The Growing Concern - February 2013

Growing Concern

The

February 2013

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e O h i o La n d s c a p e A s s o c i a t i o n

OLA Meeting – Central Ohio February 13, 2013 PAGE 11

Ohio Green Industry Advocacy Day February 27, 2013 PAGE 26

Stone Clinic: Right Tool/Right Technique March 7, 2013 PAGE 21

GET BUSINESS INSURANCE FROM A GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERT Save up to 25% with only a 10 10-- 15 minute investment

Truck and Dump Fleets Contractors Equipment General Liability Buildings and Contents Greg Botson, Certified Ins Counselor 20 year OLA Member

Call Today to see how we can solve your insurance concerns.

1. Call me at 440-934-1603 ext. 819 2. Call me on my cell 440-537-2292 3. Email me for a quote at: greg@botsoninsurancegroup.com YOU CAN NOW VISIT US ON FACEBOOK!

President’s column

Inspiration

In my previous article, it was my hope that when you read it that we were still atop the “Fiscal Cliff” and not careening into the abyss. Well, at this point in time, I’m not sure if we have one foot off or if we’re hanging on by a finger. I guess it depends on your perspective and, again, time will be the truthsayer.

So this is the time of year landscaping slows while snow and ice management take over.

Planning for spring installations is well underway and I am trying to wrap up plans before heading to sunshine and palm trees at the end of the month. After doing this for so many years I sometimes find myself in a design rut. It seems easy to fall into the same old walk and patio designs that have worked in the past – just a few tweaks and it’s good enough. Add in the trees and bushes, get the contract signed and let’s get it in the ground. Sound familiar? How do you change your perspective to invigorate your designs?

I was recently asked by a reporter what the new trends in landscaping are. It’s easy to spout off what is popular right now – outdoor kitchens, fire pits, sustainable design, etc… But what is the new big trend we don’t know about yet and where do we find it? There are countless magazines, websites and TV shows touting the next big thing. Some truly are new and exciting and yet most seem to re-examine current ideas.

This past fall my sons participated in a robotic LEGO® competition. As part of a team they designed, constructed and

programmed a LEGO® robot to fulfill missions as set out by the competition rules. It seemed a daunting task for a group of twelve year olds to pull off. But sitting back and watching those young minds work was fascinating. The ideas and concepts these kids brought to the table were impressive. Even more impressive was competition day and seeing how the other teams solved the same missions in completely different ways.

So where do new trends come from? We either wait until the next generation of minds brings them to us or we take what we know and apply it in ways we haven’t thought of. We need to think like kids again. To them it seems like nothing is impossible. You just need to try it.

To help you get started, our OLA Educational Series offers a lot of upcoming opportunities to help you learn and grow.

Check OhioLandscapers.org for more information on education as well as a wealth of other items useful for your business.

JAmes Arch, ASLA Vizmeg Landscape, Inc.

So where do new trends come from? ... We need to think like kids again.

To them it seems like nothing is impossible.

You can also grab inspiration by looking within our own industry at the Landscape Ohio! Awards Program. This competition is Ohio’s most prestigious awards program and projects that have won an award are truly deserving. All winning projects and companies are promoted to the public on our consumer website. Go to MyOhioLandscape.com for a chance to see projects you might otherwise not get to see, start imagining, and get inspired.

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x3

Ta b l e o f c o n t e n t s FEBRU A RY 2 0 1 3 w w w . o h i o l a n d s c a p e r s . o r g

Ohio’s Professional Green I n d u s t r y A s s o c i at i o n Ohio Landscape Association 9238 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440-717-0002 or 1-800-335-6521 Fax: 440-717-0004 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org or www.myohiolandscape.com Editor Lindsay Scott, Ohio Landscape Association

Features

3

President’s Column

8

For Safety Sake

Inspiration

Personal Protective Equipment

12

Perennial Focus

More Summer Bulbs

18

Fiscal Fitness

Financial Basic Fundamentals

22

Plant Of The Month

Myrica pensylvanica Northern Bayberry

28 Delegate and Know When to Let Go of Small Business Operations

32

Advertising Information Submission deadline: 10th of month prior to publication month. For advertising and classified rates, please call 1-800-335-6521 Disclaimer The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attest to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.

Officers President James Arch, ASLA President-Elect Joe Twardzik, CID Treasurer Chad Mikin

Directors Patrick Beam, RLA Jason Cromley Josh Hayden Chris Meltzer, MLA Steve Moore Cathy Serafin, ASLA, RLA Bryan Taynor

Directions Reaching Out

Inside Every Issue

5 31 34

Regular Writers James Arch, ASLA, Vizmeg Landscape, Inc. Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Jim Funai, COLP, Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Welcome New Members Advertising Index ClassifiedS

OLA Staff Executive Director Sandy Munley Membership Coordinator Jean Koch Events and Communications Manager Lindsay Scott

Ca l e n d a r o f E V e n t s U p c o m i n g OL A m e e t i n g s , e d u c a t i o n s e m i n a r s a n d o t h e r g r e e n i n d u s t r y e v e n t s

FEBRUARY

Landscape Industry Certified Technician Written Test February 5, 2013 Written test will be offered at the OLA office in Broadview Heights. To check additional dates of when the written test will be offered or for more information on the Landscape Industry Certified Technician Test, visit OhioLandscapers.org.

March

Landscape Ohio! Awards Dinner MARCH 21, 2013

Stone Clinic: Right Tool/ Right Technique MARCH 7, 2013 Instructed by Chris Pascoe. Sponsored and hosted by Tri-R-Stone in Garfield Heights.

For more information or to register online, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Landscape Design Short Course, Part III MARCH 11-13, 2013

Central Ohio Meeting Announcement FEBRUARY 13, 2013 Go behind the scenes and join us for a tour of Thorsen’s Greenhouse in Delaware, Ohio.

For more information or to register online, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Landscape Design Short Course, Part II FEBRUARY 26-28, 2013 Part II of three landscape design courses that build on each other. Instructed by Kathy Stokes-Shafer, APLD. Held at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville. For more information or to register online, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Ohio Green Industry Advocacy Day FEBRUARY 27, 2013 Partner with other green industry colleagues and visit state legislators about critical issues important to Ohio’s green industry. For more information, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Part III of three landscape design courses that build on each other. Instructed by Kathy Stokes-Shafer. Held at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville. For more information or to register online, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

OLA Meeting Announcement MARCH 14, 2013 Topic: Creative landscape solutions that sell.

