The Scoop Online - April 2017

Preserving Pollinators: An IPM Perspective

Also Inside

Lessons from Reality TV

Out & About Landscape Awards Word on the Street

SHOWCASING THE GREEN INDUSTRY The MNLA office landscape undergoes a transformation

Vol: 40 No: 4 Apr 2017 T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S O TA N U R S E R Y & L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N

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Volume 40 No. 4 Apr 2017

CONTENTS 14

64 47

IN THIS ISSUE 8

Events

10 Showcasing the Green Industry at the MNLA Office Cassie Larson details the goals of the landscape project at MNLA headquarters.

59

14 Current Emerald Ash Borer News Faith Appelquist considers the various facets of the story of this most important of tree pests.    

19 Lessons Learned from Reality TV Though the value of reality television may not be obvious, here are several key takeaways for green industry businesses. 

22 Preserving Pollinators: An IPM Perspective Kent Honl describes how applying the principles of IPM can compound the positive effects in a beautiful, resilient landscape. 

38 BMPs for Bee Health The Horticultural Research Institute issued these recommendations for greenhouse and nursery production and landscape management. 

47 Urban Soil Assessment and Reuse, Part I James Urban points out how critical it is to learn how to understand the site conditions before starting the design.  

59 Monitor the Pulse of Your Seasonal Business Tracking the progress of a seasonal landscape business is trickier than many others.   Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design  Garden Services & Landscape Management  Garden Centers  Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse  Irrigation & Water Management  Arborists & Tree Services  All

27 Day on the Hill Recap Visiting with legislators and making positive connections was the story from the State Capitol.

33 New Minnesota Noxious Weeds 12 new species have been added to the List.

54 Landscaping Businesses Deserve a Place in Minneapolis Jason Rathe weighs in as Minneapolis debates its 20-Year Comprehensive Plan.

56 DOL Debuts Helpful Web Tools The new resources are aimed at stopping the misclassification of workers as independent contractors.

62 In Memoriam Gen McCarthy, former co-executive director of MNLA for 19 years, passed away in February.

64 Landscape Awards Winners, Part III of III Our final showcase of the top projects from the Landscape Awards Program.

70 Word on the Street What is the best idea you heard at Northern Green?

The Scoop, April 2017, Issue 4, is issued monthly, 12 times per year.

All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2017, 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. When submitting an article, please contact the publisher at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987.

MNLA reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.

april 17

MNLA .biz

5

AD LIST MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here!

1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org

MISSION: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A Top Notch Equipment ................................................................................... 50 Arborjet ............................................................................................................ 16 Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate .............................................................. 24 Borgert Products, Inc. ....................................................................................... 45 Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus ..................................................... 16 Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 44 Central Wood Products .................................................................................... 31 County Materials Corporation .......................................................................... 48

herman roerick, president

COWSMO, INC. ............................................................................................... 52

scott frampton, vice-president

D. Hill Nursery Co. ............................................................................................ 46

tim malooly, cid, clia, cic, secretary-treasurer

Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 48

Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601 • hermanr@centrallandscape.com Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com

randy berg, mnla-cp

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

matt mallas

Hedberg Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@hedbergaggregates.com

mike mcnamara

Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com

john o'reilly

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

jeff pilla, mnla-cp

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

nick sargent

Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com

cassie larson, cae

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

Cushman Motor Co. Inc ................................................................................... 53 Dayton Bag & Burlap ........................................................................................ 40 Ferguson Waterworks ....................................................................................... 52 Fury Motors ...................................................................................................... 49 Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply .................................................. 2 GM Fleet and Commercial ................................................................................. 3 Gopher State One-Call ..................................................................................... 53 Haag Companies, Inc. ...................................................................................... 26 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies .......................................................... 4 Hiway Federal Credit Union ............................................................................. 17 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 36–37 Kahnke Brothers Tree Farm .............................................................................. 16 Klaus Nurseries ................................................................................................. 40 Landscape Alternatives .................................................................................... 52 Midwest Groundcovers, LLC. ........................................................................... 32 Midwest Transmission Center / DBA Clutch & U-joint Proven Force ............... 40 Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 50 Plaisted Companies ............................................................................................ 7 Prairie Restorations, Inc. ................................................................................... 55

STAFF DIRECTORY

executive director:

RDO Equipment Co. ........................................................................................ 61

membership director & trade show manager:

Resultants for Business, Inc. (RFB) .................................................................... 24

Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz communications dir.: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz education/cert. manager: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz Government Affairs Dir.: Alicia Munson • alicia@mnla.biz

regulatory affairs manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz administrative asst.: Gayle Anderson • gayle@mnla.biz accountant: Kris Peterson • kris@mnla.biz foundation program coordinator: Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz

advertising sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420

Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com legislative affairs consultant: Doug Carnival

6

Volume 40 No. 4 Apr 2017

➾ G OS C

MNLA .biz

april 17

Rock Hard Landscape Supply ........................................................................... 40 S & S Tree and Horticultural Specialists ............................................................ 13 Snowfighters Institute ....................................................................................... 13 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ............................................................................ 18, 43, 58 Truck Utilities, Inc. ............................................................................................. 50 Unilock ............................................................................................................. 57 Versa-Lok Midwest ..................................................................................... 25, 63 Wheeler Landscape Supply .............................................................................. 21 Xcel Energy ...................................................................................................... 51 Ziegler CAT ......................................................................................... Back Cover

➾ C ALE N DAR

MNLA Event MNLA Event

PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP ONLY

➾

Roseville Oval Roseville

CULTIVATE 17 Columbus, OH Cultivate17.org Cultivate is the premier national event for horticulture professionals.

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MNLA .biz

april 17

MNLA Event

APR7 URBAN TREE WALKING TOUR

MNLA.biz

Minneapolis

Prepare for the Category A & E Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam by attending this 1½ day training only program. This workshop does not include an exam and is for those applicants who desire training and time to study before taking the exam.

MNLA.biz

MNLA Event

JUL 15–18

APR12 ➾

APR5–6

MNLA.biz This webinar by Sam Bauer will discuss factors to consider in reducing water use in the landscape including management practices and soil improvement, auditing and installing technology for in-ground systems, and drought tolerant lawn grasses.

This guided walking tour will highlight the good and bad of urban tree performance, planting, and maintenance.

MNLA Event

WEBINAR: IRRIGATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALTHY LAWNS AND WATER SAVINGS

MNLA Event

MNLA Event

JUL18

JUL25

AUG3

AUG9

MNLA FOUNDATION GARDEN TOUR AND PARTY

MNLA FOUNDATION WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT

GARDEN CENTER TOUR

LANDSCAPE DESIGN TOUR

MNLA.biz

MNLA.biz

Noerenberg Gardens and Private Gardens, Wayzata

Phalen Golf Course, St. Paul

MNLA.biz

MNLA.biz

This year’s event includes a tour highlighting the historic Lake Minnetonka, and its private and public gardens.

Join your fellow Hackers for Horticulture at the 27th Annual Widmer Golf Tournament.

Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Research Fund.

MNLA’s annual tour features a tour of several garden center locations.

It’s great fun to network with peers and take away great ideas to implement at your own garden center location.

Join us as we travel by coach bus and tour several amazing landscapes designed by our own MNLA members. It’s sure to inspire you!

2017 MNLA seminars generously supported by:

SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS • PARTS

MNLA Event MNLA Event

➾

APR19 WEBINAR: 10 TOP ANNUAL PERFORMERS MNLA.biz In this webinar, Steve Poppe will discuss the top annual performers at the University of Minnesota Morris West Central Research and Outreach Center.

We want to celebrate our awesome members with a full day of fun.

Stop by the MNLA Office in the morning for donuts and in the afternoon for ice cream.

Then, join us for an evening at CHS Field in St. Paul to watch the Saint Paul Saints take on the Wichita Wingnuts.

JUN15

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND INSTALLATION (PLT Relicensure) — Pending DOLI Approval

MNLA AND MTGF PROFESSIONAL LAWN CARE WORKSHOP

➾

TROE Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul MNLA.biz This outdoor event takes place at the Minnesota Turfgrass Research, Outreach and Education Center — approximately 10 acres of turfgrass research. See first-hand what is new in turfgrass research, and learn about the emerging trends in lawn care.

MNLA.biz This class provides eight hours (2 hours of code, 6 hours of technical training) of continuing education requirements for the Power Limited Training Licensure, with material orientated specifically towards the landscape lighting specialist.

MNLA Event

MNLA Event

AUG23 MNLA.biz

APR27

MNLA Classroom, Roseville

MNLA Event

MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY

MNLA Event

SEPT20

AUG23 ➾

SAINTS GAME

➾

MNLA.biz

Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club, Prior Lake

3rd Annual MNLA Night at the Saints Game. We have reserved the Star Tribune Skybox for our group — Includes dinner and a reserved seat ticket.

MNLA.biz

Sponsors: KEY:

Event Education

➾

All information on these and other industry events are online at MNLA.biz.

MNLA FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT

Don’t miss this annual sporting clays charity event that raises money for scholarships!

The course runs at a beginner’s level — the focus is on fun. Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Scholarship Fund.

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MNLA .biz

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➾ F R OM THE EXECUTIVE DI R EC TO R

Showcasing the Green Industry at the MNLA Office The History: Why are we undertaking this project? A few years back, the MNLA Board of Directors considered purchasing a different building to accommodate the desire to have indoor classroom space as well as an outdoor learning lab for members. For many reasons, this purchase did not come to fruition and was ultimately the right decision at the time.

