The Scoop - February 2024

Februar y 2024 • Volum e 47 Issue 2

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

TOP TEN NCROC Plant Trials PLUS World Record Pumpkin Marketing Plant Health Care: Making the Invisible Irresistible

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

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Pick up your 2024 Nursery and Hardscapes catalogs!

February Features Digging Up the Savings To help celebrate 40 years as a grower, we are excited to offer up 'Throwback Pricing' on select varieties from our fields.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

February 2024

Vol 47 Issue 2

CONTENTS

14

Ten: NCROC Flower Trials 14 Top Staff from the North Central Research & Outreach Center

28

46

IN THIS ISSUE

provide an update on their top performers from 2023.

Record Pumpkin 24 World Travis Gienger set out to simply keep his previous record,

9

Events

10

The Long and Winding Road President Randy Berg takes a trip down memory lane as he wraps up his term as MNLA President.

but instead, he blew right past it.

Foundation Outreach 28 MNLA Activities Report

21

MNLA Foundation Manager Paulette Sorenson highlights student connections made during the past year and ways you can get involved with workforce development efforts.

Year Later – Evaluating a 46 One Native Pond Planting

Julie Weisenhorn suggests good strategies for preventing deer, rabbit, and other wildlife damage.

33

Reviewing the results of a project meant to harness the power of native plants to manage water runoff.

Plant Health Care: 52 Marketing Making the Invisible Irresistible Chad Diller outlines tips to help you get more plant healthcare leads (and sales) for your business.

Winterizing Plants: A Good Fence is the Best Defense Against Animal Damage

Plant of the Month: Tannenbaum Mugo Pine Connie Kratzke urges you to check out one of her most beloved additions to her yard for its size and adaptability.

37

The Magic of Retail is Not Found on a To-Do List The Retail Doctor argues that when staff focus too much on tasks, they might miss selling opportunities.

Cover: Leanne Stanley, North Central Research and Outreach Center This page: Leanne Stanley, North Central Research and Outreach Center (left), Midwest Groundcovers (right)

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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DIRECTORY

February 2024 | Vol 47 Issue 2

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

STAFF DIRECTORY

Successful Businesses Grow Here

Executive Director

Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz

1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986

Associate Director

Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz

Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA • Fax: 888-266-4986 • MNLA.biz • NorthernGreen.org

Director of Government Affairs

Felipe Illescas • felipe@mnla.biz Education & Certification Manager

Hallie Chasensky • hallie@mnla.biz

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Communications Coordinator

Brianna Burns • brianna@mnla.biz Randy Berg, President

Greg Krogstad

Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com

Rainbow Treecare 952-922-3810 • gkrogstad@rainbowtreecare.com

Matt Mallas, Vice-President

Patrick McGuiness

SiteOne Landscape Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@siteone.com

Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC 651-331-6500 • pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com

Terri McEnaney, Secretary-Treasurer

John O’Reilly

Bailey Nurseries 651-459-9744 • terri.mcenaney@baileynursery.com

Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com

Accountant

Susan Bachman West

Jim Shimon

Advertising Sales

Bachman’s, Inc. 612-861-7600 • sbachman@bachmans.com

Willow River Company — Landscaping & Tree Farm 715-386-3196 • jimshimon@willowrivertree.com

763-295-5420 Advertising Manager

Kim Gaida-Wagener

Cassie Larson

Betsy Pierre • betsy@pierreproductions.com

Rock Hard Landscape Supply 612-619-3312 • kgaida@rockhardmn.com

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

Legislative Affairs Consultant

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz Foundation Program Manager

Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz Administrative Assistant

Louise Nemmers • louise@mnla.biz Pam Helgeson • accounting@mnla.biz

Doug Carnival

ADVERTISERS

6

Albert J. Lauer, Inc. .................................................................42

Jeff Martin Auctioneers ..........................................................45

Amcon & Borgert: TCC Companies...........................................8

Klaus Nurseries ........................................................................41

Anderson Nurseries, Inc. .........................................................20

Kubota ......................................................................................31

Aspen Equipment ....................................................................44

Lano Equipment, Inc. ..............................................................40

Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes ..........................3

Maguire Agency........................................................................20

Bullis Insurance Agency | Arachas Group ..............................41

Niebur Tractor & Equipment ..................................................12

Central Landscape Supply .......................................................55

Out Back Nursery ....................................................................12

Compeer Financial ...................................................................31

Plaisted Companies ...................................................................7

COWSMO, INC.........................................................................42

Rock Hard Landscape Supply ..................................................31

Cushman Motor Company ......................................................35

SiteOne Landscape Supply ......................................................11

Davey ........................................................................................32

SMSC Organics Recycling Facility ..........................................12

Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ....................................................20

Spring Meadow Nursery/Proven Winners Color Choice .......32

Environmental Design Inc.......................................................55

The Resultants .........................................................................22

Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply .......................2

The Tessman Company ............................................................50

Glacial Ridge Growers ..............................................................42

Touchstone Accent Lighting ....................................................39

Goodmark Nurseries ...............................................................47

Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ...............................................................17

Gopher State One-Call.............................................................48

United Label & Sales ................................................................40

Green Turf Sod Farms................................................................4

Ziegler CAT................................................................ Back Cover

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U PCOMING

Information on industry events: MNLA.biz/events Free, member-only videos: MNLA.biz/OnlineEducation

EVENTS CALENDAR February 16

General

Business

Leadership Development

Networking

Skills Training

MNLA Professional Certification Exam Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2024.

8:30am | MNLA Office, Roseville, MN

22 First Aid/CPR/AED Training 8:00am-4:00pm | MNLA Office, Roseville, MN

27 Mastering Foremanship Training Day 8:30am-3:00pm | Roseville, MN

Additional dates: February 23, March 22 & 29. Register online today, seats are limited!

Learn skills to maintain the life of a victim until emergency medical personnel arrive. This course provides up-to-date training in basic first aid, including bloodborne pathogens information and adult CPR techniques. This training has a limited number of spots available, register now!

This workshop offers complete foremanship training on how to handle tight deadlines, tight margins, and increase customer satisfaction more effectively.

28 Zero-turn, Walk-behind & Push Mower This seminar will cover OSHA starting procedures, rules, and regulations.

Safety and Maintenance Seminar 8:30am-3:00pm | Roseville, MN

29 Day on the Hill

It will also go into detail on protective clothing, first aid and safety features as well as maintenance and usage. This class satisfies six OSHA Equipment Training hours for the Landscape Installation Apprenticeship Program requirements.

Our Day on the Hill is a critical opportunity for you to build relationships

8:00am-4:00pm | Saint Paul Capitol, St. Paul, MN with elected officials and raise awareness about issues impacting your

business, workforce, and the industry as a whole. Register online today!

March 05 Green Industry Business Essentials

Join us for a day of educational sessions on critical topics such as insurance, legal issues, human resources, banking, and more. Gain useful insights from 9:30am-3:00pm | Networking Hour 3:00-4:00pm speakers as well as your peers throughout the day and connect with them at Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul, MN the social hour after the workshop ends.

Workshop

07 Bowling Tournament 2:30-5:30pm Flaherty’s Arden Bowl, Arden Hills, MN

12- Minnesota Shade Tree Short Course 13 Bethel University, Arden Hills, MN

MTGF and MNLA are partnering for the third year for a joint college scholarship fundraiser benefiting students entering the green industry. The Green Industry Bowling Tournament promises to be an event for you to connect with old friends, create new friends, and have lots of fun!

A two-day course for everyone involved in urban forestry, arboriculture, and the green industry. Minnesota Certified Tree Inspectors will be re-certified by attending the entire short course. ISA Certified Arborist© CEUs are available for most sessions. Register at mnstsc.org.

22 MNLA Professional Certification Exam Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2024.

8:30am | MNLA Office, Roseville, MN

27- Pesticide Certification Workshop 28 Day 1 - 8:30am-4:00pm, Day 2 - 8:30am-12:30pm Roseville, MN

2024 MNLA education generously supported by:

Additional date: March 29. Register online today, seats are limited!

Prepare for the category A & E pesticide applicator certification exam by attending the in-person 1 ½ day study program. This workshop can also be viewed as a refresher course for those already certified. This workshop does NOT qualify for pesticide recertification.

Volume 47, Issue 2: The Scoop is issued monthly, 12 times per year.

All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2024, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one year, which is included with member dues.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113.

