The Scoop Online - December 2010

THE

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES GROW HERE!

Insights and Information for Green Industry Professionals

VOLUME 33, NUMBER 12 December 2010

! am e T ur 7 Yo 32-4

h s es page r f - e RE Se

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2010 k3500 4x4 chassis 84 c/a, gas, posi, sno prep, from 26,999.

05 c4500 diesel, 74,xxx miles, 12ft steel flat with double acting hoist, new rubber, only 19,999.

2010 1500 ext wt 4x4 trailer pkg, pw, pl, t7c, posi, from 26,677.

2010 c1500 wt 4x2 ac, cruise, from 17,499.

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THE

From the Executive Director. . . . . . . . 7 Sustainable Environment. . . . 8-11, 22 Business Management . . . . . . . . 12, 23 Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 28-29 Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-19 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 2011 Day on the Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 45, 57 2010 MNLA Accomplishments . 30-31 Green Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-44, 47 MNLA Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49 Arborist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-51 MDA Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52-53 2011 Landscape Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Plant of the Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Careers Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

ADVERTISER INDEX AgStar Financial Services - 27 Belgard Hardscapes-Northfield-Bend - 4 BFG Supply - 56 BW Insurance Agency - 34 Carlin Horticultural Supplies /ProGreen Plus - 33, 50 Casualty Assurance - 27 Central Landscape Supply - 34 Central Wisconsin Evergreens, Inc. - 26 Ceres Environmental - 24 Cherokee Mfg. - 25 COWSMO, Inc. - 26 Creekside Soils - 12 Crow River Greenhouse & Nursery - 29 Cushman Motor Co., Inc. - 11 Floral Plant Growers-Natural Beauty - 22 Gardenworld Inc. - 60 Gertens Wholesale - 49 Haag Companies, Inc. - 59 Hal Tiffany Agency - 38 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies - 25 J.R. Johnson Supply, Inc. - 22

Jeff Belzer Chevrolet - 2 Johnson’s Nursery, Inc. - 11 JRK Seed and Turf Supply - 47 Kage Innovations - 29 Maguire Agency - 26 MN Equipment Solutions, Inc. - 50 Northern Christmas Tree & Nursery - 24 Out Back Nursery - 28 Plaisted Companies - 20 RDO Equipment Co. - 23 Specialty Turf & Ag - 53 Stonebrooke Equipment Inc. - 58 The Credit Card Dr. - 22 The Tessman Company - 38 Timberwall Landscape Products - 28 Truck Utilities & Mfg. Co. - 35 United Label & Sales - 34 University of Minnesota Continuing Education - 37 Wilson’s Nursery, Inc. - 39 Ziegler Cat - 3

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Finally, some good news.

Total distribution: 140,000. Other channels include St. Paul Home & Patio Show, Minneapolis Home & Garden Show, Minnesota Association of Realtors, Living Green Expo and the Minnesota State Fair. Contact MNLA Advertising Sales Representative Erica Nelson at 952.903.0505 x 3 or erica@pierreproductions.com to reserve your full color ad today! Deadline: December 10. Ad options as low as $450.

Upcoming Events December 2 – Lunch ‘n Learn: Invasive Plants in Minnesota. Rose Vine Hall, Roseville. For more information, visit www.mnla.biz. Sponsored by Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies.

5-6 – Irrigation Show 2010. Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz. For more information, see www.irrigationshow.org.

January 4 – Super Tuesday. Minneapolis Convention Center. For more information, see page 45 or visit www.NorthernGreenExpo.org.

5-7 – Northern Green Expo. Minneapolis Convention Center. Exhibit contracts available online at www.NorthernGreenExpo.org or call 651-633-4987.

19-21 – Mid-Am Trade Show. Navy Pier, Chicago. More information available online at www.midam.org.

21 – MNLA Certification Exam. Hennepin Technical College, 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445. For more information, visit www.MNLA.biz.

26-29 – ANLA Management Clinic. Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, visit. www.anla.org.

February 16 – Picture Perfect Plants & Garden Design. U of M Continuing Education & Conference Center, St. Paul. For more information, visit www.mnla.biz.

16 – JRK Winter Turf and Tree Conference. JRK Turf and Seed, Eagan. For more information, visit www.jrkseed.com.

March 2-4 – MECA Annual Conference. Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Plymouth. For more information, visit www.mnerosion.org.

5 – MNLA Landscape Gala. 317 on Rice Park, St. Paul. For more information, see page 55 or visit www.mnla.biz.

10 – MNLA Certification Exam. Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount. For more information, visit www.mnla.biz.

14-15 – Pesticide Certification Workshop & Exam. University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. For more information, visit www.mnla.biz.

15-16 – Shade Tree Short Course. Bethel University, Arden Hills. For more information, visit www.cce.umn.edu/Annual-Minnesota-Shade-Tree-Short-Course/index.html.

16-17 – Pesticide Certification Workshop & Exam. University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. For more information, visit www.mnla.biz.

30 – Introduction to Irrigation. Dorsey-Ewald Conference Center, St. Paul. For more information, see www.mnla.biz.

30 – Irrigation Installation. Dorsey-Ewald Conference Center, St. Paul. For more information, see www.mnla.biz.

30 – Landscape Irrigation Design: Design Principles. Dorsey-Ewald Conference Center, St. Paul. For more information, see www.mnla.biz.

30 – Landscape Irrigation Design: Application & Layout. Dorsey-Ewald Conference Center, St. Paul. For more information, see www.mnla.biz.

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 • GardenMinnesota.com

MNLA Mission The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help nursery and landscape related companies in Minnesota and the surrounding region operate their businesses more successfully.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bert Swanson, MNLA-CP, President Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. 218-732-3579 • btswanson@gmail.com Debbie Lonnee, MNLA-CP, Vice President Bailey Nurseries, Inc. 651-768-3375 debbie.lonnee@baileynursery.com Heidi Heiland, MNLA-CP, Secretary-Treasurer Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens 612-366-7766 • heidi@BloomOnMN.com Van Cooley, Past President Malmborg’s, Inc. 763-535-4695 van@geraniumsbygeorge.com Randy Berg, MNLA-CP Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 rberg@smig.net Scott Frampton Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 sframpton@landscaperenovations.com Tim Malooly, CID, CLIA, CIC Irrigation By Design Inc. 763-559-7771 • timm@ibdmn.com Bill Mielke Wilson’s Nursery, Inc. 952-445-3630 bill@wilsonsnurseryinc.com Herman Roerick Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601 hermanr@centrallandscape.com Bob Fitch MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • bob@mnla.biz Staff directory and member services directory near the back cover.

If interested in exhibiting or sponsoring, please call Betsy Pierre, 763-295-5420 / betsy@pierreproductions.com 6

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

The Scoop is published 12 times per year by the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113. Address corrections should be sent to the above address. News and advertising deadlines are the 5th of the month preceding publication.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | The Scoop

Innovation Even in Times of Economic Distress

By Bob Fitch, MNLA Executive Director ven with the severity of the current recession, MNLA was fortunate to be able to maintain most of its programs at a high level in the past year.

Better yet, 2010 saw continued innovation for the association on several fronts.

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Bob Fitch Take a look at the summary of 2010 association accomplishments featured in the center spread (pages 60-61) of this issue of The Scoop. This is just a snapshot of the highlights – many other programs and services were also ongoing. I would draw your attention to a few of the areas of innovation:

• MNLA has a great new member service partnership with Better Business Solutions / e Credit Card Doctor. is company’s services are saving the MNLA office hundreds of dollars every year on our telephone bill and they can probably help you lower your credit card processing fees and/or telephone bill.

• Green for Life was a phenomenal success - connecting members to their local schools, improving the environment via tree planting, and garnering sigificant local and statewide media coverage.

• e Sustainable Environment Committee has started a new environmental information resource at www.MNLA.biz. e first three installments are “Rain Barrels,” “Business Energy Efficiency,” and “Low Input Lawns.” Committee members have reviewed many sources to bring you some of the best information to help you operate your business in an environmentally

sustainable manner. To find the resources, click on “Business Resources” and “Sustainable Environment Resource” at MNLA.biz.

• e new Stormwater Management Task Team is hard at work ensuring that our association is engaged on this critical topic at both the educational and public policy levels.

Stormwater runoff control offers significant profit opportunities for MNLA members in the future – and those opportunities are enhanced by the current activity of industry leaders.

• e Garden Center Committee had a banner year: (1) e Garden Center Tour was successfully recharged; (2) the new Secret Shopper Program truly helped participating members find ways to improve their businesses; and (3) the Garden Center Industry Pulse Survey provided valuable insight on sales trends and business operations.

• MNLA staff implemented a new database system that is more efficient for us, plus makes it easier for you to register for events and log in to update your own member profile.

In sync with this change, our three websites (MNLA.biz, GardenMinnesota.com, and NorthernGreenExpo.org) were all significantly revamped expanding the information and services available to you and making them easier to find.

• e MNLA Foundation made a three-year commitment to expand an information campaign to youth informing them about careers in the green industry. Grassroots involvement is vital – contact Jodi Larson for more information (jodi@mnla.biz).

In the past year, we also laid the groundwork for more innovation in the year ahead: • e scope of the MNLA Landscape Gala will expand beyond the Landscape Awards in 2011 to also include the presentation of the Friend of the Environment and the Committee Member of the Year Awards, as well as other honorees.

Join us on Saturday, March 5 at 317 on Rice Park in downtown St. Paul.

• Garden Minnesota Yearbook will go door-to-door with home delivery by the StarTribune in 2011. Total circulation will increase by about 40 percent, yet ad rates are staying the same! is is a great marketing tool for landscape contractors, landscape designers, lawn care companies, arborists, and garden centers.

• e Northern Trees for Life Coalition campaign will kick off soon. If you’re interested in being a part of an army of ambassadors telling civic groups, city officials and the general public about the environmental value of saving our trees and planting new trees, contact me at bob@mnla.biz.

Volunteer members have played vital roles in all of these new programs, as well as in maintaining existing services. Even during these times of economic distress, visionary volunteers are giving their time to make MNLA an organization that helps successful business grow. q ________________________________ Bob Fitch is executive director of MNLA. He can be reached at bob@mnla.biz.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Soil Plays a Big Part in Landscape Success

By John Moe, Pangaea Design y now, you've had some time to learn about rain gardens, permaculture, native plants and maybe permeable paving systems. So you've probably noticed the John Moe subject of soil comes up in almost every discussion, seminar and street corner gathering about these practices. And each of them requires us to investigate a few things about the site soil. Not that we've been ignoring soil all these years; most of us rely quite heavily on our knowledge of soil fertility and structure, especially if we warranty our plantings. But by comparison, it feels like we've been coasting. Let's face it, until recently, the most exciting thing about soil was wondering whether it would turn your hydrangea pink or blue.

So how do we move from a world where every plant in our repertoire prefers moist, well-drained soil? And how do we ensure that our rain gardens, bio-swales and permeable paver systems will provide the long illustrious service lives we require? Soil will play a big part in that. And we need to master these practices, because these are not simply fads, or styles. Each of these technologies will become a thread in our new urban fabric. This industry will play a critical role in transforming our urban and suburban "green" spaces from merely beautiful and inspiring, to places that will earn their keep. We are living in the beginning of this new era.

Designers, planners and social visionaries are undertaking the tricky job of weaving this new fabric. It won't be wrinkle-free, but it will feature productive, socially vital, green places that are part land art, part urban infrastructure and part habitat.

Let's hop down from our unicorns for just a bit and get to work: You might be thinking; "I've never even taken a soil

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

sample, much less sent a sample in to be tested, so I hope John Moe isn't going to make me feel guilty."

Keep reading, you're safe here. Guilt and worry don't get much done at Pangaea's ShedQuarters. And while fear and anger are good for getting a pitchfork-wielding crowd together, I find curiosity (morbid or otherwise) to be the best motivator to try new things. Also, I'm in the same boat. I've been a landscape designer for over 25 years and I rarely send in soil samples for my customers.

How do I get away with this? To be perfectly honest, I do run into the need to test maybe 2 or 3 times per year. On those occasions, I'll request the homeowner take their own samples and mail them in before we even meet on site. But for almost every project, I rely on good-old farmer approved field testing. Just grab a handful of soil, and you instantly know something about the soil's structure and texture. Not bad for a start. While you're at it, check its color and scent. Then add some water and mush it around for a minute or so into a firm, but still very moist blob. Now you can perform a "ribbon test" to get a more accurate idea of the soil's classification (Sand, Clay, Loam and all points in between). The longer the ribbon you can create by pushing the sample between your thumb and index finger the higher percentage of clay it contains.

I'll post a video of the ribbon test in case you're interested. Field tests can tell you a lot, they're immediate, and they're mostly common sense stuff.

