The Growing Concern January 2022

Growing Concern

The

JANUAR Y 2 0 2 2

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

OLA January Meeting

January 20, 2022 / St. Michael’s Woodside / PAGE 7

Home & Garden Construction

January 24 - February 3, 2022 / Greater Cleveland IX Center / PAGE 5

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

BRIAN MAURER, LIC Brian-Kyles

UNITED WE STAND As your new OLA board president for the year 2022, I feel this article is necessary based on the time of year, the idea that most of us create New Year’s Resolutions, and the reality that most of those go unfulfilled. Why is this? Is it because we create them simply for the sake of doing so, or is it possible that many of us simply don’t understand what it will take to accomplish them? Let’s go with the notion that most of us probably don’t realize that in order to accomplish one big goal, many, many, little things must get done first to make that big goal attainable.

For example, perhaps someone is reading this article and thinks I want to be President of the OLA! Heck, Brian did it; it has to be easy! For that person who is aspiring to become president of THE Ohio Landscape Association, here are the steps necessary to make it happen:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Become a member of THE Ohio Landscape Association.

Join and regularly participate on a committee.

Get nominated to join the Board. (3-year commitment) Get nominated to serve as an Officer. (4-year commitment) Serve as President of THE Ohio Landscape Association.

While there’s a real commitment involved with this progression, it seems achievable, right? I hope so, because we are always looking for qualified individuals to help carry the future of this association into the next decade – and beyond.

So, what about some of our other goals; spend more time with family, make more money, help others, protect the environment, etc.? Whatever your goals are for 2022, NOW is when you need to be setting aside time to identify those goals and the steps necessary to make them come to fruition.

The more time you give yourself to let the creativity flow now, the better chance you have of making it all work in the future!

That said – and without further adieu – with this article, I share my goal for THE Ohio Landscape Association with you and the steps that we ALL must take to make it happen.

UNITED Nothing is stronger than a group of individuals working together for a greater cause. If we work together; business owner to business owner, employee-to-employee, students in college and in high school, we can all accomplish more. We are more than just “Landscapers.” We are talented professionals capable of building some of the greatest landmarks in the world. It is time we began acting like professionals and showing the people of the great State of Ohio what we are capable of.

There it is. That is my lofty New Year’s goal for THE Ohio Landscape Association for 2022. Possibly too much for one individual to take on, but that’s ok, because I know each and continued on page 6 every one of you wants to help me out.

The Growing Concern | January 2022 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS J A N UA R Y 2 0 2 2 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON AL G REEN I N D UST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440.717.0002 Toll Free: 1.800.335.6521 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb COVER: The Great Big Home & Garden Show is back and the OLA could use your help constructing this year’s garden. Call 440.717.0002 to volunteer. (Photo: Brothers Grimm Landscape & Design Co.)

FEATURES

3 8 14 18 22 28 34 35 35

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

United We Stand

PERENNIAL FOCUS

The Fireside Reader: 2022 Edition

FISCAL FITNESS

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 1.800.335.6521, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org.

DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests 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 Brian Maurer, LIC

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

Plowing at Night: Tips for Safe Snow Removal

President – Elect Stephanie Gray, LIC

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Treasurer Cameron Maneri

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Immediate Past President James Funai, PhD

Famous Quotes About Money & Investing

FOR SAFETY SAKE

Great Western Plant Explorers: Carl Thunberg How to Properly Store Your Salt Stockpile

DIRECTIONS ADVERTISING INDEX NEW MEMBERS

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Ryan Drake Tina Graver Rob Morel Jeff Rupp, LIC Kate Stone

C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS UPCO M I N G OLA MEETINGS , EDUC AT I ON SE MI N A R S, A N D OT H E R G R E E N I N D UST R Y EV ENT S

JANUARY

MARCH

APRIL cont...

JANUARY 6, 2022 OLA DESIGN CLINIC: SKETCH UP

MARCH 3, 2022 OLA MEETING

APRIL 8, 2020 SPRING TRAINING

Laura Deeter, Ph.D. / Ohio State ATI Dr. Laura Deeter is a Professor and Coordinator of Landscape Horticulture and Horticultural Science at The Ohio State ATI. As such, she will be teaching an entry level clinic focused on introducing new users to SketchUp with the idea of using it to model landscapes.

Denise Kestner / The Ohio State Univ.

Denise Kestner, Adjunct Professor at OSU and VP of Human Resources at CollisionRight, LLC will discuss how your HR provider or department can operate as an employee retention tool, so that you don’t have to worry about losing your top talent. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts., OH. See page 27 for more information.

Safety is the key to running a successful company. This class features sessions on proper equipment utilization & operation, basic first aid, safe hauling and loading procedures, and more.

More information to come.

Registration opens February 1st, 2022.

JANUARY 20, 2022 OLA MEETING Craig Romig / Electric Sheep Craig Romig, Area Manager for Electric Sheep, will discuss how to transform your existing mowers into a fleet of autonomous mowing machines, what to expect when doing so, and how this process might help with the current labor shortage. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts., OH. See page 7 for more information.

JANUARY 24 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 SET-UP OF OLA DISPLAY AT THE GREAT BIG HOME & GARDEN SHOW If you are interested in volunteering to help construct this year’s OLA garden please contact the OLA at 440.717.0002.

This is a great opportunity to work along side others in the industry, as well as contribute to the association.

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 4 - 13, 2022 OLA DISPLAY AT THE GREAT BIG HOME & GARDEN SHOW This is a great opportunity to help promote the industry, our association, and your company. If you are interested in volunteering to help staff the garden during show hours, please contact the OLA at 440.717.0002 as soon as possible. Spots fill up quickly.