Speaker: Kevin O’Brien, APLD, Lifestyle Landscaping. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Heights. For more information or to register online, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

OLA Family Fun Night MARCH 20, 2013 Join the OLA and watch the Cavs take on the Miami Heat. A limited number of discounted tickets are available. Tickets are on sale until January 20, 2013 unless sold out prior. For more information or to register online, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

An invitation-only event for those companies that have entered the Landscape Ohio! Awards Program. Held at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. For more information about the Landscape Ohio! Awards program, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

August

OLA Scholarship Golf Classic AUGUST 1, 2013 A great day that includes 18 holes of golf, cart, driving range, breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, game day contests and lots and lots of fun. Held at Mallard Creek golf Course in Columbia Station. For more information on registration or sponsorship, please contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Landscape Industry Certified Technician Test August 8, 2013 The hands-on portion of the Landscape Industry Certified Technician Test will be offered on the campus of the OSU/ATI in Wooster. For more information, visit OhioLandscapers.org or call The Ohio State ATI at 330-287-7511.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS !

The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association: REGULAR MEMBERS: Green Valley Landscapes 7551 Center Road Valley City, OH 44280 (330) 483-3644 Gary Antolik

Site Design Pros, LLC 378 Maple Street Ravenna, OH 44266 (216) 244-2056 Doug Brown

ASSOCIATE MEMBER:

AFFILIATE MEMBER:

STUDENT MEMBERS:

DMA Solutions

Jerry Chidsey

PO Box 365 Sharon Center, OH 44274 (330) 239-4373 Ken Throckmorton

Land Creations Landscaping 33593 E. Royalton Road Columbia Station, OH 44028-9706 (440) 748-2500

Medina Vocational School David Tevs

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x5

6 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

OLA Meeting

Announcement 2012/2013 NE Ohio Meeting Sponsors Gold Level

March 14, 2013 Developing Creative Landscape Solutions That Sell FEATURING

Kevin O’Brien Lifestyle Landscaping, Inc. Inspiration. We all seek it. And, by using the power of three simple words, “what”, “why”, and “how”, you will find it.

Silver Level ABC EQUIPMENT RENTAL & SALES BOTSON INSURANCE GROUP ELECTRONIC MERCHANT SYSTEMS R.A.K. SALES

Bronze Level ADVANCED TURF SOLUTIONS DAVIS TREE FARM AND NURSERY

During this session, Kevin O’Brien, award-winning landscape designer at Lifestyle Landscaping, Inc., will share with us his practical approach to developing creative landscape ideas. He will discuss the importance of thinking inside the box to keep design ideas saleable and offer suggestions for integrating unique concepts into an overall design. Kevin promises to let us get “inside his head” as he leads us on a journey from concept to form, with sample line drawings, photos, and, yes, even a napkin sketch.

Kevin O’Brien has been developing creative, residential gardens throughout Northeast Ohio for more than two decades. He is a 1989 graduate of the University of Montana, School of Forestry, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Management. Kevin currently serves as a landscape designer for Lifestyle Landscaping - a design/build firm located in Grafton.

AGENDA 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

REGISTRATION, NETWORKING, FOOD, CASH BAR

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

PROGRAM AND Q&A

EMMETT EQUIPMENT POND SUPPLIES OF OHIO THE SAGAMORE COMPANIES ZORESCO EQUIPMENT

FREE to OLA Members Non-Members $25

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY MARCH 4, 2013 HELD AT ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 East Mill Rd (I-77 & Wallings Rd) Broadview Heights, OH 44147 QUALIFIES 1.5 CEU

REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG OR CALL THE OLA AT 1-800-335-6521 OR EMAIL INFO@OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG

F o r Sa f e t y Sa k e

Personal Protective Equipment U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and safety shoes, PPE includes a variety of devices and garments such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.

Responsibilities As An Employer OSHA’s general PPE requirements mandate that employers conduct a hazard assessment of their workplaces to determine what hazards are present that require the use of PPE, provide workers with appropriate PPE, and require them to use and maintain it in a sanitary and reliable condition.

Using PPE is often essential but it is generally the last line of defense after engineering controls, work practices, and administrative controls. Engineering controls involve physically changing a machine or work environment.

Administrative controls involve changing how or when employees do their jobs, such as scheduling work and rotating employees to reduce exposures. Work practices involve training workers how to perform tasks in ways that reduce their exposure to workplace hazards.

As an employer, you must assess your workplace to determine if hazards are present that require the use of PPE. If such hazards are present, you must select PPE and require employees to use it, communicate your PPE selection

8 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

As an employer, you must assess your workplace to determine if hazards are present that require the use of PPE. decisions to your employees, and select PPE that properly fits your workers.

You must also train employees who are required to wear PPE on how do the following: • Use PPE properly • Be aware of when PPE is necessary • Know what kind of PPE is necessary • Understand the limitations of PPE in protecting employees from injury • Don, adjust, wear, and doff PPE • Maintain PPE properly

Head Injuries Hard hats can protect your employees from head impact, penetration injuries, and electrical injuries such as those caused by falling or flying objects, fixed objects, or contact with electrical conductors. Also, OSHA regulations require employers to ensure that workers cover and protect long hair to prevent it from getting caught in machine parts such as belts and chains. continued on page 10

New/Used Commercial & Construction Equipment

Ohio grown for over 45 years and proud of it!

Parts and Service

Mineral & Organic Grown Sod Blue Grass Blend Improved Tall Fescue Fine Leaf Fescue Blue Grass Mix Bark Mulch Ties Shredded Topsoil, Peat, and Custom Blending

Now With 7 Locations To Serve You!

wooster

mansfield

mt vernon

330-345-9023

419-529-6160

740-392-6160

monroeville

copley

medina

419-465-4622

330-666-8400

330-722-1411

north royalton 440-237-4806

www.ShearerEquipment.com

1-800-683-1686 www.medinasodfarms.com The Growing Concern x February 2013

x9

F o r Sa f e t y Sa k e continued from pg 8 Foot And Leg Injuries

klynnurseries.com Over 1800 Different Species And Cultivars To Meet Your Needs! bamboo grasses perennials ferns vines roses dwarf conifers bog & marginals shade & ornamental trees

In addition to foot guards and safety shoes, leggings (e.g., leather, aluminized rayon, or other appropriate material) can help prevent injuries by protecting employees from hazards such as falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, wet and slippery surfaces, molten metals, hot surfaces, and electrical hazards.

Eye And Face Injuries Besides spectacles and goggles, PPE such as special helmets or shields, spectacles with side shields, and face shields can protect employees from the hazards of flying fragments, large chips, hot sparks, optical radiation, splashes from molten metals, as well as objects, particles, sand, dirt, mists, dusts, and glare.

Hearing Loss Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can help prevent damage to hearing.

Exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible hearing loss or impairment as well as physical and psychological stress. Earplugs made from foam, waxed cotton, or fiberglass wool are self-forming and usually fit well. A professional should fit your employees individually for molded or preformed earplugs. Clean earplugs regularly and replace those you cannot clean.

Hand Injuries Workers exposed to harmful substances through skin absorption, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes will benefit from hand protection.

Visit Our Website For Product Availability, Our 2013 Catalog, Quote Form, And More!

(contact us to receive your username and password.) klyn nurseries, inc.

1-800-860-8104 klynnurseries.com

Respiratory Protection When engineering controls are not feasible, workers must use appropriate respirators to protect against adverse health effects caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors. Respirators generally cover the nose and mouth or the entire face or head and help prevent illness and injury. A proper fit is essential, however, for respirators to be effective. All employees required to wear respirators must first undergo medical evaluation.

You can find more information about PPE, including the full text of OSHA’s standards, on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

10 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

OLA Central Ohio

Meeting Announcement February 13, 2013 Going Behind The Scenes At Thorsen’s Greenhouse Delaware, Ohio Tour and Networking Meeting

Thorsen’s Greenhouse produces indoor and outdoor blooming plants from poinsettias to pansies to hanging pots to fall mums and resells tropical plants. Their annual sales volume is $5.1 million and they primarily sell to Costco in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh. Thorsen’s also sells to florists in an 80 to 90 mile radius of Delaware and opened a small retail area in Spring 2012.

Doug Thorsen began his career in the hardware industry. He was recruited by the owner of Maple Lee Greenhouse to manage their operations. After 16 years he purchased the business in 2000 and changed it’s name to Thorsen’s.

Join us for an evening of networking and tour the operation to see the challenges a large greenhouse operation faces on a day-to-day basis.

AGENDA 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm REGISTRATION, NETWORKING, FOOD

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

HOSTED BY THORSEN’S GREENHOUSE 2069 Hyatts Road Delaware, OH 43015

TOUR

NO CHARGE TO ATTEND RSVP for your complimentary attendance by February 4, 2013

REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG OR CALL THE OLA AT 1-800-335-6521 OR EMAIL INFO@OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG

Perennial Focus

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Gladiolus communis – Photo courtesy of Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD

More Summer Bulbs Most of the summer bulbs that I discussed last time bloom during the transition time between late spring and early summer. There are some others that also deserve your consideration.

Eremurus (Foxtail Lily), hardy to zone 5, is a stunner that always garners attention because of its height and its unusual blooms. It is available in shades of yellow, orange, peach, and white.

Eremurus stenophyllus sports three to four foot yellow spires while many of the hybrids grow four to five feet high.

Drainage for these fleshy but brittle roots is absolutely crucial. The addition of an expanded aggregate will help immensely. When you plant, mound the soil under the roots and carefully spread them out. Your hole should be much wider than it is deep. They look best when sited behind other shrubs or perennials that hide part of the bare stalks. continued on page 14

12 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Don’t forget to keep these bulbs in mind when designing new gardens or tweaking old ones.

Your Complete Tree Care Specialists vanc urentreecare.com Complete Tree Maintenance Programs phone:

(440) 338-5005 fax:

(440) 564-9319

Certified Arborists on Staff Tree Removal Tree Trimming Land Clearing 168’ 30 Ton Crane

sales representatives: John D. Grabner James DiRosa, Certified Arborist David R. Van Curen

75’ Bucket Trucks Deep Root Fertilization 24-Hour Emergency Service Stump Grinding

www.vancurentreecare.com

free estimates

Tree Moving

fully insured

the NEXT GENERATION PATIO COVER Louvered Roof Systems for Residential & Commercial Outdoor Leisure Space • 100% extruded aluminum with a lifetime warranty

Of NOrtheast OhiO

www.alrpatioliving.com

For a Free No Obligation Estimate

(330) 548-2178

114 Barrington Town Square Dr., Ste 201 Aurora, Ohio 44202 E-Mail: alrofneohio@gmail.com

• Open for the warm sun & natural light, close for cool shade or rain with remote • 99% waterproof…protects your deck or patio & outdoor furniture • Engineered for extreme winds and heavy snowloads • Lowers the temperature of the deck or patio by 15-20 degrees • Cuts 98% of UV Rays • Saves 15-30% on your cooling bill • Stops sunfade on your hardwood floors, carpets & interior furnishings • Standard remote controlled motorized operation • Stunning colors to match your home, structure

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 13

Perennial Focus continued from pg 12 If you are familiar with Gladiolus communis ssp.byzantinus (Sword Lily), give yourself a gold medal. This little known, late May to early June blooming bulb, has the typical linear foliage of the gladiolas used in cut flower arrangements except that the flowers are magenta and bloom all the way up the two foot stem. This Gladiolus has smaller flowers than the florist species but it is hardy to zone 5 and does not need staking. The foliage remains quite lovely throughout the summer and into the fall. It blooms at the same time as Aquilegia (Columbine) and I planted mine near an old-fashioned, double pink Aquilegia for a bit of color echo.

The Allium that I mentioned last time all had heads that are various shades of purple but the relatively short Allium unifolium (One-Leaf Onion), hardy to zone 5, has small, pale pink heads on ten to twelve inch stems. (The catalogs says twelve to eighteen inches tall but mine have never achieved that stature.) I’ve combined mine with the reseeding annual Nigella damascene and the pastel color blend is quite pleasing.

Do not neglect Allium nigrum, the Black Onion, so named because of its black seeds. Growing eighteen to thirty inches high and hardy to zone 4, its lovely white and green balls blend well with virtually any other plants. Mine are planted near Penstemon barbatus with its bright reddish-orange flowers and Echinacea paradoxa (yellow flowers) and ‘Sunset’ (orange flowers).

Blooming a little bit later, starting any time between the first and third weeks of June depending on the weather, is Allium caeruleum, formerly known as Allium azureum. Blue is a beloved color and these twelve to eighteen inch medium balls endear themselves to everyone. Try planting them between Platycodon (Balloon Flower).

The foliage is still short in June and the flowers won’t emerge until August.

Don’t forget to keep these bulbs in mind when designing new gardens or tweaking old ones.

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, free-lance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four-season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Bobbie currently serves as chair of the ONLA Plant Selection Committee. Bobbie can be reached at (216) 752-9449.

Allium unifolium

14 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

OLA EDUCATION SERIES

These three landscape design courses build on each other. They are intended for those who have not had any formal design training and who seek a sound working knowledge of the design process. No previous drawing skills are needed.

In class, participants will be drawing their designs, but whether you choose in the future to

draw your designs by hand or use computer graphics, you still need to know the basics of good landscape composition. These classes will delve into the design process, sales, and focus on

the design principles.