However, there are a lot of projects where you'll want to know more than the field test can tell you. You'll need a lab.

But first, you'll need a soil sample. If you're working with new construction, you'll probably have a layer of new topsoil in the yard. If you're curious about it (for lawn-building purposes, let's say) you can send in a sample taken from a single spot and you should get accurate test results. But you'll be more

interested in the underlying site soil, and there might be quite a difference between the front yard which might be on higher ground, and the back yard which may even be associated with a wetland. If your site features a split-level home (what are the odds of that?) it'll have cut and fill grading, so it's extremely likely that the soils in the front will be different from the back.

The secret to getting accurate test results is to take a representative sample of each area you feel might have different soil conditions. So you'll take samples from 4 or 5 random spots from within each area you'd like to test. Don't get too carried away digging, you only need about 2 cups total for each area. But you should pay attention to how deep you dig. The soils lab recommends taking a 6" depth sample for new lawn or garden areas, 12" depth for areas where you'll be planting trees and shrubs, but only 3" depth for existing turf areas. And you don't want any debris in your sample, so brush away any mulch, or scrape away any sod before digging up each sample.

For each area, collect the 5 mini-samples in the same bucket, then simply mix them together to create a composite sample for that area. You'll only need to submit about 2 cups (1 pint) for each sampled area. Then, place the sample in a clean bag or jar (you can order test sample bags from the University of Minnesota's Soils lab) and clearly mark the bag or jar with your name, address and a 4 digit identifier code (LAWN, or BACK, for example) that you create.

Choose something that'll help you identify each of the tested areas when the results come back. You could use GAGA if you were working on Lady Gaga's house.

I've been referring to the University of Minnesota's Soil Testing Laboratory web site for most of my advice. Here's the link to that site: http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu. You'll want to download the Soil Sample Information Sheet which contains everything you'll need to take good

samples, advice on different tests you might request (including costs) and the address/directions to the lab.

And if that's not enough, here's a link to a list of other labs in Minnesota that perform soil testing: http://www2.mda.state.mn.us/webapp/li s/soillabs.jsp.

You can use any method you want to dig up the sample, but I've been using a chrome-plated steel soil probe this past summer and it's very handy. Not only is it easy to haul around (versus a shovel) but it takes a nice clean sample without disturbing anything. If you need a 12" deep sample, you'll need to dig a decent sized hole with a shovel (might as well plant a daylily there while you're at it).

But you can take a 12" deep core sample in about 5 seconds with this tool. Plus, you end up with a nice little soil profile.

Forget about kicking the soil with your boot to check the site soil. Now you can check every site, even if you're not sending the sample in to the lab. I find myself using it to check soil moisture a lot. If there's one thing my customers are good at, it’s overwatering.

1" diameter x 18" depth Soil Probe Here are 2 photos of the probe in action (and yes, that's a Blueberry showing off its fall color!).

Another important test, and one that you can easily do, is a Percolation Test.

Knowing how rapidly water soaks in to the soil is a critical to the design of rain gardens, bioswales and permeable paving systems. I've done a bunch of these and it couldn't be easier. Dig a hole, fill it with water, and time how long it takes to soak in. Here's the expanded version: • Dig a hole about the size of a coffee can (12" deep and 12" diameter works).

Core sample.

• If the site has been dry for several days, fill it with water and let that soak in. Skip this step if it has rained a lot in the past 24 hours or the site soil is otherwise pretty saturated. Just be aware that you won't get an accurate percolation test with bone dry soil.

• Insert a stick or plant stake into the side of the hole, 2" or 3" from the top as a reference marker.

• Fill the hole with water until the marker is slightly below the surface (that'll give you time to put the hose down and get your timer set up) • As soon as the water level reaches the marker, start timing. Your cell phone will probably have a timer function if you don't wear a watch.

• Measure down (in inches) from the marker to the water surface at 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes and (if possible) 1 hour. If you're out surveying the site anyway, just set your cell phone to beep at the different intervals so you can be doing other chores while the water's soaking in.

• Transpose those measurements and times to inches per hour. You'll need to know either inches per hour, or inches per 24 hours to begin working with rain garden or permeable paver design calculations.

• In the example below (yes, that's actually my lawn), I've prepared the 12"x12" hole and inserted a standard-issue wooden shim near the top. I added the little yellow plastic floaty bits to help identify the water's surface just in case it didn't show up well in the photo. They have no other purpose.

• Photo 2 shows a 2" drop in the

water level after only 5 minutes.

Since there are 12 of the 5 minute intervals in each hour, my percolation rate is: 2 inches x 12 = 24 inches per hour. It would follow that I could expect a percolation rate of 576" for each 24 hour period.

That's 48 feet!

You don't need to be working on a rain garden to make good use of a percolation test. Especially in areas where you know there are heavier soils, knowing the percolation rate can be pretty handy. I've always assumed that

12" dia. x 12" depth hole with marker.

5 minute elapsed time = 2" drop. since we have frost heave here in the Midwest, all site soil whether compacted by construction or not, would eventually just loosen up on its own considering all the shrink/swell from soil moisture, plus the movement due to frost. I have recently learned this loosening effect is not nearly as significant as I thought.

That means a heavily compacted site with high concentrations of clay may take decades to recover. q ________________________________ John Moe is a member of the MNLA Sustainable Environment Committee and can be reached at pangaeadesign@comcast.com.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Miscanthus Can Be Invasive

By Mary Hockenberry Meyer, Professor and Extension Horticulturist, University of Minnesota iscanthus is a beautiful ornamental grass, it can, however, be invasive.

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There are 3 different kinds of miscanthus grown in Minnesota, keeping them straight is important in knowing which you should be selling and which can be invasive.

1. Miscanthus sacchariflorus: the rhizomatous kind….may be seen along a few roadsides, has WHITE flowers and invasive creeping rhizomes, it loves wet areas and grows easily in a roadside ditch. See photo #1.

Hardy in northern Minnesota and Canada, this kind sets very few seeds, but there is enough seed for the plants to move and naturalize, usually along highway corridors in moist locations. Few nurseries sell this kind of miscanthus, it is a problem in the garden and landscape because of the aggressive rhizomes.

Control: mow monthly during the growing season, or use roundup when the plants are 18” tall and repeat as necessary.

Can be eliminated with 1-2 years of mowing or chemical applications.

2. Miscanthus sinensis cultivars.

This bunch grass has many different foliage and flower forms, BEIGE flowers, and no rhizomes. ‘Variegatus’, ‘Zebrinus’, ‘Purpurascens’, ‘Silberfeder’ (silverfeather), ‘Strictus’, ‘Morning Light’, are in this group. All these cultivars have the potential to set seed, but they need two or more kinds to set seed. If you have one large 10

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

clump of ‘Zebrinus’ or only 4 plants of ‘Purpurascens’, then it is unlikely you will see seedlings.

But does your neighbor have miscanthus that may shed pollen near your plants? That might be enough to Photo 3. Giant miscanthus (left) is a sterile hybrid that flowers very late, if at all in Minnesota; this photo was taken on October 24, 2010.

Note height compared to people at right. set seed. When planting these cultivars in Minnesota, you must be vigilant in looking for and removing seedlings of these showy bunch forms of miscanthus. See photo #2.

Photo 1. Miscanthus sacchariflorus has aggressive rhizomes and has naturalized along Minnesota roadsides. Control by mowing monthly in the growing season, or using roundup repeatedly when plants are 18” tall.

Photo 2. One plant of Miscanthus sinensis had seeded into this Arboretum meadow. It is easy to see how this could go unnoticed.

Miscanthus should only be planted where it can be managed for self-seeding.

3. The third miscanthus is the GIANT form, Miscanthus x giganteus. This is a natural hybrid between M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis. This 10-15’ herbaceous grass is of great interest as a biomass fuel source due to its size and perennial growth. A sterile triploid that has no viable pollen, giant miscanthus flowers in October, about 3 of every 5 years in Minnesota. No seed or seedlings have been found from this plant, so it is the least invasive. It has slowly creeping rhizomes that very gradually increase in size. Its garden feature is height and stature, the flowers are irregular in appearance and the foliage is a uniform green. See photo #3.

At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, we have had all three of these kinds of miscanthus. We currently have 39 cultivars of M.sinensis; and a 23 year old planting of 4 plants of M. x

giganteus. We have eliminated the M.sacchariflorus because it was simply too aggressive with rhizomes that could not be contained unless we gave it an entire planting bed. We try to have 4 plants each of these 40 kinds, so we have about 160 miscanthus plants in the Arboretum collection. The oldest plants were planted in 1987, the newest in 2007. Over these 23 years, we have seen seedlings, about 5 a year, and these are easily removed. We have found miscanthus seedlings in the lilac hedge surrounding the grass collection. In 1999, I found one plant at the edge of the woods, about 30 yards from the north side of the grass collection. In 2007, I found about 20 miscanthus plants growing in the woods about 100 yards from the north side of the grass collection that had gone unnoticed for probably 2 years. They were growing in the shade and understory of the maple forest. I removed them with a shovel in November, when I could clearly see the plants after all the deciduous leaves had fallen. This October, 2010, the Arboretum gardeners told me they had seen a miscanthus plant in the meadow area about 2/10 of a mile east of the grass collection. When I removed this one plant (dug with a shovel to get all the roots), it had 62 seedheads, and about three times that many stems or culms.

The plant was probably three years old and had spread from seed from the miscanthus in the Arboretum collection.

Miscanthus is a beautiful showy ornamental, but it should only be planted where it can be managed for self-seeding, which it will do in our climate. Our weather is getting warmer and this means miscanthus has more likelihood of self-seeding, so we must be more vigilant in where it is planted.

Miscanthus alternatives include native grasses that are large and showy such are Sorghastrum nutans, Indiangrass ‘Sioux Blue’ and ‘Steel Blue’ and Panicum virgatum, switchgrass, ‘Cloud 9’ and ‘Northwind’. It is our responsibility to inform the public about plants that can be invasive in Minnesota. q ________________________________ Mary Meyer is a member of the MNLA Sustainable Environment Committee and can be reached at meyer023@umn.edu.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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COME VISIT US AT BOOTH #406!

The Scoop | NURSERY MANAGEMENT

The Business Waste of Underutilized People

By Craig Chilstrom, Prairie Edge Nursery abor is one of the largest costs associated with operating your business. Underutilized people are possibly the biggest waste within your organization. It can also be the hardest to recognize because it is not visible. When discussing underutilized people as a business waste, I am not looking at wasted time in Craig Chilstrom excess motion or items covered in the other business wastes. As a business waste, underutilized people are defined as not fully realizing and using all the talents and ideas that employees bring to your work environment.

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Creating a lean organization is a very people focused process. Involving employees allows them to improve the way they perform their duties. This will provide job satisfaction in ways that a paycheck cannot. Management sustaining the improvements employees create will show that the work they did is important and appreciated. Actions speak much more powerfully than words.

A motivated and engaged workforce can be a powerful tool for change within your organization. q ________________________________________________ Craig Chilstrom is a member of the MNLA Nursery Committee and can be reached at cchilstr@Wildbluecoop.com.

NOT Sold to Mass Merchants

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In a previous article I said people are your most valuable asset. People can bring to the workplace something that no other asset can provide. They bring all their past experiences and their unique view of your organization. No other asset can provide this. You can tap into all their past experiences and talents, by inspiring and motivating employees to offer ideas to improve efficiency and increase productivity within your organization.

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Sales & Marketing Jeff Meehan Sales, Inc.

1500 Adams Street SE Hutchinson, MN 55350 320.587.6762 www.creeksidesoils.com

2924 Anthony Lane North Minneapolis, MN 55418 612.788.6498 jmsi@popp.net

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

NOTICE: MNLA Annual Meeting – January 5, 2011 Notice is hereby given that the Annual Membership Meeting of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, in Room 201 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | CERTIFICATION

Magic from the Manual: Foliage Plant Basics

By Dr. Terry Ferriss, Professor of Horticulture, UW-River Falls he transition time between growing seasons is a great time to start reviewing for the MNLA Certification Exam. MNLA Certified Professionals are expected to have basic knowledge of the breadth of plant materials used in all aspects of the green industry, including foliage plants. Here is a quick Indoor Foliage Plants 101 lesson to launch your review process.

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Winter provides an opportunity to remind ourselves and our clients of the benefits and joys of incorporating tropical foliage plants into our interior environments. NASA research has shown that tropical foliage plants filter volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene and formaldehyde from the air. Just one potted plant per 100 square feet of indoor space in an average home or office was shown to be sufficient to cleanse the air of pollutants.

Australian researcher, Dr. Margaret Burchett, found that the presence of just one plant can increase a person's energy level by 28%, reduce anxiety and tension by 37%, reduce fatigue by 38%, reduce depression and rejection by 58% and reduce anger by 58%. How many plants are near your customer service desk?

