M A RCH/A PRI L 2022
GRO UNDWORK
Plant of the Month— Double Play® Spiraea What’s Up With Spotted Lanternfly and Fall Armyworm? Beyond the Water: Effectively Managing Lake and Pond Shorelines Build a Beautiful Birdscape Working at the Intersection of Leadership, Communication, and Culture —GRAND AWARD— Palisades Oasis Colao & Peter
M D•D C•VA
A P U B L I C AT 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 AT I O N
M A RCH/A PRI L 2022
GRO UNDWORK
CONTENTS Calendar of Events
4
President’s Message
5
Plant of the Month—Double Play® Spiraea
6
2021 Grand Award—Palisades Oasis
12
What’s Up With Spotted Lanternfly and Fall Armyworm?
14
Beyond the Water: Effectively Managing Lake and Pond Shorelines
16
Build a Beautiful Birdscape
20
Working at the Intersection of Leadership, Communication, and Culture
24
Advertising Information
26
LCA 2022 Excellence in Landscape Awards
Online Awards Submission Open From May 9–August 12 See page 19 for more information
PLANT OF THE MONTH
GRAND AWARD
Double Play® Spiraea
Palisades Oasis Colao & Peter
Feature and Plant of the Month articles can also be found online for LCA members under the GROUNDWORK link in your profile home page at www.lcamddcva.org
CALENDAR MAY 2022 9
2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paul Jester—President
J&G Landscape Design, Inc.—(301) 476-7600
Aaron Raines—Immediate Past President
Live Green Landscape Associates, LLC —(443) 763-8580
Ron Rubin—Vice President SavATree—(703) 625-4400
Jeff Rossen—Secretary/Treasurer JRossen Landscape—(703) 327-2284
DIRECTORS
Excellence in Landscape Awards Submission Opens
Krisjan Berzins
Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape—(703) 921-9200
Matt Glover, CLT
Wray Brothers Landscapes—(301) 906-1571
Josh Kane, CLT
Kane Landscapes, Inc.—(703) 803-3146
Zack Kline
A.I.R.—(240) 772-1639
Robert Lehnhoff
Lehnhoff’s Supply—(443) 921-5789
Kristen Mowery
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—(240) 508-8056
Scott Pickett, CLT, CPH
Live Green Landscape Associates, LLC—(410) 833-9640
Barry Schneider
Surrounds, Inc.—(703) 906-7600
Jeff Waters
SiteOne Landscape Supply—(240) 375-7470
LCA STAFF Thérèse O. Clemens, CAE, Executive Director Julianne Clarke, Membership Services Manager Meghan Maker, Marketing Manager Lynne Agoston, Managing Editor Victoria Baltz, Production/Project Coordinator Barbara Bienkowski, CEM, Exhibits/Sponsorship Manager Tim Foley, Meetings Manager Dawn Rosenfeld, Director of Accounting Services Deryck White, Website Manager GROUNDWORK, the official publication of the Landscape
Contractors Association, MD•DC•VA, is published bimonthly by LCA, 1300 Piccard Drive, Suite LL 14, Rockville, MD 20850.
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Copyright © 2022: 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.
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4
MARCH/APRIL 2022
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA 2022 President
Connecting to Nature and Each Other
Hello spring! I hope everyone has had an amazing start to 2022. There were several educational events and conferences available to us during the winter months. These are great opportunities for us to learn and grow our knowledge within the industry and make sure we are providing the best information to our customers. LCA has always strived to help coordinate these educational efforts, helping our members demonstrate a level of excellence in the industry, including another successful year of virtual pesticide information for continuing education. While I enjoy the educational conferences and gathering together during the winter months, I am excited for warmer weather and cannot wait to see what amazing projects our association produces this year. This past January, I was fortunate to attend a conference sponsored by one of our own members, Planted Earth. This Landscaping Winter Conference at Turf Valley Resort brought in a wide variety of speakers, including Jennifer Horn of Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture, Jennifer Giunta of Riverbend Nurseries, and Nicole Sherry, who manages the field operations at Camden Yards. The presentations were entertaining, covered a broad range of topics, and
made for a great day of learning surrounded by my peers. During one of the presentations, the topic of biophillia was mentioned. Biophilia is defined as the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other living beings. This principal was introduced to me in my college days, and while I had forgotten the technical term over the years, the principal and idea of biophillia has always stayed with me. It is a principal that was first coined in 1964 and has continued to evolve to this day. Studies of the idea have shown evidence of positive benefits of human interaction with nature, such as lower stress, enhanced learning, and improved productivity. The positive benefits from these interactions is one reason we all take family vacations to the beach and mountains each year, allowing us to return to and relax in our natural environment. While the big vacation trips are fun, the effects of biophilic practices can be seen on a smaller scale with elements that range from plants in the office space, windows to view the outdoors, or even just pictures of nature. I believe humans have a deeply engrained love of nature, a drive and passion that each of us has GROUNDWORK