Editorial Contributions: You are invited to share your expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. Before submitting an article, please contact the editor at brianna@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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FR OM THE PR ES I D E N T

Randy Berg Berg’s Nursery & Landscape

The Long and Winding Road “The long and winding road That leads to your door Will never disappear I’ve seen that road before It always leads me here Lead me to your door…”

-The Beatles I’m old enough to have been alive during the Beatles heyday. Many of the songs still hold up today as solid and meaningful. The Beatles’ contribution to modern music is legendary. When I sat down to write this final article, I thought of that first line, “The Long and Winding Road” as it relates to my MNLA journey. It has been a journey spanning 15-plus years serving as a volunteer. I have served on numerous committees, task teams, and finally the board of directors. I have had the pleasure to serve with some great leaders. As a board member, I’ve served with six presidents and two executive directors. Many people influenced me during those years. I’ve learned a lot from all those with whom I’ve served.

We accomplished many initiatives; the MNLA office landscape project, the purchase of the property adjacent to the MNLA office for potential future office expansion, governance update which included a new board service timeline, the formation of the Board Development Committee whose purpose is to search for new talented future board members, committee restructuring, the revamping of Northern Green including a change of venue, networking opportunities, program offerings, and the formation of the first apprenticeship program for our landscape installation sector which is accredited by the State of Minnesota.

This list of initiatives would not have been possible without all the volunteers who provided their time and talents to the effort. It has truly been a team effort. Our Executive Director Cassie Larson and her staff are firstrate. The eagerness to dig in and get the work done is always there and always appreciated. Cassie, I will miss the frequent calls to cover whatever issue is on the table and all the brainstorming sessions. You will be in great hands with incoming President Matt Mallas and the current board members. Continue all the hard work and keep moving forward.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

GOVERNMEN T A FFA IRS

Felipe Illescas Government Affairs Director felipe@mnla.biz

It’s Time for the 2024 Green Industry Day on The Hill With the 2024 legislative session starting this month, it is imperative that we get our priorities in front of as many legislators as possible. The fact that the legislative session this year starts in February means that we have less time to work on our legislative agenda items. This also means that everyone else is in the same situation and will be hitting the pavement just as hard. Additionally, we have been hearing that legislators will again try to move very fast through this session and focus on the upcoming elections cycle. This makes our 2024 Day on The Hill even more critical since we have a packed agenda for this session. Member participation throughout the session, and in particular during Day on The Hill, is critical and makes a huge impact on the outcome that we see at the end of every session. The more members that attend Day on The Hill, the more legislators that we can visit and inform about what is important to your business and the rest of the membership. This is a great opportunity to advance our agenda.

This year’s Day on The Hill will be on Thursday, February 29th starting at 8:00am at the Radisson Hotel Downtown St. Paul (formerly Best Western Capitol Ridge). If you have not registered for this event, we truly encourage you to consider attending as this is a great opportunity to engage with elected officials and talk to them about how your business is impacted by current policies and proposals that we are working on. You can find more details and registration information on our website by clicking on the Education tab and navigating to Classes & Events.

If you want to discuss further, please feel free to contact me at felipe@mnla.biz or 612-418-5382. Thank you very much for all your work and commitment to our industry.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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TOP TEN PERFORMING ANNUALS

2023 Top 10 NCROC Flower Trials Crystal Sucher, Rosmanita Learmont & Keith Mann, University of Minnesota North Central Research and Outreach Center

Explanation of Flower Evaluation Evaluations of plant performance were completed only by the current staff of NCROC. The plants were evaluated twice during August using criteria such as uniformity, growth, health/vigor, flower quality, and production, insect/disease resistance, and how unique the cultivar is. An early rating was given during August 1-15, with a late rating assigned during the last part of the month, August 16-31. The rating was based on a scale of 0 – 5, with 0 being the lowest possible score and 5 being the highest indicating excellent performance. All scores given by evaluators were compiled and averaged and the results were reported for each cultivar. Some cultivars were judged for their foliage only, such as coleus. For these, the evaluators applied “Not Applicable” (N/A) in the flower category, and it did not affect the mean average score.

All photos courtesy of Leanne Stanley, North Central Research and Outreach Center.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

TOP TEN PERFORMING ANNUALS

2023 Top Ten Performing Annuals Bracteantha, Granvia Peachy Keen This strawflower is an elegant addition to the garden. The interesting paper texture and the stunning bi-color of these blooms made them a top pick in this year’s flower trial.

Lophospermum, Lofos® Compact Rose Plants in the field filled in nicely with soft-colored foliage and bright trumpet flowers. The trailing habit also looked gorgeous in a hanging basket.

Rudbeckia, Amarillo Gold This variety, which is also commonly known as a Black-eyed Susan, made a very sunny display of blooms that lasted all summer.

Verbena, Vanity Each plant had a multitude of strong stems that fan out into a pleasing shape and the delicate purple flower puffs always attracted pollinators.

Bracteantha, Granvia Gold This strawflower really left its mark with gold blooms that held up well during rebloom.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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TOP TEN PERFORMING ANNUALS

Bracteantha, Granvia Pink This vibrant, pink ombre-colored bloom catches your eye in the field, and also attracts pollinators as the blooms mature.

Nemesia, Sunsatia® Coconut 2024 In a container, these plants looked like a cloud of delicate white petals with just a little pop of yellow at the center of each bloom.

Sunflower, Concert Bell This variety makes an ideal backdrop to a garden scene, featuring green leafy foliage and multiple golden blooms with dark brown centers.

Petunia, Supertunia Mini Vista® Midnight This decadent petunia gave the impression of a velvet carpet with rich purple color, bright foliage, and profuse blooms.

Coleus, ColorBlaze® Cherry Drop Vibrant, ruffled leaf edges make this shade-loving coleus a fan favorite.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

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FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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TOP TEN PERFORMING ANNUALS

Evaluation Cultivars In the 2023 growing season, 41 unique cultivars were evaluated in field plots, hanging baskets, and/or containers. The trial plants are primarily evaluated in the garden. Selected varieties are also grown in planters as requested by participating seed companies. In the field, there were 31 full-sun plots and two shade plots. As for the remaining vegetation located in the planters, there were three hanging baskets and 17 containers.

Greenhouse Growing Summary Grow lights were used on all seeded plants to accelerate the germination and growth of the seedlings. In some cases, heat mats were used to regulate germination temperatures. Evidence of damping off was discovered early in the season. To support plant growth a mild solution of water-soluble 20-10-20 fertilizer was applied when plant health allowed. Typically, fertilizer is applied once a week with gradual increases in rates, but due to stressed conditions, there were fewer rate increases and fewer applications made. Hardening-off was achieved by bringing plants outside during the day and back undercover in the afternoon for the two weeks prior to Memorial Day.

Weather Conditions and Frost Date The growing season in Grand Rapids typically lasts for 4.4 months (approx. 134 days), from around the middle of May to around the end of September according to the MN DNR. This year the snowfall gradually tapered off towards the end of April as temperatures warmed up. The last recorded frost was May 3rd with a low of 30°F. May 15th and 20th both recorded a low of 39°F with pockets of frost depending on location and local topography. Daytime highs reached the 80s by the end of May. June weather was hot and relatively humid, with a high UV

Weather Conditions Month

Average High Temperature

Average Low Temperature

Precipitation (inches)

April

47.8° F

27.7° F

2.86”

May

73.6° F

45.1° F

2.4”

June

81.1° F

55.2° F

1.04”

July

79.4° F

54.6° F

1.7”

August

79.5° F

55.4° F

1.41”

September

73.5° F

53.1° F

4.32”

Planting Date Transplanting seedlings into the field began on May 30th and was finished by the end of the week on June 2nd. We planted into raised beds for field flowers. Field layouts included rows spaced 6 feet apart for full sun, with 10 plants per plot distributed 1 foot on-center. Shade varieties were planted in our smaller shady display plot, with 10 plants per plot distributed 1 foot apart. Hanging baskets [12” x 7”] and containers [large: 20” x 18”, small: 18” x 10”] were potted from June 7 through June 9th, depending on plant health and growth, with 2-3 plugs per planter. A solution of water-soluble 20-10-20 fertilizer was applied weekly to all trial plants throughout the summer.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

index (average of 5), and less rainfall than usual. This summer’s rainfall happened in small pockets and often missed the station altogether. The intense heat continued through July and August.

The first week of September peaked with a temperature of 99°F. In the following weeks, temperatures dropped to the 60s and 70s. Except for the September 13 low of 34.5°F, most nights remained warm with a few dipping down into the 40s.

Irrigation In the garden, t-tape irrigation was used, and field flowers were watered on timers. The shade plot, hanging baskets, and

TOP TEN PERFORMING ANNUALS

containers also used timers and drip emitters to dispense water at regulated times. All schedules were adjusted as weather conditions dictated. Most of the season was dependent on irrigation rather than rainfall.

Weed Control Before field planting, the garden was tilled to remove the remaining vegetation and prep the soil. Black, 3 mm plastic was installed in 3-foot-wide raised beds for weed suppression. In the full-sun field planting, the 6-foot alleyways were seeded with annual ryegrass which was mowed throughout the summer to further minimize hand weeding and tilling. Very little handweeding or action hoe work was needed this season due to the raised beds.

