ASV Holdings www.asvi.com

36 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

36 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

REGISTER TODAY

Paver support system The new Schluter Troba-Level is a paver support system designed specifically for use with thick porcelain tiles rated for exterior use. The system, or pedestals, supports the tiles above the substrate with no bonding system required.

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Schluter-Systems www.schluter.com

Turf management solution Target Specialty Products introduces Turf Fuel Element 6. Element 6 includes more proprietary Turf Fuel ingredients than any other product in the portfolio, and has been heavily researched, showing benefit in multiple-stress situations, the company says.

Target Specialty Products www.target-specialty.com

Compact battery powered tool series Dewalt announces the Atomic Compact Series, part of the 20V Max System. New Atomic series power tools include: 20V Max Compact Hammer Drill/Driver; 20V Max Compact Circular Saw (shown); and the 20V Max Compact Oscillating Multi-Tool.

Dewalt www.dewalt.ca

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OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

37

newsscape Solty Garden Centre to close After 68 years in the landscape and nursery industry, Cookstown, Ont.-based Leslie L. Solty and Sons Limited (LLS), and Solty Garden Centre (SGC) will cease normal business operations effective Dec 20, 2019.

“We are very proud of our third generation family business,” says Frank Solty. “A lot of thought went into our decision, but with no one to pass the torch to, we felt it was time to wrap up shop.”

LLS will continue to provide products and service throughout the duration of 2019. Remaining container stock will be sold in the spring of 2020, with any existing field inventory to be sold over the next three to four years, the company said in a media release.

“We have been very fortunate, over many decades, to have had countless dedicated employees, invaluable partnerships with suppliers, and valued loyal customers. To each of these parties we owe our sincerest gratitude,” says Nick Solty.

Fire devastates Pioneer Flower Farms Starting in the late evening on Aug. 16, 2019, a fire erupted at the St. Catharines, Ont.-based Pioneer Flower Farms, devastating the facilities, including migrant housing, greenhouses, warehouse and coolers. No one was injured in the blaze, and St. Catharines Standard newspaper reported the Ontario Fire Marshal investigators stated, “They would never be able to determine the cause and origin” of the fire due to the extent of the damage.

NGB announces 2020 “Year of” plants The National Garden Bureau (NGB), a Downers Grove, Ill.-based non-profit organization promoting gardening in North America, announced the plants it will feature in its “Year of” program for 2020: iris, bulb; lantana, annual; corn, edible; lavender, perennial; and hydrangea, flowering shrub.

“The program chooses crops specifically

38 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Echinacea Sombrero Baja Burgundy

Rudbeckia x American Gold Rush

for the North American market that are easy to grow, genetically diverse, and with a lot of new breeding to showcase,” the NGB explains.

“Breeders, brokers, seed companies, growers and garden centers throughout the U.S. and Canada are urged to highlight these flowers and plants when planning their marketing for the 2020 season, as the publicity generated from this program is substantial.”

winters, the AAS Judges noted this standout’s hardiness, sturdy branching, and floriferous blooming habit. Birds and pollinators certainly flock to this deer-resistant beauty making it a dual-purpose plant. Gardeners will enjoy prolific blooms from mid-summer until the first frost.”

Bred by Intrinsic Perennials, American Gold Rush’s “bright, golden-yellow flowers with black centers and arched petals is a gorgeous addition to any garden,” AAS states. “This compact, upright domed-shaped beauty has narrow, twoinch wide hairy foliage bred for its resistance to Septoria leaf spot. This hybrid shows no signs of the fungus even in wet, humid conditions.

Blooming from July to September, with some colour up until frost, this cultivar has smaller foliage and shorter height compared to other rudbeckia varieties. Incredibly easy to grow and pollinators love it.”

AAS honours herbaceous perennials All-America Selections, North America’s oldest non-profit plant trialling organization, announced the first winners from its three-winter Herbaceous Perennial Trial. This trial, in partnership with the Perennial Plant Association (PPA), was launched in 2016 with five entries grown against 10 similar comparisons.

The first two AAS Herbaceous Perennial Winners are Echinacea Sombrero Baja Burgundy and Rudbeckia x American Gold Rush.

Each of the new AAS Winners was trialed throughout North America by 24 professional, independent, volunteer judges (many of whom came from the PPA membership roster) who grew them next to comparisons that are considered best-in-class. Only those entries that performed better than the comparisons are granted the AAS award designation.

