The Scoop - April 2024

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CONTENTS

Northern Green: New Plant Forum, Part 2

A review of the New Plant Forum at Northern Green which highlights new plant cultivars for landscapes and gardens in the Midwest.

Bronze Birch Borer and Twolined Chestnut Borer

Learn more about two common Minnesota borers.

Where AI Meets Human Wisdom in Retail

Bob Phibbs discusses the difference between AI and generative AI, and how generative AI can be helpful for retail sales.

EAB Research Confirms the Effectiveness and Economic & Environmental Benefits of Systemic Insecticides

New research provides insight into whether preserving healthy ash trees by treating them or if removing and replacing ash trees is better.

Member Profile: Baker Lake Nursery

Get to know long-time MNLA member Baker Lake Nursery, a wholesale conifer grower near St. Cloud.

Events

The Value of Industry Connection and Interaction

Executive Director Cassie Larson imparts that while our lives often revolve around technology, the value of in-person connection is irreplaceable.

2024 Green Industry Day on the Hill

MNLA members connected with over 60 legislators and shared how each of our bills affects local businesses and the green industry.

Election Results: Board of Directors

Learn more about the newly elected MNLA Board of Director members.

Out & About and Northern Green

MNLA staff member Jon Horsman was on the road to visit with members in February after a successful Northern Green!

Cover: iStock/ValeryBrozhinsky

Top Left: iStock/ValeryBrozhinsky

Top Middle: Robert A. Haack, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood

Top Right: Jim Calkins

April 2024 | Vol 47 Issue 4

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

Enhancing lives by creating and maintaining sustainable green spaces

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

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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Matt Mallas, President

SiteOne Landscape Supply

763-512-2849 • mmallas@siteone.com

Terri McEnaney, Vice-President

Bailey Nurseries

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

Kim Gaida-Wagener

Rock Hard Landscape Supply

612-619-3312 • kgaida@rockhardmn.com

Greg Krogstad

Rainbow Treecare

952-922-3810 • gkrogstad@rainbowtreecare.com

Cassie Larson

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

ADVERTISERS

Jeff Latterell HLS Outdoor (612) 791-4643 • jeff.latterell@hlsoutdoor.com

Patrick McGuiness

Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC

651-331-6500 • pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com

Jim Shimon

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

Susan Bachman West

Bachman’s, Inc.

612-861-7600 • sbachman@bachmans.com

Elizabeth Wynne

biota Landscapes 612-781-4000 • elizabeth@biotalandscapes.com

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

Arborjet | Ecologel...................................................................61

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

Blaze Credit Union...................................................................49

Bullis Insurance Agency | Arachas Group..............................60

Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus.........................47

Central Landscape Supply.......................................................20

Compeer Financial...................................................................40

COWSMO, INC.........................................................................40

Cushman Motor Company......................................................63

Davey........................................................................................58

Dayton Bag & Burlap...............................................................45

Edney Distributing Co., Inc.....................................................41

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

Glacial Ridge Growers..............................................................39

Goodmark Nurseries................................................................19

Gopher State One-Call.............................................................25

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

Haag Companies, Inc...............................................................12

Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape ...................46

Jeff Martin Auctioneers...........................................................26

STAFF DIRECTORY

Executive Director

Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz

Associate Director

Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz

Director of Government Affairs

Felipe Illescas • felipe@mnla.biz

Education & Certification Manager

Hallie Chasensky • hallie@mnla.biz

Communications Coordinator

Brianna Burns • brianna@mnla.biz

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz

Foundation Program Manager

Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz

Administrative Assistant

Louise Nemmers • louise@mnla.biz

Accountant

Pam Helgeson • accounting@mnla.biz

Advertising Sales

763-295-5420

Advertising Manager

Betsy Pierre • betsy.pierre@ewald.com

Legislative Affairs Consultant

Doug Carnival

Keen Edge Company ...............................................................23

Klaus Nurseries........................................................................53

Kubota......................................................................................20

Landscape Alternatives Inc.....................................................20

Lano Equipment, Inc...............................................................55

Niebur Tractor & Equipment...................................................50

Nuss Truck & Equipment........................................................54

Out Back Nursery.....................................................................50

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

Rock Hard Landscape Supply..................................................53

SiteOne Landscape Supply......................................................17

SMSC Organics Recycling Facility...........................................30

Spring Meadow Nursery/Proven Winners Color Choice.......57

The Resultants..........................................................................53

The Tessman Company............................................................30

Touchstone Accent Lighting....................................................35

Tri-State Bobcat, Inc................................................................37

Unilock Chicago, Inc................................................................28

Versa-Lok Midwest..................................................................11

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

EVENTS CALENDAR

June

05

12

Spring MaintenanceFocused Landscape Tour

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska 9:00am-12:00pm

Volunteer Maintenance Day

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska 8:00am-12:00pm

July

24

2526

Widmer Golf Tournament

Shotgun Starts at 8:30am. Come early!

Oak Marsh Golf Course, Oakdale, MN

MNLA Landscape Tour

21

MNLA Night at the Saints

Field, Saint Paul, MN

08

Northern Green Outdoors

November

24

Pesticide Recertification

7:30-9:00am Category P

9:30am-4:00pm Categories A/E

Roseville Skating Center – Rose Room

2024 Widmer Golf Tournament

2024 MNLA education generously

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

Join us at the U of M Arboretum for a maintenance-focused tour. Bring your questions for the team and tour the grounds at your leisure afterwards. The following week you will have the opportunity to do some hands on maintenance on the same grounds!

Following the Spring Maintenance-Focused Landscape Tour, you will be able to utilize your skills by volunteering in the morning on a project picked by the folks at the arboretum. Volunteer hours are a great way to add to your MNLA CEU credits.

The Widmer Golf Tournament is an 18-hole best-ball scramble tournament with great networking, prizes, contests, golf, and more! Proceeds support research activities and education that are important to the green industry.

We’re hitting the road again, this time to Green Bay, WI! Join us for two full days of tours at botanical gardens, private gardens, greenhouses, nurseries, and more! Lodging, transportation, and meals are all covered in the cost of registration. Early bird discounts and member discounts are available.

Take a break from your busy season to enjoy a game at CHS Field. We’ve reserved the Spire Sun Deck, a perfect space to mix and mingle.

Expanding the impact of Northern Green, we’re going outdoors! Includes an outdoor trade show and interactive hands-on education for your Northern Green village.

This workshop is in the process of being approved and will meet MDA’s commercial pesticide applicator recertification requirements for categories A (Core), E (Turf & Ornamentals), and P (Vertebrate Pests).

Volume 47, Issue 4: The Scoop is issued monthly, 12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2023, 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.

Cassie Larson MNLA Executive Director

The Value of Industry Connection and Interaction

In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions and virtual relationships, the value of genuine human connection cannot be overstated. While digital tools have become an integral part of our daily lives, there remains an irreplaceable value and depth to face-to-face interactions that simply cannot be replicated through screens and keyboards. In-person connections foster a sense of trust and rapport that tends to be difficult to establish through digital channels alone.

The importance of human interaction is particularly tr ue within the context of associations, where member connections form the very essence of the community. Over the last few weeks, this has been particularly apparent as MNLA members have come together at Northern Green, the Bowling Tournament, Village Planning Day, Day on the Hill, and a host of other events. The member connections made at these gatherings help to move the green industry forward but also allows individuals to interact with one another in meaningful ways that benefit them in their careers for years to come.

