The Scoop Online – August 2013

Pinterest Houzz Word on the Street

Volume 36 No. 8 Aug 2013

Green Industry Benchmark Report

Also Inside

New MNLA Awards Programs

t h e o f f i c i a l p u b l i c at i o n o f t h e M I n n e s o ta N u r s e r y & L a n d s c a p e A s s o c i at i o n

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WALSER CHEVROLET

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*Customer must be a member of Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and Members agree to purchase a minimum of 15 units in each model year, and title, license, register and retain all vehicles for a minimum of 6 months. This private offer is not compatible with any additional retail or dealer incentives/ rebates (i.e. business choice, dealer cash, pull boards, etc.). For the program details, restrictions and list of eligible 2013 GM cars and light duty trucks, please see the dealer.

Volume 36 No. 8 Aug 2013

contents 20

43

57 HIGHLIGHTS

20 Pinterest Part III Pinterest shoppers spend an average of $168 per order. Facebook shoppers? $94 per order. 

25 Are You Missing Potential Customers?

Houzz.com and other social media sites offer marketing opportunities you can’t ignore. 

34 Is Your Lawn Ready for Winter?

Cooler weather is on its way, and these best practices will ensure your turf emerges in 2014 in top shape.  

43 Sautéing for Success On-the-money tips for selling to consumers from the trenches of demonstration cooking.  

52 Green Industry Benchmark Report Five key findings from a fascinating survey. 

57 New MNLA Awards Programs

48 IN THIS ISSUE 9 Events 10 From the Executive Director Top ten questions from members.

17 PPS Task Team Final Report 18 Alert: Nursery Stock Infestion MDA inspectors discover Ditylenchus dipasci.

41 Stormwater Management Impact Are you aware of the business opportunities available?

48 MNLA Foundation Outreach Why don’t more people know if they have a tree in their front yard?

51 Relief from Broad Form Indemnification Subcontractors, take note!

59 New Majors at the U of M Plant Science and Food Systems.

61 Networking News

Inspiration, education, and participation are the goals for these new member-only offerings.   Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design  Garden Services & Landscape Management  Garden Centers  Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse  Irrigation & Water Management  Arborists & Tree Services  All

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Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association 1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.TheLandLovers.org www.NorthernGreenExpo.org

MNLA Mission: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

debbie lonnee, mnla-cp, president

Bailey Nurseries, Inc. 651-768-3375 • debbie.lonnee@baileynursery.com

heidi heiland, mnla-cp, vice-president Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens 612-366-7766 • heidi@BloomOnMN.com

herman roerick, secretary-treasurer

Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601 • hermanr@centrallandscape.com

bert swanson, mnla-cp, past president Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. 218-732-3579 • btswanson2@gmail.com

randy berg, mnla-cp

A Top Notch Equipment ................................................................................... 40 Astleford Equipment Co. .................................................................................. 39 Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes ................................................. 11 Beberg Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 56 BFG Supply ................................................................................................ 14–15 Borgert Products, Inc. ....................................................................................... 31 Bridgewater Tree Farms ................................................................................... 30 Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus ..................................................... 29 Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 40 Cushman Motor Co. Inc ................................................................................... 42 D. Hill Nursery Co. ............................................................................................ 58 Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 42 Evergreen Nursery Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 58 Frontier Ag & Turf ............................................................................................. 27 Fury Motors, Inc. ............................................................................................... 13 Gardenworld Inc. .............................................................................................. 22 GM Fleet and Commercial ................................................................................. 3 Gopher State One-Call ..................................................................................... 29

Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • rberg@smig.net

Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc. ................................................... 13

scott frampton

Haag Companies, Inc. ........................................................................................ 7

Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com

tim malooly, cid, clia, cic

Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com

mike mcnamara

Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com

Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies ........................................................ 12 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 32–33 Johnson’s Nursery, Inc. ..................................................................................... 40 Klaus Nurseries ................................................................................................. 58 Kubota Dealers ................................................................................................. 16

bill mielke

Landscape Alternatives ...................................................................................... 8

cassie larson, cae

Northern Family Farms ...................................................................................... 8

Waconia Tree Farms LLC 612-237-1728 • billmielke@waconiatreefarms.com

McKay Nurseries, Inc. ....................................................................................... 29

MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz

Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 27

Staff Directory

RDO Equipment Co. ........................................................................................ 30

Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz

Rock Hard Landscape Supply division of Brian’s Lawn & Landscaping, Inc. .... 27

membership director & trade show manager:

TerraDek Lighting, Inc. ..................................................................................... 22

executive director:

Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz communications director: Jon Horsman • jon@mnla.biz executive assistant: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz receptionist: Jessica Pratt • jessica@mnla.biz accountant: Norman Liston • norman@mnla.biz

mnla foundation program director:

Plaisted Companies .......................................................................................... 47

Titan Machinery ................................................................................................. 2 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. .................................................................................... 4, 24 Truck Utilities & Mfg. Co. .................................................................................. 29 University of Minnesota Continuing Education ................................................ 38

Jodi Larson • jodi@mnla.biz

Wheeler Landscape Supply .............................................................................. 31

advertising sales:

Ziegler CAT ................................................................................................... OBC

government affairs consultants:

All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2013, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA. The Scoop is published 12 times per year by MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville MN 55113.

Address corrections should be sent to the above address.

Pierre Productions & Promotions • 763-295-5420 Betsy Pierre, Advertising Manager • betsy@pierreproductions.com Doug Carnival, Legislative Affairs Tim Power, Interim Government Affairs Director

6

ad list

Volume 36 No. 8 Aug 2013

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mnla .biz

august 13

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– i t p i o i W a p o

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www.MNLA.biz | ocTober 2012

➾ calendar

2013 MNLA seminars generously supported by John Deere Landscapes

aug14 The Tessman Company Greenhouse Buying Expo The Prom Center, Oakdale 651-487-3850 Your “Hometown Team” is ready to help with all your Greenhouse, Nursery, Garden Center and Landscaping needs!

➾

aug15 Carlin Buyerfest St. Paul www.carlinsales.com 855-487-8108 Customers have plenty of opportunities to visit with vendors, ask questions and learn about new product offerings.

Mayo Civic Center, Rochester www.fostersinc.com ALL NEW Show in a familiar location: More Halls! Bigger Booths!

New Format! Everything you love about Spring Market: Hottest new merchandise! Great Values! POWER Buying!

➾

2013 International Low Impact Development Symposium Saint Paul River Centre www.cce.umn.edu 612-624-3708 The LID Symposium will bring together over 1,000 professionals to share their research, implementation, policy, financing, and education strategies to build and restore cities while protecting our environment.

SEPT5–6 Foster’s Spring Market 2014

aug 27–28

aug 18–21

➾

MNLA Shootout South St. Paul Rod & Gun Club mnlafoundation.com 651-633-4987 Don‘t miss this annual sporting clays charity event that raises money for scholarships! This course runs at a beginner’s level — the focus is on fun. Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Scholarship Fund.

All information on these and other industry events are online at MNLA.biz.

Minneapolis Convention Center. Contact your BFG Sales Representative to register or call 800-883-0234 Come see top manufacturers for the nursery, greenhouse and lawn & garden industry!

Also: educational seminars on industry related topics to keep you informed and educated. Featured speakers include Charlie Hall, Ann Chase and many more.

NOV22

MNLA Event

SEPT18

BFG Grower and Garden Center Expo

➾

Pesticide Recertification TIES Conference Center, St. Paul MNLA.biz This workshop meets MDA’s pesticide applicator recertification requirements for Categories A (Core) and E (Turf & Ornamentals).

Key:

Event Education

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➾ from the executive director

Top 10 Questions We Get from MNLA Members Volunteer leaders tell us that one of the most valuable assets available to MNLA members is the ability to utilize the MNLA staff as a resource. We strive for members to see us as an extension of their business. As staff, we take customer service very seriously, and hope that if there is a question you are struggling with, you will take the opportunity to pick up the phone or send a quick e-mail. We are here to help! as one of my favorite grade school teachers always need to call their office to schedule a time for the used to say, “if one person has the question so does employee to take the exam. The direct number to MNLA Executive Director someone else, so don’t be afraid to ask.” Wondering what the pesticide licensing division is 651-201-6615. sort of questions your fellow members ask? Below I have #8 Q: How much does it cost to post a position on compiled a top 10 list of some of the most frequently your job board? Can anyone use it? asked questions we get from members. I’m guessing one A: Our online job board is available (for members or two of them might be of interest to you as well… only) to post open positions and costs $35 for a #10 Q: Does MNLA have a Wage and Benefits Survey 60 day posting. You simply need to login on the that I can use as a benchmarking tool for my MNLA website and click on “My Job Listings” employees? in the left side menu. It will then walk you through A: Unfortunately, we no longer survey our members the process. As always if you have any difficulties directly for this information as we have struggled along the way, give us a call. to get enough participation to create a statistically #7 Q: Does MNLA still provide a plastic pot recycling valid report. However, we have compiled a wage program? report analysis based on state SIC codes related A: MNLA will always encourage responsible to the green industry. The information is FREE stewardship of the plastic used in our industry. for members, can be accessed on our website in However, MNLA’s involvement in coordination the Members Only section, and provides similar of a recycling program has come to an end in information to a wage survey. accordance with the sun-setting of all our public #9 Q: I just hired a new employee and they need to relations programs as directed by our recent get a pesticide applicator’s license. How do I strategic plan. However, we have a listing on our get them licensed? website of contact information for some companies A: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) that may be a good option for your recycling is the state agency responsible for pesticide needs. Search for “recycling” on MNLA.biz. applicator licensing. In order to obtain a license #6 Q: How can I get more copies of the Scoop so for the first time, an individual must sit for I can share them with my employees? and pass an examination. There are multiple A: We now provide an online version of the Scoop that categories of pesticide licensure but the mostly can be easily distributed to your employees. Provide commonly held categories in the green industry us with their e-mail address and we’ll add them to are category A (core) and category E (turf and the monthly distribution list — absolutely free! ornamentals). MDA offers these exams almost any day of the week by appointment. You simply continued on page 12 Cassie Larson

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WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES

➾ from the executive director

#5 Q: Can I register someone for a program and who in my company gets the member rate?

