The Scoop - January 2024

J a n ua r y 2024 • Vol u m e 47 I s s ue 1

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

A.R.T.S. 2024 Winning Roses ®

PLUS USDA Releases Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map Taking Part in Trade Shows is Good for Business

Your one stop shop to get the job done!

ANNUALS NURSERY STOCK MULCHES & SOILS LANDSCAPE LIGHTING ■

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HARDSCAPES PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES ■

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See you at Northern Green!

JAN. 23-25 2024

Visit us in booths 1414, 1416 and 659, 661 & 663

5500 BLAINE AVENUE ■ INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN 55076 ■ 651-450-0277 ■ GERTENSWHOLESALE.COM 2

MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

40 Years Strong in 2024 Bachman’s was founded in 1885 by Henry Bachman. Today, still a family owned and operated business, Bachman’s continues to offer the highest quality services and overall value to both retail and wholesale customers.

In 1984, Bachman’s began a new journey when it opened the Nursery Wholesale Center to serve local landscape contractors on a wholesale basis. Located in Farmington, Minnesota, Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes is proud to be a premier provider of landscape plants, hardscapes product, and excellence in customer service to landscape professionals throughout the upper Midwest.

Help us celebrate our 40th year with special savings and events!

January News & Featured Products

Throwback Specials

Northern Green 2024

Enjoy yesteryear prices during our 40th anniversary season.

January 23-25 / St. Paul RiverCentre & Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

Bachman’s Open House

The return of a great spring get together is coming soon.

Bachman’s Spring Open House / Thursday March 21, 2024 / Hardscapes Cedar Acres

BACHMANSWHOLESALE.COM Wholesale Nursery (651) 463-3288 / (800) 525-6641 / Fax: (651)-463-4747 6877 235th St. W., Farmington, MN 55024

Hardscapes Cedar Acres (952) 469-3833 / Fax: (952) 469-9674 23004 Cedar Avenue S., Farmington, MN 55024

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

January 2024

Vol 47 Issue 1

CONTENTS

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Roses Win 2024 A.R.T.S® 14 Three Awards for Our Region Check out the winners from this year’s American Rose Trails for Sustainability trials.

25

Taking Part in Trade Shows is Good for Business – and for Employee Morale Industry professionals share why and how attending trade shows benefits their company and employees.

Member Profile: 33 MNLA Amity Creek Landscaping For over forty years, Ron Davidson and his team have been creating beautiful landscapes across Duluth and Northern Minnesota & Wisconsin.

Releases Updated Plant 36 USDA Hardiness Zone Map

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IN THIS ISSUE 9

Events

10

2023: A Year of Growth and Resilience Executive Director, Cassie Larson, recaps MNLA’s achievements and progress in 2023.

11

43

Learn ways to increase employee morale throughout the season to prevent crew burnout and turnover.

Green Industry Leadership Institute Apply now! The 2024 Green Industry Leadership Institute application deadline is January 19, 2024.

13

The 2024 Legislative Session is About to Begin In order to continue to grow our legislative presence, we need your participation!

18

2023-2024 MNLA Foundation Scholarship Winners Scholarship winners share their plans for the future.

Regulatory Affairs Manager, Jim Calkins, outlines the changes to plant hardiness zones.

How to End Voluntary Employee Turnover on Your Snow Crew

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IPM Tactics to Reduce Insecticide Use and Manage Japanese Beetles in Lawns Learn tactics to control Japanese beetle populations in lawns.

Cover image: Star® Roses and Plants This page: Proven Winners® Colorchoice® (left), Amity Creek Landscaping (middle), iStock.com/jamievanbuskirk (right)

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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D IR ECTORY

January 2024 | Vol 47 Issue 1

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 Randy Berg, President

Communications Coordinator

Brianna Burns • brianna@mnla.biz

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

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz Foundation Program Manager

Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz Administrative Assistant

Louise Nemmers • louise@mnla.biz Accountant

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

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

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

Doug Carnival

Pam Helgeson • accounting@mnla.biz

Legislative Affairs Consultant

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

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Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape............... 28-29

Ancom Communications Inc and Midwest Radio Rentals......21

Jeff Martin Auctioneers ...........................................................55

Anderson Nurseries, Inc...........................................................46

Kubota.......................................................................................40

Aspen Equipment .....................................................................54

Lano Equipment, Inc................................................................34

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

Maguire Agency.........................................................................34

Bullis Insurance Agency | Arachas Group...............................24

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

Carlin Sales/ProGreen Plus ......................................................12

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

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

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

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

Plantpeddler, Inc ......................................................................34

Cushman Motor Company.......................................................26

The Resultants ..........................................................................27

Davey.........................................................................................38

Rock Hard Landscape Supply...................................................46

Dayton Bag & Burlap................................................................34

SiteOne Landscape Supply.......................................................22

Edney Distributing Co., Inc......................................................46

SMSC Organics Recycling Facility ...........................................21

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

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

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

The Tessman Company.............................................................24

Glacial Ridge Growers...............................................................40

Touchstone Accent Lighting.....................................................32

Goodmark Nurseries ................................................................44

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

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

Unilock Chicago, Inc.................................................................42

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

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

MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

NOW CARRYING COVERED BULK SALT Also available: •Bagged Salt •Ice Control Sand •Salt/Sand Mixes Available during business hours & snow events!

Visit our website and follow our social media for snow event details www.plaistedcompanies.com 763.441.1100 JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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PROUDLY OFFERING HARDSCAPE PROJECT SOLUTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING:

The products made by TCC Group Companies are the right fit for every project.

Our goal is to build a better hardscape business for our dealers, designers and contractors.

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Jonathan Dorow | Hardscape Sales and Product Manager jdorow@amconconcreteproducts.com | borgertproducts.com Centre2024 Pointe Blvd, Mendota Heights, MN 55120 | direct: 651.286.1261 | cell: 612.756.4672 MNLA.BIZ2025 | JANUARY

UPCO MI NG

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

January 19

Green Industry Leadership Institute Application Deadline Become a stronger, more confident leader when you participate in the leadership development program designed with a green industry focus.

23- Northern Green 25 Saint Paul RiverCentre, Saint Paul, MN REGISTER NOW! Join us for the premier event for green industry professionals in the northern region. Exhibit booths are still available. Northerngreen.org

February 16

MNLA.biz Career Center Job Board Browse CAREERS in the menu, or go directly to MNLA.biz/careers.

Members save money on job postings!

EMPLOYERS:

PROFESSIONALS:

• PLACE your job in front of our highly qualified members

• POST a resume or anonymous career profile that leads employers to you

• SEARCH our resume database of qualified candidates • MANAGE jobs and applicant activity right on our site • LIMIT applicants only to those who are qualified • FILL your jobs more quickly with great talent

MNLA Professional Certification Exam MNLA Office, Roseville, MN

• SEARCH and apply to hundreds of new jobs on the spot by using robust filters • SET UP efficient job alerts to deliver the latest jobs right to your inbox • ACCESS career resources, job searching tips and tools

WWW.MNLA.BIZ/CAREERS

Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2024. Additional dates: February 23, March 1 and 8. Registration is limited.

29 Green Industry Day On The Hill Saint Paul Capitol, Saint Paul, MN

The 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. Sign up to join your colleagues in Saint Paul.

General

Networking

Business

Leadership Development

Skills Training

2024 MNLA education generously supported by:

WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES

Your Trusted Partner

Volume 47, Issue 1: 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.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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FR OM THE EXECUT IVE D I R ECTO R

Cassie Larson MNLA Executive Director cassie@mnla.biz

2023: A Year of Growth and Resilience As we enter 2024 and bid farewell to another eventful year, I reflect on the remarkable progress, achievements, and resilience that have characterized 2023. With a commitment to serving the green industry, MNLA continues to be a leading force in bringing professionals together, promoting careers and employee advancement through education, and advocating for member businesses. Let’s take a closer look at some highlights of MNLA’s year in review.

Educational Initiatives: MNLA remains dedicated to providing educational resources and opportunities for its members. In 2023, the Association hosted numerous workshops, webinars, and seminars to keep professionals updated on the latest trends and techniques in the nursery and landscape fields. Topics ranged from sustainable landscaping practices and plant health to business management and customer service. In addition to these, we hosted the 11th cohort of the Green Industry Leadership Institute that focused on providing the soft skills employees need to advance their careers.

Northern Green: We reimagined and are implementing a brand-new Northern Green to bring the industry into the future in January 2024. Many volunteers from various industry segments came together throughout 2023 to help plan for the highly anticipated January event. Attendees will have the chance to network, attend educational sessions, and explore the latest industry innovations, from new plant varieties to cutting-edge landscaping equipment.

