The Growing Concern May 2022

Growing Concern

The

MAY 2 0 2 2

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

BRIAN MAURER, LIC

EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, ELEVATE.

Brian-Kyles

Last month, at our Central Ohio evening meeting, The Ohio Landscape Association welcomed one of the green industry’s most prolific business owners, Joshua Gámez, CEO of East Coast Facilities.

For those of you who had the opportunity to attend, I hope you have many – if not, at least one – take-away that you’ve begun to implement within your organization. For those who were unable to attend, I truly am sorry. You missed out on an excellent, free opportunity to better yourself, both personally and professionally.

The good news for ALL of you is: From a planning perspective, this event was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the OLA intends to offer its members over the coming months and years. We understand that we are all in this together and that most of us – me included – do not have the resources to tackle every single problem head-on.

The OLA exists to provide you assistance. And, while it’s hard for me to say this because this association already offers such great opportunities, we want to provide even better ones to help educate our members and advocate on their behalf, so that we might all elevate our businesses. We’ll be resuming evening meetings once the busy season is over and hope you will consider attending our NEO Facility Tour scheduled for this September, or a meeting soon thereafter!

So, for those of you who were able to attend the Joshua Gámez event, I hope what I’m about to say will resonate…

For too long, as an industry, we have been trained to do everything we can to “find the easy way.” We’re constantly looking for ways to make our work simpler and more efficient.

And, because many of us who now own our own businesses worked in it first, it’s not a stretch to say that this mindset has crept into the management side of things, as well.

That being said, I have a little bit of a history lesson for everyone. In 1952, the US Government enacted The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA collected many provisions and reorganized the structure of immigration law, including a provision (H-2) that allowed foreign workers to be used in the agriculture sector. For years, this provision was the answer to many farmers’ hurdles until increased scrutiny of the program forced a new Act, the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. Among other things, this Act divided the H-2 program into two visa programs: H-2a for agricultural workers and H-2b for non-agricultural workers.

Over the years, many of us have felt that H-2b was the answer to our hopes and dreams because it seemed like the “easy way.”

Yet, from where we stand now – looking back – it seems like continued on page 6 anything but.

The Growing Concern | May 2022 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS M AY 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 A L G REEN I N D U ST 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.

Photos Courtesy of M.J. Design Associates

FEATURES

3 8 12 18 22 28 34 35 35

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Educate. Advocate. Elevate.

PERENNIAL FOCUS

Campanula punctata: Spotted Bellflower

FISCAL FITNESS

Inflation

FOR SAFETY SAKE

Complacency and the Workplace

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Great Western Plant Explorers: Dr. Clarke Abel

FEATURE ARTICLE

REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Brian Maurer, LIC, BrianKyles Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of magazine publication.

For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 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

President – Elect Stephanie Gray, LIC

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Invasive Species Awareness: Insects to Watch for This Summer

Treasurer Cameron Maneri

DIRECTIONS

Immediate Past President James Funai, PhD

NEW MEMBERS

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

Are You Legal?

ADVERTISING INDEX

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS U P C O M I N G O L A M E E T I N G S , E D U C AT I O N S E M I N A R S & E V E N T S

MAY

JULY cont...

MAY 12, 2022 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP

JULY 14, 2022 PLANT I.D. CLINIC (N.E. Ohio)

The OLA’s Young Professionals in Landscape Group is being created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry. If you are under 40 years old, you are invited to join.

See page 17 for more details.

This clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews covering the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Sponsored by Davis Tree Farm & Nursery. See page 7 for more details.

JUNE JUNE 7, 2022 WOMEN IN LANDSCAPE MEET-UP OLA’s Women in Landscaping Group was created for the purposes of connecting, empowering, and advocating for women in the landscape industry, while amplifying the voices of our current & future women leaders.

Please e-mail info@ohiolandscapers. org to receive updated email alerts for this event.

JUNE 16, 2022 25th ANNUAL AWARDS GALA Join Ohio’s landscape community for an evening out as we reveal the 2021 Landscape Ohio! Award winners. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have been contemplating entering, or for those of you just looking to spend an elegant night out with industry leaders as we celebrate our industry!

See page 16 for more details.

JULY JULY 12, 2022 PLANT I.D. CLINIC (Central Ohio) This clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews covering the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio.

Sponsored by Premier Plant Solutions.

See page 7 for more details.

JULY 19, 2022 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP The OLA’s Young Professionals in Landscape Group was created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry. If you are under 40 years old, you are invited to join.

AUGUST AUGUST 5, 2022 OLA SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC Join us at Mallard Creek Golf Club for the OLA Scholarship Golf Classic! Our golf outing was created to help generate funding for our scholarship program, targeting qualified students interested in a vocation within the green profession.

Call the OLA at 440.717.0002 for available sponsorship opportunities.

AUGUST 25, 20212 SNOW & ICE MANAGEMENT CLINIC Whether you’re an owner, operations manager, dispatcher, or anyone in between, this is a can’t miss event for any company focused on improving how they handle the “white side” of their business. This year’s Snow & Ice Managment Clinic will focus on Mechanical Removal, Calibration of Anti-Icing agents and Salt Tracking Technology. Vendors may call the OLA at 440.717.0002 for available booth/ sponsorship opportunities in our minitrade show exhibit.

