Groundwork May 2015

MAY 2015

GROUNDWORK A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E L A N D S C A P E C O N T R A C T O R S A S S O C I A T I O N M D •D C •V A

Cherry Laurel—Not Immune to Pest Problems Work–Life Balance—It Is Achievable!

Facebook: Fired Up or Just Fired?

contents

May 2015

5

President’s Message

7

Cherry Laurel—Not Immune to Pest Problems

10 Work–Life Balance—It Is Achievable!

14 Excellence in Landscape Profile—Pendennis Mount Residence 16 Plant of the Month—Summer Vine and the Living Is Easy 18 Facebook: Fired Up or Just Fired?

20 Member News 22 Advertising Information 22 Can You Diagnose This Symptom of Mayapple?

Certification 2015 Landscape Industry Certified Technician—Exterior

Training-Classroom: Friday, June 19 Training-Field: Saturday, June 20 Written Test: Tuesday, July 14 Hands-on Test: Saturday, July 25 For more information: www.lcamddcva.org on the cover Plant of the Month

Pendennis Mount Residence Walnut Hill Landscape Company Outdoor Living Area —

G R A N D AWA R D

Summer Vine and the Living is Easy

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“Feature” and “Plant of the Month” articles can also be found online under the GROUNDWORK ARTICLE ARCHIVE section at: www.lcamddcva.org

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CALENDAR OF JUNE 10

19 20

LCA 2015 Mini-Workshop Jim Krug, Ph.D., Developing Your Next Generation of Leaders Certification 2015 Training–Classroom Certification 2015 Training–Field

Johns Hopkins University Rockville, MD Agricultural History Farm Park Derwood, MD Agricultural History Farm Park Derwood, MD

JULY 14

Certification 2015 Written Test

25

Certification 2015 Hands-on Test

Johns Hopkins University Rockville, MD Agricultural History Farm Park Derwood, MD

AUGUST 5

Excellence in Landscape Awards Deadline

SEPTEMBER 16

LCA 2015 Mini-Workshop Johns Hopkins University Stanton Gill, David L. Clement, Mary K. Malinoski, Rockville, MD Suzanne Klick, and Karen K. Rane The Pests of Herbaceous Annuals and Perennials in the Landscape: Hands-on Training Session

LCA 2015 Mini-Workshop

Johns Hopkins University, Rockville, MD Program 9:30 am–Noon Lunch Noon

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Matt Owens, MBA, LIC—President PGC Landscape—(301) 874-5940 Matt Glover, CLT—Vice President Wray Brothers Landscapes—(301) 654-5845 Kevin O’Neill—Secretary/Treasurer Great American Landscapes, Inc.—(301) 972-5681 Ken Thompson—Immediate Past President Ruppert Landscape—(571) 248-4460 DIRECTORS Josh Kane, CLT Kane Landscapes, Inc.—(703) 803-3146 Michael McCartin Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Inc.—(301) 937-0400 Aaron Raines Live Green Landscape Associates, LLC—(410) 833-9640 Nannette Seven Include Software—(800) 475-0311 Jeff Topley Brickman—(703) 437-7270 Jeff Waters Shemin Nurseries, Inc.—(301) 421-1220 Steve Wlodarczyk Botanical Decorators, Inc.—(301) 948-6625 LCA STAFF Beth W. Palys, FASAE, CAE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lynn Turner SENIOR MEMBER SERVICES MANAGER / OPERATIONS Julie Hill MARKETING DIRECTOR Jon Benjamin SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Rosenfeld ACCOUNTANT Lynne Agoston DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES Barbara Bienkowski EXHIBITS/SPONSORSHIP MANAGER Julie Burgess MEETINGS MANAGER G R O U N D W O R K , the official publication of the Landscape

Contractors Association, MD•DC•VA, is published monthly by LCA, 9707 Key West Avenue, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850.

P: (301) 948-0810 F: (301) 990-9771

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

E: lca@mgmtsol.com W: www.lcamddcva.org.

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5 pm (EST).

Jim Krug, Ph.D.

LCA is not responsible for opinions expressed and facts presented by contributing authors.

Developing Your Next Generation of Leaders Join us for Jim Krug’s Mini-Workshop, which is designed to assist organizations in evaluating their current and future leadership needs at all levels, as well as in establishing a process for identifying and developing leaders to meet those needs.

