The Growing Concern October 2020

Growing Concern

The

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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

Ohio Green Industry Alliance: Clay Shoot October 27, 2020 / Hill n’ Dale Club / PAGE 15

OLA Annual Meeting: Mike Rorie

November 19, 2020 / Webinar featuring Mike Rorie of GIS Dynamics / PAGE 7

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

DOMENIC LAURIA

IS YOUR VISION ONLY 2020?

Vizmeg Landscape, Inc.

I’m the type who craves coaching and development, whether it’s on the ballfield, in the classroom, or at my place of business. Recently, I’ve come to realize that coaching comes in many forms. Sometimes it comes in the form of reading a book or attending a seminar, but other times it may come from a much simpler place, in a form that we may not be all too familiar with.

To begin, I feel like I need state – for the record – that as much as I try and separate work from home it is often difficult to do. First, like most of you, I work a lot of hours and this often means bringing work home. Second, even though I’m working all of those hours, I still enjoy what I do; so much that I tend talk about it…a lot. Because of this excitement I have for what I do, my wife and I tend to have many conversations about how I could potentially do something better, or more efficiently. Sometimes you just need a fresh set of eyes, right?

This year, my wife has taken it upon herself to spend some time on personal development. In discussing her experiences with her, I’ve noticed that we have very different ideas pertaining to personal development (neither of which is right or wrong – just different). While I spend a lot of time reading and researching how to be a better leader, manager, and businessman, she spends time understanding who she is and why she’s this way. The last time we discussed this, she

started talking about vision boards and daily affirmations, which was like a foreign language to me. Yet, as I’ve watched her grow, I’ve started to think that maybe there’s some merit to me incorporating these approaches in my life.

One of the exercises that I’d like to share with you was something simple that we did on a random Friday night. She convinced me that we should create vision boards in regards to what we wanted our futures to look like. For those of you who don’t know – like me, prior to having this conversation – a vision board is basically a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of one’s dreams and desires. It’s designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation, which uses the law of attraction to attain goals. Anyway, as we started, I kept thinking to myself, “I really like my life. This is kind of my vision. What am I supposed to be doing here?” What I learned in this simple exercise was how to raise my standards over time. continued on page 6 The Growing Concern | October 2020 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 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, or 1.800.335.6521 Fax: 440.717.0004 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Adam Capiccioni, Ohio CAT 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: 2019 Landscape Ohio! Awards Merit Award winner, McCaskey Landscape and Design, for their entry in the category of Residential Installation.

FEATURES

3 8 12 16 20 24 30 31

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Finishing Strong

PERENNIAL FOCUS

Panicum: A Great Asset in the Landscape

FISCAL FITNESS

Smart Investing Strategies

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.

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Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace

OFFICERS President Domenic Lauria

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

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4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Treasurer Brian Maurer, LIC Immediate Past President Adam Capiccioni DIRECTORS Keith Clapper Ryan Drake Stephanie Gray, LIC Cameron Maneri Rob Morel

C AL ENDAR OF EVENTS U P CO M I N G O L A MEETINGS , EDUC ATION SE MI N A R S, A ND O TH ER GREEN INDUS TR Y EVE N T S

OCTOBER OCTOBER 27 OGIAPAC FUNDRAISER: CLAY SHOOT Enjoy a day with friends and get to know your fellow colleagues in the green industry while raising money for the Ohio Green Industry Alliance Political Action Committee. The afternoon includes a 16-station clay shoot course, dinner and raffle prizes. Held at The Hill ’n Dale Club in Medina, Ohio. See page 15 for more information, or visit www.onla.org/clayshoot.

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 19 OLA ANNUAL MEETING (WEBINAR) Mike Rorie, CEO of GIS Dynamics, will discuss the process of defining how your organization creates, delivers and maximizes value for its customers, employees and stakeholders. See page 7.

Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, this event will be held via webinar in order to accommodate all of our members.

For more info visit ohiolandscapers.com/meetings.

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DECEMBER DECEMBER (TBD) DORMANT PRUNING (NEO & Central Ohio) Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Premier Plant Solutions.

Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, a portion of this event may be held via webinar, in order to accommodate a larger group for the classroom period. For more info visit ohiolandscapers.com/education

JANUARY JANUARY 21 OLA MEETING (WEBINAR) Kevin Kehoe, Founder of The Aspire Software Company and President of Kehoe Co., will discuss Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and what both business owners and their managers should be looking for – outside of standard financials.

Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, this event will be held via webinar, in order to accommodate all of our members.

For more info visit ohiolandscapers.com/meetings.

The Growing Concern | October 2020 | 5

PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 See, when I graduated college, I created a standard that – once attained – would allow me to consider myself successful.