®

A: If you are a business member, everyone in your company from CEO to crew or cashier gets the MNLA member rate when registering for a program. We are happy to take your registration over the phone if that is the most convenient for you (for everything except the Northern Green Expo).

Or you can register online for most any program that we offer!

Remember to log on first so you receive the member discount.

#4 Q: Where can I find a document or certain information on the MNLA website?

A: 1) Choose the industry segment on the home page that is most relevant to your question. Information is organized in segments to make it easy for you to find. 2) Use the search feature — it’s powered by Google and will provide you with all the MNLA.biz pages relevant to your search.

#3 Q: I have a specific plant disease or turf problem. Can you direct me to someone who can help with my questions?

A: Yes! We often refer members to other members with expertise in a specific area and/or the extension agents listed below as well as others from the University of Minnesota: John Erwin, Floriculture and Greenhouse Specialist 612-624-9703 or erwin001@tc.umn.edu Jeff Gillman, Nursery Management Specialist

612-624-7432 or gillm003@umn.edu Sam Bauer, Turf Management Specialist

763-767-3836 or sjbauer@umn.edu Plant Disease Clinic – 612-625-1275 or www.pdc.umn.edu

#2 Q: I’m heading to the dealer to purchase a vehicle. Can you tell me about the MNLA discounts available from Chrysler/ Dodge or GM?

A: MNLA does have a money-saving partnership with GM that will save members thousands of dollars on the purchase of a vehicle. Simply type “GM” in the search box at MNLA.biz for a break-down of available vehicles and the associated savings.

Currently, we do not have discounts on Chrysler/Dodge vehicles as we are waiting for them to roll out a new discount program.

#1 Q: I’m looking for a vendor I met at the Northern Green Expo who sold [insert product]. Can you help me figure out who it was?

A: Click the Northern Green Expo icon at the bottom of the MNLA.biz website. Then click on Vendor Directory by name in the left hand column. You can also search by product! If you’re still struggling, contact us and we’ll do our best to help.

So next time you’re struggling to find the answer, don’t hesitate to contact us. We interface with hundreds of people each year and if we don’t know the answer, we will likely be able to direct you to someone who does! cassie larson is MNLA’s Executive Director and can be reached at cassie@mnla.biz.

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Join us for many educational seminars on industry related topics to keep you informed and educated.

Featured speakers include Charlie Hall, Ann Chase and many more.

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Glencoe Arnold’s of Glencoe 655 Lindbergh Trail (320) 864-5531 www.arnoldsinc.com

Kimball Arnold’s of Kimball 701 Highway 55 East (320) 398-3800 www.arnoldsinc.com

nortH brancH Olson Power & Equipment 38560 14th Avenue (651) 674-4494 www.olsonpower.com

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n. manKato Arnold’s of Mankato 1715 Howard Drive (507) 387-5515 www.arnoldsinc.com

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➾ tas k team report

task team final report Permeable Pav er S ystems ( P P S ) Tim Oberg | Task Team Leader

BACKGROUND

In MNLA’s new strategic plan, Task Teams are appointed as a flexible, project-specific, and time-limited work group. The Permeable Paver Task Team has completed its work, and presents this report.

MNLA commissioned the Permeable Paver Systems (PPS) Task Team in July 2010 and set its focus on education of engineers, architects and municipal officials. The PPS Task Team first met in August 2010 and set the following goals: Show that PPS products and installations will work both through demonstrations of proper engineering and by specific local examples of success.

The PPS Task Team has completed the following projects since inception:

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Taken an active role in three years’ worth of monthly meetings of the Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) board. Robert (Bob) Race was MNLA’s official MIDS representative and MNLA Regulatory Consultant Tim Power attended most meetings as well. Bob Race also served on the MIDS Permeable Pavement Technical Team, which made recommendations to the MIDS Board concerning permeable pavement standards and credits that have subsequently been added to the Minnesota Stormwater Manual.

Created a professional packet of materials which outlines the benefits of PPS. The packet includes: Local and national case studies Comparisons between PPS, porous asphalt and pervious concrete Construction inspection checklist Maintenance inspection checklist Fact sheet specific to the interests of municipal officials

Create an education program to provide to engineers, architects and municipal officials at their meetings, be they statewide, regional or local.

Work with ICPI and/or a local engineering firm to create a PPS inspection guide.

Educate contractors on the proper design and installation of PPS.

The printing of this packet was largely sponsored by Anchor, Belgard, Central Landscape Supply, Gertens Wholesale, and Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies.

Created a professional PowerPoint presentation to accompany the PPS packet.

Presented the PowerPoint and packet to several municipal, county and environmental groups. In addition, the availability of these resources has been communicated to organizations representing cities, counties, townships, watershed districts and others.

Offered a one-day PPS Certificate Course. The effort aimed to create trained contractors so that the MNLA could encourage municipalities to require permits for installation of PPS systems.

Created an informational PPS page on MNLA.biz.

Created a flyer that directs readers to MNLA.biz for stormwater management resources. It is hoped to have these available for MIDS member organizations.

A big thanks to the members of this task team for volunteering their time to this important process.

If you have a chance please thank them for the hours they invested on behalf of the green industry!

TASK TEAM MEMBERS

Tim Oberg, Southview Design

Matt Mallas, Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies

Nick Tamble, Lawn and Landscape Gardens Ltd.

Bob Race, Race Engineering Associates, LLC

Patrick McGuiness, Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC

Nick Sowka, Anchor Block Company Dave Otter, Belgard Hardscapes

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âžž MDA alert

mda alert MDA Inspectors D isco ver I nfestation of D i t yl e n ch u s D i p s a ci

Josh Plunkett and Tina Seeland

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Right: Nematodes within Narcissus bulb.

Image courtesy of Central Science Laboratory, Harpenden Archive, British Crown, Bugwood.org this spring the minnesota department of agriculture (mda)

nursery inspectors found Ditylenchus dipsaci on nursery stock and traced the movement of this pest forward to approximately 22 states including Canada.

The source of the infestation is still unknown but is thought to have entered the country through international trade routes.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and MDA are working together to trace back this infestation of D. dipsaci.

Nematodes are microscopic unsegmented round worms. They typically have four juvenile life stages including an adult stage.

On their own, nematodes can travel 5–20mm per year on average but are introduced to new regions by hitchhiking aboard farm equipment, host plants, seed and even inside insects. The best defense against nematodes is to limit the spread of established populations and prevent their introduction to new areas. Nematodes are a group of diverse organisms and live in more varied habitats than nearly any other animal. There are many types of nematodes in the world; some are beneficial while others are serious plant pests that threaten agriculture and the

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livelihood of many individuals. International trade of agricultural commodities is restricted by the presence of plant parasitic nematodes. Often commodities have to be verified that they are free from these pests through the process of phytosanitary certification. Their movement is further controlled through best management practices, surveys, sampling and monitoring.

Ditylenchus dipsaci is one of these pests that require Phytosanitary certification. It is known to exist in the United States and was confirmed in Minnesota in 2012.

Ditylenchus dipsaci is known as the stem and bulb nematode.

Occurring as several different biological races, this nematode is worldwide in distribution and infests over 500 plant species. D. dipsaci can cause significant damage even at low population densities.

The stem and bulb nematode invades all above and below ground plant parts and can also be found in seed. Once in the plant it is capable of migrating throughout the plant tissue. Typical symptoms include stunting of plants, swelling and sometimes twisting of stems and leaves, and leaf deformation. Rotting can occur on bulbs, tubers, rhizomes and at the base of stems. These symptoms are caused by the nematode feeding on plant tissues. A severely infected plant could possibly die and even when plants survive, they are not welcome additions to anyone’s garden.

Unfortunately, D. dipsaci can survive long periods of time in some soil types, even up to 20 years. Because of its longevity and its broad host range, the stem and bulb nematode is not a pest we want to spread from other countries or other states via nursery stock.

Left: Damage to tulip flower. Image courtesy of Central Science Laboratory, Harpenden Archive, British Crown, Bugwood.org Above: Inspecting for stem and bulb nematode, Ditylenchus dipsaci.

Image courtesy of William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org Bottom: Symptoms on phlox.

Image courtesy of Robert Wick, University of Massachusetts, Bugwood.org

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has surveyed for various plant pest nematodes for more than 20 years. These slow moving pests are a concern to countries worldwide including the United States and are an ever increasing concern to Minnesotans due to the globalization of agriculture, trade increases and the frequent introductions of invasive pests.

Invasive species such as D. dipsaci spread across the world by means of international travel and trade. In 2012 US Customs intercepted 1.6 million shipments of prohibited plant material, meal and animal products. Newly discovered D. dipsaci threatens to further impact trade with other states and countries. This new Minnesota pest will require phytosanitary certification for companies looking to ship nursery stock and other agricultural commodities to other countries and may be required by receiving states still unaffected.

Economically, D. dipsaci is one of the most devastating plant nematodes because of its broad host range. Without intervention it will cause near complete failure of crops such as: onions, garlic, cereals, strawberries and ornamental plants. This nematode has the potential to affect a broad spectrum of Minnesotans including: organic farmers, nursery growers, and potato and beet growers.

Just as Japanese beetle populations increased to new levels prompting western states to impose more stringent regulations on receiving nursery stock, so may D. dipsaci. The introduction of D. dipsaci to Minnesota crops and ornamentals will reflect negatively on the quality and quantity of agricultural commodities such as alfalfa, garlic, potato, sugarbeet, corn and ornamentals to name a few. If different races of D. dipsaci invade Minnesota, the effects will be felt statewide in compromised crops and export capabilities.

Key to keeping this pest out of our state will be understanding the pathways bringing it here and vigilance in survey to detect developing populations. MDA is on the frontline of this effort but industries such as nursery are vital to this effort.

References: Shurtleff, M.C. and Averre III, C.W. 2000. Diagnosing Plant Diseases Caused by Nematodes. The American Phytopathology Society, St. Paul, MN. EPPO Quarantine Pest Data Sheet. Ditylenchus dipsaci Customs and Border Protection, “CPB’s 2012 Fiscal Year in Review”, accessed June 22nd 2013, http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/ newsroom/news_releases/national/02012013_3.xml.