During this program, you will learn how to: • Identify current leadership needs within the organization, including gaps in the number of leaders as well as skills and abilities that may be underrepresented.

• Understand future leadership needs based on potential turnover.

• Identify the skills, attributes, and experiences needed for successful transition into leadership within the organization.

• Determine the best candidates for senior leadership roles—to fill immediate vacancies and/or future roles.

• Outline a plan of action for recruiting and retaining the next generation of organizational leaders in your company.

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Editorial Deadline: The deadline to submit copy is the first of the month for the following month’s issue and is on a space­­­– available basis.

Advertising & Classifieds: All ads must be high-resolution PDF and pre‑paid. Contact: Barbara Bienkowski at the address and phone number above for more information and the deadline schedule.

Copyright © 2015: Landscape Contractors Association, MD•DC•VA. Reproduction of any material allowed only with prior written permission from LCA. LCA’s core purpose is to advance the success of its members and provide a community for green industry professionals.

President’s Message I’m hearing great news from our members about the backlog of work they have for this year. It’s no surprise that everyone is extremely busy—as spring typically is—and we’re feeling the effects of another extended winter.

Matt Owens, MBA, LIC 2015 President

A few key issues that have been at the forefront are mulch availability (and reliability) and the plant shortage that we face. We’re really seeing the delayed effects of the downturn, when growers simply could not afford to install new plants; they could barely care for what they already had (and many went out of business when no one was buying plants). Many staple items simply are not available. This certainly begs for flexibility and creative problem-solving for those upcoming landscape installations.

LCA is very busy with preparations for our upcoming CLT training and testing. If you have not already signed up to help, please contact Lynn Turner at (240) 404-6472 or sign up here.

We need your support to continue providing one of, if not THE best certification exams offered across the country.

While spring is busy, it is important for the business owners and managers to work with their CLT candidates to help prepare them for testing. This designation will not only increase the level of professionalism in your firm, but also within the industry. It will mean a lot for your candidates to continue developing, both personally and professionally.

Don’t worry, be happy…I am excited to announce that LCA is sponsoring another happy hour! Anyone interested in blowing off some steam, making new contacts, or meeting with old friends is welcome to join us at Agrodolce, 21030 J Frederick Road, German-

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town, Maryland, on Wednesday, June 3, after 5 pm. I hope to see you there!

The LCA board is discussing potentially increasing our involvement in national and state legislative issues that impact our industry. I can tell you that we have a limited pool of resources with which to work, and that making this change would likely mean changes to our operating plan in other areas. PLEASE take the time to answer the simple two-question survey you received to help the LCA board and the organization as a whole better understand YOUR interests and commitment as they relate to national and state legislative issues.

Mark your calendars for another exciting LCA Mini-Seminar on June 10! Jim Krug, Ph.D., will speak on “Developing Your Next Generation of Leaders.” With the resurgence of growth in our industry, you will want to plan for growth as well as be able to identify future leaders from within your organization. Jim recently spoke to the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado and got rave reviews. I look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the superior performance of our beloved Nittany Lions in the 2015 NFL draft/free agent signing, compared to other state universities in our area, and for winning the women’s B1G Lacrosse Championship, and…the list goes on and on. ;) Enjoy pool season,

Matt Owens, MBA, LIC LCA President

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Since 1875

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Cherry Laurel— Not Immune to Pest Problems Stanton Gill, Extension Specialist in Nursery and Greenhouse IPM, Central Maryland Research and Education Center University of Maryland Extension; Professor With the Landscape Technology Program, Montgomery College

One of the big problems Karen Rane and I are seeing in 2015 with Otto Luyken is the winter injury that occurred from the cold January and February. Many leaves have been scorched, and in some cases, the branches are dying back.

The Otto Luyken (Prunus laurocerasus) is a dwarf English cherry laurel cultivar that has been extremely popular, especially at commercial building sites. This compact, broadleaf evergreen shrub is ideal for many landscapes and reaches a height of about 3 feet, with 6-foot spreads. It works well as a specimen plant or in group plantings. Flower spikes featuring aromatic, white blossoms bloom profusely from May through June. These fine features make this plant very popular for installation into landscapes where people want a mass visual impact. Nurseryman loves this plant because it can take a rooted cutting, move it into the field, and have a marketable plant in three or four years. It also transplants well.