Advocacy and Policy: MNLA was also actively engaged in advocating for the interests of members at the

state legislature and at the local level. The association played a key role in shaping policies and regulations that affect the nursery and landscaping industries. And after several years of advocacy work, we successfully passed a bill that ended the duty to defend clause in subcontractor contracts. A huge win for the landscape industry. By being a strong voice for its members, MNLA helped ensure that the industry continues to thrive.

Member Support: Throughout 2023, MNLA connected with members through site visits and tours. The

association’s commitment to its members was evident in the numerous resources, networking opportunities, and support it offered, fostering a sense of community and unity among industry members.

Volunteers: And we couldn’t have done any of this without the dedicated and loyal cadre of volunteers that continues to lead the way for the green industry throughout Minnesota and beyond. Thank you to those who gave countless hours to ensure the association and the industry continue to thrive.

As we look back on MNLA’s 2023 year in review, it’s clear that the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association had a remarkable year, marked by growth, education, networking, and advocacy. MNLA continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of the green industry in the region. We look forward to even greater achievements in 2024. If you’re looking for a way to engage, don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the MNLA Board of Directors or the MNLA staff. We’ll be happy to help!

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

WHAT IS THE GREEN INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, AND WHAT IS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT? PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH Past participants have found that the Institute gave them a tremendous boost. Here are comments from former students and sponsors: • This has been by far the most eye-opening experience I have had within the green industry.

I came away with a whole lot of really useful tools, as well as a new outlook on my position and what it means to be a leader. I left every session with excitement and a new-found passion for leadership within my company. I got a sort of adrenaline rush from all that I learned. What a wonderful experience!

• I enjoyed the way that you challenged and engaged us over the past year. You are a great asset to our industry and you should be proud of all that you have done to help grow leaders in the MNLA. • The leadership class has really benefited our participant in a number of different ways. Specifically, she is more confident in herself and her leadership role within our company; she’s more organized and focused on tasks and responsibilities; and is generally more engaged in helping to improve existing processes or consider new improved processes and strategies. I am confident this has been beneficial to both her individually and will continue to be beneficial to our company next year and in the future.

• Thank you for all your work and for creating an environment where our employee has really thrived. We already have tangible takeaways that improve our business model and bolster his ability to succeed at his current and future roles.

TANGIBLE WORK PRODUCT In addition, each student develops and executes a project – a tangible work product meant to improve their company in a meaningful way. To give you a taste of what these could be, here are some previous projects: • Develop a Safety Awareness Program • Improve Employee Placement • Develop Cross-Selling Practices • Create a Labor Efficiency Tool • Implement Project Management Time Tracking Software • Improve Web Presence by Revamping the Website • Develop Orientation Program • Reduce Workers Comp. Recordable Injuries • Eliminate Waste in Grounds Maintenance • Inventory Interface Process to Improve Communication • Improve the Employee Review Process • Program to Reduce Turnover • Organize, Compile, and Design Employee Handbook • Instructional Video Series on Field Plant Care • Normalize Employee Hiring Practices Across Branches

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 19

QUESTIONS? Contact Jon Horsman 651-633-4987 jon@MNLA.biz

Note that these are projects that affect the entire company, not small individual projects that only help the student get their own tasks done. The process of choosing and developing the project includes several rounds of feedback from the facilitator and fellow students.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous (651) 438-2771 • Fax (651) 438-3816

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GOVERNMEN T A FFA IRS

Felipe Illescas Government Affairs Director felipe@mnla.biz

The 2024 Legislative Session is About to Begin The 2024 Legislative Session will be starting on February 12. Thanks to your member survey responses, we have a robust legislative agenda this year, to say the least. These agenda items were listed in the December issue of The Scoop. In the last edition, I also mentioned that our industry and association continue to become a bigger player at the legislature; however, that is dependent on presence at the Capitol and member participation. This is why I want to reiterate how imperative it is that you join us during Northern Green on January 23-25 and the Green Industry Day on The Hill on February 29 so that you can directly engage with decision makers that have an impact on the trajectory of our legislative priorities.

In addition to our priorities, it is important that these legislators and regulators hear directly from you so that they do not introduce legislation that impacts our industry in a negative way. The more they know about what is important to your business, the better-informed decisions they will make.

Lastly, I want to strongly encourage you to consider helping us build our Green Industry PAC. The impact of our PAC has also gained great momentum among legislators and prospective candidates. This is yet another vehicle to engage with the association’s government affairs activities. 2024 is an election year for State Representatives and having more legislators aligned with our priorities getting elected, could increase the chances for a positive outcome at the end of session. Please feel free to reach out to me at felipe@mnla.biz and 612-418-5382 if you have any questions or want to get involved in any of the activities mentioned above.

Thank you all for your great work and dedication to this industry.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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AWA R D WI NNING R O S E S

Three Roses Win 2024 ® A.R.T.S. Awards for Our Region David C. Zlesak, Randy S. Nelson, Kristine M. Lang, Gaye Hammond, Michael Schwartz, and Steve George

The American Rose Trials for Sustainability® (A.R.T.S.®) has announced three 2024 winning roses for our region.

Minnesota, most of Wisconsin, and the eastern half of the Dakotas are all in the same Köppen climate region (Dfb), making these roses great options for MNLA members located even a bit outside the Minnesota border. These three winning roses were trialed in 2021 and 2022 in Dilworth, MN (University of Minnesota Extension, Clay County), Brookings, SD (McCrory Gardens at South Dakota State University), and Green Bay, WI (Green Bay Botanical Garden).

Proven Winners® Colorchoice®

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

All photos curtosey of David Zlesak unless otherwise noted.

Ashley Barkow

AWARD WI NN ING ROSES

Chris Schlenker

Lee Hansen (Milwaukee County) evaluating roses at the Green Bay Botanical Garden.

A.R.T.S.® is an independent, non-profit, multi-state, two-year scientific plant trial, that evaluates new or recently introduced roses under low-input conditions.

Plants are grown in a “no spray” environment (i.e., without applications of fungicides, insecticides, or miticides) and nutrition is managed through a modest addition of compost to trial beds prior to planting (if organic matter is low) and the ongoing decomposition of replenished mulch. The roses are not deadheaded during the growing season, and they are given only moderate irrigation. The A.R.T.S.® trialing program is designed to identify the strongest, best adapted, and most beautiful newer roses available today. Given basic plant care, landscapers and home gardeners are highly likely to be successful growing their regional A.R.T.S.® winners.

The same rose entries are planted across all the national A.R.T.S.® trial gardens, but award winners are determined regionally. To win a regional award, trial roses need to score equal to or greater than the average of the two industry standard cultivars planted at each site alongside them (Double Knock Out® and Sunrise Sunset™), and have the majority of plants surviving at the end of the multiyear trial. Roses are scored monthly throughout the growing season, and year two scores are weighted twice that of year one to take into account magnifying impacts of regional factors (e.g., weather, disease, and insect pressures) on performance. The score is calculated by multiple factors under foliage health (45% of final score), flower coverage and quality (42.5%), and plant form (12.5%). Each of our 2024 winning roses are compact growing, highly floriferous, and would be great to use in borders, mixed plantings with perennials and other shrubs, and containers.

…AND THE 2024 A.R.T.S.® Dfb WINNERS ARE…

Brick House® Pink [‘SPROgreatpink’; PP32,663]

Star® Roses and Plants

Florescent-pink semidouble blooms are borne in clusters over this compact and rounded floribunda rose. The foliage is glossy and provides a great backdrop for the brightly colored blooms.

(Introduced by Star® Roses and Plants)

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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Suntory Flowers

Proven Winners® Colorchoice®

AWA R D WI NNING R O S E S

Oso Easy® Peasy

[‘Phyllis Sherman’; PP29,167] Vast clusters of petite, double, raspberry-pink blooms make this dense polyantha rose a versatile burst of color. It was bred in the Twin Cities and the cultivar name was selected to honor the memory of a caring St. Paul nurse who was also a passionate gardener. (Introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery; Proven Winners® Colorchoice®)

Sunrosa® Red

[‘ZARsbjoh’; PP24,314] Double blooms of rich red are generously produced over a dense and symmetrical miniature shrub rose. The foliage emerges with red highlights and matures to a rich green, complementing the red flowers nicely. (Introduced by Suntory Flowers)

A.R.T.S.® Mission: To identify, through regional evaluation and testing under low-input conditions, the most diseaseand pest-resistant, hardiest, and most garden-worthy rose cultivars, and to provide objective, accurate and reliable information about the cultivars tested for each region to industry professionals and the gardening public.

To learn more about the A.R.T.S.® program and find the 32 past winning roses for our Dfb region, please visit www.trustedroses.org.

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

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JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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SC HOL A R S HI P WI N N E R S

2023-2024 MNLA Foundation Scholarship Winners

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Elena Berger

Sam Butzow

Sponsored by: Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape School: University of Minnesota Crookston Major: Horticulture production Expected Graduation Date: May 2024 Future Plans: I would like to get more experience in a local greenhouse or flower shop. It’s a dream of mine to open a greenhouse of my own one day.