One of the primary benefits of connecting within MNLA is the exchange of knowledge and expertise. Individuals come together to learn from one another, sharing insights, best practices, and innovative ideas. Whether through formal workshops, informal discussions, or collaborative projects in committees or task teams, the collective wisdom of MNLA members enriches the learning experience for everyone involved. This knowledge-sharing not only fosters personal and professional growth but also contributes to the advancement of member businesses.

Connecting members together also serves as a catalyst for collaboration and collective action. In today’s complex and interconnected world, addressing challenges and seizing opportunities often requires a concerted effort from multiple and diverse stakeholders. By bringing members together, MNLA can mobilize constituents to lobby, pool talents and resources, and work to effect meaningful change.

Why is this important? Because MNLA needs YOU to be engaged, not only to advance the industry, but also because investing in building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, mentors, and industry peers, will help you on your personal career journey. There are many opportunities to get involved at any time from joining a committee or task team, to attending an educational or networking event, to reaching out to your legislator on an issue affecting your business. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to any member of the MNLA Board of Directors or staff and we’d be happy to help you identify your next steps.

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Felipe Illescas Government Affairs Director

felipe@mnla.biz

Green Industry Day on the Hill 2024

As you know, this past February we had our Green Industry Day on the Hill at the State Capitol in St. Paul. We had very good attendance and energy during the event. If you were one of the participants, we are grateful for your time, leadership, and expertise.

We had nine groups of MNLA members who met with over 60 legislators and had several conversations regarding our legislative agenda. MNLA members also described how each one of our bills affects their business and our industry as a whole.

This type of education and advocacy makes a huge difference because no one can describe how your business is affected better than yourself. Additionally, legislators love to meet people who live and do business in their districts.

Day on the Hill is a perfect opportunity for members to meet their elected officials and have face-to-face conversations about the issues that matter to them. It is an excellent opportunity to build those relationships that can make a difference when the time comes. Another great benefit of attending this event is the chance to meet new peers and build your network.

If you have not had an opportunity to attend Day on the Hill before, or if it has been a while since you attended, please consider registering and attending next year. This is our opportunity to showcase the industry and advocate for the issues that affect your business. Here are some pictures of this year’s Day On The Hill. Enjoy!

If you have any questions regarding our legislative priorities for this year, or if you have an issue that is affecting your business, please do not hesitate to contact me at felipe@mnla.biz or 612-418-5382.

Thank you very much for all your work and trust.

New Plant Forum Part 2 Northern Green 2024

The New Plant Forum is an educational session developed for Northern Green to highlight and bring attention to new plant cultivars for landscapes and gardens in the Upper Midwest.

*The plants presented have USDA Hardiness Zone designations created BEFORE the new USDA map was recently introduced.

Dr. Soon Li Teh

Assistant Professor, Horticultural Science, University of MN

Vitis spp.hybrid

‘Itasca’ (US PP29,847)

Origin

University of Minnesota (breeders: Professor Jim Luby & Peter Hemstad)

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone

Winter-hardy in Zone 4

Height and Spread

Depends on training system

Availability

Double A Vineyards, Northeastern Vine Supply Inc., Winterhaven Vineyard & Nursery

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings

Released in 2017, this white wine grape variety stands out for its extreme cold hardiness, high-quality fruit chemistry, low acidity, and disease resistance. Itasca produces medium to large-sized fruit clusters. It can be trained to vertical shoot positioning, high wire cordon, or Geneva double curtain. Wine notes include pear, quince, kiwi, starfruit, gooseberry, and honeydew melon.

Vitis spp.hybrid

‘Clarion’ (US PP34,794)

Origin

Cross made in Switzerland by Valentin Blattner & Peter Hemstad; evaluated at University of Minnesota

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone

Marginally hardy in Zone 4, grows well in Zone 5

Height and Spread

Depends on training system

Availability

Double A Vineyards, Northeastern Vine Supply Inc., Winterhaven Vineyard & Nursery

Propagation method

Hardwood cuttings

Released in 2022, Clarion is a white wine grape variety that ripens earlier than many riparia-based wine varieties. Its upright growth habit and good shoot positions make Clarion ideal for vertical shoot positioning, or high wire cordon training systems. Clarion has a less vigorous growth habit, making vine management easier. Tasting notes include pear, honey, chamomile and citrus.

Tonkadale Greenhouse

Cayla Olson

Regional Product Manager, Walters Gardens, Inc.

Hibiscus

‘Cookies and Cream’ PPAF

SUMMERIFIC Cookies and Cream Rose

Mallow

Origin

Bred by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 4-9

Height and Spread

2 ½-3’ x 3 ½-4’

Availability

perennial growers

Propagation method

Tissue culture and cuttings

One of the most compact hardy Hibiscus introductions to date. Near black matte leaves are deeply dissected. The green buds open to 6” wide with pure white

Salvia

‘Big Sky’ PPAF

LIVING LARGE™ Big Sky Garden Sage

Origin

Bred by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3-8

Height and Spread

32” x 32”

Availability

perennial growers

Propagation method

Tissue culture and cuttings

A pratensis-type of Salvia that is exceptionally large. Blooming later in the

appear above a rosette of large, deep green leaves. The purple buds open to light

Vernonia

‘Violet Night’ PPAF

Violet Night Ironweed

Origin

Bred by Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 4-9

Height and Spread

42-48” x 48-54”

Availability

perennial growers

Propagation method

Cuttings

A dense, well-rounded ironweed with sturdy stems – it resists “opening up”. The

a North American native perennial.

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Ryan McEnaney

Marketing & Communication Manager, Bailey Nurseries, Inc.

Hydrangea macrophylla

‘Bailmacseven’ PP34,544, Utility Patent

Pending

First Editions® Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea

Origin

Bred at Bailey Innovations, Athens, Georgia

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 5-9

Height and Spread

3-5’ x 3-5’

Availability

Bailey Nurseries and licensed First Editions growers in North America

Propagation method

Cuttings

This bigleaf Hydrangea was selected for its outstanding foliar color. A rich deep purple that does not fade to green. Contrasting are the cranberry blooms that complement the foliage. Best in morning sun, afternoon shade. In cold areas of the country, this is an excellent container plant for the summer.

Hydrangea macrophylla

‘Bailmacsix’ PP33,703

Endless Summer® Pop Star® Bigleaf Hydrangea

Origin

Bred at Bailey Innovations, Athens, Georgia

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 4-9

Height and Spread

18-36” x 18-36”

Availability

Bailey Nursery and licensed Endless Summer growers throughout NA

Propagation method

Cuttings

Pop Star is a compact hydrangea that brings unique texture and brilliant color

blue in acid soils and pink in alkaline. Truly a reblooming plant, it is the heaviest

Summer collection and has been tested extensively in Baileys Cottage Grove test magnets.

Hydrangea paniculata

‘Bailpanone’ PP32,549

First Editions® Little Hottie® Panicle Hydrangea

Origin

Bred at Bailey Innovations, Athens, Georgia

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3-8

Height and Spread

3’-5’ x 3’-5’

Availability

Bailey Nurseries and licensed First Editions growers throughout NA

Propagation method

Cuttings

An exciting new compact panicle

turn sparkling white. This well-branched, compact selection is covered in large blooms from the bottom to the top of

out on strong stems. Bred in Georgia for heat tolerance, Little Hottie performs

heat-stressed or turn brown in excessive heat. With natural basal branching, this hydrangea doesn’t need much pruning to grow into a well-shaped plant. Flowers age to a soft pink.