For the most part, I feel I’ve achieved that standard. The downside of this is that, over the last couple years, I feel as if I’ve plateaued. I’ve now come to realize that, perhaps, the bar I set for myself was too low. I’ve constantly been searching for more, but I haven’t been able to visualize what more is.

This all came to light during this exercise, as we flipped through magazines, ripping out articles and printing pictures off the internet. I really started to visualize new things that I wanted. And, as I built my collage, I started to create a new standard for myself. In fact, I created a standard for when I’m 40, 50, 60, and 70, so that I’m encouraged to continue to grow. Once again, I feel motivated and determined; much like when I graduated.

What I’ve found to be extremely interesting about this exercise over the past few weeks is that, when I’m being lazy, my subconscious immediately kicks out images of this board and pushes me beyond my laziness. Those images in my head motivate me to do some of

the hard things that maybe I wouldn’t have done, because now I can actually see them. I’ve found that when I’m able to visualize something, it’s way easier to relate to. It seems tangible.

We all create visions for our business. We do this so that our teams buy into our culture, hopefully propelling the business to new heights. This follows that same concept, but is meant for just us. It takes all of our ambitions, desires, and motivations and puts them on a roadmap for us to follow, so that we may visualize what we want our lives to look like. It has allowed me to focus my energy on the things that I want, instead of the things I thought I wanted.

My recommendation would be to carve out some time and do something similar, just for you. By no means am I saying you MUST get out the poster board, magazines and grab your significant other – unless, of course, you want to – but I highly suggest taking some time to reevaluate where you want to be 10, 15, 30 years from now, and to visualize what that looks like. I truly believe that the more “real” you make it, the more it will become your reality.

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OLA MEETINGS SERIES

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION NOVEMBER 19, 2020 OLA WEBINAR/VIRTUAL MEETING AGENDA OLA ANNUAL MEETING 3:00 PM TO 3:30 PM PROGRAM 3:30 PM TO 5:00 PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30 REGISTER TO ATTEND BY NOVEMBER 12, 2020

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OLA ANNUAL MEETING

Developing Your Strategic Business Model: A Roadmap For Success

Due to current Covid-19 Social Distancing Guidlines, the OLA will be holding this year’s Annual Meeting live, via webinar, on November 19, 2020. Our special guest presenter for this meeting will be Mike Rorie, CEO of GIS Dynamics, who will discuss the process of defining how your organization creates, delivers and maximizes value for its customers, employees and stakeholders.

It goes without saying that having a well-defined business model is essential in taking your company to the next level of growth. Mike will cover the three key decisions that form the foundation for developing an effective business model, how to implement systems that drive this business model towards helping you gain a competitive advantage, as well as how to innovate and evolve your business model to help it become “future proof.”

NOTE: The start time for this event will be 3pm, instead of the normal 6pm start time.

GUEST SPEAKER

MIKE RORIE / CEO GIS DYNAMICS (PROPERTY MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS) As CEO of GIS Dynamics and current Board Member of Ground Systems of Cincinnatii, Mike

EMERALD SPONSOR

specialtizes in industry consulting for strategic growth and organizational development.

He has worked in the commercial grounds industry for over three decades, growing his first company, GroundMasters, into a five-city, regional platform that served over 1,200 customers, before selling it to a national provider in 2006. Since June 2010, Mike has been involved in the information and technology services industry with GIS Dynamics, providing business solutions for contractors across the country.

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S MEETING SCHEDULE ARE NOW AVAILABLE. CALL 440.717.0002 FOR INFO. 1.5 CEU’S

GIS Dynamics was founded in 2005 as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) company providing custom solutions to a variety of clients. In 2009, a GIS project for a New Jersey landscaper was the catalyst for what GIS now focuses on, Software as a Service applications Go iLawn (www.GoiLawn.com) and GoiPave (www.GoiPave.com). These web based applications are designed to help lawn and landscape, snow removal and pavement maintenance contractors measure properties online to expedite the estimating and proposal process. The sites combine high resolution aerial photography, property measuring tools and property information in one easy-to-use format, allowing contractors to view and measure properties and generate proposals.

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REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/MEETINGS

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb A red Panicum, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’, Amsonia hubrichtii, and Echinacea at the Lurie Gardens in Chicago’s Millenium Park.

PANICUM

A GREAT ASSET IN THE LANDSCAPE

Hardy to zone 4, Panicum virgatum is a native prairie grass that is particularly useful in our landscapes. It is quite versatile from a designer’s point of view, being effective as a specimen, in masses, as screening, near water, and even in containers.

This is a grass that will bend to the ground during the winter if covered by snow but one blue cultivar, ‘Northwind’, will remain standing throughout the winter. All cultivars will provide cover and food for birds during the winter.

