Tennessee Greentimes - Fall 2021

VOL. 22 / NO. 3

Fall 2021

The Official Publication of The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association

Women in the Green Industry: AN EMERGING LABOR FORCE

Floating Wetlands Designed to Remediate Polluted and Nutrient-Loaded Water Plus:

31°28’36.5” N x 83°31’33.3” W

Marks the Spot

UGA Tifton, GA

VOL. 22 / NO. 3 •

The Official Publication of The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association

COVER STORY Women in the Green Industry: An Emerging Labor Force

16

FEATURE Floating Wetlands Designed to Remediate Polluted and Nutrient-Loaded Water

24

MORE FEATURES When Doing Good is Good Business..................................................................................... 10 Upcoming Event: TNGIC and TNLA Golf Classic................................................................ 12 Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Applications Due by Oct. 7......................................... 33

DEPARTMENTS From the President................................................................................................................... 6 TNLA Sponsors........................................................................................................................ 6 News from TNLA..................................................................................................................... 8 Index of Advertisers.................................................................................................................. 8

ON THE COVER: Near Golden CO, stadium manager Sun Roesslein paints yard line numbers in preparation for a football game. Photo courtesy of Sun Roesslein • ABOVE, LEFT: Tisa Blackhurst, assistant sports turf manager for the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Pelicans minor league baseball team, prepares the pitcher’s mound before a game. Photo by J.C. Blackhurst 4

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Fall 2021

NALP / TECH Technology on Our Side

30

The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee GreenTimes, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2021 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

Tennessee GreenTimes is published quarterly.

Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee GreenTimes allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information.

Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

North Pole Arb

Franklin’s Gem Boxwood

China Girl Holly

Emerald Green Arb

Sullivan Cypress

Winterthur Viburnum

Excelsa Arb

Member of the Boxwood Blight Cleanliness Program with University of Kentucky.

OFFICE PHONE: 606-346-0863 • FAX: 606-346-2139 • MIKE’S CELL: 606-706-1620 EMAIL: brownsnursery@yahoo.com

Green Giant & Nigra Arbs

Sprinter Boxwood

American Boxwood

Gem Box Inkberry

Nova Taxus

Uptight Boxwood

Green Mtn. Boxwood

Green Gem Boxwood

Steeds Holly

Popcorn Viburnum

Chicagoland Green Boxwood

Hicksi Taxus

Firelight Hydrangeas & Sprinter Boxwoods

Densiformis Taxus

Pragense Viburnum

Polar Gold Arb & Sky Pencil Holly

Wintergem Boxwood

MIKE BROWN’S WHOLESALE NURSERY, LLC. • 525 HOLTZCLAW LANE • HUSTONVILLE, KY 40437

From the President Morgan Adcock

It Takes All of Us

If

you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times “it takes all of us.” When I began working and learning in this industry, I was in awe by how many specialized areas there are to grow plants. From the seedling and liner growers, propagators, to container and greenhouse growers, pot in pot operations, ball & burlap growers, landscapers, and everyone in between. We all go hand in hand. We buy and sell from each other, make decisions together, and experience the good and the bad together. It truly is an amazing experience to be able to work in this industry.

TNLA would like to thank the following companies for being

Membership Sponsors GOLD MEMBERSHIP SPONSORS BASF Blankenship Farms and Nursery Bobcat of McMinnville Botanico, Inc. Carpe Diem Farms Flower City Nurseries Living Earth Nashville Nashville Landscape Systems, Inc. Nufarm Americas, Inc. Putnals Premium Pine Straw, Inc. Randall Walker Farms Riverbend Nurseries, LLC Safeguard Nursery Products Scenic Hills Nursery Swafford Nursery, Inc. Tennessee 811 Trivett’s Nursery Turf Mountain Sod Volunteer Turf, LLC Warren County Nursery, Inc. Youngblood Farms

SILVER MEMBERSHIP SPONSORS Bert Driver Nursery BioSafe Systems BWI of Memphis Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. Old Courthouse Nursery Power Equipment Company Samara Farms 6

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

www.tnla.com/events

With that said, I would like to invite all those that have a hand in making this industry go to come out and celebrate our industry TOGETHER! Our summer celebration event takes place Thursday, September 23rd at NYP from 11 am to 9 pm. There will be exhibits, food trucks, live music, and more! Check out the graphic on page 12 for more details. If you are interested in exhibiting, visit our website (www.tnla.com) or give our office a call at 931-473-3951.

We would love to see you there!

Respectfully submitted, Morgan Adcock TNLA President

Please join us for the TNLA Awards and Business Meeting September 23, 2021 at NYP. The awards will begin at 6:30 pm and the business meeting will follow the awards.

The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editors Dr. Bill Klingeman Dr. Amy Fulcher Associate Editors Dr. Nick Gawel Dr. Frank Hale Dr. John Sorochan

“The more than one company agency”

FRED LEE HOOVER

HOOVER & SON INSURANCE “Since 1901”

114 S. COURT SQUARE • P.O. BOX 669 McMINNVILLE, TN 37111 (931) 473-2200 • CELL (931) 212-9856 E-Mail: hooverins@blomand.net • www.hooverins.com

TNLA Officers President Morgan Adcock Scenic Hills Nursery 1st Vice President Michael Gallagher Heather Farms Nursery 2nd Vice President Terri Turner Turner & Son’s Nursery 3rd Vice President Stephaine Bryan Freedom Tree Farms Secretary-Treasurer Cody Walker Walker Nursery Co.

Digital M A R K E T P L A C E Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more.

Associate Director Chris Hackler Drees Plant Wholesalers Ex-Officio Bert Driver Bert Driver Nursery Executive Director Louree Walker

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

7

News from TNLA

Welcome NEW MEMBERS ACTIVE

Moore Farms Joshua Moore 216 Moore Farms Lane McMinnville, TN 37110

ASSOCIATE

Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply Jacob Ray 6226 Barley Square Sugar Hill, GA 30518

Index of Advertisers

Calendar of

EVENTS

Better Bilt Products....................... 34, 35 bbponline.com Brown’s Nursery.......................................5 Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc......... 23 www.camtoocamellia.com Clifford’s Perennial and Vine.............. 11 cliffordsnursery.com Coosa Valley Turf Farms..................... 29 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 Green Industry Celebration NYP Corporation 340 McBrides Lane McMinnville, TN 37110 www.tnla.com/events (you can register and pay online) 931-473-3951

Dave’s Sale and Service...................... 32 www.turfeagle.com Decker’s Nursery, Inc..............................9 www.deckersnursery.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries............ 13 www.fairviewevergreen.com Herd Farms Nursery................................7 www.herdfarmsnursery.com Hidden Valley Nursery, LLC...................7 www.hiddenvalleynursery.com Hills Creek Native Plants.................... 27 www.hillscreek.com Hoover & Son Insurance........................7 www.hooverins.com John Holmlund Nursery....................... 15 www.jhnsy.com Leading Edge Communications......... 27 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com McHutchison, Inc................................... 29 www.mchutchison.com

Freeland Chevy and Ram Brian Drake 5333 Hickory Hollow Blvd.