2022 OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Our very own Jim Funai, Ph.D., plant science and landscape technology professor at Cuyahoga Community College, has been named the Outstanding Educator of the Year for 2022 by NALP. Jim attended The Ohio State University and was studying engineering at first because he didn’t know there were career paths in the landscape industry. After searching for some career options, his advisor showed him the world of landscape horticulture as a career.

It wasn’t until after he became a teacher that he earned some graduate degrees including a master’s in extension education from Colorado State University and after several trips back and forth, his Ph.D. in soil engineering from Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic.

Funai has been described as driven, accessible, honest, optimistic and real. He gets to know his students and identifies their individual skills and strengths.

He tailors his teaching so each student can develop their talents. His students leave with a high level of horticultural literacy that translates into successful and gratifying careers. He served as OLA Board President in 2021.

This award was presented to Funai during the 46th National Collegiate Landscape Competition.

The Growing Concern | May 2022 | 5

PR E S IDENT ’ S C OL UMN continued from page 3 As an industry, we have now become dependent on this program, one that – in my opinion – has been broken since its inception. The amount of money we continue to pour into this program should be very concerning. Yet, we continue to do so, fueling elections and reelections which, in turn, keep the ‘addiction’ alive.

So, why not change course? Why not at least examine alternate solutions that might allow us to have complete control over OUR businesses? I was once a business owner who lived this ‘addiction’; the chaos it caused and the ruin it laid to a reputation I had worked hard to build. I found the answers to likely be, A) because change is hard and takes an incredible amount of discipline, and B) because history suggests that this is the “easy way.”

For me, it’s time to rewrite my company’s future. Our biggest hurdle – like anyone’s – is the lack of labor, but we’ve been honed-in on it for the past two years and are determined to control our own fate. It is not impossible; we are all capable.

Don’t believe me; take a look back at what we learned from Todd Pugh when he spoke to our members about onboarding, or even the most recent presentation where Joshua Gámez spoke about recruiting. I implemented some of the suggested process in my very own organization; they have been put to the test; and just recently, we opened our second location in Indianapolis, Indiana. In just a matter of a few weeks, with no prior market presence, we became fully staffed. In fact, we have more applications coming in today then we have positions open for.

In closing, when I say, “The more successful our members are, the more successful we are as an organization,” I mean it. And while, as individuals, we may not have the time, resources, or discipline to remain consistent in every endeavor, as a group we do, and the OLA is here to help.

Over the next few months, we will be working on a campaign to gain your input. We want to understand what your painpoints are and what we can do as an association to help alleviate, or at least minimize them. In conjunction, our committees are working on innovative ways to get in front of you and your employees. We want to see every one of you successful in your own way.

Have a great Spring!

6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PLANT I.D. CLINIC

JULY 14, 2022 DAVIS TREE FARM & NURSERY 6126 NEFF RD. VALLEY CITY, OHIO 44280

Those who should attend are plant installation staff, maintenance staff, garden center staff, foreman, and anyone studying to take the Landscape Industry Certified Technician’s Test.

AGENDA 8:30AM - 9:00AM REGISTRATION / BREAKFAST

This Plant ID Clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews that will cover the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Many of the plants that will be covered are on the plant list for the Landscape Industry Certified Technician’s Test, including: perennials, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, as well as trees and shrubs - both evergreen and deciduous.

GENERAL INFORMATION: This seminar is hands-on training with live plant material. Attendees will need their own notepad and pen, and will need to dress appropriately for outdoor practical training.

OUR 2021 INSTRUCTORS

9:00AM - 3:00 PM CLINIC LUNCH INCLUDED COST OLA MEMBERS BEFORE 06/28/22 - $89 AFTER 06/28/22 - $119 NON MEMBERS BEFORE 06/28/22 - $119 AFTER 06/28/22 - $149

Wendy Moore Davis Tree Farm

Marie McConnell Lake County Nursery

Robin Knaup Premier Plant Solutions

Jason Veil Secrest Arboretum

Jim Funai, Ph.D. Cuyahoga Community College

Staff Premier Plant Solutions

Cancellations made 8 to 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds or credits 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 early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly.

2022 PLANT I.D. CLINIC / REGISTRATION CLOSES 07/05/22

(Make checks payable and send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9240 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., OH 44147)

Company Contact Address City State Phone (______)

Zip

Fax (______) Email

NAME OF ATTENDEE

FEE

 July 12th, Hilliard, OH

 July 14th, Valley City, OH

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 July 12th, Hilliard, OH

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 MasterCard  Visa  AMEX  Discover

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Exp. Date

Name on Card

Signature

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Billing Address + Zipcode for Card SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 4.5 FOR THIS EVENT ARE STILL AVAILABLE. CALL 440.717.0002 FOR MORE INFORMATION. CEU’S

REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/EDUCATION

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Campanula punctata ‘Purple Sensation.’

CAMPANULA PUNCTATA

SPOTTED BELLFLOWER

Rambunctious perennials get a bad name when they are planted in the wrong place, i.e. in a perennial garden where they take over. However, in a site where you want full coverage to deter weeds or a site where other perennials do not survive, you might want a rhizomatous perennial.