Switch Grass will grow in full sun or light shade. Although most catalogs say that it will tolerate partial shade, it tends to become floppy in partial shade, but I enjoy its grace in partial shade. While it does best with adequate moisture, as a prairie denizen, it can tolerate periods of drought or flooding. One of the greatest assets of Panicum is its beautiful, relatively upright foliage that curves outward at the tips, giving it a vase-shaped appearance. Typically, the diameter is half of the height. The height will vary from 3 to 6 feet depending on the cultivar. Until bloom, the foliage will be approximately 1 to 2 feet shorter than the inflorescence.

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I want to concentrate today on using these grasses as an integral part of our landscapes.

Piet Oudolf, probably the world’s leading landscape designer, uses grasses extensively in his designs. At the Lurie Gardens in Chicago’s Millenium Park (pictured above), he combined one of the red switch grasses with the delicate foliage of Amsonia hubrichtii and the sturdier foliage of Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ and Echinacea. I saw this combination in mid-August a few years ago.

As a horticulturist and designer, I was able to envision what this combination would look like in late September and October.

The Amsonia foliage would have turned golden yellow and the deadheads of the Agastache and Echinacea would hold interest as continued on page 10 well as provide food for birds.

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS continued from page 8 I was fortunate enough to visit Piet’s garden in 2012. In his original meadow-like garden (pictured right), backed by a huge hedge, he integrated red Panicum with Lobelia siphilitica, Eupatorium, Monarda, and Helenium. All of these perennials like moisture. Piet weaves the grasses throughout the planting to provide a graceful, textural contrast to the larger-leaved perennials.

The red Panicum often take on a pinky-purplish hue, particularly once they are in bloom. That color is echoed in this vignette (pictured right), taken in early August at the J.C.Raulston Arboretum in 2018, with pink Echinacea and one of the dwarf Abelia, a summer blooming shrub that is seen more in the South than in Ohio.

Blue Switch Grasses are often taller than red, thus can be used differently. In this case (pictured right), they are used to screen the homeowner’s porch instead of a fence. The homeowner doesn’t care that the grasses will have to be cut to the ground in the spring because it is not warm enough in the area to sit outside until the grasses have foliated. This scene was part of a design by the firm of Oehme van Sweden for a retirement community.

The fact that the blue Panicum are mostly tall does not mean that they can’t be an integral part of a residential landscape.

In this photo of a Cleveland xeriscape, Panicum ‘Northwind’ is seen in late July (near right), behind Amsonia hubrichtii, both of which are still green and blue. By early September (far right), the Panicum takes on a somewhat different appearance, adding another inflorescence to the landscape. It is important to remember that most ornamental grasses change color as the seasons progress. If they can be paired with perennials such as Amsonia hubrichtii that also change color, the effect is a reminder that plants are living things and provide evolving interest.

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Panicum do well in both sun and part shade. My east bed (right) is sunny in the morning but shady in the afternoon. During the summer, Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ is mostly green, although sometimes with a hint of red. Hydrangea ‘Blushing Bride’ has white mopheads that gradually become rose by late September.

The Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’ also starts out with white panicles but they, too, evolve into a pale pink. By late August, Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ comes into bloom, offering color echo as well as a delicacy that contrasts well with the large foliage of the Hydrangeas and Hosta. As you can see, Panicum is an ornamental grass that has much to offer.

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). Bobbie’s new book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was published in November 2017 by Timber Press.

The Growing Concern | October 2020 | 11

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN King Financial, Inc.

SMART INVESTING STRATEGIES Risk analysis and time horizon investing is all about planning. You need to think about your goals, whether it could be buying a house, funding college, or planning for retirement. Once you have done that, investment selection is based on the amount of time you have until the goal must be funded.

When investors have longer time horizons, they generally take on more risk. This is because the extended amount of time allows the market to recover from a downturn. As the funding date approaches, assets are shifted to more conservative investments to reduce the risk of market-related losses derailing your strategy.

We have had many discussions with clients closing in on retirement who think they automatically need to move to conservative investments, but the reality is that the retirement date is not the end goal. Life spans have increased and retirement planning should look forward a number of years or even decades.

According to the Social Security website (www.ssa.gov/ oact/STATS/table4c6.html) the life expectancy for a male is 81.58 years and 84.56 years for a female. That’s a lot of time for your investments to continue to work!

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DIVERSIFICATION The best strategy is to stay the course in respect to diversification. If the markets look a little too expensive, and other investors seem “fat, dumb and happy,” get defensive and move some assets into cash or more conservative investments. When everyone is panicking in a declining market, look to buy. Bottom line, greed and fear can help investors judge market fluctuations.