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pinterest part III:

Increasing in Size and Effectiveness

(and how it will help your business do the same) Here’s a simple question... Is it easier to have a website or a Pinterest page rank highly in Google search results?? Answer...PINTEREST! Jacqui Austin | GardenCenterWriter.com

P

interest has implemented many changes since my last article about it (The Scoop, April 2013). The changes make it easier to use for both viewers and businesses.

In fact, according to Rich Relevance studies, Pinterest shoppers now spend an average of $168 per order compared with $94 from Facebook and $70 from Twitter shoppers. The same studies show Pinterest drives 25% of all retail referral traffic. Of the most popular Pinterest categories, 80% are commercially connected. Even the Wall Street Journal found Pinterest customers are twice as likely to purchase. If you’re not using Pinterest, why not?

Here’s a very quick history... Launched in March 2010, Pinterest grew at a faster rate than any other social media platform. As of May 5, 2013, 48.7 million users around the world spend an average of 14.2 minutes per visit. While visiting, they learn, have fun, and share... all through the use of images called “pins.” It’s enjoyable, educational, and engaging. And, it’s become the fourth largest traffic driver and best at getting in front of customers. In short, it now effectively drives business. Business Insider wrote, “We expect Pinterest to become a one-stop-shop digital catalog and an indispensable brand and retailer platform.”

It’s a good time to include Pinterest in your marketing strategy…

Get A Pinterest Account

If you don’t have a Pinterest account, run over to www.pinterest.com and open one. It’s free and very easy. Pinterest lets you have both personal and business accounts. The latter has more business-related functions such as website verification and analytics. If you have more than one business, you may have more than one business account.

If you currently have a personal account, you may convert it to a business account. This makes it easy for your current followers to keep following you.

You may open a personal account to “play” with it before opening a business account, but this isn’t necessary. To assist new business users, Pinterest created a business help center at business.pinterest.com.

Topics include verifying the business website, placing Pin It buttons by website images, and linking to Facebook. If you have difficulty, Pinterest has implemented an efficient support email function.

The New Look Of Pinterest

Several months ago, Pinterest quietly rolled out a new look, giving pinners the option of accepting it. If you have a business account, but haven’t accepted the new changes, do so in order to use the new analytics. Accepting the change is a good thing and you will notice a bigger and cleaner look immediately. Other significant changes include: • The maximum number of characters decreased from 200 to 160. Check to make sure you didn’t lose words in your profile when you accepted the change.

• The category list is available when clicking the button with three lines in the upper left corner of the screen.

• The price banner on the upper left corner of products for sale is gone. However, placing the price in the caption will put your pin in the “gifts” category.

• Use keywords in the profile. Include your town if your business is local. Search engines now rank Pinterest.

• Pin width increased from 600 to 700 pixels creating a bigger look.

• Use a “click and drag” motion to rearrange boards. The new position will save automatically.

• “Recent activity” is now “notifications” in the upper right corner.

• Commenting changed slightly. You must open the pin to make a comment.

• To encourage additional repins, when a viewer selects a pin, the pin’s board will open to the right. august 13

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âžž pinterest

Improved Analytics

This is a new feature only available to verified business accounts.

A verified account has a large checkmark next to the website address on the profile page. Purchasing pinners now look for this symbol prior to making a purchase. If needed, assistance is available at http://business.pinterest.com/verify.

Knowing your Pinterest analytics allows you to plan your business strategy. Obviously, it wastes time and doesn’t make sense to randomly pin to your boards. Strategically, you want to know what type of pins work the best, which are repinned the most, and which cause the viewers to click through to your website.

So...take a deep breath and jump in!

Access the analytics functions in the menu under your Pinterest account name. The site metrics page has four graphs: Pins, repins, impressions (daily average number of times your pins appear in the main feed, searches and on boards) and clicks (daily average number of clicks to your website from Pinterest). The blue line shows the number of viewers, the orange shows how many viewers performed the action. The large blue and orange numbers show the average daily number of people viewing or acting. You can eliminate the blue or orange line by checking on the legend in the upper right corner of the graph. If you only see one line and both legends are visible, this means the two lines are the same.

In the upper left corner is a date range button. Click here to show a calendar. Click on the start and end dates for the period you want to analyze. Or, do a quick check for the last 7, 14 or 30 days. Clicking on the question mark explains the metric and offers tips to improve it. Hovering over a daily data point gives numerical information. The percent number, in gray, shows the change from the prior period. There is an export function to download the information to excel.

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Tabs above the graphs, called “Most Tabs,” show most recent pins, most repinned and most clicked pins.

Wondering how to use this information? Here is an example: • If you see a spike in the repin graph, notice the date the spike occurred.

• Go to the repin most-tab, select that same date and see which pin(s) caused the spike.

This is valuable marketing information. When you identify the pins causing the most action, you can create other pins to have the same effect. Use this same method to investigate the pins causing viewers to click through to your site. Driving traffic to your site is extremely important!

But wait...there’s more.

• Open that attention-grabbing pin. To the right will be the board on which it was pinned and beneath are any comments.

Note, when the curser crosses the picture, the website link pops up making it extremely convenient for any viewer to quickly link to it. Scrolling downward shows the boards where your pin was repinned. Below the boards are the other pins repinned by the viewers. These provide additional information to use when creating your pin strategy. When you can identify the most valuable pins, you can replicate them for your business.

Most Repinned Pins

Infographics, tutorials and checklists receive the most repins. They are educational, entertaining and engaging while adding value, credibility and building relationships. These are especially effective for service- related businesses not having a product to showcase.

They are also easy to create using the free resources and templates at www.infogr.am. PowerPoint or the free templates at Hubspot (http://offers.hubspot.com/how-to-easily-create-five-fabulous-infographics-in-powerpoint) are alternatives.

“Tall” pins, over 800 pixels high, receive four times as many repins! Pins with pictures and text or video are also popular. Use the free services at www.picmonkey.com to create a pin with text on a picture. After posting your own video to YouTube, pin it to your board using the pin-it bookmarketlet downloaded from Pinterest at http://about.pinterest.com/goodies/.

Newest Change: Rich Pins

Have you noticed the new look of Ebay, Target and Etsy? They’re using Pinterest’s new “rich pin” format. This will be a huge boon for businesses.

• Recipe pins include ingredients, cooking times, and serving info.

• Movie pins include ratings, cast members and reviews to help pinners learn about new movies.

• Product pins include real time pricing, availability, and sellers.

This can be a multi-product page also.

Because meta tags, testing with a validation tool, and preview application are required, Pinterest suggests having a developer assist

USING PINTEREST STRATEGICALLY Here are a few quick tips: Add a “Follow Us at Pinterest” button to your site. Add the “Pin It” button to your website’s images.

Link your Facebook and Pinterest accounts, using Tabfusion or Woobox.

Pin creative and original images. Unbelievably, 80% of all pins are repins!

After pinning, be sure to “edit” and input your URL address to enable viewers to go directly to your product page or website.

Pin videos and a variety of pin types. Use analytics to determine which types drive the most traffic in your industry.

If you are selling a product, enter the price in the caption.

Pins with prices get 36% more likes.

Always put a caption, including a call to action, on your pin.

A caption increases the repin rate by 80%. Don’t forget the keywords!

Search engines rank pins, too.

Using the hashtag (#) with a word creates hyperlinks when it’s a search term.

Stealth tip: If you don’t know where to start or what to post, find your competitors’ boards and follow them. If they have a pin repinned dozens of times, make a similar pin using your brand.

It won’t take long to become comfortable and proficient creating high result pins to drive traffic to your site.

in the set-up. However, in the near future, it will probably become more user friendly for smaller businesses.

What Others Are Saying

Katie Tuttle wrote “Social Savvy” in the May 2013 issue of Greenhouse Management. In it, she quoted Jen Hatalski, merchandising coordinator for Hort Couture, as saying “Pinterest directs more traffic to the website than Facebook.”

Katie continued, “The great thing about Pinterest is that it can be used as a sales tool. People don’t have to sign in or register, they are able to go to the Hort Couture website, click the Pinterest link, and then view all of the products. On top of that, the products are all in one place and they’re organized for easy viewing.”

Wow! I’d say that’s a pretty good endorsement of a social media that’s only been around for three years, wouldn’t you? contact jacqui austin,

the Garden Center Writer, at Jacqui@gardencen-

terwriter.com.

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are you missing

potential customers?

Houzz.com & other social media marketing opportunities

A 2012 survey commissioned by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) polled U.S. adults who have a yard/landscape. The survey found that the two most trusted and influential sources of information for finding landscape services are referrals (53%) and the internet (44%).

Dr. James Calkins | MNLA Foundation Research Information Director

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➾ social media mark eting

phenomenon is embedded in the power of social networking and the effectiveness of marketing through social media.

Taking It Online

Figure 1. Beautiful pictures, interesting and educational content (captions, profiles, and narratives), sincere client testimonials, proactive engagement, and quality products and services can provide the foundation of a successful social media marketing strategy using social media platforms like houzz.com. Photo Credit: Jim Calkins

T

his fact is also supported by a 2012 Nielsen survey where recommendations from family and friends was the most trusted and influential form of advertising (92%) followed by consumer opinions posted on the internet (70%). That referrals are important shouldn’t be surprising to green industry professionals, but the importance of the internet as a resource used by potential customers to find landscape products and services might be.

Is Your Advertising Still Effective?

In today’s increasingly competitive markets, deciding how to reach potential customers is a growing challenge. The goal is to get the attention of potential customers, convince them to purchase a product or service, and, ultimately, increase profits. For some firms, advertising is a substantial part of the marketing mix to achieve these outcomes. For others, formal advertising has never been needed or used or has been considered too expensive to justify. In all cases, word of mouth has always played a key role in determining if a business is successful or not and the level of success achieved. Regardless of how potential customers learn about your firm, they need to know who you are and what you have to offer. Historically, customer to customer (i.e., word-of-mouth) “advertising” has been a driving factor, if not the primary factor, in the acquisition of new customers for the various service sectors of the green industry. Not surprisingly, research continues to highlight the importance of word of mouth and its power to influence consumer decisions. Some may, however, be surprised to learn that the internet, and social media in particular, is becoming a primary source of word-of-mouth advertising, but the source of the information and the scale is much different; through the power of social media, ordinary consumers have become the primary influencers and the audience is exponentially larger. Accenture, a multinational, management, consulting, and technology services company, and one of the world’s largest and most successful consulting firms, has coined the phrase “influence of scale” to describe this important reality.

