The Buckeye, March 2013 Volume 24, Issue 2

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

March 2013 Vol. 24, Issue 2

ONLA_Full page 12-12-10 10:32 AM Page 1

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CONTENTS The Buckeye is published 10 times per year by The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081 p 614.899.1195 f 614.899.9489 www.onla.org info@onla.org

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President’s Perspective ONLA’s Mission to Serve

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ONLA Office Update What Have We Done for the Industry Lately?

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ONLA’s Leadership Team Meet the 2013 ONLA Board of Directors

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New ONLA Scholarship Fund Contributor Fullmer’s Landscaping Gives $25,000; ONLA matches dollar-for-dollar

THE FINE PRINT The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as members of the ONLA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

departments 18

In Memoriam We Say Goodbye to Two Industry Friends

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Landscapers’ Viewpoint The Off-Season is NOT the Time for Rest

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Growers’ Viewpoint Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Safety First “Because They Can”

STAFF Kevin Thompson, Executive Director Jennifer Gray, Associate Executive Director Amanda Domsitz, Communiciations Assistant Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Heather Eberline, Accounting

features

OFFICERS Jim Searcy, President Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. David Richards, President-Elect South Ridge Farm Andy Harding, Immediate Past President Herman Losely & Son, Inc.

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Customer Relationship Management

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Tree Campus USA and Arbor Day Celebrations

DIRECTORS Jason Bornhorst, Board Member JB Design Group, LLC

Membership Do You Want to Grow?

Ohio Invasive Plants Council Releases New Evaluation Protocol

CENTS 2013

David Listerman, Board Member Listerman & Associates, Inc. Bill Mainland, Board Member Klyn Nurseries, Inc.

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2013 ONLA Awards Night Honoring Excellence in the Green Industry 20 - 40th Annual Landscape Awards Program 22 - ONLA Scholarship Program 25 - ONLA Professional Awards

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CENTS 2013 Events 29 - CENTS Booth Awards 30 - CENTS Wrap-Up 32 - CENTS 2013 Spotlights Industry Innovation 33 - Landscapers’ Challenge

Steve Maddox, Board Member Rice’s Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. Dr. Hannah Mathers, Board Member The Ohio State University

Mark Reiner, Board Member Oakland Nursery, Inc.

In the spirit of land stewardship, please consider recycling this publication.

Vol. 24, Issue 2

association news

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year jennifergray@onla.org, editor

Mike Satkowiak, Board Member Markman Peat

March 2013

front cover: Spring Awakening

also in this issue

44 New Members • 46 Calendar of Events 46 Classified Ads • 46 Advertising Index

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President’s Perspective

ONLA’s Mission to Serve

Jim Searcy Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. ONLA President jim@hydeparklandscaping.com

I would like to thank all of those who attended CENTS 2013.

I am honored to have been elected ONLA’s president. To me, ONLA and CENTS represent relationships, connections, and working on a common goal. When I prepared my remarks for the ONLA Annual Business Meeting, I couldn’t help by think of my Aunt Les. Celestine was known to our family members as Les or Lessie. Born in 1889 in Cincinnati, Ohio of German descent, Celestine was the oldest of ten children at a time in our history when large families were common. She was my Mother’s sister and 18 years older than my mother. My maternal Grandmother passed when I was four years old, and Aunt Les became a surrogate Grandmother to me and my siblings. Les married but had no children of her own, and when her husband passed in her later years,

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one of my older sisters assisted her with her finances. Lessie paid her electric and phone bills in person at the local drugstore after taking the bus a few miles to the closest small community. Her only other normal bill was a department store charge card, which she also paid in person.

My sister convinced and assisted Aunt Les in the acquisition of a checking account. One of us then could visit her around the 10th of each month and write out the checks for her signature. We sometimes lobbied for that job because it included the best pot roast and mashed potatoes lunch you could possibly imagine.

The significance of the story has stuck with me over these many years because of one particular day when I made the trek to Lessie’s house for lunch and finances. There was a bill from Piepmeyer Florist. Les had lost a dear friend and had the local florist send an arrangement to the funeral.

Starting to write out the check, I was stopped by Aunt Les. “You must take me to Mrs. Piepmeyer. I want to pay her in person!” she said. I explained that it was no different than paying the phone bill. We would place it in the mail and she would have the money before the end of the week. “No! Drive me to Piepmeyers,” Lessie insisted, “I want to pay her!” What was important to Lessie in that moment, what she valued, was a personal connection.

When I think of CENTS, I think of Aunt Les. What a great opportunity we have each year to look a friend in the eye, shake a hand, develop a new relationship, or connect with an old friend. In this age of the inter-

net, we should value the relationships made through the ONLA and CENTS. In the most recent issue of the award- winning The Buckeye magazine, Kevin Thompson, ONLA Executive Director, wrote a fine article discussing the Core Competencies of the Association and the steps that were taken in 2012 to promote these Core Competencies. I encourage you read the details listed in the article to appreciate the work accomplished to this point in time. Today, I choose to briefly promote the Mission Statement, the Vision Statement, and the Values developed in the Strategic Plan. The ONLA Mission states: “The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association leads, promotes, and facilitates the success and growth of green industry businesses.”

I am encouraging our ONLA staff and the Board of Directors to keep the Mission Statement foremost in planning and strategies for 2013. At the same time, we should note that 2012 President Andy Harding, 2012 Immediate Past President Jay Daley, and the staff of ONLA performed exceedingly well in 2012 keeping this mission in focus.

Make note that we state “green industry businesses.” The ONLA is interested in all green industry businesses as we recognize that the success of the green industry in general, is important and impactful on the nursery, landscape, garden center, greenhouse and related industries in our state. If the 2013 Board of Directors keeps the mission of leading, promoting, and facilitating our member’s success, we will have a highly successful year. onla.org

The ONLA Vision reads: “Enhancing the environment and quality of life for all.” This is a simple sentence that makes a huge statement. We would like to continue spreading the word throughout the state of Ohio. We strive to educate citizens in the state that the work we accomplish through our businesses enhance their lives. We also hope to enhance the lives of our younger generation as well as future generations.

Finally, let’s look at our Values: • Ohio – First • Members • Professionalism • Participation • Leadership • Integrity Ohio is and always has been a leader in horticulture in the United States. We should make Ohio first at all times as an association and not apologize for promoting our state and its position in the nation as a leader. The members of our association are the heart beat and need to be encouraged at all times to participate as much as possible in the association for their benefit and the benefit of Ohio.

We also need to constantly promote membership and seek out new members.

The ONLA always promotes professionalism and encourages participation. If our members exhibit profes-

sionalism and understand the benefits they receive from participating in the association, they will experience positive improvement in their business lives.

Finally, we take note of leadership and integrity. I believe the leadership of the ONLA in the past has exhibited the highest levels of integrity and this trait marks the tremendous leadership the organization has experienced for decades. The current board must and will maintain that level of leadership and integrity.

In closing, I will briefly return to the story of my Aunt Les. While I did want to emphasize the importance of real contact and face to face “conversation,” please do not think there is not value given to the ability we have today to communicate with our members and the public in general. We don’t want to return to fax machine and black box phones. We want to use all the means available to communicate with our membership. We know this is key to leading and promoting our industry in Ohio. While I treasure the story of Aunt Les, I do think if she were alive today, she and Mrs. Piepmeyer would be Facebook friends. B Jim Searcy ONLA President jim@hydeparklandscaping.com

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ONLA Office Update

What Have We Done for the Industry Lately?

Kevin Thompson Executive Director kevinthompson@onla.org

[Excerpted from remarks made at the ONLA Annual Business Meeting.] Shortly after last year’s CENTS we hired an independent market research company to conduct a study of CENTS show perceptions, and in particular, in regards to the timing of our annual convention. We learned that there are very favorable perceptions of CENTS, especially as a great networking show. Regarding the timing, we learned there was strong support for keeping it in January, but also a lot of interest in moving it earlier in the month. After great deliberation, CENTS was moved one week earlier. While moving an annual event by one week may not seem like such a big deal to most, those who have worked closely with the show do realize why this decision was a big deal, and not made in haste. We truly believe it will help ensure the long-term success of this important event.

Last winter, nearly 200 commit-

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tee members serving 16 committees gathered for 2 days of meetings.

Many great ideas were generated at those meetings, many of which were implemented throughout the year, including new educational programming, networking events and member benefits. I’m pleased to announce that with funding through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program, we were successful in launching a new online Nursery Stock Survey in the fall. This will also be the catalyst for the return of our BuckeyeGardening.com consumer website this year.

We also launched our first online educational programming. Working in conjunction with The Ohio State University Extension, Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLT), we offered a series of “Green Industry Fix” webinars. We also partnered with the ENLT Team in offering several, highly popular Diagnostic Walkabouts. We look forward to continuing and expanding these programs in 2013.