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turned into a career. We each have an opportunity to embrace the idea of biophilia and make it more than a philosophy but can make it a daily practice in our lives through our office lifestyle and the projects we build. Each of our projects can create an amazing outdoor space for families to enjoy, relax in, and be within the natural environment. With embracing the ideas of biophilic design, we can create environments that maintain, restore, and even enhance our physiological and psychological health and connection to nature. In addition to maintaining our connection to nature, we cannot wait to connect with you in person! We cannot wait to announce the lineup of in-person events for the upcoming year. These events will strive to create fun educational and networking opportunities that will allow us to appreciate nature and enjoy time with each other. A big thank you for your support of this organization. Respectfully,
Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA LCA President 2022
MARCH/APRIL 2022
Plant of the Month
Double Play® Spiraea: More Than Just Pretty Flowers By Tim Wood, Spring Meadow Nursery
Double Play® Spiraea: Big Bang
As a general rule, spirea is known as a hardy, adaptable, and attractive ornamental shrub. And of the 90 different spirea species, few are as colorful and useful as Spiraea japonica. The species is very hardy and adaptable and offers a wide range of flower and foliage colors. Add to this the ability to cross with other species and you have an array of breeding opportunities. With spirea, as well as other species, observation and imagination are the first steps in plant breeding, so looking for and noticing things that others may miss, brings new opportunities. One of our early discoveries was a rich, pink-flowered Spiraea fritschiana that we named Pink Parasols® (‘Wilma’). Known for its excellent hardiness and attractive autumn foliage, S. fritschiana is a lowmounded Korean native with large, attractive blooms that are normally pure white. By luck, I found a pink-
flowered anomaly in a batch of seedlings at a local university. I suspect it might have been an accidental hybrid with S. japonica. Further observation revealed that some seedlings had especially good, colorful foliage when leafing out in the spring. This is especially useful because spirea is typically sold in the spring, well before the flowers appear. So the color, texture, and health of the foliage are how most consumers judge the plants they are buying.
large, getting this trait from S. fritschiana. The plant cultivar was named in honor of my wife, Tracy, and has proven itself to be a firstclass garden and landscape plant. Thank goodness for that, because you don’t want to name a bad plant after your wife!
Such was the case when we crossed Pink Parasols with a yellow-leafed S. japonica variet y and came up with a number of unique, colorful hybrids. After evaluating the top selections, we introduced Double Play Big Bang® (Spiraea x ‘Tracy’). The spring flush of foliage is a vibrant orange. As the foliage matures, it turns bright yellow with contrasting new red growth. The pink flowers are extraGROUNDWORK
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Double Play® Spiraea: Blue Kazoo
MARCH/APRIL 2022
2022
DOUBLE PLAY DOOZIE
®
Spiraea x
Double Play Doozie® is a groundbreaking non-invasive spirea, the first of its kind. Its lack of seed also makes it a perpetual bloomer, putting all of its energy into creating wave after wave of red-pink flowers from early summer through frost. Ask for it from your preferred wholesale nursery. • Red spring foliage • Sterile • Compact • Quick to produce 5'
DOUBLE PLAY DOOZIE® Spiraea x ‘NCSX2’, pp30,953; cbraf USDA Zone 3-8, full sun, part sun 2-3' tall and wide
Available from these suppliers: Bennett’s Creek Nursery Smithfield, VA • 757-483-1425
Eastern Shore Nursery of VA Melfa, VA • 757-787-4732
Latham’s Nursery Monroe, NC • 704-283-5696
Sepers Nursery Newfield, NJ • 856-691-0597
Buds & Blooms Nursery Brown Summit, NC • 800-772-2837
Fair View Nursery Wilson, NC • 252-243-3656
Marshall’s Riverbank Nurseries Salisbury, MD • 410-677-0900
Shreckhise Nurseries Grottoes, VA • 540-249-5761
Cohansey Nursery Bridgeton, NJ • 856-453-4900
Hope Grange Nursery Bridgeton, NJ • 856-491-5204
Piedmont Carolina Nursery Colfax, NC • 336-993-4114
Spring Run Farm Coatesville, PA • 610-380-1402
David’s Nursery Exmore, VA • 757-442-7000
Huber Nurseries Manheim, PA • 717-898-9115
Riggins Nursery Bridgeton, NJ • 856-455-2459
The Ivy Farm Locustville, VA • 757-787-4096
www.provenwinners-shrubs.com
Plant of the Month continued Double Play Doozie® (S. japonica ‘NCSX2’) is a seedless triploid as well as a wide cross containing genes of more than one species. One of the added benefits of seedless plants is that they put their energy into flowering instead of setting seed. With Double Play Doozie®, this results in a spirea that flowers all summer long.
