The Scoop Online – December 2012

THE

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION . . . SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES GROW HERE!

Insights and Information for Green Industry Professionals

VOLUME 35, NUMBER 12 December 2012

NORTHERN

GREEN

Erik Christianson

Michael Glassman

EXPO

January 9-11, 2013 Minneapolis Convention Center

Adrian Bloom

PAGES 16-29

Charles Vander Kooi

John Kennedy

David Yocca

Don Shelby

Chris Wegschedi

Also in this issue:

A Christmas Wish List for MNLA

Laura Jull

PAGE 8

Simple, Beautiful Expo App PAGE 25

John Ball

THE

ADVERTISER INDEX

From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Frim the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Super Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14 Northern Green Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-29 MNLA Annual Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Government Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 MNLA Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-40 Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 42-44 Arborists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 MNLA Member Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Bob Fitch Accomplishments . . . . . . 47-49 MNLA Foundation Garden Party . . . . . 50 Plant of the Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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A Top Notch Equipment...................11 Anchor Block Company ...................23 Ancom Communication & Technical Center ..........................9 Aspen Equipment.............................4 Belgard Hardscapes - Northfield .....21 Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ ProGreen Plus............................22 Casualty Assurance.........................34 Central Landscape Supply...............32 Ceres Environmental ........................5 COWSMO, INC. ................................38 Cushman Motor Co. Inc ...................34 Evergreen Nursery Co., Inc. .............33 Gardenworld Inc.............................32 Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc.........................37 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies.......................41 Hennepin Technical College ..............5

Jeff Belzer Chevrolet.................15, 41 Johnson's Nursery, Inc. ...................38 JRK Seed and Turf Supply................32 Liberty Tire Recycling .....................20 Maguire Agency .............................20 Miller Auto Plaza............................40 Minneapolis Home & Garden Show..31 Northern Christmas Tree & Nursery .19 Out Back Nursery ...........................18 Property Props...............................25 Quality Insurance Service ...............17 RDO Equipment Co..........................46 Specialty Turf & Ag .........................12 Sterling Arbor LLC...........................16 The Builders Group.........................28 Titan Machinery...............................2 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ..................7, 43 Truck Utilities & Mfg. Co..................39 United Label & Sales.......................16 Ziegler CAT.......................................3

FROM THE PRESIDENT | The Scoop

The Search is On

By Debbie Lonnee, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. f you haven’t heard by now, our executive director of 16+ years, Bob Fitch, is leaving the MNLA in mid-December and moving on to a new adventure of owning his own consulting business, and more importantly, moving closer to family in the Sioux Falls area where both he and his wife, Kathy, are from originally.

I

Debbie Lonnee

I must admit it was a real shock to have Bob hand me his letter of resignation in September. I honestly thought he was joshing, thinking that he would work here at the MNLA until he retired, but once it sunk it, it was time to think towards the future and replacing Bob. I want to assure the MNLA membership that the Board of Directors has not taken this change lightly, and after much discussion at our last board meeting, we have put together a search committee who is charged with the task of finding a new executive director. As president, I will be heading up this committee which includes a great group of MNLA memberleaders. Some are past presidents, some are current board members, and some are exceptional MNLA volunteers from our committee system. We will be employing a human resources attorney and likely engaging a search firm to help us find just the right fit. Our goal is to have someone in place no later than April 1, 2013.

In the meantime, we have asked Cassie Larson to take on the role of interim executive director, and we know she will do a great job leading the association through this period of change. Bob will be leaving us as of December 14, 2012, so you will NOT be seeing him at the next Green Expo. The rest of the very capable MNLA staff will be managing the show, and please give them your support and encouragement!

I want to personally and publicly thank Bob for his years of service to the MNLA – he has poured his heart and soul into this organization, and he is one of the many reasons that we are one of the top nursery and landscape trade associations in this entire country! I know that I am going to miss him terribly, but I can only be happy for Bob, Kathy and his family and wish him the best as he moves to Hawarden, Iowa, to start this new chapter in his life. If you have the opportunity, drop a note or email to Bob and wish him the best and thank him yourself for his service.

Au revoir Bob – it is not goodbye, but good luck, and God bless! q DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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event calendar JANUARY 8 Super Tuesday Best Management Practices for Minnesota Invasive Insects and Diseases Minneapolis Convention Center www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987 Sponsored by Gertens Wholesale, JRK Seed & Turf Supply, McCarthy Well Company

8 Super Tuesday Minneapolis Convention Center www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987 Sponsored by County Materials Corporation

8 Super Tuesday Landscape Irrigation Troubleshooting (PLT Relicensure) Minneapolis Convention Center www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987 Sponsored by John Deere Landscapes and MTI Distributing, Inc.

8 MNLA CEO Symposium Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

9-11

Northern Green Expo

Minneapolis Convention Center Online registration available www.northerngreenexpo.org | 651-633-4987

22 NJ Plants - Professional Landscape & Nursery Trade Show Edison, New Jersey www.njplantshow.com | 732-449-4004

25 Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

MARCH 6 Green Industry Day on the Hill Kelly Inn, St. Paul www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

7 Landscape Design Technology: Computer Aided Software Available for the Green Industry Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987 Sponsored by Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies

14 Pruning Webinar www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

15 Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

20-21 Exam Ewald Conference Center, St. Paul www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

26-27 Midland Hills Country Club, St. Paul www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

28 PLT Landscape Lighting Essentials (PLT Relicensure) Roseville Skating Center, Roseville www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987 Sponsored by Hunter Industries, John Deere Landscapes, MTI Distributing, Inc.

APRIL 3-4 Exam

FEBRUARY

TIES Conference Center, St. Paul www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

19 Raingarden Installation Webinar www.mnla.biz | 651-633-4987

Visit www.mnla.biz for registration and details for MNLA programs! Questions? Call 651.633.4987.

Sponsorships are available for selected seminars. Call Betsy Pierre at 763-295-5420 or e-mail betsy@pierreproductions.com.

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBER 2012

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The Scoop | FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

My Christmas Wish List for MNLA

By Bob Fitch, MNLA Executive Director s you’ve likely heard or read by now, I am leaving MNLA later this month to pursue a new career as a consultant who specializes in helping non-profit organizations with board and staff training, strategic planning, and other services. I have purchased an established firm, Cain Consulting Group, which has clients across North America, but is based in the small town of Hawarden, Iowa, located on the South Dakota border, just 10 miles from my parents’ farm at Hudson, S.D., and less than an hour from where my in-laws live in Sioux Falls.

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My personal Christmas wish has been fulfilled. For several years, I’ve had an increasing desire to move “home” to the Sioux Falls area to be closer to family. My wife, Kathy; son, Cole; and grandson, Robby, are excited that we’ll wake up in our own home on Christmas morning (which has happened only three times in our 20 years in Minnesota), yet still be able to take part in family gatherings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – all without having to travel 10 hours roundtrip in sometimes-iffy weather.

My 16 years with MNLA have been a tremendous experience. I’ve been extremely lucky to have worked with dedicated volunteer leaders and staff. I’m proud of what we have been able to achieve together to help members operate their businesses more successfully while enhancing our position as one of the finest green industry organizations in the United States.

Even though we’ve made great progress on many goals, I’d like to provide you with my Christmas wish list for the future of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. Some of the

wishes may be “visions of sugar plums” that may never be found under the Christmas tree, but others are achievable with a thoughtful, strategic approach; dedicated volunteerism; professional staff; and maybe an assist from Santa.

own professionalism, how are we going to get paid adequately for our work, plus compete in the battle with other construction-related trades for the best quality employees?

On a 100° day this past summer in South Dakota, pictured are: MNLA Executive Director Bob Fitch; grandson, Robby; son, Cole; and wife, Kathy. Bob and his family extend their sincere thanks to the members of MNLA for your support over the past 16 years.

Real connections between the state and national organizations. The disconnect between the state and national green industry associations, plus the lack of collaboration among the national organizations, is a travesty that holds this industry back in terms of programmatic possibilities and legislative effectiveness.

Hopefully, the new organization that will be formed out of the ANLA and OFA merger will find some ways to address these shortcomings. Even if the ANLAOFA group succeeds, that will still leave the need for collaboration between it and PLANET, IA, TCIA, and ASLA. Officially-recognized standards of professionalism. No one wants more government burdens, regulations or fees.

But the landscape installation and irrigation installation industries are going to continue to be second-class business citizens – or neglected step-children of the construction industry – unless there are government-endorsed licenses or professional standards of some sort which are mandated and enforced. How many people hire an unlicensed electrician, plumber or home builder?

How much do people in those trades get paid compared to the landscape and irrigation industries? Until landscape and irrigation contractors properly value their

An end to the daydreams about someone else solving your marketing needs.

My Christmas list includes the wish that green industry companies would end their fantasies that some sort of magic campaign from state or national associations, or Minnesota Grown, or someone else is going to take care of all our marketing needs.

The resources necessary for an effective, on-going, generic campaign such as “hire an MNLA member” or “plant more plants” or “landscaping adds value” are so extraordinary and the potential positive results so elusive that we’ve got to stop the day-dreaming. No one can market your company but you.