Social proofing is another term that has been applied to the phenomenon wherein people tend to look to others for cues when faced with unfamiliar circumstances or difficult decisions including the selection of products and services. Once again, this psychological 26

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Beginning in the 1990s, online marketing of products and services, also called e-marketing and digital marketing, made its début and, though there have been ups and downs, has since become an important part of the marketing mix for a variety of products, services, brands, and causes. E-mail advertising, pop-up and pop-under ads, web banners, and social network advertising are a few examples. Social media marketing has become increasingly targeted over time and this trend continues. Targeting and retargeting (advertising tied to a user’s past, current, and future online activities), and geotargeting (advertising strategies based on geolocation which uses a variety of online methods to locate a user and matches that location with local advertisers) are quickly becoming the standard. As frustrating as it can sometimes be, online marketing has become very sophisticated.

Given the success of social networking sites, social network advertising has moved to the forefront of online marketing and this trend will likely accelerate as access to social media expands and becomes more mobile (smart phones, iPads, etc.).

Why Social Media Marketing?

The primary functions of social networking are to provide a platform for sharing information (narrative content and images) with others.

Facebook (facebook.com; Facebook remains number one by a wide margin), Twitter (twitter.com), Google+ (plus.google.com), YouTube (youtube.com), LinkedIn (linkedin.com), Pinterest (pinterest.com), Instagram (instagram.com), Foursquare (forsquare. com), Nextdoor (nextdoor.com), and Zillow (zillow.com) are just a few of the many social media sites that are used by 91% of adults that regularly spend time online. Each platform tended to originate based on a particular function (social networking, video sharing, collaboration, microblogging, social curation, etc.), but these lines have typically become blurred as the technologies have matured over time. Although all are widely accepted, the green industry uses for them may not always be obvious at first glance. For example, Zillow is primarily a source of real estate information, but has links to local professionals like landscape designers. Again the focus is local; even though the potential market is nationwide, the advertising is targeted to individuals interested in a particular property or area.

Another reason why social media marketing is becoming increasingly popular is based on research that shows people are becoming increasingly less patient with intrusive and unwelcome solicitation.

This brings up the issue of outbound vs. inbound marketing.

Outbound marketing is old school and employs the traditional types of marketing that have been relied upon for years; things like print and television ads, telemarketing, direct mail, and more recently email marketing and online banners and pop-up advertising. The strategy involves sending messages out to potential customers and hoping they will pay attention. The problem is these tactics are increasingly considered bothersome, intrusive, and even rude and research suggests such methods are being increasingly rejected by consumers.

In contrast, inbound marketing is the new trend and the goal is to bring people to you willingly and by their own choice. This is where

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social media marketing really shines. Inbound marketing is about added value (quality content – interesting, useful information people are looking for) and earned trust and utilizes social networking, blogging, white papers, webinars, and podcasts. Social media marketing strategies are all about connecting with people and building trust. Connected, personal, relevant, engaging, and trusted; it is these characteristics that make social media an especially attractive and effective marketing platform and research shows inbound marketing via social media is also more targeted and personal and tends to be cheaper based on dollars spent and cost per potential customer compared to outbound marketing methods.

While any of the currently-popular social networking platforms have potential for marketing green industry products and services and are, indeed, being used for this purpose, a couple of relative newcomers may deserve special attention — Houzz.com and Pinterest.com.

(A feature article on Pinterest can be found on page 20.)

Houzz.com is a relatively new (2009) social networking platform that might be of particular interest to nursery and landscape professionals. Houzz (house + buzz), is a collaborative, social media platform that provides ideas and inspiration to homeowners and connects them with home improvement professionals including landscape designers and landscape service providers.

According to a survey conducted by Houzz.com last year (2012), 89% of Houzz users are homeowners that own homes with an average value of $450,000 and have an annual income of $124,000. Based on a recent review of the site a number of Minnesota firms have already created profiles on Houzz including 228 landscape contractors, 86 landscape architects and designers, and 84 firms that build decks, patios, and outdoor enclosures. Users can create a profile and use the site for free, but can opt to participate in the fee-based, Houzz Pro+ local marketing program to increase their exposure to potential customers in their local area and have access to the new Houzz Pro+ Dashboard program that provides analytics that can be used to measure their exposure to homeowners based on the popularity of their content.

Pinterest.com is one of the newest (2010) and fastestgrowing social networking platforms. Pinterest is a social bookmarking/curation site based on virtual pinboards that are used to organize and share information on just about any topic or interest.

It is primarily image-based and when images, something like a well-designed landscape, are pinned or repined by users they can direct users back to the website they originated from — hopefully your website. Pinterest is being used by a variety of businesses and individuals to reach targeted audiences and connect them to information about them and the products and services they have to offer.

Interestingly, Pinterest was used by both the Romney and Obama campaigns during the 2012 election.

Referrals, Reviews, and Research Build Reputation

Remember that referrals and online research are the top two sources of information that can influence a customer’s decision to select a landscape service provider or buy a product or service from a particular firm. Social media can provide both the information 28

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potential customers are looking for and testimonials that enhance the standing of a specific company or product. Knowing this, a well-considered and designed social media marketing strategy can take advantage of this reality to engage potential customers, promote the services and products offered, build trust, and ultimately enhance a company’s success in a competitive business environment.

Remember, too, that word of mouth can also be damaging if the information shared is negative and reflects poorly on a particular firm, product, or service. For some this may be a significant concern and a barrier to using interactive, social media. Such fears may, however be overblown and the effect of negative comments and reviews usually depends on how negative reviews and comments are handled. In fact research has shown negative reviews can sometimes have a positive effect. For example, a survey conducted by Reevoo indicates 70% of people trust reviews more when both good and bad reviews are in the mix and 95% of people said they will still buy a product with a bad review. Negative reviews can also highlight valid shortcomings, help identify problems, and foster improvements. If handled properly, negative reviews can ultimately improve customer trust and satisfaction.

Always respond to negative reviews and without delay. Time is of the essence and always be respectful; respond quickly and professionally, be honest, take responsibility for legitimate concerns, and take action to fix problems. It is important that customers know you are listening and that you care.

Communication Continues to Change

This is pretty amazing stuff, but the dynamic world of social media can often be daunting and mysterious. In general, research specific to online advertising is limited compared to historically traditional marketing strategies, but is receiving increased attention. Research specific to the effectiveness of these technologies relative to the nursery and landscape industry is even more limited. Still, green industry professionals are testing the waters. There are also concerns. Just as they are bothered by intrusive advertising, research has also shown the public has concerns about the gathering of personal information that is often associated with online marketing and targeted advertising.

At least one study indicates Americans are generally opposed to online gathering of online behavioral information and targeted advertising beyond a specific webpage and regulation of online activities related to these concerns is receiving increasing attention. Firms should be aware of these concerns when considering social media marketing options.

Remember, the internet has become a primary source of word of mouth advertising; green industry professionals should investigate and consider taking advantage of this important tool. What has been effective in the past may not remain effective as demographics, technologies and the way we communicate with each other continues to change.

Check out the following resources for more detail and to learn more about social media marketing: Berger, J. and E. Schwartz. 2011. What Drives Immediate and Ongoing Word of Mouth? Journal of Marketing Research 48(5):869-880. (abstract only) continued on page 30

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Chen, Y. and J. Xie. 2008. Online Consumer Review: Word-of-Mouth as a New Element of Marketing Communication Mix,” Management Science 54(3):477–91. (abstract only) Dellarocas, C. 2003. The Digitization of Word of Mouth: Promise and Challenges of Online Feedback Mechanisms. Management Science 49(10):1407–24. (abstract only) Experian Marketing Services. 2012. The 2012 Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report – Empowering Meaningful Connections with Your Customers.

Hall, C. and M. Zarro. 2012. Social Curation on the Website Pinterest.com. Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 49(1):1-9. (abstract only) Hebert, G. 2013. Houzz Launches New Analytics Tool for Remodeling and Design Professionals Participating in Pro+ Program. Houzz Press/ Company News.

Korhan, J. 2013. Built-In Social: Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ. 216 pages.

Kozinets, R.V., K., de Valck, A.C. Wojnicki, and S.J.S. Wilner. 2010. Networked Narratives: Understanding Word-of-Mouth Marketing in Online Communities. Journal of Marketing 74(2):71-89. (abstract only) Matfield, K. 2012. Bad Reviews Are Good for Business. Reevoo Ltd. McQuarrie, E.F., S.H. McIntyre, and R. Shanmugam.

2013. What Motivates Consumers to Produce Online Reviews? Solidarity, Status, and the Soapbox Effect.

Nielson Survey. 2012. Consumer Trust in Online, Social and Mobile Advertising Grows. Online April 10, 2012.

O’Brian, D.B. 2013. The Ins and Outs of Houzz.

Landscape Management 52(3):32-38.

Palmieri, M. What Consumers Want: Green Industry Marketing Experts Translate the Results of PLANET/Harris Interactive’s Consumer Survey.

Landscape Management 52(4):8-12.

Schmitz, S. 2012. Houzz Survey: Livability Trumps Home Value.

Turow, J., J. King, C.J. Hoofnagle, A. Bleakley, and M. Hennessy. 2009. Americans Reject Tailored Advertising and Three Activities that Enable It. Yildiz, E. and K. Dempski. 2013. Influence at Scale. Accenture PLC. Zarro, M. and C. Hall. 2012. Exploring Social Curation. D-Lib Magazine Volume 18, Number 11/12. November/December 2012. to comment on this research update,

suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at research@mnla.biz.

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cover story

IS YOUR LAWN READY

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Rob Golembiewski, Ph.D., & Laurence Mudge | Green Solutions Specialist & Green Solutions Team Manager, Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP

READY FOR WINTER?