Antioch, TN 37013

Mid Tenn Turf......................................... 15 www.midtennturf.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 TNLA Golf Classic

Lester, Greene, McCord and Thoma Insurance Agency Noland Gomez 115 W Lauderdale Street Tullahoma, TN 37388

Join online at

TNLA.COM

Neely Coble Co........ Inside Front Cover www.neelycoble.com Odom Nursery........................................ 19 odomnursery.com Pleasant Cove Nursery Inc....................7 www.pleasantcovenursery.com

McMinnville Country Club 616 Country Club Drive McMinnville, TN 37110

Richey Nursery Company, LLC........... 32 www.richeynursery.com

www.tnla.com/events (you can register and pay online)

Surface Nursery Inc.............................. 21 www.surfacenursery.com

931-473-3951

The Turfgrass Group...............................3 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Ditch Witch of Tennessee................... 21 www.ditchwitchtn.com

Tennessee 811....................................... 23 www.tnonecall.com

Tree Equipment Design, Inc............... 32 www.treeequip.com Wellmaster Carts.................. Back Cover www.wellmaster.ca

8

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

NewGen Freedom® Boxwood

NewGen Independence® Boxwood

(Buxus x NewGen Freedom® ‘SB 300’ PP32421)

(Buxus x NewGen Independence® ‘SB108’ PP28888)

NewGen Freedom® is a relatively vigorous, rounded cultivar that is slightly taller than wide. It has beautiful glossy medium green foliage. Its habit is more uniform and tighter than ‘Wintergreen’ or ‘Winter Gem’ thus making it an excellent choice for many formal and residential landscapes. Deer resistant! Fast Growth Rate – 3-6" per year. Substitute for ‘Wintergreen, ‘Green Mountain’.

NewGen Independence® is a very deep green medium sized cultivar that holds excellent color throughout the winter. It has a rounded habit that is nearly as tall as wide. Can be used in formal plantings where a medium sized round plant is desired.

Branching structure is very strong allowing it to withstand most moderate to heavy snow loads. Substitute for ‘Green Velvet’, ‘Green Mound’.

Exposure: Full Sun – Part Shade

Shrub Type: Deciduous

Water: Average

Exposure: Full Sun – Part Shade

Shrub Type: deciduous

Water: Average

Mature Size: 3.5' – 5'

Flower Shade: N\A

Maintenance: Low

Mature Size: 3'

Flower Shade: N\A

Maintenance: Low

Spread: 3.5'

Foliage: Green

Hardiness Zones: 5–8

Spread: 4.5'

Foliage: Green

Hardiness Zones: 5–8

Plant Type: Shrub

Habit: Upright

Uses: Landscape, Focal Point

Plant Type: Shrub

Habit: Rounded

Uses: Landscape, Focal Point

BET TER TOLER ANCE OF BOX WOOD BLIGHT – BET TER RESISTANCE TO BOX WOOD LEAFMINER FINISHED STOCK COMING SOON AND LINERS AVAIL ABLE NOW

NEW WEBSITE, ORDER ONLINE:

www.DeckersNursery.com

Contact: Adam Brown, Sales Manager – sales@deckersnursery.com or (614) 836-2130

Feature

Doing Good IS GOOD BUSINESS

WHEN

By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM

A

lmost every organization is facing unprecedented difficulty in recruiting and hiring employees today. Whether the hesitancy to return to work is due to elevated unemployment benefits, lack of vaccination adoption, inconsistent childcare, or family health concerns, the labor problem remains. Quite simply the standard job offering isn’t sufficient to move the needle anymore. Here’s how to change the outcome and do good in the process.

In an effort to find workers, many entry-level jobs have prominently advertised wages starting at $15/hour. Others have created giant signs touting signing bonuses of $250. Some have proclaimed retirement matching. But none of these are compelling anymore.

What is compelling is creating an opportunity for people to find the skills they need to literally change their lives for the better. People will sign up for an established program of mentorship that will help them achieve their potential and realize their dreams. Jobs that enable people to thrive will always find willing applicants, and it’s possible to implement in any organization.

The clothing retailer Old Navy has made a commitment to hire 20,000 underprivileged youth by 2025, representing a full 5% of all new hires. Their program, called This Way ONward, has been in existence since 2007 and is active in 576 cities across the US. Through the program, Old Navy works with community partners like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide youth with job mentoring opportunities.

Managers interview youth and are directed to “hire for potential, not credential.” What’s more, youth receive post-hire support through coaching from managers, a job coach, and experienced peers.

The results? 10-year alumni of the program have found stable employment 72% of the time compared with 55% of their peers. 68% report a significant increase in self-confidence, enabling success in life. And Old Navy hired more than 2,500 youth last year for jobs that may have otherwise been unfilled. Clearly, doing good for the community is good business.

But can small teams adopt the same approach without huge budgets and years of experience? Absolutely. The first step is to make a commitment to coaching others. Investing an hour per week of time with each person is a prerequisite to successfully mentoring staff. When time and space are given towards coaching conversations without daily work pressures, a real human connection can be established, and people can start to thrive.

What do coaching conversations sound like? I prefer to start with hopes and dreams. What’s your dream job? What do you want your life to look like? What do you want to provide for your family? What do these look like in six months and one year and five years and ten years?

People usually don’t have all the answers upfront and they often change over months and years, but these are the motivations we’ll use to fuel growth.

10

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Next, I try to collaboratively build individualized action steps which consider the person’s unique talents, benefit on-the-job outcomes, and lead toward realization of their goals. For this step I use specialized assessments to provide self-awareness and idea generation. As a result, the coaching is always relevant, well-received, and applicable.

Finally, we shift to driving accountability by setting short-term commitments and ensuring that success is realized. When obstacles arise, I guide mentees through self-reflection to overcome them in the future. This is where skill training tends to enter, either directly or through third-party resources. When priorities change, we rework the process.

It can be an awkward process to start, but as one of my direct reports recently told me, “Our coaching conversations are by far my favorite part of the job.” Every week I’m helping her develop skills and experience.

And doing good to help someone else has become my favorite part of the job.

But, as I said, doing good is good business. Those who I’ve been blessed to coach thrive in life and on the job. Their performance is higher, they contribute more positive energy, and work gets done with less stress. I’ve successfully recruited from partners including colleges, halfway houses, faith-based recovery programs, and job-training organizations. The people who participate are some of the most appreciative employees because they have a chance to significantly improve their lives.

If you’re seeking your next employee, maybe it’s time to rethink the approach. Save the money from the job boards and invest the time to find community organizations like vocational schools, foster care programs, churches, homeless shelters, or after-school youth programs.

If you need help training them, we’d love to partner with you with our industry-specific courses on www.GrowTheBench.com. Commit to doing good for people who want jobs but lack skills and filling positions will no longer be such a challenge. It’s just good business.

Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry.

You can learn more about him and his solutions at www.NealGlatt.com.

Clifford’s

PERENNIAL & VINE

We have a large selection of Daylily, Hosta, Baptisia, Heuchera, Itoh Peony, Natives, and several other great perennials.

ORDER BY JANURARY 2022 and receive a 3% discount.