2012 was another positive fiscal year for the association, especially considering the economic climate that continues to challenge the industry. While exceeding budget, we were able to provide financial support in several areas for which we should be proud: • A $225,000 investment in PLANET’s Academic Excellence Foundation is something to be proud of. Our current endowment will return $12,000 in scholarships for Ohio students in perpetuity • $10,000 to the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), furthering our support while increasing the largest state association endowment within HRI. An additional

$2,800 was donated to help establish the new Bryan Champion Scholarship fund within HRI • $10,000 to the ANLA Lighthouse fund, continuing our support of the ANLA’s legislative efforts on behalf of our membership • $7500 in support to our partners on the ENLT Team • $14,500 in scholarships were awarded to 16 students, from 10 different schools across Ohio In addition to this financial support, in 2012: • 90% membership retention was achieved, ending the year with nearly 1300 total members. Certainly an accomplishment when considering the consolidation and attrition occurring within all industry segments • The CENTS trade show floor boasts more than 400 exhibitors occupying nearly 800 booth spaces Among many legislative and regulatory accomplishments, we continued to maintain and build relationships with the members of the Ohio General Assembly. These relationships are invaluable but, due to term limits, they are ever changing. So, I urge all of you to continue to work with the ONLA Leadership, the Legislative Committee and our legislative consultants at Capitol Consulting Group to get engaged in the process and get to know your legislators. In addition to this overarching accomplishment, we also worked on and accomplished the following: • Worked with the Ohio Department of Agriculture on issues relating to Boxwood Blight, Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Longhorned Beetle onla.org

F E AT U R E Participated in the “Directors Ag Nutrient Water Quality Work Group” and submitted written comments to the final workgroup report on the subject of the value of phosphorus to nursery stock • Participated in an industry coalition that negotiated two different pieces of legislation relating to implementation of the Great Lakes Compact • Participated in the Ohio Underground Damage Prevention Coalition that worked with the General Assembly to pass a new “one call” or “call before you dig” system • Worked with the Ohio Invasive Plant Council and communicated with the ODA on the protocols that were being drafted and how ODA’s statutory governance on invasive plants needs to be clarified • Worked with Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Health on issues relating to H2A and H2B and were successful in eliminating duplicative housing inspection oversight • Secured representation on the Governor’s Common Sense Initiative, Small Business Advisory Council • Interfaced with the members of the Ohio General Assembly and other stakeholders on bills relating to migrant labor As you can see, ONLA is an integral part of your business success. The board, committee members, business partners, and staff stand ready to serve you in 2013. B

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2013 ONLA Leadership Team The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) elected new board members at its Annual Business Meeting & Luncheon on January 15, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

The ONLA president is Jim Searcy from Hyde Park Landscaping, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio. Searcy has served on ONLA committees for over 15 years, as well as a previous two-year term on the board of directors. He is looking forward to serving as the association president in 2013 and working for Ohio’s green industry.

Andy Harding from Herman Losely & Son, Inc. in Perry, Ohio will be serving on the board as Immediate Past President with Dave Richards from South Ridge Farms in Ashtabula, Ohio serving as 2013 President Elect.

Returning board members include: Stephen Maddox from Rice’s Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. in Canton, Ohio; Dr. Hannah Mathers, representing The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; Mark Reiner from Oakland Nursery, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio; Mike Satkowiak from Markman Peat in Westerville, Ohio; and Kevin Thompson Executive Director of The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association.

New board members for 2013 include Jason Bornhorst from JB Design Group, LLC in Hilliard, Ohio; Bill Mainland from Klyn Nurseries, Inc. in Perry, Ohio; and David Listerman from Listerman & Associates, Inc. in Xenia, Ohio. B

Above Standing (l-r): Mathers, Mainland, Bornhorst, Satkowiak, Maddox, Reiner. Seated (l-r): Richards, Harding, Searcy, Thompson. Not pictured: Listerman. onla.org

March 2013 7

Welcome New ONLA Members!

The following firms and individuals have been approved for ONLA membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants within three weeks following receipt of this issue of The Buckeye.

The following companies are applying for ACTIVE membership: Blue Paw Outdoors 4950 New Carlisle Pike Springfield, OH 45504 Steven Beaty, Category 5 Bogue Farms, Inc. 7130 Havens Road Blacklick, OH 43004 Mark Bogue, Category 5

Bowers Landscaping & Garden Supply 456 Main Street Winterville, OH 43953 Benjamin Bowers, Category 5 Elliott Stone Co. Inc. P.O. Box 756 Bedford, IN 47421 Dave Hall, Category 1

VegiBee LLC 978 Delvin Drive St. Louis, MO 63141 Bill Whaley, Category 5 Wise Landscaping 8952 Milton Carlisle Road New Carlisle, OH 45344 Cliff Wise, Category 4 Wright Landscape Supply & Market Place, LLC 4333 Westfall Road SW Lancaster, OH 43130 Gretchen Wright, Category 4

Miller’s Trees 20333 Nunda Road Butler, OH 44822 David Miller, Category 5 Serenity Scapes P.O. Box 2166 North Canton, OH 44720 Roger or Jake Baden, Category 5 Spring Meadow Nursery Inc 12601 120th Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417Dale Deppe, Category 1

Zbin Landscaping Inc. 32501 Detriot Road Avon, OH 44011 Chris Zbin Category 2 The following people are applying for Individual membership: Nathan Ames, Wright Tree Services Delayne C. Williams, City of Reynoldsburg

The following people are applying for Affiliate membership: Pablo Jourdan, The Ohio State University The following people are applying for Student membership: Penta Career Center Joshua Forbes Becky Fultz Kandace Gilbert Trevin Haar Mike Hamm Antonio Jackson Nicholas Johnson Tabitha Lewis Zach Moore Shanin Kristina Schilt Kyle Sims Jacob Leitch, Gates Mills Environmental Center Andrew Shrubowich, Cuyahoga Community College Ryan Smith, Kent State Salem

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F E AT U R E

New ONLA Scholarship Fund Contributor

Fullmer’s Landscaping Gives $25,000; ONLA Matches Dollar-for-Dollar The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) is pleased to announce that Fullmer’s Landscaping, Inc., Dayton, OH, recently donated $25,000 for scholarships.

These funds will be added to the ONLA’s scholarship endowment within PLANET AEF. The ONLA is excited to announce that the Fullmer Scholarship will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, bringing the total ONLA fund to $350,000.

ONLA became the first state to create an endowed scholarship fund within PLANET AEF in 2010 with a commitment of $50,000, followed by a $25,000 contribution in 2011, and $225,000 in 2012. PLANET AEF is a non-profit organization that provides academic scholarships to students aspiring to be horticulture professionals. Since its founding, PLANET AEF has awarded scholarships to 650 students totaling more than $650,000. In addition to funding scholarships through PLANET AEF, ONLA has awarded over $500,000 to more than 400 students in the past 20 years.

“We are excited to be joined by Fullmer’s Landscaping in providing scholarships for future generations of horticulture students. We would like to thank Fullmer’s Landscaping and the Fullmer family for their generosity,” said Jennifer Gray, associate director and student activities liaison at ONLA. “Commitments like this serve to encourage growth and professional development in the landscape and horticulture industry. Supporting the next generation of industry leaders is another example of how ONLA and our members work to lead and promote the green industry.”

“It’s important to our company to be good stewards of the blessings God has given us. Our mission is to use these gifts in a responsible, productive way,” stated Kent Fullmer, president of Fullmer’s Landscaping, Inc. “Ohio’s landscape and horticulture industry has been very good to us. We have been proud, long-time members of ONLA and are honored to give back to the community.”

For more information about the PLANET AEF scholarship fund, call 800-395-2522 or visit www.landcarenetwork.org.

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Customer Relationship Management John ‘Kewpee Burger’ DeHaven DeHaven Home & Garden Centers, Inc. In our last article, we discussed ways to entice our spring customers to come back and shop during the fall and holiday season. And when it was all said and done, the question came up about collecting customer information in order to stay in touch with them as needed. So, today we ask our panel of retailing extraordinaires to answer some questions on how they retain customer contact information. These questions include: • How well do you know your customers?

• Do you collect your customers contact information?

• If so, How? What do you do with it, and how do you use it?

• If you don’t collect customer information, why not and do you plan to do so in the future? B Ron Wilson Personal Yardboy and Retail Committee’s Ghost Writer in the Sky

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We collect information from our customers, however, using them successfully is the challenge we face. I have had contests for my employees on asking for the customers email address at the register. That worked well yet we haven’t had the contest in over a year. I have put the form out for customers, yet that seems to only get some email addresses.

We ask for email addresses online, yet I don’t see many signing up. Facebook by far has been our best avenue. We have changed our focus on Facebook by allowing several admins. That way more posts are added. This seems to be helping with some decent early results. Overall, interaction with the customer in a cheap fast way is what we need.

Granted marketing avenues are needed to attract new customers (print, TV, radio, billboard, etc.), but getting to know existing customers, letting them get to know you, and staying in touch regularly, not only keeps those folks feeling like more than a customer, but actually like a part of your family. They also become a direct marketer telling friends, family and neighbors all about you. Word of mouth and personal referrals can be your best source for new customers. I leave you with the words from one of the Honorable Wm. P. Stalter’s favorite karaoke songs, “Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me. Getting to know you, putting it my way, but nicely, you are precisely, my cup of tea. B

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Tom ‘Don’t Call Me Donny Osmond’ Hilgeman White Oak Gardens

We collect as much customer information as we can. At the checkout our cashiers are trained to ask each customer for their phone number. If the customer’s phone number is not in the computer we then explain the “White Oak Locals” rewards program and do our best to get everyone signed up.

We collect name, phone, address and email. We use this information to track sales for the rewards program. Members of our program get our newsletters and postcards that are mailed out and if we have the email we send out a weekly email newsletter. They also get rewards postcards mailed for every $100 spent. We also use this information to help with marketing each year. We have sent out postcards designed to promote lawn care. These cards are only sent to customers that have purchased lawn products in the past. B

Tony ‘Tone Toni’ Sciambi Buckeye Resources

We have captured addresses and phone numbers but do not capture our customer’s e-mail addresses on a regular basis. Up until this point we have not had the personnel to do this type of information mining. We are searching for someone with the talent to capture and utilize this information. We feel we can better communicate with our customer, more often by sending out e-blasts. To let them know of upcoming promotions, new products, changes in packaging, etc. We would also like to work with social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Right now, it is a work in progress. B

Tina ‘Jane’ Hines Natorp’s Nursery Outlet Stephen ‘Sakai Jumbo Tosai Sanke Koi’ Blessing Green Vista Water Gardens

Since we do not have a Point-of-Sale (POS) system we still have to do customer info collection the oldfashion way. We have in the past copied information from customer checks and had a sign-up sheet at our front counter. More recently we have stopped the practice of collecting information from checks due to privacy concerns of customers. Our sign-up sheet asks just for email and phone number now. We still like to have a full address but since we seldom do any printed mailings, email is our main objective. Customers seem a little more willing to offer an email address due to privacy concerns.

We also have Facebook and email sign-up available on our websites and encourage signing up on all of our correspondence. We have also started using QR codes, for Smart Phone users, on our business cards, catalogs and brochures to encourage online interaction. As far as physical mailings, we send at least two to our entire customer list. B

Steve ‘I’m a Rice-A-Roni’ Maddox Rice’s Nursery and Landscaping Inc.