You know I can’t continue without addressing all of the pest problems we are finding with cherry laurel. The problem often relates to where it is being installed in the landscape. Planting cherry laurel in poor quality subsoil that does not drain well is a guarantee for having problems with root rot. Check the site out before installing to ensure it has good internal drainage. If not, install a drain system or plant high and mound soil up to the root ball.

The other problem is if this plant is overmulched, it tends to be susceptible to peachtree borers. The clearwing moth, family Sessidae, will lay eggs at the base of the plant, and hatching larvae will feed at that spot, leading to girdling.

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Garden with laurel hedges —photo by ©iStockphoto.com/mtreasure

Peachtree borer, view of prolegs —Photo by Stanton Gill

Peachtree borer on cherry laurel —Photo by Neal Cogswell of Solar Gardens

Cherry Laural—Not Immune to Pest Problems continued Plants growing vigorously in welldrained soil should not have problems with peachtree borer. Do not allow the mulch to pile up 3–4 inches around the base of the trunk or it will encourage peachtree borers. Infested plants should be pulled out and not replaced until the soil conditions and mulching practices are changed.

What About Scale Problems?

White prunicola scale (WPS) Pseudaulacaspis prunicola (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is recognized as a major exotic pest of ornamental Prunus and several other plant species. Cherry laurel, being a member of the Prunus family, is highly susceptible to this scale, which is becoming more commonly observed in landscapes. The scale is native to northern China and Japan and was introduced in the United States in the 1900s.

White prunicola scale —Photo by Stanton Gill

This armored scale often goes unnoticed until large populations have built up on cherry laurel branches and trunk.

The bright white male cover is what catches most people’s eyes and alerts them to the pest on the plant. Males tend to cluster on branches, making a branch appear fluffy and white. We usually receive samples when the males are clustering on the stems in summer.

Research in central Maryland conducted at a nursery in 2013 has further examined the life cycle of WPS. Studies so far confirmed that in Maryland, WPS has three generations per year and it overwinters as 3rd instar females. The date of egg laying and crawler emergence can be quite variable, as temperatures vary among years. We have seen females with eggs in late May, but this may be due to extended cool, wet spring weather, such as in 2013. In 2014 they did not hatch until mid-June. Egg laying and crawler emergence periods are relatively short—about 7 to 10 days for each of the three generations, with 7 days recorded for the first generation in 2013. Therefore, it is best to use degree day (DD) accumulations to predict scale activity. The table below lists crawler activity period and DD accumulations (using base 50 °F from January 1). We will continue to monitor this scale to develop an average DD database based on multiple years of data collection.

May 24

July 16

Sept 11

402

1708

3019

* Research by Paula Shrewsbury, Nancy Harding, Stanton Gill, Suzanne Klick, UMD * Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) located in Laytonsville, Maryland

The following plants were in full bloom at the time of first generation crawler activity and can be used as phenological indicators: Baptisia australis ‘Purple Smoke’, Iris ensata (full bloom), Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag) (full bloom), GROUNDWORK

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Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ (bud), Robinia pseudoacacia (full bloom), Salvia officinialis ‘Berggarten’ (first bloom), Stewartia pseudocamellia (bud), Tridescantia virginiana (full bloom).

During the second generation, the following plants were in bloom: Hibiscus oscheutos (bud), Monarda fistulosa (full bloom), and Veronicastrum virginicum (first bloom).

For the third generation, the following plants were in bloom: Seven Son plant (first blooms) and crape myrtle (full bloom).

Chemical Control Dormant applications of horticultural oil should be applied at 2–3% rates in the fall after leaves drop or in spring before bud break. If applying in fall or spring, do so when temperatures are above 50–60 °F for four or five days. The scale respiration rate is higher at warmer temperatures, and the oil is more effective in controlling the scale when respiration rates are elevated. Oxygen demands of all life stages decrease with decreasing temperature, however, so winter applications must be at a higher rate than those of summer to ensure sustained coverage. During the growing season, target the crawler stage for optimal control. See the DD crawler activity table above. Horticultural oil at a summer rate of 1–2% can be applied when crawlers (active and settled = 1st instars) are present. Do not apply horticultural oils to drought-stressed plants. When crawlers (active and settled) are present and at peak activity, one of the two insect growth regulators (IGRs)—pyriproxyfen (Distance) or buprofezin (Talus)— can be applied. The addition of 0.5 or 1% horticultural oil has been shown to improve coverage. The IGRs will prevent the crawlers or early instar stage from developing into the next instar stage, resulting in death of the insect.