Can MNLA help in some way? Yes, we can and we will. In the near future, MNLA will roll out a “member marketing toolbox” which will include access to resources to help you market your own company to your own target market. In addition, MNLA will provide in-person and on-line training on basic and advanced marketing techniques.

Finally, MNLA will be partnering with Minnesota Grown and potentially others to provide market research information to help you understand your potential customers better so that you can tailor your marketing, advertising, and sales efforts accordingly.

Continued on page 9

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Continued from page 8 Marketing to consumers based on a value proposition related to the “quality of life” features of plants and landscaping. Retailers should rethink their advertising strategies – stop shouting “4-paks for 99 cents!”

Landscape companies should stop always expending energy trying to under-bid the next guy. I agree with Dr. Charlie Hall when he espouses the need to recognize that consumers really do want what we have to sell – if we position our products and services in the right light. Our products can improve consumer quality of life in so many ways: • Environmental benefits for the community and individual homes air, water, wildlife, noise, etc.; • Quality of personal living space; • Physical and mental healing properties for the sick and suffering; • Improved home values and property sales prices; • Reduced energy bills for homes and

businesses; and lower stormwater assessment fees for commercial properties.

In a well-defined market like Minnesota, if a critical mass of MNLA members focused their individual marketing efforts around a “quality of life” theme, the collective impact would be multiplied for those companies pushing this message about the value of plants and professional landscaping.

Recognition of value will lead to better prices, higher profits, and better wages.

Member buy-in to a new insurance policy. You protect your business against natural disaster, human error, and accidents by purchasing various insurance policies. One of my Christmas wishes is that MNLA members would pay the premium on their “government affairs insurance policy.” The dues you pay help to fund MNLA’s legislative and regulatory actions – and we have a great program which has been very effective.

But, in 2012, we added the opportunity for members to better protect themselves from government storm clouds through a

new insurance policy called the Minnesota Green Industry Political Action Committee.

Few of us get excited about paying our insurance policies, but we do it because we want the protection in case of disaster. Well, most of us don’t want to make political contributions either, but, by golly, we want the protection when threats arise. The candidate contributions made by the MGI-PAC are insurance which will secure for MNLA easy access to key lawmakers when storm clouds threaten. These contributions don’t guarantee storms will entirely bypass our industry, but if MNLA is not high on the radar screen of key lawmakers, you can bet that legislative or regulatory storm damage will occur. If everyone participates, the premiums will be very low.

A million dollars in the stocking of the MNLA Foundation. The role of the MNLA Foundation in helping member Continued on page 10

WE WERE THERE

When you needed to give your crew direction.

When project coordination helped you meet a deadline.

When you needed reliable two-way communication.

Celebrating 20 years delivering solutions to you!

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DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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Continued from page 9 businesses is, unfortunately, still an elusive concept for many. Bottom line, the MNLA Foundation can help your business in two ways: • Research for the Real World. Are you reading the information compiled by Dr. Jim Calkins which is published regularly in e Scoop, MNLA eNews and via Twitter? e MNLA Foundation has contracted with Jim to compile unbiased, research-based information that you can put to use in your real-world business today.

• Career Development and Promotion. e MNLA Foundation has a core group of volunteers and a paid program director who are doing a phenomenal job of reaching out to students, elementary and high school teachers, guidance counselors and others to educate them about the career possibilities within the green industry. Learn how you can help in small or big ways by contacting Jodi@mnla.biz.

If the MNLA Foundation suddenly had a million dollars appear in its Christmas stocking, it would help ensure we could focus on these important tasks for many years to come. Since we’re not expecting Santa to deliver on this wish, do your part to help out by attending and/or sponsoring the Widmer Golf Tournament, the Shootout Sporting Clays Tournament, or the Garden Party.

You could also contribute nearly painlessly by having ¼ of 1 percent added to your bills at BFG, Wilson’s Nursery, Bachman’s Wholesale, or Bailey Nurseries.

Better service to members outside the metro area. It’s been a real challenge to cost-effectively offer services to members outside the Twin Cities metro area. But the good news is I think we’re about to turn a corner. MNLA’s new on-line, on-demand educational programming, which will premiere in the coming year, will deliver training opportunities to members regardless of where your business is. Our new

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Strategic Plan also calls for MNLA to provide more and better chances for peer-to-peer networking – an idea driven by non-metro members of our planning focus groups.

A magic moment of realization of everything MNLA is doing to help your business. A recurring theme over the years has been members making requests for services – services that we are already providing! Folks are so bombarded with information these days that many times our programs and services are lost in the shuffle. My Christmas list for MNLA includes the wish that members would magically realize all the association is doing for them: • Save money on legal services, fuel, credit card processing, and garden center carryout trays.

• Buy into a workers’ compensation program created for a seasonal industry.

• Increase your sales by using the Outdoor Living catalogs.

• Get rebates of up to $6,000 on purchases of Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler vehicles.

• ousands of dollars in savings on sales taxes and property taxes through our government affairs efforts.

• Education delivered at a fraction of its real cost, subsidized through the income of the Northern Green Expo.

Be patient with the new Strategic Plan – good things will come to those who wait! Better yet – get involved! Better things come to those who participate! It was relatively easy to flip the switch off on a few long-time programs we decided to bring to an end; and it was easy to flip the switch on to begin the process of planning and developing MNLA’s new programs. But it is impossible to instantaneously deliver on the promises of the new Strategic Plan. MNLA will deliver on quality, affordable, on-line/on-demand education which will help solve your company’s training needs; MNLA will deliver on

the evolution of the Certification program that will meet the needs of members; MNLA will deliver on great new peer-to-peer networking programs; and MNLA will deliver on improved online resources and information delivery. Be patient – our dynamic new committees are hard at work on these programs, and they will take time to develop, but they will be worth the wait!

And, should you be asked to help or choose to volunteer, please take seriously your commitment and enjoy the experience of helping to advance the priorities of your chosen industry.

In conclusion, I want to thank the members and leaders of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association for giving to me the gifts of support and encouragement over the past 16 years.

It’s been an honor and a pleasure to work with you and for you. I hope you’ll support whoever my successor might be with as much enthusiasm as you’ve provided to me.

My greatest regret in leaving MNLA is the friends I won’t see or talk to every day … the wonderful members of the MNLA team … Mary, Cassie, Jon, Sue, Norm, Jodi, Jessica, Betsy, Tim and Doug. Likewise, my fellow association executive friends in NLAE and MSAE will be missed dearly. I extend a heartfelt thank you to these wonderful human beings.

Have a wonderful holiday season and I hope there are many happy new years ahead for you and MNLA. q ________________________________ Bob Fitch’s tenure as MNLA executive director stretched from August 15, 1996 to December 31, 2012. To learn more about his new venture, see www.cainconsulting.com. You can reach him in the future at fitchccg@gmail.com or 651-2952714.

CEO Symposium January 8, 2013 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis

Great Ideas Aren't Enough Selling Ideas to an Indifferent World Inside Organizations To sell new practices up and down the internal pyramid at your company or corporation, you need to motivate others to change, and to market your ideas to a complex and often indifferent clientele.

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This session then reviews proven marketing techniques that apply, and teaches an executive sales practice that is effective at selling concepts to your co -workers and employees.

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Who are your clients? Recognize that individuals and departments have differing styles and cultures, and therefore will better respond to different messages.

Define their style. Based on your need for information and desire for a personal relationship, a four quadrant model is built that explains the best way to sell an idea to the different groups.

Adjust your message to their style. Learn concise, practical skills that work with each population.

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It is getting tougher to sell ideas. All audiences have higher standards and shorter attention spans, and are becoming very selective about the messages they will "hear.”

A quick review of basic motivational theories provides the learning foundation.

To break through the barriers, we review the theories behind personal motivation.

Consciously branding yourself is vital. The first point in getting others to see you as

Karl Ahlrichs is a national expert in the people side of business. He is first and foremost a human resource consultant, but also has a broad range of experience in a wide range of business roles. He has trained management in Chicago, marketed software in Orlando, and launched an office of Right Management Consultants in San Diego. Karl is an SPHR (Senior Professional, Human Resources), and is qualified to administer many assessment tools.

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Register now at www.mnla.biz!

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

LAKEVILLE, MN CHEVROLET R CALL FO ING IC R P L IA SPEC AHB LA-AGC-N FOR MN BERS ON MEM S VEHICLE SELECT

The Scoop | EXPO

Water Management and Irrigation Systems Seminar Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Low Volume Irrigation Design Low Volume Irrigation Scheduling Bidding and Estimating Athletic & Commercial Irrigation Design Documents Branding -- A Marketing Word that Actually Makes Sense Understanding Soil: Getting it Tested and Understanding Results New Trends in Athletic and Commercial Irrigation Applications Performing a Golf Course Irrigation Evaluation & Analysis Preparing Your Golf Course for an Irrigation Renovation Irrigation Installation and Project Management Implementation of Irrigation Plans & Specifications Irrigation: Understanding Pumps Performative Places, Authentic Spaces - A SITES Update 7 ings Contractors Always Ask Me Current Trends and Policy Developments in Landscape Irrigation Managing Aquatic Plants and Problems (Aquatics Recertification – cat F) e Green Industry Guide to Employee Handbooks City Permitting Money Saving Ideas at Work For You

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• Green Roofs, Part 1: Green Roof Technology and Design • What is in the Water?