We have been collecting our customers contact and purchase information for a long time. In the last the last seven to eight years, we have actually used the information for more than just a mailing list. We now analyze how often the customer comes in, what they buy, how much they buy, what categories they buy in, what is the average sale and many other demographics. It comes in handy for warranty issues to determine when an item was purchased to replace it. It also helps the customer figure out what they bought in previous years, so they can buy more of it in the future. We add everyone into the system at the register and everyone is assigned a customer number. This information gathering is called our “Rice’s Rewards” list. There are benefits to the customer for signing up like coupons, newsletters, postcards, discounts and notice of sales. We could not run the business the way we do without it. B

onla.org

Fortunately we have been collecting our customer’s information for many years now. It all started with filling out hand written forms to join our “Preferred Gardeners Club” Now the information is entered into our system right at the cash register. Customers can sign up online as well. We have had several incentives over the years to entice customer’s to sign including member benefits, as well discount coupons to be used on future purchases. Today, the major benefit is receiving the special member pricing on plant purchases. The rewards club has been renamed the “Plant Lover’s Club”. We now have profiles of the member’s purchases, and in the near future, each member will have their own place on our website, where they can post pictures of their landscape. A list of plants purchased will be there as well. We also have our weekly emailed newsletter with occasionally emailed advertisements. Communications with our customers through email is a daily process. We answer gardening and inventory questions. In addition, we also have our customer’s addresses for our direct mailings. Twice a year we print and mail our ‘Plant Guide’ to our members.

One of our biggest priorities is to get every customer’s information into our system, so that we are able to stay in touch track what they do with us. We’re also on Facebook, which adds another level of communications not only with our existing customers, as well as potential ones. B

Rob ‘Biergarten’ Scott Knollwood Garden Center

With our POS system, we collect customer’s phone numbers to associate with their names. We track their purchases, which is used to help with returns or to look up what type of plants they bought in the past. For contacting customers, we have them sign up for our e-mail list. We send out emailed newsletters every week or two informing them of events and sales coming up. Our recent “Ladies Night at Knollwood” was an invitation only event for our email newsletter subscribers. B

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do you want F E AT U R E

to grow?

I challenge you to do something new, break out of your comfort zone.

It may seem a little awkward at first but trust me you’ll be better for trying. That was my thought when I got involved in The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association and, although it was more than a few years ago, the principles are the same.

My first visit to CENTS was almost overwhelming. I was so “green,” a “newbie” to the industry, but after meeting many “old timers” and their willingness to share their vast levels of experience, I came to realize just how great this industry and organization is.

12 The Buckeye

The encouragement of others convinced me to volunteer for a committee. I remember thinking I was not qualified to serve. After all what did I have to offer, being so young without much experience? I was told that ONLA was a real “grass roots” organization, meaning if you had something to say they would listen.

My first experience on a committee proved that to be very true. The contacts I met allowed me to expand my reach far greater and faster than just sitting on the sidelines. Through the experience I learned far more than I may have contributed. I learned so much by just being involved. It opened up opportunities and new ex-

periences I could not have achieved on my own. It was powerful and through it all I not only learned how to improve my business but I also grew personally through the experience.

I share this with you to challenge you to grow – your business – and you personally. Volunteer to serve your grass roots organization, the ONLA. If this is not enough to convince you to get involved let me ask you; are at least taking advantage of all that ONLA has to offer? There is some real money savings to be gained. Check out the Member Benefits page at www.onla.org. The list of opportunities is amazing!

For more details on membership, contact Roni Peterson at ronipetersen@onla.org. B Jeff Webeler White Oak Gardens jeff@WhiteOakGardenCenter.com

ONLA Membership Committee

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W H Y T R E E S M AT T E R

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Tree Campus USA and Arbor Day Celebrations In January of this year, OSU’s Main Campus was recertified as a Tree Campus USA honoree, as was the College of Wooster and five other colleges and universities in Ohio. As noted in previous The Buckeye articles, Tree Campus USA status indicates a campus has a commitment to student service programs involving trees, a tree care plan, a tree care committee, significant expenditures dedicated to tree care, and an annual Arbor Day celebration. It involves a commitment with deep meaning to the future of Ohio’s community forests. In addition, OSU’s onla.org

Wooster Campus (OARDC, Secrest Arboretum, ATI, OSUE) received their initial certification. These OSU certifications from the Arbor Day Foundation will be formally presented at Arbor Day celebrations on: • Saturday, April 20: OSU Wooster Campus • Friday, April 26, OSU Columbus Campus You are invited to attend! In Wooster, four tree planting events and a tree planting will be part of the ceremonies. Tree plantings of oak species (mighty oaks from little acorns grow) will be made for the third straight year by Doylestown Brownies, for a planting at the Ben Stinner Memorial Garden, to

symbolize the partnership with the City of Wooster, and to symbolize the partnership with the College of Wooster and the Tree City USA designation. Join us in planting trees and all that means as our leafy friends pay us back for decades to come in environmental, economic, social and health benefits.

And now for something, not entirely, different.

Partners in Community Forestry Conference This is a conference which is of great interest to the green industry, urban and community forestry advocates, and tree lovers of diverse Please see page 14

March 2013 13

Continued from page 13

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14 The Buckeye

perspectives. Sacramento, California, known as the City of Trees for its high number of trees per capita and for the vision and actions of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, was a fitting site for this year’s Partners in Community Forestry Conference. This annual Arbor Day Foundation conference was held along with allied tree conferences on November 12-15 at the Sacramento Convention Center and the urban forest of the streets of Sacramento.

Sean Barry, Director of Media Relations for the Arbor Day Foundation , noted in his Arbor Day blog (blog. arborday.org) about the conference: “The Foundation sponsors the now-annual gathering, which gives urban forestry professionals from around the country the chance to reconnect with peers and share best practices.” From urban tree walks in Sacramento and nearby Davis, CA, to discussion groups, brainstorming sessions, dozens of presentations, and of course, the all-important networking in the hallways and when sharing meals, Partners stimulated many to talk trees.

David Nowak, a Project Leader at the US Forest Service and at Syracuse University set the tone early with his discussion of “The Changing Urban Landscape” and his comments that we need to be aware not only of the common “right tree, right place” recommendation for tree planting, but also to add to this planting “at the right time.” The structure of the urban forest should not be one in which a high percentage of trees are in one size class, resulting in susceptibility to unmanageable replacement issues down the road. To paraphrase, the old saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time to plant a tree is today,” should be tempered with an understanding of not planting all of your next hundred years of trees in one year or one decade.

The Continental Dialogue program on non-native insects and trees featured discussions by diverse groups on the challenges of the seemingly never-ending litany of forest invasives, from emerald ash borer to Asian longhorned borers, from fellow-traveler scenarios such as the laurel wilt fungus and ambrosia beetles, and the thousand-canker pathogen and the walnut twig beetle. In this session, we had a chance to view the new Nature Conservancy dvd/film Trees, Pests & People, developed with its USDA APHIS partners and the Continental Dialogue.

Trees, Pests & People is a 26:46 minute film focusing on laurel wilt, emerald ash borer and thousand canker disease. The Nature Conservancy reminds us of the many ways this type of information can be used: • To show at a town hall meeting or on public television; • To create a presentation for birdwatchers, gardeners, or other outdoor oriented groups; • To lend to a local high school or college science course.

The Continental Dialogue also reminds us of the many websites that highlight the importance of invasives and onla.org

trees, including dontmovefirewood.org, thousandcankers. com, emeraldashborer.info, and savetheguac.com. You’ve gotta love the “savetheguac” moniker, highlighting the threat to Florida’s avocado trees from the laurel wilt disease. While we are talking websites, also make regular use of the Arbor Day Foundation website (arborday.org), the Nature Conservancy website (nature.org), and of course, the tree benefit websites of i-Tree.org and treebenefits.com.

Which brings us to i-Tree. There was an excellent session in Sacramento, led by David Nowak of the USDA Forest Service and Scott Maco of the Davey Tree Expert Company on this powerful tool that helps communities, public officials, arborists, and all of us understand and

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nurture the nature of urban forests. i-Tree users from a number of states reported how i-Tree matters to them in their marshaling awareness, input, and resources for their community forests. As noted on the itreetools.org website: “i-Tree is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The i-Tree Tools help communities of all sizes to strengthen their urban forest management and advocacy efforts by quantifying the structure of community trees and the environmental services that trees provide.” i-Tree, developed by the Forest Service and its partners of the Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Society of Municipal Arborists, Please see page 16

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800­334­8689 March 2013 15

Continued from page 15

the Casey Tree Foundation, and the Davey Tree Expert Company, helps us understand the economic value of the environmental benefits of trees. These benefits range from: energy savings to stormwater remediation benefits, from air quality benefits, including now models to specify health consequences of those benefits, to carbon sequestration benefits. i-Tree is also scale-able, used by cities and regions, and usable through treebenefits.com and applications in many urban areas for individual trees in people’s yards.

Google “what’s new with i-Tree” to learn about the many new innovations of i-Tree Eco, i-Tree Vue, and i-Tree Streets, from the new web-based data collection system for mobile devices, to linking i-Tree to EPA data for public health benefits, from air quality improvement from increasing tree canopy, to i-Tree Pest Detection protocol reporting.

Also, check out a new tool of i-Tree Design for understanding the details and maximizing the energy savings of trees is a program known as Energy Saving Trees. This new tool helps individual homeowners and communities determine which trees matter most and how tree placement matters relative to energy savings. As noted on the energysavings.arborday.org website, proven energy savings benefits of trees include: • Properly planted trees can save homeowners up to 20% on their energy bills.

• The City of Sacramento is saving 13,500,000 kWh of electricity every year from strategic tree planting.

• In addition to energy savings these trees will provide tangible benefits for the entire community such as improved air quality, reduced stormwater runoff, a lower urban heat island affect, and a lower carbon footprint.

As Greg Ina, Vice President and General Manager of the Davey Institute of the Davey Tree Expert Company notes: “With the 5.0 Version of i-Tree and its i-Tree Design component we have moved beyond simple recommendations, e.g. to avoid power lines, to a science-based plant siting tool at the homeowner’s level, in order to optimize tree placement and selection to best provide energy savings.”