MARCH 9 & 10, 2022 FOREMAN TRAINING Foremen have to walk the fine line in working side by side with employees while having to direct and motivate them. In this seminar, they will learn how to effectively manage their team, handle tight deadlines, and increase customer satisfaction. Held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Independence, OH on March 9th & the Wolf Creek Company in Columbus, OH on March 10th. Sponsored by Wolf Creek Co. See page 26 for more information.

ALSO COMING IN 2022 JUNE 2022 ANNUAL AWARDS GALA JULY 2022 PLANT I.D. CLINICS AUGUST 2022 OLA GOLF SCHOLARSHIP CLASSIC SEPTEMBER 2022 SNOW & ICE MANAGEMENT CLINIC NEO FACILITY TOUR OCTOBER 2022 CENTRAL OHIO FACILITY TOUR

APRIL APRIL 7, 2022

OLA SPECIAL EVENT (CENTRAL OHIO) Joshua Gámez, CEO of East Coast Facilities, Inc., leads one of the market’s most dynamic facility maintenance firms in the US, an organization that serves Fortune 500 clients in multiple states. As such, Joshua is a champion of blue-collar workers, offers living wages, health care, and retirement benefits to his employees, which directly leads to sustainability and excellence within his company.

Joshua will be speaking at our upcoming Central Ohio Event (April 7, 2022) covering the topics of the Secrets to Operations Success and The Recruiting Game.

Registration for this event will open February 1st, 2022.

The Growing Concern | January 2022 | 5

PR ES IDEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 With that goal in mind, I propose we breakdown the word “United” into a few, simpler, more measurable milestones. This will help us keep track of our goal and measure its success.

EDUCATION THE Ohio Landscape Association plans educational events throughout Northeastern and Central Ohio. By design, these events are meant to help business owners retain knowledgeable staff members, while affording employees the opportunity to gain an expertise in their field and a better understanding of industry “best practices.” Over the past several years, we’ve been addressing the call to host more of these simple, half to oneday events in Central Ohio. As we’ve done so, participation and membership has grown. This is a trend that must continue, and I’m calling on all of our current members to help.

First, we need to identify locations capable of hosting events. If you have a space available, we want to hear from you! Second, once we find a few more locations, I’m encouraging everyone to invite friends, coworkers, or customers to these events to show them the benefit of our educational programs. The education committee has put together a great calendar of events for 2022 which can be viewed at web.ohiolandscapers.org/events.

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THE Ohio Landscape Association hosts evening meetings for its members: four in Northeast Ohio and two in Central Ohio. Typically, one of each of these meetings (geographically speaking) is a Facility Tour. To that end, again, I’m asking for our members’ help.

We are all struggling for employees. A small pool is only getting more shallow, and each year I’ve served on this board I have heard of yet another high school horticultural program closing its doors. We must focus more of our time and effort in our own backyard by creating a marketing plan focused on educating the students and parents of Ohio to the effect that the landscape industry boasts some exceptional career opportunities. They need to believe that we are more than just landscapers, and that yes, they can make a living in this occupation. We need to come together, share our stories, and volunteer our time. And, while this will be the toughest of these milestones to accomplish, it’s probably because it’s the most important. We WILL do something this year to create a marketing plan to begin the process of guiding our future generations into our industry.

We all know someone who would benefit from being a member.

There is no better way to expose them to our organization and what it has to offer than by asking them to be our guest at an evening meeting, free of charge. This is by far the best way to show them that, even though we may compete for customers on the outside, here, we share ideas, stories and knowledge.

This April, in Columbus, we’ll be welcoming Joshua Gámez, CEO of East Coast Facilities. With your help, we can show potential members a path towards networking and sharing. I’m calling on our members to each invite a non-member to this event as your guest. Show them the power of what networking and sharing can do. Let’s set a goal within this milestone to bring 30 non-members to the event. I feel this milestone is necessary for us to accomplish our third, most difficult milestone.

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I need your help to make this – and us – successful. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or just simply want to help us out, reach out to Sandy and Rick at the OLA office. Remember, we can achieve more if we all work UNITED!

FORE F EATUR

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION JANUARY 20, 2022 ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH AGENDA REGISTRATION / NETWORKING FOOD / CASH BAR 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM OLA MEETING 7:00 PM TO 7:30 PM

COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30

Autonomous Mowing & How it Will Change the Industry Autonomous lawn mowers - specifically those that have been created to maintain commercial properties - will only become more prevelant as a means to counter current labor shortages and rising wages in the US. Join us, January 20, 2022, as Craig Romig (Area Manager for Electric Sheep) explains how his company takes existing mowers within a fleet and transforms them into autonomous mowing machines. He will discuss what to expect from this type of product, how it may help solve the current challenges our industry faces, and what you should know before implementing this process into your business model.

CRAIG ROMIG / AREA MANAGER - ELECTRIC SHEEP ROBOTICS

Craig Romig joined Electric Sheep Robotics in February 2021 as the Northeast Area Manager. In this role, he manages all autonomous mower deployments and the respective customer relationships. Additionally, he is responsible for hiring and managing all of the field technicians facilitating ESR, and bringing this new technology to the market. Craig has more than 20 years of landscape industry experience, having spent time with The Brickman Group, Brightview and Landcare. His time has spanned all roles, including Superintendent, Account Manager and Branch Manager positions.

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Craig and his team act as a conduit to their R&D team, providing continuous feedback, as well as guarantors for a quality service to their customers. This shields customers from the early complexities of a robotics deployment, while ensuring them the ability to offset labor & equipment costs immediately, providing them the necessary bandwidth to focus on how to integrate this technology on a larger scale, over time. Craig actively facilitates this continued learning and development with his customers, while working with his sales team in onboarding new customers on an ongoing basis.