Make sure your assets are properly diversified, though. It is sometimes advantageous to be overweight or underweight certain sectors at different times, but they should be periodically reviewed to keep a reasonable balance. I remember almost 20 years ago, when interest rates were declining, home builders were among top performers, but then consistently hit new lows when rates started to rise.

Without rebalancing, that portfolio was overweight in your continued on page 14 portfolio, so the losses felt worse.

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continued from page 12 Then, about a decade ago, the oil and gas sector rose dramatically with crude oil rising near all-time highs. Of course, stocks in those sectors have severely underperformed since then. Diversification and rebalancing help maintain sectors from dominating the overall portfolio.

Sometimes an investor might want to diversify away from certain sectors though. During the Covid-19 pandemic it made sense to reduce exposure to certain sectors of the economy, as travel and entertainment ground to a halt. But long-term investors should review their portfolios to maintain desired balance.

DOLLAR COST AVERAGING The basic rule of dollar cost averaging is to invest a set dollar amount at regular intervals such as monthly, quarterly, or annually, regardless of the price per share of the investment.

As the price per share moves up and down, the dollar cost averaging shareholder will automatically purchase more shares when the price per share is low and fewer shares when the price per share is high. The result of employing this strategy over the long run will be that the average cost per share will be lower than the average price per share for that period.

CONTROL EMOTION Emotion drives financial markets as much or more than market fundamentals. As investments grow, confidence grows. And while you don’t know exactly where the top of the market is going to be, there is a feeling of euphoria when returns are favorable. This is also the point of maximum potential risk for your portfolio. Conversely, as investments lose value, confidence diminishes and you begin to feel nervous. And while you don’t 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.

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

know exactly where the bottom of the market is going to be, there is a feeling of despondency when returns are unfavorable.

This is also the point of maximum potential opportunity.

A diversified portfolio can help protect you from the extreme highs and lows of market volatility, which in turn can help prevent you from feeling extreme emotions as your portfolio expands and contracts. The good thing about volatility is that it creates opportunity. When the market continually rises, you don’t get a chance to buy quality stocks at attractive prices.

Volatility will give active investors the opportunity to buy and sell the short-to-intermediate market movements.

I’m constantly reminded of the words of Sir John Templeton (probably because it is printed on the wall in my office) who said, “Bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism and die on euphoria.”

Every investor has different goals and strategies. I believe it is important for the investor and their advisor to develop rules and strategies to help increase profits and reduce risk. Talk to your financial professionals and tax advisors to determine your specific needs and goals.

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, North Royalton, Ohio.

Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com Securities and advisory services offered through L.M. Kohn & Co. Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (800) 478-0788

OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY ALLIANCE

CLAY SHOOT 2020 Fall Fundraiser

Tuesday, October 27, 1–4:30 pm

What is the Ohio Green Industry Alliance?

Hill ’n Dale Club 3605 Poe Rd Medina, OH 44256

Ohio’s green industry can’t take a passive approach to advocacy. the Ohio Green Industry Alliance strengthens our collective story with proactive leadership.

Co-hosted by:

Enjoy a day with friends and get to know your fellow colleagues in the green industry while raising money for the Ohio Green Industry Alliance Political Action Committee.

The afternoon includes a 16-station clay shoot course, dinner and raffle prizes. Bring your own shotgun and ammunition. Ammunition may also be purchased onsite. Ear and eye protection are mandatory and are also available to purchase.

To Attend:

$75 PAC donation includes 16-station course and dinner $35 PAC donation for dinner only Pre-registration is required. Registration deadline: Friday, October 16

Register: www.onla.org/clayshoot

The PAC financially supports political candidates who have shown a commitment to understanding our industry and the challenges our businesses face. These candidates can beneficially influence legislative issues related to Ohio’s green industry.

Consider your PAC donation an important investment to protect your business and ensure our continued successes. A strong PAC means a larger impact. Learn more at: onla.org/OGIAPAC

Sponsor This Event!

All sponsoring companies receive: • Admission and dinner for four attendees • Recognition through signage onsite and in ONLA and OLA digital and print marketing Purchase sponsorships online at onla.org/clayshoot

PRESENTING Welcome attendees and distribute prizes during dinner

DINNER Company logo on table signage during dinner

STATION Company logo on signage at one station

$1,500

$750

$550

F OR SAFETY SAK E

PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE Safety is paramount to landscape and lawn care companies. However, one aspect of safety that can be overlooked is mental wellness.

While it’s not as visible as not wearing proper PPE, neglecting mental health is just as serious. Poor mental health can result in negative job performance, communication breakdowns with co-workers, and unsafe actions on the jobsite.

Mental illness is often stigmatized and not discussed in the workplace. That being said, according to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 adults aged 18 and over in the U.S. reported any mental illness in 2016.

