The Growing Concern September 2018 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

SEPTEM B ER 2 0 1 8

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

Landscape Facility Tour Sept. 13, 2018 / Exscape Designs / PAGE 7

Plant Healthcare Day

Oct. 2, 2018 / Holden Arboretum / PAGE 11

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

MARIE MCCONNELL Lake County Nursery

BACK TO THE BASICS Wow! SUMMER. FLIES. BY. And, with that said, these articles are becoming more and more difficult to write. Like a kid who’s looking towards fall, thinking of school – in my case, work – as this summer begins to wane, all I want to do is play! I also don’t want the summer to end, because I honestly love my career and my coworkers. I suppose I just wish we had 10-day weeks, so that I could enjoy my hobbies a little more often. Five work days. Five play days. Yes, please! I get the same sense from a lot of our customers. By the end of August, everyone’s tired and looking forward to the next season. Not that they’re wishing their lives away or anything, but some jobs just become so tedious, and all anyone wants is to have some personal time to enjoy while the weather is still nice. Most customers and prospects typically don’t empathize with this, so the question then becomes: What can you and your team do to show them you are still engaged? Talking with a customer recently, I let him know what a joy it is to work with his assistant, Kayla. She is always smiling, eager to learn, and asking if there is anything else she can do to make the relationship better. He thanked me for the compliment and said, “Kayla is all that – and more!” Imagine that; a millennial who wants to work AND understands the basic fundamentals of customer service! He went on to say that, since she started, his close ratios have increased to 85%. That’s pretty impressive.

Personally, this customer admits that he may not be the best landscaper, but what he does understand are some basic business practices that many of us sometimes forget to use when interacting with our clients. He’s shared these ideals with his employees – like Kayla – and now he’s shared his simple philosophy with me. (And yes, he knows this article will be about the info shared.) Manners. I loved kindergarten! Our teachers basically taught us how to become adults back when we were like five, though the reasons were never fully explained. My teacher made it easy for us. We learned words like ‘please,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome.’ These words stuck with me to this very day – as they should. Setting the bar high for our employees means showing gratitude and respect, which doesn’t always have to come in the form of compensation. The simple acts of saying ‘good morning,’ or ‘thank you,’ while treating them with respect will continued on page 6 The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 18 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 EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Jim Funai, LIC, Cuyahoga Community College Shelly Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb Cathy Serafin, ASLA, RLA, Suncrest Gardens COVER: Landscape Ohio! Awards merit award winner, Exscape Designs, for their entry in the category of Garden Structures & Pavements.

FEATURES

3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Back to the Basics

8 PERENNIAL FOCUS

Veronicastrum Virgininicum: Culver’s Root

12 FISCAL FITNESS

Keys to Retirement Investing

20 FOR SAFETY SAKE

Keeping Your Mechanic Safe

26 PLANT OF THE MONTH

Cornus officinalis: Japanese Cornel Dogwood

32 FEATURE ARTICLE

Which is Best? Gas vs. Propane vs. Electric Mowers

37 DIRECTIONS 39 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 39 ADVERTISING INDEX 4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 1.800.335.6521, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org. DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association. OFFICERS President Marie McConnell

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

President – Elect Adam Capiccioni

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Treasurer Domenic Lauria Immediate Past President Cathy Serafin, ASLA, RLA DIRECTORS Doug Ellis James Funai, LIC Philip Germann Stephanie Gray, LIC Brian Maurer, LIC Joshua Way

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

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER cont...

DECEMBER

SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 OLA FACILITY TOUR

OCTOBER 11, 2018 OLA MEETING (Central Ohio)

Come on out for our annual Landscape Facility Tour, hosted this year by Exscape Designs in Novelty, OH. Exscape Designs is a full service design/ build company that attributes its success to upholding and operating by a set of core values that ensures their team acts with integrity, professionalism, and accountability every single day. See page 7.

Join us for a Facility Tour of Ciminello’s Landscape Design, located in Westerville, OH. Ciminello’s is a full service landscape design and construction company focused on working closely with their clients to develop landscapes that bring beauty and joy to families. More info to come.

DECEMBER 6, 2018 BE MORE THAN A SALESPERSON: BECOME A TRUSTED ADVISOR

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER 15, 2018 OLA ANNUAL MEETING (NE OHIO)

OCTOBER 2, 2018 PLANT HEALTHCARE DAY

Tom Wasinski, CEO of Aerial Agents, LLC – a professional aerial photography and videography company – will discuss and demonstrate the ways that drone services can enhance your portfolios to help you do a better job of telling the stories of your work. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside. See page 25.