ABOUT ELECTRIC SHEEP

Electric Sheep is the autonomy partner to the commercial landscape industry, retrofitting proven, existing equipment so that it can operate without the constant support of a human beings, thus providing a major source of support to the growing labor challenge within the larger services industry. Founded in 2019, by 3 serial tech entrepreneurs, Electric Sheep brings together a strong diversity of expertise from AI & Machine Learning (Facebook and the Self-Driving world) to Landscape Ops (Brightview & Brickman). Starting with commercial mowing, ESR has successfully automated both electric and gas platforms and following a series of pilots and early deployments, is bringing this technology to market across the country in 2022.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S MEETING SCHEDULE ARE STILL AVAILABLE. CALL 440.717.0002 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/MEETINGS

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

THE FIRESIDE READER 2022 EDITION THE PRAIRIE GARDENER’S GO-TO FOR SMALL SPACES Melrose, Janet & Normandeau, Sheryl Touch Wood Edition, 2021 Victoria, British Columbia

The premise of this book, by two Canadian gardeners, is that small space gardening is about much more than cramming lots of plants into a smaller space. They offer gardening knowledge and advice as well as specialized techniques.

The smallest space is often a container. The authors discuss the pros and cons of each type of container, the ideal soil mix, why garden soil shouldn’t be used, the necessity and process of cleaning containers annually, best watering practices, why not to use hydrogel crystals, fertilization and many other aspects

of container gardening. They also supply lists of plants by type that do particularly well in containers.

Raised beds are just larger containers. There is an extensive discussion of materials for creating them, soil mixes for them, and the square foot gardening method for edibles. I was fascinated by an explanation of hugelkultur as a higher and, usually, even larger raised bed. This method of gardening utilizes what we often call garden waste and has several assets such as warming earlier and not needing as much water.

Moving on to the “postage”-sized garden, the authors discuss microclimates and how to take advantage of them, utilizing espaliers (vertical gardening always increases gardening space), planting catch crops (a new term for me), succession planting, underplanting, straw bale gardening, and pallet gardening as well as herb spirals.

The subject of the last chapter is vertical gardening: the benefits and the drawbacks, suggestions for training plants to grow on walls, types of supports, which vegetables are suitable, and suggestions for great climbing plants to use as privacy screens. continued on page 10

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS continued from page 8 Both authors speak from years of gardening experience on the Canadian plains. While this is a book meant for home gardeners rather than landscape designers, there are always invaluable tidbits to be garnered.

NEW NATURALISM: DESIGNING AND PLANTING A RESILIENT, ECOLOGICALLY VIBRANT HOME GARDEN Norris, Kelly Quarto Publishing Group, 2021 Beverly, MA

Kelly Norris, the author of this book, is one of those people whose enthusiasm for plants infuses his body and soul and inspires other gardeners and designers to listen carefully to everything he says. I loved his opening statement: “Nature has had a seemingly uncomfortable association with gardening for centuries, even as gardeners have remained in earnest pursuit of naturalistic landscapes. It’s a curious paradox…..We’ve not followed nature as much as we’ve tried to lead it.”

As landscape designers, we attempt to beautify a home’s surroundings, thus putting the emphasis on aesthetics but Kelly would maintain that we need to see planting beds as more, as ecological systems that can support positive environmental change, increase plant and animal diversity, and create more resilient spaces. Instead of using plants as furniture, we should be creating spaces with a number of life cycles that repeat themselves year after year.

Most of us think only of the space above the ground but Kelly encourages us to understand what is happening below the ground and how plants interact with each other. He emphasizes starting with knowing our soil and lessening the need for fertilizer by choosing more plants that are nitrogenfixing legumes and by allowing surface organic matter to remain in the garden and decompose (instead of putting it yard waste bags or the compost bin), thus cultivating the micro-organisms in the soil.

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I had to laugh when Kelly discussed how flowering plants attract more than pollinating insects; it means accepting that something will eat their beloved plants. The Phlox paniculata in my front garden is pruned annually by the visiting deer, thus saving me the trouble of doing so in order to keep them shorter and bushier. In a diverse garden, the effects of one herbivore usually go unnoticed. In addition, if we do not add fertilizer, the leaves are usually not as succulently attractive to herbivores.

In creating functional gardens, defined as those that are selfperpetuating, Kelly recommends starting with natives and nearnatives and then adding some non-natives. That combination results in an optimal abundance of floral resources throughout the growing season. Plant selection should involve more than the particular features of a plant; it should definitely include its aptness for the site so that it will thrive.

This somewhat wild garden will be densely planted initially but we need to think of it as an evolution that involves constant evaluation and tweaking. Wild plant communities have layers and visual patterns that relate to the ecological conditions of the site and that is what we want to emulate in our home gardens. Those layers are the matrix, the structure, and the vignette. Kelly defines each of them and then demonstrates how to combine them. If you accept Kelly’s description of the matrix layer, you may never need to mulch again. His detailed plant lists and charts are invaluable.

Once you absorb the information and advice in this book, you will be on your way to creating more naturalistic but differently beautiful, ecologically vibrant landscapes.

THE THOUGHTFUL GARDENER

Blom, Jinny Jacki Small LLC, 2017 London, England

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The cover of this book has a quote from Piet Oudolf that made me decide I needed to read this book. He said: “The most romantic, creative person in garden design I know.”

It quickly became apparent that the author, Jinny Blom, usually designs for large properties, often in the country. She is quite aware, however, that designing for smaller properties in a city is more about microclimates and the effects of neighboring buildings than geology and history. All too often, such designs have kept nature out and ornamental planting in.

The designer’s dilemma is how to create a more natural setting for ornamental plantings.

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comment that “terraces need careful siting in order that they stay clement and warm without either baking or being plunged into perpetual slimy shade.” Therefore, when designing for a client who wants an outdoor dining area, she recommends choosing a site that is warmed in the morning but becomes more protected as the day progresses.