The i-Tree program is working to add utilities from around the country to increasingly improve the function of the model based on local energy costs to best estimate actual energy savings in your yard. I checked the i-Tree Design site out in late October, entered my Wayne County, Ohio address, got the latest Google map, which was indeed pretty recent, since our Presidential Election signs (just added two weeks earlier) were in the image. It is informative and fun to enter basic data and then using the tool to draw a building footprint and determine the benefits of current trees from the image but also “virtual” trees and what their benefits would be in upcoming decades if you planted them now.

16 The Buckeye

There was a great deal more in Sacramento, including working group discussions about the ever-increasing Tree Campus USA program, now with over 150 campuses that are recognized for their tree campus program. The Tree Campus USA program helps set the campus community forest as a focal point for students, faculty and staff to center their sense of tree-place during their college experience. It involves student service projects related to trees, Arbor Day and other tree celebrations, development of a tree care plan, development of a tree committee that involves students, the community and others on campus, and the dedication of resources to support the tree campus.

There were talks in Sacramento on “Building Urban Forestry into Policy and Funding Opportunities” by Connie Gallippi, of the Conservation Strategy Group, on “How Emerald Ash Borer Has Brought Us Together”

by Jim Zwack of the Davey Tree Expert Company, on “Nature to Nurture: The History of Sacramento’s Urban Forestr” from Ray Tretheway of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, on the “Arbordaynow.org Volunteer Center: Connection People to Local Conservation-Based Volunteer Opportunities,” and many more. All of these power point presentations are linked and available as PDFs on the arborday.org website.

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Captions Page 13: Blue tree group in Sacramento Page 13, inset: Post Oak – ha ha!

Page 15, left: Chestnut oak (Photo courtesy of Sherrill Massey) Page 15, center: You can’t see the California statehouse for the trees!

Page 15, right: 7: Invasive ailanthus grows not only in Brooklyn, and Ohio forests, but also in downtown Sacramento!

This page, left: Mighty oaks from little acorns grow This page, right: Sweetgums are colorful even in sunny Sacramento All photos courtesy of Jim Chatfield, unless otherwise noted.

And outside the Convention Center there were tree tours and tree sitings to make all arborists green with envy. Green was not the only color, as there was fall color, and even the presence of blue trees. Twenty electric bluepainted trees represented the Blue Trees City Project of Konstantin Dimopoulos, with Sacramento the fourth city after Seattle, Vancouver and Melbourne to have the project which is designed to encourage a conversation about trees, and draw attention to global deforestation. The non-toxic, soon to degrade paint will fade away on the 20 blue trees of Sacramento but will hopefully provide many years of enhanced awareness. Trees matter.

Plan to attend the Partners Conference next year in Pittsburgh, November 6-9, 2013! B Jim Chatfield and Pam Bennett The Ohio State University Extension Nursery Landscape and Turf Team chatfield.1@osu.edu or bennett.27@osu.edu

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March 2013 17

B

IN MEMORIAM Don E. Stallard, 84

Paulita Hidalgo, 84

Don E. Stallard, 84, of Madison, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at Cardinal Woods Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in Madison.

Born August 26, 1928, in Gate City, Virginia, to Geneva Jane (Wilhelm) and Dewey Hobart Stallard. He married Carol June Taylor December 30, 1950.

Don worked as a chemist for Diamond Shamrock for 33 years, retiring in 1983. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, was a 1949 graduate of Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia and attended Virginia Polytech Institute. He was as a consultant for Analytical Biochemical Corporation in Columbia, Missouri, for three years and operated D.E. Stallard & Daughters Nursery from 1972 to 2002.

He is survived by his wife, Carol June Stallard; daughters, Doris Lee LeMoyne and Tammie Susan Stallard; grandchildren, Michael (LeighAnn Rodd) Deurlein, Stephen Deurlein, Sarah LeMoyne, LeeAnne (John) Julien and Amy LeMoyne; sister-in-law, Helen Stallard; several nieces and nephews; and dear friend, Cecil King.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, James, Frank and Dewey Stallard. B

Paulita Hidalgo passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 9, 2013 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was born in Tela, Honduras on March 2, 1928. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Napoleon; son, Victor Renan and grandson, Roberto Renan. Survivors are her daughters: Mayra (Roberto) Estrada, Ana Lourdes (Martin) Geelhoed, Sonia (Tim) Brotzman of Madison, Ohio and son, Gerardo Napoleon Hidalgo. She was a beloved mother, aunt, grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 26.

She was a loving, compassionate human being who was very active in her community volunteering for many organizations to help the poor in her country. Her many contributions made a difference in the lives of many.

Her family, godchildren and many friends will miss her greatly. Those who were touched by her kindness will never forget her. B

18  The Buckeye

onla.org

Bill Ripley and Jamie Fox celebrate their Project of the Year Win!

40th Annual Landscape Awards Program

What an upbeat night for presenting the ONLA Awards at CENTS! This year winners celebrated together during an awards presentation and were congratulated by their peers during a dessert reception!

Winning projects from the 40th Annual Landscape Awards were presented and the 2013 Landscape Project of the Year was revealed.

Other feted industry winners that night included Chris Ahlum, recipient of the ONLA’s Young Professional Award, and the many recipients of ONLA scholarships. B

onla.org

details on all our awards appear throughout this issue. read on!

March 2013  19

congratulations to our

!

Award Winners 40th ONLA Annual Landscape Award Programs

The ONLA’s 2013 Landscape Awards Program is designed to Reward skilled professionals who have executed quality workmanship.

Encourage landscape contractors and landscape architects to continue their efforts to raise the industry’s image through consistent use of quality materials and competent workmanship.

• Make a concerned citizenry aware of how quality landscaping can improve our environment and property values.

• Recognize citizens who have taken action through quality landscaping to attain this end.

• •

The program sponsors for the Awards Night & Dessert Reception were Harrells, TAH Benefits, and Wholesale Stone Supplies.

Judges’ Choice Project of the Year Award, Sponsored by Buckeye Resources, Inc.

•

Architectural Landscape Design, Inc. & Jamie Fox Landscaping, Inc.

Commercial Installation Category, Sponsored by Willoway Nurseries, Inc.

• •

Brickman, Grand Award Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Merit Award

Commercial Landscape Maintenance Category

• • • •

Enviroscapes Inc., Grand Award Grunder Landscaping Co., Grand Award Brickman, Merit Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Merit Award

Garden Structures Category, Sponsored

by Cash Flow Management Inc.

• • • •

20 The Buckeye

Architectural Landscape Design, Inc. & Jamie Fox Landscaping, Inc., Grand Award Hidden Creek Landscaping, Grand Award Peabody Landscape Group, Grand Award Dan Druffel, Inc., Merit Award

• • •

Peabody Landscape Group, Merit Spellacy’s Turf Lawn, Inc., Merit Award Spellacy’s Turf Lawn Inc., Merit Award

Pavements Category, Sponsored by Wholesale Stone Supplies

• • •

Builderscape, Merit Award Dan Druffel, Inc., Merit Award Ken Helmlinger Co., Merit Award

Residential Installation Category, Sponsored by Klyn Nurseries

• • • • • •

Ken Helmlinger Co., Grand Award Architectural Landscape Design, Inc. & Jamie Fox Landscaping, Inc., Merit Award Hidden Creek Landscaping, Merit Award M.J. Design Associates, Inc., Merit Award Oakland Design, Merit Award Rice’s Nursery & Landscaping, Inc., Merit Award

Residential Landscape Maintenance Category

• • •

Brickman, Grand Award Butler Landscaping, Inc., Merit Award Enviroscapes Inc., Merit Award

onla.org

Experience the Beauty of

Award Winning

Ohio Landscapes

Theme Gardens, Show Gardens or Educational or Informative Display of Horticultural Products Category

•

GreenScapes Landscape Co. Inc., Merit Award

Unique or Unusual Category

• •

GreenScapes Landscape Co. Inc., Grand Award GreenScapes Landscape Co. Inc., Merit Award

Use of Seasonal Color, Container Gardens or Perennial Gardens Category, Sponsored by Millcreek Gardens LLC

• • • •

Brickman, Grand Award Brickman, Merit Award Delhi Landscape Services, Merit Award Grunder Landscaping Co., Merit Award

Water Features Category, Sponsored by Pond Supplies of Ohio

•

Delhi Landscape Services, Merit Award

Thank you to the Landscape Awards Program Committee:

• • • • •

Ken Helmlinger, Chair John J. Goode Patrick Lynch John O’Neill Mike Satkowiak

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• • • • •

Ron Dickerson Ryan Kolb Molly Mount Alex Pearl Kent Sholder B

March 2013 21

16 students, 10 schools, $14,500

ONLA Scholarships!

ONLA’s Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship Program

The ONLA’s Phil Kozel Memorial Program was established in memory of Dr. Phil Kozel, former professor of horticulture at The Ohio State University. Dr. Kozel was director of the Shade Tree Evaluation Program and a long time ONLA supporter. The Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship Program includes the ONLA President’s Scholarship, ONLA Scholarships, the SOEHA Scholarship, the ONLA FFA Scholarships, and Scholarships in Memory of John P. Riepenhoff. In total, ONLA presented $14,500 in scholarships to 16 outstanding students.

President’s Award This scholarship is awarded through the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s Scholarship Fund administered by the Academic Excellence Foundation (AEF), entitled the ONLA President’s Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to the highest scoring applicant in the judging process. The ONLA 2013 President’s Scholarship recipient is: Joshua Riebe, Owens Community College

22 The Buckeye

onla.org

ONLA Scholarships The ONLA is honored to present the following students with scholarships: • • • • • • • • • • •

Samantha August, Columbus State Community College Robin Cannon, Kent State University Jared Champion, The Ohio State University Jacob Danley, The Ohio State University Nicholas Duff, Owens Community College Jenny Gast, University of Cincinnati Jason Gebhart, Clark State Community College Jamie Helbig, Cincinnati State Community College Timothy Lybarger, Owens Community College Katherine Smith, Cincinnati State Community College Travis Wilt, Clark State Community College

Southwest Ohio Environmental Horticulture Association (SOEHA) Lloyd W. Kennedy Scholarship This scholarship is available through the generosity of the Southwest Ohio Environmental Horticulture Association (commonly referred to as “SOEHA”). Although this group disbanded in 2001, they decided to donate all remaining organizational monies to a scholarship fund in honor of Lloyd W. Kennedy, to be administered by the ONLA. Each year, one student at Clark State Community College, the University of Cincinnati, or Cincinnati State Technical & Community College is awarded this scholarship. This year’s recipient, from Cincinnati State Technical & Community College is: • Lynda Camp

ONLA FFA Scholarships The ONLA is pleased to present scholarships to students who are involved in the FFA’s horticulture program, who have a desire to pursue a career in horticulture fields, and who will attend college in pursuit of a horticulture degree.