(931) 364-7071 Email us for our 2022 AVAILABILTY info@cliffordsnursery.com We specialize in Southern Perennials, Hardy Tropicals, and Mixed Containers.

Grown Outdoors in Lewisburg, TN

Upcoming Event

You’re invited to attend the

GREEN INDUSTRY NYP Corporation • 340 McBrides Lane • McMinnville, Tennessee

September 23 THURSDAY • 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

EXHIBITS • FOOD TRUCKS • AWARDS • CASH GIVEAWAYS!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS EXHIBITS OPEN 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

FOOD TRUCKS 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

BAR 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

FOOD TRUCKS 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC* 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

OPENING CEREMONY 6:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY

(Prayer and National Anthem)

AWARDS PROGRAM 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

TNLA BUSINESS MEETING 7:15 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC* 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. *CASH GIVEAWAYS DURING INTERMISSIONS!

12

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Presented By

Established 1905

The finest Taxus and Boxwood in the industry and so much more.

Miss K

im Lila

c

PJ M Elite Rhodo

Annabelle

Spirea To

r

dendron

Green Ge

Hydrangea

m Boxwo

od

See Availability List on our website!

FairviewEvergreen.com 7463 West Ridge Rd. P.O. Box 189 Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com

GREEN INDUSTRY

Upcoming Event Continued

This event is FREE thanks to our SPONSORS! PLATINUM

SILVER

BRONZE

BASF Botanico, Inc. Harrells, LLC Scenic Hills Nursery

Bert Driver Nursery Blankenship Farms & Nursery Boyd & Boyd Nursery Cedarwood Nursery Cherry Springs Nursery Country Folks Grower Freedom Tree Farms Nufarm Americas, Inc. NYP Corporation Panter & Sunderland Nursery ProSolutions Southern Ag Tennessee Valley Tractor Turner & Sons Nursery Warren County Nursery

Albertville Wood Products Circle J Tree Farm Drees Plant Wholesale First National Bank Haviland Plastics Hidden Hollow Nursery Home Nursery, Inc. Homeland Community Bank Landsculptures Peoples Bank & Trust Pirtle Nursery, Inc. Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Swallows Insurance Tri Green Equipment Triple C Nursery Westrock

GOLD Ag Workforce Management Assoc.

BWI Companies Farm Credit Mid-America Riverbend Nurseries, LLC

Don’t forget to register for the

TNLA GOLF CLASSIC SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

McMINNVILLE COUNTRY CLUB

616 Country Club Drive • McMinnville, TN 37110 For more information call the TNLA office 931-473-3951 or visit the TNLA website www.tnla.com/events 14

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

DAILY REGIONAL DELIVERY Tennessee Kentucky

The Southeast’s

800.782.4083 | midtennturf.com

PREFERRED SOURCE for SOD & SERVICE Since 1986

North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Alabama ••• Residential Commercial Golf Athletic Fields

Blue Tag Certified Grasses ••• Over 2,500 Acres in Production

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

15

104

Cover Story

WOMEN in the

GREEN INDUSTRY:

Sports Turf Managers Association

2,496

An Emerging Labor Force

By Devon Carroll, Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science Ph.D. candidate, The University of Tennessee and Dr. Carrie Stephens, Professor of Leadership in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, The University of Tennessee

WOMEN’S WORK A look at most grounds crews at athletic facilities, golf courses, or landscape operations rarely reveals a woman working to maintain green spaces.

Despite women comprising 51% of the U.S. population and 47% of the labor force, women represent far less than half of the labor force in the turfgrass or landscape industries. Given that turfgrass and landscape industries are estimated to support about 1.4 million jobs nationwide, this labor group represents novel employment opportunities.

Although female groundskeepers and landscape professionals have recently gained attention in media, their numbers are few. National turfgrass associations report only 2 to 4% of members who are female (Figure 1). Similarly, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that as of 2019, women comprised only 6.5% of all landscaping and groundskeeping workers.

The low percentage of women working in the turfgrass or landscaping industry classifies such work as a non-traditional job. Non-traditional jobs are classified by the United States Department of Labor as an occupation that is comprised of 25% or less female employment. Other non-traditional labor sectors with similar percentages of female employment to turfgrass and landscaping include welding, construction, plumbing, and electricians (2.2 to 5.3% women). The low engagement of women in the green industry is a problem as labor is of growing concern. In recent years, a decline in the U.S. unemployment rate and immigrant and bluecollar worker availability has affected hiring across many professions. In the past eighteen months, the labor issue has been exacerbated by the compounding effects of COVID-19. As the industry struggles to fill positions, recognizing the under-utilization of women could be a solution. Can increased recruitment of women to the green industry help close the labor gap?

Imagine if the percentage of women working in landscape related professions rose from 6.5% to 10%. Based on current estimations by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, this relatively small increase would result in an additional 50,000 women seeking employment in the green industry. Now imagine if the percentage changed to 20 or 30% women.

16

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

FIGURE 1. Estimated female membership in national turfgrass associations provided through personal communication in February 2020.

1

2

3 IMAGE 1. Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, IN, has found that female high school students like Kaitlyn Dougherty (pictured) are extremely capable grounds crew employees and actively seeks to recruit other women to the team. Photo by Brent Downs • IMAGE 2. Growing up on a farm in Alabama helped prepare Tisa Blackhurst for her current role as assistant sports turf manager for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (S.C.) minor league baseball team. Photo by J.C. Blackhurst • IMAGE 3. Tisa Blackhurst exemplifies women who are vibrant leaders in the turf industry. As assistant sports turf manager for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Tisa prepares the field ahead of a baseball game. Photo by J.C. Blackhurst

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

17

Cover Story Continued In recent years, the green industry has worked to create space for women by developing programs such as the Women in Landscape Network, Ladies Leading Turf sponsored by Syngenta, Women in Golf sponsored by Bayer Environmental Science, and “Women in Turf” events held at industry association meetings. Continuing these efforts and refining recruitment methods to attract women to the industry could ease labor concerns and result in a more diverse workforce. Barriers faced uniquely by women may be limiting the number of women entering and remaining in the industry. In other agricultural fields, research has identified challenges and opportunities for women as a means of increasing their recruitment. This information is of value to the turfgrass and landscape industries as a resource for improving recruitment and retention strategies for women and to ease labor concerns.

FEMALE EXPERIENCES IN TURFGRASS

4 5

Researchers at the University of Tennessee in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications took a scientific approach to determine barriers and opportunities for women in the turfgrass industry by interviewing female leaders to explore their lived experiences. Thirteen female leaders participated in the study and represented diverse backgrounds of 6 to 30+ years of experience working in turfgrass; geographic locations in three countries and comprised of nine U.S. states and three Canadian provinces; and job titles including athletic field manager, assistant athletic field manager, graduate student, golf course superintendent, and assistant golf course superintendent.

Five of the women work in sports turf and eight in golf turf. Female leaders participated in 30-to-90-minute interviews conducted remotely via Zoom. Interviews were semi-structured and posed the central research question, “What lived experiences have shaped your career in the turfgrass industry?” Transcriptions of interviews were used to develop themes intended to encompass the experiences and views of all thirteen participating women. Responses from female leaders established themes of leadership styles, mentorship opportunities, and challenges.

LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, & CHALLENGES

IMAGE 4. A vibrant leader in the turfgrass industry, Leah Withrow works as head groundskeeper for the Reno Aces baseball team and prepares the field before a game. Leah is the only female head groundskeeper in all of Triple-A baseball. Photo courtesy of Leah Withrow • IMAGE 5. Sun Roesslein, stadium manager at the North Area Athletic Complex near Golden, CO, operates a tractor equipped with aeration equipment to maintain surrounding property. Photo courtesy of Sun Roesslein

18

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Despite their diverse backgrounds, women interviewed in this study had similar childhood upbringings and influences on their career choices.

Women described their childhoods as involving time spent outdoors through farming, playing sports, and engaging in other outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, or fishing. These activities were noted to stimulate choices to work in an outdoor, hands-on environment later in life.

Additionally, all of the women placed emphasis on the importance of education in their journeys to leadership. Twelve of the participants hold degrees in turfgrass or closely related fields. These women believed that their education was essential to their ability to garner respect and grow within the industry.

Women also expressed that their leadership styles were key components to successful professional development. The most common self-identified leadership style among participants was open leadership, which empowers employees to find their own way. Open leadership encompasses hands-on leading with an emphasis on communication, relationship building, and teaching. Women engaging in this leadership approach believe that this leadership style provides an opportunity for employees to understand why tasks are completed and permits employees to learn from failure. One participant stated, “[I try to] let everybody see what [the job is] really like, because they’re eventually, hopefully, going to take over my position one day.”

ODOM NURSERY QUALITY. DEPENDABILITY. SERVICE. Odom Nursery is a 1200 acre B&B nursery located in Morrison, Tennessee.

For over 30 years we have been producing quality shade and flowering trees, shrubs and evergreens.

We are presently shipping to garden centers, landscape contractors, Re-wholesalers throughout much of the eastern half of the US.

931-635-3101 • OdomNursery.com 10279 MANCHESTER HWY. • MORRISON, TN. 37357 We strive to raise the bar every day.

Cover Story Continued

6 7

Women using the open leadership style described the importance of working alongside their crews in order to prove themselves and build connections. Participants in this study believed their leadership styles differed from those common to male counterparts primarily due to their focus on communication and the emotional aspects of leadership such as keeping staff happy. Female leaders engaging in open leadership experienced positive responses from employees and felt this leadership style aided in their leadership success.

Interviewed women also commented on the significance of mentorship in their own journeys to leadership, as well as their desire to mentor others: “If you invest in people, they will start to invest in you.” When asked what makes a mentor relationship good, respondents indicated that successful mentorship takes time to foster. One contributor commented, “I think a good mentor is just somebody that’s there to understand you and to make you the best [version of] you, not make you the best [version of] them.” Similarly, another shared, “I think successful mentorship looks like somebody giving somebody else a chance no matter what.” This desire to build relationships aligns with tenets of open leadership common to women in the industry.

Although women in leadership roles in turfgrass were generally positive about their professional experiences, study participants also reflected on challenges that they perceived to be unique to women. Most of the issues described involved sexism, difficulty building a family, and inappropriate peer conduct. Women in the turfgrass industry described their frustration about being mistaken on the job as someone’s significant other or a waitress, instead of being recognized as a turfgrass manager at conferences and at work. “I struggled a lot because I was so tired of being mistaken for somebody’s wife. Being asked whose wife I was or whose fiancée I was, girlfriend I was, was a punch to the gut every single time.

I’m not here with a man. I’m here because I work here,” said one of the women who volunteered for the study. Women also expressed their discomfort in being pursued romantically at conferences, work, and on social media. Many participants felt women had to work harder on the job to prove themselves: “The second golf course superintendent I worked for sat me down one day, and he said, ‘If you want to get into turf, there are some things that I think you need to accept and not necessarily like going into this field. You’re going to have to do it better, be smarter, be more savvy and be thicker-skinned just to get the same respect that the guys get just walking in the door.’” Interviewees were hopeful sharing these experiences would provide comfort to other women in similar situations and bring light to the need for change in the current industry culture.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

IMAGE 6. Near Golden CO, stadium manager Sun Roesslein paints yard line numbers in preparation for a football game. Photo courtesy of Sun Roesslein • IMAGE 7. Cassie Reed is now a turfgrass specialist at The Scotts Co. and participates in a company video shoot in which she discusses shade research she carried out for her master’s degree at Ohio State University. Photo by Matthew Koch

20

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Understanding the journeys to leadership of women currently working in turfgrass can inform recruitment efforts seeking to involve women who may have a predisposition to find work in turfgrass interesting and rewarding. Additionally, open and honest discussion about the challenges faced by women in the turfgrass industry has helped to highlight opportunities for growth and identify the need for industry action toward change. Study participants indicated that females working in turfgrass and the industry itself can take steps to improve the experiences of current and future women workers.

Women can build space for themselves in the industry both personally and professionally. Emphasis was placed on the need for women in turfgrass to build comradery with other women to overcome challenges.

One woman expressed her desire for support: “I need some kind of camaraderie from my fellow females in this industry. Tell me, how do you move on from challenges? They can’t answer that question for me, but it’d be nice to know, ‘Hey, I was there too before. This happened to me, so you’re not alone.’ Just that feeling.”

RJV Kubota Has The Equipment To Power Through Your Spring!

SSV65

R530

• 64 Gross HP† Turbocharged Kubota Diesel Engine • Standard 2-Speed & Suspension Seat

• 64 .4 Gross HP† Kubota Diesel Engine • Articulating and Oscillating Frame

Nashville

140 Charter Place • LaVergne, TN 615-793-7576

Knoxville

3356 Rudy Street • Knoxville, TN 865-970-2840

www.rjvequipment.com

† For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer and the product operator’s manual. Power (HP/KW) and other specifications are based on various standards or recommended practices. KCDA-24-RJV Kubota 2021 Spring Landscaping Mag Kubota-1

DON BROOKSHIRE, Sales Representative donnieb45@gmail.com Cell: 704.533.3442

QUALITY SHADE AND FLOWERING TREES SINCE 1925 Email: trees@surfacenursery.com Visit our website for more information and availability www.surfacenursery.com

33740 SE Lusted Rd. Gresham, OR 97080 800.831.2599 503.663.5224 FAX: 503.907.8099 tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

21

Cover Story Continued Many women noted other women in the industry they met through Women in Turf events serve as their support in tough times: “Right now, because of the women-in-turf events, I’ve had the absolute privilege of meeting a group of amazing women who support each other and are always there to ask questions or bounce ideas off! Between Twitter, texting and WhatsApp, we’ve been able to stay pretty connected!” Similarly, another woman commented, “It’s definitely given us a platform — not saying that we’re special, but sometimes the women just need to talk to other women.” Such relationship-building and networking with other women can foster a stronger community of belonging.

Women were also encouraged to work on maintaining a positive mindset, recognizing and improving strengths and weaknesses, and pursuing opportunities. For example, women can enhance their visibility and leadership skills by serving on local or national association boards.