With fall around the corner, it is time to start thinking about taking advantage of the cooler weather and preparing lawns for the winter. ďƒş

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Perform fall aeration between August and October during peak shoot growth.

C

ool-season lawns usually consist of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, or some combination of each Mowing has the greatest influence on turf health and quality of any cultural practice. Frequent mowing at the proper height requires less time and effort than infrequent mowing. In general, mowing at a higher height of cut year-round allows for greater photosynthesis to occur, which translates to a healthier, denser lawn with a more extensive root system and fewer maintenance problems.

Aeration is the process of air exchange between the soil and its surrounding atmosphere. In the turf world, core aeration is the process of mechanically removing small soil plugs from the lawn to improve natural soil aeration. Aeration provides numerous benefits including: 1) improved air exchange between the soil and atmosphere, 2) enhanced soil water uptake, 3) better fertilizer uptake and use, 4) decreased water runoff and puddling, 5) stronger turfgrass roots, 6) reduced soil compaction, 7) enhanced thatch breakdown, and 8) greater heat and drought stress tolerance.

All lawns will benefit from annual aeration, especially heavily-used lawns or those growing on heavy clay soils. Perform fall aeration between August and October during peak shoot growth so the lawn recovers quickly from coring. Drum-type aerators need two to three passes over the lawn to get desired results. Please note that spikers, machines that punch holes without removing cores, are of less value compared with aerators because they compact the soil around the holes and do not increase the flow of water and nutrients into the root zone.

Fertilization along with mowing and irrigation is a basic cultural practice used to encourage healthy, dense lawns. Unfertilized lawns tend to be thin, light green or brown in color, and have high weed populations. Adequately fertilized lawns look better than 36

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Keep in mind the following mowing tips: Try to never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade during any one mowing. In other words, mow the lawn when it is 50 percent higher than the desired height of cut. For example, if the desired height of cut is 2 inches, mow when it is 50 percent higher or when the grass is 3 inches tall. Most times of the year this amounts to mowing once per week but could be two times per week in the fall (and spring) when the turf is actively growing.

Use a mulching mower and return clippings to the lawn to add as much as 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, annually. The clippings will not contribute to thatch as long as the mowing occurs on a regular basis.

under-fertilized lawns, compete better against turf pests, hold up better under wear and stress, and recover more quickly from damage.

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient when it comes to fertilization programs. Applied at proper rates, nitrogen stimulates vertical growth, improves turf density, and makes the lawn darker green. By stimulating growth, nitrogen also reduces the severity of certain diseases like red thread and rust. In the fall, fertilize with 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet following aerification with a water-soluble nitrogen source (e.g. urea, ammonium sulfate, etc.). If needed, a late fall fertilization can be applied right after leaf growth for the year has stopped.

Irrigation, despite being one of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy lawn, is commonly the most overlooked variable in lawn care. Proper irrigation avoids the negative effects of both overwatering (e.g. excess foliar growth, nutrient leaching, shallow

Total renovation involves killing the existing turf prior to reseeding.

rooting, decreased wear tolerance, reduced soil oxygen, and increased succulence, compaction, thatch, and disease activity) and underwatering (e.g. loss of color and density, reduced vigor, increased wilting, wear damage in traffic areas, and susceptibility to patch diseases).

As fall approaches, try to reduce the amount and frequency of irrigation. Recognize that irrigating daily without regard for turfgrass water use produces lush, green lawns but invariably applies too much water and forces excessive foliage growth at the expense of root growth. In milder areas, irrigation can often be stopped in September, after Labor Day, without any change in lawn appearance before the onset of fall rains. In hotter areas, irrigation may be required through September. The key is to avoid winter damage by reducing or eliminating irrigation early enough in the fall to encourage the turf plants to “harden off.”

Renovation in the fall is a useful practice for improving weak lawns or those with damaged areas. Partial renovation can be as simple as overseeding a thin turf area, or can include power raking if thatch is greater than one-half inch and/or core aeration if the soil is compacted. Total renovation involves killing the existing turf prior to reseeding. The key to successful renovation is to prepare a good seedbed and make sure there is good seed-to-soil contact.

Follow these steps to renovate a lawn without totally killing or removing existing vegetation: • Adjust the height of cut down (scalp the turf ) so as to reduce canopy competition for germinating seeds.

• Power-rake the lawn as many times as necessary to remove accumulated thatch and to expose approximately 50 to 70 percent of the soil surface. It is best to dethatch in multiple directions.

• If soil is compacted, aerate the entire area to open up the surface and relieve compaction.

• Perform minor surface grading to eliminate high and low spots and to prepare the seedbed.

• Apply fertilizer and seed/sod as you would for a new lawn.

• Apply approximately one-quarter inch of organic mulch to enhance seed germination.

• Once seeded, manage as you would a newly planted lawn.

Total renovation involves killing undesirable grasses and weeds with a nonselective herbicide. Apply a non-selective herbicide in late summer or early fall. The effectiveness of the herbicide can be enhanced by skipping a mowing prior to treatment and applying it to actively growing turf. It probably will take two to three applications to kill creeping perennial grasses and weeds. After killing the grass, you have a choice of removing the dead sod or following the steps above for partial renovation. If you remove all sod, cultivate the soil and follow procedures for establishing a new lawn.

Leaves shed by trees in the fall shade the grass, reducing the sunlight needed by the plant to make and store food for the winter.

Mulching leaves and letting them filter into the grass is acceptable as long as the leaves are not too thick. If leaves are thick and left on the ground during the winter months, they become wet, mat down, smother the grass, and create a favorable environment for turf diseases.

Weeds often become established in a weakened turf stand. It should be pointed out that weeds are not the cause of poor turfgrass performance but rather are a result of poor turfgrass performance. An effective weed control program includes: identifying the weed(s) and degree of infestation, determining how the weed(s) was introduced, august 13

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Top: Prepping lawn renovation with dethatcher.

Bottom: Seeding during a lawn renovation.

implementing sound cultural control strategies, imposing mechanical control strategies such as hand-pulling or mowing, and using chemical control (herbicides) if needed. Fall is the preferred time (as opposed to spring) for killing problematic perennial weeds like dandelions and white clover. As with grass, weeds are preparing for winter and are transferring food reserves underground to their roots. Applying postemergent herbicides around the time of the A truly out of this first world is within your fall interest frost will rate provide excellent weedreach. For a limited time, you can take advantage of 0.0% APR financing on control. Regardless of the herbicide being a new 2006-2007 Isuzu N-Series But you used, diesel-powered always read and follow label truck. directions.

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Stormwater Management Impact, Indemnification Update The MNLA Board of Directors believes that stormwater management presents unique business opportunities for MNLA members. These opportunities arise because of the increasing regulation of stormwater runoff quality and quantity mandated by the federal Clean Water Act.

Tim Power

MNLA Regulatory Consultant

for the past 3½ years, MNLA has been involved in the Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) Workgroup, a legislatively-mandated stakeholder group administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). In June 2013, MIDS completed its work, including a three year study of Low Impact Development (LID)/Green Infrastructure (GI) best management practices (BMP’s) that resulted in major updates to Minnesota’s Stormwater Manual. The manual has been extensively revised and now is an online wiki. See http://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/ index.php/Stormwater Manual_Table_of_ Contents. The Stormwater Manual remains a work in progress, but that is the beauty of the wiki format; it will be updated as new information and corrections are recognized by MPCA. MNLA members can engage in the stormwater management field through design, construction and/ or maintenance of stormwater BMP’s. In order to participate in this field, members are encouraged (and may eventually be required by municipalities) to obtain education and/or certification in the relevant disciplines.

One example would be training in Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP), via training and testing through the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). MNLA has sponsored several past ICPI trainings and many MNLA members are now certified as ICPI Concrete Paver Installers. ICPI’s PICP Specialist course would be an excellent “next step” for those interested

in working in the growing field of permeable pavements.

ICPI’s next PICP Specialist course is scheduled for October 23, 2013, just prior to the 2013 Hardscape North America Trade Show in Louisville, KY. MNLA hopes to generate enough interest in this ICPI course to schedule a PICP Specialist course in Minnesota in the future.

International LID Symposium

With interest being high in stormwater management, MNLA members should be aware that the International Low Impact Development (LID) Symposium will occur in St. Paul this month. Scheduled at RiverCenter, the symposium runs from Sunday August 18th thru Wednesday August 21. This bi-annual conference draws internationally-known sponsors, academicians and practitioners in the stormwater field.

See http://www.cce.umn.edu/2013-InternationalLow-Impact-Development-Symposium/index.html for program and registration information. Half-day tours are available Sunday and one-day registration is an option.

This is a great way to learn from the stormwater experts.

Indemnification Update

MNLA members and subcontractors statewide scored a significant legislative victory last spring that will positively affect them in construction contracts, thanks to the leadership of the Minnesota Subcontractors Association and the help of several employer associations including MNLA. august 13

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➾ gov ernment affairs

Effective on August 1, 2013, the insurance exception in MS337 will be modified as follows: A provision that requires a party to provide insurance coverage to one or more other parties, including third parties, for the negligence or intentional acts or omissions of any of those other parties, including third parties, is against public policy and is void and unenforceable.

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mnla .biz

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Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 337 specifically forbids what has been called “broad form indemnification” in construction contracts, in which subcontractors would be required to indemnify someone else for their negligent acts. However, a loophole in the law allows broad form indemnification to occur through an insurance exception whose use has become common practice in Minnesota construction contracts. That exception effectively makes it legal to transfer liability risk downstream to the smallest subcontractors, who have the least to gain and most to lose, but who need to assume that risk in order to win contracts.

Effective on August 1, 2013, the insurance exception in MS337 will be modified as follows: A provision that requires a party to provide insurance coverage to one or more other parties, including third parties, for the negligence or intentional acts or omissions of any of those other parties, including third parties, is against public policy and is void and unenforceable.

MNLA members are strongly advised to contact their insurance agent(s) and attorney(s) with this information so they may provide advice to assist you in avoiding this nowunlawful practice. Tell your representatives to go to this link for full text of the law change: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?nu mber=SF561&version=4&session=ls88&sessi on_year=2013&session_number=0.