Doug Danielson

Sales Representative, Oregon Pride Nurseries, Inc.

Thuja occidentalis

‘SMTOTM’ PP25,672 Thin Man® Arborvitae

Origin

Developed at Spring Meadow Nursery, Grand Haven, MI

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone

3-7

Height and Spread

12-15’ by 2-3’

Availability

Applewood Nursery, Kahnke Bros, Otten Bros, Pahl’s Market, Edenvale Nursery, Oregon Pride Nursery

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings, propagation license required

Selected from a breeding program by Tim Wood at Spring Meadow Nursery. Originated from an open-pollinated trial during spring of 2003 of the female Thuja occidentalis ‘Ada’ and unknown selection of Thuja occidentalis male parent. Selection was made in 2007. Full Speed A Hedge® Thin Man® arborvitae is the super-skinny, fast-growing arborvitae! It’s the perfect choice for screens and privacy hedges where ground space is at a premium. Despite its extremely narrow, columnar habit, it still has a fast growth rate so you can get the privacy you need quickly. Holds its winter color very well.

Thuja plicata

‘Northern Spire’ PP31298

Northern Spire Western Red Cedar

Origin

Discovered as a branch mutation of ‘Emerald Giant’ growing in production

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 4-9

Height and Spread

15-18’ by 4-5’

Availability

Oregon Pride Nursery, Esraghi Nursery, Bountiful Farm

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings, propagation license required

A dense, columnar coniferous evergreen with dark green, glossy foliage., An excellent choice for hedging and as a specimen in space restricted gardens. Rarely damaged by deer. Relatively drought tolerant once established.

Picea glauca

var. ‘Westervelt’ PP29825

Skinny Blue Genes™ Blackhills spruce

Origin

Selection found by Keith Westervelt of Blueville Nursery, Manhatten, KS

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 2-7

Height and Spread

18-26’ by 6-8’

Availability

Bachmans, Gertens, Greenleaf Nursery, Pahl’s Market, Oregon Pride Nursery

Propagation

Grafted on Picea abies rootstock, propagation license required.

Has a dense, conical, narrow growth habit reaching 25 feet tall and 8 feet wide. With rich blue needles and cold tolerance, it makes an excellent landscape specimen. Drought and deer tolerant.

Hannah Brand

Greenhouse Lead, Tonkadale Greenhouse

Pelargonium

‘Pink Batik’

Origin

Dummen Orange®

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 9-12 (annual)

Height and Spread

18” x 12-18”

Availability

Tonkadale Greenhouse and other wholesale bedding growers who produce Dummen varieties

Propagation

Vegetative cutting

The Big Eeze geranium series is known for its superior container performance, medium vigor and heat tolerance. This annual has large blooms with beautiful geranium is a great new variety that will year to year.

Lithops

Living Stones

Origin

Found in southern Africa, Namibia and

Lithops was made by botanist and artist William John Burchell, explorer of South Africa, in 1811

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 11a-12b

Height and Spread

½-1” and from 1-3” wide but can grow wider

Availability

Tonkadale Greenhouse

Propagation

Division of clumps or seed sown

Lithops are an incredible plant the more you learn about them. Lithops avoid being eaten by blending in with surrounding rocks in their natural habitats. The bottom half of the plant is buried beneath the sandy soil while the two leaves act as windows collecting precious sunshine to help sustain. They are known to handle extreme drought, when it does rain they collect and plump up storing water in preparation of long bouts of dryness.

Lithops make a great houseplant if you can provide the correct light and care for them.

Ledebouria socialis

Leopard Lily or Silver Squill

Origin

Found in eastern Cape Province of South Africa

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 10a

Height and Spread

6-10” x 6-10”

Availability

Tonkadale Greenhouse

Propagation

Division of clumps or seed sown

The Leopard lily has beautiful spotted silver and green foliage making it unique in the houseplant world. They have teardrop shaped bulbs where they store their water, this makes for a great low maintenance, hardy plant.

Jeff Jackson Extension Educator, University of MN

Populus x euramericana

InnovaTree™

Hybrid Poplar

Origin

Developed by the Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, MN

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3-6

Height and Spread 75’ x 40’

Availability

more nurseries will grow in the future

Propagation

Dormant cuttings

InnovaTree™ is a fast-growing poplar tree, growing up to 10’ per year in good conditions. As a fast-growing tree it is ideal for residential applications such as fast landscaping, privacy screens, replacing diseased trees, windbreaks, and erosion control. Commercial applications include carbon capture, biomass feedstock and soil pollution clean-up. Please see the InnovaTree website for more information: www. innovatree.umn.edu

Wright’s

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Ryan Dralle

Sales & Marketing Manager, Bachman’s Wholesale

Thuja occidentalis

‘American Pillar’ PP20,209

FULL SPEED A HEDGE® American Pillar Arborvitae

Origin

Discovered by John E. Houser, Woodstock, GA

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3-8

Height and Spread

15-20’ x 3-5’

Availability

Liners from Spring Meadow Nursery,

Propagation

Cuttings

Full Speed A Hedge® ‘American Pillar’ arborvitae is a sport of ‘Hetz Wintergreen’ selected for its very rapid growth rate, dense branching structure, and tall, narrow habit. It maintains this useful desirable columnar shape with minimal pruning. It has tremendous potential in both the residential and commercial landscape market, and is an excellent specimen plant. This is the ideal plant for those who supply landscapers, as well as mail order nurseries.

Hydrangea paniculata

‘AJ14’ PP30983

Early Evolution Panicle Hydrangea

Origin

Breederplants vof

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 4-9

Height and Spread

2-3’ x 2-3’

Availability

Finished from many growers, including Gertens, Monrovia, Prides Corner, Sheridan, Willoway, Bachmans

Propagation

Cuttings

Perhaps the most unique panicle hydrangea on the market, Early Evolution offers a completely different form of

earlier than others, with buds forming in late spring. Flowers start lime-white before turning pure white, then blush as they age,

months of blooms! A nice, compact size, making it easy to tuck into most garden beds.

Salvia nemorosa x pratensis

‘Blue By You’ PP 31, 083

Blue By You Meadow Sage

Origin

Darwin Perennials

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 4-9

Height and Spread

20-22” x 19-22”

Availability

Bachmans

Propagation Cuttings

spikes. All-American Selections Winner. Blooms up to two weeks earlier than other varieties, for more color at retail and a longer selling season. Displays beautiful

proven superior garden performance. Excellent branching. Produces up to 5 repeat blooming cycles throughout spring and summer.

EVERY DIG. EVERY TIME.

Buried utilities have the potential to be at

Alan Craig

Sales & Customer Service Representative, Iseli Nursery

Picea pungens

‘INMoHoop’ PP34,883

Iseli® Blues Monty® Dwarf Blue Spruce

Origin

Bred by Mr. Paul Halladin in Oregon

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 2-8

Height and Spread

7-8’ x 5-6’

Availability

Iseli Nursery

Propagation

Grafting

This bold new Iseli introduction unites the genetics of two outstanding parents: ‘Montgomery’ and ‘Hoopsi’. Monty® has a classic conical Christmas tree shape with a strong leader as well as long, thin, bluest of blue needles. The small size and compact habit with shimmering frosty blue foliage makes this tree a versatile specimen for today’s small landscapes.