• • •

Hillary Rader, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Tyler Stefancin, Lorain County Joint Vocational School David Tevs, Medina County Career Center B

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March 2013 23

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Honoring Excellence in Leadership

Professional Awards !

Distinguished Contribution Award

(Above) Gary Thornton accepts his award, presented by 2012 ONLA President, Andy Harding.

onla.org

The purpose of the ONLA’s Distinguished Contribution Award is to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions to the nursery and landscape industries. Any Ohio resident who has significantly contributed to any aspects of the horticulture field is eligible.

It is with great pleasure that the ONLA Board of Directors announces the 2013 Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association’s (ONLA) Distinguished Contribution Award Winner, Gary Thornton of Thornton Landscape in Maineville, Ohio.

Gary was born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Bill and Hilda Thornton, sharing the house with older brother Bill and younger sister Marlyn. Gary’s agricultural roots run deep: his family was originally involved in vegetable production and in 1946, Gary’s father started a garden store in Montgomery, Ohio where he and his siblings worked after school.

Graduating from the Ohio State University in 1963 with honors, Gary was involved in many groups on campus. He was president of his fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho, and then was awarded the prestigious “Gainer Cup” his senior year as outstanding fraternity man on campus. While in college, he met his future wife Sharon.

They immediately married upon graduation in June of 1963 and had two daughters Leanne and Merrilaine.

After graduation, Gary moved back to Cincinnati to join his brother Bill

at Thornton Landscape. They ran a very successful landscape operation for almost four decades and, in 1979, he served as President of the Ohio Nurserymen’s Association, now ONLA. In 1993, he served as President of Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), which became PLANET. Gary became a Registered Landscape Architect in 1989.

During his tenures at both ONA and ALCA, Gary was instrumental in championing certification programs at the state and national levels. He earned the title of Chartered Certified Landscape Professional, (CCLP).

Gary served as the first initial chair of the Certification Board of Governors for ALCA and chaired the Insurance Committee and the Education Committee. He was a 20-year-member of the Crystal Ball Committee, which looked on a yearly basis into the future of the industry and published its findings. In 1988, he was the recipient of ALCA’s top award, the Lifetime Leadership Award.

In 1983, he began Thornton Computer Management Systems which eventually became SLICE Technologies. He was instrumental in the computerization of our industry and, to this day, SLICE still stands out as one of the most comprehensive software programs in the Green Industry. The ONLA is pleased and honored to present the 2013 Distinguished Contribution Award to Gary Thornton. B

March 2013 25

ONLA Service Award The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Service Award recipient, Dan Studebaker, coowner of Studebaker Nursery. The award was presented during the Central Environmental Trade Show (CENTS) at the ONLA Annual Business Meeting held January 15, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio.

The ONLA Service Award, previously known as the Award of Merit, seeks to honor those people who have unselfishly given their time, resources or talents to serve the association. The Service Award is intended to recognize individual members who have served the ONLA in an outstanding manner in one or more of the following ways: officer, board of directors, committee chair, committee member or

membership service provider. Eligibility includes any member of any ONLA membership classification or representative of a member firm of the ONLA. Dan Studebaker’s father, Eldon, and his uncle, Gerald, started Studebaker Nursery in 1954. Dan grew up working in the nursery. He graduated from Manchester College with a BA in philosophy in 1973, and returned to the nursery after graduation and became the propagator. He became co-owner of Studebaker Nursery in 1982.

He was President of New Carlisle Rotary Club in 1994, President of the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagators Society in 2001, and served on the Tecumseh School Board for 20 years.

Dan serves on ONLA Exhibits Committee and is a past ONLA Board member. He is married to his wife Len and has three children Nick, Luke and Ingrid. The ONLA is pleased to present Dan Studebaker with the 2013 Service Award.

“Dan Studebaker has been a strong and steady contributor to the success of the ONLA and Ohio’s Green Industry,” states Kevin Thompson, Executive Director of the ONLA. “Dan’s willingness to participate at the board and committee levels, combined with his business acumen and forthright nature, make him a natural and important recipient of this award.” B

Educator & Public Service Award The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Educator and Public Service Award Recipient, Daniel Herms. The award was presented during the Central Environmental Trade Show (CENTS) at the ONLA Annual Business Meeting held January 15, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio.

The ONLA Educator & Public Service Award recognizes outstanding educators and/or public service employees. Candidates are those who have given their time and/or talents to benefit the Green Industry in one or more of the following ways: outstanding classroom

26 The Buckeye

teachers who have also served the adult community through outreach programs; researchers who have worked in areas of major industry needs; extension personnel who have consistently taken an active role in Green Industry activities; garden writers and radio and television personnel who have been complimentary to the objectives of the industry; government employees who have assisted the industry in preventing or solving potential problems, and arboreta and botanic garden employees who have served the industry in a variety of ways.

Dr. Daniel Herms, is a scientist with a rare blend of the applied and the theoretical, a deep and independent thinker

onla.org

It is with great pleasure that the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) announces the 2013 Young Professional of the Year Award recipient, Chris Ahlum.

ONLA’s Young Professional of the Year Award seeks to recognize young professionals, age 35 or under, who have contributed significantly to the success of their company of employment and have been actively involved in ONLA and/or national association activities. The ONLA wishes to not only recognize but to encourage participation, growth and achievement by young professionals involved in production, landscape, retail and/or maintenance aspects of our industry. The selection of the Young Professional of the Year is made by the ONLA Distinguished Contribution Awards Committee.

Chris Ahlum attended the Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree in 2004. He majored in Landscape Horticulture while minoring in Business and was a member Pi Alpha Xi Honor Society in Horticulture.

He is a Professional Arborist, providing services for residential, commercial, municipal, landscape contractors, developers, attorneys and others as needed concerning matters of tree and shrub health and maintenance. As a consult-

who is also the ultimate collaborator. He is a teacher of the first order, whether in a classroom setting, with green industry practitioners, or with academic and team colleagues. He is also a great guy to be around.

Dan studied and received his B.S. degree in Landscape Horticulture at the Ohio State University and his M.S. in Entomology and Landscape Horticulture. He continued with his PhD at Michigan State University, while simultaneously working as the Entomologist at Dow Gardens in Midland Michigan. After graduation from MSU, Dan continued at Dow Gardens, also teaching a Nature and

onla.org

ing arborist he provides expert testimony, valuation and appraisal of trees and shrubs for insurance and/or litigation purposes, damage and hazard assessment, and guidance for the preservation and protection of trees and shrubs.

More of his achievements include being an International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist, ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, Ohio Licensed Pesticide Applicator, ISA Certified Tree Worker, Climber, and Aerial Lift Specialist, Certified Tree Worker Evaluator, and Tree Care Industry Association Certified Tree Care Safety Professional.

Chris is a member of and volunteer for numerous associations, including the International Society of Arboriculture, Columbus Landscape Association, Society of Commercial Arboriculture, Tree Care Industry Association, American Society of Consulting Arborists, and the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association.

His professional career began as a Field Employee, after which he became Director of Field Operations. Currently he is Vice President, overseeing all day to day operations, sales, customer relations consulting and report preparation.

This young, industry leader is married to his wife Heather and has two children, Landen and Isabella. B

Practice of Science course in East Lansing, and most importantly meeting his wife, Cathy, before coming to OSU in 1997.

Currently at The Ohio State University, Dan is a full Professor and Chair of the OSU Entomology Department and was pivotal in redefining the departmental reorganization in the OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Dan has a wide-ranging program that includes many productive graduate students, many of whom are now faculty at other universities. When asked what his greatest accomplishments are he replied:

Young Professional Award

Chris Ahlum, with ONLA Executive Director Kevin Thompson.

1. The mainstreaming of biological calendar and phenological indicators into applied pest management tools, widely used by the nursery and landscape industries 2. The incorporation by the tree care industry of work on tree resource allocation patterns and their management implications 3. The development, potential and arc of progress into the future of his current work on emerald ash borer resistant ashes The ONLA is pleased to present Dr. Daniel Herms with the 2013 Service Award. B

March 2013  27

It was with great pleasure that the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) announced the 2013 Legislator of the Year recipient, State Representative David Hall, during the Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS) held this year January 14-16 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus.

State Representative David Hall is currently serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 97th House District, which includes portions of Ashland, Medina and all of Holmes counties. Representative Hall is the Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and a member of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Local Government Committee.

Presenting the award on behalf of the ONLA was Belinda Jones, Legislative Consultant who explained, “Chairman Hall and his Legislative Aide Mike McGuire have the reputation for being amongst the hardest working individuals at the state house.

Running his committee with the greatest efficiency and civility, Chairman Hall does an outstanding job of making all witnesses before his committee feel heard and appreciated and all members of his committee, whether Democrat or Republican, feel val-

Legislative Advocate of the Year

28 The Buckeye

ued. He is faithful to his calling as chairman holding committee some nights until the wee hours of the morning. His open door policy, and his ability and willingness to listen to issues affecting the green industry made Chairman Hall the natural choice for Legislator of the year.”

Before beginning his tenure with the Ohio House, Representative Hall served for more than a decade as a Holmes County Commissioner. He also acted as the Holmes County Park District director and the County Recreation director. Previously, Representative Hall was active with his community as president of the Ohio MidEastern Government Association, president of the Board of Holmes County Commissioners and president of the Multi County Juvenile Detention Board.

“It’s a pleasure to work with the ONLA, and I’m honored to receive this prestigious award. As a former Park District director, I have enormous respect for Ohioans in the nursery and landscaping industries,” said Rep. Hall. “Looking forward, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will continue to help these industries grow strong roots in Ohio.”