She is quite emphatic about the need to evaluate the existing landscape and to destroy much of it. All of us have seen how volunteer shrubs and trees have overtaken property lines and created really ugly landscapes. Such destruction, however, enables us to create a landscape that enhances the home and the property.

It definitely takes the right client to work with such a designer because she brings the wildness right up to the house. Her designs are quite romantic, using copious quantities of roses and perennials. However, she is also full of practical advice on several elements of design and the photographs and drawings illuminate them beautifully. When dealing with a flat site, she stresses the necessity of creating a foreground, middle ground, and distant view. She also suggests using architectural elements to give focus to plantings. On large projects, she creates buildings and tall hedges but, following her line of thought, for smaller properties, I suggest incorporating vertical elements like obelisks or tall statuary that might be found in a salvage yard.

This designer is well aware that garden wildness has become fashionable but she maintains that you still need a lot of structure. In her discussion of orientation, I was struck by her

Once the hardscape and bed lines are established, then the designer can finally think about the planting design although establishing what type of soil one is working with is essential. continued on page 12 The Growing Concern | January 2022 | 11

P ER E NNIAL FOC US continued from page 11 Then comes thought to layering, starting with the tallest layer, i.e. trees, first. Good choices, says the author, will give enjoyment in each season. She also begs us to consider how large the mature tree will be. I would agree with her that blending shrubs and perennials is tricky. It takes a combination of knowledge and daring. When adding ornamental grasses, she uses them sparingly and carefully but plants bulbs in great profusion.

It is a natural segue to read Kelly Norris’ book first and then this one. While Jinny Blom is an English designer, her combination of structure and wildness is very insightful. I made several notes about possibilities for gardens that I will be designing this winter. Although this book was published in 2017, it is still relevant and will be for many years.

ADVENTURES IN EDEN: AN INTIMATE TOUR OF THE PRIVATE GARDENS OF EUROPE Mullet, Carolyn Timber Press, 2020

Carolyn Mullet, a landscape designer turned garden tour entrepreneur, has visited many of the private gardens of Europe and, with her company, has provided a way for garden enthusiasts to find inspiration by visiting these gardens.

Most of the gardens in this book are not familiar to us. The historic English gardens like Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, Hidcote, etc. have been written about extensively so they are not included.

The range of gardens is flabbergasting. From Great Britain to Scandinavia to Germany and the Lowlands to France, Spain, and Italy, there is an amazing desire to mingle structure with elements of wildness. Although most are about twenty or thirty years old, some are restorations or reworkings of much older gardens. The garden philosophies of the owners and designers differ greatly but all focus on the site itself. Many of the owners are dedicated gardeners who do not fear the time consuming and labor-intensive creation of the gardens nor the necessary maintenance while others have full-time help. All have design ideas and planting combinations to ponder.

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Carolyn begins her portrayal of each garden with its location, its history, the philosophy of the client and the designer, and a detailed description of the gardens. All of this is accompanied by outstanding photographs that illuminate the written description.

Fortunately, most of the descriptions include information about the soil and climate (moisture level) of each garden.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to evaluate whether the plantings would be successful for us.

One of the few gardens that I have visited, the one by Dina Deferme, is exactly as I remember it. Her gardens are very structured but also very floriferous. I was struck by a quote from her in the book: “I never lay patios directly against the house. It is much more pleasant to sit on a patio that is completely surrounded by plants and fragrant flowers.” I was charmed by her patio that was surrounded by sheared hedges and colorful perennials. It’s too bad that a photo of it was not included in the book.

Although most of the gardens are quite large, there are takeaways for all. Most of us have neither the time nor the funds to go on these tours, but this book enables us to.

The Growing Concern | December 2021 | 13

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

FAMOUS QUOTES ABOUT MONEY AND INVESTING PART ONE “Remember that time is money.”

– Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer and publisher.

His other quotes about money include:

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

“It’s not how much money you make, but how much you keep, how hard it works for you and how many generations you keep it for.”

– Robert Kiyosaki

“Too many people spend money they earned… to buy things they don’t want… to impress people they don’t like.”

– Will Rogers

The author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and over 20 other self-help books, Robert Kiyosaki (born 1947) is a financial educator known for his “get rich quick” philosophy. Kiyosaki uses the term “assets” for things that put money in one’s pocket. He states that assets generate cash inflow, such as stock dividends, rental income from properties, or income from businesses. He defines “liabilities” as things that devour cash out of one’s pocket, such as one’s personal residence, consumer loans, car loans, and credit card payments. One of the most quotable authors about money, Kiyosaki once said, “There is a difference between being poor and being broke. Broke is temporary. Poor is eternal.”

Will Rogers (1879–1935) was an American humorist, actor, cowboy, newspaper columnist and social commentator. Best known for saying “I never met a man I didn’t like,” Will Rogers had many pithy quotes about money, including:

“Don’t look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack!”

– Jack Bogle

“A penny saved is a penny earned.”

“Our necessities never equal our wants.”

“He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.”

“Don’t gamble! Take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it.”

“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

“Never let yesterday use up too much of today.”

John Bogle (1929–2019) was an American investor, business magnate and philanthropist. As founder and CEO of The Vanguard Group, he’s credited with creating the first index fund. He’s also quoted as saying, “The grim irony of investing is that we investors as a group not only don’t get what we pay for, we get precisely what we don’t pay for.” continued on page 16

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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F ISCAL FI TN ESS continued from page 14 “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.”

– Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (born 1954) is, perhaps, the most influential woman in the world. An American talk show host, actress, author and philanthropist, she is best known for her talk show which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history. Oprah’s observations about money and success have inspired millions. Here are just a few: “The reason I’ve been able to be so financially successful is my focus has never, ever for one minute been money.”