INCREASE AWARENESS The first step to dealing with mental health issues is to create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing the matter without fear of judgment. If employees know it is safe for them to talk about their mental health issues, they are less likely to keep their struggles a secret.

Creating a culture of acceptance benefits the entire company, as individuals may realize they are not the only one who continued on page 18

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15 6 5 6 c h i l l i c o t h e r o a d chagrin falls | OH | 44022

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FOR SAFETY SAKE

continued from page 16 deals with mental illness. Knowing that others are seeking treatment can also reduce the stigma of therapy. Increasing awareness can also allow you and co-workers to show your support to another who is struggling. Simply showing you care about your staff’s well-being, both mentally and physically, can go a long way.

PROVIDE ADEQUATE MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE Normalizing the discussion of mental health issues is important, but you need to back up your support by providing the help employees need. Providing comprehensive and integrated physical, mental, and behavioral health insurance coverage can ensure the employee has the resources needed for their specific situation.

Aside from offering insurance with adequate mental health coverage, providing access to Employee Assistance Programs can assist employees dealing with stress-related, emotional and psychiatric pressures that may limit their effectiveness on the job. Encouraging participation in free and anonymous screenings can help employees identify if they are dealing with a mental health issue.

18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

ENCOURAGE WORK-LIFE BALANCE Work-life balance is essential for a healthy work environment.

It reduces stress and burnout. As an employer is it your job to make sure your staff understands you want them to have a life outside of work. Encourage them to speak up if they feel their workload is too great and try to identify ways your company can work smarter, not harder.

Offer flexibility where you can and work with employees so they have the opportunity to spend quality time with their families. Having good work-life balance policies can reduce illness and absenteeism.

This article was originally posted by Jill Odem to the NALP’s safety blog on June 23, 2020. The National Association of Landscape Professionals is the national trade association representing nearly 100,000 landscape industry professionals in the United States, Canada and overseas. Member companies specialize in lawn care, landscape design and installation, landscape maintenance, tree care, irrigation and water management, and interior plantscaping. See more at https:// blog.landscapeprofessionals.org.

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PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College Three-toothed Cinquefoil is not a very common plant. It has only recently been renamed to Sibbaldiopsis tridentate owing to systemic phylogenetic work that places it closer to Sibbaldia genus.

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

POTENTILLA TRIDENTATA ‘NUUK’ NUUK POTENTILLA

Potentilla – as a genus name – is usually associated with P. fruticose, the shrubby Cinquefoil that comes in an insane number of cultivars. And, while P. fruticosa has been stealing the spotlight for some time within the genus, a potential contender was removed all together, without many of us even realizing it. Officially, Potentilla tridentata ‘Nuuk’ has had its name changed to Sibbaldiopsis tridentate. Wait... does that mean we just put the wrong name in the title of our article? Let us explain.

First, keep in mind that our nurseries are in a constant dance with plant names changing. If they were to immediately jump on every name change, many clients might think they were simply sold out of the plant they want. Thus, we had a feeling if we led with Sibbaldiopsis tridentate, many of you might have skipped the article thinking we lost our minds. You certainly wouldn’t find THAT plant in any local nurseries, right?

Second, we plant nerds can be a bit stubborn with name changes. We, like many of you, resist some of these changes because they don’t make sense to our eyes.

That said, now that taxonomists have started sorting plants by DNA traits, they’ve been moving some plants around that don’t make sense based on their appearance alone. There is logic in organizing plants this way, as it gives us a better understanding continued on page 22

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

continued from page 20 of how these plants will react to a rapidly changing climate, and foreign pests and disease attacks, which are on the rise because of international trade and travel.

While there is no official record of Sibbaldiopsis tridentata in Ohio, there is for nearly every state surrounding us, especially when traveling south in higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. The plant can be found into the far reaches of the Canadian tundra and into the steep slopes of Greenland.

It is likely the species exists in a native habitat here in Ohio, especially somewhere in the Appalachia region of the state.

A species called Sibbaldia procumbens (Creeping Sibbaldia) is what our plant of the month is more closely related to, rather than the Potentillas, As such, the name for our plant had the “opsis” (Latin: similar to) thrown on the end indicating it is similar to Sibbaldia. Sibbaldiopsis remains in the Roseaceae family, which is clear in the characteristic flower; 5 white petals and prominent stamens. These bright-white flowers put on a show from June thru August, yet don’t give way to an ornamental fruit.

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Considering the native habitats within which this plant is found – including grassy balds in the southern range of the Appalachians, tundra in the north and steep rocky slopes through Nova Scotia into Greenland – this plant is one for the rock garden. Coming in at a grandiose 6 to 10 inches tall, this little guy will slowly spread up to 18 inches in width (so plant them tight). Think of it as a unique ground cover for the native garden.