• Tools for Implementing Green Infrastructure: e MIDS Project Featured speakers include: • Erik Christiansen, EC Design Group • Jeff Latterell, Irrigation Consulting Group • Craig Otto, Irrigation Otto.

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

Erik Christiansen

Jeff Latterell

Craig Otto

EXPO | The Scoop

Landscape & Hardscape DesignBuild Seminar Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Everything About Mechanics Liens Adrian Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses and How to Use em to Create Drama in the Year Round Garden Keynote: e Importance of Sustainability Hardscapes Restore or Rebuild?

Conifers that Grow on You: How to Make the Most of Conifers in the Landscape and Garden e Green Industry Guide to Employee Handbooks Bidding and Estimating Greening the Landscape Gardening with a Y Japanese Barberry: On Its Way to Being Outlawed?

Green Industry Legislative Forum: You Wouldn't Plant Dandelions, Would You? Branding -- A Marketing Word that Actually Makes Sense Understanding Soil: Getting it Tested and Understanding Results Creating Dramatic Gardens Across Continents Big Block Retaining Walls in the Minnesota Market e Latest Trends in Landscape Design Permeable Paver Systems for Stormwater Management Performative Places, Authentic Spaces - A SITES Update 7 ings Contractors Always Ask Me Transplanting the Package II City Permitting Money Saving Ideas at Work For You Green Roofs, Part 1: Green Roof Technology and Design Green Roofs, Part 2: Plant Design, Plant Materials and Maintenance Color/Blooming Shrubs for Minnesota Landscapes Selling Landscape Design Tools for Implementing Green Infrastructure: e MIDS Project

Featured speakers include: • Charles Vander Kooi, Vander Kooi & Assoc. Inc. • Michael Glassman, Michael Glassman & Associates • David Yocca, Conservation Design Forum Plus many more great seminars and speakers! To view the entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions, visit www.NorthernGreenExpo.org.

Charles Vander Kooi

Michael Glassman

David Yocca

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | EXPO

Lawn, Garden & Landscape Management Seminar Highlights • •

Everything About Mechanics Liens Adrian Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses and How to Use em to Create Drama in the Year Round Garden Turfgrass Research Update Managing Your Equipment Fleet in a Tough Economy Keynote: e Importance of Sustainability From Planter to Plate: Contain Your Excitement With Edible Ornamentals Conifers that Grow on You: How to Make the Most of Conifers in the Landscape and Garden e Green Industry Guide to Employee Handbooks Rodent Control: Moles, Voles, Rabbits, and More Exotic Pests: What Species Are Next To Be Attacked?

Bidding and Estimating Greening the Landscape Gardening with a Y Japanese Barberry: On Its Way to Being Outlawed?

Maintaining Natural Grass on Native Soils

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins

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Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous

• •

Tree Care – Just When You ink We Know It All! Weather 101: Fundamental Meteorology for Turf Managers • Green Industry Legislative Forum: You Wouldn't Plant Dandelions, Would You? • New Annuals for 2013 • Understanding Soil: Getting it Tested and Understanding Results • Creating Dramatic Gardens Across Continents • Conversion of Kentucky Bluegrass to No-Mow, Low-Input Grasses • Tree Risk Assessment and Development of BMPs • Grounds: Small Engine Maintenance • Winter Maintenance for Parking Lots & Sidewalks: 10 Tips to Improve your Practices • Performative Places, Authentic Spaces - A SITES Update • Words of Wisdom From Hard Hit EAB Areas • Turf Insect Problems in Minnesota – Are ey Here to Stay? How to Manage Against em • 7 ings Contractors Always Ask Me • Managing Aquatic Plants and Problems • New Challenges and New Tools: An Examination of New Products and Diseases • Care of Annuals and Perennials • Money Saving Ideas at Work For You • Enhancing Turf Performance with Soil Amendments • Green Roofs, Part 2: Plant Design, Plant Materials and Maintenance • Color/Blooming Shrubs for Minnesota Landscapes • Pesticide Recertification Featured speakers include: • John Ball, South Dakota State University • R. Chris Williamson, University of Wisconsin – Madison • Brad Jakubowski, Doane College Plus many more great seminars and speakers! To view the entire schedule-at-a-glance and seminar descriptions, visit www.NorthernGreenExpo.org.

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

John Ball

Chris Williamson

Brad Jakubowski

EXPO | The Scoop

Plant Materials and Plant Care Seminar Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Diagnosing Tree Health Issues Adrian Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses and How to Use em to Create Drama in the Year Round Garden Systems for Transplant Success in the Nursery From Planter to Plate: Contain Your Excitement With Edible Ornamentals Conifers that Grow on You: How to Make the Most of Conifers in the Landscape and Garden Gardening with a Y Japanese Barberry: On Its Way to Being Outlawed?

Tree Care – Just When You ink We Know It All! New Annuals for 2013 Creating Dramatic Gardens Across Continents Tree Risk Assessment and Development of BMPs Bur Oak Blight: e Saga Continues Words of Wisdom From Hard Hit EAB Areas

• • • • • • • •

Managing Aquatic Plants and Problems (Aquatics Recertification – cat F) Transplanting the Package II Breeding and Selecting Daylilies for Commercial Markets Care of Annuals and Perennials Green Roofs, Part 2: Plant Design, Plant Materials and Maintenance Color/Blooming Shrubs for Minnesota Landscapes Greenhouse: Impatiens Downy Mildew in the U.S. Arborist/Nursery: Insects & Industry Response

Featured speakers include: • • • •

Adrian Bloom, Blooms Nurseries Ltd. Kelly Norris, Gardens by Kelly Productions Skip Kincaid, Davey Resource Group Darrel Apps, Garden Adventures

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

Adrian Bloom

Kelly Norris

Skip Kincaid

Darrel Apps

NORTHERN

GREEN

EXPO The 2013 Northern Green Expo Is Generously Supported By:

DECEMBER 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | EXPO

Retail & Business Management Seminar Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Keynote: e Importance of Sustainability Everything About Mechanics Liens Business Succession Planning e Green Industry Guide to Employee Handbooks Bidding and Estimating Greening the Landscape Branding -- A Marketing Word that Actually Makes Sense Creating the Customer Experience Leading the Customer Experience Driving the Customer Experience Money Saving Ideas at Work For You Developing a Culture of Safety Gardening with a Y Current Trends and Policy Developments in Landscape Irrigation Hands-On and In-Depth Training to Become an MNLA Certified Professional 9:18 PM

and Nationwide Agribusiness

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

Featured speakers include: • • •

Don Shelby, Don Shelby Productions John Kennedy, John Kennedy Consulting Jason Inskeep, Adsoka, Inc.

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

Page 1 Don Shelby

John Kennedy

Jason Inskeep

The 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! e Hyatt Regency Hotel Minneapolis is the headquarters hotel and is connected by skyway to the Convention Center. The newly renovated Hyatt lobby features Prairie Kitchen and Bar and a deli-style market.

Room Rate: $98. Reservation Phone: 1- 888-421-1442. e Hilton Minneapolis is connected via skyway to the Convention Center and features an indoor pool, fitness center, sauna and whirlpool. It also hosts Skywater Cuisine and Cocktails. Room Rate: $98. Reservation Phone: 1-888933-5363. e Holiday Inn Express is just across the street from the Convention Center. The hotel features free continental breakfast as part of each room reservation! Room Rate: $85.

Reserve your room by calling 1-800-870-0114 or online at www.hiexmpls.com (code: MNL).

Please note: e Millennium Hotel will be CLOSED FOR REMODELING during this year’s Northern Green Expo.

Higher Education Alumni Social

Book Your Hotel Rooms Now for Green Expo!

e Northern Green Expo offers you the chance to re-connect with college friends and instructors.

Save the date for the 2013 Higher Education Alumni Social scheduled for:

Thursday, Jan. 10 from 4:30pm – 6:30pm in the Season’s Rotunda at the Minneapolis Convention Center e event is hosted by: Hennepin Technical College South Dakota State University University of Minnesota Crookston University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Wisconsin – River Falls Come and meet alumni from these and other institutions!

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | EXPO

You Wouldn’t Plant Dandelions, Would You?

By Tim Power, MNLA Regulatory Consultant innesota’s Noxious Weed Advisory Committee (NWAC) is in the midst of a risk assessment on Japanese barberry, the first evaluation among several that are likely to be conducted in the next few years involving horticultural plants that have shown up on invasive plants lists.

MNLA is an active participant in NWAC, Tim Power because our industry has a lot at stake as NWAC makes its recommendations to Minnesota’s Commissioner of Agriculture regarding “list/do not list” decisions to the state’s noxious weed lists. The 2013 Northern Green Expo Public Policy Forum brings together two experts in the invasive plants/noxious weeds realm who will share their insights and common ground and explore their differences on how our industry and our state should deal with horticultural plants that are deemed invasive. The Public Policy Forum will begin at 3:40 PM on Wednesday, January 9th.