Being a purple lover, the two cultivars I use the most are ‘Purple Sensation’ (14 -16 inches) and ‘Sarastro’ (18 - 20 inches). Each stem of ‘Purple Sensation’ has a cluster of very dark purple buds that open into long (3 inches) purple bells, bloom all summer, and attract butterflies and other pollinators.

One of my favorites is Campanula punctata and I highly recommend that you give one of the cultivars (not the species) a try. It will survive beautifully in dry shade and spread slowly there. If you plant it in moist soil and more sun, it will probably run further than you want.

‘Sarastro’ is similar and a hybrid of Campanula punctata and Campanula trachelium, although the drooping bells are only 2 inches long. Technically it is a clumper, but the bushy clumps can spread as much as 2 feet. ‘Sarastro’ was the most highly rated Campanula in the Chicago Botanic Garden trial that continued on page 10

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS

The flowers of ‘Sarastro’ appear to be a bit paler than those of ‘Purple Sensation’. Might be attributed to less sun?

continued from page 8 were reported in 2014. Because mine is planted in a very shady location, it leans toward the sun and falls over. I never remember to cut it back before it blooms in order to shorten it.

Cutting back after bloom will encourage rebloom. The foliage is heavily veined and dark green. Although none of the internet sites say that the leaves are evergreen, I can attest that they have been in my garden.

Both are hardy to zone 4. They are cited as being rabbit resistant and mine have also been deer resistant.

I have had a similar, but pink bellflower in my garden for many years. It is Campanula takesimana ‘Elizabeth’. It is more aggressive than either of the previous bellflowers mentioned – it also gets more moisture – but still welcome. The rose trumpet-like bells appear on arching stems. This Campanula is only hardy to zone 5.

Sadly, there aren’t many NE Ohio nurseries that grow these perennials, so I’ve resorted to purchasing them online.

Campanula takesimana ‘Elizabeth.’

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance 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).

10 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

INFLATION Inflation measures how much more expensive a set of goods and services has become over a certain period.

Inflation can occur in nearly any product or service, including need-based expenses such as housing, food, medical care, and utilities, as well as want expenses, such as cosmetics, automobiles, and jewelry. Once inflation becomes prevalent throughout an economy, the expectation of further inflation becomes an overriding concern in the consciousness of consumers and businesses alike.

Central banks of developed economies, including the Federal Reserve in the U.S., monitor inflation. Usually the Fed has an inflation target of approximately 2-3% and adjusts monetary policy to combat inflation if prices rise too much or too quickly.

Inflation can be a concern because it makes money saved today less valuable tomorrow. Inflation erodes a consumer’s purchasing power and can even interfere with the ability to retire. For example, if an investor earned 7% from investments in stocks and bonds, but the inflation rate was 3%, the investor only earned 4% in real terms.

Inflation is typically a broad measure, such as the overall increase in prices or the increase in the cost of living in a

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

country. But it can also be more narrowly calculated—for certain goods, such as food, or for services, such as a haircut, for example. Whatever the context, inflation represents how much more expensive the relevant set of goods and/or services has become over a certain period, most commonly a year.

The most widely used measure of inflation at the consumer level is called the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Cost-push inflation occurs when prices increase due to increases in production costs, such as raw materials and wages. The demand for goods is unchanged while the supply of goods declines due to the higher costs of production.

As a result, the added costs of production are passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices for the finished goods. continued on page 14

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continued from page 12 For example, if the price of copper rises, companies that use copper to make their products might increase the prices of their goods. If the demand for the product is independent of the demand for copper, the business will pass on the higher costs of raw materials to consumers. The result is higher prices for consumers without any change in demand for the products consumed.

Wages also affect the cost of production and are typically the single biggest expense for businesses. When the economy is performing well, and the unemployment rate is low, shortages in labor or workers can occur. Companies, in turn, increase wages to attract qualified candidates, causing production costs to rise for the company.

Natural disasters can also drive prices higher. For example, if a hurricane destroys a crop such as corn, prices can rise across the economy since corn is used in many products.

To the extent that households’ nominal income, which they receive in current money, does not increase as much as prices, they are worse off, because they can afford to purchase less.

In other words, their purchasing power or real—inflationadjusted—income falls. Real income is a proxy for the standard of living. When real incomes are rising, so is the standard of living, and vice versa.

In reality, prices change at different paces. Some, such as the prices of traded commodities, change every day; others, such as wages established by contracts, take longer to adjust (or are “sticky,” in economic parlance). In an inflationary

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

environment, unevenly rising prices inevitably reduce the purchasing power of some consumers, and this erosion of real income is the single biggest cost of inflation.

Although high inflation hurts an economy, deflation, or falling prices, is not desirable either. When prices are falling, consumers delay making purchases if they can, anticipating lower prices in the future. For the economy this means less economic activity, less income generated by producers, and lower economic growth.

Most economists believe that low, stable, and—most important—predictable inflation is good for an economy.

Scenarios illustrated are hypothetical in nature, results may vary. Investing is subject to risk which may involve loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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.

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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LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS GALA

EVENT INFO THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 WINDOWS ON THE RIVER 2000 SYCAMORE ST, CLEVELAND, OH 44113 AGENDA REGISTRATION/COCKTAILS 5:30PM - 6:30PM DINNER 6:30PM - 7:30PM PROGRAM 7:30PM - 10:00PM COST MEMBER: $75 PER PERSON * Includes champagne toast, dinner and awards show. CASH BAR.