This full-day workshop combines all aspects of Plant Health Care (PHC) for both technicians and managers, with live demonstrations of PHC techniques – services based on the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and proactive tree care management. Held on the grounds of Holden Arboretum. See page 11.

OCTOBER 4, 2018 ONLPAC 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 Nursery and Landscape Political Action Committee. The afternoon includes a 16-station clay shoot course, dinner and raffle prizes. See page 16.

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 27, 2018 DORMANT PRUNING / NE OHIO Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a half-day, hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Instructed by Gail Reinhart and held at Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio. See page 17.

NOVEMBER 29, 2018 DORMANT PRUNING / CENTRAL OHIO Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a half-day, hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Instructed by Gail Reinhart and held at Premier Plant Services in Hilliard, Ohio. See page 17.

Marvin Montgomery, better known as the “Sales Doctor,” will conduct a one day sales training course that will provide participants with the necessary skills needed to build long term client relationships. Held at Indiana Wesleyan University, Independence, OH. Register online, or call the OLA offices. See page 30.

DECEMBER 14, 2018 LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS ENTRY DEADLINE Don’t miss the opportunity to become an award winning landscape contractor. Entries for the 2018 program are due in the OLA office by 5pm on Dec. 14. For rules, regulations and entry information go to ohiolandscapers.org. landscapeohioawards.html. Questions? Contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521. See outside, back cover.

TEST DATES & DEADLINES OCT. 2, 2018 WRITTEN TEST

9:00am @ Ohio State ATI 1328 Dover Rd, Wooster, OH 44691

OCT. 9, 2018 WRITTEN TEST 9:00am @ OLA Offices 9240 Broadview Road, Broadview Hts., OH 44147 The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 5

PR E S IDENT’ S C OL UMN continued from page 3 not only change their mood before they leave the shop, it will also set the bar for how you expect them to treat the people they come into contact with. Helping them understand what’s important to your company and clients starts every morning and doesn’t stop until you thank them for their hard days work. Treating a property as if it’s your own. When it’s something we own, we notice the finest of details. If you try and view the world from your client’s eyes – putting forth the little extra effort it takes to address those details – the effects may be felt for years to come! When you pull onto your customer’s property take notice and help with some of those little chores. Bring the garbage cans back to house, grab the newspaper and bring it to the back door. In other words, act like you care! These meaningless tasks can bring joy to your clients and cost you nothing more than a few extra minutes, if that. Dress. Yes, the way you and your employees dress doesn’t go unnoticed. Another point shared by my customer was simple, but overlooked. Do you supply logo shirts for your employees? Every one of us has an employee who seems to find the mud, so are you updating their wardrobe over a period of time, so they look clean? When entering someone else’s home, courtesy is to take off your shoes, or have a pair of cloth booties to put over your boots. These simple acts can go a long way and make you look professional. Business 101. Some of the most basic steps to increasing your profits are simple, like answering the phone, and being honest. It’s no secret that every company is suffering due to a lack of work force, but making excuses is worse than just being forthright. In that same vein, if you rely on technology to be your receptionist, what does your message sound like? My voice mail says I will call back by the end of the business day – and surprisingly enough – my clients are blown away that I call as I say I will, because they’ve become accustomed to no one following through. Isn’t that sad? Basic customer service is very simple – under promise, over deliver – even if it’s just returning phone calls. Also, if your jobs are falling behind, be proactive and give your customers a heads-up. In conclusion, the basics are often pushed to the side as we look for the newest and greatest way of taking care of business. We shouldn’t push the basics to the side, but embrace them and hopefully become the rock stars, the legends, the heros we want our customers to see us as! Always, Marie

6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

OLA MEETINGS SERIES

EVENT INFORMATION DATE & LOCATION SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 EXSCAPE DESIGNS 10121 KINSMAN RD NOVELTY, OH 44072 AGENDA REGISTRATION 5:00PM to 5:15PM FACILITY TOUR 5:15PM to 7:30PM NETWORKING/SOCIAL HOUR/ FOOD SERVED 7:30PM to 8:30PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30 REGISTER TO ATTEND BY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

SPONSORED BY

EMERALD SPONSOR

HOSTED BY

LANDSCAPE FACILITY TOUR Exscape Designs

Exscape Designs is a Cleveland-based landscape design firm with more than 80 years of combined experience serving clients across Northeast Ohio, from Chagrin Falls to Chardon and everywhere in between. Since 2004, the expert landscape architects and designers at Exscape Designs have designed and installed naturally unique landscapes and outdoor living spaces, including outdoor kitchens with pavilions, custom fire pits, patios, and more. They provide a variety of landscape design and maintenance services that will not only help clients design their ideal landscape, but assist them in preserving and maintaining their outdoor space for years to come. Their team is passionate about bringing the client’s landscape vision to life. Exscape’s purpose is simple. They strongly believe in this purpose, to enhance the lives of both their clients and team members through positive interactions. They do this through always acting in accordance with these Core Values:

• • • •

See It – All in, Bold Consistent Vision, Innovation Own It – Accountability, Communication, Team Work Kill It – Execution, Customer Focus, Striving for Excellence Back It – Integrity, Honesty, Our word is our bond

Exscape’s clients have come to know them for an unparalleled commitment to excellence, professionalism, and integrity. Join us, September 13, 2018 as Bill Dysert and his team give us a peek into what has made them so successful. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S MEETING SCHEDULE ARE NOW AVAILABLE. CALL 440.717.0002 FOR INFO. 2 CEU’S

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb Our plant of the month’s genus name comes from the genus name Veronica (Christian legend claims Saint Veronica gave her veil to Christ to wipe his forehead while he was carrying the cross to Calvary) and astrum meaning star, or incomplete resemblance.

VERONICASTRUM VIRGINICUM CULVER’S ROOT

A very special perennial, Veronicastrum virginicum is one of the architectural gems of the garden. It stands as straight and tall (5-6 feet) as a warrior, yet retains the delicacy of a ballerina en pointe. Like many tall perennials, the diameter is usually only half the height. Thriving in sun with at least moderate moisture, able to survive in partial shade but then needing staking, it starts blooming in mid-July and continues into late August, keeping its stature, even after the petals fade, until a killing frost arrives in late fall. Some taxonomists prefer to classify this plant as a species of Veronica, thus Veronica virginica. Regardless of its name, it is a special plant for the back of the perennial border, as an intermediate plant between short and tall shrubs, in the sunny wet garden, and as a cutting flower.

This native of the Eastern United States, hardy from at least zone 4, perhaps 3, to zone 8, has long, very toothed leaves which are arranged in whorls of five around the unbranched stems. This arrangement means that the plant has a strong, layered, horizontal look. The dense white wands, frequently in groups of three, stand straight up from the stem. After continued on page 10

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS

continued from page 8 this bloom fades and is deadheaded, lateral racemes will appear so that the plant actually stays in bloom for four to six weeks. There is a pale pink selection, V.var.rosea, but it is hard to find. There are now also some pale purple cultivars such as ‘Fascination’ and ‘Purple Towers’ and more introductions are coming from Europe. Piet Oudolf, in his book Designing with Plants, mentions ‘Apollo’ which has robust lilac wands on slightly twisted stems and ‘Temptation’ which is a bit shorter at 4 feet and has blue flowers. Veronicastrum looks best when massed. I first saw it as the background of a woodland edge perennial bed and was astonished by its impact. Since then, I have grown V. ‘Fascination’ in my own garden beside Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ and Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Barker’s Variety’ (Monkshood) and with Hydrangea arborescens ssp.radiata nearby. The ornamental grass provides a nice contrast of form and texture while the Aconitum and Liatris provide a repetition of upright,

10 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

unbranched plants with different types of flowerheads. It would also combine well with Japanese Anemones and fallblooming Asters. Propagation can be done by seed, division in the spring or terminal cuttings during the summer. Veronicastrum suffers from lack of recognition but hopefully, now that you know about it, you will add it to your garden palette. 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.

OLA EDUCATION SERIES

P LA NT

H E A LT H C A EVENT INFORMATION DATE & LOCATION OCTOBER 2, 2018 HOLDEN ARBORETUM 9550 SPERRY RD. KIRTLAND, OH 44094

AGENDA REGISTRATION/BREAKFAST 9:00AM – 9:30AM INTRO PRESENTATION 9:30AM – 11:45AM LUNCH (INCLUDED) 11:45AM – 12:30PM FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS 12:30AM – 5:00PM COST MEMBERS BEFORE 09/18/18 - $79 AFTER 09/18/18 - $109 NON MEMBERS BEFORE 09/18/18 - $109 AFTER 09/18/18 - $139

E DAY

PLANT HEALTHCARE DAY

Whether you are a business owner, or employee, this will be a can’t miss event for anyone who uses plant materials in their work. This clinic will focus on live demonstrations of proper planting techniques, how to assess optimum soil conditions, and how to determine what to do when elements, such as pests and diseases, begin to take their toll on your plant material. Attendees will have access to a wide range of plant material including trees, shrubs and perennials - guaranteeing we cover all the bases.