Plants are calming and yet enhance human productivity.

Selecting the right foliage plant for the right location starts with matching the plant's light requirements to the setting. Frequently foliage plants are categorized according to high, medium or indirect, and low light requirements (see Table 1). Typically plants with variegated leaves prefer higher light intensities.

Symptoms of plants receiving excessive light may include hard growth, pale leaves, and bleached dry spots on the leaves. Plants in insufficient light may show weak growth, off color, leaf 14

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

drop, poor flowering, small new leaves, and/or thin stems. Short days of winter may accentuate low light symptoms.

Most foliage will perform well in a medium containing at least 50% peat and then other components including perlite, composted bark, rice hulls or coir. The medium should be well drained but hold ample water.

Encourage consumers to use the standard "finger test" to determine when a potted plant needs water. Insert the pointer finger into the medium and if it is dry down to the middle knuckle then re-water. It is better to run the plants on the dry side and avoid keeping them too wet to prevent potential root disease issues. Water thoroughly by allowing a little water to drain from the bottom of the pot. A subtle dulling in luster and/or gray-green leaf color can also suggest it is time to re-water.

In general, foliage plants only need fertilizer when they have sufficient light to put on new growth. During the winter many tropicals experience a quiescence or rest period and are not actively growing. Slow release fertilizers are an easy way to manage fertility and they can be pre-mixed with the potting medium prior to planting or added as a top dressing later. Liquid feeding is also common and most effective when low concentrations are applied every 2-4 weeks during the active growth period.

Most tropical foliage prefer temperatures between 55 - 80° F. Some may even show chilling injury below 55° F. This is sometimes observed in unheated shipping in late fall or early spring and appears as limp leaves and/or watersoaked leaf spots that may turn tan and dry. Blackened tissues generally results from freezing. Sleeving the plants in marginal temperature conditions prior to shipping can help prevent injury.

Holding the plants in a 5-10° warmer day temperature than night temperature

will maximize growth and plant health.

The warmer days promote photosynthesis while the cooler nights minimize respiration resulting in maximization of carbohydrate accumulation in the plants.

For more information on indoor foliage, other plants and a variety of plant growth and development cultural practices, refer to the MNLA Professional Certification Manual.q ________________________________ Terry Ferriss is a member of the MNLA Certification Committee and can be reached at terry.l.ferriss@uwrf.edu.

Questions 1. Examples of good foliage plant choices for a low light interior location might include: a. Pepperomia, Croton, English Ivy b. Dracaena, Aralia, Pothos c. Sanseveria, Aglaonema, Spathyphyllum d. Maranta, Schefflera, Chlorophytum 2. T or F Typically plants with variegated leaves prefer higher light intensities.

3. Interior foliage plants that receive insufficient light might show what type of symptoms? a. off color, leaf drop, poor flowering, small new leaves b. water-soaked leaves, thin stems, etiolated stems, hard growth c. bleached spots on the leaves, poor root development, short, thin leaves d. marginal leaf burn, slow growth, epinasty, cholortic stippling 4. T or F Just one potted plant per 100 square feet of indoor space in an average home or office has been shown to be sufficient to cleanse the air of pollutants.

Answers: 1. C; 2. T; 3. A; 4. T

LANDSCAPE | The Scoop

Re-thinking Rainwater What if designers treated rain like an amenity instead of toxic waste?

Reprinted courtesy of The Landscape Contractor magazine, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.

By Patrice Peltier

“Our industry is uniquely positioned to offer a huge benefit to the region. We affect land development in relatively small touches, with a large cumulative effect,” he points out. “If we can embrace

In 2009, Schaumburg installed an integrated rain garden in his favorite lab — his own 1/8-acre yard in Buffalo Grove. It’s been a huge hit with his children, Jake and Ally, as well as back-yard visitors.

“Anybody who’s come to our yard has been really enamored with it,” he reports.

esigner Gregory Schaumburg would like to revolutionize the way we think about “drainage problems” on a site. Maybe those wet spots, the low areas, the places where rainwater tends to pool — or even flow — aren’t problems, but opportunities.

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“As a species, human beings are control freaks,” says Schaumburg, senior designer at Hursthouse, Inc. in Bolingbrook.

“When a site temporarily floods in an area that we haven’t ‘allowed,’ we think something is wrong with the site, and something must be fixed. Very seldom do we think of allowing standing water to stay on the site, or to make something out of it.”

Often, a homeowner calls a landscape contractor to dry out a site. The contractor’s solution — “fixing” the site through piping and traditional measures — may eventually include irrigation and resulting higher utility bills. As the green industry embraces its potential and responsibility to provide more earthfriendly, sustainable solutions, Schaumburg asks whether the traditional “pipe it away” approach to rainwater makes sense.

landscapes that celebrate the collection of rainwater, creating mini “headwaters” that fill basins, spill into streams, trickle and collect and seep for a few hours or even a few days?

the simple fact that rain happens, and we can plan for it, then we can make a huge impact.”

Schaumburg proposes what he calls Integrated Rain Garden Design (IRGD).

Traditional rain gardens tend to be relegated to a small portion of the site.

Often, these gardens don’t relate well to the house or the rest of the landscape.

Integrated Rain Garden Design accentuates the drainage patterns on the entire site, turning the collection, overflow and movement of water into a landscape amenity that’s incorporated into the overall design.

People are drawn to water. We love to watch it, listen to it and play in it, Schaumburg notes. Why not create

It’s also a great way to teach his children about the natural world, and it’s entertaining, too. “My kids are big fans of our rain garden,” he says. “As soon as the basins fill, they’re out there playing in them — and so are the rest of the kids in the neighborhood.”

How can Integrated Rain Garden Design be used in different sites?

Schaumburg shares his own IRGD as well as proposals for other sites.

Schaumburg Property Schaumburg’s design escorts the water from the roof through a pipe that’s hidden by a storage shed. Water spills into what Schaumburg calls a “conveyance,’ a depression bordered by a low wall of stacked bluestone. The DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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in the lower spots. Plants that prefer to keep their feet dry are tucked up on the higher “shelves.” In his basin, Schaumburg has planted a combination of palm and fox sedges, butterfly milkweed, Joe Pye weed and amsonia.

By their nature, rain gardens are designed to be wet for only a few days at a time — during and after a rain. This is a tall order for both plants and for design. Both have to work equally well whether the garden is awash in water or bone dry. Schaumburg handled the first concern by carefully selecting plants that are adapted to both wet and dry conditions. Thanks to the strong lines and interesting use of form and texture, the design, too, works whether it’s soggy or parched.

conveyance is planted with palm and fox sedges dotted with yellowflowering zizia. The roots of these moisture- loving plants hold the soil in place while conducting water back into the ground.

As water moves along the first conveyance, it spills into a 25squarefoot basin near the patio.

From there, water is directed across the back yard along a curving conveyance of reclaimed granite cobble set just below the level of the turfgrass.

Near the back corner of the lot, the integrated rain garden features a second basin formed by a spiral of granite cobbles accented with several boulders. Using a technique he calls “microcontouring,” Schaumburg fine graded the basin to create small islands and shelves for planting. This allows him to use moisture-loving plants 16

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

Schaumburg’s original goal was to keep at least 50% of the rainwater on site. He’s happy to report that he’s able to retain 95% of the rear yard’s rainwater on his property.

“About twice a year, we’ll get so much rain that the water will

spill over into the lawn,” he says. On those occasions, that last little bit of water makes its way to the drainage easement that runs through the back yards of his subdivision.

Retrofit garden (below) Although Schaumburg’s employer, Bob Hursthouse, enjoys his traditional back yard water feature, Schaumburg began to wonder what could be done if

Hursthouse ever tired of his koi pond’s annual maintenance.

By breaking out the impervious bottom and adding soil amendments, the pond could be planted, creating a lower maintenance garden feature. During heavier rains, the planter could overflow into what would otherwise be a dry creek bed with a recessed basin to retain additional water.

For fun, Schaumburg added a roofed “viewing pavilion.” As the rain lets up, the pavilion provides a space for people to sit and enjoy the sight and sound of the rainwater as it burbles over rocks and swirls into basins. “We are so drawn to water,” Schaumburg says. “It’s nice to have a place that invites us to stroll and sit and watch the water at work in the garden.”

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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Ha-Ha Garden This design borrows the English concept of a ha-ha wall, a structure used to hide certain views. In this formal landscape, the ha-ha wall is a retaining wall for the rain garden basin.

Schaumburg envisioned the structure

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either as a dry-set stone retaining wall or a vegetated wall using soil mix contained in geotextiles. Below the ha-ha wall, the rain garden is hidden from view. From the house and patio, what people see is the more traditional mixed border at the back of the property.

Terraced Garden For this property with a moderate grade change, Schaumburg showcases rainwater using a number of techniques.

Downspout water is collected in a planter along one side of the patio. As the planter floods, water spills into a planted rill garden on the patio. From

there, it empties into an ephemeral rainwater planter, then into an open conveyance which borders the entire garden. In the first basin, water splashes onto a small stone cairn that dissipates the erosive energy of the water as it falls.

Water travels beneath a footbridge, ultimately emptying into a large basin at the site’s natural low point. Above this final basin is a terraced overlook which invites people to enjoy the small ephemeral pond below.

All photos and illustrations courtesy of Gregory Schauburg, LA, Hursthouse, Inc.

• Avoid “starving” receiving waters (SSI Credit 3.7) • Mimic nature in design of features (SSI Credit 3.8) • Don’t rely on potable water (SSI Credit 3.8) • Store water on site (SSI Credit 3.8) • Create a habitat (SSI Credit 3.8) Rain Garden Primer

Boost your SSI Credits Integrated rain gardens use multiple water management processes and qualify for a variety of Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI) credits, according to designer Gregory Schaumburg.

Integrated rain gardens:

• Manage rainwater on site (SSI Credit 3.5) • Protect and enhance on-site water resources and receiving water quality (SSI Credit 3.6) • Provide amenities featuring rain water not potable water (SSI Credit 3.7) • Create “treatment trains” (SSI Credit 3.7)

What IS a rain garden? It’s a specially constructed planted area designed to hold rainwater for up to a few days. This allows the water to seep into the ground instead of running into a storm drain.

Most of the time, a rain garden is dry.

But during a storm, a rain garden will allow 30% more water to soak into the ground than a lawn. Traditional rain gardens are generally located at least 10 feet away from a house. They are best placed on a slope and are bermed to retain water. Depending upon the size of the area to be drained, the slope of the property, soil type and size of the planted area, rain gardens can vary from three inches to a foot deep. q DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | SAFETY

The Future of OSHA

By Adam Tripp, TBG Loss Control Representative purred on by changes in Washington D.C., last year’s OSHA Region 5 meeting outlined new changes that are to be expected. Below are 14 points that are especially pertinent to MNLA’s Membership. OSHA’s goals for the near future are as follows:

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1. Increased Enforcement. This will potentially lead to additional inspections and citations.

2. Proposed Penalty Increases by a Factor of Three to Four 3. Development of New Standards. Focuses: a. Mobile Crane/Rigging/Flagging b. AWAIR – Safety and Health Management Updates c. Ergonomic Standard d. Combustible Dust e. Silica in General Industry and Construction f. Unified MSDS 4. Stricter regulation on OSHA 10 and 30 Hour courses 5. Increased attention on the Alternative Energy Industry 6. Recordkeeping will be cause for a Special Emphasis Inspection 7. Institution of a High/Repeat Violators Program 8. Eliminate Attractive Nuisance Exposures on construction sites

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9.

10.

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Lockout/Tagout becoming a target for inspections Increased concentration on Excavation Safety Completion of required training Investigators’ Files will be more accessible Additional focus on Manufacturing Companies in MN Education of Inspectors for more thorough inspections Other Areas of interest: a. Trenching b. Confined Space c. Combustible Dust d. RTK – Right to Know e. PPE – Personal Protective Equipment f. Machine Guarding There are many resources available to the MNLA Membership that will effectively minimize or eliminate your exposures to each and every OSHA citation. Besides, OSHA standards are merely the minimum guidelines for safety and we as a Loss Control Department would encourage you to go above and beyond what is expected from a safety standpoint. q __________________________________________________ The Builders Group (TBG) is a self-insured workers’ compensation insurance fund that has been protecting Minnesota’s construction industry for more than 10 years. For more information, go to: www.tbgmn.com.

The Scoop | SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

New Book Available on the 100-year History of Growing Forests in Minnesota hrough the years, Minnesota’s forests have withstood catastrophic fires, drought and flood, threats by insects and disease, and overharvesting by zealous timber barons supplying building materials for growing cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul. For the last 100 of those years, the Forestry Division of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has overseen the protection and care for those forest resources.