“I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.”

“I will tell you the secret to getting rich on Wall Street. You try to be greedy when others are fearful. And you try to be fearful when others are greedy.”

– Warren Buffett There is little argument that Warren Buffett (born 1930) is the most successful investor in history. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” he has thousands of followers who hang on his every word. Buffett runs Berkshire Hathaway and has a net worth of over $100 billion. Other Buffett quotes about money include: “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

“It’s only when the tide goes out that you discover who’s been swimming naked.”

“Our favorite holding period is forever.”

“There are people who have money and people who are rich.”

– Coco Chanel Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel (1883–1971) was a French fashion designer and, as the founder of the Chanel brand, one of the world’s most celebrated businesswomen. Her observations about money include: “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness didn’t know where to go shopping.”

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”

“There is no time for cut-and-dried monotony. There is time for work. And time for love. That leaves no other time.”

16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

“The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.”

– Benjamin Graham Benjamin Graham (1894–1976) was a British-born American economist and investor who has influenced virtually every successful investor. He is widely known as the father of value investing. His influence has been noted by Warren Buffett, Irving Kahn and Sir John Templeton. Here are just a few of his most enlightening quotes: “The investor’s chief problem and even his worst enemy— is likely to be himself.”

“Successful investing is about managing risk, not avoiding it.”

“Money may not buy love but fighting about it will bankrupt your relationship.”

– Michelle Singletary Michelle Singletary is a nationally syndicated personal finance columnist for The Washington Post. Her award-winning column, “The Color of Money,” is syndicated in dozens of newspapers nationwide. She is the author of three books, including The 21-Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom and Spend Well, Live Rich: How to Get What You Want with the Money You Have. Some pithy quotes from her books include: “You shouldn’t invest the money if you are looking to use it within five years. Too much risk.”

“Having fun time is a good use of your money.”

The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Trust services are provided by third parties. Neither our firm nor our financial professionals can serve as trustee.

Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management Office at: 17601 W. 130th Street, Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio.

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F OR SAFETY SAK E

PLOWING AT NIGHT TIPS FOR SAFE SNOW REMOVAL The main reason why we plow snow during the late evening and well into the early morning hours is because most everyone is at home relaxing. Vehicles are, for the most part, out of your way and street traffic is typically light. This translates to a safer snow plowing environment for both the general public and the operator.

Every snow removal contractor is well aware of the dangers of night time snow plowing, but making sure your snow plow operators get it we put together this checklist of safety tips that will keep them plowing throughout the night.

SNOW PLOWING PREPARATION 101 Managing a fleet of snow removal operators can be a daunting task, but if your operators are educated on what to expect before they enter the job site, it can minimize fault.

Get your crew in a meeting room, go over each and every snow removal site.

They need to know not only where the snow gets piled, but what the potential hazards are at each site. All your operators should be aware of where potential hazards can get buried like fire hydrants or telephone boxes.

Use Google maps to get computer screen shots of the job site so you can visually see the best way for it to be plowed and mark those potential hazards.

DRESS FOR A LONG NIGHT OF PLOWING SNOW We know what it’s like to be running your skid steer plowing snow or operating a tractor plowing snow. After an hour of sitting in a heated cab, the operator will want to dress lighter cause it gets hot sitting there with a set of work bibs and a jacket on. That’s fine if you’d rather dress light, but pack your heavier clothing for an unfortunate event like a stalled machine or your having to get out of the cab for extended periods of time.

We forget how quickly a situation can go from bad to worse when we’re working out in the cold nights. There’s no sun to keep the cab naturally warmed and your body will rapidly continued on page 20

18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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FOR SAFETY SAKE

continued from page 18 lose heat if you’re not properly dressed in a bad event. In some cases, companies will choose to invest in their employees snow plowing attire because it’s a way more economical option than paying for their hypothermia treatments.

Shoveling crews are on their feet for a long time so a comfortable, warm pair of boots is a must. Make sure they can take on deep snow conditions, too. Close second to boots is gloves and hats.

The body’s extremities are the first to experience frost bite and 90% of heat loss occurs at the top of your head.

TAKE REGULAR BREAKS DURING LONG NIGHTS Fatigue can set in really fast during night time hours. Sitting in that heated cab can be hypnotizing and cause an operator’s mind to wander. Taking regularly scheduled breaks is recommended for those long nights of plowing snow.

stated that all your operators need to be rested up before the approach of potentially big snow storm.

Don’t risk your company’s reputation by sending out an operator that is clearly not rested enough to take on the task of plowing snow throughout the night. One careless accident can severely damage more than just property.

SET THE GROUND RULES FROM DAY ONE Whenever you have a new hire, make sure you set the ground rules with them right away. Let them know that safety is priority one as a snow removal contractor. Take the time to point out the potential dangers or hazards that can happen during nighttime snow plowing. Setting the expectations from them will give you, the business owner, greater peace of mind.

LISTEN TO YOUR OPERATORS

Have a plan in place should your operators need to take a break. Determine how many hours of operation would be the cut off before taking a break. Encourage your operators to step out of the cab and do some simple stretching exercises or a short walk to get the blood flowing again. Encourage them to bring snacks and drinking water to also help keep their minds alert.

Your operators are out there dealing with the day to day obstacles of plowing snow at night. If they have suggestions on how to make their job safer or more comfortable take the opportunity to listen to them. Now not every suggestion will be a reasonable one, but one thing’s for sure … if your operators are happy they will do what they can to make sure the job gets done right and done safely.