Picea pungens

‘INHWB’ PP34,321

Iseli Blues® Moonstone® Dwarf Blue Spruce

Origin

Found as a witch’s broom at Iseli Nursery in Oregon

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 2-8

Height and Spread

2’ x 3’

Availability

Iseli Nursery

Propagation

Grafting

®

Blues, Moonstone® is an Iseli exclusive improvement of the popular globe blue spruce. This well-mannered little gem has bright blue foliage and maintains a compact, rounded form from youth to maturity. The perfect size and shape for suburban gardens, you can rely on Moonstone to add an easy-care pop of vivid blue to your landscape for years of enjoyment.

Pinus mugo

‘INDom2’ TRUdwarf® Pesto® Dwarf Mugo Pine

Origin

Bred by Mr. Paul Halladin in Oregon

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 2-8

Height and Spread

1’ x 3’

Availability

Iseli Nursery

Propagation

Rooted cutting

An exciting addition to the TRUdwarf® collection of Mugo Pines! This unique pine has a spreading, ground hugging habit. Vibrant green needles provide a strong contrast to the numerous small brownish buds. Extremely adaptable and hardy, Pesto® maintains its prostrate form with minimal to no pruning, providing gardeners with a low maintenance option. The consistency, reliability, and attractiveness make Pesto an excellent choice for any garden!

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Dr. David Zlesak Professor of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin River Falls

Physocarpus opulifolius

‘ZLENora’ PP34,624

First Editions® Honeycomb™ Ninebark

Origin

Bred by Dr. David Zlesak

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3-7

Height and Spread

4-6’ x 5-7’

Availability

Bailey Nurseries and licensed First Editions growers across North America

Propagation

Cuttings

Large, vibrant chartreuse leaves hold their color all season long, even in full sun.

in spring and contrast nicely with the foliage, which turns shades of gold in the fall. Can be easily shaped with pruning or left to grow naturally. This ninebark grows nicely in containers and is just as attractive in the landscape. The medium size makes for a beautiful hedge or color block along a fence line.

Physocarpus opulifolius

‘ZLENatalie’ PP34,244

First Editions® Spicy Devil® Ninebark

Origin

Bred by Dr. David Zlesak

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3-7

Height and Spread

3-4’ x 3-4’

Availability

Bailey Nurseries and licensed First Editions growers across North America

Propagation

Cuttings

Spicy Devil ninebark is a great structural shrub with plenty of multi-season interest to keep your garden exciting

combination of orange and yellow before maturing to a vibrant reddish-purple, which is a beautiful backdrop to the

3-4’ tall and wide with that gorgeous dark foliage, Spicy Devil is a fantastic foundation plant or small hedge in cool and moderate climates.

Physocarpus opulifolius

‘ZLEMichael’ PP34,242

First Editions® Lucky Devil® Ninebark

Origin

Bred by Dr. David Zlesak

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone

3-7

Height and Spread

3-4’ x 3-4’

Availability

Bailey Nurseries and licensed First Editions growers across North America

Propagation

Cuttings

With bright yellow leaves, Lucky Devil ninebark is a spectacular shrub to serve as a focal point, informal hedge, or along the foundation of your home. At only 3-4’ tall and wide, this compact shrub is a multiseason wonder in cool and moderate climates. Beautiful white blooms in spring, and orange fall color. While some yellowleafed plants may bleach out in full sun, Lucky Devil maintains its bright color to capture attention and serve as a strong accent to other plants in the landscape.

Photo: First Editions ® Shrubs & Trees

Photo: First Editions ® Shrubs & Trees

Photo: First Editions ® Shrubs & Trees

Election Results: Board of Directors

Matt Mallas

Matt Mallas was elected President of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. During his more than 28 years of industry experience with Hedberg Supply & SiteOne Landscape Supply, Matt has managed sales, operations, and branch offices as well as worked in installation. Matt is currently the Area Business Manager – Hardscapes with SiteOne Landscape Supply. He has been a featured speaker at Hardscape North America and Mid-Atlantic Hardscape trade shows. Matt has an Associate’s degree in Architectural Drafting & Estimating. After participating in and contributing to MNLA events and initiatives for over 20 years, Matt was chosen as 2015 Volunteer of the Year for his work with the MNLA Green Industry Leadership Institute. He is a past chair of the MNLA Networking Committee and a past member of the Hardscape Committee.

Terri McEnaney

Terri McEnaney was elected Vice President of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. As CEO of Bailey Nurseries, Inc., Terri McEnaney is a 4th Generation leader in her family’s nursery business. Since 1905, Bailey Nurseries has remained a family-owned company serving customers in North America and beyond. Partnerships have been established in the past decade introducing Bailey genetics and brands like Endless Summer Hydrangea to the world. McEnaney graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1982 with a degree in Business with emphasis in Accounting. After 8 years working at 3M Company, McEnaney has worked in various positions at her business and became the company’s first female president in 2001.In addition, McEnaney has served in a number of volunteer positions within the MNLA most notably the MNLA Government Affairs Committee and MNLA Foundation Board of Directors. She has also served on the board at various national organizations, including the Horticultural Research Institute, AmericanHort, and Seed Your Future.

Jeff Latterell

Jeff Latterell was elected to the MNLA Board of Directors. He is a territory manager with HLS Outdoor in Eagan. HLS Outdoor is an irrigation, landscape lighting, an agronomic product distributor. Jeff is certified as an irrigation designer and landscape irrigation auditor through the Irrigation Association and holds a MN Power Limited Technician License from the MN Department of Labor and Industry. Jeff is a past member and former chair of the MNLA Irrigation Industry Committee and a regular Day on the Hill attendee. Jeff has also volunteered his time nationally with the Irrigation Association.

Elizabeth Wynne

Elizabeth Wynne was elected to the MNLA Board of Directors. She is a multiple award-winning landscape designer with biota Landscapes based in Minneapolis. biota is a design, build and horticultural firm that works on residential and commercial projects. Elizabeth holds an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in Landscape Design and Construction from Hennepin Technical College and is an MNLA Certified Professional. She has been working as a designer in the industry since 2005.

Elizabeth is a past member of the MNLA Landscape Design and Environmental Concerns Committees and recently served on the 2022 Strategic Planning Task Team. She has been a guest speaker for MNLA and SDNLA (South Dakota Nursery and Landscape Association). Elizabeth has also volunteered her time with the Perennial Plant Association at the national level.

Continuing to serve on the MNLA Board of Directors are:

•Kim Gaida-Wagener, Rock Hard Landscape Supply

•Greg Krogstad, Rainbow Treecare

•Patrick McGuiness, Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC

•Jim Shimon, Willow River Company

•Susan Bachman West, Bachman’s, Inc.

Bronze Birch Borer and Twolined Chestnut Borer

Jeffrey Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension

Preprinted with permission from the University of Minnesota Extension.

QUICK FACTS

• Metallic wood-boring beetles (Buprestid beetles) are common in forests and landscapes in Minnesota.

• Two common species in Minnesota:

o The bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius) feeds on birch.

o The twolined chestnut borer (A. bilineatus) feeds on white and red oak.

• They prefer to feed and reproduce in stressed, dying trees.

• Foliage at the top of the tree canopy starts to die back first and work its way down the tree.

• Raised ridges can be seen on the trunk and branches of infested trees.

• Keeping trees healthy helps to reduce their attractiveness to native borers.

• Insecticides can help protect valued trees.