Rep. Hall is currently serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives, serving the 70th House District, which

It is with great pleasure that the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) announces the 2013 Legislative Advocate of the Year recipient, Andy Harding.

The Legislative Advocate of the Year Award, previously known as the Grassroots Volunteer Award, is presented annually to a deserving individual in the green industry who has shown outstanding leadership in legislative affairs.

Born May 7, 1954 to Doreen and Colin Harding of Portsmouth, Hampshire England, Andy has one sister, Susan, who still lives

Legislator of the Year

State Representative Hall

includes all of Ashland County, as well as portions of Holmes and Medina counties. Rep. Hall and his wife Anita live in Millersburg, Ohio. The couple has two children, Kyle and Kimberly. B

in Great Britain. He graduated from Churcher’s College in Petersfield, Hampshire at age 16 and went on to attend Hadlow College of Agriculture in Kent, England. His mother’s love of horticulture was foundational in his lifelong interest in plants, culminating in a degree in Commercial Nursery Production with a goal of working for large nurseries.

Andy’s working life began young as a stock boy for an off-license store and continued through college as the bar-man for the campus pub. He began as a field laborer for Hillier Nurseries in Hampshire

and quickly moved into management positions. It was there he met his wife Deb while she was working in the Hillier Arboretum and they married a year later. They welcomed their daughter Emily into the world after several years. Andy eventually accepted a job as Production Manager in Lake County, Ohio, where he lives today.

Andy has been employed at Herman Losely Nursery since 1995. The ONLA is pleased to present the 2013 Legislative Advocate of the Year Award to Andy Harding. B

onla.org

BOOTH AWARDS During the 2013 Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS), held January 14-16, the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) hosted an exhibit contest on the show floor to reward outstanding displays. The three awards categories were Large Exhibit (greater then 400 square feet), Small Exhibit (up to 400 square feet), and Most Attention Grabbing Exhibit.

The 2013 CENTS Small Exhibit winner is Cedar Lane Farms Corp. from Wooster, OH. Cedar Lane Farms specializes in production of quality plant materials, including annuals, vegetables, potted and hanging baskets and perennials. Judges commented on the beauty of the booth design, which was a “mini-greenhouse” complete with roof, shelves and blooming flowers. (Pictured, top.)

The 2013 CENTS Large Exhibit winner is Belgard Hardscapes from Indianapolis, IN. Belgard produces interlocking pavers, paving stone and garden wall products, including traditional and antiqued paver and wall series. Judges appreciated the intimate sales atmosphere created by the Belgard booth, a design showroom built within a semi-truck and parked on the trade show floor. (Pictured, center.)

The 2013 CENTS Most Attention Grabbing Exhibit winner is House & Garden Fertilizers from Aliso Viejo, CA. House & Garden Fertilizers produces House & Garden Plant Nutrient, a 100% organic product based on plant seed extracts, manufactured in Holland’s state-of-the-art facility (serving the European commercial flower industry for over 70 years). Judges noted the comprehensive marketing strategy including an enthusiastic trade show team, creativity of booth design, and attendee engagement through eye-catching displays and show promotionals. (Pictured, bottom.)

Judges walked the show floor on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 and evaluated booths on booth presentation, product presentation and exhibit personnel. The 2013 Best of Show judges were Diane Share from Experience Columbus, Susie Kloeb from Aramark, and Joe Shaw from the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Judging criteria included: Booth Presentation - Integration of company identity in booth design - Design and graphic elements - Clearly communicates message to attendee (gives a reason to stop for further consideration) - Adherence to show rules and exhibitor guidelines Product Presentation - Thoughtfulness, creativity and effectiveness of product display(s) - Informative and/or benefit focused messaging Exhibit Personnel - Professional appearance and etiquette - Proactively engaging with visitors - Number of staff adequate for booth size. B onla.org

March 2013 29

WRAP-UP

30 The Buckeye

onla.org

CENTS By the Numbers 2 Greenhouse Classrooms More than 7000 Attendees 1 Women’s Networking Event 3 Evening Receptions More than 400 exhibiting firms 3 Days of Certification Exams More than 700 booths More than 120 classes 3 Business Management Workshops 4 Association Meetings onla.org

March 2013  31

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IN MEMORIAM

It’s a Wrap! CENTS 2013 Spotlights Industry Innovation How do you keep an entire industry engaged year after year? By keeping content, speakers and products fresh and innovative. More than 7,000 attendees and exhibitors trek to Columbus from five foreign countries, four Canadian Provinces, from the West Coast, from all across the East Coast and throughout the Midwest to experience all the CENTS 2013 had to offer.

“We would never miss this show from either a business or networking perspective,” stated George Pealer, owner of Millcreek Gardens in Ostrander, OH. “It’s a key opportunity for us to meet clients and industry peers in person, and has been for over 20 years. Each year just brings in more opportunity, ideas and growth.”

Among the newest ideas: a series of Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association business courses based on last year’s standing-room-only turn out, covering leading edge topics like digital marketing, social media and operational efficiency.

Nursery-related courses offered insight into issues like beneficial bugs, the carbon offset of plants and an awe-inspiring tree slideshow. Rousing appluase greeted the opening remarks of renowned author Michael Dirr, and an awards ceremony provided inspiration via businesses doing things a little differently.

Nontraditional exhibits like framed living wall arrangements, green industry marketing technology for hand-held devices and colorful hand-crafted garden store animal sculptures also drew crowds. The continuing strength of the Ohio State University Nursery Short Course seminars underscored the value of continuing education and new thinking among green industry pioneers and veterans alike.

To give attendees and exhibitors a chance to kick back, events like Beer Tasting Opening Night, a Landscapers’ Challenge and a Pink in Green: Women’s Networking Event gave precious face-to-face time that ultimately is the calling card of every successful large exhibition.

“We know what we’re doing is working because the show continues to thrive where others have not,” explains Kevin Thompson, Executive Director of CENTS’ sponsor, ONLA. “But we’re never satisfied that more can’t be done, be it programming, connecting groups, education, business offerings, and small things like changing badge titles or program presenters. Really, we are relentless in our pursuit of what is new and helpful to the industries that invest in CENTS and that is ultimately our calling card.”

Industries represented by the show include:

• Arboriculture & Tree Care

• Golf Course Maintenance

• Greenhouse Management &

• Production Irrigation

• Landscape Architecture & Design

• Landscape Contracting

• Landscape Maintenance

• Lawn Care & Turf Management

• Property & Facility Management

• Retail Garden Centers

• Municipalities & Public Works

• Nursery Management & Production

• Snow & Ice Management

• Stone & Masonry Contractors

• Urban Forestry For more information on CENTS 2014, contact Kevin Thompson, ONLA Executive Director at 614-899-1195. B

32 The Buckeye

onla.org

LANDSCAPERS’ CHALLENGE During the 2013 Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS), held January 14-16, the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA) hosted the Landscapers’ Challenge. Similar to popular shows like Project Runway or Top Chef, competing teams had a seven-hour time limit and were asked to transform 400 square feet into a landscape masterpiece that showcased skill and teamwork.

Participating schools showed off their work to thousands of CENTS attendees and the winner won not only bragging rights, but also a cash prize.

The challenge? The competition was limited to the first four high school horticulture teams that entered. Contestants included Auburn Career Center (Painesville, OH), Medina County Career Center (Medina, OH), Ohio Hi-Point Career Center (Bellefontaine, OH), and Tolles Technical Career Center (Plain City, OH). Each team was comprised of five members: four students and their horticulture teacher. After arriving at CENTS, each team received a landscape design, provided by Peabody Landscape Group (Columbus, OH) and materials to complete the project. Teams had seven hours to take the blueprints, the materials, and their skills and create a 400 square foot landscape masterpiece, complete with landscape lighting, pavers, furniture, plant materials, and a water feature.

Judges (professional, certified landscape and nursery experts) walked the show floor on Monday, January 14, 2013 and evaluated the landscape displays on safety, accuracy of design, teamwork, creative problem solving, and the “detailing” considered essential by today’s top landscape design/build companies.

Special thanks to sponsors who supplied construction and plant materials for this fun event!

• Austram, Inc.

• Buckeye Resources, Inc.

• Gilson Gardens, Inc.

• B.A. Heskett, Inc.

• Kichler Lighting

• Klyn Nurseries

• Lake County Nursery

• Mulch Manufacturing

• Oberfields, LLC

• Ohio Stone

• Tree Tyme Nursery

• Willoway Nursery B onla.org

March 2013 33

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LANDSCAPERS’ VIEWPOINT

The Off- Season is NOT the Time for Rest!

It is the end of winter and you are probably taking a well-deserved break and waiting for spring, so you can get back to the grind. Now is not the time to rest though!

It is the time to reflect on the past year to see how you can improve in 2013. The landscape contracting industry is difficult to succeed in for a long period of time. The companies that refine their skills and procedures are the companies that succeed over time. I came to Grunder Landscaping over seven years ago and there are many things I know now that I wish I would had known then.

Here are three items you can improve upon this year and I guarantee you will see a difference!

The first and most important tip I have for you is to listen to your client or prospect. Have you ever finished an appointment with a client or prospect and on the way back to office, tried to remember what you discussed?

Early in my career I admit this happened to me from time to time and the end result was striking out on getting the job. During the appointment, you think you are listening,

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but have other tasks on your mind, like lunch, or taking the kids to soccer practice that night. Listening doesn’t mean hearing it with your ears as much as writing it with your pen. At all times I have a note pad and pencil on me. This not only lets the client know you are prepared, but that you are listening and taking their thoughts and ideas seriously. The next step is what makes all of the difference. When my appointment is complete, I read back to the client the line item notes that I have taken during our appointment. This drives home the fact that I was truly listening and it gives my client a chance to add to their list of wants and desires. If the client is not already impressed, when I get back to the office, I send a followup e-mail to that client restating what their priorities are and what they told me they want as an end result. If you do this, you will hit the mark more often than not. This also saves time and increase sales.

The second item I will touch on is networking. Do you have trouble finding leads and building relationships?