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We never like to see snow plow operators falling asleep on the job so it’s imperative that they dedicate themselves to proper rest before pulling an all-nighter plowing snow. Establish boundaries for safe equipment operation and let it be loudly

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College Pinus thunbergii: Japanese Black Pine

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

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GREAT WESTERN PLANT EXPLORERS We had a fun time presenting the Hendricks Experience to you in 2021 and have decided that we’re going to follow a similar, theme-driven agenda for 2022. After weighing our options, we landed on a topic that is something we often find ourselves researching deeper – how did this plant get its name, and why do so many have the same specific epithet? While a lot of plants are named in some Latin or Greek combination with words used to simply describe the plant (sempervirens = always green or alba = white), others are named in a “Latinized” version of someone’s name in their honor. Sometimes this honor shows in the genus (Amsonia – named after Dr. John Amson, 18th century botanist) and sometimes the honor shows in many specific epithets across genera. The later is the the case with this month’s entry, as we discuss Carl Peter Thunberg, a Swedish botanist and physician from the 18th/19th century. So, in our 10th year of sharing a plant of the month with you – this year you get a plant nerd of the month!

We’ll start with a brief overview of Thunberg’s life and then get into the plants named after him.

Carl Thunberg was born in Sweden in 1743 and attended Uppsala University where one of his professors was the famous Carl Linnaeus. He became a “disciple” of Linnaeus, and as was the case during this period of Western Imperialism, you had to know the right people to travel to exotic locales to find plants. To accomplish this, Thunberg entered the Dutch East India Trading Company as a surgeon onboard a trading ship.

This allowed Thunberg to enter parts of the world restricted to Western people such as South Africa and Japan. He spent three years in South Africa, sending specimens back to Linnaeus for cataloging, and then traveled to Japan in 1775.

During this period, Japan was closed to Westerners (except for one small island where East India Co. could trade) after the Portuguese overstayed their welcome and tried to convert the whole country to Christianity. Thunberg was very clever and built a network of interpreters and Japanese physicians who shared tidbits of Western medicine in exchange for plant samples. He became widely known as the doctor who created the cure for what was known as “Dutch Disease” (turns out it continued on page 24

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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continued from page 22 was syphilis brought in by the Dutch). After sharing medical knowledge and earning respect as someone who wants to learn from other cultures, he was permitted guided plant and animal exploration trips into Japan. He collected thousands of plant samples, animal samples and notes and sent them back to Uppsala for Linnaeus to catalog.

In 1779, Thunberg returned to Uppsala and learned of Linnaeus’ death. He was appointed as Professor of Medicine and Natural Philosophy in 1781. He compiled two large tomes, Flora Japonica and Fauna Japonica, in the late 1700s. In these books he named over 250 species of plants and animals.

When you see “Thunb.” after a name in the Dirr book, that means the name is attributed to Thunberg with a most apt example of Acer palmatum Thunb. (Japanese Maple).

Here are several interesting Thunberg species to look at: Berberis thunbergii – This plant was named by Augustin de Candolle, another Swedish botanist, in honor of his friend Thunberg. You know this plant as Japanese Barberry. A similar species, B. vulgaris, is banned in Ohio, but B. thunbergia is not. However, it is quite likely that B. thunbergia will be banned soon - much like flowering pear - which must be off the market by January 7th of 2023.

24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Lespedeza thunbergii: Bushclover

Spiraea thunbergii – Introduced to the US in 1830, this Thunberg discovery is a native Spirea to Japan and China. The most commonly found cultivar is ‘Ogon,’ which is a mounding shrub under 5 feet, with very bright, yellow-green, narrow foliage all season. It has a very fine texture, and is highlighted by white flower clusters in late April. This is a great massing plant to provide a backdrop to purple flowering perennials.

Simply hack it back each fall/winter and it will always be a solid performing plant for your gardens.

Pinus thunbergii – Japanese Black Pine is a beautiful Pine present in American gardens since 1855, though not particularly successful. Here, it is susceptible to tip blight diseases which often kills the plants at around 10 to 15 years old. There are some dwarf cultivars that may be more appropriate for the collector to grow. You will also find this plant used in bonsai often. There is a beautiful contrast of the bright white candles in spring against deep green needles that shows up in many of the cultivars. The plant is also incredibly tolerant of salt spray and can be found growing along the seashore in its native Japan.

Lespedeza thunbergii – Bushclover is a plant not nearly enough people utilize in their urban landscapes. The most common cultivar, ‘Gibraltar,’ is a 4 by 6 foot, arching shrub with blue-green, trifoliate leaves. It’s accentuated by loads of

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While Carl Thunberg died in 1828, his impact on our “We’ve also had lives subson askthrough if theyhis could some photos modern gardens planttake exploration and while they’re on site and use them and I say no,” Hynson documentation as an absolute plant nerd! says. “We ultimately want to be in total control of how our Jim Funai, are PhDportrayed is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community projects and how any images are College, used.” a NALP

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F EATURE ARTI CLE

Snow removal isn’t just about hitching a plow to the front of your vehicle and driving out to your clients as soon as the first sign of that big blizzard rears its head. There’s much more that goes into keeping your snow removal business functional, just as there is more that goes into removing snow than just plowing.

A successful snow removal business needs to be proactive; plain and simple. And the easiest way to get in front of a big storm and make your customers happy is to lay down your salt before things get too hairy. But in order to use salt, you need to store bulk salt, and you need to store it somewhere safe and accessible for when the next big winter storm rolls in. Storing ice melt and rock salt are an often overlooked component to the business of snow removal, and there are special precautions to take before you make the investment.

either in a building, which is recommended, or covered by weather resistant materials such as tarpaulin. You must also be cautious of high humidity. Salt can absorb moisture from the air when humidity is above 75%. Although the moisture that is absorbed will likely evaporate over time, the affected salt will clump and a layer of crust will result on the outside layer of your pile. This can be significantly reduced by storing properly and nearly eliminated when stored indoors for the long term.