Certification Testing and Training dates are rapidly approaching!

E a r ly R egistration D eadlin e

Train ing S essions 1 and 2

Registration Cutoff

Written T est

Register now. at www.lcamddcva.org/certification

Hands-on Test

Work-Life Balance–It Is Achievable!

By Steve McClatchy, President Alleer Training & Consulting Work–life balance is one of the most elusive and sought after values in business today. In a recent Aon Consulting poll, 88% of employees say they have a hard time juggling work and life. Employers recognize that out of balance or burned out employees can impact morale, engagement, attendance, productivity, retention, quality and even customer satisfaction, so the stakes are high. With so much at stake why has work–life balance been so hard to figure out?

The problem is that balance is not something that can be provided as part of a benefits package. One organization can’t offer more work–life balance to its employees than another. Some employers offer a flexible work schedule, child care, financial services, etc., but these things can only help you manage life more efficiently, they can’t give your life direction, momentum or the feeling of balance.

Despite recognition of the problem, surveys show that employees have been driven further away from achieving work–life balance over the last several years by being pounded consistently with messages like “8% unemployment,” “if we can just survive this economy,” and “doing more with less.” Each of us has been forced to value simply having a job, regardless of how much stress we are under. Many people have had to take on more responsibility and more tasks just to stay where they are in their careers. Each day has become a race to complete our to-do list and “meet expectations.” That is not seeking balance; that is seeking survival. But staying in this survival mode for too long without moving forward or making progress in life is what leads to burnout.

The term work–life balance itself suggests that work is what we have to do and life is what we want to do, and that these are two opposing forces between GROUNDWORK

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which we must constantly make choices.

It suggests that when we choose to give time or thought to one, the other loses. This is an unfortunate suggestion because you don’t have separate professional and personal lives; you just have a life. This dichotomy leads people to say things like they want to work really hard and retire at 50 and have the rest of their lives to do what they want. Would that produce balance? Would it be wise to wait until your life is half over before you start living it? Would your spouse or friends even wait around that long to enjoy it with you?

Trying to manage the clock on an everyday basis doesn’t guarantee balance either. Spending half of each day in the office and half at home can’t guarantee that you would leave stress behind when you left work for the day. It can’t guarantee that you would have satisfying personal relationships just because of the number of hours spent outside the

Work– L ife Balance–It Is Achievable! continued

This is a different understanding of balance. Balance is a feeling you get when you are satisfied with where you are and where you are going in life. You are satisfied with where you’re spending your time and resources. It’s the balance of maintenance and improvement. Balance comes from pursuing and achieving goals and seeing improvement in your life, rather than continuing to put forth effort toward maintenance or standing still.

The balance and satisfaction that come from pursuing goals and improvement is unique to each individual. What makes

MAN O

Think of the last time you had the thought that your life is better today than it was yesterday. Maybe it was a graduation, a new job offer, a promotion, a new client, an award, a magazine or TV appearance, a great vacation, running a marathon, hosting a great party, a new relationship, a new volunteer opportunity, helping a child with a new milestone, solving an old problem with a fresh new thought, even just getting a great workout or receiving a compliment on a job well done. These are times when you felt balanced. You worked toward a goal, and your hard work produced real results and made an improvement in your life. Movement in our lives toward goals and improvement is what creates balance. It creates the excitement and adrenaline that we need to keep going.

At the end of the day it offers peace of mind that we have not wasted time, that we have identified where we want to go and we have done something about it instead of just standing still and aging through another day. The momentum created by improvement and results motivates and inspires us to do even more the next day.

R

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office or because you turn your smartphone off during dinner. Balance is not a quantitative measure.

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one person’s life better might not be what someone else wants. It could be someone’s goal to buy a bigger house and another’s goal to finally downsize.

It’s not always bigger, better, more. It’s about movement. It’s about taking your life in the direction you want it to go and experiencing the excitement and exhilaration that goes with it.

Both personally and professionally, you have opportunity for improvement, ingenuity, new adventure, and new growth. The best way to combat burnout and stress and achieve a feeling that your life is balanced between what GROUNDWORK

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you have to do and what makes you feel alive, is to continuously seek improvement in some area of your life.

This is important because there are parts of life that continue to get worse all the time. The reality of aging is that health becomes more of a challenge, and keeping up our physical appearance becomes more time consuming.