Sponsored by: Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Landscape Design Expected Graduation Date: Summer 2024 Future Plans: I’m interested in pursuing a career in landscape design with an emphasis on sustainability.

Olivia Carlson

Dylan Cooper

Sponsored by: Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens School: University of Minnesota Crookston Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: May 2026 Future Plans: I plan to eventually own a cut flower farm.

Sponsored by: Wilson’s Nursery, LLC School: University of Wisconsin River Falls Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: December 2025 Future Plans: I plan to pursue a career in horticulture and eventually start my own horticulture business.

Amanda Coulter

Kadee Davidson

Sponsored by: Home Sown Gardens LLC School: Central Lakes College Major: Horticulture \ Landscape Expected Graduation Date: May 2025 Future Plans: I want to continue my work with plants and landscapes. I also want to educate my peers and the public about plants.

Sponsored by: Robin D. Linder Memorial Scholarship School: Central Lakes College Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: May 2024 Future Plans: I would like to own my own flower shop one day.

MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

S CHO L ARS HI P WINNERS

Jacob Drummer

Zachary Endreas

Sponsored by: Bailey Nurseries, Inc. School: University of Minnesota CFANS Major: Plant Science Expected Graduation Date: December 2023 Future Plans: I have accepted a job as an assistant grower at Drummers Garden Center and Floral working with their seasonal annuals.

Sponsored by: Bailey Nurseries, Inc. School: University of Wisconsin River Falls Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: May 2024 Future Plans: I plan to work in the production horticulture industry for a few years and possibly continue my education. I have always wanted to open up my own greenhouse.

Hazel Fritz

Richard Gregor

Sponsored by: Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes School: University of Minnesota CFANS Major: Plant Science Expected Graduation Date: May 2025 Future Plans: My future plans are to continue my education and attend graduate school. I would like to work in academia somewhere in the field of horticulture.

Sponsored by: Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Greenhouse Management Technician Expected Graduation Date: 2025 Future Plans: I plan on taking over more management and ownership of our family greenhouse in order to continue our businesses legacy.

Emily Guggisberg

Josephine Hyatt

Sponsored by: Robin D. Linder Memorial Scholarship School: South Dakota State University Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: May 2026 Future Plans: I want to work in a greenhouse helping customers with questions and ideas for planting, and eventually own the business one day.

Sponsored by: Southview Design School: Iowa State University Major: Horticulture and Landscape Design Expected Graduation Date: December 2024 Future Plans: I currently work in the nursery at Country Landscapes. My ultimate aspiration is to become a landscape designer for a reputable company in the southern United States.

SirrNay Ku

Venessa Larson

Sponsored by: Gertens School: University of Wisconsin River Falls Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: May 2024 Future Plans: My plan after graduation is to work in a greenhouse. My dream is to open up my own flower shop.

Sponsored by: Wilson’s Nursery, LLC School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Urban Forestry Expected Graduation Date: May 2025 Future Plans: I hope to continue planting and caring for trees in my community and conducting outreach and education.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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SC HOL A R S HI P WI N N E R S

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Jack Lucas

Ruth Mann

Sponsored by: Gertens School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Arboriculture occupational certificate Expected Graduation Date: Summer 2024 Future Plans: I will continue my work at Hennepin County. Working to achieve goals of canopy equity and improving canopy resilience in our cities!

Sponsored by: Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Landscape Construction and Design Expected Graduation Date: May 2025 Future Plans: My hope is to work as a designer for an environmentallyconscientious landscaping company in the metro area. I am also interested in owning an education-focused landscaping company of my own.

Ben Moss

Nyla Olexa

Sponsored by: Bailey Nurseries, Inc. School: Iowa State University Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: December 2024 Future Plans: I hope to either start my own landscape consulting business or become more involved with plant and vegetable production at Kroul Farms.

Sponsored by: Malmborg’s Garden Center & Greenhouse School: Hennepin Technical College Major: Landscape Design and Construction, Urban Forestry Expected Graduation Date: May 2024 Future Plans: My goal is to work as a landscape designer that focuses on incorporating native plants into my designs. I also want to continually expand my arboriculture knowledge.

Gabe Olson-Jensen

Nadia Phillips

Sponsored by: Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape School: University of Wisconsin River Falls Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: 2025 Future Plans: After my undergraduate education I hope to attend graduate school in the plant sciences. I would like to work with molecular genetics and plant breeding.

Sponsored by: Tangletown Gardens LLC School: University of Minnesota CFANS Major: Plant Science Expected Graduation Date: May 2025 Future Plans: I plan on working in a plant breeding lab with a focus on new alternative crops. I am also very interested in the agronomic process of implementing new crops.

Hannah Reutter

Analise Wolkerstorfer

Sponsored by: Southview Design School: North Dakota State University Major: Horticulture, Crop & Weed Science Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2026 Future Plans: I am interested in being a horticultural specialist at a botanical garden doing research or owning a greenhouse. I am also interested in continuing my education.

Sponsored by: Holasek Flower Power Garden Center School: University of Wisconsin River Falls Major: Horticulture Expected Graduation Date: May 2025 Future Plans: I am very interested in floriculture and greenhouse production.

I hope to find a career either at a greenhouse or possibly a flower farm.

MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

Buying portable or mobile radios keeps your people in touch

Renting or adding radios for your seasonal projects is cost effective

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BUILDING BETTER SOIL Commercial Soil Amendments, Custom Soil Blends, and Landscaping Materials

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BE THE BOSS OF INCLEMENT WEATHER THIS WINTER • Boss Snowrator Ride-On Plow & De-Icer • Maximize on-the-job productivity and profitability • Optional Exact Path, 1.5 cubic foot drop spreader • Optional 1.8 cubic foot broadcast spreader

Visit a SiteOne Near You for More Information 22

MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

O UT & A BOUT

MNLA OUT & ABOUT

MNLA Associate Director Jon Horsman participated in the first annual “Kicking it for the Roots” kickball tournament.

MTI exhibits at the MPSFMA (a partner association in Northern Green) Fall Workshop.

After guiding his team to two losses, Jon celebrates with the other team (that defeated his).

Held at Bracketts Crossing in Lakeville, the event had more vendors and attendees than ever before!

Organized by Home Sown Gardens, the event raised money for Urban Roots.

Keynote speaker John Randle entertained with stories from his Vikings days.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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2023 W GE

URVEY

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We want to grow with you, from one year to the next.

Specializing in all types of insurance for the landscape and nursery business.

MNLA conducted this survey in 2023, and the results offer key data to help you to accurately interpret trends in

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compensation and benefits. This report

952-449-0089

includes job descriptions for each position and the percentage of companies offering a variety of benefits to seasonal vs. parttime vs. full-time employees. Find out if your organization is competitive today by purchasing the report in the MNLA.biz Store.

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

WINTER IS HERE. DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE COLD.

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

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T RA DESHOWS

iStock.com/Macrovector

Taking Part in Trade Shows is Good for Business — and for Employee Morale Reprinted with Permission from Landscape Trades, originally published in October 2023. (https://tinyurl.com/2vcdr9kx)

Brent Vanderkruk is the customer service manager of NVK Nurseries, a fourth-generation wholesale nursery based in Dundas, Ont. With over 100 years in business, NVK is one of Canada’s largest wholesale nurseries, serving customers across the country and in several U.S. states. One of the many reasons for the company’s success is their dedication to staying on top of the latest trends and innovations — and building a strong network and relationships within the industry.

With this in mind, Brent and his team have never missed a year exhibiting at Congress, a trade show for landscape professionals that takes place in Toronto, Ont., every January. His family has been attending since the first show in 1970. Congress, which was taken over by Landscape Ontario in 1974, is now considered one of the top trade shows for landscape and horticultural professionals in North America, attracting more than 15,000 visitors each year.

Landscape Trades asked Brent for his best advice on making the most of trade shows to grow your business and motivate your team.

What is the benefit of attending and exhibiting at an industry trade show?

Learning is a big part for us — and connecting with our customers. It’s great to get to know customers better and see them face to face outside of the busy season, as well as see the work they have done over the year. We are very intentional about creating time and space to make these connections and

I think it’s beneficial for both sides. We also take part in the Designers Conference that happens the day before to connect with those people.

How does Congress make an impact on your team?

I think it energizes us as a company. We’re always looking ahead and seeing what new things are out there, the things being done, the new trends. It’s uplifting. It’s also just really great bonding time. The energy at Congress is contagious. We bring all of our employees with us and they go to the conference to learn [from the professional development seminars] and walk the Congress floor, as well as working in our booth.

You mentioned attending trade shows helps your company be even better at what it does. How so?