Photo Left: Robert A. Haack, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood

How to identify bronze birch borer and twolined chestnut borer

ADULTS

•1/4 to 1/2 inch long, slender, dark colored beetles.

•Bronze birch borers are iridescent and bronze colored.

•Twolined chestnut borers are bluish-black with two parallel yellow stripes running down their wing covers.

LARVAE

•Up to one inch long when fully grown.

•Pale white.

•Flattened body and two pincer-like tails at the rear end.

•The head is mostly hidden but the mandibles are easily seen.

Biology

TREES THEY ATTACK

Bronze birch borer

•Attacks most Asian and European species and varieties of white barked birch.

•Native species of birch have evolved with the borers and are much more resistant when the trees are healthy.

•Native trees can be attacked if they become stressed and are declining.

Twolined chestnut borer

•Attacks native and introduced oaks that are stressed and declining.

•Native oaks in Minnesota:

oWhite oak (Quercus alba)

oSwamp white oak (Q. bicolor)

oBur oak (Q. macrocarpa)

oNorthern pin oak (Q. ellipsoides)

oRed oak (Q. rubra)

oBlack oak (Q. veluntina)

oChinkapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii)

LIFE CYCLE

•Beetles live through the winter as larvae under the bark of trees in pupal chambers.

•They pupate in spring.

•Adults start to emerge in early June in Minnesota when Vanhoutte spirea and black locust are in full bloom.

•They continue emerging until July.

•Adults live two to five weeks, feeding on leaves, mating and laying eggs in branch or bark crevices.

•The eggs hatch and small larvae chew through the bark to the phloem layer to feed.

•While feeding, the larvae create galleries that become packed with their frass (a mixture of borer feces and sawdust).

•Most larvae consume enough tissue through summer and fall to complete their life cycle in one season.

•In very cold climates, or where the larval resources are limiting in the tree, it may take two years to complete a generation.

Damage caused by bronze birch borer and twolined chestnut borer

Trees under stress are more susceptible to attacks by these beetles. Stressed trees are less able to get and move water and food (carbohydrates) to the canopy. This leads to a reduced ability to defend against borer larvae.

STRESS FACTORS

•Sustained drought.

•Prolonged defoliation.

•Poor planting sites, such as compacted soils; birch grown in open locations where roots are exposed to heat and drying.

•Physical damage to roots and trunks from construction damage or lawn mower injury.

•Construction practices, such as re-grading the landscape.

Adult beetles feeding on the leaves of trees do not affect tree health. But larvae create destructive galleries under the bark that disrupt the transport of water and nutrients.

IDENTIFYING INFESTED TREES IS CHALLENGING

Look for these symptoms:

•Wilting or yellowing of leaves and dieback starting at the top of the tree.

Photos: Adult-Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood Larva on Birch.-Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood Pupa-David G. Nielsen, The Ohio State University, Bugwood Eggs on bark.-John .A. Davidson, Univ. Md, College Pk, Bugwood

oThere can be other problems that can cause similar symptoms in the canopy so dieback is not automatically due to borers.

•As the tree continues to decline, dieback extends down into major branches and eventually into the main stem.

•Sawdust packed S-shaped galleries under the bark.

oBronze birch borer galleries create raised ridges in the thin bark due to calluses forming over the galleries.

oTwolined chestnut borer galleries can only be seen when the bark is removed.

•1/8-inch D-shaped exit holes on trunks and branches. They can be hard to see.

How to protect your trees

PLANT

RESISTANT SPECIES

Bronze birch borer

Native birch species are more resistant to borer attack as long as they are not stressed by drought, over mature, or have some other health issue.

Resistant native species include:

•White barked birch

oPaper birch (B. papyrifera)

oGray birch (B. populifolia)

•Non-white barked species

oYellow birch (B. alleghaniensis)

oSweet birch (B. lenta)

oRiver birch (B. nigra) seem to be immune

Most Asian and European varieties of white barked birch are very susceptible to attack even when they are healthy.

Avoid planting highly susceptible white barked birch species such as:

•European birch (Betula pendula)

•Asian birch (B. platyphylla)

•Himalayan birch (B. utilis)

•Japanese monarch birch (B. maximowicziana)

Twolined chestnut borer

Twolined chestnut borer attacks native and introduced oaks.

All North American oaks have some resistance, but can suffer damage when trees are stressed.

KEEP TREES HEALTHY, MINIMIZE STRESS

Trees that are stressed, from drought, defoliation or other causes, are more susceptible to damage.

To minimize stress:

•Add organic mulch to oaks and birch to improve their health.

oMulch keeps soil temperatures cooler and slows the rate of moisture evaporation.

oIt increases the water holding capacity of the soil and creates a better rooting system.

Photo: Steven Katovich, Bugwood

oMulch is helpful for birch which has a shallower root system.

•Always keep trees well-watered.

•Avoid fertilizing stressed trees. Fertilizers increase water demand for the trees and can be injurious to them.

•If changes are being made to the landscape, make sure to protect the roots of trees.

oRoot damage caused by soil compaction or root severing due to heavy equipment will stress trees.

oRemember that the roots can extend well beyond the canopy of the tree.

USING PESTICIDES

Treating trees with pesticides to kill borers is only effective if the tree is in the initial stages of decline and dieback.

Pesticides are not effective when more than 40 to 50 percent of the canopy has been killed by borers.

Systemic pesticides

•Imidacloprid is applied as a liquid drench to the soil around the trunk of the tree (professional applicators can also apply

it as a soil injection or a trunk injection).

•Dinotefuron is applied as granules to the soil directly around the tree (professional applicators can also apply it as a bark spray, soil drench or soil injection).

CAUTION: Apply these products to birch and oak trees only after flowering in the spring to reduce pesticide exposure to bees. Do not apply systemic pesticides to the soil when bee attractive flowers are planted next to trees.

Canopy sprays

Non-systemic control of borers is difficult because precise timing and coverage is necessary. Pesticide is effective if applied to the infested tree when the adult beetles are first active in early June. Spray pesticide on the trunk and branches where the eggs are being laid. When the larvae hatch from the eggs, they will come in contact with the pesticide as they burrow through the bark.

Jeffrey Hahn is a retired University of Minnesota Extension entomologist.

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!

WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT

July 24, 2024

Oak Marsh Golf Club, Oakdale

MNLA SHOOTOUT

Date TBD

Location TBD

The 2024 Widmer Golf Tournament and Shootout are generously supported by:

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.

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.

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.

IBM Watsonx: Where AI Meets Human Wisdom in Retail

Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor

The challenge [with AI

the use cases that will actually be revolutionary and separating it from those that are mere cases, retail remains a very human-centric business and that should not be forgotten.

I enjoyed being immersed in IBM’s Watsonx at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show last month. The crux of what IBM Watsonx is all about is keeping the humanness of this new kind of smart computer technology called generative AI.

My colleague Neil Saunders said, “The challenge [with AI in retail] lies in finding the use cases that will actually be revolutionary and separating it from those that are mere flights of fantasy. In many cases, retail remains a very human-centric business and that should not be forgotten.”

The important distinction is knowing the difference between artificial intelligence (AI), which has been around for a while, and generative AI. The former has been around for many years and can take big data sources and find patterns. The breakthrough Watson showed the world over a decade ago was that it could take vast amounts of data, find the patterns, and generate new responses.

Many have touted how an individual could use generative AI to create customized ad content, email subjects, and product descriptions that could bring a unique touch to each shopper’s journey.