Cassie Larson

MNLA Executive Director

However, the desire to have a learning space (both internal and external) that belonged to the membership continued to exist. Therefore, the Board decided that perhaps the internal and external resources on our current property could be more efficiently utilized. During the 2015 calendar year, a task team was commissioned and completed an interior renovation of the building that included an indoor classroom/meeting space. But the outdoor parking lot and landscape improvements were deemed a phase 2 project. We’ve now reached phase 2! So, the Board has commissioned a task team to explore the possibilities that existed that would more effectively use the outdoor footprint.

The task team will oversee the creation of a comprehensive exterior site plan for the MNLA office property. The scope of the project will include parking lot improvements, landscape plantings, outdoor meeting space, new signage, irrigation system, landscape lighting and possibly other features.

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The Goals/Wish List

The desire and goal is to create a highly functional, inspirational, and sustainable space. The office landscape will be a destination where MNLA companies can escort new or existing clients to see elements that could be incorporated into their own yard/property. It will also serve as a setting for MNLA to hold educational workshops for the industry and increase industry knowledge about horticultural/landscape topics.

Priority design elements of the MNLA landscape and garden will focus on: • Featuring new and updated technologies in the green industry • Gardens — including perennial and annual garden spaces with seasonal interest for both passive and active learning • An outdoor learning area/lab/‘sandbox’ area for hands-on industry workshops

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➾ F R OM THE EXECUTIVE DI R EC TO R

• A detailed maintenance plan • Parking lot improvements • Updated signage, both for the organization and the materials contained within the landscape

2016. All MNLA designers and design firms were invited to submit a bid/proposal for the landscape redesign project. Several members submitted proposals and a handful were invited to present their design concept in person to the task team. The task team carefully analyzed the wish list, design experience, fit, and budget context for the project and ultimately selected Urban Ecosystems to finalize the design and construction documents for the site and enlisted John Stadelman, Bachman’s, Inc., as a horticulture advisor.

The design is currently in its final stages and construction documents will be complete this spring. Once the construction documents are complete, an RFP for installation will be released to all members for consideration.

We are hopeful that construction may begin on the project in 2017, but we will have to wait and see what mother nature deals us this spring/summer.

Soliciting Donations

Project Status: So where are we now?

Once construction documents are complete, a list of materials will be available. The team at Urban Ecosystems, MNLA staff, and the task team members have been and will be soliciting product donations to feature in the landscape based on this list. We see this as an excellent opportunity for members and vendors to showcase their products to both industry clients, office visitors, and the public at large. Donor recognition will be provided both in the landscape and inside the office building. Please consider a donation!

The Board is excited about this project and can’t wait to welcome members to their new outdoor learning space and feature gardens.

If you have any questions about the project, feel free to reach out to me or to any member of your Board of Directors.

Best wishes for a prosperous season — it is upon us!

In order to achieve the goals listed above, the task team released a design RFP through The Scoop, e-mail, and website back in June

CASSIE LARSON can

• An inspirational theme showcasing our industry knowledge and ability to be creative • A shaded patio area for members and workshop attendees and staff to relax, network, and enjoy meals • Incorporating a water feature into the garden area as well as a comprehensive irrigation/water conservation and management plan • Landscape lighting — a complete landscape lighting design/plan

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be reached at: cassie@mnla.biz.

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CURRENT

EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) NEWS While there have always been outbreaks of tree disease, about as many have appeared since the 1970s as in all prior recorded history.

Faith Appelquist | Tree Quality LLC

Ready for the chainsaw, an infested ash with canopy dieback.

G

lobalization is the culprit. People and commercial goods now flow seamlessly around the globe, accompanied by a host of weeds, pests, and pathogens. If you are a tree, death comes hidden in wood veneer, in packing material, shipping containers, nursery plants, cut flowers, and imported saplings.

Today, EAB infestations have been detected in 30 states (and two provinces in Canada): Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Nationwide, the emerald ash borer has killed more than 100 million trees. Estimated management costs, lost property values, and lost revenues from timber exceed 1.6 billion dollars annually.

This insect is generally considered to be the most important pest of the urban forest in the United States. During the past decade, much progress has been made in understanding basic elements of the biology of this pest and methods to control it, especially in the area of chemical control tactics.

Emerald Ash Borer larvae create serpentine galleries beneath the bark.

to EAB resulted in more than 75% of North American ashes succumbing, but less than 20% of Asian ash died. Results of these studies demonstrate the existence of resistance in Fraxinus and provide arborists with hope that this tactic can be used to defeat EAB in urban ecosystems.

Also in the news, researchers have successfully decoded the entire genetic sequence of ash, an important first step in creating a genetically modified tree, resistant to the beetle.

Biological Control

The goal with biological control is to use natural enemies to bring EAB populations into balance and reduce damage; it is not a tool for eradication. In cooperation with several states, the USDA has reared and released three Asian species of natural born EAB killers — tiny wasps. The wasps hatch and feed only on EAB as they develop.

The hope is that these wasps will decimate EAB, especially in natural forest stands where few options for intervention exist. To date, scientists have found released wasps living and reproducing, a hopeful sign they can provide another weapon in the fight against EAB. Insecticidal Control of EAB

Tracking the Spread of EAB

It is generally believed that EAB arrived in North America near Detroit, Michigan sometime prior to 2002 in wooden packing material or dunnage and escaped into the surrounding landscape where it established itself in ash trees. Since 2002, it has moved progressively outward in all directions, frequently abetted by humans as they move firewood, logs, or other wooded products. A variety of studies conducted in the field estimate movement of EAB to range from less than 0.2 miles per year to more than 12 miles per year. Nevertheless, EAB can travel 60 miles per hour down the highway (in a moving vehicle) and show up where you least expect it. When Boulder, Colorado became infested in 2013, the nearest EAB find was 600 miles away in Kansas.

Resistant Plant Materials

To date, all known species of ash trees in America are susceptible to attack by EAB. However, in a recent study, Asian ash Fraxinus mandshurica experienced far less mortality than native ashes, including F. pennsylvanica and F. americana. Four years of exposure

Chemical control can keep the beetle in check, if applied regularly.

Because the chemical is applied tree by tree, treating a forest with many thousands of ash is prohibitively expensive. But treatments can be affordable in areas where people want to preserve a few trees.

An excellent review of insecticides for controlling EAB can be found at the following web site: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/ documents/Multistate_EAB_Insecticide_Fact_Sheet.pdf. In the treatment of ash trees, there seems to be much concern recently about the potential role of imidacloprid and related neonicotinoid insecticides in colony collapse disorder (CCD) in bees. Research is ongoing to investigate the relative effects of pesticides, bee pathogens and parasites, and nutrition on honey bee health.

Ash is wind-pollinated, not insect pollinated. Bees can and do collect pollen from wind pollinated species, and there are reports of honey bees collecting ash pollen. But to date there are no conclusive answers and researchers have not been able to establish a link between imidacloprid and CCD. Conservation of honey bees is a critical issue and every effort should be made to protect honey bees. Ash trees provide important april 17

MNLA .biz

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➾ E ME RALD ASH BORER

The Emerald Ash Borer adult leaves behind a “D” shaped exit hole in the bark of the tree.

Bark damage or “blonding” from woodpecker feeding of EAB larvae under the bark.

ecosystem services that can justify protection.

The preponderance of evidence suggests that EAB treatments pose minimal risk to bees. Studies have also found that ash trees are most effectively treated for EAB just after the leaves emerge, which would be after they have completed blooming.

Ash and After

A 2009 study in the journal Biological Invasions listed 43 native insect species that rely on ash trees for food or breeding. Those insects are the food supply for birds, including woodpeckers. After the ash are gone, we end up with a different ecosystem where some species thrive and where old ones don’t do as well. It’s important to note that a different ecosystem is not the same as no ecosystem. When the ash trees die, they are replaced by other kinds of trees.

Still, the losses are bound to have severe consequences. When ash trees die, they leave gaps in the leaf canopy and our lives. Trees are never just about us. They support complex and interdependent communities of life and as forests slowly become less diverse, the world loses more than simply trees. is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an ISA Municipal Specialist MN, and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist®.

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âžž S E CT I O N TITLE

LESSONS LEARNED FROM

REALITY TV Prime-time TV can provide all levels of entertainment. While the quality of the entertainment is sometimes debatable, there are some programs that can actually bring value to managers, business owners, and employees of area lawn and landscape companies.

Bob Wasson | Wasson Nursery, Inc. Article reprinted with permission of the author. The article first appeared in Indiana Nursery Landscape News.

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➾ RE A LI TY TV

P

rograms such as ABC’s Shark Tank, CNBC’s The Profit, and SpikeTV’s Bar Rescue stand out in a sea of sameness…or better yet, a sea of lame-ness. I believe there are many tangible lessons to be learned from tuning in to these programs.

SHARK TANK Premise of the Show:

Budding entrepreneurs get the chance to bring their dreams to fruition in this reality show from executive producer Mark Burnett.

They present their ideas to the sharks in the tank — five titans of industry who made their own dreams a reality and turned their ideas into lucrative empires. The contestants try to convince any one of the sharks to invest money in their idea. When more than one of the sharks decide they want a piece of the action, a bidding war can erupt, driving up the price of the investment.