GUEST PRESENTERS

Chad Clink / Bartlett Tree Experts

Chad is a Board Certified Master Arborist with a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management. He is also a Municipal Specialist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified with the International Society of Arboriculture and a Licensed Commercial Applicator with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Chad will be demonstrating proper planting and mulching techniques.

James Funai, LIC / Cuyahoga Community College

Jim is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in horticulture degree program. He is pursuing a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. He will be discussing soil as an abiotic stress and demonstrating hands-on “in the field” tests to better understand soil’s physical properties.

Marie McConnell / Lake County Nursery A sales representative with Lake County Nursery – owned by her family – Marie has grown up in the industry. She has an Associate’s Degree from The Ohio State ATI in Applied Sciences and will be demonstrating how to determine the difference between pest borne and environmental borne disease, and discussing how to treat the two.

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

2018 PLANT HEALTHCARE DAY / REGISTRATION CLOSES 09/25/18

(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 FEE

NAME OF ATTENDEE (S)

TOTAL DUE

 Check No. (Enclosed)

Charge to my:

Acct. No.

Name on Card

Exp. Date

Security Code

Signature

Billing Address + Zipcode for Card 6.25 CEU’S

 MasterCard  Visa  AMEX  Discover

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN King Financial, Inc.

KEYS TO RETIREMENT INVESTING Clients who are financially knowledgeable incurred annual investment returns that are 1.3% higher compared with those who are least knowledgeable about personal finance, according to a study by experts with the National Bureau of Economic Research. The difference is considered significant, “enhancing the retirement nest egg of the most knowledgeable by 25% over a 30-year work life,” the researchers said. Know your retirement savings plans Once retired, your income will come from several possible sources: Social Security retirement benefits, pensions, employer retirement savings plans like the 401(k), personal savings and/or part time work. The value of your employer based savings plans, like the 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plans, will be an important source of that income. The more you save, the more that will be available for you to use during retirement. Maximize your match If your employer offers matching contributions, be sure to contribute at least enough to get all of the match money offered. This is literally as close to “free money” as you are ever going to see in this lifetime.

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Have an investment strategy, not a bet Your retirement plan assets can be invested in very conservative investment options. Most plans offer a Stable Value or Fixed Interest rate account. However, a potentially higher return often requires assuming degree of risk to a degree. Therefore you may want to consider investment options that invest in bonds and stocks. If you choose this path, mix up stocks, bonds and cash in a manner that fits your risk tolerance. Your plan will usually offer some help in this area. Don’t pick your funds simply by what they did in the past. continued on page 14

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continued from page 12 Review and rebalance Periodically, either every six months or once a year, review your account and see if the mix of investments is still in balance. If not, rebalance the account to the allocation that you had chosen. Take advantage of Roth 401(k) or Roth IRAs For decades, regular 401(k)s have let you arrange to have money taken out of your paycheck on a pre-tax basis and put into a retirement account. By contrast, Roth 401(k)s give you the option of contributing after-tax money toward retirement. With Roth 401(k)s, any future distributions – money you withdraw, hopefully, after earning a good return on your investment – are tax-free. In essence, you’re trading a current tax break for a future one when you choose a Roth over a traditional 401(k). In retirement, you can take distributions from both accounts to help manage your tax liability.

How a 1% savings boost could sweeten your retirement An increase of 1% in retirement savings can mean a big difference in income because of compounding, according to a report from Fidelity Investments. For example, a 25-year-old client earning $40,000 who opts to increase its savings rate by 1% per year or $33 monthly can expect an increase of $320 in monthly retirement income in today’s dollars, assuming he receives an annual raise of 1.5%, net of inflation, remain employed until age 67 and gets a 7% annual return, the report says. Little incremental differences can make a huge difference over time. Always look to rebalance and diversify your portfolio to reduce risk and stay focused on your long term goals. Michael J. Donnellan is President of King Financial, Inc. specializing 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. Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com

Workers who are just starting out in their careers should strongly consider a Roth 401(k). With modest entry-level salaries, most new workers don’t pay high taxes anyway, making the current tax break of a regular 401(k) worth little.

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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ONLPAC

CLAY SHOOT 2018 Fall Fundraiser Thursday, October 4, 1–4:30 pm 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 Nursery and Landscape Political Action Committee. The afternoon includes a 16-station clay shoot course, dinner and raffle prizes. Bring your own shotgun and ammunition. A limited number of shotguns will be available for rental. Ammunition may also be purchased onsite. Ear and eye protection are mandatory and are also available to purchase. Proceeds benefit the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Political Action Committee, an important component of Ohio's green industry advocacy efforts.