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This session’s whimsical title was suggested by our speaker Bonnie HarperLore, retired manager of the national roadside vegetation management program for the Federal Highway Administration.

She spent much of her career applying science and technology to roadside problems, especially weeds. Harper-Lore currently

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

Bonnie Harper-Lore

serves on the Invasive Species Advisory Committee to the National Invasive Species Council. She holds a M.S. degree focused on restoration and management of native plant communities and she taught Ecological Principles of Design at the University of Minnesota for nine years. She worked for ten years in Minnesota’s landscape industry, during which time she served on the Minnesota Nurserymens’ Association’s Research Committee. Before its regulation as a noxious weed, she was a vocal advocate for the Green Industry to stop planting purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

Dr. Laura Jull is associate professor and extension specialist for woody ornamental plants in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a PhD in horticulture from North Carolina State University. Her expertise includes woody plant selection and evaluation of plants for urban tolerance, Laura Jull invasiveness potential of woody plants, dwarf and unusual conifers for the landscape, and environmental stress physiology. Also an industry insider, she worked in horticulture during her high school and college years, including positions in landscape installation and maintenance, plant propagation, woody plant ID, interior plant maintenance and retail sales of ornamental plants. Jull’s extension responsibilities at UW-Madison include serving Wisconsin’s green industry and she serves on Wisconsin’s equivalent of our Noxious Weed Advisory Committee. q

Job Boards at the 2013 Northern Green Expo • • • •

•

Guidelines for posting positions on the Job Boards at Expo ere is no official form for job postings. Bring your own job posting (no larger than a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper) to place on the boards any time after 7 am on Wednesday, January 9th. e Jobs Boards are located in the Hall E Lobby.

Please list only one job description per posting to ensure that your posting can be put under the correct category heading.

Expo staff will place empty acrylic holders on the boards along with category headings at the beginning of the show. Feel free to bring several copies of the posting which will allow potential employees to take a copy of your posting with them for response after the Expo. Acrylic holders will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they are full, a single posting can be tacked up to the board, but multiple copies cannot be left.

It is your responsibility to keep tabs on the job posting. If your copies run out, Expo staff will not be responsible for filling them. However, if you'd like to make additional copies, there is a Kinko's available onsite.

Note: Please do not include confidential information that you might not, for any reason, want available to the general public.

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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NORTHERN

GREEN

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The Scoop | ANNUAL MEETING

Official Notice: Annual Meeting on Jan. 9 At Convention Center otice is hereby given that the annual membership meeting of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, in Room 212 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. During the annual meeting, the results of the Board of Directors election will be announced. An electronic ballot was sent on December 1 to the primary contact provided to MNLA by each business member. Following is a short biography of those persons nominated to be on the ballot.

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Debbie Lonnee is a candidate for reelection as president of MNLA. Debbie is the planning and administration manager at Bailey Nurseries Inc. in St. Paul. She is a 1979 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BS in horticulture. She Debbie Lonnee started her career as the assistant garden center manager at The Park Nursery in Stillwater and moved up to manager in 1985. She joined Bailey Nurseries in 1993.

Debbie is chair of the new MNLA Education & Certification Committee and past chair of the Publications and Garden Center Committees. She has served as a member of the Greenhouse & Herbaceous Growers, Convention, Home & Garden Show Committees. She was first elected to the MNLA Board of Directors in 2000; and has served as both secretarytreasurer and vice president. Debbie received the MNLA Committee Member of the Year Award in 1999.

Heidi Heiland is a candidate for reelection as vice president of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. Since 1979, Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens of Plymouth has offered professional garden services for residential and commercial clients. Heidi has volunteered over the years for the Heidi Heiland Minnetonka Center for the Arts; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum; Nature Conservancy; and as a guest lecturer at area technical colleges. She is an MNLA Certified Professional, a Professional Master Gardener; graduate of Constance Spry Flower School of London; and has been recognized for excellence by a number of organizations.

Heidi is a past chair of the MNLA Public Relations Committee. She also served on the Sustainable Environment Committee. She has been instrumental in MNLA's efforts at the State Fair in recent years; and has received both MNLA's Committee Member of the Year Award and Special Service Award. She was first elected to the MNLA Board of Directors in 2006; and has served as secretary-treasurer.

Herman Roerick is a candidate for reelection as secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. Herman is owner of Central Landscape Supply Inc. in St. Cloud. He is involved with the Central Minnesota Builders Association, the University of Herman Roerick Minnesota-Crookston Advisory Committee, and a number of outdoors groups. He graduated from the University of Minnesota-Crookston in 1984 with an AAS degree in natural resources conservation. He is a recipient of the Alumni of the Year Award from the University of Minnesota-Crookston.

Herman has been involved with MNLA since the inception of Central Landscape Supply in 1991. He is a member of the new MNLA Membership Committee. He is a past member of the MNLA Landscape Education, Landscape Contractors and Hardscapes Committees. Herman was first elected to the MNLA Board of Directors in 2006.

Tim Malooly is a candidate for reelection to the MNLA Board of Directors.

Tim is president of Irrigation By Design Inc., which provides design, installation and service of commercial and residential landscape irrigation systems. He is also president of Water in Motion which provides design and consultation and Tim Malooly programs of applied technology for 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.

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 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 served on the Irrigation Association Board of Directors.

Continued on page 31

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Continued from page 30 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 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 Randy Berg 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 MNLA since his graduation, and received his MNLA certification in 1981. He became an APLD Certified Landscape Designer in 1997. He is chair of the new MNLA Communications & Technology Committee and past chair of the Garden Center Committee.

Randy has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 34 years.

She is a licensed physical therapist, as well as his business partner. They 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 recently joined Hormel Foods Inc. q

Bylaw Changes to be Discussed at Annual Meeting Several changes to the MNLA bylaws will be considered at the association’s annual meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. An official notification of the exact changes will be emailed to business members following the Dec. 6th Board of Directors meeting. If you do not receive the email by Dec. 15th, contact cassie@mnla.biz for a copy of the proposals.

One of the changes will be a slight modification to the association’s mission, following on the heels of the recent Strategic Plan. Another change is a housekeeping measure to comply with postal regulations for the purpose of lowering mailing fees for The Scoop.

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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Certification Exam Training Session at 2013 Expo!

A Certification Exam training session will be presented by the MNLA Certification Committee on Friday, January 11, 2013 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The training session is included with your Northern Green Expo Tradeshow + Education registration.

Session Details • Training on Exam structure • Training on Plant identification • Training on taking the Basic Exam CERTIFIED Professional • Separate break out training sessions for the specialty exams - Landscape, Grower and Garden Center • "Mini Exam" will be given, with time following for review and questions • A Plant Material Study Area - available all three days of the Northern Green Expo

The next opportunity to sit for the MNLA Certification Exam is Friday, January 25, 2013. Please see the exam application insert in this month’s Scoop.

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

Letter to the Editor Keep Your Dollars in Minnesota t has come to the attention of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS) that a for-profit media company, State-by-State Gardening based in Ruston, La., will be launching a title called Minnesota Gardener in January/February 2013.

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State-by-State Gardening has a simple business strategy: from regional editorial and advertising sales offices, such as the one theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established in Downerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grove, Ill., with Chicagoland Gardening, they branch out to neighboring states and launch state-branded titles comprised of general gardening content that is shared among all of their editions, and whose circulation they can bundle together to attract national advertisers.

State-by-State Gardening is currently using MSHS as its main prospecting tool for this area. Its ad sales staff is already mining Northern Gardener for advertisers and for businesses to which they can offer a slot in their discount card roster. As membership dues are by far the largest part of our revenue picture, and ad sales in Northern Gardener along with dues to be a Discount Partner also contribute significantly to our bottom line, we hope you will understand why this goes beyond an ordinary level of concern.

We are reaching out to advertisers, commercial members, garden clubs, members of MSHS, the landscaping industry, University personnel and other constituencies to remind you that MSHS is a not-for-profit organization and, with your financial support for MSHS, you not only enable us to produce Northern Gardener, but also to provide educational resources, our Garden-in-a-Box and Minnesota Green programs for low income families and community garden spaces, and our events and tours that help strengthen the local gardening community.

For over 146 years the Minnesota State Horticultural Society has supported the independent garden center and nursery industry in this state. We hope you will you will also stand with us and support an organization that is truly for Minnesota gardeners.

Rose Eggert, CEO Minnesota State Horticultural Society Publishers of Northern Gardener

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Our goal is to exceed your expectations.

MNLA Government Affairs in a Post-Fitch Era

By Tim Malooly, Water in Motion Inc.

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

y now, you know our beloved executive director of 16 years has chosen to move to Iowa and to hang-out his own shingle as a small business owner. Personally, while I will miss his day-to-day availability, help, guidance and wisdom, I am excited for him and his family.

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support, PAC support AND staff support.

As far as the future of our government affairs program is concerned, rest assured it will remain vibrant, agile and progressive in its pursuit of the legislative and regulatory priorities of MNLA and its members.