Participants will work on various projects that will enhance your creativity and give you a new way of looking at a property and the client’s needs. Some projects will deal with elevation changes, water features, and plant compositions.

Landscape Design Course, Part II February 26-28, 2013 Landscape Design Course, Part III March 11-13, 2013

By enrolling in this series of three hands-on courses, participants will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the landscape design principles and the design process, and will be able to prepare graphically well-drafted landscape plans for residential properties.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN COURSE, PART II Recommended pre-requisite is Course I Instructed by Kathy Stokes-Shafer, APLD Each 3-day course 8:00 am to 5:00/6:00 pm Held at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Brecksville, OH

Each course qualifies for 27 CEUs for Landscape Industry Certified

For additional information, to register online, or to download a registration form, go to OhioLandscapers.org.

Participants will delve into the design principles, design themes, force lines, and visualization of spaces. Individual help will be given throughout the process and participants will view lots of slides to spark creativity. Skills taught will include: • Quick colored impressions for emphasizing design principles

• Emphasis will be on speed for plan drawings

• Looking at art and landscapes to see how the design principles are applied

• Design projects include a condominium garden, corner lot, master plan for single family residence - front and back with pool

• Form composition exercise based on design themes and force lines

LANDSCAPE DESIGN COURSE, PART III Recommended pre-requisite is Course II

This course will cover plant composition, designing for major elevation changes, outdoor kitchens, pondless water features and overhead structures - plus more emphasis on the design principles.

• Proper format for plant lists and labeling

• Design projects with challenging elevation changes

• Plant composition, texture, form, color and function

• Outdoor living - kitchens, fire pits and overhead structures

• Design principles as they relate to plants and plant placement

Stand Out

Ohio Landscape Industry Certified Technician Test Partnership

By earning your Landscape Industry Certified Technician certification, you send a message to your clients and/or employers that you’ve met and achieved the industry standard, and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of all the facets of your job.

Landscape Industry Certified Technician Written & Hands-on Test Dates Registration deadline for the hands-on test is June 5, 2013.

February 5, 2013 - WRITTEN TEST (OLA Office in Broadview Heights)

August 7, 2013 - WRITTEN TEST (Ohio State ATI in Wooster)

February 12, 2013 - WRITTEN TEST (Ohio State ATI in Wooster)

August 8, 2013 - WRITTEN TEST (Ohio State ATI in Wooster)

February 19, 2013 - WRITTEN TEST (Thornton’s Landscape in Cincinnati)

August 8, 2013 - HANDS-ON TEST (Ohio State ATI in Wooster)

REGISTER TODAY! Deadline to register for the hands-on test is June 5, 2013. For additional

information about the test, registration information or study materials, visit www.ohiolandscapers.org or www.onla.org, or call The Ohio State ATI at 330-287-7511 or 330-287-0100.

looking to grow your business?

SOLUTIONS: Credit / Debit Card Processing Check Services eCommerce Solutions Customized Gift & Loyalty Cards Wireless Processing Multi Currency Processing Merchant Funding

www.emscorporate.com/ola

For More Information, Call Anwar Salti:

440.782.1811 The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 17

Fiscal Fitness

Michael J. Donnellan King Financial, Inc.

Financial Basic Fundamentals This month I wanted to get back to the basics on a few of the important things investors should look for when analyzing a company’s stock.

All publicly traded companies are required to disclose quarterly and annual reports, which give investors insight into a company’s operations. Here are the main items to look for when analyzing a company’s fundamentals…

Revenues The amount of money a company actually receives during a specific period. Sales generally account for most revenues for a corporation.

Gross Income Total revenue minus the cost of goods sold. Costs of goods sold usually includes the material, labor and overhead that goes into producing the good or service. continued on page 20

18 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

You can use the same simple analysis to start your fundamental understanding of any stock.

Why should you choose Unilock?

• Superior Products • Endless Possibilities • Lifetime Guarantee Only Unilock gives you the ability to create truly original designs. With the most color and texture options available you can make combinations to create something truly unique.

Why should you choose Mason Steel as your Unilock supplier?

• Large Inventory • Timely Delivery • Expert Sales Force

Mason Steel is Proud to be Ohio’s Largest Unilock Dealer Visit our new and improved website at www.masonsteel.com Your Outdoor Living Headquarters 7500 Northfield Road • Walton Hills, OH 44146

(440) 439-1040

www.masonsteel.com

www.willowaynurseries.com Corporate Offices / Main Nursery 4534 Center Road Avon, Ohio 44011-0299 Email: sales@willowaynurseries.com Toll Free: 866-934-4435 / Fax: 440-934-5826

Avon

Distribution Centers

4825 Center Rd. / Avon, Oh. 44011-0299 Toll Free: 866-934-4435 ext. 2251 / Local: 440-934-3813 Fax: 440-934-4621 E-mail: bowens@willowaynurseries.com Bill Owens, Manager

Columbus

6981 Scioto Darby Creek Road / Hilliard, Oh. 43026 Toll Free: 888-593-5999 / Local: 614-777-9859 Fax: 614-777-1276 E-mail: Jack@willowaynurseries.com Jack Johnston, Manager

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 19

Fiscal Fitness continued from pg 18 Net Income The profit remaining after selling expenses, taxes, interest expenses, etc., with the remainder being the profit or loss. You may hear this being referred to as the bottom line as it is the last line of a company’s income statement.

Earnings Per Share The amount of net income divided by the number of common shares of stock of the company. A number that shows the profitability of each piece of the pie.

Price/Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio) A valuation of the company’s share price compared to the per share earnings.

Price/Earnings to Growth Ratio (PEG Ratio)

If we divide that by the number of shares outstanding, which were 388 million shares, that means each share earned $7.89 per share. This is called the Earnings Per Share and is the bottom line number an investor can use to compare the fundamentals to the stock price.

The current stock price is $87 per share. Divide the stock price by the earnings ($7.89 in 2012) and you have a P/E Ratio of 11. Looking forward to 2013 earnings of $8.34 you will arrive at a P/E Ratio of 10.4.

We already determined Deere is growing revenues at an annual pace of 12.96% last year and the estimates are for revenue growth of 6% this upcoming year. Earnings increased 10% in 2012 and are expected to grow 9% in 2013. The PEG Ratio is almost exactly 1.00. That means that Deere is priced in the market according to their growth rate.

A valuation metric to compare the company’s Price/ Earnings Ratio to its growth rate.

You can use the same simple analysis to start your fundamental understanding of any stock.

Now let’s apply the above terms to a real life company.

We’ll talk about Deere & Co., which has revenues of $36.16 billion, compared to $32.01 billion in 2011.