The responsibilities and worries of life never stop; in fact they seem to grow as we get older. Without continuous effort toward goals and progress, you will spend all your time and tremendous efforts on maintenance and just

Work– L ife Balance–It Is Achievable! continued trying to stay where you are and not lose ground. Over time this can cause burnout, depression, resentment, regret and stress.

take a step back and shift gears a little. balanced and improve the quality of Squeeze in steps toward your goals on not just your professional life or your your calendar every day. Without plan- personal life, but your whole life. We ning these steps, don’t need to balance work and life.

Moving toward something your brain will Work is part of life. We need to balAs you identify meaningful... is what makes always prioritize ance surviving today with progressing goals and plan sur vival tasks toward a better tomorrow. This is what burnout and stress fade even small steps first. Having a truly creates the feeling of balance and away and lets balance and to work toward written plan will it’s not something that can be given to them each day, satisfaction move in. influence the way you by an employer or something you then the feeling you make deci- achieve by watching how much time of burnout begins to fade. With each sions about your time and help you fit you spend working versus not working. small step, you see improvement and in goal steps along with everything If you can identify ways in which you gain momentum. You are moving… else you have to do today. It will keep are improving an area of your life all progressing… the purpose of your your goals at the forefront of your mind the time (no matter how small), then efforts becomes more evident. You have instead of letting you bury yourself in you have a credible claim to balance. something to talk about and develop survival mode. ideas about, you find your thoughts Steve McClatchy, president of Alleer Training always gravitating toward how to reach Take some time and make a list of and Consulting, is a keynote speaker, workshop the goal, and how your life will improve goals, large and small, that would leader, and author of New York Times bestseller once you have accomplished it. You are improve the quality of your life. Con- Decide. Steve has spoken before thousands of using your resources toward improve- sider professional and personal goals, audiences on the topics of leadership, performance, ment instead of fighting to stand still. long term and short term. Look at the personal growth, and work–life engagement.

That feeling of life in motion is creat- list and find a way to ing balance. Moving toward something get some small step meaningful that will make life better for toward achieving Mier destination sto you—your team at work, your organiza- one of them onto d’s Pre ne C n a l ente ry tion, your family, etc.—is what makes your calendar each a r M burnout and stress fade away and lets day. Schedule time balance and satisfaction move in. to make a networking call, read an EXPERIENCE THE LARGEST & MOST The key to getting started on this jour- industry magazine, UNIQUE PRODUCT SELECTION Hundreds of Natural Stone Profiles ney of improvement and achieving take a class, find a Products from Around the Globe balance in your life is to plan. Man- mentor, or write an aging survival or maintenance items article; brainstorm is challenging and time consuming. ways to improve The daily maintenance tasks that cause a process; or offer burnout and stress come from personal more value to an and professional issues and include existing client. Coneverything from paying bills, cleaning tact a financial plandishes, getting haircuts, and putting ner, exercise, plan a gas in the car, to submitting expense date, play a game, reports, attending long meetings, and f ix that squeaky DEPENDABLE DELIVERY SERVICE keeping up with endless emails. Then door at home, etc.

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Outdoor Living Area —

G R A N D AWA R D

and serenity. To accommodate our client’s unique travel schedule, we worked closely

—

with the landscape architect to choose flowering plants that provide textural interest during the spring and fall seasons.

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P R O F I L E

Plant of the Month

Summer Vine, and the Living Is Easy

By Mary Olien, Green Spring Gardens This lovely yellow trumpet honeysuckle was discovered in 1991 in Gloucester, Virginia, and named for the colonial botanist John Clayton —Photo by Phillip Merrit

Honeysuckle says summer. But instead, let’s say it with some alternatives to the invasive Japanese honeysuckle. The eastern native honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle, and trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) are all considerations. Trumpet honeysuckle has striking appeal with its bright orange/ red narrow trumpet shaped flowers. Its flowers will not beguile with a honey sweet fragrance like the invasive Japanese honeysuckle, but you will quickly forget the lack of fragrance when the first hummingbirds stop by for a sip of its sweet nectar.

Honeysuckles are members of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. This family also includes popular woody landscape ornamentals such as viburnum, kolwitzia, weigela, and abelia, to name a few. These plants all have opposite leaves and complete flowers with a tube shape. Honeysuckle is represented by the genus, Lonicera, named for Adam

Lonitzer, a German scientist, naturalist, and herbalist from the 1500s. Among Lonicera are shrubs and twining vines.