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY JUNE 2, 2022

LANDSCAPE ENHANCEMENT AWARDS GALA

The Landscape Ohio! Awards Program is an annual Landscape competition, created by the Ohio Landscape Association, in effort to increase awareness of quality landscaping and how it improves our environment. In conjunction with this program, the OLA hosts a prestigious Awards Gala to recognize our designers, installers, and property owners.

The 2022 Gala will be held in the breathtaking Bridge View Room, at Windows on the River, in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. It is a semi-formal event inclusive of a cocktail hour, dinner buffet and awards presentation. It is also an excellent chance for industry professionals to get dressed up and celebrate the work being done by their teams and their peers.

This year, the OLA is happy to announce that we will be able to offer a limited amount of tickets to those who did not enter this year’s competition. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have been contemplating entering, but want to know more about the program, or for those of you just looking to spend an elegant night out with industry leaders and get inspired.

THIS YEAR’S MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT

* Members in attendance may bring a non-member guest

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

* Opportunities to sponsor this year’s event are still available and we are always happy to accept the donation of door prizes. For more information, please contact the OLA office at 440.717.0002.

ALL ROADS

THIS YEAR’S CATEGORY SPONSORS

Alvord’s Yard & Garden, Bedford Glens Garden Center, Belgard, Bigfoot Landscape Supply, Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Great Big Home & Garden Show, Klyn Nurseries Inc., Kurtz Bros., Inc., Lake County Nursery, Oberfields, Premier Plant Solutions, Snow & Ice Management Association, Unilock Ohio Inc., Valley City Supply, Wolf Creek Company Due to the nature of this catered event, all sales shall be considered final. NO refunds, or credits will be issued for no shows, or cancellations on the day of the event. If, for any reason, the event is cancelled, enrollees will be notified, and fees refunded in full.

2022 LANDSCAPE OHIO AWARDS DINNER GALA / REGISTRATION CLOSES 06/02/22 Company Contact Address City State Phone (______)

Zip

Fax (______) Email

NAME OF ATTENDEE (S)

FEE

$

$

$

$

TOTAL DUE  Check No. (Enclosed)

Charge to my:

 MasterCard  Visa  AMEX  Discover

Acct. No.

Exp. Date

Name on Card

Signature

Billing Address + Zipcode for Card

REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/AWARDS-PROGRAM

Security Code

F EATUR E

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION MAY 12, 2022 OLD RIVER TAP AND SOCIAL 19245 DETROIT RD, ROCKY RIVER, OH 44116 AGENDA NETWORKING & DISCUSSION 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: NO CHARGE FOOD/BEVERAGE: ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FOOD AN BEVERAGE PURCHASES. NOTE: NON-MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THEIR FIRST MEETING FREE OF CHARGE. THEREAFTER, THEY WILL NEED TO HOLD A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IN ORDER TO ATTEND.

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY MAY 5, 2022

AR T IC L E

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Interestingly enough - and to many people’s surprise - the average age of a landscape contractor is over 40 years old, representing over half of the population. With demand for our industry’s services at an all-time high, and because Father Time is still undefeated, we must turn our focus toward the next generation of rising talent.

The OLA’s Young Professionals in Landscape Group is being created to provide a platform to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas with peers in our industry, within the state of Ohio. If you are under 40 years old, you are invited to join this FREE Young Professionals Network and connect with people who are on a similar career path and share your passion for our industry.

Our first meeting, scheduled for May 12th, 2022, will be a very informal event used to determine future topics of conversation for the group.

INAUGURAL GUEST MODERATOR RYAN DRAKE / J.F.D. LANDSCAPES, INC.

As a graduate of John Carroll University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Ryan Drake works for J.F.D. Landscapes, Inc., a family-owned, full-service landscape company servicing Northeast Ohio. Ryan has worked within his family’s business for nearly 15 years, having run crews in his earlier years, and now as an Account Manager.

In addition to his work at J.F.D., Ryan spent time working for Davey Tree Ohio’s largest employee-owned company and the eighth-largest in the nation - in their Grounds Management Division.

Currently, Ryan serves on the OLA’s Board of Directors, is Chair of the Programs Committee - the committee responsible for determining our evening meeting schedule - and is an active participant on our Education Committee. In his spare time, he has coached both soccer and lacrosse at Gilmour Academy, trains retrievers, and enjoys waterfowl hunting along with spending time with his family.

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F OR SAFETY SAK E

COMPLACENCY AND THE WORKPLACE The term complacency, doing the same task for so long without incident that you assume nothing will ever happen, can become a challenge in any workplace. Complacency can affect anyone at any age regardless of their experience but there are ways to spot complacency among yourself and your employees. All too often employees do not realize how complacent they actually have become until they have a near miss or close call; such events tend to jumpstart hearts and refocus proper attention, at least for a little while, to the importance of tasks at hand.

Many times, employees are unaware of complacency and as they work through their daily job functions, they lose sight of hazards that may exist. Some may feel they are not affected by complacency but just letting your guard down for a short time can be dangerous. One way to combat complacency is to be an engaged worker. Engaged workers are those who always work in the moment staying aware of the surroundings.