To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Division of Forestry in June 2011, a 104-page history book, “Connected to Our Roots: 100 Years of Growing Forests in Minnesota,” is now available for $10.95 through Minnesota’s Bookstore at 651-297-3000 or toll free 800-657-3757, or at www.minnesotasbookstore.com.

The book is mostly pictorial, containing nearly 200 photos (predominantly black and white) that are enhanced with descriptive captions. Narratives, maps, quotes, documents and firsthand accounts from early foresters describe four eras of forestry: Pre 1911, 1911-1930, 1931-1970, and 1971-Present.

The book also includes a timeline depicting events that molded forestry and how the original Minnesota Forest Service evolved into what it is today.

“Minnesotans are known for their enthusiasm for the outdoors and the high regard in which they hold their natural resources,” said Meg Hanisch of the DNR Forestry Division.

“People might consider a purchase of this historical book so they can plunge into the past and learn how one of the state’s natural resources – the forest – is as important today as it was all those years ago.” q

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

The Scoop | BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Boring but Necessary: Make Sure Your Business Documentation is Current

By Patrick McGuiness, Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC ne major reason for having an LLC as your business entity, instead of just sticking with a sole proprietorship, is the protection from liability that an LLC Patrick McGuiness can offer. Take this situation for example.

A business loses a lawsuit and has a judgment entered against it for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of the time when the creditor attempts to collect on that judgment, only the assets of the LLC are fair game. However, sometimes the personal assets of the owners of an LLC can be taken. When this happens it

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can be because the LLC’s paperwork is not in order, or LLC money has been comingled with personal money of the owners.

Are your company’s documents in order? Do you even know what documents you should have on hand? If your business is an LLC, here is a short description and list of what you should have on hand at your office.

The Minnesota Limited Liability Company Act (MLLCA) governs LLCs in Minnesota. Under this act, an LLC must maintain certain records at its principal office. The following records are required to be maintained under the MLLCA: 1. A current list (name & address) of members, governors and chief managers.

2. A copy of the articles of organization and any yearly filings with the secretary of states office.

3. A current list (name & address) of each assignee of financial rights.

4. A description of the rights assigned except as related to secured parties.

5. Copies of all articles (with amendments).

6. Copies of any currently effective bylaws.

7. Copies of all tax returns for the past 3 years or all tax returns if the business has existed for 3 years or less.

8. Financial Statements required by Minnesota Statute 322B.376 - A limited liability company shall prepare annual financial statements within 180 days after the close of the limited liability company's fiscal year. Please consult Minnesota Statute 322B.376 or your attorney for additional requirements.

9. Records of all reports to members and proceedings of members and the board for the last 3 years. Or all proceedings if the business has existed for 3 years or less.

10. Records pertaining to contributions and contribution agreements of members.

It is very important to keep your business documentation organized.

When in doubt, always save documents and seek the advice of your attorney as to whether you should keep them.

Spring will be here before you know it and all of the things which you thought you would have plenty of time for will start to pile up. So put this on the top of your list and make sure your LLC’s documents are in order. q ________________________________ is article provides general legal information on business 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. If you would like more information, please contact Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC at 651-206-3203.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | The Scoop

2011 Day on the Hill Vital for Your Company’s Interests he huge turnover at the Minnesota Legislature means that the Green Industry Day on the Hill on Wednesday, March 2nd takes on a new dimension of importance.

“We need a great turnout of members to help us introduce MNLA and green industry issues to the large number of new legislators and new committee leaders,” said Bob Fitch, MNLA executive director. “MNLA has always tried to be bipartisan in our approach. Our issues typically do not fall into one partisan political camp or another.”

“What is important is building relationships with legislators so that as our issues arise, we have an open door and a listening ear at House and Senate offices,” Fitch said.

The Green Industry Day on the Hill kicks off with an orientation and training session at the Kelly Inn across the street from the Capitol complex in St. Paul. Members then visit legislators in teams – with newcomers always paired with veterans.

MNLA staff make all the appointments.

Mark your calendar to take part in the March 2nd event.

Registration is free and will start in January. q

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• Wreath Rings • Specialty Rings • Wire Baskets • AND MORE!

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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9:18 PM

Page 1

Join the biggest public service event of the MNLA year! Look for the big signup poster at the MNLA Community Center at the Northern Green Expo, January 5-7, 2011! and Nationwide Agribusiness

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Use As a: • Mulch • Soil Amendment • Organic Matter Source

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

THE SCOOP | MINNESOTA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Upcoming Classes from Minnesota Hort Society he following classes are sponsored by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, but are held at various locations, as noted. Enrollment is limited, and pre-registration is required.

To register, call 651-643-3601 or 800676-6747, ext 211.

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Prairie-Style Gardens: Capturing the Essence of the American Prairie Wherever You Live Thursday, December 2, 6:30 to 8 p.m. $15 members, $25 non-members. Location: Bachman's Heritage Room, 6010 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis.

With its unique blend of grasses and sturdy perennials, the North American prairie is one of the world’s richest and most beautiful biotopes. It’s also one of the most endangered. Fortunately, you can recreate some of this diversity at home and enjoy these fascinating plant communities up close. Lynn Steiner's new book PrairieStyle Gardens shows you how to use prairie plants in a wide variety of situations, from including a few prairie

plants in an existing landscape to creating a full-fledged habitat garden. Join us for a presentation based on Prairie-Style Gardens, with a book signing to follow.

Refreshments will be served. Instructor: Lynn Steiner is a gardening writer and speaker; she has authored three books, several articles, and regularly contributes to Northern Gardener magazine.

Make a Classic Fresh Christmas Arrangement Saturday, December 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m. $25 members, $35 non-members. Location: Koehler and Dramm, 2407 E. Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis.

Create a class act for Christmas at this fun hands-on workshop. You will make a classic arrangement with greens and fresh flowers sure to brighten your holiday celebration. Then, we have a little time to shop at K&D's extensive inventory of floral supplies. Instructor: Ardith Beveridge is a floral designer, author, teacher and director of the Koehler and Dramm Institute of Floristry. q

Our goal is to exceed your expectations. or our agency, and Auto-Owners Insurance, 99.9% just isn’t good enough...we want to provide our customers with 100% service!

Contact our agency about our “Super Outstanding Service” today—we’ll work hard to exceed your expectations!

We have coverage for growing stock!

Tom Stuewe, CIC 952/556-4864 t.stuewe@casualty-assurance.com

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | CERTIFICATION

MNLA Professional Certification Study the Manual and Attend Training At Green Expo 2011

By Dr. Bert T. Swanson, Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. re you a MNLA Certified Professional? If not, why not? If not, you should be, and you need to be! In these difficult times of sales and unemployment, consumers and employers can pick and choose with whom they wish to do business. If you have a choice of a Certified Professional who has studied for, Bert Swanson and has passed a comprehensive examination in a professional organization, and person who has not accomplished this, whom would you choose?

Here is the formula for obtaining MNLA Professional Certification. Purchase the Certification Manual, which is now available in hard copy. Read and Study the Manual! Discuss your questions with your colleagues. Read and Study the

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Manual! Attend the MNLA Professional Certification Training at the 2011 Northern Green Expo on Friday, January 7, 2011 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Read and Study the Manual! Discuss your questions and areas of difficulty with your colleagues and other Certified Professionals. Read and Study the Manual! Find a mentor if needed. Read and Study the Manual! Achieve 2000 hours of Experience in the Green Industry or achieve a two or four-year degree in a Horticultural related field. Read and Study the Manual! Pass the MNLA Professional Certification Examination on Friday, January 21, 2011 at the Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, MN or on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN. This formula is simple and straight forward, but you must Read and Study the Manual!

The full day MNLA Profession Certification Training Session at the 2011 Northern Green Expo is not required, nor

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does it guarantee that you will pass the examination. However, it will better prepare you to take the exam and it should improve your ability to pass the examination. It will provide information about how to take the exam. You will receive a lecture and hands on instruction on how to identify plants.

You will receive technical information required to pass the Basic Examination.

You will attend break-out sessions that will provide technical information on the Specialization of your choice. You will have the opportunity to actually take a Certification Training Examination on your own time during mid-day. You will participate in a discussion wherein we will spend whatever time is necessary to review the questions from the Basic and all three Specializations of the Training Examination, so that you will know the right answers and/or you can ask specific questions about a specific topic.

Another specific benefit of this Northern Green Expo Training is that a great number of plants will be on display and labeled for you to study throughout the entire convention. The plants will be located in the 200 Level Lobby near Rooms 200HIJ. You can study these plants from noon Tuesday, January 4, 2011 to 3:00 PM Friday, January 7, 2011. This is a huge opportunity and advantage for you in preparation for this examination. Please study these plants prior to the training session to facilitate

your learning and comprehension during the training session.

There will be no handouts available CERTIFIED at Expo this year.

Professional However, all the handouts for Expo will be available on line. Please go on line and print out all the information relative to MNLA Certification Training and bring those handouts to the Expo Training Session. Make sure you have Tim Vogel’s Plant Material Handout.

Learning Objectives for each chapter of the MNLA Certification Manual are also online. Although they may not be totally inclusive of all material on the exam, they can be used as a study guide.

But remember, Read and Study the Manual!

This MNLA Certification Training will be presented by the following highly qualified MNLA Certified Professionals: Mark Armstead, Linder’s Garden Center; Dr. Terry Ferriss, University of WI, River Falls; Laurie Robinson, Bailey Nurseries, Inc.; Jay Siedschlaw, Hennepin Technical College, Tim Vogel, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. and Dr. Bert Swanson, Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. If you have any specific questions, please contact any of these professionals.

Read and Study the Manual! Attend MNLA Certification Training on January 7, 2011. Read and Study the Manual! Pass the MNLA Professional Certification Examination on January 21 or March 10, 2011. q ________________________________ Bert Swanson is the President of MNLA and can be reached at btswanson2@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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MINNESOTA NURSERY & L 2010 Accom DAY oN THe HILL

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Successful Busine Members successfully lobby for $$ for tree removal and replacement in the wake of eAB

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MNLA CoMMITTeeS education • Networking • Commerce MNLA Certification exams, 22 new MNLA-CP’s!

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January

150 volunteers on 20 committees meet all year to plan and implement MNLA programs and services.

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MNLA staff meet with members and prospective members at Gerten’s, Hedberg’s and Bachman’s shows.

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February

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March

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MNLA Stormwater Management Task Team created and MNLA representative named to MIDS Board.

Landsc Manag Landsc are re-f educat Landsc Advanc

MNLA staff meets with members and prospective members at BFG, JRJ and Foster's shows.

Revamped NorthernGreenexpo.org launched.

July

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Perennial Growers Tour

Garden Center Tour

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August

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State Fair Garden

Foundation

September

Revamp

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MNLA FY 2010 ends. Association finishes the year in the black.

Widmer Golf Landscape Design Tour

Foundation

Green Industry Shootout

LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION mplishments Mark your calendars for M

esses Grow Here!

NLA Landscape Gala on March 5, 2011!

Foundation di

NeW MeMBeR SeRvICe Better Business Solutions /The Credit Card Doctor can help you lower your credit card processing and telephone bills.

MNLA members take part in PLANeT Day of Service.

eDUCATIoN DAYS

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April

Staff implements expo Plans.

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ape Contractors, Landscape ement, Hardscapes and ape Lighting Committees formed into Landscape ion Committee and ape Professional cement Committee.

Landscape Awards Display at Arboretum.

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May

New Sustainable environment Resource section opens at MNLA.biz.

• • June • MNLA on Facebook! expo on Twitter!

Careers Promoted

Arbor Day Poster Contest Tree Planting

October

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Foundation

MNLA strikes a deal to distribute 2011 Garden Minnesota Yearbook in Star Tribune!

40% increase in circulation, with no ad rate increase. Call 952-903-0505 ext. 3.

November

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Time for expo Again!

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December

1st Midwest Home Design Awards

MNLA companies plant trees at schools...environment improved and media coverage captured!

Garden Center Secret Shopper Program helps MNLA retailers.

Minnesota Society of Arboriculture and MNLA arborists care for Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

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ped MNLA.biz launched.

Year #5: Recycling Program continues

Business Immigration Coalition website launches – mnbic.org.

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Programs on perennials, irrigation, pavers, retaining walls and pest control are held February-April.

Capitol Rotunda Decorating

G REEN

fresh your team for a new season Ask the Experts Located in the “Ask the Experts” area in the back of 200/300 Aisle on the trade show floor.

Presented by the University of Minnesota in partnership with MNLA and MTGF.

Have a burning question that you’ve been meaning to ask but never had the opportunity?

We’ll put you face-to-face with local green industry and business experts from a range of fields.

Below is a list of experts and when they will be available for you to discuss your issues one-on-one!

Note: All experts listed below are from the University of Minnesota, unless otherwise indicated.