To Attend:

$75 PAC donation includes 16-station course and dinner $35 PAC donation for dinner only Pre-registration is required. Registration deadline: Friday, September 14

About the ONLPAC Ohio’s green industry can’t take a passive approach to advocacy. A political action committee strengthens our collective story with proactive leadership. The Ohio Nursery and Landscape 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/ONLPAC

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

LOCATION: HILL ’N DALE CLUB / 3605 POE RD / MEDINA, OH 44256

FOROLA SAFETY SAKE EDUCATION SERIES

SPONSORED BY

EMERALD SPONSOR

FAA to fly for clients’ business purposes. Mr. Wasinski has flown for over 10,000 hours; he has a keen eye for capturing inspiring still images and exciting video; and he and his team make the magic happen using the latest editing software in the Aerial Agents media production studio. Previously, Tom worked in the automotive industry to deliver photo and video services to dealerships all over the United States. He has trained other drone pilots, is considered an expert in aerial imaging, and has served as a member on the advisory board for US Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, who has put together an innovative program to increase awareness, education and utilization of science, technology, recreation, engineering, arts, and mathematics fields in our region.

Aerial Agents prides themselves on offering courteous, professional, and affordable services, while providing clients with outstanding aerial view opportunities. Their services are designed to provide clients with captivating aerial imagery that captures inspiration.

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

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PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Cornus officinalis, commonly called Japanese Cornel Dogwood, is native to China, Japan and Korea.

CORNUS OFFICINALIS JAPANESE CORNEL DOGWOOD

As we become better students of plants and their histories, we often come across a plant that for no real explanation doesn’t have the market that similar, often less-spectacular plants do. Our inspiration for this month’s plant comes from a recent visit to the J.C. Raulston Arboretum (the arboretum at NC State University) in Raleigh, NC.

This arboretum is a favorite of ours because of the sheer number of different species packed into one place, along with the impressive trial garden they maintain. While our focus is always woody plants, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention their giant, tree-like Dahlia imperalis. This sucker is well over 10 feet tall, and so wide that you couldn’t wrap your hand around the stem – an amazing specimen to witness. As we wandered up a path, through their Asian collection towards the Japanese Garden, we had one of those ‘knock-yoursocks-off’ moments. At first glance, we were certain we were looking at a specimen of Kousa Dogwood – multi stem, nice

26 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

branch structure, beautiful clean green leaves, characteristic leaf vein to the tip. But wait… Kousa has really nice, camo bark. The bark on this tree seemed superior to most. And it then hit… this wasn’t a Kousa. It was the superior (in our opinion) Cornus officinalis, also known as Japanese Cornel Dogwood. Another name attributed to this great plant, Japanese (sometimes Korean) Cornelian Cherry, might make you think of a closely related plant, Cornus mas, or Cornelian Cherry. In truth, there are three Asian species of Dogwood (C. mas, C. officinalis, C. chinensis) that all fit into a sub group of “Cornelian Cherry.”

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We’ve always been curious about what a Cornelian (sometimes shortened to Cornel) is. It turns out, the name stems from Carnelian, which is a semi-precious gemstone with a deep, redorange color. This is similar to the ripe fruit of the Cornelians and Cherry, because the fruit is solitary on a little, green stem – like a cherry. While the Cornelian cherries are edible, so is a Persimmon, but catch them even a day before they are ripe and you’ll turn your mouth inside out! For this species name, Officinalis (found in a number of plants) means “from a shop,” referring to a plant with reported medicinal value. We are not in the business of offering medical advice, but it appears this herb was used in traditional Chinese medicine. So, why is this plant superior, in our opinion? This is one of the first plants to bloom in spring, often several weeks before C. mas, with similar, bright-yellow puffs of flowers through the whole plant. The clusters of flowers tend to get a bit larger than C. mas, and on a sunny day in late winter/early spring, it would be a very

difficult display to beat. Oddly, the fruit matures after C. mas, sometimes after several hard frosts have hit. It will offer the same small, deep-red, oval shaped cherries – a true ornamental fruit. While C. kousa and C. florida take the cake when it comes to enlarged bracts that appear to have the most beautiful flowers, they are overused in our landscapes, considering the many other options out there. So much work has gone into getting a different shade of white, or pink, in these two that breeders have forgotten the beauty and stress free world of C. officinalis and C. mas. The bark of Kousa is awesome with the greenish, tan, brown-camouflage patterns it gets with age, but similar effects are much stronger on C. officinalis, with much more contrast between the colors. Another thing we noticed about C. officinalis is its superior habit when compared to C. mas, and a more interesting tree form. With little effort, C. officinalis forms a very low-branch continued on page 28 The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 27