Another in the series is Double Play® Red (S. japonica ‘SMNSJMFR’). It has beautiful cherry-red spring foliage, but it was primarily selected for its uniquely colored sangria-red flowers. It is the truest red I have ever seen in a spirea. While most of the plants in the Double Play® series were developed by Spring Meadow in our internal breeding program, two varieties were developed by North Carolina State University. Several years ago, we had funded Dr. Thomas Ranney’s plant breeding team to develop sterile cultivars of potentially invasive plants.
This plant is a game-changer in the landscape market because it is so easy to grow and because it looks just as good in flower in August as it does in June when it first flowers. There is no need to shear it to get it to rebloom. The new growth continues to produce flower buds and flowers that cover and hide the older flower heads. The flowers are a vivid dark pink, making it the perfect plant to replace ‘Anthony Waterer’.
One of the common methods for sterile varieties is to create a triploid (3x) plant, which has three sets of chromosomes instead of the normal two, a diploid (2x). This was the technique used to create seedless watermelons. The process starts by treating young seedlings with colchicine or oryzalin, which doubles the chromosomes, thus creating a tetraploid (4x) plant. The tetraploid plant is then crossed back with a normal diploid plant. The resulting triploid seedlings are often seedless.
Double Play® Candy Corn® (S. japonica ‘NCSX1’) is another Tom Ranney triploid hybrid, but it is not noted for being a rebloomer. This plant variety was selected for its unique colorful foliage. In the spring the first flush of foliage emerges a fiery orange-red. As spring progresses, the foliage color changes to a bright yellow and then eventually
Double Play® Spiraea: Candy Corn
Double Play® Spiraea: Doozie GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
HAWKINS LANDSCAPE SERVICES is now a partner company of McHALE LANDSCAPE DESIGN!
“We are honored to continue the tradition and legacy of Hawkins Landscape Services and pleased to welcome their staff, clients, and gardens to the McHALE Landscape Design family.” KEVIN & STEVE
Imagine…WITH McHALE YOU CAN. SINGLE SOURCE
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Plant of the Month continued to a butter yellow, while constantly being accentuated with bright reddish-orange hues in the new growth. The color combination is quite unique and pleasing.
cast of purple hues. The large white spring blooms contrast wonderfully with the richly colored foliage. Like all spirea, it looks best when planted en masse.
There is one more spirea in the Double Play® series that is not a S. japonica but rather a selection of Spiraea media, a species that is native to Eastern Europe. Some years back we use to grow and sell a Darthauzer nurseries variety named Snowstorm™ (S. media ‘Darsnorm’). After three or four generations of inbreeding and selection, we singled out a dwarf plant with notable blue foliage. We introduced it with the name Double Play® Blue Kazoo® (S. media ‘SMSMBK’) a silly but memorable name based on the children’s musical instrument. I love plants with colorful foliage, especially blue foliage, and I believe this is a special plant. It is a low-mounded beauty with waxy, blue-green foliage that is randomly air-brushed with a
It is a bit humorous looking back because so many people told us we were wasting our time breeding spirea. They said, “Who needs another spirea?” But, like all plant breeding, there is always room for new plants if they are improvements. Growers continue to look for plants that finish faster and that have fewer production inputs. Retailers, having a limited number of salespeople, are looking for plants with greater impulse appeal. Consumers want shrubs that offer more than just two weeks of flowers. They are looking for reliable plants that earn their keep all season long, and these new Double Play® spirea do just that.