Will “government affairs” be a special interest or specialty of MNLA’s next executive director as it was for Bob? Perhaps, but regardless, please know your government affairs program participants will reflect on the loss of Mr. Fitch and will rejoice in the memory of challenges overcome and victories experienced together on your behalf, but your MNLA government affairs program will not suffer for the loss of its great friend Bob Fitch in its day-to-day. I am CONFIDENT that’s exactly how Bob wants it.

Like most well-planned organizations, one person does not the organization make. Your government affairs program includes member-leaders, board support, member support, lobbyist-consultant support, regulatory affairs-consultant

Out of change, comes opportunity.

Your Government Affairs Committee looks forward to new opportunities in pursuing the legislative and regulatory goals and objectives of MNLA and its members. q

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | The Scoop

How You Can Help Your Industry: Your Opinion Counts

By Timothy Malooly, Water in Motion Inc. embers, you may not know it, but real, impactful, and permanent decisions are being made at an increasing pace about your industry and your future role in Tim Malooly your industry.

Government agencies (local, state and federal), the “green movement,” and consumer tastes all have an impact – and are exercising influence - on the future of your business.

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The statements above (perhaps with exception of the reference to the “green movement”) were just as applicable to our industry in 1990 as they are today.

Add-in the effects (good and not so good) of the “green movement,” and one may argue that decisions truly are being made about our industry at an increasing pace.

In many cases, you have more influence on these decisions than you may think. However, you have to participate to exercise your influence. I am NOT talking about visits to your legislator. I AM talking (today) about codes and standards.

About one year ago I wrote to make MNLA members aware of a new national standard-setting committee sponsored by the International Code Council (ICC), one of many code setting organizations that either have over time influenced our industry or have recently jumped in to influence outcomes in our industry (mostly prompted by effects of the “green movement”). The ICC standard I referred to last year was related to the first-ever standard for landscape irrigation sprinklers.

Now, to those of you (the majority of MNLA members) who do not actively participate in landscape irrigation design, installation or maintenance, before you turn the page, please read a little further…

Whether or not you believe in global warming, the impact of the human footprint on our environment; the potential scarcity of clean water; or the aging infrastructure we take for granted, here’s the reality today: WATER, ITS USE AND AVAILABILITY TO THE GREEN INDUSTRY IN THE FUTURE WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS. This means YOU, garden centers, growers, landscape contractors, commercial flower growers and the rest of our membership.

If water becomes restricted, unavailable or too expensive, not only will the plant palette change in the cultivated landscape (including via legislation), but the marketplace for the goods and services you furnish may shrink precipitously.

In all likelihood, as you read this article, the current draft of the first-ever landscape irrigation sprinkler standard is out for its first round of public comment. In this draft, testing protocols are discussed – boring perhaps – but did you know that until this standard, manufacturers of landscape sprinklers did not (do not) have to conform to nearly any standardized product performance or safety testing? Did you know that there currently are nearly no processes in place to assure performance, safety or water-efficiency claims made by a landscape irrigation sprinkler product manufacturer are indeed true? Well, after this code is finalized, several mechanisms will be put in place. YOU can influence this effort by your comments on the current draft.

In a standardized product, basic performance, look, feel and experience

are made commonplace –hopefully without stifling innovation. (Testing protocols are included to ensure minimum performance expectations are met and repeatable). For example, when you plug an appliance into an electric receptacle anywhere in the United States, you will find a standardized receptacle and have the experience you’ve come to expect – without shocking results!

In the current version of this first-ever landscape irrigation sprinkler standard are requirements for minimum features especially features related to improved water-efficiency. Several of the features have been available for years in the “better” or “best” categories of landscape sprinklers. This standard seeks to include and standardize some of those features going forward. Perhaps this makes sense to you, but there are those who will voice opposition to prescribing any sprinkler performance standards.

What is your opinion? During public comment, your opinion holds as much merit as anyone else’s. ANYONE. It is part of the process of open and transparent decision-making that takes place in code and standard setting.

Please go to http://www.iccsafe.org/ cs/standards/IS-IEDC/Pages/default.aspx and make a comment or two on some or all of the draft. The future of your industry will be affected by this standard.

You have an opportunity to voice your opinion on an important topic. Your help is needed and will be greatly appreciated!

If you have any questions, call me. I serve on the national committee and can be reached at 763-559-1010. q ________________________________ Tim Malooly is chair of the MNLA Goverment Affairs Committee. He can be reached at Timm@watermotion.com.

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | STRATEGIC PLAN

MNLA Strategic Plan 2012 – OVERVIEW and UPDATES

By Cassie Larson, MNLA Interim Executive Director NLA is one of the nation’s strongest state green industry associations. Our number of members has typically been in the top five nationally in the past dozen years, the Northern Green Expo weathered the recession and the downturn in green industry shows better than most, and our programs and volunteer commitment continue to be strong.

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But MNLA is very aware that traditional association models are being altered and even eliminated because of how Americans gather information, how the great Recession has changed society, and what upcoming generations expect of their civic and community involvement. These challenges and others have manifested themselves at MNLA in the form of fewer members, booth sales, and catalog sales. While key indicators for the association have turned positive in the past 8-12 months, these are still real issues to come to grips with.

Will we let these forces damage MNLA’s relevance to its members? No! Status quo is not an option. To keep the association moving forward, the MNLA Board of Directors chose to study ways to modify or even throw aside the outdated portions of our traditional model so that we can build MNLA’s

value and relevance for current and future generations of green industry companies and professionals. We invested in qualitative research to determine member and non-member needs and brought those findings into extensive discussions by the strategic planning group. The decision was made that we need to narrow the scope of offerings and focus on delivering a higher level of excellence on our core competencies of education, government affairs, and networking. e 2012 MNLA Strategic Plan Has 7 Focus Areas: 1. Governance - Streamline governance to be as responsive as possible to meet the challenges of the future.

Create an association whose operating structures are nimble enough to seize opportunities and respond to challenges in an extremely timely fashion.

2. Education - Improve educational opportunities for members including online/on-demand resources and create a more agile and progressive educational program decisionmaking process.

3.Government Affairs - Continue to grow the association’s capacity to influence regulations affecting members by being a resource for lawmakers on environmental, agricultural, construction, and small business issues.

4. Business Connections / Networking - Be the catalyst to help members build business opportunities, foster industry camaraderie, and provide a fun atmosphere through industry networking groups, peer coaching opportunities, and access to subject matter experts.

5. Information, Marketing and Communications – Become the critical hub for members to access business trends, industry analytics, pertinent research results, marketing information, and regulatory compliance through a clear, concise, clutter-free magazine, website, enews and social media.

Continued on page 37 36

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Continued from page 36 6. Membership - Be an association that green industry companies aspire to join because it represents professionalism and prestige.

7. Narrow the Scope of MNLA Activities - In order to achieve superior levels of excellence in its strategic focus areas, MNLA must narrow the scope of engagement of its staff and volunteer resources. As a result, MNLA will no longer do direct-to-consumer industry marketing and public relations programs.

As part of streamlining the governance, MNLA now has 6 committees. Below is a list of committee members and progress notes related to the strategic plan initiatives above:

1. Education & Certification – a. Committee Members: i. Chair: Debbie Lonnee, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. ii. Vice Chair: John O'Reilly, Otten Bros. Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. iii. Sam Bauer, University of Minnesota Extension iv. James Calkins, Horticultral Consultants LLC v. Brandon Gallagher, Rainbow Treecare vi. Jeff Gillman, University of Minnesota vii. Jim Hagstrom, FASLA Savanna Designs, Inc. viii. Ernie Hammero, Berg's Nursery, Landscapers/Garden Center ix. Sue Jacobson, University Minnesota Crookston x. Jeff Latterell, Mickman Brothers, Inc. xi. Tim Oberg, Southview Design xii. Craig Trenary, Terra Forma Design LLC xiii. Tim Vogel, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. b. Updates/Progress: is committee met for the first time on October 15, 2012. ey tackled assigning a line-up of education offerings for winter/spring 2013 to include in-person and online education and established a Certification Task Team to begin to transition some elements of the program to an online format.

Continued on page 38

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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Continued from page 37 2. Communications & Technology a. Committee Members: i. Chair: Randy Berg, Berg's Nursery, Landscapers/ Garden Center ii. Faith Appelquist, Tree Quality, LLC iii. Alec Charais, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. iv. Karla Clements, S & S Tree Specialists, Inc. v. Diana Grundeen, Trio Landscaping vi. Anna Linder, Linder's Greenhouses Garden Center Flower Marts & Landscaping vii. Justin Mangold, StoneScapes viii. Jessica Miles, Minnesota Department of Agriculture - MN Grown ix. Betsy Pierre, Pierre Productions x. Kris Uter, Otten Bros. Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. xi. Andy Wilson, Wilson's Nursery, Inc. b. Updates/Progress: During the first meeting on October 16, 2012, the committee engaged in a spirited evaluation of MNLA’s main communication channels.

Several teams were formed to work on sharpening these tools and forming them into more effective publications.