For our region, three honeysuckle vines are worth considering: our native trumpet honeysuckle, (L. sempervirens), goldflame honeysuckle (Lonicera x heckrockii), and the European honeysuckle woodbine (L. periclymeneum). All of these twining vines are semi-evergreen except in the coldest winters.

Trumpet honeysuckle has opposite rounded blue-gray green leaves on short petioles, except for the last pair or two, where the leaves are connected at their bases and wrapped around the stem.

The leaves of the woodbine honeysuckle are pointed and dark green above and bluish-green below.

The scarlet flowers of the native trumpet honeysuckle are arranged in clusters of 1½-inch-long tube-shaped flowers GROUNDWORK

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with a small flare of five small lobes at the opening revealing a yellow interior.

An important pollinator is the hummingbird. To accommodate the hummingbirds’ needs, the vine flowers over a long season. By fall, orange-red fruits form, providing another source of food for wildlife, including a wide variety of birds.

A few cultivars of the trumpet honeysuckle are popular in the trade. L. sempervirens var. sulphurea is a naturally occurring, but rare in the wild, yellow-flowered variety. In 1991, a yellow variety with a hint of peach was discovered in woodlands near a 17th century church in Gloucester, Virginia, and named ‘John Clayton’ by the John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, in honor of one of Virginia’s early botanists. This variety is considered to grow more compactly than the straight species and is a strong berry producer.

Plant of the Month continued Woodbine flowers (L. periclymeneum) are more like the ubiquitous Japanese honeysuckle in shape, color, and fragrance.

Unlike Japanese honeysuckle, which bears its flowers in the leaf axils, woodbine and trumpet honeysuckle bear their flowers in whorled clusters at the stem terminal. The yellowish-white flowers open with a tinge of reddish purple and grace the vine all summer long. It, too, has red berries in the fall. A popular cultivar of this species, ‘Graham Thomas’, which was named for the great English plantsman, carries fragrant, soft, creamyellow flowers over a long season. This honeysuckle is also moth pollinated.

The pink and yellow flower effect resembles a gentle flame in the landscape—Photo by Mary Olien

Everblooming or goldf lame honeysuckle, L. x heckrottii ‘Gold Flame,’ was first recognized in the late 1800s by the botanist Alfred Rehder. It is believed to be a hybrid between L. sempervirens and L. x americana. Its long flowering period brings color and a gentle fragrance to the landscape. The leaves are deep green, providing a wonderful foil to the purplish-pink flowers that reveal a yellow throat when they open.

All of the honeysuckles are vigorous vines that are happy on a strong trellis, twining through a tree or shrub, or cascading over a wall or fence. Reaching 10 to 20 feet, they have the potential to provide a large mass of color. They tolerate a wide range of conditions, from sun to partial shade, and are reasonably drought tolerant.

The ‘sulphurea’ honeysuckle scrambles over the split rail fence in the Kitchen Garden at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia—Photo by Cindy Brown

Pest problems are few on these honeysuckle vines. Unfortunately, aphids can be a problem on the trumpet honeysuckle, causing disfiguring of the leaves at the growing point. Some have reported leaf spot problems.

Sip your favorite summer beverage while you watch hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees sip nectar from any of these lovely summer flowering honeysuckle vines.

Aphids are a common insect pest of the native honeysuckle—Photo by Mary Olien

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Facebook: Fired Up or Just Fired?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Social Media in the Workplace

By Dr. Rhonda Savage There’s no doubt that Facebook participation can be an asset to any business.

The question is how can you use it to promote your company, yet be sure your team members are cautious in the way they use it? What should the owner and office manager post? Where is the line between personal and professional?

Knowing the good, the bad and the ugly of Facebook for business, your company can take full advantage of this tool and watch your business grow.

The Good One benefit Facebook offers for business is its ability to let customers and potential clients know your company on a personal level. Clients come to you for a relationship. They assume that you know how to take care of their needs.

Being accessible on social media sites helps your clients and customers feel connected to your company.

A Facebook page also can help bring people to your website. Customers will look for your presence on the Internet,

and a Facebook profile is just another way they can find you, leading them to your site to find out more information and possibly contact you.

ents. In addition, team members have been sanctioned and fired for making unprofessional remarks about their boss via social networking sites.