Double Play® Spiraea: Red GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
The Perennial Farm Celebrating 42 years in business
Over 1500 Varieties Perennials - Ornamental Grasses - Hardy Ferns Roses - Flowering Shrubs - Flowering Vines - Ground Covers Natives - Succulents - Tropicals - Mr. Big Stuff Phone: 410-592-6106 www.perennialfarm.com
2021 Grand Award Palisades Oasis Colao & Peter
GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
This modern project located near the Potomac River in the Palisades area of Washington, D.C., includes a pool, a waterproofed deck with cable railing, a patio space for entertaining, and a large synthetic turf play area for the family’s children. This client wanted to give their kids their own haven with lots of activities while at the same time having an elegant entertaining space to enjoy with family and friends. Our directives were to fuse an elegant design that the kids could fully enjoy. GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
What’s Up With Spotted Lanternfly and Fall Armyworm? By Stanton Gill, Extension Specialist in Entomology and IPM for Greenhouses and Nursery, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, University of Maryland; Professor, Montgomery College, Landscape Technology Program
There’s no doubt about it—2020 and 2021 were super years for the commercial horticulture industry. The COVID pandemic led to huge increases in purchases of plant material, resulting in a plethora of residential landscape installation jobs. Nurseries are pretty much in a “reduced availability” mode of sizable plant material with this heavy demand over the last two years. Along with all of this good news there is some troubling news. With so much plant material moving through the industry, and at such a fast pace, many pests are being carried along and transplanted into the landscape. Nothing you can’t handle, but you need to be aware that there is increased insect pressure. We were flooded with problems in the horticulture business throughout 2021, with Japanese maple scale, emerald ash borer, exotic ambrosia beetles, and Asian longhorned beetle. Now we have another to add to the list in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Delaware: spotted
lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). This name is great—it sounds like a cool fly with some sort of lantern. Actually, it is a type of planthopper from Asia found in our trading partners’ homelands of China, Korea, India, and Vietnam. It was found in Pennsylvania and confirmed in Berk County on September 22, 2014. On November 1, 2014, Pennsylvania instituted quarantine to try to restrict the movement of this pest. In 2021, landscapers and garden centers from Maryland, purchasing plants from quarantine areas in Pennsylvania managed to haul adult spotted lantern flies to many of the counties in Maryland. This is most unfortunate, but to ensure that a quarantine works, everyone has to cooperate in inspecting plant material and material traveling into and out of quarantine areas. This just was not done well in 2002–2021. The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced in mid-January GROUNDWORK
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2022 that it had expanded the quarantine area in Maryland. Hopefully you do not get a chance to experience this new pest in 2022. Close vigilance in avoiding bringing this pest into your area is one positive step you can take. Greenhouse growers in Pennsylvania are seeing that spotted lanternfly can feed on many species of plants, but we have not detected any real damage on most herbaceous greenhouse crops. Still, if your area becomes a quarantined part of your state, many regulations will be placed on the shipping of plant material leaving the quarantine area. This will mean additional vigilance and more paperwork if your area is placed in quarantine. Fortunately, we have several materials that can be applied to spotted lanternfly for effective control. As the season progresses, we will publish some of these materials in the weekly IPM Alerts sent out by the University of Maryland Extension.
MARCH/APRIL 2022
What’s Up With Spotted Lanternfly and Fall Armyworm? continued We are setting up field trials using trap plants to see if we can attract the spotted lanternfly to certain spots within a nursery to concentrate pesticide applications and not have to spray larger areas. Meanwhile, outdoors in August and September 2021, on the East Coast and in the Midwest, lawn companies noticed that their customers’ lawns were bare of turfgrass. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, which is a southern species, was carried north, as adult moths, to many states on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The fall armyworm has been labeled a large-scale invasive. It is called “armyworm” because in its larval stage, individuals gather in huge masses, like human armies, which can destroy large tracts of crops. It is native to South and North America. It is an invasive that Amer-
Maryland. We will watch for it in mid-summer when jet streams can potentially carry this moth north in 2022. Watch and observe for caterpillars in late July through August 2022.
ica has shipped to Africa. The moths lay eggs in turfgrass, and the larvae consume huge amounts of leaf area in lawns, turning them brown in four or five days. There was a grass seed shortage, and prices of grass seed increased two to three times normal prices. This made it tough for companies to try to green up their customers’ brown lawns this fall. It was unusual weather patterns with strong southerly jet streams in 2021 that carried this Lepidopterous species out of the south and into the Midwest and to the East Coast. Since this caterpillar is semitropical, it should not overwinter in most areas it invaded in 2021. Do not automatically treat your customer’s lawn this spring for this pest. With the extreme cold temperatures, some dropping to 8 ºF for multiple days this winter, I do not expect this tropical caterpillar to overwinter here in
Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine MD Dept. of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Weed Management
Allegany
Washington Carroll
Cecil
Harford
Garrett
Baltimore
Frederick
Howard
Baltimore City
Kent
Montgomery Anne Arundel
Queen Anne's
Caroline Prince George's
Charles
Talbot
Calvert Dorchester Wicomico
Quarantine Area 2019 2022 (2019 included) None Designed by: Kenton Sumpter -MDA-
St. Mary's
Worcester Somerset
Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, NGA, EPA, USDA, NPS
Created 1/10/2022
Counties currently under quarantine for spotted lantern fly. GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
Beyond the Water: Effectively Managing Lake and Pond Shorelines By Trent Nelson, SOLitude Lake Management
Even the most well cared for lakes and ponds are incomplete without regular shoreline maintenance. Preventative management is necessary to support the health and longevity of the overall ecosystem, and management efforts can vary for each part of the shoreline. However, before jumping into implementing proactive and ongoing strategies, existing erosion issues must be addressed.
the littoral zone reflects the health of the entire aquatic ecosystem.