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Disease Problems/Pest Control Standard methods of disease prevention include power washing non-porous surfaces such as greenhouse glass, walkways, and benches in the fall. Then, prior to plants coming in the spring, a chemigation solution of ZeroTol 2.0 (active ingredients are hydrogen peroxide…5.34%, peroxyacetic acid…1.36%) is applied through the overhead sprinkler system to greenhouse benches and floors. Despite these efforts, we started seeing signs of damping off by the end of April. Growth of newly emerged seedlings slowed, stems pinched in at the soil line, and plants wilted. The suspicion is damping off was caused by infected potting soil. Once the disease was identified, the remaining plants were transplanted into a different potting mix, and applications of ZeroTol 2.0 and Cleary 3336 F were made as needed as a soil drench and/or plant mist. We increased the spacing between plants, added fans to increase air circulation, reduced overhead watering, and did more hand watering. Insect pressure in the greenhouse was low and sticky traps were set out to control the few fungus gnats and white flies. Prolonged disease issues in the early stages of growth left all varieties weakened and complicated the hardening-off process. Plants were less able to adjust to outdoor weather conditions and more die-offs occurred. In the field, leafhoppers were present again this year bringing with them Aster yellows.

Deadheading In the greenhouse stage, flowers were deadheaded to promote root growth. Minimal efforts were spent on tidying blooms once they were outdoors.

For more information, contact the North Central Research and Outreach Center at lstanley@umn.edu or visit https://ncroc.cfans.umn.edu/.

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WINTERIZING PL ANTS

A Good Good Fence Fence is is the the Best Best Defense Defense Against Animal Against Animal D Damage amage Republished with permission from The University of Minnesota Extension.

All photos courtesy of the University of Minnesota.

By Julie Weisenhorn

Winter weather is tough enough on plants - the wind, dryness, and cold. Animals also struggle to survive, searching for shelter and food, sometimes in our own backyards. The damage caused by animals might only be cosmetic at times, but it can also have long-term effects on plants - even killing them.

Animal damage and its impacts

soil to keep out small, burrowing animals like mice and voles.

To exclude rabbits, ensure your fencing is at least 18-24 inches above the anticipated snow line. Taller is better. Rabbits are lightweight and can sit atop snow and feed on branches above the fencing. We had record snow depth last year, and even 4-foot fencing wasn’t tall enough to prevent rabbit browsing!

Animals such as mice, rabbits, voles, and deer feed on the twigs, bark, leaves, and stems of shrubs and trees. They may nip off terminal buds, eat shrubs to the ground, and girdle trees and shrubs by chewing through bark.

Throughout the winter, check often to make sure rabbits haven’t somehow gotten inside the fencing. Tree guards can be removed in spring. If animal browsing is a problem during the growing season, feel free to leave the fencing in place year-round.

Girdling occurs when an animal chews through the bark and cambium layer beneath the bark, damaging the plant’s vascular system. This inhibits the transport of water and nutrients, resulting in partial dieback or plant death.

Make your yard inhospitable to animal browsers In addition to fencing, make your yard as inhospitable to browsers as possible. Start by eliminating nesting habitat and protective cover like brush piles and fence off protective and nesting areas under structures like decks. Within 2 feet of young trees, cut down grasses and other vegetation in late fall to reduce protective cover for mice and voles that might feed on trunks and stems.

Your best strategy is fencing and guards While not always aesthetically desirable, the best overall strategy to protect plants is to create physical barriers, usually fences. Fence plants with sturdy fencing - enclosing all the branches of a shrub and the lower branches and trunk of a tree.

Hardware cloth is a good choice for keeping out smaller animals.

Tree trunks can be protected with tree guards (white corrugated plastic tubes) or hardware cloth around the trunk 12 inches larger than the trunk or shrub diameter. Tree guards also reflect the winter sun and protect the tender bark from splitting.

When setting up fencing, bury the bottom 2-3 inches in the

Repellents may be a more economical solution to fencing/ screens and wraps. They can also be used in conjunction with fencing. Note that repellents are not poisons - they make plants taste or smell bad to animals. Repellents can be sprayed or painted on trees and shrubs; one application is usually enough for the entire dormant season.

In spring, start applying repellents early in the season to train

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

21

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7ORKING WITH 4HE 2ESULTANTS 4EAM HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO GETTING OUR ,EADERSHIP 4EAM TALKING AND ALIGNING AROUND A COMMON VISION AND FUTURE FOR -ARGOLIS #OMPANY 4HE GENTLE REMINDERS FOR US TO FOCUS TIME TO WORK hON THE BUSINESSv VERSUS hIN THE BUSINESS v HAVE BEEN KEY TO MAKING CONTINUAL PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR TEAM

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WINTERIZING PL ANTS

Things to consider when fencing for deer • Minimum 8 feet high • Well-constructed, sturdy fencing material • Bud cap terminal buds of young evergreens • Micro-enclosures

This young yellow birch is well-protected for the winter season. The tree guard prevents the bark from splitting, and the fence prevents deer browsing.

2023 W GE

URVEY MNLA conducted this survey in 2023, ) /# - .0'/. *ȥ - & 4 / /* # '+ 4*0 /* 0- / '4 $)/ -+- / /- ) . $) *(+ ). /$*) ) ) ޲/.ҁ #$. - +*-/ $) '0 . %* . -$+/$*). !*- # +*.$/$*) ) /# + - )/ " *! *(+ )$ . *ȥ -$)" 1 -$ /4 *! ) ޲/. /* . .*) ' 1.ҁ + -/Җ /$( 1.ҁ !0''Җ/$( (+'*4 .ҁ $) *0/ $!

Hardware cloth protects young plants from animal browsing. Bury the bottom 2-3 inches of the fencing to prevent critters from burrowing under the fence.

animals not to feed in your yard, and re-apply repellents after rain/irrigation. You will also want to change up your repellent selection, as animals can become accustomed to them after a while.

Fencing/exclusion guidelines for deer If you garden in an area that has a deer population, you have experienced the damage deer can inflict on plants. While some plants are noted as “deer resistant,” deer will eat anything if they are hungry, and fawns will try anything once. Deer feed on the terminal and side branches of small trees and shrubs. They can also damage bark by rubbing their foreheads and scraping their antlers to remove the “velvet” on tree trunks in late summer and early fall.

4*0- *-" )$5 /$*) $. *(+ /$/$1 /* 4 4 +0- # .$)" /# - +*-/ $) /# ҁ $5 /*- ҁ

Julie Weisenhorn is a Horticultural Extension Educator at the University of ÃȈȶȶljɰɁɽƃ KʯɽljȶɰȈɁȶ Ɂǹˎƺljӝ Čȃlj ƺƃȶ ƹlj reached at jweisenhorn@umn.edu.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

23

WORLD RECORD PUMPKIN

All photos courtesy of Travis Gienger

The World Record Pumpkin Travis Gienger, Anoka Technical College When I set out to grow my pumpkins this year, I was coming off a 2,560-pound North American record-breaking season. My goal was to get some pictures with the family and hopefully maintain that record. Little did I know I was in for a wild ride in 2023!

The season started off with two plants, planted on April 10. The backup started on April 15 and would later be the second plant I chose. When I transferred them to the garden on April 22, it was 22 degrees and snowing. They grew quickly inside their small shelters of heat cables, grow lights, heaters, fans, and even CO2.

I pollinated a pumpkin on June 5 that would eventually be the world record. It was a cold June, and the growth was very slow for the first 25 days. After that, the pumpkin started gaining about ¾ of an ounce a minute. We measure it, so it is a rough guess, but they can put on over 400 pounds a week at peak growth. The numbers were always okay on this pumpkin throughout the season, but I would say it was nothing incredible.

My other pumpkin had begun to pick up really good numbers growing 43 pounds at over 2200 pounds. The next day I uncovered it to check and there was a tiny rib split that went into the cavity. We ended up picking it and weighing it at Plaisted Companies. They really are a huge help to my growing success with their Total Garden Blend soil. I bury my vines with it, and the roots just seem to explode. The pumpkin weighed

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

2,222 pounds with nearly two months of growth left! What could have been, we will never know, but simple calculations would have put this pumpkin north of 3,000 pounds!

September hit, and the growth came to a screeching halt. Most of mine usually put on 300 to 450 pounds in September and October, so this was a bit concerning for me. Reporters started coming out pumping a world record pumpkin, and in my head, it was big – 21’1” in circumference – but it was still overall smaller than my last year’s 2,560-pound pumpkin.