Let’s take an example of a person who performs a daily safety inspection before operation. This daily routine occurs for months even years without incident. Then the employee

18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

decides to skip the inspection. Then another time and soon inspections are being done less frequently and then something happens. Perhaps the employee doing the inspection gets injured or one of their fellow workers. Either way the results can be terrifying.

Usually the best person to spot complacency is the employee themselves, but complacency can mean they don’t see the dangers right in front of them. To stay safe, teach employees how to identify complacency for themselves. This may include continued on page 20 situations such as:

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continued from page 18 • • •

Dissatisfaction with work and/or lack of motivation Missing steps in work processes Frequent near-misses or incidents

Since it can be difficult to recognize these signs for each employee, teach them to spot them in their co-workers. The more they learn how to recognize these signs, the easier it may be to identify them in other situations. When looking at signs of complacency from your employees keep an eye out for the following situations: • • •

Changes in attitude Noticeable increase or decrease in communication Tardiness for meetings or shifts

Identifying and addressing complacency is a team effort. Not only is it key for employees but the employer can assist by looking at opportunities to change things up. Some suggestions to consider for employers can include: •

•

•

As we mentioned earlier, getting employees engaged is a key point in getting out of the rut of complacency. There are some steps to focus on that will help.

•

•

•

• •

•

By consciously focusing on the task will lead to setting them up for success.

It is key to recognize and dismiss distractions when they come up.

When approaching tasks look for improvements in the routine. Always be on the lookout for continual improvement.

If possible, consider changing some elements of the work schedule for the day; the change could help them focus and keep them from falling into “cruise control” mode.

•

Sharing the Mission – Remind employees of the company’s purpose and goals so that they can maintain a connection to the larger missions. Make sure to emphasize that their behaviors have an impact.

Avoid Routines – Repetition can be related to complacency, if possible, change up some of the tasks required to add variety to an employee’s job.

Encourage Observation – Have employees briefly stop work and observe the actions of others as they work, observing others raises one’s own awareness as well as the awareness of their co-workers.

Correct Poor Performance – Mentoring programs and coaching help employees identify and change troubled practices and potential problems.

Safety Talks – Make safety talks part of a daily routine and get employees involved.

Share Knowledge – Have employees identify and share the steps they perform to complete a job. Having another set of eyes may help improve the process.

Complacency can be dangerous, and everyone is susceptible.

It can lead to underperformance, workplace accidents and low morale. But with team work, and employee engagement, complacency doesn’t have to run the workplace.

This article was provided by Sedgwick. Sedwick is proud to partner with the Ohio Landscape Association as their Third Party Administrator of the OLA Group Workers’ Compensation Program. For more information, visit https://www.sedgwick.com/ohiotpa, or call Bob Nicoll at 330.418.1824

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 The flowers of Glossy Abelia.

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

GREAT WESTERN PLANT EXPLORERS DR. CLARKE ABEL This month, we’re exploring a great woody flowering genus – Abelia – which honors the late Dr. Clarke Abel.

Abel was born in England, in 1789, and was a trained surgeon who joined an ill-fated expedition to China in 1816. This expedition was one of the first allowed access to mainland China.

It was also the first expedition to discover Japan’s Ryuku Islands, a chain of tropical islands set between Japan and Taiwan.

Led by Lord Amherst, this expedition set sail on a French-built ship which was captured by the English, named the HMS Alceste. The ship had quite the history, having led a British Navy Squadron in 1811 in capturing 200 French cannons which changed the trajectory of the Napoleonic Wars. In 1814, it was used to carry British troops to North America during the war of 1812. Then, after the Treaty of Paris ended that war, the Alceste entered into a peaceful mission of carrying British scientists and diplomats to Asia in 1816.

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

While in Asia, after weeks of collecting and documenting plants, animals, people, rocks, etc., the crew posted everything on social media for the scientific community to observe instantly. (Well… it would have been cool if they could have.)

All joking aside, as fate would have it, the HMS Alceste never returned home, as it struck an uncharted reef near Jakarta, Indonesia and after two weeks was found, pillaged by Malay Pirates and burnt to the ground.

In the wreckage, all of Abel’s collections were destroyed, but thankfully he had supplied duplicates of a few plants to Sir G.T. Staunton who made his way back to England on an alternate ship. These specimens made their way to the British Museum and became part of the Banks Herbarium, managed continued on page 24 by a Robert Brown...

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Abelia mosanensis: Fragrant Abelia

continued from page 22 ... (one of the most extensive collections of plants in the West). Three specimens in this accession were named Abelia chinensis (Glossy Abelia), Hamamelis chinensis (Witch-hazel), and Eurya chinensis (a Zone 8 broadleaf evergreen). To this day (some 200 years later), one of the original Abel-collected plants is still in the British Museum, collected on the shores of Po-Yang Lake, off the Yangtze River (350 miles SE of Shanghai).

So, what did Dr. Abel find in this plant that he deemed worthy of collection? Abelia is a genus with around 30 members in the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). Like many in the family, they are (mostly) deciduous, flowering, multi-stem shrubs that send up additional shoots that are great for building mass in the landscape.