The leaves are palmately compound, splitting into 3 leaflets.

Color is a deep, glossy-green with exactly three teeth at the tip of each leaflet. Having the look of an Alpine plant, the leaves arch out from the base on very short stems. In full sun – which is preferred – some of the leaves will turn a bright red, adding to the ornamental offerings of the plant. Most people would think this plant is an herbaceous perennial, but it maintains woody stems above ground, year-round, and is often evergreen in our region.

This plant is extremely hardy, laughing at a zone 3 winter (-40 F), but is a bit more sensitive to high heat and humidity.

It will certainly die in heavy, wet soils. In fact, the trick

with this specialty, rock garden-type plant is creating the ideal soil. While sand will help with drainage, it is useless for holding available water in the dry months. We would suggest incorporating a lightweight, expanded shale, slate, or clay (think of “bonsai soil”) to help improve drainage while holding available moisture for the plants.

In building a rock garden, the key is naturalistic placement of large boulders, ideally with lichens already covering the surfaces. Work your way down to smaller cobbles and some large gravel, filling the voids between the larger rocks with plant material. Use your planting mix to create the pockets for these plants.

As mentioned, the planting mix will perform best with expanded shale, or similar material, mixed with well composted organics at a ratio of around 4:1. As you place the planting soil, use a hose to really soak it, which will help to fill the voids within the mix. Remember, if you use only sand and some organics, your soil will not hold the needed moisture levels to keep these plants rocking through the summer. Your finished product will be a garden that mimics

the rocky outcrops of the Appalachian mountain range and the steep rocky slopes of Nova Scotia.

Finally, here’s one last piece of trivia before we leave you this month. Sibbaldiopsis tridentata ‘Nuuk’ is named after the capital city of Greenland, Nuuk. It was selected for its dense grouping of leaves and is listed as an endangered plant in most states due to habitat destruction and global climate change. It is a specialty pollinator which hosts several native bees, as well as many butterfly species.

While we’re aware this may not be the next plant to solve all your landscape issues, perhaps you have a client that would jump at the opportunity for a specialty garden. Think of how fun it could be to research and bring to life!

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, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

The Growing Concern | October 2020 | 23

F EATURE ARTI CLE

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF EQUIPMENT THEFT According to a new study, out-of-work people commit 60% more property crimes (such as theft) in the first year after losing work. For this reason, it is no surprise that equipment theft is on the rise as we continue to cope with the effects of Covid-19. While it may be impossible to eliminate equipment theft entirely, there are many things companies can do to reduce the likelihood of theft occurring. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to reduce your chances of having equipment stolen.

SECURE YOUR YARD The first line of defense against theft is to install and use adequate security devices and systems. Your own property is a prime place for theft to take place, so be sure to secure it as tightly as possible.

When possible, keep equipment in an area that is well lit and easily seen from the road. Avoid privacy fences. “I know a lot of people think that privacy fences and bushes make it less likely for a thief to come onto the property, but in reality this just gives thieves cover to get to work,” says Zachery Bruce, assistant vice president of loss control at Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits.

24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Some quick tips: • Install security fences around the area where equipment is.

• Install motion-sensored security lights.

• Install a security system that sends messages when motion is detected on the property. These systems can be set up to send notifications to several key employees who can then act on them appropriately. If located in a high-theft area or for a company that has been hit multiple times, there are also companies that provide live video monitoring and can call the authorities immediately.

• If it is practical, consider keeping a watch dog inside your yard. Just the presence of a dog will deter most would-be continued on page 26 burglars.

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F EATURE ARTI CLE continued from page 24

SECURE YOUR LARGE EQUIPMENT Next, take steps to secure your truck, trailer and other large equipment. Even very large, heavy equipment like backhoes and front-end loaders are stolen routinely. Sometimes this type of equipment is stolen outright. And, don’t make the mistake of thinking that no one would steal a vehicle as conspicuous as a truck and trailer emblazoned with your company name. They will, if only because it’s a convenient way to steal the thousands of dollars worth of equipment inside. Typically, thieves will empty out the contents and abandon the truck.

Take these steps to keep your large equipment secure: • Always lock your vehicles, even if you are working nearby.

• Install hitch locks on your trailers to prevent unauthorized people from hitching up and hauling a trailer away.

• Install steering wheel locks or similar specialized locking devices that can be used to make equipment more difficult to drive away with.

• Install hidden shut-offs to prevent equipment from starting.