Facebook can be a tremendous networking tool. Business pages on Facebook can elevate your website status through SEO (search engine optimization). In addition, if you have a Facebook business page link on the home page of your website, potential clients can feel that they know you and your office before coming in for their new customer experience. Several companies have gained new clients simply because of their Facebook pages.

The Ugly

The Bad A recent study of companies with 1,000 employees found eight percent of their employees actually have been dismissed for their behavior on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. That’s double from the previous year! Companies have also fired employees for sharing sensitive details about the business and their cliGROUNDWORK

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Realize that even if you use Facebook privacy settings, you may still be in danger. Remember going to high school and doing things you thought your parents would never know about, yet somehow they always found out? The same is true of social media. Avoid bad-mouthing your boss, co-worker or anyone in your professional life in such a public way on a public forum.

Every business should have specific guidelines that apply to social media use. There are two factors at work here: employers need to be closely monitoring social media sites and employees need to use common sense when posting about work life. Workers need to be careful about sharing sensitive information as well as making foolish remarks about their employer.

Facebook: Fired Upor Just Fired? continued The owner needs to set the vision and goals for the office regarding social media with the help of the team with the development of a mission-driven ethical use policy.

Following are some basic guidelines for using social media in business. The guidelines listed below must apply to every member of the team, including the owner: • Never post anything that directly or indirectly insults customers, clients or the business itself.

• When posting on personal and social media sites, be nice and keep it clean.

Develop verbal cue cards on “what to say and not to say” on social media.

Have clearly developed expectations that apply to all team members.

• Consider leveraging your office’s Facebook profile to start positive

conversations about your employees and your services. You can do this by regularly posting testimonials from present or past clients.

• With your customers’ permission, involve them in your efforts. You can do this by connecting with them and posting information about their business.

• If you have a personal page and a business page, consider your policy regarding clients who want to become your personal friends. One business owner lost a family of customers who requested to be his personal friend when he said “no.”

• Create a page in your office policy manual regarding Facebook and social media posting, so each employee understands what to do and what not to do.

• Designate one or more specific employees to be responsible for posting on and updating your sites.

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Business page content will need to be updated frequently and consistently to ensure the Wall tab stays fresh.

Carve out a few hours each week for this responsibility.

With a clearly established policy and understanding of the good, the bad and the ugly, Facebook and social media can be a great asset to your business.

By enforcing social media policies and following these guidelines, you’ll see great results from your efforts.

Dr. Rhonda Savage is a motivational speaker on leadership, women’s issues, and communication. She is CEO for a wellknown practice management and consulting business. You can reach her at rhonda@ milesandassociates.net.

Reprinted with permission from Irrigation & Green Industry magazine, February 2015.

Member News Chesapeake Gardening & Landscaping The Essential Green Guide—By Barbara W. Ellis In association with the Adkins Arboretum, published by UNC Press (2015), Neil Soderstrom, principal photographer.

“What if, one step at a time, we could make our gardens and landscapes more eco-friendly? Barbara Ellis’s colorful, comprehensive guide shows homeowners, gardeners, garden designers, and landscapers how to do just that for the large and beautiful Chesapeake Bay watershed region.”

“Included are detailed instructions for assessing and designing your particular garden or landscape site; choosing and caring for trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, and flowers … From rain gardens to woodland gardens, meadow gardens to wildlife gardens, and much more, this indispensable guide features more than 300 color photographs.”

Chesapeake Gardening & Landscaping features photos by Roger Foley of gardens by LCA members Scott Brintizer, DCA Landscape Architects, and Tom Mannion. Other designers featured include Barbara Ellis, OvS; Richard Arentz; Florence Everts; Mary Streb, Greensmiths; Andie Philips; Mary Jo Messenger; Leigh Sands; and many more. In her book, Ms. Ellis includes credits for both the photography and the landscape design under each photograph, which is a very generous and a seldom seen courtesy. Her book will be both fun and informative and, because it is written specifically for our MId-Atlantic region, it will indeed be indispensable.

Live Green Landscape Associates Welcomes Two New Members Kyle Rzucidlo has joined Live Green in the role of residential production manager. Kyle brings a range of experience in the residential landscape industry. He is a graduate of Towson University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree, and he is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. With 10 years of technical experience installing landscape and hardscape projects, Kyle is able to manage the daily operations and quality of Live Green’s residential crews. Outside of work, Kyle enjoys spending time in the outdoors and riding motorcycles.