Additionally, attendance at educational and Women in Turf events can offer women networking, mentorship, and professional development experiences.

Interviewed women described that the industry can support women by continuing to fund these events and through encouraging female counterparts to participate. Study participants described such events as essential to fostering a spirit of community and initiating change.

Women also discussed change can occur if men in the industry provide and increase support through acceptance, mentorship, and advocacy.

Many women relied on male friends and mentors on their journeys to leadership. Women were hopeful more men would fill these roles by speaking out when misconduct is observed, encouraging women to pursue growth, and believing in their abilities.

CHANGING LABOR DYNAMICS

8 9

Results of this study revealed women in turfgrass are successful leaders.

The experiences communicated by interviewed women can be used to shape future female recruitment. Although these findings and recommendations are specific to women working in golf and sports turf, women working across the green industry in roles such as landscaping, sod farming, and nursery production likely face similar challenges and would benefit from changes to workplace dynamics and womencentric recruiting.

While twelve women in this study had turfgrass degrees, ten of the twelve started in careers other than turf. This finding indicates few women are entering the industry immediately after high school.

In order to increase recruitment, women need to be informed of opportunities in the turfgrass industry in middle and early high school to promote turfgrass as an immediate career. Given that all thirteen women in this study described their upbringing as one involving outdoor activities, focusing recruiting efforts on students who play sports or are involved in agriculture will likely yield greater interest in turfgrass.

Increasing female visibility on grounds crews and through social media may also foster interest by showing young females that career opportunities in the green industry are possible and rewarding for women.

IMAGE 8. Graduate student Deniz Subasi is focusing on zoysiagrass breeding for her master’s degree at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey.

Photo courtesy of Deniz Subasi • IMAGE 9. Now a student in biomedical engineering at Purdue University, Kaitlyn Dougherty was one of three high school seniors who proved their capabilities as members of the grounds crew at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind. Photo by Brent Downs 22

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

In order to retain women currently working in turfgrass, the industry should continue to create space for women. Mentorship provided individually or through formal mentoring programs is needed and was found to promote professional development and leadership growth.

The development of mentor programs for high school students may increase interest in green industry jobs for young women while offering a form of personal fulfillment for women already in the industry.

All 13 of the women interviewed for this project were passionate about their profession and enthusiastic about encouraging others to take on the challenge. Some women suggested that newcomers considering a career in turf should “expect the challenges” and “be strong, confident and yourself.” When asked to give a piece of advice to other women already in or contemplating entering the industry, the women echoed sentiments similar to “Just do it.” One woman said, “Any woman entering this industry at this time is going to be a trendsetter, right? You are blazing a trail for young women to follow you.

And part of the challenge of being a trailblazer is that there are uncomfortable situations. And you have to learn how to navigate those with integrity and dignity.” Women interviewed in this study were hopeful sharing their experiences would provide insight on improving recruitment strategies and industry culture for women. Recruiting a diverse work force with more women will likely lead to innovation and may ease employment concerns as the labor force grows.

AUTHOR INFORMATION Devon Carroll (dcarro17@vols.utk.edu;

Twitter @turfgirl24) is a Ph.D. candidate in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science concentrated in turfgrass weed science at the University of Tennessee.

Carrie Stephens, Ph.D. (cfritz@utk.edu;

Twitter @Carebearsvoice) is a Professor of Leadership in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications in the Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee.

Cold Hardy Zone 6 | Cold Tolerant Zone 7 | New Hybrids Zone 8 & 9 Liners and 1, 3, 5, 7 | 15 and 20 Gallons Available | Wholesale Only

(800) 758-8121 | CamTooCamellia.com 805 OAKBURY COURT | GREENSBORO, NC 27455

* This article was modified from stories written by the same authors and previously published in SportsField Management and Golf Course Management. tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

23

Feature

CLEANER WATER

through Site-specific Floating Treatment Wetlands

By Michael Ross, SITES AP, ASLA, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Sciences + School of Landscape Architecture, University of Tennessee and Mia Roark, graduate student, School of Landscape Architecture, University of Tennessee

I

saw its tail move first. The Guadalupe Bass, Micropterus treculii, was hiding under the mass of willow roots rippling in the current.

The undercut bank and riparian vegetation, particularly the exposed willow roots, provided a great ambush spot for Texas’s state fish, which is closely related to the smallmouth bass. The guad, as we lovingly refer to them, is a sucker for crayfish patterns. With my friend on the oars and a moderately accurate cast, scarcely had the fly hit the water and began to sink than the predator rushed out from cover and inhaled it.

Experiences like this one on the San Marcos River in Central Texas shaped my view of urban creeks, streams, and rivers and particularly the biodiversity possible when water and habitat quality are high. These types of habitat conditions have been key to many great fishing experiences as well as being essential to my early development as a budding herpetologist as copious numbers of turtles, salamanders, and snakes can be found in root curtains and shady bank overhangs.

As I have moved around the country and traveled, I have seen the impact of urbanization on watersheds and waterways. Water quality issues and lack of good habitat have impacted streams, creeks, and rivers globally and it is particularly impactful in our state as Tennessee is known for the diversity of its aquatic organisms. But there is hope.

Floating Treatment Wetlands: An Opportunity for Cleaner Water Maintaining effective interplay of aesthetics and function is one of the on-going balancing acts of contemporary landscape design, especially design based on ecological principles. Traditional approaches to landscape design often have embraced a Eurocentric approach to aesthetics that largely ignores ecological assemblages, species interactions, and habitat complexity. Given the environmental challenges facing our communities, the landscape industries are uniquely positioned to intercede.

24

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

One of the issues that arises with ever greater frequency is water quality. As our land development patterns continue to sprawl, impervious surfaces increase, as does the associated runoff pollution, volume, and velocity. As private land owners, municipalities, communities, and commercial entities begin to see their role in mitigating these by-products of growth, new tools that allow for tailored site-specific approaches gain in popularity. One such approach is the application of floating treatment wetlands (FTWs). These floating islands utilize regenerative systems inherent in plant growth to mitigate pollutants in the water, provide biodiversity and habitat, as well as aesthetic opportunities with seasonal flowering times and colors.

How FTWs work Floating treatment wetlands work by floating at or slightly above the surface of the water. Plants that have evolved to grow in saturated, moist, or emergent conditions are placed in planting pockets with a small amount of soil (Image 1). These planting pockets or moisture levels can be tailored to meet the design goals based on what conditions the individual plants prefer. In time the plants send roots out through the island and into the water. These roots represent the primary mechanism for phytoremediation. The roots pull in water, extract excess nutrients, and develop biofilm. These mechanisms are particularly useful in conditions where excess nutrients or suspended solids might be problematic. They also provide excellent habitat for fish, amphibians, and invertebrates that help fuel a larger food web. In effect, the roots act much like the bank overhang with the root curtain I described above. The shade and accompanying cooler temperatures, lower light intensities, cover, food, and cleaner, less turbid water provide meaningful benefits to highly impacted urban streams. These are all positives from the perspective of aquatic organisms as well as those critters that feed on them.