Generative AI is in the early stages at the consumer level, but IBM has been using artificial intelligence to support large enterprises and their digital transformation for years.

Nancy Greco, Global Tech Sales, Distribution, and IBM Distinguished Engineer, shared that there is always a human checking IBM’s Watsonx generative AI so it doesn’t hallucinate because generative AI is most powerful when combined with human evaluation, feedback, and decision-making. It is not a stand-alone product or technology.

Before I get too deep in the weeds, let me offer my explanation of generative AI because many people either dismiss it or fear it. Those people can become paralyzed by fear and not see the innovation and possibilities. They only see that they will be replaced.

Consider this…

You’ve seen those cooking shows where everything is pre-cut for the chef. From the rinsed, chopped, and sorted lettuces to the exact 1/8 teaspoon of Cumin, all set out in bowls so the chef can create. “With generative AI,” Greco said, “you are the chef. It opens so many possibilities.”

Four main buckets are needed to get the right results from your data via Generative AI. I’ll stay with the cooking analogy.

THE DATA SET: Your Ingredients

Think of your data like the ingredients in a recipe. This

incomplete, like missing ingredients in a recipe. They might need to purchase or blend additional data with what they already have. This step is crucial to paint a full picture for the generative AI to work with, much like ensuring you have all the right ingredients before you start cooking.

GENERATIVE AI: The Chef

Generative AI is like a master chef who can handle far more ingredients (or data points) than any human could. But here’s the catch: it needs to be trained by humans on what to focus on. Just like a chef needs to know which

important data points to review from their library of thousands of large-scale AI models trained on language, geospatial data, IT events, and code. This training allows the AI to access and interpret vast data sets effectively.

3 PROMPTS: The Recipe

Think of prompts as the recipe our generative AI chef follows. Crafting these prompts is a skill, almost like being a sous chef. People are carving careers out of being prompt experts. However, the need for specialized prompt creators might diminish as generative AI evolves. The AI will become more adept at understanding and executing in preparing dishes without needing a detailed recipe.

4 TRUST AND GOVERNANCE: Quality Control

Governance is your quality control in our kitchen analogy. This is where IBM shines. They ensure that Watsonx’s output is free from biases, hate speech, or any other undesirable elements, similar to ensuring the food is safe and meets health standards. For instance, consider a scenario where a mattress company uses AI to write an email campaign. If the generative AI inadvertently mimics drawn from its data set, it could lead to copyright issues. This highlights the importance of governance in overseeing the AI’s output and ensuring legal and ethical compliance.

NATIVE PLANTS

WHOLESALE

So many people used AI as a buzzword at NRF, and I wanted to hear IBM tell me what unique problem their customers are trying to solve with generative AI. Specifically focusing on solving problems that have a quantifiable return on investment.

According to a recent study published by IBM’s Institute for Business Value, consumers want AI to simplify the shopping journey. Roughly four in five consumers who haven’t yet used artificial intelligence for shopping would like to see how it can help them research products or get product information (86%), look for deals and promotions (79%) or get service, ask questions, and resolve issues (82%).

42% of retail CEOs and 59% of consumer products CEOs expect AI—including gen AI, deep learning, and machine learning—to be the technology that can best deliver desired results in the next three years. Why? Because of all the ways it can make shopping easier.

The Italian clothing company Max Mara is an example of how technology aided a retailer.

For Max Mara, like many other companies, the pandemic’s

arrival—and the changes in buying behavior it produced— accelerated a digital transformation that had already been underway. In fact, during the pandemic, the digital share of business volume nearly tripled. As if crossing a threshold, Max Mara’s digital operations unit—established early in its digital transformation journey—recognized that the efficiency of its back-end operations would now have an even larger impact on customer satisfaction.

Himanshu Shrivastava shared at an IBM fireside chat that they keep loyalty with their Al-Futtaim Group customers in India by being the resource for pretty much anything. They have over 4 to 5,000,000 registered users of their eight or 9 million customers on the app, and they are finding that people can use the app to start their own businesses and access those customers. All powered with AI and looking at how generative AI will help their app be the one source for everything: search, services, omnichannel purchases - the works.

I can see a world where a women’s wear buyer could predict her best sellers by simply asking her computer. The only way to do that now is a seasoned buyer and tracking skus for, let’s say, “black cocktail dresses.”

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The problem in doing that now is you don’t know what length will sell. What material? What was the previous sell-through at 14 days in-store? What sizes? What discounts? How about the country it was made in? Where were the goods sourced? The sleeve style? How many were returned? For what reason: online or in-store? How many went to a third party to clear?

Many retailers have sophisticated algorithms to help them, but those analyze the past - and on a limited basis. The information is usually locked into silos - marketing, finance, etc.

What generative AI could do in the future is generate what the

best seller for 2025 will look like based on all those data points and even the weather, unemployment rate, rural versus city locations, etc.

Instead of sending out a general “take 20% off” email, you could send a truly personal email or deliver a social media ad tailored to one person showing three looks that they would love and have to come into the store to see. Smart retailers will gather all the data they can on their products to produce those amazing results.

Generative AI is a lot more than making a pretty email or funny picture of a fish driving a car. A lot more.

Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor, is a nationally recognized business strategist, customer service expert, sales coach, marketing mentor, and retail author. To learn exactly how to provide retail sales training in a system that is easy to duplicate and train, contact Bob at www.RetailDoc.com

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MNLA OUT & ABOUT

Many MNLA members exhibited, including Samantha and Paul Roerick, Central Landscape Supply.

Iowa Shade Tree Short Course education session.

Chair of the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.

Jon also exhibited at Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply’s Spring Education Expo, promoting Northern Green Outdoors and MNLA membership.

2024 MNLA DAY ON THE HILL

NORTHERN GREEN 2024

Block Party

Scholarship Winners

Networking & Education

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EAB

Research Confirms the Effectiveness and Economic & Environmental

Benefits of Systemic Insecticides

Dr. James Calkins, Regulatory Affairs Manager

The debate has persisted ever since emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae/Order: Family) was discovered in Minnesota fifteen years ago in 2009, and even longer in areas east of Minnesota when this devastating insect was documented for the first time in North America near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. Is it better to preserve healthy ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) by treating them with systemic insecticides or to preemptively remove and replace them?

All photos courtesy James Calkins.

As a result of this debate municipalities and arborists have variously pursued both options based on a limited understanding of EAB biology, the effectiveness of potential management options (initially), misinformation, and local politics. The persistent myths about the effectiveness of systemic insecticide treatments, damage to trees caused by the injection of systemic insecticides, the effects of systemic insecticides on non-target species (including pollinators), and the cost of protecting ash trees with systemic insecticides compared to removal and (hopefully) replacement were additional discussion points. Recent research, however, dispels these myths and strongly, if not definitively, supports the preservation of ash trees in residential, commercial, and municipal landscapes over preemptive removal and replacement.

Challenging the Myths

A common misconception is that attempting to protect existing ash trees is not possible because the trees will eventually be killed by EAB. A review of the literature suggests this may have been true initially, but new insecticide formulations and treatment recommendations have been developed with improved results. For example, spring applications of systemic insecticides are more effective in reducing EAB populations by killing female beetles that feed on leaves that contain insecticides before they are mature and capable of laying eggs, thereby reducing the number of eggs and larvae.