WORLD RECORD PUMPKIN

We picked it and off we went to Half Moon Bay California, the largest weigh-off in the world. There was another pumpkin grown from my seed from last year that looked to be my competition. That pumpkin ended up weighing 2,497 pounds. At that point, the nerves set in as my pumpkin was only estimated by measurement about 2,400 pounds. They inspected it and dropped it on the scale. The final weight came in at 2,749 pounds – a new world record! This record had stood overseas in climate-controlled greenhouses for over 10 years. It was finally brought back to the USA.

harvested, and they will go all over the world to grow the next giant pumpkin.

What a fun, incredible, and unexpected pumpkin growing season it was. I cannot thank everyone enough for the outpouring of support!

After the weigh-off, we were awarded $30,000, a gold ring, a jacket, a stay at the Ritz Carlton overlooking the ocean, and a plethora of media attention. People magazine, Washington Post, and interviews with the UK, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Ireland were just a few of the notables that contacted me. The pumpkin eventually made its way to New York for the final carving at a Veterans memorial where the #1 carver in the world spent five days sculpting it into a beautiful masterpiece. The seeds were

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

25

INVASIVE

PHRAGMITES Minnesota has a rare opportunity to get ahead of invasive Phragmites infestations.

KEY THREATS • • • •

•

• •

Creates dense, impenetrable stands up to 18’ tall Outcompetes and reduces native plant diversity Reduces habitat quality for fish and wildlife Alters wetland hydrology and impacts function of drainage ditches and stormwater ponds Reduces access and habitat quality for hunters, anglers, birders, and other recreationists May block roadway sight lines Linked to declining property values

Photo above: plant height can be from 8’ up to 18’ tall. Foliage stays green until a er the first hard frost. Inflorescenses are densely branched, typically upright conical in shape, and orange-tan in color by late fall.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

Phragmites australis, or common reed, is a tall perennial grass found in wetlands, along shorelines, and in other wet areas such as roadsides and stormwater ponds. Both native and non-native (invasive) genotypes occur in Minnesota. While invasive Phragmites has taken over vast areas in other states, the scale of invasion in Minnesota still offers hope for effective management. MAISRC has partnered with the Minnesota DNR and many local organizations to support strategic, coordinated control of invasive Phragmites statewide. The goal is to slow and ultimately reverse the spread of invasive Phragmites in the state.

How can you help?

• Avoid spreading invasive Phragmites; seeds, stem fragments, rhizomes, and stolons can all contribute to spread.

• Keep an eye out for invasive Phragmites and report new populations.

• Contact the team at phragmites@umn.edu to have invasive Phragmites controlled using best practices. Technical, financial, and other resources are available.

• Be careful: The native subspecies of Phragmites can be challenging to distinguish from the invasive subspecies. Native Phragmites is an important component of native wetlands and should NOT be targeted for management.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Z.UMN.EDU/PHRAGMITES

Description Phragmites australis subsp. australis, also known as European common reed, is a tall, densely growing perennial grass that can take over large areas. It occurs in wetlands, riparian areas, shorelines, and other wet areas such as roadside ditches and stormwater ponds, and can o en be found growing alongside native Phragmites. Native and invasive Phragmites can be difficult to distinguish from one another.

Origin and spread Invasive Phragmites was introduced to North America from Europe in the mid-1800s, likely from ships’ ballast discharge.

Contemporary spread occurs via seed dispersal from established populations, including populations intentionally planted in wastewater treatment facilities where it is used to dewater biosolids. Mowing along roadsides is another important source of spread. Deliberate introductions in Minnesota are now prohibited.

Established patches of Phragmites expand in place by sending out long, above-ground runners (stolons) or underground stems (rhizomes). Seeds and stem fragments are major drivers of spread to new locations. Seeds can be spread by wind and mechanically—such as by equipment or on clothing. Mowing during the growing season, i.e., along roadsides, results in stem fragments that can sprout to create a new plant if they drop in a moist location.

Management Best practices for control involve treatment with imazapyr and/or glyphosate from August 1st to September 30th.

Winter or summer mowing may be used to facilitate access and herbicide contact. Multiple years of monitoring and follow-up treatment are likely needed to achieve sustained control of invasive Phragmites. It is critical to confirm identification of invasive Phragmites, follow permi ing and regulatory requirements, and prevent further spread when conducting control. Visit the website for more information.

Native: leaf sheaths loosely a ached, tending to not overlap; stems smooth and glossy, with segments in lower portion typically red

Invasive: leaf sheaths closely a ached and overlapping; stems typically green with ribbed texture

The ligule (located inside at the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath) is a strong diagnostic character. Both native and invasive Phragmites have a fringe of short hairs on the ligule during the growing season.

Native: ligule is an upright red-brown smudgy tissue, >1 mm tall

Invasive: ligule is a thin discrete brown-black line, <1 mm tall

Distinguishing invasive Phragmites from the native subspecies can be challenging. Reliable ID requires using 3-4 different characters. Visit the website for more information.

SUPPORT Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Z.UMN.EDU/PHRAGMITES

27

M NL A FOU NDATI O N O UT R E AC H

MNLA Foundation Outreach Activities Report Paulette Sorenson, MNLA Foundation Program Manager paulette@mnla.biz

ORGANIZED MEMBER TOUR FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING STATE FFA CONVENTION. Over 65 students attended a tour of Bailey Nurseries to learn about plant nutrition, soil health, media, water, and more. Students engaged in hands-on activities and learned about career paths within the green industry.

JUDGED THE 2023 FFA HIGH SCHOOL LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONTEST at the Minnesota State Fair. Seven schools and over 70 students participated in the contest.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

MNL A FO UNDAT I O N OUTREACH

ATTENDED AGRICULTURE DAY AT SAINT PAUL SCHOOLS Introduced green industry careers to over 200 students.

INTRODUCED A COLLEGIATE STUDENT LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONTEST A Central Lakes College student won this competition that offered real-life experience creating and installing a permanent garden at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

AWARDED 22 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS Promising students from seven colleges who are interested in green industry careers received $1,000 scholarships each. An MNLA member sponsors $500 per scholarship and the MNLA Foundation matches with an additional $500.

HOSTED STUDENT DAY AT NORTHERN GREEN 2024 Student Day offered over 80 high school students the hands-on opportunity to experience green industry college programming.

Students also toured the Northern Green trade show.

FUNDED HIGH SCHOOL GRANTS Three member companies have sponsored $1,500 in funding for 2024.

AWARDED TURF MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP The MNLA Foundation partnered with MTGF and MPSFMA for a scholarship fundraising event – the annual Bowling Tournament. A $2,000 scholarship was awarded to a student of Anoka Technical College’s Turf Management Program.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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M NL A FOU NDATI O N O UT R E AC H

ACHIEVED FUNDRAISING OBJECTIVES Over $12,000 was raised for green industry careers in raffles alone. These MNLA Foundation fundraisers were great fun for all as well as a way to fund outreach activities focusing on industry careers, scholarships, and high school grants. Don’t miss the Bowling Tournament, Golf Tournament, and Shootout in 2024 by participating or sponsoring.

Interested in getting involved with career outreach?

Here are two ways you can help.

1. Donate Growing Supplies to High Schools The MNLA Foundation has worked hard to create relationships with Minnesota high school students/teachers and connect them with higher education and opportunities within the green industry. You have a great opportunity to help inspire students to consider green careers. We are asking MNLA members to help by donating supplies for focused, plant-science projects and experiential activities. Items needed include: • Potting Soil • Plants of any kind including bare-root trees • Flower bulbs for winter forcing • Plant containers include trays and covers • Gently used or new garden tools and gloves • Irrigation supplies for simple school gardens, including hoses and sprinklers • Pavers, bricks, sand, and mulch for school gardens • Garden seed Donations are needed by April 1, 2024. You will be acknowledged in The Scoop magazine as well as named a sponsor of the school your donation is going to. Contact Paulette Sorenson at paulette@mnla.biz to donate.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

2. Seeking Judges for the FFA High School Landscape Competition Each year, more than 80 FFA high school students compete in the annual FFA Landscape Design and Construction Competition at the Minnesota State Fair, held near the Miracle of Birth Center. This location at the Como Avenue entrance is intentionally selected for public exposure.

Sign up to be a judge. If you are a landscape designer and have knowledge about landscape construction, please consider volunteering to be a future judge. This is an opportunity to share your professional knowledge and promote careers in the landscape profession. It takes a few hours to judge the garden plots. You’ll find details about the contest rules and regulations and the competition scorecard at http://tinyurl.com/mvjdz2et. It’s fun, and you get a free Minnesota State Fair pass!

Don’t worry about where you’ll be in a year or more. We will check in with you when we rotate our judges. Email a brief outline of your professional background and how it applies to the design criteria that will be judged to Paulette Sorenson at paulette@mnla.biz.