Well, Congress is an opportunity to showcase what we’re doing for our customers, of course. It’s our chance to spotlight the new products we’re carrying and really display the diversity of what we have to offer. Mainly it’s the connections — the conversations we get to have with our customers face to face, outside of the busy season. This lets us get to know them better and that makes us better.

As a longtime exhibitor, what would you say is the secret to making a great booth?

A lot of hard work! We build some of the structures for our booth throughout the season, but we really get focused on it

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

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T RA DESHOWS

in the last three months before the show — for Congress that’s October. We give it a lot of thought. After each Congress, we sit down as a team and go over what we liked and what we didn’t like. We talk about what kind of things we can improve on, or showcase a little bit differently. So, we’ll glean some of those ideas and go back to them when we start planning our booth.

By early fall, we are keeping in mind some of the plants that we’d like to use at the booth and we’ll bring some inside to delay their dormancy so they can show their colours. Taking part in building a booth together makes our people see our plants in a whole new way.

How do you attract people to your booth?

We always create an interactive experience. One thing that might set us apart is that we do a mulch floor. You get the smell of the mulch, and it works really well with the plants, it’s like you’re really in the garden. It’s also really comfortable to stand on — especially when you’re on concrete all day at a convention centre! Overall we want to create flow, make it easy for traffic to meander, but also create spaces where you can have conversations and you can just talk amongst the plants really

GROWING STRONG, HEALTHY LEADERSHIP TEAMS IS WHAT WE DO BEST theResultants.com

and look at them. We also think about signage — so where we’re placing the signage because there’s traffic coming from different angles.

How do you keep the conversation going after the event?

We often do a draw at our booth — we ask people to answer a few questions for a chance to win a nursery stock voucher or something. It helps us get a pulse on where people see our quality, service, and pricing and we hone in on those things. We would also do a ‘drip’ campaign with potential new customers, sending them information about who we are and following up a few months later.

What practical tips can you share on making the most of a trade show?

Comfortable footwear for sure, lots of water, and lots of candy.

Okay, that last one is a joke. I do try to get a lot of sleep before the show though. And definitely lots after. My biggest advice is to smile. Your customers want to see you happy and energized — and that can’t be manufactured.

"Working with The Resultants Team has been critical to getting our Leadership Team talking and aligning around a common vision and future for Margolis Company. The gentle reminders for us to focus time to work “on the business” versus “in the business,” have been key to making continual progress and improvements for our team."

Chad E. Buran, ASLA|PLA Owner

Connect@theResultants.com

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

27

Advertorial

Transplanting Trees for Superior Outcomes In the world of environmental conservation, Hoffman & McNamara follows a methodical process as trees are harvested, loaded, and transported to new locations. Our approach to this task ensures the continued growth and preservation of these valuable natural assets.

Nature's Transfer: The Environment

Our story begins in the heart of our nursery.

Trees need to be moved to new locations to serve various purposes while maintaining their health and vitality, whether it's for an urban development project, construction site, or conservation initiative. It’s

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

the logistics of preparation, loading, and transportation that make this transition from the nursery to its planting destination possible while preserving its vitality.

The Task at Hand: Efficiency and Precision

Transplanting trees is a process that

requires careful planning, equipment, and attention to detail. Here's how it works: 1. Tree Selection: Experts evaluate the trees to be relocated, taking into consideration their size, species, health, and intended destination. Assessing the tree’s size and species will help

All photos courtesy of Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape

OPTIMIZED LOGISTICS:

Advertorial determine the appropriate size of the root ball not only by the caliper but by the size of the tree top and variety.

2. Harvest: For ball & burlap trees, integrity of the root ball is key to the short- and long-term health of the tree. After being dug and secured in place with burlap, twine, and a wire basket the stem should not wobble in the soil ball. Properly tightening the root ball’s wire basket leads to less root damage and helps keep the root ball intact. A tight root ball is also easier to plant, which increases planting production, whether you are a landscaper or homeowner.

Container trees should also not wobble in their pots as movement of the trunk can cause root damage. Further if they are left to grow in the pot too long, they can become root-bound, and the encircling roots can girdle and strangle the trunk and other roots.

3. Transport Method: Transport method is chosen based on the tree's size and type (bareroot, container, B&B), number of trees, weather, and time of season.

This could be a flatbed, refrigerated truck, or a curtain-side trailer. This is extremely important, as it can expose the trees to temperature fluctuations and elements, including wind, rain, and sunlight, that can lead to desiccation or sunburn. Trees can also experience constant vibration and movement during transport, which leads to the next step.

4. Secure Loading: Placing guards on the tree helps protect the trunks and “top tying” the branches using flexible ties or twine helps prevent damage ensuring branches remain close to the trunk during transport. When loading the trees onto the transport vehicle don’t squeeze the root ball/container with the nursery jaws and don’t handle them when wet as it is

easy to damage the root ball. Tip the tree up and down by the root ball rather than using the trunk as a lever as that can break roots and loosen root ball. Use straps to secure the tree to ensure it is less susceptible to moving around during travel and damaging itself or other plants. Cushion stems and branches using tree guards and fabric to prevent scraping and rubbing of the bark. Trees moved during the growing season need to be transported in an enclosed trailer or tarped with shade tarps to prevent wind damage. Using multiple people/equipment helps minimize stress when pulling the tarp over the trees. Securing the tarp helps prevent it from flapping and damaging trees when transporting.

5. Transportation & Delivery: The loaded tree is transported to its new location, following a pre-planned route to minimize stress on the tree. Trees will have limited space compared to their natural environment, and this restricted space can affect their growth and development, therefore it is important not to have them on the truck or trailer any longer than necessary. If a tree will not be planted when received, it should be heeled in. The tree should be untop-tied, watered, and have any damaged branches pruned. After being replanted, the tree needs time to adapt to the new soil and environmental conditions.

Logistics in Action: A Conservation Approach

Properly transplanting trees for relocation is an essential aspect of rural/urban development and conservation efforts.

At Hoffman & McNamara, we specialize in this task, ensuring the preservation of valuable trees in the face of development or environmental changes. Our expertise contributes to the overall sustainability of urban areas and ecosystems.

As we've witnessed transplanting trees, it's important to recognize the role each one of us plays in maintaining our natural world.

By supporting conservation initiatives and making environmentally conscious choices, we contribute to the protection and longevity of these valuable assets.

So, the next time you encounter a tree being moved, remember the practicality and purpose behind the process. It's a task that ensures the continued presence of nature in our evolving world, allowing trees to thrive in new environments and continue benefiting our planet. In the larger context of environmental stewardship and planning for rural and urban areas, preparing trees for relocation is a vital task, where logistics and conservation come together to create a more sustainable future. Professional experts, like those at Hoffman & McNamara, play a crucial role in ensuring that the tree's experience from the nursery to its final home is as smooth and stress-free as possible to maximize its chances of survival and healthy growth in its new home.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the content of this advertorial, visit www.hoffmanandmcnamara.com.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

29

MNLA FOUNDATION

Thank You to each of you that have supported the MNLA Foundation over this last fiscal year, September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023. Your generous contributions enabled us to continue to provide research information, scholarships, and career outreach that supported the green industry in this region both now and into the future. Thank you for showing your dedication through your time and donations.

Individual and Company Donors A Lutz Designs BFG Supply Company Bumble Bee Landscaping LLC Carlin Horticultural Supplies Dayton Bag & Burlap Company Dulcet Fountains & Aeration, Inc. Eager Beaver Tree Service Ely Flower & Seed & Greenhouses Garden Tapestry Gertens Green Space LLC Holasek Flower Power Garden Center/Fred Holasek and Son, Inc. Irrigation by Design, Inc. Keenan & Sveiven, Inc. L&R Suburban Landscaping, Inc. Lange’s Nursery and Landscaping, Inc.

College Scholarship Sponsors

Magnolia Landscape & Design Co. Manley Gardening Mierow Landscapes Monrovia Nursery Company No Mow No Snow Landscapes, Inc. Northeast Tree Inc. Peterson’s North Branch Mill Precision Landscape & Irrigation Sailer’s Greenhouse LLC Shane’s Landscaping LLC Spade Construction, Inc. SPM LLC Superior Outdoor Services, LLC True Nature Design Waldoch Farm, Inc. Water in Motion, Inc. Yardcreations LLC

Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes Bailey Nurseries, Inc. biota Landscapes Gertens Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape Holasek Flower Power Garden Center Home Sown Gardens LLC Malmborg’s Garden Center & Greenhouse Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping Robin D. Linder Memorial Scholarship Southview Design Tangletown Gardens LLC Wilson’s Nursery, LLC

High School Grant Sponsors biota Landscapes Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and Landscape, Sarah and Mike McNamara

We’ve made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all lists. If your information is incorrect, please contact the MNLA office at 651-633-4987 or mnla@mnla.biz.