(See additional report on page 51.) tim power can be reached at timpower@powerconsults.com.

SautĂŠing

for Success With 50 live cooking demos under his belt, Jonathan Bardzik shares what he has learned about getting customers to buy more at higher margins and how to have fun doing it.

Jonathan Bardzik | ANLA Director of Marketing and Industry Relations

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âžž section title

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You don’t reorder plants until there are big gaps on the benches or a hot new introduction you’ve simply got to have. Your customers shop the same way. Give them a new basil recipe each week and they’ll keep coming back to buy more plants. Tell them why each heirloom tomato, or new Echinacea is distinct, sexy and special, and they’ll buy more than one.

B

y each weekend, walking through the farm-fresh produce at Washington, D.C.’s historic Eastern Market, the same thought would run through my mind: “If people knew why these products were so special and what they could do with them, they would buy more (at higher prices) and have a better experience at home.”

Sound familiar? I blame it on growing up in a family garden center business.

I finally made the mistake of saying it out loud, and, for the past two years, I have spent every Saturday giving live cooking demonstrations, complete with free samples and free recipe cards. With the dramatic and continued growth of sales in edible plants, the lessons I’ve learned standing in front of my audience each week are as applicable at the garden center as they are at the farm market.

Skip to the Last Page

Every week, someone will voice just how much he or she hates a given vegetable or herb I’m cooking with. But once they taste the finished dish, they confide, “This is delicious. I never knew I liked (insert your least favorite edible here).” Week after week, I convince people to buy asparagus, zucchini, broccoli and Brussels sprouts through the simple act of skipping right to the delicious end of the story.

Edible or ornamental, plants are no different. Once a consumer buys into the final result, they’re ready to replicate the experience — whether a dish or a container combination — at home, right after they spend money on all the ingredients.

Make Holes

Nothing is Too Simple

Last spring I served up strawberries and cream, whipped with a bit of mint and sugar. Delicious, sure, but in complexity, it ranked right up there with a mixed container of geraniums and dracena, spiced up with a little Dusty Miller. It’s far too simple, I thought, to type up a recipe card.

I was dead wrong. People watched, rapt with attention, while I hand-whipped cream. They wanted precise measurements for the splash of pomegranate vinegar and pinch of sugar I tossed with the strawberries.

Nothing is too simple. If you haven’t done it before, combining ingredients looks like alchemy and when the outcome is gold, your audience is convinced it requires magic.

So, tell them how to use your plants, no matter how simply, and they’ll pay to bring them home.

Failure is an Option

At 24 years old, I took over cooking Christmas dinner from my mother. The third year in, I completely mistimed the meal, and we finally ate at 11:30 p.m. The following year I set the table on fire.

Yet, they still let me keep cooking.

I often tell my audience that failure is an option. In fact, at some point, it’s guaranteed. But, no matter how badly it goes, you can always bounce back. Our customers need to know this with food and with gardening.

Failure isn’t a reason to walk away. It’s a step on the way to success.

Shortly after the owner of Sapore Oil & Vinegar, which is located near the market, asked me to promote the flavored oils and vinegars she sold, I realized her biggest challenge wasn’t selling each bottle, it was getting her customers to empty it.

Look in the mirror. You don’t reorder plants until there are big gaps on the benches or a hot new introduction you’ve simply got to have. Your customers shop the same way. Give them a new basil recipe each week and they’ll keep coming back to buy more plants.

Tell them why each heirloom tomato, or new Echinacea is distinct, sexy and special, and they’ll buy more than one.

Season to Taste

There are three words at the end of every single recipe: season to taste. Most of us were taught that means a pinch of salt, a grind of pepper, and the dish is ready to serve.

It actually means to stop and taste your food. Saturday’s tomato, even from the same garden, may be more acidic, begging for a splash of oil. This week’s sun-sweetened strawberries don’t need the pinch of sugar that last week’s did. When we follow instructions blindly, the results are often disappointing. Following watering instructions without watching the weather is as sure a recipe for disaster as seasoning your food without tasting it first.

Get your customers thinking about their garden, and watching it grow. They’ll be more successful and come back to start the next exciting project. august 13

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➾ saut éing for success

This is a recipe for helping your customers experience the satisfaction of putting together special plants in exceptional ways and the joy of sharing that with family and friends.

Use Farm Fresh Amish Butter

Happily Ever After

Five years ago, I started using really good farm fresh Amish butter.

Appalled at the grocery bill, my husband Jason gave me a ribbing. On the advice of a cookbook I was reading, we went into the kitchen for a butter tasting. The farm fresh butter tasted like rich cream. Then we began to notice the diet of the cow: herbal and floral in spring and grassy in summer — tantalizing with tomatoes, zucchini and green beans. On a winter feed diet, the butter mellowed perfectly for winter squash and holiday baking.

The stick of butter from the grocery store, on the other hand, tasted kind of like greasy cardboard. For most recipes, I require less than six ingredients. Greasy cardboard just doesn’t cut it. Jason agreed, and now we bring home a block of farm-fresh butter every week.

I tell that story every time I’m at the Eastern Market. That’s why Dan Donahue, owner of locally-based Agora Farms, has increased his butter sales by more than 600 percent since I started. In a way, I’ve become his brand ambassador.

When I was in college, working at O’Donal’s Garden Center in Maine, I sold several trays of pineapple sage one Saturday morning by walking around with a 4-inch pot, asking, “Did you know this smells like pineapple?”

One whiff and the plant went in their cart. Stories sell.

Today, people are buying more at the Eastern Market and coming back every week excited about their next satisfying kitchen adventure. The farmers are selling more and discovering margins they never thought possible. Why? Our products — Betula, begonia or basil — don’t deliver satisfaction unless they are cultivated and combined. They don’t bring joy until they are shared. This article isn’t a blueprint for cooking demos in your garden center (although...). This is a recipe for helping your customers experience the satisfaction of putting together special plants in exceptional ways and the joy of sharing that with family and friends. It’s a recipe for higher sales, stronger margins and loyal, happy customers.

And that is a recipe for success.

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jonathan bardzik’s

parents opened Tarnów Nursery the year he was born. He is the Director of Marketing and Industry Relations for the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA). If you want some recipes to share with your customers, check out his blog www.whatihaventcookedyet.com. You can reach Jonathan at jbardzik@anla.org.

➾ MNLA Foundation

mnla foundation outreach Do Y ou Have a T ree in Your F ront Yard ?

Many U.S. adults, when asked this question, did not know if they had a tree in their front yard.

Jodi Larson MNLA Foundation Program Director

THE POLL

A university study polled over 2,000 people across the country in an effort to determine the U.S. population’s value of trees and plants.

WHAT THEY FOUND

THE TAKEAWAY

ACTION

People who did not have a significant interaction with nature before middle school tended to have little or no appreciation for trees and plants as adults.

These adults and these findings represent the views of a growing percentage of our population and pose grave implications for our industry if we do not act to alter current conditions. We need kids to be interacting with nature, or we lose not only our future professionals, but also our future consumers. It is our responsibility as an industry to join together to help promote public appreciation for the field of professional horticulture and the myriad of careers and services that it represents (including yours).

The MNLA Foundation is acting to counteract this trend by connecting with schools, teachers, administrators and others that influence students, and educating them about career opportunities in our industry and the environmental benefits provided by these professions.

Through your volunteer efforts and donations, together we can continue to fight this trend and ensure a favorable place for our industry in our state’s and our nation’s future.

This information was part of a workshop that Dr. Terry Ferriss presented at the National Ag In The Classroom conference in June. During her talk she encouraged educators and administrators to revitalize the term horticulture and to interact with the profession it represents, helping kids develop a passion for plants.

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Volunteer O pportunities : I nspire T oday’ s Yout h by Volunteering

Something to think about: What memory do you have from childhood of your own interaction with plants? What made plants significant to you?

Jodi Larson MNLA Foundation Program Director

Please help to inspire local kids with a similar experience:

Visit a class or youth group and talk about your profession. Show before and after pictures of a project, get them to talk about their yard and encourage them to touch a plant; to interact with nature.

1

2 3

Invite a school group or other group of youth to visit tour your office, garden center or a job site; let them see professionals in action.

Visit a class or youth group and talk about your profession. Show before and after pictures of a project, get them to talk about their yard and encourage them to touch a plant; to interact with nature.

4 5

Connect with the local high school FFA program, and see what sort of relationship you can develop, or how your knowledge and experience can fill a vital resource gap.

Hire an Achieve Minneapolis intern. You benefit from their work and commitment, and they gain exposure to the industry.

Teachers and internship coordinators are looking to connect with business leaders and companies like yours.

The MNLA has ready-to-use PowerPoints, giveaway items, stickers, coloring sheets and even curriculum that can provide the entire structure, words and lesson for your visit. We need professionals like you that are passionate about what you do and care about the industry’s future.

Visit MNLAschoolhouse.org or contact Jodi Larson today to get started: 651-633-4987 or jodi@mnla.biz. Share about your role in shaping the outdoor living environment.

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âžž members hip

2013

OUT AND ABOUT AT THE SIMA SYMPOSIUM! Mary Dunn, MNLA Membership Director attended the 2013 SIMA Symposium on June 20 and 21.

Kevin Ranagan, Great Northern Equipment

Raz Bajwa, IndusTrack

Bill Koch, Steve Schwarz, Josh Grussendorf, and Todd Dilley, Lawn Ranger Inc.

Terry Reiten and Dan Faust, The Tessman Company

Matt Weinzettel, CurbSide Landscape & Irrigation and Andy Bethel, Titan Machinery, Inc.

Wendy Laughter and Charlie Miller, Truck Utilities, Inc.

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➾ legal issues

Subcontractors Gain Relief from Broad Form Indemnification If your company works as a subcontractor, take note that there have been some big developments in both statutory and case law regarding indemnification clauses within subcontractor agreements.

Patrick McGuiness

Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC

in minnesota, general contractors have used and tested out different forms of indemnity clause language.