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PL ANT O F THE MONTH

Ode to Tannenbaum Mugo Pine Connie Kratzke, Wilson’s Nursery, Inc. Whenever I am asked what my favorite plant is, I freeze like a deer in headlights. Words elude me and my brain goes blank.

How could I possibly pick just one? That’s why, for the purpose of this article, I put some criteria in place. My plant had to be something I have experience with at home, at work, and in landscape installations. Plant “X” had to be tough and adaptable, requiring little from its caretakers. That’s how I arrived at ‘Tannenbaum’ Mugo Pine.

The focal point of our backyard is a Tannenbaum. It was originally planted with a Young’s Weeping Birch and an Isanti Dogwood to give us a little “Up North” ambiance. The birch has deteriorated and the dogwood has ceased to be. The Tannenbaum, however, has grown more lovely with age. At the moment, it is still wearing Christmas lights from last year because it is getting to the point where it’s very hard to decorate.

Standing on a ladder with an apple picker, I am only willing to teeter around and tempt fate every other year. My tree is 15’ plus tall at this point and about 7’ across the base. I planted it when it was 18-24 inches tall about fifteen years ago.

Tannenbaum mugo is a very easy plant to grow in nursery containers or fields. In the landscape, it is just as reliable.

Thriving in all but wet soils, it flourishes where others fail.

Not picky about nutrients or pH levels, no special treatment is demanded. This pine handles pollution and salt like a champ.

I’ve seen it thriving in parking lot islands and along busy roads.

Minimal intervention is needed to keep it tidy and no candle pinching is required to maintain its density. Full sun is definitely preferred (if not required).

All photos courtesy of Connie Kratzke.

When I Google mugo pest and disease issues I find laundry lists of potential ill-doers. However, I’ve known Tannenbaum pretty well for a couple of decades and have encountered few problems. Like most of its relatives, Tannenbaum appeals to sawflies, scales, and adelgids. That said, I haven’t observed significant damage on a healthy plant. Diplodia is supposed to be a pretty big threat but I haven’t experienced many issues with that either. Austrian and Scotch pines are far more vulnerable.

Stressed-out trees can lose needles to needle casts on occasion, but they seem to rebound well. I actually have a second, very angry little Tannenbaum that (as much as I love that she anthropomorphizes the little guy) survived life in a 2-gallon pot for four years or more before I felt sorry for it and brought it home. The crabby tree has good reasons to be! Planted amongst voracious roots in an area with a good amount of high canopy shade, it’s also in a juglone zone. Every year the poor little guy loses some needles to a needle cast. I water it and give it a little pep talk and it keeps on keepin’ on. If that’s not a testament to the hardiness of this cultivar, I don’t know what is.

As far as landscape functionality goes, Tannenbaum is superior.

Perfectly sized for urban and suburban yards, it adapts well to the challenges posed by those environments. This tree is tall enough to screen second-level decks without growing out of bounds. With many spruces succumbing to Rhizosphaera, Stigmina, and Lirula; pine cultivars like this one should be on residential radar. Rather than crowding full-sized evergreens for an instant result, upsell larger specimens of trees that actually fit. Tannenbaum is the perfect variety to do that with. So many housing developments have a base of crappy clay filled with a few inches of black dirt on top. Tannenbaum won’t care as long FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

33

PL A NT OF THE MO N T H

as water percolates through it. Also great in country settings, it can be combined with larger species for added depth and interest.

I love using that technique to make new plantings look like they evolved naturally over time.

What more can I say? I’ve said quite enough. I think the proof is in the pine. Give it a whirl if you haven’t already and perhaps, you’ll become Tannenbaum’s next crazed fan!

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

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Partner with the MNLA Foundation INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY

Your investments to the MNLA Foundation have a real impact on getting students interested and involved in the green industry. Please partner with the Foundation this coming year to make a greater impact for the good of your company and the green industry! FUNdraising events are only the beginning!

BOWLING TOURNAMENT

March 7, 2023 Flaherty’s Arden Bowl, Arden Hills

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WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT July 24, 2024 Oak Marsh Golf Club, Oakdale

JULY

MNLA SHOOTOUT September 19, 2023 Location TBD

SEPTEMBER

SPONSOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS • Pledge $500 for a college student, and the Foundation will match it with another $500.

• Pledge $250 for a High School Grant that allows agriculture program activities to promote careers, and the Foundation will match it with an additional $250.

AUGUST

RESEARCH & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS FUND Contribute to the Research & Workforce Development Partners Fund at a participating supplier.

Your voluntary donation of ½ of 1% on purchases is used to grow a brighter future for the industry, supporting Research for the Real World, Career Development & Promotion, and Scholarships.

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Thanks to these Partner Suppliers:

MORE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE Consider giving a gift through your Estate Plan or giving a donation yearly at the time of your MNLA Business Member Dues Renewal.

Donate surplus materials to the MNLA Foundation Surplus Auction.

Donate materials for student handson school agriculture projects.

Give a talk at your community high school or attend career fairs to spread the word about the green industry.

Get involved today! Contact Paulette Sorenson at 651-633-4987 or email paulette@mnla.biz.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

The Magic of Retail Is Not Found on a To-Do List Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor

Retail stores face a challenge from within. Younger sales associates often team up on tasks that could be done individually. This teamwork has benefits, but it can distract from engaging customers. When staff focus too much on tasks, they might miss selling chances, hurting the store’s conversion rate.

Managing Tasks vs. Nurturing Talent It’s undeniable; there’s a certain satisfaction in checking off tasks. For many managers, it’s comforting to lay out a list of chores and watch as they get ticked off. It’s tangible. It’s measurable. You can pat yourself on the back, confident that “things got done.” But is that the end goal in retail? Is the primary objective to ensure shelves are stocked, displays are tidy, and the floors are clean? While these tasks are essential, they only scratch the surface of what makes a store successful.

They are the minimum table stakes to operate a store.

Think about your own favorite shopping experiences. It’s rarely about how neatly the jeans are folded or the exact alignment of cans on a shelf. The feeling you get when you are there makes the effort to go to a store worthwhile. It’s about the employee who remembered your name, offered a genuine recommendation, or simply the friendly atmosphere that made you want to linger a bit longer. That’s the magic of retail, and it’s not found on a to-do list.

image: iStock.com/BRO Vector.

MAGI C OF RETA IL

When managers focus solely on task completion, they dumb down the essence of what retail is all about. They’re training employees to become robots – efficient but devoid of creativity, initiative, and personal connection. No one wants to be stuck in a mind-numbing job, so turnover is as high as 60% in such retail stores.

Leadership Developing employees to think beyond their immediate task to see the broader picture of serving customers is a significant challenge. It demands time, patience, and, crucially, trust.

Trust that allowing employees to take initiative – even if it means occasionally stepping outside the “assigned tasks” to serve customers– will lead to richer, more memorable customer experiences.

When employees feel empowered to think for themselves, they become more than just associates; they become brand ambassadors. They infuse their interactions with customers with passion and authenticity. They see opportunities, not just tasks.

And this mindset is infectious; it can elevate the entire team’s performance. But you have to teach it, or they could think that initiative is finding a shortcut rather than going above and beyond.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

37

M AGI C OF R ETA IL

“

7

According to a Stanford survey by Roberta Katz, Gen Z’ers “are used to working ƤȉdzdzƇƣȉȯƇɅǛɥƲdzɬ‫ڑ‬ƇǾƫ‫˷ڑ‬ƲɫǛƣdzɬ‫ڑل‬ ɦǛɅǕ‫ڑ‬ƇǾ‫ڑ‬ƲɬƲ‫ڑ‬Ʌȉ‫ڑ‬ƣƲǛǾǍ‫ڑ‬Ʋnj˶ƤǛƲǾɅ‫ڑ‬ in getting the job done. They are pragmatic and value direct communication, authenticity, and relevance.

They may be more likely than older people were when they were the age of the Gen Zers to question rules and authority because they are so used to ˶ǾƫǛǾǍ‫ڑ‬ɦǕƇɅ‫ڑ‬ɅǕƲɬ‫ڑ‬ǾƲƲƫ‫ڑ‬ȉǾ‫ڑ‬ their own. They are not always right; often, they don’t know what they need, especially in a new setting, and this is where inter-generational dialogue can be so helpful.”

”

The Importance of Seeing the Big Picture for Retail Store Managers Brick-and-mortar stores must offer something online shopping can’t – a personal touch. That could be as detailed as a product description’s benefits to a simple smile and nod to a shopper.

Neither comes from a perfectly executed task list. It comes from employees who feel valued, understand the brand’s vision, and are encouraged to bring their unique perspective to the sales floor to make someone else’s day. That’s because you have to make someone else’s day before they’ll make yours.