That is a revenue growth of 12.96%. That is pretty good growth for an established, large, blue chip company which generally has more stability and pays a 2.10% dividend.

The analysis above is intended to assist investors and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to buy or sell any security. Talk to your financial and tax advisors for information specific to your individual needs and goals.

For the 2011 year, Deere had $25 billion in cost of revenue, which resulted in $11.16 billion in Gross Income.

After paying everything else Deere had $3.06 billion remaining. That’s the Net Income.

20 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Michael J. Donnellan is President of King Financial, Inc., in Strongsville, Ohio specializing in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments.

Phone numbers are (440) 878-9676 (888) 780-STOX (7869).

OLA EDUCATION SERIES

March 7, 2013

Presented by

9:00 am to 4:00 pm Instructed by

Chris Pascoe Tri-R-Stone Held at

Tri-R-Stone Garfield Heights, OH

Sponsored & Hosted by

With the proper tools and the right skills, you can dress stone on the job and save money using age-old techniques.

Join us for this hands-on clinic where you will learn rockfacing, cutting, dressing, coping, splitting, and tooling.

You will learn the difference between sandstone and limestone, and their different varieties and grades that require different techniques; as well as the skills for handling barnstone.

Qualifies for 6 CEUs for Landscape Industry Certified

Chris Pascoe is a Master Stone Mason and has over 25 years of experience in the stone industry. He grew up and studied in England before traveling to the US to work on the Cathedral St. John The Devine in New York city.

Continental breakfast and lunch are included with each registration. Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase quality stoneworking tools in advance of the clinic. REGISTER EARLY - class size is limited to only 24 participants and will sell out quickly!

Cancellations made 8 to 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds will be issued for cancellations 7 days or less prior to the course, no shows, or cancellations on the day of the course. If, for any reason, the course is cancelled, enrollees will be notified, and fees refunded in full.

Register On Time, Payment Received Before 02/21/13 Register Late, Payment Received After 02/21/13 Firm Address City Phone (______)

OLA Members OLA Members

$129 $159

NON Members NON Members

$169 $199

Contact State Fax (______)

Zip

Email

NAME OF ATTENDEE

FEE $ $

 Check No. ___________ Enclosed

Charge to my

 MasterCard

 Visa

TOTAL DUE

$

Acct. No.

Exp. Date

Name on Card

Signature

Billing Address + Zipcode for Card

Last Three Digits on Signature Line

STONE CLINIC: RIGHT TOOL/RIGHT TECHNIQUE Make checks payable and send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9238 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., OH 44147 Register online, by mail, by phone or fax: Phone 1-800-335-6521 • Fax 440-717-0004 • www.ohiolandscapers.org

Plant Of the Month

Jim Funai, COLP Cuyahoga Community College

Shelley Funai Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Myrica pensylvanica

Northern Bayberry

Blame it on the weather, but we can’t help but think a good plant of the month this time is something with proven salt tolerance.

Have you noticed those out of place burlap “fences” temporarily protecting defenseless little boxwood hedges from the barrage of salt that will be thrown at them all winter? Talk about an eyesore; that is poor landscape design. Worse yet, there is a restaurant we visit where each individual boxwood and false cypress is individually wrapped in burlap and tied up with twine. It looks like a lineup of kidnapped tourists with burlap sacks over their heads waiting for someone to pay their ransom. Who actually looks at that and says, “Honey, I bet that place has great food, the whole place is covered in burlap sacks”?

With this month’s plant, perhaps we can pay a few kidnap victims ransom and free the little boxwoods from their burlap prisons. Myrica pensylvanica or Northern Bayberry is a great replacement to many evergreens in a location that will experience heavy salt use. Keep in mind, when we are talking about substituting one plant for another, it is an exercise in negotiation.

We may have to give up one feature to receive another.

22 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

...Northern Bayberry is a great replacement to many evergreens in a location that will experience heavy salt use.

Bayberry is often described as semi-evergreen but it would be wise to assume it will lose the majority of its leaves each winter. It is slower to lose its leaves than many of its neighbor plants, but it also slightly slower to get them back in the spring. Therefore, we give up some evergreen leaves but we gain a tolerance to salt.

(Which, when you look at the alternatives – burlap sacks or brown leaves from salt burn - are we not already giving up evergreen leaves?) Why not consider keeping the landscape looking natural and using plants adapted to the situation. continued on page 24

AS MANY STYLES AS THERE ARE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

NO OTHER COMPANY CONNECTS LIKE UNILOCK ... with EXCEPTIONAL VARIETY Connect with your clients like never before with the industry’s broadest range of looks, colors and textures.

From traditional to modern, there’s something for everyone. ... with SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE Proprietary technologies include EnduraColor Plus an embedded surface layer of exceptionally strong and resilient minerals, guaranteeing a long-lasting beauty with colors that never fade. ... with UNSURPASSED FIELD SUPPORT Unilock’s field sales force is well equipped with leadingedge selling aids including proprietary 3D Vision design software, large format U-Vision color swatches and readily available samples. Our commitment to customer service excellence is second to none.

Call 1-800-UNILOCK to talk to your local representative.

Plant Of the Month continued from pg 22 Bayberry is a tough plant, ideal for the commercial setting as well as near hardscapes that see heavy salt use. Think about the types of soil that we find near any type of pavement or any commercial site. Usually rock hard and very infertile. Here is another chance for Bayberry to show off as it forms a symbiotic relationship with specific bacteria in the soil allowing for fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. What does that mean?

It means the plant can make its own fertilizer and is happy growing in poor soils.

On average, the plant is dioecious (Latin: Two Houses) which means the male flowers are borne on one plant and the female flowers are borne on a different plant (like holly). Sometimes it may be monoecious (one house). You will find some growers, such as Klyn Nursery, offering vegetatively propagated female plants. This is the only way to be certain, as plants grown from seed could be either gender. Of course, you will need at least one male in the group to ensure fruit set on the females.

In fact, we have seen this plant thrive in heavy clay, infertile, saline soils of a shopping plaza near the Tri-C East Campus for years.

In this plaza, there are multiple plantings next to the curbs of the drive and one that gets buried under snowplow piles. Each spring they jump to life and provide beautiful foliage all summer.

The fruit is a small (less than Âź inch) drupe with a blue-gray cast to the surface. Fruits are borne in clusters held close to the stems and will persist through the winter, making up for the loss of leaves with some ornamental feature much better than the burlap sack look. These fruits have been used for centuries along the east coast in candles. A waxy coating creates the blue-gray covering around the seed and is released when boiled in water. The wax floats to the surface of the water and is skimmed off to make a spicy scented candle.