This was done in an attempt to limit their risk to a potential claimant, and to shift the risk to other contractors on the project. The Minnesota Legislature recently passed a law which changes what can be required of subcontractors when it comes to purchasing insurance to cover others.

An indemnification clause is a contract clause in which one party agrees to repay another party if there is a loss suffered. As a way to shift the potential burden of a claim, general contractors have required subcontractors to purchase insurance and indemnify them for their own acts or the acts of other third-party subcontractors.

Minnesota law has traditionally not looked favorably upon indemnification agreements, especially as they pertain to the requirement that subcontractors indemnify others for negligence which is completely outside of the subcontractor’s control. Until recently, general contractors in Minnesota could require subcontractors to purchase insurance which would cover the general contractor’s actions in addition to the subcontractor’s actions.

As a result of court cases, which appeared blatantly against the interests of public policy and the ability to freely contract, the Minnesota Legislature recently changed Minn. Stat. 337.05 to prohibit such ‘Broad Form Indemnity’ practices. The new language passed by the legislature is broad and prohibits any requirement that a party (such as a subcontractor) provide insurance coverage to anyone else (such as a general contractor) for the other party’s (general contractor’s) negligence or intentional acts or omissions.

What does all of this legal language mean? Before the change in the law, general contractors could require a subcontractor to purchase insurance to cover the general. This could even include making the sub buy insurance to cover a scenario such as a general contractor’s employee intentionally running over a homeowner. It seems ridiculous, and in many ways it was. However, it was just another attempt by general contractors to limit their liability exposure and decrease their premiums and risk.

As you can see by the above illustration, there are many scenarios which could give rise to rather strange and ridiculous results which had nothing to do with any action or failure to act on the part of the subcontractor.

The Minnesota Legislature decided that it is “against public policy and is void and unenforceable” to have any such indemnification contracts after August 1, 2013. The new statute will affect many parts of the construction industry, including general contractors, subcontractors, and insurers. It is hard to predict whether the law will affect overall insurance premiums however it is probably safe to assume that there will be some change due to the new inability to shift responsibility to other contractors.

Another important part of the law to note is that it does create an exception for insuring the vicarious liability of another party. As a general contractor, there is a certain amount of risk and potential liability which comes with the territory. By bringing a subcontractor continued on page 56

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Things We Learned from the

Green industry Benchmark Survey This year, we undertook a project to create a comprehensive report that explains the motivations, hopes, fears and practices of the green industry. To do so, we delivered a survey to about 7,000 green industry businesses stored in our database. We asked them a series of questions about their business challenges, their outlook for 2013, the services they provide, their marketing practices, how they educate themselves and their staff, and what kind of software they use.

David Crary | HindSite Software

The biggest threat to my business is:

T

he survey results were eye-opening. To our knowledge, it was the first survey of the green industry contractor that had ever been conducted. It gave us great insight into the mind and business practices of a green industry contractor.

Here are five key findings from the Green Industry Benchmark Report:

#1

#2

The economy

46%

The competition

18%

Government regulation

16%

Inability to raise capital

9%

Other

7%

Social, environmental or technological trends

4%

Specialization is dying

Ten years ago, it was common to find a contractor who specialized in a single service, say irrigation, snow plowing or lawn mowing. Today, that’s becoming increasingly difficult to find. As the Green Industry Benchmark Survey found, green businesses are increasingly offering more services. In fact, 70% offer landscaping services, 60% irrigation, and just over 50% offer lawn fertilization and lighting service, while just 10% of respondents indicated they only provide one service.

The business diversification isn’t limited to the type of property, either. Whether it’s residential or commercial, green businesses are working on whatever property will have them. Though residential installation is most popular — with nearly 80% of businesses performing it — residential maintenance, commercial maintenance, and commercial installation are all performed by nearly 70% of respondents.

And the service diversity is going to continue — 42% of respondents indicated they plan to add a new product or service in 2013. It’s obvious that green businesses are continuing to grow their service offering in an attempt to keep their competition off their customers’ properties.

i offer the following services:

Green businesses haven’t fully embraced the Internet age

From a marketing perspective, the best marketing tactic is simply word of mouth. Nearly 70% of respondents indicated that word of mouth/referrals were their biggest lead/ customer source.

And the numbers bear out why; in an age where every business has a website, only 86% of respondents indicated they had their own website. Even less (47%) had a search engine strategy to help them get found on the Internet.

And, despite the relatively low barrier to entry, just 61% use email marketing, which is a tactic used about as much as the much more expensive direct mail (57%). And green businesses haven’t fully embraced social media; though 57% have a Facebook page, 30% don’t use social media at all.

Throw in that the Yellow Pages (39% have an ad) are still more popular than online rating site Angie’s List (32% have a profile), and you can see why the majority of green businesses indicate that referrals are their best lead generation tactic. The lesson to learn: as more and more buyers turn to

I HAVE A WEBSITE: Yes 86% No

14%

I have a search engine strategy: Yes 47% No

53% august 13

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➾ benc hmark survey

I use the following social media sites to sell my business:

the Internet to research buying decisions, green businesses that are savvy and use modern marketing techniques to get found and nurture their leads could have a distinct advantage over those who don’t.

#3

Trade associations are valuable

#4

Accounting software matters

#5

Field service software correlates to growth

I use email to market to customers and prospects: Yes 61% No

39%

I use direct mail (letters, postcards, flyers, etc.) to market to customers and prospects.

Yes 57% No

43%

I have an ad in the yellow pages: Yes 39% No

61%

Do you use field service software?

Yes 32% No 54

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The findings are clear: Green industry businesses continue to attend trade shows and educational conferences in droves.

92% of respondents indicated they’d improved their business knowledge by attending a trade show or conference in the past year. And they’re members of multiple associations, with more than 70% belonging to a statewide or regional group, 60% belonging to a local business association and just over 50% belonging to a national organization.

But the real news is how much more growth businesses that belong to trade associations saw in 2012 compared to the small percentage that don’t belong to a trade association.

Only 52.5% of those that don’t belong to a business association saw their revenue increase in 2012, compared to 76.7% of those that belong to a statewide business association, 72% that belong to a national business association and 70.6% that belong to a local business association. Obviously, membership in an association isn’t the only reason for this growth, but the educational resources and peer relationships you can build by joining a trade association are obviously beneficial.

It’s almost impossible to run a business without accounting software, and it is no surprise the survey bears that out.

Thankfully, 95% of respondents indicated they use accounting software in their business. And, 41.6% of those that don’t saw their revenues decline in 2012. So if you aren’t using software to track your finances, start doing it!

As far as software solutions go, QuickBooks owns the market. 79% of survey respondents use QuickBooks, 4% use Peachtree, 2% use Simply Accounting, and 10% use something other than those choices, ranging from MYOB to Slice to proprietary software.

We learned from the survey that field service software isn’t as widely used as accounting software. In fact, just about 1/3 (32%) of survey respondents use field service software in their businesses.

But those that do see some pretty significant results: 32% of those using field service software saw growth exceeding 20%, 79.7% saw revenue growth, and only 7.5% saw their revenue decline in 2012. Compare that to those not using field service software — 17% saw growth exceeding 20%, 64.5% saw some growth and 20.4% saw revenue decline — and you can see that field service software has an impact on businesses.

What accounting software do you use?

Quickbooks 79% Other

10%

None 5% Peachtree 4%

The educational resources and peer relationships you can build by joining a trade association are obviously beneficial.

Simply Accounting

2%

i get the most leads/customers from: My web site

16%

Email

2%

Social Media

1%

Direct Mail

5%

Print Advertising

5%

Other Which, to us, makes a lot of sense. We’ve been selling field service software to the green industry for more than a decade and our customers consistently report a significant increase in productivity. For instance, in our latest survey, nearly 50% of our customers indicated that HindSite increased their productivity by more than 10%, with 21% indicating a productivity increase of more than 25%. If software can improve productivity by such a significant amount, it’s going to impact your revenue and, more importantly, make you more profitable.

71%

I belong to the following:

Want to learn more about the green industry? Download a free copy of the Green Industry Benchmark Report today at http://www.hindsitesoftware.com/2013-green-industry-benchmark-report.cfm. In it, you’ll find nearly 30 pages of data and analysis from the survey, and insight that can help you stay ahead of the competition.

is President and Founder of HindSite Software.

Learn more at www.hindsitesoftware.com.

david crary

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➾ legal issues

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

onto a jobsite, the general assumes some risk that the sub will not be able to perform the contract, or that the sub will cause damage of some sort. The new law still allows a general contractor to require subcontractors to “provide or obtain insurance for the promissee’s vicarious liability or liability imposed by warranty, arising out of the acts or omissions of the promisor.”

What this is saying is that a general contractor can still require the subcontractors to obtain insurance which is in accordance with the terms of the contract the general contractor has with a property owner.

Additionally important to note, is that the new law does not prohibit a general contractor from requiring a number of other types of insurance which are traditionally a part of construction contracts. General contractors may require workers compensation policies, construction performance or payment bonds, builders risk policies, and project-specific insurance.

Finally, there are also some exceptions which relate to work done within 50 feet of a railroad.

These projects are largely regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Overall, this new law is good for the green industries. More often than not, landscapers, irrigation contractors, and others are subcontractors on the larger project contracts which will be affected by the new law. By preventing requirements that are contrary to public policy, the legislature has also made it easier for subcontractors to comply with contracts, obtain the necessary insurance, and generally worry less about liability which is outside of their control.

This article provides general information on contract and insurance law matters and should not be relied upon as legal advice. A qualified attorney must analyze all relevant facts and apply the applicable law to any matter before legal advice can be given. is a partner at Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC. His law practice focuses on assisting small business owners on a wide range of legal issues.

He can be reached at pmcguiness@zmattorneys. com. If you would like more information regarding this article or other contract issues, please contact Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC at 651-206-3203 or www.zmattorneys.com.

patrick mcguiness

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➾ awards

mnla awards programS M N L A L aunc h es Two N ew Awards P rograms

BACKGROUND

notable features

special thanks to our sponsors:

Last year, MNLA’s longstanding landscape awards program came to an end as part of the closing of multiple public relations programs at MNLA (as directed by the new strategic plan). In response to member feedback, a task team was formed to explore how MNLA can still honor excellence among our members under the new strategic plan, and

provide tools to help members market themselves.