1 IMAGE 1: Installed commercially available floating wetland cell

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

25

Feature Continued

2 IMAGE 2: Students harvest bamboo for the raft construction project.

Experiential Learning Part I: Teaching with the FTW Application The added benefits of habitat creation and aesthetics are key components to well-designed green infrastructure and as part of the green infrastructure class I teach at the University of Tennessee. I have worked with students from Plant Sciences, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Sciences to design and build FTWs utilizing cut shoots of manually harvested invasive bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea, as the structure and native wetland and emergent plants as our phytoremediating component (Image 2). Additionally, students are given the opportunity to plant and launch commercially-available units, much as they would spec as a landscape architect, designer, consultant or contractor.

Currently we are utilizing these islands as a way to address issues of water quality, habitat, and aesthetics in Knoxville’s Third Creek. Our project is part of a larger effort to improve the greenway and is based in the University’s shared concern for the waterway and its impact on the larger watershed, the Tennessee River, and the citizens of the state.

Experiential Learning Part II: A Student’s Point of View The impact of this project extends well beyond the waterways and has directly impacted the students who are contributing to our team’s effort.

Mia Roark was invited to share her perspectives and insights on the experiential learning that she gained. As she explains:

26

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

“With a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and an aspiring Master’s in Landscape Architecture, I have spent most of my academic career learning about environmental challenges facing our society. Personally, I have a specific interest in urban development and the implications it has on the natural environment and its processes. As population numbers rise and cities continue to expand, the rapid urbanization of areas has led to various anthropogenic complications, both ecologically and economically. However, as cities continue to develop, design also continues to evolve. Now professionals are generating more sustainable, innovative solutions to mitigate these anthropogenic complications that arise from development.

To further explore these solutions, I took Professor Mike Ross’s Green Infrastructure Theory course at the University of Tennessee in spring of 2021. Professor Ross has designed this course as an exploration of the history, theory, construction, and maintenance of sustainable design as a cost-effective, innovative solution to a myriad of ecological concerns. One of the major components of our course was the design, creation, and implementation of a floating treatment wetland (FTWs) for Third Creek.

Third Creek, which runs through the University of Tennessee’s campus, is heavily impacted by urban stormwater runoff from rooftops and pavement in the surrounding areas. Ultimately, this runoff has led to the pollution of the creek and degradation of the surrounding habitat.

To help mitigate these concerns, Professor Ross tasked us with designing our own floating wetland treatment. FTWs act as engineered rafts that support native wetland vegetation, which provide habitat and attenuate pollutants from the water.

Hills Creek Native Plants

Growers of a complete line of native lining out stock, ornamentals, vines, wildflowers and ferns.

8 26 Hi l l s C re ek Ro a d Mc Minnv i l l e, TN 3 7 1 1 0

Jeff Panter

Austin Panter

(931) 224-7719

(931) 619-1449

Brently Panter (931) 224-0955

hillscreeknativeplants@gmail.com

TheTurfZone.com is the central hub for turfgrass research and information from multiple state turf associations.

DOZENS

of Upcoming Turfgrass Events 274 Podcasts and Many More to Come!

33,000+

Annual Digital Impressions

122 ISSUES of Turfgrass Magazines

Learn how your company can sponsor or advertise!

TheTurfZone.com /advertising-inquiry 888–707-7141 facebook.com/theturfzone

twitter.com/theturfzone

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

27

Feature Continued

3

4

IMAGE 3: Students launch their bamboo raft constructed wetland cell • IMAGE 4: The bamboo wetland cell is transplanted and made ready for launch

In small groups, we were instructed to design and build our own FTW from bamboo, cultivated from an invasive patch on campus, and any other biodegradable materials of our choosing. The design inspiration for my group’s floating wetland came from the traditional art of creating bamboo furniture. We adopted the strategy from Taiwanese artists to make small triangular cuts in a singular piece of bamboo to create a bend.

This technique is not only visually interesting; but also creates a stronger corner in comparison to connecting two separate bamboo pieces. We then used deck screws to attach two bent pieces to the opposite sides of a rectangular box made from four pieces of bamboo drilled together to form a hexagon shape. This shape was chosen so that in the event we created more wetlands, we could form a honeycomb pattern by connecting

28

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

them together. Once our shape was finalized, we assembled two additional identical hexagons and attached them on top of one another for buoyancy.

Prior to finalizing this model, we did a floatation test to insure our FTW would indeed float (Image 3). While our design was successful, we were apprehensive whether the structure could support additional weight.

Therefore, to increase buoyancy we decided to add two side palettes of dry bamboo to the bottom of our wetland, similar to the structure of pontoon boats. Then, we latched each corner so that two pieces of bamboo meet with a waxed string for added support. Finally, we finished our FTW by creating a base for the soil and plants by adding split pieces of bamboo and coconut coir fiber to the top layer.

GROWERS OF QUALITY TURF SINCE 1987

The process of designing, creating, and implementing a floating treatment wetland in an environment that we were familiar with was an invigorating, eye-opening experience (Image 4).

We were able to observe the concerns surrounding Third Creek and integrate a solution of our own design from start to finish. Personally, I too often succumb to the notion that change must happen at a large scale. However, this opportunity taught me that it is possible to enact change in only two months. Though our design had its flaws, it was still successful in supporting native vegetation and providing habitat, which was the prevailing priority.

After completing the Green Infrastructure Theory course in May of 2021, I began an internship with Professor Ross working on the enhancement of Third Creek and the greenway that runs alongside it. Largely, we are focused on the restoration of the riparian buffer surrounding the creek, the improvement of the quality of water, and the enhancement of the greenway users experience. The integration of more floating treatment wetlands, both commercial and student designed, will offer a unique, cost effective solution to the restoration of the degraded habit and water quality of Third Creek.”

The Long-Term View Stream restoration is very important, but can often be a long and costly process. The benefits of green infrastructure can help offset costs and lessen the cumulative impacts of urbanization.

FTWs are not a panacea for poor ecological design and management, nor will they make up for all of the lost riparian and aquatic habitat we have experienced in Tennessee. These structures can certainly help us gain lost ground, however.

FTWs will play a role as an inexpensive solution available to private landowners, golf courses, lake side residential communities and urban parks and greenways. Through the efforts of University of Tennessee students and faculty, we are learning how to apply this agency across scales with multiple benefits in mind. In the long-term we are creating informed future professionals, clients, and constituencies that care about watersheds and swimmable, fishable urban waterways.

Growers, consultants, contractors, and designers can all make a positive difference in the aesthetics and biodiversity of our urban waterways.

For more information about this project or to learn about other opportunities in Sustainable Landscape Design, or would like to know more about the University of Tennessee’s Masters in Landscape Architecture degree program, contact Michael Ross at mross28@utk.edu or (865) 974-1606.

COOSA VALLEY TURF FARMS LLC MEMBER OF

CENTIPEDE TIFWAY 419 FESCUE www.CoosaValleyTurfFarms.com (256) 927-4228 • (256) 927-4758 FAX • cvtf@tds.net 900 County Road 492 • Centre, AL 35960

Don Blocker

Sales Representative Louisville, KY C: 502-681-8073 F: 866-521-8353

New Basewell Rooted Cutting Technology

dblocker@mchutchison.com mchutchison.com

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

29

NALP / Tech

TECHNOLOGY ON OUR SIDE

By Lindsay Getz

This article was originally published in the July/August issue of The Landscape Professional magazine.