When found in nature, the plant often prefers a sandy soil on the acidic side; the more you can mimic these conditions, the better the plant will perform. It can exhibit some iron chlorosis if the pH gets to high (alkaline). A quick fix for this is addition of a prescribed amount of holly tone.

Another fine feature of this plant is in habit. While the height is easy to control through pruning or hedging like the boxwood, it can reach into the 10-foot tall range. In its native setting near the Atlantic coast, wind keeps it below your knees without bothering the vigor one bit. The plant suckers readily from the root system and, in time, will try to build a colony of plants. You know those clients that prefer each plant to have its defined space with a sea of mulch in between each plant? This is not a plant for them. We think the suckering is a great feature; let the shrub build a thick mass and cut back on the amount of mulch you have to throw around each year.

As for ornamental features of the plant, consider the deep green shiny leaves to be one of the best. Leaves are at least twice as big as any boxwood and have a deeper green to them with proper soil pH. When crushed or broken, the leaves have a unique spicy scent to them. Flowers go unnoticed in the early spring prior to leaves emerging.

24 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Perhaps one of the best features of this plant is a severe lack of disease and insect issues. Maintenance consists of pruning (if needed) for size and keeping an eye on the soil pH through evidence of leaf color. Consider using this shrub near the infertile soils of hardscapes and high traffic areas. This plant will tolerate sheering into a formal hedge like boxwood. If you are accustomed to placing a boxwood hedge near a clients front walk and then putting up the burlap fence all winter, consider this as a prime replacement. A deciduous hedge looks better in winter than wood stakes and burlap.

Join our cause to free the kidnapped victims of poor landscape design and put a bayberry in today!

Jim Funai, COLP, is full time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a PLANET accredited, associate of applied science in horticulture degree program, offering many paths to higher education to the green industry. Shelley Funai is a full time Senior Gardener at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio that offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. Both are graduates of The Ohio State University. Contact Jim and Shelley via email at hortsquad@gmail.com

PUT EXMARK IN YOUR FLEET TODAY! ALL NEW MINI FLEET! FLEET DISCOUNT OF

15% OFF +

WHEN YOU PURCHASE AS FEW AS 2 UNITS!

RECEIVE A REWARD OF A

300 VISA GIFT CARD

$

WHEN YOU PURCHASE A MINI FLEET!

THE REWARD INCREASES TO A

500 VISA GIFT CARD

$

+

WHEN YOU ADD ANY 21" OR 30" WALK-BEHIND TO YOUR MINI FLEET!

ALL NEW COMMERCIAL CUTTER FLEET REWARDS PROGRAM! Ask your dealer how you can get fleet pricing for two full years!

Distributed By: Power Equipment Distributors, Inc. For More Information Please Call: 800.624.2932, visit www.PowerEqp.com or visit www.Exmark.com

ENDS APRIL 15, 2013.

Ask your dealer how you can increase your reward up to $1,000!

To find a dealer near you Scan QR code Or go to www.exmarkdealer.com

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 25

ohio green industry

ADVOCACY DAY February 27, 2013 COLUMBUS, OH You are invited to join us for the 2013 Ohio Green

REASONS TO ATTEND ADVOCACY DAY

Industry Advocacy Day on February 27th in Columbus.

LEGISLATION

This is a great chance to partner with fellow green industry colleagues to explain issues critical to your business and the size and importance of Ohio’s Green Industry to our state legislators.

Learn about newly introduced bills that will impact our business. Whether it’s on immigration, workers’ compensation or environmental reforms, this is the time for you to voice your concerns.

In these tough economic times, your participation in this grassroots effort is more important than ever before.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Elected officials need to be educated about our businesses and our needs. Your help is needed to build these relationships.

To particpate, complete the information below and return it with your registration fee before February 8, 2013 to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. Visit OhioLandscapers.org\advocacyday for a tentative agenda for the day.

BUDGET CUTS Learn what these budget cuts might mean for your business.

PARTNERING ASSOCIATIONS

MAKE MEMBERSHIP COUNT A key benefit of your association is the government advocacy it provides and your ability to meet with legislators on behalf of the industry.

CONTACT INFORMATION COMPANY

CONTACT

ADDRESS CITY PHONE (______)

STATE FAX (______)

ZIP

EMAIL

FULL HOME ADDRESS (For purposes of matching you with your legislator)

NAME OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE & SENATOR (If known) I AM A MEMBER OF (Please select)

☐

Ohio Landscape Association

☐

Golf Course Superintendents Association (Ohio Chapter)

☐

Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

☐

Ohio Lawn Care Association

☐

Nursery Growers of Lake County Ohio

☐

Ohio Turfgrass Foundattion

☐

Ohio Professional Applicators for Responsible Regulation

PAYMENT INFORMATION Return this form, along with payment of $89, to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, Ohio, 43081. Phone: 1-800-825-5062 Fax: 614-899-9489 Checks made payable to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. MasterCard and Visa payment accepted.



CHECK NO. ___________ Enclosed

CHARGE TO MY

 MASTERCARD  VISA

ACCT. NO. NAME ON CARD BILLING ADDRESS & ZIPCODE

EXP. DATE SIGNATURE CARD SECURITY CODE

ABC EQUIPMENT RENTAL & SALES 29 Pearl Road Brunswick, Ohio 44212 330-220-4545

38525 Chester Road (90 & 611) Avon, Ohio 44011 440-934-7368

For Kubota information, contact Dave Gardner 216-857-0152

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 27

Delegate and Know When to Let Go of Small Business Operations

By Curt Finch, SmallBizTrends.com As a business owner, you are the parent of your company. Planning for the business, getting it off the ground, and making sure it survives and thrives is taxing, time-consuming, and can be incredibly rewarding. It requires you to wear many hats, and you may find yourself serving as the head of sales, marketing, and customer support.

Once the business begins thriving on its own, you need to delegate those responsibilities to other employees so that you can focus on higher-level tasks and because, frankly, you are probably not the best person for every job.

That being said, letting go of key operations can be very difficult for a business owner. Whether you over-manage to make sure people keep doing things “your� way, or to insist on having the final say on every single project, the result will be the same. If you cannot hand off key operations to qualified employees, you will not be able to grow your business.

Before taking a look at the best way to hand off key roles to employees, it’s important to consider managerial style.

Everyone is familiar with Steve Jobs and his desire to maintain creative control over the design of Apple products, and many attribute his success to that keen scrutiny.

That does not mean this style will work for everyone.

Similarly, it is not necessary to delegate away every task. If you have a background in creative design, for example, it makes sense to review final projects and offer your critique.

Determining just how involved you should be takes a combination of self-reflection and analysis based on hard data.

So, when it comes time to delegate to employees, how do you make sure they are going to follow through and improve upon your existing methods? continued on page 30

28 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

We’re “all season” for a reason.