• Rekey high-value equipment. “Almost all equipment is sold with generic keys that can be obtained easily by thieves,” says Bruce. “Then all they have to do is take the keys and drive away with the equipment. Thieves can buy a set of equipment keys from Ebay for $30 to $200 and start just about any piece of equipment on the market.”

• Install a keyless ignition device that requires a passcode.

• Install a GPS tracking device on valuable large equipment.

• If you have to leave equipment unattended for several days (for instance, over a long holiday weekend), consider removing vehicle batteries and/or wheels.

The key to protecting your small equipment, says Bruce, is to do whatever you can to make it difficult for an unauthorized person to get anywhere near it. “All too often when we perform loss control site visits or receive claims it’s due to a crime of opportunity,” he says. “This means equipment is left in the open at a jobsite, or trailers and vehicles have not been secured.”

Take these steps to secure your small equipment: • Whenever possible, store equipment inside a building.

This may mean taking it out of the trailer or sometimes the trailers can be parked in a building.

• If you leave equipment in vehicles, strategically park your truck/trailer to make it harder to access the equipment.

• Mark or paint your equipment with distinctive colors. “I just visited a landscaper that had painted blue and red strips on all of their equipment and they told me how they ran across a truck on the side of the road that had their equipment markings,” he says. “They called the police and arrested the person (who turned out to be a prior employee). After the arrest they searched the employee’s home and found even more stolen equipment.”

• Keep small equipment in cages inside your secure areas.

• If smaller pieces such as generators have to be left on site, consider leaving them close together inside a ring of larger equipment. This type of “wagon wheel” configuration makes the equipment less accessible and difficult to remove.

• Consider locking pieces of equipment together and/or to larger equipment or to a building, fence or tree.

RECORD/REGISTER YOUR EQUIPMENT

Securing your trucks and trailers is also the first step to small equipment loss prevention. Small equipment such as trimmers, blowers, chainsaws and gas cans are prime targets for thieves.

These items are easily carried away, easy to hide, easy to sell and once gone are very difficult to track. In fact, small equipment theft may be even more common than anyone knows.

Besides physical measures, one of the most prudent things you can do is to keep an accurate, up-to-date inventory of every piece of equipment you own. Keeping a written record of equipment and its corresponding serial numbers pays off in multiple ways. It simplifies the question of what equipment is where and who has it. It allows the company to verify ownership of stolen equipment should it be recovered by authorities. As an added bonus, it also helps to make sure that the company is not repairing equipment that may still be under warranty.

Small-value theft often goes under the radar because it isn’t typically something that is turned into the insurance company.

Most losses go unreported unless there are multiple pieces stolen, because the value of many small equipment pieces frequently is less than the insurance deductible. Even if it is insurable, many owners don’t think to take advantage of the insurance for a small item.

Some of the things you should keep records of include: • Make and model number • Serial number • Date and location of purchase • Photograph(s) of the item • A list of authorized users continued on page 28 • Warranty information

SECURE YOUR SMALL EQUIPMENT

26 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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The Growing Concern | October 2020 | 27

F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 26 Many smaller pieces of equipment do not come with serial numbers. In this case, you can create your own by engraving an identifying number on them. Be sure to list in your inventory where this number can be found if it is not obvious by looking at the equipment. It is also a good idea to register whatever equipment you can with the National Equipment Register.

Determine who is responsible for what.

For example, you might want to require that every employee lock down their equipment inside the truck when they are not using it. Supervisors may be held responsible for making sure all equipment is returned and locked up at the end of the day.

CHOOSE YOUR JOBS CAREFULLY

Use sign-out sheets.

These not only allow you to track who had a piece of equipment last, but signing their names to an article can also make picking up a piece of equipment a conscious act. This may help your employees be more aware of how they use the equipment, and less likely to misplace it.

While criminal activity can occur anywhere, it tends to be more prevalent in some neighborhoods than others. If a customer is located in a bad part of town, think twice before accepting the job. By the same token, if you start noticing a missing equipment trend for accounts in a particular area, consider whether it might be better to drop those accounts. No one likes to lose or turn down business, but if the risk is too great you may be better off without them.

CREATE A THEFT PREVENTION PLAN Ultimately, the effectiveness of most – if not all – anti-theft precautions depends on how well they are used and followed.

Training your employees in theft prevention best practices is critical. Many companies find that having a written protocol helps keep employees on track.

If you already have an employee manual, you can easily incorporate your anti-theft measures into it. Otherwise you can create a manual just for this purpose. Some of the things you may want to implement include:

28 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Systematize inventory records.

Have a system for keeping and updating equipment records, including serial numbers and locations. You might want to take advantage of one of the several tool and asset management software packages on the market.

Implement equipment security training.

Make sure every employee is aware of the danger of equipment theft, and inform them of the best practices for preventing it.

Require employee uniforms.