T

echnology continues to change how we live — and how we do business. For the lawn and landscaping industry, keeping up with technology has been a way to better serve clients while also streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency. Along with that, the companies keeping up with the latest technology are also finding ways to make work life easier on their team members. Various tools simplify their daily tasks while also improving communication and engagement. This is important considering many younger generations who are looking for work specifically seek out companies that are techsavvy. Adopting new technology can be a way to differentiate yourself from companies that are remaining stagnant.

With a number of green industry companies already utilizing technology in exciting ways, we want to showcase how they’ve adopted various tools to enhance their business.

The Robots Are Here Robotics is one way that the green industry is being revolutionized.

Blanchford Landscape Group in Bozeman, Montana, has been piloting a few robotic mowers which will “live” at some of their residential clients’ homes. Company owner Andy Blanchford, LIC, says that certain clients are ideal candidates for a robotic mower service including those with difficult-to-access homes, those who value their privacy, and those who are highly eco-conscious. Instead of sending a truck and trailer out weekly, the robotic mower will come out and cut grass daily — which is also better for the grass.

Blanchford says that there’s also a “cool factor” that appeals to a lot of clients.

“We have a lot of clients who hire us because they know we’re keeping up with ‘what’s new,’ and they value that,” Blanchford explains.

“Many of them are tech-savvy themselves and would be some of the first to test out a new gadget on the market. They like the idea of having a robotic mower handle their mowing services.”

Blanchford says that they’re offering clients the opportunity to buy or lease a robotic mower from them. Those who want total access to the mower would choose to buy it. But Blanchford says the majority of clients will likely lease a mower, making it totally hassle-free.

“If clients lease from us, then we’ll handle all the servicing of the mower, including cleaning and blade care,” Blanchford explains. “Most of our clients are interested in being hands-off and letting us handle all of the details.”

30

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Of course, robotic mowers can also work in the commercial landscaping market. Joseph Barnes, marketing director for Yellowstone Landscape, a national company headquartered in Bunnell, Florida, says that they’re in the process of testing various models. They’re currently working with several different manufacturers and are at different stages of testing each to determine how they can best serve their clients.

“We’re looking at a near future where we can go from a four-man to a three-man crew with an autonomous mower handling the large open spaces at some of our commercial properties,” Barnes explains. “That frees up the crew to focus their efforts on other details of the property.”

Barnes adds that it’s important to put things into perspective for clients. When robotics is brought up, it may conjure images of a “Jetsons type robotics crew handling all aspects of the landscaping,” he says. But we’re years, if not decades, away from anything like that.

Instead, Barnes says that with robotic mowers handling large open spaces that were previously tying up a lot of time, the team can focus on detail work — producing even better results for the clients at a more efficient pace.

Using Technology to Streamline Operations There are also various ways that many lawn and landscaping companies are using technology to streamline business operations. This includes software, mobile apps, and even top-of-the-line office equipment.

Kelly Ogden, vice president of sales and customer service for Michael Hatcher & Associates, Inc., in Olive Branch, Mississippi, says that they’ve been using SiteRecon to automate property measurements. It’s significantly streamlined that process for them.

“You input the address, select the features to measure, and send it to SiteRecon and they send back a detailed report, including how much mulch to put down,” Ogden explains. “It’s eliminated several hours on properties for us. We’ll still go out to put eyes on things like slope and drainage issues but getting those measurements and recommendations have been a huge time saver.”

1

2

Photo: Oasis Turf & Tree Photo: Yellowstone Landscape

Ogden says that on their irrigation side, they’re also having a lot of success with Tapigo, a mobile/cloud solution that uses built-in GPS to allow technicians to identify and locate all irrigation assets on a property.

They create a report and drop pins for all irrigation components — then that data lives within the system to increase efficiency later on.

“If we have a tech go out that’s new to that property, all they have to do is pull up the information instead of wasting time having to find everything,” Ogden explains. “It keeps us moving.”

In Loveland, Ohio, Oasis Turf & Tree is also using technology to streamline operations for everyone from the field staff to those in the office.

In the field, owner Rob Reindl, LIC, says the company has been in the process of converting the fleet from gasoline to electric — including their Z-Sprayer equipment. It’s all part of the company’s effort to convert their operations to net-zero emissions while also operating as efficiently as possible.

The company has also been recognized for its fleet of fully customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans which have every possible bell and whistle (photo 1) including product tanks designed in-house to slide in and out for easy repairs and cleaning. The vans also have a spring-assisted manual ramp so that technicians can load equipment. They use the side door to load fertilizer bags onto the top of their tank frames with a forklift — instead of having to haul them on their own.

“We’re interested in any way that technology can make our crews’ lives easier and make their workday more efficient,” Reindl says.

On the office side, this includes a predictive dialer system that saves the sales team time in hand dialing and maximizes the number of people they can reach in a day. In the office, they’ve also invested in state-ofthe-art, 34-inch flat-screen computers and wireless headsets with a 300foot range for all office staff.

Oasis also has digital media boards in their brand-new state-of-the-art facility, which are used for various real-time communication. This will include where technicians are out in the field and also positive comments from customers as they come in. The new building was also designed to be energy efficient. It uses geothermal energy as well as solar panels on the roof.

At Neave Group Outdoor Solutions, headquartered in Wappingers Falls, New York, CEO Scott Neave, ASLA, PLA, says that technology allows for “communication, accountability, and a firm grasp of what’s going on in the business.”

He uses everything from Go iLawn for property measurements to Basecamp for project management to HubSpot for marketing — and Aspire as an internal software system to manage the business. Neave says the company had also adopted Microsoft Teams prior to the pandemic, which made it easy to adapt as many things changed.

“Our office staff was already set up remotely, so the pandemic wasn’t a learning curve for us in that sense,” he says. “I think for our industry, which is on-the-go, using technology to be able to stay in touch and check in makes a lot of sense.”

Yellowstone’s Barnes says that Aspire software is helping give the company a real-time look at business operations and performance.

“The ability to know on a daily basis exactly where you’re at with labor hours is critical when it comes to the bottom line,” he says. “We also use Aspire’s GPS integration in our fleet vehicles for easy routing.

But it’s also been great to give our customers more precise information — such as how long they’ve been on-site or when they’re going to be out. It’s been exciting to have that kind of visibility with 4,000 employees.”

For customers, Barnes says this is becoming the expectation.

“If Domino’s can tell you exactly how far along your pizza is in their order process — or when it’s on route to your house, then we want to be able to do that too,” Barnes says. “Technology is only going to continue to enhance expectations and we are committed to keeping up.”

Connecting with Clients Technology can also help provide customers with the best possible experience. For Oasis Turf & Tree, this has included the use of Captivated, a system that allows the team to communicate via text with clients directly from the computer (photo 2).