The most effective solution for severe erosion is installing a bioengineered living shoreline. This is a specialized soil containment system composed of a knitted mesh material that reshapes and anchors the shore in place. This solution has two-fold benefits; in addition to enhancing the aesthetics of any property, professionals can also restore pond volume by repurposing bottom muck during the installation process.
•
Regular water quality testing can identify imbalances in the ecosystem and help inform management practices that support healthy littoral areas.
•
Nutrient remediation products can help remove the excess phosphorus and pollutants to improve water quality and reduce cloudiness and odors.
•
Beneficial microorganisms and bacteria can be introduced to help maintain ecological balance and sustain aquatic life—like probiotics for your pond.
•
Sometimes, the littoral zone can become stagnant and oxygen deprived under the hot sun. A floating fountain can help circulate and oxygenate this shallow area while creating beauty and movement on the surface.
When managing the littoral zone, aquatic experts focus on several priorities. Cultivating a healthy littoral ecosystem means nurturing beneficial species while managing undesirable weeds and algae.
Once erosion is corrected, decision-makers can turn their attention to proactive management strategies that support multiple areas: the littoral zone, the buffer zone, and the landscaped areas that surround the buffer zone. These strategies significantly impact the overall health of a lake or pond, but each is unique and benefits from tailored management approaches.
Littoral Zone
Vegetative Buffer Zone
The littoral zone is the sloped “shelf” that connects water to land. Sunlight penetrates through the entire water column in this shallow area. When healthy, the littoral zone can resemble a miniature wetland consisting of native plants that increase dissolved oxygen and create vital habitat for beneficial fish and organisms. Typically, GROUNDWORK
The buffer zone refers to the area directly on the shoreline above the littoral shelf, extending several feet in elevation. A healthy buffer zone contains native grasses and flowering plants with complex root systems that hold soil in place. These beneficial buffer plants not only 16
MARCH/APRIL 2022
Beyond the Water: Effectively Managing Lake and Pond Shorelines
Landscaped Zone
prevent erosion but also help filter out the debris and pollutants contained in stormwater runoff.
This is the area that is generally mowed and landscaped in the vicinity of a lake or pond. This does not simply refer to the immediate property around the waterbody; it can encompass many acres of land depending on surrounding topography, nearby pollution, and urban development. Many factors in the surrounding area can influence a waterbody.
Professionals utilize many strategies to help enhance the buffer zone and maintain a healthy living shoreline. These strategies include the following: •
•
•
continued
An ideal buffer should extend 3–5 ft. from the shoreline and grow at least 18 in. tall. Limit mowing in this area to prevent stunted growth and shoreline instability.
It is crucial to adopt responsible land management practices to maintain ecological balance through the following measures:
Vegetative buffers are susceptible to the growth of invasive weeds. EPA-registered herbicides are sometimes necessary to target this growth. Professional drones have made monitoring and applications safer and more efficient. Establish designated paths and docks for people to enjoy the water without trampling the buffer zone.
•
Eliminate the use of fertilizers or switch to organic products.
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Make sure plants used in landscaping are native to the area.
•
Maintain lawn mowers, cars, and landscaping equipment to prevent oil leaks.
During the shoreline restoration process, sediment is reshaped using a knitted mesh material and then anchored to the shoreline. From there, turf, grasses, native buffer plants, and littoral species can be introduced for long-lasting strength, beauty, and water-quality health. GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
Beyond the Water: Effectively Managing Lake and Pond Shorelines
continued
Management Best Practices for the 3 Pond Shoreline Zones Landscaped Zone
Vegetative Buffer Zone
Littoral Zone
• Eliminate fertilizers or use organic products • Dispose of leaves, lawn clippings, and organic debris • Remove pet waste
• Allow buffer to extend 3-5 ft. from shoreline • Grow buffer plants at least 18 in. tall • Limit mowing or trimming • Control invasive weeds • Establish water access paths
• Conduct regular water quality testing to identify imbalances • Implement nutrient remediation solutions for algae and weed control • Introduce fountains or aeration to circulate water
•
Bag and dispose of leaves, lawn clippings, and organic debris while landscaping.