Key Takeaway: “Narrow Focus”

Time and time again, a contestant comes into “the tank” with a great idea, product, or service only to be turned away by all five sharks. While the contestant may have had a fantastic idea or product, it is completely overshadowed by a lack of direction or clear plan to achieve success. The sharks can foresee problems on the horizon. When the sharks sense the participant is overzealous with their vision for the company or unable to define a clear direction for growth, this is almost immediate death. The sharks know that without proper focus, their eventual partners would squander time and money in unprofitable and foolish endeavors. When trying to start a new venture or even maintain a current business, having the ability to focus all of your energy and resources is crucial. The late Steve Jobs was a believer in this, as evident in his mantra “Focus is about saying no.” A great leader should know when to say “No.” In fact, you should say it far more often than you say “yes.” This principle will force you to focus all of your resources on the most important and profitable areas of your business.

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THE PROFIT Premise of the Show:

On each episode of The Profit, host Marcus Lemonis offers struggling small businesses a fresh start. Marcus makes a capital investment in exchange for an ownership stake in the company. “When you take this money, just know that I am 100 percent in charge,” he often says as the deal is sealed with an old-fashioned handshake.

Key Takeaway: The 3 P’s

The most important lessons learned from watching The Profit almost always revolve around a philosophy Marcus calls “The 3 P’s” — People, Product, and Process.

People: Marcus does a terrific job of emphasizing the importance of people for small-business success. But while making sure you have the right people working for you may be common knowledge for any entrepreneur, Marcus shows that you also need them in the right roles. On many episodes, Marcus finds a standout employee whose value is not reciprocated by the owners of the business. He will promote and empower these people into leadership roles within the company. This only helps to build morale and grow the business to new levels. In another example in the episode with ECO-ME, a producer of green cleaning materials, the company’s founder had a trusted family member in a key sales position. But this person wasn’t really a good fit for the sales position — the company had the right person in the wrong job. In a niche industry like landscaping or lawn care, it’s easy to “make do” with the wrong people out of fear of finding a proper replacement. I feel that this common hurdle is one of the most challenging problems facing business owners.

Product: In each episode, Marcus carefully dives into not only what is being sold, but how it is being sold. Pricing, packaging, merchandising, look, feel, smell, taste — everything is reviewed.

Many times, small-business owners assume that consumers will view a product or service in the same way they do, but that isn’t always the case. In an episode of Indiana-based 240sweet, a marshmallow

company took their product to a farmer’s market. They used the feedback they received to refine their flavors and improve their product. This experience caused them to make a major change to their best-selling flavor and improved profits by eliminating lesspopular flavors. As landscapers, we all pride ourselves in delivering a beautiful final product. But as I learned from the above episode, sometimes you need to take a moment to measure and evaluate.

Process: The final element, a company’s operations, is key to ensuring a business’s efficiency and opportunities to scale. The most memorable episode related to failed processes was Planet Popcorn.

The company makes and sells its specialty popcorn to corporate clients such as Disney, as well as through county fairs. This mostly cash business had absolutely no procedures in place for managing its cash flow. Marcus found piles of cash lying around everywhere. The end result? With no process in place, the company couldn’t account for $400,000 in cash profits, money that had basically disappeared.

While this is a very important and specific example, even the smallest, most insignificant, everyday duties need a clear process.

Most often, a lack of processes leads to a lack of profits.

BAR RESCUE Premise of the Show:

Jon Taffer is a loud, outspoken, dominating figure in the bar and nightclub industry. In each episode of this series, Taffer helps transform a struggling bar into a vibrant, profitable business. Using his expertise as a nightlife consultant, Taffer applies proven principles of what he calls “bar science” to assist in the successful transformation.

Key Takeaway: Take Action

The show always begins with Jon Taffer and his team assessing undercover footage of the customer experience and employee interactions. As Jon eventually confronts the staff and the bar owners with what he’s witnessed, there is a common theme that emerges: “Take Action.” Most of the struggling bars have an owner who appears to have thrown in the towel. They only see the big picture — that their business is failing and there’s nothing they can do. They rarely see or seem to care about all the little things that are contributing to the failure. Filthy bars, bad food, bad employees, lack of oversight — the problems are so visible. But instead of putting in the work to constantly improve the service or the cleanliness or the management, the owner sits around in self-pity waiting for a miracle.

Sure, lawn and landscape companies on the surface are very different than a bar or nightclub. But the key principles apply to every business. Overlooking the small things will eventually snowball into much larger problems.

Wheeler is now a proud supplier of Belgard Products

is an owner of Wasson Nursery, Inc. Wasson Nursery is a family-based landscaping, lawn care, and garden center business with locations in Union City, Muncie, and Fishers, Indiana. Bob is a member of the INLA Board of Directors.

BOB WASSON

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PRESERVING POLLINATORS:

AN IPM PERSPECTIVE

In the past few years, we have seen growing public concern over pollinators in our landscapes. The fate of honey bees, in particular, with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has gained a great deal of attention.

Kent Honl | Rainbow Treecare

C

CD has multiple causes; among them are thought to be loss of habitat and diversity of food sources, a variety of pathogens and parasites of bee colonies, along with the presence of pesticides in the landscape. The discipline of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides a unique perspective on the current situation with pollinators, as it is always looking for better ways to reduce the offtarget impacts of our landscape practices.

In last month’s article, I introduced the Disease Triangle. This simple but useful concept tells us that a disease does not exist apart from the interaction of a host and a causal agent within an environment that favors infection. Looking at the landscape through the lens of the Disease Triangle can point out ways to reduce or even eliminate pesticide use. This practice can result in landscapes that are more beautiful as well as healthier for people, plants, pollinators, and other creatures.

How do we apply this approach? The easiest place to start may be to look at how we care for the plants in our landscapes that can serve as hosts for disease, insect infestation, or other conditions.

Help the host: preventive care

The stresses of urban life predispose trees and other plants to disease and decline. Preventive care through the right cultural practices can be a great aid in alleviating these stresses. Proper irrigation means paying attention not only to the amount of water being applied, but the way it is applied to the landscape. We want to avoid the extremes of drought stress on the one hand, and promoting fungal disease on the other. Sprinkler systems installed to irrigate turf areas frequently run every other day, and soak the needles of nearby spruce trees, setting the stage for needle cast disease to take hold.

No amount of fungicide sprays will be able to help in this situation.

A practical solution in this case would be to help the host tree by modifying the environment: change the sprinkler pattern, irrigate the tree with a soaker hose, and replace a section of turf around the tree with shredded hardwood mulch. These modifications would change the landscape from a self-perpetuating disease situation to one with multiple benefits. The mulch conserves water, reduces mower injury to the tree, and it leads to greater root growth as humus develops through its decomposition.

The case for a diverse environment:

A point that is often overlooked in the focus on pollinators is that pollinators are not the only beneficial insects. Increasing the diversity of flowering trees, shrubs, and other plants is an important part of building up the population of many other helpful insect species. Lady beetles, lacewings, syrphid flies, and more show up in landscapes with flowering plants and help out by feeding on aphids, mites, and scale crawlers. This of course leads to less need for pesticide use to control these pests.

The University of Minnesota has been working on developing “flowering lawns” and promoting them to the public. Considering the amount of land in use for turf monocultures, there is a great opportunity to increase the habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects as public tastes begin to shift toward this type of approach.

We can expect more consumer interest in lower-impact lawn care service as the definition of the ideal lawn continues to evolve.

Some words on responsible pesticide use:

The language on labels for many pesticides has changed to prohibit their use in situations that endanger pollinators. In this way, the law reinforces what IPM practitioners already do: work to minimize offtarget damage. Eventually, we are all confronted with the questions of if, when, and how to use pesticides when they become necessary.

The first question to resolve in any situation is: does it need to be treated? Quite a few pests make a dramatic attack on a host plant, but cause only aesthetic damage. The arrival of Japanese beetles feeding on linden leaves certainly gets the phone ringing. Though unsightly, their feeding damage is not lethal to the tree. In stark contrast, the most deadly insect pests are the stealthy killers. Emerald ash borer may be the best example of an insect that kills a tree over a period of several seasons if not treated early and continuously with preventive materials.

Applying what we have learned: Magnolia scale

Let’s take a look at a case of Magnolia scale as an example of how we can apply the ideas from the Disease Triangle and Integrated Pest Management. Magnolia scale can weaken and disfigure magnolias and lead them to decline and death. Secondary problems that april 17

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âžž I P M S T RAT E G I E S

come from an infestation include the large number of wasps that are attracted to the sugary exudation from the scales, along with the black, sooty-colored mess that results from this excretion.

Starting with the environment of the host magnolia, we can note that the base of the trees is often covered with a layer of black plastic and large, dark, chunky rock mulch.

Pick up one of these rocks on a sunny summer day, and you will know right away why this is nowhere near ideal growing conditions for a tree. Replacing this rock mulch with shredded hardwood, directly on the soil surface (no fabric or plastic barriers!) will moderate soil temperatures and allow much needed oxygen to reach the roots.

Installation of flowering borders, or perhaps planting a flowering lawn, may help introduce enough predators to suppress the crawler stage of the scale.