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

continued from page 27 to single-stem, strong vase-shape, placing it somewhere between large shrub and small tree. Often topping out around 15 feet tall – and equally as wide – this plant has an open form, which looks killer at night with a wide beam of up lighting across the exfoliating bark and into the canopy. While not many plants pull off the whole ‘four season beauty’ thing, this one does with its early-spring, bright-yellow flowers, deep-green leaves and bark throughout the summer, bright-reds in the fall, and that beautiful bark all winter long. With a size of only 15 by 15, the real question is: “What landscape wouldn’t benefit from this plant?” Need more convincing? We’ve never come across a C. officinalis with any significant pest issues, nor can we find any mention of it in our research. Save for the mandatory, corrective pruning that all woody plants may need here and there; this is a NO maintenance plant. Just find the right place for it, plant it, and sit back and enjoy the unique specimen that sets your client’s landscape apart from the rest.

to see – the market has created somewhat of a chicken vs. egg scenario, in that, while the nurseries can attempt to push new plants into the landscape market, if landscapers continue to walk by with blinders on – constantly recycling the same plant palate – the nurseries end up with amazing plants sitting on their docks. Thus, they continue to push more burning bush and boring, flowering dogwoods out the door. With that in mind, we all need to assist in diversifying our landscapes for the purposes of beauty, pest resistance, and a more robust green industry economy. Trust us, the growers want to grow more cool plants, but to do so, we as landscapers need to plant more cool plants. You’d be amazed at what you can accomplish by opening up your plant palate to something like a Japanese Cornel Dogwood. Go ahead, live a little! Jim Funai is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He is pursuing 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

So, where can you find this awesome plant? While we’ve found the plant listed in several nursery catalogs – which is awesome

28 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

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The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 29

FOR SAFETY SAKE SERIES OLA EDUCATION “If you want to improve your results utilizing simple tools that you can immediately apply, make Marvin your first call.” - Sam A. Misseri, Vice President of Business Development

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F EATURE ARTI CLE

GA S

PRO PA N E

E L EC T R I C

by Jerry Schill / Schill Grounds Management

WHICH IS BEST? T h e

P r o s

C o n s

o f

A l l

T h r e e

T y p e s

Corporate sustainability is something that clients are increasingly concerned about as more and more organizations seek to minimize their impact on the environment by being intentional about their grounds maintenance solution. Fortunately, sustainability is one of our main goals here at Schill Grounds Management, and we love to educate others about how they can do more to protect the planet’s resources. So, it’s no surprise that we’re intentional about the efficiency of the equipment we use. Furthermore, because our crews are out mowing over 10,000 times from spring through fall and because mowers use a lot of fuel, we wrote this article on why we choose to use propane mowers over ones powered by electricity and gasoline, as well as the benefits of each.

32 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

PROS OF PROPANE MOWERS Propane Is Safer For People And The Environment Propane has a lower carbon content than conventional or unleaded gas, which means that mowers that are converted to propane from conventional gas can, on average, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 10%, though estimates often range anywhere from 30%-90%. Here at Schill we have around 100 mowers, so that adds up to significant energy savings.

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It also has a higher rate of flammability than conventional gas, which means that it needs to get hotter than gas does to catch fire. And while propane and gasoline are both flammable, propane ignites at a temperature that’s over 600-800 degrees hotter. Propane is also nontoxic, which means that if it leaks, it won’t contaminate any water or soil that it comes in contact with. Gasoline, on the other hand, contains additives to increase its efficiency that can harm the environment. Costs Less Propane is cheaper by the gallon than conventional gas, which means lower fuel charges for our clients. It can also be stored indefinitely (unlike gasoline which degrades after 12 months), which leads to less waste. Here at Schill, we go through a lot of fuel from the spring through the fall, so shelf life isn’t really a deciding factor for us. Nevertheless, potential waste reduction is always something we try to be mindful of as we strive to be the most environmentallyconscious landscaping company in Ohio.

Supports The Local Economy A key component of running a sustainable company is thinking, acting, and purchasing locally, and Schill Grounds Management is proud to say that our propane is locally sourced. This means that we’re supporting a company that provides hard working Ohioans with good jobs and continuing to focus on the environmental impact of the resources we use.

PROPANE MOWER CONS Less Readily Available Than Natural Gas For the homeowner just looking to mow their lawn once per week, acquiring propane can be a bit of a hassle. To put it plainly, gasoline is sold at many more locations. Fortunately for the Schill team, buying propane directly from local distributors means we don’t have to worry about running all over town to get the fuel we need.