•
Maintain stormwater equipment to ensure water flows properly during rainstorms.
•
Introduce trash receptacles and dog waste stations throughout the property.
Lakes and ponds are dynamic, everchanging environments that are impacted by countless environmental and human influences. Properly caring for your waterbody starts with bioengineering a more stable and long-lasting living shoreline. Then, proactive ongoing shoreline maintenance will help ensure your waterbody stays healthy and enjoyable—from the outside in.
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Trent Nelson is an aquatic specialist with a B.S. in turfgrass science from North Carolina State University. He specializes in helping property managers, golf course superintendents, and other stakeholders identify their lake and pond challenges and design eco-friendly management programs. Previously, Trent spent four years as an assistant superintendent managing the day-to-day challenges of two top clubs in the Triad of North Carolina.
MARCH/APRIL 2022
2022
LCA 2022 EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPE AWARDS Online Awards Submission Open From May 9–August 12
“If it weren’t for the LCA Awards, we wouldn’t be half the company we are today. The LCA Awards are a significant part of our overall marketing plan, and we try to submit 4 or 5 projects every year.” Barry Schneider, President, Surrounds, Inc. Each year, LCA recognizes the best landscaping projects throughout the DMV through its Excellence in Landscape Awards program. The projects are judged by a group of leading landscape professionals who evaluate and acknowledge exceptional design, installation, and maintenance in residential and commercial projects. Here’s why you should submit your company’s projects: •
Be associated with the best—when you win an award, you are positioned next to the leaders in our field—no matter your company’s size.
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Greater visibility—Not only are winning projects promoted by LCA on social media but winners are also featured in Home&Design magazine.
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Added marketing opportunities—Being able to market your company as an Excellence in Landscape Award winner places you in a more favorable light with potential clients and helps you to stand apart from the competition.
Show off your company’s talent. Start your entry by visiting www.lcamddcva.org/awards. GROUNDWORK
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
Build a Beautiful Birdscape By Heather Prince
We love the delightful songs and charming antics of birds as they visit and thrive in gardens and natural areas. How do we invite and encourage them into clients’ landscapes? Pam Karlson of Waxwing Studio gave an informative presentation at the 2019 Impact Conference on the many ways to attract birds and create important habitat. You may have seen recent reports of the alarming declines in bird populations and the challenges they face with climate change. As we look for ways to welcome pollinators, so too, will birds call the landscape home. From the shimmering swiftness of hummingbirds to the joyous songs of house wrens, bring on the birds! “The most important ingredients are food, water, and shelter,” instructed Karlson. Insects are the primary food for many birds and what they feed their offspring. Water not only quenches thirst but also provides an important bathing source for keeping birds healthy. Shelter creates places for nesting, roosting, and safe foraging. “To start, I think of layering and plant selection—in tandem with implementing garden design principles (composition, color, texture, repetition, etc). Tall canopy trees, mid-level trees and shrubs,
perennials, and groundcovers offer different types of shelter for different species of birds. As far as how do you organize the space, it depends on how large the property is and what the growing conditions are, such as availability of light, wet areas, dry areas, terrain, soil condition, etc. I try to work with existing conditions as much as possible. In our garden, I am embracing our very clay soil and choosing plants that will grow well in that soil type. Due to a number of factors, including heavier rains, the alley being paved now, neighbors adding on to their houses etc., we’ve developed a wet section in the back near the alley over the years. Instead of fighting that wet area, I look at it as an opportunity to add different types of plants that thrive under those conditions. Such as buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Carex, and more. There are many native plants that will help absorb water,” observed Karlson. Karlson recommends choosing native plants and cultivars of natives to attract plentiful insect populations to feed our feathered friends. “A broad array of blooming perennials from early in the season to late fall give the birds plenty of different kinds of insects to feed on,” said GROUNDWORK
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Karlson. “Variety is really important so that as many species as possible can utilize your garden. Adding in native plants to an existing garden with non-natives is an approach that will still benefit birds. Once clients’ budgets allow, they can have nonnatives removed and replaced with natives. By doing so, it will only increase the foraging opportunities for birds. Do remove any plants listed on the invasive species list as soon as possible however.” Karlson feels insects are especially important. “Insects are our friends! They are an ENORMOUS part of many birds’ diets. A balanced ecosystem will take care of itself. Birds eat the insects, predatory insects eat other insects, etc. In our garden, there are insects yes, but they are not a ‘bother’ because so many are being devoured by the birds, bats, dragonflies, etc.! It’s SO balanced … and a joy to see the symbiotic relationship! It all works together!” She also strongly advocates for removal of invasive plants, such as buckthorn, that can easily overwhelm desired natives. Try to reduce as much lawn as possible. If turf is desired, use ecofriendly practices, such as reducing, if not eliminating, pesticides and treatments. More flowers such as
MARCH/APRIL 2022
Build a Beautiful Birdscape
continued
clover in the lawn mean more insect life and more food for the birds. “One of the best things you can do is embrace imperfection,” suggested Karlson. “Holes in leaves are not necessarily a ‘bad’ thing! Many native plants are host plants to caterpillars, which are a HUGE part of many birds’ diets. I hope people can change their thinking on what is a ‘perfect’ looking plant. A bird garden doesn’t just support birds, it also supports insects, pollinators, and more, many of which birds feed on. Expect other non-bird visitors to arrive, as a healthy bird garden/habitat supports wildlife in general. Thus, visits from opossums, squirrels, rabbits, bats, dragonflies, butterflies etc., may increase. In our garden, we enjoy the visits from wildlife. They don’t create a problem at all. There’s abundant natural food out there that they are foraging for and enjoying. We coexist peacefully. I celebrate all the nature a bird garden brings.”