Dormant season applications of horticultural oils are a good way to smother the overwintering stage of the insect, reducing the population without the use of pesticides that could adversely affect pollinators.

Properly chosen systemic insecticides can play a role in treating magnolia scale.

Dinotefuran can be applied after the flowering stage is done in early spring. In this way, it will be distributed in the plant in time to control the summer stage of the scale, but will break down well before next year’s flowers attract bees to them.

A spray targeted at the emerging crawler stage in late summer has been very helpful in bringing magnolia scale populations under control. Use of growing degree day tracking allows for very accurate prediction of when the crawlers begin to emerge and are vulnerable to control measures.

Each of these pieces can be taken together or used individually as tools in a program.

By applying these principles, we end up with compounding positive effects in a more beautiful, resilient landscape with a lower need for pesticides to make it all work. It is a win-win situation for people and the natural world.

KENT HONL, is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, and TRAQ certified.

Kent can be reached at khonl@rainbowtreecare.com.

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➾ G OV E RN MEN T AFFAI R S

Day on the Hill Recap Members of Minnesota’s green industry gathered at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Wednesday, March 8th for 2017 Green Industry Day on the Hill!

Alicia Munson

MNLA Government Affairs Director

Day on the Hill attendees with Representative Kelly Fenton (R, Woodbury), 3rd from left, who co-authored Uniform Labor Standards legislation!

GREEN INDUSTRY DAY ON THE HILL

The day began with an issue & advocacy orientation at the Best Western Capitol Ridge, during which, attendees learned about MNLA’s top three policy priorities this session — funding to manage Emerald Ash Borer, Uniform State Labor Standards, and ending the “Duty to Defend.”

In a Day on the Hill “first”, several MNLA Government Affairs Committee members participated in a role play, demonstrating the “dos” and “don’ts” of lobbying elected officials through a mock legislative meeting. Mick McGuire of McGuire Landscaping in New Prague played the perfect “Senator”!

Following orientation, a large group of Day on the Hill attendees gathered in Room 5 of the State Office Building to listen-in on the Agriculture Finance Committee hearing, where two bills aimed at securing funding to manage the Emerald Ash Borer crisis (H.F. 2031 & H.F. 2032) were considered by members of

Karen Zumach and Rep. Nels Pierson (R, Rochester) addressed the House Agriculture Finance Committee.

the House of Representatives. Karen Zumach of Tree Trust joined Representative Nels Pierson (R, Rochester) — chief author of the EAB bills — in addressing the Committee, and provided compelling testimony about the devastating impacts of Emerald Ash Borer.

Throughout the day, advocates visited with their Senators and Representatives to share information about Minnesota’s green industry, highlight our policy priorities, and build relationships. Check out the photos from their meetings on the following pages!

2017’s Day on the Hill was one of our most successful advocacy events to-date thanks to the many MNLA members who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate on behalf of the green industry. We look forward to continuing our work alongside all of YOU to grow results in government affairs!

ALICIA MUNSON can

be reached at: alicia@mnla.biz

Our Green Industry Day on the Hill sign helped folks find the “Resource Room”, where MNLA Government Affairs Team members were stationed throughout the day to provide support for attendees

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âžž OUT & ABOUT

&

DAY ON THE HILL 2017

Day on the Hill attendees packed Room 5 of the State Office Building to demonstrate their support of H.F. 2031 & H.F. 2032, which would provide grant funding for municipalities to treat, remove, and replant trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

Cory Whitmer of The Mustard Seed, center, met with Sen. Scott Jensen (R, Chaska), right, who represents the district where he lives and works.

Russ Jundt added a pin in the map of Rep. Bahr’s district to show the location of his business, Conserva Irrigation.

Day on the Hill attendees with Representative Cindy Pugh (R, Chanhassen), 3rd from left, who co-authored the Uniform State Labor Standards bill in the House!

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Day on the Hill attendees with Senator Susan Kent (R, Woodbury), 4th from left.

Day on the Hill attendees with Representative Cal Bahr (R, East Bethel), 3rd from left.

Day on the Hill attendees with Representative Dale Lueck (R, Aitkin), 4th from left.

Day on the Hill attendees with Representative Joe Hoppe (R, Chaska), 3rd from left, who co-authored a bill to end the “Duty to Defend”!

Mick McGuire chatted with Representative David Bly (D, Northfield), left, before the House Agriculture Finance Committee hearing.

Day on the Hill attendees with Representative Laurie Pryor (D, Minnetonka), center.

Day on the Hill attendees with Rep. Fue Lee (D, Mpls), center, who attended our Northern Green Legislative Breakfast!

Day on the Hill attendees with Rep. Peggy Scott (R, Andover), 2nd from left, co-author of Uniform State Labor Standards legislation as well as a bill to end the “Duty to Defend.”

MNLA member with Sen. Kari Dziedzic (D, Mpls), who authored a bill to establish a Green Roof Advisory Task Force!

David Lange of Lange’s Nursery & Landscaping, 4th from left, drove from Hill City to meet with Sen. Carrie Ruud (R, Breezy Point), 5th from left, who co-authored Emerald Ash Borer legislation!

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âžž OUT & ABOUT

&

DAY ON THE HILL 2017

Day on the Hill attendees enjoyed a hot breakfast while preparing for their meetings with legislators.

Bob Balgie of Barrett Lawn Care, left, caught up with Rep. Linda Runbeck (R, Circle Pines) who lives next door to his grandmother!

Day on the Hill attendees with freshman Senator Steve Cwodzinski (D, Eden Prairie), 3rd from right.

MNLA member with Sen. Jim Abeler (R, Anoka), right.

Day on the Hill attendees with Senator David Osmek (R, Mound), 3rd from left.

Day on the Hill attendees with Senator Dan Schoen (D, St. Paul Park), 2nd from right, in the newly renovated Capitol building!

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p.o. box 748 • st. charles, il 60174 847.742.1790 • fax 847.742.2655 www.midwestgroundcovers.com

MNLA REGULATORY UPDATE

NEW MINNESOTA NOXIOUS WEEDS Effective immediately, the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has acted on recommendations from the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee resulting in 12 new species being added to the Minnesota Noxious Weed List under the authority of the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 18, Sections 18.75-18.91; http://www.mda. state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/nwlawrevisor.aspx). These species have been designated as noxious weeds because they have the potential or are known to be detrimental to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property and are regulated to protect the residents of the state from the harmful effects of noxious weeds. Several of the new species listed are of interest to the Minnesota nursery and landscape industry. The 12 new species that have been added to the Minnesota Noxious Weed List and will now be regulated as noxious weeds in Minnesota are listed on the following pages.

James Calkins | MNLA Regulatory Affairs Manager

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➾ NOXIOUS WEEDS PROHIBITED/ERADICATE NOXIOUS WEEDS (ONE NEW SPECIES) Prohibited/Eradicate Noxious Weeds are plants that are not currently known to be present in Minnesota or are not widely established in the state. They cannot be propagated, sold, transported, or intentionally planted in Minnesota and, where present, must be eradicated by killing the above and below ground parts of the plant.

Species – Common Name

Scientific Name

Notes

Diffuse Knapweed

Centaurea diffusa

Photo credit: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired)

PROHIBITED/CONTROL NOXIOUS WEEDS (ONE NEW SPECIES) Prohibited/Control Noxious Weeds are plants that are established throughout Minnesota or regions of the state. They cannot be propagated, sold, transported, or intentionally planted in Minnesota and, where present, must be controlled to prevent the spread, maturation, and dispersal of all propagating parts.

Species – Common Name

Scientific Name

Notes

Common Barberry

Berberis vulgaris

Photo credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

RESTRICTED NOXIOUS WEEDS (NINE NEW SPECIES) Restricted Noxious Weeds are plants that are widely distributed in Minnesota, but whose only feasible means of control is to prevent their spread by prohibiting the importation, sale, and transportation of their propagating parts. These plants cannot be sold, transported, or intentionally planted in Minnesota.

Species – Common Name

Scientific Name

Notes

Queen Anne’s Lace/Wild Carrot

Daucus carota

Photo credit: Becca MacDonald, Sault College

Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

Photo credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Purple Crown Vetch

Securigera varia (synonym Coronilla varia)

Photo credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois

RESTRICTED NOXIOUS WEEDS (NINE NEW SPECIES) Restricted Noxious Weeds are plants that are widely distributed in Minnesota, but whose only feasible means of control is to prevent their spread by prohibiting the importation, sale, and transportation of their propagating parts. These plants cannot be sold, transported, or intentionally planted in Minnesota.

Species – Common Name

Scientific Name

Notes

Bell’s Honeysuckle

Lonicera x bella

Photo credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

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RESTRICTED NOXIOUS WEEDS (NINE NEW SPECIES) Species – Common Name

Scientific Name

Notes

Morrow’s Honeysuckle

Lonicera morrowii

Photo credit: Mark Frey, The Presidio Trust

Tartarian/Tartarian Honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica

Photo credit: Richard Webb

Amur Honeysuckle

Lonicera maackii

Photo credit: Warner Park Nature Center

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Photo credit: Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Porcelain Berry

Ampelopsis var. glandulosa brevipedunculata

Photo credit: Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University

SPECIALLY REGULATED PLANTS (ONE NEW SPECIES) Specially Regulated Plants may be native species or non-native species that have demonstrated economic value, but also have the potential to cause harm because they pose ecological, economic, or human or animal health concerns. Under the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law, Specially Regulated Plants must be handled and managed based on special regulations. In the case of Amur maple, sellers are required to affix a label to the plants that advises buyers to only plant Amur maple and its cultivars in landscapes where the seedlings will be controlled by mowing or other means and at least 100 yards from natural areas (e.g., woodlands, savannas, and prairies).