The Recognizing Excellence Task Team and the Board of Directors are pleased to present two new awards programs for members. The first is a landscape-project-based program that builds on the successes of MNLA’s previous landscape awards program. The second is a company-based program.

Online: The application process, judging, and viewing of winning entries — all of this will be done online via software designed specifically for awards programs. This will make the entry process easier and more streamlined, and save a trip to the mailbox or the MNLA office.

No Categories: As in the previous program, no entry will be judged against another; each entry will be judged solely on its own merits. After determining if the entry follows the entry guidelines, judges will be called on to decide whether each entry is an example of excellence or not, based on the judging criteria.

Transparency of Process: Photos of entries and the judge’s notes about them will be available to all members, though non-winning entries will be anonymously displayed. This will give every member insight into how to create award-winning projects.

Tools for Promotion: Each winner will receive: A plaque (plus, additional plaques can be ordered).

Each online entry will have a comments section so that members can give and receive constructive feedback on their submission from their peers.

A package of marketing materials, including templates and plans for promotion to local media.

A badge on their profile in the MNLA directory that links to their project.

A crest for members to display in print and for posting on their website.

A bound photo book displaying the winning entry.

Resubmittal: If an entry is incomplete or incorrect, entrants will have one opportunity to amend their submission and resubmit their materials.

Member’s Choice Award: Using the online awards software, each member company will have a chance to vote for their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd favorite project. The results of the voting will be revealed at an awards event.

goals

The goals of both programs are the same: inspiration, education, and participation. The new programs should inspire MNLA members to achieve their highest potential in their work and company.

They should educate members on the qualities that characterize the very best projects and businesses.

The entry and judging process should be easily understandable so that all members can participate and aspire to win an award at some point.

The task team that initiated these programs is finished with their work and must be commended for their effort. Thanks to Jason Rathe, Field Outdoor

A new concept for MNLA: company-based awards: This program will recognize excellence in all types of members based on criteria such as safety standards, customer service, profitability, how challenges have been overcome, environmental responsibility, ethics, and employee care. There will be a distinction made between companies with fewer than 25 employees, and those with more (as measured during the company’s peak employment season).

Spaces; Randy Schmitz, Scenic Specialties Garden Center; Colleen Moran, Southview Design; Jim Saybolt, biota Landscape Design + Build; and Anne-Marie Moseman, Mickman Brothers. A new task team responsible for running the program in 2013–14 is forming now.

Many more details on both programs will be available in a “Call for Entries” that will be published on MNLA.biz this fall. If you currently have questions about either program, contact MNLA Communications Director Jon Horsman at 651-633-4987, ext. 4 or jon@mnla.biz.

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17759 Kirby Avenue • Hastings, Minnesota 55033

(651) 437-5017

Nominations Open for 2013 Friend of the Environment Award The MNLA Friend of the Environment Award honors an MNLA-affiliated company or individual for outstanding environmental efforts, a personal commitment to environmental protection and enhancement, or demonstrated leadership on a specific environmental issue in their field of work. The application is now available online at www.MNLA.biz. Nominations Save the finorstlater 90 days, save 5¢ in 10¢/gallon the MNLAfor office thanthen October 1 and are due on every gallon purchased at Holiday Stationstores. must be accompanied by a signed letter of support from the nominator. documentation and/or an essay Monitor Support your mileage, gas usage, and vehicle are alsomaintenance encouraged. The MNLA Awards & Nominating more effectively. No annual fee!

Committee, made up of past MNLA presidents, selects a Contact Mary at 651-633-4987. winner from among the nominees. If you have questions, please contact the MNLA office at 651-633-4987 or visit us online at www.MNLA.biz.

➾ uni v ersity of minnesota news

new majors at the U of M Horticulture is gone , long li v e Horticulture !

Jeff Gillman

retired the horticulture major this past semester.

Though students currently in the program will have the opportunity to finish, no new students will be enrolled in this program.

At first this might seem like a terrible blow to the green industry, but in reality it is anything but. Two new majors, plant science and food systems, have been approved that will take over the role of the old horticulture degree. These new majors have the advantage of involving many departments instead of just one, allowing students to interact with professors in other disciplines much more than in the past. The new majors give students more flexibility and freedom to explore horticulture and related disciplines, while continuing to provide excellent discipline-specific training.

Increased flexibility will allow the program to continue a great tradition of accepting transfer students and graduating them in a timely manner.

the university of minnesota

Of the two new majors, the one that is most similar to the old Horticulture major is Plant Science. This new major is orchestrated between the Departments of Horticultural Science and Agronomy and Plant Genetics, with participation from both Plant Pathology and Entomology.

Within this major students will have the opportunity to pursue various programs of study such as production, plant breeding/plant biotechnology, agroecology, turfgrass science, floriculture and nursery production or they can create an individualized program customized to their interests. Students who are preparing for a career in the green industry will take the same excellent upper-division coursework they would have taken in the current horticulture major.

The primary changes in the new major include broader exposure to disciplines related to plant science, a greater emphasis on experiential learning throughout the curriculum, and the inclusion of more interdisciplinary course options.

The new food systems major was created to appeal to students who are interested in the broad range of activities that put food on our tables, including production, processing, marketing, distribution and waste recycling, as well as the environmental impacts and sustainability of these activities. “Systems” thinking and service learning within the community are two new focus areas for this major. As with plant science, this major will allow students to select from a variety of different areas of specialization, the most popular of which may initially be organic and local food production, but also including agroecology and consumer and markets. Alternatively, this new major allows students to create their own individualized program of study.

As a member of the Department of Horticultural Science for the last fifteen years I must admit that I am sad to see the horticulture major go, but times change, and so do the needs of our students.

The new majors we now offer will provide our students with more robust choices that make them more employable in a changing landscape. The commitment of the horticulture faculty towards our students hasn’t changed, only the names of the majors and the improved opportunities for our graduates.

jeff gillman is an Associate Professor of Nursery Management in the Department of Horticultural Science at University of Minnesota. He can be reached at gillm003@umn.edu.

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➾ mnla news

business briefs AUG UST 2 0 1 3

hedberg introduces new showroom manager and outside sales rep Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies announced that Lacy Vreeland and Lance Ortlepp have joined the Hedberg team.

Vreeland is the new Showroom Manager at the Hedberg Masonry Selection Center in Plymouth, and Ortlepp is an Outside Landscape & Masonry Sales Representative at the adjacent flagship Hedberg location in Plymouth. Vreeland has over 10 years of interior design management experience with 7.5 of those years as KDR Designer Showroom Manager at International Market Square. Ortlepp has over 16 years of outside sales experience with seven of those years at a local major masonry/construction materials company.

Save 10¢/gallon for the first 90 days, then save 5¢ on every gallon purchased at SuperAmerica with the SA Fleet Fueling Program. Monitor your mileage, gas usage, and vehicle maintenance more effectively.

No annual fee! Contact Mary at 651-633-4987.

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august 13

• • • •

Cash Flow Advantage with pay-as-you-go premiums Customized Loss Control Services designed for YOUR business Proactive Claims Management Member/Group focused Contact Dennis Medo for more information: 651-389-1043

➾ networking

networking news Professional Gardener Meeting Date:

June 17

Top Takeaways: 1. We had a small turnout at this meeting, but it was a great opportunity for discussion and to ask questions on a variety of issues. The following important issues were discussed:

Guest:

MN law as it relates to employee break rules

Workman’s comp Subcontracting Contracts

Tax audits

Attorney Patrick McGuiness who specializes in legal matters for the green industry report by: Julie King

2. General liabilities insurance 3. Patrick was full of information and very open to receiving calls from anyone who might have more questions. He is a great resource!

Commercial Flower Grower Meeting Date:

Top Takeaways: 1. A great turn out — we had 90 people.

June 25

2. Gertens treated us like royalty.

Topic:

3. The new greenhouse range and outside growing area was exquisite.

Tour of the new Gertens greenhouse and expanded growing facility followed by a “News You Can Use” presentation by John Erwin report by: Jayne Roberts

Upcoming Networking Events

4. “News You Can Use” was useful and many questions about all the topics were discussed.

5. The best part was seeing old friends, meeting new friends, and talking about the growing season.

Commercial Flower Growers September 17 Networking meeting and tour of Tangletown production range in Plato, MN.

time to renew on mnla.biz!

Summer is the time for renewing your membership in the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association.

To continue your membership without interruption, please take a moment to renew by logging on at MNLA.biz. While you are logged in to your account, please review and update your company’s listing which will be published in the 2014 MNLA Membership Directory and in the online directory. On-line renewal is the most accurate and least expensive option!

MNLA Membership Director Mary Dunn stopped by Bachman’s Wholesale and dropped off a new MNLA sign. Let us know if you would like one for your business! Pictured: Scott Lindberg

Your continued support and involvement as a member of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is greatly appreciated.

Providing you with education, legislative representation, networking, and other member services is why MNLA exists.

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➾ th e last word

word on street the

if you could, what would you change about your job?

kristine uter, otten bros. garden center

& landscaping

It would actually be 2 things! First, I would like to have control over the weather (all weekends in May would be sunny!) The second would be to have a better system of communication and follow through between all departments and department heads.

It seems as email, texting and cell phones have made communication easier and instant, they have also inundated us with an excess of “noise.” Many important threads of business communication are lost in the chaos of electronic media to the detriment of the quality of our work.

ann standish, heidi’s lifestyle gardens

Working as a professional gardener is a fabulous occupation but if I could change one thing about my job I would choose to work more regular hours all season long, including the spring and winter!

Not only because we are all exhausted in the spring rush but also because of the cost of overtime we pay in May to get all the work done just to slow down to a crawl in August.

greg krogstad, rainbow treecare

As an arborist and treecare company it would be servicing storm damaged trees. It requires being out in dangerous conditions and working with hazardous, heavy trees. Although serving people with a critical need is rewarding, producing a raving client can be challenging because the client never wanted the damage in the first place.

Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association 1813 Lexington Avenue North Roseville, MN 55113