Contributors to the Workforce Development Partners Fund Many companies show their support by contributing ½ of 1% of their purchases at participating industry suppliers in the Partners Fund program. This investment in our industry’s future is greatly appreciated and directly benefits workforce development for your company.

Consider joining the Partners Fund program and help create a movement!

101 MARKET A TEAM LANDSCAPING INC. AALTO LANDSCAPING ABRAHAMSON NURSERIES ALOHA LANDSCAPING ANDREA ROADS LANDSCAPE DESIGN BABE’S BLOSSOMS BACHMAN’S INC. BACHMANS’S WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPE BAILEY NURSERIES, INC. BAKER GARDEN AND GIFT BARCK RESIDENTIAL LAWN & LDSP BEIER GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY BELT LINE PROPERTIES INC BERG’S NURSERY & LANDSCAPING, INC. BLOOMINGTON GDN CTR BLUE EARTH GARDENING, INC. 30

MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

BOB’S LAWN & LDSP BURDICK BUILDERS, INC. C JOHNSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN CHEROKEE MANUFACTURING LLC CHERRY GREENHOUSE CITY OF EDINA CITY OF SHOREVIEW CMT GROUP, INC. COOPER’S LANDSCAPING COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRYSIDE GARDENS, INC. CREATIVE CONCEPTS CONTRACTOR’S CREATIVE LAWN AND LANDSCAPES, INC. CROSS NURSERIES, INC. DAN DEVEREAUX LDSP GARDENER DENNIS LAMKIN DESIGN EARTHSTONE ENVIRONMENTS, INC. ELMORE NURSERY

ELY FLOWER AND SEED ESTES AND ASSOCIATES EUFLORIA LLC FABER MASONRY & LANDSCAPING FIEDLER LANDSCAPING FLAKNE’S EXTERIOR DESIGN/SCAPE CO FOX LANDSCAPING G & M TREE MOVING GARDEN EXPRESSIONS GARDEN TAPESTRY GARDENS OF RICE CREEK LLC GARTEN MARKETPLATZ GERTENS WHOLESALE AND PROFESSIONAL TURF SUPPLY GREEN ACRE PONDS GREEN BARN FARMS GARDEN CENTER, INC. GRIFFIN GARDENS

Improving the Environment

by Investing in Research and Education

1813 LEXINGTON AVE. N | ROSEVILLE, MN 55113 | 651-633-4987 | FAX 651-633-4986 | MNLA@MNLA.BIZ | WWW.MNLAFOUNDATION.COM

GTO LANDSCAPING HAGG COMPANIES, INC. HARICH NURSERIES HAY CREEK/PESTOP HELIOTROPE GARDEN DESIGN HIGHLAND NURSERY, INC. HOFFMAN & MCNAMARA NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE HOME SOWN GARDENS LLC IRRIGATION BY DESIGN, INC. JEFF REISINGER LAWN SVC, INC. JOHNSON CREEK, INC JUSTIN MALECHA LANDSCAPE DESIGN KARLS LANDSCAPE, INC. KEENAN & SVEIVEN, INC. KERKER, INC. KMB DESIGNS, INC. KNECHT’S NURSERIES & LANDSCAPE KOKESH LANDSCAPE LLC LAKES LANDSCAPE SERVICES LANDCRAFTERS, INC. LANDSCAPE GAL LLC LANDSCAPE RENOVATIONS, INC. LANDSCAPES PLUS LANDSPACE DESIGN, INC. LAWN RANGER OUTDOOR SERVICES LCI LANDSCAPES LILYDALE GARDEN CENTER LIVING SPACE LANDSCAPES, INC. LOWES CREEK TREE FARM LLC LYNDE GREENHOUSE & NURSERY, INC. MAJESTIC LAWN & LANDSCAPE MALMBORG’S GARDEN CENTER & GREENHOUSE MARVIN GARDENS MCGUIRE LANDSCAPING MICKMAN BROTHER, INC. MIDWEST GARDEN COMPANY MISSINNE GREENHOUSE & LANDSCAPE, INC. MOTHER EARTH GARDENS MOUNT OLIVET CHURCH NATURAL CREATIONS, INC. NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, INC. NATURE’S WAY LANDSCAPING, INC. NELSON NURSERY, INC. NORTHEAST TREE, INC. NORTHERN ARBORISTS NRD LANDSCAPE DESIGN INC. NURSERY WHOLESALERS OTTEN BROS. GARDEN CENTER & LANDSCAPING OUTDOOR DIMENSIONS LLC

PAL AL HARDWARE PARK RAPIDS FOREST & FLORAL GARDEN CENTER PARKWAY CONSTRUCTION PLANT-A-SCAPE LLC PLETSCHERS’ GREENHOUSE, INC. PROSPECT HILL R L REYNOLDS CONTRACTING, INC QUALITY NURSERY, INC. REDWOOD FALLS NURSERY, INC RICE LAKE GARDENS RIVER CREEK NURSERY, INC. RIVER ROAD GREENHOUSE ROCK SOLID RETAINING WALL RON BEINING ASSOC RUHLAND LANDSCAPING & DESIGN S&S LANDSCAPING SAILOR’S GREENHOUSE LLC SALINE LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN SARGENT’S LANDSCAPE NURSERY, INC. SCHALOW’S NURSERY, INC. SCHRADER ENTERPRISES LAWN/LDSP SCHULTE’S GREENHOUSE & NURSERY, INC. SCHUMACHER’S NURSERY & BERRY FARM, INC SOUTH CEDAR GREENHOUSES SPECTRUM LANDSCAPING STEVE’S HOME AND GARDEN REPAIR STICKS & STONES DESIGN STOCKMEN’S GREENHOUSE & GARDEN CENTER STONEPOCKET, INC SUZANNE JANSE-VREELING SWEDBERG NURSERY TANGLETOWN GARDENS LLC TCO LLC TERRAFORM CONST SERVICES, INC. THE LANDSCAPE PRO THE MUSTARD SEED TONKADALE, INC. TREE QUALITY UNITED BROTHERS LANDSCAPE VAN BUREN LANDSCAPE INC WAGNER GREENHOUSES WELLE NURSERY WILSON’S NURSERY, LLC WINONA NURSERY, INC. WINTER GREENHOUSE WALDOCH FARM, INC. WOLF LANDSCAPING WOOD-LUND ENVIRONMENTS YARDCREATIONS LLC

PARTNERS FUND

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY

You are also encouraged to participate in the Workforce Development Partners Fund at one of the participating suppliers recognized below! Your voluntary donation of ½ of 1% (0.5%) on your purchases is used by the MNLA Foundation to grow a brighter future for the industry. On an invoice totaling $1,000 at one of these suppliers, your contribution will be only $5.00.

Your individual contribution is small, but collectively adds up to make a real difference!

WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES

Your Trusted Partner

Research for the Real World

Career Development & Promotion

Scholarships JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

31

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WINE & SPIRITS

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Weigela florida ‘SMNWFGC’ PP#34,385; CBRAF

Spring Beauty | Colorful Foliage An update on our classic Wine & Roses® weigela, this hardy, vigorous variety combines even more dramatic dark foliage with crisp white-green flowers. A real showstopper in the landscape.

Available from Proven Winners ColorChoice growers www.provenwinners-shrubs.com ®

SPRING 3-5’ tall + wide

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

FOLIAGE

®

USDA 4-8

MEMB ER PROFILE

MNLA Member Profile: Amity Creek Landscaping

By Katie Mills Giorgio Company name: Amity Creek Landscaping of Duluth, Inc. Company location: Duluth, MN Company owner: Ron Davidson Year company was founded: 1982 Number of employees in peak season: 15 Areas served: Duluth, Northern MN and WI Type of business: Landscape Design and Installation, Tree, Shrub, and Perennial Maintenance Ron Davidson isn’t sure he’s landscaped every yard in Duluth, but he’s pretty sure he’s probably at least done an estimate on doing work in nearly every yard in the city. Having grown up in Duluth, Davidson, who owns Amity Creek Landscaping, has deep roots in the community and beautifying it. “There’s a picture of me planting a tree in the late 80s, and then there’s another photo of a huge tree that I’m standing under and it’s the same tree,” said Davidson, when we chatted with him to learn more about what keeps Amity Creek going after more than four decades in business. Read on to find out more about how the company approaches offering landscape design and installation services as well as maintenance to a loyal group of customers in and around Duluth.

Q. Tell us about how Amity Creek Landscaping got its start in the community.

A. “One of the things I laugh and tell people about is that my grandfather and my father were both loggers in northern

Minnesota. So I say I became a landscaper to balance things out.

I started putting things back in the ground where they were cutting things down. The company started in 1982 and then after about 20 years we decided to split it into two different companies. Then I officially bought Amity Creek in 2004. So we are now in our 20th season. And one of the neat things about when you’ve been in business as long as I have been is that I’ve now had the opportunity to landscape at my elementary school, my high school, and my college. I really feel a connection to so many places I’ve done landscaping work when I drive around town.”