Species – Common Name

Scientific Name

Notes

Amur Maple

Acer ginnala

Photo credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Remember, too, that this is the third year of the three-year phase-out period for Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) cultivars, varieties, and hybrids that produce large amounts of seed (25 cultivars, varieties, and hybrids that, on average, produce more than 600 seeds per plant and the wild type/parent species). A full list of the cultivars included in this phase-out is available at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/ pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/japanesebarberry.aspx.

These Japanese barberry cultivars and the wild type will become

Restricted Noxious Weeds on January 1, 2018. The full list of plants regulated as noxious weeds in Minnesota (41 species) is available on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website at http://www.mda. state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist.aspx.

Note that it may be a few weeks before this list is updated to include the newly regulated species. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jim Calkins at jim@mnla.biz or 952-935-0682.

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âž¾ B MP S FOR BEES

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) FOR B

GROW WISE. BEE SM

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hriresearch.org | Growwise.org

EE HEALTH IN THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY

MART. Pollinators as a whole encompass a diverse population of thousands of different species, such as managed honey bees, wild bees, butterflies, birds, and bats. Protection of pollinators in general, especially bees, continues to be a major concern among the general public and within the green industry.

Several culprits have been identified as factors contributing to managed honey bee losses, including Varroa mites, other pests/diseases of bees, loss of habitat and nutrition, and off-target effects of pesticides. Alternatively, wild, unmanaged bee populations are most greatly affected by landscape changes and habitat degradation.

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➾ B MP S FOR BEES

Introduction

In 2015, the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) recognized the need for sound research to develop best production and management practices, educate, and empower the green industry. HRI, in collaboration with AmericanHort, continues to directly fund and leverage research to refine science-based guidance on horticultural practices and protecting bee and pollinator health. As part of the broad-based Horticulture Industry Bee & Pollinator Stewardship Initiative that includes industry and consumer outreach and the establishment of industry best practices, HRI has directly funded four important research projects, launched the Grow Wise, Bee Smart website, and joined the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge campaign. These projects are a continuation of HRI’s longstanding commitment to fostering new information relevant to horticultural practices, techniques, and principles.

Updates to these recommendations will be made as additional research results regarding bee and pollinator health are released.

While the green industry is diverse, some common threads exist among greenhouse and nursery production and landscape management when pollinator safety is concerned.

Greenhouse and Nursery Production

Research is underway to assess risks to bee pollinators from the use of systemic insecticides in plant production. For example, a multiyear, multi-state federal grant was awarded to researchers to develop best management practices in the green industry. It is currently unclear how quickly systemic pesticides move from the treated area to pollen and/or nectar, how long their residues persist, and at what level residues may pose risk to bees. This group will further create a database of bee pollinator attractive plants to better guide use of systemic pesticides. Until this information is fully developed, some basic guidelines to plant production were crafted based on initial research results: • Consider using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for pest control and avoid unnecessary preventive applications when possible. IPM focuses on pest prevention through inspections to identify pests of concern, monitoring of pest populations, and record keeping. Should pest populations approach unacceptable levels, tactics such as chemical, biological, cultural, and mechanical control are deployed for pest management. The goal is to better predict pest problems and reduce unnecessary use of pesticides.

• Avoid spraying pollinator-attractive plants with systemic insecticides toxic to bees the last three weeks before shipping and sale. Products that EPA deems potentially hazardous to bees are labeled with a Bee Advisory Box and feature a honey bee in a diamond shape. Also consult the ‘Do Not’ section of pesticide labels. In some instances, pesticides with a lower intrinsic toxicity to bees are available to use.

• Always read and follow label instructions and application restrictions. The label is the law, and these directions are intended to protect pollinators. This is true for all pesticides.

• Some alternative products that can be used the final three weeks of production include acetamiprid, Beauveria bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis, insecticidal soap, and horticultural oils.

• Do not treat pollinator-attractive plants with a basal drench of clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, or thiamethoxam.

• Do not apply product to blooming, pollen-shedding, or nectar-producing parts of plants if bees may be foraging during this period.

• Minimize direct exposure to foraging pollinators.

Woody Ornamentals

The list of woody plants that have both pests treated with neonicotinoids and are attractive to bee pollinators is relatively short. For example, Knock Out® and hybrid tea roses, boxwoods, and azaleas are often treated with pesticides, including neonicotinoids, but attract very few bees. Plants such as linden, single petal rose varieties, crape myrtle, crabapple, hawthorn, holly, and a few others, should not be treated with systemic neonicotinoids. These plants are highly attractive to bees, and early research has indicated that pesticide residues in nectar may be toxic to bees, even when applications were made the prior growing season. If neonicotinoid systemic insecticides must be used, pruning of flower buds prior to application will reduce bee pollinator exposure.

Additional work, by many different partners, is being done to better quantify residues and identify bee pollinator networks with ornamentals.

For management of established plants in the landscape, consider: • Before treating the plant, determine its level of bee pollinator attractiveness.

• As a guideline, plants not highly attractive to bee pollinators include: • Wind pollinated plants, such as ash • Fly pollinated plants, such as boxwood • Have double flowers, such as ‘Kwanzan’ cherry • Have showy sterile florets, such as some big leaf hydrangeas • Have inaccessible pollen and nectar, such as hybrid tea roses • If you are in doubt or uncertain that plants are highly attractive to bee pollinators, and the plants must be treated with an insecticide, • Do not treat during the bloom period.

• Consider using an insecticide with lower toxicity to bee pollinators and/or shorter residual (see above for examples).

• Employ IPM strategies.

In urban environments, loss of habitat and a lack of good foraging sources contribute significantly to bee pollinator decline. The green industry is primed to improve urban landscape diversity with plants that both attract and serve as a source of good nutrition for bee pollinators. Seek to diversify the landscape with bee pollinator april 17

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➾ BM P S F O R BE E S

VISIT TO BEE LAB Participants at a pollinator-focused MNLA event this spring were treated to a guided tour of the new state-of-the-art Bee and Pollinator Research Lab at the University of Minnesota. The Bee Lab is a working facility that is a combination of office space, lab space, and honey processing. The tour included the technical lab where molecular work is done, the practical labs, the honey extraction room, and the bee observation room, where live colonies are kept. The group was introduced to the projects that are currently taking place in the lab.

attractive plants that are also virtually pest free (and therefore pesticide free!), such as St. John’s wort, Clethra, dwarf fothergilla, Itea, glossy abelia, Vitex, seven sons flower tree, and Caryopteris.

These will be regionally specific. A mix of plants that flower throughout the entire growing season is key to increasing habitat and floral resources.

Managed Landscapes

Lawn maintenance encompasses the majority of landscape services, and grub control is often needed. Neonicotinoids are commonly used for grub control. Many flowering turf weeds attract bee pollinators, such as clover and dandelions. These two in particular are highly attractive to bees and provide valuable nutrition. Under certain circumstances, grass flowers can attract bees as well.

There are some steps landscape managers can take to reduce bee pollinator hazards in lawn situations, such as: • Do not apply pesticides toxic to bee pollinators on lawns with flowering clover, dandelions, and/or other flowering weeds.

• Chlorantraniliprole is an alternative to neonicotinoids that effectively controls grubs and features low bee toxicity.

• Some customers may be open to education about alternative lawn management practices that encourage bee habitat. In this case, pesticide choice should consider bee pollinator safety.

• If controlling grubs with neonicotinoids, control flowering lawn weeds with herbicides before applying turf insecticides.

Alternatively, mow off weed flower heads before or immediately after applying liquid applications of neonicotinoids and/or pyrethroids.

• Granular turf insecticide products are less hazardous to bee pollinators than liquids. This includes neonicotinoids.

• Grub treatments should be watered-in as soon as possible after application to reduce exposure to bee pollinators.

In Conclusion

Everything we do has an impact on something else, and nothing is absolute. When it comes to deciding whether or not to treat a plant with an insecticide that may be hazardous to managed honey bees or other bee pollinators, a cost-benefit analysis should be considered.

If the pest management concern is great enough, even bee pollinator attractive plants may need to be treated with a hazardous insecticide. The potential of exposure should be considered. A good example is emerald ash borer (EAB). Ash trees are wind pollinated, yet bees are known to collect pollen from ash if other pollen sources are scarce. However, certain invasive pests, such as EAB, must be treated, or ash trees will die. A common EAB treatment includes neonicotinoid insecticides. Certain insecticides, neonicotinoids in particular, have great value in preventing the introduction and further spread of invasive species to gardens and landscapes.

Neonicotinoid insecticides have many benefits, including broad spectrum control and a positive worker safety profile. In some 42

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➾ BM P S F O R BE E S

instances, a neonicotinoid is the product of choice for insect pest control. If one is used (or other insecticides for that matter), steps can be taken to better ensure bee pollinator safety.