Wednesday, January 5 10:45 am – 11:45 am

Eric Watkins – Turfgrass Science Jeff Hahn - Insects

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Patrick McGuiness- Zlimen and McGuiness, PLLC – Contracts, Mechanics Liens, and Collections Jeff Gillman – Nursery and Landscape Research

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Chad Giblin – Elm Tree Pruning Alan Smith – Reducing Plant Invasiveness and Improving Horticultural Plants

Thursday, January 6 10:45 am – 11:45 am

Dave Hanson – Urban and Community Forestry Brian Horgan – Turfgrass Science Mark Seeley - Minnesota Weather: How is it Changing? What are the Consequences?

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Michelle Grabowski – Plant Diseases Tom Halbach – Composting and Application Bob Mugaas – Turfgrass Management

12:45 pm – 1:45 pm

Patrick McGuiness- Zlimen and McGuiness, PLLC – Employment Issues and DOL Compliance John Erwin – Green Roofs/Greenhouse Management David Zlesak, University of Wisconsin – River Falls – Herbaceous Plant Material and Roses

Friday, January 7 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Vera Krischik - Insects Bob Mugaas – Turfgrass Management

NORTHERN GREEN EXPO | The Scoop

The Inside Scoop for MNLA Members on the 2011 Northern Green Expo N

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RING 5, GET THE 6TH FREE! We know times are tight.

Consequently, there are no increases in registration fees for the 2011 Green Expo. Plus, bring five people and the sixth is free! If you register five people online, simply call the MNLA to give us the name of the sixth person; or you can fill in the name yourself if you’re using the printed form.

WHAT? NO HANDOUTS?!? To be as green as possible and conserve natural resources, we will NOT be printing handouts any longer. However, handouts WILL be available at NorthernGreenExpo.org before or after the Expo – there is no charge and no password is required. For the most current updates, check the website late this month.

Handouts will be available for printing at the FedEx Kinko’s store at the Convention Center – but FedEx will charge you a per page fee.

ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY – FRIENDLY CHANGE: Our 100-120 page program is no longer being printed in its traditional format. It will be emailed to

you as a flip-book and ary 5-7, 2 1600 aisle and the Northern u 0 n comparable information is Gardener Bookstore has moved H always available online at to the front of the 1900 aisle.

T ER R O NorthernGreenExpo.org.

Finally, there are new aisles at An abbreviated, printed an angle which has changed guide will be available onsite. sight lines and booth locations. Re-explore Expo’s PARKING TIP: The least GR EN trade show!

E expensive parking is in the First Lutheran lot on Third NO MORE Avenue on the east side of the PIGEONHOLES . . . Take time to Convention Center. This is also the read through the Expo schedule, time slot parking closest to our lobby/exhibit hall. by time slot. We haven’t set up industry segment grids that pigeonhole what session SHUTTLE DOWN NICOLLET is for you. Many sessions are applicable to FROM THE RAIL LINES! Take the many industry segments . . . read the titles Hiawatha Light Rail line or the Northstar and read the detailed descriptions online Commuter Rail to downtown to choose from among the many options.

Minneapolis and then take advantage of the FREE shuttle bus that will run you WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE down Nicollet Avenue and right to the SHAKEUP! The 2.5 hour dedicated trade front door of the Convention Center. show time at mid-day Wednesday has From 6 a.m.-7 p.m., the shuttle runs been split up. There’s the same amount of about every 10 minutes. From 7 p.m. to 1 trade show time and the same amount of a.m., it runs every 15-20 minutes. education time, but the seminar schedule has been shifted so that there are two TRADE SHOW CHANGES . . . The periods of dedicated trade show time.

Café is now in more of a central gathering Thursday’s schedule will stay the same as spot at the back of the 1000/1100 aisle. in years past.

We’ll be interested to hear Education-on-the-Go sessions are located your feedback on which schedule you like in the old café location at the back of the better. q

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By Bob Fitch, MNLA Executive Director

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DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

Book Your Hotel Rooms Now for Green Expo! he hotel blocks at the Northern Green Expo hotels often sell out early, so don’t be left out in the cold. Book your hotel rooms now!

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It’s about the people who rely on the business: the customers ... the employees ... and you!

The Scoop | NORTHERN GREEN EXPO

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The Hyatt Regency Hotel Minneapolis The Hyatt Regency Hotel Minneapolis is the Northern Green Expo’s headquarters hotel. The Hyatt is home to Spike’s, Oceanaire, and the Regency Health Club and Spa. Discounted Room Rates Available! Room Rate: $96.

Discounted rooms are limited, so make your reservations now by calling toll free 888-421-1442.

The Millenium Hotel The Millenium Hotel is connected by skyway to the Hyatt Regency and the Minneapolis Convention Center. Discounted Room Rates Available! Room Rate: $96. Discounted rooms are limited so make your reservations now by calling toll free 866-866-8086. q

Business Management Seminar Highlights

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• Growing Your Landscape • e Appeal of Biodegradable ary 5-7, 2 0 Business Containers to Consumers nu H • e Reality and Impact • Website Management: e T E OR R of Social Media on Next Step Green Industry Businesses • Pesticide Bans in Canada: Is • How to Attract New the U.S. Next?

Customers Using Social • Gopher State One Call 2011GR EN E Media Important Changes and Big Roger Fisher • Too Many Laws, Rules, and Improvements You NEED to Know Regulations. I Just Want to • Hands-On and In-Depth Training to Become an Work.

MNLA Certified Professional • Lean Business Operations: What Does Featured speakers include: at Mean?

Christy Webber, Christy Webber Landscapes, Chicago, Illinois • Lean Business Operations: Sounds Good in Chris Heiler, LandscapeLeadership.com, Zeeland, Michigan Principle, How Do You Do It? Roger Fisher, R S Fisher Inc, Hudson, Ohio • Lean Business Operations: My Company is Plus many more great seminars and speakers! To view the "Unique." Can It Really Work For Me? entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions, visit • Garden Center Idea Exchange www.NorthernGreenExpo.org. q SM

Christy Webber

Chris Heiler

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DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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Plant Materials and Plant Care Seminar Highlights

John Greenlee

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• Are We Choosing Disposable Landscapes? Leading Trees to Success or Failure

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• People, Places, & Plants (Perennials)

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• Great Gardens of England

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• Gopher State One Call 2011- Important Changes and Big Improvements You NEED to Know

Jim Nau

• Lean Business Operations: What Does at Mean?

• Lean Business Operations: Sounds Good in Principle, How Do You Do It?

• DED Resistant Elms

Debbie Lonnee

• Website Management: e Next Step

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• Hydrangeas for Minnesota

Chris Hansen

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• Cues, Signals & Tree Response to Pruning

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• Exciting New Perennials

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• Selecting Minnesota Elms Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease

Lean Business Operations: My Company is "Unique." Can It Really Work For Me?

• Keys to Growing Your Most Important Crops

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e Reality and Impact of Social Media on Green Industry Businesses

• Grasses and Meadow Plants from A-Z

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• Recognizing and Working with Natural Enemies of Insect Pests on Trees and Shrubs

How to Attract New Customers Using Social Media

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Creating Eye-catching Flower Beds and Containers

• Nursery Inspectors Notebook

•

Winter Maintenance of Parking Lots and Sidewalks for the 21st Century

Kevin Smith

Dave Wanniger

Not the Same Old, Same Old - New & Better Trees and Shrubs for Residential Landscapes

Featured speakers include:

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New Bedding Plant Varieties for 2011

John Greenlee, Greenlee & Associates, Brisbane, California

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Winning Plant Combinations

Chris Hansen, Great Garden Plants, Holland, Michigan

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What's New in the World of Woodies?

Debbie Lonnee, Bailey Nurseries, Inc, St. Paul, Minnesota

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Designing the American Meadow Garden

Jim Nau, Ball Seed Company, West Chicago, Illinois

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Crew Leader Idea Exchange

Kevin Smith, USDA Forest Service, Durham, New Hampshire

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Too Many Laws, Rules, and Regulations.

I Just Want to Work.

Dave Wanninger, Beaver Creek Nursery, Poplar Grove, Illinois

•

Today’s Outdoor Power Equipment Maintenance

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Mn/DOT Certified Landscape Specialist Certification/Re-certification Class

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

Plus many more great seminars and speakers! To view the entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions, visit www.NorthernGreenExpo.org. q

NORTHERN GREEN EXPO | The Scoop

Higher Education Alumni Social Returns to Expo! he Northern Green Expo offers you the chance to re-connect with college friends and instructors!

Save the date for the 2011 Higher Education Alumni Social scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 5 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. More details coming soon at z.umn.edu/nghhes. q

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Vern Black Honored as a Fellow of the IPPS Eastern Region ern Black, Bailey Nurseries Inc., was elected as a Fellow of the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagators’ Society on Sept. 30 in Rhode Island. The Fellows Award recognizes members for exceptional service to the Society and to the advancement of the field of plant propagation and production.

An IPPS member since 1981, Vern has served on many committees and continues to keep IPPS at a high priority level in his life. He served on the board of directors of the Eastern Region from 2007 to 2010.

Black started at Bailey Nurseries in 1972 working in all aspects of production. From 1979-1991, he led the propagation division and risen in the ranks and became vice president for Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois production.

One of his claims to fame is that he discovered the Original Endless Summer blooming in his neighbor’s garden and brought it into cultivation.

The International Plant Propagators’ Society membership is made up of individuals with a professional interest in plant propagation and production from businesses, colleges and universities, botanic gardens and arboreta. q

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Water Management and Irrigation Systems Seminar Highlights N

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ry 5-7, 2 • Irrigation System Review • Lean Business Operations: My ua 0 n Company is "Unique." Can It Really • Promoting Efficient H T E R R Work For Me? Irrigation O • e Reality and Impact of Social • Integrated Water Media on Green Industry Businesses Quality Management • Too Many Laws, Rules, and Strategies G N R Regulations. I Just Want to Work.

• Irrigation EE Troubleshooting • Growing Your Landscape Business Bud Laidlaw • Two-Wire Technologies Featured speakers include: • Website Management: e Next Jeff Latterell, Irrigation Consulting Group, Ham Lake, Step Minnesota • Gopher State One Call 2011- Important Craig Otto, Water in Motion, Inc., Plymouth, Minnesota Changes and Big Improvements You Bud Laidlaw, Otterbine Barebo, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona NEED to Know Plus many more great seminars and speakers! To view the • Today’s Outdoor Power Equipment entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions, visit Maintenance www.NorthernGreenExpo.org. q SM

Jeff Latterell

Craig Otto

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The Tessman Company has been in the green industry since 1950. Serving lawncare, landscape, greenhouse, nursery, and golf industries.

We have warehouses in St. Paul, Fargo and Souix Falls.

We carry a complete line of Ice Melter products.

Distributor of Professional Ice Melter® Tessman Sioux Falls

27093 Sundowner Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57105 (605) 368-2586 (800) 234-1965 38

Tessman Fargo

610 39th Street North Fargo, ND 58102 (701) 232-7238 (800) 474-7238

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

Lawn, Garden & Landscape Management Seminar Highlights

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Award Winning Landscapes: Installation & • Lean Business Operations: What ary 5-7, 2 Management Does at Mean? u 0 n Gardening for Insects - or Not! How • Lean Business Operations: THE OR R Planting Selection Impacts Insect Sounds Good in Principle, Populations on Trees and Shrubs How Do You Do It? Today’s Outdoor Power Equipment • Lean Business Operations: Maintenance My Company is "Unique." Can GR EN It Really Work For Me? E Creating Eye-catching Flower Beds and Containers • How to Attract New Customers Using Social Media Winter Maintenance of Parking Lots and Sidewalks for the 21st Century • Too Many Laws, Rules, and Regulations. I Just Want to Work.

Assessing and Evaluating Turfgrass Management Options for Difficult Sites • Irrigation System Review Pesticide Bans in Canada: Is the U.S. Next?

• Promoting Efficient Irrigation Organic Turfcare: A Systems Approach • Irrigation Troubleshooting Wear Area Management: How to Maintain High Use • Two-Wire Technologies Turf Areas Featured speakers include: Organic Turfcare: Organic vs. Synthetic Fertilizers Chip Osborne, Osborne Organics, Crew Leader Idea Exchange Marblehead, Massachusetts IPM Strategies for Important Turfgrass Diseases: Snow Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State Mold and Dollar Spot University, Fort Collins, Colorado A Review of Landscape Insect Management Products Steve Hagen, Stihl, Farmington, Minnesota and Strategies 2006-2016 Plus many more great seminars and Effective Application of Fertilizers and Plant-Protectants speakers! To view the entire schedule-at-aGopher State One Call 2011- Important Changes and glance and seminar descriptions, visit Big Improvements You NEED to Know www.NorthernGreenExpo.org. q

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Chip Osborne

Whitney Cranshaw

Steve Hagen

ARE YOU A LOCAVORE?