Q. Tell us a little about your business operations and what you are proud of.

A. “Our mission statement is that we try to provide a high quality installation for a fair profit and then we take those profits and invest them into the business so that our employees have the proper tools and safe equipment to work with. And we advertise by word of mouth. After many years of being in business, we don’t have to look for work. Work finds us and that relates to doing quality work for a fair price for the customer.

We are a full service landscaping company, and we do landscape maintenance, not mowing lawns, but trees, shrubs and perennial gardens.

We have 100-plus accounts where we visit three times a year.

And some of our customers we have had for decades, so long that we have relandscaped them several times as landscaping evolves and changes. I don’t know where all the time went.

All photos in this article courtesy of Amity Creek Landscaping

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

33

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AARON TRETTER, CLCS T: 651.635.2770 | F: 651.638.9762 1970 Oakcrest Avenue Suite #300 Roseville, MN 55113 www.maguireagency.com

Sales (763) 307-2800 | Parts (952) 658-7430 | Rental (763) 307-2819 Three Locations To Serve You - Anoka, Loretto & Shakopee

MEMB ER PROFILE

But it’s a nice thing. Sometimes when somebody sells their home, we get sold with it. The new homeowner will call and say, ‘hey, you did our landscaping and our yard looks so nice and we want to work with you too.’ We get transferred over to the new owner and we’re happy to do that.”

Q. What else is important in running your business?

A. “We promote that we use the highest quality products. So we might not necessarily be the least expensive, but we take pride in that we’re going to give you the highest quality that we can.

We offer warranties and we honor them. We’re one of the few companies in the Duluth area because of our tough conditions that offer hardscaping warranties for a couple years. If there’s any major settling or shifting we will repair it at no charge to the customer. We also offer warranties on our trees and shrubs and a lot of times if there’s a plant that isn’t looking good then we’ll replace it before the customer even calls us. As I mentioned, Duluth is a tough spot to work. It’s red clay with steep hills by Lake Superior so everything moves that direction. One of our challenges here is working in those tough conditions and coming up with solutions for our customers to give them a nice yard but also make it a nice safe environment for them with proper drainage”.

Q. What else sets you all apart in the industry?

A. “I think one of the biggest things is that we will do an installation and then if the customer wants we will maintain that installation. We spend less time looking for new customers because we have retained those customers and have been with them for so long. And we do travel for customers, so I get to work on some very unique properties in the North Woods and on the shoreline of Lake Superior. I’ve gotten to see a lot of things that I probably wouldn’t have been able to see if I wasn’t in this industry.”

Q. What shifts in the industry have you seen over the years?

A. “I think one trend we are seeing is that people are into more native landscapes and not as many formal gardens and such.

And so we’ve evolved and changed into that as the customer base has asked for different things. People want native plants and things that don’t require as much maintenance. Because of the pandemic, more people have paid more attention to their yards while they spend more time at home, too. Usually our stock is sold out in August but during those pandemic years we were sold out by the end of June.”

Q. How is your company involved with MNLA?

Q. You mentioned tough working conditions. So, how do you approach human resources?

A. “One of the things that I would have to say is the most important is having a good staff. I’m fortunate that I have a son and a daughter that came back to work with the business. But we also have a good bookkeeper. And I’ve got good crew leaders and other employees. They all deserve the credit. It’s the whole company from the top to the bottom that makes it successful, not necessarily just who’s on top or a few people with licenses.

Each piece of the puzzle is important or it’s left unfinished. And also I have decent retention of employees even though we’re seasonal because we’re fair to our employees. We don’t work weekends. Overtime is optional. And like I said, the profits go back into the business so that we have better tools and proper equipment to do the job safely and effectively.”

A. “Well, like I said, I have been around for a long time. I am one of the MNLA Fellows and I am proud to say I have established a 25 year membership. MNLA is great because it’s a gathering of all the minds and ideas and rules and regulations and things that the industry has to pay attention to. It’s a wonderful tool for changes that some of us might not notice. And the licensing offered is important to show that employees are knowledgeable and professional. I think that it is of real importance to show customers that you’re following the rules and the regulations and that you are knowledgeable in your trade.”

Interested in being profiled in The Scoop? Our writer is always looking for a good story. Email brianna@mnla.biz to be considered for inclusion.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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PL A NT HA R D I NE S S

USDA Releases Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map This is the fourth iteration of this resource since it was first published in 1960.

By Dr. James Calkins, Research Information Director

iStock.com/vvvita

On November 15, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new, updated version of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM). This resource is the standard for determining if landscape plants are likely to be cold-hardy in a particular area. The map was first introduced 63 years ago in 1960 (www.tinyurl.com/45j8whuj). The map is a familiar and important resource for quantifying the cold hardiness of plants for the development and selection of new landscape plants by nursery stock growers and garden centers, for government agencies that certify and regulate the sale of landscape plants, and for the landscaping public. The map is also used to predict the potential spread of invasive plants and plant pests. The updated 2023 version of the map replaces the 2012 map and, like the 2012 map, is based on minimum winter

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

PL ANT HA RDINESS

temperature data collected over 30 years (1991-2020). The 1990 map was based on a shorter timeframe – only 13 years (19741986). The new, 2023 version of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS; the USDA’s primary scientific in-house research agency) in partnership with the Oregon State University (OSU) PRISM Climate Group (www.prism.oregonstate.edu/) using a highly sophisticated climate mapping technology called PRISM developed at Oregon State University.

USDA

As was the case for the 2012 map when two new zones were added on the warmer end of the average minimum winter temperature scale (Zones 12 and 13), the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map includes 13 plant hardiness zones across the United States and its territories based on the average minimum winter temperatures recorded at weather stations over the 30 years used to develop the map (1991-2020). Each plant hardiness zone represents a 10-degree Fahrenheit (F) spread of average minimum winter temperatures and is divided further into half zones (5-degree zones) “a” and “b” with the a-zone being the warmer 5-degree zone and the b-zone being the colder 5-degree zone. For example, Zones 3 (-30 to -40 °F), 4 (-20 to -30 °F), and 5 (-10 to -20 °F) are found in Minnesota

based on the new 2023 map including Zone 3a (-35 to -40 °F), 3b (-30 to -35 °F), 4a (-25 to -30 °F), 4b (-20 to -25 °F), and 5a (-15 to -20 °F). Note that while the area designated as Zone 5 in Minnesota has increased significantly for many areas across southern Minnesota and in the Twin Cities metropolitan area compared to what it was on the 2012 map, Zone 5b the warmer half of Zone 5is not currently found in Minnesota.

Plant Hardiness Zones 1-11 quantify the average minimum winter temperatures that are found in the continental United States, including Alaska (average minimum winter temperatures between 50 and -60 °F), while Zones 12 and 13 (average minimum winter temperatures of 50 to 60 °F and 60 to 70 °F, respectfully), are only found in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

For a variety of reasons, including the use of an expanded temperature database and improved methods like computerbased geographic information system (GIS) technology, the accuracy and detail of the more recent versions of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone maps has improved significantly. The temperature data is more accurate relative to geography because of the addition of data from more weather stations (data from 13,625 weather stations for the 2023 map compared to 7,983 weather stations for the 2012 map) and the impacts of other factors like heat islands created by cities, differences

Figure 1. Updated 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the United States (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/)

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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PL A NT HA R D INE S S

in elevation, and water bodies that sometimes remain open during the winter. As a result, the mapping’s resolution has been improved such that the hardiness zones’ boundaries are more detailed and smaller, and isolated areas representing the individual zones can be delineated.

It is important to remember that USDA plant hardiness zones are based on average minimum winter temperatures and not absolute minimum temperatures (i.e., the lowest temperatures experienced in these geographic areas during the 30 years of temperature data used to create the map) and should only be used as a guide for selecting and growing woody and herbaceous perennials based on cold hardiness. Winter temperatures, including minimum winter temperatures, vary widely, and temperatures that are significantly colder than the average minimum winter temperatures that define the USDA plant hardiness zones have been experienced in the past and may be experienced in future years. Plants that are generally considered cold hardy for a particular zone, and have survived multiple winters, can be damaged or killed during an abnormally cold winter. In addition, and as nursery and landscape professionals are well aware, many factors besides cold hardiness, individually

and in combination, can influence plant performance and survival including plant quality, soil conditions, planting technique, light conditions, water availability, heat tolerance, in addition to many other factors.

In general, compared to the 2012 plant hardiness zone map, the updated 2023 map indicates that the minimum winter temperatures for the conterminous United States have increased (gotten warmer) for about half of the mapped area resulting in a map that is about 2.5 °F warmer (one-quarter-zone warmer) than the 2012 map and a concomitant shift up to the next warmer half zone for these areas, while the rest of the mapped area has remained in the same half zone. As a general rule, the central plains and the Midwest have warmed the most while the Southwest has warmed very little. Alaska is also notably warmer than it was on the 2012 map, mainly because the updated 2023 map uses more data representing the state’s mountainous regions.