Other resources:

Grow Wise, Bee Smart: http://www.growwise.org Million Pollinator Garden Challenge http://www.millionpollinatorgardens.org Protecting and Enhancing Pollinators in the Urban Landscape, for the US North Central Region; Dr. Dave Smitley; Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E3314.

Pollinator Partnership: http://www.pollinator.org Acknowledgements

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Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Bee Health in the Horticultural Industry was created by the Horticultural Research Institute. Development of this document would not have been possible without the cooperation and participation of numerous researchers and experts.

We thank the following advisors for providing their expertise in the development of this publication:

12/15/2016 5:26:00 PM

Dr. J. Calabro, AmericanHort Dr. J. Chong, Clemson University Dr. R. Cowles, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Dr. H. Patch, Pennsylvania State University Dr. D. Potter, University of Kentucky Dr. D. Smitley, Michigan State University Dr. V. Wojcik, Pollinator Partnership

The Horticultural Research Institute provided funding for BMP research and development through its GrowWise, Bee Smart™ Initiative.

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James Urban | DeepRoot.

Reprinted from the DeepRoot Green Infrastructure blog (www.deeproot.com/blog).

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➾ S O I L P RO P E RT I E S

critical part of any landscape design professional’s training is to learn how to understand the site conditions before starting the design. There is likely nothing more important than soil to the success of anything placed on it or planted into it.

Urban sites, and thus urban soil, make up a large part of the work of the profession — yet the analysis of urban soils is often ignored except as part of a geotechnical engineer’s report on its structural capability. The assumption seems to be that there is nothing there that is of real value, urban soil analysis is too difficult or impossible, and that if a better planting medium is needed then it’s probably best to go buy it.

This approach has led us to ignore a sustainable asset present on many projects.

But there is often usable soil resources at many urban sites, and it can be assessed and, with minimum effort, can often be reused as viable planting medium.

Urban soils analysis requires different tools and skills than assessment of soils in agricultural areas. Urban soils are often covered with paving, laced with utilities, severely compacted, and guarded by ownership issues that make traditional sampling difficult. There are not many soil scientists trained in urban soil analysis or who believe that urban soils are worth the effort. A new set of protocols must be developed to analyze this resource, and landscape design professional’s may be uniquely positioned to undertake this work as part of their practice.

They do not have to be trained soil scientists and can make reasonable judgments about these soils by using their well-developed observational and analytic skills. The reward for this effort will be to advance sustainability principles while improving outcomes and reducing project cost.

The list of soil properties to investigate is similar to the list that a traditional soil scientist would want to understand, but the degree to which soil can be sampled is significantly reduced. Non-traditional definitions may need be created. It may be that not all properties can be known, but as the list of known factors increases, your ability to reach a conclusion you are confident in also increases.

These soil properties are:

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➾ S OIL PROPERTIES

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Texture

The proportions of sand, silt, clay, gravel, stones, and debris in the soil. Gravel and debris are not usually included in texture descriptions, but they can occasionally become limiting factors and occur frequently enough to deserve consideration. Note that gravel, stones, and even construction debris do not by themselves negatively impact plants unless in significant quantities (greatly above 15% of the volume). There are very few soil textures that will not support plants, different soil textures simply suggest different approaches to soil modification.

Structure

Most urban soils have some level of remnant structure — that is, the peds, clumps, or lumps in the soil after it is graded. This remnant structure is useful to rebuilding soil and drainage even if the clumps are the result of previous compaction. Urban soils also have undisturbed soil structure below the surface layer that is also useful to both drainage and root growth. Identifying soil structure is difficult but can be an important factor in determining the usefulness of the soil and how to remediate problems.

Density

The level of compaction (aka bulk density) is urban soil is frequently the most limiting factor to root growth. It is critical to assess compaction levels but very difficult to determine specific bulk density in areas covered by paving. Bulk density will change with depth and the amount of grading. In recent fill soils, it may be somewhat consistent to the depth of the fill, and in cut zones the bulk density may be high immediately under the pavement and rapidly becoming looser with depth. At sites with grading prior to the 1940s, compaction may be relatively low except right at the surface.

Profile

In urban areas understanding profile is the key to determining ability to support rooting and the best indicator of where soil may be reused or easily modified. Engineering soil boring, available on most large projects are very useful. When combined with hand auger profiles and examination of soil trenches frequently open for other work, reasonably accurate predictions of soil/plant response can be made.

Note that the relationships of soil texture, structure, density, and profile may be more important than any particular soil metric.

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– i t p i o i W a p o

➾ S OIL PROPERTIES

• Soil drainage Poor drainage is a frequent cause of urban plant failure and must be identified. Profile information is the best place to identify drainage problems.

• pH Many urban soils have elevated pH. Plant condition, or dominant plant types and soil testing where you can access samples, can help identify pH extremes.

• Chemical properties When urban soil analysis is undertaken it often begins and ends with a chemical soil test. However, obtaining enough sampling points both horizontally AND vertically in the profile is difficult and soil chemistry is rarely a significant factor in plant decline. We are not growing crops and the subtle changes in nutrients that can turn a farmer’s profit to loss do not apply to urban planting. Soil chemistry in urban areas is more about identifying the extremes and finding the relatively rare toxic chemicals.

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• Organic matter Soil organic matter (SOM) is often lower in urban soils than is optimal.

But any soil that you can access can be modified by adding compost.

Organic matter is what gives soil a dark, rich brown color — so soil color can be used to help predict SOM. Conclusion

Understanding the above soil properties, how each relates to each other, and how they impact plants, is the first step in understanding how to reuse urban soils. The next article in this series will explain how to assess urban soils to determine and map their limitations on a specific development project.

JAMES URBAN,

FASLA is the principal of Urban Trees + Soils and the author of “Up By Roots” (ISA).

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➾ G OV E RN MEN T AFFAI R S C O M M I TTEE

Landscaping Businesses Deserve a Place in Minneapolis of the Future The City of Minneapolis believes strongly that density is the means to ecological balance, efficiency, and future prosperity. The city believes people should live closer to where they work — allowing for biking, walking, and other efficient forms of transport — lowering energy and pollution and creating more vibrant neighborhoods. Organizations within the city have stated the goal of 12% of citizens biking to work in the future.

Jason Rathe

Field Outdoor Spaces; MNLA Government Affairs Committee member

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But what will the jobs be, and where will they be? The main industrial corridors in Minneapolis are disappearing and potentially not being replaced. The Hiawatha corridor is a perfect example of what is happening in the city as industrial is replaced with “mixed residential.”

With retail or a restaurant on the first floor and residential above, mixed residential is popular with neighborhood groups and council members. But industrial areas and other “job creation” zones are disappearing.

The City of Minneapolis has just completed a study on Available Space for Distribution and Light Industrial. The study finds that the city is far short of the necessary space to support future job growth. This study will soon be available on the city’s website and will be utilized as part of the city’s comprehensive plan process that will be starting soon. The city’s comprehensive plan lays out development goals for the city for the next 20 years and the process of plan ratification will include opportunities for public and industry comment. The shortage of industrial space is almost certainly going to be an important element of the comprehensive plan discussions.

Why is this important to the landscaping industry?

I think it is important because the landscape industry offers important jobs, which I think will become more important as we move into the “automation economy” of the future. It is easy for city officials to follow the allure of the next “whatzit.com” that wants to move to the city or technology companies or entrepreneurial “incubator centers.” And they subsidize all of them.

The city of the future needs landscape companies,

april 17

construction companies, cleaning companies, and distribution companies. We are the “bread and butter companies” of now and the future, and need spaces that are efficient and local. For my company, I rely on this proximity for recruiting my work force, who wants to work somewhere to which they can bike or bus, and controlling fuel costs and overall carbon usage.

What might light industrial look like in the city of the future? One site that offers a direction the city might take is the Upper Harbor Terminal Redevelopment. One of the main goals from that space is to create more jobs and increase the tax base. The current proposal by United Properties/Thor Construction is unique and one-of-a-kind in that it includes mixed residential and distribution/light industrial, so there will be light industrial in the bottom and residential above. David Frank, Director of Minneapolis Economic Policy and Development, said the city was pleasantly surprised that there were no zoning or health restrictions to this type of development and an architect was engaged that has done other similar work in the United States. Stay tuned on this project.

As Minneapolis debates its 20-Year Comprehensive Plan, we should make our voices heard and make sure that officials don’t forget the importance of our jobs and businesses.

JASON RATHE can be reached at: field@fieldoutdoorspaces.com.

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THANK YOU!

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55

➾ LE G AL ISSUES

DOL Debuts Helpful Web Tools It’s often an honest mistake. A business hires new workers, has them sign an independent contractor agreement, and issues IRS form 1099 at the year’s end. None of the workers complain about the arrangement.

Alexandra Zabinski

Law Clerk Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC

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Then the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) audits the business. Suddenly the business owes thousands in back overtime, unpaid taxes, and DOL fines. What happened?

The costly honest mistake was misclassifying employees as independent contractors. Under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the difference between an employee and an independent contractor depends on the circumstances under which work was performed.

The distinction has major implications for wage and benefit structures, including who pays Medicare and Social Security taxes, as well as whether workers receive overtime pay. Unfortunately, businesses routinely fall into the trap of classifying workers based on external criteria — such as independent contractor agreements, remote versus in-person work, or cash payment – rather than on work circumstances.