Water is an essential element and one that is easy for everyone to enjoy. “Water is essential for bird survival and hygiene, and they are attracted to the sound of moving water. Adding water attracts larger numbers and a wider variety of species. An added bonus, water features also attract dragonflies, which act as natural mosquito control, one of their favorite foods,” observed Karlson. It can be easy to add a small water element to a design that may not require the maintenance of a pond or stream. Karlson suggests trying plants that have leaves that hold water, such as cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) or hostas with cup shaped leaves, such as ‘Drinking Gourd’. Other ways to include water include fountains, pondless waterfalls, bubblers, and birdbaths, especially heated ones in winter. Shelter is the third essential element to a birdscape, and the more types of woody plants in your design, the
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broader array of bird species will call it home. For mid-sized trees, Karlson recommended, “Probably my favorite is serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) available in tree and shrub forms. Native to all U.S. states except Hawaii, they adapt well to Chicago-area soil conditions. Their early spring bloom and June berries support birds on their migration as well as local residents. I also have greatly enjoyed the performance of our Winter King hawthorn (Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’) tree. It’s later spring bloom and fall/ winter berries support migratory and residential birds.” Native shade trees, including oak, hackberry, dogwood, willow, cherry, maple, birch, and hickory provide nesting habitat and food, while also being key host species for caterpillars. For shrubs, Karlson suggested, “Chokeberry (Aronia sp.) and Viburnum. Both perform well, produce nutritious berries, and have excellent fall color. There are several varieties to choose from that are readily available from local
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sources. We also have Diervilla, Clethra alnifolia, Fothergilla, Itea, Rhus, and Hydrangea arborescens. Berry producing dogwood shrubs such as grey dogwood (Cornus racemosa) and red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) are great choices. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is also excellent, with its bright red berries in winter that birds love.” Let’s not forget evergreens! Their cones and berries are a key food source, and they provide valuable shelter. “Evergreens are an important component in a bird garden to provide cover, especially in winter. We are fortunate that our surrounding neighbors have some very old, large Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees that the birds benefit from. Our home was built in 1949, and an original juniper tree thrives near our garage. Cedar waxwings and American robins absolutely love the berries, which cling through winter. One of my favorite juniper shrubs is Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ with its mounding habit and silvery needles. Native to our area, white pine, (Pinus strobus) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) trees are good choices to support birds. We also have a small row of Arborvitae ‘Holmstrup’ that provides cover,” instructed Karlson.
The list of bird-welcoming perennials is long and varied. We asked Karlson to choose some of her favorites: •
Aquilegia canadensis, wild columbine (for spring hummingbirds!)
•
Asarum canadense, wild ginger (an easy groundcover)
•
Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower (for hummingbirds)
•
Lobelia siphilitica, great blue lobelia (for hummingbirds)
•
Matteuccia struthiopteris, ostrich fern
•
Mondarda, bee-balm
•
Mertensia virginica, Vi rg i n ia bluebells
•
Asclepias, milkweed family
•
Various asters
•
Carex pensylvanica, common oak sedge
•
Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia creeper (vine)
•
Carex sprengelii, long-beaked sedge
•
•
Chelone sp., turtlehead (for fall hummingbirds)
Penstemon digitalis, foxglove beardtongue (for hummingbirds and a great performing plant!)
•
Rudbeckia, black-eyed Susan
•
Echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower (a finch favorite!)