Although it may be tempting to do so, it should be noted that the shifts of some areas into warmer zones on the 2023 plant hardiness zone map compared to the 2012 map are not

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Figure 2. Updated 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the North Central Region of the United States (NC_reg_HS_300.png (2550×3300) (usda.gov), https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/system/files/NC_reg_HS_300.png)

Figure 3. Updated 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the state of Minnesota (MN300_HS.png (2550×3300) (usda.gov), https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/system/ files/MN300_HS.png)

necessarily a consequence of climate change and should not be used as indicators of climate change according to the experts who developed the 2023 map. Minimum winter temperatures are too variable to draw such conclusions and the use of increasingly sophisticated mapping methods and the addition of data from many more weather stations are cited as cautionary reasons to avoid such attributions. The modeling of climate change is more accurately based on trends in across-the-board temperature averages and timeframes that are longer than 30 years (50 to 100 years and more).

individual plant species hasn’t changed, and the temperatures used to define the USDA plant hardiness zones haven’t changed.

Instead, it is the average minimum winter temperatures for some geographic areas in Minnesota and across the country that have changed over time compared to the historical minimum winter temperature averages that have defined previous hardiness zone maps. Although some areas may be in a cooler zone compared to their status on the 2012 map, for most areas where the plant hardiness zone has changed, the average minimum winter temperature has increased (gotten warmer) by about 2.5 °F, shifting these areas into a warmer zone by a half zone. For example, much of the Twin Cities metropolitan area has shifted from Zone 4b (-20 to -25 °F) to Zone 5a (-15 to -20 °F), which is 5 °F warmer in terms of minimum average winter temperatures, based on the 2023 plant hardiness zone map compared to the 2012 map. Perhaps the biggest impact of this change from a nursery and landscape perspective, aside from any negative impacts that may result from a warmer climate, is that a broader palette of plants can be grown, sold, and planted in designed landscapes. Desirable landscape plants that have

Nursery and landscape professionals and the gardening public may be wondering if any implications might be associated with the release of the updated, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Most importantly, the updated map provides a more accurate representation of the plant hardiness zones for the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico which will benefit horticultural practitioners and the public. Although the plant hardiness zone for a specific area may have changed (i.e., moved into a warmer zone), the inherent cold hardiness of

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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historically been suitable for planting in landscapes in Iowa and parts of southern and southeastern Wisconsin but were not reliably cold-hardy in Minnesota can now be considered for planting in areas that are now designated Zone 5a in the state because they are more likely to survive the winter, and this change may result in an expanded market for growers and sellers of landscape plants and more choices for the landscaping public.

Finally, while the updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shouldn’t impact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Cold Hardiness List (www.tinyurl.com/345u6ndc), which is used to identify false or misleading USDA cold hardiness zone labeling of woody plants and herbaceous perennials offered for sale in Minnesota as required under Section 18H.14 (www. tinyurl.com/ya2jutrx) of the Minnesota Nursery Law (www. tinyurl.com/3696d65m), it may complicate inspections by the MDA given the expanded and sometimes scattered areas that are now classified as Zone 5a in the state. The MNLA will be consulting with the MDA to confirm this assumption.

Citations USDA Agricultural Research Service – Research News. 2023. USDA Unveils Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Accessed from www. tinyurl.com/45j8whuj.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Accessed from www. planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.

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.

MNLA Certified Professional Fellows

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The new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is available online at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ and may be downloaded and used so long as attribution is provided. The map is available

as an interactive, user-friendly, GIS-based map that can be navigated by clicking on the map or zip code with a broadband Internet connection and as static images for those with slower Internet access. In addition to the updated plant hardiness zones, the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website has been expanded to include a “Tips for Growers” section, which provides information about USDA ARS research programs of interest to gardeners and other plant enthusiasts.

F E L L O W

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.

• 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.

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EMPLOYEE TU RNOVER

iStock.com/fullvalue

How to End Voluntary Employee Turnover on Your Snow Crew Reprinted with permission from LMN.

Finding and keeping snow crews is a top challenge for snow removal businesses. 84% of businesses surveyed for the LMN Landscaping Industry Trends Report 2023 said they struggle to find and keep qualified labor.

Why Voluntary Employee Turnover Is a Challenge for Snow Companies Seasonal businesses struggle with turnover. The seasonal nature of the snow and ice management business is no exception.

Higher turnover stems from lower wages, fewer incentives, and a high number of available jobs. Voluntary snow crew turnover isn’t just inconvenient for snow removal business owners. It hurts crew leads, office staff, and customers too.

other work in summer. That turnover interrupts operations. It also requires virtually constant recruiting and training, which carries a cost and burden for the company.

Crew leads are left scrambling to hire and train new employees.

The business faces impacts on quality, efficiency, and safety as well as customer satisfaction. An effective way to address the turnover challenge is to create a bonus system that not only attracts seasonal workers but keeps them engaged and committed for the long term.

•

The Turnover Problem Snow and ice management companies struggle with high crew turnover. And the seasonal nature of snow work makes it hard to keep people on staff from year to year. Many workers look for

Bonuses as a Solution to Turnover Bonuses are a game-changer for voluntary employee turnover at snow removal businesses. Bonuses both incentivize employees to stay and positively impact the company by contributing to:

• •

•

Improved safety: Bonuses inspire employees to feel invested in the company’s success, which makes them more likely to prioritize safety and avoid accidents and downtime.

Better quality: Bonuses motivate staff to pay attention to detail and provide high-quality service to clients.

Greater efficiency: Bonuses encourage employees to be more efficient, which reduces downtime and ensures each job is done right and well.

Reduced turnover: Employees who see the potential for added income from a bonus and are more likely to stay on.

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•

How to Create a Successful Employee Bonus Program for Your Snow Crew in 4 Steps Here’s how a snow removal business can create an effective bonus program that both attracts and retains seasonal snow crew members.

1. Empower Employees as Entrepreneurs To build a turnover-resistant snow and ice management team, start by creating a work environment where employees feel they’re working for themselves and for a team goal. This means creating an environment where everyone feels heard, feels safe, and can actively contribute to setting and contributing to company goals.

Three keys to empowering employees: • Open communication: Encourage employees to voice their ideas and concerns. Make them feel heard and valued. Don’t penalize employees who speak up.

• Goal setting: Involve employees in setting company goals.

When staff have a say in the direction of the company, they feel a stronger sense of ownership.

• Ownership mentality: Instill a sense of ownership in your employees. When they feel like they’re running their own business, they naturally become more engaged and invested in the company’s success.

2. Pay for Performance, Not Just Hours Worked Incentivizing staff with bonuses tied to individual and company success is a powerful motivator. Set up a system where bonuses are part of employee pay and reflect performance not just hours logged. Paying only for hours worked penalizes your most productive employees — the very ones most likely to turn over.

Key ways to create a bonus system that pays for performance: • Link bonuses to sales goals: Have a clear sales goal and a specific percentage of sales dedicated to field wages. If crews exceed their production goals without overspending on wages (as a percentage of total revenue), give them a bonus.

• Shorten the reward timeline: Consider paying bonuses each month or a quarter, rather than once a year. This helps keep employees motivated and engaged all year long.

•

3. Use a Measurement System To make your bonus system effective, use a measurement system that defines success, tracks it, and encourages employees to go beyond the status quo.

Here’s how to do that: • Tie measurement to bonuses: Clearly define the key performance indicators (KPIs) you use to evaluate employee performance. Make sure they directly align with the bonus system.

• Use tools: Consider using a software tool, like LMN, to easily identify top-performing employees and reward them.

A tool makes the process of tracking performance easy.

A tool, like LMN, also lets you access accurate, current spending data on sales and field wages so you know at any time whether you’re tracking to meet, beat or fall short of your sales goals.

iStock.com/lucadp

An effective way to address the turnover challenge is to create a bonus system that not only attracts seasonal workers but keeps them engaged and committed for the long term.

Practice transparency: Make sure everyone understands the bonus program and how it works and can track their progress toward it. Transparency builds trust and creates motivation.

Be inclusive: Make sure all employees — from shovelers to supervisors — earn bonuses. Being inclusive creates a sense of fairness and encourages everyone to contribute to the company’s success.

4. Use a Business Management Software A good landscape business management software simplifies creating and managing a bonus program. It can make developing crews and processes to run and grow your business simple, including creating and managing a bonus program to reduce turnover, virtually effortless.

Create and Manage an Operating Budget Having an operating budget makes planning for bonuses more manageable. By understanding your financials, you can effectively allocate resources to support your bonus system.