If your employees always wear distinctive clothing it is harder for unauthorized personnel to approach your equipment unnoticed.

RALLY YOUR ALLIES Theft doesn’t just affect your business, it affects your entire community. Don’t hesitate to ask others in your community to help you prevent criminal activity. In particular, you will want to cultivate a good relationship with local law enforcement. Be sure that if and when a theft is discovered, you notify the police immediately. The longer a theft goes unreported, the less likely that you will recover your assets.

You can also include your clients and/or their neighbors in your theft prevention plan. Inform them when you will be servicing their properties, as well as the appearance of your trucks and employees. Provide them with the appropriate numbers to call if they notice anything suspicious. They will appreciate your concern about security, as they also own valuable property that is subject to theft.

COVER YOUR ASSETS Finally, no discussion of equipment theft would be complete without mentioning insurance. The time to think about coverage is before you have equipment stolen, not after. Too often, a contractor reports missing equipment only to find that his insurance won’t cover the loss.

When shopping for insurance, compare the details of different policies. What categories of equipment are covered? Does the policy you are considering cover full replacement costs or depreciated value? What about leased, borrowed or rented equipment – whether it’s equipment you are renting or items you might rent out to third parties?

Ask, too, about the insurance company’s average response time to claims. Missing equipment can cost valuable time on the job, and it may be worth slightly higher rates in exchange for quick replacement coverage.

Another thing you might want to consider is business interruption coverage. This will reimburse you for lost profits in the event that stolen equipment prevents you from earning the income you expected.

Equipment theft is, unfortunately, a fact of life in the landscaping business. But you really can stop most theft before it happens. It just takes smart planning and constant vigilance.

This article was written by Anne Michelsen for Turf Magazine’s Business Management Blog, located at https://www.turfmagazine. com/business-management. Anne Michelsen is a freelance writer who has been writing about landscape-related topics since 2011.

The Growing Concern | October 2020 | 29

D I RECTI ON S

EXCITING NEW THINGS! I encourage you all to visit www.ohiolandscapers.org, as our new website went live this past month! Rick did a great job in creating it with our new Association Management Software (AMS). This platform gives us – and you – many new capabilities.

First, this platform gives you more control over your account. For one, you will be able to create and manage your own password.

If you haven’t already received an email inviting you to create a password, you will shortly. I am really excited about this, because the antiquated days of assigning passwords and manually emailing them to you are now behind us! Once you’re logged into your account, you will be able to make a host of other changes, including changes to your contact info, uploading company logos, etc. Signing your company up for OLA events and clinics will be much easier, as well. Registration and payments will now be housed on one system, allowing you to monitor who and what your company has already signed up for!

The next upgrade I would like to tell you about is our new Job Board. Based on the industry’s workforce shortage, we made this addition a priority. As a new member benefit, you can now post jobs free of charge! You will also have the ability to upgrade your posting, for a nominal fee, to include it on Google’s Job Board. This can be done at the same time you are posting to our board. In addition, job seekers can now upload resumes, which you will have the ability to search. We’re hoping this will become an invaluable member benefit!

The “Find a Professional” button, positioned dead-center on the homepage, is a link to our upgraded member referral service.

In addition to helping property owners find qualified landscape contractors in their area, consumers will now be able to search for associate members that sell products or services to the general public. The ability to upgrade your listing with your company email, website, and so that it displays at the top of the search results will still be available to members, for an extra fee, with the added ability to upload pictures of your work!

Inside the member portal will be a “member search,” where members can find other members that deal only business to

30 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

SANDY MUNLEY

Executive Director The Ohio Landscape Association

business. For example, a wholesale nursery will not show up on the public section so that Mrs. Smith doesn’t call them for one shrub she wants to purchase. All members will be able to select from a robust list of products and service they provide.

The ability to upgrade these listings will be available, as well.

As a reminder, our annual meeting is coming up on Thursday, November 19. It will be a virtual meeting held as a webinar.

Because we cannot meet in person, we will be emailing out the slate for our 2021 board of directors and holding an electronic vote. We will announce the results of the vote during our annual meeting.

At that meeting, Mike Rory (GIS Systems) will present “Developing Your Strategic Business Model: A Roadmap for Success.” Mike founded GroundMasters, in Cincinnati, growing it to serve over 1,200 commercial clients in the region.

He then sold the business to a national provider. Mike knows what it takes to build a profitable, successful company and is happy to share his knowledge.

Lastly, I would like to remind you that it is membership renewal time. Our membership year runs November 1 to October 31. We value you as a member and have worked really hard this year to keep you informed of all the mandated COVID restrictions while continuing to advocate for your business. We hope we have earned your support and are looking forward to an exciting 2021!

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