•
Silphium perfoliatum, cup plant
•
Native grasses such as Panicum, Sporobolus, and Schizachyrium
•
Eutrochium, Joe Pye weed
•
Impatiens capensis, jewelweed (for fall hummingbirds)
•
Liatris spicata, blazing star (The whole Liatris family is great. Birds love the seeds in our garden.)
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“I also include annuals in my garden as well to offer constant bloom and nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators. Salvias are excellent! I find the hummingbirds favor salvia ‘Black & Blue’ and ‘Mystic Spires Blue’. Other hummingbird favorites that I offer are shrimp
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plant ( Justicia brandegeana), fuchsia, and candy corn vine (Manettia luteorubra),” enthused Karlson. Annuals also offer a big splash of season-long color that can be easy to interweave into existing plantings. When you are maintaining a birdfriendly yard, maintenance requirements change, as your goal is to attract and feed our feathered friends. Many of our cherished songbirds feed in leaf litter and mulch, hunting for insects and spiders. Karlson recommends these best practices. “No pesticides, including herbicides, if possible. I avoid chemical fertilizers, choosing compost instead. I choose to minimize or eliminate gas powered blowers and mowers, to avoid noise and gas fumes.” One of the most important maintenance tips is to “Keep, don’t cut! I stress minimizing or eliminating fall cleanup of the perennial garden. Many insects, eggs, chrysalises, and beneficial critters overwinter and/or hibernate in plant debris and fallen leaves, providing additional food sources for birds. Dried flower heads provide seed and foraging opportunities as well as adding beauty to the winter garden. Leave the leaves! Fallen autumn leaves provide natural mulch and add nutrition to the garden. If a client wants a tidied-up garden, it’s best to try and convince them to wait until the spring.”
Not only does birdscaping add muchneeded habitat to the landscape, but it also holds great rewards for homeowners and clients. Karlson has found years of enjoyment observing and documenting the 115 bird species that visit her urban oasis in the heart of Chicago. Her years of experience have proven that even a small backyard can make a huge impact. She suggested, “Observe! Carve out time to enjoy observing the visitors and the diversity you are attracting. Birds mostly feed in the morning, and again in the evening before the sun goes down. Those are the best viewing times. During migration, many birds migrate at night. They fly into bird gardens in the early morning to forage and will fuel up again in the late afternoon/evening, before taking off to continue their migration.” Additional resources include, “There a re so many resources out there, including great books, classes, and organizations to learn f rom ! At tend seminars, conference s, a nd continued education to build your knowledge. Wild Ones is a g re at org a n i-
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zation. They offer conferences and seminars with knowledgeable speakers. The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden offer classes, as well as local community colleges. Many bird organizations offer an abundance of information, too.” Karlson also recommends two favorite books, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, by Douglas W. Tallamy, and Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds, by Mariette Nowak. As you review landscape plans, why not add something for the birds? Reprinted with permission from The Landscape Contractor, January 2020.
MARCH/APRIL 2022
Working at the Intersection of Leadership, Communication, and Culture By Tom Borg tant. They look at themselves as just a cog in the wheel. They perceive that what they do at their place of employment really doesn’t matter. Dr. Marshall Goldsmith reinforces this concept with his belief that “as leaders, we need to do less criticizing and look for ways to do more praising of our team members performance.”
Do you really know your leadership team and employees? Do you know what motivates them to stay with your company and do their job to the best of their ability? Today, keeping your best employees seems to be a major concern. In a recent study, there were five reasons identified as to why people will leave a job. Here they are in the order of importance: 1. They don’t feel good about what they do. In other words, they either don’t believe in the product or service the company offers, or they don’t feel they are making a meaningful contribution to world. They feel it is just a job and nothing more.
3. The third motive is they don’t feel they are growing. Like the saying goes, “when you are green you grow and when you’re ripe you rot.” At the point of departure from their company, they are feeling like they are going nowhere with the position they are working in and they want out.
2. The next reason people will leave a job is because they don’t feel impor-
4. The next cause for people to leave to a job is because they don’t get the
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So, in order to lead your organization or company for the profitable results you are seeking, make it a priority to understand your people. But more importantly, be a leader who communicates and demonstrates that you really care. Doing so will build your people, and in turn, they will build a successful company.
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Tom Borg is a green industry business consultant who works at the intersection of leadership, communication, and culture. As a thought leader, he works with his clients and their leadership teams to help them connect, communicate, and work together better. Tom does this through his consulting, oneon-one mentoring, training, webinars, assessments, and job benchmarking tools. To ask him a question please call (734) 404-5909, email him at tom@tomborg.com, or visit his website at www.tomborgconsulting.com.
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