PROS OF ELECTRIC MOWERS Less Maintenance Electric mowers typically require less maintenance than ones that are powered by propane or conventional gas. They don’t continued on page 35 The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 33

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34 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association www.vancurentreecare.com

continued on page 36

F EATURE ARTI CLE continued from page 33 need oil changes or things like new spark plugs and air filters, which can add up to some major savings. That being said, when they do need to be fixed it’s typically harder to find people qualified to service them. Hassle And Noise Free Another good thing about having an electric mower is that you don’t have to go through the hassle of finding or storing fuel. Depending on your location, this might be a big draw. Of course, the storage space you save by not having fuel will likely be negated by the amount of charging space you’ll need, but more on that below. In general, electric mowers are often about 10-20 decibels quieter than propane and gasoline mowers. This can be a plus if your property’s outdoor space caters to employees, tenants, or customers who like to spend their time outside. Better For The Environment (Depending Where You Live) Resources and websites stating that electric mowers and vehicles are unequivocally the best choice for protecting the environment are a little misleading. The truth is much more complicated than that, as how much pollution electricity causes is tied to the source that it comes from. So, if you get your electricity from a power plant that is run by coal, for example, you’d be harming the environment by using an electric mower instead of a mower that’s powered by propane.

4+ hours needed several times per day would mean that you’d literally be charging the battery more than you needed to use it. Furthermore, the cut and bagging quality of electric mowers is often affected by their battery life, which can lead to uneven cuts and turf that doesn’t look its best. And finally, electric mowers also tend to be smaller push models, so finding a quality riding mower to service larger properties can be difficult. Propane riding mowers are readily available, and they can even be converted from ones that run on conventional gasoline. More Expensive Though we’ve already discussed the savings that electric mowers can generate in maintenance and fuel costs, there’s no getting around the fact that they do tend to cost more upfront (though prices will likely continue to drop as technology improves). Exactly how much more a decent electric mower can cost is difficult to determine because there’s really no apples to apples comparison. Power output of electric mowers are measured in voltage, which is difficult to compare to the engine power (measured in horsepower) of a propane or gasoline mower. continued on page 36

That being said, electric mowers have zero emissions, which can put your property on track to receiving a coveted LEED certification.

ELECTRIC MOWER CONS Often Not Designed For Commercial Use As of right now, most electric mowers are designed for casual use by the average homeowner and not to be used 4-8 hours every day. Even expensive models only claim to be able to mow 1/3 of an acre on a single charge, and the fact that many of the properties we service have turf that spans several times larger than that makes them impractical for our all-day use. Of course, one potential remedy for this is to carry extra batteries, but that can easily double or triple the cost of every mower. If you have 100 mowers like we do, making a charging station for all of them could be a logistical nightmare. Not only would you need massive amounts of space to accommodate each mower (most models can’t be charged outside in inclement weather), the The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 35

F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 35

PROS OF GASOLINE MOWERS One of the largest advantages to using gasoline mowers is that gas is so readily available—getting what you need is only as far as the nearest gas station. Nevertheless, there are over 6,000 propane retailers in U.S. that can accommodate a variety of fuel needs. Mowers that run on conventional gasoline are also much easier to find than mowers that run on propane or are electric. Instead, many contractors who use propane mowers simply convert them from ones that were designed to run on gasoline.

GASOLINE MOWER CONS Not Great For The Environment To offset the amount of emissions gasoline engines produce, chemical additives are added to gas to lower these rates. However, these additives tend to be toxic, which basically means that petrol manufacturers trade one environmental risk for another.

As we mentioned before, gasoline should only be stored for about a year before it starts to degrade, which can potentially lead to an increase in waste. At the very least, users of conventional gasoline must pay much more careful attention to when it is acquired to prevent their supply from being compromised. Gasoline costs more than propane, and the disparity in price can add up quickly and is generally passed on to the customer. As anyone who has ever taken a road trip during a major holiday or needed to fill up before or during a major storm knows, gas prices can also be highly unstable. That’s not to say that propane prices aren’t affected by the same principles of supply and demand, but acquiring natural gas that’s locally sourced helps to offset this a bit.

Jerry Schill is president and co-owner of Schill Grounds Management. He’s

When gas leaks into soil, it can prevent plant growth (meaning you could potentially end up with no turf while trying to mow your lawn) and contaminate the water supply.

received numerous accolades for his leadership in the Northeast Ohio business community and the commercial landscaping and snow management industry. Schill Gounds Management takes sustainability very seriously and is always happy to partner with organizations and companies who are looking to become more

More Hassle, Higher Long Term Costs Because gas mowers don’t burn as cleanly as propane ones do, this leads to more build up in the engine, which will typically mean more regular and intensive maintenance.