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Because salt does not lose ice melting capacity to the air, the main enemy of salt is precipitation. Stockpiles of salt should never be exposed to any types of rain or snow, from both above or below. One of the essentials of proper storage involves keeping the salt stockpiles on waterproof pads,

Proper storage inside a building or under cover will also prevent possible detrimental effects on the environment. In order to eliminate the possibility of contaminating groundwater, store away from wells, lakes, rivers, drains, and ditches. When storing salt indoors, be sure the floor is sloped away from the

28 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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door and sweep the haphazard salt back into the pile. Outside, do not keep the salt downhill from a snow pile. The melting snow can lead to runoff.

However, no matter how you decide to store your salt, ensure that what you’re doing isn’t breaking any laws. For instance, some counties have ordinances prohibiting the storage of rock salt in situations where the salt is in constant contact with exposed earth. You’ll want to do your research and choose a storage solution that works for you and is ultimately a legal and safe method of storage. Above all else, keeping your salt dry is your biggest concern with regards to storing bulk salt.

STORE YOUR ROCK SALT WITHIN REACH There is no use in having a sturdy shelter for your supply of rock salt if it’s not within easy reach any time you need it.

And if you’ve been in the snow removal game long enough, you know that certain storms can come hard and fast. So fast, in fact, that a few miles may be the difference between a productive night of snow removal that will make your clients happy, and a disastrous night with minimal progress.

With that said, you’re going to want to ensure your salt placement is strategic. If you can store it in a structure onsite at each client’s location, then that’s your best bet. And keeping some at your home base is ideal so that you can load it into your truck and be ready to go at a moment’s notice. If for some reason, your home and your client’s property will not accommodate any salt reserves, or accommodate too little, then think of triangulating your clients and your home on a map and finding a central location that you can store your salt at so you’re never too far from it when you need some.

HOW MUCH TO STORE The last question is how much salt should a snow removal company store? Since preparation is key, at minimum keep the amount of salt you spread during a typical winter. Don’t count on a weather forecaster’s prediction of a mild season. By possessing enough salt to handle an average winter’s needs, a company can eliminate the need for stockpile replenishment during the heavy demand periods caused by severe weather.

Another benefit of an adequate supply is the avoidance of steep delivery prices on emergency shipments. When a resupply is continued on page 30 The Growing Concern | January 2022 | 29

F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 29 necessary during the winter months, be sure to order before your inventory is depleted. After all, if not all of the requested salt is used by the end of winter, with proper storage the salt will continue to be effective and combat the effects of the upcoming winter. Millions of years have proven this so.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN EASILY TRANSPORT IT If your snow removal business is big enough that you require a dedicated storage solution for your rock salt reserves, then you’re more than likely going to want to buy your salt in large quantities, and thus you’ll find yourself with a lot to store at once.

Rock salt is incredibly heavy, especially in bulk. Ensure that, wherever your salt is stored, you can easily transport it to your snow removal sites. That may mean loading it into the back of your truck or investing in a salt spreader. Either way, make sure you have the ability to get it where it needs to go.

NEEDING BULK SALT STORAGE IS A SIGN OF SUCCESS It may feel overwhelming to get caught up in the details of your business. Surely you remember a simpler time when you didn’t have to worry about so many intricate components. But that’s because you didn’t have the clients that you do now. At the end of the day, the need to store bulk salt is a great thing—it means business is booming and you’re doing something right.

But part of running a successful business is in crossing your Ts and dotting your Is. And storing ice melt and bulk salt are an important component to keeping your clients happy. As long as your bulk salt storage solution is central, weatherproof, safe, and easily transported then you’ll rest easy knowing you’ll be one of the first fleets out before the next big storm.

30 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

RULES OF THUMB: • Better Safe Than Sorry.

• Store salt on a concrete or asphalt pad raised a few inches from the surrounding terrain if possible and sloped to your runoff holding area.

• Use sand bags or a trench around your pile to stop runoff from contaminating the base of your pile.

• Any water that seeps under your pile may evaporate in to your pile, the resulting humidity will clump/crust your salt surface.

• Store indoors if possible.

• Cover your pile with a tarp all the way to the base and extend a few feet out to the edge of your pad.

• Store salt over 50ft away from water ways (or according to your local regulations) with proper blocking to avoid runoff contamination.

• Never store your pile in a depression in the terrain. You may contaminate the bottom of your pile and/or you will contaminate runoff.

• Do not store your salt near large piles of snow that can create melt puddles near your pile.

• Be sure to clear storm drains from blockages to avoid floodwaters getting to your pile.

• Be sure not to store in a “100 year flood plain”.

• You must collect and store any salt contaminated runoff (from the pile or loading areas).

• Report contaminations to the proper authorities, i.e., Local Water Bureau, EPA, Local Health Department.

This article was compiled using content from both Chloride Conscious, located at www.chlorideconscious.com and the Ninja De-Icer blog, located at www. ninjadeicer.com/blogs/resources.

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330-483-3400 • ValleyCitySupply.com The Growing Concern | January 2022 | 31

OLA MEETING SERIES

REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 1st, 2022

Joshua Gámez, CEO of East Coast Facilities, Inc., leads one of the market’s most dynamic facility maintenance firms in the US, an organization that serves Fortune 500 clients in multiple states. As such, Joshua is a champion of blue-collar workers, offers living wages, health care, and retirement benefits to his employees, which directly leads to sustainability and excellence within his company.

O

LU M B U

EVE

S

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Joshua will be speaking at our upcoming Central Ohio event covering the topics of the Secrets to Operations Success and The Recruiting Game.