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3. Government Affairs a. Committee Members: i. Chair: Timothy Malooly CID CLIA CIC, Irrigation By Design, Inc. ii. Douglas Carnival, McGrann, Shea, Carnival, Straughn & Lamb iii. Scott Frampton, Landscape Renovations, Inc. iv. Jonathan Galler, Bachman's, Inc. v. Terri McEnaney, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. vi. John Mickman, Mickman Brothers, Inc. vii. Gail Nozal, S & S Tree Specialists, Inc. viii. Jeff Pilla, Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Center ix. Tim Power, Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association x. Bill Sayward, Itasca Greenhouse, Inc. xi. Brad Tabke, Ethical Landscape Consultants xii. Cory Whitmer, e Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center xiii. Jennifer Wilson, Wilson's Nursery, Inc. b. Updates/Progress: Government affairs is one area identified in the planning process that is operating at a high level of excellence. Legislative and regulatory involvement will continue to be a priority and the committee will work to improve communications about government affairs both to and from members.

4. Membership a. Committee Members: i. Chair: Andy Petersen, Spectrum Sales ii. Jon Ackerman, BFG Supply Co. iii. Van Cooley, Malmborg's, Inc. iv. Jerod Fehrenbach, Twin Orchards Nursery v. Katie Feckers, Nelson Nursery, Inc. vi. Rob Friend, e Mulch Store vii. Charlie Miller, Truck Utilities, Inc. viii. Herman Roerick, Central Landscape Supply ix. Kelsey Sparks, Green Barn Garden Center, Inc. x. Bert Swanson, Swanson's Nursery Consulting, Inc. b. Updates/Progress: e Membership Committee, who met on October 23, 2012, will begin to create a baseline set of standards / expectations for being a member and aims to increase its personal touch with members through phone calls and in-person visits.

5. Networking a. Committee Members: i. Chair: Nick Sargent, Sargent's Landscape Nursery, Inc. ii. Sarah Hartung, Landscape Renovations, Inc. iii. Heidi Heiland, Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens, Inc. iv. Steve Hoogenakker, NaturalGreen v. Duggan Kelly, Kelly Green Irrigation, Inc. vi. Matt Mallas, Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies - Plymouth vii. Patrick McGuiness, Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC viii. Jeff Pilla, Bachman's Floral, Gift & Garden Center ix. Jim Wilson, Wilson's Nursery, Inc.

b. Updates/Progress: is committee met for the first time on October 24, 2012. ey began discussing how to engage members in both formal and informal networking groups. ey plan to create peer networking groups with a facilitator to help guide discussion and to help foster relations to industries closely related to MNLA. 6. Trade Show a. Committee Members: i. Chair: Bill Mielke, Waconia Tree Farms LLC ii. Vice Chair: Carrie Evans Grove Nursery, Inc. iii. Mark Cosgrove, Cherokee Mfg. iv. Kim Gaida, Dundee Nursery & Landscaping Co. v. Paul Griffin, City of Woodbury vi. Chris Halverson, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. vii. Kent Harris, Arteka Companies viii. Roger Hintze, Roger Hintze ix. Dave Kemp, e Catholic Cemeteries x. Ken Liddell, Maddell Companies xi. Charlie Miller, Truck Utilities, Inc. xii. Steve Pallas, Hunter Industries xiii. Brad Pederson, Bloomington Garden Center & Landscape Co. xiv. Andy Petersen, Spectrum Sales b. Updates/Progress: Helping exhibitors have a positive experience during the trade show move-in and moveout process has been one of the keys to supplier support of the Northern Green Expo. e MNLA-MTGF Expo Trade Show Committee will continue to work hard to deliver this positive experience to exhibitors. q

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | STRATEGIC PLAN

Involvement and Volunteer Opportunities

By Cassie Larson, MNLA Interim Executive Director he new MNLA strategic plan presents many opportunities for MNLA members to get involved in the association in a variety of ways.

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Give your time: • Apply to serve on a committee. Although we have limited space on committees, we accept applications year-round and will contact you when space becomes available! See page 36 to learn more about the mission of the six MNLA committees.

• Sign up to participate in an industry networking group.

With nearly 13 different groups, there is bound to be one that sparks your interest. New MNLA Industry Segment Networking Groups are forming now! Below are dates/times for the first meetings. Topics for the meeting will be announced shortly. Please contact MNLA if you’re interested in joining a networking group.

• Volunteer for a task team. ese groups exist to complete a very specific and outlined task. ey have a beginning, middle and end date. So if you're pressed for time, but want to lend your time to a specific cause this might be the place for you. Task teams are currently working on the State Fair; recognition of excellence; certification; and permeable paver system promotion.

• Act as a room captain/moderator for the Northern Green Expo. is entails introducing a speaker, controlling lights, and getting more chairs if needed.

• Talk to local students about why you chose a green industry career. e MNLA Foundation has a plethora of resources that can help you; from presentations to career fair display kits.

• Join a peer business coaching group! is is a new opportunity that is currently under development by our MNLA Networking Committee.

• Volunteer at the MNLA Community Center at Green Expo and be the face of MNLA if you're interested in recruiting new MNLA members and/or sharing your association experience.

• Lobby your legislators on behalf of the green industry and/or participate in the MNLA Day on the Hill in March.

Give your talents: • Write an article or contribute photos to the MNLA monthly magazine - e Scoop!

• Do you enjoy educating others? Volunteer to present a seminar, webinar, or other education to members.

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Give your treasure: • No time to participate, but want to ensure a strong future for the association? Consider a gift to the MNLA Foundation and/or being a scholarship sponsor.

If you want more information about any of the opportunities listed above, please contact the MNLA office at 651-633-4987 or mnla@mnla.biz and we will be happy to help you! q

MNLA Thanks Bywords Printing e Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association extends deep gratitude to Nancy Fish, her husband, Jerry Payne, and the entire crew, past and present, from Bywords Printing in South St. Paul. With this issue, Bywords ends more than 31 years designing and printing MNLA’s monthly magazine.

Former MNLA Executive Directors Jim and Gen McCarthy hired the company to compose and print the association’s magazine beginning in 1981. Since then, Nancy has worked on approximately 370 editions of the publication that has evolved from the North Central Nurseryman to MNLA News to e Scoop. In addition, Bywords has played a role in numerous other MNLA printing projects from the Membership Directory to the convention program. MNLA will continue to work with Bywords on a number of other projects going forward.

When Bywords received the MNLA Special Service Award in 2006, Executive Director Bob Fitch said, “In my years at MNLA, no one has saved my backside more times or helped the MNLA staff delivery a quality product on time more than Bywords Printing of South St. Paul. When the chips are down, all I have to do is pick up the phone and call my friends Jerry and Nancy and I know the job will get done.” q

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DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | CERTIFICATION

CERTIFIED Professional

Magic from the Manual: Vegetable Gardening

Preparing the Garden Center Staff to Service the First Time Vegetable Gardener

By Dr. Terry Ferriss, CPH, MNLA Certified Professional, University of Wisconsin – River Falls he MNLA Certification Manual provides extensive background information for the practicing green industry professional. Many of the chapters include information that would be appropriate for training seasonal staff as well. The following recommendations for assisting the first time vegetable gardener to plan for their vegetable garden are taken from the Vegetable Gardening chapter in the MNLA Certification Manual and are representative of the base of knowledge on vegetable gardening. Garden Center staff might find this information particularly useful.

Most vegetables fit into one of the following seven categories: 1. Leafy Crops: lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard.

2. Root Crops: carrots, radish, parsnips, onions.

3. Cole Crops or the Cabbage Family: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts 4. Legumes: beans, peas.

5. Squash and Melons: zucchini, yellow summer squash acorn squash, watermelon, cantaloupe.

6. Tomato Family (Solanaceae): peppers, tomato, egg plant, potato.

7. Corn.

Generally vegetables in the first 3 categories, (leafy, root, Cole crops) fall into the cool season vegetable category.

Another way to remember this is to remember that we eat vegetative plant parts of most cool season vegetables.

Cool season species can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost in the spring. The vegetables in the last 4 categories (legumes, squash and melons, Solanaceae and corn) are typically warm season vegetables. Another way to

T

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remember this is to remember that we eat the seeds and fruits of most warm season vegetables. Generally, warm season species can be planted 1-3 weeks after the last expected day of frost. The major exceptions to these guidelines would be that peas are cool season and sweet potatoes are warm season vegetables.

Some gardeners want to save seeds from their gardens, however, most of the seeds planted are hybrids, so the seed produced on these hybrid plants will not be true to the parent plant. Often seeds are treated with fungicides to prevent damping-off or other seed-borne diseases. This information should be on the packet label. The length of time that seed will stay viable varies with species.

Using fresh seed every year generally results in greater seed germination rates.

Seeds for the Cole crop and Solanaceae categories are generally started indoors and then transplanted into the garden. Other vegetables are generally direct seeded into the garden.

Most seed will successfully germinate if planted at a depth of two times the diameter of the seed or follow package directions.

When planning the vegetable garden, change the location each year where each vegetable category is grown in order to minimize the build-up of insects and diseases. The pests that affect one member in a category generally are problems for other vegetables in the same category. Insects and diseases can winter on plant debris and/or in the soil, and their populations can build up if the host is located in the same spot in the garden year after year.