From Darwin Perennials, Sombrero Baja Burgundy “will add a bold accent to sunny gardens with its vibrant, deep violet-red blossoms,” AAS states. “The beautiful flower colour is without equal among coneflowers and is perfect for cut flowers. After being trialed over three tough

Winter Equipment hires VP Winter Equipment recently announced Brian Liederbach as vice president of sales. Bringing more than 20 years of sales experience to the job, Leiderbach was previously North American sales manager and worldwide product manager at nVent, as well as software sales Brian Liederbach manager at Arrow Electronics and territory sales manager at Pentagon Engineering Corporation. Winter Equipment is based in Willoughby, Ohio, and manufactures cutting edges and wear parts for the snow removal and road maintenance equipment industry. LT

cnlanews Skills Canada National Competition May 2019 marked the 25th year of the Canadian National Skills Competition, held in Halifax, N.S. Despite wind and rain, there was an incredible turnout, as 7,500 students experienced the competition, learned about career options in over 40 skilled trades, and visited over 50 Trya-Trade booths. The competition saw over 550 students and apprentices from across Canada compete to be the best in their trades, and compete for the National Champion title.

Entrants in this year’s Landscape Gardening competition included Carlie Ohmenzetter and Josh Timmermans from British Columbia; Carlie Ohmenzetter and Josh Timmermans, Manitoba; Blaise Mombourquette and Thomas Hawley, Ontario; Alyson St. Pierre and Sumeja Bjelic, Quebec; Matthew MacKay and Allan Bray, New Brunswick; and Diana Davidson and Chad Merrett from Nova Scotia.

It was a tough competition and the race was very close. At the same time, the National Competition was happening, with a separate team from Quebec working hard on a three-day project to compete for the scores to send them to the upcoming Worlds Competition, happening in August in Kazan, Russia.

This year, Landscape Gardening also hosted not one, but two Try-a-Trades. We represented hardscape with two Paver Challenges and we also represented Softscape with a Plant ID Challenge. Students that could identify five different plants were allowed to take a plant, along with growing and care instructions. Our booth had consistently long lines waiting to participate and learn a little about the industry. We could not have run these Try-a-Trades booths without the help of volunteers Lauren Fry, President of Landscape Nova Scotia and CNLA Skills Chair; Jan Loner, Landscape Nova Scotia; Jim Landry, ED of Landscape New Brunswick/P.E.I; Jeff Morton, Senior Instructor at Dalhousie University; Tracey Mackenzie, Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University and Leslie Sison of CNLA. The competition got very exciting on day two when it came down to the wire. The last 10 minutes of the competition really drew in the crowds. There were cheers, drums beating and lots of movement right to the very last second. It was an amazing two days, and everyone persevered and rose to the challenge. All teams were

The two-day Garden Centres Canada Summit, based in Mississauga, Ont., featured four tour destinations with excellent speakers.

able to finish on time and the CNLA congratulates you all.

The 2019 Skills Canada National Competition Winners are Blaise Mombourquette and Thomas Hawley of Ontario winning Gold, Casey Norman and Dylan Schultz of Manitoba winning Silver, and Diana Davidson and Chad Merrett taking home Bronze.

National Awards of Landscape Excellence Congratulations to Land-Con of Concord, Ont., for winning the National Award of Landscape Excellence in Commercial Construction; Les Artisans du paysage of Quebec City, Que., for Residential Construction; Donohoe Design of Vancouver, B.C., for Landscape Design; Para Space Landscaping of Burnaby, B.C., for Commercial Maintenance; Alternative Landscaping of Brandon, Man., for Residential Maintenance; and Bylands Nurseries in West Kelowna, B.C., and Cedar Rim Nursery in Langley, B.C., for Outstanding Retail Achievement. The Green for Life Community Award was presented to the Highway of Heroes Tree campaign.

The National Awards of Landscape Excellence ceremony took place on Aug. 14 in Abbotsford, B.C. This year, over 130 people attended the prestigious event to celebrate the 2019 National Award winners, whose projects demonstrated the best of the best in the landscape horticulture profession. Each province nominates members from the provincial awards of excellence competitions that are then entered

into the national awards. Next year’s ceremony will take place in Edmonton, Alta.