RCPW.COM/SNOW for Parts & Parts Lookup your snow plow parts source

let it snow.

EXPERT TREE & SHRUB CARE TRAINING 10%

Discount Of fered To All !

OLA Members

IN-HOUSE TRAINING TOPICS* BIO-NUTRITION DISEASE ID

& NATURAL SYSTEMS

& CONTROL

ELLIOTT SCHAFFER

EMERALD ASH BORER UPDATE INSECT ID

& CONTROL

Certified Arborist/ Horticulturist

LET’S PUT HORTICULTURE BACK INTO

PLANT INDENTIFICATION

TREE

& SHRUB CARE

BASIC PRUNING

TREE

& SHRUB CARE SALES TRAINING

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

& CULTURE

MICRO-INJECTION TRAINING OF THE WEDGLE®

* Please call or email for additional information and prices of each session.

WWW.ENVIRONMENTALHS.COM • DUBLIN, OH EMAIL: ESCHAFFE@COLUMBUS.RR.COM • PHONE: 614-668-2026

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 29

continued from pg 28 As is true with most situations in the business world, the best security is to get it in writing. Hiring or promoting an employee without providing clearly-defined goals for their new role is a recipe for disaster. Simply saying “make it better” does not provide the direction needed, and without an achievable goal to work toward, it will be difficult for both you and the employee to determine success.

When you are ready to hand off a key task, sit down with your employee and clearly state your expectations and time frame for goals.

By the way, these goals should always be SMART, and you should never assign more than one or two major milestones or they will never be achieved. If your employee believes that the goals you put forth are not feasible, allow him to explain himself and compromise as necessary.

When you are done, create a document stating what you’ve agreed upon. Of course, this does not guarantee success but it does ensure that everyone is on the same page moving forward. You can also measure productivity as a function of time spent on meeting this goal.

Once you have set expectations, you can determine the value of your input and whether that time would be better spent elsewhere.

For instance, if you find that you are taking substantial time to review employees’ work but not making major changes, it’s a good indicator that you can loosen the reigns and step back.

Once an employee has proven that they can handle a process, you should move on to other tasks that make better use of your time.

As a business owner it can be difficult to let someone else take care of your baby, but it is almost always in the business’s best interest to create a team with diverse and useful skills to improve processes.

If you feel you are being marginalized and want to take a more active approach while still delegating responsibilities to qualified staff, consider joining an executive group to get ideas for future strategies and expansion planning.

As the owner of your business, only you can ultimately decide where your company goes, and that continued growth and profitability should always be your number one priority.

Gilson Gardens P.O. BOx 277 • 3059 NOrth ridge rOad • Perry, Oh 44081

Your Complete Tree Care Specialists VanCuren Tree Service can fulfill the needs of your clients to gain an instant impact to their landscape.

Ground Covers Perennials Grasses Shrubs Vines Natives

transplant trees...

Providing high-quality plants to landscapers and independent garden centers since 1947.

Up to 9” caliper or approximately 20’ to 30’

relocate trees...

That may have been improperly sited or spaced

provide aftercare programs...

(440) 259-4845 phone

To best assure the health of their investment

(440) 338-5005

(216) 932-9901

www . vancurentreecare . com

30 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

(440) 259-2378 fax sales@gilsongardens.biz www.gilsongardens.biz

Advertising Index Effective and Affordable Advertising

27 ABC Equipment Rental & Sales

13 American Louvered Roofs of NE Ohio

2 Botson Insurance Group

25 Davis Tree Farm & Nursery

17 Electronic Merchant Systems

for Green Industry Suppliers

ing The w o r G n r once 1

ber 201

Septem

29 Environmental Horticultural Services

C

li A pub

c At i o

hio the o n of

lAnd

ScApe

ASSoc

i At i o

n

30 Gilson Gardens 10 Klyn Nurseries 6 Kurtz Bros., Inc. 19 Mason Structural Steel

eeting OLA M 15, 2011

September Group The Pattie Hosted by page 7

Ice Snow &ement Clinic Manag 2011 September

The

22,

Growing octobeR 2011

Concern

page 11

Clinic t Prunrthineasgt Ohio Dorman – No 27, 2011

A p u b l i c At i o n o f t h e o h i o l A n d s c A p e A s s o c i At i o n

io September Central Oh 4, 2011 – October page 30

Drainage Clinic November 9, 2011 Page 17

OLA Annual Meeting

9 Medina Sod Farms

November 17, 2011 Page 7

Sales Clinic

For Landscape Professionals December 13, 2011 Page 13

9 O’Reilly Equipment

25 Power Equipment Distributors

29 RCPW/Sohar’s

9 Shearer Equipment

23 Unilock

33 Valley City Supply

13, 30 VanCuren Tree Service 19 Willoway WDC

How To Set Goals For New Employees Page 32

Beautiful and full color throughout, The Growing Concern provides Ohio’s green industry advertisers an extremely cost-effective option to deliver their message!

CONTACT THE OLA FOR MORE INFORMATION phone: 1-800-335-6521 email: info@ohiolandscapers.org web: OhioLandscapers.org

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 31

Directions

Reaching Out The OLA continues to work on your behalf to let the public and our elected officials know about the quality work performed by members of the Ohio Landscape Association.

This month, the OLA garden at the Great Big Home and Garden Show will feature our consumer website, MyOhioLandscape.com.

This website provides homeowners and property managers with information to help them make an informed decision about the landscape contractor they hire, as well as offer information on plant material and seasonal tips to keep people coming back to the site.

Since its inception in 2005, we have had over 260,000 visits to our consumer website! Your OLA membership is working for you.

One of the many benefits of being a member of the OLA is a free basic listing in our public referral database on MyOhioLandscape.com.

All members are asked for six (6) zip codes that they want referral work in and a list of services that they provide. Visitors to the site can type in the zip code of their property, check off the type of service(s) they are looking for, and come up with a list of OLA members that satisfies their criteria.

If you haven’t provided us with this information, please contact us in the OLA office so that we can get you the form you need to fill out so that we have the correct information to add you to the referral system. Or, if you have changed the services you offer or the geographic area you serve, we need to know. You can also complete this information fast and easily online by going to the Member Center of our industry website, OhioLandscapers.org.

Another way OLA reaches out is on the legislative front. On February 27th, the OLA is partnering with several other associations for Ohio Green Industry Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. This is

Sandy Munley Executive Director Ohio Landscape Association

Do not think of marketing as an expense, but as an investment that produces a measurable return in the form of qualified leads. a really important day and I encourage all of you to join us! We need to make relationships with the freshmen legislators and reacquaint ourselves with the seasoned veterans.