While Dr. Abel brought A. chinensis to the West, this species is not as hardy in Ohio as a few other options. Hybridized versions of the parents (A. chinensis x A. uniflora) give way to a group of cultivars listed under Abelia x grandiflora. These so called “Glossy Abelias” offer variations of variegation and slight changes in size and flowering ability. Readers in Southern Ohio will usually have more luck with Glossy Abelia than those of us up North, where the plant is more

24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

like an herbaceous perennial. We’ve had them return each year in our gardens, but they usually need to be cut back to the ground, much like Beautyberry (Calicarpa). They will jump right up and offer all the beauty of their southern counterparts – with some time.

Abelia mosanensis (Fragrant Abelia) is a more suitable for Zone 5, yet do just as great Zone 6. This plant will be in the 5 by 5-foot range, setting a perfect backdrop to the perennial border. The leaves are so glossy that they will actually reflect enough sun to catch your attention, much like the reflection off a window. In later May – reaching into June – this plant will erupt with clusters of white/blush-pink, bell-shaped flowers that induce a very pleasant scent to the surrounding garden. After enjoying the glossy foliage as a backdrop thru the summer, prepare for a second round of splendor as the fall leaves turn a fiery orange-red. If you read about this plant in the Dirr manual, he may steer you wrong. He complains that the plant fails to perform in Zone 7 heat and drought.

Here in Ohio, we can find the right place for these plants to avoid those issues.

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possible. It is wise to keep the plant near the viewer, so they enjoy the fragrance. If you keep it in well drained, moist soil you will get a great plant!

Finally, be aware that this plant blooms on “old wood.” This means, if pruning is needed, you’ll need to do so immediately after flowers fade in June, so that it can set new buds for the following spring. If this plant is cut back in winter, or spring, flowering will be minimal – but just for a year. We have this plant in our garden and find that with proper siting we haven’t had to prune it over 5 years. We suspect it will benefit from a little clean up pruning in a year or so, but nothing too drastic.

So, honor the great Dr. Abel and look for a place to put some Abelia in your next design to extend the beautiful riot of flowers that is May. You won’t be sorry!

Jim Funai, PhD is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio and is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

The Growing Concern | May 2022 | 25

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FEATURE ARTI CLE Spotted Lantern Fly

Invasive Species Awareness

Insects to Watch for This Summer It can sometimes feel like the struggle with invasive species is never ending but equipping yourself with the right knowledge can go a long way to lessening their impact. Each species has its own quirks, but there are common themes that explain why these species are a problem, how to slow their spread, and how to manage them. Take a few minutes to read on and refresh your invasive insect knowledge!

WHAT ARE INVASIVE SPECIES? When talking about invasive species, we tend to group organisms broadly into three categories: native, non-native, and invasive.

Natives species are ones that live in a given area because of non-human means. Generally, these insects, plants, and other organisms are tightly woven into the ecosystem. They may provide benefits to other organisms (e.g. native plants are a food source for beneficial insects) and, outside of outbreaks, their population size is kept from going out of control through the checks and balances of the ecosystem (e.g. predators that only eat certain types of insects).

Non-native species are those that were transported long distances by humans to a new area. They are separated from the ecosystem that they developed in and its checks and balances. Non-native species can have a positive, neutral, or negative impact on their surroundings, though they most commonly have either a neutral or negative impact.

Invasive species are a type of non-native species that were moved long distances by humans, escaped out of captivity or cultivation, established a reproducing population in the wild, and, importantly, cause harm to people and/or the environment. Therefore, the key trait that differentiates continued on page 30

28 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 28

Asian Longhorned Beetle

invasive species from other non-native ones is that they cause harm. For example, apple trees are not native to North America but even when they grow outside of cultivation they do not cause any significant harm to humans or the broader ecosystem. Apples are therefore simply referred to as a nonnative species. In contrast, callery pear spreads aggressively in woodlands and pushes out other plants thereby causing harm to both people and the environment. Thus, callery pear is a non-native species that is invasive.

Insects can stay hidden inside these materials and remain completely undetected by the person transporting them.

Some invasive insects are also undiscerning about where they lay their eggs. Lawn chairs, trucks, and outdoor lightbulbs are all places where invasive insect eggs have been found. You can help prevent bringing these invasive insects to new areas by:

WHY INVASIVE SPECIES ARE A PROBLEM

• •

Invasive insects cause a wide range of problems for people and the environment: some expected and some surprising.

For example, the loss of a yard tree to an invasive insect can cause a decrease in home value and a loss of food for beneficial insects. However, it can also lead to an increase in flooding because the roots no longer take up water during heavy rainfall and a decrease in bird population because of a reduction in the insects birds feed their chicks.

HOW ARE INVASIVE INSECTS SPREAD? Invasive insects primarily spread through people moving their food, shelter, or eggs. Organic matter, like leaves, soil, or wood can all provide invasive insects with food or shelter.

30 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

• •

• •

Buy or cut firewood near where you plan to burn it.

Cleaning dirt off of shoes and equipment before going to a new area.

Checking plants for insects when you receive them.

Checking your outdoor equipment and vehicles before traveling to a new site.

Checking your outdoor belongings before and after moving to a new area.

Reporting them if you find them!