Retail summit a success This summer’s Garden Centres Canada Summit, based in Mississauga, Ont., drew modest numbers but great reviews. “Made some great connections, and came away with some ‘real’ information we can use to help our business,” said Rob and Kristan Fairlie of Port Carling Garden Centre, Port Carling, Ont. The two-day event featured four tour destinations and four thought-provoking speakers.

The GCC committee is reviewing Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg locations for next year’s event. The dates and location will be announced in December.

Provincial partners host leading trade shows It can be challenging to keep track of all the trade shows that occur each year. We encourage you to mark your calendars now with the dates of these upcoming trade shows and conferences that are hosted by your provincial associations.

Landscape Ontario Congress takes place in early January at the Toronto Congress Centre and is a great way to start off the year. You can plan ahead by checking out what equipment you might need for the upcoming season or connect with suppliers. Rated as one of North America’s top-rated shows for the green industry it features over 600 exhibitors, more

OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES |

39

cnlanews than 1,300 booths covering 10 acres, 14,000 attendees and over 60 professional development sessions. Next year’s event is scheduled for January 7-9, 2020 — mark your calendars now! Go to locongress.com to register or for more information.

Grow is hosted by the Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association at Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park in Winnipeg. Building on the Manitoba Green Show tradition, Grow is jam-packed with everything you need to get excited about the upcoming season — education, awards and a fun evening! Everything is included in the registration including food, seminars, inspiration and a great opportunity to mix and mingle with peers and industry suppliers. No date has been set yet for next year, but we will be sure to announce it when it becomes available. For more information go to grow.mbnla.com.

CanWest will be held on Sept. 25 - 26 at Tradex in Abbotsford, B.C. This is the perfect opportunity to find tools, equipment, or supplies you may need to complete your projects. With a lot of work already completed, you can also use

this show to think ahead for next year and see what changes you can make and how to better prepare yourself. CanWest is Western Canada’s premier horticultural trade show, connecting buyers and sellers throughout Canada and the Pacific Northwest. For more information, you can go to canwesthortshow.com.

GISC (Green Industry Show and Conference) is Alberta’s premier trade show for the landscape, greenhouse, nursery, garden centre, turf and tree care industry. It is the largest trade show of its kind between Toronto and Vancouver, with over 140 exhibitors. With a relatively new tradition of rotating between Edmonton and Calgary, the 2019 GISC will be held November 14-15 in the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary. To find out more about what you can expect, check out greenindustryshow.com.

HortEast, traditionally held each year in November, rotates between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Moncton, N.B., will be the host city for 2019. HortEast is billed as the annual trade show for those who have an interest in the landscape industry in Atlantic Canada and

surrounding areas focusing on seminars and exhibits for landscape contractors; greenhouse, nursery and garden centre operators; tree specialists; lawn care specialists; and turf producers. Network at social events, learn at pre-show workshops and conference sessions, participate in industry exams and visit over 50 exhibitors. To see more, go to horteast.com.

Regardless if you attend one or all the tradeshows produced by your provincial associations, there is always something to be gained. Each of the shows strive to have something for everyone including landscapers, retailers, growers and suppliers.

LT

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association is the federation of Canada’s provincial horticultural trade associations. Visit www.cnla-acpp.ca for more information.

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events Sept. 26 Landscape Ontario Snowposium, Milton, Ont. www.snowposium.ca

advertisers where to find it COMPANY

PAGE WEBSITE

A.M.A. Horticulture Inc

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Oct. 9 - 10 Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Niagara Falls, Ont. www.canadiangreenhouseconference.com

Atlas Polar Company Ltd

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www.atlaspolar.com

Bailey Nurseries Inc

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www.baileynurseries.com

Beaver Valley Stone Limited

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Oct. 16 - 18 Green Industry Show and Equipment Expo, Louisville, Ky. www.gie-expo.com

Bobcat Company

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www.bobcat.com

Dutchmaster Nurseries Ltd

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Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd

11

www.ford.ca

Nov. 14 Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) Urban Forest Conference, Thornhill, Ont. www.oufc.org/upcoming-events/ conference-registration-2019/

Gro-Bark (Ontario) Ltd

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www.gro-bark.com

Horst Welding

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www.horstwelding.com

JC Bakker & Sons Ltd

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John Deere Limited

17

www.deere.com

Nov. 14 - 15 LANTA Green Industry Show and Conference, Calgary, Alta. www.landscape-alberta.com/events/gisc/