This winter, in an effort to reach both businesses and workers, the DOL added several misclassification resources to its website. The additions include an “Am I an Employee?” fact sheet (www.dol.gov/whd/regs/ compliance/whdfs13.pdf ) and information on who’s actually covered by the FLSA (www.dol.gov/whd/regs/ compliance/whdfs14.pdf ). For employers, the most practical tool will probably be a legalese-free PowerPoint that walks through the six “economic realities” factors commonly used to determine worker status (http:// www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/employment relationship.ppt).

Since there’s no single definition of “employee” or “independent contractor” under federal law, these six factors are what employers need to know in order to properly classify their workers.

When you’re ready to dig deeper into the six factors, check out the link to the Federal Wage-Hour Division Administrator’s Interpretation on the standards for

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When you’re ready to dig deeper into the six factors, check out the link to the Federal Wage-Hour Division Administrator’s Interpretation on the standards for determining worker classification (www.dol.gov/whd/workers/ misclassification/AI-2015_1.htm). determining worker classification (www.dol.gov/whd/ workers/misclassification/AI-2015_1.htm). The article fleshes out each factor and provides detailed examples.

Another helpful tool is the mythbusters page (www. dol.gov/whd/workers/Misclassification/myths-main. htm), which discusses common mistakes businesses make in classifying workers. There are cross-references to resources in other areas that are affected by or related to worker classification, including seasonal work, taxation, family and medical leave, and unemployment insurance.

If you have questions about whether your workers are correctly classified, the attorneys at Zlimen & McGuiness can help answer questions about the employee/ independent contractor distinction and can review your employment practices for FLSA compliance.

This article provides general information on business matters and should not be relied upon as legal advice. A qualified attorney must analyze all relevant facts and apply the applicable law to any matter before legal advice can be given. If you would like more information regarding business law, please contact Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC at 651-331-6500 or info@zmattorneys.com.

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MONITOR THE PULSE OF YOUR

SEASONAL BUSINESS

Tracking the progress of a landscape business is trickier than many others.

Mark Bradley | TBG Landscape and LMN

➾ S E A S ON AL BUSIN ESS

CUMULATIVE SALES JAN.

FEB.

MAR.

APR.

MAY

JUN.

JUL.

AUG.

SEPT.

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

ALL

1 year ago 2 years ago 3 years ago

PERCENTAGE OF SALES USED FOR PAYROLL 1 year ago

JAN.

FEB.

MAR.

APR.

MAY

JUN.

JUL.

AUG.

SEPT.

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

ALL

35%

32%

26%

20%

26%

25%

23%

27%

25%

24%

22%

25%

25%

T

he landscape industry is highly seasonal. Winters are unpredictable. Some companies earn no revenue at all during the winter. Then, in spring, sales boom. You’re signing jobs, cashing deposits — only then to hit the dog days of summer and watch things slow again.

It can be stressful and challenging to know if you’re on track, falling behind, or poised for your best year ever. Sure, you get a gut feeling, but do you really know? And are your expenses keeping pace with your revenue, or outpacing it?

Budgeting and monitoring a seasonal business, like ours, isn’t like many businesses where you can take your sales goal, divide by 12 and come up with monthly targets. But you can take measures to better predict success, and reduce stress, by spending a half-day gathering some history. With a few years of accounting data, you can develop trendlines that take the pulse of your company to ensure you’re on track — or to see problems while you still have time to fix them.

Although we can take the pulse of a lot of numbers, we’ve got just enough space in this article to discuss two of the most important pulse-points to measure: • Whether you’re on track to hit your end-of-year sales goal, and • Whether field productivity is improving, holding steady, or falling off.

Tracking sales goals

One of the most important, and simplest, numbers to watch is your sales goal. With a few years of sales history, you can build a benchmarking spreadsheet that will help you know if you’re on track.

Start with a spreadsheet like the one below.

Use your accounting software to pull a sales history by month for last year, two years ago, and three years ago. Next, enter your cumulative sales by month in the cells. By cumulative, I mean each month should equal its sales, plus the total of all months prior. (If Jan. sales were $50K, Feb. sales were $60K and March sales were 60

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april 17

$100K, your spreadsheet should show $50K in Jan., $110K in Feb. and $210K in March.)

Next, copy that table, but instead of sales by month use a formula to calculate each month’s (cumulative) sales divided by the total sales for that year. This will show you, historically, what percentage of your total sales you have earned by the end of each calendar year. (e.g. Jan. 5 per cent, Feb. 11 per cent, March 21 per cent, etc.) If you’ve done it right, each year will hit 100 per cent (your total sales) by the end of December.

Take an average of the last three years and you will know that — over history — you should have sold X per cent of your sales goal by the end of Jan., Y per cent by the end of Feb., Z per cent by the end of March, and so on.

If we know we average 35 per cent of our revenue by the end of April, then at the end of this April, we want to ensure we’ve sold 35 per cent of our sales goal for the year. If we haven’t, we know we need to get caught up!

Monitoring field productivity

Nothing will make (or hurt) profit quite like field productivity, so it’s a critical number to watch. You can ‘guess’ at staff productivity by seeing how fast they get out of the yard, or seeing jobs being completed on time, but the numbers can tell you a more accurate story without any guessing. Here’s how we can monitor the pulse of your productivity.

If you’ve read other articles I’ve written, you’ll know I advocate your accounting should separate your field labour payroll from your overhead payroll expenses into different accounts. It allows us to quickly identify how much wages we’ve paid our crews — and it makes the following kind of management much faster and easier Use the same spreadsheet you used above. This time, you enter your total field wages (no overhead staff), cumulatively by month.

You’re doing exactly what you did for sales, but this time you’re entering wages for your field staff. By the time you hit Dec., that number should equal your total field payroll for that year.

Just like the previous example, copy this table again, but this time,

use a formula to divide last January’s field payroll by last January’s sales. This way, I’m going to see what percent of Jan. sales were spent on field staff payroll. Same for February, except February is going to show you the cumulative total of Jan. and Feb. payroll, divided by the total of Jan. and Feb. sales. Repeat this for the entire year. Then repeat for two years ago and again for three years ago.

Unlike the cumulative sales table, these percentages won’t (and shouldn’t) add up to 100 per cent by December (you should never be spending 100 per cent of sales on payroll!). Instead, they might look something like the above chart.

This shows you something you already know… but with hard numbers. In January, you likely have more unbillable time, maybe giving the crews some hours around the shop to give them some income. So you spend a higher percentage of your sales on wages. By April, that percentage has dropped dramatically, as you’ve now invoiced a bunch of work (deposits, etc.) on jobs you haven’t spent a lot of hours on yet. That percentage climbs back up in May when crews are pulling a lot of hours getting out of the gates, then it starts to normalize again as the year goes on.

Now simply average each month over your last three years to see the average amount of sales you spend on wages by the end of each month.

This exercise will help you shine a spotlight on your productivity. Referring to my example above, if you’re at 24 per cent by the end of this May, you are more productive and efficient than normal (you are spending LESS of your total sales on wages). If you find yourself at 30 per cent at the end of this May, you are not as productive/efficient as years past, and you need to start spotting and fixing those inefficiencies now, before it is too late.

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MARK BRADLEY is the president of Ontario-based TBG Landscape and LMN. Find out more at www.golmn. com. This article was originally published in Landscape Trades, Canada’s premier horticultural trade publication.

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➾ IN ME MORIAM

IN MEMORIAM G EN M C C ARTH Y

GEN MCCARTHY, former co-executive director of MNLA, died February 23, 2017 in her home.

She was 92 years old. Genevieve Silvis was born on July 28, 1924, in Ravinia, S.D., to a ranching family, one of eight children. She had been married to Jim McCarthy for 60 years when he died in 2006. Jim and Gen were longtime residents of Roseville, although in recent years, Gen had moved to Richfield.

Jim and Gen became the co-executive directors of the Minnesota Nurserymen’s Association in April, 1977. During their tenure, the association changed its name to Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, and in 1996, after almost 20 years of dedicated service to the association, Jim and Gen retired as co-executive directors on August 31. Jim and Gen’s expertise in public relations represented the green industry in Minnesota well throughout their years at MNLA. They were also executive directors of the North Central Florists Association from 1967–1987.

In their final message to MNLA members in the September, 1996 newsletter, they wrote, “We want to express our great appreciation to the officers, directors, committee chairs and the hundreds of committee members, exhibitors and advertisers who have unstintingly given us their support. Their leadership and direction have contributed greatly to the growth and success of your professional trade association.”

Survivors include her daughter, Kate; two sons, Dennis and Kevin; brother Thomas Silvis; sister Ruth Schimelpfenig; eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Left: Cliff Otten presents a plaque of appreciation to Jim & Gen McCarthy in 1996. Right: Gordon J. Bailey and Gen McCarthy enjoying the activities of the 1993 Summer Trade Show.

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âžž LANDSCAPE AWARD S

2017 MNLA LANDSCAPE AWARD WINNERS PART III OF III

Several members of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) were recently honored with the 2017 MNLA Award for Excellence in Landscape. Twelve projects received awards, and you can view all submitted photos and read the project descriptions by visiting the project gallery at tinyurl.com/ LandscapeAwards2017. Congratulations to the companies and personnel behind these projects!