New Germany Growing Range Farm Direct Sales Phone & Fax: 952-353-2175 Bill’s Cell: 612-282-8434 Chanhassen Wholesale Yard 952-445-4088 1-800-477-4123 Fax: 952-445-6219

Why buy out-of-state nursery stock grown by people you don’t know, in soil you don’t know, with possible pests and diseases you definitely don’t want?

Nursery stock expertly grown in Carver County, Minnesota Superior quality & excellent customer service. Fair prices.

WILSON’S HAS IT ALL! Visit us at booths 821 & 823 at the Northern Green Expo and discover why you should be a nursery locavore!

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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Landscape Design-Build Seminar Highlights

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• Landscape Projects: Lessons From the Field

• Exciting New Perennials

• Are We Choosing Disposable Landscapes?

Leading Trees to Success or Failure • Hydrangeas for Minnesota • Great Gardens of England • Selecting Minnesota Elms Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease • Grasses and Meadow Plants from A-Z • Not the Same Old, Same Old - New & Better Trees and Shrubs for Residential Landscapes

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• Combination Containers in the Landscape

Gardening for Insects - or Not! How Planting Selection Impacts Insect Populations on Trees and Shrubs

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New Bedding Plant Varieties for 2011

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Winning Plant Combinations

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What's New in the World of Woodies?

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

Natural Stone Patios • Crew Leader Idea Exchange • Too Many Laws, Rules, and Regulations. I Just Want to Work.

• Mn/DOT Certified Landscape Specialist Certification/Re-certification Class • Website Management: e Next Step • Gopher State One Call 2011- Important Changes and Big Improvements You NEED to Know

•

Lean Business Operations: What Does at Mean?

•

Lean Business Operations: Sounds Good in Principle, How Do You Do It?

•

Lean Business Operations: My Company is "Unique."

Can It Really Work For Me?

•

e Reality and Impact of Social Media on Green Industry Businesses

•

How to Attract New Customers Using Social Media

•

Creating Eye- catching Flower Beds and Containers

•

Winter Maintenance of Parking Lots and Sidewalks for the 21st Century

• People, Places, & Plants (Perennials)

Scott Frampton

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• Growing Your Landscape Business

John Greenlee

Designing the American Meadow Garden

• Today’s Outdoor Power Equipment Maintenance

• Award Winning Landscapes: Installation & Management Chris Heiler

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Christy Webber

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• Award Winning Landscapes: Installation & Management

Featured speakers include: Christy Webber, Christy Webber Landscapes, Chicago, Illinois Chris Heiler, LandscapeLeadership.com, Zeeland, Michigan John Greenlee, Greenlee & Associates, Brisbane, California Scott Frampton, Landscape Renovations, Inc., Afton, Minnesota Plus many more great seminars and speakers! To view the entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions, visit www.NorthernGreenExpo.org. q

DON’T MISS ALL THE GREAT PLANT Dave Wanninger is chief horticulturist at Beaver Creek Nursery, a wholesale nursery located south of Clinton, WI. He also works for Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm, which is the retail mail order/ internet sister company of Beaver Creek Nursery. He received his horticulture degree from the University of Minnesota, and then operated his own landscaping company. Later, he was the nursery manager at a large independent garden center. He is also a longtime instructor in the horticulture and green industry program at Blackhawk Technical College in his hometown of Janesville, WI. Dave embraces a large plant palette, but particularly favors hostas, lilies, peonies, and dwarf conifers in his home garden.

Not the Same Old, Same Old - New & Better Trees and Shrubs for Residential Landscapes Sometimes it seems that every landscape has the same ten shrubs. Sure, ‘Goldflame’ Spirea and ‘Crimson Pygmy’ Barberry are fine plants, but there are a lot more great plants out there that aren’t being used as much as they should. There are some superior but underutilized shrubs and ornamental trees with multi-season appeal – featuring qualities like colorful leaves, long lasting fall color, and colorful fruit. We will be talking about some plants that might be new to you, as well as some improved varieties of plants you may already be using. Issues such as proper plant siting and cultural considerations will be discussed as well.

DED Resistant Elms With the discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in our back yard, it is becoming more important to find some new alternatives for street tree plantings. While Honeylocust, Maple, and Linden can be decent growers in the poorly oxygenated, compacted soils we are often faced with, they are being overplanted in many areas. Many hybrid, DED resistant elm varieties have been introduced in the last 25 years. These elms can succeed in some of the worst growing conditions we can give them.

We will be highlightling some of the best of these elm varieties, and also talk about cultural considerations to get the most out of these adaptable trees.

Jim Nau manages the greenhouses and gardens of the Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, IL. Jim is the author of two books; the Ball Culture Guide and the Ball Perennial Manual. He is president as well as a judge for All America Selections as well as a chairman of the Tree Commission for his community of St. Charles, IL where he promotes and plants trees throughout the

township. Nau is the recipient of the Perennial Plant Association’s Garden Media Award and has been a keynote speaker for the Ohio Florists’ Association as well as the Southeast Greenhouse Conference. Growing and gardening are a passion for Nau. In his spare time, he manages the family grain farm in Iowa.

Combination Containers in the Landscape Mixed containers continue to be a leading American gardening trend. Jim will present a vast group of images of plants and combination ideas that use containers in both commercial landscapes as well as in the home garden. From large scale raised parkway containers to 14 inch pots for the front door – this presentation is to inspire your creative juices.

New Bedding Plant Varieties for 2011 Nau will take you through a long list of new varieties of annuals from the past few years, discussing details regarding color and height, as well as design ideas.

For the first 13 years of her career, Debbie Lonnee worked in the retail garden center business, managing a large Twin Cities garden center. For the last 18 years, she has worked as a production coordinator at Bailey Nurseries, working primarily with the perennial and bedding plant crops, as well as roses and woody plants. She was promoted to manager of the Planning and Administration Department in 2006 and is actively involved in new plant introductions. Lonnee holds a B.S. in horticulture from the University of Minnesota. She just considers herself a “plant geek!” You won’t find too much lawn in her yard! She is a member of the Perennial Plant Association, the Ohio Florists Association and is the vice president of the board of directors of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, as well as chairing its Publications Committee. Garden writing is her second job; she is the horticultural editor for Northern Gardener Magazine, and also writes the “Plant to Pick” article for each edition.

Great Gardens of England What can a garden geek from zone 4 Minnesota learn from stunning gardens in the temperate climate of the U.K.? Plenty!

Incredible plant combinations, great use of color, formal and informal garden designs, boxwood hedges, fabulous yew ‘walls’ - these are but a few of the highlights of a summer 2010 trip to England. Whether you are a designer, retailer, or grower, you can find some inspiration in the great gardens in England.

MATERIALS SESSIONS AT EXPO 2011!

What’s New in the World of Woodies?

Colorful shrubs, small trees for small gardens, disease-resistant shade trees, and grafted conifers… there have been many new introductions over the last few years in woody plants, and how do we make sense of all of it? Lonnee will present the best of the new varieties for upper Midwest landscapes.

Chris Hansen began his career at Iowa State University where he received a BS degree in horticulture and botany. During his college days, he interned at Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, MO, and the world-renowned Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. After graduating, he moved to South Carolina where he worked as assistant director of horticulture for Wayside Gardens under John Elsley’s direction for five years. In 2000, Hansen became director of horticulture for Wayside Gardens and traveled the world visiting plant breeders, growers, and botanical gardens in search of the newest plants to introduce to American gardeners. In fall of 2007, Hansen partnered with Mary Walters to launch www.

GreatGardenPlants.com which is an online mail-order plant company. Hansen and Walters bring their passion for plants and gardening knowledge to fellow gardeners across the country.

Based in Michigan, Great Garden Plants grows a wide variety of the newest perennials, shrubs, and Knock Out roses.

Exciting New Perennials Meet the good, the bad, & the ugly in this extremely fastpaced look at the most exciting NEW perennials & shrubs - HARDY in Minnesota! In this talk, Hansen will present over 100 breath-taking new plants that every garden center should consider growing for Spring 2011. Along the way, he’ll also show a few examples of what NOT to grow and why! Get ready for an action-packed, pencil-sharpened look at the most amazing new plants that no gardener should be without. Wonderful hi-res pictures will help convey the beauty of these new introductions.

People, Places, & Plants (Perennials) In this fast-paced program, you’ll travel the world to meet the people behind many of the most exciting plants we grow in our garden. From echinaceas to zelkova, you’ll meet an array of interesting people including plant breeders, backyard gardeners, and professors. Visit their gardens, greenhouses, & laboratories where they invent/ discover their creations. Special emphasis will be placed on new and recent plant introductions that have proven to be great garden plants that should stand the test of time!

Skilled horticulturist and garden designer John Greenlee founded Greenlee Nursery, the oldest specialty grass nursery on the West Coast. In 2009 he published The American Meadow Garden, and is also the author of The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses. An expert in grass ecology and champion of sustainable design, John has made meadows all around the world. His designs are featured in The San Diego Zoo in Southern California, Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, and in private residencies from California to Morocco and Saudi Arabia. His movement to reinvent America’s turf-lawn culture has grabbed headlines in major media sources such as The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Architectural Digest, Garden Design, The Los Angeles Times, and Sunset Magazine. He lives in California.

Grasses and Meadow Plants from A-Z This presentation will discuss the many grasses, sedges, flowering plants, and bulbs that can be used when designing meadow gardens. You will learn the cultural needs of a variety of plants and how they can best be put to use in meadows and natural gardens--ornamental grasses for structure and beauty, bulbs and flowers for interest throughout the seasons, and easy-care ground cover grasses to replace thirsty turf. Don’t miss Greenlee’s two other sessions which focus on “Designing the American Meadow Garden!”

For a complete seminar listing, visit

January 4, 2011 Minneapolis Convention Center Register for these programs online at www.MNLA.biz!

Landscape Design Basics 8AM - 5PM

Wish you had a better understanding of landscape design basics, but don’t have time to head back to school? Take advantage of this intensive course on sustainable landscape design to learn about the techniques of the design process, the development of good bedlines, and mixing and matching wellchosen plants. The day-long seminar will focus on the principles and theory of sustainable design, site information collection, concept plan and draft design development, and plant selection. This seminar is geared toward anyone who works with landscape designers and architects including landscape contractors, nursery and garden personnel, maintenance personnel, and golf course superintendents.

The class includes lecture periods as well as in-class exercises that will help attendees to develop a better understanding of good design.

The Trend Towards Green Tree care, golf course, turfgrass, landscape and garden center professionals will all benefit from attending this entire program as means of gaining a comprehensive understanding of organic issues and practices. Topics will include: A Review of Organic History/Techniques; Integrating Organic Programs into Commercial Tree Care Services; From Tomatoes, to Mulch, to Compost: Consumers are Expanding their Green Horizons; An Organic Golf Course; and The Use of Organic Fertilizers & Biostimulants on Turfgrass.

8AM - 3:30PM

Stormwater Solutions: Rain Gardens & Permeable Pavers 8AM - 4PM

This class will focus on stormwater solutions specifically as it relates to rain gardens and permeable pavement systems. We will cover soils, plant communities and construction and maintenance of rain gardens. Then, we’ll finish up the day with an overview of permeable pavement systems including how to choose the correct system based on soil conditions.

Low Voltage Irrigation (PLT Relicensure) This class provides eight hours of continuing education credits for the Power Limited Technician license, with material orientated specifically towards the irrigation specialist. The 8 hour class will contain: 2 clock hours of specific National Electrical Code (NEC) training; and 6 hours of technical training. The sixhours of technical training will consist of topics such as: Basic components and testing equipment, troubleshooting, locating equipment, irrigation system communications, wire types and sizing, and connections at the controller. Walk away with greater knowledge about the National Electrical Code, wiring methods, troubleshooting, locating equipment, communication methods, and wire connections and grounding in addition to gaining continuing education credits toward your PLT license.

8AM - 5PM

Register now!

All programs just $99 for MNLA/MTGF members when registering by Dec. 9. Registration fees increase after Dec. 9. No onsite registration. Note that registration fees are separate from those for the Northern Green Expo.

Register for any of these programs online at www.MNLA.biz or call 651-633-4987 for more information!

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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Connect with Vendors Face-to-Face and All Year Round!

Plants, pavers, parts, pots and plenty more... easy to find at the Northern Green Expo Vendor Directory. Access this new year-round service at MNLA.biz, MTGF.org and NorthernGreenExpo.org!

disc ver Gold Sponsors

S L OU TH ST. PAU

Silver Sponsors

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Central Landscape Supply

Irrigation by Design

S & S Tree Specialists

The Credit Card Dr.