In the long run, investing in nurturing talent and encouraging big-picture thinking will pay dividends. Not only will it result

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

KEY POINTS for Retail Managers to Balance Tasks and the Big Picture

BALANCE THE WORKLOAD Ensure tasks are evenly distributed among staff, avoiding overburdening ljǹˎƺȈljȶɽ ljȴɥȢɁʰljljɰӝ Ãƃȟlj sure to teach them the why behind a request and how Ȉɽ ƃȢȢ ˎɽɰ ɽɁǼljɽȃljɨӝ

1

FOSTER ACCOUNTABILITY

EMPOWER EMPLOYEES

Use technology like CCTV to maintain transparency and ensure all store areas are under surveillance.

Allow employees to ɽƃȟlj ƺȃƃɨǼlj Ɂǹ ɰɥljƺȈˎƺ departments or roles, making them accountable for those areas with the initiative to engage ɰȃɁɥɥljɨɰ ˎɨɰɽӝ

2 3 REGULAR TRAINING Ensure all staff members are trained on how to engage strangers, develop rapport, offer help, compare and contrast items, and add on. Only when you have a process can your frontline follow it to deliver an exceptional experience.

FEEDBACK AND RECOGNITION Acknowledge the efforts of hardworking staff. Regular feedback can motivate and boost morale.

4 5

IMPLEMENT STRUCTURED SOLUTIONS If a solution like hiring more employees is decided upon, ensure the managers know what success looks like and how to divide tasks ljǹˎƺȈljȶɽȢʰӝ

AVOID TAKING ADVANTAGE Recognize and appreciate hardworking employees, ensuring they are not exploited.

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MAGI C OF RETA IL

in higher conversion rates and sales, but it will also lead to a more engaged and loyal workforce. Without it, they could be empowered to collaborate and take longer to get those pesky tasks completed than they would if they did the job individually.

result? With no one looking at the rest of the departments, cleaning and other essential tasks were undone. And the shoppers? They were left alone.

The Perils of Noah’s Ark in Retail A potential SalesRX customer depicted the classic image of two associates performing a task given to just one as “Noah’s Ark.” Every retailer has seen it - two employees joining forces saying, “Let’s do it together.” Megan, our Manager of Customer Success for SalesRX, shared a great example from her time working at a large sporting goods store.

The Problem of Accountability • Camouflaging in the Glove Aisle: The absence of cameras in the glove aisles became a blind spot in supervision. It became the “hangout spot,” leading to reduced productivity.

• Lack of Responsibility: Several team meetings addressed accountability. While Megan was hands-on with the glove aisle, her efforts went unnoticed as others merely observed.

Management did nothing to fix the problem.

The Tale of the Glove Aisle • The Setting: The Glove aisle was not just a single aisle but multiple aisles displaying a rotation of seasonal products, ranging from work gloves to ski masks and winter gear.

• The Challenge: Megan frequently encountered the FourPerson Operation. Four associates would converge to accomplish an aisle switch within a day. Three often watched as one - usually Megan - did the work. The immediate

Being Proactive Yet Overwhelmed • Taking Charge: Megan tried to address the issue by taking responsibility for a specific department, believing it to be a viable solution. This led her to become the Carhartt specialist - a significant role vacated for over a year.

• Drowning in Responsibilities: Despite her specialized title, Megan found herself training newcomers, creating worklists, and managing other departments. Finally, it

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association has instituted a Certified Professional Fellow designation for MNLA Certified Professionals who are in good standing (e.g., not lapsed or expired), and who have maintained their status as an MNLA Certified Professional for at least 20 consecutive years.

Certified Professional Fellows are longstanding nursery and landscape professionals and are recognized as industry leaders. Their commitment to uphold, improve and promote standards of professional excellence, and consistent participation in professional development activities and service to the green industry is being recognized with this Fellow designation. MNLA would like to congratulate the following Certified Professionals who achieved the Fellow designation as of March 2023:

• Donna Atallian, Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery, Inc. • Dale Bachman, Bachman’s Inc. • Richard Brickley, Jr., Bachman’s Inc. • Renae Chesley, Bachman's Inc. • Marty Claussen, Tree Top Nursery • Ron Davidson, Amity Creek Landscaping of Duluth • Ken Dehkes, Hamline University • Scott Endres, Tangletown Gardens • Dean Engelmann, Tangletown Gardens • Terry Ferriss - retired, Univ. of Wisc. River Falls • Kimberly Gaida-Wagener, Rock Hard Landscape Supply • Tom Haugo - retired, Bachman's Inc. • Steven Hutton • David Lange, Lange’s Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. • David Lewis, Sargent’s Nursery, Inc. • Debbie Lonnee, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. 40

MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

• Jeff Pilla, Professional Turf, Inc. • Michael Porwoll, Bachman's, Inc. • Lori Reiland, Custom Retaining Walls & Landscaping, Inc. • Rich Schillinger, Professional Turf, Inc. • Scott Solomonson, Living Space Landscapes, Inc. • Joni Stapfer, Green Valley Greenhouse • Bert Swanson, Swanson Nursery Consulting • Amy Voight, A Team Landscaping, Inc. • Cory Whitmer, The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Center • Cheryle Wilke, Flying W Gardens LLP • Paulette Wozniak, Environmental Care Nursery & Landscaping • Gary Zahrbock, Macalester College • Bruce Zeman, Lakeside Lawn & Landscape, Inc.

MAGI C OF RETA IL

became too much, and she moved on. That retailer lost a dedicated employee.

• Walking your store and discussing specific job details with employees, rather than merely asking, “How’s it going?” is crucial for effective retail management. You must implement a process to obtain direct feedback on what’s working and what’s not.

A Personal Anecdote My mom told me that when growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, her mom gave her many weekly household chores while her other seven siblings were exempted. When she finally questioned her mother years later about why she was always assigned the tasks, her mother responded, “That’s because I knew you’d get them done.” It was a backhanded compliment. Efficiency should not be a loophole for exploitation.

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What Managers Must Change to Increase Conversion Rates In a retail world dominated by online giants, brick-andmortar stores must offer something the internet can’t – a feeling that shoppers matter. That doesn’t come from a perfectly executed task list. It comes from employees who feel valued, understand the brand’s vision, and are encouraged to bring their best perspective. In the long run, investing in encouraging big-picture thinking will pay dividends. Not only will it result in higher conversion rates and sales, but it will also lead to a more engaged and loyal workforce.

So, step back the next time you’re tempted to judge a day’s success by the number of checked boxes. Ask yourself: Did we get “things” done or move closer to becoming the kind of store people can’t wait to visit?

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Bullis Insurance Agency, LLC 1001 Twelve Oaks Center Drive #1003, Wayzata, MN 55391 Phone: 952-449-0089 | bullisinsurance.com FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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NATIVE PLANTS MN Dept of Ag. approved plant production “pollinator friendly”

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S ERVI NG O N YO U R BEHA LF

Serving on Your Behalf Jim Shimon Willow River Company - Landscaping & Tree Farm

What drew you to your work with MNLA? MNLA is the only association that brings the whole industry together. Between social events and government advocacy, the association is very important. Knowing what it does for my company, I wanted to get involved where I could. I started volunteering with the career development committee. Employee retention and recruitment is a vital key to the success of any business.

What changes have you seen during your years serving with MNLA? I believe that there is a slow change in our society that is beginning to consider our industry as a legitimate career option for our youth. The MNLA Foundation’s outreach programs in the schools and the community are having a positive impact on this change. The green industry is a great career opportunity, with benefits and great compensation. We need to continue to promote that!

From left to right, Eric (Tree Operations), Jim (Business Administration), and Dan (Landscape Architect) Shimon work in the family business in complementary roles.

What has impressed you during your service with MNLA? One thing that has impressed me during my service with MNLA is its staff. MNLA has some awesome people behind the scenes making everything work on a day-to-day basis. As a member of the association, many times the heavy lifting gets forgotten or overlooked. This group takes on any task that comes their way from the Board of Directors. The best part of MNLA is its people, members, and staff.

What MNLA project has had the most impact on you personally over the last 3-5 years?

MNLA has recently undertaken a strategic plan initiative.

This process has been very interesting to me personally. I have never been through a process like this. The process gives you an opportunity to step back and think of the big picture. It allows you to get creative with your business/association from many different levels. Where you are today and where you will be in 5

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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SER VI NG ON YOUR B E H ALF

to 10 years. It was a great experience to step back and reflect on the things that get overlooked. A new vision and mission statement of the association ultimately came out of this process. It was an exercise that would be beneficial to any organization.

What personal/business project has had the most impact on you over the last 3-5 years?