INSECTS TO WATCH OUT FOR SPOTTED LANTERNFLY Damage: Spotted lanternfly kills grapes and some small trees, weakens trees and shrubs, and creates a mess for businesses and homeowners alike. These insects drink the sap from over 100 different species of plants, but especially species like grapes, tree of heaven, black walnut, maples, and birches. continued on page 32

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ARTI CLE

Emerald Ash Borer

Spongy Moth Caterpillar

Signs: Spotted lanternfly damage is undistinctive but the insect itself stands out. In early summer, the nymphs are small with black and white spots. In mid to late summer they are nearly fuchsia with black and white spots. In late summer and fall, the adults are large (~1 inch) with black spotted forewings and flashy fuchsia, white, and black hind wings.

Signs: The adult beetle is very eye catching. It is about 1 inch long and has a blue-black body with white spots. Their antennae are longer than their bodies and are black and white striped. The beetles also leave behind distinctive signs of their presence in their host trees. Look for trees with perfectly round holes about the size of a pencil, “crater” shaped scars in bark, and piles of “saw dust” in the crooks of branches

continued from page 30

Management: In most cases, hold off on management until the lanternfly reaches your area. For plants, like grapes, that are highly susceptible to spotted lanternfly, best management practices often involve a combination of insecticides and trapping. Other plants can be protected using similar measures but these tactics may be unnecessary outside of outbreaks or special cases. However, spotted lanternfly management is a fast-changing field. The author highly recommends checking the Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly site for the latest suggestions.

ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE Damage: Asian longhorned beetle infestation is a death sentence for a tree. This insect kills a wide range of trees (e.g. maples, buckeyes, elms) by hollowing them out.

32 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Treatments: Report any signs or sightings of this beetle! An eradication plan will be put into place if the beetle is found to prevent it from spreading further. These efforts have been highly successful in the past and have kept the beetle from destroying our urban and rural forests.

EMERALD ASH BORER Damage: Emerald ash borer only attacks Ash trees. About 95-99% of trees that have been infested with this insect die with in 2-4 years.

Signs: Early warning signs of emerald ash borer infestation include dieback of the tree canopy and d-shaped exit holes in the tree bark. In later stages of attack, there is often a high

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SPONGY MOTH (FORMERLY GYPSY MOTH) Damage: The soon to be renamed spongy moth feeds on the leaves of trees, especially oak trees. In outbreak years, they going to get the youtrees someingreat shots neighborhood. to start with, they’ll also can defoliate an entire Healthy, have editing software to make those shots thefall) best deciduous trees (thoseand thatskills drop their leaves in the they can be. can usually recover from one year of defoliation. Stressed, evergreen, and/or previously defoliated trees may suffer Anotherorthing wantmoth to invest in is the rights. This dieback deathyou fromwill spongy attack. can cost extra, but DeSantis says it’s worth it in the long run. He used a photographer didn’trecognizable. sell him the Signs: Theonce egg and caterpillar stages arethat the most rights and helook hadlike to pay him every he wanted to use the Egg masses brown lumpstime covered in fuzz.

They photos.

That was far from ideal. can be found on anything from a house to a car to a shovel.

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Caterpillars are fuzzy with two rows of blue and red dots on Hynson says they always purchase all the rights and are also their backs. very protective of the photographs once they own them.

They typically do not letoptions any subs vendors utilize the Treatments: Management rangeorfrom egg scraping to photography for their own advertising or portfolio purposes. arial sprays but all are most effective when done by an entire neighborhood.

“We’ve also had subs ask if they could take some photos while they’re on site and use them and I say no,” Hynson says.

“We want toBarnes be inas total of University how our This article wasultimately written by Elizabeth part ofcontrol the Purdue projects are portrayed and how any images are used.”

Landscape Report. The Purdue Landscape Report provides science-based, timely

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information for Midwest landscapes. This information is intended to benefit

You might alsogarden consider typesarborists, of shots are the commercial growers, centers,what landscapers, or others who most want

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To receive newsletters and reports, really by paid off PurdueLandscapeReport.org for his clients. subscribe visiting

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The Growing Concern | September 2021| |33 33 The Growing Concern | May 2022 12/16/2015 3:27:07 PM

D I RECTI ON S

ARE YOU LEGAL? Spring is a good time to remind everyone of some of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s regulations that affect landscape companies. I typically receive a couple of phone calls about this time each year asking about the need to get a Nursery Dealer’s License and/or Applicator’s License.

If you are thinking, “I am not a nursery, I don’t need a Nursery Dealer’s License,” you may be wrong. If you sell plant material as part of the installation of a landscape, you are required to have a Nursery Dealer’s License from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Whether you purchase your plants from a wholesale nursery, local garden center, or even a big box store, you must be licensed to resell those plants.

SANDY MUNLEY

Executive Director / OLA

Growers have a different licensure and undergo periodic inspections to be sure their plant material is healthy before it is sold locally or shipped out of state. Other states do the same thing. This helps to stop, or at least slow down, the spread of pests and diseases. The fee for licensing of growers and sellers helps to fund this protection. The Nursery Dealer’s license is purchased through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and costs $125 per calendar year. The application is a very easy, one page document. The URL to find the application is a little long, so you can just Google, “Ohio Nursery Dealer’s License;” you will find complete information.