Mickman Brothers, Inc.

Wilson’s Nursery, Inc.

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC

NORTHERN GREEN EXPO | The Scoop

Pesticide Policy Expert Brings Warning to MN Green Industry at Expo he province of Ontario, Canada is one of the first jurisdictions in the world to ban pesticides for “cosmetic use.” (Cosmetic use refers to landscape horticulture practiced professionally or by the homeowner.) The lawn care sector was the hardest hit and has gone from many years of prolonged growth to double digit losses.

New York state has a similar ban on pesticides on school grounds. Is Minnesota next on the list?

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“With the results of the most current election, we may have a brief respite at the state and national level for pressure to ban pesticides. But it would be foolish to think that the interests of our industry are safe,” said Bob Fitch, MNLA executive director.

“Anti-pesticide organizations will shift their energies to municipalities and school districts, where it is even easier for them to push through policies based on emotion rather than sound science.”

MNLA is neither pro-pesticide, nor anti-pesticide; but rather supports integrated pest management which strives for plant health and quality landscapes based on best management practices – which sometimes requires the use of pesticides.

“Completely eliminating the ability to use pesticides as a tool puts the environmental benefits provided by trees, turf and landscape plants at risk from invasive insects and diseases,” Fitch said.

Representatives of lawn care companies, golf courses, schools, parks, arborists, nurseries, and garden centers are encouraged to attend the Northern Green Expo Public Policy Forum set for 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. At this forum, Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, will tell the story of the pesticide ban in Ontario from the perspective of 20 years on the front lines dealing with a strongly polarized emotional issue. He will also convey lessons learned and discuss what the industry is doing to try to adapt to this new reality.

Tony is a professional horticulturist with previous experience as a gardener, grower, educator and garden communicator; and has held his position with Landscape Ontario since 1989.

A cash bar will be available at the Forum. Join your friends and colleagues for this important discussion.

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

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Election of Officers and Directors Ballots were sent to MNLA business members on Dec. 1. Election results will be announced at the MNLA Annual Meeting and in the February Scoop.

President BERT SWANSON, Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. of Park Rapids, is a candidate for reelection as the MNLA president. He was elected to the MNLA Bert Swanson Board of Directors in 1998. A 1961 horticulture graduate from the University of Minnesota, he received his MS at Iowa State and PhD in plant physiology at the University of Minnesota.

Swanson was a professor and nursery management specialist at the University of Minnesota for 18 years and Colorado State University for 7 years. He served as vice president for education of the American Society of Horticultural Science and as editor of the Horticulture Science Journal.

Swanson was a key player in the development of the MNLA Certification Program. He is the past chair of the MNLA Nursery Committee, plus serves on the Certification and Commercial Seedling Committees. He also serves on the MNLA Foundation Board of Trustees.

Swanson’s many honors include the L.C. Chadwick Educator’s Award, presented at the 1987 American Association of Nurserymen’s Convention and being named to the MNLA Hall of Fame in 1991 and to the Colorado Nursery Association Hall of Fame in 1978. Bert has served as operations

manager of Nandor of the North Nursery; and designed and developed Swanson’s Great Northern Nursery. He now operates Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. to serve the professionals in the nursery industry with his 30+ years of experience and expertise.

Vice President DEBBIE LONNEE is a candidate for reelection as MNLA vice president. She is a 1979 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BS Debbie Lonnee in horticulture. She was first elected to the MNLA Board of Directors in 2000. She started her career as the assistant garden center manager at The Park Nursery in Stillwater, and moved up to manager in 1985. She went to Bailey Nurseries, Inc. in the spring of 1993, and is currently the planning and administration manager.

Lonnee is the chair of the MNLA Publications Committee, and in past years has served on the Convention Committee, the Garden Center Committee (as chair for a number of years) and the Home and Garden Show Committee.

Lonnee’s first love is perennials (she’s happy to call herself a “plant nerd”) and she is an avid gardener, collecting hostas, hemerocallis and alliums. She lectures frequently for local garden clubs, and has spoken at the Chicago Botanic Garden,

NOTICE: MNLA Annual Meeting Jan. 5 Notice is hereby given that the Annual Membership Meeting of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 in Room 201 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

48

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

the IPPS East Region convention and at a number of MNLA functions. She’s also published articles on perennials and woody plants in American Nurseryman magazine.

Secretary-Treasurer HEIDI HEILAND, Heidi’s Lakeshore Gardens, is a candidate for re-election as MNLA secretarytreasurer. Since 1979, she has offered professional garden Heidi Heiland services for residential and commercial clients. The company grows more than 50 percent of the perennials it utilizes at their greenhouse and operations center in Corcoran. Inventory spans more than 100 trees and shrubs, 700 perennials, and 1,000 annuals; and loyal staff numbers 20.

Heiland volunteers in many ways through the following organizations and projects: frequent tour guide for the Minnetonka Center for the Arts; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum; Nature Conservancy; guest lecturer at area technical colleges; and her gardens are showcased regularly on tours conducted by various organizations. Heiland is past chair of the MNLA Public Relations Committee and has taken an active role in the design and installation of the MNLA State Fair garden.

Professional recognition includes: MNLA Certified Professional; Master Gardener; graduate of Constance Spry Flower School of London; past president of Wayzata Garden Club; horticultural chair of the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club; Lake Minnetonka Beautification Award; Cargill Quality Award; and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Partner.

Board of Directors wo Director positions are up for election this year. e Nominating Committee has placed the names of two incumbents on the ballot: Tim Malooly and Randy Berg. Continuing to serve as Directors are: Scott Frampton, Heidi Heiland, Herman Roerick.

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Tim Malooly is president of Irrigation

By Design Inc., which provides design, installation and service of commercial and residential landscape irrigation systems. He Tim Malooly is also president of Water in Motion which provides design and consultation and program of applied technology upon landscape irrigation systems. In 2008, Malooly was named the EPA Water Sense program Irrigation Partner of the Year for demonstrating creativity and collaboration in promoting water efficiency and conservation.

Building his businesses on a philosophy of client services, professionalism, education and commitment, Malooly spends a great deal of time toward continuing professional education of himself and his

employees. Some of his professional designations include Certified Irrigation Contractor, Certified Irrigation Auditor, Certified Backflow Assembly Tester, Licensed Technology Systems Contractor, and Certified Water Manager. Malooly has spent many hours devoted to the advancement of his industry through volunteerism in the MNLA and the Irrigation Association (IA) and as a leader of seminars and classes held by other organizations and technical colleges. In 2003, he was recognized by his peers for devotion to his industry and awarded the MNLA Committee Member of the Year award.

Malooly is chair of the MNLA Government Affairs Committee and is a past chair of the MNLA Irrigation Industry Committee. He also serves on the Irrigation Association Board of Directors.

Randy Berg, Berg’s Nursery, Landscapers/ Garden Center of Austin, is a candidate for re-election to the MNLA Board of Directors. Randy attended college at the University of

Minnesota-Duluth and Duluth Area Technical College. In 1979, he graduated from DATC with a degree in horticulture and landscape design. Also in 1979, he returned to his hometown, where he started Berg’s Nursery & Landscape, a garden center and landscape design/build business.

Randy has been a member of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association since his graduation, and received his MNLA certification in 1981.

He became an APLD Certified Landscape Designer in 1997. He has been a member of the MNLA Garden Center Committee since 1999, and was recently named its chair.

Randy has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 32 years. She is a licensed physical therapist, as well as his business partner. ey have two children: Luke, who graduated from Rochester Community and Technical College with a horticulture degree, is a landscape foreman and coordinator at Berg’s Nursery; Emily has a business degree from Winona State University and is part of the management team at Target.

Randy Berg

DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

49

The Scoop | ARBORIST

Bur Oak Blight (BOB) – There’s a New Kid in Town

By Jill D. Pokorny, Plant Pathologist, US Forest Service innesota tree care companies, their arborists and urban forestry professionals are advised to be on the lookout for a newly discovered disease of bur oaks.

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The first bonafide case of bur oak blight (BOB), confirmed

by Dr. Tom Harrington of Iowa State University, has been identified in Minnesota. Previously, symptoms of BOB were reported to occur in portions of southern Minnesota, however, the disease was then called Tubakia leafspot and was cited to be caused by the fungus, Tubakia dryina. Since then, Dr. Harrington, Professor at Iowa State University, has completed DNA and pathogencity testing that confirms this disease is caused by a new, and yet unnamed, species of Tubakia, and he has named the disease bur oak blight (BOB).

It is not clear if this new species of Tubakia is a recent arrival to this region or if a shift in climate (more early-season rain events) have made this disease more noticeable over the last two decades. To date, BOB is known to occur from eastern

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Nebraska to central Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin, and it appears to be spread across all of Iowa.

Plant pathologists and arborists have been on the lookout for the new BOB Tubakia species in Minnesota, particularly in central and more northern counties. Jill Pokorny, plant pathologist with the US Forest Service located symptomatic bur oak trees in Mille Lacs and Sherburne counties, collected leaf samples, and identified the fungus, Tubakia, to be present.

To determine if it was the new species of Tubakia that causes BOB, she submitted samples to Dr. Harrington for further laboratory testing. The samples tested positive for BOB. In recent weeks, symptoms of BOB have also been reported on bur oaks located in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. These samples have also been submitted for species-level DNA testing, and we are awaiting test results. Jill Pokorny predicts, “As we continue to investigate symptomatic bur oak trees and more samples are tested, it is expected that BOB will be found in additional Minnesota counties.”

development in the fall and Symptoms the following year. With BOB occurs only on bur oaks. further study, fungicide Leaf symptoms typically first treatments may prove to be a appear in late July or August, valuable management tool for however, this year symptoms use on high-value landscape began to show up by early July trees. “I’m not usually a big fan (perhaps because of the frequent of fungicide treatments, but rainfall). Infected leaves develop with this disease we are finding necrotic (brown) lesions that are very good results. A single wedge-shaped and often treatment may benefit the trees delimited by leaf veins. It is also for several years,” Harrington common for the leaf veins, says. themselves, to turn brown (Figure 1). Individual lesions may Sample Submission coalesce and cause large areas of Urban forestry the leaf to turn brown, resulting professionals, now is your Figure 1. Bur oak leaves exhibiting large, wedge-shaped lesions in an overall wilted or scorched chance to have some of those and necrotic (brown) veins. appearance to the leaves. Smaller mystery bur oak trees tested brown lesions may also be present, starting in the bottom of the crown and for BOB. Many of you have dealt with but are less common. moving upwards. If a tree is seriously bur oaks that have eluded a positive affected one year, it tends to be severely diagnosis because they have exhibited During the summer, black, pimpleaffected the next year. unusual leaf symptoms and/or decline. like fruiting structures of the fungus Samples can be submitted to the form along the leaf veins and petioles Over time, severely affected trees may University of Minnesota’s Plant Disease and can be easily seen with the aid of die. In Iowa, BOB has been reported to Clinic for diagnostic testing. A routine 10X magnifying lens. Leaf symptoms are cause tree death, particularly in upland processing fee will be charged. usually more severe on the bottom half sites. Within a grove or group of bur oak of the affected tree’s crown, but over trees, some trees may be severely infected For BOB testing: Collect branch tips time, symptoms may spread throughout while adjacent trees appear healthy. This with symptomatic and healthy leaves the crown. is likely due to variation in the degree of from several locations on the tree, wrap resistance individual bur oak trees possess them in dry paper toweling (no plastic A unique feature of BOB is that some to this disease. bags, please), and send them to: infected leaves will remain on the tree during the winter (healthy bur oak trees Management Plant Disease Clinic shed all of their leaves in the fall). It is Because BOB is a late season disease, Department of Plant Pathology important to note, however, that not all the impact on the foliage is reduced since 495 Borlaug Hall infected leaves will remain attached; the majority of photosynthetic activity 1991 Buford Circle some leaves will drop off during the has already occurred for the growing St. Paul, MN 55108 growing season and some will be blown season. Although most infected trees will Enclose a description of the off by winter winds. But the fact that leaf out normally the following spring, symptoms observed, when they were first some leaves, even a small number, are they will develop leaf symptoms by late noticed and enclose a photo, if possible. retained over the winter is an indication summer, and successive years of heavy Please ship samples early in the week so that BOB may be present. Also, if leaves leaf damage can result in branch dieback they arrive at the Clinic before Friday. are blown off by winter winds, BOBand eventual tree death. Efforts to boost infected leaf petioles will remain intact. tree vigor may prolong the life of affected Samples that test positive for Tubakia Fruiting bodies that form in late fall on trees and ward off invasion by secondary species and represent a new county infected leaf petioles are believed to be pests such as two-lined Chestnut borer record will be forwarded to Dr. overwintering stage of the fungus. and Armillaria root rot.