When I first started at Grunder Landscaping, I was new to the area and I did not know anyone. I joined Business Networking International (BNI) as a way to meet business professionals. Not only does this group allow you to build relationships, it helps with your speaking and presenting as you stand up weekly to let your peers know what you are looking for in regards to leads and referrals. I am also a member of our local optimist club. This is a service organization that meets weekly for lunch and again, it gives me another opportunity to network and represent Grunder in a positive light. Another networking suggestion I have would be giving talks to local garden clubs and rotary meetings. This may be outside of your comfort zone, but the more you do something, the better you become at doing it and it may lead to work in the future. When you have a client or a prospect think of any landscape work, you want them to think of you. Get out there and build those relationships and take the time to get to know people. People do business with those they know, like and trust. It will take some work on your end to build a good networking base, but over time it will be well worth the time and investment.

As stated earlier, the winter is not a time to relax. It should be a time to follow-up and set up appointments with your top 50 clients. If you have not started meeting with clients, you should start right now. As important as it is to generate new clients, it is even more important to keep your existing clients happy. In this day and age of technology, it is easy to quickly email your client, but a onla.org

face-to-face meeting goes a long way. When I meet with a client, I ask them three questions. The first question is, “What do we do that you do not like?” If you never hear what you do wrong from your best clients, how do you expect to improve and get better? The second question I ask my client is, “What do we do well as a company?”

Hopefully, your client goes on and on about what you do well. It gives you an opportunity to expand on what you do well and hopefully carry that over to other clients.

Lastly, I ask my client, “What would you have us do different next year?” This question serves two purposes.

First and foremost, it allows the client an open forum to discuss improvement and it lets them know that we value what they think. Secondly, it gives you an outlet to discuss future work, which is always great topic.

Hopefully, you are already doing these items this winter and are not just sitting back “hoping” for a successful 2013. The winter is time to better yourself and your processes for the upcoming season. Be proactive and start meeting with clients and asking the tough questions you may or may not want to hear. If you don’t ask, how do you expect to improve? B Brent Ogburn Grunder Landscaping brent.ogburn@grunderlandscaping.com Landscape Contractor Commitee

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12/12/12 2:03 PM March 2013 35

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F E AT U R E

Ohio Invasive Plants Council Releases New Evalution Protocol A first-time science-based effort is underway to identify invasive plants from other regions and reduce their impact on natural areas in Ohio, according to the Ohio Invasive Plants Council (OIPC).

Common reed grass, garlic mustard, bush honeysuckle and other plants dominate thousands of acres in Ohio’s forests, grasslands and wetlands. These invaders crowd out native plants and reduce biodiversity. Utilizing a 22-question assessment protocol developed in 2012 by the OIPC and other stake-holder groups, a five-person assessment team of researchers and botanists will evaluate potential invasive plants and establish a new list of primary offenders. Concurrently, the assessment team will provide a list of alternative plants suitable for recommendation to nurseries, garden retailers and homeowners.

“OIPC is not a regulating group,” said Theresa Culley, PhD, University of Cincinnati professor and OIPC Chair-

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person of the assessment team. “Our mission is to develop a new list of invasive plants for Ohio. We also intend to play a primary role in education, research and early detection.”

“The nursery industry has already been impacted by unofficial invasive plant lists in Ohio and elsewhere, said Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Horticulture Director Stephen Foltz. “As soon as we put nursery plants on our official list, these plants will no longer be allowed for use in projects complying with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. That’s why it’s so important for us to get this right.”

“It’s exciting to see that Ohio has a protocol and is ready to begin assessments. This will be a useful tool for addressing the problem of invasive plants,” said Katherine Howe, coordinator of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network.

Under the direction of Culley the assessment team will initially evaluate 27 problematic invasive plants. The team will address a second group of plants within a year, including those produced and sold in Ohio nurseries, such as ornamental pear, Japanese barberry and burning bush.

The OIPC worked with the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA), Ohio Department of Resources (ODNR), The Nature Conservancy and other landmanagement agencies to develop the assessment protocol.

John Cardina, professor of horticulture at The Ohio State University, and Richard Munson, manager of the conservatory at Miami University-Hamilton, were selected by ONLA as representatives on the assessment team. ODNR botanist Rick Gardner and Dawes Arboretum botanist David Brandenburg were selected by OIPC on behalf of conservation and land-management entities. Culley, a past president of OIPC, directed efforts to develop the assessment protocol during the past four years.

The OPIC represents a coalition of organizations and individuals who have a mutual interest in Ohio’s natural ecosystems and the effects of invasive plants. OIPC is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 working in concert with local, regional and nationwide groups. OIPC assessment documents and other information are available at oipc.info. B Cheryl Coon OIPC President ccoon@fs.fed.us

www.BuckeyeResources.com

36 The Buckeye

onla.org

GROWERS’ VIEWPOINT

B

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE an ONLA Recycling Round-up Nurseries are on board with ‘Reduce and Reuse’ because they must aggressively lower purchases and costs to survive. But there are many ‘Recycling’ opportunities today that provide economic incentives for businesses in the industry. In addition, these efforts improve public perception of nursery and landscape companies and offer a cost effective means for environmental stewardship.

According to Today’s Garden Center (January, 2013), 50% of our retail customers always recycle plastic pots and trays. Almost 40% recycle their grass clippings and garden waste. As an industry, our customers expect us to minimize those products that end up in the waste stream.

ene, and high-density-polyethylene. The recyclables need to be palletized and shrink wrapped. East Jordan offers pick up. They have a very good website that goes into detail on how to identify materials and packing. The nursery still has the labor expense but the recycler pays for the recycled materials and that helps offset costs.

The reuse of organic matter is another area that we take advantage of in our operations. We compost our Please see page 38

Willoway Nursery, Mark Shelton We started quite a few years ago using the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle attitude in the nursery and the greenhouse operations of our business. We have always looked at ways to reduce waste that goes to land fills. This year we sent 160 tons of plastic to Rock Tenn Recycling. They pay us around 3 cents a pound and they pick it up. We bale it and load the plastic into semi trailers. That provides a nice check for almost $10,000! We save a lot on dumpster costs and we can offset our baling and handling costs. I found our first poly-baler at an ANLA Kick-theDirt Tour in New Jersey. Interestingly, I read that the New Jersey Department of Agriculture reported a 53% increase in plastic film recycled for 2011.The program recycled one million pounds of plastic. This program has been in existence for 15 years.

We also reuse some plastic to recover inside the hoop houses during the fall. We have reduced the need for poly by growing hardier varieties in outside pot-n-pot areas.

These are just a few examples of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

I think the nursery and greenhouse industries have always done a good job reusing containers. This may be the most common form of reusing and recycling our resources. It would be interesting to know the percentage industry wide. I would estimate we are at 50 % reuse on liner-to-saleable shifts and 80% on liner-shifts. The downside is the possibility of weed seed in the containers contaminating the mix. This may be a topic for a future article. When we do have broken or unusable pots we have a recycler pick them up. We use East Jordan Plastic from Michigan. They would like to have the plastic pots separated by material including polystyrene, polypropylonla.org

Above: Recycled Poly at Willoway Nursery Below: Recycled Trays at Willoway Nursery

March 2013 37

Continued from page 37

grade-out-container-mix and add this back in some of our soilless mixes. It is also used as a field amendment to add organic matter. The field operation also uses leaves from surrounding communities to increase organic matter.

In Erie County Barnes Nursery has a composting facility to process organic matter from the surrounding community. We have also worked hard to make our nursery a ‘closed loop’ with 100% recycled water.

Another area of recycling is metal. At the present time we recycle steel, aluminum and brass. We reuse our steel pipe and we purchase used pipe for our maintenance department. This is something we have done for a long time.

We also reuse our used motor oil from our maintenance department to heat the shop. We pay to recycle our used tires because our land fill does not take them anymore.

Our energy consumption has been reduced significantly with a major investment in a waste-to-energy system at our Huron facility.

Gilson Gardens, Mark Gilson We believe in recycling at our nursery, but we also believe we need to do more! We order almost 140 rolls of overwintering poly each year, including several multiyear rolls for our heated poly-houses that will last four or more years. Our goal is to reuse or recycle almost all of our poly. Our main problem is ‘dirty plastic’ that cannot be recycled through existing vendors. Multi-year poly is recycled or reused as ‘poly tarps’. A small portion of our single-year poly is reused on ‘low frames’, for one year, and then discarded. Most of our single-year poly is recycled and the challenge is to keep it clean. Our procedure is to roll a farm trailer to the end of the poly-house, cut loose the base-boards and fold the poly to one end on top of the poly-house. Then roll it onto the farm trailer and fold it together. Lengthwise-slits are cut as workers walk from one end to the other, which prevents ‘billowing’. If the poly near the ground is dirt-covered, we discard it. We cut above the dirt-line, recycle the material above the line, and discarding the dirty poly below the line. In this way, substantially all the poly is efficiently recycled.

We use Mondo Polymers Technologies, Inc. for poly recycling. They pick up at no charge and they turn the

Nursery Recycling Partners: • • • •

Rock Tenn Recycling and Waste bgrossma@rocktenn.com East Jordan Plastics http://eastjordanplastics.com/plasic-recycling.html Mondo Polymer Technologies, Inc. ron@mondopolymer.com www.mondopolymer.com Universal Commodity Services, Inc. www.ucsincny.com

38 The Buckeye

Left: Sticker for reusing shipping cartons from other suppliers Right: Klyn Nurseries sign for public and community drop-off.

poly into guard-rail-bumpers. They also recycle a majority of the boat-wrap materials in Northern Ohio.

Provisions must be made to hold recyclable poly onsite for several weeks. We prepare an area with used pallets and cover it with a piece of used poly that extends beyond the pallets. Poly bundles are placed on the pallets and covered with the excess in order to keep rainwater from making the loading process more difficult. When the recycling truck arrives, we provide a fork-lift and manual labor to assist the process.

Our containers from Nursery Supply are made with 100% recycled material and we feel pretty good about that. We reuse containers as many times as possible, but some eventually go into our dumpster, because by then imbedded soil prevents recycling. Propagation trays and pots are similarly reused, but some inevitably end up in the trash. Incoming plug trays are a problem because we have no means to reuse them. We have to do a better job and we need better technology to accomplish this!