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EMPLOYEE TU RNOVER

Your budget sets the basic expectations for the company: • What you need to sell • How many hours you have to complete the work • Your overhead expense limits • A plan for company profit.

Know and Use Your Labor Ratio Landscape business management software like LMN lets you determine the profitable field labor ratio needed to support sales goals and your bonus system. This keeps your bonus program financially sustainable.

When field, office and management staff pull together and beat the baseline expectations for sales and profit, everyone can share in the rewards.

Foremen who drive more production (sales) can be paid more.

And when crews beat sales goals, what was overhead can be paid as bonuses without impacting profits.

Your operating budget outlines your plan for profit and, in turn, becomes a system to set up an effective bonus program.

Access Job Costing and Crew Management Software can provide job costing and crew management tools that track and report on the information needed to manage and run a successful bonus program to help reduce voluntary employee turnover.

Create a Budget-Based Pricing System Use your budget to set profitable sales goals and an overhead recovery system to price your work. Your operating budget gives you the information you need to set up a profitable and effective bonus system.

Your budget lets you determine: • What you need to sell • How many labor hours you have to do the work (your productivity rate) • What your equipment, material, and subcontractor budgets are • An overhead budget • A target net profit • A pricing system based on your budgeted overhead and net profit Use your pricing system to price all work. This lets you ensure your pricing covers costs, overhead, profit, and bonuses!

Job costing lets you see which jobs are on track to return a profit or not and correct course before you lose money. It also lets you track job costs by materials, equipment, and labor to reduce wasteful spending. Money not wasted can go into crew bonuses.

Crew management tools let you reduce wasted drive time, maximize crew capacity, and quickly and easily track labor hours to the minute — no paperwork, no guesswork. You can see crew productivity in real-time at a glance and reward performance.

Bottom Line By implementing a well-structured, measurable pay-forperformance bonus system snow removal companies can build a resilient and motivated team that sticks around and contributes to greater long-term success.

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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EVERY DIG. EVERY TIME. Buried utilities have the potential to be at any depth below the ground’s surface.

Click or call Gopher State One Call (GSOC) at least 48 hours in advance (not including weekends and holidays) of when you plan to dig. And remember – ALWAYS check yard markings and GSOC's positive response ticket status before you break ground.

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MNLA.BIZ | JANUARY 2024

Learn more and file free locate requests at GopherStateOneCall.org.

2023 GREEN INDUSTRY DAY ON THE HILL Thursday, March 2nd

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 Continental Breakfast • 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 by 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:

JANUARY 2024 | MNLA.BIZ

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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.

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

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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 | JANUARY 2024

minnesota turf and grounds foundation

iStock.com/elinedesignservices

JAPANE SE BEETLE

IPM Tactics to Reduce Insecticide Use and Manage Japanese Beetles in Lawns

Vera Krischik, Cody Prouty, Carrie Deans, Kyle Murley, Annabeth Johnson, and Ronan Keener, University of Minnesota

Biocontrol of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) with a native, soil-inhabiting pathogen The Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota is studying the use of a native soil-inhabiting pathogen called Ovavesicula populliae as a biological control for Japanese beetles. First discovered in Connecticut in the early 1990s, so far, this pathogen has been found to only kill Japanese beetles.

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JAPA NES E B E E TL E

Using an insect (parasitic wasp or a predatory insect) or a pathogen to kill an insect is called biological control, which is sustainable once the biocontrol agent is established in the landscape. Biocontrol agents are searched for in the invasive insect pests’ original or introduced landscapes. If the biocontrol agent is found to be host-specific, it is reared and released into the landscape to manage the pests and it becomes established and sustainable, managing the pest year after year. USDAsponsored programs use biocontrol by pathogens, such as the fungus Entomophaga maimaiga and the spongy moth NPV virus for managing spongy moth (Lymantria dispar, formerly called gypsy moth). The emerald ash borer is partially managed by parasitic wasps found in the emerald ash borer in Asia. They are then reared and released in the US.

the soil, and feed on grass roots. Grubs can be identified to species by the pattern of hairs on their brown hind ends (raster).

Using a 10-power hand lens, you can see that the hairs on the raster of a Japanese beetle form a small “V” shape just below the anal slit. Look for grubs in green areas, not brown irregularly shaped areas. Round spots in turf are not indicative of Japanese beetle grub feeding but are more likely fungal pathogens.

Japanese beetle females lay eggs in green, lush, irrigated turf and avoid dry turf.

How to tell if you have Japanese beetle grubs

University of Minnesota

There are a number of related beetles in the family Scarabaeidae that feed on the roots of grasses. In Minnesota, the Japanese beetle is the worst pest, so it is important to identify species in early development stages as the life cycle and management vary by species.

Grub rastral patterns are used for identification. The hind end of the grub, its raster, contains sutures with hairs. Japanese beetle has a small “V” shape suture with hairs.

Clockwise from top are rasters of Japanese beetle, masked chafer, May/June beetle, black turfgrass Ataenius.

Cultural Tactics

The above diagram is the life cycle of a Japanese beetle in Minnesota. Adults emerge in late June to mid-September and feed on leaves to acquire protein and sugars necessary for egg development. The beetles’ feeding causes the plant to release “green volatiles” that attract more Japanese beetles. When it starts to get dark, a chemical in the Japanese beetle is produced that stops feeding and causes male and female Japanese beetles to fly to blue-green, healthy grass to lay eggs, avoiding yellow, under-fertilized, and droughty turf.

A management program consists of identifying grubs to species, determining grub numbers, timing pesticide application to smaller grubs (if necessary), and monitoring the treated area for results. Japanese beetle larvae, or grubs, are “C” shaped, live in

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We are establishing a biocontrol agent, the Ovavesicula pathogen, to sustainably manage the Japanese beetle for years to come. However, until the pathogen is common, cultural and pesticide tactics will still be needed to manage Japanese beetle adults and grubs.

Cultural Tactic 1: On your favorite plants, cut out the beetle damage with a scissor or pruner, thus stopping the plant from making green volatiles that attract Japanese beetles for feeding. You cannot do this to large plants like apples, lindens, and grapes. The only recourse is hand-picking or using insecticides. Grape and rose growers have used Japanese beetle traps hung just off the ground to attract Japanese beetles that are then eaten by chickens or guinea fowl.

•

Insecticide Tactic Adults: Insecticides containing cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, or esfenvalerate (pyrethroids).

JAPANESE BEETLE

•

•

Do not use systemic neonicotinoids that kill both good and bad insects. Systemic means that the insecticide is moved from the roots to pollen and nectar in clover flowers in lawns, and these insecticides have the potential to kill bees.

Do not use organic insecticides containing Milky spore bacteria, neem oil, soaps, and oils that will not kill Japanese beetle grubs.

Cultural Tactic 2: Stop watering the grass and allow it to go dormant in July and August when Japanese beetle females are looking for blue-green grass to lay eggs. Start watering again in September.

• •

•

Insecticide Tactic Grubs: Insecticides containing chlorantranilliprole, such as Scotts GrubEX are the best for managing Japanese beetle grubs.

Do not use systemic neonicotinoids.

Do not use insecticides containing the active ingredient trichlorofon (trade name Dylox) as the insecticide does not dissolve well in the alkaline water found in Minnesota.

Do not use organic insecticides containing Milky spore bacteria, neem oil, soaps, and oils that will not kill Japanese beetle grubs.

iStock.com/Liudmila Chernetska

•

iStock.com/mtreasure

Using these two behaviors outlined above is called “cultural management” as you are changing maintenance practices instead of using insecticides.

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JAPA NES E B E E TL E

Organic compared to conventional insecticides Many people think that if a product says “organic” it is safer for them, safer for the environment, and effectively kills grubs.

None of these are true. For instance, Milky spore bacterial disease sold as an organic product does not work and neither does neem oil, soaps, and oils.Organic products sold for adult Japanese beetle management that contain pyrethrins are just as toxic as insecticides, and synthetic pyrethroids kill both bad and good bugs.

Insecticides to manage Japanese beetle grubs and adults Use Scotts GrubEx from August to mid-October to kill Japanese beetle grubs. After that, grubs move down vertically in the soil to overwinter. Grubs feed again in May and June and then turn into brown pupae, the stage that reorganizes the body from a grub into an adult. You can use Scotts GrubEx (active ingredient chlorantranilliprole) when grubs are still feeding in May. Only apply GrubEx if you find lots of grubs. GrubEx kills good and bad bugs in the soil, so using it without the presence of Japanese beetle grubs will cause more pest problems from bad insects.

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For adult Japanese beetles, use insecticides containing pyrethroids. At present, only professional applicators can purchase the insecticide chlorantraniliprole that is in Scotts GrubEx to control adult Japanese beetles, but that will change in the future.

Supported by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) Conservation Biocontrol 2017-2020

Dr. Vera Krischik is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota and can be reached at krisc001@umn.edu.

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