Harrington for species-specific DNA testing. This data will assist him in BOB appears to be a slow spreading Since the fungus overwinters on developing a BOB distribution map for disease, particularly as it relates to disease infected leaf petioles that remain on the the Upper Midwest states. spread from tree to tree. It remains a tree, removal of fallen leaves is not an mystery as to why BOB does not spread effective management tool.

The link below will take you to an 18 more rapidly because the spores that minute video on the symptoms and In preliminary studies, injections of cause BOB are produced in great other characteristics of BOB the fungicide propiconazole (Alamo abundance and are spread by rain. http://fms.extension.iastate.edu/vod/vide formulation) in early June (prior to leaf Within an individual tree, the disease o/2010BobPresentCIC.html? q symptoms) have reduced symptom tends to intensify year to year, generally DECEMBER 2010 | www.MNLA.biz

51

The Scoop | MDA UPDATE

2010 Nursery Inspection Summary

By Steven Shimek, Nursery Program Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

he nursery inspection program inspected and certified 9,221 acres (7,800 in 2009) of Minnesota nursery stock to facilitate sale of trees, Steven Shimek shrubs and perennials within the state, interstate and internationally.

A total of 314 nursery stock growers (319 in 2009) and 2,274 nursery stock dealers (2,362 in 2009) were certified in 2010. Along with growers, retail nursery operations are also inspected, auditing certification documents for stock originating outside of Minnesota and assuring that stock offered for sale is free of plant pests. When injurious plant pests are detected, stock is removed from sale pending successful treatment and control. In cases where no effective treatment is available, stock may be ordered, destroyed or returned to the shipper.

Warm weather in November 2009 and a cold snap in May, resulted in considerable injury to nursery and fruit crops. Injury apparently caused by this temperature stress resulted in cankers.

Emerald Lustre Norway maple and Prairiefire crab were hit particularly hard at some grower locations. Sap flow from vertical cracks on crabs was common.

Borers attacked these compromised trees causing further damage. Cool wet weather throughout the spring and

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summer resulted in increased levels of foliar disease.

Anthracnose on maple, oak and others was severe in some sites. Apple and grape harvests were also reduced as late frost killed flowers and buds.

Dormant packaged plants continued to demand attention. Some suppliers modified their packaging with mixed results. Inspectors found boxes with grapes and strawberries in poor condition and not properly stored to maintain dormancy.

Hardiness remains a concern at many chain stores which continue to ship and sell trees and shrubs that have little chance to survive winter weather in Minnesota.

Inspectors found some rose plants labeled hardy to zone 3. Upon investigation the plants were originally labeled for zone 6. The retailer was ordered to remove and re-label the plants.

Red oak borer caused losses to red and pin oak and linden borer was found at several grower locations attacking little leaf linden. Characteristic sawdust like frass at the base of infested trees is a telltale sign of this pest. Various canker diseases and assorted borers were also reported.

Virus symptoms were found on Clematis in 2009 and the number of plants found infected increased significantly in 2010. Many more varieties of Clematis were also found infected. Samples submitted to the

University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic confirmed the presence of an unknown virus.

The number of Hosta found infected with hosta virus complex (HVX) continued to decline. Staff used ELISA stick tests in the field to confirm HVX virus on symptomatic plants. This tool has proven very useful for inspectors to determine infections in plants with ambiguous symptoms. Some growers have also begun to use these tests to assist in the management of virus in their sales or production operations. Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and impatiens necrotic ring spot virus (INSV) have also been commonly associated with virus symptoms in hosta. Because TRV has a wide host range and is nematode vectored it has the potential to be very destructive.

Inspection staff continued to find retailers operating without the required

dealer certificate. Most operators were cooperative and provided application and payment on the spot thereby allowing the inspector to release stock for sale without interrupting sales.

Excellent cooperation between inspectors allowed all work to be completed in a timely manner despite losing the services of one inspector in April. James Jacobs filled the gap picking up inspections in extra counties.

James resigned at the end of August to pursue his PhD in forest pathology at Purdue University.

Inspectors continued to support the unit’s phytosanitary certification activity through inspections and issuance of federal export certificates. Export certification inspections of bare root nursery stock held in cold storage began in February and continued through May. Exports of container grown stock seem to have increased in recent years and have continued later into the spring and though at a reduced rate continued through the summer months.

The vacancy created by James Jacobs has been filled by Josh Plunkett who will be leaving his duties with MDA’s EAB program. Josh has been with the EAB program since July 2009. He is the author of “The complete Idiots Guide to Trees and Shrubs.”

Nursery Inspection Staff Contact Information Deborah Davis Hudak – North Central Region, Bemidji, MN Phone: 218.243.2058 Mobile: 218.368.2586 Deborah.davis.hudak@state.mn.us Josh Plunkett – Twin Cities West and East Central Region, Saint Paul, MN Phone: 651.201-6249 josh.plunkett@state.mn.us David Simmons – Central and North West Region, Staples, MN Phone: 218.894.2818 Mobile: 320.808.9357 david.simmons@state.mn.us

Steven Shimek – Program Coordinator, Twin Cities Metro East, Saint Paul Phone: 651.201.6619 Mobile: 612.600.6558 steven.shimek@state.mn.us Lola Youngblom – Southern Region Nicollet, MN Phone: 507.225.3476 Mobile: 507.995.7817 lola.youngblom@state.mn.us 2010 Phytosanitary Certificates Issued Stephanie Visker - Export Program Coordinator • 2,211 Total Phytosanitary certificates issued January through September.

• Exports went to 66 different countries.

• 305 Nursery Stock/Plant Phytosanitary Certificates.

1,576,666 Plants exported.

• The Minnesota Department of Agriculture currently has 9 USDA Authorized Certification Officials. q

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55

The Scoop | PLANT OF THE MONTH

Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea

By Cory J. Whitmer MNLA-CP, The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center alea purpurea, formerly known as Petalostemon purpureum, is a perennial native to North Central United States. This easy-togrow, long-blooming, adaptable perennial is one of my favorite prairie wildflowers.

This plant naturally occurs from Indiana to Montana and South throughout Arkansas and Tennessee.

Purple Prairie Clover prefers a well drained soil and full sun. It will, however, tolerate just about any type of soil as long as drainage is good.

Typically, it is found on sand prairies, gravel prairies, black soil prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, or sandy savannas.

This long-blooming perennial will reach a height of about 3’. Purple Prairie Clover forms cylindrical flower spikes that are 2”-3” in length.

In late May to early June, flowers start to form a ring at the base each spike. As the season goes along, the flowers work their way up these spikes and this allows the plant to continue

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Plant of the Month

blooming into September. These flowers are also excellent for attracting and feeding honey bees and butterflies.

Purple Prairie Clover looks wonderful in a mass naturalized setting or any flowerbed grouping. Some of my favorite companion plants for Prairie Clover are Rattlesnake Master, Black-eyed Susan, Butterfly Weed, Little Bluestem, and Prairie Dropseed. Purple Prairie Clover is a member of the Legume family and will add Nitrogen to the soil, so there is no need to use high nitrogen fertilizer when creating new planting areas.

The first known collection of Purple Prairie Clover was by Lewis and Clark in 1804. They noticed Native Americans where using the leaves as compresses on fresh wounds. As time moved along, the plant was also used as a heart medicine, to ease diarrhea, for pneumonia, and measles. Although these all might be great reasons to plant this plant, the aesthetics of this long blooming perennial is reason enough for me. If you want a top performing perennial that will add long season color with little maintenance, this is the plant for you. q ________________________________________________ Cory Whitmer is the Chair of the MNLA Nursery Committee and can be reached at coryw@themustardseedinc.com.

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

MN LANDSCAPe ARBoReTUM | The Scoop

December Events at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Some special features include: • Great Hall of Trees, several lofty fir trees adorned with handmade natural ornaments, gracing the Oswald Visitor Center. (Trees courtesy of Sand Country Christmas Trees).

• Windows on Winter displays of outdoor holiday landscape ideas (courtesy of several local nurseries, including Flower Mill Design & Gifts, Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens, Ikebana Sogetsu, Tangletown Gardens, Tonkadale Greenhouse & more).

• Live music - Talented community singers and instrumentalists perform Saturday & Sunday afternoons til Christmas.

• Land of Gingerbread - Charming gingerbread structures created by talented Twin Cities bakers.

Happy Holidays from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum! For more information, call 952-443-1400 or visit www.arboretum.umn.edu. q

In addition to association activities, the MNLA staff provides management for: THE OR R

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• Hot Chocolate Walks- Stroll the winter landscape on these walks Dec. 18 & 29 at 11 a.m. ($10 member/$12 non-member).

Order forms or links for many of the services listed below can be found at www.mnla.biz Companies endorsed by MNLA:

BBS – Better Business Solutions Telecom and Credit Card Consulting 651-330-9804 877-272-0741 (Toll Free) Business Legal Services (Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC) 651-331-6500 Business Succession (AgStar) 507-386-4620 Credit Card Processing (Approval Payment Solutions) 763-521-7851 Fuel Discount Card (Speedway/SA/Marathon) 651-454-7776 ext. 203 Fuel Savings (Holiday Stationstores) 952-830-8889 Horticultural Books (MN State Horticultural Society) 651-643-3601 Small Business Resource Group 651-783-5754 Workers Compensation Insurance (The Builders Group) 651-203-6793 Contact the MNLA office at mnla@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987 or toll-free 888-886-6652 for information on the following products or services.

Tim Power, Regulatory Affairs

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• Holiday sales - Shop the Arboretum Auxiliary Holiday Sale, MN Herb Society Sale and Arboretum Art Classes Sale, all on the weekend of Dec. 4 & 5.

Executive Director Bob Fitch • bob@mnla.biz Membership Director & Trade Show Manager Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz Education & Industry Advancement Director Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz Communications Director Jon Horsman • jon@mnla.biz Executive Assistant Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz Accountant Norman Liston • norman@mnla.biz Receptionist Jessica Pratt • jessica@mnla.biz Advertising & Sponsorship Sales Pierre Productions & Promotions 952-903-0505 Betsy Pierre, Advertising Manager, betsy@pierreproductions.com Erica Nelson, Advertising Sales, erica@pierreproductions.com Government Affairs Consultants Boland & Associates John Boland, Legislative Affairs McGrann, Shea, Carnival, Straughn & Lamb Doug Carnival, Regulatory Affairs

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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.GardenMinnesota.com www.NorthernGreenExpo.org www.TheLandLovers.org

Catalogs/Outdoor Living publication series Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge Fleet Program Educational Programs/MNLA Academy Employee Recruiting/ Greenworks On-Line Job Board Employee Training Manuals (PLANET) Garden Center Plant Posters Garden Center Carryout Trays Irrigation References. (“industry references” at www.mnla.biz.)

Northern Green Expo Trade Show Booths MNLA Certified Professional manuals, exam Sales Tax Rules / Nursery-GreenhouseLandscape (“industry references” at www.mnla.biz.)

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57

The Scoop | CAREERS PROMOTION

ATTENTION MEMBERS! You will soon receive a postcard in the mail asking you to pick up your 2011 MNLA Membership Directory while you're at Expo.

Members who do so will be entered in a drawing for 2 - $100 gas cards plus free registration to the 2012 Green Expo!

Help MNLA reduce postage costs and save your member dollars!

Check out the MNLA Schoolhouse!

This new addition to MNLA.biz highlights outreach efforts to schools and helps make it easier for you to get involved.

By Jodi Larson, MNLA Foundation Green Industry Student Awareness Project Coordinator ingering on the edge of MNLA’s newly updated website is a link you won’t want to miss. From MNLA.biz, scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the schoolhouse among the various icons. This one-room schoolhouse may look small, but one click opens up the door to a number of unique outreach opportunities.

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The MNLA Schoolhouse showcases the various school outreach efforts in place at the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. These efforts include the Adopt a School program, Green for Life, and the Arbor Day Poster Contest.

The Adopt a School program, new at MNLA, encourages members to schedule visits to local schools and career fairs. The communication that occurs between professionals and students during these visits helps to build awareness of green industry careers, and recruit the next generation of professionals. The Adopt a School link connects you with instructions for getting involved in adopting a school and links to resources and materials to use for school visits.

Green for Life is a public service event that was held on September 16, 2010. Members planted trees at schools and helped to educate students and the public about the environmental benefits of trees. Click on the Green for Life link to access information on the companies involved, view video footage from the event and find out how your company can participate. Next year the event will take place on September 22, 2011.

The Arbor Day Poster Contest is an annual contest for 5th graders. Teachers involved in the contest receive curriculum and an activity guide to use with their classroom to teach students about the importance of trees. By clicking on the Poster Contest link you can access more information on this year’s theme and find out how to get involved.

Visit the website today and see the many ways that MNLA is at work building the foundation for the future of our industry. q 58

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2010

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