It seems that in today’s world, life moves so quickly. Being able to take a little time out of it and volunteer in the communities where we live and work is very rewarding.

MNLA is one of the organizations that allows you the opportunity to give back within our industry. The work that MNLA does for our industry is one of a kind. Between government affairs to social networking. Volunteer opportunities are available for all.

What excites you about the future of MNLA? One of the most exciting things MNLA is doing, with more to come, is the apprenticeship program. This is an awesome step for our industry. This will allow each segment of the industry to offer legitimate training and accountability. I encourage all businesses to consider this opportunity. It is a great way to make employees feel valued in your organization.

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ONE YEAR L ATER

One Year Later – Evaluating A Native Pond Planting Jamie Heflin Reprinted with permission from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.

In the summer of 2022, Midwest Groundcovers’ Chairman, Christa Orum-Keller, asked Enrique Rodriguez to take on the challenge of designing and installing a native planting around the retention pond adjacent to the company’s main office in St. Charles, Illinois.

As Production Foreman at the Midwest Natural Garden, Enrique is intimately familiar with native plants and how they perform, but designing this type of planting was a new type of undertaking which he viewed as both a challenge and an experiment.

While this planting is still considered to be in its infancy, eleven months post-planting, Enrique reviewed what worked, what didn’t, and where improvements could be made. There are many layers to the purpose and intention of this design. At its most basic level, it is an endeavor to not only enhance the aesthetics of the location but also to harness the power of native plants to manage water runoff. The design aimed to strike a balance between functionality and beauty, all while maintaining an unobstructed view of the pond by utilizing plants with a low profile. In September 2022, the transformation of the area surrounding the pond began with the installation of a significant number of plugs from Natural Garden Natives®.

The design’s radius extends 3 to 5 feet from the shoreline with more water-tolerant varieties planted closer to the water’s edge, while those that are more drought-tolerant are on the outer edges. Clump forming plants were used to maintain an organized and intentional appearance which blend harmoniously with the surrounding perennial display gardens. Initially, clump-forming plants means more room for weeds to grow. The pond planting has been weeded All photos courtesy of Midwest Groundcovers.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa and Mimulus ringens complement each other well.

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ѶƐƔĺѵƔƒĺƖƑƖƒ FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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EVERY DIG. EVERY TIME. Buried utilities have the potential to be at DQ\ GHSWK EHORZ WKH JURXQG·V VXUIDFH

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

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ONE YEAR L ATER

regularly as it becomes established to ensure weeds do not get out of hand while the plants continue to fill in.

Enrique has observed many varieties flourishing. The Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, or Aromatic aster, stand poised to introduce vibrant colors with their purple blooms in the coming months. Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa, or Showy Black-eyed Susan, has performed beautifully, bringing bright bursts of gold to the design. Acorus americanus, or Sweet Flag, and Carex frankii, or Bristly Cattail Sedge, have both established quickly with their dense root systems helping to stabilize the soil.

Other winners include varieties well-regarded for planting in wet areas. Sagittaria latifolia, or Broadleaf Arrowhead, is an emergent aquatic plant doing exceptionally well. Tolerant of fluctuating water levels and a variety of soils, it has filled in a large area on the east side of the pond, creating a sanctuary for marine life. Lobelia siphilitica, or Great Blue Lobelia, and Mimulus ringens, or Monkey Flower, are both thriving along the pond’s edge. Mimulus ringens is known for tolerating fluctuating

Sagittaria latifolia, or Broadleaf Arrowhead, is an emergent aquatic plant tolerant of ːʍƺɽʍƃɽȈȶǼ ʥƃɽljɨ ȢljʤljȢɰ ƃȶǁ ƃ ʤƃɨȈljɽʰ Ɂǹ ɰɁȈȢɰӝ

Pond planting installation in September 2022.

Midwest Groundcovers’ Chairman, Christa Orum-Keller, and Production Foreman Enrique Rodriguez discuss edits to the pond planting.

While the planting around the pond has overall proven successful, some plants, like Schizachyrium scoparium, or Little Bluestem, faced difficulties in some parts of the garden while thriving in others. Enrique speculated some of the plugs may not have had enough time to establish their roots before the cooler temperatures set in. The Lythrum alatum, or Winged Loosestrife, also struggled, likely due to the excessively dry summer we have had. Enrique intends to replant the Schizachyrium scoparium and Lythrum alatum in the same areas and monitor how they perform in the coming year.

water levels and is often used in urban retention ponds that may be associated with poor water quality. Lobelia siphilitica is recognized as one of the few plants that can handle wet clay soils. Iris virginica var. shrevei, or Blueflag Iris has nutrient filtering abilities that make it particularly useful in retention basins and bioswales because of its ability to decontaminate the soil by absorbing and storing harmful pollutants. While poor water quality and wet clay soils are not an issue with this particular planting, it’s a good reminder that native plants serve a purpose that goes far beyond looking pretty.

The strategic plantings work as natural stabilizers along the shoreline, preventing erosion and sediment accumulation. This organic solution showcases the symbiotic relationship between design and nature. While still in its infancy, the pond garden experiment is well on its way to being viewed as a success. As the plants mature, and with Enrique and Christa’s continued collaboration, this planting is sure to not only succeed in its aesthetic and functional goals but also as a beacon of a balanced ecosystem.

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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A NATURAL SOLUTION TO PEST MANAGEMENT

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Be part of this striking networking event that includes food, drinks, shoe rentals, bowling, trophies, raffles, and much more.

Proceeds will fund green industry scholarships.

MTGF and the MNLA Foundation have partnered again on a fundraiser benefiting scholarships in the green industry. Connect with old friends, create new friends, and have lots of fun!

• Win hundreds of dollars in prizes!

• Registration includes two games, a showdown round for a trophy and bragging rights, two drink tickets, a pizza buffet, and free bowling shoe rental.

• Fun way to get through winter!

It is not necessary to be a member of MTGF nor MNLA to participate.

Register early! This event will sell out!

• Thursday, March 7, 2024 • Flaherty’s Arden Bowl 1273 West County Road E, Arden Hills, 55112 • 3:00 –5:30pm (registration begins at 2:30) • $50 per person • Register at www.MNLA.biz/bowling Questions? Contact Paulette Sorenson: paulette@mnla.biz/651-633-4987 50

MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

GREEN INDUSTRY BOWLING TOURNAMENT MNLA FOUNDATION

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2023 GREEN INDUSTRY DAY ON THE HILL TThursday, hursday, M March arch 2nndd

Join green industry professionals from around the state for a day of information-sharing and advocacy!

Our Day on the Hill is a critical opportunity for YOU to build relationships with elected officials and raise awareness about issues impacting your business, workforce, and the industry as a whole.

Members of MNLA’s Government Affairs Team and Day on the Hill “pros” will guide you through the day’s events, helping foster connections between attendees and ensuring you’re prepared for successful legislative visits.

Event Schedule:

Best Western Capitol Ridge, Capitol Hall • 8:00-8:30 – Check-in & Complimentary Continentall Br Breakfast reakkfast • 8:30-9:20 – Issue & Advocacy Orientation • 9:20-9:45 – Small Group “Sessions” Capitol Complex, Senate & State Office Buildings • 9:45-4:00 – Meetings with your elected officials

Be sure to register byy this year’s deadline – Wednesday, February 14th!

Register online at the MNLA.biz Day on the Hill event page or download the form and submit to Felipe Illescas via email at felipe@mnla.biz or fax to 651-633-4986.

We look forward to advocating alongside you to grow results in government affairs!

Thanks to our MNLA Day on the Hill Sponsors:

FEBRUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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image: Lawn Buddies

M A R K E TI NG PL A N T H E ALT H CAR E

Marketing Plant Health Care: Making the Invisible Irresistible Chad Diller, Landscape Leadership Reprinted with permission from Landscape Leadership (published on Landscape Leadership at http://tinyurl.com/yc44df49).

You’re a wizard in the world of trees and shrubs—capable of bolstering blooms and flushed foliage, as well as curing the worst plant ailments. Yet, the irony? Convincing customers to invest in plant health care programs is like persuading kids that veggies are better than candy. It’s invisible magic, and the trick lies in making this magic seen.

One major thorn in my side (and likely yours) has been dealing with thousands of home and business owners who don’t pay attention to their trees and shrubs until they’re dead! If my 25+ years in this industry have taught me anything is that selling tree and shrub programs is tough!

And, the greatest tree service marketing challenge before us is getting that point not just across but stuck into the conscious minds of consumers. Today, I’m going to outline some tips for you to get more plant healthcare leads (and sales) for your business.

The Green Industry’s Dirty Little Secret Plant health care isn’t just about identification, fertilizers, and pesticides. It’s the therapy session your garden never knew it needed. So, why do many people see it as an “extra” rather than a necessity? Because it’s the industry’s worst-kept secret—most don’t know they need it until it’s too late.