We sell our waste oil to a local recycler, reuse office shredded paper for shipping, reuse shipping cartons from our suppliers and recycle all consumable cans and plastics. Compostable production materials are spread on our fields or exchanged with a local composter for hauling services. We recycle most of our irrigation water in ponds for reuse.

Klyn Nurseries, Bill Mainland, ONLA Board Member We recycle about 95% of our nursery’s overwintering poly through a local company. We don’t get paid for it, but we don’t have to provide any labor or equipment to load it. We uncover our poly-houses and store the poly on pallets with used-poly covering it to keep out water and dirt.

Our nursery pots and greenhouse trays are reused as many times as possible. We do not clean the pots prior to reuse. We also sell our waste oil to a down-stream user.

We are very proud of our water recycling and community yard waste program. All irrigation water is recaponla.org

In addition, Integrated Pest Management certification is required for our workers, and yet this is not available in Ohio.

Cottage Gardens, Will Hicks

tured in a series of ponds and reused. We participate in a ‘Leaf to Land’ program in our county as a drop-off site for lawn waste, leaves and horse manure. These materials are fundamental to our program of ‘aggressive soil rebuilding’ which mitigates potential long-term soil depletion from horticultural activities.

One of our challenges is to comply with Sustainable Site Initiative requirements in order to provide plants for certain projects. There are eight requirements for SSI approved growers, and we comply with some but not all.

For example, we still use peat moss in our soil mix and we have not yet reduced our energy consumption by 25%.

We have 1,650 poly-houses in Perry and Madison and we recycle almost 100% of our overwintering coverings. We own two ‘Tiger Balers’ that compress about six pieces of poly into a bale which we place on a pallet for later purchase and pickup by Universal Commodity Services, Inc. Keeping the poly clean is not a problem for us, although we do sometimes cut off and discard sections below the baseboard.

Regarding nursery containers and trays, we reuse them until there’s almost nothing left. Our largest mass-merchandise customer offers in-store recycling for the public.

We recycle 100% of our water back into our ponds.

Pallets and compostable materials are recycled through a local supplier. Several years ago we invested in a windturbine that reduces our energy usage by providing power to portions of our irrigation system. We hope to add more. B Mark Gilson and Mark Shelton are the current and former Chairpersons of the ONLA Nursery Grower Committee.

HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANCE • • • • • • • •

HR Policies / Employee Manuals Job Descriptions Evaluation Programs Incentive Programs Safety Policies Management Training Supervisor Training On-going HR/Safety Support

All Programs are Custom Developed and trained in their use. All products satisfy Labor and Safety Regulations

740-516-3360 Jim Regal – HR/Business Specialist

Speaker at 2005 & 2006 CENTS Shows jamesregal@regalconsulting.com

“Serving the Ohio Landscaping Industry Since 1996!” onla.org

N U R S E R Y

Quality and Service G A R D E N C E N T E R is the Nature L A N D S C A P E of our Business

Call Us for all your nursery needs including Quotes, Availability or a Catalog

1-877-722-7337 411 N. State Route 235 Fax 937-845-9731

New Carlisle, OH 45344 www.scarffs.com

March 2013 39

SAFETY FIRST “Because They Can” Recently, I was meeting with a client who was describing an accident of an employee who hurt his back when he jumped into a shallow trench. The trench had recently been concreted for a new building’s footer. My client didn’t understand why the employee would jump into the trench when there was an access ladder 10 feet away. The injured employee reported that the accident had aggravated pre-existing arthritis. This claim could result in a potential Long Term Treatment Plan and a large future Reserve issued by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

My client asked me why the employee disregarded the ladder and my response was “because he could.” The employee made a decision: “Do I do it the safe way or do I do it the easiest, quickest way?” Unfortunately, employees frequently choose the latter. Why? Because they can. Safety comes down to each independent decision our employees make. Left to their own choice, they will often make the wrong decision.

Safety is a learned behavior, but like every other positive behavior it takes practice and repetition until it becomes habitual. If not, unsafe behavior will become a part of an employee’s daily routine and will be repeated.

This is a basic tenet of human behavior. I explained this to my client and advised him that employees will make bad decisions, not because they are bad employees or want to get hurt, but because they can.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your safety program, contact me at 1-800-356-1274.

Gary Hanson American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Ashmci@aol.com

I understand that it is impossible to monitor every decision an employee makes and that employees don’t want someone looking over their shoulder all day. Nevertheless, there has to be a middle ground for employers and employees. Ronald Reagan had a great quote when he was confronting the Soviet Union: “Trust but verify.” The same strategy applies with employees; we should expect them to make the safe decision, but we need to monitor behavior to ensure they do make the proper choice.

Safety is not automatic, so we have to assume that if employees can make the wrong decision they will. Why? Because they can. That is why clear and defined expectations for safe behavior need to be communicated constantly: • Regular safety observations should be conducted • Safe procedures developed and safety rules enforced

40 The Buckeye

onla.org

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ONLA members can receive a 12% discount on corporate Sprint wireless accounts, and an 8% discount on personal Sprint wireless accounts.

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With CFM, a trained collection specialist is assigned to bring in your past-due accounts before they fade away as bad debts.

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ONLA members can take advantage of credit and debit card merchant service processing program through Merchant Services.

Merchant Services brings electronic processing programs specifically designed to fit the needs of your business.

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Grower Energy Solutions (GES) helps manage an energy program designed to help save on your natural gas and electric bill by utilizing the strength of group buying. Average savings between 8 and 15%.

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Advertisers’ Index

Industry Calendar

View www.onla.org for seminars, events, trade shows and more!

O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events O March 21, 2013 Ohio Pesticide Commercial Applicator Recertification Conference, Sandusky, OH Sponsored by: ODA, www.pested.osu.edu O March 23, 2013 KickButtColumbus, A Highway Ramp Cleanup Event, Columbus, Ohio, www.kickbuttcolumbus. eventbrite.com O April 2, 2013, Safety Seminar on identifying likely employee injuries and developing effective policies to eliminate them. Akron/ Fairlawn, Ohio, www.onla.org O April 23, 2013, Safety Seminar on identifying likely employee injuries and developing effective policies to eliminate them.

Columbus, Ohio, www.onla.org O April 30, 2013, Safety Seminar on identifying likely employee injuries and developing effec-

tive policies to eliminate them.

Hamilton, Ohio, www.onla.org O August 13, 2013 NGLCO Summer Field Day, The Holden Arboretum, Kirtland, OH Sponsored by: NGLCO, www. nglco.com O October 24, 2013 PLANET Green Industry Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, www.landcarenetwork.org O January 12, 2014 OSU Nursery Short Course, Columbus, Ohio, www.basicgreen.osu.edu O January 13, 2014 CENTS, Columbus Ohio, Attend the Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS), with over 225,000 square feet of exhibition space, and soak up the innovation and ideas in an expanded market, www.onla.org

Acorn Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 acornfarms.com Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 buckeyeresources.com Decker’s Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 deckersnursery.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ernstseed.com Evergreen Nursery Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 evergreennurseryco.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 fairviewevergreen.com Gilson Gardens, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 gilsongardens.biz Grayhawk Greenhouse Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 grayhawkgreenhousesupply.com Hobby Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 hobbynursery.com Klyn Nurseries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 klynnurseries.com Medina Sod Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 medinasodfarms.com Miami Nursery Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 miaminurserycompany.com Millcreek Gardens, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 mgohio.com Netafim U.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 netafimusa.com Oberfield’s LLC .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC oberfields.com

ONLA Classified Advertising: onla.org

The online classified service can be found on onla.org along with the complete postings. New ads will be added as soon as they are submitted to the ONLA. For more information, please contact the ONLA office at (614) 899-1195. The ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. As we go to press, here are the ads posted on onla.org’s online Classified Section: Help Wanted • Business Development Sales Representative, Garick, LLC, Cleveland, Ohio • Crew Leaders & Technicians, Hemlock Landscapes, Inc., Chagrin Falls, Ohio • Grower, Davis Tree Farm & Nursery Inc., Valley City, Ohio • Horticulturist and Lead Horticulturist, The Holden Arboretum, Kirtland, Ohio • Independent Sales Representative/ Distributors, Paygro- Division of Garick, Charleston, Ohio • Landscape Architect/ Designer/ Sales, SmithScapes, LLC, Cleves, Ohio

42 The Buckeye

ONLA Publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC onla.org Pine Hall Brick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 americaspremierepaver.com Regal Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 regalconsulting.com

• Landscape Designer/ Estimator, Todd’s Enviroscapes, Louisville, Ohio

Scarff’s Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

• Landscape Designer/ Sales Representative, Lanhan Contractors, Inc. South Euclid, Ohio

Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

scarffs.com colorchoiceplants.com

• Landscape/ Hardscape Foreman, McCoy Landscape Services, Inc., Marion, Ohio

Studebaker Nurseries Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

• Landscape Foreman, Catholic Cemeteries Association, Cleveland, Ohio

Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

• Landscape Manager, Liapis Landscape & Design, Moraine, Ohio

Ad Rates & Info

• Landscape Supervisor/ Landscape Laborer, Landscaping by Don Gilb, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio

studebakernurseries.com unilock.com

Contact Jennifer Gray 614.899.1195 jennifergray@onla.org

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CONTRACTOR TRAINING DAYS Columbus Market

Pittsburgh Market

OBERFIELDS PRODUCT TRAINING March 12, 2013 Quest Business Centers 8405 Pulsar Place Columbus, OH 43240 9am-3pm $20

OBERFIELDS PRODUCT TRAINING March 14, 2013 Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh 101 Mall Boulevard Monroeville, PA 15146 9am-3pm $20

Cleveland Market

Dayton/Cincinnati Market

OBERFIELDS PRODUCT TRAINING March 13, 2013 Holiday inn Independence 6001 Rockside Road Independence, OH 44131 9am-3pm $20

Us See NTS E At C h 2543 t Boo

OBERFIELDS PRODUCT TRAINING March 19, 2013 Wyndham Garden Dayton South 31 Prestige Plaza Drive Miamisburg, OH 45342 9am-3pm $20

Dayton/Cincinnati Market

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NUMEROUS GIVEAWAYS!

www.oberfields.com www.discoverrosetta.com 614-252-0955 • 740-369-7644 • 419-225-6761 • 937-885-3711 • 800-845-7644

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