Another misconception is that the wounds produced when injecting systemic insecticides cause substantial injury to trees. Again, this was true based on older technologies but is no longer considered a significant concern with proper technique. The use of reduced injection pressures and improved tools that create clean cuts and avoid heating that can damage plant tissues are examples of some of the more recent advances.

The belief that systemic insecticides may result in unduly harmful, non-target effects on insects that feed on ash trees, natural enemies of EAB and biocontrol agents, and beneficial insects, including pollinators, has also caused apprehension regarding the use of systemic insecticides. While it is possible that insects that feed “exclusively or preferentially” on ash trees may be killed if they feed on trees treated with systemic insecticides, these insects will likely be impacted significantly and possibly to a greater degree by the loss of their food supply as a result of ash mortality caused by EAB. In addition, it is unlikely that enemies of EAB such as parasitic wasps, predatory insects, woodpeckers, and other enemies of EAB would be harmed because they would not be exposed to the systemic insecticides within ash trees. Although always a concern to be

considered, specific threats to pollinators may be minimized based on the potential for exposure based on the type of insecticide used, insecticide concentrations within plant tissues, pollen and nectar, and pollinator foraging behaviors. Although honeybees will collect ash pollen (e.g., about 20% of the early season pollen collected based on a study in Ohio where hives were placed near ash trees), nectar is not an issue for ash trees and research has suggested molecules of emamectin benzoate are too big to contaminate ash pollen.

Figure 1. One of multiple majestic and valuable green ash (Fraxinus pennsyvanica) trees (approximately 66 years old) growing on a boulevard in a Minnesota community.

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Lastly, the idea that treatment with systemic insecticides to protect ash trees from EAB is too costly compared to removal and replacement has been demonstrated to be untrue based on multiple analyses. The reality is that treatment with systemic insecticides is much more economical than removal and replacement. For example, an ash tree with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 76 centimeters (30 inches) would cost the homeowner $300 for a single treatment with emamectin benzoate based on a treatment cost of $10 per inch (DBH) and $100 per year given that emamectin benzoate should provide

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Figure 2. A photograph of the same location as Figure 1 nearly four years after the proactive removal of the green ash tree (Fraxinus pennsyvanica) and its boulevard neighbors even though they were not infested with emerald ash borer; trees that could provided and trees that have not been replaced.

three years of protection. Comparatively, it is estimated that removal (including stump grinding) would cost at least $1,800 - six times the treatment cost. It could be as much as $3,600 if the tree is near the house or there are other complications, for example, access issues, or if the tree has become a hazard as a result of EAB damage.

Based on this example, the homeowner could enjoy the benefits of the tree for 18 to 36 years by protecting and not removing the tree. This does not account for replacement costs or the financial and ecological benefits provided by the tree during those years –property value, potential heating and cooling costs, stormwater mitigation, and others. Similar savings and benefits can be realized on a municipal basis. Furthermore, treating ash trees can allow municipalities to manage the removal and replacement costs over many years with the goal of increasing species diversity.

Research has also demonstrated that treating a subset of a population of ash trees with systemic insecticides can confer associational protection to untreated trees located within one hundred meters (328 feet) of treated trees. This finding suggests that treating a subset of a population of ash trees with a systemic insecticide such as emamectin benzoate (based on research, the most effective insecticide for protecting ash trees from EAB) may help protect untreated trees and may provide the basis for developing a more cost-effective and environmentally sound treatment strategy for protecting ash trees from attack by EAB. Emamectin benzoate has been shown to protect ash trees for three years (with only a few or no larvae present) and is effective at low rates so long as trees are treated while they are still healthy and before the vascular system has been damaged by larval feeding such that translocation

of the insecticide throughout the tree canopy is hindered. Other systemic insecticides have proven to be variously effective but less effective than emamectin benzoate including dinotefuran (larval densities reduced by more than 95% compared to untreated control trees) and imidacloprid (larval densities reduced by about 75%; considered enough when EAB populations are low but probably not enough when populations are high).

Conclusion

These research-based findings are supportive of an integrated pest management approach to EAB management and ash tree protection that includes the use of systemic insecticides to achieve these goals. Although emerald ash borer had been documented in 48 of Minnesota’s 87 counties at the time this article was written in February 2024, it is important to note that the majority of Minnesota, including most of northern Minnesota where the majority of the state’s ash trees are an important component of forest ecosystems, as well as much of the area in the counties that have already been quarantined for EAB, is not yet infested, and efforts to prevent the spread of EAB and protect healthy ash trees in Minnesota remains a valid and worthwhile proposition.

In managed landscapes, this includes the use of protective, systemic insecticide treatments for healthy ash trees which have proven to be very effective and cost-efficient while preserving the environmental, aesthetic, and socioeconomic benefits of these trees. Nursery and landscape professionals are encouraged to access and read the citations listed below for more detail and to keep up with the growing body of research pertaining to the management of emerald ash borer and the protection of existing ash trees in Minnesota landscapes.

Figure 3. Green ash trees (Fraxinus pennsyvanica) in a neighborhood park in Minnesota that have been treated with a systemic insecticide to protect them from emerald ash

Citations

Sadof, Clifford S., Deborah G. McCullough, and Matthew D. Ginzel. 2023. Urban Ash Management and Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): Facts, Myths, and an Operational Synthesis. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 14(1):1-13. www.bit.ly/4cdd9iG

Mwangola, Dorah. 2022. Associational Protection and Potential Non-Target Effects of Systemic Insecticide Treatments Against Emerald Ash Borer. University of Minnesota Ph.D. Dissertation. 216 pages. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy. www.bit.ly/4a1aw1A

Dispelling Urban Myths with Science Can Save Your Ash – Entomology Today (10/10/23), Entomological Society of America; Cliff Sadof, Ph.D. www.bit. ly/49WetEw

Mwangola, Dorah M., Aubree M. Kees, Donald M. Grosman, Kari E. Norris, Mitchell P. Maddox, and Brian H. Aukema. 2023. Associational Protection of Urban Ash Trees Treated with Systemic Insecticides Against Emerald Ash Borer. Frontiers in Insect Science 3:990909. www.bit.ly/3T5makZ

The following, selected resources may also be of interest: Emerald Ash Borer Information Network – https://www.emeraldashborer.info/

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Emerald Ash Boer Program & EAB Distribution & Quarantine Map – https://www.mda.state.mn.us/eab

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Firewood Information – https:// tinyurl.com/nsmrj399

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Firewood Information – https://tinyurl. com/3w4jnxs8

Minnesota Department of Agriculture / Biocontrol of Emerald Ash Borer –https://tinyurl.com/s9v9eam6

Minnesota Department of Agriculture / Emerald Ash Borer Homeowner Guide to Insecticide Selection, Use, and Environmental Protection – https://tinyurl. com/4kvmdy52

Minnesota Department of Agriculture / Guidelines to Control the Growth and Spread of Emerald Ash Borer – https://tinyurl.com/449skymu

University of Minnesota Extension / Managing Ash Woodlands with Emerald Ash Borer – https://tinyurl.com/muevnr4a

University of Minnesota Extension / Managing Ash Woodlands: Recommendations for Minnesota Woodland Owners – https://tinyurl. com/2z7pe85j

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources / Best Native Yard Trees for Our Changing Climate – https://tinyurl.com/3pft2f2z

To comment on this research update, suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@MNLA.biz.