It is difficult to sow small seeds thinly enough to permit all plants to develop well. Surplus plants are comparable to weeds and should be thinned out or removed. When the soil is moist, surplus plants can be removed easily without

injuring the remaining plants. Early thinning is especially important in root crops such as beets, carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, and turnips. In the thinning process, the tops of beets, lettuce, chard, parsley and turnips can be used as salad greens or in soup stocks There are a variety of space saving and yield maximizing planting strategies that are easy for homeowners to implement.

Gardening in containers can be just as successful as in the ground.

Succession Planting – Succession planting involves planting and harvesting a quick maturing crop (such as lettuce, radish or spinach) and then planting a slower maturing crop (beans, cabbage, tomato) in the same row space.

Intercropping – Intercropping is accomplished by planting or seeding quick maturing crops that require narrow spacing (ex:lettuce, spinach) between rows of longer-term crops ( ex: Cole crops , tomatoes, peppers) that require wide spacing. Another method of intercropping is to sow an early-maturing crop in the same row as a transplanted late maturing crop. For example seeding a leafy or root crop in-between the transplants of Cole crops or Solanaceae plants.

Stake or Trellis Work – Supports are recommended for tomatoes, pole beans and vine crops. This allows vertical growth and less horizontal space will be required.

Raised Beds – Raised beds improve yield, minimize compaction, enhance drainage, frequently have fewer weeds and are easier on gardeners’ backs. They can be constructed by forming a 4' X 8' rectangle from 2-inch x 6-inch boards with corner braces. Fill the bed with soil and or packaged garden soil and peat.

This is an easy way for new gardeners to create a garden as it does not require Continued on page 43

Continued from page 42

Practice Questions:

much shoveling or tilling. Isles between crops can be eliminated as the interior of the bed can be reached from the sides.

Container Gardening â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Patio tomatoes, bush cucumbers, lettuce, onions and herbs are easily grown in containers and with a little more attention other species can also produce well. Well drained, well aerated growing media in the container and strict cultural practices, including frequent watering and routine fertilization are necessary to ensure healthy container plants. The containers should be deep and have several drainage holes. Small or unglazed clay containers may need watering twice daily.

Additional information on vegetable gardening basics can be found in the MNLA Certification Manual and in UMN Extension publications and web sites. q _______________________________ Terry Ferriss is a member of the MNLA Certification Committee and can be reached at terry.l.ferriss@uwrf.edu.

1. Cool season vegetables are generally planted: a. 2 months prior to the last frost b. 2 weeks prior to the last frost c. 2 weeks after the last frost d. 2 months after the last frost 2. Which are Cole crop vegetables? a. tomato, eggplant, peppers b. cucumbers, squash, watermelon c. peas, green beans, yellow wax beans d. broccoli, cauliďŹ&#x201A;ower, Brussels sprouts 3. Raised bed gardens a. enhance drainage, minimize invasion of weeds and sustain higher yields b. are the only way to successfully garden on a balcony c. need less fertilizer and water than gardening in the ground d. are portable gardens that can be moved during the season to maximize light exposure

4. T F Saving seed from harvested garden vegetables will provide the consumer with consistency of crop quality from year to year.

5. T F Intercropping is a vegetable gardening planting technique that will prevent the carry-over of diseases and insects from year to year by rotating where crops are grown in the garden.

Answers: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

b d a F F

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

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The Scoop | CERTIFICATION

Looking for Evidence of Competency in the Business Environment

By Dr. Terry Ferriss, Professor of Horticulture, CPH, MNLA Certified Professional University of Wisconsin – River Falls hat evidence do your clients have that will document your competency to perform and/or provide the goods and services you are offering? Professional certification is used throughout the business world, in numerous professions to verify and promote an individual’s competency within a given Terry Ferriss profession. Individual professionals in engineering, accounting, medical fields, and many other professions strive to demonstrate their competency and mastery of the discipline by attaining the status of certified professional.

Here in the upper-midwest, members of the Green Industry have the opportunity to attain MNLA Certified Professional status as a means of validating and documenting to your clients that you are competent in your field.

W

Let’s dissect the phrase “Certified Professional” and use the on-line Business Dictionary to define the individual terms.

Certified Authoritatively or officially attested or confirmed as being genuine or true as represented, or as complying or meeting specified requirements or standards. It may or may not mean as being accompanied by a certificate.

Professional 1. Person formally certified by a professional body of belonging to a specific profession by virtue of having completed a required course of studies and/or practice. And whose competence can usually be measured against an established set of standards.

2. Person who has achieved an acclaimed level of proficiency in a calling or trade.

To earn the designation as a Certified Professional an individual’s competency has to be evaluated and validated through a certification program. Once again, a definition from the on-line Business Dictionary.

Certification (as in Certification program) Formal procedure by which an accredited or authorized person or agency assesses and verifies (and attests in writing by issuing a certificate) the attributes, characteristics, quality, qualification, or status of individuals or organizations, goods or

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services, procedures or processes, or events or situations, in accordance with established requirements or standards.

The well-established MNLA Certification Program has established the standards of proficiency for the Green Industry Profession and provided the study manual as a guide which articulates the competencies expected of a professional in the field.

CERTIFIED Professional

Not all certifications in the industry are professional certifications. Professional certification reflects the competency, proficiency and one’s knowledge and ability to problem solve within a discipline and generally requires demonstrated experience in the field for several years. Task or skill based certification reflects the mastery of a particular skill or task. An individual who receives a certificate for passing a class or sitting through a training session for a new technology might receive a certification for that task but that does not equate to the higher level of professional proficiency. There is a place for both types of certification in the business environment and a vibrant industry requires the existence of both.

Consumers want to hire professionals who can document and demonstrate competency and proficiency. Certified professionals therefore are generally highly sought after by the consumer and consumers are frequently willing to pay them a premium price for their work. If you are not already an MNLA Certified Professional, review the Study Guide and take the exam in 2013. The integrity and strength of the Green Industry relies upon a strong base of recognized, competent professionals. q _______________________________________________ Terry Ferriss is a member of the MNLA Certification Committee and can be reached at terry.l.ferriss@uwrf.edu.

ARBORISTS | The Scoop

Too Many Maples

By Faith Appelquist, Tree Quality LLC irst it was the chestnut blight of the early 1900’s causing the extinction of the American Chestnut (Castanea dentate) from eastern deciduous forests of North America. Then the catastrophic loss of the American elm to Dutch elm disease in the 1960’s and 70’s, leaving many city streets barren. At the present time the entire native Faith Applequist and cultivated ash population in North America (an estimated 8 billion trees) is considered at risk due to emerald ash borer.

F

The overly extensive use of one tree such as the American elm (ulmus) or ash (fraxinus) is an example of foolhardy landscaping. These trees are tremendously ornamental and thrive under the harsh conditions of the city. The diseases caught up with them and the results are disastrous.

Unfortunately, people do not seem to learn from their mistakes and now Maple (acer) is being used in wholesale fashion for cities, residences, and just about everywhere.

Here is a list of trees that can be planted instead of maple.

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) Amur corktree (Phelllodendron amurense) Beech (Fagus spp.)

Crabapple (Malus spp.)

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) Magnolia (Magnolia spp.)

Oak (Quercus spp.)

Ornamental cherry (Prunus spp.)

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

White fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

There is a new exotic insect in the United States and guess what its favorite food is? Yes, you guessed it, Maple. This insect is particularly concerning because instead of killing one kind of tree (like ash or elm), it has a host range of six, maybe more.

Just as your financial advisor tells you to create a diverse portfolio of stocks and bonds, I strongly urge a diversified tree planting program encompassing many different species and cultivars. Ideally, no single tree (genus) should represent more than 5% of a tree population. Beautiful fall color or an interesting habit will mean little when a borer or blight has killed a tree. q ______________________________ Faith Appelquist is a member of the MNLA Communications & Technology Committee, an ISA Board Certified Master arborist and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist. She can be reached at faith@treequality.com.

An analysis of tree inventories from Minnesota cities reveals an overabundance of certain genera of trees such as Maple (Acer) and Ash (Fraxinus) DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

45

Welcome New Members!

The Scoop | MEMBERSHIP

MNLA wants to know you better!

AMP Services, Minnetonka

MNLA staďŹ&#x20AC; and volunteer leaders want to see you in action! We know that MNLA will meet your needs better as we increase our understanding of your operations, including the challenges you face every day. If you'd be interested in a short visit to your nursery, garden center, shop, or job site, please call Mary at 651-633-4987 or email mary@mnla.biz.

LadyBug Designs, Oakdale Lunseth Lawn Care Professionals, Minneapolis

MNLA Welcomes New Members!

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by Como Park to visit with Scott Solmonson, MNLA-CP, owner of Oakdale MNLA member Living Space Landscapes, who is involved in his "dream job" - helping with Lunseth Lawn Professionals landscape improvements to Care the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden in St. Paul.