There is a saying that all politics is local and I can tell you from experience that this is true. It is very important that constituents from every district get to know their representative and senators.

Legislators listen most to those who can cast their vote to keep them in office. Therefore, I can speak to your legislators, but the only ones that I can really influence are those from my district. YOU need to make the effort for your district. continued on page 34

32 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Building Luxury Outdoor Spaces Has Never Been Easier or More Affordable!

CALL US FOR PRICING TODAY! 330-483-3400 Eldorado Outdoor has redefined how to build outdoor living spaces with a collection of strong, yet lightweight building blocks.

The blocks quickly assemble into custom barbecue islands, kitchen counters, fireplaces, fire pits and more ready to be dressed with Eldorado Stone and Brick within hours. Eldorado Outdoor saves time, materials and installation costs, all while allowing you to customize and design the perfect outdoor retreat. ™

Before & after Eldorado Outdoor ® Cabinets finished with Eldorado Stone Padova Fieldledge

Proud Dealers for Unilock Kichler Atlantic Watergarden Natural Stone Napolean Grills Chem. Master

®

®

Call VALLEY CITY SUPPLY Today 330-483-3400 or visit www.valleycitysupply.com

The Growing Concern x February 2013

x 33

Directions continued from pg 32 Going to Advocacy Day in Columbus is very educational and it is actually fun, too. We are there as a group and go together on legislative visits to take the fear out of the meetings for inexperienced attendees. I encourage you to invest a day to go to Columbus.

Lastly, I would like to remind you that the Spring/Summer issue of Landscape Ohio! Magazine – OLA’s consumer publication dedicated to promoting the green industry – will once again be in the May issue of Cleveland Magazine and Ohio Magazine. This issue will highlight the winning projects of the 16th Annual Landscape Ohio!

Awards Program.

Great Lakes Publishing has once again agreed to offer members of the OLA special advertising rates. This is a great opportunity to let the public know about your company and the quality products and

services you offer and is open to anyone associated with the landscape industry (i.e., landscape contractors, lighting and irrigation companies, material and equipment suppliers, garden centers, etc.).

Do not think of marketing as an expense, but as an investment that produces a measurable return in the form of qualified leads. Both magazines are quality publications with proven track records to reach those quality clients.

The ad closing date for the Spring/Summer issue of Landscape Ohio!

Magazine is March 15, 2013…and the section may sell out before then…so don’t delay! For more information or to reserve your space, contact your current ad representative or Paul Klein at Great Lakes Publishing at 216-377-3693 or klein@glpublishing.com.

CL A SSIFIED s HELP WANTED CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN A well-established, award winning, landscape design & construction company in Hudson Ohio is seeking a full-time construction foreman to work in a team-oriented atmosphere. Competitive compensation and benefits. Applicants must have a clean driving record and are subject to background check.

References & job portfolio are required.

Applicants expected to have 5+ years’ experience in hardscape construction, operating miniexcavators/skidsteer loader, and the ability to run their own crew. To apply call 330-650-4337.

GREEN INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES Landscape professionals needed for an established garden center/landscape company serving Akron and surrounding suburbs, providing customer friendly service. Graf Growers - a company where each staff member is treated respectfully and personal growth is encouraged - is seeking a Landscape Foreman and Technicians.

These positions require organization, communication and landscaping skills, including hardscape and plantscape. Foreman position requires leadership skills. Ideal candidate will have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience and/or an Associate’s degree in landscape installation. Individual must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Competitive compensation, benefits, and most weekends off. We encourage certification and additional job training as needed. Growth opportunities are available.

Drug free work place.

Contact: Lisa Graf Graf Growers 1015 White Pond Drive Akron, OH 44320 Phone: 330-836-2727 Email: lisa@grafgrowers.com Or apply in person Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

34 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

LANDSCAPE OPPORTUNITIES Moscarino Outdoor Creations is actively seeking for the most talented professionals in our industry for our rapidly growing maintenance, snow and construction divisions.

• Landscape Designer/Architect with CAD Experience • Enhancement Foreman • Lawn Maintenance Foreman • Hardscape Foreman • Account Manager Compensation packages will be tailored for an experienced individual.

Valid driver’s license EOE/Drug and Smoke Free Workplace Please fax or email resume to: Fax: 440-235-3744 Email: info@moscarino.net

MAGAZINE

A Consumer Publication Dedicated To Promoting The Green Industry The Ohio Landscape Association recognizes the importance of marketing - not only to promote the association and teach homeowners why they need to hire a professional landscape contractor, but also to promote you, our member.

We have continued our successful partnership with Cleveland Magazine and

Ohio Magazine! The Sping/Summer 2013 Landscape Ohio! Magazine will again feature a combination of our current OLA membership directory and consumer stories, as well as include the winners of the 16th annual Landscape Ohio! Awards Program.

This magazine is a powerful marketing tool and a unique opportunity for you to reach the customers you want. Inserted into the pages of the May issues of Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine, over 55,000 monthly readers will find your advertising message delivered directly into their mailbox. As an added bonus, Landscape Ohio!

Magazine will be available as an electronic magazine via OhioLandscapers.org, MyOhioLandscape.com, and ClevelandMagazine.com.

Special Advertising Opportunity Advertising in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue is now being accepted until 3/8/13.

Additionally, OLA members will receive a FREE basic listing in the magazine’s membership directory, that can be upgraded to add value by purchasing enhancements that can include color logos, photos, and extended descriptions.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GREAT MARKETING OPPORTUNITY, VISIT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG OR CONTACT PAUL KLEIN AT GREAT LAKES PUBLISHING AT 216-377-3693 OR KLEIN@GLPUBLISHING.COM

9238 Broadview Road Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517

02/13

OLA EDUCATION SERIES

March 7, 2013 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Instructed by

Chris Pascoe Tri-R-Stone Held at

Tri-R-Stone

Garfield Heights, OH Sponsored and Hosted by

With the proper tools and the right skills, you can dress stone on the job and save money using age-old techniques.

Join us for this hands-on clinic where you will learn rockfacing, cutting, dressing, coping, splitting, and tooling. You will learn the difference between sandstone and limestone, and their different varieties and grades that require different techniques; as well as the skills for handling barnstone.

Qualifies for 6 CEUs for Landscape Industry Certified

Chris Pascoe is a Master Stone Mason and has over 25 years of experience in the stone industry. He grew up and studied in England before traveling to the US to work on the Cathedral St. John The Devine in New York city.

To register online or to download a registration form, please visit www.ohiolandscapers.org and click on the Education page. REGISTER EARLY - class size is limited to only 24 participants and will sell out quickly!

www.OhioLandscapers.org • www.MyOhioLandscape.com