To hold a Pesticide Business License, you need to have the required insurance coverage. A few years ago, the ODA clarified the coverage that it requires. The revised rule in Ohio Administrative Code reads, “Every pesticide business shall have in force a commercial general liability insurance policy and, either a separate professional liability insurance policy or an endorsement covering the properties under the care, custody, and control of the pesticide application business as it relates to the application of pesticides, including but not limited to the damage to the actual properties the pesticide business is treating or working on . . .”

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is also the licensing body for Commercial Applicator’s Licenses and Pesticide Business Licenses. Again, you may say, “I don’t apply pesticide,” but if you use a product that contains an herbicide (like RoundUp®), an insecticide (grub or chinch bug control), or pre-emergent for hire, then you need to be licensed. Your company must hold a Business License and have a Licensed Applicator(s) to apply or supervise the application of these products. It does not matter where you purchase the chemicals, if they are granular or liquid, if they are organic, or if the homeowner purchases them; you must be licensed to apply these chemicals for hire.

This means that your actual work must be covered. For example, if your employee accidentally uses a wrong product and kills an entire lawn, this type of insurance would cover that error as faulty workmanship.

This licensing is a little more complex. To get an Applicator’s License, you have to pass a test and to keep it, you have to complete continuing education. This is important for public safety. The ODA wants to be sure applicators understand the products they are using.

34 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

This insurance does not replace the coverage that you have always needed for your Pesticide Business License, it is IN ADDITION to that coverage. Not all insurance companies offer coverage for faulty workmanship, but it is available. If you need assistance finding an insurance provider that can help you with this, please give me call at 440-717-0002 or send me an email sandy@ohiolandscapers.org.

The ODA really is our friend and does a darn good job when you consider the budget restraints it operates under. Their goal is to protect the public and our plants. Let’s be sure we are all doing our part to follow the law and help them meet that goal.

ADVERTI SI N G I N D E X

11 - A-1 Power Equipment 11 - Abraxus / Royalton Landscape Supply 21 - Acme Fence & Lumber 19 - Botson Insurance Group, Inc. 6 - Buyansky Outdoor Supply 27 - Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc. 36 - Ditch Witch Mid States 31 - EcoLawn, Inc. 21 - Frank Brothers Landscape Supply 15 - Kipton Quarry Stone Products 33 - Klyn Nurseries, Inc. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS The Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) is happy to introduce its newest members.

REGULAR MEMBERS 4 Seasons Property Maintenance, LLC 4600 Old Springfield Ct. Vandalia, OH 45377 (937) 901-8034 Vincent Pyle

Innovative Earthworks & Design Co. 16710 Auburn Springs Dr. Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 (440) 829-2860 Michael Goodrick

B & D Turf Services 1590 Burch Court Troy, OH 45373 (937) 716-6550 William Dickensheets

KeelOutdoors 3264 Kellingsworth Way Dublin, OH 43017 (614) 323-2486 Michael Keel

Innovative Companies, Ltd. PO Box 1022 Gates Mills, OH 44040 (440) 537-7520 Domenic Manfredi

Ohio Green Works, LLC 4322 E State Route 73 Waynesville, OH 45068 (937) 369-1617 Drew Parramore & Todd George

9 - Kurtz Bros., Inc. 29 - Lakeside Sand & Gravel 25 - Millcreek Gardens LLC 27 - MRLM/JTO, Inc. 35 - O’Reilly Equipment 6 - Oliger Seed Co. 23 - Premier Plant Solutions 2 - Sintsirmas & Mueller Co. LPA 29 - Sohar’s / RCPW, Inc. 13 - VanCuren Tree Services, Inc. 25 - Zoresco Equipment Company The Growing Concern | May 2022 | 35

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

9240 Broadview Road Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517

05/22

“This is the best Compact Loader available in the U.S. today, with more features than the competition. Reach new heights (111”) with the extendable lifting arm on this small telescopic wheel loader.” - Dave Nordgaard

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - SCHEDULE D254SW TELE DEMO TODAY!

1-833-437-8479 | earthworXequipment.com A woman owned business affiliate of Ditch Witch Mid-States

Giant compact loader models run the gamut from 25hp–75hp,offering more visibility, higher lift and reach with X-Tra & telescopic booms, universal skid steer plates, turf friendly tire options, rugged steel body panels & more. The 25,000th Giant loader manufactured was all-electric:

1-888-DITCHWITCH ditchwitchmidstates.com

Columbus, OH Full Service Branch

Louisville, KY Full Service Branch

Pittsburgh, PA Full Service Branch

Erlanger, KY Service Branch

3660 Interchange Rd, Columbus,OH 43204 400 Sparrow Dr, Shepherdsville,KY 40165 Phone 614-443-9751 | Fax 614-443-9219 Phone 502-543-3309 | Fax 502-543-9613 9052 Marshall Rd, Cranberry Twp,PA 16066 3461 Piedmont Cr, Erlanger KY 41018 Phone 724-742-2844 | Fax 724-742-2877 Phone 859-263-5050 (by appt. only)

Cincinnati, OH Satellite Service Phone 513-672-3060

Cleveland, OH Satellite Service Phone 330-220-6585

Rochester, NY Satellite Service Phone 585-334-2920