Minneapolis Scott is pictured above with John Powell, a Japanese garden expert from Texas who has trained in Japan. The renovated garden will open in spring 2013.

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Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association Accomplishments and Highlights which Executive Director Bob Fitch played a role in from 1996-2012.

Bob gives great credit to the volunteers, leaders, and staff who worked so faithfully and diligently for the success of the organization.

Administration • Highly transparent financial reporting and professional budgeting becomes a hallmark of the organization. An independent auditor registers a "clean" opinion of the finances every year, plus MNLA survives an IRS audit with no penalties.

• MNLA operates in the black 13 of the 16 years of Bob's tenure. e budget grows from $800,000 in 1996 to a peak of $2.1 million in 2008.

• Staff grows from two to seven (five full-time and two parttime employees).

• e Northern Green Expo is created from the merger of the MNLA Convention & Trade Show and the Minnesota Turf & Grounds Foundation Conference. Education, commerce, and networking expand for both MNLA and MTGF members, plus financial returns improve for both groups.

• MNLA's long-term planning does not sit on a shelf: Bob ensures faithful implementation of five association strategic plans.

• MNLA leads a research project to quantify the economic impact of the nursery and landscape industry in Minnesota. is benchmark serves as a tool to help the industry both legislatively and in collegiate funding discussions.

Membership and Member Services • In 1996, MNLA has 750 total members. In 2007, total membership peaks at 1,673.

• MNLA adds successful business services which help members keep money in their pocketbooks through fuel discounts, truck purchase rebates, workers' comp insurance, credit card processing, garden center trays, legal services and more.

• Association programming expands to include commercial flower growers, professional gardening services, hardscape professionals, and commercial arborists.

• Press runs for the Outdoor Living catalog series peak at 500,000 units. In addition to the Trees & Shrubs and Perennials catalogs, titles introduced over the years include Annuals, Seasonal Color, and Ideas for Outdoor Living.

• A 64-page MNLA 75th Anniversary Album is published in 2000 with input from many veteran members including past presidents going as far back as 1959. e anniversary celebration includes the introduction of the long-popular Casino Party.

Asleep at the wheel – Bob catches a few Z’s on the van seat.

Bob gets some attention from the late Mr. Higgins at Bywords Printing

Bob learns that cheap office chairs from Office Max will break if the executive director consumes too much Coke and Snickers.

DECEMBEr 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

47

Industry Marketing and Public Relations • A multi-year partnership between MNLA and MplsStPaul magazine offers publicity to the association's landscape design award winners, providing long-sought-after wide public recognition and prestige to the program. After a number of successful years with MplsStPaul, MNLA creates its own consumer publication, Garden Minnesota Yearbook, plus forges a new partnership with Midwest Home magazine to promote members and award winners.

• GardenMinnesota.com promotes MNLA members to the public from 2004 to 2012.

Government Affairs • A combination of volunteer leadership, staff, and professional lobbyists spurs a phenomenal growth in the profile and effectiveness of MNLA in state legislative and regulatory affairs.

• MNLA establishes strong environmental credibility with state lawmakers by being proactively involved on the invasive plants issue; by supporting restrictions on phosphorus lawn fertilizers; by leading the creation of the irrigation system rain sensor law; by engaging on stormwater management issues; and by working closely with state agencies on nursery inspection, gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, and emerald ash borer.

• MNLA successfully lobbies for a legislatively-mandated cap on the sales of DNR tree seedling sales in 1997. In 2011, MNLA is the primary proponent to further rein in government competition with private growers by effectively shutting down one of the two DNR State Forest Nurseries and limiting DNR seedlings to public lands.

• In 2011, the Minnesota Green Industry Political Action Committee becomes the next step in the sophistication of MNLA's government affairs program.

Industry Leadership • MNLA is a founding member of the reformed ANLA Lighthouse Program, designed to improve grassroots involvement in national legislative issues.

• MNLA leads the establishment of the eLandLovers.org, a national green industry career promotion website financially supported by three national and 40 state associations.

• MNLA helps found the Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition, a multi-industry organization advocating for immigration reform which will serve the economic interests of the green industry and many business sectors and, at at the same time, enhance national security and the fair treatment of immigrants and guest workers.

• Bob Fitch represents MNLA as president of the Minnesota Grown Promotion Group from 2000-2004.

• Bob Fitch is president of the Nursery & Landscape Association Executives of North America from 2005-2007.

• MNLA receives numerous awards from the Midwest Society of Association Executives . . . Public Service (Green 48

www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

Above: Bob gave a little of his own blood, sweat and tears to the creation of the MNLA Landscape Garden at the State Fair.

Bob shouts announcements at the Summer Field Day at Bork Tree Farms. Amazingly, no chair or table Bob stood on at the Summer Field Days or golf tournament ever collapsed.

f conference, f At its fall the Midwest Society off Association Executives presented the 2012 Association off the Year Award to MNLA. Pictured is the MNLA staff team: Communications Director Jon Horsman, Foundation Program Director Jodi Larson, Executive Assistant Sue Flynn, Membership Director Mary Dunn, Executive Director Bob Fitch, Associate Director Cassie Larson, Receptionist Jessica Pratt, Accountant Norm Liston.

After the State Fair blood-letting, the MNLA staff insisted that Bob wear his own First Aid kit at all events.

for Life tree planting event, 2011); Public Service (Plastics Recycling Program, 2007); Membership Programs (Vehicle Fleet Program, 2007); Communications (Plant Poster Series, 2006); Marketing (Minnesota Green Expo, 2003); Special Publications (Nursery & Landscape Industry Economic Impact Study Brochure, 2003); Marketing (MNLA Perennials catalog, 2000); Special Publications (MNLA 75th Anniversary Album, 2000); Marketing (Minnesota Landscape Source, 2000). In addition, the association receives honors from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the city of Minneapolis; the Professional Landcare Network; the University of Minnesota; and the Minnesota State Horticultural Society.

Education and Research • MNLA presents nearly 2,000 educational seminars or events from 1996-2012.

• e MNLA Academic Awards Program presents approximately $300,000 in scholarships to outstanding students enrolled in collegiate programs of horticultural science and landscape technology.

• Established in 2004, the MNLA Foundation invests several hundred thousand dollars in university-based horticultural research; then shifts focus to promoting green industry careers to elementary and high school students and providing "research for the real world" reports to members.

DECEMBER 2012 | www.MNLA.biz

49

FOUNDATION

Garden Party

SAvE SAv A ThE DATE! Av What qu quickly became the ‘social event of the seas season’ last summer is back in 2013 fforr its seco fo second year! join us and your fellow industry Please jo leaders fo fforr an evening of food, fellowship fundraising as we celebrate scholars, and fundra and the future of the industry! donors, an • •

Wednesday, June 12 | 6:30p – 9:30p W d The Porch at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul, MN

Tickets for the Garden Party can be purchased online at the events page of MNLA.biz or in person at the Northern Green Expo.

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www.MNLA.biz | DECEMBEr 2012

The Scoop | PLANT OF THE MONTH

PACHYSANDRA (JAPANESE SPURGE): A SHADE FAVORITE

By Jerod Fehrenbach, Twin Orchards Nursery hat versatile plant provides a great year round sharp green color? It grows in deep shade, tolerates moderate to extreme acid soil conditions underneath established pine trees. People swear by it or at it and it has been a staple for a generation.

Pachysandra of course! At times this plant has been overused in the landscape but there is no doubt that it has its place in Minnesota’s landscape.

W

Pachysandra is native to the Southeast United States and Asia and is in the same family of plants as boxwood. It has been widely available for many years and is an inexpensive ground cover or sub-shrub that can offer great year round texture and color in a small package. It blooms with a small white flower in the spring and is hardy down to zone 3. The most common varieties are the terminalis and the terminalis ‘Green Carpet’ varieties.

There is also a lesser known variegated variety called ‘Silver Edge’ that is slightly less invasive.

Gardeners tend to turn a bit of a weary eye towards pachysandra b because in the past it has been o used. It’s not uncommon to over g into an older and more get e established garden only to find t spurge has taken over and that c choked out many of the other p plantings.

Of course this is a v valid concern, but in the right c conditions and if you can keep it e into the area you are edged looking to fill, it works well. You l can’t go wrong with filling that c bb stubborn area of the garden with an inexpensive groundcover that will give you year-round enjoyment. q ________________________________ Jerod Fehrenbach can be reached at JFehren@aol.com.

All photos courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Pachysandra (Japanese Spurge) should often be considered in deep shade.

There are very few options for deep shade that offer the vigor and color that pachysandra gives you year round. It retains its dark green color through the

snow and gives those deep shade areas an immediate burst of green in the spring when you are cleaning off the gardens. It is not bothered by any of the many critters that inhabit the deep shade in your gardens either.

Give your pachysandra plenty of compost to start and watch it thrive and spread through the garden.

It can handle dry shade as well which is why it works well underneath ever green trees. Once it is established it tends to fill in for a nice lush green carpet of summer color.

Plant of the Month

DECEMBEr 2012 | www www.MNLA.biz MNLA biz i iz

51

Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association 1813 Lexington Avenue North Roseville, MN 55113-0003

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