Kubota Canada Ltd

23

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LMN

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Oaks Landscape Products

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Nov. 20 - 22 HortEast Trade Show and Conference, Moncton, N.B. www.horteast.com

PRO Landscape by Drafix Software

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Spring Meadow Nursery Inc

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www.springmeadownursery.com

Stihl Limited

5

www.stihl.ca

Unilock Limited

13

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Nov. 20 - 22 Fihoq Expo, Drummondville, Que. www.expofihoq.com

WPE Equipment (Windmill)

34,35

www.wpeequipment.ca

Dec. 2 - 6 Irrigation Show 2019, Las Vegas, Nev. www.irrigation.org/2019Show

Walters Gardens Inc

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www.waltersgardens.com

Windy Ridge Corporation

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www.windyridgecorp.com

Dec. 4 - 6 The Buildings Show, Toronto, Ont. www.thebuildingsshow.com

Zander Sod Co Ltd

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www.zandersod.com

2020 Jan. 7 - 9 Landscape Ontario Congress, Toronto, Ont. www.LOcongress.com LT HLA - Landscape Trades - H_Quarter

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mentormoment

The value of being different INTERVIEW BY ROD McDONALD

John Schroeder is the founder and former owner of perennial grower Valleybrook Gardens. He started the company in 1980, while still a student. He began on five acres of land his father owned in Abbotsford, B.C., where he hand-built a wooden arched greenhouse purchased with a credit card. His first-year sales amounted to $5,000, but he soon increased those numbers. In his third year, sales were at $55,000, and by the time he sold Valleybrook in 2019, the company was in the top tier of horticultural businesses in Canada.

After purchasing the original five acres from his father, he added another five acres and then 15 more after that. He was known for his production-increasing expansions, opening facilities in Ontario and Maryland.

Schroeder was also known as John Schroeder an innovator from the beginning.

He shook up the old boys of the trade who didn’t embrace change.

John was one of the first to purchase an on-demand water heater to care for his seedlings. He was one of the first to purchase a computer to run his business in 1982, years ahead of most.

In the ’90s, Schroeder received The Young Farmer Award, at which time he pointed out changes in the industry. He noted that while he then owned 39 computers, he owned only one tractor. That was a shift worth noting.

He was also one of the first to embrace transferring photos of plants from the field to customers’ computers, so his quality could be visualized. While this is commonplace today, John was on the cutting edge of new technology at the time. Being innovative seemed to be a good way to start the interview: Q. Why have you always been on the cutting edge of new technology and innovative approaches to marketing perennials?

A. I have always been bored by the old methods of doing things, and fascinated with the new. Some ask why and I ask why not? In essence, challenging myself is a major part of my personality.

42 | OCTOBER 2019 | LANDSCAPE TRADES

Q. Have your innovative methods always been accepted by others?

A. Absolutely not. There have been those who have understood what I am doing and then there are those who have not. When I started my in-house marketing campaign, branding my plants as Heritage Perennials and growing them in blue pots, I had pushback from established growers. They could not understand, if my company was named Valleybrook, why I would have a marketing brand called Heritage. One fellow went so far as to complain that I was not really a plantsman as much as I was a marketer. In reality, I am both.

Q. In your business career, what are some of the things that you did right and what did you do wrong?

A. There are never just one or two things that you do right, but if I were to choose just one, I would use the word differentiation. I tried to do things differently from others, to set myself apart, and it worked.

Over the years, I tried many things that did not work, but I don’t view that as doing something wrong. I had to try things to see if they would assist the company. Some ideas I kept, and others I had to abandon.

The one thing I delayed was building a loading dock. I never built one, and it was one thing I wished I had done — and so do the new owners.

Q. You are known for leading horticultural tours to foreign countries. Is that something you are still involved with, and why is it so important to you?

A. I love travel, I have been to 90 countries, and I love plants. The tours combine both those passions and I get to share those passions with like-minded people. This October, we are going to Africa.

Q. What advice would you give to someone starting out?

A. This is a difficult trade and you need to either love it or else have a great idea that will allow you to be successful. It would help, if you are starting out, to work for a successful company for a year LT or two to see if this is really for you.

If you have a mentor to recommend, please write to editor@landscapetrades.com.

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