All winning projects were displayed in the Innovation & Inspiration Theater during Northern Green 2017, recognized at the Green Industry Awards Celebration, and were presented in special sessions on our giant screen in the trade show floor. All winners receive the posters shown at Northern Green and many other marketing assets as well. MNLA creates a video and a plaque for each award given, plus delivers a linkable project page in our gallery, a sample press release, a winner’s crest, guidelines for pitching projects to local home magazines, and tips for marketing to other media.

DID YOU KNOW? Entries are NOT judged against each other. In any given year, ALL entries could win awards, or NO entries could win an award. Each entry is judged against the standards of excellence. Judges must decide whether an entry, in their opinion, meets or even exceeds those standards.

Firm: Southview Design Project: Big Easy in Highland Park Entrant: Matt Burton

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Firm: Mom’s Landscaping & Design, LLC Project: Glad Residence Entrant: Becca Bastyr

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➾ LANDSCAPE AWARD S

Firm: Yardscapes, Inc. Project: Residential Pool / Entertainment Project Entrant: David Kopfmann Team members: John Sather, project manager Subcontractors: Quality Pools - pool construction; Nelson Masonry and Concrete - masonry work with outdoor kitchen, stone wall and pillars

Firm: Magnolia Landscape & Design Co. Project: Wondra Residence Entrant: Thomas Hoese - Designer Team members: Jerrod Fisher — Landscape & Masonry Foreman; Tyler Wortz — Rendering & Design Support

THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 AWARDS SPONSORS:

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➾ DON'T FORGET

UTILITY LOCATES IM PO RTAN T ADVI SO RY TO M E M BE RS

MNLA ADVISES ITS MEMBERS TO REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING: Anytime Anytime you you are are going going to to dig dig anywhere anywhere in in a a landscape, landscape, CALL CALL BEFORE BEFORE YOU YOU DIG. DIG. In In the the metro metro area, area, call call the the Gopher Gopher State State One One Call Call at at 651-454-0002 651-454-0002 or, or, outside outside the the metro, metro, call call toll-free toll-free 800-252-1166 800-252-1166 at at least least 48 48 hours hours in in advance advance of of anticipated anticipated excavation. excavation. In In the the busy busy spring spring season, season, be be aware aware that that experience experience has has shown shown that that it it can can take take even even longer longer for for markings markings to to occur. occur. You You have have 96 96 hours hours (4 (4 days) days) to to begin begin digging digging after after the the markings markings are are placed. (Both (Both the the 48-hour 48-hour rule rule and and 96-hour 96-hour rule rule exclude exclude Saturdays, Saturdays, Sundays Sundays and and holidays.) holidays.) placed.

After markings have been made, excavators are required to maintain a minimum horizontal (side to side) clearance of two feet (24 inches) between an unexposed facility and the cutting edge or point of any power operated excavating or earth-moving equipment. For example, if the markings indicate a 6" pipe is buried, the hand dig zone is 54" wide (6" + 24" on each side of the mark). If excavation is required within the hand dig zone, the excavation must be performed very carefully, with vacuum excavation or hand tools, and without damage to the facility or undermining lateral support. Remember that facility depths may vary due to installation practices, changes in the grade, erosion and other variables.

In the course of digging, if you expose a utility line, it is your responsibility to inspect and support the facilities before backfilling. If you damage the utility line, it is your responsibility to immediately notify the utility owner directly.

For a Professional Excavators Manual, call 651-454-8388 (do not call this number for locates) or see the website www.gopherstateonecall.org. Once at the website, click on “site map” in the lower right corner; in the “select-a-link” section, choose “Professional Excavators Manual;” and then click on the picture for the table of contents.

MNLA ALSO REMINDS MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Gopher State One Call now has a free mobile app, which offers quick access to many of Gopher State One Call’s resources from a smartphone or tablet, whether you’re at the office or working at a job site. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices. To download the free GSOC app, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play and search for “GSOC” or “Gopher State One Call.”

Minnesota Statutes section 326B.35 clearly identifies that communication utility work is covered by the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). “Communication utility work” includes burial of telephone and cable TV lines. (Source: Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Construction Codes and Licensing Division) National Electrical Safety Code table 352-1 requires communication cables to be installed at a 24" burial depth. A lesser depth is allowed if the cable is provided with supplemental protection.

If you cut a communications line during routine lawn work such as aeration, or if you have followed ALL of the utility marking procedures required, yet inadvertently cut a communications line that has not been properly buried, it may be a reasonable business practice to bill the offending utility for any inconvenience caused to you or your customer.

REMEMBER, FOLLOW THE RULES AND CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! april 17

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➾ ME MBER N EWS

WELCOME NEW MNLA MEMBERS! Anne Robertson Snowplowing & Lawncare Service Anne Robertson Lake Shore, MN, 218-963-6078

Jacon LLC Jason Jacobsen Vadnais Heights, MN, 651-200-4174

Dakota Turf Cory Unterschuetz Farmington, MN, 651-460-8873

Jim’s Lawn Service Jim Lind Carlton, MN, 218-380-8278

Dalles Electricians, Inc. Joseph Jerrick Balsam Lake, WI, 715-825-3272

Metro Outdoor Services Ron Schmidt Prior Lake, MN, 952-440-4600

Heaven on Earth Farm LLC Laura Domagala Baldwin, WI, 651-253-2262

MJL Contracting Mike Lang Isanti, MN, 612-369-7430

Herzog Roofing Nick Disse Detroit Lakes, MN, 218-847-1121

Nicki’s Blooms Nicki Oswald New Brighton, MN, 612-520-1073

Holicky Bros, Inc. Ryan Hunt Le Center, MN, 507-357-6970

Saline Landscape Mike Saline Duluth, MN, 218-626-5501

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HORTICULTURE ENROLLMENT GETTING CREATIVE WHEN COLLEGE HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS HIT ENROLLMENT LOWS What can college horticulture programs do to respond to low enrollment? A recommendation written by Heidi Shol, a student in the Horticulture Program with the University of MinnesotaCrookston, reports research on this topic and feasible solutions.

The low enrollment in horticulture is an issue facing college programs and the horticulture industry on a national level.

Enrollment in horticulture has been declining over the years since the late 1980s. The main reason proffered for this sudden shortage of students interested in horticulture is the lack of awareness about horticulture in general. On the other hand, it’s noted that the field is diverse and growing. One solution proposed suggests that horticulture programs be altered so that the introductory course is more inclusive of the other majors and gives a “bigger picture” perspective on horticulture, beyond

Paulette Sorenson

just the plant-related aspects of it (such as plant physiology and production).

Of the possible solutions proposed in this commendable report, the recommendation is for horticulture students to engage in public outreach to recruit future horticulture students. This solution takes a more direct approach by giving presentations to students outside the university, both within the vicinity and in student’s hometowns. Reaching students at a critical point in their education may help them see horticulture as a career opportunity. Presentations during career days and in classes are some of the best locations to recruit students.

You can download and read the full report by clicking here (link available with the Online Scoop).

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➾ LA S T WORD

WORD ON STREET THE

QUESTION: W HAT IS THE BEST IDEA YOU HEARD AT NORTHERN GREEN THAT YOU’RE GOING TO PUT INTO PRACTICE IN YOUR BUSINESS OR DAILY WORK LIFE?

FAITH APPELQUIST, TREE QUALITY LLC

One of the takeaways for me from Northern Green is that dwarf shrubs are HOT. American yards are shrinking and more people live in the city and on ever-smaller lots. Along with less space for plants, I am hearing more requests for gardens that require little day-to-day maintenance. Dwarf shrubs are a big hit due to their low maintenance needs. If you only need a 2-foot plant, why plant something that’ll grow to 4 feet and then spend the next 20 years clipping it? It’s all about plants that are the appropriate scale for the garden. Plant breeders are responding by cultivating an increasing variety of dwarf shrubs with variegated foliage, compact size, disease resistance, and longer bloom time.

KENT HONL, RAINBOW TREECARE

I would say the best idea I heard at Northern Green was to take responsibility for contribution to our industry in some ways I might not have done before — namely, planning to participate in MNLA’s Green Industry Day on the Hill. I also have started to make contributions of writing pieces for the MNLA magazine, The Scoop.

CONNIE KRATZKE, KAHNKE BROTHERS TREE FARM

MEG ARNOSTI, SOUTHVIEW DESIGN

The innovative use of copper and steel in the landscape is emerging as a landscape trend in Minnesota. Some of the design awards, speakers, and vendors showed gates, fire pits, pergolas, and walls made of metal. I am using this as inspiration for my own designs in 2017.

The most interesting thing I heard at Northern Green this year was during John Erwin’s campfire session on container media. He talked about research the U of M is doing with salt (calcium nitrate). Apparently, used at low rates, this fertilizer has shown some merit as a preventative fungicide and growth regulator. Who knew?

Join us next year from January 2–4, 2018* at the Minneapolis Convention Center!

*Note: This is a one year date change due to the “Big Game” being hosted in Minneapolis in 2018.

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MNLA FOUNDATION 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

PARTNERS FUND You are encouraged to participate in the Research & Education Partners Fund at one of the participating suppliers recognized below. Your voluntary donation of ¼ of 1% (0.25%) on purchases of plants and other nursery, greenhouse and landscape products at these suppliers 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 $2.50. Your individual contribution is small, but collectively these small contributions will add up to make a real difference!

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