Mike Wright has joined Live Green as a residential landscape designer. Mike is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in landscape architecture. He has a passion for high-end residential design, which he is able to apply to his design projects with Live Green. Mike studied abroad in Bonn, Germany, while in college, which helped to give him a great appreciation for human-scale spaces and how well thought out design can connect people with place. When Mike is not working, he enjoys hiking, fishing, and socializing with friends.

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Landscape

Specification Guidelines  pe Specification Guidelines

6th edition 6th edition

Written with landscape contractors, landscape architects, and designers in mind, LCA’s Landscape Specification Guidelines provide green industry professionals with up-to-date research and techniques used in the landscape industry. Not only do they serve as a guide for specifying, installing, and maintaining quality landscape projects, but they also promote horticulturally sound principles.

Now Available for Kindle

www.amazon.com

Part 1: Exterior Landscape Installation Part 2: Exterior Landscape Maintenance Part 3: Interior Landscape Installation and Maintenance Part 4: Irrigation Part 5: Non-Tidal Wetland Planting Part 6: Seeding and Sodding Part 7: Soils Part 8: Tree Preservation

Order THE PRINT VERSION Online Today: www.lcamddcva.org

Advertising Information Advertisers Index Babikow Greenhouses.......................................................... 6 Cavano's Perennials, Inc...................................................... 13 Central Sod of Maryland, Inc............................................... 19 Manor View Farm................................................................. 11 Summit Hall Turf Farm, Inc.................................................. 20 The Stone Store a Division of Aggtrans............................... 12 Walnut Springs Nursery, Inc................................................. 2

General Information

Classified Advertising

• See LCA website: www.lcamddcva.org for current Media Kit. • Signed contract must accompany ad copy. Artwork can be changed monthly, provided contract is paid in full.

• When change of artwork is not received by artwork closing date, publisher reserves right to print ad from previous issue.

• There are no refunds of advertising payments.

• Payment is due with signed contract and artwork by final closing date for each issue.

Publisher Indemnities: Publisher reserves the right to mark “advertisement” on copy that readers might confuse with editorial content and to refuse copy that offends good taste or takes unfair competitive advantage. No rebates made for errors in key numbers or for omissions or errors in Advertisers Index.

Classified ads are a great way to find new employees, announce business opportunities, or buy and sell equipment. Payment must accompany copy.

LCA Members • $1.50 per word—minimum charge $20 • $2.50 for each word in bold • $3.50 for each word in color • $10 each for special ad set-up (logo, borders, etc.)

2015

Non-Members • Double the rate above

By Dave Clement, University of Maryland Extension Mayapple rust (Puccinia podophylli) causes yellow or light green spots to appear on the upper leaf surfaces. The lower leaf surfaces have orange-colored spores and pustules below each light green spot. Sometimes, leaves pucker where infections occur. The disease may even cause some leaf drop. Still, the plant seems to tolerate the disease without permanent injury.

Advertising on the Web Banner advertising is available to members only on the website.

Display Advertising Deadline June 2015 Issue: Monday, June 1, 2015

Excellence in Landscape Awards

Can You Diagnose This Symptom of Mayapple?

Download the 2015 Call for Entries Form

Entry Deadline

Wednesday August 5, 2015

Tips for Presenting Your Award Entry in the Best “Light” Planning—Capture plenty of “before” shots from many viewpoints prior to the project start. If you are taking over a maintenance project, document those before shots as well. Later, shoot the project from the same angles.

Patience—Don’t rush the entry. Be sure it has a time to mature. Plan to photograph it in all seasons—especially in peak color.

Preparation—Remove any debris from patio, pool deck, lawn, and plant beds; be sure turf areas are properly mowed and without dead areas; be sure litter, water hoses, and garbage cans are out of sight; remove pool sweep and litter from the pool.

Lighting—Soft morning or early evening light lessens the contrast and is ideal for taking the best pictures. Photos taken in full sun at mid-day will wash out your photos and cast dark shadows.

Views—Frame your view carefully, removing telephone poles and traffic signs, excessive concrete curbs, and pavement. Take before and after shots from the same point of view.

Get closeups detailing your craftsmanship (at least five are required if you are entering in the Craftsmanship category). Take photos from unusual perspectives, such as from the roof or air, or show views from inside.

Creatively tell the story—Use the entry form to detail the client’s objectives, your vision, and special or unusual problems encountered. Use the photos and photo descriptions—in the correct order—to walk the judges through the project and present it in the best “light.”

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