NT

O PE R ATI O N S S U C C ESS & T H E R E C R U ITI N G GA M E

SAVE THE DATE 04.07.22 Encouraging Professional Standards and Promoting the Green Industry

OLA EDUCATION SERIES

REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 1st, 2022

As winter comes to an end, Mother Nature shifts her focus towards spring – and so must our crews!

This year’s Spring Training Clinic will teach your employees industry best practices from start to finish, as well as how to be safe while performing them - all in effort to get them ready for the 2020 season!

Having a trained crew is the key to fostering a culture of safety within your company. Owners, Crew Leaders, Crew Members – anyone working in the Green Profession – is encouraged to attend!

RING P S

T

RA

ININ

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PREPARING YOUR STAFF TO PERFORM DAILY TASKS AND SERVICES SAFELY

SAVE THE DATE 04.12.22 Encouraging Professional Standards and Promoting the Green Industry

D I RECTI ON S

AND, WE’RE OFF! ...to a great start, that is! We have lots of fun things planned in 2022 and are looking forward to your participation!

SANDY MUNLEY

Executive Director / OLA

As you read in our President’s article, 2022 OLA President Brian Maurer challenged everyone to share the benefits of being an OLA member with people you know in the industry, so that they will join our wonderful orgnanization.

When we grow, we grow stronger – for you – and are able to serve you better in a number of ways.

put together for public education. Ken Sasak, of Sasak Landscaping, is the committee chair. He and his son, Kevin, do a great job of designing the space, but need the assistance of other members to help make their vision come to life. Garden construction begins January 24 and ends February 3. The first several days will focus on construction and hardscape. The next few will be planting and mulching, and the last couple days will be putting on the final touches, detailing, and staging.

You can help for one day or multiple days.

I would also like to challenge you this year, but in a different way. My goal for 2022 is that more of you get involved! Attend OLA events, join a committee, or volunteer for a specific event.

Our members are the heart of the OLA. Almost everything we do stems from a member’s request or idea they had. Your input helps to make the OLA better. With that in mind, we have a couple of opportunities coming up this month, and next, that I would like to draw your attention to.

Additionally, we try to have two members staffing the OLA garden for the duration of the show. The public often has questions about plant material and/or construction details.

We mark all the plants with their names and descriptions, so you won’t be stumped. Generally, shifts are three to four hours long. This year, the show runs from February 4 to February 13. This is an excellent opportunity for our members who do not have a booth at the show to interact with the public.

The first of these opportunities is being held on the afternoon of January 20, when our committees meet to kick off the 2022 season. This takes place prior to (and in the same location as) our January evening meeting. Even if you just think you might be interested in joining a committee, you should attend! We do need to know by January 13, because dinner will be provided and we need to provide our caterer a head-count. Give Rick or me a call in the office and we will gladly tell you more about our committees.

After the show is over, it is our responsibility to remove everything from our garden. We typically restack hardscape onto pallets, remove any plants that remain, etc. If that is something you would like to do, let us know.

Next, the Great Big Home & Garden Show is returning to the the I-X Center in Cleveland in 2022! If you are a northeast Ohioan, this is a great opportunity to help build or staff the garden that members of the Ohio Landscape Association

34 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

If any of these opportunities sound interesting, you can let us know you are interested by signing up on our website ohiolandscapers.org by clicking on the link to our events calendar, by emailing info@ohiolandscapers.org, or by calling the office at 440.717.0002. Our calendar is filling up with a lot of other events as well, so please check it out!

I’m wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

ADVERTI SI N G I N D E X OLA’s NEW MEMBERS The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association:

REGULAR MEMBER AMB Contracting 94 Jacqueline Drive Berea, OH 44017 Andrew Brown (440) 396-8177

The Robinette Group PO Box 252 Twinsburg, OH 44087 Dennis Cash (216) 256-4592

KB Lawn & Snow Removal 2115 Julia Avenue Avon, OH 44011 Kyle Wardrope (440) 822-5163

Rooted Landscape Design 39700 Colorado Avenue Avon, OH 44011 Clark Jacob (440) 409-7999

Outside Design Custom Pools & Spas 723 Broadstone Painesville, OH 44077 Steve Moore (440) 478-5389

Top Designer Landscaping 30509 Euclid Avenue Wickliffe, OH 44092 Rico Webster (216) 990-4029

Reynolds Landscaping 9241 Ravenna Rd Unit C-1 Twinsburg, OH 44087 Ben Reynolds (330) 840-7197

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Linxup 424 S. Wood Mill Road St. Louis, MO 63017 Breann Studdard (877) 732-4980

Ohio Pools & Spas 6815 Whipple Ave NW North Canton, OH 44720 Amanda Annis (330) 575-3353

Federated Insurance 11 East Park Square Owatonna, MN 55060 Colt Pettit (419) 906-5674

The Petal Peddler 4290 Manchester Road Perry, OH 44081 Annette McGonnell (440) 477-3590

STUDENT MEMBER Cuyahoga Community College Steve Primeau

17

A-1 Power Equipment

29

Abraxus / Royalton Landscape Supply

17

Acme Fence & Lumber

2

Botson Insurance Group, Inc.

6

Buyansky Brothers Landscape Materials

11

Cascade Lighting

23

Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc.

36

Ditch Witch Mid States

23

Frank Brothers Landscape Supply

15

Green Velvet Sod Farms

25

Klyn Nurseries

13

Kurtz Bros., Inc.

21

Lakeside Sand & Gravel

12

NEOWeather, LLC

25

O’Reilly Equipment

9

Premier Plant Solutions

21

Sohar’s / RCPW, Inc.

31

Valley City Supply

19

VanCuren Tree Services, Inc.

31

Zoresco Equipment Company The Growing Concern | January 2022 | 35

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cleveland, OH Permit No. 2280

9240 Broadview Road Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517

01/22

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