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Baker Lake Nursery

Katie Mills Giorgio

COMPANY NAME:

Baker Lake Nursery

LOCATION:

Royalton, Minnesota

OWNERS:

Randy Klaphake and Donna Hoffman-Klaphake

FOUNDED:

1996

Number of employees in peak season: 5

Areas served:

Eight state region in the Upper Midwest

Type of business:

Wholesale conifer growers

Baker Lake Nursery, located in a rural part of central Minnesota just north of St. Cloud, is a wholesale grower exclusively of evergreen trees, shrubs, and some grafted specialties.

Founded in the 90s, today the business specializes in growing conifers in anywhere from one-gallon to fifteen-gallon containers and grow bags that range from ten to twenty-four inches. They offer 60 specifically chosen varieties from about 100,000 trees, all hardy up to USDA Zone 4A.

Baker Lake Nursery works with customers in an eight-state region across the Upper Midwest, most of whom are retail partners like garden centers. About one-third of their business is working directly with landscaping companies. We chatted with founder and owner, Randy Klaphake, who runs the business with his wife Donna Hoffman-Klaphake, to learn more about what keeps their family growing evergreens year after year.

Q. How did Baker Lake Nursery get its start?

A. We are a family-owned and operated business that officially formed, for the record, in the spring of 1996. However, I’ve been growing trees since about age 14 on my Dad’s farm in central Minnesota. My first successful tree transplant operation was a white oak that I dug out of a nearby woods and is today about 25 feet in height and growing. Then Donna and I met in 1989 and our first date consisted of a stroll through the fall-colored pathways surrounding St. John’s University. It was here that we discovered our common interest in trees. The business really started as a hobby. We were doing some landscaping and lawn maintenance and Donna and I both thought why not try to do something that we enjoy doing and try to get paid for it? So that hobby turned into our family business. It is not something that we consider that we do for a living, but rather something we live to do.

Q. And where did the name come from?

A. It’s pretty rural here. When we started we had about 20 acres northwest of Sartell and it was next to Baker Lake. People just started calling us Baker Lake Nursery. And it stuck. We later bought another 80 acres in an even more rural area on a minimum maintenance road. We couldn’t even get to it in the wintertime. But one of the reasons we bought it was because it was very remote and kind of wild there. There’s a creek that runs through it, Little Rock Creek, which makes up about one-third of the property and makes it a wetland. Our land is on both sides of the creek and we built a little bridge over it. There are beavers which we love because we love working with nature. There’s an eagle nest about 50 feet from our office and it’s been there for about ten years. We’ve all grown used to each other. We’ve also seen black bears, wolves, and bobcats on the property with our nature camera. One morning I’ll never forget I was out early and this blue heron flew within an arm’s length of me and landed in the creek to go fishing. This is a place where we work but also a place where we escape. We just really enjoy that it’s still relatively wild.

All photos courtesy of Baker Lake Nursery.

Q. What else do you feel sets Baker Lake Nursery apart in the industry?

A. We exclusively grow conifers which allows us to get exceptional quality. We grow trees and shrubs, and about 75 percent of what we grow is in grow bags and 25 percent is in poly containers. We’ve been slowly transitioning to more grow bags over the last two years. But before that at one point, we were 100 percent container growing. The grow bags were something new to try so we could grow a bigger, healthier tree. We were finding that in containers because they were above ground and they get warm and over a number of years they start to decline in their growth. In the grow bag we are growing healthier trees that also have a faster recovery and survival rates because their root systems are healthier.

Q. Tell us more about how business has changed or shifted over the years.

A. We have shifted a lot. Originally, we started growing deciduous trees. But we didn’t really have good results. Trees can’t just survive, they have to thrive and we are in competition with a lot of growers so we knew we had

to create conditions where the trees really thrive. Our deciduous trees weren’t doing that. We also noticed that the alkalinity of our water is very low which was impacting the pH in our containers to drop faster. We started growing conifer trees alongside these deciduous trees and we started noticing a difference and made the switch. That was 25 years ago.

Q. How did you have to or do you continue to innovate to support that change?

A. We have tried a lot of things; it’s in our blood. I think we are really innovative and creative. And we aren’t afraid to try and fail. And we have failed a lot. We are also creative. We’ve made a lot of the equipment that we use in our nursery, like specially designed trailers and lifting machines that move the trees around. We’ve done a lot of these things to try to alleviate some of the very intensive labor. We also have to protect our trees in the winter. So we lay them down and cover them all up. We try covering them with different methods, with things like astroturf, to see what results we get. We also bought a snow machine about 20 years ago to make it easier to cover the trees with snow. We did that for about ten or fifteen years. I think we were perhaps the only company in the country doing that. Now with most of our trees in grow bags we don’t have to cover them so we sold the snow machine. We’ve also tried corn straw since it’s so available here in this rural setting. All of our grow bags, water, soil, fertilizer, pruning, and winterizing techniques are tailored for the sole purpose of growing evergreens.

We have also learned that we can’t use our field soil in our grow bags because of its very coarse texture. So we began experimenting with different types of soil. One of our employees suggested using potting soil and so we started to check into whether that would work. With help from consultants, we have come up with a grow bag mix. We started this in 2020 to see how it would work and tested it side by side with black dirt. We realized 2020 was a drought year. We weren’t watering enough so we tried it the next year, we watered more and the results changed. Last year we used 100 percent of the mixture that they came up with in our grow bags, and we’re sticking with that because it works well and is a lot easier for planting, lifting, harvesting, and easier for the garden center. So that’s happened in just the last three years and we think it’s going to change how we do things here at the nursery.

Q. What is important to you in providing good customer service to your clients?

A. I think because we are a really small business and we know all our customers by name, half of them are our friends. We’ve met them, we’ve talked with them and

Jeff Palmer GERTENS WHOLESALE the PROS KNOW

many have come out to our nursery. Being a small business allows us to have personal relationships with all our customers. It also helps us improve when they share feedback with us. They don’t hesitate to tell us.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the team of people you work with.

A. This is a family business, so it’s me and Donna and our youngest son. Then we have two other full-time employees who have been with us for 13 years. They are more than just employees. We work side by side and we talk every day. We figured out how to transition them from being hourly employees to being paid for 12 months out of the year. Their schedule is now based on 32 hours per week. We started this about two years ago. And because their work is very labor intensive it benefits all of us.

Q. What do your business operations look like year-round?

A. Our busy season, of course, is spring. It’s when we uncover

everything and do our planting. We still do a lot of planting around here in our containers. We don’t propagate so we get all our seedlings or cuttings. Everything goes into a poly container for a year or two. Then it goes into a grow bag or a poly container. But we try to plant things in the spring to give it a longer season to get established. That’s usually up until about late July. Then we are in maintenance mode, watching things, watering, and watching the irrigation heads. Then in the winter when everything is dormant and covered we watch for rabbits and other critters. We also do a lot of repairs then or make new equipment to make our work easier. I’ll spend a whole week making a piece of equipment or a trailer if it saves us a little bit of time in the spring. And we also use that time to go to tradeshows.

Q. Speaking of trade shows, what value do you all find in being an MNLA member?

A. We’ve been a member, I believe, ever since we started. And it was particularly valuable then because we didn’t have any training. This just started as a hobby, remember? So we would go to every show that MNLA offered. We would sit in on everything we could and were like sponges trying to absorb it all. What do other people do? What works? What doesn’t? All the meetings, workshops, and seminars we went to were so valuable. And we also met other people there and could share our ideas. MNLA as an organization gave us that insider knowledge and really guided us through our beginnings. It still guides us now still.