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

31

NALP / Tech Continued “We text our customers to let them know when we’re coming out for service, but it also gives them the opportunity to text us if they have pictures of things that they’re seeing in the yard,” explains Adam Zellner, vice president of sales for Oasis. “This improves the overall customer experience as they’re able to get a quick response to their questions.”

Reindl says it’s all about making the “customer experience as smooth and easy as possible.” He says that technology can be an excellent way to help clients feel that they have easy and frequent access to the company.

Neave is also using technology to better connect with clients and even enhance the overall sales process from selling a prospective job all the way through completing it. A huge piece of that has been the use of 3D design renderings to show clients what their finished project will look like. Neave says this has been instrumental in sales and they use it for large outdoor living spaces and pool projects.

“Most people just can’t visualize the finished space in 2D,” he says.

“In our region, almost all properties are hilly and seeing elevation changes in 2D is really difficult to visualize if you aren’t used to reading drawings.

In that way, 3D has been a game-changer for us.”

Neave says that the company also offers virtual reality (VR) technology to actually walk clients through a design. VR can use computergenerated simulation to bring a 3D rendering to life and allow the client

RED BOSS SPADES* TREE BOSS

info@redbosstreespades.com

TREE PLANTERS * TREE TIERS

www.redbosstreespades.com

to “walk around” their space while wearing a headset. While the company has access to this technology and has used it in the past, the fact that it frequently makes clients somewhat nauseated by moving around in the interactive environment has kept them from using it more frequently.

“I’m among those who get a ‘sea-sick type of feeling’ from using VR, so we don’t utilize it too often,” Neave says. “The 3D renderings are usually enough to give that wow factor and a better understanding of what the finished project will look like.”

Technology and Our Future There’s no question that as we move forward, technology will only continue to evolve — and there will be even more opportunities to jump on board. These tools are becoming increasingly innovative, making them easier to incorporate with less of a learning curve. While change always has the potential to be intimidating, it’s also important that as an industry, we continue to evolve and remain relevant. As we move full speed into the future, it’s safe to say that introducing new technology will become increasingly expected by customers and team members alike.

Get John Bean pumps, Durand Wayland & Rears Mfg. sprayers, Hannay reels and more to do any job.

Proudly made in USA #570-386-3515

ORDER TODAY F R O M

DAVE’S SALES & SERVICE 2401 W Matthews Ave, Jonesboro, AR 72401

870-931-1900 TURFEAGLE.COM 32

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

Feature

Tennessee AGRICULTURAL ENHANCEMENT APPLICATIONS DUE by OCTOBER 7, 2021

A

key priority for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is to increase profitability and viability of farms, forests, and agribusinesses which are vital to the state’s rural and overall economy. One of the most prominent programs that provides assistance to farms and horticultural businesses is the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP).

TAEP was established in 2005 to provide cost share dollars to agricultural producers for the purpose of making long-term investments in Tennessee farms and communities. Participation allows producers to maximize farm profits, adapt to changing market situations, improve operation safety, increase farm efficiency, and make a positive economic impact in their communities.

“Each TAEP dollar generates $6.09 in local economies, and we encourage our horticultural businesses to take advantage of this opportunity,” Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “Any horticultural business interested in learning more about TAEP should reach out to our Business Development Division.”

Horticultural producers can receive TAEP assistance through the Producer Diversification program, which works to encourage agricultural producers to expand or improve their working farm or existing operation through the production of diversified agricultural products.

For tree farms, nurseries, or plant farms that produce the majority of their plants from seed or cutting to finished product, projects must encompass quality expansion or improvement of the applicant’s farm and business. Cold storage, container production areas, greenhouses, loading areas, packing facilities, propagation buildings, and specialty equipment are examples of eligible items.

Priority is given to projects that focus on long-term use and on improving or increasing current farm operation production. To ensure long-term investments, items requested must be able to meet the fiveyear verification period to be considered for cost share.

“We’ve seen the impact that TAEP has had on our agriculture industry since 2005, and we’re proud to continue offering this form of assistance,” Assistant Commissioner for Business Development Keith Harrison said.

“We want the horticultural industry to remain strong in Tennessee for many years, and TAEP can help in accomplishing that goal.”

Previous applicants should be aware there are potential changes to the program this year. First, the department is considering an increase to the reimbursement maximum for Producer Diversification. Additionally, the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for producers must be less than (or equal to) $900,000 in the tax year 2019 or 2020 to be eligible.

We encourage anyone interested in long-term investments to apply during the 2021 application period Oct. 1, 2021. Application materials are available at www.tn.gov/taep. Program purchases can be made starting Oct. 1, 2021. Approval notifications are scheduled to be mailed mid-December.

Through TAEP, direct consulting, and more, the Business Development Division works with Tennessee producers and agribusinesses to build rural economies and increase farm income. Visit www.tn.gov/ agbusinessdevelopment to find additional resources and learn more.

tennessee greentimes FALL 2021

33

Earth Anchor Tree Kits

• Heavy holding capacity • Avaiable in bulk packs and bagged tree kits

protective tubing tree collars

Drive anchor into the ground at a 45° angle (approx. 24 to 30 inches)

Easy Anchoring: • Helical flights cut through the soil 3” or 4” for every 360° rotation • Solid steel shaft with chiseled lead edge and welded closed eye

• High holding capacity: up to 3500 lbs • Easy to remove and reuse • No power tools needed to install

Anchor is "set" when it is perpendicular to the securing cable.

Turnbuckles for easy adjustment

Helical Auger Anchors *3 models available: 15” to 30”

Tree Ball/ Rock Carts

Engineered for maximum strength and durability.

Brute 65

Brute 100

• 1200 lb. capacity • Cart size 34”x61” easily fits through gates • Up to 65 gal containers/32” ball

• • • •

1600 lb. capacity Cart sizes 45”x61” Up to 100 gal containers/44” ball Multi use: boulders, bags, timbers

Diablo B&B Tree Ball/ Container Cart • • • •

1200 lb. capacity Cart size 34” x 61” easily fits through gates Up to 32” ball, 23” depth on lip Tow/lifting loop

Better people. Better quality. Better Bilt.

www.BBPonline.com Serving the Needs of Nurseries, Landscapers, Arborists, and Garden Centers Since 1946

888-642-9914

BETTER BILT PRODUCTS ARE PROUDLY MADE IN THE U.S.A.

1494 Bell Mill Road, P.O. Box 456, Tillsonburg, ON, Canada, N4G 4J1 P.O. Box 2663, Buffalo, NY, USA, 14240-2663 Phone: 519.688.0500 • Toll Free: 800.387.9355 Fax: 519.688.0563 • Online: wellmaster.ca/tgt/

Introducing Wellmaster’s Hand Sanitizer Pump.

Visit wellmaster.ca/tgt/ for our demonstration video!

4 Wheel Steering Nursery Wagons (Standard and Custom Sizes Available) • For transporting a wide variety of products from the field to the nursery, greenhouse or garden center.

To start shopping visit wellmaster.ca/tgt/

44” x 46” Nursery Cart

43” x 48” Folding Cart

• For shipping a wide variety of products including pots, perennials, and hanging baskets.

• For shipping a wide variety of products including pots, perennials, and hanging baskets.