36 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

environmentally friendly. If you want to learn more about how sustainability can improve your company’s culture and your bottom line, feel free to contact Jerry, or a member of his team, or visit the Schill Grounds Management Blog at https://schilllandscaping.com/blog.

D I RECTI ON S

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

SANDY MUNLEY

Executive Director The Ohio Landscape Association

Regardless of your political ideology, you have to admit that having a chance to meet the President of the United States is pretty exciting. But, having the opportunity to speak with him concerning an issue that directly impacts our Green Industry… well, that is amazing! Joe Drake, George Hohman and Tom Demaline were afforded this very opportunity on Friday, August 24, when a total of 22 members of the Ohio Landscape Association attended the Ohio Republican Party’s State Dinner in Columbus, Ohio. More than 30 individuals pledged money to collectively become top sponsors of this event, which catered to over 1,800 individuals. This level of sponsorship provided us the ability to have three people participate in a roundtable discussion with President Trump. They were able to tell the President, face-to-face, that despite a booming economy, the Green Industry has not been afforded the ability to grow, due to the lack of a workforce. Joe, George and Tom explained to the President that we need substantial H2B cap relief and that the returning worker exemption would help seasonal businesses reach their potential. The President told them he supports the H2B Visa Program and asked them to provide a written statement to him – by the end of the roundtable – that outlined what we need. Wow! What a great result! While there is no guarantee as to what will happen with that information, having the opportunity to put a request directly in the President’s hand is HUGE!

Several of those in attendance were able to have their photo taken with the President, slipping in a quick plug for H2B visas while doing so. During the GOP State Dinner, which followed the roundtable, President Trump spoke for about 45 minutes. We had VIP seating, very close to the stage. As President Trump was leaving the stage, he exited toward our table and Joe Drake hopped up, shook his hand and told him, “Save H2B.” With all these touch points, we are hopeful that we made a dramatic impact with the President. Many thanks to Bryan Rice of Rice’s Landscapes Redefined in Canton. He made the connection with Jane Timken, the Ohio Republican Committee Chairperson. It is through this relationship that we were afforded the opportunity to receive an invitation to the Ohio GOP State Dinner. And a big shout out to those who dug into their (personal) pocket to donate money that ultimately provided direct access to President Trump. continued on page 39

The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 37

38 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

DIR EC T IONS

ADVERTI SI N G I N D E X

continued from page 37 Dan Beekhuizen Mike Bulone Jason Buyansky Joe Chiera Jason Cromley Tom Demaline Joe Drake Jacob Grimm Marty Grunder Ric Haury George Hohman

Molly John Scott Knowles Jerry Kusar Wilson Lewis Andy Meyer Rob Morel Mark Osinkski Jonas Pattie Steve Pattie Dale Peterman Steve Rak

Bryan Rice Mike Rorie Darnell Sanders Jerry Schill Joe Schill Gary Stanek Ken Thiergarten Dave VanCuren George Vizmeg

Our grassroots activism continues to grow, year after year, though it is much easier to get buy in when we have a burning issue like H2B visas. That said, don’t forget – we never know what the next big issue will be, or whether it will be at the local, state or federal level. Please get involved and stay involved with your elected officials. It is their job to represent you. If they don’t know who you are, how can you expect them to know what you and your company need to be successful? Finally, if you haven’t done so already, please look into taking part in the ONLPAC Fundraiser coming up on Thursday, October 4. It will be a fun event that includes a Clay Shoot at Hill ’n Dale Club in Medina. Don’t shoot? There is a dinner only option, as well. I hope to see you at this and many other upcoming OLA events this fall and winter.

OLA’s NEW MEMBERS

The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association:

REGULAR MEMBER

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Oberlin College 173 W. Lorain Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8435 Dennis Greive

DiCillo Services, LLC 7412 Goodwalt Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102 440-525-4708 Nick DiCillo Rush Truck Centers of Ohio 3950 Parkwest Drive Columbus, OH 43228 614-541-4505 Jim Ray

Abraxus / Royalton Supply

All Organic Mulch, LLC

2 13 9

Botson Insurance Group, Inc. Cascade Lighting, Inc. Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc.

DiCillo Services, LLC

Fairlawn Medina Landscape Supply

Klyn Nurseries, Inc

Mason Structural Steel, Inc.

Millcreek Gardens

MRLM

O’Reilly Equipment

Oliger Seed Co.

Premier Plant Solutions

Shearer Equipment

Sohar’s / RCPW, Inc.

Unilock

9 34 6

Valley City Supply VanCuren Tree Services, Inc. Zoresco Equipment Company The Growing Concern | September 2018 | 39

9240 Broadview Road Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517

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