Plant Health Care Marketing 101: Your Messaging Ever watched a dog food commercial and found yourself tearing up? (yeah…me neither LOL).

That’s an emotional appeal at its finest. Use the same strategy to make plant health care irresistible to your future tree care customers.

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MNLA.BIZ | FEBRUARY 2024

• Emotional Appeal: Create tree service marketing campaigns that tug on the heartstrings. Show images or videos about the special moments created under and around trees. Think tire swings, kids, and puppies. Never underestimate the cute factor. Or just a frosty beer at the end of a hard-working professional’s day underneath (you guessed it) the shade tree over their deck.

• Intellectual Appeal: Offer some brain candy. Share compelling statistics about how plant health care can increase property value or what the cost of failure is.

Replacing that one mature boxwood is merely impossible.

They’d have to rip out the whole row and start over. And the prospect of replacing that oak tree on the front lawn?

Forget about it!

I get it… we’re all tree nerds and want to share our wealth of knowledge. After all, that ISA Certified Arborist test was a doozy! But the majority of your prospective clients really don’t care. They just want to preserve these moments and their investment. Start with that. There will be plenty of time to impress them later with your vast technical knowledge.

Sprucing Up Your Marketing Images You know what they say—a picture is worth a thousand words.

• Importance of Visual Content: In a world of scrolling, the perfect image can stop people in their tracks. Use before-and-after pictures to demonstrate the results. Show your friendly team interacting with clients. Paint a picture of a preserved property primed with perfect pines, Pin Oaks, and Prunus (okay, enough with the P’s).

• Tips for Powerful Imagery: Use high-res images and insist on hiring a professional photographer. There are enough poorly-lit, terrible smartphone pics out there. And

MARK ET I NG PL ANT HEALTH CA RE

you’re not going to easily find free-use stock images of leafminers and anthracnose. Create your own library. Trust me, you’ll find multiple ways to use those images over the coming years.

image: Joshua Tree Experts

Crafting the Narrative With Tree Care Video Marketing Tell me a tale, and you’ll have my ear. Tell me a great tale, and you’ll have my business.

• Storytelling in Marketing: Tell the tale of plants. Videos can help tell the story of a prized specimen’s decline. Make this an exciting transformation story of how you’re going to not only prevent damage but also how plants can improve over time. Videos are an excellent counterpart to written content. Let’s face it, there are a lot of articles out there.

Frankly, a lot of people hate reading. Position a helpful video toward the top of a blog post or website page for a deeper, more visual explanation.

• Case Studies: Share success stories from satisfied clients.

Selling plant health care programs is not just about spraying and injecting. It’s about how a client grew to trust you and how they can now count on you to do what is in their best interest. The only transformation in this story isn’t about trees and shrubs. It’s the tale of your client’s experience with your company.

Packaging & Pricing Plant Health Care Programs Let’s talk options—the “trim levels” of the plant health world.

When you shop for a car, you’ll most frequently see three trim levels, each carrying its own set of features.

A core principle of pricing methodology is based on the fact that people have “extremism aversion.” They don’t want the cheapest option for fear of missing out. More may be inclined to go for the top option, but the bulk of consumers choose the middle option. This is why three tiers of tree and shrub care programs work so well.

And a word about pricing plant health care programs. Stop being so cryptic. I get it. Some of you will have to do a plant inventory to create a customized plan. But you can give a client a starting point with example pricing. Scare away the cheapskates that want two annual sprays. Attract the buyers who understand they’re investing in the long-term value of their plants.

Tree Service SEO: The Unsung Hero Ah, tree service SEO—the wizard behind the curtain. It makes sure people find you when they go down the Google rabbit hole.

• Website SEO for Tree Services: It’s not enough to have a great service; prospects need to find you online. This means certain keyword phrases need to be found on specific website pages. For instance, if you have one page about “tree fertilizing”, the page name, its description, and text on the page should be honed in on that phrase and related terms.

• Tackle More Topics with Blogging: Even though you have a tree service website page that talks about “tree fertilizing”, there are also dozens of other terms you should target. This is where a tree service blog really helps. You could nab that number one spot for “How much does tree fertilizing cost” by creating an article uniquely addressing that topic.

Remember, the goal of SEO is to establish topical authority over time. No other tree service website should address all of these topics better than yours does!

Digital Advertising for Tree Services I’ll be honest. This is a tough nut to crack. You’re really going to have to keep an eye on a few things when it comes to tree servic • Track Your Cost Per Lead: Aim for a target under $40/ lead. If that’s not happening your digital marketing agency may be asleep at the wheel, not making monthly improvements to ad copy, bidding strategy, and landing pages. And, make sure you’re actually getting appointments for estimates.

• Allocate Ample Budget: I’ve found that tree services are pretty aggressive with pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Think of this as a game of poker. You have to have enough daily budget. If you only have $1k per month, that’s only $33 per day. A few clicks could exhaust your daily budget by the time you finish your morning coffee. I recommend allocating a minimum of $2-3k per month (even more if you can).

I’ve seen Google Ads work best for acute problems you can actually fix, not necessarily preventative care. So, if you target keyword phrases centered around pests like Japanese Beetles or some pest that comes in a frenzy, you may get your foot in the door.

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image: BIGSTOCKTM, PureSolution

M A R K E TI NG PL A N T H E ALT H CAR E

Just make sure your sales team knows how to find all of those additional problems on their property they’re likely unaware of.

That’s how you sell a comprehensive, proactive plan!

Social Media Savvy Social isn’t just for political rants; it’s for making your brand buzzworthy and being seen as a helpful expert as it relates to tree care.

And if you’re doing a great job at producing valuable content on a regular basis, you’ll have a lot of great articles, videos, etc. to share on your social media channels.

Personally, I don’t think paying for social media is a worthwhile investment for tree care. The cost per lead is often very high and users are not often in a position of searching for this service when mindlessly scrolling through their feed. Just use your platforms to educate and raise awareness.

Email Marketing for Tree Services Whether your sole gig is tree care or you’re a lawn care company adding tree and shrub services, your brand should have the heart of a teacher.

Just have realistic expectations when it comes to email marketing. Remember, your customers often don’t care until it’s too late. Tease them with knowledge.

Don’t ramble on in your email newsletter with 150 words about Phytophthora on the Colorado Blue Spruce. Just feature 15-20 words about 3 different issues going on right now. Then have a button and links in your email to drive them to more written content and videos that you created.

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Recipients may not open every email. They may not click on links. But they’ll remember you’re a helpful expert when they start to raise an eyebrow at that browning bunch of needles down the line.

Selling Tree & Shrub Care Programs Every tip I’ve given you so far is going to be for naught if your sales team isn’t doing the following things.

• Site Visits: Whether it’s responding to an inbound lead or just a “quality check” on an account, you know your arborists can find other compelling examples of why your prospective plant healthcare customer needs a program. I used to love doing the ole’ “bug-in-a-bag” trick. Go take 4-5 clippings of problems around the property. Leave a note (or even better, include a proposal) and it’s hard to ignore the present problems. Heck, you could even send them a 1-1 video.

• Calling Campaigns: Have a ton of customers and not sure who would be the most interested? Create some calling campaigns based on interest. If you send out an email (and have a good email marketing tool), call the people who opened it and clicked the links first. Just tell them you’re touching base to see how things are going and then casually offer up a free inspection. Likewise, you can let them know you’re reaching out to clients about a present issue you’re seeing a lot of in the area.

• Follow-Up, Dammit: One of the biggest wastes of marketing dollars comes from poor follow-up on leads. You have to call every inbound inquiry at least 3 times, email them, send a carrier pigeon, whatever! Don’t call one time and then abandon the opportunity. Likewise, don’t give up on outstanding proposals. People get busy and then lose interest. Keep emailing and calling them. They’ll probably

MARK ET I NG PL ANT HEALTH CA RE

have questions about your proposal and then you can impress the urgency of getting the right tree and shrub treatments done at the right time (like NOW dude!).

Making Plant Health Care Marketing Magic Happen Selling the invisible isn’t a Houdini act; it’s about making the invisible seen, felt, and most importantly, valued. Plant health care is not just a service—it’s a mentality change that begins in your target client’s mind.

Alright, here’s the big reveal—like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but better. You’ve got the knowledge, the tips, the tricks, and even the emotional and intellectual appeals to get your clients not just nodding but reaching for their wallets. But all this is just pre-show buzz until you make your move.

image: Seacoast Tree Care

Start implementing these tree and shrub care marketing tips and you’ll start seeing more plant health care leads on a consistent basis.

Chad Diller is the Vice President at Landscape Leadership.

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